Samirah moves closer to Chancre and keeps her voice low.
"It is looking as though our discussion the other night was more prediction than friendly fire-side chatter."
"Very true."
Chancre looks at Irabeth and Sosiel. "I think I'm going to heal you two."
"Try not to die, kids."
"I do try." Sosiel says dryly, but with a slight smile that softens the tone.
"Thank you, Chancre." Irabeth shakes her head ruefully, "Personally, I'd been expecting the banner itself to be the trap when I saw it wasn't quite right, not the banner stand."
"When we find Nurah," begins Míril, "if she was hit with the same effect as I was, her will is not her own. She will have no choice but to do what the succubus told her to do. Which is to kill us. You can't really talk her out of it diplomatically."
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When the group gets back to the eastern door, they no longer hear abyssal swearing from beyond.
"Don't give me that look, if you f*!& up there are just the babau keeping Joran in line, crafty bastard."
"Would any among us be able to undo the effects of the succubus' spell?" Samirah asks, mostly aiming the question at Aravashnial.
"When we passed through this way before, we heard our foes beyond this door. I hear nothing now, perhaps they've moved deeper into the building?" She pauses in front of the door. "But maybe..."
She opens the door .
"Would any among us be able to undo the effects of the succubus' spell?" Samirah asks, mostly aiming the question at Aravashnial.
"The documentation says that if the dominated person is given an unthinkable order, such as killing their beloved or mixing cotton and woolen threads, they are able to break free from the enchantment." Aravashnial says.
"In practice, I've seen that dispelling the magical effect is far more reliable." A pause, "Which will work if the person was charmed via spell, however not if it was an innate power of the creature that bespelled them."
"When we passed through this way before, we heard our foes beyond this door. I hear nothing now, perhaps they've moved deeper into the building?" She pauses in front of the door. "But maybe..."
She opens the door .
"The documentation says that if the dominated person is given an unthinkable order, such as killing their beloved or mixing cotton and woolen threads, they are able to break free from the enchantment." Aravashnial says.
Samirah looks surprised, then pleased. "Why, Aravashnial, I had no idea you were interested in fashion."
"The documentation says that if the dominated person is given an unthinkable order, such as killing their beloved or mixing cotton and woolen threads, they are able to break free from the enchantment." Aravashnial says.
"In practice, I've seen that dispelling the magical effect is far more reliable." A pause, "Which will work if the person was charmed via spell, however not if it was an innate power of the creature that bespelled them."
Konstantin nods. "When the jadwiga would take one of us, we could hope for the unthinkable order. In practice, all who were taken expected to die, and thus could be happily surprised if they were not."
Samirah looks surprised, then pleased. "Why, Aravashnial, I had no idea you were interested in fashion."
"I strive to wear clothing appropriate to my station and function, but I was thinking of an old teacher who hailed from the deserts of Qadira. His traveling companion had an infiltration plan which required wearing a solider's uniform woven from flax-wool. The old man objected, his friend tried to short-hand the argument with magical coercion and my teacher broke free of the trance when the cloth touched his hand."
"I am not quite so vehemently slave to fashion."
"I can't ... no, it's too faint to make out the slobbery syllables. Abyssal is very..." Chancre makes a slurpy slobbery noise.
"If Nurah's will is not her own, then I'll try and convince her to attack me -- it's usually not hard -- and then you all can take her down in a less lethal fashion."
"If that situation arises."
Then Chancre makes the slurpy slobbery noise again, apparently pleased with it.
Konstantin nods. "When the jadwiga would take one of us, we could hope for the unthinkable order. In practice, all who were taken expected to die, and thus could be happily surprised if they were not."
"You have mentioned this word before. What is a jadwiga?"
"I strive to wear clothing appropriate to my station and function, but I was thinking of an old teacher who hailed from the deserts of Qadira. His traveling companion had an infiltration plan which required wearing a solider's uniform woven from flax-wool. The old man objected, his friend tried to short-hand the argument with magical coercion and my teacher broke free of the trance when the cloth touched his hand."
"I am not quite so vehemently slave to fashion."
"Nor I," Samirah says with a chuckle. "But I think I may be broken out of trances of my own if forced to wear uncomfortable clothing. Wool is too... scratchy."
"You have mentioned this word before. What is a jadwiga?"
