|
The stablemaster looks at WenJeff a little funny. "Extra horses? I dunno... this is a siege and all, I don't want to run out of food later..." He looks a little uncomfortable giving you his remaining horses.
You leave the monk behind, where he is to guard the nearby guard gate. You head to the coordinates on the map, barely dodging a flying group of demon scouts. There, you see a small group of four pathfinders on foot. A burly dwarf approaches you. "Bout time you got here! We just barely made it through an attack from a contingent of she-devils! They went for the horses first, to slow us down. Took Roger with them." He looks behind him, where an elf is holding a limp human body. He turns back to you, desparate. "You've got to help us get back to Nerosyan, and quick! As much as I want to kill more of these demons, we might still be able to bring Roger back. He did a lot of good deeds for the Society, I say they owe him one final favor." His blood is obviously pumping, and he's desperate to get his friend back.
|
"The siege will end sooner if we can get those Pathfinders back to the city," advises Vulpina, appreciative of Wenjeff's good thinking.
Regardless of the situation, she bids Yajima farewell and good luck.
"Come now, Alrik; the horse knows how to move. All one must do is hold on," she chuckles, as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
|
|
Between Lady Vulpina's smooth words and Wenjeff's mastery of horses, the master of stables happily lets you leave with the remaining five horses.
The group of four pathfinders eye your extra horses eagerly, desperate to get back to the city.
---
With that group on their way back to the city, you head to the northern coordinates. You have to make your way through a body-ridden and blast pocked battle field to get there, but you manage to avoid all demonic patrols. You approach the small forest that the map indicates and see the smoke of a campfire. Making your way there, you see six pathfinders leaning on the ground, relaxing. One, a female human, looks up at you. "Ho, friends! Erilin Boudreau at your service. Come near the fire! You look terribly tired. You should join us for a rest."
She is obviously under the influence of some sort of powerful magical compulsion.
|
|
Vulpina smiles. "If you find an Irorian monk looking unsure of what to do with himself near the stables, request his assistance in escorting your friend to the chapel in Egelsee. The siege continues, and Yajima is as capable as any I have had the honor of fighting beside."
With that sorted, she is off with her allies to the next area.
"'Tis worse on these fields than in the city!" she remarks, eyes scanning the corpses as they go. If any of them are still able to be saved, she does not see them.
Besides, there is more to see.
"Miss Boudreau, 'tis a pleasure to meet a fellow Pathfinder out here. That said, I cannot abide resting in times such as these... nor should you."
When the rest start suggesting that they join them, her nostrils flare. "We have not the time, nor do they! If your party needs to rest your behind on something, I recommend finding a horse and a lance. I would offer ours, but we've one more location to visit first."
Despite her words, she is looking rather exhausted. The past several hours have seen the lot of them running between districts and beyond with nary a moment to sit and drink.
She also has the distinct look of someone who is forcing herself through it and will snap at anyone who points out that she should sit for a moment.
Despite the Demons attempting to take control once again and arriving in greater numbers, the host of Pathfinders is battering them back as quickly as they arrive. The Pathfinders are delivering victories at an astonishing rate, particularly in the Confluence and Outer districts!
|
|
The other group of pathfinders rides back to the city with great haste! Yajima lets them in through the secret door, giving them clear directions to the local temple. The deeds of the pathfinder society should give them a little favor today. Perhaps enough to save Roger.
Alrik stares at the odd pathfinders, a thought tickling at the back of his mind. Denaria and Conney look at Erilin's glazed over eyes, missing a key link. Just then, a veteran pathfinder flies by on a glowing pegasus, looking down at your group, curious. He looks like he's about to say something, unsure if he should intercede.
|
|
Alrik turns around in surprise, seeing a line of tickets beginning to come out of his pants. It’s enough to buy a toy!
The man flies down, takes one look at the woman and shakes his head. ”Young agents, always falling for Suggestion spells. “ He chuckles and flies off. ”Sorry kids, I’ve got a demon lord to kill. “
Alrik know realizes that she is obviously under the influence of some sort of powerful magical compulsion.
|
Now knowing the reason why of the situation, the ranger doesn't search his words.
Now it's enough ! It's time go back to Nerosyan. Are you Pathfinders or poor little children? Come on or I'll write a report upon you to the Venture-Captain. And I don't like to do such thing. To write, I mean. So don't force me to do it and hurry up right now !
