Round: 3, Initiative: 11
Weapon Equipped = Composite (+2) Long Bow, darkwood, +1, adaptive
Cold Iron Arrows = 48/54 (5)
Silver Blunt Arrows = 20/20
Cold Iron, Adamantine Blanch Arrows = 20/20
Cold Iron, Ghost Salt Arrows = 10/10
+1, Outsider Bane, Cold Iron Blanch Arrows = 10/10
+1, Holy, Cold Iron Blanch Arrows = 5/5
Conditions = Bolstering (1/19m)
Mythic Power = 2/4 (immed., d6)(swift, decisive strike)
Ranger Focus = 1/2 (ex, swift, +4 attack/damage)
Child of the Crusade = 1/1 (free, reroll failed save to be demonically possessed or incapacitated)
Silver Dragon Scale = 2/3 (standard, bolstering)
Bow Attack Mods: BAB +6, Dex +4, Bow +1, Weapon Focus +1, Rapid Shot -0, Deadly Aim -2
Bow Damage Mods: Composite Bow +3, Bow +1, Deadly Aim +4
Spells (caster level 2, concentration +4)
Level 0 (DC 12) Create Water (1/1)
Level 1 (DC 13) Aspect of the Falcon, Keep Watch
Cole winces at the damage Jurin is taking, and hopes to do his part in slowing the bleed.
(point blank, bolstering)
(point blank)
(point blank, bolstering)
(point blank)
(point blank, bolstering)
(point blank)
Alas, his first and third arrows fly wide of the mark, though he hopes he planted at least a little damage with his second shot.
Round 3, Init 16
AC = 18 (17+2Prot-1Enl)
HP = 44/44
Weapon Equipped = +1 Cold Iron Lucerne Hammer (Good Align Weapon)
Condition(s) = PfE (5 minutes), Enlarged (5 minutes), Align Good, Bull's Str
Eli leans down to look more closely at the winged creature. And what kind of blasphemy are you, I wonder?
The old man's eyes start to burn as sweat courses through the wrinkles of his forehead. No matter. We're here to see you erased from the halls of this chapel grounds.
Cole steps up and fires, though only one of his arrows finds purchase. Perhaps the lack of sound is throwing him off. Eli tries to finish the leering creature, but misses.
Round 4
Serraling attempts to joggle the demon's arms, allowing Jurin a clean strike.
Aid Jurin vs. DC 10
Serraling 5' steps back after joggling.
Serra Stats/Effects:
AC 17+4 = 21 (shield)
HP: 41/51
Wand of MM (lvl 3) 10/11 charges left
Wand of MM (lvl 5) 31/31 charges left
Mythic 1/4 used
dice]1d20+3[/dice] to hit:
dice]2d4+7[/dice] damage;
It kept smiling at him. He beat at the head with his eyes closed, unable to bear the sight of the horror, but it moved her. Her body jerked, repositioned on the floor below him, and he couldn't keep track of it. He needed to open his eyes, and when he did, she was grinning up at him. It made sure to keep her face in his line-of-sight the whole time. If he was going to see it through, it would make him face her, make him watch each blow to its end.
The cheekbone was imploded, but the characteristic of the smile was still there. Several strikes with the bedwarmer later, and the jaw hung listlessly. At least one eye was no longer looking up at him, as it hung down her temple. As much as he smashed, the smile never left. Even as he dragged her body outside to the pyre...
They smile at us, knowing it unhinges us in the perversion... They smile at us, because we can not return the expression... because we have lost our reasons to smile...
HP = 23/56
AC/T/FF = 16/11/15 (+2 vs. Evil)
Weapon Equipped = мировник
Speed = 30'
Arcane Pool = 8/8
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th; concentration +4)
. . At will—Feather Fall (self only)
. . 5 minutes/day—Fly (self only)
. . 1/day—Levitate (self only)
Magus (Hexcrafter) Spells Prepared (CL 6th; concentration +10)
. . 2nd—glitterdust (DC 16), mirror image, stone discus[ACG]
. . 1st—color spray (DC 15), frostbite[UM], acid elemental shocking grasp[M] (2), vanish[APG] (DC 15)
. . 0 (at will)—acid splash, brand[APG] (DC 14), detect magic, light, prestidigitation
Status Effects = Blur, Align Weapon (Good), Protection From Evil
Jurin takes several grievous cuts before attempting to dish out one of his own.
