Café de Nuit

The Archeron, Parnault Bay, Port-a-Lucine; Night of March 24th, 770
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Player Actions
Tomas: Hits Cedolin for 12 damage, regains a bunch of HP, 2 Temp HP, +2 to defenses, and Sanctions Cedolin, Lower Akiri, and Upper Dementlieuse Turrets.
Darius: AoOs the Lower Kartakan Magelight for 9, then Frigid Blades it for 13, deals 22 total damage. Then moves and heals Kerrian for Surge+1.
Cyrus: AoOs Lower-Kartakan for 5 damage, killing it. Shadow-Jaunts, then Argent Mantles and Nine Souls of Wrath on Cedolin, dealing 32 damage to Cedolin and inflicting Vulnerability 5 All on Cedolin, Lower Akiri, and Upper Dementlieuse.
Lia: Uses a Flaming Sphere on the Akiri Upper Magelight for 11 damage.
Nicolas: AoOs Lower Darkonian for 9 and hits it again for 30, it takes -2 to Will.
Mr. Agale: Uses a Hypnotic Pulse on two corridor-mid mage-lights, pulls out a healing potion.
Celeste: Doubles moves.
Kerrian: Does some crawling, uses Healing Spirit to give Celeste Surge+3 and Tomas back 1. Standard Action to get Surge and +2 to Defenses, Tomas, Celeste, and Cyrus get +1 to Fort, Ref, Will
Nerit: In Absentia

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Lia wrote:"Cerise!" Lia shouts while waiting for the next mishap. "You understand these things -- what is powering them?"

"I'm not sure!" Cerise admitted, still puzzling over the bracer. "I only ever read secondhand accounts! They're... leaks, between this world and... elsewhere. Once it starts coming through, it just keeps spreading until whatever's causing the leak goes away, but this stuff kinda lingers around- awwwww! It's gotten all over the exhibits! They're going to have to quarantine all this stuff for... well forever!" Cerise gave a rather adorable pout.

"Then, then we'd better stop it here," Richard said quietly. "Ezra take you!" he cried out, bringing his sword bearing down on the mage light in front of him. It was a strike with more zeal than skill, but it cleaved straight into the heart of the light, turning the flames bright silver. There was a sudden rush as the flames flared up, and then the entire mage light vanished, leaving behind only a trail of mist. Richard drew back, looking around at his allies now that his vision was no longer obstructed by the turret. "Ezra's tears..." he gaped, looking at the rather ruined form of Eisenwald.

Cerise, on the other hand, was having trouble not looking like her birthday had come early. The thought that Eisenwald, adventurer and author, could actually be defeated hadn't seemed to have crossed her mind, and this wasn't really dissuading her from the notion. "You're doomed!" she told the mage light that remained, incredibly cheerily. "We have Tomas Eisenwald on our side. Just give up now and save everyone the trouble."

Perhaps it was just your imagination, but the mage-light seemed to dim suddenly, as if duly frightened in light of the warning. For some reason, you could smell just the slightest hint of cherries in the air, on a warm summer's day.

Richard shifts up and uses Zealous Fervor on the Akiri Upper turret, deals 13 damage, it is dead.

Cerise shifts down and hits the Akiri Lower, crits, deals 9 damage and Ongoing 5 Psychic.

Lower Akiri turret shoots Tomas, provoking an AoO from Cerise (she misses horribly). Upper Dementlieuse turret shoots Tomas. Both miss due to Second Wind and Kerrian's spirit.

Fails the save, takes 5 psychic damage + 5 due to vulnerability.

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Lower Darkonian Turret uses Ray of Destruction on Nicolas, provoking an AoO, hits Nico on the nose, dealing 17 damage.

Upper Darkonian can't attack due to cover.

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That which was once Captain Cedolin regarded the blows it recieved through the strange warping of space casually. Where the flesh was breached, it cracked, like shards of glass or porcelain, leaving jagged cuts in the most literal sense of the term. Clear, silvery fluid leaked from them, like quicksilver.

Cedolin gazed into the mirrored deck about him, flat eyes still glowing. He lifted a hand, and once more there was a kind of strange movement, something that humans could never replicate. People had bones to worry about, and the limits of the flesh. Cedolin, did not. He cast two shards of obsidian-like glass from his fingers, shards that burrowed through the alternate reality. On sped its way past Cyrus harmlessly, but the other banged lightly off of Tomas's body. It hurt only a little, though the wound was unnervingly numb, but Tomas found his limbs growing stiff and unresponsive. A glance provided a grim explanation as to this. Tomas's legs were starting to turn to glass. Slick and shiny, reflecting the light.

