Same as It Ever Was (Part 26)

The knights of the Summer Court are still consumed in their admiration of Zeke. Quite disturbingly, Rune scoring killing one knight and then scoring blades on another doesn't seem to do much to break their concentration.

"How lovely. Poor form of Bartreus to spoil the moment by painting the floor with his blood," one of the knights quips.

"Indeed. Such barbarism is reserved for the Unseelie," Raeluin says with a roll of his eyes, smiling incandescently at Zeke. "The Unseelie King loves his little displays of violence and fighting. I, for one, take no joy in fighting." He presses a hand to his chest as though to underscore the point. "Would you, Crystalline Dragon, be interested in coming to the Summer Court? There are many pleasures that await you there."

GAME: Aryia rolls grapple+5: aliased to : (11)+30+2+2+5: 50
GAME: Simony rolls 1d20+23: (17)+23: 40
GAME: Simony rolls 1d20+18: (12)+18: 30
GAME: Simony rolls 1d20+13: (1)+13: 14 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Simony rolls 2d6+11: (6)+11: 17

Speaking of barbarism through the burbling words of the horrid Raeluin, Aryia's head whips up to see Nala brimming with rage. There's a brief moment, arms blackened to onyx in the water, face twisted in concentration - this fucker is squirmy - where she want to keep him under. But, Nala's bending of the story is far more lethal than her righteous holy water intubation.

Aryia drives Raeluin's face through the surface of the water as she sprints forth, tossing him over her shoulder and yanking an arm and his neck down, splaying him before Nala's deadly whims.

GAME: Simony casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 20 DC: 21
GAME: Simony rolls 1d100: (34): 34
GAME: Rune takes ten on bluff+1: (10)+39+1: 50
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2-2: (1)+33+-2: 32 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1-7: (3)+33+-7: 29
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2-7: (16)+33+-7: 42
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1-12: (3)+33+-12: 24
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2-12: (1)+33+-12: 22 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1: (6)+33: 39
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+10d6+1d6: aliased to 1d6+8+10d6+1d6: (4)+8+(34)+(6): 52

The alabaster archon continues to attack the knight, attempting to slice and dice like Rune, but only getting one solid hit in.

Simony nods approvingly of her servitor's progress, and she begins to pray. At the end, a circle forms around Nala, similar to the one that circles the Goblin. The young woman's claws change colour, something Simony notes with a raised eyebrow, before the diminutive woman flies forward towards the other knights.

GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6+10d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+10d6: (1)+8+(1)+(41): 51
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+29: (9)+29: 38
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+29: (5)+29: 34
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+24: (12)+24: 36
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+17: (15)+17: 32
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+23-2: (19)+23+-2: 40
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d8+10: (3)+10: 13
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d8+10: (7)+10: 17

There's a measure of relief when it becomes obvious that Nala is breaking out of whatever spell effect she may have been under. One pointed ear twitches in her direction, even as Rune seems to continue her focus on the knights in front of her. They are only likely to remain in this dazed state for a brief time, so thinning out their numbers seems like the best use of her skills, while Aryia takes care of woman-handling the fey lord.

So Rune moves closer to some of the knights on her side of the gathering, lashing out with a flurry of strikes, only a few of which seem to get beyond the armor they seem to be wearing. "I'm appreciating your popularity, Zeke. It's damn helpful." Her blades still come away bloody, though not quite as much as before.

Zeke is the least comfortable sith at the moment, reminded vividly of the time that he was contacted about his arm. That someone desired it to leave him. This feels precisely the same. Only they want a idyllic version of him that doesn't exist to come with them to their lands. "Thisss one issss never coming with you. Thisss one will help you return to the landsss you come from." His sword lashes out several times, only finding barest purchase in the one before him, breaking the spell, but Zeke is almost glad of that.

GAME: Telamon rolls talky: aliased to diplomacy+5: (18)+36+5: 59

Nala's rage seems to push through the coldness that's been hanging over Telamon like a miserable fog, the numb spot where his mind would be tangled with his wife's. And suddenly he realizes this might not be the best. Not for Nala, anyways. If Aryia goes back to drowning him Telamon won't lift a finger.

Smoothly, the half-sil glides around to stand next to Nala, and gently touches her wrist. Unafraid of those talons, his starry eyes regarding Nala. "No," he says calmly. "This isn't you, Nala. This is not who you are, or want to be. Don't stain your hands with the blood of this trash. You are more than that. So much more, so much better, than you realize."

