ooc: Since you're all connected to Rocky, I imagine that means you can all speak to Raknesh/hear him? Just making sure I have this down right. If so, Tanzy, you're able to speak to him too.

ic: Tanzy/Prizzard: Tanzy wrestles with finding a way through her new paralysis but is unable, much as she tries. It is the epitome of frustrating, to say the least. Meanwhile, Graystone tries again, swinging at Prizzard with his veins and this time striking true. Very true. A blade would have hurt far less, but then that is no surprise, with a lich. The pain is staggering, almost literally.

Bryon: Luckily, this second fellow seems as dense as the first, and the creeping tentacles ensnare him as well. They seem rather stupid, but the undead often are. Little more than zombies, from the looks of them. However, down the hallway come six more already, and you suspect they are only the beginning...

Raknesh: Fortunately, you're able to stay quiet and evade any guards, though, miraculously, Tanzy's mom doesn't seem focused on anything but finding her daughter, so she doesn't try to cry out, though you see her face almost consider it a time or two. You move fast, and she does her best to keep up, trotting along in her fine gown and breathing heavily from the effort.

ooc: EVERYONE: Ok, Raknesh should be there in about 4 rounds. Go ahead and roll 4 rounds worth of attacks plus roll a general save for will, reflex, and fortitude just so I have them. Tanzy, keep rolling your concentration checks. If you succeed, you know the drill. Bryon, more and more zombies will keep arriving, so be aware of that.

Prizzard puts up more of a guard after that last hit and continues maneuvering slowly toward Tanzy. No telling exactly what he'll do in the next minute, without magic or immediate backup he may not be standing when Raknesh arrives. Without his spell of arrogance even this wild animal knows when to run.

HP: 80/162
AC: 25/23/17 (+2 Defending Weapon, +2 Fighting Defensively)

rolled 26,22,5 using d20+13,d20+8,d20+3.  Fighting Defensively (Defending +2).
rolled 17,13 using 2d4+1d6+7,2d4+1d6+7.  Damages.

rolled 20 using 1d20+13.  Fortitude.
rolled 13 using 1d20+12.  Reflex.
rolled 19 using 1d20+12.  Will. (+8 if Mind-Effecting)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:06, Sat 26 Feb 2022.

Tanzy fought against the paralysis in desperation until she finally resigned herself to the one option that she dreaded using. Focusing as Raina had coached her Tanzy set the siren free.

Black tentacles replaced her legs, and her skin turned bluish green. With her newfound freedom Tanzy flashed Prizzard a sharp toothed grin and launched herself at Graystone.

"Get out of here, I'm going to scream," she warned her companion as she attempted to entangle Graystone in her tentacles. She didn't expect to win this fight but if she could give Prizzard time to get away it would be worth it.

OOC: Concentration:21
Grapple: 29
Fort: 17
Reflex: 28
Will: 15
Grapple: 29
Tanzy intends to use the siren song if Prizzard clears out. If he stays she'll bite/claw. I'll roll damage once I know what happens.

The grin was enough, he's gone.

Bryon spoke in the telepathic link, "Zombies. Too many for me to fight it out alone."

Bryon was trying to hold on but eight of them were too many.

Raknesh hurried with his charge.

Prizzard's defensive fighting pays off and the lich misses him, thankfully, taking damage from Prizzard's attacks as well. At Tanzy's words, all Prizzard's strategies go out the window and he bursts from the room, only to see the hallway filling with shambling zombies, many of which are entangled in Bryon's arcane tentacles, spread throughout the hallway. It's quite a mess, especially since you can see a few more already headed your way. Luckily, they don't look too fearsome, more of a nuisance than anything else. However, a nuisance on top of a lich is unfortunate to say the least.

Tanzy: You find yourself smirking at the shocked expression of Graystone, seeing you transform. Clearly he wasn't expecting this, and as your tentacles grip him, he is unable to free himself at the moment, though he's certainly trying. With Prizzard safely gone, you scream in this new form, the piercing, shrill sound rattles the windows, the glass breaking and spilling into the room. Graystone himself gives a shout of pain, unable to cover his ears, grappled as he is. It is the most satisfying moment you've had in years. Of course, you know your small win is temporary. You're holding a thrashing lich, after all, but you take enjoyment from it nevertheless.

Raknesh: You move fast, even Raina struggles to keep up as you rush ahead, Loden, however, close at your heels. As you close in, you hear the shrill horrible sound of a woman's scream. No. A siren's scream. At last you burst on the scene, seeing eight shambling undead trapped in Bryon's arcane tentacles, more already arriving from the other connecting hallway. Prizzard is there looking the worse for the wear, and behind him is a room with the door ajar and sounds of fighting within. Things are quite chaotic, to say the least.

