The Frozen King Awakens (Phoenix City Chronicles)

Pondering as to what she had said about Feusang growing in power,

'So i guess he has found more of the artifacts hes been searching for... just how many has he found, and how many are left, thats the unknown until we actually come up against him.'

"Well i guess we can try to find him, but without knowing the extent of his powers, we might end up like Tal and Knuckles did when they saw him for the first time."

Looking out over the rail of the ship,

"If there was only a way that we could be able to guage his growth without risking oneself and be able to return with the information so we can make up a plan to do, or if things look dire, somewhere we can find a remedy to remove said artifacts and make him less powerful."

At that moment, a tortured scream rang from somewhere down the corridor leading into the fortress; a scream that instantly rang a bell to one half of Vaneslea.



"Safe to say it's a little late for that," Knuckles looked toward Cerys, then the corridor.

"I'd have to agree," Vaneslea nodded, "We'd better be off."

"Alright then," Cerys nodded, scouting ahead down the corridor.

As Cerys traversed the dark and winding corridor, a distinct smell caught in his nose, faintly at first, but getting stronger as it went. The smell was blood. It drifted in a trail through the air, leading him further and further down, and the farther the group descended, the colder it got.

Eventually, the darkness consumed the light, and all was pitch black until, like a torch in the night, Vaneslea's bracers began to glow with a bizarre emerald light.

At that time, Cellus cried out, falling to her knees. To anyone looking, Nurse was nowhere to be found.

"She's inside me now," Cellus winced, "I'm sorry, Burk."

"I don't understand," Burk looked on incredulously, "What could have caused you two to go back together again?"



"A possible theory may be found in the affectation of Vaneslea's bracers," Brother Light surmised, "They too are enchanted with a magic that can bind or sunder the soul. Clearly, Cellus and Nurse's fission was not strong enough to overcome the dispelling, which may mean that Vaneslea's time is similarly running out."

"That doesn't leave much time for sitting around then," Vaneslea dashed forward down the the corridor, determined to find the source of that scream.

The further the group went down into the corridor, the colder it got until, eventually, a light began filtering down the hall, along with a light mist of snow.



"It's snowing inside?," Burk tried to get his bearings as his severed connection with the earth began to take its toll, "What sort of place is this?!"



"The sort that leads back outside if you want my guess," Zeaken quipped.

"Oh, right," Burk laughed it off.



Sure enough, following the path to its conclusion, the group found themselves at a strange circle of obelisks, each painted with the same archaic rune in a deep violet ink.



At the center, sword in hand, was figure that instantly put Knuckles and Tal on-guard and filled both Vaneslea and Brother Light with a sudden, dreadful recognition.

More imposing than the appearance of the Frozen King himself was the act in which he had been caught.



Knelt in shackles was an Anubian clearly on his last leg. As his eyes met Vaneslea's, he attempted to speak, but only gurgled out a stream of blood, for his throat had been slashed. Having expended the last of his energy, the tortured creature fell to the ground in a heap.

"He was an incredibly useful servant," the armored warlord seemed to almost lament as his cold blue eyes looked up from the corpse to the heroes gathered to face him, "If he hadn't found and stolen the Osiris artifacts for me, it would have been years before I got them on my own. On top of that, with his sacrifice, my power is complete."

"No time for introductions," Vaneslea moved into a fluid fighting stance as she dashed into battle.

~~~~~~~
Vaneslea's Swiftness total = 27*

Note: Roll made at the time this game took place
~~~~~~~

"It's time this should end," Cerys nodded, his shadow starting to take a life of its own as he charged in to get off a good scratch or two on the evil warrior, Vaneslea right beside him.

~~~~~~~
Cerys' Swiftness total = 28*

Note: Role made at the time this game took place
~~~~~~~

As the others rushed to join the fray - by staff, blade, or bare knuckle - Feusang all at once pulled his own mighty edge from where it rested on his back. If the others could have seen his face behind the mask, they would have found him smiling.

"I'm a God now, or did you mortals forget?!" he laughed as his form erupted with a violent light that flung our heroes against the walls of the stone circle as if struck with hurricane-force winds, "Know your place!"

