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"Magic all you like, but your death draws near..."
The Shrike feels a cold shiver running down his spine - a heavy weight of fortunes changing. But he is near the enemy, so he keeps striking at him.
"Did you see that, traitor? That's Death Spider venom. It's not called that because it kills you, no. It's called that because you suffer in agony for so long that you plead for death. It's horrific, so much so that most people can't even bear to watch it administered. Would you like to fight on and find out firsthand or surrender and tell us what you're doing out here?" Fellzir gestures to Cimri and the small, vile vial.
plus any situational bonuses for our evilness and superior numbers.
"Choose quickly. The tiefling owes you a debt and I cannot hold him back." He looks up at the awesome presence of Guillaume.
Cimri smirks as Fellzir spins his web to entrap the guileless magic user. The man in Red drops his staff and holds up his hands. "I will do as you say. Just please don't harm Siova. She means... everything to me." He swallows reflexively as his eyes drift down to her prone, helpless form.
"My name is Rhysack Dartmoor. We signed on recently to serve the Glorious Reclamation. Lencia Visserene recruited Siova personally after hearing rumors of her prowess from the other inhabitants of the Whisperwood. Siova wished only to do some good in this world, before... before it was too late." He shakes his head sadly, gazing down at his beloved.
Cimri sheathes her Kukri and removes the manacles from her pack and moves into the tiny room to secure the remorseful Rhysack. Once she has shackled his hands behind his back, she shoves him down to a seated position and goes to check the woman.
"She's still breathing. You guys want to question her too?" Almost to herself she mutters, "Weird eyes though, why does that ring a bell... hmm."
Getting down to business, Cimri begins stripping the couple and the dead man of anything that looks valuable.
Guillaume leans on his bardiche, still looking menacing despite his wounds. Once things are identified, he eyes the CLW potion, gestures to it, and says, "No one else needs that, right?"
"I'd say save the potion for when I'm out of magic or you're out of my reach. Rhysack can probably point out a safe place to recuperate. Weird eyes? Wasn't someone looking for her? Rhysack, what you say next may affect her future. Who or what is she and would you work with us to save her? Or vice versa?"
healing
Yikes on the healing.
Yikes on the healing.
healing
"Of course! I would do anything to help Siova. Would you really help her? I do not know the full details, only that something troubles her. She is plagued by nightmares and their shadow seems to hang over her by day as well. She does not confide in me, or let me comfort her. She speaks... as if she is running out of time somehow, but I do not understand it. She is as strong as ever." He swallows again, his eyes lingering on her pale face.
He considers the idea of a 'safe place'. "There is little else besides the Court nearby but the wood is thick. If you went some distance to camp, I do not think anyone would give pursuit... There are few enough of us who remain now." He says with a sorrowful tone as he glances at the dead man in the doorway and then quickly away.
The Shrike looks at the unconscious woman and shrugs. Weird-looking eyes, but who cares.
Interesting thing is that this sucker seems willing to do anything to save her...
"You'll do anything for your little Siova, is that right? Perhaps bring your other friends out of their hiding places? We'll just want to have a friendly chat with them."
Rhysack shakes his head sadly, "This I cannot do. Not because I am unwilling, I am simply unable." To demonstrate, he raises his voice and cries out for help.
But he receives no answer. "They will not come. We were recruited to defend the Angel Knight. Not the other way around."
His eyes widen at a sudden realization, but then he closes them, his face painted with shame at his imminent betrayal. "I... may know a way. Losoni will not defend us. He may not even defend Lencia. It is possible he will watch you kill or carry us all away without even challenging you. But... the tree, he will defend. He is bonded to this stand of titan aspen. If you do significant damage to the tree, you will draw him out."
Cimri seems caught up by some personal reverie as the party conducts their interview with Rhysack. ”I probably never told you louts,” she smiles, the jibe more affectionate than biting. ”But I grew up here in the Whisperwood. My folks worked the lumber camps during the warmer months and we only spent winters with Aunt Rhona back then. My ma and pa liked their drink, hells, all of that lot did. There weren’t many kids in the camps, so for fun, I used to slip outta my blankets and creep ‘round the camp at night. When they were deep in their cups they told all sorts of stories to make each other laugh."
