Falas Weyr Massacre RP

[Yakima]

[[Since no one seemed to mind, I shall start this now. Jump in once your characters' stats are set. I won't post again until I know most people have made their first intros.]]

[[For Those in the Weyrling Barracks]]
Some of the weyrlings had been too tired to stay long at the festival. Some had curled up with their dragonets in their new quarters either right after settling their dragons to sleep or after mingling for a while with the riders, weyrfolk and guests. The older weyrlings were out while their young dragons either slept in the barracks or on the Rim.

It wasn't until the sun started to go down that some of the weyrlings noticed a change in the barracks. It was cold. Freezing cold, and seemed to be coming from older weyrlings' quarters. Few dared peek at the resident and those that did backed away in fear. Their was one in that room who kept moaning, muffled screams could be heard, and the night rust dragon on the couch twitched as if being shocked. He would growl, whimper, then growl again. Something was wrong.

"We really should tell the WeyrlingMaster," one of the new blue riders said to his friend, the healer who had Impressed a green today. "Something is very..."

Then Tabyen Ashshadow's seal compeltely shattered and he cried out, rising from the bed as his soul began to break apart. He reached inwardly for the only thing he could cling to, hoping it was enough to keep him sane. Zontath reared back in alarm and black magic flooded the Barracks. Fighting these new insticts that were forced upon him, Tabyen rose, his black trench coat (his siguniture mark since coming to Falas Weyr) was the first thing he grabbed; and the sword. It fought him, sending his tattered spirit into a blood burning frenzy. But he won against that spirit and clung to it.

As he moved through the Barracks a few weyrlings tried to run - few that he saw lived much longer. A few dragonets leapt to protect their riders, only to die, leaving their riders screaming in agony, almost wishing this black figure (that few really knew) would just kill them. Zontath followed his rider, twitching and burning in the misery his rider was going through. Tabyen was loosing his mind. By now he did not care if these beings were friend or foe. They were food, their souls ripped from their bodies to feed his magic. Several dragonets panicked, racing for the doors - their young souls were ripped from their bodies and Zontath reared back, his scream being heard throughout the Weyr.

As the two made their way to the exit, little fire-lizards sprang up, sent by their Impressors to investigate the death of the werylings. Flicks of his hand ended their lives as well. Then they were outside. Leaping onto his young dragon's back, Tabyen Ashshadow rose into the air as the power of an Undead Lord spilled over and took hold. He wanted death. He wanted suffering. His life here the past Turn was forgotten in a black fog of pain and anger...

[[For those at the Gather]]
And as Falas Weyr celebrated, the clouds began to roll above the Weyr, blocking out the sun. At first their was nothing unusual about an evening storm. It wasn't until the lightning flickered in the sky and the temperature began to drop rapidly that a few confused gather-goers looked up. Before they could question their companions, a shriek rent the air from the direction of the Weyrling Barracks. Dragons bugled in alarm, sending S'mar racing toward to the Barracks, his face white as Troth relayed a message to his rider. Some of the new weyrlings cried out, some collapsing in their grief and pain. Dragons began to keen, confirming the fears of those close by – something had just killed the weyrlings. Panic raced through the crowd faster then Thread burrows in the jungle. None of the riders could get a clear message from their dragons and those that sent their fire-lizards to check were ether denied out right or lost a friend moments later. Eunos Kebahe and his strongest wolves were preparing to go to the Barracks themselves when a dark shape rose from the cliffs and into the cold air. All the music stopped as snow began to fall in thick sheets, melting on the warmer ground.

Fear fell into the hearts of all those watching for the aura spreading over the Weyr Bowl was terrible and powerful. ((Roll d20 for how much it affects your character – 20 is the only save 'cause he's elite boss level )) Children screamed, crying as frightened adults herded them back to the Lower Caverns. Before J'ren could give any orders, the terrible shriek of a dragon in pain and angered rent the air again and he dove straight into the gathered crowed. On his back was a single rider, a black trench coat wrapped around the pale, thin figure. In his hand was a blade, long and curved with a pulsating aura of blue and red flames that never mingled but fought for existence with each other. Even those who did not understand what this weapon was knew that it was capable of things the simple Pernese could not understand. This was magic. Black magic and wielded with more power and skill then few had ever seen before.

A flash of dark magic came from the long, elvish curved blade as the dragon descended over the weyrfolk. The wave of power was directed at one man but others fell with him. Only a last minute shield from Ayren FireLight prevented the death of Weyrleaders and K'man. But the young wolf's demonic power was not enough. Mixuith, Ainnth, and Nysheth cried out, writhing in the same indescribable pain as their riders. For the three leaders everything was agony as if something was being ripped from their hearts and minds. Flashes of blue-red light danced around them, then Ayren fell as well, writhing in misery and anguish. Dragons either screamed in pain before betweening forever or keened at the death of one of their own. In the madness no one could discern who had died. Above, the dark figure skimmed over the crowd, flashes of light lacing from his weapon with the intent to kill.

For some of the riders and weyrfolk, this was a nightmare relived from the Tenth Pass – only far worse as what kind of weapons did they have against magic? People ran for the Lower Caverns, only to skid to a halt as a black tear in the air widened and grew until it spanned the entire entrance to the Caverns. From it stumbled the pale, decaying forms of men and animals with vacant eyes, gaping maws filled with teeth, and claws able to tear flesh from bones. But they were half-crazed and stumbled into the gather-goers mindlessly. Only a few seemed to be able to have coherent thought. They were starving not only for flesh but for the souls of the living – something that they had lost years past. Blood was their first calling.

It wasn't just these land-bound zombies that flooded the Weyr Bowl, but creatures of the sky, too. Into the air a black cloud of screeching birds rose, attacking dragons and fire-lizards with beaks of teeth and thick claws. Of all sizes they swarmed, some looked nothing like birds, but grotesque dragons with rotting flesh and wings. Dragons were unable to come to the aid of their riders, so many were the winged fell beasts. It was a fight of survival that, given the circumstances, no one was prepared to win. A few managed to send for help but even those arriving had to fight to get to the ground. ((Choose one either the Lower Caverns or Gather Grounds to fight in. GG will have much more to fight then the LC right now but these guys will spread like wild fire throughout the cavern system. Here is the map of the LC area: http://www.falas-weyr.wolf-mage.com/images/map_lc.gif ))

[[You're fights start here but I'll add the background stuff as we go along as some of it will affect you're characters. ]]

[Dray]

Acha Chenyr: HP: 12, AP:3, RP: 2+3 (Armor), AM: 1, RM: 2
Item: Armor (Acha had worn some light armor to the hatching in preparation for the likelihood of getting mauled. She hadn't taken it off yet during the gather!)

Cwynnanth: HP: 18, AP: 2, RP: 1, AM: 3, RM: 2
Abilities:
Teleportation: Can teleport to anywhere that she can see, destination must be clear of other creatures.
Fire Breath: +1 Fire damage. On a 17 or higher, +2 Fire damage. On a 20, +3 Fire damage, deals 1 Fire damage per turn. Save vs. 13 to end.

Helion: HP: 12, AP: 3, RP: 3, AM: 3, RM: 1
Abilities:
Accelerated Healing (Helion only): Heals 1d3 damage per use. On a 17 or higher, heals 1d6 damage. On a 20, heals6+1d6 damage.
Grant Temporary Invulnerability: Boost ally's RP and RM by 5 for the encounter. Can only be used once.
Fiery Wings: +1 Fire damage. On a 17 or higher, +2 Fire damage. On a 20, +3 Fire damage, deals 1 Fire damage per turn. Save vs. 13 to end.

((Roll for Effect of Fear Aura -- Acha (2), Cwynnanth (13), Helion (5)))

Acha had felt exhausted, not only because bonding her black-copper Peroth had required a mental adjustment that she hadn't been fully prepared for, but because she had had to deal with her mother, and Chate had been none too pleased that her daughter had not only not bonded the Queen, but had gone and Impressed a male, at that. Sitting through the Gather, Acha had been forced to listen to her mother's tirade for a good hour before she had managed to catch Helion's eye, and the phoenix-dragoness had swooped in (figuratively, of course), to save her. Most of the other Pernese Gather attendees didn't like the look of Helion, partially because she was a walking bonfire, partially because she was a little over-eager to join in.

