Gretta tugs at Hans’ armor pointing to Asnir and The Scribe. Weakly and unsure of her purpose here she says, ”Hans we have to help them.”
Asnir still lays motionless under the weights of inspirational words the heroes laid at his feet. The Scribe grimaces still unable to fully stand. Her voice is no more than a whisper, ” Thank you... Thank you all for your words. We heard them well.” She grips Asnir’s hand and with her other shakily points to a narrow split in the catacombs wall. Beyond it all you can see is the warm glow of fire, ” There... That is where you must head. We are unable... I don’t know if you can make it to the sourcing stone... The pinnacle of the vampire’s power that plagues Zacatecas. Greta is the...” She clutches her side as a fresh wound opens staining the black rock even further.
Karl pokes his out of his celetial cellphone shaking his head at the two gods brough low, ”Deathspike says they are done for. Looks like vegas has their odds at... Nil.” The imp chuckles looking at Mercy, ” Bad odds even for a crazy like you eh?
Rodney beeps and boops, hovering near, ” I have ran the calculations myself... There survival and our survival is not good.”
Audry beats anyone to it but first replaces Penitents mask. The fire in her eyes is both breath taking and feirce, ” Didn’t you dolts listen to anything they said?” She points to Architect, Pen, Ndreare, Mercy, Ashlyn, Brody, Kir, and Finally Hans. ”They can do it, they have never been beaten not because they are particularly skilled or they are increadably powerful.” She shakes with such fury her voice caught in her throat.
The enforcer steps forward hefting his double bladed halbeard with ease in one hand, ” They believe... They have always believed and that is what carries them.”
Penny squeezes Brody’s hand inspired, and Tera Silverforge nods grasping Yodh’s shoulder. The legendary TW dwarve smiles and says, ” Thad’s right they da believe and so will we.”
Yodh nods grimly able to see the forces chattering in the darkness. He smiles, ” I believe as well. The time draws near when we must test our true mettle. I am glad to do so will all of you.”
Even the silent Grackletooth ranger Mitch flexes his muscles twirling his tri-pronged wooden vampire scewering trident, ” We got this.”
Ashlyn’s dog yips loudly and rapidly drawing the heroes attention to the vampires clad strangly in coalition armor waiting for them at the edge of the Mark IV bright UV lights.
Rodney beeps, ”Ah... It seems I mis translated...”
A dark shadow over takes the group assembled blotting out the lights of the vehicle (Door Ajar!). In the middle of the shadow which dissipates a dark figure emerges clad in a matted black armor like a knight of old. Its like he is there and yet not there. Ancient as time itself the vestige of XY walks amongst you! He cackles making the air cold and vile, ” Yes droid... You mis translated. That Dog has been nothing but trouble.” Xy cackles slightly pausing to pet the clearly angry dog. ”While I have been asleep... I am now but moments from fully waking. Only a giant ogre deep in my consciousness is preventing my rise. But the warlocks and witches of my following will soon deal with him. I have never felt so unopposed, so powerful.” The black knight bends low petting Ashlyn’s white scruffy dog, ”How long have you been trapped like that Thoth?”. Yip Yip! The knight shakes the cavern in his laughter.
Suddenly, The celestial human, the enforcer leaps at him swinging his bladed halberd which glows bright with the power of good and hope. Xy catches the mighty godling with his armored hand and snaps its neck in a motion that one would call akin to a boot stepping on an ant. The enforcer falls to the ground his soft blue eyes looking yet no longer seeing. His weapons clatters silently near his unmoving hand. XY looks at the assembled heroes, and steps over Asnir and The Scribe as he spreads his hands wide, ”Anyone else? No? Mercy... I hear you come looking for someone you lost? Best me and I will give her to you...” The vampires hiss in the dark laughing.
The knighted Xy extends an armored finger towards the little dwarven girl,” Give the dwarven child over to me and I will aid you in extinguishing not just the vampires you fight here but on the entire planet. Even the entire megaverse.” Like a father beaconing his kid he kneels waving Han’s sister Gretta to him, ”Come child... Come... I know why you are here.”
A time for aid or distraction.
Yodh slips his silver dagger into his hand and nods siliently to Ndreare, ” I am with you brother. An evil like this—“ Yodh’s throat starts to bleed as if cut by an invisible blade of malice itself. Xy’s eyes blaze, ”Shhhhhh.... Lets not fight just yet.” Yodh clutches his throat using what healing skill he has supported by the stricken taylor thomas whom pulls out a spider like looking biowizard empathic healer. It would appear Ndreare’s brother is still breathing but stuned at the power Xy almost awakened perhaps rightfully has.
Tera Silverforge comms the group with her thick dwarven accent clearly shaken by the creatures actions, ”Ladies I am not sure ye and I coulda take this being... Xy wouldda be an old one. Da Oldest I believe... We da need dose Gods back in da fight. Mercy donta believe him. We’ll get ya Jessica back the right way.”
Behind Xy, Asnir’s eyes fill with life, as the words previously spoken have finally sunk in and moved his failed heart. He extends his right hand to the heroes and those willing can feel a tug on their life essence. In their minds they hear softly and yet firmly the voice of the divine, ” True Believers... We have to drive this arrogant force back into the ethereal... I can’t do it alone... Please lend me your eternal life.”
Melody one of Kir’s acolytes and a brown haired beauty collapses suddenly as she gives to her god fully. Xy’s red blazing eyes fixate for a moment on her clearly surprised by her fall but before the terrible 12 foot knight could question further Penny steps forward still clutching Brody’s hand.
Her words need support from the psi ghost as she trys to draw the attention of the eldest of old ones. ”We will defeat you monster. I heard their tales and know you stand no chance.” Despite the beads of sweat dripping down her bangs the Old One’s black knight form turns its frightening gaze towards her.
Players got a choice here. Choose one of the dramatic tasks.
Task 1 life essence!
Make an arcane skill roll and deduct 1/4 ppts. You can deduct 1/2 for a +2 roll. You can also take a level of fatigue for a +2 roll. Two levels of fatigue for a +4. A raise on this roll gets a HJ roll of choice on either the psionics or magic and mysticism table.
5 successes are needed.
Task 2, distract Xy! Use a social skill, intimidate, taunt at -2. Combat skills like fighting or arcane can be used but incur 1d4 wounds as XY takes that opportunity to mercilessly strike you down. Raise on this roll will get you a roll on the black ops or experience and wisdom table.
5 successes needed.
If both are made it will give the players a chance to reroll the snafu result they are in. Basically Asnir will have a chance to take his fight back into the ethereal plane giving the heroes a better chance.
Uhhh GM what happens if Hans gives over his sister? XY will battle on the side of the heroes. +8 for your last leg of the journey and I suspect he may give you each two F and G rolls player may roll or choose.
Dude we do not need any help... Ok just fail the two tasks and we will move on.
GM I heal quickly: any natural healing rolls that are 1 hour or better can be made at this time.
Player Tracker...
Architect: 1/2 PPE used, 1 wound from round 1, 1 fatigue and 2 wounds from round 2( 1 fatigue, 3 wounds)
Brody: 1/2 PPE used, 1 wound from round 1, 1 wound round 2(2 wounds)
Ashlyn: 1/4 PPTs used
Hans: 1/2 PPE used (4 gagets used)
Pen: 9/20 PPE used
Ndreare: 1/2 PPE used
Kir: 1 wound, and at 1/2 PPT ( take a benny)
Mercy: welcome to the fight...