[Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash — Legacy Forums

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#121

Helgkhor thinks back to Cassa and her never-ending supply of bandages. Healing? We lack a healer.

He turns around again to watch the smoke stream from the man's spooky wooden mask as he speaks, then glances at Metandris' dying fire...

"Dwarf-friend Korchel here, can speak with smoke and fire. And smoke and fire speak back to him." Helgkhor announces suddenly to Metandris, then to Korchel, "Have you taken this man's measure yet? What say you Korchel?" He asks the quiet yet always simmering dwarf.

To Metandris: "Accompany us...but can you keep up? We chase the carriage that almost ran you down..."

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#122

"Yes, I can keep up so long as you are not planning on running the miles away." said Metandris.

He bent over the small fire and pulled away the larger portions of wood, casting them out into the rain, until all that remained of the fire was a small ember. He reached into his pocket and pulled a small portion of dry bark and dropped it onto the remaining embers. It flared up briefly and left dull ash in its wake.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#123

"Hey, more's the merrier," Atacuso grinned. "We should get to movin', dough. Creeping tings are likely about."

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#124

Korchel had been silent through much of the conversation with the sickly druid. He watched the tendrils of smoke play across the grooves and curves of his mask; they were not giving anything away in their writhing path. Finally, he shrugged and looked to Helgkhor, "This is not something I can advise on."
The conversation ended when Atacuso suggested moving on, and once Metandris had tended to the remains of the fire the gathering left the shelter, back into the cold rain.

The hours drew on as the companions made their way through the ship graveyard - not far after Metandris's campsite, the path had disappeared to nearly nothing, oftentimes forcing the companions to guess at which way to continue - but always they found themselves going east, and finding their path once again.
The first corpse was spotted about two hours along the road. Atacuso had noticed it first, up ahead half sunken in a large puddle. It was little more than a skeleton with rags, partially submerged in mud and water - it had definitely been there for some time. Decades, at least! There was little that could be done with the remains, and they held nothing of value so the group did the only thing they could: They continued on.

The deeper into the graveyard they went, the more of these skeletons they found. Evidently the various crew members of the myriad ships which dotted this land. Aredhel made an observation out loud; "It's strange... These ships. They are not from one fleet. Indeed, they are not even from one time! This one, here," The Wizard pointed out a massive barge of tarred oak and towering masts, "This appears to be of the Kelevestian make; some decades old, I would say! But this one..." Aredhel indicated another, smaller wooden ship somewhat further inland with a sweep of his hand, "I am not sure, but from my readings, that seems to be of Hypoten origin. Now, Hypoten hasn't made vessels large enough to traverse that kind of distance since before they closed their borders, I do not think. It would have to be several centuries old at least!" Aredhel peered at the Hypoten vessel for a while longer before continuing on, "Curious..." He would have loved to study it, but time was an issue.

Helgkhor shuddered - this whole place felt wrong to him. Not to mention the fact that he was cold and miserable, and the cloak he had - though magical - did not seem to be too effective at staving off the soaking rain which seemed to chill to the core. still, he trudged through the land as quick as he could, setting the pace for the rest of the group. Helgkhor and indeed the rest of the companions had soon found out what Metandris had meant by odd sounds in the night: through the patter of the rain, the creaking of movements and scurrying within the ships could sometimes be heard. whispers floated in the air and occasionally rodent-like screeching could be heard. Orange eyes could be seen reflecting from the hulls of some boats, disappearing abruptly whenever one of the men turned to watch them.

Finally, after what seemed to be an endless night, the party came upon a large line of giant vessels crushed up one against the other in a wide corridor of a hundred feet across. And there, rising up in the distance was a steep rise which led up to a hilly horizon just barely visible in the rainy night, no more than perhaps a couple of miles away; the end of the boat-pile was near! Into the Corridor they went.
(rolls)
The companions kept a wary eye on the sides of the ships, but little of detail could be spotted through the rain and darkness, even for the elves' keen senses. After twenty minutes of their cautious pace, Helgkhor spied something odd up ahead on the road. "Hold! What is that...?"
It was another corpse, about forty yards away; this one propped up in a seated position by a rocky protrusion from the ground behind it. What struck the party as odd, was that this skeleton still had all it's belongings. A fully matched suit of what appeared to be a Military or Naval uniform, worn much away by time. A well-crafted rapier sat next to it's hand, as well as a long dagger on the other side. What appeared to be a small strong-box lay under the skeleton's right hand -the fingers clasped firmly around it.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#125

