Vitalis' body is covered in sweat. "T-that was Asmodeus himself, wasn't it... I know we are in his temple but I didn't think we'd draw his attention so directly. This is bad." He goes to his knees and says a few prayers. "Shelyn protect us."
"I guess this is the welcoming party on the second floor. Sorry golems, we have places to be."
Vitalis steps up and swings at one. (White).
He'll also expand his aura.
Round 6
"I guess this is the welcoming party on the second floor. Sorry golems, we have places to be."
Vitalis moves forward and attacks White!
Black makes a Heavy Stride, walking straight into Vitalis and several other statues!
Success
Black then turns heel and punches at Vitalis!
White Strides over and unleashes a 20-foot emanation of spiritual energy as it attempts to Cast Out the PCs!
Failure
Success
Failure
Failure
Failure
plus 4 persistent spirit
Round 1 —> 2
==============
Vitalis (-49) {3d6 persistent unholy spirit}
Statue <Black>
Statue <White> (-84 from “2” attacks [before resistances])
Jisara (-26) {3d6 persistent unholy spirit}
Thatch (-12) {3d6 persistent unholy spirit}
Edrakk (-13)
Chance (-26) {3d6 persistent unholy spirit}
==============
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"Sorry golems, we have places to be."
Edrakk scrambles backwards down the stairs a few steps before quickly poisoning a dagger and attacking the statue with it.
"Thatch, go!" Jisara barks, as the cat discorporates midleap into his usual cloud of swirling strips of cloth. Hoping that will occupy at least one of the statues, she asks for a little bit of help from her patron as she tries to remember any weaknesses they might have.
Vitalis gets the urge to move away from the golems but senses the room is too small to get far enough away, so he stays and fights.
Vitalis takes a step to make it more difficult to be flanked then attacks the damaged statue.
Chance picks up a new melody for his courageous anthem, then lunges forward with Reprisal, putting all of his will and the weight of his tiny body behind it.
◆◆:
**Activate ** (concentrate) **Effect** Drawing upon divine fury, you single out a target that damaged you or an ally within the past round and fill your relic with divine vengeance against them. Make a Strike against that foe, dealing an additional damage die on a hit. If the target has the unholy trait, it's also enfeebled 1 until the start of your next turn on a hit (or enfeebled 2 on a critical hit).
Thatch unleashes the power of Jisara’s patron at White!
Failure
Jisara then uses a hex.
Edrakk poisons his dagger and stabs Black with it!
The versatile vial is applied to the dagger “as an injury poison,” and injury poisons only go into effect when the target takes at least 1 point of slashing or piercing damage.. However, Edrakk’s ability…
You can apply the contents of a versatile vial to a weapon or piece of ammunition as an injury poison. Add the versatile vial’s initial damage to the first successful Strike with that weapon or ammunition. The substance becomes inert at the end of your current turn.
…doesn’t say anything about slashing/piercing damage, nor the stuff about the poison being wasted on a critically-failed save. So I’m gonna rule for now that the additional damage from the versatile vial used in this way still applies regardless of whether or not the physical damage was dealt. That said, I will look into this further, but that’s my ruling for now just so we can keep things moving (and so Edrakk isn’t completely gimped in this combat).
Success
Chance sings then stabs at Black!
Vitalis attacks White.
Failure
Round 7
Black, like White, attempts to Cast Out the PCs!
Critical Success
Critical Success
Failure
Failure
Failure --> Critical Failure (Nat 1)
Black then punches Vitalis!
White likewise punches at Vitalis, completely ignoring being immobilized by Thatch.
Round 2 —> 3
==============
Vitalis (-94) {6d6 persistent unholy spirit}
Statue <Black> (-17)
Statue <White> (-160 from “4” attacks [before resistances]) {Immobilized}
Jisara (-63) {3d6 persistent unholy spirit}
Thatch (-39) {3d6 persistent unholy spirit}
Edrakk (-13)
Chance (-34)
==============
Reminder to Vitalis about Blessed Counterstrike.
Vitalis reacts to the golem attacking his allies with a counterstrike.
