Yridhrennor nods,a nd sends his raven to scuout the air.
With consensus, Steave orders the army to move and shelter at the shrine. "Well, let's investigate if the gods have provided us divine providence or if the demons have laid a trap."
The Knights of Mendev went first up the steep stair cut into the side of the canyon. It proved a climb fit for pilgrims. After some trial, they came to a small courtyard behind smashed gates. Tall grass grew amid the rubble. Two buildings stood side by side, a narrow alley between. The smaller looked to be a stable. The other boasted several doors and high, narrow windows still filled with most of their stained glass. Statues in attitudes of prayer stood along the roof line.
Blink looked to see if there were any obvious signs of desecration or other signs that the enemy had used the temple.
Blink looked to see if there were any obvious signs of desecration or other signs that the enemy had used the temple.
[dice=Perception]1d20+9
Blink's keen eyes spotted a collection of well-gnawed bones amidst the debris. None had any flesh clinging to it to reveal if they had been in use recently.
After Blink shares his discovery, Steave asks "Can anyone identify the beast from tracks or its marks of living?"
Theran will examine the bones.
Theran will examine the bones.
[dice=Kn:nature]1d20+4
Theran is unable to find any tracks or tell more than that whatever did the eating had sharp teeth. There are scratches all over the bones, some fairly deep.
"Well, that does not look especially promising...shall we head inside?"
Steave nods to Blink, "Absolutely." And heads inside.
Steave nods to Blink, "Absolutely." And heads inside.
Looking at the others, Blink gestured towards the doors north of the stable as her choice.
Theran will nod in agreement. The courtyard was likely an ambush, and the chapel could be good or bad, depending.
The crusaders found the odor of musty, decaying straw within the stable. One end of the building had collapsed into a steep pile of broken beams and rocks. A large mount of castaway weapons lay admit the rubble.
Steave stalks into the stable, something's home. He readies for anything.
"Does anyone detect any magic, life or undeath in here?" He asks his companions as quietly as he can for them to understand.
Blink attempted to detect magic, and see if anything was revealed.
Yridhrennor joins her in the search
Yridhrennor joins her in the search
Blink and Yridhrennor found no magical auras within the stable.
There's nothing magical.. shall.. press on?
"To the big building, then." Steave offers.
Blink nodded, advancing to the doors to the main building and checking for traps or signs of life.
Blink slipped forward, silent as a soft wind. She came to the doors of the larger building and eased them open just a crack to peer within. She beheld a massive sanctuary beneath a vaulted ceiling, nigh thirty feet high. Smashed windows admitted the Worldwound's unnatural light, a muddy green just now. Four angelic statues occupied the room's corners, each missing faces and wings. Disturbing shapes and runes covered the walls, scratched deep into the stone. A befouled altar sat against the far wall.
Half a dozen corpselike figures squatted amid the ruined pews, facing the altar. There three red-eyed, sharp-toothed cultists led them in a chanting tongue that seemed as much gasps and whispers as words, breaking off as their eyes fell upon Blink. At the same instant as she was seen, vision took Yridirennor. In a flash he saw the hellish red eyes of the cultists behold Blink with hunger and felt a the pinpricks of a thousand sharp teeth rasp across his flesh.
Damn, that's on the nose.
always acts in surprise
Damned elf cheater powers.
Yridhrennor wracks his brain, searching for a memory of the monsters facing them now. He speaks eldritch words and green slime bubbles from the ground beneath the feet of the demons.
Yridhrennor wracks his brain, searching for a memory of the monsters facing them now. Nothing in all his reading matched their description! He speaks eldritch words and green slime bubbles from the ground beneath the feet of the demons. The feet flew out from under the two he targeted and they hit the ground, hard.
The two undead the elf felled pulled themselves to their feet as the others burst into motion. Three rushed for the door, while the fourth made for a side door. At the altar, all three cultists drew scrolls from their rotted sleeves and began to read.
The ghouls are undead, not outsiders. Planes is of no help. Y doesn't seem to have Religion. He must need to get right with Iomedae.
and two are on their asses. Exploding butt icons placed!
Cultists out scrolls and begin reading.
