ooc: characters may be placed in scene as they please. preferable posting pace is at least once a week. Open to more folk, so apply if you like in direct message to me or the ooc.
Time: ???
Weather: cold
Mentions: @Tellussoil @Karcen@Nameless Hero
TLDR: Loose summary before new situation. Party is slowly getting drained, barriers taking it for now.
music:


They had crossed into the pyramid after fighting through waves of undead outside, losing the firbolg guides along the way as Xune burned the field clean to force an opening. The pyramid had answered with stronger defenders and a draining pull that tore at their lifeforce, but they fed it magic and pushed through while it quieted. The threshold trap had spikes shooting up to kill the first to enter before resetting as they moved past it. Fortunely, no one succumbed and the entrance sealed behind them with no way back out.

The chamber ahead was lit by a dull green glow carried by brass conduits set into the walls while large bone pistons move in steady rhythm, rising and falling with a low mechanical sound that carries through the floor. Rotating pylons stand deeper within, turning slowly as the same light runs along their surfaces and feeds into the structure around them. The air is still and cold.

The green light along the walls begins to shift and draw inward along the floor, thin lines forming and growing brighter as they gather beneath the party. The faint remains of Xune's barriers start to weaken under the pull, the light pressing against them and stripping away what protection they offer slowly with time as the party stands around to rest.

Bones gave a dry chuckle as he replied, "Well met, but I'm afraid I'd make a very poor guide since I never even made it past the spikes. See that over there?"

The undead adventurer pointed at an old blood stain on the floor and then at the crack on his skeletal face.

"It's what did this. Not sure why I've been given a second chance, but best not let it go to waste eh."

As he spoke to the drider named Xune, Bones spotted the charred remains of black armour and the corpses that wore them just outside the entrance of the pyramid. If he could, his eyes would have widened in surprise.

"I see you already met some of my old friends. We were another band of foolhardy souls like yourselves you see. Tried to take on the pyramid and... well, the fact that it's still standing can only mean we failed."

For a moment, the undead fighter tilted his head forward in a downcast expression before looking up at the living gathered before him and the pinprick glow in the hollows of his eyes seemed to brighten a little.

"But maybe you lot will be the ones to finish the job. I'm sure if we all put our minds to it, we can find a way forward."

Just as he said that however, the spikes suddenly retracted into the floor and the entrance to the pyramid began to shut. As the last dim rays of light from the outside world vanished from sight, the entire pyramid itself seemed to shake and resound with a heavy rumbling of activity.

"Well... that's new."

Xune truly did dislike this place sucking at any spell she cast. Ryker had retreated with the other mercenary so it was her mantis and this new wild undead stuck in the pyramid. When they coukd reateat like the others into her pocket dimension they would not be leaving this place that way. The only way was to get to the core abd to take control. The undead did seem to have the wrong impression despite xune being carried by undead, which she switched out with fresh ones, that she was here to destroy the black pyramid. That this place had remained here so long was proof of that folly.

" Destroy? Oh no I plan to put this place under new management. If you couldn't tell the maker of this and I are two of a kind, still at least it will be in better hands " she explained before urging her new skeletons fowrad with a mental comand.

ooc: a marching we will go
Time: ???
Weather: cold
Mentions: @Tellussoil @Karcen@Nameless Hero
TLDR: the spaces is actively draining the characters. the light in the floor seems to be concentrated into a dais with a cluster of pylons on it
music:


The skeletons pressed further into the chamber and the light beneath them tightened into sharper lines, then surged outward in a wider spread that cut across the floor ahead. The pulse in the conduits quickened again and the vibration underfoot grew heavier, each cycle pushing through the stone with more force than before.

The change reached the party. The green light gathered under Mantis pulled at her, drawing a portion of her lifeforce away in a sudden surge. The same pull was less on the others for now as the pattern on the floor spread out, marking the space they stood and tread on as it began to build.

Deeper in the chamber, the lines converged toward a raised section of floor where the conduits fed into a cluster of pylons. It was about 35ft across and each pylon was about 18ft high. There was 6 pylons in total. The glow was stronger there and the movement of the machinery more focused, the pattern in the floor leading directly toward it as the pressure behind them continued to build.