Soon enough, however, Acha and Helion found some of the other recently Impressed Weyrlings, Liukari being amongst them. The air had gotten suddenly freezing, and Acha found herself huddling up against Helion for warmth as she meant to greet the other girl... but before she could give a shout, something happened. She felt a stab of terror from across her mental bond: Peroth, woken by the sounds of shrieking and keening, had just witnessed one of the older Weyrlings and his dragon leaving the Barracks. :: Everybody's hurt! :: the tiny dragonet exclaimed. He was curled up on his bed, too scared and too full to move to help.

Acha, along with many others in the Gather, had stopped and turned -- she had left Helion's side at a run for her bond, ignoring the thick sheets of snow that, inexplicably, had begun to fall. She ignored also the screaming and crying that had erupted, though it was a sense of overwhelming dread that finally brought her to her knees right near the entrance of the lower caverns -- and Acha watched, mortified, as rotting corpses began to spill out of some kind of tear in the fabric of space, not several feet distant from them. She had no idea that she was adding to the din, frozen in place as she was!

Helion was confused, at first, and distressed by the falling snow that fizzled over her wings. "What's going on?" she asked of no one in particular. When she saw someone diving from on high, throwing bolts of fire down into the crowd, she squawked and ducked, instinctively raising her wings to shield her from the falling magic. "Hey, hey! That's not cool!"

For the hatching and the resulting gather, Cwynnanth had been paddling around in the lake and, more recently, had climbed out of the shallows and onto the pebbly beach. She hated celebrations, really, and her bond's displeasure of her child's Impression had only helped to curdle the undead hydra's state of mind. As the temperature dropped and dropped, and as the snow began to fall, her five smaller heads began to confer with one another, but Cwynnanth's main head tracked the progress of one dragon that had launched itself into the sky. She listened to an eruption of screams impassively, more focused on the sensation of Chate's surprise and distress. Rising to her great, clawed, feet, the golden hydra let loose a six-toned roar as she spotted clouds of other undead creatures beginning to clog the sky. She might be of a kind with the attackers, but she didn't have to tolerate them, especially when they put her bond in danger!

((Not sure if you want us to add their attacks this round, or if it's just an introduction! I'll wait for another post from you before I start with the attacks, I suppose! All three are out on the gather grounds at the moment!))

[StarFyre]

Liukari: HP: 11, AP: 1, RP: 1, AM: 4 +3 (Ring of Power), RM: 3
Item: Ring of Power: +3 Active Mental, on 20, adds 1 point of damage or healing to magic
Abilities:
Fire Magic: +1d3 +1 Fire damage, on a 17, +1d3 + 2 Fire damage, on 20, +3 Fire damage and set foe on fire (deals 1 damage to turn, 13 to resist)
Tangleweed: +1d3 +1 physical damage, on a 17, +1d3 +2 physical damage, on 20, +3 physical damage and roots foe to ground (13 to resist)
Healing: Heals +1d3 damage, on 17, heals 1d6 damage, on a 20, heals 6+1d5 damage

Reno: HP: 12, AP: 3 +3 (beatin stick), RP: 2, AM: 1, RM: 2
Item: Beatin' Stick: +3 Active Physical, on 20, does 1 point of Lightning damage

Rieno: HP: 11, AP: 2 +3 (Electro-rod), RP: 3, AM: 2, RM: 2
Item: Electro-Rod: +3 Active Physical, on 20, does 1 point of Lightning damage


((Roll for effect of Fear Aura -- Liukari (20), Rieno (16), Reno (12)

Liukari had been happily perusing the Gather stalls with a few other weyrlings, regaling them with stories of some of the personalities of Akelara, when Acha and the phoenix-dragon had drifted over and attached themselves to the group. A glance at Acha told her all she needed to know - the young woman looked drawn and wan, like Liukari felt after a day-long battle, and had likely been fighting a war every bit as vicious as the one Akelara was involved in. Liukari made to give a small wave and encouraging smile to the young woman when it happened.

::There have been deaths, Liukari-mine!:: Hatyth exclaimed as he rose from his bed and peered cautiously through the door of the weyr, putting aside his sated sleep. Images of the corridor flashed through her mind, as Hatyth swept his head about to get a better look. And yes, there were bodies, and Hatyth was holding back his trembling by sheer force of will, mentally 'leaning' on Liukari's trained mind to help keep his from spiraling into fear.

She sent a wave of reassurance to the young copper, then followed it with, ::Find the black, Acha's bond. You'll feel better with someone else to curl around.::

Hatyth sent his fear and acknowledge at the command, and slunk from his room and down the hallway, skirting the dead bodies without really looking at them, paws trembling enough that his claws rattled against the stone with every step. It felt an eternity to him (and thus to Liukari as well), but he finally slunk into Peroth's room and crawled up onto the black's bed, nosing his way into the ball of dragon that Peroth had become.

Liukari came back to herself to find snow falling all about her, people milling about in confusion and fear, and Acha halfway across the grounds. With a curse she took off after the other, not entire sure how the younger would deal with the bodies that littered the weyrling halls. She had to skid to a halt when Acha went to her knees near the entrance to the lower caverns in order to not trip over her and take the two remaining paces to Acha's side.

"The fear is external!" Liukari shouted over the din, gripping Acha's shoulder roughly and giving the girl a shake. "For Peroth's sake, get your emotions under control!"

She kept part of her mind on the approaching corpses, measuring them against the minions that Death Desagra used in war (though she'd only seen those walking horrors once, thank the Origin!) and tallying up the differences. There were plenty, but were there enough similarities to make her abilities useful..?

No time like the present to find out. Liukari raised her free hand and chanted, "Raoldin, lord of fire, grant your child the gift of your strength, that my enemies may fear me and my allies rejoice in my presence!"

Heat flooded through her body as her channels came to fiery life. She wondered absently how these Pernese would see her now, with the runes all over her body flaring a bright, fiery red, the power leaking through even the clothes she wore that tended to cover most of them. She might even, she thought, look similar to Helion like this, if smaller and not shedding sparks every time she moved. All that flashed through her mind as she leveled her hand at the approaching hoard and whispered, "Firestorm." ((18 to spread fiery death upon anything she can target))
_________________________

Meanwhile, in the lower caverns, Rieno and Reno were still playing cards when the unthinkable happened. The screams, the shouts, were all too familiar to hardened mercenaries like them, and they got grimly to their feet, game ignored, in preparation.

"Cha think could be attackin' 'ere, yo?" Rieno asked companionably as he pulled his electro-rod free of its case and opened it with a practiced flick of his wrist.

Reno's paws were trembling enough that he fumbled his beatin' stick free of its own sheath, and he frowned at the betraying appendages. "Dunno. Cha wanna bet ain't nuthin' pretty?"

"Not takin' that, yo," Rieno shot back, as he held up one slightly trembling paw to stare at it, before snapping his attention back to where the first of the... creatures... were beginning to slowly shamble their way in. "We gotta getta Liu. Visarin'll turn us inta stew iffen we let 'er die."

"I don't make a good stew," Reno grunted as he took his stance next to his brother. "Go?"

Rieno nodded, flashing a grin up at his brother, "Go."

Screaming their fury, the two anthros barreled across the cavern together, aiming for the monsters, battle-joy already flooding their systems and fighting the induced fear. ((11 for Rieno's charge and attack, 15 for Reno's similar charge and attack))

((Well, I was going to leave off the attacks, but it seemed appropriate =P Well, the Renos are currently charging across the cavern doing the whole "Scream. It gives you adrenaline." thing. Liukari is out in the Gather Ground, while the Renos are in the Lower Cavern trying to get to Liukari. My dice have chosen to favor Liukari tonight, I see.))

