Death in the Mountains - IC

[The Skaven]

Slythe was surprised that the vermin hadn't attacked outright. It was a good thing considering they had the advantage of the high ground while Slythe did not.

He looks back at the other two, who he assumed would be doing the talking, "Ratkin are tretcheroussss. Take their words as a lie at besssst." he hisses lowly.

[In the Crypts]

"Aye brother, this is all too impressive to be made without dwarven hands. A wonder if they left us with any presents..." He says as he walks around, eyeing the craftsmanship, He removes the pickaxe he kept on his belt and begins to lightly tap the flat against the walls, listening for any hollow points.

"The big guy mentioned a secret magic room. All I'm thinkin is, who else could hide a room in the stone better than the dwarfs? An ere we are, in the dwarf-made room." He says to Reginald quietly

[The Skaven]

Serestre sucks in as the Ratkin come into view, having never seen them before and not quite sure how else to react to seeing them. She wasn't afraid as much as she was curious. But any researching or studying would have to wait. They still seemed a bit hostile and the lizardman seemed to know more about them than the two of them. 

She smiles at the Ratkin, standing close next to Slythe. 

"A pleasure to...um...meet you? We will hear what your leader has to say." 

[The Skaven]

The skaven on the right sneers at Serestre "Yess yess man-thing, you waits. Boss is is comings"

[THE SKAVEN]

Slythe had heard them before he saw them. Skaven had moved up above them in the trees, trying to sneak up on them as they wait.

He didnt wait.

He burtst into action, "Ambushsssss!" he hisses loudly as he charges forward at the skaven who had blathered while the others got into position. He would kill these before him then fell the tree and kill the others.

[THE SKAVEN]

Initiative
Daemaer – 14
Serestre – 11
Skaven 1 – 11
Skaven 2 – 11
Skaven 3 – 11 (dead)
Skaven 4 – 11 (dead)
Slythe – 4

ROUND 1

Daemaer spots something out of the top of his eye and is about to say something when Slythe lunges forward.

"Above us!"

He yells out, and brings his hands up muttering arcane words under his breath and unleashes a bright bolt of lightening, streaking up and striking the skaven before bouncing and impacting the second, more hidden, skaven as well.

"Two more!" Deamaer shouts

The skaven above you stand ridged as the lightning courses through their bodies and then they both slump to the ground the air thick with the smell of ozone and burnt rat.

Before Serestre can do or say anything, the trap is sprung and all hell breaks loose. It was her first battle, but knowing her new traveling companions, it wouldn't be her last. She backs away for a second, scared by the lightning that comes forth Daemar. The clinking of weapons doesn't help either.

But she wouldn't just sit idly by. While she couldn't fight...she could at least help her allies.

She draws forth from her faith in her goddess, incanting the words she knew so well to help soothe and calm those with bloodlust in their hearts. She looks on, hoping to have helped the situation...but feeling that her fear hindered her in some way...

Slythe was in full battle mode. He wouldn't let up, he wouldn't relent, until every enemy was dead or the skinks ordered otherwise. He swings the celstite sword in a diagonal arc at the rat's arm. The ratkin ever skitish darts out of the arc of Slythes attack.

[In the Crypts]

Reginald took a very careful look around, making his way back to the chamber that had seen recent use. Something was not adding up. His suspicions were confirmed as he ran his finger along a clever piece of stonework. There was a small opening inside a carved tree emblem.

"Cheeky bastards. Val - got a secret keyhole here."

He thumbed through the keys the head monk had given him, finding one that matched, and inserted it with a twist...

[In the Crypts]

The lock clicks and the hidden stone doorway springs open a small amount away from you, the smoothness of the mechanism a testament to the fine dwarf workmanship. With a careful push the stone door opens fully into the end of a corridor, it is dusty and dismal and there is a faint smell of damp.  The corridor is perhaps ten metres in length and with the light of Valgards lantern you can see there is door at the end of it, about halfway along the corridor is a junction on your left. Taking care the two of you head up the corridor to the junction, which reveals a stairwell which heads downwards about fifteen steps before turning right.

Now you are closer to the door at the end of the corridor who can more clearly see that it is different from those you have come across so far. It looks sturdy and is bound in iron.

In the Crypts]

Reginald stays quiet as best he can and points to the door at the end of the hall first. Better not to leave a potential enemy at their backs if they go downstairs.

Slowly and carefully he attempts to open the door once he gets to it...

[In the Crypts]

None of the keys provided by the head monk fit the lock.

Valgard gave a smile "Reliable boys." He said as he watched Reginald insert the key. As the mechanism sprung the door open, Valgard raised his axe. The two moved quietly into the corridor.

Valgard walked alongside Reginald, holding the lantern up for light. He nods affirmations to Reginald as they make it to the door, but after Reginald doesn't have a key, Vall makes a motion to head down the stairs. If they didn't have a key, they might as well check the stairs first.

