All three of the undead saints turn empty eye sockets to Roman... "Purge the heathens from your midst... for those who climb the seat of power will be toppled down, those who seek riches will be sent away empty, and all who cling to the dying grass of the mortal world will be left with nothing." The armor-clad skeleton sweeps its blade out in a gesture that takes in all of the flooded crypt. "This sacrilege has happened because you honor not the virtues of the Flame. Where are we to rest, in this morass?"Then it points its blade at Hannah, who is nearest, and armed. "Drop your weapons!"A ferocity blazes from its imperturbable skull.
"The virtues of the Flame,"whisper both of the skeletal Flamekeepers. One of them reaches a hand out towards Roman. As it does so, he hears that familiar flap of wings...
Flamekeeper Irma steps forward, coming up to Hannah. "We have never come down here armed," she says, "I... perhaps you ought to lay the arms down... and pray there will not be need to take them up." She looks pale, and shaken. "Fear is no virtue of the Flame... I am afraid that running may further upset them. One of my acolytes made that mistake..."
as we approach the position of the others (Elena sort of giving us away a bit while attempting to humor my notion of skulking) I reach back and offer Guidance to Elena.
At Irma’s words, Hannah takes a deep breath and lays down the mace and shield at her feet before taking a step back and spreading her arms a little to shield the Flamekeeper as best she could.
With out taking her eyes off of the skeletal paladin, she turns her head slightly towards Lando and Roman and calls out in a low voice “What should we do, my lords?”
*Lando grasps and unsheathes his blade and begins walking through the shallow flood water pouring from the crypt. *
“Those who are no longer in this world may have no jurisdiction over it. You all are guides, your words are suggestions at best. We have come to lay you to rest. Whatever it is you seek that you have not found in your living days are no longer for you! “
*walking in front of and towards Hannah slowly, and kick slides her shield and mace to Hannah’s feet. Turning his head slightly in her direction*
”Pick back up your arms, surely your shield can protect her holiness better than your arms.”
*turning back to the saints*
“Let us, the living seek the flame in our own way, let us be tried and burned by the flame if it be its will. Let its fire fall upon our lives, to scorch or to purify as it sees fit. As it has done for you. now you rest, and if it need be by my hand, then let these people be witness to your dead to rites. “
Intimidation : 19+6+2=27
*Walking now in position to be the foremost of the group*
“If what I am about to do makes anyone here uncomfortable, Leave. We will be up in a moment, Silverstar that does not apply to you, with me you are safest.
Yvara, please retreat to the furthers point of the corridor.”
*Lando takes a south paw fighting stance, with his sword in his left hand, the smell of mold, mildew, and decay fill the corridor, making Lando’s nose flare. He pushes his glasses up, ready put the Saints down for good*
His will steeled by Lando's words, Roman looks to the Undead "I implore you one last time, return to your well deserved rests Brothers, or we will be forced to lay you to rest" Roman angles his body so his left hand holding his glowing staff in front of him and his right hand is partly concealed behind him. "Please Brothers, choose wisely" The fingers of Roman hands clench as if holding a ball, in between his fingers golden flames begin to gather in a swirling ball.
"Death is the end of all the living," the silver-armored skeleton rasps. "Eternity awaits you, too. Let the Flame purify your souls!"And it raises its sword, as the two skeletal Flamekeepers raise their hands, golden flames gathering between their bony fingers as if mirroring Roman's gesture.
"The Flame guides the way," says Roman, whipping his hand up the golden ball of flame flies toward the armored Saint. Roman then takes a few steps back, so he is standing by Yvara. The ball of radiant light seems to expand into a hurtling beam that strikes the armored saint full, scorching its bones and armor black. ((Action: Guiding Bolt.))
"Stay back with the lady, Mother," Hannah says, and swiftly she bends and scoops up her arms, and focuses on the knot that is always dully pulsing with pain at the base of her skull. She flexes her jaw and her neck until the pain starts to swell and sweep through the rest of her body. As she rushes forward and passes between Lando and the armored saint with her shield raised, her hood falls back, revealing her face again. Covering her face and hairless scalp are bulging veins that are already beginning to darken the skin around them with fresh bruises. Hannah's bloodshot eyes remain fixed on the threat as she stops my shuffle in front of one of the skeletal Flamekeepers, and lets out a low moan that shifts into a growl. ((Action: Pick up weapon and shield. Bonus action: Rage.))
From the shadows, a travel-worn man dressed in hides suddenly appears, darting into the circle of Light from Irma's holy symbol as he runs up to the waiting dead. He begins to loudly intone an incantation, waving his hands in an intricate gesture. A terrible sound of thunder crashing shakes the crypt, splashing the water that runs around their ankles. The armored skeleton and one of the unliving Flamekeepers, caught in a magical blast of energy, are hurtled away from the strange man, who bends down as his form stretches and morphs into a huge, hulking brown bear, standing there in the water, it lifts a heavy clawed paw and roars a challenge. ((Action: Thunderwave. Bonus action: Wild shape.))
Flamekeeper Irma gasps out as sudden violence erupts before her, an unknown and heathenish figure leaping into the fray from the shadows. She raises a hand--as if her first instinct is to defend the dead intombed here in the crypt--but instead she calls out a prayer and draws a blessing that shines radiantly over Hannah, Lando, and Roman, as she slowly steps backwards until she is standing with Roman and Yvara. "Who is this?" she cries, staring at the bear.
