@Eldred
Norgorber's herald, the Stabbing Beast, a gigantic, black, scorpion-like entity that takes the form of a darkly armored humanoid with a scorpion's tail came to collect your debt. Your life is at the end, a painful death is what awaits you.
Its tail run you thru and for a moment the pain and agony was unbearable, you heart stopped, your life ended.
…
Then you hear an evil and malign laugher and suddenly the life is forced back on you. As you wake, you see that Cedric has been killed, Johan is scorched all his hair burnt. The only one that seemed to suffer no damage at all was Agrippa.
@Johan
It takes one week for Sidious to remove the curse from you. An entire week plagued by visions and nightmares.
@Cedric
This time, the body silently reconstructed itself. There was no explosion of fire, or bestial howls. But the unnatural feeling about the whole thing continued.
Without its master leadership, Cedric organization fell to bickering amongst its members and Sidious wasn’t capable of taking control. Thus that week, they weren’t able to do anything.
@Agrippa
Once more, your actions spared you suffering while helping your alli… I mean, minions deal with the threat.
Once it’s gone, you dedicate some time to understand how it invaded your defenses.
And you learn that, it wasn’t an external threat, but one from within. Over the decades the amount of people killed or sacrificed in the horn is hard to measure, but it is the remain of those, now fueled by the evil energy of the ritual that gathered in that nightmare which attacked the knot.
You know there’s little chance of such happening again, while you a stay here.
Meanwhile the knot received a message not thru official channels.
A low-level gang war erupts between the tugs of the Vandermir Orphanage and a Drowington based crime ring calling themselves “Thatcher’s Crew”. Bergill Mott, headmaster of the Orphanage asks for aid.
Agrippa doesn't care about some silly gang run by the Baron. He's content to just continue the ritual and finish the task set before them by the Cardinal.
Like Agrippa, Johan is nonplussed by the plight of the Baron's brats, especially after having been all but kicked out Vadermir's birthday party several weeks before. He tells the rest of the knot they should let the Baron stew in his own juices... or he would if he didn't feel so miserable.... instead he just bellows and throws something heavy at the unfortunate porter that brings him the message.
That same week Agrippa orders his followers to scour the city of Farholde, the Mitrans must have some plot afoot in this "gang war".
Faalthraaz, Gulugur....what news from the city?
After several hours of fitful sleep, Johan wakes with a startand a change of heart. He lurches from his room in search of the messenger. You there! He leans against a wall starts scrawling a hasty note. Take this to Bergill Mott. Tell him to arrange a meeting with the head of this Thatcher's Crew on the outskirts of town, here... he marks a point on his hastily drawn map then shoves the crumpled parchment into the man's hand.
Then he stumbles down to the caverns. Boggards! The Father wants you to kill someone!
The previous week: Immediately after the Ashen nightmare's attack, Johan loses all faith in the boggards as guards, and sends them out into the briar to once again hunt for beasts that might make better guardians than themselves.
Thru your new formed network spy, you keep watching potential suspects and adventuring parties.
Almost nothing new happens in the city, apart the gang war keeping everyone in their toes. It isn’t rare for bodies to be found lying in alleyways comes the morning. One of your spies tho report something interesting:
The beautiful ebony skinned elf is seen in Farhold again, taking to a group of what appears to be adventures. It as this same time, your spies starts to go missing, key members of your network simply vanish without explanation and you are left without no information about the Lillend or this supposed adventure party.
As requested, the crew is gathered to ‘discuss’ this gang war business and solve it once for all.
The Thatcher's Crew on the outskirts of town gather in the outskirt of town, but they are not the only ones, somehow, the thugs from orphanage heard about this gathering and decided the pay a visit as well.
Insult were traded, the most heated insults, then weapons were drawn, a fight starts and it is in this precise moment when the boggards descend killing without distinction. They were ordered to kill, and in an infernal cacophony of croaks, that’s what more than a dozen of boggard do, killing without distinction.
