GM Kiora's Wrath of the Righteous

Game Master Kiora Atua

Hallit: "MYRNA!!

"Stay strong, sister. The ancestors are watching over you while you rest."

With that, Unafe continues to wail on the bloody Glabrezu, taking our her rage at another ally falling to senseless violence.

With the battlefield in chaos, the last few moments turn frantic and deadly.

Yui makes a swift attack against the retriever, but her blow only grazes the mechanical demon. Close by, Anna leaps into the fray, her golden starknife glinting as it slices cleanly through the glabrezu's defenses. The massive demon reels from the strike, giving Unafe the opening she needs. With a savage twist of her massive saurian arms, she squeezes the glabrezu with her tremendous strength, crushing it to the ground with a violent slam, finally killing it.

Unafe, fueled by her relentless fury, then pivots and leaps toward the nearest derakni, smashing it with a thunderous blow, her punch so powerful it sends the demon crumpling to the floor. The remaining derakni, shaken by the destruction of its kin, attempts to enervate Yui, but she dodges the sickly green ray with a sharp spin, evading its deadly energy.

Meanwhile, the retriever—still locked in the heat of battle—fires its petrification beam at Hinagiku. In a flash of movement, Hinagiku barely avoids being turned to stone, using every ounce of her focus to survive the devastating attack.

Nearby, Rue isn’t so fortunate. The retriever’s mandibles clamp around her, dragging her down to the ground. It slashes at her, its claws tearing into her throat, and she begins to gurgle, blood pouring from her mouth. She tries to cry out, but the blood chokes her words. The retriever holds her tightly, and with a brutal slash, opens a deep, lethal wound. Rue is bleeding heavily, and her condition is dire as the retriever continues to crush her in its jaws.

The vescavor swarms, relentless and hungry, buzz around the heroes, dealing small but constant bites and gnashes. The swarms target Beatrix, attempting to devour her scroll, and Unafe, attempting to devour her mithral armor spikes. Both women must act fast.

Then, another retriever emerges from the stone wall, fixing its glowing mechanical eyes on Ehren. With unnatural precision, it lunges, attempting to sink its mandibles into the druid’s elemental form, but can't get through his rocky exterior. Then, it turns its attention to Hinagiku, unleashing twin beams of deadly energy: a disintegrating ray and a freezing blast. Only by drawing on her mythic power does she manage to survive the onslaught, her body barely holding together against the combined forces of annihilation.

Then, to the heroes’ shock, the retriever speaks— in a cold, rasping tone that reverberates through the tunnel, slick and slithery, like the whisper of a thousand writhing insects.

“Well, well… What an amusing little gathering of mortals we have here. You’ve come so far, only to stumble so close to your inevitable end. I am curious—how is it that you’ve managed to survive this long? What drives such fragile creatures to defy the will of gods and demons alike?”

The retriever’s mandibles click ominously, as if mocking their efforts, and then the voice continues, its tone dripping with condescension and amusement.

“You’re all so interesting, aren’t you? Each of you clings to life with such desperation, as if there’s something noble in your struggle. Tell me, heroes, how did you come by such power? How do you keep fighting, knowing that the end is near, that you’re outmatched at every turn? Is it hope? Or merely the arrogance of those who haven’t yet seen the true depth of despair?”

“Violence is so boring. Let's take a little break...why don’t we play a little game, shall we? For every answer I give to your burning questions, you must answer one of mine. I’m eager to learn about you, after all—about what drives you. Shall we begin? Or would you rather skip this little conversation and proceed to your destruction?”

"The choice, after all, is yours. But choose quickly. Time is something you don’t have."

Derakni 6 Enervate Ranged touch vs Yui: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 15 - 2 = 21
Hinagiku Fort Save: 1d20 + 16 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 16 + 2 - 2 = 22 Uses MF to succeed
Hinagiku AoO 2 on beatrix: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15
Hinagiku fort save: 1d20 + 16 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 16 + 2 - 2 = 27
Disintegrate: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 4, 2) = 20
Hinagiku reflex (mythic surge): 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (3) + 18 + 2 - 2 + (7) = 28
Cold Damage vs Hinagiku: 14d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 1, 4, 5, 6, 5, 4, 2, 2, 4, 1, 5) = 46
Rue fort save: 1d20 + 14 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 14 - 1 = 18
Retriever 3 vs Rue: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 21 - 4 = 35
Retriever 3 vs Rue crit?: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 21 - 4 = 37
Retriever 3 grapple vs Rue: 1d20 + 29 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 29 - 4 = 44
Damage: 1d8 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 8 = 18
Retriever 3 vs Rue: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 21 - 4 = 36
Retriever 3 vs Rue crit?: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 21 - 4 = 21
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (2, 2) + 8 + 8 = 20
Retriever 3 vs Rue: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 21 - 4 = 21
Retriever 3 vs Rue: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 21 - 4 = 23
Retriever 3 vs Rue: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 21 - 4 = 22
Hinagiku reflex: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 18 + 2 = 22
Rue Reflex: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 17 + 2 = 24
Retriever 4 vs Ehren: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 21 - 4 = 25

Beatrix, Rue, Unafe Hinagiku, Lantern Archon #2, Ehren take 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5 swarm damage.

