When one of the tentacles whizzes my way, I deftly slash at it, hoping to lop it off and clear myself a path. Where's a series of chains hanging from the ceiling or a spiral staircase when you need one?
The tentacle catches you, faster than you could believe, raking across your stomach with its barbs as the force sends you flying.
What do you do?
Ron's spear pierces the tentacle slashing at Conwall, slowing it down.
The old veteran then pulls back the spear and attempts to pierce the tentacle again.
Ron's spear pierces the tentacle slashing at Conwall, slowing it down.
The old veteran then pulls back the spear and attempts to pierce the tentacle again.
Your strike hits a vein, or something similar, and purple blood flows free from the tentacle that strikes you, sending you rolling away. What do you do?
With the beast's attention still apparently on the fighters, Belym continues her two pronged assault.
The tentacle hits me hard across the stomach, though my armor and Ron's spear absorbs much of the cost. I sail across the room and when I catch my thoughts I decide that this is a foe best handled from a distance. Good thing I brought daggers! I let one sail at center mass while the tentacles are occupied elsewhere.
The tentacle hits me hard across the stomach, though my armor and Ron's spear absorbs much of the cost. I sail across the room and when I catch my thoughts I decide that this is a foe best handled from a distance. Good thing I brought daggers! I let one sail at center mass while the tentacles are occupied elsewhere.
[dice=volley]2d6+2
Ron grunts as he stands and quickly drinks a healing potion. He laughs as Conwall's shot goes wide. Watch and learn!
Ron holsters his spear, draws a dagger and takes aim at the largest eye he can see.
Ron sighs as the dagger hits a glancing blow and prepares for the worst.
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With the beast's attention still apparently on the fighters, Belym continues her two pronged assault.
The wolf tears at the beast more, drawing more blood to add to the river already flowing from the keep. the boulder flies true this time, tearing a hole straight through the beast, exposing prismatic organs and offal. what do you do?
The tentacle hits me hard across the stomach, though my armor and Ron's spear absorbs much of the cost. I sail across the room and when I catch my thoughts I decide that this is a foe best handled from a distance. Good thing I brought daggers! I let one sail at center mass while the tentacles are occupied elsewhere.
your throw is true, but a tentacle catches it. moreover, from the commanders quarters of the keep, the remaining cultists open fire, bursts of green energy. one gets you square in the gut, what do you do?
Ron grunts as he stands and quickly drinks a healing potion. He laughs as Conwall's shot goes wide. Watch and learn!
Ron holsters his spear, draws a dagger and takes aim at the largest eye he can see.
Ron sighs as the dagger hits a glancing blow and prepares for the worst.
Your dagger flies true, piercing one of the beasts organs. in it's death throes, you find yourself doused in its blood. what do you do?
Oh, that one hurt. A burning green fire. They'll pay for that. They'll pay dearly.
Suck blade, evil doers!
I let a dagger fly into the commander's quarters. Hopefully it catches one mid spell.
A direct hit! It's good to be on the win again!
Oh, that one hurt. A burning green fire. They'll pay for that. They'll pay dearly.
Suck blade, evil doers!
I let a dagger fly into the commander's quarters. Hopefully it catches one mid spell.
[dice=volley]2d6+2
A direct hit! It's good to be on the win again!
[dice=damage]1d10
The knife flies true, smashing through glass on the way up, and buries itself in the face of a fool cultist, who fall from the window, onto the courtyard with a splat. The others begin spells anew, what do you do?
Seeing the green ray strike Conwall, Belym darts up to the door it came from, and quickly produces a hail of small stones that flood into the commander's quarters, before ducking to the side of the doorway.
Ron smiles as the beast dies. I'm counting that one for me Conwall!
He then curses as Conwall's dagger strikes true. Lucky shot! He pulls out another dagger and heaves it towards the cultists before unholstering his spear and charging through the fire to the stairs up to the commander's quarters.
That's two! He zig zags as he approaches the stairs, attempting to provide a moving target.
