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Seeing that the chirade is up, Garith moves to the nearest cultist, facing Maelchar as though engaging him, then with a spin, he Draws the Radiance and slashes at the nearest cultist, [ooc]hoping I can avoid an AoO in the confusion, or targeting a cultist w/o a reach weapon. I can't view map on my phone so
Seeing the cultists rising from their beds, and their plan for a stealthy approach coming to an end, Zeriax decides to focus on the one he has noticed casting, considering him the biggest threat.
Shifting his position, he takes careful aim and unleashes two arrows in quick succession at the man, his mind fully focused.
Zeriax , you draw a careful aim and release 2 arrows. The first one is aided by your years of training with the bow and manages to impale the unarmed cultist easily. the second arrow follows soon after also hitting a sweet spot. Two arrows stick out from his chest but the cultist remains standing even if he is bloody and unable to take another round of such damage. You have clearly drawn his focus though as he looks at you next.
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Var, Ryu, I think I know where the disconnect is. Our weapons are all at our feet and take a move action to get. I forgot about that. Think Ryu did too. It was in an earlier post.
+2 if ryu wants to start rage
to avoid AoO and get to the door to open it for Oriana and Pakak. That way we can move on
If ryu gets the door, Ria and Pakak can go? Thwn we can move on?
Garith are you using your shield bash then or picking up radiance or using a hero point to attack with radiance?
Correct that if Ryu moves he can get to and open the door in this round unless he uses acrobatics. Acrobatics doubles the movement which would require a double move by him to get to the door.
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Then I'd say raging for some AC and moving to the door for Ryu, so Oriana and Pakak get a turn.
//Oriana, Ryu's coming for the door. Get him a weapon when he opens it if yea can// Garith tellepathically says
Garith will use one move to get the radiance and then move next to an injured cultist, drawing the Radiance, to strike him down. Hero point. He hits the cleric Zeriax shot he he can W/o taking an AoO.
Ria and Pakak are up W an open door?
AOO on Garith
AOO on Ryu
perception DC:0
+6 each Maelchar x2 and Oriana
+3 each same
Botton of round 1
Calling forth hidden reserves to summon Radiance to him, Garith takes the opportunity to rush forward past he glaive wielding menace. He pays for his efforts by opening himself up for an attack. However the glaive merely passes infront of him and fails to connect. At the end of the mini charge Garith runs the cultist through with Radiance finishing what Zeriax started.
Ryu also takes the opportunity to run to the door to open it to allow Oriana and Pakak in. The move is costly though as he has to pass through two opponents. Timing his move right to tumble past the one he still leaves a moment for the cultist to exploit. Indeed the cultist did as the glaive slices across his chest for 9 damage. the maneuver worked as he made it to the door in time to open it and let Orian and Pakak in. Oriana moves in fron of Ryu seeing how he is injured and takes a stance there handing Ryu her longsword. Pakak hurries in following on his short legs into the manor.
]b]Top of round 2[/b]
The tiefling still continues his blissful sleep not realizing there is a combat raging around him. His dreams filled with pillaging helpless homes and business while the occupants are elsewhere.
the 3 cultists remaining move up to engage Maelchar and Oriana. The 2 on Maelchar swing weakly and both connect for 8 damage total. Oriana is not as lucky as her single assailant swings and cuts deep into her arm dealing 12 points of damage.
Last the familiar figure of Faxon can be seen coming up the stairs to see what the noise and trouble is all about. Seeing Garith standing there with Radiance he lets out a curse. Garith feels his mind being assaulted by imaginary figments as he feels his being become overpowered.
Maelchar steps forward (to G7) before the tiefling can wake up and performs a coup de grace on him, hoping to take out a potential opponent quickly.
Zeriax ponders his options, looking around the room - his right flank seems unprotected, while at the same time Garith has just been engaged by Faxon which the monk suspects may be the most dangerous of their foes in this place.
