Geoffrey's Finest (Inactive)

Game Master CampinCarl9127

Not entirely clear on Toramin's message, Bjorkus jabs Gabriel with the wand again.

"Get on your feet Gabe. This fight's not done yet."

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Gabriel stands a little straighter after the second bout of healing, but he still felt close to death. His ribs were still cracked and though the many wounds were closed now, the paladin had lost a lot of blood. Somehow he manages to stay on his feet. Likely thanks to his tail, which moved this way and that to keep him balanced. "I've got two magic weapons. Bjorkus' old greatsword and the mace. Toramin, when you're up to it, take one. I've got an idea that might stop a fight but it might... oh god, I think one of those bones must have pierced something... it might not work. Not with our... our luck anyway. Raul, pull your men back, try to distract it yourself! Right now they're just... getting themselves killed."

Dalton continues on the facade of a ritual. Rilka does some critical thinking, then pulls out her alchemy kit. You actually need some of the incorporeal creature, so somebody has to damage it first and bring you the scraps. Bjorkus and Toramin both heal party members while Gabriel gets back on his feet.

The fallen continues its bloody rampage, claiming another whitecloak victim and moving onto the next.

Raul steadies himself between retches. "My men know what are at stake, your lives..." he spits out more bloody vomit. "...are more important than theirs, just figure this out!"

Suddenly the fallen arches its back, giving an unearthly scream that bloodies ears. It whips around to see Firyin, one clawed hand dangling threads of incorporeal remnants off of it.

Init Order
Party
Undead Horde
Raul+Whitecloaks
Heff
Edward
Talev
Firyin
Boris

Party to act.

Gabriel grunts, coughing up one last bit of vile that he was pretty certain could not have been produced by his body, and then straightens again. His tail grabs at the morningstar's handle on the ground and raises it to his hand. Then he rushes past Raul, the mans sentiment both impressing and infuriating the young tiefling paladin. He glares at the Forsaken as he rounds the corner and raises his blade, ready to fight and defend himself, but hoping his idea would work. "Spirit, you slay us at the behest of one that keeps you on this tortured mortal coil. Show us to your remains, and on my honor as a paladin, I will see them cleansed and buried to put your soul at ease. Or fight, perhaps kill a few more of us before falling, and continue this endless existence of yours!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Edited. Gabe has a +13 to Dip, not the +12 I originally put into the post. New total is 30.

Rilka touches her face after the healing magic extinguishes her pain. She makes a sound halfway between a groan and a laugh. ”Right, ghost salts,” she mumbles to herself looking at the items before her. She needs some of the incorporeal creature for this to be successful. Seeing the incorporeal threads dangling from Firyin’s claws, Rilka bolts up and skirts along the wall and behind a whitecloak to reach Firyin’s side.

”Wipe your hand on this,” she says pointing to the lip of an empty vial.

A double move action I believe

Toramin brandishes whichever sword Ymmir brought him Which is it? and double moves to in striking ten feet of the Fallen, if it came to him it would eat enchanted steel.

Ymir brings Toramin the greatsword from Bjorkus.

Rilka slips over to Firyin, who gives her a brief glance of confusion before doing what she says. Craft time Rilka.

The fallen looks at Gabriel, red lights boring into him. "Do not lie to me, there is no holy ground in these lands!"

Quick to catch on, Toramin backs up Gabriel. "The earth can be sanctified wherever the righteous gather to worship. I would lay you to rest with the holy rites of my people, the very earth will shelter your rest, if you but turn from this wicked course. Give up your torment and continue your journey."

Aid Another (Diplomacy): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Bjorkus touches himself with the wand before climbing to his hooves.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

”He’s tellin’ the truth. We’ve got powerful priests with us. They can bless the earth - they’ll help you find rest. You don’t gotta be a weapon for eternity.”

Its dark, sepulcher voice shrieks out. "This is not I, you lack the bones which are lost, the only rest is in your tomb from her will!"

The following is a combined spoiler. You need to make a knowledge (religion) and sense motive check. If combined you reach 30 or above, you can open the spoiler.

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Toramin knew little of the undead, but he knew much of logic.

"Your bones can be found. The one who enslaved you most likely has them. Whom will you trust, spirit? The terrible woman who is the author of your torment, or holy warriors sworn to serve the good gods? We want you to return to their bosom."

