Armand watched as the Spider crossed the gap with alarming speed, so lost in awe of the crystalline arachnid were the defenders of light in this lightless place. It’s long jagged legs pierced Deunan’s armor as though it were paper, and she gasped as her blood spilled forth onto the mat black battlefield.

Armand took a five foot step back behind Deunan and fell into his training, and brought forth his Holy power, channeling it as he invoked a Metamagically infused Suddenly MaximizedShatter Spell at the Crystalline beast, knowing it was one of the spell he had memorized that wouldn’t let this reflective monstrosity utilize any resistances it’s otherworldly presence might afford it. (DC 22 No spell resistance Fort Save vs ½ Maximixed Damage= 60)

“Shatter like the night before the dawning sun! You shall plague her soul no longer!” He called out.


Enraged, Deunan gave a call to the heavens for protection, dropping her shield and taking up her weapon in both hands as she channeled all her power into a hopefully devastating blow of her magical bastard sword. “By the God’s I’ll squish you like the bug you are!”

(Atk 1 with +1 Ghost Touch Bastard Sword +13 +20 True Strike +3 (Smite Evil) +1 (Haste) -8 Power Attack = +29 (1d10+24) ( 4 (3 Strength 1 Magical) +16 (Power attack with two handed weapon) +4 (Smite Evil)
(Atk 2 (Haste) With +1 Ghost Touch Bastard Sword +13 -8 Power Attack =5 (1d10+20)
(Atk 3 With +1 Ghost Touch Bastard Sword +8-8 Power Attack =0 (1d10+20)
(Note Improved Critical 17-20)

Caduceus meanwhile, could only murmur on and on about why he had to be a Staff of Healing, why Couldn’t he be a sentient tea pot, he’d be much happier without all the hellish monstrosities that just loved to plague his companions and their quest for world peace.

Tristan puts rubs his chin for a second, then gives a smile to the young lad.
"Sounds good. It would be better to others passing by a better warning in comparison to a simple request on a doormat to keep out."

Between Wanqir and Aqinarr
Plains of Tiancann
Three Hours before Twilight
Sitting up quickly, Dusk can see the pitiful creature that was stalking him. It is a tiger, but only barely. Its ribs can be seen through its thin skin, and it has a desperate look in its eyes. Seeing that it's been spotted, it leaps forward... only to find and remember that its leg muscles are not strong enough to pounce now. It lands a few feet away before Dusk, despite having pounced from just ten feet away. It looks away sheepishly, and weakly begins to walk away.

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“Shatter like the night before the dawning sun! You shall plague her soul no longer!”
Armand's exclamation is followed by a loud, ringing and piercing noise. The huge crystal spider seems to resonate and vibrate at dangerous natural frequencies, until it somehow gets the strength to slam one of its legs into the ground, causing the vibrations to travel into the ground, and be gone before the spell could reach fruition. A few stress lines can be seen in the body of the spider, but not enough for comfort.

Deunan follows up Armand's spell with a few blows from her blade. The first blow, guided by Armand's prior cast magic and hitting a would-be-vital joint on the spider's body (were it not crystal), is unavoidable. A fierce crack can be heard as Deunan smiles with satisfaction, however, something unforeseen follows. The part of the spider's body that Deunan strikes then suddenly grows more crystal, appearing like needles, that fire with the noise of shattering glass, directly at Deunan. By instinct, she leaps to the side of the burst, and is only hit by a few shards. (-1 hp Deunan)

Not to be dishearted, Deunan strikes the spider again, and this time her blow barely catches the spider's body against its smooth carapiece. However, it still hits, and as another crack is heard, Deunan recoils against the backlash of crystal needles. (-2 hp Deunan)

Deunan goes for a final blow, but the blade clangs off the spider's carapiece harmlessly.

"Fools." The spider hisses, as it arranges its body in a peculiar form.

Suddenly it twists around, spinning on two of its legs as the others form a whirling top of dangerous blades. The spider only does one revolution, but the results are devestating. Deunan is able to duck under three legs, but all the others slash at her body, one even piercing her neck. Deunan slumps to the ground, frightfully near death. (one critical hit -28 hp Deunan, normal hits -(10 + 14) = -24 hp Deunan... Deunan's hp = -8 )

Coming out of its top-like form, the spider elegantly returns to an offensive position. The stress lines in its body are far more pronounced, but it definitely still is as deadly as ever.

