Wrath of the Hellknights (Gestalt, Mythic, Wrath of the Righteous) (Inactive)

Game Master Thackery Baxter J Thorington

Kevroth slips in behind D'hara, descending the stairs. Given the unholy guardian atop the trapdoor, Kevroth is alert for any danger, though he expects to find none down here.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31.

The three armigers slip down the stairs into a dark cavern somehow lit with a bluish white light. It ripple and reflects on stone walls of native marble. A small pool in a recessed basin sets at the base of the stairs.

Kevroth pauses to consider the basin, searching his memory for anything he might know of the rituals of the faithful of Iomedae.

Knowledge(religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8.

Kevroth thinks this is a sacred font for blessings and such, but he doesn't really know for sure. He's positive that there are no threats in the water or shadows.

Seeing no threats, Kevroth gives a slight bow of respect in the general direction of the basin before moving forward into the cavern.

Something didn't sit right with D'hara. A hidden basin in a secret compartment was not something followers of Iomedae were known for. It seemed...odd. She paused for a moment to examine her surroundings. She first focused her eyes to search for magical auras, then lawful auras, and finally chaotic auras.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Knowledge (religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Using detect magic, then detect alignment to check for lawful auras and chaotic auras.

The pool radiates strongly of necromancy, alterations, and enchantment. It also has a strong aura of unshakable order.

She also knows that while these caverns are uncommon, these pools are not. Certain sects of Iomedae's faith operate almost as a mystery religion, especially close to the Worldwound, or hotbeds of conflict. They're the most ancient of her traditions, actually, started at the beginning of her faith, when her worshippers were persecuted by holdouts from Aroden. They believed that just as she had risen from the earth to godhood, so, too, must they arise from darkness to achieve enlightenment and standing in her clergy.

These pool were symbols of her power and ability to wash away sin and evil. Tradition maintains drinking the water, of bathing in its pools would purify and remove "the stain of mortality". Some of these were metaphorical, some of these were real.

On a practical note, her centers of worship have always been virtual forces, and wells of easily accessible and defensible water just makes sense to have.

Hellstrider keeps herself at the top. Her form would struggle to go doen not to mention cramp who ever is with her. For now she will keep watch and guard this entrance

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this is a healing cistern.. You guys have depleted a lot of your resources and you probably need a place to rest up for a bit. So, I decided to give you a moogle.

well. If she is called down. She will join them =^^=

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"This seems a safe reprieve." D'hara looked at Giosue and then Kevroth, deferring to them.

"Do we stay and recover or push through? I am able to continue. Chaos waits for no one, but there is no valor in rushing ahead ill prepared."

poke? Anyone going into the pool and/ or responding to D'harra?

"This seems a safe reprieve." D'hara looked at Giosue and then Kevroth, deferring to them.

"Do we stay and recover or push through? I am able to continue. Chaos waits for no one, but there is no valor in rushing ahead ill prepared."

"My resources are nearly spent," Giosue said. "I would spend my life against Chaos, but better to not sell it cheaply."

Sorry...

Kevroth shrugs, "I am okay to continue, but I agree with Armiger Giosue; we should not spend our lives cheaply. I would add, however, than a delay here costs the lives of those outside and gives the enemy time to react to our presence inside; for now we are still inside their decision loop. I feel like we should press on at least a bit further and plan to fall back to this location if it should prove necessary."

Assuming that D'hara shared what she knew about the pool of water...

Kevroth approaches the pool and pauses at the edge, turning back to D'hara, "I will test the pool. Is there anything that need be said or done before drinking or entering the water?"

Kevroth doesn't think so. He thinks you can just wash yourself with the water, or take a sip of it, and you'll receive the blessing.

Hellstrider is still up top =^^=

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"Hellstrider" D'hara called out.

"Come down here. I believe we intend to take sanctuary here for a bit. There is also a magical pool of water of some kind."

"If you believe it is wise. And safe for us to make a camp. I will not argue. Btw. Hope there is room. I'm coming down" she begins to climb down

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Kevroth crouches beside the pool, scooping a handful of it up to his lips to taste.

As Kevroth's hand slips into the water, his hand feels cool. Not, uncomfortably so, but still.. chilly. The water is odd, though. It's not wet. His hand is in water; it splashes, ripples, and stirs. Yet, all the same, his hand is completely dry. He cups his hand, and draws out a handful of the water, and still, his hand is dry. Despite the drops of glowing water that splash back into the pool. The water in his hand glows a soft bluish white light, and it feels as though he's holding a cupful of light in his hand. He takes a sip, an the light enters him.

