2015-08-24
Prev - ????
Their rapier-wielding tormentor spends his time standing staring at Tyrus. Ulfgar moves into the "elevator" area and prepares to quaff a potion.
As Tyrus puts on the Gauntlet he realizes it is indeed very powerful, but voices don't start whispering in the back of his mind as he feared so much as it seems to be "whispering into the back of his hand", like a muscle memory, the impulse to move without actual movement. He realizes that he suddenly has knowledge of how to use the gauntlet to evoke a Fate Link. He also becomes equally and painfully aware that however Brannock managed to use the gauntlet to throw things around, he doesn't know how to replicate that effect.
Tyrus is flooded with the light of Nephe once again as he casts Cure Serious Wounds on himself, trudging forward with tears still rolling down his face. In the distance the echoes of spellcasting can be heard, but no immediate effect is apparent, nor does anyone recognise the spell being cast from verbal components alone.
The skeleton keeps pace with the heartbroken cleric, breaking its silence again to say "I have waited here for time immaterial. I can wait some few more minutes."
Ulfgar quaffs a potion and the acid finally stops burning Tyrus continues to stagger on, dragging his erstwhile comrade behind him. Getting half-way to to the area of the floor which lowered from the rooms above he pauses and utters a prayer, his free hand twisting in the sacred movements to Consecrate the area. Ulfgar quaffs another potion and brandishes his scroll of True Strike, prepareing to attack.
Unwelcome Stowaway
As Tyrus enters the circle of the elevator, he gets another muscle-memory sensation from the gauntlet indicating how to activate it which requires him reaching the center of the circle and making particular action. He makes his way to the center of the elevator, hoarsely calling for Ulfgar to join him.
The skeleton strides confidently into the consecrated area, only flinching for a moment as it crosses the threshold. It plants a bony foot onto Brannock's corpse and hisses "I will not be trapped here once again.".
Ulfgar moves up next to Tyrus, casting from his scroll and syaing "Back off now or we will destroy you. Flee!" The skeleton responds with no apparent change in attitude "The posturing of a cornered beast, you will not last long.".
Tyrus considers what he knows of the undead, and that this one seems to have retained the knowledge and abilities that it had in life. (OOC this would generally be referred to as a Skeletal Champion). He casts Life Shield on himself and draws a flask of Holy Water, sobbing heavily now.
A great gout of flame washes over the three figures standing on the elevator, but only Tyrus is affected as both Ulfgar and their bony adversary are resistant to the flames. The rapier-wielding skeleton steps over to Ulfgar and stabs the dwarf, but just as the dwarf is losing consciousness Tyrus' hand shoots out and a trickle of positive energy keeps the badly injured Magus present, though prone.
Tyrus then triggers the elevator, causing the dome to re-form over the top and from the muffled dwarven swearing it appears the the spell-caster has been trapped outside. Ulfgar roars his fury as he swings his warhammer at their undead foe, dust from the splintering bone filling the air. His second swing goes wide however and he is rewarded with a rapier through the chest and finally passes out.
Tyrus' Spiritual Weapon tries again but fails to hit. Tyrus steps back and raises a hand, spewing forth positive energy in a beam of Searing Light while half-sobbing, half-screaming "What do you want from us?". The skeletal foe steps up and whispers "Only the destruction of everything you are." as it attacks with supernatural grace, plunging the rapier deep into the distraught cleric. As the Life Shield takes effect it flinches but seems prepared to continue, however it stops short suddenly and draws a potion instead provoking a wild swing from Tyrus but to no effect.
First Floor: Telephones, gents ready made suits, shirts, suits, ties, hats, underwear, and Aboleths.
The elevator reaches the top of the shaft.
The Hobgoblins seem unprepared to react at this time.
Duke Stickington proves itself to be MVP once again.
Tyrus revives Ulfgar and immediately returns to Brannock's side, cradling the dwarf's head in his hands as the sobs wrack his body. Ulfgar gasps a huge lungful of air, blood spattering from his mouth as he opens his eyes anew, then glances at Tyrus and Brannock and shouts "Tyrus! You have freed me! Praise Nephe! Beware though as these Hobgoblins mean you no good!" as he scrabbles to his feet and readies his arcane powers yelling "Stand down, mind-thief, or I will burn your subjects to the ground!"
This show of incredible power and might does seem to have put doubt into the hearts of two of the Hobgoblins and so they dive to the floor instead of joining the third as it raises a longsword to charge at Tyrus. Therefore they are merely taken out of action whereas the attacking Hobgoblin is incinerated entirely as the fireball makes a direct hit.
Tyrus doesn't react at all to the warning or the fireball, instead his focus is on carefully casting Gentle Repose on Brannock. Ulfgar moves up to the cowering Hobgoblins, raising his warhammer threateningly "You two will stay on the floor, like that." He calls over his shoulder "Tyrus, how badly are you injured? We cannot stay here like this, we must move or fortify ourselves. I know Brannock is dead but we cannot allow ourselves to fall. We must leave this place or heal ourselves in order to fight on."
Tyrus hears a voice coming from no direction in particular and realizes it's entirely in his own head "Your fallen companion has proven useful. Surrender yourself, and I will guarantee its life as well as yours."
Ulfgar tries to drive Tyrus to resist the urge to give in, reminding him that they brought him back from the dead as well, promising that they will find a way for Brannock to return if he so desires.
Both Tyrus and Ulfgar suddenly find themselves granted True Seeing. Everything fades away in layers, first the corridor walls revealing a wider area surrounding them with a spread of pillars. Beyond that areas of the floor disappear and the previously unobserved pond is revealed, forms and shapes moving under the surface causing ripples. Tyrus notices the three eyes of an Aboleth peering at them through the gloom.
Tyrus begs Ulfgar to promise he will take Brannock and survive. Ulfgar begs him not to make him make this decision and Tyrus clarifies that he's not asking for help deciding, he's begging him to live on. He does not know if he will survive another descent. Ulfgar reluctantly agrees to do his best, though he doesn't know if he can survive.
Tyrus addresses the room "I will descend again, but I want to see them both free and clear out of here before I do. Do you accept our terms?" as he starts unloading all of his non-essential gear.
The voice rings out in Tyrus' mind again "The condition is to surrender", and he feels the Aboleth] attempt to impose its will on him again. He resists, and as he struggles to retain ownership of his mind Ulfgar casts Bull's Strength on him.
Tyrus uses the gauntlet to link himself to the Aboleth as per Aboleth.
The sudden smell of smoke or some kind of incense quickly fills everyone's senses before disappearing just as quickly. Tyrus feels that the spell has taken hold. The Aboleth] rears up, partially rising out of the water and blinking it's three huge eyes at them one at a time before suddenly receding, fully submerging itself.
Tyrus hears the voice in his head once more. "Go."
They hot-foot it out of the chamber and up towards the surface, with Tyrus healing Ulfgar along the way. It goes uneventfully, with Bhetsy falling in behind them as they exit the tower. When they arrive at the wagon, Bill & Ben regard the party with a mix of reverent awe and horror.
Tyrus finds that he is able to remove the gauntlet without trouble, despite his fears to the contrary.
