ftp.ee.pdx.edu/2014.02.ftp.ee.pdx.edu.tar/ftp.ee.pdx.edu/pub/frp/Archives/1066

Internet Message Format | 1995-08-21 | 36KB

Path: usenet.ee.pdx.edu!cs.uoregon.edu!sgigate.sgi.com!swrinde!tank.news.pipex.net!pipex!in2.uu.net!not-for-mail
From: [e-mail] (Lance Dooly)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives
Subject: STORY: The Tales of Dark Haven (Chapter 16)
Followup-To: rec.games.frp.misc
Date: 20 Aug 1995 12:54:56 -0400
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 823
Sender: [e-mail]
Approved: [e-mail]
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <417pd0$[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: rodan.uu.net


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------- The Tales of Dark Haven ---------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-                                                                            -
- These stories are from an on-going E-mail campaign, and are currently      -
- maintained by Lance Dooly ([e-mail]).  New stories will be  -
- posted in rec.games.frp.archives and are available for anonymous FTP       -
- at tfnet.ils.unc.edu in /pub/dark.                                         -
-                                                                            -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------ Chapter 16: Get Ready ! Here they Come ! ------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dithion emerges from the hallway into the room with the pool and
breaks off from melee to cast a spell. Some of the others move to fill
the gap he has left ....

(DM:)
After Dithion disengages the Daemon, he takes a breath and casts a
spell. His skin begins to slowly change colour, and becomes greyish
looking.

Falrun and Tatiana are now melee'ing the Daemon, both swinging their
borrowed weapons, and hitting the Daemon a few times. However, the
Daemon takes several swipes at the multiple Tatiana's. Two of the
images disappear, and one hit scores on the real Tatiana (14hpd and
bloody side, no other effects)

(Tatiana:)
Still some of the "Mirror Image" Tatiana's were left next to the
original, and all of them were bleeding badly on the right side.  But
still the bulked out Tatiana's continued to fight alongside Falrun.

"I can barely stand another hit like that" the chorus of Tatiana's
hissed to Falrun as she swung mightily with her owl-headed staff.

(Silver:)
Silver is aware of this, and will keep watch as much as she can
without causing herself problems with the next staff-strike.  No-one
really notices during the intense battle, but Silver is currently
struggling with a battle inside herself - seeing her companions
getting badly hurt, and yet worse is the hatred for such evil
creatures as these daemons, combined with fear of this place.

(Falrun:)
Falrun continues his desperate battle with the daemon, spurred on all
the more by the damage inflicted upon Tatiana.

(Tatiana:)
"Damn ! Will these things ever drop?"

(DM:)
Keilan looks about lost, without a magical weapon or spell capability
to harm these creatures.  Arlon prattles some more in ancient
mermanese :), but to no noticeable effect.  Suddenly, the Rotund
Daemon appears in the pool-room, amidst all those preparing. Shade
having a grey silverish glow on his hand from a ready spell does not
hesitate, and hits the Daemon. The glow touches the Daemon, and the
flesh of the Daemon shrivels, as Shade's wounds suddenly heal! (15hps
transferred)

(Silver:)
*Eeugh* thought Silver .... *Better stand clear of Shade for the
moment*

(Shade:)
The drow feels a little exhilarated by the effect of the previous
spell "Sheesh! - he grins - my little sister told me necromancy is
great. Woe to me I didn't acquiesce to her will."

(DM:)
Silver also stood nearby, with a red-glowing staff, and as if by
reflex she lashes out at this new threat in front of her. The staff
connects, and sends the Daemon reeling. It was already confused by the
after effects of the teleport, and now he gets whacked from all sides!

(Silver:)
The staff hit the insectoid daemon with a satisfying *crack* and the
monster staggered back under the force of the blow.

(DM:)
Arlon changes back to his real self, and Dithion hefts his club, and
moves forward to engage one of the lobster Daemons...

