Mitrans, elfs, snake-woman celestial. Only Nahia really knows what has been served on the meal they are currently eating. Despite of that, the food is well made and it shows the chief proficiency.
It’s when Cecelia asks for seconds that things turn ugly.
As if the god’s themselves are doubting her resolve, the warning horn sounds again, real closer and real loud. Something is wrong in the same floor you are currently having dinner!
Time for your trial by fire! Hound gets up and heads for the door. We prepare on the way, gird yourselves.
It takes a few seconds for Cecelia to process what is happening. However, the words "trial by fire" are more than enough snap her out of any confusion. Breathing sharply, she rises quickly, as her chair is knocked to its side. Her eyes closes and she begins to mutter dark phrases under her breath.
"wmuydv ph idduyw orap zmy oartyw ao qaav...
Cecelia seems briefly glow with green light for a moment, before the light shoots outwards in beams towards the other people in the room. As the light reaches her dinner companions it begins to expand around them like a bubble. The light shimmers for only a few seconds, before fading. However, a protective force can still be felt by all who were willing to welcome it.
Cecelia moves towards the door, with a grim expression.
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Bizan picks different parts of the food, tasting them with interest.
I didn´t get such a good meal in weeks. It´s even better than the bland food we could afford living in one of those civilized cities...And i´ve never eaten snake. Tastes quite good!
I´m actually glad i met you, you never know what those Mitrans have on their dirty minds. After that much time in the forest, i sure would like something good for my skin. A bath sounds supreme. Do you have something for fur as well? And what are those moondogs you´re talking about? I don´t like dogs actually.
As the horn sounds...
Are you expecting someone else? Or is this some kind of test?
She looks at the Hound and smiles Trial by fire mh? Guess i am ready.
When the alarms go off Nahia sighs and quickly downs what little bit if left of her wine before gathering Andros from the table and grabbing her satchel. Turning to Hound, she asks "Will you be using your sword?"
Nahia turns to him bows her head for a moment, whispering something under her breath, her breathing growing heavier. Her lips move faster and faster, though no sounds are made. She brings a hand before her, and with a sharp nail she begins to cut a circle into her palm. As her hand starts to shake she starts adding lines, and by the time the symbol of Asmodeus is formed her wound is hissing and smoking black fumes.
Reaching out, she touches her palm to the weapon. There is a loud hissing sound, like a quenching blade, and she takes a deep gasping breath. When she removes her hand the symbol is been scorched into the weapon, and the wound on her hand little more than a pink outline.
Yes, this will do excellently.
After a fierce battle, the group is victorious and may continue the ritual.
The group of villains accompanied by their two guests, head out towards the sound of battle and the disturbance. Nahia casts a spell on Hound’s weapon corrupting the sword, in an attempt to counter the celestial dogs. Cecelia does her duty as well, casting protective charms over her new allies, and while she wasn’t sure if Bizan was indeed an ally, for the moment, the fiery woman seemed intent of fighting with them.
The scene ahead is different from what you had seen when you last fought the celestial. The earlier day, it seems they were trying only to infiltrate, but now, they seem intent on exterminating. There’s several minions scattered around, their throat destroyed by powerful jaws. It doesn’t take much to understand that it’s indeed the moon dogs. The remaining minions, are pointing into all directions yelling in panic as the moon dogs turn their attention to the newcomers.
Round 1-
Ordered Initiative-
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Narrative-
Nahia turns takes a step towards Hound and whispers "Get them, take their heads off..." as she starts swaying her upper body and she slowly chanting "Weak flesh, hear my words: Look inward at your intense spirit and taste of its grandeur."
With a final motion, Nahia draws forth a handful of iron powder, holds it in her upturned palm, leans forward, and blows the dust towards Hound with a grin. Suddenly, Hound shines with a pale golden light. A silhouette of his form begins to radiate outward, at first twice his size, and then his body begins grow, continuing until it fills his own great projection.
Grind their bones to make my bread.
The celestial hounds bark and growl dangerously when the villains arrive and contrary to what they expected, the enemies didn’t unleash their devastating magic, but just faded away from view.
