Session 38: Deal With a Devil
The arrival of the acting mayor seemed to disgruntle Ecarrdian a little, but the devil flying overhead quickly welcomed her telepathically, asking her to follow Chammady's lead. He then teleported away, and Ecarrdian, Avazhi, and Skarx start to airwalk away. Ecarrdian called "Light it up!" over his shoulder.
Coraline, who had told Chammady about a contract she really, really needed to look at right away, followed through an illusion into the head of the Arodennama. Chammady flipped through the contract and decided that this needed further investigation. She told Ecarrdian that the plan needed to wait. Then things got complicated.
People started teleporting, flying, running up and down stairs, falling off the top of the Arodennama, and generally going every which way. When Ecarrdian made it clear that he wouldn't delay the plan even though it might cost his sister her soul, she turned on him and sided with the PCs. This was still a tough fight, but it seemed that there was a chance that Ecarrdian might lose.
Then Morgram the Magnificent attacked Chammady.
The focus of the fight shifted, and people were no longer certain who was friend and who was foe. The fight wore on, but Ecarrdian was prioritizing making his way toward a battle in the distance between a wide variety of forces. His allies were helping him and it seemed he might succeed in escaping the PCs.
Coraline called out and requested an audience with G'el, the devil she'd taken to Chammady's cocktail party. Before too long, G'el appeared and struck a deal with Coraline, resulting in an agreement that might leave G'el in partial possession of her soul but certainly turned the tide of the fight.
With Ecarrdian dead and Chammady in custody, the group greeted General Vourne, who confirmed Coraline as mayor. Aremcesca was a member of the reformed Council of Thieves. Anselar and his new wife were ready to start assuming control of House Rosala. Zimburchem had reconnected with Zingleburpbembledak, his now-bleached apprentice, and they were ready to set out across the world in search of new experiences. Morgram the Magnificent was ready to take Adamus home to meet his parents and possibly get married.
This is, for now, the end.
PCs:
Coraline Arvanxi (aristocrat/ninja)
Aremcesca Dioso (aristocrat/fighter [polearm master]/cavalier [standard bearer])
Anselar Harth (aristocrat/sorcerer [sage wild-blooded arcane])
Morgram the Magnificent (bard [street performer]/aristocrat)
Zimburchem (alchemist/aristocrat)
A very interesting take on the story, good jobs all around.
Addendum to Anselar's notes.
It's been some time since I've written one of these, but I thought I should update... especially with some of the latest developments.
Coraline has assumed mayorship of Westcrown. With the help of her companions (myself included) and our families, Mammon worship has been (for the most part) eradicated, tiefling civil rights are... well, they're on the way. Things have stabilized for the time being. As such, I believe Morgram and Adamus have finally gone off for their honeymoon. The two Zims are... doing whatever two gnome alchemists do when they decide to put their heads together. I can almost hear something somewhere being set on fire to the sound of gnomish giggling.
Sandrine has left me temporarily in charge of things while she travels before the baby comes (oh, yes, I suppose I should mention... we're expecting!).
So, with Coraline running the city and Remy and myself aiding her, we found ourselves in a meeting at the mayoral mansion when we were interrupted by some stranger in an eyeless red leather mask and asked to track down a Pathfinder agent named Osprey who had been seem in the Nirmathi city of Skelt. Apparently, he (and a number of other missing persons) have been seen in the company of attractive strangers. Subsequent divinations have indicated their presence on the moon, in the Moonscar.
Knowing the sorts of magic needed to actually transport someone to the moon, I think it far more likely that these missing people have, off the top of my head, been lured somewhere and then robbed. Classic honeypot scenario. But... I am intrigued as to how the divinations have been misdirected. And, I'll confess, I share a bit of my wife's desire to nip out for a quick adventure before the baby comes.
So, with that, Remy, Coraline and myself set off to Korvosa (and from thence, Skelt). Upon arriving, we were having dinner, when we were joined by two strangers... serpentfolk. They regale us with some tale of needing to go to the moon to stop a demon invasion and one of them apparently has a talking sword... a discreet magic detection spell does indicate that they are in possession of some powerful magic items... though, I'm not entirely certain they're in full possession of their sanity. Talking swords and moon travel and demon invasions. Right.
That said, this is the second indication I've seen in a very short time that something is occurring on the moon. Consider my curiosity piqued!
