GM Niles Wrath of the Righteous (Inactive)

Game Master nilesr

"We might be able to use my fiend-taint to our advantage in there." Belledonna cautions. "At the least, let us not begin the fracas until Konny has returned & shared his findings."

Victrix nods. While she is never one to back down from a fight, her ribs wouldn't appreciate being beat on until they're fixed.

Konny returns and describes the scene he saw.

So are we ok to look at the spoiler tag for Konny since he's describing the scene to us?

Victrix listens to Konny's description, her hand tightening around the shaft of her mace. She turns to Belledonna.

"So, yeh got a plan fer this? I'm all ears if yeh do."

Yep.

Frowning in concentration, Belledonna considers; idly toying with the shining scale in her possession as she does so. "They are...
fiend-touched,
like myself. Moreover, they obviously were party to the events of the past several days..."
"me te nui noa atu te wehi i ahau, ko aua noa ngā otinga o te...
mahere, mahere i hanga e te hinonga poke & hepohepo pono." she mutters aside to herself.
"The important thing is that we know their numbers are many, which means we may be able to trick them into believing some of us to be of their number."
Turning to Konny. "You have the look of one who can twist words when needful, think you that you may back me if we go in claiming ourselves 'cultists', whose other companions were killed by surviving Crusaders?"

Victrix ponders Belledonna's plan.

Her eyes light up. "I think I've got somethin' that'll 'elp."

She digs around in her backpack, producing the symbol of Baphomet she was carrying around.

"Yeh could perhaps use this."

Barundar huffs out a breath. "I'd ower tak' thaim in a straecht fight than gang fur a' this sneakin' aroond, but...I suppose ah kin see th' wisdom in it."

Sorry Barundar, I missed the RP moment!

Brighton nods at Barundar, struggling to make out his words. "Friend indeed, brother in Torag it seems. What could it mean? Does anyone know anything about a dwarf betraying a city?"

***

"Belledonna, please remember the danger here. We should arrange a signal to let us know when you and Konny are in trouble. I would imagine, though, that your sunny disposition will convince them of your cultistry."

Barundar only barely manages to stifle a chuckle at Brighton's tongue-in-cheek commentary.

Belle, go ahead and post your ideas and rolls that you think are necessary. Konny will go along.

Smirking acerbically at Brighton's character assessment, Belledonna replies. "Actually, I want to get them away from the library & the prisoners if we can. I was thinking Konny & I could approach and attempt to lead them out to an ambush here."
"At this point," Shaking her head in self-disdain, "my own powers have...
intensified,
to the degree that I feel I can not only enshroud some of you 'gainst evil attack...
I know I could also bulwark you, so that your own blows struck harder. The effects wouldn't last long, but it might make the difference in a fight."

"Bell, looks may be deceiving, I can twist a lot of stuff, words are not exactly among them... The only reason one might say I have a charming personality is cause uncle Anvil charmed me once. I guess that does not count.
Anyway I will go with you if you want, but we are better off if I just keep my mouth shut, unless you want to see Biggie's negotiation skills. Those are quite admirable." Konny winks at her.

Victrix grins.

"An ambush sounds loike a brilliant idea."

She turns to Brighton, wincing a bit. "Broighton, think yeh could give me some 'ealin' before this goes down?"

"But of course, Victrix."

Wait...we've rested sometime recently yes? Otherwise I can't give you any healing.

Yeah, we rested. I got 6 HP back from it thanks to your successful heal check.

Yes, we have had a full night's rest & completely recovered all spells, class abilities & whatnot.

Belledonna brightens somewhat at Victrix' enthusiasm, then turns to the others, her brows arched inquiringly.

Specifically, she's looking at Barundar & Daenal (yes, I realize Daenal is an NPC...)

Channel (2d6 Yay!): 2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8

Barundar hefts his golden warhammer, his grip tightening on the haft of the weapon as he sets his feet and gives a firm nod. "Aye, this soonds mair lik' mah kind o' fight. Let's hammer some skulls!" he answers, a tinge of excitement in his voice.

Brighton's healing energies fix Victrix's injuries significantly.

"Much obliged."

She tightens her grip on her mace. "Ready when yeh are."

"So, Bell, how do you want to handle it?" Konny asks.

