Once the cleaning is done, Greta helps organize a watch rotation and then tries to sleep off the demon's awful draining effect.
After any reconstruction and restoration to the ruin chapel, Tristan makes ready to meet back up with the army.
We may need to find this Nulkineth the demon was waiting for.
Benedic nods at Tristan's caution. "I believe Nulkineth was the inquisitor we faced in the temple. My suspicion is that he called the demon here, intending to sacrifice our compatriots to fuel its evil." He frowns, still troubled. "I feel confident that we have thwarted this particular design of our enemies, but nonetheless I don't like being separated from the crusaders. Master Horgus, have you recovered sufficiently from your ordeal to return to camp? I am glad that you were not more grievously injured by these monsters."
It appears this chapel has long been held by the enemy, and they did much damage, but our ministrations have aided in recovering it. I would expect little opportunity to find safe haven the deeper we press toward Drezen, excepting that which we carve ourselves. the elf exhales, I suspect we will find the demon Nulkineth was working for before too long. The acolytes of evil will call upon their hideous allies in attempting to prevent us from our goals - but we must be strong, and our faith unshakeable in ourselves and our Patrons above.
What else do we know of Drezen and the forces arrayed there before us? Does anyone recall what may be in opposition? Certainly we seem to have cleared the gargoyle threat here, but there may be more as we advance. Obviously the ravenous dead are present here, and may be elsewhere. I wonder if we can recover documents in Drezen which outlined their infiltration of Kenabres, and how they were able to slip their vile cultists into the ranks of the Crusade. Caliban ponders aloud.
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Benedic frowns. "Captain Jhestander informed us that the keep is held by a turncloak dwarf named Vhane, a former paladin of Torag. He took down the Sword of Valor and let the demons in, though why such a stalwart warrior would have changed sides is anyone's guess."
"We'll likely have to scout Drezen to see see what damages the demons have done. Has anyone seen Nurah?"
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Others claim he was seduced by a demon, and gave up the Citadel for Lust.
Still others claim his brother was cursed, and Vhane traded the Citadel for his brother's life.
It's hard to disseminate truth from fiction in the rumours.
After finishing breakfast, Greta packs up her stuff and returns to the conversation. "I'm all for planning," she says, "but it seems like we could probably have these conversations on the road... You're in charge here, Benedic, but my official advice as your second is that we should get the army moving towards Drezen again. The longer we wait the more likely it is that someone, or some thing, will get word of our approach to them and they'll be more prepared for our arrival."
She stops as if finished and then, before anyone can answer, suddenly adds, "oh, and are any of you really good at lying?"
Selann considers Greta's question, and wonders what she is planning. "Sneaking, yes. Lying? Not really. Never saw any good reason...."
The elf shakes his head in the negative, Not something I have practiced well. Do you have an idea Dame Greta? And you are correct, we should return to the troops now that we've at least partially recovered. Dallying too long could tip our hand to the enemy.
Tristan shrugs.
I am more a make them smurf thier trousers kind of Inquisitor.
"Agreed," nods Benedic. "Since it seems we have all recovered, let us return to the crusading camp and inform the others in the command staff what we have learned." And make sure Beatrics is safe and unharmed, he thinks, with a pang of worry.
He looks at Greta with a puzzled expression, inviting her to elaborate on her idea if she so chooses, but indicating wordlessly that, for him, skill at lying is something he has never considered to be a priority.
Junior thinks for a moment, takes a deep breath and almost begins to speak. He hesitates, a bead of sweat begins to form on his forehead. He lifts up his fedora and rubs his bald head. Finally he speaks with a fake smile, "My dad is just a great guy and I'm lucky to be his son."
He looks at Greta as if it answered her question.
Tristan begins clapping.
