As Geados silently guides the boat forward, Elias crouches low in the vessel, one hand braced on the edge, the other already curling around the arcane threads of a spell. The sounds of combat ahead echo around the stone corridor — the wet splash of movement, the hiss of something not-quite-dead, the sharp ring of steel.
Then he sees it.
The Deathlock Wight, gaunt and twisted, its luminous eyes like wounds torn open in the dark. It turns toward the sound of the approaching boat, sensing prey.
Elias begins to whisper.
The words are low, tuneless at first — a melancholy hum that slips between tones, notes that don’t belong together. As he chants, the melody grows sharper, more insistent — like a lullaby sung out of step with time. It weaves unseen through the air, coiling toward the undead creature’s mind.
He casts Dissonant Whispers.
The Deathlock hears only the voice. A voice that does not come from Elias’s mouth. A voice that comes from within — from the cracks in its own cursed soul.
“Your master left you…” “Your failure is eternal…” “You will never be free.”
Elias watches, lips barely moving, as the spell digs deep into whatever remains of the creature’s thoughts — and waits to see whether the torment will send it fleeing… or if the whispers will only enrage it further.
((Elias rolled a 15 for Initiative. Spell has a Wisdom save DC of 13 for half damage and no fear otherwise he takes 11 psychic damage and uses it's reaction to move away from Elias ))
Tarysaa's beam of crackling, blue energy is easily avoided by the Deathlock Wight, who evidently has enough arcane knowledge not to be easily surprised. The magical energy fades away without effect.
[[ OOC: Regarding Elias' Turn... There's the problem that Geados is already carrying Tarysaa in Round 1 and that there's only room for one passenger on the sling. So, to be able to do what he said, Elias would either have to dive into the water and hold on to the boat, letting himself be pulled, or swim independently, or wait for Round 2... What does Elias prefer to do? ]]
Ardana holds concentration on the Sanctuary otherwise awaits the turn to ride on Geados' boat. She is anxious to join her comrades, it is not her expectation of herself that she be the last to join the fight, but she will try to do what she can when she is able to make the short trip. She prays to Helm, and her Greatsword glows, as much anticipating the battle as Ardana herself.
But the blows are too slow (perhaps also due to the surprise for the inexplicable behavior of the monster) and before they land... the target has already moved away!
A beam of crackling, blue energy lances out toward the Deathlock Wight... An invisible force almost deflects the magical energy. Almost. A thin filament of magic manages to make contact and a sustained arc of lightning forms between Tarisaa and the undead!
The shock shakes the solid shadow vigorously... It is clear that the terrible opponent is beginning to feel the weight of the battle.
"How dare you!" it snarls "Then you will be my first sacrifice!" and points its finger at the Harpells' envoy, releasing two beams of crackling necrotic energy, not unlike the ones that had just sucked the life out of Koran...
But this time the invisible force field that nearly deflected Tarysaa's spell takes effect - and the Doppelganger's hand slams down on some sort of invisible armor.
Elias, Koran and Ardana are up! Any order! Geados will land Elias, then go get Ardana and land her too, so both can consider starting their movement from the free square next to Tarysaa, when they take their Turn.
As the Wight reels from the crackling arc of lightning, its spectral form twitching and spasming, Elias remains standing just beyond the fray, the echo of battle swirling around him like distant thunder. He watches as Tarysaa is struck, as Mival’s blow is turned aside by some unseen force — and yet, he does not rush forward.
Instead, his voice drops again into that same fractured lullaby — a discordant melody, barely a whisper, and yet heavier than iron in the Deathlock's mind.
His lips move with precision, the words lilting and strange, like a tune only the dead remember. The air around him hums with psychic pressure as he reaches again into the creature’s fractured psyche and rips at the threads that hold it together.
Elias casts Dissonant Whispers again, directing the full weight of his will toward the undead horror’s unraveling mind.
“You were forgotten…” “You were abandoned…” “Even your master recoils from what you've become.”
There is no flame, no flash — only a voice in the darkness, and the sound of sanity tearing loose from its moorings.
Elias’s face is calm, focused — but his eyes are locked on the creature’s trembling form. He is a scholar of words. A weaver of memory. And now, a tormentor of the damned.
