The Vale of Shadow (Part 5)

[Zekafae]

Shaking his head slowly he watched the scene" Enough playing around both of you. I'd rather deal with ancient dragons than listen to this." He shook his head slowly palming his face for a moment muttering several long things in draconic, none of which were good. If only he could find that old dragon mage... Shaking his head he waited for virgil to move so he could help inrii out of the place and continue on.

(( we'll go back and get the horse eventually. What? We're a good group.... ok.. maybe more chaotic than good..))

[Pheurazath]

[quote:36ydwjg7]Neriah's tail twitched out, as she furled her wings and hissed "there is another with lower planes blood in them; one that was summoned here." [/quote:36ydwjg7]

A dry chuckle answers this observation, from Virgil's direction, [color=indigo:36ydwjg7]"You feel it too? So, do you mean to run, or shall we send it back to Hell?"[/color:36ydwjg7]

With the whole following, ensuing discussion the Warlock grows more and more annoyed with the pointlessness of it all. Meanwhile, he is preparing for a terrible Invocation that might startle them all to silence, but as it all plays out, he offers, [color=indigo:36ydwjg7]"If we're quite done chatting we've a devil to kill, and I should like to do so, before I'm properly old enough to be having my white hair."[/color:36ydwjg7]

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

((lol, this is much of the RP, take too long for a decision, yet the mosnters seam to come at a good time...and were good? ok veraka's the good one i supose.))

Inrii now free from the wall(?) looked at them all, her crimson orbs saying it even before she needed to, destroy all here in connection with the bard.
the drowess pulled her cowl low over her face, indicating she was going in stealthy, signing the plan in the drow hand code then indicating what she was gunna do to the others with more obvious hand signals.
even if she couldnt fight, a back stab or a unexpected hit would do some damage. she walked slowly vanishing from sight as she sliped thru the shadows of the building. as she wasn seen she let out a quiet sign from pain as it was slowly increasing the closer she moved inward, as if this was possible magical. she wondered what Alya might have done to her while she was chained up, but she could not recall anything.
(not invisibility, *sigh* i have no spells till i can get some real rest).
--
the devil knew they sensed him as he sensed them. had alya knew, she might would have instructed her devil to not attack Neriah outright unless she was now an enemy. but the bard was unaware her old ally was here as she was busy with the reds in the cave.
the kryton crossed the chapel and was busting thru the tall oak carved doors. a 6 ft tall 300 lb humanlike devil, wrapped in chains was seen entering corridor. his arms were flailing away with the spiked chains that clothed his body. his roar was unearthly as he growled in the infernal tongue curses to the group. he smiled wickedly and began his charge.

(ok, fight scene comence. i posted a link already for him, but if one needs me to do it again, let me know)

[veraka]

[quote:26s7v8mj]"You feel it too? So, do you mean to run, or shall we send it back to Hell?"[/quote:26s7v8mj]

As soon as the fey'ri recovered from Veraka's outburst, she turned to Virgil and glared at him; "much that it might be to your surprise, I do not run from a battle; and yes, sending the creature back to the Hells sounds most appealing."
At the roar, she drew her sais and assumed a defensive stance.
"Well here it is; now what?"

Another guttural howl of rage answered her question; looking to her side, Neriah saw the reason. Veraka's eyes glowed crimson red, a fine indicator that his berserker rage had taken hold; she'd fought him before in that rage; skilled as she was, that. . . . thing was a lot tougher than it looked.


Blood surged through the aasimar's veins as his superhuman rage took over. His muscles increased in volume, and his breathes became more and more frequent and ragged as the berserker-granted inhuman strength and stamina flowed through the aasimar.

Veraka looked at the newest enemy, let loose a piercing howl of unbridled wrath and charged the devil, his sword coming out as he shield slammed the devil with the power of charging bull.

[Zekafae]

Shifting into a stance his boots sliding across the floor at first a slight scuffle as he was sliding into a proper stance, blades poised yet moving slightly letting the flicker of light bounce off of them almost as if to confuse the demon to as the lethality of them. He was moving around with the occasional flick and twirl of the blade keeping the motion constant. His steps getting more and more silent as if fading into nothingness. Sliding more into the shadows he'd slide to find a good position to strike. There was clearly a predatory movement in how he worked, years of doing jobs and training brought this on. His movements were restrained yet on a hair trigger, the moment he had an opening he'd strike more violent than he had before hand. Something definitely was brewing in his blood.

[Pheurazath]

What now? Indeed Virgil's expression in the moment the flailing chains came smashing through was not one of dread, but eager anticipation and what looked like joy. Word for word, he matched the Devil in its own tongue, flinging curses back at it as it smashed through the door, but once enough of the thing became visible, the words from the Warlock's mouth switched from Infernal to Abyssal, meaning with all intent to give away to the foul Baatezu the source of his powers, and as a matter of adding insult to injury, the words used to focus his Invocations.