As the incredible attack ripped through them, Cerys, Knuckles, and Zeaken were the first to fall.

Thinking quickly, Tal gripped Cellus by her tunic and tossed her to Brother Light, who had wisely waited in the hallway in case his services as a healer were needed. Jumping in the path of the attack to grant Tal the time he would need for such a bold maneuver was Burk, but the heroic act was only partially successful, for though Cellus was safely out of harm's way, Burk's breaking body was unable to deflect the entirely of the attack from Tal, who was felled alongside his childhood friend as the force of the blast impaled the large grasslander, its deadly force richochetting into and through the mint-skinned monk.

~~~~~~~
Summary of rolls

Remaining Swiftness Totals
Burk = 4
Brother Light = 7
Zeaken = 8
Tal = 8
Cellus = 10
Knuckles = 13

Feusang = 32

Feusang Greatsword Attack total = 59 + rolls
~ Unbeatable by the Defense totals of all felled, even with a natural 20.
~~~~~~~

As the smoke cleared, Vaneslea strode forward, eyes locked on the brutal blackguard, "First you kill my teacher, then my lover? It's time someone took something from you!"

With lightning speed, she was on him, first knocking away his sword, then his helm, then laying into his chestplate with a series of forceful blows that, with the final strike, impaled clear through the back.

~~~~~~~
Vaneslea 1 (-21 HP)
Fist of Fury Attack Totals: 39, 42, 53, 47, 40, 48, 41, 52*

Note: Rolls made at the time this game took place.
~~~~~~~

"Ha... haha... I don't believe it," the warlord seemed more amused than fearful at the prospect of his own demise as he slumped forward over Vaneslea's mighty arm, "When I started this whole crusade, I just wanted to be stronger. The best that I could be. I think... I lost something on the way though. That's why you beat me. That's why I lo-"

And then he spoke no more. The King was dead.

~~~~~~~
Feusang Defends
24, 26, 12, 9, 14, 17, 10, 12
-15, -16, -41, -38, -26, -31, -31, -40 = -238 HP (Dead)

Total HP: -133 / 105)
~~~~~~~~

"What you lost was your soul," Vaneslea sneered as she held raised her arm, and him with it, "This is all that's left of you now, but not for long."

With that, she ignited her fist with the power of her magic, immolating the tyrant inside his own armor. When the blackened plates fell, with not even a skeleton to identify their owner, four sets of pieces remained; mummified hands, feet, eyes, and a heart.

At that moment, a brilliant flash of light appeared in the sky above, descending to meet Vaneslea. Out stepped Fahrean, who himself altered with a sudden breeze to his true form; a silver-haired young man with the deepest blue eyes.

"I cannot thank you enough," the man smiled softly, "With your help, this story will have a happy, if unexpected, ending."

"Naturally," he added with a more mischievous grin as he motioned to her bracers, "Those will have to be returned to where they belong ...at least until they're needed again."

"Saw that coming," Vaneslea smirked in turn, "But if you really want to repay me, I do have a small request."

Seeing that the powerful emissary of good was indeed listening, she looked to Cania's broken body, "Can you grant me power to heal?"

At this, the mysterious figure only smiled that knowing smile, fading into the snow. As he did so, Vaneslea found her bracers fading, but also found her entire form glowing with a holy light.



As her hands were laid over her mentor's form, Cania's eyes opened to view, not Vaneslea, but Kaylea watching over him, Fox standing nearby in view of the others as they rose in turn, spared a grisly fate by the timely healing of Brother Light and Cellus.



"I guess I taught you somethin' after all," the Anubian thief cracked a grin.

"Jerk," Kaylea quipped back, eyes filled with joy.

"Well, that ended as well as it could have," Cerys stood amidst the others as they looked to Kaylea, "But who was it that suddenly appeared in the middle of things?"

"Him?," Zeaken rubbed his chin with a canny smile, "He's just a storyteller. The best I know."



As the others looked to him with incredulous gazes, Zeaken was saved from a lengthier explanation by the sudden arrival of his ship, fully repaired, rising just behind him dramatically.