Bryon: Your tentacles are helping immensely so far, but it won't be long before they are overwhelmed as more enemies shamble forward.

ooc: Everyone: For those of you in the hall, if you choose to attack zombies next round, their AC is 16, so you know when you hit. Have at it!

After taking a moment to compose himself Prizzard charges into the zombies.

HP: 80/162
AC: 19/17/13

rolled 37,19 using d20+21,2d4+1d6+9.  Charge Attack.

First thing first, let's take care of the zombies to allow Bryon to take care of something more urgent.

Hoping he had not forgotten how to do it, Raknesh got close to the first zombies and raised his hand.

In human form Tanzy would have been terrified to be so close to her enemy, especially after realizing what he really is. But the siren seems to thrive on danger and she only grips him tighter, her tentacles squeezing to keep his arms pinned. “You will not be the first Lich we have killed,” she hisses in his ear. And as long as her companions are still in the clear she throws back her head and screams again.

OOC: grapple 35
Damage: 52

Prizzard's charge on the zombies is quite effective, and thankfully they seem to be far less powerful than some of your more typical enemies. The problem, of course, is that there are so many of them.

That's where Raknesh comes in. He raises his undead arm and the zombies turn tail and shamble back down the hall as fast as they can with their stiff limbs, clearing the hallway nicely. You hear a shriek down a ways and Raknesh, you can see Tanzy's mom looking absolutely horrified as the undead push past her. Needless to say, the woman clearly does not know the goings on of her husband to be. As she gasps and looks half faint, a young man comes striding down the hall, his face purposeful. Bryon and Prizzard recognize him. Step aside, he gestures to you all. I'm here to see my sister.

Meanwhile, you hear another scream from the bedchamber, but not one of alarm. Tanzy is at it again, her siren shriek practically shaking the walls.

Tanzy: You feel powerful. Wild and strong but still enough in control of your faculties that you enjoy the sensation. You think of your brother. Of all that Graystone has taken from you, and your tentacles tighten harder. Then, you feel a touch on your arm as the lich gives a shriek of pain from your siren scream. You feel your arm grow cold, and then your chest tightens as your very heart feels like it's going to burst from your chest...

"I'm afraid you have no sister, puppet. All you'll find in there is a pair of monsters." Prizzard readied a counterattack if he came too close.


HP: 80/162
AC: 19/17/13

Tanzy chokes out a cry of pain as the burning spreads through her chest, but it only strengthens her resolve and her grip on Graystone tightens. “I could use a little help,” she growls.

I have him pinned but I don’t think I can hold him much longer. If someone wants to come remove his head I would greatly appreciate it…   She communicates through the link so as not to encourage Graystone to struggle harder.

OOC: grapple 38 (20+18)

Raknesh quickly answers Tanzy's call for help.

If he can be in position to fire arrows this turn, he will (40" move)

Manyshot:
ATT 32 dmg: 19 + 3 fire + 11 holy
ATT 29 dmg: 17 + 4 fire + 5 holy

can't you do some damage while grappling?

ooc: Yes, I believe you can do damage while grappling

Prizzard: Her brother's eyes flick towards you at your words, but he wordlessly makes to move past you, should you let him. He seems uninterested in fighting, at the moment. If you decide to try and stop him though, you can make the attempt...

Everyone: Thank's to Tanzy's plea, Raknesh opens the door and unleashes several arrows, hitting their target. Between this and Tanzy's iron grip, the lich starts to look nervous. He's starting to finally look worse for the wear, even with his rapid healing. And with his undead no longer coming to help, the only one he has left is Tanzy's brother...Meanwhile, the lich seems to be desperate to get out of Tanzy's grasp. Suddenly a red hazy mist forms a dome that engulfs the room. Both Tanzy and Raknesh are close enough to be affected, as it spills out into the hallway a bit. You can feel your flesh starting to wither, and you suddenly feel sluggish and heavy...

ooc: Constitution save DC 18. Anyone near the room or who goes inside will have to make the save or take 48 damage. Half that, if you succeed. You also will move at half speed. If you continue to stay in the dome of energy, you will continue to take damage, but you can reroll your save each round. He's clearly trying to get Tanzy to let go of him.

The pain is excruciating and Raknesh can't prevent a scream of pain.
But he believes he can endure it some more.  He hopes Tanzy can too...
It is a battle of endurance and each arrow will count.

He launches another volley of arrows, gritting his teeth.

1 ATT 25 DMG 17 fire 5 holy 12
2 ATT 26 DMG 17 fire 2 holy 6
3 ATT 33 DMG 19 fire 2 holy 7
4 ATT 34 DMG 15 fire 5 holy 7

I'll at least stay in his way, if he gets past I'll use that attack of opportunity for a trip attempt.

rolled 37,18 using d20+19,d20+5.  Touch Attack, Trip Strength.