Fortunately, his plan to kill the beast to provide cover for a charge works out perfectly. Green bolts explode among the tentacles reaching out into the courtyard and up the stairs, but can't seem to track the Battlemaster as he reaches the entrance to the commander's room.
Seeing the green ray strike Conwall, Belym darts up to the door it came from, and quickly produces a hail of small stones that flood into the commander's quarters, before ducking to the side of the doorway.
[Dice=Channel Landslide (hazard, forceful)]2d6+2
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Ron smiles as the beast dies. I'm counting that one for me Conwall!
He then curses as Conwall's dagger strikes true. Lucky shot! He pulls out another dagger and heaves it towards the cultists before unholstering his spear and charging through the fire to the stairs up to the commander's quarters.
[Dice=Volley]2d6+2
[Dice=Damage]1d8+1d4
That's two! He zig zags as he approaches the stairs, attempting to provide a moving target.
[Dice=Defy Danger Dex]2d6+2
Fortunately, his plan to kill the beast to provide cover for a charge works out perfectly. Green bolts explode among the tentacles reaching out into the courtyard and up the stairs, but can't seem to track the Battlemaster as he reaches the entrance to the commander's room.
your dagger strikes another cultist in the neck , tearing through and freeing his head.
You are able to traverse the gravelly stairs,and close with the cultists, Who are still recovering from Belym's attack, and unable to defend themselves. what do you do?
And Ron, no worries - we should probably let the DM have done fun now and then anyway :)
gravel and stones fill the room, knocking the cultists off their feet, it keeps flowing though, and covers the stairs as well What do you do?
I flip up through the window, ready to engage whatever thugs are left! Maybe with a neat flourish like bouncing off the corpse of the octo-demon.
A glorious success! I vault into the window with avian grace, looking for someone to stab (preferably someone with their back to me, not expecting ingress through the window)
Ron stabs the nearest cultist he can find in the heart.
Three!
He follows up by spinning the spear butt in a wide arc towards the next nearest cultist's skull.
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I flip up through the window, ready to engage whatever thugs are left! Maybe with a neat flourish like bouncing off the corpse of the octo-demon.
[dice=defy danger dex]2d6+2
A glorious success! I vault into the window with avian grace, looking for someone to stab (preferably someone with their back to me, not expecting ingress through the window)
you're in, and they are recovering from Belym's attack. Ron swiftly dispatches two ofthem, while the other two scramble to their feet, clutching their daggers and looking squirrelly, what do you do?
Ron stabs the nearest cultist he can find in the heart.
[dice=Free attack Damage Reckless Pierce 2]1d8+1d4
Three!
He follows up by spinning the spear butt in a wide arc towards the next nearest cultist's skull.
[dice=Hack & Slash]2d6+2
[dice=Damage Reckless (can I still get Pierce 2 if I'm narratively using the butt of my spear?)]1d8+1d4
Both go down, bleeding from deep wounds, or else with their skull caved in. the other two are on their feet, daggers raised and eyes on the door. what do you do?
Four! Ron raises his spear as if to throw it at the nearest cultist.
Yield or die!
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Belym enters behind Ron, stone hound by her side and stones dancing around her fingertips, and lets her presence add weight to Ron's threat.
I stand ready in case they chose "or die." I'm more than happy to oblige.
Four! Ron raises his spear as if to throw it at the nearest cultist.
Yield or die!
[dice=Parley with his life as leverage]2d6-1
Belym enters behind Ron, stone hound by her side and stones dancing around her fingertips, and lets her presence add weight to Ron's threat.
[Dice=Aid Ron]2d6+1
The cultists turn to you, voices shaking and say "We will drop our weapons, if you drop yours, and call off the freak". What do you do?
I don't drop this sword, but if you kick your daggers to me I'll stow it far enough that if you betray us you'll have several minutes to regret the decision.
I find taking prisoners distasteful. If there were enough standing cultists to push my count to five they'd already be dead.
