"Blasted wizards. Clean up after yourselves!"
for
for
for
HP 155/188 (Toughness, Diehard)
AC 28
Fort +14, Ref +12, Will +14; fire resistance 5 (crown), poison resistance 12 (brass dwarf), xx weakness 5? (brass dwarf)
Hero points: 3
Active Harrow Omen: --
Chaotic Destiny []; Incredible Improvisation []; crown of the fire eater []; ring of lies []
Spells: 5th [][], 6th [][]
Focus Points: 1/1
Effects: slowed 1 for 1 round, temp immunity to odor of rot for 1 minute
The Tyrant, thanks to some strange twist of fate, manages to avoid being pinned down by the roiling, disgusting mass, and lashes out in rage.
AC 30
Fort +20, Ref +19, Will +17
Collar of the eternal bond []
Effects: Root worker fetish []
The Tyrant -- realizing that beyond comprehension he was almost in trouble there for a moment -- slashes out with his claws.
Between Targrish's blade and the Tyrant's claws, you swiftly disperse the remaining swarm. You quickly make your way down the rest of the hill to the relative safety of the ruined building.
A tumble of stones surrounds a circular foundation of what must have once been a taller tower. The ruins are filled with tumbled stones, many marked with weathered runes.
A human soldier who must be Commander Araseesh is here, stacking stones over the bodies of their fallen soldiers. The bloodied warrior turns to you and draws their longsword, but quickly realizes that you aren't their aberrant enemies.
"Whatever your reasons for arriving here, you have come at the right time," they say in Common. "I humbly request your aid in evacuating this site."
"Of course, that's what we're here for. How can we help?" Targrish questions the commander as he keeps an ear open for the sound of approaching flesh globs.
”The others are all dead, save for me,” Araseesh says sadly. ”I am not too badly injured, but there are still many bhanyadas lurking around! I cannot fight them off by myself.”
Targrish can feel a faint rumbling through the ground. The sound is periodic, like the footfalls of something massive approaching...
"Is there anything you want to save here other than yourself?" Vashta asks, looking around.
"We need to get back up the hill, but if the bhanyadas swarm us, we can use these ruins as cover," Araseesh says. "There's nothing else we need to secure here. Let's go!"
Unfortunately, you scarcely have time to turn around when the earth-shaking steps become obvious to all of you. An unmistakable odor of rot fills the air as a bhanyada behemoth strides into view! The monstrosity is made up of tens of thousands of component parts, all mashed together into a roughly humanoid shape that walks on stumpy legs. It has four thick arms ending in meaty fists, and its head is studded with tiny eyes all over its surface.
Four smaller bhanyada scavengers scamper ahead of the behemoth. Not much larger than dogs, these warty, misshapen tangles of flesh that walk on stumpy legs. Their bulbous heads split into a maw with blunt teeth.
Before you can react, the aberrations are upon you! The smaller bhanyadas scrabble over the rubble to get to Aicard and Targrish, biting at them. Two of them are slowed by the debris and cannot reach you yet.
Meanwhile, the behemoth lumbers up to the ruined building and attacks the Tyrant with its superior reach! It pummels the eidolon and grabs a hold of him!
HP 126/188 (Toughness, Diehard)
AC 28
Fort +14, Ref +12, Will +14; fire resistance 5 (crown), poison resistance 12 (brass dwarf), xx weakness 5? (brass dwarf)
Hero points: 3
Active Harrow Omen: --
Chaotic Destiny []; Incredible Improvisation []; crown of the fire eater []; ring of lies []
Spells: 5th [][], 6th [x][]
Focus Points: 1/1
Effects:
Vashta has unfortunately experienced worse, and ignores the smell. Casting one of her most powerful spells, she sends lightning flashes through their foes as she urges The Tyrant on.
AC 30
Fort +20, Ref +19, Will +17
Collar of the eternal bond []
Effects: Root worker fetish [], grabbed?
The Tyrant thrashes in the monster's grip. "Fool? You seek to hold me?! You hold only death in your hands!"
Targrish examines the smaller creature for weaknesses and slashes at them.
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The tiefling replies to the biting mass of teeth by slamming it with his shield. "We need to regroup!" But for now, he's stuck fighting off the meaty dog-like mass.
Aicard bashes one of the smaller bhanyadas and raises his shield. Targrish becomes distracted as he fails to expose the creatures' weaknesses, but his kukri proves quite effective as he slices at Aicard's target. His second attack would be a critical hit, but the body part he severs is superfluous and doesn't particularly hamper the aberration.
Orozomoc heals the Tyrant as he tries to strategize. He already knows all there is to know about these creatures from what the soldiers told you earlier: they are weak to slashing weapons and resist both bludgeoning weapons and critical hits. Vashta's lightning crackles between all the foes, leaving them wounded. The Tyrant breaks free and claws the behemoth.
