Had they been normal people from Earth, or even average people from Rangard, they would have spent some time in shock or horror just trying to wrap their minds around this bizarre construct.
Their reactions were more along the line of what they actually were. Experienced troops who had seen all sorts of bizarre things in their lives. Therefore their first reaction was not to gawk, but to start shooting.
Streams of magic missile fire and beams and cones of various sorts were sent directly into the form, only to produce prismatic flares of light as the spells came apart.
Again the troops proved they were typical of their experience, figuring magic resistance as being too high, and so the assault shifted. Crossbow bolts and arrows were fired first in a tentative manner, then when no particular deletrious effect occurred, began being used in a manner more generally associated with rain in a typhoon. Other than causing the large spider to flinch back under the sheer number of projectiles, the lack of reaction produced some further observation.
"Some kind of inertial dampener as well as high magic resistance," mused General Tchon. "Interesting how they got that combination to work. Usually ends up collapsing one or the other effect."
Buckets of burning pitch were being shot at the large construct, which began to fitfully burn under this new assault.
"Doesn't look like the material is particularly flammable," said Ranma, drawing a sword.
"The inertial field will make kinetic attacks less effective," pointed out Tchon.
"So it'll last longer," said Ranma, grinning now.
Xarra's sword swept through a complicated set of passes, blocking the handful of throwing knives tossed her way by the priestess.
The fight continued, the Lolth priestess next flinging a dust from inside pocket. The poison was virulent - a single fleck in the eyes would kill a rampaging umber hulk, would blind permanently a fiend from the darkest pit.
Xarra deftly avoided, leaping back in a somersault that her cloak detached halfway through. When she landed on a crate behind her previous position, she smiled.
"This battle is not over, sunlover," said Kyretha, activating her mace. "Do you see the faces decorating the head? They are those of betrayers who have died at my hand, and their souls squirm in torment as they serve me."
"Ah, this is the part where you're supposed to threaten me with adding my own soul to that weapon?" Xarra asked lightly, not losing her smile.
"More a promise... what?"
"Sometimes it's the simple things they overlook," said Xarra to the Warforged.
"What of the rest of the poison?" asked Twofivesix.
"It's got a limited stability, just the torchlight will negate it within a few minutes," said Xarra. "Just keep the field up for five minutes. What of you?"
"I am immune to poisons," said Twofivesix. "Even this." He slowly reached out and touched the drow priestess, watching in fascination as her body collapsed inward. Rather like a fruit which had rotted from within, he thought.
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Sat, 04 Sep 2004 10:31)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.