Welcome to Maridran
Log Info
- Title: Welcome to Maridran
- Emitter: Zeke
- Characters: Aryia, Jinks, Lysos, Paenitia, Seyardu, Seldan
- Place: Alexandros: The town of Maridran
- Time: Monday, August 23, 2021, 6:48 PM
- Summary: Seldan returns to Maridran, along with a group composed of Aryia, Jinks, Lysos, Paenitia and Seyardu. He is concerned the Eclavdran watches the town, and his entering it will prompt him to appear. The silverguard thus waits on the outskirts while the others enter to look around. It's a non-descript town with two noteable features, an obvious lack of a statue and a church curiously stripped of all signs of dedication. Jinks examines the statue, concluding that strong magic removed it some time ago, god-like magic. Entering the church, they see signs of battle, which Paenitia explains. She and Jinks add some history regarding the death of Animus, and the local rumours about the place. Aryia hears something, moving outside. They return up the road, nearly to where Seldan was, to discover a bunch of imps dragging his body off into the woods, and a much larger demon threatening to tear his throat out if they attack. Paenitia, calls his bluff, with a bluff, saying she will dispatch Seldan so he doesn't suffer torture, and charges. Her attack misses, the demon rips out Seldan's throat, waking him, Lysos casts a gusting sphere, Aryia leaps in to attack and Seyardu advances to provide some diving channeling. Seldan manages to free himself, attempts to stand and the Imps pile on. Aryia is very effective at punching them, Paenitia less so, and Lysos uses a Hydraulic torrent to blow them away, slaying most of them. Seldan does stand and the demon grins at him, taunting that his death at the Silverguard's hands will be meaningless as his master survives. Paenitia, angered at her earlier fumbles and being ignored after challenging the demon, violently lances through his chest as Ramirez rips out his throat. Ignore the little Lucht knight at your peril. In the aftermath, the party shares their findings with the Silverguard and he apologizes for being taken unawares. They determine there is nothing more in Maridran for them.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Aryia 4'8" 110 Lb Shadow Elf Female A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about her. Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry. Lysos 5'6" 105 Lb Human/Tsuran Female Dark eyes, dark hair, olive skin, with a chip on her shoulder. Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Zeke 6'8" 239 Lb Sith-Makar Male A blue-scaled sith-makar in white Daeus vestments. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
You've been walking for hours to reach the location that Seldan is leading you towards. It's been a hot day, but now the sky is turning various colors in preparation for the fall of night. Time constraints, and the effort of reaching your destination before nightfall means you haven't had much time for small talk, but you know what your mission is. You're headed to this town to search it for any lingering indications of evil habitation. It should be abandoned, the adults long gone missing and the children taken in by the city. Once there was a huge statue in the center of the township, and that's your first destination. Should it still be there.
There's a sign that comes up a few yards short of where you can see some buildings starting to show themselves around the edges of the forested region. It says rather cheerfully: Welcome to Maridan! Someone had painted over the original sign but that was some time ago and the paint is starting to chip now. You come to a stop here.
Seldan seems to know quite well where he is going, and has dressed most thoroughly down for this - down and for the weather. Moonlit armor's sheen is hidden behind an illusion of ordinary, unremarkable steel, and over top of it is plain travelers' gear. A rather interesting-looking longbow, Reunion on his hip, and a mace on the other side, but only the weapons appear to be of unusual materials, his bright hair and headgear hidden beneath a felt hat.
He's been alert and wary through the entire walk, the more so the closer they get, but near the sign, he stops. "This is as far as I go," he tells the others quietly. "It is in my mind that Eclavdran watches this place, and that he may take the opportunity to strike at me, does he see me within the town. I shall not stray out of call, do you find trouble, but the most I hope to find here is a leftover statue."
The Red Knight and her Ivory Steed is bringing up the rear, if only to avoid waving fifteen feet of peacock tail in someone's face. Both of them have enjoyed the ride out-doors, lagging behind to catch up with the occasional glide.
Paenitia says, "Okay, expect the barking dogs or a loud squawk if there need of help."
Ramirez confirms, 'Ruaaah.'
Jinks hustles the last couple of steps to keep pace with the tallmen before coming to a stop, taking his circlet off long enough to corral and re-tie his hair back into the short, tight tail. A pocket mirror is out and in hand, making sure the onyx gem at the crown's middlepoint is properly centered on his brow before its gone away again. Finally, a long drink before padding over to inspect whatever enhancements had been done to the village's signpost.
"Not-so-merry Maridan," he mutters to himself. He's forgone the illusion of court dress for the day, wearing openly his (almost) equally-fancy studded doublet and assorted weapons.
Aryia had some personal stake in this, the dark elf keeping a pair of shaded spectacles affixed firmly to her face as they ad their long trek. She's wary as they move along, her pulling her the shades off of her face as they come to a stop, eyes faintly glimmering as night just began to fall. She nods in understanding, stepping closer to Seyardu.
Seyardu was one of those who was going on the trip, as suggested by others, and wished by herself. She knew it may be dangerous, but that was all the reason someone should be there to assist. The business did not bother her, but still, she was on edge the closer they got to the area.
"Watch for any strange figures in the vicinity. This town should be abandoned, so anything found should be approached with caution." She warns. And she nods to the Mul'niessa near her, offering a sharp smile. "We will find what we can, but be careful."
