Safely outside the blast radius of the fireballs, Ravenna keeps up her assault on the monsters, blasting them with freezing bullets.
Two of the demons avoid the worst of Sylva's breath, but the other one critically fails! As it writhes in pain, Nox impales it with shards of rock, then Ravenna shoots it twice, taking it down! Batman moves in to try to grab one of the two remaining foes but his efforts come up short.
The demon retaliates against Batman, while the other one moves to flank the champion.
“Oh! Right—you can’t fire-breath these guys! Coming, Sir!”
Sylva rushes to Sir Bat’s aid! She strikes… once.
Sir Batman appears to be still standing, although the bronze-colored bat-shaped sprite really looks like he got f$##ed up!
Raising his Shield, the Champion of Mazludeh Strikes twice!
Tap, tapping tapping!
Ravenna loads and fires another shot, the bullet whizzing over her friends' heads and into the demon's hide!
Another demon falls to your fury, and the final foe is injured. Outnumbered, the last brimorak opens up a dimensional doorway and teleports away!
You make it back to the Reclaimers' camp without further incidents. You are able to rest and recover from the fight, prepared to return anew to investigate the ruins of Domora.
Sylva doesn’t really talk about her day at the Holibrim Library. She may have fallen asleep while reading. Because a stack of books may have fallen on top of her, knocking her unconscious, almost suffocating her. She may have awakened cupped in the hands of a healer thanking her goddess that the little sprite actually survived that.
“I… hate… libraries” is the only information she has gathered.
The Champion of Mazludeh shouts after the cowardly Flaming minotaur demon!
The Batman then uses his Lay on Hands on everyone before himself.
Sir Batman then seems to be lazily, idly wondering about....
Field of Battle:
This windswept battlefield is an obvious site, not far from the Reclaimers’ camp. For many years, Mendevian crusaders tried to retake Domora to establish a base of operations west of the Worldwound, but each attempt was beaten back by the demons occupying the city. The majority of these battles took place in these fields.
Investigation Checks: DC 18 Warfare Lore; DC 23 Athletics or Survival; DC 25 Perception
It turns out to be a difficult day, as none of your research efforts bear any fruit.
To make matters worse, shortly after meeting up with Batman on the field of battle, a chorus of shrieks fills the air! A horrific monster emerges from the sodden ruins of the city, resembling a hydra with heads like cave worms instead of serpents!
It is upon you before you can react, snapping at you with its myriad heads!
Sylva groans as warm blood trickles from her abdomen, down one side of her skirt.
She glances at Sir Bat. “The usual plan?”
Sylva tries in vain to be sneaky, but the monster always has one or more heads giving her the side-eye(s).
“No! You’re supposed to look at… ugh.”
|
Nox ducks down atop Hildy's back but gasps as the fangs of the worm serpent still catch him. Almost without thinking he reaches back and draws his hand through his own blood coating his hands with the crimson substance before it turns a sickly oily color and he flicks it at the beast.
The cursed blood would seep into any wound and turn jagged, ripping open blood vessels and prying open whatever flesh it could like a sinister acid.
Afterwards Hildy darts back away from the beast granting him some time to breath and assess the situation a bit, "Hit it hard and make it bleed!"
Sir Batman takes the worm-hydra's kiss with a giggle and a blush.
I don't even know your name!
The smiling bronze-colored bat-shaped sprite Enters his Stance, Raises his Shield, and Strides into Flank with Sylva!
His blue eyes stare across to the Rogue.
Yes!
The creature only partially resists Nox's curse. Ravenna and Sylva take advantage of the curse as they shoot and stab the beast, eliciting bursts of blood from the monster! The beast is badly wounded but its injuries begin to swiftly heal as it lashes out again at all around it!
Sir Batman--Reacts--this time!
The Champion of Mazludeh Raises his Shield, Pat's himself on the face and Strikes!
|
|
Nox hesitates after him and Hildy escape the creature's grasping jaws and turns to see all of the others losing large chunks of flesh to this thing, doing a quick assessment of who was hurt the most he wove his fingers into a cross hatch pattern pulling them tightly causing Sylva to feel her wounds bind up.
