Episode 2

Maeriks!

He had been told the bull was Maeriks, and Maeriks was the bull, but now Thorn witnesses the bull shrink and transform back into the giant imbecile who had saved his life from the Phantom in the swamp. A giant imbecile being cut by merciless chains. A lump forms in Thorn's throat, but he does not cry out. It would do no good.

Mercon will get him, if he can.

Urdav's blade drawn and ready, Thorn puts himself in a defensive stance, ready to try and evade whatever comes down the tunnel or through the doorway.

Kray's heart sank. He knew Maeriks was a loss at this point, the small irons intent on ripping him to shreds. It was, to be sure, no way to die. Maeriks was one of the most selfless men he had ever known, willing to sacrifice himself, even for those he hardly knew.

Men can be fools, Lukrayides. Sacrifice will not give birth to victory. A sound mind, free of emotion, will rule the day. Let logic and a heart of stone be your true weapons and armor.

The words of Rison Lord Mercon, his uncle and true mentor. The most calculating man he had ever known, more like a father to him than any.

Harden yourself, Lukrayides. Like metal on the forge.

Liberated of emotion, Judgement gripped loosely, Kray moved with alacrity. At the age of 31 years, two decades of combat experience taught him that every casualty counted. Long strides brought him to the last edimmu, bringing Judgement to bear in an effort to thin the enemy's numbers, if only in the slightest.

Attacks on edimmu. After that, moving back to cover Bryn *as close as possible*. Close enough to make out. Bonus action to create 3/4 cover with shield.

Elam
R2

Elam looks down to keep an eye on the wretched fiend beneath him. There is no danger yet. He still has time. The Devotion must only be initiated, not completed, for the Transfer to work. That is what Akkeen had said.

Let it begin now then.

Devotion of the Small Irons v. Iasu

With Iasu now in position, Elam recalls the Small Irons to do their perfect work. Flinging free from the druid, Elam pulls the bladed and razor chains sailing across the room. When they hit Iasu, it is a masterpiece of cruelty.

Pins. Blades. Hooks. Barbs - dozens of them sink into Iasu's flesh. Four larger gouge hooks each pierce through his hands and feet, pulling him sprawled apart. The others stab and hook into his shoulders, ribs, hips. Still more chains sling around his appendages, biting into his arms and legs as they coil.

None of the wounds are life threatening. No. They are designed to deal pain, not death.

The Iron Bands that wrap Iasu are cooperative to the punishment. They move and bend to force his body to position, making space for all of the attacks to bite flesh.

Iasu is still being lifted and moved all the while, carried by The Mains that are interwoven into the binding coils that encase him.

The bleeding begins promptly, just when Iasu is suspended over The Pit. Helpless and vulnerable, he screams out in agony as the blood pours out, red droplets raining down into the darkness of the immeasurable depths.

Damage below is automatic.
In addition Iasu loses 2 CON Score.
Required Action, Iasu: DC 13 CON Save to reduce CON loss by half, down to -1 CON

Finally, Elam has done it. The Transfer is complete, though the Devotion will continue until Iasu is spent.

Elam breathes a sigh of relief that Bushyasta no longer has claim over him. It is almost over.

Kray steadied his nerve, like cold metal pulled from the snow."Bryn, we need an exit. Now. The vault is NOT an option." Kray pushed his back close to Bryn's maximizing his ability to cover the man that was their key to any potential escape, the body shield that was formerly Uburatu's, who had tried to warn them, even in the heat of battle, that Elam was the true enemy, held at optimal position for cover.

His eyes glanced to Iasu, held high, a living waterfall of bloodletting and agony, his body twisting toward unnatural shape by the relentlessly cruel chains, both large and small.

None deserve to die here.

"Ryhim, away from the pit! On me!"

A glance back at the chain barrier, toward Thorn. "At the ready brother!"

At that, Kray braced himself for whatever came next.

Not sure how the chaos initiative system is going to go, but Kray is on total D for the moment. Dodge action. Bonus action for 3/4 cover.

Ryhim comes to rest behind Kray, next to Bryn, another arrow already nocked. He wiggles loose his face wrap "My feet are yours."

Elam begins to speak, in a loud and certain voice. He speaks Otessite. Only Ryhim and Iasu understand the words, but Kray can tell. Elam sounds out at the top of his lungs. This is a proclamation. He is calling out to engage with the Pale Thing on The Platform.

Previously note="jabes.plays.rpg, hypco"] "Mighty Bushyasta! You are welcome here to the surface, the Kingdom of the Sky, but know this: I am not your quarry. The summoner who called you is gone. I, Elam Vineson, am claimant of this chamber now - Speaker at the Stone, Master of The Irons. My Perfect Ritual has Transferred any claim you had over me." [/note]

Using the chain Elam floats over The Pitt, stopping in the air next to Iasu, still held in agony, bleeding from the Small Irons that stretch him out.

With bold certainty, Elam continues, waving a hand to Iasu as he begins again...

Previously note="jabes.plays.rpg, hypco"] "By the Devotion of the Small Irons, I present you this sacrifice as a Transferred Offering. He is a Son of Vine, my own blood kin. This Offering will be enough for you. You have no choice but to accept." [/note]

Now backing away, The Irons floating him back towards the north wall, Elam points a hand up lazily to the corner. Looks up and away briefly. A loud sound of stone shifting and grinding echoes through the room, coming from a high dark place in the ceiling above.

Elam smiles and turns slowly back to speak again to the monster.

Previously note="jabes.plays.rpg, hypco"] "My time here, Fiend, is done. I depart now through the Small Irons Gate. Once I am gone, I leave The Pit and The Cursed Adriyalet House..." a short pause "....the entire city....do with it what you will. It does not concern me." [/note]

Elam looks at Iasu, writhing in pain.

"Goodbye, brother," he says in Heshbaan as the chains back him away slowly.

Devotion of the Small Irons v. Iasu
damage below
-2 CON, or -1 CON with successful CON Save DC 13