Calmus grumbles a bit and just adds in response to the halfling "The site is under construction. You could wait to visit the place once the works are finished as anybody else. But you decided to force this open. Ok, your mediation has been accounted. You can leave now"
JJ just leans on his staff, trying to get a read from Marigold or Kikinnin. Finally he asks.
"If you don't mind my asking, why is the lady of graves building even higher? I mean... is there some theological impact you are hoping for?"
"Kikinnin, isn't it? My name is Calmus Vel, Deacon of Pharasma. Ike is not available at the moment. He is too busy with the Cathedral construction business. If about bullying you refer to the complains of Kristof Jurgensen, we have nothing to say. We cannot do anything about the envy of other priests for the prosperity of our church. Don't even think about talking with the High Priestess, Embril Aloustinai is away in an important mission to our faith."
Kikinnin doesn't stop his sweep of the room, which distracts him just enough not to notice Calmus Vel's ocular gestures.
"Wh-why so tense? We've already s-said that we're not here to st-start a r-ruckus and I'd hope our reputations would p-precede us a b-bit. So why're you acting like we're here to f-fight? Have other p-people been starting f-fights here?"
Hearing the halfling lass's assessment, Kikinnin defers to Marigold's intuition over his own.
"Haven't had the pleasure of your company, nor that of Embril. We can wait, if Ike's expected soon enough. Won't be any trouble to you, if you let us wait here for the man. Nothing personal, Calmus Vel. You're likely right, but it would be more assuring to hear Ike's stance on the matter." The black beard waits a little while longer to understand the dynamic the halfling lass sees.
There is a strong aura of evilness around Calmus. When you turn to the half-orcs, you find out a faint aura of evilness on both of them.
Calmus looks at JJ surprised "To impress mortals, what so otherwise?"
And then negates to Kikinin "I have to insist on you leaving. I am pretty sure civilized people like you do not need guards to inform you about the location of the doors"
Though not particularly happy about reaching a figurative wall at the Pharasmin temple, Marigold glances at her friends. "I g-guess we'd b-better go, then? There's n-not really anything else I c-can think of to add..."
Kikinnin hears the halfling speak, but her words are muffled. His senses have narrowed to study Calmus Vel. He wasn't prepared to register the priest of Wee Jas, only the half-orcs. The mutts could be leashed, and used by the powerful of the city, and here in the Church, he wasn't overly surprised by their nature.
But the priest...
Powerful evil. Standing alongside powerful minions. We're missing something here...
Kikinnin walks to the front doors, and closes them to the outside world, seeking to keep this matter internal.
"Calmus. I don't know many local priests who radiate evil as strongly as you do. I've never felt the need to seek the shimmer out, not with Jenya, not with Ike. But Cauldron is falling under shadows. Not unlike your spire. Your civility is duly noted, as is your blackness."
"I want to speak to Ike. Now." Kikinnin looks down on his Axe, then looks between the half-orcs and the priest.
"If you're unwilling to fetch him, tell us where he is, and we'll seek him out ourselves. Which floor is his office?"
JJ turns to go, and is then somewhat surprised when Kikinn closes the door.
"Ahh... Kikinnin... remember that conversation we had about aura sight..." Of course then JJ remembers the conversation.
Dwarves. As stubborn as the stone they surround themselves with.
"Ahhh... Calmus... why do you feel the need to impress mortals? Don't they all meet the lady at some stage, whether impressed or not?"
Now that Kikinnin's confirmed that he saw Something with the god-given Sight that Abadar bestowed upon him, Marigold tenses and drops the hand that had been reaching for the door behind them. Still, she's never been one to act rashly - that's JJ's job - and so she watches and waits to see how things will unfold...
If it comes to a fight I hope we can find some hard evidence of wrongdoing. Starting a fight in a church is serious business...
The half-orcs let Kikinnin approach the doors thinking the group is finally leaving, and so, they get surprised when the dwarf closes the doors. Ryan is as well surprised when the doors close and is left outside the temple.