@Karcen@Tellussoil

"Ah... I was wondering who those charming fellows belonged to," Bones replied as he looked at the drider's undead minions. For a moment, he tapped the hilt of his sword thoughtfully as he looked back at the drider and the Elf named Mantis, then back at the drider. "Two of a kind eh... I-"

The floor began to pulse and a green light surged toward the whole party. It did something to the Elf then spread out and raced ahead into the chamber to a cluster of towering pylons.

"I don't like the looks of this," Bones said as he put the drider's words into the back of his mind, deciding to keep his thoughts to himself for now. "Let's move on ahead shall we?"

Following one of the conduits on the floor to a nearby pylon, the undead approached it for a closer look and hmmed in deep thought as he considered what to do next.

"Curious, I wonder what these are for," he pondered out loud before turning towards Xune. "Don't suppose you can cast any spells on em, see what happens?"

Xuen watched the lights move about the chamber trying to figure out the arcane machinery, it was without a doubt far more than she had expected and still could not get over. The question was where was the core? Xune doubted it was the raise area, that was just to simple with only the one main trap. Still it seemed important and spending time here just seemed to constantly drain her of power. She wanted to take control and get out of this inability to rely on her magic to protect her. There was little else she could do but head to the circle of pylons, they were the most important looking thing around and with this place not being the labyrinth she expected she might as well try see if she got lucky.

" this place has a nasty habit of eating my spells though i can try s few things" Xune replied urging her skeletons towards the pylons, but keeping a distance if she felt the draw grow stronger. Should it grow stronger she would pause her skeletal bearers and send just one forward. She would channel what power she could to keep the skeleton animated and order it into the circle of pylons. She needed to see if it just wanted more energy or was going to attack anyone who entered the circle. She might have to feed the pyramid again, but that was a small price to pay.

All ways out have now been sealed. There was no other option than to finish the mission now and kill this building from the inside. Although the how is still a mystery, as the place looks to be all solid with no crevices indicating soft tissue beneath where sharp objects can be inserted.
Then there is also that new independent skeleton that claimed to be stuck in this place. Or they were a creation of this place. So far, the pyramid had produced an overwhelming amount of fleshless in its control, so the chance of this one being another of the pyramid's creations was highly likely.

Mantis had stayed still for the moment to let things play out, ready to intervene where needed. She was the only one who still had the honour to do so, as the other two of their party decided to peace out and go to sit in Xune’s pocket dimension.

The pyramid did not wait to not stop being an absolute nuisance. Mantis’s blood writhed beneath her skin as the pyramid kept up with the soul-sucking. That was when all turned red before her eyes. She was so done with the pyramids' shenanigans! If it can’t be a good host for its guests, then Mantis might as well try to hurt it back. The elf followed one of the conduits and dashed towards the dais with the pylons with weapon in hand.
She jumped onto the dais and ran towards one of the pylons. The others might want to examine and stare at the plateau. Mantis had no time for that. The energy seems to lead to these pylons, so they must be important. And if she could destroy one or ultimately all of them, the pyramid might stop having such a hostile environment. Anyway, she was going to attack one of the pillars before the pyramid had a chance to try to stop her. As she came in range, Mantis swung her blade at the pillar before making a small jump backwards away from the pillar to see what her strike would do to the structure.

ooc:
Time: ???
Weather: cold
Mentions: @Tellussoil @Karcen@Nameless Hero
TLDR: Bones and skeleton buddies loose barrier. 4 Wardens appeared and are moving toward mantis and lone skeleton who was damaging pylon cluster. The pylons are shooting chains at Xune specifically.
music:


The skeleton within the pylons slowed as the light gathered around it, its movement reduced as the energy fed through it and into the conduits. The skeletons left behind and Bones felt the change immediately. The light under their feet tightened and pulled harder, drawing from them in sharp pulses that translated into clear damage with each cycle. (barriers, assuming they were still up, shatter on Bones and the skeletons not on the dais) Mantis felt a lesser pull where she stood on the platform.

The strike against the pylon carried through the structure. The vibration traveled along the conduits and into the floor, and the chamber answered. Sections of the platform split along hidden seams and larger forms rose up from within the structure itself.

