Warhammer Meets Pathfinder (IC)

[DrK]

The Warhammer World...


http://image.gamespotcdn.net/gamespot/images/2008/247/942883_20080904_embed001.jpg

The small town of Hunze was not an attractive location for anyone, much less in the driving late autumn rain. The dark skies with the stars hidden by dark and foreboding clouds that at the moment were turning the road into a thick glutinous morass.

A few lights were visible through heavy barred shutters, a few bearing the marks of axe blows or scorch marks. Even this small flyspeck farming village had not gone unscathed during the Storm. Bands of foraging chaos filth scouring the Empire for food - both edible and populace - wherever it was possible to get it.

The mud soaked into the With Hunter's heavy boots, going more than ankle deep on the heavyset dwarf accompanying him. The beastman shaman had left a trail of dead bodies across the Northern stretches of Middenland - villages torn apart, bodies devoured and the Priests of Sigmar and Ulric found mutilated and sacrificed to the dark gods of the ruinous powers.

The faint sounds of drums and a bittern ring out over the heavy rain, the tiled coaching inn - 2 stories tall with a large stable yard lies in the centre of Hunze. The sign swinging in the wind with a smeared and faded picture of a reddish griffon on it...


I'm assuming that the Witch Hunter and the ranger are working together. Everyone else can have a reason to be in Hunze in Middenland.

[BelGareth]

Gerrard steps into the muddy road with his boots getting sucked in by the mud. His face set into a scowl, the brim of his hat waving in the rain as it moved back and forth to the whim of the wind.

It had taken a while, but he had tracked the foul Beastman, with the help of his new friend, Skeggi, he was almost as good as he was at tracking the foul chaosmen, almost.

Gripping his light with one hand, he gestured to the Inn, it seemed this place had been attacked, or at least affected by the scourges of chaos, and it was necessary, even if they were not hunting the beastman, to ferret any tendrils of chaos from within the town.

Scowling a little more, (if that was possible) he spoke to his dwarven friend.
"looks like we'll be getting a drink, you thirsty Skeggi?" he said sardonically, it was obviously a ploy for any wayward ears that would be listening, but easily enough understood by those who were more intelligent than a dog.

He nodded to himself, and moved forward, holding his gloved hand forward to spread the magical light of Sigmar upon all he would encounter.

[Gruzzle]

" Och, does ah bear sh...ure Ah'm thirsty. Ah'm a dwarf, and we're BORN thirsy," Skeggi gave a knowing wink and chuckled. He hustled along with Gerrard. The ranger had grown to respect the witch hunter for his nearly dwarven-like memory for slights and grudges that the foulness he hunted had perpetrated against society, and Skeggi was happy to help teach Gerrard what he knew of tracking. Our latest quarry could've picked somewhere drier though, he though to himself with a sigh, or at least more rocky, and less muddy. I'd take a snowed in mountain pass over this muck any day!

His eyes scanned the surroundings for signs that the Inn's attackers, if there were any, were still in the area, not wanting to walk in to an ambush.


Perception [roll0]
Survival(looking for tracks, etc.) [roll1]

[BelGareth]

Gerrard moves to the door of the inn and checks it for any obvious signs of tampering, traps or anything else perverse.

Once he is happy with it he opens the door to the inn and steps inside, right hand on his pistol handle, left hand still aglow with the dweomer of sigmar's light pointed to the floor, so as not to blind anyone.


[roll0]
[roll1]

[BananaPhone]

Outskirts of Hunze

Thunder bellowed across the horizon.

Nestled within the comfort of her carriage, Selinda peered through several manuscripts that she had arranged upon the spare seats in front of her. Outside the rain beat down upon the windows of the coach while occassionally the ride would shake as one of its wheels encountered a thick patch of mud.

Humming softly to herself, the Druchii stroked a long lock of silvery hair behind one of her elongated ears. Her journey would have continued like this until reaching her destination, Middemheim, but soon her transportation stopped abruptly and the door to her carriage flung open. As it did so, the cold of the rainy night slithered into the warm atmosphere of the carriage to murder it, and standing there amidst the windy rain was the robust figure of her coachman, his eyes alive with fright.

"I'm not taking you any further!" he uttered, his eyes sifting around the forest suspiciously.

Poking her head out the carriage door, Selinda considered the dumpling-like man that stood before her - his rotund figure garbed in a long coat while a wide-brim hat that stap atop his head obscuerd his thick, bearded features.

"Oh? That's not what we agreed to when I first employed you."

The man shook his head. He drew his hands up underneath his arm pits as he quivered in the cold rain. Nervously he turned and dragged his eyes across the impenetrable forest that surrounded them. When he turned back to the carriage, his beady eyes glinted with a hint of panick.

"Agreement be damned, this woods aren't safe!"

"Do not fret, you hideous fool - I am present. Nothing will harm your precious carriage."

"You're not here with me on the way back!"

Selinda sighed. "Why, who do you think is there? Frankenstein? The boogieman?"

As she said this, a winged, reptialian figure drifted down from the skies above and perched itself upon roof of the carriage. It stretched out its membrane-centred wings as it emitted a soft grumble from within its thin belly, before tucking its figure in upon itself in the rain.

"Are you the cause of this?" Selinda asked, peering up at the flying reptile.

"Bad Suluphet!" she said, pointing a long finger in the pterosaurs direction. "Stop, scaring the carriage driver!"

Swallowing hard and breathing heavily, the carriage dirver shook his head. "No, no, you get out here."

Selinda sighed wearily, "Very well...if you wish to prematurely break our agreement."

Opening the carriage door, Selinda nimbly hopped out. Light and deft on her feet, the elfs weight barely registered upon the mud beneath her. Looking down at the dreadfully filthy ground, the corners of the elfs lips curled up into a displeased sneer before her ire raised once more to settle upon the carriage driver.

"For your slothful labor here is a bag of gold."

Selinda produced from within her expensive regailia a purse that was fat with coin. She held the tantalising object up in front of her in presentation to the carriage driver who had abruptly developed a gleen within his eye.

"Which I am not going to give to you."

She then put it back within the folds of her gown. The carriage drivers eyes widened with anger. "Damn you she-elf! If I ever - "

"You'll what?" Selinda asked, sounding rather bored. She moved her 6'5 frame around the open carriage door and started to move down the road.

"Stupid man. The agreement was to deliver me to Middenheim - not to force me out of the carriage in the rain upon its outskirts. For your oafish insolence I have spared you the rod this time, do not let my generosity clouden your already dimwitted value. I would wish you the best but we would both know that I would be lying. Farewell."

And with that, Selinda turned and moved down the mud-stricken road. The lizard upon the carriage cawed once as it spread its wings and flew over to perch upon the elfs shoulder, nuzzling its cold-blooded body up against her warm neck and collar-bone.


oOo

Hunze

Upon the main road leading into Hunze an impossibly tall, lithe figure emerged from the mists - a wide-brimmed hat obscuring her features and a long, expensive set of clothes hugging her frame.

"This is it Suluphet," Selinda muttered to the winged reptile upon her shoulder. "This dreary hovel shall be our refuge for the night."

The elf exhaled a weary sigh of resignation, "What did we do to derserve this?"

[DrK]

The doors creak open with a gust smoky grease laden air to greet dwarf and witch hunter, and the music stops. The inside if the inn is cheap unfinished wood and currently filled with about 20 sullen looking townsfolk occupying most of the tables near the roaring fire.

A middle aged haggard looking woman behind the bar looks at the two with a suspicious glint in her eyes. can I help you goodmen?



Sorry, I should have explained things better. The town is fine, just slightly damaged. The shaman has been tracked to near Hunze. So its just a place to stay for the night.

[BelGareth]

Gerrard *harumps* at the sight that belays him upon opening the door to the inn.


Of course, of course the townsfolk were sitting in the inn, drinking it up, why else would they do anything about the obvious state of the town, let alone the beastman shaman....nooooo, let us, sigmars knights do all the work.....

Gerrard thought to himself, not caring about the looks the townsfolk gave him, he deepened his scowl on his face and considered snarling at them.

No, no, we'll need them afore the nights out no doubt.

He nodded to the woman behind the bar. "Aye, we'll be needin some rooms for the night." he steps to the bar, dismissing his light from his left hand and leans against the counter "and some information." he states. Looking about the room, and meeting anyone willing to meet his eyes, "What have you heard about any strange activities in these parts." he looks to her "And I mean anything strange."


[roll0]
[roll1]


If he even thinks she is keeping something from him, he'll use a round of Discern Lies and follow up with "Are you sure?"

Will save DC 20 negates

[BananaPhone]

"What have you heard about any strange activities in these parts. And I mean anything strange."

Selinda strode into the inn, taking a second to pat away some remnant moisture that clung to her coat from the outside environment. A foot taller than the small cluster of peasants that backed away from her upon entry, the elf paid the attention no heed as she moved over to the barkeep, where she noticed a filthy hag discoursing with a better kept human. Most likely an agent of a noble of some sort, Selindra surmised - he looked better fed and clothed than the dirty peasantry of human nations.

While the crone answered the humans question Selindra busied herself with retrieving a purse from the haversack that was slung over her shoulder. When able, she took two gold pieces from within and slid them across the counter beneath her long, dextrous fingers.

"Your best room for the night." she uttered, her voice soft and otherwordly.

[Gruzzle]

Skeggi manages to nearly beat Gerrard to the bar counter, and between his requests for a room and information, Skeggi manages to slip in, "Ah also be need me somethin' to wet me whistle, miss. Your stoutest ale, if ya please." As he waits, the dwarf turns his back to the bar and takes in the whole inn scene with a critical eye, looking for anything suspicious...


[roll0]

such as one of those freakishly tall(if not also freakishly beautiful...) elf-types that walks in from the rain. The dwarf nudges his comrade as she pauses to pat off some moisture, alerting Gerrard to the notable persona that just arrived. Skeggi's weather-beaten face scrunches up as he squints at her while she walks up to the bar.

[watupwithdat]

Some distance outside of Hunze

It had been three days since Salazar had come upon the small settlement of human refugees being raided by a remnant of the chaos forces and reduced the raiders to ashes, and unfortunately half of the settlement with them. But that was a small price to pay for the refugees' lives and continued shelter, Salazar thought.

It was from the terrified refugees he had heard about rumours of a beastmaster shaman or some such tearing it up to the north, making a bloody way through the innocent people of Middenland. Salazar had decided to pursue these rumours himself, preferably ending this shaman's life with a flicker.

With less than dry boots, though not as wet as they could have been due to the the Winds of Aqshy, Salazar had spotted a small town in the distance where he now was headed. It was a good opportunity for shelter, information and directions.

[DrK]

The silence stretches as the axe toting slayer and heavily armed Witch Hunter stand in the doorway. The silence extending as the tall and graceful women of the Asur/Asrai walks in casually.

The barwoman gives a low curtsy - the nobility of the Elven Lady and the clink of gold a greater mistress than the fear of the brand of the comet. "Yes Good Lady. We have a room for you. It may not be what you are used to." She peeks out towards the door expecting servants. "Will your servants need rooms Milady?"

As she pours beers for the two men and hands them across one of the farmers eyes Gerrard, a hand missing and a wooden peg leg suggesting a possible ex-military life. "Sigmar's blessing preacher. Been plenty strange here of late. Lights in the wood. Shadows in the forest and the howling of beasts that I ain't heard since the borders O' kislev."

As he takes a sip of his beer, coughing with a dry throat. "I reckon preacher that me and my fellows here could remember more a little if you helped whet our throats..."


The guy seems honest. Just wants a free beer.

[BananaPhone]

As she was standing before the bar-keep, the elf's sensitive perceptions alerted her to the presence of something foul. Some type of beast was nearby, a hairy, immovable oaf whose obdurate single-mindedness was matched only by its love of disgusting ales and gold.

Sparing a glance to her side, Selindra spotted the source: a dwarf.

One of the ugly-folk, the elf thought to herself.

Thousands of years ago her kind and the dwarves had been stalwart and trusted friends, their amicability expressed in a vibrant trade of riches and culture. It would not last, however, as the machinations of Malekith drew both civilisations into a bitter, destructive war from which there could be no victor. Crippled almost beyond repair, the dwarfs lost many of their remaining fortresses in the Old World to greenskins and skaven, where once the combined friendship of the elves and dwarves would have easily repulsed such verminous filth.

Meanwhile, the Druchii sat within Nagaroth, observed their handwork and snickered.

Such is the price of pride.

Looking back at the barkeep, "I did not wish to risk my servants in the perilous journey across the oceans to get here, so I am alone." the elf responded.

They expect me to pay to sleep in this filthy barn-yard?! Selindra thought to herself.

[Fungusamnguss]

Somewhere just South of Hunze:

As the rain fell heavily on his tent, Thorah'nes carefully counted and measured his inventory. He had foolishly given away many of his potions during the ...... war, and stuff..... They used so much of his inventory! Luckily, his trip to replenish some of his local stock had been successful at least.

After he tallied the last of the Namira's Rot, he carefully packed his bag and set about grooming himself for the night. The rain was coming down fairly hard out side, but he had been in worse. The tent was well placed, uphill from any runoff and with all the trees around, the wind wasn't so bad. Unfortunately, mother nature was relentless this night. Before he could finish combing his hair, Thorah'nes heard a loud groaning in the trees above him. Before he knew it, the inevitable splintering of wood gave way to the rain with a huge crack. That was all it took, the poor tent didn't have a chance. Thorah'nes was lucky, he only got a few scratches ..... and now he was soaking wet.

So, he pulled his tent together as best he could and started walking. Sure people might want to kill him if they saw his other self, but it beats sleeping in the rain. Besides, his month long scavenging trip had landed him a new item that would help him get along even if he did change! Having been around these lands several times, he was fairly familiar to the area. I'd rather be hunted than sleep in this mess. Stupid tree cant even take a little rain! He knew where the closest village was. Even if he wasnt excited to be going there. With a huff, he trodded off towards the village.


Village of Hunze: (Just past midnight)

As the young boy wandered into town, he dragged along behind him what was clearly a busted tent. He could occasionally be heard sniffling under his soggy cloak. For the most part he kept his head down, looking up a few times to confirm his bearings. As he reached the door to the inn he paused. He looked back at his torn and beaten old tent,Well, here goes nothin. He sighed to him self and then walked in, still dragging his tent behind him.

Using Cap of Human Guise here. Since its for small characters to appear as a human child, I figured a tall Elf would probably look like a young teenager.

[BelGareth]

Gerrard looks to the old man.

Dry throats heh, I'll make them long throats if you and your friends don't help me.... he thinks to himself, sighing at the inevitable conclusion, he forages inside his belt and fishes out some gold coins, placing them on the bar. "Whet your whistle away, but tell me what you know before you get all addle brained and drunk."


He drops 2 gold coins on the bar.

[DrK]

The bar - already quiet - goes silent as the lost child wanders in. Before with a rush one of the serving women rushes over. "You poor wee dear. By Shallya's bosom what are you doing out there all alone." Wrapping the child in her shawl she beckons him over to a bench near the fire - a glare causing 2 of the farmers to shift out of the way.

Nearer the bar the clink of gold generates a rush of empty tankards thudding on the bar as the wounded soldier leans forward and beckons Gerrard and Skeggi closer. "Well... we been having a whole heap O' trouble."
"Nothing to do with the village like" one chips in, wary of the Witch Hunter.
"Ai, its not us. But in the woods things been getting worse. We don't be going out after dark. Even in the day we don't venture past the tree line."
"Thinks with hooves on 2 legs."
"And it weren't Ulric's Fire that burned down Luther's place and dissapeared his family"
"Its in the barrows I tell you"
"Na - they be fine."
"Its a wrong 'un. Strange fires been burning there at night.."

Over at the bar the women stares at Selindra's gold and offers a clumsy curtsy. "Whatever you need good lady" though she is clearly scandalised about a noblewoman out with no servants.

[BelGareth]

Gerrard inwardly sighs, he knew this was what would happen, a few whet whistles and they are all speaking, each one correcting the other, maybe if he had a few inches of rope and a couple of hours he could straighten this out, but not now. Not this close.

"Thankyou men, you have served the Emperor, may Sigmar bless you." he turns to Skeggi starring at the dwarf mid chug of his third beer.

"Looks like we'll be going into the Forrest tomorrow, you up for some goat hunting?" he says smiling, using the term of goat to replace the blasphemous form and shape of the chaos beastmen.

He took note of the noblewoman at that time, having turned around and actually seeing her, she was interesting, mostly due her presence in such a run down, border piss town. But also due to the fact she had no escort, no retinue, no retainer, no slaves, no helpers, or servants......very strange.

[BananaPhone]

The dark elf considered the filthy hag for several seconds before finally speaking up. "if you possess any wine of advanced age, I should like to acquire that as well. Good evening."

Turning on the heel of her boot, Selindra was granted a vision of the taverns contents once more.

Tilting her head to look down, she returned the observant eye of the dwarf, except with a knowing smirk securely curling one half of her lips.

<"Master dwarf,"> she spoke in fluent Dwarven. Even in the brisk, rugged language of the dwarves, the elfs.ethereal voice enchanted the words with melody.

<"Here we are both spectacles - I wonder if fate has drawn us as actors to its stage."">

[Gruzzle]

Skeggi pauses mid-chug and lowers the mug to respond to Gerrard, foam clinging to both mustache and beard. " Aye, mah friend. Ah hear the goats round here are right wylie." He winks.

