The 5 heroes stood facing the 4 goblin elite. The goblins each trained in their respective manners of sword and sorcery to kill Sword and Sorcery Inc. The were the bugbear Samurai, Stlunk, the goblin Shifter, Jik, and the two hobgoblins, the rogue, Tikal, and the wizard, Artak. All of them besides Artak were charging Zilo and Aria in the no man's land of the cavern.
Zilo snaps his hands into action grabbing his whip Maldrek threw to him in the left hand and unsheathing his sword with the right. He brought his sword up and out, blocking the stab Tikal. Aria winced as Jik leaped at her, but Zilo's whip yanked the goblin from the air. Stlunk however looked poised to cleave the bard in half.
Sparky and May dashed forward to assist, and the little sorcerer flicked out one of his rays of fire to make the bugbear falter, but he tripped on a rock and instead scorched Zilo's back, which was immediately followed by a katana slash from shoulder to hip from Stlunk. May on the other hand swung her scythe in front of Zilo to force the 3 Goblinoids back from the wounded man.
Meanwhile both wizards snapped open their spell books and both mimicked each other in their mother tongues to keep their spells hidden from the enemies. Both cast the spell Haste upon themselves and their allies, and with the burst of speed that followed then both then cast Mage Armor.
Zilo, spurred back into force by Haste quickly fixed himself up with Cure Moderate Wounds. He then snapped out his other hand, dropping his whip to use Mage Hand and begin his ghostly performance, invigorating His teammates even further with his battle melodies.
Aria faced off with the little furry goblin, assuming that with this small a foe, she should have the best chance... at least before he began to Wild Shape. The shifter's back hunched and his fur grew thicker, his face more pointed, his claws sharper, and his body, at least 5 times larger, until standing before Aria was now a Dire Wolverine.
Aria spun about, only to see Tikal, cutting her off from behind, when suddenly Artak shouted out words in goblin. Both the Wolverine and Thief turned their attention to Zilo as the Samurai sheathed his blade, came to a kneeling position by their wizard. He rested his hand over top the blade, and closed his eyes in meditation.
Maldrek cursing that he was speaking goblin decided to even the playing field and then some, by casting Telepathic Bond on his 5 employees. Followed right away by a Magic Missile aimed at Artak. Unfortunately the hobgolin saw this coming, casting Shield to negate the missiles, followed by resting his hand upon his bugbear bodyguard and imbuing him with Heroism.
With their mental link made the group began speaking across minds,
"We should all be able to share thoughts here, Sparky, what orders were given when he spoke."
"Make hat guy dead dead before he undead dead."
May's voice chimed in, "He thinks Zilo is still a lich. We should use that!"
Maldrek responded, "But what if...? You know what, No, let's try your plan. Zilo, fall back, rest of you, hold the line."
Aria swung wildly at Tikal, who turned and easily parried her blade, followed by a snap of his scimitar across her hip, forcing her to hobble. Just as he readied a killing blow, Sparky leapt in and used his new burning punch attack to force the rogue back in a shock wave of fire.
Jik in his new form charged in to make quick work of the two, but suddenly a spell was cast from nearby,
"Command! Revert!" Shouted May. As the bear sized wolverine came at them, it suddenly changed back into it's tiny goblinoid form, allowing May an easy enough time to use his confusion to run up and punt the goblin away. Aria gave May a thumbs up from her bent down position, and May returned it with a small grin.
The Samurai rose up and his eyes met with Zilo's signifying that he was Challenging the bard and began making a B line directly at Zilo. The bard breathed heavy and stared down the charging warrior, before and his eyes began to shift to light blue before a pulse of energy erupted from Zilo and black shadow encased his body.
When the shadow cleared, death could be felt on the battlefield and Zilo's body was encased in the armor of the Lich King as he slowly strode forward. Recalling what he could from his hazy state back then, Tikal turned and fled down a tunnel way. Stlunk stopped in his tracks, now fearful of what he'd heard of this form.
Artak's face went pale fearing he might die this time, and cursed himself for not prepping a Teleport spell. The only Goblinoid elite to show no fear was Jik, for he looked to have his attention focused else were. He began bounding toward the Lich, and in mid stride changed form into a Dienonychus, bolting faster than ever directly at Zilo.
The dino-goblin bolted past the lich managing to avoid a sword swing and the dino lept up, not at Zilo, but at Maldrek. Maldrek's Mage Armor took the first talon, but the second managed to break through and cut the wizard across his face. This wound shattered the Concentration maintaining the spell Major Image.
Zilo's form was returned back to a simple bard in the face of everyone, and Artak, in his shocked relief laughed pointing at the defenseless bard and shouting in goblin for Stlunk to finish this. Meanwhile the thoughts of the SSI adventurers lit up.
"Maldrek! Issue! Help!" screamed Zilo's thoughts.
"Damnit, I suspect this little animal vermin would see past it." Cursed Maldrek.
"Why no Say?" Questioned Sparky.
"May sounded excited, I didn't want to be a jerk." Thought Maldrek apologetically.
Zilo turned to him with a smile and thought, "See buddy, your getting better alre-"
The bard's thoughts were interrupted as the samurai waded forward and with one fast as lightning swing he performed a deadly Sword Saint Iaijustsu Strike. Practically cleaving Zilo in two across his waist, the blade cut deep enough to make it halfway through the bard, and Zilo could do little more than fall back convulsing.
Aria stared in disbelief, tears welling up, and she turned at Maldrek, holding her side and walking forward, "Maldrek, I take it back!"
"Huh?"
"This whole week you've been off your game something horrible, ever since I told why you are a jerk. I take it back, if being a jerk is why you can do what you do, then I'd rather win with a jerk than die with a sweetheart."
Maldrek's eyes flicker with an intense focus as he turned back to Zilo's body. He was still breathing, but just barely. Maldrek put away his spellbook into his bag, and began digging in his bag. His thoughts flared up, returning to communication by telepathy,
"May use every spell you have to get Zilo stable. Sparky, you and Aria and try to hold off the two grunts. I will not let my friend die a second time in one week."
Sparky's thoughts hesitate and he responds, "Second ti-?"
"MOVE PEOPLE!" Interrupts the wizard. As the adventurers moved into formation Maldrek takes out twin Revolvers with cylinders inscribed with twelve different magical runes, six on each. As he cocks back the hammers of each he gives them both an intense stare and the cylinders spin about before locking into place.
"Guess now is as good a time for a test drive as any." Whispers Maldrek.
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