Beatrix must make a DC 23 reflex save or take 14d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 4, 3, 5, 2, 2, 1, 5, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3) = 43 cold damage (success halves), she can take a +6 bonus to this save from Hinagiku

Retriever 3 deals 32 damage to Rue and grapples her. It crits her and inflicts 2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 bleed. She cannot talk or breathe while bleeding.

Retriever 4 deals 43 damage to Hinagiku. She is in critical condition

Beatrix must make a DC 15 reflex save or the vescavors will devour her scroll of create food and water, Unafe must make a DC 15 reflex save or they will devour her mithral armor spikes and break them

Sana deals 31 damage to the glabrezu and it is in critical condition still. Unafe kills it with her move action. She moves and KOs Derakni 5

Unafe can AoO the vescavor swarm if desired.

The Heroes Are Up!

Haring Rue cry out, Yui runs back around the corner. She quickly casts a healing spell and tags Rue, closing the bleeding gash and restoring her ability to breathe and speak.

CMW on Rue
Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (2, 5) + 10 = 17

Edit: Changed Ehren's header to reflect his current form.

"Xanthir Vang," Ehren rumbles contemptuously, glowering at the retriever and tightening his earthen fists. With a sidelong glance he confirms that Hinagiku is still standing - for now. But with Myrna down, it is clear that even with their unexpected ally's arrival, they were in rather dire straits. For a moment he considers the Blackfyre Adept's proposal, wondering if perhaps they could use the opportunity to regroup, heal, or even retreat... but then he remembers who it is they are talking to.

Stepping forward, the earth elemental throws a colossal fist at the construct's chittering mandibles, and then another. "No deal, wizard. We do not parley with Baphomet's treacherous puppets."

Ehren assumes Offensive Stance as a swift action and then full-attacks Retriever 4. If it takes damage from Power Attack, then it is battered for 1 round.
Slam vs. Retriever 4 (Good Hope, Grazed, Power Attack): 1d20 + 18 + 3 - 1 - 3 ⇒ (18) + 18 + 3 - 1 - 3 = 35
Damage (Good Hope, Power Attack): 2d8 + 12 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (5, 8) + 12 + 3 + 6 = 34
Slam vs. Retriever 4 (Good Hope, Grazed, Power Attack, Stamina Pool -3): 1d20 + 18 + 3 - 1 - 3 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 18 + 3 - 1 - 3 + 3 = 34
Damage (Good Hope, Power Attack): 2d8 + 12 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (8, 6) + 12 + 3 + 6 = 35

Sana gains the use of her final maneuver.

The templar's shadow hops and dances along her form, ignoring any suggestions of what a conventional shadow should do. It stops for a moment to look directly at the empty retriever, featureless head tilting. She continues to hold the blade threateningly as the worm makes his speech, doing her best to betray little of her emotions as she focuses on passing knowledge on to the succubus.

As Ehren declares the group above taking the time to spill the tea, her stance shifts slightly. Her face masked, it's unclear exactly what emotions are playing in her head. She raises her weapon high overhead, before flicking her wrist at the final moment to turn all of the downward momentum upon the retriever. If the jig wasn't already up, it needed to be, because she really needed to keep the foes from focusing on those already so heavily injured.

Skipping Unafe and Beatrix's turns. If still inactive for Round 7, they will be automated.

Ehren's first strike smashes into the construct with a resounding crack, sending shards of metal flying. Before the retriever can react, Ehren’s second blow lands with equal force, battering the creature further. The retriever shudders under the onslaught, clearly wounded but still standing.

The voice slithers out of the retriever again, mocking,

"So eager for destruction, are we?" the voice hisses. "How predictable, like all Sarkorians—fists before thought, blades before wisdom. But you misunderstand me. I offer you knowledge, the truth behind this apocalypse. A truth you clearly do not yet possess."

The retriever tilts its head, as if considering the heroes with interest.

"Do you truly think this war is about demons and cultists, about good and evil? Oh no, mortals. There are far greater forces at play than your simple minds can comprehend. Forces that have already decided your fate."

A pause, then, with venomous amusement: "But, by all means, strike away. Let’s see how far your strength takes you... before you crumble like stones! Hahaha!"

