rolled 99 = 99

Wait, a group of powerful mages working together?

And they were just recently students?

Fuck, we wait a week and they'll be killing each other!

...which means we won't get to kill them ourselves! THIS MUST BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS!

Anyway, go back through our mental knowledge of the surviving students and see what we find. I'll roll 1d100 to see if we have a clue.

Oh, so it's Executioner now.

Anyway, we must do what we always do first; take stock of our weaponry.

Domination mage?

Start by checking with the tanners, they'll need to get their leather somewhere.

rolled 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 = 25

>>7444150
necromancers need corpses, I say we destroy the graveyards

>>7444127
>>7444136
>>7444150

Looking around your room, your eyes come to rest on your portable filofax of storage - a nifty contraption consisting of a large rack you can wear upon your back, upon which hang all of your eight bags of holding. You had to pack away your entire room after all, and you're nothing if not ordered.

Selecting the three bags relevant for weapons, you remove them from the rack, set them on the floor on their backs and pin open the top flap to the floor, inserting a foldable wooden frame to keep the entrance to the bag open as per a door. Stooping inside, you're able to walk in to the thirty foot by thirty foots 'rooms', all of which are arrayed in the manner of a deadly armoury.

Suffice to say, nearly any type of weapon you wish for is available, and you ponder as to which type of weapon you'd prefer to use first, before actually narrowing down to specific abilities. As you begind to decide, you hear a respectful knock against your main door.

Walking out and opening it, you see a Royal Guard, who respectfully nods his head at you and hand over a scroll before quickly marching off, no doubt a busy soldier on other errands. Reading it, you know now for certain that the remaining students are organised.

Throughout the sight eerie sights and sounds rose from the partially destroyed school, though viewers of the scene swore blindly that the building itself shimmered briefly before looking utterly whole again. Anyone who got close seemed to be repelled by a gentle yet insisting invisible wall.

(cont)

>>7444217

Guards posted around the city, trained in vigilance and sporting expensive goggles, spied what appeared to be vast legions of the undead marching from the ruins and over the mountains, accompanied what what appeared to be, at a distance, large elementals. Not only that, but the report concludes with a list of items stolen from the local populace, most notable all the leather fire protection gear from the local tannery for their more 'exotic' leather creations, and an almost complete clear out of the local arcana shop. The only witness reported a simple 'whooshing' sound before they were knocked out cold.

Thinking back to the students themselves, you quickly grab your slate from inside a bag and check up on their names -
Elizrah Teufel, the transmuter.
Jharkor Teufel, the illusionist and brother to Elizrah.
Haesten Gilt, the Evoker.
Kald Meerst, the Ignomancer.
Piern Lhor, the Force Mage.
Dethis Merrin, the Necromancer.
A student known only as 'Rampant', the Dominator, and finally,
Simons Westas, the Teleporter.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7444246
Rally the Royal Guard, any other military and the militia. Then get 2 kick ass swords and some flintlock pistols. And pose as a team, cause shit just got real.

>>7444246
Let's try to find the Teleporter first. We can probably "acquire" the locations of the remaining mages from him, since he'd be their mail delivery service.

>>7444269
>>7444291

Delving in to your armoury, you grab a pair of well maintained flintlock pistols of your own manufacture, and reverently pick up and sheathe two of your ancestral swords - Anvilchild and Gorehelm. Both have a long history together, mainly focused around shattering solid matter and wrecking people's faces.

Rushing out of your room, you quickly assemble the royal guard and the competent militia, quickly explaining what you surmised the capabilities of the errant mages to be. Every soldier seems to know such a task could, and likely will, end in their death, but they stoically pledge themselves to serve you till the end, regardless of how it comes.

Such an oath fills your stone dwarven heart with pride, and you outline that the teleporter, Simons Westas, is the priority target, as his affinity aloows the group to move around quickly. Almost immediately the soldiers spread out to comb the city for any relatives of leads, soon leaving you in the courtyard alone.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7444389
We need to psyche ourselves up, lets get a bard to play eye of the tiger whilst we practice some shooting at the range, then look for leads aswell.

Fuck yes, am I glad to see this is back.

Best to be prepared when we do catch up to them. Do we have any sort of magic resistant gear (other than our mental resistance stone), or something that hinders magic in the area?

rolled 9 = 9

The rest of the time should be spent preparing the battlefield to our advantage. Once the teleporter is down, we'll need to force their army through a choke set up with traps, pitfalls and the like. We'll also need some forward scouts to get a full headcount and some advanced warning of their approach to the choke.

>>7444467
We're chasing eight mages, not Ender Wiggin.

Also, let's go get a piece of heavy artillery from our armory and shell the school with it. Just in case somebody headed back there.

>>7444511


Ender IS eight mages.

>>7444421
>>7444456
>>7444467

Aside from the small trinket in your helmet that renders you magically untraceable and untargetable, at least directly, you are largely reliant on your armour as means of magical protection. Your armour is of couse enchanated to a very high degree, giving you a vast amount of avoidance and a large immunity to certain energy types, but that is all.

Humming to yourself a catchy tune, you take a few test shots as distant targets in the courtyard, pleased to see that your pistols are working well, and your aim is true. Looking around the general area and in to the distance, it's not long before you spot Dunnwick Passe, and it occurs to you that if you could face the enemy mages there, it'd be possible to bottleneck their land forces, though any flying summons or air elementals could make holding out harder.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

themage we have secured the help of, have him scry for Simons, it probably won't work, but it couldn't hurt. and if it dosen't have him scry for Simons' parents

>>7444558
Mine the pass with exploding human booze.

Then go look somewhere else. If the mages were stupid enough to actually travel with that army, they aren't worthy of death by our hand. Personally delivered death, anyway.

>>7444582
>>7444607

Though it takes a while to find him, you eventually locate the Court Mage in the town on personal shopping errands, an elf of his stature naturally distrusting any human with his own important tasks. Though the conversation is terse, you do manage to request he scry for Simons or his family, only to be informed a few minutes later that Illandis is unable to discern where the mage is, though he doesn't have any remaining family alive at least.

With this, you figure you may as well call back the soldiers looking for familial ties still in the city, and relay the order via the nearest tower which signs the orders till all the Royal Guard have returned to the courtyard.

As you yourself return to the courtyard you reflect that mining the pass would have been a good preparation whilst you worked at the school, as now it's too late considering the undead army have already marched past it.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

Set up a network of loyal spies (use the Kings if he has any) in and around local mage gathering places. Bars they tend to frequent, any large libraries in the area, and so forth. Give each one a description of the students if any is available, particularly Simons. If they see him or come across any information pertaining to his wherabouts, they are to inform you immedietly. I doubt it will turn anything up as these students seem to have gone into hiding, most likely at the school, but it's worth a shot.

>>7444828
Have any assassin types under our command hang out at magic shops other than the one that was robbed. With orders to stay covert and wait for an opportunity to kill any of the eight mages who might come in.

Ask the Court Mage if he knows how to bypass that field around the school.

Rack our brains for anti-undead options, though I'm hoping we can find a way to bypass them.

rolled 15 = 15

>>7445147
clerics

Bumping because I know OP takes a while for each post and because last night's thread was win.

