Elliot brings the end of his necklace up to his lips. The eye encased in glass and metal that he treasured. He spoke a silent prayer. Talia took notice of this.

“Who do you pray to?” Talia asks.

“My mother’s spirit. If such a thing exists.” Elliot responds.

“Alright, we can easily get Hauss to where the Judges are kept and free them. Right?” Elliot looks toward Esmeralda and Hauss.

“Yeah, we shouldn’t even encounter resistance,” Esmeralda says cockily.

“Good, then you two should go see that done.” Elliot curls his necklace in his hands. “The rest of us should kill Lord Neries to prevent being hunted or persecuted in the future.”

“That’s a pretty serious crime, a commoner killing a lord.” Esmeralda shifts her stance. “But I don’t think the Judge’s will know who did it.”

“Thank you. The rest of you can decide if you are in or not.” Elliot nods to his party.

“Jayce is too injured to fight.” Talia pipes up.

“Jayce and Mo can stay here with Alex and his brother.” Elliot says as the merchants breathe a sigh of relief.

“I’m with you!” Lillyput says excitedly.

Frederick, Talia, Lillyput, and Jeremiah all step forward.

“Alright. Let’s give them hell.” Elliot says.

“Actually,” Jeremiah interrupts, “how can you fight in your condition?”

“About that.” Elliot focuses on his breath, feels the electricity in his body, and feels the damage to his side and to his chest.

Second Wind

1d10+1

Seven Health Gained

Elliot feels his wounds heal and the scar on his chest lightens.

“I think I’ll be fine.” Elliot rolls his shoulders.

Jeremiah looks at him, perplexed, but the group quickly moves out. Hauss and Esmeralda run down a side alley while Elliot's group charges down the street towards the fort in the middle of Fresno. (15 Stealth vs Perception 12)

They make it all the way to the fort. The guards are gone from their position. Elliot looks back, from the raised position he can see on the other side of town a wall has been knocked down. Smoke rises from a fire, the shambling mound whips vines around destroying buildings. Gunshots carry through the streets.

Elliot opens the double doors into the keep. They enter and check every doorway. There is an empty kitchen, an empty sitting room, an empty war meeting room, and they finally come to the door to the dining room.

The young smith opens the door and pushes through. Jeremiah enters on his left, Talia on his right, and Jeremiah on his left. Frederick was behind his right shoulder and Lillyput behind his left shoulder.

They marched in together. There were only two female servants in the room. One holding a pitcher full of wine, the other holding a platter full of food. Lord Neries expression grows sour upon seeing Elliot. He slowly reaches a hand towards the tubes coming out of his right side.

“You have no one guarding you. You’re defenseless.” Elliot calls out.

“No, no, no.” Lord Neries cackles as he pulls the tubes out of his side. “My human life will end so that I might see genesis.”

“Whatever you believe. Make your peace now.” Elliot raises the pipe rifle, aiming it at him.

Black good begins to ooze out of his side. His veins turn black, his eyes start to drip black goop, and he shakily stands.

“I won't let you kill me, instead I will be reborn, as a part of the system.” He takes a shaky step forward and slams a hand down on the table.

Elliot fires the pipe rifle. (12 to hit vs AC 12) The bullet slams through his head. (11 damage) The top of his skull pops off and his brains splatter backward. His body drops back into his seat. The two servants step back in shock. One drops the platter of food and runs.

“What a weird dude,” Elliot says as he starts to reload his rifle.

“He’s still alive.” Frederick holds the tablet up to face the lord. “And all his stats are increasing.”

The man’s hand shoots up, grabbing the arm of the wine bearer. With a tug he rips the arm off in an instant. He holds the arm up above his head and black goo sucks it in. The arm is dissolved and reforms into the man's skull, flesh, and skin. Completely repairing his head. The wine bearer falls back, screaming, and starts crawling away.

Elliot raises his rifle again, but the man is standing already. Elliot fires. (9 to hit vs AC 12) His shot hits the throne as the man leaps ten feet into the air and across the room. He travels the twenty feet across the dining room to the party in a blink of an eye.

Slamming into the ground directly behind Elliot. A shockwave of electricity discharges from him throwing each of the party away from him. (9 dex save vs DC 12) Elliot slams into the table, rolling across the top of it and crashing into the chairs to the side. (6 damage)

From Elliot's position, now slumped into a chair, he can see Talia wasn’t thrown by the blast. She stood firm. Bark spreads over her fists and she goes to punch the man with both fists. (Natural 20 and Natual 20 to hit vs AC 12) Her first punch slams into the side of his jaw causing his face to snap to one side. Her other fist quickly flies up and uppercuts him in the jaw sending shockwaves through his double-chin. (19 damage)

As the overweight lord staggers backward Jeremiah charges with the Greatsword they got on their way out of town. (24 to hit vs AC 12) He slams his greatsword down on his shoulder. (13 damage)

The lord holds a hand out and the greatsword is ripped from Jeremiah’s hand, it flies up into the air, and with a flick of the Lord’s wrist, the sword flies back down at Jeremiah. (13 to hit vs AC 14) Jeremiah sidesteps at the last minute and grabs the handle of the sword again. The sword tugs Jeremiah a few feet as it tries to escape again.

“What demon is this!?” Jeremiah screams out.

“One the heroes must vanquish,” Lillyput says courageously as he strums his lute playing a song of courage.

Song of Courage

+1 to hit

+2 morale

Frederick pushes off the ground as he flicks the small metal rod out of his pocket. With one button press, it extends into a staff, and with another button press one end lights up with electricity. He swings the staff around and goes to lunge at Lord Neries. (8 to hit vs AC 12)

The Lord holds his other hand out, he telekinetically pulls Frederick across the room, and the outstretched staff goes right towards Talia. (10 to hit vs AC 11) Talia manages to dodge the attack.

