DM delmoth's Wrath of the Righteous

Game Master Delmoth

Ahmose's blue reptilian eyes stare at Thawm as if she were a Phoenix....

"Yes, that's pretty much what they say about the Worldwound - and we saw that rip into the Abyss... are you feeling ok?"

Dorek shrugs off the strange occurrences, cleaning and sheathing his blades. As Tandyn looks him over, he blinks, trying to focus on the paladin. "That d-depends. Did you cast another s-spell to make you blurry? If not, that g-goat demon might have h-hit me a bit too hard in the h-head."

As Tandyn goes about the grisly work of removing the beast's heads, he entertains himself with shadow puppets, of a sort - at a jerk of his head towards the late Beast of Drezen, his shadow reshapes on the blasted ground of the Worldwound, taking the form of a miniature chimera circling the tower, borne aloft by strings of darkness reaching up into the spidery main body of Resonance-Sharpened-Shadows. After a moment, it creates a small figure in armor to fight the chimera - Radiance gives it trouble for a moment as its form seems to resist mimicking the light-bearing weapon, which causes Dorek to tilt his head to one side, but after a moment, it settles on outlining the blade. The warrior with the sword of absence slays the ferocious beast in short order, and Dorek grins, shaking his head at his shadow's antics as he sets off with the others towards the main group.

"Anyone see a very tiny phoenix fly by?"

Dorek shakes his head, hooking his clawed thumbs into the front pockets of his foundry apron as he walks. "No birds that I c-could see. F-frankly, Thawm, I sort of f-figured you had laid it." He shrugs. "I mean, d-demonbloods like me and C-cecily have the horns and the t-tail and all that, but angelkith like you and T-tandyn are just like all the o-other humans? D-doesn't make much sense, does it?" He nods towards where Tandyn walks, his armor unblemished by the chimera's blood. "M-most of the great g-gods have the body of a s-serpent - my g-gods, not yours, that is - and T-tandyn's always clean, so m-mostly, I figure he sheds his s-skin with the day. I k-know he's not K-kellid, but other places have other g-gods." Clearing his throat, he glances nervously over at Tandyn. "...N-not that there's anything w-wrong with shedding your s-skin, you understand!" Shrugging, he turns back to Thawm. "A-anyway, Sarn- Sarenrae is a b-bird goddess, yes? If she has b-blessed you, perhaps you t-take on part of her form?"

Thawm bristles momentarily at 'Sarn', but quickly calms down as he gets it right. Thawm clears her throat.
"It is indeed a blessing from Sarenrae, as I believe I had a brief vision of something. I shall have to think about what it was. It certainly wasn't a flaming blade not slaying something evil." Thawm explains.
(it certainly was)

"Anyway, we should get back to the army." she adds.

She nods toward each of them, but her eyes don't quite seem to meet theirs.

Tandyn takes a moment to talk to Cecily away from the group. "Hey. I wanted to apologize. A better leader would have seen a way to engage all of their best fighters." He gives her an understanding smile and a soft hug. "Once the chimera saw Ahmose, there wasn't a good way up. Then when it landed, everything went so quickly. Yes, we had some very lucky hits; but we don't rely on luck. We rely on each other. Had the fight lasted even a few seconds longer, we all know you would have hit it with everything you've got. So yeah, chin up and all that. Oh, and I really like whatever it is that's different about your hair.. or is it your horns? In any case, it suits you." He gives her another quick squeeze and walks with her back to the group.

"So what's all this 'egg' talk? Has our eagle friend left us a gift?"

We're planning to rejoin the army next.

Aroden looks at the egg.
Hmm.

"I saw no dwarf phoenix, nor did I see Thawm laying an egg. I think I would have noticed."

"Let us see how the army managed in our absence. I have depleted most of my magic for the day but can still fight. Though assaulting the citadel itself should wait until tomorrow, I think."

Back to rejoin the army sounds good.

Thawm holds up the brilliant red and gold speckled egg she has mysteriously acquired and shrugs.
After a moment the second question sinks in.
She looks at Tandyn with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"Eagle friend?"

"So what's all this 'egg' talk? Has our eagle friend left us a gift?"

