"Rurik! Keep them off my back for a moment, if possible."
Niche leaps over the remaining Dretches, leaving them for the later cleanup like the distraction they are. As he lands, he lashes out with a massive powerhouse attack at on of the goat headed demons.
Rurik walked through the inferno unscathed. In fact, his few wounds were healing, leaving him as good as new. His skin flowed like lava and his hair blazed like a wildfire. He watched Niche obliterated a demon, and followed up towards the next one.
And delivered a solid blow with an axe. He knew it wouldn’t fell the demon, but not every blow had to do so. He would grind them out. Blow by blow, corpse by corpse, there was but one way this would end.
Niche charges forward and smashes one of the goat demons to smithereens! Rurik keeps up the best he can slaming his axe deep into a goat demon as well.
Melee longsword +11/+6 (1d6+3/19–20 plus 1d6 fire), hoof +5 (1d3+1 plus 1d6 fire)
Special Attacks burning hooves, breath weapon (20-ft. line of boiling blood, 5d6 fire damage, Ref DC 17 half, once every 1d4 rounds)
The large demon with the bat wings snarls at the two of you shaking its head. It spits out a lump of black 'stuff' before leaving in a flash of smoke.
The goat demons charge forward with their blazing swords, Rurik actually gets hit. 10 of them stop short and release a breath of boiling blood. As the scorpion demons slowly move forward casting spells upon you which both of you easily throw off.
Round 4
Aukan walks back in his black full plate and shining green blade. Turning around the corner to see the devestation to the area and yet his allies almost unscathed he picks up the pace to join the battle yelling, "Want a friendly face or is this just a battle for you two?!"
She came back with a drink.
There was another 'THUMP' sound as a tube came to her rooms, She walked over and opened the cylinder, taking out the note and reading it.
Then checking it again, before burning it up in her hand. She came back to the other.
"They stayed and fought. So no point looking for them on another plan."
She sat down crossed her legs and sipping a well made cocktail.
I 12' tall nude half Devil.
"You know being in the higher ranks of the hells, is not so bad, you get your own rooms. A staff to do your bidding. Wealth and possessions have little meaning as you have what you need."
She looked over at her dark blade, now sitting across its plinth, Silent.
"The only downside is an utter willingness to go to your death to defend reality."
She put her glass down and stood.
"The gate will be open again in 23 hours, I will be in the training room working out. Anything in this place is yours to use."
She walked over to, two large doors, holding out her hand, Her blade came to her. Then pushing past them she went into the room beyond.
Davian pushes himself away from the scrying glass, rubbing his temples.
"Thăt would explăîn țhe dîffîculțy fîndîng țhem. Ît wăș ă good exercîșe, nonețheleșș", sighed the cleric. "Î hope țhey wîll be âlrîght unțîl we fînd țhem ăgăîn."
The desnan, like all the men in the room surely do, watches the 12 foot naked half-fiend walk into her training room, closing the door behind her.
"Oh Bâbâ! Țhăț womăn’ș beguîlîng body wîll be țhe doom of me yeț, Î jușt know îț", groaned Davian.
With another sigh, the cleric rises from the table and begins to search the hellish office for some liquor.
"Șo, gențlemen, ănyone feel lîke ă găme of cărdș?"
Walking into the room as Rosa goes into the training room, he nods to Davian, "I know what you mean Davian. Just say no." He walks to the bar and brings over a glass container with amber color liquor and two glasses. "Yes, we need to focus on something other than her body." Pouring them each over a half a glass of the 'stuff' and sitting down waiting for the cards to be dealt.
The varisian takes out his deck of playing cards and begins to deal.
I lose horribly to Davian unless he wants me to win.
After a half hour of Davian taking the mighty warrior to school in cards, seeing the frustration on his face, Davian decides to show mercy.
"Perhăpș we shăll tăke ă breăk from cărds, Domnule Smîth."
Looking around the room, the cleric asks, "You hăve ăny șuggeștîonș on whăt țo do nexț or șhould we check în on our hoşteşş?"
"Dom-nu-le? Is that a title? If we go check on her, likely two things will happen. She will drag us into training with her or she will take one of us to the ground. Just saying. I am perfectly happy sitting here learning cards and playing with you rather than those options. I can't get her out of my head and my c^ck won't behave. Also the longer we are here I know there is more influence on us." He relays obviously sweating a bit and being brutally honest, you know he doesn't talk much.
"Domnule îș vârîşîăn for ’Mîșțer’", Davian grins simply. "Cârdş îț șhăll șțăy țhen." The cleric pours more liquor into both their cups.
"Î propoșe â toâşţ! Ţo you, Maţţhew: My long-forgoțțen conşcîouş hăș rețurned țo me ănd îș weărîng ărmor, țo guărd hîmșelf from Golârîon’ş woeş. Sâluţărî!"
"Ah!" He says a bit too excitedly. He lifts his glass as well enjoying the liquor slowly taking him to oblivion to avoid other temptations, happily toasting with Davian, "Salutari!" A wide smile crosses his face as he continues to learn the cards and enjoying the game. At the end of each game he toasts Davian even if he lost, "Salutari!"