After that day, no more was heard about this supposed gangwar, the vultures had much to eat and feast, but worse was the repercussion. Bergill Mott sent a colorful message about getting his ‘kids’ killed, while thought out your organization many that knew the ones killed, seeing that most of the recruitment and your minions came from the orphanage, start talking and questioning things.
Reporting or not to his minions about what’s happening in Farhold, everyone notices that Johan’s move wasn’t successful as all the other minions started to, at least for some time, to question and talk about the things that happen. The blow of morale and loyalty was heavy, but nothing that could really threaten the knot.
==//==
- Agrippa, post your organization action for week 18
- Johan, post your boggard action for week 18
- Cedric, post your organization actions for week 18
Agrippa calls Johan (and Cedric if he is alive?) into his lair
Gulugur has returned with news from Farhold. The Lillend B$#!~ has returned and is mettling with our efforts to gather information in Farholde.
Agrippa orders the Pentacles to find this Lillend and report on her whereabouts
We know where she is...let us go and dispatch this meddlesome creature.
The lillend? Johan asks, eager for a rematch. Then he pauses, suspicious of a ploy to lure them away from the horn. Perhaps we should we dispatch the seventh to deal with her?
Every time you dispatch someone to search for the Lillend it has but two results:
They find nothing,
They don’t return at all.
It’s clear that something is hampering your spy network, even the accuser devil was attacked at some point, to which he quickly fled.
Reviewing the images from the accuser devil evil’s eye, the one that attacked him seems some sort of holy warrior, in a heavy plate.
Cedric awakens rejuvenated and whole again. His fist clenches as he hears of the news of what happened. He dispatches one of his minions with order for the week.
"Tell me of what rumors are about after previous events."
One Rumor
"Get more sacrifices for the tree and Master Agrippa"
No one abducted
"Keep business as usual among the chaos"
80gp
Most troubling. The lillend has allies. Perhaps Master Crofter can set a trap...
Agrippa will conference with the others, the gist of his plan is to bait the Lillend into attacking us somewhere in a supposedly neutral site.
Or we could send Elise and the Seventh...Although I have my doubts about their efficacy.
After the disaster with the gangs, Johan keeps the boggards' attention focused on the forest, hunting dangerous beasts...
The seventh's role in this is to stop threats before they reach the horn and keep us informed of goings on in Farholde. They have failed on both accounts. I would like to give them one last chance to deal with this lillend and her allies, but at this point we can't even be sure a message to that effect would reach them. No, I think at this point we need to deal with this ourselves. Perhaps we could visit Mott's orphanage - make a show of offering amends after the gang war ...issue. If our enemies are this effective at capturing our spies and messengers, they surely already know of the place.
We send a message to the seventh to meet us there. If it is intercepted, then our trap is baited. If it is not, it gives us the chance to discuss Elise's failings directly.
"I agree with Johan. I have not been impressed at all with the seventh's inability to keep threats from this place."
And so the Ninth knot dispatches a messenger to Farhold for the seventh knot, telling them to meet at Bergil Mott's orphanage three days hence.
A carrier is dispatched to notify Elise of the meeting.
@Cedric
Thru your spies, you notice that some bodies are showing up in alleyways and ppl are being killed.
The locals attribute it to the gangwar, which one way or another, Johan ended last week. It isn’t hard to notice that the bodies being found are Agrippa Spies.
One thing you also noticed: As soon you started sending ppl to collect information in town, you started losing minions as well;
--
The hours passes and there’s nothing much to do except wait. Waiting has been your entire life for the past months, waiting for the time to complete the steps of the ritual. Waiting until some wannabe adventure attacks the horn. Waiting until something, since something always happened.
The Ashen Nightmare attack some weeks ago caused you to understand how fragile your defenses against the horn itself are; you cannot claim to know all the secrets of the place, nor do you particularly care. You have a mission, and that will be finished. There’s no room for mistakes or doubts.
