"You can ask the rest of your group to help with it." says Corso.
Why this team? Why both one born of light and one born of darkness? Why both myself and Khar'tenet? I know that a certain level of diversity can be desirable, but to jeopardize the effectiveness of both of us to battle these abominations, it courts disaster, does it not?
To Alara,
"CONCEPTUAL LIGHT AND DARK ARE MORTAL INVENTIONS. KAIJU NEITHER ACKNOWLEDGE NOR ADHERE TO THEIR TENETS. THEY DESTROY CITIES BUT DO NOT FEED ON ITS PEOPLE. THEY IGNORE THOSE WHO POSE NO THREAT AND THEN WILL CHARGE INTO UNWINNABLE SITUATIONS. NOTHING IS EVER GAINED.
THE KAIJUS ACTIONS BRING ABOUT DEATH, PAIN AND SUFFERING THEREFORE YOU ATTRIBUTE THEM AS YOUR ENEMY. THEIR ENEMY HOWEVER IS ORDER ITSELF.
AS FOR YOU TWO, MOTIVES NOTWITHSTANDING, THE RESULTS OF YOUR ACTIONS BRING YOUR PURPOSES IN LINE. THIS WAS NEVER A FIGHT BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARK."
How fare the defenses? Have our foes increased in strength? Do they seem to have a leader we can crush under our heel, sending their armies scattering back to whence they came?
to Khar:
"DEFENSES ARE THUS FAR SUFFICIENT. THEIR INDIVIDUAL MIGHT VARIES AND THEIR ATTACKS ARE WITHOUT PATTERN. THERE EXISTS NO EVIDENCE OF A HIERARCHY OR CHAIN OF COMMAND.
The Ghoul King's hand tightens around his sword, as a metallic sound creaks from his teeth. A moment later, it relaxes. "So our foes are more like a force of nature or a blight, rather than a cunning enemy...", he speaks a moment later, spite in his voice, before slowly resuming back to his usual acerbic self. "Oh, Lady Chronoa... If I knew Lastguard had such a wise philosopher, I'd have directed my attention here much earlier.", he chuckles.
Alara's back straightens, a feat that had previously seemed unobtainable. "As you say mistress, as this battle is not between light and dark, we are capable of working together for now. However, I think Iomedae and Asmodeus may have something to say about the idea that we mere mortals invented the timeless conflict of the light and dark."
Later as they are leaving the presence of Chronoa, Alara turns to Baron Altaire. "I know that you are a simple warrior and have skillful command of your weapon, but there is more at risk between the walking pile of bones held together with foul magics and pure stubborn pride beside us and myself. We have each taken a vow to our respective deity. That vow allows our deity to grant us much of our divine power. Should we break that vow, our deity would be forced to remove that power." She stops for a moment and takes a long hard look at Khar'Tenet before continuing. "I do not know the specifics of his vow, but it is likely similar to mine in certain respects. One being that we are forbidden from such alliances as this. For both of our deities to allow this union without denying us their graces says much of the dire nature of this fight"
"Oh, I know all about paladins. Never really had much use for them though, to be honest. Most of them assume that because they've been 'blessed by the gods' it gives them the right to ignore the laws of a land, or even worse, that they can enforce the laws of the land."
Corso holds up a hand to stop the coming rebuttal and then says "Now, I get that you've sworn an oath and are attempting to keep it in good faith, but I'm sure both of your gods recognize that there are bigger issues at play, like the destruction of all their current followers. It's worth noting that you have both worked together, and yet you both seem to still have your god's given abilities, do you not? That right there should tell you something."
Corso lowers hand and awaits the rebuttal to come, if any.
Shaking his head at Corso, the Ghoul King's tone is almost insulted. "Laws are that which makes a civilisation, Baron Altaire. It is most important that they are upheld to the highest of one's ability, regardless of the consequences. Though, it is always best to be the one making the laws, is it not?"
Khar'Tenet's mouth opens, a grim chuckle coming out of it, as he turns back towards Alara. "Any Asmodean would sooner die in agony than break a vow. And any clever Asmodean would find a way to wiggle out of one." He raises a hand in the air theatrically. "To have a misguided warrior of the light avenging the kingdom of Elathan, is an irony most pleasant to Asmodeus, no doubt." He chuckles once more. "Especially one so pliant to accepting the fact that the end justifies the means, one so eager to accept power over undeath itself."
"I agree Baron, that we both still enjoy the gift of our divine power says more than anything that we must put aside certain mortal concerns to focus upon the more dire events surrounding us."
