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Tom begins the questioning of the dead, I implore you those who fought the darkness in life, tell me the details of what happened when you were attacked?
After listening to the answer he asks, Did you secure any of the relics that may aid in avenging you?
Tom
In response to your queries, hyu recieve flashes of images, and words from the dead.
They came in the night You see winged demons in brass plate, roughly 6 feet tall with spears and shields, smash through the stained glass window, and briefly struggle with the men in the sanctum. Meanwhile, the doors of the cathedral burst off their hinges, six cultists behind them, and flanked by a pair of massive crocidillian demons. They slew us while we slept You see a brief tableu of a person who wakes up in the bunkhouse, to see the cultists standing over beds, bringing their daggers down on the inhabitants thereof.
The relics were stolen You see the cultists emptying out the vault, taking, of note, an odd glowing orb, and a long, crystaline sword. They took what they could fin, and desecrated most else. They left only toys
What is your third question?
Presuming Tom describes his visions, I plumb my memory of demon-hunting lessons to see what I know about both the flying demons wearing armor and the crocodiles.
Conwall
The crocodiles are simple brutes, strong and durable, but just brutes. the winged humanoids are shock troops, though they usually just use their claws, or mundane weaponry. Brass weapons means they are equiped by a Hellforge, which also means that they are from a deific realm (they directy serve a dark god, as opposed to one of the asmodian princes.
also, you notice strange, pure black flowers on every grave behind the cathedral. What do you do?
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While the rest of the group is caught up in Iron Tom's visions, I wander around to investigate the flowers. A less impulsive person would let the group know what I've seen and where I'm going buuuuuuuuut...
As I come to the graves, I spend some time looking real real close at the flowers, trying to figure out where they came from and who placed them there.
How can we sanctify these grounds to let you rest eternal?
Tom relays all the answers he has from these visions, and uses as much detail as he can describing the events. He then begins burning herbs to offer and fill the area with their acrid smoke.
Conwall
As you examine the flowers, it becoms clear they are... unlike anything you have ever seen. They are living, growing organisms, made of a deep purple (almost black) gemstone (onyx, specifically.) When you pluck them, they shrivel into dust.
You also remember that an onyx dagger is the symbol of Ivtar, the god of Treachery. What do you do?
Tom
Instruct Brother Elijah to give us the last rites, and protect Ghostmoor says one voice, old, but authoratative Do what we could not, and destroy these evilders, that is our last wish.
with that, the dead fade back again, what do you do?
We must keep this area secure, for now let me bury these men and bless this tainted soil. Tom walks around the inner walls of the Cathedral spreading the smoke of the herbs and chanting a prayer to ward this area from evil.
We must keep this area secure, for now let me bury these men and bless this tainted soil. Tom walks around the inner walls of the Cathedral spreading the smoke of the herbs and chanting a prayer to ward this area from evil.
[dice=Cast a Spell(Sanctify)]2d6+1
As you pace through the cathedral, burning herbs to banish the taint, you hear something creak from behind you. before you can turn around, you feel a brass spear in your back. it would seem one the their soldiers was hiding out in a confessional booth, as a special surprise for whoever came to lay the dead to rest. Take 1d8+4 damge (Forceful, 2 piercing, messy). What do you do?
As Tom is taken in the back, Ron shouts, I want him alive!
Ron races towards this would be assassin, and raises Remorse high in the air. He suddenly feels Remorse pulse with the assassin's heart beat. The old battlemaster focuses his thoughts on the heart beat, willing it to slow until the assassin can no longer maintain consciousness.
Ron
Fortunately for you, this is one of those more humanoid demons, who do, in fact, need sleep, and as such, your sell is effective. the beast slumps down, spear rolling from it's grasp. the beast is at your mercy, what do you do?
Conwall
You also remember that an onyx dagger is the symbol of Ivtar, the god of Treachery. What do you do?
That's curious, I mutter. Are the flowers planted, or laid? I wonder if this is natural...
