Dio creeps up, surprised that Marsh can speak his language. "This one is sorry... it was too afraid before. The screams from the stones were frightening. This one will not run away again... It is a promise. This one will stay in the reeds for now, but will turn its breath against the bad people if friends are in danger."
Voyla will help fire a couple smoke arrows, and will take point, moving fast but stealthy, ready to follow the given instructions and save the girl.
Dramin packs up his book. He knows full well that if the scouting crew doesn't return time would get tighter.
Dammit, its always as if we're one step behind.
He looks over to Voyla, asking to take an arrow back.
"Its going to be a long shot I think. They won't burn for too long but it may buy us something."
His hand wanders over to his scrolls idly; feeling to make sure he knows where the Shield and his last Gravity Bow is kept.
"Even if he does cast something, it is a longshot that I'll be able to stop it... I should be able to provide information though, many gestures have telltale signs."
He nods and waits for the sign to fire off the distraction.
The fire starts just shy of the entrance into the rows of the Chenowitz fields. Even as the blood of the Lupescu family continues to seep into the soft earth, the decoy fire begins to burn, Dramin's douse spell wetting the earth around it to keep the fire from spreading to the reeds itself. The smoke arrows are fired, and after a moment it seems as if it might be a decent illusion of a rapidly-spreading fire.
Meanwhile, the team begins to proceed into the field in hopes of converging on the mound, rescuing Marleyna, and hopefully exterminate Andretti Kriegler.
But the rows do not precisely follow the pattern the party expected. It seems the rows have been cleared into some strange, swirling pattern- a pattern that at least one of you has seen before. A pattern that had appeared over and over again in the paintings of Abner Dagwood, including the one of Iola Kriegler within the mayor's home. It takes longer than it should have to navigate the maze, but finally the party manages to get close to the center- the mound, atop which burn what you can now determine to be two bonfires, and presumable the altar.
At this distance, the chanting has become much louder and clear. At times, Kriegler's sermon lapses into Aklo, but most of it is loud and clear in the common tongue:
"I offer now unto the Gossamer King this pure soul, wounded time and again by agony and suffering but rebuilt stronger and stronger through its own determination to survive at all costs. Through this endless cycle of suffering and survival, this young soul has grown ripe and strong, a perfect fruit for offering to the Gossamer King. We shall deliver this soul unto Him, as he has delivered to us the dreams that have shepherded us."
The cultists, still hidden behind the rows of sickly reeds, chant as one: "Ghlaunder! Ghlaunder! We hear the whispers! We know the way!"
"And yet," Kriegler says, a hint of strain in his voice, "Though we have done everything within our power to obey His orders, we have been challenged. The prophetess Beliandral has abandoned us. Outsiders have flooded our beautiful community and tested our time-honored traditions." With growing bitterness, he adds: "They have killed Markham Dagwood, they have killed the Weaver Alizna, they have killed my sworn brother Leonard, and they have burned my home and our places of worship. I would not blame any of you for fearing that Ghlaunder has forgotten us. But I have heard the whispers. I know the way. We are like poor Marleyna Bartley. The tragedies we have faced exist to strengthen our souls. They come for us now. Likely, they can hear my words at this moment. Be not afraid- I am your shepherd, and I will protect you. The Gossamer King has given me great power with which to defend us. His seed grows within me, lending me his strength. It feeds on the very corruption I have drank from these fields this night. Do not interfere- focus only on your prayers. Tonight we send our dreams on high to the Gossamer King, that he might deliver them unto his own masters, the Great Old Ones, and they will know our names and remember us!"
"Ghlaunder! Ghlaunder!" they shout again.
"Look, friends. Look to the sky! The Gossamer King's eye is upon us. He has come to see that which we offer him this night. Behold! Everything is converging! I take now the holy implement... We shall bathe this holy stone in her fresh blood!"
The wind has picked up considerably, all of a sudden. The more magically-inclined among you can detect that this wind is not natural. Above you, the clouds that had gathered so quickly have begun to reshape themselves. Two pairs of wings seem to be taking shape around the hole that frames the full moon. There is a very distant rumbling, like thunder on the horizon, but it does not end.
