GM Niles Wrath of the Righteous (Inactive)

Game Master nilesr

Once more holding up the phial containing the shadowbloood, Belledonna responds, "Is this yours? There are two correct answers. Yes or No."

No Aron says in the same monotone.

You do not sense deception.

"Thank you." Belledonna replies. "Have you partaken in...
Shadowblood since leaving Nerosyan?"

Her tone makes it clear the very idea of intentionally imbibing something seemingly infused with abyssal energies is all but incomprehensible to her. Something on the order of how you might react if someone told you how Yellow smelled...
Still not so good with the people skills...

Aron hangs his head and says Yes.

Her physical actions presuppose others, (I'm lookin' at you Sosiel...), respond to Aron's statement.
If they do not, neither does she.

"When?" Belledonna continues, holding up her hand warningly at the other's responses.

I..I..last night. the defeated man says in a despondent tone.

Belledonna's swiftly shifting expression makes it clear she was expecting some other answer. Recovering, she continues. "How many people know you have imbibed...
Shadowblood in the past? No. Is it well- No..." Her confusion & frustration mounting as she tries & fails to articulate her queries, Belledonna blurts out, "How did you get it?!"

I found it in my tent. Aron says, unable to meet your eye

Sosiel comes over from where he was talking with Victrix

Sosiel says You cannot think he is responsible for this! Aron would not betray us to the demons!

I'm going to go out on a limb & conclude that Aron isn't concealing anything with his statement?

"Don't interrupt." Belledonna snaps, swiftly turning a rather confrontational glare toward the priest. "I didn't say anything about betrayal. You did. I am quite well acquainted with the burden of other's prejudice."
Turning back to Aron, her features soften, slightly. "As it happens, I believe you. I had hoped that it was simply an un-revealed cultist in Kenabres slipping some...
beacon, in among our supplies."
"Or possibly something we missed within what we claimed of the spoils from our encounter previously."
"Now it seems there is reason to suspect we do have a traitor within. A traitor with a most convenient feint."

You have sensed no deception during the conversation

Aron stays silent...his head hanging.

Sosiel turns to the others, looking for someone to help him argue against Belledonna.

Befuddled, Belledonna glares back & forth between the two lovers. Finally, her impatience gets the better of her as she smacks Sosiel across the back of the head.

Gonna let the others chime in if they want to at this point.

Victrix watches the unfolding drama with a resigned sigh, moving to catch Belledonna's hand before she smacks Sosiel.

"That won't be necessary, Belle. An' Aron, if Belle says she believes yeh're not responsible fer the demons ambushin' us, I'm inclined ta believe 'er." She speaks carefully, straightening up her posture.

"Still, from what I've 'eard, Shadowblood's a substance that makes yeh more vulnerable ta demonic possession. Considerin' yeh've been takin' this stuff, yeh 'ave ta understand that we need ta get yeh the 'elp yeh need." She fixes Aron with a concerned look. "That s**t's incredibly addictive, an' every weakness in us is somethin' the demons can exploit."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

She turns to Brighton. "Broighton, think yeh can ask Torag fer 'elp with Aron's problem?"

Is there a spell that can cure an addiction?

Barundar folds his arms over his chest. His initial reaction was one of shock, but he also knows that sometimes this level of roughness is what is required to extract the information you need from someone. He made no moves to stop the questioning or interfere in any way, figuring the sorceress had the matter well in hand.

When Sosiel turns to them and seems to silently plead for assistance, Barundar scoffs. "Lass, ye'll git na sympathy fae me. Someone in this camp is a traitor tae th' cause 'n' is trying tae git th' rest o' us murdurred or worse. They've betrayed oor position tae th' demons 'n' let thaim ken exactly how far awa' we ur, sae they've git time tae git ready fur us. They've an' a' tried tae git Aron 'ere back usin` some kind o' drug that's aff tae cause him some serious problems, a'm sure. We've git tae root oot this cancer afore it consumes us all."

Everyone. I apologize. Questions of trust & betrayal are very close to home for Belledonna & she gets agitated. When she gets agitated, she stays that way for a while. I'm trying to wind her down from crazy b$+@& mode, but it takes a while, especially when/since she is not as articulate as I am & keeps being misunderstood, or at least incompletely understood...
Vic, you know I love you right?

