Yuki looks to Crystal."Keep your mind clear my friend."
Hero Point to re-roll.
There we go.
Casts shield and moves to see the target of her dispel.
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Crystal's mind clouds, she feels a deep dizziness. A loss of self, a return to the life of reflection, only reacting to the actions of another. But she takes in a breath of the crimson mist, blood soaking up out of her wounds slowly but surely.
"Ha! I know who I am. I am greatest assassin and you're already dead!"
HP 147/190
AC 35, void resistance 5
Fort +22, Ref +24, Will +26 (resolute faith)
Hero points: 1
Focus Points: 1/1
Spells: Cantrips: daze, detect magic, guidance, light, message; 1st: bless [x] protection [x] sure strike [x]; 2nd invisibility [x] see the unseen [x] sure footing []; 3rd cleanse affliction [] heroism [x] safe passage []; 4th invisibility [x] unfettered movement [] vision of death []; 5th divine immolation [] heal [x] scouting eye []; 6th divine immolation [x] heal [x][]; 7th dispel magic [] execute [] heal [] Divine Font (7th rank): Harm [x][x][x][][]
Effects: protection (+1 AC and saves, factored in) 3/10 rounds remain, bless (+1 to attack rolls) 4/10 rounds, see the unseen, haste 7/10 rounds
"Silly spider-lady," Dianora says as the woman turns. "Don't you know that mantises eat spiders? And you're not going to get the Stormspear Peaks if you're dead. Also, when red mantises kill you, you don't get to come back."
She emphasizes her words with a blast of divine fire, catching Ordulf and Celasik before ducking back into the room for cover and healing herself.
Crystal maintains control of her facilities, and Ordulf floats gently to the ground, swearing colorfully in Skald. The blast of fire engulfs he and his ally.
~+~Combat Round 4~+~
Ambassadors
Ordulf (-91, -2 Attacks OG: AC 36, doomed 1, 3d6 p. fire)
Calasik (-11, 3d6 p. fire)
Dianora (-57)
Crystal (-78)
Yuki
Kimmich (-94, stupefied 1 and off-guard, 1 minute)
Kimmich bursts from the office with a predator's single-minded grace as Yuki thwarts Ordulf's attempt to fly away. He's on the Ulfen warpriest in a flurry of blades. "No skin off my back to kill you again and again," the orc growls as he hammers at the Ulfen's defense.
Kimmich then begins pointing out the already-stabbed holes in Ordulf's armor, directing his allies blades to find and pierce the already-exposed restored flesh.
"Honestly my colleague is right, I've never had the fun of killing one person so many times before. This is definitely a proper riveting workout!"
Crystal rushes over to a flank position then continues the onslaught of sword strikes.
The acolytes of He Who Walks in Blood continue to slash at the warlord.
Crystal's second attack is brutal, nearly severing Ordulf's sword arm. Blood spurts throughout the banquet hall. How can one man have so much blood in him?
Again, you feel a weighty prescence in the room as Ordulf's arm twists unnaturally into place. A livid scar now cuts across the tattoos that wrapped his bicep.
"I command you, assist me!" he shouts at the other ambassadors in the room.
"They've already killed you twice," the snow oni replies. "It looks like they're very determined. Besides, what would you offer me? You've already given her the western Stormspears." The creature strugs and crosses his arms.
"When you are dead, the fortress will once again be ours," one of the adlets states, levelly.
Ordulf growls in frustration, "My own troops will be more loyal."
He takes a swing at Kimmich before retreating to the room's western door and throwing it open.
for and
The spider woman says, "It wouldn't do to have you scramble after him." She unleashes a spray of webbing onto the assassins she can see.
The assassins are too wily to be caught in her traps.