His inner fires muted by the relentlessly gloomy weather, Korchel had been nearly silent these last few hours. His only words had been quietly muttered incantations meant to keep the rain from extinguishing his pipe. Catching sight of the well-equipped remains ahead, he whispered a raspy warning. "Stand fast! In this realm of the watery dead, the living can expect a cold welcome!"

Studying the corpse as best he can without approaching, Korchel will ready his sling.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#126

"There is a reason why a dead man so near the path has still his goods, in pristine condition! Make a wide circle around, friends, for this fellow will guard what was his, from you, from beasts, from the very tooth of time."
"No pickings here" Carus noted.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#127

Atacuso loosed the halberd from his pack and hefted it with the business end leveled squarely at the well-dressed corpse. He moved carefully to take a flanking position, silent but with eyes darting about and ears sharp.

Perception check to see if anything is (more) amiss: Dozus rolls 1d20 and gets 6.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#128

"When one is presented with a lure, look out for the trap", said Metandris, looking about also.

Though who would be watching a trap in this weather, and this unpopulated an area, could only be of supernatural patience and endurance.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#129

Helgkhor begins to sing in his gravelly voice, his giant sword aloft, his pinkish eyes blood-shot scarlet now...

"Lo there do I see my father
Lo there do I see my mother,
my sisters and my brothers,
Lo there do I see the line of my people,
back to the beginning.
Lo, they do call me, they bid me take my place among them,
in the halls of Shagaar's Shack, where the brave may live....forever!"

He pays respects to his ancestors. He lets any free-roaming spirits present know, that he is not an enemy. This is how it is done. It is this sing-song epic which the barbarians of Sorvegil learn to intone at a young age, and which they believe will keep the undead at bay.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#130

As Helgkhor recited his tribal prose to dispel evil spirits and calm the restless dead the group remained where they were, studying the area and keeping a healthy distance from the deceased body. The barbarian's respectful words of his ancestors resonated eerily through the patter of the rain, echoing between the wreckages to either side of them; the combination of the song and rain in an otherwise silent, hazy night made the group feel very small in this world. Atacuso took several steps to one side to flank the corpse while Helgkhor did his duty, but nothing moved; at least, not until the barbarian uttered his final syllables.

A heartbeat of silence passed. Then, as though Helgkhor's lyrics were a summoning ritual, the mud before the group began to shift and pulse - past the corpse and on the other side of the low rock. As though borne from the earth itself, seven figures arose from the earth with a chilling rattle of bone. The dead was rising before their very eyes - bleach-boned skeletons with piercing, yellow eyes clawed their way to the surface.

[img width=400 height=285]http://i46.tinypic.com/4rf5ld.jpg

Seven aberrations rose before them menacingly as though mocking the living companions for clinging to life. Six were arranged in a rough semi-circle along the width of the clearing, two carrying daggers in each hand, held down to their sides, but the other four completely ungarbed and unarmed. A seventh stood several feet in front of the others, partially clothed in rotting garments similar to the immobile corpse. The handle of a masterfully crafted scimitar could be seen, sitting in the scabbard on the belt of this seventh skeleton. A wooden round shield was strapped to it's back.

The seven figures stood before the companions. They had climbed ominously from the ground itself yet now they took no action, simply standing in this formation and watching the group with their soul-piercing yellow eyes.

(rolls)
Metandris and Korchel's eyes were failing them this night, but Helgkhor, Atacuso and Aredhel all noticed one other feature about these creatures: each bore a ring of the same make upon their bony fingers; a plain silver band with a single, smoky gem set inside it.

OOC: Seven skeletons stand before the group, making no move but watching, waiting. I will post a rough map in the OOC thread to give you all a bit of an idea how they stand.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#131

Atacuso stood frozen - not terrified, properly, but out of a hunter's instinct to stay still when spotted. "De dead rise," he said through gritted teeth, mouth barely moving. "See de rings dey bear? Must be some red medicines keeping deir bones a-shaking."

