Mythic Heroism +4 on all checks. Speed 60'
Selann proves his heroic capabilities, only failing on the survival check. But with guidance from Junior he isn't delayed even by that!
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Covered in dirt and dust, Selann and Junior cough to clear their lungs.
The crusaders are now confident the abyssal tear has been sealed away deep beneath the ground. Only at risk of reopening if something delves too greedily, and too deeply beneath the canyon.
The crusaders return to their camp.
The distraction party cheer upon seeing the heroes return. The crusaders inform the B-Team about their adventures.
"Thanks to your speed and decisive action, we were able to successfully protect against the Veskavor swarms we drew away." says Irabeth.
Though it was a close run-thing." Anevia says glancing at Nurah. Nurah blushes and looks away.
There is a day of marching before reaching Drezen, if you want to interact with any NPCs or other characters please take this opportunity to do so, because when we get to Drezen it's going to get. Intense.
Junior looks to Anevia, then to Nurah quixotically trying to discern the subtext. He glances at Amelia looking for help.
Amelia gives Junior a knowing smile and just shrugs.
Curious about the interplay between Anevia and Nurah.... Selann never-the-less does no better at "reading" the women than any man, ever!
He brushes the dirt off of himself and stifles a final cough. "There were some close calls. Junior saved me from making a wrong turn."
Tristan stands at the finish line applying wet towels and offering refreshing water to the participants.
Heck of a race!
The Inquisitor glances over at Anevia, then to Nurah before winking.
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Battle 0 - The Battle of Southgate
The heroes of Kenabres reach Southgate, the army of crusaders at their backs. There is no easy way to hide a march of an army, nor is there an easy way to hide a tribe of giants loitering by the city's southern gates.
Aron and Anevia return from scouting.
"If we plan to get to Drezen city we'll need to break through those Giants, there's a couple of towers, one of them has a functioning catapult, manned by Giants, Brimoraks and Tieflings. Could be trouble."
Cumulative DC 150
Ability Check DC 8; Skill DC 25; Save DC 17; AC 20; Concentration DC 17
Might (20/20)
Charge the Giants! - Melee Attack (AC 20)
Magic Artillery - Concentration (DC 17)
Mobility (20/20
Covering Fire - Range Attack (AC 21)
Avoid the Rocks and Siege Weapon Strikes - Reflex (DC 17)
Climb the tower to reach the Catapult - Climb (DC 25)
Discipline (30/30
Take the Catapult - Profession (Siege Engineer) (DC 25)
Form up on me! - Charisma (DC 9)
Tristan begins slapping everyone's ass.
Good game, good game.
Junior's he slaps multiple times. With each one the laughter in his blue eyes grow brighter and brighter.
Stupid material components. Am I right.
Junior chuckles as Tristan makes the rounds. When his turn comes he says slyly, "Careful that's a loaded weapon."
Junior points at the catapult and drools a bit, "Using the sudden release of potential energy to propel a payload?! I want one." He slaps Amelia on the back encouragingly, "Let's take it! With your help of course."
Once atop the tower Junior tosses down a rope, tied to one of the battlements.
Amelia begins the theme for this particular scenario as strange musical sounds emanate from her instrument. She sings while following Junior,
"It's the new weapon, the weapon of choice
You can blow with this or you can blow with that
You can blow with this or you can blow with that
Or you can blow with this or you can blow with that
Or you can blow with us."
The song goes something like, this.
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Caliban, recieving Tristan's 'inspiration' laughs and hops upon a rock, channeling lightning through his blade, he directs the magical assault upon the gates before flying into the air to draw fire away from his comrades. Forward! For the Crusade and the heroes of Kenabres! Greta, get to those giants! he exults in the chaos of the battle, and that a lone elf, long from his home, can make a difference here at the gates of Drezen....
Greta positions herself at the front of the army as they approach the gate. When the time comes, she raises her huge hammer and charges forward calling out, "for Kenebres!"
Tristan realizes that his MOJO must be off, or something. He decides to terrorize the enemy in frustration!
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Cumulative DC 150
Ability Check DC 8; Skill DC 25; Save DC 17; AC 20; Concentration DC 17
Benedic (+3) Calls for the army to enter a tactical formation, a contingent to take on the giants, and another to take the siege tower.
Selann (+5) (Avoid Siege Weapons) Acts as a spotter for the tower contingent, calling out the flying rocks not just from the siege tower but the thrown rocks of the giants.