Needing a quick decision, and wanting to thin the enemy numbers as quickly as possible, he decides to fire two arrows at point blank range against one of the foes that threatens both himself and Maelchar.
When Pakak comes in, he turns his ray of frost spell on any enemy target he first sees.
Oriana
Ryu
Faxon DC:21
touch attack
Tiefling
Garith
Oriana
Bottom of Round 2
Taking a risk in the melee to step up next to the downed tiefling, Maelchar prepares to drop the earthbreaker onto the tieflings head. He is able to step insde the reach of one and is outside the rach of the other however and makes the most of the opportunity.
Zeriax factors in the risks of who to attack and determines to clear out the north side of the manor before he worries about those farther away from him. Two arrows again go flying but only 1 manages to find its mark damaging but not crippling the cultist enough to stop him.
Garith shrugs off the mental assault and steps up to deliver a combined hit with shield and sword. Both come together to draw blood as the shield clipped Faxon's already blood red skin tearing a wound while Radiance tries to hamstring him. The wounds are deep but not debilitating as Faxon smiles at you with malice in his eyes.
Further south Pakak lets go with a splash of acid that hits the cultist which is then pummeled by both Ryu and Oriana. The resulting three blows leave the cultist barely able to stand on his feet holding his glaive.
Top of Round 3
Faxon motions for the cultist o get around behind Garith. At the same time Faxon steps to flank and starts casting words of power. The entire time he does so though his eyes never leave Garith's blade or shield. Upon successfully completing the spell Faxon reaches out and thrusts 2 fingers into Garith's face. There is an immediate discharge of energy and Garith feels himself becoming noticeably weaker. The cultist behind him swigs his glaive but can not find any weakness in the shielded defense of Garith.
Bestow curse
The tiefling refuses to wake up and is about to be killed outright from an earthbreaker going through his skull. Trying to prevent that from happening the cultist commands Maelchar to RELEASE!! his weapon again.
Further south the remaining cultist waves his glaive at you menacingly but does nothing much beyond that.
Good guys up...
Maelchar refuses to release his weapon despite the command and after smashing the earthbreaker into the tiefling's head, turns to face the caster and smiles... He takes a couple of steps and strikes at the cultist near him
The monk notices the magical attack being unleashed at Garith, but also realizes Maelchar is now in a position to offer his assistance to their companion, as long as he manages to keep the remaining two opponents off his back.
Resolute, he shifts his position, takes aim, and lets fly - "See to Garith, friend Maelchar"
.
touch AC
Bottom of Round 3
The manor fight is quickly becoming a bloodbath as blows are traded on both sides. The forces of good though are prevailing as numerous cultist and tieflings are laying on the floor never to move again. Maelchar uses the long reach of the cultists against them as he moves to a different location and connects once again with the earthbreaker. The cultist eyes flutter rapidly with his body swaying, but he stays up on his feet.
A second later Zeriax finishes him off with a single arrow. The first target taken care of Zeriax fires his second rapid fire shot into the second cultist. This one as well hits but not as hard as Zeriax would have liked.
Continuing the duel with Faxon, Garith steps to the side and delivers another solid hit with Radiance. the magic of Radiance providing just enough to bypass the ?armor? of Faxon. Battered and bloody Faxon fights on not willing to give up and admit defeat to the holy warrior.
To the south Oriana steps up and delivers the final blow to the cultist who threatened them with the glaive.
Seeing the 1 fall before him, Ryu takes advantage and hurries forward towards his sleeping bag nimbly dodging the futile attempt to hit him by the cultist. Once there he grabs his scimitar and not is prepared to face the fight blade in hand.
Top of 4
Faxon concentrates again on where Garith is holding his weapons as he calls upon further black magic to aid him. His hands emit a cold blackness as he reaches for the holy warrior. This time though Garith is ready and movesout of the way just in the nick of time. Faxon's touch missed but the hands continue to exude the cold on them.
