DM CH-P's CoT: The Bastards of Erebus (Inactive)

Game Master Feral

Tybain remains defiant.

The butterflies in his stomach quell a bit as he gives into the anger that Tybain must feel in this situation. After all, Tybain is just and good, like Appario himself and to be put on trial for crimes like this is as much of a farce as anything Appario has ever seen.

Using his anger, Tybain responds:

"You mewl lies like a sullied maid on her wedding night,
O Great One. Even a lord may be smote in darkness as
Asmodeus sees the truth of you—a base and lowly thing,
snivelling in crimson robes. These devil-bowing citizens
about us are affront enough to Aroden’s divine will, but
ye, whose left hand clasps devil’s claws, and right reaches
out for demonic boon—oh double-dealing fiend-lover,
who allies with the Abyss. Infernal oaths and Abyssal
blasphemy spew in one breath from your twisting lips."

They want drama, I'll give them drama.

After he finishes speaking, Tybain will detect evil, focusing first on Haanderthan.

I think it's good to prompt the next speaker. Please join me? Haanderthan/Are next, with Larazon/Derek to follow.

Incredulous at Tybain's words, Haanderthan largely ignores the paladin as he directs his response to Larazod instead.

"Does your Aroden arse-kissing pall-a-dine put you up to
such resounding blasphemy? Have you no tongue of your
own, half-breed, to answer my charge?"

In the context of the play itself, Tybain's detect evil would find evil auras on Haanderthan and the council members. For the real world application, Appario detects no evil on the stage, but there's a large amount of evil auras among the audience, as well as a strong evil aura emanating from the place where the Asmodean priest stays during the performance.

My last paragraph in my previous post was an attempt to bridge the gap into an act-by-act approach, but we can continue to do this too :)

Up next: Larazod/Derek, then Haanderthan/me, then Ilsandra/Yahirma.

Larazod laughs and gives Tybian a confident smile.
He then turns to Haanderthan and speaks with confidence and a clear voice.

"Truth is spoken freely in many tongues, false magistrate,
and by agents of light and dark. You know what you are."

Ironicly, Thesing has no clue as to WHAT he is.

Haanderthan waves away the continued accusations from Larazod.

"You persist in this foolishness? It shall go hard for you and
yours. Recant and your deaths shall be swift, your souls
consigned to diligent service in Hell. Refuse, and enlist in
agony’s service, consign your soul to wallow in the most
ignominious corner of the Nine, and take eternal suffering
as your bedmate."

Semenya believes her portrayal of Dentris so far is as the audience would expect.

The stage is essentially 50x25 feet, with a pit for the orchestra below the edge. There are two staging rooms next to the stage, but those would not be available to the audience. The main floor is pretty packed, but since it's also dark it wouldn't be too difficult to skulk about a bit if someone would so desire. There are balconies on both sides, with a total of four private lounges. The balcony hallways could provide ample opportunity for skulking.

Yahirma adjusts her costume slightly, speaking breathlessly for the audience's ears alone.
"He’s to have a much more interesting bedmate, if
I’ve anything to say. The fire that one shows at tribunal,
will no doubt burn even stronger between my sheets."

Dentris, Haanderthan, Larazod are next.

Looking over the audience, and tilting his head towards Ilsandra, Dentris says...and then moves appropriately behind Larazod to offer counsel.

That one grows hot betwixt her infernal thighs.
Hope beyond hope. One voice of dissent on the council
and the slenderest chance of salvation is ours to clutch. Let
this waxen sliver of hope not melt until she does—let her
find her tongue.

Semenya will, when there's a lull in the act, re-cast Message so she can keep in touch with the rest. She won't interrupt the performance to do so.

Larazod not immediately answering, Haanderthan becomes annoyed.

"Speak, boy. Do you still baffle with false charges, or have
your battered wits returned? Speak."

To Larazod's continued plea of innocence, Thesing's Haanderthan smiles as he passes judgment.

"Innocent, of course. And so judgment is passed. My right
as magistrate puts you to the flames on my command. My
word is law."

*** <Dentris>

Dentris's request for a consent among the council brings a brief flare of annoyance to Haanderthan's eye, but he quickly regains his composure and extends an arm towards the council members.

"Of course, you are correct, old man. I’ve no intention
of affronting our Great Lord. Council, what say ye on
this matter? Do you concur with my judgment? These
heinous slanders cast upon my great name warrant utter
annihilation. So sayeth I, Magistrate of this Gloried
Tribunal. Do you agree?"

*** <council members, Ilsandra>

While the rest of the council agrees, accompanied by Haanderthan's nods of approval, Ilsandra's disagreement finally brings his composure off-balance. Haanderthan turns and takes a step towards the erinyes, baffled at this turn of events.

"My ears deceive me. Do you, august erinyes, daughter of
Hell, speak against our cause?"

*** <Ilsandra, Dentris>

Trying to regain control of the matter (and himself), Haanderthan attempts to disregard the notion of trials by downplaying the importance of the matter at hand, citing expedience as a reason for immediate judgment.

