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

Game Master Thackery Baxter J Thorington

Feeling the effects of the steel cutting into her body caused D'hara to mumble under her breath. She cursed her own foolishness for rushing into battle unprepared. She stepped back away from the man, pulled out a potion and quickly downed the contents. She could she the air in front of her shimmer as the force coalesced into a translucent barrier around her.

Swift Action: Activate Healing Judgment
5-foot step
Move Action: Retrieve potion
Standard Action: Drink potion of mage armor

Healed 1 hit point.

AC: 21

Was going to update tonight, but i need Ezechias. will update tomorrow. Also, I'm seeing double, so I probably shouldn't update anyways.

Ezechias stands up, facing the wrath of the crusaders (and their AoOs), then strikes the one closest to him.

"You shan't take away that fair maiden! I won't allow it." he states as the curved blade arcs towards the crusader's chest. However, it is deflected by a nearby beam protruding from the rooftop above.

Mwk Cold Iron Scimitar: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 71d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

"You shan't take away that fair maiden! I won't allow it." he states as the curved blade arcs towards the crusader's chest. However, it is deflected by a nearby beam protruding from the rooftop above.

Iavdi's forged body has begun to show several red-hot wires through the outside of his skin, and several places are leaking what passes for blood for the android.

Unconcerned about his injuries (as he trusts his allies to aid him), Iavdi focuses on the three men standing in front of him, lashing out with his glaive at the one that's farthest away from him, and directing Igneous to attack the other two. Iavdi's blade flashes, and cuts into the standing crusader's neck. Blood sprays out, pumped furiously by the traitor's heart. It covers Igenous' flanks as his corpses collapses to the stones.

The Crusaders stand, ready to bring death to the armigers. But, the hellknights are ready. Iavdi, Kevroth, and Ezechias cut down three before they traitors can even come to their feet. The other two madmen press the attack, but their hearts have left them. They look about the courtyard, stained red with the life of their fellows and throw down their blades.
They raise their hands behind their heads and kneel. Yield! We yield!

End of combat

Kevroth will keep his word. They bore arms against the Armigers. Mercy is no longer offered by Kevroth.

Kevroth steps forward to stand beside Ezechias, his eyes are hard and merciless. He grips the man by the hair and thrusts his dueling sword into the man's abdomen. His voice is a flat monotone as the blade sinks in, "I said I would stay my hand if you surrendered. You did not surrender. You bore arms against us. Clemency was thereby withdrawn and you have sealed your own fate by your actions. May Asmodeus judge you fairly."

Assuming he is flat-footed by having tried to surrender?
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19.
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + (4) + 2 = 10.

Her body still tense from combat, D'hara maintained her stance even as the crusaders' weapons hit the ground. She thought about slugging the man kneeling in front of her, but that would be wrong, that would be emotional. She was trained to keep her composure and so she tried. She relaxed her stance and began coiling the whip eventually slipping it back unto the small catch that held it in place on her hip.

With her hands free she reached around her back and pulled out the shackles that hung beneath her pack. She walked around to the kneeling man's back and made ready to secure his arms behind his back. "You are now my prisoner, and that is the only title you will know. The only thing keeping you alive until your judgment is rendered."

"Brothers and Sisters, we are chained to a purpose. To harbor the guilty and carry them on with us will sap our strength and leave us exposed to enemies at our rear. As much as I would wish them broken and begging for release before their deaths, or remade into fit slaves of Law, to burden ourselves with them may betray our mission. It could be Disobedience, Giosue said.

Kevroth glances over at the others, "They were given their chance. They refused. They have earned death."

The crusader kneeling before D'hara licks his lips, unsure if he's ready to face justice. But, then, Kevroth's foe collapses to the ground in a spray of blood, and the traitor nods. Aye. I'm your prisoner.. just, keep me away from him.

The other two crusaders nod fervently as well.

The maiden gulps, stepping, cautiously, around the grease traps and bodies. Thank you! Thank you so much! I.. I have nothing to offer you in payment. but... Thank you! I will sing the praises of the Hellknights to all who I see! I swear to you by the Inheritor Herself!
You have 3 prisoners to do with as you see fit.

"As much as I would like to save their souls, I sense they're beyond our help now. They've chosen that path of darkness wantonly, and they will pay the price. The chains for them!" the paladin sentences with a sour, disappointed look on his face.

