Rilumin's arrows rip holes in the shadowy form, bits of darkness trailing off the arrow as it continues through the creature and into the dark passage beyond.
The shadows bound towards the front line, such as it is, moving silently.
The undead creatures sap Roland's strength, making him weak.
More of the creatures pounce upon Ian, though through luck he doesn't suffer nearly so badly.
When the shadows approach him, Ian swings his readied attack.
Surrounded, Ian shouts, "Leo! Pray or something! F%%+!" Ian swings wildly at the dark shapes, trying to fend them off.
Already into his prayer, Leo finally finishes channeling the energy of the protective side of Nethys. "Lord of protection, I call upon your blessing to destroy those who would destroy."
Serelina casts a spell causing force bolts to streak towards the Shadows.
AoO Attack (assuming pre-STR drain)
Full Attack Action vs. whatever is left
Attack #1
Damage, if hits
Attack #2
Damage, if hits
Attack #3
Damage, if hits
Attack #4
Damage, if hits
Round 2
Shot 1 (two arrows)
Shot 2
Shot 3
Roland strikes are the undead as it moves into position to attack, tearing away tendrils of blackness.
The burst of positive energy from Leo blasts off bits of the undead, leaving the appearance of smoke trailing of the creatures.
Ian hacks away at one of the shadows assaulting him, shredding the creature into nothingness.
Between Serelina and Roland, another of the creatures is destroyed, though Roland has great difficulty in landing a blow.
Rilumin, rapidly firing arrows finishes off two more.
Two of the undead, their faces contorting, step next to Leo, lashing out at him with clawed hands, and leaving him feeling very weak.
The other two try to move into a better position to get at the cleric, but attack Roland and Ian respectively.
Ian tears a large hole in the shadowy form, it remains, though it is visibly diminished.
Leo channels energy again, trying to take out the remaining shadows.
The shadow closest to Ian withers and fades.
Leo grunts after getting touched by the shadows, his form seemed suddenly born down by a slight weight
"Ahhg... So heavy!"
Round
Shot 1 (two arrows)
Shot 2
Shot 3
Roland, weakened as he is, is barely able to land a single blow, and hardly even hurts the undead creature.
Rilumin vanquishes another shadow, and leaves a second barely clinging to existence.
Serelina launches more magic missiles at the shadows, beginning with the weakest one.
Greatly weakened, the group climbs back to the library basement to seek restoration.
Just outside the Great Library there are a number of temples that could provide aid in this manner. Nethys, Abadar, Shelyn, Iomadae, and Irori.
While discussing the likelyhood of falling back, Leo complains/voices an idea. "Destroyer's SIDE we are too busy for this. I'm all for helping look into a threat against our library, but we've got so many other threats out there to deal with that this may have no connection to. I don't suppose we can petition the tower for a... B TEAM, could we? Get another group or two trained up to look into the issues we just don't have time for? Sure, they might not be able to respond as effectively as we can, but we can't respond to every oddity on our own!"
Roland wearily made his way back with the rest of the group, stopping when they were in the vicinity of several temples. Not being overly partial to any specific one of these, I should think any would do. Looking at Leo he added, perhaps Nethys? Regardless on the locale decided on by the group, Roland enters and requests Restorative magic be cast on him. He provides the necessary funds, and with a polite bow and smile departs with the group after everyone was served.
Walking back towards the library with the group, Roland listened as Leo spoke. Well, I should think we could send a few guardsman, if needed, or maybe some of those Mithril Rose paladin do-gooders, if they thought it had something to do with Radgar. Thinking again for a minute he added, I do wonder how much more we DO have to be busy with. Of course more will always come, crime and evil intent being what it is, but aside from Radgar we are at the "cleaning up loose ends" of many of the tasks this august bunch received several weeks ago. It would be delightful of Hast or one of the other bigwigs to make an appearance and let us know what's really important.
Ian walks wearily, his armor feeling much heavier than normal. "I could use some pay and time off..." he mutters something else under his breath as they walk. "Where were we on Radgar anyway?"