"Tut, the business of the tribunal heaps higher day by
day. We’ve cases waiting in the wings by the thousands.
Penitent souls singing out for justice. Shall we delay their
flight to Asmodeus’s waiting embrace to engage in infantile
contests? Nay, expediency is our charge when matters so
lacking in evidence are brought before our bench."

*** <Ilsandra>

At Ilsandra's continued insistence on Trials, as well as her sweet, alluring voice and sensual movements, Haanderthan bargains for her services in return for giving Larazod the Trials.

"Trials you say? How now? If it is to be so, let us sweeten
the pot. A price I would exact for trials as you insist. If
this half-breed fails, not only is my name cleared of all
preposterous charges, but you shall compact to me for a
full moon’s service, to do my bidding and satisfy all my
unwholesome needs."

*** <Ilsandra>

Receiving her consent, he relents and allows the Trials. Now again seemingly in control of the situation, he acts with his usualy confidence and arrogance.

"So be it. Larazod, you stand in trial. By my discretion you
shall face six of Asmodeus’s fell tests. You stand alone in
the face of terrors over which no mortal has prevailed."

*** <Tybain, Dentris>

Haanderthan is incredulous at Tybain's and Dentris's expressions of loyalty in wishing to join their companion in the Trials, but allows it with only minor attempts at dissuading them, clearly wishing to have this entire matter done with as soon as possible. He ends the tribunal with a promise of hellish torments.

"Doddering old sack of bones. No demon’s dice, nor dragon’s
musings await you—only torment beyond the stars’ most
infinite imaginings. When you mewl out for merciful
death, I shall look on in pleasure, as your soul’s wake burns
from a withered old corpse. Make ready, supplicants.
The trials begin anon. May Asmodeus take pity on your
blighted souls."

Tybain speaks solemnly of his vows both to "Aroden", but also to "Larazod", but in his true heart, he is thinking of Abadar and Derek.

"I am true to Abad-, ARODEN, my lord, but I am also true in loyalty
and kinship. This man, though half-fiend his blood may
turn, is bound to me in brotherhood, as I stand bound to
him. Our blades both matched the enemies of Cheliax,
and what faith divides, common cause unites. You cannot
sunder me from his destiny. I stand trial at his side, as is
my right, if I so beclaim it. Is it not so, Dentris?"

Dentris recapitulates his willingness to stand by Larazod, and his fealty to Asmodeus. In the end, it is a proof, given fully, that belief in the tenets of Law will bring justice.

"There are worse fates, magistrate, than even can be
promised on the deepest level of your Hell. To walk alive in
a world, my duty undone, my sworn oath broken, is to walk
through fires more smolderous than any Asmodeus keeps
below. Though he be a fool, and possessed of a diseased
wit, Larazod is my master, and I shall stand by him. Do
your worst magistrate. I’ve rolled bones with demons, and
gazed in dragons’ hearts. Let us have these trials and be
done with my life, if the lords of darkness so command."

Instead of relating directly to the plight of Larazod, Yahirma finds her role is better served by channeling the spirit of her character than by comparing the scene's events to those her friends are undergoing off-stage. In that respect, she is more of a method actor than an empathic interpreter. As a result, she finds herself not entirely in control over subtleties of her stage presence - a matter further complicated by the local spirits' (her haunted archetype) attempts to modify her costuming on stage. Combined with her lascivious lines, it is a performance certain to please the lusty and low-brow.

"He’s to have a much more interesting bedmate, if
I’ve anything to say. The fire that one shows at tribunal,
will no doubt burn even stronger between my sheets."

---

"Come, come, sweet magistrate. The spectacle of a few trials
would do my poor heart well. I wane at these tiresome
sessions. Let the trials commence. ’Twould arouse me.
’Twould tickle me. ’Twould drive me to distraction."

For the remainder of the act, Larazod merely gazes at Haanderthan with a mix of contempt and defiance. As the others speak he nods in gratitude towards his stouthearted friends. And when the erineye speak he sends her a wink as well.

Perform act:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29

The curtains are dropped for the end of the first Act, and the visbaronetess comes back out to perform an intermission aria. Backstage, director Nonon tells Appario to lose the stagefright and make Tybain come to life.

Thesing glowers at Derek, who recognizes that he portrayed Larazod nearly to perfection, while Thesing's Haanderthan was barely above mediocre.

A real whip, looking exactly like the illusion on Maddok's hammer, is available for this Act. After the 5-minute break, the curtains rise for the second Act.

Thesing begins as the torturer Drovalid makes it onto the stage, his voice betraying that he'll feel real delight at Derek's pain during this part of the play.

"Good Keeper of Pain, Tormentor of Liars and Demonsuckling
Miscreants, we are honored by your presence. Show
these supplicants the favor of your stinging lash, and with
rack and fire, purge lies from their lips. Break their souls, and
let the mad and guilty appall our ears no more with ranting."