♥️
Sylva is hurt bad… then Nox’s healing does more good than the enemy’s harm!
<Thank you,> she says in Sylvan.
Then Sylva unleashes her icy (but minty fresh?) breath!
Sylva gives the monster a swift kick, too!
I wonder which hurt the creature more…
The bizarre creature thrashes in pain as you pummel it and shoot it. Sylva's icy breath proves super effective as the sluggish beast takes it full in its myriad faces! The monster staggers and falls to the ground with a heavy thud!
Sylva is once again showered in arterial sprays. “Yuck,” she says as one head after another collapses to the floor with a wet crunch.
Seeing that she’s barely scratched, Sylva helps a friend in need.
Sir Batman just nods to the Rogue, as he walks up to Nox.
You look a bit ruffled.
The bronze-colored bat-shaped sprite grins.
You return to the Reclaimers' camp once more to rest and recover from the tough fight. The next day, you prepare to investigate the ruins once again...
Sylva goes to the Battlefield, hoping to find answers… and perhaps hoping to find peace with the life of constant battle that has become her new reality.
She prays to Shelyn, Musical Accompaniment soothing her broken psyche, stifling intrusive thoughts… she is focused. She finds a place in the center of the field and practices her martial arts, not like the sprite monk she so admires… but in her own way:
Every kick is a dance step. The whiff of punching air is percussion. Her eyes see past the imaginary target, watching her surroundings like a ten-eyed hydra!
She takes in everything, and learns plenty…
The following morning, the bronze-colored bat-shaped sprite is seen on the beach lifting things and putting them back down.
This windswept battlefield is an obvious site, not far from the Reclaimers’ camp. For many years, Mendevian crusaders tried to retake Domora to establish a base of operations west of the Worldwound, but each attempt was beaten back by the demons occupying the city. The majority of these battles took place in these fields.
Investigation Checks: DC 18 Warfare Lore; DC 23 Athletics or Survival; DC 25 Perception
Batman and Sylva scour the field of battle, finding more clues. Of the war horse remains half-buried here, many bear evidence of having been mutilated, torn asunder, or otherwise defiled. The rampant desecration appears to be most densely concentrated near the dried-up lakebed of Hume Pool. Tucked beneath a fallen crusader’s otherwise-ruined armaments, they also discover a lesser sturdy shield.
Meanwhile, Nox finishes researching the Hall of Gods. Beneath the whispered tones of humans and even the gentle din of nature, the sounds of animals and beasts thrum almost imperceptibly in the background. The growling of tigers, the snorting of horses, the hooting of owls—within every Domoran deity lay a powerful, primordial animal spirit. Among the temple, Nox uncovers two scrolls: a 3rd-level scroll of summon animal and a scroll of animal vision.
Putting all the research together, you learn that even after Abyssal magic dried Hume’s Pool to a muddy pond at the center of a dry lakebed, it remained a sacred site. Knowing this, the demon Malgamon lured his prey to Hume’s Pool, then funneled them into his lair through a now-dry tunnel to the city’s cistern system. Dyzad—the first Domoran goddess—and four powerful spirit guides were the last known deities to enter Malgamon’s cistern lair. The legacy of Domora’s god callers might yet remain in the city’s subterranean cistern. It would seem that your next task is to enter the cistern via a dried-out tunnel in the remains of the nearby lake called Hume’s Pool. Sakuachi will no doubt insist on accompanying you.
“Defiling a horse? I mean… who does that? Horses don’t do nothing.”
Sylva has a flashback of gutting that centaur woman. She tries to think of something else. [i]Anything]/i] el—
“Oh look, Sir Batman! A shield! Not sure if it’s any better than what you’ve got, but surely it’s no less sturdy.” She flashes a smile. “I’ll let you be the judge. Here ya… wow, that’s heavy!”
Sylva hands over the shield, or rather, drags it to Batman and will probably drop it if he doesn’t accept it right away.
* * *
When Sakuachi insists on joining the party, Sylva doesn’t object. “Just stay behind me for safety’s sake… and I’ll stay behind Sir Bat.”
