Encore
You've been up and at it all day. You struck at dawn, when you knew that they'd all be here and your advantage was at its greatest. Then... you swept in and began the killing song. The vampires have no Kol to protect them, and though some of them are strong enough to put up a fight for the most part it's been a slaughter. Blood cakes the ground you walk on. The dirt floor of the half-building half-cave that you've all but lost yourself fighting in. It's been a whole day of this. Running them into small rooms and checking them for traces of humanity. You've found none. Only death reigns here.
There's a door ahead of you. One more portal deeper into this cavern complex, but the rooms are becoming more and more well cut. Someone has taken the time to do work here, so you gather your breath and your wits before going further forward. After all, each step you've taken the undead /have/ been getting more powerful. You don't want to slip up now that you're near the end. And there's that feeling in the air, that you're near the end.
While it's a stretch to call any of this easy, Seldan at least has set to with a grim determination, reserving his spells and his grace for real need. It has been some time since he has done a slog like this, and yet cleaning out this nest had to be done. Blood stains hair, cloak, robe, gear - and annoyingly, the moonlit armor is spotless. Somehow. It's really annoying.
Now, before this last door, he pauses, and finally invokes a prayer, a small circle in blue-silver glowing runes settling around him before vanishing. "Prepare yourselves," he tells the others with him, his Myrrish-tinted words set with determination.
GAME: Seldan casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 8 DC: 18
That's the one problem with living in Alexandria. All the darn v-Alright, this isn't the norm. In fact, very far from it, so far as Kira knows. This is at least the second time she's helped with clearing out nests, and still hopes that they've made it in time to save some still living, or only mostly dead.
This time hasn't turned out so well, from her point of view; the only peace and end to suffering she's been able to offer is putting tortured lost souls to rest. It's not enjoyable, and not easy, even if it's necessary. The fact that it's messy doesn't help, either.
She nods to Seldan as she catches her breath. "How many more could be here?" It's mostly rhetorical, since they'll probably find out one way or another.
Boshter is here! Totally here. Of course, he's also quiet. Also, he just wants to punch doors. He's offered several times to punch every door, repeatedly, that they've come across.
"I hope there is a lot more! I like punching things."
"I cannot say," Seldan answers Kira quietly, his own tones weary, the bloodied blade in his hand quiet for once. Reunion, as he seems to call the blade, has been positively gleeful, its multiple voices cheering every time they shear through a vampire. One in particular, an irascible old man, seems to be quite the bloodthirsty thing, and the paladin just shakes his head. "You may punch these all you wish, so long as when we are done, no more remain to punch," he tells Boshter.
WHAM!
Boshter punched the door, all right.
He punched the door with his face.
He punched the door with his face so hard that the door flung open with a mighty crack and is crumbling... and seems none the worse for wear for it. In fact, he looks excited!
"I HAVE OPENED THE DOOR AND I AM UNINVITED, VAMPIRE FRIENDS!"
Welp. This is what happens when you take Boshter.
GAME: Serene casts Death Ward. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26
Serene has been muttering. Almost entirely under her breath. Perhaps it is prayers. Her expression gives little clue and has not through the systematic slaughter that has followed in the group's wake to this point. When they reach what seems like.. maybe not the last door, but an important one, she takes a moment to wipe her blade clean before quietly chanting a ward to place upon Kira.
And then Boshter is punching the door, like he did so many before.
The door opens with a... well a Boshter, and immediately you know something is up. After all, what stands before you now is clearly a demon, not a vampire. It rises from the ground protectively in front of another door. It gives the door three solid knocks as you spy it and it spies you, then readies its many swords. This snake-bodied creature has the upper torso of a woman, though it has many more arms than either a snake or a woman has any right to, and all of them are wielding swords.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (15)+24: 39 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (6)+24: 30 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (20)+24: 44 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (10)+24: 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (14)+24: 38 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (9)+24: 33
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (16)+24: 40 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (3)+8: 11 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (8)+8: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (5)+8: 13
The arc of swords is immediate, six swords seizing upon Boshter's frame at once in a flurry of blows that is blinding in its display. It's hard to tell for just a moment which strikes land and which fall short, but blood flows freely and quickly from the wounds and suddenly the previously unwounded warrior is bleeding out from several grievous injuries. "You ssssshall not passssss." The demon hisses at you, and shifts to better cover the door.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (12)+24: 36 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+12: (5)+20+5+5+12: 47 GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+40+2d6: (4)+5+5+40+(10): 64 GAME: Kira rolls athletics: (5)+11: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (11)+24: 35 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (9)+8: 17
"Boshter.. remind me to discus preparation tactics with you. Soon." Then, louder, Serene shouts, "You will be returned to the foul pits from whence you came, fiend!" As she shouts, she is surrounded by a silvery aura.. one that protects her from the Marilith's sword as she pushes off of the door frame and slashes... and cuts... intent on delivering her promise.