After Drovalid's reply and Haanderthan's order to begin, the Device (a combination rack and wheel, designed to stretch the victim's limbs and twist his body into increasingly painful positions) is brought on stage and displayed to a chorus of impressed "oohs" and "ahhs" from the audience.

Drovalid should strip Larazod down to a loincloth, then strap him into the device. A total of 10 whip attacks must be made during the Act, one between each spoken line, to either Larazod, Dentris, or Tybain (but at least half must be against Larazod). The attacks are against the target's flat-footed AC (Derek is also without armor), and each time Larazod is hit the Device twists his body further. Maddok can attempt to miss on purpose with one or more of the attacks, but unless he succeeds at a DC 20 Bluff check each time the audience will boo loudly and the play may be received poorly.

Derek whispers to Maddok before the scene starts.
"Remember, steel your heart big brother, do it for her, I can take it."

Maddok's trepidation returns when he's brought out on stage and seeing the great sea of people assembled to watch the performance. Forcing himself to remain centered, his lines are spoken in a deep growling tone.

"Magistrate Maleficarum, I come before you a simple hand
whose lash is guided by the greater glory of Asmodeus,
may my scourge do him and this devoted tribunal proud.
With your permission I shall begin our first trial."

As the last word is spoken Maddok finishes removing the last piece of Derek/Larazod's illusionary clothing. Stoically, he straps each of his friends onto the apparatus and looses his hammer - the illusion of the whip unfurling dramatically as he does so.

The big Shoanti nods in thanks at Derek's whispered confidence. Rearing back, he lays into him with his hammer/whip.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

---

"Recant half-breed. Admit your twisted falsehoods, serpenttongued
traitor!"

The blows are swung with the minimum amount of force to look threatening but they are real enough. Maddok's attacks slow as he sees the very real injuries he is causing his friend. Unsure of how much of this Derek can actually take the smith turns his attention to Dentris/Semenya instead.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Hearing the half-orc cry out in pain he changes targets again to Appario.

He whisper/messages the Taldane.

---

Maddok takes a step back and looks at his handiwork. His friends lay bound and bleeding by his hand. He burns with the desire to throw this farce away, tear the theater down, beat the life out of the director with his bare hands but then he thinks of Vahnwynne.

He roars his next lines out and then takes another swing at Derek.

"Recant and end this trial! Swift death shall embrace
you and Asmodeus smiles upon those who admit their
falsehoods—he may not rend your soul completely, may
leave some semblance of your spirit intact".

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

He turns to take a swing Semenya.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

---

And then back to Derek.

"Recant!"

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

And then to Appario.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

---

"He is as unbreakable as a marble tide—dragon’s scale would
have shattered long ago—and yet he stands unbowed. No
lie can evade this unholy lash of mine, gifted to me by
Asmodeus himself. Larazod must speak the truth!"

Maddok drops his hammer/whip to the stage floor.

---

The big man glowers at Thesing as he delivers his lines. Farce or not the actor seemed to enjoy the suffering he had inflicted on his friends too much.

"My work is done. My findings true. You have never doubted
my hand before. Why do you so now? Could it be this
tiefling speaks true? Are you allied against our august
master of darkness?"

---

Delivering his last lines for the act Maddok looks to the audience for support.

"If Asmodeus wishes it so then my soul stands with his. If
my hand has failed you, then I shall burn for it. I shall face
the remaining five trials at Larazod’s side".

Tybain grunts loudly as the sting of the lash/hammer breaks his back.

OUCH! By Abadar's Scales!

Tybain wavers and rocks from the forces of the blows, trying to give the audience a good show for who does not love to see a noble knight brought low and in pain, eh?

Recovering slowly and showing obvious pain, Tybain takes his time to gather is strength to speak before remembering his place.

"Ha! Even in the face of soul-crushing pain, he taunts this ridiculous Magistrate of Hell. Hear me, Aroden, if Asmodeus has such as Larazod in his employ, all our efforts are doomed. Would your white fist command such
steadfast loyalty as this one here, who laughs at death and grins at the grimmest pain."

Watching gleefully as Maddok's whip lashes into Derek's flesh, causing the torture device to twist and turn with each strike, Thesing has no problems conjuring up the anger and disappointment for Haanderthan's next line, shouting it out loudly.

"Fool! Continue the trial, you’ve yet to probe deep enough
into his soul’s painful lies!"

***

Still seething, he continues in a thunderous voice.

"Mind your place, Tormentor! You speak blasphemy in the
face of this land’s own Magistrate Maleficarum. Beware,
your words endanger your very soul. Take you this halfbreed’s
part? Then you would join him on his trials? Don’t
be a fool."

***

Calming down only slightly as Drovalid offers to stand by Larazod, Haanderthan speaks his judgment.

"So be it, traitor. Your rending death, and his, shall be my
vindication. Bring on the second trial!"

Tybain stands resolute waiting for the 2nd trial, no fear at all within him.