Elena spends one second asking herself just what her life has become. And then she runs forward to where Lando stands, raising her hands and calling out an invocation. A blast of arcane energy leaves her hands, colliding with the silver-plated skeleton that had just been thrown backwards. ((Action: Eldritch Blast.))
The skeletal Flamekeeper, golden light flickering in its fingers, turns to face Hannah as she runs up to it, its terrifying and grisly visage staring vacantly at her. A burst of radiant light flies from its hands towards her. Hannah takes the blast full in the face, and the low growl she was emitting turns into a roar of rage as her body absorbs the radiant damage.
Yvara gasps, her hands over her mouth, and stays back, ready to leap out of the way at a moment's notice if it becomes necessary, hanging back behind Roman and Irma.
"Faithless heathen!"the skeletal Flamekeeper hisses at Hannah.
"Heathen!" the armored skeleton echoes, as it rushes forward, its armor scoured and hanging in tatters, the bones of its face blackened, towards Hannah...raising its flashing sword, it swings down heavily, but the blade crashes down on Hannah's shield, and seeing a javelin coming in its other hand, Hannah parries with her mace. Further damage is spared her as she grimaces furiously, pushing back against her assailant.
Lando walks up to the armored saint, shouting out a prayer, as he swings his warhammer in a huge arc. It crashes against the side of the skeleton's helm, but the walking dead only turns to gaze at him with eyeless sockets... as if the blow glanced off of it. A flash of light at the edge of the warhammer is the only apparent effect of the Divine power the paladin called down. ((Bonus action: Searing Smite))
The skeletal Flamekeeper that was pushed back several feet by the crash of thunder pulls itself up, the radiant whispers of flame collecting from its waving fingers and hurtling towards the brown bear. It crashes against the animal, singing its fur.
Roman steps to the wall and peers around the massive bear that once was the stranger, and he spies the implacable Risen Saint that had been hurled back towards the back of the crypt by the wildman's thunder. Moving to the right of the flooded crypt, his feet sloshing in the water, he shouts, "Go to the embrace of the Flame!" as he hurls a small golden bolt of fire at the undead. Its robes flicker and glimmer for a moment with radiant light. (([Tooltip Not Found]))
The bear hurls forward, mauling at the restless skeletal Flamekeeper, and Hannah throws her mace forward with the same bear-like ferocity at the armor plated saint. Both of them tear into their targets, but the unliving bones of the saints don't seem to be as susceptible to the blows of hard steel or the rending of claws and teeth. Flamekeeper Irma, standing back with Yvara, raises her arms and chants a prayer... Divine light flows down, covering Hannah. ((Healing Word))
Elena lunges forward with Fidelitas at the armored skeleton and feels a strange, almost supernatural resistance... as if she attacks something that has no body to wound...but then, of course, in a sense it doesn't... still, two can play at that game! As Elena calls upon the supernatural powers invested in Fidelitas... a palpable, but not visible, energy moves like an encroaching storm off of the blade of her sword... surrounding the skeletal saint. ((Booming Blade))
The armored unliving warrior turns its gaunt eye sockets to Elena... the skeletal Flamekeeper, its hands raised towards the huge bear tearing into it, snaps its head around, as does the other skeletal Flamekeeper.
A hissing cry rings forth from all three. "YOU BRING THE BANE OF DIVINE LIGHT HERE, THE VILE PIN OF THE UNHOLY KINGS!?"
Turning from the bear, the restless Flamekeeper raises its skeletal hands, and passes them together. A sheet of flame issues forth from its bony hands. Yet surrounded with the oppressive and unholy cloud of impending storm from Elena's blade, the armored saint withdraws itself from its engagement, stands tall, and raises its blade high in both hands as if begging for the purifying fire, as the flames from its unliving colleague wash over it... and it tumbles to the ground in a pile of ash-covered silver plate armor and blackened bones. The remaining flames lick over Lando, Hannah, and Elena with a fiery vengeance, singing their hair and clothes and burning their exposed skin painfully.
Lando looks down at the pile of bones, and back at the implacable saint standing near the back of the crypt, its robes still smoldering from Roman's bolt of fire. He lifts his warhammer, and the flicker of flames run from his hands to the head of the hammer. ((Searing Smite and Divine Smite.)) As he rushes up and swings his hammer down, Lando shouts, "Live by the Flame, DIE BY THE FLAME!" The unliving Flamekeeper lights up in a radiant blaze as Lando's righteous warhammer crashes into it... flames wreathing its figure... and when the light fades, nothing is left but a pile of bones, the august robes and headdress of a Flamekeeper, and a holy symbol on a set of prayer beads, all on the ground at Lando's feet.
Seeing his angle is blocked by the massive bear, again. Roman runs to the other side of the crypt "Hannah, duck!" In his hand another ball of golden light begins to coalesce "The Flame welcomes you, brother, go into the light." Whipping his hand forward another ball of golden flame files towards the Risen Saint.
Hannah does not duck, as this is her first fight and she has trouble being aware of her surroundings in the state she is in, driving forward and striking the skeletal Flamekeeper with her mace. Though the ball of golden light sails alarmingly close to her, Roman's careful aim pays off, and it strikes his intended target.