[Yakima]

((Actually, if you want to get few hits in before I post he next tid-bit of background scenes you can... It's kinda hard not to start the attacks in a situation like that. ))

[StarFyre]

((Added die rolls))

[Dray]

((So we can attack even if we got a low die roll? XD))

[Yakima]

((Okay, hopefully our internet will stop playing games with us...grrr...But, yes, if you want to start attacking now that's fine. that first roll was the save against Tabyen's very evil aura of black magic that he's emanating. Like I said, he was elite boss level. lol You're all DOOOMED! Mwahaahaa!!!! *coughs as she recomposes herself*

You can go in and add the rolls in. Perhaps, as I'm liking this color thing, we can use red for attacking and blue for defense rolls? Or something like that...and orange for saves, violet for spot, and green (perhaps the olive) for healing? Just easier to see in a block of black text. lol

Perhaps when you guys roll, roll for your attack and defense. XD))

((StarFyre))
Luikari's fire took fanned out, engulfing several of the horde. Three screamed as they went up in flames. ((.75 points for Luikari)) But behind those that fell to the ground as ash, more followed. ((now I want her defense stats ))

The two anthro brothers charged through the crowd, somehow managing to avoid the panicked weyrfolk who ran toward the cavern systems to lock themselves behind their doors. Reno fell one zombie ((.5 points for Reno)) and his brother's electro rod smashed two more smaller zombies. ((.5 for Rieno))

((I see I shall go through muchly scratch paper during the next few weeks. heehee))

[Dray]

Hearing Liukari's exclamation, Acha realized that, aside from Peroth's distress (and yes, having a brother with which to curl about did seem to help, though the stench of death and fear was still thick in the barracks) the fear really was external. True, she had never fought such horrific creatures before, but she was no coward, quailing in fear... Struggling to regain her feet, Acha lashed out at the nearest monster with a combination punch (2 to attack XD) but was distracted by the great flash of fire that erupted from Liu's glowing hands.

"Woah," she gaped, feeling a mite bit out-powered.

---

Helion, regaining her wits, realized that there were more enemies than she could shake a flaming stick at. She noticed that many of the people around her, both trained and squishy, probably couldn't defend themselves. More importantly, she noticed the flash of fire from Liukari's direction, near the rift that had formed by the lower caverns. Giving a shrill cry, the phoenix-dragon flared her wings and plunged into battle (14 to attack with flaming wings!)

--

Cwynnanth leapt to the skies, never mind the blanket of undead birds and creatures. She needed to get to her bond! All of her six heads kept track of the nearest creatures, and snapped out, snake-like, to tear apart those that got in her way. (15 to attack)

[Yakima]

[DRAY]
Acha missed, most likely distracted by the display of power coming from her friend. Three zombies took her small distraction as opportunity and leapt for her for a simple human was such easy meat!

Helion's wings sent three zombies straight to pile of ash ((1.25 for Helion)). [[now, when you said 17+ for +2 damage does that mean you have to roll a natural 17 or the total with the AP becomes 17 then it deals +2. Either way, she kills all three but, yeah...just needing to make sure...]] Many of the zombies backed down from the phoenix-sira, fearful of her firey wings. But their were some that did not fear fire. Slinking from the crevice came the mangled form of some kind of feline. It was lion sized. She

Four carrion birds fell prey to the hydra's desperate attempt to get to her bond. ((1 pt Cwynnath)) This didn't cause the dumb, brainless birds to scatter however. Never the less, Cwynnath managed to wing her way toward the battle grounds that was once the Gather Field.

From the Rift to the Netherworld large beasts were streaming out, however and one made for the hydra. Around her, even the Pernese dragons were being attacked, some right in the sanctuary of their weyrs. While the little birds scratched and pecked, doing little damage, they were highly annoying, driving some of them into the open air. These beasts that rose now were slightly larger then a winged wolf - one made straight line for Cwynnath...

((Actually, could you roll attack/defense in the same turn? I think that might be easy/faster. ))

[StarFyre]

((If you really want defense rolls, sure, but in general for defense you'd roll a d20 for the monsters, compare it to (character's RP)+10, then if (monster's AP)+d20 > (character's RP)+10 the monster hits and deal damage.))

Liukari shifted back to stand behind Acha, hoping against hope that the corpses would focus on getting through Acha instead of around Acha to her. Unfortunately, there was a lot of 'around' and not much 'through', so she hadn't much hope of that. She just had to keep throwing fire until there were no more corpses. Or something.

She didn't like to focus on that 'or something'.

"I've been training since I was five," Liukari remarked off-handedly in response to Acha's reaction, her voice cool and collected as she focused on the corpses before them. "I make a terrible physical fighter and a great mage. You could probably set me on my ass without even trying hard."

So saying, she swept her hands through the air again, fingers leaving trails of fiery light behind, like a glowstick spun through the air, and pointed towards the monsters again. "Firestorm." ((Liukari: 10 on def, 13 on attack))

_____

"These things ain't hard!" Rieno exclaimed as he brought down two with one swipe. "Two!"

Reno grunted and kicked the dead-thing he'd just smashed away from him. "Mine was bigger."

"Not 'cording t' Diri t'wasn't!" Rieno bantered back as he smacked at creatures reaching for him. "'cording t'her, Zehuk's 's bigger'n yers, yo."

"Like y'can talk. Y'got feathers, don't 'at make ya like'a bird, eh?" Reno continued the perpetual argument absently, as he kicked away a few more of the creatures coming towards him, then twirled his beatin' stick and swung with all his might.

"I'll show y' jes how 'like'a bird' I am when we're dun 'ere, y'dam scaly beast." Rieno said as he ducked under his brother's swing and came up swinging at whatever didn't get paste-ified by that massive enchanted stick his brother preferred to good, solid technology.

((Rieno: 18 on def, 15 on attack; Reno: 17 on def, 20 on attack))

[aireona93]

((Hey, Yakima! I'd like to jump into the RP, and I just wanted to make sure that that would be cool. I am still working out how my character would get to the zombie battlefield... XD))

[Yakima]

((Oh...yeah...forgot...*faceplant* Neeeevermind then...I did only have on practice round over a week ago, after all. lols So, no defense rolls...got it...'course your characters may need something a bit more...er...challenging now...

Airy, if your characters was at the Gather, they are already their. The Gather Field is right in front of the Lower Caverns. ))

[[StarFyre]]
((going to wait for Dray to post for Acha before I post for Liukari))

As Rieno killed two more ((+.5 points)), Reno found himself surrounded by several pairs of clawed, decaying, bone-showing hands. With a snarl, Reno easly decapited some, the beating stick sending shocks of electricity through the carcuses. Four fell before him, adding to the reeking carpet of dead. "Ha!" he cried. ((1.25 pts))

But his joy was short lived for the fell beasts, creatures that were once animals, had either leaped from the Netherworld or begun to slink forward. Huge dogs, larger then the winged wolves fighting along side the human (or humanoids), felines ranging from house cat to lion, and creatures that once were scaly and lizard like, slipped through the Rift. One large canine made a leap for Reno while a smaller hell hound attacked Rieno.

The feline that attacked Reno sailed through the air, yapping and snarling with vacant white eyes, blood-laced saliva dripping from his maw. His teeth sank into the unsuspecting anthro. ((5 damage to Reno...I rolled a 20 but I'm not sure what to do with it so I'm just leaving it at that. These guys really don't have much extra damage anyways))

The small hound attacked Rieno just as he was coming clear of his brother's wing, the last zombie falling to the ground. It snarled, leaping at the terrigon to latch onto his tail. ((3 damage to Rieno))

((Finally I get to start dealing the damage...I'm kinda waiting to see how many others show up before I post the next phase which will help out Gather Ground fighters...))

[Dray]

((It looks like you cut off a sentence for Helion part-way in that last post for me: "Slinking from the crevice came the mangled form of some kind of feline. It was lion sized. She"

In any case, sorry for the wait! The concert was definitely amazing, though, totally worth going to. Owen Pallett = the rad!

As for the '17 or higher', that's in total. The 20's are the ones that you have to roll by themselves!))

As another blast of fire swirled nearby, Acha had to cringe: she doubted that she'd ever get close enough to Liukari to put her on her backside with those kind of fireworks! Never the less, the three zombies that were shambling in her direction didn't fail to attract her notice, and Acha, settling into a ready position, leapt for the nearest, keeping the other two in mind for the moment that she was finished. ((13 to attack the first, then 12 for the second, 11 for the third unless you have a cap on how many she can attack at once!)) "If you spot a knife or something," she called to her friend, "I'd be very happy!"

