Beyond the Pale Part 8
Log Info
- Title: Beyond the Pale part 8
- GM: Thurid
- Place: Mausoleum beneath Sendorian village
- Summary: The face-off with the Bony Guy and meeting their master...
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Thurid has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Thurid to instruct you further. You may earn RPP by logging a scene for a GM.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
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GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20: (12): 12 GAME: Skyler gains ONE point of PANACHE. GAME: Skyler spends ONE use of CHARMED LIFE. GAME: Bryn spends NINE uses of BARDIC PERFORMANCE. GAME: Thurid rolls 18: (5)+18: 23 GAME: Thurid rolls 21: (19)+21: 40 GAME: Thurid rolls 2d6+4: (11)+4: 15
As the hulking brute of bone and sinew starts to draw nearer to the portal, its movements accelerate breaking into a jog and then a barreling charge as it bursts through from the Pale World beyond and comes skidding into the crypt, trailing ice and frost shards shedding from its form.
It reaches into its chest and tears free a giant-sized handfull of ribs, femurs, and other assorted bones before hurling them at Bryn. The bones replicate rapidly in flight as they home in and to surround her in a grisly cage. The cage contracts around her to confine and begin to crush the bard.
GAME: Bryn rolls cmb+2+2: (16)+10+2+2: 30 GAME: Bryn casts Gallant Inspiration. Caster Level: 8 DC: 15 GAME: Bryn rolls 2d4: (6): 6 GAME: Haggerty casts Glitterdust. Caster Level: 6 DC: 18 GAME: Thurid rolls 19: (2)+19: 21 GAME: Thurid rolls 2d6+4: (8)+4: 12
Bryn has been in a cage before. Not one made of bones and flesh and ... whatever that slimy stuff there is, but a cage nonetheless. Most importantly, she didn't like being in one and that opinion hasn't changed. "What in Kor's blood?! Oh, fark no! I ain' doin THIS SHITE 'gain!" Unable to get any momentum (or even a swing) with her big curve blade, she instead wedges her metal hand between some of the bones and starts to pull, anchoring a foot against others to help pry.
She's not as broad as some oruchs, but she can be just as strong and/or stubborn. All of this works in her favor as she pries the shrinking cage's bone-bars just enough to to be able to squeeze herself free. With a little help from The Hymn.
GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20+4+2+2+2: (8)+4+2+2+2: 18 GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20+4+2+2+2: (9)+4+2+2+2: 19
GAME: Ulthan RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 10 temporary HP GAME: Ulthan rolls weapon1+2+2+2: (13)+10+2+2+2: 29 GAME: Ulthan rolls damage1+2+2: aliased to 2d8+9+2+2: (8)+9+2+2: 21
Ulthan shakes his head as he sees Bryn get grabbed again, and that just flips him... He lets out his ululating war cry as he embraces his rage, charging at the golem before giving it a massive whack over the head, splintering bones and tearing sinews as the flail goes to bash.
GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (11)+5: 16 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d100: (94): 94 GAME: Burai casts Longstrider. Caster Level: 7 DC: 14
Haggerty works on a spell which wills a physical shower of glitter into Ea. It should work even on magic resistant enemies. The wizard cheers a quiet "Yarrr!" when the magicked effect takes hold. He sweatsomely sees the oruch minstrel free herself from the brutally effective trick of the opponent. A sigh catches in his throat while the Aesir sees the two large white coated doges circle and attack the thing. The tiny dog by the mage whines in envy, because gnawing on all those bones is FUN! Or not when the hulking wastrel smacks one of the attacking pretties from the heavenly realms off mark and another misses outright. This one has much potency stored within, enough to hit like a mammoth bull in heat, but applied with the cold precision of a seasoned axhand. (edited pose)
Tigers are not known as pack creatures...but the half-oruch remembers enough of adventuring tactics to remember such important things like the effectiveness of surrounding an enemy. He rumbles a growly spell under his breath. Then he springs into the air, before running horizontally through mid-air. The fur on his head scrapes against the ceiling before he begins angling down again. Giant clawed feet touch down on the stone behind the golem, and Burai turns three-quarters of the way to menace the golem from behind while trying to save some of his attention for the gate lest he himself get surrounded.