Jisara's hand flies through a series of complicated gestures, first invigorating Vitalis's body before hurling an enormous bolt of electricity that jumps from one statue to the next.
Chance continues his inspiring song for a moment before transitioning smoothly into a joyous chant:
"Second, fourth, sixth, eighth!
Who's fighting and will keep the faith?
The Silver Ravens!
Go go Ravens!
R-A-V-E-N-S!
Go Silver Ravens!"
By the final line, Chance is jumping up and down underneath the statute's outstretched arm.
◆◆: Cast a Spell, Zealous Conviction
Jisara begins healing Vitalis then sends lightning at the statues!
Success
Failure (but nothing seems to happen)
Chance sings and gives everyone the conviction to continue fighting.
Vitalis attacks Black!
Failure
Critical Failure
Edrakk uses a versatile vial on his dagger and stabs Black.
plus 3 persistent “poison” damage
Edrakk then does a Doctor’s Visitation on Vitalis!
Black punches at Edrakk!
Vitalis intervenes!
Doesn’t get over resistance
Doesn’t get over resistance
White also attacks Edrakk!
3 persistent “poison” damage
Round 3 —> 4
==============
Vitalis (-30) {6d6 persistent unholy spirit; Fast Healing 12: Round 1 of 4}
Edrakk (-27)
Statue <Black> (-181 from “6” attacks [before resistances]) {3 persistent “poison”; Weakness 6 to Strikes until start of Vitalis’s turn}
Statue <White> (-204 from “5” attacks [before resistances]) {Immobilized}
Jisara (-74; +12)
Thatch (-53; +12) {3d6 persistent unholy spirit}
Chance (-34; +12)
==============
Vitalis focuses his attacks on Black.
Chance continues to sing his courageous anthem, but after a couple of seconds the melody changes to something discordant and disturbing, filled with disquieting vibrations.
Jisara casts more healing magic, this time on herself, before trying to deliver the finishing blow to the further statue.
Really weird day for me, mentally.
Edrakk moves away from the statue and hurls a bomb of heavily endothermic chemicals and a dagger in quick succession.
Jisara begins healing herself then sends magic at White.
Chance sings and sends a song through Black.
Vitalis does a Blessed Counterstrike against Black!
Critical Failure
Vitalis throws a bomb and dagger at Black!
Failure
Success
Black moves to punch Jisara!
White then punches at Edrakk!
3 “poison” damage
Round 4 —> 5
==============
Vitalis (-40) {Fast Healing 12: Round 2 of 4}
Edrakk (-27)
Statue <Black> (-254 from “9” attacks [before resistances]) {3 persistent “poison”; Weakness 6 to Strikes until start of Vitalis’s turn}
Statue <White> (-204 from “5” attacks [before resistances]) {Immobilized}
Jisara (-115) {Fast Healing 12: Round 1 of 4}
Thatch (-53; +3) {3d6 persistent unholy spirit}
Chance (-34; +9)
==============
Edrakk flinches as Jisara nearly goes down, before mixing and downing a misty potion and rushing over to provide first aid to the witch.
Jisara hits the statue with a blast of water from her staff before staggering back up the stairs and out of its reach. She gives Chance a grateful nod as she does so.
"It can't possibly take much more punishment...Can it?"
Vitalis tries to destroy the statue by the stairs (black).
3 IPP
Jisara sends water at Black.
And Black crumbles to the ground!
Chance casts a 4th-rank soothe on Jisara then casts courageous anthem.
Vitalis then attacks White twice and sends it crumbling to the ground!
The Devil’s Bells ring out once more.
Vitalis casts lay on hands on Thatch then both Vitalis and Jisara Refocus.
Vitalis casts lay on hands on Chance and Jisara casts life boost on herself then both Vitalis and Jisara Refocus.
Vitalis casts lay on hands on himself then Refocuses.
As the others patch the party up, Chance examines the remains of the constructs and finally recognizes exactly what they are: they are clay effigies, spell-resistant constructs that are made specifically to be guardians. And they curse anyone that damages them!
