You see an odd sight. An emasculated man is chained with manacles to a wall, being clearly messy and heavily dehydrated. Clearly the speaker.
There is a coffin in the small room, as well as a few curious items.
Most dominant is a big painting of a Vampire, clad in a breastplate, wielding a sword and rich furs. While some may think the the Vampire on the picture is Terek Nul, Arthur actually knows Terek Nul looks like this .
Vampires dont have reflections in mirrors, so he is useing an extremely flattering painting perhaps?
Someone also opted to add a goatee, angry nerd glasses and an Abyssal rune meaning "Small Challenge for Nocticula" with a big arrow pointing at the point between the Vampires legs.
kn planes DC 20:
Nocticula, as demonlord of Succubi and Lust?
Clealry implying erectile dysfunction? Pretty basic taunt.
kn planes DC 40:
Nocticula is also notorious for, with the ranged attacks from her hand crossbows, hitting her foes in the most humiliating places. As such, the insult means both *very small* and *erectile dysfunction*
Verene finds a few useful items.
Among them a book called "Emergency bug out package"
Containing scrolls of Phantom Chariot, Phantom Driver, Dimension Door, Whispering Wind, Sending, protection from energy communal, resist energy communal, protective pernumbra and, in a hidden department labeled "in case Eustiorax tries to coup, dont forget to put on glasses before casting" a scroll of sunbeam.
Also of interested is a scroll of "communal protective penumbra", a level 4 spell, which normally does not have a communal version. The spellbook holds both the common and the communal version.
Great heroes! I am happy to see you! It is magnificient that the most magnificient one has taken further people into his glorious Communiun!
sense motive DC15:
The poor sod thinks you are Terek Nuls newest vampire spawn
Merixia does not have a light of Iomedae spell. She does however have a light of Ragathiel spell.
With this spell, you create shafts of bluereddish bright and fiery light that illuminate all undead creatures in the area. Affected undead take a –20 penalty on all Stealth checks. Invisible undead are not made visible by this effect, but the light does make it easy to pinpoint the exact squares in which such undead are located (they still retain the 50% miss chance granted by invisibility). The light of IomedaeRagathiel increases light levels by one step in a 5-foot radius around an affected undead creature. Once an undead is affected, it remains illuminated as long as remains within the spell’s range, even if it leaves the spell’s original radius, until the spell’s duration ends.
Affected undead must also make a Will save when they are first illuminated by the light of Iomedae. Those who fail this save lose all benefits of channel resistance and take a –2 penalty on all saving throws made against positive energy effects.
Non Mindless undead affected by it also hear boss music.
If you ever cast it where Cyraxherax can see it, he will strive to joink it, for purposes of becoming an even sparklier Disco-ball.
Good question, the babaulier and the bardbau got away, but the captured cultist had gold:3d100 ⇒ (98, 23, 4) = 125 gp on him, and one of the dead Babaus whose gear was fully recovered had
gold:1d1000 ⇒ 733 GP in Alyushinyrran "murders" of Kuthonite "war crimes"
Abyssal monetary policy:
Somewhat uncharacteristically, Abyssal coinage has unusually high and easily verifiable assortments of valuable metals in them, in part because the Abyss is very untrustworthy otherwise.
Of course, paying with lets say Lamashtan currency in Pazuzus realm is a great way to get murdered. In the anarchic world of the Abyss, 2 different but similar currencies have gained station as a "reserve currency" so to speak, the Alyushinyrran *murder* is actually Shamiran rather then Nocticulan, and has both a certain degree of artistic allure, a high content of gold/platinum, and are always convertible into contract killings (thus the name *Murder*).
In its current mintage, no Abysium since Shamira seeks to expand her trade empire to the mortal realms, and having coins that kill you would be bad for that.
Naturally, the lack of Abysium makes the newer minted coins less *prestigious* for demons, creating an opening for demonlord Nurgal, who, as demonlord of mercenaries, is often far more mercentile and pragmatic then his brutal cults would have you think. Rocking a pretty high Abysium content, and being *freely convertible into war crimes*, the Kuthonite *War crime* rapidly exploded in popularity (on account of Abysiums somewhat volatile nature, currency made from it is, as a matter of fact, also explosive in practice), and also lead to a cold war like situation over financial dominance between Nurgalite and Nocticulan/Shamiran interests.
In practice, demonic mercenaries operating on a material plane will aim to diversify their monetary supply in an effort to maintain a greater degree of independence and to insulate themselfs from the ever fluctuating vaguaries of the murder and/or war crimes market.
While these arent exactly legal tender in any law abiding society, they have gold/platinum/Abysium contents that can be exachanged for normal mendevian coins (which typically have significantly lesser amounts of rare metals in them, but, if you are mortal, your coins not having Abysium in them is pretty good for your life expectancy on acount of not getting demon cancer).
Since you are leading a crusader army, a way of inputting, converting, and well, tabulating such currencies exists, and if anything Galfrey is quite happy to take this money of you, so to speak, convert it to Mendevian Dinars, and pay of other debts with the accrued rare metals.
Have I mentioned that Mendevs finances are well... existing mostly on wishfull thinking and a few actual wishes?
Carrot mentally debates the wisdom of throwing Max at the next Goblin. He decides its a bad idea, oweing to the likely limited and sub par aerodynamic properties of Max, as well as his presumed softness, but Max almost squig like rotundity gives him a funny idea.
Intimidate 40 based on str:1d100 ⇒ 4OOOOO 4 success levels?
EAT ZE GOBBO I THROW YOU AT! YOU CUNNINGLY DISGUISED SQUIG-HALFLING!
BUT FIRST STAB HIM! THEN EAT HIM! ITS MORE CIVILIZED THIS WAY!
He tells, in broken ork, to Max, as he takes aim at the closest foe, easily lifting Max likes he is a throwable rock
Perhaps its not so much the thought of getting a halfling thrown at them that may or may not terrorize the goblins, but the thought of fighting someone who can easily lift someone who is significantly more rotund then the goblins are.
Ich lenke ab, in Positionen, dann Axt in die stinkende Grobi-fresse! He somehow whispers to Kardin at the same time, useing a few choice words for Orcs, Grobi in Khazalid, which imply he probably didnt learn it at a temple.
Khazalid:
I am distracting, into positions, then axe into the stinking greenskin-face
While I did some Hema I am not fully fluent on armor terminology so I am probably getting this one wrong
Merixias armor of the pious changed, now displaying the burning swords of Ragathiel, rather then the Iomedean sunburst from before, the helmet which comes with it now is, somehow, easily useable by someone with pronounced horns. The Visier of the helm goes not sideways but downwards, and can be folded to leave the mouth fully free if better speaking qualities are desired.
On the back, there are stylized flaming angelwings, currently folded, and Merixia has a strong idea that, upon casting a fly spell or such, the wings would likely unfold.
Another detail is that there are covered holes on the back, exactly where the wings created by an Angelic aspect spell would go through.
Ragathiel canonically has great drip, I think one of Merixias spells conjures actual wings? As would angelic aspect, the visual would be that of a 4 winged angel, with 2 extra mostly illusory flaming wings in addition to the actual wings.
---------------------------------------------
As Arthur takes the coin he feels a connection, it certainly resonates.