---

Helion couldn't help but sniff at the foul stench of burnt zombie. Blegh! Not only burnt zombie, but wet burnt zombie. What a party... the dragoness caught sight of a strange, feline-like creature as it slunk from rift, amongst the fearful rotting dead. She screeched in its direction, calling its attention, and mantled her wings, ready to attack it should it come her way. ((5 to attack, readying a fire-wings attack if the lion-critter comes her way!))

---

All that the birds would get out of Cwynnanth in their pecking was a mouth full of foul meat, not much more preserved than their own. Cwynnanth was of a kind with them; undead, her tattered wings streaming greenish gold flesh with every downstroke... it was likely that the only thing that kept her separate was her possession of a soul. Or, perhaps, it was simply that she didn't lust for one. Whatever the case, the hydra queen took little notice of the runt that was flying for her, arrowing instead to the outskirts of the frightened humans. She noticed that, with the rift open as it was, there was no way that she could get through; Chate would have to come out the other side. Conveying this, ignoring Chate's snorted retort, Cwynnanth finally turned her attention to the beast that was so set on dealing her damage. Several puffs of smoke emitted from her lesser heads' mouths were the only warning that the little monster would get ((3 to attack X3)) as the gold inhaled deeply for a fiery breath.

[Yakima]

[[DRAY & STARFYRE]]
Acha's fists snapped the neck of the first one. It crumpled to the ground so she turned to the other two. They also fell to the floor. ((1 pt Acha)) Her fists were sore (and probably not smelling that great), and smeared with a blackish-red ooze that was once life-sustaining blood. Next to her, Liukari's fire spread throughout the sea of undead faces. Four fell to her spell ((1.5 for Liukari)).

As the girls fought amid the riders and other weyrfolk, one zombie stumbled forward - but this one wasn't as cumbersome as the others. His eyes burned black and red but their was more intelligence here. He spotted the girls and, showing no fear of Liukari's fire, sprang for them while the lesser undead attacked. His target was the one not wielding fire. His claw-like hands swept upward as he pounced on Acha, missing her only to skid to a halt several feet away. It whipped around to, ready to attack again. The hissing garble coming from his mouth was indecipherable in speech but not in meaning. While he had no fear of the fire, he wasn't going to try to touch the wielder, yet.

[[DRAY]]
The feline leapt for Helion with an unnatural scream. Helion spread her wings, whipping them around in an attempt to catch it mid-air. She missed and the creature landed on her back ((dumb cat, will get -1 damage per turn now anyway )) With claws barred, it dug into to Helion's back, biting and scratching in lustful furry. ((-2 damage to Helion))

--

Exhaling a gout of fire toward the oncoming dracolitch ((don't worry, Dray, it's not the level I had on the stat pages)) only to have it flip it's tattered wings and dive away from it. It veered to the hydra dragon but missed only to veer back again, the hideous screech coming from it's beak sounding like fingers on a chalkboard.

((Okay, that took forever because I kept forgetting to roll for the bad-guys before they attacked and to add up the RP stuff. *facepalm* Maybe it's a good thing I ain't doing this in the chatroom lol

Anyone else planning to join in before I post the next bit of scene filler stuff? XD))

[Guest]

((I'm still hoping to join in, just waiting for a PM from Dray before I do.

But, y'know what, don't worry about me--my gang will just join the party late if need be. I'm sure I can find reasons to delay them. ^.^))

[Yakima]

((lol it's okay I can wait. I think Xalia and a few others want to jump in, too. ))

[Dray]

((Yakima, I have just been giving you my dice rolls, and not adding them to my character's stats. I'm going to switch that to adding my dice rolls with my characters stats -- I'm assuming that you haven't been doing that for me!))

There was nobody between Acha and the undead creature, so the girl had to think fast. She squared off against the hissing zombie, readying her fists and uttering a few choice words of her own. Then, leaping forward, she aimed a slugging blow across its jaw (3+3=6 to attack 9_9)

---

"Ack, hey!" Helion reared, clawing the air and screeching in pain as her back was torn open. Hissing, she fell backwards with flailing wings, crushing the creature beneath her burning weight. (natural 20 (+3) to attack!)

---

Cwynnanth hissed, cursing her bad luck with the miss. She was large and cumbersome, compared to this light-weight, and she knew that she couldn't match its dexterity... however, she made up for in sheer power what she lacked in grace. The gold managed to avoid getting her flesh caught beneath the creature's teeth or claws the first time it came at her, and now she watched it carefully for any tricks. They were heading directly at one another at this rate; Cwynnanth intended to bowl it out of the air and trounce it beneath her paws. (18+2=20 to attack)

[Yakima]

((Actually, I have, Dray. Last round Acha had totals of 16, 15, and 14. Helion had a total of 8 and Cwynnanth had a total of 6. I was told to add 10 to the zombies RP. Most/all have 0 so it's 10 or above to hit them. If I'm doing this wrong, let me know. >.< I won't post till I know I'm doing this right. ))

[Dray]

((Oh, you have? XD Sorry, I got confused! Okay, what would you prefer, that I have things added up beforehand, or just show the dice rolls?))

[StarFyre]

((These are all raw die rolls, since that seems to be the confusion at the moment >.>;; ))

Liukari muttered an oath under her breath as the larger, more intelligent thing stumbled up from out of the sea of undead. She really, really wished the two brothers were at her side right now to add some backup. This time, she swept her hands out and directed a thread of the power towards the greater zombie in an attempt to weaken it for her friend, though the majority of her attention went to crisping any of the lessers that showed interest in the two of them.

She did, however, take the moment between when her power went out and when the things lit on fight to dart a glance about the area, looking for anything that Acha could use as a weapon.

((Liukari, attack: 18, looking arround: 8))

________________

"Gah!" Reno yelped as the feline bit deep into his shoulder, then quickly brought his weapon around to pummel the beast... or at least attempt to. "Ain't got Liu!" Reno gritted out as he flailed away. "Gunna need healin' stuff, yo."

Rieno, his own eyes watering from the sheer indignity of his tail being gnawed on, tried to twist around enough to beat off his own attacker with his rod, but was hampered by how short his tail was, and thus how close the creature was to him. "Lil busy," He growled. "You look."

((Reno, attack: 9, looking arround: 19, Rieno, attack: 4, looking arround: 5))

[Yakima]

((Oh, you have? XD Sorry, I got confused! Okay, what would you prefer, that I have things added up beforehand, or just show the dice rolls?))

((If you want to, you can but if you do show its as x+y=b (oh, look, algebra...EEEKKK!!! *facedesk*) so that I know you did the math for me. If you give me 'raw' rolls, just a numbers.

Okay, I've gotta take a shower then I'll be back to post for both of ya. ))

[Guest]

(( Kova:
HP: 11, AP: 2 (+3 from item), RP: 3, AM: 3, RM: 1
Item: Smith’s hammer (+3 active physical; no special, just good for smashing things )

T’tan:
HP: 12, AP: 2, RP: 2 (+3 from item), RP: 2, RM: 2
Item: Huntsman leathers (+3 reactive physical)
Special: Forearms, collar, and upper back sport hardened spikes oiled with neurotoxin; chance on touch/bite attack to either of these areas to become paralysed for 2 rounds (requires a natural 20 roll for defensive to be effective; he’ll be doing all he can to defend with said spikes, but whether or not they’re hit in the right way to be effective is highly chancy X3)

Roll for fear effect: Kova: 5, T’tan: 20 (huzzah, I knew there was I reason I decided to use my lucky d20 for T’tan xD) ))

Once Ceroth had assured her bond that she was comfortably settled in her couch, Kova had gone off to join the Gather, all too eager to meet the rest of her Weyrmates and to celebrate the happy occasion. Rorn had come along with her, hoping to secure a few pity servings of anything that the smith happened to be munching on.

She’d just begun an animated discussion with a smith from a nearby Hold when she noticed the drop in temperature. Her partner ended up excusing himself in order to track down some hot klah while Kova herself snugged her arms around her body and thought about getting some for herself. Rorn curled up tightly around his bond’s neck, tucking his nose under her collar as she moved about the crowd in search of a vendor.

