|
Anfial rushes forward and slices mightily at the div, but even with her concentration set on her bleeding ears, she dodges with practiced ease. Karos blasts her square in the side, causing her to writhe in further pain, and Shandra sends her flying with a well-placed shield bash! From all her reeling and injury, she seems to focus on keeping herself regulated and on the defense, leaving the team with an opening.
The four men, seeing Shybbalha on the defensive, suddenly rise up and flee towards the other side of the column. They do not look to be in any shape to fight, even if they had their weapons, and with V's spell keeping the div's influence at bay, they take the opportunity to get out of harm's way.
|
Small black specks bounce off V's mask as he continues his magical assault.
[dice=ear-piercing scream, DC 17, replicating black powder]3d6+1[/dice]
|
|
The woman sneers, a bit bloodied but no longer clutching her ears. "You have no hope to survive. By the will of the Cruelest Cut, avatar of Ahriman, I shall end you all where you-"
Karos shoots Shybbahla square in the face, the back of which explodes outward. As her body hits the ground, it twists and becomes one that is mostly the same, but more like a gorgeous, blue-skinned fiend with a fanged maw, a horned brow, and sultry curves. The men all flinch at the shot, but regain composure quickly enough. When it seems they will come to no further harm, one steps forward. "Thank you very much. I am Yemenez Tharn, leader of our mercenary company. We were hired by some Osirian man calling himself the Sapphire Sage. He took us to resupply at some safe house owned by the Shadow Lodge, whatever that is, and we all came here by flying carpet. We jumped through the hole, like I assume you did, with the other three guarding, but we were soon ambushed by her. The old man told us to hold her off while he went to look for something, but she was too strong, she beat us half to death and then made us go through the motions of some silly self-sacrifice. Not too long after, you all showed up and freed us, for which, again, we thank you profusely."
|
|
The usually lively Karos is grimly cleaning and loading his large-bore Alkenstar pistol. He takes no pleasure in just having shot a woman in the face, not even one as thoroughly evil as a div. None of his normal repartee comes to mind.
"I didn't have any choice," he says. It's not clear whether he's talking to Marra or himself.
|
|
"Don't get too down on yourself, friend," Yemenez attempts to soothe Karos. "You did what had to be done. Besides, I happen to know a fair bit about divs. It might not have even been female, or had a gender in the first place. And it was that or spend the short rest of your life riddled with bubonic plague, shakes, and claw wounds. You know, all while having any sexual taboos you may have harbored repeatedly carried out on your wasting, bloody, diseased shell of a body.”
"Anyway," he continues, "I think the Sapphire Sage went that way, north-east. See, those're probably his footprints. We're not going any further in, I'd prefer to look for a way out. If you guys find one, that would be welcome. I wish you the best luck you can find in this gods-forsaken land." With that, he departs back the way the party came with the other three men after any farewells. The footprints he indicated lead to the ground ahead rising into a low hill, broken and blackened.
The black rock steams with heat and bears strange contours as if it had run into its current shape like liquid before drying. Black fumes rise from the rents in the top of this low mound. A low roar belches from each tear in the earth, and bright flame and globs of magma erupt in violent, crimson geysers. As the team crests the hill and approaches the fissures, following the footprints, one of the vents spews forth ahead of the others, but the expulsion takes the form of a massive giant-like figure made of molten rock! It bellows in a grating, otherworldly tongue as it prepares for a fight.
|
|
V does not know what the creature said, but he tries to stun it with the anguished cries of his martyred ancestor!
[dice=ear-piercing scream, DC 17, replicating black powder]3d6+1[/dice]
|
"Yeah, Karos. She, or it- was trying to sacrifice these men. And would have killed us, too." She puts a hand on his shoulder. "The sooner we find the Sapphire Sage the less death will occur."
She looks forward. "Let's head on and find the sage."