Two ghouls try to rise.
dammit, no more exploding butts. But that's their action.
Galin moves towards the door for a better view, drawing his bow and taking a place behind Blink so as to allow the others to enter the fray. He nocks and arrow and fires at one of the priests in an attempt to interrupt their work with the scroll.
Steave feels his old age as he is the last to react to danger. He shakes his head and readies for battle.
Theran focus for a moment, and a metallic sheen comes over his skin. He steps around to the side of the building to see what's happening.
Yridhrennor makes digging motion into the ground as arcane words spill from his tongue with great speed. Tiny fry skitter about the floor digging up the stone and wood, revealing a small put beneath one of the cultists.
[ooc]stumble gap[ DC17/ooc]
Theran focus for a moment, and a metallic sheen comes over his skin. He steps around to the side of the building to see what's happening.
"I find that chanting both omnious and hard to listen to." With a thought, Blink shifted like a breeze, using her Dimension Slide ability to hop across the battlefield without risking being disembowelled. At the same time she drew the Shadows around her, hiding and blurring her form.
Aiming for the casters at the rear, she appeared besides one and took a swing with her sword, hoping to disrupt at least one of the spells being thrown there way.
"I find that chanting both omnious and hard to listen to." With a thought, Blink shifted like a breeze, hopping across the battlefield without risking being disembowelled. At the same time she drew the Shadows around her, hiding and blurring her form. She vanished, then struck from the flank of one of the priests. Her blade ran afoul of the cultist's robes, leaving him to continue reading his scroll.
Yridhrennor makes digging motion into the ground as arcane words spill from his tongue with great speed. Tiny fry skitter about the floor digging up the stone and wood, revealing a small put beneath one of the cultists. The cultist proved too surefooted to mind, not missing a syllable.
Galin tried to place the undead before the crusaders, to no avail. He moved toward the door for a better view, drawing his bow and firing at one of the priests. The arrow flew through a priest's robe, just shy of striking rotted flesh.
Ljos surged forward, drawing his blade slashing the lead ghoul. The walking corpse fall at a stroke.
down
Theran focused for a moment, and a metallic sheen came over his skin. He stepped around to the side of the building to see what's happening, getting a full view through one of the narrow windows.
Steave feels his old age as he is the last to react to danger. He shakes his head and readies for battle. As he stepped forward, Theran saw one of the undead rush to the side door and vanish beyond it.
Another, already facing Ljos, turned on that crusader with bony claws that he easily parried. One more surged past, wide open to Ljos as it came. The crusader dispatched it with another quick strike, before it could turn on himself or Galin.
The cultists finished their scrolls. One erupted in flames and the cultist threw it to the ground in disgust, but the other two vanished in twistings of the air as a pair of babau appeared, one standing on the edge of the alter. It struck down at Blink, gravely wounding her.
The other appeared at Theran's window, striking through it at the crusader. Both times, its spear struck flesh with the ring of metal on metal and he emerged unharmed.
The cultist Blink attacked, the one with the scroll that burned away, drew out a flail and swung. He connected hard with her shoulder. It wasn't the worst she'd ever felt, but on top of the demon's piercing, Blink feared she may be in some trouble.
The next made a brief prayer and a flail made of two bones joined by a rotting sinew appeared floating just at Yridhrennor's side. It struck the elf with bone-jarring force.
The last cultist held out an icon, the sign of a skull-shaped bowl with sinuous lines inside, and prayed as well. A crackling gray bolt lanced from it toward Blink, passing through her shadow veil just near enough for her to feel the rush of charged air as it went by and faded to nothing.
he's fine
Conc Check vs. Galin...and I get to this point and realize I typoed their ACs and he actually missed by a friggin' point. Bugger.
So...4 ghouls go first. Other one is already dead. The guy running for the side door pops through and out of sight.
miss
Up and out past Ljos, provoking
down
And the two still in the grease. . They're clear.
Aaaaand those scrolls finish up. They need to make checks, DC 10
uh-oh.
nevermind then.
Say hello to two Babau. They're new to town and would like to be shown all your insides. They would like to start with Blink. The red bars they have are a reminder for me that they'll only be here for so long.