Then Cedolin shuddered, or twitched, or shifted... and he was elsewhere. He stood now in the corridor, regarding his fleeing prey with a gaze that held nothing in it. There wasn't even hate or curiosity, just a kind of inhuman regard.

The winds of fate flew across the small group gathered there. Kerrian could feel it tugging at his spirit again, but they were forced back, deflected at the last moment by some spark of lightning or moment of calmness. It was a near-run thing, however. A very near-run thing. Celeste and Darius were no so fortunate.

Visions flashed through their heads, sights and sounds and smells all a-jumble. A glimpse of a happy family on a remote estate in Hazlan. A glimpse of a tower, black stone a mile high jutting from the ocean. A glimpse of a death, in the forests of Barovia, wolves feasting upon burned bones. A glimpse of a life, and a marriage. A glimpse of catacombs, the water rising past the throat, the doors still shut, the bodies of twins floating about you.

Then Darius Isfahani and Celeste Viardot stood in the corridor, Cedolin's unnatural form in front of them. The mage-lights flashed with cold fire, and a barrage of energy fit to set the flesh alight rained down upon them.

Cedolin casts an Unreality Fragment through the mirrored-terrain at Tomas and Cyrus. Misses Cyrus, deals 7-3=4 damage to Tomas and Tomas is slowed (save ends). At the first failed save, Tomas is Immobilized (save ends).

Cedolin teleports.

Cedolin spends another action point and uses Twist of Fate (taking a penalty and 11 Radiant Damage) on Darius, Celeste, Kerrian. Hits Darius, hits Celeste, misses Kerrian by 1 (go Second Wind and Divine Sanction!). To the Corridor with you!

Upper Kartakan Turret uses Ray of Destruction on Kerrian's hound, rolls a 5.

Corridor Turrets!
Middle-Left uses Psychic Shock on Darius, misses.
Middle-Right uses Psychic Shock on Celeste, hits for 9 damage
Lower-Left uses Ray of Destruction on Darius, hits for 11
Lower-Right uses Ray of Destruction on Celeste, hits for 7.
Upper-Left uses Ruinous Burst on Celeste, Darius, and both middle turrets. Misses Darius, hits Celeste and Middle-Left turret for 17 damage.
Upper-Right uses Ruinous Burst on Celeste, Darius, and both middle turrets. Misses Celeste, hits Darius and Middle-Left for 26, crits Middle-Right for 35 damage.

Center Left turret makes it's save vs. Daze, Center Right fails due to Orb of Mental Dominion.



Terrain: Any creature within the blue/purple squares on the map can target any other creature standing within that terrain as if they were adjacent to that creature. Any attack targeted in this manner takes a -2 to hit from concealment. (More detailed description can be found in the OOC).

PCs & NPCs:

Cyrus Isfahani (C): 44/58, Insubstantial, Spirit Defense (+1 NAD)
AC 18, F 18, R 17, W 19
Darius Isfahani (D): 12/60, Bloodied
AC 23, F 17, R 19, W 19
Sister Nerit Doherty (N) (In Absentia): 47/47
AC 18, F 14, R 17, W 21
Mr. Agale (A): 44/44
AC 18, F 16, R 19, W 21
Nicolas Etienne de Castaigne (Nc): 36/56
AC 21, F 18, R 20, W 21
Tomas Eisenwald (T): 37/59, +2 Defenses, Resist All/3, Spirit Defense (+1 NAD), Slowed (Save Ends, first failed save makes this Immobilized (Save Ends))
AC 24, F 18, R 18, W 20
Prof. Lia Mournswaithe (L): 32/50
AC 20, F 16, R 18, W 17
Kerrian Mauganson (K): 27/53, +2 Defenses
AC 17, F 19, R 16, W 20
Celeste Viardot (Cv): 8/50, Bloodied
AC 16, F 17, R 18, W 20

Richard Blackwood (Green R): -32 HP, Bloodied
Cerise Rondelet (Green C): -8 HP


Enemies:

Captain Cedolin: -128 HP, Divine Sanction
AC: 22 Fortitude: 20 Reflex: 20 Will: 21

