Well, if our plan of action is to keep the heart from Sinh, then lets avoid the beastie we saw. If comes down to a fight, lets save it for Sinh; I don't see how fighting that...demon-thing is going to get us anywhere.
I think for a second. Here's a thought, did Sinh ever tell us how or IF he was getting us home? That portal you opened only seems to work in here and can get you from room to room. Can we get back home using that spell? We're going to need a game plan for that, especially if Sinh was the key to getting out here and would only do so after he had the heart.
Joe and WIld Fire have their Sanity reduced permanently by 1 in exchange for 1 Dark Power Point.
Timeline and Risen Fate resist the gift and are grant 1 Stability re-roll.
Up to you guys what you want to do now. You are in a cellar with the Heart of Darkness.
As you are standing in the cellar catching your collective breath, you hear
someone in the room clearing their throat.
Ahem
Your gaze is drawn to a diminutive red creature with horns, wings, and a very large nose (for his size) perched on top of a barrel.
He looks up at all of you. Did you say Sinh? As in the self-proclaimed LORD Sinh?
Baker jumps, then winces in pain.
Who the heck are you? Where did you come from and who's asking?
The imp stands on it's tiptoes and strains to look as tall as possible. I am the Great and Mighty Bizzniche, Master of the Lord Izzak's Food Stores. Self-proclaimed, as the Demonlord has no time for frivolous niceties such as food.
Now it's your turn, who are you, what are you doing rooting around in MY food cellar, and why are you talking about my former master, Lord Sinh?
A group forced to do Sinh's dirty work for the time being. Why former master?
Bizzniche crosses his tiny arms in a huff.
No reason in particular. I just got a better offer, that's all. Why do you ask?
Bizzniche begins to sniff the air with his oversized sniffer and then pounces on something behind the barrel. A brief jet of flame being released can be heard from behind the barrels.
Gotcha!
You hear a crunch and a few seconds later, Bizzniche walks out from behind the barrel picking his teeth with a toothpick, a satisfied look on his face.
Magma Toads. I'm not allowed to eat anything inside the crates but one of them has a hole in it. Occasionally one of the frogs finds it's way out and... He hands mimic a bear trap snapping shut.
They are Dee-licious! Sorry what were we talking about?
Elli returns a suspicious glance. Curiosity.
Hmm so no vendetta or anger against Sinh. He probably won't help us if we decide we need it.
We don't have time to sit and talk with whatever that was in there.That thing was big and mad. So my vote is we just try to get back and deal with the consequences as they arrive but seeing i have no idea how this whole thing works its out of my hands. Do you know anything about this portal magic little red fella?
Well it just so happens that Sinh had a nasty habit of not feeding me. And I reeeeallly like magma toads. So I left his service to come here.
He takes flight and lands on Wild Fire's shoulder. He takes a long sniff. You smell nice! Is that charcoal I smell?
Turning to Timeline, Oh, you mean that Sarticus portal he was always using? Yea it was great for opening tunnels and doorways but not much else. Back in the day, Sinh got touchy anytime I mentioned it. Guess he finally worked out the bugs? I mean if it's how you are supposed to escape?
We are in the bottom of Castle Abastion, even Izzak would need a minute or two to search every nook and cranny.
An frightenening bellow can be heard in the distance...
Bizzniche recalculates, Ok, maybe only a minute.
Elli gives Baker a questioning look, Have I always smelled like charcoal?
After hearing the rumble Elli's head snaps to the door way out of the store room. Maybe we need a new portal guys? Or we need to port somewhere else. Either way, moving would be a good idea.
I don't suppose any of you would be interested in acquiring a familiar?
He sneers down at Joe from his perch on Wild Fire's shoulder. Not you though. You smell like a Pope on a Rope.
...like a witch's familiar?
Witch, warlock, sorcerer, I'm a boon to any that dabble in Magik. I'll also give you a discount on immortality. It'll only cost you your soul....
Seeing your reaction he puts his hands up defensively, I was KIDDING! Sheesh can't you mortals take a little joke? I haven't been "upstairs" for a millennium or two. I could really do with a breathe of fresh air. So whaddaya say?