A glowing magic circle pulses softly in the floor of this room, while tendrils of rune-worked etchings radiate out in twisting patterns across the floor from the circle’s edges, traveling up the walls to dozens of glowing motes of light. The air in the room feels charged with energy and carries a faint stink of brimstone. A glowing magic circle pulses softly in the floor of this room, while tendrils of rune-worked etchings radiate out in twisting patterns across the floor from the circle’s edges, traveling up the walls to dozens of glowing motes of light. The air in the room feels charged with energy and carries a faint stink of brimstone.
In the center of the circle is a woman with the lower half of a snake and the upper half of a human, sans the pair of feathery wings protruding from her back. The woman’s skin is cracked and rent with raw fissures, her scales dull and falling out, and her hair patchy and brittle; she looks to be on the verge of death.
Blood-red chains made of pure energy seem to shackle the otherworldly woman down into the magic circle.
If you critically succeed, open the spoiler below
The woman in the magic circle looks up at the PCs, and a brief bit of hope spreads across her face. ”Champion of the Eternal Rose…Please…free me from this prison…”
With some inspection of the room, the PCs determine this room to be one of the Hell Engines they’ve been told about: a magical engine that seems to power various magical effects in the Temple of Asmodeus. It seems that the woman in the circle is being used as some kind of battery for the Hell Engine, and that it is slowly draining her life force to power the temple’s effects.
Deactivation A DC 35 Arcana, Crafting, Nature, Occultism, Religion, or Thievery check from someone who is a master in the skill manually turns off the Hell Engine with 2d4 rounds of work. This allows the creature being used as the battery to be removed without a further check. A creature can make an equally difficult check as a three-action activity to reactivate the Hell Engine.
Destruction A DC 40 Athletics check to Force Open destroys the Hell Engine. Alternatively, dealing damage to the engine can destroy it (Hardness 15, 120 HP), but each attack against the engine causes a backlash of energy as if a creature critically failed a check to deactivate it.
Neutralization The Hell Engine can be counteracted by effects such as dispel magic (rank 7, counteract DC 35). If the check failed to counteract the Hell Engine but would have if the Hell Engine’s counteract rank were 2 lower, then the Hell Engine is momentarily deactivated and the warding circle with the battery is momentarily weakened. During this time, the PCs can attempt a single check to remove the battery (see below).
Remove the Battery If the battery is killed, the engine deactivates. Alternatively, if the warding circle is momentarily weakened (see Neutralization above), then the PCs can attempt a DC 35 Athletics check to forcibly remove the battery, or a DC 33 Arcana, Crafting, Nature, Occultism, Religion, or Thievery check to deface the warding circle well enough for the battery to leave on its own. Restarting the Hell Engine once its battery is removed requires a DC 35 Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion check to bind a new creature within (which usually requires the creature to be restrained, paralyzed, unconscious, or willing).
"Don't worry. We will free you momentarily."
Chance jogs around the circle, carefully examining the runes and muttering to himself, either in excitement or annoyance at what he sees. Finally, he stops in front of a particularly bright row of runes and draws his dagger. Hand shaking, he reaches down to the floor and scratches the blade across the floor, defacing a single character in the row.
Chance holds his breath and waits for the Hell Engine to shut down. After a few seconds, he cocks his head and looks around, finally turning his gaze down to the rune he tried to obliterate. After a moment, the gnome lets out a long sigh, smacks himself on the forehead, and starts walking back around the circle, checking the runes more slowly. When he stops, it’s almost exactly 180 degrees from where he stopped the first time. He nods to himself, drops to the floor, and once again uses his dagger to scratch out one of the runes.
Despite the dangers of the curse, Vitalis helps pull the lillend out of the machine once Chance dispels it.
Vitalis takes a spare cloak out of his pack and wraps it around the azata's shoulders. "You're safe now. I'll get you to safety. I don't have the magics to fully restore you now, but I'll get you somewhere to safely rest. Are you well enough to speak? How did you end up bound here? Do you know anything that might aid us in deactivating the remaining hell engines?"