Tanzy hisses, flashing sharp teeth as she holds back a scream. Her tentacles twist, squeezing Graystone tighter as she slashes at him with her claws

OOC:
HP 56/110
Fortitude:28
Grapple: 21
Attack 1: 21 damage 4
Attack 2: 15 damage 6
Attack 3:  8

Prizzard's trip actually succeeds, and Tanzy's brother stumbles, turning to glare at him. He straightens up, still unwilling to outright fight at this point, and instead simply starts to shout for his sister. Tanzy! Come out this instant! This fighting has to stop! If you kill him, I will die! His voice sounds frantic, stressed, pleading.

Meanwhile, Raknesh's arrows strike true, in spite of the pain he's fighting off, as does Tanzy's claws. The lich is desperate now, his eyes furious and wild. Then, something unexpected happens. His skin turns red and...liquifies. All of him seems to melt, dissolving into a bloody, red ooze. The ooze rears up to try to engulf Tanzy, trying to cover her and drown her in its tainted form....

ooc: Ok, so if you're in the room or in the doorway like Raknesh, that dome is still there. Your movement speed is halved. You also continue to take damage. Constitution save DC 18 to halve that. The damage is only 33 this round, so you will take 16 if you succeed in your roll.

Tanzy ignores her brother’s call though her heart breaks a little at his words. He’s already dead she reminds herself. Any additional thoughts she may be thinking on his behalf scatter as Graystone transforms into this new threat. She can feel him squish through her grasp and it’s all she can do to hang onto his oozing form.
“I will not let go until the last breath leaves your body,” She hisses softly enough that only Graystone can hear. “And should I die first, I will be waiting for you in hell. I have no doubt you’ll be joining me soon enough.” She flashes a toothy grin and slashes at the ooze as it rises up, threatening to cover her.

OOC:
HP: 40
Fortitude: 24
Grapple: 30
Attack 1: 33 damage: 7
Attack 2: 17 damage: 8
Attack 3: 24 damage 5

This message was last edited by the player at 23:02, Fri 22 Apr 2022.

Tanzy: Seeing that he's unable to drown Tanzy, the ooze instead decides it is time to flee. He melts into a red puddle on the floor and starts moving towards the window, intent on crawling out....

Meanwhile, Tanzy's brother rushes in the room, trying to stand in front of the lich in an effort to protect him while he gets away.

ooc: Ok, he's gonna try to escape so if people want to do something about it, now's your chance!

OOC sorry, I completely forgot about the update
This time the pain is less intense.
Raknesh is indeed surprised by the new form, obviously, arrows would be less effective against something like that.
Yet he keeps firing, having no other idea to prevent it from fleeing.

OoC: I was going to absolutely keep that dead brother in the hallway, but it seems I failed to post. After the warning and the trip if he hasn't gotten the message it's time for some violence. After this message..

Prizzard would have moved to the doorway and make an intimidation attempt. "That's not quite your sister right now and you won't be entering." It seems the man didn't want to fight so Prizzard wasn't so willing to use lethal force.

If he still got past, Prizzard will dive in with a tackle to get him out of the way.

rolled 27 using 1d20+25.  Intimidate.
rolled 31,7 using d20+16,d20+5.  Tackle (Grapple/Bull Rush?).

Couldn't find a rule for tackling an opponent, but since the tackler needs a running start and will always end up prone, I feel like the bull/grapple rules make it a bit too easy to avoid. But then, we're dealing with superhumans..

“Coward,” Tanzy spat as the sludge of a man made for the window. She didn’t bother to follow, he would get there faster. “You can run away if you’d like. Now that I know what you are I don’t necessarily need you here to kill you.” She flashes a sharp toothed smile. “I just need to find your phylactery.”
She doubted it was on his person but more than likely somewhere nearby. They just needed to find it before he recovered…

Sadly, Raknesh's efforts barely yield results. It would seem this is quite the protective form. Tanzy's words, however, are a sudden comfort as you realize that yes, the phylactery is indeed the key. In fact, the lich himself seems to confirm this as the ooze stiffens at Tanzy's words, half out the window by now yet frozen as if wanting to stay. A second later he disappears, but you get the feeling it is only to recover and you don't have long...

ooc: Roll search/spot to find the box, anyone who wants to look for it!

Prizzard: To your surprise, your words do stop the man, though he looks extremely frustrated. It's unexpected to see the flash of fear in his eyes. Fear that seems almost...human. ooc: roll sense motive please. Meanwhile, the impassioned man shouts for his sister. Tanzy please! You don't understand! You can't kill him! You can't!