Their travel had taken then far away from home. He didn’t remember whose idea was to get in that ship, and it certainly didn’t know that they would end up in ‘Talingard’. What the hell was that place anyway? A new god ruled over the island, Mitra was its name, and as far they could tell, the land was fair and just.
Well, he didn’t remember at first. Later, they understood that Grabriel was from this land as well. Even though he had changed his faith after fleeing from the island, but he had always wanted to return.
Even then, rumors and whispers in the night. A massing army of monsters gathering in the north and that was the beginning of the war.
Over the years, they’ve learned to trust each other, companions not in faith, but in friendship.
They weren’t sure in what exactly in what Ebenezer believed in. They have seen him talking to the toad he call ‘Lulu’ as it was some long lost friend or something like that. But ultimately, the man had a caring heart.
Nicholae himself believed in Sarenae, he had been created in the faith, and it was only normal he lived for it.
Hajar was a holy warrior of Iomedae. That’s what he lived for, that was his calling.
Gabriel? He called himself the just, Knight of Solamnia serving his got Kiri-Jolith. Nicholae had never before head about such god, but its miracles were real, so was Gabriel devotion.
”Are you sure we can trust her?” Nicholae asked not for the first time, since the ebon skinned elf had left them in the forest, while she scouted ahead.
Nicholae is neat and very tidy, almost fastidiously so. He shaves regularly and his hair is cropped in a short military cut. Nicolae is kind but firm in his dealings with others, showing respect but expecting some degree of self-discipline and responsibility in those whom he works with. His skin is dusky, his eyes brown and his hair black.
Over the distance, hey can hear Ebenezer laugh over the priest question, one they’d heard many times before.
The old man Ebenezer and his toad, carrying his bag, dressed in the familiar ceremonial silk. Once, they though the man had several of the same cloths, and when questioned, a smiling old man revealed his trick: he used magic to clean and repair the clothes, and sometimes, to change the color as well.
It is Gabriel that answers this time. ”Yes. She didn’t lie to us.”
He remembers when they met the ebon skinned elf. Gabriel felt as if he had just met with someone from the realms of gods themselves, such strong and clear aura of good. She wanted to talk, and talk they did. The elf asked a lot of questions and then left.
Sometime later they met the ‘prophet’. Well, that’s another history for another time.
Gabriel opens his mouth to say something more, but is interrupted by the returning elf.
”It is as the ‘prophet’ said.” The elf confirms. ”All of the entrances have some sort of trap, and as he suggested, the cave is being well guarded. That tree noticed me, even if I when I was invisible.”
They all stare at the elf…
There was some planning to do…
Cedric calls the know together.
"My friends my minions have been finding the bodies of Master Agrippa's spies. People of the town are passing it off as casualties of the gang war. A few of my men have been lost to this as well. Something knows of us and is targeting us. It may be this creature or it could be something else."
They are trying to draw us out - cutting off our access to information and supplies. . . we need to tighten our defences here at the horn
"So you suggest we pull out and leave things to the seventh. I could have my men stand guard here. I agree master Hale. We have been caught with our pants down numerous times and I have been here only a short while."
It’s a sign to behold.
Only the old man, Ebenezer isn’t wearing some sort of protective armor, his companions, stepping heavily in their full bodied armor.
”We have a good fight ahead of us Lulu.” he says petting the Frog and getting ready to move.
After listening to the woman, they decided to attack the caves, even though they knew of the defender that cursed tree.
As always, Gabriel Lucas Barca takes point in their formation, followed closely by Nicholae.
Ebenezer followed them from medium distance, and behind him Hajar.
The difference this time is the woman, near the old man.
Ebenezer had already lived long enough to know the wasn’t what she wanted them to believe.
They had already discussed this, the woman had some feud against those inside this ‘horn’, but there was no denying she served the cause of good. So it was fine, even if she didn’t want to confide in them, they could trust her.
