Tanbu evades the fireball covering himself with his resistant cloak.
Mange slaughters the remaining dretch breaking it to pieces with its jaws thanks to the blessing, while Cyclic brings bane over the brimorak.
Lady Alya looks for a shot line around the stinking cloud and puts a bolt inside her light crossbow.
Makras rushes to try reach the combat before everything is done.
An aegis shield rises to protect Skyrocket as the fireball bursts in the area.
Greet commands his spiritual weapon to strike at the brimorak, breaking through one of its arms.
The elf does duck getting to the ground to evade the fireball as well.
With the last dretch on the ground, Andrelis and Tanbu maneuver to finish the brimorak's menace!
As you close up with the demon, you do discover his breath is toxic.
Andrelis gets sickened which makes his attack slightly less effective.
Tanbu and Andrelis team up surrounding the brimorak and stabbing it in front and back with cold iron in a brutal assault that leaves the demon nearly dry and disoriented by their strikes.
As they stab on him the sprayed blood jets are boiling hot, burning them with fire.
Greet's aegis shield fully protects Tanbu, but Andrelis is too far away.
The demon turns to the halfling full raging in anger "ગંદા બેકસ્ટેબર્સ! તમે તમારા લોહીથી આ વિશ્વાસઘાત માટે ચૂકવણી કરશો! તમારા દુ: ખી અંતને પહોંચી વળવા માટે તૈયાર થાઓ કારણ કે હું તમારા આત્માઓને અલગ કરીશ અને તમારા દયનીય અસ્તિત્વના અવશેષો પર મિજબાની કરું છું!"
"Filthy backstabbers! You'll pay for this offense with your blood! Prepare to meet your wretched end as I tear your souls apart and feast on the remnants of your pathetic existence!"
The brimorak swears as his longsword bursts in flames and he swings it at Tanbu before stepping back.
But the halfling dodges to side and side multiple times, avoiding the tired and slow attacks.
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Greet sees a burned and shackled crusader who is likely feel bad and opens wormwhole and pull the captive closer.
Shaman than unleash a magic wand to heal poor guy at he next moment. Or maybe lady Alya will do iy earlier?
-I AM GREET
SHaman comments situation, asking for attention.
Meanwhile weapon continues shooting down same target - agressive brimorak
Skyrocket flies across 30-50 ft over land looking around for other possible threats or sir Illivan, as she is disgusted and afraid of being near brimorak.
Spotting the demon to have stepped away from Tanbu and Andrelis, Lady Alya profits the chance to shot without the hindrance of the melee, and the cold iron bolt stabs on the brimorak's left arm.
Cyclic's hands shine with divine magic as she heals Mange's wounds, while riding the wolf to surround the last demon, but the animal stumbles with Andrelis who is going the same direction and loses the opportunity to attack.
Greet heaven leaps a crusader while the spiritual weapon does not manage to strike the demon this time.
Makras reaches the fight, just in time to witness Tanbu's double thrust that springs the boiling blood all over him.
The demon starts doing some magical gestures "બાસ્ટર્ડ્સ! હું તમારા આત્માને મારી સાથે લેવા એક દિવસ પાછો આવીશ!"
"Bastards! I will come back one day to take your souls with me!"
The brimorak is disabled and staggered by the mortal wounds on him, and you are pretty sure it is going to teleport away back into the demon's lair in the Worldwound.
Only Andrelis swift action can impede it right now.
With two final stabs Andrelis sends the demon to the ground and makes sure it will never make it back!
The boiling blood splashes over him, but the battle is won!
The few crusaders that are still conscious start to plea for their freedom and thank you for your rescue "Thanks Iomedae for sending you!" "Please, free us, the brimorak has the keys." "Water, please, water"
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Tanbu will run and get the keys and start releasing the soldiers. "I have a small water skin on my pony. You are welcome to the water."
"Are any of you too injured to move out quickly? Cyclic, could you see to them?" There are more demons coming, we believe. We need to clear out."