A small smile appears on Alara's face as Khar'Tenet's dramatic revelation finishes. Her voice sounds with a mirthful ring as she chides the skeletal warrior. "Oh, I think you may be the misguided one here. Nothing I do is in payment for past deeds. There is no vengeance in my actions. I seek only to keep all of the living beings in this city from harm. We are all oppressed by these great beasts of chaos and it is by eliminating them that we alleviate the suffering of the innocents here." She gives him a patronizing pat on the arm. "And believe me when I say there is nothing eager in my acceptance of your offer for control of that vile mountain of bones outside the gate. I would sooner see it destroyed at our earliest convenience. However, perhaps I am more swayed by the ideals of Sarenrae than I had previously been aware. I have convinced you to abdicate control of another, there is hope for what remains of your soul yet."
Corso shrugs and leaves, going to look for a drink.
Khar'Tenet laughs out, nodding slowly as the warrior leaves to deeds of the flesh. "Paladin, but you needn't defend the morality of your actions to me. If your will is to destroy Ib'Thalak, then do so, and let us be done with it. Your gift is yours to deal with." His head bows down to glare at Alara's face, the tainted one-winged figure on his crown looming over. "Though I will warn you off the path of Sarenrae, for my sake. Failure should have no place in Lastguard."
"FAREWELL LASTGUARD. UNTIL YOUR SERVICES ARE REQUIRED ONCE MORE"
The door to the elevator opens behind you as Cronoa turns her form back to the projections her projections and notes.
(1)
<<<< HARD CUT TO >>>>
the next day
Alpha Squad is on deck to intercept the next kaiju. you see them going over strategy and tactics. proctiving certain combinations of powers and running drills.
(2)
---
Around late afternoon, sirens wail and the Cros start wailing agian
OOOoooooOOOOoooo
The calm and tempered yet incredibly loud voice emminates from the Clockwork ravens again.
"This is the Cronoan Early Warning system! Imminent Kaiju Attack! Proceed calmly to your assigned shelter or defensive positions."
Direction of Kaiju Attack:...Western Forest.
Reporting Scouts: Aeiou Tribe
Incoming visual from CRO unit "Silverbird "
Your Cro emits this
Silent Image
from a magical projector in his chest cavity.
"EEts about time."-the Ranger
"possbile Biped simian approximately 43 meters tall. Lack of scales implies toughened hide. possible weaknesses, eyesight."
-the Wizard
"Save it for the battlefield, dork"-the Barbarian
"..."-the Oracle
"This is it Alpha Squad. Lets take him down."- the Paladin.
They all jump away with their Lastguard-issued jump boots, save for the Wizard who dissapears in a fold of space.
You are at the ready to defend the city should the kaiju actually make it into the helpless metropolis.
(3)
but your services are not needed! Alpha Squad is victorious and brings down the beast just outside the city.
"Two kaiju repelled in two days! Marvelous! Ta-ha!" -Cro
"Our team will be up again soon to face the approaching beasties! ta-ha! I hope we are as prepared as that Alpha Squadron."-Cro
"Cro, do we have more information regarding where these creatures are coming from? I think it would be a good idea to start forming a long-term plan to locate their source and deal with it."
"Ta-ha Indeed it would. Some call that the Homeland theory, that these kaiju must be somewhere before they are here, thus that place must exist. What we don't know is if thats another plane, somewhere unknown on this plane, how they travel from wherever they were to here, or even if every kaiju is from the same place.
We know they attack Final City from all directions and Kaiju appearances don't form any particular pattern indicating source. They seem to appear all over and out of nowhere. Our Lastguard scouts paroling the surrounding area have seen them on all sides. Some scouting parties have ventured into the chaotic remnants of our world in search for a Gate or homeland, but sadly none have returned."
"I can't think of a way to 'ta-ha' sadly. ta-ha?"-Cro
Khar'Tenet's gaze glowers over the shadows of Alpha Team as they leave. "Yes... Slaughter for our cause...", he nods viciously as the images of the kaiju being felled fill his eyes. "Each titanic corpse is one brick in the road to our vengeance.", his malicious skull-mask seeming more grinlike than usual.
------------------------------
"Then they were no use of you.", the Ghoul King laconically states. "If there is one thing to be scouted, and your scouts fail, then they are nothing but fodder.", he reasons. "And if I might add my extensive experience...", he begins saying, theatrically leaning backwards. "We are currently under siege. Let the forces break their will upon our bulwark of wrath and steel, let them tire. And then, when we know where their vitals our, we strike.", he states, running his hand across his sword. "Patience, mortals. Patience."
"When we have time, I would like to speak to your scout teams to see what specifics they have about the appearances. It might be something as simple as them not sharing their findings sufficiently, or there might be a seemingly inconsequential clue that could help us unravel everything."
--NEW DAY--
OOOoooooOOOOoooo
The calm and tempered yet incredibly loud voice emminates from the Clockwork ravens again.
