The mercenaries, scorched and weakened by Xerath's hellish flames, fall link saplings beneath the Beast's massive blows. Three are messily cut down by Cataclysm while another is violently trampled underhoof.
While shrouded by the veil of the spirit world Yahirma reaches out mending the wounds the airborne Gardeners.
Derek strikes at the barbed fiend harrying him. He manages one solid blow but is scratched badly by the monster's thorns in return.
The fiends on the frontline continue their attacks but the heroes' defenses stand strong.
Irritated at Appario's attack, Melavengian fires a howling blast of hellish flames into the air catching both the Abadaran Militant and Xerath.
On the heels of his cohort's spell, Eccardian takes to the air again and swipes at Appario with his bloody rapier.
Appario
Mooks
Derek
Maddok
Xerath
Yahirma
Named Mooks
Eccardian
Round 5
Reflex save (w/evasion)
Appario 5' flaps to AE26, lunging again to take down Melavengian.
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
Haste:
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
Iterative #1:
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
Iterative #2:
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
19 base
+2 divine bond
+2 heroism
+1 haste
--------------
24 to hit
+7 base
+2 divine bond
+2d6 holy
+1d6 rogue
----------
+9+2d6 damage
AC:
7 armor
5 dexterity
2 deflection
4 shield
1 dodge
5 barkskin
1 haste
-2 lunge
-------------
33 AC +3 more vs. Melavengian
hp 46+23= 69/87
Fort +14, Ref +18, Will +14 (+2 more with heroism) (prot from evil)
Lay on Hands: 5d6 healing (2/8 used)
Smite Evil (+3 to hit, +3 AC, +14 damage) (2/5 used)
Divine Bond 9/min (2x) day. (2/2 used, 3/9 minutes used)
Fickle Winds (Yahirma)
Heroism (Xerath)
Communal Protection From Evil, Split (Xerath)
Veil (Xerath)
Barkskin (Maddok)
Both Appario and Xerath dodges some/all of the hellfire but Appario's Abadar-blessed blade continues to struggle against the devil's hide.
Emboldened by the priestly fiend's blessing and the wounds they've managed to inflict on the heroes, the mercenaries continue their attack.
But protected by Maddok's spirits and Yahirma's Wendo, not a single blow wounds the heroes.
Xerath launches a plain fireball centered at engulfing the mercenaries and the beast and Derek.
The hag spirit lashes at the devil pinned between it and Derek. Meanwhile, unable to clearly distinguish how wounded Derek is beneath his heavy armor, Yahirma reaches out with her magic to heal the southern cadre of Gardeners She then skims along the ground .
hp 75/75
AC 18
Agh...I am really begining to feel pressed here. But I can probably hold on a little longer, IF I can get rid of some of these wounds.
Xerath’s flames and Yahirma’s bound hag spirit continue to weaken Eccardian’s remaining mortal forces while the shoanti war spirit cleaves one of the hellcats in two and tramples another mercenary underhoof. Yahirma and Derek’s magics do much to heal the bloodied bard.
While struggling to find solid footing amid the ichor and blood-soaked square, the few remaining devils at Eccardian’s command continue to attack the heroes.
”I don’t know what you’ve promised my sister but I swear to Mammon that she’ll suffer for her betrayal”, the Golden Scion sneers at the Abadaran militant with his blood-spilling blade.
Surprised that his spell was so ineffective, Melavengian spits a curse in his hellish tongue. The devil retreats a step and calls down a hail of ice and stone on Xerath and Appario.
Appario
Mooks
Derek
Maddok
Xerath
Yahirma
Named Mooks
Eccardian
Yahirma tries to twist Eccardian's blade before it draws Appario's lifeblood
In a bizarre twist of fate, Eccardian's deadly rapier slides off of Appario's plated armor instead of slicing the artery it was aimed for.
"Damn!" he curses.
