The mammoth riders charge into the fray with reckless abandon! For the first time in days, they find themselves not fighting alone, and eager for a chance to let their aggression out, go straight for the stitched horrors that have been dogging their steps for those same restless days.
The dwarves and Taldans quickly follow suit, but it is the kelids that meet the incoming hoard of dretches first... and soon realize that they might have overestimated their advantage.
The clouds of poisonous fumes from the demons seem especially dense, but in the dim light, the mammoths and their riders do not realize it in time, until they have lumbered into the thick of it. Within moments, the kelids and the great shaggy beast they ride are in trouble. Riders fall from the backs of their mounts, unable to hold onto the reins as muscles sieze, or keep themselves conscious. Mammoths, stumble, and fall to their knees, unable to take in the thick gasses.
Realizing how much trouble they are suddenly in, Sangkip calls for the kelids to retreat, in hopes of regrouping... but the enemy does not let up for a second. Scores of dretches, almost unseen in the fog and dim light, slash at bellies and tendons, and anything other flesh they can reach. The kelids still almost get clear, until the stitched horrors arrive. Using the dretches and the gasses as cover, Thurl's abominations suddenly appear directly in the path of the kelid's retreats... and those few who made it that far, are quickly torn apart.
It seems as if only seconds have passed, and a large part of the Pathfinder's advantage is gone!
The Taldan's and dwarves hit the hoards with practiced precision. So focused on the elusive kelids, the demons leave themselves far too exposed, and the pikemen barrel into them from one side, while the mounted troops charge in from the flank. Within minutes, there are few if any demons left at all, most of them trod into the dirt, or impaled on cold steel.
But the stitched horrors are not so easily routed, as they close in from the side, laying into the slower moving dwarven pikemen with heavy fists and misshapen claws, the air suddenly filled with the terrifying howls of anguish of Thurl's creations.
-- Engagement: Jormurdun, Day 16 (strategy/tactics/combat), Round 2 --
Floria and Alrik still active!
The dwarves easily fend off the fearful effects of Thurl's abominations, but mounting an effective counterattack proves difficult! Try as they might, the relentless attack of the constructs overwhelms them before they can really get set up. The brutal onslaught quickly overwhelms them, the sounds of mortally wounded dwarves only barely rising above the howls of their attackers.
But the creature's focus allows the Taldan's to run relatively free. They turn their mounts into the stitched horrors with gusto, weapons chopping at patchwork demonflesh wherever they can see it.
Many of the horrors fall beneath their attacks. Though it is not enough to keep the dwarves from getting decimated, it does keep them from being crushed entirely, and gives Alrik a chance to pull his troops back, before it is too late to recover at all.
But if they can't get free of the fray, it won't be enough.
-- Engagement: Jormurdun, Day 16 (strategy/tactics/combat), Round 3 --
Floria still active, Alrik has a slim chance of escaping intact...
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Floria watches with horror as her allies fall all over the battlefield, torn asunder by the obscene appendages of the abominations. She finds herself holding a sword that she doesn't remember picking up, and certainly doesn't know how to use, but she stifles the laugh at the absurdity.
Instead, seeing a momentary lull in the battle, she calls to her troops around her.
"TALDANS! FORM UP!"
While they struggle to get their horses under control, she speaks to them.
"Who launched the Shining Crusade to safeguard the realms of the living?"
The beleaguered warriors answer half-heartedly.
"Taldor"
"When their god died, who still believed?"
"TALDOR!"
She holds her sword aloft. "And sho's going to send these monsters back to the abyss?"
"TALDOR! TALDOR!"
Finally, pointing the sword awkwardly, she issues the final command.
"CHAAARRGE!"
Although he tries, Alrik is unable to maintain his troops morale, and any sense of discipline quickly disappears, as those dwarves still able to, try to get away from the relentless abominations that assault them.
The stitched constructs quickly move to chase down those that flee, but run smack dab into the Taldan Army of Exploration... hell bent on bringing glory to their country, and Princess Eutropia.
Floria seems to have figured out how to motivate them, standing unsteadily in the stirrups of her assigned mount, she manages a rousing speech, no one even noticing how out of her element she is horseback.
With a cry that echoes across the dried planes, the Taldans bear down on the remaining stitched horrors, barreling into them with the force of thousands of years of history behind them!
