"Everyone hates layers, mister. But everyone needs a lawyer, too. So here I am, not blaming you for your dipleasing past experiences with the law."
He softly rubs his chin while thinking about the demon's blabbing. who...
Then the succubus appeares and introduces herself. Garidan barely takes notice of the chitchat about Rorek's apparently well-known questionable past, but instead thoroughly judges the seductive demon's mimic and gestures.
What is a Lady like you doing on a dunk like this though? Must have been a dreary experience, how long did you have to suffer it? Is there at least anything worth playing with in the slave pens?
Miriani moves along with the others, letting the others draw attention. She may not have chosen her companions, but they seem to have started off well.
But she's planning for when things stop going well.
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Briggs ponders his poor life choices before exiting the foliage and following the group.
Also, Axiomite? This "Minmaximus the unhittable" Oracle Scaled fist guy by any chance, who was like, really certain that being incredibly hard to hit would protect him from everything? I remember, I think Lady Yzalina charming him, telling him she wants to protect him, and then transferring her very restrictive Corset onto him via that guardian armor spell. I have to admit I chuckled pretty hard at that. And dont ask me why I know Yzalinas Corset is restrictive, 95% certain you have seen the clip.
Rorek merrily banters along with Ntropa.
[dice=kn:planes]1d20+12
Miriani will study the schir demon we see.She whispers, "I've dealt with Schir demons before. They shouldn't be too much of a problem."
[dice=sense motive]1d20+10
** spoiler omitted **
The Schir hates you all: he's a demon of spite after all, it's in his nature. Still, a combination of Garidan's honeyed words, Rorek's threats, and whatever was told to him by the Dentro has more than cowed him. He has no intention of getting violent with you. At least, not yet anyway.
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Brain drain? As Lady Vellexia would instantaneously inform you, it could actually improve my intelligence because Rorek speaks ith a female intonation You cant drain less then zero! he pauses.
She is of course lying because of course she is. he deadpans.F&+! me, she is totally going to place me there, Qlippoths beneath bugger my lovelife. As he offers the Succubus his Elbow, in a completely not literarry way and is ready to stride into the building alongside her.
Better on my Elbow then above me dropping a f+#~ing tree. Which this one probably has in her skillset, given her outfit.
[dice=Diplomacy to banter along, amuse her and maybe improve attitude]d20+11
Ntropa smiles at you, a surprising intensity in her eyes. She doesn't hook arms but she does gingerly grab your elbow and shoulder, and you briefly feel her squeeze your bicep eagerly. She giggles. "That was spot on hahaha!"
What is a Lady like you doing on a dunk like this though? Must have been a dreary experience, how long did you have to suffer it? Is there at least anything worth playing with in the slave pens?
Ntropa rolls her eyes and her expression sours. "Oh you don't know the half of it! It's so unbelievably boring here. All they ever do is cut up slaves and plant them, cut down trees, and sing their sad work songs. Not to mention the work bosses are constantly trying to get me to hook them up with big money. There are days when I'm tempted to take the express route out-" She pantomimes hanging herself and sticks out her tongue. "But this is part of my 'Pseudomortal Botany' class so I can get my degree and do some real work. My coworkers say that Succubi have no chance at getting Fey souls down below but I say f*** em! They'll see: just a few more decades and I can ditch this dump and prove my hypothesis right."
Also, Axiomite? This "Minmaximus the unhittable" Oracle Scaled fist guy by any chance, who was like, really certain that being incredibly hard to hit would protect him from everything? I remember, I think Lady Yzalina charming him, telling him she wants to protect him, and then transferring her very restrictive Corset onto him via that guardian armor spell. I have to admit I chuckled pretty hard at that. And dont ask me why I know Yzalinas Corset is restrictive, 95% certain you have seen the clip.
Rorek merrily banters along with Ntropa.
Her eyes widen at the mention. "OMG I remember that! That clip was viral on AbyssTube for a full year! Those dumb Lawful types always think that they have things figured out and then BAM! All the magic in the universe can't fix stupidity." She pauses for a second. "Well, I guess it can, but you get what I mean."
"Everyone hates layers, mister. But everyone needs a lawyer, too. So here I am, not blaming you for your dipleasing past experiences with the law."
He softly rubs his chin while thinking about the demon's blabbing. who...
Then the succubus appeares and introduces herself. Garidan barely takes notice of the chitchat about Rorek's apparently well-known questionable past, but instead thoroughly judges the seductive demon's mimic and gestures.
Ntropa is a complete mystery to you. As far as you can tell, she's a fangirl to Rorek and is paying no attention to the rest of you.
