Magnus let out an ugly sound as the spectral blade seemed to pass through him, and a tremor seemed to wrack his great frame for a moment before he forced himself back into motion.

At Rondalds question, and with the mace in hand, he tried just that and swung at the apparition with brute force.

Finn of course didn't feel what Magnus felt.  The icy cold.  The sensation of other worldliness albeit briefly.  But Razzel had seen enough of this place to know that almost everything here, in this ancient prison gone wrong that all defied the normal rules elsewhere in the world.  Just one look at the dog sized ants and beetles and the man eating giant plants was enough to understand that.  So Finn assumes nothing and throws himself into the attack.


OOC:
Come up behind the ghost and back stab!

Gustav pushes Finn further into the Hall so he can stab with his new sword, he is sure there is not enough room to swing it.

"Magic - an excellent idea, Rondald." Stepping back to let Gustav by, who seems to be pushing in, Judoc begins pulling in mana from around him, channeling it into flame.

OOC: Take one step east. Take right hand from staff. Concentrate.

Gustav's heart quickens as his hand leaps to the pommel of his sword, he can feel his pulse beating through his very fingers.  Oh, he has played with the black sword and he has tested the fine balance and its keen thrusting edge but he has yet to use the blade in real combat.  Nudging Finn forward with his shield, Gustav pushes his way into the narrow hallway, the black sword singing a clear, high note as it is pulled from the sheath.

Magnus stumbles backwards, bringing his shield back into position as he hurls his mace forwards, the blow is just errant, the ghostly thing having to merely shift its position to avoid the blow.  Again, the ghostly sword lashes out and Magnus stumbles backwards again, though he is not quick enough, and he only barely gets his shield to clip the edge of the sword.  Again, the thing dissipates into swirls of color where the shield strikes it, but the rest of the weapon continues on, striking Magnus square in his mail shirt!  The weapon pierces Magnus like ice, sucking away with warmth from his flesh and making his heart skip a beat as it flutters in protest against the cold.

Magnus nearly stumbles to a knee, though he catches himself, retreating backwards again to try and put some distance between himself and the ghast.  But the two swordsman, Finn and Gustav now have a clear shot at the apparition.  Finn attacks first, his attack a determined swing using the diagonal of the hallway, trying to keep the cut away from Gustav as well as the close confines of the hallway.  Though much like Magnus's shield, when Finn's blade hits the foe it merely swipes through it like air, it's body fading and congealing back again to the same spot it once stood.

As for Gustav, things go quite more unexpectedly...  He thrusts forward with his weapon in a vicious stab... and this time, unlike Finn's attack, the weapon hits with solid impact, tearing through the ghost's semi-transparent flesh with ease.  The ghost shrieks in some ancient tongue, though it is only just as loud as Gustav's own scream.

Shock waves of pain streak through Gustav's form, spasming through every limb and finger.  And though he knows the unintended shriek of pain comes from his own lips, it cannot explain the stereo effect he is feeling in each of his ears, as if there were three screams, instead of just the two.  Revulsion comes with the pain and it is all Gustav can do to keep himself focused on the enemy ahead, who even now is turning back towards his direction...

Outside, Rondald and Terri turn, staring down the wide stone walkways to see if there are any other monsters approaching.

OOC:  No map this time due to the crappy wireless I'm working off of.  Gustav did manage to injure the thing, though it seems not without some other side effects of his own.  Gustav, roll vs. HT plus any fit bonuses or suffer physical stun from the bizarre effect.  Magnus took a rather bad hit on the first turn, though managed to completely dodge the attack on the second.  He is now at half move/dodge/ST, though that does not affect his damage from attacks.  Judoc has stepped into the room and has prepared a 2 point fireball, though he does not yet have any aim bonuses.  Judoc is at range 3 and may step and aim next turn.  Magnus/Finn/Gustav are all at range 1.

He makes his HT
This message was last edited by the player at 04:14, Wed 05 Feb 2020.

This ghost is clearly not like the others they have hitherto encountered. Those other apparitions vanished at a touch, but this seems to have the ability to do real harm. Judoc cannot help but be fascinated by the specter's sword. What could power its energies? Is it fully here in the real world, or does it occupy some other plane of existence?

And then Gustav screams in anguish as his blow strikes true! "The sound of ultimate suffering," Judoc murmurs, and then, louder, he yells, "Fire in the hole!"

OOC: Step forward towards the ghost. Attack the ghost with the fireball.

