Junior hears the horn blaring, "Strong lungs but they need some practice." He snaps his fingers rhythmically as he heads up the stairs. With each snap a duplicate copy of Junior appears.
At the top he warns Asterius' lesser cousin, "We have you surrounded. "
Tristan reaches the top of the stairs, looks at the charging Minotaur...err...demon-minotaur, waves; and decides to cast a spell.
Are we late for dinner!
Caliban follows the group up the stairs, with a nervous glance behind him at the unopened doors, wincing when the monster above's roar echoes through the building. Calistra preserve me, hopefully that clarion call will not cause our enemies to fall upon our rear... reaching the top of the stairs, the elf pauses, blade in hand and surveys the scene. I see we have found a large challenge... as he waves his hand in front of himself, conjuring a magical barrier to protect him in combat.
Benedic slowly runs up the stairs and tries to interpose himself between the heroes and the monster.
The enormous minotaur, not nearly as slow as he initially appeared, swings his greataxe at an unexpecting Junior. Fortunately, the skald had already cast a protective spell before entering the room, and the massive weapon obliterates an illusion instead.
Selann and Sinesia pepper him with ranged attacks while he simply knocks Massielo's weapon aside, but Greta is able to strike a telling blow. The beast's eyes flash with anger and he steps forward to strike her down with a massive overhand swing.
The greataxe connects with a sickening sound of tearing metal, and he brings his weapon around again to finish her off. But then Irabeth is there, throwing herself into the weapon's path and expertly deflecting it with her shield. Frustrated, he tries to strike her down instead, but fails to pierce her defenses.
Selann
Greta
Benedic
Tristan
Irabeth
Massielo
Caliban
Junior
Deradnu
Benedic ducks under the minotaur's greataxe and slashes at it with Radiance.
Seeing the vicious hit laid upon Greta he starts forward, but seeing her still standing he gathers himself, before advancing underneath his magically conjured shield, swinging his longsword like a much larger weapon, trying to quickly incapacitate the larger foe.
Junior exclaims, ”HA!” as one of his illusory doubles takes the blow for him. His excitement is quickly subdued when Greta takes a massive blow that crumples armor and would kill any normal person.
Junior is far too distracted with worry for his friend to bother aiming his stab.
Despite her best efforts to appear unfazed, a pained groan is forced out of Greta by the impact of the demon's blow. With blood rolling down from the wicked wound, she aims her upswing at her foe's knee.
"I could use some more healing please, if anyone can spare some," she gasps as she brings her hammer down again with all the strength she can muster.
Tristan boldly walks through his companions to reach the only available spot.
Sweet! A front row seat. I am figuring that this will be like a Gallagher show? Greta? Yup!
The Inquisitor pulls a hanky from inside his armor to wipe the blood and visceral that just splattered from the Demon-Minotaur.
Nice one, Greta. Yup; that was a nice one.
Tristan then looks at the bleeding and bloody demon and grins.
Mind if I take a turn?
Tristan turns to look at Junior.
Have you used my sword to slice soap again? Just asking for a friend.
The fiendish minotaur expertly fends off a series of attacks from the party, and scarcely notices when an arrow from Sinesia buries itself in his shoulder, but a feint from Greta sets him up for a one-two strike. Radiance carves a bloody furrow along his flank and he recoils from its holy energy, just in time for Greta's backswing to catch the side of his head. The blow sends him staggering backward, and that's when Irabeth strikes.
She throws herself forward, bearing the minotaur to the ground with her blade buried in his throat. An arm reaches out in blind desperation, then falls limp to the ground.
72 platinum coins
300 gp worth of diamond dust
A magical oil
Junior mocks Tristan while rummaging through the minotaur's things, "Maybe the god of fastidiousness has cursed your blade. " When he's done he gives Tristan a look and then side eyes the door, as if to say well, get on with it.
Tristan walks by Junior with a confused look on his face. He even is seen glancing at his hair in the shine of his blade.
Not a single hair out of place. Not certain that I qualify.
