A Mountainous Exploration part 4
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (9)+11: 20
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (14)+11: 25
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (19)+11: 30
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (1): 1
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (6): 6
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (3): 3
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (4): 4
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (5): 5
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6: (4): 4
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+14: (1)+14: 15 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+14: (3)+14: 17
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+14: (4)+14: 18
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d8: (13): 13
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d6: (12): 12
The darkness descends on you, enveloping the area.
Rhar is struck, if the sounds are anything to go by, followed by powerful efforts to snatch Seldan and Malik. The demons are on the move, now, here in this darkness.
It seems, as creatures *of* it, they can see perfectly fine in it.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 17.
It is now Garak's turn! Olek is next!
GAME: Garak rolls perception: (13)+19: 32
GAME: Garak rolls 1d20+12: (4)+12: 16
GAME: Garak casts Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 12 DC: 17
Garak stills himself in the darkness. He tilts his head down, the better to listen, and deems that none of the enemies remain near him. He uses the moment of respite to chant a spell to dismiss the darkness. But it doesn't work. Perhaps the power of the enemies is to great, or their force of will is beyond his own. Very well. Under his breath he calls on Serriel's guidance to allow him to fight without sight. Her guidance, at least, always proves sufficient.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 16.
It is now Olek's turn! Kore is next!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 15.
It is now Kore's turn! Stjepan is next!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 3.
It is now Stjepan's turn! Malik is next!
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 27.
It is now Malik's turn! Erendriel is next!
GAME: Malik casts Stoneskin. Caster Level: 11 DC: 18
Malik isn't entirely sure where this darkness just came from. But he's very sure that something just hit him. Searching his memory, he takes a step behind where he knows the paladin to be, reaching into the sack at his side to remove a handful of diamond dust, which he throws over the paladin. With a whispered word, he hardens the holy warrior's defenses, the magic invocation slowly becoming a string of curses in that flowing tsuran language. "This is not good."
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 26.
It is now Erendriel's turn! Shadow Demon Lord is next!
GAME: Erendriel casts Ghost Sound. Caster Level: 11 DC: 16
Erendriel was thrilled her rays worked.. but now she can't follow up with more shots! Too dark. She pauses a moment, and then in the edarkness, whirls her hands, mutters, and there's the patter of her boots fleeing, fast.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 25.
It is now Shadow Demon Lord's turn! Rhar is next!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 25.
It is now Rhar's turn! Seldan is next!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 21.
It is now Seldan's turn! Shadow Demons is next!
GAME: Seldan rolls 2d6: (8): 8
GAME: Seldan casts Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 11 DC: 18
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+11: (15)+11: 26
Darkness falls, and suddenly Seldan can no longer see to fight. Worse still, claws slash him open again, and he grunts this time. That one hurt. Diamond dust settles over him, his skin hardening with the spell that, from the curses, could only be one person. "Truly are your curses the language of magic," he tells Malik through gritted teeth, stepping back and laying his free hand on his other shoulder for just a moment, allowing the cool silver to sink into his skin, mending some of his hurts.
With that done, he steps back and draws several sigils, blind, the last one a slash through all the others as he chants several phrases. This time, the darkness that shrounds all unravels, the light around them springing back into being, and he breathes a small sigh of relief. "You'll not catch us so easily."
The darkness is dispelled for the moment, but it seems possible that these creatures could resummon it again. The shadows do seem to move at their commnand, don't they? One has darted down the way after the sounds of Erendriel's flight, instinctively, though it's clear it aborted the motion when it realized it saw nothing.
Yes, apparnetly they can see in that dark.
Still upon Seldan and Rhar remains thje thicker set of living shadow, it's claws raised up over the both of them as it readies to strike.
The other remains on Malik, of course, as well as Olek.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 20.
It is now Olek's turn! Shadow Demons is next!
GAME: Olek RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 20 temporary HP
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+15: (13)+15: 28
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+10: (18)+10: 28
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+15: (4)+15: 19
GAME: Olek rolls 1d10+14: (2)+14: 16
GAME: Olek rolls 1d10+14: (9)+14: 23
GAME: Olek rolls 1d10+14: (1)+14: 15
GAME: Olek rolls 1d6+1d6+1d6: (6)+(5)+(1): 12
Olek sees, when vision returns, that he's plagued by one of these monsters as well. He grumbles sourly, and shouts defiance as he swings his mighty axe. "Get summat this! And ye'll like it!" Magically hastened, his axeblows rain down like ... well, rain, only like a rain of celestial adamantine, which is much more painful than regular rain, even to shadow demon things. This one fades out after Olek is done raining on its parade, and he steps towards the others. "Oh, you're gonna get it now!" he shouts.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 17.