"So!," the privateer seized the moment, "I'm headed back out to sea after this. There's a sister that will be very angry with me when I find her. What of you all?"



"Heard that," Knuckles laughed, "I really oughta get back to the city."

"Not alone you're not," Kaylea wrapped an arm around her man with a sharp smile.

"It's really been too long since we've been home," Cerys nodded and assumed his cat form for a quick jump onto Knuckles' shoulders.

"Indeed," Light beamed, "I am looking forward to returning to the temple. I was never cut out for adventuring anyway."



"Aww guys," Knuckles flushed, "I'd never leave you behind!"

Looking toward the trio of grasslanders, Knuckles raised a brow with a grin, "What about you?"



"Home lies further east for us," Tal returned a bittersweet smile, "But meet again someday, I am sure we will."



"And how," Cellus snuggled close as Burk pulled them close for a bear hug.



"And what of our foxy thief I wonder?," Zeaken looked toward where Fox had been, but upon their checking, she was nowhere to be found.

"Typical," the khamele shook his head with grin, then turned to face his ship, "You're all welcome aboard for one last ride. Next stop... Home."

ADVENTURE RESULTS

Cerys
~ Nick Of Time (Rescuing Zeaken and Light) = 100
~ Azan = 1200
~ Eldritch Dol = 300
~ Mercy (Dol family) = 100
~ Feusang = 430
~ ~ Total XP Gained: 2030
~ ~ New XP Total: 10522/10800 (Level Up!)

Knuckles
~ Mercy (Cecielia) = 100
~ Eldritch Dol = 300
~ Mercy (Dol family) = 100
~ Feusang = 430
~ Getting The Girl = 100
~ ~ Total XP Gained: 1030
~ ~ New XP Total: 9612/10800 (Level Up!)

Tal
~ Mercy (Cecielia) = 100
~ Eldritch Dol = 300
~ Quick Thinking (Exorcism) = 100
~ Mercy (Dol family) = 100
~ Feusang = 430
~ ~ Total XP Gained: 1030
~ ~ New XP Total: 9962/10800 (Level Up!)

Brother Light
~ Cautious Healer (Dol battle) = 100
~ Mercy (Dol family) = 100
~ Cautious Healer (Feusang battle) = 100
~ ~ Total XP Gained: 300
~ ~ New XP Total: 6480/7200

Cellus/Nurse
~ Love Conquers All (Nurse) = 100
~ Jacen = 1050
~ Mercy (Cecielia) = 100
~ Eldritch Dol = 300
~ Mercy (Dol family) = 100
~ Cautious Healer (Feusang battle) = 100
~ ~ Total XP Gained: 1750
~ ~ New XP Total: 7990/8400 (Level Up!)

Burk
~ Jacen = 1050
~ Mercy (Cecielia) = 100
~ Eldritch Dol = 300
~ Mercy (Dol family) = 100
~ Feusang = 430
~ ~ Total XP Gained: 930
~ ~ New XP Total: 5935/6000

Kaylea
~ Safe! = 100
~ Resourceful (Fusion Bracers) = 100
~ Eldritch Dol = 300 (as Vaneslea)
~ Mercy (Dol family) = 100 (as Vaneslea)
~ Feusang = 430 (as Vaneslea)
~ Honor Thy Teacher = 100
~ Returning The Bracers (as Vaneslea) = 100
~ ~ Total XP Gained: 1230
~ ~ New XP Total: 8507/9600 (+2 Levels!)

Fox
~ Cheering Zeaken Up = 100
~ Safe! = 100
~ Eldritch Dol = 300 (as Vaneslea)
~ Mercy (Dol family) = 100 (as Vaneslea)
~ Feusang = 430 (as Vaneslea)
~ Returning The Bracers (as Vaneslea) = 100
~ ~ Total XP Gained: 1130
~ ~ New XP Total: 9530/9600

Zeaken
~ Cutting Out The Middle Man-er, Gate = 100
~ Azan = 1200
~ Brilliant Strategy (Cannons) = 100
~ Eldritch Dol = 300
~ Mercy (Dol family) = 100
~ ~ Total XP Gained: 1900
~ ~ New XP Total: 10892/12000 (+2 Levels!)