"Andrelis, search the bodies for anything of use. We need to get Sir Ilivan and get back to the fort."
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Greet nods with understanding, when Tanbu asks about sir Illivan.
Shaman send Skyrocket to find the knight and ask if he need any help as all captives free.
Shan shaman uses healing wand few times to help injured, unless Alya graps the wand to do it herself.
The leshu expects teammates with finger will release all the captives.
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Cyclic shakes her head, "Afraid I'm no good at taking care of injured folks other than casting a spell on someone with an obvious wound, and I only have a couple of spells left."
Nevertheless she does look for anyone obviously injured and helps pass out water. She sill cast a cure spell if warranted.
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Lady Alya goes and gets her mount, then comes back, handing out water and food as needed. Healing where they need it using her wand.
"If anyone troops can't move I have a mount that can take two, get on it and I will lead it out, come on we have to start back now."
She looks the troops over to see if she can get any fit to fight.
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"Thanks, Lady A." Tanbu says appreciatatively after getting healed. "Maybe we should give up our mounts for the soldiers as a whole. We can walk probably as fast as they could, as there are not enough horses no matter what we do."
"Greet any word from your dragon? Where is Sir Ilivan? We can't wait long. We need to move." Tanbu walks his pony over and helps a wounded /exhausted soldier into the saddle.
" We have a few extra weapons if you all (soldiers) want any." "My second cold iron sword, more like a dagger to y'll, and an extra vial of holy water are here if you what them." Tanbu starts leading his mount back the way they came towards the fort.
"Hey troop, what's your name?" "We got a while to go and I don't want to call you,'Hey you', the whole way." Tanbu will slowly debrief the soldier asking him what happened and what they knew about why demons were walking them West and stuff like that. He wants to be able to report once they get back. He will do so quietly and not taking his eyes off the surroundings.
Tanbu starts unmanacling the crusaders, two of them were killed by the fireball, but the rest of them are able to walk after some healing on a couple of them.
You are helping the crusaders stand up and move when you hear a distant battle cry and see Sir Ilivan charge lance-first at a nabasu demon. The other demons quickly surround him, tearing him from his horse within seconds as the scene devolves into a chaotic mess of claws, wings, and teeth that hide Sir Ilivan from sight.
It is clear that the crusader is beyond help, and unless you use the distraction Sir Ilivan created to quickly assist the surviving captured soldiers escape, you will all be overrun as well.
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Tanbu raises his head and looks at the distant death of the troubled knight. He redoubles his pace leading the horse away shaking his head. "Darn fool ..." He whispers something under his breath. No one really hears what, but it might have been a prayer.
"Let's move! Pathfinders and crusaders, we are leaving. Now!"
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As she heals the others she say
@Cyclic
"Your a fast mover Cyclic, we would have been lost in that one with out you."
@Andrelis
"Well done getting that last Demon Andrelis, you can take front or rear as we move out, its up to you."
@Tanbu
"Tanbu, your one crazy halfling, but by the gods it worked, well done"
@Makras
"Makras not yet, you have work to do be for passing over"
@Greet
"Smart thinking getting that crusader to me, would you be happy running along side the mounts?"
@Cyclic
Once done she tosses her CLW wand to Cyclic
"Cyclic you know how to use that, do so as needed until we get back to the keep"
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She says to the crusaders.
"Who is the ranking officer or crusaders here. Get you men in order, work out who's riding with what and who's walking, We have healing if you need it to walk. As the halfing says we have Iron weapons. Take them if you can use them, Now MOVE!!"
She orders in that Intimidating officer way
As they are getting in order she takes a moment to see what has befallen Sir Ilivan.
"He was a brave man and he did his duty, He will be welcomed in the beyond, Tanbu, Cyclic take point, Makras, Greet each side, Ill take vanguard, Andrelis your roving, alright Lets get moving people!!"
She waits as they move them out, waiting to be last.