A moment Anevia interjects
Can you use this wand of silent image to create an image of that demon, and that Lemner is known to Crusader intelligence, Leader of Nurgals forces in the worldwound. A large, huge when enraged, heavily armored half fiend of a non standard type, we think either half Nalfeshnee or half Vavakia, and both of these are very powerful half demon types, fights with a massive hammer, and sends even big opponents flying by his awesome blows
Anevia knows that Nalfeshnees and Vavakias are big and powerful demons, the latter being associated with conquest and warfare, she does not have the extremely high kn. planes required to know what they can actually do
A Paladin champion, Sir Ciar Cobelen, survived a fight with him and said that, initially, smiting him did not work, as if he wasnt evil, but when he, somewhat desperately, smited him again it worked as normal. The exact way he described it did not quite line up with corruption resistance spells. He survived the encounter because Lemner awesome blowed him into a Vrock who was doing a flyby attack, and Sir Cobelen's spiked gauntlet got stuck in the Vrock, which crashlanded a bit away from the clash between Sir Ciar and this Lemner
It is also known that he can smite good, as all half fiends can, but he has been observed smiting a Barbed devil accompanying a chelish auxillary force once, implying he can smite law? Or Smite devils specifically? Nurgal is quite hostile to most of hell.
I dont know how he looks like, but if you see a massive plate armored dude with a gigantic 2 handed hammer who becomes huge when enraged thats probably him. We have spies among his troops, and a favorite topic among them is if Lemner could beat the Stormlord Korramzadeh The same Balor who killed Terendelev in the opening scene in a duel. Lemners troops say "maybe", crusader intelligence says "probably not, but the balor-lord would be in a serious fight".
Verene:
You have some history with Ciar Cobelen. During the b#*%%$$+ of the 3rd crusade, he was a moderating voice, and tried to restrain the inquisition as much as he could, even though he is a very dogmatic Iomedean otherwise. He does things by the book, and Iomedaes book absolutely says that torture is not admissable. He is, at this point, an Aasimar in his 60s, by your guess he is probably among the top 10 paladins of the crusade.
Demons are creatures of chaos, so they should be capable of change...
Pharasma obviously doesnt believe in that, if she sends you to the outer planes, you are supposed to stay there but...
Like, the boneyards has courtrooms? And there are like... souls who got sent to the abyss because the Nocticulan lawyer demon had a great day and the Calistrian lawyer Empusa had a less good one?
Like, while courtrooms are better then just violence, courts can be wrong.
And then there is the whole... drink from the Styx, forget what you were, which incidently means there cannot be a revision of the verdict
But I think it is strangely accurate for demons to be run by fear, after all, what other then fear stops people from being good?
On the other hand, beware fearless demons, they are much more dangerous!
Serendipity talks quite a bit, which draws an intrigued look from Anevia
Stauntons journal paints a picture of an incredibly petty man. With a particular degree of disdain towards a) women and b) anyone who is succesfull with women.
He was quite glad to outsource the hunt for the escaped Demoness to Shifkeshian bounty hunters, and in part bid the Nurgalite Babau to guard the prison, notable after the Desnan Demoness escaped, to make it look as if they were responsible for her escaping.
There is however...
A few pages of it are abject rage against the Babau champion Vrakashek (Babaulier), mixed with complaints about not being able to sleep because the Bardbau Afonje was partying too hard, in a place in the dungeon, on the ceiling of it, which was, quite not so coincidentally, directly under the floor of Stauntons bedroom.
As well as some fury because the Succubus-duelist Kirandra rejected his advances, while the Succubus Janeanemine demanded he address her as Iomedae.
Then there is plotting on having these demons kill each other, by him setting up an inspiring "mock duel", but one he tried to rig into causing a rivalry.
To his shock, they had a real duel, did not kill each other, but became significantly more friendly then Staunton was comfortable with.
This diary could be used to create some mischief between various demon factions. While the Nurgalites would view Stauntons behaviour, in this diary, as "standard Baphometan b@%!&!@@", the diary certainly makes him, and by extension his Baphometan masters, look pretty weak.
Verene dreams of this corruption forge. Of possiblities, of hard work, of changes, and of her own nature. Divinely empowered Atheist? A contradiction.
On reasonable terms, perhaps, with a mythic Succubus while being a crusader? Another one. But what if contradictions are what could close the worldwound?
As Idaya lays down in her newly claimed cot, well, she spent a few nights sleeping on silk, but being around actual friends, crusaders, fellow worshippers of good aligned deities, and not around demons who for some selfish reason decide to utilize her is... relaxing.
Neither gets attempted nightmared, because the Dreamslayer-demon is currently blind and deeply unhappy with the amount of knowledge he has
Yes, but only if you hold me, otherwise they need to be telepathic too!
She actually speaks and is audibly hearable. Her voice is female, you would think of someone in her early 20s, and the cadence is bubbly and friendly.
My condolences... I felt... really sad when my wielder died, one of the first things I conciously felt. But he in a better place now. And so are many of those he rescued from hags, or broke out of soulstones!
I cant do that yet, but its possible that I can... be really effective against things useing soulstones or people who use spells empowered by soulstones!
The weapon speaks, jiggling a bit.
Uhhhhm... what is a hug? I think you could use one, but I also think I am the wrong entity to offer one
The weapon pauses
The cloaked figure who saved you? Did she give a name?
She did not
It seems to be a time of great change... Desna told me that there is a Succubus who is Desnan? And like... I killed demons before, they are kind of pathetic creatures, driven by fear, but always pretending to not be afraid, because if they show fear, then other demons think they are weak and attack them. But that Babau-Bard? First Demon I ever encountered who wasnt afraid. There was... when I talked with him telepathically, a hole, ripped out by something, where normally his fear should be. Still evil, but oddly fearless.
If you invest mythic levelups, via legendary item, into it she gets some extra abilities vs enemies using soul-based based magic. I dont want to hand out mythic levels to many foes (Babaulier for example was not mythic, but was certainly a very potent foe), and them being powered up by consuming soulstones will be a recurring thing. It will be kind of a decision you can make on top, do you focus on a possible *screw soulstone users* aspect or do you further improve the *change luck* aspect.
Lies! a spontaneously appearing Anevia, obviously intoxicated, says, swaying a bit in the wind.
Also, Proteans have many great abilities and only get drunk when they want to! The intoxicated Anevia continues
A far more normal Anevia, takes a sip from a mug of presumably coffee and watches the "drunk Anevia" with a more bemused then angry expression
His attempts of impersonating me or Irabeth are great "person in need of a talking to regarding infiltrator detection" tests. Anyone who would fall for him would almost certainly fall for a demonic infiltrator. She whispers, conspirationally, to Arthur and Verene.
I actually pay him in Stauntons booze for each "person in need of talking to" he identifies She adds with a smile
I would add that he isnt trying to infiltrate, my research, as well as what Irathiel knows about him, strongly indicate that he is, or was, pretty good at such, and was highly capable of impersonating demons. He is currently mostly trying to have fun. But we can make productive use out of that. Anevia continues
You want to know more about me? I have only become fully sapient recently, I think, like, my wielder left an imprint on me before he died, but its not like, and I try to act in ways that he and Desna would approve of!
I am not actually a *souled* weapon, there are like... infernal and abyssal rituals to bind a soul to a weapon... Very evil and often even worse then soul gems. There was a case, back in the age of prophecy, where there was a prophecy that a powerful demonness could only be killed by her own daughter, so a devil captured one of her daughters and bound that daughter to a sword by such a ritual.
I heard it didnt quite work out for the devil, but you get the idea.
Lady Desna would never do such a thing!
It is more... my wielder pleased her, but had no children because well... professional hag hunter, interplanar even, always on the move, and you dont want to have an attackable family if you professionally hunt things that are notorious for going after your family members![/b]
I am pretty new, but I do remember, although dimly, my travels! And I think Desna or one of her angels gave me a fair bit on insight on my own condition! And I can fudge luck a bit, but currently only one time per day
AND I LOVE MY NAME! THAAAAANKS! I like not just being a weapon! For example, I can also be a mirror! And maybe a musical instrument!
Serendipity talks a lot, quite quickly and is very bubbly and enthusiastic.
thesius mechanical and moral explanation:
This is OOC:
I dont think that Desna would actually have sapient weapons with like, souls bound to the weapons. Would strike me as really odd for a goddess of freedom.