Vampiric touch
The cultist facing Oriana swings his glaive but can't get past her armor.
Good guys up with Pakak able to take last round's actions as well.
Maelchar takes the opportunity to drink a potion and heal himself, hoping that between Ryu and Oriana and Zeriax, they will take down the last cultist and Garith will finish off Faxon... if not, he'll be ready to face more foes after some healing. He does take a 5' step (to F6) to be closer to either foe for his next action.
"Friends Ryu and Oriana - that villain is yours" - he nods towards the cultist in the middle of the room - "Friend Garith, take no unnecessary risks against foul Faxon, keep him in check and he will be taken down!"
With no more words to add, he lets his bow sing its song, and unleashes another volley at the caster - We need him alive. We need to know what he knows - the thought nags at the monk, as he decides to strike to subdue.
Perhaps distracted by the thoughts that assail him, and the concern as to what seems to be afoot in the destroyed city, Zeriax attacks unfocused, missing his target by a mile.
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Blood rising, and finally able to attack at full ability, Ryu grins, saying "Banzai, you son of a demon bish!" charging up behind Faxon to H:5 and slashing with hit scimitar, his fury and skill guiding the heavy blade in a wide arc.
for
Using the opportunity afforded by his ally, Garith steps up and takes another swing from F:3
for
Glancing at the other cultist left alive at i:7, he says, "Surrender now"
Pakak continues to flick and throw ice for now, as it looks like foes are going down.
With only Faxon and 1 cultist remaining the tide has completely turned in your favor. Added to that is the fact that Ryu finally got back to his weapon. With it in hand he charges the tiefling Faxon and delivers a critical blow to the witch. Following up with that attack Gartih brings radiance down ending the life of the man that just cursed him.
To the south Oriana swings again and delivers a hard hit to the hip of the cultists as Pakak fires two orbs of ice hitting the cultist both times.
Seeing the others around him all dead or dying the cultists oops at you all with a sneer. I go to Baphomet willingly. I will tell him about you so he may punish you accordingly. With that he channels energy killing himself and the rest of the downed cultists while injuring everyone for 5 damage.
On the bodies of the cultists you find a total of 5 MW glaives, 5 leather armors, 5 holy symbols of Baphomet, and 103gp in loose coin.
On the tiefling you find a shortsword and light crossbow with 10 bolts
On Faxon you discover a wand of cure moderate wounds (11 charges); MW morningstar, heavy crossbow with +1 bolts (14), bracers of armor +1, cloak of resistance +1, 2 keys and, 29 gp
More importantly however you have cleansed this floor of cultists and can bar the door closed providing you with a place to sleep for the night once the lower level is explored.
Maelchar shudders as the negative channel runs through him, causing further damage. "That hurt, but it wasn't excessive... this fellow might not have fully killed himself... perhaps if we were to heal him, he could be questioned. Somehow I doubt he'd give us much useful information, but I just thought I'd bring it up while he's still bleeding out but before he dies."
He looks over to Zeriax and sighs. "If others are hurt worse, of course see to them first, but I could use a touch of the scale if you've any left for the day. I seem to have made myself something of a target lately."
Ryu cleans his blade thoughtfully and grins.
"Well, that wraps another case... now what?" he asks, as if uninterested in the wealth that the company has found.
"Perhaps if we were to heal him, he could be questioned. Somehow I doubt he'd give us much useful information, but I just thought I'd bring it up while he's still bleeding out but before he dies."
Ryu turns a glance to the fallen enemy and his eyes gleam thoughtfully.
"I'll ask him - I have no problem at all in asking him in a way he can understand," he says in a completely toneless voice.
He moves casually to the enemy on the ground and he flexes his fingers gently, pausing, he glances at Zeriax.
"I'm going to question him... properly... the way we do it at home... the others may not have the stomach for such action. Are you interested in helping me?" he says to the archer.