Intimidate:
|
|
The pathfinders snap out of their reverie at Denaria’s words. They pack up tbeir gear and head back to the city with great haste, not saying a word. The shame is palpable in the air.
Shaking your heads, you continue to the last group. The map leads you to the site of another great battle, where the trees are all burned and the ground is covered in ashy remains. There isn’t a single living soul in sight.
In the center of the field you find a group of six bodies huddled together. They have some gear typical of adventurers, but it could be anyone.
|
|
Denaria gently pokes through the ashy remains, and finds a small pathfinder symbol at the top of a broken magic rod. Recognizing it, she looks closer at the bone structure of the bodies. She realizes they are a group of Society Seekers. They must have fought something truly horrifying to have fell to this fate.
Spirits lowered, you return to the lodge with the somber news. An assistant takes the news. ”Thank you, Pathfinders. The other two groups made it home safe. We will let the families of the Seekers know. They’ll be taken care of. “
|
|
Vulpina swings off her horse, returning it to the stablehand. ”I believe so. We have... done much today already,” she sighs, growing a little weary. And hungry; she’s been mostly running off adrenaline for some time, but she would rather let the pangs gnaw at her than be seen eating without proper etiquette, and a siege is no time for etiquette.
”Any suggestions? If not, I recommend Woundward.”
|
|
The tired group heads to the Woundward district. You pass the great tower, where the guards continue to fire at flying demons overhead. Before you can head up the stairs, you see a commotion happening at a makeshift barricade in the street ahead. The crusaders, cowering behind the barricade, are throwing discarded bottles and refuse over at the demons.
You walk towards them. The street is littered with bodies almost equally split between those of demons and those of crusaders. The sounds of battle intensify ahead, demonstrating that more fighting is happening nearby. A crusader looks up at you with worried eyes. "Help! We need to push them back!" Without a seconds thought, you leap over the barricade to push back the demons! You run out into the street, seeing two bloated demons approaching you.
As you draw your weapons to smite these fools, you hear a battle cry behind you! Turning slightly, you see two of the crusaders abandoning their posts at the wall and charging over! But, they seem to be focused on you, rather than the demons! One, with a dark beard, screams out "FOR BAPHOMET!" The remaining crusaders at the barricade look shocked at this betrayal. They, like the brave defenders they are, run away. Enemies at both ends, you prepare to fight!
This creature’s bloated frame shudders with each heaving step, yet despite its shape, the thing moves with surprising quickness. Even the lowest demons of the Abyss are dangerous and filled with a driving need to spread ruin and dismay. The lowly dretch is as hideous and foul as it is cruel, even if it lacks the strength and power to realize its need to brutalize others in its native realm. The lot of the dretch’s existence is to serve more powerful demons as victims, and only the lucky few survive long enough to evolve. A dretch stands 4 feet tall and weighs 180 pounds. Dretches typically form from the souls of slothful, evil mortals.
Round 1
Wenjeff
Conney
Lady Vulpina
Yajima
Alrik
Denaria
Blue False Crusader
Yellow False Crusader
Orange Demon
Purple Demon
|
|
Vulpina's blast catches both crusaders, teaching them a lesson in loyalty. Conney's bomb then washes over one, taking him down in a wash of flame. Both Wenjeff and Denaria get a single arrow off, sinking into the stinking flesh of the demons. Yajima follows up, taking out a demon with a swift kick to the head. It slumps to the ground.
The remaining soldier takes a step forward, sword held high, only to be taken down by a swift slash from Alrik's blade. The dretch, seeing things turning for the worse, takes a guarded step away from Harpocrate's raking claws and snaps his fingers - a gleeful look on his face. Suddenly, the air grows thick and foul. The stench of the creature spreads out, filling your noses.
Stinking cloud creates a bank of fog like that created by fog cloud, except that the vapors are nauseating. Living creatures in the cloud become nauseated. This condition lasts as long as the creature is in the cloud and for 1d4+1 rounds after it leaves. (Roll separately for each nauseated character.) Any creature that succeeds on its save but remains in the cloud must continue to save each round on your turn. This is a poison effect.
Nauseated: Creatures with the nauseated condition experience stomach distress. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.
Round 2
Wenjeff
Conney
Lady Vulpina
Yajima
Alrik
Denaria
Blue False Crusader 21 damage
Yellow False Crusader 22 damage
Orange Demon 7 damage
Purple Demon 19 damage