The hezrou's clumsiness at its moment of supposed triumph would spell its end. Instead of ripping apart her squadron while they contended with the babaus, it would be smashed piece from piece by her powerful hammer blows. Her song evolves once more, speaking again of desperation, though a desperation for victory. Gutturally ululating at great volume into the sky, Myrna delivers two brutal hammer blows to her foe's face.
Ehren slowly treads closer to the melee against Jaruunicka, crushing the fallen rift drake beneath his stone feet as he begins to climb the stairway. The futile attacks of the drake's former rider, however, distract him from his objective. The earth elemental looks at the lone incubus with a frown and briefly debates on whether to leave him for Peace-Amidst-Pain to handle, but pragmatism wins out in the end - as does the boiling pit of anger in his chest.
The wings of the Silver Crane briefly spread out once more as Ehren whips around, tossing a massive punch at the winged demon. Wreathed in righteous silver power, his stone fist streaks through the air like a small comet.
Header
Percept +22 low-light vision, blindsight 45', detect evil creatures within 190' emanation | Init +18 | AC 36, Touch 33, FF 25 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +20 Will +19, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 5 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round,act in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..010........30........6........0........06....01
Max.|..010........30........6........4........17....11
143/143 hp
Martial focus: 0/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift:
Move:
Move (enhanced patrol):
Free:
Standard:
Full round action:
Hinagiku cannot bring herself to strike the fleeing Jaruunicka. She had long resigned herself to the idea that killing the most corrupted servants of the abyss was a necessary evil, but the last day had shaken her own beliefs, and just like the hag, she was unsure what the right path was. Would it not be evil to send her to the damning afterlife if the crack in her faith was so evident?
Staying her hand, she motions to the others to hold their attacks for a moment.
”Everyone, please wait a moment only a short, I can still feel that our words have reached something… we have given a chance to Mrs. Arueshalae, why not to Mrs. Jaruunicka? … humm… also, Mrs. Unafe, it seems we are winning here, you are the one who can move the most, should you maybe check on Mrs. Myrna?” Hinagiku adds, knowing that the clan-liege tended to be over zealous when fighting.
”If Mrs. Arueshalae, reborn in the abysses, can find a new path, so can you who was born into this world. Be an affront to what you once believed, and learn that not all souls are judged, that some are reborn into this plane and given a chance to seek a life where strife does not only lead to pain and suffering. No, it will not be easy, but I do not believe anything is in this sad land? … and, I am sorry to say, now is likely your last chance to ponder this question.” Hinagiku ends, no threat in her voice, but simply a statement of the situation.
Unafe's feathers flair in frustration as Jaruunicka breaks free of her grapple. Cursing her injured arm, Unafe backhands the hag as she attempts to escape, and then leaps after her, attempting to tackle her back to the ground.
She pauses briefly when she hears Hinagiku's plea as she's bending her legs to leap into the air, but only for a fraction of a second. Then she continues with her attempt to tackle the hag.
Free: AoO
Move: Leap
Stnd: Grapple
30 AC +2 vs evil outsiders
33 CMB (36 vs Grapple) +2 vs evil outsiders
107/136 HP & HEALTHY
0 Nonlethal
21 THP (-1 bleed, +4 adrenaline)
DR 10/adamantine (Stoneskin, 20/100 absorbed)
4 Tension (R7: 1 -1 adrenaline, R8: 1 desperate +1 damaged, +1 move, +1 hit)
5/5 Mythic Tension Pool
4/11 MP
1/2 martial focus
5/5 per day, can regain focus 2/round
5/13 SP
3/3 stone shapes remaining
2/2 mystic shell layer remaining
3/4 rounds Embracing Bear stance remaining
DR 2/- vs evil outsiders.
As Jaruunicka attempts to slip away, Unafe's injured arm does little to hinder her. With a swift, powerful backhand, she strikes the fleeing hag.
She then leaps a majestic arc. She descends upon Jaruunicka, her fingers outstretched. Landing heavily atop the hag, Unafe pins Jaruunicka to the ground with a resounding thud. The hag writhes beneath her, but Unafe's grip is firm, her ancestors guiding her every move.
Li'an is up!
Auraelia reacts quickly to the half-orc's attack, interposing her tiny shield between herself and the vicious axe blow. Half the sundered shield falls to the ground, leaving it useless, but Auraelia otherwise remains unharmed. "Some Angel slayer," she taunts, her words clearly intelligible to the orcs due to her truespeech, "cowering in your fortress here and going after others when you can ambush or attack people alone! I doubt you've fought a single true outsider, and you wouldn't last a minute against a Brijidine."
Knowing she couldn't stand toe-to-toe with the orc, she instead opts for trickery. Disappearing again, she heads quickly out the ladder and towards the edge of the fortress, zipping out of line of sight of her foes. Once out of sight she makes use of her innate powers of illusion to create an image of her flying out and down into the woods, hoping to goad the warriors into following the image down.
Unwilling to allow the hag to escape, Li'an pulls out her scroll of wall of force and conjures it in the hag's path, knowing she was unlikely to be able to detect its presence before she ran into it.