Greta slings her pack on her back and grasps her hammer. As the others rise and begin walking with her towards the army she elaborates, "well, demons aren't the most trusting creatures, as you all know--that is one of the weaknesses that keeps them from overwhelming us, they're always fighting amongst themselves and ignoring orders from anyone, or anything they don't fear--so I thought maybe we could use that to our advantage when we get to Drezen... I guess it probably wouldn't work if none of us are any good at lying, but I was thinking that when we got there maybe we could call for Vhane and shout about how we came at the time he set so that we could finally spring the trap he was setting in Drezen. I don't know how many demons would fall for it, but if it started in-fighting amongst the demons that would be good for us, I think."
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masterwork battleaxe,
+1 longsword,
three cold iron daggers,
+1 cold iron longspear
Scroll of Summon Monster V
+1 Studded Leather Armor
+1 Battle Aspergillum
+1 Breastplate
+1 Chain Shirt
+1 Returning Dagger
Knight's Pennon (Battle) [Ultimate Equipment]
Holy symbol of Kabriri
Powdered Silver worth 250 gp.
Gold Holy Symbol of Sarenrae worth 200 gp
383 cp
710 sp
4011 gp
Beryl (Gem) worth 500 gp
3 x Opals worth 100 gp each
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After resting overnight, distributing treasure and healing potions to the army, the Crusaders are now presented with a new problem.
"Do you see the way that dark ugly smoke plume moves, against the wind?" asks Aron. The council of heroes nod, and after a bit of watching it's clear it is no plume of smoke at all.
"Veskavors," remarks Irabeth grimly, "They'll tear open armour just to devour the soft flesh beneath in a matter of minutes, if the song doesn't drive the whole army into a homicidal frenzy against itself first."
Aravashniel appears thoughtful for a moment.
"By their behaviour, I would guess they are about to start that a new Queen is about to hatch, the hive is about to split off and devour anything they can latch their terrible little mandibles on."
Captain Kamilo dan takes a draught of her waterskin before asking.
"For those of us who haven't encountered this before, what are we talking about?"
Aravashnial, excited to talk about something within his wheelhouse of knowledge begins explaining:
"Imagine demon locusts, however they feed not just on any biological matter, but inanimate and magically enhanced matter as well, and as Dr Gadunkus Grungle posited in his seminal treatise on extraplanar entomology potentially they devour sanity as well. You see the mechanism by which they fly also creates a byproduct that induces madness in any who hear it. There are stories of entire villages that murdered each other and surrendering their flesh to the veskavors out of guilt for what they have done...
As Aravashnial looks at the faces of those around him he realised he perhaps had gone a little too deep into his memory palace.
"Holy water works well as a weapon, being abyssal they resist fire and electricity, so the usual alchemist's fire tactics for swarms are not nearly as effective. They are also small enough to ignore most weapon damage, and could eat the sword right out of your hand. But are susceptable (though not vulnerable to) cold... and actually this behaviour presents an opportunity. The swarm is preparing to split, a bard could potentially use their music to draw the nascent hive from the tunnels, leaving only the Queen, her unhatched princess and a few die-hard defenders. If the Queen and the Queen-to-Be are both killed, the swarm will likely dissapate without her gibbering song to call and control them."
"Or," Nurah the Bard says, "Couldn't we wait them out? This new Queen hatches, flies off with her pick of the swarm and we can March right through? We just hole up in that chapel with the army for an extra day or three?"
"We're a mounted army, couldn't we just race through as fast as possible? We may lose a few, but we'd be much closer to our goal, without a risky strategy?"
"So right now we have three plans:
Plan A - A bard and a small retinue of defenders ride out, and use the pied piper trick so a team of specialists can hunt down the Queen and Queen-in-Waiting to dissipate the swarm. Presents no great risk to the army at large, but high risk to the two teams going in.
Plan B - Ride back to the chapel and hole up until the swarm splits off which could be anywhere between 1-3 days of food and has a direct impact on the resources in the siege, and a team will still have to hunt down the Queen before we charge through or we could still lose forces to the gibbering song.
Plan C - Wad up our ears, and the ears of the horses, and race through as fast as we can, accepting that their is likely to be casualties but get through to Drezen with little loss of resources, but also blocking our supply route back to Kenabres, and a path for possible reinforcements to join us if the siege of Drezen goes long." Irabeth weighs the options like a tactician.