And this is what the situation looks like ....

     |     |
     | LD2 |                  where: T=Tatiana, F=Falrun, D=Dithion,
       LD1                           S=Silver, Sh=Shade, Ky=Kaeyar,
    @ T  F @                         Kl=Keilan, A=Arlon, @=basin,
   D                                 LD1/2=Lobster daemon 1/2,
       RD Sh                         RD=Rotund daemon, |=hall wall,
     S                               _=pool stairs
  _____________ Ky
  _A___________   Kl

(Arlon:)
Arlon is now back to original form so the staff and trident are
available.

Arlon will blast the rotund daemon with a magic missile and then call
over to Keilan "Keilan, if you feel up to it you can use my staff,
although the magic may not be strong enough to affect them.  I do also
have the trident; but the Daemons seem very interested in the one who
has it."

(Keilan:)
Keilan looks at Arlon with eyes full of hatred as Arlon offers him a
staff or the trident.  "Fool!  You expect me to wield either with one
arm!?"  Keilan looks back to the scene of the newly arrived rotund
daemon being engaged furiously. "Arlon, wait, give me the staff."

(Arlon:)
Arlon looks at Keilan, a little annoyed by the "Fool" thing - thinking
hey I'm not making you do anything.  Arlon tosses the staff to Keilan,
saying "May you strike hard and true, brave one!". He will then
prepare another spell.

(Keilan:)
Keilan pulls a small metal vial from a pouch and tears the cork from
its top with his teeth.  Turning the bottle over, a few drops of some
liquid trickle out and down his throat.  Keilan drops the empty vial
and takes the staff from Arlon, grasping it tightly in one hand.  "I
must be damned.  First you fools drag me into the bowels of hell, and
now the daemons have come for me."  With that he strides slowly to the
rotund daemon and begins the painful task of fighting with a shattered
arm hanging at his side.

(Arlon:)
"Shade, how complete is their resistance to acid and fire? Are these
things totally immune, or does their resistance lessen the effect?"

Not waiting for an answer before his next action Arlon will fire
another volley of Magic Missiles at the rotund one. "I must get
through its resistance!"

(Shade:)
Calling back over his shoulder, the drow says "I do not know how
complete their resistance is, anyway we can give them a chance to show
us" he grins wickedly.  Then he produces three salvos of magical bolts
against the spider-like rotund daemon (three magic missiles) in rapid
fire.

(DM:)
Keilan drinks his potion (the Giant Strength I presume?) and whips out
with Arlon's staff, whacking the Daemon on its head. It seems very
unamused at that, as black blood seeps from a crack at its head. Then
Arlon and Shade let go with streaks of magical energies, the chamber
is lit up as if by lightning, but when the energy bolts strike the
Daemon, they dissipate, and the Daemon laughs cruelly. Kaeyar hefts
his large mace, and whips out at the Rotund Daemon that is laughing,
and hits it on the Daemon's body, leaving a black bruise behind.

Meta: Kaeyar's player has some problems, and may not be able to post
      for a while. I will play his character through this adventure
      until he can join us again.

(Silver:)
Silver backs away from combat hurriedly, but not very far. After
taking a few paces, she stops, and looks once more at the staff,
mouthing unfamiliar syllables as she twists the staff around in her
hands. She stands once more, holds the staff firmly, and intones a
strange and arcane-sounding phrase. The staff glows once more, but not
with it's previous deep red colour.

Moving back toward the insectoid monster, Silver readies herself to
strike.

OOC: The second harm-helix, just under the red one.

(DM:)
To Falrun: The head of the Daemon spins around once every five or six
seconds or so, however, for a backstab to be effective, you must know
some of its anatomy, and I don't think you ever met a daemon like this
before :)..

The fight with the lobster daemons continues ever more viciously, and
Falrun lashes out with Soulcrusher, and stabs at the Lobster. The
sword pierces the skull through the beasts eye, and it screams loudly.
It lashes out in anger, dispelling the two more 'fake Tatiana's', then
shudders and falls dead. However, the other Lobster crawls over its
dead buddy to continue the fight, only to be hit from the side by
Dithion, and in its face by a desperate Tatiana. Both score hits, and
the Daemon reels in pain and anger.

(Dithion:)
Dithion gives a slight smile as the first lobster thing goes down.  He
lumbers in next to Falrun and presses the attack against the daemon.

