GM Demonmoose |
After a day passes, you meet up and head to the Scrapmaster's Arena. The massive empty space is barren and empty of spectators except for a few here and there. When you arrive, Steel Hawks, Raiders and a junk golem that resembles Brigh, enter and sit in separate parts of the arena.
Past the troll's nest is a black glass-like rectangle and two sets of parallel stairs leading down. The rectangle flickers with light.
GM Demonmoose |
Again, for vision:
An enormous battlefield sprawls here-a fighting arena that measures several hundred feet in diameter, ringed by mounds of junk and refuse stacked in tiers for seating. The ring has an arched opening in its westernmost end to allow access to the arena, while against the eastern side, a large metallic structure akin to a squat tower protrudes form the hard-packed earth. A wooden stairway wraps around the tower’s sides, and a twenty foot-tall stage protrudes from its western façade, overlooking the arena below.
Helskarg's platform:
This large wooden platform sits twenty feet above the battleground to the west. The squat metal tower it extends from is obviously part of a different, much older structure. A large nest of furs and rags and bones, appropriate for something the size of a small giant, sits in the middle of the platform.
To the lower areas:
The dull gray metal walls of this H – shaped chamber are adorned here and there with rectangular panels of flickering glass mounted at head height. Bits of garbage and rotten food lie strewn across the floor, and the air is thick with the rank stench of unwashed bodies.
Astra Picard |
Not getting a good mental picture of the surroundings, but...
Astra cautiously heads forward, starting onto the wooden stairway and heading to examine both Helskarg's platform and the H-shaped chamber.
Perception: Helskarg's platform: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Perception: H-shaped chamber: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Stealth: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (9) - 4 = 5
Syvlara of the MoonWillow |
Syvlara follows Astra, but far behind. She prepares to shoot anything that might jump out and attack Astra.
Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Focused Shot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
It's the thought that counts
GM Demonmoose |
Looking closer at Helskarg's platform, Astra sees it looks like a nest made of furs, bone and rags. There is a powerful stench that comes from it but no items or leftover things inside. Likely they were taken by other members of the Lords of Rust, or minions, after her defeat.
Moving closer to the staircases, the party sees the strange panels suddenly come to life. A strange looking red fiend appears on the screens.
"Visitors. How unusual. Know, apes, that you now stand in Hellion's domain. You must bow before your new god-me. Accept me and kneel, and I shall suffer your presence. Deny me the obedience I deserve, and you shall be punished."
Astra Picard |
Astra shoots a sideways glance to the others, trying to say, let's play along. She studies the monitor curiously, trying to identify what manner of creature the red fiend might be -- humanoid, outsider, or what? She tries to memorize every little detail about the creature's appearance as she possibly can, for further study at the back of her mind later on. Slowly, she falls to one knee, then bows her head. If she were more strongly religious, she might have a problem with this, but being fairly unreligious, she has little problem with faking some obeisance. Having said that, she can't count on the others being as flexible, especially Chakos who is divinely fueled after all. "Great Hellion, these others do not understand, but I have come to worship your magnificence. Please tell me how I might serve you."
Bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Chakos Hyluan |
Chakos goes forward staying next to Astra.
In response to the demonic image's demands he replies, "So that simply isn't going to happen, and to be honest, I could use a good punishment, so let's have your best then shall we?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27
GM Demonmoose |
A necrotic unholy miasma of greasy energy issues forth from the monitors, radiating in a wave of negative energy. It strikes all of the adventurers in the area.
Damage: 4d8 ⇒ (4, 1, 3, 2) = 10
Rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Astra Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Chakos Will Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Elizabeth Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Ibuki Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Syvlara Will Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
"Foolish apes. My minions will crush you!" The image disappears and turns black.
Astra takes the full damage, everyone takes half. Astra is also sickened for two rounds.
Chakos Hyluan |
The Life Link heals Astra for 5.
Then Chakos will channel some healing.
Paladin Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 5 30' radius
That should heal everyone up, Including Astra, and leave Chakos down 3.
