"What is that wretched rat saying?" asked the blackskull soldier, spotted Ameena. "Wait, how did IT get HERE!" Ameena realised this was one of the four blackskulls that had accompanied her to the door, ones wth the embossed armour with faces like Drommal and the other leaders had.. The blackskull then turned the sword back on Theron. "what does she mean - what have you done with our master's spirit!"
Theron was still confused by Ameena's appearance and disappearance, and especailly seemed shocked at her knowledge. Still, he seemed to realise her words gave him leave to use some magic. "As she said, Gholst is before us, being attacked," Theron said, "I cannot get a clear spell against his attackers while he is surrounded!" Theron gestured, and a large ball of blue light formed, giving strange illumination to the hall.
The tall, fiery form of Gholst was made visible in the circle of sight Theron had cast. He was being struck by the ghosts that Falkor had assembled, although it looked as though several of the ghosts were weakening badly, while Gholst was still standing and stricking out, only the occasional wince and bellow showing he was under pressure.
"My lord!" cried out the blackskull, turning to the revealed form of his master, "what is-"
The blackskull then stopped speaking. He seemed to be frozen to the spot, and he turned around to Theron. The mage had his hand outstretched, apparently channeling some form of energy against the blackskull.
Ameena realised that the blackskull knew, perfectly, that Gholst was dead and Dargat was a 'fake'. The blackskull - infact all with the embossed armour blackskulls - must know the secret. There was probably none in this room who did not know, though it was just as certain that meant anyone still left outside from the grak-graks going mad would not know. The soldiers she had seen as she had moved around with small-small, and Brohur himself, had not possessed such elaborate embossed armour themselves.
"I...it will be alright, I can release him if we hurry," said Theron, taking a step backwards away fromthe blackskull as if horrified for some reason. It took a moment for Ameena to realise the strange look on the blackskulls face, the quiet pain and terror. His face looked...bluer...like he was colder. Or perhaps a better word was stonier. There was a mental flash of smething she had seen once, somethign to do with Falkor or Haynuus and a magical effect that could eventually freeze someone so well they turned to stone. Dead stone.
"He'll, he'll be k for now," said Theron, still looking at the blackskull aghast. he looked to Ameena as if to work her out, but the sight of Gholst drew him out of himself. "I was not lying - I cannot strike him while the other spirits are surrounding him, I...oh my..."
Theron then lookd to his side, and saw something else. "K...karrie? Is it really you?" he asked redundantly? A smaller gesture from Theron and a lesser blue circle appeared, showing Ameena the form of Karnadee, finally able to come beside Theron.
Ok, so Gholst is dstracted, there's a blackskull horribly dying from your distraction (though I had already told you they wouldn't be concerned regarding Gholst's death, still there were other thigns said to pull focus. And who knwos if the words will come back another time...). Decide if you wanna be Theron's bodyguard while he has a heart to heart, or if it's time to look to doing something else. Like working out where Helm has gone. I decided to rolled so low in your perception that you won't instantly spot where anyone else is near you, so you'll need to concentrate or go hunting.[/b]
Over at the other side of the hall, Haynuus did what had worked in times passed against Garax and others, and simply charged forwards to push Dargat over Uumack. The Trolin had just staggered upright and so it was perhaps not the kindest use of an ally, however Uumack seemed will to help Haynuus in the past so would hopefully forgive the half-orc.
Where Garax had been swift but not as strong as Haynuus though, instantly Haynuus realised that Dargat was perhaps stronger than the half-orc as well as being swift. Luck was on Haynuus's side, however, seeing that Dargat simply did not expect such a base move from the half-orc. Dargat was caught wrong footed, and stumbled backwards, falling over Uumack.
Uumack, too, did not expect such a move, and was kncoked over himself. The Trolin was not able to capitalise on Dargat's sudden defencelessness right away, but then Dargat was not able to capitalise on Uumack's own fall, Dargat too busy roaring his displeasure. The group took no hesitation in striking at the fallen opponent, trying to find weaknesses in hios glowing armour or tricking his head. Uumack himself had better luck against the fallen Dargat, striking the orc's head soundly as the orc stood up.
Haynuus yelled jubilantly towards Deephold to ensure the dwarf was still ok. However, there was oninous silence and it was Westian who spotted his sometime mentor being surrounded by two shapes - shapes he could see well in the gloom. The mummy Aurek had badly wounded had skulked off in to the darkness, apparently looping aroudn to take on the dwarf unawares. Whether Deephold was still fighting or not, Westian could not
Despite Aurek's angry words and solid blows, it was Haynuus himself that Dargat focused wild eyes upon. With a violent overhand swing Dargat cracked Haynuus's skull, in a move so driven by furiy that even Westian's erected shield did not quite restrain the force of it, the cleric seeing the half-orc stagger in front of him. Dargat shifted back a step in the confusion of the flailing half-orc, as if to shake off his growing rage instead of falling prey to it. He had not become the second of the blackskulls by being like others of his race. Also, Dargat's wounds and momentary dizziness could well caccount for the crack in his supreme confidence in himself.
Sorry Haynuus, 32 hit point damage there. Power attacks are a bitch! A little sad that Westian's shield didn't tip the balance this time, it was close. Of course, you only have banded non-magical mail and no reflexes to speak of, so you don't tank as well as you otherwise might!
Garax grabbed Passin's weapon again, kicking it free of the body, not seeing any resistance nor signs of life, apparently. Garax raised the bloody sword up towards Petal's position, but the pixie had eerily disappeared. The appearance of Gholst's predicament drew further colour and rage to Garax's own once defeated features, and he shifted back to stand shoulder to shoulder with Dargat, on facing one way, one the other.
"You split us and led us to ruin! Gholst is under assault, our brothers fight one another!" snarled Garax to Dargat.
Dargat glanced around at the glowing sight of Gholst reveal and being attacked. "Only with the elf dead do you see what we are. Lesser things dare strike us. Place hands on us. Gholst will destroy his foes. Remember who we were, and let us show these small things what they once feared. Remember who gave you your souls."
Garax looked to Dargat and the orc's wounds, and riased a sword against the group. He had set his lot with Dolo and Lolth in good faith, and had found that path severed. Whether he beleived in Dargat or not, it appeared he was not about to let Gholst nor Dargat be harmed any further through his inaction.
Good news, you're doing lots of damage to Dargat. By a quirk of the combat rounds (and the forgotten AoO generated by bull rush, 4th edition reversed that), everyone but Haynuus gets to strike at Dargat as the orc is pushed, and then everyone gets their AoO's refreshed, so everyone except Westian gets to strike at Dargat when Dargat stands up again this round!
Aurek, I forgot you'd rolled for your normal actions (good thing, I rolled two 4s_) but I hit for your first AoO, so that's cool. Feel free to roll for a second AoO though for Dargat standing. Westian, I need an AoO roll from you for Dargat being pushed. Poor Dargat rolled a 1 trying to hit Uumack when Uumack stood, or else he would probably be downed again. I also decided Dargat would power attack Haynuus rather than be defensive. So his AC is still beatable rather than obscene. And the standing made sure he couldnt' use multiple attacks or a whirlwind attack.
Movement stuff is good Haynuus losing hp is bad. Garax coming back to the fight...also bad! Your two main fighters both having great strength to do good damage is good - having Garax and Dargat able to concentrate a lot of attacks (six to be precise) on a single person who comes near...that might be painful.
Good luck! I think making the arrogant and proud Dargat retreat afetr a rain of blows is a pretty good signal that you are making damn good progress on this front. Of course, that just means I'll ratchet up the stakes on last time, and also it must mean somethign somewhere else is going less than perfectly...