Sana's strike lands true—her starknife, ablaze with her focused energy, pierces deep into the construct. Shimmering faerie fire ignites upon impact, outlining the retriever in flickering light. The Abyssal construct shudders under the blow, its legs buckling slightly, entangled in ethereal tendrils that hinder its movement.

Meanwhile, as the other retriever's mechanical mandibles tighten around Rue, the situation seems dire. But just before the abyssal machine can crush her, a warm, radiant light flickers from Sana's Lantern. In an instant, Rue feels an overwhelming sense of safety, as if an invisible hand were guiding her. Without thinking, she instinctively reaches for that beacon.

With a flash of golden light, Rue vanishes from the retriever's deadly grasp, reappearing safely next to Sana, breathless but unharmed. The danger passes in a heartbeat, leaving only the fading glow of the lantern to mark the miraculous rescue. "Thank you...?" she says, questioningly, looking at the templar with the starknife. She draws her bow and listens for a moment.

Rue's voice echoes urgently through the group's minds,

"Listen closely, everyone," Rue begins. "We’re approaching a den of powerful enemies. Jerribeth is stationed on the eastern side, near the main entrance. She’s not alone—she’s got an old lover with her. I'm familiar with her, a piece of work known as Lilevyrrin... a pretty famous succubus in the Worldwound. Grillixbee, a coloxus demon, is hovering somewhere in the north, not far from here. Dangerous, but not our immediate problem."

Her mental tone hardens. "The real threat, though, is Xanthir Vang. He’s supposed to be just around the corner, and he’s involved in all kinds of horrifying projects. He’s working with some creatures called Brain Collectors—alien things. They’re running experiments on humans. Some of them are prisoners in the eastern part of the temple. We’ll need to figure out how to free them. Vang’s also been trying to assassinate Crusader leadership with upgraded spider constructs, probably the ones we’re fighting now."

Rue pauses, her mind sifting through the information. "If we take out these spiders, we can regroup. The templar mentioned we might have a safe place further in the temple where the enemy doesn’t patrol. There’s magic radiating from the temple’s center, near the north. We’ll need to break that altar—it’s powering something, and I don’t like the idea of facing whatever it’s tied to in full force. It might give us a serious edge in the next fight."

She adds a final thought. "If we’re smart, we can turn this place against them. But we need to move fast, and every step needs to count."

As the battlefield continues to swirl with chaos, the retrievers lash out viciously, their mechanical mandibles biting into both Ehren and Yui. Ehren, now in his massive elemental form, takes a heavy bite from the retriever, but stands firm, his earthen body able to absorb the damage. The retriever attempts to grapple him, but Ehren's immense strength keeps him from being locked in place.

Yui, however, is not as fortunate. The retriever that had earlier ensnared her bites down multiple times, each strike sinking deeper into her flesh. Despite her agility and determination, the blows leave her reeling, and the creature continues to press its advantage, tearing into her relentlessly.

Meanwhile, Sana's lantern flickers, casting its protective light, but even its radiant glow isn't enough to stave off the worst of the swarm's attacks. Yui feels the overwhelming presence of the abyssal insects crawling over her, and a wave of nausea threatens to overtake her as she struggles against both the retriever and the demonic swarm.

Yui and Beatrix, standing amidst the fray, are hit by searing beams of energy. Will they survive?

Hinagiku swiftly moves, dodging a barrage of attacks from the derakni and retrievers, her Iroran training and mythic resilience allowing her to evade the worst of the damage. In between these rapid dodges, she manages to graze the derakni with a well-timed counterattack.

Rue, having been saved from the retriever's grasp by Sana’s lantern ability, recovers just in time to loose arrows at one of the retrievers, though the mechanical beast is too resilient to fall just yet. The fight rages on, with everyone in a pitched battle against seemingly endless demonic forces.

Ehren grazes Retriever 4, Sana entangles and faerie fires it, Rue is no longer bleeding or suffocating.

Hinagiku uses Total Defense to recover MF and also takes 6 THP from Sana's lantern.

Beatrix must make a DC 23 fort save or take 24d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 6, 2, 1, 5, 3, 2, 3, 4, 6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 5, 6, 6, 4, 1, 2) = 78 damage, success reduces to 5d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 2, 4) = 13 damage, if this would reduce her HP to 0 she will disintegrate (but not any of her items)

Yui must make a DC 23 reflex save or take 14d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 5, 2, 3, 2, 1, 1, 6, 1, 2, 4, 6) = 37 electricity damage.

Ehren takes 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3 swarm damage and also must make a DC 11 will save or go insane due to trauma

Hinagiku, Beatrix, Yui, Sana's lantern (if it can take damage) and Unafe take 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 swarm damage. Yui and Sana's lantern must make a DC 13 fort save or become nauseated. Beatrix and Unafe must make another DC 15 reflex save or have an item become broken (I don't know which one it is because I do not know if the scroll and mithral armor spikes was broken last round due to inactivity.) Beatrix must make a DC 11 will save or gain a permanent insanity due to trauma

Retriever 4 deals 19 damage to Ehren. Retriever 3 deals 73 damage to Yui.

