Ch. 1

Asterion moves out of the magical darkness and takes cover behind some crates, eyes probing the room.

Uhlskah has a brief pang of conscience as he hears Kirrian clatter down, and chooses not to betray his position by answering Ravastine. For now focuses his attention on seeing the foe he has hopefully blinded.

Gah! The dice roller is broken!

OOC: Ummm, I attack the darkness?
Fearing for her companion, Ravastine listens carefully for something that doesn't quite sound like an Uhlskah, and then will attack.

Asterion is uncertain what and where the threat is. All he knows is that Uhlskah isn't responding and there is a cloud of unnatural darkness at the foot of the stairs. Experience tells him to wait and prepare to act.

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OOC:
Readied action: Eyebite.
Trigger: threat shows itself and Asterion can move into range.

Asterion locks eyes with the creature as it lunges for Ravastine.

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Something in the wolf's cry of pain causes a dark note to resonate in Uhlskah's soul, and the drow feels some of his energy seeping away to support the kubi in his violence. As the magical darkness gives way to its mundane counterpart, the dark elf lets out startlingly realistic growls and barks in the direction of the wolf, which even to a humanoid ear sound caustic.

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Asterion gains 2HP from Virtue of Valor.

Attacking wolf with Vicious Mockery.

- Virtue of Valor: Once per round, when any ally
within 5 squares of you reduces an enemy to 0 hit points or bloodies an enemy, you can grant temporary hit points to that ally as a free action. The number of temporary hit points equals 1 + your Constitution modifier at 1st level...

- Vicious Mockery
Bard Attack 1
You unleash a string of insults at your foe, weaving them with bardic magic to send the creature into a blind rage.
At-Will Arcane, Charm, Implement, Psychic
Standard Action Ranged 10 Target: One creature Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 1d6 + Charisma modifier psychic damage, and the target takes a –2 penalty to attack rolls until the end of your next turn.

Ravastine shakes her head to clear the illusions. Surely this cellar is a madhouse. Wolves, magical darkness, now the Drow is singing to the wolf. At least he's alive. She prays to Erathis that she isn't hitting the bard. She attempts to maintain the wolfs attention in spite of the chaos, and tries to drive the beast down.

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Divine Challenge - mark the target, -2 to attack not me plus 6 radiant damage the first time
Enfeebling Strike - 1[W]+cha (3); if marked, it also gets -2 to attack rolls to end of my next turn

Asterion calmly strides up to the creature. He casually thrusts his shifting blade into thin air beside him and the astonished creature suddenly finds itself at the kubi's swordpoint!

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And here is the reason why I made two attack rolls:

Asterion rushes to the fallen gnome's side. "Shadowpool! Stay with me, Shadowpool! KIRRIAN!! DAMMIT!" The kubi looks up helplessly at his companions...

Ravastine kneels before Kirrian and lays her gauntlet on his chest, whispering a benediction to Erathis. She concentrates and then rises. "I can do nothing for the poison, but hopefully Erathis'es judgement will stable the wound.

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Lay On Hands: Ravastine spends a healing surge, but Kirrian gets the effect as if he had spent it (I.e., regains 1/4 maximum health).

Uhlskah slips his black-laquered lute off his shoulder, and begins to strum ever so gently, humming a dark but somehow comforting melody.

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OOC: I'm not sure if this works with Ravastine's transferred healing surge, or Kirrian has to use his own...

Uhlskah's Charisma modifier is +4

"Where the hell are Kirrian's people?!" Asterion hisses. "Ravastine, watch over him. Uhlskah, with me." Sword still ready, Asterion heads towards the noise.

Trying to uphold his youthful swagger, Uhlskah draws his hand crossbow and moves quickly along with Asterion. However, the bard's hand trembles on the weapon - he is not used to being so close to the macabre news he usually only writes songs about.

Whispering quietly, Ravastine asks Kirrian what happened. Her eyes scan the ladder up, and she keeps an ear out for trouble in Asterion's direction.