[In the Crypts]

Reginald shrugs, nods, and follows Valgaard down.

[THE SKAVEN]

Initiative
Daemaer – 14
Serestre – 11
Skaven 1 – 11
Skaven 2 – 11 (Prone, 1 fatigue, 1/2 move 9 rnds)
Skaven 3 – 11 (dead)
Skaven 4 – 11 (dead)
Slythe – 4

ROUND 2


Daemaer grinned at the destruction his lightening bolt had wrought on the 2 sneaky rats, and then quickly turned, drawing magic up again, forming a small glowing dart of force, before flinging it at the rat on the left. The skaven screeches as the dart slams into its leg, then a brief look of surprise flashes across the ratkins faces as the leg buckles sending it into a heap on the floor. It manages to have the presence of mind to keep its sword raised in defence against the furious Saurus.

The remaining Skaven slashes its blade at Slythes right arm, but it is a weak attempt easily shrugged off by his tough scales. With the one at his feet down, but hacking and slashing wildly on the ground. Attacking him would prove difficult, but he couldn't manage a good attack while he was on the ground like that.
The other one was a different story. He attacks that one in the civiste' pattern, diagonal downward attack, same as before. The blow cleaves through the skavens left arm and into its body, blood spurts over the prone skaven his companion dead before he even realises Slythes deathblow.

Serestre wasn't going to give up on the ratkin. If they simply calmed down, then perhaps they could see reason and stop this madness before Slythe decimated them all. She holds her hands above her head and begins the same incantation she used previously, hoping that her blessed Shallya was listening to her.

"Calm yourself...there is no need for this violence..."

She says the words after her incantation is finished, praying that it worked this time.

As Serestres prayer washes over the prone skaven he lowers his sword a little and looks worriedly at the large Saurus who just killed his companion

[In the Crypt]

There is no chance to spot the trap as the stairs suddenly retract with a rumble of stone, leaving both Reginald and Valgard treading air before they fall into a chute in a bundle of beards, axes and hammers. The ‘ride’ down is brief, a few seconds before you fall again into a pit with a few feet of water filling its bottom. Along the way Valgard loses his lantern, the light extinguished in the brackish water. It is almost pitch black, something moves in the water, brushing against you both…

[THE SKAVEN]

Initiative
Daemaer – 14
Serestre – 11
Skaven 1 – 11 (dead)
Skaven 2 – 11 (Prone, 1 fatigue, 1/2 move 8 rnds, calmed 2 rnds)
Skaven 3 – 11 (dead)
Skaven 4 – 11 (dead)
Slythe – 4

ROUND 3

Daemaer watched as Slythe eviscerated the rat and Serestres cast a calming spell. "Well played friends! Maybe we should drag this one back and question it?"

Slythe didnt know what Serestre was doing, but the skaven seemed mellow, almost placid. Serestre and Daemer looked like they wanted a prisoner, and Slythe was fine with that command. He reaches for the prone skaven to bind him with his strength but the Skaven is quick to scramble back a few feet towards the cave mouth...

Serestre was glad to see that Slythe and Daemar had stopped their violence once she had calmed their enemy into a bit of submission. She is also glad to see Slythe begin to attempt to bind the enemy, hopefully for questioning. When it struggles and flees backwards towards the cave, she calls out.

"You should know when to stop, friend. Calm yourself, we only wish to speak with you about this misunderstanding. Do not struggle or it may end badly for you..."

[IN THE CRYPTS]

Vall splashed into the waters with surprise, twisting and jerking before finding purchase on the slippery floor. He rose over the water with a gasp, his hair flicking water through the air. "Woah! Bad touch."

He splashed his hand into the water and turned back and forth before gripping his axe tightly in both hands. "Back to back Reg." He said, still coughing and dripping water from his nose and brow.

[THE SKAVEN]

Initiative
Daemaer – 14
Serestre – 11
Skaven 1 – 11 (dead)
Skaven 2 – 11 (Prone, 1 fatigue, 1/2 move 6 rnds, calmed 1 rnds)
Skaven 3 – 11 (dead)
Skaven 4 – 11 (dead)
Slythe – 4

ROUND 4


Slythe saw that the last skaven out up little resistance. He wouldnt hesitate to kill him if he got out of line.
Without tearing his eyes from his skraggly prey, he reminded the others, "They sssssaid more were on the waysss. Do you think he wassss lying?"

Daemaer looks around.

"Could be rat tricks. Could have been those 2 i fried above us."

He shrugs.

"Either way, it might be best to grab this one and head back, and let the others know."

Serestre was afraid the rat might become aggressive, but the lizardman seemed to have things under some control at least. If there were more, she knew she wouldn't be of much help to them. At least on the surface.

"Well...should we...wait? Should we...get out of here? Slythe, you know their kind best...I don't know much about this...but....but..."

