"You were summoned here by the Asmodean Redactors? And you're alright taking orders from an organization whose duty is to obscure knowledge and history?" Evander asked, somewhat incredulously.
Didiana's brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of the outsider's words.
"Are we to understand that you were summoned and subsequently forced into this position by agents of Asmodeus?"
She had trouble following the logic of this, albeit not for quite the same reasons as Evander. Although it was all far beyond her, the sorcerer knew that sufficiently powerful spell casters could bind planar creatures to their will. The scrivenite could very well have no choice in the matter, as it claimed. No, what she couldn't understand was the motivation of said summoner. You set out to plunder a library so to assist, you... summon a creature sworn to preserve knowledge? It didn't make any sense.
"Yilliv, is it not your purpose to record and safeguard vital information? This assignment you're on seems to have you going against your nature, something I wasn't even aware the planar beings were capable of. If whoever you serve has somehow mislead you, I can assure you that the Asmodeans' interests do not align with those of Axis. They are here to erase any facts inconvenient for them. Read my mind and see the state of our nation if you doubt me. I know you have the capability."
Truthfully, the armiger was uncomfortable with anyone fumbling about in her head, well aware of what a mess it truly was, but she was just as disinterested in fighting the scrivenite as it was them. And if conflict was inevitable, well, then at least she would have made the being waste some of its spell capabilities on some harmless mind-reading.
Gregor watches and listens to the exchange with uncertainty, not knowing the nature of the creature all that much except for what he hears in the conversation. As they talk, he feels like he can relate in a sense, "Scrivinite Yilliv, if we may ask questions as you said, then what was the exact wording of the orders you were given to protect this place?" he turns to the others indicating his mindset, "If we can find a linguistic loophole, we can do what we must without having to fight this being that is merely doing what it was told."
He actually feels sorry for Yilliv, as he understands all too well the desire to follow the orders of those he's sworn allegiance to, and when they contradict what he knows is the right thing to do. He does want to kill it, just as much as it may not want to kill them. If he can find some way to wriggle around the wording it was given, they could both benefit. "Do you know which spell was used to summon or bind you into this service, and cast by whom?"
Gilda seems about to open her mouth, but simply finds herself echoing the same inquiries posited by Didiana and Gregor.
Nonetheless she tucks Sprinkles Too back into an oversized pocket, as Yilliv is quite correct in believing her pages might end up nibbled given the opportunity.
“Not the redactors,” Yilliv says to Evander, “But someone else. It’s not a matter of whether or not I want to take orders from that one. I have no choice in the matter at this point, unfortunately.”
Yilliv does what probably passes as a nod for a scrivenite before saying to Didiana, “That is correct. My binding requires that I prevent you from proceeding further into the monastery.
“I prefer studying the knowledge, but keeping track of it does fall within my purview. I’m quite aware the Asmodeans' interests do not align with my own. That has been made abundantly clear to me. The one who commands me promised to let me read an old and valuable tome, a copy of The Inward-Facing Circle, which persuaded me to agree to the binding. That was, of course, before a slaughter took place here.
“I have no need to read your mind. Besides, I must save my magical abilities should the need arise for me to kill you. I am sorry things have reached this state, but I am unable to undo them now.”
To Gregor, Yilliv says, “My orders are simple: aid in the scouring of the Many-Steps Monastery, which has already been done, and then remain on site for 90 days or until the redactors have completed their task, whichever comes first, during which time I must protect the Asmodeans and the site from intruders.
“The linguistic loophole you seek will not be forthcoming. If it existed, I would know about it. I was conjured here by Lesser Planar Binding. Besides the orders I already mentioned, I was also instructed not to reveal anything about the one who conjured me.”
“So, in all likelihood, we will come to blows. But if you have further questions, I can certainly try to answer them. It’s the least I can do before conflict occurs. For instance, I can also tell you that I will have to inform the others here of your intrusion via telepathy should you choose to attack or force me to do so by trying to continue further into the monastery.”