The Angel Slayer pauses at the sight, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Don't be fooled," she barks in Orcish to her comrades. "This is a trick, a diversion. Stay alert!"
She then turns to Shadbak, her voice stern and commanding. "Shadbak, keep watch. That lyrakien is cunning. We can't let our guard down."
Acknowledging her orders, Shadbak nods and positions herself to monitor the surroundings. Meanwhile, the leader, along with the dancing half-orc, makes her way towards the trapdoor. They begin their descent down the tree, cautiously scanning the area for any sign of the elusive Auraelia.
Hidden from view, Auraelia watches their movements carefully, her mind racing with plans. She knows she must act quickly and cleverly to rescue Gaiwan and escape this perilous situation. The Worldwound around her, though a place of danger, also offers a haven of opportunities for a cunning celestial like herself.
The hezrou, caught in its own overconfidence, falters under the relentless assault of Myrna's hammer. The demon's hideous face contorts in pain as Myrna's hammer descends upon it, once, then twice, with the force of a tempest.
With a final, earth-shattering strike, Myrna's hammer crushes the hezrou's skull, silencing its grotesque snarls forever. The demon's massive body crumples to the ground and dissolves, defeated by the sheer might of the Sarkorian Captain.
As the hezrou falls, a hush descends upon the battlefield, broken only by the heavy breaths of the warriors and the cries of the remaining demons. Myrna stands tall amidst the chaos, her hammer dripping with demonic ichor, her eyes blazing with the fire of victory.
Her squadron, inspired by their Captain's valor, rallies with renewed vigor, their spirits lifted by the sight of their fallen foe. The tide of battle shifts as the Crusaders press on, emboldened by Myrna's triumph over the hezrou. The remaining babaus, realizing the ferocity of their adversaries, begin to falter under the relentless onslaught of the Hellfire Squadron.
Among them, Beatrix's sword cuts swathes through the demonic horde, her blade leaving trails of golden light that cut through the darkness of the Abyssal creatures. As she fights, the ghostly angel at her back moves in perfect sync, its ethereal longsword a blur of motion. It parries and counters, keeping the demons at bay, allowing Beatrix to focus on her deadly strikes. Her blade sings through the air, each strike resonating with the power of the Silver Crane.
Round 9!
Arueshalae, wings beating furiously, ascends high into the air, her gaze locked onto Jaruunicka with a ferocity that borders on bloodlust.
The once-damned succubus, now a beacon of redemption, seems to find herself teetering on the edge of her past's darker impulses.
The starknife in her hand gleams ominously under the moonlit sky, an instrument of vengeance poised to strike. As she swoops down toward the hag, Arueshalae's face contorts with rage, a silent scream etched into her features.
"You... You hurt Valaria!" she hisses through clenched teeth, each word dripping with venom. "For every drop of blood she shed, for every scar you inflicted, you will pay tenfold!"
"I am not the demon I once was, Jaruunicka!" Arueshalae shouts. "But I will not stand idle while monsters like you roam free!"
As Hinagiku's words float across the battlefield, a hush falls over the frenzied clash of arms. Her plea, imbued with a deep, resonant truth, hangs in the air like a fragile thread of hope amidst the chaos.
Jaruunicka, bloodied and cornered, pauses in her attempted escape. The annis hag's eyes, normally gleaming with malevolent cunning, now flicker with a hint of uncertainty. Her breathing is ragged, and for a moment, the mask of the relentless hunter slips, revealing something more vulnerable beneath.
Jaruunicka's moment of vulnerability swiftly fades under the unyielding gaze of her pursuers. The flicker of doubt in her eyes is quickly extinguished, replaced by the familiar cold fire of malice and survival. She wrenches against Unafe's powerful grip, her muscles bulging with otherworldly strength, her face twisting into a snarl of defiance.
"You speak of paths and redemption," she hisses through clenched teeth, "but I am not some wayward child to be coaxed back to the light. I am Jaruunicka, Priestess of Sifkesh, and I will not be swayed by empty platitudes!"
Her body surges with renewed vigor, her hag strength nearly breaking free from Unafe's hold. Her eyes dart around, calculating, seeking any opportunity to turn the tide of the battle in her favor.
Meanwhile, back at Caerwen, out of sight of Unafe, Ehren's fist, surrounded by a halo of silver energy, arcs through the air with the unstoppable force of a landslide. The incubus, caught off-guard, has no time to react as Ehren's blow connects with devastating precision, obliterating it in an explosion of silver light and demonic ichor. Peace-Amidst-Pain trudges forward despite the intolerable muck.
Round 8!
His path clear of obstacles, Ehren finally clambers onto the scene, only to find that the hag has fled with Unafe and Arueshelae in pursuit. Even amid his rage he can sense the compassion in his lover's words, knowing that as always, she means well. Unfortunately, Jaruunicka is predictable in her response, seemingly intent on fighting till the bitter end. Which is just as well for Ehren, who has no intention of allowing her to escape with her life.