Marks had just changed hands when Ceroth’s panicked voice entered the smith’s mind. ::Something has gone wrong...Nyseroth and Angeth and others are...are gone...where are you, Kova? Stay away from the bad one!:: Kova shuddered and dropped her klah as she received the blurry images from her frightened dragonet in conjunction with the mourning cries being uttered all around her; based on the low angle of the images she was sent, Kova guessed her green was peeking over the edge of her couch at the devastation nearby.

::Stay where you are, Cer, I’ll find somewhere safe to be,:: she said as reassuringly as she could as snow began to fall and the crowd began to jostle her toward the Lower Caverns. “Rorn, Rorn you have to go!” Kova cried above the rising volume of those around her, pulling at her friend to get him to leave her neck and find safety elseware. The smith’s heart was hammering in her chest as the panic around her took firm hold over her senses, and it was with desperation that she finally grasped the little copper’s body and flung him out away from her. Rorn’s wings ballooned outward as he caught himself and then hissed, and it took Kova a moment to realize it wasn’t at her rough treatment, but at the shambling forms cutting off the crowd ahead of her.

The smith found herself staring at the ungainly creatures for longer than was perhaps healthy, then upon returning to herself, fondly wished she had something to do other than stare or try to find a different direction to run in. A different sort of scream sounded from behind the undead mass, and the sight of the two dracomorphs that she’d met earlier launching themselves into an attack set the smith’s blood aboil; as the crowd scattered in response to the battle being joined, Kova felt something brush her back.

She spun to see Rorn hovering there, but struggling under the weight of something in his talons. With a jolt and then a spreading grin, Kova recognized one of her hammers from the Hall, probably the largest that her friend had been able to safely carry through between. “Right! Good show Rorn, now get out of here!” the smith crowed, relieving the firelizard of his burden and finding her courage renewed with the familiar weight of one of the tools of her craft steady in her hand.

As she spun back toward the battle, it was to find that the dracomorphs had made short work of the blundering humanoids, and that other beasts had spewed forth from the fell doorway. The smith took a deep breath to steady herself, then ran for the nearest creature, hammer at the ready. ((Kova to attack: 6 + 5 = 11))

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

T’tan had made an honest effort to mingle with the Weyrfolk at the Gather, but after about half a candlemark, had grown too uncomfortable to bear much more smalltalk and had instead returned to Denuth at the Barracks.

The pale bronze had just started to doze off with his rider absently stroking his head when the first cry had sounded. Instinctively, T’tan had pushed his dragon’s head down into his bed and told him to stay put while he himself crouched in the shadow of the couch. Together they’d listened as the elder weyrling had carelessly murdered many others on his way out of the Barracks, T’tan’s adrenaline on the rise and spiking still further as more cries arose from outside.

Once he was satisfied that the immediate threat in the Barracks had passed, T’tan rose and headed for a small bundle of his belongings that was propped up against the wall. ::I need you to stay right where you are, Denuth,:: he said as he untied the satchel and carefully removed three bulky objects from it. ::Where are you going? Why can’t I come with you?:: Denuth demanded, trying very hard to be brave despite the fact that his rider could see him shaking in his couch. ::I’m going to help, and you can’t come with me because you’re too full to move,:: T’tan replied with a dry smile as he pulled the greased paper away from the objects and let it fall to the floor.

The objects were cuttings of leather covered with raised portions of stubby spikes. Swiftly, T’tan fastened two pieces of them to the outer forearms of the long-sleeved leather tunic he already wore and slung the remaining piece, a sort of short cape, over his shoulders, tying it around his neck and beneath his ribcage. Once each piece was appropriately tightened, they fit to his body as if they had always been part of the form-fitting tunic.

::Don’t get hurt,:: Denuth pleaded weakly, his eyes the only bit of him visible in the dark, swirling with bright yellow and white as they watched T’tan move to the window and survey the situation unfolding outside of the Barracks.

::I’ll return to you,:: T’tan promised, sorely wishing for a weapon as he sized up the monstrosities bearing down on two of his fellow weyrlings just outside.

::Kaitae! I need you,:: the new bronzerider called as he ran from the Barracks and into the fray, his fist aimed for the jaw of the first zombie that crossed his path. ((T'tan to attack: 20 + 2 = 22! I love you lucky d20 XD))


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

Not far from the borders of the Weyr, the winged wolf known as Kaitae Tatan’s ears perked to his bond’s call.

::I thought you might. I’ll be there as soon as I can,:: the wolf replied, stretching all six limbs and then heading for the Weyrbowl at a run. He didn’t dare between with the chaos that he perceived through T’tan, and the air didn’t seem all together favourable for unhindered flight at the moment.

((I’ll provide stats for Kaitae when he gets there. ^.^ Also, just a note that T'tan is 6'5"-ish and pretty well built...I really need to finish his skeletal stats and get everything up and linked for you Yakima. x.x))

[Yakima]

[[DRAY/STARFYRE]]
As the zombie launched itself toward Acha, scrambling in a frenzy of claws and limbs, Acha swung her fists, trying to dodge from the flailing fingers of the zombie. The zombie also ducked, whipping around so that the two faced each other again. Not waiting this time with the smell of fresh blood so close, the zombie made for another attack, screaming in a hissing gurgle.

Luckily for Acha, Liukari's flame connected with the zombie who shrieked in horror before igniting on fire. It never reached Acha as it collapsed to the ground, thrashing in the flames before it died with a finale scream. Unfortunately, Liukari could find nothing near by that could help her friend defend herself...

[[DRAY]]
Helion rolled up, having enough time to look down at the squished zombie-cat that was burning before more of the horde leapt toward her...

--

This time, Cwynnath and the dracolitch collided but it was the smaller creature that suffered the greatest. Their collision caused the decaying body of the dracolitch to shatter in a firework-like display of bone, feathers and flesh.

[[STARFYRE]]
As Rieno kept trying to dislodge the hound from his tail, and failed, ((-3 HP)), his brother managed to dislodge the undead feline who dropped to the ground, twitched once then stopped moving. Reno had enough of a chance to look around for something to help their wounds, finding only one of the dead weyrfolk on the ground, her gown torn but otherwise clean...

((Linque, I'm posting for you next...))

[StarFyre]

((Current HP: Liukari: 11, Reno: 7, Rieno: 5))

"Stupid undead," Liukari grumbled loud enough for Acha to hear as the zombie that Acha had been sparring with went down in a flaming pile of death. The air was getting heavy with the stench of burned and putrifying flesh, and Liukari had the distinct feeling that she might have to puke after the adrenaline wore off. At least these didn't send rot-spores in the air when they died, unlike the Death minions she was used to (or if they did, she couldn't sense them, and that was a terrifying thought, but one she pushed aside to deal with later). As far as she could tell, these weren't the type that could transmit their state to others, but maybe the turnover was slower or set to only go off at some trigger or another?

Liukari made a note to find someone In Charge who looked like they knew about these things and ask them about it.

"Are you hurt?" She asked the other girl during the bit of breather that they apparently had, her gaze skipping over the carnage before them, still looking for something Acha could use to attack with.

((Liukari, looking around: 16))

_____________

Reno stomped on the feline's body once more for good measure, and gave a vicious grin as he felt the thing's skull splinter under his paw. Nothing, nothing hurt him and lived!

"Don't b'so damned caught up in y'self, yo!" Rieno grouched as he stilled his thrashing, took a deep breath, then violently brought his electro-rod down on the hound's skull. He could give as good as he got, no matter his size or furry appearance!

Reno knelt by the dead woman and dragged his claws through the material of her skirt, ripping the fabric into strips that could be used to bandage his shoulder, then shrugged off his jacket and shirt and began to awkwardly loop and tie the material about himself in a haphazard bandage that at least worked to sop up the blood leaking from where the undead was gnawing on him. As soon as he was finished, he eyed his undershirt, sighed, then shrugged his torn jacket back in place and rose, undershirt still in his paws. As soon as his brother had that hound off his tail, Reno would rip his own shirt apart and use the clean sections to bangade his brother's tail up (and wouldn't that look silly!)

