I'M NOT GOING BACK; NEVER AGAIN!35
But the blood streaming from his many wounds is beginning to tell as his his blows have no effect.
arrrrghhh!
surprise strike
Your first blow hits but little of the damage makes it through. The poison races through your blood, sapping your strength.58
The devil continues to shred Ragnar's flesh as it's tail whips you again.
73Looking pale from the loss of blood, Ragnar staggers about swinging and screaming BLJODE ET HELVEDE INGEN MIN!
Somehow the huge man connects twice against the even huger devil causing massive damage for .
Your first blow hits but little of the damage makes it through. The poison races through your blood, sapping your strength.114
[dice=claw]1d20+14
[dice=claw]1d20+14
[dice=bite]1d20+14
[dice=confirm]1d20+14[dice=]1d8+2d6+20
[dice=tail]1d20+14
[dice=]3d4+4
The devil continues to shred Ragnar's flesh as it's tail whips you again.
Damn. Forgot that surprise strike is a single attack, so should be at +2 to hit, so last strike would have been a 23 to hit, does that hit?
Damn. Forgot that surprise strike is a single attack, so should be at +2 to hit, so last strike would have been a 23 to hit, does that hit?Your first blow hits but little of the damage makes it through. The poison races through your blood, sapping your strength.114
[dice=claw]1d20+14
[dice=claw]1d20+14
[dice=bite]1d20+14
[dice=confirm]1d20+14[dice=]1d8+2d6+20
[dice=tail]1d20+14
[dice=]3d4+4
The devil continues to shred Ragnar's flesh as it's tail whips you again.
Yes!
surprise strike
25Three hits, but your first two are larger thwarted by the creatures resistances.
Two savage claws rip Ragnar once more for but the tail misses you.
remember surprise strike bypasses DR
Teetering on wobbly legs, Ragnar fights on-now in exhausted silence.88
surprise strike
remember surprise strike bypasses DR
Indeed! You should hit more with that attack it would REALLY help...
Your three cuts are ineffectual; strength ebbs ever more from your blades.
Ragnar can stand no more against the fury of the devil's strikes and falls in a bloody heap.
It turns and hisses at you with buzzing-bell voice Now you and I will complete the contract!
assume I no longer get sneak attack damage on normal attacks
surprise strike
Turning it's undivided attion on you the devil inflicts
surprise strike
From some hidden reserve you are able to pull through and lay a wicked strike at the base of the creatures neck. It looks at you in surprise as the your blade cuts through its natural armor and sends it back to hell.
***end of combat***
"Thank you Desna, I thought I had drawn my last breath."
use CMW wand on Ragnar
I will take a potion to get some strength back
Is Ragnar up? Did the beast leave anything behind?
Ragnar is stable but still unconscious. The devil did not appear to be carrying anything besides hatred and a small scrap of paper that is identical to the sheet from the diabolist's journal with the passwords on it.
another cure for Ragnar
"by Desna, that b%~%# will join her devil in hell soon."
"Get up Ragnar, we need to see my friends for help."
Hoarsely-I'm with you my Thane. Let's get those bastards! Time for some revenge for that village's children.
You realize as he grabs his sword and heads forward down the street, that he is just barely conscious and obviously has no idea where he is or who he is with. His entire body shakes with exhaustion although all his wounds have stopped bleeding.
There is no one else on the street besides the two of you; the regular city traffic has fled the devil's wrath.
Welcome to level 6 tier 3!
Get to the chopper! Head for Nine Star Knight HQ as fast as we can.
You quickly (as quick as you can with a staggered Ragnar) make your way to the NSK hideout.
The members on station welcome you in and get you to Arael-The Inheritor's kiss! Looks like you have been battling Asmodeus' minions and getting at least as well as you gave. How can I help?
"Hail Arael, some healing for the both of us would be welcome. This is Ragnar, he helped me get the Chelish Crux."
Arael-Indeed? Iomedae's blessings on you both
Ragnar looks much more alert, if still pale.
Urghhhh...is there something to eat in this place? I feel like I could eat the tusks off a mastadon right now!
Arael gives direction to have food and water brought to Ragnar and then turns back to you, You have the Crux? May I see it? Janiven and Ailyn are out, and should probably be the first to view it, but I'd love to get a peek at it, not to mention the story of how you went about getting it and where you met this massive fellow.
"I got into the Mayor's villa as part of the cast, that was the easy part. I found the other dimensional part of the villa up in the attic without too much difficulty after all the other guests were in a stupor.
The area was huge and filled with foul beasts and devils bent on my destruction as well as some tiefling rogue who struck at me from the shadows twice and seemed to know of my exploits taking out the Bastards. She is still dogging my steps and we just barely survived an encounter with a boney devil creature before arriving here.