"The winter witches. The ones who rule my homeland."
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Miril unlocks the double doors and they swing open to reveal...
A once-beautiful court now laying in disarray. Walls that had been decorated with murals of angels and templars fighting the good fight have been defamed, morphed into being engaged in all manner of foul acts with beasts and demons.
Collapsed stone completely bars the way north, as only five decorative columns still support the thirty foot ceiling overhead.
On the far side of the room, using one of the columns for cover is a vrock demon, her feathered hide matted with blood.
Of more immediate concern, the doorway is flanked by beaked human looking demons and minotaurs whose eyes flash with red fiendish light. The minotaurs smile at Samirah as she bursts onto the stage.
If you get the chance to examine it more closely, there is a ethereal-woman glowing with starlight, leaning against a silver flank of a creature much larger than herself. Sadly the wall is destroyed at the creature can not be made out.
"Minotaurs? I hate dying!" The expression on Chancre's face is very carefully neutral. It's not a good look on him.
He starts walking toward what is under the spoiler.
He begins speaking a familiar incantation, but this time, his words echo with undeniable power, drawing a chilled finger up the spine of all who hear him. With an upwards gesture he pulls the freezing mists from the stone, though this time it does more than merely chill: ice crystallizes over the frostburnt flesh, freezing the hapless monsters to the floor.
Any who take damage are entangled for 2 rounds.
Fort Save DC22
Fort Save DC22
Fort Save DC22
Any who fail the save are staggered for 1 round.
Míril tumbles into the room, dodging tiefling and minotaur weapons as she takes up a flanking position with Samirah. She savages the creature with her sword.
"Gentledemons!" Samirah announces as she enters the room. "Surely we can come to an agreement about you going back to the Abyss and letting us reclaim Drezen?"
Second Hit
Samirah hesitates for just a moment when she sees the crowd of monsters before them, then moves forward to swing her scimitar at the closest beast to her.
"یہاں کیا ہو رہا ہے؟ کون سب سے پہلے مجھے بتانے کے لئے چاہتا ہے؟" Chancre calls out.
Chancre casts a mythic spiritual weapon to generate a keen corkscrapier, which attacks the farthest Minotaur.
Roshan
magic: +2/+2
masterwork: +1
Pt.Blank:+1/+1
Deadly Aim:-2/+4
Roshan unleashes a flurry of metal at the most damaged of the fiendish creatures in an attempt to punch through the line. Then, the air around him almost seeming to waver and pulse, he runs up Chancre's armored back and shoulders using his sturdy friend as a ramp he leaps into the air, takes 3 quick steps along and vaults from one wall to the other before catapulting into a somersault even higher and over the line, thus providing flanking to his allies on the other side.
Chancre seems to become briefly more real.
"یہاں کیا ہو رہا ہے؟ کون سب سے پہلے مجھے بتانے کے لئے چاہتا ہے؟" Chancre calls out.
Chancre casts a mythic spiritual weapon to generate a keen corkscrapier, which attacks the farthest Minotaur. The magical blade skewers the far-off minotaur, but scores no wound.
Roshan unleashes a flurry of metal at the most damaged of the fiendish creatures in an attempt to punch through the line. Then, the air around him almost seeming to waver and pulse, he runs up Chancre's armored back and shoulders using his sturdy friend as a ramp he leaps into the air, takes 3 quick steps along and vaults from one wall to the other before catapulting into a somersault even higher and over the line, thus providing flanking to his allies on the other side. Were it not for the fact that the minotaurs didn't know exactly when you were going to emerge, Roshan would have taken two nasty blows.
Aravashnial, seeing the wall of opposition, stays right where he is, starting his summoning chant - certain that this time he will get a chance to finish.
Behind the pillar, halfway up in the air of the room, the vrock sings of death and blood, dancing in the air. Not a pretty dance, but a dance.
Irabeth strides forward, ( her father's sword striking a blow on the minotaur.
Taking advantage of the minotaur's attacking Roshan, Miril darts past the creatures and over the fallen body of the Thoxel demon, in an attempt to provide flanking for the following round.
And never one to miss a good idea, Aron follows suit.
Sosiel, seeing this is a major skirmish, blesses the group. (+1 to hit)
Konstantin is momentarily distracted by something at the far end of the court, but he quickly recovers.