Elliot stands, placing the rifle on the top of a chair, aiming it at Lord Neries. (20 to hit vs AC 12) The shot pierces straight through one of his arms. (13 damage)

Lord Nerie’s arm already starts to regenerate. He reaches out and grabs Talia by the throat. (26 and 17 to hit vs AC 11) He raises her off her feet before slamming her onto the table. He quickly pulls her closer and headbutts her. (15 damage)

The pixie pops out of snake form and casts a spell at Neries. The spell fizzles and the pixies eyes roll back in her head as she drops limp to the table.

Talia struggles against him. (12 and 16 to hit vs AC 12) She knee’s him in the dick and then slaps him across the face. (11 damage) Jeremiah struggles against his sword. (12 to hit vs AC 12) He manages to swing it wildly and slices the back of Lord Neries. (12 damage) Frederick tries to prod him from behind. (23 to hit vs AC 12) The electricity crackles as it zaps him. (10 damage)

He begins scratching and clawing at Talia. (20 and 26 to hti vs AC 11) He tears the bark from her skin as he does so. (14 damage)

Elliot fires his last shot. (14 to hit vs AC 12) The bullet blasts through his chest. (24 damage) Black ooze spills out onto Talia who is still struggling to get away from him.

“No! I won’t let you kill me!” Lord Neries body hums with some form of resonance before an electric shockwave bursts from his body once more. Jeremiah, Frederick, and Lillyputare shoved backward but not off their feet. Talia slams the back of her head into the table. She lifts her head in a daze. (22 and 19 to hit vs AC 11)

Lord Neries slams his fists down on Talia twice. (12 damage)

Elliot focuses on his friends, reaching out to them mentally.

Talia

9 of 66 health

Jeremiah

7 of 33 health

Frederick

6 of 16 health

Lillyput

4 of 16 health

Pixie

3 of 3 health

Fear overwhelms Elliot as they fight back against this man. Talia struggles for breath as she grabs the Lord’s face and digs her fingers into his eyes. (8 and 17 to hit vs AC 12) He yanks one of her hands away, but the other digs into his right eye. (7 damage)

Jeremiah swings his sword at the man’s side. (18 to hit vs AC 12) The sword sinks into his side. (18 damage) Frederick tries to prod the man again. (16 to hit vs AC 12) The electric prod crackles as it hits him. (8 damage)

“It was an honor to fight with you all!” Frederick yells as he evaluates the fight.

Lord Neries whips around to face Jeremiah. Not wanting to let the Antibaptist whittle him down any longer. He raises a hand and Jeremiah is dragged telekinetically to him. Lord Neries grips his throat and headbutts him. (20 and 10 to hit vs AC 14) He snaps his neck with a twist of his hand, and headbutts him before realizing the man is already dead, before dropping his body like a wet sack. (8 damage)

Elliot fires the flintlock pistol at the man. (14 to hit vs AC 12) The bullet hits his chest. (8 damage)

Talia rolls off the table, holding her throat, but she staggers forward and throws a haymaker. (10 and 6 to hit) She flails her arms and Lord Neries grabs either one of her hands.

Frederick prods him in the back once more. (18 to hit vs AC 12) There is the smell of fat-burning as the electricity crackles. (11 damage)

“Fuck you!” Fred yells.

Lord Neries drops Talia’s arms as he turns to face Fred. He twists his hand. (15 to hit AC 12) Fred’s right arm rips right out of the socket as the monster flicks his chin. The arm is telekinetically tossed across the room. (9 damage) Fred falls backward, his head hitting the ground, as his eyes stare blankly up at the ceiling.

As his telekinetic focus shifts the pixie springs back to life. She casts another spell and roots spring out from between the stone floor. They grab at Neries and pull him down. (20 Strength Save vs DC 12) The Lord rips his arms free and aims a hand at the Pixie.

Elliot fires his pistol. (13 to hit vs AC 12) The shot blasts through his right cheek revealing a row of serrated teeth. (12 damage)

Lillyput runs forward and slams his lute on the back of the man’s head. (19 to hit vs AC 12) The instrument snaps in half as it crashes across the back of the man’s head. (4 damage)

Talia charges Neries as she sees her pixie friend in danger. (18 and natural 20 to hit vs AC 12) Her first punch slams across his engorged stomach and the second swings higher slamming into his temple. (21 damage)

Neries swings both fists wildly. One at Talia and one at Lillyput. (22 and 16 to hit vs AC 11 and 10) The first hit sends Talia sprawling backward. (8 damage) The second hit goes through Lillyput’s chest destroying his heart. (10 damage)

Elliot reloads and fires again as he stands and walks over to stand in front of Talia. (17 to hit vs AC 12) The shot bursts through the man’s head. (15 damage)

Lord Neries drops to his knees, wavering, as he tries to comprehend what's happening.

“Fuck you!” Elliot punches the grotesque fat lord. (20 to hit vs AC 12)

Elliot’s fist slams into the man’s nose. Lord Neries tilts back, wavers, and falls to one side. Dead. (1 Damage)

Black pus oozes across the ground as his body deflates.

Elliot falls back onto his ass, setting the gun on the ground, as his hands reach up pulling at his hair. He weeps in a room with the bodies of three people who fought for him. Three people trusted him and followed him to the end. He looks at Jeremiah’s broken neck, Fred’s torn apart body, and Lillyput with a hole in his chest.