And from the sounds of it, you're only ever in it for the better offer. How can we trust you?
That's the beauty of it! You can't! That's why there's a contract.
The devilish imp flourishes his hand and a glowing gilded contract appears in his claws.
The contract is traditionally signed in blood but if you're squeamish I think I had a pen around here somewheres... He begins to pat himself down as if searching his pockets.
A low rumbling can be felt through the walls, slowly growing in pitch and frequency.
Could you help us get the jump on your old master with this portal? Id hate to see what he could do with this Heart.
Timeline ponders the treasure room a moment. Timeline focuses and opens a portal under the treasure in the treasure room and on the ceiling of the room there in, away from the group of course so it doesn't crush anyone.
This will definitely fund our superhero team for quite sometime i would say.
Timeline's portal opens onto the floor of the secret treasure room, catching the Legion devil off guard. The Devil falls into the cellar landing atop the shower of coins, gems, and archaic weapons/armor.
He stares at Timeline dumbly, a jeweled golden sword in one hand and a nondescript sack bulging with coins in the other.
Elli starts getting on edge from the rumbling and glances over to Bizzniche.
There's no time to negotiate a contract that's safe. Show us some good will now and help us and I'll consider a contract with you when we get to safety. Deal?
Bizzniche furrows his brow. I cannot willingly leave Hell unless a mortal wills me there. You have to sign the contract or I will be stuck here until the next time someone is stupid enough to come raid the 7th layer of Hell.
Noticing the Legion Devil, Bizzniche casts a spell. A blue-ish faerie fire appears around the Legion Devil making him an easy target.
The familiar shall obey the undersigned, hereafter referred to as the Master, to the best of the familiar's current ability up to and including it's death, destruction, or dismissal (whether by breach of contract or by release from duty by the Master).
The Master shall provide the familiar lodgings and sustenance appropriate to it's tasks.
I, XXXXX, do declare myself Master of this Familiar and do bind myself to it, in sickness and health, til breach of contract do us part.
Timeline still wearing his armor drops the portal as a free action the targets the guard with blink.
Elli reads over the contract real quick, Sounds good enough for now.
She takes her finger and quickly scorches a thin line with her nail underneath where her name would go. That'll have to do for now. For all intents and purposes, you are my familiar now.
Elli then stands up and runs at the devil, brandishing her sword.
well i'm back.
hey i'm not a pope on a rope, i'm more of a Rabbi hit ... by a cacti? never-mind.
attack with power attack
+2 from the imp dc 29
i missed the last combat let me entertain myself on this one. Devils should be challenged
vs. DC 25 Magma Blade
vs. DC 29 Joe Punch!
Between Joe and Wild Fire, they easily render the Devil unconscious before he can even let out a call for help!
The pile of gold, coins, gems, and other treasures gleams and sparkles in the dim light shed by Wild Fire's Magma Armor...
You find items of interest in the hoard in addition to the ornate sword.
PC Roll Chart: 1-10 Cursed(Dark), 11-89 Magical, 90-94 Tech, 95-99 Mutant, 100 Roll again and item is Intelligent
Using Medium magic item chart for all items. Removing Scrolls, Potions, and Wands due to consumable and less interesting nature. Weapon/armor/shield types chosen by DM for things that are cool or make sense.
1-20 Armor/Shield
21-40 Weapons
41-60 Rings
61-66 Staves
67-83 Rods
84-100 Wondrous Item
Ring of Minor Crushing and Force Resist
Rod of Flame Extinguishing
Rod of Metal and Mineral Extraction
Rod of Wonder
+1 Boomerang (60 ft ranged attack)
Adamantine Longsword (Penetrating)
i pick up the sword and poke it against the heart, not stabbing it, just the tip.
I pick up the ring
We don't have time to look at all this stuff Short stack(bizzniche) help us open a portal to earth so we don't meet up with big bad and ugly that's making all this noise! Just grab the loot for now well check it later and im going to try to grab all of this gold and gems once the portal is opened.
Timeline summons a dump truck the first dump truck a revolutionary design that helped humans carry large loads of unearthed materials form mines and construction sites.