Arueshelae appears to share the sentiment, but something about her words gives the druid pause. Destroying Jaruunicka was an obligation for him, not an act to take pleasure in. And yet, the venom in the succubus's voice betrayed an almost sadistic glee. Ehren sets the thought aside, allowing his rage to subsume him once more. In his current state, it would be rather hypocritical of him to criticize.
Drawing on the power of the ley, Ehren raises his hands and intones an incantation in his deep, gravely voice. He channels his anger into the spell, allowing the figurative fire in his heart to feed a literal one as he attempts to consume Jaruunicka with a column of searing white flames. The archdruid, of course, has the presence of mind to aim the spell carefully, so as to avoid scorching his allies.
Header
Percept +22 low-light vision, blindsight 45', detect evil creatures within 190' emanation | Init +18 | AC 36, Touch 33, FF 25 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +20 Will +19, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 5 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round,act in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..010........30........6........0........06....01
Max.|..010........30........6........4........17....11
143/143 hp
Martial focus: 0/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift: Renew enhancer
Move:
Move (enhanced patrol):
Free:
Standard:
Full round action: diplomacy on Arueshalae.
Hinagiku’s gaze had been on Jaruunicka as they spoke, but when the fallen priestess rejects her words, the monk closes her eyes with an inward sigh. So be it, she would catch up with the others and make sure the hag could not drag anyone else into an afterlife of despair.
Hinagiku focus on bellicose intentions soon fades, replaced by doubts and concerns for another’s soul, Arueshalae’s. Hearing her words, sensing her motions, she could feel the abyssal teint taking over.
”Mrs. Arueshalae, yes she has hurt Mrs. Valaria, but remember what Mrs. Valaria wishes for you. Do not let her wake up to the Arueshalae that was before she met you…” Hinagiku pauses for a moment, looking around. ”Mrs. Unafe, Ehren-kun and I can deal with Mrs. Jaruunicka, I think it would be wiser for one of us to go and keep an eye on Mrs. Valaria.” she whispers out, hoping for their ally to retreat and avoid vengeance.
Finally free of the large, powerful demons holding her attention, Myrna joins her squadron in destroying the babau troop. She wades into battle alongside them, delivering powerful blows that reverberate into the ground beneath her targets, her hammer still dripping with the demonic ichor of the babaus' more powerful defenders.
Meanwhile, her song changes once more, from desperate and wordless ululation, to a dirge for her fallen foes, her fallen friends, and the enemies before her still yet to be destroyed.
"Doom, dinistr, ac anobaith
Pobl yn marw ym mhobman
Marwolaeth a gwae ac anobaith du
Pobl yn marw ym mhobman
Dinistr poen ac anobaith
Pobl yn marw ym mhobman"
People dying everywhere
Death and gloom and black despair
People dying everywhere
Pain destruction and despair
People dying everywhere"
As the hezrou is defeated and the Crusaders give out a cheer, Beatrix is distracted from her battle-fervor. The energy and emotion that suffuse her are dissipated, though she still attacks the babaus with her longsword, her heart is no longer in it. The desperation and danger of the situation have lessened that her focus is no longer on martial struggle.
Her angelic ally, however, is robotic in its strength. It continues to fight alongside the Crusaders, its glowing ethereal blade of force swishing to and fro.
Unafe snarls at Jaruunicka. "Even with one lame arm, you won’t easily get away from me again!"
She twists the hag around, smashing her into the ground and then punching her with adrenaline-fueled rage.
Move: Maintain
Stnd: Brutal Strike
30 AC +2 vs evil outsiders
33 CMB (36 vs Grapple) +2 vs evil outsiders
107/136 HP & HEALTHY
0 Nonlethal
20 THP (-1 bleed)
DR 10/adamantine (Stoneskin, 20/100 absorbed)
0 Tension (R8: -4T fiery offense (+4), +1 damaged, +1 demoralize, +1 hit, -3T rapid pummel)
5/5 Mythic Tension Pool
4/11 MP
1/2 martial focus
5/5 per day, can regain focus 2/round
5/13 SP
3/3 stone shapes remaining
2/2 mystic shell layer remaining
DR 2/- vs evil outsiders.
Auraelia knew the 'angel slayer' was observant and cunning enough to expect the bits of trickery she could do. Clearly if she attempted to augment the illusion she'd sent below with sound down there, she would see through the trick, especially since her illusions were fairly weak. But perhaps she could use that to her advantage. Making use of her ability to project her voice, she picks a spot behind a tree near and slightly above angel-slayer and whispers "Just a bit longer and the dumb orc will be down..."
Sensing Rue's intentions slipping towards evil, Li'an flies quickly to her side. "Rue، هل هذا ما يريده Valaria ؟ هل هذا ما يريده Desna ؟ لا تسعى إلى إلحاق المعاناة من أجل الانتقام. فلا تسعى إلى استخلاص الفرحة أو المتعة منه. لقد تخلت عنها آلهتها بالفعل، وستلتقي بها الآن بين أيدينا. اذهب للتحقق من Val وسننضم إليك قريبًا."