He's just about to put mug to lips again when the she-elf speaks to him in his own tounge. He squints suspiciously at her while she speaks, respond with a gruff "hrmph", quaffs another bit of beer, and finally respond with <Only spectacle here seems to be you, talking in tounges these simple folk wouldn't understand. Tip from a veteran wanderer? Speak the local language, you'll stick out less.> He drains the remaining beer and turns away.

[BananaPhone]

The smile the elf returns is confident and knowing. <"I am already head and shoulders above the level of incognito in these lands, I fear.">

Looking up from the stunted folk, Selinda considered the human that he was accompanying. He was dressed and fed far too well to well to be a local, yet his presence did not inspire the terror in the peasantry that might be expected of a local lord or other authority figure. How curious.

Well, if she was to be stuck in this dreary gulag of a town she might as well have some fun with the unwitting locals.

"Is this your servant?" Selinda asked Skeggi, her eyes trained on the human and seemingly peering through him.

"I've never known dwarves to engage in agricultural husbandry - is he your shepherd? Did your goats cunningly evade his clutches and escape into the woods? And now he hopes to regain your favor by outwitting them into a devious trap to return them to your fields?"

[watupwithdat]

Outside of Hunxe, a little bit closer than before

As Salazar was getting closer to the small town he was wondering what he'd find there. It didn't seem like the shaman he had come this way for had passed here yet. If that was the case, it'd probably had been a little more... destroyed.

The rain drops that hit his face soon evaporated before the water had managed to slide down his neck, though his clothes were still wet. They'd get wet soon enough while being outside if he tried to do something about them anyway. That would have to wait until the rain stopped or he was inside somewhere.

He's walking slowly! :smalltongue:

[BelGareth]

Gerrard raises an eyebrow at the supposed noble lady.

Watching her as she leaves with one arm on the counter, leaning into his shoulder. When she is gone, he turns to the barmaid:

"I'll be needing a room also, preferably one that faces the street."

Once he pays and his lodgings are apropriated he will leave, nodding to Skeggi as he does.

"Tomorrow morn then."

[Gruzzle]

" Aye" Skeggi nods in agreement and turns to ask a similar setup from the innkeep.

[BananaPhone]

Ignored, the elf leaves to her room.

[Fungusamnguss]

Even he takes the womans shawl around himself, Tho'rahnes continued to drag his busted tent behind him, leaving a large wet trail all way to the fireplace.

Thank you kindly ma'am. I was doing just fine until my tent decided to get in a fight with a tree limb. I just need a place to stay for the night. I .... uh ..... I can pay an all. That is, if you have room for me.

As he talks, he eyes around the room, noticing how many people are there. Tho'rahnes then reaches into his seemingly only belt pouch and and pulls out a hand full of copper coins with a couple silver among them, and hands them to the lady.

I wonder why there are so many people here. I might wish I had stayed in the woods before the night is over!

13c and 2s

[DrK]

The evening passes quietly. The young boy taken upstairs to a small room with broth and warm milk. The elven lady not disturbed. In the inn room Gerrard and Skeggi get little information from the drunken farm and village men.

Eventually everyone retires to their rooms. Small, scratchy with only a few fleas they are basic and slightly cold as rain and wind batter the Inn. The sudden crash of thunder wakes everyone. The rain hammering down but coupled with different sounds that sound like a Gers of creatures moving in the village.

A second crash of thunder is accompanied by the inn shuddering as the front door is torn from its hinges and there is a vast howling of a dozen savage beasts, unseen but nog unheard...

your inn is being attacked.

[Gruzzle]

Skeggi cracks an eye at the first peal of thunder and begins to grumble about the pleasant silence a mountain offers in lieu of these "buildings" humans seem such fans of, only to bolt from bead at the sound of the door being freed from its hinges.

He snatches up his axe and quietly moves through his door, dressed in just his skivvies, heading out to see what has arrived in the commons area.


Stealth check [roll0]

Having seen that trouble is definitively brewing downstairs, he sprints back to his room to grab ALL of his gear. He shouts as he goes, "Raiders are in t' commons room, stay in yer rooms, 'nd block yer doors!!"

"Gerrard!!" He shouts as he skids into his room, "gear up, brother, looks like we arrived ahead of trouble fer once! There's a mess down stairs needs cleanin'."

[BelGareth]

Gerrard bolts upright in his bed, his pistol in his hand within a heartbeat.

Something was wrong, something was very wrong.

He had heard something in his sleep, and he was dreaming about a herd of cattle.

The crack of thunder tore through the night sky and the door to the inn is smashes asunder. He could hear the faint hoove scrapping on the cobbles outside and his grimace of determination set in.

"Beastmen" he said, the word dripping with the vile bitter taste it left in his mouth.

Not seconds later, Skeggi came yelling and holoring about being attacked and slammed on his door as he was dressing into his armor.

"Aye, you are right! Come help me into my armor!" He asked the dwarf as he was struggling with a strap.


Hastily donning armor with help takes 5 rounds, reduces AC by 1 and increases ACP by 1.
Donning it by myself takes 10 rounds with the same penalties.

[BananaPhone]

As Selindra doesn't actually sleep, she was in the middle of reading when the thunderous crack of shattered wood echoed within the tavern. Peeking up, the elf reached out to take a sip from the wine goblet upon her table as Suluphet stirred upon the bed behind her.

The small, flying reptilian hissed loudly as it peered around with its dart-shaped head.

"Yes, I think you're right." Selindra answered the animal quietly.

Standing up, she grabbed her belt, rod, and moved towards the door as Suluphet flew across the room and perched itself atop one of her shoulders. Once at the door, she retrieved her haversack that was hanging from a knob and retrieved her amulet from its insides and placed the book she was reading safely into its folds in exchange.

Opening the door to her room, the dark elf ventured into the hallway. As she went, she reached into her handy haversack and retrieved several wands - pointing them at herself and uttering the words of power necessary to activate them.

ooc:
She's casting Shield and Mage Armor on herself from her wands.

[watupwithdat]

Salazar awoke with a flash of bright fiery tendrils extruding from his upper body as it quickly rose from where he had been laying on the floor. He felt more comfortable sleeping on little less flammable materials than what beds usually were made out of. He'd unwittingly started fires in one and another places he'd stayed at long ago while asleep.

Something was happening downstairs, and it didn't sound too friendly. Perhaps what he had been looking for had finally come found him. A stroke of luck, he thought. He stood up and quickly conjured up his standard magical defense, which while wasn't much, didn't hurt either, and then he started moving down, ready to scorch whatever god-forsaken thing he could find.

Using Mage Armor, +4 AC, 10h duration. 7/8 1st spell slots left.
I guess spell slots and stuff haven't been refreshed yet, whenever that happens, as sleep was interrupted.

[Gruzzle]

Skeggi, still wearing nothing but his skivvies himself, helps Gerrard get geared up.

[Fungusamnguss]

After having been in the wilderness for the past month, this bed was a paradise compared to his beat up old tent. He had been in a tent through many storms such as these before and had grown accustomed to the loud thunder. He slept soundly in his new bed, better than he had in a while. The destruction of the front entry only slightly stirred him from this slumber. It wasnt until he heard the loud screaming of the dwarf in the hallway. As soon as he did arrive at conscientiousness, he knew immediately there was danger. He quickly reviewed his mental list of extracts that he had left prepared in his sack, then set about donning his armor as quickly as he could. First however, Thorah'nes grabbed his crossbow and used it to brace the door.

As soon as he gets his armor on, he begins making an extract he had forgotten to make that could prove vital to the outcome of the fight below.


Hastily donning me armor.
Should take about 30 seconds (5 rounds) to craft an extract of Greater Invisibility.
+1 Called Light Crossbow bracing the door which is (hopefully) locked

[DrK]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YycUVvb1Q-Y/Td5NAEKDUAI/AAAAAAAAAKY/qOCs41rxr40/s1600/beastman.jpg

Outside of the windows flames and smoke were starting to circle around the front of the Inn where the lightning had shattered the door. A vast circle of hulking beasts - fur, horns and rusted steel around the Inn and screams beginning in the village houses as killing, feeding and worse began...

Inside the Inn room a massive hulking wargor of statuesque proportions stood inside the door. Axe sheathed in blood, the bloodied body of a small child clutched in a hand, shreds of flesh stuck to its mouth fur.

3 more beastmen followed it in...


I'll assume that Gerrard/ Skeggi are leading the way down the stairs (unless the spell casters are leading the way!)

There is a wargor and 3 beastmen in the inn room near the door. The stairs are ~25ft from the door.

Bad guy initiative [roll0]

Spell casters (Watupwithdat and BannanPhone) you've got ~3 rounds of prep unless you want to lead the charge!

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra

The elf's keen ears detected the guttural throats of beastmen before she saw them...and unfortunately, her nose detected the odoriferous stench of their muddy hides before even that.

Curling up her delicate nostrils, Selindra moved over to the nearest window, unheeded by the presence of whoever else might be there. Peering through the glass she beheld the small host of foul creatures that had beset the town, and the animalistic way in which they were now encircling the tavern that she had tethered herself to for the night.

Snorting lightly in derision, the elf uttered several curse words in her native cold, sharp tongue.

Spotting one of the fires within the street that one of the crude brutes had undoubtedly set, Selinda narrowed her eyes and spoke several words of power. Gesturing towards the smoldering pyre, a cataclysmic spark erupted from the innocuous flame - a great firework sizzled into the air before detonating in a thunder-crack of fire that drenched the surrounding area, smothering dozens upon dozens of the children of chaos where the flame chewed at their flesh to hasten the process of reducing them to cinders.

Already, the chorus of agonised howls rose up into the night to create a truly haunting cacophany. Accompanying it was the rank odor of melting skin, bone and fur, as leather armor liquified into scalding pools across their bodies and metal armor heated up to cook the wearer alive.

To this sound, Selinda smirked and laughed. For the unititiated, it was a tough decision as to which was more unsettling: the symphony of painful howls from outside, or the elf's soft, satisfied snickering.

"To cinders..." she whispered gleefully, her wide, blue eyes catching the light of the towering flames.

OOC:
Selindra has prepared her buffs, so Shield, Mage Armor and donned her magical items. She's holding a Wand of Enlarge in her hand just in case she encounters that dwarf again.

Then, she's peering through a window and casting Firefall. (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/advanced/spells/firefall.html)

All beastmen within a 20 metre (60 feet for non-metric people) radius of the tavern (I imagine that's just about all of them), need to take a Reflex save at DC 21 and a DC 21 Will save.

If they fail the Reflex save each beastman takes 5d6=18 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4111487/) points of damage. Failure means they also catches on fire and will take an additional 1d6 damage next round, and so on, until he puts it out. If they pass, they take 9 points and don't catch fire. It says that when something catches fire it starts to take 1d6 fire damage - I dunno if this is already covered in the 5d6 spell damage or not: if not, then they also take another 1d6=1 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4111488/) damage, if it is, then never mind I'll roll again next round.

Any beastman that fails the will save is Blinded for...*sigh* for god sake...1d4+1=2 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4111496/) rounds.

So on fire and blind. Hopefully that'll cause a stampede and panic.

[watupwithdat]

As Salazar made his way out of his room and into the hall that lead to the stairs the air around him started to become hazy and rippling. It was like an intense heat was emanating from his body, which made it hard to make out the wizard's exact location as there seemed to be more than one of him, all while he set one foot infront of the other moving towards the stairs.

With his right hand extended he was waiting for anyone to come up the stairs, and with a snap of his fingers engulf his foe in flames. But no one seemed to be coming up as he made his way closer and closer. He so felt like consuming someone in the bright hot flames for interupting his sleep, but most of it all to extinguish the life of the Empire's enemies.

Using Mirror Image, 10m duration, [roll0] images. Refluffed the spell a little to fit into the concept of a Bright Wizard with fire, heat and such instead of "illusions". I hope that's alright.

Moving to the stairs, no idea how far from it his room is, but I guess he'll be able to reach the top of the stairs with his next move action and snap his fingers at someone.

[Fungusamnguss]

Thorah'nes finishes putting on his armor and other magic items swiftly. As he works on his much desired extract, he quickly takes a peek out the window and listens to whats going on downstairs. For a second there seems to be a pause in the fighting, a lull in the action as it were. For just a moment things were quiet, like the calm before the storm. Then it hit, just as he was peering out the corner of the window. A huge geyser of fire just errupted in front of inn! He had not seen anything like that since the war. It was both awe inspiring and incredibly terrifying at the same time. He knew his room was not going to be a safe place for long. He hurried to finish his concoction, it was nearly done now.


[roll0] Perception check to notice how many creatures are attacking both inside the inn (downstairs) as well as outside in the view of his window.

[Starbin]

It had been a long march to the town of Hunxe, especially in this weather. The band had encountered scattered numbers of beastman, but never in numbers to indicate a major threat. For now, the women were tired and soak to the bone, and looking forward to a dry night indoors.

Sister Superior Serabeth walked in the lead, acting leader of this Sisters of Sigmar warband. They were returning to Middenheim after a brutal encounter with Chaos marauders. While victorious, the cost of victory had been high; many sisters fell, not the least of which was their leader, Sigmarite Matriach Elvanora. Serabeth had been her second, and now led her sisters back. A step behind was her newly appointed second, Sister Superior Tonya, a fierce woman who wielded twin hammers in battle with impressive skill.

From her position, Serabeth could hear the women trodding along in silence behind her, never a word of complaint as they marched. However, she could feel their fatigue, both mentally, physically and spiritually, and knew that the rest tonight would be welcome.

Suddenly, she paused, raising a hand to bring the band to a stop. She had heard something, a sound from the darkness, almost drowned out by the rain. She motioned to Tonya to come forward, still listening as the women behind waited for her orders. She spoke softly, leaning close to her second. "There is something wrong ahead ... something in the town. Can you see anything? Wait ... do you smell that?"

Serabeth tilted her head in that odd way, as if she were trying to listen to something only she could hear. Tonya motioned to two younger Sisters to take point, preparing to have them scout ahead, but Serabeth put a hand on her shoulder. "No ... we must all go. There is something foul on the wind, and we must meet it together."

Turning to the warband, she unlimbered her shield and pulled forth her hammer. "Ready yourselves, Sisters. While the bed calls to us, something else beckons us. Prepare yourselves - there is evil afoot and we shall answer the call. Onward!" With a single grunt of "HOO!" the group of sisters took off in a steady trot, the sound of armor and weapons clinking in rhythm with their pace as they advanced on the beleaguered town of Hunxe ...

Not sure how long it will take, but the Sister of Sigmar are on the move! :smallbiggrin:

I guess I'd better build a cohort, and put some basics down for the band!

[DrK]

In the Inn

Even as the pyromancer, chymist and witch hunter and dwarf are getting ready the Inn seems to rock as there is an intense flash of fire outside the Inn. Beasts howl, rain hisses and villages in houses on the other side of square mix their screaming with guttural cries of the chaos beasts. To Gerrard and Salthazar both can see the swirling mists of Ashqy saturating the air - invigorating the pyromancer but leaving the witch hunter in a cold sweat.

The 4 beastmen in the Inn care not - axes and cleavers falling with brutal grace onto the 3 drunken farm hands that had been sleeping in the tap room and now paid with their lives


Begin the trials of Witchsight for spellcasters
When you guys want to kick ass in the Inn room feel free to begin.


The edge of the Village

The Sisters tramp in - a trail of savaged and partially devoured bodies a tribute to the attacckers. Even as the Sisters move into a loose battle formation they can see the sparkling pillar of flames explode from the Inn in the village square. Beastmen illuminated and now trailing fire.

- However more pressing is the 6 beasts that step out the alley some 50ft in front of the Sisters - all bearing bloodied weapons and three bearing the dismembered limbs of a small child that they devour with relish....

Go sisters go!

[BelGareth]

Working silently he strapped on his armor with the help of his good friend, skeggi.

Once complete he grabbed his bandoleer and other belts of gear, running out of the door donning them as he went. He rounded the corner of the hallway to see some others who thought they would help, or impede him as he went. Grimacing, and not saying a word, he moved down the stairs to the tap room room...

As he moves down he casts several spells, bolstering himself and his those following him down.


3 rounds?
round 1 - Bless (10 minutes)
round 2 - Communal Pro from Evil (2 minutes on everyone, 3 mins on Gerrard)
round 3 - divine Favor (+3 luck bonus to hit and damage, 10 rounds)
round 4 -
K. check to see what the beastmen are so he can apply the appropriate Bane quality on his weapons. [roll0] (planes, religion, arcana, dungeoneering, or nature)
Swift action: activate Judgments (Destruction and Protection)
Move: Move to within 20 ft of first available target.
Standard: Shoot 1st available target.
[roll1]
[roll2]
If the target is a spellcaster, DC 20 Fort save or take -4 on concentration checks for 1 round.