Appario worries a bit about cutting himself or having anything burrow beneath his flesh.

Abadar, give me strength. This is the civilization you wished...see how we use it?

Any acting input from Derek/Larazod, Semenya/Dentris, or Yahirma/Ilsandra for this Act?

Reclining to watch the performance, Isandra peels off a few grapes that she pops in her mouth like popcorn. She smiles openly at the performance, particularly at some of the stronger strikes.

"Such a sweet voice. I long to hear his screams
more—ah, but to elicit them myself, with a soulburning
kiss, and an aching embrace. This torture is
most stimulating, though I do hope the Tormentor
doesn’t mar the tiefling’s choicest parts. Leave off those!
They belong to me alone!"

That's assuming they come out of this alive. Oh Maddok, must you throw your body into it like that?

It's not hard for Derek to portray Larazod scorn for Haanderthan, but as the acts moves on, he allows the scorn to mellow on Larazod face and instead be replaced by pity for the foolish magistrate who is doomed to fail.

See how I challenge you Thesing? See how my pity is really for you? Every breath I take is an insult to you, a mockery of your lack of true talent.

“Even an ocean of agony cannot turn truth to lie.”

Larazod fights hard to stifle any grunts of pain, but is unable to fully hold back a few gasps, all the more to make the audience realise just what a horrible trial this is.

”I recant… nothing! Grind on, honeyed torment. Sing
sweetly as I may, no cries of “recant” shall you hear. I hate
lies, as I hate demon-loving traitors.”

Larazod mocks Haanderthan with a scornfull laugh.

”Had enough, Magistrate? Can you withstand it any longer?
Please give in and recant, for the only torment I cannot
bear is your continued duplicity. Recant, Magistrate!
Recant your own lies, and Asmodeus may have mercy on
your slimy soul.”

“Never! Lash every inch of flesh from me, leave only a bloody
ruin where I stand—that skinned wreck of a man will
gurgle only truth and never recant.”

I am your superior Thesing, can you see it? Even if I only act at my worst, it is still better than yours, because if our positions were reversed, you would break.

Fools, my good master may be a fool of a tiefling, but if you
think to wrack his spine, and wheedle mewled recantation
from his black lips, you are even greater fools than he.
Larazod is no coward, and he sneers in the face of pain
with true faith in Asmodeus—he cannot waver. He faced
Abyssal Tyrants and hordes of their slime-ridden minions
in battle. His coal-black soul did not quake then. He stands
resolute now. You cannot break his spirit.

Semenya delivers the line with visible scorn to Haanderthan, though the lash on her disguised back did her next to no harm under her Mage Armor. (She would've also cast it on Derek before the act opened as he'd be taking the brunt of things, and his role doesn't permit armor)

Due to the mage armor spells, none of the lashing-targets take any damage during this act.

Thesing really brought out his inner Haanderthan for the second Act, portraying him with spot-on emotions. Derek's and Yahirma's performances were also good, while Appario and Maddok struggled somewhat.

After another intermission-aria by Delour Aulamaxa, the curtains rise for the third Act, bringing with it the promise of the second Trial.

While Thesing opens the Act with a finely rendered speech, Millech (under his guise of Bailiff) hands each of the prisoners a viciously curved flensing knife and a vial containing a rot grub.

"It is said that a liar’s pain is easy to bear, but pleasure steals
truth from even the most well-tended fortress. So let it be
with ye, Larazod. Here before you now are the Flukes of
Asmodeus. Their bite more pleasurable than the caresses
of a thousand succubi (which you no doubt have enjoyed,
you treacherous Abyssal-loving fool). Taste of their deep
burrowing bliss. Their rapturous journey through
your body shall explore the deepest, darkest pleasures
any mortal has ever known. Their soul-shuddering
wanderings end in your skull, where they plant their
young who consume you in an orgiastic frenzy—leaving
you an empty husk of a thing—a spent lover, drooling in
blissful oblivion forever. Unless, of course, you can resist
these god-bending pleasures. This time, the trial is not
yours alone to bear. Let us see if your trusted companions’
faith remains as unshakeable as yours. Who shall be the
first to die in spasms of ecstasy?"

Since the "Flukes of Asmodeus" do not exist, the rot grubs take their place for the play. It's each actor's duty to act as if in the throes of unbridled passion while the rot grub burrows through his/her flesh before cutting it out with the offered knife.

Once a rot grub is applied, it inflicts 2 CON damage per round (DC 17 Fort negates). In order to remove the grub, the actor must cut it out with a knife and succeed on a Heal check (DC 20, but with a +6 bonus for the special enhancement on these particular knives). The process of cutting out a rot grub inflicts 1d6 damage for each round the grub has been burrowing.

Maddok grimaces in disgust as the vile worms are produced. Quickly, he steps in between the bailiff and Derek and delivers his line.

