Things were not going well and it seemed that the pyramid was not going to just let them go in, so how did they do it? it seemed Xune needed more time to think, more time to perhaps weave wards or something to deal with the pyramid and its many defenders. She had expected it to just have a few corpses to work with but those coming out were much more than she expected and more than the others could likely endure. Not to mention she was still recovering from the large spells she had been employing, so they could not stay. It was annoying to be so close to the relic she desired and be forced to abandon it because it seemed to counter whatever she did. the barriers were sadly gone and now the protection that was afforded by them was gone as well. This whole thing was becoming a headache, it almost made Xune want to go seek out a few more of the books and see if any of those would give her a key to this place.
One of the undead was coming at her or rather her skeletons, it was annoying to have to deal with it. " EVERYONE RETREAT!" She called out willing her skeletons to move once more this time away from the pyramid while she countered the undeads assault on her wards, while it was no great loss if the skeletons should fall, it would be another annoyance
actions 1. have skeletons retreat away from the pyramid 2. focus on keeping the wards on her skeletons up so they don't have their energy sucked away.
Things of course could not be easy, Xune had not exactly expected the pyramid to be active in the first place, but for it to attack them so instead of spending its fury on the disposable guides was annoying. Though at least the fire aspect of her attack wasn't burning the forest or random animals it seemed, so little mercies. Xune did not want to have to deal with a bunch of pissed off elves or whatever savages would call the see home. The skeletons were, while useful at carrying her not the smoothest ride it seemed and she had to intervene her power controlling them more directly, going from a subconscious thing to a conscious action to make sure those that carried and protected her didn't fall into the ground. She could also feel the pull on her power and found it even more irritating that a mere relic was interfering with things so much. She weaved a few signs and wards to protect her magic that animated the skeletons from being sucked away and causing them to crumple. She really should get some more as replacement carriers. Though getting good physical skeletons was surprisingly hard when you were digging them up yourself or lurking around battle fields. well there were going to be a lot of corpses soon outside so maybe she could restock there. Regardless of that Xune bolstered the defenses of her skeletons, and might have to do so for the others, hopefully they wouldn't have their souls drawn in, that would really set her back in terms of back up plans. With ther skeletons controlled and protect Xuen would continue forward towards the entrance to the pyramid hopefully the effects would die out soon and they could explore without trying to drain them every step.
Actions 1. control skeletons to correct their footing to keep moving 2. ward skeletons so their magic isn't drained.
The undead seemed to be growing in number and the firbolgs were well being about as useful as Xune might expect. That was to say they were a hindrance as they died and the pyramid raised them as it called forth seemingly everything that had been killed in the ages it had lain here dormant. Mantis seemed not quite to get the situation, there likely wasn't a leader or simple catalyst to stop this, it was likely the pyramid itself with a fragment of the great necromancer's soul and will causing this. With the undead not exactly seeming to have an end to how many times they would get up, they would have to get into the pyramid and take control of it, or shut it off ideally the former. Xune had expected a dormant ruin needing repair, but to have the pyramid active so a great boon, it would even make a great home if they could take it for themselves.
"{ Its the pyramid itself i must get inside}" Xune shouted to her crazy elf while it seemed one of the mercs had run off, well one less person to deal with.
Xune thought for another moment as the others hacked and slashed and she came up with a plan. she just had to clear the field reset everything to zero and they could move in. Xune didn't quite like expending her energy this early in things having saved her strength in the last quest till the end, but it seemed her help was needed. There was the temptation to just run in herself, but that option was stupid. Xune might not value Ryker and Mantis as the more moral people might, but each was useful and if not for them she might have been enthralled by the great necromancer. They were very much worth saving, the new mercenary... well why not she had paid for their services she would damned well get her money's worth.
" OKAY EVERY LISTIEN UP IM GOING TO BLAST THE AREA THEN WE RUN FOR THE ENTRANCE!" She called out that was about the start and end of the plan blast the are book it to the entrance in the pyramid from with the other undead and necrotic mist had emerged and plunge into the depths of it till they reached the core. It was missing a few steps, but they would make it up as they went for sure.
" Vengeful dead, forgotten souls, awakened and burst forth, engulf these lands in fire and death" She chanted the magic circle again appearing below her as the skeletons moved from mental commands. Xune had found this was their greatest use, as a mount to let her focus on her spells while they moved her or took hits meant for her. Still Xune was not trying to exactly be precise with her casting and simply targeted the widest area she could. Was it over kill? yes. but it was fun to let go. she she did the blue green ghost flames erupted blanketing the area with their ghostly power washing over the undead, the group and the firbolgs.
1. blast the area with a powerful spell Magic C, catalyst C, Duration F, affinity Soul flame C, Magic area of effect C, magic affinity blight Necrotic c, magic affinity blight incurable C, magic affinity fire f, Selective magic , Rank C aoe range 1/2mile duration 1 hour hostile undead selected as targets.
