The flaming zombie woolly rhinoceros is Challenging at 4, charging.
Your Medium Armour and the Monster’s Manoeuvrability are matched.
There was no time to get up, so Torstag tried to roll out of the way.
Bones crunched. The world spun.
Performing Warrior at Level 5.
Manoeuvring.
Result = 5 (Performance) +0 (Luck) -2 (Knocked Sprawling) +2 (Enemy “Left Eye Missing”) -4 (Enemy Challenge) = 1
Effect = Successful Evasion.
The monster crashed past, grinding bones under its hooves, enveloping Torstag with choking smoke.
Torstag, however, was still sprawled amongst the skeletons.
Clutching Peacebringer, Torstag rolled to his feet, tottered, drew himself up. He shook his head to clear his vision.
Just beyond the doorway, Ingar flapped at his robes ineffectually, which had caught fire, while Millicent yelled at him. Zahna, meanwhile, ran toward Torstag. “Behind you!”
Torstag spun, nearly fell over again.
The monster was completing its turn. In a moment, it would charge again.
Once again, Torstag pivoted into a surprise thrust.
Using Feat Onset Thrust 5/6, cost 1 Potestas. 5 of 5 Potestas remaining.
You have advantages “First Strike” and “Enemy Caught Turning.”
Your Medium Armour and the Monster’s Manoeuvrability are matched.
Onset Thrust is Unpredictable.
His front foot skidded on powdered bone—
Test of Performance 5. Passed. Skid avoided.
—but then grounded nicely against the rock-cut floor.
Result = 5 (Performance) +3 (“First Strike”, “Enemy Caught Turning”) +0 (Unpredictable) +2 (Enemy “Left Eye Missing”) -4 (Enemy Challenge) = 6
Required Finesse 5.
Effect = 6 (Result) +2 (Greatsword) -5 (Finesse) = 3
Right Eye destroyed.
Again, his tip struck the eye socket. A second red orb tumbled to shatter amongst the bones…
Onset Thrust secured. Select a 10th Warrior Feat?
The creature finished turning. It inhaled through shrivelled nostrils, snorted and came at Torstag like a nightmare pillar of fire.
Unlock Crooked Strike?
“Oh yes.”
Crooked Strike unlocked at 2/6 grasp. Securing this Feat will advance Warrior Vocation to level 4.
Crooked Strike is “Unpredictable” so doubly affected by Luck.
Crooked Strike is “Weak”, so has -2 applied to Damage.
Manoeuvring Advantages and Disadvantages Apply. A successful Crooked Strike confers “Tactical Advantage”.
As the burning zombie rhino rumbled toward him, he hurled himself out of the way and windmilled his sword into the space he had just left.
Using Crooked strike 2/6, cost 1 Potestas, 3 of 5 Potestas remaining.
Crooked Strike is Unpredictable.
Test of Performance 5. Passed. Skid avoided.
Attacking Boldly.
Result = 7 (Performance) +2 (Bold attack) +4 (Enemy relying on scent) +1 (Unpredictable) -4 (Enemy Challenge) = 10
Natural Armour 4 negated.
Using Sword Feat “Smite Undead” cost 1 Potestas 2 of 5 remaining.
Damage = 8 +2 (Greatsword) -2 (Weak) +4 (Smite Undead) = 14.
The blade caught the creature behind the neck, stripped a flap of smouldering fur and flesh to expose yellow-white bones.
Target Toughness 8 surpassed.
Target has Hindrance “Damaged”
Crooked Strike Advances to 3/6 Grasp.
You have “Tactical Advantage”.
The undead woolly rhinoceros trundled past, deeper into the chamber, trailing black smoke. The flames on its back illuminated an artificial cavern about thirty paces across; as large as the monastery refectory.
The blinded monster crossed the bone-strewn floor and thumped into the far wall at an angle, skidded to crash lengthwise into the carved stonework.
The façade bowed and collapsed.
Ingar—now naked except for his breach-clout—charged after it screaming, “Fuck you you great hairy dead lummox you!”
