The Forgotten God (Table 1) (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

"Let us leave them in the corner then. Midfoviing will stand as their protector as we step into the darkness. We will remain close enough to see the light should we need to aid them."

Burkhardt nods with a grin. "Allow me a moment to banish these scratches and bruises. ʎɹnظuı ɹo ɥsıɯǝןq ɯoɹɟ ǝǝɹɟ 'sǝqɐq ɐ sɐ ʍǝu sı ʍoʌ pǝsɹǝʌ ǝɥʇ ɟo uıʞs ǝɥʇ."

Breaking the law of finite malleability to prevent the DC increase. Will wait out the recharge time.
Mending Verse (DC 17): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Healing: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 1) = 10

After the moment passed, Burkhardt felt his divine energy return and nodded to Hadran once more. "Into the dark, then," he said, and then the two proceeded away from the light.

Once into the dark Hadran will see if he can summon this thing. He offers a not to Burkhardt when in position. A moment later he speaks a few arcane words and suddenly the sound of 16 humans shouting, crying, making a commotion sound out and continue.

Casting Ghost Sound seeing if the noise of potential prey will attract it.

Both of you make a Perception choice - with any abilities you might like to add, of course. XD

Hadran assume his stance with valiant fang at the ready. [ooc]Spend Mythic Power to activate Battle Sense

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26 | Gonna err on the side of that's good enough and NOT spend any mythic power...

Heh.

Time ticked by. Seconds, minutes... probably, at least. With no light and no movement, it was hard to be sure how long you'd been waiting. Then you heard the faintest rustling and saw three red eyes glowing faintly in the dark above your heads.

Init: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

How far above our head? Assuming it's out of weapon range and we need it to drop down.

Hadran takes notice but does not look. He continues looking around as if waiting pretending not to have noticed. He stands quite ready though and prepares to strike.

K? to identify: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14Seems I always roll poopy on knowledge rolls :)

Ready Action to strike when it enters threat range.

Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 Dang! Still don't beat Hadran of course :-P

Burkhardt stepped back until he felt reasonably sure that the creature was not directly above him, and then declared, "ɥɔɐǝɹ ɟo ʇno sı ʇı buıʇʇǝbɹoɟ 'ʇǝǝɟ s,ǝɹnʇɐǝɹɔ sıɥʇ spןoɥ buıןıǝɔ ǝɥʇ!"

Vengeful Attraction (DC 10+4): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33
DC 18 Will save or it moves towards me 10 ft. in a straight line, presumably pulling it off the ceiling if that's where it is perched. With the vengeful inflection, if it makes its save, it takes -2 to its next save against a recitation of mine (provided that next recitation occurs within 5 rounds).

Yeah, high bonuses to Initiative are pretty good when you want to go first. XD

vs Spell Resistance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

As Burkhardt spoke, his power reached out towards the creature, then broke apart as it struck some kind of defense against magic. The creature paused for a moment up in the shadows, then all three of its eyes narrowed as it looked down at you. Strangely, the dark seemed to cling to it, shrouding its form even from darkvision aside from the glowing eyes.

"What..." it said, in harsh but entirely understandable Common, "...are you doing? That frail thing you guard helped steal the prisoners from the camp. Its people have attacked, murdered, experimented... and you raise arms to defend them the moment they are afraid?" The voice seemed like it was coming from a mouth that wasn't quite human(oid), and it seemed to frequently hop across the lines of male and female, young and old.

"I am Courage, I am Valor. Any that are afraid look to me. What are you creature?"

Burkhardt frowned as the recitation withered. "And I honor the Promises Made in Good Faith, including the eternal promise my ally holds with the downtrodden. I'm afraid you'll need more than an incredulous demeanor to convince me that this single survivor is unworthy of our protection... even if some of these accusations hold water."