He begins speaking a familiar incantation, but this time, his words echo with undeniable power, drawing a chilled finger up the spine of all who hear him. With an upwards gesture he pulls the freezing mists from the stone, though this time it does more than merely chill: ice crystallizes over the frostburnt flesh, freezing the hapless monsters to the floor. Although the creatures within the freezing fog only take the smallest of damage, they are rooted to the spot, entangled by the ice, seemingly stunned.
Both of the minotaurs taunted by Roshan's high leap get their revenge in spades, greataxes digging into monk flesh. [ooc](Roshan takes 50 points of damage.) Using the pillar as cover, Anevia fares better.
Chattering, the thoxel demons in the freezing fog, each search out the eyes of a victim. "Your friends will betray you, protect yourself." The words ringing with vile power.
M2 -12
T1 -21,-46,-66 dead
Roshan
magic: +2/+2
masterwork: +1
Pt.Blank:+1/+1
Deadly Aim:-2/+4
Roshan begins to bob and weave, becoming more wary of his large bestial opponents blows. A quick spin, low to the ground and razor sharp metal seems to bend to his will wrapping around the column behind him. Most carom harmlessly off the wall behind, but there are two satisfyingly meaty thunks as well.
For everyone still trapped in frost fall:
With another word and gesture, a massive icicle explodes from the fertile bed of frost at the feet of one of the minotaurs, spearing up into him.
piercing
cold
Ref save DC23
Trip attack
Míril blocks out the thoxel demons' words, and focuses her attention on the minotaur in front of her. Taking advantage of Roshan's flanking position, she aims her short sword at the beast's vital areas.
SIGH
Samirah nearly succumbs to the thoxel demon's suggestion, but shakes it off and keeps her eyes on Miril and the enemy they have flanked between them. Her swings draw red tracers through the air as she strikes with the heated blade.
Second hit
Crit Confirm
Chancre casts Shield of Faith on himself.
The keen spiritual weapon re-targets a thoxel demon.
Chancre casts Shield of Faith for an additional +3 deflection AC on himself.
The keen spiritual weapon re-targets a thoxel demon with an attack that is just a wee bit shy of a critical.
Míril blocks out the thoxel demons' words, and focuses her attention on the minotaur in front of her. Taking advantage of Roshan's flanking position, she aims her short sword at the beast's vital areas, skewering the minotaur through the kidneys.
Roshan begins to bob and weave, becoming more wary of his large bestial opponents blows. A quick spin, low to the ground and razor sharp metal seems to bend to his will wrapping around the column behind him. Most carom harmlessly off the wall behind, but there are two satisfyingly meaty thunks as well. But Roshan manages to dodge both large greataxes.
As Aravashnial's words tumble quieter, a brilliant flash of light explodes in the middle of the templars' courtyard. A ball of sunlight and metal, rays of pure light zapping () But they appear to be warning shots as the burning light goes a little high to score the wall.
"hdha almkan qd dhhb baltakyd ly alshyatyn mndh akhr zyart ly hdhh altayrt." The creature says, it two-fold voice musical.
Looking around the room, Aravashnial starts another chant, shaking his head letting the grey-white hair move.
Although she shrieks a bit when the blessed weapon cuts her flesh, the vrock continues her mid-air dance, electricity thick in the air around the creature.
() The swordplay isn't fancy, but the second blow breaks through the minotaur's armor.
Samirah nearly succumbs to the thoxel demon's suggestion, but shakes it off and keeps her eyes on Miril and the enemy they have flanked between them. Her swings draw red tracers through the air as she strikes with the heated blade. Her hot blade cuts through the damaged minotaur, and it falls to the ground, not a single drop escaping the heat-sealed wounds.
The minotaur deflects Anevia's blow, looking carefully at the slender rogue.
And used to the shiftiness of the sneak-thief the minotaur avoids Aron's blow as well.
Sosiel, perhaps with the example of the archon, lets lose of a brilliant flash of light that burns into the minotaur.
Like a living thing, the freezing mist grows, reaching for new prey.
With another word and gesture, a massive icicle explodes from the fertile bed of frost at the feet of one of the minotaurs, spearing up into him. Damaging the beastial creature even as it drives him to fall on his ass.