Her glare now turned to Victrix, Belledonna snaps back at her. "Kaua e whakaaro e korero ki a koutou mo ahau i roto i tenei! Kahore e mohio ana hoki koe. Ka korero ahau! ia," pointing once more to Sosiel, "e kore e whakawhirinaki nga kupu ake o tona aroha! Ia ka awhina anake e ia, no te kitenga ia, ka rongo ki toku whakapa! Kahore ki te tu ki te taha o te tangata kerēme ia ki te aroha, kē ki te ururua i to tatou te tautohetohe katoa te wā Ahakoa inaianei e ia. Ko ia te wairangi & kia tukinotia kia rite ki tetahi!"

A remove disease spell would do it, and Sosiel can cast that if you ask him.

Victrix is only partially successful in convincing Sosiel that they mean no harm to Aron.

Sosiel speaks He is a victim here! Someone placed the Shadowblood in the tent knowing his past...problems...with...temptation. And yet all she indicating Belle Does is accuse and threaten and cast spells on Aron. He is a good man, he would not lead the demons here!

Other crusaders have noticed the fracas and now a small crowd is gathering.

"I questioned! It is what you do when you need answers!" Belledonna retorts, stepping closer to the priest. "When he refused to treat this as more than serious than a lover's spat, I took action to show him otherwise. You," poking Sosiel's chest in emphasis, "were the one making accusations & refusing to accept answers. The guilt is your own! I will not carry your burden for you! I have already determined that he," now Belledonna waves her arm vaguely in Aron's direction, "is not the agent of our woes this evening, as I would have that much sooner if you had not interfered. Since you seem so determined to impede me, you can answer my questions now. Did you provide the Shadowblood that was found?!" By this point, Belledonna is all but frothing at the mouth, nearly vibrating in her agitation.

Konny watches Bell, his mouth agape.
"...anyway. I guess I was right and it was planted. Bell, uncle Anvil would agree you are overreacting here a bit. This is no way to conduct an investigation. Intimidation is a useful tool but must be applied with a cool head." he says, his hands raised trying to defuse the situation.

"I hae tae agree wi' mah brother oan this one...interrogating a demon is yin thing, bit ye'v awready foun' oot that Aron didnae ken howfur th' shadowblood git intae his hings. Making wild, baseless accusations is aff tae dae hee-haw bit alienate th' pals we dae still hae. I'm thinkin' yi need tae tak' a step back fae this 'til ye kin calm doon, lass."

"A, no te pahono e ia toku pātai." Belledonna hisses in response. "E kore ahau e haamata'uraa e ahau! Te ani nei au. Taua tetahi," once more she points to Aron, "e kore e whakahoki kupu. Tenei tetahi," she points again at Sosiel, "e nui rawa aue e pā ana ki te āhua o nanakia, me te ngakau ahau atu i whakamarie te tangata e aroha ana ia. Ki te tatari ahau ki te ata iho, ka whai ia rite etahi arā aukati hou."
Panting, eyes wide & nostrils flaring, Belledonna's whole being is coiled & tense as a rope bridge across a chasm. Abruptly, she whirls apart from the rest of you. "Fine! You ask then!" She spits as she strides away.

Yeah remove disease would but I don't have it prepared at the moment.

Brighton shakes his head and spreads his hands out, at a loss for what to do.

That's always good to hear. :)

Victrix watches Belledonna's fury with an impassive eye. Spitting accusations isn't going to help us find the mole. Calm down and let cooler heads prevail here.

"Let 'er go." She calls out to the crusaders blocking Belle's path, expecting them to clear a way. "She's no help to us spittin' mad." She adds, mostly to herself.

She sighs and turns back to the rest of the group. "Now, Sosiel, Aron, I understand this is difficult fer the both o' ya, but I need yeh both ta cooperate with me on this. Aron, can yeh think o' anyone that could've been able ta get inta yehr tent before the battle at the Ford?" Her voice is thick with a mixture of exhaustion, frustration and barely maintained patience. "What 'appened 'ere tonight cost a lot of people their loives, an' I don't intend ta let it happen again."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

I'll need to have a talk with Belle once we're done here...

Konny is surprised it worked. Kind of. My social skills must have improved conciderably, I expected worse reaction.