Gerrard 'the Black' (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=586917)
M LN Human Inquisitor, Level 10, Init +12, HP 62/62, DR -, Speed 30
AC 29, Touch 19, Flat-footed 25, Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +18, Base Attack Bonus +7/+2
+1 Reliable Pistol (20/20) +12/+7 (1d8+1, x3)
+1 Rapier +12/+7 (1d6+2, 18–20/×2)
Wooden Stake (3/3) +11/+6 (1d4+1, x2)
Mithral +3 Brestplate (+8 Armor, +4 Dex, +2 Natural, +2 Deflect, +3 Misc)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 10
Condition Human
Armor donned hastily (-1 Ac, +1 ACP)
Bless (+1 morale to attack and saves vs fear)
Protection from Evil, Communal (+2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on save)
Divine Favor (+3 luck to attack and damage)
Destruction: +4 sacred bonus on all weapon damage rolls.
Protection: +3 sacred bonus to Armor Class, CMD & casting defensively.

[Gruzzle]

Skeggi starts to follow Gerrard, then turns around to pick up his quiver and longbow. Stalking out of the door wearing just a quiver, with an axe in one hand and a bow in the other, he pauses at the sight and smell of smoke. He looks back at the rest of his gear and grimaces. He points his axe at his gear and grumbles "I'll be back for you shortly, don't go anywhere and burning up is strictly forbidden." He sighs as more screams echo up from below, and he turns and sprints to catch up to Gerrard.

[watupwithdat]

Other people seemed to have sprung into action seeing as some human and a dwarf came running past Salazar as he calmly walked to the stairs. The human firing a pistol or some such. But the hazy and rippling images of the bright wizard paid no heed to that, and just kept walking, ready to incinerate the first beastman he saw.

Then he saw them, standing down there in the inn. With a snap of his fingers on his extended hand one of the beastmen was engulfed in flame, with flaming tendrils suddenly arcing to the nearby foes like they were seeking additional flesh to burn as well, not content with only the initial beastman.

Empowered Burning Arc (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/burning-arc), 4th level spell slot. I'm guessing all 4 beastmen inside the inn would be within 15 ft of eachother/the initial target, so all can be hit.

Initial target (I guess the one in the middle of them all): [roll0] x 1.5 = 81 damage.
Reflex DC 21 for half damage on initial target

Reflex DC 19 for half damage on secondary targets.
2nd target: [roll1] x 1.5 = 42 damage.
3rd target: [roll2] x 1.5 = 21 damage.
4th target: [roll3] x 1.5 = 4 damage.

[Gruzzle]

Skeggi will post up at the base of the stairs, propping his axe next to him, and begins firing his bow at the beastmen, even as fire arcs between them.

Target priority is whichever is closest to the stairs, switching as they drop.
Rapidshot w/ deadly aim [roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

DMG [roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]

[Starbin]

As the Sisters moved forward, their actions coordinated and practiced, they found confirmation of Sister Serabeth's concerns. Then the six beastmen stepped out, still holding the remains of their latest victims.

Sister Serabeth paused for a moment, sensing the collective outrage of her people. "What is it? What have you seen?" Sister Tonya laid a hand on her shoulder, leaning close. "Beastman, Sister, six in total. They still hold evidence of their crimes."

With a grim nod, Sister Serabeth called out. "Fan out, kill the atrocities, show no mercy! Save any survivors you can!"

Following Tonya, Serabeth moved forward with her hammer at the ready. In the back, Sister Jessica cried out, "To arms, sisters, to arms! Down with the spawn, in the name of Sigmar!"

As one, the Sisters moved forward to sweep and engage ...

Warband will move forward, with the main force dividing into two groups (5 hammers, 5 axes from Blade & Hammer, 5 clerics, 2 Maul and Helga in group 1; 5 hammers, 5 axes from Blade & Hammer, 5 crusaders, 2 Maul and Helena in group 2 ... total of 18 in each group). Group 1 and Group 2 will advance at a 45 degree angles, to the left and right obliques. One cleric in each group will cast bless. Group will move forward and ready an action to attack. Each one is looking for any survivors as they advance.

Sisters of Shadow will move forward, with Sisters Jessica, Riana and Elsa supporting. Shadow will fire slings (10 attacks), while Jessica uses Battlecry to give entire warband +1 to attacks, skills and saves for 3 rounds.
Attack 1: [roll0], Damage: [roll1]
Attack 2: [roll2], Damage: [roll3]
Attack 3: [roll4], Damage: [roll5]
Attack 4: [roll6], Damage: [roll7]
Attack 5: [roll8], Damage: [roll9]
Attack 6: [roll10], Damage: [roll11]
Attack 7: [roll12], Damage: [roll13]
Attack 8: [roll14], Damage: [roll15]
Attack 9: [roll16], Damage: [roll17]
Attack 10: [roll18], Damage: [roll19]


Serabeth and Tonya will advance, then ready action to attack when beastmen close. Serabeth has Life-links with all named warband members.

[DrK]

In the Inn

The Witch hunter strides out, the fury of Sigmar burning within his chest. The hulking beastlord in its heavy blackened plate armour a natural target and it coughs as the bullet tears a massive chunk out its flesh.

Even as the cloud of smoke begins to dissipate the barrel of the pistol begins to glow a dull red... flames flicker worryingly on his ammo pouch and a strong smell of brimstone surrounds him as the heat haze surrounding the Magister of Aqshy steps forward and unleashes the fury of Bright magic...

Flames engulf on of the beastmen literally burning him to a cinder of blackened bones and molten fur - the fire leaps from beast to beast, the two lesser ones suffering burnt fur and singed muscle, the massive leader unaffected as the flames seem to be absorbed into the heavy plate. Even as the beasts begin to move the leading one still trailing smoke begins to mount the stairs only to topple backwards as a pair of 3ft steel tipped shafts punch it backwards.

The beastlord strides forward, leaping up the stairs on goat hoofed legs, a wicked brassy cleaver dripping blood and flecked with rust raised high as he seeks to disembowel the Witch Hunter...


With a move of 40ft he leaps to the attack
Attack Gerrad [roll0] Damage [roll1] and Fort DC 18 or bleed [roll2]



The second beastmen moves up in support, drawing a throwing axe and hurling it at the shimmering centre of flames.


Move 30ft throw axe at Magister [roll3] Damage [roll4] and mirror image [roll5] magister on a 1



Even as that happens another 4 beastmen come lurching into the inn, trailing smoke but not blinded like the others rolling around outside...


4 more lightly scorched but not blind. 40ft from the top of the stairs.



In the Village

THe village begins to light up with screams as the Sisters fan out and Hammer and sling stones inscribed with the twin tailed comet hammer into bestial flesh. Even as the warband clashes with the beasts the six in front run towards the central group. Two of them leaping forward as they charge Tonya, another Sister Riana...

Vs Tonya [roll6] damage [roll7]
Vs Tonya [roll8] damage [roll9]
Vs Riana [roll10] damage [roll11]



Even as that's happening a hulking massive shape appears from the shadow - approaching to some 50ft, blood dripping from twinned sets of horns as the 4-horned minotaur slowly stalks out from a house, blood soaking its spiked hooves and saturating the robes loosely covering its malformed body.

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/276/8/3/minotaur_by_igorkieryluk-d3005wg.jpg

Its gestures at Serabeth and foul magics... streams of Dhar being drawn in from the winds of magic before coalescing around the Sisters and their leader mixed with the heavy earthen magics of Ghur. The cloying dark magic draining life as spinning shards of tainted earth drive into Sarabeth and the Sisters near her with bone crushing force. The beasts nearby unharmed- protected by their corrupt nature.


Minotaur shaman walks to within 50ft.
Casts Unholy Blight on Sarabeth (and everyone within 20ft of her)
Will DC 18 for half Damage [roll12] and avoid sickened [roll13]

If that kills some ladies then I'll feel sad. As for the other little ones fighting if you can make opposed charisma against the minotaur that willhelp guide the fight... [roll14] for the evil one

[Starbin]

The sudden onslaught caught the Sisters off-guard, both in its vehemance and ferocity. On each side, the majority of women found themselves engaged with their foe, locked in mortal combat. In the center, six beastmen rushed forward, with three busting through to attack both Sister Riana and Sister Tonya.

Ever alert to danger, Tonya slipped to the left, then right, avoiding the two hulking horned beasts that attacked her. Sister Riana, however, was not so lucky, taking a mighty blow to the side.

On the heels of this attack came another, this one fueld by the foul magiks of a shaman. A foul miasma of slimy dark magic spilled across the street, washing outward from Sister Serabeth and engulfling an number of her sisters. Most of the Sisters of Shadow fell victim to its power, as well as Helga and Riana, bleeding from their noses and wretching from the evilness of the cloud.

Sister Serabeth felt the magic crash against her mighty will, but also felt the pain from a number of her sisters that she had linked herself to. "What in the name of Sigmar was that?" Sister Elisa gasped in awe at the fearsome sight of the shaman. "Tis a foul mystic of the beastmen, Sister, twenty five paces that way!" She pointed, earning a grim nod from Serabeth.

Pointing towards the six beastmen, she growled, "Shadow Sisters, fall back! Senior Sisters, slay the wolves at the door first, then we'll deal with their pack leader ..." At her command, the Sisters of Shadow fell back as one, most of them gagging and coughing, all in pain from the shaman's spell.

Sister Elisa took a step back from direct conflict and raised her hands, calling Sigmar's fiery rage down upon the assembled beastmen. A ball of flame with twin tails erupted from her hand, flying towards the group fo six beastmen, exploding where it would hurt them the most and not harm her sisters.
Five foot step back if necessary, Cast fireball to catch as many of the six beasties.
DC 16 Ref for half: [roll0]

Helga staggered to stand with her sister and the two engaged and attacked a single beast man in front of them. "Courage Helga, pain is weakness leaving your body!"

Helga and Helena will close and attack.
Helga attack w/MW cold iron warhammer: [roll1], damage: [roll2]
Helena attack w/MW cold iron warhammer: [roll3], damage: [roll4]

Jessica stepped forward with her hammer in hand, moving to one side of the beastman that attacked Riana. The sneaky sister moved to the opposite side, effectively flanking the beast as each sister attack in concert.

Jessica attack w/MW cold iron warhammer: [roll5], damage: [roll6]
Riana attack w/MW cold iron rapier: [roll7], damage: [roll8], sneak attack: [roll9]

Tonya smiled in cold fury, twin warhammers appearing in her hand. With motions like the flowing of water, she struck out ... once, twice, three times in rapid succession.

Tonya flurry of blows w/MW warhammers: [roll10], [roll11], [roll12]; damage: [roll13], [roll14], [roll15]

Serabeth felt the pain of her connection to Riana, but shrugged it away for now. With her longhammer in hand, she moved forward to the beastmen she could see, lashing out at the closest one within reach of her maul. She could feel the shaman out there, but he remained hidden from her sight for now.

Move and attack one of the beastman from a second rank (+1 longhammer has reach): [roll16], damage: [roll17]

StatusSisters of Shadow: AC 16; Seven @ 4/12 hps, sickened for 3 rnds; three @ 8/12 hps
Sister Helga - AC 20; HPs: 11/19, sickened for 3 rnds
Sister Helena - AC 20; HPs: 15/19
Sister Riana - AC 17; HPs: 12/23, sickened for 3 rnds
Sister Jessica - AC 21; HPs: 24/28
Sister Elsa - AC 20; HPs: 27/31
Sister Tonya - AC 20; HPs: 43/47
Sister Serabeth - AC 22; HPs: 81/90; Linked to Riana, Jessica, Elsa and Tonya

PS - did you need a single charisma check? [roll18]

[watupwithdat]

The smoldering husk of one of the beastmen was a start, but far from pleasing to Salazar. It was obvious to him now that the creature lunging up the stairs was their leader. The human can deal with him for now. he thought as he diverted his attention to the influx of beastmen who had just come running through the inn door. They seemed to be flocking here, like moths drawn to flames. And the flames of Aqshy are more suited for dealing with them than he assumed the human and dwarf are, if they are capable of much at all.

The hazy images of the bright wizard extended their index fingers and pointed down at the beastmen when a bright glowing ember shot out from their fingers and all almost instantly converged in one point where they detonated into a blast of swirling violent flames consuming all the beastmen below the stairs.

Dazing (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/dazing-spell-metamagic) Fireball (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/f/fireball) (5th lvl spell slot) inside of the inn. Did I mention Salazar doesn't care too much about collateral damage unless it's someone he doesn't want to kill? :smallamused:

Aiming it between the group of beastmen and the stairs, so the 20 ft radius will reach both the ones inside who have just entered and the guy who ran towards the stairs to throw an axe, but not up the stairs to the beastlord.

All the beastmen (except beastlord) take [roll0] correction: 47 (removing 1d6+2) damage and are dazed (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/conditions#TOC-Dazed) for 3 rounds, Reflex DC 22 for half damage and resist Dazing.

I'm guessing some stuff might catch fire or melt.

[Gruzzle]

At the sight of the beastlord advancing so quickly on his and Gerrards' position, Skeggi drops his bow behind him, and hefts his axe, readying himself for the imminent melee.


Readied melee attack(sunder weapon & power attack)

[roll]1d20+3

Damage from +2 Greataxe of Frost aka "Bladebreaker"
1d12+13+[1d6]
1d12+13+[1d6]

[Gruzzle]

OOC: Attempt to fix rolls, take one...


Attack roll #2
[roll0]

Damage from +2 Greataxe of Frost aka "Bladebreaker"
[roll1]+[1d6]
[roll2]+[1d6]

Edit: -.- DM please roll for me as necessary to resolve.

[Fungusamnguss]

C'mon C'MON! Some of this, a little of that. Al .... most ... done. Now to stir until it stops bubbling. Oh c'mon! I gotta get outta here!

Having nearly completed his extract, Thorah'nes moves with lightning fast reflexes. His hands move in a blur from his reagent bag to the little vial, adding this and that while stirring occasionally one way then the other. The little potion vial bubbles and froths as he works, changing color from time to time. With the sounds of battle literally on his doorstep, now was not the time for error or slacking. Hopefully, some of the other inn residents would die slow enough so that he could get his extract completed and make his escape.

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


The druchii's eyes were wide with delight as her pointed ears delivered the agonised choir of burning beastmen. Still situated at a tavern window, safe for now, the elf peered through the ember-wreathed gloom and spotted a most perculiar sight - a collection of robed, human women engaging the children of chaos with hammers and slings. However, these were not the soft, dainty urbanites that Selindra had come to view as rather useless: their frames were laden with thick muscles that gave power to their technique, and enabled them a fighting chance against the hooved denizens of the warp.

It was then that the second oddity arrived in the form of a great, horned beast. Its frame was quite enormous and was most likely heard through the trembling ground before it was seen...it's massive, mountainous frame silhouetted by the fiery smoke as it moved up and howled the annunciation of its presence.

Then, something miraculous happened...it cast a spell. The hideous beast drew into it the winds of magic and manipulated them to its own ends - Selindra could hardly believe such a feat was possible! That this foul, disgusting creature could assert any modicum of magical ability was simply unbelievable...but there it was...

Bringing up her hands and gesturing, Selindra narrowed her eyes at the huge beast and uttered several words that drew upon her own dark magics.

Outside, in the village, right beneath the monster a pit abruptly tore apart reality as a gouge in the earth. Below it, a pit some 50 feet deep opened up, its sides a roiling coil of grinding teeth that hungered for the meat for prey.

OOC:
All the beastment on fire take another 1d6=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4124069/) damage.

Selindra is casting Hungry Pit (http://paizo.com/prd/advanced/spells/hungryPit.html) on the shaman minotaur thing.

The minotaur/shaman thing needs to make a DC 22 reflex save.

If it fails it takes 5d6=17 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4124070/) falling damage.

It is then stuck at the bottom of a 50 foot deep pit, and takes another 4d6=15 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4124071/) damage as the grinding, shifting walls convulse and constrict. It'll take another 4d6 damage every round until it gets out or the spell ends.

Naturally, being stuck at the bottom of a 50 foot deep pit means it can't really do anything. If it wants to get out, it has to take a DC 35 climb check, otherwise it's stuck down there.

[BelGareth]

Gerrard steps back and to the side, easily able to dodge the lumbering beast and its clumsy attack.

He growls out to the beast as it misses "Sigmar blesses my arms and armor, BEAST, you shall perish, your life stuff will blacken the very ground we walk upon, your penance for your very existence!" the threat juxtaposed by the growling of the beastman before him sounding eerily similar.

As he moves, his arms flawlessly move with a blur, grabbing, powder, wadding, bullet and plunger, placing them into his pistol with the ease and expertise of someone who has done it a thousand times before. Two steps later he points his pistol once again at the large creature, a slight grin upon his grim visage, his lips upturned at the edges as the weapon ignites, blasting forth another steel ball and billowing out yet another cloud of gunpowder smoke.


Swift action to activate Bane (Beastman, k roll was in last post)
Attack with pistol against the one who attacked me
[roll0] Ranged touch
[roll1] + [roll2]
Gerrard 'the Black' (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=586917)
M LN Human Inquisitor, Level 10, Init +12, HP 62/62, DR -, Speed 30
AC 29, Touch 19, Flat-footed 25, Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +18, Base Attack Bonus +7/+2
+1 Reliable Pistol (20/20) +12/+7 (1d8+1, x3)
+1 Rapier +12/+7 (1d6+2, 18–20/×2)
Wooden Stake (3/3) +11/+6 (1d4+1, x2)
Mithral +3 Brestplate (+8 Armor, +4 Dex, +2 Natural, +2 Deflect, +3 Misc)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 10
Condition Human
Armor donned hastily (-1 Ac, +1 ACP)
Bless (+1 morale to attack and saves vs fear)
Protection from Evil, Communal (+2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on save)
Divine Favor (+3 luck to attack and damage)
Destruction: +4 sacred bonus on all weapon damage rolls.
Protection: +3 sacred bonus to Armor Class, CMD & casting defensively.
Bane: Beastmen

[DrK]

Inside the Inn

The world turns to fire... Windows shattering, shutter exploding outwards and turning to ash and spirits catching light in dancing blue and greenish flames that race like water across the bar and floor. The beastmen are consumed as the raw flames of Aqshy roar around the base of the inn as the entire catches fire reducing the beastmen to charred ash and burning flesh.


all the beastmen are toasted. No need to be dazed.