She struggles to find her words a bit, looking from side to side at her partners and the calmed rat.

The pacified skaven stands, the dull eyed look of Serestres hold on him still apparent. Sounds on movement from the cave can be heard by all of you.

[In the Crypts]

Somehow Reginald had kept a hold of everything in his hands, landing with a splash and a thud near his brother. He had felt it too and immediately jerked upward, hammer in hand. He slammed up against his brother's back, waiting for whatever was sharing this space with them to show itself.

"Ye'see an exit anywhere?"

[In the Crypts]

A minute passes and your eyes start to become accustomed to the pitch black, but even then you can make out very little detail. With your backs to each other you can see that you’re roughly in the centre of a pit which might be about five metres across, you can make out the chute that you fell through in one of the walls about two metres above the water. The ceiling of the pit which is about 3 metres above seems to be made out of a different material to the stone walls, but you can’t make it out without a light source. The cold of the black water starts to seep into your bones although your tough dwarf frames should be able to cope with such hardships.

An unseen movement causes ripples in the water…. then another from a different location… is there more than one of whatever it is in here with you?

[THE SKAVEN]

Initiative
Daemaer – 14
Serestre – 11
Skaven 1 – 11 (dead)
Skaven 2 – 11 (Prone, 1 fatigue, 1/2 move 3 rnds)
Skaven 3 – 11 (dead)
Skaven 4 – 11 (dead)
Slythe – 4


ROUND 5

Slythe did not like being the one relied upon for orders, it wasnt in his breeding.
After a brief moment of quiet and as the noise of scabbing came from the cave, he responded,
"What issssss your command?"

Daemaer also wasnt used to being sought after for orders either.
He looked at his companions briefly.
"ummm. Ok....right. Lets go! Grab the rat. If he wont come, i will kill him. Now lets get out of here. Serestre. Get moving first."

Serestre waits, her eyes flicking even more quickly than before. She didn't know what to do...she'd never had to do anything like this in her life. She wished that the dirty Skaven had never appeared. It was enough to make her want to cry at the frustration of not being able to help...

But she works through it as fast as she can. As much as she can. Shaking, she gets closer to Slythe and the ratman, trying to help her newfound friend capture the beast before the others arrived in numbers.

Slythe reaches out and grabs the Skaven rat. He squirms and tries to escape in protest, but Slythe's superior grip and strength cajole him into submission.
"Your going nowheresssss." he warns."

With a firm grip, he turns and head back down after the others, taking place in the back to provide a rearguard if needed. He also had a newfound shield in the Skaven body.

[In the Crypts]

"Keep that orc-sticker close, Val. There's a big ol' scaly bastard in here with us."

Reginald points to where he saw movement and makes ready to attack if need be.

[In the Crypts]

"Ya Reg, I'm keeping it damn close... You think 'e'll back down? I bet we're lunch. Na fething yet." He said. His dwarfen frame held off the water's bite, but it didn't ease his pressed nerves. His knuckles were white against the axe haft and he constantly blew water droplets off his face.

"Reg, think we should make fer a wall? I can barely see me axe 'ere, and we might as well cut down tha lanes a attack fer this thing."

[In the Crypts]

"Aye. Good plan. Let's get to it - start movin an' i'll stay on your back."

Reg then wrapped one arm behind him, locking with Val. Once his brother began moving, he planning to do so in step until they hit a wall.

[In the Crypts]

Round 1
Initiative
Reginald 10
Snake 9
Valgard 4

As you move towards the wall there are more disturbances in the water, swirls and ripples emanating from movement that must be just below the surface. You can’t be more than a few feet from the wall when thick coils of the huge snake erupt from the black water and attempt to wrap around the both of you trying to pull you together in a final embrace and crush the life from your bones…

As the snake makes its presence known, Reginald, not startled a bit, swings for the fences. His heavy hammer was soon to make its presence known. With a word, the rune of flickering flame ignites its business end with a brief flash as it smashes through the air and slams into the thick coils of the snake. As the hammer hits the snakes coils reflexively flinches away from the direction of pain before the water erupts in violence as the giants coils roll and tighten around you in the dark pit...

"Oh ya had ta go and piss 'im off ey?!" Valgard says as the coils starts to wrap around him. He sloshes about in the water frantically, coughing and sputtering water as he tries to escape. Realizing he was doomed to get constricted, Val Grabs hold of the snake forcefully, trying desperately to lift the slimy monstrosity from the water. The beast was heavy and wasn't going anywhere, its the thickest coils as wide as a mans torso start to constrict and crush Valgard.

[The Skaven]

Loose earth and stone fall with you as you scrabble down the slope and make for the trees. An unintelligible screeching noise behind you causes you to glance back before breaking the tree line. Standing on the ledge surrounded by half a dozen warriors is a skaven with white fur, he is further distinguished from his fellows by the rams-like horns that curl tightly on each side of his head and the tattered blood red robes that match its red eyes...