GAME: Seldan casts Wall of Force. Caster Level: 15 DC: 22
Kira can't let the others face the demon alone, but also doesn't want to block the doorway. Thus, she steps in and attempts to duck deftly around Boshter's door-frame disturbing derriere and ... mostly into one of the there-are-so-many blades held by the demon. She is cut, but still manages to scoot around the creature.
GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL. GAME: Serene spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL.
The fact that the demon is covering the door behind her is not lost on Seldan, who immediately narrows his eyes at the creature. He doesn't even need to look to know that that thing's evil, but, with Boshter in the way? First things first. He draws several complex sigils in the air before him, then shouts a phrase of power, stabbing a finger at the wall behind the demon. The sigils burst into gold-blue-silver-white life before him, then fold themselves and streak towards the far side of the room, where suddenly a field of shimmering blue-white blocks the doorway to the room beyond, plastering itself to hug the wall.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (17)+24: 41 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (10)+24: 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (11)+24: 35 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (5)+24: 29 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (3)+24: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (7)+24: 31 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (20)+24: 44 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (9)+8: 17
More attacks pour forth from the demon, who seems quite unconcerned with Serene's threat. If anything it seems... smug. Satisfied. It cleaves an attack through Kira, another pings off of Serene's armor, and the last four dizzy Boshter until one slips through and cuts the poor man deeply once again. The dance of blood seems to please the demon even further. "Not until it issss too late."
"Hrk," says Boshter after the demon appears in front of ihm and slashes him up quite a bit. That does not look like he enjoyed it.
However, he was *there* and now he's over *there*, on the other side of it with a big smile on his orange face.
"Hello, demon," he shouts, "We are going to send you back to the hells! Again!"
GAME: Kira spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL. GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+charisma+paladin: (15)+20+7+5+10: 57
So many arms, so little time. Kira lunges at the demon to grab at least two of them to try to point and keep the sharp objects in a safe direction. "Too late?! Too late for what?!" Now she's worried there really is too little time. "We should hurry! What's beyond?!"
GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (17): 17
Seldan's way clears, and with a thought, his armor flashes white for just a moment. It barely has time to fade before he shouts another command word, and streaks from the door halfway across the room as a searing bolt of lightning, ripping past the demon and re-materializing on the other side, sword still in hand, grinning like a fool. "Take but one task at a time!" he shouts to Kira, readying himself to strike.
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+12-2: (3)+20+5+5+12+-2: 43 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+12-2-5: (18)+20+5+5+12+-2+-5: 53 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+12-2-10: (12)+20+5+5+12+-2+-10: 42 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+12-2-15: (20)+20+5+5+12+-2+-15: 45 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12-2: (11)+20+5+1+12+-2: 47 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12-2-5: (12)+20+5+1+12+-2+-5: 43 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12-2-10: (19)+20+5+1+12+-2+-10: 45 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5+12-2-15: (4)+20+5+5+12+-2+-15: 29 GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+20+2d6: (3)+5+5+20+(6): 39 GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+20+2d6: (1)+5+5+20+(10): 41 GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+20+2d6: (7)+5+5+20+(7): 44 GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+20+2d6: (7)+5+5+20+(8): 45 GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+1+2+20: (1)+1+2+20: 24 GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+1+2+20: (3)+1+2+20: 26 GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+1+2+20: (2)+1+2+20: 25
Serene knocks one sword thrust aside with her shield, then uses that shield to lead in with another assault of silver metal and light. As Kira grabs it and Seldan... blasts... through it? (She's going to have to ask about /that/ trick) and Boshter seems to teleport around it, she just carves her path through it. When it is done, her shoulders rising and falling with even breathing, she looks to the door.
"That was fun! You'll get to do it again, I think," says Boshter to Serene after she butchers the demon. "I remember hearing about the time you killed eleven giants in one blow!"
He nods towards Serene, then turns to face..
... the other door.
"Ah, doors. Our old enemy."
Kira managed to hold it still, at least! She does find herself still holding two arms... that simply are no longer attached to anything else. She drops them in short order once she realizes this. "It sounded like she... it... was trying to delay us. We should hurry!" To that end Kira turns around to face the door. Solidarity with Boshter.