He feels the light fill his mouth, it's cool and refreshing, like a drink from a desert oasis. He swallows and the light burns! It's like being frozen and set aflame at the same time. He feels a profound shame, as though he let down a superior in the Hellknights. As quickly as the pain comes, it is gone. Kevroth stands, straighter, his conviction with Asmodeus as strong as ever, and his wounds healed.

So, everything was flavor text. Iomedae doesn't like helping servants of the Lord of Hell (or evil peeps in general), but you're doing good work, so she'll make an exception

Kevroth considers the pool for a moment, then nods as if in agreement before turning to the others, "It is not a comfortable experience, but I think that any who are injured should drink. The water will restore you."

Kevroth moves away from the water and finds a comfortable piece of stone to sit on while he recites the Litany of Gates to himself.

What I find interesting about Hellknights, is that a significant number of them actually worship Iomedae, since she venerates Law. Obviously not Kevroth in this case, but some Hellknights might have no difficulty with the pool of water.

Iavdi stares with his cold eyes, watching the occurrence before him before deciding it isn't safe enough to be worth it.

"I shall be avoiding any such magical pools, for who knows what perverse effects they could have on any of us? I hope you have made the right decision."

I mean, isn't there an entire order of Hellknights that are 'generally LG' or whatnot? Shows you that any alignment is accepted, as long as it begins with lawful.

I dunno about an entire order, but the Godclaw have a large percentage of LG knights.

The rule is by alignment and faith. If you are Evil or worship an Evil god, than it'll hurt. If you're lawful or worship a lawful god, then you'll be ok, and there won't be any damage. If you're good or worship a good god, then it'll feel downright amazing. Most of you fall under category 1 and 2. Plus, since you're actually helping stop the demons, Iomedae's willing to overloool the Evil thing.

But, yes, you don't have to be LE to be hellknight, just L. There a bunch of paladins and other LG types in the orders

Assuming Hellstrider, D'hara, and Giosue drink from the pool
The armigers drink from the pool, save Iavdi, who is unsure how the workings of his hell-forged gears and coils will interact with the deific water of the pool. Each endures the freezing fire and burning ice of the pool's power, but their reckoning makes them the stronger for it. What does not kill Hellknights, only serves to make them stronger. Hale and whole, they stand at the top of the stairs amidst the ruin of the fouled statue, restored to their former strengths. Giouse even remembers all of the spells he had cast this day! Kevroth and D'hara find their prayers once more ready to be answered by the gods. Truly, this pool has been a small godsend!

Now, renewed in faith and purpose, the armigers march towards the stairs leading up to the second level. Hellstrider kicks down the door, and squeezes her armored bulk through the tight frame, followed closely on foot by Iavdi. Within, they find a staircase spiraling on the north 40 feet to the second level. All is empty and silent.

The tell-tale pull of a crossbow's cord being set is all the warning the armigers receive to the danger they face before six tieflings burst from behind corners, filling the room with D'hara, Giouse, and Kevroth, cutting them off from the Ivadi and Hellstrider in the stairwell. Giouse, shocked by the surprisingly effective tactic of the strategy stands dumbfounded for a moment, as his mind reels with the impossibility of their ordered plans!

"NOW!" shouts a voice from the air above Hellstrider and Iavdi, and two more tieflings appear on the stairs above the armigers' heads, crossbows trained on the warriors with deadly accuracy.

SURPRISE!!! Hellstrider and Giouse are surprised. No one else is (jerks). This round. Order will go Iavdi, badguys, then everyone else (save Hellstrider and Giouse). round 1 will proceed with Iavdi, badguys, and then everyone else.

Though the tieflings are the ones ambushing Kevroth and his allies, Kevroth's reactions are so fast he is able to catch the ambushing foes off guard. With blurring speed Kevroth whirls and slashes twice at the tiefling closest to him.

I can take a full action during a surprise round, and my sneak attack dice are maximized.

Attacking the enemy directly north of Kevroth.
Attuned kukri vs. flat-footed: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20.
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 12 = 19.
Kukri vs. flat-footed: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19.
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 12 = 18.

Iavdi? One more day, and i'm botting

I'll cast Sound Burst on the group of Tieflings with Crossbows, assuming I can see them from where I am. If I can't, I'll move 20 feet towards them. Assuming I can for my action.

"CANETIS!" Iavdi shouts out, as a wave of sound emanates from his hand, smashing into the group of tieflings shooting crossbows at the Hellknights.

