Chronicles of the Accursed (Group 2)

(We can do Theater of the Mind for Phase 1)

Initiative:

Vitarek
Korba
Nordaka
--
Cultist Swarm 1
Cultist Swarm 2
--
Tamphalic
--
Master Sserah Cultist 1
Master Sserah Cultist 2
Master Sserah Cultist 3
Cultist Swarm 3

(OOC: FYI - I guess we still need Jodie's initiative since she's also riding Nordaka.  I think that Tamphalic is on Captain Blythe's ship, so I guess he doesn't figure into phase 1 unless the fight drags on long enough for the ship to approach within range.)

(and Adult deep dragon Ruby's aswell)

Jodie's init: 14

Green Dragon Ruby init: 20

(Secretfool can play ruby dragon hereafter)

 (OOC: Nice!  Conveniently, it looks like that keeps the same initiative groups that @Mister_Whisker already posted, with all of the dragons going first.  @Secretfool - do you want to kick us off with Vitarek's turn?)

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

Initiative:

Vitarek
Korba
Nordaka
Ruby (<-- Are we going with Adult Deep Dragon?  Adult Black Dragon?  I was sad to see that the Gem Dragons include a Sapphire Dragon but not a Ruby Dragon.)
--
Cultist Swarm 1
Cultist Swarm 2
--
Jodie
Tamphalic
--
Master Sserah Cultist 1
Master Sserah Cultist 2
Master Sserah Cultist 3
Cultist Swarm 3

Rather than trying to do the full fight, I'm going to say that the two adult dragons easily clear the deck. As the party steps onto the deck, you can feel the hum of power. The massive, half-mummified carcass of Sserah lies lifeless, but you can sense power being channeled into those ancient bones. Slowly, she is being called back from Oblivion to wreak havoc once again!

End the ritual, Akkron instructs the party. I will make sure that the forces of darkness cannot follow you into your final confrontation with your foe. Gorash, Bridgette, Nordaka, and Vitarek will help me hold off any who dare approach.

As he says that, you can see more ships approaching the sea battle... dozens of ships full of cultists, and likely the infamous Death Knight somewhere amongst them. Hopefully the dragons will be able to hold them at bay!

Nickeline doesn't know how to stop a ritual of such power. She prays to Flandal for strength and courage and very gingerly touches the bones, casting a spell to prevent (hopefully) any undead-style resurrection.

OOC:

Action: Cast Gentle Repose on the bones

Tamphalic has been preparing as they came upon the ship and is ready to face Zolgu and whoever else is down there, he waits for the frontliners to lead and than quickly follows after them. Ready to make sure this ritual will not be completed.

Quote from Mister_Whisker>>

The massive, half-mummified carcass of Sserah lies lifeless, but you can sense power being channeled into those ancient bones. Slowly, she is being called back from Oblivion to wreak havoc once again!

End the ritual, Akkron instructs the party. I will make sure that the forces of darkness cannot follow you into your final confrontation with your foe. Gorash, Bridgette, Nordaka, and Vitarek will help me hold off any who dare approach.

Hewelathan-Bear sniffs the air and wrinkles his knows as though he can smell the necrotic power at work here.  He's still surprised to find himself working with an undead ally, but he begrudgingly growls his thanks to the lich: "In case we do not speak again, I wanted to thank you, Lord Akkron, for all you have done for us and our other friends."  (He's referring to Tytus, Flinn, Rhaenys...and even Stafford and Truthseeker!)  He looks at the massive carcass of the Dragon Lord Sserrah Nightbane and promises, "Zolgu and this made cult will not succeed while we live."  

Korba frowns at Hewelthan's words.  While Jodie was able to convince the astral lich to help them fight Firion, he expects Lord Akkron and the others to be busy here against the gathering forces of the cult.  "The Accursed" will face this last fight on their own, and he still feels that death is the most likely outcome against the leaders of this cult.  He gives a resigned sigh, realizing that it wouldn't help to run from this fight.  How long could they live if the cult succeeds in bringing Sserrah Nightbane back?

Korba gets ready to lead the way, drawing his sword.  Out of habit, he almost cuts himself with the blade, but remembers just in time the legendary sword is no longer cursed and does not require such tribute.  The half-Drow moves to one of the two staircases that leads down to the next deck, and he closes his eyes against the bright sunlight to help them adjust more quickly to the dim light below.  Before he heads down the stairs, Korba checks whether everyone is ready and then asks the wizard, "Tamphalic, do you want to send your familiar ahead to spy on whatever awaits us below?" 

(OOC: Proposed marching order if we're just going down one of the staircases single-file

1. Korba (scouting ahead with Stealth and Invisibility)
2. Hewelathan-Bear
3. Jodie
4. Nickeline
5. Ruby
6. Tamphalic

)

Tamphalic sends down his bat to and takes over it's senses to see what is below just before they go down themselves. 

Ruby looks at her companions warmly and says "Cyrunnath will be with us for this fight, with tooth and nail."  She touches Hildegard's longsword once again, but this time the sword seems to 'crackle' with energy. (level 3 = +2 longsword)

"And I grant the drake's speed to Jodie."

Before Korba disappears and heads off ahead, Jodie strums the Firestorm Lute and sings an Elvish song of the protection against undead.

"The Death Knight is a fearsome foe.  We don't need to defeat all the participants to stop the ritual.  If I can hit the right note, I'll blast those bones to smithereens"  But I have also learned to how master sound and silence.  That alone could disrupt the ritual, for sound is energy."

With Ruby's touch, Jodie steps hasten and with little effort, seems to hide in dim light. (stealth 25)

Quote from Faux_Beau >>

Ruby looks at her companions warmly and says "Cyrunnath will be with us for this fight, with tooth and nail."  She touches Hildegard's longsword once again, but this time the sword seems to 'crackle' with energy. (level 3 = +2 longsword)

[[OOC: You might want to save that spell slot.  Because of player unavailability, Bridgette is staying up on the main deck with Lord Akkron.  It's just Ruby and the other 5 going below deck to stop Zolgu's ritual.  It's unclear to me whether we'll have to fight through undead guardians first or whether we'll be jumping right to the final fight with Zolgu and the other cultists.]]