Morvan considers Kallant's words before quietly saying, "So long as he serves the Hellknights with efficiency and doesn't place personal views above the mission, I doubt there will be any issues."
"I personally find it an odd choice to shackle oneself with such moral restrictions, but if he can still carry out his duties I have no objection to the Paralictor being a paladin," Vespartius says in reply.
Melii nods. "Aye. It's not an issue for me unless he makes it one."
Urashu frowns without commenting. Kallant has again provided knowledge that he had no awareness of. He resolves to put more effort into uncovering the local gossip and chatter so he can stay more informed.
Kallant nods at the calm reactions wondering if their will be an issue with summoning and employing devils around the paralictor.
The first day of travel goes smoothly, and you make exceptional time, even given the mountainous terrain. None of you have guard duty the first day, so you spend it as restfully as possible while on the move, to be better prepared for your guard shift. The next day, Vespartius is on guard duty.
In the morning, Melii invites her fellow Hellknights from the Order of the Gate to participate in her seance. As she calls the spirit of the champion into her, they feel their martial prowess enhanced as well.
At midnight, Morvan engages in both his prayers to Asmodeus and his reckoning to the Order of the Gate, etching complex sigils into his flesh with his silver dagger.
Urashu watches Melii ceremony, and can feel a slight difference in the test shot he takes with his crossbow. He smiles, having Melii around could be very useful.
After performing his rather painful obedience to the Order, Vespartius reports to the patrol leader, mounts his horse, and heads out on picket duty.
Kizziar maintains invisibility as he circles around Vespartius at around 30 ft above the ground, scanning the landscape with detect good, detect magic, and normal sight. If he spots anything, he alerts Vespartius telepathically (or using link if he's too far away).
Kallant thanks Melii for the seance.
Otherwise, he is quiet and vigilant despite being in the restful crew.
Kizziar follows the sound, trying to determine its location so he can get close enough to tell if the source is magical or good. Meanwhile, Vespartius mentally prepares himself for possible combat.
(Assuming nothing else out of the ordinary happens) When Vespartius finishes his shift, he informs Hellknight Roberna of the elusive humming noise, then walks back to the squad and informs Morvan, "While we were on patrol duty, Kizziar heard a rather strange humming noise, the source of which he was unable to determine despite diligent effort, possibly because its location seemed to change constantly. We would do well to be on our guard."
That was quite odd, he thinks later. I wonder what would be buzzing around a convoy of Hellknights. Doesn't matter, I suppose. I doubt whatever it is could fight all of us with any chance of victory.
The rest of the night passes without incident. The next day you make decent progress, fully exiting the mountains and entering the foothills . As you make camp that evening, you hear others mentioning the humming sound.
"We had best keep an ear out for this buzzing noise. While I doubt a convoy of Hellknights would be attacked, some may be bold enough to try and grab a lone Hellknight on patrol. Be alert."
It's fully dark when you are forcefully woken by a dull, but earth-shakingly loud, thud. A bare second passes as your mind tries to comprehend what you heard before the shriek of the perimeter alarms lets you know in no uncertain terms that you're under attack.
Urashu jumps up and hurries outside the tent, pulling on his belt and holsters. He leaves his armor behind for now.
Kallant tumbles from his bedroll. He slings his nearby warbow, quiver and weapon harness with his greatswords and dagger. Then, he starts toward the attack.
Already awake due to his ring of sustenance, Vespartius casts light on his dagger and dashes outside, looking around to determine what exactly is going on.
Kizziar scurries out the tent before flying upward and surveying the camp with senses both magical and mundane.
Melii snaps awake, scrambling to her feet as the alarm sounds. "Look alive, boys!" she snaps at the others. The blood pumps in her veins as the champion spirit inside of her anticipates a battle to come.
The medium takes a moment to focus her thoughts, calling to mind the feeling of elation that comes with running through a field under a bright blue sky. The psychic connection triggers a surge of magic that hastens the group of Hellknights.
