Tension rises in Aerianna as Alikia moves forwards to the wall, and though it is mitigated as Hyram joins her, she remains tense as Aladir comes to retrieve a few of her arrows. "Not just cold iron," she corrects Aladir, "but what they call angel-quill -- they're barbed, they stick in and drag down their resistance. And so long as they aren't deliberately destroyed, they can be recovered and re-used. They do cost a pretty penny, though, so I'd like to recover as many as possible."
Once Aladir has retrieved a few arrows, she moves forward to the illusory wall and, having been told it is fake, steels herself and walks forward.
And in case it's necessary ...
Aerianna and Hyram both try and walk thru the wall, and relying on Alikia sage advice, move thru the illusory wall, but just as they are able to breech the illusion, they walk headfirst into a portcullis, and see at least four creatures, two in the front room, and partially see two in the back room. As they hit the portcullis, the creatures roar at the disturbance and prepare to attack.
Well, Well, What do we have here!
Hyram says as he casts Searing Light at which ever one Arueshalae wounds.
Two questions of immediate importance: One, is there any clear way to raise the portcullis? And two, how are the minotaurs equipped, with melee or ranged weapons?
Activate halo.
Also, to recognize them as being half-fiend:
And thanks for the image update. :)
"Minotaurs," Aerianna calls back to the others. "Four of them -- big ones -- with wings. I dunno, half-demons, demon-infused?? COME ON, YOU UGLY SNOTS, COME GET ME!! Can someone figure out how to get this darn gate open?!? We're going to be sitting ducks here!!"
As she speaks, she reaches for that mental muscle, relaxing it with a deliberate effort, and about her helmet begins to radiate the gold-copper-red-green light of her halo.
Ezro runs towards the wall as he sees the others disappear behind it, only to hear the roars. Hearing Aerianna and Alikia, he pops through the wall sees the horrible creatures.
"You said Minotaur! What is that?!" the cleric yells.
Holding up his holy symbol, Ezro prays to Iomedea, infusing the magic with mythic power. "Inheritor! I beseech you to aid us in destroying these abominations of the Abyss!"
"I'm going to have to guess physically lifting it would be our best option." Alikia muses as she taps into her mythic power to undo the illusion.
"The controls have to be on the other side of the gate, they'd do hold out attackers from out here!" Aladir says as he moves past the illusion to try and spy out where any control mechanism might be located.
vs AC 17 Minotaur
vs AC 25 Aerianna
vs AC 25 Hyram
Arueshalae nocks an arrow and waits for someone to open the portcullis. Hyram, casts searing light on the minotaur closest to him, damaging it. Alikia dispels the illusionary wall, allowing everyone to see the room. When that happens Arueshalae looses an arrow into the minotaur that Hyram wounded and hits. Aladir moves up and with his keen senses, determines that there are two plates, one on each of the columns that are magical and seem to raise or lower the gate. Ezro casts prayer, empowered by his mythic abilities. Aerianna tries to anger the minotaur into attacking her, and her helmet provides a glowing halo around her head.
Two of the minotaurs move up and using their glaive swing down and between the portcullis bars, as if they had practiced this, and one smacks Aerianna, while the other misses Hyram.
"Minotaur, but I specifically mentioned the wings!!" Aeri replies to Ezro, her tone mildly defensive, as the winged minotaur's massive strength pounds down onto her, jarring her shield slightly askew and bruising her arm through the shoulderplate. The halberd's momentary position gives her an idea, however, and she uses the design of her shield, originally intended to provide a slot through which to thrust a spear, now working in the opposite direction to hook the back of the minotaur's polearm and trap it with shield and shoulderplate on her side of the portcullis.
The short, stocky female paladin lifts the longsword which Quinn had given her back through the bars, stepping into the strike and turning her wrist to bring the flat of the blade down on the demon-kin's hand. "Cower before the Light of the Sword!!" she demands, her voice as vibrant as ever, but with an unmistakeable commanding authority vibrant within it. Again she lifts the golden-shining sword, to snap it back down using mostly wrist action, this time not turning it, the edge slashing across the minotaur's other arm. After this convincing 'persuasion', she gives a wrenching yank to the trapped halberd, to pull it from the oversized humanoid bull's hands and dump it carelessly to the floor at her feet -- still well within reach of the minotaur, but if he reaches for it, well, she might well make him pay for the attempt.
