|
"They seem shaken by their ordeals, but I shall give it a go. Inspiring others is one of the things Paladins do best."
Milton turns and yells to the orc deserters, "All right you lot, by the grace of Asmodeus you came to us for protection, and we are providing us. However, we require that you step up and fight for yourselves as well. Grab your weapons and get to it!"
After he did his best to direct the orcs, Milton started moving towards the fight.
The combined efforts of the Pathfinders and Hellknights soon prevail against the orcs. The Hellknights tend to the wounded, heal all major woundsl and then mourn the loss of their fallen comrade.
The orcs who requested assylm beg for your mercy "We be good. We'll tell you anything you want to know."
|
|
"We cannot be certain what these children of chaos will do if left to their own devices. However, given that they were fleeing, I doubt very much if they are skilled or equipped enough to survive long in this transforming landscape. I trust Milton will explain this to them in no uncertain terms." Chuckling to himself, He may even find a few converts among them.
Venture Teller Play b'Post:
Hot on their heels is another band of orcs, each marked with runes carved into their flesh.
The investigator trains a studied gaze on these rune-scarred orcs, believing them to hold answers to whatever is happening in and to the region. He takes out his 'Discerning' wayfinder and begins a detailed examination, including taking notes and rubbings when possible.
|
|
"Very well," states Milton as he approaches the orcs.
He picks out the tallest, most rugged looking male of the bunch. "You there. You're a stout fellow, talk to me then. Convince me that we shouldn't just kill you immediately, and in doing so, make your story as compelling as possible. I want to know how you came to be here, what there is to know about local threats, and recent strangeness in the area, and most importantly should you have a future, how do you intend to pass it? I will give you a hint at the proper answers to these questions. The truth is the way to go, especially if the last question involves dedicating yourselves to being lawful individuals and following Asmodeus as your Lord and Deity. I have pamphlets available for any of you that can read."
"Look, I am really trying to help you and your people out here. Pursuant to Article 23 Section 5 Subsection 12 of the Universal Code of Cheliax, it states, 'where the weak seek the help of the strong, the strong shall have dominion over the weak in all things.' As such, we have aided you, and now we have dominion over you, so tell us what we need to know."
"Look you fool, I am quite tired of your reticence. I have tried to be civil, but your intractability leaves me no option. Tell us what we need to know, or I shall ensure that the last thing you ever see will be my fanged face as I lean in to pluck out and eat your still functioning eyes."
Nivik & Fendel, please make a couple of perception checks. Yes the bodies radiate magic, particularly the runes carved into the orcs.
Milton, the orcs that sought sanctuary will tell you everything they know.
Nivik lifts the armor from the lieutenant, he sees the runes beneath it. He and Fendal take care to lift the armor without reading them takes a bit of careful patience.
The talkative barrister, struggles to let the the talkative orc cowards spill their guts.
“They wanted to carve us up and write our sins into our skin. We are afraid of the Wormcaller. It has destroyed our tribe. So we fled.”
“Our shaman summoned a terrible beast to help us with the war, but then it ate him. It is summoned from other places—dark places. Now the shaman’s apprentice Olgrahk serves the creature and commands us all to carve our sins. That Which—” The orc stammers, “I can’t say its name. It hates mortal sin and wants to end all signs of mortal life."
“We are not shamans and we do not know the truth of dark beasts. It is a great creature, with tentacles and slime. Worms and bugs come when it beckons. It can talk inside our heads and make us do things. It carries a magic wand, which it uses to enchant the sins of our flesh.”
“It has two plans. It hates signs of mortal life. So first it ordered Olgrahk and his orcs into the mountains to destroy all ruins lefts behind by men. They are on their way to the Temple of the Sky now. Second, now that it has finished reminding the Severed Hand orcs of their sinfulness, it wants to spread out and kill other humanoids in the mountains. It has started a ritual to summon more of its kind here, and then they will attack. Preparations started
when we left, so the ritual should begin soon.”