~+~Combat Round 5~+~
Ambassadors
Ordulf (-11, weak 5 slashing, -2 Atks, AC 38, doomed 2, 3d6 p. fire)
Calasik (-16, 3d6 p. fire)
Dianora (-57)
Crystal (-71)
Yuki
Kimmich (-135, stupefied 1 and off-guard, 1 minute)
Yuki strides to the corner for her own protection, knowing just how dangerous being flanked can be. Once there she draws a small figurine out of her sleeves. It resembles an iron knight. She crushes it between her fingers, causing blood red dust to fall out, and discards it to the floor. Faintly, in the distance, you hear the beating of war drums. The fortress drawn to alert. Every guard turning their attention to the horizon.
Then, she casts a spell. She points her staff at the door and says, "We are not quite done with you yet, who said you could leave." A humanoid red mantis manifests in front of the door Ordulf just opened. And closes it.
Yuki, having amused herself licks her canines in anticipation and covers a dainty giggle with her hand.
The red whispers circle around Kimmich, but the foe still stands, so he does not go to walk with them yet. He doesn't even look at the spider-woman as he hones in on Ordulf.
"I think your friends here are quite clever, I would stay out of a spat with the Red Mantis too if I were them. Collateral damage isn't exactly a necessity in our profession but it is both fun and occasionally encouraged. You won't be living through this, but I'd suspect your powerful enemies would be a sting in any negotiations going forward anyway."
Crystal strides up, leaving room for Sister Dianora to move into a nice flanking position should she need to and then continues to try and lend Kimmich a hand.
v OG
v OG
v OG
HP 147/190
AC 35, void resistance 5
Fort +22, Ref +24, Will +26 (resolute faith)
Hero points: 1
Focus Points: 1/1
Spells: Cantrips: daze, detect magic, guidance, light, message; 1st: bless [x] protection [x] sure strike [x]; 2nd invisibility [x] see the unseen [x] sure footing []; 3rd cleanse affliction [] heroism [x] safe passage []; 4th invisibility [x] unfettered movement [] vision of death []; 5th divine immolation [] heal [x] scouting eye []; 6th divine immolation [x] heal [x][x]; 7th dispel magic [] execute [] heal [] Divine Font (7th rank): Harm [x][x][x][][]
Effects: protection (+1 AC and saves, factored in) 2/10 rounds remain, bless (+1 to attack rolls) 3/10 rounds, see the unseen, haste 6/10 rounds
Still moving with supernatural speed, Dianora rushes out of the room and vaults onto the table planning to take out the ambassador. But seeing Kimmich bleeding almost as much as Ordulf, she changes her plans at the last minute and heals her fellow mantis.
Ordulf looks stunned to see the door close in his face, and the distant sound of drums outside the fort clearly worries him, "How many of you are there? My army will defeat you!"
Kimmich slashes away at the beleaguered warlord, slicing into areas exposed by Crystal's sneak attacks.
Speaking of the ruthless rogue, she nearly finishes Ordulf off again, but he hangs on. Dianora heals some of Kimmich's most pressing injuries.
Finding some of his courage with an ally nearby, he adjust his grip and swings at Crystal and Kimmich with his greatsword.
for and
for and
Terrible burns blister Ordulf's face, and his grip wavers. The chime of divine intervention rings once again, a sound heard with the soul rather than the ear.
"No, No. A little longer. I'll defeat them!"
The jorogumo shifts its position slightly to throw Kimmich off balance, then her jaws stretch impossibly wide, revealing fangs that drip poison!
