Viviana follows in Vyana's footsteps and sends her magical, metallic fragments forwards to the hostile creatures. She studies them for a moment and then says "Uhm, the statue is supposed to be Azathoth, I think!"
"Azathoth?" Vyana questions as she draws another arrow. "Who or what is Azathoth?"
Viviana keeps focused on the hostiles, but tries to figure out how to respond to Vyana. "Uhhh, that's not an easy one. They're like, the God of darkness between the stars. Lessons later."
Ser Helmut licks the statue.
Bees dry in da darkness between Dem stars.
Vyana shoots one of the robed humanoids, then Viv impales the same one with sharp needles, taking it down! The two beings with spiked chains shriek in outrage as Helmut licks the rock, attacking Siobhan in an attemp to get past her to the goblin! The other robed humanoid targets Viv with a stupefy spell, then stares at Vyana with flashing blue eyes!
Trying to avoid the dizzying blue eyes, Vyana draws her bow and sends an arrow trailing a sizzling white arc towards the spell caster.
She follows up with a second missile that strikes deep.
The two beings with spiked chains shriek in outrage as Helmut licks the rock....
Ser Helmut laughs hysterically! The tears boisterously pour from his eyes.
Mees stomach's hurts! Youses two stink!
The Thaumaturge then Exploits Vulnerability at the closest!
Taking another long, inviting lick of the Rock, Ser Helmut Strides right up to it and bites!
He grinds his teeth in a Hero type way!
Viviana blinks as the stupify hits, her mind clouding. She opens her mouth to say something, but draws a blank as she stumbles back a step and shakes her head. She isn't sure what's going on, but she knows she needs to keep attacking so she focuses on trying to get her spell off.
Vyana's enchanted arrows impale the other spellcaster, and he crumples to the ground. Helmut bites one of the chain-wielding cretins, and Siobhan dispatches it with a swift slice of her scimitar. Viv pierces the last foe with needle darts, but despite her wounds, she continues to fight.
The humanoid lashes out ineffectually at Siobhan, then takes a moment to grab some tools from her belt kit. She swiftly excises some of her damaged flesh and stitches the wound shut!
Vyana draws a bead on the sole survivor, but before loosing her arrow, she calls out ...
"Do we want a prisoner, Von?"
Ser Helmut gives Von a wink, before Stepping to the remaining creature.
The Thaumaturge then studies her like a goblin considering breakfast.
Ser Helmut does appear to be looking for his dining set....
The small humanoid's big eyes go even wider. She drops to her knees and begins to babble in an unfamiliar language. It doesn't seem like she speaks Common.
Without lowering her bow, Vyana snaps out at the prisoner commands to stand in the languages that she knows.
Once the battle stops, Viviana lets the others deal with the prisoner.
She holds her hands to her head and falls to her bottom, sitting down, hoping this cloud in her mind passes.
Ser Helmut frowns at the baby guck speak being Sally forth by the creature. The Thaumaturge digs into his pack, takes out a blank parchment, ink and quill.
Writes it all down.
The goblin then takes out a red rubber ball, some jax and waits....
The humanoid scribbles spiraling, twisted letters. Helmut is able to decipher the message. She explains that she is a dero, and that she is part of the Keepers of the Hollow Star. They worship what they believe is a shard of the Outer God Azathoth, and that one day it will "hatch" and rise into the sky to infect the sun and consume its hateful fires. Their leader, Ziradini, is trying to use the eldritch machines nearby to create a type of dero from his own people’s flesh that could withstand the light of the sun, and thus could carry the Hollow Star to the surface so that the sun itself could awaken it and, in so doing, enable its own demise.
"Stop Zirandi from making more sun-loving derro that want to destroy the sun. Got it," Vyana declares, adjusting the bow slung over her shoulder.
"You up for it, Viv?" she questions.
Ser Helmut takes his supplies including the parchment and places them in their proper places.
Shaking his head in disgust at the derro, the goblin sighs.