Vitalis uses repeated uses of his lifting belt to carry the lillend with ease. He brings her all the way down to the first floor and out the main entrance that we originally entered from. From there, he uses his silver raven figurine to message someone from the temple of Shelyn to come with a carriage to bring the woman safely back to the temple to heal.
Afterwards, he is ready to continue exploring.
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Jisara watches Vitalis with the azata, an unreadable expression on her face. When he returns, she smiles tightly and reaches out to give the champion's arm a gentle squeeze.
"You're a kind person, Vitalis. I'm glad this city didn't kill that part of you."
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Vitalis takes a spare cloak out of his pack and wraps it around the azata's shoulders. "You're safe now. I'll get you to safety. I don't have the magics to fully restore you now, but I'll get you somewhere to safely rest. Are you well enough to speak? How did you end up bound here? Do you know anything that might aid us in deactivating the remaining hell engines?"
”A woman…with a face tattoo and an imp on her shoulder. She called me here, then bound me into that…thing! I’ve been here for…I don’t even know how long…But…I heard they need to replace the ‘fuel’ for the other engine soon. There’s only one other engine, and it’s apparently right by the other staircase.
“But…That man—Cheliax Thrune—his bedchambers are nearby. I’ve heard some things. He…he seems to have performed some kind of ritual to extend his life, and it nearly killed him. He had to recuperate for several weeks afterwards. I…I’ve heard of mortals performing rituals to become immortal beings…liches. He didn’t seem undead, so maybe the ritual didn’t work, and that’s why it almost killed him? He seems to think that each day that passes makes him one step closer to his…’final apotheosis.’”
”Is…is that not his name? I have heard him say it. ‘I am Cheliax.’ And I know tales of the mortal family of Thrune being under the thumb of the Prince of Darkness. This is Asmodeus’s land, so…I’m sorry, I’m merely telling you what I heard. The man who calls himself ‘Thrune’ also referred to himself as ‘Cheliax.’ I just figured that was his given name…”
5 IPP
…
…
The Devil’s Bells ring out twice more. But…their timbre and volume is lessened.
The azata winces at the bells’ ringing. ”Those bells…they cry with pain and suffering…the pain of those long gone. They…they cry for the Last Azlanti. For Aroden. But they are forced to continue their pained cries by the Dark Prince’s hand. They cry for the hope that is supposed to be brought by Aroden’s prophecies, but are also reminded of the despair of lost omens. Asmodeus uses their pain to be his music. It is as beautiful as it is gut-wrenching.”
The azata turns to look at Vitalis once more. ”This music…it is not free! It is the music of those trapped under the thumb of tyranny, forced to express their sorrows at the whim of an abomination! Champion of the Eternal Rose, please, free those souls! Free them that they may express their pain and sorrow for themselves, not for another’s amusement!”
As Vitalis moves to the front entrance to drop off the azata, he sees something—or, more accurately, doesn’t. In the central nave, where the priesthood of Asmodeus are performing the ritual to redeem Barzillai’s wish, there was a grand pillar of hellfire, around which the Asmodeans performed the ritual.
The pillar of hellfire is now gone.
As he studies the room, he notices something interesting: at the apex of the nave’s ceiling—where the pillar of hellfire once met the ceiling—there is a circular, horizontal wall of fire. And he sees that this wall of fire acts as a “door” covering a circular opening in the ceiling. He didn’t notice this opening before due to the pillar of fire’s presence likely obscuring it.
The azata wearily raises her hand to point at this opening blocked by a wall of fire. ”T-there. Their cries…echo from there…”
The PCs have looked over the floor plans of the Temple of Asmodeus, but it is only now that they realize that there wasn’t a mention of a belfry. And there certainly wasn’t any indication of a method of going up to the belfry.
They see it now.
This hole in the ceiling of the central nave—a hole currently covered with a wall of fire—is the only method of entry to the temple’s belfry, where the Devil’s Bells reside.