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2+2: (19)+16+2+2: 39 (THREAT) GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2+2: (7)+16+2+2: 27 GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+damage1+7+7+2+2: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+8+7+7+2+2: (3)+8+(3)+8+7+7+2+2: 40
Skyler for his part sweeps into action with the usual panache and flare he fights with. He dodges the bones from Bryn's shattered cage, pale grey-green eyes intense in the wane light of his ioun torch as it floats around him. He hits the pillars to the side, and uses the momentum to launch himself forward in a daring strike that hits the golem south of the border (as it were) even as he lets out a laughing battle cry.
His scimitar strikes true, the magic edge of the blade glimmering faintly as it slices through enchantment-fueled bone.
GAME: Crik rolls knowledge/engineering: (20)+3: 23 GAME: Crik rolls stealth: (4)+13: 17 GAME: Thurid rolls 0: (5)+0: 5 GAME: Crik rolls weapon2+2+2-2-4: (13)+8+2+2+-2+-4: 19 GAME: Crik rolls damage2+3d6: aliased to 1d4+0+3d6: (3)+0+(11): 14
Crik had ducked behind one of the stone seats when the port had opened. He knew there were things from Beyond - but it was a shocking realization all the same to witness it with one's own eyes. "Can you-!" He starts to call out to the being beyond, but then thinks better of it when the golem appears. Endless notebooks are hurriedly rifled through, before the corvid suddenly shouts. "Anyone with adamantine? Hit it with adamantine! Or heal magic!"
Then the corvid flops over one of his greyer cloaks and pretends to be a very quickly moving piece of stone, before aiming a shot at the golem from down below. The bolt breaks a rib.
GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20+4+2+2+2: (13)+4+2+2+2: 23 GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20+4+2+2+2: (20)+4+2+2+2: 30 GAME: Ulthan rolls weapon1+2+2: (15)+10+2+2: 29 GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20+4+2+2+2: (9)+4+2+2+2: 19 GAME: Burai rolls melee+2+2+2+2: (6)+9+2+2+2+2: 23 GAME: Burai rolls 2d6+6: (4)+6: 10 GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d6+3+2+2: (1)+3+2+2: 8 GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d6+3+2+2: (1)+3+2+2: 8 GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2+2: (7)+16+2+2: 27 GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+2+2+7: aliased to 1d6+8+2+2+7: (4)+8+2+2+7: 23 GAME: Ulthan rolls damage1+2+2: aliased to 2d8+9+2+2: (4)+9+2+2: 17 GAME: Thurid rolls 21+5: (8)+21+5: 34
The bone golem hunkers down, massive arms coming up to shield the nest of skulls that make up its torso as the party begins to surround it. And then it rears up, the jaws on all of its skulls opening to emit a cacophonous disharmony of wails before it barrels through the oppositon, heedless of the strikes that catch it as it barrels through sending Skyler, Ulthan and one of the summoned dogs sprawling against the flagstones.
It barrels through the hall, its massive form smashing the corner off the altar as it passes and one of its sweeping footsteps breaking one of the granite pews in half and sending splinters of stone cascading away.
GAME: Thurid rolls 19: (10)+19: 29 GAME: Thurid rolls 2d6+4: (6)+4: 10 GAME: Bryn rolls weapon0+2+2-4: (7)+10+2+2+-4: 17 GAME: Bryn rolls weapon0+2+2-4: (14)+10+2+2+-4: 24 GAME: Bryn rolls weapon0+2+2-4-5: (18)+10+2+2+-4+-5: 23 GAME: Bryn rolls damage0+2+2: aliased to 1d3+4+2+2: (2)+4+2+2: 10 GAME: Bryn rolls damage0+2+2: aliased to 1d3+4+2+2: (2)+4+2+2: 10 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (8)+5: 13
Bryn is getting ready to rush in on the big ol' pile o' bones when Crik spits out some advice. "Got it!" Then... the thing comes rushing in at her?! Well, not quite: it charged for Crik (bad choice when they've got wings, eh?), but that still puts it right next to her. She starts to lift up her blade, then looks at the khazad-forged hand on the hilt and is inspired.
She lowers and leves the blade to her fleshy left and starts punching it with her right, even if her windup gets her smacked for it. "Sinew hewin! Breakin bone! Keep on doin! Til it's gone!" Between her words, her metal fist does just as she calls out, breaking holes into it and pieces from it.