If you ask Yilliv, the scrivenite can confirm the information Azvernathi gave you. There are ten more redactors like those you fought above in addition to an ogrekin, Nox, and her pet hell hound, Mephiry.
Gregor listens intently, "Well-spoken, but what if we are not intruders? What if I were to tell you that this man here," he indicates Matiscio, "is a fledgling member of the Sacred Order of Archivists, the proper residents of this establishment. We, are his guests, and therefore none of us are in fact intruding on the premises, nor are any actions we may take against the Asmodeans those of an intruder."
"The key here, is to define intruder. If an intruder is someone who is uninvited or unwelcome, then regardless of who summoned you, the intruders on these premises are the Asmodeans themselves. Therefore, you may protect them from each other, but need not protect them from us, as we have more right and authority to be here than they do, based on who the actual residents are and not the occupying force."
Evander considered the Scrivinite, looking at him. Gregor had found a possible loop hole in the definition of intruder, but he suspected that it might not be sufficient - an Asmodean had likely bound the Scrivinite. But if he had..."Tell me, was the name of the one who bound you Azvernathi?"
A light sigh escaped Didiana as she had to admit that the magical mechanics behind the scrivenite's summoning were beyond her, even with the being going so far as to specify the particular spell. But it was for that same reason she doubted that Azvernathi stood behind it. That pathetic wretch could barely command his own men, never mind an outsider. Surely Yilliv's master was someone more capable. Besides, the cleric had failed to mention the being despite having no problem naming every other obstacle at the heart of the monastery; obstacles that Yilliv could now confirm. Most likely he really had never been down here.
Didiana suppressed another, heavier, sigh as, judging by the scrivenite's words, the only way past it was through violence. It was evidently perfectly aware of who and what its master represented, and no amount of persuasion would entice it to defect. This was the bed the outsider had made and it was ready to lie in it, albeit without enthusiasm. Only one avenue for circumventing a fight seemed to remain, and it was the one Gregor was already heading down: convince the outsider that the group were not, by the definition of the summoner agreement, 'intruders' in the monastery.
This was not a tactic the sorcerer had much faith in. Really, it didn't amount to anything more than arguing semantics. It was nitpicky. Anal, even. But then again, perhaps the idea held some small potential precisely because it was such a fussy argument. She thought back to the Wasp Nest, where upon finding the Silver Raven traitor she had railed on about the nature of devils, and how the imp in question deserved no mercy. How it was literally made out of evil. The creature in front of the group now was no different. Where the imp was composed out of manifested wickedness, the scrivenite was a being of absolute order and law. If anyone cared about the nitty-gritty of agreements and the wording of laws, it was the residents of Axiom. And funnily enough she knew a thing or two about local legislation herself.
"The key here, is to define intruder."
"Falcon, may I?"
The armiger had a funny look in her eyes, like she was strangely at ease. Like a farmer on her own acres.
"The 1277 2nd Restatement of the Law on torts, issued by the Chelaxian Law Institute, § 652B is titled Intrusion Upon Seclusion. It defines four criteria which make up an invasion upon privacy and define an intruder. Firstly, 'the defendant, without authorization, must have intentionally invaded the private affairs of the plaintiff.' This is not the case here as we, the defendants, came to the museum above without prior knowledge of its current occupied state. Secondly, 'the invasion must be offensive to a reasonable person.' I trust that with your knowledge of your master's ways, you will agree that our motivations for being here are both understandable and justified, and that you have found us entirely agreeable and nonviolent in disposition. Thirdly, 'the matter that the defendant intruded upon must involve a private matter.' This is patently and obviously false; given our recent change in government, the actions your masters have taken here are of pivotal interest to every lawful resident of the city of Kintargo and the surrounding archduchy, arguably the entire nation. Fourthly and finally, 'the intrusion must have caused suffering, physical or mental, to the plaintiff.' To this I posit that we are here to retrieve a compatriot. We have not yet harmed any person within the Many-Steps Monastery, and would much prefer to leave without having done so. I therefore insist that according to § 652B of the 1277 2nd Restatement of the Law on torts we are not, by the law of our lands, intruders."