With Seldan standing guard at the entrance to the township, the rest of you head inside. It seems like any other town you've ever seen before. There are two major differences however. Firstly is the fact that there was obviously some kind of huge statue standing in the center of the village at some point. It however is just as clearly no longer there. The second is the oddity of the church. To the left of the center of the village it has no markings on it to suggest which deity it belongs to. Or that it is an 'all church' a church dedicated to all of the deities as might be found in such a small village.
There is also a town hall, and several small homes and shops which surround the village square. A small prosperous town from any outside perspective. It's almost odd that no one else has moved in to claim such an idyllic location.
Paenitia rides in, looking from side to side. She glances at Jinks as he adjusts his attire. She makes no comment, and her stylized mask eliminates the need for makeup or really even doing more than fixing her hair.
"So, the statue wander off, this not good. The church is strange. We look in there?"
Jinks wanders towards the town center, craning his head to look around as he goes. A gambling hall there, a house of companionship to replace that building... maybe an inn here? The gears turn silently as he explores. When he reaches the trench left behind by the missing statue he leans back and sticks a toe out to test the empty air with a few light kicks, perhaps expecting an illusion of some sort.
"Seems as good a place as any," he answers Paenitia.
"I think they were supposed to get rid of the statue anyways, so it's not here," Aryia motions, putting her hands on her hips and getting an odd feeling about this place. Doubly so at the church. <Handspeech>
"An entire statue, no longer here." Seyardu notes, squinting at the open, and conspicuously empty main hall. "How was it moved, then? Can any of you see signs of tracks? That would be a good place to start, before investigating any of the buildings further. It may have been removed, or stored somewhere else, here. So the options should be eliminated, if possible."
"The church is definitely strange, Paenitia. It is not dedicated to any god, or host of gods."
GAME: Aryia rolls survival: (13)+3: 16 GAME: Seyardu rolls survival: (11)+3: 14 GAME: Paenitia rolls knowledge/local: (14)+10: 24 GAME: Aryia rolls knowledge/local: (17)+2: 19
Near as anyone can tell the statue just vanished. No sign of how it was moved. But it's clearly been gone for a while.
GAME: Jinks casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (20)+9: 29 (Concentration Check) GAME: Jinks rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (9)+8: 17
Jinks licks his lips and twirls a platinum band on his right-finger with the thumb of the same hand. He hums once, twice, and then sings a simple ascending arpeggio in four notes and passes his bejeweled fingers over his black eyes. He considers the depression left by the vacant statue after with pink-glowing eyes.
"Maybe they turn it to flesh and it walk away." Paenitia suggests. Although that likely would leave tracks. She's glancing at the nearby buildings, and the roof lines. She pats her mount's neck. "Ramirez, you have to wait outside, the fight in the pews is not for you."
"I hear the stories of this place. It get the Magic Ooze Plague, very bad. Then! Overnight, it go away. This was a place of no import, yet suddenly, the town thrive, people flock. They build the Church, the statue. "
"These are not cheap things for the small town, my friends." Paenitia cautions, as Ramirez approaches the front of the church. She's selecting things off her saddle, and looks around the group, "I have the extra weapons. Pole arms, you will be further away from the danger."
"Ramirez! I dismount!" Her peacock-andalusian extends a wing, and she slides along it to the ground. "One day, all the people gone. Overnight." She snaps her gauntlet.
"The people gone, the children remain. And the statue, gone with no tracks. It seems the odd happenings did not cease after the last visit by Seldan." She says, turning her attention to the church further now. "There is likely a reason none have come to re colonize this place. Reasons which give us reason to be wary."
Seyardu adjusts her equipment, taking off her adamantine polearm, and she shakes her head. "Hopefully the disease is no longer a concern, but if so, this one can prepare spells for tomorrow."
Jinks clicks his tongue and blinks away the glow in his eyes, little pink motes disturbed and shedding like a flowering dandelion flower to leave the polished onyx behind. "Magic," he observes, offering the most-obvious of all possible conclusions. "Powerful magic. Like..." he lifts a glittering hand and waggles his fingers to conjure up a fitting simile, "an arch-mage. Or a god. Something in that range. I can't pin down the circle or school, those lessons... Ulthedraexilica had these robes that would sometimes... well, it was distracting. Scrolls and tomes were far less interesting than her. A bad tutor and a worse student," he concludes, hopping into and out of the depression to join the others nearer the church.
Aryia gives a long sigh, looking uneasy about the new information that was unveiled. She wrings her hands as they move along, nervously looking around.
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (18)+14: 32 GAME: Lysos rolls perception: (20)+6: 26 GAME: Jinks rolls Perception: (3)+7: 10 GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (4)+4: 8 GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (3)+3: 6 GAME: Seyardu casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 6 DC: 14
Lysos has been following along relatively quietly. In that she's had little to add, really, choosing not to speak about things she knows little about and listen instead, trying to learn what she can. Having attached herself to this outing mostly by following the few she knows, and wishing to contribute at least a little bit to the latest troubles to hit the city, she nevertheless has chosen a route of drawing as little attention to herself as possible in an attempt to mitigate the bad luck that almost invariably follows her whereever she goes. Well, sort of. Quiet is a /really/ hard thing for her to do.. so she has spent much of the time humming quietly to herself.
