PBEM - Episode 293. Guardians, control, and wights.

TWO HUNDRED NINETY THREE

(I/C)

Looking down at his bow, Brendon shrugged. “Huh! I guess I can shoot the darkness!”

Wyn, the elf, standing in front of him, said, “Time to vacate de hall,” motioning into the room.

“Great place to get backstabbed,” Lannis agreed, the three of them filing in right after Lyra.

Seeing the wight being blocked by the two zombies, Kovid asked, “Can any of you hocus pocus people engage Giggles at range?” The dwarf and fighter were positioned behind the barricade, their weapons hoisted back and ready to swing.

“Not really,” Lannis muttered but smiling, “But it worked before, let’s do it again. IN MULTOS EGO!” he intoned, energy crackling around him as (1d4 copies: Pink 2) 2 duplicates of him appeared right around him. “There we go!” they all said in unison.

“Shitty spell,” Lyra muttered.

“Get me the idol,” Brendon said, right at the edge of the table area next to one of Lannis’, watching the slow Guardian Lyra classified as Asshole plod its way through the melee and closer to them. “No matter what, I am NOT going past here. But, Lady, this zombie on zombie is a waste,” he pointed to the Lone Guardian and Idiot Guardian duking it out. “Lyra, maybe concentrate all the zombies on the wight. After that, we should kill the uncontrolled one.”

The Cleric nodded grimly. “No more fighting that zombie, Chuckles. Go attack the Wight with your dying brothers.”

“You will pay for your transgressions against Corfard’s Faithful,” it intoned, abandoning its combat with the Lone Guardian and turning around to fence the Wight in on a third side. The Lone Guardian continued to assail it from behind, but it was a slow wind up and slamming buffeting on all sides, except for the undead hobgoblin.

“Asshole,” she commanded, “Faster! Get to Brendon with that statue!”

“You will pay for your transgressions against Corfard’s Faithful,” all the Guardians moaned in unison.

Wyn drew his silver dagger and shield and Abraxas looked about the room with a stoic frown. “I agree with Brawndo. Amigos, we have protections aqui - La Mesa, los Guardianos, Señor Lannys multiple personalities y distance. Let's allow the Wight to come to us y cut it down."

The group looked on with concern as the undead battle continued. Hemmed in by three of the Guardians, there was no easy way for the wight to get to the group, so it concentrated its attack on the Guardian already wounded earlier, Idiot (>+3 to hit, Green 12). It tore and shredded, ripping gobbets of flesh out as it squealed and screeched, the Guardian reeling from the blows (1d10 Damage: Red/Black 9) before getting a series of bone cracking smashed that caved in part of its face. But it STAYED standing, which brought a frown on the wight’s face (Cunning check: Black 1 – aced it!). It glanced behind it and then turned and ran back through the archway.

The three zombies all reached out for it, but only one, Chuckles, got enough of a blow to hit (>+4 to hit, White 18), staggering the undead as it ran back to the other room (1d8 Damage: Purple 3), the light spell still sticking out of its neck.

“What the hell is it doing?” Lannis asked.

“Lass,” Kovid asked, “can you send the brute squad in there to get him?”

She was gritting her teeth, the Guardians had lined up at the arch but would go no further. “That’s the limit,” she said, “30’. Unless I move up past the table.”

Meanwhile, Lone Guardian had continued its assault on Idiot, finally landing a solid blow on its shoulder and spine (=+4 to hit, White 8), and there was a terrible crack as the Guardian folded over (1d8 Damage: Red/Black 4 and killed!) and them slumped down. Dead.

And every remaining Guardian, Lyra’s 3 and the Lone enemy one, all shuddered and swelled slightly, power running through them with a crackling wave. “Cut one of us down, and your doom is closer to you,” the Lone Guardian said.

Asshole finally wandered up to Brendon and held out the statue, which the Scout took gingerly and then backed away as the Guardian stated at him and they all said, “Cut one of us down, and your doom is closer to you.”

“I really hate these guys,” he muttered, cradling the Corfard Statue (Add Corfard Statue (25) to Magic Inventory), watching as the Guardian headed towards the archway.

(Initiative: 4 vs 4, reroll: Party Steel 3 vs Enemy Red/Black 4)

Before the group could decide on how to proceed, whether around the table, through the arch, or redirect the assaults on the Lone Guardian, the undead hobgoblin had stopped at the large casks near a cabinet, picked one of the 10 gallon wooden casks up, held it over its head, and then with a howling wailing cry, HURLED it back at the Guardians (>+3 to hit, Red/Black 16) where it smashed into Chuckles lower half (1d6 Damage + Trip: White 3, 3 Damage. >Dex Black 13), spilling the Guardian to the floor and covering the area with 10 gallons of splattering raining ale.

“NOOOO!!!!” Kovid cried out, reaching with his free hand as if he could stave off the spilled ale. “You BASTARD!” he howled, pointing his hammer at the wight. In response, the wight smiled, stuck out its black tongue at the dwarf, and made to grab another 10 gallon cask.

Time now is Day 8, 6:03 AM

(OOC)

Guardians all attack at the end of the round. Lone Guardian WILL attack (most likely Idiot Too) before the other Guardians get a chance to attack it. Remember, 30’ limit on the Guardians leaving Lyra’s space. So if you want them through the arch – she has to move up, at least 20’. Bottom of the round, you guys go. And door is shut, so no WMC for another 2 rounds at least!