Slythe sees the white-rat over his shoulder.

"Thosssse are the leaderssssss. If they have one then thissss is no raiding party, but ssssssomething elsssse."

Daemaer turns and looks as well.

"Oh yes. Most definitely a good idea to leave. I have a few tricks i can try if they come after us, but lets just keep going and hope shall we..."

He glances back a few more times to see if anybody is following as they make their way back to the monastery.

Serestre didn't like this whole bit at all. She was all for it after having seen their leadership. 

"What he said!" 

She said, pointing at Daemar. 

"Let's hop to it and get out of here!"

[Skaven - The Chase]

800 metres to go

Serestre
Daemaer – 18m behind
Slythe - 18m behind
Skaven 1 – 34m behind (-7 damage)
Skaven 2 – 34m behind
Skaven 3 – 39m behind
Skaven 4 – 39m behind
Skaven 5 – 44m behind
Skaven 6 – 44m behind
Grey Seer – 44m behind
(all values are distance from the front runner)


You give flight amongst the trees, the monastery no more than a mile away, branches and bushes snag and pull at your clothing and armour, scratching a cheek or an exposed arm as you run together towards sanctuary. You make good ground and but its perhaps at the half way point that it becomes obvious the Skaven are chasing and closing with you, a glance back will show a glimpses of the Ratkin as the run amongst the trees.

Daemaer glances back again, seeing the skaven catching up.
Shit
"KEEP GOING! I WILL CATCH UP!"
He suddenly spins around and slides to a stop, before starting to mutter under his breath.
Energy crackles around his hands as he looks at the oncoming rat swarm.
"Boo."
He unleashes the spell and bolt flies true, striking one of the lead Skaven which stumbles into a tree before rejoining the chase.
With that cast, he spins around and takes off after the others again at full speed.

Slythe stops. He would not let the skink-class remain behind while he scurried away like a coward. He keeps a firm, one handed grip on the skaven, while the other held his heraldic, celestite weapon. When the caster was done, he also turns and runs after him, taking up a position in the rear.

Serestre was close to screaming out at the situation. She could tell they were gaining on her and her new companions. Who knew what they would do to them? It couldn't be anything enjoyable that was for sure. She tries her best to keep running as fast as she can, but her previous living arrangements didn't really help with her physical fitness. She begins to lag...which makes the terror inside her grow even further.

[In the Crypts]

Round 2
Initiative
Reginald 10 (-3 wounds)
Snake 9 (-12 wounds)
Valgard 4 (-8 wounds)


"Hold tight, Val!" Reginald came around with another hard blow that smashes into the snakes submerged coils. The power of the blow loosens the coils around Valgard taking the pressure off him for a short while, although it will only be a matter of time before he succumbed to the powerful snakes crushing embrace.

In retribution the snakes head rises out of water to tower above Reginald. It locks gazes and sways from side to side, before striking… the attack is lightning fast as it snaps out at Reginald its fangs raking across the armoured dwarfs chest before recoiling to prepare for another strike.

Valgard held fast to the slippery creature as it tried to crush him with its body. As the creature constricted, Valgard pushed back with a cry. The snake pressed against him, but Valgard would not go quietly. Finally, the beast relaxed and Valgard took the initiative immediately. He gripped the creature again and tried to pull its head to him, but Valgard could find neither the strength to grapple him nor any purchase on its slimy scales.

[In the Crypts]

Round 3
Initiative
Reginald 10 (-3 wounds)
Snake 9 (-1 crit wounds, half action for 1 round)
Valgard 4 (-8 wounds)


Reginald didn't even recoil at the bite. His awkward attempt to thwart it with his hammer had failed, so he relied on his armor to do all the rest. He grit his teeth and swung back around hard on the opposite side. Ribs would crush and organs would be punctured... and it was on him to make sure the snake's cracked first. The hammer hits hard sending ripples out from its impact point on the snakes thick body, the coils around slacken.

The giant snakes head snaps out at Reginald but his stout hammer knocks the head aside which causes the snake to hiss in annoyance ... [waiting in reaction]

After Reginalds thunderous crack, Valgard felt the beast's coils loosen. "Aye Reggie, good hit! Now to finish him off." Valgard says as he pulls the scramsax from it's sheathe on his back. With a shout of triumph, Valgard drives the blade deep into the creature's coils, red water diffusing into the dark pool around them.

[Skaven - The Chase]

600 metres to go

Serestre
Daemaer – 3m behind
Slythe - 9m behind
Skaven 1 – 28m behind (7 wounds)
Skaven 2 – 25m behind
Skaven 3 – 24m behind (5 wounds, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 4 – 24m behind
Skaven 5 – 38m behind
Skaven 6 – 36m behind
Grey Seer – 29m behind
(all values are distance from the front runner)


They were losing too much ground and Slythe new it. He tosses the captive forward, who bounces along the ground, before he turns and runs at the nearest Skaven, shouting to the others, "Take your meat-hossstage and warn the others. Ill hold the offssss."
As he tells the others to head off, he raises the Celestite club and brings it down on the charging ratman in a downward arc causing a heavy cut downs its shoulder.

