It took only a few steps forward for Rayne to get within range and unleash a storm of starlight against the lich. The bolts of pure radiance slammed into the undead dwarf and threw it back against its throne. Too bad that they were immaterial, or they might have pinned it there as well.<br/><br/>A good start, but of course it was nowhere near enough to put it down. The lich got up again and uttered a low "Rise and defend ye king!" as it raised its open left hand. Wisps of cold blue light flew from its palm and into the suits of armor flanking its throne. The undead light shone through the visors of empty helms as the phantom armors drew themselves to full ten-foot height to the creaking of rusty metal. Hollow and devoid of any being inside, not even a corpse present underneath the metal shell, the damned spirits had been bound to the armor itself. They stepped protectively in front of their lich king, spinning heavy flails in whooshing arcs. Last and perhaps least, one final mote of blue light landed on the canine skeleton's skull. It shook itself as though rousing from a long slumber, and staying close to its master's feet it barked at the intruders in a ghostly yelp!<br/><br/>After all that, the lich wasn't even done yet - it made a swift arcane gesture with its bony fingers, a<em>quickened</em>spell! Rayne's miniskirt's advertised spell resistance proved dubious once again as the spell locked onto her regardless. Nine<em>magic missiles</em>blossomed in a flowery pattern and then turned lazily towards her, but it was a variant of the spell she hadn't seen before. For one thing, there were way too many of the magical projectiles than there were supposed to be, and they were moving slowly at first but accelerating steadily towards her. The missiles would reach her a few seconds later than usual, but they would be flying much faster by that time...<br/><br/>"Banzai!" Youmu charged forward, not cowed in the least by the size difference between herself and the giant phantom armors. She slashed almost too quickly for the eye to follow, her glowing blade leaving behind a deep gash in the breastplate of the closest suit of armor. A hail of arrows swooped down from overhead to the song of Sylvia's bowstring, her aim more shaky and her spread wider than usual but still true. Three shafts seemed to grow in succession out of the other animated armor, sending it down to one knee. She changed targets, the fourth shot soaring harmlessly overhead but the fifth and final one piercing the empty helm through the slit in its visor, finishing the job that Youmu had started. There was a hiss as a bluish gas escaped the interior of the armors through the damaged metal, and the suits collapsed into piles of rusty steel.<br/><br/>Their guardians swiftly taken down, the lich and its dog were open once more...<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Lich fails save, takes 40 damage!<br/><br/>Lich uses power over undead! Giant Phantom Armor #1 rises! Giant Phantom Armor #2 rises! Skeletal dog rises!<br/>Lich casts <em>quickened magic missile</em> variant, succeeds vs Rayne's SR! It will reach her at the end of her next round.<br/><br/>Youmu charges, whacks Giant Phantom Armor #1!<br/><br/>Sylvia (shaken) rapid/many-shots, destroys Giant Phantom Armor #2, finishes off Giant Phantom Armor #1!<br/></div></div>