They demonic abominations don't stand a chance. Their misshapen limbs, and mismatched claws, attempt to quell the charge, but the Taldan's are not to be stopped. Glory will be theirs! Those that try to fight back are torn asunder, by weapon and zeal. Those that try to flee, are quickly chased down and crushed, beneath hoof and historical pride.
In short order, the last remaining forces standing between the Pathfinders and the Wolfcrags are vanquished. Those few that managed to escape the various skirmishes more interested in retreating to the mountains, than continuing the fight.
As news travels back down the line, there is much rejoicing... though a great deal of somber reflection as well. That path has not been without its casualties. The kelid troops are mostly gone. Only twenty five or so of them to start with, barely a handful remain, among those lost, the chief's son.
The dwarves and Crusaders have suffered heavy losses as well, hundreds of souls giving their lives to secure the way ahead.
Over the next few days, the various armies catch up to the front line forces, the Army of the Open Road quickly trying to assemble their troops before forging ahead to Jormurdun. Making haste so the enemy can not have time to regroup or fortify whatever forces they have remaining.
Over the next couple of days, as the Army of the Open Road regroups, and deals with those who have fallen, much preparation goes on for the final foray up to Jormurdun.
Both Kara and Huni are approached by leaders of the other Mendevian troops, and presented with a token of their esteem, for their efforts thus far. The fate of Kara's cavalry they appear to accept as due course when battling the forces of the Abyss. Her, and their, valiant efforts were all that matters.
The token turns out to be a long silvery banner. A flag, intended to be mounted atop a lance or polearm. It bears the symbol of Iomedae and Mendev... though not done in that countries usual colors. Instead all the threads and symbols are stitched in silver.
On the second day, Ollysta Zadrian herself rides into the newly setup temporary camp, from further up the valley. While you have been clearing the worst of the demonic forces, an advanced team had worked their way further into the hills, towards the Sky Citadel, to see what opposition awaited there. Those forces were led by Ollysta.
She spends some time talking to the commanders of some of the other units, than calls together the six of you, for a more focused discussion.
Although her armor, and weapons are impeccable... she herself is still painted in dried blood and dirt from what must have been many skirmishes. She gives you a grim smile, then pulls out a large map, marked on some sort of cured leather.
"Always end up in the thick of things, with you lot." She observes dryly. "Though after Ghalcor's Tower, this has seemed a great deal more manageable, so far."
She rolls out the map on the remains of a long dead stump. It appears to cover the immediate region, with a number of lines drawn up into the hills, towards the Wolfcrags.
"Marcos has begun the final push against what remains of Tancred and Thurl's forces." She grimaces slightly at the mention of the two.
"Thanks to your troops' efforts breaking the demonic armies in the area, Farabellus is now intent on crushing whatever remaining forces the traitor has left. They all seem to be falling back into the Wolfcrags... here." She indicates a section on the map further north towards Jormurdun.
"Unfortunately, things are never quite that simple." She adds, with a slight frown. "Normally demons are far too chaotic for this sort of long term engagement... but it would appear they have a leader to complicate matters. Their warlord, if you will."
She points to a section further to the west, at the base of the mountains, where a faint skull outline has been drawn. "He is a half-fiend named Brae-Hagen, and he has pulled back to a secure bunker here... from which he is overseeing his remaining forces."
"The Warmaster sent me to let you know of its location. An ominous structure carved, with claws and teeth, out of the mountain itself. It now fills the entire side of a cliff, just over here"
"While most of Brae-Hagen's forces are engaged with the Army of the Open Road, in the valley below. Marcus wants you to slip in through a series of passages in the hills here, that should lead to the top of the cliff, where the entrance to the bunker is situated." She traces a faint line with one finger to indicate the route. "We expect there will be some defenders left there, most likely some of his elite troops, but intelligence suggests that the demonic warlord runs a fairly sparse command center otherwise, so if you can get past the guard, you should have little resistance inside, beyond the half-fiend himself."
She looks up at the blood red sun in the sky, today seemingly ringed by a black cloud.
"I can't stay much longer, Farabellus wants me to join back up with him for the final push." She glances at you, as she puts her helm back on her head. "If you have any questions, ask them now."
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Alessio zones in and out during the discourse. His thinking goes back to decisions made on the field. His training has always forced him to put decisions behind him but maybe civilian life has softened him a bit. He wearily answers the call for more questions, What is the guard comprised of? Demons we've seen?
