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Post by Alucard on Mar 17, 2021 14:58:12 GMT
It all happened relatively quickly as he approched the jagged stairs leading further down the way. The creatures were upon them, giant starving rats driven insane by their insatiable desire to fill their bellies, their hunger so great it clouded and bypassed their natural desire to avoid creatures larger then themselves. Each creature had attacked, the one that had jumped Alucard managed to find a way to bypass his armor and hit home, sinking its razor sharp teeth into his skin making him growl in displeasure. Emma, for all her frightened and timid nature cast off a spell that seemed to shake the creatures giving her a moments respite from her own attacker. Steffon while bit in the ankle wasted little time drawing his rapier and crushing his foes skull in and puncturing its brain matter. The bard quick sheathed his blade and moved opposite his former position with a look of calculation upon his face as he surveyed the scene.As for Alucard he chuckled as he drew his long sword, lowering his shield he twirled the blade quickly and then brought it down upon the large rats neck, cutting through its spine and flesh with ease before decapitating it and kicking its body away from himself. The urge to lick the dripping blood from his blade overwhelmed the mercenary, he savored the wetness of it before he cracked his neck from side to side as he strode over toward Emma, passing behind her like the wind before planting himself next to her and the only remaining foe they had."Put the creature out of its misery child, finish the job!" Rolls Kill Rat Lick side of blade savoring its blood Move Tactically beside Emma
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Post by Indifferent on Mar 17, 2021 18:29:27 GMT
The scent of burnt hair and charred flesh filled Emma's nostrils, causing her to stifle in disgust. The detestable rats noticed her falter and hissed in their excitement. In retaliation, one lunged at her, grabbing onto her arm with its sharp teeth before wrenching back with a chunk of her flesh.
"Ah," yelled the young priestess, nearly dropping her staff as tears welled up in her eyes from the pain.
The thought of running and the fear of death never penetrated her mind so deeply. In a craze, she swung her staff wildly as one of the creatures ran by, easily ducking beneath her thrashing. The beast seemed to have set its sights on Steffon. Ordinarily, Emma would've been concerned for his wellbeing, but her mind was unstable. All she could think about was her impending doom.
Blood dripped from the girl's wound as she shook like a leaf while panting as she held what little ground she could in front of the four-legged fiend. Despair had plagued her mind. She was nearly ready to give up and accept the fate that the goddess Lliira had afforded her until the words of Alucard reached her ears.
"Y-yes," she replied between gasps, reaffirming her grip on her staff.
Whether he meant to or not, Emma took the vampire words as encouragement, as though he believed she had the power to protect herself from the vile beings that besieged her. Focusing her gaze on the creature, the young priested harnessed the sacred energy of her patron once more.
A swirling ball of light appeared on the high end of Emma's staff before she shouted, "Holy ray!" In a burst of radiance, a beam of light erupted from the orb. It dug deep into the rocky ledge while leaving a scorched path in its wake on its way toward the beast.
Unfortunately, Emma's inexperience became evident. She missed her target entirely. All she managed to accomplish was making the creature more angered. With her jaw agape, the young priestess fell to her knees in shock. She could no longer muster the will to stand before the beast after being struck with the realization of how useless she actually was. Be it a test from the goddess Lliira or her divine will, Emma could only shed tears as she drowned in a sea of hopelessness.Actions Get hit hard Miss opportunity attack Miss another attack Cry helplessly
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Post by Alucard on Mar 17, 2021 19:28:55 GMT
Emma had appeared to heed the vampires words as he stood next to her. A bright flashing of light emitted with the intent of burning away the last remaining creature that was before them. But when the light faded it still stood and the young female began to break down into tears, the pain and the frustration was clear as day. Alucard had long since lost the ability to pity mortal creatures, but this one was a mess.