The church seems... peaceful. No sign of anything untoward inside of it at first or really even second glance. There's some signs that there was a scuffle inside the church, some things have been disturbed. The oddest thing is that there's nothing inside the church to help you determine who is worshiped here either. No books. No stained glass images. No holy symbols drawn on the walls or hung from the ceilings. Nothing. It is by far the emptiest church you have ever entered, and it leaves you feeling horribly unsettled. As if something, is missing.
"That sounds concerning. The presence of a powerful fiend was here before. I hope it is lingering magic, and not their presence."
She looks to the others, squinting somewhat. "Promise me this. If any of you see what looks like a man with black hair and black eyes, do not attack them. Flee, and alert Seldan." She says, squinting more than usual and waiting in place, for a response. Not moving until she was sure that it was clear.
Aryia nods at the warning, but she stops and suddenly holds up a fist, an ear faintly twitching. Then points to the entrance of town. "I hear something. Talking. Or... something heavy moving." <Handspeech>
Paenitia looks around, mildly unsettled by the unadorned church. She adjusts her hat, and her mask, but she's not seeing or hearing anything out of the ordinary. She examines the signs of the scuffle, in case that has some clues.
Aryia's hand signs draw a glance, and she ends up nodding at Seyardu, "Ok Friend Dragon, do not attack the tall man with dark eyes."
A glance a Jinks, a nudge, she's noticed his brooding, "You safe there then, ha?"
Lysos's breath catches in her throat before she can start softly humming her next song to herself, glancing sharply back the way they all came. Then she swallows the lump, nodding once to Aryia before looking at each of the others, from the sith cleric to the diminutive knight to the foppish gnome, gauging their reactions as she pulls the cowl back from her head and the cloak from her shoulders, freeing her arms and hands.
GAME: Paenitia rolls knowledge/military theory: (6)+9: 15
A fight definitely went down here. Between a creature that started out man-sized and got bigger, and a number of people, a small indeterminate number. It's hard to be exactly sure what transpired, but it seems to have ended with the people winning out against the larger foe. There is some blood-spatter to support this. But not much, as if someone did a good job cleaning it up.
Jinks sniffs, frowning as he looks around the naked church, nervously pushing the band in circles again. "Reminds me of when Animus died," the gnome muses, brow furrowing, "I think that was it? Before the city vanished for half a decade, certainly. Some books-- old books-- suddenly full of blank pages; bare. The writing gone. Iconography scrubbed from placards, bas-reliefs, and columns... Heard about some of his holymen going blind." He starts a bit at Paenitia's nudge and nods, glancing back at the church interior even as he looses the bow from its harness and fingers his quiver, making sure fletchings aren't tangled together.
Seyardu holds up a hand. "Hold, Aryia found something." She says, lowering her voice as quietly as she can manage. "Something, or someone, is talking or moving. Heavy, she says." She says to those present. "Aryia, can you tell a specific direction we should be careful moving towards?"
Paenitia listens to Jinks' explanation, nodding. "The bigger fish were fry in Isobar when that happen, and I was budding into womanhood, but I remember." She points at the ground, telling Jinks because... he's right beside her. "Well, the fight here, was against a man, but he get bigger. A small group battle him, the feet, here, and here, too much disturbance to count, but more than one, not so many they fill the church."
"It look like they win." She points at a pew, "there blood splatter here. The church was clean, but not perfect."
She turns, looking out of the church, "It follow us in? Past the Silverguard?"
It's a bit eerie watching Aryia move about the dark room, a pair of shimmering eyes in the dark. Typical mul'neissa stuff. She stops at a window, facing the entrance of town. "I... actually think the noise is coming from where Seldan was," she clarifies with a gesture, looking worried. <Handspeech>
Lysos gives a short nod in agreement with Aryia.. she doesn't really clue in to what the others have discovered. Her one hand raises as if to start tracing something in the air. "Do we go look?" she asks quietly.
"This is what was warned. Like the last time." Seyardu says quickly, looking to the entrance. "The groups are apart, and that is when they strike. We should go. But carefully. They may plan to trap us apart."
GAME: Jinks casts Dancing Lights. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15
"Good for them," Jinks offers after Paenitia describes the fighting, nodding. "Well, assuming the many, smaller folk weren't the villains of this particular story." He half-turns to look back through the church doors and down the road from whence they've come. The shadows are deeper with the sun setting and his eyes may be black but that doesn't mean he sees especially well in the dark. He co-opts Lysos' melody and hums himself, cupping his free hand into a fist before his mouth. The vibrating notes become soft light bleeding from between his fingers before he opens his hands and four wisps surge free to cavort. Periwinkle, pink, babyblue, and a soft apricot glow twirl around each other like playful birds. He steps back through the doorway and then makes a half-hearted toss, causing the lights to speed back the way they'd walked.
Down the road a ways you can barely make out a scene. It's hard to tell at first what you're seeing. But eventually the lights reach their destination and you can barely make out what looks like a mound of metal on the ground. Several small figures moving around it. They /certainly/ notice your lights, and start pulling the mound of metal into the forest.
The lights at the limit of that spell, this is one hundred and fifty feet or so from where Seldan should be standing guard.
