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Tristan from the building to the South it's very clear that the enthusiastic singing and chanting is in Necril, and the name Kabriri is repeated in multiple phrases.
Tristan returns to the group.
The chanting and singing is in Necril, they seem to be songs of celebration and supplication to Kabriri. From my knowledge of such cults and their practices I know rituals like this can take a long time before they get to the main event. I estimate there's probably at least 30 minutes before anyone is likely to get sacrificed or ghoulified.
The Inquisitor shrugs.
Common, Hallit, Abyssal, Celestial, Undercommon, giant, infernal, aklo and necril
Greta nods at the news. “Alright,” she says with some relief, “in that case, why don’t we start with door across the courtyard and we can work our way around to the room where they’re chanting.”
”Tristan, can you and Selann check the door for traps and see if it’s unlocked, please?”
Junior pulls down on the front of his tunic that's been riding up a bit and says, "Make is so."
He quietly sings to a wand, "Sail away, sail away, sail away."
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This mostly barren room has two sets of shackles anchored
within a nook along the eastern wall. A pair of soldiers look up at the doorway, bruised, blinking and confused.
What do you do?
While the others free the men from their shackles and scout ahead, Benedic gently questions the soldiers. "The soldiers know very little, they were presented by the gargoyles to a horned man with wings. They called him Nulkineth. They were some of the first to arrive, and did not see much after they were shackled. They do remember one of the gargoyles saying that they would make a juicy feast for Maugla, though they do not know who or what that is."
When they are ready he casts divine favor before proceeding.
Seeing no immediate enemies Selann first moves over to release the men.
He leaves the decision over handling them to Benedic and crew while he moves to the door to listen.
He backs away from the door and alerts the team. "That door is too silent. Possibly magical silence?" He casts detect magic and studies any aura if there are any?
Caliban moves to flank the door while Selann listens, once the halfling makes his annoucement, Caliban nods grimly at Greta and the others, ready to move into the next chamber.
Tristan follows Selann to look over the door.
The Inquisitor also cast Detect Magic to study the aura.
The youthful smile on his face belies a cause for caution....
When Selann pulls out one of Terendelev's scales, Greta is reminded that she should use hers too. Reaching into her pouch, she places one hand on the relic and concentrates; a moment later her skin hardens and transforms into fine silver scales.
She smiles proudly at her changed appearance and lifts her hammer in both hands once more. Then she moves near to the next door and prepares to charge through it.
Tristan relays their findings to the group. He has a sad face for Junior.
Unless someone is able to dispel it?
Greta shakes her head, then looks to Selann to see what he may have to say about it.
Benedic frowns. "I did not prepare disrupt silence or dispel magic today," he murmurs. "I could entreat Iomedae to grant me that power, but it would take a quarter of an hour at least, and I do not believe we have the time. I am sorry, friends."
Tristan looks to his wrist, as Benedic explains his time issue.
Unless folks have spells running, I think we do have 15 minutes. Although, we could just go in commando?
He points to Junior.
You can go in first to create a distraction. Tell them a joke.
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Junior opens the door and opens with a joke, "Iomadae, Desna, and Calistria walk into a tavern..." He then walks into the room of absolute silence, mouth still flapping.
Seeing the flaw in that particular portion of the plan, the Inquisitor shrugs, raises shield and sword and steps along beside his friend through the door and into....
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The stained-glass windows lining the ceiling of this quiet
chamber have all been shattered, leaving colorful broken glass
scattered across the stone floor. There are doors to the East and South.
Manacled in the middles of this meditation chamber, forced to sit on broken glass, is Aravashnial. A quartet of ghouls stand guard in this chamber. They pull hideous faces, but whatever they his or screech is lost in the magical silence.
Tristan calls upon Iomedae to provide protection to his friends.
The Inquisitor looks at the quartet of gouls. He then reaches down inside for his Mythic abilities to present themselves, as he strides purposefully inside!
When you first enter an area or make your presence known to a group of strangers, as a free action you can expend one use of mythic power and attempt a single Diplomacy or Intimidate check to modify the attitudes of everyone within 10 feet per tier, and an additional number of characters equal to your Charisma modifier who are outside that range but have line of sight to you. (For instance, you could affect everyone near the entrance of a throne room and key people on the dais at the far end.) Alternatively, when you reveal yourself during the first round of combat (not counting the surprise round), you can expend one use of mythic power as a free action to use Intimidate to demoralize your targets.
