Seeing the efficacy of giving the vampire a chilly reception, Argumentus plays it cool by

—nope, can't do it

Sure Strike: 12 damage to Von Versteckt; slowed

Gareth rushes into melee against Motsognir, swinging his ragged, filthy claws.

10 damage to Motsognir; bloodied and uh immobilized even more

:savepoint: Gabe, Garrmondo, Von Versteckt, Motsognir, Bob, Hargastus, Lissa, Argumentus, Gareth

Gabriel charges into the fray, his axe glowing with the radiant power of his god. But the vampire sidesteps at the last moment, and the paladin stumbles and his axe cleaves nothing but the air.

Garrmondo steps into the room to find Motsognir already in dire straits. Unable to reach him, he does what he can to distract the hulking ghoul away from the battered dwarf. Gareth turns his attention to Garrmondo, irritated with the interruption.

Although a little battered, the cleric of the Black Hand makes no move to retreat.

"You stand against the Iron General, my fragile ones. Do you think he tolerates you here, in this sanctum I have claimed for him?"

He gestures at the floor beneath Argumentus' feet, and the stones begin to pulse with a sickly energy. Rippling vines of tarry black ichor begin to seep out of the floor, lashing at the Horde.

Von Versteckt regenerates 5 HP
Desecrated Ground: 4 damage to Argumentus (slowed)

:savepoint: Motsognir, Bob, Hargastus, Lissa, Argumentus, Gareth, Gabe, Garrmondo, Von Versteckt

The undead monstrosity was all over the clever dwarf and I had to do something to save him. Hoping to weaken the creature enough to stop it hurting him, I pointed my staff and unleashed my debilitating ray spell at the creature.

Ray of enfeeblement on Gareth

Soggy peels himself off the wall and shakes off the cobwebs. While the newcomer's arrow landed a little close for comfort, at least it bought Soggy a chance to fight back.

Second Wind: Motsognir's HP +10 (Second Wind Defense Bonus)
Inspiring Word: Motsognir's HP +16
Viper's Strike: miss

While Bob's necrotic ray strikes Gareth squarely, the rotting farmer does not seem to find the power of decay overly discomfiting.

Ray of Enfeeblement: 1 damage to Gareth (weakened)
Immobilization of Von Versteckt expires

Cackling madly, the ghost of Lord Hargastus floats closer to the melee in which Von Versteckt is embroiled. Tired of being ignored, he taps Gabriel on the shoulder with an icy finger.

Gabe marked by Hargastus

Seeing one of her enemies armed with a ranged weapon as well, Lissa takes a wild shot before ducking for cover.

Nimble Strike vs Garr: miss

Start of Arg's turn: 4 damage from Desecrated Ground

:savepoint: Argumentus, Gareth, Gabe, Garrmondo, Von Versteckt, Motsognir, Bob, Hargastus, Lissa

Argumentus laughed at such simple means of combat as base wizardry. The black waves which buried his feet did no more than tickle. If the vampire thought to bind him to the earth, then Argumentus would see to it that he'd bring Von Versteckt down with him.

Shift to F14
Brute Strike on Von Versteckt

The energy had some effect on him yet, and Argumentus swings short, tearing off the edge of the short stairs. Argumentus refused to let up, however. He raises his pick up from the ground aiming for Von Versteckt's nether regions, putting all of his back into it.

Argumentus spends an action point
Brute Strike on Von Versteckt

Only to once again whiff the air. How embarrassing. :blush:

The vampire chuckles, dodging with ease as Argumentus heaves the pick around wildly.

Slow on Von Versteckt expires

Forgetting completely about the dwarf that had only moments ago been at his mercy, Gareth turns and charges at Garrmondo in a rage. The fighter fends off the ghoul as best he can, but his longbow is a poor substitute for a shield.