Now the 3 cultists. The one in melee with Blink draws and takes a crack.
Next guy spiritual weapons Yridhrennor.
And the last one drops a dread bolt on Blink.
nope.
Cursing, Galin bowed his head for a moment and when he focused again on the fray before him he glowed with a faintly golden light. He raised his bow and sent three arrows towards the prists, each weaving between cultists to find their doomed marks.
Owowowow, Blink thought as the attacks rained down on her. Withrawing seemed like a good idea, but for now she hung in there. She'd back off if she took much more damage. For now she moved, allowing the spell on her to help her hide again, before trying to attack again.
Cursing, Galin bowed his head for a moment and when he focused again on the fray before him he glowed with a faintly golden light. He raised his bow and sent three arrows towards the prists, each weaving between cultists to find their doomed marks.
Steave takes his shield and throws it at the undead. The shield hits the undead ricochets off the doorjam and hits the undead again. Finally, returning back to the captain's ready hand.
Theran runs along the wall, throwing himself through the next window. Coming up alongside Blink, he speaks with a voice older than his years and touches her with a hand covered in cool blessed moonlight.
With that he hefts his hammer to prepare for battle.
Owowowow, Blink thought as the attacks rained down on her. Withrawing seemed like a good idea, but for now she hung in there. She'd back off if she took much more damage. For now she moved, allowing the spell on her to help her hide again, before trying to attack again.
Ignoring the flail that attacked him, Yridhrennor cast another spell and a shower of glittering motes engulfed two of the cultists. The motes clung to their bodies, but did them no obvious harm.
Cursing, Galin bowed his head for a moment and when he focused again on the fray before him he glowed with a faintly golden light. He raised his bow and sent three arrows towards the priests, each weaving between cultists to find their doomed marks. He struck the same priest thrice, wounding him badly.
Ljos struck at the latest ghoul in the door, dispatching it with ease.
Theran runs along the wall, throwing himself through the next window. Coming up alongside Blink, he speaks with a voice older than his years and touches her with a hand covered in cool blessed moonlight. The power of the spirits washed away the worst of Blink's wounds.
Steave takes his shield and throws it at the undead. The shield hits the undead ricochets off the doorjam and hits the undead again. Finally, returning back to the captain's ready hand. As it reached his hand, both of the undead in the second rank fell. From somewhere further in the building, a bell began to toll.
The two demons sprang into action, one racing after Theran on its skeletal legs and slashing across his back with its spear. The other hopped off the altar and slashed him when he turned to face the first.
The cultist that had attacked Blink fell back and invoked a profane blessing. Another performed warding on himself. The third conjured another gory flail, this one striking at Ljos. The crusader ducked the blow.
As the last incantation finished, three stony-skinned figures descended from above, landing to either side of the crusaders still outside. The statues along the rooftop had come to life! Steave and Yridhrennor reacted in time, blocking and dodging sharp claws. Galin had less luck, his hands caught up for an instant with his bow.
damn the luck. But she missed anyways.
both saved
The ghoul right in the door is dead now, but Steave can about get the next rank back, though. Two hits will put both down. Particularly if Ljos is kind enough to move out of the way and let him take a 5 foot step, which Ljos is. What a guy.
Bad guys.
Mystery ghoul starts ringing a bell. Nothing to worry about.
Babaus first. The guy at the window makes for Theran.
Second guy.
Cultists.
miss
5 back, divine favor for Blink's. He has +1 to attacks and weapon damage for 10.
Both in the area step out of the glitterdust.
One pops his own spiritual weapon on Ljos.
miss
Other does protection from good. +2 to his AC and saves vs. the party.
And there are some new people. Say hello with your swords.
3 Gargoyles, 1 for each person outside.
miss
hit
miss
Steave two-hands his shield and bashes it into the stony creature that attacked him a couple times. His first hit glanced off, but his second chipped the stony flesh.
Galin, unable to find room to draw his sword or step away from the gargoyle, raises his bow and attempts to fire at the creature attacking him.