Ifn only Youses peoples were goods like mines.
Gathering his gear, the Thaumaturge readies to beat down some derro fanatics.
As the dero runs off, you proceed south through a hall to another set of doors. In the northwest corner of the room past the doors stands a five-by-ten-foot iron cage, its floor littered with strips of meat and sheets of mold. Nearby is a grisly worktable made of bones atop which are stacked several alchemical tools and supplies, while to the south, a simple bedroll and a stack of books lie on the floor to the side of a misshapen altar stone. The top of the stone is splattered with blood and lumps of meat, skin, and hair.
Yet for all of this, the southern wall is the most unsettling sight of all, for here looms what can only be described as a mural of a vast churning sphere drifting in the inky depths of outer space, fashioned from what appear to be still-living swatches of flesh and skin stretched over nodules in the stone wall itself.
Ziradini is here, a stocky, well-mustached, wild-haired brute with an athletic build. Upon spotting you, he cackles in delight and speaks in Common. "Excellent! Which one among you has come before me to volunteer your flesh for the Hollow Star?"
Ser Helmut puts away his napkin. The goblin enters the chamber with a curious look on his green face. Stepping about a bit to better view all the art work being presented, the Thaumaturge clicks his tongue as he views each piece.
Done already seen dis bit. Dat bees boring. Some lights in space. Blah.
He stops at the gruesome alter, makes a rude noise in his throat, spits a loogey on it, and peers up at the muscular brute.
Mees feels Dat Youses bees just wanting sum attention. Did your parents not loves Youses?
Ser Helmut then sheds some tears.
Boo-hoo. Youses events been born in Dem goblin birthing pens? Youses had a princely upbringing compares ta Dat.
The Thaumaturge was considering using his Glad Hand methods of conversation, but he decided (last second) that this guy's sucks.
Ser Helmut points at him.
Youses bees bads. So, no talking nice ta Youses. Mees suggest Dat Youses surrender or Mees gets to eat Youses.
Viviana's fog finally begins to clear and she rubs her temples a few more times before popping back up to her feet.
"Yeah, sure. I'm up for it." she says enthusiastiaclly, not even hearing what it was she's volunteering to be up for.
By the time the dero starts asking for their flesh, she's more or less recovered from her stupor and puts her hands on her hips, defiant. "I dont think this is going to end the way you want it to. Probably best if you surrender like my heavily armored, and unimaginably strong sister asks."
"Surrender? Ha!" Ziradini barks a laugh. "If you will not surrender your flesh, then I will take it by force!"
Ser Helmut slaps himself!
Mees goes first!? Weirdness!
The Thaumaturge states hard at the miscreant!
You remember the creature's weaknesses, and as you empower your esoterica, you have a flash of insight that grants even more knowledge about the creature. You learn all of the creature's resistances, weaknesses, and immunities, including the amounts of the resistances and weaknesses and any unusual weaknesses or vulnerabilities, such as what spells will pass through a golem's antimagic. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis (see below). Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Grinning ear to ear (probably under his helmet), the goblin licks his lips.
Mees knows whatcha haves fer breakfast. Three weeks ago!
Ser Helmut then takes out some of his special hot sauce before, Striding and Striking!
Adept Benefit
7th
Your regalia's power increases, and so do the abilities it grants. The circumstance bonus you gain to Deception, Diplomacy, and Intimidation increases to +2, as long as you have master proficiency in each skill. When others use Follow the Expert to follow you, you grant them a +2 circumstance bonus if you are trained, +3 if you have expert proficiency, or +4 if you have master or legendary proficiency.
The courage your aura instills grows stronger. The +1 status bonus now applies to all saving throws against mental effects, rather than only against fear, and you and allies in your aura gain a +2 status bonus to damage rolls. At 11th level, this increases to a +3 status bonus to damage rolls, and at 17th level, this increases to a +4 status bonus to damage rolls.