If hit by the energies, Pakak winces in pain, but still stands. "I'm not sure he's still living. If he wished himself to die while doing it, it strikes me as trying to unslit a throat, still...whatever you think best."
Need a heal check if you are trying to save him and the specifics of what you intend. Also tell me what you are doing exactly prior so I know and where this is taking place.
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With his only healing ability being limited to the healing touch of Iomadae, there is naught Garith can do to asist, but he does suggest "the man killed himself in service of his demon lords, damned his soul to the abyss. He will not likely respond to anything but the most brutal of tortures, which is not an option." if someone with the heal skill looks to see if he can even be saved. I'd rather pass on saving the guy.
"We must make haste to clear out the Manor, should there be nay attempting to escape. Do any detect any threats coming?"
Garith is standing, armed looking down the stairs.
"Brother Ryu, I believe I know what you are hinting at. I believe also you already know me enough to understand how far I would be willing to go in questioning someone. I trust your lead, and that you know the limits I cannot cross" - he responds with a nod.
Zeriax crouches next to Ryu, apparently debating something over the fallen captive in a foreign language.
Maelchar shrugs then and lets the man bleed out... If Garith doesn't think it's a good idea, and Ryu hinting at something darker than just questioning him, , he decides it's not a good idea to heal the fellow.
"Shall we clean this place out quickly, dispose of the dead bodies and then try to get some rest? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm near exhaustion, and mostly out of spells."
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Where"I too am weary. Let us make this place safe. Please bring our charges in and bar the door. Zeriax, if you would be so kind as to scout?" Can we BOT Ria to use her inquisitor ability to switch her teamwork feat to Stealth Synergy and follow Zeriax?
After checking this floor Zeriax and Oriana can scout downstairs and we can follow shortly behand, with Ria keeping connected with her blessing of friendship telepathy
”Well, I gotta tell you, when I want to ask tough questions, sometimes it can be a little… nasty,” he says with a wink.
Then he sighs.
”But in this case, my lord Garith has forbade it – so I can’t do things the way I want to do them,” he says with a shrug.
”But if I wasn’t under orders, I’d show you how we’d deal deal with these basterds in my old boryokudan,” he adds with a friendly nod.
”Looks like for now we do things the nice way though… shikata ga nai, neh?” he says with a grin.
Ryu glances up at the others.
"Now what?" he asks with a suddenly cheerful voice.
"Boryokudan..? You have come a long way my friend - I do not know that much about organized crime, but none of the stories I ever heard depicted them as jumping into the fray to assist a dying city" - he nods - "A long way indeed" - he stares at Ryu for a while longer - "You seem at ease with yourself though, and while I have no pretense of being a master, I believe you are in the right path to harmony, even though I know that is not what you actively search"
He looks again at their captive - "I wouldn't say the nice way, but I would call it the correct one - but you already knew that"
His attention distracted by the conversation, Zeriax turns to Garith and nods - "I will" - then moves of to scour the place inch by inch, not taking any chances.
Ryu gives Zeriax a surprised look and a somewhat longer response in Minkai.
”Organized Crime? Whoa, brother – that’s not me… I’m just a lad who’s doing what his pop wants him to, and that’s helping out my family, savvy?”
He grins.
”Hell, when you aren’t born a poxing samurai, life’s pretty piss-poor back home, you know? But if you get dealt some bad karma, well – what’s wrong with twisting it a bit, neh?” he says with a grin.
”But you got me all wrong… I ain’t no criminal sort… well, not really… But the thing is, my family’s got no fancy name to give us power and weight, so we got to make power with coin. And if you want to do that – well, you know how the daimyo’s back home look on them that earn coin by a little hard work?”
He snorts in disgust.
”So yeah – we stick together and protect ourselves… you know, make sure that no one hurts us or our partners – because you gotta know that no samurai’d stick his neck out for a naught but a baka whore of a merchant, right? I mean hell, they look at us worse than gods damned eta, you know?” he says with a shrug.
