Ch. 7: The Crypt of Acererak the Demi-Lich

[Inferno]

Dredd Doomsmith, dwarven trap-hacker:

Dredd watches with remorse at the lost potions, and waits for the twin summoned elementals to conclude their battle.

He glances down once at his massive emerald with beady little eyes nearly as green as the gem.

[AleBelly]

Zoster, grateful for the awesome power nature has bestowed upon him, wills the fire elemental to continue the battle.

[Zhym]

You crowd around the doorway, everyone trying to watch Zoster's fire elemental battle the creature formed from dust. Zoster, in control of the elemental, has the best viewing position. The rest of you look over his shoulder or poke your heads around the door frame.

The elemental seems to have the better of the battle. It lashes out with tongues of flame and eruptions that burst from the fiery pillar like flares from the sun. The dust creature shifts and reforms around some of the attacks, but each hit sends it staggering back. Its counterattacks seem to have no effect on the living pillar of flame.

For twenty minutes you watch them battle. The elemental keeps attacking and the dust monster keeps reeling—but it does not yet fall.

Actions, if any?
-----
Status: Elsa (F10): 58/58; Malibran (C10): 37/68; Zoster (F9/D12): 30/76; Xale (F8/C8): 54/54; Dredd (F7/T11): 28/57
Spells in effect: Protection from Lightning (Zoster): 141 hp left; Conjure Fire Elemental (Zoster): 9 turns

[Inferno]

Dredd is content to watch the blazing spectacle.

[Grognardsw]

"You can do it torchy!" cheers Elsa.

[AleBelly]

Zoster turns briefly to the others. "My friend won't be with us forever. Let us give him the amount of time he has used so far. If this is not resolved, we should plot another course of action. This dust could be an illusion of some sort - it does not appear to be harming him. Perhaps I could have him attack the skull. That is what a lich is, correct?"

[max_vale]

Xale speaks up briefly; a little distracted from trying to figure out how to utilize the enchanted Staff and/or Rod. "Well, I'm no expert, but I believe a Lich is essentially an undead Arch-Mage. I'd also have to say that I think you're onto something Zoster; I rather doubt the Elemental, powerful as it is; is actually doing much if any harm to Accerak. I'd think the fiendish mage would have employed some kind of powerful spells by now."

The Dwarven warrior-priest returns his/her attention to attempting to figure out what the enchanted Staff and/or Rod may actually be; and how to employ it/them....

[Zhym]

Xale had a chance to inspect the rod and staff in the first twenty minutes of the elemental's battle versus the dust creature. The staff is utterly foreign to her—from the symbols carved on the shaft and the big crystal mounted on top, Xale guesses that the staff must carry arcane magic. Wizards tend to go for flashy baubles and such.

The other item—well, Xale can't figure it out any better than the staff, but she gets the feeling she could use it if only she could learn the command word.

[Grognardsw]

"Yes, have the fire demon attack the skull!" exclaims Elsa over the sound of flames.

[Zhym]

What command will Zoster give the elemental?

[AleBelly]

He will let it fight the dust creature for another 20 minutes. If both survive, Zoster will assume the thing can't be hurt and will have the elemental pound on the skull.

[Zhym]

The creatures of fire and dust battle each other for another twenty minutes. The dust creature remains unable to harm the fire elemental, and although the thing that sprung up from the bone dust reels and staggers with each hit, it remains unvanquished.

Zoster decides that the dust thing cannot be hurt. He directs the elemental to smash the skull. The elemental turns away from the dust monster, which takes the opening to rush toward you.

The elemental forms a flaming appendage with a fist-like knob at the end and brings it down on the skull. The skull, seemingly undamaged, beings to rise.

ToH 34.png (552.88 KiB) Viewed 772 times

It turns and looks straight at you. A glint starts to appear in one of its eye sockets...

Actions (and initiative)?

-----
Status: Elsa (F10): 58/58; Malibran (C10): 37/68; Zoster (F9/D12): 30/76; Xale (F8/C8): 54/54; Dredd (F7/T11): 28/57
Spells in effect: Protection from Lightning (Zoster): 141 hp left; Conjure Fire Elemental (Zoster): 7 turns

[Inferno]

Dredd Doomsmith, dwarven trap-hacker:

"Och!" Dredd stepped back, unholstered his strange wand of wood and brass, and pointed it at the skull.
"If ye've not a weapon, avail yerself of one of those," he advised unnecessarily, indicating the treasure pile with a wag of his fat head.

Then his thick, nimble fingers cocked a tiny lever on the wand, and pulled its brass trigger. BOOM! the wand roared.

[Grognardsw]

Elsa, fighter

As she watches the lengthy battle between fire and dust elementals go still longer, Elsa begins to think the flame creature can't defeat it. She activates her Ring of Invisibility.

When the skull rises, Elsa raises shield and drinks her Potion of Polymorph.

[ravenn4544]

Malibranclutches his symbol and with a holy prayer commands the foul thing of un-death to return to the afterlife.

Attempt to Turn undead

[Zhym]

Which thing does Malibran attempt to turn: the creature that formed from the dust on top of the slab, or the skull that has risen into the air?

[AleBelly]

Zoster will concentrate on the fire elemental, giving him an order.

"Borne of Fire! Grasp the skull and dash it against the wall!"

In case it's necessary:

Elemental to hit [1d20] = 18

[ravenn4544]

Skull. Looks more omnious.

[Zhym]

Gotcha.

BTW, I'll continue to roll to-hit and damage for the elemental.

[max_vale]

Xale sighs as his/her fears seem to be realized and the Elemental was unable to inflict any damage on the foul lich of Accerak. He/she was also highly doubtful of being able to TURN such a powerful creature so the Dwarven warrior-priest decided to attempt to use the blunt instruments at hand....

Dropping the Staff and clutching the enchanted rod in one hand and the good ol' trusty Warhammer in the other; Xale will crouch down to turn his/her back with shield on it towards the lich and look away from the skull for a moment to allow for his/her teammates' attacks, spells, etc. to take effect* and if the skull was still there in a moment and within range; he/she will attempt to swing first the Rod at it and if no effect occurs; then resort to the hammer**....


*Basically, wait this round while filling hands with Rod and Hammer and not looking towards the Skull while spells, magical devices, etc. are utilized and then

**Next round try to use the Rod on the skull if feasible....if nothing happens then and Xale is still around; go melee with the Warhammer.