Round 6
Appario prays to Abadar to distract Eccardian so that he might continue in pursuit of his main quarry.
SR check
Appario twists away from Eccardian as well, tumbling away from *that* blade, spring attacking Melavengian with relish.
Acrobatics to tumble vs. CMD
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
Pot Crit:
to hit;
more damage. (holy, smite)
19 base
+2 divine bond
+2 heroism
+1 haste
--------------
24 to hit
+7 base
+2 divine bond
+2d6 holy
+1d6 rogue
----------
+9+2d6 damage
AC:
7 armor
5 dexterity
2 deflection
4 shield
1 dodge
5 barkskin
1 haste
-------------
35 AC +3 more vs. Melavengian
hp 69-21+21 (Yam) = 48/87 - 2 con = 36/75
Fort +14, Ref +18, Will +14 (+2 more with heroism) (prot from evil)
Lay on Hands: 5d6 healing (4/8 used)
Smite Evil (+3 to hit, +3 AC, +14 damage) (2/5 used)
Divine Bond 9/min (2x) day. (2/2 used, 3/9 minutes used)
Fickle Winds (Yahirma)
Heroism (Xerath)
Communal Protection From Evil, Split (Xerath)
Veil (Xerath)
Barkskin (Maddok)
Unfortunately even with Abadar's guiding hand, Appario isn't quite nimble enough to evade the Golden Scion as he performs his aerial maneuver.
But Abadar does bless his warrior's blade as he strikes this time. With a brilliant flash of golden light Extortion cleaves deep into the devilish priest's barbed hide. For a brief moment fear flashes in his pupil-less eyes. Down below the Westcrowners watching cheer.
Some form of fanatical devotion and fiendish bloodlust keeps the mercenaries attacking the heroes.
One manages a lucky blow, further bloodying the heroic bard.
Xerath will launch an empowered fireball at the large grouping again.
"Just die already." He says to the group.
"Almost...almost..."
Focusing once again on self healing, Derek grunts as fire crashes all around him.
"Truly, this battlefield is hell itself...you should feel right at home here then."
Yahirma makes a few hexing signs toward Eccardian as he continues to vex Appario.
Despite their superior equipment and advanced training, Eccardian’s elite mercenaries falls to Xerath’s spell and the Beast’s mighty horns/hooves. One of the barbed devils still mounted suffers a pair of blows from Cataclysm but manages to stay in his saddle. From behind the veil, Yahirma’s hex settles on the unsuspecting Golden Scion and Derek continues to mend his wounds.
Something like fear begins to creep into the remaining forces of Hell as they continue to attack.
The barbed devil facing off with Derek digs both of his claws into the bard’s shoulders and drags him in for another bearhug. The bard’s freshly mended wounds reopen as he’s impaled on its spiny hide.
Eccardian charges after the Abadaran who continues to evade him.
”Damn that witch!” he curses when he notices the hex stymying his swordplay. ”Destroy her!”
Despite being quite wounded, the fiendish priest gestures and a length of golden chains spring into existence near Yahirma. Moving with some kind of malign intellect they slither toward her incorporeal form.
Round 7
Appario 5' steps to AJ31 and lunges at Melavengian.
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
Appario heals.
healing
19 base
+2 divine bond
+2 heroism
+1 haste
--------------
24 to hit
+7 base
+2 divine bond
+2d6 holy
+1d6 rogue
----------
+9+2d6 damage
AC:
7 armor
5 dexterity
2 deflection
4 shield
1 dodge
5 barkskin
1 haste
-2 lunge
-------------
33 AC +3 more vs. Melavengian
hp 36+21 = 56/75 (-2 con)
Fort +14-1, Ref +18, Will +14 (+2 more with heroism) (prot from evil)
Lay on Hands: 5d6 healing (5/8 used)
Smite Evil (+3 to hit, +3 AC, +14 damage) (2/5 used)
Divine Bond 9/min (2x) day. (2/2 used, 3/9 minutes used)
Fickle Winds (Yahirma)
Heroism (Xerath)
Communal Protection From Evil, Split (Xerath)
Veil (Xerath)
Barkskin (Maddok)
With Extortion in hand Appario wounds his target twice more leaving the barbed devil barely standing. It sneers with hatred at him.