”But we aren't that bad – not really. I mean… we got a code, you know? And we even got some discipline… well, sort of… and anyhow, some of us even know a little bushido, too. Oh - and as for harmony? Hell, brother – I’m always eager to get more wa,” he says with a grin.
”Anyhow, do what you got to do..." he adds with a pleasant nod of his head.
At which point he gives Zeriax a quick bow, than turns from his work with a grin and ambles over to Oriana.
”Yo, Angel-chan – how’re you feeling?” he says giving her a grin and a wink.
Oriana: looking off into the distance with a sad look on her face she turns to you. Honestly, Ryu, I am worried about my brother and my parents. Their fate is distracting me and I am thinking that until I know what happened to them I won't feel complete and focused. I am thinking that in the morning I will need to go and search for them myself. I know that will leave you at the worst possible timing but it is something I must do and follow my heart.
Deciding not to revive and interrogate the fallen cultists the group lets Zeriax scout the area downstairs. He comes back soon reporting that there is no one else downstairs but has not opened the double doors to the back of the room. Gathering the group together they all head downstairs and use the keys on Faxon to open the doors.
This semicircular room has been outfitted with numerous demonic decorations. The green glass lanterns hanging on the walls give the room an eerie glow. A brazen minotaur head hangs from one wall above an altar covered with wavy-bladed knives and curved bulls' horns, while star-shaped symbols in red decorate other walls. A large wooden chest sits near the west wall.
The wooden chest is locked but the key from Faxon opens it. Within are various items looted from the ruins over the past several days by the cultists, including3,310 cp, 1059 sp, 152 gp, 11 pp, five silver holy symbols of Iomedae worth 25 gp each, a masterwork longsword, two masterwork scimitars, 450 gp in various fine housewares like silverware and table settings, a wand of bless weapon ( 18 charges), and a currently broken phylactery of faithfulness.
The chest also contains a sheaf of papers documenting the cultists' movements around the city. These papers not only indicate that the plan to attack Kenabres was several years in the planning, but that there were a large number of Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth involved. This list of names is valuable to the crusaders-it can't help Kenabres at this point, but since several of the names on the list include people operating in other cities, the crusaders will pay 2,000 gp for it in reward.
Finally, there's a short note in immaculate handwriting-a letter from the lilitu Minagho to Faxon... letter
Minagho is the demonic ruler of the ruined city of Raliscrad in the Worldwound, and Vorlesh is the woman rumored to have helped open the Worldwound in the first place.
Nahyndrian crystals are said to be the crystallized fragments of a murdered demon lord's life force, though what use such an object could be put to is unknown.
Assuming Pakak detects magic on the items he notices that the brazen minotaur's head radiates an aura of magic as well as the room radiates an aura.
Brazen Head
PRICE 6,500 GP WEIGHT 10 lbs.
A brazen head is an object sacred to the cult of Baphomet. Most brazen heads appear to be the head of a minotaur, but others in the shape of humans, animals, or multi-faced demons exist. When mounted on a wall in an area sacred to Baphomet, the brazen head constantly breathes out invisible vapors that fill a 60-foot spread. Any evil creature in this area gains the benefit of a bless spell. When in the area of an unhallow spell cast by a worshiper of Baphomet, a brazen head can be used once per month to perform an augury. Rumors exist of more powerful brazen heads capable of casting divination or even commune.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS:
COST 3,250 GP Craft Wondrous Item, bless, augury, must worship Baphomet
The room has an unhallow and zone of truth spell currently active on it.
Maelchar shudders as he reads the letter. He doesn't know who the people mentioned might be, but the letter spells out the doom of Kenabres, which is in dire enough straits already. He scowls and looks to the others.
