In Provence, France, the Red Magus has returned to face his accusers, the House du Berry, bereft of a son by a fencing match between Du Berry and Perdu that turned into a duel... Contrite, indeed, literally haunted by his rival's ghost, Arc Perdu accepts their charge of murder, and the proposed sentence of death by beheading with a grim stoicism. But Cardinal Lucius D'Borja, having been served by the Red Magi's guardianship in earlier ventures against the Cult of Lucifer, has mercy and pity on the poor sinner, and pleads eloquently on his behalf to the Holy Father for clemency provided the Red Magus would take the vows of the cloth and become a priest. Arc agrees to this stipulation immediately, at once relieving himself of the guilt of sin, and laying to rest the demanding ghost of Monsieur Du Berry in one fell swoop. Oui! Pour l'amour du Christ, je renonce au diable et à tous ses mensonges! Je proclamerai la Parole de Dieu en tant que prêtre du Tout-Puissant!
The letter reads: To The Crusaders of the Catacombs:
Will save vs DC 19 possession 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 fails! After the briefest moment of struggle, the Ghost of Du Berry possesses Arc’s body! Oui! Oui! Now I can journey to Provence without delay and get a priest to give my bones rest in sacred ground, and be freed from my torment! My friends, nature calls... I’ll just go in the previous chamber, where it already stinks of ghasts... I’ll be right back...
"Maggotwing" the Vrock Demon wrote:
Fortitude save vs DC 21 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 fails! Arc is momentarily stunned into inaction by the vrock’s horrible screeching!
Arc channels eldritch energy down his arm, through his right hand, into Sanguinelle, magically honing the blade to razor-sharp keenness, then swings hastily at the summoned vrock, “Maggotwing”...1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 slashing the demon for 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 damage! Back to zee Abyss, foul fiend!!
Zagathoth wrote:
Arc held til the end of round 1 and then takes the ready action to follow Johann or Zagathoth if either moves west into the Damon's lair... Arc remains at the corner of the northbound and westbound corridors, watching Zagathoth and Johann, and poised to dash after either of them if they give chase...or flee...
Sacré Coeur! What is our plan, my friends!? Can we possibly stand a chance of victory over this greater demon!? Or shall we retreat!? Arc awaits his companions’ verdict, Sanguinelle held out in a defensive guarding stance as he faces west toward the sounds of the demonic cackling... Holds until he hears what the rest of the Crusaders plan to do...
Arc wrenches his magic longsword free of the fallen ghast's skull with a swift, two-handed yank on the bloodstone-inlaid hilt... Mon Dieu! That was a deep cut! Sanguinelle, she cuts through bone like a hot knife through butter!... Eh? Is there... Something behind me!? Noticing the urgency in Johann's growls and his bear's nose sniffing in his direction, Arc turns around, just in time...
Arc slashes at the last ghast still upright with scarlet-glowing Sanguinelle...1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 but narrowly misses... He curses under his breath in French, and rapidly shifts northwest to stand just west of and adjacent to the undead monster... 5-foot diagonal step to try to get out of Johann's way... With superhuman haste, the Scarlet Magus slashes again at the ghast with Sanguinelle...1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 hacking deep into its rotten skull...confirm 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 not a critical hit...dealing 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 slashing damage... HAH!! TAKE THAT, FOUL CREATURE!!
@Johann: Arc will make an attack and then use Acrobatics to do a backward roll between Bear’s legs to get out of his way once he realizes he’s blocking Bear, who clearly does superior damage output! Lol! Egads! I am in Monsieur Johann’s way! He and Monsieur Zagathoth can destroy both of these ghasts much quicker than I can... I will strike once, and then tumble between Monsieur Johann’s legs, that he might reach them and lay them to eternal rest! |