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"From what we've been able to glean, Brae-Hagen himself is as close to nobility as one can get, within the Worldwound. We've been hearing his name for years. He is apparently the offspring of Teremthal himself, a mighty balor slain by Society agents during the Siege of Nerosyan. You may have seen the aftereffects of his death during that battle."
"Ever since the Siege, Brae-Hagen has lost considerable standing, without Teremthal to scare off rivals." She snorts slightly. "I can only assume he's thrown in with Thurl and Tancred in hopes of gaining some of that back... though leading the armies of two corrupted mortals seems unlikely to impress any of those fiendish powers that might care about such things. He might also just be holding a bit of a grudge versus Pathfinders in general."
"As to what forces he might have held back for defense of the bunker, we know very little." Ollysta replies with a frown, unhappy that she can't better answer that question. "We are just assuming their will be something in the first place. There has been little opportunity to scout it out further... we only just located him there."
"Very well." Ollysta replies, as she picks up the rest of her gear. "We can't afford to tip off Brae-Hagen by sending a larger force, so it will be up to you. Good luck."
She nods, then quickly heads out. You note that she left you the map.
Within the hour, the Army of the Open Road is on the move again, through the foothills, towards the base of the Wolfcrags. On the second day, those same foothills soon give way to valleys and chasms. Winding paths leading through the increasingly vertical terrain.
Word eventually comes back of opposition ahead, perhaps half a day out, and the news quickly spreads among the troops of upcoming combat.
It isn't till you are nearly there, that you finally see the markings indicating the secret trail to the top of the cliff you've been following for the better part of the afternoon.
As instructed, you quickly make your way to it, an start the long winding ascent upwards.
The army keeps going, few even realizing you've split off. You have a great view of your forces as they continue onwards, and as you near the top of the trail, you get glimpses of the amassed forces awaiting them... a dark mass further along the canyon.
The trail eventually lets out at the top, nearly a hundred and fifty feet above the canyon floor, and you continue from there, following the canyon, and the army far below towards the bunker.
When it does eventually come into view, bunker is the last word that comes to mind. A grim edifice, nearly a hundred feet high itself, has been carved into the side of the cliff in the shape of a massive demonic skull. Huge horns rise from its brow, going upwards to the top off the cliff, curving backwards where you can see them embedded in the ground. They are made of metal, and as you get nearer, look more like massive pipes. You also note the demons jaw seems to open and close from time to time. It is a bit alarming at first, but again, as you grow nearer, from the top of the cliff, you realize that it appears to be operating on some sort of mechanical apparatus.
You've not reached the bunker yet, when the Pathfinder army finally engage the enemy forces, the specific sounds of battle little more than dull roar from so far above. You can see the fighting far below.
Eventually, you get close enough to the upper part of the bunker, to get a sense of what awaits you. Two steely arches sweep back from the edge of the cliff, what you realize are the upper ends of the 'horns' coming out of the skull.
You also see a large number of guards, protecting what appears to be a large metal trapdoor between the metallic arches. Almost forty of them, humanoid creatures with misshapen limbs, some with obvious demonic features, and many other variations. Tieflings!
One group of them stands in formation around the trapdoor, while a second group, roams from one side to the other. They do not appear to be wearing armor, though the group near the trapdoor are all wearing matching dark robe-like garments. Both groups are armed, with crossbows and blades.
You also realize that there is little to no cover to get to the bunker itself, just massive open terrain, dried and cracked.
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Alessio watches as the guards converge too often to split them up. I wouldn't stray too far, Sangkip. We don't want to lose you in the throng. I'll begin bombing when they get in range.
Alessio pops the top on two vials. He consumes one and drinks the other only to spit it back in the vial it came from.
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Floria digs around in her pack and produces a scroll.
"I won't be much use against so many I'm afraid. Alessio your bombs will probably be our best hope, but remember that tieflings are usually resistant to fire. I have this scroll which could make you fly, you could rain down bombs on them, but if they have bows or the like it might be worse for you..."
Floria, you encountered troops similar to these in Silvershore. Though they are typical of their kind, as far as resistances go , as well as the ability to create darkness at will, if you get enough of them working in concert, they have a number of other options they can use. One of those involves pooling their magic from their abyssal heritage to create walls of flame, though they must keep them close by.