With Sir Ilivan gone by good, Lady Alya tries to put some order in the ranks of the crusaders. People do not need much more, except for the one that was killed by the fireball, everyone takes the demon horde approach very seriously and start running for their lives.
Reaching back your mounts, you make the more injured ones to sit in there, and start retracing your steps.
Following Tranbu's suggestion, Greet and Makras proceeds to guide the group through the Worldwound finding the places where the group will leave the less tracks, and using different stratagems to erase the trace.
It takes you about an hour of a tense chase for the group to give the demon horde as fully lost. Thankfully the dwarf and the leshy are able to guide you back, avoiding many harzards and without losing time. After a few more hours you finally spot the walls of Fort Portolmaeus.
As you do, the crusaders cheer you up, knowing that finally, and only thanks to your courage and resolve, they have survived.
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Greet seem frustrated by sir Ilivan pretty unreaonable self sacrifice.
skyrocket returns to calm possible leshy's grief.
But shaman soon finds strengh and even prepare magic bing ready to produce Sleet Storm or other natural effect to cover group retreat.
Even though leshy is pretty slow, Greet accepts ALya's suggestion and just walk fast after saved captives...
WIth help of yes in the sky shaman outsmarts the demonic threat and lead people back to the fort in a way they even not need to run, just walk and even sip water occasionally.
-I am Greeet. - repeats leshy few times, with slight of saddness
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Tanbu after the initial rush to leave the area and get some distance from the horde, as they travel, asks questions of the soldiers trying to piece together what happened. He also collects his own thought on how to tell Sir Ilivan's story. He walks and runs as needed to allow the group to move as fast as possible.
As they see the fort in the distance, "Well that is a welcome site" "I am ready for a good meal and a little sleep. We are almost there." "If you all are ever in Absolam near the pathfinder house, look me up. We will drink to this experience and I am buying."
"We did not get everyone home, and I am very sorry for your comrades. I will put a little money aside for their families. I will give it to your commander. She has to write to their next of kin and I do not envy that task."
Tanbu will donate 20g to each of the dead soldiers families through the fort commander.
"It won't make the guilt go away, but hopefully it will help their love ones."
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Lady Alya keeps her thoughts to herself, she would be making her report to the pathfinders when she got back. Go and asses this part of the line they had said. See its strengths and weaknesses. They had lost the a real experienced crusader and she hoped a more experienced commander after this. It was weak at the moment but its would get better. Rish assessment was her job so they would get a full breakdown.
She kept an eye on the Demons chasing them, but the others where making good headway and soon the keep came into view. She relaxed a little and went around the surviving crusaders. Chatting and making light of their getaway.
Last of all she thought of her Family business, Makras Vekker was a good contact here, she would pass on his name to the relevant Family trader.
"Good point Cyclic, lets see"
Sir Morgan once again welcomes the party into the fort. After some back and forth issues about passwords and all, the emotions on the crusaders being saved are so high, that everyone breaks into truthful happiness expressions "And Sir Ilivan?"
Some minutes later you are received by an exultant Commander Manaria Wardroxan "Your valor after last night's onslaught has not gone unnoticed. Your unwavering commitment and courage stood as a beacon of hope. The wardstone behind me pulses with renewed significance, thanks to your deeds. Fort Portolmaeus has been inspired by your idealism and sacrifice." she continues with an exalted expression in her face "Your alliance with the crusaders strengthens our cause, and I extend my deepest gratitude. May your path be guided by righteousness, and together, we shall prevail against the demonic horde. Thank you, brave pathfinders, for standing with us in this critical moment."
As the destiny of the lost knight is explained, she adds some words on his name "Let's Iomedae have a honorable destiny for Sir Ilivan, the valiant crusader knight whose sacrifice allowed you and our saved comrades to escape the overwhelming forces. His unwavering courage and selfless charge against superior numbers will forever be etched in the annals of heroism." the other crusaders around nod and sigh with emotion "Sir Ilivan's sacrifice exemplifies the true spirit of a crusader, and we shall forever be grateful for his noble sacrifice, a beacon of inspiration for us all. May his memory guide us in our continued endeavors against the demonic horde."
