Dispatching the Rakasha would be prudent. They are a festering den of evil that will just set up elsewhere if allowed to.
Henrika quietly listens to the others. "I must say, it is tasks like these that make me value the time we spend together in hiding, where we can be ourselves and remind each other who we really are, truly. I am thankful I am on this mission with a group of like-minded friends and patriots, focused on doing right by Taldor and Eutropia both."
Henrika quietly listens to the others. "I must say, it is tasks like these that make me value the time we spend together in hiding, where we can be ourselves and remind each other who we really are, truly. I am thankful I am on this mission with a group of like-minded friends and patriots, focused on doing right by Taldor and Eutropia both."
Tychus permits himself a quick grin.
"I couldn't have asked for a better coterie. And friends. Abadar has blessed me with the opportunity to right many wrongs. But these times we have spent together are almost a better reward. For Taldor!"
He balls his right hand and thumps it across his chest onto his heart.
"Once this leg of the journey is over, I eagerly await Trevor's return with a few tankards of ale."
"Amen." Trevor let out a small smile. "I'd love to introduce you all to Cayden Cailean at the bottom of our tankards."
Abadius 12, 4718 (Starday) (Zimar, Taldor)
You return to the Sweet Dreams Tea Shop in disguise. Inside, Estella stands behind the counter. She is accompanied by her two sisters, Illumia and Magilla, who appear to be stocking shelves.
Estella beams when she sees you. She holds up a jar containing a glowing wispy substance. The cackles, ”The hag, Avenna, will bother us no more. Her soul will fetch a fine price on the Shadow Plane. May she be eternally tortured.”
Magilla picks up another jar on the shelf behind her containing a pair of bloody eyeballs. ”Before we killed her, we plucked out her eyes one by one. Her screams were so sweet. A perfect punishment for an annoying diviner. And they will make a useful spell component.”
Illumia says, ”We have no use for her husk, but we stowed her body in the back room just in case you wanted it. If not, we’ll just feed it to Shadowlass, our nightmare. She’ll eat anything, bones and all.”
Estella says, ”We are eager to move on. Why don’t you finish your business with the High Strategos so we can take our business elsewhere.”
Not even Henrika can hide the shock and disgust that these statements from the sisters provoke. Rather than trying to cozy up to them further or dissembling to get close enough to strike by surprise as she did with Sister Dismaal, she draws her sword and shouts a challenge. "Loathsome creatures, all of your ugly business in this world is hereby concluded."
Toni sticks his hand under his shirt and casts invoke deity (Good)
”I knew something was off about you! But you’ve made a mistake turning on us. We’ll sup on your bones tonight!”
The three women drop their disguises and their youthful appearances fade away. Instead they turn into sharp-fanged crones with bruised, purple skin that hangs off their corpse-thin frames. The three begin to cackle unnervingly.
Round 1
Initiative
21 – Henrika (114/102 hp)
20 – Trevor (86/86 hp)
17 – Tychus (86/86 hp)
12 – Icabhod (82/82 hp)
11 – Shadowlass
10 – Illumia
09 – Xallis (91/91 hp)
09 – Estella
08 - Magilla
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲False Life (12 hp, 11 hr), ▲Freedom of Movement (110 min), ▲Glibness (110 min), ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Message (110 min), ▲See Invisibility (110 min), ▲Remove Fear (11 min), ▲Fearsome Guise
Icabhod:
Trevor: ▲Invoke Deity (Good, 110 min)
Tychus: ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Protection from Evil (11 min), ▲Divine Favor (11 rd)
Xallis:
Everyone except Xallis gets to act first.
Night Hag Lore
•A night hag’s type is outsider (evil, extraplanar)
•Terrifying murderesses and greedy soul brokers, night hags prey upon mortals while they’re most vulnerable. Preferring to kill their prey slowly, haunting their dreams night after night, these hags trap the tormented souls of their victims within dark gems so they might be sold in the infernal markets of the outer planes.
•A night hag is immune to charm, cold, fear, fire, and sleep.
•A night hag is vulnerable to magic cold iron weapons.
•A night hag’s bite inflicts a disease called demon fever.
•A night hag can visit the dreams of chaotic or evil targets by using a special periapt known as a heartstone.
•A night hag can change shape into a humanoid creature.
A night hag has spell resistance.
