Renew the Pact: The Hand of Asumit, p4
Log Info
- Title: Renew the Pact: The Hand of Asummit, Part 4
- Emitter: Whirlpool
- Characters: Seldan, Kravar, Merek, Cryosanthia, Cesran, Serene, Karelin, Aya
- Place: The Wilderness of Alexandros
- Time: Tuesday, May 25, 2021, 8:29 PM
- Summary: A group of adventurers along with Griva Brassbringer went to investigate strange cysts and oddities on a magical ley-line. Arriving, they found the ley-line had vanished, and a field of very fragile crystals, and an overwhelming sensation of wrongness to the magic. Breaking a crystal, a wave of black ooze came forth. It was decided the best approach was to charge up a rod of absorbtion and release a strong spike of magic to 'lance the boil'. This was done and appeared successful, however odd reflections of the party appeared. Merek touched one directly, and it caused a version of him to emerge from the much larger pool of blackness bubbling out of the ground. This Merek split into a few present, then split some more. Battle ensued, with the Hollow Copies saying disturbing things, that Asumit was a conduit, that Unity is better, that they aren't worthy of defense, that everyone abandons each other. After Aya demonstrates some connection between the real Merek and the new one, the man tries an experiment.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol.
Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.
Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Cesran 6'1" 185 Lb Human Male A tall dark-skinned man
Serene 6'2" 175 Lb Eldanar/Charn Female Glacier meets granite meets strawberries.
Karelin 6'2" 256 Lb Human Male Tattooed Korite warrior. Tall, dark and scarred.
Kravar 6'2" 220 Lb Human Male Big Aesir Hero...with wings
Aya 4'7" 105 Lb Shadow Elf Female Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.
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-=--=--=--=--=--=--= NPCS of Note =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Griva Brassbringer Khazdi Female Head of the Alexandrian Chapter of the Resurrection Society
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-=--=--=--=--=--=--= As the GM =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Whirlpool 5'0" Otyugh I am stinky!
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Previously
Kravar is crouched and ready to spring into action, but before he can move lightning flickers across the battlefield and a stray bolt shocks into his chest. It's...well it's lightning, and flashes with the speed of lightning. Hard to pick out even when he's under the effects of preturnatural speed. Or maybe not. The look of irritation he shoots Merek after he's singed by the flickering energy - by what might be construed as friendly fire - shows that perhaps he has some inkling of what just happened.
"It appears magic won't work." He muses. "But if they're flesh and blood...their flesh can be rent! Their blood spilt! HRAAAHH!" He raises his glowing blade and launches himself into the air towards the first creature.
Fake Serene flew into the air. Fake Seldan is on the ground still, about 10 feet from Fake Merek.
Cesran winces as his T-rex's take a little lightning damage. They roar there displeasure, but continue their attacks. It seems that this prey is a wily one or they aren't used to moving this fast yet as they take two big chops each and come up empty. Cesran eyes the sky as he sees a Fake Serene fly up and he takes a deep breath as he starts to cast. Two colossus rocks form 30 feet away from Fake Selene and then rocket towards her and slams into her and her little fake griffin too. The shattered rocks then fall to the ground having done there job. Cesran acting quickly casts another spell using his rod of quickening and shoots a disintegrate spell at fake Seldan. He hits, but the spell only has minimal effects.
Griva Brassbringer is still nowhere to be seen, but she can be heard. The low key chant of her summoning magics fill the area. Powerful summons, too. She's a competent wizard, after all.
"I'm... really conflicted here!" Cryosanthia shouts, feeling fuzzy in the head, and staring slack-jawed: Another Seldan has appeared, another Serene.
It sounds like Seldan at least. The other Serene is part griffon. "Silver Empress! Is this an Eluna thing? Oh Ancestors." She feels her thoughts stretching back, but there's no memories in her blood that rise to help. Only the sensation of long past eyes, staring with a shrug.
Her instincts are telling her to help out the larger lizards. As much as she might delight in darting around between their legs like an opportunistic raptor, her higher functions are telling her that's a bad idea. Except that forebrain hasn't helped much lately and all ideas are seemingly both good and bad.
"Someone tell me what to do? Seldan? Am I supposed to attack you? Should I use harsh language?" She drifts down, her feet touching and then she leaps forward to stab at the Faux-Merek. Her icicle dagger cuts coldly, spilling snowflakes when it cuts in. She adds a taunt, "We need to talk!"