The first minotar's blows slam into Aneiva's body, rending a single gaping wound on the lithe woman. The second targets Samirah ( who parries it, even though the heavy blow makes her arm go numb. And the final one moves up and tries to attack Roshan, who barely notices.
( ) "Ah, that was close darling, weren't it?" The beaky face of the demon caws, "But really the sooner you listen the safer you'll be."
M1 -22, -39,-51
M2 -12,-14,-81 dead
M3 -2,-13 prone
T1 -21,-46,-66 dead
T2 -2
T3 -2
T4 -9
V -41
Previous frost fall.
It also gets a new target which it might entangle (topmost minotaur).
Save DC 22
New mythic frost fall (bottom minotaur and tiefling)
Save DC 22
Save DC 22
Míril continues to ignore the demons' words. Since a new minotaur has come between her and Samirah, she attacks that one's vitals.
Roshan
magic: +2/+2
masterwork: +1
Pt.Blank:+1/+1
Bless: +1/+0
Deadly Aim:-2/+4
Ki Missile: 1pt
flanking:+2
Continuing to stay close the overgrown burly beasts, almost as if he's daring them to hit him, Roshan again whirls and lets fly with much smaller blades which again arc around the column. Again there is the clang of metal on stone, but also a satisfying piercing of hardened demonic flesh as well. As he again faces the two misshapen, muscular bovines both hands flick upwards, perhaps catching one as its focus waivers between the opponents surrounding it.
Samirah gathers herself for a moment, pulling the silk from her hair to let it down before leaping into a graceful battle dance. Straight out of a story of silk-clad dancers in desert kingdoms; though only her hair flows and flashes and she moves, and silks absent in the place of shining mithril and heated iron.
Crit Confirm Hit 1, Target 1
Hit 1 Target 2
Keen force weapon presses its attack against the thoxel demon.
As his action, Chancre switches his teamwork feat to Phalanx Fighter.
Keen force weapon presses its attack against the thoxel demon. Once again, the keenly sharp figment of force slices into the thoxel demon furthest from the party.
Míril continues to ignore the demons' words. Since a new minotaur has come between her and Samirah, she attacks that one's vitals. Unfortunetly, the minotaur's vitals are well armored with partially demonic flesh.
Continuing to stay close the overgrown burly beasts, almost as if he's daring them to hit him, Roshan again whirls and lets fly with much smaller blades which again arc around the column. Again there is the clang of metal on stone, but also a satisfying piercing of hardened demonic flesh as well. As he again faces the two misshapen, muscular bovines both hands flick upwards, just missing. One of the heavy greataxe blows, looks sure to score a painful blow, but Roshan uses the cloth of his cloth to confuse the blow at the last moment.
The archon fires two more beams of light at an undamaged minotaur, this time one of the beams burns through semi-bull flesh. "wknt aml hqa an knt tamlt m hdhh alhthalt alan."
Aravashnial finishes a second summoning chat, leaning against the stone wall heavily as the arcane forces take a toll on the elf as a giant spider materializes in the room. The spider fires a web of sticky silk at the vrock. Although the dancing demon tries to dodge it, the web entangles the demon, breaking the field of electricity that was growing around the demon.
Aravashnial doesn't smile, but there is a air of satisfaction in the tired elf's demeanor.
The vrock tries to burst free from the web, although a number of the strands of the web break, the demon remains trapped by the lowly spider.
Determined, Irabeth continues to bash doggedly at the minotaur.
Coughing up a bit of blood, this time Anevia slips her shortsword between the minotaur's ribs, drawing some blood of her own.
And with a blood thirsty cry that sounds twisted coming from Aron's throat, the rogue plunges a sword into the minotaur's heart.
Sosiel casts a spell, his hand not holding the glaive glowing with energy. Then he moves up, past the minotaur's dead body.
Samirah gathers herself for a moment, pulling the silk from her hair to let it down before leaping into a graceful battle dance. Straight out of a story of silk-clad dancers in desert kingdoms; though only her hair flows and flashes and she moves, and silks absent in the place of shining mithril and heated iron. Gliding over the fallen body, Samirah deals a nasty blow to the minotaur felled by the giant icicle, but the second manages to get his greataxe up to a defensive position.