Damage taken note: With Ezro's +8 temporary HP from mythic prayer, Aeri will be at 146 HP, not 138.
Halo is active (radiates from me, not because of the helmet, just as an FYI/reminder); +2 intimidate vs. Bad Guy. ;)
Free Action: Amazing Initiative (1 MP)
Standard Action: Divine Bond, to add Holy (+2 attack and +2d6 damage) and Keen (x2 threat range, to 17-20) (+3 equiv.), 11 min)
Full Round Action: Full Attack. The following rolls presume they are evil.
Strike #1: Nonlethal; if successful hit, Enforcer triggers free Intimidate.
, nonlethal damage, shaken (-2 attack, save, skill, ability rolls) for same number of rounds as NL damage taken.
, lethal damage
-- will just barely yank its halberd out of its hands to our side of the gate, but provoke an AoO from it before she accomplishes that. (Probably a draw-cut from the blade before she manages to hook it securely behind the head with her shield.)
Hyram is not going to stand there and be poked by a minotaur! Until the portcullis is open, he will take a five-foot step back and cast another searing light at the wounded minotaur.
Holding forth his holy symbol, Ezro channels healing energy into Aerianna, helping to seal her wounds some what. "I believe the devil-taurs have a bit of an advantage against us for the time being! Alikia, are you able to teleport us behind them?"
"I can, but I cannot reach everyone! Ezro, I'm going to have to leave you and Arushalae on this side." Moving up to behind Aladir, she taps everyone in front of her on their backs, as she concentrates as drags along her companions to the small hall in front of her. Appearing behind the minotaurs Alikia offers the others a weak thumbs up. "Go get'm guys."
"Don't worry about me," Aerianna exclaims to Ezro before Alikia warps her and the others to the opposite side of the portcullis, "at least not until I'm really banged up!!" Then she's there, and can lay some celestial fury down on the abyssal minotaurs.
vs AC 25 Aerianna (+14 threat)
vs AC 25 Aerianna (+9 threat)
vs AC 25 Hyram
vs AC 25 Hyram
vs AC 25 Aerianna (+14 not crit, +9 crit)
Hyram takes a step back and casts Searing Light at the wounded minotaur, but misses with his attack. Alikia, gathers herself, Aladir, Aerianna and Hyram and Dimension Doors them all to the other side of the portcullis, standing behind the minotaur. Arueshalae stands ready to attack when the opportunity presents itself. Aladir, Ezro and Aerianna are momentarily out of sorts with the sudden teleport, and freeze up.
The four minotaurs, quickly turn around and two of them attack Aerianna and two attack Hyram. Aerianna is critically hit and takes a severe amount of damage, while Hyram is hit and is hurt.
Your mother was a cow! Hyram says in an attempt at an insult, hoping the minotaurs focus all their attacks on him and not the wounded Aeri.
With Aerianna in dire straits almost immediately, Aladir turns his attention to the minotaur furthest west, calling forth his mythic power to vanish from sight and strike out against the minotaur in front of him with his rapier.
Seeing the mighty blow from the minotaur on the paladin, Ezro exclaims, "I am worrying now!"
Gathering holy energies to himself again, he reaches out, "Inheritor! Close this soldiers wounds!"
A white beam of light hits Aerianna, healing most of the damage taken, and easing her pain.
Alikia watches with wide eyes as one of the minotaurs gores Aerianna, leaving the paladin with serious wounds. Pulling out her trusty licorice stick, Alikia traces runes in the air with it, pumping some of her mythic power into the spell. "Here, this should be of use!"
Free Action: Amazing Initiative, +1 Standard Action. MP 9/12
Extra Standard Action: Divine Bond, Holy (+2) Keen (+1). If she activated the Divine Bond in the prior round's actions (she just couldn't reach the minotaurs), then Divine Fighting Technique (1 attack, on success allies get +2 Sacred to Attack, Saves, and Skill Checks for 1 minute).