The massive bear plows into the undead saint, flinging bones hither and thither, shaking it like a ragdoll as the Flamekeeper finally collapses into its heap of relics... and as it lies still, the bear shrinks down, again becoming Moksad.
Flamekeeper Irma gazes in shock at the chaotic scene before her. The entire battle unfolded in just a few scant minutes, and now the bones of the saints lay quiet again. A stern look passes her usually kindly face as she looks at the newly arrived strangers, Elena, and Moksad. The latter clearly a practitioner of heathenish magic, and the former bearing a blade that had risen such a strange outcry from the saints.
"I need to know what it is that you have brought to this holy place," Irma says to Elena. "But first... we must lay the saints to rest... their places of repose are flooded... but we must inter them in a place appropriate, and perform the Last Rites, to truly lay them to rest, for they cannot be killed. The rest can wait." She walks forward, past Moksad, sloshing in the water and stooping to collect every bone and relic that fell from the bear's violent dismemberment.
Easing back into human form with a vacant smile on his face he exclaims "Hi Miss! Hi everybody else! I apologize for the noise and mess I made here trying to put that unholy thing down." Not immediately sensitive to the situation, he believes his apology to both be appropriate and merits the response of his facetious intent.
Not skipping a beat: "My name is Moksad and I have come from my village to attend to worrying troubles we have seen from the outside world. I came here accompanying a lovely young lady who has paired up with me due to shared circumstance and who also agreed to help me acclimate to your ways. I am most pleased to make your acquaintance."
With some effort, Hannah focuses on reversing the flow of the adrenaline flooding her body. It was an odd feeling, like trying to take in a huge breath of air when your lungs are already full. The feverish heat she felt all over began to recede back to the base of her skull, and in its wake left aching pain and sudden fatigue. As her head sank and her eyes dropped to the water-covered floor, she noticed a few smashed finger bones there at her feet. She stared at them for a moment, and then, as her mind began to function again, she tried to surreptitiously stand over them with her long habit in the hope that Irma might not notice and miss them in her search for the relics and remains of the defeated saints.
Stealth: 15+1=16.
With a little further delay, her mind registered Moksad’s words. She tried to take stock of the effect they might have on the holy folk gathered around them.
Bending over, Roman picks up from the water, a severed arm from the Risen Saint, that Moksad had scattered in his mauling. Turning he hands it to Flamekeeper Irma, bowing his head "Your Holiness, perhaps it would be best if M'lord and I ...... accompany these....... visitors back up to the main chapel. I can send down some acolytes down to assist you in putting these Holy saints back to their honored rests." Bowing his head, he turns back to the two strangers. Now that battle is over he takes in their appearances.
"The Flame be with you. I am Roman Silverstar, brother of the Abbey of St. Oliver. I thank you for your assistance, but as the High Flamekeeper has said these Holy...." looking at Moksad " dead need to be laid back to rest." Gesturing towaerd the stairs " Please may we retire to the chapel, so that Her Holiness may preform their Last Rites in peace."
Flamekeeper Irma, focused on her task, nonetheless flushes at Moksad's comment. She is so taken aback that she doesn't even respond with her usual friendly greeting, but she recovers quickly when Roman hands her the severed arm, and she smiles gratefully at him as she reverently takes it. "Thank you, Brother Roman. I don't know where they've come from, but they may need help, unused to the ways of the Flame as they are. Please, send my acolytes, so that we may complete this task, before the saints rise again to seek reparation. When we are finished, I will meet you." She gently grasps Roman's hand, smiling at him softly, before returning to her arduous task. Her Flamekeeper's robes are soaked through as she sloshes through the water, carefully gathering each bone, each little fragment.
Hannah's assessment of Irma--for she knows the High Flamekeeper well enough--tells her that while Irma is pained by the blasphemy, she recognizes that Moksad is a heathen who doesn't know better, who (Irma would say) has been taught by the demons he worships to narrow his vision of supernatural things, to see them as a threat to worldly wellbeing, to look at them as the demons do, with disdain and hatred. Such a one raised in the woods would likely know no better, having been deceived from childhood, and still deserves the extension of the Hearth of the Flame. Irma has always extended that Hearth to Hannah, after all. Irma seemed much more concerned about Elena's sword. However, the elderly Flamekeeper is distracted enough that she completely misses the smashed fingerbones that Hannah is attempting to hide. It's also a bit out of character for Irma not to right away address Hannah or her new guests and make sure they have what they need... but her urgency in collecting the relics is probably the reason for that. As Irma passes Hannah, she smiles warmly at her, but continues her search relentlessly.
Yvara to me my sweet, says Lando with his hand on his war hammer still.
A country shape shifter, and an assassin like woman with a blade of Hersey? Surely this is no mere coincidence.
Woman in the back, explain yourselves, were you following me and my companions? Who sent you. Insight: 15-1=14
*He begins to make his way towards the stairs holding Yvara with his hammer in hand and shield on his back. *
Silverstar, be weary of them. Hannah, what curse afflicts you, no small woman Ive ever seen moves like that in battle. As you moved I saw something briefly at the back of your head. Do they have clerics here? We may be able to contract a high level one to cure you.
shape shifter and heretic assassin, explain your selves now, or those acolytes will be resting 5 souls in stead of 3.
Elena is rather surprised by the reaction she and Moksad engendered. But she supposes that Fidelitas is a rather curious object and places her in a similarly curious position in the dragonchess board between the Amethyst Academy and the Sacred Flame. She begins to see the suspicions towards them grow and she realises she needs to head this off quickly before it is allowed to get out of control.