He shifted his eyes to Aredhel. "You know dese spells? Can you put dem back in de ground?"

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#132

"I know of these spells, which is not the exactly same thing..."
"So much self-criticism!" Carus laughed, gravely.
"To put them in the ground, you can use a spade, or ... wait... hm...!"
The elf's eyes narrowed as he scanned the surroundings with his sixth sense for clues. What made those bones stir and rise?
Detect Magic, and Spellcraft/Knowledge-Arcana: is there anything that would serve as a common focus for the spell animating the skellies via that ring? I think a lvl1 party would do best to avoid fighting 7 skeletons :P Please make a hidden roll, SE.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#133

"Remind me why we are staying?" said Metandris. "The dead and their goods holds little draw for me right now."

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#134

"I care little for their goods as well, but they happen to be standing in our way" Aredhel noted absentmindedly.
"You shall not pass" Carus laughed.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#135

"Then how did the carriage we seek pass? I do not see a wrecked carriage, nor horse bones. These are not likely a recent addition on account of their visible age, so they must have allowed passage for some unknown reason. Perhaps kindred spirits?

Decide on a course - I will help as I can."

Metandris pulled a sling out from a pocket of his robes, and a carefully selected stone to fire.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#136

(a roll for Echo... Natural 20!)
Aredhel detects that the ring are indeed magical, bound in some way to the skeletons' animation. Yet there is something more... The wizard feels an incomplete link between the auras of the ring and the dead body before them; like a broken chain of magic. They are bound somehow to this corpse before them. Upon studying the corpse closely, the Wizard notices that the dead sailor has lost a finger; the same finger which holds the ring on the other skeletons. A faint sense of sorrow can be felt emanating from these magical creatures.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#137

Korchel eyed the rising undead warily. "Such horrors as these be but slaves of another's will, thralls of some sorcerer or priest of wickedness armed with the black onyx tokens of necromancy. The one with the scimitar, though, be different. I sense an evil will within its empty eyes: It be not a thrall as the others be."

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#138

"Let us act, 'fore we tempt them to come at us." Helgkhor intones, but does not move. He stands rooted in place, deathly afraid of what may come, but doing his utmost to remain calm and still. He does not wish for his companions to know, that he fears all undeath.

"The rings, they all wear the same ones. What does this mean?" He asks, then turns to Carus, "Do not laugh at the dead, bird."

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#139

And so the companions hesitated, studying the creatures before them; unsure of whether to attack, retreat or try and push forth. But then, as though sensing the mortals' hesitation, the forward skeleton glanced behind itself to study the other undead creatures briefly. It then stepped forward. The other six undead remained in the guarded semi-circle position while this one walked slowly towards the rocky protrusion where the corpse lay. While it's hand rested on the hilt of it's Scimitar, it did not draw the weapon - it's soul-chilling gaze passed across each of the companions slowly.
The group watched the figure warily; half expecting an attack. Helgkhor, his face pale with fear, drew his greatsword out and held it before him as though it were a ward against the horror.

The undead figure stopped beside the corpse. It raised it's right hand, palm upwards while watching the group before it - as though urging the group to be attentive, and then rested it's left bony hand on the shoulder of it's fallen comrade.
Instantly the noise of a large battle could be heard in the empty clearing. Echoes of swords clashing and men screaming reverberated through the night, but that is all they were - echoes. Nothing could be seen. Aredhel and Metandris both saw the sounds for what they were, however, and the Druid raised his hand to the group, "Do not be alarmed! That noise is not here-and-now."

The Druid's warning didn't stop Atacuso from yelping in surprise when a spectral form materialized just a foot away from him. The figure was human and looked to be of Hypoten descent - dressed in a crimson militarial captain's uniform and wielding a Rapier and long dagger in either hand. Though the male was visible, it had a faint azure aura around it, and Atacuso and the others found that he could see through it's form to the other side!
"BACK TO HELL, YE VERMINOUS BEASTS!" Obviously not in the present, the spirit swung both weapons around violently, backing away as though accosted by invisible assailants. Though only this one figure could be seen, the way the captain's weapons bounced back and lodged in mid-air suggested he got a good few hits onto whatever was attacking him! "HAHA! TASTE MY STEEL, SEWER-FILTH!"