"I remember one they told about a girl from a nearby village with weird eyes like that, one green and one gold. She was about my age and had been brought up by a hedge witch who found her as a babe. Not very interesting, I know. But the fun part was that she nearly killed some local village boy. He came at her some way she didn’t like and she grew claws and thrashed through him like a wild cat outta wet paper sack. Burned the marks right into his flesh so deep, they said he’d never heal right. So the villagers ran her outta town. The boy’s father was some well-to-do muckety muck and told everyone she was a changeling and so they shouldn'ta let her go ‘cause she’ll just go back to her mother and turn into a Hag. I dunno much about Hags, but they say they’re more dangerous if there’s enough of ‘em to make a coven.“ She shrugs, ”There might even be a bounty out for her.” Cimri suggests helpfully, her eyes gleaming with avarice.
"Wouldn't be bad to have an ally with skills like that, though..." Guillaume says, thinking. "Think maybe if we could stop whatever's scaring her she'd shape up and pay the proper obedience to the lawful authorities?" he asks, with an evil gleam in his eye.
Fellzir ponders that bit of information. "Which tree is it? Is it susceptible to fire?"
"Wouldn't be bad to have an ally with skills like that, though..." Guillaume says, thinking. "Think maybe if we could stop whatever's scaring her she'd shape up and pay the proper obedience to the lawful authorities?" he asks, with an evil gleam in his eye.
Rhysack wrinkles his brow in consternation at Cimri's revelation. "A Hag, you say? Then Siova must be haunted by her mother's call... That means... yes! If we were to slay the Hag who bore her, she would surely be well again. And give up this desperate death wish she seems to have developed."
Fellzir ponders that bit of information. "Which tree is it? Is it susceptible to fire?"
"What looks like a grove of trees that support the platforms of the Court of Spears is actually one organism. Titan aspen are enormous trees with deep roots. However, live wood does not burn easily, as I'm sure you know." Rhysack explains in reply.
[ooc]I have an internet connection again, blessed be![/b]
The nightmares are almost certainly the influence of these hags.
There are some basic things one can do, if simply attacked by a hag, like a circle of cold iron around your sleeping place. Hags dont to achieve much against those pledged to hell, as there are ways to well... lock in the hag in your dream, and then beat the crap out of it, but I dont know the details.
Still, the Lady Mahathalla, dowager of illusions and dreams is quite ruthless in protecting the dreamscapes of those pledged to her.
For a changeling... I am Succubus spawn myself, much harder to defend against your own blood, although it is also more possible to mount a counterattack.
This is of course... risky, and expensive, you would have to prove by your deeds that such and investment is merited.
"Very well. Help us get Lencia and we will free Siova from the hag's curse. I will heal the mighty tiefling and perhaps he will "overlook" the wounds she caused him."
Fellzir continues after a brief pondering, "Also, all of these platforms are cut wood. They should burn well. I bet you even have oil and candles in addition to these convenient alchemist's fires." He holds up a flask, a gleam in his eye.
A good idea, defeating them in detail is wise. Aurelius nods his assent
Come to think of it, Iomedae all but allied with Nocticula, demonlord of lust, murder, secrets and Succubi to defeat the Worldwound... Would it truely be past her to ally with the likes of Shifkesh, demonlord of heresy or Mestama, demonlord of hags, to enforce her will upon Cheliax? No, I need more proof for such an accusation, I cannot act like an Iomedean inquisitor and be like, if they burned on a fire they clearly were guilty, and if they dont burn they are tieflings and should just be burminated at higher temperatures!Look how righteous and just I am! He mutters to himself, but clearly audible to his captives, in an effort to shake their faith and preconceptions.
Shifkesh used to be an Erinye who betrayed hell and ascended to be a demonlord, she thus has a clear interest to see Cheliax in ruins. Mestama... the queen of hags has taken umbrage to our Empress putting her feet down on any attempts of trading the souls of Chelish citizens, and I have heard that some hags have been... terminated with extreme prejudice.
Having absolutely no basis of knowledge to refute Aurelius' claims, or even indeed, to comprehend them, Rhysack's eyes seem to glaze over as the Omdura proselytizes. "As you say, m'lord. You are... not what I expected."