"I know we need rest, but we need to get this to those who might be able to protect the wardstones from this 'final solution' the demons seek. Speed would seem to be of the essence. I suggest we get our rest and get out of here as quickly as possible. Garith, does the magic in the minotaur head detect as evil? And if it does, can we destroy the magic by destroying the head, do you think?"
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or a 10 for evil outsiders...
"My friends what do you make of this? I know not of some of this information," Garith says, inwardly cursing his ignorance.
He steels himself for what he is about to open i mind to. SOme artifacts of Evil are nown to have a darkness that can overwhelm.
Garith you need detect magic first before you can identify an item. Spellcraft in your case right now would do great to identify a spell as it is being cast though.
Oriana spellcraft on Minotaur head
Use hero point for +4 after the fact to hit DC 21
Spellcraft on room
Again use hero point for +4 after the fact
Zeriax shakes his head in disbelief as he reads the note - "The apparent corruption within the Templars is appaling, and the fact that it went unnoticed for so long is even more surprising... The fact that this Faxon was receiving correspondence from Minagho - the demonic ruler of Raliscrad in the Worldwound - hints at the very forces at stake here" - he seems to wince at something momentarily - "The good news amidst all this madness is that we have done the right thing in suppressing Faxon" - he reads further - "Vorlesh - I know this name - she is the one rumored to have helped open the Worldwound in the first place. I do not know what a Nahyndrian crystal is however. Perhaps our friend Aravashinal could be of assistance"
Sitting down in one bunk, the tiefling adds - "As for our next destination - we either continue pursuing our goals, going for Topaz Solutions or the Tower of Estrod, whichever is closer. Or we double back and see Aravashinal for some possible feedback on the contents of this letter"
"Evil thing..." Pakak almost spits at the head, "I'm not sure how to destroy it best, but a goodly priest would be of help against it I think."
"So we rest here then, since it seems to be secure enough?" Maelchar seems eager for the rest and recuperation.
He turns to Oriana and takes her gently by the arm, as he leads her away slightly from the others. "Sister, I know how you feel.. You are worried about not only the city, but the family too. I feel the same concerns... yet I feel as pulled in two directions as you must. Perhaps, since you and Sori have chosen the path of family, I feel I should stay with these others on behalf of the city as a whole. I will miss you sorely, my sister. Still, this is the only choice I feel I can make at this time. I hope you will understand why I don't attend you and stay with you to seek out our family."
As much as they are the only family I know, we are not blood, and her call is that much stronger for the blood relation. I hope she isn't disappointed in me for choosing the city over family."
He turns and hugs Ori , though he seems reluctant to let the moment pass, he eventually does, and releases her, tears in his eyes.
He turns back to the others and says in a strained cheerful voice. "Let's get our camp set up, set watches and get on with this... or choose another location... whatever we do, let's do it quick, I'm exhausted and need some rest... and we've got another big day ahead of us, I'm sure."
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"I say, at dawn we make for Gwyrm Manor at dawn, as it is the closest landmark. Master Gwyrm, have you supplies or articles with which we may assure ours and your safety?" he asks the lord.
"We can move forth from there toward the Grey Garrison, to locate the Riftwarden Quednys Orlun, as he may have taken refuge there when the Cathedral was destroyed. If we find him, he may be able to five us answers we seek, or we can return to the Library to update Aravashinal. Then we can move to either of the other two safe-houses. Pakak, sleep, the rest of us shall watch and we shall be ready to move out when you have your Magics prepared." Garith suggests.
Taking stock of the situation, Horgus gathers together some of the cleanest bedrolls he can to make his bed with. Turning to Garith he nods his agreement with your assesment without divulging too much. Providing that my estate still stands intact from all of this I am quite confident that I will be able to not only pay you your dues but to also keep myself safe from any and all harm at the present. I have not made it this far and survived this long without a few tricks at home. Only the complete desctruction of my manor would remove those precautions. So yes I will be safe once we reach my home. However the precautions were made for myself only so the protection granted to you would be minimal if at all.