”There.” the elf says pointing to the not so hidden tree. She’d known such things from ages, but Jurak always manage to keep it in check, with the guardian demise, it wasn’t a surprise it allied itself with the guardian killers.
”That’s some ugly tree.” Ebenezer laughs seeing the thing.
As always, the old man sense of humor was hard to grasp.
Since they didn’t had any good means of ranged assault, the band of heroes moved to attack the tree.
Behind them, the clear and crystalline voice rings out, in an upbeat song, bolstering their morale.
Round 1-
Ordered Initiative-
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Narrative-
The tree lumbers forward as it releases it's spores catching the knight, the outsider and other man in it's burst.
DC 20 will save or become passive for minutes.
The spores coat the ones closer to the tree, making them believe it’s no more than a normal tree, or a harmless guardian.
--
Gabriel Raises his shield and approaches the enemy, his sword bursting in sacred flames while he does so.
With a flash of holy light, the holy knight uses a mighty and powerful attack on his enemy.
--
Ebenezer just laugh when the others are taken by the effect of the spores. He moves closer, to be able to help as well.
Hajar follows the same line as Ebenezer, running towards the tree, his falchion hi hands, dripping with cold magic.
Round 2-
Ordered Initiative-
Hangman Tree: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Enemies: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Narrative-
As Gabriel gets close, the Tree lashes out, wrapping him with a thick vine and pulling him forward
The Tree begins to crush the life from the armored man
and auto natural damage
The tree lashes out with ropey vines!
and
derp!! Too slow
The malevolent tree lashes out at the charging warrior, trying to tangle his legs with its vines as shuffles back, instinctively shying away from the flaming sword, then once its put some distance between them, focuses its full ire on the intruder.
; ;
; ;
Let’s work like this: I’ll try to answer this combat about 4~5 times per day. The first one that sees my reply is in charge of acting for the hangman tree, how that sound?
Let’s work like this: I’ll try to answer this combat about 4~5 times per day. The first one that sees my reply is in charge of acting for the hangman tree, how that sound?
The tree lashes with ferocity and a deadly barrage of attacks, hitting the man in the heavy armor two out of five attacks.
The vines tries to get a hold of the man, but somewhat, it isn’t enough, and the man barely escapes being grappled.
--
Snapping out of their mind bending behavior, the elf starts singing again, while the cleric moves back, allowing the others to attack the tree.
--
Gabriel does not let the opportunity pass and continues his attack, taking a step forward.
The holy sword still coated in holy flames attacks mercilessly the tree trunk, chopping of its defense, cutting and damaging.
--
Ebenezer walks closer, focusing in his mysterious power to bring down ruin and misfortune to his enemy.
--
Hajar does the same as the iron knight, charging at the enemy, ready to put an end to it.
Round 3-
Ordered Initiative-
Hangman Tree: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Enemies: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Narrative-
Tree attacks Gabriel
hit for and
The vines lashes again, piercing and trying to entangle the holy man.
They succeed in restraining the man, tying itself around his body, which in turns only make it easier to hurt the man even more.
--
Being unable to use his sword doesn’t mean that he is still unable to fight.
Letting go of the weapon, he draws a dagger, one which released his true heritage, a dagger in which the pommel describe an griffon.
With the dagger in hands, he attack once more.
And using his dagger, the holy man finishes the already dying tree.
In that clear morning the sound of wind and hustling of leaves. The defenders, distracted and not fully alert, fail to distinguish the faint sounds of battle coming for far away. It’s no more than the usual noises of the forest.
-
The old man still grinning look at the metal clad companions. The Brazen Gabriel moving ahead, despite the warnings the entrance was trapped, had his way falling down the pit, being assailed by a giant centipede.
Of course the bug wasn’t enough to offer any harm to the metal knight, but it was fun nonetheless.