Calmus frowns at the dwarf's words and ignores JJ's question "Ah meddlers... when will you learn to keep your nostrils at home?"
With a sign to his guards, the temple's grand hall erupts in a battle!
Marigold is the first one to notice the intentions of the priests and she reacts even before his signal! In fact, the giants and half-orcs do not understand the signal and only react to the surprise eruption of battle.
Just after her Calmus casts a spell on himself.
shield of faith
And then Maxim and Kikinnin quickly react grasping the intentions of the priest faster than the giants and half-orcs while JJ keeps it low sure the dwarf is overdoing it with evil auras once again.
Maxim flashes a hard smile as things go south, and the nature of the priest is revealed;
"Well looks like y'all won't have far to go fir a burial... Let me assist you along the way!"
Instead of pulling forth his pistol, Maxim instead draws a wand from his belt , before shifting backward a step...
Marigold's Surprise Round
"ಓಹ್ ಇಲ್ಲ ನೀವು ಇಲ್ಲ!"
"Oh no you don't!"
Marigold quickly casts a prayer to Sarenrae as violence begins to erupt in the grand hall...
______________
AC = 31 (35 v Giant)
HP = 124/124
Weapon Equipped = +2 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Prayer, Divine Bond
Kikinnin turns around to watch Calmus Vel take a decidedly hostile stance.
So he returns the favor, bringing his Axe to a hot white glow.
"We're getting better at smelling rats, I suppose. Guess we'll see if Ike's in league with you, or if you've got him tied up, somewhere in this Church..."
While Maxim draws a wand, Marigold's prayer emboldens the group and discourages the half-orcs, and Kikinnin's axe erupts in flames.
The Giants finally understand it is the time for fight and quickly open their bags and start throwing stones at the still JJ.
Two of the stones strike true in JJ's left arm and right leg, but the other two pass away harmlessly.
Calmus face brights up at Kikinnin's words "It's going to be a honor to bring your dead bodies to Ike in person" while he casts yet another spell on himself.
bear's endurance
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"Oooff
It's not been a good day..
Marigold's Round 1
"ಸರಿ, ಅದು ಸಾಕು," Marigold remarks flatly as she begins to cast another spell...
"Okay, that's enough of that."
______________
:
At Calmus' casting the gun-mage scowls, growling a warning;
"Priest o' the crypt-lurkers just bolstered their endurance..."
As the giants begin to rain down boulders Maxim moves away from his companions, hoping to draw the ire of the jotunn...
He then levels the wand at the distant trio and utters words of arcane power;
"Magische Raket!"
5 glowing bullets fly towards Calmus...
Calmus grimaces as Marigold finishes her spell, but succeeds at keeping his voice, because you clearly hear his shouts of pain as Maxim's magic missiles strike him one after the other.
The half-orcs finally react. One steps forward and swings his double axe on Kikinnin.
Kikinnin blocks the axe with his shield, but the dwarf did not expect the sudden shift in his enemies weapon, and when the half-orc changes balance and raises the other tip of the double axe, he cuts on Kikinnin's right leg.
The other half-orc strides over JJ.
The blade swing is powerful, but JJ saw the attack coming and skillfully dodges the attack.
"Now, this is self defence." says JJ, swinging his staff at the orc who attacked him. The youth spins his staff with an amazing degree of agility, raining down blows on his adversary.
+3 to hit and damage from FE (human) and prayer
AC = 31 (35 v Giant)
HP = 123/124
Weapon Equipped = +2 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Prayer, Divine Bond
Kikinnin feels the orc blade in his leg, and rues his position so far from the evil priest. He doesn't regard the guard all that much, just feels his presence as obstacle to his true focus.
"Calmus, you should consider surrender here. Call off your thugs, and we'll go easy on you. You worship Pharasma, but you shouldn't revel in death beyond your doors. Not like this."