Dorek glances over at the paladin. "The egg? T-thawm laid it. Incidentally, do you shed your s-skin? I've always w-wondered about that."

At Thawm's words, he nods, glancing back at where the other crusaders are fighting. "L-looks like they're doing well over t-there - I'm s-sure we could help, though."

Back to the battlefield it is, then. Allons-y!

"Eagle friend?"

"Well yes, I'm sure you've seen it. It appears out of nowhere, heroically swoops at our enemies, and then disappears again - sometimes in a burst of fiery glory. I suspect it's part phoenix. It must just be hanging around us all invisible-like. Well... maybe it laid an egg?"

"Incidentally, do you shed your s-skin? I've always w-wondered about that."

"No, I don't shed my.... wait what? Where did this come from?! And you say you've always wondered this?"

Tandyn takes a moment to talk to Cecily away from the group. "Hey. I wanted to apologize. A better leader would have seen a way to engage all of their best fighters." He gives her an understanding smile and a soft hug. "Once the chimera saw Ahmose, there wasn't a good way up. Then when it landed, everything went so quickly. Yes, we had some very lucky hits; but we don't rely on luck. We rely on each other. Had the fight lasted even a few seconds longer, we all know you would have hit it with everything you've got. So yeah, chin up and all that. Oh, and I really like whatever it is that's different about your hair.. or is it your horns? In any case, it suits you." He gives her another quick squeeze and walks with her back to the group.

Cecily beams at Sir Tandyn as he speaks, and when he finishes a faint tink heralds a single frozen drop hitting the ground, snuck out from Cecily's eye. "Your words are kind as ever, Sir Tandyn, and they do lift my heart. Your valiance won the day, is all, but I do not want to feel helpless against an enemy again. I will prepare better. In the meantime, I think I will go tear the army off of our troops." She reaches up to lightly touch her horns and pull her hair into perfect coiffure as she speaks, not quite sure what Tandyn's referring to without having a mirror yet but loving the compliments all the same.

Her head pingpongs about trying to follow the egg conversation, and eventually a sickeningly sweet smile spreads across Cecily's face. "Yes, Thawm, this eagle friend of yours, he does seem to quite favor you. Perhaps you have had indiscretions in the night, and he has just come to deliver your egg together in the manner of a stork!"

"No, I don't shed my.... wait what? Where did this come from?! And you say you've always wondered this?"

Dorek shrugs, ducking his head. "W-well, it only seemed s-sensible, didn't it? I m-mean, all the s-snake gods I know are thoughtful, i-introspective, sort of like you - and you a-are always c-clean. I s-suppose I just f-figured you were some sort of s-snake-person angelkith. You k-know - peel off your f-face each morning so the d-dirt goes with it, sort of t-thing." He shrugs, glancing down at his tail and poking at one of its segments reflectively. "I know I used to have to molt these... c-carapace things when I was y-younger - you're saying you d-don't have to do the same?"

"Eagle friend? What eagle?" Thawm replies, exasperated.

"Also, stork? Don't those deliver babies? I guess baby birds come from eggs..." a confused Thawm thinks aloud, failing to figure out what Cecily is going on about.

"Wait, do eagles get their eggs delivered by stork?"

Ahmose's blue reptilian eyes follow the myriad of conversations being bandied about like a choice morsel in a dog kennel.

The small kobold smiles.

"W-well, it only seemed s-sensible, didn't it? I m-mean, all the s-snake gods I know are thoughtful, i-introspective, sort of like you - and you a-are always c-clean. I s-suppose I just f-figured you were some sort of s-snake-person angelkith. You k-know - peel off your f-face each morning so the d-dirt goes with it, sort of t-thing." He shrugs, glancing down at his tail and poking at one of its segments reflectively. "I know I used to have to molt these... c-carapace things when I was y-younger - you're saying you d-don't have to do the same?"

"Oh. Huh." Tandyn begins to give it some serious thought. "Well, I don't shed or peel my face off, but some angelkin have metallic dragon scales or even feathers... so perhaps they shed and molt? Your snake gods have feathery wings, don't they? I suppose they're not so different from angels and dragons. Perhaps you're onto something? Granted I haven't heard of an angelkin having an egg or hatching from one, but I'm not sure anyone would bring that up even if they did. Hey Thawm, how did you parents figure out you were an angelkin?"