"Oh!" Cirri sees the creature as it grumbles. "Um, that wasn't Auran or Aquan... I don't know what it said."
"Right it's a magma elemental from the planes of earth and fire. It probably knows Ignan? What are its resistances?"
squaw!
Cirri is so deep in thought she's not thinking about defending herself.
|
|
Marra stops as the molten rock creature appears, "Hot rocks! I don't think he's friendly"
The halfling moves forward drawing her scimitar and fighting defensively as moves into melee range with it.
move: move & draw scimitar
Standard: attack with scimitar.
Fighting defensively -4 to hit / +3 AC
Cautious Fighter +2 AC when fighting defensively.
to hit
|
|
The elemental reels slightly from the shriek of V's ancestors long dead, but shakes itself and maintains its stance. Marra's scimitar skitters off the creature's rocky exterior, while Shandra wards Anfial further against the heat.
|
|
Beginning her battle dance and using arcane energy to empower her weapon, Marra still fighting defensively takes a risky attack against the big guy with her small scimitar.
swift: Arcane Strike +0/+2
Move: battle dance +4/+4
Standard: attack with scimitar.
Fighting defensively -4 to hit / +3 AC
Cautious Fighter +2 AC when fighting defensively.
Risky Striker -2ac/+4dam vs large
Good Hope +2/+2
to hit
|
|
Anfial takes a chunk out of the elemental, while Shandra lets her guard down to ward herself against the flames. The hulking beast takes a swipe at her for her trouble.
Cirri hits the elemental with a huge ball of magically enhanced snow, Marra slices at the creature again, to more effect than her last attempt, and Karos shoots it once again. It seems about to unleash a deluge of pain onto Cirri, but V's unerring force missiles bring it down!
|
|
Aided by the others, the fire clinging to Shandra burns out quickly. Soon after, the team continues across the plain, avoiding fissures and vents wherever they might arise. Another half an hour of trekking brings them to what seems to be a far end of the cavern, where a massive part of the former citadel lies mostly intact, stretching into the stormy cloud above and scraping the cave's roof. Ruined hallways previously attached form precarious arches, and the few ways into the keep seem to be through large holes in the exterior, all of which open into a hallway not destroyed.
From the party's perspective in the citadel, the hall seems to be on its side, but easy enough to traverse nonetheless. It seems even hotter than outside, but Marra's protection holds fast. The source of such heat becomes obvious when the steep way widens suddenly into a dimly lit room with open passages leading off the eastern and western walls. In the center of the room, a shallow fire pit burns with glowing coals. As if it weren't hot enough! At the near edge of the fire pit, a large, lidded clay jar shakes and jostles as though something inside wanted out. A pile of broken jars lies strewn about the northern edge of the chamber.
Seated in the pit is a scarlet-scaled creature, much akin to a snake, but with a humanoid/reptilian head and two such arms. At his back is a spear and his hands hold a set of iron panpipes. Upon noticing the team, he puts the pipes down and says, in thickly accented Common, “Greetings, foreigners. Welcome to the immortal halls of the Cruelest Cut, the almighty Achistem B’rith. He is an avatar of the mighty Ahriman, his name be blessed forever. He separates mortals from the divine and leaves them to wallow in their own meaninglessness. Be welcome and know despair, for whoever intrudes upon the holy grounds of Achistem B’rith must choose; bow before the almighty Cruelest Cut or face the wrath of the great destroyer.” He then takes up the pipes once more and continues to play.
|
|
Cirri makes all sorts of notes and pictures as she sees the city.
"Oh, a salamander. Man, they're hot. Plus, they are great at forgery. I mean, forging, like a blacksmith."
The reptile introduces itself to the group. "Uh-huh...um, you haven't happened to see a ring around here? Or a sage of some kind?"
Squaw
"Riddy, we always talk first. ESPECIALLY before we come to blows."
|
|
"I haven't seen any rings, nor any sages," the salamander says. "The tear that was rent above the citadel by the Jistkan mages of millennia past weakened the borders between this plane and others, such as the elemental planes and Abaddon, home of Ahriman and his divs."