"Master Larazod, most unholy saint of our dark Asmodeus,
please allow me to prove my devotion to your cause. To
think my biting lash flayed your chaste red skin, and
cracked such a noble hide as yours. I shall be first to face
this trial, if you so wish it".

Rage

Without another word Maddok takes one of the offered grubs and rests it on his thickly muscled arm. The parasite easily burrows into the hardened flesh. Maddok grinds his teeth and tries to fight his way through the pain. He forcefully twists his features in a mockery of a grin for a moment before tossing his head back and roaring in agony. He brings the ceremonial dagger to bear and violently opens a ragged gash across the underside of his corded forearm.

Heal Check
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

As the parasite becomes exposed, peeking out of the bleeding flesh of his arm, Maddok spears it with the dagger, casts it to the stage floor, stomps it into a bloody paste with is big feet, and then spits on the remains.

"Asmodeus bear witness to my devotion. This half-breed
speaks only truth!"

Fort Save
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Damage Taken
1d6 ⇒ 6

Maddok shudders as echoes of the gnawing worm feasting wrack his body. Blood pours freely from his maimed arm. The big Shoanti tries to remain stoic as he hands the ceremonial blade to Larazod.

End Rage

Ouch. Can I get a Misfortune?

As Maddok coughs out his lines and looks down at this bloodied hands, Yahirma waves an erinyes hand in front of her face in disgust at the prospect of the first grub victim forcibly displaying his lunch alongside his recently extricated grub. With a roll of her eyes, she tries to overlook his misfortune.

Misfortune
Maddok's New Save 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Ah, sorry. Just a little short.

Seeing how vicious those little buggers are first-hand Maddok is going to improv a bit to help Derek out.

"Overcome this trial and show our Dark Lord the truth within your heart", Maddok/Drovalid says as he places a hand on Larazod's shoulder and whispers a prayer to the spirits.

Maddok is going to spam Guidance on Derek. This will give him a +1 bonus to his heal checks.

Semenya will cast Resistance on everyone before the play begins. Oh, this trial is going to suck for her...

Eying the rotgrub with extreme distaste, and wishing she could simply stamp it under her boot repeatedly, Semenya very carefully recites her lines.

Oh! It has been so long! Sweet, aching ecstasy!

She drops the rot grub into the thin space between her naturally armored hide (Natural Armor 1 due to Sorcerer Bloodline ability) and the Mage Armor, at her sleeve. Her face squinches - it could be pleasure. It could be disgust. It could be the expression of the last man she laid with when he released...they're hard to tell apart at times, when you're by nature a stoic.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Bluff to conceal that the Rotgrub (hopefully) couldn't get past her magical protections and her thick hide.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 Heal check
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 Fort Save

Her blood is strong - the blood of dragons and the Deep Orcs of Santhraval. Her hand with the knife is not so deft...or she is particularly cunning and conceals the deception by nearly slitting her own throat...

1d6 ⇒ 2

If you'll permit, I'd like to use the Bluff to prevent anyone else from noticing that Rotgrub didn't get under her skin - concealing it by cutting myself at the throat, plucking out amidst the bleeding. The Fort save is to keep it from burrowing into my palm, then throwing it on the stage and stomping it with VERY THOROUGH abandon. I'm willing to have her take 6 damage rather than the 2 that's rolled as a result of her botch on the Healing check, just to NOT have to try and roll Fort saves again...

(Sourly) Between you, my hideous half-breed young
master, and a dream of three succubi’s frolics on my
flesh—a hard choice, Larazod, but somehow your sweet
countenance won out.

Fort save with Resistance:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Heal check with Guidance:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Fort save:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Heal check with Guidance:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Derek is a consummate professional, but the thought of letting a worm actually eat its way into his body is a bit much, before the scene actually begins, he cannot fully hide his trepidation.

Once on stage however, his fear vanishes as he channels Larazod who knows no fear.

"Your courage is beyond question. Show this lickspittle
Magistrate the meaning of devotion, my friend."

Derek smiles inwardly as Maddoks prowess, and Larazod is as pleased as he is.

Once it becomes his turn he once more sneers at Haanderthan, a man beneath contempt, but worthy of pity.

"I sing only of the joy of supplication to our dark lord.
This pleasure is only a gift of Asmodeus’s truth. I
would gladly die at this f luke’s bite, but alas, my duty
here is yet undone, and so I scorn this pleasure with
a bleeding blade. I shall not relent until your lies are
revealed, foul Magistrate."

Could you do this Thesing? I doubt it, you do not look like a man who knows how to look after his own health, you only got the role of Haanderthan because the director gave it to you, and you only play it because it hold no danger...coward.

"Ah, Aroden’s servants, so like sweet children they be. Hold
true, my dear friend!"

Derek is inwardly pleased that Semenya did as well as she did, as powerful and beautiful as she is, he was worried about her ability to get it done quickly.

Fail on heal check first round, succeeded on second.
Burrowing damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 3) = 7

At the height of his performance he turns towards the crowd, while the scene is lit and the audience sits in mostly darkness, he still knows that somewhere out there sits his grandfather. And he intends to make him proud.