"What you are, Hadraniel, is wrong. I was called by the humans to strike down the beasts that harm them. The covenant has been made, and it will be fulfilled. And you, Burkhardt, should you not seek to uphold my promise to slay those who have brought harm to the humans, or at least to stay out of it so that I may fulfill it on my own? Tell me, is it all noble promises you honor, or only those you find convenient for your own ends?"

At the mention of Hadran's name, Burkhardt's hair stood on end. By the time this power named the second fallen god, his heart pounded in his chest. When he opened his mouth to speak... Burkhardt, for the first time in eons, spoke with the voice of a true god.

"𝕴 𝖉𝖊𝖋𝖊𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖋𝖆𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖊𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖊𝖉 𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖒𝖎𝖘𝖊. 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖎𝖒𝖕𝖊𝖙𝖚𝖘 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖕𝖆𝖈𝖙. 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖔𝖓𝖉𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖍 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖎𝖘 𝖎𝖓𝖋𝖎𝖓𝖎𝖙𝖊𝖑𝖞 𝖌𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖓 𝖙𝖜𝖔.

"𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖇𝖊𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖒 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖍𝖚𝖒𝖆𝖓𝖘... 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖔 𝖒𝖊𝖆𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖗𝖔 𝖜𝖍𝖔 𝖍𝖚𝖉𝖉𝖑𝖊𝖘 𝖎𝖓 𝖆 𝖈𝖔𝖗𝖓𝖊𝖗, 𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊-𝖇𝖞-𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖆 𝖍𝖚𝖒𝖆𝖓, 𝖎𝖓 𝖋𝖊𝖆𝖗 𝖔𝖋 𝖜𝖍𝖔𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖆𝖗𝖊? 𝖂𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖗𝖔 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕯𝖊𝖑𝖇𝖎𝖓𝖆 𝖆𝖌𝖆𝖎𝖓 𝖘𝖒𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖆𝖈𝖗𝖎𝖉 𝖇𝖑𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍 𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖘𝖊 𝖆𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉 𝖍𝖊𝖗, 𝖎𝖘 𝖎𝖙 𝖓𝖔𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖜𝖍𝖔 𝖉𝖔𝖊𝖘 𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖒? 𝕯𝖔 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖞 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖘𝖊𝖑𝖋 𝖎𝖓 𝖕𝖊𝖓𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖙𝖗𝖆𝖚𝖒𝖆 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖈𝖆𝖚𝖘𝖊?

"𝕴 𝖋𝖎𝖓𝖉 𝖓𝖔 𝖓𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖒𝖎𝖘𝖊, 𝖔𝖓𝖑𝖞 𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖗𝖔 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖍𝖚𝖒𝖆𝖓, 𝖊𝖆𝖈𝖍 𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖞 𝖔𝖋 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖔𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗. 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 𝖓𝖔𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖌𝖔𝖉 𝖔𝖋 𝖉𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖆𝖓 𝖑𝖆𝖜; 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 𝖓𝖔𝖙, 𝖓𝖔𝖗 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝕴 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖇𝖊𝖊𝖓, 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖌𝖔𝖉 𝖔𝖋 𝖗𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓𝖌𝖊 𝖋𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖆𝖘𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖔𝖗 𝖘𝖚𝖎𝖈𝖎𝖉𝖊 𝖕𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖘." Burkhardt tripped over the final word. Considering his mysterious fall and how he was likely to have come about it... well, that could perhaps be seen as a form of suicide pact.

Shaken, he took a deep breath and continued, his voice having lost the impact of divinity, "This derro's death. The change wrought in Delbina's life. Your takeaway from this covenant. If you can convince me of the good that each of these bring... individually and in conjunction... only then can I bless your work and stand aside."

"You know me then. The people summoned and conjured you out of fear. I have been going far too long. There is no need for you when they have me. You speak of the humans, where are they?"

...I didn't know you could do fonts on here. That's awesome. XD

"Should a King give up his throne because a Prince has come of age? Or should a husband abandon the mother of his children because he wants a younger wife? You claim valor, Hadraniel, but what I hear is greed and arrogance. To take what has been fairly bargained and try to dismantle it just because you want something different is... well, rather amusing, actually, and I won't pretend I've never done the same. You may wish to be wary, though, because you know what they say about what comes after pride..."