"And to you, fair maiden, please treasure the life you are given, and thrive to preserve order and light in this life and the next one."

Ezechias then sees to his companions' wounds.

Dhara is missing 16 hp, Iavdi 17. Is that all? If we bought that wand of infernal healing, it'll take 4 charges and 2 minutes to get them back to full hp.

Hellstrider looks at their handywork. Yes. They are growing in strength and resolve. To the woman they rescued
"Do you need help getting back? It is not safe here for one such as yourself."

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After they surrender, Iavdi lowers his glaive and stares at them, the unflinching face of law.

"Why do we tarry longer than necessary? Surely you recognize the importance of our mission; every minute we waste costs us numbers. Kill them, chain them up and leave them here for our return trip, it matters not."

Somehow, it seems as if frustration and impatience affect even the lifeless, as Iavdi is displaying both currently.

"But know this: none of them are coming with us. I will see to it personally that they are slain where they stand before we drag them along with us to the Library."

Edit: didn't fully process Hellstrider's post.

Iavdi's response to the chakat's offer of aid to the maiden is one of obvious shock.
"Hellstrider, you know we cannot play the role of caretaker to this...civilian...right now. We have no choice but to carry on."

Assuming we leave them restrained and hidden here and they survive until we make it back, will we take them back to the Fort? And what happens to them after that? We simply turn them over to the Rack for, ahem, "rehabilitation"? Iavdi would obviously push for stake them alive to the outer walls and set them alight, but I doubt that the paladin-ish ones would appreciate that all too much.

"These two are mine by conquest" she says pointing at the shackled one and the unconscious one at her feet.

"Do what you will with the others. It is of no consequence to me, but these will serve as practice for my apprentice." She turns and slugs the conscious and shackled one again and again until he drops to the ground, unconscious like the other. She then drags the two unconscious crusaders over to the wagon and shackles them together, running the chain through the wagon wheel.

"There, that should hold them until we get back. Hopefully nothing eats them while we're gone." She wiped her hands together, dusting the debris away.

"So...are we ready to continue on?"

The woman gasps at the armiger's cold discipline as they calmly conduct their duty. The fate of the treacherous and criminal is sealed by the law and their own deeds. The law demands punishment, and it must be meted out! Without order, their is chaos! Without harsh and swift justice, the most primal and venal of man's instincts shall rise, and bring the world to ruin. It is a hard life the armigers have chosen, few can hope to aspire to the challenge. Even fewer can hope to see their duty through. But, they are bound by the Measure and Chain to serve Law with unswerving obedience, and unflinching action. There can be no mercy, no emotion. Only duty.

The commoner does not understand this. How can she? She has not been tested by the Hellknights. She has not faced the dark truths and cruelties of Hell. She has known only the chaos and destruction of the Worldwound, and the naive platitudes and hope of the martyrs. Saints may speak of a beautiful world of kindness and forgiveness, but that is a time for another day. That paradise can only rise, once the world has been cleansed of disorder and the lack of restraint that breeds anarchy.

Thank... thank you. Still, the woman has some strength in her. Perhaps this will prove a lesson to her and shall inspire others to join the fight to end anarchy. I have a home not too far from here. I will go there. She smiles and scurries off in the opposite direction, far away from the ally.

The traitors are bound up. if you're ready, we can move on. If anyone needs healing, now's the time to do it.

ready

"Be safe" she warns as the woman leaves them to their duty

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I forgot to update my profile, but I took some damage.

Kevroth looks at the prisoners with cold, hard eyes that promise a swift death. He simply turns away from them, no sneer, no emotion, just duty. As he reforms with his allies, his voice regains some coloring of emotion; some elation for a battle victorious, a small measure of relief that his duty did not yet require him to give his life, and satisfaction in overcoming the forces of chaos, "I took a minor injury and would appreciate the use of the wand."

Activating the wand and handing it back, Kevroth nods to the others, "I am prepared to continue."

Everyone should be at full hp with the charges spent from the wand of infernal healing.

Moving along, then.

The armigers gather ranks and march on through the ruined city. Chaos still reigns as the embattled forces of order fight back the encroaching tide of entropy eating away at its very foundations. Explosions shake buildings, and several collapse beneath the impact. Far away, a large boulder-shaped object slams into a soaring tower and explodes, releasing a swarm of demons that surge over the building, eating and twisting at the edifice. They envelope the structure within moments and then seep into the stone, infecting it with their chaos. When they are gone, the building is left changed. It still stands and has much of its original shape. Yet, it is left undeniably altered warped into a form designed by a madman, with substances that seem both alive and simple stone. The air about the tower shakes as though it, too, somehow, feels the unnaturalness of the building.