Four constructs emerged around the pylon cluster, each standing close to twelve feet tall. Their bodies were built from layered bone fused with dark armor, thick through the chest and shoulders, with heavy limbs that ended in reinforced grips and bladed extensions. Their frames locked into place as they rose, then began to move, each step slow and weighted as they oriented toward the nearest targets. (mantis and the lone skeleton at the moment)

At the same time, the light beneath Xune tightened into a single point and thin strands of green energy lashed out from the pylons toward her position. (Xune should take a defense action)

"Fuck!" Bones yelped as the light pulled at his feet, doing something to him and Xune's skeletal minions. Although he could not feel any pain, it certainly looked like it would have hurt and he went reeling backwards away from the pylon as soon as he was able to. "Look but don't touch eh."

At the very least, one thing was confirmed. The pyramid saw Bones as an enemy, this in spite of its energies being responsible for his current state. It saw him as a threat.

Good.

Just as he was pondering his next step however, the elf suddenly came flying through the air like an arrow and struck one of the pylons with her blade... then all hell broke loose. Four hulking figures emerged around the pylons - none that Bones recognized for a small blessing - and slowly, inexorably, they began to advance upon the party.

"I don't think the pyramid liked that," Bones said as he drew his sword and dagger. "Must be something important. Shall we try it again?"

Ah, but I can't approach these pillars, he thought as his eyes darted around, trying to find a solution. Come on, think, think, think!

Seeing one of the gargantuan figures approaching closer, Bones attempted to move out of the way only to find another barring his path. And then, just as he was about to resign himself to making a desperate last stand, an idea struck.

"I'll draw them away!" he shouted as he ran to intercept the ones closest to Mantis. Then gesturing towards one of the pylons with his sword, "You two break these damn things! Come on ugly, over here!"

And with that, Bones made his attempt to lure the four towering constructs away from the party.

Xune sighed she was really getting why the great necromancer wanted to make a world where his will was the only one. Having the others run about and mess with her experiments was annoying. Xune had at least sone results as the platform was clearly of importance given the guardians. Though that could just be because Mantis had attacked the pillars instead of waiting for a command. Still this was letting Xune gather data at least until the pylons decided to attack her. That was just great and with her mind she urged her skeletal mounts out of the way and towards the center of the raised disc. Xune had an idea, but she needed cover.

" Cover me I have an idea!" Xune called out to tge others once she was at the center. The pyramid had wanted energy before so maybe she could supply yet more and take control or force it into a shut down. That was the best idea she could come up with as protection was unlikely to last they would just have to endure.

So as the fight kicked off xune would be in the center channeling power from herself inton the pyramid assuming the pylons would take it in and if she powered them something would happen. She had to trust the others to protect her while she did this.

Actions
1 dodge the incoming attack
2 move to center of the disc
3 channel energy into the pylons.

The strike of Mantis’s weapon reverberated through the structure. {"You don’t like that, eh!?... GOOD!"} the elf said with cruel delight. This place was making it unpleasant for her, so she was going to make her presence as uncomfortable as possible for it.

The energy passed through the seams, and the pyramid summoned four bone creations twice her size to try and stop them from messing with the dias. How utterly foolish. Mantis started cackling as she turned towards the approaching constructs with weapon in hand. {"And so the dance continues… but no matter. I will exterminate any of the useless fleshless that are sent my way. SO LET’S HAVE SOME FUN!!"} With a mad grin on her lips, Mantis dashed towards the construct closest to her, completely ignoring Bones’s attempt at being a heroic martyr.
Mantis jumped and placed her blade against the neck of the first skeleton. Using the momentum she swung herself around the skeleton, attempting to slice off its head with [Headslicer]. She threw a glance at Bones "dumb fleshless. no steal, hunter prey" She said before turning to her next target and unleashing [toppling strike] a series of strikes at the legs as well as the sides of the target, attempting to disrupt their balance and topple to the ground. In the meantime Xune could do whatever she wanted to do while Mantis kept the pyramid’s security entertained.

ooc: We will shoot for faster turn around this round I hope. more detail on the chain on xune: tangle effect just dropped her speed to 0 so she can't leave the space until she breaks the chain.

while chained she is under a Enervation D,E, F
Time: ???
Weather: cold
Mentions: @Tellussoil @Karcen@Nameless Hero
TLDR: Xune captured and taking ongoing damage while active spells were put on cooldown, bone soldiers confused, mantis half lifed and targeted by the wardens, bones mostly getting ignored by the wardens
music:


The chains struck Xune before she could evade them. Green energy wrapped around her body and tightened at once, lifting her from her skeletal mount and suspending her above the platform as the conduits around the pylons surged brighter. The drain hit immediately and began pulling power from her in heavy waves. The magic sustaining any of her active spells faltered under the strain and collapsed, forcing every maintained effect into cooldown as the pyramid fed directly from her. (enervation effect, tangle effect, damaging)

Below Xune, the skeletons hesitated. They shifted in place around the platform without direction while the light beneath them continued to pulse.