The glowing eyes shifted over to Burkhardt. "And what you find, pactmaker, is but one piece of a larger puzzle. You are like the chess player looking at the way his pawn can take a rook - while ignoring the rest of the board. I make no claims to fairness or justice - but if you want to talk about the change in that human, perhaps you should ask the derros. It was their experiments that brought about her memory loss, their negligence that allowed her to flee. It was the derro that began this battle, and it was the humans that called upon me to end it."

Burkhardt laughed obnoxiously in the dark. "GAHHhahaha... I'm sorry, but chess? If the rook and pawn could talk, if they had hopes and fears, if they had sisters and sons and fathers, chess would be a very different game. Your analogy holds no water, and your motives are transparent: you describe things as if these two are forced into eternal conflict simply because you wish it true. You expect us to accept that it simply is a strategist's game. We don't.

"Whatever past may have transpired between them, their present and future is in their hands. Maybe Delbina will want to know what happened; maybe the derro will answer. Maybe there will be a call for punishment or recompense, and maybe the derro will shoulder the guilt of her people. But right now, there are simply two souls who have no reason to wish each other ill... and so your place in whatever bargain came before is finished. You may leave." The tone in Burkhardt's voice made clear it was a demand, not a request.

"You know nothing of what I want. You speak to my pride. Know this I am proud and I have fallen. It is that which makes me who I am now. I will be the beacon for those that are in fear. My friend here is right. He has given you a chance to leave. Go now or be forced out. You bargain is now done here."

You got the sense that the shadowed figure was smiling. "And if I refuse, you will attempt to make me obey - because using violence to strike at those who have done you no harm in an effort to promote your agenda is the very definition of valor, it seems. I wonder, where is your limit? If a demon begged protection from a devil, would you grant it to them, knowing they will not be changing their ways? Or perhaps you are merely bribeable, given to abandon needlessly hard-headed behavior and a determination to make unnecessary enemies when given an offer you can't refuse. Everyone has a limit - some are just more honest about it than others, and all the noble proclamations in the realm won't change that. You've already decided you want me to be an enemy, even if that means protecting those who would kill every innocent human they could." By this point, you were pretty sure the figure was still talking for the sole purpose of being annoying.

Hadran laughs.

"You compare these mortals to the evil of the abyss and hell. Your simplistic view and blanket assumptions are pathetic. You have harmed and killed here. I act on behalf of those unable to do so. I am their courage, I am their valor, and their hope. Last change."

Hadran's stance becomes more aggressive and his grip on his blade tightens.

Burkhardt joined Hadran in laughter. "You shift the topic rather than concede a point you lost; you are more content to attack the people who hold these values, rather than the values themselves. And you know, I might protect a demon from a devil; there are those few but precious Redeemed who fight against their soul's very composition in Heaven's Chamber of Repentance.

A twinkle appeared in Burkhardt's eye. "I have an idea though, our Unnamed Friend in the Shadow. Only with Hadran's blessing, as we are partner's bound in our common goal, I would offer you the chance to plead your case to Delbina about the derro woman. Since you're so very convinced of her nature, it would be simple to convince her that you should be allowed to rip the woman to shreds, no? We, of course, would advocate our points of view, but we're wrong and couldn't possibly persuade her to forgive or seek justice another way, so that shouldn't cause you any trouble."

Maybe a little bit of a reckless thing to do, but in a game like this, when you see an opportunity to engage in the 'gods sit down with a mortal and have them help settle an argument' trope, you've gotta go for it.

Hadrn nods along.

"I agree."

Nice play. :)

You two *are* deities. XD I'd be a little disappointed if you never did reckless things - especially because you often have the ability to pull things off in ways other characters can't.