The party returns to their army having victoriously defeated a dread foe. The crusaders are filled with hope and joy at your triumphant return and their own defeat of not one but two of the armies holding Drezen with few casualties on your side. The general mood is that your victory is all but assured here and that you will be victorious within the week.

Irabeth greets you first with an apology and apparent relief at your return, ”I’m sorry we took the initiative Knight Commanders, we had little information on your progress and myself and the rest of your advisors thought it prudent to attempt a rescue should you require it.”

Anevia gives you a wink, ”Beth was beside herself with worry.”

Aron then adds, ”At least we are able to contest the bridge should their armies try to retake it. We can camp on this side of the riverbed with a few sentries set to watch the bridge for an attack. All of their armies must come from the bridge, face a steep charge up the riverbed, or march around. Did you want to order that Knight Commanders?”

"As we were able to secure the catapults before they fired on your position, the timing was fortuitous." Knight Commander Uhturj explains.

"Before that, I'd like to rescue the prisoners if we can. Perhaps all the Knight Commanders should weigh in?" She adds.

Ahmose listens intentionally to Aron's thoughts on strategy. The Knight Commander begins murmuring and pacing and stopping for dramatic effect, the Blue-scaled Kobold returns to stand next to Knight Commander Uhturj.
Is that another us do something and then they do something at the same time again thing?

"I would favor taking Paradise Hill to free the prisoners. Then we'll want to clear the cemetery so that we can focus on the Citadel. As for how we take Paradise Hill, I believe we were talking about going after their commander."

"Well done, Irabeth. You have saved us a tough fight. Aron, are we defendable here camping if the goat demons telly-port in the midst of our camp? Is that a real worry? Less so if we destroy them and free the prisoners before camping, I suspect."

"I too favor rescuing the prisoners as soon as possible."

”I’m sorry we took the initiative Knight Commanders, we had little information on your progress and myself and the rest of your advisors thought it prudent to attempt a rescue should you require it.”

Anevia gives you a wink, ”Beth was beside herself with worry.”

"Excellent work everyone! And there's no need for an apology Irabeth, we trust your leadership and your heart. Did you happen to find anything useful here? Did they have any supplies or fortifications?"

After a moment Tandyn looks down at the severed heads he's carrying. "We should go check-in on Nurah. I'm curious if these will have any sway with her."

Cecily used the opportunity regrouped with the army to visit the quartermaster to requisition 5 javelins, a longbow, and a quiver of arrows.

Make that cold iron javelins, cold iron arrows, and she approaches Junior for a mw composite longbow str +5.

Ahmose's return to camp involves a bit of drinking, plenty of eating and a bit more of the I'm not being dramatic, I almost got dead drinking.....

Horgus steps in and explains, ”Quite the treasure trove of gear. Nothing that would interest you personally, but I believe that we have captured sufficient arms to replace all of the crusaders' damaged gear and quite a number of enchanted armors, our forces here will be more effective in the next engagement. Also since the forces that we’ve ousted were mortal we have captured enough food and water to sustain the siege another five days.” You may upgrade your army to have the magic armor quality increasing its DV by 1 and you’ve captured 15 units of supplies.

Cecily seeks out Junior at the recommendation of Anevia, he had crafted a rather nice longbow for the scout.

Sosiel joins Ahmose while he drinks, lightly sipping at an ale while he sets up his easel. He suggests, ”Knight Commander Jones, if I may? I’d like to paint a tribute to your daring. Clearly your allies would not have prevailed without your efforts.”

Ahmose's blue reptilian eyes rise up, up from his staring at the bottom of his pint. The kobold grants a grin at Sosiel.
Painting? I suppose if you don't make me look fat. Not P.H.A.T. because everyone already knows that.

Ahmose orders another round, before he begins preening.
Think a hero could get a Prestidigitation after such valor.