They are armed as those you just fought: falchions, axes, longbows.
It carries a magic wand, which it uses to enchant the sins of our flesh.
|
|
I'm glad you enjoyed!
“We are not shamans and we do not know the truth of dark beasts. It is a great creature, with tentacles and slime. Worms and bugs come when it beckons. It can talk inside our heads and make us do things. It carries a magic wand, which it uses to enchant the sins of our flesh.”
protection from evil anyone? Cheap and easy solution to compulsion effects?
Any Knowledge checks we can make to figure out what the creature is, or its effects based on those descriptions?
|
|
The investigator is intrigued by this possibility. If we can decipher these runes from a distance, we can detonate them among their own ranks. If our adversary is using a wand, we can assume a blast radius of about ten feet. Three times that distance should be safe.
Fendel ensures he informs everyone of his intent to trigger the Explosive Runes and they are well back from the rune-scarred orc. From fifty feet away, the human reads the runes carved into the corpse.
The individual runes begin to glow as Fendel reads them. "Fear of high places," "stole chieften's strix haunch," "tipped gortheks at night" and other 'sins' glow brighter and brighter. The runes burst in a flash of arcane energy destroying the corpse and those things around it.
From its description Fendel believes 'That-Which-Peels-Flesh' to be a large tentacled outsider called a shoggti qlippoth. He can also offer other information about 'touches our mind.' It's 'horrific appearance' fascinate creatures by hypnotically wriggling tentacles and with the strange, shimmering colors in its eyes. They are also known to debilitate a target's mentally. The inquisitor may remember more
|
|
Fendel goes to the Hellkinght commander and informs her both of his findings about the runes and the theory of what the expedition is up against.
"As to the prisoners, whomever can't be converted or pressed into service has certainly violated some Chelaxian law and should face whatever justice is due to them. Though a group this small could conceivably harm some of your citizens near the border, they will most likely perish in this transmogrified land if released. Given those options, Milton may be able to convince them to join us. However, we are here to assist you and your knights and will do what we can to finish your mission. My recommendation is to pursue and eradicate the planar entity as quickly as possible."
|
|
"There is certainly precedent in either direction, to release them, or to execute them, and several options in the middle besides. Chelaxian law has been around for some time, and so many niche cases have existed during that time. What course of action will best support our mission, I ask? Probably to set them on their way, so we can get about it. I will understand if some of you cannot master your racist tendencies and would prefer to slaughter them simply because of their race, although I'd have thought the recent bloodletting would have quenched your thirst for orc blood.""
Karva doesn't like the idea. They have served their purpose."
|
|
"You could process them and have a field trial, but every moment you take to do that, the real threat to Cheliax strengthens and becomes more difficult to defeat. That puts the lives of your Hellknights and the stability of the region at risk...for orcs. They are merely symptoms, we need to focus on killing the disease. Time, in this case, is not our ally."
Signifer Karva thinks on the options for a moment and agrees that what you offer is suitable. She thanks you for your stalwart behavior and shouts, "We must leave for the Severed Hand tribal home immediately." She orders the Hellknights to mount up and several start casting spells. Shortly there are magical mounts for the Hellknights and the Pathfinders.
Signs of chaotic taint fill the landscape on the march to the orc lair. The terrain is twisted into hellish forms and pits of writhing worms dot the mountainside. Orc totems, including piles of skulls and pillars of bones, line the path to the orc warrens.
The party stops to prepare combat spells. Then continues.
The mountain path dead-ends here inside of a box canyon. Crude carvings and ancient paintings cover the canyon’s walls, marking this as the ancestral home of an orc tribe. Scattered across the canyon floor are large piles of stacked skulls. Four sets of carved stairs lead to yawning caves in the sides of the canyon.