Do you guys need something from me? I feel like we have stalled out.

I'm waiting for what Belledonna has planned.

I apologize. That was all me. Yesterday went right into a hole, energy-wise, right after school. Let's see if we can't get back moving again, shall we?

Nodding at the other's consent, Belledonna quickly communes with the essence remaining in the scale of Terendalev, temporarily altering her visage to almost mimic that of the Cultist her companions had defeated under the earth before calling up the eldritch energies to enshroud the more martial of her companions in dweomers of protection & force.
Once that is done, she directs Victrix to give the cultist's symbol to Konny to aid in his own deception before leading him toward the desecrated library. "As you said, once we approach, I will do the talking. They have seemed particularly inclined to 'trust' my words when I speak the tongue of the Abyss, so that is what I will be using. If you hear me say រសីខុច (sounds like: rsei kho ch), retreat back to the others, no matter what. I will be right behind you. Hopefully, we can get them to chase us if nothing else..."

Use the Scale of Disguise to make herself appear like Hosilla
Cast Protection from Evil & Enlarge Person on Barundar, and Protection from Evil on Victrix.

::Once at the Library::

"បង្ហាញខ្លួនអ្នកឈឺកូនប្រុសរបស់រសីខុច។ ដ៏អស្ចារ្យ Baphomet តម្រូវឱ្យមានការបម្រើរបស់អ្នក! She calls out before the doors.
Sounds like: "bangheanh khluon anak chhu kaunobrosa robsa rsei khoch. da aschary Baphomet tamrouv aoy mean kar bamreu robsa anak!"
untrained Bluff: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 + 4 = 16, wow, that was sad...

Victrix hands the Baphomet symbol off to Konny.

With Belledonna's magic settling on her like a second skin, and her subsequent change of form, Victrix stays back, mace readied.

Alright, so she was saddled with magic she never asked for... and a blood curse that she did even less to earn... but she's using her talents to fight demons. And she's doing a good job of it. She's alright.

She readies herself once she hears Belledonna speak the syllables she mentioned. She cringes when she hears her speak... not from the guttural tongue she uses, but from the lack of conviction Hosilla had.

Uh oh...

I meant to ask this weeks ago, but what are you using as Abyssal Bell. I'd like to keep the same language if I use it back.

Belledonna you hear the sounds of scuffling and drawing weapons and then What the hell was that? a male voice says

Boss, Someone says we have to help them...in Baphomet's name. a different, male voice.

Please help us! in common, a woman cries out then screams in pain

Shut up witch. first male voice. Baphomet you say, they alone?

Nah, skinny dwarf with her, holding a symbol of the Bull Headed one. different voice.

Well, then let em in. They can join the party. first male voice

The door is pushed open by a red skinned tiefling.
Belledonna and Konny you see this man standing near a bunch of bound and gagged humans, piles of books lay around the humans and a female human lay on the ground gasping for air. Four tieflings linger around the fringes, three carrying shortswords and crossbows and one carrying no weapons.

The first voice introduces himself The name is Chaleb, I heard you guys were recruiting? I'm keen on joining the winning side see.

Konny takes the symbol from Vic and has it displayed.
"Understood, I will follow you, keep my mouth shut and upon hearing something like rsei kho ch I run like hell, pun intended."

Bell, I am sad you do not count Konny as one of the more martial companions... ;-)

Khmer. I just use Google Translate & cut and paste. I went looking for a while for a language that used a script that was way off of English for something that would just sound wrong to mortal ears.
@ Konny: It's not that she doesn't count him as Martial, it's that she wants back-up & he actually tops her list, at least in this circumstance...

At the 'leader's' words, Belledonna looks flatly at him for three heartbeats before rolling her eyes & turning to one of the Tieflings. "គឺជាផ្នែកមួយដ៏ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរនេះ? Vhane នឹងភាគហ៊ុនយើងទាំងអស់គ្នាចេញរង្គោះរង្គើនិងបរិភោគយើងគ្រាន់តែដើម្បីលាមកពាក្យកុ ហករបស់យើងមកវិញនៅមុខយើងបើសិនជាគាត់និយាយកុហក..."
Sounds like: "kuchea phnek muoy da thngonthngor nih ? Vhane nung pheakhoun yeung teangoasaknea chenh rongkohrongkeu ning briphok yeung kreante daembi leamk peaky kohk robsa yeung mokvinh now moukh yeung baesencha keat niyeay kohk..."
Turning back to Chaleb, she responds. "Prove it. My cell & I came on a hold-out of Crusaders back there," pointing where she just came from, "this sorry sod & I are all that survived after one of them proved to be a Paladin, he's all that's left but we can't take him on our own."
untrained Bluff: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 4 = 22

Ok, Khmer..awesome.