When presented with a puzzling situation such as this, Karelin does what he does best, and charges in with his runeblade in a half-swording position. He jams his sword into the crook of hollow-Merek's neck, point first. If nothing else, it should get his attention!
Now
"..Griva," says the ...anti-Seldan, suddenly.
His eyes lock on her, despite her being invisible... and he immediately advances towards her, shedding apparently any concerns about the rest of you for the time being. His sword glows black with a nimbus of energy. "The Unity hungers for us all. It can be so much better than you think. Open yourself to connection. You don't need to hide anymore."
He then brings his sword down on something -- presumably Griva's location -- in a shower of sparks. Her magical shielding seems to be holding for the moment, but gods know for how long.
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Merek just cast disintegrate. On Merek." GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+14: (15)+14: 29 GAME: Merek rolls fortitude: (4)+13: 17 GAME: Merek rolls fortitude: (12)+13: 25 <OOC> Merek says, "3 RPP spent." <OOC> Whirlpool says, "You resist your disintegration!" GAME: Whirlpool rolls 4d6: (18): 18 <OOC> Merek says, "Also I have 5 DR/Evil, if my angelic aspect is still up" <OOC> Whirlpool says, "It won't protect oyu from the spell damage, but duly noted"
In the meantime, Merek's neck and head extend, his spine twisting gruesomely, as he casts another spell. A green-grey beam of energy lances out at Merek-Prime and slice into him but fortunately he is *not* disintegrated.
"Do you hear the screaming?" he asks Merek, "You're so close to it already."
Stepping out of him, tearing free from bulging, ever distorting flesh, is another, like Merek was the door and it walked through.
A gravelly voice of a figured drenched in blood and viscera to the point of being unrecognizable.
"Bear witness."
And then, behind him, a Sith-Makar.
Also covered in blood, her scales riven with black stains that seems to pulse.
<OOC> Seldan says, "I will interpose between Hollow me and Griva and go full defense. Not attack, just defend."
Seldan's eyes widen at the attack on invisible Griva, and in a moment of hesitation, a measure of understanding dawns.Drawing his own blade, he takes it in both hands and swiftly interposes himself between the invisible Griva and the not-him. "No! You will face me, and none other. None other shall suffer at my hand. You are mine, and mine alone."
He raises the blade, but not to strike. To block. To defend. He makes no attempt to attack the not-him, merely to defend himself and others. "It is part of me, do I seek to destroy it, it will destroy me instead. Do I allow it to attack, it may destroy itself!"
Serene assess the situation. Hollow Serene in the air, Hollow Seldan attacking Griva, Hollow Merek summoning more Hollows, engaged by T-Rexes and Karelin, Kravar and Cryo... for now.
<OOC> Serene says, "I think I'm going to try to hit hollow Karelin with a chains of light." <OOC> Serene says, "THen use my rod to quick cast knight's calling on Hollow Serene." <OOC> Serene says, "Silver will keep us within shortish range of the engagement for now." GAME: Serene casts Chains of Light. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26 GAME: Serene casts Knight's Calling. Caster Level: 20 DC: 23 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+23: (18)+23: 41 (Hollow Karelin Will) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+33: (8)+33: 41 (Hollow Serene Will)
That figure may be visually unrecognizeable, the trend that has happening paired with the nature of the new hollows' entrance leaves little doubt in Serene's mind who it is a copy of. While Silver keeps himself and his paladin airborne, circling around the battlefield, Serene calls upon Eluna and summons chains of golden light upon the bloody Karelin.. though like his truer version, this one is more than nimble enough to evade them. As for her own doppleganger, Serene briefly produces her quickening rod once again, pointing it to the winged tragedy and shouting a challenge.. it does not seem to have drawn the flying hollow's attention.
Merek has a theory. One he wishes to attempt. A redirection of a part of the pillar of light towards the protean timeline copies. The pillar, in question - that is draining the land of dark magic, is part of the rod that Griva put down. It lanced the cyst that lead to these folks emerging. It should be simple: Manipulate the magic to draw from them as well, draining them into it, using magic.
Magic as the conduit.
Magic, magic, magic.
All nice in theory. Assuming one works how to do that. Spellcraft is the answer. Figure out about how they're here, then how to use that energy against them.