Mage-Light Turret(Akiri, Upper): -58 HP, DEAD
Mage-Light Turret (Akiri, Lower): -19 HP(Burst Expended), Vulnerability 5 All, Divine Sanction, Ongoing 5 Psychic (Save Ends)
Mage-Light Turret (Darkonian, Upper): (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Darkonian, Lower): -51 HP, Bloodied, -2 to Will Defense, (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Dementlieuse, Upper): -14 HP (Burst Expended), Vulnerability 5 All, Divine Sanction
Mage-Light Turret (Dementlieuse, Lower): -14 HP (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Kartakan, Upper):
Mage-Light Turret (Kartakan, Lower): -56 HP, DEAD
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Upper Left): -33 HP, Dazed, Bloodied, (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Upper Right): -24 HP, Dazed, (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Center Left): -51 HP, Bloodied, Charm Bolt (2nd stage, save ends) (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Center Right): -43 HP, Bloodied, Dazed (save ends, Orb of Mental Dominion), (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Lower Left): (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Lower Right): (Burst Expended)
AC 18; Fortitude 17, Reflex 18, Will 19

Kerrian tried to lash out at Cedolin as he made his extradimensional entry into the hallway, his Spirit hound trying to grab on to something of Cedolin's substance and tear. Unfortunately, being prone and aiming through reality warping fog is harder than one would think even when using an intermediary. Even still, something of spiritstuff managed to flow from the hound into Tomas, a brief small burst of vigor.

Moments afterward, the hound faded from the bank of mist in which it had been summoned, only to reappear seconds later standing beside Celeste and Darius, as its master managed to get to his feet. What could almost be a smile played over Kerrian's face for a heartbeat's span as the great roar of an angry bear suddenly resounded around Cedolin, the sonic assault not the strongest, but at the same time the resonant energy provided a strange sense of safety.

Likely not enough to truly do them much good in the face of the arcane onslaught they were likely to face soon, but perhaps it would do some good.

Before the ringing in Ceodlin's ears even had a second to die down, the roar of the bear was joined by the screeching of a great hawk, and the rush of wind. Right before Darius and Celeste's eyes, a great hawk composed of light shimmered into being above Cedolin and dove straight for his eyes, vanishing in a burst of light that certainly had him seeings likely not much of anything. And surrounding Cedolin, there was a profusion of zephyrs, the breezes the sort that couldn't help but make for a safe journey.

OOC:Non AoO reaction to use Spirit's Shield on Cedolin as he leaves the area "adjacent" to my spirit companion, miss but Tomas still heals 7 hp. Then minor action to dismiss spirit companion, free action to re-summon it in U15, giving Darius and Celeste the +1 to all non AC defenses. Then using Thunder Bear's Warding on Cedolin. Wis vs Fort, 21 hits, for 8 thunder damage. And now while adjacent to my spirit companion, all allies get resist 3/all until the end of my next turn. Celeste will also gain 3 temp hp.

Then, action pointing to use Spirit of the Hawk's Wind on Cedolin, Wis vs Reflex 28 will hit, for 13 Radiant. Cedolin is also Blind untill the end of my next turn. Also, there is now a Zone in a Burst 3 centered on Cedolin. Within this zone, allies may shift 4 squares as a move action, ignoring difficult terrain during the shift. I may also move this zone 5 squares as a move action. I do not have to take an action to sustain the zone.

Also, I shorted Tomas 1d6+3 healing last round, which I make up for now with 8. I also shorted Celeste 3 , due to not reading a class feature right.

"Mr. de Castigne, it seems our presence would be put to better use getting to the heart of the problem rather than muddling about with the symptoms, don't you agree?" Agale asked as he rushed out into the hall. Leveling his gaze at the mage lights in his way "Cease and desist in this belligerence at once!"

Turning past the mage-light toward the wounded socialite, the Borcan spoke again "Miss Viardot, focus on the sound of my voice. These abominations are not of our world. Their ability to harm you is dependent on your belief that they can do so. Expunge the very idea from your consciousness." His words were calm and measured, with a hypnotic lilt in his voice.

"And as for you," he stared down the mockery which had adopted Cedolin's form, "Impersonating an officer of the gendarme is a grand felony punishable to the fullest extent of the law!"

With each statement, the same strange sensation washed down the corridor, a smell of mercury and a distortion in the air.