Hopeful bump.

One last bump.

Dammit, and this was so promising too.

hugs from tiny loli

Apologies, I fell asleep.

>>7444828
>>7444960
>>7444978
>>7445147

Walking in to the main court, you search around for a member of the King's spy network of nobles, commoners, traders and so forth. It takes a while, but eventually you find one and request that they spread the work to visit all the local haunts of the eight mages. With that done, you also discretely visit the assassins guild, Mea Culpa, and contract out for eight kills on the mages. It's unlikely, but certainly worth a try.

Once more you visit Illandis, and request any methods to circumnavigate the wall of force around the school, and the undead army. "I can deal with the wall of force," he replies, "though it will likely take me a day or two to discern how it's been created in order for me to break it apart. I shall work on it for you now, Ulfgar." As to the undead, Illandis merely shrugs.

For that problem then you visit the local High Church, only to find that most of the clerics have already gone to try and deal with the problem, warned by frightened citizens who've somehow heard from the guards.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

Makes sure the Clerics get a good description of all the Mages, specifically Simons, if they haven't already. If it can be done, get a weapon enchanted with extra damage versus anything Necrotic. Rally the peasants into an angry mob at that - pitchforks and fire seem to work well against zombies.

>>7453993

Finding one of the higher ranked Clerics still remaining, you inform them of the names of the eight mages, so he can try and find info on them as well. Unfortunately you're unable to give descriptions, not having specifically met the surviving mages before in any important enough context to remember them. Plus with an illusion mage in their number, such descriptions may be null and void anyway.

Before you go, you turn back to the cleric, a thoughtful expression on your face. "Would you be able to bless my sword for me? There's a fair amount of undead out there, and it all helps." you ask. The Cleric simply nods, passes his hands over you and murmurs several prayers, causing a feeling of warmth to spread throughout your being.
"Our Goddess watches over you. May you prove her attention warrented." he quietly states, before returning to his duties.

Going back outside, you spot a group of soldiers patrolling the city as a precaution, and gesture them over, quickly giving order to rally as many citizens as they can, preferably with pitchforks and firebrands, in to a mob. Not an unruly one, as damaging the city is a bad plan, but a nicely ordered engine of zombie destruction. The soldiers quickly hurry off to enact your orders.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

Forge out with the peasant mob to kill unruly undead - with any luck, we may find traces of the Necromancer; also the chance to test out this belssing.

>>7454724

It takes several hours, but by mid-afternoon you stand at the front of a fairly ordered mob several thousand strong, bolstered by two thousand of the Royal Guard. You see Illandis walking up to you looking slightly ill, yet pleased. "I have broken the wall of force earlier than expected, though it is tiring to maintain the break. I suggest you go now, as this evening I must rest and it will lock back in to place, no doubt stronger than before."

With a nod of thanks you sweep your arm down, and your small host begins to march out of the city towards the school building, which still appears to be whole once more. What seems mildly worrying is that a vast legion of undead, mostly charred skeletons, appear to march straight out of this air a few feet from the building itself. Not only that, but the school is apparently bedecked with what appear to be very large flamethrowers.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7454913
Inspect the flammenwerfers from afar to determine weak points or areas not covered in order to disable them.

>>7454957

Hanging back slightly, you pull down your goggles and inspect the school and flamethrowers. It appears that the vast majority of the school is illusory, a facade simply to make it look pristine and imposing, yet much of the damage is still there. However, the flamethrowers are real, seemingly welded to towers of stone. The stone appears to have been hastily warped in to place, and you can make out a lone figure standing on the top of the highest point of masonry, raising his arms in to the air.

With your helmets on, you and the Royal Guard merely hear a slight tinny echoing, but almost at once you notice the several thousand citizens suddenly slow and shake, before running towards the school with dreamy or blank expressions on their faces. Some of the soldiers try to stop them, only to be pulled along in the mass. It doesn't take long at all to know that the figure on the top of the building is no doubt Rampant, and with a sudden thundering, the flamethrowers open fire.

Giant sphere of flame rain down upon the citizen, yet none of them scream as they burn to death, they merely stumble on with the same expession. The undead step forward as one, and even more carnage begins as they cut down the survivors. With each death the undead horde gets stronger, the burning and smouldering civilians rising once more in undeath as no doubt Dethis animates them.

You're slightly out of the range of the more appropriately titled flame 'cannons', with roughly a thousand and nine hundred of the Royal Guard who watch, appalled, as the members of their home are slaughtered. Annoyingly it seems the cannons themselves are reinforced with stone, metal and a shimmering you can only guess is layers of force.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

Oh shit.

Are there any underground access tunnels that only we know about? We could take a small contingent of elite fighters in there in the hops that the mighty shield doesn't also burrow deep intot he ground. I can guess that the kids have anti-magified parts of the castle.

>>7455083

Though the old school did have underground access tunnels, they are all likely to be caved in and completely blocked, as that's what you'd rigged them to do when you trapped the entire vast building. As you ponder this, more and more civilians are dying and barely a few hundred remain. Thankfully they don't seem to be suffering as they die, but their presence has not only given the mages reinforcements but also severely depleted the city's workforce.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

rolled 3 = 3

Errr, retreat to sensile possitions mid way between the kingdom and school.

Contemplate with dwarven knowledge of a way around this condundrum(Roll 1d20) and send message back to the king for... lets see... an alliance with other neighbouring kingdoms for more human army? Because the undead tide is worrying...

Whats a ignomancer? Fire right? If so have lots of preperation for fire-fighting duties... Buckets of water.

With the message sent back to the king findout if he has any transmuters to counter the student.

Have the Court Mage move up and watch for anymore of that trickery from the illusionist(wouldn't want to be attracted by a pair of pigtail shoes in the middle of the undead hoard)

Heck, request with the message for a mage convention over here.

With any luck the assassins guild may also deign to join us as well...

>>7455588

You feel it's preudent to retreat, and relay the order to the soldiers who march away from the massacred civilians, leaving a great number of loved ones behind. Roughly half way to the city, you look back and see that the (larger) undead horde has marched back behind the illusory wall, and it standing to attention on the school itself.

Picking a couple of soldiers, you send them back to the city with a request to the King for possible alliances from which to draw more soldiers, plus you include a general description of what's happened thus far. You also request for Illandis, though he's likely to be quite exhausted. It seems like the mages are very seriously about not being shifted, though you've only need evidence of six of them thus far.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

Try to arrange for Mages from the other kingdoms or such, for their defiling magics can possibly be helpful against Rampant and co.

Where are the Clerics?

>>7456896

For a while you wonder what happened to the clerics who went to fight the undead and almost send a soldier to go check with the church to see if they went in the wrong direction. It's not till you notice that a few of the fresher undead that aren't burnt are wearing clerical vestments, so you reaon they probably got overwhelmed.

By early evening the soldier messengers you sent have returned, detailing the King's sheer horror at the loss of so great a chunk of his populace, and with word that the neighbouring powers have no wish to provide aid, mainly because they've not been troubled by the mages yet. It seems that, for the moment at least, you're essentially on your own. As you think this thought your goggles permit you to see a shimmering wall spring back in to place and grow ever thicker as Illandis' strength finally wears out. The wall of force is now back in place, and you can see the school slowly being reformed behind it.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

Well we sure botched that one.