GAME: Merek rolls spellcraft: (11)+25: 36
The world seems to be so small and so infinite, while Merek watches the creatures, then he sees the ones that look like his friends, all coming from him. The man notices the disintegration ray come his way, while he tries to hold up a hand to keep it away. His magic meets with magic, and it draws away along his arm, evaporating it into little but a base ash.
The man stands there while blood drips from that arm that was there.
"I'd rather that you, not kill both of me, Cryosanthia." The man smiles that way, even though he is armless. Seems that he's trying to keep fighting. You know, everything up to this point he thinks about. From the times that he was killed, to times back in the Iron Hells, then even to what he faced with the illithid.
All that he is and was in one moment. He thinks back to the cosmic portal that brought all the timelines together. What might be, what could be. Were it any other Merek, he would chuckle at the Quantum State Wave Function. The dream of science that went away with the Merkabah. He knows more than magic. He knows what it took to keep him from insanity.
Cosmic, the angel within that wants for him to protect the people. He backs up to that rod while he takes a look at it. Griva is doing that magic, while he seems to watch and try to consider. "Everyone, I am going to attempt a thing in a moment, I need you to hold them off me while I figure this thing out."
The dark path of the infinite timelines seem to take his mind into every direction, seeking for something, that he might already know, or that he might know in another time and space. A look then to Serene and Seldan while he seems to consider Cesran, "You, I'll need your assistance in a moment! Try to keep them away!" His only hand lifts up while that glove of magic from Merkabah he keeps will lift.
<OOC> Karelin is going to Full Attack PA Stunning Assault the false-Karelin, since he's right there :) GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+43+1-5: (6)+43+1+-5: 45 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+43+1-5: (18)+43+1+-5: 57 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+38+1-5-5: (4)+38+1+-5+-5: 33 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+33+1-5-5: (6)+33+1+-5+-5: 30 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+28+1-5-5: (8)+28+1+-5+-5: 27 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d10+31+15: (9)+31+15: 55 GAME: Karelin rolls 2d10+62+30: (2)+62+30: 94 <OOC> Karelin says, "And 2 DC30 Fort saves. o.O :D" GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+23: (6)+23: 29 (Hollow Karelin Will) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+23: (2)+23: 25 (Hollow Karelin Will) <OOC> Karelin says, "ITS REALLY ME" <OOC> Whirlpool says, "It IS Karelin" <OOC> Whirlpool says, "Karelin's capacity to fail fort saves is LEGENDARY"
"Kor! Witness!" Karelin sees himself, and he knows what do to -- he seizes the initiative! Launching a flurry of blows with his war-sword, he strikes both sides of his counterpart's head with ringing nows -- concussive hits with the adamantine blade that crease the helmet and set the ears ringing. His follows-ups are parried, but the first helicoptering attack bears fruit -- if only for a moment. ...but a moment is all they need, right?
Aya arrived to a not-entirely-Merek (or one from a different dimension and/or time) creating havok. First with corruption of and/or corruption by magic. Shortly followed by summoning more ... things. She further witnessed said things withstand or ignore most everything that the rather potent group of peers could throw at them.
Still... why Merek? Or the others? Is there a deeper connection? There is one way to find out.
She vanishes from her current location to reappear behind Merek. No, not that one. The one that arrived here originally with the others. Before he might inquire, or object, she launches a fist at his face... though her eyes shift more to the Hollow Merek at the time it might impact. It is just a theory, and yet ... somehow ... simply testing it, regardless of the outcome, makes her feel quite content and soothed.
Promptly afterwards, she vanishes again, reappearing some distance from all manner of Mereks and the other hollowed. Only now does she offer an explanation. "A hypothesis."
Or perhaps the brain damage from... whatever that was before.
It raises a good question. Are the melee attacks actually having any effect on the eldrich Merek? Given how Merek has violently unravelled into other people and is still unbravelling, it's *really* hard to say. Biologically, things are gruesome enough as it is to be like '...well...'
Stretched, elongated body parts, bits of other people attached. He's some unearthly Thing.
Aya's punch strikes Merek squarely. The real Merek that is, not the copy. It's clear there's a reaction from the anti-Merek. A quiver. That's a clear indication of some kind of link, perhaps, but the nature of it isn't exactly clear, nor does it appear that doing harm to the copies, or they to you, has the same impact.
Strange.