The smaller bhanyadas cluster around Targrish and Aicard. Their blunt teeth shift in their mouths as they attack! Targrish takes two hits.
The behemoth swings its fists as it attacks the Tyrant, but the eidolon avoids its clumsy blows!
Aicard tries to get closer to Targrish so he can help the dwarf withstand the onslaught of sharp teeth. Where at first he scoffed at the challenge these abominations pose, Aicard is starting to understand why the locals struggle so much with these horrendous foes.
HP 126/188 (Toughness, Diehard)
AC 28
Fort +14, Ref +12, Will +14; fire resistance 5 (crown), poison resistance 12 (brass dwarf), xx weakness 5? (brass dwarf)
Hero points: 3
Active Harrow Omen: --
Chaotic Destiny []; Incredible Improvisation []; crown of the fire eater []; ring of lies []
Spells: 5th [][], 6th [x][]
Focus Points: 1/1
Effects:
Vashta urges The Tyrant forward as she casts a quick spell of protection.
AC 30
Fort +20, Ref +19, Will +17
Collar of the eternal bond []
Effects: Root worker fetish []
The Tyrant inhales, his chest expanding, as he moves. When he settles into his location, he breaths a line of lightning through the smaller bhanyadas!
Targrish refocuses and attaempts to call on his eldritch knowledge once more.
Then, he continues slashing at the blobby creatures.
for
Aicard destroys the most damaged bhanyada with his blade of justice, then bashes another one, raising his shield. Targrish manages to exploit the aberrations' weakness this time, slashing with his kukri. Oro takes aim and fires, his arrow finding a soft spot but not scoring a critical hit due to the bhanyada's extraneous flesh. The Tyrant unleashes his lightning breath, zapping the three smaller bhanyadas.
The bhanyadas continue to savagely attack Targrish and Aicard, but none of the manage to hit!
The behemoth scrambles over the rubble to pursue the Tyrant, swinging its fists!
HP 84/188 (Toughness, Diehard) -- before reactions
AC 28
Fort +14, Ref +12, Will +14; fire resistance 5 (crown), poison resistance 12 (brass dwarf), xx weakness 5? (brass dwarf)
Hero points: 3
Active Harrow Omen: --
Chaotic Destiny []; Incredible Improvisation []; crown of the fire eater []; ring of lies []
Spells: 5th [][], 6th [x][]
Focus Points: 1/1
Effects:
Vashta continues to focus on her magic as the Tyrant rips into their foes.
AC 30
Fort +20, Ref +19, Will +17
Collar of the eternal bond []
Effects: Root worker fetish []
The Tyrant tears into the fleshy horrors.
Magic shimmers from Targrish's amulet as he doubles himself, then continues to carve away at the smaller creatures.
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Aicard sticks to Targrish' side and continues to bash and smash. "We gotta hurry! Our friends need us!"
Orozomoc's blast damages the lesser bhanyadas. Aicard finishes the most wounded one off but misses with his everstand strike. Targrish's second slash is a critical hit that bisects another bhanyada! The Tyrant rips apart the last little bhanyada with his claws.
That just leaves the behemoth, which continues to pound the eidolon with its fists!
With the bhanyadas dealt with, Aicard rushes to the Tyrant's side. No longer will the behemoth torment his friend!
HP 64/188 (Toughness, Diehard) -- before reactions
AC 28
Fort +14, Ref +12, Will +14; fire resistance 5 (crown), poison resistance 12 (brass dwarf), xx weakness 5? (brass dwarf)
Hero points: 3
Active Harrow Omen: --
Chaotic Destiny []; Incredible Improvisation []; crown of the fire eater []; ring of lies []
Spells: 5th [][], 6th [x][]
Focus Points: 1/1
Effects:
Vashta continues to bring her magic to bear.
The Tyrant tears into the remaining monster, enraged that it thinks it can defeat him.
Targrish looks for weaknesses in the titanic creature. Perhaps it's just an overgrown lump, like the others. He moves in to attack with his knife.
for
Aicard moves in to bash the behemoth with his shield. Targrish exploits its personal anathema, but fails to hit it. Oro's first shot is off the mark, but his second arrow finds its target. The Tyrant hits three times, tearing chunks of flesh out off the aberration.
The behemoth retaliates, delivering a single bone-crunching blow!
HP 18/188 (Toughness, Diehard) -- before reactions
AC 28
Fort +14, Ref +12, Will +14; fire resistance 5 (crown), poison resistance 12 (brass dwarf), xx weakness 5? (brass dwarf)
Hero points: 3
Active Harrow Omen: --
Chaotic Destiny []; Incredible Improvisation []; crown of the fire eater []; ring of lies []
Spells: 5th [][], 6th [x][]
Focus Points: 1/1
Effects:
Vashta continues to urge The Tyrant on.