(Tatiana:)
"Yeah!" Tatiana shouted as the first lobster daemon fell.  She stepped
back just a little, to let Dithion fill her spot leaving the last
lobster daemon to her two brave friends.  She looked to her side where
she was still bleeding.  Her side was sticky but she still had energy.


Meanwhile, back with the Rotund Insectoid Daemon ....

(DM:)
The rotund Daemon is surrounded by four of you, and all four release
their magical prowess in hopes of overwhelming the beast. Silver,
whose staff lost its glow after the first strike, speaks some more
arcane words, and the staff glows again, albeit with a lesser
intensity. She strikes resolutely, hitting one of the beasts five
arms, shattering it. The beast strikes back with two other arms, one
hitting Silver through her leather studded armor.  The armor is torn
to shreds (one AC step less effective) where the claw hit, and Silver
bleeds from her stomach (16 hpd) from three red gashes.

(Silver:)
"Yaaagh! That *hurts* - really *hurts*" Silver says, the colour
draining from her face.  She knows she's going to have to withdraw
from combat soon, or lose more blood. Using her forearm to staunch the
wound a little, she speaks the first arcane phrase she used, hoping to
get the deep red glow on her staff once more.

"Damn you, you unearthly travesty of nature" she calls out. Swinging
more carefully, timing her thrust, she attempts to hit the daemon once
more before withdrawing from combat.


Back with the last lobster daemon ...

(Falrun:)
Falrun experiences elation over the party's victory of the first
creature defeated.  He soon comes back to full concentration on the
remaining lobster creature though, and sends Soulcrusher in on a quick
jab, followed by a feint to the right with a quick crosscut to the
throat warding off any attacks possible with his short sword.

In the middle of the melee he yells out to any who can hear him, "Who
has the dagger that we picked up from the natives?  Has anybody tried
it to see if it will bite the flesh of these flea ridden vermin?"

(Dithion:)
He swings his club like a madman. Next to Falrun's skillful use of the
blade he looks like a lumbering oaf.  However, each strike by the
massive club resounds like thunder, whether it hits the beasts
chitinous hide, or strikes the stone walls.

He swings his club over his head, exposing his whole body....a serious
mistake if he fought a skilled fighter...and then swings it downward
at the beast.  Determination burns in his eyes.


(DM:)
The fight continues, with one Daemon down, and several of the party
injured greatly. The following happens....

Near the basin, the fight against the remaining lobster Daemon
continues unabated, as Tatiana, Dithion and Falrun strike again.
Greatly underestimating the staying powers and fighting skills of a
veteran of many lower plane wars, Dithion and Tatiana both get hit by
swings from the beasts huge claws. This time, the real Tatiana gets
hit. Dithion receives a jab in the stomach (17hpd), and doubles over
coughing up blood, and Tatiana receives a hard hit to her right
shoulder, dislocating her arm (15hpd), Falrun gives a mighty jab with
Soulcrusher, and is pleased to see the sword sink deeply into the
Daemon, however, in so doing, loses his grip on the sword when the
Daemon turns and shrieks in horrid agony.  The Daemon seems near
death, but so do some of you....

The crowd around the mighty rotund Daemon lashes out with weapon and
spell, hoping to wear it down as quickly as possible. Both Shade and
Arlon let loose with more of the fiery bolts, only to see them
dissipate on the hide of the Daemon. Silver, Keilan and Kaeyar attack
relentlessly with whatever weapons are at their disposal, and see
their staves (Silver's again glowing a nasty bright red after some
arcane mutterings by her) and mace strike home, but the Daemon seems
as vigorous as ever. It lashes out with its many arms, and strikes
Keilan once on his left arm (13hpd), and Silver once, raking her left
arm (10hpd).

(Silver:)
*Dammit* Silver thinks *This is NOT what I was destined for* as she
prepares to drop out of melee in order to help those people who are
badly wounded, but ....

(Keilan:)
Keilan fights on in grim silence even as his already hurt arm is
further battered by the great rotund one.

(DM:)
Then suddenly the Daemon disappears, and your short elation that it
might have escaped is dashed as it reappears right behind Arlon,
grinning wickedly.....