It’s spell-like abilities include: detect chaos, detect evil, detect good, detect law, detect magic, deep slumber, invisibility, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement, etherealness, and soul bind.
Night hags speak Abyssal, Celestial, Common, and Infernal.
Cauchemar Nightmare Lore
•A cauchemar’s type is outsider (evil, extraplanar).
•The cauchemar is a more dangerous variant of the nightmare, particularly valued for its ability to enter the Ethereal Plane with its rider in addition to being able to use plane shift to invade other realities.
•A cauchemar’s hooves deal fire damage.
•A cauchemar exhales smoke that chokes and blinds foes.
Its spell-like abilities include: ethereal jaunt and plane shift.
Cauchemars speak Abyssal and Infernal.
Round 1
Henrika reasons that the hags likely have access to potent magic, and that the best way for her to combat it would be to try to keep them within her reach in the narrow confines of the room, though this would allow them to flank her. Accordingly, she glares at Estella and steps forward into the space between them. She raises her sword menacingly to inspire the hag to flinch, then slices backward and forward in two quick strokes.
As she attacks, she activates her Fearsome Guise trick, targeting Illumia. She briefly appears to be the hags' other sister Magilla attacking them and leering.
Before Battle
Xallis will enhance himself with extended barkskin, extended heroism, and overland flight. He will analyze the monsters and, presumably, not share informatjon until combat to preserve the element of surprise.
Naturally, his spells are available foe the team if needed.
Round 1
ShieldIcabhod has quaffed numerous extracts in preparation of this battle
Shield creates an invisible shield of force that hovers in front of you. It negates magic missile attacks directed at you. The disk also provides a +4 shield bonus to AC. This bonus applies against incorporeal touch attacks, since it is a force effect. The shield has no armor check penalty or arcane spell failure chance.
Shield
BarkskinBarkskin toughens a creature’s skin. The effect grants a +2 enhancement bonus to the creature’s existing natural armor bonus. This enhancement bonus increases by 1 for every three caster levels above 3rd, to a maximum of +5 at 12th level.
The enhancement bonus provided by barkskin stacks with the target’s natural armor bonus, but not with other enhancement bonuses to natural armor. A creature without natural armor has an effective natural armor bonus of +0.
Bear's EnduranceThe affected creature gains greater vitality and stamina. The spell grants the subject a +4 enhancement bonus to Constitution, which adds the usual benefits to hit points, Fortitude saves, Constitution checks, and so forth. Hit points gained by a temporary increase in Constitution score are not temporary hit points. They go away when the subject’s Constitution drops back to normal. They are not lost first as temporary hit points are.
Heroism This spell imbues a single creature with great bravery and morale in battle. The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Clay Skin The target’s skin becomes as thick and tough as clay, granting the target DR 5/adamantine. Once the spell has prevented a total of 5 points of damage per caster level (maximum 50 points), it is discharged and the spell ends.
Displacement The subject of this spell appears to be about 2 feet away from its true location. The creature benefits from a 50% miss chance as if it had total concealment. Unlike actual total concealment, displacement does not prevent enemies from targeting the creature normally. True seeing reveals its true location and negates the miss chance. (11 rounds)
He then rushes forwards
Round 1
Tychus draws Dignity's Barb and slides into position next to Xallis, kneeling behind one of the shelves. He lines up his first shot on the far hag .
Round 1
Trevor (no longer Toni) advances toward the hags, [i[Godspike[/i] drawn. The aasimar had always been very charismatic, but never had the cleric looked more powerful. Two ethereal wings rise from his shoulder blades behind him as we walks.
Henrika's AC and hp improved with the belt of physical perfection upgrade, just FYI.
Round 1
Before Estella can react, Henrika is standing before her and slashes across her body. An arc of black tar-like blood sprays outward and Estella looks badly injured.
As Trevor steps forward, he indeed puts on a fearsome guise, yet the hags know no fear. The hag snatches Trevor’s thrusting blade with her bare hand, blocking the blow. Her palm sizzles from the holy energy and she releases it before she is harmed. ”Not so fast deary. You could hurt someone with that.”
Then Tychus hits Magilla in the shoulder and she glares at him and hisses.
Icabhod moves closer.
Then, silently and invisibly, Henrika sees the largest horse she’s even seen walk through the northern wall (north is left) and stop in the middle of the room. The nightmare looks around surveying the area. It is clear that it can see all of you. Perhaps it notices Henrika glance at it, or perhaps it can smell fear. Either way, it looks in Henrika’s direction and a puff of ethereal flame and smoke emits from its nostrils.