"This is the Cronoan Early Warning system! Imminent Kaiju Attack! Proceed calmly to your assigned shelter or defensive positions."
Direction of Kaiju Attack: Southern Swamp
Reporting Scouts: PsyMaster and The Huntsman
Incoming visual from CRO unit: "-no name-"
Your Cro emits this
Silent Image
from a magical projector in his chest cavity.
Khar'Tenet's form, unmoved for hours, leaps into action. Gazing at the beast, he shakes his head. "How marvelous. The more mouths our foe has, the more will shriek as we wreak its body asunder." Gripping his sword, his cloak begins fluttering in the calm air. "Let us carve our names into its hearts, shall we?", he laughs out as he waits for the others to arrange.
Akoriya stretches her arms over her head as the alarm begins ringing out. "They are getting quite bold with this recent number of attacks. Something must be upsetting them quite greatly."
When her feline stretching is finished, Akoriya will go ahead and cast Freedom of Movement on herself.
As soon as the alarm is raised, Tessa teleports out to the Kaiju and locks it away within a maze. After a quick stop at her demiplane to recharge, she meets with the others.
"Another day, another monster to slay." she wrinkles her brow, "Why am I rhyming? Anyway, we've got just shy of 10 minutes before ugly comes back. "
The High King of Elathan slowly descends in the air as the wizard banishes the kaiju. "Your efforts of poetry are duly noted, Warlock.", he laughs out, bringing forth his sword. Glaring at Alara, his eyes flash blue. "Would you be bringing, Ib'Thalak, paladin?", he asks with a curious tone as dark energies begin pulsing in his palm. "It surely helps nobody standing there like a statue.", he adds.
Corso just moves to the location where the creature appeared, just in time to see it vanish from sight.
As time passes, Khar'Tenet's sword bursts into the ground. Raising one bony claw over his gauntlet, a lone spirit bursts out of the glove. "Now, blademaster. Together, we will avenge our land.", he hisses out, the spirit's ephemereal hand glimmering over the blade. As he clenches his fist, the cacophony of twisting metal echoes in the air as the mithral-clad bones of the undead darken.
Corso moves so he will stand next to where the beast's feet will appear.
"Aye, let us take back some recompense." says Corso to Khar'Tenet's words.
Round 1
Ara casts Greater Teleport to distance 10 to be within close range of the kaiju.
Khar casts Ironskin moves to 1
Ako casts Freedom of movement and moves to 1
ib to 1
Everyone else double moves to 2
Round 2
Ara casts maze. Kaiju vanishes
Khar casts Blade Tutors spirit and moves to 2
Ako moves to 3
Everyone else double moves to 4
ib to 2
Round 3
Ara casts Plane Shift and leaves to her demiplane
Everyone double moves to 6
ako to 5
Khar to 4
Ib to 3
okay ara does some type of arcanist nonsense.
Flash forward the Maze is about to end.
Make final preparations and tell me what location you are waiting at.
While awaiting the return of the kaiju, Akoriya will finish her trek to Zone 9 and cast the follow spells on herself, in addition to her already active Freedom of Movement: Abundant Ammunition, Locate Weakness, Gravity Bow, and (on her final turn before the kaiju returns) Blessing of the Salamander.
Corso will be standing on a side with his blade drawn in a flank.
"AAAAHHHHH!" Xavak screams in pain as Ara drains his magical energies
"It's exkruciating!" He writhes in agony as her proboscis refills her arcane reservoir. "NNYAAAAHHHH!" The miserable imp spasms in with tears running down its face at it is wracked with pain, his innate magic being sucked away.
Once it stops, he heaves a few heavy pants as his color eventually returns. The proboscis wound closes slowly as he rubs it tenderly. He regains his typical seething impish composure, though purposefully avoiding eye contact with those nearby.
Ara your Arcane Reservoir is refilled!
The Lich Lord roars out as the kaiju appears, growing to twice his size and lunging forwards with his sword.
Stat Block
AC Breakdown:
10 Base
15 Armour
1 Dex
-1 Size
13 Natural
16 Dodge (1 Dodge, 2 Fighting Defensively, 13 Osyluth Guide)
5 Deflection
1 insight
HP: 444/444
Alara makes her way to the last known location of the kaiju. Why did it have to be a giant spider? She thinks to herself. Drawing her holy avenger, she waits for the monstrous beast to reappear. She begins the preparations to cast Chains of Light as soon as it reappears.
As the space begins to unfold before you, the hideous Kaiju appears out of nowhere its three gaping mouths screaming in near-unison.
Corso's readied attack goes off. He takes a chunck out of the kaijus leg. its reacts with an annoyed yelp.
Khars readied action activates his unrighteous ability. He grows in sise and strength!
