Akimitsu Sori (Part 3)

Log Info

• Title: Akimitsu Sori (Part 3)

• GM: Karasu

• Characters: Carver, Corey, Karasu, Telamon

• Place: Yurika, Xian

Karasu eyes his husband with a mixture of embarrassment and fondness. He reins the other man in a little by placing a hand on his shoulder. "He really does like sweet things perhaps a little too much. Please forgive his enthusiasm." His eyes flicker over to Carver and he nods to show he heard her and shifts his weight.

The woman smiles wide at Corey, her eyes glittering with that sales-woman intuition that says here's someone she can sell to! "One of all the different kinds?" She smiles then. "How about this, I'll answer a single question per jar of preserves that you purchase. That way you aren't swindling information out of me." She laughs at this and then winks at Karasu. "I have twelve different flavors if you count the mixes!"

"Yup! Buying all twelve!" Corey answers cheerfully, grinning from pointed ear to pointed ear (much to the bemusement of his long-suffering husband). "Which means twelve questions. First question..."

He goes to fish out his coin. "Who's the leader around here? And second question, where does he live?" Sometimes it's important to pose as a clueless traveler.

Telamon ponders adding onto Corey's act, but opts to let the elf run with this angle for now. No point in seeming -too- eager. Instead, Telamon happily inspects the preserves, considering. "I bet my wife would like a few of these." Actually, he knows she'll like a few of these. The shopping list is already playing out in his head. The sorcerer can't help but grin. "Don't buy everything, I want to pick up a few."

Carver lets her attention slip, or rather forces it away from the innkeeper peeking from yonder window seen. Instead, she lets it drift across the preserve selections, not engaging the sales(wo)man in further dialogue. Corey seems to have it well in hand and is far more natural in their conversation than she'd pass for.

"Elder Yuyu is in charge of the village." The woman states with some amusement and some eagerness. "He lives in that building on top of the hill over there." She points to the only hill in the valley and sure enough, there's a largish home sitting on top of it. She beams at Telamon. "Plenty of wares to go around."

Karasu for his part doesn't say anything just yet, but there's a faint amusement in his own gaze saying that he's not surprised that they're not getting Akimitsu's name out of the woman.

"Elder Yuyu? I see!" Corey smiles brightly as he gets his coinpurse out and is counting coins for the transaction. "Anyone else of note in the village we should visit before we go? Or any particular places? It's our first time here, but we like to get the lay of the land from someone who would know best." The third and fourth questions have been cast.

"Indeed." Telamon is counting out coins as well, albeit waiting for Corey to finish his transaction. "Sometimes it's good to know who the right and left hand men of the elder are -- they can be just as helpful, and you don't have to bother the elder as much." Telamon glances up the hill to the larger home. "Looks like the Elder has a nice place though."

Carver looks up and beyond to the Elder's house, the placating no doubt genteel face of the society to appease anyone curious enough to wander through. Those in the know, and had reason to seek him, knew who the power really sat with. She frowns, the sense of being watched and being aware that one is such tends to build a healthy paranoia. It did not help that they cannot even trust the children in this place.

"You sell to many passing through?"

"Mmmmm Anyone else of note? There's Master Liu. He runs the cat-shrine in town, which I certainly suggest that you visit before you leave. It's a house dedicated to felines. It is said that it brings our village luck." The woman is still beaming pleasantly.

Then there's Telamon's statement and her smile slips a bit. "The elder's right-hand man?" It's not technically a question asked by Corey, but she suddenly seems uncomfortable. "That would be Akimitsu Sori, and him I would avoid if I were you."

Thankfully Carver's question sets the woman back at ease and she nods warmly. "Not many do pass through this little village, but those that do usually come to the inn so I get good business from foreigners."

Karasu's eyes flicker to the woman and then away to be sure that no one is overhearing their conversation that should not. He tugs on Telamon's sleeve and murmurs quietly. "The innkeeper is paying us more mind than he should. Carver noticed."