Standard Action: Dishearten centered at R15

• Left Lantern: 16 vs will (miss)
  Right Lantern: 23 vs will (hit) for 10 psychic damage and -2 to attack rolls until the end of Agale's next turn

Move Action: Hoofing it to Q16
Minor Action: Using Majestic Word on Celeste.

• she can spend a surge + 5 hp and slides 1 square if she wants.

Action Point: Augment 2 Mind Thrust at the captain.

• 27 vs will for 16 psychic damage and -4 to all defenses until the end of Agale's next turn.

Nicholas flips Agale a sloppy salute, whipping a final blow out against the magelight behind him, then turns on his heel and dashes after the lawyer.

Seeing Agale dealing with Celeste, Nicholas turns his own attentions to the tattooed Hazlani. "Afternoon" he offers cheerily,through somewhat gritted teeth. "I suspect that sword would do much better buried in ghostly flesh, perhaps a verse or two would lighten your spirits mon ami?" Despite Nicholas irreverent tone a warmth reaches out to Darius soothng the priests wounds. Seeing the look the priest probabley gives him, Nicholas grins and hurridly adds "No poetry eh, ah well time to get you up then"

"Now where were we, ah Captain Cedolin, Im afraid we can't let you continue this malevolent sol e lumiere show, so perhaps its time to cease and desist?" So saying he thrusts the blade towards Ce3dolin, and...... nothing happens. For the second tiime that night a confused expression crosses Nicholas face and he gives the blade an accusing look and vainly thrusts it towards the apparition in the hope the malfucntion might clear itself.

"Or just stay where you are then" he drawls looking slightly less confident.

OOC

AoO on lower turret - to hit 24 damage 7

Move action to Q15

Minor Action Majestic Word on Darius allowing him to use a healing surge + 10 additional hp + 1 square slide if he fancies it.

Compulsion on Cedolin to hit 15 vs will............ bleh guess my luck ran out...

Action point for second wind as I suspect the next round is going to hurt quite abit, and I want ot be around to take advantage of that +6 bonus to hit him so heals 14 & gain +2 to alll defenses

"MISERABLE little..." Tomas fumes with fury, unable to make the psychic bond with Celodin's corpse in time to do what he was planning. Taking a breath(and blushing a little at Cerise's praise, because he's never really been spoken about like that.), Tomas runs down the hall, taking a second to reach a hand out of the mirror-ground and touch Richard on the shoulder. "Richard, I am not going to lie to you. This might sting a little."

One invigorating electrocution later, Tomas takes a swing at the air, his whole demeanor gaining strength from the impact of his weapon against the remaining turret.

(Lets See. Move to M10(I think I can make that while slowed, its only three squares...), use Lay on Hands on Richard, and another Bolstering Strike against the lower Akari turret. I hit for 12 damage and get 2 more temporary HP. I also make my saving throw.)

Cronax wrote:"Miss Viardot, focus on the sound of my voice. These abominations are not of our world. Their ability to harm you is dependent on your belief that they can do so. Expunge the very idea from your consciousness."

"I appreciate your solicitude, M. Agale, but I am quite all right--my thanks all the same!" Celeste smiled winsomely back at the lawyer, again not seeming to realize that there was a battle going on. She did look quite all right, actually. Surprisingly so. She had just been teleported through a rift in the universe, and yet you were pretty sure that her hair still hadn't come unpinned.

She turned back to the apparition in front of her, raising her fan in mild trepidation. "I only hope that we may restore Captain Cedolin to his senses..."

Shifting one square down and Second Winding; I think I'm at 40 HP, now. +2 to all defenses, at any rate.

Nerit fell behind as she was wont to do. She kneeled down, her cloak crumpling at her feet in a pool like the devotional paintings of Darkon. The nun cupped her hand to her face and whispered into it.

Her head whipped up at the bright apparitions. Her eyes narrowed. The indistinct, reactive voices of her companions were not lost upon her, but still she stayed where she was, appraising the lights.

Richard might have seen her at the end of the hall, but he surely had more important business, and he soon disappeared into a room again.
In the distance, she recognized the voice of Tomas.

Tomas wrote:"Cursed witch-lights!"

"Hardly," Nerit muttered and straightened to step forward.

She stared ahead. At the grotesque mirror image of Captain Cedolin.

"Enough."

Nerit lowered her cupped hands, a shadow scurrying up her pristine white sleeve (how she managed this through their adventures thus far was nothing short of a miracle) and into her veil.

Words whispered. Promises reiterated, reaffirmed.