I'm guessing Alaras Readied action to cast Chains of Light (DC23) also goes off.
The luminous chains wrap around its various legs but give way to its massive movements.
Unable to read its emotions, its three eyeless heads scan the area dispassionately perceiving the threats around it. Its largest head points its snout directly at the annoyance that clipped its leg. Quicker than a creature of that size should move, it rears back and snaps down hard on Corso! the two smaller heads shout out
The rest of you see a quick glimpse of your Fighter as he dissappears down the Kaijus terrible maw.
"Oh my heavens!-Cro
Curiously, however, the vastness of the kaiju innards are being lit up by a magical light source just out of view. You hear a beleaguered elderly voice
"Hello?!"
The kaiju lumbers forward toward the Final City (zone 9)
Ako and Ib still get turns then we're back tot he top with Ara>Khar>Alara>Corso>Kaiju again.
Akoriya toys with the string of her bow as she awaits the arrival of the great beast, eyes narrowed off in the distance of her allies that had gone ahead of her.
...
That sounded unpleasant.
When the kaiju lumbers forth into Zone 9, the tiefling is ready with a barrage of flaming arrows to send soaring through the sky towards it.
as the flaming arrows hit, a red glow begins to shine underneath the kaijus scales.
the party also feels the magic of those arrows tugging slightly on their weapons, guiding them toward the kaiju.
Khar'Tenet's sword bursts out in a semi-translucent shape of its form, seemingly blinking in and out of existance. Thrashing wildly, the blade begins carving a bloody path through the kaiju's legs. "Do you feel it?", he asks to nobody in particular, as an echoey, hollow laughter begins emanating from the blood-covered skeleton. "Beckon Ib'Thalak, Paladin, and let the fury of life crash with the fury of death!"
Activating my Haste and my Dimensional blade, ignoring armour and natural armour.
HP: 433/444
Alara slashes at the beast as it lumbers toward the city.
As it continues its inexorable path to the city, she leaps after it calling to their undead mockery. "Ib'Thalik, engage our foe. Block its path."
Catching up to her quary she holds her weapon straight at the multi-mouthed creature. "Vile beast, cease your rampage and turn away from the city or be destroyed." With that she issues her Hero's Challenge.
Swallowed by the creature, Corso is undeterred.
Looking at his options tactically, Corso knows he will have to rely on his allies to save him, so he sheathes his sword and draws his wand of cure moderate wounds.
"Corso!" a floating disembodied voice says from somewhere roughly above the kaiju, followed by a powerful necromantic curse.
Almost immediately following, though, is a second curse, this one much faster.
As for your knowledge check, you can tell it has many resistances like all kaiju, but possibly lacks a resistance or immunity to force effects.
The red glow under the kaijus scales fades.
Head number three turns and points to the area behind it.
Head number one inhales deeply.
After a moment the third backward facing head unleashes a terrible breath weapon. A flurry of pointed globs of jet black ooze spray in a massive cone. they hit the ground, the trees of the swamp, and even you, with incredible speed and burst violently upon impact.
Head number two rears back, mouth dripping with the black ichor.
then it trudges into zone 8 which triggers Ib'Thalaks readied attack!
You felt a breif rush of air and a tight convulsing of the kaijus stomach
The light inside the kaiju stomach points over at you Corso.
"Is someone there?"
A figure shambles into view holding the crushed remains of a Cro Unit like a flashlight. Its a bald older man with sickly skin, deep bags under his eyes, lacerations all over his body and a few compound fractures. He doesn't appear to be in any pain and seems oddly calm (given his situation).
"Yes, I am here. My compatriots outside are likely in the process of killing this creature. How did you come to be here?" Corso asks the man while using his wand on himself.
The once breathing kaiju's mouth gapes, as it lunges forwards towards the acid spewing beast. As Ib'Thalak rears his mouth, another deeper mouth snatches first, the gnashing of rotten, bony teeth sending a wave in the air.
Khar'Tenet, clearly unhappy to be ignored once more by the towering beast, roars out. The smell of acid rotting bone and metal onto the once ravishing armour of the Ghoul King, he lets out a long, guttural growl of annoyance. "So be it, then, beast. Circumstances allowing, I will carve my many titles into your still beating heart.", he announces in his calm, menacing voice, as his jumpboots carry him into the distance.
Using healing as a Swift Action while jumping for.
10's from class ability
HP:339/444
Ib takes a chunk out of the Kaiju, but doesn't manage to grab a hold of it.
Staggered
A staggered creature may take a single move action or standard action each round (but not both, nor can he take full-round actions). A staggered creature can still take free, swift, and immediate actions.
Akoriya will utilize her jumpboots to double-move into Zone 7.