What I could see however is that a very devout and effective Desnan could leave an *imprint* so to speak, on a holy desnan weapon, and that that weapon becomes Sapient due to divine grace and such, rather then because some lucky or unlucky person got shackled to it.
In some ways, the weapon is a kid, but it is also a weapon.
He can borrow a wild arcanaed spell, saving you the spellslot, but you still pay the mythic point.
WOOOOO THAT WILD ARCANA IS WIIIIILLLLLLDDDDDD I FEEL MY DRAIN DOES NOT APPLY! The Protean sparkles shooting bright vivid beams of light as he borrows Verenes wild arcana.
UUUUGLY! Thesius friend! Some ugly hag is scrying on... I think on your new friend! REAAAAALLLY UGLY! And I mean actual hag, not hag as in elderly woman! Apply the burning sword, the big burning flamesword! I hate hags! Soul traders!
She is a couple of days march west of us!
Oh wait, I am a gloritorious Azuretzi! And I saw that hags face haha! SO I CAN DO THIS!
dance, seeking to vex and annoy the hag that is apparently scrying on the party.
The dance seems to be upbeat, to a melody only the protean can hear in his head, but the moves remind you of a Galtese dance called "Massacarena".
And she stopped watching! Cant handle my brisk sexy dance moves! Haha!
The Azuretzi changes back into his normal form.
Party:
You recall from Stauntons captured journal that the escaped prisoner Arueshalae is pursued by a Hag bounty hunter named Jaarunicka
Thesius:
THAT VILE THING! I KILLED TWO OF ITS COVEN, BUT THEN IT KILLED MY LAST WIELDER! VIA A CURSE!
Serendipity sounds suddenly Ragathielan rather then Desnan
A few seconds pause
We are going to kill her yes? Sorry for going all vengeance, but this one is not just a night hag, she is a cleric of some type of Shifkesh. And one that specifically hunts followers of Desna. Your weapon asks in its normal voice.
The collaborator cultists watches the Azuretzi with a degree of admiration
Huh, for a moment I thought something else is scrying on the new Paladin, but I think I was wrong, dont spot anything. The Protean chirps and then does an odd *shrugging* motion
And now I, Xyraxherax, most gloritorious Azuretzi on Golarion, shall cleanse myself of pretending to be a vile hag by.... BOOOZE!
The protean disappears in a cloud of sparkle
You got a protean in your lawful good crusader camp? The cultist says, both impressed and bewildered.
Good choice on having the Azuretzi do it, as you get an excellent view on the hag for free! Xyrax rolled pretty good on his caster level check too.
-----------Dispelling on Sorica----------------------------------
As the magic is defeated, Sorica straightens.
So I was... dominated? I thought I did things from my free will because this... false Iomedae... removed the memory of me being dominated?
Janeanemine uses a combination of profane gifts, charm monster, dominate person and various mesmerist abilities, including erasing the memory of having been affected by these abilities, to make people believe they act on their free will when they are actually dominated, or more precisely, suggestioned.
I do not want to go into detail of what exactly she did. But legally speaking, she raped, murdered and tortured. While under demonic control.
Wait, now that I recall this, it is odd, but... I can see some of his memories, yes, I fought back against his possession!
He has a trap prepared. When he uses his soul jar ability when next to his... crystal thing, the soul he takes will be slowly crushed by it! How quickly this happens depends on how far from chaos and evil the soul is, lawfull good souls would suffer the most.
Unless the soul taken is chaotic evil, then it can control the crystal. He was trying to *fix* this, but hasnt figured out how, its kind of how he controls the crystal I guess.
She no longer looks as haunted as before, knowing that... whatever she did was under a domination evidently removes a great weight from her.
--I will be rolling initative when enemies (or even some neutrals) become aware of the party, and vice versa.
--Nobody gets to ready actions out of combat from now on.
--If either the party is very sneaky, or the foes are really sneaky, they may have multiple buff rounds and then possibly a surprise round.
Pulling of a buff round under an invsibility+ silenced buble while being blessing of fervored for still spells is something that is certainly within the parties capabilities, of course, plenty of demons have see invsibility/true sight etc.
--Anything that breaks invisibility almost certain means that full combat rounds start.
--Verene gets to act in any surprise round, as per her ability
--exceptions:
---Epic battle speeches, even if they last much longer then 6 seconds of a combat round, last 6 seconds and are free actions, unless they have a mechanical effect (f.e. inspire courage), in which case they are whatever the action to start inspire courage is.
----RAW, it is very very hard to deescalate once init is rolled, in a situation where you sneak up on neutrals, or neutrals sneak up on you, you are in rounds, but you arent locked into combat to the death so to speak.
Why and how Cydric was given a cold iron, rather then a standard falcata:
In a dusty office next to the forge:
Guillaume, if we dont actually use all of our cold Iron material we got allotted this year, central will reduce our cold iron allotment!
The middle age female cleric of Callistria, being all business on this occassion, spoke.
But Lady Maelle, it is inefficient? How often do we actually fight demons or fae? We captured a Nocticulan assessment that laid out that the Succubub~*@+es regard Galt as so much of an economic basket case, that making it *proper decadent* would overstretch even the near limitless economic resources of the midnight isles!
And the Fae are so culturally opposed to our nation changing names every regime change that they dont regard us as agreement capable?
Guillaume, head smith of the military academy, a wizened, elderly yet still powerfull built man, answered.
We need an active cold iron allotment to be capable of making a beaurocratic case for having a silver allottment! So I dont give an expletive what you make with this cold iron, do some standard service weapons and give them to particularly unintelligent and impressionable cadets!
The Callistrian priestess said, before storming off
Of course, a the falcata-swashbuckler crowd is particularly... noted for never having intelligence greater then 13!
The head smith mumbles
A few hours later
Here Cadet de Bergerac! Your service weapon! Wield it well, and may it guide you towards your destiny, FOR THE PEOPLE!
Guillaume de Roncalle, wizened head weapon smith of Isarns military academy intoned as he ceremoniously handed the young cadet his weapon
Cold Iron! Fae! Demons! Both? Half-Succubus-Leananside?
Cydric thought as he held the well made weapon, his mind flush with possibilities, however, his limited intellect has limited his planar studies to exclusively beautyfull and feminine fiends, and was of very little practical use otherwise. His knowledge of the Fae was... of a similar nature.
What in the first citizens arse was that kids first name? Thought Guillaume the weapon smith at the same time before saying
Wear it well cadet Cyric! The wizened smith intoned
He removed the D from my first name? Is he hinting that I will fight demons? That must be it!
Note, the "Murder Mortal" has been bullied by Staunton, on suspicion of trying to steal his booze.
Lies, he actually stole a few of Stauntons wands at Vrakasheks behest, which he is now employing.
He does not know that I think he still caused more damage then Staunton Vhane.
These babaus, while they are a bit quirky and even fun in some ways, are absolutely chaotic evil murderhoboes.
They are perhaps a bit less evil then the average demon, because a) they really hate the great old ones, which reduces their anti-mortal-racism-sentiment (they do cringe at demonically affiliated mortals trying to outcruel actual demons) as well as their "I hate the forces of good" sentiment (if they see a Shoggoth fighting an Angel they would stab the Shoggoth first, and then probably try to suprise stab the angel or prank/troll it in some other way) and b) the strange interaction between the mind altering effects of being in the city of the elder gods, and being demons, somehow resulted in demons with a sense of teamwork, c) they will also be completely honest about them being "chaotic evil murderhoboes".