Daemaer spins and slides to a stop, and starts to mutter and gesture again, before thrusting his hands out....and nothing. He mutters under his breath, "...damn fickle winds...."

Serestre so wanted to keep running as stopping could only mean blood being spilt, but her new friends would need her. Turning she she shouted out to her Lady "Shallya! Lady, grant me your blessed light to protect me from the evil that confronts us." as the prayer ended a soft glowing white light surrounds the priestess.

[In the Crypts]

Reggie smacked his brother on the shoulder and gave him a nod as he dealt the killing blow. Neither of them were the worse for wear, but it could have easily turned out differently. He carefully eased his warhammer back into its strap on his belt and pulled out one of his imbued cross bow bolts and then his torch. He places the bolt against the torch and with a word the spark ignites the torch.

He replaces the bolt, now devoid of its magical property, and holds up the torch to light the area, looking for a way out.

[In the Crypts]

The torch spits and pops into life, the flame banishing the darkness. Your eyes cannot help but be drawn to the snake that now floats on the surface, it is truly a giant of its kind; Its thickest point easily matches Valgards barrel chest in girth. Above in the middle of the ceiling which is some three metres above you is what looks like a wooden trap door. The only other way out of here is the chute that spat you out in to he water its some two metres about the water line that almost comes up to your waists, from your brief fall through it you know it will not be an easy climb.

[Skaven - The Chase]

Round 1
Slythe (ini 11)
Daemaer (ini 10, 4 wounds)
Skaven 1 (Ini 7, 7 wounds, engaged with Daemaer)
Skaven 2 (Ini 7, engaged with Serestre)
Skaven 3 (Ini 7, 5 wounds, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 4 (Ini 7, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 5 (Ini 7, 12m from Slythe)
Skaven 6 (Ini 7, 12m from Slythe)
Grey Seer (Ini 7, 12m from Slythe)
Serestre (Ini 6)





Daemaer tries to focus and grasp at the winds around him, but they once again elude his grasp.
"Gods dammit! This is not good..." The skaven smiled wickedly at the magi's poor attempt at spell casting. "Easy easy pickingss" it hisses before running at Daemaer. The ratkin easily breaks the defense delivering a small cut to Daemaers temple, nothing serious. Yet.

Slythe aimed at the wounded ratling.
"Prepare to Diessssss." he hisses as he brings the celestite weapon downward again in a clubbing blow. The downward attack, while powerful, was easy enough for the skaven to avoid. "A few more sssseconds of life will not prevent your deathsssss." The two skaven try to crowd the Saurus, jabbing and cutting, but they are poor swordsman and the one blade that does come close to Slythes scaled hide it turned aside.

Serestre stumbled backwards at the haphazard attack aimed right at her head. She nearly tripped over, but her rather unorthodox dodging ability kept her from getting hurt...for now at least. "Calm yourselves or this will most likely end badly for you. Shallya, tend their heated minds and nurture in them a sense of calm!"  She casts the spell quickly, hoping to help delay the advance of her attacker. The Skaven that had ran at the cleric managed to get one stab in which was side stepped before Serestre spell soothes its mind. It steps back its raised sword lowering so the tip rests on the ground.

Lurking a short distance away with a few guards the grey seer dips clawed finger into a small purse, and pulls out a tiny amount of blackpowder which the its consumes with relish. He then weaves his hands through the air and mutters some unintelligible words, and then nothing...

Valgard sighs, calming himself down quickly after the fight. He draws his blade through the water a few times to wash the blood, then sheathes it carefully and looks around.

"There Reg." He says, pointing to a wooden trapdoor. "Thinkin' if ya stand on me shoulders ya can ge up. Then ya give it a look in there for somethin ta hoist me up with. Maybe we'll have ta use the snake... Maybe our magic workshop is up there." He says, squinting and staring at the exit.

[Skaven - The Chase]

Round 2
Slythe (ini 11)
Daemaer (ini 10, 4 wounds)
Skaven 1 (Ini 7, 7 wounds, engaged with Daemaer)
Skaven 2 (Ini 7, calmed 3 rounds, engaged with Serestre)
Skaven 3 (Ini 7, 5 wounds, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 4 (Ini 7, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 5 (Ini 7, 12m from Slythe)
Skaven 6 (Ini 7, 12m from Slythe)
Grey Seer (Ini 7, Atheryic Armour +4AP, 12m from Slythe)
Serestre (Ini 6, Atheryic Armour +4AP)


Daemaer careful watches the rat after taking a hit and grimaces as the winds once again slip out of his grasp. While the skaven doesn't have a clue what spells the magi is trying to cast the failure on his face is apparent "tsk, tsk elfthing" it laughs out as it takes another stab at Daemaer which draws blood again.