Hinagiku AoOs Derakni 6 and grazes it.

Hinagiku reflex: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 18 + 2 - 3 = 36
Hinagiku reflex: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 18 + 2 - 3 = 27
Retriever 4 bite vs Ehren: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 21 - 4 = 34
Grapple?: 1d20 + 29 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 29 - 4 = 28
bite Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 6 = 19
Retriever 4 vs Ehren: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 21 - 4 = 29
Retriever 4 vs Ehren: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 21 - 4 = 23
Retriever 4 vs Ehren: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 21 - 4 = 28
Retriever 4 vs Ehren: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 21 - 4 = 29
Retriever 3 vs Yui: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 21 - 4 = 34
Grapple?: 1d20 + 29 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 29 - 4 = 42
bite Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 6 = 18
Retriever 3 vs Yui: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 21 - 4 = 35
bite Damage: 2d6 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 4) + 6 + 6 = 21
Retriever 3 vs Yui: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 21 - 4 = 33
bite Damage: 2d6 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 + 6 = 18
Retriever 3 vs Yui: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 21 - 4 = 20
Retriever 3 vs Yui: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 21 - 4 = 35
bite Damage: 2d6 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 + 6 = 16
Rue vs Retriever 4: 1d20 + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 22
Derakni 6 vs Hinagiku: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (16) + 18 + 2 - 3 = 33
Hinagiku AoO: 1d20 + 13 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 4 + 3 = 25
Damage: 2d6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5) + 5 + 4 + 3 + (5, 1, 1, 5) + 2 = 35 Derakni 6 is grazed
Hinagiku reflex: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (17) + 18 + 2 - 3 = 34

Round 7!

The Heroes Are Up!

Amid Vang's taunts and the incessant chattering of the swarming vescavors, Ehren focuses solely on the retriever in front of him, clubbing away at it with his stone fists.

Ehren is at 68/159. He is wounded. He activates Offensive Style as a swift action and then full-attacks Retriever 4.
Will Save vs. Insanity DC 11 (Good Hope, Wounded): 1d20 + 18 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 18 + 3 - 2 = 27
Slam vs. Retriever 4 (Good Hope, Power Attack, Wounded, -6 Stamina): 1d20 + 18 + 3 - 3 - 2 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 18 + 3 - 3 - 2 + 6 = 30
Damage (Good Hope, Power Attack): 2d8 + 12 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (5, 8) + 12 + 3 + 6 = 34
Slam vs. Retriever 4 (Good Hope, Power Attack, Wounded): 1d20 + 18 + 3 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 18 + 3 - 3 - 2 = 20

1MP to use Battlemage Sense to raise BAB to 11
Parry Ray - Evasion vs DC 23 Ref - good hope, painful reckoning, battlemage: 1d20 + 15 + 3 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 15 + 3 + 2 + 4 = 32

Parry vs 1st Attack (34 hit) - good hope, painful reckoning, battlemage, size dif: 1d20 + 17 + 3 + 2 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 17 + 3 + 2 + 4 - 4 = 37

will do full post shortly

Parry vs 1st Attack (34 hit) - good hope, painful reckoning, battlemage, size dif, surge: 1d20 + 17 + 3 + 2 + 4 - 4 + 1d8 ⇒ (6) + 17 + 3 + 2 + 4 - 4 + (8) = 36

Parry vs 2st Attack (34 hit) - good hope, painful reckoning, battlemage, size dif: 1d20 + 17 + 3 + 2 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 17 + 3 + 2 + 4 - 4 = 28

This time Yui is better prepared for the construct's onslaught. As the ray streaks towards her, she brings it up, swinging Kurushimi's blade in the path. As the ray hits the blade's edge, it seems to continue into the depths of the blade, eventually vanishing. She then jabs Kurushimi at the Retriever's mandibles, preventing it from closing to bite her. Despite successfully blocking it, she finds her stance slipping due to the oppressive weight of the creature. When one of the creature's legs swings in from the side, it's only Kurushimi's power that guides it into place in time to cause the attack to miss.

The relentlessness of the creature's attacks push her to her limit, and she is not so lucky when the second leg strikes from the other side, cutting deeply into her torso under her right arm. Seeing yet another strike coming, she hangs onto the leg cutting into her, causing it to pull her out of the path of the incoming attack, only to guide her into the fourth strike which slices into her again on the same side, leaving another deep laceration.

"Is that the best you have?" Yui says to the construct before her as she recenters herself. "Lets see you do that a second time, you abyssal reject." Planting Kurushimi in the ground she adjusts her position, sinking down into a defensive stance and preparing for its next round of attacks.

