Saturday, October 21, 2017

Master of Strings Ch10: Dem Bones

Maldrek holds his horns, staring at the rattling horde approaching the city. finally as the group looks to the brains of their company, he mumbles, "We can't win, there's no way. We don't owe these dwarves a thing, we best run and-"

Suddenly the inspirational tone's off Zilo's ballad of valor played off and Zilo, Zigger and Alaroc charge forward into the fray, with the two fighters in front and Zilo aiming true behind them. Seeing this, the paladin looks sidelong at Maldrek.

"I don't wish for this city to fall Maldrek, too many lives shall be lost, so I'll tell you a bit of this Lich King. It is said that the one who strikes him down decimates his armies, take his title, and his power."

Maldrek perks up at that.

"Perhaps that will spur you to save the ones who think of you as friend." Remarks the Paladin before flicking out his blade and shield and charging to cover Zilo's flanks.

May takes out her scythe and begins moving forward saying, "These idiots are gonna get themselves demolished if we don't-" Maldrek's hand shoots out to her and he says,

"May there is no way a frontal assault will work with that Lich toward the back, we need to cut off the vipers head, you flank left and I'll go right, with your stealth and my Invisibility you can disable him, then I'll blow off his head with a point blank Lightning Bolt."

May looks to the four friends about to breach the skeleton line, Maldrek redirects her look back at him and says, "They have both Zilo and Cruxis, even if they do get hurt, they will get back up, now come on!"

The four burst into the line of Skeletons with Zigger whiping around in a circle making use of his small size to weave in between the troops and cut them down at the shins, meanwhile Alaroc cleaved in with his rune covered sword, blasting the Skeletons into oblivion upon contact.

Zilo keeps his music rolling making sure that his tones resonate and beat with the rhythm of battle, but as a skeleton breaks in through their line Zilo whips out his blade like lightning and strikes it down.

At the rear of the formation Cruxis is showing just what a paladin of the church is made of, shining radiant light upon his blade strikes, turning the bones to chips as he goes.

The group looks to be making good progress, then suddenly Alaroc is sent flying back from a thunderous impact. The group turns to see a skeleton ogre that stands hunched over 13 feet tall.  Zilo feels someone push him aside and the Paladin says, " There is a worthy Fiend, HAVE AT THEE!!!"

The paladin rushes in and deflects the skeleton's swipe with his shield and his blade's light flickers into what looks as bright as the sun. The blade flies up and demolishes the skeleton's arm and flys up into it's head, cracking it's jaw.

The Skeleton rears up to bring his arm down and crush the paladin, but before he follows through he falls over and crumbles. Zigger rises from the downed behemoth. The group looks back to make sure Alaroc is alright, but they needed not worry.

The Knight stands slightly worse for wear, but surrounding him are at least a dozen more downed undead. Zilo pops over and casts a quick Cure Light Wounds  to fix the man up.

"I miss having armor, but hey this new sword may just be worth it- what's that?" Asks the
knight pointing to a note pinned to Zilo's chest.

Maldrek has a plan, Distract the horde.
~May


Zilo looks over his shoulder then says, "Form up, don't let them near me."

Zigger, Cruxis and Alaroc form into a triangle as Zilo's battle tune shifts to a tune of fascination and the entire horde and their king look to the source of the music. The group is in less than perfect formation with Zilo's magic tunes shifted to be a distraction, but group serves its purpose and kill the skeletons as they move in.

They most definitely had the attention of the horde, Zigger formed to a horse stance and his movements shifted so fast the eye could barley keep up. Alaroc's skill with his blade was unmatched to any man, but dozens of skeletons were taking their toll.

Cruxis could feel the skeletons pushing and he knelt down shield and sword overlaid before chanting

"By your Divine light Arete, lend us your light."

Suddenly a jet stream of light fires out from the paladin. his compatriots heal their wounds and the skeletons running at them dissipate.

"Well done" Alaroc says as he pats the rising paladin on his shoulder plate.

The Lich King looks, with half of his armada still in toe, but then suddenly a scythe is to his neck and his knee has been kicked out. Suddenly a horned man stands before him with lighting sparking in his hand.

"LIGHTNING BOLT" Shouts Maldrek unleashing a torrent of unbridled energy into the dead king's head, flinging his helmet from his head. for a moment there is silence. Then in an instant there is the sound of blade piercing flesh and blood pools in May's mouth. she falls over and the king rises, blue and blackened skin with a mane of patchy grey hair, no eyes can be seen on his face, just an eerie green glow.

"Are you ready?"

Says the Lich to the trembling Maldrek before Zigger leaps at the Lich's head and begins ravaging it, ripping hair, slashing his claws, and biting at his scalp. Zilo slides to the ground by May with Cruxis and Alaroc behind him and Zilo keeps her alive barley with a cast of Cure Moderate Wounds.

May gets about good enough to sit up as the rest of the skeletons close in. The King grabs Zigger out of his head and hurls him up in front of his imposing figure then in one swift wordless slash he cuts the little Goblin monkey in half.

May sees this happen right before her... a typical person would feel some manner of sorrow at that gruesome event, but May grips her gut wound and her holy symbol shouting

"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY SLAVE!!! Oh blessed Morta, heal the wounds of your faithful!"

A burst of energy flies out of May, whipping out every single one of the skeletons nearby. The Lich King is blasted back from the pure holy energy and it looks to burn away at his skin.

Everyone gathers around May, dumb struck that the funny little goblin lay their, not moving. Alaroc  is the first to speak looking at the downed Lich King.

"Is he dead?"

"Yes."

The Lich rises, levitating to his feet.

"And you will join him soon."


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