As Godric is struck with lightning, he begins to burn with anger. He steps back from the wall to allow room for his lance. He Lets out a loud yell and with both hands, he thrusts his lance into the wall to shatter a hole in it. {Enters Rage and attacks the wall with max power attack(-7 attack,+14 to dmg)}

Mikael regains his stance after narrowly missing the creatures attack. He swings both blades wildly in an attempt to cut it down. {full attack}

While the battle raged, the world seemed to contort. The branches of the trees twisted and gnarled, as if every clang of blades caused them to finch in irritation. The bark darkened to something poisonous and black, and, more horrifyingly, faces appeared in the bark, watching eagerly to see if more souls had come to join them in their eternal nightmare.

Godric thrust his lance into icy wall and pierced a small hole, sending a ripple of cracks through the rest of it and small chunks of ice flying. One more hit, he determined, would be enough to shatter a 5 ft. passage through. But regardless of the near success, the fact that it hadn't broken yet enraged him further, and he struck out at the nearby Nightmare Hound. Striking with the retraction of his lance, he hit it with such strength that it died instantly {Bonus AoO: Godric deals 24 dmg to Nightmare Hound 1}.



Meanwhile, Ranna and Mikael once again teamed up on their latest foe. Growing more in tune with the fighting style of the other, they attacked simultaneously in a penultimate flurry of blades {Mikael deals 14 dmg to Omen; Ranna deals 5 dmg to Omen}. Cut in many places, the smokey creature was unable to keep together, and bellowing an ethereal screech it dissolved into the air, entering the closest thing it knew as death.



Ranna and Mikael bumped fists.

"Help!" cried Imbellem, interrupting their mini-celebration.

The last remaining Nightmare Hound leapt up on Imbellem, who hid behind his shield. The creature's teeth were still unable to pierce his heavy armor, but the experience of the creature assaulting him was nonetheless terrifying {Nightmare Hound 3 misses Imbellem}.

Falameezen's voice echoed in the air.

"Madness, madness. That's what they say. But lo! I'm not mad! You're the mad one! I'll prove it so."

Godric, although already raged, suddenly felt his mind become even more foggy, as though his thoughts had been engulfed by the very mist that surrounded the world {Godric has become confused. Godric loses his combat turn next round}.



Left of the black pit, more violet lights sprang into being and shot at Imbellem, striking him with the weight of stones {Falameezen deals 19 dmg to Imbellem}.

Ranna sprinted back to Imbellem, to aid him against the Nightmare Hound that repeatedly thrashed upon his armor, though it still could not pierce his sturdy plate {Nightmare Hound misses Imbellem}.

Godric, however, acted strangely. Putting a hand to his head, he screamed wildly in horror, as though his blurred reflection in the wall of ice had become something terrifying, and he sprinted away from it as fast as he could {Confused, Godric flees to K1} {For a second time, Godric loses his combat round next turn}.

"Standing still like heaps of stone,
All the easier to break thy bone!"

Falameezen's ethereal voice reverberated from everywhere, as though it was spoken from the very ground, and suddenly, from left of the black pit, there came a dashing light, which then exploded and engulfed most of the party in flames {Falameezen deals 23 dmg to Imbellem & Nightmare Hound, and 11 dmg to Godric & Ranna}. Scorching not only the party, the Nightmare Hound, too, was struck by the flames and evaporated into a wisp of smoke {Nightmare Hound 3 was destroyed}.

"Sticks and stones may break thy bones,
But words cast spells,
Which burn thy face off."

Ranna sprinted over to Mikael and shook him violently. "We've got to move!" she cried. "My people depend on us!"

However, Mikael and Imbellem did not move, while Godric, whose mind was bewitched, muttered incoherently to himself about pumpkins {Godric is confused; Godric loses his combat turn next round}.

Ranna glanced to the side and gasped, for at that very moment another flash of light exploded, enveloping the area in flames once more {Falameezen deals 23 dmg to Ranna & Imbellem}.