After that, they decided to take a more careful approach. Nicholae had to use some of his miracles to heal the knight injuries, but nothing overburdening or that would prevent them from continuing.
Strange thing was that Gabriel could also heal himself by his own faith, but he’d rather make holy flames to punish his enemies. Go figures.
The deep cave opens to them in several passages, and here they need to decide where to go.
The elf woman adds some more tidbits to their knowledge.
”There was a tribe of foul frogman in these caves. I’m not sure if they still persists, but judging by the smell” she says with a ugly expression on her face ”they still live in this swamp-like caves.”
After some more discussion, they decided to explore further north, or closer to north as they can get.
Walking precariously in the web cave, they enter the mud-filled room (c4), following the stench.
And unaware of the mudman lying in wait, they stride in the ambush site.
One of the mudmen rises out of the shadows behind the others, and hurls itself at the old man.
;
The final mudman rises from the muck and hurls itself at a nearby target
The mud splashes over Gabriel’s armor, doing little less than dirtying his shining armor.
Same thing cannot be said about Hajar that is completely engulfed by the mudman.
Ebenezer shares the same fate, what he could do was ”Lulu, jum..” he never finished trying to make his pet frog jump away, as the mud cover his mouth and engulf him as well.
The last Mudman tried to engulf female elf, but she even if it could hit her, he was unable to cover her entire body.
Round Surprise-
Ordered Initiative-
Enemies: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Mudman: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Narrative-
Nicholae advances and attack the thing trying to suffocate the old man. Of all of them, Ebenezer was the one which would be most vulnerable to this kind of attack, and less likely to free himself.
The attack hits, but is not enough to destroy the creature.
Callistae does the same, attacking her enemy twince.
But even if she has a better aim and stronger attacks then the cleric, she also cannot finish her enemy.
Lastly, the paladin put himself to his job.
With a single attack, he dispatchs the enemy in front of him, and turning around, does the same to the enemy engulfing Hajar.
"You guys should be ashamed of falling to such enemy!" Gabriel laughs with confidence as Hajar gasp for air, after the hold on him was released.
The mudman engulfing the old man continues to crush...
;
...while lashing out with its moist fists at the elf beside it...
;
;
The other surviving mudman pulls itself together and follows suite, pawing at the she-elf as well...
;
;
Even if in the end, the mudman were able to hurt the old man and the elf, that wasn’t enough to actually stop them. Swiftly and efficiently, they dispatch the already hurt mudman. But the battle might have some other consequences.
While some of the boggards are out, hunting for beast, many more are still in their swamp-village.
A total of twelve boggards are still present in the caves, plus the drug addicted priest in his temple. The sounds of battle were close enough to alert them of a possible enemy? How will the boggards respond to such treat?
Zikomo hears the intruders dispatching the mudmen and rallies the warriors of the Bane-Wog tribe. First he calls out to the two wraiths patrolling the caverns and demands they fly forth to inform the masters above. Next, he selcts his two fasted scouts and instructs them to find the intruders. They are to bait them into giving chase - throw their javelins and then run inth the tunnels to the north, where Zikomo will wait in ambush with the rest of the tribe (between C16 and C17). These warriors will be split into two groups of five, if all goes to plan, the adventurers will charge headlong into the first group while zikomo and the other five warriors will fall upon them from behind, or from a side passge.
The boggards will always lead with their terrifying croak, hoping to catch the entire party withing the cramped confines of the tunnels. If any adventurers flee, several boggards will break off and harry them, driving them into the giant scorpions (C7) or the zombie pits (C1). After croaking, the boggards focus as many attacks on signle enemies as they can. If they can get 3 to 1 odds they will grapple with aid another. Otherwise they will stab with their spears for all they are worth. "Training" with Cedric and Johan have given them a healthy fear of heavily armored opponents, and they will always choose the more lightly armored as their victims if fiven the chance.
Zikomo blasing away from the rear with hold person spells then switching to Interstellar Void on subdued, held or frightened targets.