1)Y’all can pretty much ascertain that the more rooms you go through, the more the ominous bells ring out and probably want to minimize that as much as possible
2)Y’all know that the only other Hell Engine is by the other staircase, and that the Hell Engine is directly involved in the consecrate on the temple.
3)I’ve had the statblock for Barzillai ready for the past 4 years and BY GOD I WANT TO USE IT ALREADY!
So because of that, I’m gonna assume y’all put your completionist exploration aside and instead b-line it to disable the Hell Engine, then rest, then try to neutralize Barzillai as a threat as soon as possible. As such, I’m gonna assume that y’all go immediately to the other staircase to accomplish just that.
As the PCs make their way to the other staircase—which requires going through the darkness that had the two-headed snake again—they notice that the darkness is not as…potent as before. Those with darkvision can now see through it perfectly well, rather than those with darkvision seeing through it no better than dim light like before.
Nine towering paintings hang on the walls of this room. Each painting measures five feet wide by fifteen feet tall, hangs four feet off the floor in a frame of iron etched with unsettling runes, and bears a small plaque at the base. The paintings depict diabolical figures standing before disturbing Hellscapes.
Vitalis immediately recognizes these paintings as depictions of the Archdevils of Hell: Barbatos, Dispater, Mammon, Belial, Geryon, Moloch, Baalzebul, Mephistopheles, and Asmodeus.
As the PCs enter the room, all of the archdevils in the paintings immediately turn to look at the PCs!
”Insolent mortals!”
“You disrespect the lords of Hell by trudging in here?!”
“You must show respect to your superiors!”
“Or we will simply take our due compensation!”
The nine archdevils reach out and claw at the PCs!
Critical Failure
Failure
Success
Failure.
Failure
Failure
Success
Success
Failure
Success
6 IPP
…
The Devil’s Bells ring out once again.
Jisara casts life boost on Chance and Vitalis casts lay on hands on Edrakk. Both then Refocus.
A glowing magic circle pulses softly in the floor of this room, while tendrils of rune-worked etchings radiate out in twisting patterns across the floor from the circle’s edges, traveling up the walls to dozens of glowing motes of light. The air in the room feels charged with energy and carries a faint stink of brimstone. A glowing magic circle pulses softly in the floor of this room, while tendrils of rune-worked etchings radiate out in twisting patterns across the floor from the circle’s edges, traveling up the walls to dozens of glowing motes of light. The air in the room feels charged with energy and carries a faint stink of brimstone. This is the other Hell Engine.
Inside the magic circle is a strange creature. A wrinkled, humanoid man with gray skin. Most notably are the large deer antlers protruding from his head. The man’s skin, like the azata’s, is cracked and rent with raw fissures.
The man looks up at the PCs as they enter. A scowl spreads across his face and spits ”Get me…out…NOW…!”
”Is…is that not his name?
"His name is Barzillai Thrune. He's always been full of himself, but this is taking it to a whole new level. Fortunately, we are here to deal with Barzillai, so he shouldn't be a problem for Kintargo or Cheliax for much longer."
”T-there. Their cries…echo from there…”
"Thank you for your help. Rest now. We'll take it from here. I will free those souls."
Vitalis looks up at the wall of fire. "We'll have to dispel that somehow... It looks high."
Then, after taking a beating from the hall of paintings, Vitalis thanks Edrakk for his invaluable first aid and takes the time to slash and destroy all the paintings of the archdevils just incase the trap has the potential to reset. If they are resistance to destruction, he'll try taking them off the wall and putting them in a pile and covering them with something.
Vitalis doesn't recognize this particular outsider but says, "This one is a lot ruder than the last prisoner. But if I was used as a living battery, I can't say I'd be in a good mood either."
"I assume the manner of dismantling the engine is the same."
Jisara's face wrinkles in distaste as soon as she spots the creature inside the circle.
"A skelm," she says, deliberately not looking at him. "Parodies of men with a deep hatred of women. The feeling is quite mutual. This one is even a fiend. I'm not terribly certain what will happen if you simply kill it, but it's no loss at all if you do."