Fred Junior (+5) points at the catapult and drools a bit, "Using the sudden release of potential energy to propel a payload?! I want one." He slaps Amelia on the back encouragingly, "Let's take it! With your help of course." Once atop the tower Junior tosses down a rope, tied to one of the battlements. Soon he's followed up by reinforcements and the tower is taken!
Tristan (+6) (Direct Ranged) Tristan taps into the tactical vision granted to him by his training as an Iomedaean inquisitor, directing snipers to aim at weaknesses in the giants armour or provide covering fire to the charging paladins.
Caliban (+11) (Magic Artillery) Works with the contingent of mages to direct area of effect spells where they would be most useful, breaking the giant's formation.
Greta (+17) (Charge the Giants) Greta positions herself at the front of the army as they approach the gate. When the time comes, she raises her huge hammer and charges forward calling out, "for Kenebres!"
The bloodrager leaps off her mount, hammer blazing in the dawn light! Crashing into the face of the giant commander sending massive teeth flying out of his face!
Final Battle Result:
21+37+28+28+12+22=148/150
2 points removed from Discipline as highest stat
Without the support of the siege tower, the giants were unable to hold against the Crusader's charge. The early victory increases the confidence of the army, but perhaps more than they'd expect.
Without the support of the tower and the power of the army behind them the Crusaders of Kenabres have taken Southgate!
Scout's Report
Irabeth directs Anevia and Aron to scout the city and report on any enemy movements and they return with the following:
Southbank (Mass Combat) Southbank has entrenched cultists and tieflings, we'll need to take Southbank if we hope to take Ahari bridge and reach Northbank, Citadel Drezen or take the bridge of Coins and head into Paradise Hill. We can expect a lot of ambushes and guerilla combat in the street-fighting, our cavalry will be limited in charging lanes.
Drezen Cemetery (Mass Combat + Skirmish) It seems we're not done with ghouls yet, there's an army of the creatures, that seem to mass around a particular crypt, likely whatever unholy thing commands the mass of undead is there. We'll need to break through the Ghoul army if you plan to take whatever powerful creature is in that crypt. Our cavalry will be useful here for trampling the undead, plenty of open ground for fighting.
Ahari Bridge and Bridge of Coins (Skirmishes) These are key pieces of the city you'll need to take if we're to have full mobility. There are small forces on these sites, but the bottleneck could be deadly to the army if those forces aren't taken out first.
Paradise Hill (Mass Combat + Skirmish) Cultists and schir demons have control of Paradise Hill, they seem to be guarding a warehouse district that seems to be a makeshift POW camp. Commanders, there are crusaders from another warfront held captive here. I have no doubt the demons will use these prisoners as hostages if we try and besiege the Citadel before freeing them. We'll need to think carefully how to approach.
Northbank (Mass Combat) Tieflings and Brimoraks are encamped outside the walls of Citadel Drezen, if we don't take them out before attempting to take Citadel Drezen we might have a burning city at our backs and high walls at our front.
Citadel Drezen (2x Mass Combat + Skirmish) The walls are manned by Giants and Tieflings, looks like they're working in tandem to operate the siege weaponry on the walls. Once we're past the walls, the Citadel grounds are encamped with Tieflings, Cultists, Duergar and Dretches. We'll need the army to clear out these forces before you can take the Citadel proper.
Tristan seems to eyeing the Southbank....
Benedic grunts. "Our cavalry and paladins are well suited to fighting the ghouls in the cemetery, and it may be that by removing these creatures we will open up ways around the many ambushes that no doubt lie in wait for us in Southbank. What say you all?" He sits in council pursing his lips, only barely touching his wine-- enough to not give offense as the crusaders celebrate their victory.
Junior hangs his head in shame at his inglorious contribution...
Selann agrees with Benedic. "Put the undead back in the ground where they belong."
Caliban weighs the odds, looking at a map and considering Anevia's scouting information. It would seem tactically sound to remove the threat of a flanking force. They cannot abandon the bridge to assault us, but the undead could fall upon our flanks as we assault forward. It makes sense to me to neutralize the left before taking the center....
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Battle 1 - The Battle of Drezen Cemetery
Unhallowed and infested by the hungry dead, Drezen Cemetery holds fields of low gravestones and markers, and is covered in the long scattered ash of the dead of generations of Crusaders.