Finn has had his hands in many pies and seen many things in his relatively young life but he's never seen anything like this.  A real ghost!  It doesn't take long for the plucky mage-thief to realize that Rondald's suggestion is right on the money.  Finn spins to move out of the way as best he can, all the while wiggling a few fingers and murmuring a few words.


OOC:
If I can scrunch myself get out of the way so that Gustav has a clear shot.

Seeing Finns blade pass through him, Rondald curses, and puts his own mundane axe away. He steps in, and, seeing the thing looking at Gustav, attempts to aid him in defence.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:05, Wed 05 Feb 2020.

Magnus, gasping and trembling, retreated a few more steps behind the line while the others joined the fray. Whatever had occured had shaken him badly and he just seemed to be trying to stay on his feet.

Gustav is startled by the Pain that hits him ... But training kicks in, no way he is going to let this thing hit the others, given the additional room he has with Finn slipping back  he keeps the shield up and swings.

Surprised the vigor of the apparition, Magnus stumbles backwards, his shield raised in a defensive position as his hooves prepare for another swat of the thing's sword, but the blow does not come, and instead the thing turns, its weapon raised against Gustav instead.  The sword descends like a lead weight, though Gustav brings his own sword to bear, and the two weapons strike midair with a steely cling!, stopping the ghostly blade in a way that Magnus's shield had been unable.

Like a blur, Gustav's on blade strikes out again, moving downward from his parry to slash across the ghost's exposed ribs.  The sword connects again, splitting the elf's midsection into a ribbon of crimson that ripples outwards, splattering out against the walls before dispersing into eddies of air.   The elf screams!  Falling to one knee, the ghost's sword dips as his whole form seems to waver midair...

Gustav too seems to get the worse end of the deal.  Even as the ribbon of shiny, translucent blood flashes out from where his sword tip has passed, the swordsman himself feels dull, throbbing pain that ripples its way up his arm and through his chest, swelling until a point where it is unbearable.  Before his sword is even finished with the arc of his cut, Gustav is vomiting, a greenish bile streaked with red that passes straight through the kneeling apparition (deforming the elf's body for a moment into swirling currents of air) before splattering across the stone floor.

Immediately, Gustav's eyes defocus - the pain shearing his vision in two as he struggles to keep his feet, his sword dipping dangerously low...

Rondald, unbidden, charges through the doorway, his only thought to saving his friend Gustav.  Though the way is narrow, and on the way he has no choice but to shove roughly past Judoc, who stands in the doorway, and Finn, who stands at Judoc's side...  Though he does not get there in time to lend aid to Gustav.

"Shit!"  Judoc as the sailor charges through, barely editing the throw of his magical fireball in time to avoid hitting Rondald straight in the back.  Now, the throw sails just right, missing the ghost and forcing Magnus to bring up his shield in defense as the fireball vaporizes into a thick flame across the face, rendering a thin char across the surface.

OOC:  Just a cautionary word Rondald to avoid metagaming.  On the last turn, you were outside the room, and facing out (expecting an ambush) so you didn't see Finn's blade pass through the ghost.  You would however, have heard Gustav's scream, so I'll allow the all out charge action with dropping your axe prior as a free action somewhere in the middle.  Rondald is now next to the ghost, with his shield in his left hand and an empty right.  Judoc's fireball barely missed the ghost and vaporized on Magnus's shield about six feet behind and Finn's spell was successful against Gustav despite Rondald shoulder-checking him out of the way.

Gustav seems to only be getting more and more affected by the combat, and is now at half move and dodge.  Gustav, roll vs. HT one more time, with all normal Fit bonuses.

That was one second.  Let's do 2 seconds of action this time.

Rondald, shield raised, saw Magnus in trouble as well. Keeping the momentum, he kept pushing through past the apparition to help Magnus, to try to give him some cover, and to get out of Finns way.

"Magnus, you able to keep fighting, or do you want to step back and I can cover you? Gustav has the mages to help him...but if you step back, can I use that mace to beat it?"

[OOC: Sorry, I was under the impression he could see something of the fight, even if looking down the other side of the wall primarily, out of peripheral vision. Even apart from that, the screaming I assumed would have gotten his attention.]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:42, Thu 13 Feb 2020.

Gustav staggers backward, struggling to keep his feet and bumps into Judoc.

"It's tied up!" Magnus shouted back with rising concern in his voice. Indeed, the Mace was firmly tethered to his wrist by a sturdy leather thing.

The Minotaur continued to backpeddle away, not taking his eyes off the spectral form, and obviously wary of being struck again.
.