Slythe watched as the Skaven darted from side to side in an effort to avoid his blows.
"Hold sssstill rodent!" he hisses at the skaven as he again tries a downward clubbing attack. The skaven easily moved to the side. It was time to change tactics, his next attack would be a horizontal blow. The skaven desperately keep on the move fearful of the might Saurus, their blows hardly registering on Slythe from so far inexpert attacks.

The Seer gestures again while intoning a spell and this time is rewarded as he takes on a soft green hue.

Serestre backed away from the one whom had previously been trying to get her, not quite knowing what else to do in this situation. She noticed that Daemar seemed to be in a bit of a pinch and so tried the same tactic on the one attacking him. She gathers her strength, but notices that something doesn't feel right. Perhaps, Shallya would not help her anymore...

As the doubt crept in, Serestre readies herself to give it another go soon...

Valgard and Reginald eyed the trapdoor together for a moment before giving each other a nod. They got to work, sloshing the snake into a coil behind Valgard, which Reginald would use like a stage to get up on Valgard's shoulders. Slipping his way up the late reptile, Reginald ungracefully scrambled onto Valgard's back and up to his shoulders.

Their first attempt ended with Valgard coughing up water and Reginald clutching his groin.

The second was similar, but now Reginald was clutching his head and Valgard was laughing, blood trailing off his brow.

Finally, they managed to position themselves under the trapdoor. Valgard held Reginald's feet on his shoulders with his feet in a wide stance. Reginald slid the trapdoor open with ease. Valgard wavered for just a moment, but stood firm, awaiting Reginald's feat of strength. Soon, his brother began to slide his hands into the room above, slowly setting himself to lift off his brother's shoulders. Reginald stretched, his toes digging in to Valgard's shoulders as he pushed.

The older dwarf let out a grunt of pain as the younger found his way off his brother. After a short moment, Reginald's face turned red. He wiggled his feet a little and Valgard was under him again in an instant "Catch me Val!" He cried as his brother held fast to support Reginald. Again he lifted himself, another cry of exertion and he was back to the sturdy hold of his brother. He pressed off again and again in little hops, much to Valgard's irritation.

Finally, Reginald lifted his waist to the edge of the ledge. His feet dangling in the air, their wiggling slowly drawing to a close as Reginald pulled himself into the room above. Valgard pulled Reginald's torch from it's makeshift sconce in the snake, tossing it up to his awaiting brother. "Whatya see?" He called up, squinting and shielding his eyes.

[The Crypt]

Lifting the torch Reginald lights up the small room revealing a heavily bolted door – the metal parts of which are rusted with age. The only other feature is a stone stairwell heading upwards into the rock which could very well be the same stair case that dumped you into the water.

[Skaven - The Chase]

Round 3
Slythe (ini 11, 1 wound)
Daemaer (ini 10, 6 wounds)
Skaven 1 (Ini 7, 8 wounds, engaged with Daemaer)
Skaven 2 (Ini 7, 3m from Serestre, calmed 2 rounds, engaged with Serestre)
Skaven 3 (Ini 7, dead, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 4 (Ini 7, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 5 (Ini 7, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 6 (Ini 7, 12m from Slythe)
Grey Seer (Ini 7, Atheryic Armour +4AP, 12m from Slythe)
Serestre (Ini 6, Atheryic Armour +4AP)


Slythe swiped horizontally at the weaving skaven. It was a good attack, his clutch bothers would have been proud, had they not been killed at sea. The attack tore into the skavens shoulder removing limb and showering its companion in blood, the shock of the blow killing it before it hit the floor. The remaining skaven flinches as the blood of its companion splashes over him distracting it enough to cause to stabbing attacks to go wide.

Daemaer glares at the rat in front of him and makes a few simple gestures before slamming a magic dart into its chest. "You were saying?"
The skaven flinches slightly expecting a far heavier hit, but the magical bolt only causes minor damage "Is that that all yous got elfthing?" It taunts as it tries to stick its blade unsuccessfully into the Daemaers belly.

The grey seer screeches orders at one of its guards and skaven standing ideally near Serestre, why did its minion not attack? It did however open other options as the witch started to back away – green lightning starts to dance around the Seers hand before it fizzles out at the point of throwing it.

With a glance of resignation at the Seer one of the remaining guards runs at Slythe and aims some slashing blows at his right hand side scoring a minor hit.

Serestre keeps her focus after having failed her previous attempt to calm and ease the minds of the ratkin before them all. She focuses that extra bit to deliver something that might aid the two more experienced combatants. She knows it has worked as she sees the ratkin go from agitated and ready, to easy and relaxed. 