Didiana spoke with the speed and precision of a well-oiled clockwork monstrosity.
"Now, some might counter my case by pointing to the absolute monarchy of our nation and argue that the state and any agents directly appointed by the state are effectively exempt from the law. This is true. The government can, in theory, do whatever it pleases. But as you yourself have attested to, Yilliv, the occupying force of the monastery are not government agents. They are agents of the church of Asmodeus. And the church is certainly not above our laws. Historically, the regime has looked upon the church's affairs with special scrutiny. Again, I invite you to read our minds should you doubt anything I have said."
The sorcerer took a deep breath. She wasn't sure if the scrivenite bought her spiel; heck, she wasn't sure she bought it herself, but she did know that not a word of it was untrue. While diabolism was certainly the state-sanctioned official faith of the nation, the affairs of church and state in Cheliax were kept separate via wrought-iron fence guarded by dire tigers. The Thrunes were no fools. They hadn't sold Cheliax to Hell in addition to their souls. They sold their souls so that Cheliax was theirs. The royal family had no intent of ceding any more power to the church than absolutely necessary.
Yilliv seems to consider Gregor’s words for a moment after the ranger speaks. The scrivenite looks over at Matiscio, assessing the brawler.
Then Yilliv says, “Despite what you say, I regret to tell you that the Archivists are no more. Furthermore, the Asmodeans were here before you. Now that you have arrived, you are intruding on them. I am sorry, but there’s just simply no way around it.”
To Evander’s question, Yilliv says, “My instructions specifically forbid me from revealing anything about the one who conjured me. That said, I have only heard mention of this Azvernathi and have never seen one down here who referred to himself as such.”
Yilliv floats forward a few feet and begins twirling its ribbon-like hands. “Well, I’m afraid we’re not going to get anywhere, so we should go ahead and get this over with. I do apologize in advance to those of you I end up killing. I will have to endure your blood staining my pages, so I assure you it will also be unpleasant for me.”
The scrivenite pauses in its twirling when Didiana speaks. It floats back a few feet as the sorcerer continues speaking. Yilliv tilts its book-head as Didiana goes into the particulars of what an intruder is according to Chelaxian law.
Once Didiana finishes, Yilliv says, “You may find that the difference between church and state is quite small in Kintargo these days. Barzillai is a government official, but he is also a powerful inquisitor within the Asmodean church. The line between a government agent and an agent of the church is quite blurry in Kintargo since Barzillai’s arrival. Still, perhaps…”
The scrivenite focuses intently on Didiana and seems to be casting a spell on her.
Yilliv concentrates on Didiana for the better part of a minute, probing through the armiger’s mind. Then it moves back a few more feet.
The scrivenite floats back and forth across the length of the room for several minutes, occasionally glancing over at you. It seems to be agonizing about something.
Eventually it floats back over to you and says, “As a scrivenite, I am embarrassed to admit that I did not consider actual Chelaxian law when assessing the terms to which I was bound. Your summary of section 652B was quite instructive, Didiana.
“I trust you all will be swift in retrieving your compatriot. I also expect you to take care where you step. I won’t have the monastery getting sullied more than it already has.”
Yilliv gestures toward the double doors to the northwest. It begins to float away to examine a few of the books remaining on a nearby shelf, but turns back to add, “In the course of retrieving your compatriot, if you happen upon any actual intruders, please see to it that they are punished for their offense.”
The scrivenite then glides the rest of the way to the shelf. It proceeds to ignore your presence entirely as it buries its book-head in the books on the shelf.
Matiscio blinks at Didiana. Questions. So many questions, but they'd have to wait till later. He then turns to the extraplanar being and nods. "I .. eh .. yes, why thank you, Yilliv."
Gilda observes as Didiana recites Chelaxian laws in excruciating detail. Clearly the woman loved pain.
She absolutely had to get her to the Calistrians for an evening. It would resolve so much for her fellow rebel.
Gesturing to the others, she brought her attention back to their current intrusion-but-not-an-intrusion.
"Alright, let's find us some Asmodeans!"