The rhino rolled back onto his its stubby legs, bringing down yet more masonry, revealing the rock behind.
Ingar swung his axe at the burning monster.
Zahna appeared from nowhere. As she ran past, she yelled, “Zombie cave bears!”
Behind her bounded a huge creature with patchy fur, red glowing eyes, and massive yellow teeth.
Chapter 43: Dark Hunger
Rasinta snarled into the link-webbed dark.
Bad enough that the soul thief’s minions had damaged her first guardian. Worse, that they had made her feel it.
Rasinta the Ice Queen. Lich. Level 10.
Will 4 of 10.
Potestas 4 of 10. Potestas Reservoir 24.
She was almost ready to face them.
The link to the soul thief quivered and Rasinta felt a hollow yearning.
If only the soul thief would cross the threshold into the Refectory, then Rasinta could close the door and trap her for good.
Rasinta frowned, and tried to ignore the way the expression tore the skin of her forehead.
It was the tall warrior who was to blame!
He should have been dead by now, trampled by her first guardian. But when ill fortune saw him pushed back onto the others, she had been forced to open the door and let them all into her Refectory.
Even so, it should not be a problem as long as the soul thief did not get herself killed. The stupid woman had already forced Rasinta to burn potestas to divert a crossbow bolt.
Soon.
Rasinta rose from her throne. Boot leather—yes, let it be boot leather and not mummified skin, not dried joints barely muffled by her furs—creaked as she paced her burial chamber and took position by the threshold of.
She stroked the filament connecting her sternum to the soul thief.
Why not? Just a little encouragement.
# # #
Millicent took a step after Ingar, then checked just short of the threshold.
What could she do? Ingar had told her to stay put and stop the door from closing.
The chamber echoed with thuds as the youth swung his halberd, laying into the burning woolly rhinoceros. Meanwhile at least two giant bears had somehow joined the fight.
How could she intervene in all that?
She glanced down at Ingar’s still smouldering robe. Tossing magical fire around had not gone well.
No, she should stay put.
Wrestling with guilt at Using People 2/6 Hardening. Cost 2 Potestas, 5 of 6 remaining.
“Damn you.”
But there was her shin bone, the one Ingar had salvaged. More power, more feats. Perfect.
She scooped it up. “Come on, will you, surge!”
Nothing.
“I can’t just stand here!”
Ingar had wanted to protect her, but she was doomed if the monsters could not be defeated; she could not outpace the woolly rhinoceros, and even if she did, she would not get up the iron rungs before the bears tore her apart.
“Bugger this for a game of soldiers.”
Millicent bundled up the robes, crammed them into the open hinge of the door. Clutching the shinbone like a primitive warclub, she marched into the fray, and not a moment too soon.
Chapter 44: Could Have Been a Bull Dancer
The burning zombie woolly rhinoceros rolled away from the wall, bringing down the remains of the facade.
Naked dancers and garlanded bulls jumbled across Ingar’s mind’s eye.
Unlock Companion, Bull Dancer?
Flames and smoke roaring from its back, the monster turned and lunged for Ingar, hooking with a horn that was almost as long as Torstag’s new sword.
“Fuck you Doofus! And fuck you too, you great lummox!” Ingar skipped out of the way. The movement made his shoulder throb where his burning robes had seared his flesh.
Performing Warrior at 2.
Light Armour has the advantage over Cumbersome.
Light armour? A breech-clout counts as light armour, now does it?
Manoeuvre Result = 6 (Performance) +2 (Lighter Armour) +0 (Luck) +5 (Enemy “Relying on scent”, “Damaged”) -4 (Challenge) = 9.
Effect = Successful evade + Tactical Advantage (2).
His foot slipped.
Test of Performance 2. Skid avoided.
Ingar regained his balance, stepped inside the monster’s turning circle. He swung his axe at the back leg.
Great Axe gets First Strike.
Using Wrath Strike 3/6, cost 2 Potestas. 0 of 6 Potestas remaining.