We set off to Skelt the following day. Spending little time there, we make our way to a mountain that, by all indications, is the way to the moon. We arrive and find a ruin that, though I can't understand exactly what the writings say, my grasp of languages does allow me to get that the gist is that this is a way to the moon. We follow a conduit of magic to a volcanic vent, and proceed down (yes, down into a volcano to get to the moon-- at this point it's just too easy to poke holes in the logic of the situation... but I've come this far). One of the serpentfolk magically protects us from the excessive heat (I'll confess that traveling with a cleric, insane or not, is a welcome novelty).
Unfortunately, though my grasp of language is superb, my... climbing skills are not. As we climb down the vent, I lose my grip and fall quite some distance. In fact, though I manage not to fall into the lava at the bottom, I do manage to land precisely on a bridge in front of a small army of fire giants and hell hounds and even a fire elemental. Who all proceed to attack me. Great.
I keep my wits and, though seriously injured, manage to dimension door a short distance away. The others arrive and begin to engage the giants. As the battle reaches a pitched frenzy, I see the leader of the giants and one of his companions climb up to join me. On the bridge below, I see the mob kill Remy. The serpentfolk cleric fights through and does something cleric-y to bring her back. I definitely like having a healer on board!
However, I turn my attention back to my immediate surroundings. I have bigger fish to fry! Two of them. Unfortunately, I'm alone with the serpentfolk archer, and two very large, very annoyed giants. Who are currently flanking me. I quickly shift into an earth elemental, and sink into the ground. I go under and behind the leader, come up... and am sufficiently far away to do terrible things to everyone. I make heavy use of my more powerful magics, with cold ice strikes for the giants up with me, and arc lighting for the giants and elemental below! The serpentfolk archer is... impressive, as she pours out a stream of violence at her attackers via her bow. The serpentfolk cleric is busy giving the enemies below conniptions as they try to strike him. Remy is struggling back to her feet, and re-entering the fray. And Coraline is doing... invisible ninja things.
At last, we kill most of the giants and the elemental, and send three of the hell hounds fleeing. We accept the surrender of one of the giants, whom the serpentfolk archer decides to name Frosty. Which reinforces my belief that these serpentfolk are insane. But I can't argue with the results, and I can't argue with the healing.
As the serpentfolk cleric goes off to heal Remy, we question the survivor, loot the bodies, and take stock of our resources. Obviously, we have some powerful enemies to go up against. While the serpentfolk seemed to handle themselves admirably, it seems the humans among us could quickly become overwhelmed if things go sour once more. We make the decision to quickly teleport out and do a bit of shopping for some magical aids or armors to help our survivability before pressing on deeper into the volcano. And from there, apparently, the moon.
A quick trip back to Westcrown seemed indicated, since new information had led the nobles to realize that they needed slightly different equipment than they had, and a quick trip to Skelt had quickly proved unsatisfying. Transportation was handled by a human called Varia and her rather unusual serpentfolk companion. Mayor Coraline Arvanxi offered up the hospitality of Vaneo Arvanxi (called "Coraline's Folly" by the general Wiscrani population), which they tentatively accepted. They were viewed somewhat askance, however, when they declined the food prepared by Mistress Tobo.
The next morning they were served a relaxing breakfast then got down to some serious shopping. In particular they needed some spell components and scrolls, all of which were readily available. That was out of the way soon after lunchtime, and they teleported back to The Growling Skald. That far east it was nearly nightfall, and they made their way back into the volcano. Before long the Somal Gate opened up and they were finally able to get to the moon.
A tough fight against some shantak-mounted succubi ended with the heroes victorious and only one of the demons teleporting to safety. A couple miles of hiking later, they encountered a jotun troll who called himself the Trailblazer. As a winged woman, Mayor Arvanxi was able to convince him that she was one of the succubi and was escorting prisoners. He reminded her that if she had any trouble with the froghemoth she could always call on the moon beasts guarding the tower.
His advice was unnecessary as it turns out, since the froghemoth was sleeping away the hot Somal day. The group snuck past it and hiked for a couple more miles until they reached an altar. There was a certain amount of debate on what to do there, and eventually they decided to do nothing at all and just walk past it.
The brought them to the black tower that they'd been trying to get to for so long. It looked to have no windows and only one door, and was guarded by three moon beasts. The group started talking tactics.
PCs:
Anselar Harth (human aristocrat 1/sorcerer [sage wild-blooded arcane] 12)
Aremcesca Dioso (human aristocrat 1/fighter [polearm master] 10/cavalier [standard bearer] 2)
Coraline Arvanxi (human aristocrat 1/ninja 13)
Reethna-Onatee (serpentfolk cleric 10 of Iomedae)
Varia Calando (aka Lena-Karik, serpentfolk ranger 10)
The Moonscar: The Party -- Coraline's journal
~
Watched the Moon Moon Beasts run around and get shot by Varia. Maybe they think it's fun?