The Inquisitor cast Guidance before searching the previously guarded door.
Junior successfully identifies the vial as an oil of umbral weapon.
Tristan sees no sign of any traps, but the door is locked and quite sturdy.
Caliban stands behind his shimmering shield, taking up a ready position near the door to see what threat could present itself next after the demonic Minotaur. He looks at Tristan, Are we ready? We should proceed before whomever was alerted by that horn blast descends upon us.
Junior waves the horn in Greta's direction,"I know you can dance but with this you can join the band I've decided to start. Is the Suicidal Worms too grim a name?"
Junior pulls out a chime from his pack, and rings it while pointing it at the door.
"Well it was worth a shot. Maybe music can't solve all problems."
When Junior explains to Greta what the horn can do, she politely refuses. "I'd rather not take the risk of having a friends spell miss. Speaking of which, Massielo's right: this thing wasn't here by accident and the shard is probably very close; now might be a good time to use any blessings or helpful spells you've been saving..."
True to her own counsel, the knight uses a spell to ward herself against evil.
Tristan steps away from the door.
It appears to be locked. I am out of Knock spells.
Junior looks a little downtrodden as Greta refuses the horn and packs it away next to the chime. He touches his drums while chanting. He gives them a test pound which now sounds like him plucking a guitar. He gives Grets a thumbs up, ”Let’s gooooo!” He then stands there patiently while Selann picks the lock.
Selann steps up to the door to try and open it. A quick examination makes him realize how hard the lock is and he focuses his efforts on his best efforts....
He steps back once the lock opens and pulls out the Rod. "Everybody ready?"
Tristan nods at Selann. The Inquisitor then steps to the door, casting Guidance on himself, before opening it....
This circular room’s original purpose is unclear, but now it seems to be a trophy hall of some sort. A low stone pedestal sits on the floor in the middle of the chamber under a domed ceiling. Atop the pedestal is an iron, barbed cage—and within the cage sits a chunk of softly glowing white stone. This could only be the wardstone.
In front of that pedestal stands a single half-elf woman, holding a massive scythe at the ready. One of her arms looks normal enough, but the other is instead a massive insectoid claw. She is already in the midst of casting a spell when the door opens all the way, and the battle begins.
Selann
Greta
Jeslyn
Benedic
Junior
Tristan
Caliban
Massielo
Irabeth
Seeing the door open Selann mutters the words to his spell, then rushes into the room. He isn't 100% certain the the mutilated woman won't see through his invisibility, but....
"For Ragathiel, and the Eagle Watch!" Greta calls out as she rushes forward. Her hair and hammer begin to glow as she raises her hammer and swings it down in the hopes of interrupting the woman's spell.
Selann vanishes from sight and infiltrates the room. Even if he hadn't turned invisible, he'd be hard to spot when Greta comes charging into the room, shouting and crashing her hammer into the half-elf. The woman stumbles back, but keeps her footing. She glowers at Greta before lunging forward and striking her with a hand wreathed in foul energies.
Benedic
Junior
Tristan
Caliban
Massielo
Irabeth
Selann
Greta
Benedic rushes forward to strike at the woman.
Tristan whistles loudly at the sight of the 1/2 elf woman.
She looks nice.
The Inquisitor scratches his chin, as he studies her a bit.
He then casts Divine Favor before getting into a Flanking position.
Caliban advances quickly into melee with the woman, growling at her No longer will you inflict your poison upon this city... and swings his cold iron blade at her with a mighty two-handed cut aimed at the deformed claw. Switching to celestial, he warns his companions, היזהר, יש לה קסם רב עוצמה. אני לא מזהה את זה ספציפית, אבל זה אכן נפל.
Junior winces as Greta is cursed. I hope its not rapid hair growth or hiccups. That's the worst. He consoles her, "We can fix curses, " he looks around to the other spellslingers, "uh, right guys?"
