"Yes yes, I know no need to tell everyone"
She snaps obviously irritated by the mothering tone of the construct.
::"But Mam I only have your best interests at heart, also remember Karthan the ranger we meet a few weeks ago."::
Reappointed Hextwin
She seemed to relent and feel sorry for snapping at him.
Lifting a hand and patting the crystal spider.
"I know, I know"
She said in a softer tone. Then more animated,
"Come new friend Tiame, I'm buying, we are going to a tavern. Because I have just remembered I do know a kind of tracker who may just have the skills. If he is sober that is. He will be if true to form, in a Den of dead beats and drinks you would be hard pushed beat for drunken antics. So this time of night it's just getting fun and Karthan may still be standing "
She means to go to the Bar Karthan is in and find him now Hextwin has jogged her memory.
Hextwin says nothing he was use to his mistress and her ways.
If Tiame agrees to come, she will take her to the tavern that Karthan is staying in and pay the landlord to have a serving made throw a cold bucket of water over him and tell him two ladies are down are in the snug and would like a word.
Eliana follows after the angel on Moonwing -- who has seen that none of the people that crowded around her were interested in helping -- as she forges her way into the city. People come to their windows to peek out and look as the imposing figure with her flaming greatsword passes down the streets. Revelers in bars stop their carousing in silence to stare as she passes.
Her destination is the merchants' consortium, for her best lead so far was the directions provided by Eliana. Once she reaches it: a large plaster-and-wood manor at the crossroads of several major streets, she stops. She swings her sword up onto one shoulder, steps up to the door, and slams on the door with a gauntleted fist.
She shouts,
By that time, a small crowd has formed in the street, though largely it keeps its distance from the angel. When she speaks up, a furious muttering goes up through the crowd as the people try to decide what to do.
walking into town they find the way to the Inn somewhat harder going than expected.
"Looks like the angelic host has found a target. So you want to wait and see what happons?"
At this, she thought a moment
::"Mam if I could be as bold as to suggest..."::
Li'Omrut entered the estate of his sensei shortly after the street lamps outside the estate's gates were lit. Walking past the open courtyard, he remembers the hours he spent training here, and he briefly recognizes the sensation of unfamiliarity to see the training grounds devoid of students. The old man had unceremoniously kicked them all out the day before he left for... wherever it is he went.
Now it is just him and Fantina, his sensei's daughter. She busies herself each day much the same way she did before her father's departure: meditation, reflection, and the managing of the estate. He busies himself by finding reason to leave the estate every day. To his annoyance, he recognizes that he's been avoiding her, but he doesn't recognize why.
Entering the main house via the kitchen, Li'Omrut jingled his full coin purse before tossing it onto a table. He didn't care so much about coin, but these humans sure seemed to, so he found it helpful to collect it. But Fantina would see it and take what she needed for the estate.
He stood at the door of the pantry, looking for something to eat. His diet has changed considerably since he departed the demon host, but he still hated to have to actually prepare food. He would much rather eat something that didn't need to be prepared or eat something that someone else had prepared.
At a slight noise, Li'Omrut turned in a hurry, to find the tall human girl who spent so much time in his thoughts putting his coin pouch back on the table, a handful of coins in her other hand. He hadn't heard her come in.
"You are very loud," she said by way of greeting. "Your hooves literally echo as they strike the bricks in the courtyard."
"There are advantages to letting your foe know that you're coming," he replied. The demon towered over the human, though her posture barely acknowledged the fact. "It's easy to tell if they are friend or foe when they have time to prepare for you. It's also easy to tell if they're afraid."
Fantina smiled. "You're not that scary."
"Neither is your father, but plenty still know to be afraid of him."
Fantina's smile faded at the mention of her absent father.
"There's dinner in the pot. It's probably still warm," she said changing the subject.
Li'Omrut opened the lid of the indicated pot and looked inside. It was some sort of stew involving rice, vegetables, and fish. He recognized it as one of his sensei's preferred meals.
"You don't have to make this anymore, now that he's left," he groused, scooping himself out a serving all the same. He ate the stew right there in the kitchen, Fantina silently watching him all the while. He was finished when she finally replied to his previous comment.
"And what about you? When will you leave?"
Li'Omrut didn't have an answer.
Isabela connects with her crystal repository of knowledge and is shown a brief vision of a memory. A creature with horns, hooves, and a tail. A white stone monastery near the outskirts of town. An old-but-powerful master with an unsuccessful school. The monk was his only student.
