Seeking the Dark Magician

His body now broken the Old King could feel the very magic holding his mortal essense fading away. Perhaps his backup plan to this situation had proved an excellent choice, however he did not expect such a challange on the first of many such battles. He stood with one good arm, his other slowly gaining form. His took a knee now, putting extra wieght on his talon staff to keep him up. It was coming now, he could feel his very soul start to escape his wrecked body, seeking out it refuge in another. Should this battle be his failure, he would meet it with the honor of a Tomb King.

"If you have only seen what I have seen, what men can truly be."

<Cast Incantation of Fervor: Rank III on Self, Charge and attack 2-hander balanced>

*EDIT* God damn work internet killed my first post. I'm not going to type it out again but basically Seros you hit but rolled a 2 to wound.

---

[M3 attacks Seros]

Hit
30-26+50=56<18 Miss

The marauders counterattack was equally ineffective as the slow strike was easily avoided by the marauder.

[Alright now, Seros, Budou, and Maelkur are up. I'll keep your current action in Queue budou unless you'd like to change it.]

<keep the current action>

Tightening his now two-handed grip on his kopesh blade, the energy that he'd formerly been using to cast the spell that was slowly slipping through his fingers congealed and coalesced around the blade of the sword which created a visible cloud of crackling energy and malice for his opponent. Bringing low the sword that had gotten heavier in the channeling, Maelkur's form blurred into shadows as he charged through the ethereal realm to appear behind the marauder, bringing the sword down in a diagonal slash at the marauder's exposed back.

Charge M3.

As usual, his enemies continued to fight long after the outcome of the clear. Seros had grown rather tired of this trend. Why could they not simply recognize his superiority and surrender? Tragic, really, that so many had to die for him to assert his dominance. Casually sidestepping another powerful, but ill-aimed swing, Seros stabbed in again for the marauder's chest.

Attack M3

[Seros attacks M3 - You should include some description of how you are attacking in the future so I don't feel like I'm totally taking over your dude.]

Hit
26-30+50=46<49 Hit

Wound
17-20+50=47<24 Failed to wound.

Seros parried another attack and stepped forward confident with the mantle of orange flame shielding him. Slashing across the marauders chest the man seemed unphased by the weak cut.

[Zaket Casts Incantation of Fervor]

Casting Roll
50+10+20(Previous)+20(W)-34=66<75 Success

[Move Zaket one zone to the right]

[Initiate Charge]
Hit
50+26-10-20=46<21 Miss

Zaket surged towards his foe with unsettling speed. Slamming his blade down the marauder raised his axe just in time to block the attack.

*This fight is being fast forwarded for our sanity*

[Maelkur charges M3]

Hit
50+26-27=49<70 Hit!

Wound
50+20-17=47<13 Failed to wound.

*See upcoming changes to combat in rules section. I'm going to roll everyone again swinging to help us trudge through this last enemy.*

---

M3 Attacks Seros
Hit
50+30-27=53<80 Hit!

Wound
50+26-12=38<71 Wound!

Damage
5-10+S-T/5-Arm
5+2-5 = 2 Damage! *Absorbed by DR. DR 3 Remaining.*

---

Seros attacks M3

Hit
26-30+50=46<95 Hit

Wound
17-20+50=47<45 Failed to wound.

---

[Zaket attacks M3]

Hit
50+26-10=66<91 Hit

Wound
50+17-10=57<23 Failed to Wound.

---

[Maelkur attacks M3]

Hit
50+26-27=49<62 Hit!

Wound
50+20-17=47<50 Wound!

Damage
4-8+S-T/5-Arm
5+0-0 = 5 Damage.

---

M3 Attacks Seros
Hit
50+30-27=53<9 Miss!

---

Seros attacks M3

Hit
26-30+50=46<96 Hit

Wound
17-20+50=47<74 Wound

Damage
5-8+S-T/5-Arm
8-0-0=8 damage * Marauder slain *

The three wizards surrounded the last marauder and rained blows on him from all sides. The cornered marauder fought desperately parrying and lashing out on all sides. Each nick and stab that grazed the marauder was beginning to take its toll. The man slowed down and each fighter saw the opening. Zaket brought his oversized blade in a sweeping vertical arc forcing the marauder into a two handed full horizontal block. The moment his hands raised into the air Maelkur dove forward cutting a huge gash in the man's side. As the man winced and spun towards the new assailant Seros planted a huge boot into the man's back and driving his rapier through the man's spine.