Bacarov slips up to Marsh's and taps his shoulder, signaling for him and then Niklos to hold for a brief moment. Then he sneaks forward, crouched below the hedgerow to cover his approach.
As soon as he can spot the altar, he focuses on the cold darkness that's been rolling like a frozen stone in his stomach. He raises a hand and casts it forth...
Duration: instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates (fatigue only) DC 15
Spell Resistance: no
Summary: Black particles extinguish light sources within area.
A shower of iridescent black particles clings to and extinguishes torches, lanterns, sunrods, and similar mundane light sources and dispels any spell of 2nd level or lower with the light descriptor (as dispel magic). Creatures in the area must make a Fortitude save or become fatigued.
Asketh he that can make his bear large sized
Before approaching Voyla will cast Weapon of Awe on her Bow. She will follow Bacarov. She will have her hands free for now, bow on her back and Starknife on her waist.
"I'll get the girl."
She sneaks with him.
Circling around to the final opening in the maze of reeds, Bacarov, Marsh, and Voyla are finally able to see the clearing unobstructed. Warshawski, peering through the reeds on the opposite side of the mound, sees the same.
Some twelve figures kneel around the perimeter of the clearing. All of them are wearing the same sort of strange, mosquito-like masks the Lupescus were wearing earlier; however, their garb is quite unusual. They at first appear to be wearing some sort of strange, translucent robes that shimmer and undulate in the flickering firelight... but closer examination reveals an unsettling truth: the cultists are in fact naked, and their bodies are completely covered in mosquitoes. Occasionally, the tiny insects will crawl about or take flight momentarily, only to once more land and rejoin the others in clothing the faithful of Ghlaunder.
Kriegler stands behind the great stone tablet. He is clothed, unlike his fellows, but in a long, hand-sewn white robe similar to those worn by the Lupescus. It appears that he is nude beneath the robes, however. A strange expression is upon his face as he continues to drone on, slipping again into Aklo as he praises his dark God, but there are tears in his eyes as he does so. In one hand, he holds a spear- clearly magical in origin considering the faint glow rising from its gleaming tip. Wind licks at his robes and hair, as well as his rope belt and the strings tied around the neck of the spear, suggesting that the wind around him is much stronger than that near where you are; this same wind seems to be sucking the smoke from the twin braziers into a sort of spiral overhead. Mosquitoes crawl over him as well, swarming into and out of his robes.
Atop the altar lies Marleyna Bartley. She is still dressed in the fanciful blue gown formed from the enchanted sleeves given to her by Warshawski. She seems unconscious, lying still but apparently uninjured atop the stone. Her wrists and ankles are bound with ropes tied to stakes in the earth around the altar, securing her in place in case she awakens.
Seeing an opportunity for a surprise attack, Bacarov opens by casting his dust of twilight. The cloud of black particles floods the clearing, smothering out the two bonfires and casting the area into darkness. Moreover, the masked cultists seem to begin coughing and hacking, but otherwise do not react- the merely continue to sway back and forth, quietly chanting. Kriegler quickly covers his face with one arm, shrugging off the particles as the wind surrounding him sucks them away. "It begins!" he growls. "Gossamer King, give me strength...!"
I snuck through the field, moving to the opposite side of the maze from the others. Someone needed to go in from behind. We needed to keep the knife out of that girl's heart. That was the priority here.
I'd know when to make my move. Marsh wasn't capable of being quiet for too long. This time, I'd be happy for him to smash as many skulls as he wanted. This went beyond the laws of Magnimar.
While I waited, I felt the presence of the elven spirit inside of me, bolstering me. And I prayed to Ashava, begging for her aid this night. This moon didn't seem like the sacred one I had danced under but I believed she would still shine through.
There is a gibbering panic grasping at the base of his neck. The words Kreigler uses churn up the old memories of Ustalav and Bacarov finds himself trying not to think of the black void between the twinkling stars above. Tries not to think of Phedron and his writhing tongue in the banks of Lake Encarthan.
Bacarov tries not crying out in rage and fear.