"Ok, we stop that?" Paenitia asks, already moving towards the front of the church, "Ramirez! I mount."
She's small, he's large, she needs assistance for this with her armour. Once up the Red Knight looks over at the bard, "There space behind if you want to ride."
Her warhammer is stowed, her cold iron lance pulled. All of this takes enough time she and her mount could easily be left behind.
Aryia steps out of the church, her slowly picking up the pace and tightening up her cold iron cestus and following behind Rameriez, the handsome lad.
GAME: Lysos casts Invisibility. Caster Level: 7 DC: 18
Not likely to be left behind by Lysos. "Obscurio," she intones, the word carrying that little bit of extra weight of power, as she traces an eye out in front of her.. and then covers it with her palm. As she does, she draws her other hand around as if pulling a sheet over herself, and she vanishes from sight. A few moments later there's a 'thump', as if something had been kicked, along with a pained, if muffled, "Nngh.. muffin!"
"Gods below, this is a terrible idea," Jinks laughs, moving after Paenitia and extending a hand for help getting behind the paladin in her saddle. He grits his teeth when he settles poorly, finding something to hold onto. "Ready as I'll ever be..." he ventures, finally.
The lights hold position, spinning together in a loose, roughly spherical shape.
The red-skinned creatures carting off the pile of metal definitely notice you all gathering, and seem to realize that they're not getting away with their bounty without a fight. So they stop, a larger figure pulling out of the forest and kneeling by the burden that they had been trying to cart off.
As you draw closer you see that there are four of these small creatures with red skin gathered around the (currently) inert form of Seldan. He is trussed up like an animal at a rodeo, his limbs bent in what has to be a painful manner. Or at least certainly uncomfortable and definitely in a way that would be very difficult to break free of. The larger figure knelt over him is like a stick-figure. All flesh and bones and looks wholly unnatural.
The moment you're close enough to hear them talk, the smaller red-skinned figures bristle and gather closer to Seldan and the larger creature. The creature itself has its claws around Seldan's neck. Clearly in a threatening manner. "All we want is the Silverguard. We want him alive, but killing him would be easy as killing a kitten..." The creature grins, and its teeth are all sharp and pointed. "Stay where you are if you understand me. I will take any step forward as an intent to do us harm and see how quickly the Silverguard bleeds out."
GAME: Seyardu rolls knowledge/religion: (12)+6: 18 GAME: Jinks rolls Knowledge/the Planes: (14)+8: 22 GAME: Lysos rolls knowledge/the planes: (7)+4: 11 GAME: Jinks rolls Perform/Sing: (16)+11: 27 (Versatile Performance - Sense Motive)
It's at about this time that the mound of metal stirs. Just a little, and with a groan.
"This ent-- HKK," Jinks leans dangerously in the saddle, doubling over and coughing out the gryphon down he'd unintentionally inhaled while too distracted holding onto his place for dear life. He eventually issues one last dry cough and sighs back up, again looking past Paenitia to complain at the mix-matched bandits. "This entire scenario is absurd. You have oil and water working together to claim the peanut has felled the elephants. Whatever idiot deception you're playing at has no place here. An entire town's worth of people has gone missing; this is serious."
Says the dandy gnome riding a peacock from behind the marvelous paladina. There's also an invisible bungling magus somewhere.
Aryia slows to a halt, frame tense and glaring daggers at the fiend. She makes no moves, her glancing to the others for guidance.
"So. That's not ideal," Lysos says, a near-whisper.. maybe carrying, maybe not, to Aryia... the closest of those she follows. Hopefully not any further. Though invisible, there are traces of her passage... some dust kicking up under her feet, light tracks left behind her. "Letting them take him would be a bad thing, right?" She pauses for the space of a breath, then another, then adds, "Is mister fancy pants trying to confuse them? He's confused me."
<OOC> Paenitia says, "okay, my bluff is that I'm going to lance charge Seldan" <OOC> Paenitia says, "okay the one with the claws at Seldan's throat is the one I want to charge" <OOC> Zeke says, "You realize of course that Seldan is going to take some damage from the demon holding him captive yes?" <OOC> Paenitia says, "I am hoping that Seyardu 'got the message' to heal Seldan," <OOC> Paenitia says, "or even if she didn't, that she spooks and decides to heal him before Paenitia hits him. GAME: Paenitia rolls bluff: (16)+11: 27 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+11: (16)+11: 27
Seldan unconscious from, a bunch of imps does sound like a bluff. It might be that it is all a set up! Seldan watches from a secret hiding spot, judging our actions to see if we are worthy of a higher, more righteous purpose! Or it's not even Seldan at all.
The whole situation is suspicious.
"Friend Dragon, after the torture I have seen, I will give Seldan the swift death to spare him that." Paenitia says, setting her lance and raising it to point at the Silverguard, "Hang on, sing his praises." She tells Jinks.
"Ramirez! Charge!" On her order, her peacock-andalusian launches into motion, charging towards the group and their prisoner.
Her lance tip pointed at the unconscious Silverguard, gleaming in the dancing lights.