Result = 4 (Performance) +2 (Boldness) +3 (Lighter Armour, Tactical Advantage) +1 (Luck) +5 (Enemy “Relying on scent”, “Damaged”) -4 (Challenge) = 13.
Natural Armour 4 negated.
The axe slammed into the leg. The smack of the blow stung Ingar’s hands.
Effect = 13 + 3 (Great Axe) + 2 (Feat) = 18.
Target Toughness 8 surpassed.
Target has Hindrance “Damaged+1”.
Wrath Strike advances to 4/6.
The creature came at him.
He yanked back the axe and dodged.
Manoeuvre Result = 6 (Performance) -1 (Luck) +6 (Enemy “Relying on scent”, “Damaged+1”) -4 (Challenge) = 7
Result = Successful Evade + Tactical Advantage (2)
Test of Performance 2. Skid avoided.
Great Axe gets First Strike.
“Fuck you!”
Again, he swung the axe, this time with an ordinary blow, which was the best he could do with no remaining Potestas.
The blade caught the monster between the ears.
Result = 2 (Performance) + 0 (Luck) +6 (Hindrances “Missing Right Eye”, “Missing Left Eye”, “Relying on scent”, “Damaged+1”) -4 (Challenge) = 4.
Effect = 8 (Result) +3 (Great Axe) -4 (Natural Armour) = 7.
The creature bellowed, scythed with its horn. Smoke enveloped him.
Manoeuvre Result = 6 (Performance) +1 (Luck) +5 (Hindrances “Missing Right Eye”, “Missing Left Eye”, “Relying on scent”, “Damaged+1”) -4 (Challenge) = 9
Test of Performance 2. Failed.
His bare foot slipped. Something clawed his ankles. He had stepped into a rib cage and now it was working like a mantrap.
You have disadvantage “Landed Sprawling”.
Test of Potestas 0 of 6. You have lost your weapon.
His legs slipped out from under him. He let go of the axe, windmilled his arms, landed amidst broken bones. Shards stuck into his back, spiked his thighs.
He caught sight of Millicent cradling the thighbone he’d saved. She blinked and hurled the remains of her past avatar at the monster. “You leave him alone!”
And the flaming undead woolly rhinoceros came for him.
Ingar let out a long yell of, “Fuck!”, tucked his legs under himself and ran.
Manoeuvre Result = 6 (Performance) +1 (Luck) +5 (Hindrances “Missing Right Eye”, “Missing Left Eye”, “Relying on scent”, “Damaged+1”) -4 (Challenge) = 9
Effect = Successful Disengage and Tactical Advantage (2).
Chapter 45: Trapped!
Torstag raised his sword as the massive zombie cave bear bounded after Zahna, splashing dried bones across the floor.
You have Tactical Advantage.
As the thing passed, Torstag whacked it with a diagonal cut. He drove the blow from his legs, put his hips and shoulders into it. The greatsword caught the monster behind the head.
Attacking Boldly.
Current Form 4. Performing Warrior at level 7.
Using Wrath Strike +2, cost 1 Potestas. 2 of 5 Potestas remaining.
Result = 7 (Performance) +2 (Bold Attack) +2 (Tactical Advantage) +4 (Enemy Charging) -1 (Luck) -5 (Challenge) = 9
Natural Armour 4 Negated.
Using Sword Feat, Smite Undead, cost 1 Potestas. 1 of 5 Potestas remaining.
Effect = 9 (Result) +4 (Smite Undead) +2 (Greatsword) +4 (Wrathstrike+2) = 19.
Target Toughness 9 surpassed twice.
Undead Cave Bear has Hindrance, “Damaged +1”.
A great flap of dead flesh flopped back, unleashing a foul smell. Exposed vertebrae flashed white in the light of the burning woolly rhinoceros. Seemingly unperturbed, the undead cave bear continued its rush into the chamber of bones, however, it was now moving more clumsily.
The rush became a spring aimed at Zahna.
Even as he called her name, the girl whirled out of the way and smashed her staff into its skull.