Caught in the blast, Imbellem collapsed onto the ground unconscious on the very brink of death. Falameezen's ethereal voice continued to babble poems and nonsense.

"Once I was a young man,
Who did all a man can,
But soon I was old,
Or at least so I'm told,
And now it's a struggle to stand!"




This message was last edited by the GM at 12:52, Sun 05 Mar 2017.

Mikael comes back to his senses, doing everything he can to repress his fear from the fire. He grips both swords tightly with the heat to his back and he locks his eyes on the small hole in the wall that Godric started. Mikael charges at the crack to hit it with everything he has {Charge to K12}. "Imbellem hold on!" he yells as he makes contact with the ice.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:37, Mon 06 Mar 2017.

Godric's mind is in a complete fog. He hears lots of noise-it sounds like people yelling but he can't make out what they are saying. For that matter, he can't remember what he was even doing right now. Why is he holding his Lance? Why does his whole body hurt so much? "I think I better go feed the horses" he thinks to himself, suddenly loosing any perception of the world around him.

"My brother once said frogs are like people. Some hop, some croak, others just sort of sit there. Do you agree?"

Shaun did not respond.

"I think so too," continued Godric. ". . .Hey, do you ever wonder what time is made of?"

Shaun still did not respond as Godric conversed, slowly bleeding to death while barbarian loomed over him. . . {Godric is Confused, but he may act normally next round!}



Mikael, on the other hand, could barely hear Ranna over the ringing in his ears.

"IN – something – ICE – something," she yelled, only catching every other word.

The last fireball had exploded much too close for comfort, and his elven ears did not react kindly. And yet, the meaning was clear enough: Get through the ice, or we die. Together, Mikael and Ranna dashed toward the glacier blue wall, toward the crack which Godric had made earlier, before he had lost his mind. Mikael charged and thrust his sword at the wall, a thrust empowered with all his desperation and strength, and that section of the wall shattered into glittering small pieces, leaving a 5 x 5 ft. gap before him. He felt Ranna's hand rest approvingly on his shoulder. But then she pulled on him forcefully.

"Something – DOWN!"

Fire engulfed them, themselves the very center of the explosion. And the entire wall of ice, also caught in the blaze, shattered, sending shards across the field like snow, while steam viciously seethed into the air. Mikael, with Ranna's help, managed to duck much of the inferno {Falameezen deals 16 dmg to Mikael; Falameezen deals 33 dmg to Ranna}.



But as the smoke, steam, and fire dissipated, Mikael glanced up, and there on the platform, as clear as day, he saw the altar – now exposed and vulnerable to the world. To destroy it meant their salvation, but would there be time? If only Mikael knew what time was made of. Then, he could make more to spare.

"...time is made of?" Godric heard himself finish speaking but didn't know what he was talking about. As he came back to his senses, he looked down and saw Imbellum laying there, bleeding to death. Suddenly he remembered what was happening and looked towards Falameezen and the altar. "Quick, go destroy the altar! I'll help Imbellum!"He yelled to Mikael. He reached into his pack and took out the cure moderate wounds potion. He quickly helped his dying teammate to drink it, hoping it wasn't too late... Imbellum definitely didn't look well.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:05, Sun 02 Apr 2017.

Godric, in a moment of clarity, poured a healing potion into Imbellem's agape mouth. Though unconscious, Imbellem coughed, and as the wounds on his body rapidly closed his eyes opened.



"I just had the weirdest dream," he murmured groggily to Godric, who loomed over him. "Oh. . ." he continued as he realized where he was, "I'm – We're – still dreaming, eh?"

"Yes, but at least now you're. . . you're. . ." Godric's eyes became foggy like the world around them. "Who are you?" {Godric is confused; Godric loses his combat turn next round}



"Uh oh. . ."

"Uh oh," said Ranna, seeing Mikael stagger in place. But, gathering her courage, she turned her gaze toward the altar and leapt upon the platform. "For my people!" she shouted, and she swung her sword at it.