The black beard has no real choice with the half-orc breathing in his face, so he returns several swings in the hopes of discouraging the guard from continuing his attacks.
Kikinnin throws a gloved hand towards his injured leg, and brings a quick heal, before he bleeds too much.
Marigold's Round 2
Marigold frowns when she realizes her silencing spell didn't work and quickly tries to think of something else.
This isn't good, we can't allow him to use his magics against us!
So she braves moving forward, though she knows it'll likely earn her the ire of the two boulder-throwing giants, and begins casting another spell...this time to conjure a little extra help. A ghostly-looking form appears in front of Calmus, carrying a whip. It then proceeds to try and whip him good!
______________
Now he has the attention of the jotunn and priest Maxim continues to shift across the great hall .
The gun-mage flashes a hard smile and aims the wand toward Calmus once more;
"Magische Raket!"
Firing off another barrage of glowing bullets!
JJ attacks and a whirl of staff hits punish his guard that staggers unable to block not a single one of the attacks.
Kikinnin is way less precise, perhaps annoyed by the last taken blow, and only one of his swings land on an area not protected by the half-orc guard chainmail. Meanwhile, the dwarf is surrounded by a soothing light that heals most of his wounds.
Marigold's summons her ally, and again the figure with a whip appears. It swings at Calmus, but it finds resistance upon the magic defenses of the priest and the whip is deflected.
His defenses though are nothing for Maxim's magic missiles that burst the priest with clear pain on his side.
The giants step forward, throwing stones at wizard that punishes their boss.
Only one of the rocks finds the cunning trickster who dodges the other three with some effort.
Calmus steps back to avoid Marigold's Ally "You should surrender instead. If you do know you will be allowed peace to go to Pharasma's Boneyard instantly"
The man observes JJ's efficiency and waves a spell to stop him.
The staggered half-orc performs a single attack on JJ.
The guard slashes on the young man's right hand then steps back, you see he is barely holding himself, thanks to his ferocity.
The other one keeps his attacks on Kikinnin.
Once more Kikininn is surprised by the strange style of the double bladed weapon, and the guard cuts him with the came back of the double axe. The cut is a simple slash only.
Overcome with visions of the Boneyard, JJ stands frozen for a moment.
Must help the others... he thinks, struggling against the vision.
Shaking his head he breaks free, glaring at the half orc before him.
Blue light spills from his wounds, as JJ's celestial heritage strives to keep his abused body functioning.
AC = 31 (35 v Giant)
HP = 123/124
Weapon Equipped = +2 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Prayer, Divine Bond
Kikinnin sees Calmus focus on JJ, and sees JJ hesitate, but he can't tell what might have occurred between the two.
He keeps watching out for any sudden moves on the part of the giants or the priest. "You certainly are confident, Calmus. You have the homehearth advantage here, I'll give you that. I won't fault you for hiding behind your giants, either. Priests are rarely frontline fighters, so you have to influence at a distance." The black beard keeps engaging the priest in conversation, anxious that Calmus will bolt, and bring in even more support to the main floor fight.
The half-orc's stab brings him back to business.
edit:
Stun by the barrage of rocks, and the advancing foes, Maxim backs up .
With a frown he targets the priest once again...
"Magische Raket!" ... loosing another volley of glowing bullets at Cadmus!
Buoyed by his success the gun-mage summons an inner resolve to blast his pious foe once again;
"Yer the one gonna visit yer precious boneyard priest!"
"Magische Raket!"
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Kikinnin sees the blasts of magic firing so fast from Maxim, he can't help but holler. "Hell's breath itself, Bror! Keep breathing down his neck!! Just don't get got by those rocks!!"
Marigold's Round 3
Marigold mentally commands her Ally to keep up its own brand of pressure on Calmus even as she falls back a few paces and attempts to position herself to where she can more easily reach any of her companions with her magic. Noting how injured JJ and Kikinnin are beginning to look she sends a burst of healing energy rolling across the area!
