Vulf is angered by the Demon throwing Carini to the ground but, deduces she is relatively un-hurt and decides to hold his sling. He sees the horrors emerge from the lake and gawks, "as if his mid is playing tricks on him." He decides the best coarse of action is to ask his God for guidance and see what transpires.
Tired of her squirming Koth'Vaul says, Enough!You wiggle like a worm on a hook! Then with a guttural and terrifying ancient Arcane language, he finishes an incantation in abyssal. Carini drops everything in her hands, and is suddenly very still.
The green crawling hand skitters up to Mentys with frightening speed and does a little hop towards his upper thigh area.
However, the alert warrior easily sidesteps the clumsy attack.
The Dragon next flaps it's wings shaking of the dank water out it lurches forward and flies past Mentys stretching it's long black neck out..to bite Kalkamedes.
However, the walking comatose man, instinctively ducks the blow and the Dragon, only snaps air.
R1
Vulf
Mentys
Koth Vaul
Green hand
Black dragon
Carini
Hudor
Yellow hand
Kranzer
Farlen
Kalkamedes
Hudor sends a ray of icy energy strait at the lumbering beast that strikes truly! The wings seem to ice-up and you hear the tale-tale signs of small bones snapping from the freezing energy.
The yellow Crawling hand skitters towards Kranzer and leaps at his mid-section the claw leaps and scratches Kranzer trying to find hold on his clothes to presumably grab him and crawl across his body to more sensitive areas. However, Kranzer brushes off the undead thing without too much trouble. Just a few scratch marks for his trouble.
R1
Vulf
Mentys
Koth Vaul
Green hand
Black dragon
Carini
Hudor
Yellow hand
Kranzer
Farlen
Kalkamedes
Kranzer flicks both his swords at the hideous crawling hand but the nimble undead thing, avoids the blows.
R 1
Vulf
Mentys
Koth Vaul
Green hand
Black dragon
Carini
Hudor
Yellow hand
Kranzer
Farlen
Kalkamedes
After Mentys deep cut both Farlen and Hudor hit the zombie dragon with magic bolts. However, the mindless creature knows no pain and as Kalakmedes lurches forward towards the woman in the corner, the dragon zombie takes the opportunity to snap at the sleepwalker with it's ancient but still needle sharp maw. The bite snaps around Kalkamedes thigh tearing a gory piece of flesh from the unfortunate man. Kalkamedes grunts in pain but, continues to mindlessly trek forward.
Mentys howls in rage at seeing the helpless man absorb such a savage attack and responds in kind against the zombie dragon. Mentys battle axe bites deep down the center of the spine of the gruesome undead thing. However, wounds that would fell most living things do not always stop the undead. Despite holes from magic blast and two awesome blows from Mentys axe, the black Dragon zombie...continues to fight on.
R 2
Vulf
Mentys
Koth Vaul
Green hand
Black dragon
Carini
Hudor
Yellow hand
Kranzer
Farlen
Kalkamedes
Vulf's turns to hurl his sling bullet at the green crawling hand but just misses! Koth'Vaul snarls in disgust at seeing his servants perform so poorly at the beginning of the battle , Kill the big one..leave a couple of the others alive! Koth'Vaul orders his undead servants. The green hand immediately complies by skittering up to Mentys and flanking with the Zombie Dragon. The claw jumps but the Big Oread is still agile enough to avoid it's grasp. The Dragon then snaps at Mentys with its Maw The Oread grunts as the bite pierces his skin, but the tough warrior remains standing.
R 2
Vulf
Mentys
Koth Vaul
Green hand
Black dragon
Carini
Hudor
Yellow hand
Kranzer
Farlen
Kalkamedes
Hudor's blast of positive energy strikes the Zombie Dragon dead on. The energy lights up the rotting body of the living corpse for a moment and then it collapses to the ground un-moving. The yellow Crawling hand attacks Kranzer again and this time it's attack seems more urgent! The persistent claw keeps leaping trying to latch on to Kranzer, It finally succeeds catching Kranzer near the hip area. It's sharp nails digging in to his flesh as the undead hand claws it's way up his body towards his throat.