Hextwin trills, 'We could lure the angel out to the monastery... But what are we going to do if this angel decides to get violent?' into Isabela and Taime's head.
- - -
Li'omrut's night is interrupted. Outside the door of the monastery, a couple of out-of-breath Havengul commoners. Grocers, from the look of them. Li'omrut recognizes them because they bring carts of food up to the monastery every few weeks. Mostly the last vegetables that went unsold at the market.
The grocers have knocked on the door. Panting, they call, "Hey, an angel's just shown up, looking for that demon you've got in there! There's gonna be trouble if he doesn't come out!"
- - -
Karthan is awoken by two of the new recruits. Ever since the squadron was decimated in the Eldrazi war, the only people around have been Karthan, a few young locals that earnestly want to make the city a better place, and a couple of jaded combat veterans. Last week a monster had been attacking the farms in the hinterlands, so the other survivors of the war had gone out to hunt whatever was responsible. As a result, the only people in the barracks were patrons, a few young acolytes, and Karthan.
Karthan had returned to the barracks after a night of drinking and fallen asleep, but he is jolted to wakefulness by a splash of water in the face. "Commander, sir," says the man, "We're sorry to, uh, wake you, but the angel has gone to the merchants' headquarters and threatened the town leadership." The recruit, Evan, had come in with the other recruit that was his friend, Nadia. They share a glance, and then Nadia snaps, "Don't you think you should do something? Aren't we supposed to be the Silverfang Company?"
Karthan groaned as he was stirred awake by someone who desired a very short career. His irritation was further enhanced by the hammer blows of the hangover making itself known.
"Eager to see your guts spilled on the street by a furious angel are you?"
Pulling himself out of the bed he finds himself still fully clothed and aching all over. He tries to put on his best disappointed commander face but the effect is muted by the blinding pain and stiffness. "Did someone from the merchants guild offer you a good sum for her removal? No? Did you mistake us for inquisitors or fools when you signed on? Have you perhaps considered the fact that she's threatening rather than burning the bastards house to the ground reason enough not to commit blasphemy? Or do I have this all wrong and you're asking me if you shouldn't throw yourself to her boots and follow her every command?"
Pinching the bridge of his nose and sitting at the edge of the bed he barely registers their stammered responses. Waving in their general direction, he stops both of them and commands. "Bring me more of that water and I'll take your early misstep as clumsiness rather than disrespect of an officer. And whatever she's making for breakfast as well. We'll see what has you all excited."
As they run off he takes a moment to look over himself. It's a few moments to take off his greatcoat and breastplate but eventually he's able to peel the sweat encrusted shirt off himself and replace it with something less offensive from the floor. By the time he gets on they return with a large jug of water and a plate of roasted fish and mushrooms on toast.
"Thank you Evan, Nadia, wait downstairs for a moment while I make ready. I'm not standing before an angel looking like something she'd scrape off her perfect feet."
When they leave Karthan eats quickly and drinks the entire jug of water to stave off the headache. He considers screaming for the batman for a shave before he remembers what happened to the poor boy. Instead he puts on his armor and fita his greatcoat over it. Retrieving his hat and scarf from the floor he puts them in place and checks himself in the mirror. He looked like s+*!. Well, at least compared to an angel everyone looked like s+%# so at least he wouldn't be the worst for it. On impulse he snatched up hsi hip flask as a final touch.
Making his way downstairs he meets the two new recruits. "Right, come with me and mind your manners. She's no slavering beast but she'll cut you down just as quickly if she finds you too offensive to her holy sensibilities. Are we clear?"
His commands given, Karthan left the inn and made his way towards this angel. Salvation or damnation it was at least something to do.
Li'omrut's night is interrupted. Outside the door of the monastery, a couple of out-of-breath Havengul commoners. Grocers, from the look of them. Li'omrut recognizes them because they bring carts of food up to the monastery every few weeks. Mostly the last vegetables that went unsold at the market.
The grocers have knocked on the door. Panting, they call, "Hey, an angel's just shown up, looking for that demon you've got in there! There's gonna be trouble if he doesn't come out!"
Li'Omrut comes to the door himself.
"Sounds like I should stay in, then." The demon jests, but he's not expecting anyone to laugh.
