[ We find Our Heroes entering a massive chamber! They're going past an entryway of sorts, passing some pillars, when four shadowy figures move towards them! Session Start! ] * Tia notices nothing and proceeds with tail wagging. Hey! No sneaking up on us! *casts Magic Missile at the nearest sneaky guy, then flies (invisibly) to a new location* * Istvan blinks, follows the path of the magic missiles, and sets himself. Huh? Hey, Isty, what's Max shooting at? * Patrick wheels around and points his bow at the sneaking figures, loading three arrows on his bow silently and sending them after the closest one. * Istvan points out the rogues to Tia. [ The three arrows hit, and one of them actually explodes inside the vampire spawn, ending it's undeath until the next sunrise, when it'll become more permanent. ] * Patrick knocks another arrow and aims at the next one. "Feeling lucky, punks?" * Tia looks in the direction Istvan's pointing in. "...Ohhh. I guess we should hit them?" * Patrick griiiins. Yup, we should. Okay, good. I think Mr. Axe would like that. * Alcinoe fixes her gaze on the one that's now closest to her and rushes it, Best Sword drawn and slicing away. [ Alcinoe cuts into the Vampire Spawn's arm! The undead grimaces as though in pain. ] * Seylin moves around to the one Alcinoe just hit and swings her glowing halberd of not-quite-DOOM at it. [ The undead takes a hit from Seylin, this one to his head! It seems to disorient him slightly. ] [ Kenji, take the fight to those gods-damned undead! ] * HKenji jumpdashes, straight over the head of everybody in the party, coming down on the one that Alci and Seylin have already started downing. * HKenji draw his sword just as he reaches the undead, then passes straight by it. He lands with sword held out to one side. Behind him... *thumpthump* [ Kenji comes sailing towards the vampire spawn, bringing his sword down on it in a quick arc and cutting it in half! Alci would probably get gore all over her, if the vampire had any. ] [ Istvan, go! ] * Istvan runs at the nearest remaining spawn, really rearing back and swinging at it as he gets close. [ Istvan lays into it good, putting a hole into it's torso! It's still up and kicking, tho. ] [ Patrick, go! ] * Patrick goes after each of the vamp spawn in turn, laying four arrows across the room at them. [ Patrick once more performs his 'Transmute Vampire Spawn to Exploding Pincushion' trick! ] * Patrick trains his bow on the next one and draws an arrow, smiling. "I like this. I really like this. Why didn't you tell me about it earlier, Alci?" Ya never asked. How was I supposed to know? * Alcinoe smirks. "Pay attention in class?" Pfft, they don't teach me about spells. You should come to one of my lectures, then. [ Will, go! ] I know plenty about what arcane spells can do. My mom finances the house we stay in through her casting. * Will draws his sword and charges the last vampire spawn! [ Will gives the vampire spawn a good cut low on it's side! ] [ Max, go! ] Hey, you leave Istvan alone! *magic missiles go zoom!* *...and Max moves somewhere else again* [ Max finishes it off! ] Okay. Now we go kill more stuff, right? These didn't look big enough to scare that one guy. * Istvan watches the spawn fall dead off his pick. "Thanks. And yeah. This was just the welcoming committee." * HKenji draws his shorter blade and strides forward into the darkness. "Spread out slightly. Long front, Tia in the center, Istvan and Alcinoe flanking, Seylin and I on the ends. " Will, Max, and Patrick behind. * Will nods. "Ok." Right-o! *it sounds like he's already complying. Not that you can see him right now* * Seylin gets into position. "Got it." Gotcha! * Will clanks into the 'back' position. * Patrick assumes position and keeps his bow drawn for any other comers. * Istvan nods, and takes position on one side of Tia. "Remember now, Tia. Don't go charging too far ahead. We don't want you getting isolated where we can't come help if you get in trouble." * Alcinoe is ready, taking Tia's right side. * Tia flounces over to center position. * Tia grins at Istvan. "Don't go too far ahead. Gotcha!" [ Further along is the huge chamber I mentioned before! It is 220 feet wide and 170 feet long! Up ahead is a large dias, which connects via stone bridge to an even larger dias. The first dias is ten feet tall and has two pillars on it, the second is twenty feet high and has four pillars lining each side. The cieling in the room is eighty feet high. ] Was that the first group of four protecting the big guy? Undoubtedly. Duh. * HKenji looks around, searching warily for enemies. * Alcinoe twitches her ears and gazes around. * Will holds his sword tightly as he glances around nervously. * Seylin looks around for more things hiding in the shadows. She still has the glowing halberd. * Istvan eyes the surroundings, left, right, down, AND UP. He does learn, after all. * Patrick searches for enemies, bow drawn for things hiding. [ On top of the greater dias, sitting on a bed of treasure, is a massive creature that has to be the ugliest thing you've ever seen. Purple-black in color, this huge quadrupedal lizardlike monstrosity is covered in bizarre, random patterns of large, festering, weeping boils that decorate it's sagging, decayed