R 2
Vulf
Mentys
Koth Vaul
Green hand
Black dragon
Carini
Hudor
Yellow hand
Kranzer
Farlen
Kalkamedes
Kranzer bats the yellow crawling hand off him and skewers it with his sword! It moves no more.
Kalkamedes meanwhile keeps plodding towards the unconscious female.
R 3
Vulf
Mentys
Koth Vaul
Green hand
Carini
Hudor
Kranzer
Farlen
Kalkamedes
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Hearing Hudor’s suggestion to let the woman go, Vulf tries to make a gut assessment of the situation. A devotion to the divine does tend to broaden one’s wisdom, thinks the cleric. Or is it the other way around? Vulf turns to his god for help, "Father Torag, as iron draws a magnet, let my thoughts be drawn to truth."
Vulf looks at the mystery woman in the circle and attempts to discern her trustworthiness.
Vulf the woman is unconscious, the only thing you can tell is she’s not likely faking unconscious state.
Mentys chops the remaining hand in to little pieces..Muh Haw Haw Haw ! You hear the huge Demon chuckle, So...you've defeated my pathetic little undead minions!! *snort*..You must think you're real Heroes!?.. The Demon practically spits out the last. He notices Kalkamedes walk past and says Stop!...this need not end in bloodshed... He nudges the stunned Carini with his claw and she responds with a muffled groan. Which one of you would like a to have your heart's desire? I want what everyone wants..freedom. I have the power to give you a life of freedom and wealth! A boon like few others in this world could ever dream of! Just free me and your wish will come true! Who will be brave? Who will take charge of their life and leave others behind!? Take my offer one of you all of you? You won't regret it.
Vulf holds back Kalkamedes for the moment as he struggles to reach the woman.
R 5
Vulf
Mentys
Koth Vaul
Carini
Hudor
Kranzer
Farlen
Kalkamedes
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Here's hoping this lady isn't really his sister, some other kind of demon...
Kranzer moves up to the woman's holding circle and moves in. He bends down to her, sloughs the pack from his shoulders, and produces a potion from one of the side pouches.
"Keep Kalk back away from her! She might be a demon!"
Really hope this works!
Once Kranzer moves down the hall and says,
"Keep Kalk back away from her! She might be a demon!"
Everyone is startled to hear the Demon Thunder, Do not take another step towards that woman! I'll kill your friend where she stands! In fact, all of you assemble in front of me, where I can see you! Do it now or, by every layer of the abyss, I'll feast on this woman's flesh in front of you!
R 5
Vulf
Mentys
Koth Vaul
Carini
Hudor
Kranzer
Farlen
Kalkamedes
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The red fades from Mentys' eyes as combat proper ceases. He steps into Koth'Vaul's view and speaks wearily. "I will comply. But as you saw, one of our number is not himself. If left to his own devices, he could cause problems for either party."
Though tired, he speaks as quickly as he can before Koth'Vaul loses patience entirely. "Since our other strong companion is indisposed-" the oread can't help but glare at the demon, while looking concernedly in Carini's direction, "-I request some time to go over and secure Kalkamedes."
The enfeebled one?! What do I care?! Release him! He can do nothing! The rest of you assemble where I can see you! Do so quickly... or I promise , your friend’s torment will linger longer than you can imagine.
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Small tears roll from the corners of Carini's eyes. Mother, father? Is that you? she asks of the warm white light that seems to be calling her. She feels equally safe and terrified, complete and incomplete. I'm not ready... they still need me... Was she a warrior before? That's what it was, wasn't it? Am I a warrior now? I feel like nothing more than a babe...