The scouts provide further context for what to expect:
"The ghouls have dug grave-trenches, we'll need to be careful running the horses around them. Their bite carries ghoul fever, and their claws a paralytic poison. Fortunately we have healers enough to deal with that. We'll need to break through to where the ghouls are packed thickest to reach the crypt where their commander gives orders."
Cumulative DC 138
Ability Check DC 14; Skill DC 23; Save DC 15; AC 18; CMD 23; Concentration DC 15
Might (20/20)
Push the Charge! (AC 18)
Trample the Ghouls (CMB 23; [Bonuses from Bullrush, Trip, Overrun])
Channel vs Undead (Concentration DC 15 [+1 per d6 channel energy])
Mobility (20/20)
Plan a Route (Intelligence DC 14)
Avoid the Grave-Trenches (Ride DC 23)
Vault the Tombs (Acrobatics DC 23)
Discipline (28/30)
Calm the Horses vs the Undead (Handle Animal DC 23)
Unpoison the Horses! (Heal DC 23)
Courage against the hungry dead! (Will DC 15)
Channel to Heal (Concentration DC 15 [+1 per d6 channel energy])
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"Very well then," Benedic's voice is steely, as if he takes no pleasure in it. He draws Yaniel's holy sword and holds it aloft. "Onward! To Drezen cemetery!"
As the crusaders descend upon the ghouls, Benedic steps forward at the moment the creatures are thickest. "Now!" he cries, and on his signal a blast of channeled energy sweeps through the enemy, causing many of the ghouls to burn away like ash in wildfire.
Sweeping through the cemetery they reach a point where going over the vaults is the quickest and easiest. Selann leads the charge, vaulting up and over. "This way!"
Smiling as the company prepares to assault the cemetery, Tristan walks among the crusaders, offering encouragement, Tactical advice and perhaps a bit of humor.
We should go this way! Caliban shouts, pointing to a clear path between the trenches for the paladin's charge....
Junior inspires the horses with a warcry that rings out across the battlefield as they trample ghoul flesh beneath their hooves.
”My Little Pony, My Little Pony
What will today's adventure be?
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Will there be exciting sights to see?
Where will you wander, hither and yonder?
Letting your heart be your guide
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
I'll be there right by your side
I'll be there right by your side.”
While the others focus on more skilled tasks, Greta once again positions herself in the vanguard and leads the charge forward.
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Results: Battle 1 - The Battle of Drezen Cemetery
"Very well then," Benedic's voice is steely, as if he takes no pleasure in it. He draws Yaniel's holy sword and holds it aloft. "Onward! To Drezen cemetery!"
Smiling as the company prepares to assault the cemetery, Tristan walks among the crusaders, offering encouragement, Tactical advice and perhaps a bit of humor.
Cumulative DC 152/138 (20+28+23+28+30+23): Decisive Victory!
Ability Check DC 14; Skill DC 23; Save DC 15; AC 18; CMD 23; Concentration DC 15
Greta (+2): While the others focus on more skilled tasks, Greta once again positions herself in the vanguard and leads the charge forward.
Junior (+5): Junior inspires the horses with a warcry that rings out across the battlefield as they trample ghoul flesh beneath their hooves
Selann (+7): Sweeping through the cemetery they reach a point where going over the vaults is the quickest and easiest. Selann leads the charge, vaulting up and over. "This way!"
Benedic (+8): As the crusaders descend upon the ghouls, Benedic steps forward at the moment the creatures are thickest. "Now!" he cries, and on his signal a blast of channeled energy sweeps through the enemy, causing many of the ghouls to burn away like ash in wildfire.
Caliban (+9): We should go this way! Caliban shouts, pointing to a clear path between the trenches for the paladin's charge....
Tristan (+13): As the Crusaders break through the ranks of the hungry dead, the twisted powerful undead patron, a hunched batwingeed horror with distended tongue and frightening visage, creates a wave of supernatural fear with a flap of its wings. However, the courage instilled in them by Tristan holds true and the creature is forced to retreat to its crypt.
"Now's our chance!" Calls Irabeth, "Crusaders, clear the grounds of the dead, our commanders will enter the crypt and put their commander to its final rest!