Atop the top of the stairs the heavy rune axe is turned aside by the bloodied cleaver, a sweep of the beast's horns causing Gerrard to fumble the pistol ball, the ball turning to molten lead and flowing out of sight in the flames raging below.

With a massive roar it leaps forward blade hacking into Skeggi and Gerrard with brutal abandon...



Attack Skeggi [roll0] Damage [roll1] DC18 Fort or bleed [roll2]

Attack Gerrard [roll3] Damage [roll4] DC18 Fort or bleed [roll5]


Outside the Inn

The hammers of Sigmar stalk the shadows. Heavy blows crushing warped flesh and shattering twisted horns. Sarabeth linked to her sisters can feel two of her faithful falling to the rusted cleavers of the beasts. Other women suffering grievous wounds that the other sisters rush to tend, Sigmar's blessings closing wounds with the healing fire of the Heldenhammer.

In the centre where Serabeth made her stand beastmen surged against her most trusted followers. One of the Battle sisters prayed to Sigmar and a pair of small fireballs like a twin tailed comet exploded with a soft roar engulfing the beastmen, two of them staggering backwards before being felled by the hammers of Jessica and Tonya. The three surviving beastmen roared in fury as one of them hacked down one of the sisters in front of her, another pushing past Tonya and hacking at the Sister superior herself. The other three battling the other Sisters, a wounded one burned by fire falling backwards under a hail of hammers never to rise again.


Attack serabeth [roll6] Damage [roll7]
- Of the 6 - three are dead. Two are engaged your minor minions. One is engaging Serabeth



The massive dark sorcerer, wreathed in Dhar roared its challenge to the Sisters and gestured its hand.... before falling out of sight. Even as it falls, the ground rumbling and twisting with the heavy threads of Ghur dragging and pulling at the stones.

The ground in the village twists and turns to ash and death with the forces of chaos rampant.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/topher319/Arenas/Sauron_Backyard.jpg
The wastes of the chaos rampant flows across the village warping and twisting the Inn, the streets and all in between.


Widened Vision of Hell (100ft diameter) so affecting all in the INn and all the sisters.

Will DC 19 and shaken for all (plus additional -2 against fear if you fail)






OOC all players go!

[Fungusamnguss]

As he stares out the busted window at the hellish destruction zone that had only minutes ago been a peaceful town, Thorah'nes thought to himself, "When will I ever learn? I should have just stayed in the woods. Any amount of rain would have been preferable to having the entire freakin town you're in go straight to hell! I mean, C'MON! All I can say is it won't be my problem for long!"

As soon as his newest concoction was complete, he quickly stowed it in his pack and grabbed another. He threw on his pack and quietly moved to the broken window and prepared to leave the hell he had now been drawn into. He quaffed the liquid in the little vial he had retrieved and tossed the empty vial on the bed. As his feet started to lift off the ground, one last thought went through his head before he left, "So much for a quiet place to sleep!"


Swift action to store the Extract of Greater Invisibility.
Move action to draw out an Extract of Fly.
Move action to quaff the Extract of Fly.
Stealth Check to avoid any detection at the window: [roll0]
*That check was without the Shaken effect. Subtract 2 from that roll.

[Starbin]

The battle was truly joined, screams of rage and pain echoed across the field as the Sisters of Sigmar continued to fight against their foes. The lesser Sisters continued to fight, even as a few fell to the beastmen's blows. But even as the battle seemed tenuous, three of the beastmen in the center fell before the might of the senior Sisters, and a huge hole suddenly opened up and swallowed the foul shaman, dropping him from sight.

As the Sisters of Shadow moved to support their comrades, the world suddenly shifted as a horrific terrain replaced the already hellish sight of the overrun burning village. Most of the lesser sisters staggered, eyes wide in undisguised fear, swinging wildly at their foes as they clustered together. The Sisters of the Cloth and Bandage, unaffected, shouted out words of encouragement and cries to rally against their hated enemy, using their abilities to heal their comrades where they could.

Up to 10 Channel Energies at 1d6, maneuvering to avoid healing the enemy; the others will all fight!

At the center, the senior sisters continued to focus on the beastmen. The illusion held no fear for them, buttressed as they were by the faith of Helga, Helana and of course their Sister Superior. Hearing the gasps of fear and alarm, Serabeth shouted, "COURAGE, SISTERS! This is illusion, do not be fooled! The haft of our hammers - THAT is real! The strength of our sinews - THAT is real! The faith in our hearts - THAT is real!

FOR SIGMAR!"

Sister Elsa steppped back weaving her hands and raising her symbol. Outside the reach of the beastmen, she prayed for her sisters ... and Sigmar answered!

Step back, cast Prayer (40ft burst, +1 luck bonus to attack/skills/saves/damage; -1 on all those to beastmen, for 5 rounds)

Sister Helga touched side briefly, sending a glowing wave of energy through her wounds, as she and her twin, Helena, roared in response to Serabeth's call to action. They surrounded one of the beasts, delivering blows from each side.

Helga: Swift action to lay hands, heals [roll0] and removes sickness; Helga and Helena flank and attack. Prayer, Flank & Battlecry
Helga: MW cold iron warhammer: [roll1], damage: [roll2]
Helena: MW cold iron warhammer: [roll3], damage: [roll4]

Sisters Jessica and Riana moved to flank their opponet, but Tonya stepped forward and pulled Riana back. "Back, little sister, I will deal with this beast ..." Tonya and Jessica attacked in rapid succession, raining down blows to fell the beastman quickly.

Jessica and Tonya stepping to flank. Riana withdrawing to stand next to Elsa. Prayer, Battlecry, and flank
Jessica: MW cold iron warhammer: [roll5], damage: [roll6] (31 if 18 confirms crit :smallbiggrin:)
Tonya flurry of blows w/MW warhammers: [roll7], [roll8], [roll9]; damage: [roll10], [roll11], [roll12]

Serabeth never even moved as the beastman faltered and missed with its attack. Stepping back again, she swung the huge hammer, bringing it across at the beastman, then quickly reversing it back to strike once more ...

Five foot step, full attack vs the beastman. Prayer and Battlecry
Attack w/+1 longhammer: [roll13], [roll14]damage: [roll15], [roll16] (looks like 46 total, w/crit :smallbiggrin:

StatusSisters of the Blade & Hammer and Sisters of the Maul: Shaken
Sisters of Shadow: Seven @ 4/12 hps, sickened for 3 rnds; three @ 8/12 hps; all shaken
Sister Helga - AC 20; HPs: 12/19,
Sister Helena - AC 20; HPs: 15/19
Sister Riana - AC 17; HPs: 12/23, sickened for 3 rnds
Sister Jessica - AC 21; HPs: 24/28
Sister Elsa - AC 20; HPs: 27/31
Sister Tonya - AC 20; HPs: 43/47
Sister Serabeth - AC 22; HPs: 81/90; Linked to Riana, Jessica, Elsa and Tonya

[watupwithdat]

If the evil beastmen did not know already, this now knew for certain that the destructive power of Aqshy was overwhelming. They had no chance standing up to it, and should really lay down their arms and sit down on their knees until Salazar could come around to incinerate them. The wizard spoke. "Burn." he said. Then he started walking and pointed his finger toward the leader of the beasts engaged with the human and dwarf. As he walked towards and then down the stairs, a rippling heatwave left his pointed finger aimed at the beastlord.

Casting Heatstroke (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/h/heatstroke), 3rd level slot.

Ranged touch attack: [roll0], [roll1] nonlethal damage.
22 DC Fortitude save, -4 penalty to save for using heavy clothing/armor. Fatigued on save, Exhausted on fail, 10 min duration.

30ft move down the stairs, won't stand so people can see him from outside. Any flames going on down there won't hurt him due to fire resist 10 (they would be 1d6 or 1d10 I'm guessing).

[Gruzzle]

Skeggi stumbles back from the beastlord and catches a fast breath while he looks to his compatriot. "Ah think it's ah'bot time Ah grab t' rest uv mah gear, Gerrard... this place will be nought but ash shortly, being in t' grips of chaos now." He nods his head behind then indicating the direction of their room. He's clearly a bit shaken at the visions of doom that have just danced into reality.

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


Satisfied with her work, Selinda pulled herself away from the window and moved into the hallway. As she did so, Suluphet stretched his wings and flew over to perch himself upon his masters right shoulder.

Emerging into main area of commotion, Selindra quietly fell in with the others, a knowing smirk playing across her elven features that were illuminated and sculpted in the shadows and light emitted by the firestorm around them.

ooc:

All beastmen still on fire take: 1d6=6 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4131183/) damage

The shaman stuck in the pit takes: 4d6=17 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4131182/) damage

[BelGareth]

Avoiding the attack once again, he grinned, these damnable beastmen were no match for his blessings, and they were no match for the Chaos charms they worshiped to, his were from the true god, a god of true power and existence, not some fanciful dream that took life in some northern cannibals shaman hut.

Gerrard nods to Skeggi, he wandered why the dwarf had not demanded to dress as he did, but thought nothing of it, he was a dwarf, closer to the temptations of Chaos than he, and so much more alien than the pure mind of a witch hunter.

"Bless me Sigmar", Gerrard whispered as he repeated the actions again, so he could blast the damnable beastman in the face, he hoped this time his fervor wasn't too much and he could get the shot off properly. Pride had its place, but it was not here.


Swift action to activate Bane (Beastman)
Attack with pistol against the one who attacked me
[roll0]
[roll1] + [roll2]

Gerrard 'the Black' (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=586917)
M LN Human Inquisitor, Level 10, Init +12, HP 62/62, DR -, Speed 30
AC 29, Touch 19, Flat-footed 25, Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +18, Base Attack Bonus +7/+2
+1 Reliable Pistol (20/20) +12/+7 (1d8+1, x3)
+1 Rapier +12/+7 (1d6+2, 18–20/×2)
Wooden Stake (3/3) +11/+6 (1d4+1, x2)
Mithral +3 Brestplate (+8 Armor, +4 Dex, +2 Natural, +2 Deflect, +3 Misc)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 10
Condition Human
Armor donned hastily (-1 Ac, +1 ACP)
Bless (+1 morale to attack and saves vs fear)
Protection from Evil, Communal (+2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on save)
Divine Favor (+3 luck to attack and damage)
Destruction: +4 sacred bonus on all weapon damage rolls.
Protection: +3 sacred bonus to Armor Class, CMD & casting defensively.
Bane: Beastmen

[DrK]

In the blood smeared streets...

The battle is soon to be over. The beasts in the centre fall under the hammers of Sigmar's faithful while the ladies that are wounded spring back up to their feet as the blessings of the faithful wash over them.

Outside the inn a few more the vile beasts fall down from the flames before a hail of sling stones and sling bulltes inscribed with blessings fell he rest. Only the vile shaman himself remains alive even as the ground chews and bites at the massive beast...


Dark energies leak out of the hole as he heals himself [roll0]


Inside the Inn

The flames of ashqy wash around the towering beastlord but once again the strange and burnt looking armour wards the massive creature who swings his bloody cleaver at the shimmering mage as he dashes down to bathe in the flames that are consuming the floor of the Inn...


AoO [roll1] Damage [roll2] DC18 Fort or bleed [roll3] and mirror image [roll4] Wizard on a 1!



Even as the magister pushes past there is a cloud of smoke and the Wargor grunts loudly as the bullet slams into it chest fired point blank by Gerrard. It roars a challenge as the dwarf steps backwards into their rooms and an elf - hated by all beastmen - steps into the corridor.

The beast hacks brutally again at the Witch Huntre, massive cleaver swing twice at the gun toting Sigmarite


attack [roll5] Damage [roll6] DC18 Fort or bleed [roll7]
attack [roll8] Damage [roll9] DC18 Fort or bleed [roll10]



Players to go.
Only the wargor and the big shaman in a pit are now alive

[watupwithdat]

Standing amidst the scattered flames that were the result of his own magic, Salazar looked outside and couldn't see any more beastmen who seemed to be alive. He could only see a few scattered groups of women. Sisters of Sigmar? he thought, as he observed their vestments and numbers.

With no targets outside, there was only one he could turn his attention to. The one who had seemed to have some kind of resistance to the winds of Aqshy, the beastlord on the top of the stairs fighting the human.

The wizard extended his finger up towards the beastlord and five small glowing balls of energy shot out of his finger and struck the beast in the back.

Using Magic Missle, all 5 missiles on beastlord, dealing [roll0] damage. No save.

[Fungusamnguss]

As Thorah'nes (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=586299) left the confines of his room via the hole where his window used to be, his feet lifted effortlessly off the floor. As he did so, he decided that if he was going to leave this hell, he could at least do some damage as he went. Once outside the inn he turns to see whats left, only to see that the inn will soon be a complete inferno. "I hope that if anyone manages to get past those beastmen that they dont end up dying in the fire!"

Without much time, he quickly turned to see his target ... and escape route. The seemingly last living enemy was stuck. At the bottom of a hole sure, but stuck none the less. Plus, beyond the hole Thorah'nes could easily escape back into the woods. With a thought, the crossbow he had left braced against his bedroom door instantly appeared in his hand and with movements faster than the eye could see, Thorah'nes loaded a bolt and prepared to send a message. He easily flew above the hole and loosed his bolt at the creature in the pit. As he did so, he let loose an almost beastly howl. In fact, to a trained ear it would have almost sounded similar to a large feline.


Swift action to call Crossbow to hand.
Free action to reload.
Move action to fly above hole 30ft off ground. (80ft above shaman)
Ranged Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Starbin]

The Sisters gathered their wounded, tending the torn flesh and spirit as the maw in the ground continued to crush and rend at the beast at the bottom. Serabeth gathered the ladies close, murmuring a prayer over them. "We stand nearly victorious, Sisters, but not quite yet. Junior sisters, I need you to go forth and help the people of this village. Riana ... Helga and Helena, you will lead them. Sweep the town and return to me when your ministrations are complete. Elsa, Jessica and Tonya, you are with me. We shall wait for this hound of chaos and give him the greeting of Sigmar."

As the majority of the warband moved off to search and succor, Serabeth spoke quietly to the three remaining sisters. "It was fortuitous the earth swallowed the beast, but tell me this, Sisters - who did it?"

Sending the majority of the Sisters out to help. We'll wait for the spell to end ... hopefully after a few rounds of getting crushed constantly, we'll fight something a little less healthy than before!

[BelGareth]

Gerrard snarls as the Beastmans cleaver slices through his armor and into his arm, blood starts to stream down his tunic, warm, wet and sticky. He started to feel his arm get weak, but resolved to get through this fight, gritting his teeth he altered his battle blessings and decided to change his tactic.

He steps back, reloads his pistol, hands a blur as before, and then speaks out to the vile beastman, rebuking him with the power of a god.

"Foul thing from Chaos! You shall die, and spill your tainted ichor on this ground and will be no more, submit to us, the inevitable is here! delivered by the hand of the blessed Sigmar!"


Swift: Bane: Beastmen
Free: 5 ft away
Move: Reload pistol
Standard: cast Rebuke (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/r/rebuke) defensively DC 19
[roll0]
[roll1] + Fort DC 21 for half and negates staggered for 1 round.

Gerrard 'the Black' (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=586917)
M LN Human Inquisitor, Level 10, Init +12, HP 37/62, DR -, Speed 30
AC 29, Touch 19, Flat-footed 25, Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +18, Base Attack Bonus +7/+2
+1 Reliable Pistol (20/20) +12/+7 (1d8+1, x3)
+1 Rapier +12/+7 (1d6+2, 18–20/×2)
Wooden Stake (3/3) +11/+6 (1d4+1, x2)
Mithral +3 Brestplate (+8 Armor, +4 Dex, +2 Natural, +2 Deflect, +3 Misc)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 10
Condition Human
Armor donned hastily (-1 Ac, +1 ACP)
Bless (+1 morale to attack and saves vs fear)
Protection from Evil, Communal (+2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on save)
Divine Favor (+3 luck to attack and damage)
Destruction: +4 sacred bonus on all weapon damage rolls.
Protection: +3 sacred bonus to Armor Class, CMD & casting defensively.
Bane: Beastmen

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra

Believing that the Witch Hunter and dwarf had the large beastman well in hand, Selindra's elegant image flickered and vanished.


oOo

In a soft cloud of shadowy motes, the dark elf materialised outside on the ground, a rod in hand, her long, white hair carried in the breeze as she peered around to admire her handiwork.

Buildings were wreathed in flame, the fires reaching high into the night sky. Scattered about the bases of these pyres were the charred remains of beastmen - dozens of the vile brutes, their miserable lives consumed by the inferno of the Druchii's magic.

This pleased her.

ooc:
Wanting to conserve my spell list rather than going Nova.