As Ntropa steps through the gate she pauses and points at the two other structures in the camp barring the central keep. "Over there-" she points to the right. "is the slave pen. That's where they keep all the schmucks that get planted and turned into trees. Every once in a while they'll have something cool like an Axiomite or even a Celestial, but currently all they've got is tieflings, some living mortals, and a couple of devils they caught in a raid." She turns to point with her left hand. "Over there is the armory. They keep all the axes and saws for cutting down the trees over there too, but the weapons are the cool part in my opinion anyway." She waits for your responses, looking expectingly at Rorek.
Devils? Any interesting ones among them? Still dont know if the dudes who drew the greater divorce lawyer Gylou and not the Qlippoths at "Succubus Tentacle appreciation day" where the lucky or unlucky ones.
Also, Someone said axes? Heh, pretty sure mine is bigger, unless of course the fair lady wishes to challenge this claim?
There is indeed a fairly powerfull Gylou Devil names "Karma-Justitia van Worthedge" in Alyushinnyrra. Unsurprisingly, she is a "greater divorce lawyer" commanding a squad of divorce lawyering Erinyes, and oh boy is there demand of stupid mortals who "marry" a Succubus and then want out. What is greater of course are the divorce demands from Succubi upon visiting adventurers, typically seeking to claim the adventurers most precious, their gear, in the process.
She is on surprsingly good terms with most of the more powerful demons, and may or may not serve as Eiseths unofficial envoy to Nocticula.
Briggi eyes the various locations in the cap. So how do you keep the devils from just teleporting out?
"And where is The Boss?.... Not to turn down one's fiendish courtesy tour but I could care less for slaves and workers' tools. I'll allow my curious underling, here, gawk at your prisoners, but I need to talk to The Boss. I am here to negotiate, not be taken on a tour.
"Rorek, do try not to step in anything while you gawk at Tieflings and Axiomites in their cages."
As if there are any effing Axiomites here. Knowing my luck it will be a bunch of effing Zebubs, mabye a bearded devil who is so clobbered he is barely worth killing, some mortal f##&wits and some idiot who claim to know me from my material life and is like "Rorek its you, saaaaave me".
Although He looks an Ntropa,
Like, some false hopes crushed fun could probably be had, as Lady Vellexia frequently informed me, it greatly increases the potency and taste of a soul if a hope for survival is first kindled and then crushed, lets check the axes first though my dear, I am afraid I am a bit of an axe afficionado. He loudly thinks into Ntropas direction, touching his own massive axe, which, according to some runes in Abyssal forged into the blade, is called "Mine is bigger".
Tarik nods his head with an intelligent look, as if he has watched all the issues with Rorek and understands what he is talking about. He reacts in much the same way to all Portia's words.
In fact, Tariq hardly listens to Rorek. He barely shoots his eyes in the direction of the slave pen.
I'd like to see the slaves. Are there any of them juicy and lush enough to roast and taste at dinner?
What are you talking about, idiot? Tariq almost bit his tongue. What the f#@& are you talking about, you f+%#ing idiot? However... Good meat with fava beans and nice chianti... Mmmm.
Devils? Any interesting ones among them? Still dont know if the dudes who drew the greater divorce lawyer Gylou and not the Qlippoths at "Succubus Tentacle appreciation day" where the lucky or unlucky ones.
Also, Someone said axes? Heh, pretty sure mine is bigger, unless of course the fair lady wishes to challenge this claim?
** spoiler omitted **
Ntropa chuckles. "Can't say. I'd probably say 'Succubi' but then again I am a bit biased. As for your weapon, I'm not sure, but I'm betting you'd measure up with best."
Briggi eyes the various locations in the cap. So how do you keep the devils from just teleporting out?
"We ask em real nicely not to."
"And where is The Boss?.... Not to turn down one's fiendish courtesy tour but I could care less for slaves and workers' tools. I'll allow my curious underling, here, gawk at your prisoners, but I need to talk to The Boss. I am here to negotiate, not be taken on a tour.
"Rorek, do try not to step in anything while you gawk at Tieflings and Axiomites in their cages."
Ntropa turns away from Rorek and glares at you for a moment before rolling her eyes. "Whatever, we were just getting to it! Honestly, for a bottom rung you sure are bossy." She turns to Rorek. "And you're not going anywhere. The Boss is especially keen on meeting you specifically, superstar!"
Tarik nods his head with an intelligent look, as if he has watched all the issues with Rorek and understands what he is talking about. He reacts in much the same way to all Portia's words.
In fact, Tariq hardly listens to Rorek. He barely shoots his eyes in the direction of the slave pen.
