Stargazer jumps a bit at the sight of the ogre in the hallway, before quietly launching a psychic assault on the creature, filling his mind with noise, drowning everything out and shaking him to his core.
The tieflings all move out from the hallway where the ogre is.
Round 1
==============
Stargazer
Red
Blue
Green
Vitalis
Chance/Jisara
Lout (-4)
==============
Chance groans as the tieflings come running in response to the ogre's call.
"Me think me found them!”
"No, you didn't. We are not the devastatingly charming and good-looking rebels you're looking for."
The little bard darts forward without waiting for an answer, stopping just outside (he hopes) the ogre's reach. He points at the three tieflings and shouts, "Gustumu la ĉielarkon!"
Looking back over his shoulder, he says, "Well, it worked upstairs!"
Vitalis steps up towards the ogre and batters him to the side. "More like, we found you. And you're going to wish we didn't!"
Jisara sends a loose bit of furniture hurtling at the ogre, trying to knock him off balance, then hides herself behind the wall again.
I was trying to move the ogre into the area that Chance will color spray. So if I crit, can I move the ogre diagonal southwest? Unless that's too meta then south is fine. But I think if we were at a table, I could communicate with Chance to plan the best placement.
Vitalis advances forward and chops his glaive into the ogre’s leg, giving the paladin just enough grab to pull the ogre closer!
Vitalis then threatens the ogre, who easily starts trembling at his words.
Chance advances forward and lets loose a cone of colors!
While the two tieflings are affected by the gnome’s magic, the massive ogre looks completely unaffected.
Jisara then launches furniture and manages to hit the ogre!
The ogre looks down at Vitalis. ”Lout crush scary little man for nice devil lady!” The ogre—Lout—raises a ghastly hook that he holds in one hand and swings it wildly at Vitalis!
Round 2
==============
Stargazer
Red
Blue {Dazzled: Round 0 of 1}
Green {Stunned: Round 0 of 1; Blinded: Round 0 of 10}
Vitalis
Chance
Jisara
Lout (-26)
==============
Stargazer steps forward and releases another mental assault at the ogre.
Green stands around stunned by Chance’s magic.
The remaining two tieflings move forward! Red stops on the stairs to flank Chance with the ogre. The tiefling lets out a kiai as it punches twice at the gnome!
Red then retreats, going up the stairs to now accost Jisara!
Blue then does the exact same: moving to flank Chance with the ogre, letting loose a kiai followed by two punches, then moving to threaten Jisara.
With a strange flash of light, Chance phases from reality just in time to resist some of the tiefling’s attack!
Round 2
==============
Stargazer
Red
Blue
Green {Blinded: Round 1 of 10}
Vitalis
Chance (-20) {Dazzled: Round 0 of 1}
Jisara
Lout (-30)
==============
Vitalis glances at the two tieflings rushing towards Jisara in dismay but the ogre is the greater threat and Chance is badly wounded so he stands fast where he is. "Lout won't be crushing anyone!" Vitalis slashes his glaive at Lout's neck and sends him stumbling backwards.
Vitalis then takes a step closer to Chance and attacks again.
Round 2 —> 3
==============
Stargazer
Red
Blue
Green {Blinded: Round 1 of 10}
Vitalis
Chance (-20) {Dazzled: Round 0 of 1}
Jisara
==============
"Vitalis," Jisara shouts, a note of concern creeping into her voice as the tieflings close in on her, "a little help!" She spots a gap between the two of them and darts through it, looking for the relative safety of the rest of the party. As she flees, she picks up another piece of debris and clocks the closest of her attackers over the head with it.
I believe this is a 1st-level color spray because I think you used all of your 2nd-level slots. That said, I’m actually not sure what your signature spells are.
"Ooooow, I don't feel so good." Chance reels from the pummeling he received and from his sudden and still surprising minor (but very helpful) teleportation. Still, he tries singing weakly.
"Go, go Silver Ravens!
We're freedom-loving Silver Ravens..."
With a wave of his hand and a mumbled "Flugantaj rokoj por ĵokeoj!", a broken table leg flies off the ground and speeds towards Blue's head.
Stargazer runs back towards the entrance a bit and fires a bolt of chaos at one of the tieflings.
Jisara launches furniture at Blue, completely knocking that tiefling out!