((Dissonant Whispers upcast to level 2, again, 14 damage this time - DC 13 Wis for half damage))
The bard's words have an easy hold on the undead's desperate mind, because they appeal to the same fears and anxieties that were gnawing at it before! The monster seems to curl up in a perverse parody of a fetal position - perverse because there is nothing in that concentration of darkness and malevolence that unites it to a fetus. If it could, perhaps it would dig through the wall to get away; but it cannot - that is already how far it can be from its tormentor and so it just remains there, writhing.
The frightening monster really seems on its last leg now! Meanwhile, Geados lands Elias and returns with Ardana - who can now land at any time in turn.
The beam of necrotic energy slammed into her body sending her into a spam which drops her to the ground. The arcing bolt of lightning which had formed between the wight and Tarysaa ends as she loses all ability to concentrate for a moment. She will take a round to regain composure and get back on her feet.
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Ardana's initiative: 4. She goes last once again.
Probably yes... but whoever rolled higher has already acted, so if you have something in mind for Ardana to do, she can take her Turn!
Otherwise, I'll wait for Elias' Initiative (and possible Turn) then I'll move on to narrate Round 2...
As Geados silently guides the boat forward, Elias crouches low in the vessel, one hand braced on the edge, the other already curling around the arcane threads of a spell. The sounds of combat ahead echo around the stone corridor — the wet splash of movement, the hiss of something not-quite-dead, the sharp ring of steel.
Then he sees it.
The Deathlock Wight, gaunt and twisted, its luminous eyes like wounds torn open in the dark. It turns toward the sound of the approaching boat, sensing prey.
Elias begins to whisper.
The words are low, tuneless at first — a melancholy hum that slips between tones, notes that don’t belong together. As he chants, the melody grows sharper, more insistent — like a lullaby sung out of step with time. It weaves unseen through the air, coiling toward the undead creature’s mind.
He casts Dissonant Whispers.
The Deathlock hears only the voice. A voice that does not come from Elias’s mouth. A voice that comes from within — from the cracks in its own cursed soul.
“Your master left you…”
“Your failure is eternal…”
“You will never be free.”
Elias watches, lips barely moving, as the spell digs deep into whatever remains of the creature’s thoughts — and waits to see whether the torment will send it fleeing… or if the whispers will only enrage it further.
((Elias rolled a 15 for Initiative. Spell has a Wisdom save DC of 13 for half damage and no fear otherwise he takes 11 psychic damage and uses it's reaction to move away from Elias ))
Round 1
Tarysaa's beam of crackling, blue energy is easily avoided by the Deathlock Wight, who evidently has enough arcane knowledge not to be easily surprised. The magical energy fades away without effect.
[[ OOC: Regarding Elias' Turn... There's the problem that Geados is already carrying Tarysaa in Round 1 and that there's only room for one passenger on the sling. So, to be able to do what he said, Elias would either have to dive into the water and hold on to the boat, letting himself be pulled, or swim independently, or wait for Round 2... What does Elias prefer to do? ]]
Ardana holds concentration on the Sanctuary otherwise awaits the turn to ride on Geados' boat. She is anxious to join her comrades, it is not her expectation of herself that she be the last to join the fight, but she will try to do what she can when she is able to make the short trip. She prays to Helm, and her Greatsword glows, as much anticipating the battle as Ardana herself.
Round 1
After disembarking Tarysaa, Geados quickly turns back and loads Elias, ready to set sail.
The boat comes into sight of the Deathlock Wight and the bard tries once more to strike with the magic of his words...
Deathlock Wight's Wisdom save DC of 13: 17
Round 1
The monster inexplicably begins to moan and groan: "Noo! Lombulluth! Noo! Don't condemn me, masteeeerr!"
Despair completely overwhelms the unfortunate, to the point of causing him real suffering and making him run back senselessly.
Koran and Mival take advantage of the fact that the monster has lowered its defenses and try to land a spinning kick one and a quick slam the other!
Koran's Kick Attack: 22 Damage: 8 (bludgeoning)
Mival's Slam Attack: 10 Damage: 7 (bludgeoning)
Round 1
But the blows are too slow (perhaps also due to the surprise for the inexplicable behavior of the monster) and before they land... the target has already moved away!
Tarysaa is up for Round 2!
Combat Stats (those interested can peek):
Initiative Name Status
20 Tarysaa Undamaged
18 Deathlock Wight 11 Damage
15 Elias Undamaged
10 Mival Undamaged
10 Koran 19 Damage, Drained
7 Geados Undamaged
4 Ardana 14 Damage
Tarysaa, frustrated with her apparent failure to cast properly upon hitting 'shore', takes a deep breath before attempting Witch Bolt once again.