Then timeline opens a portal under the gold and above the dump trucks container filling the truck with gold and gems.
All right good to go!
The bejeweled sword (complete with scabbard) is of masterful craftsmanship and appears to be made of a gold alloy studded with Dragon's Eye opals. The blade is forged of some curious blue-tinged metal and is double-sided. The initials R. W. are inscribed near the pommel along with a curious cross symbol.
The Heart of Darkness appears curiously indifferent to the poking's of the weapon. Shad-Goroath, the Before-Ember growls inside your mind. Dally no further! Take me to your master!
Wild Fire, the ring re-sizes itself to comfortably fit the size of your finger. (You have not yet put it on, it just reacted to you picking it up) It is made of 3 interwoven steel braids and inset with a flawed opal. it feels remarkably heavy for it's size yet not enough to hinder movement.
I'm putting it in a pocket for now. I'll deal with it later.
Then let's start moving. Bizz, would you like my shoulder again?
@ Wild Fire
Yea, but I just assumed it was some sort of perfume.
Baker looks at everyone else grabbing at the demons treasure horde;
You guys mess with that stuff all you want, I'm not touching any demon treasure. I don't want my soul ripped from my body by some wayward hungry gemstone or something. I read fantasy novels; or at least what I thought were fantasy novels and I don't trust it. Same as I still don't trust your new little companion, Wild Fire.
Realizing he's been soap-boxing, but that it also means he feels loads better, points to the unconscious body of the demon.
Nice work on that guy though. Shall I open the portal to take us to Lord Singh?
Bizzniche willing perches upon Wild Fire's shoulder.
Yes, let's get going. My former employer is known for his volatile temperment.
Well i don't want to stay here waiting for that thing, lets get the loot and get out of here. Risen, if you would say the magic words.
Alright, let's go talk to Singh.
Baker says the words he was told to say, and doesn't bother with changing any of the nuances this time. He can fool around with those later.
Risen Fate speaks the words of power and an obsidian gateway appears against the far wall. Beyond the gate is a tunnel that stretches into the distance. Glowing letters are displayed along the gateway's arch:
A M I C I T U S
The Heart of Darkness pulsates dark energy at the portal causing it to distort and enlarge itself. The portal's view changes to that of a stone cellar. A single window slit in the cellar beyond let's in minimal light.
I walk through the portal, hoping that since i am carrying the power source that it doesn't close behind me, into the cellar. I look around to try to gauge my surroundings.
we should hurry, maybe we can get some sort of surprise. so imp, now that you are on earth, what do you have to help us against lord Singh.
I follow through the portal too, keeping close to Joe.
Timeline waits for the group to move through and drives the truck through the portal.
Move you butts we got loot to save,... I mean um gotta save Archy yeah that's it.
http://cdn4.fashionablygeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/transistor-cospl ay-1.jpg?22a92a
RORY, RORY, RORY! LOOK AT STUFF (sorry for showing this here, but I figured you checked this more than you did facebook)
I make one last look around to make sure we didn't miss anything of importance in the cellar, before heading through the portal.
As the cautious quartet of heroes hop through the portal, a thunderous crash can be heard as Izzak, the Demonlord rips away the outer wall of the cellar, door and all. Luckily, the portal closes quickly and your last sight and sound of Hell is Izzak's rage as you barely escape his clutches.
***
You find yourselves (complete with compact dump truck filled with gold, jewels, and gems) inside of a stone brick room of large size. Dust and cobwebs cover every surface and there is only one source of light, a high narrow window slit through which a single moonbeam shines. Iron-wrought candlebra adorn the walls at regular intervals, their candles long since rotted away.
The far wall of the room is sectioned off by iron bars. You are able to recognize that you are indeed inside an authentic medieval dungeon, although you are NOT inside the cell.
The rumble of the dump truck's engine masks any sound more subtle than a gunshot, currently.
Once again, an image of Lord Sinh appears before you. The image stares blankly into the distance. It would appear to be a magical message triggered by your arrival. It speaks it's message with the sarcasm typical of the villain.
Ah, the heroes have returned! If you would be so kind as to deliver the Heart to me in my laboratory we can begin.
After speaking it's piece, the image disappears.