Selindra is using Shift (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/arcane-schools/paizo---arcane-schools/classic-arcane-schools/conjuration/teleportation) to teleport outside the inn to inspect her handiwork.

She'll keep an action ready just in case there are any less-crispified beastmen or over-zealous...people, about.

[DrK]

Inside the Inn

Fire races up the stairs and walls as the Inn begins to be consumed by the roaring flames unleashed by the pair of mages. Even as Skeggi darts back to rescue equipment Gerrard roars a challenge at the wargor and the power of Sigmar's will slams into it.

It slips and topples back slightly stunned for one round. Instinct causing it to follow up Gerrard, towering above him as blood drips from its nose, its body shaking slightly and the smell of roasted meat enveloping the Witch Hunter as the fire mage below engulfed the wargor in fire.


Inn continues to catch fire
Gerrard and Salthizar blast him
He's staggered and follows up to close on Gerrard




Outside the Inn

The hellish blood soaked and devastated streets surround the Sisters as the last of the beasts are put to the hammer. Down inside the pit beastly screams continue and loudly crunching noises...


Bad guy will be toast.... He an't get out and has no more healing. Its only a matter of time for him :smallfrown:

[Gruzzle]

Skeggi hastily dons his armor, and slings his pack on. He searches the room for any other gear he or Gerrard might have also not picked up, then heads back for the door, axe in hand and bow on his back.

ooc
Let me know when Skeggi is finished and can be involved with the wargor battle again, if he's still around.

[Fungusamnguss]

Even as his loosed bolt tings off the wall in the pit below with the beastman, Thorah'nes was already on his way. Straight out of town he flew with the quickness of a falcon. Within a few seconds, he was out of sight. Lost in the woods from which he had came only a few hours before.


Double move out of town. (120ft)
Stealth: [roll0]

[Starbin]

Nodding in satisfaction at the beast's cries, Serabeth turned to her senior sisters. "Forward, and cleanse this town of the foul taint of Chaos. In the name of Sigmar!"

With a collective, "HUAH!" the women followed Serabeth as she made her way towards the end, Tonya slightly guiding the woman with a gentle nudge.

Sorry about the delay, but I'm back in the land of wi-fi access! Not sure what else to do right now, but the minions are off helping the town and any innocents they find. The senior sisters are searching for the source, heading towards the inn for now ...

[BelGareth]

Gerrard seemingly ignoring, or not able to see the tavern falling apart around him, flames licking his heels, grins as the creature is rocked by his rebuke, nonetheless, he takes care and aims his pistol back at the beast hoping to end its miserable life.


Swift action to keep Bane
Attack with pistol
[roll0] Ranged touch
[roll1] + [roll2]

Gerrard 'the Black' (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=586917)
M LN Human Inquisitor, Level 10, Init +12, HP 62/62, DR -, Speed 30
AC 29, Touch 19, Flat-footed 25, Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +18, Base Attack Bonus +7/+2
+1 Reliable Pistol (20/20) +12/+7 (1d8+1, x3)
+1 Rapier +12/+7 (1d6+2, 18–20/×2)
Wooden Stake (3/3) +11/+6 (1d4+1, x2)
Mithral +3 Brestplate (+8 Armor, +4 Dex, +2 Natural, +2 Deflect, +3 Misc)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 22, Cha 10
Condition Human
Armor donned hastily (-1 Ac, +1 ACP)
Bless (+1 morale to attack and saves vs fear)
Protection from Evil, Communal (+2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on save)
Divine Favor (+3 luck to attack and damage)
Destruction: +4 sacred bonus on all weapon damage rolls.
Protection: +3 sacred bonus to Armor Class, CMD & casting defensively.
Bane: Beastmen

[watupwithdat]

A reliable power as always, that one was. The beast didn't seem to be able to resist it to the same degree as the magic Salazar had used on it before. It wasn't as damaging as the vast majority of other powers at his disposal, though. But he was in no immediate danger, seeing how there only were humans alive outside, and the man was keeping it busy.

Again, he mustered forth the same magic he had a moment ago. He could wittle away at the beast's life this way.

Another magic missile, [roll0] damage.

[DrK]

inside the Inn there was a flare of fire and a bang from the pistol and then seconds later the beastly creature was rolling down the stair dark black blood leeching from its wounds. Fire still engulfed the Inn as the flames began to run up the stairs towards Gerrard and Skeggi.

Outside the sisters purged the town with fanatical efficiency as the senior Sisters and the Elven sorceress listened to grotesque sounds of crunching as the pit slowly consumed the awful beast...


The battle is over... a hellish village (for ~ 8 minutes) and a burning Inn...

[Starbin]

Serabeth motioned to the inn, her voice ringing out, "On the fires, Sisters! Time enough to mourn the dead - now we fight to keep the living!"

The warband spread out, searching for survivors and working to put out water. With a number of women who could summon divine water, they were well equipped to help combat the flames.

Go go gadget water spouts!

[Fungusamnguss]

As Thorah'nes entered the woods and began to leave the hellish village behind, he began to feel better. The shakiness in his limbs faded and his senses sharpened back to normal. As he came to a stop, he could still hear the screams and shouts from the village as everyone scattered and hurried to put out fires and save any still inside the burning buildings. This bothered him somewhat. He had lived in these lands for many years and had developed a sort of bond with its people. Even if they were afraid of part of him ...

For a moment, he thought of returning to help the villagers .... but then he remembered it. He had seen a troupe of armed .... women? Didnt matter really. All he knew was that they were all armed with hammers, and they had a nice pile of bodies laid out. They would surely help any villagers trapped as best they could. Either way, with the return of his senses and ability to think clearly he knew he was not going back to that town. Hopefully no one saw me leave. It sounded like more than a couple people were able to take out those beastmen. I should find out more about them in the morning.

Without further ado, he flew off into the woods to find a suitable tree in which to spend the remainder of the night.



Thorah'nes will spend the rest of the night in a tree, as well hidden as possible. On the 'morrow he will seek out any survivors and/or glorious combatants!


Just so everyone knows, Ive already talked to DrK about it but I will be leaving in the next couple days to go on vacation with my girlfriend. We should be back in a week and a half or so. DrK, if you would like to NPC any suitable actions by my character until I return.

See you all soon!

[DrK]

Over the course of the next ten minutes the village shimmers once more and the vivid disturbing hell scape fades away back to the rain soaked pitch dark village. Ashes floating in the wet air as the Sisters become smeared in mud and ash as they run around in groups - the armed Sisters guarding the water producing clerics. They also manage to find many shocked and terrified survivors in the village. Though it would appear that the beasts have taken or consumed some third of the village.

The Inn goes up like a bonfire, far in excess of what a few water creating cantrips can quench. Gerrad and Skeggi leaping like strange fire elementals from a top floor window, the Bright Magister picking his way through the fire and walking out the flames still smoking slightly as with a great groan the Inn collapses inwards behind them.

As you begin to survey the damage one of the sisters comes sprinting up to the Sister Superior - "Sister Superior, we have found the village Priest. A devotee of the Twin Tailed Comet. He lies on death's threshold but would speak with you...."

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


The Druchii watched with satisfaction as her spell ended and the hole she had created "rose up" to fill itself. As it did so, the crumpled body of the shaman was presented to the world.

Approaching the corpse and emitting a soft, amused sigh, Selindra spoke to herself, "Amateur hour is over, beast." before poking him with the end of her rod.

She then inspected the creature to look for anything of interest, though she doubted an animal like this possessed much in the way of curious gubbins.

[watupwithdat]

As the inn collapsed behind him, Salazar drew the conclusion that its construction did not measure up to the destructive winds of Aqshy. He had barely set the entrance alight and it all went up in flames.

He venture out toward where the biggest grouping of sisters were situated, and he could spot an elf standing next to a large looking beast. Is this the shaman I had come all this way for? he thought to himself. In the end he wasn't even involved in its destruction.

"Sisters." he said as he approached the larger grouping near the body of the shaman. "I would not have expected a warband such as this here. Chasing the rumours of a beast shaman leaving a wake of chaos and destruction as well?""

[Starbin]

Moving slowly through the town, assessing the damage and offering a word or two of succor, Serabeth shook her head at the devestation of it all. As so many times before, the hounds of Chaos had swept through and left their foul mark on the world - while the Sisters might be able to douse the flames, bandage the bleeding, even rebuild the town, what of those wounds that cut deeper beneath the surface? How to heal that which they could not see? Such hurts often stained the soul, and attacked the one thing no one could live without ... hope.

"Sister Superior, we have found the village Priest. A devotee of the Twin Tailed Comet. He lies on death's threshold but would speak with you.

There are also two mages looking over the dead shaman ... one a wizard and the other an elven witch." She looked to the young woman who had brought the news, so young, so new to the Sisters. She paused for a moment, her opaque eyes seemingly staring into the young girl's heart befor nodding. "My thanks, little Sister. Go, continue to help the others. I shall go to him now." Turning to Tonya, she nodded back to the pit where she had left some of the junior sisters to watch for any signs of the shaman. "See what this wizard and witch want ..."

Tonya sighed and courtsied, is somewhat sarcastically. Serabeth simply smiled and headed in the direction of the Sigmarite priest ...

------------------------------------------

Tonya approached the group near the point where the beast literally fell to his doom. She saw the wizard and the elf, and heard the man's questions as she drew near. "The Sisters go where we are needed, and stand against Chaos in all its forms. We were not seeking these beasts; it is by the fortune of Sigmar that we arrived when we did. Were you chasing them, then? You and your elven consort?" She glanced at the woman with the alien beauty, even now looking over the brutalized body of the shaman.

Okies ... Serabeth is on to see the priest, along with Elsa and Jessica. Tonya is acting on her behalf with the others.

[watupwithdat]

"I happened to end up here due to mention of a chaos shaman, yes. It was however chance that I did not need to search further, if this in fact is the shaman in question." Salazar said as he pointed toward the dead horned beast. "As for the elf, I came here alone and do not know it." he continued, somewhat suspicious that there was in fact an elven mage here.

[Starbin]

Tonya raised an eyebrow. "Truly? Perhaps we should greet her, then. Just to be polite." Moving over to the woman, Tonya inclined her head slightly to the elf. "Greetings, lady. I am Tonya of the Sisters of Sigmar. On behalf of Mother Matriarch Elv ... ah ... my pardons, on behalf of Sister Superior Serabeth, I bid you greeting.

How have you come to be here, at this time?"

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


The elf was so far standing and prodding over the fallen beastman with the end of her rod, scooping up loosely affixed pouches and flinging them onto the mud where she could turn them over with her foot. She didn't actually want to touch the filthy creature...

Then a voice came to her. It spoke to her from behind.

Looking over her shoulder at the Sister of Sigma before turning on her heel to face the woman fully, Selindra regarded her with her fey, hard-to-discern features.

Smiling, she held her hands out in a gesture to herself, "I walked here."

Her smile changed into that of an amused smirk, "Am I supposed to have flown?"

[Starbin]

Tonya's smile was wan and humorless. "This town is far afield from where we would expect to find one of your race. Have you come to Hunxe for a purpose? Or was it simply fate?"

She watched the elf carefully, curious as to why the lady was here, and uncertain what she was up to ...

I'd rather have Serabeth talking with you, but gotta wait until she's done with the priest. :smallbiggrin:

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


The elf remained amused and playful. She seemed to be enjoying this.

"Eternity stretches out before me, human. I decided to spent a sliver of it traveling from as far away as Cathay to where I now stand before you.

Perhaps fate has drawn me here..." she looked over her shoulder, down at the mauled beastman, "It certainly didn't have its best interest in mind, heh heh heh." Her laugh was as sharp and melodic as only the elves could be.

[DrK]

Rifling through the pockets the elf is quick to find the massive and elaborate holy reliquary of Sigmar. An edifice in gold and ivory showing Sigmar victorious over the forces of chaos.

Aside from that the pockets are full of vile dark and chaos related items and a smattering of scrolls and strange potions and oils...


6 assorted scrolls (in Dark tongue/read magic)
3 Potions

1 Big Holy reliquary of Sigmar.



As Sister Sarebeth rushes across to where a small church to Sigmar lies in ruins she sees three of the Sisters of the Hammer stepping out. All 3 bear a look of sadness as they bow into the mud. "Apologies Sister Superior. The priest is dead. He spoke of something stolen by the beast shaman. A relic bound for Middenheim..."

[Starbin]

Serabeth nodded, looking upon the temple with thoughtful eyes. "The shaman, you say? Very well, let us return to where the beast fell. It should still be there."

Motioning to the the others, Serabeth turned and made her way back to the place where the beastman shaman had fallen. Behind her, a gathering of Sisters slowly built as they finished their tasks within the village. Eventually, she arrived where Tonya stood in converstation with a wizard of the Bright Order and ... an elf.

Stepping forward, she nodded to all assembled. "Greetings. I am Sister Superior Serabeth, of the Temple of Sigmar. Have any of you found a relic of Sigmar on the beast? It was stolen, and should be returned to Middenheim." She looked to Tonya first, who shook her head, then to the wizard and the elf. Her opaque eyes were odd, seemingly filled with cataracts ... yet she seemed to know where to look.

[BelGareth]

Gerrard flinched from the flames, it wasn't his first time near or around them, for they were a favorite weapon of chaos. He would have to keep an eye on this mage, he did seem to enjoy the destruction a little too much, magic was fickle, especially the winds Aqshy, whose flames came roiling from the north, the very seat of the dark gods...

Grabbing Skeggi he ran out of the top floor with the dwarf, his left arm up shielding his face from the glass and flames that licked at him like a hungry animal.


[roll0]


After getting up from his intrepid escape he stands and dusts himself off, walking and reloading his trusty pistol, he sheathes it in his belt as he comes across the others standing around the Shaman-beast.

He nods to the Sister of Sigmar
"Sister," he says in recognition and respect "It is good to see others of the faith here, I dare say you and yours help save this town a grisly death, the Embermage here made short work of our foes inside, a terribly implacable foe of a beast."

He turns to the elf, "Witch, I do not presume to comment of your disposition, however as the ranking Empyrical officer of The Holy Order of the Templars of Sigmar, I must request you cease and desist your actions, touching the shaman may taint you in ways unknown..." he stops himself from saying 'to man' realizing her heritage too late, he wrinkles his face "We must cleanse the bodies with fire," turning to the Embermage "Would you like the honor?" he asks him, making sure to closely examine his answer.

[Starbin]

Serabeth tilted her head to the side as the Sigmarite approached, but did not turn to face him until he closed the distance to a few paces. She nodded to him as well, bowing slightly in deference to his station. "We simply do what we can, when we can. Defeating this menance was a combined effort ..."

She waited to see what the elf woman would say to the combined questions of the faithful of Sigmar.

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra

The elf seemed to be humming happily to herself as she thumbed through the assorted goodies she had acquired from the shamans corpse. The scrolls would need to be read at a later date, while the potions she could sift through when she had time to pull out the necessary tools to ascertain their purpose.

The holy symbol however...she had no idea what that was. As par her station back in Naggaroth, she was quite well versed upon Khaine, the Elven pantheon and the Chaos deities, but human divinity was something she had not paid much attention to. Why waste her time with the prattling of children?

"You mean - " Selindra started to answer the Sisters question, holding up the twin-tailed comet symbol that she had found...until the witch hunter "spoke" to her. As an elf amongst human lands she was used to the rattling of the ignorant, but never did anyone presume to inform her of matters related to the eldritch or arcane.

"Witch?" she repeated, standing up to her full height, "Do I look like a crooked old woman to you? Flanked by mewing cats while shuffling about in her mud hut and confusing hearth skills with arcane research?"

Selindra started to move. She passed the Sister and held out her long arm to present the holy symbol for her to take.

"I was learning from the feet of masters long before you were even a glint in your fathers eye - do not presume to lecture me on matters of the mystic."

She paused on the spine of the circle the gathered individuals had created with their positions. As she did so her familiar returned, swooping down from the night sky to land upon its shoulder, prance its feet up and down then tuck itself into its folded wings and peer at the others.

[Starbin]

Serabeth took the holy relic from the elf as she passed by, handing it to one of the women behind her, murmuring, "Keep this safe, Elsa." She watched silently with glassy eyes for a moment as the tension rose between the elf and the witch hunter. However, before this could turn ugly, she raised a single hand, speaking softly.

"Tempers, please. It seems we all have a vested interest in defeating such foul beasts as this one," she nodded to the dead shaman. "Until there is a break in faith, we should reamin focused on defeating the darkness - not fighting amongst each other."

The words contained steel, an odd juxtaposition with this slender slip of a woman, seeminly innocent and waifish. Her platinum blonde was pulled back into a long braid, leaving her clouded blue eyes staring somewhat blankly. But for all her stature and appearance, there was a palpable attraction to the Sigmarite; she exuded a quiet confidence, and even the strongest willed were hard pressed to hold her strange, vacant gaze for long.

[watupwithdat]

So he was in fact one of the Inquisition. Salazar thought when the man spoke. The elf would have a hard time with this one, he was sure. He had almost expected to himself get a bit more flak than he did, as the Collages weren't too trusted either by sigmarites.

Salazar butted in a response to the Inquisitor between his and the elf's exchanges, as theirs did not particularly interest him. He was a weapon of the Empire, not a mediator of squabbles.

"Gather the bodies of the beasts that aren't already charred by my flames, and I shall let the winds of Aqshy blow over them."