Round 4
"Aukan! Feel free to join, there is plenty for everyone. Just be sure to invite us the next time you mix it up!"
"Damn it; where'd the big one go?"
As the Goat demons move in with their swords, Niche moves through their attacks like wind, countering each blow.
A well aimed blow kills one (just barely), and more sport broken bones. After their initial rush, he moves into an offensive of his own, attacking each of the four he injured (spending 2 ki for extra attacks).
=
The doors to the training room opened and Rosa came out. She was dressed and had her weapon in hand. Behind her shadow figures of ash and fire melted away. As the smell of sulphur filled the air. She was sweating and breathing hard. Her sword moves back to its plinth.
She walks over to the bar and taking a green bottle pours out a glass of blue wine, Drinking it in one gulp, she pours another, and walks over to the two playing cards.
"Do you mind another?"
She sits down crossing her legs and leaning back into the seat.
"Oh courșe noț", coughed Davian, crinkling his nose from the fresh infusion of brimstone. The cleric instinctively scooted his chair to one side so Rosa's large frame would have ample room. "Dîd you hăve șome fun ţrâînîng?" The desnan asked as he redealt the cards for three.
Matthew closes his eyes helping the brimstone and ash be cleared from his eyes, "You are welcome to the game." He on the other hand just stays where he is letting her be next to him if she wanted. Well intoxicated by whatever liquor they had been drinking he merely smiles at her and waits for the cards to be dealt. He looks down at his rock hard manhood, sheepishly looks at the sweating beauty besides him, and shakes his head as he looks a Davian. 'I thought alcohol was suppose to have the opposite effect on ones libedo? She looks so good.'
For his part, Rurik followed in Niche’s wake. He knew that nothing would stand before the godling...in a fair fight. And he wasn’t so proud to not take second fiddle. There was no shame in not matching a god. So he watched Niche’s back, putting down wounded foes and ensuring that nothing took him by surprise.
Niche and Rurik slaughter the remaining goat headed demons and the misshappen scorpion like demons. Aukan either joins or watches killing anything that tries him on for size.
As the last of the demons are pulverized the large demon with the bat wings is gone.
"Apparently we didn't need to leave. We don't have the expertise to close a portal to the abyss. Let's head to Wolf's pocket dimension and we can hope the others can regroup with us." He points out surveying the dismembered bodies around.
”Pocket dimension? Nay sure I like going anywhere I can’t get out of. This ‘ain’t going to hell or the abyss or some other such place?” Rurik asked with evident suspicion. ”Can’t ye contact them? Tell them to get their arses back here. Bet ya the devilish lass could do something to the portal, aye? Sounds like it’d be her area of expertise.”
"If I remember correctly she can only create a portal once a day. Wolf's pocket dimension is more of a building. If something does go wrong we will just be spit out of it. Or you can play tag with demons for the rest of the night." He leaves with or without them but answers any other questions they might have.
Picks up her cards and plays. She loses but keeps playing.
”...aye. Suppose I’ll need to trust ye if this is all going to work. So long as it ain’t the hells or the abyss. Ye comin’ Godling?”
The rest of the day goes by quickly for most. Niche and Rurik can either join Aukan into the dimensional pocket to rest and recover or continue to fight.
The next day comes with Aukan finding the two again one way or another and an infernal rift opening near them.
In his armor once again he exits with shield and sword ready. Saluting with the blade in hand he approaches the others.
After a night, Rosa wakes with a hangover, and washes, She looks for
Davian but he already got up and was waiting with Matthew. She washed and got dressed. Then when ready did the rite that opened the gate back to the others. She wait as 1st Matthew and Davian exit the hells.
”I appreciate the flattery Rurik, but I make no claims at divinity. As far as I know, there is little chance either of my parents were anything other than ogres. Any power I have accumulated since then has been merely through discipline… and perhaps something akin to enlightenment. In that respect, it can be taught.”
”I’m not a fan of portals either Rurik. However, Aukan has always been straight with me before; if he says the portal wont trap us, I believe him.”
”However, if demons are going to be harassing this region throughout the night, I doubt the local fire brigade is going to have much luck with these fires. Rurik, you can’t happen to do a water elemental form as well, can you?”
While talking, he crosses over to a large water trough, presumably left out for horses. He picks it up in both hands and tosses the brackish water over one of the nearby fires. He then looks around for something else to use to smother the numerous blazes and walks off to grab a manure cart.
”I’ve fought ogres before. Many. And yer not anything like them. I mean bloody hell, Aroden, Cayden Cailean, Iomedae, Irori and Norgorber were all mortals. Irori became a god through the same fookin’ process ye just said! An’ ye tell me if someone who can rip through a bloody horde like that who isn’t a godling? Yer on the fookin’ path to be the next Irori, so stop bein’ a bugger and accept the title.” Rurik said, bluntly. ”Just remember me if ye don’t die ‘fore ye ascend, aye?”
He slowly turned back into a normal dwarf as he talked. ”And nay. I’m Gold-Forged, or least so I’m told. Only have a connection to the plane of fire. Though it be a bloody strong one. What ye saw there is all I can do. Can’t turn into water, air or earth. Can’t cut through dimensions like Rosa, or make swords fly around, or anything like that.” He shrugged. Some smoke still rose from him.