Blink nodded to Theran in thanks before side stepping and blurring her form once more. So far she wasn't exactly showing a good accounting of herself, and hoped to improve on that.
Blink nodded to Theran in thanks before side stepping and blurring her form once more. So far she wasn't exactly showing a good accounting of herself, and hoped to improve on that.
Theran feels the pain along his back, but he's ready for the next blow. It hits him like he was made of stone. It still draws blood but only a trickle.
He moves next to Blink to avoid being surrounded. Well, he's also a young man and she is an exotic young woman. But he does not have time for flirting as he begins his battle frenzy. The restless spirits of his tribe howls for vengeance against the horde.
He swings against it with his brothers, putting his full might behind the blow. His hammer glows with holy light as his ancestors bless the blow.
Blink nodded to Theran in thanks before side stepping and blurring her form once more. So far she wasn't exactly showing a good accounting of herself, and hoped to improve on that. Hope gave no help, though, as her cultist lost track of her for a moment but then moved at just the wrong time to foil her strike all the same.
Beset by spells and gargoyles, Yridhrennor spoke a swift word and vanished. He reappeared just within the building.
Galin, unable to find room to draw his sword or step away from the gargoyle, raises his bow and attempts to fire at the creature attacking him.
Ljos rushed past Yridhrennor, putting himself between the elf and one of the babau. He took a cut to the shoulder as he pressed in close to strike. He delivered a solid blow with his cold iron morningstar, which left a sizzling wound.
Theran feels the pain along his back, but he's ready for the next blow. It hits him like he was made of stone. It still draws blood but only a trickle. He moves next to Blink to avoid being surrounded. Well, he's also a young man and she is an exotic young woman. But he does not have time for flirting as he begins his battle frenzy. The restless spirits of his tribe howls for vengeance against the horde. He swings against it with his brothers, putting his full might behind the blow. His hammer glows with holy light as his ancestors bless the blow. His twin strikes nearly laid the babau low.
Steave two-hands his shield and bashes it into the stony creature that attacked him a couple times. His first hit glanced off, but his second chipped the stony flesh.
The demons pressed their attack. The one that cut Ljos fell back to put bring its spear into play again, thrusting twice past his guard and leaving the crusader badly hurt. The other set into Theran, but its spear clattered off his impregnable flesh.
The conjured flail, still gory, smashed into Yridhrennor's back. The other set to Ljos, but the crusader parried it with a practiced motion.
The cultist facing Blink swung his flail through shadows again and gave ground. The other two cultists warded themselves further with blasphemous, whispering prayers.
Outside, Steave blocked a flurry of claws, teeth, and horns with flashes of his shield and well-timed dodges. Only one scratched his flesh, and that not badly. He had faced worse in the First Crusade.
With only a bow to parry, Galin fared worse. The gargoyle teared at his side, twisting claws deep into his flesh before pulling free and then catching the crusader with a horn as well.
Y dimension slides his way out of melee.
hit
hit
Theran gets his cheaty mythic DR. :) He also did quite a lot of that babau's hp. Should've put a few more in.
Bad guys. Who knows what's up with the bell ghoul?
Babau for Ljos, full attack.
Ow.
Babau for Theran, full attack. I bet this one is frustrating.
Aw.
Cultists.
miss
Blink's cultist makes another go.
ah well
Cultist with out prot vs. good uses it. Both have +2 to AC and saves vs. the party. Other one does his own divine favor.
Gargoyles. Two for Steave, one Galin. Full attacks all around.
Steave
nope
Galin
crit?
yep
Muttering at her poor technique, Blink took a deep breath and moved to the side, preparing to strike at one of the other Priests. Hopefully, this time, she would be a little more effective...
Cursing, Galin shakes his head and moves closer to the door as he raises his bow again and fires at the gargoyle in an attempt to get the damned thing out of his face.
Cursing, Galin shakes his head and moves closer to the door as he raises his bow again and fires at the gargoyle in an attempt to get the damned thing out of his face.
[dice=Attack]1d20+14
[dice=Damage]1d8+5
[dice=Attack]1d20+14
[dice=Damage]1d8+5
[dice=Attack]1d20+14
[dice=Damage]1d8+5