It is too far, however, to stop. And discipline is the hallmark of a Hellknight. They have their orders, and they must see them through.

Through their long march to the Librarium, they encounter more pockets of chaos, each put down as easily as the first. Each time, the citizens sing the Hellknights' praises. Iavdi and his fellows spot a growing resistance: several of the people they have saved have banded together to fight back at the mortal traitors. They are ill-trained and poorly equipped, but they win more than they lose. Swarming tactics are the basest of strategies, but they are effective.

Finally, they come to their destination. The Librarium of the Blackwing was once a grand keep: an outer curtain wall of black-striped gray stone surrounding an inner great hall and tower that pierced the heavens. Now, those curtain walls are but rubble, shattered by titanic forces beyond the ken of mortals. Fire blackens the stones, in places the stones have melted by the heat. The tower is no more, collapsed upon itself behind the remains of the great hall. Now, all that is left of this once proud building is the first floor of the great hall. Its windows are darkened by soot, its doors slightly ajar. The scent of smoke hangs thick in the air.

A gruff voice barks from within: Stack the damned books better! Several frightened voices whimper within.

no one's aware of your presence, yet. So, no initiative yet.

Kevroth holds a finger to his lips and slips into the shadows, approaching the building quietly. He creeps up to the door and attempts to see inside without betraying his presence.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17.
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22.

Kevroth holds a finger to his lips and slips into the shadows, approaching the building quietly. He creeps up to the door and attempts to see inside without betraying his presence. Silent as a shadow, he slips to the door, peering in through the crack. Inside, he sees savage barbarity that affronts everything he has been taught to believe in by the Hellknights. Several of scholars have been bound hand and foot and placed in a ring of stacked books. Another scholar, her body horribly bruised, searches through piles of scrolls, ruined timber, and books under the grim gaze of a rather gruff looking soldier in the tattered uniform of a city guard. The guardsman kicks her in the arm, shattering bone. You heard Lord Chaleb, move faster! These books ain't gonna burn themselves, wot! The other guards laugh at the oaf's jest. The woman cradles her ruined arm and picks up another book for the pile, begging the other prisoners for forgiveness.

Near the pile of books, stands the man who must be Lord Chaleb. His banded mail and noble sign have been defaced, and now bear symbols sacred to demons and chaos. He holds a flaming mace in one hand, and shield in the other. Hurry up! Hurry up! Lots more places to burn! We need to show them we're worthy! This will please them! To the sides, a pair of tiefling twins chuckle darkly from the shadows. They amuse themselves by tossing what appears to be a rag doll between them, and defiling it with a dagger. The drops of blood trailing in its wake as they it flies through the air indicate that it is anything but a doll.

All this Kevroth sees, and he's about to turn when his foot scratches on a piece of loose rubble. It echoes through the silent courtyard, rebounding off of shattered buildings, and fills the Librarium. It's deafening. The sound of blades being drawn follows. He's been discovered.

Round 1! Kevroth, D'hara, and Iavdi up!

D'hara winced as the noise echoed across the courtyard. She immediately bolted for the front door and freed her cold iron spiked chain as she ran. She moved through the doors to the library and banked left, rushing ahead to the western corner of the building where she couldn't be surrounded.

Double Move to current map position.


Has it been more than 1 hour since our fight with the crusaders? If not, then D'hara's mage armor spell is still active.


AC: 17 (or 21 with mage armor)

you've still got your mage armor

Before they can do more than draw their swords, Kevroth darts in through the doors, to the right, and ducks deftly under a clumsy swipe from one of the former soldiers.

Acrobatics to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23.

"In the favor of Asmodeus, will I smite thee down." His voice is full of the strength of his own religious conviction as he swings at the man.

Cast Divine Favor as swift action with 1 Fervor.
Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27.
Confirm: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24.
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 2 = 10 X 2 + 1d6 ⇒ 3 = 23.

JUst Iavdi. Gonna update tonight.

Having detect chaos/evil up, do any of them in my field of vision detect as evil or chaos?