Claw: 5 damage to Garrmondo (immobilized; save ends)

Beginning of Gabriel's turn: 4 damage from Desecrated Ground
Beginning of Garrmondo's turn: 6 damage from Desecrated Ground

:savepoint: Gabe, Garrmondo, Von Versteckt, Motsognir, Bob, Hargastus, Lissa, Argumentus, Gareth

Standing in an apparent temble to an evil god, Gabe finds himself a little unimpressed. This is the best they can do? If you're going to build your god an earthly house, you have to have a significant budget. "Hole in the ground that I stole from some dead chump" isn't going to cut it. Bane must be hurting for priests if he found this shoddy mess acceptable. If you tried to pass this crap off to Kord he'd smite you in a heartbeat.

Von Versteckt appears distracted too; it takes a great deal of Shiny to draw his attention.

Dire Radiance: miss
Von Versteckt marked

His legs paralyzed by a combination of ghoulish toxins and the tendrils underfoot, Garrmondo does his best to fight off the slavering ex-farmhand.

Well, not his best. I mean, he's done better. Like the best he could do at that particular moment, you know? It wasn't a great moment but I think he did all right, considering. So it was his best in that sense.

It was pretty crappy from an objective view, though.

You already used your Defensive Stance in the brain fight, Garr

"You want my attention, stout one?" the vampire murmurs. "Not a problem."

He steps down from the dais, clapping Gabriel on the shoulder before the paladin can react.

"We're not so different, Kordson, you and I. Bane smiles on the strong, just as Kord does. Your only failure is that you are... misguided. Your arm is strong, but by yourself you can do little but destroy. But with a dozen such as you — oh, think of the things you could build!"

The golden mask seems to swim before Gabriel's very eyes, twisting into a wicked smile. It all seems to make sense, somehow.

Von Versteckt regenerates 5 HP
Dominating Gaze: Gabriel is dominated/dazed (save ends)

Start of Motsognir's turn: Second Wind Defense Bonus expires

:savepoint:Motsognir, Bob, Hargastus, Lissa, Argumentus, Gareth, Gabe (DOM), Garrmondo, Von Versteckt

Motsognir tries to Shake It Off

No longer immobilized, Motsognir's misogynistic tendencies overwhelm him and he rushes towards the undead woman, axe held over his head.

move to b12
warlord's favor
bonus to Arg if he wants to come hit a woman


10 damage I suppose

What had started as a relatively straight forward rush-the-boss-and-the-others-will-run-away classic speartip combat formation had rapidly degenerated into the kind of random, swirling melee the Horde were so fond of. I sighed deeply, wishing that my own powers of necromancy had gifted me with some slightly more tactically astute companions.

There was no time for regrets now however. The battle was joined and the ugly dwarf had the look in his eyes of one who has turned to the dark side. Sadly, I had already used my best spells (Except the acid arrow but there were a few too many bystanders to use that safely) so I resorted to old faithful, a blast of ice to the face.

Ray of frost at vampire
Elven accuracy

I'll fluff this up later, I got zombies to kill

Hurl Away: 12 damage to Argumentus (pushed 3 squares)
Lissa uses Weave Through The Fray


Crossbow: 8 damage to Arg (bloodied)

:savepoint: Argumentus, Gareth, Gabe, Garrmondo, Von Versteckt, Motsognir, Bob, Hargastus, Lissa

Being launched 3 spaces was kinda fun, but no creature could sway Argumentus from getting that sweet gift for old Gabriel.

In a surge of adrenaline, Argumentus rushes the raised platform behind Von Versteckt and sinks his pick into the undead's shoulder.

Move to E16
Argumentus is Unstoppable
Brute Strike on Von Versteckt
NATURAL 20!
32 Damage to Von Versteckt =I
Unstoppability grants 11 temporary HP
Von Versteckt's shit: WRECKED
Insult to Injury: 2 damage from critical bonus
34 total damage to Von Versteckt

Though his sluggish legs resist him, Argumentus lunges across the room to embed his weapon in the vampiric mastermind. Von Versteckt roars in pain.