Instead, he turns around and whispers in Marsh's ear, right hand smoking as frost covers the palm. "Go, now, while the lackeys are weakened. I give you what protections I can to get you there..."
A vapor-like nimbus surrounds Vinnie then settles into his body.
Target: creature touched
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: no
Mythic: Has Mythic version
Source: Core Rulebook
Summary: Opponents can't attack you, and you can't attack.
Any opponent attempting to directly attack the warded creature, even with a targeted spell, must attempt a Will save. If the save succeeds, the opponent can attack normally and is unaffected by that casting of the spell. If the save fails, the opponent can't follow through with the attack, that part of its action is lost, and it can't directly attack the warded creature for the duration of the spell. Those not attempting to attack the subject remain unaffected. This spell does not prevent the warded creature from being attacked or affected by area of effect spells. The subject cannot attack without breaking the spell but may use nonattack spells or otherwise act.
Next he readies the Color Spray scroll but remains in position.
The time was upon them... time for action... time to let loose the mask of death and walk towards horror unflinching... unbroken... and reap what needed to be sowed. A hand upon his ursine companion Niklos channels the power of the collar that Duroj wears, the magic flowing like syrup through and into his muscles... making the bear swell with might and majesty until he towered over the cornrows. He also focuses with narrowed eyes, and imparts the senses of the bats... that he might see through darkness.
With a furious roar that no doubt chills the cultists that until now thought themselves alone, a heavy claw lashes out at the nearest cultist of the abominations...
As battle is joined and the others make their play, Niklos stands with the avatar of varisi wrath - bolstering his ability to fight and sharpening his claws with further art.
Duroj is a whirlwind of blood and fury, claws and teeth seeking cultist flesh in an attempt to rend them asunder...
Voyla moves towards Marleyna while drawing her Starknife.
She starts cutting the ropes holding the girl.
I could hear them on the other side. Buzzing. The sound of millions of the little bloodsuckers. My stomach rolled. The whole damn thing was creepy.
And that's coming from someone who has talked to ghosts her whole life.
But that didn't matter. A girl trusted us and she was over there, needing our help. And, you know, I wanted my sleeves of many garments back.
I pushed through the field, ready to attack.
The disgusting mosquito cultist wasn't going to get out of my way. He had to be dealt with. I swung my bladed scarf. It was time to put him out of his misery.
The cultists seemed more interested in chanting than stopping me. I stepped up to the mayor and tapped him on the shoulder.
"You couldn't hold onto me as a sacrifice. You've lost your special knife. Things look pretty grim for you. But you're still confident. Why is that? Come on. Let the girl go, tell me your big plan and I'll give you back the knife. Maybe I'll even lay down on that stone bed of your's. Big boy like you wants me on his bed, doesn't he?"
If this was to be the end, he was going to make it memorable.
Surprise Round
Clutching the scroll in his hand, Dramin says some words in an arcane trance and lets out the final syllables to his Gravity Bow scroll.
This is the last one for now... No point being the richest man in the graveyard.
1st Round
Dramin moves over to Bacarov and Marsh, pulling out his Shield scroll on the way and then casting Shield on himself.
"There's no way I can get line of sight from here. I'll follow up your move."
A war raged within Vinnie's mind. On one hand the Mayor was dead center before him and ripe for the taking. On the other, Marleyna was sprawled out on the altar.
He was strongly considering making for the mayor and pinning his hopes on taking the man and his followers out while fierce little hottie Voyla dragged the teen off to safety.
Bacarov made the decision for him, he turns around and whispers in Marsh's ear, right hand smoking as frost covers the palm.
"Go, now, while the lackeys are weakened. I give you what protections I can to get you there..."
You f~+&er, this was my opportunity.
"What the f##! Sebastian! you need me out there!---S#&+!---alright. I'll go get her."
"F*+&in Dalton, he had one g@$!*+ned job."
Marsh barrels out to scoop up the unconscious girl that Voyla had just freed.
"Watch my six Sloboda, I don't wanna start sproutin spears out my ass!"
Shielding the girl's body with his own, Marsh gathers her up and holds her against his chest protectively while he prepares to make the return dash to safety.