After his slash the cook steps back, hoping to lure the creature forward.
With Serra's help, the quartermaster is able to drop the creature before it can finish whatever nefarious plans he had came to fruition.
Cole collects his misses, discards the broken, and replaces the rest. He silently gestures to the northern door as he steps into position.
Shall we?, he suggests silently.
Serraling pokes around the body of dead half-human while Ely/Cole sees to healing Jurin. He peeks around, looking for Kastor, hoping his squire is staying safe while learning about knighthood.
The northern door proves to be problematic, or at least locked. The wood appears to still be in decent condition, and the lock decently crafted.
Serra will lead the team to try the door on the east side. If that, too, is locked, Serraling will encourage Ely to open/smash it.
Serra finds on the dead demi-demon, a wand (DC 14), 3 vials of some nasty looking liquid. he is wearing, a very nice breastplate (pings) and wielding a very nice battle aspergillum (pings), a vile looking holy symbol. some powdered silver, and a key.
Weapon Equipped = Composite (+2) Long Bow, darkwood, +1, adaptive
Cold Iron Arrows = 50/54
Silver Blunt Arrows = 20/20
Cold Iron, Adamantine Blanch Arrows = 20/20
Cold Iron, Ghost Salt Arrows = 10/10
+1, Outsider Bane, Cold Iron Blanch Arrows = 10/10
+1, Holy, Cold Iron Blanch Arrows = 5/5
Conditions = Bolstering (1/19m)
Mythic Power = 2/4 (immed., d6)(swift, decisive strike)
Ranger Focus = 1/2 (ex, swift, +4 attack/damage)
Child of the Crusade = 1/1 (free, reroll failed save to be demonically possessed or incapacitated)
Silver Dragon Scale = 2/3 (standard, bolstering)
Bow Attack Mods: BAB +6, Dex +4, Bow +1, Weapon Focus +1, Rapid Shot -0, Deadly Aim -2
Bow Damage Mods: Composite Bow +3, Bow +1, Deadly Aim +4
Spells (caster level 2, concentration +4)
Level 0 (DC 12) Create Water (1/1)
Level 1 (DC 13) Aspect of the Falcon, Keep Watch
As soon as Serra notes the locked door, Cole goes to work on it (likely while Jurin is healing?).
(MW tools)
(MW tools)
(MW tools)
HP = 50/56
AC/T/FF = 16/11/15 (+2 vs. Evil)
Weapon Equipped = мировник
Speed = 30'
Arcane Pool = 8/8
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th; concentration +4)
. . At will—Feather Fall (self only)
. . 5 minutes/day—Fly (self only)
. . 1/day—Levitate (self only)
Magus (Hexcrafter) Spells Prepared (CL 6th; concentration +10)
. . 2nd—glitterdust (DC 16), mirror image, stone discus[ACG]
. . 1st—color spray (DC 15), frostbite[UM], acid elemental shocking grasp[M] (2), vanish[APG] (DC 15)
. . 0 (at will)—acid splash, brand[APG] (DC 14), detect magic, light, prestidigitation
Status Effects = Blur, Align Weapon (Good), Protection From Evil
Jurin waits while Eli wands his wounds close, blood dripping from tooth and claw marks.
Cole opens the lock on the first try. The mostly barren room behind the door has two sets of shackles anchored within a nook along the eastern wall.
Eli makes sure to look closely at the wounds Jurin has suffered, taking in the work of demons and committing it to memory. Tucking away the wand, he waits to understand if the group is moving in the direction of the unlocked room. Once it's apparent there is no living threat, he turns back to the courtyard, and the unopened door to the room likely adjacent to the chapel.
When the door is opened, he will follow others in to look around.
Percpetion
While waiting for Cole to pick the lock, Serraling focuses his attention on the wand and what it might be.
Spellcraft
When that room is safe, he will go scout the Nabasu demon room.
The room reeks of fear and desperation, though there are currently no prisoners held in the manacles.
The scuffing of feet on tile and the soft sigh of breathing punctuate their progress out of the defiled mediation chamber as the group continues to explore the rest of the ruins. In each place, demonic graffiti and destruction overlay what was once a proud homage to Iomedae.
Eli opens another door, another horror show waiting within. The ripe stench of decay chokes the air of this room, emanating from the bodies of two deceased soldiers hanging from the rafters. Various cabinets and tables stand around a fireplace in the south wall, and doors lead east, west, and north.