”’Parody’?!” The antlered man says, suddenly gaining a burst of energy. ”Who…are you calling a ‘parody,’ you little…”
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Vitalis frowns at Jisara's words and the response from the skelm.
"I'm sorry, but if you've turned into a fiend, there is no restoring you. May whomever you patron deity is welcome you back into their arms when your spirit returns to its home plane."
Vitalis will attack and kill the skelm.
Once the skelm is dead, Vitalis grabs the machine and with all his strength, bursts the engine at one of its weak points to prevent anyone from activating it again.
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”’Parody’?!” The antlered man says, suddenly gaining a burst of energy. ”Who…are you calling a ‘parody,’ you little…”
Chance starts to make a suggestion, something about getting the skelm out without killing it, but is interrupted by the fiend's misogynistic tirade.
"Never mind." The bard nods as Vitalis steps forward to put the skelm out of its misery.
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As Vitalis separates the skelm's head from his body, Edrakk snaps his fingers in realization. "OH! They're not individual batteries, they're two sides of the same battery! One's an azata and one's a fiend, and for added measure one's a woman and the other's a sexist a@!%*$#, and them being so diametrically opposed creates the planar equivalent of a voltage difference that they can use for power! That's... I mean, it's incredibly messed up, but also kind of fascinating, in a way? I wonder, do they have to keep them so far separated? I'm sure if they were closer together, it'd create more power, but in might be more unstable..."
Jisara gives the skelm a sardonic salute as Vitalis's weapon rises and falls.
"Well, that's something we can all feel good about," she says, before turning to Edrakk with an approving look. "Quite an astute observation! That thought hadn't occurred to me, but it does make sense."
Vitalis kills the skelm and easily destroys the Hell Engine.
12 IPP
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
The Devil’s Bells ring out, but this time significantly slower.
From there, the PCs make their way back to the entrance of the temple. On their way back, they notice a couple things: First, the darkness in the southern portion of the central nave—where the two-headed serpent was—has now completely vanished.
Second, the horizontal wall of fire that Vitalis saw in the ceiling of the central nave has also completely vanished, revealing a hole in the ceiling that, presumably, leads up to the temple’s belfry.
*
*
Increased Patrols No Reprisal (Too little Authority)
”This is our chance! Thrune’s efforts are running low! Now is the time to strike!”
*
Only 2 days left on The Song of Silver’s duration, and 3 days until the Asmodeans finish their casting of the mephisto manifestation; thank goodness for Lady Docur’s and Hetamon’s efforts in performing counter rituals, otherwise the Asmodeans would likely be finished redeeming Barzillai’s wish by now.
The azata said that she was able to listen in to Barzillai’s conversations since the Hell Engine she was hooked up to was close to Barzillai’s bedchambers. So this seems like as good of a place as any to begin looking for the man himself.
This immense open choir overlooks the central nave of the temple, and the ceiling above rises into a half-dome fifty feet overhead. Little of interest is located here now, save for a huge nest heaped in the center made from a tangle of shredded parchments, tomes, and treasure.
And speak of the devil.
The first, and most obvious, creature here is a hell hound the size of a horse that seems to be laying down.
Nearby are two Asmodeans wielding maces and wearing iron masks: inquisitors.
And finally, the man himself: Barzillai Thrune, dressed in his full regalia as the High Inquisitor of Asmodeus. He stands looking down over the central nave, observing the rest of the priesthood performing the mephisto manifestation. One hand holds a glass of red wine, while the other mindlessly scratches at the head of the massive hell hound, seeming to completely ignore the open flames protruding from the hound. Barely visible from this distance, Barzillai seems to have a pair of transparent, ephemeral, black angel wings protruding from his back.
As the PCs enter the room, it is the hellhound that first notices them, quickly standing from the ground and growling at them. The two inquisitors likewise turn and look ready to rush in to attack the PCs!
”Down, boys!”
Barzillai’s voice echoes out, chastising both the hound and the inquisitors in the same tone. Hesitantly, the inquisitors and hound behave, though they are clearly ready to fight at a moment’s notice.
Barzillai takes a sip of the red wine and ponders it for a moment. ”…but a good year for the grapes.”