GAME: Haggerty casts Summon Monster II. Caster Level: 6 DC: 18 GAME: Haggerty used a Rod of Lesser Extend.
Haggerty sees more mayhem and a flung friend from another plane. That hurts, but not as much as what happens to the others in the fight! The redhead kneels and gets the summoning candle back out as much as the little enchanted stick of fancy make. He circles the device and opens a little rift to where the wild canines live a dream life most rovers can only hope for. It takes a moment for the next one to manifest by slipping through the very opening extraplanar. Hits are happening from the combined strikes of the heroes. "Keep going, everyone!"
GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20+4+2+2+2: (9)+4+2+2+2: 19
GAME: Ulthan rolls weapon1+2+2: (11)+10+2+2: 25 GAME: Ulthan rolls damage1+2+2: aliased to 2d8+9+2+2: (5)+9+2+2: 18 GAME: Ulthan rolls fortitude: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Bryn rolls fort: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20+7+2: (18)+7+2: 27 GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20+7+2: (12)+7+2: 21 GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20+7+2: (20)+7+2: 29 GAME: Crik rolls fortitude: (6)+2: 8
Ulthan, having fallen prone, crtawls back up swinging, ctahcing the golem in a swinging diagonal that would ahve been very painful on a living being... And was the last smash needed for the bony construct anyway, smashing it up and apart.
The construct loses cohesion with Ulthan's last swing, it's form collapsing into a pile of mismatched and splintered bones. A cloud of grave dust bursts forth from its collapsing form, washing over Ulthan, Crik, Bryn and the summoned dogs. The dust offends the eyes, nose and throat and has a greasy texture and the stench of rotting flesh and mould.
The voice from beyond speaks again, "So you've destroyed my guardians to the last..." he sounds mournful, but continues after a moment. "Come then, if you must. Face me in my domain if your honour demands it. But know this; I will take no joy in your demise, but I /will/ have what is mine. I have paid its price a thousand fold already, and will not be denied the kingdom that is mine by right."
When he's overrun, Skyler can't help but let out a sound that if he was a misogynist would probably be called 'girlish'. Since he is a firm believer in gender equality, though, it instead is more like a high pitched squeaking noise. He falls back, going ass over appetite in a tumble. He recovers easily, though, turning the tumble into a rising handspring.
And with his usual acrobatic flare, he uses the handspring to rebound off the edge of a wall and to his feet... and stops a forward motion, as if he were preparing to sprint. Coz Ulthan downed the golem. Instead, he puts his sword across his shoulder and squints, pinching his nose with his free hand. "Ew. Did it get in your mouths?" He looks mildly horrified, "Can you *taste* it?! I bet it tastes terrible."
He turns at the voice, dropping his hand from his face to take a 'ready' position. "You know, they make packers if you're self conscious about your size." He offers helpfully, "Don't really gotta conquer a kingdom that doesn't seem much interested in you just 'coz your spire is small. But if you want to die, we are always down to help."
It's smashed and broken. That's the good news. That it made such a mess is ... less good news. Bryn hacks and spits to get as much of the greasy-nasty dust out of her mouth (she was chanting and singing, afterall!) then wipes at her left eye (the fleshy one) with her left hand (also the fleshy one). Then she turns towards the voice from beyond.
"Mebbe make 'em tougher next time, ey? Least not so damned messy!" Then she points a metal finger at it. "If'n it really was yers, ye'd have it already! Sounds like ye need yer arse killed 'gain ta remind ye!" She glances to Skyler and snickers as she adds, "Bout how small yer spire is, too."
The big hounds do swell. They spin and flop to get out of the way of the worst. Now that the agitation of combat is gone, they make big eyes at the caller and loll their tongues. The wizard to stand throws treats, but he also points at the gate. Their time is not up and the enemy is strong. Granted, it is only a teensy fraction of an hour that they will be around. Hagg says with an honestly sad tone to his celestial, "I know it is vile and anathema and overly cold, but the owner of the voice must be stopped!" The shinily coated trio trots ahead.. "Everyone? If you eperience ill effects, we will need to treat you! But for now we must go unless we rest?"