She raised her left hand. A trail of blood slipped toward the base of her thumb as she extended her palm outward. Her other hand gripped a knife.

Unfortunately, it was too far to reach the Cedolin creature with the lights in the way. She would have to deal with those first.

When she spoke again, a cacophony followed. Echoes, imitations, mock words. Shrieks and laughs were high and low-pitched simultaneously; a thunder of noise rolled out in front of her. A wind tugged at her skirts.

The noise grew to an insufferable din and shrouded the mage lights. Against the lights, shadows flickered. Whether anyone else noticed this in the chaos of the arcane battle, Nerit wasn't concerned with. For the moment.

Move Action: to Ad15
Standard: Thundering Gust vs Turrets Aa-Ab14 & Aa-Ab16
Attack: 22 & 26
Hit: 15
EDIT: Many apologies, forgot details of the spell!
Close Blast 3. Thunder damage, and target slides a number of squares equal to N's Dexterity modifier (+3). But how do mage lights slide ?

Darius sways unsteadily under the combined impact of a sudden teleportation and various arcane assaults, almost going to one knee as one of the evil shards of light emanating from the turrets rips through his torso.

From somewhere, a remark in a jocular tone...the poet, that atheistical blaspheming rascal, is cracking jokes at a time like this. Darius feels the rage expanding in him, welcomes it, lets it lift him and strengthen him. It is an old rage, a fire in the bones, a source of anguish...and, in moments like this, of power.

He screams, in pain and defiance...the sound of a wounded panther. Lashing left and right in two quick strokes which drive vortices of force against the mage turrets at either side of him, he turns toward Cedolin and leaps, his form blurring, and for a moment it seems a black-and-red panther is charging down the hallway, eyes bright with bloodlust, and then Darius slams his sword into the undead's chest as he shouts.

"You are my prey."

Okay, so first, healing 25 hit points, and a big thanks to our resident poet; Darius may give Nicolas' inspiration powers short shrift, but I am very grateful! If I have everyone placed correctly, we have Nicolas in Q15, Agale in Q16, and Celeste in U18, so I am going to use the slide from Majestic Word to end up in S15.

Then!

Standard actions: Sword Burst against the turrets, Int vs. Ref. As a burst 1 it will hit both turrets and none of the peeps. 15 on the left misses, 19 on the right hits, deals 7 damage.

Move action: Armathor's Shield. Teleport to W15, and I get a +2 on my next attack against Cedolin.

Minor action: Mark Cedolin using Aegis of Shielding, so a) he is marked and b) if his attack does not target me I may prevent 7 damage to one target of the attack.

Spend an action point for a Standard Action: Dimensional Bond, Intelligence Attack vs AC, roll 32. Damage is 2W+6, total of 12 (sigh). Until the end of the encounter I may teleport 10 squares as a move action as long as I teleport to a square adjacent to Cedolin.

"It sounds as if the time has come to leave this place," Lia states when she hears the noise from outside change. "You stick close to me, all right?" she says, giving a stern look to Tomas, Cerise and Richard.

The Mage opens the door and walks out into the corridor, eyebrows drawing down in thought when she sees the situation. "Nothing like the old favourites, I suppose," she mutters, and launches a chant that Tomas may well recognize: "Sphaera ignis expandens e manu meu evolat!"

A tiny orb of flame flies away from the tip of Lia's staff, and roars into fiery doom around what was once Captain Cedolin. Energy surges through Lia - it seems her familiarity with the spell is serving her well today!

(OOC: Move action to N15. I really hope Cerise follows and keeps offering her protection, eh heh. ^^;
Casting Fireball at Z15. Attack roll vs. Cedolin: 29, which is a critical hit! ^^ Attack to turret Aa: 24. Attack roll to turret Ab: 26.
Overall damage roll: 17. Crit. bonus damage to Cedolin: 5.
17 damage to turrets Aa and Ab, 22 damage to Cedolin.
Minor action to sustain the Flaming Sphere, just in case.)