“Good people and faithful acolytes, peace,” she says. “My name is Elena Firavanti, loyal servant of House Giorgione of Liberio. This artifact I carry is an heirloom passed through my family for generations as a symbol of our loyalty and service to our noble house. It allows us access to arcane powers so we may better serve our masters. The Amethyst Academy is aware of its existence and permits our family to exercise these powers so long as we follow the Edicts of Lumen which we have done.”
Permit may be stretching the truth a bit too much, but Elena feels they didn’t need to know that.
She continues, “As my companion said, we first arrived here so he may witness the rites of the Sacred Flame to better his understanding of the faith. We then made our way to the crypts so we may pay our respects to the saints interred on these grounds when we came across your fight with the restless dead. Please accept our apologies for our intrusion as we meant no offense by it and only wished to offer our assistance.”
Entirely surprised by the offense he engendered: "Please listen to my friend here: we're new to the area. I am new to every aspect of what I am seeing around me. Everything made here made by man for your dedicated God! Absolutely incredible to see in the flesh and as I only heard about it from others. Also I apologize for the slight difference or confusion in our values that we may be breaching, but where I am from; when and if we are trained to be defenders or foster our connection to magical means, we are taught to see risen dead as dangerous and unholy things no matter the divinity of the person that they used to be."
He drops his weaponry to the ground, and stretches his hands upwards to a defensive posture as he says this.
Nodding his head at Lando's warning, Roman looks back to Moksad. Taking in his clothing and appearance he clasps his hands " I understand, as I am sure that Her Holiness understands, your ignorance in these matters, please allow me to educate you in rites of the Sacred Flame..... Moksad was it." Gesturing toward the stairs " Please if you will accompany me." Roman turns and leads the way toward the stairs. "You see Moksad, when a Defender of the Sacred Flame passes from the mortal world, they are interned in the crypts so that when the Scared Flame is threatened they may be raised to defend it. It is a great honor." Gesturing to the water on the floor " It seems that the plights of Todesfeld have threatened the Cathedral and woke some of it's Defenders. I do admit their behavior is not what I expected, but perhaps Her Holiness can shed more light on it when she is finished." Roman leads the group up the stairwells, out of the crypts, and into the main chapel. Stopping a passing acolyte Roman leans in and in a hush voice tells him that the High Flamekeeper requires assistance with putting the Risen Saints to rest.
As the group make their way back to the the Grand Pyre in the center of the cathedral " You expressed interest in learning more of the Scared Flame, I would be happy to answer any of your questions while we wait for the High Flamekeeper." Gesturing above them to the grand dome and it's colorful frescos. Pointing at one set" These show how a golden comet first lead St. Tarna to the Archangels Gabriella and Michael, who would anoint her as the first paladin." he gestures to another set of murals " And these tell how the Archangel Romulus, the angel of prophecy and change, gave St. Rosalind visions of a great flood that would have ravaged the land and drowned many of the faithful." Gesturing to another encircling the inner dome "And here is St. Rosalind holding the floodwaters at bay with her faith, while the town folk found sanctuary on this very hill" Looking back to the strange pair. "I apologize, I do ramble on. What of you two?" Looking at the mismatched pair, one clearly a sophisticated urbanite and the other a village bumpkin " What brings you here, Moksad you spoke of worrying troubles? Is your village near here? And what of your fine companion, what brings her from the comforts of Liberio." Romans bows slightly too Elina, blushing slightly.
Lando, finally releasing his war hammer after hearing Roman’s explanation of the cathedral.
“Pardon me, where art my manners. We are Lando and Yvara Spire, new wed couple of House Spire of Elariya. I am the crown jewel of the Spire house. My family elevated to noble status through 5 generations of dedication. Building a spired shrine to our diety. I am of the 6th generation, sworn to be a paladin to the God which my faith lies.
Brought up in a noble home and raised by my most trusted servant and companion Jerome, a father to me when I had none.
Traveling with Silverstar to attend to a private affair in Drakkenhiem.
"Yes I set out roughly a fortnight ago from my village as I was assigned to investigate and attempt to solve the worrying changes in nature , and attend to messages left by our folk. We had heard reports of jackal-men terrorizing other folk amongst other phenomena. We once very recently also come upon a thoroughly bizarre dog that had developed elongated tendrils or fleshy vines that seemed to grasp objects and wield them with force. I witnessed it and one of our elders whipping it to death to protect the village."
"We also noticed strange colored crystals embedded in the dog, and heard of their appearance in recent trade. When I came upon Lady Elena she was with associates and we had a lively conversation on the matter and related troubles. I know Elena has had a unique adjustment in accommodating her, but I hope I can continue to prove my worth to her and the rest of you here. I am a believer in the Gods aside from what the Sacred Flame represents, in particular I and my kinship value our connection with Arwyn and Danu and the bounty they bestow upon the land. I hope that as long as I am here we can engender the pursuit of shared knowledge and perhaps shared meals and drink. I and Elena decided to partner on the way to Drakkenheim. Maybe we can join your partnership! Perhaps this is as your God and my Gods intended."