Right at Veraka's side, came the ferocious and skillful attacks of the greatsword-wielding armor-clad skeleton its strength not a matter of muscle and sinew but of unnatural forces, moving the large blade in a balanced manner of parries and strikes. Cold and emotionless the efficient undead warrior helping to keep its master out of reach of the chains.

Good thing too, for this allowed Virgil to let fly his first assaulting blast, without delay, this time delving deeper into his dark art, empowering his Eldritch Magic, with potent, corrosive acid, and darker than previous enhancements to his magical blasts, the vile [Vitriolic Blast] ignoring spell resistance, and the conjured acid remaining behind, continuing to do its work at a reduced strength. After this he states, in Infernal, toward his enemy, [color=indigo:1dw0drzp][i:1dw0drzp]"Be sure to tell the Lord of your home layer, Virgil Stahne sent you."[/i:1dw0drzp][/color:1dw0drzp]

[Zekafae]

With the Warlock's unholy creation heading in for the assault the drow all but seemed to flicker into view avoiding one of the strikes only to slash the back of the leg wide open, severing sinew. He muttered taunts rather fluently in draconic. The strike at the leg was done with one blade as he had ducked down and spun slashing the leg. On the movements of standing up he went to aim for the vital points from the back.

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

((eh, so i can refer to it without searching- http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/devi ... DevilKyton ))

the devil whipped around, one chain, now closer to 20 ft, going after the ranger, another reaching for the warrior as he stepped out of range of the shield.
two more dancing chains seam to appear and go after the warlock, but not before his spells hit hard.
he faultered from the hits but managed to continue, ignoring the pain and regenerating the damage rather quickly from the spell. (zek's weapons silver right? if not they regenerate too. the spell wasnt good aligned was it? then same as silver weapons) but the slash across the back of his legs did not regenerate. he growled unearthly, or more like a roar.
while attacking, the face of the devil shifted forms, and the face was oddly familiar...
(next person to post: Unnerving Gaze Range- make its face resemble one of an opponent’s departed loved ones or bitter enemies. Those who fail their saves take a -2 penalty on attack rolls for 1d3 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based. so if u have a low CHA, then likely fall for it. yay for sorceresses!)

Inrii slipped around as best she could, the pain growing more intense. it took all her will to keep from doubling over. she knew something else was at work. but she continued. Serpent sting came up and she released the bolt with a squeeze of the trigger. she was already loading another bolt into the chamber as the bolt was burning twords the devil.
he growled as he was plucking a quarrel from his temple as another swing of the chains came around to sweep the drowess from her feet. Inrii dove out of the way in time, but not without consequences to herself.

[Zekafae]

(yep he's using the silver blades ))

Ducking down almost inhumanly low he dropped below the chain and lunged in. He caught sight of what he had scene, but he knew it was a demon and this trick was one he wouldn't fall for. Both blades moving in for the strike. Demons were not his favorite enemy to fight, he'd take a dragon any day.

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

((awe, no discribing or telling us what the face was? like a sister or mother? maybe the rangers?
besides we can ask about it later))

[Zekafae]

(( lol no he also has a high charisma.. and he's goal orientated. I'll drop ya a PM with what I got in mind))

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

((ill delete that one post soon, after yall post.))

Alya left to let the red to decide. walking over to her extensive and highly decorated chestnut wardrobe she pulled it open. insides were clothes of all types, styles and from all over the globe. but the bard knew what she wanted. out came a dark set of shimmering armor, lightweight yet powerful. it was made from dark snakeskin steeped in mysterious alchemical mixtures, it looked almost like leather, yet those familier would know the nightscale she wore. quickly donning it, it was supple and form-fitting covering most of her skin except her hands and head. her hands slid into smooth black gloves with a greyish hue. No glyphs or runes hinted its magic potency. the magic of her boots shifted to conform around her small feet and were laced up tightly. a belt of mithil went around her thin frame. two swords were on it, yet all that appeared were hilts. a black cloak was pinned with a black sapphire clasp. as she moved, the cloth absorbed the light of the faerie fire and spread shadows and darkness around her. An ornate version of Vhaeraun's half-mask has been inlaid into the center of the back.
lastly she adorned the velvet mask, one similar to the one still on Inrii's face, yet Alya's was much more powerful as she was a priestess.
her crimson eyes peered thru the slits made for eyes, shifting her skin color to match her clothes.
the bard smiled as she vanished from sight speaking the words of the correct spell to put her in the chapel.

(link to alya and her stuff. viewtopic.php?t=1840
heads up, she is powerful, like the big bad boss in a game. dont kill her, try to keep in mind she wont be easy! i mean she has at least a +30 to her hide and move silently.)