Moxsahbuul - Advanced Berbalang
CE Medium undead
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +14
DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 natural)
hp 68 (8d8+32)
Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +9
Defensive Abilities projection DR 10/good or silver; Immune undead traits
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (good)
Melee bite +9 (1d6+3 plus paralysis), 2 claws +9 (1d6+3 plus paralysis) or incorporeal touch +9 (1d4 Con damage)
Special Attacks paralysis (1d4+1 rounds, DC 18)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 9th; concentration +13)
At will—bleed, ghost sound (DC 14)
3/day—alter self, charm person (DC 15)
1/day - Fear (DC 18) [Used]
STATISTICS
Str 17, Dex 19, Con —, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 18
Base Atk +6; CMB +9; CMD 26
Feats Defensive Combat Training, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Mobility
Skills Bluff +10, Escape Artist +10, Fly +17, Knowledge (local) +5, Knowledge (religion) +6, Perception +14, Stealth +15
Languages Common
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Projection (Su)
Once per day as a full-round action, a berbalang can enter a trance that separates the creature’s spirit from its body. This splits the berbalang’s current hit points in half between its body and its spirit. The berbalang’s spirit body gains the incorporeal subtype and special ability; otherwise, it retains the same statistics as its physical self with the following changes: AC 19, touch 19, flat-footed 10 (+4 Dex, +4 deflection, +1 dodge), single incorporeal touch attack that deals 1d4 Constitution damage on a hit as its sole attack. This spirit projection can travel no more than 1 mile away from the berbalang’s body. Because the creature is only partially in existence when in this state, its body gains displacement as the spell. When separated in this way, the berbalang’s body is unconscious and helpless. If the berbalang’s body is injured while in this state, the separated projection immediately returns to its body, and the body loses displacement. If the physical body is slain, the spirit body immediately dies as well. If the spirit is reduced to 0 or fewer hit points, it returns to the body immediately. A berbalang in spirit form can end the effect at any time as a standard action, at which point the spirit immediately returns to the body. When a berbalang’s spirit form returns to the body, add both the spirit body’s hit points and the physical body’s hit points back together to determine the creature’s current hit point total.
The undead commander Moxsahbuul is likely not directly affiliated with occupying forces of Citadel Drezen, and has likely formed an uneasy truce with the demonic forces in exchange for devouring any prisoners that might escape. As such, any lieutenants in its crypt are likely to be ghouls from the forces it commands.
Junior stares blankly, "Uhhh..."
He makes Greta and Tristan extra angry and everyone good and just great.
Amelia smiles, "Don't let the ghouls down there get behind you."
Caliban nods at the suggestions of Amelia, before invoking his larger elf form and drawing his blade.
Seeing Caliban's super elf form he hits his head with the heel of his hand, "Duh" He similarly shifts form.
Tristan walks amongst the troops, lecturing them on their probable foes.
The Inquisitor then will cast Protection from Evil, communal on the team.
Benedic offers a short prayer to Iomedae as he casts several spells.
Benedic charges forward in a burst of mythic power, slashing at one of the ghouls as he passes.
Benedic holds up his magical shield with Iomedae's holy symbol emblazoned upon it and releases a wave of holy power against the foul creatures hiding within the darkness.
Greta follows Benedic towards the crypt and attacks the same gross guard that he does (unless its already dead).
The Inquisitor pronounces Judgment on Moxsahbuul! He strides right up to his face!
Excuse me! Pardon. Was that your foot?
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Foul magics at work here, an Unhallow spell is tied to this crypt - also to the magical darkness within it! Caliban cries out.
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Selann casts a spell which causes a quick burst of light, damaging the undead.
Benedic charges forward in a burst of mythic power, slashing at one of the ghouls as he passes. Drawing on the light of Iomedae to send a pair of pulses of radiance from his holy symbol cutting through the desecration, burning the flesh of the ghouls and the Berbalang Moxsahbuul.
Greta follows Benedic towards the crypt and attacks the same gross guard that he does (unless its already dead).
Dazed by the light of Iomedae, Moxsahbuul's form flickers.
The Inquisitor pronounces Judgment on Moxsahbuul! He strides right up to his face! Excuse me! Pardon. Was that your foot? Tristan's magic blade cuts through the spirit-projection form of Moxsahbuul the form again flickers.
Passed!
Passed!
Passed!
Passed!
Fail!
Fail!
Fail!
Fail!
Fail!
Fail!
Critical Pass!
Pass!
Fail!
Fail!
Because the remaining ghouls are dazed, we get to go around again!
Benedic frowns. "What is that creature doing?" he asks the party. "Why is it transparent, and is there anything we can do to affect it?"
He swings his sword at the other ghoul while he ponders the undead general.
Greta moves up to the door and swings her giant hammer at the ghoul to Tristan's left , hoping to make more room for her companions to enter the structure.