Illumia’s feet lift off of the ground and she floats backwards and up to the ceiling. Then she casts a spell that summons a billowing cloud and stinking gas that fills the tea house. Henrika, Tychus, and Xallis’ eyes all tear up and their stomachs turn from the offensive gas.
Round 1
Initiative
21 – Henrika (125/113 hp) (Nauseated)
20 – Trevor (86/86 hp)
17 – Tychus (86/86 hp) (Nauseated)
12 – Icabhod (104/104 hp)
11 – Shadowlass (Ethereal, Invisible)
10 – Illumia (Red)
09 – Xallis (91/91 hp) (Nauseated)
09 – Estella (116 damage) (Feinted -6 AC, 1 rd)
08 – Magilla (Blue) (27 damage)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲False Life (12 hp, 11 hr), ▲Freedom of Movement (110 min), ▲Glibness (110 min), ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Message (110 min), ▲See Invisibility (110 min), ▲Remove Fear (11 min)
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 110 min), ▲Clay Skin (50 hp, 110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Bear’s Endurance (11 min), ▲Shield (11 min), ▲Displacement (11 rd)
Trevor: ▲Invoke Deity (Good, 110 min)
Tychus: ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Protection from Evil (11 min), ▲Divine Favor (11 rd)
Xallis: ▲Overland Flight (11 hr), ▲Barkskin (+4, 220 min), ▲Heroism (220 min)
Estella: ▼Hypnotic Stare (-3 Will)
Force effects and abjurations affect an ethereal creature normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. An ethereal creature can’t attack material creatures, and spells you cast while ethereal affect only other ethereal things. Certain material creatures or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal Plane.
An ethereal creature treats other ethereal creatures and ethereal objects as if they were material.
The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can’t use sight to locate the target).
Xallis goes. He is nauseated but I’ll assume he wants to try to reroll. The Fort DC is 19.
Round 1
Xallis squints his watering eyes as he reaches into his backs, producing their recently-aquired iron flask. With an utterance of the command word, he opens the container and aims it at the evil equine!
Hacking and gagging and close to vomiting, the summoner staggers back outside to get out of the cloud's foul stench.
Round 1
Estella coughs up more blood and staggers a step away from Henrika. ”The Immaculate Circle must hear about this…” The hag uses an innate spell-like ability and fades away.
Magilla also takes off into the air but she isn’t as fast as her sister and Henrika catches Magilla’s leg with her blade. Magilla’s eyes then widen in a flash and Henrika feels herself get dizzy, albeit momentarily.
Round 1
Initiative
21 – Henrika (125/113 hp)
20 – Trevor (86/86 hp)
17 – Tychus (86/86 hp) (Nauseated)
12 – Icabhod (104/104 hp)
11 – Shadowlass (Ethereal, Invisible)
10 – Illumia (Red) (Flying 10 ft. up)
09 – Xallis (91/91 hp)
09 – Estella (116 damage) (Ethereal, Invisible, Feinted -6 AC, 1 rd)
08 – Magilla (Blue) (57 damage) (Flying 10 ft. up)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲False Life (12 hp, 11 hr), ▲Freedom of Movement (110 min), ▲Glibness (110 min), ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Message (110 min), ▲See Invisibility (110 min), ▲Remove Fear (11 min), ▼Evil Eye (-2 saves, 1 rd)
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 110 min), ▲Clay Skin (50 hp, 110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Bear’s Endurance (11 min), ▲Shield (11 min), ▲Displacement (10 rd)
Trevor: ▲Invoke Deity (Good, 110 min)
Tychus: ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Protection from Evil (11 min), ▲Divine Favor (11 rd)
Xallis: ▲Overland Flight (11 hr), ▲Barkskin (+4, 220 min), ▲Heroism (220 min)
Estella: ▼Hypnotic Stare (-3 Will)
Force effects and abjurations affect an ethereal creature normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. An ethereal creature can’t attack material creatures, and spells you cast while ethereal affect only other ethereal things. Certain material creatures or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal Plane.
An ethereal creature treats other ethereal creatures and ethereal objects as if they were material.
The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can’t use sight to locate the target).