[DrK]

The sisters gather the dead beasts and all present are glad of the Magister's presence as he burns the massive furred beasts of chaos to dark grey ash. The winds of ashqy blowing strong in the presence of so much rage, passion and fire.

The villagers slowly appear from the wreckage. Most clutching wounds or cradling a treasure token and in some cases a dead body too small to be anything bar a child. A sad sight indeed. As a collective they approach the gathered sisters. Many embracing the sometimes surprised, sometimes angry nuns. The oldest surviving villager - an old woman of some 60 years you would guess grabs the hem of Serabeth's cloak as she kneels in the mud. "Please sisters. Please take us to the city where we can be safe. Tis not safe down in these woods with nowt to take care of us."

[BelGareth]

Gerrards eyes narrow as the witch turns and berates him with her inflated ego and lofty racial ideals.

"Witch?" she repeated, standing up to her full height, "Do I look like a crooked old woman to you? Flanked by mewing cats while shuffling about in her mud hut and confusing hearth skills with arcane research?"

Selindra started to move. She passed the Sister and held out her long arm to present the holy symbol for her to take.

"I was learning from the feet of masters long before you were even a glint in your fathers eye - do not presume to lecture me on matters of the mystic."

He smiles as she finishes her description of a village witch, "Not at all, but you are a non-sanctioned wizard in the lands of the Empire, you belong to no school and yet cast at your own whim, the very definition of witchcraft, as you know too well I am sure. I doubt very much you have traveled this far and retained your lofty ignorance of such things, to be this far into the Empire you must know, or you are a pawn of you alien gods, or maybe you are a pawn of the dark ones?"

He narrows his eyes and thumbs his pistol grip, not overtly aggressive, as that is where his right hand rests when he walks, but an obvious passive aggressive twist.

"Are you?" he says after a few moments of silent staring.

As he asks, he'll detect evil on her as a spell like ability


"Tempers, please. It seems we all have a vested interest in defeating such foul beasts as this one," she nodded to the dead shaman. "Until there is a break in faith, we should reamin focused on defeating the darkness - not fighting amongst each other."

Nodding in assent he agrees with the fellow sigmarite "Indeed, we have larger motions ahead of us, this was no coincidence, there are no coincidences with the dark gods, something has stirred these beastmen towards us, and all of us towards them, something unseen behind the scene." he turns to watch as the Bright wizard moves off to burn the bodies ask requested, questions obvious in his eyes.

He would have to keep both eyes attentive for now, the witch concerned him, why on earth would a wandering high elf be here, by her lonesome, most came to the capital, or traveled with convoys, perhaps she wasn't what he thought....and then this bright mage, he was, as is want for his college, eager to burn...ah, the work of the Templar was never dull, and this night was no exception.

[Gruzzle]

A very singed and dour-looking dwarf drags himself up to the witch hunter's side and leans on the haft of his axe, clearly recovering from the battle. Skeggi spits a gob of phlegm and ash on the ground, and grumbles something mostly unintelligible while following the flow of the conversation with his eyes.

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra

Selindra didn't flinch away from the Witch Hunters gaze and instead met it with an amused smile and perked eyebrow.

"I haven't walked the earth to answer to the likes of you."

She's Neutral, you'd feel nothing :smalltongue:.

After the Sister of Sigma stepped in Selindra went quiet - content to watch from the fringe as the humans talked amongst themselves about the beasts of chaos. On the whole she found it interesting...beastmen were rarely a concern for her own people, and watching the humans deal with them could be a fun affair.

[DrK]

Middenheim... the second grandest city in the Empire. A vast sprawling city dedicated to Ulric and Sigmar. Its a 3 day march through the woods that goes without incident - a few refugees tagging along with you under the protection of the Sisters of Sigmar. The safety of the relic at the forefront.

As you rise up the South viaduct (Ulric Viadukt), towards the South Gate, you see that the wall around it has been transformed- A gigantic statue of Ulric has been carved out of the rock- a huge menacing Wolf’s Head stands around the gate- the way into the city forming his powerful maw. The city is packed with refugees militia and people still recovering from the recent massive war with chaos.

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111209190523/lucerne/images/f/f7/Map_City_Middenheim.jpg

The guards take a look at the large collection of armed females before waving you through into the Southgate district. The pawnbrokers and poor squats dominating the district around you as the poor collapse in the shelter of ruined buildings stewing in their own filth. THe only redeeming feature is the twin spires of the Dragon Brewery - a long queue of wagons and barrels outside.


Where are you going in the town?

[Fungusamnguss]

(The Day After the Attack on Hunze)

As the group travels along the road, a few of you start to get the impression that you are being followed. Before long, those at the rear of the group notice that they are in fact being followed. A small boy can be seen traveling down the same road, trailing some 100ft behind. For anyone that was in the inn common room on the night of the attack, you would recognize the boy as the same one that came in alone.

Before the group can come to a stop, the young boy yells out,
"STOP! PLEASE WAIT!! TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!"

As he finishes the last word, he breaks into a limped jog, tears of pain in his eyes. As he reaches the end of the caravan, he slows to a walk and stops just out of reach.

"Please, I .... I need to get to the city. Thats where youre going isnt it? Please take me with you! Ive got ... no where else to go. When those beastmen attacked, I ran! I didnt know what else to do so I just ran. Now, Ive got no place to stay and these woods arent safe. Please take me with you! I promise I wont be any trouble."

As he finishes his request, a slight smile appears on his face in a friendly gesture, hoping to illicit some positive emotions from the group.

Assuming the group lets him tag along
(The Night Before Reaching Middenheim)

After the group has set up camp for the night and a watch rotation has been established, the small boy asks to speak privately with the leaders of the group (IE the sisters and those who fought the beastmen). Once out of hearing range of the rest of the group, Thorah'nes addresses the group quietly. "Firstly, I must apologize to all of you for my deception. You see, I am not as I appear." With this, Thorah'nes removes his cap to reveal his true nature as an Elf.

"As you can see, I am in fact an elf and not a human child. My name is Thorah'nes. I come from the city of Middenheim. Since the end of the war, I have been roaming the local lands in search of ingredients. Local flora and such. I use this cap here as a means to avoid most of the locals. It helps when you are not the most liked person in town .... if you know what I mean. I would like to thank you all for helping these villagers. I know you all are not from around here, but these are my people. I would like to go with you into the city tomorrow but, I cannot do so in this form. There are some here who fear what I am capable of, and thus in certain areas I am no longer welcome. That being said, thanks to my little hat here and the band of refugees from the village, I should be able to blend in rather well. I wanted to relay my true nature to you all for this reason. After we get into the city, I would like to collect a few things from my old home. Then when you all leave, I would like to go with you. I can be of great value and service to your party, I assure you. I've seen groups like this before. Usually on one mission or another or perhaps some great quest. I have no idea where y'all are headed or for what destiny you are bound, but I do know that I would like to join you and help you achieve whatever greatness you are certain to accomplish. I feel that fate has led our paths to be intertwined, and hopefully one day I can return to this city and be able to call it my home once more. So, what do you say?"

[Gruzzle]

Skeggi growls and narrows his eyes as the elf reveals himself. He nudges his companion and grumbles "See Gerrard? Ah told ya them pointy-ears are shifty and ya con't trust 'em. Deception is just whot they do." He spits on the ground as Thorah'nes finishes his little speech and then the dwarf stomps off towards the wood-line.

[Starbin]

When the refugees asked for escort, Serabeth sighed and nodded. The sisters were more accustomed to military action, vice the emotional and spiritual succor often provided by normal clergy. However, she would not leave the innocents to be ravaged by more beastmen - especially since they were headed in the same direction.

Leaning down, Serabeth lifted the older woman to her knees. "Rise, mother, and gather the faithful. We will see you safely to Middenheim."

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Leading the refugees, Serabeth took the time on the road to get to know the others. She would explain the purpose of the Sisters, and introduce the ladies as they slogged towards the city of Middenheim. Early in the journey, a young boy rushed out, begging to join the entourage. A number of sisters focused on the boy, searching for signs of evil or decay. Finding none, the boy was allowed to join the other refugees.

However, two days later, the boy admitted his deceit, revealing his ancestry. Helena and Helga both stood, removing lengths of rope that could serve both to hold one's robes or whip a deserving child. Serabeth, however, held out a hand, glancing towards the female that currently traveled with them. "An odd coincidence - two elves, travelling within the Empire, arriving at the same small town at the same time. One fights, one runs." She looked to the others as well. "Sisters of Sigmar ... a hunter of witches ... a wizard of the Bright Order... a dwarven ranger ... what does this strange confluence of personages purport, I wonder?"

She waited, somewhat expectantly, for the others to respond.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Upon arrival at the city, Serabeth would let the refugees join the others already gathered. "We have seen you here, as I promised. I cannot speak to your reception, but you should be better off here than in the wilds, beset by worshippers of chaos. Good luck ... Sigmar protects." Turning to the others, she pointed slightly northeast. "We must return the relic to the Temple of Sigmar, and share the news of the beastmen in Hunxe. If you have need of us, we shall be there for a bit.

Fairwell ... Sigmar protects."

[BelGareth]

Gerrard merely squints a little harder as the little boy reveals himself to be another elf.

He couldn't help but see some differences in this elf, perhaps it was just their unqiue alien quality, but he was sure something was amis with the other 'witch'.

Not saying a word he merely followed Skeggi, he was not fond of treachery, lies and deceit, in his mind all those things led to chaos. May Sigmar bless them all, for they would need it in the company of all these...characters.

He nodded to the sister, Serabeth, he couldn't recall knowing or having heard of her before, but she seemed devout and focused on the real matter, even if she was surrounded by a dozen sycophants, in his experience, those could just as easily turn to the winds as the non-collegiate heretics practicing their witchery on the locals.

He spit on the dirt with a snarl.

"Aye, tis a veritable eye of the storm, somethings happening, and I'm not sure what it is. I'll tell you one thing, I don't like it, I don't like having elves within our midst, I don't like lies and I don't like beastmen taking holy relics."

1

Once inside the great city, he sighs a little sigh of relief, he did enjoy this city, but he knew there was still things to do. He followed the sisters to make sure the relic was secured properly across the city to the Great Temple of Sigmar. He then moved to enter the temple to find the cities Templar liaison.


Traveling to 28

[DrK]

Crossing the city the party - after losing the refugees with much thanks giving into the crowds - soon reaches the Temple of Sigmar. The high grey stone walls looking almost like a fortress with the Hammer of Sigmar in chipped yellow paint on the grey stone and church troops standing guard on the doorways. The massive complex second only on size to the Grand Temple of Ulric in this City and the Grand Theologist's Temple in Altdorf.

The guards nod respectfully to Sarabeth and Gerrard and greet many of the sisters as equals in clerical rank. The lead guard, Brother Ludwig gives the two a low bow. Sister Superior, Witch hunter. How can we help you. It is ot often we see so many of the faithful travelling together. I will send a man for Father Morten.

You ushered inside into the large vaulted stone main hall. Voices echoing and and drowned out by the practicing choir as the stained glass windows and pictures of Sigmar in many guises beam down at you. A towering 30ft golden griffon at the far end behind the pulpit where the high priest of the Temple - Lector Werner Stolz - makes his sermons from once a month. Soon a short fat man with sharp green eyes and thinning hair comes running up to you, priests robes straining around the girth of his belly. "Good day." Moments later as your present him the icon he exclaims in shock "This is amazing. May the Heldenhammer bless us all. THis is ancient, I have not seen anything like this before. Where did you find it, its value cannot be understated.

[Starbin]

Serabeth smiled in contentment as they approached the temple, a feelig of ease seemingly signalling its presence before she could actually see it. The lead guard bowed low to them, beckoning them in as he sent for a priest. Serabeth simply nodded to the man, smiling wanly as they entered the huge temple.

With a wave to the younger ladies, Serabeth dismissed the majority of her warband, leaving only Tonya and Elsa to accompany the Sister Superior. After a few moments wait, Father Morten emerged from the hall, waddling over to see the relic Sister Elsa still held. "This is amazing. May the Heldenhammer bless us all. This is ancient, I have not seen anything like this before. Where did you find it, its value cannot be understated."

Serabeth bowed her head in greeting to the Father, then answered. "It was taken from the body of a beastman shaman, who had attacked Hunxe, three days southwesternly of here. The local priest warned us the beast had the item, but I do not know where it came from. What is it, Father?"

Serabeth will share information about how they found it, as well as the folks they were now pseudo-allied with. Diplomacy check: [roll0]

[BelGareth]

Gerrard nods to those citizens who recognize his rank, and ignores the stares from those amazed at seeing a witch. He mentally notes any who shy away, his line of work was not popular, and he knew those who had things to hide hated the light of Sigmar. He did not begrduge them, those with secrets never sought the light, not know it was the light that protected them from the tendrils of chaos.

He grimaced again, not for the first time that day.

At seeing the great temple, a smile flashed across his face, he always liked the great temple in Middenheim, it had a certain...power to it, nodding to the warriors guarding it, he walked inside with the Sister superior and waited for the Father.

Bowing slightly as the Father approached "Father" he said out of respect.

He stood and watched as the sister proffered the relic to the Father, he was a little surprised to hear it was an ancient thing. With one eyebrow raised "You mean to tell me, it wasn't a part of Hunxe, a minor artifact of that villages faithful, but....an ancient relic of times past?" He had been under the assumption the thing was some minor item, stolen by the beastmen and taken so as to care for it.

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


On the eve of the groups departure to the human city of Middenheim, Selindra had opted to travel in a bit of comfort and class. The single coachman left in the city, his carriage slightly battered from the nights proceedings, was hired by the Druchii to carry her aloft and out of the dreadful touch of the filthy mud and dirty cobbled road.

When one of the refugee's pried open the carriage door and attempted to ride along inside, his boarding attempt ran into the point of Selindra's rod that extended from within to press against his chest. "Get out, you rude man!" the elf frowned, pushing the man out the back of her vehicle. His yelp was cut silence to the elfs ears by closing the door.


oOo

When news reached her that one of her elven kin had joined the group, Selindra rose an eyebrow and inquiered further from her coachman. When learning of his apparent age and how he originally came from Middenheim - or so he claims - the druchii surmised that he must be one of the offspring of the forests from lands further south. She doubted her Ulthuan cousins, weak, water-filled toads that they are, were incompetent enough to allow one of their offspring to stray from the nursery for so long.


oOo

For the rest of the trip the druchii wizard entertained several guests inside her carriage: one of the more learned refugee's and more curious of the Sisters. It was attention that Selindra had become used to...to the humans she was one of the enigmatic, alien fey, birthed in exotic, mystical lands whose culture was at its summit when humanity were still scratching out a living in caves. From across the oceans they had brought the gift of professional magick that had armed humanity with the weapons they needed to hold off the all-consuming maw of Chaos. Following the bequethment of this powerful tool, they were also fountains of literature, art and craftsmanship well in advance of anything the humans possessed.

Thankfully her company had been pleasant. With one refuge, a learned man named Turious from the southern lands and former mercenary, Selindra had discussed history and military strategy. With the visiting Sisters Selindra traded tales of her travel: the druchii entertained them with a story of her visit to Lustria and Cathay, while the sisters educated the elf further as to the workings of the Empire by sharing some of their own experiences upon its roads. It was a civil exchange.

Overall it had made the journey to Middemheim much more pleasant.


oOo

Upon arriving at Middenheim, Selindra peered from her carriage and observed as the Sister Superior and that shaved ape visited their temple of worship. No doubt he was spouting off some ill-educated half-truths about her to any that would show pity and induldge his insane ravings, mistaking his zeal for wisdom as he was used as a tool for the dispersion of crass sciolism by his bloated masters.

In many ways he reminded the Druchii of the imperious and paranoid attitude of the Brides of Khaine within her native Naggaroth. Their predictably boggle-eyed, fanatical response to any power outside of their control was all-too often mired with animalistic fear for what they did not understand. Too often their fear was expressed in the business end of a knife by their screeching, frenzied lunatic foot-soldiers. This man was much the same, save that he lacked their subtlety. Selindra narrowed her eyes behind the carriage window. Barbarian.

For her activity, Selindra departed her carriage and paid the coachman his due. Once upon the cobbled stones, she followed her typical routine in human cities by making her way first to an inn of reputable affair before moving on to one of the learned academies where her race almost guaranteed that her services as a tutor and house mage would fetch top gold amongst the city nobles. To ensure she remained in contact, she let one of the sisters know of her plan and location.


ooc:
Making a Knowledge (Arcane) to decipher the magical scroll that she picked up from the beastman: 1d20+28=42 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4173504/)

Also a Craft (Alchemy) to ascertain the nature of the potions she picked up: 1d20+20=31 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4173525/)

[Gruzzle]

Skeggi accompanied Gerrard as far as the entrance to his Temple. He posted up outside, a respectable distance from the guards, waiting for his companion to finish his business inside. He'd long ago agreed with Gerrard that Sigmar was a righteous deity (anyone who favors such a hammer was good in the dwarf's book) but he had his own beliefs he and his kin held most dear. As a result, Skeggi did not feel he ought to enter into Sigmar's holy places, barring extenuating circumstance, as a sign of deference and respect.

