DM Raltus Demon Slaying (Inactive)

Game Master Raltus

Reflex, because you are effectively blind and if you move faster than 1/2 speed you have to roll. I will await for TInk

It is my intent that Azrael is holding on to Tink since all he is doing is concentrating.

So the group stumbles around in the darkness eventually finding Lynn, Tink stands on her and cuts a rift in ground under Lynn. Porting Through everyone comes out still on top of Lynn still bathed in pure darkness.

Um, is it still suppose to be dark?

Lynn pushes herself up and into a kneeling position. She folds the banner into a nice little package and stows it away in her pocket.

Just in case that deepest darkness is on the banner. Rules: If darkness is cast on a small object that is then placed inside or under a lightproof covering, the spell’s effect is blocked until the covering is removed.

RP time for you guys, I have no NPCS here so what are you doing?

We are waiting to find out if it is still dark or not.

Yep sorry, brain fart

As Lynn packs away the cloth she has into her pack the darkness fades out and you can see again. You are much closer to the front of the Citadel than when you left.

"It will take some work to try get that darkness removed. Once we are back at camp I can try."

"Yay, I can see. What kind of magic is that? I've never seen my light put out that way." Lynn tells. "And why are we on this tower again?" she inquires once she recognizes the place.

"Someone put a lot more power into that darkness... A lot more than they normally would... And we are up here in case an alarm is raised, so we can decide what to do."

After waiting a while surveying the citadel Tink turns to the others, "We should head back before my spells wear off." He starts to make his way back to the camp.

Back in camp Lynn calls in all the high ranking officers for a meeting. Once Irabeth, Sosiel, Aron, Aniva, Arashnial and Horgus joined her and her companions she shares what happened. "My friends, we experienced the strangest mission I had so far in my life. By all that we know - well Tink knows - we got the Sword of Valor. It's hard to tell and impossible to show as the enemy has put magical darkness on the banner. Darkness, so dark, that no light magic we have and no darkvision can penetrate it. I hope Tink comes up with a way to remove this foul magic, so we can move forward under the banner of Iomedae."

"Questions? Suggestions?"

"I have almost completely expended myself this day. I have a trickle of power left with which I can attempt to purge the darkness." Tink says, "I need to inspect the banner though. I need to see if I can determine exactly what magic was used to create the darkness."

"I know that it is the Sword of Valor, because it had the strongest magic I have ever felt. And the auras match those that were known to be used in the creation of the banner. If you would like to sense that for yourselves, you should concentrate on the magic aura Lynn is carrying now. The power of this artifact is awe inspiring."

"And Lynn is not quite right, the creature down there was summoning something to attack us, and it used shadows to emulate some rather powerful elemental blasts."

"We need to investigate ways to overcome darkness like this more easily in future as well. I doubt that this is a tool that our opponent will only use once. And besides the power of the magic itself, it has been formed in such a way as to not dissipate, which will be invaluable if I can replicate it."

"I suggest that I get started immediately." Tink replies in response to Lynn's last question, he pulls a bag off of his belt and proffers it to Lynn to transfer the banner.

For the moment that the banner is outside of Lynn's pocket, and not yet in the bag, the inside of the command tent is filled with the inky black from the dungeon.
Those outside see the dark seeping through the flaps of the tent as a pitch black mist with ephemeral edges of wispy midnight.
Just as suddenly as the darkness came, it retreats into the bag.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Once the discussion is over ~~~~~~~~~~~~
With a nod to all those present Tink makes his way to his tent, under armed guard. As he steps out of the command tent Blue alights on his shoulder and chirps a joyous melody. Tink pauses to brush the feathers on his friend's neck and give a nod to SteelGate who he sees down a path between some tents.

Once inside his tent Tink makes sure to bring some of the paladins in from outside. He collects and lights some candles, which he thinks might come in handy later, and takes out books and quills and paper.

He starts by detecting magic again, trying to split the aura of the darkness away from that of the banner in an attempt to identify it.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 22 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 22 + 2 + 2 = 29
Know Arcana take best of 2: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 36
Know Arcana take best of 2: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 19

"Hmmmm. So it is a normal spell, but there was significant skill used in it's weaving, and threads of far greater strength..." he mumbles while making notes.

Now he opens the bag, plunging the room into the dark, and holds the banner for the first time. He pauses, joy filling him on holding one of the greatest magical item's to have ever been made. This is what I was made for he thinks. He then starts to investigate the banner further, testing it's physical properties by trying to tear it, which no matter how hard her tries he cannot do. Going so far as to ask one of the paladins to try to run their sword through it. The paladin was appalled by this though, so Tink tried himself with a dagger which did no damage either.

Stowing the banner so he can write he jots down, The stories that tell of the resilience of these artifacts are not exaggerations. The thread feels as new as it must have all those years ago when the city fell. It is truly remarkable.

He continues performing experiments of every kind that he can think of.
A few hours pass until he finally feels that he has learn't all he can about the darkness on the banner. It is time to try dispel the magic.

He puts the banner away again, and goes through his notes one final time. Visualizing the threads and knots in the weave of the magic, imagining the cuts that will need to be made before the veil will drop.

He pulls on the last drop of strength in what felt like a pool this morning. He pulls the banner out and tries to unravel the shroud.

Dispel: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
I am now completely out of mythic power

Lynn is just lucky that I rolled poorly on those miss chances or she would be down a LOT of strength

The war Council convenes, Irabeth is excited to have the banner back but a bit dismayed that at present it is still coated in magical Darkness.