Murder Mortal=26
------------
Verene=19
------------
Babaulier=18
-----------
Thesius AND Elliot (convenient) 17
Azira=13
Merixia 11
------------
Barbdau 10
Goodsquad red 9
-----------
Arthur 7
Wulfric 3
----------
Goonsquad green 3
----------
Idaya 2
Reveal
You see a total of 6 Babau as you move close enough to pierce the Darkness! Their readied actions go off!
Babaulier Vrakashek, visibly their leader on account of being almost attractive physically (no small feat as a babau), wearing a crown, and having a hot purple-pink border around his magnificient Icon seems to give a short speech
Clearly activating the tactician ability
His BARDiche wearing bard ally, recognizable for his unique vaguely Irriseni dance style, wearing of a Bardiche And his teal border color
Explodes into a flurry of dancelike motions, which make all of your enemies move quicker!
you cant actually hear this because of the silence effects:
You cant hear, but the fashionable Babau-Bard begins playing an Chaotic Abyssal performance, which works akin to a Blazing Rondo although it seems to be dance based
Bardbau activates blazing rondo performance
----------------------------
Moving oddly in Sync with the Bardbaus movements, the 2 red bordered Babau Goons both show Azira and Elliot their middlefingers as they cast dispell magic at the first individuals entering the "Ambush zone"
dispell magic vs Azira:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18I think that gets something dispell magic vs Elliot:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11That probably fails
---------------------------------------------------
The 2 green border Babau Goons teleport, appearing behind the party, and threaten Verene and Wulfric from the rear!
-------------------------------------------------
You would hear an incantation muttered from the far back, as thick silky strings erupt from roughly arthurs position, seeking to trap the part in a web!
A lightning bolt emerges from the far end, flying through the Babaus in its path, who if anything incorporate it into their dance routine
lightning bolt:5d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 2, 1, 5) = 15DC14
She is gonna dress up in a masterwork chainshirt (joinked from one of the cultist, lets just say one of them had a chain shirt rather then a breastplate) and take +1 Frost rapier temporarily for self defense.
For Sharing maps, what I do on games I am Dming is this:
1: I open a google draw document and put the map in there.
2: I put the enemy/npc art on somewhat bigger pictures, so that people can actually see the artwork.
3: I think hit *Share*, save the map name, and you need to click both the "anyone who has the link" button and then set the other drop down on "coauthor", so that others can actually move their characters on the map.
4: The Syntax on Paizo for sharing this is [url'=actuallinkgoeshere]Samplemap[/'url]
or
[url'=https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1oNy6ec86AX0VhwgOYsff6ptp-2WTvmSVPaw9mf_5Cvk/edit]Sample map[/'url]
without the "'" I used to make the link fully visibile, it would then be
Sample map
The resulting link can also be put into either your DM profile, like for example with my GM account, or in the campaign info thing.
Good suggestions from others, but its also a double entendre of her ancestor... losing... face.
My take on chaotic evil is that they can, if it benefits them, keep their promises (both because she for one is very rich, and can easily afford to keep material promises, and because it covers her lies) and be very rational, somewhat akin to the way a very charismatic high functioning sociopath works.
Next fight is already prepped, I will be soft writing off Wulfric, Azira and Elliot to assist the main army in fighting off any relief attempt lead by Kirandra, so the actual player characters have full primacy.
I would like feedback on the negotiation scene slight spoilers:
The purpose of the scene was:
--Establish that reasonable demons exist, and that there is precedent for well, at least some tacit cooperation between some of the forces of good and some less genocidal demons.
--Establish that, among the really old movers and shakers, everyone kind of knows everyone, at least somewhat. Laulieh is not that exceptional in that regard, although, oweing to her high charisma and fairly reasonable sanity, she has a somewhat longer lists of contacts then the average demon of her age.
--Establish that powerful things are smart, and (demons in particular) creative. Not sure if any of you ever managed to mess up a wish by a bbeg with a creative casting of ventriloquism (a humble level 1 spell), or abuse the fact that a Gylou regenerates half her body mass every 6 seconds to turn her into a food source.
--Veterans of the CRPG would also note that this makes Act 4 less... surprising.
--Setup a source of corruption that does not require complete removal of critical thinking for player characters to consider taking it.
But now back to our regular sceduled killing of demons!
Also, as Loot you find:
Chorussina:
1 Rod of quicken, lesser
1 headband of +2 cha
1 robe of resistance +2
1 belt of decterity +2
1 wand of shield
1 wand of mage armor
1 ring of protection +1
Janeanemine
+3 Silken Ceremonial armor
1 belt of dex +2
1 circlet of persuasion
1 ring of protection +1
1 +1 frost rapier
I think about everyone was in favor of that as such
Please mark off any buffs which would last less then 5 minutes, as the parley took a while
Also, lootlist incoming
If Merixia transmits Ragathiels off telepathically Merixia only:
You feel a surprisingly gentle mental touch, almost like a polite knock, as if someone is walking on eggshells and absolutely does not want to break a certain established rule
Ragathiel wishes to clandestinely propose something? I shall look at this and only this.
However Merixia is not yet fully used to telepathy and
I do alas have some doubts. She is a demoness who has... genuine cause to hate me, as my own actions contributed significantly to her being tortured by some of hells worst torturers for several centuries. Far less evil entities then her would become my arch foes in regard of this, but why does she not?
You see the demoness eyes blinking in confusion
Was that not what he said? Oh, before that You hear her, somewhat apologetic
Her own spy network is considerable, but... I can offer a significant degradation of Canias security systems due to... external factors, such as a celestial raid.
Which I would transmit to you, and you then to her 16 hours before it happens, which should give her enough time to mobilize.
Transmit this offer telepathically to her. The recognized gesture is to tap the place between your right eye and right ear twice. She will, while under the effect of the pledge you made, not read your thoughts otherwise.
As she well knows it would be... inappropriate, for a celestial force to openly cooperate with a demonic one. But if a demonic force just happens to raid Cania at the same time as an Angelic one, and our infernal foes are too hard pressed to repell both?
You hear Ragathiels voice again, as if she is playing a recording of it
That is a compelling offer. I shall accept it
She says mentally
As to his other question, why I dont hate him?
His acts surprised me, and I guess everyone else at that time as well. Unfortunately, I was in Dis at the time he deserted hell, as his guest. Guest guest, not *guest-prisoner*, I could have left at any time prior to his desertion, but not doing so rendered me Socii Traitoris, and Doloras, as well as your infernal ancestor started to experiment on me to reverse engineer my weapon song.
I think I hold the multiverse title for person who got her vocal cords removed the most often. I later managed to free myself, by useing the fact that a number of devils literally had my vocal cords implanted in them to mind control them, resulting in the great Canian prison riot, from which I made my escape
I did sense his intention to defect, but misinterpreted it as defecting to the Abyss, had I secured that, I would have risen greatly in stature, so I took avoidable risks. Spoilt milk as far as I am concerned. Why would I hate him for acting in his own interests?
The demoness seems genuinely mystified
if merixia accepts the offer entire party:
Tell Ragathiel I accept his terms Laulieh announces
Very well Merixia, here is how your infernal ancestor looks like
she flips her finger and the illusion of a Gylou, in with a strange dress and a mask, appears.
She is a Vivisectionist Gylou devil, who uses extracts and mutagens to considerably increase her combat prowress. She has a way to have longarm extracts apply to her tentacles, which considerably increases her reach with those.
In melee, she typically feints, and then attacks with all of her tentacles for considerable damage. She cannot feint me, I am too good a duelist for that, but it is an incredibly damageing number of strikes.
Its actually because Laulieh is useing her perform sing in place for sense motive, which makes her nigh impossible to feint
If they hit, they also grab, and as soon as she grabbed any remotely *significant* adversary, she will seek to pull that person into her tentacle cage and teleport away
I strongly recommend freedom of movement, which she or her cronies will seek to dispell of course, as well as... how is that spell called? In the Midnight Isles its called Balor-Condom... Ah, Particulate form!
