We Join This Battle Already in Progress (Part Four)

The battle continues.  I now present Round SIX of combat against the dreaded Jabberwock!

If you missed them, here are links to the first three posts in this series:

Part One: https://beekaydubya.blogspot.com/2018/04/we-join-this-battle-already-in-progress.html
Part Two: https://beekaydubya.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-batle-rages-on.html
Part Three: https://beekaydubya.blogspot.com/2018/04/we-join-this-battle-already-in-progress_5.html

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DAY THIRTEEN (December 11th), 8:11:36 am

Shadow, feeling much recovered after both clerics have tended to him, focuses on the Jabberwock once more and plunges back into the battle.  He wills the Thunderlance to extend to its maximum length once more as he closes in.  The Jabberwock sees the dark elf coming and once again snaps at him with its powerful jaws, rending flesh with its jagged teeth.  Shadow’s conjured shaft of force once again warps on contact with the monster but a thrust with the phoenix-blessed blade hits the monster just above the ridge of its brow. 

Kysek sticks the vorpal blade into the ground, quickly raises one hand, points it at the Jabberwock and then slowly drags his finger across his throat, silently casting a spell that will ensure his next blow strikes true.  He snatches up Bedlam while concentrating on his summoned hand, trying to pull the Jabberwock’s head forward to expose its neck.  The hand pulls on the monster, but the Jabberwock hauls it around like a plaything, scarcely slowed by the strength of the mystical energy construct.  The elf curses under his breath, frustrated by his inability to draw the beast in close enough for a strike.

Grotto swoops down and lands beside Korbin.  The talking crow is still shaking off the crushing hit he just suffered as the scarred dwarf lays hands upon him.  A shouted prayer to Hanseath, beseeching him to heal the bird’s wounds is answered and life energy flows into Korbin’s battered body, mending his injuries so he can return to the battle.

Seeing the Jabberwock’s healing at such a rapid rate, Drax weaves his fingers in a mystic pattern over one of his shortswords while chanting the word “Ninsusinak” over and over again.  The magic settles in over the blade, harnessing the power of death itself to keep any wounds inflicted by the weapon from healing.  With the spell in place, the assassin disappears into the shadows and moves into position to strike.

Morn touches his eye and then points at one of the Jabberwock’s while calling upon the same arcane spell Kysek used to prepare for his next attack.  The bard lashes out with his whip and his aim is true.  The glowing-silver whip snaps the Jabberwock directly in the eye, eliciting a howl from the monster but even so, fails to injure the beast.

The Jabberwock, beset by enemies on all sides, burbles.  Nonsensical words and phrases, strange noises, and discordant sounds clash and echo through the woods.  The sound waves wash out over the entire party save Kysek who is shielded inside the sphere of silence emanating from his shortsword Blackflame.  Once again, everyone except for him and Shadow are felled by the ringing cacophony.  All drop to the ground, insensible once more except for Arthur, whose shield holds him aloft and Cedron who is carried to a gentle landing by the Witching Cloak.

Raven’s gauntlet continues to send wiry copper tendrils questing up his arm, digging through muscle and entwining itself around his nerves, veins, and tendons.

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• Extended Haste (20 rounds remaining) – everyone except Grotto and Shadow

• Prayer (4 rounds remaining) 

• Arthur: 38% health; STUNNED

• Bubo: 100% health;

• Cedron: 100% health; Displacement (5 rounds remaining); STUNNED

• Drax: 100% health; Cursed Blade (9 minutes, 9 rounds remaining); STUNNED

• Grotto: 75% health; Fly (5 minutes, 4 rounds remaining), Protection from Evil (5 minutes, 5 rounds remaining); STUNNED

• Hansuke: 63% health; STUNNED

• Korbin: 61% health; STUNNED

• Kysek: 96% health; Displacement (1 rounds remaining); Bigby’s Grasping Hand (+27 Attack/+32 Grap, 120 hp, 7 rounds remaining); Stoneskin (100%, 59 minutes, 5 rounds remaining)

• Morn: 74% health; Inspire Courage (+2 save vs charm/fear, +2 attack/damage, 1 rounds remaining); STUNNED

• Niklas: 100% health; STUNNED

• Raven: 83% health; Enlarge Person (2 minutes, 6 rounds remaining, Nightwatcher 2d6+20), Bull’s Strength (14 minutes, 7 rounds remaining); STUNNED

• Ra’ziir: 72% health; Iron Body (24 minutes, 6 rounds remaining, DR15/adam, +6 Str, immunties); STUNNED

• Shadow: 35% health; Overland Flight (14 hours, 59 minutes, 3 rounds remaining); Stoneskin (80%, 149 min, 5 rounds remaining); Thunderlance (11 rounds remaining, +22 hit, 2d6+8 damage); Darkness (199 minutes, 8 rounds remaining)

• Spewer: 100 % health;

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OH NO!  The Jabberwock has laid out most of the party with its burbling attack.  What will happen next?  How can our heroes possibly prevail against so fearsome a foe?  Tune in next time and find out!