He realizes that there will be trouble whether he stays in or goes to confront the angel. He's rather the trouble not come here, so after a gruff farewell to Fantina, he tells the grocers to lead him to the angel.
Didn't she have more... important targets to go after? Eliana mentally asked herself, glancing at the Angel. The crowd that formed had her uncomfortable, as people could very easily get hurt if a proper fight started. There was a man kidnapping children in the sewers, there was a vampire that terrorized the town, and yet she wanted to go after the demon who at worst intimidated a few people? Something didn't seem right to her. Closing her eyes, she let out a short prayer, one the angel would likely know. "The light of truth shines brightest for justice." Opening her eyes again, they glowed with a silver light as she scanned her surroundings and even the angel.
After a minute of the angel's posturing, a [url=<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9d/08/c1/9d08c143480da492667ae4af25432195.png" alt="Female Human Commoner - Pathfinder PFRPG DND D&amp;D 3.5 5th ed d20 fantasy | Character portraits, Fantasy artwork, Warrior woman"/>]young servant[/url] comes to the door of the consortium, sticks her head out, and addresses the angel. They have a brief, personal conversation, which is somewhat difficult to hear from a distance.
The servant says she's humble, but that her family is sick. She asks the angel to cure her family of diseases in payment for the information.
During the conversation, the angel's flames burn steadily hotter and higher.
Eliana's spell returns a number of results -- faint auras from a smattering of people in the crowd, a faint aura from the merchant at the consortium building, and a moderate aura from the angel.
"Rats"
She whispers to Tiame
"I know that demon and he is not as done nothing but good while here, I would hate to see him chocked up"
Her eyes widened substantially at what she saw, but she says nothing. To bring it up now might result in the deaths of many. Instead, she turned her attention to the poor serving girl. The one who'd likely be the target of the angel's ire. Putting on a smile, she had Moonwing step forward towards the pair. "You need not worry, the faithful shall be rewarded for their service. Go to the Order of Saint Traft later, you know where that is in the city, yes? Go to them and tell them Eliana Carlova sent you. If I am not there, then my good friend Misana should be able to heal your family." Please, please accept that. I rather not have to inform your family of your death...
Well this will probably get me killed but I have to do something.
Isabela can see what's going to happen. She had her empty power up and running and the Angle was giving off all kinds of angry. She needed to save the girl but Eliana moved quicker.
So Isabela in an instant focused, she had the Angles physical profile now, so she used the compelling-voice on it. Making a most reasonable request. \
"Most holy of avengers, You know the who and where. So now I will take you to the Hall of the Merchants now. There you can put the Merchants to question. And find what you seek."
Buying time for the others, She indicates for the angle to follow her.
The celestial seems unfazed by Isabela's psychic powers, and grips her sword with indignation when the commoner asks her for payment. Eliana's intervention stops the commoner from meeting the angel's wrath, who seems to inhumanly forget her frustration as soon as the commoner is out from under her sight.
Instead of staring down the woman, she turns her gaze to the merchants' hall. her voice booming with wrath, She raises her sword up high, and crashes it through the front door of the merchants' hall.
It is at this exact moment that Li'omrut, walking down the hill from the monastery, and Karthan, walking up the main road from his tavern with Evan and Nadia, arrive at the square.
Hextwin had to say something.
::"Shoot, the diplomatic root is out the window. Next stage, harm, so we going to play?"::
::"We play"::
Was her simple reply, and with that she powers up, her eyes glowing an electric blue.
She moves to the side of Tiame so the angle has no doubt they are together.
"The wise know that might do not make right!! Incriminate cruelly in the name of anything is just tyranny by another!!. YOU!!"
She points at the angle
"You just want cruelty to beget cruelty!!"
Her eyes blazed now blue fire pits looking at the mad angle.
Everything went wrong so very quickly. The serving girl, despite coming out of the merchant's hall, was ignored. She offered the information, but because it was not a merchant, the angel's fury grew. The cloud she'd sensed lingering around her made much more sense now. With the slamming of the sword into the door, and the rushing forward of the two women, she knew that conflict was going to come about. With a sigh, she let out a quiet prayer, a glowing aura surrounding herself and Moonwing. "Let my faith guard me, for my cause is just."
If they could talk the angel down, then amazing. If not, then she would be prepared for the fight.