Sound Burst damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7 sonic, and a DC16 Fort save to avoid being stunned for 1 round.

Surprise Round

The tieflings raise their crossbows, ready to fire on the diabolic machine and chakat below them. But, Iavdi raises his own hand towards them in a blocking gesture. "CANETIS!" Iavdi shouts out, as a wave of sound emanates from his hand, smashing into the group of tieflings shooting crossbows at the Hellknights. The demon-spawn cry out in pain, and grab their ears as blood trickles from between their fingers and down their noses.

Above Hellstrider's head, spiders rain from thin air, falling over her head and biting her a thousand times. They dig into her fur and flesh burrowing and biting. She fights off their poison, but her stomach stil churns as the spiders crawl over her flesh.

The tieflings surrounding the other armigers strike as one with longswords drawn. Kevroth and D'hara both duck their blades with deft ease, such is the strength of Hellknight discipline and training! Chaos, however, is always strong in battle, and one of the demon-blooded warriors thrusts his blade clean through Giosue's shoulder. Blood trickles from the wound as the coward withdraws and readies himself to strike once more.

Though the tieflings are the ones ambushing Kevroth and his allies, Kevroth's reactions are so fast he is able to catch the ambushing foes off guard. With blurring speed Kevroth whirls and slashes twice at the tiefling closest to him. He spins in place, a whirlwind of steel and black and red cloth. With a quick slice, organs spill from one of the warriors' bellies. He shrieks in agony, collapsing to his knees and grabbing at his steaming innards, as his life flutters from his eyes. Undeterred, the rogue reverses his grip and cuts up, striking the other tiefling in the groin. With a deft twist, he cuts through kidneys and stomach, spilling blood and offal to the ground in foul-smelling piles. The tiefling follows soon after, his body already cooling.

Bottom of Surprise Round. D'hara UP

D'hara spun around to face her kin, her leg arcing out as she twirled in place. She aimed high, hoping to catch one of the fools in the head and stun him for a moment. Almost immediately she began to mentally berate herself for not seeing the trap coming.

Unarmed Strike, stunning fist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

If the 17 hits, it's a DC 16 Fortitude save or be stunned for one round.

Bottom of Surprise!

D'hara spins around to face her kin, her leg arcing out as she twirls in place. She aims high, hoping to catch one of the fools in the head and stun him for a moment. Almost immediately she begins to mentally berate herself for not seeing the trap coming. The hours of training she endured beneath the cold eye and harsh whips of her superiors serves her well, although it did little to prepare for this surprise attack. Her booted heel connected soundly with the fiend-spawn's head, shattering his nose and momentarily stunning him in place.

End of Surprise. Begin Round 1. Iavdi UP. followed by badguys. Then, D;'hara, Giosue, Kevroth, and Hellstrider.d

[spoiler=effects]
Orthirubo is flying 30' above Hellstrider's head and is invisible.
there are 2 tieflings on the stairs, they're pretty high up (a large character with a reach weapon could grab the top one if that person were directly next to adjacent top tiefling's square. same with a medium PC with a reach weapon and the lower tiefling.

Hellstrider is covered in a swarm of spiders for 3 rounds

The tiefling immediately adjacent to D'hara is stunned for 1 round.
[/spopiler]

I am constantly surprised how often Iavdi goes first. He only has a +3 Init, after all.

Iavdi, having stunned the archers for now, reaches into his mental focus and pulls out a burst of inhuman adrenaline, greatly increasing his speed.

And with that speed, he will make a movement towards the archers, attempting to get within melee range with his glaive, and striking at the closest one.

Using a point of Focus from Transmutation to use Sudden Speed, increasing his movement speed by 30 feet for a minute. And then try to position himself so that as many enemies as possible are within his glaive's reach as possible.

Attack, Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Damage: 1d10 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Top of round 1

Iavdi, having stunned the archers for now, reaches into his mental focus and pulls out a burst of inhuman adrenaline, greatly increasing his speed. The hell-forged power of his perfect gears and wiring activates with surprising alacrity. In a hell-forged armor-tinged blur, Iavdi darts past spider-covered Hellstrider and around the banister to the stairs. He skids to a halt next to the lower of the two demonspawn. Iavdi spins around, using the momentum from his gift to swing his brutal glaive in a wicked arc that cuts the demonspawn in twain. Blood sprays from the wound in a fountain of vermin that skitter about the walls and quickly devour the demonspawn, leaving only malformed bones behind.