Even though he knows the team can handle a single.... whatever, Selann hates not helping. He continues around to a position behind the caged stone, and pushes the rod through the bars and hits the stone as close to dead center as he can manage.
Junior begins to lay down the track for this combat using his modified drum set.
At 1st level, affected allies gain a +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution and a +1 morale bonus on Will saving throws, but also take a –1 penalty to AC. While under the effects of inspired rage, allies other than the skald cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or any ability that requires patience or concentration. At 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter, the song's bonuses on Will saves increase by 1; the penalty to AC doesn't change. At 8th and 16th levels, the song's bonuses to Strength and Constitution increase by 2. (Unlike with the barbarian's rage ability, those affected are not fatigued after the song ends.)
If an ally has her own rage class ability (such as barbarian's rage, bloodrager's bloodrage, or skald's inspired rage), she may use the Strength, Constitution, and Will saving throw bonuses, as well as AC penalties, based on her own ability and level instead of those from the skald (still suffering no fatigue afterward). Inspired rage does not allow an ally to activate abilities dependent on other rage class abilities, such as rage powers, blood casting, or bloodrager bloodlines; the ally must activate her own rage class ability in order to use these features.
While the barbarian is raging, her melee attacks are considered good-aligned weapons for the purpose of bypassing damage reduction. Furthermore, the barbarian deals an additional 1d6 points of damage when she damages an evil outsider with a melee.
He advances but gives Greta some room to work.
Tristan rushes into the room, narrowly evading an opportunistic strike from the woman's scythe. Massielo exploits the opening to safely enter the room, but his spell washes over her with no effect whatsoever. She's pressed by attacks from Benedic and Caliban, but is able to turn them aside.
Meanwhile, Selann, who has circled around the melee entirely, becomes visible again as he strikes the rod of cancellation against the wardstone. There is a sound like metal on glass for several seconds, but the stone remains. The cultist whirls in place and locks her gaze on Selann, eyes wild with fear.
Junior
Tristan
Caliban
Massielo
Selann
Greta
Irabeth
Round 2: Selann will duck down a little, trying to have the stone shielding him if possible, jamming the rod against the stone again.... This is supposed to break this stone!
Irabeth steps into the room after casting divine favor on herself, and Greta maneuvers for a better position, though the Deskari cultist deflects her hammerblow.
The cultist, heedless of the foes around her, lunges at Selann with her scythe, but the blade finds only air. Selann reaches the rod out to the wardstone again, and the reaction is truly spectacular.
The wardstone brightens suddenly and explodes with a blast of golden light and the sound of an angelic choir. Hundreds of crystal fragments rip through the room, obliterating the cage that had held the wardstone and turning Jeslyn into little more than a stain on the southern wall. Miraculously, none of you receive so much as a scratch.
The light ebbs for only a moment before a tidal wave of holy energy crashes into the room, seemingly from everywhere at once. It floods into each of you, overwhelming your senses.
Along with the power is a rush of memories that do not belong to any of you.
It is 4639 AR. The first wardstone is being erected in Kenabres, in a ritual being personally overseen by a golden, winged angel with a halo of small swords around his head: Iomedae's herald, the Hand of the Inheritor.
It is 4665 AR. A young Hulrun Shappok looks over a crowd gathered in front of the Kite, where over a dozen people have been tied to stakes with mounds of hay and straw piled around them. He shouts a command and they are set alight.
It is 4692 AR. Khorramzadeh the Storm King leads an assault upon Kenabres, striking a powerful blow against the wardstone. His sword shatters, wounding him greatly, but the wardstone suffers only the smallest crack on its otherwise perfect surface. The dragon Terendelev descends upon him from the sky, sending him fleeing back to the Worldwound.
It is 4712 AR. You see Irabeth chasing a burly dwarven man into
the courtyard containing the wardstone. Both are heavily wounded, and as the dwarf backs against the wardstone, smoke rises and he screams in pain. He ducks to avoid one of Irabeth’s blows, then manages to smash her knee with his hammer, dropping her to the ground. He seems ready to deliver a death blow, but the sound of approaching soldiers forces him instead to back away and summon a fiendish giant wasp that he swiftly mounts and then flies away to the north, abandoning Kenabres.