Helmut knows that deros' skin burns in sunlight, but it only harms them if they are exposed to it for an hour or longer. They have no other specific resistances or weaknesses.
The goblin moves in and bites at Ziradini, but the dero dodges his gnashing teeth. The dero retaliates with a quick harm spell, then follows up with another spell, channeling the fury of Azathoth into a burst of orange divine energy!
Vyana flinches at the painful blast of magic, but recovers immediately to notch an arrow, enchant it, and then send it towards the priestly derro.
Ser Helmut screams like a little goblinoid!
Feeling a bit icky, the goblin proceeds to pour for hot sauce into his mouth before attempting to take another bite!
Adept Benefit
7th
Your regalia's power increases, and so do the abilities it grants. The circumstance bonus you gain to Deception, Diplomacy, and Intimidation increases to +2, as long as you have master proficiency in each skill. When others use Follow the Expert to follow you, you grant them a +2 circumstance bonus if you are trained, +3 if you have expert proficiency, or +4 if you have master or legendary proficiency.
The courage your aura instills grows stronger. The +1 status bonus now applies to all saving throws against mental effects, rather than only against fear, and you and allies in your aura gain a +2 status bonus to damage rolls. At 11th level, this increases to a +3 status bonus to damage rolls, and at 17th level, this increases to a +4 status bonus to damage rolls.
The Thaumaturge feels quite Intimidating now!
He then casts Shield.
Viviana yips from pain, but quickly clamps he mouth shut and stifles her protest. Deciding everyone isn't badly enough injured that it requires her healing yet, she tries to help end the encounter quickly.
Helmut takes a big bite out of Ziradini, managing to demoralize the dero. Viv capitalizes on the distraction to impale the dero with needle darts. Vyana's enchanted arrow misses the mark, but Siobhan scores a solid strike.
Ziradini casts a quick healing spell on himself before attacking Helmut, smacking the goblin on his backswing.
Ser Helmut pauses. Lazily flicking a fleck of imaginary dirt off his shoulder, the Thaumaturge winks at his Champion.
Tanks! He done scratches mees a bits.
Ser Helmut begins to shuffle his feet, while putting up his dukes.
The goblin proceeds to pour for hot sauce into his mouth before attempting to take another bite!
Adept Benefit
7th
Your regalia's power increases, and so do the abilities it grants. The circumstance bonus you gain to Deception, Diplomacy, and Intimidation increases to +2, as long as you have master proficiency in each skill. When others use Follow the Expert to follow you, you grant them a +2 circumstance bonus if you are trained, +3 if you have expert proficiency, or +4 if you have master or legendary proficiency.
The courage your aura instills grows stronger. The +1 status bonus now applies to all saving throws against mental effects, rather than only against fear, and you and allies in your aura gain a +2 status bonus to damage rolls. At 11th level, this increases to a +3 status bonus to damage rolls, and at 17th level, this increases to a +4 status bonus to damage rolls.
He then casts Shield.
"I wouldn't let him scratch you too much more," Vyana calls out as she launches another enspelled arrow at the derro.
Viv and Vyana miss the dero, but Siobhan and Helmut each score a hit! Angry and weakened, Ziradini heals himself again before attacking Helmut again. He hits once, but once more Siobhan intervenes to lessen the impact.
Ser Helmut giggles.
The goblin proceeds to pour for hot sauce into his mouth before attempting to take another bite!
Adept Benefit
7th
Your regalia's power increases, and so do the abilities it grants. The circumstance bonus you gain to Deception, Diplomacy, and Intimidation increases to +2, as long as you have master proficiency in each skill. When others use Follow the Expert to follow you, you grant them a +2 circumstance bonus if you are trained, +3 if you have expert proficiency, or +4 if you have master or legendary proficiency.
The courage your aura instills grows stronger. The +1 status bonus now applies to all saving throws against mental effects, rather than only against fear, and you and allies in your aura gain a +2 status bonus to damage rolls. At 11th level, this increases to a +3 status bonus to damage rolls, and at 17th level, this increases to a +4 status bonus to damage rolls.