"You're welcome Daemar, let's try and get this over with!" 

[Skaven - The Chase]

Round 4
Slythe (ini 11, 1 wound)
Daemaer (ini 10, 6 wounds)
Skaven 1 (Ini 7, 8 wounds, calmed 8 rounds, engaged with Daemaer)
Skaven 2 (Ini 7, 3m from Serestre, calmed 1 rounds, engaged with Serestre)
Skaven 3 (Ini 7, dead, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 4 (Ini 7, dead, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 5 (Ini 7, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 6 (Ini 7, 12m from Slythe)
Grey Seer (Ini 7, Atheryic Armour +4AP, 12m from Slythe)
Serestre (Ini 6, Atheryic Armour +4AP)


Daemaer breathed a small sigh of relief as he feels the magic wash over the rat in front of him. He turns and offers a wink to Serestre "Much appreciated!"
The smile drops from his face as he starts to focus and reach out to the winds around him.

Slythe had dispatched the wounded, but he was quickly finding himself overwhelmed by numbers, the favored Skaven tactic.
He picks his target and attacks. Most warriors would succumb to fear and flail wildly at the attackers. Slythe was a saurus, cold blooded and intent on his purpose, even in death.
"We musssst warn the villagessss." he tells the others as he swings the heraldic weapon at a skaven's neck in an attempt to decapitate it. The skaven sees the blow coming but sidesteps when he should have ducked... its head lands with a bounce a few metres away.

Snarling as his troops fall the Grey Seer makes another attempt at striking at Daemaer. Green lightning begins to coil and spark up his arm and then with a triumphant look, he hurls the bolt - it snaps out lighting up the high elf hurling him a few metres away and onto his back.

The calmed Skaven closest to Serestre shakes its head, a clear sign that it will soon snap out of Shallyas enchantment.
Serestre saw the devestation wrought by the ratkin's devious seer. Daemar flew backward in a flash and was on the ground in an instant. This was not looking too good if they kept that one flinging lightning at them. 

She turns her attention to the seer, whom stood out from the rest. Calling on the light of Shallya, she hums and begins to say a few prayers under her breath. But she is left quite disappointed as she cannot feel the light of her patron fill her. 

"Shallya, please come to me. We need you...and fast..."

Carnelian wrote:

[The Crypt]

Lifting the torch Reginald lights up the small room revealing a heavily bolted door – the metal parts of which are rusted with age. The only other feature is a stone stairwell heading upwards into the rock which could very well be the same stair case that dumped you into the water.

"S'door here older than Slythe's armor. Staircase as well - more than likely the one what dumped us in the water. Toss up our friend, will ye?" The Runesmith pushes the lit torch into a sconce on the wall [assuming there is one] and awaited his brother's throw. When he got the snake in hand he would hold it with two hands over one shoulder; he waits for Val to give him the signal and gets ready to start hauling.

[The Crypt]

Valgard gets to work on the snake, he'd tried to lift one end but the mass of the snake was simply to heavy to toss up to his brother so he got to work cutting the tail end of the snake off with his axe...
His first attempt at climbing failed and Valgard was dumped back into the water, the wet scales of the snake were simply to slippy. Pondering the problem and after another failed attempt at climbing Valgard pulls his knife, and jabs it into the makeshift tail it was ideal but it would do. Pulling himself up he repeated the process of stabbing and then inching upwards and he soon found himself lying on his back with his brother catching both their breathes.

While resting you have a look around the small room, there was nothing more than the rusted door and the stair well heading back up. As your hearts stop beating in your ears you pick up the muffled sound of flowing water from beyond the door, you both agree to check that out first.

The door itself appears to be only locked from your side as there is no keyhole just a pair of heavy rusted bolts, that with some encouragement slide open. With Valgard ready with his axe Reginald opens the door. Revealed is a natural tunnel, worn into the rock over the eons by the flow of the water its source likely to be snow melt from the surrounding mountainside. It being summer the 'torrent' did not look that powerful perhaps only a few feet deep. The tunnels disappears into the darkness both ways.

[Skaven - The Chase]

Round 5
Slythe (ini 11, 1 wound)
Daemaer (ini 10, -1 crit, prone)
Skaven 1 (Ini 7, 8 wounds, calmed 8 rounds, engaged with Daemaer)
Skaven 2 (Ini 7, 3m from Serestre)
Skaven 3 (Ini 7, dead, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 4 (Ini 7, dead, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 5 (Ini 7, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 6 (Ini 7, 12m from Slythe)
Grey Seer (Ini 7, Atheryic Armour +4AP, 12m from Slythe)
Serestre (Ini 6, Atheryic Armour +4AP)



Slythe had quickly dispatched 2 of the vile vermin in short order. But there were more crowding him. Like a well oiled steam tank he worked in route, one motion following the other so fluidly that it looked like what he had been designed to do. Distracted by the swift beheading of the skaven next to him Slythes attack finds no trouble landing a heavy blow on the remaining ratkin who responds with an attack of his own [need reaction from Slythe]

Daemaer blinked his eyes and winced as searing pain shot through his body.

"Gods be dammed this isnt good....one last chance...."

Lying on the ground he once again focuses, using the ground at his back to ground him and shift focus away from the pain.
His eyes flick open and grin appears on his face. In a voice twisted with dread, he speaks out.
"NOW YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUE MEANING OF FEAR!"

The spell dies on the Seers lips as Daemaer shouts his proclamation, the rats blood runs cold as terror grips his heart as he stands transfixed by the horror that is Daemaer, High Elf, Archmage and general all round good guy! The guard by his side unaware of what was transpiring stands ready to defend the Grey Seer

The remaining Skaven shakes its head as it clears its befuddlement, sneering at Serestre is runs at her throwing a glancing blow at her side which is deflected by protections of Shallya

[In the Crypts]

Reginald peaks into the new room and then exits back up the stairs. He wasn't about to go wading into water again without making sure their backs were secure. He gingerly tests each step with his boot, putting slightly more pressure down until he was sure it was OK before stepping up. He wasn't eager to go plunging down into anymore depths...

"I'll make sure there's none behind us before we go swimmin' again, aye?"

[The Crypts]

Valgard removed his boots and poured the water from them “Swimmin’ again!?, by our mothers beard I think not Reggie. At least not t’day…” while he speaks he put his boots back on then wrings out his great orange beard “...lets be keeping our feet on dry ground eh” finally Valgard spoons some goose fat out of a pot and smooths his drooping spiked mohawk back to attention. “Right then, lets be seein’ what the old master kept behind this locked door eh, how do ye suppose we open it?”

[Skaven - The Chase]

Round 6
Slythe (ini 11, 1 wound)
Daemaer (ini 10, Atheryic Armour +5AP, -1 crit, fear (2))
Skaven 1 (Ini 7, 8 wounds, calmed 6 rounds, -10 all actions due to fear engaged with Daemaer)
Skaven 2 (Ini 7, calmed 3 rounds, engaged with Serestre)
Skaven 3 (Ini 7, dead, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 4 (Ini 7, dead, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 5 (Ini 7, 7 wounds, engaged with Slythe)
Skaven 6 (Ini 7, 12m from Slythe)
Grey Seer (Ini 7, Atheryic Armour +4AP, 'frozen' in terror', 12m from Slythe)
Serestre (Ini 6, Atheryic Armour +4AP)


Slythe had the rat on the defensive. Now was the time to strike. He picked his techniques and applied them methodically. It was working until now. He hisses in frustration as the wily weasel avoids the spiked club.

Daemaer gingerly stands, his body aching.
He would need to do something about that...but first
He again gathers the winds, crafting armor around his body, the shadow of death giving it a hellish demonic look.
Better late than never...

The Seer continues to stand ridged staring at Daemaer while two of the Skaven mill around enraptured by the calming spirit of Shallya and her steadfast adherent Sererstre. The ratkin who stood guard over shook the Grey Seer "What-what wrong ma-master?" it screeches. Getting no response it looks nervously back at the fight – only one of his kin was actually fighting “Master we-we should go?”

In a fight for its life the skaven fighting Slythe was oblivious to what was going on around him as a glance away would no doubt bring a swift death. With a frantic look on its face the skaven continues to try and break the Saurus’ defences….

Serestre could feel it. The calming effect of her patron goddess was working. Many of the skaven surrounding them seemed to be in a lull. The tide was shifting and she'd do her best to help her newfound friends to make it out of this pickle alive.

She channels the energy around her once again and begins to try and soothe the skaven that seemed rather intrigued on taking off Slythe's head

[In the Crypts]

Reggie held his hammer up. "If careful examination turns up nothing, we can always resort to the proper application of violence. Shall we?"

After thoroughly checking all the stairs, Reginald starts to make his way back.

After a bit of time carefully examining the locked door you both become satisfied that there are no traps but without a key or a means to pick the lock the only way through it was Valgards axe. The troll slayer steps back to give himself room, and places his axe head at the intended point of impact – the upper hinge. With a grunt Valgard swings the axe back and slams the blade into hinge, pulls it back and hits the same spot, the doors shifts in its frame at the hinge fractures. “Damn and blast it Reggie, I’ve nicked me axe.” Valgard holds the axe close to his face while he examines the damage, it was nothing but it irritated him. “Come on brother, we should be able te shift it ourselves now.”

With the broken hinge and the application of dwarven determination the door eventually pulls aside, the remaining hinge twisted, the door barely hanging from its frame. The room beyond is dusty and disused, there are a couple of armchairs positioned either side of a rosewood table and a small bookcase. There is a door opposite yours and a bunch of keys hangs from a hook on the wall.