"Gunna need new clothes, yo," Reno said with a sigh.

Rieno rolled his eyes, "Y'got plenty, an' dun y'lie t'me. Sides, not like y'give a damn 'bout what y'wear - I'da thought havin' hole in yer jacket'd be some badge'a honor 'er sommat."

"Not wit a matchin' 'ole in m'shoulder, yo," Reno retorted, crossing his arms over his chest, his bloody shirt dangling from one paw, beatin' stick from the other. "Ain't a scar yet, can't get ladies t'faint in m'arms wit th'tale, eh?"

"An ain't runnin' round wit' yer chest exposed some sorta thug look?" Rieno asked absently, as he jabbed the electro-rod deep into the eyesocket of the beast biting him. Surely, surely that would get the thing to release him!

Reno blinked and tilted his head in contemplation, "Well, yeh, I 'spose so. Think I should go 'bout shirtless now, yo?"

"Dear Aki, no!" Rieno exclaimed. "We'd all be blind! Sides, lotta places say y'gotta wear a shirt, eh?"

"Hmmm..." Reno tossed his shirt over his good shoulder, then rubbed at his chin with his now-free hand, contemplating what Rieno had said while he waited for the hound to drop off of his brother's tail.

((Reno, bandage self: 16, Rieno, attack: 20. Reno will heal Rieno next turn.))

[Dray]

((any points for the zombies in the last post? :3 Also, sorry for the slowness! Been working a lot lately!))

Aside from her heavy breathing, and the scuffs and smears of blood and more putrid matter across her hands and arms, Acha didn't seem to be hurt, and she confirmed that by giving Liukari a nod. She could hear Peroth in the back of her mind, quelling his frantic questioning only because he knew that it would be a distraction. At least he had somebody with which to share his helplessness; Acha wasn't sure why this had begun, but she was damned sure she wanted to be elsewhere right now.

The Weyrling side-stepped a pair of frightened Falas natives to the nearest Gather stall, looking for anything that might help in the short breather that they had. Her mind felt a little foggy on the bigger picture; her blood screamed to continue the fight but her knuckles were already sore! Bone was tough material! ((9+1 to search))

---

Feeling the mass on her back go limp in death (in second death?) Helion rolled back to her feet, leaving scorch marks on the trampled ground below her. Somehow, she'd gotten separated from the girls in the attack, and now it felt as though the tides of battle had taken them further away. She launched herself aloft, over the fighting, looking for some clue as to why these creatures were spilling out of a void, and what she could do to stop it. ((11+3 to search))

---

:: Hmmph, :: Cwynnanth harrumphed, once the shower of bone and bits had fallen away from her. :: How are you doing in there? :: she asked her bond, circling in the temporarily cleared air and keeping all twelve eyes open for other incoming trouble.

:: As well as con be expected, my dear, :: was the reply; Cwynnanth received mental images of two-legged horrors, much larger than she was used to seeing -- of course, she was receiving them from her tiny bond, which made some sense. :: For not having teeth and claws, I'm managing for myself. I have help. ::

:: I'd prefer that you come outside as soon as I clear some space for you, :: the gold replied. :: I will take you all away and there will be no more attacking. ::

:: As nice a plan as that is, I'm still working on it, :: Chate seemed able to keep her exasperation under control, though it was obvious to Cwynnanth that the little human didn't think much of her plan. And no wonder; how many of these creatures could fill the Gather Grounds before that hole was closed up?

Cwynnanth could see that the undead creatures were mingling freely with the living, which was a pity. If she could have found a patch of only the enemy, she would have strafed it with her fire breath. What a mess...

She noticed Helion's flaming wings as the other dragoness leapt into the air, however, and so dropped some height to give notice. :: Get to the Lower Caverns, :: she ordered, :: There are other humans trapped inside. :: ((13+3 to spot incoming baddies))

[Yakima]

((Thus begins a Dray-Epic-Post equivalent. lol))

[[LINQUE]]
Kova's swing struck decaying skull with a sicking crack. The force sent the zombie flying sideways and into another zombie that was attacking one of the new green riders from Akyth's clutch. Rila barely even acknowledged why her target suddenly was ran over by a corpse before leaping toward them to finalize the blow. ((.25 points))

From the left another zombie screeched before launching itself at Kova, hands scratching at thin air in an attempt to connect with living flesh. One of those hands swiped down and left a trail of blood on Kova's arm (tearing fabric if she's wearing long sleeves...) ((-1 HP))

--
T'tan killed one with an quick strike and it crumbled to the ground. ((.25 points)) Two others, however, shambled forward to take down the young bronze-rider. Backhanding them both not only did damage but paralyzed them both. ((Actually, I think they should be immune to poison effects since they're already dead and rotting... I'll let the poison take effect for one round instead of two )) .

[[STARFYRE & DRAY]]
((Drat...well, the points for that one was 3 and I've kinda been awarding them to whoever makes the kill. Technically, Liukari should get 3 points since poor Acha missed it... It's up to you and StarFyre. I just figure with so many of 'em I would try a different point system.

Otherwise, Helion got 2 points and Cwynnanth got 2 points for sures. And yes, I switched to brown for OOC stuff only 'cause I wanted to use green for healing points. You can use whatever. XD))

Liukari was busy looking around her for something to help Acha. While the other girl was looking near the gather stalls the Liukari spotted a young man on the ground, his face and hands a bloody mess from where the undead had ripped his throat out. In his hand was a blood covered dagger. Grabbing it, she yelled for Acha and tossed it to the girl as more of the undead leapt through them. ((StarFyre rolled a 17 for the toss)) The dagger flew threw the crowd and embedded itself in the pole of the tanner's stand Acha was currently searching ((sorry for the heart attack Acha! lol But at least you have a weapon. heehee))

Just as the dagger landed in the post, several zombies spotted Acha and leapt for her. As for Liukari, the moment she was done throwing the dagger to Acha, a large feline-like fell beast sprang for her.

[[DRAY]]
As Helion's flame-covered wings carried her above the fray, her eyes scanned the ground below for Acha and Liukari. Thankfully for the phoenix-sira the air-borne undead were a little too unsure about her fire covered body and stayed away. Presently, Helion spotted the red hair of Liukari...

--

Cwynnanth was just finishing up her conversation with Chate when she spotted four small winged zombie-birds heading her way...

[[STARFYRE]]
As Reno bound his shoulder in a clumsy bandage of the dead woman's gather skirt ((+3 to Reno's HP; he's talented apparently )), Rieno finally managed to smash the head of the stubborn hounds into pieces. The fangs left his bleeding tail ((and I actually thought his tail was longer...didn't look at the picture so yeah...I just knew he had a tail. )) and the hounds fell to the ground.

((Also, I had thought about playing this out longer then the fighting, too, if anyone (other then StarFyre lol) has interest.

Also, I'm not keeping track of HP so if you're character is getting low, start spotting for healing help. People outside have help coming but LC fighters don't. If I somehow manage to 'kill' your character, don't panic. Just have them faint and tell me they're incapacitated. I'm bringing Iarion for the purpose of rescuing characters that I injure that bad. I don't want to so hopefully I don't have to use him. Just in case.

And, to be a dork, if no one minds, I'm going to be playing against myself. *drags in Toshiero and Seune for some RPing* Anyway...we'll see how long I play those thwo against myself.

Now...for more background and a change of pace. I can't wait no more!!!! XD))

[Yakima]

As the battle raged in the skies, the night rust dragon kept circling high above, Tabyen watching as the people of Falas Weyr fought for their lives against the hordes of the undead creatures he had released. Already, some of the dead bodies were being dragged back to the Rift where the magic in the Netherworld would work their magic and add to the fray. But it wasn't enough. He had ceased shooting off his bolts of black magic, his eyes only for the three figures on the ground that were being protected by several riders, two had already fallen to his zombies. Like a black dark in the unnaturally dark sky, Zontath curled his wings and dove straight down to the head table, pulling up a moment before he hit so that his rider could leap from his back. Despite his pale and thin appearance, Tabyen landed with the grace and agility of any cat, a feat that would have killed a human. Standing upright he faced the determined riders protecting their leader. With a cruel sneer, Tabyen flicked his sword in an arch, sending the Soul Strike toward them. Several crumpled to the ground.