[veraka]

Veraka, berserker fueling his reactions, swatted out with Marala Vharc, deflecting the chain away from himself.
Suddenly, the face of Veraka's most hated enemy formed, and the aasimar stopped, momentarily stunned that his archenemy would be here.

"Well, well; looks like I have one more asshole to kill then," Veraka shouted, raising his shield to deflect another chain attack.
In crazed roar of fury, the aasimar charged the devil, Marala Vharc's crackling edge seeking its fiendish flesh.

Aurora, not having an enemy truly, saw Veraka's archenemy, like he did. Upon laying her eyes on the undead face, she launched an icy blast of fury at the face.


Neriah spotted the devils little trick, for she still saw the face of the fiend herself, as she deftly wove in and out of the infernal's whipping chains. Seeing Veraka charge in at the devil, she shouted, "it's an illusion, you fool!!"

An attack came in low, the whip of linked metal whistling through the air as it looked for a limb to dismember.
Back-flipping away from the fiend's attack, the fey'ri pulled out her chakram in mid-flight, and launched the razor sharp disc of death as soon as she laid eyes upon the devil.

[Pheurazath]

Few would likely think Warlocks a very charismatic lot, but therein lied a vital part to the effectiveness of their fell magics. Still narrowly succeeding his save against the illusion, there came a brief moment when he nearly lost all his concentration, and blanched nearly as pale as if he had suddenly become albino himself.

Doubtful anyone had heard the barely whispered name that he uttered, during the brief recognition of another face, though perhaps someone might have read his lips... maybe? 'Malcanthet'? A nameto be hated as much by devil, as by aasimar, and perhaps more so, by devil.

Snapped from the illusion almost as soon as it had nearly caught him, there came a fire in his eyes, angry, so furiously angry that ANYTHING dared to assault him with that image. The following Invocation then flowing from his lips sounding much unlike all previous, for no attack lay behind it directly, and yet, fueled by a savage anger and outrage, he delved into the deepest and darkest of the powers known to him, the air around him charged so thick with dark magic that it would become noticable to any near to him.

While Virgil sank deep into his Dark Invocation, his skeleton fought on, fighting fiercely, and not wavering from battle from any sense of pain, or fear, as it did not, and could not feel these things. It could not possibly pass the save, and at best might perceive a goodly cleric, but unfeeling, the skilled undead fighter, knew no fear, and afforded its master all the time he needed, all time it would take, for those dark energies to culminate in casting upon himself [[b:7xhfnh7j]Word of Changing[/b:7xhfnh7j]].

It is in that moment, Virgil's body erupts into a transformation most vile, gaining a status of regeneration, as well as significant boosts to physical stats, but most of all, no longer do his companions see the white-haired man where Virgil once stood, but the looming dark ferocity of a Blood Fiend (the vampires of the Abyss), wading into the thick of battle, leading with a quartet of savage claw attacks each imbued with an Energy Drain effect (Fort. DC 21 to resist, or take a negative level per failed save on each successful claw attack, and healing or granting temporary additional 5 hp to the Blood Fiend.) Though by all senses, the transformation is a true and proper polymorph, the human turned Tanar'ri does not turn on his companions, only unleashes unbridled rage and hatred on the Devil, meaning to slay it, utterly, and send it back to the Hells, infected, and to become a Blood Fiend itself, a plague to its own kind.

(OOC: You may consider Virgil's magic and attacks, Chaos aligned, since they draw from Tanar'ri influences. And yes, if he is further exposed to representations of the Succubus Queen, you can expect him to flip out even more. If it's not the real thing, playing on his deepest fear will not go well for the deceiver.)

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

((ok, im trying to do this right, so let me know if im off or even wrong.))

the devil continued to whirl the links around as he himself moved and dodged with surprising agility. he turned to focus most his hatred on the hated enemy, the now transformed human. the face of whatever was seen stayed as it was. some attacks he regenerated, and some he didnt. but as it appeared, this beast wanst gunna be too easy.
the devil felt the drain as a claw cut thru his defense; he slowed slightly, but not enough to hinder him too much. but to the quick and nimble, it would be enough to slip a quick gash before having to move from one of 4 chains.
the chakram cut thru a few links that fell with a loud clink on the stone floor. that chain went in for an attack after Neriah. the blast of ice did little as he was immune to cold. and a chain went after the annoying wolf.
focused on the blood fiend he moved in to strike.

(virgil could finish him since two more enemies are about to join)
--
Inrii lowered herself down to the ground, unable to stand at the moment. the image was of Vorndrin, the drow male who still held some power over her, despite the fact she had manage to kill him. but she saw thru the trick. saw it for what it was. and she continued to release bolts at the devil, his head containing seveal quarrels stuck. magical energies gathered in the far side of the room.
someone was about to enter the chapel with them.