When Marra posits her question, the salamander begins to laugh uproariously. When he finishes, he plunges into another explanation. "No, I am but a humble servant. Achistem B'rith arrived, in all of his majesty, perhaps a week ago. A member of the Usij seeking this very place, and in his presence, I could tell he was none other than the avatar of Ahriman himself. I am Calipharo."
To Shandra, Calipharo looks a bit taken aback, and thinks for a second before responding. "Again, it is not my wisdom, but that of the mighty Ahriman. And as to your foolish question, there is no way the Cruelest Cut could be hurt, especially by mortals such as yourself. He would smite you like he did the makers of this citadel. Given this line of questioning, I no longer assume you are here to pledge allegiance. Am I correct in this assumption?"
|
|
V's beautiful, intense eyes stare straight on at the creature from behind his mask, from which appears to drip a few drops of blood. His voice is calm, even amiable, as he speaks:
"I see you're one of those isolated souls who aren't familiar with my reputation. No, I, for one, bow my head before no one - and let me tell you a point of interest you may or may not be aware of: This demiplane of yours shares a boundary with an entire nation of mortals who would face death and worse before supplicating themselves before the meddling powers of the Beyond. They are a nation of strong warriors and intelligent mages, proud and strong-willed as only a godless nation can be. You can preach the invincibility and grandeur of your master and all that balderdash to us, but when you're at your leisure, you may wish to ponder the question more objectively: Are you and those you serve *actually* prepared for the potential ire of an entire nation that would be eager to fell a god if they had the opportunity, let alone a pretender to that title like Ahriman?"
|
|
Hand on his pistol's grip, duster thrown back to keep his hand clear, Karos stares at the unearthly creature. "I made a deal a while back with a fellow I respect. I promised I'd not shoot anybody before giving them a chance to reconsider their position, if I could, and nobody'd be hurt by the delay. Seems like this is one of those times. Not enough people take me up on my offer, but you can be the first."
"As my friends have said, we're not bowing. The only question is, are you leaving here on your own two... well, leaving here alive. In the name of Cayden Caelian, I give you this chance to move away. Just go home, fire-man and nobody has to die here today."
|
|
Calipharo shrugs indifferently, but still seems a bit nervous. "Oh, you mean Rahadoum? Let them come, then, and watch them fall. As evidenced by this citadel and his many avatars over the ages, Ahriman is not like the other, lesser gods in their fear to bring their work directly to this world. Should you make it past me, you will see. Let the truth gaze upon you, and he will smite you for your infidelity."
He pauses for a second, looking bemused. "Listen to me ramble. Forgive me, I have been here for some centuries and beings weaker than I have scarcely made it this far. Never mind, I was simply explaining why you need to die." With that, he picks up his pipes and plays a single, eerie note. Casting them aside, he grabs his spear off of his back and lashes out at the jar with his tail! It shatters easily, and something or things unseen can be noted rising from it.
|
|
His offer declined, Karos quickly powers up and shoots Calipharo before he can carry out his threat.
Shandra is forced to run, while Marra empowers the group and Cirri creates a whip made of water. Anfial drinks a potion, and V blasts the salamander with a scream only they can hear.
|
|
Swing her small scimitar as she begins a deadly battle dance, Marra uses her magic to cast a Bladed Dash {link} enabling her to rush in leaving blurred image of her self in her wake. Once within range she attacks the salamander. Unfortunately, she feels a deja vu moment from an earlier battle as she misses.
swift: arcane strike +0/+2
Move: begin bard battle dance +4/+4 3/23r
Standard: cast Bladed Dash +3 to hit
fighting Defensive -4 / +3 AC
Cautious Fighter: +2ac when fighting defensively
Good hope +2/+2
to hit {nat 1}