Chance and Stargazer both attack Red and knock him out!
Hearing the anguished cries of his allies, Green sticks his fingers in his mouth and lets loose a loud, high-pitched whistle! He then blindly moves over toward Chance, lets out a loud kiai, and punches the gnome!
In response to Green’s whistle, the far door opens to reveal three more tieflings, who all come running toward the action!
Round 3 —> 4
==============
Stargazer
Green {Blinded: Round 2 of 10}
Yellow
Cyan
Purple
Vitalis
Chance (-20)
Jisara
==============
Jisara lets out a short cry of exultation as both her attackers are struck down. As even more pour in, she whirls and conjures up a thick layer of slippery grease right underneath their feet, all while sending a pulse of healing energy towards Chance.
"How many of these fools are there? No matter. I'll cut them all down."
Vitalis slashes at tiefling attacking Chance then steps forward to meet the onrushing opponents.
"These make ten," Jisara answers. "After them, there's just Nox and her pet hell hound."
"Hopefully there aren't any more surprises." The vigilante releases another bolt of divine chaos at one of the new arrivals.
[ooc]◆ Stride
◆◆ ,
"Oh, good, just Barzillai's enforcer and her hellhound, is that all?" Chance sighs as the witch's healing kicks in and the worst of his wounds begin to close. "Thanks, Jisara!"
With a deep breath, the bard finds his voice again.
“Fight fiercely, Ravens!
Fight, fight, fight!
Demonstrate to them our skill!
Albeit they possess the might
Nonetheless we have the will
We shall stop them ed'ting history
And Kintargo's people will all be free!
(to learn it!)”
He grins at the green monk and stabs at the blinded tiefling before scooting up the stairs. "Bye, now!"
Jisara summons grease beneath the tieflings’ feet.
Vitalis easily cuts through Green and knocks them out.
Stargazer sends forth a bolt of entropy that hits Purple.
Chance throws a dagger and flees up the stairs.
Purple advances forward, stopping on the stairs and letting loose a kiai as he swings his fists at Jisara!
Purple then continues running up the stairs, stopping next to Chance.
Cyan then circumvents the grease and lets loose a kiai as he flurries at Vitalis!
Yellow advances forward onto the grease to threaten Vitalis…
…but slips and falls flat on their back! From their position on the ground they start jabbing at the paladin’s ankles.
Round 4 —> 5
==============
Stargazer
Yellow {prone}
Cyan
Purple (-7)
Vitalis (-10)
Chance (-16) {Fast Healing 4: Round 1 of 4}
Jisara (-10)
==============
Round 4
Vitalis ignores the tiefling on the ground and slashes into the standing one (cyan).
Then he repositions himself between Jisara and Chance.
Chance jumps away from the purple monk and moves partway down the stairs to stand back to back with Stargazer, then points back at the tiefling. "Flugantaj rokoj por ĵokeoj!" Another piece of shattered furniture rises into the air and flies at Purple.
Jisara favors Vitalis with a grateful look when his interfering strike protects her from her attacker and drives him off. With the paladin at her back, she turns to face the monk struggling on the ground and conjures a protective shield in between them. She then summons more violent energies into her outstretched hand.
Back-to-back with Chance, Stargazer launches another bolt of divine entropy at one of the monks, and summons a shield to protect him.
Vitalis hits Purple in retribution and easily cleaves through Cyan! He moves and misses on his next swing.
Chance follows up by hitting and knocking down Purple.
Jisara and Stargazer’s attacks easily demolish the remaining tiefling.
First 10 minutes: Vitalis and Jisara Refocus. They then cast their healing spells to bring the party back up to full.
Second 10 minutes: Vitalis and Jisara Refocus.
In this room are several plaques labeling what can only be described as cursed items. The items themselves are not here.
This room is charred and scorched
This room clearly was being used by the CRIDACH members to research the various documents.
In stark contrast to the rest of the Many-Steps Monastery, this room contains a lush meadow, complete with vibrant green grass and a stream of flowing water. A pile of tomes are stacked up on the far side of the room.
Standing at the other side of the stream is Lord-Mayor Thrune’s personal bodyguard, a woman none of you have seen since the Aria Park riot: Nox. In one hand she holds a glaive that she’s planted into the ground. Her other hand is scratching behind the ear of a fiendish canine whose body burns with an unholy fire.