<OOC> Kravar says, "I guess I will full attack it then, 8 times" <OOC> Kravar will use swords and unarmed strikes (the latter will have Bane: outsider) GAME: Kravar rolls 33-2+1: (11)+33+-2+1: 43 GAME: Kravar rolls 33-2+1-5: (2)+33+-2+1+-5: 29 GAME: Kravar rolls 33-2+1-10: (19)+33+-2+1+-10: 41 GAME: Kravar rolls 33-2+1-15: (4)+33+-2+1+-15: 21 GAME: Kravar rolls 29-2+1: (19)+29+-2+1: 47 GAME: Kravar rolls 29-2+1-5: (9)+29+-2+1+-5: 32 GAME: Kravar rolls 29-2+1-10: (8)+29+-2+1+-10: 26 GAME: Kravar rolls 33-2+1: (9)+33+-2+1: 41 GAME: Kravar rolls 33-2+1-10: (17)+33+-2+1+-10: 39 GAME: Kravar rolls 1d10+16: (7)+16: 23 GAME: Kravar rolls 2d10+32: (19)+32: 51 GAME: Kravar rolls 1d10+16: (4)+16: 20 GAME: Kravar rolls 2d6+12: (8)+12: 20 GAME: Kravar rolls 2d6+12: (7)+12: 19
Writhing chunks of flesh are torn free from Merek-Hollow.
Kravar's expression grows grim as another abberation detaches from Merek. And then yet another. A memory flickers through his mind, a tactic that works well against fiends...and aberrations (and Solars, ahem). If that's what it really is, Kravar wears an amulet that imbues him with the power to strike even harder against such enemies. Swift slashes of his sword are mixed with blows from his knee and a foot. It's hard to tell if any one method of attack in particular is more effective than another. But if there's one thing Kravar has in abundance, it is different ways to inflict bodily harm upon an enemy.
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+16: (18)+16: 34 (Silver Reflex)
Serene-hollow rises from prone, grimacing in pain. The wounds seem more grievous to her than previously thought! Being clapped with two collosus rocks will do that. Chains of 'Light' strike Silver as Serene-Hollow advances on Cesran, flying up into his face.
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "She does not LOOK like she has reach." <OOC> Whirlpool says, "It is a surprise discovery!" GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+30: (10)+30: 40 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+10: (5)+10: 15 <OOC> Cesran says, "Okay I'll quick cast wall of stone," <OOC> Cesran says, "trying to place a 2.5 inch thick, 10 foot high, 100 foot barrier between Merek and everyone else. GAME: Cesran casts Wall of Stone. Caster Level: 20 DC: 27 <OOC> Cesran says, "So DC is 34, for concentration check." GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+12+2: (19)+20+12+2: 53 <OOC> Cesran says, "Stone Walls go up around Merek to try to block others off from him so he can do his thing." <OOC> Cesran says, "Casting defensively" <OOC> Cesran says, "DC for Shapeshift into a Huge Brass Dragon is 33." GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+12+4+2: (1)+20+12+4+2: 39 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+1+2: (20)+20+1+2: 43 (CT-Rex1 Bite) (THREAT) GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+1+2: (3)+20+1+2: 26 (CT-Rex2 Bite) GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+1+2: (3)+20+1+2: 26 (Confirmed) GAME: Cesran rolls 4d6+22: (13)+22: 35 <OOC> Cesran says, "Can False Merek be grabbed?" GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+32: (1)+32: 33 (EPIC FAIL)
Cesran sees that the false Serene flies up towards him and why wouldn't she, he did hit her with two dummy thick rocks. He figures out as she gets right in his face that she can see him so he goes to back off a bit to give him some room. He starts to cast, but gets slashed for the effort. He'd dealt with injuries before as he finishes the spell and a stone wall 10 feet high and 100 feet long springs up to try to create a barrier between Merek and the others so he had time to do what he's going to do.
He then focuses on Serene and takes a deep breath. He casts more defensively and then starts to shift into a Huge Brass dragon. His wings beat to keep himself aloft as he stares down at the fake Serene. His T-rexes chase after the fake Merek and one gets a good bite out of him.
"Augh!"
Griva's call of pain can be heard as she stumbles back, invisbily, putting up a cloud of dust in her movements. "They're ... " She scurries back behind Seldan even more, letting his interposition serve her purpsoe and she begins to cast something. "I can't *see*," she says, anguished.