Delbina looked completely lost by this exchange of words, and even Midfoviing seemed aware that the conversation was well out of her depth... although in the dragon-girl's case, that may have been because her attention tended to be on food instead of philosophy. Rather straightforward person, that one.

"Ah, but what fairness is there in a case where one of the parties is damaged? And I don't mean that metaphorically, by the way. I mean you have not seen fit to reverse the damage done to... Delbina's... brain. She is quite literally unable to function as a human ought... and you two do seem like the type to value free will."

Burkhardt frowned. "That is, as yet... out of my grasp. Perhaps not Hadran's though. Or yours?"

He cleared his throat. "But the argument we are having is centered on the fact that Delbina doesn't remember what happened to her. Indeed, the mind does sometimes close itself off to certain memories as a way to protect the soul. I can speculate, but do not know if that is what happened here. So I would not agree to restore her memories... not until she has had due time to process and understand what has happened, as I fear it would bring her harm. She will have to learn about these injustices secondhand, for now."

Did we never check her for magic? Oversight on our part.

"Damaged is she? Let me try and fix it then."

He turns to Delbina.

"This will break whatever has hold of you."

Dispel Magic: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 + Surge: 1d6 ⇒ 6

My impression more was that he was referring to something like ability drain and in need of a restoration type effect.

Hadran's magic washed over Delbina - and failed to change her or remove any power lingering upon her.

"The damage is physical, by the way." the creature in the shadows above said. "A rather toxic, implanted form of Cytillesh Extract." Your derro companion twitched as the name passed the creature's... well, it wasn't clear if the thing had lips, so maybe "as the creature said the name" was more accurate. "Alas, removal of the poison will not return memories. You'd need something a good deal more potent for that."

"I don't have ability to fix this now." He looks down at his hands remembering the power he had lost. He then looks back up to the creature.

"You know a good deal about this. How? Was it your doing?"

Burkhardt looked pained at the other god's accusation and quickly spoke up. "Hadran, come now. This... whoever... certainly has its own best interests in mind, and has some twisted outlook on the world, but we've no basis to believe it is deceiving us. I will take a look, and perhaps you can ask our derro friend here what she knows about this implantation."

Burkhardt didn't trust the creature, no, but he also couldn't come up with any advantage that lying would grant it... none it didn't already have, anyway. He did think that their mortal companions were better off if they avoided angering it, though.

Not sure what kind of check it would entail to do examine the implantation. With a whole +1 bonus to an untrained Heal check though, I'm not trying to remove it myself.

Looking at the back of Delbina's head, Burkhardt noticed old wounds - a month had passed, at least - suggesting some kind of surgery. The creature in the shadows, meanwhile, just laughed.

"I have not harmed a single human in this mine." it said, chuckling quietly. "All the harm she has suffered has come from the derro, like the one you now shield from me. As for my knowledge, well... those who called me told me a great deal, and I have confirmed its authenticity."

Does Hadran think he could do anything? He has a +10 in Heal.

"You have served your calling. I am asking you to take us to these people. Let us help from here on."

Burkhardt kept poking around at the back of Delbina's head, as if examining the wound further. Given that the humans were 'experimented on', ratehr than enslaved... he didn't have high hopes for the rest of them.

Hadran, you're pretty sure it would take potent healing magic to cure what's been done to her. It's beyond the realm of mundane techniques.

The derro hissed slightly at Hadran's directive - while the shadow up above seemed to be tilting its head slightly. "And you didn't even say 'please'. But then, I suppose neither of you are used to asking nicely when you want something - can't say I'm surprised. Given that I've already made a fair agreement, though, don't you think the minimum you should do is offer me something worth changing my plans for? I don't owe you a thing, and I'd hate for people to think I don't follow through on a bargain fairly struck. That would rather defeat the purpose of showing up at all."

"This is not a bargain. You will get no deal from me. Burkhardt is his own man though. If anything my gift to you is allowing you to stay here not attacking you and sending you back from where you came."