Get away from here! Iomedae commands you to cower in fear!
Understanding that the silence will stop any spellcasting or communication Selann casts Vanish before moving in. He calls out, "Can't dispel the silence. I'm going to check out the manacles to see if I can release Aravashnial." then moves in to the room.
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Understanding that the silence will stop any spellcasting or communication Selann casts Vanish before moving in. He calls out, "Can't dispel the silence. I'm going to check out the manacles to see if I can release Aravashnial." then moves in to the room. He notices the manacles are of a higher quality than those in the other room, but still within his ability to unlock
Tristan steps into the room, and though his words are absorbed by the magical silence, his intent is clear. However, as undead beings the ghouls are resistant to mortal intimidation and silently hiss in response.
The ghouls are quick to respond. One bursts through the door to the south, in the magical silence his calls for reinforcements go unheard by the crusaders, but are definitely heard by the others. One opens the door to the courtyard, sticking his head out of the field of silence, but noticing that there are no reinforcements to assist in the courtyard.
The Ghoul to the North-East interposes itself between Junior and Aravashnial, blocking further intrusion into the room as it claws ineffectually at Junior's armor and fur. The Ghoul to the North-West attempts to Coup-De-Grace Aravashnial, blood spatters across the meditation chamber, Aravashnial is bloodied, but conscious, and the Ghoul earns a spiked gauntlet to the face for its spiteful action.
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Benedic steps forward and touches Junior's back, chanting a hurried supplication to Iomedae. Briefly, his otherworldly nature shines-- his skin becomes a golden aura, pierced by bright blue light from his eyes. There is a faint suggestion of wings behind him.
"O Iomedae, smite these foul creatures and strike them dumb with awe for your majesty!" he cries, as he channels positive energy through his shield reliquary.
Caliban focuses his energy and virtually disappears, reappearing behind the ghoulish lines his black blade snapping out at the ghoul in the doorway as the elf darts past.
Then, settling into the thick of the room, he aims a powerful two-handed strike at the ghoul in the corner , trying to protect the fallen elf at his feet.
Greta, not having much of an option for entering the next chamber, decides to circle around and try the door from the courtyard. When she sees a ghoul trying to exit that way, she takes up position far enough back from it that it will have to risk moving through her hammer's reach in order to attack her.
Wordlessly Junior gives the same ghoul another swift punch in the nose. He kindly gets out of the way of Greta’s big hammer.
Tristan silently fumes at his forgetfulness of undead Traits!
He does smile at Junior's couragw.
Selann reaches up to the shackles holding Aravashnial's hands and works to open the lock.
He presses a dagger into the hands then moves to the chains holding his feet.
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Wordlessly Junior gives the same ghoul another swift punch in the nose, his gauntleted fist punches through the ghoul's brain and we're all thankful that the silence prevents the gross squelchy noises we would otherwise hear. He kindly gets out of the way of Greta’s big hammer
Caliban focuses his energy and virtually disappears, reappearing behind the ghoulish lines his black blade snapping out at the ghoul in the doorway as the elf darts past, leaving the ghoul bisected in half. Then, settling into the thick of the room, he aims a powerful two-handed strike at the ghoul in the doorway, trying to protect the fallen elf at his feet, his blade kills the ghoul efficiently and cleanly.
Seeing the path cleared in front of her Greta rushes into the next room. Her Lucerne Hammer readied to strike anything that tries to get past her in order to buy Selann time to pick Aravashnial's manacles.
Benedic steps forward and touches Junior's back, chanting a hurried supplication to Iomedae. Briefly, his otherworldly nature shines-- his skin becomes a golden aura, pierced by bright blue light from his eyes. There is a faint suggestion of wings behind him. The strange silence of the fight is interrupted by a sound of a choral angelic cord. Seeing no further threats in the meditation chamber Benedic takes a spot behind Greta in the hopes of catching the ghouls in his channel.
Selann quickly picks the lock on Aravashnials hands, and presses the hilt of a knife into his palm.
