Waysides Assassin Attack - 1998

Originally submitted to the Elanthian Weekly by Lady Sirinna and posted by Lady Brynnah of that publication. My thanks to Lady Sirinna for sending me a transcript of this week's Dark Assassin attack at the Wayside Inn. I have no idea what provoked it. I have edited it ruthlessly down to mere excerpts, taking out most of the fighting. People were using haste, blue crystals, and Spirit Strike to try to whittle away at its high defense, with little luck, and finally, it vanished without ever being killed.
~Brynnah

My memory is not perfect, but I am pretty certain I provoked this at the time. It was in the fall of 1998 before the new Grand Poohbah would be chosen to head the Council. A rather embarrasing point of the log is where my falchion blessing runs out. I would later have a broadsword I carry to this day and a blessing sheath. This is one of the few cases where a Dark Assassin has been attackable, it was based on a wraith by the looks of it, and usually Dark Assassins are not undead, but have been known to be due to the loss of their souls to the Unlife.
~Geijon

[Wayside Inn, Dining Room]
This ramshackle hostel bears the signs of rough use by hard-bitten travellers and headstrong adventurers. Several blade-scarred tables and low stools are lined up against the walls, while the central area is dominated by a large firepit around which is a low platform covered with a few ratty bearskins. The clatter of clay tankards and the smell of humble victuals provide some small comfort to the steady stream of wayfarers who pause here to meet and greet one another. You also see a gas cloud, the Nordred disk, the Doomkilla disk, a small glowing vial, a dark assassin , the Kranfer disk, a sturdy maoral box, a sturdy fel strongbox, an engraved iron coffer, a badly damaged haon chest and a steep stair.
Also in the room: Morngaine, Elendryl, the body of Idoncar (prone), Drugast, the body of Lord Portous (prone), Lord Drafin, Lord Nordred, Lord Mysticclaw, Corslin, Lord Doomkilla, Lord Nimax, Aidelais, the body of Teuron (prone), Lord Jalius, Daemex, the body of Lord Rhangath (prone), Lady Evai, Lady Wivenhoe, Lady Tealyona, Lady Ellizza, the body of Arderon (prone), the body of Aramana (prone), Skoram, Lord Aintryg, Lord Geijon, Lord Kranfer, the body of Lord Targonias (prone), the body of Fungiwead (prone), the body of Lord Greylach (prone)
Obvious exits: south, out.

Geijon swings a dark blue vultite falchion at a dark assassin!
AS: +360 vs DS: +310 with AvD: +21 + d100 roll: +51 = +122
... and hits for 9 points of damage! 

[and a lot more swinging at it]

A dark assassin claws at Drugast!
AS: +415 vs DS: +86 with AvD: +37 + d100 roll: +62 = +428
... and hits for 104 points of damage!
Right hip pulped, severing the leg.
Drugast screams and falls to the ground grasping his mangled right leg! 

* Drugast drops dead at your feet!

A dark assassin cries, "Another meal for my empty soul!"

[And a lot more fighting with it]

The assassin searches around and finds Sirinna who was hiding!

A dark assassin claws at you!
AS: +415 vs DS: +574 with AvD: +19 + d100 roll: +32 = -108
A clean miss. 

You hear the ghostly voice of Targonias say, "I used me wrong falchion dag nabbit"

Tealyona exclaims, "Idon what did you leave table for!" [Evidently, the assassin cannot invite himself to a table--quite a relief.]

Kranfer swings a coal black vultite falchion at a dark assassin!
AS: +350 vs DS: +310 with AvD: +21 + d100 roll: +9 = +70
A clean miss. 

Geijon's vultite falchion returns to normal.
Geijon hacks at a dark assassin but it has no effect.

A dark assassin says, "Let me feel your warm soul, Evai."

The assassin brushes up against Evai.
CS: +535 - TD: +143 + CvA: +12 + d100: +91 == +495
Warding failed!
... and hits for 5 points of damage!
CS: +535 - TD: +143 + CvA: +12 + d100: +98 == +502
Warding failed!
Evai looks drained!

The assassin cackles as she consumes some of Evai's soul!

A dark assassin screams loudly, its shrill cry expanding outward with waves of magic!

The assassin brushes up against Fallopius.
CS: +535 - TD: +154 + CvA: +2 + d100: +81 - -5 == +469
Warding failed!
Fallopius screams in agony and falls to the ground, grasping his head with his hands!
The assassin stops screaming to attack Fallopius!

A dark assassin claws at Fallopius!
AS: +415 vs DS: +42 with AvD: +23 + d100 roll: +25 = +421
... and hits for 104 points of damage!
Beautiful shot pierces both lungs, Fallopius makes a wheezing noise, and drops dead! 

* Fallopius drops dead at your feet!

A dark assassin cries, "Another meal for my empty soul!"

You leap from hiding to attack!
You swing a razor-sharp filet knife at a dark assassin!
AS: +348 vs DS: +335 with AvD: +18 + d100 roll: +2 = +33
A clean miss.
The guiding force leaves you. 

Filonias gestures at a dark assassin.
The glow fades from a dark assassin.

A dark assassin cackles with joy as she rakes her claws down the dead body of Drugast.

Filonias gestures at a dark assassin.
The very powerful look leaves a dark assassin.

Filonias gestures at a dark assassin.
The white light leaves a dark assassin.

A dark assassin cackles with joy as she rakes her claws down the dead body of Aramana.

Filonias gestures at a dark assassin.