I hear the shout and come rushing back to the cathedral. They may have need for my help.
The force of the blow lands square in Tom's lower back.
Pushing him forward and tumbling to the ground having pierced his chain mail. The wound is deep and threatening looking, but missed (most) of the important bits. The herbs go scattering across the ground breaking the enchantment.
Ron puts the beast to sleep.
That blow t' the head is still affecting my judgement. If I could afford a few days rest I wouldn't be caught like that, Tom says standing, Thankee, Ron. It seems like we are forever in danger.
Tom takes the time to bandage himself not trusting his spells for the moment, and searches the rest of the grounds.
Ron nods to Tom and then approaches the beast. He holds the tip of Remorse to its throat, then whispers, Roshan, I believe our friend here would like a word with you.
I slide in, then seeing that everything is under control, I make my way back outside to continue my investigation of the flowers.
At Tom's cry, Belym whirls around, beginning to open the conduit as she does. She sees Ron's spell go off, and quickly clamps down on it; anyone paying attention to the dwarf would notice a few small pebbles fall to the floor from her hands. Once it's apparent that the beast is subdued, she'll resume inspecting the building, paying attention specifically to the signs of damage (does anything look out-of-place? Was the building stormed from the outside, or did they gain entrance subtly and attack from inside?) and looking for anything unusual in the stonework.
Conwall
Ron
The beast twitches and snorts, but stays asleep. What do you do?
Belym
You look around, and find one of the cult's daggers stuck deep in a bed (A lumpy matress looks a lot like a sleeping figure when you're stabbing in the dark). and you recognize the dagger, you saw a man on the streets wearing one on your way over, and another one in the market. There are cultists in Ghostmoor, what do you do?
Ron waits with the eternal patience of a soldier, his will focused on the beast's slowed heartbeat.
Roshan reaches the scene with blades drawn. Seeing the demon prone and breathing, she cracks a smile. "Yes, I think that would be prudent. Unless brother Bonney needs a word first." She whispers to Tom. "Please, brother, lighten your heart and have your wounds mended." To the others, she continues. "In any case, we shal need to restrain the thing."
Roshan
No need to spout lore, you have silvered shackles, usually for possession victims. slap them on, and the demon is, not powerless, but virtually human. Ropes may be prudent as well. As for torture, blessed/silver blades, holy water, and recitation of scripture are all part of a good demon torture session. Are you going to go medieval on this guy?
Roshan takes a low table from the wall and unrolls the full extent of her arsenal upon it: blades and probes and screws. She selects from the arrangement the silvered shackles and binds the demon's wrists. A thought occurs to her and she turns to find Belym. "This practice is delicate, perhaps beautiful--in some light--but it is also more morbid I think than even what your fellows perform in times of need. I would not wound you with the sight of it."
Belym eyes Roshan's tools with obvious distaste. " Thank you for the courtesy. I hope what you learn is worth it. Tom, go grab Conwall while I get the nearest guardsman - Ghostmoore isn't free of cultists yet" Belym says, showing Tom the dagger she found as she heads off looking for a city guard.
Ron pulls out a long chain from his pack and begins securing the demon, careful not to make too much sound.
He then returns Remorse's blade to the creature's throat.
Tom plods off to one of the openings to the outside roughly where Conwall exited and bellows, Oiiiii! Conwaaall! Belym found something, get in 'ere!
Roshan waits for Belym to leave and throws herself into her work. She doesn't get much enjoyment out of the exercise. Too much is on her mind.
Everytime the demon shows a sliver of defiance while Roshan works, Ron digs Remorse a millimeter deeper into the demon's skin.
I turn back to Iron Tom. If he's telling me about something he found, maybe I should do the same.
So did I. There's some sort of...Onyx flower growing on these graves.
Tom wanders out to where he hears Conwall, Those things give me the heebie-jeebies. I feel like I have seen these before...