Selann, he says to the invisible halfling, Am I glad to have service of your skills now. Selann is surprised the elf recognises it is him, since he is invisible, but then remembers the long days Aravashnial was forced to endure blindness. Perhaps his other senses have compensated and he remains well practiced with his ears and nose.
Tristan smiles as the silence is lifted within 10' of Junior.
You are such a doll!
The Inquisitor sees the ghouls gathering in the garbage of a chamber. Their beady little stoner eye staring at them with certain glee.
Tristan grins at them, before blowing them a kiss!
Tine for some shenanigans!
The youth cast Expeditious Retreat, motions for those around him to follow him!
Selann accepts Aravashnial's words as he bends to work on the lock on his feet. He's sure the others can handle the stinking ghouls so he focuses on the work.
But fails on his first attempt....
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Selann accepts Aravashnial's words as he bends to work on the lock on his feet. He's sure the others can handle the stinking ghouls so he focuses on the work. But fails on his first attempt....
Tristan smiles as the silence is lifted within 10' of Junior.
You are such a doll!
The Inquisitor sees the ghouls gathering in the garbage of a chamber. Their beady little stoner eye staring at them with certain glee.
Tristan grins at them, before blowing them a kiss!
Time for some shenanigans!
The youth cast Expeditious Retreat, motions for those around him to follow him! He dodges the claw of the ghoul protecting the room beyond and positions himself where the creatures are at their thickest, finally noting the room itself.
The broken frames of several beds lie scattered about this large room. Two of the more serviceable ones have been pushed together to make a larger sleeping pallet. A table and several chairs also occupy the center of the room. Apart from the ghouls, a winged humanoid figure grins in excitement, with sharpened teeth.
Well children, I didn't know a feast could deliver itself! The temple has more than enough tributes, and though I'm full, I think I've saved enough room for desert! The torn open body of a dead crusader lays on the floor, missing limbs and organs, clearly whoever they were, they served a grisly feast for this commune of terrors.
The ghoul who called the earlier warning races back to take on Greta, but her Longhammer is more than ready for the challenge and the ghoul is killed in a single blow. No sooner is it dead than one of its allies clambers over the corpse in an effort to bite Greta but the glowing light of Iomedae causes the Ghoul to balk at the last second, and hiss in frustration.
Another ghoul races out a door in an effort to attack the crusaders from a different angle.
Tristan soon finds himself surrounded, or has he may prefer to call it, a target rich environment. Playfully he parries and dodges the incoming assault trusting his competent combat training to protect him, the numbing poison is almost enough to make him miss a lucky claw that managed to slip past his defenses.
, Plus Paralysis and Ghoul Fever, Miss due to Protection from Evil!
, Plus Paralysis and Ghoul Fever
, Plus Paralysis and Ghoul Fever, , Plus Paralysis, , Plus Paralysis.
, Plus Paralysis and Ghoul Fever, , Plus Paralysis, , Plus Paralysis.
, Plus Paralysis and Ghoul Fever, , Plus Paralysis, , Plus Paralysis.
A pang of worry crosses Junior's mind as his friend decides to cut himself off. He desperately tries to clear the way for the rest of them.
Caliban surges forward at Junior's call, following the half-ork closely into the next chamber, and leaving a pathway for Greta to get deeper into the room without impeding her advance.
Greta advances to the vanguard where her lengthy reach should force the demon to risk a free attack when it moves to engage her or her friends.
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As the crusaders race into the room following Junior's lead. Nulkineth watches the group run in, and grins wickedly.
Look at you all, such a loyal pack of dogs, running to rescue your own... and so quick. I wonder if you can complete your little rescue before Maugla arrives to claim his feast?
Nulkineth raises his battle Aspergillum, and it glows briefly with an abyssal sigil. Demonic energy begins to swirl in an unholy miasma engulfing the crusaders within.
Then with astonishing, and impossible speed Nulkineth crosses the room join the ghoul assault on Tristan. Tristan narrowly dodges the hit from the Aspergillum, as it leaves a small crater in the wall behind him.
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Initiative
12 Caliban
11 Greta
08 Benedic
01 Aravashnial
24 Selann
23 Tristan
19 Ghouls
17 Junior
14 Nulkineth