Back to Henrika, Trevor, Tychus, and Icabhod.
Henrika gnashes her teeth. "Estella has shifted her form, and I do not believe I can affect her any longer," she whispers to the rest of the party. She turns to glare at the hag flying behind her and rushes towards it, leaping onto the counter and slashing with her sword. "Also, an invisible gigantic flaming horse has flown through the wall to the center of the shop, and it is similarly ghostly."
Round 1
Trevor steps out of the stinking cloud to get his bearings. The hag the cleric attacked is now being engaged by Henrika, but the aasimar notices another one in an opposite corner. Not want the mesmerist to get flanked, Trevor runs to meet the other (red) hag, trying to jump and attack her.
Icabhod hustles forwards to strike at the one visible hag
Round 2
Henrika leaps up and hits Magilla. Magilla curses the ceiling for being too low.
Trevor tries a similar move but can’t leap high enough.
Tychus moves out of the stinking cloud and takes a shot at Magilla.
Tychus’ bolt just barely misses, scrapping across Magilla’s hardened skin.
Icabhod leaps up nearly matching Illumia’s height but the hag throws him back down to the ground.
In the dining area to the south, table and chairs are crushed and thrown aside as a gigantic fiery horse materializes. Everyone can now see the nightmare that Henrika observed. The nightmare lets out a loud whinny that echoes through the café.
Illumia casts a spell and her hand glows with a black emanation. She swoops down to touch Henrika with her cursed hand, but her tattered dress gets caught on a rusty nail on the wall and yanks her off course.
Round 2
Initiative
21 – Henrika (125/113 hp) (Shimmering Body vs. Magilla 1 rd)
20 – Trevor (86/86 hp)
17 – Tychus (86/86 hp)
12 – Icabhod (104/104 hp)
11 – Shadowlass
10 – Illumia (Red) (Flying 5 ft. up)
09 – Xallis (91/91 hp)
09 – Estella (116 damage) (Ethereal, Invisible)
08 – Magilla (Blue) (98 damage) (Flying 10 ft. up)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲False Life (12 hp, 11 hr), ▲Freedom of Movement (110 min), ▲Glibness (110 min), ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Message (110 min), ▲See Invisibility (110 min), ▲Remove Fear (11 min), ▼Evil Eye (-2 saves, 1 rd)
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 110 min), ▲Clay Skin (50 hp, 110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Bear’s Endurance (11 min), ▲Shield (11 min), ▲Displacement (9 rd)
Trevor: ▲Invoke Deity (Good, 110 min)
Tychus: ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Protection from Evil (11 min), ▲Divine Favor (+2, 9 rd), Dignity’s Barb (Crit 3, 19-20)
Xallis: ▲Overland Flight (11 hr), ▲Barkskin (+4, 220 min), ▲Heroism (220 min)
Magilla: ▼Hypnotic Stare (-3 Will)
Force effects and abjurations affect an ethereal creature normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. An ethereal creature can’t attack material creatures, and spells you cast while ethereal affect only other ethereal things. Certain material creatures or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal Plane.
An ethereal creature treats other ethereal creatures and ethereal objects as if they were material.
The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can’t use sight to locate the target).
Xallis goes.
Icabhod is not about to let the hag escape and the first chance he gets, he will run up the wall with his slippers of spider climbing!
Round 2
Xallis aims the iron flask at the nightmarish equine before him and opens the stopper, uttering a command phrase as it attempts to capture the monster!
Round 2
Xallis opens the iron flask but instead of the intended effect, a foul smoke flows out of the opening. The iron flask is actually an undetected cursed item, a flask of curses; a parting gift from the late Milon Jeroth.
However, luck is on Xallis’ side and the curse affects the hags while sparing Xallis and his allies.
Illumia cries out in disbelief, ”What! Our enemies have a witch amongst them too! And a powerful one at that!”
To Henrika, Estella seems almost hesitant to leave her sisters. She moves invisibly towards the entrance but even Henrika loses track of her once she passes into the thick fog.
”Two can play at this game!” says Magilla
Magilla’s hand glows like her sister’s and she swoops down placing her claw against Xallis’ chest. However, Xallis rejects the curse throwing her back. ”Inconceivable!” she protests.