Do me proud Appario, let us all show up that Thesing together, you are all worth 5 of him, each one of you.

Tybain declines to wipe the blood from Larazod's incisions off his face...just yet.

Right now, Tybain is channeling real fear and real loathing upon this entire farce of a play.

I am no actor, nor noble Pall-a-din, nor martyr to any cause save that of Abadar. This is foolishness.

Tybain watches first as Dentris mutilates himself and then again as Larazod does the same with revulsion.

Would that I could laugh about all this.

It occurs only after a few moments pause that he is *supposed* to be laughing about this.

Holding up the grub before him, he intones: "My turn, I suppose."

Tybain, after a few false starts, applies the rot grub to his arm.

SCALES OF ABADAR! THE PAIN!

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Fort Save

MAKE IT STOP! cries his inner voice of sanity
NOT UNTIL YOU LAUGH! replies his voice of duty
Laugh and we'll end the pain. replies his voice of honor

"Teehee. Teeheehee." Tybain begins to titter much like a man who has never laughed before.

"Ooooh! Aaaaah! I know not this feeling!"

"Ha ha ha! Ha ha HA!"

A voice says something on stage a jumble of words that Tybain does not hear nor can respond to.

Laugh more. Louder! Your lines.

"Ha ha ha! Ha ha HA!" Tybain lets loose with the laughter. Trying to convert the burrowing pain into pleasure.

"It is as if a thousand feathers assault my flesh— especially my most… tender… parts. What strange pleasure is this!" Tybain looks down at his private parts and resists the urge to show them to the crowd.

Another voice mumbles on stage and Tybain ignores it.

NOW! CUT IT OUT! TEAR IT FROM YOUR FLESH!

With mad laughter, Tybain attacks his grub.

"Ha ha ha! Ha ha HA!"

1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16 Heal (Guidance)
1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 = 20 Heal (Misfortune)

Tybain suddenly tears loose his fluke.

1d6 ⇒ 3 damage + 2 con damage

Tybain's tittering slowly dies down.

Tybain looks about the stage in wonder that others are all staring at him.

"I am well, though I may never be the same." Tybain weakly smiles as he speaks.

Oops. Neglected my wisdom 'bonus' on my heal check. Will need to do a round 2 unless *inspired*, hint hint.

That wasn't so bad :)

Haanderthan throws up his arms with a frustrated look on his face.

"Curse your persistence. All lies eventually reveal their
ugly fangs. I shall draw them as venom from a wound."

There are a few scattered boos from the audience during Semenya's removal of her fluke, but they're overwhelmed by the massive response to this Act's performances as a whole. The crowds feel the pain and exultation of the others almost as if they were themselves subject to this trial, and give vocal support to the actors throughout the Act. Thesing's performance falls a little flat this time, but he still wears a smug look on his face during the intermission.

***

During the fourth Act, once the banter between the companions is over, Haanderthan speaks up again, demanding Ilsandra's participation in the following trials.

"The next trial demands a great sacrifice. Ye, who speaks
for the half-breed, the lone traitor on the council who
speaks against my august personage. You must brave
this trial, and all that follow, alongside the accused."

***

Shortly after, The Beast is brought on stage. This is a huge, curious sculpture made of iron, polished wood, and green glass. The sculpture is fashioned to look like a vast serpent, and its mouth is large enough for Medium-sized creatures to climb in. The belly is made of transparent, but thick glass, so the audience can see the actors' torments as they writhe in the acid filling up half of the belly's space.

The long tail is raised high, keeping The Beast's head low, until all five companions have entered. Then, stagehands in lemure-costumes lower the tail, raising the head high.

***

Only one PC can enter The Beast per round, and the process of lowering the tail also takes one round. That means the first person in spends six rounds in the acid before being allowed to try to escape. Once the head has been raised, the PCs must climb up the throat and out onto the stage.

The Beast's throat is smooth, but there's a series of tiny, razor-sharp hooks lining it, allowing DC 20 Climb checks to escape into the mouth. Failing the Climb check by 5 or more means the climber takes 1d6 slashing damage from the sharp hooks. Characters in the mouth or still in the belly can attempt to aid someone climbing in the throat with DC 10 Climb checks. There's only room for one person in the mouth at a time, so once the climber reaches it, the person already there must either drop to the ground or slide back down into the belly. Dropping to the ground inflicts 1d6 falling damage (DC 15 Acrobatics negates). Sliding into the belly inflicts 1d6 slashing damage. Alternatively, a PC can attempt to reach the mouth by standing on another's shoulder. Both PCs involved must succeed on DC 15 Acrobatics checks to avoid falling. Only one PC can attempt to escape per round.

Each round, the acid inflicts 1d6 acid damage (DC 15 Reflex to scramble and avoid) to everyone in the belly. In addition, each round spent inside requires a DC 12 Fortitude save to avoid becoming sickened for the remainder of the Act.