The hellhound Mephiry immediately snarls at the PCs’ approach, and Nox lightly slaps the hound on the side of the head. ”Oh hush. You’ll get your chance.” Nox turns to address the newcomers. ”I figured the Hellspawn wouldn’t do much, so I’m glad to get some excitement. But I’m gracious enough—and morbidly curious—so before I kill you,” Nox places her free hand on her glaive and Points it at the PCs. ”Who the hell are you?!”
Vitalis is genuinely surprised by the indoor garden. Plants like these shouldn't be able to grow underground...but magic.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"You must not remember us from when you were murdering innocents in Aria Park but I remember you vividly. You won't survive to benefit from the knowledge of who we are but I don't know who else is listening. So let's just say we are justice and this is the end for you."
In the southwest wall is a hidden secret panel with a very strong lock, but Rexus’s key opens it. Inside is a silver-and-mother-of-pearl ink pen worth 50 gp, a platinum disk depicting a leering angel worth 25 gp, and a set of healer’s gloves
Partially burned benches and scorched chairs fill this room, facing a toppled podium at the southwestern end.
Jars of preserved fruits and vegetables and stacks of salted meat fill shelves carved into the bedrock walls. A halfdozen tables in the room are heaped with scrolls, books, and parchments.
The books in this room function as five separate Scholarly journal compendiums on the history of various regions of Cheliax. Each of the compendiums weigh 1 Bulk instead of light.
The eastern half of this colossal chamber appears almost theaterlike, with an arched ceiling painted roughly like the night sky and hanging lanterns radiant with cool, white flame. The room presents an incongruous sight this far underground—a resplendent garden, complete with a babbling brook, a gravel footpath, and all manner of flowering and fruiting plants. The pathway winds through the lush grass, over a small footbridge, and to a book-covered knoll at the far end. The brook cascades into the room from the north and then flows through a grate to the south.
"You must not remember us from when you were murdering innocents in Aria Park but I remember you vividly. You won't survive to benefit from the knowledge of who we are but I don't know who else is listening. So let's just say we are justice and this is the end for you."
”’Innocents’?! Was there another Aria Park event, because I specifically remember those being rioters! The ‘innocents’ wised up and ran; everyone that remained were violent dissenters who could have killed me if I did nothing!”
”…who could have killed me…”
Nox does not genuinely believe this statement.
If you critically succeed, open the spoiler below
"You really believe that don't you? You truly are deranged."
"You really believe that don't you? You truly are deranged."
Nox chuckles. ”I prefer ‘pragmatic.’ And I wouldn’t blame you for not noticing in the chaos, but I took a knife to the throat in that riot!” Nox glides her fingers across the front of her scarless neck. ”Healed up beautifully, don’t you think, Mephiry? And for the record, neither I nor the dottari killed anyone in that riot! All of the casualties were from other rioters or a few idiots in the Chelish Citizens’ Group that don’t know how to properly incapacitate anyone. Everyone else were arrested for destruction of property and disturbing the peace. Meanwhile you lot have just committed a mass killing of several government workers on orders from the Lord-Mayor himself! Even if the Hellspawn were originally just homeless bums that were, ahem, ‘recruited’ from off the streets, CRIDACH is still a government organization! At this point your death would be in self-defense as I fight for my own life; I will happily fill out that paperwork if it means I get to do something besides reading boring books all day.”
Jisara scoffs. "She doesn't. She thinks she's invincible. Introductions are wasted on her, but you do give me an idea." She smiles and takes a breath before calling out to the woman in an imperious tone.
"Enough! I am Hellknight Sorgren of the Order of the Chain, commanded to apprehend Nox for dereliction of duty and abuse of power. Throw down your weapons immediately and you will be taken to Citadel Gheradesca unharmed. Refuse, and it will go badly for you."
Nox is taken aback for a moment, but then almost immediately recomposes herself. ”Let me see a warrant for my arrest, then! Or am I adding ‘impersonating a Hellknight’ to the list of crimes being committed today?!”
"You really believe that don't you? You truly are deranged."Nox chuckles. ”I prefer ‘pragmatic.’ And I wouldn’t blame you for not noticing in the chaos, but I took a knife to the throat in that riot!” Nox glides her fingers across the front of her scarless neck. ”Healed up beautifully, don’t you think, Mephiry?"