Images whip past her conscious unconsciousness. A rugged Ulfen too forward for his own good. A doddy Venture-Captain. A minotaur slaying a halfling Venture-Agent. A sleepwalker in nightclothes, wandering through the woods. A feyish demon, or a demonic gnome? Her apartment in Absalom, quiet, quaint, and small. A flurry of faces, all Pathfinder agents, too many already for her short career.
I'm not ready... these thoughts swirl through her mind as the small tears continue to dribble down her face.
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Hearing the demon refer to Kalkamedes as "the enfeebled one" gives Vulf some hope. At least the monster is not omniscient. It apparently is unaware that our comrade has been healed and, then, is likely unaware of Kranzer's attempts to revive the encircled elf.
Two beautiful elven warriors. Each fallen. notes the cleric. If we don’t accede to the demon’s wishes, Carini dies. If we give in to the demons' demands, will we be next?
I suppose the best course is to follow the demon’s instructions for now. If we assemble before the outsider, then we may be able to get close enough to Carini to free her.
Even if we are forced to free the creature, there may yet be a means to imprison it again. Perhaps Farlen could create a new circle or barrier. Indeed, the strength-sapping dais would almost certainly prevent this powerful creature from exiting, at least for a time.
“Very well, demon!” shouts Vulf. “I will comply with your demands and I urge my fellow Pathfinders to do the same!” He gives a glance over to Kranzer and tilts his head, indicating the dwarf should hurry up and get the potion into the woman. Vulf then, hoping that the dwarf will understand his meaning, etches a circle in the dust of the floor with the toe of his boot, before scratching part of it out with a drag of his heel as he prepares to go and face the demon.
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Farlen watches the demon carefully. He is looking for a chance to cast without being noticed. He thinks that if the demon looses sight of the group members someone could get to the woman and heal her.
"Demon, I will comply also. Why don't you want the woman freed as well?"
"Sometimes the fog of the moment can obscure your path." Farlen readies to cast obscuring mist as he says airily as if stating a philosophy for life.
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Kranzer says, "Fine! I'm comin' lobster!"
As he passes Kalkamedes he slips his potion into the folds of the man's clothes and then moves on past and back out into the opening, swords sheathed.
"Ya know, it's a shame ya got the half-elf there," he says, pacing back and forth."See, if you were smart, you'd go for the team leader. Team leader's the only one that can make a call like that, say, letting a demon out to save a Pathfinder Society agent. The Decemvirate only likes havin' one person to blame I guess. And that person'd be me, right boys?! Team leader Kranzer Kraken-Mouth at yer service.
"So here's the deal I'll make you: you let Carini there go, and I take her place. You trade up, exchanging a lowly initiate with a more experienced Pathfinder. Win win! Heck, you might even wanna taste my soul or whatever it is you lobsters do before you're free. That's my wish. Straight up trade. My companions here drag Carini back, you take me. Then, once I'm comfortable with the way things have worked out, I order them out of this scraggin' place and it's just you an' me. Once I'm sure they're outta your reach, I destroy the circle an whip-zam-zoo you got your freedom. Sound good?"
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"It's not a bad deal on either end," Mentys chips in. "He's very talkative, but we haven't the liberty of eating his soul to shut him up. With that advantage, he's better for you than Carini."
"I also feel like our Ulfen friend has taken just a bit more of a shine towards her over Kranzer..." the oread continues, beginning to get biting and rather hurtful in his usual manner. This is why he doesn't talk for extended periods of time. But given his wealth of social skills and that he is unsure what the dwarf's plan is, he may just be settling for a stall.
Still, he remains confused about the whole situation. Is Kranzer really planning to go through with this? I doubt I could bring myself to do something so noble.
The Demon listens to Kranzer and seems to consider the offer for a moment, He looks at Mentys when he interjects backing up Kranzer's story. He doesn't seemed convinced but, perhaps others could reassure him that Kranzer speaks the truth.