Ron laughs cruelly while Conwall and Belym answer. When Belym says, Forget it, Ron suddenly throws his spear at the cultist that didn't speak.
He pulls out his last dagger. Dropped my spear. Now, one of us is going to drop their dagger. Who will it be?
"If you mean me, I'm not the one summoning demons around here. And you're not exactly harmless without your weapons either, are you? Forget it."
Belym will send her hound outside and down the stairs, however.
I don't drop this sword, but if you kick your daggers to me I'll stow it far enough that if you betray us you'll have several minutes to regret the decision.
I find taking prisoners distasteful. If there were enough standing cultists to push my count to five they'd already be dead.
Ron laughs cruelly while Conwall and Belym answer. When Belym says, Forget it, Ron suddenly throws his spear at the cultist that didn't speak.
[Dice=Volley]2d6+2
[Dice=Damage Pierce 2]1d8+1d4
He pulls out his last dagger. Dropped my spear. Now, one of us is going to drop their dagger. Who will it be?
"If you mean me, I'm not the one summoning demons around here. And you're not exactly harmless without your weapons either, are you? Forget it."
Belym will send her hound outside and down the stairs, however.
The cultist drops to his knees, flinging his knife to the side "Please, please don't kill me". he's crying now. what do you do?
Ron picks up his spear and collects the daggers lying throughout the room.
He points to Belym. Answer the nice lady's questions. All of them.
When he finishes securing the weapons he walks up next to Conwall and whispers, We won't count that one. He then takes a defensive posture at any door in the room leading into the rest of the keep, if such exists.
This is the commander's room, right? Is there a desk or drawers or anywhere else to conceal stuff? Is there anything else that is immediately notable?
I look agog at Ron. That was pretty brutal. These cultists were summoning demons, but for the first time I wonder exactly what sort of people I've taken up with.
I lean up against some furniture, appearing to absent-mindedly play with Catastrophe as I wait to hear the answer to Belym's questions.
Ron picks up his spear and collects the daggers lying throughout the room.
He points to Belym. Answer the nice lady's questions. All of them.
When he finishes securing the weapons he walks up next to Conwall and whispers, We won't count that one. He then takes a defensive posture at any door in the room leading into the rest of the keep, if such exists.
This is the commander's room, right? Is there a desk or drawers or anywhere else to conceal stuff? Is there anything else that is immediately notable?
the room has two entrances (well, three after conwall's stunt) one door leads out to the stairs, the other leads deeper into the keep. the commanders desk has a blood circle on it (another object desecrated by the cult). Inside are old orders (long yellowed by time) and the ravings of the cult's prophet, on a few dozen types of demon, their uses and qualities. What do you do?
Belym steps toward the cultist. "Let's start with the basics. Who are you? What are you doing here? How many more of you are there? And what Stone-forsaken abomination was that just now?"
Belym steps toward the cultist. "Let's start with the basics. Who are you? What are you doing here? How many more of you are there? And what Stone-forsaken abomination was that just now?"
"I am Kaspar Brevil, and I am the last of Orprixys' circle of Kelos. The beast you and your companions destroyed was one of the Hands of Kelos, the Man-servants of the great god himself. Who are you people?" He remains prostrate, clearly terrified, what do you do?
"A nice enough start. Why were you here? What would you have done if we hadn't come along? How many other circles are there?" Belym asks, ignoring the man's question. Surfacer deities...ugh. she thinks, trying to dredge up any memories of this Kelos
(Maybe minions that plagued the mines?)
Ron butts in for one question. To your knowledge, you are the last survivor here?
"A nice enough start. Why were you here? What would you have done if we hadn't come along? How many other circles are there?" Belym asks, ignoring the man's question. Surfacer deities...ugh. she thinks, trying to dredge up any memories of this Kelos
(Maybe minions that plagued the mines?)[Dice=Spout Lore about Kelos]2d6+1
You remember Kelos. A mad dwarf, some 50 years ago, had kidnapped and sacrificed 9 dwarves (mostly children and he elderly, but the last two were seasoned warriors) all to the mad god Kelos. You weren't there when they took him down, but you heard about his power, greater than most dwarven mages ever achieve.