for
for
~+~Combat Round 6~+~
Ambassadors
Ordulf (-0, weak 5 slashing, AC 38 (OG 36), doomed 3, 3d6 p. fire)
Calasik (-24, 3d6 p. fire)
Dianora (-57)
Crystal (-71)
Yuki
Kimmich (-159, FORT SAVE, stupefied 1 and off-guard, 1 minute)
HP 154/190
AC 35, void resistance 5
Fort +22, Ref +24, Will +26 (resolute faith)
Hero points: 1
Focus Points: 1/1
Spells: Cantrips: daze, detect magic, guidance, light, message; 1st: bless [x] protection [x] sure strike [x]; 2nd invisibility [x] see the unseen [x] sure footing []; 3rd cleanse affliction [] heroism [x] safe passage []; 4th invisibility [x] unfettered movement [] vision of death []; 5th divine immolation [] heal [x] scouting eye []; 6th divine immolation [x] heal [x][x]; 7th dispel magic [] execute [] heal [] Divine Font (7th rank): Harm [x][x][x][x][]
Effects: protection (+1 AC and saves, factored in) 1/10 rounds remain, bless (+1 to attack rolls) 2/10 rounds, see the unseen, haste 5/10 rounds
Dianora moves around the room, jumping off the table as she turns her attention back to Ordulf, catching the Gorumite between her and Kimmich. "We've already killed you, what, three times? I'm starting to lose track, honestly, since it's not that hard and is even getting a little tedious. I'm a little afraid my arm's going to get sore from so much slashing. You haven't even killed one of us once. Would it help if we all just stopped and stood around for a minute? Maybe then you could kill one of us. I don't want you to feel bad about yourself..."
As she mocks, a red energy again surrounds her saber, which she drives into Ordulf. Then she raises them again in a defensive stance.
Yuki inquires as to the reflex saves of Ordulf and Calasik. ”I wonder how many more times Ordulf can die spider lady, and if you want to still be fighting us when he takes his final final final breath. Are we a fight you want?”
Yuki maintains the unseen servant
The blood pounds. The foe flees. Kimmich feels his blood leaving him, and he feels it come rushing back. The prey still lives. Kimmich is not yet permitted to die.
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" Oh fun counting games! You want to know how many of us there are, we want to know how many times you'll die and I'm sure your friends want to know how many acres of this land they'll get. Exciting! Now count my swings and don't forget."
Crystal makes a large number of swings, several of them false, trying to confuse Ordulf with her game of counting her attacks.
vs Perception DC
Then she follows up with a flurry of real and more dangerous strikes.
v OG
v OG
V OG
Dianora's spell-empowered strike channels negative energy into Ordulf's body and Crystal takes the opportunity to stab him in the back.
Yuki's spell dances between the two foes, those the spider-woman deftly dodges.
Kimmich catches the warlord with the edge of a blade, then Crystal flows in for the kill, slipping her blade between his shoulder blades. The bloody tip emerges from Ordulf's chest, and he begins coughing up blood!
He shudders and falls to the ground, pulling Crystal's blade down as he slumps to the floor. His greatsword clatters down as his grip releases.
"No...more..."
Calasik swears colorfully in a guttural mix of Aklo and Skald, then turns into a tiny spider and slips out under one of the doors.
The snow oni simply disappears, and the adlets flee into the fortress to spread the news of the warlord's fall.
There's a moment of silence, and a curious feeling of watchfulness.
Suddenly, the double doors that lead to the parapets blow off their hinges, flying into the room! Wind whirls into the building, and at the very edge of your hearing is a sound like the roar of voices.
valkyries!
What ever it is, it sounds like it's going to arrive in under a minute.
~+~End of Combat~+~
Dianora (-64, 7 temp)
Crystal (-100)
Yuki
Kimmich (-159, stupefied 1 and off-guard, 1 minute)
"Valkyries. Maybe they're coming for me - I hear Gorum has a new opening amongst his clergy." Kimmich laughs until he coughs up blood, then simply coughs for a little while. He seems pretty direly hurt.