He whispers to Barundar "You hate to agree with your brother? Must remember that." he grins at him to soften the words.

Umm, anyone could have I guess. But, I didn't see anyone go into my tent. Aron says

Sosiel seems to have calmed a little but adds We do not wish this to happen again either, but Aron did not cause this. Someone left the Shadowblood in his tent and summoned the demons. They wanted you to think it was him responsible, to shield them from blame.

"I would say that is the case. If nothing else, the one vial does not explain demon attacks occuring at several places around the camp. So, have you noticed anyone behaving suspiciously during the journey? We should not jump to any fast conclusions here, it should not become a witch hunt, but any leads would be helpful."

Aron says No one. Sosiel adds But we will be wary.

Victrix nods. "In the meantime, we oughta get some rest. We've still got quoite a bit o' ground ta cover."

The party rests the night, however things in the camp are tense. The next morning various clerics and paladins from the army heal the party's wounds and the Allied Armies continue their march to Keeper's Canyon.

Aron, newly restored by a remove disease spell, but quiet and not nearly as talkative as the days past, refuses to leave Sosiel's side. Anevia and Lann are then forced to do much of the scouting. They convince Konny to assist and after a few hours of outriding they find the army of Exorius.

Exorius army is divided into two camps, both of them set up in ruins in the canyon. One army is composed of Dretches and the other Tieflings. The armies cannot be taken unawares, they seem to be ready and waiting for you.

Commanders go ahead and select tactics and formulate a plan of battle.

5 days traveled; Supplies remaining 3.5 days

Is there a particularly prominent Sarkorian Barbarian? For that matter besides Lann & Irabeth, are there particularly prominent members of the other armies. It seems kind of weird just saying effectively 'Hey you! Go there, do that thing!'

Taking advantage of Irabeth's experience, Belledonna inquires. "What if we were to attempt to draw them into a trap? We are the fastest, perhaps we might attack and then fall back?"

If it's not obvious, the 'We' Belledonna is referring to would be Sarkoris Resplendent.

There will be if you make up some names!

If there's any high ground in the area, Victrix will make sure the Rangers make full use of it. The tactics she'll be using for the rangers, considering how wounded they are, will be to draw the armies into a trap--I'm thinking taunting the armies into attacking our position, allowing the paladins and barbarians to flank and attack that way.

Any suggestions?

"is thare ony wey tae git th' archers tae th' tap o' th' canyon? that wid certain gie a great deal o' fire support tae they o' us oan th' ground sin none o' thae enemies ur able tae fly. At least, thay dinnae look lik' they're able to." Barundar suggests, looking at the three armies they have while scratching his chin.

"It seems they're duin tae receive us this time 'n' we wilnae be catching thaim unaware...there kin be wee doubt o' a traitor in oor midst noo ah think. Wid th' demons be intelligent enough tae see thro' bein' drawn oot intae a trap? Thay hud na commander afore, bit this time we micht be fightin' against mair capable foes."

"If the Rangers and the Resplendant could occupy the waiting army, the Knights would be perfectly suited to smash down upon the demons with holy smiting."

From where you are standing there is really no way to get anyone up onto the top of the canyon without several days marching. The canyon is also at least several hundred feet up and so firing arrows down wouldn't be too great effect.

Victrix looks over the battlefield. "So the Rangers an' Resplendent take on the tieflings, then? Roight... this'll be a hard foight...'eres 'opin we'll survive."

With that, she leaves to get the Rangers ready for battle.

I need Vic, Barundar and Belle to choose tactics and then we can start the battle.

Tactics: Defensive Wall: Rangers have 14 DV and +2 (+3 ranged) OM.

Rangers have the following tactics
Sniper Support, Hit and Run, Live off the Land
I think what you are talking about is the strategy track which comes into play during the first melee phase.

Ah. Okay then, that's what I was thinking of. I just wasn't sure how this works.

Hit and Run & Live off the Land are both boons, from what I've read, so the only tactics the Rangers have are Sniper Support and Standard. I think I'll stick with Sniper Support.

For when we start...

Rangers: Ranged Phase Attack! *Mythic Surge!*: 1d20 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 5 + (4) = 18
At Victrix's command, a hail of arrows is fired by the Rangers, arcing towards the waiting tiefling army!