Round 3
Initiative
21 – Henrika (125/113 hp)
20 – Trevor (86/86 hp)
17 – Tychus (86/86 hp)
12 – Icabhod (104/104 hp)
11 – Shadowlass (Cursed0
10 – Illumia (Red) (Flying 5 ft. up, Cursed)
09 – Xallis (91/91 hp)
09 – Estella (116 damage) (Ethereal, Invisible, Cursed)
08 – Magilla (Blue) (98 damage) (Flying 5 ft. up)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲False Life (12 hp, 11 hr), ▲Freedom of Movement (110 min), ▲Glibness (110 min), ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Message (110 min), ▲See Invisibility (110 min), ▲Remove Fear (11 min), ▼Evil Eye (-2 saves, 1 rd)
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 110 min), ▲Clay Skin (50 hp, 110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Bear’s Endurance (11 min), ▲Shield (11 min), ▲Displacement (9 rd)
Trevor: ▲Invoke Deity (Good, 110 min)
Tychus: ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Protection from Evil (11 min), ▲Divine Favor (+2, 9 rd), Dignity’s Barb (Crit 3, 19-20)
Xallis: ▲Overland Flight (11 hr), ▲Barkskin (+4, 220 min), ▲Heroism (220 min)
Magilla: ▼Hypnotic Stare (-3 Will)
Force effects and abjurations affect an ethereal creature normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. An ethereal creature can’t attack material creatures, and spells you cast while ethereal affect only other ethereal things. Certain material creatures or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal Plane.
An ethereal creature treats other ethereal creatures and ethereal objects as if they were material.
The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can’t use sight to locate the target).
Henrika, Trevor, Tychus, and Icabhod go.
Henrika shakes her head in disapproval of such a wild, chaotic battle. "Estella has moved away into the cloud," she whispers. She turns to stare at the hag that has flown up to attack her, and almost absent-mindedly feints at her with her sword.
She returns with two two-handed swings designed to cut deeply into the hag's body.
Henrika then steps off of the counter, causing her body to shimmer for her enemy.
Round 3
Trevor frowns as he both misses the floating hag and have her continuously out of reach.
"That might work", the caydenite whispers to himself. Trevor drops Godspike hand unhooks his tankard from behind his back. The cleric then casts create water ionto it, filing it with ale.
Round 3
Still coughing to clear his lungs of the foul smoke, Tychus presses himself against the wall. As the Nightmare rampages through the dining area, shards of wood shoot out and clatter against the wall near his head and he shelters himself with his arms. All this commotion was making it hard to concentrate.
He takes a beat to center himself. After a quick prayer to Abadar, he readies himself and shoots the remaining bolts into the hag near Xallis.
Icabhod scurries up the wall, his footwear clinging to the side as he unleashes a vicious stab at the hag,
Round 3
Henrika feints the flying hag and strikes her once.
Trevor is coming up with some plan involving his tankard.
Abadar bestows Tychus with a blessing and his bolts tear through the nightmare leaving it badly injured.
I believe Icabhod is flanking with Henrika
Icabhod climbs up the wall and strikes at Illumia’s head. Henrika’s painful stare causes his blade to dig deeper.
Enraged by Tychus’ attack, Shadowlass turns his attention to Tychus, biting and kicking wildly.
Tychus takes a painful bite but is able to dodge away from the flaming hooves.
Illumia forgoes spells and chooses to physically attack Henrika instead.
Illumia’s bite seems to sink into flesh only for the illusory body to poof into smoke. Illumia curses out loud and Henrika’s multi-layered defenses.
Round 3
Initiative
21 – Henrika (125/113 hp)
20 – Trevor (86/86 hp)
17 – Tychus (66/86 hp)
12 – Icabhod (104/104 hp)
11 – Shadowlass (126 damage) (Cursed)
10 – Illumia (Red) (68 damage) (Flying 5 ft. up, Cursed, Feinted -3 AC 1 rd)
09 – Xallis (91/91 hp)
09 – Estella (116 damage) (Ethereal, Invisible, Cursed)
08 – Magilla (Blue) (98 damage) (Flying 5 ft. up)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲False Life (12 hp, 11 hr), ▲Freedom of Movement (110 min), ▲Glibness (110 min), ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Message (110 min), ▲See Invisibility (110 min), ▲Remove Fear (11 min), ▼Mesmeric Mirror (1 image, 11 min), ▼Evil Eye (-2 saves, 1 rd)
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 110 min), ▲Clay Skin (50 hp, 110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Bear’s Endurance (11 min), ▲Shield (11 min), ▲Displacement (9 rd)
Trevor: ▲Invoke Deity (Good, 110 min)
Tychus: ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Protection from Evil (11 min), ▲Divine Favor (+2, 9 rd), Dignity’s Barb (Crit 3, 19-20)
Xallis: ▲Overland Flight (11 hr), ▲Barkskin (+4, 220 min), ▲Heroism (220 min)
Magilla: ▼Hypnotic Stare (-3 Will)
Force effects and abjurations affect an ethereal creature normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. An ethereal creature can’t attack material creatures, and spells you cast while ethereal affect only other ethereal things. Certain material creatures or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal Plane.