The tiefling shrugs his shoulders and says លោកបានហាក់ដូចជាបានសម្លាប់នៅរស់រានមានជីវិតមួយចំនួន។ យើងបានជាប់គាំងទៅគាត់បន្ទាប់ពីគាត់បានជួយយើងស្ទាក់វាយពួកល្បាតពីបេះដូងអ្នកការព ារនេះ។ ទ្រង់ចង់ឱ្យក្រដាសប៉ាត្រុងមួយ។

Watching the two of you speak in a different tongue Chaleb darkens a bit You don't trust me? Fine... watch these bastard librarians burn

He walks over to the corner his intention is to use a flask of alchemists fire located there to light the piles of books and immolate the tied up humans.

Map is updated, let me know if you are placed correctly, You can be anywhere in the room.

Eyes narrowed at Chaleb's insolence, Belledonna rebukes. "If you wish to remain nothing more than a worm, fit only to lick the boots of your betters, be my guest." Once she has his attention. "I was under the impression you wanted to prove you were worth something to the cause. They," pointing to the librarians, "are already dead, they simply haven't stopped amusing us with their screams yet. You want to impress me, kill the Paladin."
untrained Bluff: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 4 = 11, oh eff me...

Chaleb eyes you cannily as he retrieves the flask from the floor Maybe...I'll impress someone else by taking your head to em...Baphomet ain't the only Lord around here. Why do I get the feeling you ain't who you said you are.

The four tieflings shift uncomfortably and at least one places his hand on his sword.

Note, they haven't drawn weapons yet, but they now seem more cautious than before.

Are we at all near enough to hear the conversation going on inside?

Konny waits to see the developement, Biggie resting on one shoulder ready to be used if the situation calls for it.

Oh Bell, I do hope you gonna pull it off. Just please don't cast sleep on me again.

@Belledona> Yeah, I understand having the spell detected on Konny would be... awkward ;-)

"Because you are stupid, full of yourself & secretly desire death for failing, utterly, as any kind of man?" Belledonna replies, smirking, before she turns & walks back out the door. "ប្រសិនបើអ្នកចង់រស់សម្លាប់គាត់មុនពេលដែលខ្ញុំបានចាកចេញពីការ៉េ។." She casually adds as she leaves the building.
Oops, sorry Konny. Sounds like: "brasenbae anak chng rsa samleab keat moun pel del khnhom ban chakchenh pi kare."

Just...
strike at me before you light them.
Now I understand Mendevs need for a God to pray to, or in this case, Blaspheme...

untrained Bluff: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 4 = 23, + 2 against the Tieflings.

Heck, did she say those words or not? Konny wonders, but follows Bell out of the building.

You two stay here, you two come with me. Burn the librarians if I'm not back in 5 minutes. Chaleb says and he and two of the tieflings follow.

I need to make a new map, give me a little bit. You guys caught me ill prepared.

Ok, reused my old map from the earlier fight. It'll do.

Everyone can act in the surprise round and then

Combat Round 1
Sorceror
Chaleb
Aravashnial
Barundar
Brighton
Daenal
Belledonna
Konny
Anevia
Horgus
Victrix
Rogue

Stepping forward & to her left, Belledonna raised her crossbow, aiming it to her right beyond the building, only to turn it on the rear Tiefling once Victrix & Barundar were in view. "You really should have had the courage to stand by your Goddess, Chaleb. You might not have survived, but at least your death would have been for something." She snarled as she loosed the bolt.

Move action: 5' step diagonal toward Brighton. K3.
Immediate action: Sacrificial Boon, + 1 to attack roll.
Crossbow attack: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 1 = 13, if that hits, bolt: 1d8 ⇒ 6 Piercing.

Surprise Round!: Actions
Move Action: Get in the rogue tiefling's face! Stopping at square N8

That was her cue.

