"I will admit to a certain amount of trepidation...but I can't think of any more preparation."
Feeling much stronger after Hazel's healing prayer, Vermundr steps to the front again. "I'll cross first. I'm no doubt the heaviest. If it can bear my weight the rest of you should be fine."
Zelda buzzes in disapproval but follows her master's lead.
Constantin watches from the near side as Vermundr steps out. "Should we rope you off?"
"Do we have any fly spells left?" Zed inquires. "Depending on the stability of course...Vermundr hold a moment." Zed takes out a length of rope. "If we're going to test it, let's make sure our test subject survives. Here." Zed ties the rope around his waist, then hands the other end to Vermundr.
Despite the fact the rope bridge sways a little as Zed steps out onto it, it seems very well constructed abd easily hold his weight without any sign of stress on the thick ropes that anchor it on either side of the falls
"I think we should be alright. Let's go one at a time still."
Vala shakes her head at Zed's question of flight then sighs. "I just knew we'd have to cross this dreadful thing at some point. Do be careful, all of you."
The slender rope bridge extends across the long gorge beyond the scaffolding and terminates at a two storey building topped with a tall tower. Vermundr steps onto the bridge, and though it feels more than strong enough to hold his weight, he can feel his every movement causing the structure to sway beneath his feet.
After spending a moment removing the bulk of his heavy armor, Vermundr joins Zed in scuttling across the bridge.
Packing armor and roping backpacks to pull along later...
Vermundr begins to cross. Unburdened by his armour and with the rope securing him he nonetheless feels nervous of the slight sway in the bridge and the ever-present yawning waterfall beneath him.
But he moves confidently, keeping his eyes ahead rather than down and before long is making good progress. He crosses to the mid-point and looks back, giving his companions the nod as if to say; If you can make it across, it will hold you.
Zed meanwhile plays out the rope. He moves to follow when a decent amount stretches between him and the warrior in front but the board of the bridge are slick with spray and his boot slips off. Temporarily he slips to one knee, making Vala's heart leap in her chest but he quickly rights himself and stands.
As Vermundr takes his final step beyond the mid-point, he does not notice the conjuration circle drawn in blood on the planks beneath him. It begins to glow a soft red and then all at once begins to blaze with crimson.
On the other side of the bridge Constantin's head begins to pound with a headache that splits between his ears. They ring with the screams of the dead, those dying in the agony of flames and in horror. He can feel the heat on his face, the searing of and somehow he knows, through powers and senses he does not understand and yet terrify him to his core, that something terrible place just ripped it's way here!
The conjuration circle pulses once, like when a stone is thrown into a pond, and the ripples run out bringing with them the stench of sulfur and the howls of the damned.
Fifty feet above the bridge a woman with skin the colour of ash and eyes of hollow white unfurls wings of charcoal black. She arches her back in an ecstasy of freedom - but it is short lived. Her eyes narrow as she sees Vermundr and she calls out to the sky itself in a voice thick with hatred:
I will honour our agreement! And when I kill these maggots our business will be done - I will owe you nothing!
She raises a bow of pure Hellfire and points it at the warrior.
Facing a flying opponent with a bow while he's armed, Vermundr quickly recognizes he's at the disadvantage. "Back!" he warns before retreating across the bridge. "Get back inside!"
Facing a flying opponent with a bow while he's armed, Vermundr quickly recognizes he's at the disadvantage. "Back!" he warns before retreating across the bridge. "Get back inside!"
1d20+8+1d6
"Watch yourself, dear." Vala whispers before sending another blast of lightning from her hands, this time through the open air and into the suddenly formed erinyes.
"Your debt won't be repaid today, devil!"
HP: 34/39
Negative Energy Resist 5
AC: 14 (10 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 14
F/R/W: +5/+2/+9 (+2 vs death effects, energy drain, negative energy, & necromancy)
Monstrous Insight used: 1/7
Healing Hex targets: Hazel, Vermundr, Vala, Kaz
Heaven's Leap targets: Zed, Vermundr, Kaz, Constantin
Current Wandering Spirit: Heavens
Stardust used: 1/7
Prepared spells
Orisons (4) | DC 14: dancing lights, disrupt undead, identify, read magic
Level 1 spells (3+1+1*) | DC 15: color spray* [ ], inflict light wounds [ ], magic missile [ ] [ ], produce flame (CL7) [X]
Level 2 spells (3+1+1*) | DC 16: hypnotic pattern* [ ], glitterdust [ ], spiritual weapon [ ] [ ] [ ]
Level 3 spells (2+1+1*) | DC 17: daylight*[ ], fly [X], lightning bolt [X] [X]
Ongoing Effects
[dice=Knowledge (planes)]1d20+13
"Watch yourself, dear." Vala whispers before sending another blast of lightning from her hands, this time through the open air and into the suddenly formed erinyes."Your debt won't be repaid today, devil!"
[dice=CL vs Spell Resistance]1d20+6
[dice=Lightning Bolt (DC 17)]6d6** spoiler omitted **
Constantin shifts to a position where he has better line of sight. He exhales slowly as he focuses and says, "I wonder if I can banish her."
Constantin shifts to a position where he has better line of sight. He exhales slowly as he focuses and says, "I wonder if I can banish her."
[dice=Caster level check]1d20+6
Though he slips, Vermundr rights himself and begins scrambling back toward his allies.
Zed frowns up at the outsider then quickly moves back inside, drawing his crossbow. He fires off a bolt as he goes inside.
Zed backs off along the bridge back onto the solid ground but his bolt sails wide.
It's a demon! barks Kazamir. Our spells will have difficulty punching through it's protection.
Despite this he summons his will and sends a series of force projectiles at the demon.
Success
The Devil screeches in delight as she looses a series of flaming arrows at Vermundr with almost blinding speed.
Hit
and
Success
Hit
and
Fail
Miss
The first two burning arrows slam into Vermundr's back. He grunts in pain and the second causes him to stumble and slip. He crashes to the wooden planks of the bridge which now begins swaying violently.
S@+#. Zed steps back out, offering a hand to Vermundr to drag him back inside.
Vermundr takes the pale offered hand and scrambles to his feet. Heedless of the arrows sticking out of his shoulder, he rushes inside the ruined building.
Constantin launches another volley of magic missiles, then moves to take cover behind the wall.
Constantin's orbs of force streak across the chasm and slam unerringly into the chest of the demon. Hazel's shot however misses as the thing twists gracefully in the air, the arrow sailing off into the spray of the waterfall.
Success
Following suit, Vala unleashes her own barrage of arcane projectiles. While not damaging in and of themsleves, this relentless and unfailing assault begins to show that it is whittling the demon down.
We have to drive it back! Kazamir shouts. Hit it with whatever you have!
Success
After blasting out the last of his arcane missiles, Kazamir retreats further into the destroyed building.
The demon swoops downward at a crazy angle, her mastery of the air currents above the waterfall almost complete.
She reaches out a clawed hand and suddenly a thick, oily blackness fills the area around most of the heroes.
Fail
Fail
Fail
Success
Zed ducks inside the building. "We aren't very good at ranged. What's the plan?"
Zed ducks inside the building. "We aren't very good at ranged. What's the plan?"