In the center of the canyon is a sprawling pit of worms and writhing insects. A narrow stone path leads to a small island in the pit of worms, where an altar made of bone rests surrounded by a circle of glowing runes.
|
|
The investigator wastes no time getting ready for the upcoming encounter. He pulls out smoked goggles* and places them on his head, ready to be placed over his eyes in a flash. Next, he takes a bundle of arrows out of his haversack. "Kakaw, Ragnar, if you plan to use your bow, you may want to take some of these arrows. I have found them effective against planar creatures in the past. I will let you know if you should use them inside. Please return whatever you do not fire."
He removes two vials and drinks them both down in rapid succession.
He takes a steadying breath before repeating the process.
Just before they all enter, Fendel snaps his wrist, activating the hidden, spring loaded sheath. A wand slides into his hand and he taps it to his chest. He then hold out the wand to the Asmodean, "Milton, can you activate this wand on yourself? It simulates the effect of a warrior's Shield that will leave your hands free."
The human joins the wizard near the runes. He pulls out his wayfinder and looks around.
Unfortunately the smart people never get the chance to inspect the alter. Hundreds of Severed Hands orc still live in the warrens and they begin pouring out of the caves in an attempt to mob the party as it enters their canyon.
Signifer Karva rallies the Hellknights. "Fend off the orc hordes. Pathfinders take care of those three." She points to three orcs in the pool's island. The first is the largest Severed Hand orc you have yet seen, and judging from the hands around his belt he might just be the tribe's chieftain. If possible he grows even larger as he bellows a furious challenge at the party. The other two are in robes instead of armors and are chanting at the center of the pool of writhing worms. Nivik and Fendel can tell almost immediately these two are involved in a ritual that will open a summoning gate.
, ,
R1
(24): off screen
orc chieftain (17): channels inner rage
Pathfinders (who got >2 on initiative):<--here now
Hellknights (10): move to prevent orcs from hoarding (hoardifying?hoardicating?)
orc mystics (2):
Pathfinders (who got <2 on initiative):
|
|
Milton moves forward 20' and pronounces loudly, "may the blessings of the Lord of Darkness be upon my allies during this battle against the chaos!"
And then he casts bless, which should catch all of the Pathfinders, but maybe not any of the Hellknights. it is a 50' radius spell.
As a swift action, Milton will start a Judgment of Destruction (+3 to Damage).
Not seeing any legible runes on these orcs Fendal shoots an arrow. His missile is passed mid-air by a small red of fire. The first to arrive blasts the area into flame burning the orcs. Worms sizzle and pop in the pit, many screaming and dying. The arrow also finds orc flesh to destroy.
The mystics move to the chieftain and cast a spell on him.
Reflexe Saves , , , ,
Ragnar is up & Kakaw Fendel, Nivik for second round!
Nivik lets loose with more elemental energy, electrocuting two orcs. The Mystic drops to the grown to avoid most of the blast. Its body jerks and twitches but fails to get back up.
Fendel jerks his bow a hair trigger and sends an arrow into the second mystic. It too drops to the ground, never to stand again.
With no mystics to protect the chieftain bellows madly and rushes at the Pathfinders.
Reflex Saves ,
Perception
The Hellknights continue to hold back the hoard, but the numbers necessitate the continue to fall back. They continue to offer aid in the form of spells. Do not let that portal open!" Karva shouts.
A different portal opens and out steps a pale creature with four suckered arms that end in pincers. A gnashing maw gapes in its head between two staring eyes. Piles of worms and insects drip from its body, as it leaves the pool. The orcs begin chanting and as you figure out what it is they are saying, a voice hear enters your mind. "Yes mortal, I am that Which Peels Flesh and your doom!"
[dice=Knowledge, planes]1d20+28+1d6
"Abbs. Skip to the part I care about." Shoggti. Defensive Abilities: uncanny dodge; DR cold iron or lawful; Immune cold, poison, mind-affecting effects; Resist acid, electricity, fire. Offensive Abilities: braincloud, horrific appearance (DC 15), & constrict (1d4+6); Spell-Like Abilities (Constant—tongues, command, charm person, protection from law, charm monster, dimension door.