GAME: Corey rolls Sense Motive: (19)+20: 39
GAME: Telamon rolls sense motive: (12)+31: 43

Carver's asked the fifth question, and Corey sees an opportunity, so he (metaphorically) leaps for it, smiling at the preserve-selling lady gently before he lowers his voice. "Might you tell us why, my lady? I don't wish to upset, but if we need to stay clear, we should know." The sixth question, which might end up being their last, if the innkeeper's notice might put a premature end to the questioning.

Telamon flicks his eyes up at Karasu's warning, but he's canny enough to -not- look directly at the inn. Instead, he makes a show of gesturing at Karasu, though he quietly responds, "Well, I didn't think we were going unnoticed forever. Should we go over and say hello now, or finish up here first?" There's an interesting subtext in Tel's words -- that 'say hello' may be a euphemism for something a bit more... spectacular.

Carver nods, "I am... glad that you found purpose here in the simple things. I hope you never lose it, Jam Girl." She even cracks a bit of a smile though Telamon's veil smooths out her usual affectations. She picks up some of the sidetalk, peeking back over to the Inn. She prefers her conflicts very much straight forward. That would be the Dran of her heritage.

The woman shrugs. "He gives me the feeling of someone who'd cast the evil eye on you for looking at him wrong." She shivers. "I don't much like him that's all. He seems like a fine man if you have to deal with him, but my husband doesn't much like him either." She puts her finger to her lips then.

"That might be why I don't like him actually. My husband is a really affable fellow, but he doesn't like the second to our Elder any more than I do. He works my poor husband to the bone too." She sighs and shrugs. "I suppose it's for the good of the village, but I don't have to like it." She offers another smile to Carver.

Karasu subtly shakes his head at Telamon. "We need to access the inn's basement to reach Sori. Making a scene will make that difficult, and I am not certain where the other entrances to the underground are."

Corey nods gently to the woman's remarks on Akimitsu Sori. "Well, I appreciate you offering such insight," he says. He never thanks people. Mother raised him to know better. But he catches something in the implication of 'he works my poor husband to the bone'. The man must be possessed by a fiend, like most everyone here is... Doing something.

"Shall we get going?" Cor'ethil asks to his friends, knowing that there are technically still questions to ask, but the inn awaits.

Telamon pours some coins into the woman's hand, picking up a few jars. "I think we should," he says to Corey. Tel gives the woman a sympathetic look. "You know... it's a nice day. You might want to wrap things up here early, stay home." There's a flicker in his eyes. "Storms do tend to brew up unexpectedly."

"I hope you get your husband back, bones intact." Carver affirms, turning away now that it seems that everyone is ready to move on. They still had some questions to spend even if it never truly comes back up. She shrugs at Telamon. Indeed, storms come wild and free.

The woman smiles at Corey, pushing the jam jars toward him, and when Telamon pays her she seems startled by the amount and then she hears his words and she glances toward the inn. Just briefly before she nods. "Yes. A nice day. I should go home and treat my husband to dinner out." She starts to pack up her little stall of jams.

Carver's words only make her pack up faster, looking mightily worried.

Karasu leads the way into the inn and takes the innkeeper aside for a moment to hold a conversation with him. The conversation doesn't last long and Karasu returns a moment later to lead you down into the basement where he moves some barrels to the side to reveal a hidden stair case. "It seems my code is old, but still in use." He has a frown on his face though, and he motions for the others to follow him down into the dark. Down, and down, and down.

Eventually the staircase spills into a huge room lit by torches, sand stretching as far as the eye can see worked with strange sigils and symbols, rock lining the walkway around what seems to be a huge house in the center of all this space. One with a red roof.

The bright smile Cor'ethil usually has at any given moment has fallen away now. He frowns as he looks at the sigils up ahead. The news about the code is particularly even more frown inducing. "Meaning we should go quickly. An old code is a suspicious code they're likely to report."

He looks at Telamon then. "Archmage, want to use your magic sight? Or do you know what those sigils do?" he asks. He wouldn't put it past Telamon to know.

As soon as they begin to move down the staircase, Telamon murmurs to the others. "This is a trap. Only the most half-arsed of intelligence or -- how shall we say -- direct action groups would fail to update their codes regularly. So don't be surprised if we get jumped."

