Hmm. You can project thoughts into my mind, can you see my power? And the power of my Knot? Surely you know my purpose? Bow before my will and you may stay on this plane of existence. Defy me and be banished. Agrippa thinks, assuming that the Daemons can read his thoughts.
Be wary, there are outsiders about, Daemons most likely. Agrippa cautions.
Wodin grits his teeth beneath his helmet, pulling his weapon from where it hangs around his waist. "Just what of needing," he complains.
The worm is afraid.
Sure it is.
Be wary…
Yes him should.
The weaker breed
Will claim his head.
Not that his big buffoon head
Has any utility.
Everyone hears now.
Ooookay... that just registered on the 'weird s#+*' ledger. What was that? And more importantly? Where is that now?
Wodin looks around, his eyes trying to discern the source of the voice. "Is strange, yes," he agrees with Eldred's statement, his hand wrapped around one end of the weapon tied around his waist.
Johan cocks his head to the side and bangs his gauntleted hand against the side of his helmet as if to clear the voices from his head.
They remind him of the whispers he heard in his head back in Brandescar prison, only more petty and purposeless.
A closer inspection on the room reveals nothing but the spiral stair and the closed door inside.
Even a magic search reveals nothings of sort.
There’s no clue to the source of the voices.
Your choice then Daemons. Face us and be banished. I may call you for torture later.
to see if Agrippa can identify the Daemon from its thoughts, or what Daemons have telepathy.
They are fearful creatures. Let us continue on, they may make an appearance later.
What you remember about daemons isn’t inspiring.
Daemons are evil outsiders that eat souls and thrive on disaster and ruin. As outsiders, they have Immunity to several abnormal conditions, and resistance to other effects.
They usually can summon other of their kind.
But what is most regretting is the fact that telepathy does not grant power to read mind.
They can project speech into someone head, but they cannot hear what one is thinking, making thus that Agrippa has been thinking to himself the whole time.
Might be that the helmet is talking to you Agrippa. What do we really know about it? Sidous suggests but doubts it as he says it. He moves to inspect the old masterwork full plate.
Agrippa looks sharply at the strange Priest of Asmodeus How does he know that the creatures speak to me? Is he in league with these Daemons...I've had my doubts about his faith for a long while.
Look friends, we either explore the place with the nasty head voices or we go down a few levels for safer explorations - your call.
"Where thinking what came for may be? Here? Below?" Wodin asks. "Is most highest of priority."
After his strange insight into the mage’s mind, the priest decides to check the ruined armors, thinking that if they can be savaged, he may be able to arm some undead minions with it. After a brief inspection, he deduces that, it may take some time, but they are still in conditions to be magically repaired.
Glaring daggers at the priest, doubting his faith for whatever reason the mage saw to make it be subject to doubt, the mighty arcane representative remains silent, to his minions and enemies alike, while the rest of the knot decides to ignore the voices and keep exploring the place.
Eldred go at the door and search it for any trap or device, finding nothing, he stops to listen while the remaining of the knot wait his sign that everything is okay.
Agrippa: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Eldred: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Johan: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Sidious: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Wodin: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
H&V: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Round - Surprise
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Action-
As soon as the door is open, however, lighting fills the entire room burning and shocking everything in it’s path.
I'm sorry sir. But you need to die now.
Don't worry sir. I'll be most careful when disemboweling you.
DC 19, reflex for half.
DC 19, reflex for half.
Behind the door, two brown, shaggy-furred beast stands on slate grey hooves. Its head resembles that of a maniacal horned ape. A big amulet tied to its neck, on it in abyssal language can be read: Hexor in one, Vexor in another.
Agrippa: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Eldred: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Johan: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Sidious: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Wodin: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
H&V: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Round - One
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Action-
Slightly out of turn but saves shouldn't matter
1
2
First save failed. Not sure what that 1 on the 1d4 meant but whatever. Is it who is targeted? Second save passed. Total Dmg 28.