"I got you sweetheart. You're still breathin right?! . . . <<<Whew>>>M'kay good. There we are sweet pea Vinnie's got ya. I'm gonna get you clear of here."
Voyla smiles even as he winces at Marsh language, while trying to cover him, and Marleyna, with her body...
After Bacarov begins the battle by extinguishing the braziers with his Dusk of Twilight, things begin in earnest.
Niklos activates the Dire Collar around Duroj's neck, instantly unleashing the true power inherent in the bear's form. Hulking and primal in its form, the mutated Duroj lays into the nearest cultist, tearing its naked form asunder with one might swipe of his paw. Mosquitoes rise in an angry, buzzing cloud from the crushed cultist's form.
As Warshawski calls upon her newfound magical ability to summon spiritual guidance, Voyla rushes forward, starknife in hand, and immediately goes to work on freeing Marleyna from her bindings. Dramin activates one of his scrolls and withdraws the other, all before Kriegler can react.
- - - -
Bacarov casts sanctuary on Marsh, hoping to protect his longtime friend, knowing all too well that the big man's might is likely to make him a prime target. Marsh, though torn, sees Voyla finish cutting Marleyna's bindings loose and moves in, snatching the girl's small form up and carrying her away from the altar, coming close enough to smell Kriegler's breath in the process. The Mayor of Ravenmoor glares angrily, but seems too caught up in the events unfolding around him to care. Marsh manages to make it back to the opening in the reeds with the girl.
As Dramin makes his way closer, using his final scroll in the process, Warshawski bursts through the reeds on the opposite side of the mound. While Niklos further enhances Duroj's strength and the bear continues its rampage, tearing apart two more cultists, the one kneeling below where Warshawski enters the clearing panics, reaching up and attempting to grab her wrists. Reacting swiftly, Warshawski lashes out at the man with her bladed Varisian scarf, sending the cultist scrambling away on hand and knee, wailing in pain and surprise.
- - - -
Andretti Kriegler seems to finally gain his bearings, and snarls in frustration when he realizes that Marleyna has been stolen from his grasp. Gripping his spear, he leaps up onto the stone tablet and hefts the weapon overhead, a column of wind still whirling about him. "Fear not, brothers and sisters!" he shouts. "The Gossamer King's children come to our aid!"
Indeed, the buzzing of the mosquitoes rises into a terrifying crescendo, and the cloud of tiny, needle-faced creatures swirls about the bodies of the slain cultists, peeling away from their hosts and converging on the clearest threat- as well as the largest source of blood- Duroj. The mosquito swarm covers the giant bear like a hungry blanket, struggling to pierce the creature's thick flesh.
+
Kriegler chants in Aklo, as the clouds above continue to swirl and reshape themselves. He slams the butt of his spear onto the troll-stone tablet, and the sound of magical energy tearing into reality fill the air.
A pair of shapes begin to emerge from the darkness, as if the squelched embers of the twin braziers are attempting to rise up and shape themselves into something terrible. On either side of the altar, a chittering, eight-legged beast begins to form, hateful black eyes staring forth at Kriegler's enemies.
Shaken from their trance, a few cultists shriek in fear and flee into the reeds, tumbling over themselves as the half-rotten plants whip and cut against their naked forms. Others, however, rush forward to aid their master, snatching up their sickles as they do. Two approach Bacarov and Marsh, seeking to wrestle Marleyna from her saviors' hands; Another rushes Voyla, while the last of them comes for Warshawski.
hits, for damage
succeeds.
hits, for damage.
misses.
Fail! :O
Pass!
The first cultist slashes at Marsh, clipping him in the arm as the big man pulls Marleyna out of the way to protect her. However, the Blue Whinnis poison coating the blade quickly enters his system, and Marsh feels suddenly hazy... The second cultist swoops in as Marsh begins to fall, and grabs the unconscious Marleyna from his arms with little struggle. Another cultist's blade strikes Voyla, but the nimble inquisitor manages to shake off the poison before it can take hold. Warshawski, for her part, easily dodges the amateurish swing of her attacker.