Burai casts a quick glance around the crypt. Satisfied that no threats remain lurking (even though he could have easily missed any with such a cursory glance) he turns to face the gate. Hackles up, he moves a few paces back to stand closer to the party, but leaves room to form a line.
But the being on the other side of the gate, to Burai's surprise, seems willing to talk. Burai listens to Skyler's words, then the half-oruch adds his own rumbling response, "Your kingdom? You cannot claim these lands. If you paid for it you've been cheated, for it was not theirs, or any's to give. Even now the great tree above is reclaiming this place. In a few more generations there will be nothign left of these tunnels. But if you make us do nature's work more quickly, we won't hesitate!"
GAME: Ulthan rolls kloc: aliased to knowledge/local: (12)+5: 17 GAME: Skyler rolls knowledge/local: (6)+4: 10
Crik watches in shock as the golem rushes towards him, flapping his wings hurried as he gets out of the way just in time - but then he lets out a shriek cry when Bryn just starts... punching the golem. "Remember not to mention adamantine, do not mention adamantine..." He hurriedly says as he tries to orient him - before Ulthan smashes the golem back down onto pieces. He coughs. He makes a disgusted sound. And then a low mournful caw. "... you should not inhale bone dust." He mournfully says. "Bad for the spirits."
Then the voice calls out again, and the corvid rushes forward. "Who or what are you? What is the kingdom? How many people live there? Is the town part of the kingdom? What are the costs you talk about?" He rapid fire questions the voice - and he naturally has a large notebook in his hands already.
Ulthan spits out, "Hey 'Lord', you sure the kingdom you paid for even exists anymore? Maybe you should look for a collector to sell your authentic sale documents, might reap back some of your costs... Must not be cheap to build in another Plane..." With his augmented size, his mocking yell certainly packs volume.
"Cheated!? Yes!" The voice laughs, there's pain in it, and not an ounce of mirth. "Cheated from the moment of my birth. Do you know how the hells punish fratricide? I do. I was born there, to pay for HIS crimes!" there is sudden anger in the voice, but still pain. "For four hundred years I paid the price of his betrayal! While his kingdom flourished, and struggled, and flourished once more. While he basked in the heavens, I was hunted, I was torn apart again and again and again and AGAIN." the anguished voice cries out.
"So yes, I have been cheated. But I will have what is mine, all the same." there is a long pause. "Come then, or leave me be." the voice speaks, and then the howling wind of the Pale World beyond the gate picks up in intensity as he falls quiet.
"Ronda?" Skyler offers with a furrowed brow, the line forming between his eyes that always happens when he's really, *truly* thinking, "Vaguely recall something from my tutors about it. Independent kingdom, got absorbed into Sendor and Myrridon centuries ago." He pauses, shaking his head ruefully, "Vaguely remember *something* about that, and brothers?"
He straightens up, and frowns, "Your kingdom is gone, man. Absorbed by the Holy Kingdom years ago. The only thing left is for you to be put to rest, willingly or not."
Haggerty nods to the shapeshifter's wisdom, the punchy songstress' challenge, the saber fence's commentary about the harmful substances, the large guy of the mighty swings, the notestaking trapfinder. The faithful spellslinger retorts, "The shabti switch you did not deserve. However! What was built before the mighty tree came into its own is long past. You said so yourself! Four centuries. Your trying to sidestep what is the cycle of all existence is naught. Your underground fortress is now well under a town where good folk makes their home. Leave the world be! What Thul croaked in your dead ears is a lie! Accept the way of things and deal with Her holy decree and you may find a measure of forgiveness in the eyes of the Grey Lady whose image you defiled!"
"He ain' gonna listen," Bryn decides of the voice. "He wants what he wants, wrong or not." After the voice seems to fall quiet, she looks to the others. "So, we goin 'r not? Anybody want patched up, first?" asks the bleeding oruch.
Crik pauses in his quick writing, then looks at the rest of the party. He gestures and then quietly says, "... he does have a good reason to be angry." He whispers, then looks at the gate. "... what is our purpose here?" A folded paper is laid out against the notebook as he begins to sketch it out.