"But not so much that we forget ourselves," Seldan puts in, simply watching in awe as Serene carves the mighty creature up like a Winter Festival goose, then nodding to Boshter. "Are you all right? The wall shall hold, that we are not assaulted from behind, ere we make ready."
"There were three giants, Boshter, and it took many blows from more than just myself," Serene clarifies, not quite absently. She moves closer to the door, briefly putting her hand on the disc of Eluna hanging from her neck. More divine energy flows through her and out, mending wounds.
"Did you say the giants were three?! That is even MORE frightening!" Boshter stares at Serene with big eyes.
Although he had no wounds to mend, Seldan murmurs an acknowledgement as the divine force washes over him, and turns to the force barricade he'd created, dismissing it with an arcane gesture. It winks out, vanishing into nothingness, and he looks meaningfully at the door, then casts another spell, this one a simple protection.
GAME: Seldan casts Shield. Caster Level: 15 DC: 18
"Hello, friend door! I am going to smash you now."
Boshter then politely opens the door by the handle.
GAME: Boshter rolls perception: (11)+23: 34 GAME: Serene rolls perception: (14)+21: 35 GAME: Kira rolls perception: (17)+23: 40 GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (19)+6: 25
The door swings open easily. It's not locked or anything. On the other side is... Well it's nothing more and nothing less than a torture chamber. There's a man hanging on the wall. Beaten, cut, clearly hurt. He's an ordinary looking fellow, blonde hair gone practically red with blood. Eyes half-vacant with pain. Before him is another man, this one veritably painted with crimson. He wears it like a fine suit, pacing back and forth in front of the other man. There's a whip on the ground between the pair, and all of you realize looking at the scene that the torturer is nearly as wounded as is the man he is in the process of torturing.
"He said... please... and no more." The dark-haired man mutters seemingly to himself, his voice carrying well in the room you've entered. As you do, he turns toward you, confused by your entry. His bright green eyes catch you and a chill runs through your body. It's Kol. He looks younger somehow than the last time you saw him. Not because of his confusion, but because he seems a mere nineteen years rather than the full bloom of an adult nearing thirty. "Who... who are you?"
"Your guard did not buy you much time, Kol Demontry." It takes Seldan no time at all to recognize the vampire he thought he had slain months ago, the words cold and impassive, his features settling into grim determination. "You enjoy being killed so much that you wish to repeat the experience, it seems." He wastes no more words, but instead turns to magic, the last of the symbols he draws being Eluna's symbol. He speaks a phrase, and at his gesture, the symbols settle to the floor around him in a circle. "How ... are you even here?"
GAME: Seldan casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 15 DC: 20
Kira gasps at the sight. While she isn't exactly zest-fully clean, herself, at the moment, 'covered in blood' is not the way she prefers to meet other people. It's worse that one looks to be captive and tortured intentionally. There isn't much that could make the scene before her more shocking.
And then the green-eyed young man turns and she recognizes him.
Kira blinks once, twice, and thrice. Maybe her eye is just twitching. "How..." That's all she gets out, but Seldan seems to be on the same page. XX, judging by her confusion.
"...hm? What is this? Do I punch him?" asks Boshter, glancing between the others. "Oh! I think I recognize the posters!" He seems confused by the reactions, to an extent, but he's happy to leap into the frey as soon as possible. The only reason he's hesitating is because a question got asked.
"You know me, but I do not know you." The young man smiles slightly and gives Seldan half a bow. "You have me at a disadvantage sir, but not an unpleasant one. I have been here since I awoke here some time past." He rises once more to his full height and glances toward Kira, offering her another polite bow. Then one to Bosher and Serene. He's a polite individual it seems, in spite of the odd situation. "I have no memory of dying, and have no wish to do so..."
His black eyebrow arches upwards and he motions with one of his hands to his ear. "I would be /happy/ to stand down for you my friends, but the woman in my head wants for me to flee very far from you as fast as I might. Which makes me curious indeed. That is a command she has never given to me before, and I find it not to my liking."
That answer comes as enough of a surprise to Seldan that he lowers his sword, while the full impact sinks in. "Your Mistress knows me, far better than pleases her," he answers first. "Seldan, of Eluna's Silver Guard," he adds, politely enough, the cold determination now cool and even. "How long has she been in your head?"
Kira looks to Seldan and Serene briefly, then back to Kol. "So, you will stand down?" The Kol she met was already dead, in most all ways. She nearly mentions something to that effect, but refrains. Does that mean there is a chance for... something different? How would that even...? Maybe she can effect some change in the here and now, as she looks to the captive.