"Arueshalae, is this what Valaria would want? Is it what Desna gave you chance for? Don't seek to inflict suffering for vengeance. Don't seek to derive joy or pleasure from it. She has already been forsaken by her goddess, and she will meet her just end now at our hands. Go check on Val and we will join you shortly."
The orcish cultists, having reached the bottom of the tree, leave Shadbak behind as the lookout, who closes the trapdoor behind them. Auraelia listens intently, catching the faint sound of whispering - a message spell.
"Be wary, Shadbak," says the Angel Slayer. "I know too well the tricks of lyrakiens. They're masters of illusion and deceptive voices."
She pauses, her tone turning contemplative. "I wonder if she was summoned by that Crusader troop. Perhaps they're trying to rescue our Kellid captive."
The Angel Slayer's voice becomes firmer, more commanding. "Keep a close watch on our prisoner. We'll be back soon. If it's a rescue attempt, she might come for him."
Myrna moves through the ranks of babaus like a force of nature, unstoppable in her quest to protect her people and her homeland. As she fights, her song shifts to a mournful dirge, echoing the sorrow and loss that war brings. The lyrics, a haunting reminder of the cost of conflict, resonate through the hearts of her Squadron.
The Hellfire Squadron, emboldened by Myrna's leadership, fights with renewed fervor. The clashing of steel, the cries of the fallen, and the triumphant roars of victory blend into the symphony of battle. The babaus, once a menacing threat, now fall one by one under the combined might of the squadron. Amongst them, Beatrix's ally swings its ethereal sword, aglow with holy radiance, and carves through the demonic ranks with unwavering efficiency.
Round 10!
As Hinagiku's wise words join Li'an's, a hush falls over the chaotic battleground, their voices threading through the din like calming ripples across a stormy sea. Arueshalae, caught in the throes of a vengeful fury, pauses mid-strike, her starknife frozen in air. The tumult of emotions playing across her face reveals the internal struggle within her demonic heart.
Finally, her hand lowers, the starknife slipping slightly as her grip loosens. A deep breath escapes her, visible in the cold air, as her wings slowly fold back against her body. Her eyes, once ablaze with anger and revenge, now soften with a dawning realization.
"You are both right," she murmurs, her voice barely audible above distant cries of the Crusader's battle. "Valaria... Desna... they've shown me a different path. One not paved with the blood of vengeance."
She turns, glancing back toward the tower where Valaria lies. "I must be the person she believes I can be. Not the demon I once was."
With one last lingering look at Jaruunicka, Arueshalae takes flight, her form cutting a swift path back towards the tower. With a swift and powerful motion, Unafe grabs the hag, her grip iron-tight despite her injured arm. She twists Jaruunicka around with surprising force, her movements fueled by a mix of pain and adrenaline. With a sudden, violent shove, she slams the hag into the ground.
Jaruunicka, caught off guard by the ferocity of the attack, struggles under Unafe's assault. Unafe raises her good arm and delivers a punch aimed at the hag's face. At the same time, the intense heat and light of Ehren's spell surges towards Jaruunicka with a fierce intensity, engulfing her in its purifying blaze. Peace-Amidst-Pain simply swims through the crumbling Caerwen walls and slowly trudges towards them.
Round 9!
Despite the hag being firmly in Unafe's grasp, Ehren does not lessen his distant assault. Still imbued with the raw magical energy of the ley, the druid incants another rage-fueled spell, aiming to further disable the ex-cleric by searing her eyes.
Header
Percept +22 low-light vision, blindsight 45', detect evil creatures within 190' emanation | Init +18 | AC 36, Touch 33, FF 25 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +20 Will +19, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 5 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round,act in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..010........30........6........0........06....01
Max.|..010........30........6........4........17....11
143/143 hp
Martial focus: 0/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift: Renew enhancer
Move:
Move (enhanced patrol):
Free:
Standard:
Full round action: double move
Letting go of immediate hopes for Jaruunicka, Hinagiku sprints across Caerwen to catch up with the hag. However, the magical coating that let her slip through time like a fish in water finally chips and breaks; without Li'an's magic, the monk is slowed and delayed in reaching the melee.
As Hinagiku passes by Arueshalae, she nods almost imperceptibly at the succubus, as if to approve the demon’s choice.
With the others heading to the ground and only one left within the fort, this was her best chance to get at Gaiwan and free him. Moving quietly over to one of the arrow slits, she peeks in, trying to get an idea of the position of the orc and Gaiwan. She would need to sneak in and try to release him before the guard could manange to warn the others through the message spell.
once in position, she waits for the guard to be looking away from her entry point and Gaiwan.
Li'an breathes a sigh of relief as Rue gets a hold of herself and heads back to Valaria. Turning back to the hag fighting for her life, she lets a burst of flame issue forth from her palm which immediately arcs and envelops Jaruunicka.
Seeing that many babaus still remained -- though the battle was won, still they fought. Would they fight to the last one standing? Myrna intended to see. Still singing of death and glory and suffering and pain, she smashes any creature that comes within reach.
Not wishing to blind her companions with her magic, Beatrix relies on her sword. Unfortunately, Beatrix is no good with her sword. Compounding that, her summoned spirit is struggling against the demons as well.
