- Sven taste the sulfurous skin of the small demon.
========== Enemies turn ==================
How? HOw?! - the thing screams
- The quasit try to concentrate his magical energies but the pain is too much. (since he didn't cast anything I guess he's still invisible)
the two far away Vampire Spawn try to dominate Desmond (DC 14), no one attacks you this turn.
Will try to break free
- still grappled
The one barely surviving that is grappling will try to bite him in the neck
- the young terrified man manages to not get blood drained.
And finally you can see more clearly what was approaching. A huge collection of very ancient bones in the shape of big lizard (aka a T-rex).
It moves quicklyto bit Amra
- ANd succeed. The powerful jaws close around the woman waist lifting her from the ground and spilling her blood. The woman scream in agony an then faints.
====================Allies turn=================
Malthus realizes his shortsword will be useless against that big thing and run t pick up Amra's great axe from the ground.
Maya touch Desmond to heal him
Sin try to finish the span grappling his partner
- And fails
The goblin from the assckickers shoot to that spawn
- And kills it, freeing Will.
He shoot them against another spawn
Both hits but the spawn seems to be very resistant to the arrows damage.
=====================
Enemies remaining. The grappled quasit, the skeleton t-rex and two vampire spawn
Desmond sneers at the spawn. "Hey, if you want this body, you're gonna have to buy me a drink first! I could sure go for a Quasit Cocktail right now. It's one part vampire flesh, two parts T-Rex bone, and a few scraps of Quasit flesh on top. Pairs well with most swords and axes!"
During this monologue, he approaches one of the spawn and cuts it in half.
"Dismiss the magic animating your undead or I'll rip you limb from limb, demon. You know I'm capable of it, and now that I can fly there's no escaping me."
I...can't de-animate them, that's on the forest, but I can command them to move away
Sven growls in frustration.
"Fine. But if you're lying to me..."
He becomes visible and you can see that he have a twisted dark femur in one hand and when moving it the vampire spawns and the skeleton T-rex look at him.
Not lying!
Sven bellows.
Vendrick delays to see what happens from above.
After another movement of the twisted femur the vampire spawns and the T-rex move back...the T-rex still have the not death but dying Ulsa between his fangs.
If you kill me those still are a mountain of bones with taste for living flesh! - the demon say to Sven.
In that moment a Hawk lands near Vendrick
Flynnegan, wihout knowing what is happening with you guys, say - Reinforcement should arrive in any moment!
"The situation is...relatively under control. Sven has the necromancer in his grasp. Our priority is getting Ulsa free of that massive skeleton currently." Vendrick watches above him then glances at Ulsa.
Flynnegar thinks two seconds and adds: It's just one live, to stop the threat over the Ambervale is mor important...Sven KILL THAT THING!
Malthus:What are you saying stupid bird?, she still can be SAVED!
Vendrick sighs.
"The Asskickers owe me some gold. I expect your repayment in the immediate future."
Vendrick ends his delay and draws his scroll of Jester's Jaunt and jaunts Ulsa away from the T-Rex.
"Kill it Sven! Checkmate."
"Save Ambervale? These blasted undead will STILL BE HERE. The only asses we're saving today are yours."
Flynnegan:We can keep the mindless undeads at bay in the whispering forest as always, but there have never been a necromancer commanding them! they could invade the rest of the vale!
Quasit:The woman will die if you kill me I'm not bluffing!
"Whether she dies or not, we're going to destroy this thing. You've seen how well we fight - if we all gang up on it, we'll easily take it down before it kills someone else. And I'm willing to bet this big guy is one of the strongest things under your control, and if not, you don't have any equally strong reinforcements nearby."
"What I'm saying, little demon, is that you've been beaten. You might as well surrender before you're also eaten."
hmm, good roll.
DO Sven continue with direct intimidation tactic, combine it with some promises about letting him go or say nothing?
"Let the girl go as a show of good faith and things won't be so messy for you."
Hmm, difficult decision because that 30, but while Desmond is a smooth talker, Sven is the one biting the quasit,so
The Demon stares into Sven's eyes
You will kill me anyways! - he says in horror
Well, still you guys turn. On the bright side you manage to intimidate the Quasit to become visible so you have good chances now.
Desmond rolls his eyes.
"Why do I even bother...Alright, you two work things out up there. I'm gonna save my drinking buddy!"