All three of the undead saints turn empty eye sockets to Roman... "Purge the heathens from your midst... for those who climb the seat of power will be toppled down, those who seek riches will be sent away empty, and all who cling to the dying grass of the mortal world will be left with nothing." The armor-clad skeleton sweeps its blade out in a gesture that takes in all of the flooded crypt. "This sacrilege has happened because you honor not the virtues of the Flame. Where are we to rest, in this morass?" Then it points its blade at Hannah, who is nearest, and armed. "Drop your weapons!" A ferocity blazes from its imperturbable skull.
"The virtues of the Flame," whisper both of the skeletal Flamekeepers. One of them reaches a hand out towards Roman. As it does so, he hears that familiar flap of wings...
Flamekeeper Irma steps forward, coming up to Hannah. "We have never come down here armed," she says, "I... perhaps you ought to lay the arms down... and pray there will not be need to take them up." She looks pale, and shaken. "Fear is no virtue of the Flame... I am afraid that running may further upset them. One of my acolytes made that mistake..."
Moksad
as we approach the position of the others (Elena sort of giving us away a bit while attempting to humor my notion of skulking) I reach back and offer Guidance to Elena.
At Irma’s words, Hannah takes a deep breath and lays down the mace and shield at her feet before taking a step back and spreading her arms a little to shield the Flamekeeper as best she could.
With out taking her eyes off of the skeletal paladin, she turns her head slightly towards Lando and Roman and calls out in a low voice “What should we do, my lords?”
*Lando grasps and unsheathes his blade and begins walking through the shallow flood water pouring from the crypt. *
“Those who are no longer in this world may have no jurisdiction over it. You all are guides, your words are suggestions at best. We have come to lay you to rest. Whatever it is you seek that you have not found in your living days are no longer for you! “
*walking in front of and towards Hannah slowly, and kick slides her shield and mace to Hannah’s feet. Turning his head slightly in her direction*
”Pick back up your arms, surely your shield can protect her holiness better than your arms.”
*turning back to the saints*
“Let us, the living seek the flame in our own way, let us be tried and burned by the flame if it be its will. Let its fire fall upon our lives, to scorch or to purify as it sees fit. As it has done for you.
now you rest, and if it need be by my hand, then let these people be witness to your dead to rites. “
Intimidation : 19+6+2=27
*Walking now in position to be the foremost of the group*
“If what I am about to do makes anyone here uncomfortable, Leave. We will be up in a moment, Silverstar that does not apply to you, with me you are safest.
Yvara, please retreat to the furthers point of the corridor.”
*Lando takes a south paw fighting stance, with his sword in his left hand, the smell of mold, mildew, and decay fill the corridor, making Lando’s nose flare. He pushes his glasses up, ready put the Saints down for good*
Roman Silverstar
His will steeled by Lando's words, Roman looks to the Undead "I implore you one last time, return to your well deserved rests Brothers, or we will be forced to lay you to rest" Roman angles his body so his left hand holding his glowing staff in front of him and his right hand is partly concealed behind him. "Please Brothers, choose wisely" The fingers of Roman hands clench as if holding a ball, in between his fingers golden flames begin to gather in a swirling ball.
Let's do this.
"Death is the end of all the living," the silver-armored skeleton rasps. "Eternity awaits you, too. Let the Flame purify your souls!" And it raises its sword, as the two skeletal Flamekeepers raise their hands, golden flames gathering between their bony fingers as if mirroring Roman's gesture.
Round 1
"The Flame guides the way," says Roman, whipping his hand up the golden ball of flame flies toward the armored Saint. Roman then takes a few steps back, so he is standing by Yvara. The ball of radiant light seems to expand into a hurtling beam that strikes the armored saint full, scorching its bones and armor black. ((Action: Guiding Bolt.))
"Stay back with the lady, Mother," Hannah says, and swiftly she bends and scoops up her arms, and focuses on the knot that is always dully pulsing with pain at the base of her skull. She flexes her jaw and her neck until the pain starts to swell and sweep through the rest of her body. As she rushes forward and passes between Lando and the armored saint with her shield raised, her hood falls back, revealing her face again. Covering her face and hairless scalp are bulging veins that are already beginning to darken the skin around them with fresh bruises. Hannah's bloodshot eyes remain fixed on the threat as she stops my shuffle in front of one of the skeletal Flamekeepers, and lets out a low moan that shifts into a growl. ((Action: Pick up weapon and shield. Bonus action: Rage.))
From the shadows, a travel-worn man dressed in hides suddenly appears, darting into the circle of Light from Irma's holy symbol as he runs up to the waiting dead. He begins to loudly intone an incantation, waving his hands in an intricate gesture. A terrible sound of thunder crashing shakes the crypt, splashing the water that runs around their ankles. The armored skeleton and one of the unliving Flamekeepers, caught in a magical blast of energy, are hurtled away from the strange man, who bends down as his form stretches and morphs into a huge, hulking brown bear, standing there in the water, it lifts a heavy clawed paw and roars a challenge. ((Action: Thunderwave. Bonus action: Wild shape.))
Flamekeeper Irma gasps out as sudden violence erupts before her, an unknown and heathenish figure leaping into the fray from the shadows. She raises a hand--as if her first instinct is to defend the dead intombed here in the crypt--but instead she calls out a prayer and draws a blessing that shines radiantly over Hannah, Lando, and Roman, as she slowly steps backwards until she is standing with Roman and Yvara. "Who is this?" she cries, staring at the bear.