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "The rest sounds good. Other you just got here, and is holding a knife. :)" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Okay, Boots of striding and springing is +5 to acrobatics," <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "and end up in front of other me, then try disarms." GAME: Cryosanthia rolls acrobatics+5: (18)+20+5: 43 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon1: (1)+17: 18 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon1-5: (2)+17+-5: 14 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon1-10: (1)+17+-10: 8 (EPIC FAIL) <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "oh, wait, that's a full attack, which I can't do if I move more than 5', so just the first epic fail..." <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "also I don't have Imp Disarm, so she gets an AOO" GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+17: (4)+17: 21
"Scales!"
Cryo's thoughts slam into an ice wall. She stares. At herself. A version of herself covered in blood. Her hide riven and stained. Corrupted. A self she might have seen in a mirror one day in a tower long ago, or her imagination. Herself at her worst. "Maugrim violating the Empress."
She breaks off from fighting Merek. Well, he moved on. Getting away from the other Karelin and out from underfoot of the T-Rexs seems like a really good idea.
"So, uh... we what? We fight ourselves but don't fight ourselves? It's a part of me? Which part? The bad part? The happy part? I don't think that's the happy part." There's a lot of anxiety in her voice, her wings hurt. Unwise decisions seem more and more like a good idea. Fighting herself, sure.
She leaps, an acrobatic dance flowing around the other combatants to end up in front of her self. Crouched low, bouncing her weight from foot to foot, tail lashing, whitescale facing stainedscale. She attacks!
"You shouldn't have gone and you shouldn't have stayed! You made a Mistake and you kept making it! You witnessed and assisted terrible things! You dragged your Cihuaa into it and got your foundling killed. You shouldn't have trusted your instincts or trusted Seldan and people that trust you die. You led your clutch-mates to death. You're going to die now and leave Lily motherless, again and the best time of your life was when you were in Her Tower and Her power and at least weren't making things worse!"
Cryo went for the throat. Metaphorically. Physically, she whips her icicle dagger at the knife her other holds. After all her elegant maneuvers, it's a clumsy thrust where she almost drops it. Copy-Cryo retaliates, in a likewise fumbling fashion.
This may take a while.
Cryo huffs, sounding concillatory, "Listen. If you're anything like me, at all in any way, you want some banter. Remember the tax demon? Let's dance and sing, then stab."
There's so much going on Cryo doesn't have time to respond to it all. Until Cesran turns into a Huge Brass Dragon. Her jaw drops. She stares.
"Scales!"
A new fleshy doorway from a place of darkness emerges from Merek. Out walks another fighure, drenched in blood and viscera that sloughs off its person.
- ... oh no.
This one immediately lifts into the air, hovers, and shouts. Shouts like thunder. It's primal and anguished in its sound, but somehow empty.
Lightning crackels to life around this duplicate of Cesran.
"We failed. All that was crumbled. The future, the past -- all gone. Asumit held magic in his hands, only to realize too late that he was just a conduit, a connection. It's too late for you, too late for us. There's only the broken things left."
He brings his hands up, begins to cast a spell. For a moment, time seems to slow to a crawl and Cesran -- that anti Cesran's -- hands move at a speed unparalleled. Beside him spring to life a pair of twisted, flying creatures, their bodies inside-out, organs oin the outside. Inverted and broken. They howl in joint agony, their two voices as one.
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Seldan-Hollow engages Seldan!" GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+22: (4)+22: 26 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 24: (11)+24: 35 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+19: (19)+19: 38 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+14: (10)+14: 24 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+12: (4)+12: 16
Two Seldans!
The ... newly arrived version sighs as Seldan-proper interposes himself. "I thought as much. You're still holding on. I was like that once too -- but then I realized how pointless it was. They're going to let you down. They let *us* down. Look at them -- can you really say that they deserve our protection? Our blood? Our sweat? Our tears? In time, you'll resent them more and more until it all falls apart. It did for me -- and now each of us exists in a shard of our own personal nightmare. You can't run from the way things are falling apart. "There's no *future*, no past, just the eternal empty now."
Twin swords clash as he attacks Seldan, slipping past his guarwd once to strike him.