Desmond moves underneath the T-Rex's maw, drops his sword, and gets ready to catch her.
Desmond already attacked a spawn this turn. I never planned for a hostage situation, I guess if you can't think on something else Vendrick will have to take his chances. On the optimist side, she is con based and build for resiliency.
Still vendrick and Sven turn.
Vendrick snaps his fingers and suddenly there is a heavy *SPLAT* sound as Ulsa is covered in grease.
- The t-rex struggles as the bulky woman slips from his maw.
- still living.
...Sven's...Turn...
"Guess I was right. You are dumber than you look."
Sven makes Quasit filets.
Sven turn the Quasit into a cloud of red/black moisture. With the disappearance of their mater te remaining vampire spawn flyes away while the T-rex becomes crazy but luckily for you it goes to discharge his ire some place else.
When healed to consciousness Amra say
Amra: Guys...why I feel oily?
Will:Hey guys, the quasit dropped this bone... - Will extend his hand to take it but when he touch it bare hand he scream fall unconscious.
THe reinforcement arrives and You had no time to see what happened to Will, you leave the forest.
====================== The Next Day ==============
Everyone else is resting except you guys, of course. Mythakilis summon you.
M:That's a disturbing tale, there have never been someone to control the undeads of the whispering forest...well, I'm glad you killed it
He give you to each of you a 1000 gp coupon that can be used to buy in any of the stores of the town.
M: That bone that you brought back is a concern, it seems powerful, I've failed to decipher his powers....Anyways, You still plan to go to the mistwoods VEndrick?
"Absolutely. This foray into the Whispering Forest was merely a diversion to my passion. Now that Sven is here, I'll extend the invitation to him." Vendrick says before clearing his throat.
"Nythn Enelean, the ancient elven ruins that lay nestled within the Mistpines. It is an area of volatile magic so many do not dare adventure there. That means it is both highly dangerous...and the ancient treasures that must lie there remain untouched. Relics of most likely immeasurable value. The magic ones I must ask that you let me peruse before we consider selling."
"You two are the most adept gentlemen I know so...honestly I don't know who else I could ask. That Miss Ulsa was quite something I suppose."
"C'mon, Sven, it'll be fun! I bet there'll be all kinds of magical creatures to smash while Vendrick sorts through all those artifacts."
"I don't think we should get Ulsa involved. After what she's been through, she deserves a rest. More importantly, we'd have to give her a share of the salable treasure if she came along!"
Sven looks annoyed at Desmond.
"And the fact that we'll be exploring somewhere few people have ever returned from, that's a good reason too. Yeah, I'll come."
M:*Sighs*,..., I guess My only options is to give you any help I can provide. What the plan by the way?, just wandering around in the Mistpine is not a good idea.
"A plan? Hmm. Sven is a skilled ranger so getting lost in the mists shouldn't be a problem. The unstable magic and their residual effects on the area are something not easily circumvented. The mysterious denizens who make sure no one returns alive should be made quick work of by these two as well. Of course I'll brave the Wild Magicks if necessary. Vendrick lists them off by counting on his fingers.
"Any suggestions?" He says while looking back at his old colleague.
M:Getting lost in the Mistpines is actually a huge problem, there is a reasons the ruins of Nythn Enelean have never been found, all the reports have agreed on that - Sven can testify that that is what is said about the place, that moving through it is unnaturally confusing.
M:*Sigh*...There is only one group that I comission for the missions in there, in fact they were the ones that found the staff, the bonecrushers...they are difficult people, too expensive to hire repeatedly, but perhaps you can convince them to give you some advices to wander in the Mistpines.
"Where can I find them?"
M:Not ..sure. I have not commissioned them a mission since sometime, I can investigate, but you can ask in the taverns perhaps someone have seen them.
In the meantime...
@ Sven
It seems to me that having apprentices give Svens some connections without being that much burden. I see them as those characters in final fantasy tactics that you don't use in the main fight but sent to secondary off-screen missions. If you accept then Maya, Will and Sin will be permanent NPCs in the game and your duties from time to time would be things like giving them advices, choosing what zones they will patrol or choosing for them a mission to do, etc.
@ Desmond, Vendrick
Assuming Desmond talk with Vendrick about casting remove disease on Lily then
Kiddu:I will work very hard and someday I will repay this favor I sear! - He say with tears in his eyes.
On her part, in gratitude, lily made a portrait of each of you and give it to you