Having settled down from the fight and seeing that the task of influencing the guests still needed to be completed, Cladissa summoned her reserves of strength. She put on a delighted smile to see Lady Dyrianna again and stepped up to her.
"My lady, good to see you again. Have you had any more thought to the prospects of supporting the Crusade? You had told me some about your pleasure houses, and I can only imagine how much of a boost they would get as the crusaders have one more fling before going to war."
[dice=Knowledge (local) plus aid]1d20+8+1
Having settled down from the fight and seeing that the task of influencing the guests still needed to be completed, Cladissa summoned her reserves of strength. She put on a delighted smile to see Lady Dyrianna again and stepped up to her.
"My lady, good to see you again. Have you had any more thought to the prospects of supporting the Crusade? You had told me some about your pleasure houses, and I can only imagine how much of a boost they would get as the crusaders have one more fling before going to war."
"Indeed...you are most correct. Almost as much of a boost as I would get from having you tickle me with those angel wings," she purrs. "Have you seen my boy? I'm afraid he's run off to be naughty with one of the maids or something."
Nyugusk reluctantly approaches Lord Kerkis. With the aid of Rutai whispering in his ear, and Hrim distracting the lord he attempts to win his full support for the Crusade. "Lady Vaelia said you were a cockless Keleshite pig f!$~er just a minute ago. If you joined the Crusade it would really pickle her pear."
Kerkis looks apoplectic. "The crusade shall have my full support. F@++ that shriveled harridan! May the ticks of a thousand camels inhabit her racist loins!"
"Ha ha! That's, ah, well, I'm sure I could find him for you." Cladissa fights the urge to wrap her wings around her face to hide her fluster.
She takes a step back as a thought occurs to her. She grabs one of her wings and runs her hands through it until she finds a loose feather. She plucks it with a slight wince then passes it to the Lady.
Suddenly, a woman’s shrill cry cuts through the chamber music and muted conversation. Across the salon, Senator Naran holds his buxom young wife in his arms after her apparent collapse. As all eyes turn on the unconscious woman, the senator emits an angry cry:
Many of the guests and servants panic and the room erupts into chaos. Servants scatter as several of the guests toss their full wine glasses to the floor, while others spit out their wine with looks of horror and revulsion. Lady Dyrianna quickly comes to Dalessa’s aid with a neutralize poison spell, but the damage is done; Senator Naran and his still-unconscious wife, Lady Vaelia and her manservant, and Lord Rothos compose themselves and leave the feast immediately without so much as another word. The two men look furious.
The remaining guests are still quite shaken, and the Balkroses, Morilla and Maldris are all doing their best to see to them. A serving girl approaches the Freaks and tells them that Tespren urgently needs them in the upstairs drawing room .
Hrim responds to his fellow surface gnome with alacrity. Well, he travels as fast as he can with half a soul.
The Pathfinders prepare themselves to encounter a demon, and then head into the garden.
The garden looks peaceful in the dim light of the evening. The maid Orielle stands in the gazebo staring down at a small humanoid of some kind. Dyrianna's escort Faelyn stands dumbly next to them, staring off into space.
They hear Nyugusk's approach, and turn to see him. Upon doing so the maid transforms into an iconic looking demoness - a beautiful red haired woman with black horns, and large red bat wings, red eyes and a long tail.
Initiative:
Hrim will buff.
Initiative
Little dude 23
Party 21.25
Succubus 21
Alu Demons 9.25
The small creature looks like a well-dressed and jewelry-bedecked fiendish gnome, its face mostly mouth and fangs. It crouches down on all fours next to the gazebo like a gorilla, cackling madly.
New Initiative
Little dude 23
Party 21.25
Little Dude 21.2
Succubus 21
Alu Demons 9.25
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Cladissa creeps through the bushes and sees the array of demons spread out and the strange rakshasa next to the succubus. She quickly chants, drawing an octopus tentacle from her clutch purse and throwing on the ground. Instantly, a mass of rubbery tentacles erupt from the ground in the garden, grabbing and grasping at the demons.
Seeing the large number of foes arrayed against them, Argor whispers to Rutai, "How about we put the odds back in our favor..." to which Rutai chuckles sadistically.
Four archons soar through portals above and around the central demon, and begin attacking her fiercely.
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Hrim looses three cold iron, Count Ranalc-powered arrows at the Alu-Demons . Then, he gains a little altitude pulling the shadows around him.
The small creature looks like a well-dressed and jewelry-bedecked fiendish gnome, its face mostly mouth and fangs. It crouches down on all fours next to the gazebo like a gorilla, cackling madly.
Cladissa creeps through the bushes and sees the array of demons spread out and the strange rakshasa next to the succubus. She quickly chants, drawing an octopus tentacle from her clutch purse and throwing on the ground. Instantly, a mass of rubbery tentacles erupt from the ground in the garden, grabbing and grasping at the demons. One of the alu demons and the rakshasa are caught in the tentacles.
eeing the large number of foes arrayed against them, Argor whispers to Rutai, "How about we put the odds back in our favor..." to which Rutai chuckles sadistically. Four archons soar through portals above and around the central demon, and begin attacking her fiercely. Their rays of light slice into the succubus, leaving smoking holes in her skin.