Full Rnd Act: Total Defense (+6 AC, 33 AC [28 + 6 def - 1 grazed (35 AC vs Construct 3 due to +2 extra AC from Painful Reckoning)
Regain Martial Focus due to Total Defense

"Rue, you need to hurry and help bring the other creature down, and tell Hinagiku to cover me if she can. I will focus on keeping this one occupied."

Beatrix vs. Cold Damage: 1d20 + 6 + 6 - 1 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 6 - 1 + 3 = 34
Beatrix vs. Disintegrate: 1d20 + 12 - 1 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 12 - 1 + 3 = 31

Beatrix takes 16 cold damage, 9 swarm damage, and 13 damage from disintegrate. She is at 54/126, and wounded.

Beatrix is hurt pretty badly by the rays of the retrievers, but by some fluke of luck or divine intervention, she emerges alive from the other side of the disintegrate ray. She, too, feels the pull of safety from Anna's lantern and she teleports across the room, out of the vesvavor swarm's area, and into the center of the battlefield. Once there, she surveys the battlefield and sees that she isn't the only one struggling with her wounds. She releases a pulse of positive energy to heal all allies on the battlefield, trying to restore her companions' strength and keep the Crusaders going.

Channel Dice: 5d6 + 5 ⇒ (2, 5, 2, 1, 4) + 5 = 19

SwA: Gain 6 THP from Anna's illumination.
MA: Teleport to beside Anna.
SA: use channel energy, healing all living creatures within 30ft (pretty much everyone on the map except the retrievers and the remaining derakni)

Lantern 1 Confusion: 1d100 ⇒ 81 Attack nearest creature
Lantern 2 Confusion: 1d100 ⇒ 51 Damage self

Meanwhile, her archons recover from their confusion. Both turn and unleash laser rays against the derakni demon that was there.

Laser vs. Derakni (good hope): 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 3 = 16 Damage (good hope): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Laser vs. Derakni (good hope): 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 3 = 9

Laser vs. Derakni (good hope): 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 3 = 11
Laser vs. Derakni (good hope): 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 3 = 25 Damage (good hope): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

For a moment Unafe is curious what this wretched witch wants to tell them, but decides there's no point in taking his bait. He'll feel our wrath soon enough!

Instead, Unafe dodges over toward the Archdruid, shoving the Retriever that’s harassing him, and then doing her best to rip it limb from limb.

As she does, saurian spirits swirl around her, their rage and ferocity mirroring her own.

Buffs on all allies (til end of Round 8)
1) WAR HONK: get +6 morale dam to first attack per round, 3 rounds) // note this doesn't stack with Good Hope
2) can spend a Move to refocus Unafe

Anna awaits the heroes reply before responding, her voice dripping with condescension. "Vhang, Vhang, Vhang..." She tosses her starknife to the ground, bouncing it back up into her waiting hand like a girl playing jacks. "We knew that you were a traitor, but parleying with the Crusaders mid-raid on one of our temples and promising to share our secrets? I daresay that you've made it clear that you're more of an enemy to the Templars than the Crusaders. Even after all the hospitality we've shown you, you still had the audacity to have your Blackfyres teleport our compatriots into their greedy maw. I assure you that Jerribeth will hear about this." Anna says, maintaining an air that she believes may have been just as haughty as Vhang's.

"But for now, Crusaders. I propose a counter-offer. I aid you in killing these monstrosities in exchange for my life." She holds the weapon over her shoulder for a moment, then looks to Unafe. "As a continued show of good faith..." she says, slipping sideways and allowing her arm to uncoil like a snake as the saurian woman hurtles past her. She hurls the weapon directly at the spider that had a few of its eyes focused on Rue as she hears the audible crunching noises from behind her. She doesn't bother to look, knowing the creature is in good hands.

As Sana's weapon sinks deep into the other construct, the voice emerges from the retriever in the wall, a tone of amusement thinly veiling his growing frustration. "You waste your breath, little insect. Do you think Jerribeth holds any sway over me? She is but a pawn in Deskari’s greater plan. And as for your offers of aid, the webs of your deceit are—"

But his voice falters as Ehren and Rue’s combined strikes hit the retriever with immense force. Ehren’s stone fists crash against the machine, shattering metal and sending its mechanical legs twitching, sparks flying from its eyes. Rue's deadly barrage of arrows rips through the Retriever's core, causing its once-glowing eyes to dim and flicker. The construct collapses in a final heap, crushed beneath the relentless assault.

The voice hisses in anger through the collapsing construct. "Fools! You may break my toys, but you will never defeat me. You cannot even begin to understand the forces that lie ahead. You are insects crawling toward your own doom!" His voice crackles and distorts as the retriever disintegrates, leaving nothing but a hushed silence.