But more importantly, you know that if they all start firing their crossbows at once, it can be quite deadly.
You will also recognize the robes worn by the stationary tieflings as indicating their being the more elite guardians, as compared to the patrolling ones, who are apparently not quite as well trained.
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"Flying might not be such a good idea now I think of it, they seem to have lots of crossbows. These tiefling mobs kept on summoning walls of fire while we were in Silvershore, let me see if I can help with that"
She then draws her scroll with the remaining resist energy (communal) communal on it and casts it on everyone, excluding herself.
She then casts shield on herself and draws her crossbow.
And at what point in their patrol do you want to interrupt the guards?
You watch the large groups of demon-tainted soldiers with trepidation. The more experienced group looking dangerous and somewhat intimidating in their black robes, despite just standing in formation around the trapdoor. Its probably the fact they don't seem to move a muscle the entire time you're observing them. Just standing there, their eyes scanning the area with coordinated precision you're not used to seeing in the abyssal foes. Still, there are nearly twenty of them clearly outnumbering you, all on their own.
And that doesn't even account for the second group. Just as large as the first, these ones seem less trained, as they march back and forth, in a large arc, from the edge of the cliff to the right of the metal 'horn', all the way to the cliff edge to the left of the horns... and back again. Over and over. You note there discipline is a little more lax, with no clear uniform, or identifying features. They chat with each other on occasion, and all in all, are not nearly as disconcerting as their robe-clad compatriots.
Alrik uses a wand to help his shorter stride, and Floria gives some fire protection to everyone... but eventually, you realize you're just delaying the inevitable.
As they the mobile troop approaches the far end of its patrol route, Sangkip vanishes from sight, and for a moment, you hear him scampering away... but soon you can't even hear that. Kara gives him a count of twenty, then uses a wand of her own, moving off to the north away from the others.
Her spell ends before Sangkips, and a cry goes up, as she is spotted by one of the elite troops.
But it is clear they were not expecting opposition, and the Pathfinders get the drop on them!
= Round 1 -----
Group Buffs: Resist Fire (10)
Party goes first!
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Kara calls forth (or "up", or "out", or something) a mystical pit in the middle of the elite group, hoping most of them will fall in.
Far off in the distance, Kara makes a few quick arcane gestures, before the guards can react, opening up a magical pit amidst the elite troops. There well-trained demeanor cracks slightly, as a few of them call out in dismay, before disappearing from view, while a few others try to clamber away from the hole.
Their cries grow louder however, when Sangkip uses the distraction of the pit, to come out of hiding, laying into their right flank with tiny blades flashing! Blood flies, as he slashes at any he can reach.
Despite all that, the troops are well trained, and suddenly orders are being called out, and the discord drops away. Some of them stop to try to help their comrades in the pit, while the rest swarm the small vanaran.
He does what he can to dodge the numerous blows that come, but a few manage to get past his defenses, as the elite troops return the bloody favor. He finds himself being battered this way and that by the many tieflings that swarm his position.
Alrik, Alessio, and Huni quickly take off across the open ground, trying to close quickly, while Floria follows them, quite happy to let the more martially oriented members take the lead.
But their approach does not go unnoticed, and a few of the elite troops on the edge raise their hands decisively, and suddenly a ten foot tall, wall of flame spreads across the opening beneath the horn, lapping up its sides, further adding to the demonic appearance. Unfortunately, they find they now can't see what's happening at all, the fires more than enough to mask what is happening on the far side.
On the far side, the patrol starts charging back to help, half of them going around the leftmost horn, the others going down the gap underneath it. Even as they approach, crossbows come to bear. The ones going around have a perfectly clear shot at Alrik, as the dwarf runs up, and he finds himself suddenly pelted by metal-tipped shafts.
Luckily, only some of them get the chance to fire, the rest appearing to not have a clear shot at anyone in range.
- Round 2 -----
Group Buffs: Resist Fire (10)
Party is up!
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Sangkip's ferocious onslaught continues as the Tieflings try to bowl him over with sheer numbers, but as they press closer around him, he shifts his tactics. He ducks, leaps, and climbs between the soldiers, using them to shield him from their comrades' view as the whirling daggers never stop moving from paw to tail to paw to throat!