The fallen stops its bloody rampage, the red mist around it settling as the whitecloaks nervously shift around. It looks at Gabriel, then Toramin. "Holy...warriors.....paladins..." Its weapons drop, noiselessly hitting the ground. "We have...slain innocents. We have betrayed our order." The dark energy emanating from it fades, and it moves inside the building ruins then drops the darkness spell. It floats in the corner, holding its head in its hands. "Please...help us..."

Bjorkus enjoys a painful rattling breath as the angry spirit is soothed.

He gives his companions a nod and then looks to Raul. ”Tend to those that can be saved. I somehow doubt that’s the end of the witch’s forces.”

”Rilka, we still might need those ghost salts. We might not be able to talk sense into next poor soul Acera sends after us.”

Are we out of combat for now?

Rilka backtracks to where she left some of her alchemical reagents and supplies for making the ghost salt. She adds in a variety of powders to the vial, covering and shaking it as she does. While she’s doing that she’s following the conversation between the paladins, Bjorkus, and the fallen.
knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 6 + (4) = 28
sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

”Right you are Ares. Let’s see how successful I am,” she says with a hint of hurried optimism.

craft (alchemy): 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 6 + (6) = 21
1 inspiration point used in the craft check

Combat over.

Raul picks up his greatsword, looking around while he sheaths the huge weapon on his back. The fur retracts into his skin, his eyes become humanoid, and his jaws shrinks as he returns to his human form. He holds a hand against his bloodied side while he walks around the battlefield, checking the pulses of his whitecloaks. After a few minutes there are six white corpses laid side by side. Raul is silent with a blank look on his face the entire time.

"Hey, victory! You guys did great!" Looking up, everybody sees Heff atop one of the ruins, dangling his legs casually over the side. He slides down, leaping off to land gracefully on his feet. "Well done indeed, although try not to be so close to dying next time Gabey." He smirks, turning to look farther inside the building and at Dalton's ritual. "It could be a few minutes before Acera notices the ritual to stop the egg from activating, we should set up some defenses around Dalton."

Rilka makes 3 doses of ghost salts.

Nicely done Rilka! Get those to Raul’s three best archers. Do the Whitecloaks have their own healing supplies?

With the healing wand in hand, Bjorkus checks on his honor guard. ”Come on Boris. I still owe you a rematch right?”

Is he still alive?

The whitecloaks only healing is from Raul, who has barely any left.

Bjorkus kneels down to help Boris, but as he gets close he views the full spectrum of the mans wounds. No man could survive such damage to his body. This was the last fight of Boris the Strong.

Bjorkus snorts unhappily and bows his horned head in deference to the fallen brawler. ”Strong till the end”, he rumbles.

”Raul, which of your men can we get on their feet with a minor amount of healing and which ones are too far gone?”

Is everyone’s headers accurate? I’m going to roll a bunch of wand charges.

What about Talev?

"Heff, will you help us find that spirit's bones?"

Toramin hands Gabriel Bjorkus' sword back.

"Right." Gabriel says in response to Heef, smirking a little.

Gabriel accepts the sword while offering Toramin the morningstar. He glances down at his injuries, wincing a little. So many. And he was empty. Beyond empty. All of his power spent, so much blood lost. He glances from Toramin to Heff. "He is a prisoner being held captive, being tortured with his very existence... I honestly didn't think we'd need to ask. After the egg is secure, that is."

Gabriel looks to the wounded, then raises a hand toward the whitecloak that had saved his life. 'One moment.' The gesture said. He moves to the Fallens side, sheathing his blade as he does. He doesn't seem concerned about hostilities restarting. "I have already sworn, but I will add to that. On my life I shall help you, shall free you from this hell. Right now I must tend to the wounded and to the plans of the witch that used you. Would you permit me time? I have an idea, in fact, on how to find your body."

Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Does Gabriel know if destroying the spirit will cause it to regenerate where it's bones lie?

CLW for Bjorkus: 12d8 + 12 ⇒ (7, 6, 1, 1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 2, 1, 3) + 12 = 56

CLW for Gabe: 6d8 + 6 ⇒ (8, 3, 2, 3, 3, 6) + 6 = 31

That empties Bjorkus's previous wand.

CLW for Gabe: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6

CLW for Toramin: 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (8, 5, 5, 1, 6) + 5 = 30

CLW for Rilka: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1, 2) + 3 = 10

Fresh wand is at 40/50 charges so far. Dalton, how hurt are you? How hurt are the NPCs?

Toramin goes over to check on Talev and sees the elven warrior has also fought his last battle. He rests with his dwarven dorn-dergar sitting across his chest, covered in blood and dust.