Stride out in front of the army of Royal Guards and shout forth a challenge for one-on-one combat with whichever mage has the courage for it. Their magic against our might.

Insult the fire mage after a moment, so it's him who accepts. After all, you mentioned our armor is enchanted against the elements.

>>7457269

Striding forwards, decision made, you shout out a challenge to the mages for one on one combat to any who are brave enough. After a brief pause, you start to loudly proclaim insults about Kald, the irony of his name, and the timidity of his powers as they're overshadowed by those of his peers. Than rant goes on for several minutes before an arc of fire launches from the ruins of the school, slamming in to the earth several meters in front of you.

Rising from the ashen ground in a corona of fire is what appears to be a young boy, barely in to his teens. It looks like he'd be crying, were his tears not evaporating from the sheer heat radiating from him. Armoured as you are you're still pleasantly cool, though the Royal Guard behind you take a collective few steps back to avoid the blistering heat.

"How dare you..." the child says, "how dare you destroy our school, kill my mother and then have the temerity to insult me? I will kill you here and now as you wish, you stunted abomination." As his hands rise they begin to glow with an almost molten consistency, and the ground around him begins to combust from the sheet heat he is radiating.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7457422
Cut off his arms

>>7457422
Check for initiative, attempt to lop off the insolent whelp's head.

>>7457615
>>7457619

As the child goes to summon yet more power, fuled by his hatred of you and juvenile anguish, you leap forward and smoothly draw both of your swords. Anvilchild lashes out viciously, slashing through Kald's left arm and continuing to fulfill it's name as the bane of all metals. Gorehelm spectacularly whips forth and plunges in to the child's neck, his blood bursting forth in a scorching burst that patters harmlessly against your armour yet sets the ground aflame.

Kald simply looks at you in shock for a few moments before you neatly flick your sword sideways, removing his young head from his body, and he collapses clearly dead. Looking up at the building once more, you shout out, "That's one insolent whelp put down. Who has the courage to fight me next?"

From up high on the ruins, you see a dark-swathed individual, much older than kald, peering down upon you. In a voice reminiscent of a dusty grave, he whispers "I shall." As one, the undead hordes march forward against you.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

So here the Necromancer waltzes. Order Kald's body to be stripped and burnt as soon as possible; headless thogh he may be, no point in having it ressurected.

Rally a war cry, to whichever God/desses might be listening, we shall need their blessings to take on this undead filfth.

Make sure the troops at our back, even less reason to die when there's only seven left.

>>7457839

Several soldiers quickly rush forward and utterly mutilate Kald's body on the off chance it could be reanimated, but you notice they have a bit of trouble getting close as the corpse appears to be burning itself to a cinder anyway. Raising an arm, you call out to the Royal Guard with you and point towards the undead legion as they march closer. As one, you all charge, a cry of devotion to your ancestors and the Gods upon your lips when you crash in to the charred corpses.

As the undead hit you they appear to crackle and smoulder, screeches of remembered pain wheezing forth from their gaping mouths before they begin to crumble. You easily carve your way closer and closer to the school and quickly outpace the soldiers who aren't having as easy a time as yourself. Just when it looks like you'll reach the building with no problems, Dethis begins to chuckle darkly.

From out of the ruins shudders the animated remains of four Illithids, no doubt ones summoned as part of your traps. More worryingly however, they still appear to have the gleam of consciousness in their eyes, barely seen past the smoundering vengeance inherent within them. One of the four raises an arm and in a crackling voice clearly states, "You are going to die."

(Roll 1d20 will save.)

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7458071
rollan

>>7458120

If you type "dice 1d20" in the email field without quote marks it'll roll for you.

rolled 2 = 2

>>7458187
thanks

rolled 16 = 16

>>7458249
...
Oh shi-

>>7458267
sorry about that.

>>7458249
i doomed us all didn't i? now those mages will live.

>>7458249
>>7458267

As the Illithids look at you, you hear quiet whispering in your head even though the surrounding are filled with the sounds of the fighting Royal Guard. It's hard to make out, no doubt as your trinket within the helmet protects you, but even so you start to feel a deep upwelling of fear as you're confronted by the undead abominations.

Slowly they begin to glide forwards, and you hesitantly take a step back, then another as they get ever closer. As the first is about to place a hand around your neck it begins to smoulder and the Illithid appears to hiss in pain, struggling to bypass the blessing upon you.

As you see this you suddenly feel a spreading warmth throughout your being, and your courage returns, along with shame about how you nearly failed just from the visage of these undead creatures.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7458417
i hit the abominations. with my swords.

Can I Beserker Rage now?

Aim for the Ithillids, give them a lobotomy. Burn the corpses.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS S.T.O.P.SP.A.MMING 7.CHAN.ORG!>>7444109
>>7444109
>>7444109

>>7458462
>>7458491

With your surge of courage you strike forwards towards the two closest Illithids, and the poor unfortunately wretch in front you you is severed in twain, the halves collapsing to the ground with a piteous sigh of release. The second however jumped back, Gorehelm narrowly missing a killing stroke and instead simply carving a great furrow through its face.

Screetching in rage and blindness it lunges towards you, but a well timed cross sends four sections of illithid to the floor, leaving just two adversaries to face. As you go to step forwards you feel a rumbling, and look down quickly. To your annoyance it seems like undeneath the rubble and remnants of corpses the ground is merely an illusion which strips away to reveal a thin pane of force.

That too disappears underneath you, and you plummet at least fifteen feet and crush a load of spikes which obviously were of inferior quality. "Shoddy worksmanship.." you mutter, before looking up to see the two illithids beginning to conjour what appears to be a portal at the top of the pit.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7458685
didn't we have a chain or something as a weapon?
if we haven't left it somewhere we could use it as a whip on one of the illithids, and then pull us up using it as an anchor.

if we have no chain, plant daggers/sword into the wall and use as stepping stones.

failing that, i look at my suroundings.

>>7458839

You smile ruefully at your swords, as if you'd chosen the chain again this morning it may have been easier to get out. Regardless, and muttering an apology to your swords, you start sticking them in to the walls of dirt to pull yourself up. It's fairly difficult, but you manage it quickly enough to get to the top just as the portal fully melds with reality. All you hear are the quiet chuckles of the undead illithids before you're automatically whisked away, having climbed up in to it.

Before you can spin round and leap back the portal seals, revealing nothing but an icy barren wasteland. You would be almost freezing were it not for your enchanted armour. Aside from the massive crags of ice and blustering snow there isn't much clue as to where you are, though you do spot a few corpses frozen within the ice underneath you.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

search surroundings for any living being, hostile or not.

Finding a way back would be the goal here.

>>7459012
if possible check what the corpses died of, then look around me. is there any landmark visible, or place to walk?

>>7459173
>>7459214

Looking closer, you see that the frozen bodies evidence no injury aside from what would be usual to experience from the cold. Looking around you, it seems highly likely they simply couldn't survive the elements. Aside from the sheer scale of the snow and ice something seems vaguely wrong, as if the blue sky is too pale, of the ground too soft. At any rate you look around for any signs of life or a landmark you can work your way to.