Evander looks from Didiana to the Scrivenite and back again before saying, "Very nicely done. It might do us well to study some of that law once we get out of here. Let's go deeper into the Monastery." Looking back at the scrivenite, he says more quietly, "And let's try to avoid causing harm. Otherwise we may lose our exemption."
The only thing that surprised Didiana more than finding a use for her (frankly disconcertingly) comprehensive knowledge of criminal law in the fight against Thrune, was seeing it actually work. It took her just a second too long to properly digest the scrivenite's words. When it became obvious that the group was free to enter, she gave the outsider a little nod of appreciation.
"... Thank you, Yilliv."
She walked straight for the door forward, although not before sending a satisfied glance over to Gregor. Apparently being finicky had been the way to go.
"And let's try to avoid causing harm. Otherwise we may lose our exemption."
"Agreed. We should find Jaya and leave. With the Irorans destroyed there is nothing else for us here anyway."
Even with this said, the sorcerer somehow doubted finding Matiscio's lady-friend would be quite so simple.
You proceed beyond the double doors and further into the monastery. It’s beginning to become clear why the monastery is named ‘Many-Steps’ as you make your way down a long set of steps before turning a corner to find a long and narrow hallway with several doors on one side as well as a pair of other hallways.
Each of the rooms are 10-foot-square cells that contain a bed, a trunk, and a desk. While they appear to have once been quarters for the monastery, they are still in use. One contains a copy of the Asmodean Monograph, indicating who the current residents are.
Down the first narrow hallway, you find a larger chamber which seems to have its own private workspace and washroom. The larger bedroom contains a portrait of a young Rexus Victocora flanked by a middle-aged man and woman who resemble two of the zombies you recently slew above, the ones with Victocora signet rings.
Besides the area you’re currently inspecting, there’s also the other path at the end of the hallway. A large set of steps there appear to lead downward.
Didiana had to look away at the discovery of the portrait and realizing who it depicted.
Oh gods dammit... Keep it together, Di. Not the time for emotional outbursts. Keep it in check...
She let out a heavy sigh. The sight of the happy little family reminded her of what the group would have to tell Rexus upon their return. She wasn't looking forward to it. The nobleman would be devastated.
At least the painting confirmed that Rexus's mother had been some sort of leader within the monastery. This must have been her private cell. The facts fit. The cell was somewhat larger and grander than the other ones. Well, except for this one wall. Was that a crack going through it...?
Didiana surprised herself as she recognized the wall for what it was: a secret door.
"Guys? Secret door."
Evander, distracted by the portrait of a young Rexus with his parents, doesn't notice much else until Didana says something about the secret door. Poor Rexus. His parents not only dead, but animated as walking corpses. Maybe we can avoid telling him that.
Turning, he looked at where she was pointing and said, "Nicely spotted. Shall we open it?"
"Hey, do my eyes deceive me or is that a secret panel over there?" Surely enough, it's a secret panel and such good fortune! The group just so happens to possess the key to unlock it. No words were said on the familiarity of those portrayed in the painting.
Some truths were best swallowed in silence.
"Hoo-yeah it's got more secrets than Red does!"
Gilda eyes Didiana, certain the woman must have something buried deep in her past to explain why she...
Gilda's thought is cut short as she recalls the last time she found such a panel in an old crumbling ruin in Old Kintargo.
She swallows nervously.
"Usually good stuff behind these. Maybe a trap too?"
Gilda doesn’t spot any traps on the secret door.
Whenever you decide to open it, the secret door slides open easily enough. The newly revealed hallway is as narrow as the one that brought you to the private quarters you’re currently in.
Three doors lead off of this new hallway. Beyond, you see an open area that’s currently in use.
The overwhelming stench of rotting flesh fills this wide, table-strewn chamber. A web of barbed chains strangles its way throughout the room’s ceiling, supporting the decayed corpse of a man in drab robes. At the center of the web, suspended above the flagstones by its black iron tendrils, rests a fist-sized, twelve-sided box fashioned from wood and bronze. Wooden cases along the southwestern wall have been smashed and overturned. Small pieces of paper covered with notes are scattered throughout the room, as if someone’s been studying the strange tableau for days.