Finn has seen many things in his days but nothing quite as scary and wondrous as a spectral form that cannot be harmed by everyday cold steel, and that seems to have a weird connection with its attackers.  Lacking a solid plan Razzel acts by instinct.  He waggles a few fingers and reaches out for the swordsman.


OOC:
Cast then touch Gustav.

Ghosts. What a very strange business. Judoc had assumed that this phantom was like the others, that it could be dispersed simply by passing a weapon through its form. That assumption had proved wrong.

And what was causing Gustav to be incapacitated as he was? Fascinating. Judoc wishes he had spent some time studying the phenomenon of spirits linked to this world. He is certain that magic will banish it, but as his fireball grazes Magnus's shield, Judoc realizes that throwing fire missiles around in such an enclosed space is inviting regret.

His staff gripped in both hands, he takes a step back, ready for the ghost to make a move.

OOC: Take one step back. Wait.

For a moment, both Gustav and the vaporous wraith seem to stumble...  Gustav vomiting a retched pulse as his feet stutter backwards, the ghost falling to a knee, it's sword dipping, seeming for a moment to be less of a threat.

though that moment is short lived, and in only the blink of an eye the tables turn, all in one direction.  Gustav's feet cease to move, his body now toppling backwards like a fallen oak, the black sword and his small shield clattering out of his hands and onto the stone floor below.  Nearly simultaneously, the wraith stands back on both feet, his sword slashing out at the closest mark, Rondald, who finds himself pressed with his back against the wall and unable to effectively move.  Though his shield is barely in place in time, Rondald fares the same fate as Magnus, with the sword passing partially, if not cleanly through the wooden aegis before striking Rondald just below the hem of his jacket.

Though there is not an ounce of blood, nor the narrowest of cuts that form from the strike, Rondald feels the icy dagger cut cleanly through his skin, draining the warmth from his bowels and upper legs so fiercely that his genitals retreat back into his body in an instant looking for warmth.

Rondald staggers as he sidesteps again, narrowly dodging the next blow...  the blade flickering just higher this time and shimmering briefly as it seems to pass vaporously through the folds of his leather.

Meanwhile, both Finn and Judoc immediately look toward their fallen comrade. Finn crouches down to place a hand on the swordsman and is struck by the pallor of his face.  He is wan, pale, with spidered, blue veins crawling up his face that have never been there as far as the thief has seen.  He reaches out with his left hand as he gestures, sending healing energies into Gustav which seem to settle some of his color, though the swordsman does not wake.  Judoc too, places his staff on Gustav, chanting a word of healing, which seems to succeed, though again the man does not wake.

On the other side of the room, Magnus steps back again, pulling on the strap of his mace with his shield hand as he tries to grip the thing back with his right to hand it over to Rondald.

"Gustav!"  Terri groans as she enters the room at the doorway, her voice pallid, with her knife gripped in her left hand.

OOC:  Sorry Gustav, that last HT check was a conscious roll, which I probably should have mentioned.  As you have no hero points available, you are now unconscious and out of the fight, though significantly healed due to Finn and Judoc's ministrations.  Finn is kneeling (he had to change position to be close enough to heal) and the black sword is lying at Finn's side.  If he wished, he could drop his weapon and pick it up (ready it) next turn and stand on the turn after.  Judoc, I opted to have you heal Gustav, and though it brought him out of negative HP, he won't revive until after the fight is over.  Magnus, I realize only now that your lanyard was on your other mace and not your magic one.  That being said, since I allowed you to let it fall to the strap on the Bone Sovereign fight, I'm going to force it to be on for this fight as well.  You have grabbed the strap with your left hand and removed your right from the strap.  It will take two more turns to 'ready' the mace with your right hand and then hand it over to Rondald.

Let's do 2 more rounds of action.


This message was last edited by the GM at 03:23, Sat 15 Feb 2020.

Round One - bad dreams
Round Two - more bad dreams

"If you have the strength, hit him, while I try to distract him. At least he is leaving Gustav alone. The sword, it does not injure, it takes ones stamina, exhausting you...what the hell? We are out of your way now Finn, that fire may be better..."

He will focus on defence, not bothering with the obviously useless shield...happy just to hold the creatures attention.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:27, Sat 15 Feb 2020.

"Finn! Little Help!" Magnus did not have time to explain, but while he felt he had a shot at maybe stopping the blade like Gustav had done, he worried that actually striking the thing would leave him little better than the brave swordsman now was.

His hope was that he could keep it busy while Finn and Judoc blasted the thing into oblivion with their arcane powers.