HP 154/190
AC 35, void resistance 5
Fort +22, Ref +24, Will +26 (resolute faith)
Hero points: 1
Focus Points: 1/1
Spells: Cantrips: daze, detect magic, guidance, light, message; 1st: bless [x] protection [x] sure strike [x]; 2nd invisibility [x] see the unseen [x] sure footing []; 3rd cleanse affliction [] heroism [x] safe passage []; 4th invisibility [x] unfettered movement [] vision of death []; 5th divine immolation [] heal [x] scouting eye []; 6th divine immolation [x] heal [x][x]; 7th dispel magic [] execute [] heal [x] Divine Font (7th rank): Harm [x][x][x][x][]
Effects: protection (+1 AC and saves, factored in) 1/10 rounds remain, bless (+1 to attack rolls) 2/10 rounds, see the unseen, haste 5/10 rounds
"You're a mess, Kimmich. You really should take better care of yourself," Dianora says as she calls on the mantis god to heal his emissary.
Crystal curses under her breath and Loathe as she is to do so, Crystal flicks the blood off one of her killing blades then stows it away. She leans over Ordulf's body, saddened that she'll have little time to bask in this kill.
"Always a shame when we don't have the time to appreciate our handiwork, but it seems like we'll need to make an escape before the funeral party arrives."
Crystal does reach down and pulls a nicely labeled body off the corpse then drinks it down to patch up some of the already darkening bruises on her skin.
Dianora heads out the door with the others, but as soon as she has a moment, she's casting another spell, sending her scouting eye back into the room to see what happens with the valkyries.
Quick post cause on phone
Yeah my round 1 is: servant open door, to office, grab axe, to door.
And my Round 2 is stow axe, grab holy symbol, through door, servant close door
Round 3 stow symbol, 3 actions to stride wherever we are going
The discordant cry of roaring voices grows louder, while what appears to be a ghostly apparition of Ordulf rises up from the warlord’s remains. The apparition glows with a pale light that slowly grows brighter.
The voices crescendo as the light around Ordulf’s ghostly form grows to a blinding brightness, then suddenly extinguishes. Standing around the apparition are four winged women wearing plate armor with winged helmets, and brandishing spears crackling with electricity. Yet the towering armored figure that arrives with them is what commands the attention—this figure watches the winged women as they lift Ordulf’s soul into the air, then turns away, as if searching for something.
Dianora relays the information to her companions as quickly as she can. Something in her gut tells her the armored figure may be Gorum himself -- though why he's personally intervening is beyond her. But even with Achaekek's protection, she feels like a bug that can be crushed beneath its heel.
Okay run down on those last few rounds:
Round 1 was as posted: stow sword, pick up potion, drink potion
Round 2: Pick up potion of fly, stow potion, pick up greatsword, hasted action begin running downstairs
Round 3: continue running with rest of group for 4 actions
---------------------
Crystal hides the grimace she wants to make on her face. She lacks the understanding of the divine to confirm or deny but the thought alone makes her weary. She pulls her hood over her head, an act she very seldom does except in the heaviest of espionage jobs, but somehow she just feels seen in an unpleasant way...
Chase Round 1
Drilling Ground
The warpriest Volfnir is still running combat manuever training with the square of Gorumite faithful. Word of Ordulf's death has not yet reached them.
Frostripper Lair
Dianora tries to slip by Volfnir's training, but in her full mantis regalia now, and covered in Ordulf's blood, it's difficult.
Crystal pulls her hood back down and displays her mantis armor prominently.
"Hey losers. Your leader is dead. We killed him. And all his emissaries saw it. So if I were you all, I'd leave before they start taking this place over."
She sighs at their misrecognition. Figures servants of the big idiot wouldn't recognize a mantis when they see one.
Yuki comes down the stairs sashaying just so. Trying to get all eyes to turn to her.
She levels her gaze at the guards practicing. "Keep up the good work my friends, Lord Ordulf's star is rising and he is on his way up to greater things!"
"Any who wish to join him on his journey to Valhalla are welcome to try and stop us," the blood-soaked orc says bluntly. The guards might not recognize them for red mantis assassins, but he is wearing the universal outfit of "violent murderer", which he hopes gets his message across loud and clear.
While many of you confuse the guards, Kimmich manages to get their attention!
"Wait, what?" There's a sense that they might break for the door--or might stab you!