"We still have to take the Citadel back from those inside, once there we can Hang the Sword of Valor inside for all to see, out here it is to vulnerable to being stole again." Irabeth says

Azrael thanks his gods for the success with no cost of life. He fully understands the risk taken and hopes there is some reward to be had with the retrieval.

It is about Mid day, you have the rest of the Day to do something.

"Are there any armies around here, that need to be taken care of, or that could endanger us?" Lynn asks Irabeth.

"I would think that in the middle of an army of paladins would be about as secure as we can manage." Tink says

Tink would think that an Army of Paladins would protect him, but he was wrong... O' so Wrong. The Narrator says :)

Tink's hours of tinkering and perpetration pay off I am not going to look up the NPC who cast it, using the last ounce of mythic energy he has Tink is able to lift the Darkness that is covering the Sword of Valor. As he Steps out of his Tent the sun is setting to the west, throwing a strange green tingle to the ground. Camp fires burn and man and women are rotating watches with those who were out tearing down destroyed buildings returning to eat and to get some rest for the rebuilding to start again tomorrow.

Othriubo has make some salves and is helping tend to those who have minor wounds. The building will take time and the Army and those that were rescued have it in hand, the only thing that remains it he clearing the Citadel and Mounting of the Sword of Valor inside.

Unless they had a CL of 19 or higher my roll dispels it fortunately.

As Tink steps out of his tent he calls to Blue, "Fetch the others please." Turning to SteelGate he asks "Can you find a banner pole?" he says and goes back into his tent.
Laying across his workbench is the Sword of Valor, the golden thread of the sunburst behind the sword of Iomedae's holy symbol glinting in the candlelight.

The moment when the darkness finally unraveled will be one that Tink will remember for the rest of his life. None of the depictions he had ever seen did the banner justice, most having faded with time unlike the banner itself, or they were depictions of depictions with the full scale of majesty failing to be captured.

So is this why you chose me? Thinking back to how he was saved during the attack on Kenabres. He smiles to himself for a moment We both know you didn't save me because of how well I can swing a sword... He looks down at the banner again Did you save me so that I could protect our relics? To undo the work of whoever placed that darkness upon this banner?

"It is a magnificent sight..." SteelGate says as he bows into the tent, holding a banner pole.

"It certainly is." Tink says, before pulling his gaze over to SteelGate. Taking the banner pole "Thank you friend."

With the banner mounted, he turns to SteelGate again, "This is a great day for the crusades." and steps out of the tent, banner fluttering slightly in a breeze.

As the debriefing is over, Lynn retreats to her tent again. She sits down to make a few notes in her book. Normally she'd make a drawing, but as everything was pitch pitch black, that is not very inspiring. Finally she paints a page black and uses an erazer to add the outline of herself crawling around on the floor. As Tink's bird approaches her and disturbs her drawing she tries to shoo it away. "I'm not going to feed you. If your master doesn't take care of that, you're out of luck. Shoo!" she says, waving with her hand at the bird.

"Tink asks to come, to fetch, fetch." Blue says flying around her, "Shiny. Tink new shiny. Tink want to show new shiny."

"I thought he is working on the banner? What shiny does he have?" Lynn asks Blue.

"Is banner big cloth? Big cloth is shiny."

Lynn jumps up and without another word hurries over to Tink's tent. "You got the banner out of the darkness!" she calls excited as she approaches.

As Lynn gets moving Blue flies off to find Balthazar and Azrael, giving them much the same speech, "Tink has a big cloth, shiny cloth. Come see cloth!"

"I did. As the commander I thought I would leave it to you to present to the men." he says handing her the banner as she approaches

"I don't think so. A true follower of Iomedae should do that." Lynn declines. But she stares in awe at the banner that feels so powerful when held.

"Who do you have in mind?"

As the darkness is lifted a broad smile spreads across Azrael's face. He vigorously pads Tink on the back. Well done.]/b] Turning to Lynn he adds [b]Your bold plan was well played out and worked! I had my doubts but by Iomedae we have the Sword.

Yeah, sure, my plan. Me being Tink's puppet for the plan is more like it. Lynn smiles at Azrael. "Do you want to present it to the army? she asks him.

it would be an honor.

Lynn hands the banner over to Azrael.

Do we know what the banner does?

Tink knows for sure. Sword of Valor.

I also told everyone

hmm. So, if we openly display it to gain its benefits we might have to defend it. I guess that is reasonable.

Addressing the armies Azrael takes the banner and raises it over his head. Soldiers! Behold! The Sword of Valor! This crimson banner was carried by the Inheritor herself into battle during the Shining Crusade. It was lost to us but in a devastating blow against our enemies is now recovered. Iomedae is truly with us!

Azrael Hoists up the Sword of Valor, it bustles in the wind but nothing happens. The sun continues to set to the West

Even if you mount it on the wall, you'd notice nothing, if you're no demon who is suddenly stuck with no teleport available anymore. But the lack of enthusiasm of our pally army has me worried.

A chear goes up from the Paladins, even those who are less devout stand up and clap. Irabeth comes up and smiles at the banner.

"I am glad your plan worked. Now we just have to clear the Citadel and get this area back up and running. The Queen will want word soon of our progress."

I knew how it worked. Was showing it off, not trying to activate it. Is there any place to currently display it?

Inside? Where it was before?

Was thinking maybe a command tent would suffice.

See Discussion

"Now what we have this we need to find where they had placed it before so we can Mount it again. I will prepare the camp for tomorrow, you will push inside and hope to clear the denizens from there so we can Mount the Sword of Valor again in Iomadae's name?" Irabeth asks with the crowd looking on

"We're going to knock on their door for sure." Lynn jokes.

I like the idea of entering through that breach. Azrael suggests.