In the distance you can just about make out a single tower, partially hidden by a jutting spire of ice and well concealed by flurries of snow blowing aross the plains. As you make your way towards it, forging your way steading through the layered snow on the ground, you can't help but wonder if you're being followed. You can't see anyone, nor hear anything because of the sheer noise of the wind as is echoes around and through holes in the ice, but never the less your insticts imply that something is watching.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7459294
Continue to make a way to the tower, whilst being cautious of surroundings. Whether you're being followed or not, a barren wasteland isn't likely a better place for confrontation than a walled tower.

>>7459294
either someone in the tower is watching or we're seriously being tracked.

why do i feel that the mages since we're not gone are gonna explain to everybody what happened at the school...

>>7459482
With what they're currently doing, I don't think anyone will side with them regardless.

You can't attack attack a kingdom with an undead army and suddenly say "jk gaiz it's not our fault"

>>7459413
this, but trust your instincts, proced carefully.

>>7459413
>>7459508

You continue to forge your way towards the tower. After a while, and much bitter complaining at how annoying it is to have snow on the ground coming up to your beard, the tower comes in to view. Nothing has disturbed you on the way by attacking, but by now you're positive you've not only been tracked, but something is watching from the tower.

The tower itself looks fairly familiar, but you can't quite place it. Even through your armour the door is bitterly cold to the touch, and you see frost forming on your gauntlet before you quickly take it away. Sheltered as you are from the wind by the large ice structure nearby, you can just about hear a complicated chittering from not far away. Turning around, you still can't see exactly what's causing the noise, but you catch a glance of what's seeminingly a trident before it whips out of view.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7459574
Take defensive action. If it's carrying a weapon in an environment like this, it's not a friend by any measure. Keep alert and wait it out.

Give the door a few firm, light raps with an elbow, making sure it doesn't get stuck. Actually no, that might be a very bad idea.

Look out to see if there is any discernable disturbance in the snow (besides our own tracks).

>>7459651
>>7459713

Warily you draw both of your swords and slam your elbow a few times in to the door in order to knock. It's not till this is done that you reckon it was probably a bad idea, but what's done is done. After a few moments you can just about make out one of the beings tracking you as it quickly skirts between two chunks of ice. It looks superbly camouflaged, being of a white hue with a tint of blue to match certain parts of the ice. Though with only 4 limbs it looks a tad insectoid, and of course carries a trident.

Before you can press any kind of attack, the door swings open slowly and silently behind you, your only notice coming from the rush of air past you and in to the darkness. Thankfully for you it's as clear as day, especially with your goggles. The interor past the door appears to play host to a nobleman's finery, and is lavishly decorated even though it appears old. The craftsmanship of the place looks decidedly fine, though naturally not quite up to dwarvish standards.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7459787
ENTER THE TOWER

>>7459864

You quickly take several backwards steps in to the tower, and grab the door to haul it closed. Try as you might, it appears to be absolutely stationary, and frost rapidly develops on your gauntlet as cold seeps along your hand and arm, partially numbing them. Outside you can see the insectoid figures stalking closer and using the ice as cover. From what you can tell, there are al least five of them, all armed with spears or tridents.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

i'm of to bed for today i'm afraid. i sure hope this magetastic thread get archived.

Look about the dark room.
Is there a grue?

Attempt to find some heavy furinture to heft in the direction of the Trident Bugs, SHOULD they enter the twoer.

>>7460072
Furniture to chuck before they enter. Once they do it'd be better to just sword them.

>>7460072
>>7460115

You deftly stride up to the nearest two chairs and sheathe one of your swords in order to pick one up. As you turn around sure enough one of the icy insects has started to run it. With good aim the chair arcs up and smashes in to its head, causing a hiss of pain and a lot of angry chittering. Grabbing the next chair you through that too, provoking yet more chittering.

As you turn to grab yet a third chair a trident slams in to your face, the only warning a soft outrush of air past you which went largely unnoticed due to your armour. Stumbling back but unharmed, you see it's one of the large insectoids, and another pops in to view behind it, already lunging with a trident that clangs against your sounder.

Several more rushes of air around you reveal that the group consisted of seven, not five, and it turns out they can teleport too which explains why you didn't see much of them. As the tridents begin to jab at you and batter you down, you draw your second sword once more.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

Become a whirlwind, a hurricane of blades.

Curse tridents their range! Try to undernearth, up close and personal. Go for neck, they have too many limbs to faff with chopping them off.

>>7460251
>>7460414

As the tridents continue to jab you duck and lash out laterally with both your swords, spinning round to try and slip under their guards whilst causing damage. Unfortunately they don't fall for your movements, and simply back up the moment you lash out, using their greater range to hammer you down to the ground.

It doesn't take long for one of them to manage to catch your wrist between two tripent prongs, slamming it in to the ground and pinning it there. Moments later your opposite leg is pinned, and the attacks slow slightly as the obvious leader of the group takes a further step away from you to the limit of its range. In stilted, clicking common, it states "You are unfamiliar here, dwarven warrior. You shall die here regardless."

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

use your manly dwarven strength to break the poorly non-dwarven made weapons and throttle one of the insects and threaten to kill it.

>>7460901

Growling, you surge upwards and snap the prongs of the two tridents pinning you down and lash out to grab the nearest creature around it's neck. With a vicious crushing grip you turn to the clear leader and casually state, "I will kill this comrade of yours if you attempt to attack me."

This only provokes laughter from the whole group, including the one you're choking. "I do not care." the leader says, "A devil captured that easily doesn't warrant existance. Go ahead and kill it. Goodbye K'thak'theru." With a wide sweep of his hand, the leader bids you to continue.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7461028
Snap its neck, fling the snapped end of a trident prong into the leader's face, and use dead demon's body as a flail.

"You'll find that none of you warrant existence, then."

>>7461357

A deft twist later and the held devil drops the the floor, it's neck clearly broken. Though it can't move, it's still laughing at you regardless. Before the others can move, you quickly duck and grab a trident prong, flinging it towards the leader's face where it rebounds harmlessly from the creatures natural armour. Even so you surprise it long enough.

Grabbing the tail of the individual with the brokwn neck you savagely haul back and start to swing it around like a flail. Smoothly you say, "You'll find that none of you warrant existence, then." as you crash the still living body in to one of its compatriots, then another. Hastily they spring back further out of reach, and the leader gives a low hiss of displeasure.

"You will never get free of this realm. You will never know your previous comforts. All you will know is death." Chittering madly, it lunges in with its trident and hits you squarely in the chest whilst your devil-flail is far from it. Though the strike doesn't go through your armour it does knock you back and also leaves a scratch, the most damage you've seen done to it since its forging.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

A thought. These are obviously Ice Devils, and we'll know this from our many years adventuring. Do we consider making a deal? Transport back to the city, and maybe a little extra firepower?

>>7461480
It's time for all those fighter feats to come in useful. Improved Trip. Combat Reflexes. I know there's one that gives extra reach somewhere.... Go medievil on these suckers.

>>7461513
>>7461546

Making a deal is up to you, just state what you'd like and how you're going to bargain it.