"Damn it! I knew I shoulda shanked that bastard! Son'offa b&##~! My freakin fingers ain't workin right." <<<Faceplant>>>
Voyla sees with worry how a cultist approaches Marsh to attack him, and she screams a warning to him.
"Marsh! Roll!"
She prays to Desna her warning is enough to save him.
"I'm rollin! I'm rollin like a mother---Whoa,"
"Ha! Try and slice me up huh?! And you're not takin the girl!"
Never truly disarmed, Marsh responds with a cestus to the face for the cultist stooping to take the girl.
"Take that you sick bastard!"
Back in Round One...
Like a premonition, Voyla sees Marsh hit by the sickle, sees the poison overwhelm him, sees him fall and Marleyna slip into the hands of one of the mosquito-masked cultists- and yet it has not happened. Her warning gives Marsh just the opening he needs to tuck and roll out of the sickle's way, and he is able to keep Marleyna away from the prying fingers of the second cultist now that he is conscious enough to keep a hand on her.
Marsh's cestus-bound fist clatters into the masked face of the approaching cultist aiming for Marleyna. The mask, made of gourd and other brittle materials, shatters as the cultist is thrown backwards into the reeds by the force of the blow, unconscious and bleeding out.
It was hard to see through the smoke and the buzzing clouds of insects and the cloud of war but I caught a glimpse of Marleyna in Marsh's arms. Good.
Ignoring the giant spiders and the masked cultists, I stepped forward and swung, aiming to tangle my scarf around the mayor's knees and send him crashing to the ground.
♤
♤
♤
》Cloak of Darkness (+4 ac | +2 Stealth)
》Darkvision
---------------
No...no...no… You won’t hide behind your beasts… Bacarov shifts the grip on his spear and brings it back over his shoulder. ...the cold awaits us all, fool. What you call down upon you...you’ve no idea do you? Tonight, we all die... He hurls the short spear at the man. My gratitude for jumping atop the table, Kreigler…
--------------------------------------------
No...no...no… You won’t hide behind your beasts… Bacarov tries to avert his gaze from the swirling heavens above, forcing the fear down into his core. ...the cold awaits us all, fool. What you call down upon us...you’ve no idea do you? Tonight, we all die... His anger begins to burn and swallow the fear, and he grinds his teeth and forces it outward...
Range: 50 ft.
Area: 50-ft.-radius burst, centered on you
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: yes
Mythic: Has Mythic version
Source: Core Rulebook
Summary: Enemies take -1 on attack rolls and saves vs. fear.
Bane fills your enemies with fear and doubt. Each affected creature takes a –1 penalty on attack rolls and a –1 penalty on saving throws against fear effects. Bane counters and dispels bless.
Round 2
Dramin moves around to near Bacarov and the rescued girl and freely draws his bow, pulling it out and firing it straight into Krieglar's direction. Not sparing any expense, he uses the Cold Iron Arrows he keeps on him, remembering the creature from earlier that day.
After the bow fires out and he moves into view on the spiders... his mind starts working automatically.
At ease at seeing Marsh escape unharmed, she turns towards Kreigler, and speaks to him, her raspy voice unwavering.
"You have corrupted the town. I pronounce Anathema against you."
She throws her Starknife against him, a quick roll of her whole body getting Desna's holy weapon against his body.
Finally she quickly draws her longbow.
She moves out of the way of her returning Starknife, letting it fall at her feet. She starts firing arrows against Kreigler as fast as she is able.
Marsh calls out in Draconic
"Dio!我需要你离开这里飞 Marlyena!保证她的安全，我们会稍后回来在孩子的谷仓碰面或沿着南部渡口河走，如果这是不安全!"波士
Marsh yells at an lashes out with his longsword at the remaining cultist.
"Step back dickwad!"
"Niklos! Don't let those ones escape! We don't know who they are if the make it back to town! Set the bear on'em!"
As Duroj suffers with the pain and begins aimlessly swiping through the mosquitoes - Niklos looks to salve his companion's hurt. Laying a hand on the bear's haunches he lets his concern seep through and into the one that is pained...
CLW: