Search Posts
Aurora's gaze flicks over the gore enshrouding the temple, down towards Anzath and her new demonic friend at the opposite end of the massive room. A sigh is growled as the cleric turns to begin her march towards the duo, the silvery flame of her stave feebling as its time draws nearer to a close.
Everything still good on your end, Parrot?
Aurora takes stock of the immediate field with a lofted hand, holy symbol clasped, and a wave of positive energy discharges to wash over those within 30ft — herself, Tragershen, Tam, and Terapin; a terrific trio of Ts.
Health replenished, she begins to make her way north through the room with her stave brandished.
Aurora did, indeed, cast that Aid on herself — speaking of, Temporary HP is lost before regular HP is unless an ability otherwise specifies it ignores temporary HP, so unless those Orcus priests have some fancy modifications to their channels, Aurora is on 4 Temp HP but her regular HP should still be 52 unless I missed some damage somewhere.
Aurora brandishes the Staff of the Battlecleric in her hands, igniting it with silvery flames as a swift action. She takes a five-foot step up to the priest engaged with Anzath and brings a practiced series of blows liable to be bone-crunching against him.
Take all the time you need!
Aurora unslings the Staff of the Battlecleric from her back — tapping the length of glowing metal against Tragershen's shoulder as she focuses upon the magic within. Two charges are expended to cast Purify Body upon the Wizard. Purify Body:
You restore a number of hit points to the creature equal to 3d8 + 1 per caster level (maximum +20). If the healing would cause the target to exceed its maximum hit points, the target immediately gains half the excess healing from this spell as temporary hit points that last for 1 hour.
This spell also ends any pain effects, removes all physical ability score damage (from Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution), and removes the following conditions: blinded, dazzled, deafened, nauseated, paralyzed, and sickened.
"Feeling better?"
Pale blue eyes flick over the room and squint against the bale darkness the servitors of Orcus channel. Still the cleric stands. She casts upon herself, and an echo of magic sparks and spills to her nearest allies.
Aurora takes a deep breath and moves up to the doorway, coming up behind Bedlam. She lofts her holy symbol and utters prayer to Nethys, eyes narrowed over the inhabitants of the room.
"Hold fast and hold true. Remember why we are here.
"If you give me a few minutes, I might at least prepare a few additional spells to assist us, in the event that whatever is there should prove challenging." The cleric waggles her fingers, theatrically, before wrapping them about her holy symbol. "To the All-Seeing Eye." She settles down to focus on prayer for the next several minutes, assuming no one breaks down the door in the interim. Empty Slots Are Filled With...: 3rd — Communal Protection from Evil 4th — Blessing of Fervor, Holy Smite, final slot left open for emergency filling.
Aurora pulses off a channel to restore some of the party's missing vitality, motes of white energy pulsing through the air to their marks.
"Are you sure it is quite wise to open such an ominous door with our current resources as they are, Bedlam? It has been a few frays since we last took any rest."
Aurora accepts the Necklace of Fireballs from Anzath with a nod, then utters a string of Nethysian prayers in high, clarion voice.
She then backs up five feet.
The Nethysian heaves a sigh and joins her compatriots in rushing towards the commotion, well-accompanied by the clang of her armor and the thudding of boots as she double moves up. "Never a dull moment down here, is there?"
I've had a lot of fun with this game over the last four (!!!) years, even if my ability to post the last while has been spotty between work and life. Whatever route the DM thinks is most fun going forward, I trust.
Aurora watches the corpse-turned-tube man with some modicum of distaste, lips curling; but all she says on the matter is a muttered, "Charming..." as she returns to her position in the group's adventuring formation.
If Aurora is in range to CHAAAAAAARGE an ogre, she will do so:
If she is not in range to charge, she will cast Guidance on herself into a Divine Vessel for her allies within 15ft.
Aurora's mace swings for one of the ghouls hassling her...
Aurora makes to close the distance between her and Bedlam, and issues forth a burst of radiant positive energies in a 30ft. radius!
"We could also leave somebody in the doorway, for security...." the cleric murmurs.
"Well..." Aurora clears her throat. "We certainly had a moment there, didn't we? Well! Everyone looks to be accounted for." The cleric points to the southern door. "Onwards?"
Hello everyone! Been a while! Hope y'all had good holidays and that the new year has been going well so far!
Aurora enjoys herself during the group's stay in Magnimar, when she is not busy keeping Nico out of trouble. A great deal of window shopping is conducted with only a small amount of true commerce taking place with the cleric — and she indulges as well in a few visits to various cafés and Lowcleft theatres; the more outré the showings, the better. The antediluvian pages of the Tome of Understanding are pored over at mornings and evenings, and whatever chapters of it remain will no doubt be utterly devoured by the Nethysian during the group's return voyage.