Indeed, Telamon is flexing his fingers a bit, as they finally descend to the cavern, and the house. His eyes slide across the symbols in the sand, and he shakes his head at Corey. "Nothing magical. It's art. I've read about this, where some Navosians venerate their god in his aspect of master of time by creating elaborate patterns in sand, before destroying them in sacrifice." He snorts. "I suspect Sori is just showing off here though."

GAME: Telamon rolls perception: (10)+35: 45

"I think it's less of a trap, and more of a challenge." Carver says, pulling her quivers tighter. "Why else would they let it be? I suspect if this assassin of yours is as... him as you described, then he would expect you to come home. The ole'... ah, prodigal son? I reads a story 'bout it."

She takes a deep breath as they pause before the symbols, her blank expression showing she has no clue what it means until Telamon explains. "Curious art taste."

"Sori enjoys showing off his control of other people." Karasu motions to the vast expanse of sand art. "This takes days to accomplish and must be perfect in motion or it falls apart." He says it like one who knows. "I agree. It is most likely a trap, but we can not but walk into it." He has his short sword drawn, but not Toge. Not yet.

"Well, nice of them to put out a welcome mat." Cor'ethil mutters this as he draws his rapier. "Although I like ours better, Karasu."

His silver eyes dart to Telamon and Carver. "It's a sturdy thing crocheted with rope. It has a chicken on it." Yes, Cor'ethil loves their hens (and the eggs they produce).

"I'll go first. Armor-wearer and all." With that, he goes ahead of Telamon, Carver, and Karasu. If anyone's going to set off an obvious trap... It'll be the one who has the most likelihood of surviving some awful physical malady.

Telamon reaches out to lightly touch Corey's shoulder, though he doesn't stop him. "Two guards, invisible, at the stairs. Two more at the house corners." Apparently Telamon's eyes see farther than most. "But Karasu is right. Let's see what the master of this place has to say -- assuming he wishes to speak at all."

Carver is eager to hear that as well, judging by the way she clenches her jaw. No more jokes in the dark, just violence and horror. She can only hope that their strength is enough to push through it. She falls into steps near the rear, stepping lightly. "This man's reputation is well-earned?"

Karasu nods to Carver. "He is a master of the sword, and a master of many assassins. He trained them himself-" Yet Corey is drawing ahead and Karasu huffs moving himself after the other man quickly so that they don't get separated by too much. If there's an ambush, he doesn't want his kokoro stuck in it alone. He mutters the other man's name under his breath.

GAME: Telamon casts Glitterdust. Caster Level: 20 DC: 23
GAME: Telamon casts Glitterdust/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 27
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+23: (17)+23: 40
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+23: (5)+23: 28

Of course it's a trap. And as Carver notes, it might also be a challenge.

Well, no one ever accused Telamon of not rising to the challenge. The words spill from his lips, his eyes flashing with magical energy. "Mulan ukum!" he says twice, a streamer of silver and blue sparkles launched from each hand that adheres to the guards. It's hard to be invisible when you're covered in magical glitter, after all.

GAME: Karasu rolls Bluff: (15)+22: 37
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+30: (17)+30: 47
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2: (19)+14+-2: 31
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2: (19)+19+-2: 36
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2-5: (12)+19+-2+-5: 24
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2: (15)+14+-2: 27
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2-5: (6)+14+-2+-5: 13
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2: (13)+14+-2: 25
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2: (19)+19+-2: 36
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d4+3+1+4d6: (3)+3+1+(14): 21
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d6+3+1+1d6+3+1+4d6: (5)+3+1+(6)+3+1+(20): 39

Karasu moves to stand back-to-back with Corey, his dagger appearing in his hand as he moves. He tries to feint with his short sword, but the assassin is keen and blocks the blow. He follows that with a thrust of his dagger however that catches the assassin by surprise, then a heavier thrust from his sword that almost cuts through the man. He tries to follow that with a few other attacks, but even wounded the assassin is not letting further attacks through his defenses.

GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-2: (20)+24+-2: 42 (THREAT)
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-2: (13)+24+-2: 35
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-7: (15)+24+-7: 32
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-12: (2)+24+-12: 14
GAME: Carver rolls 6d8+30+1d8+10: (27)+30+(8)+10: 75

Carver's bow was out for fear of just such an occasion, and it is fortunately so because it means that first volley has some kick to it. She almost brings her fingers to her lips to whistle a command before remembering, oh yeah.... no Deathless.

GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+20: (12)+20: 32
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+20: (16)+20: 36
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+15: (9)+15: 24
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+15: (15)+15: 30
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+10: (9)+10: 19
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+10: (2)+10: 12
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d4+4: (1)+4: 5
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d4+4: (1)+4: 5

The assassins close in, and there's a bevy of dagger blows on all sides. One manages to pierce Corey's armor and the other gets past Karasu's defenses.

GAME: Corey rolls weapon1: (1)+24: 25 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1: (17)+24: 41 (THREAT)
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1-5: (5)+24+-5: 24
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1-10: (1)+24+-10: 15 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1+4: (6)+24+4: 34
GAME: Corey rolls damage1+damage1: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+8: (2)+8+(5)+8: 23
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+18: (10)+18: 28
GAME: Corey rolls 1d4: (2): 2

Cor'ethil is ready to roll, and so when the guards come calling and Telamon's magic exposes two of them to his sight, the paladin of Gilead acts. The first jab of the rapier is delivered with a tiny sparkle of light that dazes his opponent as it sinks into the guard's shoulder. Then he pulls it free and tries to attack two more times. Both attempts go quite wide.

"Slippery!" Corey comments with a blink.

GAME: Telamon casts Glitterdust. Caster Level: 20 DC: 23
GAME: Telamon casts Glitterdust/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 27
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+23: (2)+23: 25
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+23: (10)+23: 33
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+23: (3)+23: 26
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+23: (14)+23: 37

And here come the invisible guards around the corners of the house. Telamon's eyes track them, and as soon as they get within range... they get a dose of the magical glitterbombs as well. "You -just- saw me do this to your friends, do you think I was going to let you just jander on in with your cute little invisiblity?" Telamon's voice is derisive. "Think! Think!"

GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2: (11)+19+-2: 28
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2: (20)+14+-2: 32
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2: (11)+19+-2: 28
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2-5: (5)+19+-2+-5: 17
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2: (11)+14+-2: 23
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2-5: (3)+14+-2+-5: 10
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2: (11)+14+-2: 23
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d4+3+1: (2)+3+1: 6
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-4: (9)+24+-4: 29
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-4: (11)+24+-4: 31
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-9: (6)+24+-9: 21
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-14: (15)+24+-14: 25
GAME: Carver rolls 1d8+10: (8)+10: 18

Carver watches as combat weaves between graceful figures, bursts of silvery glitter tossing sparkling motes everywhere. She squints against the intensity and loses sight for just a second on the tricksy assassins, which is all is required when foes move such as they do.

GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+20: (12)+20: 32
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+15: (8)+15: 23
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+10: (11)+10: 21
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+20: (6)+20: 26
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+20: (9)+20: 29
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+15: (5)+15: 20
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+15: (6)+15: 21
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+10: (12)+10: 22
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+10: (20)+10: 30
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+10: (7)+10: 17

The guards continue their frenzied attacks, but to little avail. They even have shurikin that they throw at Telamon but they don't hit the mage.

GAME: Corey rolls weapon1: (8)+24: 32
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1-5: (2)+24+-5: 21
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1-10: (6)+24+-10: 20
GAME: Corey rolls damage1: aliased to 1d6+8: (5)+8: 13

Corey would feel worse for these guards, but he's actually pretty glad that they're not doing terribly well in the combat department. "Please stay still," he comments to the guards in front of him. "Otherwise this is going to drag out, and I'd really rather not prolong your suffering!"

Unfortunately, the guard isn't much inclined to heed his request, so Corey only scores a small wound in a guard's arm. "What did I say?" Corey asks with a pout.