Hmmm. I'm thinking that right now the best thing to do is not try anything fancy and go Standard tactics. I want to see what the enemies are able to do us before we try anything overly aggressive or spread ourselves too thin.

Mass Combat

Round 1
Tactics Phase:

Barundar and Belle need to select tactics. Also, Belle needs to roll a d20+morale to issue the withdraw order at the start of the melee phase

Ranged Phase:
The Rangers of Neatholme loose a volley at the tieflings. The volley is successful and deals 6 damage to the tiefling army

Barundar needs to roll for ranged for the Knights.

Melee Phase:
Waiting for Belle's roll.

So I am clear, I need to declare a Tactic for my army & the only Tactics I have available for them are Relentless Brutality & Spellbreaker?
If that is the case, I guess Relentless Brutality sounds more like a charge/advance than Spellbreaker does...
If I expend a Mythic Surge for the attack, will I also be able to expend a Mythic Surge for the + morale roll as well?
Relentless Brutality Charge! Rallying Cry! *Mythic Surge!*: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 + (1) = 24

As if some ancient avatar of retribution, Belledonna leads her kin as they crash into the fiendish foes before them.

Morale *Mythic Surge!*: 1d20 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 2 + (3) = 24, to withdraw.

@Belle, yes. Also yes.

Round 1
Ranged Phase
Rangers fire their bows, dealing 4 damage forgot the increased DV
Knights choose standard tactics and fire their bows Ranged: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 dealing 1 damage to the dretch army!
Dretches: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 fire at the Knights! dealing 2 damage.

Kellids advance and then

Melee Phase
Kellids charge and Tieflings fight back Teifling Army: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24. The Kellid charge is so overwhelming that it completely destroys the tiefling army, unfortunately the Kellids suffer heavy losses in the fighting as well. Because of Belledonna's expert leadership however they do not rout and the army remains, but only at 1HP.

Knights of Kenebres engage the Dretch Army!
Knights: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 the Knighs charge into the ruins and obliterate the dretch army!
Dretches: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 fail to harm the holy crusader army!

The Battle is over, Sarkoris Resplendent took casualties.

The Mass Combat rules are wonky, like seriously....one round fights are the norm from what I have read.

Victrix surveys the carnage, noting that too many of the casualties are Kellid.

"Bloody 'ell... that was roight risky, that was." She approaches Belle after the battle, at once proud of Belle for leading the charge and angry that so many of her countrymen fell. "We oughta rest 'ere for a bit, tend ta our wounded."

"Ta put it bluntly, Drezen is going ta be much more difficult ta take fer us if we're not at full strength."

Eyes rolling, nostrils flared; Belledonna walks among the survivors of her kinsmen, not even registering Victrix' presence in the aftermath, much less her words. After several minutes coaxing, she finally seems rational enough for speach. "Horoia atu te toto hara. Ka whakaatu to tatou toto i te ara. E whakakahore e koe ki a ratou i to ratou tohu?"
Turning, still somehow not quite there, Belledonna seeks out any survivors among the foe. Pausing briefly in her passage, she turns back to Victrix. "koe...
He tika koe."

What degree of casualties among Sarkoris Resplendent, GM Niles?
Also, are there any Teiflings, or preferably Dretches still alive?

Both armies were completely destroyed, this means that there may be individual survivors here and there, but they no longer act as an army. Army HP are just as vague as personal HP Sarkoris Resplendent is 1/5 HP which means that 80% of them are either dead or too wounded to fight. Now, some of those losses were from the Brimorak attack. The Paladins can heal the army somewhat. It can heal 3HP of damage after a battle. So the Kellids would be at 3/5, healing back the damage from this battle.

Brighton spends his time healing where he can, and repairing what armor and weapons he can.

"This will not improve Bel's mood. We better find the traitor quickly or she might snap next time we have a suspect." Konny says to Brighton and Barundar, way out of Belledona's hearing range.

He also helps the wounded to the best of his ability - which basicaly means helping them move around, lie down etc.

Irabeth counsels that you should wait at least one night, perhaps two to rest and recover from the battle.

Lann once again suggests recovering what supplies you can from the campsites of the defeated armies, and posting vigilant watches at night.