GAME: Jinks rolls Ride: (4)+3: 7 (Jinks falls off Ramirez) <OOC> Paenitia says, "okay, +4 spirited charge, with lance" GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon20+4: (7)+9+4: 20 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage20: aliased to 1d8+1: (1)+1: 2 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage20: aliased to 1d8+1: (2)+1: 3 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage20: aliased to 1d8+1: (2)+1: 3 <OOC> Paenitia says, "THE DICE COME THROUGH!" GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+7: (19)+7: 26 (Ramirez Beak) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6
The Red Knight and her Ivory steed surges towards the captive paladin, by all intents planning to lance him and eliminate him as a bargaining chip. At the last moment she raises her lance tip to strike the demon.
A good ruse, but a bad attack, it slides off his side.
Ramirez squawks loudly and pecks. He's much better at striking, but his beak turns on the flesh.
They don't notice Jinks staying behind.
In response to her charge, the demon digs its claws into Seldan's neck, sending a spray of his blood down his armor and soaking it in a matter of moments. The wound looks... bad, and acid from the creature's flesh continues to burn away at Seldan's flesh.
Paenitia and Ramirez are right by Seldan, in the speakdemon's face, with four more smaller ones gathered around.
GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+7: (4)+7: 11 (Caster Check) GAME: Lysos casts Gusting Sphere. Caster Level: 7 DC: 18
Lysos appears some small distance off to the side, at an angle to Penitia's charge, just as she drops another word of power. "Williwaw." She follows this up by blowing through her cupped hands.. and in response, a swirling, rolling sphere of wind, visible by the leaves and detritus it is manages to pick up, right on top of the creature attacking Seldan. Though it seems like anything within that miniature weather event ought to be at least pushed off balanced, or bludgeoned with small pebbles and the wind itself, the creature seems unaffected.
<OOC> Seldan says, "CMB to attempt to free self." GAME: Seldan rolls cmb: (14)+20: 34 <OOC> Zeke says, "You manage to free yourself, but you are still prone."
Blood sprayed in the face, the dizziness, and sharp and them burning pain - all of these together seem to bring a half-conscious Seldan back to his senses. "Agh!" A near-silent scream, but them he saves his breath.
The demons probably should have used manacles, if they had this planned, because what happens next is a display of raw power. He twists, twice, and brings up the rope holding bound hands to bound feet towards the demon's open, bloodied blade. Rope doesn't hold up well against that, or the acid, and in seconds, he's managed to free himself, only to crumple to the ground.
Give him a minute. It sure doesn't look like he's faking.
GAME: Aryia spends ONE point of KI POOL. GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+8: (3)+8: 11 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+8: (4)+8: 12
Aryia's eyes widen as Paenitia charges in there. Okay. Okay they were doing this. She smacks Seyardu on the armor and points at Seldan. That's all they needed to say. The shadow elf takes a deep breath and centers herself, recalling an old memory. Her jaw clenches, and in the waning light, shimmering eyes glare daggers at the fiends.
She cracks her neck, and sprints in. Aryia leaps in, arms flailing as she twists in the air to avoid the few swipes aimed at her. Feet slide to a halt as dirt clouds follow, the elf all but standing over Seldan's body protectively. He did this for her, she could do this for him.
<OOC> Seyardu says, "going to get to within threatening distance of one of the imps with my bill," <OOC> Seyardu says, "and use channel divinity to heal everyone nearby," <OOC> Seyardu says, "selective channel to exclude the injured fiend, and all but one of the small ones (big guy excluded)" GAME: Seyardu rolls 3d8: (10): 10
"Yes, that is true. Seldan would not wish to be taken." Seyardu agrees. She was moving forward before Aryia even tapped her shoulder, polearm raised to strike at the prone figure. Until she stops just out of reach, pulling something beneath her armor instead. The cleric radiating energy outwards, hoping to stave the bleeding. Seems it wasn't a bluff on the enemies part, so she would support the rescue as best as she could.
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+5: (16)+5: 21 <OOC> Zeke says, "The bad guys are going to jump Seldan enmass. I'm going to roll a CMB combined for them all." GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20: (15): 15
The demon mutters some command in its native tongue and all of them jump Seldan at once. They manage to bear Aryia to the ground, half on top of the bleeding paladin. It is in a word... A cluster****.
<OOC> Zeke says, "Right. I guess everyone would get their AOO's except for Seldan since he's non-threatening on the ground." GAME: Aryia uses an AoO! 5 remaining. GAME: Aryia uses an AoO! 4 remaining. GAME: Aryia uses an AoO! 3 remaining. GAME: Aryia uses an AoO! 2 remaining. GAME: Aryia uses an AoO! 1 remaining. GAME: Aryia uses an AoO! 0 remaining. GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (18)+11: 29 <OOC> Aryia says, "oops" <OOC> Aryia still has one aoo <OOC> Seyardu says, "Do I get one?" GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (18)+11: 29 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (7)+11: 18 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (13)+11: 24 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (4)+11: 15 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0: aliased to 1d8+2: (3)+2: 5 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0: aliased to 1d8+2: (2)+2: 4 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0: aliased to 1d8+2: (5)+2: 7 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0: aliased to 1d8+2: (7)+2: 9 GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon20: (10)+9: 19 (AOO) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17 (Ramirez Bite AOO) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19 (Ramirez Claw AOO) GAME: Paenitia rolls damage20: aliased to 1d8+1: (8)+1: 9 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d6+4: (1)+4: 5 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d4+4: (3)+4: 7 GAME: Seyardu uses an AoO! 0 remaining. GAME: Seyardu rolls weapon24-2: (10)+7+-2: 15
As the Imps pile on Seldan and initiate the rudest grapple ever, Aryia burns with the fury of a black star. Fist! Elbow! Knee! Foot! Each find their place in an imp with the sound of cracking bones. Paenitia stabs into the pile as well, spearing one of the miscreants in the buttocks. Ramirez is a white terror, ripping another's back open with his talons, and biting an arm off.