It is three days ago. You see a beautiful demonic woman with a long thin tail, clawed hands, and curling horns protruding from where her eyes should be, placing the wardstone fragment in this room and of the half-elf cultist using a wish granted by her to create the cage around
it before the demon teleports away.
It is tomorrow. The armies of Mendev have assembled outside Kenabres and all along the border with the Worldwound. You see another beautiful demonic woman with batlike wings, a horned brow, and glowing red eyes. Areelu Vorlesh holds up an enormous purple crystal, easily the size of a human head, pressing it to the wardstone, and there is a flash of nauseating mauve energy that devastates the city and transforms the crusaders into half-fiend monstrosities.
It is now. Areelu Vorlesh, Architect of the Worldwound, stands before you, regarding you with a furious expression.
"This only delays your kind’s extinction. But at least I can take steps to hasten your own."
Irabeth rushes forward to strike Vorlesh down, but the witch stops her with a wave of her hand. Irabeth staggers, clutching at her throat, before collapsing to her knees. Vorlesh then looks up at you, visibly confused. Her eyes narrow in irritation as realization dawns on her.
"The death throes of your wardstone seem to be protecting you from my magic. No matter. They cannot protect you from my slaves!"
With this, she spreads her arms wide, tearing open a rift in reality, vomiting out half a dozen demons. Through the rift, you see dozens, if not hundreds more demons. Before they can pass through, however, another wave of energy slams the rift shut, causing Vorlesh to cry out in pain as her wings are shredded and one of her arms is shattered. A heartbeat later, she disappears.
Selann feels.... shock at still being alive. As the explosion happens he had steeled himself to try and not scream in pain. But then it doesn't happen, to him. The cultist is turned into a puddle of goo, and then the visions....
As time seems to come back to itself he finds himself facing a wall of demons. He is strangely relaxed, but mostly curious about reality. Why is he glowing? How could his spells be back in his memory? He hadn't rested or studied them. Most importantly though, how could he escape from the demons? Invisibility? They'd kill him while he cast it! Besides, they had him boxed in. Even if he got the spell off.... And didn't some demons see through Invisibility?
Shaking the residual dust of the rod from his fingers he draws his dagger while stepping forward. This might be his last act while living so he glances into the future to guide his aim. He also feels divinely inspired, so he adds that too....
In between slapping guitar chords on his drums Junior manages to say ”Whoah. Was that Areelu Vorlesh? I think we just pissed in her Cheerios.” He glances at a coin pouch that contains a single gold coin, ”Right? We’re in the big leagues now Fred!”
Junior’s drums don’t stop as he swings the Ranseur of the Gargoyle at a nearby demon!
At 1st level, affected allies gain a +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution and a +1 morale bonus on Will saving throws, but also take a –1 penalty to AC. While under the effects of inspired rage, allies other than the skald cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or any ability that requires patience or concentration. At 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter, the song's bonuses on Will saves increase by 1; the penalty to AC doesn't change. At 8th and 16th levels, the song's bonuses to Strength and Constitution increase by 2. (Unlike with the barbarian's rage ability, those affected are not fatigued after the song ends.)
If an ally has her own rage class ability (such as barbarian's rage, bloodrager's bloodrage, or skald's inspired rage), she may use the Strength, Constitution, and Will saving throw bonuses, as well as AC penalties, based on her own ability and level instead of those from the skald (still suffering no fatigue afterward). Inspired rage does not allow an ally to activate abilities dependent on other rage class abilities, such as rage powers, blood casting, or bloodrager bloodlines; the ally must activate her own rage class ability in order to use these features.
While the barbarian is raging, her melee attacks are considered good-aligned weapons for the purpose of bypassing damage reduction. Furthermore, the barbarian deals an additional 1d6 points of damage when she damages an evil outsider with a melee.