Peering through the narrow opening, Auraelia assesses the situation inside. It is pitch-black inside. Her eyes, able to still see inside in black and white, quickly locate the young female orcish cultist, Shadbak. The cultist stands vigilant over Gaiwan's prone form. He lies bound, manacles clinking faintly whenever he moves, a gag stifling any sound he might make.
Auraelia's heart aches at the sight of the young Puluran in such a state, but she pushes her emotions aside, focusing on the task at hand. She knows she must act swiftly and silently. Any noise could alert the young orc, who could then use the message spell to warn the others, thwarting her rescue attempt.
Unafe continues trying to wrestle Jaruunicka into submission, and gives a ferocious war honk as her blows ring true.
Move: Maintain
Stnd: Brutal Strike
Swft: War Honk
30 AC +2 vs evil outsiders
33 CMB (36 vs Grapple) +2 vs evil outsiders
107/136 HP & HEALTHY
0 Nonlethal
19 THP (-1 bleed)
DR 10/adamantine (Stoneskin, 20/100 absorbed)
3 Tension (1 desperate, +1 damaged, +1 hit)
5/5 Mythic Tension Pool
4/11 MP
1/2 martial focus
5/5 per day, can regain focus 2/round
5/13 SP
3/3 stone shapes remaining
2/2 mystic shell layer remaining
3/3 War Honk rounds remaining
DR 2/- vs evil outsiders.
Header
Percept +22 low-light vision, blindsight 45', detect evil creatures within 190' emanation | Init +18 | AC 36, Touch 33, FF 25 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +20 Will +19, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 5 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round,act in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..010........30........6........0........06....01
Max.|..010........30........6........4........17....11
143/143 hp
Martial focus: 0/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift: Renew enhancer
Move: move
Move (enhanced patrol):
Free:
Standard: attack
Full round action:
_______________________________
Hinagiku finally closes the gap between their foe and herself. While the hag is restrained by Unafe and unable to guard her rear, Hinagiku slips into flanking position and carefully aims her strike where she can feel nexuses of corrupted energies flow within Jaruunicka. As it hits, he fist sends waves of holy energies within the hags body; at this point the only mercy was to grant their enemy a quick death.
As the remaining babaus recognize the inevitable outcome, desperation overtakes them. Their eyes flicker with a sinister light, signaling their intent to flee. Myrna watches as they prepare their escape. Her song, a somber melody of battle's relentless toll, fills the air, punctuated by the clash of steel and the guttural cries of the dying demons.
The Crusaders, sensing victory within grasp, tighten their ranks, refusing to let even a single foe slip away. One by one, the babaus start vanish. The battlefield grows quieter, the dust settles, and the night air carries the last echoes of battle, though she can still see flashes of flame and light at Caerwen, a half-mile away.
The battle did not conclude without having left its toil on the troops. Several Crusaders are still paralyzed in place. Some Crusaders are critically wounded, victims of the brutal hezrou or outnumbered and cut down by babaus.
Combat Ends!
The air crackles with tension as Unafe's grip on Jaruunicka tightens, the hag's snarls and curses growing ever more frantic in the face of her imminent defeat. The fury in Unafe's honk reverberates through the courtyard.
Jaruunicka then reels from Li'an's fiery onslaught, the flames dance around her form, illuminating the twisted features of the hag in a grim, flickering light. The fire leaves her seared and scorched, her movements becoming desperate flails as she struggles to escape the inferno.
Ehren, his form towering and elemental, channels the potent forces of the ley lines. His incantation builds to a crescendo, and with a gesture, he sends forth a blinding burst of energy towards the hag. The spell strikes true, blinding Jaruunicka and leaving her disoriented and vulnerable.
Despite her impaired vision, Jaruunicka's instincts for survival surge forth. She writhes and twists, breaking free from Unafe's once unbreakable hold. Staggering and stumbling, she makes a feeble attempt to escape, her movements erratic and uncertain.
Round 10!
Making use of her ability to teleport a short distance, and her ventriloquism, she redirects hre verbal components of her spell away to where her prior illusion had been, further down towards the ground.
In an instant she's inside the fort again, working her way quietly to hide up against Gaiwan. While she might be able to take the orc in a fight, the fact she could message her companions still posed a problem. Auraelia had hoped to free Gaiwan, but with manacles she suspected she had little chance of freeing him with the cultist present.
Instead she takes a risk, summoning her extradimensional room beneath the orc, effectively turning it into a 30' deep, 10x10' pit.
Li'an moves along after Jaruunicka, but keeps an eye out for anything that might help her escape instead of continuing to assault her.
Header
Percept +22 low-light vision, blindsight 45', detect evil creatures within 190' emanation | Init +18 | AC 36, Touch 33, FF 25 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +20 Will +19, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 5 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round,act in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..010........30........6........0........06....01
Max.|..010........30........6........4........17....11
143/143 hp
Martial focus: 0/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Foes hit or failing save vs trip, grapple, or disarm must Will save, DC 19 or slowed 1 round (half speed, -1 attack rolls, AC, and reflex saves
Contingency:
Actions
Swift:
Move: move (or double move if needed.