"Near three months now if I am any indication." Replies the young Kol, tilting his head at Seldan and smiling at him with clear curiosity before laughing at Kira. The sound is ragged and rough. The sound of a laugh not oft-used, but not quite the nearly mechanical sound of his older self. Another incongruity. "Stand up, stand down, sit. What-ever pleases you." He gives the Kira a lascivious wink.
He tilts his head to the side, a motion which is familiar to those of you who've seen him before. It's clear now though, that he's listening to someone that you can not hear, but whom he clearly can. "She says that you want little more than to end my life, and she promises me an eternity of..." He shudders with happiness and half-lids his eyes. Green orbs filter to Serene and he arches his eyebrow at her. "He /asked/ to be here. I have given him no less and no more than he has requested. She bids me end his life, but I have refrained because he has asked for me not to."
Suddenly he /moves/ a flash across the floor in that blinding speed that only Kol has and he is standing before Serene, smiling warmly and offering her another smaller bow that brings them very close to one another. "But you only need ask. I am pleased to give you what-ever makes you happy."
GAME: Kira rolls wisdom: (18)+5: 23
Seldan remains focused on Kol, although his eyes unfocus for the space of a breath or two. "She gives you an eternity of pain and madness, Kol. As she does with all she holds. You were known to me as a much older, and wholly mad, being."
GAME: Kira rolls heal+2: (20)+18+2: 40 GAME: Boshter rolls Wisdom: (11)+5: 16
Kira blinks at Kol's wink. If she weren't so shocked, she might blush. She is startled again when Kol mentions that he offered mercy and looks to the man on the wall with hope... until she notices he isn't breathing. Her hope fades and she looks sharply back to Kol and opens her mouth to say something when he -moves- to Serene.
Whatever she was going to say, she pauses at several realizations. "You really aren't dead... and you've trained with one of the orders? Why are you here? Whatever she wants you do to, whatever she promises you... she only causes pain." She doesn't sound angry, but rather saddened.
"Can I punch him?" asks Boshter of Seldan and Serene, seeming confident in their ability to let him punch.
"What is madness my friend? Is it madness to have an eternity of /feeling/? Why do you fear what proves that you live?" Kol looks at Seldan, at Kira with avid curiosity. "Pain is the constant companion of life. She is a goddess and she knows this better than we do; she promises me an eternity of it."
Green eyes fall on Boshter and he is suddenly laughing again. "Oh yes, you /may/. Please do." Beyond him on the wall the 'corpse' moans and regains consciousness. Blinks and looks at you all in surprise.
"Kol let me /down/." The man demands urgently and Kol turns toward him and nods semi-distractedly.
"Of course, of course. What-ever she says I have no intention of killing you." Kol starts to wander away from Serene and toward the bound man.
Serene stops short as Kol is just suddenly there in front of her. Though her hand twitches for her sword, it remains clear of it for the moment while she stares at him. Finally, "You would not like to give me what would make me happy," she tells him plainly. "You would do well to listen to the others. Everything I have seen, they have seen more. One by one, her minions continue to come to a bad end."
"It needs not pain to know that one lives." Seldan's eyes refocus, but now he looks towards the victim, then back to Kol. "That may not be wise, Boshter," he cautions the arvek. "Even living, he is not to be trifled with." Back to Kol. "Is it life, to be twisted in mind and body? You would be a fool to take what she offers you. It is not the gift that she promises." He pauses, then adds, "Is this both your idea of -fun-?"
Kira looks back to the... victim when he speaks, startled once more. "Who are you? Why does she want you harmed? Why do you either of you want ... this?" It's not an interrogation; Kira's just trying to figure out something, somewhere, somehow... somewhen here. She's not even sure what 'this' is. "Pain may remind you that you're not dead, but joy makes life worthwhile."
Kol moves the last few feet to the man's side, and with a few deft motions begins to release his 'prisoner'. "I do not pretend to know what is pleasure for any man save myself save that I seek to give it." Says the tall green-eyed man. "I have known pain all my life, and so for myself it has become a sort of joy to feel."
The man falls practically, and Kol catches him easily, holds him up where his own legs could not do otherwise and the man uses Kol to prop himself up. When it happens... none of you expect it. Not even Kol. The vampire - for that's what the man is - strikes. Biting into Kol's neck savagely. Kol reacts on instinct, punching the other man in the face to back him off even as his hand covers the wound on his neck to try and forestall the gushing blood that bubbles up from under his hand.
-TBC