Raul says in a deadpan voice "These six have crossed into the void."

"Uhhh, sure. I'll keep an eye out."

Am I allowed to look at the damage summary? What's the max HP on the mook Whitecloaks? Bjorkus will burn a charge if it'll get them on their feet but those deep into the negatives are going to have to wait.

Yes, the damage was posted for your benefit. I've listed how much damage people have taken.

We could easily empty this wand topping everyone off.

Bjorkus continues to work, drawing on the wand’s power to mend his companions and their allies. When his first wand is burned out he discards it and quickly retrieves the next.

”Remember who fell today and what they died for. We’re fightin’ for a better Akropash – a better Akropash for everyone”, he rumbles as he works his way through the crowd.

CLW for Dalton: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 1, 8) + 3 = 20

CLW for Edward: 6d8 + 6 ⇒ (4, 5, 8, 4, 3, 5) + 6 = 35

CLW for Firyin: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 5, 8) + 3 = 23

CLW for Rual: 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 2, 2) + 5 = 16

CLW for WC4: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (4, 8) + 2 = 14
CLW for WC9: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10
CLW for WC10: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (8, 5) + 2 = 15
CLW for WC12: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2) + 2 = 9

New wand is at 15/50 charges remaining.

”Heff, get over here”, the bull calls out as he works.

”We were given these scrolls before we left but the drow was the only one that could read ‘em and he’s gone missin’. You look like the sort that’s got a knack for that kind of thing. Toramin and Gabe could use ‘em.”

Not sure if Heff has UMD but we have three scrolls of lesser resto that would help with that con damage.

Edward wakes up with a gasp, grabbing for his weapon and trying to get up before he realizes the fight is over. "Wha-what happened?"

"You know it doesn't hurt to say please." Heff comes over nonetheless, looking at the scrolls briefly before nodding. "Right, hold still now..." Heff reads the scrolls carefully, clearly more able to use them from practice than natural ability. Half a minute later Toramin and Gabriel are feeling much better.

Knowledge Religion

Gabriel knows that if a fallen is slain, it will regenerate where its remains are buried. However, he would have no idea where that is or how to track the fallen down after that point.

"Thank you, Heff." The drawf doesn't begrudge the treacherous human gratitude. One doesn't need to like or trust another to be grateful for their assistance.

After realizing that Talev is dead, Toramin sighs and brushes the man's eyelids closed. Poor Dalton, he seemed to fancy this man.

"I did not know you well, Talev. But you seem wise and brave-hearted. You sacrificed so others could live. May the earth enfold you in its bosom. May you know rest eternal. I hope you don't mind that I take your weapon to fight on in this battle for which you gave your life."

Gabriel recalls a story much like the fallen, and of a paladin who wished to help as he himself did now. Only he failed, causing the Forsaken to simply return to his body deep in a forest miles away. The risk that would come from destroying the fallen would be never being able to find him again. "And as Ares mentioned, we have many who can aid us. If need be I will take on any debt personally to see to it. Your plight will not go unheeded. For now rest. With luck or the good gods favor, Acera will have your bones beneath this layer somewhere."

Gabe hopes his reassurance help the spirit. The creature was a dark one but from the sounds of things definitely not by choice. He waits a moment to see if the spirit had anything to say in return.

"Yes, I have waited so long. I have waited for eons. I can wait a little longer. My brother. He was betrayed. I came here to save him, but I failed. His bones lay there, where you left them. But he is not put to rest."

Edited my last post. Will go speak to Raul after.

Gabriel turns to look at the bones of the Warlord, a little surprised. He was pretty certain that skeleton wasn't getting back up again. "He will return as you do then? If so, I shall put him to rest as well. But how? Would proper rights do for him what they do for you?"

"You must defeat him in single combat. I tried, but failed. Instead of freeing him I only trapped us both."

"Oh." Gabriel pauses to think about that tidbit for a moment. He had been calling upon the favor of his gods and had only barely succeeded, with the help of his team. Single combat would be a lot more difficult but not impossible.

He needed better armor for instance. Looking down at the tatters of the breastplate he was wearing, Gabe was certain more durable armor would help against such a skilled being. And having all of his energy would certainly help. But fighting with Dalton's magic would probably not count as single combat. "That will be difficult... But I will not let a soul suffer when I have the power to do something about it. You and your brother shall be freed. So I swear."