Karthan cursed his luck as he arrived just in time to see violence start in earnest. Motioning the two raw recruits to stay back and whispering orders for them to keep people safe. He took in the scene as fast as possible. The door shattering, the angel clearly enraged. Well, if he was to be cut down it could be worse than by an angel. Literally anything else really. Slipping a hand into the buckler and walking toward the angel and the other, clearly tense, and ready to pounce he took a few deep breaths and steadied his walk, positioning his feet and balancing himself in appropriate fashion. If it was to come to a fight he would not be unprepared. Keeping a good fifteen feet away from what will likely be a brawl. He cleared his throat to cut the tension and get their attention.
”If I might be so bold as to interject my lady I’m afraid that as a resident of this city I fully agree that any and all demons and monsters and evil men should be rooted out and put to the sword. However, I also understand that to burn this.” Karthan waves his free hand over the building. ”Establishment. You will likely kill many innocents in the ensuing blaze. Not to mention that most who occupy this building are merely servants and numbers types of men who are simply earning their daily bread. Perhaps before we get to the part where we reenact the last war on this street we discuss it with the occupants about this demon and treat this problem with a scalpel instead of a torch?”
Diplomancy GO!
::"Seems others are here to play as well"::
Li'Omrut comes to a stop in the middle of the cobblestone street when he sees the furious angel break down the door to the merchants' consortium hall, his jaw dropping and his eyes widening in surprise.
"Hilarious!" he mutters to himself.
With a wide grin, he watches the mortals scramble to convince the celestial to stand down.
Not bothering to hide himself, Li'Omrut crosses his arms and leans against a nearby building to watch the scene unfold.
While Isabela is in full swing getting ready to fight a being of power to no doubt her death. She spots out the corner of her eye the very 'demon' they are confronting the Angle over. Who seemed quite happy to lean on a wall and watch them place their lives in harm's way.
Her arm shoots up and she points at Li'Omrut.
"LOOK!!! THERE IS THE OBJECT OF YOUR WRATH! take up your grievances to the Demon there! and please I beg of you, leave these innocent poor and good people to their lives."
She is pleading for the lives of every innocent man, woman, and most of all children of the town.
The angel turns as the group of humans steps up to persuade her to avoid attacking innocents, and then turns to look when Isabela points out the demon standing in the street. She pauses for a few moments, her blazing sword in hand as she gazes about. she booms. "Some, perhaps. If innocent you truly are, you will bring me all who have made deals with this demon. They will be judged, and if found wanting, will be granted their final rest. Now go! Return to your homes or find the guilty ones!"
Then she turns to Li'omrut. "And as for you," she sneers, "You will be sent back to the pit from whence you came."
initiative
Stepoing out in front of the gathering crowd he signals his men to keep them from getting in the way and call out to the crowd itself.
"You heard her get out of here! A fight between an angel and a devil is the last place you want to be! Go!"
Diplomacy
Then she turns to Li'omrut. "And as for you," she sneers, "You will be sent back to the pit from whence you came."
Li'Omrut uncrosses his arms and steps away from the wall, smoothly adopting a fight stance.
"I'm beginning to think I'm not welcome in this town," he says with a grin.
Isabela moved back as well but waited to see what would happon.
Blazing with righteous fire, the angel crouches before launching herself into the sky. Eliana and Moonwing stood between her and her quarry, and she did not wish to overrun the Gryff knight in order to battle the demon. Instead, she flaps her wings powerfully, sending gusts of air down on the people below. Her eyes light up with a holy light and she casts one hand forward. Her hand glows, leaving an afterimage as she gestures magical symbols into the air. As the conclusion of her spell, a blast of holy light fills the alleyway with Li'omrut, searing into his very spirit. she booms,
Li'Omrut hisses in pain as the holy light sears across his ribs as he tried to twist away.
"Punished for what, you deranged maniac?!"
Li'Omrut follows up with his question with a flurry of shuriken.
Her eyes followed the angel as it ascended, taking to the skies. She saw her attack and heard her voice. One eyebrow twitched at the declaration. This... mad, corrupted angel was going to slaughter an unknown amount to of people in her city. People she was duty bound to defend. Turning her eyes to the crowd, she saw they were preparing to flee. She also saw Isaba and the woman from earlier. And so, she spoke. "Remember the madness that consumed Avacyn and kin. How all but the Flight of Herons sought our destruction? That madness hangs about her like a cloud. This city's fate is not hers to decide." Leaning down to Moonwing, she spoke a prayer into his ear, one they both knew well. "Just flies on silver wings.