flesh. ] * Tia looks around and scratches her chin idly. Whoa, what's that thing? Well. That right there could certainly be an enemy. * Tia points openly at the big thing on the dias. Um... eww! * Patrick licks his lips. "I'd call it wasted once we start." ... Yeah, Ah see what he was talkin' about. [ It opens it's huge, toothy may and lets out a low roar, along with a wave of black energy which seems to snap the undead Orogs in front of it to attention. ] Max, hit them with something suitably large and explosive while they're together, please? ... so do we charge, or stay here, take out its protectors as they come, *then* charge? Certainly! [ At about this time, crossbow quarrels start flying your way. Not many, but they're there. ] * Patrick stays behind others. Cover me! * Tia roars back. (Well, maybe not. But you know.) * Max zips (invisibly) ahead, and well up. And then casts FireSpiders! All over the place where the baddies are. ... that answers that question. * Will moves in front of Pat. "Watch out!" * Patrick smirks. "I didn't know you cared." [ The quarrels find targets amongst you! Alcinoe, Kenji, Istvan, and Seylin all take a hit! ] * Will raises an eyebrow. "As long as you're part of this team, I care." * Istvan takes a scratch to the leg, as he can't quite dodge. "Ow." * Seylin barely notices the bolt graze her side. "Yikes!" * Alcinoe doesn't even bother dodging. She gets the in the elbow joint of her armor and watches the bolt fall, whole and unbloodied, to the floor. "All right." Let's waste'em. Are you guys okay? * Max must have done something, as suddenly the rear dias is covered in small, spider-shaped flames. Which swarm all over the big ugly creature and his local minions. (20-ft. radius spread, 6 spiders in each 5' square, as much covering boss-boy as possible with the minions as secondary targets once he's taken care of) [ The flamebugs engulf the ugly thing! Oh, and the guys in front of it. The former Orogs remain stoic, as does the hideous thing, which doesn't seem to be harmed in the least by the swarm. ] [ Kenji, go! ] CHARGE! * HKenji charges forward, going up and over the dias straight to the snipers. [ The snipers seem surprised! They curse and throw aside their crossbows! ] * HKenji goes straight up and over the dias like his idol, Samurai Jack, and comes down on an undead! [ Kenji gives one of them a nasty cut, nearly halving him! But he stays together somehow! ] [ Istvan, go! ] * Istvan charges as best he can, just managing to get into range but not quite close enough to attack. [ Patrick, go! ] * Patrick draws a series of four arrows, firing them at the exposed areas of his opponents. Suckers. [ Patrick finishes off the one Kenji had grievously wounded, and damages the other three in that area! ] [ Will, go! ] * Will charges and succeeds in bringing his sword down on the undead! He secretely thanks Bahamut that he bought those cool boots of striding and springing. [ Will gives one of the undead a light cut! ] [ Max, go! ] * Max, from somewhere (maybe in between the two groups of baddies? it's hard to tell) does a re-rendition of his mad cackle from the coffin- breaking. And all eight vampire spawn are engulfed in their own personal fireballs. And their master gets one, too, though it doesn't completely engulf him. The huge ugly thing roars in pain! Yeah, he felt that one. [ Seylin, go! ] * Seylin chants a prayer in a lyrical, liting voice. A bright light streaks down, focusing on the evil ugly thing, then spreads out to encompass the rest of the dais, and quite a bit of the surrounding area. [ The four spawn that were near Kenji and Istvan and Will are now immolated. The four near the boss are merely damaged. ] [ The baddie is hurt! As are the former Orogs, who remain stoic, after getting back to their feet. ] [ Check that. The former Orogs are all dead now. ] * Tia belts out a resonating roar and practically bristles with a violent energy as she springs into the air and dives toward the cancerous undead lizard in a blur of wings. As she shoots past, she swings Mr. Axe in a flash of adamantine. * HKenji stares in horror as Tia spreads her wings and ducks as Tia takes to the air. "Everybody mind the downdraft!" * Max lets out a small 'eep!' from somewhere vaguely in her path, but must have gotten out of the way 'cause she doesn't hit any halfling- sized objects en route. [ Tia digs a deep cut into the head of the hideous thing, popping a sore and getting pus all over Mr. Axe. She then keeps going, making an effort to turn around, but, alas, she careens right into the back wall. ] * Istvan winces. * HKenji winces. * Tia grunts as she slams into the wall behind the creature and lands in an unceremonious heap. Oof. Tia! * Alcinoe winces a little. "Uh, watch tha- yeah." * Patrick snerks. * Tia looks mildly stunned. "Ow." * Will winces. "Oof. Tia..." Somebody take a note to enroll Tia in remedial flying lessons, please! Noted! No- darn. I'll keep it in mind. [ The hideous thing bides it's time, waiting for somoene to approach it. ] [ Alci, go! ] * Alcinoe runs forward... er, not very far, but her attention's on something else. Namely, she's praying in a loud, commanding voice, and she brings her sword up to point directly at the huge, ugly mass of undead. The