As far as Ragnar is concerned, I literally pulled him out of hell. There was a painting of him in some hell which seemed to move when I viewed it, I called out to him for help, the painting turned to smoke and there he was, lucky for me as he pretty much singlehandedly defeated the final guardian of the Crux, I was pretty much done for at that point.
He also had knowledge of the secret spaces within the villa and said he had been imprisoned some time ago by Mayor Anvengen Doskivari, I am not sure who that is but its certainly not the current mayor."
I pull out the Crux to show him.
Arael-You truly are under Desna's eye my friend. I was telling Janiven...
Interrupting with a mouthfull of bread and cheese, Whuttat now? You sthay Doskivari is not the propther mayor?...swallows...Gorum's left nut Caldir! How LONG was I in that painting? Downs a swig of water from a skin and looks at you expectantly.
"Ragnar, I don't know. Arael, you lived here longer than I, when was Anvengen the mayor?"
Arael looks cautiously at Ragnar-Um, yes...well he was the first mayor after the death of Aroden and the Rise of House Thrune to the throne. That was over 65 years ago...
Hous Thrune ended up winning....? My friends...my family...they are all...dead.
He seems at a total loss and slowly settles his head into his large hands lost in thought.
"Take heart Ragnar, you are still here and we can still do something about House Thrune...before we were attacked by the bone devil I was going to tell you that the Nine Star Knights are not the kind of knights you knew, the Nine Star Knights are dedicated to making Westcrown what it once was before Aroden died and House Thrune took control, to make it once again into the City of Nine Stars! You will be part of that."
Pulling his head from his hands, So be it Caldir. The city was quite fair in its day and I would see it returned to its glory; all the better if it's at the expense of those devil sucking Thruneites! Besides, I still have the honor of my gelt and that is enough. Now what about this crux thing...Arael is it?
Arael-Yes, well, down with Thrunite tyrants and all that. As for the Crux, I don't know much except Ailyn believes it will hold many secrets that will help us to enter Delvehaven without getting slaughtered by its wards and protection. Of course Caldir, you know when I say help us enter I really mean you and maybe your newfound friend enter. He smiles at you both.
Have you tried to open it yet?
"No Arael, I have not tried to open it. And I would want to be well rested and do some more research before I do."
Arael-Do you want to wait here for the ladies return or should I send them to you at the boot? Looks like you two could still use some rest and libations.
"We can wait here, not sure I want to risk Ragnar and I being attacked again in our current condition."
Arael quickly has some cots prepared for the two of you as well as having additional food and water.
I'll be nearby if you need anything Caldir. Rest and I will wake you upon the ladies return.
Any other action besides snooze?
After a quick addtional repast and a swig of water, Ragnar lays down on one of the provided cots.
Not the worst place I've ever slept., he mutters and is soon fast asleep.
What else is in the room? How many entrances?
Any invisible Tieflings around?
The NSK members that are currently in the shrine hide-a-way look at you curiously as you examine in detail their refuge.
In addition to the main entrance, there is a side door, several mostly boarded up windows, and the barred entrance to the sewers.
As is custom, there is one NSK one watch near the front door, using various peep holes in the windows to keep an eye on the street.
I've become paranoid.
I go to sleep.
***Dream interlude***
You are laying in a foam of soft clouds. Youre eyes open and you see the bluest sky you have ever imagined. Floating around you are huge schools of butterflies, flitting from cloud to cloud, balling up, releasing, taking form, shimmering, elusive, so close, translucent.
Your mind wanders for what seem like hours as your eyes continue to follow the patterns of the butterflies and their dazzling display. Finally, you see the butterflies form a shimmering wall of wings.
A man walks through the flittering wall. He is like no man you have ever seen before. His face is young and old at the same time as if all the cares of humanity struggle to overcome an inexhaustible joy. His body is perfect, with skin flecked with silver and gold. His eyes the dark green of the sea.
He walks towards you. As he does, the wall of butterflies coalesces into the form of a beautiful elven woman with butterfly wings containing all the beauty of a clear night sky. She has dark hair and silvery eyes. Her mouth holds a coy but distant smile. She is clothed in robes of fluttering incancescent butterflies.
Walking out of the clouds comes a towering man wearing heavy plate armor that is scarred and gouged from furious battles. Across his back is strapped a massive greatsword that looks almost to big for him to wield. The portions of his skin that are visible are savagely scarred, the painful record of thousands of conflicts. The man glances at you and his gaze fills your mind with the sound of an infinite clashing of weapons and armor, the sound pushing your mind to the brink of madness.