With Garrmondo's legs still firmly rooted in place, Gareth takes the opportunity to clamp down on the fighter's arm for a tasty bite. The mindless undead never really understand the whole idea of "armor", and the ghoul gnaws away at Garrmondo's scale mail harmlessly.

Confused and muttering, Gabriel wanders in Bob's direction.

:savepoint: Garrmondo, Von Versteckt, Motsognir, Bob, Hargastus, Lissa, Argumentus, Gareth, Gabe (DOM)

The ugly dwarf was edging towards me, muttering under his breath and a murderous look in his eyes. I screamed like a girl and raised my hands to cover my head, clutching for the religious symbol I had looted off the body on the altar in the previous room. Instead, my fingers found the brooch (That I had looted from the dead halfling) which began to glow with a strange light which shone over the dwarf, causing him to shake his head and look confused, now freed from the mind-domination of the vampire.

Garrmondo wrenches his arm free, smashing the farmer's jaw with the hilt of his sword. The deader's teeth rattle in his brainbox like a homemade maraca. Garrmondo's heard sweeter music, but as fight songs go he could do a lot worse.

Start of Garrmondo's turn: 8 damage from Desecrated Ground
Crushing Surge: 7 damage to Gareth, +1 temp. HP to Garrmondo
Save vs immobilization successful

"You want to brawl, ox? Have it your way." The vampire's spiked mace smashes into the side of Argumentus' head, but the big lummox doesn't even flinch. Astonished, Von Versteckt backpedals away.

VV regenerates 5 HP
Gabe's Mark on VV expires

:savepoint: Motsognir, Bob, Hargastus, Lissa, Argumentus, Gareth, Gabe, Garrmondo, Von Versteckt

Motsognir, finding himself alone, runs to the aid of the newcomer.

move to G12
Viper's Strike to Gareth

9 damage

It felt so nice, he did it twice.

Action Point
Viper's Strike again

And the second time he missed.

With the danger from my dwarven ally seemingly averted, I returned to throwing bolts of ice at the vampire.

Ray of frost at the vamp

Still largely ignored by everyone, Hargastus returns to harassing Gabe. Garrmondo swipes at the ghost in passing, but it's difficult in these situalions to say whether you've done any real damage. Do ghosts even object to being stabbed?

The poltergeist floats over to the paladin, slashing at Gabriel's face with his ghostly claws. No wounds appear, but Gabriel is suddenly struck with massive sinus congestion. Ye gods, the pressure is unbearable!

Garr's AoO vs Hargastus: 5 damage
Spirit Touch vs Gabe: 10 damage

Lissa darts back to the north end of the room, firing off a bolt in Arg's direction. It bounces harmlessly off the silver bowl atop the dais.

"Damn you, woman!" shouts Von Versteckt. "Be careful with that thing!"

:savepoint: Argumentus, Gareth, Gabe, Garrmondo, Von Versteckt, Motsognir, Bob, Hargastus, Lissa

While wresting the pick from the vampire's shoulder, Argumentus uses his time to get a good look at the dais and accompanied doodads.

look at/investigate deis, Free Action
Turn ongoing...

Argumentus gazes down at the silver bowl atop the dais, curious about why the vampire should be so protective of it. The bowl is full of a colorless fluid. Were it not bubbling, Argumentus would think the bowl entirely empty. Warm, odorless vapors arise from the surface of the fluid. The mesh of broad metal tubing supporting the bowl probably conveys the heat, but the original source is not apparent.

This space reserved for the rest of Arg's turn

Easily distracted, Gareth abandons his assault on Garrmondo when Motsognir buries an axe blade in his spine. He whirls around unsteadily, raking his filthy claws across the dwarf's face.

Claw: critical hit! 16 damage to Motsognir (immobilized)

Beginning of Garrmondo's turn: 9 damage from Desecrated Ground

:savepoint: Gabe, Garrmondo, Von Versteckt, Motsognir, Bob, Hargastus, Lissa, Argumentus, Gareth

Map update pending Arg's final move