A rumbling and clattering of metal rolls down the stairs, further upsetting them.
Chase Round 2
Pursuer is one square behind you, in the mess hall.
Drilling Ground
The warpriest Volfnir is still running combat manuever training with the square of Gorumite faithful. Word of Ordulf's death has not yet reached them.
Maintain your cover: DC 32 Deception
Proclaim your victory: DC 26 Intimidation
Slip By: DC 34 Stealth
Successes Required: 3
Frostripper Lair
Calm the Beasts: DC 31 Nature
Slip By: DC 32 Stealth
Command them to Attack Your Pursuer: DC 34 Intimidation (This will slow the pursuer.)
Successes Required: 3
Crystal sighs and pulls Ordulf's greatsword off her back and brandishes it openly at the guards.
"I said your leader is dead. By our hand, the claws of the red mantis. Leave now or we will be forced to take you out as well."
Yuki feigns an embarrassed laugh and complements the men on their wisely not taking her word for granted... but attempts to sow some confusion as well. "Maybe we are a security team, or maybe we are assassins, the world may never know, but there are some valkyries upstairs who probably don't care about how good you are at drills. maybe it time for a career change."
Dianora continues to try to sneak by as her companions draw attention. She continues to do very poorly at it as Ordulf's blood starts running in a stream right to his former underlings' feet.
"Then we all go to meet Ordulf," Kimmich says, shaking blood off of him like a wolf removing snow from fur. "Prepare your eyes for your god, iron fools, and prepare to watch a god die."
The troop of exercising soldier still stand between you and the door when the gigantic armored figure lumbers down the stairway.
The Gorumites tremble in fear, but hold their ground. This leader, the warpriest Volfnir, falls to his knees and exclaims, "The First Blade! Herald of Our Lord in Iron!" He seems paralyzed by religious awe.
"The valkyries have come for Ordulf, but I have come for you !" the gigantic figure intones as it points its greatsword at the intrepid assassins.
~+~Combat Round 1~+~
Yuki
Crystal Clarity
Sister Dianora
First Blade
Kimmich
Troop
Yuki doesn't waste any time. She quickly moves back, something Dianora can't identify terrifies her.
HP 154/190
AC 35, void resistance 5
Fort +22, Ref +24, Will +26 (resolute faith)
Hero points: 1
Focus Points: 1/1
Spells: Cantrips: daze, detect magic, guidance, light, message; 1st: bless [x] protection [x] sure strike [x]; 2nd invisibility [x] see the unseen [x] sure footing []; 3rd cleanse affliction [] heroism [x] safe passage []; 4th invisibility [x] unfettered movement [] vision of death []; 5th divine immolation [x] heal [x] scouting eye []; 6th divine immolation [x] heal [x][x]; 7th dispel magic [] execute [] heal [x] Divine Font (7th rank): Harm [x][x][x][x][]
Effects: see the unseen, haste 2/10 rounds
"Oh, the First Blade? That's not bad at all. I thought you were old Rusty himself, but just his herald? No problem! Are you here to tell us he's coming, or just general heralding?"
Realizing what she's facing, Dianora quickly thinks of the legends she remembers being told as a young orphan.
Realizing that fire is likely to work, she retreats -- setting up some space between her and the others -- and then casts a spell, following up Yuki's blast with one of her own that catches the Gorumites and the First Blade.
Fire, divine and otherwise, scorches the enemies of Achaekek!
~+~Combat Round 1~+~
Yuki
Crystal Clarity
Sister Dianora
First Blade (-34, 2d6 p. fire)
Kimmich
Troop (-140, 4d6 p. fire)
Crystal takes a deep breath and steels herself. "Well, wouldn't be the first celestial envoy I've had to swing the spinning sisters at. And I came here today to kill not to die so here goes everything."
Crystal strides up to the herald and tries to swing her left arm while moving to the right.
vs maybe off-guard
Then she diving rolls back into position with the rest of her allies.