Finally, though, after a good minute of abrasive cursing and acrobatic fighting, the captain was forced up towards the rocky protrusion in the midst of the clearing. "YE'LL NOT...AURGH!!"" The companions saw the captain's long dagger clatter to the ground and his left hand ring finger - complete with a ring similar to what the skeletons wear, though golden - suddenly become crushed and then disappear from the illusion, as though an invisible force had bitten it off altogether!
"I'LL GET YE FER THAT!" The man screamed, but his screams were cut short with a gurgle as several large holes opened up in his torso - sword wounds. The spectral captain slumped to the ground, his ghostly form perfectly encasing the skeletal form which was already collapsed there. And then the image disappeared, leaving silence and darkness once again."

The skeleton removed it's hand from the corpse's shoulder and then tilted it's head to one side, as though studying whether or not the group had understood. Finally, the creature silently raised it's hand once more; this time to point. It's skeletal hand pointed over to it's left, at a particularly large wreckage of a Hypoten vessel. It's hull was torn open at the front, providing the perfect entrance point, should one want to explore it.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#140

"I guess this is 'fetch' in spirit-tongue. Carus, would you be so kind as to fly into the ship and look for a finger, preferably with a gold ring on it?"
The wizard was wary, though - there was not telling when the dead would turn hostile.
"I will keep these gentlemen company..."
He smiled at the pointing skeleton: "Excellent suggestion, dear... slender... friend! I must say, this be a tragedy!"
Keep him occupied, give the birdie time...

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#141

Korchel drew deeply from his pipe before speaking. His gaze was fixed on the ominous beings that stood before them. "In the icy realm of Twyrlandir, 'tis said that one may claim a boon of the dead if they be given peace. Since this being of horror beseeches our aid, let us help it find its rest."

Bowing slightly toward the skeltetal host, he continued. "By the icebound gods of Twyrlandir, let this be a compact betwixt us. We shall seek your lost trinket, but all shall be held in balance: Aid for aid and treasure for treasure."

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#142

Metandris stood back while the dwarf attempted his pact with the dead.
Thezwid looked up at Metandris expectantly, his wet fur making him look a little pathetic.

The druid reached into another pocket, extracted a small dried fish and tossed it to the raccoon.

He hoped this was as simple as the crow finding the ring and finger, but he expected a squak, flying feathers, panicked crow
and some other bony creature bellowing abuse.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#143

If the skeletal creature understood or agreed to Korchel's suggestion of treasure, it did not reply. Simply, it lowered it's pointing hand and stood, waiting. One hand rested once more upon the hilt of it's scimitar.

Meanwhile, Carus obeyed his master and fluttered off into the gaping maw of the ship. Silence reigned for a minute
(Stealth roll for Carus; Success!)
Finally the beating of wings hearkened the Raven's return and it alighted onto Aredhel's shoulder. "Stinky! Smelly! Nasty critters!" he cawed.
Aredhel frowned, "What have you spotted in there? Were you seen?"
"Three, and then four up top. Rats but men - rat-men! I was like a shadow." Carus laughed, "They did not see. Three below arguing about having no food, and then stairs go up to the roof. Four more there were. One overfed; like a walrus! The ring was there; but on a chain on it's neck! No finger! I'm not going to get eaten by rat-humans for a stinking ring!"

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#144

Rats? Men? Walrus?

Helgkhor shouts aloud, "These are foes I understand!" he turns to Carus, "Seven rat-men, one fat with ring? These creatures earn no respect from me. If we kill them all to get the dead man's token, so be it."

He hesitates, studying the soggy, warped-wood of the wreckage's deck. Will it hold me? ... "Is there a plan?" He asks.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#145

" On thought.
If they can understand us, and are ideally superstitious, I can summon mists into the ship. Hopefully we could convince them it is toxic and flush them out unprepared."

Metandris had no intention of entering that wreck, ring or no.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#146

"Make them come to us, yes." Helgkhor nods his head vigorously

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#147

Eyes still carefully locked on the standing skeletal captain, Atacuso moved slowly toward the entrance to the rodent-infested ship, keeping a fifteen feet back from the entrance.