Konstantin's voice rings out again as he pulls another chilling mist from the stone. This one freezes and moves like the other, though it does not crystallize the monsters to the floor. It seems the sorcerer is holding some of his power in reserve. The second spell freezes the lowest minotaur and the thoxel demon in place, both look stunned.
The felled minotaur drags itself to clumsy swing at Roshan. The other, staggered by Konstantin's ice, tries to hurt Samirah, but she parries his blow.
Both of the thoxel demons take a step back from the morass of combat as Konstantin's fog no longer freezes them to the ground. A vicious smile, "You can keep trying to resist, but eventually you will fail." A small laugh, "You're only mortal."
M1 -22, -39,-51,-63,-71,-84 dead
M2 -12,-14,-81 dead
M3 -2,-13,-59 prone
M4 -4
T1 -21,-46,-66 dead
T2 -2
T3 -2
T4 -9,-20
V -41
As the freezing mists from the first frost fall dissipate, the hungry tendrils from the second reach for enemies.
Tiefling takes
Minotaur takes
Save DC 22
Konstantin's forearm frosts over as he produces an icy ball, which he hurls at one of the minotaurs.
Save DC 21
Roshan
magic: +2/+2
masterwork: +1
Pt.Blank:+1/+1
Bless: +1/+0
Deadly Aim:-2/+4
Ki Missile: 1pt
Likely Totals:
Minotuar: 47hp
Roshan slides back so as not to tempt fate more then is necessary. The bullmen now receiving his full attention. Three stars, two silver and one gold strike deep into half-fiendish bovine flesh. Radiance streaks back to the Far-Strike Monk's hand, leaving a trail of bloody droplets along the way.
Her eyes suddenly wild, Míril pivots and stabs her short sword into Sosiel, who is standing closest.
Crit Confirm
Second Hit
Samirah turns her attention to the thoxel demon closest to her. "Losing your touch? Perhaps you are realizing now we are not 'only mortal'?" She teases as she attempts to take focus off anything except her flashing blade and fierce smile.
Chancre casts another keen Mythic Spiritual Weapon (henceforth Keen Steve 2).
It targets the nearest thoxel demon.
The keen force weapon (hereafter Keen Steve) continues to press its attack against the thoxel demon. Keen Steve objects to being named after a lesser spell held in a wand though and flicker out of existance at an inopportune time.
Chancre casts another keen Mythic Spiritual Weapon (henceforth Keen Steve 2). It targets the nearest thoxel demon. This spell does not seem to mind the redunant naming and damages the demon.
Her eyes suddenly wild, Míril pivots and stabs her short sword into Sosiel, who is standing closest. Fortunetly for the slightly surprised cleric, he wears solid armor. A lucky thing as the blade was originally aimed to slip between metal to find a vital point.
Roshan slides back so as not to tempt fate more then is necessary. The bullmen now receiving his full attention. Three stars, two silver and one gold strike deep into half-fiendish bovine flesh. Radiance streaks back to the Far-Strike Monk's hand, leaving a trail of bloody droplets along the way. The minotaur who had just been freed from the frost falls to the ground, his blood crystalizing in the residual cold.
Two beams of blazed light burn into the trapped vrock.
Aravashnial holds off on casting more spells as the tide of the battle has turned. He does keep a keen eye on the entangled demon on the far side of the room, his hands up - ready to cast.
The vrock continues to struggle at the wee spider's surprisingly sticky webs.
Irabeth advnaces to the final minotaur, but her sword is just a little too light on this attack.
Anevia pauses, looking carefully at Miril, looking like she might tackle the redhead if her blade flashes towards an ally again.
Aron takes a wide trip around the minotaur, placing himself with flanking for the following round.
As soon as the cleric is certain that Miril's mind is her own, he moves and places his healing hand on Anevia's arm. ()
Samirah turns her attention to the thoxel demon closest to her. "Losing your touch? Perhaps you are realizing now we are not 'only mortal'?" She teases as she attempts to take focus off anything except her flashing blade and fierce smile. The distraction is enough as Samirah cuts the thoxel demon down to size. The size being dead.
As the freezing mists from the first frost fall dissipate, the hungry tendrils from the second reach for enemies. The minotaur being trapped partially in the ice and oh so very cold.