"Are you ready to die?" it almost purrs, taking a step forward.

Between Hylon Forest and Fonhinqann
Main Highway
Five and a Quarter Hours before Twilight
Qin eagerly looks around for something to use, like perhaps a piece of wood, but none are to be found. Disheartened the boy sits on the doorstep of the Bunny House.

"What should we use?" The boy wonders aloud, "I guess we could write on the house itself, but that's doesn't look nice..."

The house's external appearance is slightly run down, particularly around the windows that have not been looked at in some time, so the window shutters are half in their hinges, and a couple are even hanging loosely from the window.

Fonhinqann
Gladiator Chamber B
Five and Three Quarter Hours before Twilight

Manalagna Hammer was impressed with the interior of the Gladiator Chamber B as he began to place his belongings on the table to decide what to take with him to confront Xira.

As Tenarr stood by to assist, Manalagna asked, "What can you tell me about Xira ... what are her strengths ... her weaknesses ... and do you have any suggestions as to what type of strategy I should use against her?"

Deunan was down, and Armand felt responsible for his companion's injuries, it was for that reason That as Caduceus was brought to bare. The ash white staff of Healing Called out to Deunan, bidding her return from the nethers.

"Come child, it is not yet time to sleep, but know when this is said and done with you and I will have a nice log chat about the spider and the fly in full plate." As Armand took a step forward, Standing defensively over Deunan's body, Cadceus filled her with healing energy, enough for the paladin to breathe anew, where she could gather her shield and crawl backwards behind Armand (5ft')(Cure Serious wounds 3d8+7)

Fonhinqann
Gladiator Chamber B
Five and Three Quarter Hours before Twilight
"Xira?" Tenarr checks, "I'm afraid I don't know that much. Her style of fighting is quite bizarre. First off, she seldom hits her opponent; it's the opponent's weapons she always hits, at least once. Quite a few challengers have stormed back here after a fight with her, quite angry that their weapon has been cleaved in half. A few even asked me to fix it, but I haven't learned to fix weapons; I can only try to make a few."

"That's not to say she won't hit you." Tenarr adds, "She's not afraid of getting her hands bloody." He chuckles at this line, "Bad wording, but uhh... you don't want to let her touch you. That's another thing that everyone who's fought her was muttering about. Something about how she just touches you with one of her hands and you feel sick."

"Of course, I'm not supposed to be telling you this." Tenarr whispers, "It's against arena protocol, so if you could forget that it came from my mouth, that'd be good; there's no need to get me fired."

"Oh, but here's something you will find out anyway just from looking at her. She has two weapons. Both are scythes. One she'll be carrying onto the battlefield, and the other is wrapped up like her hands and carried over her shoulder. As long as she's using the first scythe, you're OK. As soon as she uses that scythe that's over her shoulder... I suggest you don't let her hit you with that, because with that scythe she always goes for the kill, and even Fahinn has a harder time stopping that blade from finishing its opponent."

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"Come child, it is not yet time to sleep, but know when this is said and done with you and I will have a nice log chat about the spider and the fly in full plate."
The white sparkles of healing from the staff sprinkle onto Deunan's body, and are absorbed greedily. Her eyes open, and although she is still in considerable pain, she is at least conscious. She retreats back just a bit, grabbing her shield. (Deunan +19 hp)

Forming the top-form again, the spider whirls around, six of its deadly limbs reaching about to strike Armand. Armand stands still, and raises his aura of faith, which forms a strong enough barrier to withstand the assault. However, the spider isn't finished. This time, instead of slowly returning to a stance, the spider jumps from its two limbs, which fly out to impale Armand as the others catch the spider on the ground. Armand ducks underneath both limbs in response. Finally, the spider dashes forward to bite, but Armand leaps to the side of the spider's reach.

Nothing is said from the spider, as it formulates a new battle strategy in its crystalline mind.

Armand, shielded by his unyielding Faith suffered a flurry of blows, but none could penetrate his holy shield. "By the Elesyium you shall suffer no quarter!" Armand defensively casts Divine Power (Concentration +17 vs DC 19) (+6 Str Bab of a fighter +10 hp) and awaits the spiders move.

"You shall claim no more this day vile hellspawn."




Meanwhile, Deunan crawls backwards some more, (5ft) and Channel's her own healing energy into her body while Crouched defensively (AC 2 (+12 HP from lay on hands)

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"By the Elesyium you shall suffer no quarter!"
Armand successfully casts Divine Power, and Deunan recovers some more of her strength, although she is still in considerable danger.