Luckily enough for her the rat creature realizing its predicament and the fact that it’s brethren had already been slaughtered turned to flee, opening an opportunity for the mercenary to plunge his long sword into its back snapping its spine and forcing the light in its eyes to flutter away as its life force escaped it. Slinging his blade to the side gore splattered across the ground before Alucard sheathed his blade with an audible clink. Their foes were dispatched such as they were but the little one definitely seemed the worse for wear. It had been many moons since he had tapped into his old powers of yore, the powers he used in his previous life. He no longer believed in or gave prayer to any higher beings, but if anything his hatred and his desire for vengeance was all he truly needed to sustain the powers of his order. “Child, tears have no place upon the field of battle, things will not always go your way... and things will undoubtedly not get any easier moving forward.”Placing a large hand upon her head a slight glow emanated from Alucard’s palm and radiated throughout his ally. The energies working to stitch her wounds and energize her body. “We must be more vigilant moving forward... there will be tougher foes than this holed up in this place.”Alucard looked over at the bard before turning his attention towards the stairs. “Are we ready to move forward or do you two need a moments respite?” Rolls Kill Rat with attack of opportunity Flick blood and gore off of sword before sheathing Use lay on hands upon Emma to heal 5 HP
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coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
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Post by coomer on Mar 18, 2021 16:06:49 GMT
His position was a good one, but it hadn’t been needed. His fingers hovered dangerously near the crossbow that Emma had given him, but the rats had been dealt with by the other two before he was needed. With a sigh he relaxed his arm, stepping backwards and sitting down on the floor with his back up against the wall. With a tentative grimace, he examined his ankle. The cut hadn’t severed any muscles or tendons that he could tell, but it stung and poured with blood nonetheless. He watched with jealous eyes as Alucard released a strange light towards Emma, apparently healing her wounds. ”I don’t suppose you have any more of that healing power?” he asked with a smirk, rolling up the remains of his trouser leg to his knee. Blood stained the torn bottoms of them, just as it had stained the floor around him. ”Those stairs might be a problem…”
Rolls
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Post by Indifferent on Mar 18, 2021 16:40:57 GMT
Down on her knees, a stream of tears poured down from Emma's face. Though her vision was obscured, she still managed to witness Alucard plunge his sword into the giant rat during its attempt to escape. Blood splattered onto her face, snapping her back to reality before he spoke.
Alucard's words reminded her of what the head priest had told her before she left the temple. The path she had taken was indeed much more arduous than she had imagined it would be, just like he said. Emma realized now just how naive she had been this whole time.
The vampire's hand brought on a strange warmth, accompanied by his words, she found both comforting. The pain in her arm had disappeared, and the blood stopped flowing. Wiping her face, Emma rose to her feet and dusted her robes off. With the look of determination in her eyes, she looked up to Alucard and said, "I-I can do it."
The young priestess then turned and ran over to Steffon, who was also injured. "Let me," she said, kneeling next to him while she held her hand over his wound. "Heal!" At her command, a swirl of light wrapped around the torn flesh, binding his skin back together as it had been before. With a smile, Emma rose to her feet and bowed to both her companions in apology for her unsightly behavior before she turned towards the stairs. "I-I'm ready."Action Cure wounds on Steffon = +12 HP
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coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
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Post by coomer on Mar 18, 2021 16:50:09 GMT
Steffon almost spoke against the young girl rushing over to him, unsure if she would be able to help - but fortunately, he held his tongue. Light wrapped around his ankle as the flesh healed before his very eyes, and suddenly the pain vanished. Grinning towards Emma, he too rose to his feet and stepped over towards the stairs. ”Lets not get surprised this time,” he said, pulling to crossbow from his back and loading a bolt into it. He pointed it down the stairs, nodding to the other two. ”You two go first, but move quietly - I’ll keep an eye out for trouble.”
Rolls Prepare crossbow attack (Trigger: an enemy engaging Emma or Alucard)
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Post by Indifferent on Mar 18, 2021 19:31:37 GMT
Emma nodded in agreement with Steffons words. It would be best they avoid being caught off guard again. Next time, they might be so lucky. Rummaging through her bag for a moment, the young priestess pulled out a torch and lit it to offer them a suitable source of light.
"Um... I think I'll take up our rear to make sure we don't get attacked from behind," said Emma as she waited for the others to proceed.
("Lliira, please guide us,") she whispered in prayer before taking up a position behind Steffon.
With her eyes peeled, the young priestess intended to stick close to the wall on their descent. Heights scared her, and she was worried that the ground would drop out from beneath her. She also felt this course would help to block off a creature's path of approach to her as she'd have to keep looking behind them as they traveled.Actions Light Torch Lookout behind the group when they start descent [Perception+Guidance = 12]
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Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
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Post by Balial on Mar 19, 2021 17:17:22 GMT
DM Notes:
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Post by Alucard on Mar 21, 2021 16:37:59 GMT
They had made it to the bottom of the stairs without further incident, to which Alucard was pleased. The group needed a moments respite as they delved further in after dealing with the surprise attack of the giant rats. A gut feeling told the mercenary that it would not be the last time they saw such creatures as they delved further and further into this chasm of darkness. Even fouler creatures would probably be presenting themselves before long and the thought made him grip the hilt of his long sword even more, his knuckles popping slightly inside his gloves as he increased the pressure.