GAME: Bryn rolls spellcraft: (19)+9: 28 GAME: Ulthan rolls spellcraft: (19)+6: 25 GAME: Burai rolls spellcraft: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Skyler rolls knowledge/religion: (4)+1: 5 GAME: Bryn rolls knowledge/religion: (20)+9: 29 GAME: Bryn spends TWO uses of BARDIC PERFORMANCE. GAME: Crik rolls knowledge/religion: (13)+3: 16 GAME: Haggerty rolls knowledge/religion: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Haggerty rolls knowledge/religion: (13)+9: 22 (REROLL)
"Again? Ah- aha. You think I am one of these abominations? That I am dead? That I built this place?" the voice calls out. "Come, see with your own eyes the villain you so despise."
Haggerty squints dubitably. At himself, basically. The familiar's sizable oculars reflect the clear blue gaze and the man with the pointy hat smacks his forehead. His cheeks approximate his braids in shade. The freckly man ahums. "My misconception for which I do apologize. I understand very well now. This does not change much of what I said, though. You were wronged, but that does not change the fact that you cannot demand what you did lose through time. Your claim is over!" Hagg lowers his voice, "I do agree. That miserable being will not listen."
Crik starts to carefully move a few steps closer towards the gate, peeking at it. Then he turns to look at the rest of the party, pointing at it with his pencil. "... I am quite curious to see what is on the other side." Because, corvid science.
Bryn scratches between her ear and braid as she thinks. "Wait. Ye were -born- there... " Some things click and wheels spin (metaphorically); so she ain't exactly the pointiest arrow inna quiver. "Look, t'ain't right ye sufferin fer him, but that don' give ye a free pass ta do the same shite ta everyone else! Ye want us ta come there, but that", she points a fleshy finger at the gate, " works both ways, ey? Why don't ye come over 'ere. Maybe find somethin better ta do than hatin. I love a good scrap, but it ain' everythin. Yer only the villain while yer actin the part."
GAME: Bryn rolls diplomacy: (7)+3: 10
Burai turns his head towards Bryn and a few of the others. Then he pulls back his lips and snarls at the voice beyond the gate: "We've had our fill of traps and hidden enemies! And now you want us to come into your home? Bah! Come here if you dare." A sudden thought occurs to him. "Or if you even CAN! Otherwise we'll pull down this gate, and leave your father's tomb buried forever, and forgotten!"
Haggerty scritches the sides of his nose in thought. "The lady is correct. Verily. You are not undead and you do not have to give to evil. You have a choice. It's not like you are catch on a chopping block. Your kin of sorts gave you pain, your brother defiled the holy imagery. You.." The Aesir pauses his words at an afterthought. "You can have peace. The scales will be more than fair now."
"You are nothing, and no one." Skyler tells the voice quietly, stepping up to stand beside Burai, "Even the history books don't do more than make passing mention of you. Your time is *over* and all that is left is for you to realize you are nothing and your kingdom is not worth the foundation it's built on." He glances around, "This is *your* tomb. All that remains is to see if you quietly fade away or we have to put you down." Beat. "Because we can, and we *will*."
GAME: Skyler rolls intimidate: (17)+11: 28 GAME: Burai rolls intimidate: (20)+4: 24 GAME: Ulthan rolls intimidate: (9)+12: 21
Ulthan says, “Going to wage war while losing, while offered a honorable path out, is both foolish and stupid, and will just lead to your name becoming tainted with the epitheth 'The Fool'.”
There is a long, heavy pause as the adventurers shout their demands, placations and incitations through the portal. Eventually, a figure comes flying towards it, landing on the frozen courtyard outside. He remains far enough from the portal he could flee at a moments notice, but near enough he could come through should they try to close or destroy it. He bears some resemblance to the figure they saw carved into the sarcophagus at the entrance to the tomb- though that figure was an old man, and this is a stunningly beautiful young man. Like an artists rendition of the old king's youth perfected. He has long dark hair, tied back, a chiselled physique clad in golden skin. He wears a white robe that trails the ground and leaves his forearms and chest bare. His flawless visage is spoiled by scars. Countless scars, criss-crossing over every inch of his exposed skin.
"I've no assurances you won't simply try to destroy me, too, if I step through. But if you want to speak, let us speak." he says, from his side of the portal. "If I cannot have his kingdom, what was it for? Centuries of torment?" he asks them, opening his arms imploringly. "What was it for?" he asks, his voice heavy with remembered pain.