Well, we do have leads, though how good of ones....hard to say. Our favorite jailed drow mentioned two other folks we could track down in the city that may know something of his whereabouts. Then we have the possibility of Leo here doing his chat-with-the-deceased thing again with the body we fished out of the water. Past that....well, there also is the option to use the drow as bait, but quite difficult to know how that would go.
"I for one am sick of lurching about like a drunken quickling after shreds of information. I will be using magics to research our next steps carefully. We need to know what is keeping the Masters as well as the threat that Radgar. These other items seem to be distractions, almost as if they were designed to keep us busy and away from our major focus. You may leave word at my study should you need me, but for now I believe we need to refocus, rest and recover before we go lurching off again."
With healing magic applied, the group stands quietly outside the library discussing options. As Roland muses about the absence of the Masters, speak of Asmodeus, Master Hast is seen hurrying towards the temple of Abadar. The temple guards block his path, and in short order Master Hast seems to be quite animated in speaking with them, his voice reaching your ears faintly, "Do you fools even know to whom you speak? I represent the Tower, and must speak with the high priest on a matter of utmost urgency."
Look what we have here! Roland's amused expression contrasted with Hast's anxious animation as the aasimar spotted the wizard while the group was returning to the library. Let's go see if we can get an audience, shall we? Realizing he was still in disguise as a nondescript tower guard, Roland looked over to the others. Ah, perhaps one you might be best to lead the query, yes? I suspect he would have 'Guardsman Smith' locked in the dungeons for insubordination if I tried doing the talking.
Ian grunts in response and approaches Hast. He walks with his normal determined ease in the full plate once again.
"Hast," he says as they near. "Need some help?" He gives the temple guard a condescending once-over.
Leo asks if he can buy spare diamond dust while they are here.
While everyone else heads to speak with the priests at their temple of preference, Serelina makes her way back to the tower.
"Ms Bellafini , it is good to see you again." Vyrdikyll says, his grotesque form floating nearby.
"I spoke with Master Hast this morning, not an hour ago. He had a most urgent matter of business to discuss with me."
"Radgar. A man with a troubled life. A pity he did not seek out a different master in his youth."
"Born and raised in Coran."
"Entered the temple of Iomadea" Vyrdikyll utters the name with contempt, "at a young age and studied there for years, till he entered the ranks of the Mithral Rose."
"Spent several years at sea fighting pirates, until he met his wife Ellen on the Ioso islands, where they were married according to the islanders traditions."
"The happy couple" said with a snort, "moved back to Coran, where she took up tutelage under the Masters, and he begin working against the Issust Hold slavers."
"Now all of that is common knowledge, for anyone caring to poke around a bit. But here is where it starts to get interesting."
"Wife brutally murdered, Radgar's perceptions of the world radically changed. A pity he didn't understand how to use law and order to his advantage. Instead he rebelled against it, forsaking everything he had ever known and been taught."
"He sought out those who had killed with wife, seeking revenge. He murdered five families associated with underground crime in Coran. Five families who had thought their secrets safe. I had the pleasure of speaking with a few of the poor souls in searching this out." the devil grins. "They weren't to pleased to have received their just reward so unexpectedly."
"He fled Coran when someone higher up in the underground realized a pattern, and tipped off the authorities."
"He spent three years studying under a hermit sorcerer by the name of Eato, it seems our young paladin had yet untapped talents."
"He killed his master, and has then spent the last six years in and around the demon infested lands of Marldell. Information is, err, more sketchy for those six years. Those foul beasts of the abyss have corrupted those mortals that live there. Few and far between are those who come to serve under Lord Asmodeus from that wretched place. Though he did enter the Pit of the Apocalypse, and also explored the ruins of the necromancer Ris'jae."
"Now what have you got for me?"
Master Hast turns towards Ian, his face a mask of anger, but his lips turn to a nasty smile upon recognizing the ex-guardsman.
"I in fact could use some help here Ian. Please round up your companions. These fools they've hired as a temple guard seem unable to grasp that when a Master of the Tower requests an audience with their high priest, that such request should not be lightly denied."