Move (enhanced patrol):
Free:
Standard: attack
Full round action:
_______________________________
Seeing that Jaruunicka is about to slip from Unafe’s grasp, Hinagiku waves her right hand to gather ley around it, infusing it with the serene peace she exudes. She pushes herself, trying to close the gap before their enemy flees, but it seems in vain, the hag is too quick, the monk too far. And so, with one last push, Hinagiku jumps and strikes the hag’s hips just before she is out of reach.
Not wasting a moment, Hinagiku sprints to catch up once more. She jumps and lands a blow to the hags back with her knee.
Once again, feathers flare and Unafe honks in outrage as the powerful hag breaks free of her grasp.
Unafe gives Jaruunicka a parting slam of her fist, and then leaps after her, attempting again to grapple her.
AoO
Move: Shove
Stnd: Grapple
Swft: -3T Rapid Pummel
30 AC +2 vs evil outsiders
33 CMB (36 vs Grapple) +2 vs evil outsiders
107/136 HP & HEALTHY
0 Nonlethal
19 THP (-1 bleed)
DR 10/adamantine (Stoneskin, 20/100 absorbed)
3 Tension (3 +1 damaged, +1 move, +1 hit, -3 rapid pummel)
5/5 Mythic Tension Pool
4/11 MP
2/2 martial focus (+1 shove)
5/5 per day, can regain focus 2/round
5/13 SP
3/3 stone shapes remaining
2/2 mystic shell layer remaining
3/3 War Honk rounds remaining
DR 2/- vs evil outsiders.
Unafe's fist, imbued with the strength of her ancestors and the ferocity of her own spirit, slams into Jaruunicka with a finality that is both terrifying and awe-inspiring. Jaruunicka's body crumples to the ground, split open from the sheer force of her punch, lifeless. The once fearsome hag, Arueshalae's scourge and a pursuer of the innocent, now lies defeated, her reign of terror brought to an abrupt and decisive end.
The Demetae warrior stands over her vanquished foe, breathing heavily, her chest heaving with the exertion of battle and warm with Goryon's approval. Around her, the chaos of the fight begins to subside, the immediate threat quelled by her decisive action.
Beatrix sheathes her blade and then moves to the closest paralyzed soldier, Afanen. There are nine others like her. She wishes there were something she could do for them...
Combat Ends!
In mere blink, Auraelia teleports inside the fort, now flying close to Gaiwan. Her heart pounds with the urgency of the situation, but she remains composed. She quickly assesses Gaiwan's condition, noting the manacles binding him. Realizing that freeing him with the cultist present would be challenging, Auraelia opts for a bold strategy.
Summoning her extradimensional room, she transforms the floor beneath Shadbak into a deep pit. Gaiwan, who is unable to move, falls 30' feet into the ground with a thud. Shadbak, however, demonstrates remarkable agility. She leaps out of the way just in time, landing deftly on her feet at the edge of the pit. Without missing a beat, she turns and rapidly fires a volley of four arrows at Auraelia.
The arrows, swift and precise, strike Auraelia, but they harmlessly bounce off her armor. Auraelia, though momentarily relieved, knows the danger is far from over.
Shadbak, realizing the severity of the threat, doesn't hesitate. She quickly uses her message spell to alert her companions. "The azata is here, inside the tree fort!" she warns them urgently.
The situation escalates quickly. Auraelia knows that the other cultists will soon be upon her, and she must act quickly.
The final fall of the hag comes as a huge relief to Li'an. Things could have gone much worse, but their planning had actually benefitted them quite a bit, even if things had seemed dicey after they barely made it into the tower in the first place.
With Jaruunicka vanquished, all that was left was to ensure that Myrna's troops had won their battle and were safe. She flies up high enough to see the surrounding area and looks around for signs of the troops, knowing they had enough humans that they would need light sources to battle.
Once she locates Myrna she heads back down to rejoin the others.
"Unafe, do you want to go with me to check on Myrna and her forces? Ehren, Hinagiku, can you two search Jaruunicka for anything magic and then check on Val and Rue? When we are back we can search the remaining tower as well," she suggests to her companions.
While the others consider her suggestion, Li'an stops for a moment to wonder how Auraelia's fairing in her quest to save Gaiwan.
Unafe gives a triumphant honk as Jaruunicka finally tires and Unafe manages to smash the hag's face in.
To Li'an's question she replies, "Indeed. I could probably run their in less than a minute, unless you have magics that can get us there faster."
Auraelia swiftly flies down into the extradimensional space she created. Once inside, she quickly bars the entry, securing herself and Gaiwan from immediate danger. Time is of the essence, and she is acutely aware that every second counts.
As she works on freeing Gaiwan, the sounds of the orcish cultists breaking through the entryway above reaches her ears.
Header
Percept +22 low-light vision, blindsight 45', detect evil creatures within 190' emanation | Init +18 | AC 36, Touch 33, FF 25 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +20 Will +19, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 5 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round,act in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..010........30........6........0........06....01
Max.|..010........30........6........4........17....11
143/143 hp
Martial focus: 0/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift:
Move:
Move (enhanced patrol):
Free:
Standard:
Full round action:
_______________________________
”We will.” Hinagiku simply answers to Li’an.