Extra Move Action: Tactically close w/ enemy if/as necessary -- initial 5' step to her right to attack rightmost minotaur, then shift attention to the next one, which I hope doesn't require any movement. Otherwise, well, accept the AoOs as the price of doing business, close with the rightmost minotaur, and then use the movement available to shift and close with the next in line once the leftmost one falls.
Full Round Action: Full Attack. +20 Original, +2 Holy, +2 Prayer, +1 Haste = +25. Damage 1d10+9 base, +2 Prayer, +2d6 holy.
Divine Fighting Technique:
Full Round Attack:
All will hit. If she needs to activate Divine Bond, 83 to the first minotaur (dropping it), then 18 to the next. If Divine Bond is already active and she uses DFT, 81 damage to the first minotaur (dropping it), then 45 to the next, and everyone else will get +2 Sacred to Attacks, Saves, and Skill Checks for 1 minute.
--------------------------------------------------------
Getting turned around the way they are rattles Aerianna for a critical few moments; it's clear she hasn't ever worked with such powerful allies!! But, having been guarding against a foe on the right, her ready stance opens her up to attacks on her shield-side, and the foul minotaurs' halberds slash and gouge into her with a sickening finality ... almost.
The traumatically-injured paladin thrusts her shield down, using it as a brace as she gasps out, "Iomedae!" And as the Inheritor hears, so does her priest, and Erzo's blessed healing magic stretches far further than an ordinary cleric could bestow it, erasing the strikes of the bull-headed half-demons as if they'd not even existed. She lifts her helmeted head, the fiery aurora of her halo still shining, and as she hefts her shield back into position, Alikia's enhancement takes effect.
"Heaven guide my sword," she prays, shifting to be able to hammer the minotaurs to either side of the pillar, and the golden glow of Radiance draws back -- and lands, again and again and again, leaving great gashes in the first minotaur's form until it falls, then starting in on the next in line.
vs AC 26 Aerianna
Hyram provides everyone with some resistance to damage by judicious use of his mythic power, then attacks the demon minotaur that was wounded, and while it does not go down a stiff breeze would knock it over. Alikia casts a mythic version of haste, providing the team with more offensive power to overcome the minotaurs. Arueshalae waits while moving next to Ezro and provides him protection from anything that might come from behind them while the others are on the other side of the portcullis. Aladir moves over to the end minotaur near Aerianna and in two quick punctures puts it down. He uses his third attack to damage the creature next to it. Ezro also uses his mythic ability to cast a curing spell from distance and heals Aerianna of much of the damage done by the minotaurs. Aerianna swings four times, dropping the minotaur that Aladir wounded, then dropping the one that Hyram wounded and finally with her last attack hurts the creature all the way to the east.
The last standing minotaur swings twice at Aerianna, only hitting her once and wounding her.
With the last creature standing, it is ganged up on by the three of you and it goes down in a hurry.
Aladir spends a few moments to look around and not seeing a threat, he and Arueshalae figure out the way to open the portcullis and they do. Ezro and Arueshalae come thru you clean up the mess.
Aeri only gets hit once, though, for the 19 points; that will put her down to 122 HP, not 113. Adding in a lay on hands:
... and +22 brings her to 144.
Being the focus of the minotaur's desperate fury is just fine for the paladin; that is what she's there for, to draw the ire of such evil creatures, so it might not fall upon others. Her deliberate pace means she need not cut the thing down, and she turns to approach -- and block, if necessary -- the narrowing between the entry hall and the next, ready to intercept anyone who comes to investigate the brief clamor of battle in the foyer; .
After a brief murmured prayer that sees her confidence and spiritual wholeness restored (along with some amount of bruising), she counsels, "Let us press on while these benefits are upon us." Standing next to Alikia as she examines the area beyond, she adds, "Which way?"
Hyram nods at Aeri, It looks like that sword suits you just as well as its former owner. Yes, Let us move quickly from this place.