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"Dwarvenkinds far," Vulf prays aloud, hoping the demon does not speak Skald. "denne adelens handling og ofre av en av slektene, smidd av din hånd, ydmyker meg sterkt. La hans risikable bløff nå jobbe. For døde tjenere kan ikke prise din visdom eller spre din herlighetens verk."
Attempting to assist Kranzer with the ruse, the cleric shouts, "No, not you, Captain Kranzer. Don't give yourself up. I said I would comply to save Carini, but to lose our leader--our rock--you are giving the demon more than we can dare part with. But, you are our leader, so we have not choice, but to comply with your orders, as all Pathfinders are expected to do."
Unfortunately, the northman's caring for his companions is far too evident in his voice, betraying the fact that the servant of Torag intends to fight on with his last breath, unwilling to sacrifice the lives of any of his companions.
Koth 'Vaul looks at Kranzer for several seconds before responding. Pathfinder Society agent? The Decemvirate? Is that some kind of Paladin society? There were similar societies and groups in the age of the Rune Lords....fools all of them trying to run around and cast those powerful magicians out of there lands with ideas of honesty and charity! The Demon utters a few vile things that sound like curses in abysmal. Very well, you may have this weak Pathetic creature in exchange for your own ransom. Enter the circle and have your men Draw the other away Stonelord. If you have trickery in mind, I assure you..I will devour your soul slowly...or perhaps I'll allow you to be my personal Dretch stool. Tearing your arms off on occasion and throwing them to a flock of circling Vrocks. The Demon puts it's claw up and ushers Kranzer forward. Come Stonelord Paladin, make your noble sacrifice so they can celebrate you in your temple.
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Vulf continues to walk over to the others. He approaches Hudor and places his hand on his shoulder while whispering to him so the demon has a less chance of hearing. "Unlike your instincts, mine would have us running... fast away from here. But, I was not forged to be governed by instinct alone. If there might be a way for us to save Carini...and Kranzer... from the demon, it would seem to lie in deceiving the fiend."
Quietly reciting a familiar prayer, Vulf casts guidance on Hudor, before whispering, "May the gods favor you, Hudor, as I fear the lives of Carini and Kranzer are in your hands."
[dice=Bluff +Guidance]1d20+3+1;
Hudor speaks up, "How can we trust you to give up Carini for Kranzer? You have ticked us already it. Release Carini first and then we shall hold up the end of our bargain."
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Mentys looks to play on Koth'Vaul's assumptions about the Society. "Yes, the Pathfinders are a force for honesty and righteousness. And you're a spawn of the Abyss. We are also at a disadvantage; but we hold what you need most. So it would behoove you to play by our rules, before we enter your part of this wretched game."
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"Aw ya see," says Kranzer, "See how much they care for 'ol Kranzer? They really don't want you gettin' yer lobster claws on me. See what might happen is--you bein' a lobster demon and all--you might get your claws on both me and Carini there and get the notion in yer head to break our little deal, which would really send the boys into a tizzy. Then there'd be hollerin' and spells and just a whole lot of unpleasantness. Leaves a bad taste in your mouth, I bet, not being able to brush your lobster teeth for thousands of years, eh? Even worse when Pathfinder Society people come barging in, almost freeing you, then you go and kill the lot of them and then all you got left to talk to is the corpse of that dead dragon over there. Probably be stinking worse tomorrow than it already is."
He realizes he's still talking, then clears his throat and says, "Now what would be really great is if you let go of the helpless lady and then you can grab me. Here, Vulf, gimme Kalk's sword. It's magic so it can destroy the circle better I bet. What do you say Mr. Vaul?"
Kranzer holds out his hand for the magic sword.
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Vulf hands the sword to Kranzer. "The blade, Captain Kranzer. As a member of the order of paladins and holy knights known as the Pathfinder Society, you know how sacred our promises are and that, by our code, our word can never be broken. It has been an honor to serve with you, Great Sir Knight." The cleric bows in deference as he has seen knights of other orders do.