(Silver:)
"DOWN ARLON! NOW!", and ignoring all thoughts of withdrawing from the
battle right now, Silver speaks the second arcane phrase she has
learnt from the staff, and swings it at the daemon, trusting that
Arlon will move out of the way.

*Mielikki guide my blow against this Defiler of the Balance* Silver
thinks, as she swings as powerfully as she can, despite the wounds she
has already received.

(Keilan:)
When the sneaky critter disappears, Keilan whips around to see where
it has gone.  Spying it behind Arlon, he cries, "Not that easily!" and
charges it, swinging his borrowed staff down on its head again.

(Arlon:)
OOC: It appears that Arlon is in deep, with that fat daemon behind me.
     Arlon, knowing about the daemons teleport ability will have a
     general idea of where fatso went especially when he sees Silver's
     face.

Arlon will take a dive forward (away from the daemon) and to his left
of Silver, allowing her room to smack it, he will then roll to his
left so he can face the thing.  He will then transform into a small
eagle (bald).  "You want this trident don't you fatso, well lets see
if you can fly."

Arlon will then take to the air with the trident and fly to the
furthest point in the room and see if the round one can fly.

OOC: I am looking to distract the daemon from my comrades, so if it
     cannot fly I will land far behind it making it necessary for the
     daemon to teleport to get to me quickly and if it does teleport
     again I will take immediately to the air.

(Silver:)
After this blow, Silver will take stock once more, ready to aid those
who may have fallen.  Initially though, she will attempt to stop her
own bleeding (with her mundane knowledge of first aid), and then call
out "Wounded! Rally to me for aid!".

Silver notices how badly wounded Tatiana is, so if Tatiana does not
withdraw straight away, Silver will call out "'Ana! Fall back before
you pass out!".

If Tatiana still does not withdraw, Silver will not call out again -
after all, 'Ana knows what she is doing - she is not a child, just a
very dear friend.

She will then wait, readying herself to invoke the healing powers of
her Goddess, keeping a watch on the progress of the battle (and the
party's surroundings in general)

OOC: Can you let me know how bad you are damaged if you come over to
     Silver for aid ? This will affect what she attempts to do.



Back with the lobster daemon ....

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana screams in pain, and start to back out of combat clutching her
right shoulder.  The staff dangles from her injured arm.

(Falrun:)
Falrun is startled as he realizes he let Soulcrusher get away from
him.  Torn between helping his companions and attacking the creature,
Falrun decides he can best help by eliminating the threats to their
safety.

After quick consideration of the situation, Falrun calls to Tatiana,
thinking she would be the most reasonable one to approach.  Dithion is
probably too stubborn to admit to defeat so easily.  He quickly calls
to Tatiana, "Give me the staff so I may try to finish this foul beast
before it has a chance to do further damage!  Then you may also seek
healing from one of the healers in the party."

(Tatiana:)
Hearing Falrun's cry for aid through her pain.  She takes the owl
headed staff with her good arm and extends it to Falrun.  "Use it well
brave warrior! We are in dire straits"

(Dithion:)
Dithion grimaces, and as Falrun moves a bit to the side to get the
staff, he moves in on the Daemon...obviously intent on crushing it.
He mutters, "I will make Daemon jelly out of you, foul beast."  He
continues to swing his club...

(Falrun:)
Falrun will return to the fight and continue to attack the lobster
daemon with the same zeal as previously demonstrated, possibly even
more so.  Spurred on by his allowing Soulcrusher to get away from him,
he will be fighting even harder to get Shade's sword back.  It would
be quite devastating if he failed to return such precious borrowed
property.

(Tatiana:)
As Falrun takes the staff from her, she tries to cast a spell. Taking
a tuft of oxen hair from her pouch of spell components with her good
hand, she struggles with the somatic gesture, casting the oxen hair at
Falrun as he steps forward again to do battle. Falrun's muscles
enlarge to tremendous proportions.

OOC: Strength, the DM will determine the increase

Groaning from the exertion she barks out "I can do no more without
help" and then hearing Silver's call for wounded, will seek her out.