To Hit: 15 Dmg: 7 pts lightning
A small, tight lipped smile appears as she directs a twisting, writhing beam of lighting at the Wight.
Round 2
A beam of crackling, blue energy lances out toward the Deathlock Wight... An invisible force almost deflects the magical energy. Almost. A thin filament of magic manages to make contact and a sustained arc of lightning forms between Tarisaa and the undead!
The shock shakes the solid shadow vigorously... It is clear that the terrible opponent is beginning to feel the weight of the battle.
"How dare you!" it snarls "Then you will be my first sacrifice!" and points its finger at the Harpells' envoy, releasing two beams of crackling necrotic energy, not unlike the ones that had just sucked the life out of Koran...
Round 2
The agile elf mage moves aside in time to avoid the first beam, but the second, more angled beam hits her in the chest, making her heart skip a beat.
[[ OOC: Tarysaa needs to pass a DC 10 CON Saving Throw to keep her concentration. ]]
Mival, enraged, lunges at the monster, his hand raised to deliver a powerful Slam: "The only 'sacrifice' here will be you, deluded grave reject!"
Mival's Slam Attack: 18 Damage: 8 (bludgeoning)
Round 2
But this time the invisible force field that nearly deflected Tarysaa's spell takes effect - and the Doppelganger's hand slams down on some sort of invisible armor.
Elias, Koran and Ardana are up! Any order! Geados will land Elias, then go get Ardana and land her too, so both can consider starting their movement from the free square next to Tarysaa, when they take their Turn.
Combat Stats (those interested can peek):
Initiative Name Status
20 Tarysaa 11 Damage
18 Deathlock Wight 18 Damage, Feeling the weigth of battle
15 Elias Undamaged
10 Mival Undamaged
10 Koran 19 Damage, Drained
7 Geados Undamaged
4 Ardana 14 Damage
As the Wight reels from the crackling arc of lightning, its spectral form twitching and spasming, Elias remains standing just beyond the fray, the echo of battle swirling around him like distant thunder. He watches as Tarysaa is struck, as Mival’s blow is turned aside by some unseen force — and yet, he does not rush forward.
Instead, his voice drops again into that same fractured lullaby — a discordant melody, barely a whisper, and yet heavier than iron in the Deathlock's mind.
His lips move with precision, the words lilting and strange, like a tune only the dead remember. The air around him hums with psychic pressure as he reaches again into the creature’s fractured psyche and rips at the threads that hold it together.
Elias casts Dissonant Whispers again, directing the full weight of his will toward the undead horror’s unraveling mind.
“You were forgotten…”
“You were abandoned…”
“Even your master recoils from what you've become.”
There is no flame, no flash — only a voice in the darkness, and the sound of sanity tearing loose from its moorings.
Elias’s face is calm, focused — but his eyes are locked on the creature’s trembling form.
He is a scholar of words. A weaver of memory. And now, a tormentor of the damned.
((Dissonant Whispers upcast to level 2, again, 14 damage this time - DC 13 Wis for half damage))
Deathlock Wight's Wisdom save DC of 13: 17
Round 2
The bard's words have an easy hold on the undead's desperate mind, because they appeal to the same fears and anxieties that were gnawing at it before! The monster seems to curl up in a perverse parody of a fetal position - perverse because there is nothing in that concentration of darkness and malevolence that unites it to a fetus. If it could, perhaps it would dig through the wall to get away; but it cannot - that is already how far it can be from its tormentor and so it just remains there, writhing.
The frightening monster really seems on its last leg now! Meanwhile, Geados lands Elias and returns with Ardana - who can now land at any time in turn.
Koran and Ardana are up! Any order!
Combat Stats (those interested can peek):
Initiative Name Status
20 Tarysaa 11 Damage
18 Deathlock Wight 32 Damage, On its last leg
15 Elias Undamaged
10 Mival Undamaged
10 Koran 19 Damage, Drained
7 Geados Undamaged
4 Ardana 14 Damage
Tarysaa CON check: 9
The beam of necrotic energy slammed into her body sending her into a spam which drops her to the ground. The arcing bolt of lightning which had formed between the wight and Tarysaa ends as she loses all ability to concentrate for a moment. She will take a round to regain composure and get back on her feet.