At the camp, Dorek nods eagerly as the group suggests attacking Paradise Hill at the first opportunity. Glancing across the river at where the demon encampment lies, his metallic claws click together as he frets. "I e-expect they'll kill their p-prisoners if we wait t-too much longer - they're no g-good to them as they are, and we stand a v-very good chance of defeating their army."

After the group is done with Nurah, Dorek follows Cecily's lead and takes a look at the quartermaster's inventory. Selecting a sturdy longbow, he nocks an arrow to the string, pulling at it experimentally. The longbow's massive draw weight is far more than the spindly tiefling can manage reliably, however - hauling back on the bowstring, he does his best to control it, but his scrawny chest heaves with effort as the arrow tip traces figure-eights in the air. After a moment, his grip slips, launching the arrow in a random direction and narrowly missing Horgus's head as the fat merchant dives for cover.

Grinning sheepishly, Dorek carefully sets the longbow back where he found it and selects a much smaller, lighter bow. Tugging experimentally on its bowstring and finding it much more yielding, he selects a quiver of arrows and leaves, glancing nervously at Horgus as he passes.

Aroden thanks Horgus for collecting and organizing the supplies.

"We are in good hands, Master Horgus. Thank you for your efforts. I hope that the additional supplies to extend the siege will not be necessary, but it is good to have the leeway and not need to act hastily."

Aroden figures that Project Nurah has plenty of cooks in the kitchen at the moment. So he seeks out Aravashnial to make sure his fellow wizard is still doing well. He is still with us, right?

Once everyone's done with their errands, Tandyn gathers the group and their advisors around Aron's map. "Alright, let's talk this out... Can we pinpoint their troops, prisoners, and commander on the map?"

Strategy Meeting

Aron wonders, ”I’m not sure why they’ve kept them alive, if I’m being honest. In a normal war, prisoners of war would be useful for bargaining. But I can’t see the demon forces ever negotiating a cease fire, or suing for peace.”

Irabeth grimly notes, ”They want them alive for some reason. We just don’t know why yet.”

Ahmose and Sosiel

Sosiel comments, ”They say that you need to angle your subject from the top if you want to make them look thinner than they are. But that’s for painters looking to capture a subject realistically. The painting I intend to do is one that captures your essence, your true beauty and splendor, not necessarily a visually accurate portrayal but one that conveys what makes you unique nevertheless.” Psst you should give the diamond dust to Sosiel.

Aroden and Aravashniel

Aroden finds Aravashniel with a stack of papers that he is writing on, ”Someone must begin to replace the knowledge lost after Blackwing burned. Hopefully my recollections will be a good starting point. Can you help with this endeavor?”

Strategy Meeting

"We'll hope that they were meant for some sort of sacrifice or ritual which we'll be preventing. Or feeding that awful beast we killed. Before we untie them I can check for fiendish influence in case they're charmed or dominated and just being kept for use as double agents someday." Knight Commander Uhturj suggests.

Knight Commander Ahmose Subtlety Jones barely begins to fidget at those particularly not vague innuendos. The not sucking in his gut Caydenite reaches into his pocket and pulls out some diamond dust.
Here. Just in case someone wants this portrait to rise in value.

We have diamond dust?
That we could, like, use to remove negative levels from Dorek?

At the strategy meeting, Dorek glances nervously across the river at the mention of the prisoners' status. "The d-demons aren't s-stupid - if those c-crusaders are still alive, it's p-probably because w-whatever they were going to d-do with them, they're c-confident they can do it before we g-get there. I'd r-really like to get over there as s-soon as we can."

At the meeting of the Knight-Commanders, Aroden nods at Thawm's suggestion. "A wise precaution. I think we are ready to go."

Loot tracker shows 2000 GP of Diamond Dust. Yes, we can use that to have Sosiel cast Restoration on Dorek.

Strategy Meeting

Racing into the Commander Strategy Meeting is a short plucky figure completely covered in oversized mismatch armor and oversized helmet, carrying an large satchel that almost drags on the ground. Stopping in front of Knight Commander Sir Tandyn, this short figure gives a sharp salut, digs into its satchel, retrieving a scroll tube, and offers it to him.

Giving a crisp salute, the small figure then spins smartly about and races back out of the tent!