Elena spends one second asking herself just what her life has become. And then she runs forward to where Lando stands, raising her hands and calling out an invocation. A blast of arcane energy leaves her hands, colliding with the silver-plated skeleton that had just been thrown backwards. ((Action: Eldritch Blast.))
The skeletal Flamekeeper, golden light flickering in its fingers, turns to face Hannah as she runs up to it, its terrifying and grisly visage staring vacantly at her. A burst of radiant light flies from its hands towards her. Hannah takes the blast full in the face, and the low growl she was emitting turns into a roar of rage as her body absorbs the radiant damage.
Yvara gasps, her hands over her mouth, and stays back, ready to leap out of the way at a moment's notice if it becomes necessary, hanging back behind Roman and Irma.
"Faithless heathen!" the skeletal Flamekeeper hisses at Hannah.
"Heathen!" the armored skeleton echoes, as it rushes forward, its armor scoured and hanging in tatters, the bones of its face blackened, towards Hannah...raising its flashing sword, it swings down heavily, but the blade crashes down on Hannah's shield, and seeing a javelin coming in its other hand, Hannah parries with her mace. Further damage is spared her as she grimaces furiously, pushing back against her assailant.
Lando walks up to the armored saint, shouting out a prayer, as he swings his warhammer in a huge arc. It crashes against the side of the skeleton's helm, but the walking dead only turns to gaze at him with eyeless sockets... as if the blow glanced off of it. A flash of light at the edge of the warhammer is the only apparent effect of the Divine power the paladin called down. ((Bonus action: Searing Smite))
The skeletal Flamekeeper that was pushed back several feet by the crash of thunder pulls itself up, the radiant whispers of flame collecting from its waving fingers and hurtling towards the brown bear. It crashes against the animal, singing its fur.
Round 2
Roman steps to the wall and peers around the massive bear that once was the stranger, and he spies the implacable Risen Saint that had been hurled back towards the back of the crypt by the wildman's thunder. Moving to the right of the flooded crypt, his feet sloshing in the water, he shouts, "Go to the embrace of the Flame!" as he hurls a small golden bolt of fire at the undead. Its robes flicker and glimmer for a moment with radiant light. (([Tooltip Not Found]))
The bear hurls forward, mauling at the restless skeletal Flamekeeper, and Hannah throws her mace forward with the same bear-like ferocity at the armor plated saint. Both of them tear into their targets, but the unliving bones of the saints don't seem to be as susceptible to the blows of hard steel or the rending of claws and teeth. Flamekeeper Irma, standing back with Yvara, raises her arms and chants a prayer... Divine light flows down, covering Hannah. ((Healing Word))
Elena lunges forward with Fidelitas at the armored skeleton and feels a strange, almost supernatural resistance... as if she attacks something that has no body to wound...but then, of course, in a sense it doesn't... still, two can play at that game! As Elena calls upon the supernatural powers invested in Fidelitas... a palpable, but not visible, energy moves like an encroaching storm off of the blade of her sword... surrounding the skeletal saint. ((Booming Blade))
The armored unliving warrior turns its gaunt eye sockets to Elena... the skeletal Flamekeeper, its hands raised towards the huge bear tearing into it, snaps its head around, as does the other skeletal Flamekeeper.
A hissing cry rings forth from all three. "YOU BRING THE BANE OF DIVINE LIGHT HERE, THE VILE PIN OF THE UNHOLY KINGS!?"
Turning from the bear, the restless Flamekeeper raises its skeletal hands, and passes them together. A sheet of flame issues forth from its bony hands. Yet surrounded with the oppressive and unholy cloud of impending storm from Elena's blade, the armored saint withdraws itself from its engagement, stands tall, and raises its blade high in both hands as if begging for the purifying fire, as the flames from its unliving colleague wash over it... and it tumbles to the ground in a pile of ash-covered silver plate armor and blackened bones. The remaining flames lick over Lando, Hannah, and Elena with a fiery vengeance, singing their hair and clothes and burning their exposed skin painfully.
Lando looks down at the pile of bones, and back at the implacable saint standing near the back of the crypt, its robes still smoldering from Roman's bolt of fire. He lifts his warhammer, and the flicker of flames run from his hands to the head of the hammer. ((Searing Smite and Divine Smite.)) As he rushes up and swings his hammer down, Lando shouts, "Live by the Flame, DIE BY THE FLAME!" The unliving Flamekeeper lights up in a radiant blaze as Lando's righteous warhammer crashes into it... flames wreathing its figure... and when the light fades, nothing is left but a pile of bones, the august robes and headdress of a Flamekeeper, and a holy symbol on a set of prayer beads, all on the ground at Lando's feet.
Round 3
Seeing his angle is blocked by the massive bear, again. Roman runs to the other side of the crypt "Hannah, duck!" In his hand another ball of golden light begins to coalesce "The Flame welcomes you, brother, go into the light." Whipping his hand forward another ball of golden flame files towards the Risen Saint.
Hannah does not duck, as this is her first fight and she has trouble being aware of her surroundings in the state she is in, driving forward and striking the skeletal Flamekeeper with her mace. Though the ball of golden light sails alarmingly close to her, Roman's careful aim pays off, and it strikes his intended target.
The massive bear plows into the undead saint, flinging bones hither and thither, shaking it like a ragdoll as the Flamekeeper finally collapses into its heap of relics... and as it lies still, the bear shrinks down, again becoming Moksad.