Filonias hurls a powerful lightning bolt at a dark assassin!
AS: +383 vs DS: +310 with AvD: +33 + d100 roll: +16 = +122
... and hits for 13 points of damage!
The guiding force leaves Filonias.

Kyera gestures at a dark assassin.
The assassin eyes grow wide as she watches Kyera's gestures! Suddenly she makes hurried movements as she recognizes she is about to be attacked by magic!

The assassin raises her hand to protect herself and a bright glow surrounds her!
CS: +550 - TD: +563 + CvA: +25 + d100: +77 == +89
Warded off!
A dark assassin appears puzzled for a moment which soon passes. 

Mirkk gestures at a dark assassin.
Dozens of long thorns suddenly grow out from the ground underneath a dark assassin! One of the thorns jabs into it!
... hits for 3 points of damage!
... 1 point of damage!

A dark assassin claws at Chrismaa!
AS: +380 vs DS: +230 with AvD: +35 + d100 roll: +55 = +240
... and hits for 58 points of damage!
Deft strike to abdomen penetrates several useful organs!
She is stunned!
CS: +535 - TD: +133 + CvA: +12 + d100: +85 == +499
Warding failed!
Chrismaa appears pale and drained!
The assassin cackles as she consumes some of Chrismaa's soul! 

As Kranfer swings his weapon at the assassin, she suddenly vanishes from view, leaving Kranfer attacking nothing but thin air!

Aidelais begins chuckling at Aidelias.

The assassin lets out a horrid scream as she fades into nothing!

You hear the ghostly voice of Targonias ask, "This the deader convention?"

You hear the ghostly voice of Adramelech say, "yup"

You hear the ghostly voice of Targonias say, "I hope i ain't late."

Adramelech gives a ghostly chuckle.

You hear the ghostly voice of Adramelech say, "dem assasins not as easy as i would have thought"

You hear the ghostly voice of Targonias say, "1 more second, and i couldda hid"

A dark assassin screams loudly, its shrill cry expanding outward with waves of magic!

The assassin brushes up against Sirinna.
CS: +535 - TD: +307 + CvA: -9 + d100: +58 - +5 == +272
Warding failed!
You scream in pain and fall to the ground, slamming your hands against your ears to protect them from the assassin's piercing wail!

A dark assassin claws at you!
AS: +390 vs DS: +114 with AvD: +19 + d100 roll: +23 = +318
... and hits for 22 points of damage!
Minor puncture to the left leg.
CS: +535 - TD: +307 + CvA: -9 + d100: +90 - +5 == +304
Warding failed!
You feel the assassin drain some of your life force!
The assassin cackles as she consumes a little of your soul!
You are still stunned. 

Ellizza meditates over Jalius.
Ellizza takes some of Jalius's blood loss.

Mysticclaw gestures at a dark assassin.
The assassin eyes grow wide as she watches Mysticclaw's gestures! Suddenly she makes hurried movements as she recognizes she is about to be attacked by magic!
The assassin raises her hand to protect herself and a bright blue glow surrounds her!
The ground beneath a dark assassin begins to boil violently!
A dark assassin is injured!
... 1 point of damage!
The ground then quickly cools.

A dark assassin screams loudly, its shrill cry expanding outward with waves of magic!
The assassin brushes up against Connour.
CS: +535 - TD: +467 + CvA: +13 + d100: +39 == +120
Warding failed!
Connour cringes in pain!
The assassin vs. Brillies.
CS: +535 - TD: +295 + CvA: +19 + d100: +42 - -5 == +306
Warding failed!
Brillies screams in agony and falls to the ground, grasping his head with his hands!

The assassin stops screaming to attack Brillies! 
A dark assassin claws at Brillies!
AS: +370 vs DS: +92 with AvD: +37 + d100 roll: +91 = +406
... and hits for 101 points of damage!
Incredible slash to Brillies's neck!
Throat and vocal cords destroyed!
Zero chance of survival. 

* Brillies drops dead at your feet!

Brillies is able to move again.
The very powerful look leaves Brillies.
The brilliant luminescence fades from around Brillies.
The deep blue glow leaves Brillies.
The bright luminescence fades from around Brillies.
The silvery luminescence fades from around Brillies.
The air calms down around Brillies.
The light blue glow leaves Brillies.
The white light leaves Brillies.
The powerful look leaves Brillies.
The tingling sensation and sense of security leaves Brillies.
Brillies glances around, looking a bit less confident.

A dark assassin cries, "Another meal for my empty soul!"

As Kranfer swings his weapon at the assassin, she suddenly vanishes from view, leaving Kranfer attacking nothing but thin air!
A dark assassin fades into view.

A dark assassin claws at you!
AS: +370 vs DS: +114 with AvD: +19 + d100 roll: +61 = +336
... and hits for 23 points of damage!
Minor puncture to the right leg.

Celyx swings an onyx-hilted eonake falchion at a dark assassin!
AS: +321 vs DS: +310 with AvD: +21 + d100 roll: +2 = +34
A clean miss. 

Mysticclaw gestures at a dark assassin.
The ground beneath a dark assassin begins to boil violently!
A dark assassin is injured!
... 1 point of damage!
The ground then quickly cools.

[If only the gods had improved Boil Earth sooner]

You hear the ghostly voice of Brillies say, "dang"

Celyx says, "whered it go"

Viviayn asks, "whats all tha dead peoples doin here?"

Sent by Lady Sirinna