The Archeron, Parnault Bay, Port-a-Lucine; Night of March 24th, 770
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Player Actions
Tomas: Lays on Hands Richard for 15 HP, hits the Lower Akiri turret for 12, gains +2 Temp HP.
Nicolas: AoOs Darkonian-Lower for 7, misses Cedolin, Majestic Word's Darius and Second Wind's himself.
Mr. Agale: Hits the Center-Right turret for 10 damage, Majestic Words' Celeste for Surge+5, uses a Mind Thrust on Cedolin for 16 and -4 to defenses
Celeste: Second Winds and shifts.
Kerrian: Heals Tomas for 15 HP, hits Cedolin for 21 damage and Blinds him, heals Celeste for 3 and gives her 3 Temp HP, Darius and Celeste gain +1 NAD and Resist All/3, creates a rapid-shifting Zone.
Nerit: Blasts the two Corridor-Lower turrets for 15 damage each.
Darius: Hits the Center-Right for 7 HP, teleports to and Marks Cedolin, hits him for 12 damage and Dimensional Bond's him.
Cyrus: Hits Cedolin with a Bound by Fate, immobilizing Cedolin and dealing 18 damage. Shares half damage to Cedolin next hit by a non-Cedolin attack.
Lia:Action Change due to Rules Issues Lia uses a minor action to open the door, move action to reach the hallway, and standard action to Fireball the two lower turrets and Cedolin, dealing 17 to the lower turrets and 22 to Cedolin. Lia loses the Flaming Sphere.


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Richard pounded out the room on Lia's heels, his heavy engineer boots thudding heavily against the wooden floor of the ship. With an agile flip of his hand he tossed his longsword from his left hand to his right, reaching into his coat as he skidded behind the cover of the opposite doorway. Perhaps he caught Sister Nerit's eye, perhaps he didn't, through all the color and light. He certainly saw Captain Cedolin, the young man's mouth setting into a determined line as he noted the battlefield.

"Do not fear the, the mists and darkness, but let it, it lift your burden from you," he intoned sadly, a quiet prayer, then dodged a step back out of the doorway, for just a moment. In place of his sword, Richard was holding a Lamordian pistol, the barrel finely engraved with curling oak leaves. There was a loud crack as the gunshot rang through the hall, the bullet seeming to burst into silver light just before catching Cedolin in the shoulder.

Cerise, in the meantime, had cheerfully skipped out after Lia, as if she was on some kind of picnic. She paused for a moment to waggle her fingers at the upper turrets and say "Doooooooooomed" in an over exaggerated, ghost-story kind of voice. The turrets flared up in red flames, looking supremely angry. Cerise gave an embarrassed grin to Lia. "Oops! Think I made them mad," she said cheerfully.

She swung around on her high heels, only then noting Cedolin in the hallway. "Captain?" she asked aloud, her smile faltering just in the slightest.

Cerise moves into the corridor, provokes an AoO from the Lower Akiri turret. It misses and takes 6 damage from Divine Sanction. Does something, hits both upper turrets, deals 13 damage and they're dazed till the end of the next turn.

Richard can't reach anything worthwhile, so he uses a ranged attack on Cedolin, hits for 16 damage.

Lower Akiri turret tries to shoot Tomas, misses completely. Takes 10 damage from ongoing, fails to save.

Upper Dementlieuse mage-light fires at Tomas, hits, 11-1 for 10 damage.


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There was a terrible sound from Captain Cedolin, like shattering porcelain. Your blows never seemed to strike him dead on - they struck into his side with no visible effect, only for his arm to explode in glassy fragments a moment later. And yet the blows still struck him, beginning to tear him apart. Darius' sword smashed across the Captain's chest, ripping the uniform and sending Cedolin's gendarme notebook flying, bits of paper smashing against the floor and breaking like ice. Kerrian's bright light created another horrific cracking noise, and reality seemed to explode. The deck seemed to rock beneath your feet as your vision suddenly turned itself on its head, and Cedolin suddenly seemed to be in fifteen places at once, his eyes dark and impossible to see. There was another cracking noise as the visions coalesced again, forming back up into one creature. The glowing yellow orbs stared back at you, whole.

The entity that had been Cedolin did not seem to react to the endless barrage of fire, or the sudden rage before it. For all the wounds it had taken, and he had taken many, for all the cries of battle, there seemed to be no effect on whatever counted as the Captain's mind. Though his uniform was twisted and tattered, the light seemed to twist in ways that left you unable to see the flesh beneath.

The light flared. It was bright. Very bright, a steady luminescence that hurt to look at. You could no more meet Cedolin's gaze than you could meet the gaze of a sun. It was a possible thing, but not without pain. Then with the bright light came a pain, a spiritual weight that bound your soul in chains and manacles, dragging you down. It was a doom-filled destiny, those eyes promised, and one that was yours in full.