______________
JJ fails under the spell of Calmus.
Marigold's burst of energy heals JJ, Maxim and Kikinnin. Meanwhile the whip of her ally does not manage to go through Calmus defenses.
After some seconds of paralysis JJ shakes his head and forces his muscles to move again!
Kikinnin swings at his hatred enemy, tired of receiving attacks, he finally connects chop after chop with his axe, sending the half-orc to the boneyard.
The giants throw rocks enraged at Maxim.
Yet their fury only increases as the trickster dodges rock after rock, they hitting the walls behind, even breaking one of the beautiful stained glass of the façade.
Calmus clumsily steps back, away from Marigold's ally. The priest cast a healing spell on himself, and he seems so visibly pressed by the barrage of magic missiles he is unable to answer the shouts from the Cauldron Watchers.
The remaining half-orc walks back "He-heal me!" he looks back at Calmus in agony, he tries to pick a bottle from his belt, but his steps are so weak he is unable to reach far away from JJ before he tumbles down and falls unconscious to the Gran Hall tiles.
Having shaken off his paralysing fear of the boneyard, JJ charges forward toward the giants that are rolling boulders across the beautifully mosaiced floor of the church.
As he does so, blue light continues to drip from his wounds.
"This is self defence. We really just want to know what is going on here."
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AC = 31 (35 v Giant)
HP = 123/124
Weapon Equipped = +2 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Prayer, Divine Bond
Kikinnin really has no truck with the giants, so he picks up his boots, and runs as much of the floor as he can, circling the remaining foes until he can get to Calmus Vel.
The black beard remains silent, as he hopes that the priest sees his move as a way to avoid the giant, and seek a position of flank for the boy.
Buoyed by the healing of their talismanic oracle, Maxim continues with his recipe for pain and continues to target the retreating priest;
"Magische Raket!" ... firing another series of unerring arcane projectiles at Cadmus...
The gunmage then deftly moves behind one of the nearby pillars for futher boulder cover.
Marigold's Round 4
Marigold continues to direct her Ally to press the attack against Calmus as she advances towards the fray herself.
"ಶರಣಾಗತಿ, Calmus! ಏನಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎಂದು ನಮಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದರೆ ನೀವು ಜೀವಂತವಾಗಿ ಹೊರಬರುವ ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚು!"
"Surrender, Calmus! You're more likely to come out alive if you tell us what's going on!"
She tries again to use her magic to hold Calmus in place even though it's apparent the cleric has quite a strong will...
______________
Part of JJ's wounds self-heal very quickly.
JJ darts over one of the giants and avoiding the looming enemy fist. With a twist of his arm, JJ crashes the staff on the giant's foot!
Kikinnin runs through the hall, his dwarven strong foot making him fly despite the heavy burden of his armor.
Maxim waves his wand and once more bolts of force fly over the hall striking true on Calmus. The dwarf is quick on hiding behind one of the columns afterwards.
Calmus avoids Marigold's ally attacks, but then freezes under the halfling's spell power.
Seeing JJ in front, one of the giants forgets about the rocks and attacks with his fists.
And he strikes with both, breaking the young boy ribs with terrible impacts.
The other giant throws more rocks at Maxim.
Despite hiding behind the column, one rock hits the dwarf in the shoulder, although the other boulder crashes on the tile in front of the giant.
Calmus focuses his will and breaks Marigold's spell, tumbling clumsily some feet back.
AC = 31 (35 v Giant)
HP = 123/124
Weapon Equipped = +2 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Prayer, Divine Bond
"For a priest of Death, at least you'll die under Her roof."
Kikinnin measures the distance between he and the evil priest. He puts his giant blinders on, expecting that he'll be cuffed on his way past JJ's giant, but he's concerned less, while the priest still stands.
He charges Calmus Vel.