[DrK]

In the Temple



He stood and watched as the sister proffered the relic to the Father, he was a little surprised to hear it was an ancient thing. With one eyebrow raised "You mean to tell me, it wasn't a part of Hunxe, a minor artifact of that villages faithful, but....an ancient relic of times past?" He had been under the assumption the thing was some minor item, stolen by the beastmen and taken so as to care for it.


Serabeth bowed her head in greeting to the Father, then answered. "It was taken from the body of a beastman shaman, who had attacked Hunxe, three days southwesternly of here. The local priest warned us the beast had the item, but I do not know where it came from. What is it, Father?"

Serabeth will share information about how they found it, as well as the folks they were now pseudo-allied with. Diplomacy check: [roll0]

The father looks up at his fellow clergy. A look of almost reverence in his eyes. "It is ancient. Of dwarven make. This may date back to the time of the Teutogens! When we send this back to the Capital we shall have to mount a heavy guard."

He looks at both of them again. "Have an idea how a village priest or a beast came to possess this." Almost cradling the relic he bows low. "I will arrange rewards for both of you. Please return tomorrow at morning prayers. Btu now... I must show this to the other sages. The Heldenhammer bless both of you." With a final bow he scuttles away leaving you in the busy central nave packed with worshippers coming and going - most of whom give Gerrard a wide berth.

Outside the guards nod politely at Skeggi. The dwarves well respected by Sigmarites. "Seen much action?" one calls over. "If you are looking for work the Sewer jacks are hiring. It may not be pretty but its honest work and pays well for its kind."

In the City at large

The druchii leaves her bags at the expensive and the well looked Scholar's. The three storey inn with stables and bath house lying in the shadow of the palace in the expensive Freidburg district. The owners Hugo and Petra well pleased with their expansive library and display of ivories and maps from all over the old world including Cathay and far away Ind.

A short walk away through the Freidburg quarter filled with sages and scholars and lawyers that fill Middenheim is the Guild of Wizards and Alchemists. A three storey ramshackle buildings of odd angles and jutting balconies with all manner of lighting rods and astronomical measuring devices affixed to the multiple tall tower roofs. As you approach you see a young pair of apprentices - one in dirty orange robes and one in still dirty blue blues eyeing you with a mixture of fear and awe. "Greetings. How can we help one of the Asur? The words in broken and barely intelligible elvish.

[Starbin]

Serabeth raised an eyebrow at the proclamation of how old the artifact could be. "Very well, Father, take your time. We shall seek quarters within the temple, if you have need of us." She wasn't particularly worried about a reward, but understood that church coffers often funded wars ... if she was to continue to fight in the name of Sigmar, it would be best done by equiping her warband with the best gear the Temple could provide.

Once the priest had departed, she glanced at Tonya, then turned to the witch hunter. "What are your thoughts on the matter, Hunter? If he is correct, then perhaps the storm you spoke of was greater than either of us could imagine."

Figure we'll do a couple of sense motives ... Serabeth: [roll0]; Tonya: [roll1]. Ready to chat for a bit, but once we're done, the Sisters will probably spend the remainder of the day cleaning weapons and armor, praying, eating, healing, training, and finally sleeping.

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


The druchii offered a polite smile to the two humans that greeted her in her own language. Granted it was somewhat butchered and sounded like a dying horse, but it was the thought that counted - it was an appreciated gesture.

"Thank you sirs," Selindra started, speaking common, "but as we are in your lands I would be a poor guest if I presumed the preference of language.

I am passing through Middenheim and would enjoy partaking in the local community of fellow learned sentients during my transience."

[Fungusamnguss]

As the group approached the city walls, Thorah'nes quietly stood among the villagers as a battered child. Even past the gate, he followed the orphans and widows to the slums. It was a place he was rather familiar with. Once he was a little deeper into some of the back roads, he quickly ditched the old woman he had been holding hands with, dropping a single gold piece silently into her pocket before he vanished.

After he had taken enough turns and loops and back ways and alley ways and tunnels .... that he felt no one was following him, Thorah'nes changed direction and headed for the only reason he wanted to be in Middenheim anymore, his home. It wasnt much, but it was his ... and there was something he had left.

As he neared his home, Thorah'nes waited carefully in the shadows for a while. He was hoping that no one had been watching his home. He had after all only been gone a few months. Luckily, there was no one IN his house so after a while, he slipped into a back door. He didn't want to be here long, so he first grabbed a small trinket off the mantle and then proceeded to move his bed ever so quietly. Under bed and the dirt in the floor, laid a semi-hidden panel that lifted up to reveal a small hole in the floor. It was just big enough for what he had left there, a blanket. Just a simple hand stitched quilt. He lifted it from it resting place and brushed some of the old dirt off it. He let it lie on his hands for a moment as he admired it. Then he folded it and placed it gently in his pack. He didn't bother putting the bed back, he knew he would likely never see this place again. Even if he did return to Middenheim under better circumstances one day, this house would likely be demolished by then. With a last look, he slipped out the same way he came in.


After he was out of the house, he left to find .... whoever he had seen riding in the fancy carriage that had been with them on the way in.
Hopefully one of those that helped the village can let me accompany them. Anywhere but here at this point and like mama always said 'When looking for an employer, start with the one with the most money'.

"Now to find that carriage and whoever was in it".


'...and Im sure I could always ask those religious nutjobs ...'

OOC: Thorah'nes will seek out Selindra in the attempt to speak with her privately.

[watupwithdat]

The road to Middenheim had been awfully dull and uneventful thought Salazar. At the revelation of another elf among them the wizard wasn't too interested in the elfs, and was instead curious why the beasts had attacked the town and tried to obtain the artifact. Of course, there was a slight problem with him not really being an investigator. He's always been the hammer. Such work he was well-proficient with. With the shaman he had come for dead and the beastmen incinerated, he was once again aimlessly wandering. It seemed suitable he just follow the rest. He had a feeling they might attract some attention on the road, or later. If chaos forces was after this artifact, they might yet be done. But that was all just theories, vague ones at that. Perhaps he just wanted a reason to follow the rest.

---

After reaching the city Salazar was unsure where to go. It was a long while since he last was in a large town such as this, and this one had no Colleges, and he doubted his Order had any presence there. Instead he not-too-secretively just followed the elf witch to where she headed. Perhaps to an inn, or maybe something more esoteric. He did not know, but he had no better thing to do for now anyway. If nothing more he could get himself a room in an inn.

[BelGareth]

Gerrads features look as stoic as ever, his raised eyebrow common place among those who have traveled with him for more than a day. He looked to the fellow Sigmarite and nodded "Indeed, there are strange tidings going on all around us, if we do not look carefully, we may be washed away in the tides of fate." nodding in respect to the Sister, he walks away stopping in mid stride.

Looking over his shoulder he says "And its Witch hunter, Sister, you'll do well to remember that." as he walks off out of the temple.

He steps out to see his dwarf companion Skeggi, nodding to him he walks over to his traveling companion, "It would seem things are stranger yet my friend, the artifact is one of ancient times, perhaps Dwarven, dating as far back as the Teutogens. We will need to keep an eye out, this will not go unnoticed, I will stay here and keep watch, you are welcome to stay, or do as you need, I understand the needs that cities impose on us all."

Whatever the dwarf replies with, Gerrard will find accomodations in the Temple, and some for the Dwarf if he needs them, and then walk through out the temple, not overstepping his bounds, but merely to observe what he can and keep an eye out.

Chaos is everywhere.

[DrK]

In the capacious abbey things are quiet. The bells ringing gently in the evening breeze and the choirs singing down below. For Gerrard the knock on the door is strident and harsh - the door opening behind the knock revealing a pair of Sigmar militia guards and half a dozen of the City Watch with the white wolf of Middenheim emblazoned on their chests. "Master Gerrard. You are to come with us to the guard house. Captain Schutzmann wishes to speak with you". The tone is insistent and the slight sheen of sweat on the men's faces coupled with the uneasy way they are standing with hilts near to their hands suggests that they are hoping you'll come peacefully.

(Assuming you comply) As you step outside you can see a handful more guards with a disgruntled Skeggi in their midst. The dwarf having no explanation offered to him bar the initial "you were the dwarf travelling with Gerrard and Sarabeth".


****************************

Across the sprawling Temple Complex a pair of Sisters knock on Serabeth's chamber door. "Sister Superior, there are some city watchmen that insist you go with them to speak with their guard captain" . The guards in question stand waiting patiently outside the convent wing. Not even their duty giving them the confidence to violate the sanctity of the cloistered women. If Sarabeth approaches the lead guard - a bannerman by the knot on his shoulder salutes. "Sister Superior. Captain Schutzmann demands you presence. If you wish you may bring two of your sisters with you. The rest must remain within the grounds of the Temple."

**********************************

In the Guild of Magical artisans the library is quiet and unassuming. Many of the magisters away with on duties related to the recent Storm of Chaos. The two apprentices had welcomed the druchii and the Magister of Aqshy with different temperaments. A sense of surprise and near awe for one of the Asur and a business like request for his Guild Pass. Just as a plate of food and a pair of glasses of wine arrive one of the apprentices with pinched eyes and crumpled robes appears at the door. "Apologies. Another apprentice noticed the Sigmarites you arrived with being escorted to the Guard House with reports of a murder...."



I'll wait and see how you respond before we reach the watch house

[BelGareth]

Gerrard was in his room, he was tired, and had decided to take a cat nap, he would take sleep where he could nowadays, the nights filled with restlessness, images and nightmares plagued him...as did most of the Knights templar.

He shook awake and frowned at the certainty and insistence of the knock.

Standing he walked to the door and his frown only got deeper as he saw the guards and heard their explanation, it was obvious it wasn't a request and the demand was going to happen one way or the other. The subtle sweat, hands on hilts and the tone of voice gave too much information for the wary Witch Hunter and he immediately knew something foul was afoot. He instantly admonished himself for being asleep, he should have seen this coming!

Grimacing, he nodded to them, stepping forth. He looked over and saw Skeggi, similarly fixed to the situation, and nodded to the dwarf somberly, giving him a look of "Once more into the fray"

Holding up a hand he speaks "And what in Sigmars name is this about?" he looks at everyone present, staring into eyes if they deign to show any sign of strength or resolve "You reason to come to my chambers and demand something of me? You grab my companion, who is already a proven Allie of the church, and you ASSUME to take us to the Captain?" he subtly moves his hand to his swords hilt, "Captain Schutzmann is playing a dangerous game, and you will do better to think on how better to serve him!"


He will use a round of discern lies (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/discern-lies) (spell like)
[roll0]
[roll1]

He aims to admonish them, and if they seem to receive it well, go by his own accord, fully armed, and free.

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra

As she required only four hours of meditation to remain active during the day, Selindra had little trouble powering through the hours on little more than wine and cheese.

By now she had noticed and met up with the Magister that had accompanied their group back in the town, his fiery spells having rendered the corpses of beastmen to cinders.

Now that they were away from the filth of the fanatical and the putrid, she could have a civilised conversation with a fellow sentient of the arcane. She would engage him on some simple topics, such as the happenings of the Empire, the system of Colleges established about its lands and the effect of the Storm of Chaos upon the populace.

The elf boy too could have come along by now.

Soon however, they were approached:


"Apologies. Another apprentice noticed the Sigmarites you arrived with being escorted to the Guard House with reports of a murder...."

Raising a slender eyebrow, appearing very amused, "Him? No - but he's such a personable fellow!

[Gruzzle]

Jeebus, things moved fast in the past 24 hours! Serves me right for not checking back in a couple days.

Skeggi smiled briefly at the guard offering the tip about Sewer Jacks, whatever that was, "Good tip, Ah'm always looking fer coin where it's tah be earned. Stay safe, soldier."

**********

"Dwarven-made ye say? Strange indeed. Maybe I ought've took a closer look at it earlier. Ah well. If'n you can impose for an extra bed, ah'd greatly appreciate it of course." He muses as he strides next to Gerrard.

**********

When more guards showed up to shuffle Gerrard off to Grungni-knew-where, he was fast to associate himself with the witch hunter, ensuring he would accompany him. He grins at Gerrard's look and interjects before the guards answer the witch hunter, "Mayhaps we are being invited tah his birthday, do ye think?" he asked his companion. "And we, with nothing tah offer as a gift." He grins sardonically.

[Fungusamnguss]

As "the elf boy" approaches Selindra, he finds himself a bit nervous. After all, its not often that one gets to meet such a lovely Elf. Just before he made himself known to her, he checked a small mirror in his pocket to tidy his hair. After the traditional introductions, Thorah'nes mostly just listened to Selindra and the other apprentice converse about this and that. He added the occasional comment, but mostly he was simply entranced by her voice. He found her to be quite appealing to his senses.

After being informed of the fate of their once travelling companions, Thorah'nes was not surprised to hear a lack of concern in the dark elfs voice. At this, he piped in with his two cents, "Perhaps we should go see what all the fuss is about. After all, that little trinket that was brought back may be more important than any of them realized!"

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


"Hmm," the elf pondered as she drew her long fingers up to stroke her jaw in thought.

"Now that you bring the point up, the...'Sisters' were delightful company.."

The Druchii trailed off, her ponderous expression developing a dark smirk.

"Plus it would be rather ambrosial to watch that unwashed, obsequious ape beat his chest and roar at the institution that spawned him, heh-heh-heh...

Salazar, what do you think?"

[Starbin]

Across the sprawling Temple Complex a pair of Sisters knock on Serabeth's chamber door. "Sister Superior, there are some city watchmen that insist you go with them to speak with their guard captain."

Raising an eyebrow, Serabeth considered for a moment, then nodded and dismissed the girls. Dressing herself in full rainments, she summoned Tonya who led her to where the guards waited, their leader a bannerman by the look of it. She gazed impassively at the man. "You summoned me, sir?


"Sister Superior. Captain Schutzmann demands you presence. If you wish you may bring two of your sisters with you. The rest must remain within the grounds of the Temple."

At the phrasing, Serabeth's eyes, clouded as they were, locked onto the man. "I apologize, but perhaps I misunderstood you. This Captain 'demands' my presence? Am I to understand that the Temple of Sigmar falls under the authority of the city watch? Tell the Captain that I demand HIS presence, to compare and contrast the merits of divine and magisterial authority, as well as the legal and moral ramifications of the City Watch ordering servants of Sigmar to prostrate themselves before the local guard in these tense times. Chaos exists everywhere, young man. Make no mistakes about it - I am concerned as to whether it can find purchase in even the most stout of hearts, say those charged with the watching of a city as great as Middenheim.

He is, of course, allowed a modest retinue. I shall await his arrival in the chapel."

Without another word, she turned and departed for the chapel, sending Tonya to call forth the other sisters. Within minutes, the entire warband stood in mass, at attention, waiting for the arrival of the good Captain Schutzman.

Sorry for the delay ... now let's see how this pans out :smallbiggrin:

[DrK]

At the phrasing, Serabeth's eyes, clouded as they were, locked onto the man. "I apologize, but perhaps I misunderstood you. This Captain 'demands' my presence? Am I to understand that the Temple of Sigmar falls under the authority of the city watch? Tell the Captain that I demand HIS presence, to compare and contrast the merits of divine and magisterial authority, as well as the legal and moral ramifications of the City Watch ordering servants of Sigmar to prostrate themselves before the local guard in these tense times. Chaos exists everywhere, young man. Make no mistakes about it - I am concerned as to whether it can find purchase in even the most stout of hearts, say those charged with the watching of a city as great as Middenheim.

He is, of course, allowed a modest retinue. I shall await his arrival in the chapel."

Without another word, she turned and departed for the chapel, sending Tonya to call forth the other sisters. Within minutes, the entire warband stood in mass, at attention, waiting for the arrival of the good Captain Schutzman.

Sorry for the delay ... now let's see how this pans out :smallbiggrin:

The Sister superior remains in the chapel undisturbed for about 3 minutes by the count of the bells ringing in the Temples of the City. Then shortly after the hour of 11 has rung she can see a young priest hovering in her vision.

"Sister. There are Knights outside and many of the guard." Atop his words there is the drumming of steel upon stone and a severe looking in his fifties strides in garbed in steel. He is tall and lean with close cropped grey hair and a viscious scar crossing from his forehead across his right eye to his cheek.

His words are crisp "Sister. You are mistaken in which city you are in. This is Middenhiem, City of the Wolf. The words of the Graf are law in these walls. And... he holds out a silvered seal of the Graf "In his absence I am his word and his voice." he looks around the chapel - a thin expression on his face. "You have a choice Sister. Come with 2 attendants as I politely requested or be dragged shames and in chains." His eyes meet hers levelly and there is no hint of levity. "I am investigating serious crimes. Your travelling companion Gerrard is already at barracks with his dwarven friend. Both under their own arms and treated with respect. You have one more chance to have the same."


Feel the gauntlet being thrown down :smallwink:

- Though as head of the Civil Watch he is technically "the law" in the city

[Starbin]

Serabeth simply stared at the Captain, never moving a muscle, even if the women around her bristled at the man's tone and threat. After he was done with his tirade, she simply stared for a moment, her opaque eyes staring straight ahead as if into nothingness. When she finally spoke, her voice was clear and strong, carrying across the chapel.

"Captain, I appreciate and understand your secular authority, from the very hand of Graf Todbringer it seems. I am also well aware of this city's namesake, and that your people hold the god of battle dear - above those of my own patron, and that of the Empire, Sigmar. I do not wish to disrupt your investigation of serious crimes, and when it comes to the safety and sanctity of the people of the Empire, you will find me a most fervant champion."