"Send de critters dis way," he said, excitement creeping into his voice as he twisted the grip on his halberd. "Set a trap for dese rats."

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#148

"Excellent thought, Metandris" the elf whispered.
"Herd them into one spot, so that my magic finds as many as it can - from my experience, rats are easier to slay if they don't move."

"Hmmm, dead rat!" Helghkor would never find out how it was possible to smile with a beak, but Carus certainly managed.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#149

Metandris took one more draw from whatever it was behind the mask and held it. Quickly he moved over to the opening and cautiously peeked in long enough to get a line of sight on the table.

He pointed and exhaled, the smoke transitioning into mist as it entered the ship. As quickly as he could, he moved back into cover near the rest of the companion.

"Helghkor, care to bellow 'poison' or the like?"

Metandris produced a scimitar from the folds of his robe and waited.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#150

"MISTS OF DOOOOM!! FOUL POISON MIASMA!! BREATHE NOT THIS FOG OF TREACHERY!!"

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#151

The mists wafted from Metandris's form into the bowels of the ship, their thick fog partially obscuring the view inside. Helgkhor yelled his grave warning into the ship and then the party readied themselves, waiting with weapons drawn
(roll)
There was silence for a couple of long seconds, and then...

Screeches of terror could be heard within the ship and the clattering of feet was soon heard after on the wooden floor. Three man-sized verminous beasts ran squealing out of the ships entrance. They were scraggly looking things; underfed and with black, mottled hair. They were clothed in leather armor and reeked of mice. Two ran on all fours and one just on its feet. In their haste, the two had not grabbed any weapons, however the third held a great axe between its paws.

The vermin had terror in their eyes and ran straight into the ambush. When they noticed the party outside, terror turned to confusion and hatred. The ratman with the axe screeched in fury "At arms, dogs! fresh meat!!"

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#152

Now Helghkor says nothing. There is nothing to say. Great blade aloft, he charges the axe-wielding ratman head-on, looking to kill with a single mighty sweep of his gruesome sword.

(ooc: Murometz rolls 1d20 and gets 16.)

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#153

Korchel leapt to the massive barbarian's side, hissing the sibilant syllables of the draconic tongue as the gleaming claws of the wyrm emerged from his fingers. As he slashed and dodged, faint wisps of smoke rose to dance about his frame, drifting above the dwarf like a dragon's enveloping wings.

My mighty attack rolls...
Wulfhere rolls 1d20 and gets 7.
Wulfhere rolls 1d20 and gets 7.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#154

As the wererodents poured out of the derelict ship, Atacuso took the opportunity to slash viciously at one.

Attack nearest rat: Dozus rolls 1d20 and gets 13.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#155

Aredhel was waiting for anyone to emerge from the fog-filled vessel, and sprayed the armed ratman as soon as it emerged with a good dose of acid, before his comrades leaped into the fray. Getting a clear shot after that would be difficult!
+3 to hit, touch attack, 1d6

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#156

(Battle-rolls!)
Like lambs to the slaughter. Out the ratmen came, only to be assaulted by the ambush. Atacuso struck first, his halberd swinging viciously and sinking deep into the belly flesh of one of the unarmed ratmen. The wound was deep and poured black-red blood. The ratman squealed in pain and convulsed on the edge of the weapon, it's claws trying desperately to reach at the swynnish tracker. Metandris was the one who put this creature out of it's misery - a swift blow to the neck with his scimitar saw the verminous beast's jugular slashed, spraying blood and causing the wererat to slump into the mud with one final convulsion. Metandris danced back after this - he was too close for comfort and retreated to behind Aredhel - his frail body was not suited for such close combat.
(More rolls!)
Meanwhile, Helgkhor's sword had also found a target; the ratman with the axe took the blade straight to the chest. It would have been a killing blow right there, had the creature not managed to raise it's weapon in an attempt to block it. Still, the barbarian's weapon cut deep, revealing flesh and copious amounts of blood. Korchel saw his chance and moved in to assist Helgkhor, but his swings went wide as the ratman stumbled back, neither of his claw attacks striking home. The dwarf, wisps of smoke curling from him, cursed angrily.
Finally, the wizard to the rear raised his hand and sent forth a stream of searing acid at the same beast. The liquid struck the rat square in the face causing it to gurgle in agony. Carus laughed at the squealing of the vermin, "Filthy unwashed things! Give them a bath in acid!"