Then came the next barrage. The bizarre lamps, their humble magics twisted and tortured till the snapping point, spewed forth their fiery bolts. Angry, twisting beams, that left welts of pain where they fell, and led to swift necrosis of the flesh.

Then there was a heartbeat, and in the space between one look and the next, the misty, glassy fog expanded to encompass yet more of the Archeron.

Cedolin revokes his Blindness via Fractured Soul as a minor action.

Cedolin recharges Dread Star's Destiny because he has been bloodied and proceeds to use it, catching Celeste, Darius, Kerrian, Cyrus, and the two lower hall Turrets. Critically Misses Celeste, misses Cyrus, hits Darius, Kerrian, and both lower hallway turrets. Everyone hit takes 22 damage (Darius resists 3) and gains vulnerability 5 psychic (save ends)

Corridor Upper-Left Mage-Light fires Ray of Destruction at Lia. It barely hits and is deflected by the Shield.
Corridor Upper-Right Mage-Light fires Ray of Destruction at Agale. Hits for 18 damage. Intellect Fortress would not have helped.
Corridor Center-Left Mage-Light uses Psychic Shock at Nicolas. Misses.
Corridor Lower-Left Mage-Light fires Ray of Destruction at Nerit. It hits for 21 damage.
Corridor Lower-Right Mage-Light fires Ray of Destruction at Cyrus. Hits for 16 damage, half of which goes to Cedolin, so 8 each.

Center-Left turret finally saves vs. Charm Bolt.



Terrain: Any creature within the blue/purple squares on the map can target any other creature standing within that terrain as if they were adjacent to that creature. Any attack targeted in this manner takes a -2 to hit from concealment. (More detailed description can be found in the OOC).

Kerrian's Spirit of Hawk's Wind: Within this zone, allies may shift 4 squares as a move action, ignoring difficult terrain during the shift. Kerrian may also move this zone 5 squares as a move action. Kerrian does not have to take an action to sustain the zone.


PCs & NPCs:
Cyrus Isfahani (C): 36/58, Spirit Defense (+1 NAD)
AC 18, F 18, R 17, W 19
Darius Isfahani (D): 18/60, Bloodied, Resist All/3, Spirit Defense (+1 NAD), Vulnerability 5 Psychic (Save ends)
AC 23, F 17, R 19, W 19
Sister Nerit Doherty (N): 26/47
AC 18, F 14, R 17, W 21
Mr. Agale (A): 26/44
AC 18, F 16, R 19, W 21
Nicolas Etienne de Castaigne (Nc): 50/56, +2 to Defenses
AC 21, F 18, R 20, W 21
Tomas Eisenwald (T): 44/59, Resist All/1,
AC 24, F 18, R 18, W 20
Prof. Lia Mournswaithe (L): 32/50
AC 20, F 16, R 18, W 17
Kerrian Mauganson (K): 5/53, Bloodied, Vulnerability 5 Psychic (Save ends)
AC 17, F 19, R 16, W 20
Celeste Viardot (Cv): 40+3/50, Resist All/3, Spirit Defense (+1 NAD), +2 to defenses
AC 16, F 17, R 18, W 20

Richard Blackwood (Green R): -17 HP
Cerise Rondelet (Green C): -8 HP


Enemies:
Captain Cedolin: -241 HP, -4 to All Defenses, Marked (Darius), Dimensional Bond (Darius), Immobilized, Bound by Fate (Cyrus), Vulnerability 5/All, Bloodied
AC: 22 Fortitude: 20 Reflex: 20 Will: 21

Mage-Light Turret(Akiri, Upper): -58 HP, DEAD
Mage-Light Turret (Akiri, Lower): -47 HP, Bloodied, (Burst Expended), Vulnerability 5 All, Divine Sanction, Ongoing 5 Psychic (Save Ends)
Mage-Light Turret (Darkonian, Upper): (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Darkonian, Lower): -58 HP, DEAD
Mage-Light Turret (Dementlieuse, Upper): -14 HP (Burst Expended), Vulnerability 5 All, Divine Sanction
Mage-Light Turret (Dementlieuse, Lower): -14 HP (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Kartakan, Upper):
Mage-Light Turret (Kartakan, Lower): -56 HP, DEAD
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Upper Left): -46 HP, Dazed, Bloodied, (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Upper Right): -37 HP, Dazed, Bloodied, (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Center Left): -51 HP, Bloodied, (Burst Expended)
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Center Right): -60 HP, DEAD
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Lower Left): -54 HP, Bloodied, (Burst Expended), Vulnerability 5 Psychic (Save ends)
Mage-Light Turret (Corridor, Lower Right): -54 HP, Bloodied, (Burst Expended), Vulnerability 5 Psychic (Save ends)
AC 18; Fortitude 17, Reflex 18, Will 19

The erstwhile gendarme turns his eerie gaze on Darius and those around him and gestures, and a nightmare brilliance illuminates the ship again. Throwing up his sword in a reflexive counterattack, Darius just manages to meet his mark and strike home again.