From your current vantage point, you can see four Asmodeans who look like the ones you fought above in addition to the corpse of one hanging by chains from the ceiling. Three are studying texts and one is just milling about. None of them seem to notice you yet and they also don’t appear to have been alerted by Yilliv or anyone else to the fact that ‘intruders’ have arrived in the monastery.
Evander puts a hand on Matiscio's shoulder and raises a finger to his lips, indicating quiet. He then sneaks forward to investigate the three rooms off the hallway.
Evander's easily able to slip into the three rooms without alerting the Asmodeans in the larger room. The room to the northwest is another larger bedroom like Porcia's room. The other two on the southeast side of the hallway are presumably that bedroom's private washroom and work area. Since he's seen one before, Evander also sees a secret door in one of the rooms to the southeast.
Evander activates the secret door, seeing where it leads.
Beyond the secret door, Evander finds another wash room and study area. Across from them is one more larger private bedroom. This particular bedroom appears to have been used recently. The hallway between the three new rooms appears to lead down into the common room. A pathway appears to lead further into the monastery. To the south of the hallway, there appears to be a set of double doors leading into another room.
Evander returns to the group and reports what he's seen. "All of these suites are connected by secret passages, which could let us get to the far side of the chamber. However, they all still connect to the common room. If we're quiet enough, we might be able to bypass the four in the room - I'm concerned that attacking them will make us lose our status as 'not intruders'. What do you think we should do?"
"I think the scrivenite gave us full carte blanche to trash the Asmodeans, what with asking us to 'punish the actual intruders.' But yeah - I'm all for doing this as quietly and quickly as possible."
Eager as she was to see the diabolists get their just comeuppance, as eager as any hellknight could be, Didiana had her priorities straight. This was about Jaya. Getting the woman out of here safe and sound took precedence over punishing the guilty in this instance. And that sentiment was entirely in keeping with her tenets. After all, abductions were the Torrent's specialty.
As Yilliv allows them to pass based entirely on Didiana's ability to recite the letter of the law, he is happy at the outcome. He is just quickly disheartened by Yilliv's plight. "Thank you scrivinite, for your dedication to your duty, and your willingness to listen to the side of law and reason. You have nothing but my sincerest respect and sympathies for your situation." He is surprised by the kinship he feels for this outsider, given he has never felt it for anyone not even human before.
-------------
He follows along through the chambers, bow in hand, but his mind is elsewhere. His thoughts are distant, as they were directed inward, and how similar he was to the creature from a plane of pure law. He had never thought that he could stand on such a degree of common ground with anyone or anything that didn't belong to pure human stock.
As Evander returns with his assessment, he has a very clear intent, "We must avoid as much fight as we can. Yilliv let us pass on our word that we are here for the girl, and not to attack the Asmodeans. Whatever we can do to keep our word to the scrivinite, we owe him that much. I say we sneak around, or if Pigeon can put them to sleep. Last resort, we fight to incapacitate, but not injure."
He shakes his head to Didiana's interpretation, "He did not say as much. He determined that we are NOT intruders, and said 'IF' we happen upon 'any actual intruders'. He knows the Asmodeans are here, and most likely unavoidable, and he never agreed that they were intruders, just that we were not. The pedantry of refined definitions got us access, but it is the same pedantry that will be used to determine whether we kept our word."
Didiana and Gregor try creeping around the Asmodeans to access the next hallway. As they do so, Didiana manages to clank her mace loudly against her armor, immediately alerting the Asmodeans to their presence.
He shakes his head to Didiana's interpretation, "He did not say as much."
Didiana's face conveyed the quiet frustration of every tutor to an unwilling student.
"No, Wa... *sigh* Falcon, I know he didn't say as much, but therein lies the whole point. He was being subtle. The letter of the law only allowed him to insinuate what he would have us do to the newly defined actual intruders at... Never mind. Not the time."