"These plans all have merit, and if there's a better idea I'm willing to hear it out, but what do you think?
Caliban thinks for a time, listening to the information about the Veskavors, and weighing the options presented here to the leadership cabal. Can we outfit the Pied Piper team with some holy water, while the rest of us assault the queen directly? I dislike hiding and reducing our supplies, and the willing sacrifice of a few virtuous paladins and mounts is not something in the interest of our lords or those whom these men and women serve. In my estimation at least. the elf exhales, I think that the best option is the first, although I'm uncertain of who should accompany each group. he says, putting down his spellbook.
”Do we have a bard with us who can keep the swarm distracted like that, and is willing to risk doing it?” Greta asks. “I think that sounds like our best option, for sure- it doesn’t waste any of our limited resources and it’s the safest thing for the army… the six of us could go deal with the queens, and some of the rest of the command staff could help the bard, if we have one?”
Junior seems distracted from the strategic stuff as he's counting coins with Fred but when talk of barding happens his eyes widen with excitement, "A suicidal concert for a bunch of demon bugs! Hells yeah! We got just the thing right Amelia?"
Amelia raises her eyebrows at being put on the spot, her cold stoicism breaks for a moment with the hint of a grin. "You know what? Yeah I think we do."
Tristan's mouth hangs open listening to all the information pouring out at them.
May need a moment....
Junior has exchanged his fedora for a top hat with a card advertising In this style 10/6. He holds up the recovered armor to Tristan and then takes his measurements carefully. "Let it out here and shorten there." He waves Greta over.
Tristan salivate over the magical breastplate....
Benedic listens to everyone's opinions and considers the matter carefully. "I agree with Dame Greta that a surgical strike from our specialized team would best conserve our resources, while minimizing risk to the bulk of the crusaders, who we will sorely need once we get to Drezen. Nurah, I fear we cannot afford to delay longer, especially with no idea of how long it will be until the demon swarm moves on-- and are we not endangering ourselves and others more by leaving such an enemy behind us?" He sighs, a flash of worry appearing in the deep crease of his brow. "Let us make preparations to enact the first option, then. Special Agent Geitgee--? Ah, that is, Special Agent Amelia? You will handle the task of distracting the swarm?" He looks the woman over to get a sense of her state of mind.
Amelia looks Benedic in the eye with a quiet resolve behind them, "The riskier the road, the greater the profit." She chuckles, "That's a Fredism. I know what you're thinking. Me a former cultist of Baphomet is the linchpin of your plan. If I'm intending to betray you now it could very well doom this crusade. All I'd have to do is distract the swarm for long enough for you to be cut off. Then you all get eaten. Without your power this crusade peters out like the last and no more wardstones to contain the demon armies."
Amelia takes a deep breath, "But if you do trust me, in my intentions and abilities. Your army is kept strong, you'll squash this queen like the bug she is, and Drezen beware."
She turns to Nurah, "Hey, you should back me up out there you know. Nothing more distracting than a loud show tune. Don't be a coward, it doesn't suit us."
Benedic nods at Amelia's frankness, frowning deeper when she says the word "Fredism." He looks at Junior with a slightly resigned expression to see if he will elaborate, but doesn't interrupt.
"Another concise summary," he says slowly when she finishes. Then he looks to Nurah. "What say you, Nurah? Do you think we can trust her?" He smiles at the halfling as he indicates Amelia. "We could use your talents in this as well, if you are willing to lend them to our cause. Working together, we could be twice as effective, no?" His expression is open and friendly, but his gaze similarly piercing.
Junior grins broadly and gives everyone a thumbs up.
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Nurah looks at the Crusaders and their council assembled before her, and lets out a dramatic sigh.
"Who could say no to these widdle faces," she says with mock affection, clearly covering her nerves.
"At least we'll have some defenders to help protect us from the swarm?"
She looks over at Irabeth, Anevia, Aravashniel, Sosiel and the other counsellors.
"Of course," replies Irabeth, "we would not leave our best singers unattended!"
She offers Fred Junior a sly wink.