-----------------------------

Lashing out once more you swing the Gelugon lower, remembering now the name of these creatures as the term devil hits home. Aiming for their legs, you bowl several of them over with the sheer mass of their comrade before bodily thowing the immobile gelugon towards the leader. Jumping after it you make sure you've got your two swords and land on top of the 'corpse' as it slams in to the leader and traps him upon the ground. Two deft strikes are all that's needed to hammer past his natural armour and plunge a sword inside his head. With a small wriggle to make sure the swords are ripped out and you turn on the rest, who are obviously unsettled with the death of their raid leader.

Giving them as little time to react as possible to jump forwards and land on another who is still getting up, knocking it back to the ground and evicerating it with your swords. behind you rather than attack, the other are backing up nervously as there are only four remaining and from what they've seen, they're probably going to die.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

Advance slowly, menacingly. "One of you is going to offer to return me to where I was before I was sent here. The slower three are going to die painfully."

>>7461797
And immediately make good on our threat before the losers have a chance to defend themselves.

>>7461679
Now that they're reeling back, I demand information. Where I am, who they are, and how to get back. Things I could use in the tower, and whether they have an innate hatred of mages. For any "incorrect", "wrong" or "useless" answer, I smash their brethren's corpses.

>>7461829
>>For any "incorrect", "wrong" or "useless" answer, I kill the offender. We've got a whole 4 of them after all.

Fixed that for you.

>>7461797
>>7461819
>>7461829
>>7461850

Slowly, you stalk forwards menacingly hefting your swords. "One of you is going to offer to return me to where I was before I was sent here. The slower three are going to die painfully." you clearly state, a promise of great pain and violence in your words. "Furthermore, you're going to tell me where I am right now. Also, do you hate mages?" The last question is delivered almost flippantly, and is all the more chilling for it.

The Gelugons take one look at eachother, then at you. As one, they simply disappear, teleporting away since they're able to do so. The move leave you stunned for a moment, before you swear in frustration. Looking around the tower you can't see anything of great use in this entrance hall, but there are a multitude of doors and stairways to choose from.

(Dice 1d20 in email field if you wish to randomly pick a door or set of stairs.)

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7461948
All doors get opened and wedged shut before anything else.

>>7462017

Systematically you walk round the room and open all the doors, making sure something wedges them in place, usually a piece of furniture. Beyond the doorways looks much the same as the entrance room your in, aside from one single door. Down that corridor you can just about see a glimmering golden light, as if there is a candle round a corner.

When you go to survery everything is done, you notice that one door remains closed, and will not open. With your sense of direction you're pretty sure it was the front door, since it's the only one bitterly cold to the touch, though there's no visible difference in design.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>As one, they simply disappear, teleporting away since they're able to do so.

Dammit. Well played, I should have seen that coming.

>>7462132
Follow the golden light. And hustle, we need to get back as quick as we can.

>>7462264

You hurriedly go down the corridor with light, rounding the corner and finding yourself travelling along another, yet this has candles running periodically along the walls. At the end of the second corridor you emerge in to what appears to be a fanciful study, and a rather normal looking man in dinner jacket, slippers and glasses looks up at you with interest.

"Ulfgar Stonbrakkar ravenhelm isn't it? I've heard you wish for a method to get home. Just sign this, no need to read it, on the dottod line and stand in the chalk circle on the floor. No questions asked, and you'll be free to kill all the mages you like on your own plane." he elocutes with a friendly smile.

On the little desk nxt to him and inbetween the pair of you is a small paper document. It's quite sizable at several inches think, and the bottom of the first page has a dotted line across it. He gently pushes it towards you with an encouraging smile, and you notice on the top it has in a fairly gothic script 'Contract' followed by your full name.

A quill and ink rests beside it.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

Read the Contract, IN FULL.

>>7462854
Sit down, read it thoroughly with high-power reading glasses. Ask the man who he is while we do so.

>>7462433
Pick up the quill.

Then idly say, "You know, there's something I've always wondered."

When he asks what, we respond "If the pen really is mightier than the sword."

While saying this, we grab that motherfucker, twist his arm behind him, and press the quill against his carotid.

"Now, howsabout you get me out of here without any of this 'cheat me out of my soul' bullshit?"

>>7462900
Oh, I like this.

>>7462854
>>7462877

You take a seat at the desk, make sure your goggles are comfortable, and start to read the contract. It's not till a few hours later that you realise you're still only several subsection in, and thousands of pages of text remain, especially as they're double sided. Looking up at the man sitting across from you, who seems to be leisurely reading a book, you ask, "Who exactly are you?"

"Oh, my apologies. I'm Jacob." he cheerfully replies, before going back to his book. You look down at the contract again in slight annoyance, as the only real substance you've got from it after a hundred or so pages is that there seems to be no strings attached, and that's hardly likely to remain true for the whole document. Your body clock is by now suggesting it's late evening and you're fairly hungry and slightly tired.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7462963
Several hours? Dammit. Unless this plane has a different flow of time, we're going to come out to find all the Royal Guards slaughtered.

>>7462900

Picking up the quill, you look at Jacob and ask, "You know, there's something I've always wondered." As he looks up questioningly, you leap forwards over the desk, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back. Threatening you place the nib of the quill against his neck, pressing down slightly. "Now, howsabout you get me out of here without any of this 'cheat me out of my soul' bullshit?"

Raising an eyebrow, Jacob smiles. "As you would say, aha, 'howsabout' no. Sign, or die here."

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7462963

This >>7462900 seems to work. Lead into it though, ask him a few more questions about the document, about this place, about him. If he's still evasive and unhelpful, time for us to speed things along.

What have all these subsections talked about, anyways?

>>7463000
"You and I both know this contract is going to screw me over thoroughly in some subsection or another. I can sit here and read the whole thing through to point out the exact offending lines, but it'd be much faster if we'd stop pretending. Why your death wish, Jacob? We both know I have no problem killing people out of spite."

>>7463015

As you press the quill to Jacob's skin, you vaguely ponder the subsections you've read thus far. They mostly concern the possibility of payment, how it's unlikely to come up, what you should expect to be able to garner without payment, what should happen should payment be requestion, events that may arise when payment isn't required and general promises that no payment is likely to be required. Every single sentence was full of jargon and references to other sentences and paragraphs, subsections and sections. There were a hell of a lot of footnotes.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7463117

"You and I both know this contract is going to screw me over thoroughly in some subsection or another." you say plainly. "I can sit here and read the whole thing through to point out the exact offending lines, but it'd be much faster if we'd stop pretending. Why your death wish, Jacob? We both know I have no problem killing people out of spite." You press the nib in to his neck slightly further to illustrate your point.

Jacob simply shrugs and chuckles. "You can't kill me with that quill, and I highly doubt you can kill me with your swords. You are no threat to me, but yes, your soul is useful. It's currency, as all souls are. Signing is merely the quickest option for you at this present time." The nonchalance of his words is mildly disturbing, as he seems fully certain of everything he's said.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7463168
Pocket the quill. Pull out the sword we think is more likely to work and replace it where the quill was.