Nothing dies. Unfortunately, but they are bloodied.
<OOC> Paenitia says, "swift to challenge the big guy, full attack Pae, Ramirez full attack the little guys" GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon20: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon20-5: (10)+9+-5: 14 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+7: (3)+7: 10 (Ramirez Beak) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9 (Ramirez Claw) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9 (Ramirez Claw)
"I am Sister Paenitia Snapdragon del Haranna, Knight of the Pillar and Paladina of Tarien! You are the lout that injure the helpless and you will fight only me. Ignore me at your peril!" The Red Knight says, bringing her lance up to stab at the larger demon.
It's stuck on some of those ropes, then there's a little imp in the way, she pulls back again. Her second stab is also way off target.
Ramirez, pecks and claws at the things around his feet, also missing.
If this is a bluff to look harmless, it's very convincing.
<OOC> Jinks says, "stand as move, inspire, done" GAME: Jinks spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE. <OOC> Jinks says, "+1 hit, +1 dam, +1 vs fear saves."
Jinks is still flat on his back after falling off the charging steed. He rolls to his side and glances at the half-melee/half-grappling pile and frowns, push up to his knees and then standing. He glances at his bow and then the abyssal and infernal visitors. He sucks in a quick, deep breath and issues a melodic, wordless song to bolster his allies.
<OOC> Lysos says, "Alright. I'm going to use my move action to move the sphere.. onto the pile." <OOC> Lysos says, "It performs a bull rush against anyone whose spell resistance it pierces." <OOC> Lysos says, "Big guy's immune. And then reflex saves to avoid 1d6 non-lethal bludgeoning damage." <OOC> Lysos says, "Hoping to line up the small ones for a shot with hydraulic torrent for my standard action." <OOC> Lysos says, "Fairly confident the others will not get moved by the gusting sphere." GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+7+2: (14)+7+2: 23 (CMB) GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+6: (2)+6: 8 GAME: Aryia rolls reflex: (15)+11: 26 (DC 18) GAME: Lysos rolls 1d6: (5): 5 <OOC> Zeke says, "Okay. All the little demons die >.>"" <OOC> Zeke says, "They all get bludgened to death" GAME: Lysos casts Thunderstomp. Caster Level: 7 DC: 17 GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+7: (13)+7: 20 (Caster Check for SR) GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+7+6: (9)+7+6: 22 (CMB)
Lysos uses her left hand in a sort of sweeping, beckoning motion.. the swirling mass responds in kind, moving into the tangle of bodies, raining a tiny fury of bludgeoning winds and particles upon the mess. It scatters the smaller demons, at least, and Lysos blinks in surprise.. then gives her head a shake, following up by gathering power in her right hand, raising it as if lifting a great weight beside her.. then she thrusts it down while stomping her foot on the ground, yelling, "Krak!" A ripple speeds away from her towards the larger demon, trying to lift the very ground beneath its feet.. but the creature retains its footing.
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+12: (1)+12: 13 (EPIC FAIL) (Demon AOO)
Chaos reigns over, around, and on top of Seldan - spells, blades, fists, and song in a great whirlwind of indistinct activity -
and suddenly there is space for Seldan to stand. With an effort, he rolls clear of Aryia and gets to his feet, bloodied hands unsheathing Reunion as he does. A brief flick of eyes in her direction holds both appreciation and respect - and the realization that the demon now has her galvanizes him. "Enough. You have erred, and the price of your error shall be high."
It's a little scary, the solemn snarl of a promise from a man bleeding from an acid-washed gash across his neck.
<OOC> Aryia nods. "Will attempt to gain control of grapple" GAME: Aryia rolls cmb+2: (19)+11+2: 32
Aryia holds her ground as the winds blow past, through she was lifted from the crowd of bodies by the collar. Her hands were clasped against his wrist, her feet dangling and kicking aimlessly. Night is setting.
And The mul'neissa enjoys the dark. Despite the size difference, Aryia swings her feet around until she latches onto the fiend's shoulder: a knee in the armpit and both her arms pulling down. Ferocity is written over her visage, and if she could yell, she'd be screaming a battlecry as she painfully tries to dislocate the fiend's shoulder. While dangling from his arm.
GAME: Seyardu rolls heal: (15)+7: 22
The worst of Seldan's bleeding has been stemmed, and he's on his feet and conscious, but yes, he's still hurt. How he survived that blow is not clear.
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+6: (6)+6: 12
Seyardu swung at the remaining fiend as they lunged for her group, but she missed, and took a moment to regain her balance. She was still getting used to actually using it in combat. These fiends were hard to hurt, so instead of taking another swing, she reaches for the holy symbol. "Celestial mother, guide our strikes and protect us from harm." They pray, filling those nearby with divine strength, a familiar feeling to almost all present.