Her blade made a loud ring as it struck the altar, like a hammer upon an anvil, and left a deep scratch on the stone {Ranna deals 1 Dmg to Altar}. However, it was not yet broken, and she prepared to give it everything she had in the coming moments.



"Not good, not good," muttered the ethereal voice of Falameezen.

Suddenly the dwarf became visible! Still wearing green robes, his silver beard hanging level with the grass, Falameezen appeared by a boulder left of the shrine.

"A dwarven woman so fierce,
Tried so very hard to pierce,
The stone I had made,
With Bagna's aid,
And thus must be sent in a hearse."

Falameezen pointed his staff and out shot a bolt of lightning. The flash of light burnt through Mikael and finally into Ranna, who fell unconscious on the platform. Smoke rose from her body in wisps {Falameezen deals 14 Dmg to Ranna; Falameezen deals 28 Dmg to Mikael}.



Falameen smiled cheerfully, as though he had just heard a funny joke.

"They say that dwarves can cook,
Stews and brews and Nook,
But I never knew,
Dwarves can cook too,
My meaning can't be mistook!"



This message was last edited by the GM at 13:22, Sun 02 Apr 2017.

"Some say that life is but dream,
That we need only to wake up from."

Falameezen pointed his staff and from the tip came a barrage of violet lights, moving like shooting stars and enclosing upon Mikael, striking him in rapid succession. Mikael felt pain and staggered, and then, to his surprise, felt no pain at all, instead feeling surprisingly light – pleasant even.

"Mikael," said a voice from not too far, but it was not the voice of any of his companions. Rather, it was a deeply familiar voice, from somewhere long ago.

Mikael turned and saw a beautiful elven woman standing on the grass, smiling kindly, her long hair radiant and blinding white in color. In fact, everywhere around her seemed blinding and bright.

"Pnelopia," he gasped. "I-"

"I know," she replied, her ethereal voice a comfort.

Mikael closed his eyes, a quiet smile resting on his lips. "I'm glad," he murmured.

Then, he fell dead, falling silently upon the grass before the shrine, laying as though he were merely asleep. {Falameezen deals 23 Dmg to Mikael; Mikael has died}

Only Imbellem, however, witnessed this, and the shocking sight kept him fixed in place. Whether Godric saw or not was difficult to say, for, being possessed by confusion, he turned and ran maniacally away from the shrine {Godric moves to (U,1). Godric is confused and loses his combat round next turn}.



"But whether it be dream or truth, to do well is what matters. If it be truth, for truth's sake. If not, then to gain friends for the time when we awaken. . ." said Falameezen, who then finished with, "Vanilla ice cream is my favorite!"

Assuming my confusion is done, I attempt to retreat

"Frozen in place?" asked Falameezen, who then added, "Or simply frozen?"

His silvery beard bouncing buoyantly, Falameezen waved his staff, and a torrent of snow and ice bellowed down from the foggy sky. The fierce but isolated storm encompassed Imbellem, as though he had been cast into his own personal winter.

"Let it gooo. Let it go. Can't hold it back anymore. . ." sang Falameezen as Imbellem, feeling the sudden drop in temperate, began to shiver.

In addition to the cold, so too were there enormous shards of hail, which struck at Imbellem viciously. And, finally, an especially large piece struck his head, and he collapsed into a heap upon the ground. There Imbellem shivered in his unconsciousness, until he became eerily still {Falameezen deals 18 Dmg to Imbellem}.

"Imbellem. . no. . I. . mind, not good. ." grumbled Godric as he looked on."

It was unclear whether Godric understood what was going on or not, but he babbled incoherently all the while. And while he did so, the subtle anger that had pervaded his mind faded, and was replaced by an oppressive sense of fatigue {Godric's rage has ended; Godric is now fatigued}.

quote:

08:06, Today: DM Ryan rolled 33 using 1d100.  Godric, Confusion Effect.

"So tired. . " Godric yawned. "And. . I. . Did that use diesel? . ."

