Game: Hired by the Dabus

"We are, let us move quickly." Akhenanubis was still struggling with the task of cooperating with an opponent. He bore the assassin no ill will for his profession, the Great Judge would not allow him to kill those not already destined to die, but the man seemed untrustworthy and a certain amount of caution was not out of place. He readied his mace Balance and watched the door for intruders.

OOC: Fringe will take a minute or so to shift into his Hybrid form, keeping his breeches on with scabbards for keeping his swords sheathed until needed. Then if he'll make a 'perch' of any wooden rafters up above in order to 'get the drop on' an opponent.

BIC: The already odd tiefling became odder as his skin became covered in seemingly serrated blue fur, with myriad patches of green in patterns mirroring that which had been on his skin. Legs lengthened partially and boots faded along with most of his clothing leaving large tattered breeches with a red and black sash to keep it up and a pair of sword belts that carried his swords as well.

The lycanthrope fought the urge to howl as he slowly spreaded his black and blue wings, covered in vaguely recognizable shapes, and took off for the upper rafters of the room. There he balanced himself and waited for any action to occur.

OOC: Well, I nearly have my scanner working again, and then Fringe's hybrid form can be clearly shown in color and detail. Now, for those who give a sodding bit as to what any of the symbols on the wings are, it's a Spot Check DC 10 to recognize the Baator insignia, and a DC 15 to recognize the Beastlands (some things are more prominent.) Or just go ahead and recognize for all I care.

OoC: Janus requires no preparation. The Cadence will bid him to move when motion is necessary.

IC: Janus stands near Nancy, not quite looming, and seems to have an eye on the entire room at once. He doesn't appear tense, not quite, but he seems like a spring ready to uncoil at a moment's notice. Or, perhaps more accurately, a spring ready to wind just before the moment, to unwind at its notice.

Ketel also wonders what attacks the assassin expects, but does not voice his worries - Quith'Mek is doing a passable job voicing said concerns.

The little mephling sat down cross legged beneath the main table, using it as cover in case the attack went down. He then closed his eyes and focused his mind in order to utilize his powers of dreaming in the most efficient manner possible.

Janus nods. 'Perhaps you would be interested in waiting.'

A cold fury washes over Akhenanubis at the appearance of these... defiers. It felt as though his emblazoned breastplate and mace grew hot in anticipation of smiting their blasphemous heads. Remembering the complications of the last conflict, though, he held his emotion in check and spoke to the Athar in an icy tone. "The dagger which we both seek is being examined for dangerous dweomers. It would be to the benefit of all involved to delay any violence until the Loremistress's ministrations are done. Then the peace may broken for a... discussion of our rights of ownership."
Mentally, the priest imagined crushing the mage's head with Balance for his shrill arrogance.

'Hmmm.... this is getting interesting... but... Oh, one of my own kind, partially.' Fringe considered in thought as he looked down at tiefling. The human looked more like a nuisance, unless that was silver he was carrying.

Fringe kept himself silent he took periodic sniffs, his infernal ancsestry bidding him to be patient. The promise will be kept. One way or another. Another part of his mind told to wait for others to strike as a pack. Then there was that quite, timid, third voice. Asking why must there be a fight?

The lycanthrope's wolfish mouth smiled a fang-filled maw at the thought of completing the Rule of Three.

Initiative = 20

Level 5 Astral Construct utilizing Overchannel to get that extra Power point. Astral Construct Powers = Muscle and Extra Attacks. Ketel takes 2 damage.

Ketel let out a yelp as dream energy poured forth from his mind. The dream stuff was a rainbow of astral protomatter and ethereal ectoplasm before it twisted itself into a massive humanoid figure. The creature stood on elephant-like feet with three powerful ape-like limbs jutting from its body. its head was a tangled radish with no visible eyes.

"Defeat the fighter,Aloysius, but spare its life," Ketel commanded pointing at the Athar.

The monstrous beast swung its three powerful limbs, aiming to incapacitate and not kill.

Three Slams...
Slam 1... Crit fail - miss.
Slam 2 - AttackRoll 24 - 18 subdual damage
Slam 3 - Attack Roll 20 - 16 subdual damage

Meanwhile the mephling focused his mind again and latched onto the Athar's mind and released a cascade of psionic power .

Manifesting Mind Thrust with 8pp. Will Save DC 20 to Negate. 8d10 damage = 47. If he looks likely to die, Ketel will stop the psionic assault.

Initiative=22.

Janus takes a few steps over to the remaining Athar, seeming to react almost before the wizard falls. He calmly reaches over to take the warrior's sword. (If he's successful...) He twirls it serenely. 'I say again - how about you wait?'

(If he's unsuccessful...) He tilts his head slightly. 'Very well. Difficult it is.'

On his turn Janus activates Improved Cipher Trance (+4 to dexterity, wisdom, and charisma for nine rounds), then moves to the warrior and attempts to disarm (Improved Disarm, so no AoO): opposed attack roll=11.

OoC: It seems the Cadence is not quite with me tonight. Well, Janus went first in the round anyway, so he tries (and likely fails) to take the sword and the nightmare pummels the warrior into submission.

OOC: Rolled a 24 on initiative. Whoop.

BIC:

Fringe suppressed a low growl in his monstrous throat. Before tilting his body so that he can begin his decent to strike upon the Ethergaunt. With one claw on the handle of his long sword Claw, and with green eyes narrowed in concentration, the lycanthrope made his move.

