Chapter 7: Unconscious Revelations

[Dave W.]

"Nothing to profess now, Professor? It is a pity, had we been given any time to discuss privately, i would have argued for accepting your commission. I'm afraid I'm disinclined now."

Adamant watches his friends struggle with the gas. "Friends, I'm afraid I don't see a way out for you; the gas will take you. I seem to be immune or at least resistant. I think we need to plan for when you all have fallen."

"please help me before you fall. Let's move this table to give me some room to work. Then gather yourselves to the rear of the room. Though i suspect the professor has a plan for me, I promise to defend you as long as I am able."

"I don't see any other alternative."

[Joe]

Streko begins coughing. He backs away from the table and moves between Belarin and the back wall.

"Olladra, grant me this boon! Adamant, get Belarin away from gas. HURRY!"
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Streko casts HEALING WORD on Belarin.

[Jeff]

Kal retreats to the far wall and corner and tries to gauge the magic that's creating the barrier. He has little to go on, save the dimming of the world outside and the unyielding perimeter itself. But he cannot identify the effect. It's strong, and his focus is weakening under the effects of the poison.

Both Syrdan and Streko administer aid to Belarin as best they can, Streko even calling upon the power of Olladra to revive him...but both elf and halfling find Belarin to be largely unharmed. He's out cold, though, into a stillness heavier than sleep, closer to outright unconsciousness.

The gas continues to expand, and roils back when it touches the invisible walls.

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Kal's Arcana check = 13.
Syrdan's Heal check (1d20+12=25)

Condign takes 10 points of poison damage.

[Darren]

In frustration, Kal sweeps his arm in front of him, spraying fire in an arc as he does so, hoping that in addition to burning the oxygen from the air, it will burn the gas, as well.

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I'm embellishing somewhat, but Kal is basically using Burning Spray. He's just not going to hit Condign with it. This is somewhat akin to casting Magic Missile on the darkness. I'm out of ideas, though. Either Jeff is just trying to kill us, or this won't ACTUALLY kill us.

[Mike]

Cursing, Syrdan covers his face with a gloved hand, runs into the cloud of gas, and does his best to drag Condign out of it, back into the narrowing area that's left of clean air.

[Jeff]

Kal's fiery spell has little effect on the roiling gas.

Syrdan drags the body of Condign, whose hand is still grasping his new sword, back toward the far wall. The elf knows it's buying them only seconds, as he continues to cough...

Adamant looks on, still standing by the archway, unaffected by the gas. No one has moved to assist him with the table or chairs.

A horrid thought occurs to him. Is this what the Mourning was like? The shockwave of mysterious force that exploded out from the center of Cyre, that became the dead-gray mists that now surround the doomed nation, presumably killed quickly....but how quickly? Did anyone suffer in those moments? He fears they did.

But Adamant's new friends, as far as he can see, are merely being subjected to some sort of sleep gas. He hopes there are no longterm side effects. He looks down and sees the shattered glass vial. How potent can it be, if it was merely a liquid that delivered it? Alchemical? Either way, it's powerful enough to be working so quickly.

[Joe]

"Mattheu? We need assistnace!! Get word to Varna...tell her we've been betrayed!"

Streko continues to send his thoughts to the Psuedodragon, describing everything that Laster told them....hoping they get out beyond teh dimming veil.

[Dave W.]

Adamant pushes the chair at the head of the table over. He pulls the thick metal shield off his back and calmly and carefully secure it in place on his left arm.

Without a word, the warforged moves to the doorway. Standing straight and tall, he draws the longsword from it's sheath. There is no flourish, swinging, or showmanship with the blade. There is something considerably more frightening to an experienced warrior: the calm confidence of a determined foe.

Finally, Adamant speaks; not to his friends, and not to ir'Zathyran, "Lady, your vassal calls to be tested. I stand prepared to be judged. I fight but am not a weapon. I am the Great Rock, steadfast. I will make of myself a Wall, my enemies will break upon me."

"May my actions today find Favor with You. I stand prepared to be judged."

Adamant stands relaxed, ready to attack when the wall falls.

------ 
Opportunity Action: attack the first person through the doorway.