The crystalline spider doesn't use a top motion this time. It raises two of its legs, both of them angled to strike Armand. It jabs with one, not truly hitting with it, but Armand reacts by avoiding where it would have struck, and jumps right into the second one's strike. It sinks into his arm, and white holy sparks erupt from the wound, sending a jarring note along the crystal limb. The spider twists the leg and pulls it out, but it doesn't appear all that affected by the sparking counter-offensive. (-10hp Armand, including damage reduction)

"Got you." Renshiir's voice imitation again comes from the spider, sounding on the whole satisfied.

Free from the Spider's range, Deunan finally Stands, and moves 20ft away (hasted), pullig out her wand she uses a single charge of the Cure light wounds on herself.

Armand, bathing in the glow of his holy radiance, recovers some of the damage inflicted (fast healing 5) and engages the creature in melee, much to Caduceus' disdain.

As Armand swings, Caduceus yells out " I am not some dumb piece of steel! If you're going to put me through the dizzy loop you better make it worth while and slay the vile thing before I throw up."

"You don't have a mouth" Armand replies as he attacks.

"That's not the point! I'll I'll give someone a nasty splinter if they don't hurry up!" Caduceus retorts.

"Take This!" Armand says as he smites the thing.

(Armand Atk 1 with +1 Staff of Healing: +20 (16+4 CHA) 1d6+17 +1d6 Holy)
(Atk2 (Haste) with +1 Staff of Healing +16 1d6+ 6 +1d6 Holy)
Atk 3 with +1 Staff of Healing +11 1d6+6 +1d6 Holy)

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Armand thunks the spider three times, much to Caduceus' grief, as the spider remains standing. Well, more than standing, it's body produces the same counter measures as it did against Deunan. However, this time the crystal needles mist into nothingness upon contact with Armand's skin.

Deunan quickly retreats further and gives herself a bit more healing. (+5 hp Deunan)

This time, rather than tricking Armand with another set of blade-like legs, the spider returns to its original method of attack, forming yet another top-like stance. Once again, Armand is protected from the whirling legs, but when the spider jerks its two legs to impale Armand, one of them breaks through his barrier and pierces his torso. (-11 hp Armand, including damage reduction) Once again, the white sparks erupt from the wound, and as the spider retracts its leg, another jarring note is heard. The spider finally leaps to bite Armand, but he blocks the adamantine-sharp teeth with his barrier of faith.

The spider looks a little worse for wear, and a few cracks have begun to appear on its legs and torso, but there's just something unnerving about the way it continues to glare at Armand. Almost as though it was daring him to continue.

"Would you rather I kill your friend first?" the Renshiir-like voice asks, the spider's head looking towards Deunan.

"Armand grunts a little as more pain erupts through him, but once again he maintains the ability to heal back some of the injuries sustained.(5)He however meets the spider's challenge with another flurry of attacks.

(Armand Atk 1 with +1 Staff of Healing: +16 1d6+6 +1d6 Holy)
(Atk2 (Haste) with +1 Staff of Healing +16 1d6+ 6 +1d6 Holy)
Atk 3 with +1 Staff of Healing +11 1d6+6 +1d6 Holy)

Deunan, meanwhile, moves back 40 ft, and cast's bless weapon on her Bow.

In a few strides, Willow closed in on Yin, swinging both swords together in a horizontal arc. However her strike proved ineffectual, as the man's armor stayed the magically dulled blades of her swords. He rolls with the attack and with a jarring shot, he plants a strike on her elbow. Willow was jarred slightly from the strike, pulling that arm in a little closer to shake off the pain.

Never underestimate your opponent! her mind cried at herself, you cannot afford to become arrogant when weapons are involved. She pushed extraneous thoughts from her mind, specifically those pertaining to her upcoming break. She renewed her attacks, sweeping her swords in powerful arcs that either struck painfully or when they didn't contact with a vulnerable spot, they hammered Yin's armor.

(Full Attack: +12/+12/+7/+7 1d8+5, 1d8+3, 1d8+5, 1d8+3)

(Also, on my character sheet, I forgot a +1 from weapon focus (longsword) so should be at (for singular attacks) +16 for my longsword +2 and 14/14/9/9 for TWF with both swords)

Willow shall continue such a manner of hammering upon Yin unless circumstances change until the man either drops unconscious, or shows signs of dropping.