(Rolls)
The axe-wielding wererat was in horrible shape, hardly standing. It swung wildly in retaliation with it's weapon, attempting to strike helgkhor, but the burning acid in it's eyes caused it to lose sight of it's assailant, and the axe swung through mid-air, nearly causing the creature to topple over. "Why!?" It screeched through the pain.
(Rolling)
The third, untouched wererat frenzied at the sight of what was happening, flicking it's naked tail and screeching and screaming. It quickly chose a target - Atacuso - and lept at the Swamp-dweller, latching onto him with it's claws and biting down heavily on his shoulder with it's filthy mouth.
(Fortitude save, GM keeps result.)
Atacuso screamed and thrust the werebeast off of him, causing it to skitter back a couple of paces in the mud.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#157

A string of curses in Swynnish and Kanaarite poured from Atacuso's throat. He could feel the depth of the rat's yellowed incisors, cutting too close to the bone.

In retaliation, he reared back and heaved his weapon forward to impale the putrid vermin.

Cleave Power Attack: Dozus rolls 1d20 and gets 19.
Edit: Replaced "Cleave" with "Power Attack", since Cleave isn't a feat I have.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#158

"Working on it, dear friend" Aredhel laughed as Carus cheered. Despite its wits, his familiar was still a raven and... morbid at times. After all, someone's demise may mean your lunch.
The others had charged into the fray, and the elf was no longer content to be spraying acid left and right.

Sighing, he pulled the slender blade he was carrying - his kind's turbulent history meant every man and every woman had a modicum of military training. Certainly, it worked better in some, who enjoyed it. Aredhel had endured it as a necessary evil.
He stepped around the fray until he was located behind the axe-wielding rat-man.
"Excuse me good sir... may I stab your kidney?"

-1 to hit for STR, +2 due to flanking, 1d8-1 damage.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#159

Stumbling past the massive rat-thing, Korchel hissed in anger as his foe nimbly avoided his slashing claws. “Disgusting vermin! May the Elder Wyrm devour your miserable souls!” His draconic maledictions vanished into the fog, their sinister, alien syllables meaningless to the struggling rat-men.

The dwarf shifted to trap his foe between himself and Helgkhor’s deadly blade, but the ratman’s bulbous eyes were yet able to track both foes. It stubbornly continued battling both the barbarian and the dragon augur as its strength began to fail. Korchel sensed the creature’s doom drawing closer, but it yet evaded the augur’s razor-sharp talons!

(06:55:09)Modified to included the information that followed: Korchel missed. Again.

Re: [Decathros] Chapter 1: Sinking in Soglash

#160

(rolls rolls rolls)
Atacuso swung the halberd with a ferocity even he was surprised he held, and the blade of the polearm sunk deep into the ratman's belly, causing it to double over onto the ground, one hand against it's midsection - the only thing stopping it's insides from spilling onto the ground! Aredhel, meanwhile, had managed to wind around the the attackers to find the exposed back of the werebeast with the axe. The stab of his slender blade found it's home in the tender flesh of the creature, and the creature's lifeblood seeped through it. Falling to the ground, it made one more half-hearted attempt to claw towards Helgkhor, then slumped lifelessly in the mud.

Metandris, frail of form and his task already finished, remained back a safe distance - he glanced nervously to the skeletons still standing immobile some forty yards back, watching on.
Korchel, seeing his current foe disabled, turned to assist Atacuso, however as he moved forth he stumbled in the mud - he took a desperate swing at the creature but the vicious talons sailed harmlessly by!
Helgkhor, seeing Aredhel ably dispatch this foe, moved instead to the final Wererat. The beast was already on all-fours, clinging to life, so one swing of his giant sword later and it's head bid farewell to it's neck, rolling along the mud with a spray of blood.

The companions looked around at one another, grinning - a very successful ambush - and with only one injury! "What's next?" Helgkhor asked.