[Jeff]

Adamant stands prepared, as the gas continues to overtake everyone else. Through the darkening exterior, Adamant can still see the professor, waiting, but he sees no gathering forces, no guards.

Streko has no idea if Matheu is anywhere close by; certainly he gets no response.

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Belarin takes 10 points of poison damage.
Condign takes 10 points of poison damage.
Kal takes 10 points of poison damage.
Streko takes 10 points of poison damage.
Syrdan 10 points of poison damage.
Tangat takes 10 points of poison damage.

[Mike]

Syrdan slowly moves to the head of the table, by Adamant. He pushes it southward, trying to give the warforged room to fight.

As he moves the table, he shakes his head and curses silently. The idea that his actions will ultimately make no difference in this encounter doesn't sit well with him. But still, he wishes to give his metallic friend the best opportunity to defend the rest of his allies against ir'Zathyran.

[Joe]

Streko sees what Syrdan is up to and nods with a grin. He looks to Adamant and feels a momentary, if overwhelming, sense of pride in his friend.

He makes a decision and steps up to the table, leans against it, trying to concentrate, to simply breathe.

"Olladra!" <cough><sputter> "I beseech thee! Help my friend!"

With that Streko reaches out toward the warforged and allows Olladra's energy to pour out from him, through his holy symbol and surround Adamant is a warm glow.
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Streko casts SHIELD OF FAITH. All of Streko's allies gain a +2 power bonus to AC until the end of the encounter, not that it will do anyone, except MAYBE Adamant, any good.

[Jeff]

With Syrdan's help, the table is wrenched out of the way, giving Adamant space. Imbued with the power of Streko's faith, the warforged stands boldly, waiting, ready. Guarding.

The others weaken. Condign lapses into unconsciousness.

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Belarin takes 10 points of poison damage.
Condign takes 10 points of poison damage.
Kal takes 10 points of poison damage.
Streko takes 10 points of poison damage.
Syrdan 10 points of poison damage.
Tangat takes 10 points of poison damage.

Tomorrow I'll post again as the rest of you folks reach 0 hit points. Except Adamant...dun DUN DUN!

[Darren]

With his last bit of strength, Kalarian pulls himself defiantly to his feet. Standing there, his sharrash held in one hand and planted firmly on the ground like a staff of office, he embodies the spirit of a proud scion of Deneith. Although ultimately an impotent gesture, Kalarian knows that if he dies here, he will not die cowering in a corner.

[Joe]

Streko feels his body failing him, the gas overwhelming his lungs, his vision dimming to darkness. He thinks of Varna, Kalarian. He thinks of the others he met on the lightning rail, some no longer alive perhaps.

He coughs hard, his lungs feeling as if Khyber himself were spitting acidic flames down his throat.

He feels himself smothering, burning. "Is this what it feels like to die?" he whispers.

He steps back from the table and slumps to the floor next to Tangat. He pats the warhounds head gently. "I'm sorry, my friend. So very sorry."

He then closes his eyes and inhales deeply the rancid air of the place. Instinctively he coughs more.

"Olladra?"

Streko closes his eyes.

[Jeff]

Olladra offers no insight, but the Sovereign of Feast and Fortune is the final entity that Streko thinks about, and finds comfort in even as he drifts into the unknown.

Dol Arrah, the Sovereign of Sun and Sacrifice, also has no words for Adamant, who stands ready to defend his fallen companions as the devious gas expands to fill the vacuum, and their lungs. But it is faith in her that gives him the resolve. He knows at any moment, the archway may clear, the magical prison may fade, and enemies will come forth to claim them. He won't let that happen.

But that doesn't happen.

Minutes pass, and the dimness of the world doesn't fade. Instead it deepens, until grayness overtakes everything. The stone archway around the patio, the low wall, the surrounding buildings...they all vanish from Adamant's sight. Only the table and chairs remain, along with the listless forms of his companions. He can see they're still breathing...to his one credit, the professor didn't lie about that. They're not dead.

And so Adamant waits.

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And so closes Chapter 7. Keep an eye on your private forums today, as there may be some last-minute doings for some of you. Then look for Chapter 8 to begin.