"They're still here! They are just using magic to hide like cowards!" Cecelia shouts as she holds her shield up defensively and looks around her limited range of vision.
Muttering another spell incantation, she seems to flash briefly with an unholy light.
"We should guard the exit. Make sure they aren't trying to escape."
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Bizan shouts: Stay back! as she begins to focus, motioning her hands through the air and drawing flames from the stones of the corridor walls, the ceiling, the floor tiles and even your bodies, which all circle around flying towards her, being gathered between her hands as her body begins to burn and a ghostly fox made of fire around her becomes visible. Finaly she takes the concentrated ball of flame and presses it into the ground before her. Split seconds later you can witness a pillar of fire sprouting from the ground where the intruders were before, bathing the whole area in a surge of flames.
[ooc]Gathering power as a move action, then accepting 2 burn making for 3 burn (21NL damage) starting elemental overflow. Unleashing an eruption burning fire blast in the marked area reflex save DC 19 for half damage, then another reflex save DC 19 to avoid cathing on fire.[ooc]
Map.
”The dogs again?” Grumblejack complains once he sees and then un-see the enemy.
Somewhat copying Bizan, he also unleashes a explosion of foul and dark energy over a large area.
But Grumble has no idea if his spell hit anything, since he can’t see the enemy.
Mysty, knowing that’s coming next ducks out of view into cover and safety.
Nahia starts her spell to make Hound bigger and stronger.
Bizan calls forth an fiery explosion, blindly attacking the enemy. Unfortunately, their innate magic resistance is enough to negate the fire she’d summoned.
Cecelia cast a small prayer, granting her the unholy luck from her patron.
Round 2-
Ordered Initiative-
Nahia: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Enemies: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Bizan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Cecelia: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Hound: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Mysty: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Grumblejack: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Narrative-
Moon dogs are extraplanar hounds that live in nomadic packs on Elysium, traveling and hunting planar menaces where they please. Often their hunts will take them to the Astral Plane or the Ethereal Plane, and sometimes to the remote wildernesses of the Material Plane. More often than not, they enter the Material Plane to combat irruptions of evil outsiders plaguing innocent mortals.
Moon dogs can stand erect and wield weapons if desired, but they prefer the speed and mobility of traveling on all fours.
==//==
Moon dogs have several spell like abilities and their howl can produce several effects.
==//==
They can shift planes and heal wounds by liking it. They also detect magic and evil and can see invisible foes.
==//==
Senses darkvision 120 ft., keen senses, scent;
DEFENSE
AC 24, touch 14, flat-footed 20 (+4 Dex, +10 natural)
hp 70
Fort +10; Ref +10; Will +10
DR 10/evil; Immune fear; SR 16
==//==
HP 97/97 (109/109 when raging)
AC 18/12/18 (17/11/17 when raging) +2 AC vs Good
Saves F10/R5(7traps)/Will 5 (F12/R5(7traps)/W7 When raging add +3 against spells, spell-like abilities and supernatural abilities. Cannot be a willing receiver of spells even from allies) +2 AC vs. Good
Base BaB +7/+2
Weapons in hand:Greatsword
Rage 1/19
Current effects:DR 1/-,Protection from Good(+2 AC +2 Saves vs. Good),Corrupt Item7 minutes +1d6 damage against good, treated as evil for DR)
Hound waits for the magic fire to fade and when the dogs fade from view. he lets his nose know their location. He promptly rages. Grumbles! Let us smash them! He then charges at the southern dog and swings his magic greatsword that drips evil energy
When nods at what Cecelia said and adds "Watch Hound, he has a nose for these things."
With a skilled grace the witch reaches into her pack with one hand, pulling out a glass flask, while the other gathers the serpent from her neck and letting it wrap around her arm, its head resting in her palm. "If I throw this, target where it lands."
Briefly nuzzling the serpent, she hisses to him "Guide my aim, friend, let me know if they come near."
Seeing the dogs, Seren grabs a scroll from within her robes and charges forward, her shield held up, her teeth gritting in her fury at their earlier defeat.
Even after the enemies turn invisible, Hound has means to deal with them. Trusting his innate ability to track using the enemy scent, he charges, his unholy enchanted sword describing a deadly horizontal arc, which hits nothing, unfortunately.