Mantis crashed into the wardens head on. Her blade struck the first across the neck, but the reinforced armor and layered bone held through the impact. The construct answered with brutal force, one armored arm smashing into her as the second warden intercepted the follow up attack before she could recover her footing. The exchange tore through her defenses and drove her backward across the platform, sliding across the floor as it cost her nearly half her life as the wardens absorbed the assault and continued advancing.

With Mantis now engaging them directly, the wardens shifted their attention toward her almost entirely. Bones found himself largely ignored as the larger constructs closed around the elf instead, their heavy steps shaking the platform with each advance while the pylons continued feeding on the energy drawn into the chamber.

As Bones made his way over towards Mantis, he heard Xune calling out and turned to see what she was doing. Noticing her standing in the centre of the pillars and recalling what she had said about putting this place under new management, Bones realized with dawning horror what she intended to do and shouted out to her, "No, don't try it! The pyramid will kill you!"

Too late. The trap had already activated and the drider was now bound in chains, suspended above the platform with her minions standing lost and directionless below. At almost the exact same moment, Bones heard the clang of a blade against something as hard as stone followed by Mantis saying, "Dumb fleshless. No steal, hunter prey."

He turned towards the sound of her voice just in time to see the elf attempting to attack one of the constructs before being brutally struck from behind by another, sending her clear across the room like a sack of grain.

"Shit!" Bones cursed in response as he halted in his tracks, too late to prevent it. Too late to prevent anything.

Moreover, the constructs seemed to ignore him as they turned towards Mantis, marching forward with those damnably heavy and ponderous steps. Everything had happened in only a matter of seconds, but it was more than enough to spell doom for the living.

Not again, Bones thought as he dropped his hands to his sides, looking down at them in despair. Not again...

---

Within that moment of utter defeat, a torrent of memories flashed through the revenant's mind like a sudden tidal wave, sweeping him down into moments of hunger and strife, and dark desperation followed by a hand. An extended hand leading to moments of trial, tribulation and soaring triumph.

Standing side by side with powerful mages, peerless warriors and seasoned explorers. Together they travelled the world facing many foes, overcoming many life and death situations, and claiming many victories until at last they came here, far from home to the See of Fae. To challenge the pyramid.

One by one, they fell to its defences. One by one, they gave their lives to push an unremarkable man to its door and in one leap, that man gave his life to push the one who had first extended him a hand that led to all of this.

O Elara, keep this one alive, he remembered thinking before he fell... only to rise again.

---

"Not again," Bones murmured as he clenched his hands, lifted his gaze and shouted with eyes ablaze, "NOT AGAIN!"

Holding up his dagger, he spun around and hurled it towards the nearest pylon with a chain wrapped around Xune. In the next instant, he shouted out to Mantis, "Hey! Get up if you're still alive, elf! It's not over yet!"

Then holding his sword in both hands, Bones rushed towards the construct that had sent Mantis flying, aiming to deliver a thrust with full force into the back of its leg.

Until I die, even after I die, nothing is over, he thought while charging ahead with a wordless scream, daring the constructs to ignore him this time.

Actions:

1. Throw dagger at pylon.
2. Rush towards construct.
3. Thrust sword at construct's leg.

The pyramid could not wait it seemed and Xune regretted not having a more trust worthy steed. The skeletons were just not fast enough to carry her away allowing the energy to grab and pick her up. What was more annoying is that she felt it weaken her draining away her lesser spells. She could not help but wonder why just everything around here seemed made to focus on keeping her from having a moment to do anything for herself. There were worse situations to be stuck in and Xune had other spells. She could always summon forth the dead, but with how this place ate up her magic that would be pointless. Maybe if she got some time not being the pyramid's primary focus. The skeleton they had found, bones, was it seemed having his Vietnam flash back moment with this all going wrong. Xune needed to get out of this stupid trap and perhaps get the damned pyramid feed then it would bow to her hopefully. Still at least it would stop stealing her energy and magic even if it didn't submit to her.