Aurora, do you need a CLW Wand? Can't go wrong with a CLW Wand! Though I also think Aurora can get that from her own funds. Aurora's Shopping List: Wand of Cure Light Wounds x2 — 750gp each; 1,500gp total Carrier Backpack — 25gp (Nico deserves a proper baby carrier if she gets sleepy on a dungeon delve)
1 and 1/2 pounds of Chocolate — 15gp (offerings for the terrifying eggnant half-drow)
Total Cost: 1,580gp
For the pozole, Aurora is a cautious indulger — certainly it is not often one gets to sample such fare, and certainly not at the castle of a great dragon. And it does provide an answer for a question oft asked... A filet mignon with more of those samphire greens might have gone over better, but Aurora polishes off the bowl of stew without complaint or sign of displeasure. ----- Anzath's request for Dmitri is passed along to Sawen, but, "Yes, I agree. She's been feeling awful strange lately. The stress is immense." A pause. "Do you think Nico and Dmitri would like a playdate?" ----- From the side of the ship the cleric watches the approaching figure of Magnimar, seeming some vast monolith from the distance until the tides and the wind have brought them close enough to make out the details of the city's district. She wisely keeps her mouth closed as the naval and customs officials are dealt with, and nods along to Tragershen's words about the city. "Lowcleft should be a fine location, then, though I do not think coin is an issue at present." Her voice is low. No need to go flaunting any wealth now. "But somewhere quaint, near a theatre with good listings, would be a fine reprieve."
Congratulations! Fingers crossed that you get the job.
8th Level: Cleric
Aurora regards Aragnak with keen interest when she is finally brought into the dragon's lair, leathery shoes making a satisfying click against the floor. Her fingers steeple together in front of her stomach as he speaks, her head nodding along in agreement to his words. "My business here is, and always has been, to attend to the deep magics of Rappan Athuk as dictated by Nethys. To that end, I believe alignment with you to only be a boon in such matters — a strengthening of our power base, a solidification of our position in these lands, and a source of mutual benefit." The cleric's voice is crisp and clear. "Creation and destruction both is what you offer; which, if you should know much of the God of Knowledge, is quite pleasing to those of his clergy." A palm is held out and up to the side in an unspecific gesture, fingers twining through the air. "The Staff of the Battlecleric sounds quite suitable; Gods should know several of our number die on a regular enough basis to necessitate such, and enough to exhaust a supply of scrolls between trips to Riddleport which I fear may soon become very... off-the-table affairs."
And colored bubblegum cigars, for the nonsmokers.
Aurora is a prudent eater; nibbling on a bit of the cheese and crackers served as hors d'oeuvres, mindful that any meats on her plate should look fresh and be cooked to an appropriate degree of doneness. Enough attention is paid to the entertainment to suggest some degree of amusement, but not enough to suggest a particular liking. An occasional glance is paid to Nico, to ensure she is not getting into trouble. When Aragnak sets into his speech the cleric becomes more attentive; this is something to be listened closely to. Knowledge, as they say, is power. And in his absence, she speaks: "As you may know, my duty is to attend to the deep magics of Rappan Athuk—set astir by what are no doubt the schemes of Orcus. To that end, I think an alliance with the dragon is our most auspicious of options; but I also know that my alliance with you all is even more vital to these goals than Aragnak is, should enough of you raise objection."
An amused—cavalier, even—eye is given to the dragon's flair for proceedings. Bread and circuses are quite fun when you're not the circus animal. Still, the look she gives Captain Kolvio as he regales the party with his chaotic night is sympathetic and paired with an offer for some of her dwindling supply of coffee beans to perk him up for the return trip to Aragnak's isle, "It is the least I can do." Her chin is held high as the Host of the Red greets them, the hobgoblins receiving only the barest acknowledgment from her, and she follows the dragon's lead to the ruined fortress called his castle. Any urge to hoot or holler at his Adonis transformation are firmly quashed, replaced with a brief sidelong look to Anzath before sliding her gaze back to the dragon in his kingly apparel. "Marvelous, and the night shall only grow moreso." The sleeves are accepted and, after a moment of consideration, they are donned. Her garments shift into a puff-sleeved silken dress colored a jewel-toned blue, with a straight neckline and a waist cincher in matching blue; over the cinch's front, a winteryew is embroidered in white thread. Bands of icy blue embroidery in geometric patterns edge the hems of the dress, and the skirt hem is lined with white fur beneath the embroidery. Traveling boots turn into pointy-toed silver dance shoes of a leathery material, and in place of her gloves appear silver filigree bracelets and rings set with a myriad of tiny blue stones — a close inspection would reveal a fair lack of detail to the metalwork, perfectly smooth and lacking any signs of working; perhaps magic is a mediocre replacement for fine craftsmanship, or perhaps Aurora simply isn't concerned about having realistically detailed illusory jewelry.
Aurora's gaze once more fixes on the weeping knight as he speaks, a frown forming. It's always hard when they're crying. Though tempted to say more, she leaves her words to a crisp: "Make your peace with whatever it is that you worship, then." The cleric delivers the knight to the group Anzath is having rounded up and raises no complaint against the execution of the soldiery.
Aurora pans a slow look over the conquered Riddlefort. Nicothoe is chirping and hooting with excitement, tapping a little dance on Aurora's shoulder as the cleric grabs her own knightly prisoner by the arm to bring him towards the others being ravaged by the vengeful freed — pausing about thirty feet away from wherever the largest cluster of the violence is. She has no qualms against brandishing the mace if the prisoner needs some encouragement to move. "Tell me, knight, do you find the keeping of slaves a noble pursuit? Clamping another being in shackles and lashing it when it disobeys? — Do you think they deserve it, or is your interest primarily in the money and prestige you receive for your role in things?" Her head cocks to the side. "Or... will you try to convince me you're not culpable in any of this?" Aragnak's booming voice draws Aurora's attention for a moment, and another slow look over the carnage in the fort. Her hand slowly detaches from the tied up knight's arm but she remains at the prisoner's side, not yet surrendering him to the mercy of whoever comes next. Nicothoe hops off and catches herself on her little wings to flutter over and watch the piling up of loot, attempting to alight on Tragershen as her next perch. An expression of equal parts awe and envy falls upon the dragon as he collects it all. When Anzath comes to her allies for advice, Aurora's is simple: "The Fort, Anzath, must burn. Leave no evidence of what happened here but for the flames. The future of its people... I leave such to the others."
Aurora looks down her nose at the surrendered heap of panicked knight on the ground, icy blue eyes narrowed and one hand tightly gripping the mace. Still, it could be said that the cleric is not entirely without mercy, for she stows her weapon and in its place retrieves a length of rope with which the knight can be tied up. ... Then again, considering the group, it is possible that continued existence may prove to be a fate worse than a swift death. "Do not do anything more unwise than you already have, slaver — such is my advice to you."
Panicked Knight is subjected to another round of a mildly-peeved, running dry on magic cleric.
He looks delightfully friend-shaped! ... just, a friend you keep at a very safe distance.
Aurora continues to wail upon the panicked knight with her mace. Hold on, Tiny Trag and Nico.
Feeling rather light on useful magic left, Aurora takes a more 'mundane' approach (though the magic of flight adds a certain flair of dramatics to it) — readying her mace and shield as she soars for the fleeing knight. Hold on tight, passengers.
"I am running a bit short on magic, but my swinging arm is still fully functional." The cleric brandishes her mace for emphasis. A pause, then, "If you get me airborne, I could carry you with me if we only have one flight spell available or if we'd rather stay thrifty."
Aurora peers at the silver holy symbol pressed into her hand by Terapin as if it were dreadfully unclean, then passes it up to Nicothoe whose interest in it seems to stem primarily from the precious metal of its making. The harpylet clutches it in her little talons. "I hope everyone is ready for a long hike into battle, then. Any more healing anyone needs?"
When everyone is gathered up, Aurora will channel a pulse of white energy to ensure her fellows are topped up.
Breath of Life: 5d8 + 9 ⇒ (2, 7, 7, 2, 3) + 9 = 30
Aurora lets out a huff and, retrieving one of her scrolls into one hand, books it over to Lolly's side. Hopefully he's close enough she can actually get to him in time. At his side she drops to her knees and sets to work: unrolling the scroll and flicking her gaze over its contents...
The cleric slowly glances around.
Aurora brandishes her shield and mace before charging forth to join Anzath in dispatching the glaive-wielding hobgoblins.
That sounds like quite the place to visit!
— And now Aurora casts Bless, lifting her holy symbol high and uttering a simple incantation. This is punctuated by staring menacingly at the gate with a mace in one hand.
Congratulations on finishing law school, Terapin!
Aurora makes a hasty move forward! If 40' is capable of getting her close to the second gate and in range of her allies she'll stop and cast a Bless — otherwise, it's a double move up by another 40' to close the distance. Bless, if in range:
Aurora readies her mace and shield, coming to Tragershen's side to wait for the fall of the gates—eyes narrowing.
Taking her holy symbol in one hand, Aurora moves twenty feet towards the fray and lifts her voice in prayer!
Nicothoe chirps along from her clerical shoulder perch. |