Marigold's Round 5
Noticing the boulders striking JJ with deadly force - not that hard of a thing to miss, really - Marigold moves up behind him and grants a more concentrated burst of healing.
All while the Ally...
...moves to flank Red with JJ!
"Ouch.... oh thanks Marigold." sighs JJ as the situation turns even more sour.
He unleashes another series of strikes against the stone giant..
"This feels like I'm a fly batting at an orc's hide."
+2 to hit from flanking
+1 to hit and damgae from prayer
As his bror intercepts the priest of death with devestating effect, Maxim switches his attention to the boulder tossing jotunn as he skirts through the pillars. ;
"Alright big'un... Ye got my attention now..."
He aims for the nearest stone giant activating his wand once again:
"Magische Raket ye big basterd!"
The gun-mage flashes a hard smile as a volley of glowing projectiles blast the giant;
Marigold moves to clean many of JJ's wounds and redirects his ally who lashes out effectively at the giant.
JJ keeps his attacks on the giant with tremendous speed, smashing his legs in different points and making the enemy to desire not having waked up today for work.
Maxim sends a new volley of force bolts that strike on the other giant!
The first giant sidesteps just to continue his slamming on JJ!
And once more the brutal hits of the giant pose a threat impossible to dodge for JJ.
While the other giant charges on Kikinnin after seeing how he outright killed Calmus "Ya' will pa'y fo dat duarf!"
But Kikinnin is ready and blocks the hit with his shield!
AC = 35 v Giant
HP = 123/124
Weapon Equipped = +2 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Prayer, Divine Bond
"Listen up, you lunks. We have no fight with you. Calmus wasn't willing to use his words, and we had to defend ourselves. He was an evil man. If you know of what's going on in this Church, best answer us, after you surrender."
"You keep beating on the boy, and we'll have to put you two down, like we did Calmus."
To punctuate his point, Kikinnin returns fire against Blue, without trying to wound them powerfully, just deliberately.
"Now, you open to a conversation that doesn't involve your losing a lot of blood needlessly?"
JJ winces, blue light continuing to cascade from his wounds. Now though the light seems to run thinner than before, as if whatever well was inside him is almost tapped out.
He steps forward, getting right between the giants knees as he continues to ply his staff slamming it again and again into the massive creature's ankles....
Or so he wants it to think. The first blow however is high and into the giants... sensitive areas.
+2 to hit from flank, +1 to hit and damage from prayer
and possible crit:
Marigold's Round 6
Knowing that the giants likely can't understand her, Marigold does the only thing she can to show that she'll honor the words of her companions and silently bids her Ally to stay his...hand? Ghost hand. To stay his ghost hand for a moment against Red.
But she does continue to channel healing power into JJ.
Evil priests in the temple, half-orcs, and giants flinging boulders! This entire development's unspeakable.
Maxim frowns as the jotunn continue to fight, despite Kikinnin's attempt at talking them down;
Langshanks dropped rocks on me... Ain't lettin' that slide without a reckoning...
He continues to target the same stone giant with another volley of arcane missiles;
"Magische Raket!" (
Before moving forward toward the melee
Two of Kikinnin's convincing swings open new wounds on the taller giant.
Even without the help of Marigold's ally, JJ's first smash on the giant's 'sensitive areas' are enough to make him stop. The giant snatches the 'sensitive areas' with both hands and a howl of pain. Overcome by pain the giant faints and pummels down to the ground.
While the young man's wounds seem to self-heal Marigold touches him with more positive energy, leaving JJ in a pretty good shape.
Maxim seems not disposed to be as amenable to a negotiated end and places more magic missiles on the air, striking true on the remaining giant.
The taller giant attempts to interpose his hand between himself and the force missiles without any success. He shouts, despite he seeming pretty intelligent his use of Common is unconventional "Na, you not! Me don't want dead! But me don't want spirit banned to the Boneyard! Me obvey!"
And then he attempts to shatter Kikinnin with his fists.
