Labalyn's memorial

[Anastasia]

It's caster level + ability score modifier for that spell. What's that equal for you?

[Nephrite]

Oh, in that case the total is 41+23 = 64.

[Anastasia]

You manage to hold your concentration and cast, the healing setting back the damage and pain for now.

[Nephrite]

Oh, I'm sorry - I meant that I was casting the healing into the noose. So Heal on the noose, not on himself.

[Anastasia]

The spell does nothing as the noose digs in, deeper and deeper. Blood trickles down your neck, dripping down next to the shards of the dagger.

50 more damage.

[Nephrite]

423

So it's not mercy that solves this...

Not forgiveness, not atonement...

No, he refuses to believe that.

There is always hope.

gonna be honest here, I don't know what else to do, so unless he's gonna have an epiphany at 1 HP I don't have a lot else to add here.

[Anastasia]

Moore sits there and thinks, as the pain increases.

50 damage. 373.

His vision swims. He totters over as he sees the fragments of the dagger and hilt lying there besides him in the dim, forgotten cell.

50 damage. 323.

The noose strangles him relentlessly as what cut it before lies broken before him.

50 damage. 273.

[Nephrite]

...He hasn't even tried himself.

If there's hope, you must bring it yourself.

He reaches up to try and tug on the noose around his neck.

[Anastasia]

Like to choke yourself further or to remove it or...?

[Nephrite]

Sorry. He's going to try and pull at it and see if maybe HE'S the dagger now. Or something. I'm trying here, really.

[Anastasia]

You pull at the noose. It does not give, but as you do. You feel a nick at where the dagger touched it, a little groove carved into it.

50 damage.

[Nephrite]

273

Even the strongest bonds can be broken if they're torn... right?

He will just have to keep struggling to see if he can make more headway with the groove -- he can't reach the dagger to do anything else.

[22:27] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+36
[22:27] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+36 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{45}
[22:27] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+36+23
[22:27] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+36+23 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{70}

Alter reality for something like... he's basically trying something like the opposite of Mending, to try and put more nicks into the noose. I've got nothing else to try, so may as well try that.

[Anastasia]

You were at 273 last time, so 223.

You struggle, you tear. The pain makes you cry out wordlessly, even as blood stains your front.

173.

A fiber goes. Another. You pull, you rip, sheer desperation as you will it to be unmade. Another and another and another. A pop. With a desperate cry some of the rope gives, the pressure relieved. But one tight, wirelike strand in the center clings yet, choking you and causing your blood to flow.

20 damage now. 153.

Your fingers just can't seem to grasp and pull it, one final strand between you and safety.

[Nephrite]

I am good at math

"...Do you ... want this... cycle... to break...?" Moore croaks out. "Then... be... done!" He spits, blood pooling in his mouth at this point.

If there's anything that can break this... it's hope. It's hope for a better tomorrow.

Because there's always hope!

Alter reality for Good Hope, somehow or another finagled right at this last strand.

"Believe... in... me!"

[Anastasia]

Can't fail the concentration check now, so no need for it.

The strand holds. You gasp for air.

133.

A cry. The strand pops with a release of relief as you collapse in a heap, reflexively breathing even though you have no need to. Blood comes up as you cough, splattering onto the floor.