Eunos Kebahe snarled as he bounded over the bodies of two of the green riders, recognizing the human figure before him. “Tabyen,” he growled, wings arching up in a protective, defensive stance. “You lying, no good flea-infested wherry!” The black eyes scoffed at the dark brown wolf who, in his rage and furry, leapt for the Necromancer. Calmly, Tabyen raised a steady hand and smote the Weyr's alpha male in a heartbeat. The golden eyes went blank as death took Eunos and he fell to the ground, skidding to a halt in front of Tabyen. Wolves howled in rage and loss of their strong, proud leader.

Stepping over Eunos' body, Tabyen Ashshadow walked toward the three leaders. They were alive, staring at him in anger and fear. Through their pain they could only see the madness in his eyes and the black aura of power around him. The snow was falling thickly, creating puddles on the ground. Tabyen stopped several paces from his victims, his thin lips curling back into an evil sneer. “Not dead yet?” he asked. “You both I shall kill personally as your people die around you by the hands of my minions.”

His hand raised, curling in a grotesque way before he shouted a spell in a tongue that grated on their ears. K'man shouted for J'ren in a choaked, weak voice. In his mind he could see a similar situation from the Tenth Pass. He saw the bodies of J'tha and Dlyza over the table, the screams of the people dying as the rebel Lord Holder Lauer attempted to get his revenge on the Weyr. But this was different. These were powers and forces that even a dragonrider could not fight against. This was magic and Tabyen was not only a greater undead, a lord of his kind, but he was a necromancer just as powerful as Amarion Ashfalcon was. Still struggling to reach his Weyrleader, to give his life to spare Falas from losing J'ren as they had lost J'tha, K'man mentally sent his writhing dragon, locked in the same relentless spell as himself, all the love and thanks he could for a life well lived. Next to him, the Weyrleaders clung to each other and the minds of their dragons as the pain of the black spell ate away their souls and body. Even as riders, wolves and weyrfolk made a desperate attempt to protect the three leaders, Tabyen spoke the words of his spell, the sword point directed straight at J'ren and Kahii.

Light flashed, a brilliant white and blue that blinded those trying to get to the Weyrleaders. Black mist swirled behind it as a shield sprang up between them and the Sentran Necromancer. A figure, almost as thin and gaunt as the zombies running throughout the Weyr but without the decaying nature, stood firm and strong. His cloths were too loose for him, dancing in the wake of the wind created by his sudden appearance and the power rushing by him. One arm was raised, hands splayed out as black and blue power radiated from his palm and fingers. In his right hand was a dagger of simple Pernese craft but glowing with light as strongly as the sword in Tabyen's hands. This aura flickered with white, blue and black like a caged beast waiting to strike. As the rest of Tabyen's spell rebounded, most of it absorbed by the shield, K'man looked up to see the familiar face of the night blue rider and smiled before fading. His last thoughts, other then the sensation of someone wrapping him in tight blanket that ended the pain and cold fear the attack had evoked, was that he was going to kill Philippe for being late.

Philippe Ramsey flicked his wrist and the shield faded. His hair whipped around him as the wind howled around the Bowl. In his eyes their was pure rage and determination as he looked at the man threatening the lives of the simple weyrfolk he had lived so many years with. He was pale, eyes black as his magic boiled in response to his emotions, and so thin and gaunt that many wondered how he could stand. But he was, and he was very much alive. And he was pissed. Some didn't see the night blue rider they had shared drinks with now. They saw someone else and would later doubt they had seen him at all. This man was different...it wasn't just Philippe Ramsey, rider of night blue Faroth now. This was Amarion Ashfalcon, High Prince of Shaor and a legend to human, elves and necromancers a like in Sentra. The aura around him was as terrible and powerful as Tabyen's and while their was a different feel to it, the fact that this would be a battle of two very powerful Sentran Necromancers was obvious. ((Roll d20 for 'save' against Philippe's aura – again it's a 20 for a save though his aura isn't as 'evil' but just as powerful. It may not strike total fear into your character's hearts; if you get less then 20 for this one you could get a moral/courage boost. ))

Above, the skies rolled like the ocean in a storm. A dark blue dragon rose into the sky on the southwest corner of the Bowl, silent under the onslaught of the snow. The undead birds did not hinder him, ignoring him like they were the cirlcing Zontath. As Faroth climbed high into the skies, preparing to follow his rider's every orders, lightning flashed, covering the sky as Tabyen took in his new opponent. “Amusing, but pitiful,” he said, twirled the sword in his hand then attacked Philippe.

The first thing the blue rider did was dodge Tabyen's blade, grabbed his wrist and shadow-stepped. It took them into the middle of the WeyrBowl, away from the fight between the zombies and weyrfolk. A battle at this level should never be fought in the vicinity of the living but Philippe had no choice, now. He would have to fight Tabyen here and now or all of Falas, perhaps all of Pern, could be doomed a fate that none could fight against. Tabyen retaliated against his grip and sent a wave of black magic into Philippe's body. With a hiss of pain, Philippe let go and dropped to the muddy ground, rolling out of the way.

“I'm surprised you have enough guts to fight me at all, father,” Tabyen sneered as he turned to face Philippe. “It will be a joy to kill you.”

Philippe snorted as he rose to his feet, flicking the dagger and sending black magic down the master-crafted blade. “I'm not going easy on you,” he said, in a tone just as even and steady as Tabyen's but not full of madness. His power exploded around him, radiating around the Bowl and into the turbulent skies above. Black and blue laced and melted together until even Tabyen had to take a few paces back. White soon flickered among the two auras until the three colors were intertwined. He chanted several spells in quick succession until the sky changed above them. Gray clouds turned a dark, blood red. The snow ceased to fall and became raindrops like blood. For the living this was a cool touch of relief, like cool water on the skin on a hot day. ((for each turn you will gain +2 HP if you're in the Gather field - Lower Cavern fighters can't get it because they're inside. )) But for the dead it weakened them. It made them mad as the blood-rain touched decaying skin, hissing like water on a hot stove. ((The undead get a -.5 HP for each round)).

“Naris Senar, the Sky of Blood,” Philippe said as Tabyen hissed under the onslaught of burning rain. “You'r the fortunate one I get to test this on first.” The undead rider only sneered at him, forcing his powers to compensate the falling rain.

“I doubt you'll be able to hold it for long,” Tabyen snarled, then lunged. Philippe's smile was as 'evil' as his son's as he sent Faroth the order to attack his own opponent. From high above the skies, protected by his rider's magic from the flying fell beasts, Faroth dove onto the gliding figure of Zontath. The night rust screamed as talons and teeth dug into his skin, retaliating with a blind furry.

Philippe used his elven magic, the powers linked more in tune with earth, to direct the rain, drawing most of it away from the Lower Caverns ((don't worry, you still get your +2 each time )) and sending most of it to the Undead Lord he faced. Bolts of magic flew through the air, bouncing off shields or skimming skin and souls. They danced in the rain, moving from the mortal plane of the living to that of the Netherworld in a test of strength, wills, and stamina. And the one at a huge disadvantage was Philppe who had only returned to the world of the living two nights ago. Strength and stamina was something he did not have much of and Tabyen knew this. But sheer power, knowledge, and desire to protect the home he loved was more then Tabyen had.

[Dray]

Even if she figured herself for a hardened fighter, hearing the blade embed itself in the post so near her head gave Acha a real start -- partially due to proximity, partially because Liukari had admitted that she wasn't so much for the fighting. If that shot had gone wide...