GAME: Seldan rolls sense motive: (12)+19: 31 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1: (2)+24: 26 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1-5: (15)+24+-5: 34 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1-10: (10)+24+-10: 24 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1: (9)+24: 33 <OOC> Seldan says, "And a swift to lay on hands." GAME: Seldan refreshes special ability pools. GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS. GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (21): 21 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+10: (6)+10: 16 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+10: (4)+10: 14 <OOC> Whirlpool says, "you b oth hit each one time." <OOC> Whirlpool says, "Which cracks me up."
The words strike Seldan like a blow across the face, more painful perhaps than the sword that lays open his forearm, but with it comes a wash of understanding. Pained, perhaps, but that anguish clears after a moment, into determination. "Ah, but you do not understand. Among all those who have turned their backs on me when I needed them most, there are two that have never done so. For those two, for Her, and for him, shall I throw you and your lies down. You have lost your way, and I have not lost mine, for truly is Her path without error."
He does not seem to care now who may be around him as the twin swords clash again, so thoroughly is he locked into this fight. There is no rage, only determination there, although the lone blow he lands nearly mirrors the one landed on him. "And truly are the innocent of Ea yet deserving, whatever may have been done to me."
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Cryo-Hollow!" GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+17: (1)+17: 18 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+17: (12)+17: 29 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+18: (1)+18: 19 (EPIC FAIL) <OOC> Merek says, "IT IS CRYO."
Cryosanthias ... seem to be fighting.
If you can call it fightijng. Their knives are ineffectually being sliced at each other and, let's be hoinest, it may be a little embarassing at the moment.
It's just ineffectual.
The new Crysoanthia sheds blood off her personage, then whispers something to her opposite number.
"Unworthy! We were always unworthy!"
"They've LEFT us! All goine, all gone, all alone. No nest, no clutch, no family."
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+20: (7)+20: 27 (Hollow Cesran CT-Rex1) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+20: (10)+20: 30 (Hollow Cesran CT-Rex2)
Twin Tyrannosaurs snap at Karelin, obeying Cesran's orders, while the other Cesran begins to cast a new spell.
... Black energy erupts in flames around him. That can't be good.
<OOC> Serene says, "Time to land on notCesran." <OOC> Serene says, "Mounted Skirmisher allows Silver and I to move at Silver's speed and still allow me to full attack." GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+3+1-2-6: (6)+20+5+5+3+1+-2+-6: 32 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+3+1-2-6: (11)+20+5+5+3+1+-2+-6: 37 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+3+1-2-5-6: (7)+20+5+5+3+1+-2+-5+-6: 28 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+3+1-2-10-6: (15)+20+5+5+3+1+-2+-10+-6: 31 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+3+1-2-15-6: (7)+20+5+5+3+1+-2+-15+-6: 18 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+3+1-2-6: (13)+20+5+1+3+1+-2+-6: 35 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+3+1-2-5-6: (20)+20+5+1+3+1+-2+-5+-6: 37 (THREAT) GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+3+1-2-10-6: (4)+20+5+1+3+1+-2+-10+-6: 16 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+17+1: (6)+17+1: 24 (Silver Bite) <OOC> Serene says, "And confirmation roll for the one 20." (Confirmed) GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+3+1-2-6: (14)+20+5+1+3+1+-2+-6-5: 31 GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+3+12: (8)+5+5+3+12: 33 GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+3+12: (1)+5+5+3+12: 26 GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+3+12: (6)+5+5+3+12: 31 GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+2+1+3+12: (2)+2+1+3+6: 14 GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+2+1+3+12+1d3+2+1+3+12: (1)+2+1+3+12+(3)+2+1+3: 28 <OOC> Serene says, "But for one round he's affected by dimensional anchor."
As Seldan switches to an offensive posture, Serene comes to her own conclusions about this confrontation.. and as yet another duplicate, this one of the archmage, comes into being, she and Silver simply... drop. The gryphon tucks his wings and the pair plummet.. though for only the few seconds it takes to close the distance. Massive wings unfurl once more to arrest their descent and Serene leans, maintaining her seating with legs alone as she puts sword and shield to use. She pays little heed to her own doppleganger, at least for now... either avoiding the creature deliberately, or simply dismissing it.