The mercenaries attack again while what tiny bit remains of their resolve crumbles.
Xerath flies 35 feet south to and fires a volley of missiles at the devil who dare inconvenience him with inferior magic.
Yahirma slowly floats toward the aerial melee, evades the chain's opening attack, and focuses her gaze further on Eccardian and his misfortune.
Ugh...dying here, without the armour on, I imagine I'd look like a piece of badly shredded pork...might not live through this.
Derek, badly injured and held in the merciless grip of the devil, finds himself somewhat out of quips and witticism to use as a weapon.
"Let go you!"
Yahirma feels the power of her baleful gaze begin to take hold but with a surge of will Ecarrdian shakes free from it. Xerath’s volley of missiles buffet the barbed devil singling him out painfully and the Beast cuts another devil in half before trampling one of the mercenaries into a puddle of bone and gore. Derek struggles but the barbed devil’s grip is too tight.
The Golden Scion’s few remaining forces desperately strike back. The barbed devil with Derek in his grasp tightens his hold digging those deadly spines deeper into the bard’s flesh. Sensing Derek’s rapid weakening, the hellcat that had been attacking him break off to pursue the Beast.
With black ichor pouring from his wounds, Melavengian tries to keep himself alive.
While Eccardian, eager to shed the minor curse afflicting him, lowers his defenses in favor of a flurry of blows.
[dice=Will]2d20
[dice=Timely Inspiration]2d4Yahirma feels the power of her baleful gaze begin to take hold but with a surge of will Ecarrdian shakes free from it. Xerath’s volley of missiles buffet the barbed devil singling him out painfully and the Beast cuts another devil in half before trampling one of the mercenaries into a puddle of bone and gore. Derek struggles but the barbed devil’s grip is too tight.
Primary: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 29
Ill-Omen: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31
Damage: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Iterative: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 33
Damage: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
Confirming: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30Secondary Iterative: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19Haste: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39
Damage: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Confirming: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21
Extra Damage: 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
Round 8
Appario lunges at Melavengian, attacking, and then 5' steps to AI31.
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
Appario heals.
healing
19 base
+2 divine bond
+2 heroism
+1 haste
--------------
24 to hit
+7 base
+2 divine bond
+2d6 holy
+1d6 rogue
----------
+9+2d6 damage
AC:
7 armor
5 dexterity
2 deflection
4 shield
1 dodge
5 barkskin
1 haste
-2 lunge
-------------
33 AC +3 more vs. Melavengian
hp 56-36+18 = 38/75 (-2 con)
Fort +14-1, Ref +18, Will +14 (+2 more with heroism) (prot from evil)
Lay on Hands: 5d6 healing (6/8 used)
Smite Evil (+3 to hit, +3 AC, +14 damage) (2/5 used)
Divine Bond 9/min (2x) day. (2/2 used, 3/9 minutes used)
Fickle Winds (Yahirma)
Heroism (Xerath)
Communal Protection From Evil, Split (Xerath)
Veil (Xerath)
Barkskin (Maddok)
Appario smites his target twice more but it refuses to fall. It sends a desperate glance at Eccardian that only seems to enrage the Golden Scion further.
The two remaining mercenaries amid the figurative sea of charred and mangled bodies, break and flee.
Xerath sends out another flurry of missiles at the impudent devil.
Yahirma points at the devil that impaled Derek, and it begins its attack.