blade glows a molten orange, and huge, intensely hot pillar of fire rises to life. [ Kenji, go! ] * HKenji rises from his crouch in a dead sprint, taking several long steps and then leaping stright up the dais all the way to the creature, waiting for whatever it's got planned. [ A pair of tentacles fly forth from the creature's shoulders, ensnaring Kenji in a flash of movement! In their embrace, Kenji begins to bend, subtly. ] [ Istvan, go! ] ... that didn't work. * Istvan moves as fast as he can towards the big giant thingee, but he's not gonna get there this round. Get it while he's got me. MOVE! [ Patrick, go! ] * Patrick fires a volley of 4 arrows at the thing! [ Two of them hit! One of them Explodes inside the hideous thing! ] * Patrick smiles. * Will holds his holy symbol up high as he chants in a commanding voice. A warm light floods the field as friends get stronger and enemies get weaker. [ Max, go! ] Hey! You let Kenji go! *an acid arrow jets from somewhere upwards and behind the critter! And splashes in a tender-looking area. Sizzle* * Max moves from there, making sure to stay out of reach of the ugly thingie. [ Seylin, go! ] * Seylin doesn't really want to charge up to the thing, so she drops her halberd and pulls her bow out. [ Tia, go! ] * Tia gets to her feet, runs up to the monster from behind, and brings down her axe on its backside. [ Tia's axe digs deep and hits hard, tearing a huge gash in the creature! It wails and collapses. ] [ And drops Kenji. ] Yay! Go Tia! ...Is it dead? * Tia waggles her ears as her tail sways hopefully behind her. * Alcinoe blinks at that, then walks over to get... er, a look. * HKenji hits the ground and rolls so his feet. * Seylin raises her bow and fits an arrow to it, then lowers it. "We killed it?" Looks to be. I don't want to get close enough to check, personally... *his voice is moving in circles overhead right now* * Will cheers and walks over to check out the creature. * HKenji takes a big step back, tries to catch his balance, and falls over flat on his ass. * Patrick twirls his bow and then snaps, having it vanish into his glove. He grins. "Nice job everyone!" * Istvan runs up to Kenji. "... the hell? You look..." * Alcinoe approaches, clanging along, and glances at Kenji. "Ya okay?" I'm definitely feeling the burn. Is that how it goes? * HKenji blinks twice. * Seylin puts her bow away and picks up her halberd, slowly heading towards the group. Kenji? Are you all right? * Max 's voice comes from closer. "Hey, Tia, you okay? That wall looked like it had it in for you." He might be smiling, from his tone. * Tia makes a disgusted face at the goop on her axe. Um, will you help me get Mr. Axe all clean again? * Max mutters something. Tia's axe cleans itself. [ Kenji looks terrible. One of his eyes is down near his mouth, his nose is twisted to the side, etcetera. His bones are all bent out of shape. He really looks awful. Honest. ] * Patrick grins at Kenji. "I think she's askin' you a question." * Tia jumps delightedly. "Wow! Cool!" * Tia turns to look at Kenji and eyes him quizzically. "Kenji?" * Will looks at Kenji worriedly. "We'll have to get you some help as soon as possible." ...Um. Er. Kenji? You...well, obviously alive. Does that hurt? * Patrick runs next to Seylin and gives her a whisper, as per usual. It's like it... sucked out his looks. I don't think your eye is usually down there. * Seylin gets close enough to see Kenji and gasps. It's like some painting got all runny. *probably good no one can see Max's expression. Kenji's feelings'd be hurt* * Alcinoe eyes Kenji... and doesn't laugh. She puts a hand to his forehead, and murmurs a prayer, a warm glow starting at her fingers and moving its way over his body. As it spreads, his features restore themselves. * Seylin lets out a sigh of relief. Ah, now there's the Kenji whose face I'm occasionally tempted to cave in. *grins* I'm quite sure I don't want to know what you mean. * Patrick converses to Seylin in whispermode s'more. * HKenji sheathes both his blades. Feel better now, Mr. Axe? Well, there's one good thing out of this. We've got loot. Lots of loot. Whew, you look healthier now, Kenji. Nope, you don't. *eyes the thing* For a huge, ugly, pus-oozing undead abombination, that thing was rich. * A bunch of monochrome butterflies - each a different color - flutters from presumably where Max is hovering, and flutter over to Tia, and dance around her. "There you go, Tia. Just as promised." Butterflies! * Max ...s. "You know, I wonder when this stuff wears off. I'm used to being able to dismiss my spells." * Tia giggles and frolics, seeming to completely forget where she is and whatever else is going on. * Alcinoe stays well out of the way of the frolicking Tia. "Yeah." * Patrick keeps his distance as well, doing the whisper thing. * Max may be anywhere! But probably isn't in reach of Tia's frolicking, either. * HKenji blinks. "What did you do to yourself, Professor?" Used some neat dust I found when sweeping my workshop a couple months ago. It makes things invisible. REALLY invisible. I can only see myself 'cause I've got a True Seeing up. [ And so they ensured that the dungeon was cleansed of evil undead, and then set off to tell the Orogs that their dirty work had been done. ]