Silvery light engulfed their limbs, and both suddenly shot into the air after the angel. They spiraled about, Moonwing not able to ascend in the manner necessary for the both of them to reach her. Still when he got close enough, he lashed out with his beak, intent on trying to knock that angel from the sky.
Just to those who stood against the angle now.
::"Eliana is right, its the call again"::
Isabela sunk her head, even while she worked to move the townsfolk away,
::"Yes I know, just like last time, We Answer"::
She sends in a resined tone.
::"We Answer"::
Hextwin repeats.
And so Isabela turns to face the angle. To face the fight and do again what she had done all those years ago. Take on her true form.
She would answer the call to battle from Eliana.
Isabela's form shifted and she dropped her disguise.
Gone was the bumbling lady detective and in its place was
a predator, Claws, and fangs, she stood taller, stronger, leaner. her eyes now glowing golden red. And the only thing on her face was a look of Hunger.
metamorphosis 5pp used
+2 enhancement bonus to Strength [+1TH+1DMG]
+2 enhancement bonus to Dexterity [+1AC]
+2 enhancement bonus to Constitution [+7HP]
You gain a +1 natural armor bonus.
You gain a natural bite / attack that deals 1d8 damage
You gain Resistance 5 against one of these energy types: Cold, Acid, Fire, Electricity
Li'omrut's shuriken fly across the battlefield towards the angel. One flies by the angel to her left, while the other is deflected by her sword. A third buries its point in her thigh, but it does not stick in much.
Eliana and Moonwing take to the sky, with Moonwing snapping at the angel. Unfortunately the clumsy snap cannot get through her thick plate armor.
Several townspeople scream with horror and disgust as Isabela transforms herself into a terrible 'feeding mode' right in front of them. They run for the cover of their houses, while a few others (mostly men from the docks) look for improvised weapons like two-by-fours or lead pipes. Thet cry, "The angel is right! Look how corruption has taken over our city!"
The knot in Karthans stomach worsens at the gryfknights reminder and tightens even further as the woman next to him turned out to be a vampire ready to pounce. Worse was she was in measure and his sword was still in its scabbard to keep from provoking anyone.
The first step was instinctual, backup, get your sword out and in front of you. Second step was assessment. The angel might have been crazed or simply intense, either way Karthan couldn't fly and had no crossbow at hand for it to matter. The demon was probably exactly who she was looking for. So whoever summoned the monster would have a lot to answer for, but not now. The white haired woman at least seemed sensible for what that was worth. The vampire presented an altogether different problem. Not the least of which was her being very near the crowd he was trying to get out of the area.
He wasn't terribly surprised to see the men reaching for arms. You couldn't run from most monsters in Havengul and a load of armed men can be far more safe than a fleeing crowd. He couldn't have the undisciplined mob throw themselves into fangs and blades.
So he did what he knew best. He interposed himself between the nearest person and the monster before him and he rallied.
"If you're taking arms form up behind me and stand your ground! If not, get the hell out of here and don't look back!" All at once the haggard tired veteran lit up with a fury and fire not seen in the city since the end of the last war.
"Take one step closer towards me or these folk and the only thing you'll eat is steel and my boot beast!" Karthan snarled at the vampire with all the venom and hate a man can muster.
Active Buff Stuff:(Currently affects the crowd, recruit, Eliana and Taime)
Golden Commander Stance:
Presences give a +3 bonus to the relevant rolls.
Indomitable Presence: At 2nd level, the warlord shines as a beacon to his allies on the field of battle, inspiring them to fight with him to their last breath. All allies within 30-ft. of his position gain the benefits of the Die Hard feat, and may add his warlord initiation modifier to Fortitude saves versus death effects, fatigue or exhaustion effects, or poison effects as a morale bonus.
Rallying Presence: The sight of a warlord on the battlefield is enough to strengthen the hearts and wills of those who fight beside him in battle. At 5th level, the warlord may add his warlord initiation modifier as a morale bonus to Will saves versus fear, death effect, or compulsion effects to all allies within 30-ft. of his position. If the warlord maintaining this presence becomes cowed, frightened, panicked or falls prey to a hostile mind-affecting ability (such as one that would stun or daze him), compulsion or death effect, this presence immediately ends.