She and her mirror images that are left back out away from combat and
seek out Silver if she's not occupied. Approaching her, she says
"Silver, I need the aid of you and Mielikki.  Please heal me so I may
assist our friends"

OOC: Dislocated right shoulder
     Bloody side
     Down to 4 Hp's out of 38

(Silver:)
Silver moves out of melee, holding her arm to her stomach once more,
and moves to intercept the Tatiana's, who have also left the fight.
"Which one is the real you, 'Ana - I can't help ghosts !".

Presuming the real Tatiana moves into the embrace of Silver, she will
cradle her head and wounded shoulder, saying

    "The battle is not yet ended,
     Dear Mielikki, this, your child is more than worthy,
     Permit me to bathe her in your warmth and
     ease her pain so she may defend the balance once more."

On the completion of these words, a pale silvery-green nimbus cloaks
Tatiana's body entirely, becoming quite intense around her shoulder
and down her side.

OOC: Cure Serious, 10hp back

(Tatiana:)
While Silver casts her healing magic Tatiana jabbed a finger towards
the rotund Daemon, Falrun was closing in on and Arlon was trapped by.
Strikes of blue bolts shot towards the Daemon. "That's the last of my
spells. It's down to brute force for me now" she says with regret.

(Silver:)
"Keep *still*, dammit 'Ana. Don't disrupt the energy flow" Silver says
quite firmly. "You may have benefited yourself more by laying still."
After a brief pause, "I have lesser healing gifts, and I think your
side could still cause you problems in battle - lie still for a moment
more while I concentrate."

OOC: If Tatiana waits for 1 more round, then Silver casts CureLtWounds.

(Tatiana:)
OOC: Just wanted to say "I love your character!". You do an great job
     with Silver.  You stay in character so well! I was hoping you'd
     pick up on the squirming bit with Tatiana. That "keep still Damn
     it" was great!

(Silver:)
OOC: I am really surprised that this is the first time you have played
     a female character, Tatiana is excellent ! This is the first time
     I have ever played in a pbem, and I love this format ! It gives
     me so much time to plan, make sure Silver is doing things
     consistently.

(Tatiana:)
OOC: Thank you very much.  I like to hear how other people perceive
     me.  Written text can be so cold and heartless, it's easily
     misinterpreted.  Tatiana is my first female character and I think
     I like her best so far. I'm impressed with your style. It's as if
     you've been in lots of pbem's before. You're one of the best
     characters I've seen.



An update on the character positions ....

         |     |
         |     |
           LD2                where: T=Tatiana, F=Falrun, D=Dithion,
        @ D  F @                     S=Silver, Sh=Shade, Ky=Kaeyar,
           Sh                        Kl=Keilan, A=Arlon, |=hall wall,
            T                        LD2=Lobster daemon 2, _=pool stairs,
                                     RD=Rotund daemon, @=basin
     ____S__Ky______
     ___A___Kl______
     ___RD__________


(DM:)
After the disappearance of the Rotund Daemon, and its reappearance
behind Arlon, Both Silver and Keilan charge it with staves raised,
Silver's staff glowing a slightly muted red. Meanwhile Falrun grabs
Silver's staff from Tatiana, and swings at the Lobster Daemon.  Three
staves hit the two Daemons almost simultaneously, Keilan and Falrun
hitting on the heads of the creatures.  Arlon rolled away just in
time, and while rolling away and taunting the Daemon to follow him,
his features melt and transform, and a bald eagle flies away, holding
the trident in its claws.

(Shade:)
The drow is quite worried about the ugly way things are going "S**t!
This situation is more hairy than a night of sex with a yeti - he
mutters, then seeing his sword is no longer useful to Falrun - I have
to be able to fight again, I cannot kill them with my weak magik."  He
looks intently at his death tattoo "Going to kiss her today - he sighs
- hope I'll make you wait a little more sickled milady."  He quickly
cast a blur spell and then he tumbles on the lobster back.  Grabbing
soulcrusher hilt he pulls madly trying both to dislodge the sword and
to do the maximum damage to the daemon.

(DM:)
Shade, seeing his valuable sword embedded in the Lobster, cries out,
and scrambles over one of the basins, and jumps on the back of the
Daemon, desperately trying to reach his sword, and jarring it around
in the beasts body to hurt it as much as possible.