He seems somewhat stricken at the suggestion that he fight with you against Lencia, but he nods his assent. "I will do what I can, though I expended much of my spells already. We do not use lanterns in the Court of Spears. Too risky. But yes, the platforms are certain to burn much more easily."
Cimri puts a hand on Fellzir's shoulder. "Maybe we shouldn't set the whole thing ablaze while we're still standing on it, yeah? We could wait till we're on our way out with their beloved leader in chains and see what we think then. Not to mention Archbaron Fex would be none too pleased if we burned down the whole Whisperwood. Lotta coin to be had from these trees. Lumber's one of our prime exports."
In preparation for moving on, Cimri removes the shackles from the young man and transfers them to his still unconscious paramour. She also smears the flat of her kukri against one of her open wounds while he is not looking, sharing a roguish wink with anyone who notices her doing so. "There, she should sleep soundly till we can come back for her."
"My thanks." Guillaume says to Fellzir after the healing. "Let's leave the trees, if that means fewer foes. No sense splitting up our concentration when there's Iomedaeans to deal with."
Cimri turns her attention to the way forward. A lengthy rope bridge reaches through leafy boughs to a tiny roofed platform. A second, shorter bridge connects this platform to a wooden structure to the north. She takes a moment to assess the bridge before starting out across it carefully. As she nears the halfway point, a large dog with point-tipped ears pads forward from the shadows to the edge of the small platform. He bares gleaming white teeth and utters a low rumbling growl as his golden eyes catch the light and seem to glow with menace as he focuses on the petite rogue. Cimri’s breath catches in surprise and she breaks out in a cold sweat, starting back from the canine with a level of dread that seems out of proportion to the threat of a mere guard dog.
The beast opens its jaws as if to loose a bark of warning, but instead holds this position, it’s jaws open wide. A sonorous voice issues forth, deep and bold. “You shall go no farther.” He says, and the image of a dog shimmers and gives way to a tall, muscular humanoid shape. Though still with the head of a noble canine possessing point-tipped ears and glowing golden eyes. In his clawed hands, he holds a well polished and deadly looking greatsword.
Round 1
-------------------
Hound - moves, changes shape
Guillaume
The Shrike
Cimri and Rhysack
Aurelius
Fellzir
Pretty resistant to not-evil aligned weapons, but hitting it really hard in the face should work. Doesnt have a mustache so its not the one hound archon who went over to Nocticula and does... things... in the Abyss. Although he may also be the one hound archon who has fun.
"An Archon, eh? I've got just the thing. Look out, gorgeous, I'm coming through." he says, to Cimri. Turning to the Archon he says "My Lord Molech knows just how to deal with your kind." The big tiefling then takes his morningstar in both hands and charges forward, shaking the rope bridge as he does so.
"Oh, this is the hound? I was expecting a more... traditional guard dog, I suppose."
The Shrike hustles forward, but loses to Guillaume who seems to engage with astonishing speed. Well, let him deal with that greatsword, first.
"A dog, or an archon, whatever you are... We shall go further, and while doing so, we'll make a nice fur out of you."
Round 1
-------------------
Hound - moves, changes shape
Guillaume (Menaced) - smites good vs Hound, charges, misses
The Shrike (Menaced) - moves, demoralizes
Cimri (Menaced) - throws tanglefoot bag vs Hound, misses
Rhysack - Hexes with Evil Eye vs Archon (-2 AC)
Aurelius
Fellzir
Guillaume charges up the rope bridge into the fray. Cimri cringes out of his way and just as he moves past her, he comes to understand the fearful look on her face. A sense of menace seems to radiate off the Archon in waves, the sheer righteousness of his wrath palpable. The bloodrager’s confident stride hesitates and his blow falters, glancing off some magical deflection. The Shrike moves in behind him and is struck by the same wave of menace, but his voice holds steady as he shakes the heavenly creature’s morale. However the archon does not seem to suffer any additional effects.
"Oh, this is the hound? I was expecting a more... traditional guard dog, I suppose."
Rhysack’s jaw slack, he mouths like a fish out of water a few times before regaining his composure. ”That is what I thought as well… What can we do against such?” His resolve seems to waver in the face of the celestial being.