Astra Picard |
"Arrrrgh!" Astra cries out as the negative energy surges through her, dropping her to her other knee as well, wheezing in pain on all fours for a moment. At Chakos' channel, her pain passes away, and breathing heavily, she slowly stands up again. "So much...for that try. Maybe it *is* omniscient. Then again, it could just be I'm a terrible actor."
Can I do any sort of Knowledge roll to identify what sort of creature Hellion is? Arcana? Planes? Religion?
Ibuki Surtova |
Aaahhh! That was totally unnecessary. We could have argues with it before. Do not forget we actually wanted to talk with this Hellion to see what it knows and what it´s reasons are. It seemed back then it had some ulterior motives to send someone destroy Torch.
Hellion, don´t listen to those! I bow before your new god-you and seek your enlightenment!
Ibuki bows.
Syvlara of the MoonWillow |
"I can't believe I'm agreeing with the half-Drow. Ibuki, gather some self-respect, you've probably left it last time you visited a chamber pot. Astra, he's not buying it. Chakos, I'm ready to fight when you are."
GM Demonmoose |
You head down stairs then down a diagonal bend of more stairs until you reach a pair of double doors. You see stairs on the other side that lead back up, probably the other pair of stairs from before.
Small black monitors on the outside of the doors flicker to life, and a fiendish image appears again.
"Flee, apes, lest the true faithful rise up to flense the skin from
your bones!" The image of Hellion disappears before you can say anything.
It is a knowledge religion check to attempt figure out what Hellion is. Or a knowledge planes check.
Open the doors?
GM Demonmoose |
Chakos opens the doors.
The dull gray metal walls of this H–shaped chamber are adorned here and there with rectangular panels of flickering glass mounted at head height. Bits of garbage and rotten food lie strewn across the floor, and the air is thick with the rank stench of unwashed bodies.
There are two doors that open to two staircases that lead downward.
Chakos doesn't recall any kind of demon or devil named Hellion. Liz recalls that the creature had characteristics that didn't classify Hellion as a demon or devil. It is some kind of unique fiend.
Astra Picard |
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Astra is, unfortunately, completely clueless as to Hellion's true nature. Perhaps she is still rattled by the negative energy surge through her. A little weakly, she walks around the middle of the group, behind Chakos but in front of the rest.
Was *really* tempted to burn my 1/day Take 20 on Hellion, but...I couldn't bring myself to burn it this early in the day. :(
GM Demonmoose |
This large room is lit by tracks of glowing panels of light set in the ceiling, ten feet above. To the west, the room ends in a ragged wall of rubble, rock, and twisted metal, while to the East, a ten foot-diameter circular platform sits on the ground before a pair of large doors. Rectangular panels of glass adorn the large doors between crude paintings of a mechanical talon.
Several half orcs in armor and a half orc cleric stand with their weapons ready. They have spiked gauntlets and metal shields. The leader is wearing chainmail, while the acolytes have chain shirts.
"You dare stand against our God Hellion? The unworthy will not see our Lord!" The cleric shouts, raising his gauntlet fist to the air.
Astra's Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1
Chakos' Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Elizabeth's Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Ibuki’s Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Syvlara's Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Enemy Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
1. Ibuki, Elizabeth, Syvlara and Chakos
2. Enemies
3. Astra
Ibuki, Liz, Syvlara and Chakos' turn. You may look at Hellion's Domain map.
Syvlara of the MoonWillow |
To Ibuki just before combat:
"So... like an illusion? But it responded to what we said and hurt us. I've heard of magics that let one spy on another without being there, but ... this is very confusing to me."
Chakos Hyluan |
I will 5' step to the East and swing at the one nearest me.
MW Greataxe: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 2 = 10
MW Greataxe Damage: 1d12 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 6 = 20
Syvlara of the MoonWillow |
Syvlara delays her turn until after Chakos in order to take advantage of any magics her allies cast. Then she makes a double shot at the orc behind them (and closest to her).
Arrow1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Arrow2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
If hasted
Arrow3: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
5BAB + 4Dex +1Magic +1Training +1Point Blank -2Rapid -2Deadly
2Str +1Magic +1Point Blank +1Training +4Deadly