She is unlikely to attack without intensive scrying first, if you can shut that down it would work well in deterring her. Unlike a great many devils, she is a coward, even fairly superficial damage will cause her to flee
the demoness activates a quick draw sheath and a scroll springs into her hands.
Here Merixia, a scroll of particulate form. I doubt you can cast it yourself anytime soon, but you may surprise me She says as she offers the scroll to Merixia
Oh, she does use Poison, but I am immune to that so I dont know which ones exactly. She is also... incredibly displeased with her looks, due to a certain long term prank I pulled on her, hence the strange mask. My analysts strongly believe that sundering or removing her mask could make her run, but I am not fully certain myself
Also, one hero point to whoever guesses first what Merixias ancestor wants from Merixia, once she is made aware of her
I did learn some chinese back when I was into martial arts, and actually went to a Sanda competition in Baoding.
It was pretty funny.
1: The average bloke from Northern China in Northern China (Baoding was like, an Anti-steppe raider garrison town) mostly drinks a lot, like to wrestle, and is nothing at all like the average chinese person in Germany (at that time who was typically a relatively shy IT student).
2: I was at that point introduced as "Sanda Champion of Berlin", to my considerably surprise, a lofty title which i won in a tournament in some school sports hall, which had exactly 1 competitor in my weightclass, and nobody participating was aware of it even being a championship.
Also, my bog standard 9 months of conscription in the German army got "upscaled" to professional German KSK soldier. Although I didnt understand enough Chinese to know what the hell they introduced me as.
My opponent was a pro, I am still amazed I didnt get knocked the hell out and only lost my a massive amount of points.
3: Looking back, the smart thing would have been to do the drinking contest (which I won) prior to the fight not after it.
4: Dont do drinking contests the same day as getting kicked in the liver.
The yellow eyes I got from that had my thinking hepatitis or something.
5: I did speak some broken Mandarin, and as long as you act like "friendly foreign grandpa" it was surprisingly effective, if mixed with some theatralic phantomime.
6: At an introduction, they played the (forbidden in Germany due to association with Nazi Germany) first stanza of the German national anthem. When the organizers beheld our rather horrified faces, they figured they made a mistake, so they switched it in for the anthem of the GDR, at which point we started to chuckle a bit.
This was 22 years ago though, and China certainly changed since then.
Lets say that Idaya was captured roughly a week before Kenabres initially fell (the beginning of the AP), and that her villainous rescue by Lauliehs agents was about 2 weeks prior to right now. Note that it would have been a few more days for Idaya, because while time in the midnight isles flows as it does in the rest of the multiverse, the midnight isles have 16 hour switches from "night with an illuminating moon" to "really dark moonless midnight".
Not that she saw much of that, Idayas profile did say "flight risk", so she was almost entirely in her, albeit comfortable, cell there, when she wasnt unconcious getting various brain bugs removed from her.
Yes, there is a word. Mythic. Although it likely covers a multitude of specific effects.
I strongly believe your destiny is tied to the worldwound, and to closing it. Your powers will likely increase further when you walk that road. But you are in a fulcrum, you will have to run fast, even just to hold your position.
She pauses
A fulcrum is a period in history, where milennia happen in mere years. Golarion is in one. Runelords returning? Aboleth plots? Shards of Nurgal being found? Too much is going on on this planet specifically in an incredibly short timeframe.
She pauses again
I mean, Nocticulan intelligence believes that someone or something, likely something that wants to free Rovagug and thus trigger the end of the multiverse, is altering probability to make all the possible Apocalypses targetting Golarion at least once. While having these Apocalypses look like disjointed and independent events, and thus maintaining plausible deniability. And I think they are on to something
She may well be right, after all, whats the likelihood of all of the crazy things happening on Golarion being just accidental?
But back to mythicness, Iomedae, whose career I followed, became mythic when she fought the father of Morghs, and it deepened thereafter via her other acts.
Norgober was... always very good at keeping his abilities hidden. By no means everyone who becomes mythic becomes a deity, for example, Srinian Aldori was mythic, as is Baba Yaga.
Srinian Aldori kn Nobility or history DC20:
Founder of the Aldori swordpact, disappeared mysteriously.
Baba Yaga kn. arcana DC 25:
One of the most powerfull witches in existence, uninterested in answering prayers.
I would generously reward anyone who can bring information about Srinians fate, but that is unlikely to be a thing on your trajectory.
My Abyssal side has intuitive opinions... on Urgothoas partying.
Strong and not very complimentary ones She says as her voice changes
Oh, the mystery meat was... people! What a surprise! Who could have possibly seen that coming? Alicia says with mock sarcasm
And then there is "Prince Molard van Nincompoop, victor of several inbreeding contests, he who requires strong levels or perception to be visually distinguished from his chair as a result of these victories", eating the musicians. What a shame, they were actually pretty good.
In addition, did you know that less then 2% of Vampires can actually bite in a way that is in any way shape or form pleasant? All the trashy Urgothoan/Zuran Vampire propaganda romance novels lie. She continues in the same voice
Unsurprisingly a Succubus suprematist, but I have a feeling that this is actually true. she switches back to her normal tone.
Oh, she even has a reason to be quite liberal with what she knows about Vorlesh. Verene would probably get this:
Verene:
Given how much quicker she is with telepathic communication then with words, and given how, all things considered, risky it can be to orally listen to someone who has demonstrated the ability to use very potent oral magics such as power word kill or greater shout...
She is also a Succubus, so would expect that she could use her singing to beguile others in an incredibly effective way. Talking face to face with Laulieh, if you are a lower ranking demon or demon serving mortal, could well be extremely risky.
Your guess is that yes, they probably only talked face to face once. But she and Vorleesh may have had a lot more... telepathic communications, or talks via proxies.
She may even guess that Vorleesh actually suceeded in deceiving Laulieh, that would in turn explain why Laulieh is quite open with a few of Vorlesh secrets that she knows off.
And while they are actionable intelligence, having freedom of movement up on a near permanent fashion is likely... Sane best practice at the level someone like Vorlesh operates at.
From what I know, Vorleesh was an ethnically Kellid witch, hailing from a Kellid tribe that was... spectacularly violently opposed to arcane spell casting, even for Sarkorian standards
Laulieh begins to answer Verenes question
She was caught, severly harmed, fled and pledged vengeance, finding a patron in Deskari, although she sought to maintain a level of sovereignity by pursueing a multi vector patron policy.
She did go through the first 3 rituals of the fiendish apotheosis, becoming a half Succubus as a result. My understanding is that the sacrifice in the second ritual was the one person in her tribe who did not harm her for being an arcane spellcaster, and who sought to protect her from receiving the death penalty.
She continues
I did talk to Vorlesh once, about 120 years ago, when she sought to market the creation of permanent gates between different dimensions as a way to increase trade, tourism, and to further both my and Lady Nocticulas reach, but she was clearly lying about her intentions, and I didnt quite appreciate that. But I considered her to be little more then a not even half fiend yet scammer seekign to exploit my patronage. She did, later, obtain mythic power and rapidly gained additional strength, I would assess that she is approaching the power level of a nascent demonlord currently, and more powerful, individually, then I am. Were to to duel, my lest bad bet would be to dispell her likely semi permanent freedom of movement, and then to grapple her. Somewhat standard tactics for a Succubus against powerful mages, but not that easy to pull of in practice.
She pauses again
My agents assasinate, very selectively and with very limited collateral damage, and abduct. They do not engage in wanton mass slaugher, burn down orphanages or do other... this abyssal expression is difficult to translate into Common, it would come out as... *edgy teenager b#*~%+#&* which doesnt quite do it.