Hrim looses three cold iron, Count Ranalc-powered arrows at the Alu-Demons. His first and second arrows slam into one of the alu demon's eyes, killing it instantly. The third arrow lodges in one of her sisters, eliciting a scream. Then, he gains a little altitude pulling the shadows around him to hide himself.
Nyugusk is unable to see much through the hedgerow, so he moves into the garden proper. Taking in the scene quickly, he heads for the wounded alu demon closest to him. The demon is high in the tree, just out of his reach.
The tiny rakshasa struggles against the tentacles. He is unsuccessful.
The succubus disappears from sight.
The trapped alu demon wrestles her way free, and takes to the air. Another flaps towards Nyugusk, attacking him from above. The last jumps down lower into the tree to join her. Nyugusk manages to snatch one of them out of the air, and begins clawing her. They demonic sisters claw back.
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The archons turn their holy wrath on the bound gnomish demon.
Seeing Nyugusk getting savaged, Argor sighs and says, "Rutai."
The imp sighs and flies over to the or orcish behemoth, preparing the wand once again. "Can you try NOT getting hit, Mr. Newblossom?"
__________
,
Frustrated that the succubus evaded the tentacles she conjured, she turns her eyes on the alu-demons that are harassing Nyugusk. Honing in on the one closest to her, she targets it with a hex to put it to sleep.
fails, asleep for 7 rounds
Nyugusk rips into the demon before him, ready to grab the next within his long reach as he's able.
Seeing the closer alu-demon fall asleep, Hrim targets the further alu demon with regular arrows. He saves his last few cold iron specials for the succubus.
Argor reaches to his hip and removes a scroll from one of the cases there, as he simultaneously begins the incantations for an offensive blast. He sends two beams of fiery energy into the bound gnomish creature, both of which burn nasty swaths of cinder across his body.
__________
The archons turn their holy wrath on the bound gnomish demon.
Seeing Nyugusk getting savaged, Argor sighs and says, "Rutai."
The imp sighs and flies over to the or orcish behemoth, preparing the wand once again. "Can you try NOT getting hit, Mr. Newblossom?" Argor reaches to his hip and removes a scroll from one of the cases there, as he simultaneously begins the incantations for an offensive blast. He sends two beams of fiery energy into the bound gnomish creature, both of which burn nasty swaths of cinder across his body. Argor becomes visible in the process.
Frustrated that the succubus evaded the tentacles she conjured, she turns her eyes on the alu-demons that are harassing Nyugusk. Honing in on the demon not held by Nyugusk, she targets it with a hex to put it to sleep.
Nyugusk rips into the demon before him, ready to grab the next within his long reach as he's able.
Seeing the farther alu-demon fall asleep, Hrim targets the one in Nyugusk's grip with regular arrows. His first two shots make it disappear, and his third shot arcs into the remaining alu demon. He saves his last few cold iron specials for the succubus.
The badly wounded rakshasa tries to escape from the tentacles holding it tight. It cannot squirm free, and wails mournfully.
The Pathfinders hear the chanting of a spell, followed by the flapping of wings but continue to see nothing.
The last alu demon dives at Nyugusk, screaming and clawing at him.
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Hrim saves Count Ranalc's bane for the succubus with the cold iron arrows when it appears. He targets the unsleeping alu-demon first.
Argor's archons continue to pepper the tiny jeweled gnome with beams until it falls, at which point the final archon turns and sends a pair of beams into the still standing alu-demon.
Argor incants the spell on the scroll, and immediately several copies of himself begin oscillating through his area.
__________
Listening to the chanting, Cladissa tries to figure out what the succubus just cast. Seeing the combatants doing rather well, she slinks into the underbrush.
After hearing the chanting of the succubus, Cladissa's claws come out and she clambers up into one of the trees in the garden, fading into the shade of the branches. She sniffs quietly, trying to gauge the location of the fiend.
Hrim saves Count Ranalc's bane for the succubus with the cold iron arrows when it appears. He targets the unsleeping alu-demon first.
Argor's archons continue to pepper the tiny jeweled gnome with beams until it falls, at which point the final archon turns and sends a pair of beams into the still standing alu-demon.
Argor incants the spell on the scroll, and immediately several copies of himself begin oscillating through his area.
After hearing the chanting of the succubus, Cladissa's claws come out and she clambers up into one of the trees in the garden, fading into the shade of the branches. She sniffs quietly, trying to gauge the location of the fiend. The demon is not within her scent range.
Nyugusk turns to the last visible threat, and tears into it with his claws. He destroys the demon in short order.
There is a rushing of wings, and suddenly the succubus reappears above Nyugusk, her hand glowing with an evil red aura. She slashes him with the hand, and a massive fountain of blood erupts from the wound before being sucked into the aura on her hand. She laughs wickedly before disappearing again from view.
____________________________________________
The archons send a barrage of beams through the vicinity the succubus appeared in.
Meanwhile, Argor prepares himself for the demon to reappear...as he calls out "Archons, hold your fire until she reappears!"