With a course decided upon, our heroes set about preparing for the battle ahead.
Tristan listens to the discussion concerning the swarm-queen and her minions.
Are they not immune to mind-affecting shenanigans?
The Inquisitor does look resplendent in his new breastplate.
The Inquisitor does look resplendent in his new breastplate.
Greta frowns at the realization that Junior seems to be planning to go with the bards. “Junior… are you sure you don’t want to come with us? The commander will make sure Amelia’s safe, and I’ve gotten pretty use to having your music to fight to…”
Tristan turns his piercing blue eyes over to Junior, as Greta pronounces his possible departure without them.
I need you with us, sir. We have come to rely on your expertise, experience and excitement.
The Inquisitor ties a string to the Skald and then to his own belt. He then says some words that sound kind of like magic phrase, bit not really.
I just bound you to my presence.
Junior looks to Amelia and she nods at him, "Alright. I'll join the assault team. But here." He takes out a scroll and hands it to Aravashniel, "Use it to summon help if you get overwhelmed. I think it can summon some kind of Azata that can keep the swarms away for a little bit of time. Hopefully enough for you all to get out of danger."
We should convert some funes into some Holy Water.
Junior hands a pouch of powdered silver along with a pouch of silver coins to grind down to Irabeth so that she and the other paladins can bless some water.
Tristan peers over at Junior with an arched eyebrow.
Think8ng more Diversionary Tactics Team!
After the command staff finishes making their plans and begins performing the necessary tasks to prepare for their sortie, Benedic takes a stroll through the camp. His intention is to seek out Sosiel, since he is still slightly troubled by the deaths at the reconsecrated chapel, but of course he is also unconsciously hoping to see Beatrics.
He finds Sosiel not very far away from the command tents at the center of camp, speaking with Aron in an angry whisper. Their conversation ends abruptly as Benedic approaches, and Aron quickly leaves, obviously upset. "Is something amiss?" Benedic asks. He would like to speak with the cleric about their shared experience at the chapel, but recognizing that Sosiel is perhaps not in a good state of mind for counseling another, he shifts to conversing with him about other matters.
After they are finished, when Benedic feels he is not helping Sosiel any more by speaking with him, he wanders through the camp idly watching others from afar and listening for snippets of conversation. If he is looking for Beatrics, he does not admit it to himself-- but unlike the last time, he is serendipitously successful. As he is crossing into the part of the camp where the soldiers are bivouacked, he notices a number of the crusaders are gathered beneath a flag bearing Iomedae's holy symbol. Sitting in the middle of them is his former squire, reciting the scriptures of the Inheritor while they eat and drink.
He draws closer to listen, and many of the men and women on the periphery recognize him and begin murmuring to each other. One of them, an older and slightly grizzled soldier, stands to offer Benedic his place to sit on a bench, bowing awkwardly as he does so. Benedic shakes his head and lessens his frown, attempting to indicate that such deference isn't necessary, but this interaction garners more interest from those around them and the whispers and pointing becomes noticeable.
Beatrics pauses her sermon and waits, giving Benedic a flat look.
Abashed, Benedic says "I am sorry, I did not wish to interrupt you." He looks around at the assembled crusaders and smiles almost shyly at them, nodding acknowledgement of them.
Beatrics continues to wait, arching an eyebrow at his apology.
Benedic hesitates. "May I join you?" he asks. His look at the crowd includes them in his question, but it is really for Beatrics.
Beatrics watches him, perhaps weighing something in her mind, but then nods curtly.
Benedic sinks down onto the bench and indicates to the soldier with gestures that there is room for them both if he doesn't mind squeezing. Beatrics begins speaking again, and Benedic listens reverently. The familiar words seem to have new life in Beatrics's intonations and cadence, and Benedic closes his eyes and becomes one with the crowd for the duration.
When the sermon is over, everyone gets up to leave, and Benedic immediately loses Beatrics in the crowd. Rather than try to chase her, he instead encourages those around him to talk, and listens to them carefully, contributing only to deflect questions about himself back to them and their state of mind. He hopes to inspire and comfort them as much as possible with his presence and the truth.