As the dust stirred by Unafe’s leap settles, Hinagiku turns toward her fiancee.
”Ehren-kun, you powers have changed since you met Mrs. Sarah and meditated with the ley, they seem more aligned with the earth… will you still be able to sense the power of things that are not of the earth? Can you tell what the items do.”
Kneeling down by the side of the fallen, Hinagiku closes Jaruunicka’s eyes. Their foe having been given a modicum of honour, she begins to search for valuable items. She first looks for the dagger that was used to inflict the accursed wound on Valaria; she might not dare directly touch a weapon she believed to be unholy, but she could not leave it here, to be taken by demons.
With Jaruunicka dead, Ehren closes his eyes and lets out a huff of hot air, no longer needing the hatred he bore for the hag. Though the consequences of her wicked acts remained, no longer would she torment their friends or subject innocents to her murderous hypocrisy. His heart calmed, the druid opened his eyes, leaped down from the wall, and, after a short jog, joined the others at their fallen enemy's corpse.
"I can discern their auras, at the very least," Ehren rumbles with a forced smile, still in elemental form. Appearances aside, there is no guarantee that the battle is truly over until they safely reunite with Myrna. Apart from that, given the hag's imposing stature, searching her body would be easier while he is of a similar size.
The druid assists Hinagiku with rummaging through the ex-cleric's belongings, exercising extra care on account of his rough, stony hands.
In the aftermath of the battle, Li'an, Ehren, Hinagiku, and Unafe each play their part in securing the victory and ensuring the safety of their comrades. Caerwen, once a scene of chaos and danger, now stands quiet under the starlit sky.
Li'an scans the horizon for signs of Myrna's forces. The field is lit sporadically by the flickering lights of the will-o-wisps. Her keen eyes catch a glimpse of movement and light, indicating Myrna's location a half mile away.
Unafe, her feathers still ruffled from combat, quickly agrees to Li'an's plan and dashes off to check on Myrna's forces, her strides powerful and swift.
Hinagiku's search finds a dagger sheathed at Jaruunicka's side, and also a peculiar item - a large, varnished eyeball pendant around her neck. Its presence is both intriguing and unsettling, a reminder of the hag's dark powers. Ehren's careful inspection of Jaruunicka's belongings first uncovers a single scroll, its contents hidden within the rolled parchment.
With the door almost finished being bashed in, she does her best to pick up Gaiwan and fly up as near to the door as possible, ready to fly out as quickly as possible.
"I can get us a third of the way there," she says, "Get ready to run." Grabbing on to Unafe she dimension doors them as far as she can towards Myrna.
The battle having ended, and the last of the babaus fled, Beatrix rushes towards her wounded compatriots, casting healing spells on them and wishing she had prepared differently for the battle.
With the final foe crushed under her strength, Myrna stops singing, her voice nearly hoarse. Her limbs were exhausted, and she was bleeding from several claw and bite marks, but they were victorious. She lets her arms hang for a few moments while she takes long, deep breaths. Then she joins Beatrix in checking on her wounded companions. There was precious little she could do for them, but she did carry two healing potions for occasions such as this.
She uncorks them and feeds them to her disabled, most-wounded squadmates.
As the sounds of the door being forcefully bashed in grow louder and more imminent, Auraelia knows she has only moments to act. With a determination fueled by urgency, she quickly grabs onto Gaiwan's shirt collar. Despite her small stature, her celestial strength and magic aid her in lifting him.
She takes flight, her wings beating swiftly and silently as she ascends with Gaiwan. Auraelia's eyes are fixed intently on the entryway above, calculating the perfect moment to make their escape.
As the sound of the door finally giving way echoes through the pit, Auraelia steadies herself. Her wings flutter with barely contained energy, prepared to burst into action at a moment's notice. She grips Gaiwan tightly, ensuring he is secure.
The trapdoor swings open, and the orcish cultists peer down, their expressions a mix of surprise and fury as they spot Auraelia and Gaiwan poised for escape. Auraelia doesn't hesitate. As soon as the door is open enough, she surges upwards with all the speed she can muster.
The orcish cultists, caught off guard by her swift ascent, scramble to react, but they don't in time...
While Myrna and Beatrix tend to their most wounded squadmates, she can hear loud thumping noises in the distance. Turning, she can see the silhouette of her ally, Unafe, in her massive saurian form, rapidly approaching in the distance.
Despite having to carry a massive load, Lyarkien were preternaturally adept at flying, so despite her burden she has no issue zipping up and around her foes and out the trap door. Given their distance from Drezen, as much as she hated to admit it, the best bet was probably to try to navigate to Caerwen, though it was likely hours away from here. But first she needed to gain altitude and put the canopy between herself and the archer, then she would consider what to do.
Myrna turns when she sees Unafe bounding across the landscape towards them, approaching quickly. Her allies can see that she is wounded, but that most of the gore covering her is demonic ichor. Her weapon and shield are stowed. With her is Beatrix and the Hellfire Squadron, but several of their members are disabled by paralysis or critical wounds.