"As you wish then, here's a sword. But I think you'd be surprised at just what I can manage to kill, swords or not. Just what sort of devil are you, Jacob? You don't have to keep up appearances for me. And your option might be the fastest, but I'm a dwarf. I think long-term."

>>7463217

Jacob sighs after your little speech, your sword pressed against his neck. "Silly little dwarf..." he mutters, before his form suddenly blurs and you're violents thrown across the room. Looking up from where you landed, in a cabinet of little idols, you see with slight dawning horrow that the blur was simply his movement of standing up, and grabbing something.

In his hand he's holding your helmet, and dangling from the inside is your talisman. The trinket that keeps you largely safe from magic.

Jacob points at you and smiles. "Sign the contract, please." he croons.

(Dice 1d20 in the email field for will save.)

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

rolled 18 = 18

>>7463274
"My only autograph is the trails of blood left by my blades."

>>7463274

"Now we're into my sort of discussion."

Assuming we pass the will save, rush forward, drawing second sword as we move, strike with each against the arm that's holding our helmet. Try and sever it, or at least cause enough pain for him to drop it.

Do these idols appear to be anything of importance to the devil?

>>7463313
Assuming this suffices, we stab the quill into one of his eyes, a sword into another, and say "Hmm, looks like the answer is they're both about the same."

>>7463313
>>7463326
>>7463347

"My only autograph is the trails of blood left by my blades." you say, a grin playing across your face as you draw your second sword. Your arm briefly feels a tingling before you shake it off, though you can guess had his trick worked you'd have been in dire trouble. Launching yourself forward across the room you go to slash at his arms and eyes, the little idols cascading from your form as you do so, tokens of merely emotional significance to someone as powerful as Jacob.

Instead of being hit, jacob calmly sways to the side as a blur, before lashing out with his bare hand to slam in to the side of your head. You clearly saw him pull the blow before it hit, yet you still get blasted sideways in to a wall from mid-flight, and your vision is hazy and full of pulsing colours.

"I'm offering you the easy option. Sign and you can be on your way. This is your last chance before I lose my patience Ulfgar." he suavely murmurs.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7463505
Not even a roll to see if we have a chance of hitting? Is he THAT big a threat?

>>7463505
"And I'm offering you the easy option. Send me home without any strings attached, and I won't come back here and kill you. And even if you kill me, that just means I'll carve my way out of wherever I end up and kill you slightly later."

>>7463617
"Also, I want my helmet back."

>>7463505
"You should know that making me mad gets us nowhere. Hand over my helmet, I'll sheath my swords--dwarf's honor--and we'll talk about this like gentlemen."

>>7463617
>>7463660

Eh, go with this, why not. Although I am wondering about the lack of combat rolling.

Oh no, I hope OP hasn't fallen asleep again.

>>7464092
Seems to be the case. Wish he'd have given us some warning.

>>7464092
>>7464223

Thankfully not asleep, as I was making a character for >>7463233. Don't worry, now I've got a place there I'll be posting the next bit.

>>7464251
Wasn't going to be able to bump this tonight to keep it alive if you had fallen asleep, so it's good to see you back.

>>7463617
>>7463660

Mildly dazed, you retort, "And I'm offering you the easy option. Send me home without any strings attached, and I won't come back here and kill you. And even if you kill me, that just means I'll carve my way out of wherever I end up and kill you slightly later. Also, I want my helmet back."

Jacob grins, and looks at the helmet, giving close attention to the trinket. "Ah, I see why. Tell you what, as I'm a reasonable chap, here's a trip home for free." With a casual wave of his hand you feel the floor disappear, and you fall down through the newly made portal. His smug smirk as he holds his helmet is the last thing you see in his realm.

As you land on the ground you hear a crunch, and quickly look round to see what's happening. You've landed next to the pit you fell down, and the portal there is gone. The chopped up remains of the two illithids are also nearby, and turning round you see roughly three hundred soldiers setting up tents and campfires, rotating watches and so forth. As one spots you he enthusiastically waves you over.

Walking up to him, you ask what's been going on, and the Royal Guard proudly describes how, outnumbered, they managed to defeat not only the undead horde up against them, but also the thousand and more relatively intact soldiers who were reanimated in turn as they fell. Dethis has taken back to hiding in the school, and the wall of force seems to be creeping outwards very slowly.

Overall, it doesn't seem too bad. The battleground in front of the building is completely covered with small bits of corpses, and it looks like the remaining Royal Guard have really made sure that nothing is intact enough to come back.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7464352
Well, we weren't getting out of that one without losing something. Better to have our soul, says I.

Congratulate the Guard on their victory. Men like these are actually worthy of our dwarven alcohol, and we will share it with them at the first opportunity.

>>7464619

"A very well done to you and all the men. Soldiers like you are actually worthy of the legendary Stonbrakkar mead! When we get a chance, you'll all be able to have some." you proudly state. The soldiers, hearing this, all cheer your name three times and various members promise you victory against the mages purely on the promise of mead alone. You know that most of these good and honest men would likely murder their entire families to drink you mead, it's that damn good.

You turn to look at the building as one of the soldiers fills you in on the rotating watch and patrol scheme. He also points that that another 50 soldiers did survive, but they're not here as collectively it was seen as prudent to send them back to the city to protect supplies likely to be stolen by anyone trying to teleport in. If nothing else, at least one of them should be able to escape and report the attack if something goes wrong.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7464691
Inquire about the situation with the mages. What else has been heard?

Also, we need to make a quick trip back to our supply of magical items. Since we aren't magically protected anymore, we'll need to pick up something or two to give us an ace in the sleeve.

>>Rising from the ashen ground in a corona of fire is what appears to be a young boy, barely in to his teens. It looks like he'd be crying, were his tears not evaporating from the sheer heat radiating from him. Armoured as you are you're still pleasantly cool, though the Royal Guard behind you take a collective few steps back to avoid the blistering heat.

>>"How dare you..." the child says, "how dare you destroy our school, kill my mother and then have the temerity to insult me? I will kill you here and now as you wish, you stunted abomination." As his hands rise they begin to glow with an almost molten consistency, and the ground around him begins to combust from the sheet heat he is radiating.

This is some of the best writing I have seen in a quest. The picture is painted excellently, it's descriptive without being wordy, the word choice is superb, and I really feel sorry for this boy despite knowing him all of two paragraphs.

>>7464733

"Guard, what's been going on with the mages whilst I've been gone anyway?" you ask the soldier next to you. He shrugs slightly and says that no one really knows, since after you disappeared Dethis ducked back out of sight and no one else has seemingly shown themselves. Thankfully you still have your goggles even though your helmet was taken, and you can see the school is still being reformed.

The soldiers however only see a completely intact building, and as such you note with approval that they should be out of range of the flame cannons. "I'll be back soon, I need to grab some supplies and items from my stores in the city." you say, to which the soldier nods. He quickly gets a horse and small cart for you, making your trip back substantially quickly.

Barely an hour goes by before you're in your room again, a meal in your stomach. You ponder as to which items would be appropriate.