<OOC> Demon will roll to gain control of the grapple GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+12: (18)+12: 30 <OOC> Zeke says, "Alrighty, with control of grapple the demon will let go, and take a five foot step back." <OOC> Zeke says, "And that should still allow him a Sp." <OOC> Aryia says, "control of grapple takes his standard" <OOC> Seldan says, "He would still have a swift available, but no more than that." <OOC> Aryia says, "spell-like ability is like casting a spell"
The demon manages to get control of the writhing Mul'niessa, and backs away from everyone. He tilts his head up, puts his hands up. "I die here, but my Master lives, and so will I again." It looks at Seldan, and smiles.
<OOC> Paenitia says, "I think he attacked Seldan, so that activates my challenge condition giving me a +2 attack," <OOC> Paenitia says, "and there's a +1 attack +1 damage from bardic, and the and prayer +1s, So +4 attack, +2 damage," <OOC> Paenitia says, "and as I've challenged him add cav levels to damage too. Full attack Pae, Full att Ramirez" GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon20+4: (18)+9+4: 31 GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon20+4-5: (12)+9+4+-5: 20 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+7+2: (20)+7+2: 29 (THREAT) (Ramirez Bite) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+7+2: (20)+7+2: 29 (CONFIRMED) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+7+2: (6)+7+2: 15 (Ramirez Claw) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+7+2: (8)+7+2: 17 (Ramirez Claw) <OOC> Zeke says, "hit, hit, hit, miss, miss - confirm" GAME: Paenitia rolls damage20+2+6: aliased to 1d8+1+2+6: (7)+1+2+6: 16 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage20+2+6: aliased to 1d8+1+2+6: (7)+1+2+6: 16 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Paenitia rolls 2d6+8: (8)+8: 16
"IGNORE ME AT YOUR PERIL!" Paenita shouts. And stabs.
And Stabs.
Her lance pierces into the demon's chest, the bloody point bursting out his back. Left side, right side, the skin is torn beneath his shoulderblades as her strikes frame his heart.
'RUAAAAH!' Ramirez joins in, his beak closing in a deadly pincer on the demon's throat, to then rip it out. He repays the wound on the Silverguard, arterial blood flies in an arc as the demon's taunt is cut off, then his death fulfilled.
Both knight and mount are red with victory.
Once the demon's corpse vanishes from view, Seldan lowers his sword, eyes on the ground at his feet. He is scuffed up, bloodied, bruised, and dented, and doubtless has a terrific headache, but doesn't comment. "I - must ask your forgiveness, all of you. I knew that I was targeted, and yet was I caught unawares. I was a fool to come here."
Lysos just... stares. Seldan's apology is somewhat lost on her, as focused as she is on the violent dissection of the fiend gang leader. "Uh." She is also the picture of eloquence. She turns away, then, quickly raising an arm to firmly cover her mouth.
Jinks stops singing and issues a sigh, taking the time to secure the bow in the harness over his shoulders. With the battle over he takes the time to bend and dust his clothes off. Finally, he turns in place and looks for any fallen arrows and collects them for his quivers.
"Why did you wait at the entrance, is what I would ask, Seldan." Seyardu asks as she checks over those present, holding her chest for a moment to wash over those present with restorative magics. And then she sighs. "This one came here, so you would not be left alone, and it seems that idea was sound. This one thought you had your reasons for lingering. I am sorry."
Aryia is dropped onto the hard ground with a small 'oof'. She scrabbles like a cat to her feet, looking ready to leap back up and claw. But Rameriez and the Knight as a phenomenal proxy.
The elf stands there, mouth agape as one foot was forward. She just slowly claps. "G--d sh-t," one could barely hear her whisper before glancing to the conversation with Seldan and Seyardu.
GAME: Seyardu rolls 3d8: (10): 10
"It is all right my friend," Paenitia says, taking out a cloth and wiping down her lance. Several swipes, to ensure it's clean. Ramirez will need a bath and brushing when they return, but he often does after a long ride.
Ramirez is quite happy with his victory, even if the opponent vanishes away. He calls, 'Ruaaah!', then again, 'Ruuaaah!' I am victorious. I am dancing. Yes.
What follows is a distracting display, as the hippogryph spreads the large fan of his tail and steps his hindquarters from side to side to rattle the immense, hollow feathers.
"I finish the talk when Ramirez done." Paenitia laughs, letting her mount have his moment.
"When last I came to this place, it was in search of a friend who had come here, hoping to summon him," Seldan admits. He does not look up, even at the healing as coolness washes through him. It closes a little more, and the bleeding has at least stopped. It's still a nasty-looking thing, the skin acid-touched. "I found ... the site of the battle."
The words hold a sharp edge through them, a tone that leaves little doubt what it was he found. "It was by this that I knew him to yet watch the place, and I wished to evade his eyes. Knowing that this ground, and all within it, are truly his. I knew not that his minions yet patrolled the area, and I - was caught unawares." The set of his shoulders will be familiar to one who knows knights - shame.