Eldred takes a 5ft step back and up and puts barrage of arrows into the one southwards, hopefully with its bulk avoiding cover or his precise shot negating it.
He uses cold iron (got 40 of those) not sure that the Know planes roll will tell me to use anything different.
Each attack is magical damage due to the bow.
Rapid Shot 1 for
Rapid Shot 2 for
Iterative Attack for
Agrippa snarls in pain.
Agrippa backs up and casts Haste on his allies.
A closer inspection of the creatures reveals it resembles a gigantic humanoid bear with the talons of an eagle and curling ram horns sprouting from its head.
- A good or silver weapon works better on then.
- The resist cold, electricity, fire
- They have several spell like abilities
- When summoned to guard a small complex or area. They have a hard time refusing it.
- This is a greater version of the Ceustodaemon
- You don’t need to wait your next turn to convey this information, but you have only a short phrase to say it.
Johan grunts in pain as he takes the full brunt of the electrical attack. He feels Agrippa's magic fill him with vigor and quicksteps to counter with two swings of his mace against the creature that Agrippa feathered.
;
;
They are indeed Daemons! Ceustodaemons in fact, use silver weaponry! Agrippa calls out to his Knot.
You will rue this day Daemon, rue!
Wodin roars as the beasts' attack arcs through him, causing his wounds to open once more. "AM SICK OF DAMNDED MONSTERS!" he shouts, before dropping his dorn-dergar and pulling his warhammer at Agrippa's warning while he moves ahead to strike at one of the demons. As he reaches it, he plants his feet and sets himself in his family's stance, before swinging his weapon with all his might.
Effects: Defensive Stance
Shocked by the sudden attack (could not resist :) ) Sidious steps back and channels Evil to heal some of the damage the creatures did. He allows the evil to wash over the creatures as well as the party so they might know something of his master and calls out as he does so. Hexor and Vexor, stop this foolish attack. We know your names and have come to release your master. We are allies!
Agrippa: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Eldred: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Johan: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Sidious: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Wodin: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
H&V: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Round - Two
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Action-
Johan, even with the mage enchantment is unable to hit the Daemons; Wodin for all his could not hit either.
The only one close enough was Eldred, but even then, his arrows made no effect whatsoever in his target.
Realizing that those two are probably guardians of the Horn of Abbadon, Sidious decides to call out, revealing their plan to freed Vetra Kali.
At that, both daemos suddenly stop, as you hear a question.
Kind sir, Is you able say what our master name is? If you fail, we will need to continue in our sure attempt to destroy and kill each one of you.
We carry the book The Dirges of Apollyon and we plan to call forth your master, Vetra Kali Eats the Eyes. Sidious says with certainty.
Agrippa pulls out the book and displays it to the Daemons. With this book I plan to release Vetra Kali and spread his plague upon Talingarde.
Wodin pauses, realizing his companions can solve this without the bashing of heads. He sags a little, but doesn't leave his stance just yet.
Effects: Defensive Stance (2nd round)
You should have said sooner sir.
That could have prevented your current circumstances.
Fortunately, what is in the past can’t hurt you anymore.
Even if you are still hurting from the past.
How do you plan to break the seal?
You hear, as the daemons drop their fighting stance and greet you as if nothing as ever happened.
Wodin sighs, slumping to the ground while grumbling about unwelcoming doormen.
We will need three sacrifices, and time. Agrippa says to the Daemons. What can you tell us of the other creatures that dwell here in the Horn of Abbadon?
See it Hexor?
I see it indeed.
We know a lot.
Haven’t we explored all of this place?
We have indeed.
Then some seconds passes as they just stare at each other and then continue.
Know nothing about it Sir.
We are bound to this place.
And this place alone.
Johan leans over and whispers to Agrippa Their words confuse, but their body language is as plain as any mortal man's - they mean to play us false.
To the deamons: Speak plainly creatures. Our goals are aligned. We are the best hope to freeing your master. What do you know of the Horn?