Mine also explicitly do not torture, not unless their quarry serves hell, and does so freely and willingly. We do read their mind to find out if we capture, and even offer legal advice if we judge their service to hell to be forced, which it frequently is. Not because I am nice, but I enjoy making hells lawyers squirm in the Boneyard, it is also efficient in making them yield rather then fight to the death. Her eyes glow as she says this.
Although Lady Nocticulas agents do not have this prohibition, and I can see that this could be a dealbreaker. I am willing to ammend the favor into it having to be my agents, not Lady Nocticulas, and the agent not being guilty of slaughter of the defenseless.
The Salamanders were smiths, and hired from the city of brass. They regarded themselfs as *non combatants* and demanded a sizeable increase in compensation if they were to fight.
Chorussina threatened them with horrible icey death, they pretended to be cowed, and after Chorussina left their forge they disappeared in some way. Probably some type of recall back to their homeplane? Maybe a hidden banishment or dismissal wand? I did consider cautioning her against threatening people who can likely just leave, but as you can likely appreciate she was... not a easy person to work for.
The babau hitsquad probably employs means of evading detection, such as invisibility, while I would expect that Lady Lauliehs spell has some way of penetrating invisibility, it may not be as long ranged as the rest of its detection abilities, and is perhaps limited to the range of a *see invsibility*.
Vrakashek, I had a few chats with him as he is oddly cheerful and personable for a Babau, he and his *goon squad*, his words not mine, are supposed to flank powerful foes from behind when those are engaged with other forces. His squad was also... having fun? They were quite cohesive, and in the combats I have seen they able supported each other and worked well as a team. They were particularly effective against large and bigger targets. They talked that they *seen s%#$ that would break my mind* during something they called the *minus 20 minute war*
kn local DC 25:
If you squint, it almost sounds like Vrakashek could be a disciple of the pike. Fighting with a polearm and driving his allies to tactical excellence.
I will of course neither confirm nor deny that she just telepathically told me to spill all the beans regarding the fortress with you, that would be... deniably plausible yes?
The cultist is quite open with his information, before Laulieh interrupts him
The minus 20 minute war? Where they Nocticulans once? She asks the cultist
They changed bosses after not getting paid, since the war took only minus 20 minutes. I believe they follow Nurgal currently
The cultists answers
Not paying our mercenaries properly, just because someone dicked with the timeline and ended the war before it broke out, was penny wise but pound foolish. For the record, I was against this. Laulieh says with a sigh, before turning to the party
If they fought and survived in that war, they are skilled, capable, and know proper tactics. They will likely be more threatening then the Vampires.
The Succubus states confidently
minus 20 minute war Kn planes DC 25 because its obsucre:
An incident in Alyushynirra, causing a theatre to get utterly destroyed, strange yellow marks to appear, and a lot of... brain damage to many of its denizens, who could remember having fought in a war that, chronologically speaking, never happened.
minus 20 minute war Kn planes DC 30because its obsucre:
The combatants were the extraplanar city/metropolic of Carcosa and Alyushiynrra, captial of the midnight isles. Apparently, Carcosa, which grows by absorbing urban centers, sought to absord Nocticulas capital, who was unamused. The official story is that, after finding out the hard way that Nocticula does not have the richest city in the Abyss by being easy to invade, Carcosa did something to revert the timeline to prior to its invasion, and then opted to be elsewhere.
minus 20 minute war Kn planes DC 35 because its obsucre:
But what actually happened was that enemies of Hastur, the great old one who rules Carcosa, sought to perform the rite of the "King in yellow" in Alyushiynrra. This rite summons Hastur into the theatre it is performed in, wether the great old one wants to or not.
They suceeded, catastrophically. The war was hugely destructive to both sides, with Hastur dying, only to resurrect.
It was Shamira, governeur of Alyushinyrra, who ended it by somehow sending a mythic meteor swarm back in time to blow up the theatre troupe (and anyone watching it) before it could finish the play.
As an aside, to this day, yellow is a *bad fashion choice* in Alyushinyrra.
Laulieh regards Thesius with both approval and mild surprise, not expecting Abadar from someone she pegged as Desnan.
You have scant reason to believe me, but Lady Nocticula would actually discipline me, quite harshly even, were I to blatantly attack at a parley after pledging to not do so in her name. She enjoys having diplomatic options, and one of her vasalls reducing those would face significant censure.
In addition, I served her in a diplomatic fashion before, I need to add however that I currently do not hold her remit to speak in her name to the Mendevian crusade, the remains of the Sarkorian confederation, or any other Golarian polity. You negotiate with me, Lady Paramount Laulieh Alodri, Lady of Luralune, Forlorn Hope of Cania, and other less interesting titles, as well as with my significant estate, I do not speak for Lady Nocticula, Lady Shamira, Alyushinyrra or any other midnight isle in this context.
She is not speaking for Nocticula, merely for herself as a demon noble who is a vasall of Nocticula.
Invoking the savored Sting as my witness, I hereby pledge to respect, and within reason protect, the lifes, freedoms, secrets and material possessions of those who pledge equivalently. For the duration of the parley and a decent intervall, to be at least as long as the parley, thereafter. I grant leave to the savored Sting to smite me should I willingly fail in this.
Aziras friend pauses after repeating the Succubuses pledge at verbatim.
Alright, since both of us pledged the same, you cant attack me or take me hostage? Also, your blade, you only borrowed it for 60 and 6 seconds, and that sword is powerful and I would be unsurprised if it would mindcontroll me if I kept it longer
The former captive hands her blade, hilt first, back to the demoness, who takes it with a slight curtesy
The recently healed cultists simply collapses back into unconciousness.
The turncoat gladly pledges the same.
Invoking the savored Sting as my witness, I hereby pledge to respect, and within reason protect, the lifes, freedoms, secrets and material possessions of those who pledge equivalently. For the duration of the parley and a decent intervall, to be at least as long as the parley, thereafter. I grant leave to the savored Sting to smite me should I willingly fail in this.
And the knightly Carrot Ironaxeson bravely ventured forth, against the vile Beast of Caerbannogh. By some accounts, it is a Khornate demon transmogrified, perhaps by the servants of Chi'anChi, perhaps by the Druchii, into a very cute fluffy white rabbit, to be used for brutal yet humorous assassinations amongst their own kind.
It was prophecized to said demon that, upon consuming the biggest "Carrot" of the old world, it would regain its mighty original demonic shape, which led the vile beasts into a most vicious rampage towards the old world from its earlier stomping grounds in Naggaroth.
And alas, of all people in the old world named *Carrot* for some reason, it was our very own Carrot Ironaxeson, who, oweing to pretty good nutrition and meals provided by his dwarfen family, is the physically biggest and heaviest.
Yet its teeth where sharp, and is had left a vicious streak of murder several miles wide in its destructive wake!
It is said that, only if the Carrot guarded and equippeth himself with the holy handgrenade of St. Repanse De Lyonesse, which the later acquired somehow and somewhere, can he hope to prevail against its coming doom!
As the cultist is healed back to mostly full, the temperature rises.
Those who expected chokeing are wrong, the gate doesnt contract, it implodes, cutting clean through the massive Xanthir infested Qlippoths throat, decapaciating it.
The turncoat cultist reacts fairly quickly, yanking the other cultist away before the qlippoths head fall on her.
Laulieh walks over to the head and kicks it, displaying far more physical strength then her lithe form would suggest, before noting.
Oh, that thing was... undead?
And thus in essence immune to my spirit totem, as that does negative energy damage?
She tears the head apart and examines its content.
Oh, that bugger replaced the entire... nervous system equivalent of that Qlippoth corpse with his worms?