Burkhardt understood Hadran's limited patience, but continued to converse with the entity. This is how bargains are made, after all. "That could very well be possible. Did you have a particular something in mind?"

"Honestly, I'm surprised you've been this patient. Violence solves so many problems, after all. Killing evil tyrants, striking down slavers, eliminating the creatures of the underworld who kidnap and experiment on humans serving a lawful punishment for their misdeeds... I really don't know where the forces of goodness would be without gratuitous amounts of murder. I'd say it puts the conflict of morality into perspective, but when you think about it a bit more, it really doesn't. And I'm sorry to disappoint your friend, Lord of Vows, but I have no particular desire to fight either of you. That's why I haven't simply killed you for getting in front of my prey. I'd be happy to act in self-defense, of course, but something tells me you'll be more interesting if you stick around."

It hung there for a moment, considering. "Well, neither of you seems the self-sacrificing type, even if a life for a life would be the most appropriate. And after the humans offered a life to call me, too. Shame to waste it, but I suppose I could just leave and stop interfering if you asked nicely."

"Well, there's many ways to solve a problem, and I'm prone to trying all the talking ones first." He grinned. "Others have their own ideas. Anyways, I believe your strength as you've remained an utter mystery to ourselves while yet knowing us, those whom the entire cosmos have forgotten... even my own pooch. But yes, while I'm disappointed our battle of ethics couldn't play itself out, your compromise is honestly gracious. Please leave."

Hadran has little to add at this point. Debating morality with such a thing. Even when he struggles knowing he fell because of his pride. He simply stands stoic allowing Burkhardt to finish negotiating.

For just a moment, you caught a glimpse of a wide smile. "As you wish. May it never be said I don't do what I agreed to." the figure said - and a moment later, you heard a rustling sound as it left. The air seemed to lighten about ten seconds later as the last bits of its presence faded away.

"So yet another being that knows what we are or were. As we grow stronger so will those that look to stop us or do us harm I suspect."

He looks back to the girl and the derro.

"Little friend do you know where the people are? We need to still save them."

"Yes... I wish we knew more of it. I must admit though, it is nice to be recognized now and again, and its better that their lives weren't risked in violence." Burkhardt grabbed a bit of jerky from his bag and fed it to Erstehund.

The Derro shook her head. <"Not exactly. The creature took them - but it may not have taken them out of the caves. I haven't heard any of my people coming from the labs for a long time, though - it may have taken them over.">

"Can you show us? The creature has left this place. We need to find the people now."

Burkhardt watched the god of valor converse with derro, and waited to hear their next move.

*Updates map*

As you were pointed up the tunnels (To B11) your guide paused for a moment... then turned and ran backwards as fast as she could. Ahead, you heard the sounds of some sort of battle, or at least what seemed to be a group of Derro yelling and using their weapons.

Burkhardt shook his head. "Trying to be reasonable has its downfalls. Stay back." He instructed their companions, before he drew his axe and charged ahead.

Hadran follows already forming what he expect to see in his head.

This cavern is filled with the sweet scent of roasting mushrooms. Fungus-filled lanterns that shed soft blue light illuminate several tables sized for small creatures. Overlapping fur rugs cover the rough stone floor, giving this area a feel of opulence. A central fire ringed by large stones warms the cavern comfortably.

There are also twelve Derro here, as well as ten or so screaming humans, all of who look like they've taken heavy doses of a substance similar to the one you saw on the great ape creatures above. As you enter, one of the Derro thrusts a knife into the chest of a human male - and the group notices you a moment later, readying their weapons.

Tongues should still be active as it's 10 mins a level.

"STOP THIS." He looks to the derro then back to the derro woman with them seeing if she aids the matter.

"We are not your enemy, but We will not let you hurt these people."

Burkhardt waits a moment to run forth to the stabbed man, searching to see on his face if he's still alive. It will go easier, of course, if the derro don't immediately turn on us, he thought.