Lysos lowers her arm, though they both remain stiffly at her side for moments as her shoulders lift up and down. Breathing exercises. Then she turns back around, pointedly ignoring where the larger fiend died. She watches Jinks meander across the field collecting arrows, then shifts her gaze enough to see the others out of the corner of her eyes. Another moment to brace herself, then she picks her way over to them. In time to catch Seldan's explanation, if not the earlier comments. At that, her eyes widen and she casts her glance around again. Not exactly.. frantically. But, alarmed. "Is he watching us right now?"
"So... are we done?" Jinks pads closer, constantly looking left and right as he walks. He isn't here to cast blame at the tallman after so-recently being bamboozled himself. He notes a missed patch of earth and flicks it off his doublet sleeve. "Or is there something we're still after?"
Ramirez settles down, finishing his dance and slowly lowering his tail to the carrying position. Paenitia has sheathed her lance, and looks around from her position in the saddle. She notes the state of her companions.
"Many apologies, Jinks, that the charge drop you off. To you also, Lysos." She doesn't add why, and instead turns her mask towards Seldan, "We see the evidence in the church. The statue, she is gone. Taken with great magics. This may be the end of the quest, or not. Yet there does not seem much to find in the village."
"This one, is not trying to put this on you, Seldan." Seyardu notes, shaking her head. "But I came with you so we could watch each other in this investigation. Far from it, this one wishes you would not take this all on yourself."
She watches Ramirez for a moment, which gets a chuckle from the Makari. "Jinks detected some strong magic here still. The statue is gone, yes. This one knows not what may still linger here, however. Why they still use the place."
The church. Oh yes, the church. Now that is a vivid memory that flashes before Seldan's eyes, for just a moment, at the mention of the place. For the first time, though, he looks up at Seyardu, squinting a little even in the light filtered by the forest cover. A long gaze, and a sigh. "Too oft have I stood alone, I think," he murmurs. "You have the right of it. You found magic yet still? What manner of magic?"
"Surprised I stayed up that long, don't mention it." Jinks shrugs at the halfling. "The traces were faint but it had to be strong for it to've lasted that long," he adds for Seyardu. "I wasn't able to ascertain," he responds to Seldan, finally.
Paenitia sits quietly, listening. Magic is not her practice and she has little to contribute. She takes out a small comb and works on the neck feathers within reach.
Lysos , not entirely consciously, hunches up a little bit, drawing her cloak back around her as she glances around again.. until she is looking at Paentitia when the knight addresses her. She looks a bit blank, then puts on a half-smile for the rider's benefit. "It's alright," she tells her, though she clearly has no idea what Paenitia is talking about. She shivers, then, thought certainly it's not that cold out, as she looks back at Seldan and the others. "Maybe the magic left a trail?"
Seyardu listens quietly.
"A portal, were I to guess." With careful, slow movements, Seldan resheathes Reunion, moving no more than necessary. "That may be what the demon in that church was concealing. It is faint, you say?" He closes his eyes again. "Eclavdran had a portal here, then. No, there is naught more to find, but it is not nothing that demons yet linger in the area. We should begone, then. This area is not safe, not if demons linger here. I yet suspect that he claims this area as his."
With that, he nods towards the path home, and turns towards it himself, a good deal more slowly.
OOC Banter
Pae and the snap
<OOC> Zeke laughs
<OOC> Zeke says, "Pae snaps her gauntlet"
<OOC> Zeke says, "People vanish"
<OOC> Paenitia grins, "you got it."
<OOC> Aryia says, "lol"
Ramirez is the situation
<OOC> Zeke says, "Jinks falls off mount"
<OOC> Lysos says, "I feel like the situation is getting away from us."
<OOC> Zeke is waiting on page from Pae. >.>"
<OOC> Aryia says, "Rameriez's new name is situation"
<OOC> Jinks says, "Is that the buff guy from Jersey Shore?"
Paenitia's triumphant attack
[RPOne] Aryia says, "LETS GO PAE"
[RPOne] Aryia cheers loudly
[RPOne] Stjepan gets pompoms?
[RPOne] Aryia says, "paenitia is popping OFF"
<OOC> Aryia cheerleaders with -2 CHA
<OOC> Seyardu is looking forward to this pose
[RPOne] Seldan says, "Seriously."
<OOC> Aryia claps
<OOC> Seldan says, "Wooo!"
<OOC> Aryia says, "hell yeah"
<OOC> Seyardu says, "Nice!"
Post Game
<OOC> Zeke says, "Alrighty then! Thank you all for the rp!"
<OOC> Zeke hopes that you had a satisfying time killing off demons and devils!
<OOC> Lysos says, "Thank you very much for the scene and RP, and extra thank you for letting me join in late."
<OOC> Zeke says, "It was our pleasure!"
<OOC> Seldan says, "Thank you for the RP! I wanted to do this piece to remind you guys that Seldan can't do it all himself, even though he is given to trying for Reasons(tm) that are well-ingrained."
<OOC> Seldan says, "You guys have the power to make a difference, and he cannot do everything himself. Remember also that I will be off the game for several weeks."
<OOC> Paenitia nods! "It was lots of fun. thanks!"
<OOC> Zeke encourages everyone to take this as a note that you can make a difference!
<OOC> Seyardu says, "Thank you for the rp! It was good!"
<OOC> Zeke wishes you all a good evening
<OOC> Lysos says, "Have a good night everyone."