The immediate threat neutralized, Rue quickly relays her next plan: "Hinagiku —cover me and Yui. I'll focus on the next one. We need to end this now!"

Beatrix's divine power washes over her allies, mending wounds and restoring strength. Nearby, her lantern archons, recovering from confusion, target the remaining derakni demon, unleashing holy light upon it.

Hinagiku steps forward, using her defensive techniques to create an opening for the others. The battlefield surges with renewed energy as the heroes continue to hold their ground, but the relentless assault from Xanthir Vang's minions remains a constant, pressing threat.

Ehren deals 34 damage to Retriever 4, it is in critical condition. Rue destroys Retriever 4.

Automation: Hinagiku free: 5 ft step, std: assist zone. swft: +6 THP

Beatrix heals Rue & Hinagiku for 19. Hinagiku improves from critical to wounded. Her lantern archons deal 12 damage to Derakni 6.

Sana deals 35 damage to retriever 3 which grazes it

Rue vs Retriever: 1d20 + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 33
Damage: 1d8 + 8 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 12 + 2 = 28
Rue vs Retriever: 1d20 + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 8 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 12 + 2 = 25
Rue vs Retriever: 1d20 + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 32
Damage: 1d8 + 8 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 12 + 2 = 26
Rue vs Retriever: 1d20 + 16 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 16 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 25
Rue vs Retriever: 1d20 + 11 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 29
Damage: 1d8 + 8 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 12 + 2 = 24

Automation: Hinagiku free: 5 ft step, std: assist zone. swft: +6 THP

Round 8!

Unafe's action is invalid- Retriever 4 was destroyed.

Unafe is up!

Unafe lets the retriever's desperate attempts to resist wash over her as she feels the swirling rage of the ancestor spirits grow stronger around her. With a determined grunt, she shoves the towering construct, using her considerable strength to send it stumbling back. The saurian spirits, translucent and fierce, mirror her aggression, their forms swirling in a tempest of ancient power.

The retriever, thrown off balance by the powerful shove, barely has time to regain its footing before Unafe follows up with a brutal strike. Her fists, guided by the rage and strength of her ancestors, slam into the construct with devastating force. Metal bends and cracks beneath her blows as she tears into it savagely.

With a final furious pummeling, Unafe's hands tear through the construct's body, rending it apart piece by piece. The retriever crumbles, its mechanical form collapsing under her might. The spirits around her seem to roar in triumph, echoing her own.

Meanwhile, the relentless vescavor swarm descend on Unafe, Ehren, Hinagiku, and Yui, their tiny, ravenous forms biting and gnawing, dealing a brutal toll on the group. The bites tear at flesh, sending sharp pains through their bodies as they try to fend off the writhing mass of insects.

Unafe, amidst the chaos, feels the weight of the swarm pressing down on her, gnashing at her mithral armor spikes. She braces herself, knowing she must protect her gear from being broken by the vicious insects.

At the same time, Hinagiku finds herself staggering under the weight of the derakni’s assault. The demon's sharp claws rake across her side, leaving bloody gashes that make her vision blur momentarily. The vicious sting snaps close, just missing her, as she fights to maintain her balance. Though she’s hurt, she channels her inner focus, moving with the grace of a leaf in the wind, evading the worst of the attacks.

Unafe destroys retriever #3. Unafe, Ehren, Hinagiku and Yui take 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10 damage from the vescavor swarm. Unafe must make a DC 15 reflex save or her mithral armor spikes are broken.

Hinagiku takes 14 damage from the derakni and is staggered.

Hinagiku reflex: 1d20 + 18 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 18 - 2 + 2 = 32
Derakni Bite vs Hinagiku: 1d20 + 15 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 15 - 1 = 17
Derakni Claws vs Hinagiku: 1d20 + 15 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 15 - 1 = 22
Derakni Claws vs Hinagiku: 1d20 + 15 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 15 - 1 = 34
Derakni Claws vs Hinagiku crit?: 1d20 + 15 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 15 - 1 = 21
DMG: 1d4 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Derakni Sting vs Hinagiku: 1d20 + 15 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 15 - 1 = 31

Round 9!

The Heroes are Up!

Having destroyed the last of the vile constructs, Unafe's eyes narrow in on the massive, bloated shape of the Derakni, its chitinous body gleaming with an unnatural sheen in the light of Anna's lantern. The demon, a grotesque mockery of a locust the size of an aurochs, buzzes through the air on membranous wings that shouldn't be able to lift its bulk.

With a swift, fluid motion born of countless battles, Unafe launches herself upward. Her hands, calloused from work at the forge, close around the demon's thorax. The creature's legs, each as thick as a warrior's arm and tipped with wicked barbs, scrabble frantically against her armor. But Unafe's grip is unbreakable, her resolve as unyielding as the skymetals she works.