The temple guard fidget uneasily, and one slips in through the door with an apologetic mutter, "I'll be right back."
"What I have to inform you of involves the interference of the Abyssal as well. In several separate but related instances over the past days we have encountered demonic presences integrated deeply into the culture of the city... A Shadown Demon, a Succubus, and a plot to destroy Tiny Town..."
Serelina details all the knowledge they have gained from the events of the past days, especially when demons have been involved. She is convinced that there is a significant demonic threat and she believes that the hatred between Devils and demons will make this worthy information.
Still in disguise as a guardsman, Roland had held back speaking with Hast to allow Ian or Leo to take the lead in such matters. Ian was his usual to-the-point self, which allowed Hast to direct the conversation back to the wizard's present concerns. Hoping to get some insights from the man about the current state of the mageocracy's directives, the aasimar decided to interject himself into the conversation after the temple guard left.
'Scuze me, sir. Roland's voice was low, and likely difficult for anyone to pick up who was not right near by. Roland ensured this wouldn't include anyone he did not know. Now I's jus' happen to be a lowly guard, but if'n I was all handsome and charmin' and all that like that great chap Roland you's got workin' for ya, why I'd sure have some stuff to tell ya. Why, I bet I'd tell ya all about that Radgar feller, all 'bout them there Theives' and even 'bout them Rebellion types and that building they was gonna blow up. Then, mind you, this is only ifn' I was somebody really, really great an' all, I'd REALLY wanna know about that Gumlat situation. Yep, sure would be great. Man, to be someone likin' that Roland. Why, I bet then ya might even talk to me and tells me an' my friends what we could do next to help. Now, wouldn't that be jus' lovely?
"Problem solved?" Ian responds to Hast, waiting arms-crossed to see if they grant that audience.
Marldell is a desolate and demon infested land far to the west, over two thousand miles distance. Those who live there are a depraved lot, fallen to vile rites and practices, many worshiping the Faceless Lord, the arch demon Jubilex.
Fortunately for their neighbors, those in Marldell are not an organized kingdom, but rather tribes and bands that do often fight among themselves. In addition, the main access to the depraved land is through a canyon pass where a large number of paladins of the Mithral Rose, and their allies in the area, stand ever vigilant.
The Pit of Apocalypse is an ancient site of evil, dedicated to Jubilex. There was at one time a prophecy related to the pit and the ushering in of Jubilex and a host of demons to this world. Over 600 years ago, the paladins of the Mithral Rose stood side by side with the forces of hell, a singular event in the known history of the world, and staved off the prophecy, preventing its fulfillment. It is said that those who enter the pit seldom return with sane minds, but for those willing to risk it, favors may be sought from the demon lord in that dark holes confines.
A hundred years after the events at the Pit of Apocolypse, a powerful lich rose up in the northern portion of Marldell, the necromancer Ris'jae. Unlike the many lesser demons and tribes that roamed Marldell, Ris'jae brought some degree of order to the wasteland. The liches undead and demonic armies assaulted the stronghold in the mountain pass and overthrew the paladins set to guard it, and the armies spread forth into the lands beyond. Ris'jae was ultimately defeated by the combined might of those kingdoms in that land, though some rumors abound the he yet lives. Most discount the rumors though as not organized force has since come forth from Marldell.
Other rumors suggest that while he was defeated, many magical trinkets that were used by the lich still have great power to them. A few even attribute that mighty necromantic magic is contained in the bones of the lich, though not to the degree of Vecna's infamy.
Ris'jae's place of dwelling in Marldell is rumored to still contain hordes of treasure and arcane knowledge secreted away in undiscovered rooms and passages
Vyrdikyll gives an angry hiss at mention of demons. "They no doubt seek after the secrets of this room." he gestures to the large round room where a portion of the planes of hell have been temporarily transposed. "I must speak with my brethren about their amassing forces here. While the Masters of the Tower contain far to many fools, to squeamish to study true power, this place cannot be allowed to fall into demonic control. Have you apprised Master Hast of these events?"
"We'll see" Master Hast says with irritation.