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Don't count me out as a 'squishy' mage. If those things are vulnerable to cold I can send some snow ball flurries at them.
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After preparations are completed, our heroes split into two teams.
Selann, Benedic, Tristan, Fred, Greta and Caliban make their way to the heart of the Veskavor nest.
Amelia, Nurah, Irabeth, Sosiel, Aron and Aravashniel climb their way up the cliffs.
Amelia and Nurah begin their performance, and a cloud of Veskavor clear their way out of the tunnels, their maddening chittering whine following the cloud.
With every precious second used increasing the chance something terrible might happen to their allies our heroes rapidly descend into the nest.
The Crusaders find themselves at a gaping chasm, approximately 80 feet deep. Carefully climbing to the bottom, then up the other side could lose precious time, but someone might be able to leap across with a rope, some pitons and create a line to allow other characters to cross quickly.
Acrobatics DC 25
The Crusaders must climb a steep underground cliff to navigate further. It would be faster to send the best climber up first with rope and pitons, so the others might follow on a knotted rope. The wall is slick with water from some subterranean source, and pockets of Veskavors need to be avoided so careful climbing is necessary.
Climb DC 25
The Crusaders see a potential shortcut, but it requires someone to navigate the tight tunnels ahead and mark the way for the others to follow.
Escape Artist DC 25 (Special: +4 bonus for small characters)
The Crusaders see a potential shortcut, but it requires someone to navigate the tight tunnels ahead and mark the way for the others to follow.
Escape Artist DC 25 (Special: +4 bonus for small characters)
The confusing layout of the Veskavor nest can cause even the most experience spelunker to lose their way, but navigation is possible with a little bit of well remembered knowledge.
Knowledge (Dungeoneering) DC 25 (Dwarves get a +2 Stonecunning bonus on this check)
Veskavors are outsiders, and you think you might have an insight into the layout of this nest by remembering what you know of the creatures of the Abyss.
Knowledge (Planes) DC 25
A little prayer always helps when times are at their darkest.
Knowledge (Religion) DC 25
You just need to pay attention, and you're sure you'll figure out the path through.
Perception DC 25
The drone of the Veskavors is occasionally causing hallucinations amongst your party members, causing you to waste precious time. You might need to fight that noise with some of your own.
Perform DC 25 - Special you may Spend 3 rounds of Bardic Performance to make this check with Advantage (roll twice and take the higher)
A cavern full of buzzing Veskavors stands between you and your goal, while you may be able to fight them it would waste precious time, but perhaps you might sneak past them.
Stealth DC 25
Caliban, seeing the chasm open ahead of him, gulps and quickly flys across, securing the rope on the other side for his companions, so they can quickly make their way across the chasm toward the queen.
Acrobatics chasm
Junior seems to be stretching and flexing and ready to make the jump but then Cal just bypasses the chasm out of hand. He says, "Hey... aww."
Escape artist tunnels
When they arrive at the tunnles he nudges Selann, "Hey, hey... you need to be greased? I know a guy."
The Great Carcinisation
Junior stands entranced by the eerie, invading earworms of the vescavor's song. He regards his companions, Tristan's sword arm bloats into a pincer-like appendage, Benedic's dark black eyes protrude from his head, and Greta's many legs scuttle on the cavernous floor.
Nodding to the beat that has sprung into his carcinized brain he can't but help beat his orange exoskeleton on his drums. The song goes something like this.
With the song over Junior looks around with sadness in his heart, the rave is over and all is back to normal.
Junior offers a word of encouragement, "You got this. I believe in you."
Benedic has a deep understanding of outsiders, for he believes his mother was one-- and she must have been a particularly shameful outsider to have as a mother, he is sure, for why else would no one talk about her? A celestial who fell from grace somehow? In any case, Benedic quietly shares his lore with the group, masked by the pervasive hum of demonic insects.
"The drones are blindly loyal to their demon queen; if we go to where the buzzing is loudest, that is where we will most likely find her."
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