And the champion of Abadar blocks with his shield once more the giant's fists!
JJ closes on the last giant.
He then lays into the giant, again, stopping once the dominated creature is disabled.
+2 to hit from flanking wiht kikinnin +1 to hit and damage from prayer
"The priest has been lying to you." he tries to explain.
Marigold's Round 7
Did Calmus threaten to punish them if they didn't help him with whatever scheme he was scheming?
Hoping that maybe a show of lenience will calm the remaining giant down, Marigold calls on her magic to attempt to stabilize Red and prevent him from bleeding out entirely.
"ನಾನು ಈ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯ ಜೀವವನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ; ಆಶಾದಾಯಕವಾಗಿ ಅವರು ವಿನಿಮಯವಾಗಿ ನಮಗೆ ಏನನ್ನಾದರೂ ಹೇಳಲು ಸಿದ್ಧರಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ!"
"I'll try and save this one's life; hopefully he'll be willing to tell us something in exchange!"
______________
AC = 35 v Giant
HP = 123/124
Weapon Equipped = +2 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Prayer, Divine Bond
Kikinnin hears the giant's words, and the words of most of his friends, so decides to observe JJ's blunt attacks first, hoping the giant succumbs to the bludgeoning.
If the boy can't bring the big thing to heel, only then does Kikinnin take a couple of cautious swings, hoping to fell the tree with as minimal damage as possible.
"Easy, fella. The little miss is healing your friend. I cut down the priest, because he was truly evil. I don't get that sense in you, only that you've been lied to, like JJ's telling you."
As the jotunn's religious dilemma continues, the gun-mage shakes his head at the others efforts to reason with the brute and draws a bead and fires again;
"Magische Raket!"
He then moves forward again, closing the gap on the others and their towering foe
Despite Marigold attempts to convince the giant by stabilizing his fellow, JJ is already into his frantic combat stance and he barely feels when the giant collapses to the floor and stops smashing him.
+1 full plate Pharasma emblazoned
+1 light shield Pharasma emblazoned
+1 heavy mace
Headband of Wisdom +2
Cloak of resistance +2
Magic scroll
2x +1/+1 orc double axes
2x mwk light crossbow
2x +2 chainmail
4x potions
The scroll contains the mirror image spell.
The potions contain the cure moderate wounds spell.
With the hall returning to silence once more, you have time enough to look around and understand the magnificent sight of the Cathedral of Wee Jass grand hall. The huge octagonal room measures one hundred fifty feet across and the vaulted ceiling rises to a height of fifty feet in the hall's center. Pillars engraved with images sacred to the faith of Pharasma ring the massive chamber, and an exquisitely rendered symbol of the death goddess covers most of the chamber's otherwise bare floor. Built to house huge gatherings and contain powerful magical ceremonies, the hall is as beautifully and sturdily built as any building in the city. Strangely, there are no pews or other items of furniture at all in the chamber. In addition to the grand doors leading into the main hall and a second set of even larger doors to the east, one small door in the southwest corner of the room hangs slightly ajar. A second normal-sized door opens onto a southern balcony about fifteen feet above the ground. The balcony provides access to a narrow set of stairs encased in an intricate iron lattice.
These stairs wind upward along the inner surface of the chamber's walls to a third door high up near the ceiling.
As the second giant falls, Marigold is quick to stabilize his (her?) wounds as well. "Th-there. It m-might be small consolation for them when they w-wake up but I want to b-be a person of my w-word."
She then moves to finish mending JJ and Maxim's more minor of injuries, before anything else can happen.
"Hum. The scroll has a Mirror Image spell on it," Marigold remarks before automatically passing it to Maxim. "N-not anything I can m-make much use of, that's for s-sure. But I d-don't know what the p-potions do..."
Kikinnin watches as Marigold begin her palliatives, so takes to the stairs and large doors to the east, seeking out any skulkers.
"Call out, if you see something new, and so will I."