"I have a feeling we aren't anywhere near done purging this place. Thanks for your help with that portcullis, Arueshalae. Made it a lot easier to figure out."
"It is very well-balanced," Aerianna agrees with Hyram, "and eager to strike. Yaniel chose well."
Running a hand through her hair, Alikia worries her bottom lip as she assess their current situation. "I would presume farther in will lead us to Vang. Would someone else like to take point?" Gesturing to the archway into the next room, Alikia stands to the side to let the others go in front.
When Alikia gestures to what direction they should go, Hyram will gladly take the lead.
"Let us take care as we move in further. Who knows what other traps the demons have ready.." Ezro says as he works to heal some of the others wounds.
This room’s floor is decorated with basalt tiles, each of which has been crafted to represent one section of a complex labyrinth. Ivory lined columns support the ceiling, every inch engraved with a mix of images of mazes, minotaurs, and men and women writhing in ecstasy or agony.
Moving to the north, and deeper into the Sanctum you see a double door off to the right, and a set of stairs heading up and deeper into the Sanctum.
Hyram will pause, Aladir, do you want to see if you can hear anything behind the door?
He will then proceed to keep an eye on the stairs while Aladir checks it out.
"The interior decorator definitely went with a theme here..." Ezro mentions looking around at the walls.
"Also be sure to check it for traps while your there. I can almost feel the amount of traps this place has in these walls..."
Aerianna frowns a little, listening for active noise; if there's some behind one or the other door, she'll head that way, but she'll otherwise gesture towards the double doors to the right side, and suggest, "That way first?"
"Yeah, I'll give it a look-see and make sure it's safe before we go forward." Aladir answers, moving forward and analyzing door before listening for anything that might be on the other side.
Figuring it was better to make sure that nothing would sneak up behind them, Aladir moves to the double doors on the east wall and listens carefully and upon hearing just silence checks for traps and discovers that that the door is trap free.
"I don't hear anything and I can't find any indications that the door is trapped." Aladir announces, then steps back to let the meatsh-er...the warriors take the lead.
As long as you don't call us fodder! Hyram says with a grimace at his attempt at humor. He then walks over and opens the door.
"I didn't think it would be," says Aerianna thoughtfully. "If this is the secret stronghold of our foes, traps would be more of a danger to them than to us -- rare is the visitor they have through that portcullis, I'm sure!! But come, let us move swiftly -- our advantages fade by the moment!!" And with her shield set, she'll advance into the room, turning her step into a full-on charge with "For the heart!" as her battle-cry should there be foes on the other side.
We should be on what, Round 3, Round 4 of the mythic haste and divine fighting technique buffs, right?
Giving an attack roll for charging just in case, y'know, there's an enemy visible within ... well, 130-135' of the door -- 5-10' to move through it, 20' movement speed with armor on, +50' from haste, up to 2 movements for charging.
And just in case it's needed:
Charge, -2 AC (24 for the round)
As Aladir pronounces that the door is not trapped, nor locked. Hyram moves up to it and swings the door open. This wide hallway snakes to the south a slight angle. Double doors are set on each wall, while to the southwest sits a weapon rack designed for over sized weapons. Two glaives are stored here. The look just like the glaives that the demon minotaurs in the entry room were wielding.
"How about those doors?" Alikia suggest, pointing to the southern set of double doors. "We may need to be alert for at least two more of those Minotaur guards." Gesturing to the two glaives, Alikia casts another cursory glance around the room.
I agree. Check all the doors, but it seems like the southern doors are the way to go. Hyram says as he keeps a wary eye on the doors Aladir is not checking.
Aeri nods, and moves forward; enhanced by the haste spell, there's definitely a sense of 'juggernaut' about her. As she approaches the two doors, she'll glance around the handles for a lock; if there is none, and if there's no hinge on their side (necessary for the doors to swing outwards), as soon as the others are with her -- which is presumably 'immediately', since most if not all of them are faster on their feet than she is -- she will couch Radiance beside her shoulder and shift the bottom of her mithral shield to try to push the door in and open.