Cole moves to the remaining door, leaving room for Eli, and gestures.
Glad of Cole's entrance into the slaughterhouse, Eli crosses to the unopened door, and drags it open, hoping targets will be clear enough for Cole's arrows. He nods silently, not terribly concerned about conversation at the moment. There will be time for that once the chapel grounds have grown quiet of demon shriek.
Jurin eyes the corpses warily.
"Could be a trap, or whatever was eating them is waiting for us."
His hand tightens on the hilt of his scimitar.
Serraling nods, ready for the door to be opened.
The last door is opened revealing the last room. Three stone tables stand in this room, and their wooden benches lie broken and half-rotten around them. Leather straps with restraints stretch across their surface, buckled tightly in place. Nearby, a knotted rope descends through a tiny hole in the ceiling.
"Let me get the door," Serraling lurches forward on his two incongruous feets, opening the doors for the other heroes of Kenebres.
"Careful now," Serraling hisses between his tiefling lips. "I suspect their leader lies within...the one that the gargolyes told us about."
Serra opens the door, but finds no one inside. After a long moment, it occurs to him that perhaps the demi-demon *was* their leader.
Eli looks about, gaining assurance that they've routed the main contingent of demons, at least for what his eyes tell him. The relative intimacy of sixty feet lends him a false confidence.
"You have no idea, my little Zakuska!"
The words keep Eli a little on edge, so he looks to his colleagues for signs of distress or distraction.
"Well, we have an army below, and desecration above. Do we have the time to cleanse this way station before we return to our march?" He looks to Cole questioningly. Both for Beagan's sake, and Mother's. They would not approve of our negligence, should we leave this blasphemy behind.
Cole's tension eases a bit, and he puts away his bow.
"I expect there will be desecration everywhere we go. What did you have in mind for purification here?"
"We should at least search the place carefully, just to make sure the original residents didn't hide something of value that we might use - food, water, whatever."
Cole will search every chamber . He'll take-20 where there are things of interest, like the rope - which he does not pull, assuming it leads to something loud like bells. No sense in attracting attention.
In the chapel, now that he is not in the fire of battle, Cole notices something odd about the altar, beyond the graffiti and blood. An old scratch on the floor, no more than that, and aged now so it seems almost a part of the floor, but it appears that a push in the right area, might slide it over.
In the winged man's room, they find a strongbox, containing 383 cp, 710 sp, 3,827 gp, four gems, three white with a iridescent fire in their depths, one long and hexagonal, in a deep green color, a gold holy symbol that looks like an angel with a rising sun behind her. There is also a knight’s pennon, a chain shirt, and a dagger, of of which detect as magical.
Serra looks around the chapel, trying to figure things out. He tromps to and fro, looking for remnants of evil. He makes sure that Kastor is nearby, and the knight explains to his squire what the chapel should be, was, and will be again.
"You see, Kastor. This was once a place of splendor and godd. Knights built this, Kastor. Knights and priests. This is what knights can do, Kastor. And we shall make it so again."
Eventually, he will circle back to the hybrid nabasu to do a thorough search of its gear. Calling upon his knowledge of magic and examine the leader's stuff.
Know (Rel) on unholy symbol.
He will then look for a place for which to put the key into.
Eli secures the soldier corpses from the rafters, using what little time he has with his heightened stature and increased strength. He moves furniture about to more proper positions, then brings the bodies into the chapel.
Sensing the ugliness runs deeper here in the desecrated chapel, Eli begins to hum a familiar song, a song his mother would sing in the kitchen and on her way to the Temple of Sarenrae in Greengold.
He turns to look at the others, and what they might be doing to forward the cleansing. When he observes them looting instead, he continues to work until interrupted.
Cole shifts the stonework and removes the contents. Once Serra has confirmed their contents, he turns to Jurin.
"Jurin, you're flying a for a bit right? Fly down and let the troops know we'll be along in a couple hours and that all is well. Here take these and see they're distributed. Then feel free to return and help if you like." he hands him the potions of cure light wounds.
Cole then puts his back into the work of cleansing the place for a while. "Remember, we don't have a lot of time, so just focus on the horrendous bits."
Assuming the little stronghold has a graveyard, he works to inter the bodies. If it has no graveyard, he starts one.