In any case, the girl worked the blade out of the pole just as the zombies were closing in. Uttering a high-pitched cry, Acha went for the first zombie with the blade raised to slit its neck. ((8+3+3 for the dagger -- and Liukari can get the three points! She did kill it! :D))

---

Helion shrieked a warning towards Liukari, spotting the beast that was leaping for her; she dove down and back into the fray, aiming to pick the feline off of Liu before it could shred at her! Cwynnanth might want her to get into the lower caverns, but Helion had to get there, first! ((9+3 to attack))

((+2 healing from the sky of blood))



---

Cwynnanth, annoyed by the flock of putrid birds, let loose another blast of fire in their direction! ((natural 20 to hit! XD))

((Rolls against the new aura: Acha, 15, Helion, 14, Cwynnanth, 16))

The three of them reacted to Phillipe's aura more than his entrance; engaged as they were, Acha and Helion didn't even notice that the Weyrleader's lives were just as much in peril as their own. Cwynnanth, watching the burst of light from the dueling family, sneered and then hissed and snapped as blood-rain came pouring down.

Helion, normally no fan of water in any sense of the word, felt something rejuvenating about this particular blood red deluge; much like her own reincarnation, she felt the rents along her back healing up by magic.

The undead hydra queen, on the other hand, found the tiny stinging beads of rain like acid, pock-marking her lusterless hide just as much as it did the other undead around her. ((-.5 per round, eh? XD))

[StarFyre]

((HAHAHA, sorry Dray! I forgot that Liukari has rather.. pathisad stats for physical things. Guess you should be lucky I roll well! Also, yes, I rolled three twenties this time around. I'm getting these dice checked for being weighted, I swear))

((Roll v. the new aura: Liukari: 16, Reno: 4, Rieno: 12))

((Current HP: Liukari: 11, Reno: 10, Rieno: 5))

Liukari didn't have more than a moment to see if Acha had grabbed the blade before a large, rotting feline leaped towards her. Distantly, she was aware of her heart skipping a beat as she stared down the maw of the creature for long moments.

"Firestorm!" She finally forced out, proud that her voice remained as steady as it did. This was not where she wanted to be, in the front lines where anything and everything could decide to take an interest in taking her out.

((Liukari, attacking: 20))

___________________

Reno knelt down at his brother's side and ripped his shirt to shreds with his claws. "Didn't know y'wanted yer tail docked, yo," he commented as he bound his brother's furry tail with the strips of cloth, until it really did look like Rieno had just come back from having his tail docked short.

"Watch those paws'a yers, dammit!" Rieno hissed as his tail attempted to twitch away from his brother's 'tender' ministrations. "Fury, do 'at 'gain an I'mma dock yer tail, yo!"

Reno just chuckled and rose from his crouch as soon as he'd bound off the last strip of cloth. "Jes try notta wag yer tail too 'ard, eh?"

"Y'tryin' t'murder me, yo, I jes know it." Rieno stretched, flexed his wings, and spun his electro-rod for a moment, clearly getting himself settled once more. "Well! Liu's out there, we're in here... how bout we fix 'at?"

"Lead th'way," Reno said with a grin and a mocking salute.

"Tch," was all Rieno deigned to reply with, before he turned, stared at their way out to the grounds, then led the way in yet another charge with yet another blood-curdling scream. It felt good to be alive, and he intended on staying that way!

((Reno, bandage Rieno: 20, Rieno, attack anything that looks undead in his way: 20))

[Yakima]

((for sake of fairness, this rain will only affect the dead from the Rift, Dray. Cwynnanth isn't from Sentra and it's aimed for Sentran undead. heh, I didn't even know Cwynnanth was undead...I thought she was just a hydra. lol

I'll post again tomorrow for Dray and StarFyre (and to give Linque a chance to reply). I ran out of time after I did this... ))

SEGARRA
Seune stood side by side next to M'len as the two fought off the undead around them. Cynte, not much a fighter and at a complete loss at what to do at the moment since things had defiantly taken a terrible turn for the worst, had her back against an over turned table. She and M'len had had the same thought once the Rift had opened...well, since Tabyen appeared in the sky and the death of the weyrlings had gone out. Someone had to get Philippe's royal ass down here to save them. He was the only one who could confront Tabyen! Seune was holding her own well enough with her ice magic and M'len's skill with a blade was proving effective and deadly. He was bleeding, covered in scratches and even Seune's silver hide was muddy and bloody.

Then several things happened at once. One, Tabyen landed and attacked the Weyrleader and K'man. M'len cried out and left her and Seune to defend his Wingleader. Cynte screamed at him to get back their, that it was really, really stupid to go confront Tabyen. Seune moved back to protect her bond, snarling, wings flared while the two fire-lizard bit and scratched anything that came too close to their impressor.

The howl like scream that came from Seune when Eunos' body fell to the ground tore Cynte's heart. Between her dragon, who was fighting for her life on the Rim, and her wolf and fire-lizards, she was afraid of becoming an emotional wreck. Trembling, she focused on the Weyrleaders' table as Tabyen struck out at the Weyrleaders. Cynte screamed (at Tabyen), the shield sprang up which even distracted some of the zombies. When the magical display ended, she let out a cheer at seeing Philippe standing their.

But he was pissed. Very, very pissed. And not looking much better then he had two nights ago when K'man dragged him into her weyr at some ungodly hour of the early morning. Even from where she was Cynte was afraid that he would lose control like he did when he attacked A'ran. She couldn't hear the words being spoken however, and when Tabyen lunged after Philippe, her heart leapt in fear. He was in NO shape to be fighting his son! But Philippe twisted out of the way, grabbed Tabyen's wrists and they vanished.

He dosn't want to fight him this close to the others, Phalinth managed to tell her. It's too dangerous. They're both going to go all out. Cynte swore under her breath. You need a weapon, rider-mine. I can't get to you.

I don't want to... she started to say when something landed on the ground by her hand. It was one of Philippe's daggers - the shinny pretty one he only wore for special occasions. Shards, he would kill her if she got this messed up. Phalinth stubbornly reminded her that Philppe would probably rather lose the dagger then her life. Grudgingly, Cynte pulled the dagger from the sheath and looked around.

The beam of light rose into the sky and she shuddered at the power of it. ((18 for save...me fail)) She knew this wasn't Tabyen's this time. It was Philippe's and just the sheer force of it gave her hope. Philppe could do this. He only looked like a walking corpse right now. His power was going to kick Tabyen's butt! The rain made her feel rejuvenated In the mean time...

No! Ugly-bad thing not hurt... Little Enya's frantic cry was enough. Whirling around, Cynte prepared to face her first zombie. ((10+2+3=15))

Seune SilverWing was torn with greif. Standing her ground she cursed the zombies and Tabyen, too. At the power rising from the center of the bowl she shuddered ((6 for save)) feeling very weak and pathetic next to it. Still, it was far from evil, unlike Tabyen's. With sheer force of will and determination, Seune shook herself and steadied her mind. With ears pinned and wings half-way spread in defiance, she snarled at the two hounds circling her. As the rain washed some of the fatigue and hurt from her body, she growled. "Come on, you filth! I'm all for freezing you to the sharding ground and throwing you between!" ((20!+3=23 for attack))

GM Inserting Post...
A call had somehow gone out after Philippe's appearance for help. Who sent it and how no one knew but presently three figures had appeared in the sky. One was the elemental-wrath, Kesukiath. On his back was Jarel and Aenon, both in stunned awe not from the grotesque battle below them, but the power emanating from the middle of the Bowl. For these two, the power was awesome and inspiring. It was something they could brag about years later, that they witnessed a battle between two very, very high classed and powerful Necromancers. Jarel and Aenon shadow-stepped to the ground and joined the fighting. Instincts took over the the two Sentran Necromancers from Treval joined in a fight they knew all too well. These things were nothing new to them. Above, Kesukiath reveled in attacking the flying ones, gleeful and giddy after the battle on Star City. This was FUN!

The second figure was Iarion who was forced to fight his way to the ground and joined the fight, too, trying to protect those who were having trouble defending himself. He raced past those fighting outside the weyrlings barracks, where S'mar and several other riders fought to protect the remaining weyrlings, through the black corridors where some dragons trembled in fear for their riders, and out the other end where more people and wolves defended the Cavern entrance. Leaping into the fray, the phoenix gryphon tore at the undead flesh in a terrible wrath born of their very nature. ((He's also here for healing, too, if you're in the LC where the rain can't get to you))

((And the third is Toshiero who I have to get some information before posting for him...but I have to get to bed so...tomorrow I shall post again. ))