Morvan awakens at the sound of attack. He takes a moment to cast a spell upon himself, and banded mail, made of force, surrounds him, symbols of Asmodeus prominent upon it. He stands, grabbing his mace and uttering another prayer for protection.
As you look around in confusion, some forward-thinking Hellknights starts casting light spells as fast as they can, hoping to negate the advantage that your attackers have. They are too far and few between to completely negate the shadows, but at least you're not stumbling around blind now.
Melii calls to mind feelings of pride after a stirring victory, bolstering her own morale. She then readies her bow and rushes swiftly out of the tent.
Kallant shifts his weapons harness to its comfortable spots and forms up on Morvan's flank.
He peers through the dark for the source of the attack.
Morvan's mace begins glowing with light as he pours divine power into it. He then exits the tent and says, "Form up. We work together and stay disciplined May Asomdeus bless our weapons and bring fire to our enemies." Morvan says as he casts a spell for the group.
"There are a large number of as yet unidentified enemies attacking the camp through what appears to be a large portal around 100 yards south of us," Vespartius hurriedly informs the rest of the squad. "We should act as quickly as possible to stem the flow of enemies. I have a number of spells which could accomplish this goal if I can get a clear line of sight."
Unless Morvan objects, Vespartius runs 240 ft diagonally towards the circle (southeast), putting him around 150 ft away from it and off to one side of the bulk of the fighting. He then tries to determine what exactly the glowing circle is.
Meanwhile, Kizziar flies at top speed (200 ft) towards the battle, trying to see what or who the attackers are.
Urashu will summon a Lantern Archon and send it in whatever direction he thinks the fighting is coming from ().
Urashu draws his pistol, the one with the jewel in the handle, and steps into place behind Morvan. "Ready at your command."
Perception: You see what appears to be Kellid or Ulfen barbarians, howling and swarming the campsite. Their eyes seem to be glowing eerie shades of orange. They all seem to be coming from the circle to the south.
From the darkness you see a radiance, shining far brighter than the light spells. The darkness in the camp nearly turns to day.
roars an impressively loud voice, that you can recognize as Paralictor Ekdikésis. The light and shout seem to temporarily stun your attackers, and the Hellknights quickly move to regroup in the requested formation.
Since the different Hellknight orders are very disparate, common terms for various formations and tactics are not entirely universal, but this one, fortunately, is. Turtle up is a common defensive formation that involves putting the heavily armored and shielded Hellknights in a ring around the archers and mages. Heavy south indicates both that everyone should be facing south, and that that flank is where all the armor should be focused, with lesser priority to the sides, and almost none to the rear. Note that this is not a shield-wall or phalanx formation, as not all Hellknights carry shields, and most do not carry reach weapons, so more spacing is required between Hellknights to allow room to swing and maneuver.
"Barbarians, Kellid or Ulfen, from the south. Their eyes glow orange." Kallant casually offers to the hellknights around him.
He positions himself on the right of Morvan and moves with his maralictor. He readies his warbow.
Melii moves into position behind Kallant.
"Under some sort of spell, perhaps? No matter. We will meet these savages and shatter them upon us. Join the formation." Morvan will cast another spell, increasing his strength, then join the Hellknight formation. The armor of force about him also begins to glow.
Still off to the east of the Hellknight formation, Vespartius summons a torrent of driving sleet over the circle, hoping to slow the tide of enemy reinforcements.
Kizziar flies past the Hellknights and hovers over the attacking barbarians, scanning them with detect good and detect magic.
The sleet pours down over the circle, causing many of your foes to slip and fall. They continue coming though, chasing the Hellknights as they finish moving into formation.
Melii casts a minor psychic spell and waits for the enemies to get within range of her bow.
Vespartius continues casting, summoning a field of dark, slimy tentacles centered wherever the attackers are most concentrated but far enough back not to affect the Hellknights. The tendrils sprout from the earth, entangling whatever they feel.