"By all that is Right in the world, they are burning the books!"

With that he advances on the nearest Tiefling, shield up and morningstar ready.

all the baddies detect as both evil and chaotic, although not strongly

D'hara winces as the noise echoes across the courtyard. She immediately bolts for the front door and frees her cold iron spiked chain as she runs. She moves through the doors to the library and banked left, rushing ahead to the western corner of the building where she can't be surrounded.

Behind her both Kevroth and Iavdi rush into action. The hellforged armiger dismounts I'll retcon this if you want, but I don't think you can fit yourself and a horse into the building and resolutely marches towards the ruined building. Kevroth, on the other hand, follows D'hara through the broken doors and darts to the right. He ducks deftly under a clumsy swipe from one of the former soldiers. "In the favor of Asmodeus, will I smite thee down." His voice is full of the strength of his own religious conviction as he swings at the man. Red and black flames burn in his eyes and a ghostly figure of a diabolic man overlays his own form. The blade strikes true, right between the man's kidneys. The guard gasps once in agony and then falls to the ground, already dying from the shock.

The guards descend on D'hara and Kevroth, blades out and drool trickling from mad grins. The red and black form of the First shrouding Kevroth's arm catches the guard's blade in a brilliant burst of green flame, and the man suffers no harm. D'hara is not so lucky as the soldier feints to the right and catches the monk between the wall and his blade, sticking his steel deep into her thigh.

Giosue, Hellstrider, UP!

Sorry, school! Yeah, Iavdi most certainly would dismount here. They're obviously up to something in there, and it may concern the exact dangerous knowledge he's after.

Giosue, Hellstrider?

Damn the luck. Disobedience! Giosue was expending his magic profligately. But enemies were many. It had to be done.

"Ave Mammonae, simul Erebi de turba ego fimi infernum chaos servus ot hoc ritu consecrabitur," he intoned, conjuring a quantity of infernal ordure and casting it at the ringleader.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Mudball, Ref DC 16 on Chaleb. Should he fail, he's blinded until he cleans his face off.

Damn the luck. Disobedience! Giosue curses. He's expending his magic profligately. But the enemies to Order are legion. It has to be done. He steps to just behind Iavdi, fingers bending and twisting as he shapes reality with his will. "Ave Mammonae, simul Erebi de turba ego fimi infernum chaos servus ot hoc ritu consecrabitur," he intones, conjuring a quantity of infernal ordure and casting it at the ringleader.

Hellstrider follows hot on the wizard's heels. She paws at the ground, ready to squeeze in when the way is clear.

Ezechias and Darsanga UP!

Ezechias, forming the rear guard by himself, endeavors to catch up with his companions. Double move. I guess Darsanga would do the same if he needs to be botted.

As a precautionary measure, Ezechias would have set his Life Links on Hellstrider and Dhara.

Cast Protection from chaos on himself, then move forward

" Let not the powers of arraigned against us stand, ORDER AND VENGEANCE!"

" Let not the powers of arraigned against us stand, ORDER AND VENGEANCE!" Darsanga calls out. His voice booms from deep within the confines of his helm. A brilliant claw of red and black flame surrounds the armiger, and forcing the random colors of the stones into patterned order. He and Ezechias solemnly form the rear guard and march up the courtyard towards the Librarium doors. Darsanga is slowed by his invocation to the Godclaw, and Ezechias breaks ranks to march evne farther ahead.

The tieflings in the room laugh and pu,l their cowls up over their faces. As they do.. they seem to grow hazy. Their outlines become indistinct and it becomes hard to focus on them.

End of Round 1 start Round 2

D'hara, Iavdi, and Kevroth UP

Slipping out of the corner, D'hara brought one knee up and one fist down against the soldier that struck her.

Unarmed Strike, flurry: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Unarmed Strike, flurry: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Bludgeoning damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Bludgeoning damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

AC: 21

Iavdi? Kevroth?

Kevroth growls at the enemy, annoyed that the man and his allies are in the way of his mission.

He shifts a few feet to his right as he draws his Kukri, and growls in infernal, "Ezechias, flank the fool with me; distract him and we will cut him down." He prepares to sink his blades into the fool's flesh when Ezechias moves into position.

Ready action to make a full attack when Ezechias moves into position.

Going to move ahead.