GAME: Merek rolls diplomacy: (5)+29: 34 <OOC> Merek says, "RPP for reroll" GAME: Merek rolls diplomacy: (8)+29: 37
Merek looks from the hood which he wears often enough and along that scarf while he draws a hand to his cheek where he is punched, nodding a little to himself. The man seems to consider while the sleeve of his attire shifts among the wind. "You can feel all our emotions, you know what it's like to be us, to see us." The man takes a look along to all of them, while he begins to walk towards the one that seems to be him. "You know," he holds up the only hand which he has. "You are me, and I am you. Why would you do all of this. All for what some Asumit did? We are here, your past and future might be no longer, but ours is. I know the way you think about everyone here, or at least the way I would."
The man looks to all of them, to Prime and Faux Cryosanthia, Seldan, Cesran, and to Karelin and Serene. "I love all of you, and I wouldn't want to do anything to... You know, this is. None of you wanted for this. We can change it, we still can!"
The man looks to everyone, "Cryosanthia, don't listen to what she says, she's as hurt as you, and she's been through the same, she lost everything." Then to Seldan, "He did as well, don't, what others did in the past, won't determine all the future. You must look within." Then to Serene, "She wanted to defend all that was Light. These are not tests, these are not parts of us. They are us."
The man will look at Merek, then nods a bit, "We can change it, you need to guide us. Tell us about what we need to do to change all the world!" He points to everyone, "YOU KNOW ME! YOU KNOW THE WAY THIS WILL END FOR ME! SO BURN ME IF YOU WILL! IF NOT!" he then swings a fist into the monster, if he can. "THEN STAND UP AND REALIZE WHAT WE ARE!"
<OOC> Karelin will Full Attack Stunning Assault Hollow-K, no PA this time. GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+44-5: (6)+44+-5: 45 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+44-5: (4)+44+-5: 43 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+39-5: (19)+39+-5: 53 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+34-5: (3)+34+-5: 32 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d20+29-5: (13)+29+-5: 37 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d10+31: (10)+31: 41 GAME: Karelin rolls 1d10+31: (10)+31: 41 GAME: Karelin rolls 2d10+62: (12)+62: 74 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+23: (5)+23: 28 (Hollow Karelin Fort) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+23: (11)+23: 34 (Hollow Karelin Fort) GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+23: (9)+23: 32 (Hollow Karelin Fort)
Karelin launches another flurry at his counterpart, himself, striking hard cuts and another bell-ringing blow across the helmet. He, for the moment, ignores the T-Rexes.
OOC and Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 3 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
27 Karelin-Hollow 1
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25 Cesran 1
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23 Griva Brassbrin 1
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21 Cryosanthia 5
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18 Hollowed Merek 1
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18 Seldan-Hollow 1
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14 Seldan 1
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12 Cryo-Hollow 1
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12 Cesran-Hollow 1
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>> 8 Serene 1 <<
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8 Merek 1
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6 Karelin 1
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6 Kravar 1
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6 Aya 6
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3 Serene-Hollow 1
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==============================================================================
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "This isn't a case of me bemoaning my lack of effectiveness. I apologize if it sounded as such. I'm just noting that none of us are evil."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Speak for yourself."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "I heard that Merek dude is a bad guy."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "I heard he's just misunderstood."
[WhirlChan] Cesran says, "My Celestial T-rexes couldn't smite your doppleganger you aren't evil. ;)"
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "T-rexes head too small they don't really understand good or evil."
[WhirlChan] Seldan says, "No. Mmm, let me see something. The doppelgangers may not be willing to attack us, but they will go after other members of the party."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Uh."
[WhirlChan] Seldan says, "That may be because hurting us, hurts them."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Merek disintegrated merek."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "Merek's attacked MErek."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "Yes."
[WhirlChan] Seldan says, "A point."
[WhirlChan] Cryosanthia says, "we have to kill both Mereks"
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "And almost killed him."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "And didn't look all that bothered."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "But damn, that would have been nice."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Merek is going to have words for Cryo after this."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, ">:/"
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "'Kill both mereks'"
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "u wot"
[WhirlChan] Seldan says, "No."
[WhirlChan] Kravar says, "I've got it. We'll capture the hollow merek and put him in your jail cell. Two birds with one stone."
[WhirlChan] Cryosanthia says, "HA"
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "What could possibly go wrong."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "A scapegoat."
[WhirlChan] Cryosanthia says, "I do think, since Aya's attack on Real Merek somewhat effected Hollow-Merek, and nothing else we've done to ourselves seems to have, that perhaps getting Merek unconscious might break the link."
[WhirlChan] Kravar thinks we should just stall for time, protect Griva and listen more than we talk. Have a feeling these hollows are from the future and are dropping some clues as to what went wrong for them.