Tandyn grins and salutes Ahmose back while accepting the rather unexpected scroll tube. "Now what's this about..." He uncaps the tube and unfurls the scroll for everyone present to read. Several moments pass. "Jones? In any case... I think that's what we were thinking as well... oh, and now you're gone again. Right... preparations. Dorek, before we go, Sosiel had mentioned sending you to his tent along with this dust. I think he has a way to treat that horrid affliction, and per the scroll please remind him not to make Ahmose 'look fat' whatever that's about..."

"I agree with Dorek, there may be a ritual they have planned, or perhaps even have already performed. We may have another army of tieflings on your hands before long, but we can question them about what has happened to them once we rescue them. Crusaders deserve no less than rescue."

The locksmith furrows his brow as the messenger rushes in - at Tandyn's words, he nods reluctantly. "I d-don't want to abandon you when we're s-strategizing - are we all s-set for the attack?"

The Blue-scaled Kobold seems to be turning a shade of red....

"I am prepared. And quite eager to take the fight to the schir"

"Let's go smite some demons." Thawm adds.

Junior bids Cecily a hearty farewell and promises to scribe her the scroll she requested after they return from the battle.

Before the battle Sosiel’s eyes light up as he’s given a king’s ransom in diamond dust. ”Thank you! I’ll have both Dorek and Aron healed in no time.” Dorek’s negative level is removed. He completely forgets how pudgy Ahmose has gotten.

Paradise Hill

The crusaders march toward Paradise Hill after establishing a camp in Southbank, the sun is starting to dip in the sky once the forces are able to be mobilized again for an assault on the fortified city district. Irabeth orders the army to surround the fortifications forcing the enemy to decide on whether to dilute their own power or to concentrate on one part which will surely take heavy casualties.

The crusaders from horsetop rain arrows down on fortified guildhalls full of schir demons guarding unlucky prisoners of war. Unfortunately for the paladins the defenses are too much for them and few of the demonic goats fall. 3 damage to schir army.

The opposing general rises into the air to command their forces, a merciless Vrock, screeches commands in their foul language, assaulting everyone’s ears. Irabeth commands your army via drum beat, calling for a reckless charge, hoping to finish the schirs quickly, the enemy receives the charge with gleeful abandon. Scores of demons die in the initial assault as they prove unorganized and unwilling to work together to defeat the tight coordinated maneuvers of the crusaders. Still the sheer ruthlessness of the schirs cuts down isolated pockets of crusaders. 7 damage to Knights of Kennebres, and 19 damage to the defending schir army defeating it.

The battle is over quickly with the last remnants of the demons teleporting to gods knows where, including the vrock commander after the quick but brutal melee. After an exhaustive search you find a large number of captured mercenaries, at least 200 in fighting form. If you outfit them with the gear captured from Southbank they can form an effective fighting force. You also find the food and water intended to support the prisoners. 6 units

Rescued Mercenary Army ACR 3
LG Large army of humans (fighter 2)
DV 13 OM +3
Special bravery +1
Speed 1, Morale +0, Consumption 1

Crusader longbows, expert flankers: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 2 = 25
Reckless, expert flankers, smite evil: 1d20 + 10 + 4 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 4 + 2 + 4 = 30
Reckless: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 4 = 16

I'll get a post up with the next event tomorrow. The above battle counts as an encounter for buffs. Don't update yourselves to post-rested until I get the next event resolved but feel free to add any flavor your like for your participation in the battle or anything you do in the evening before rest.

"Pardon me, my friends. I have duties to attend to."

The questionable Last Azlanti is everywhere in the battle.

Aroden buckles on a breastplate and takes a heavy shield, then takes his place among the paladins and follows Irabeth's commands. He brings the holy power of the Sword of Aroden to inspire troops, while relying on its Fiend-Bane properties to deal some mighty blows against the demons.

As a warrior, he is on the level of the paladins. They are Pal4? So at Cav1/Wiz6 he has the same BAB. With his spells nearly depleted, he can still contribute in that manner.

After the battle, streaked with gore, he cleans off a bit and then attends to the prisoners. For the most part he focuses on logistics, helping Horgus distribute food, water, armor and weapons.