"Press them!! Don't let them reach my Love! Her Precious must be preserved! Kill them! Burn them!! BURN THE WORLD!!!" A voice calls from the ceiling, invisible to everyone. It cackles with mad glee as the spiders dig deeper into Hellstrider's flesh, feasting on her blood and burrowing deeper tunnels in her skin. She feels their venom burn in her blood, sapping strength from her muscles. But, she steels herself, finding depths of power and strength within her from her years of training. The discipline of the Hellknights is known the world over, and she will not succumb to the pathetic tricks of the agents of chaos! Her eyes grow clear even as a crossbow bolt clatters harmlessly at her feet from the stairs.

Then, the world erupts into fire.

"Burn!!! Burn burn burn burn burn Buuuuuuuuurrrrrnnnnn!!" The madman cackles once more as something burning arcs through the air towards Iavdi. A bomb! It's a small thing, crafted from the hollowed out skull of a human child. Flames flare out from where its eyes should be. The bomb shatters against Iavdi's armored back in a torrent of fire. It covers the machine and Hellstrider in sticky burning fluids that heat up the metal of their armor as intensely as the fires rage atop of it. Both armigers feel themselves cooking within their armor like a roast in an oven. They look to the corner, and find the blurry shape of a madman doubled over in laughter as he sloppily produces another concoction.

Through the door, another demonspwan attacks D'hara. In the confined quarters of the room, the monk cannot fully make use of her skills, and she feels the wretch's blade cut a deep gash against her arm. "Hah! You will make a fine feast for our Masters! The Usher of the Apocalypse will bless our names with your blood!"

Bottom of Round 1: Everyone can go! Order is: D'hara, Giosue, Kevroth, Hellstrider

Unleashing her fury, D'hara pummeled the tiefling in front of her before he could recover from her first blow. Her fists reigned down upon the foe one after the other. Blood began to cover her hands and splatter onto her robes. It made no difference.

Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

1 ki point spent for additional flurry attack.

Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Should the stunned tiefling drop before her last attack, she will strike at the unstunned tiefling.

AC: 19

This was entirely unacceptable. Giosue could not fall to the forces of Chaos. He was chained to better! He stepped out of reach of blades and spoke:

"Gratiam tuam Tithe Volucrem."

Grease. Ref DC 17. Aimed to get both tiefs to the south.

Kevroth? Hellstrider?

will post tonight

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Kevroth steps forward into the space vacated by Giosue, paired kukri flashing.

If Giosue's grease causes them to fall prone, add +4 to attack rolls.
If D'hara fails to finish her target, Kevroth will target that one first.

Attuned Cold Iron Kukri: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22.
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6.
Attuned Cold Iron Kukri: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17.
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7.

Hellstrider?

Bottom of Round 1

This was entirely unacceptable. Giosue can not fall to the forces of Chaos. He is chained to better! He steps out of reach of blades and spoke:

"Gratiam tuam Tithe Volucrem."

Brimstone-scented oil seeps up from between the cracks in the stone floor. It flows with rigid certainty, each rivulet a copy of the last, each bubble exactly as the last. The demon-spawn is no match for Giosue's perfect spell, and he collapses to the floor, covered in filth.

At the same moment, D'hara unleashes her fury. She pummels the tiefling in front of her before he can recover from her first blow. Her fists reign down upon the foe one after the other. Blood begins to cover her hands and splatters onto her robes. It makes no difference. Adder Striking in the Grass moves deftly into Crane Walking Through the Reeds. She feels bones shatter beneath her blows and the tiefling coughs blood as he collapses to the floor.

Then, Kevroth slips in front of Giouse like a striking hellcat. The tiefling tries to rise, but the rogue pulls out his twin kukri and brings them crashing down on the tiefling's chest. Locusts erupt from the wound, swirling about Kevroth's head before splashing into the ceiling as a torrent of blood.

Hellstrider shakes her fur, and the flames die out. Then, she pulls out her lance and thrusts it up towards the tiefling on the stairs. But, at the last moment, the demon-spawn ducks behind the railing and her blow hits wide.

End round 1. Start Round 2. Iavdi UP

Question, DM, if Iavdi uses his Hellknight boon to gain Resist Fire 10 as an immediate action, does that protect him from the burning effect? Since he took 7 damage from the bomb and 6 from the burn, are those applied to his Fire Resist separately?

Hmm... good questions. Yes, he can gain the fire resist 10. And, that would up to 10 points, leaving him with 3 left over (he's still on fire) because the bomb was 7+6 from catching on fire).