His pleading voice interrupts your memories "we were here because of its proximity to the road" There is a large road, between Tanard and Braxos' capitols, less than a mile from the fort "merchants and refugees made easy targets to sate the God, and increase our power. Orprixys always said that once we grew strong enough, we would destroy the oppressors, the church of Mersiel."
He pauses to catch his breath, and consider your last question. "I am aware of the circle of Alyrin, far to the south, the heretical Circle of Einora, and the circle of Esphior, in Braxos. I am sure there are others, but those are all I know."
Ron butts in for one question. To your knowledge, you are the last survivor here?
"Yes, you and the Demon Killed all of the brothers and sisters of the circle, save myself"
Kelos...I wish I had paid attention in demonology class. I never much cared for book learning, the only education I valued was swordcraft. Still, there are these papers on demons. I read the entry on Kelos to Belym. Maybe something jogs her memory?
Then we are safe enough for now. Ron heads out to the woods and retrieves Roach, bringing him into the courtyard. He then begins a more earnest recon of the tower.
Kelos...I wish I had paid attention in demonology class. I never much cared for book learning, the only education I valued was swordcraft. Still, there are these papers on demons. I read the entry on Kelos to Belym. Maybe something jogs her memory?
[dice=aid another]2d6+1
throughout the mad ravings, you discover that Kelos is not a demon prince, but a god proper, one of Magic, secrets, and lies. he also seems to favour Tentacles heavily in his creations, and Fish. His cults draw power from human sacrifice, and some can grow exceedingly dangerous sing this method. That thing they summoned was one of his personal servants, they were very arrogant to summon it.
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Then we are safe enough for now. Ron heads out to the woods and retrieves Roach, bringing him into the courtyard. He then begins a more earnest recon of the tower.
Within the keep you find
- a chest with 900 gold
- A magical altar
- 400 more coins in the prison
- maps of several local towns, In a sealed letter to Selwyn Tarak
- a jeweled mead horn, worth 800 gold if you find a buyer
- an astral ruby (all that’s left of the Tentacled beast), worth 1300 to an arcane practitioner, or a worshipper of Kelos
Also, 24 sets of equipment, for the men manning the garrison (a set is a longsword, shield, chainmail, ragged bow, bundle of arrows, and 5 dungeon rations) The crown would no doubt apreciate these being left here, but you could proably take a few things from it, there are quite a lot.
Also, all told, there are about four dozen daggers in the keep, if you want those.
And there is the keep itself, you could keep it, under the laws of conquest, or sell it back to the kingdom for the reward.
Huzzah! We have won back your tower, stolen from you by these mad monks!
"Who or what is Orpryxis?" Belym asks.
"Who or what is Orpryxis?" Belym asks.
"She was our prophet, until the Elf slew her, she led the cult, and rrecieved guidance from The lord himself"
Ron picks up three solid throwing daggers and eats a ration from the hoard. While Belym is speaking with the captive, he carries 800 gold coins over to Roach and loads up the horse. He then removes a spyglass from the horse's bag and carries it to the roof.
He surveys the nearby lands for signs of army movements or fortifications, or anything unusual.
Ron picks up three solid throwing daggers and eats a ration from the hoard. While Belym is speaking with the captive, he carries 800 gold coins over to Roach and loads up the horse. He then removes a spyglass from the horse's bag and carries it to the roof.
He surveys the nearby lands for signs of army movements or fortifications, or anything unusual.
The forest is large, and even atop the roof, little of it can be seen. To the north, you can see the main road, and the border town of chillhollow (it has walls, and towers, a proper stronghold).
to the southeast, you see smoke rising from the forest, from large campfires, perhaps two miles out of Norwhich. What do you do?