Meanwhile, Dithion keeps on slamming away at the Lobster, overcoming
the last hit thanks to his stoneskin spell ( :^) ), the only effect is
that his chainmail is now hanging in shreds around him (2 AC steps
less effective), and Tatiana retreats from the fight after having
handed her staff to Falrun, but not before casting one last spell at
the rotund Daemon, surprisingly hitting the tough beast, slamming
energy into its fat, bulbous body.  While Kaeyar also tries to hurt it
by spell, but his bolts fade to nothing upon reaching the foul
creature.

The Lobster Daemon is unable to withstand such vicious onslaught. It
desperately tries to dislocate Shade from its back, gashing Shade's
forearm with its claws (6hpd), before toppling over, driving Shade's
sword even deeper into its body.

(Falrun:)
With a glimmer of satisfaction, Falrun watched as the daemon hit the
floor.  Seeing that the daemon was dead, or soon would be from Shade
mauling it, he turned his attention to the large insectoid daemon.

(DM:)
Okay, Lobsters down, Rotund one to go .... Or Eidolon 2, Monsters 0 :)



Ok, only the rotund insectoid daemon left now .... but it still has
tricks up it's sleeve

(DM:)
The rotund Daemon whirls its head around, and surveys the destruction
of its companions.  It lets out a horrid shriek, shaking you all to
your very cores (save vs fear or run away in fright!)

(Shade:)
The drow shivers deeply "Wheew! It's a fortune I sometime presenced at
one of my sister's evocation of the abyss minions, if I had never
heard this before I would be surely running away in tears!"

OOC: I rolled 19

(Dithion:)
I rolled a 16 for my save vs. fear.  (Well, my program rolled it for
me ; )

(Keilan:)
Keilan is preparing to whack the rotund daemon once again, when the
evil beasty screams.  Keilan's swing stops in mid-motion and he drops
the staff, scrambling backwards away from the beast in a mad rush.

(Arlon:)
Arlon is seemingly stunned for a moment from the daemon shriek,
perhaps from being in eagle form, and starts a dive toward the floor;
but is able to pull up before hitting.  He then continues towards the
far side of the room, keeping a watch on our fat friend and seeing if
anyone was adversely affected by the screech.

(Falrun:)
As the daemon let out an unearthly scream, an ice cold shiver ran down
Falrun's back.  He was overcome by an urge, a need, to run from this
foul creature, but, noticing the poor state of his companions and
thier struggles, he steeled himself for what he knew he had to do.
(OOC: Saved with a 20)

(Silver:)
As Silver backs away from the melee, to aid the damaged Tatiana, the
daemon screams. The unreality of the situation closes in on her once
more, and for a moment she remembers a time long ago ....

*Flashback Effect - Silver watching peacefully grazing animals* when a
herd of pack animals she had been watching started screaming in their
death throes when a magical spell went wild, Silver standing helpless
nearby, not knowing what was happening until too late.
*End of Flashback*

Then she snaps back to the present, finds herself close to Tatiana and
close to tears.  Even realising that it was the daemon screaming did
little to dull this painful memory.

OOC: Rolled a 19 on my saving throw

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana twisted quickly in Silvers arm's trying to get away as the
Rotund Daemon screamed, her heart throbbing with fear.

Silver still held on to Tatiana as she squirmed to get away.  Tatiana
looked up to Silver in a panic and saw that she was close to tears yet
still stood her ground and willing to help.

Something inside her steeled her nerves despite the situation and she
forced herself to relax and accept the healing spell Silver was
preparing.

OOC: Rolled a 17



And so some of the party run like crazy from this maddening noise,
while the rest ....

(Falrun:)
He picked up Silver's borrowed staff and charged the daemon.  Swinging
wildly and fighting for all he was worth, he began to wonder if
running away wouldn't have been a better idea.

(Shade:)
If the lobster is still alive I'll keep on trying to kill it with my
embedded sword.  When it is dead I'll dislodge the sword pulling as
strong as I can and attack the other daemon (after casting mirror
images)

(Tatiana:)
She started to hum to herself to calm her nerves and it seemed to work
as her voice grew in volume till all in the cave could hear her
singing.