"I'm not sure," replied Falameezen, who had now walked closer.

Falameezen walked over to the edge of the black pit and gazed down it, like a child looking curiously over the edge of a cliff. Then, he turned his gaze over to Godric.

"Sure is spooky down there. You'll have to tell me how it is when I toss you all down."

"Down. . " murmured Godric, struggling through the fogginess in his mind. "My friends. . I. . horses. . Where? Must. . go. ."

Falameezen shook his head. "That would be rude. Please. . stay."

He pointed his staff at Godric and out shot yet another barrage of violet lights, which enclosed upon the barbarian {Falameezen deals 16 Dmg to Godric}. The pain mixed with the madness and stirred Godric's mind into a frenzy.



"Enemy! . Enough talk! . "

Godric - injured, exhausted, and angry - staggered toward Falameezen, crudely pointing his lance at him, though in his exhaustion he could not keep the tip steady {Godric moves to N3}.

Falameezen pointed his staff at him once again, but this time nothing came out!

"Oops," chuckled Falameezen. "Looks like I'm all out of the nasty spells. Guess I'll have to do this the old way! Yip yip, I feel like a kid again!"

Falameezen cast an unknown spell upon himself, then, swinging his staff playfully like a kid, mozied over to Godric, who still staggered toward him. It was there standing before the pit, not ten feet from each other, that the fog in Godric mind suddenly vanished, and his senses flooded back in. The barbarian stood up straight. For the first time with a clear mind, he gazed over the battlefield. Mikael was dead. Imbellem nearly so. And Ranna too. Then, there were his own injuries to consider. He alone stood before the black pit facing Falameezen. Although his face gave away none of its sternness, a single tear escaped the corner of his eye over the fate of his companions.

The situation had become dire and uncertain. Could he win on his own? Or should he flee and save his life, forgoing a needless death?

In the end, the choice all came down to him.

Godric looks at his fallen companions, realizing he may be their only chance for survival. He takes out his last cure moderate wounds potion and drinks it as he walks backward. His armor weighs him down heavily as he slowly moves away; it feels as though it's made of lead. If he can just survive a little longer in battle, he could be the hero of his surviving party members and the whole dwarven village.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:10, Sun 07 May 2017.

Godric took the last Cure Moderate Wounds potion from his pouch and hurriedly gulped it down, putting his years of downing liquor and ale to practical use. He felt a wave of relief as many of his wounds closed {Cure Moderate Wounds Potion heals 19 HP}.

Falameezen, not seeming to mind, walked closer.

"Sticks and stones may break thy bones,
But sticks with thorns might kill you."

Falameezen chuckled at his little poem, and, as he did so, his staff suddenly grew four-inch long spikes along its entire length, as though he were holding the branch of an extremely savage tree {Falameezen casts unknown spell}. Holding his new and slightly more intimidating weapon, he neared Godric, who in turn could sense this final and desperate battle would get even more desperate before it was all over.



This message was last edited by the GM at 19:38, Sun 30 Apr 2017.

"There once was a barbarian knight,
Who thought he could put up a fight,
But little he knew,
Just what I could do-"

Falameezen swung his staff at Godric, but it bounced off his armor.

"Then again, maybe he's right."

{Falameezen moves to Q3; Falameezen misses Godric}

Realizing this may be his last stand, Godric thrusts his weapon at Falameezen as hard as he can. Even though he is exhausted from all the fighting, he is able to put some strength into it. After his attacks he steps back, keeping some distance from his enemy's new and improved staff(Godric does a full attack at Falameezen, then 5 foot step to s4 )

Godric thrust out with his lance and struck Falameezen, piercing through the front of his green robes. Falameezen recoiled. Though the dwarf didn't seem to feel pain, his image seemed to slightly wane in clarity, as though some fraction of his existence had left him {Godric deals 5 Dmg to Falameezen}.