"Hey, show the divine some respect, or I'll call down some lightning or something."
"Ok, I guess we're going to have to fight the fires the old fashioned way. Hopefully, the locals don't give us too much trouble. Do me a favour and let them know I'm trying to help if they start showing up with torches and pitch forks. You look a bit friendlier than I do."
Niche will spend the night helping put out the fires and then guarding the portal, unless he gets overwhelmed. If anyone in authority shows up, he'll direct them to the portal and suggest they get an experienced mage or cleric on the scene to get the thing closed.
"It is good to see you Matthew, Davian, Rosa... ah only the three of you then. It seems some of us were dispersed last night. Do we look for the portal to the abyss? Search for this demon? Find those responsible?" Greeting those not with him and then offering suggestions.
Wolf suggests, "We should go and rest. We will find the portal tomorrow."
Now with the seven of you assembled...
The desnan appears, healing kit in hand. "Quîckly! Âre țhere âny înjured?!"
Rurik shrugged. ”Don’t know, don’t care. What I do care about is why this portal appeared right here. In me experience, this is not a natural occurrence. Meaning someone knew we’d be here and wanted us dead. Got any enemies, Rosa? Seems more logical they’d be after ye.”
Rosa follows and the hell gate closes, looking around she sees the damage.
Then at Ruriks remark.
"I have to many enemies to count Ruriks. So you could be right, but it seems overkill to me. One or two demons I would agree with, but this meany? And why did they carry one once I had left. "
She shakes her head, thinking.
"My Instincts tell me, there is a lot more going on here than just an attack on me."
”Fook.” He cursed. ”Couldn’t be that simple. Well, suppose we should figure out who did the summoning? I’d hate to leave an enemy alive who can bring such force to bear on us without us knowing.”
"Overkill? Barely a few mooks; not even two-score. And the big one ran away before we could even challenge him, so I doubt he was much tougher than the rabble he was running with."
Niche is dirty and smudged with soot. The edges of his tunic are burned in one spot, but there is no detectable injury underneath it. Whatever his state though, he seems as bright and alert as ever.
”That force of demons coulda leveled a town. Most mercenary companies would have taken significant casualties, if they could have won. Ye shouldn’t measure foes purely by what ye find challenging. Whomever was behind this did bring force to bear on us.”
”I’d hate to leave an enemy alive who can bring such force to bear on us without us knowing.”
"I couldn't agree more Rurik, we have to find who was behind this end end them"
Rosa looks at Niche, lifetimes of war and battle behind that look.
"Rurik is also right, about this fight. You are a brave man Niche, and you can fight well. But it is sometime wise to retrait when an enemy is seeking to gauge ones strength. The unknown holds far more fear then the known."
As the group discusses current events, Davian quickly goes around the missing party members, double-checking for any obvious scratches or wounds.
While away for the day, Rosa changed her clothing now looking like
This
His armor is gone revealing most of his skin again, with not much more than a long green loin cloth. He plants his greatsword into the ground with ease and rests on it while stating, "Well most of my contacts are gone, anyone else have some contacts? I could go bonk some heads but not likely to get much information that way."
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"Well I took a few hours last night to try my few contacts in Brevoy and all of them were killed or are gone. Scrying revealed many dead and some digesting bodies. Yes, demons. It seems that whoever is looking for our heads is making a strike for the crown." He offers appearing in pain, as he winces and rubs his shoulder.
The desnan goes to Martikio's shoulder and removes a small salve from his healing kit. Davian put some on his fingertips and begins to gently massage the salve into the lycanthrope's shoulder. "Țhăț șhould help", Davian spoke softly. "Unleșș you’re one of Jăzelda’ș curș. Țhen îț îș goîng țo, how you șay, ’șțîng lîke Hell’."
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"Thank you Davian, just a little higher. Well it looks like no one has any obvious leads, shall we begin to gather some information on who is aiming for the crown? Though Niche and Rurick's display likely scared off whoever attacked last night more than the unknown." He offers after enjoying his massage.
Though Rurick, Niche, Aukan, and Wolf helped put out the fires and put down any remaining demons, not many, the town looks worse for wear. The tavern you were in last night is destroyed, and many burnt parts of houses. The fire watch tells of your bravery when someone comes and asks about this strange group. So your fame grows marginally with your notoriety.
Rosa talks with the fire watch asking if they had seen any others in town that seemed odd.
But being a 12' tall half devil seems to just make them shake in their boots.
She looks exasperated at the others
"See this is why I have friends. Davian could you talk to them, all they do is back away from me. Ask them if they spotted any other odd fellows about"
She then goes off in a huff. Helping with the making safe of the buildings. Her hight letting her reach beens and second floors.
"See this is why I have friends. Davian, could you talk to them, all they do is back away from me. Ask them if they spotted any other odd fellows about?"
Davian gives the smallest of salutes as the varisian begins to spends several hours mingling with the brevoy populace, offering healing and first aid, while gathering information about other powerful individuals.