*Victory Dance- Don't worry too much fellas I made a small tweak to the combat system to hopefully make combat less constantly missing.*

MVP-Seros

<Thanks for the fast forward on that one, I will review the rule changes shortly.>

"This battle was most unpleasent." The old King reached down to the fallen foe, grabbing at still warm flesh and tearing it away with his talon. Quickly the flesh did begin to bond to his body and then quickly shrivel to match his make.

"Their bodies are still of use, the skin in particular is very strong"

Seros looked down with disgust as Zaket dissected the bodies of their foes. Such barbarity was more appropriate of... well, of Khorne worshippers. Perhaps it was suitable, then, that they receive the same treatment. Still, he found it distasteful - his Imperial sensibilities were still intact, apparently.

"Yes, enjoy your corpses, Corpse King," Seros said, stepping gingerly over the bodies as the orange fire around him began to dissipate. "I will see what it is that kept these poor fools trapped here." Seros approached the end of the tunnel and examined the large circular door.

The sounds of battle ended as suddenly as they began. Only the small trickling of water broke the pure dark silence. Seros approached the large circular stone slab on the wall.

New Skill Checks! Let's try them out =D.
Search- (Skill Test-d100+2*Bs. Diff 75.)
95+20=115 Success

The circle was about six feet in diameter. There was no obvious handle or way to open the door. Several long shallow cuts were drawn across the middle. Seros reached up and ran a finger down one of the grooves. It appeared someone, probably his recently deceased foes, had attempted to cut the door down. This was clearly an impossibility. His finely tuned arcane senses could feel the magic emanating from the door. Clearly there were magical wards in place that would also prevent it from being destroyed or magically broken. Seros had no idea who or what could create such a ward but it was clearly beyond his power to dispel or create. The subtle trappings and creation of magic wards and items was better left to someone less inclined to cleanse everything in fire. There were nine smaller stone circles in the center of the circle. The nine of the circles were in a three by three grid. Two smaller triangles stood above and below the center. Thin grooves carved into the stone connected each of the objects.

Triangles = T
Circles = []
Grooves = /|\


......▲.....
./....|....\
[7] [8] [9]
[4] [5] [6]
[1] [2] [3]
.\....|... /
......▼......

"Interesting. Some sort of... lock, perhaps?" Fascinating design." Seros bent over slightly, bringing his head close to the engravings and inspecting them. He raised a single gauntleted finger, and poked one of the circles curiously.

(Seros pushes button number 3!)

The circle slides about a quarter inch into the wall but nothing else appears to happen.

Cocking his head inquisitively, Seros continues pushing buttons.

(6, and then 9, assuming nothing interesting happens after 6)

Both circles become indented in the same fashion as circle 3.

"Very... curious..." With no apparent response, Seros continues randomly indenting circles.

(1, 4, 7)

Pushing button 1,4, and 7 indent in the same fashion as the previous circles. However Seros keen magical aptitude and fast eyes (passed Bs test) allow to sense a small amount of magic is released upon pressing the 1st and 7th.

"Well, only three left, it seems...?"

(2, 5, 8 )

Again the circles that are pressed slide slightly into the wall. Circle 8 releases a small amount of magic invisible to the naked eye.

"Then what does this do..."

(Push the top triangle)

The triangle slid into the wall as the circles did. There was a small click and the triangle slid back to its original position.

Seros whistled a happy tune as he continued experimenting with the door, his companions watching in apparent disinterest from behind him.

(Bottom triangle. If nothing cool happens, BOTH TRIANGLES AT ZE SAME TIME)

As Seros pressed the bottom triangle there was a click as blue light filled the grooves between it and circles 1,2, and 3. There was a pause and another click as the triangle slid back to its original position and the blue light faded.

(Push on circles 2 and 3 again, see if they pop back out. If so, try the bottom triangle again.)

Seros calmly pushed the circles 2 and 3 again. They stayed firmly in place.