While it vents its anger, Yahirma floats out of the ground, returns to her corporeal form, and uses her enhanced speed to wind her way between Derek's corpse and the Beast's stomping form. Activating her robe's power (mnemonic vestment), she performs a quick ritual to channel a scroll's energy into a true miracle. She claps twice to get Suh-Ak'Eh-Di's attention and points to the blood-soaked devil, hoping that he can take its attention off their fallen ally.
The barbed devil's strength was too much. Derek feels his spine snap and the monster's barbs perforate his lungs. The pain quickly fades and darkness begins to take hold...
Suddenly the pain returns in a horrific way but so does the light as he's yanked from death's door by Yahirma's wendo-magic. Derek finds himself freed from his attacker's grasp a moment later as the cackling hag spirit and the Beast hacks off the barbed devil's head in a spectacularly gory fashion. Shu-Ak’eh-Di turns his wrath on the feline devils next, cutting one of the hellcats down in a similar manner and tramping its remains into the square's paved street. Xerath finds his second volley of missiles stymied by his attacker's natural resistance to magic.
The final few devils continue their attacks despite all good sense telling them otherwise.
Melavengian, gravely wounded, sneers at Eccardian, "Apologies but this was not in our contract." The devil retreats a step, chants a spell, and vanishes in a cloud of brimstone. The priestly fiend's golden chains vanish with him.
The Golden Scion, mad with fury, slashes at the bothersome Appario in vengeance. "To Hell with him! To Hell with all of you! I don't need any of them!"
Round 9
Appario smiles as Eccardian's blade misses him repeatedly...after his powerful minion fled him.
"Things are about to get bad for you and good for me. I just decided on what I would gift my new as a second betrothal present: your head."
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
to hit;
damage. (holy, smite)
19 base
+2 divine bond
+2 heroism
+1 haste
--------------
24 to hit
+7 base
+2 divine bond
+2d6 holy
+1d6 rogue
----------
+9+2d6 damage
AC:
7 armor
5 dexterity
2 deflection
4 shield
1 dodge
5 barkskin
1 haste
-------------
35 AC +3 more vs. Eccardian
hp 38/75 (-2 con)
Fort +14-1, Ref +18, Will +14 (+2 more with heroism) (prot from evil)
Lay on Hands: 5d6 healing (6/8 used)
Smite Evil (+3 to hit, +3 AC, +14 damage) (3/5 used)
Divine Bond 9/min (2x) day. (2/2 used, 3/9 minutes used)
Fickle Winds (Yahirma)
Heroism (Xerath)
Communal Protection From Evil, Split (Xerath)
Veil (Xerath)
Barkskin (Maddok)
Derek slowly and painfully gets to his feet, his body coursing with pain.
Death is not easy, a violent death is not the way to go.
I don't want to die yet, I have things to do, places to be, a family to put together...
"You are wrong you know, hell is close yes, we can all feel the infernal flames licking at our feet at this moment, but it is not us who are going there.
You are all alone now, alone and blinded by arrogance.
Can you feel the heat, the stench of brimstone and sulphur?
The ground is opening, ready to swallow you up, and it is Mammon him, coming to collect on the deal, on the bargain struck.
It may have been done against your will, and for that I pity you, but you didn't exactly reject the power or the promised did you? So now it is time to pay..."
Xerath will continue in taking down of the devil pestering him with inferior magicks.
Appario continues to bleed his own blood, hoping for help.
With Derek once again moving, Yahirma turns her attention to Eccardian to ease pressure on Appario. With her quick but potent curse complete, she moves at street level to be closer to Appario in case he needs assistance.
The Beast turns the remaining hellcat into gory chucks and Yahirma’s pervasive magics twist their way through Eccardian’s limbs, inhibiting his every motion. Xerath’s missiles pummel the last mounted devil leaving it bloodied and barely standing.
The Golden Scion, without friends or even mercenaries to fight by his side, slashes at Appario in a final desperate frenzy. He abandons any attempt at defending himself in favor of his bloodlust. ”Who are you to deny me?! This is my birthright!”