After spying "The beast" as it is set up Derek frowns a little.
He turns to the others for a quick conference before the act begins.

"I neglected to get any acid protection, I'm afraid I got too caught up in it all. Did any of you get some? Or have some naturally? The better protected a person is, the earlier he or she should enter the beast. The weakest members of our party should enter last and exist first."

Derke casts a quick cure light wounds on himself as well.
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

"Anybody else hurt?

"Derek, Appario and I did some shopping while out and about."

She pulls a set of scrolls of resist elements from her sleeve. "In case I fail at one of these, I have one spare - I bought six. I believe Appario has two potions as a backup. When it's time and before we crawl into that thing, I shall use them."

"I am somewhat hurt, Appario needs it more than I."

"Maddok, Appario, if I enlarged you, would you be able to lift people free from that...contraption? Or is it too tight a space?"

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 Caster level check, need to beat a 4.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 Caster level check, need to beat a 4.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 Caster level check, need to beat a 4.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 Caster level check, need to beat a 4.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 Caster level check, need to beat a 4.

Everyone will have 10 Acid Resistance for the first 3 minutes in the beast. Semenya still has one scroll left. Profile updated.

Maddok is hurt.

Maddok nods in thanks as Semenya works her protective enchantment on him. He is visibly paler from the blood loss but stands strong regardless.

"I will not easily fit in that thing's maw now. There is not enough room for two to stand shoulder to shoulder. If I am increased in size by your magic I fear I might crush all of you", the Shoanti explains.

Maddok watches as the giant contraption is prepared, "When it is time for us to make our escape the weakest should climb out first while the others help them along. First the women, then little brother, Appario, and myself will follow. Semenya, I trust your magics will hold until we are all out?"

Also, for this act if Millich can provide a fully costume replacement for it Maddok will strip out of his disguised armor.

Resist Energy is 10/min lvl. Of course this might be a different spell? If so, Tybain will drink his one Pot Resist Acid for longer protection.

Tybain walks tall off the stage...before looking for a place to relieve the contents of his stomach.

I did not like that. Can it get worse?

Spitting and coughing, Tybain will wait for his stomach to quell before drinking a Pot CLW.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 healing

"I think I shall be fine. That grub ate at more of me than I had hoped. What bothers me about it now is not something that you can fix, I think."

Damn those unwieldy knives. Should have used Extortion!

Tybain is anxious to draw his sword, but knows it is not time yet...nor may never be here on stage.

"I apologize for my miscues, all. I strive to do the best I can, but I'm a merchant, not an actor, damnit."

Tybain nods along as Maddok outlines his plan.

"As you wish, I'm happy to do that and that's a good enough plan. However, it may be that I have difficulty getting out. Maybe we can secure a rope as well? It would be easier for me to stand on another's shoulders than climb myself."

Just trying to gauge how hurt everyone is. Did much of the whipping's punishment carry over, or would I just be healing people's incident with rot grubs?

Plan so far looks good

There was no whipping damage. Mage Armor negated it all. The only healable damage we have right now is from cutting out the rot grubs.

Semenya is down 6 HP, no CON. She's used two Mage Armor spells, and five scrolls of Resist Energy - good for 10 Acid Resistance for 30 minutes.

I thought Semenya only bought 3 scrolls? (Link)

No rope is available; the director would likely throw a massive tantrum if one was used for this trial :)

Millech is more than happy to help replacing armor with costumes.

Enlarge person would make it impossible to climb out, and nearly impossible to fit in the belly.

"Great, I'll use one spell on Maddok and save the two I have left for emergencies then."

Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Since we are so well protected, I'll go in first, the audience probably expects it, let us not disappoint them."

Derek slaps his face a few times to start channel Larazod again, plastering a very real sneer as he glances at Thesing.

If I live, I win, because nobody could think you could out act me if our places were reversed.

As Dentris spots the beast, Larazod gives his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Hold true, old man."

He gives Tybian a slap on the back for encouragement.

"Hold fast, my dear friend. Have faith in Asmodeus."

Followed by a wry but friendly smile.

"Well then you better learn to swim."

And finally, as he begins to climb into the beast, Larazod channels Derek Keegan and his devil may care Cayden Caelian worshiping attitude.

"Come, horror, I shall tear my way from your gizzard with
the white-hot blade of my truth."

I'll be back soon Thesing, surviving to spite you.

Maddok purchased a scroll as well and Appario can chug his potion.

Maddok is still visibly weakened from his ordeal with the rotgrub but at least the wound itself is healed by Derek's magic, "Thank you little brother".

***

The big Shoanti address the party and the audience with new-found confidence after the positive reaction he earned from the previous act.

He takes Dentris/Semenya by the shoulder as he speaks his next few lines.

"I have seen young and old break before this court. They all
share one thing: a weak and watery eye speaking to a frailty of
spirit. Your eyes are like grit and sand, obstinate even in the
face of the storm-fraught sea. You cannot break, old wizard".