Slipping out of the corner, D'hara brought one knee up and one fist down against the soldier that struck her. Her blows strike true, she knows it, but the ground shifts, wracked by a blast from the war. It can be the only explanation for why her strikes do not hurt the guard.

To the other side of the Librarium, Kevroth growls at the enemy, annoyed that the man and his allies are in the way of his mission.

He shifts a few feet to his right as he draws his Kukri, and growls in infernal, "Ezechias, flank the fool with me; distract him and we will cut him down." He prepares to sink his blades into the fool's flesh when Ezechias moves into position.

Iavdi steps fully into the Librarium, blade already swinging at the guard D'hara fights against.

The treacherous guards descend on the arimgers, rallying around the chaos filling their hearts. But, their skill at arms is as lacking as their discipline and their weapons fly wide of the mark. Only stirkes true, although it is a fierce blow, and nearly runs Kevroth through.

Giosue and Ezechias UP

Giosue, Ezechias? updating tonight

Giosue considered the tactical situation coldly. The leader was disabled for a moment, no better time to strike. He stepped to one side and loaded his crossbow.

5 step, load for the round

Ok, that was supposed to be Hellstrider up, not Ezechias. But, either way, gonna update. Hellstrider and Ezechias, if you don't like the action, just tell me, and i'll hit Ctrl+Z

Giosue considers the tactical situation coldly. The leader is disabled for a moment, no better time to strike. He steps to one side and loads his crossbow. As he steps aside, Hellstrider squeezes herself through the double-doors.

As Hellstrider runs the traitor through, Ezechias steps around his own foe, providing the opening Kevroth needs. Both armigers cut out with their blades, slicing the guard between them. But, still, the traitor refuses to fall! The tieflings follow, but their blades cut only through air.

And, i realize i just skipped Darsanga's action, so he can go now.. along with Iavdi, Kevroth, and D'hara

Sorry, I was out of town yesterday and I didn't get a chance to post today. I'm fine with that action. Thanks, GM!

Seeing the soldier between himself and D'hara is in fact wounded, Iavdi will attempt to capitalize on that fact, swinging at his chosen enemy once more.

Attack, flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 = 29
Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Aha! Here we go! x3 critical weapons for the win!

Confirm Crit?: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 = 29
Oh, man. This is bad for that poor soldier.

Additional Critical Damage: 2d10 + 12 ⇒ (10, 9) + 12 = 31
......for a total of 43 damage. Holy crap, the Pyre is with me on this glorious day!

Somehow sensing that he is close to fulfilling his Order's Edicts, Iavdi's blade strikes true, and the sickening sound of glaive meeting neck causes the Hell-forged warrior to cry out in what can only be described as victorious excitement.

D'hara smiled beneath her scarf as Iavdi took advantage of the distraction she provided. With the soldier cut down, she turned her attention to the foolish tiefling that stood against her. She spun in place kicking out first with her left leg, and then with her right, but the concealing shadows dancing around her opponent served him well enough and her feet found no footing.

Unarmed Strike, flurry: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Unarmed Strike, flurry: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

AC: 21

With an effort of will, Kevroth focuses on the fight at hand and forces his frustration away. He waits for an opening, then slashes his dueling sword at the misled soldier, following up with a cut from his kukri.

Dueling sword: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27, critical threat!
Critical confirmation: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24.
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + (4) + 2 + 1 = 13.
Critical Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10.

Kukri: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 = 13.
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5.

Pretty sure that will drop him! :)

As the body falls, Kevroth steps forward to engage the closest tiefling.

Updating tomorrow night. gonna give Darsanga till then

With an effort of will, Kevroth focuses on the fight at hand and forces his frustration away. He waits for an opening, then slashes his dueling sword at the misled soldier, following up with a cut from his kukri. The sword sends the traitor's head rolling on the floor. But, the kukri lashes out quickly, cutting only air.

Seeing the soldier between himself and D'hara is in fact wounded, Iavdi will attempt to capitalize on that fact, swinging at his chosen enemy once more. Somehow sensing that he is close to fulfilling his Order's Edicts, Iavdi's blade strikes true, and the sickening sound of glaive meeting neck causes the Hell-forged warrior to cry out in what can only be described as victorious excitement.

Giosue and Hellstrider UP

giosue? Hellstrider?

checking now. Weekend :P

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She raises her lance back and jabs it forward, trying to make sure this so called guard breathed his last

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
shlick: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

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