An ethereal creature treats other ethereal creatures and ethereal objects as if they were material.
The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can’t use sight to locate the target).
Xallis goes.
Round 3
Xallis Considers the threat in front of him, but remembers the fleeing hag. The element of surprise would be ruined if one got away to warn their benefactors.
Taking a careful stance, he begins to concentrate on the barriers between realms and...
A tear in the world opens as the essence of the abyss weaves itself to an alluring feminine form, draped in minimalist clothing with the aroma of perfume and brimstone surrounding her.
The demoness glances towards the direction Xallis points and bites her lip with anticipation. "With delight, master," she coos in response
She disappears into the gas cloud, heedless of the possibility of the Nightmare's retaliatory strike. There, she fades from this realm, testing Xallis' tether to near its breaking point. When she sees Estella, the seductress squeals with delight. "Come hither, my dear. I'll make you feel young again!"
Round 3
Xallis summons a succubus.
Seen only by the succubus, the hag, Estella, points a finger and fires missiles of force at the succubus only for them to be dispelled harmlessly by the succubus’ spell resistance.
The hag, Magilla, remains floating in the air and strikes at Xallis. Her teeth and claws are like daggers.
Round 4
Initiative
21 – Henrika (125/113 hp)
20 – Trevor (86/86 hp)
17 – Tychus (66/86 hp)
12 – Icabhod (104/104 hp)
11 – Shadowlass (126 damage) (Cursed)
10 – Illumia (Red) (68 damage) (Flying 5 ft. up, Cursed, Feinted -3 AC 1 rd)
09 – Xallis (69/91 hp)
09 – Estella (116 damage) (Ethereal, Invisible, Cursed)
08 – Magilla (Blue) (98 damage) (Flying 5 ft. up)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲False Life (12 hp, 11 hr), ▲Freedom of Movement (110 min), ▲Glibness (110 min), ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Message (110 min), ▲See Invisibility (110 min), ▲Remove Fear (11 min), ▼Mesmeric Mirror (1 image, 11 min)
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 110 min), ▲Clay Skin (50 hp, 110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Bear’s Endurance (11 min), ▲Shield (11 min), ▲Displacement (8 rd)
Trevor: ▲Invoke Deity (Good, 110 min)
Tychus: ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Protection from Evil (11 min), ▲Divine Favor (+2, 8 rd), Dignity’s Barb (Crit 3, 19-20)
Xallis: ▲Overland Flight (11 hr), ▲Barkskin (+4, 220 min), ▲Heroism (220 min)
Magilla: ▼Hypnotic Stare (-3 Will)
Force effects and abjurations affect an ethereal creature normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. An ethereal creature can’t attack material creatures, and spells you cast while ethereal affect only other ethereal things. Certain material creatures or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal Plane.
An ethereal creature treats other ethereal creatures and ethereal objects as if they were material.
The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can’t use sight to locate the target).
Henrika, Trevor, Tychus and Icabhod go.
Henrika concentrates on defeating the hag skewered between herself and Icabhod. She feints again, swinging her sword in a lazy arc and changing suddenly to two sharp thrusts.
Round 4
With his tankard now full, the caydenite now has the material components for his spell. Trevor raises his tankard high and shouts a Illumia.
"Hey! Ugly b|tch! Cheers!"
Trevor casts freedom's toast on Illumia.
Round 4
As the "horse" nearly dents his head in with it's flaming hooves, Tychus stumbles backwards. He does his best to ignore the pain from his bleeding arm as he ejects the bolt casing from Dignity's Barb. He slams back in a fresh casing and cranks the first bolt into place.