The Tyrant mauls the flesh fiend.
Targrish slices at the big creature twice, then presses his amulet into the wound.
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"Stop! Hurting! My friend!!!"
You all lay into the behemoth with powerful attacks, and in only a few moments, it collapses with an heavy thud, its body sloughing off chunks of flesh and gristle as it dies.
"Thank you!" Araseesh calls as they emerge from hiding. "The way is clear now. Let us move swiftly before more monsters arrive!"
You race back up the hillside, making it to the safety of the other Vudran soldiers. The soldiers are grateful for their commanding officer's return. Araseesh bows to you. "I am in your debt. I found a few treasures in the ruins. I want you to have them. Also, there is this.."
Reaching into their pouch, Araseesh produces a harrow card: The Trumpet. "This mysteriously appeared in my belongings several weeks ago, much in the same way that you mysteriously appeared here today. It has aided in my ability to react to danger, as well as allowing me to unleash a blast of sound once a day. I had already used it earlier today, or else it would have come in handy against the bhanyadas. Nevertheless, I get the sense that it belongs in your hands now."
Aicard gladly follows up on Araseesh's suggestion that they move swiftly! Once they've returned to relative safety, and Araseesh tells them about the card he found, the tiefling's ears perk up. "T'is true, we came to these lands looking for this exact card. Whatever brought our paths together so that we may reclaim the card is not something I am able to explain, but the Good Gods above know that what we're doing is right. You have our gratitude."
"Of course, darling, it was our pleasure," Vashta says, happy to be away from this disgusting place. "Let's go home; I for one need a bath!"
After bidding the soldiers farewell, you open a portal back to the Harrow Court. It riffles shut behind you as you step back into the Grand Hall of Harrowheart.
"I certainly would not want to be stuck there battling endless waves of wizard trash!" Targrish carefully cleans the gunk off his kukris.
"Yes, I just kept wanting to tell him what a lovely smell they'd discovered. Now, if you'll all excuse me, I believe I hear a bath calling."
She retreats to her room, but as she enters, she gasps, feeling like something is pulling its way out of her chest. Tears fill her eyes -- which again turn to golden crowns -- as she falls back against the closed door and The Tyrant emerges.
"You have done well, Vashta," he growls. "You are no longer the little girl who runs from the Harrow, but a full-grown woman who has harnessed the cards' powers. Fate twists and turns at your command now. It is the destiny I saw when I first came for you. The destiny I pushed you into..."
Vashta's eyes grow wide with horror as her eidolon continues to speak, the full implication of his words becoming clear. He was the one who had killed her family -- because of her, because of what he saw in her.
"That can't be true! No! I reject that!" she cries out, tears streaming down her face.
"Be that as it may, it is what happened," the dragon growls. "But now you have come almost into your own. You no longer need me -- and I no longer need to stymie your true power. The Harrow sings in your blood, and it demands to be free. Fare well, Vashta Denaria. From this moment forward, your fate is your own!"
With those final words, he lunges at Vashta, gaping jaws wide. She screams as he hits her chest, but instead of drawing blood, he seems to be absorbed into her flesh. She collapses bonelessly. When she awakes -- she doesn't know how much later -- she can feel a new power surging through her, the magic potential that her aunt Syeira lamented never seemed to come. Straightening up, she clears her mind of any thoughts of The Tyrant. Still filthy from her last battles, she pulls out her own deck of Harrow cards, drawing for herself. Time and again, the cards show the Hammer, the suit of Strength.
The Paladin, representing standing resolutely against trouble, without backing down.
The Keep, representing quiet, unshakeable strength that withstands any hardship.
The Big Sky, representing momentous change, as when all the slaves of a nation are emancipated.
The Bear, representing pure strength that cannot be truly tamed or trained.
And finally the Uprising, representing overwhelming strength that catches the subject up in something much more powerful.
Feeling assured, she retreats at long last to the bath, washing away not only the filth of their last outing, but the grief and the self-doubt and even the self-hatred. She emerges, dresses and leaves her room, a new sense of tranquility, certainty and purpose in her eyes.
Once you are ready, you step through the Arch of Tomes, emerging into the southern side of a clearing within a sweltering jungle on the side of a vast mountain range in Nagajor. One the opposite side of the clearing, a group of five figures work diligently at siphoning magic into a handful of seeds to grow the last of a ring of rice plants that surrounds the clearing.
It takes a few moments for the people to notice you. They are reptilian humanoids known as nagaji. They cry out in shock at your sudden appearance and assume defensive positions.
Having made sure to use the newly empowered wand she found , Vashta steps through the portal with her companions.
"Calm yourselves, darlings, we don't mean you any harm!" she calls out in Common, hands held out and open in a nonconfrontational gesture.