Went to a hippy party and stole their hot tub but was made to give it back. Most of the hippies were demons; it's the same everywhere. Pretty wings but killed them anyway. Except for Varia's friend Chinchilla who was a hippy but not a demon. And not too bright either.
Found a big obsidian plug, went down the hole, got spit on by centipedes (or possibly millipedes), had my outfit RUINED. Had to rummage through SECOND-HAND clothes to put together something passable to be seen in.
Not the best day ever.
Next up: more demons, probably. The devils really should take charge of this place and get things running properly.
~
PCs:
Anselar Harth
Aremcesca Dioso
Coraline Arvanxi
Reethna-Onatee
Varia Calando
After having her outfit ruined by acid-spitting tentacle-waving millipede things, Mayor Arvanxi was not impressed when they burrowed up to the surface after her. She and the others dispatched them then disposed of their carcasses before deciding to call it a night.
Moving back down the road a ways, Anselar used a scroll of magnificent mansion to make sure they could spend the evening in a civilized way. They even allowed the rescued prisoners in there to join in the banquet. As a serpentfolk, Reethna-Onatee naturally declined to be around others while they ate. Oddly enough, Varia did likewise.
Aremcesca volunteered to take a shift riding herd over all the newly-rescued prisoners, and the others pressed on down the tunnel. They were dismayed to find a library full of amazing books that the demons had delighted in ruining, but they were happy they could rescue an imprisoned lillend. Vintari had been feebleminded, but Reethna-Onatee soon took care of that. She revealed that she had been serving as a muse for a poet named Himotae when she was abducted, and she agreed to join the group in their rescue efforts. There was an odd cage with a large tongue, but they managed to evade it. Vintari's stuff was stashed on a balcony, as was Aremcesca's missing polearm.
The next room had some waterfalls and a massive whirlpool, and several hezrou demons were lurking there. Some of the group nearly got swept into the water, but in the end they defeated the demons and got past them.
A hallway was lined with prisoners insane or dead. Aremcesca aided in getting those still living outside, though there was little they could do for them short of long term care and/or powerful magic.
Beyond the hall of prisoners was a cavernous chamber with more prisoners. It housed a huge gold dragon that proved to be possessed by a shadow demon. Discussions began about tactics and strategies that might be employed to keep the dragon alive but kill (or drive away) the demon possessing her. It looked like it was going to be a very difficult endeavour until Varia mentioned that she had a shrunken monkey head.
It turned out that she had obtained this object while trekking through the Mwangi jungles, and it was actually a Zenj spirit fetish specifically created to eject shadow demons from creatures they're possessing. This proved successful, and Maurinaxian the gold dragon was very grateful for the group's intervention.
PCs:
Anselar Harth (human aristocrat 1/sorcerer [sage wild-blooded arcane] 13)
Coraline Arvanxi (human aristocrat 1/ninja 14)
Reethna-Onatee (serpentfolk cleric 11 of Iomedae)
Varia Calando (aka Lena-Karik, serpentfolk ranger 11)
Aremcesca returned to the group just as Maurinaxian the gold dragon was flying to the surface. They spent some time worrying at the cages trying to get them open, and eventually managed it with some dispel magic castings strategically positioned. After they finished opening the cages, they found the keys.
Proceeding downward, they started exploring a maze. Soon they discovered a statue of a succubus. When Coraline touched it she took some ability damage, which Reethna-Onatee promptly healed. Before long they found a similar statue, and when Aremcesca touched it she went blind, which Reethna-Onatee promptly healed. He then declared a moratorium on touching the statues.
They found the corpses of the water demons from the level above, came across someone who clearly died from touching one of the statues, then wandered around until they fought some vrocks. Pushing past them, they descended another level and were almost immediately confronted with an oddly scarred marilith. She thrashed them soundly, and they used their emergency scrolls to teleport all the way back to Westcrown.
PCs:
Anselar Harth (human aristocrat 1/sorcerer [sage wild-blooded arcane] 14)
Aremcesca Dioso (human aristocrat 1/fighter [polearm master] 10/cavalier [standard bearer] 2)
Coraline Arvanxi (human aristocrat 1/ninja 14)
Reethna-Onatee (serpentfolk cleric 11 of Iomedae)
Varia Calando (aka Lena-Karik, serpentfolk ranger 11)
The group conferred about its composition, and the decision was reached that Vintari (the rescued lillend) was staying behind, but Arael was accompanying them. He was in awe of Reethna-Onatee, both for his mythic might and for his stories of Iomadae. The group then teleported into the Moonscar.