The First Blade raises a sword and laughs, then explodes into a cloud of whirling weapons, a tornado of blades, knives, shivs, and sharp edges. The cloud moves through the room, flowing over all of you before it coalleses between Dianora and Yuki.
~+~Combat Round 1~+~
Yuki
Crystal Clarity
Sister Dianora
First Blade (-37)
Kimmich
Troop (-140, 4d6 p. fire)
Kimmich looks in distress, torn between the optics of fighting a whole squadron or battling a deific herald. He opts to split the difference, eyeballing the giant outsider while darting towards the guards, slashing away at them before darting into range of the whirling mess of blades.
Once next to the herald, Kimmich extends the respect of leaping right into battle.
treat as normal failure thanks to Greater Rogue reflexes
treat as critical success
The aura is little problem for Crystal but the cloud of blades rips directly through her path giving her no place to reasonably dodge away to.
HP 125/190
AC 35, void resistance 5
Fort +22, Ref +24, Will +26 (resolute faith)
Hero points: 1
Focus Points: 1/1
Spells: Cantrips: daze, detect magic, guidance, light, message; 1st: bless [x] protection [x] sure strike [x]; 2nd invisibility [x] see the unseen [x] sure footing []; 3rd cleanse affliction [] heroism [x] safe passage []; 4th invisibility [x] unfettered movement [] vision of death []; 5th divine immolation [x] heal [x] scouting eye []; 6th divine immolation [x] heal [x][x]; 7th dispel magic [] execute [] heal [x] Divine Font (7th rank): Harm [x][x][x][x][]
Effects: see the unseen, haste 2/10 rounds
Dianora avoids the worst of the spinning blades. "Oh, isn't that fun? Imagine if we didn't all have lots of blades we could spin too? This wouldn't be a fair fight at all! Fortunately, we have lots of sawtooth sabers -- which slice, and dice. They even cut through paper and tomatoes!"
The soldiers in training form up closer to the battle (but out of the First Blade's aura!) and collectively slash at Crystal.
And 1d6 persistent bleed
The fire burning among the troops kills enough of them that they have to pull back into a smaller square!
~+~Combat Round 2~+~
Yuki
Crystal Clarity (-58)
Sister Dianora
First Blade (-37)
Kimmich (-69)
Troop (-168)
Yuki moves back from the herald, using her last hasted action to stride. As she gets into position she lowers her staff pointing it at the troop, A line of lightning arcing out of it and through the gorumites.
Yuki looks incredibly hurt (-121)
Yuki's blast scatters the rest of the troop!
~+~Combat Round 2~+~
Yuki (-121)
Crystal Clarity (-58)
Sister Dianora
First Blade (-37)
Kimmich (-69)
Troop (-168)
HP 125/190
AC 35, void resistance 5
Fort +22, Ref +24, Will +26 (resolute faith)
Hero points: 1
Focus Points: 1/1
Spells: Cantrips: daze, detect magic, guidance, light, message; 1st: bless [x] protection [x] sure strike [x]; 2nd invisibility [x] see the unseen [x] sure footing []; 3rd cleanse affliction [] heroism [x] safe passage []; 4th invisibility [x] unfettered movement [] vision of death []; 5th divine immolation [x] heal [x] scouting eye []; 6th divine immolation [x] heal [x][x]; 7th dispel magic [] execute [] heal [x] Divine Font (7th rank): Harm [x][x][x][x][]
Effects: see the unseen, haste 2/10 rounds
Dianora raises her swords into a protective stance, just in case, then steps close -- "Oh, look, it's like we're all friends!" -- and slashes with both blades. The first aims to draw out the herald's defense, and the second slashes home!
Crystal likewise rolls up into position next two her two fellow assassins.
"Alright then, all together now. On three!"
She spins down her first twirling swing. "One."
vs Off-Guard
"Two!"
vs Off-Guard
"Aaaaaand three!"
vs Off-Guard