-------------------------

In terms of anti-magic, the talisman was your best bet. You have a necklace that boosts your will saves, and a pair of gloves you could wear instead of your gauntlets that essentially give you improved uncanny dodge, useful to avoid fire area of effect.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7464795
It's complete purple prose. We see here why /tg/ loves it's shitty genre fiction. I don't blame you for it, bros. The whole literature thing is wank anyway.

>>7464795
>>7464866

Thank you. I understand purple passages can be a bit much, but I enjoy adding them here and there.

>>7464866
>>The whole literature thing is wank anyway.
I agree.

>>It's complete purple prose.
>>Purple prose is a term of literary criticism used to describe passages, or sometimes entire literary works, written in prose so overly extravagant, ornate, or flowery as to break the flow and draw attention to itself.
Except that this doesn't break the flow, nor draw undue attention--I only noticed how much I liked it when rereading the thread. OP's writing is good enough. Seriously, you know you wish all quest GMs wrote at least this well.

>>7464844
We'll take the necklace.

>>a pair of gloves you could wear instead of your gauntlets that essentially give you improved uncanny dodge, useful to avoid fire area of effect.
I believe you mean evasion. But with the fire mage taken out already, I'm for sticking with the extra armor and enchantments that the armor as a whole has.

Do we have anything that can dispel magic, even temporarily? How about something to get us flying, or stop someone else from flying?

>>7464844

Someone pointed out an error - I meant Improved Evasion, not Improved Uncanny Dodge. Apologies.

>>7464921
It broke it for me, but de gustibus non est disputandum.

>>7464901
You should take the other guy's complement unbidden and ignore my criticism. I'm a litfag, don't bother listening to me.

>>7464961

Deftly you slip on the necklace but decide to forgo the gloves in order to retain your gauntlets. It takes a few moments of rooting around, but you eventually find a certain ring. You quickly don it, knowing that a simple thought is all that's required to turn it on an off. Based on its past performance, it'll allow you to fly for a couple of hours a day.

After more searching you ruefully concede that there's nothing much else that can specifically stop mages, wands generally not being substantial enough to hold higher power spells. Even so at least you got the necklace and ring, and soon enough you get back to the soldiers who are beginning to settle down in to disciplined routine.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7465098
I'd say that flight is a decent ace in the sleeve, and the necklace is pretty much a required item when fighting mages.

Check in with the Court Mage, get his opinion on how to proceed, and if he'll be able to drop the barrier again.

>>7465098
Are there any portions of the school we can think of that are particularly likely to have survived us blowing it to bits?

Also, we should quietly begin thinking about how to go get our helmet back after we finish killing the mages. It's the principle of the thing, you see.

>>7465161
>>7465248

Considering the school, the only place likely to not have been destroyed or hamed in some way is your own room, though it promises to be hard to find should you wish to visit it. Since it's been a while, you turn to a soldier nearby and ask about Illandis.

"Turn's out he's not doing well Sir. When the supplies turn up two hours ago a messenger from the Court came. Ever since the end of the first attack earlier this evening he's been unconscious, his eyes constantly moving back and forth even though they're closed." The soldier shrugs. "He probably needs a rest."

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7465307
We go and check on him, and bring a healer. Sounds like a nasty enchantment, magical disease, or something of the sort.

>>7465366

You give a slight sigh at the new and get back on the horse and cart, muttering. Yet again you travel back to the city and by the time you get there it's late at night. You waste no time and attend the court immediately getting directions from a few servants as to end up in the room Illandis is being tended.

When you get there, you sigh again. The King and Queen are sitting by Illandis' bed, espessions of sorrow on their faces. The healers in the room are quietly packing away, and you soon see why. Illendis is perfectly still, his face showing peace. Illandis is dead.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7465422
Fetch a cleric and have him raised.

>>7465520

Noticing that you seem to have to do everything sensible around here, you visit the church and grab the highest cleric there, explaining the reasons as to why. A friend of Illandis, he comes along willingly and quickly and, when there, begins the ritual to bring him back from the other side to his former self.

After several minutes of chanting however the cleric looks faintly worried. His loud prayers become whispers then they die out altogether. Looking at you with a worried expression, he whispers, "I can't find his soul to raise...." With an expression of fear on his face the cleric makes the symbol of his divine patron and all but flees the room, a low moan of horror on his lips.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7465582
Follow him, and get details. I think I know the spell responsible for this, but I thought it was a higher level than I was expecting.

Also, possible method of academy destruction: dwarven engineering from below.

>>7465582
That would seem to involve the Necromancer.

Oh well, I guess there's nothing to it but to loot everything Illandis had. All in the service of avenging his death, of course.

See if we can arrange to have a large number of the local clerics create some sort of enormous warding circle to shut down necromancy in the school grounds.

>>7465647
Or at least prevent death/necromancy effects on us.

>>7465636
>>7465647

You race out of the room and after the Cleric, catching up with a short burst of speed. Grabbing his arm, you stop him running and ask, "Why can't he be brought back? Where's his soul?"
"It's been taken... trapped in a gem..." the cleric moans, his grief causing him to shudder.

Annoyed at his weakness, you question him about the remaining clerics and whether they can sanctify the school grounds to prevent more necromancy there. The cleric shrugs, stating that it would be probable, if nothing tried to oppose them or if the circle didn't break in any way for an hour.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7465744
Aha, I was right. Nasty spell, that.

I say we keep our goggles on 24/7, because if I'm right they give us true seeing, and we ARE up against an illusionist.

Sounds like we should ensure the clerics' safety, and have them go ahead with that plan. I've got nothing better at the moment barring dwarven sapping to attack from below.

>>7465947
Also, flood the under-school with booze and then detonate it.

One of the main contributors here (same guy doing all the bumping last night). Got to get some sleep tonight. I hope someone else picks up the likely slack in player posting, this is a really enjoyable quest.

The thread's archived, if anyone's wondering.

>>7465868
>>7465947

Nodding as the description of what the cleric can do, you ask him to round together all the clerics in order to promote that plan immediately, as the Necromancer Dethis is a problem that should be dealt with sooner rather than later.

A bit later in the night the clerics are moving in to position, each with a set of five guards to keep them safe long enough for reinforcements from the rest of the soldiers to arrive. As they start, you see up on the highest part of the rubble that several figures are assembling. From what you can tell at that distance it looks like the Necromancer, two of the others you've not seen properly before, and a large metal statue shaped like a very big Daemon Lord.

As you go to shout a warning, you see the Necromancer open up the chest of the statue and put something inside. Almost immediately afterwards he and the other two run out of sight. You shout the warning and point towards the statue, but all the others can see is the illusion of the full school building.

Suddenly the statue begins to light up and move, flames guttering around it's length and limbs. A bestial roar of anger and hate echoes forth from its metallic mouth, and it raises its arms to the sky. The soldiers and clerics clearly hear this, though the clerics do their best not to pause.

"Stunted abomination!" the statue roars. "This body will come for you! Be prepared!" Fire bursts forth from his metallic hands and slams in to each of the cannons. With dawing dread you see each cannon begin to fire near continuously, and the low number of clerics means that to form a circle they're in range.

Within moments over half the clerics and groups of soldiers protecting them have been incinerated, the rest in disarray. The voice booms forth once more, "Kald Meerst comes for you, dwarf!"