Serra recognizes the holy symbol as that of Saranrae. The green gem is worth appx 500gp, the white ones, 100gp a piece. The breastplate and aspergillum are both +1 items, the vials are full of unholy water, apparently for the aspergillum.
Jurin takes the potions and nods to Cole, moving to the soldiers down below.
Jurin hands the potions to those doing the healing.
"Right then, look sharp. Cole wants these handed to the men, then fortify here. We'll be along once we've finished clearing the commanders up there."
The sweat somehow smells different. He watches it drip from his nose, as he labors in cleaning and moving. The activity is deliciously mundane, and it sets loving blinders on the old man, who focuses not on the blood and blasphemy, but on the tiring motion of his arms and legs at work. And from that work, sweat.
Not the acrid smell of copper mixed with sweat, of the pores dilating with the heart's own rally, and the flush of the skin keeping the blood just beneath the surface. The smell of fervor, and of fear when the fervor wanes.
No, this is the smell of salt and dust. The pores open to let forth the cooling damp, after the work brings the body to its own boil. He remembers that smell, not on himself, but on her. He remembers only how she patted his forehead, and wrinkled her nose when he tried to embrace her in his sweaty state.
His eyes close as his arms continue to scrub. He lets the sweat trickle into his eyes, eyes that tear and redden from the memories. Only after he's felt their sting does he raise a sleeve to wipe it away.
...
As time passes, Eli looks around for Cole, trying to judge the passing of the day. "Cole, if you believe we only have a couple of hours, do you think we would accomplish more by summoning the rank and file to assist us? We are only five, after all."
Serra recognizes the holy symbol as one venerating Saranrae.
As the others work on various places, something unseen cleans the lower half of the wall, slowly cleaning from the floor to three feet up, in slow deliberate circles.
"Kastor, be a good lad while you're working and polish this breastplate and aspergillum," Serra asks, knowing that a way to train a young knight to handle weapons is a lot of cleaning and maintaining them.
"Ely, there is a nice strong breastplate here if you wish it. And the aspergillum could as easily hold holy water as not if you'd wish to use it."
Serra helps clean while he has time, sweating through and around his armor but still doing his share of work.
"Full stop, defensive camp. Full watch. It's too late to move the men to the top safely."
As time passes, Eli looks around for Cole, trying to judge the passing of the day. "Cole, if you believe we only have a couple of hours, do you think we would accomplish more by summoning the rank and file to assist us? We are only five, after all."
Cole thinks a little while, not responding to Eli right away. Eventually, "I don't know Eli. The troops have their own tasks, and we want to leave as early as we can to push on down the road. We are sacrificing sleep time and more to clean this chapel - and a worthy task it is - but I'm uneasy bringing the troops up here to help."
"I don't want them to lose their fighting edge, even a little, with this work. Frankly, I suspect as soon as we leave the demons of this region will re-desecrate what we've done anyway. We must bring the fight to them, and remember we're in their territory now. Things have changed."
He scrubs a little harder, pushing his own tired muscles a little further doing what he clearly feels is going to be reversed a short time after he's done. He smiles at the enormity of their task and works harder.
""Ely, there is a nice strong breastplate here if you wish it. And the aspergillum could as easily hold holy water as not if you'd wish to use it."
Eli looks up briefly from his cleaning to regard Serra's assessments. "Those items are quite nice, but I'm sure we'll find someone below who will make better use of them." Something catches his attention out of the corner of his eye, along the wall, lazy circles wiping grime away. He studies it briefly, then returns to his own cleaning.
"I don't know Eli. The troops have their own tasks, and we want to leave as early as we can to push on down the road. We are sacrificing sleep time and more to clean this chapel - and a worthy task it is - but I'm uneasy bringing the troops up here to help."
"I don't want them to lose their fighting edge, even a little, with this work. Frankly, I suspect as soon as we leave the demons of this region will re-desecrate what we've done anyway. We must bring the fight to them, and remember we're in their territory now. Things have changed."
Eli wipes his brow, and continues scrubbing the floor of congealed blood and flesh. "Ah, see, that's where I think you could sharpen their edges. Show them this, and rile their blood. Certainly they are well aware, as am I, that we are in demon territory." The old man flicks his beard, releasing a light trickle of sweat.