Barzillai sighs. ”I tried, you know. I tried very hard. I tried ignorance. Then I tried civility. And now I am resorting to violence. I gave every opportunity for peace. And now look where we are.”
Before entering the room, Edrakk holds up a hand. "Hold on a sec." Adjusting the clasp on his cloak, the alchemist suddenly disappears, and says in a hushed voice, "I c-can do this twice, and it should last around 10 minutes, so worst case if h-he's not here you m-might bump into me a few times on the way."
Quietly, he finds a spot behind the group, drawing a misty flask (though no one else can see it).
”I tried, you know. I tried very hard. I tried ignorance. Then I tried civility. And now I am resorting to violence. I gave every opportunity for peace. And now look where we are.”
"Whether through ignorance, civility, or violence, it is still subjugation. Despite your honeyed words, it was never peace you were offering. We are the voice of Kintargo, and we say "No!" to your iron-fisted rule."
"And how do even know you are actually here before us? The last time you were too cowardly to face us and sent a devil in your place. Did you grow some balls during your quest for immortality?"
"It was always violence!" Jisara shouts back, her eyes blazing. "More than seventy-five years of your family's boots on our necks. Seventy-five years of blood and misery and terror, of scrabbling in the mud and dirt for scraps, just to live one more day in this nightmare you've built."
"I want more than just survival. I want you to feel a fraction of the suffering you've inflicted on the people of this city, I want you to know that what's about to happen to you is your fault, and most of all I want you to know that you've lost to some gutter trash from the Devil's Nursery."
Barzillai merely sits back at the PCs’ words, not even turning to face them.
"And how do even know you are actually here before us? The last time you were too cowardly to face us and sent a devil in your place. Did you grow some balls during your quest for immortality?"
At this, though, Barzillai demeanor changes slightly. He moves his head slightly toward the PCs, but still not looking at them.
”No. I am truly here this time. No more osyluth body doubles.” Barzillai takes another sip of wine, then holds the glass to the light. ”And it seems no matter what is done, Lord-Mayor Barzillai Thrune will always fail against you. I admit defeat.”
Both of the inquisitors and even the hell hound look at Barzillai in confusion.
”And so, the task instead must fall to High Inquisitor Barzillai Thrune!” Barzillai clutches the wine glass in his hand and shatters it with his bare hands!
Barzillai Strides forward, and the PCs (sans Chance and Thatch) suddenly feel a wave of terror and despair wash over them from Barzillai’s presence.
”My sincerest of apologies, Silver Ravens, it has been quite some time since my last inquisition…” Barzillai snaps his fingers and his iconic mace, which has been notably absent this whole time, suddenly appears in his hand. ”…I may be a bit rusty!” The sardonic words drip from his mouth like venom as he swings his mace through the air!
Round 1
==============
Barzillai Thrune <Black>
Chance {Hunted by Blue; Hunted by Green; Bravo’s Brew: “+1” to Will, +1 more vs fear}
Jisara {Fire resistance 10; Bravo’s Brew: “+1” to Will, +1 more vs fear}
Thatch
Edrakk {fire resistance 10; invisible; concealed; Bravo’s Brew: “+1” to Will, +1 more vs fear}
Asmodean Inquisitor <Blue>
Asmodean Inquisitor <Green>
Vitalis {frightened 1; Bravo’s Brew: “+1” to Will, +1 more vs fear}
Hell Hound <Red>
==============
”My sincerest of apologies, Silver Ravens, it has been quite some time since my last inquisition…” Barzillai ◇ snaps his fingers and his iconic mace, which has been notably absent this whole time, suddenly appears in his hand. ”…I may be a bit rusty!”
"Very poor choice of words," Jisara says, raising her dagger high and hurling it into the air. As it tumbles, the weapon flies apart, transforming into a densely packed tangle of rusted wires, covered in silver tipped thorns.
Edrakk crouches low, stepping forward and quickly throwing a pair of daggers at the inquisitor, causing the alchemist to appear in a misty outline from nothing.