Cimri points her poisoned kukri at the Witch, ”None of that, now!” She sneers in warning. ”The big guy can bring it down. I know he can!” She speaks with more determination than she seems to feel and draws a tanglefoot bag from her pouch and flings it at the dog-headed beast. Unfortunately, her aim is poor and the bag lands uselessly beside the Archon, splattering in a gooey mess.
Rhysack casts a hex to try and make the Archon easier to strike, and laughs in disbelief as it takes effect.
Shield of Faith countdown:
G - 9
S - 8
C - 7
A - Just ask if you want it next round.
Fellzir casts Burning Disarm on the hound. DC 13.
"Aligned weapon? Truly? Heh. Do you want it or should I try to get to the tiefling?"
The Archon quickly releases his hold on the greatsword and it clatters to the platform floorboards.
Speaking softly and trying to turn his head so that the hood directs the sound toward Aurelius, Fellzir hisses, "Aurelius, can you get to that sword before he does or Mage Hand it away?"
Round 1
-------------------
Hound - moves, changes shape
Guillaume (Menaced) - smites good vs Hound, charges, misses
The Shrike (Menaced) - moves, demoralizes
Cimri (Menaced) - throws tanglefoot bag vs Hound, misses
Rhysack - moves, Hexes with Evil Eye vs Archon (-2 AC)
Aurelius - delays
Fellzir - moves, casts burning disarm causing Hound to drop greatsword
Round 2
-------------------
Hound (Shaken, Hexed) - bull rush vs G and S, pushes them back 5 ft and picks up greatsword
Aurelius
Guillaume
The Shrike
Cimri and Rhysack
Fellzir
The Hound snarls at the encroaching servants of Thrune and plants his feet on the platform, shoving Guillaume back into The Shrike and pushing them both back down the rope bridge, causing it to sway concerningly back and forth. Then he gives a huff of satisfaction and picks his greatsword back up.
Not being able to join the melee, Aurelius target the archon with an acid splash
but misses wildly
"Fine, have it your way" Guillaume says, switching the morningstar for the reach of his trusty bardiche. First he channels the power of Moloch, then swings at the unearthly hound again!
+
Crit?
+
Guillaume lands a solid strike, the Archon grunting heavily from the damage of the blow. He bares his teeth, takes a step back and disappears.
"Where the Hells did the cur go?" says Cimri after regaining some composure without the aura of menace influencing her. After taking a moment to gather yourselves, you proceed on over the rope bridges and into the rooms ahead. The walls of this sparse room are a combination of living wood and cut timber. A banner bearing a sword-and-sunburst symbol decorates one wall, overlooking a pair of simple straw mattresses on the floor. Curtains hang in doorways to the west and north.
A small, unlocked footlocker contains two potions of cure moderate wounds, a scroll of remove paralysis, a healer’s kit, and three flasks of holy water.
You pass through the next curtained doorway. A sizable table shaped from a bough growing through the floor fills the center of this room, while an elaborate tapestry woven from living ivy adorns the southern wall. A door exits the room to the west, while a curtained doorway allows egress to the east. Various maps and other paperwork are arrayed across the table.
Fellzir tries to be sneaky as he checks out the rooms, although he guesses the enemy is another bridge or two away.
Guillaume moves cautiously forward, bardiche at the ready, still unsure if the archon teleported or just went invisible.
Once he's sure it's gone, he relaxes a little and takes stock of the area.
Fellzir spots that the ivy hanging on the southern wall conceals a natural crack in the wood and a secret hollow behind it. Inside, he finds a masterwork elven curve blade, a worn spellbook bound in black leather and a battered wolf skull painted a pale, luminous blue. Tucked inside the skull is a small purse containing 55 platinum pieces.
Maps of Longacre, the town’s hinterlands, the Whisperwood, and paths between the Court of Spears and the Menador Mountains currently blanket the table. The majority of the maps and notes in this room are mundane — mostly discussing supplies and the needs of supporting a band of 20 or 30 rebels. But Guillaume notices a location in the Aspodell Mountains in neighboring Isger marked with a tiny symbol of Iomedae and labeled “Citadel Dinyar” — identifiable as the citadel of the Hellknight Order of the Godclaw. He suspects that this information may prove valuable to a certain Archbaron for the additional insight into the enemies’ movements and motives.