GAME: Telamon rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: Telamon casts Shades. Caster Level: 20 DC: 31
GAME: Telamon rolls spellpen: aliased to 1d20+sorcerer+4: (17)+20+4: 41
GAME: Telamon rolls spellpen: aliased to 1d20+sorcerer+4: (10)+20+4: 34
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+23: (13)+23: 36
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+23: (5)+23: 28
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+20: (16)+20: 36
GAME: Telamon rolls 4d6+22: (15)+22: 37
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+32: (12)+32: 44

Shuriken flick past Telamon, or strike off invisible planes of force. Hard to say which. But the sorcerer seems... less than impressed. "Let's change this up a bit." He begins to incant, black smoke pouring from his fingertips and racing across the ground... billowing up behind the guards facing Karasu. A massive form takes a step forward -- a thunder lizard of Am'shere, all black scales with silver accents, eyes blazing with celestial light. Without a word, it leans down and -chomps- on one of the guards, though it fails to clamp down hard enough to hold it in place.

GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2+2: (1)+19+-2+2: 20 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2+2: (18)+14+-2+2: 32
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2+2: (8)+19+-2+2: 27
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2-5+2: (15)+19+-2+-5+2: 29
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2+2: (19)+14+-2+2: 33
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2-5+2: (2)+14+-2+-5+2: 11
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d4+3+1+4d6: (3)+3+1+(14): 21
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d4+3+1+4d6: (2)+3+1+(18): 24

Karasu's eyes narrow at the man before him as Telamon summons a foe to aid him in combat. While the other man is distracted by the huge thunder lizard, Karasu stabs him in the back and slits his throat. Dropping him to the ground silently. "You should have paid more attention to your enemy." He offers quietly.

GAME: Carver casts Bow Spirit. Caster Level: 14 DC: 18

Carver's voice rises in the dark, as she bounce-steps on her toes. Sparks alight with every short shuffling hop, building a strange sort of rhythm with her momentum.

A lean, long-haired beauty of a faint heroic silhouette spills out from her back, with a wry smile as the ghostly spirit draws one of Carver's arrows for her own use.

GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+20: (17)+20: 37
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+15: (17)+15: 32
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+20: (18)+20: 38
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+15: (2)+15: 17
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+10: (14)+10: 24
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+20: (16)+20: 36
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+15: (8)+15: 23
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d2+4: (1)+4: 5
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d2+4: (2)+4: 6
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d4+4: (4)+4: 8

The assassins seem to be getting their game in gear. Two shurikin dance off of Telamon's protective equipment and a thin slice of red appears on his cheek. No mean feat to harm the archmage. Corey isn't so lucky either, his foe managing to score a hit on him. "Not if I kill you first." The man states coldly.

GAME: Corey rolls weapon1: (4)+24: 28
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1-5: (18)+24+-5: 37 (THREAT)
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1-10: (13)+24+-10: 27
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1-5+4: (13)+24+-5+4: 36
GAME: Corey rolls damage1+damage1: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+8: (3)+8+(4)+8: 23

Corey's cheek is red from the nice cut he's got on it now. "Karasu, they made me bleed," Cor'ethil complains, and he tries to follow up on the guard's remark with his own set of jabs. Unfortunately, just like before, only one strikes true and hard, drawing a deeper wound as it punches into the man's other shoulder.

GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+20: (18)+20: 38
GAME: Telamon rolls 4d6+22: (11)+22: 33
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+32: (15)+32: 47
GAME: Telamon casts Telekinesis. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+21: (4)+21: 25
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+21: (10)+21: 31
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+21: (6)+21: 27
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+21: (13)+21: 34
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+21: (1)+21: 22 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+21: (9)+21: 30
GAME: Telamon rolls 3d2: (5): 5

The shuriken continue to bounce off Telamon, but one draws a thin cut along his cheek. He touches it, looking at the blood in... annoyance? Yes. Then he looks at the guard. "I am really tired of you," he states flatly. As his shadow tyrannosaur glomps another guard painfully, Telamon gestures, and a half-dozen shuriken levitate up from the ground, circling around the archmage. "I think you dropped this." A gesture, and the throwing stars are returned to the guard -- forcefully, as three of them cut the man as they zip past.

GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2+2: (12)+19+-2+2: 31
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2+2: (12)+14+-2+2: 26
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2+2: (13)+19+-2+2: 32
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2-5+2: (15)+19+-2+-5+2: 29
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2+2: (20)+14+-2+2: 34
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2-5+2: (4)+14+-2+-5+2: 13
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2+2: (4)+14+-2+2: 18
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d6+1+3+4d6: (5)+1+3+(4): 13
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d4+1+3+4d6: (4)+1+3+(12): 20
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d4+1+3+4d6: (2)+1+3+(14): 20

Karasu steps up, looking at the thunder lizard eating his foe and smiles a small smile. "You have my foe in your mouth." He says casually, then viciously attacks the poor man without any sense of remorse or mercy. Karasu's attacks are mostly silent, but the man is left pouring his lifes-blood on the ground.

GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-2: (17)+24+-2: 39
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-2: (3)+24+-2: 25
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-2: (4)+24+-2: 26
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-2: (13)+24+-2: 35
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-7: (11)+24+-7: 28
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-12: (17)+24+-12: 29
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-2: (13)+24+-2: 35
GAME: Carver rolls 2d8+20+1d8+10: (7)+20+(6)+10: 43

The three guards remaining all begin to leak black ichor from their wounds, the mist seeming to coalesce around their feet. The one standing in front of Corey's eyes blink and are red... just for an instant. Or maybe it's his imagination.

GAME: Corey spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL.
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1+4: (9)+24+4: 37
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1+4-5: (1)+24+4+-5: 24 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1+4-10: (5)+24+4+-10: 23
GAME: Corey rolls weapon1+4-5: (2)+24+4+-5: 25
GAME: Corey rolls damage1+paladin+paladin: aliased to 1d6+8+paladin+paladin: (2)+8+15+15: 40

The moment Cor'ethil sees the black ichor, his eyes go wide as he concentrates. "They're evil!" he says. "Fiend levels of evil!" Which means he has one solemn oath he must carry out today: to defend mortalkind from the evil of outsiders.

"O White Stag, grant me your favor that I might strike down my enemies!" Cor'ethil prays, and as he's bathed in a gentle white light, he thrusts his blade in and skewers a guard through the stomach, a very lethal attack indeed.

GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+32: (16)+32: 48
GAME: Telamon rolls 2d8+29: (11)+29: 40
GAME: Telamon casts Suffocation. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26
GAME: Telamon rolls spellpen: aliased to 1d20+sorcerer+4: (15)+20+4: 39
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+18: (14)+18: 32

Unfortunately, Telamon's summoned creature is... unruly. Or perhaps it just recognizes the threat. There's a bright flash in its eyes, and it rears up, taking the transforming guard with it. With a toss of its head, the guard vanishes bodily down the dinosaur's throat, with only a reptilian belch to mark its passing.

Meanwhile, Telamon watches Corey crush another guard, and he reaches out with his magic again... trying to choke the life from the fiend-creature. It doesn't work completely... but the guard is left gasping for air, as Telamon chuckles grimly. "No escape for you."

GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2: (16)+19+-2: 33
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2: (13)+14+-2: 25
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2: (5)+19+-2: 22
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+19-2-5: (13)+19+-2+-5: 25
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2: (8)+14+-2: 20
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+14-2-5: (14)+14+-2+-5: 21
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d6+1+3: (6)+1+3: 10

Karasu backs away from the dinosaur eating his foe and leaves the man to his fate in its stomach. Meanwhile there's another enemy close to his beloved kokoro and that will not do. A flurry of blows leaves the enemy assassin bleeding a little more than before. The stunned adversary has little air with which to complain.

GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-2: (2)+24+-2: 24
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-2: (10)+24+-2: 32
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-2: (20)+24+-2: 42 (THREAT)
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-2: (8)+24+-2: 30
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-7: (15)+24+-7: 32
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-12: (11)+24+-12: 23
GAME: Carver rolls 1d8+12+1d8+12+3d8+36+1d8+12: (3)+12+(4)+12+(13)+36+(5)+12: 97

"Ah, how gracious of you! To bleed so amply before you die!" Carver's twin-voice taunts, the 'spirit' cackling with delight as their arrows fell another of the guards. The ranger snarls back her next words, waving a furious hand at the apparition who fades with one last grand, hah-hah!