It is now Shadow Demons' turn! Garak is next!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (5)+11: 16
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (3)+11: 14
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (9)+11: 20
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (8)+11: 19
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 17.
It is now Garak's turn! Kore is next!
GAME: Garak rolls weapon1-1+1+2: (13)+14+-1+1+2: 29
GAME: Garak rolls 1d8+9+2d6: (4)+9+(6): 19
Garak blinks. He can see again! Just in time to see Olek chop one of their enemies into nothingness. Garak quickly surveys the battlefield and sees Malik set upon by two of the remaining creatures. While the other shadowy monster, the largest and most likely the leader, is caught between Rhar and Seldan. Garak grasps his holy lance in both hands and runs to aid Malik, spearing one of the smaller shadows in the side.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 15.
It is now Kore's turn! Stjepan is next!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 3.
It is now Stjepan's turn! Malik is next!
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+24+1+2+4: (4)+24+1+2+4: 35
GAME: Stjepan rolls 2d6+17+1d6+12: (5)+17+(5)+12: 39
Stjepan races off towards the big-leader-demon, arriving in a thunderous rush. His flaming sword cuts down in a well-committed strike that threatens to gash the ground if it -- it doesn't miss.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 27.
It is now Malik's turn! Erendriel is next!
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (12)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 27
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (14)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 29
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (1)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 16 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+2+6+2+2+1-2-2+1: (18)+2+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1: 28
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (8)+2+3+4+2: 19
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (6)+2+3+4+2: 17
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (6)+2+3+4+2: 17
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (8)+2+3+4+2: 19
Malik blinks as the darkness fades, the lights coming back on. But he doesn't have time to think about it, yet. The two demons are already on him, Garak taking care of one. Malik raises the bow, fingers drawing out arrows on pure reflex, firing off a volley into the shadow demon, hitting it -hard-, even though one misses. The Arrows go almost to the quills, but the demon is still up. "That was for earlier!" he yells at the thing.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 26.
It is now Erendriel's turn! Shadow Demon Lord is next!
GAME: Erendriel casts Ball Lightning. Caster Level: 11 DC: 21
GAME: Erendriel rolls 3d6: (16): 16
GAME: Erendriel rolls 3d6: (11): 11
GAME: Erendriel rolls 3d6: (7): 7
GAME: Erendriel rolls 1d20+12: (11)+12: 23
GAME: Erendriel rolls 1d20+12: (17)+12: 29
GAME: Erendriel rolls 1d20+12: (14)+12: 26
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (6)+15: 21
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (4)+15: 19
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (17)+15: 32
Erendriel can see! So she's trying something different. Her hands going with extra gusto at a chance to use this, she sends three flaming orbs out of thin air right at the big bad. He manages to dodge two of them, but one smacks him, and it's hot!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 25.
It is now Shadow Demon Lord's turn! Rhar is next!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (2)+15: 17
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (6)+15: 21
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (9)+15: 24
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d8+2d6: (15)+(7): 22
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d8+2d6: (7)+(9): 16
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 25.
It is now Rhar's turn! Seldan is next!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (9)+15: 24
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+19: (7)+19: 26
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+19: (6)+19: 25
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+9: (3)+9: 12
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d4+5: (2)+5: 7
The largest, thicker demon buries it's claws in Seldan, phantasmal touch passing through clothing and protection as it tends at flesh with claw blistering cold, the latter of which has less effect. It does look at the rest of you and yes Erendriel too, who gets a very 'you're next' look.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 21.
It is now Seldan's turn! Olek is next!