As Roland begins to speak Master Hast's eyes narrow in anger, but as the 'guardsmen' continues, a thin smile creeps into his lips.
"Why don't you tell Roland that for the moment he may very well wish to hear what I have to speak with the high priest of Abadar about. But if he is perhaps to busy for that, he'd be wise to work on uncovering the plots of that... rebellion, and that he need not worry himself with Gumlat."
The guard returns with another man dressed in trappings of a priest of Abadar. Master Hast scowls deeply, but before he can say anything, the man speaks up, "Master Hast, won't you please come inside."
"Of course" he responds with irritation. "I'm expecting some others to be coming to join me in a moment." he looks at Ian, pointedly ignoring Roland, and Leo and Rilumin in the background, "if they are available. Please instruct your guard to let them in."
Master Hast follows the priest inside.
Ian accompanies Hast like a faithful iron golem.
Roland nodded with a knowing smile as Hast responded to the aasimar's oblique inquiry. The Rebellion, eh....more so than Gumlat or even Radgar....very interesting.... He said nothing more though, and instead took Ian's lead and fell in on the other side of the ex-guardsman to look like an additional guard for Hast, following the wizard inside. There he hoped to learn more about what had Hast so ruffled by listening to his interactions with the Abadar clergy.
"I have been out of communications with Master Hast since we last spoke. You mentioned that you have spoken to him. Do you know where I might find him?"
Leo listens to the exchange, bemused and confused. He falls into place behind his comrades and keeps up.
"He said something about a seal within greedy the halls of Abadar's church."
The priest leads the way to a small private room. Though small, it is richly ornamented.
Hast enters, followed by the group. He turns on the priest though as he enters last, closing the door. "Where is High Priest Mory? I'm tired of this run around."
The man stutters, "He... isn't available."
Master Hast's face turns scarlet, "ENOUGH!...." he shouts.
The priest cringes, "The high priest is dead."
The Master stumbles in his speech, his eyes going wide, "By the nine hells" he whispers. His voice is tight, "And the seal? What of the seal?"
"Broken."
Hast closes his eyes for a moment, "We must deal with this at once. Come with me." he waves to the group to follow.
You get the feeling that Master Hast isn't surprised that the seal is broken, whatever that is.
The Master pushes the priest to the side, heading out the door.
"We already have a team dealing with it." he calls after Hast.
The Master ignores him, heading towards the back of the temple, and down a flight of stairs, into a relatively plain room where four guards stand, mouths open at the procession entering.
A pair of stone double doors is at the west end of the room, one of them open, where a spiral staircase can be seen going down. A layer of dust on the floor beyond the doors has been disturbed by several fresh sets of footprints.
Around the frame of the doors are arcane symbols inlaid with silver. Master Hast casts a quick cantrip and studies the symbols. "Completely drained of magic." he states to no one in particular.
As the group entered the small room where Hast confronted the priest regarding High Priest Mory's "unavailability", Roland stopped outside the room where he would be briefly out of sight of those inside. Still able to hear the tense conversation and revelation of the high priest's death, Roland quickly cast a Message spell before entering the room. He attempted to appear simply coming in as a non-descript rear guard, and appeared quickly enough to take in Hast's reaction to the broken seal. So...you knew this might be the case. Just confirming worst fears or something else....hmmm. He kept his thoughts to himself as the group followed Hast towards the broken Seal.
As they advanced, Roland covertly used his Message spell to ping Hast. Roland here...consider me just another guard who can assist the rest of your specialists as needed, and a nasty little surprise for anyone who might pop out at us.
He continued. Possibly related to our current situation....someone, or thing, bored a hole in the great library. Cena was peeved but Bellafini handled it. Divination suggested a man with a harp killed an old librarian there. We investigated the hole, long enough to find catacombs and a host of undead shadows. After a touch of restoration we were en route back to the library when we spotted you.
"Very well, I will seek him there. Until next time..." Serelina carefully ends the session, making sure the devil departs and to seal the room as proper. She then swiftly heads off towards the Temple of Abadar."