Sidous is a little more direct. You dare lie to me, who serves the Master of Lies? We make stout allies but I swear to you, we make truly terrible enemies. If you continue to thwart us I shall take great pleasure in describing your treachery to Vetra Kali once we have summoned him. I could torture you myself, but I know what I might do to you pales before what Vetra Kali will do over and over again.
You dare lie to me, who serves the Master of Lies?
I have no idea sir. Are you his servant?
We make stout allies but I swear to you, we make truly terrible enemies.
No sir. Not at all.
I must agree sir. You make excellent enemies.Dumb, weak, disorganized, arrogant.
The best kind, always.
The best always indeed.
I could torture you myself.
You are mistaken Sir.
You cannot at all.You are weak sir.
Weaker than most weak humans.
Weaker breed?
Weaker breed indeed.
Speak plainly creatures. Our goals are aligned. We are the best hope to freeing your master. What do you know of the Horn?
He speaks the truth.
The truth indeed.Even if they are weak.
It is they or wait another eighty years…
Such is our life.
Such is indeed.
Then, some more seconds passes, as they just stare at each other before continuing.
Not much more sir.
Not much more indeed sir.
There is a smelly tribe in the caverns.
Frogs, of the foulest kind sir.
There is a pair of goo in the second floor.
Sleeping goos sir.
Wakey wakey when there is anyone closer.
There is a ghost in this floor sir.
A crazy ghost of a crazy follower.
What was it is name?
What was its name indeed?
A few more seconds staring at each other before continuing.
There is a mass of condensed living energy in the sanctum sir.
There is one indeed.
Well that was interesting... , he says looking nonplussed.
How do we do this activation thingy for the Lord of Pox and sundry diseases? How long is it gonna take?
Well, not having had the chance to study the book very much beyond a few pages...It will take at least two hundred twenty two days. Agrippa answers Eldred's question.
Before we start then we should order in more supplies - two hundred days is nearly a whole year! Figuring double rations for our friend here? It's over 1200 days of food! Water supplies we have and I suppose we can eat a frog man for variety but our supplies will not stretch so long - we'll need winter blankets and extra clothes lest these rot off our backs
The trip to Farholde isn't that far...we could go back and forth. Agrippa says, amused at the peasant man's worryings.
Wodin frowns, though Agrippa makes it sound easy. "Is still damned tree outside," he reminds the wizard.
Woodin is right. The tree is there. I would like to deal with it before we hole up and start the ritual, but I suspect we will not be able to find it when we want to. Eldred, if need be with Asmodeus' help I can keep us fed, but that will require a considerable amount of my divine power each day. He considers for a moment before asking And there is the matter of binding. I rather think we should have that worked out before we begins summoning. Ideas Agrippa?
I will need time to study the manuscript... Agrippa says clutching the book to himself protectively.
Could we study that back in town and properly outfit and plan?
We have provisions for several more days, yes? Lets map out as much of this complex as we can before heading back into town.
And perhaps we don't need to be having this conversation in front of the deamons Johan whispers.
Wodin nods, and slowly lifts himself off the floor. "Most important, am need of good sleeping and healing. Being in Knot is more dangerous than expected."
Map they said.
Map indeed.
You mapped this place.
Several years ago.
Was you bored?
Bore out of boringness.
Where is it?.
Where is it indeed..
[bah!]Johan Johan waves a hand dismissively at the deamons. No more of this gibberish! Let us move on.
Johan makes to move into the room towards the second staircase, alert to possible treachery from the two outsiders.
Quite agreed Master Hale. They do speak in gibberish. Agrippa says following the bigger man
Dumb, weak, disorganized, arrogant.
Just like you said.
I said it indeed.
The dwarf will be the first one.
I can already see his dying face.
They think themselves strong.
Arrogance of the stupid.
Arrogance indeed.
Should we warn them?
Why should we?
The one above is quite strong.
We have said it so already.