She calls out to them, waving. Her voice is still accentuated by her clarion call spell, so even though they are distant she can be heard:
Li'an is relieved to see Myrna and the crusaders had successfully held off the foes they'd faced. " Jaruunicka is dead and Caerwen is secure!" she responds cheerfully as she floats off Unafe's back and flies over to land by them. "The plan worked better than we had any right to hope! Ehren was able to break the hag's spirit and her doubt cost her Sifkesh's favor." As she recounts the battle, she takes a few moments to use her magic to remove paralysis from the soldiers who had been affected by the Hezrou's blasphemy, and to help heal up the troop to full.
Ehren inspects the scroll curiously, casting a minor divination to aid in discerning its contents. He then looks down at the dagger and unpleasant pendant, attempting to determine whether they possess magical auras.
Myrna pumps a fist, turning to her troops (wounded though they may be) and proclaims, "You hear that, Hellfire Squad? Another demonic army vanquished! Yaahh!" She cheers with her soldiers while Li'an moves on to healing them. She watches the... elf? the celestial? The sorceress? ...But also a healer? cure her soldiers of paralysis and wounds.
"I'm grateful for your magic," she adds with a nod. "I knew I could count on you to destroy the hag and her minions."
After the soldiers (and Myrna herself) are healed, she checks them over to see if they can move. It would be prudent to rejoin forces at Caerwen and plan next steps.
She waits around for a moment while her troops organize themselves to move again. While waiting, she asks Li'an, "So, if you don't mind my asking, what exactly are you? And how did you come upon your amazing divine powers?"
Li'an laughs at Myrna's question about her nature. It was something of a puzzle to her, given she'd been a perfectly normal elf prior to her death. She thinks for a bit and then tries to do her best to explain what she'd learned studying her own condition. "From my divinations and research, I seem to be something like a half-Azata. It's a long story, but I think it has to do with my body being inhabited by a Raelis azata while I was dead, and, from what I was told, my body was exposed to the energies of the wardstone network when it exploded. When I was raised, I retained my memories and powers from Elysium along with those from my former life. As for the divine magic, a gift from Pulura perhaps? I can only access a few spells, however, nothing like a priestess, and the ability to channel energy isn't uncommon among sorcerers with celestial blood."
"That aside, I think it would be good if we headed over to Caerwen. The tower there is warded by a Desnan artifact, as we'd discovered. It'll provide us a safe place to rest and recuperate before begin planning our next steps."
Genuinely glad to see everyone had survived the encounter, her thoughts turn back to Auraelia. "Beatrix, do you have another sending available? I would like to find out what became of Auraelia and Gaiwan."
The Lieutenant turns from her work to tell Li'an no. "I'm sorry, but I needed to prepare for war. I predicted needing only one sending today."
Myrna cocks her head at the creature before her while she hears the story. "So, you really have no idea, do you? Wow! It must be incredible living in a body and using powers that both have no precedent. I've never heard of anything even close to that happening before." She sort of chuckles, maybe inappropriately at the story of Li'an's death.
She puts a hand up as if for secrecy, but her magic still causes her voice to boom across the landscape. "I wouldn't tell a Pharasman about your tale, however. It seems as if you're alive and dead at the same time!"
Header
Percept +22 low-light vision, blindsight 45', detect evil creatures within 190' emanation | Init +18 | AC 36, Touch 33, FF 25 +4 dodge when moving | DR5/- | CMD 38 | Fort + 16 Ref +20 Will +19, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 7 dex, 5 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round,act in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..010........30........6........0........06....01
Max.|..010........30........6........4........17....11
143/143 hp
Martial focus: 0/1
Resources spent
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift:
Move:
Move (enhanced patrol):
Free:
Standard:
Full round action:
_______________________________
Hinagiku’s ears perk up at the sound of Myrna’s voice welcoming Li’an. With her song having ended, it seemed likely that the battle was won. At the very least, no one was calling for them to join the battle.
Once Ehren is done with his work identifying the items, Hinagiku puts the eye and daggers, which she binds with some rags from Jaruunicka, into her haversack.
[ooc]Equipment sheet ready to audit. [ooc]
As Auraelia ascends, the orcish cultists, undeterred, open fire. Auraelia's agile movements allow her to evade one of the shots in a graceful arc. But Shadbak, displaying remarkable archery skills, has notched two arrows in a single draw. Her shot flies true, and one of the arrows finds its mark, causing Auraelia to wince in pain.
Meanwhile, the Angel Slayer leaps out of the trapdoor and lands gracefully on a branch. Bow in hand, she takes aim, her eyes fixed on Auraelia and Gaiwan.
Auraelia, now acutely aware of the immediate danger, pushes herself to her limits. She soars higher, weaving through the trees, her movements a blur of speed and grace. The forest canopy looms ahead, offering a chance at cover and a momentary respite from the relentless pursuit.
Ehren reads the scroll, and finds it is a scroll of greater dispel magic (divine, cleric).