Round 4
Henrika feints Illumia again this time her sword strikes still come up short. While still more agile than a common man, her defenses come from her thick leathery skin.
Trevor throws the ale upon Illumia. Although drenched, the liquid has no other effect on her.
Tychus reloads.
Icabhod stabs the floating hag again, wearing her down.
The nightmare turns its attention and breaths a cloud of caustic smoke from its nostrils. The fumes sickened Henrika but Xallis resists. Regardless, the thick smoldering smoke lingers and blocks the two heroes’ sight.
Then it leaps over the low banister around the dining area to land in front of Tychus and bites at him again.
”I need a meal to go with my drink. I wonder how you taste.” Illumia says and slides over to Trevor.
Trevor avoids the hag’s filthy bite but her claws dig deep into his defending arms.
Round 4
Initiative
21 – Henrika (125/113 hp) (Sickened 2 min)
20 – Trevor (54/86 hp)
17 – Tychus (44/86 hp)
12 – Icabhod (104/104 hp)
11 – Shadowlass (126 damage) (Cursed, Nauseated)
10 – Illumia (Red) (89 damage) (Flying 5 ft. up, Cursed, Feinted -3 AC 1 rd)
09 – Xallis (69/91 hp)
09 – Succubus (100/100 hp)
09 – Estella (116 damage) (Ethereal, Invisible, Cursed)
08 – Magilla (Blue) (98 damage) (Flying 5 ft. up)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲False Life (12 hp, 11 hr), ▲Freedom of Movement (110 min), ▲Glibness (110 min), ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Message (110 min), ▲See Invisibility (110 min), ▲Remove Fear (11 min), ▼Mesmeric Mirror (1 image, 11 min)
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 110 min), ▲Clay Skin (50 hp, 110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Bear’s Endurance (11 min), ▲Shield (11 min), ▲Displacement (7 rd)
Trevor: ▲Invoke Deity (Good, 110 min)
Tychus: ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Protection from Evil (11 min), ▲Divine Favor (+2, 7 rd), Dignity’s Barb (Crit 3, 19-20)
Xallis: ▲Overland Flight (11 hr), ▲Barkskin (+4, 220 min), ▲Heroism (220 min)
Magilla: ▼Hypnotic Stare (-3 Will)
Illumia: ▲Stinking Cloud (1 rd)
Shadowlass: ▲Smoke (1 rd)
Force effects and abjurations affect an ethereal creature normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. An ethereal creature can’t attack material creatures, and spells you cast while ethereal affect only other ethereal things. Certain material creatures or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal Plane.
An ethereal creature treats other ethereal creatures and ethereal objects as if they were material.
The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can’t use sight to locate the target).
Xallis goes.
Round 4
Xallis flies backward through the cloud, hoping it will obscure him from the monsters' strikes long enough for him to get out of range. Then, he drops a favorite spell of his in hopes of disabling his enemies.
The succubus giggles as the spell washes over it like oil over water. "Ohh, trying to tickle me? How adorable. My turn!"
The demoness flies towards her prey and attempts to embrace her!
Round 4
Xallis’ glitterdust catches both enemies off guard and blinds them. Magilla and Shadowlass are blinded.
The succubus grabs at Estella but the hag is stronger than her frail form appears. Estella holds the succubus at bay.
Estella casts another spell upon the succubus only for it to once again be dispelled harmlessly. ”Stubborn demon! Know your place!”
Magilla drops to the ground, not trusting her ability to fly blind, and attacks in the direction where she last saw Xallis casting his spell.
Although she is unable to see, she still manages to scratch Xallis once with a claw.