Fringe will use an Improved Quick Draw attack upon the Ethergaunt. An extra attack made at full base attack bonus before using up his regular attack. Rolled a 13, so 13+10=23 with an enchanted +2 longsword. If damage is done it will do 1d8+5 and if Sneak Attack damage is applicable add 1d6 as well. The second attack roll was in total 15 with the same weapon.

Ketel glanced at the ethergaunt and felt that horrendous presence in his mind as it spoke telepathically. It was like razor blades cutting through his mind. “Aloysius! The masked one!” he commanded, reaching deep into his soul and touching that spark of elemental cold that dwelt within him. In his chest there was a mote of that elemental vacuum in which all things hung, that frigid void which he focused up through his body and allowed to explode out of his mouth. The cold coalesced into a bolt, focused through his sheer force of will, and streaked towards the ethergaunt shimmering with frigid blue energy.

Manifest Energy Ray, expend Psionic Focus to Empower. I’m assuming I can increase my Caster Level due to my mephling caster level bonus so it’ll cost me 8pp and deal 7d6+7 times 1.5. Total damage = 49.

The nightmare turned on its elephantine hindquarters and swung its massive fists, still pulling its punches as it did while fighting the Athar.

Attack 1 – Attack roll 24 – 17 subdual damage .
Attack 2 – 16
Attack 3 – 17

OOops, Energy Ray needs an attack roll. Touch attack. HA! HIT! Critical Success... 20 + 7 = 27... ROll for crit confirmation... 11... can't win 'em all.... but the ray itself hit.

OOC: My rolls are all added up... unless you have special bonuses you want to add that I do not know about.

I've been giving my total roll.

OOC: Fringe sees the face and rolls a 13, add his Will +6 and he makes it! He attempts to make a single Bite attack at the Ethergaunt. Rolled a 26% for miss chance, gets to attack the real one. Flanking adds +2, Attack bonus is +11, for a total of +13. Needs a 19 to hit. Rolled a 16. Total that up for 29, no hit.

BIC: After snorting at the Ethergaunt's horrible, seemingly indescribable visage, Fringe flipped his longsword Claw in one clawed hand before lunging forward in an attempt to bite off the Ethergaunt's head.

His attempt earned him to make a slight mental laugh from more than a few sides of his mind as he pulled his head back. Looks like someone should learn to open their jaw a bit more! snickered an infernal voice in his mind. It was the fiendish side of Fringe and ignored it.

Will save 13 - whatever Ketel's got, it's contagious.

Saving throw 29, a success. Glad my stats aren't drooping since my spells are the only thing I can count on with its AC. Then again, I don't know about divine spells.

Willpower save 25, including the -4 from having Ubiquitous Vision manifested against a gaze attack. (Is it a gaze attack?)

Quith'mek's eyes widen as he forsees the ethergaunt's mask split in half to reveal madness inside. As the present ethergaunt's actions match his split-second precognition, the gith turns away, but cannot escape the horrifying visage. Insanity spills out and floods around him, but he summons his inner strength and pushes back against it. The cold, spreading malice breaks against his mask and is defeated. The githyanki is now quite unhappy.

I will have my vengeance. Its alien mind would be rent across the planes. he tells himself. The gith reaches to his right upper arm and touches a twisting, patterened tattoo that pulses briefly and then fades. As it does, a wave of energy seems to wash over the telepath and he relaxes, apparently reinvigorated.

Psionic Tattoo of Body Adjustment, healing 7 damage.

Ketel screamed and writhed as the horrible sight tore at the very fabric of his sanity. The mephling had seen the very deepest fears of the mortal psyche before him while floating through the eternal dream sea – this brought back those horrid memories with a vengeance. The little mephling scratched at its eyes and wailed, pointing its finger in the general direction of the ethergaunt and calling out, “Aloysius, destroy that… that… thing!”

The nightmare didn’t have to be told twice. It turned on its trunk-like legs and swung its massive fists like a barrage of ham-sized clubs.

(Three attacks, 35, 20, 16 – tell me if any hit)

Once again the mephling summoned forth his mental energies, and focused on the ethergaunt’s mind, unleashing blasts of doubt and fear that tore at the ‘gaunt’s psyche.

(Manifesting Ego Whip, augmented – 7pp. 2d4 Cha Damage, Will Save Half, Minimum 2)

(The attack hit, but the Construct has Construct powers... if the Fort save affects items then he failed the Save. If not, then he doesn't even need to make the save, he's completely immune to the effect.)

The tiefling snorted at his own seemingly futile attempt. And once the Ethergaunt stated the words 'enslavement', he couldn't help but howl. He took a short backward hop before reeling back his head and gave a long howl to the ceiling, wings folded tightly to his back and fur standing out.

Hopefully whatever guards were wondering near the library, would soon come in and help, even if in the end they will try to put Fringe himself in some dungeon for not wearing his collar.

He howled once more before snarling menacingly at the Ethergaunt.

OOC: Fringe takes a 5-foot step back before howling. Simply an attempt to get the attention of whatever Automata guards might be about.

'I suspect you will find enslavement is not an option,' Janus says. 'It is suggested that you go seeking easier prey.' With that admonition, Janus takes another two strikes with the sword, slashing across and then flipping the sword around into a normal grip before slashing back in the same arc.

Janus attacks two more times: 16 and 24. Assuming the images are constantly shifting around (requiring a roll to locate them for each attack), I got a 3 and 1 - two images.