I'd like to see the slaves. Are there any of them juicy and lush enough to roast and taste at dinner?
What are you talking about, idiot? Tariq almost bit his tongue. What the f*~+ are you talking about, you f!*~ing idiot? However... Good meat with fava beans and nice chianti... Mmmm.
[dice=Bluff]1d20 + 14
Ntropa turns to you with a very curious expression, one you can't quite read. "Erm, is someone less hungry gonna go with him?" she finally says after a moment. "Bud, those slaves cost more than everything you're wearing. People eating is cool and all but you've really got to read the room better."
Who is the boss though? Lady Vellexia didnt tell me, and I didnt press the issue, before she gets the funny idea to replace the boss with Roeganjoe the Balor-Comedian with the deadly vorpal wooden spoon.
Rorek shudders at his memories of running away from a Balor-*Comedian* with mythic levels and a vorpal wooden spoon.
I'll watch Tariq so he doesn't take a bite out of anyone.
Who is the boss though? Lady Vellexia didnt tell me, and I didnt press the issue, before she gets the funny idea to replace the boss with Roeganjoe the Balor-Comedian with the deadly vorpal wooden spoon.
Rorek shudders at his memories of running away from a Balor-*Comedian* with mythic levels and a vorpal wooden spoon.
Ntropa raises an eyebrow. "You don't know? You came all this way and you don't know?" she says accusatorily. She glares at you for a moment, only for her expression to soften as she chuckles. "Just kidding! Not surprised you don't know, he's kind of a nobody. Never got his real name, but everyone here just calls him Birch the Butcher. He's a..." she stops and ponders the question for a moment. "big black tree. You know, like the Dentro but bigger. He doesn't do anything but sit in his office. It's the Vrocks he works with, Koff and Kaff, that actually bark orders." She smiles and points her finger at Rorek's nose. "Kaff's a bigger fan-girl than I am, and she'll have my head if she doesn't get to meet you. So like I said, you're not going anywhere."
"then we shall me the butcher now." Garidan tries to push the group forward.
"for contractual reasons, we will most likely need his real legal name later on. Should we come to an agreement, that is..."
Female Vrock? Eh, gonna get spores all over, again. Could be worse, you remember that "Honey Poo Poo" show? The main act got interested in me in "real life" and yeah I sure as hell wasnt. Thankfully, Lady Shamira also decided that Poo Poo is an Aasimar girl and literally nuked the s*!% out of her. I was this close to be caught in the blast! He says to the Succubus.
The Point of Honey Poo Poo is that a pretty powerful mythic Omox thinks it is a little Aasimar girl, and mostly murders people who disagree with it. The show took an end when Honey Poo Poo got some of "herself" and Shamiras clothes while pursuing none other the Rorek, can got instantly nuked by the ardent dream. Rorek wisely kept running.
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Briggi's urge to stab rises
"Good!" Ntropa claps her hands. "Then if we're all agreed, we'll head to the keep! It's that big stone rectangle over yonder." You're all lead to the keep, it's enormous black wooden doors opening with the slightest push.
The room is sparsely decorated. A large wooden bench leans against the wall, and the room is lit with a crude chandelier that burns with the same bluish black flames you saw as you approached the camp. There's a little shop, labeled by a carved sign written in Abyssal. There's a few items, notably demon food stuffs of varying rarity as well as a few objects you don't recognize. It is manned by a small Dretch sitting behind the desk clearly struggling to remain awake. He has a pair of glasses half falling off his face but a closer look reveals that they're fake and only consist of the frames.
Two doors lead out of the room. One are made of a strange reddish metal, labeled "Fun Room", oddly enough in Common. Faintly muffled behind the doors you can hear what is either screams or laughter (and probably both). The others are made from more of the dark wood you've seen throughout the camp. The sign for this is labeled "Offices and Shipping" in Abyssal.
Ntropa opens her mouth to explain when she suddenly perks up, seemingly receiving a message. "Whoops, guess I'm needed! Sorry to cut this little tour short. Wait in here for five minutes and I'm guessing one of Birch's assistants will summon ya." She leans in really close to Rorek. "I had so much fun talking about your Abysstube career. If your talk goes well we should have a more... detailed chat." Then she quickly leans in and kisses him on the cheek (a non-energy draining kiss, thankfully). And then with a cheerful wave she disappears in a puff of smoke.
Five minutes, she said. Just enough to get up to something...
Garidan looks relieved, when five minutes later they're able to move on. That shield spell is not gonna hold much longer...
I wonder what's in this room. Although I assume that some kind of specific torture. I've had enough of this after hell. Tariq looks around nervously.