Two oaths to uphold. There was a sense of... pressure there. Responsibility adding more to the weight he already carried. At the same time it made him feel better. Freeing Akropesh from Targ was certainly just and right, but the scale and scope of the dangers it would bring were hard to conceive. This, here, helping two lost souls? It was more personal, easier to understand. "Will he regenerate here?"

"Yes, his bones are still his own."

Was someone managing Dalton’s defenses? I imagine Bjorkus is rather busy.

Once Bjorkus gets the Raul he gives the lycanthrope a hard look eye to eye. It’s clear the bull holds no love for the werewolf but apparently considers him worth keeping combat-capable for now.

”Your men fought without fear. I’ll see that they’re remembered as heroes”, he rumbles.

”You were closer to the witch than any of us. Any idea what other horrors she’s got at her command?”

Gabriel nods slowly as he looks at the body. It had been a tough fight, but Gabe had been on his last leg, and he was using armor he had borrowed. If they could settle this thing with Acera by days end he could ask this organization that the others were apart of for aid, even if it cost him personally. "Rest, watch after your brothers remains. I will be back to aid you both soon. And I will send a message now to see to it in case I fall."

Gabriel starts to leave the darkness of the ruined building he was in, but pauses long enough to bow his head slightly to the spirit. The creature spoke of a tragic history between him and his brother. Yet more people suffering, even beyond death. He would help them. But first, his comrades.

Gabriel will stop by Heff for a moment. "Thank you for helping. I'm certain you did more then I could see in that battle. I owe you, so perhaps it is worth a laugh that I intend to put myself further in your debt. The ghosts brother is the Warlord we fought. To lay him to rest, he must be defeated in single combat. When Acera is dealt with I have promised to return but I might fall, so I would ask that you send a message to your army, to see if anyone amongst them is willing to help."

Gabriel pauses for a breath, then adds with a slight smile, "I doubt it will be necessary but if anyone needs convincing, you could remind them of the dangers of two powerful undead within the city you're trying to save. My goal, of course, is to do it myself. But even then I'll need..."

Gabe pauses and looks down at the Breastplate. It was remarkable that it still stayed on him. Two large rents could be seen where the warlord had struck him, along with dozens of smaller nicks and scrapes it had earned through out the battle. "Equipment." He finishes.

Didn't the guy go down in single combat? I mean besides for the attack of opportunity (when he came at me) Gabriel was the only one who fought him. And once their duel resumed, I stayed out of it.

Kn. Engineering: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Is there anything on hand we can use to fortify our position?

"They're Aussurian Legionnaires. They'll be buried in nameless shallow graves, if at all." He looks up, a placated sort of anger on his face. "You will remember them. Every one. They were loyal and fearless, and understood their lives needed to be lost for our cause. But their names will not be in history. They will be only in your minds."

He leans against a wall, grimacing as Bjorkus heals some of his wounds. "I didn't even know about this surprise, I'm only aware of the location."

Gabriel will stop by Heff for a moment. "Thank you for helping. I'm certain you did more then I could see in that battle. I owe you, so perhaps it is worth a laugh that I intend to put myself further in your debt. The ghosts brother is the Warlord we fought. To lay him to rest, he must be defeated in single combat. When Acera is dealt with I have promised to return but I might fall, so I would ask that you send a message to your army, to see if anyone amongst them is willing to help."

"And why would you think that? I'm not much of a fighter now, not really my style." He laughs. "I wouldn't mind you owing me a favor though!"

"Single combat, eh? I'd think Krokar but he's a tad busy right now. I'll spread the word."

Didn't the guy go down in single combat? I mean besides for the attack of opportunity (when he came at me) Gabriel was the only one who fought him. And once their duel resumed, I stayed out of it.

Sadly, that attack of opportunity did ruin it. However he probably would have killed Gabe if not for it.

Is there anything on hand we can use to fortify our position?

Rubble can make pretty decent barricades.

Going to take some liberties here in the interest of keeping things moving.

At the mention of ghost salts, Bjorkus’s bovine ears twitch. It was just what they needed in case Acera had more unquiet spirits at her command.

”Someone strike a torch. We wanna have those salts cooked and ready to go for whatever comes next. Who’re your best archers?”

As soon as it’s ready Bjorkus will gather 30 arrows from Whitecloaks, coat them with Rilka’s creation, cook them off, and then distribute them three each to the surviving Whitecloaks.

Three of the whitecloaks come up, spreading about the arrows and sitting them on half of their quiver.

After paying his brief respects to Talev and being healed. Toramin will start using the rubble to put up barricades and choke points around the area where Dalton is casting.