He feels the gentle tug of the hawk spirit Kerrian summoned and, grinning, lets it direct him to a more advantageous position...opposite his brother, which seems fitting. Now in position for the endgame, he strikes again, ice crystals flying from his blade as he cuts Cedolin again.

Immediate Interrupt: Frost Backlash against Cedolin. 18 to hit, Int vs. Reflex. I will assume for the time being that the -4 to defenses and the Vulnerability 5 all are already in effect, which means it's a hit for 25 damage (3+3+8 dice, 6 bonuses, 5 vulnerable). If those are NOT already in effect, it's half damage, so 10.

Move action: Using Kerrian's Spirit of Hawk Wind zone, I shift to X14 so as to be flanking Cedolin. (Hi, bro! )

Standard action: I then attack with Frigid Blade. Attack 31, damage 14, and since Cedolin can actually move (sometimes) I may as well note he gets a -2 penalty to speed.

Oh! And save 14 vs. the psychic vulnerability.

Lia blinks her eyes when the ray from the turret scatters into motes of light in front of her, the cool glow of a magical Shield materializing out of thin air just before it hits.

She blinks, but stands her ground. And stabs her staff out at Cedolin. "Globu vis, collige. Globu vis, vole. Globu vis, inimicem meum perfringe."

A sphere of bluish light flies away from Lia's staff to impact with Captain Cedolin.

(OOC: Casting Force Orb at Cedolin. The Hand appears in Y15. Attack roll: 18. I hope that this -4 to defenses means I made the attack roll. Damage roll of 8 force damage, thanks to staff bonus, plus whatever additional damage is dealt due to his current vulnerability.)

A bolt of energy struck Mr. Agale squarely in the back. The Tollere hunched over for a moment before completely straightening his back. His head turned around to stare down the offending mage light and his words were as cold as the bottom of the ocean. "This is assault! Failure to comply with preceding injunctions places you squarely in contempt!" Yet again the air whips and tears with an unseen energy at Agale's words.

Minor Action: Activating Infernal Wrath
Move Action: Downgrade to a minor, Using Distract against Cedolin.

• The next attack against him gains combat advantage

Standard Action: Dishearten, centered on H15

• Right turret: 27 vs will, 13 psychic damage (Includes infernal wrath) and -2 to attack rolls until the end of Agale's next turn.
  Left turret: 26 vs will, 9 psychic damage and -2 to attack rolls until the end of Agale's next turn.

Edited, because I didn't realize the lanterns I was firing on were already dazed.

Celeste continued to watch the fray with considerable interest, having never seen anything like it before; she winced slightly with every blow dealt to either one of her compatriots or to Cedolin, as if in vain hope that everybody could just get along somehow. Unfortunately, her attention did not extend to the five active mage-lights just above head level. Three of which were flickering to life again, for another sustained barrage at the most vulnerable-looking person in the hallway. Any second now…wait for it…

M. Agale wrote:"This is assault! Failure to comply with preceding injunctions places you squarely in contempt!"

“M. Agale, I applaud your spirit, but…oh, ‘contemptuous’ is rather harsh! Perhaps…ah, ‘misguided?’”

A helpful interjection, no doubt—but, more importantly, one that Celeste punctuated by turning towards the lawyer and moving forward a few steps.

Three bolts of searing mage-light whizzed six inches over Celeste’s head.

One guess who was directly behind Celeste at the time.

Celeste moves to T16, gets +1 to AC for the round.

The three uppermost hall turrets temporarily break out of their daze, and roll a 12 on their accidental attack against Cedolin, which is not worth taking Agale's extra +2 on. However, they still affect the captain as a missed Yellow Chromatic Orb, and do 17 points of radiant damage to him, including his vulnerability 5. Cedolin is dazed until he makes a save.