"I can't say I'm sympathetic, a lot of people have suffered worse. As for your 'government authority', I couldn't care less. It doesn't matter if it's 'legitimate'--the things your government has done are cruel and despicable, and someday, it's all gonna come crashing down."
“There wasn’t any riot when you or another of your boss’s goons murdered my friend right here in this building! And our other friend’s parents! And Pharasma only knows how many others! And creepy Barzillai can make up whatever insane rules he wants and call them the law, but that doesn’t make them legal! Or right! I mean, he banned mint!”
Chance thinks for a moment, decides that isn’t where he wants to finish, takes a breath, and continues.
“And made up other crazy rules, just to have reasons to lock people up or enslave them or murder them whenever he wants! Kintargo has suffered enough, and we ... we four perfectly ordinary, anonymous Kintargans are going to stop him! And you!”
”Oooh! Rioting, mass murder, impersonation of a Hellknight, disrespect of the Lord-Mayor’s authority, and now terrorism!” Nox positions herself in a defensive stance as she glares forward with her pure-white eyes. ” That’s bingo!”
Mephiry looks ready and anxious to rush forward, but waits for his mistress’s command.
Round 1
==============
Mephiry {Delaying}
Vitalis
Chance
Jisara
Nox
Stargazer
==============
I am Hellknight Sorgren of the Order of the Chain
Vitalis raises an eyebrow and glances in Jisara's direction with a mixture of bewilderment and amusement. Oh really?
Vitalis doesn't wait for Nox to unleash her pet. He rushes onto the bridge and swings his glaive at the fiery creature. He spreads his legs wide and holds his glaive horizontally, guarding the bridge from enemies crossing. "I am Shelyn's shield and you will not pass without facing me!"
“Nox, if you want to roll the dice with us, even knowing how it went for everyone else here who tried, then we’ll be -“ terrified “happy to oblige! For Zamir and all your other victims!”
Chance takes a breath and begins to sing.
“There’s a land that I see where the people are free
And I say it ain’t far to this land from where we are
Take my hand, come with me, where the people are free
Come with me, take my hand, and we’ll live...
“In that land, the Yolubilis flows free
In a land through silver country
In a land without devilry
Where you and me are free to be
You and me.”
Chance moves a few steps into the strange meadow, stopping 30’ from Nox and 25’ from Mephiry, and tries to remember what he has read about hellhounds.
Vitalis advances to the bridge and slices into Mephiry! Though the hellhound just seems to take the damage in stride.
Chance begins singing and moves forward.
Round 1
==============
Mephiry (-6) {Delaying}
Vitalis
Chance
Jisara
Nox
Stargazer
==============
"Crud! It really is a hound from Hell! I was hoping that was just an exaggeration!"
"Hell is overrated. But these two will be getting a free one-way trip there."
Jisara grins back at Vitalis and starts to say something, but the paladin rushes off to vanquish evil. "Hey! Wait a second!" she calls out, chasing after him.
"You forgot something," she says once she catches up to him and finishes laying an enchantment on his glaive. "Now you're ready."
Jisara moves over and enchants Vitalis’s glaive.
Nox smirks. ”Oh, we’re just getting started! Mephiry!”
At his mistress’s command, the hellhound rushes across the stream to the other side, leaving behind scorching pawprints in the grass. He stops just south of Jisara and Vitalis and inhales deeply, exhaling a massive cone of fire!
Failure
Success
Critical Failure
”Good boy! My turn!”
Nox tramples her way across the stream right next to Chance. ”Mephiry, with me!” The hound and bodyguard then turn to Chance as Nox swings her glaive at the gnome!
plus 2 persistent bleed.
Nox chops and sticks her glaive into Chance’s shoulder! As the gnome screams in pain, he leaves enough of an opening for Mephiry who lunges at the gnome’s ankles and tears at his tendons, the beast’s flaming maw almost immediately cauterizing the wound—but not the damage! With her glaive still firmly in the gnome’s shoulder, Nox forcefully moves her glaive, shoving Chance over as her glaive is removed from the gnome’s shoulder!