Nahia takes up an alchemist fire and trust Andros to notice when there’s an enemy near, she can at least tell the others where to attack.
Knowing that the others would be vulnerable after their front liner fell, the moondogs converge on Hound, trying to take him down first.
Bitting Hound’s calf, one of the moondogs is able to make the large barbarian lose his equilibrium and fall to the ground.
That’s when the other moondog approaches and attack as well.
HP 76/97 (88/109 when raging)
AC 18/12/18 (17/11/17 when raging) +2 AC vs Good
Saves F10/R5(7traps)/Will 5 (F12/R5(7traps)/W7 When raging add +3 against spells, spell-like abilities and supernatural abilities. Cannot be a willing receiver of spells even from allies) +2 AC vs. Good
Base BaB +7/+2
Weapons in hand:Greatsword
Rage 2/19
Current effects:DR 1/-,Protection from Good(+2 AC +2 Saves vs. Good),Corrupt Item7 minutes +1d6 damage against good, treated as evil for DR),Prone(-4 attack)
Hound grunts and points where the dogs should be and slashes at one
Hearing Bizan's warning only just in time, Cecelia turns and ducks behind her shield. Between the heat from the backdraft and her own accursed vision everything through Cecelia's eyes is so fuzzy, that her heart beats nervously when she hears Nahia's words. Seeming disoriented, she looks around in a panic. Hound? Where is Hound?
Cecelia closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Calm down. You saw him run past you, which means he must be... Cecelia opens her eyes and looks behind her. In the distance she squints her eyes and sees a large blurry outline swing a weapon at a seemingly empty space. Right there!
Rushing forward as fast as her armor will allow, Cecelia swings her mace down at the same spot that Hound had targeted.
However, her mace just cuts through the empty air, sending pebbles flying as it cracks into the dungeon floor. Okay. That didn't work. New plan. Keep Hound up at all cost.
Cursing internally at the turn of events, Nahia sneers as she barks a cry to the spirits. "Spirits of Earth, loose thy tight fists!" Slowly, she begins to rise in the air and then surges forward above the others.
Seren glances about for an enemy to confront, but they stay out of sight. She was just about to read the scroll in her hand until the new priestess ran into battle. Not wanting to hinder her efforts, Seren tried to think through anything that could help.
Unsure of what to do, she mutters a harsh syllable and spreads her hand in front of her, a black jet of energy leaping into the air above where Hound pointed, sucking the moisture from the air and causing a downpour of water.
Hound doesn’t even try to get up, as he attacks the monsters while still prone.
Cecelia brandish her mace at the invisible monster with precision and unholy power, but hits nothing.
Mysty sees an opportunity and moves closer, preparing to strike the invisible dog.
Seren mutters a harsh chant as a downpour falls on the moondog, partially revealing it’s shape.
When the opportunity appears Bizan hurls a ball of flame at the moondog.
but even then, she is unable to hit the invisible enemy.
"They are losing."
"Yes, they are."
The otherworldly voice sounds in your head.
"Should we help?"
"Should we indeed?"
A brief moment of silence and then the voices sound once more.
"Weak, pitiful, pathetic."
"Indeed."
"We can wait."
"We can wait indeed."
The half fiend ogre moves towards the battle and strikes where hound pointed.
”Dog’un, are you sure they are here?” the ogre ask somewhat dubious.
Round 3-
Ordered Initiative-
Nahia: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Enemies: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Bizan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Cecelia: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Hound: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Mysty: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Grumblejack: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Narrative-
With nothing else to do, Nahia starts to fly above the battle, looking for an opportunity to help.
With the enemies gathered on a single point, the dog near hound, howls and suddently a rain of arrows falls on the knot!
While the other moondog continue to attack the large barbarian.
"It's raining arrows! Take cover!!!" The ogre yells, as the illusory arrows pieces his shoulders and head and armor, blood pouring freely from his several wounds.
Grumble takes a step back and finally chances a spell, restoring a little bit of his health.