" Don't lose your head skeleton this is far from over, i could always bring back those friends of yours" xune said that she was still going to be saving for now. " Just keep playing distraction " she continued remaining calm as she decided on what was best.

" Come fire of death flames of unlife wash upon my foes drown them in the chill of death reduce their bone to ash" She called out casting a spell to unleash another powerful blast of soul flames to envelope the room and hopefully sate the pyramid.

spell magic C catalyst c Selective magic c magic targes C magic Aoe c affinity soul fire c affinity incurable c blight necrotic C magic targets c Ranck C cooldown 4 turns aoe 1/2 mile 50 targets a powerful blast of soul fire necrotic and incurable energies.

actions
1 xune uses a spell to blast the area except her allies
magic C catalyst c Selective magic c magic targes C magic Aoe c affinity soul fire c affinity incurable c blight necrotic C magic targets c Ranck C cooldown 4 turns aoe 1/2 mile 50 targets a powerful blast of soul fire necrotic and incurable energies.

ooc: We will shoot for faster turn around this round I hope. more detail on the chain on xune: tangle effect just dropped her speed to 0 so she can't leave the space until she breaks the chain.

while chained she is under a Enervation D,E, F
Time: ???
Weather: cold
Mentions: @Tellussoil @Karcen@Nameless Hero
TLDR: Bones did some damage to the pylons, bones has an attack coming his way, xune is under enervation for most of her abilities and still held but her attack hit most of the baddies and pylons in the chamber, mantis has an attack coming her away, the party's fiddling with the pylons triggered a massive shift that brought several scavengers to the scene from elsewhere in the pyramid.
music:


The dagger struck the pylon with a sharp metallic crack and bounced away. The glow within the structure flickered for a moment, no more than Mantis had managed with her own strike.

His charge met a far harsher reality. The sword thrust landed against the back of the nearest warden's leg, scraping across reinforced armor before biting shallowly into the layers beneath. The undead construct barely reacted. It turned with ponderous force and struck at him with the back of one massive arm. (defend yourself)

Above them, the chains tightened around Xune. The drain intensified as the pylons fed from her directly. Green light flowed through the bindings and into the surrounding machinery, each pulse stripping more power from her. The soul fire she called forth answered her summons, but the spell never reached its full strength. A large portion of the energy was consumed by the system before it could leave her grasp. The blast still erupted.

Blue green fire washed across the platform and into the wardens. The constructs staggered under the impact as flames crawled across armor and bone, and some fell to a knee. The fire spread into the pylons as well, and for the first time the entire cluster reacted. The conduits brightened. The floor shook. The green glow throughout the chamber surged upward in a wave. The drain on Xune eased.

A deep grinding sound rolled through the chamber as sections of the walls split apart. Hidden passages opened on either side of the room and living figures emerged from within. Men and women in scavenged armor and expedition gear stepped into view carrying tools, weapons, and packs filled. They froze for only a moment at the sight of the wardens, the suspended Xune, and the ongoing battle.

One of them pointed toward the pylons.

"There! I told you someone activated the core systems!"

The wardens immediately changed course. The 2nd nearest construct turned away from Bones and began advancing toward the newly arrived intruders while another already near Mantis threw a powerful punch at her. (defend yourself)

Xune was annoyed she was still not free and the pyramid was still draining her. Just how much energy did this thing need? This stupid place would have the energy it wanted if it would just stop these stupid games. At least tge others were doing sone fighting even if she was stuck here being drained. Though as they seemed in dire straits more people came in. Xube had not heard of others coming to this place let alone getting ahead of them. They seemed to know the structure of this place as well. Xune didn't like it she wasn't here to destroy the pyramid like the others she wanted it for herself.

There was just one problem in all this she was still held suspended in the air being drained. She needed to get free. The skeletons were useless they were just around to carry her in truth. There was only one option and xune didn't like it. She wasn't small or helpless. It was a weird pride she had built perhaps after being forced to live as an experiment.

"[B] WOULD SONEONE JUST CUT ME DOWN ALREADY [B]" she called out already beyond annoyed abd tired of being crippled by environmental effects.