COMBAT IS OVER!
Flamekeeper Irma gazes in shock at the chaotic scene before her. The entire battle unfolded in just a few scant minutes, and now the bones of the saints lay quiet again. A stern look passes her usually kindly face as she looks at the newly arrived strangers, Elena, and Moksad. The latter clearly a practitioner of heathenish magic, and the former bearing a blade that had risen such a strange outcry from the saints.
"I need to know what it is that you have brought to this holy place," Irma says to Elena. "But first... we must lay the saints to rest... their places of repose are flooded... but we must inter them in a place appropriate, and perform the Last Rites, to truly lay them to rest, for they cannot be killed. The rest can wait." She walks forward, past Moksad, sloshing in the water and stooping to collect every bone and relic that fell from the bear's violent dismemberment.
Moksad
Easing back into human form with a vacant smile on his face he exclaims "Hi Miss! Hi everybody else! I apologize for the noise and mess I made here trying to put that unholy thing down." Not immediately sensitive to the situation, he believes his apology to both be appropriate and merits the response of his facetious intent.
Not skipping a beat: "My name is Moksad and I have come from my village to attend to worrying troubles we have seen from the outside world. I came here accompanying a lovely young lady who has paired up with me due to shared circumstance and who also agreed to help me acclimate to your ways. I am most pleased to make your acquaintance."
With some effort, Hannah focuses on reversing the flow of the adrenaline flooding her body. It was an odd feeling, like trying to take in a huge breath of air when your lungs are already full. The feverish heat she felt all over began to recede back to the base of her skull, and in its wake left aching pain and sudden fatigue. As her head sank and her eyes dropped to the water-covered floor, she noticed a few smashed finger bones there at her feet. She stared at them for a moment, and then, as her mind began to function again, she tried to surreptitiously stand over them with her long habit in the hope that Irma might not notice and miss them in her search for the relics and remains of the defeated saints.
Stealth: 15+1=16.
With a little further delay, her mind registered Moksad’s words. She tried to take stock of the effect they might have on the holy folk gathered around them.
Insight: 14
Roman Silverstar
Bending over, Roman picks up from the water, a severed arm from the Risen Saint, that Moksad had scattered in his mauling. Turning he hands it to Flamekeeper Irma, bowing his head "Your Holiness, perhaps it would be best if M'lord and I ...... accompany these....... visitors back up to the main chapel. I can send down some acolytes down to assist you in putting these Holy saints back to their honored rests." Bowing his head, he turns back to the two strangers. Now that battle is over he takes in their appearances.
"The Flame be with you. I am Roman Silverstar, brother of the Abbey of St. Oliver. I thank you for your assistance, but as the High Flamekeeper has said these Holy...." looking at Moksad " dead need to be laid back to rest." Gesturing towaerd the stairs " Please may we retire to the chapel, so that Her Holiness may preform their Last Rites in peace."
Flamekeeper Irma, focused on her task, nonetheless flushes at Moksad's comment. She is so taken aback that she doesn't even respond with her usual friendly greeting, but she recovers quickly when Roman hands her the severed arm, and she smiles gratefully at him as she reverently takes it. "Thank you, Brother Roman. I don't know where they've come from, but they may need help, unused to the ways of the Flame as they are. Please, send my acolytes, so that we may complete this task, before the saints rise again to seek reparation. When we are finished, I will meet you." She gently grasps Roman's hand, smiling at him softly, before returning to her arduous task. Her Flamekeeper's robes are soaked through as she sloshes through the water, carefully gathering each bone, each little fragment.
Hannah's assessment of Irma--for she knows the High Flamekeeper well enough--tells her that while Irma is pained by the blasphemy, she recognizes that Moksad is a heathen who doesn't know better, who (Irma would say) has been taught by the demons he worships to narrow his vision of supernatural things, to see them as a threat to worldly wellbeing, to look at them as the demons do, with disdain and hatred. Such a one raised in the woods would likely know no better, having been deceived from childhood, and still deserves the extension of the Hearth of the Flame. Irma has always extended that Hearth to Hannah, after all. Irma seemed much more concerned about Elena's sword. However, the elderly Flamekeeper is distracted enough that she completely misses the smashed fingerbones that Hannah is attempting to hide. It's also a bit out of character for Irma not to right away address Hannah or her new guests and make sure they have what they need... but her urgency in collecting the relics is probably the reason for that. As Irma passes Hannah, she smiles warmly at her, but continues her search relentlessly.
Yvara to me my sweet, says Lando with his hand on his war hammer still.
A country shape shifter, and an assassin like woman with a blade of Hersey? Surely this is no mere coincidence.
Woman in the back, explain yourselves, were you following me and my companions? Who sent you.
Insight: 15-1=14
*He begins to make his way towards the stairs holding Yvara with his hammer in hand and shield on his back. *
Silverstar, be weary of them. Hannah, what curse afflicts you, no small woman Ive ever seen moves like that in battle. As you moved I saw something briefly at the back of your head. Do they have clerics here? We may be able to contract a high level one to cure you.
shape shifter and heretic assassin, explain your selves now, or those acolytes will be resting 5 souls in stead of 3.