It lumbered around and, still on all fours, charged her.
Torstag swerved to intercept it and repeated, “Zahna!”
You have Tactical Advantage.
He aimed for the spot he’d already hit.
This time he had but one point of Potestas left. He was going to husband it.
Result = 7 (Performance) +2 (Bold Attack) +2 (Tactical Advantage) +4 (Full Attack) -1 (Luck) +3 (Enemy Damaged +1) -5 (Challenge) = 8
Armour 4 Negated.
Finesse 4 Negated.
Effect = 8 (Result) +2 (Greatsword) +4 (Smite Undead) = 14
Target Toughness 9 surpassed.
Successful Revisit adds damage.
Target has Hindrance “Damaged+3”
The blade hit the exposed spine, bit deep into a vertebra.
Now the thing could reach him. It reared up and swiped with a vast paw.
Torstag roared and stepped in. He raised his fists so that his sword draped down his left shoulder like a cloak, not blocking the attack, just redirecting it.
The paw slid down past.
Now Torstag sidestepped and again cut for the same spot.
Result = 7 (Performance) +2 (Bold Attack) +5 (Target Damaged +3) +1 (Luck) -5 (Challenge) = 10.
Armour 4 Negated.
Finesse 4 Negated.
Damage = 10 +2 (Greatsword) = 12.
Target Toughness 9 Surpassed.
Zombie Cave Bear has hindrance Damaged +4.
Peacebringer cracked into the exposed vertebra. The zombie cave bear’s head flopped forward. It crashed on its side, sending old bones skittering across the floor.
Eyes watering, Torstag raised Peacebringer.
The zombie cave bear rolled away and came to a stop against the wall where the facade still survived. The dancing flames from the zombie rhinoceros illuminated a door carved in granite and set in into the wall.
Torstag glanced to check that Ingar was still keeping the rhino busy, then strode in to complete the decapitation. He did not need his Tempter’s background chatter to tell him it was an easy task.
Still snapping, the head rolled clear then was still.
Zombie Cave Bear Destroyed.
From somewhere nearby, Zahna’s yelled, “Torstag!”
He turned in time to see a second undead cave bear swat at him.
The great paw brushed aside his sword and smashed the plates of his right shoulder and upper arm…
Enemy Result = 5 (Challenge) +2 (Surprise) +2 (Tactical Advantage) +1 (Luck) -7 (Your Performance) = 4.
Enemy Effect = 4 (Result) +2 (Undead Cave Bear) -3 (Your armour) = 3.
3 Vitality Loss, 0 Vitality Remaining.
Toughness 2 Negated.
You have Hindrance “Stunned”.
Form lost. Feats unavailable.
Toughness 2 surpassed. 1 Wound. You have Hindrance “Wounded”.
Vitality 0 of 4.
You have Hindrance “Debilitated”.
Slam Effect = 4 (Enemy Result) +2 (Cave Bear Paw) = Knocked Sprawling (4) +2 Damage.
Enemy Damage = 2 (Damage from Slam) -3 (Armour) = 0
You have Disadvantage, “Knocked Sprawling”.
…sending him sprawling on his back.
You have Hindrances “Stunned”, “Debilitated” and “Wounded”.
You have Disadvantage “Knocked Sprawling
”.
Feats unavailable. Form lost.
Vitality 0 of 5.
Potestas 1 of 5.
The second undead cave bear let out a hollow roar and reared up over him.
# # #
The soul thief had entered the Refectory!
Using Feat Control Tomb, cost 1 Potestas, 3 remaining.
Will 3 of 10.
Potestas Reservoir 24.
Result = 3 (Power Level) +1 (Luck) = 4.
Effect = None. Door Jammed.
Rasinta clenched her fists until the skin cracked and the bone crackled. “What have you done?”
One of the links jerked.
Second Guardian has hindrance “Damaged +4.”
She shuddered.
No.
She picked out the link and tugged it.
The Jungle Tomb of the Ice Queen (The Flying Tooth Garden Book 1) Page 27