Valuable evidence! A great Find Sir Fellizir! Aurelius nods
There was supposed to be a dryad? Perhaps she fled, good!
Aurelius announces pretending to have done anything of significance :).
"Damn, I hope the mutt is gone for good. Don't want to see that again." The Shrike scouts the vicinity, but the archon has indeed disappeared.
"Shall we continue, then? Let's see if there's more rebel scum about."
Cimri does a thorough search of the area and gives a sharp intake of breath as she pauses in reaching down to pluck something small from between the slats of the floorboards in the hidden alcove.
"Sorry, thought I saw... something there. In the wood." She says with a shake of her head.
Rhysack nods sagely. "Losoni. He will keep an eye on you... on us until we leave. But I do not think he will attack as long as the tree remains unharmed."
Cimri shudders slightly, still looking at the spot in the wood where she saw something. Finally she turns to Aurellius with what looks like a small pearl balanced on her palm. "Doesn't look like it fell from a strand, but it still looks valuable."
"Oh, and I almost forgot, I have that wand we found at the jail. I thought maybe that old coot with the bird took off with it, but he must have slipped it in my bag before he left." She pulls the wand of shocking grasp from her pack and offers to cast it on anyone who wants to release an electrical touch attack.
Guillaume shrugs. "Can't hurt, but wait until just before we go in. Spells don't usually last that long." he says.
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I wonder if Cimri kept opening the door from a distance and they kept casting their buffs and readying their swings until they eventually just closed the door. Then we keep doing it until they give up on closing the door. It might be fun to mess with them and exhaust their spells.
#evil plans
Hey Rhysack, how many traitors and rebels are left? Or should I just say opponents?
Waiting out their supporting spells can totally work, I can also regale them with the most cliched villainous monolouge ever to inflict some psychic damage
Aurelius offers
Waiting out their supporting spells can totally work, I can also regale them with the most cliched villainous monologue ever to inflict some psychic damage
I love that even more. The door opens. They cast their spells. Nothing happens. From somewhere the voice of Noticula's Madness begins...and never ends.
I wonder if Cimri kept opening the door from a distance and they kept casting their buffs and readying their swings until they eventually just closed the door. Then we keep doing it until they give up on closing the door. It might be fun to mess with them and exhaust their spells.
#evil plans
Hey Rhysack, how many traitors and rebels are left? Or should I just say opponents?
Cimri shrugs, "Sure, no harm in trying. It's not like they don't know we're here."
Rhysack does his best to answer, "Just Lencia herself, I believe. Though I did not know her dog was a Hound Archon. It's possible there is more I remain... unaware of." He admits with a reflexive swallow, perhaps realizing the wisdom of the decision to leave him uninformed.
You pass through the last room as you make your way to the final area, the Shrine of Iomedae, according to Rhysack, where the famed Angel Knight spends most of her time. A plain straw bed rests against the wall here beneath a number of simple shelves. Several helmets, each one sculpted with the somber face of a steel angel, stare down at the room from the shelves.
"Hells Bells!" Cimri exclaims, "She's got one for every bloody day of the week and then some." She looks at them resentfully as if thinking that having stolen such a helm from Allamar was perhaps not such an achievement after all.
You crowd out onto a small landing area with another bridge spanning the gap to the next room. Rhysack is unceremoniously shoved back into the corner as you all bunch together. Cimri shakes some charges out of her wand and points her finger at the door, which opens!
Revealing... well, very little really due to the bad angle. But you hear the familiar snarl of the Hound Archon, hinting that he does indeed wait for you inside.
Surprise!
-------------------
Cimri - directs Mage Hand to open the door
Round 1
-------------------
The Shrike
Guillaume
Enemies
Fellzir
Aurelius
Cimri and Rhysack
Guillaume advances, crackling bardiche held at the ready. As soon as he sees the archon, he leaps forward, snarling "So that's where you went, dog!"
+
Align weapon on Shrike's preferred weapon. EVIL
Sorry, away from laptop for a couple of days.
"Much appreciated..." The Shrike's voice is filled with bloodlust as Fellzir's magic makes his blade glow. Then he gulps down a potion of invisibility, and disappears completely. Only faint sounds of footsteps suggest he is moving further into the room.