She lifts the vile thing above her, flying up a bit, pretending to not see the Nabasu and
SR pen:1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 16 + 2 = 25
damage:10d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 1, 1) = 36
spellcraft DC 27:
Greater Shout
Vaporize both the head and the Nabasu with a potent eruption of sonic energy.
Wasnt there a Nabasu there? It likely teleported out, clearly She says in a somewhat bemused fashion.
It seems that Deskari is abandoning the other cultist, her aura of evil is weakening She continues
Due to how detect evil works, a god turning an evil cleric into an evil ex cleric should be directly visible, in the case of a level 8 to 9 cleric, the aura goes from strong to faint
She says neutrally
Can thee verify Sword-Maiden? She says with an eye to Azira
As the enemies are dealt with, I would propose a formal parley, to see if your respective desires can be brought into concordance. She says with a very formal air as she tosses the remains of the Qlippoth head away
Invoking the savored Sting as my witness, I hereby pledge to respect, and within reason protect, the lifes, freedoms, secrets and material possessions of those who pledge equivalently. For the duration of the parley and a decent intervall, to be at least as long as the parley, thereafter. I grant leave to the savored Sting to smite me should I willingly fail in this
kn planes or religion DC15:
A Nocticulan pledging to Callistria is odd
kn planes or kn religion DC25:
It does make sense though. Callistria has influence in some parts of the Abyss, specifically in the more civilized areas, such as Nocticulas realm. And while the savored sting is no friend of demons, she is higly pragmatic, and making the confrontation with demonkind more *civilized* and less genocidal is something she would be interested in. Enforcing somewhat civilized standards on parleys involving demons is a thing she would do.
diplomacy or kn nobility DC25:
Appealing to Callistria, in this context, is basically calling in a reasonably neutral observer. It makes sense, if she were to pledge by Nocticula, you would have no reason whatsorever to believe Nocticula would punish her for breaking the parley, nor would Laulieh expect that Iomedae or Desna would punish party members for breaking one. Callistria, if called in to enforce one, likely would.
It would be diplomatic to reply in kind, and pledge to a deity that is not yours, and more neutral on the scale of good vs evil. Pharasma, Nepthys, Abadar or Gorrum would all be fine choices.
Verene:
It is customary, for diplomacy between more civilized demonic factions, to call upon the savored sting as an arbiter of sorts, only over the peacefull conduct of the parley, not over anything else. If one does not wish to give a deity authority over oneself, which is often the case with Balor Lords for example, pledging *by my blood, my pride and my might* is seen as equivalent, if coming from someone who seeks to become or stay deeifically sovereign. You hear Lauliehs voice
Merixia:
She may accept a pledge upon me as we share some history, and breaking parleys is akin to interfering or cheating in a duel. Lord Abadar or Lady Pharasma would both work as well.
You hear Ragathiels voice
Verene only sense motive DC 30:
There is no deception in Lauliehs words, but it has an element of flattery by treating you as equivalent to a Balor Lord or nascent demonlord.
Laulieh seems to catch Thesius intentions as well and distracts Vang further by keeping his attention on herself and Verene.
I mean, he could go to hell, Geryon would likely take him in. And there is an *asylum system* so to speak, for those who seek vengeance against the forces of good, specifically against good aligned dragons, and getting brutalized by metallic dragon aligned Kobolds would qualify for this.
The demoness pauses
There is after all precedent in infernal legislature that Kobolds count as dragons, as a result from someone selling his soul to acquire a draconic servant, and getting a kobold.
Verene:
So, if I outfit a Kobold Paladin with a swarmbane clasp and through him at Xanthir Vang, do you think it would work? Or would I have to wear a swarmbane clasp?... Is there a great effect of both me and the Paladin would wear one?
And I am cunningly useing the contraption of "this gate is too tight" to introduce the next villain without a fight breaking out instantly.
Oh, it is one more fight (you can and should rest prior) before the next mythic tier and levelup!
PC reduction museing to non permanently write off Wulfric Azira and Elliot:
I will deviate from the script as written by having a demon counter attack occur by a relief force (against which Azira, Wulfric and Elliot will defend against).
Wulfric accepted Lauliehs gift (she can offer it to those singing a duet with her, it does require the partner to be willing, which he is, risking his soul to possibly save a lot of lives is something he would likely do), enabling him to project her weapon song (at some cost), as this works really well, he will be transfered to the main army of Galfrey (also due to political reason, Galfrey is not a political novice, and seeks to use Wulfric channeling Lauliehs powers to increase friction between Nocticulan and Baphometan/Deskarite forces). With Azira to guard his honor/bodyguard him/intervene if he turns evil.
Long term, Elliot will hold down the fort while the party is adventuring, it makes sense to have one mythic person available in case of a sudden attack.
Xanthir Vang opted to raid one of my daughter research labs, killing several of her employees. She was researching Pheromone based perfumes, I interpret Vangs sacking of that lab as an indication that he, for some reason, fears pheromone based research.
I bid some of my other daughters to retaliate in kind, which they did, quite succesfully, although Vang unfortunately survived their litte present.
He is also complicated for me to fight against, and thus represents a significant security risk.
Oh, my current most favored consort hates his guts, because Vang killed one of his brothers, back when Askold was still a Sarkorian Warlord fighting against the worldwound.
Last but not least, Vang is so immensely disgusting, publically opposing him is great for my public relations. Even other Deskarites dislike him, the mortal cultists because he is what he is, the demons because he is technically still a mortal.
Imagine being a mighty Deskarite Derakni, having despoiled for Deskari, and perhaps before that for Deskaris father Pazuzu, for millenia, and then a barely 140 year old mortal becomes a swarm that walks, hijacks your position, makes you a servant and gives you orders.
Demons lose significant degrees of face in the Abyss if they are ever forced to do a mortals bidding. To the best of my knowledge, no demon who has ever been succesfully planarly bound by a mortal ever managed to ascend into Demonlord status. Not without restoring its reputation by utterly murdering whoever dared to bind it, and also that persons entire bloodline just to be safe. Vang bound and binds a lot of demons.
The time compression when she telepathically communicates is interesting, not even seconds pass as these sentences enter your brain.
Verene:
A part of his swarm, likely not the main one Laulieh cautions
He is researching how to deposit parts of him in other peoples head, to control them remotely, although I still dont know how he pulled this on a Qlippoth. The only individual I know who can penetrate the alienness of their mental defenses is Lady Nocticula herself, her beauty can even confound a not so great not so old one, this I have witnessed myself. I would be unsurprised if the likes of Callistria or Lymneris could match such a feat, but there is no way Vang of all things would have such an ability, he is nowhere near to a demigod in power!
This is the first time where Laulieh sounds genuinely perturbed. You can almost hear the "Or is he?"
OH, MY OLD SERVANTS THE BLACKFYRES?
AND SUCH HATRED, ARE YOU BY CHANCE A RIFTWARDEN? I WILL ENJOY SENDING MYSELF INTO THE LITTLE BRAIN YOU HAVE THERE, PUNY KOBOLD!
AND AFTER I HAVE DONE SO, I WILL ATTACH TINY DRAGON WINGS TO THE BEHIRMIRON I WILL TURN YOU INTO, THAT WILL BE ALL YOUR PATHETHIC RACE EVER SHALL ASCEND TO!
The Beetlhead swirls towards Verene, seemingly identifiying her as a Kobold.
Did someone get traumatized by Kobolds early in his adventuring career?
Laulieh quips as if sensing she is right with that.
The heroes have won the fight by disabling the Minotaurs fairly quickly (they barely got attacks off), dealing with the curveballs, and correctly making use of the opportunities presented.
The 2 remaining foes (one grappled Minotaur and a single digit hp Nabasu) are unlikely to get anything off before falling.