Godric thrust out a second time but missed. Then, he readied his stance for whatever might come.

quote:

09:54, Today: DM Ryan, on behalf of Godric Lothar, rolled 5 using 1d8+4.  Lance Atk 1 Dmg.
09:53, Today: DM Ryan, on behalf of Godric Lothar, rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Lance Atk 2 @ Falameezen (Fatigue pen. included).
09:52, Today: DM Ryan, on behalf of Godric Lothar, rolled 21 using 1d20+10.  Lance Atk 1 @ Falameezen (Fatigue pen. included).

This message was last edited by the GM at 14:00, Sun 07 May 2017.

Godric felt a little reassurance after seeing his attack have an effect, abiet minor. He again raised his lance and thrust it at him as hard as he could. He was weak enough that he had to use his body weight to get enough force behind it. He gathered himself again, and thrust his lance a second time. {Godric makes 2 attacks with -2 power attack, and then steps backward to s4}

The trees were moving. As though filled with curiosity, they craned their necks and leaned over the field, their highest branches encircling and hiding the visible sky. Soon all that remained was a singular hole above, about the same size as the black pit, now a pupil gazing toward the heavens. Godric breathed deeply. He felt sweat on his palms as he grasped his lance. Was it even real sweat? Wasn't this all just some dream?

Planting his back foot in the ground, he struck out twice against Falameezen, the green-robed devil, and twice met his target. On each hit, Falameezen seemed to briefly become distorted, as though whatever was holding him together had weakened, and he grimaced. Godric smiled. Though it didn't feel like he was striking flesh, he could tell they were strong hits {Godric deals 30 Dmg to Falameezen}. He could feel it. He could feel it in the earth, in the air, rippling throughout the dream realm. And the trees knew it too. The trees were watching, waiting, intensely curious to see which soul would join them forever.

quote:

09:18, Today: DM Ryan, on behalf of Godric Lothar, rolled 17 using 1d8+9.  Lance Atk 2 Dmg. (PA 2).
09:18, Today: DM Ryan, on behalf of Godric Lothar, rolled 13 using 1d8+9.  Lance Atk 1 Dmg. (PA 2).
09:10, Today: DM Ryan, on behalf of Godric Lothar, rolled 21 using 1d20+3.  Lance Atk 2 @ Falameezen (Fatigue pen. included; PA 2).
09:10, Today: DM Ryan, on behalf of Godric Lothar, rolled 21 using 1d20+8.  Lance Atk 1 @ Falameezen (Fatigue pen. included; PA 2).

Falameezen's image regained clarity, an expression of discomfort on his face.

"Existence is a fickle thing,
We try to stay, but it tries to bring,
An end, to our short duration,
Ignoring any plea, oblation,
Or argument against its will,
Insisting we persist until,
A mere whimsy, and thus hence,
It decides our impermanence."

Falameezen took a step back, waved his staff, and a barrage of colors briefly washed over him. His wounds were not healed, and his physical appearance was unchanged. Certainly Falameezen had just cast a spell, but what did that spell accomplish? Godric didn't know, and it was the not-knowing that worried him the most as he tightened his grip on his lance and prepared for the next round of battle.

Godric noticed this may be a chance to heal himself, as he has some space. He takes out a cure light wounds potion and drinks it. He the steps towards his attacker to close the distance {I use my move action to maintain 10 feet from Falameezen}

He had a moment. Using this chance, Godric hastily pulled out another potion and drank it {Godric is healed 4 HP}; and then advanced upon Falameezen, trying to keep him at the ideal distance.

Falameezen, however, was as cheerful as ever.

"I wonder what I'll do,
After we're all through.
I think when I'm done,
With all this fun,
I'll make myself a stew!"

The dwarf then pointed his staff at Godric! Casting his magic in a defensive way {Concentration ~ Success}, a colorful bolt, much like the colors that swept over him a mere second ago, fired from the tip at Godric. Godric felt the bolt enter his chest, send tingling sensations throughout his body, and then finally his mind, which became clouded and ensnared him in a daze.