__________
Heart thudding in her chest, Cladissa ignores Argor's request and remains motionless in the tree. She wasn't sure where the demon would strike next, but she figured she would only be visible for a moment. She could smell her close by, so she stays ready to hex the succubus the instant she reappeared.
Seeing Nyug go down and the she-demon disappear, Hrim knows that he can't waste a blessing from Count Ranalc waiting for her to reappear. The deep gnome prays for His Blessings and flies down to heal his friend.
The archons send a barrage of beams through the vicinity the succubus appeared in.
Meanwhile, Argor prepares himself for the demon to reappear...as he calls out "Archons, hold your fire until she reappears!" He then tells Cladissa in elven, "Give Rutai the cure wand!"
Heart thudding in her chest, Cladissa ignores Argor's request and remains motionless in the tree. She wasn't sure where the demon would strike next, but she figured she would only be visible for a moment. She could smell her close by, so she stays ready to hex the succubus the instant she reappeared.
Nyugusk slowly begins healing.
Seeing Nyug go down and the she-demon disappear, Hrim knows that he can't waste a blessing from Count Ranalc waiting for her to reappear. The deep gnome prays for His Blessings and flies down to heal his friend. As he administers the spell, Nyugusk's eyes flutter open.
Heart thudding in her chest, Cladissa ignores Argor's request and remains motionless in the tree. She wasn't sure where the demon would strike next, but she figured she would only be visible for a moment. She could smell her close by, so she stays ready to hex the succubus the instant she reappeared.
Cladissa smells the stench of the demon getting closer, closer, until the succubus's sulfuric stench is right upon her. She hears the demoness chant the same spell as before, and then suddenly the succubus appears above her hand glowing red. She touches Cladissa, and the witches' blood erupts from her body, flowing into and nourishing the demon. The succubus laughs as she flaps above Cladissa. "I don't know what I'm hiding from...you mortals are like ants." Argor completes his spell and his magic missiles streak into the demoness, only to fizzle out. She laughs more.
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As the succubus reappears, Argor wheels around, as do his archons, and begin sending a barrage of beams towards her.
Rutai, meanwhile, snatches the wand from Cladissa's hip and retreats back to Nyugusk with it.
__________
Two of the archons' beams hit the succubus, but she is so flush with Nyugusk and Cladissa's life force that she hardly notices. Argor also manages to hit her with a scorching ray but its not strong enough to get past her innate resistance to fire. "I'm from the abyss, honey!" she laughs.
Hrim smiles as the she-demon doesn't disappear. Let's see if this hurts her. He calls again for Count Ranalc's bane and sends a volley of cold iron arrows at her.
Hrim's three arrows streak into the demoness, punching deep into her flesh and leaving sizzling burning wounds behind. She hisses in pain.
Cladissa grits her teeth to stifle a scream as the succubus siphons her life force and claims it for her own. She desperately wanted to cry out, but she caught it before it left her throat for fear of bolstering the demon further.
Her arms tremble as she clings to her perch, desperate, as the succubus taunts them. Terrified that she'll finish her off, but just as scared that she'll hunt down Hrimnagel as she watches on, Cladissa again sends her witch's hex at her.
Not willing to let the demon fall and potentially jar herself awake, Cladissa reaches out to catch her.
"From the Abyss you may be, demoness," Argor says with a smirk as he lowers himself closer to the villain responsible for this mayhem, "But this is the Material Plane, and here you are nothing more than an obstacle to be overcome. An obstacle, I might add, that has now been dealt with."
As he reaches the same level as Cladissa, he looks her in the eye and says, "Good work, m'lady."
He then hovers over to Nyugusk and Hrimnagel. "Master Avaldamon, how fares Mr. Newblossom in his recovery? He bore quite the burden there, drawing the ire of the entire demonic contingent."
Rutai slaps the freakish orc on the shoulder, "Yeah, nice work, big guy! You fought off what, four at a time? Both fights, I might add! An impressive feat to say the least!"
Argor nods, "A feat that I will make sure to note when I write up the chronicle of this encounter."
The succubus falls asleep under the effects of Cladissa's hex. She plummets to the ground, bashing through the tree as she does.
Nyugusk wastes little time in closing the remaining distance with the demoness, and trying to twist her head off.
The chymist manages to twist the succubus' head off, but wakes her in the process. She smiles up at him as the last of her black ichorous blood drains from her neck stump. "Ta ta for now..." she gurgles, with one last bloody smirk.
Just as the succubus is put down, the garden doors to the manor burst open. Maldris, Morilla and Darchana run out into the yard, weapons drawn and hands blazing with magical power. "We came as soon as we heard fighting!" Maldris says.
They see that the fight is already over within a couple of seconds. "Oh...I see you've handled things already. Well done, Pathfinders.." Maldris says.
Darchana frowns at all the blood, and mass of quivering black tentacles. "What a mess, I don't envy Hamaria this."
Argor looks over the scene as well as he lands. "Indeed, but far better than the alternative."
"More reason to be wary of the demonic incursion, yes?"
He looks to Major Maldris and nods towards the remaining sleeping demon. "Major, would you mind tending to that one while we attend Mr. Newblossom's wounds?"