She slams the demon to the ground, pinning its thrashing form beneath her. Its wings beat furiously, kicking up dust and debris, but Unafe's weight keeps it trapped. She presses her knee into its abdomen, feeling the unnatural give of its exoskeleton. The demon's mandibles click and gnash mere inches from her face, oozing a foul ichor that sizzles where it hits the earth. Yet Unafe does not flinch. Her eyes, burning with the fury of her people and the wisdom of her ancestors, bore into the creature's alien gaze.

Buffs on all allies
1) get +6 morale to dam on first attack per round (doesn't stack with Good Hope)
2) can spend a Move to refocus Unafe // currently she's fully focused, thanks to Anna!

With the battle mostly taken care of, only vescavors and a single derakni left to oppose them, Beatrix hurries now to Myrna's side, knowing that if her captain was going to be safe, she would need to be carried, away from the battle, for the rest of the day. Not trusting anyone else to the task, Beatrix begins to struggle with getting Myrna into her own messenger bag, starting with pulling the messenger bag from Myrna's shoulders.

Beatrix spends a FRA trying to put Myrna into the bag of holding.

The lantern archons pulse with light magic and, their light rays no longer needed to directly defend Myrna or Beatrix, move to the sides of some of the heroes fighting this battle. The imbue their allies with a bit of extra health, in the hopes that their power might cause these heroes to fight on just a little longer, and in so doing defeat evil.

Archons cast aid on Unafe and on Yui. In addition to the THP, aid provides morale bonuses, which we are already quite flush with.

Unafe THP: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Yui THP: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

With only two Derakni remaining Yui takes a moment to heal her own wounds, relieving both the pain of the cuts inflicted by the retriever and the bruising from the first blow she withstood.

Casting cure moderate wounds
2d8 + 10 ⇒ (2, 3) + 10 = 15

Yui at 85 HP, 4 NL

Sana focuses for a moment on the floating lantern, and while the light doesn't change overtly, her companion's weapons begin to refract an emerald green color. She slides away from her target slightly, stepping into the emerald-sheen inducing aura emanating from her mote, and hurtles her starknife amongst her opponents again and again. Each time the weapon makes contact with a surface, a vicious sizzle fills the air, as wounds and stone alike bubble at the touch of her weapon.

With the last of the retrievers down, Ehren focuses on eliminating the remaining enemies. Freeing himself from the gibbering vescavors, he draws on the ley and fires a luminous bolt of energy right through the swarm. The bolt punches right through the cavern wall undeterred and erupts into the hallway as well, striking the demon within.

Ehren is at 87/159 hit points. He is grazed again. He uses place magic and casts ley energy bolt (CL 12th) along the projected line, hitting the Vescavor Swarm and Derakni 6. Both must make a DC 21 Reflex save to avoid taking 10d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 4, 4, 3, 5, 3, 2, 5, 4) = 36 (54 to the swarm) ley energy damage (success halves).

CL vs. Vescavor Swarm SR (Grazed, Place Magic): 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 11 - 1 + 2 = 18
CL vs. Derakni Swarm SR (Grazed, Place Magic): 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 11 - 1 + 2 = 27

Radiant energy tears through the gibbering mass of insects, disintegrating them on contact, before continuing on its trajectory to strike the Derakni demon further down the hallway. The demon shrieks in agony as the energy scorches its body, leaving it heavily wounded.

At the same time, Rue, recovering from her injuries, hurls herself into the fight with renewed vigor. Her arrows fly true, piercing the Derakni. With a final, well-aimed shot, she brings the Derakni crashing to the ground, the demonic creature no longer a threat.

Arueshalae's voice echoes in the heroes' minds. "Listen up, everyone. Our ally says we’ll need someone to carry Myrna. Whatever comes next, it's going to be tight where she's taking us. Unafe, you might need to shrink down for this. Ehren, your earth form should work fine, so no need to worry about squeezing through. We’re going to need to move fast, so get ready."

Meanwhile, Beatrix, moving swiftly to protect her fallen captain, bends over Myrna and carefully begins the process of placing her into the bag of holding.

In the midst of the chaos, Sana continues to weave through the battlefield, her starknife glowing with a deadly, acidic sheen. She strikes at the remaining vescavor swarm, her weapon cutting through the mass of insects with a hiss, leaving the swarm in tatters.

With the retrievers and Derakni defeated, and the swarms greatly reduced, the tide of battle has finally shifted in favor of the heroes.