GAME: Seldan rolls weapon10+5+1-3+4: (18)+15+5+1+-3+4: 40
GAME: Seldan rolls weapon10+5+1-3+4-5: (14)+15+5+1+-3+4+-5: 31
GAME: Seldan rolls weapon10+5+1-3+4: (8)+15+5+1+-3+4: 30
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+6+5+1+6: (6)+6+5+1+6: 24
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+6+5+1+6: (1)+6+5+1+6: 19
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+6+5+1+6: (2)+6+5+1+6: 20
Though the robes are untouched from the shadow's attack, they are quickly turning crimson and wet, testament to what is being done to Seldan. It will not rest until he falls, that much is clear. "AGH! I have had quite enough of you and your lackeys!" Malik behind him is forgotten for the moment as a golden-silver-white flash races down his blade, and he abandons all finesse in the name of power, laying into the thing with magic-fueled fury and speed to answer the damage done before he himself is torn apart.
GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 20.
It is now Olek's turn! Shadow Demons is next!
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+15: (16)+15: 31
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+15: (5)+15: 20
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+10: (14)+10: 24
GAME: Olek rolls 1d10+14+1d6: (7)+14+(1): 22
Olek likewise transfers his attention to the big demon shadow thing, stepping up and slashing with his adamantine axe glowing with holy power. This one's tougher than his junior allies, though, and his mighty blows mostly smite air, mostly, though given how it reacts, he seems to have delivered one telling blow to it among the magic-fueled attacks.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 17.
It is now Shadow Demons' turn! Garak is next!
The remaining smaller demon sinks through the floor, wanting to get the heck out of there it seems.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 17.
It is now Garak's turn! Kore is next!
GAME: Garak rolls weapon1-1+1+2+2-3: (9)+14+-1+1+2+2+-3: 24
GAME: Garak rolls weapon1-1+1+2+2-3: (4)+14+-1+1+2+2+-3: 19
GAME: Garak rolls weapon1-1+1+2+2-3-5: (18)+14+-1+1+2+2+-3+-5: 28
GAME: Garak rolls 1d8+18+2d6: (1)+18+(8): 27
GAME: Garak rolls 1d8+18+2d6: (6)+18+(4): 28
Garak senses the battle has settled into the most critical part. The spells to aid the combatants - or to hinder their enemies - have been cast. Special abilities have been revealed. Garak knows it is up to the hearts and arms and skills of the party now. He stabs the shadowy enemy with his lance, pulls it free and swings it to stab again.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 15.
It is now Kore's turn! Stjepan is next!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 3.
It is now Stjepan's turn! Malik is next!
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 27.
It is now Malik's turn! Erendriel is next!
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1+4: (9)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1+4: 28
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1+4: (13)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1+4: 32
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+7+6+2+2+1-2-2+1+4: (9)+7+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1+4: 28
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+2+6+2+2+1-2-2+1+4: (12)+2+6+2+2+1+-2+-2+1+4: 26
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (6)+2+3+4+2: 17
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (7)+2+3+4+2: 18
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (5)+2+3+4+2: 16
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (8)+2+3+4+2: 19
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+2+3+4+2: (5)+2+3+4+2: 16
The archer prepares to let fly another volley into the smaller demons as they meld into the floor, apparently having decided better. He spins onto one knee, firing two arrows over the paladin's shoulders as they strike deep into the beast, followed by three more in rapid succession. "You didn't think I was going to let you have this one all to yourself, did you?"
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+25: (13)+25: 38
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+25: (20)+25: 45
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+20-4: (15)+20+-4: 31
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+15-4: (19)+15+-4: 30
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+25: (2)+25: 27
GAME: Stjepan rolls 1d20+15-4: (17)+15+-4: 28
GAME: Stjepan rolls 2d6+17+1d6+12: (7)+17+(4)+12: 40
GAME: Stjepan rolls 2d6+17+1d6+12: (4)+17+(6)+12: 39
GAME: Stjepan rolls 4d6+34+1d6+24: (17)+34+(1)+24: 76
GAME: Stjepan rolls 4d6+34+1d6+24: (13)+34+(4)+24: 75
Stjepan isn't a paladin, he's a little rougher than that. He does, however, know how to swing his flaming sword. He sweeps through the shadow-bat-thing, cutting it over and over again, resistance be damned. He just seems like he's going to push through that with sheer force of will. The last cuts take it apart entirely, ripping through it with furious abandon. It's explosion is messy -- shadows get /everywhere/.
GAME: Olek ends his rage.
GAME: Whirlpool removes the timestop.
Timestop by Whirlpool has left.