A being of perfect law and order deigned to hint and imply its feelings and Gregor Ward failed to catch it. If that wasn't perfectly emblematic of the man, she didn't know what was. But it didn't matter any which way. They were in agreement not to fight the Asmodeans unless attacked first, so they could proceed.
And Didiana proceeded straight to fumbling her best attempt at stealth, used as she was to righteously kicking down doors whilst screaming arrest warrants.
Gilda glances as Didiana's mace raps against the wall, somewhat convinced that the sorceress may have not really tried all that hard to quiet her movements, instead looking to quickly inflict some pain on the Asmodeans.
Nonetheless, Gilda begans chanting, seeking to expedite the Asmodean's journey to unconsciousness.
Evander hides himself in the hallway, then prepares to strike at anyone who runs past him.
Opportune Parry and Riposte
Gregor steps into the common area to make way for his companions then fires at the Yellow Asmodean with his bow and lands a solid blow to the man’s shoulder.
Gilda began chanting, seeking to expedite the Asmodean's journey to unconsciousness.
Evander hides himself in the hallway, then prepares to strike at anyone who runs past him.
Yellow Asmodean grimaces from the arrow in his shoulder before shouting at the top of his lungs. “Intruders! Intruders in the Monastery!” The man runs down the hall before opening a door to a room to the southwest. A creature resembling a thin, lanky wolf with reddish-brown fur, white claws, and burning, fiery red eyes emerges from the room. You recognize it as the hell hound from the protest in Aria Park. He’s Mephiry, Nox’s pet.
Green Asmodean runs up to Evander before attempting to punch him. While his initial reaction fails to land a blow, Evander manages to parry the Asmodean’s attack despite it carrying quite a bit of force. Evander seizes the opportunity to riposte and lands a non-lethal blow on the man.
Red Asmodean moves up to Gregor and tries to punch him. The Asmodean lands a decent blow to Gregor’s side.
Blue Asmodean also moves up next to Gregor and attacks him. He misses badly.
Mephiry casually strolls over to Evander and tries to bite a chunk out of the investigator. The hell hound manages to bite Evander in the arm. Curiously, the infernal creature’s flames seem to have almost no effect on Evander.
Matiscio runs forward and slams into the Asmodean, throwing caution to the wind as he drowns the both of them in a sea of violence.
Didiana cursed her own surreptitious slip-up as she watched the situation in the monastery go to hell in a handbasket. While a fight had perhaps been inevitable, she wished that it could at least have been on their terms. Terms that would absolutely not include any one member of the team fighting alone, so the armiger rushed over to Evander. She was less than pleased by what she saw there.
"Hellhound! Don't group up near it! It breathes fire!"
If that beast was here, then its master was no doubt soon to follow, along with the rest of the veritable battalion stationed down here. With this in mind Didiana decided that thinning the enemy herd was imperative and focused her arcane power into her hand.
The magical volley sent strands of Evander's hair flying as the two missiles whizzed past him to crash into the Asmodean directly in front of him.
Gregor sees the thing called a hellhound, and slumps his shoulders in frustration at the quandary. "Okay, the beast can be put down, mind your edges for the others though. We need to make short work, and move quickly." With two men on him so quickly, he draws his sword while he calls out the tactics to the group. He steps into an assisting position with Matiscio.
Matiscio runs forward and slams into the Asmodean, throwing caution to the wind as he drowns the both of them in a sea of violence. He hits the Red Asmodean hard, but the man remains standing.
Didiana decided that thinning the enemy herd was imperative and focused her arcane power into her hand. The magical volley sent strands of Evander's hair flying as the two missiles whizzed past him to crash into the Asmodean directly in front of him. The man fell to the ground, unconscious.
Gregor sees the thing called a hellhound, and slumps his shoulders in frustration at the quandary. "Okay, the beast can be put down, mind your edges for the others though. We need to make short work, and move quickly." With two men on him so quickly, he draws his sword while he calls out the tactics to the group. He steps into an assisting position with Matiscio.
Gilda
Evander steps in the same square as the downed Asmodean before stabbing at Mephiry. He misses.