Intimidation : 3+6=9
Elena Firavanti
Elena is rather surprised by the reaction she and Moksad engendered. But she supposes that Fidelitas is a rather curious object and places her in a similarly curious position in the dragonchess board between the Amethyst Academy and the Sacred Flame. She begins to see the suspicions towards them grow and she realises she needs to head this off quickly before it is allowed to get out of control.
“Good people and faithful acolytes, peace,” she says. “My name is Elena Firavanti, loyal servant of House Giorgione of Liberio. This artifact I carry is an heirloom passed through my family for generations as a symbol of our loyalty and service to our noble house. It allows us access to arcane powers so we may better serve our masters. The Amethyst Academy is aware of its existence and permits our family to exercise these powers so long as we follow the Edicts of Lumen which we have done.”
Permit may be stretching the truth a bit too much, but Elena feels they didn’t need to know that.
She continues, “As my companion said, we first arrived here so he may witness the rites of the Sacred Flame to better his understanding of the faith. We then made our way to the crypts so we may pay our respects to the saints interred on these grounds when we came across your fight with the restless dead. Please accept our apologies for our intrusion as we meant no offense by it and only wished to offer our assistance.”
Moksad
Entirely surprised by the offense he engendered: "Please listen to my friend here: we're new to the area. I am new to every aspect of what I am seeing around me. Everything made here made by man for your dedicated God! Absolutely incredible to see in the flesh and as I only heard about it from others. Also I apologize for the slight difference or confusion in our values that we may be breaching, but where I am from; when and if we are trained to be defenders or foster our connection to magical means, we are taught to see risen dead as dangerous and unholy things no matter the divinity of the person that they used to be."
He drops his weaponry to the ground, and stretches his hands upwards to a defensive posture as he says this.
Roman Silverstar
Nodding his head at Lando's warning, Roman looks back to Moksad. Taking in his clothing and appearance he clasps his hands " I understand, as I am sure that Her Holiness understands, your ignorance in these matters, please allow me to educate you in rites of the Sacred Flame..... Moksad was it." Gesturing toward the stairs " Please if you will accompany me." Roman turns and leads the way toward the stairs. "You see Moksad, when a Defender of the Sacred Flame passes from the mortal world, they are interned in the crypts so that when the Scared Flame is threatened they may be raised to defend it. It is a great honor." Gesturing to the water on the floor " It seems that the plights of Todesfeld have threatened the Cathedral and woke some of it's Defenders. I do admit their behavior is not what I expected, but perhaps Her Holiness can shed more light on it when she is finished." Roman leads the group up the stairwells, out of the crypts, and into the main chapel. Stopping a passing acolyte Roman leans in and in a hush voice tells him that the High Flamekeeper requires assistance with putting the Risen Saints to rest.
As the group make their way back to the the Grand Pyre in the center of the cathedral " You expressed interest in learning more of the Scared Flame, I would be happy to answer any of your questions while we wait for the High Flamekeeper." Gesturing above them to the grand dome and it's colorful frescos. Pointing at one set" These show how a golden comet first lead St. Tarna to the Archangels Gabriella and Michael, who would anoint her as the first paladin." he gestures to another set of murals " And these tell how the Archangel Romulus, the angel of prophecy and change, gave St. Rosalind visions of a great flood that would have ravaged the land and drowned many of the faithful." Gesturing to another encircling the inner dome "And here is St. Rosalind holding the floodwaters at bay with her faith, while the town folk found sanctuary on this very hill" Looking back to the strange pair. "I apologize, I do ramble on. What of you two?" Looking at the mismatched pair, one clearly a sophisticated urbanite and the other a village bumpkin " What brings you here, Moksad you spoke of worrying troubles? Is your village near here? And what of your fine companion, what brings her from the comforts of Liberio." Romans bows slightly too Elina, blushing slightly.
Lando, finally releasing his war hammer after hearing Roman’s explanation of the cathedral.
“Pardon me, where art my manners. We are Lando and Yvara Spire, new wed couple of House Spire of Elariya. I am the crown jewel of the Spire house. My family elevated to noble status through 5 generations of dedication. Building a spired shrine to our diety. I am of the 6th generation, sworn to be a paladin to the God which my faith lies.
Brought up in a noble home and raised by my most trusted servant and companion Jerome, a father to me when I had none.
Traveling with Silverstar to attend to a private affair in Drakkenhiem.
*Smiles at Yvara*
Moksad
"Yes I set out roughly a fortnight ago from my village as I was assigned to investigate and attempt to solve the worrying changes in nature , and attend to messages left by our folk. We had heard reports of jackal-men terrorizing other folk amongst other phenomena. We once very recently also come upon a thoroughly bizarre dog that had developed elongated tendrils or fleshy vines that seemed to grasp objects and wield them with force. I witnessed it and one of our elders whipping it to death to protect the village."
"We also noticed strange colored crystals embedded in the dog, and heard of their appearance in recent trade. When I came upon Lady Elena she was with associates and we had a lively conversation on the matter and related troubles. I know Elena has had a unique adjustment in accommodating her, but I hope I can continue to prove my worth to her and the rest of you here. I am a believer in the Gods aside from what the Sacred Flame represents, in particular I and my kinship value our connection with Arwyn and Danu and the bounty they bestow upon the land. I hope that as long as I am here we can engender the pursuit of shared knowledge and perhaps shared meals and drink. I and Elena decided to partner on the way to Drakkenheim. Maybe we can join your partnership! Perhaps this is as your God and my Gods intended."