After a solemn ceremony and tending to the harmed crusaders, you are free to stay a bit more in the fort or make your way back to Nerosyan for reporting to Venture Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury.
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Lady De Qill spends some time with Commander Wardroxan. Going over basic entrenched tactics and defensive military doctrine. She wanted to check the Commander understood fully her respectability to limit risk. Then she will move onto state news and other curtly events. In her room she writes up her report for the pathfinders. She spends time with the others and relaxes. Once happy she need do no more, heads back to the Captain the next chance she gets.
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"Glad to see things are getting under control here. I guess our job is done. Got a lot more out of this standard, routine service patrol than I bargained for anyway."
Tanbu would hang out helping to restock alchemical stores for a few days, checking on the recovering soldiers they brought back, and loosing a few silvers each night at the local poker game. He eventually drifts on.
"Commander, please make sure this donation helps the families of the soldiers you have lost or for your cup and flower fund at the least. I must be moving on looking for more work. Take care, Ma'am." With that he drops a sack of 40 gold, salutes, and walks out.
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Greet thinks a lot about happened adventure. Some fleshies talk too much and Fort commander - especially. Without any point from perspective of leshy. Shaman not undersnads conception of sacrifice as a well as honour.
Leshy is glad to bring more Harvest Seasons to aid local flora and fauna recovering. Even under illusion of threat shaman feels safe as fellow little dragon see surroundings from skies.
To adjust report Greet only notice :
- Mendev is twisted. Two controversial civilisation exist together not because of cycle or evolution, but because of Worldwound. Wounds should be healed. I. Am. Greet. It will be healed before stars fade.
Shaman than departs to contemplate eternal cycle of energies and materia to think and embrace eternity in which even demon lords are not relevant.
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Fort Commander Manaria Wardroxan, acknowledges Tanbu's departure with a nod of gratitude. "Your contribution will be well-utilized, Tanbu. Safe travels on your endeavors, and may your path be guided by the same valor you've shown here. Mendev owes you a debt of gratitude."
The journey from Fort Portolmaeus to Nerosyan unfolds with an undercurrent of tension, the air thick with the echoes of recent battles against the demonic horde. As the party traverses the war-torn landscape, each step brings a reminder of the sacrifices made to secure the fort. Shadows cast by the setting sun play tricks on your weary minds, conjuring illusions of lurking threats in the scarred terrain. Despite the unease that clings to the air, the road to Nerosyan remains unmarred by further encounters, allowing the party to reflect on their accomplishments and brace themselves for the challenges yet to come.
Back at the capital, Venture-Captain Jorsal and a representative of the Mendevian military eagerly await your full report. The city and the Pathfinder Lodge hail you as heroes for successfully securing Fort Portolmaeus and overcoming the demonic threat. The celebration is bittersweet, as the sacrifice of Sir Ilivan is remembered with the highest honors.
When an expedition recovers Sir Ilivan’s body a few weeks later, he is buried with full honors, and a high-ranking officer presents the late half-elf ’s weapons and armor to you.
Having not only completed your primary mission but also excelling in the secondary mission by rescuing the abducted crusaders and inspiring Sir Ilivan back into the path of righteousness, you are awarded the Mendevian Commendation medal, a symbol of your service to Mendev and the Fifth Crusade, a boon that will bring word of your good relationship in your future endeavors.
With a notable success for the Pathfinder Society, you all celebrate and make it back to your day to day endeavors in your own regions of operation, and leaving the horrors of the Worldwound behind.
As you say goodbye, a collective prayer rises for the goodships of the Wardstone Patrol, a testament to their sacrifices and a hope that their bravery will forever be remembered in the ongoing crusade against the demonic horde.