Their light sources were noticed, and before long an image of the scarred marilith appeared before them. Combat was joined, and it transpired that the demon had been joined by two vampires and a succubus. One of the vampires momentarily thought that Aremcesca was someone named Eulalia, but quickly corrected herself.
The marilith created a blade barrier to cut Anselar and Arael off from everyone else, then teleported behind the barrier to try to kill Anselar. He cast dimension door and was nowhere to be found. The marilith returned to the fight, and concentrated on Varia, who had just critically hit her.
By the end of the fight, one of the vampires had fled in mist form, one had teleported away, the succubus was dead, and the marilith was sufficiently injured that she decided that there was no profit in continuing the fight. Soon after she teleported away, Anselar rejoined the group.
After that it just a matter of mapping out the level, staking vampires, and girding their loins for whatever lay behind they stinky door.
PCs:
Anselar Harth (human aristocrat 1/sorcerer [sage wild-blooded arcane] 14)
Aremcesca Dioso (human aristocrat 1/fighter [polearm master] 11/cavalier [standard bearer] 2)
Coraline Arvanxi (human aristocrat 1/ninja 14)
Reethna-Onatee (serpentfolk cleric 11 of Iomedae)
Varia Calando (aka Lena-Karik, serpentfolk ranger 11)
The stinky door turned out to have someone behind it who communicated with them before they opened it. In some unexplained way Varia was able to communicate with whoever it was and agreed that they'd wait an hour then come back to talk to her again.
That settled, they descended to the next level of the complex. In the process some sort of magic got rid of most of the spells on Reethna-Onatee. The first door they opened revealed a symbol of death, but no one succumbed.
After that they discovered a large set of rooms filled with prisoners, some of which were revealed to be disguised glabrezu demons. The ensuing fight was made much shorted when Anselar cast finger of death on the human who seemed to be in charge. Two of the demons fled after one of them was slain. The group then pressed on into the inner sanctum, where a succubus riding a shantak awaited them.
PCs:
Anselar Harth (human aristocrat 1/sorcerer [sage wild-blooded arcane] 14)
Aremcesca Dioso (human aristocrat 1/fighter [polearm master] 12/cavalier [standard bearer] 2)
Reethna-Onatee (serpentfolk cleric 11 of Iomedae)
Varia Calando (aka Lena-Karik, serpentfolk ranger 12)
Izmiara, the Insatiable Queen, had ruled the Moonscar for twelve thousand years. She rode her shantak in the middle of her boudoir and never considered that the intruders might pose an actual threat to her. This confidence was bolstered when Aremcesca charged her and Izimara slew her with one strike of her sword.
Anselar busied himself casting spells on Reethna-Onatee, and Coraline tried to invisibly sneak the mirror (which she had determined contained some prisoners, including Aberian Arvanxi) out of the boudoir. Varia was doffing the boots that let her teleport so that Arael could use them to fetch Maurinaxian (the gold dragon waiting for them on the surface). Varia was also attempting to be distractingly seductive while removing her boots, and though this didn't seem to stop Izmiara completely it did indeed seem to have that effect on Frosty.
These plans were all working out, until Izmiara caught a glimpse of Coraline. Even though she was uninjured, Izmiara killed her outright.
Finally Reethna-Onatee was ready to go toe-to-toe with Izmiara. Varia provided supporting fire. Things seemed to be stalemated until Maurinaxian showed up. Her fire breath did nothing, but it took Izmiara two strikes to her vitals to slay her, and this allowed the heroes enough time to gather their strength and attack as much as possible. Varia delivered the final blow.
The scrolls of raise dead were trotted out and used, and all of the prisoners were freed. The Hand of the Inheritor, a golden angel serving as Iomedae's herald, appeared before them in a projected image and congratulated Reethna-Onatee on his completion of his mythic trial. He also offered mythic power to any of the heroes who would swear allegiance to Iomedae. Aremcesca, Arael, and Varia all accepted.
PCs:
Anselar Harth (human aristocrat 1/sorcerer [sage wild-blooded arcane] 14)
Aremcesca Dioso (human aristocrat 1/fighter [polearm master] 12/cavalier [standard bearer] 2)
Coraline Arvanxi (human aristocrat 1/ninja 14)
Reethna-Onatee (serpentfolk cleric 12 of Iomedae)
Varia Calando (aka Lena-Karik, serpentfolk ranger 12)