Rorek is happy about the fact that he had enough wands, and would politely reset his defensive buffs at 4 minutes.
Garridan, you think you can come up with an estimate of Demons based on the size of this cafeteria?
Rorek looks for ways of gaining riskfree additional information.
Tariq, do you have any skills in unusual food seasoning perhaps?
Rorek attempts to figure out how many different demons he can hear laughing from the "fun room".
Try to buy something so the little demon is distracted. I'll take a look through the fun room doo.
I understand you. But I'm more about other ways of seasoning food. Reliable but long. If we were planning to come back here in a week... - Tariq smiles ominously.
Rorek is happy about the fact that he had enough wands, and would politely reset his defensive buffs at 4 minutes.
Garridan, you think you can come up with an estimate of Demons based on the size of this cafeteria?
Rorek looks for ways of gaining riskfree additional information.
Tariq, do you have any skills in unusual food seasoning perhaps?Rorek attempts to figure out how many different demons he can hear laughing from the "fun room".
[dice=perception]d20+9
A listen in through the closed door allows Rorek to hear howls of demonic laughter and cheers in Abyssal as well as another language that he's rather surprised to hear: Sylvan (). He estimates that their must be around 10 or 12 demons partying inside, as well as another 6 or 7 slaves. What they're doing within is difficult to ascertain, but the screams and howls of the slaves implies it can't be pleasant.
Try to buy something so the little demon is distracted. I'll take a look through the fun room doo.
The Dretch at the desk doesn't even look up as Briggi opens the door up a crack.
There's a large group of demons standing in a half-circle and staring at another demon up on stage. 4 Dentro, who up close you can see are not shadows but instead coal black Ptoma saplings. Their faces have no distinguishing features save for a ragged opening that serves as a mouth. 3 more Schir, who are clearly the loudest and most boisterous of the bunch. They all look like they're getting ready to fight somebody, either among the other demons present or among themselves. And interspersed among them are a pair of a kind of demon you haven't seen yet . They have read skin that is oozing some unknown liquid. They are emaciated, looking like a skeleton with skin, and long slender horns jut from their temples.
They are flanked on either side by more succubi, both of whom are clearly doing their best to ignore the rabble surrounding them. And on stage is a another strange demon you've yet to see . Unlike the Dentro, this demon is a bonafide shadow, looking like a constantly rising pillar of smoke. It would appear that it's playing some kind of song for the small crowd, using a large whip to get the a line of tortured slaves to add depth to the music.
DC 17Shadow demons are effectively Abyssal ghosts, using their abilities to haunt mortals. They can move things telekinetically and even possess mortals to force them to do evil.
The room is large and a few chairs, sofas, and cots could serve as cover.
Briggi decides that he doesn't have time for this kind of party and goes back tot he others to info-dump.
There is a lot of demons in the next room. Looks like a party.
"Yeah, some party." she says dryly.
Very dryly.
Perhaps even a good party
Rorek adds, engaging in an impromptu dryness contest with Miriani.
There are two Babaus in there. They look like reddish skeletons and are pretty good with the spear. Specializing in assassinations.
After a few minutes of deliberating amongst yourselves, you see the doors swing open and another dretch slowly walk out. "This way, all of you." he says in slow, angsty voice.
You're lead through a few offices, with acti ities ranging from mountains of paperwork, a few employees sleeping, to some kind of game involving punching a bound tiefling. Usual Abyss stuff.
When you finally get to the boss's office, the dretch stops and turns around to walk back. The door is simple, bound with this black metal that you've seen throughout the camp. After a moment you swing the door open, when you hear a sat of rapid foot falls headed your direction.
An enormous shape sprints forward out of the open door. 7' 5" and wiry thin, it has huge feathered black wings and a bald avian head. It's skin is scaly and red, and knife like talons reach forward. It's expression is unremitting glee.
It goes straight for Rorek and attempts to slash at his chest!
There is a manic glee as she draws her blade, steps up and slashes the vrock across the face.
Tariq makes a strange movement with his hand, as if forcefully pinching his side, as if he wanted to tear a piece of fat from his stomach, and then throws this imaginary fat into the floor under the demon, pronouncing the words of the arcane formula. Surprisingly, it works and a spot of fat forms where the sorcerer indicated!
Then he steps back with an easy-to-read fright in his eyes.
Urgh, no, you are not one of the types of demons that gets to touch me!
Free action: Bloodrage (becoming large]
Crit Threat
=118 damage Currently a +3 weapon for purposes of DR reduction.
About bloody time. Nice shot, Rorek.
Briggi studies the nasty as a swift action