Okay, cool. Was just wondering how you'd rule it, seeing as how I didn't know which way it's go. Taking my turn now!

Iavdi's skin lights up a bright red in response to the bomb splashing across his armor, and he seems to barely even notice it.

Seeing his skin alight with flame, he takes no action to extinguish the flames, instead respond with a little bit of his own fire.

Moving away from the crossbow tieflimgs to directly under the flying....thing, and casting Burning Hands up at it.

"You will burn."

Damage, fire: 4d4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4, 4, 3) + 1 = 15

Edit: using my 1/day Fire Resist, by the way. In case that wasn't clear.

had storms here. Sorry for the delay

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wrote a super cool post, and then deleted it.. too frustrated to write again right now. will update tomorrow

Top of Round 2

Seeing his skin alight with flame, he takes no action to extinguish the flames, instead respond with a little bit of his own fire.

"You will burn." The armiger calls upon the infernal energies that power his machinery. Diabolic runes glow with a green flame atop his red-scorched covering, somehow appearing even over his armor. He extends his hands out towards the floating tiefling and green-tinged flames leap from his fingertips. The fires wash over the demon-spawn and leave his own skin reddened and blistering in place.

Instead of growing angry, or screaming in pain, the mad tiefling gives a great cry of ... something that can only be described as ecstasy. "Yes!! Burn!! Yes!!! For you, my Love, I BURN!!" He cackles, again, and pulls out a infant's head from his sack. He turns it this way and that, pouring bubbling liquids, and smoking gums into its cavity. "My Love is filled with Grand Purpose! Yes! She has been charged to pave the way! To open the gate and let the Locust Host devour the world! To cleanse it with their leavings, and bathe it in ruin so that it nothing but perfect ash and ruin! Then, yes!! THEN! Everyone shall see the filth that they are, and the Truth of the Lord of Swarms!! Yes!! Yes! It has been written! My Love has told me these things! And so.. it all must BURRRRRRRN!"

He looks at the shaking infant head and then turns to Iavdi. A mad intelligence burns bright behind his urine-yellow eyes. "But, you.. .you are not worthy to burn! NO!! The cleansing fire is not for you! You.. are filth! A disease!!! You bring the lies of order and laws!! You build and work in stone.. stone that cannot burn! NO!! To cleanse you.. you must be erased! You must evaporate like steam, blow away like smoke and gases!! YES!! YES!!!! Othirubo shall remove you all so that you're naught but a stain!!! yes!!!!!!! He adds a vial of something thick and sloshing, like an ooze, to his concoction, and then he throws.

The child's head shatters on Iavdi's upturned arm in a deafening explosion, fire and clear gel radiating outward in a flattening burst. The gel clings to his armor and skin, and Hellstrider's as well. And, almost instantly, the two armigers can smell their flesh rising from their bodies in puffs of noxious fumes. The sticky acids work at their bodies, consuming and dissolving their armor and skin in thick patches of burning liquid! The two armigers still stand, although they know they can't take much more of this assault.

Her pain is so great, that Hellstrider barely acknowledges the crossbow bolt that splinters on her armor.

Botoom of Round 2./ Everyone UP

As Kevroth finished the last tiefling at the rear, D'hara spun in place and made for the doorway. She rushed through the chaos of the cramped corridor passing burning Hellknights on the way. It was not her duty to stop and see to their well being. They were Hellknights. They were forged of fire. She bounded past Hellstrider and now seeing the visible, albeit flickering tiefling flying above her head, she drew her whip off of her hip as she began to ascend the stairs. It wasn't until she was halfway up that she noticed another tiefling, this one standing at the top of the stairs. In the end it made little difference to D'hara. She would kill one and then the other if she had to.

Double Move to current map position.
Draw whip as part of move action.

Giosue stepped forward, risking another child's head, and fixed his gaze on the flying tiefling.

"Et flamma de Infernis omnia secreta noviens," he incanted, calling forth the blazing embers that were the slightest breath of Hell to descend upon the flying man.

Glitterdust, aimed so it just gets the flyer. Using arcane reservoir to jack his Ref DC to 20.

on my phone. Can access the map very well. Who can I reach at this point?

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Kevroth moves into the room with the stairwell, slipping past Hellstrider. He flings his kukri up at the fiend hovering above, and it is borne to his foe by a ghostly hand to slash at the fiend.

Attuned Cold Iron Kukri: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19.
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8.