After about an hour, having had some time to observe these men and women, he makes a short speech to the rescued mercenaries.
"The demons of the Worldwound are a power beyond mortal ken. There is no shame in being defeated by a more powerful foe; there is great honor in surviving such an ordeal with your spirits intact. If you feel you are able to resume the battle against the demons, we would be honored to fight by your side. We have armor and weapons, we can heal your physical wounds, and you will have more powerful allies by your side the next time you fight those fiends. But if you think that your soul needs the rest and solace of home, you may follow us without fighting, helping with logistics and supply, and we will get you home safely as soon as possible. There is no shame in that either. Be honest with yourselves, and with us, and know that there is virtue in truth."

Assuming that if there are "200 in fighting form" then there are probably some more who are not in fighting form, for reasons physical or mental, but they can be camp followers and logistical support until we can get them home.

After almost dying in the fight against Soltengrebbe, Thawm helps primarily by tending to the injured at the start of the fighting.

As the Schir begin retreating, Thawm heads in to start triage on the prisoners in the worst shape. Once the prisoners are safe, she scans them for fiendish influences as a precaution.

As Sosiel heals Dorek's sundered spirit, the rogue stares off into the middle distance with a distracted expression, but as he feels his soul knit back together with the cleric's ministrations, he brightens up, grinning. "I feel m-much better now - better than I've f-felt in days! T-thank you, kindly stranger!"

During the battle itself, Dorek stays at the front lines, in the thick of it - he's a skilled combatant in his own right, but his superior night vision and mobility compared to the heavily armored humans who make up the bulk of the crusader force make him an invaluable scout in the gathering dusk, finding new routes between the ruined buildings of Paradise Hill and helping the squads of crusaders find flanking positions against the demon army. Despite not having much of a vantage point of the combat, he remains relatively aware of his surroundings, and he intervenes where he can, appearing behind demonic forces and getting in a few opportunistic stabs to give beleaguered squadrons a chance to regroup.

In the aftermath, he tries to stay out of the way of the others - he's no great orator or any kind of healer, so his abilities in those areas are restricted, but he does try to ask individual prisoners about their time in captivity, if they know anything relevant to the impending assault on the Citadel, et cetera.

Diplomacy (Gather Information): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Cecily rides out with the army and uses the initial barrage to field-test her new bow, happy enough to get the chance so soon. She leaves her horse with the backing as the army advances on the ruins, and she feels a surge of excitement as she manages to keep up with the paladins' chargers when they careen into the demon's scattered forces. She hits them like an artillery barrage, tossing demons around like she's making up for lost time, but one person can only make so much of a difference in such a grand melee. The battle winds down, and she finds herself spent.

Spending a mage armor charge and, let's be real, There's no way she doesn't spend the rest of her daily rage rounds in the melee.

After the battle, Cecily cleans herself up and spends some time helping Horgus along with Aroden and then takes her turn visiting Nurah, bringing dinner. "Nurah, good evening. We've rescued many more from the demons, hundreds I think, and smashed another of their armies now. Perhaps that is not surprising at this point, but I want you to know that we do take risks to protect our people. I know that not all Mendevians are deserving of that sort of mercy. Did you know that my Aunt once suggested that I be killed and reincarnated when I grew these?" She taps on a horn with her tail and takes a small bite of her dinner. "But I would march into the Worldwound to save her all the same, deserving or not, because it is the right thing to do. Because it is my duty and my moral responsibility. Because no one deserves to be abandoned to demons. And that includes you as well. You may have tried to give it up, and you may not feel it again yet, but you are, as far as we,this band of soldiers, are concerned, one of our people, and we will not abandon you to the demons, whether in body nor spirit. Whether you like it or not. We have not, and will not, give up on your or your soul."

Knight Commander Ahmose Subtlety Jones is seen in the center of the Paladin Army. The Blue-scaled Kobold is not experiencing any actual combat himself, although he is thinning out the enemy with his Tanglefoot Bombs, allowing his surrounding Paladins plenty of opportunities to catch any enemies who thought to retreat and regroup.

At the finale of the battle, the Knight Commander stays central and safe, while the Prisoners are being transported to camp.