HP 70/97 (82/109 when raging)
AC 18/12/18 (17/11/17 when raging) +2 AC vs Good
Saves F10/R5(7traps)/Will 5 (F12/R5(7traps)/W7 When raging add +3 against spells, spell-like abilities and supernatural abilities. Cannot be a willing receiver of spells even from allies) +2 AC vs. Good
Base BaB +7/+2
Weapons in hand:Greatsword
Rage 3/19
Current effects:DR 1/-,Protection from Good(+2 AC +2 Saves vs. Good),Corrupt Item7 minutes +1d6 damage against good, treated as evil for DR),Prone(-4 attack),Enlarge(Forgot my bigger weapon bonus)
Hound strikes at the one between himself and Mysty
For Cecelia, the arrows raining down upon her are very real. Fortunately, fear for her life gives her the extra motivation she needs, as she dives out the way with a speed she didn't even know she possessed. With intent focus on the mission, her movements remain quick, as she turns back to Hound and places her hand on one of the bite marks, as a burst of positive energy pours into the wound.
Feeling the pain in her back from the arrows she couldn't avoid and seeing her new companions also still injured, Cecelia lets out a deep sigh. This is going to bring up a lot of awkward questions that I was hoping to earn their trust before having to answer... Closing her eyes, she moves across the void of her mind to the familiar glow of a now sealed pool. Focusing all of her anger and hatred towards the dark seal, a crack starts to appear. She begins a mental battle with the light inside, trying to draw it closer as it almost willfully tries to repel from her. Opening her eyes and letting out an angry scream, positive energy bursts out from Cecelia towards her allies.
Cecelia lets of a sigh of relief as she is freed of the burden of the energy and healed of most of her wounds. However, a trickle of blood runs down her nose in the aftermath.
For a moment Seren is conflicted. The shower of water did briefly outline the creature, but not by much, and it seemed not enough to help anyone strike the beast. And Gumblejack looked to be in serious trouble. "Ergggh!" she hissed in irritation as she ran for the ogre, her hand crackling with black energy that itself seemed similarly irritated. And upon laying hands on the ogre his wounds begin to quickly blacken and scar over.
Nahia's mind tries to go through all of the possible things that she can do, anything at all, but she comes to a blank. Seemingly distracted, she answers Bizan's question quickly as she digs through her satchel. "Long story short, no, I can not."
Gritting her teeth, she retrieves a hefty glass jar filled with an amber liquid. "You bastards are going to pay for making me waste this! Arrgh!" She hurls the jar into the empty space between her allies, the thick, sticky liquid seeping across the ground.
Hound even fighting from the ground is able to hit the invisible enemy, his sword bypassing the natural resistance of the moondog as the enemy cry out in pain and rage.
Mysty jumps out of the spell area, and suffers no damage from it.
Grumblejack was able to notice the illusion, but even then, the damage it too much for him, as he steps out and cast a spell.
Cecelia wasn’t able to see it’s an illusion, but she was able nonetheless to avoid most of its damage, and soon after, a burst of holy energy fills the area, healing everyone.
Nahia uses one of her expensive materials attempting to make it easier for her allies to notice the invisible enemies.
Seren moves near the big Un’ and cast a healing spell on him.
Round 4-
Ordered Initiative-
Nahia: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Enemies: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Bizan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Cecelia: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Hound: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Mysty: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Grumblejack: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Narrative-
With the enemies gathered on a single point again, the other dog, howls and suddently a rain of arrows falls on the knot!
While the other dog continue to bite Hound on the ground.
HP 86/97 (98/109 when raging)
AC 18/12/18 (17/11/17 when raging) +2 AC vs Good
Saves F10/R5(7traps)/Will 5 (F12/R5(7traps)/W7 When raging add +3 against spells, spell-like abilities and supernatural abilities. Cannot be a willing receiver of spells even from allies) +2 AC vs. Good
Base BaB +7/+2
Weapons in hand:Greatsword
Rage 4/19
Current effects:DR 1/-,Protection from Good(+2 AC +2 Saves vs. Good),Corrupt Item7 minutes +1d6 damage against good, treated as evil for DR),Prone(-4 attack),Enlarge(Forgot my bigger weapon bonus)
Hound keeps stabbing the one he stabbed