The goblin tries again!
He then casts Shield.
Siobhan scores a critical hit with her scimitar, then Helmut bites the dero again, ripping out his throat! Ziradini gurgles in agony, blood pouring from the fatal wound. His hammer falls from nerveless fingers as he collapses in a heap!
The small collection of books in this room are occult tomes that discuss numerous different ways in which worlds can end—in each book, scenarios involving eternal night or the destruction of the sun have been heavily annotated in Aklo by Ziradini.
|
Siobhan lets out a soft sigh and starts gathering the book - she knows that one of her friends will want to read them. She also wedges the warhammer into her belt before Helmy tries to suck on it like a frozen lolly.
"We can leave now, right?" She asks in a tone of bone deep weariness. "I really need a good night's sleep."
Vyana nods, glancing at Vivian. "Yeah, I could really use some rest as well." The half-elf doesn't show any signs of being tired, though.
Still absently munching on lunch, Ser Helmut watches those books disappear into Siobhan's pack ...again.
Mees happens ta likes ta reads. Just saying...
Worn out from the day's exertions, you climb back up out of the Pit and make your way back to Sandpoint. The sun has finished setting by the time you reach the town, the misty, moonless night illuminated by the lamps hanging outside the town's buildings.
You are just crossing the bridge to the town proper when fire suddenly blooms from the roof of a nearby home. Townsfolk nearby cry out in alarm and point at the sudden conflagration, but their shouts soon turn to screams of terror as a monstrosity emerges from the flames a moment later.
An unnatural amalgam of loathsome animal parts, this mangy beast skulks forward — walking perversely upright — on the rear legs of a powerful horse. Its body and head grossly equine, the torn wings of some giant bat sprout from the thing’s poxspotted hide. Calloused, milky eyes glare balefully from a nearly skeletal head as a rasping hiss escapes a muzzle filled with broken yellow wolf teeth.
It's one thing to see paintings or sculptures of the Sandpoint Devil, or find evidence of its passing. It's another thing entirely to come face to face with the legendary monster! The Sandpoint Devil's gaze falls upon you, and it spreads its wings and lets loose a half-howl, half-scream!
Swallowing her panic, Viv quickly casts heroism on Vyana. A moment later, the Sandpoint Devil's scream intensifies to a bloodcurdling howl that echoes all throughout the town! Citizens panic and flee in all directions!
The howl cuts through her fatigue and Vyana feels her blood turn to ice water. With shaking hands, she draws an arrow and after spending a moment to cast a quick spell to hopefully promise success, she sights in and then releases the string.
Ser Helmut begins pointing at the stupid Sandpoint devil. The goblin absolutely roaring back in laughter!
The Thaumaturge then begins flipping through his Book.
You recall an important fact about the creature, learning its highest weakness (or one of its highest weaknesses, if it has multiple with the same value) but not its other weaknesses, resistances, or immunities. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Ser Helmut straightens his helmet prior to Striding towards the fake horse dude...
The smiling goblin looks like he is just in a fun stroller by Siobhan's side.
Youses shoulda bees smiles tops. Tis bees fun times!
Viv quivers in fear, but she has the presence of mind to cast fly on Siobhan! Helmut recalls stories that the fiendish Devil is weak to cold iron. As Siobhan flies toward it, Vyana opens fire, scoring a solid hit!
The Devil roars in pain and fixes Vyana with its glare. Staying in place, the monster suddenly seems to transform into an immense, shadowy figure whose wings expand to encompass the entire town, and whose eyes become horrific crimson orbs filled with hatred. As the vision spreads its wings and rains fire down upon the town, a spike of mortal terror fills Vyana’s mind! Suddenly, the vision ends, the Sandpoint Devil still standing tall atop the burning roof.
In spite of her fear, Vyana does her best to hold it together. She steadies her breathing as her mama taught her.
'You have to let everything else go, Babita, and just feel the magic.'