The song was strong, and it told the tale of bravery, and how a great
important battle was won.  Half the troups of King Fredrick had been
demoralized and run from battle leaving him to lose, yet King Fredrick
continued to battle on, knowing the righteousness of his fight.  In
the end his troops rallied and returned to win the day after realizing
the folly of their fear.

OOC: Trying to rally the scared and raise the moral of those fighting

(Dithion:)
Dithion moves away from the crab creatures saying only, "Someone
should burn those things in case they regenerate."  Then his eyes seem
to glaze over as he charges the other Daemon, club in hand.

Once he is upon it, he swings...obviously with everything he has, and
no concern with form.


Shade is having considerable problems getting his sword back from the
daemon's body ....

(Shade:)
While trying to roll the daemon on his side in order to get back his
sword the drow asks for the help of who is not directly involved in
the melee "Silver, Tatiana, help me with this, I need my sword to join
back the fray!"

(Silver:)
Overwhelmed by images from the past, and the immediate needs of
tending to a seriously wounded close friend, Silver realizes that
someone is calling her name ....

Looking up, she realizes that Dithion and Falrun are close to being
damaged as badly as Tatiana was a moment ago. "More gifts of healing
will have to wait for a moment, 'Ana" Silver says as she gently helps
Tatiana to a sitting position "Take good care of your side - don't
needlessly waste the gifts of Mielikki" she says with a thin smile.

(Tatiana:)
"Thank you very much Silver" Tatiana said as she got back up rubbing
her wounded side.  She grimaced as she touched the wound, her shoulder
was very sore from it's recent dislocation.

(Silver:)
Standing up, her form seems to shimmer and morph into that of the
Silver Bear that the party has seen once before. When the
transformation has completed, the Bear will roar defiance at the
daemon and lumber over to Shade.

(Tatiana:)
As Silver the bear shambled off Tatiana called to her "May Mielikki be
strong with you Silver!"

(Silver:)
Arriving at his side, the Bear will flip the lobster creature over so
that Shade can reach his sword. Satisfied that the sword can be freed,
the Bear will head over to the daemon.

(Shade:)
Quickly grabbing his longsword the drow thanks Silver/Bear "Many
thanks my furry lady" - Shade smiles - "Now let's put an end to this
annoying dancing party before it puts an end to our party."

OOC: If I haven't done it yet, I cast mirror images now.

With a grim, determined expression frozen on his face the bard joins
the fray.

(Silver:)
She will then try to smash down with both paws onto the shoulder of
one of it's arms with the intention of breaking it. If she manages to
hit it, she will then let out the loudest roar she can manage,
directly into the fanged face of the daemon.

(DM:)
At the unearthly shriek from the remaining menace, Keilan and Kaeyar
look as though their worst nightmares came true, and both try to outdo
each other in getting away from the Daemon as fast as possible, and
both disappear the way the Dwarf went some minutes ago.  Silver is
forced to break off combat, and shuffles her way over to Tatiana in
order to heal her wounds. While she is being healed, Tatiana begins to
sing a tune of courage, hoping to lift the spirits of her fighting
comrades.

Shade is prying away at the Lobster that fell over with his precious
Soulcrusher inside it. Shade calls out to the non-combatants to help
him free his blade, so he may assist the dwindling number of fighting
men. By himself he is not strong enough to roll over the hulking body
of the armored creature.

Of the fighting men, only Dithion and Falrun remain keeping the
monster at bay, the others fled or without means to fight the
abomination. Both attack the Daemon, spurred on by the song of
Tatiana. Knowing their friends will be defenseless should they fall
and the Daemon survive, they attack with renewed vigour to ensure the
Daemon dies first. Both swing mightily, and their connecting blows
send the Daemon finally reeling, and incapacitate a third of its
grasping claws. However, Dithion is struck twice by the creature, and
is loosing his protective layers fast.

Arlon is still flying around, after having had some trouble regaining
his composure after the Daemon's shriek.