Yellow Asmodean runs further down the hall, shouting as he goes, “Intruders! Come quick! We need aid!” He opens the door at the end of the hallway, revealing a large area beyond. Evander and Gregor can see several more Asmodeans beyond. They appear to be just standing up and readying to join the fight.
Green Asmodean is unconscious.
Red Asmodean jabs at Matiscio with two quick strikes. The brawler manages to avoid both blows.
Blue Asmodean steps into a flank with the Red Asmodean and tries to strike Gregor twice. His first strike connects.
Mephiry howls in frustration at Evander. The hell hound seems to have realized he didn’t do as much damage to Evander as he had expected. He bites at Evander again but misses this time.
With reckless intent, the brawler throws his fists at the Asmodean's face again and again. The lack of discipline shows.
Evander steps back from Mephiry and drinks a vial, causing a floating shield of force to appear before him. Looking at the opened door and the several more Asmodeans, he merely sighs and returns his attention to the hell hound and says, "Okay, puppy, come and get me."
Opportune Parry and Riposte
Parry fails, no riposte.
If I am not hit and someone provokes an AoO from me, I will use that roll for the AoO instead - but only if I'm not hit.
HP 15/22
AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18
Inspiration: 4/4
Panache: 3/4
Effects: Shield 20/20 rounds
Conditions: None
Extracts
1st - cure light wounds [ ], longarm [ ], shield [X]
“Intruders! Come quick! We need aid!”
Didiana frowned at hearing the Asmodean, and not because she was a stickler for the precise definition of 'intruder'. Trouble was coming their way. Anticipating the oncoming wave of opponents, the sorcerer retrieved the scroll case hanging by her belt. Magic covering a wide area would come in handy. Even in doing this, she concentrated and prepared the simple mental scrambling spell that had served her so well in the past. It would have no effect on the alien mind of the hellhound, but given her positioning she could toss it at whoever passed by trying to get at Evander.
There might be some interpretation on sleep but its area of effect is 'one or more living creatures within a 10-ft-radius burst'.
This is different than spells like fireball which are '20-ft-radius spread' which imply "one or more creatures in a 20-ft radius spread" for example.
You can decide how to apply it best, but clearly Gilda would like to get as many least-injured foes in her effect. She would've completed the spell at the start of round 2, so she still has her round 2 actions.
With the Asmodeans battling her spell of slumber , Gilda targets her ire at the rebel's adversaries who seem mostly likely to inflict injury.
Gregor realizes the quandary he put himself in, by allowing himself to get surrounded. The hits he has taken just from the cultists has put some worry in him, but he tried not to let it show. "Control the terrain, use the hallways to our advantage." Trying to keep the morale of the others up, he still decides that he needs to duck out and recover. Getting into a hide, he makes a quick cloth wrap around his most recent wound, and curses himself for being so reckless as to avoid getting healing before they continued.
Both fall to sleep.
Matiscio, with reckless intent, throws his fists at the Asmodean's face again and again. The lack of discipline shows. Neither of his blows connect.
Didiana readies to daze.
Gregor realizes the quandary he put himself in, by allowing himself to get surrounded. The hits he has taken just from the cultists has put some worry in him, but he tried not to let it show. "Control the terrain, use the hallways to our advantage." Trying to keep the morale of the others up, he still decides that he needs to duck out and recover. Getting into a hide, he makes a quick cloth wrap around his most recent wound, and curses himself for being so reckless as to avoid getting healing before they continued.
Gilda moves to where the Red Asmodean lies prone asleep. She casts her gaze onto Mephiry and he falls under the effects of her hex. She does the same to the Yellow Asmodean who also falls to the effects of her hex.
Evander steps back from Mephiry and drinks a vial, causing a floating shield of force to appear before him. Looking at the opened door and the several more Asmodeans, he merely sighs and returns his attention to the hell hound and says, "Okay, puppy, come and get me."
Yellow Asmodean, having sufficiently raised the alarm, runs over to Evander and tries punching him.