...

"Here follows the Trial in the Belly of the Beast. A great
terror, gifted to this court by a Duke of Hell, the Beast is
a hideous thing, whose stomach is a nest of acid-spewing
serpents. It shall swallow us whole, and wash us clean in
its acid well".

...

"If we are innocent, and speak no lies, then the Beast’s Belly
will leave us unscathed".

***

His last lines for the act are shouted with pride.

"Die though I might, melted to a puddle of liquid flesh in
the bowels of the Beast, I cannot think of any greater man
to join in death. I am honoured to die at the side of a man
so filled with truth".

Isandra slinks over to the group as she is condemned to share in their punishments.

"Gladly! I stand at this tiefling’s side, or at his back,
or him at mine, or perhaps I should bolster him up from
below or allow him to do the same to me. You shall see how
devotedly I attend his pleasure, for he speaks the truth."

She plants a kiss on Larazod's lips and sneers as Haanderthan calls for her to burn alongside the hero. Arms twined about Larazod's neck, she shares a witty retort:

"Know the gifts of Asmodeus, dear child. You have earned
great boons by your devoted service, and I shall pay them
all with interest. But soft, what terror approaches? Our
pleasures must wait."

As the protagonists ready themselves for trouble, Isandra brushes up against Dentris in an exchange of magical enchantments.

Cure Light Wounds for Semenya 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

As he is joined in the "stomach" by the others he grins and chuckles a little. A few moments to talk seriously with his friends as the audience cannot hear them (I think?).

"Heh, I wonder if we taste as good on the way up as on the way down? Cheer up my friends, how often do you get to make a "dragon" hurl its lunch? Especially if that lunch happens to be you? I blame the chefs myself, I always told, Appario taste best with a rich creamy sauce and cinnamon seasoning. Then again, Big brother is certainly the main course and Appario but the appetizer. But boy, the dragon sure ahs a sweet tooth, second helpings on the desert."

Derek grins at the ladies as he says that.

"And of course, I would be the rich beer to wash it all down with."

Semenya declaims to the audience,

Come and have a bite, Old Beastie. These old bones shall stick in your craw and choke the life from you., then slides down into the gullet of the contraption.

Maddok can't help but allow himself a smile at Derek's ill-timed humor.

"I am beginning to understand why no one ever finishes this show", the Shoanti says returning to his typical straight face. He watches in fascination as the deadly acid eats away at his own costume while leaving his flesh unscathed.

"Perhaps Yahirma and Semenya should not be the first ones out after all", he suggests with a wink to his little brother and Appario.

I forgot about the Fort saves.

Chugging his potion of Resist Acid, Tybain follows the group on stage for their pre-beast dialogue.

Tybain, after losing his breakfast and lunch and having survived the rot grub, is feeling less at ease on stage. He grows a bit more used to 'acting' and readies for his cues.

"My holy flesh shall burn all the way down. Aroden’s blessings upon my soul ensure a most unpleasant meal for this Beast."

* * *

When the beast arrives, Tybain can't help but hope that the merchant who sold him his protection potion followed Abadar and sold him the right potion. Tybain wouldn't know the answer to that until he was in the belly of the beast, being consumed by acid.

It is times like this that I can count on the strength of Abadar's will to protect the buyer from lying salespeople.

Tybain follows the cast into the belly of the beast.

I think I await my turn to get out. I believe I'm helping Derek get out acrobatically.

It looks like the order in was Derek, Maddok, Yahirma, Semenya, Appario. Thus the following Fortitude saves vs DC 12 Sickened are needed before we even start escaping.

Derek: 6 Fort saves
Maddok: 5 Fort saves
Yahirma: 4 Fort saves
Semenya: 3 Fort saves
Appario: 2 Fort saves

In all likelihood most of us are going to end up sickened.

If Derek is going to be the first one out he needs to get one of his DC15 acrobatics (possibly with the -2 from sickened) in sync with one of Appario's.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 Fort Save
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Fort Save [failed]
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 Fort Save

These are to avoid being sickened

I'll wait until we know how many tries it takes to get Derek out, then get Yahirma out, before I decide how I'm going out.

The temptation to improvise my way out with a Burning Hands spell is quite high...including something like "Asmodeus be praised for His cleansing fire. Your calumny cannot hold me. For in the belly of the Beast, He showed me visions of your consorting with the Abyss. Truly, it is a miracle that you are not walking bowlegged, Haandarthan..."

But I shall refrain. :)

Yahirma wriggles down the creature's mouth, and she will spend some of the time in the belly of the beast casting Guidance - gods above know we may need it - one on Derek and one on Maddok. This would bring the party to the point at which everyone is inside the beast.

Thinking she might be of assistance in helping stabilize Appario as he hefts Derek onto his shoulders, Yahirma instead stumbles around a bit in a fit of nausea. She bestows one last Guidance on Appario as the first round in the beast's belly begins.

+1 on one check for Maddok, Appario, and Derek