<OOC> Seldan says, "There."
[WhirlChan] Cryosanthia says, "That's a cool option too"
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "They're Protean entities, an amalgam of what is was and could be, probably."
[WhirlChan] Kravar says, "They are attacking us, but we haven't seen them do anything to overly worry us (ICly that is). Other than try to kill Griva who is an NPC/non-adventurer and therefore supremely vulnerable."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "They almost one-shot Merek."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "Well, yeah, the disintegrate was troubling."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "I'm pretty sure they want to kill us all."
[WhirlChan] Boshter says, "Yeah, Merek did try to disintegrate Merek. :)"
[WhirlChan] Boshter says, "But they've only had one round so far really, in most cases."
[WhirlChan] Boshter says, "And Anti-CEsran arrived. ;)"
[WhirlChan] Kravar shrugs, ICly it looked like he tried to cast a spell and Merek shook it off.
[WhirlChan] Boshter says, "True :)"
[WhirlChan] Kravar says, "OOCly it's not all that far from what happened."
[WhirlChan] Boshter says, "If you don't have spellcraft to know what was cast!"
[WhirlChan] Cryosanthia haz spellcraft
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "I mean he is missing an arm."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "So."
[WhirlChan] Cesran says, "We have done a lot of damage to Fake Merek more than real Merek could take"
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "It disintegrated off."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Anyway my next thing will be to do my plan."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "So we'll see how that goes once I have the info."
[WhirlChan] Kravar says, "Well ICly...we could very well thenk that real Merek is tougher than he looks. Survived the arm thing, being dragged off to hell, weeks in prison, etc."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "You're not wrong."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Merek is built of Adamantium mentally now."
[WhirlChan] Kravar is ICly, sadly used to these uber bad guy bosses that eat 100s of HP worth of damage without it slowing then down.
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Merek vs. Nanite Swarm. Merek vs. Merkabah Giant Goblin."
[WhirlChan] Kravar says, "Merek did you pose getting your arm disintegrate off? I must have missed that."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "He did yeah."
[WhirlChan] Kravar says, "Also that is how you choose to handle a successful save? :P"
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Yes."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Also yes."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "I know Regenerate."
[WhirlChan] Merek shrugs.
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Tis but a scratch."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "Just imagine Merek with a little baby arm for a little while."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Merek realized the truth of what they are."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "or well"
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "What the connection is."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Merek punches Merek for not Merek'ing enough to be Merek."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "Maybe Merek is on to something. Maybe we should be trying to reson with this... things..."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "reason."
[WhirlChan] Cryosanthia says, "Um... wasn't I?"
[WhirlChan] Cryosanthia says, "like maybe I should ahve asked for some rolls"
[WhirlChan] Cesran says, "I will right after I stop fake Cesran from casting."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "The thing is, Merek's pretty sure they're not aspects of us, they ARE us from an aborted timeline."
[WhirlChan] Cryosanthia says, "I don't think anyone here is in any danger from full attack strength me or copy-me."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Driven mad."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Only Cryo's pride."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "Merek managed to a connection with spellcraft and Aya's action."
[WhirlChan] Merek says, "They are linked to us emotionally."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "And you too Cryo."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "Sorry. Big scenes aren't my strong suit."
[WhirlChan] Serene says, "Small ones wither for that matter."
<OOC> Whirlpool ...
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Okay."
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "I'm just dying at this image of two Cryos flailing ineffectually at each other."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Yes, let the slap fight commence!"
<OOC> Whirlpool ded.
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Pose it, Cryo"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Cryo-Hollow!"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I attack me verbally!"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "GASP"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "and maybe some friendly stabs to keep me on my toes"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "oh wait"
<OOC> Cryosanthia grins :)
<OOC> Whirlpool XD
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+17: (1)+17: 18 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+17: (12)+17: 29
<OOC> Merek says, "Rofl."
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+18: (1)+18: 19 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Merek says, "IN"
<OOC> Merek says, "CREDIBLE"
<OOC> Whirlpool dead.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "IT IS ME!"
<OOC> Whirlpool is just dead.
<OOC> Merek says, "IT IS CRYO."
<OOC> Cesran says, "The slap fight continues"
<OOC> Merek says, "IT IS LITERALLY."
<OOC> Merek says, "HER."