(Dithion:)
Dithion continues battling the creature, although his armor hangs in
pieces around him.  Both he and his club are covered in blood...

(Falrun:)
Falrun continues to battle on in a desperate attempt to bring down
this foul beast before it can do more damage.

(Arlon:)
Since it seems the daemon cannot fly, Arlon will land on the ground at
the far side of the room (leaving minimal room behind him) and
transform into himself again.  During this he will taunt the daemon in
mermanese "Poor foolish daemon, I warned you to hold; but as with all
evil you were blinded by your own arrogance and pride!" - I am still
trying to divert the daemon's attention away from those who are in
melee with it - Arlon will then fire another volley of magic missiles.

(Tatiana:)
She turned to the rotund daemon her brave warrior friends were still
battling.  It was going to be close.  She sang louder for all to hear
in the cave.  The song of courage and the righteousness of her party
boomed through the enclosed room.  She hoped it was enough, as she had
no weapon of use and was out of magic.

(DM:)
Seeing the end is near for the Daemon, the Eidolon close in on the
creature with a vengeance. Dithion and Falrun keep bashing and hacking
away at the monstrosity, and Silver (in the form of a bear) and Shade
(rearmed with Silver's help) rush to aid their comrades.  Before
entering combat, Shade mumbles some arcane words, and suddenly five
Shades stand there. Arlon flies over to solid ground again, and begins
to fire magical missiles onto the Daemon, after having turned back
into his own form again.

(Arlon:)
Arlon will begin to change into an ogre - a disgusting creature, but
imposing. The ogre figure continues to chant "Daemon, you choose
poorly. You did not hold, now you will die!"  He then pulls out 3
spell components (Acid Arrow).

(DM:)
Dithion and Falrun both hit the Daemon, and the Daemon strikes back at
both. Dithion gets struck, and suddenly the grey pallor disappears
from his skin, while Falrun gets struck a glancing blow across the
face and shoulder (13hpd, no other adverse effects :) ).

(Falrun:)
Falrun staggers back a little from the blow.  Incredulously he wipes
his cheek and rubs a small streak of blood from his face.  "Why you
little piece of wyvern dung!  I'll have your head for that!"  He then
wades back into the battle swinging the owl headed staff with a look
of vengeance in his eyes.

(DM:)
Throughout all, Tatiana keeps on singing, while Keilan and Kaeyar have
safely fled outside (You can do stuff, look around etc, as long as you
do not reenter the caves/mines).  Shade and Silver have not attacked
the Daemon yet, you used this round to free Shade's sword from the
Daemon, and Shade cast his mirror image and Silver transformed.

(DM:)
All those still capable of fighting are back into the fight, and
assault the Daemon from all sides. Falrun, pissed off at being hit,
swings most viciously with his borrowed staff, and clonks the Daemon
over it's ugly head. The Bear/Silver has reached the Daemon, and takes
a mighty swipe with her claws, attempting to destroy another arm of
the Daemon.  Though she does not succeed in that, she does hit the
beast in the side, and a large gashing wound appears on the Daemon.
Dithion continues to fight with his blood-smeared club, and strikes
out once more, banging the club against the vile creature.

(Dithion:)
Dithion, does, indeed, continue to pummel the daemon.  He seems even
more vicious in his attacks (if possible).

(Shade:)
All of the Shades close in on the Daemon, adding his skill to the
closing battle.

(DM:)
Shade, having freed his sword, dances into this dance of death,
jabbing and thrusting with his blade, drawing black lines along the
creatures ravaged hide. Through all this, Tatiana continues to sing
encouragement, and Arlon, while taunting the Daemon still, shifts form
again, now into the form of an ugly Ogre. Through this onslaught, the
Daemon sags to the ground, his three legs buckling under the force of
your blows. As Falrun gives the last swing on top of the beasts head,
it spins its head one last time, looking at all of you with a burning
hatred that send shivers through your spines. His last look is one of
pure malevolence and will for revenge. Then the creature topples over,
and the massive body crashes to the ground......
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------ End of Chapter 16 -----------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*
Lance Dooly
[e-mail]                         "Not I," said the cat.
Physics/Chemistry/Philosophy   (PCP?!)