Aladir checks out the double door to the south, pronounces it safe and steps back. Aerianna and Hyram swing the double door open and you see into the room.
A writing desk, a full-length mirror, a semicircular bath, and a canopied bed sit in the four corners of this large room. A contraption that resembles a cross between a wooden gurney and a torture table sits in the center of the room, its corners adorned with bloodstained leather straps. A set of manacles attached to a short chain is attached to one of the bed’s posts.
A beautiful green haired elven woman is lounging on a bed with a torn apart Templar spread out across the foot of the bed.
The woman stands, "greetings adventurers. I am Jerribeth, mistress here. I see you Aerianna, and Hyram. I presume that Aladir, Alikia, Ezro and the succubus Arueshalae are further back in the hall. Sorry for mess" and her arm sweeps towards the torn apart mess that was once a man. "Shall we make a deal? I’ll grant you a wish if you agree to simply do a task for me, and that is to track down and kill Xanthir Vang."
Hyram stares at the elf with a steely gaze. His upper lip quivering and in a controlled rage says, Jerribeth? I once slew a foul brute who said I had your blood in my veins. Tell me demoness before we 'negotiate', what gave him such a misbegotten idea. You will answer me now!
Aladir follows into the room just in time to hear the conclusion of Hyram's pronouncement. He stops short, his breath seeming to catch in his throat. Surely there could be no negotiation with a demoness, but he would wait to hear her answer to Hyram before any answer on his own part was given.
Ezro starts slightly when he hears Hyrams anger coming down the hallway, "Oh dear, it appears our inquisitor has found something to rouse his ire even more..."
Stepping to the doorway, he looks into the room, and sees the green elf. Ezro quickly readies himself as Hyram speaks with the demoness, scowling as he sees the dead body at the foot of her bed.
The paladin steps into the room, enough for the others to enter around behind her; a bulwark, she keeps herself between this malevolent seductress and the rest. With Radiance in hand, its golden flame matching the halo about her head, with the helm of the silver maiden shifting her normally warm tones to cool ruthless truthfulness, she states, "It's not what your blood is, Hyram, it's what you do that defines you. Look to Arueshelae if it is an example you need." Even as she gives the inquisitor a pep talk (as it were), her eyes are moving back and forth across the room, cataloging its bulkier contents for use -- or ability to obstruct -- in what, in her mind, will undoubtedly be battle. And with their previous advantages seeping slowly away, she feels a tense eagerness to begin, to maximize those advantages, even as she finally turns her focus to the female now standing beside the bed. Iomedae, grant my heart the wisdom I need to face this threat for what it truly is, she prays within herself.
Move action to detect evil on the woman. Not that it'd take a genius to know that she's evil, but. Never hurts to confirm, and I have all these spare Move actions lyin' around ... ;)
For fellow PCs:
I intend on using Aura of Justice, but you need to be within 10' of me when I do so in order to gain your own ability to smite evil, which ability will have to be used on your next available action as a free action. But +CHA deflection bonus to your AC (if it's better than what you already have), and attacks go through DR. I don't know if you get any bonus to damage, though, as that depends on your paladin level.
For DM Papa:
I'd like to have available the DC of the STR check necessary to move the torture table in front of us, please, because I anticipate needing to move it aside, knock it over, or whatever else is necessary to proceed to do bad things to the 'woman' in front of us. ;)
I will also point out that Jerribeth is now inside the 20' radius of my personal 'evil outsider no fly zone' Anchoring Aura (Will DC 20 to power through). Which is only a concern if she's an evil outsider, of course. (Hey, it's a concern to ME!! ;) )
Alikia rests her hand on her spell component pouch as she moves into the room. Taking note of the desecrated body, she frowns heavily. "Wishes and Miracles are for those who lack the wherewithal to see things to completion. If we slay Vang, it will be for our own personal reasons and not as a favor from a woman who sees it fit to dirty her bedchamber with entrails." Running her thumb along the seam of her pouch, Alikia weighs her next words carefully.
"However we do find ourselves lacking some basic information about Vang." spitting out the rival arcanist's name, Alikia eyes the elf, "What can you tell us about him?"