Round 1 —> 2
==============
Vitalis (-32)
Chance (-29) {-10-foot to Speeds; 2 persistent bleed}
Jisara (-11; Thatch: -1)
Mephiry (-6) {Breath Weapon Recharge: Round 0 of 3}
Nox
Stargazer
==============
Despite being engulfed in a direct blast of flames, he grits his teeth and menacingly steps forward, parting the waves of fire and cutting down towards the hellhoud. "It'll take more than that to stop me!" he bluffs.
Vitalis was hoping he wouldn't need to utilize his lay on hands so soon but after being roasted alive, he is forced to heal himself to keep standing.
Jisara cries out as the flames wash over her. She turns away from them, curling around Thatch in order to protect him from the worst of it. She whirls around once they pass, her face full of fury.
"Chance, get clear!" she shouts, sending him a pulse of healing energy with one hand as she casts a different spell in the other.
The vigilante mutters under his breath as he throws a glowing blue translucent starknife. As it flies, the magical knife arcs directly towards the hellhound, and Stargazer summons a magical shield in front of him.
"Yeee-oooww!" Chance takes a guarded 5' step away from Nox, then flexes the healer's gloves to activate their once per day magical healing .
After a ragged breath, Chance continues his song.
"I see a land of shining silver, and the time's comin' closer
When we'll chase Thrunes and devils out of Ravounel,
We'll send them all running back to Hell
Take my hand, come along, lend your voice to my song
Come along, take my hand, sing along
“In that land, the Yolubilis flows free
In a land through silver country
In a land without devilry
Where you and me are free to be
You and me.”
Stargazer summons a starknife of pure force that misses Mephiry.
Vitalis heals himself and strikes at Mephiry, missing completely.
Chance moves away and activates his newly-acquired gloves. Nox sees the gnome activating his item and grips her glaive and swings at Chance! ”Oh no you don’t!”
Barely at the verge of consciousness, Chance manages to heal his wounds, only for him to start bleeding profusely from the wound on his shoulder.
Jisara then uses her magic to start healing Chance, followed by manifesting fabulous glitter right on Nox and Mephiry!
Nox manages to shield her eyes from the glitter, but Mephiry isn’t so lucky.
Nox grunts, then grins as she looks at Chance. ”Hey, boy? You want a treat? I got one right here!”
Mephiry turns heel to look at Chance, steps forward, and bites at the injured gnome!
Mephiry chomps into Chance hard and knocks the gnome unconscious! Nox motions toward Vitalis and the hellhound complies by rushing at the paladin.
”Now as for you, Mr. ‘Shelyn’s shield.’ Mephiry, with me!” Nox swings her glaive at Vitalis!
As Nox hits the paladin, Mephiry quickly goes to bite at his tendons!
Nox then moves over to have both Jisara and Stargazer within reach of her glaive.
”Can’t have any more of that spellcasting, now can we?”
Round 2 —> 3
==============
Vitalis (-38) {-5-foot to Speeds: Round 0 of 10; 1 persistent bleed}
Chance (-34) {-10-foot to Speeds: Round 1 of 10; Fast Healing 4: Round 1 of 4; Prone; Wounded 1}
Jisara (-11; Thatch: -7)
Mephiry (-6) {Breath Weapon Recharge: Round 1 of 3; Dazzled: Round 1 of 10}
Nox
Stargazer
==============
Bleeding out and with his tendon torn to shreds, Vitalis hobbles around the hellhound near Chase. I'll at least make them work for the kill.
Vitalis slashes at Mephiry twice. "Will you just die already?"
I'll at least make them work for the kill.
Nox stares at the moving Vitalis, back to Jisara, and back to Vitalis, but does not move herself. Vitalis then slashes once into Mephiry’s skin.
Round 2 —> 3
==============
Vitalis (-39) {-5-foot to Speeds: Round 0 of 10; 1 persistent bleed}
Chance (-34) {-10-foot to Speeds: Round 1 of 10; Fast Healing 4: Round 1 of 4; Prone; Wounded 1}
Jisara (-11; Thatch: -7)
Mephiry (-15) {Breath Weapon Recharge: Round 1 of 3; Dazzled: Round 1 of 10}
Nox
Stargazer
==============
Stargazer keeps his back against the wall as he directs the ethereal starknife to attack the hound again. Trying his best to avoid Nox's glaive, he tentatively reaches out a glowing hand in Vitalis's direction, hoping to heal the paladin's wounds.