Nocticula considers Nash's question for a moment. "I do see a resemblance.. Yes, the Lord of Beasts is your father just as Torag is the Iron Prince's."
Varda purses her lips and shakes her head, declining the demoness' offer.
Aen, quiet until now as he listens to the demon lord, watches his companions reactions at the offer of gifts. "Perhaps we should ask for some sort of healing device?"
"I can do that. Is that what you want as a boon?"
Aen shrugs with diffidence and glances at his companions. "I can't speak for the party. It must be a group decision."
Gorn-Rel shakes his head.
"Well Son of Bahamut has taken a boon while your other compatriots have not. It's entirely your decision. This boon is for you. If you share it, then it is on you."
Aen ponders for a moment, rubbing his chin, then nods. "Ok, well then, I think a wand for curing serious wounds would be most helpful."
"As you wish." A wand mysteriously appears in her hands and she hands it to Aen.
A beach of powdered bones extends from the base of a black stone cliff, its soggy shores lapped at and churned by dark waters. Thick tangles of jungle plants cling to the ground atop these cliffs, while several other fingers of jungle-capped land extend out into the black ocean on the horizon. A sixty-footwide river flows from a ravine into the sea, while a cascade of steaming water plummets from the cliff nearly a hundred feet above to smash onto a fifteen-foot-wide stone pier below. You appear on a 15-foot-wide planklike stone protrusion at the base of that boiling waterfall.
As you get your bearings, a wing figure soars down to meet you. At first it seems to be possibly a Celestial creature. Then it becomes clear from the flayed headless body this is an undead abomination as it draws its greatsword ready to strike!
Aen holds a hand to his brow and squints at the creature.
Gorn-Rel draws upon his upon his divine power for Overland Flight.
It is a Flayed Angel. You get 3 facts.
Frowning, Aen mutters. "A flayed angel...." Raising his bow he begins firing arrows.
He then calls on his mythic power to surprise the angel with another arrow.
DR/Evil, Undead Traits, Immune to Acid and Sight Based Effects. Channel Resistance and Spell Resistance and has Blindsight. Whenever a flayed angel is physically struck in battle, the impact causes a spray of its superheated, sulfurous blood to fly off the creature at anyone within 5 feet. Anyone in the area of affect takes 1d6 points of fire damage from this splatter.
Gorn gives himself to ability to take flight while Aen fires arrows at the undead hitting twice. The Flayed Angel flies around and strikes at Varda seemingly offended at the presence of a holy person.
Aen curses to himself. "Ironically, only evil weapons with fully damage the creature. Gorn, beware, injury the thing will cause its blood to burn you. It is resistant to channeling, and spell, as well as having blindsight. Forget acid, its immune to it."
Calling on his mythic power, Aen causes his bow to burst into flame, then stepping northeast, begins firing fire arrows at the creature.
Gorn-Rel flies up to do battle with it.
Varda steps away from its nasty claws and unloads a volley of arrows into it.
Na'shok rears back with Soulshear, prepared to cleave into the foul thing should it try to work any kind of magic.
Aen lands two devastating shots while Gorn hits with four strikes. Varda hits but once with an arrow while Nash readies. With every strike, heated sulferous blood gets all over Gorn.
The defiled ex-celestial will swing at Gorn.
Varda draws and fires, draws and fires.
Weaving out of the way of defiled things attacks, his heavy fists thud against its necrotic flesh. He ignores the burning of its caustic blood; it is a small price to pay for victory.
Varda lands a single shot while Gorn follows up with 3 successful punches which is enough to bring the undead abomination down.
+3 Large Greatsword
With his wounded mended, Nash signals his companions that he's ready to continue.
Aen uses the new wand on himself, then nods his readiness.
Gorn-Rel flies upwards to get a clearer view of where they should be going.
Gorn-Rel flies up and sees that the boiling waterfall channels into a river flowing through until it reaches one of the many mountains on the island. The rest of the inland is covered in dense canopy. What he also sees is almost an army of Vrocks patrolling the skies. Enough to literally swarm the party if they were caught by them.
Though proud, Gorn-Rel did not believe that he could take on an army of Vrocks and emerge the victor. He descends.
"I believe we should follow the river to the mountains, which where the mines are likely located. The best course may to fly above the river but beneath the canopy. There is an army of Vrocks in the skies above."
After informing the party of the danger, they set out.
Nash summons flying steeds so the party can follow the river. After about an hour the river widens into a large lake, the waters calm and
serene. A muddy shoal extends several hundred feet into the lake from one shore. A barge seems to be beached upon this shoal.
Flying along on the majestic steed summoned by Nash, Aen scans the horizon for trouble.
Everyone sees a chain attached to the barge leading deep into the water. However everyone but Nash sees the chain attacked to a skeletal serpent partially buried under the bottom of the river. Which means it comes as no surprise as it rises out of the lake to snap at you!
At the same time a spirit rises from below deck that appears to be bloated and decomposing!
Gorn-Rel swoops down to attack the boney serpent.
Na'shok keeps his distance on the conjured steed and reaches across to touch Aen with a surge of orcish might.
Not sure of what his is dealing with, but feeling the rage, Aen makes his bow go aflame as he begins firing at the spirit.
He then fires a surprise arrow for good measure.
The spirit is an advanced riverswell spirit. It has the standard incorporeal and undead traits. However what makes it deadly is the fact that it can drown people with a touch. If it successfully touches someone, they must make a DC10 Constitution check or start drowning. The DC goes up by 1 for every time the victim is hit which stacks with the standard DC increase every round. Creatures that can breathe water or who do not need to breathe are immune to this effect.
Gorn swoops down landing two attacks as Nash empowers Aen withe mighty magical power of orcs. Aen hits with every attack on the spirit though its incorporeal nature protects it from each arrow. The undead serpent in turn snaps at Gorn.
Shambling out of the captain's cabin a gaunt figure in black plate armor. He utters a single phrase before drawing a wicked halberd.
“She abandoned me... but you will be my keys to earning a true place at her side!”
He then summons a skeletal mount that seemingly walks on air next to him.