GAME: Harkashan refreshes spells.
GAME: Harkashan casts Miracle. Caster Level: 19 DC: 29

Coming into the mess that is going on, having just heard the sounds of battle, Harkashan steps into this all as the door is opened for him. "Stay here." He rumbles to the elder Sith-Makar. "I will be right back." Placing his hand on her shoulder for but a moment.

He then steps closer to the fallen dragon, grimacing at its body. He can still feel the clear 'echo' of death upon its body. The powerful magic that has clearly felled the poor being. Harkashan is quick to grab for one of the Lavastones upon his body, tilting his head down, and praying to the Deathsinging Dragon.

"This one does not belong in thine halls yet. It is not its time, its story is not yet written. Please, wait for me. And protect my allies against the foul magics that make a mockery of life." He rumbles in deep prayer, as a pale white light emanates from him, trailing and touching his allies. Protecting them by forming a pale magical 'death shroud' across their forms, protecting them against the effects of such horrid magic!

GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+19+7: (17)+19+7: 43
GAME: Harkashan rolls 1d20+CLERIC+4: (7)+19+4: 30
GAME: Riptide rolls 4d6+3: (12)+3: 15

Nala falters a little, looking at Telamon with wide eyes. "But... He was trying to alter my mind. He was trying to get me to _like_ him..."

"The Archmage is right," Telanmo says seriously, stepping forward. He lifts up his hand and intones a string of words in a fashion similar to Telamon's, and then a shimmering sword of magic appears over Raeluin's head. "Let us protect you, my love." For there is no end that Telanmo would not go to to save Nala, like Telamon would for Lana.

The sword strikes down and bites into Raeluin's form, the man making an unhappy noise as he's still coughing and gagging on the water he'd gotten into his lungs from talking underwater (fool man that he is). The sword draws back, ready to strike, at the subtle gesture of Telanmo's hand. "Surrender or die, Raeluin," Telanmo says seriously.

GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+23: (5)+23: 28

The knight that has been attacked by Zeke makes a startled noise as they realize what's happening, and then they turn about to their comrade. "Look alive! His Highness needs us! We have been thwarted by magic; assume the protocol!"

While the knights proceed to shake themselves free of the fascination effect, Raeluin just smiles glibly. "What are all of you prattling on about?" he asks, coughing a little more. "I don't understand a word. Just reunite me with that lovely incandescent makari, won't you? Maybe I'll make an exception for my collection..." It appears the fascination is still holding strong.

GAME: Aryia rolls grapple+5: aliased to : (4)+30+2+2+5: 43
GAME: Aryia rolls grapple+5: aliased to : (18)+30+2+2+5: 57

Aryia glances up in surprise, her glowing eyes widening briefly before furrowing. She mouths something, lips snarling before shaking her head before spying the sword of magic coming in. The pugilist briefly releases Raeluin, spinning him out for an easy target. The stab is followed up by a handless cartwheel, rolling over his shoulders before snatching his arms underneath.

She lands back in the waters with a splash, standing on the bobbing waters as both of his arms are crushed between hers, hands pulling his throat and face back at an unnatural angle, completely ruining any balance he had as he's pinned in over her shoulder.

GAME: Simony rolls 1d20+23: (1)+23: 24 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Simony rolls 1d20+18: (13)+18: 31
GAME: Simony rolls 1d20+13: (15)+13: 28
GAME: Simony rolls weapon13: (5)+20: 25
GAME: Simony rolls weapon13: (1)+20: 21 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Simony rolls weapon13: (12)+20: 32

With Raeluin sufficiently held in check by a combination of fascination and drowning, Simony flies into the melee that her archon, Zeke and Rune find themselves in.

She tagteams the knight the alabaster angel has been slowly bleeding, though both find it difficult to put an end to the knight's life.