Falameezen chuckled as Godric then stood there, drooling a little while staring into the mist. The dwarf walked up to him.

"Batter up!"

Falameezen swung twice, hitting the first blow and missing the second {Falameezen deals 13 Dmg to Godric; Falameezen misses Godric}; and again, while Godric continued in this state, Falameezen swung twice, hitting the first blow and missing the second {Falameezen deals 18 Dmg to Godric; Falameezen misses Godric}.

Only after the second assault did Godric snap awake from his daze, welcomed by a great deal of pain.

The trees watched closely.



This message was last edited by the GM at 14:19, Sun 21 May 2017.

"My, my this is easy,
I even feel a bit sleezy!
Just one more swack,
And that'll be that...”

Falameezen swung twice with his staff and missed {Falameezen misses Godric}.

“Ugh, and now I feel queasy...”
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 15:55, Sun 28 May 2017.

Seeing the dire nature of the situation Godric considered retreating. He lots his lance up in defence while moving away from Falameezen {Godric uses a full withdraw action to x8}

"Why do you run?
Let's have some fun!
I have games,
Music,
Even some rum!
So sit and stay,
Let's have a drink!
I'll have a glass,
While in the pit, you sink."

Falameezen pointed his staff at Godric and out shot another bolt of colorful light. It struck Godric's back as he fled, viciously coursing through his body, and he was suddenly confronted with the same dreamy sensation he had felt before. The feeling rose into his mind like a fog in the morning sun.

"No! I must not give in!" rasped Godric through gritted teeth. "I. . must. . not. . ."

It felt like fighting a cloud, where every mental punch met only air, and the air enveloped around him nonetheless, uncaring, dispassionate. And, after several bitterly-fought seconds, he plunged into a daze.



Falameezen giggled as he calmly walked to Godric and stood in front of him, gazing up into the barbarian's glossy, white eyes. Although Godric's mind had gone, some side of him buried in his unconscious, his soul perhaps, watched. Falameezen smiled.

"Don't worry," he said, his tone so cheerful and easy that Godric almost could've been convinced he spoke the truth – almost. "I'm not going to kill you," Falameezen continued reassuringly. "Oh no, no, no, nope!"

Falameezen lifted his arms in the air, gesturing toward the sky; the branches of the trees squirmed and danced, as if in celebration or applause.

"This is Bagna's realm afterall," said Falameezen, who then rested a comforting hand on Godric's shoulder, as a close friend would, and spoke in a whisper. "And the great Lord Bagna tells me. . . he has plans for you. . ."

Falameezen suddenly struck Godric in the head with his staff, and Godric fell unconscious.

The next minute passed by strangely for Godric, his eyes occasionally opening for no longer than a blink, then succumbing back to unconsciousness, capturing the world in frames. The first frame was that of Falameezen, dragging him across the grass. The second was that of him being propped against the side of the black, bottomless pit. And the third (and last) was that of Falameezen.

"Good luck," said the dwarf, who then pushed Godric's chest with the end of his staff and sent him straight over the pit's edge.

Headfirst, Godric fell. And fell. And fell. Until it seemed like he was no longer falling through space but sinking into the depths of the ocean, gently floating downward. In every direction was a black oblivion, an emptiness of infinite possibilities. Somehow awake, and yet not, Godric gazed upward;- and from the depths of an even deeper abyss rose a creature of colossal size, rising past Godric, Godric himself no larger than the creature's eye. Within a few seconds, there loomed a being over him with the magnitude of a mountain, a being whose body seemed ambiguous and shadow-like, though Godric could distinguish four, curling horns that sprung from the being's head, and six, glowing golden eyes gazing down at him.

"Welcome," said Bagna, his voice sending a tremor through existence. "You belong to me now."

quote:

Imbellem: Deceased.
Mikael Vaeltaja: Deceased.
Ranna: Alive
Godric Lothar: Status Changed from Player to NPC.

This message was last edited by the GM at 16:04, Sun 11 June 2017.