A situation which is worse of the creature when Konstantin's forearm frosts over as he produces an icy ball, which he hurls at one of the minotaurs. Dazing the creature.
The demons look at the one remaining minotaur, the entangled 'leader'. "See you on the flip side, darlings." And the one not entangled in ice teleports away.
The other looks at Konstantin, "Wouldn't it really suck if you accidently killed your friends..."
M1 -22, -39,-51,-63,-71,-84 dead
M2 -12,-14,-81 dead
M3 -2,-13,-59 dead
M4 -4,-22,-54
T1 -21,-46,-66 dead
T2 -2,-12 dead
T3 -2
T4 -9,-20
V -41,-50
Save
Konstantin fixes the demon with a withering, contemptuous stare. "I suppose it would."
He casts a spell, Venobya wreathed in shimmering, crystal blue. She leaves his shoulder, brushing past the demon that tried to beguile him.
To hit:
Chancre moves cautiously into the room, staying out of the reach of the remaining Minotaur.
Second Hit
Samirah dances around the thoxel demon, her blade heated once more when she attacks.
Roshan
magic: +2/+2
masterwork: +1
Pt.Blank:+1/+1
Bless: +1/+0
Deadly Aim:-2/+4
Likely Totals:
23hp?
Two minotaurs down, one to go. Roshan continues to pierce demon armored hide with bits of sharp metal.
Her mind her own again, Míril shoots an apologetic look at Sosiel as she returns to fighting the proper foes. She moves to the remaining minotaur, placing herself in flanking position with Aron, and angrily stabs at the beast.
Konstantin fixes the demon with a withering, contemptuous stare. "I suppose it would."
Keen Steve 2 reacquires a thoxel target, if necessary, and reasserts its presence. It's presence is declared with a spray of blood and gravely wounding one of the thoxel demons.
Chancre moves cautiously into the room, staying out of the reach of the remaining Minotaur.
Her mind her own again, Míril shoots an apologetic look at Sosiel as she returns to fighting the proper foes. She moves to the remaining minotaur, placing herself in flanking position with Aron, and angrily stabs at the beast. But in her anger she misses the beast by the narrowest of margins.
Two minotaurs down, one to go. Roshan continues to pierce demon armored hide with bits of sharp metal. But the silent man must be tiring, for only a single one of his blade pierce the minotuarian flesh.
Two more blazing beams into the captured vrock demon. The little archon seems to enjoy taking advantage of the disadvantaged foe.
Aravashnial moves into the room, eyes scanning for hidden dangers.
Finally having enough of it, the vrock breaks free of the spider webs, drawing the smaller creature into biting range.
With two decisive blows, Irabeth brings down the last of the minotaurs.
In quick concert, Anevia and Aron move to flank the final (almost frozen) thoxel demon, () and the wolf pack tactics work, both finesse fighters striking true - Aron with a vicious twist that kills the demon
Sosiel casts another healing spell, laying this one on Roshan. ()
With the final thoxel demon dead (or fled) Samirah is able to get to the vrock, but her heated blade misses the quick limbed bird.
He casts a spell, Venobya wreathed in shimmering, crystal blue. She leaves his shoulder, originally on target for the demon that attempted to beguile Konstantin, but instead sinks claws into the vrock demon.
The vrock manages to score a claw onto the fast moving gyrfalcon on her way in, but the cold touch of the smaller birds claws allows her to escape.
V -41,-50
Save DC 22
Second Hit
Samirah circles the vrock demon, lashing out for another attempt at a strike.
Weighing her options, Míril drops her sword in favor of her short bow. She nocks a cold iron arrow and lets it fly at the vrock demon.
Roshan
magic: +2/+2
masterwork: +1
Pt.Blank:+1/+1
Bless: +1/+0
Deadly Aim:-2/+4
Ki Missile: 1pt
flanking:+2
[b][ooc]Likely results (all cold iron):
Shuriken8:(28) 11hp
Shuriken9:(25) 10hp
Radiance: (27) 15hp
Likely Totals:
-Vrock: 36hp
From phone: numbers deemed reliable but not guaranteed
Roshan seems to take exception to the thought of his tiring. He still only throws three stars, two small silver and one glowing golden, but all three strike deep, though admittedly his strikes are perhaps not quite as damaging as they once were.