"Do not be worried about re-desecration, Cole. That sounds tinged with defeat. We clean this building to honor the gods, to let them know that we see the filth, and do not tolerate it. We are bound for greater attentions ahead, I agree, but this place will know our presence, if only for a moment in time. The work you do here is good. Your attentions here garnered a cache of healing the likes I've never seen. That must tell you something. I know it tells me something."
Cole nods to Eli and seems to think a moment, but perhaps it was just a break for breath.
He continues to work, wondering if Jurin is going to return or if there is something going on with the troops.
Serra packs the armor, then gets back to work cleaning. He helps Kastor when the boy needs it, but mostly does what he can in the chapel.
A not-so-subtle twinge hits him in the back, as he continues to lean over and work the stone free of its splatter.
What must this look like to the Goddess? Stone, dirt, blood, flesh. Nothing that would ever touch Her physically, and yet emotionally... How often does She even turn Her gaze to these desolate places? Would time simply let this place slip from Her memory, with Her attention turning towards the fires freshly burning? How long must this shrine have been desecrated? Well, that would be our doing now, wouldn't it? So, for almost as long as we've been traveling. Seems so long ago, our arrival in Kenabres.
Eli turns to the others. "I think we need to return now. Our cleansing here is done. Our final push towards Drezen begins now."
Some one or some thing roars from the courtyard as the Iomedae's Chosen file out of the chapel.
I hunger! Surely you were able to capture some of the crusaders for me."
An ugly guttural laugh laugh fills the space as he sees them. "Oh ho! What is this? Free Range chickens fleeing the coop?"
He beats his wings, hovering just above the ground. Some one or some thing roars from the courtyard as the Iomedae's Chosen are working on the final touches in the chapel.
Initiative
Elyanius Myoch: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
demon: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Cole Zeff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Beagan: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Serra Iondri Phaer: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Jurin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Round 1, Init 16
AC = 17
HP = 44/44
Weapon Equipped = +1 Cold Iron Lucerne Hammer
Condition(s) = Divine Favor
Eli moves forward, barely able to take in the bellowing creature. By the gods... what is that...?!
Lenore, a little strength here? It's late, and my arms are tired from the cleaning... yes, I know, I'm complaining at the most inopportune time, I get that, but look at that thing...
Eli feels an energizing crackle, and his forearms look a little less old for the asking.
Eli begins quickly referring to the creature's weaknesses, special attacks, and ability to reduce damage inflicted upon it . He keeps his voice low, not wanting to draw undue attentions to the group now that they are out in the open.
Nabasus are birthed directly into the Material Plane from the Abyss, where they feed on innocent souls to mature. Only when finally sated can a nabasu return to the Abyss. Rumor holds that even then the nabasu's lifecycle does not change, and that further developments await them as they continue to grow.
These vile demons form from the souls of evil gluttons, particularly from cannibals, blood-drinkers, and those who prefer the tang of undead flesh.
Immune: death effects, electricity, paralysis, poison;
Resist: acid 10, cold 10, fire 10;
SR: 19
Consume Life (Su)
When a nabasu creates a ghoul with its gaze attack, it gains a growth point. It gains a bonus equal to its growth point total on attack rolls, CMB rolls, saving throws, caster level checks, and skill checks. Its maximum hit points increase by 10 for each growth point, and its caster level for spell-like abilities increases by 1. For every 2 growth points, its natural armor bonus, SR, and CR increase by 1. Every time it gains a growth point it makes a DC 30 caster level check—success indicates it matures (gaining both the advanced and the giant simple templates) and plane shifts to the Abyss in a burst of smoke. A nabasu can have a maximum of 20 growth points—it automatically matures if it has not done so already when it reaches 20 growth points.
Death Stealing Gaze
As a free action once per day per growth point (minimum of 1/day), a nabasu can activate its death-stealing gaze for a full round. All living creatures within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 18 Fortitude save or gain a negative level. A humanoid slain in this manner immediately transforms into a ghoul under the nabasu's control. A nabasu's gaze can only create one ghoul per round—if multiple humans perish from the gaze in a round, the nabasu picks which human becomes a ghoul. The save DC is Charisma-based.
"Nabasu. Ugly lot. You'll not hit it as well if you don't have cold iron, or your weapon thrums against evil. You'll not overcome it with electricity, poison, or trying to paralyze it. Resistant creature, both to elements and spells. Its gaze, though, this is what we must fear, for its ability to drain our very life essence. It grows stronger when it creates ghouls from our ranks. Even those below us..."