Round 5
Initiative
21 – Henrika (125/113 hp) (Sickened 2 min, Fatigued 1 rd)
20 – Trevor (54/86 hp)
17 – Tychus (44/86 hp)
12 – Icabhod (104/104 hp)
11 – Shadowlass (126 damage) (Cursed, Nauseated, Blinded 11 rd)
10 – Illumia (Red) (89 damage) (Flying 5 ft. up, Cursed, Feinted -3 AC 1 rd)
09 – Xallis (60/91 hp)
09 – Succubus (100/100 hp)
09 – Estella (116 damage) (Ethereal, Invisible, Cursed)
08 – Magilla (Blue) (98 damage)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲False Life (12 hp, 11 hr), ▲Freedom of Movement (110 min), ▲Glibness (110 min), ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Message (110 min), ▲See Invisibility (110 min), ▲Remove Fear (11 min), ▼Mesmeric Mirror (1 image, 11 min)
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 110 min), ▲Clay Skin (50 hp, 110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Bear’s Endurance (11 min), ▲Shield (11 min), ▲Displacement (7 rd)
Trevor: ▲Invoke Deity (Good, 110 min)
Tychus: ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Protection from Evil (11 min), ▲Divine Favor (+2, 7 rd), Dignity’s Barb (Crit 3, 19-20)
Xallis: ▲Overland Flight (11 hr), ▲Barkskin (+4, 220 min), ▲Heroism (220 min)
Magilla: ▼Glitterdust (10 rd), ▼Hypnotic Stare (-3 Will)
Illumia: ▲Stinking Cloud (1 rd)
Shadowlass: ▲Smoke (1 rd), ▼Glitterdust (Will DC 18, 11 rd)
Force effects and abjurations affect an ethereal creature normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. An ethereal creature can’t attack material creatures, and spells you cast while ethereal affect only other ethereal things. Certain material creatures or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal Plane.
An ethereal creature treats other ethereal creatures and ethereal objects as if they were material.
The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can’t use sight to locate the target).
Henrika, Trevor, Tychus, and Icabhod go.
Round 5
With the nightmare blinded by Xallis's spell, Tychus takes the opportunity to put a little distance between himself and his enemy, and takes a few shots into the outsider.
Henrika steps out of the cloud of smoke, eyes watering and coughing. She feints the hag again, and swings twice with her sword.
Round 5
Stymied by his lacking conviction to affect the hag with clerical magic, Trevor takes a 5-ft. step closer to Icabhod and risks a burst of channeled energy.
Round 5
Henrika feints Illumia and hits her again.
Tychus fells the nightmare with his first bolt then continues to fire past the nightmare’s corpse at the hag behind it.
Icabhod sticks to the wall and stabs at the hag again. This time, the hag dodges out of the way.
The stinking cloud and nightmare’s smoke both fade away and suddenly the room is much more open again.
Illumia flies into the center of the room and away from those attacking her. She opens her mouth and to most, it appears as if she is letting out a silent scream, but to Henrika, the sound is deafening. However, the scream turns out to be only a minor inconvenience at most.
Round 5
Initiative
21 – Henrika (124/113 hp) (Sickened 2 min)
20 – Trevor (71/86 hp)
17 – Tychus (44/86 hp)
12 – Icabhod (104/104 hp)
10 – Illumia (Red) (124 damage) (Flying 10 ft. up, Cursed, Feinted -3 AC 1 rd)
09 – Xallis (77/91 hp)
09 – Succubus (100/100 hp)
09 – Estella (116 damage) (Ethereal, Invisible, Cursed)
08 – Magilla (Blue) (119 damage)
Active Spells/Effects
Henrika: ▲False Life (11 hp, 11 hr), ▲Freedom of Movement (110 min), ▲Glibness (110 min), ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Message (110 min), ▲See Invisibility (110 min), ▲Remove Fear (11 min), ▼Mesmeric Mirror (1 image, 11 min)
Icabhod: ▲Barkskin (+4, 110 min), ▲Clay Skin (50 hp, 110 min), ▲Heroism (110 min), ▲Bear’s Endurance (11 min), ▲Shield (11 min), ▲Displacement (6 rd)
Trevor: ▲Invoke Deity (Good, 110 min)
Tychus: ▲Heightened Awareness (110 min), ▲Protection from Evil (11 min), ▲Divine Favor (+2, 6 rd), Dignity’s Barb (Crit 3, 19-20)
Xallis: ▲Overland Flight (11 hr), ▲Barkskin (+4, 220 min), ▲Heroism (220 min)
Magilla: ▼Glitterdust (10 rd), ▼Hypnotic Stare (-3 Will)
Force effects and abjurations affect an ethereal creature normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. An ethereal creature can’t attack material creatures, and spells you cast while ethereal affect only other ethereal things. Certain material creatures or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal Plane.
An ethereal creature treats other ethereal creatures and ethereal objects as if they were material.
Xallis goes.
Round 5
Xallis takes a risk by flying past the hag that threatens him, drawing his wand along the way.
The succubus giggles and licks her lips. "Come ooooon, it's just just in the ethereal plane. No one else has to know~"