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7466089
We're going to take this fucker on ourselves. Fire? We're armored. A big fucker? Use the flight ring as part of a leap to make it look like we have a ring of jumping, get right up in its face.

Also it occurs to me that we should have brought another weapon or several of various types.

>>7466176
>>other weapons

Screw that, Anvilchild is going to destroy his solid matter and Gorehelm is going to wreck his face.

>>7466176

This. Roar a challenge, CHARGE.

>>7466176
>>7466192
>>7466205

You roar out a challenge at the statue who calls itself kald and jump towards it, activing your ring as you go. With a graceful arc you angle towards Kald, making it look like a large jump, and swing down Anvilchild to smash in to him. As the sword connects you hear a loud metal clash, before your sword starts singing in to Kald's shoulder.

From close up you can tell that it's not just a metal statue, it's a fully animated, and no doubt posessed by Kald, adamantine golem. Before you can aim another swing in, Kald disappears with a loud crack of inrushing air.

(Dice 1d20 in email field for reflex save.)

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

rolled 8 = 8

>>7466327
Go chase after the other three.

Also look into getting some Dimensional Anchor gear to stop these teleporting shenanigans.

>>7466352
>>rolled 8 = 8

You feel a swift rush of air past you from above and only manage to look up before a ridiculous weight lands directly on top of you, Kald's laughter filling your eyes and you lose feeling in your left lag. With more speed than you thought possible Kald slams a massive adamantine fist in to your back. Even over the din of his laughter and the roar of flames you hear the crack of the breastplate as a fissue is created from the sheer force.

As Kald stands up, getting off of your leg, you pull yourself upright and quickly dash to where you saw the other figures retreating. In a moment to keep you warm during any long nights in the future you physically run in to who can only be Rampant, his half face mask failing to completely hide his expression of shock and horror when you burst through the door.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7466453
Lop his head off immediately.

>>7466484

Chuckling, you slash forth with Gorehelm and before Rampant can even think of dodging his face is utterly ruined, his viscera staining your blade. The body slumps to the ground and you decapitate it for good measure, and spend a few seconds stomping in his ribcage and breaking his spine, just to be sure.

Running further down you quickly find yourself in a corridor, with Kald close behind. Flames lap and roar around you, and you're beginning to feel heat through the crack in the back of your armour. Being a dwarf, it's merely mildly uncomfortable. A quick glance around shows no sign of any of the other mages, but at least there's now only seven left to kill. Again.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7466540
Head for the cellars. We will detonate any remaining barrels of non-dwarven booze to destroy Kald for good.

Then we'll use his golem body to make some implement with which to kill the remaining mages.

>>7466570

You go to head for the cellars with the intent of blowing Kald up with rigged incendiaries, only to find the route blocked when you get to the relevant one. As you go to turn and choose another option, Kald is there ready and waiting. With a roar of angel he bathes you and the dead end with flame so fierce the rocks start to bubble, if not actually liquefy.

In horror you see your precious beard, a glorious creation of over fifty lustrous plaits, has been half burnt away. Your body is beginning to feel uncomfortably warm, and you can see the runes on your armour glowing brighter than they ever have before. They won't be lasting much longer at this rate.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7466724
Channel our dwarven rage at him burning our beard into a berserker fury that rends him limb from limb!

Seriously, we pull out a hammer and pickaxe from somewhere and carve his ass into a pile of adamantine wafers.

>>7466724
He burnt our beard.

HE BURNT OUR BEARD.

LET THE RAGE OF THE DWARVES FULL US AND STRIKE HIM DOWN WITH FULL FORCE

>>7466748
>>7466756

All throughout the ruins can be heard a scream of incoherent rage, a sound so chilling as to make even the most jaded of abominations pause in sudden fear. As Kald goes to step back he sees just two points of metal spring forth from the flames. He doesn't quite realise what they are till Anvilchild and Gorehelm both slam in to his open and unprotected mouth.

With a surge of rage and strength you rip the two swords out sideways, removing the vast majority of the golem's head, before plunging both swords down Kald's neck. In a matter of moments you're left striking the beaten and battered remains of an adamantite golem, your swords and the remnants glowing with heat as they begin to cool down.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7466861
Fucking Victory Pose.

Strike dat shit yo.

>>7466861
Locate the gem with his soul.

Shatter it.

Then glue the fucking thing back together, booby-trap it, and leave it as bait for one of the other mages.

>>7466876
>>7466893

You take the pleasure of a brief moment of pure triumph, before you start to root around the remains of the golem. It isn't long before you locate an exceptionally beautiful and glossy black gem roughly the size of an egg. Three smashes with your sword not only breaks it, but demonstrates just how structurally sound it was.

As it breaks you get a brief glimpse of a whist wisp of smoke as well as a tinny quiet scream and you reckon that Kald's soul was most likely annihilated. That's one mage definitely down. As far as you can tell, and barring any unexpected developments, you're down to just six mages to hunt down now.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7466995
Go back to where Rampart's corpse was and thoroughly destroy it. Then see if we can pick up the tracks of the other mages.

And we seriously need to have some Dimensional Anchor traps made up for us to deal with that teleporter.

>>7467052

Returning to Rampant's body, you notice some of his hair is missing. Regardless, you utterly butcher the body in to bloody smithereens and smear it in to the floor. After all, if one can be brought back you don't want others to show up too. With that deed done you strain to hear any further sounds, but everything seems utterly quiet.

It seems a shame that the people who would be best at making traps to shut down the teleporter were killed in the school staff room by yourself. Since there's nothing you can do about it you instead scour the school and, after a couple of hours, have to conceed that the mages have left it. No doubt they'll be consolidating elsewhere, but for now you need sleep.

- What would you like to do, Executioner? -

>>7467219
Make sure to loot the shit out of our "buddy" Illandis' possessions.

Catch some shuteye.

In the morning, after a hearty breakfast and the salvaging of whatever remains of our beard, we start looking into where the other six mages are likely to have fled to.

Hometowns are good bets; they may not stay in those, but they'll probably at least start in them. And even if they don't we can find out more.

Put on our thinking cap when we do this. By which I mean one that boosts our INT or WIS, whichever is more relevant.

>>7467386

As fatigue plays on your mind more and more you return to the city. Visiting Illandis' room, you see that for now he's been left along. As such you carefully help yourself to a small gem pinned through his lapel on the off chance it'll work for you. His rings are all too small to fit on your fongers so you leave those with him. Aside from thos items he doesn't seem to carry anything else on him, which is disappointing.

Regardless you return to your room, remove your armour as it's too heavy to sleep in, and finally retire for the night. It's not been too bad a day, consider you technically took out three mages, though two of them were the same mage. Kald and Rampant are now deceased, though Dethis is no doubt going to prove to be a troublesome neuisance.

As you drift off to full sleep, the last sound you hear is the same quiet tinny music when Rampant first appeared, the tune that enslaved all of the citizens.

Bother.

---------------------------

Lets call it there, since a day has passed. Not bad going /tg/ I hope you're enjoying the quest thus far. Just six mages left at the moment!

So we've half our beard burned off, have we? We must immediately begin the closest thing to repairing it--attaching finest quality chain mail links to our face in a semblance of a beard.