2. have skeletons carry her into the pyramid
cool downs A 0/1 B 1/1 until canceled C 1/1 until canceled D 0/1 E 0/1
Narrative Goal: Retrieve The black pyramid Active Point Boosters: N/A Title/Asset Goals: gain asset black pyramid F Wanted/Criminal Titles: N/A Special Skills: N/A Notable Titles: none Notable Skills: none Notable Perks: none Using Downtime?: Yes upgrade asset Time of a Thousand souls F to E Character Sheet:
The black pyramid, how long had followers of the great necromancer sought it? Xune didn't know, but from the records she had read it was in far better condition than she would have expected. It was said that after the great necromancer arrived on this plane and lost a good deal of power he had to relearn the art of magic and that during that time he had been contested by the spirit king. Some records said it was a great battle that had ended with the suit king having to intervene. Other records said it had been the great necromancer and an army of the dead against the spirit king alone. No matter which story was correct or if it was some mix they ended the same with the black pyramid cast down and the great necromancer retreating. Fighting on the front lines had never been a necromancer's place, even one like the great necromancer who had killed worlds and could hold his own. The stories had mentioned a duel between the spirit king and the great necromancer that lasted days with both spell and blade.
Xune had expected the pyramid to be long dead,a ruin devoid of power beyond symbol and knowledge. That it was in one piece and somehow still active was to her a miracle, or perhaps the books she carried that were also anchors for the deity's soul had woken it. The forest around it had been drained and yet it hungered. Xuhe watched as one of the firbolgs was yanked away into the pyramid, had she known it would eat the living she would have brought more. Though she needed to bind it to her will first. If she was right then then the key to doing that would be a sarcophagus deep in the center of the pyramid amid all the chambers within. The pyramid was as much a castle and lab as it was a tomb.
Now they had to deal with the undead that the pyramid was animating. That the pyramid acted seemingly on its own was quite a wonder that what had once been just a tool to channel magic was now perhaps alive in a way. That wonder didn't really deal with the undead, though hopefully the mercenary she had brought would kill a few before being slain. Ryker and Mantis were worth keeping, but a random person she could live without. There was the other mercenary she had as well who was not as swift to act it seemed. Xune debated what she should do if anything, but it would be very helpful if all her forces lived minus the guides. Locals could be sacrificed; it wasn't like Xune had any love for the fae or responsibility toward porte ting then, but she had paid for those mercenaries she should get her money's worth from them.
How to help was the question, Xune didn't think summoning her powerful undead would be worth it here. The 5 simple skeletons she kept around were not the best for fighting, maybe she should work on them more? She could blast the undead with soul flames, but she didn't think that was needed yet. Likely the best play here was to just do as she had in the tomb and guard her allies while they took down her foes.
“ It seems we will have to fight, hopefully that firbolg stays fresh.” Xune said from her perch upon one of her skeletal Minions. She did know mantis would likely want to eat some of the fresh flesh.
“Come you wild souls, come with souls alight and shield me from my foes” Xune chanted staying where she was as a magical circle appeared below her on the hands of the skeleton as she conjured forth the soul fire shields to protect herself,her skeletons, mantis, ryker, Abe, and Loren.
Soul shield summons forth a barrier of blue fire souls often manifesting as wailing skulls around the target.
Magic B catalyst B duration F Selective magic C Barrier B Affinity soul flame C magic Targets D Magic range D Magic circle
Rank B 100f range 25 targets 1 hour duration. Barrier 16 hp plus 1 effectiveness 4 turn cool down.
Valaya looked about the town and seemed it fine as the others spoke, she had just kind of come along because she was heading this way. The east empire didn't have the greatest reputation being human supremists, you would think they were elves with their pride. It was odd that there were no guards in a city, but wellmanpower was at a premium. Still something felt off, Calaya couldn't put her finger on it and as the group walked into the city and she heard the splash of water and felt warm liquid on her feet she looked up. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, but the ground around the city gate was wet as if it had just rained.
“ yeah well something about this place makes my spine shiver. It's too boring, there's no doom here” Valaya said dismissively of the city and her own feelings. “Still something's telling me we shouldn't be going out alone. How about we all stick together?” She offered not sounding scared but more confused abd on guard.
[Center] The city of Aesis lies on the border of the eastern empire and ryke, housing many who don't quite agree with the stances of their home, yet don't want to leave it. It is a city of those that javelin a shame in their past or just want to get away from their past. A few ex gladiators call this place home having retired from the area either due to age or injury. One such gladiator is Paulus Vitus who retired to have a family with Fasia Fucisa. He had even written to two of his old friends to come visit his home though the handwriting was shaky and certain words seemed more emphasized than others. Still there were plenty of reasons for this to happen, perhaps illness,perhaps mental stresses, or even just kids disturbing him.
Valaya had ended up traveling with the ex gladiators and surprisingly or well unsurprisingly a merchant. Said merchant didn't have alcohol so she wasn't interested, a blacksmith like any human could be as good as earthborn, it was just like their beer weak. She had ridden like the others, the ride boring, not even some bandits to fight. She had thought maybe with that hive thing nearby she might find some good fighting and a good doom. So far she had found nothing,but she would hang around in town for a few days before leaving if nothing interesting happened. The city itself looked rather normal shoddy human work of course her earthborn eye could see the screw ups or lacking finish not readily apparent to the human eye. The cart the bunch had been riding in came to a stop just before the gates to the city though there were no guards to greet them as expected. Well that made life easier no black orb testing no questions or people questioning why Valaya called everything human work.
“ So you two said you have a friend that lives here she asked looking into the open gates and seeing the place had an odd feeling about it, something off yet not apparent. She felt would be bad for any of them to wander off alone.
Nameless Hero
Not a Sayan