Victrix runs out of her hiding spot, her mace held high and a wolfish grin on her lips. She focuses on the shifty-looking tiefling in the back of the march, her eyes following Belledonna's bolt as it sails through the air.

"Welcome ta Kenabres!"

Barundar steps around into view himself, lofting the golden warhammer high into the air as he shouts after Victrix,"Now staun still 'n' let us gie ye a proper hello!"

Move action to get into a position where he's able to charge the enemies next turn.

Surprise round

"Oh, well" seeing Bell attack, Konny turns around and swings Biggie at the annoying turncoat.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage incl. sneak: 2d6 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) + 3 + (5, 4) = 21

How far are we from the library, can they hear us?

Surprise Round
Belledonna fires her crossbow, striking the rearmost tiefling for 6
Victrix moves to threaten the rearmost tiefling
Konny attacks Chaleb, but misses.
Barundar moves to be able to charge next round remember your enlarged so you have -1AC+2str and reach now, also your weapon does 2d6
Daenal moves next to Belledonna.
Brighton moves next to Belledonna.

Combat Round 1
Sorceror Betrayal! and casts a spell DC 16 to identify; claws spring from his fingers.
Chaleb grunts as Konny's swing goes wild and he brings his mace to bear on the dwarf Heavy Mace: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 but he misses terribly.
Aravashnial still sobs at the loss of his library.
Barundar
Brighton
Daenal
Belledonna
Konny
Anevia
Horgus
Victrix
Rogue

Now looming over the others, Úlf lifts his golden hammer to the air for one more whooping cry as he joins the battle, charging forward at the nearest enemy, using his now-superior reach to strike from a distance he normally wouldn't be able to.

Charge Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 - 1 + 1 = 19
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 = 13

GM, my init is now +6, so I should go with Aravashnial after Chaleb

Round 1

Konny attacks Chaleb.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 1) + 3 = 9

"Now try to impress me, you traitor!"

Round 1: Actions
Free Action: Rage!
Standard Action: Brain the roguish tiefling with my mace!

Traitor. Oath breaker. Those words echo through Victrix's ears.

They set her off. The white-hot fury fills her again. The angelic power granted to her coalesced into a barely perceptible white outline.

She swings her mace with both hands at the tiefling with a crossbow bolt in him.
Attack!: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage (2-Handed): 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Rage Rounds Remaining: 9/10

Ok, I'll get that fixed Konny.

Combat Round 1
Sorceror Betrayal! and casts a spell DC 16 to identify; claws spring from his fingers.
Chaleb grunts as Konny's swing goes wild and he brings his mace to bear on the dwarf but he misses terribly.
Aravashnial still sobs at the loss of his library.
Konny swings and hits Chaleb for 9.
Barundar charges and smacks Chaleb for 13.
Brighton guards the NPC's
Daenal moves to assist in taking Chaleb down Glaive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 but hir glaive is off target.
Belledonna
Konny
Anevia
Horgus
Victrix
Rogue

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"Try not to kill them. I'd like to see the looks on their faces when they face justice for their actions." Belledonna calls out, surprisingly dispassionately, as she reloads her crossbow & shifts her focus from the Tiefling now fighting Victrix to the Sorcerer.

Immediate Action: Sacrificial Boon +1 to attack roll.
Crossbow attack: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 1 = 17, if that hits, bolt: 1d8 ⇒ 1 Piercing.

Combat Round 1
Sorceror Betrayal! and casts a spell DC 16 to identify; claws spring from his fingers.
Chaleb grunts as Konny's swing goes wild and he brings his mace to bear on the dwarf but he misses terribly.
Aravashnial still sobs at the loss of his library.
Konny swings and hits Chaleb for 9.
Barundar charges and smacks Chaleb for 13.
Brighton guards the NPC's
Daenal moves to assist in taking Chaleb down but hir glaive is off target.
Belledonna fires a bolt, striking the Tiefling for 1.
Anevia hobbles closer to the action drawing her bow.
Horgus draws Vic's club and stands guard over Aravashnial.
Victrix swings at the Rogue but misses.
Rogue steps right around Victrix and stabs at her with his blade SSword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 hitting the barbarian for Stab: 1d6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 - 1 = 3