Sir Batman smiles at the proffered sturdy shield. The Champion of Mazludeh reaches out to take it from the precariously presentation by Sylva....reaches....out for....reaches....
Ravenna! When get time will you transfer the other Shield Boss from my other Shield to this neww...looks heavy...sturdy Shield, please?
The bronze-colored sprite reaches....
As you are preparing to venture out the next morning, you are approached by a curious elf. Once he draws closer to your camp, you can see the mark of the Gatewalkers on him as well. He comes bearing a letter from Dr. Etvard Ritalson--
Gatewalkers,
You've done well to make it all the way to Domora in one piece. I have no doubt you are close now to fulfilling the seer's quest. Unfortunately, two of you are urgently needed back in Lepidstadt. I have recently uncovered revelations that require the expertise only Nox and Ravenna can provide.
But do not fret, for I have sent another member of our order to aid you. I trust you and Zienvus will get along famously. Finish your current task in the Sarkoris Scar, then return to Lepidstadt for a full debriefing. I look forward to speaking to you in person soon.
-Dr. Ritalson
Enclosed in the letter is a talsiman that will teleport Nox and Ravenna to their next mission.
Sylva politely introduces herself, by full name, and Sir Batman with title. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zienvus. Our mission has proven to be extremely dangerous so far. Hopefully, Dr. Ritalson filled you in on that little detail.”
Born over a hundred years ago in the mist-veiled Elven capital of Iadara, Zienvus was raised among the deep-rooted arcane traditions of his people. However, at a formative age, he was sent off to study at the Academy of Scribes in human Osirion. Although he excelled at his studies and later earned a professorship, he yearned for his homeland. And so, when he took a field trip to visit a recently unearthed aiudara in the desert, he became entranced when the gate offered him visions of belonging, images of his home amongst friends and family. He stepped through only to emerge back in the desert sands three months later. After the Missing Moment, he became lost and bewildered, abandoning his post at the Temple of Nethys, only to return home an outcast. He was banned from viewing the Sovyrian Stone in attempts to understand what had happened to him, and why a piece of him seemed missing. Further dejected, he wandered north into the River Kingdoms, searching for more elf gates to study, when he met with Dr. Ritalson, who recruited him with similar goals and objectives.
A tall elf with (for an elf) wild, unkempt silver hair, kept in check with a purple turban, wearing glasses, a golden cape, carrying a staff, and having the air of an academic about him, steps forwards.
Sprites. I've dealt with a few Fey in the marshes outside old Tephu. Perhaps they will appreciate if I spoke in their tongue..."
Zienvus greets Sylva and Batman in the Fey language, "Greetings my fair friends. I am Zienvus, and this is my companion Anaxagoras," he gestures to the black-billed magpie perched on his shoulder. "Yes, Dr. Ritalson has briefed me on your journey so far, and I find it most intriguing. I hope my skills and knowledge of things both arcane and occult will help to illuminate some insight into our shared conundrum."
Sir Batman boldly approaches the newly arrived elf. The bronze-color bat-shaped Sprite looks up, up, up, up at the elf.
Letter, please.
Fluttering his wings, the Sprite rises upwards to receive the letter for his perusal.
Blue eyes busily perusing the letter, the floating Sprite absently returns it, as he floats back down to the ground.
Holding out his gauntlet hand, the heavily armored 6" Sprite smiles
Ser Batman! Welcome to the Sprite Club!
Suddenly a worried expression crosses his bat-shaped face!
Ravenna too?
Sylva does indeed appreciate speaking Sylvan!
<Oh, so you know magic. Heh… that makes one of us. Though I can do this.> A violin, cello, and two female voices surround the trio with a soft, pleasant, wordless tune. <But don’t let appearances fool you. Sir Bat and I are a melee dream team—and we even manage to take foes down alive.>
When Sir Bat seems surprised that Ravenna was called back with Nox, Sylva looks a little disheartened (but sucks it up, not wanting to be a Debbie Downer). <They’re not traveling alone, so… that’s good, right?>
Nox says his goodbyes and activates the talisman, teleporting away. Once you've caught Zienvus up to speed on the latest developments, Sakuachi taps her spear on the ground resolutely. "I'm ready. Let's go down and find a spirit guide!"