--------------------------------------------------------
Technically, several enemies are still active, specifically red Mino, still grappled, and the Nabasu, who is at single digit HP and has an angry Merixia in his face and cant even 5 foot step away from her. All named enemy characters are dead, the remaining possible suicide victim is disabled! I did originally want to do the optional super boss fight, but you stopped it and this matters!
-----------------------------------------------------------
The teal cultist collapses, unconcious, into the tentacles still holding her! The temperature in the room drops again, as the cultist is still being crushed by the tentacles, a rift opens, not fully large enough to accomodate the monstous stag beetle like head, invested with vile looking worms, pressing through it.
GREETINGS LAULIEH! It snarls
ALLOW ME TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION FOR YOUR GET FIREBOMBING MY RESEARCH AND STEALING MY
The vile heads turns towards Arthur and Idaya
RESEARCH SUBJECTS. I SHALL DO SO BY TURNING YOUR WOULD BE CATSPAWS INTO QLIPPOTHS, WHICH I SHALL THEN LET LOOSE ON THE CRUSADE.
Curious The Succubus answers looking at her nails in a desinterested fashion
And how did thee overcome the Qlippoths immunity to mind control? By being so ignorant of it that thee partly overthrow how the multiverse works?
bluff Laulieh to provoke Xanthir Vang into a villainous monologe:1d20 + 36 ⇒ (14) + 36 = 50
MIND CONTROL? HOW QUAINT, NO, I, XANTHIR VANG, FIRST AMONG THE SWARMS THAT WALK HAVE NO NEED OF SUCH WEAK THINGS LIKE *MIND CONTROL*
The Qlippoth creature answers as many extremely ugly worms protude from what you think are its eyes
ITS NOT MIND CONTROL, ITS MY CONTROL!
Arthur and Idaya:
That is absolutely Xanthir Vangs voice.
Apparently he branched out his mind control via brain bugs research to things other then mortals!
Party + turncoat cultist:
Allow me to demonstrate why villainous monologes during partial gate transit are a bad idea. Lady Azira and Mr. Rodric, what do you think happens to a gate fueled by unwilling sacrifice, when the 3rd sacrifice is healed, thus reducing the scope of the portal, and the evil ugly thing to be summoned has only gotten its head through said gate
The Succubuses mental voice is almost giggling.
The cultist activates a quick draw sheath and a wand, likely curative appears in his hand, he seeks to conceal his action however.
@Everyone feel free to verbally oppose the big bad of the next module to your hearts content!
There is a thing about Paladins that I wonder about:
--How does being "immune to fear" influence your decision making? Like, my gut feeling is (I do some martial arts), if I was immune to fear while sparring I would probably get hit more (but also hit more)
--Does it apply to social situations? Is a Paladin immune to the fear of being rejected when he asks someone out?
--Is a Paladin scientist immune to being afraid of not making his deadlines?
Lady Laulieh, if three of us, I mean... them, sacrifice themself something very bad for us will happen! Some type of denial! the green cultist says
acrobatics to move past Sorica and not get AoOed by Azira:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 gallant inspiration:2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5
The green cultist, uncertain of Soricas intentions, uses his Scythe to, surprisingly enough, polevault himself over her, the rapid movement surprising everyone!
And them makes himself, as his standard action, useful by striking his scythe into the summoning circle, seeking to free his new boss, and perhaps enable an emergency exist while establishing himself as pretty useful.
I dont know what happens if someone else kills them during the 3 fold sacrifice, no The cultist says out loud , likely in response to a telepathic question from Laulieh
Cultists begin suiciding, only teal fails because the black tentalces have him grappled (which stops him from CDGing himself with a Scythe).
Green cultist is clearly a genuine turncoat, according to him something bad will happen if 3 cultists commit suicide, he is busy wrecking the summoning circle that holds Laulieh.
Yellow mino full attacks Azira, wiffs.
Remaining Minos get out of the tentalces and smite various targets, they dont get to attack yet.
Thesius protector is clearly female, but wears cloaks that dont enable others to get a good view on her.
The way it strikes is by shooting an arrow and near point blank range, with practiced and elegant movements.
Lauliehs ears perk up slightly as she sees the figure, as if doing some mental calculations, but there is no direct reaction from her.
His strike alas misses
It would be good if you could roll double digits sometimes
Thesius:
You get the idea that the demoness in the circle has been talking to everyone, mentally, but you.
It appears Lady Laulieh is scared of me and seeks to not interfere with mine. You hear a slightly tipsy sounding female voice, the same who gave you some odd advice about "the song is safe, the dance it not, even though she is pretty hot" although the voice seems more focused now
Not scarred though, she played her cards well when I killed Aolar, her mercenary unit fought hard and well against us but she made sure they never fought me directly.
There are I think... 3 demonlords watching this directly. Deskari is, so is Baphomet, I can sense the leering eyes of both. Nocticula as well, I cant sense her, but she likely is with one of her vasalls being involved. I feel Deskari is about to do something, whatever they are planning, prevent it from happening even if it seems like maybe you should do nothing.
I think I can do something about your weapon
The image of a star knife flashes inside of your mind
But not while 3 demonlords are watching directly, but in this prison, here...
You see the image of a prison cells, a locked and trapped chest outside of it.
The slam has 15 feet reach, there is an additional D8 damage for just being adjacent on the start of your turn, which would not apply here, also, Verene is highly intelligent and has a military mind. Imagine 2 formations fighting, and one has Laulieh singing. Especially if it 2 formations of mutually hostile evil outsiders, where the celestial blood becomes super relevant due to piercing DR.
My gift is... not all that synergistic with an archmage in the first place, other then the profane boost to most likely the mages intellect.
Those with significant artistic capabilities however can act as... repeaters, so to speak, for my weapon song, as long as they are themselfs affected by it. Thus allowing me to significantly extend its coverage. For a Skirmish like this, the 120 feet radius my voice carries innately are fine, but during major battles, with combatants in the 10s to hundreds of thousands, I would otherwise only affect a small percentage, even with the lingering affects of the performance and my normally considerable mobility.
PUNY KOBOLD! FIRST YOU THEN THE TRAITOR! A minotaur roars as, due to your prescience, Verene dispells the stoneskin of chorussina.
--He can do math, there is a would be sacrifice with a succubus super sword (who likely hates him), a Paladin who just curbstomped the 3nd or 4rd most powerful member of the drezen garrison (who may consider him not worthy of her blade, but who can certainly kill him in under 6 seconds), one very big Half Orc (against whom he isnt fancying his chances) and another Paladin (who came out of a mini gate or something. Gate is something only used by heavy hitters, so she must mean business) who are either within 5 feet step and full attack or within charge range of him.
--While Deskarites sometimes sacrifice themselfs so that "the swarm lives on", and he is a cleric, and as such a normally more fanatic then most, hypocrisy is totally a thing.
--Demonlords steal each others followers frequently, while Deskari will almost certainly cancel his spellcasting abilities, Nocticula or Shamira will likely restore them, perhaps, if he is genuinely useful, with an upgrade.
--Command and control on the demon side has broken down enough that he may just be able to get away with it.
from his pov:
Rodric was born in the worldwound. His parents died early, having been sacrificed to the swarm. He figured out his best way to live was to join the swarm, and so he did that. Then came power, some authority, and enjoying cruelty, but he was never truely strong, and never had a true "choice", as far as he is concerned.
There also isnt any family or loved ones he cares about in Iz.
Laulieh has a reputation of being a very desireable employer for demon standards, Nocticula is easier to work for then Deskari (although she has higher standards of competence for her followers and likely not being all that competent may well lead to his death), and betrayal is frequently how you get promoted in a demon context.
With a choice between a likely ineffective death, and a possible promotion coupled with a better employer? He would have to be very fanatic to opt for death.
He also disliked Staunton Vhane, who was a harsh disciplinarian.