Belym
The daggers are heavily tapered, with about 10 inch blades, designed to inflict deep wounds and organ damage. they also have curved cross-guards, and a swirling purple gemstone, a small astral ruby (Not big enough to make a gate, but big enough for a nice burst of magic). What do you do?
Roshan & Ron (Torture Buddies!)
The demon screams and submits (as it turns out, recitation of scripture is the most effective). it offers information
- Einora has dozens of cultists, and twice as many demons in her thrall.
- She uses one of the old altars to draw power (This one you know to be true.)
- I never worked directly with The Lady of Treason, I served her servants
Tell me, which is the lie?
Tom
You think back. flowers made of precious minerals are not unheard of. when saint Argo-Thann of the church of Mersiel ascended to godhood, they say every flower in the region grew golden for a year. This sort of thing is deific magic.
Belym will find the nearest member of the town guard and (after checking to see that he doesn't bear a similar dagger - if he does, her reaction will be quite different) quickly explain what she found, and describe the two individuals she saw who also had them. " Anyone else you find with one of these should be treated as extremely dangerous, and arrested as quickly possible."
Roshan picks up the brass spear, "-and I suppose this is a mere trinket from your lowly master. We are truly fortunate that we are dealing with a Lady of Treason, rather than a prince of lies. The truth, fiend, or do we need to hear your last rites?"
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When Tom tells me the flowers made of stone come from close brushes with gods, I mention that the Onyx Dagger is a symbol of Ivtar, the god of Treachery.
Though "God" isn't really the right word for it, because he's not a tree. He's more of a extra powerful demon, like your "god"
Belym
These are serious allegations, I think you should go to captain Kael about this the guard says, turning to lead you to the guardhouse. what do you do?
Roshan
Yes, the Lady employs me directly he hangs his head, broken. what do you do?
Conwall
" We should wait for my companions, they may have more information to add." Assuming Tom and Conwall show up in the next minute or two, Belym accompanies the guard to the Captain.
Indeed we do show up after just a few moments, as I get done telling Ron about what I know about Onyx (and insulting his entire belief system).
Belym, hello! Ron was just telling me you found something of note? I came across some magic stone flowers, which Ron says may be indicative of a close brush with a powerful demon.
Indeed we do show up after just a few moments, as I get done telling Ron about what I know about Onyx (and insulting his entire belief system).
Belym, hello! Ron was just telling me you found something of note? I came across some magic stone flowers, which Ron says may be indicative of a close brush with a powerful demon.
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" More powerful than the two we fought on the road?" Belym asks, looking at Tom. She then replies to Conwall, " One of the cultists left this dagger behind, and I saw at least two other people with ones like it on our way here. This man was about to take us to the guard captain to report to him."
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"See? These creatures are nothing to be afraid of. As easily broken as any other." She sets down the book of rites and the silver brand, and takes the demon's jaw in her hand. She begins to run through questions, her previous failure and the look in Belym's eyes goading her into bleeding this minion dry.
"Your kind are not from this plane. A comrade in arms told me you are held here by stones. Has this mistress of yours employed scores of stones for these scores of demons?"
"Where does your mistress hold her unholy court? Where is her base of operations? On what fronts has she erected defenses?"
"What does your mistress fear? What has she pressed you on the most in her commands?"
"How does your mistress feed her mortal recruits?"
" More powerful than the two we fought on the road?" Belym asks, looking at Tom.
Tom shrugs, I'm not touching that stone again t' find out.
Roshan
My mistress has power beyond imagining, she dispenses her power crystalized to her loyal servants
She holds her court in front of the Altar, within the ruins of Riverthatch. The village itself has been fortified with Brass walls, and the outlying area is patrolled by demons, especially heavily on the northern front.
The Lady fears only the gods. she fears the wrath of Mersiel, and the retribution of Kelos.
She orders us to destroy all semblances of the oppressor, and of Lord Kelos. She also orders us to bring her sacrifices.
She takes tribute from those who seek her favour, and use that to feed her inner circle, and swell her treasury.
The demon looks guilty but it keeps talking nonetheless, what do you do?
Tom