For most of his relatively short life Finn had no regrets concerning his magical eduction, which is vastly different from someone like Judoc. Razzel didnt come from money.  He had no wealthy family members tucked away somewhere who could pay the staggering fees for years of professional tutilage.  Finn had to find teachers in the mean streets and dark alley ways of the city, and steal enough to pay them for their cloesly gaurded knowledge.  But in rare moments like this Finn wished he belonged to a college.  Oh the wonders of sifting through the library.  What treasures might he find on ghosts if the rows upon rows of books were open to him. The nature of the connection between this ghoul and his friends was tantalizingly curious and for a breif moment the plucky thief-mage was jealous of the professional mage.

Finn looks down at the beautiful black blade.  Time slows.  He knows what he must do, almost as if this moment were destined to happen.  He needs to save his friends.  Without thought for his own safety his hand snatches out...


OOC:
Drop my sword and grab Gustavs blade.

Rondald, with his back pressed against the wall writhes to avoid the next blow, as the etherial sword cuts this way and then redirects, catching him off guard!  Rondald repositions his shield, trying to get any bit of defense between himself and the knife, though again it barely flecks off part of the weapon as the rest continues, set on a collision course again with his chest!  Though again, Rondald is saved by his magic jacket, and the weapon seems to flicker as it passes, giving Rondald only the sensation of cold as it is brought back to the en guard position.

Again the blade flicks out, though this time Rondald manages to move his body completely out of the way, his breath now coming in gasps as he tries to keep the thing occupied.

Magnus meanwhile grips his mace back with his good hand, unsure exactly how to continue... though at least for now the strap is off.  Perhaps Rondald would fare better than he had, though with the single direction the fight had gone so far, it seemed something had to change quickly.

Finn, as if taking the cue to act boldly, drops his own weapon with a clatter to the floor, reaching for the black sword.  Thoughts of glory, of victory in battle fill his mind as he grips the pristine weapon with thinly veiled greed, his eyes widening as he knows for certain how this combat must end.  Standing to his feet, he casts his magics with a single word, preparing himself mentally to face the thing which had taken down the more skilled swordsman with only a handful of swats.

Judoc, just a step behind casts his own magics, seeing the way clear for a moment he brings another ball of flame to his hand and takes a moment to prepare his throw.

"Nooo!"  Terri shrieks, her knife brandished in her left hand as she rushes past the mage and Finn, slashing wildly at the wraith with a blow that misses just wide.

OOC:  Nothing significant that turn.  Finn has the black sword readied in his right hand with an empty left and is standing.  Judoc has a fireball held in his right hand and his staff propped up with his left (unreadied).  Magnus has taken a moment to reready his mace (in order to parry), though the strap is no longer attached to his wrist.  Rondald has barely scraped out from suffering another hit, though he has managed to escape any injury this turn.  2 more turns of combat please

Its funny the difference between life and school.  Finn has heard people use the idiomatic expression “School of Hard Knocks” especially in cities where they are prominent schools.  In the classroom setting one learns what not to do in a safe environment.  A teacher often tells the student what is wrong and the consequences that would be incurred.  But on the mean streets there are no warnings.  There are no safe conditions.  Life pushes you around.  Some learn from it and grow.  Some do not and continue to be beaten over and over from the same mistakes.  And some die.

Its funny to Razzel the obstacles they have bested so far.  A mad daemon seduced wizard and his apprentice.  The demon itself.  And scores of minions acting upon the will of both villains.  And here in this moment they have run into a stone wall, in the form of just one warrior, who isn't even made of flesh and blood.  A ghost.  A relic of the past.  Gustav, their best swordsman lays unmoving and the companions other two best warriors are all but crippled.  This age long dead thing might just do them in.  Well, not now that Finn wields the magic blade.

Stepping forward Finn shouts ”Terri, move!”  His voice is slow and raspy.  Clearly the mage-thief is tired.  His casting have taken a toll on him.  But does he have enough left to fell this foul foe?  If you asked Razzel he would only laugh instead of answer with words.


OOC:
Step and Evaluate, repeat until I am in striking distance.

Rondald is experienced in combat, much more so than his wife. He ducks and weaves as he moves away, attempting to be rid of his useless shield as he focuses on staying away from the spectral blade.

"Terri, goddammit, get back! We are gonna need you to put us back together after this. He will tear you apart! Magnus, do you have the strength to hit it, or can you pass me that club if not?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:55, Wed 19 Feb 2020.