The five of you head down into the dry tunnels to Domora's cistern system. This tunnel is a mucky morass of red mud and stagnant water. Above, a stone bridge spanning north to south overlooks the aquifer. A stairway leads up to the bridge. West of the stairway, a mound of rubble slopes up to a separate enclosure.
You don't have much time to look around before a booming voice addresses you. “I am Ruun, one of the four who guard this cistern. I felt your presence when you first entered this domain, and I believe you may be worthy of my service. My kin, however, are not so sure.
"To prove yourself, visit our shrines at the bottom of the wells in these tunnels. At each, you must make a worthy sacrifice, and you must overcome a challenge posed by the shrine’s patron. Complete my three siblings’ challenges, and we will unseal the cistern’s door.
“Within, elder Dyzad does battle with Malgamon. If you can defeat Malgamon and offer me your final sacrifice, then I will deign to let you call upon me as your god.”
Sakuachi stands in ominous silence as she listens to Ruun’s instructions. When Ruun at last falls silent, Sakuachi turns to you and gives you a determined look, eager to begin.
It comes as a relief to Sylva that Ravenna is sticking around after all!
She lets Zienvus know, before they move out, that she depends heavily on the element of surprise. She mentions other talents as well…
Zienvus looks about the area to see the source of the booming voice.
"A series of tests? I thought my school days were behind me... Very well, I will accept the challenge."
In response to Sylva's request, "Indeed my diminutive new friend, I can clearly see that you'd make an excellent scout. I can provide you with means of discreet communication. In fact, it is one of my specialties."
Sir Batman grabs a skin of water, dumps the contents over his bronze-color bat-shaped head and shakes!
Holy Mazuledeh! For a brief moment, I thought we lost Ravenna too! Better lay off that blackberry Kool-aide!
Trudging happily through the red mud and muck, the diminutive Sprite seems to get repeatedly distracted by the squishing and popping sounds from his boots.
Anyone else hearing the Beatles Sargent Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band?
At the sudden booming sound of a voice, the Champion of Mazuledeh begins to search for The Curtain ...
Perhaps drawn by Batman's call, a bedraggled demon leaps down from the bridge above you! A cloud of spores and a trail of feathers surrounds this twisted cross between a man and a gigantic vulture. It lets out a shriek as it prepares to attack!
Zienvus eyes the horrific creature, but feels it may fall outside his knowledge base. He acts quickly, bolstering his and his allies defenses. He focuses and an aura of warding sigils begins to float around him in a 5 foot radius sphere. He raises a shield of force before him and reaches out to touch the one they call Batman to guide his next strike.
The demon emits a shrill screech that assaults your ear drums as it pecks at Batman!
Zienvus closes his pointy ears.
Sylva’s little ears are wiiiiiide open to THAT! She doubles over from the ringing!
Sir Batman just stands there watching the demon pick at him at will.
If only the developers allowed Reactions prior to Individual Initiatives.
The Batman winces...
Really!? This will not end well....
The twice Stunned Batman just stands there drooling at what could have been....
The Champion of Mazludeh Enters his Stance!
Ima gonna treat you like Batman does Robin!
Ser Batman winks.
Zienvus concentrates to sustain his protective sphere of warding sigils, and the sphere extends outwards another 5 feet. He focuses further in order to crack this creature's mind.
The shriek overwhelms Ravenna and Sylva, preventing them from acting! As Batman enters his stance, Zienvus tries to daze the demon, but it resists his spell.
The fiend spares an angry glance at Zienvus but continues to unleash its wrath upon Batman!
Sir Batman--Reacts--to the deadly strike quickly Raising his Shield to block that deadly attempt at dismemberment!
Reactive Shield
Well that worked! Someone best put a bullet in his eye soon!
The Champion of Mazludeh Raises his Shield, then Glares Intimidatingly at it and Strikes!
Apparently, the bronze-color bat-shaped Sprite is a bit distracted by his broken nose....