Towards the west stood a lone tower, still having managed to stay erect with the passage of time and the sinking of the citadel. To the north and south was what appeared to be a courtyard made level with the earth they now stood upon. It was probably once a battlement upon a tower now made flush with their footing. The masonry looked unstable, old... decrepit with the passage of time. This made the warrior slightly uneasy as he surveyed their surroundings. He could not glean much from his eyes scanning the area, it all appeared as it looked. Frustration set in as he cracked his neck from side to side. "I think it would probably be wise to head for the tower, what say the rest of you." He pointed his sword towards the construct and awaited a response from the others. Rolls
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coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
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Post by coomer on Mar 21, 2021 22:38:19 GMT
They took the stairs cautiously, Alucard leading the way and Emma lighting a torch to give them some light. As they touched down on the bottom, Steffon let out a long, low whistle. To say this palace had been a fortress would be an understatement - it was huge! He had been incities from time to time, and even seen castles from afar, but he had never seen something quite so grandeoise as this. To the West, the looming skeleton of a once great tower seemed to bear down upon them, standing as if in silent stasis to its fallen brothers. To the North and South the floor seemed to crumble away, the depths below falling out of the sight of the human’s eyes. He gulped, placing a steadying hand on Emma’s outstretched elbow. ”I don’t think we’ll be going any other way with a floor like that,” he said, pointing out where the floor had crumbled away in case the other two had missed it. ”That rubble doesn’t look like it’ll take our weight - not even you, Emma. Besides, where better to find treasure than the sole tower left standing? If that was me, I’d be hiding out there - so looks like our best bet.”His eyes moved slowly to the ground, and he gave a soft grunt. ”More rat tracks, too? Didn’t they get enough of a taste of us back there…”
Rolls
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Post by Indifferent on Mar 22, 2021 0:34:26 GMT
Emma let out a soft sigh when the group reached the bottom of the stairs. She was hoping to get her feet back on solid ground, but the courtyard in front of them was battered and broken over time. A tower to the west was the only remaining construct in sight, which Alucard proposed as their destination.
The young priestess liked the idea and concurred with a nod as Steffon checked on her with a handsie gesture. Although, his mention of the rats from before caused her to shudder. The image of their beady red eyes was burned into her mind and not something she would soon forget. She couldn't shake the feeling that they would haunt her dreams for quite some time after this.
"Ugh, please don't remind me," said Emma in disgust as she waved the torch around, spreading the light over the courtyard where she could see many crimson reflections among the rubble. "I can see many of those repulsive creatures among the rubble to east and north already. They're definitely watching us. We should go."
Accepting her request, the group proceeded towards the western tower, slow and steady as they had on the stairs before. During which, Emma grew wary with each sound of crumbling stone beneath her feet. Casting the light of her torch over the area as they walked, she offered a prayer to the exarch Lliira in hopes they could receive protection from obstructions as she kept her eyes focused on their path.Actions Perception with Guidance looking for traps = 18
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Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
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Post by Balial on Mar 22, 2021 16:04:23 GMT
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coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
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Post by coomer on Mar 23, 2021 17:22:43 GMT
As they passed into the room, Steffon let out a sigh of relief. Two doors now presented themselves in clear relief, but Steffon’s keen eyes picked out a third to the South. Emma too had noticed it, and moved over to it to try and open it without any luck. With both doors seeming identical, Steffon stepped up to the southernmost one and gently opened it. He pulled his crossbow from his back as he did so, holding it primed and facing into the room. ”Looks like another door through here, and more rubble - don’t forget where the rats outside liked to hide…” he said in a half-whisper to the others, keen to keep their presence in the citadel quiet as long as they could.
Rolls
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Post by Alucard on Mar 23, 2021 17:34:12 GMT
As the secret door was not something they could yet access Steffon moved towards another door, gently opening it without any significant events taking place. The bards trusty crossbow was already pulled and trained to fire on anything that moved inside the newly exposed corridor. Taking his advice Alucard moved passed his companion, his sword and shield still drawn as he crossed the threshold into the new space. Rubble was prevalent at the back side of the chamber, his keen eyes picking up on the slight movement of a rat in the piled up debris. It had not seem him or heard him... yet anyway. The mercenary motioned with the tip of his sword to point the creature out to his companions before his vision turned to a door with a dragon rearing upon it. There was a key hole placed in the dragons mouth. As the damphir studied the relief upon the door it almost spoke out to him. There were runes placed upon the dragons tails, the etchings undisturbed by the passing of time and the collection of dust. This door and the lock itself were of a magical nature, designed to keep whatever was in there in or whomever wanted in out and it would not be so easily foiled. At least not by what this trio had to offer towards trying to get through it.Back stepping towards the door he entered through he passed Steffon and with a gentle click the door closed behind him."There is no getting passed that door in there for now, its magic is beyond our means... my gut tells me we should check the other passage that is left to us." Rolls
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Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
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Post by Balial on Mar 23, 2021 20:05:46 GMT
DM Note:
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