GAME: Rune rolls weapon2-2: (14)+33+-2: 45
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1-7: (20)+33+-7: 46 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1-7+4: (20)+33+-7+4: 50 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+1d6+10d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+10d6: (4)+8+(1)+(47): 60
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+damage1+1d6+10d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+8+1d6+10d6: (3)+8+(5)+8+(1)+(30): 55
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2-7: (16)+33+-7: 42
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1-12: (10)+33+-12: 31
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2-12: (18)+33+-12: 39 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon2-12+4: (17)+33+-12+4: 42 (THREAT)
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1: (15)+33: 48
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+1d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6: (5)+8+(1): 14
GAME: Rune rolls damage2+damage2+1d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+8+1d6: (4)+8+(3)+8+(6): 29
GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6: (2)+8+(3): 13
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+29: (18)+29: 47
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+29: (7)+29: 36
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+27: (15)+27: 42
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+14: (9)+14: 23
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d8+10: (3)+10: 13
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d8+10: (6)+10: 16
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d8+10: (3)+10: 13

As it seems that the knights may be awakening from their magically induced indolence, Rune has to step up her efforts to reduce their numbers, and quickly. There is a faint curse under her breath, her attention drawn away from what is going on elsewhere in the room.

Instead, she sweeps a blade towards the same knight she had targeted before, already bloody and barely hanging on, but at the last moment, she spins the sword in her hand and stabs it into the stomach of the one beside him. This is followed by a slash across the knight's throat, neatly dropping him to the ground.

Then, there is a flash of metal before the one beside him joins the bloody mess that is a third of Raeluin's guard. Her gaze snaps to the others closest to her, blades held threateningly. It's a heartbeat - just a moment for them to decide if they want to back off, or fight and join their comrades.

GAME: Telamon casts Shades. Caster Level: 20 DC: 31

Zeke focuses his attention now solely on defeating the guardsman fae before him. His brow furrows in concentration and he does better this time with his increased speed, managing to land three hits instead of two. Still, the sith-makar isn't used to long battles like this, and he's starting to feel just a little bit of the strain. "Thisss one thinksss that they are no longer under the ssspell of the Dragonfather Rune!" Not that she can't tell he's sure.

GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+23: (17)+23: 40
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+23: (4)+23: 27
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+23: (6)+23: 29
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+23: (12)+23: 35
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+23: (19)+23: 42
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+24: (16)+24: 40
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+24: (6)+24: 30
GAME: Telamon rolls 2d8+8+2d8: (8)+8+(14): 30

"I know," Telamon says to Nala gently. "But I don't want it on your heart. I wouldn't want Cor'lana to carry that either." He smiles grimly as Raeluin is struck by Telanmo's spell. "Oh, there's a neat trick," he says in a complimentary tone. "Excuse me a moment though, I think our friends deserve some help clearing out the riffraff."

And with that, Telamon begins to chant, tracing complex patterns in the air. Skeins of shadow-stuff trickle off his fingertips, weaving together before shooting over to the far side of the room, where Rune, Zeke, Simony, and the archon are fighting. And there it swells and grows, forming into a vast, vaguely humanoid figure made of stormclouds shot with lightning. Crackling with energy, as the shadow-spawned lightning elemental slams a sizzling fist into one of the fey knights without any further words or gestures.

GAME: Harkashan casts Destruction. Caster Level: 19 DC: 27

Harkashan reaches out, as his spell also reaches out, touching the great Dragon before him. "Come, rest for a while longer. But your time is not yet here. I will keep you safe." He rumbles to the fallen one, and light begins to shimmer from his armor and the robes hidden beneath.

It's a star-like pattern, that folds out into beautiful flowers that open and spawn all over the ground around the dragon. A field forming around the dragon... and reality changes for a moment. For the dragon, the grass and fields grow into an infinite realm of beautiful sakura trees...

On their side, the dragon disappears into the green, and soon, Harkashan is moving where the dragon once was, coming forward to aid Rune and Simony - sending out a wave of divine magic and aiding them by sapping the luck of the Summer Knights and directly feeding it back to his friends.

"Nepantla will return to us soon. But I will not permit this resting place to be desecrated any further." Harkashan seems calm on the outside.

Nala looks at Raeluin, pinned down, very much unable to act or do much of anything than to continue to make people very, very uncomfortable. She looks at her beloved, who is fighting on her behalf, and...

"I wish..." She looks at Raeluin, her face breaking into a sneer. "I wish you'd go away somewhere small and tiny, where you'd never bother anyone ever again, and you'd never, _ever_ come back!"

Aryia's grasp suddenly becomes very empty as the prince pops out of existence.

Nala stares vacantly at where the prince had been for a moment, and then blood trickles down from her nose.

"Nala!" Telanmo calls out, and he rushes out to grab her as she faints--getting her before she can fall down to the ground.

-TBC