Vescavor Swarm 1 reflex: 1d20 + 9 - 3 ⇒ (1) + 9 - 3 = 7
Derakni reflex: 1d20 + 13 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 13 - 1 = 19
Rue vs Derakni: 1d20 + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 30
Damage: 1d8 + 8 + 12 + 2 - 10 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 12 + 2 - 10 = 15
Rue vs Derakni: 1d20 + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 17
Rue vs Derakni fumble?: 1d20 + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 24
Rue vs Derakni: 1d20 + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 18 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 8 + 12 + 2 - 10 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 12 + 2 - 10 = 20
Rue vs Derakni: 1d20 + 16 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 16 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 17
Rue vs Derakni: 1d20 + 11 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 4 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 8 + 12 + 2 - 10 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 12 + 2 - 10 = 17

Hinagiku std: assist zone.

Ehren destroys swarm 1 and deals 36 damage to Derakni 6 and is wounded. Rue deals 52 damage to Derakni 6 and KOs it. Sana deals 30 damage to the 4th vescavor swarm, which is wounded.

Beatrix puts Myrna into a bag of holding.

Unafe's last round action is invalid as the derakni was KOd by Rue.

Round 10!

Unafe is up!

With the last of the larger threats down, Unafe turns her attention to the buzzing vescavor swarm. The insects buzz frantically around her, their small, biting jaws trying desperately to break through her saurian hide. Gritting her teeth, Unafe draws back her fist, the rage of her ancestors guiding her every movement.

Her fist moves with the speed of a striking snake, slamming into the heart of the swarm with a force that sends a shockwave rippling through the air. A mix of acidic energy and raw strength radiates from her blow, scorching the vescavors and scattering their twisted forms into a pulpy mess.

Within moments, the swarm disintegrates under the impact, the remnants of the insects falling lifelessly to the cavern floor. Breathing heavily, Unafe feels the spirit energy surrounding her flicker, then settle. The saurian spirits’ feral rage subsides as they drift back, leaving Unafe alone to assess the battlefield.

Exhaling deeply, she shrinks back down. She rolls her shoulders and stretches out her fingers, getting used to the sudden change in size.

Combat Ends!

Yui quickly enchants the group with a message spell to simplify speaking when they didn't need to be absolutely silent. "We need to move quickly, it won't be long before they send more after us. We need some way to hide until we are able to heal up. Any suggestions?"

As she waits for the group to decide on the course of action, and Beatrix to store Myrna's corpse, she inspects one of the deceased retrievers, trying to determine if there was anything valuable that might be taken from them--their eyes, for instance.

Knowledge(Arcana): 1d20 + 19 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 19 + 3 = 31
Yui will inspect, but won't spend longer than it takes the group to get ready and go, i.e. she won't delay things to study them.

Ehren reaches into his polymorphic pouch and retrieves one of his numerous healing potions. Lacking the finesse to manipulate the bottle properly, he tosses the entire vial into his stony mouth and chews on it.

CSW: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (5, 3, 8) + 5 = 21

"If Vang really is close by, then I do not know if hiding is an option," he says through the spell as the potion's magic seals several of his wounds.

With all of the foes destroyed in various bits and bobs and smears across the floor, Sana looks to the other heroes. "Hiding is always an option," she whispers with a wink before turning on her heels and diving backwards as shadowy wings erupt from her back. She sinks headfirst into the ground, where she disappears without a ripple.

Swift: Spend a round of incorporeal (9 remaining). While incorporeal, she moves silently.
Double-move: Travel North to the hidey hole. Sana can fly up to 220 feet in this way.
Sana's illumination will disappear 1 minute after combat ends, turning off her lantern and votive effects until combat begins once more.

Identifying monster trophies takes 1 minute to perform.

Roll 20 up to date.

After watching Sana disappear into the ground as though it were water, Rue exhales slowly, giving her a moment to think after the adrenaline rush of combat. She reaches out with her mind, forming a mental link with the others as she relays the information quietly.

“Alright, everyone. Sana’s gone ahead to check for a place we can use as a temporary refuge. In ten seconds, her lantern, Amber, should be able to help us teleport to her,” Rue begins. “But there’s a catch. This isn’t stone we’re dealing with. It’s ivory.”

She pauses, considering their options. “Ehren, that means you might not be able to move as freely in your earth elemental form. Unless you shift back or change your form, you won't be able to accompany us. We can’t afford that if we’re trying to stay quiet and mobile.”

Time passes: 1 round.

Channel Energy: 5d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 5, 1, 6, 4) + 5 = 22

As the group gathers to discuss their plan, the Lieutenant channels energy one more time to heal everyone. Then she shoulders the giant-size bag with a 'oof!' sound, laboring under its weight. Then she prepares to follow the strange, shadowy stranger using her lantern. She wasn't suspicious of this traitorous Templar the same way she was about Rue and Yui -- though both had fought alongside them and nearly died doing so. Something about the other woman's light magic set her at ease.

Ready to go with Anna's plan.