Didiana’s readied Daze tries to affect the Yellow Asmodean as he reappears. The man shrugs off the effect. He misses his strike afterwards.
Green Asmodean is still unconscious.
Red Asmodean is asleep.
Blue Asmodean is also asleep.
Mephiry growls at Evander and steps up to try biting him again. He misses once more.
The other Asmodeans rush from the other room, getting into a position to attack within moments.
A little closer...
The floodgates had been opened and Didiana watched as the veritable cascade of Asmodeans came running down the hallway, intent on the Raven's lives. That perfectly narrow hallway.
C'mon. Just a little closer...
She clutched the scroll in her hand harder as the first diabolist stepped over his unconscious comrade. They were so close. So bunched up. 'Control the terrain', Gregor had said. 'Use the hallway to our advantage' indeed, Didiana thought. The nearest Asmodean took a swipe at Evander.
There. Perfect.
The sorcerer dashed out of her cosy corridor, through both friend and foe, to get to the vantage point she needed if this was to work. Fist and burning maw came at her both, but a little pain would be a small price to pay should this work. Once in position she held aloft the unfurled scroll and read it aloud, facing the enemy horde. An explosion of glittering particles filled the hallway and covered every one of the Asmodeans, hellhound included, just narrowly missing Evander.
Evander looks at the oncoming horde of Asmodeans and thinks, This is gonna hurt.
Still, if he could take Mephiry down, he might be able to avoid being too badly walloped by these guys. Evander lashes out at the hell hound with his rapier.
He then says, "Someone help me make a wall over here!"
If I'm hit, Opportune Parry and Riposte.
Parry will fail, no riposte.
If I am not hit and someone provokes an AoO, I'd like to use that roll for an AoO.
HP 15/22
AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18
Inspiration: 4/4
Panache: 3/4
Effects: Shield 19/20 rounds
Conditions: None
Extracts
1st - cure light wounds [ ], longarm [ ], shield [X]
Gilda inhales sharply as she catches sight of the hellish dog's maw.
"Yeesh! A devildog!"
Pedaling backwards, she looks to Matiscio to step ahead of her and she contemplates her next best course of action.
"I know! That pear-shaped pearl!"
Matiscio, having moved up when the Red Asmodean fell asleep, but having missed his last swing, steps up to Mephiry and punches at the hell hound with a pair of blows. He lands a decent blow with his first swing, but his second swing misses.
Didiana dashed out of her cosy corridor, through both friend and foe, to get to the vantage point she needed if this was to work. Fist and burning maw came at her both, but a little pain would be a small price to pay should this work.
Didiana manages to dodge both of the Asmodeans’ punches, but Mephiry’s bite rips into her flesh. The hound once more finds his fire has no effect on his victim. Once in position she held aloft the unfurled scroll and read it aloud, facing the enemy horde. An explosion of glittering particles filled the hallway and covered every one of the Asmodeans, hellhound included, just narrowly missing Evander. All but the Yellow Asmodean somehow retain their sight. The Yellow one begins to scream from his blindness.
Gregor, passing through one of the hidden passages, fires an arrow at Mephiry after dropping his sword. With the Yellow Asmodean in the way, his shot misses.
Gilda inhales sharply as she catches sight of the hellish dog's maw. Pedaling backwards, she looks to Matiscio to step ahead of her and she contemplates her next best course of action.
Evander looks at the oncoming horde of Asmodeans and thinks, This is gonna hurt.
Still, if he could take Mephiry down, he might be able to avoid being too badly walloped by these guys. Evander lashes out at the hell hound with his rapier. He hits, and deals a nice blow.
Yellow Asmodean stumbles around blind, screaming as he does so. He manages to recover his sight, but doesn’t get a chance to act.
The other Asmodeans crowd up behind the Yellow Asmodean and Mephiry, eager to get a chance to attack.
Mephiry bites at Matiscio but misses.
Recovering his sword from the ground, Gregor moves a little closer to ensure that they have the enemy hemmed into their locations. He calls out words of encouragement. "Good recovery team, hold positions. If possible press the front. Focus fire on the hellhound."