Stepping forward, she motioned with her left hand and Tonya and Elsa both stepped forward, flanking her as she approached the Captain. Standing in front of the man, the small, slip of a woman finally raised her chin and looked at the Captain with her strange gaze. She canted her voice, lowering it for his eyes alone, while losing none of her intensity. "You would do well to remember your manners, however. I am the acting Matriarch of this warband of Sigmar, and as such I deserve a modicum of respect, as I am sure even the Elector Count would agree, were he here. If your concept of a 'polite request' is to demand I come running to answer your orders, skirts held high, without any explanation what-so-ever, then you are a poor host and proxy for your Lord. Where the souls of the Sigmar's people are concerned, you had but to ask and I would have responded.

Now, if I have misunderstood the manner in which your 'invitation' was given, or it was lost in translation then I apologize. However, if you threaten me again, we shall have a serious ... discussion ... on the appropriate application of protocol."

With a simple nod of her head and a wan smile, she spoke aloud again, he voice pitched to reach the rest of the chapel. "Let no man say the Sisters of Sigmar are enemies of Middenheim, nor opposed to the rooting out of evil. We shall attend to thee, Lord Captain. Sisters, salute!"

As she walked out of the chapel, behind her the assembled warband raised their weapons, mostly hammers of some sort, shouting "FOR SIGMAR!"

Okay, I may have offended some 25th level warrior who can split my skull with an off-hand attack, but Serabeth's not going out like that!

Besides, while she was quite a biatch, he WAS kind of an a$$ :smallbiggrin:

[DrK]

Its in a tense sense of mistrust that Serabeth is escorted to the central garrison. As she arrives she is led into a large gothic hall, the long raked benches up the sides suggestive of a court room of sorts, the looming statues of Ulric, Verena and Sigmar staring down at you. Waiting in the room with a further 4 militia guards by them are Gerrard and Skeggi.

The tall lean man with the seal of the City turns to address you all. "Thank you for coming peacefully. Some more than others. I am Captain Ulrich Schultzmann. You have been invited here after your activities this afternoon.

Earlier today you arrived and visited in the Temple of Sigmar and met with a Father Morten. According to this note penned in the Father's hand he was found dead less than an hour after meeting you, the relic - priceless by his description and said in your hearing - was gone.

I am afraid that unless you can explain where you were we will have to hold you here while we conduct our investigations. The murder of a priest is a serious crime."

------------

Outside the wizards approach the imposing fortress like garrison. As the wizards approach the guards at the door stare at them curiously. "Magister, Lady Elf. How can the watch help you. Have you been robbed?"

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


The elf snickers quietly, "Heh heh, no no, I'm not here for murder." she says.

"We're here because we were told friends of ours are attending a meeting. Some Sisters of Sigmar and a stiff looking man in a hat."

[BelGareth]

Gerrard knew before the captain said it, it was obvious, and really the only reason for all of...this.

He nodded to the Captain, although it was hard to keep his perturbed mood from showing, he managed.

"I will happily provide the whereabouts of myself shortly after meeting with the late Father, but without any witnesses I believe it admissible as an alibi, therefore, I think we must go to a trial, as much as it pains me to say. For it will only delay my own investigation of who killed the Father and stole the Relic." he places his hands together at the small of his back. "Perhaps we could expedite this? I have things to do, and the delay this will cause, is, well..." he turns to the captain "Even an Elector Count can be held in contempt where there is chaos, and trust me when I tell you, the stink of chaos is all over this."

He looks quizzically at the others, unbound and with arms "And it is obvious you lack any real evidence, none of us our bound or jailed, we stand here as equals" and perhaps you are the one who should be put in the stocks the Inquisitor thinks to himself, placing key personal as authoritative figures was a tried and tested method of sowing discontent and chaos.

[Fungusamnguss]

As Thorah'nes followed Selindra and the others into the great hall, he begins to feel uneasy as if a trap were being set for him. He mostly brushed it off as simple paranoia which he was accustomed to. He was after all amid several seemingly powerful individuals.

When the Captain admitted murder had been done, Thorah'nes was not surprised in the least. It was fairly common these days indeed, but for a high priest to be the subject of such was unusual. Once questions arose of their previous whereabouts, Thorah'nes quietly hid behind the others knowing he would not be able to substantiate any claims he had to where he had been. As the others continued to converse, Thorah'nes remained quiet in the back of the group.

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


Selindra watched from the elevated position as the deliberations played out before her in a predictably amusing and uncivil manner. That odious savage still strutted about as if he were the highest authority in the land - his words at one point even bordering on the implication that he'd go after the sovreign of this principality if need be. The gaul! Selindra smirked, shaking her head in disbelief as she imagined what would happen to someone if they were so brazen and direct in the courts of Naggaroth. She could even make a little game of it - estimating how many minutes it would take before they were soon flanked by the Black Guard, hauled away in chains and never seen again.

Noticing that the elven child was still lurking around, using the two adults he was with as a sort of protective cover as he beheld the congregation below, Selindra looked over her shoulder at the youngster before addressing him in Elven.

<"Direct, aren't they?">

[DrK]

The guards escort the elf pair and the Bright Magister in and motion to the seats overlooking the centre of the room where Captain Ulrich and the Sigmarites spar.

"Wait here if you will Magisters. The Captain will speak with you shortly."

---

In the centre of the pit Captain Schultzmann spins to face the Inquisitor. "You are not in a village with a noose and pitch forks here. Within these walls I am the law, we will have no vigilante justice.

He scowls. "As it is. You are correct. I do not believe that you would murder him. But I must know what business you had with him or where you found this relic as this murder is unacceptable."

[Gruzzle]

Skeggi huffs, and raises an eyebrow. He otherwise doesn't speak. The whole proceeding seemed a foolish and lengthy attempt to ask for help on the Capatin's part, but he wasn't going to rush the man. Skeggi was in no hurry, personally.

[Starbin]

Serabeth listened to the Captain's implied accusation, raising an eyebrow at the preposterous suggestion that she and the Sisters had anything to do with the crime. She was silent as the Witch Hunter attempted to assert his authority, and the Captain responded.

Sighing, she shook her head in disappointment. Three times in the span of a few hours, she had been insulted, both publicly and privately. "The relic was removed from the dead body of a beastman shaman, crushed by elven magiks. I took custody of the object, and brought it to the Temple of Sigmar for safekeeping. Our business is simple - the defeat of Chaos in all its forms.

It should go without saying that it would be extremely foolish of us to bring a relic to the Temple, hand it over to the Father, slay the man, then continue to stay in the very same Temple. But apparently it warrants mentioning, given our current situation.

Aside from accusing us of the murder of a fellow Sigmarite, might we know what other steps have been performed in the course of your investigation? I would have expected you to have contacted a priest or mage to cast a zone of truth upon the area, but I do not feel any geas on us to speak no lies. Do you have the body available, so that you might speak with the dead? Surely there have been more actions to date than to drag us from our rest and reflextion to hear wild suppositions?"

Okay, another attempt to win friends and influence people ... maybe I shouldn't have bothered putting points into Diplomacy if this is how Serabeth is going to play out :smallsmile:

[DrK]

The Captain raises an eyebrow at Serabeth's challenging words. "Sister. If you do not wish to assist in this then you are welcome to leave the city after you have provided us with the information. If you wish to assist then we can go to the chambers of the late Father now.

He points to the door; we may leave now. "The magics you speak of are possible but many of our most powerful priests and magisters have left. You may be some of the strongest Magisters and Priests presently in the city"

[Starbin]

Serabeth shook her head. "You are obviously not listening to me. I told you before that the sanctity of the Empire's flock is first and foremost. The Sisters of Sigmar will most assuredly stand ready to assist in deciphering this mystery.

I simply asked what measures had been taken up to this point, beside accusations. Apparently not many. While we can provide support by way of divine magiks, you will have to decide if you trust the results we provide - you seem leery of our innnocence so far, so speak out now or let us get to work. We can make the appropriate questions on the morrow."

[BelGareth]

Gerrard sighed, but kept up a smile, or more precisely started to smile.

He turned to the Captain "Well then, you should have said so sooner!" he said, walking off to follow him to the corpse. "You know, it might have been easier to just ask us." he stops, suddenly realizing something, he turns to the captain, looking at him sideways "Unless this is a ruse at a larger game at play?" his eyebrows raised once more "Which would be of course quite acceptable on how you handled it, I assume you have other things going on under your thumb, you are of course a busy man."

[DrK]

The Captain leads you all out towards the Cathedral accompanied by a dozen guards and other men at arms. Heading inside the vaulted halls echo eerily and slightly ominously as booted feet hammer on the smooth flagstones and the severe gaze of Sigmar gazes down upon you all.

At the top of the Tower, a squat square one in the east wing he pauses. "Please, have a look...

he motions inside the comfortable small chamber. The walls are lined ceiling to floor with book shelves and parchments amongst pictures of Sigmar and other religious iconography. Father Morten sits slumped over his desk in the centre of the room. A spilt bottle of claret poured like blood over the floor. Parchment pages and a picture of the relic you gave him are pinned underneath the body. The shutters of the window lie open giving you a glorious view of the land beyond and the Mountains of the Mist still snowcapped.

[Starbin]

As they stood in the doorway of the room, Serabeth raised a hand, reaching out to detect both emanations of evil and magic, as Sister Elsa did the same. Sister Tonya concentrated, looking for elements of chaos within the room.

Once the spells were cast, the three ladies spread out carefully, looking for signs of footprints, evidence of entry, signs of a weapon, or the smell of poison within the glass.

Trying to recreate the crime - does it look like the Father took a drink, then dropped the glass, or knocked it over in the throws of dying? Any marks or scuffs around the room, especially near or around the window and chair? Does the body appear to be pointing at anything, or anything grasped within his fingers?

Ladies will spam Guidance for their skill checks, but here's the rolls and spells:
Serabeth - Cast Detect Evil and Detect Magic.
- KS (Religion): [roll0]
- Spellcraft: [roll1]
- Perception: [roll2]
Elsa - Cast Detect Evil and Detect Magic.
- KS (Religion): [roll3]
- Spellcraft: [roll4]
- Perception: [roll5]
Tonya - Cast Detect Chaos and Detect Magic.
- KS (Religion): [roll6]
- Perception: [roll7]

Serabeth looked at the Captain. "We will require time to pray for new spells, if we are to question the dead, or establish a zone of truth."

[DrK]

Ghosting around the room the three Sisters scan the area for things that seem wrong or misplaced amongst the papers and the pooling blood. All of their magical sights can detect the swirling winds of Dhar snaking around the late father's neck as Serabeth finds the dart tucked behind Morten's collar. As she examines it further all of them can feel a powerful rush of evil and chaos emanating from it... a few grains of glittering green warpstone powder.

The Captain exhales as he see's the dart. "Another. Damn it. This is the third murder with damned darts in less than a week."

As Serabeth potters about she can see more clues, a trio of scratches on the windowsill and in the mud a floor down a possible footprint - althouth it looks ratlike accounting for the distance it must be a very large rat!

[BelGareth]

Gerrard follows them into the room, he stops and lets the sisters work, they seemed to be quite apt at it, but once done, he went over the room by himself, taking note to see any tracks and inspecting them accordingly, he runs down to the bottom floor and inspects the tracks, seeing if any others are near and if he can track them.


[roll0]
[roll1]

[Starbin]

As the Sisters conferred, the situation became very clear. "Damnable skaven fiends ...". Turning to the witch hunter and captain, she nodded to the marks at the window and the dart. "Looks like those foul rats, unless I miss my guess. It appears to be the same method used against Valken. Any information on these creatures, Captain?"

Tonya continued to search around the priest, cautious about possible traps or surprises left behind. She also checked the picture the priest had, and looked for any references to it.

[DrK]

At the mention of skaven the Captain scowls. "Dammed ratmen. I thought we'd seen the last of them during the siege. Its worrying indeed. If you come back to the barracks we have the evidence and details about the previous 3 murders."

He offers a hand to Serabeth. "I trust this time we can get you back to my office without any harsh words this time?"

---

Down on the street Gerrard is able to follow the tracks, a 3 toed claw in the mud, a claw on a muddy wall there before he comes to a stinking grille in the corner of a dubious alley.

The grille leading to the massive sewers has seen use. Acidic burns on the hinges and a pair of clawed foot prints and a thin snakelike trail of a tail mark a rat's passage!

[Starbin]

Serabeth stood for a moment, her opaque gaze making it impossible to determine if she was lost in thought, ignoring the Captain, or truly blind. She could have pointed out the obvious clues that pointed at a Skaven assassination, which the Captain and his crew seemed to have missed. She could have also pointed out the fact that the Captain had escorted them under armed guards ... just to return to the very place she was originally at. However, it would serve nothing except to sour their relationship, perhaps permanently. Of course, that didn't mean she wouldn't remember the slight, nor ineptitude.

Instead, she took the man's hand in a strong grip, smiling humorously. "As I told you, I have only the sanctity of the people at heart. I am sure we both want a quick resolution to this, to which end I offer our skills and talents. Time wasted with petty arguements does not serve anyone.

Please lead on, sir. And if it is acceptable, I would like to have more of my daughters available to assist in the investigation."

If allowed, Serabeth will have the Sisters start searching for additional clues, interrogating interviewing any visitors, collecting and tabulating the information, etc. Think of them as her PI staff :smallsmile:

[BelGareth]

Gerrard sees the obvious sings of ratmen, this was not good, it was widely known they were in the tunnels below the city, and this boded ill of them being so bold, especially after the recent war, with the troops away.

And this artifact, it must have been worth more than even the father had thought, for the skaven to come out from below...

He headed back to the room where he had left the others "I found a trail, it is most definitely skaven, signs show they entered the sewers, I think we should head into them post haste, follow them and see what we find, if the Skaven are coming up, then that artifact is worth something to them, we cannot let them have it."

[DrK]

As the sisters dash off to continue searching the cathedral and the surrounds and round up any who may have spoken with Father Morten the Captain glances up at the pair of Sigmarites. "Its up to you. Will you pursue this assassin or will return to the garrison to view the other evidence?"

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra

The elf listened to the talk of the humans and the revelation that the vile rat-men were lurking in this city too.

Ugh, was there any place on this wretched rock that was free of their pestiferous touch?!

Listening to how the father was murdered and the small little trinket stolen, Selindra recalled how she had originally derived the bauble from the shaman she had happily murdered back at that run-down town. If she had still been hanging onto that thing...

<"Heh, better him than me."> she uttered to herself quietly in her native language.

[Starbin]

Serabeth looked at both the Captain and the Witch Hunter. "I am not fond of rushing forward without adequate information, unless there is an imperative. If my colleague is adamant about pursuing the skaven, then I shall assist. However, I would be interested in looking at this evidence first, least there be something there that changes our perspective."

The Matriarch waited patiently, waiting for the hunter to decide.

I'm still not clear on who is where ... if the elf (or elves) is there, I suppose we could all start chatting ...

[BelGareth]

Gerrard nods in assent "Indeed, I would also like a bigger picture, but that bigger picture does not refute the presence of the skaven, or the assassination, I do not doubt the tracks I saw, skaven where here, and if someone assisted them up here, that still does not refute the fact that they have the artefact, no amount of scrutiny or detective work will get that back, we must act, and we must act now."

[Fungusamnguss]

As the group examined the crime scene, Thorah'nes quietly watched the others pick it apart. He stood apart from the group but away from the guards and examined the crime scene as a whole in an attempt to discover what might have led the intruders to commit the act in that specific spot. As it was discovered that skaven were involved, Thorah'nes instantly remembered having many fights against such creatures in his time spent beneath the city. Skaven wer no doubt in the depths well below the city, but that still did not explain why they came this far into the city, to this specific spot, for one specific item. Indeed there was a larger treachery afoot.

At Gerrard's seemingly unrelenting desire to follow the skaven into their home, Thorah'nes finally piped up to join the conversation.
"As much as I absolutely despise the underbelly of this city .... I do believe the dwarf is right. There is no doubt that we do not have all the information to solve this puzzle. I fear however that the pieces we are missing are quickly getting further from us. These skaven intruders are not here of their own volition. In fact, I believe they were sent. By who? That is what we need to find out. I say we follow these fresh trails and find the thieves and murderers. Only with their master will we find our answers!"

As he finishes his exposition, he made his way to stand beside the witch hunter. After which, he stood confidently with his arms lazily crossed.


Perception at the crime scene:
[roll0]

Knowledge Nature for helpful/interesting details on skaven:
[roll1]

Knowledge Dungeoneering to guess depth and direction of tunnels likely taken:
[roll2]

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


The druchii felt her stomach turn at the idea of moving down into the sewers to pursue Skaven....ugh! Nothing but the iron will of snobbery held back the bile that threatened to vomit forward as she wanted ot puk in disgust at the very idea.

"The sewer is the domain of vermin and their home-ground. I would not wish to entire their realm without being armed with every piece of information available."

[Starbin]

Serabeth simply shook her head. "Spoken like someone who has solved the mystery. Very well, you and the boy can search the sewers for the skaven. Selindra and I shall search through the evidence, least there be something else in play that cannot be determined by footprints near a grate." She turned to follow the the Captain, nodding her head brieflly to the elf, letting her go first.

[BelGareth]

Gerrard nods and is about to go, but turns and looks at Selindra with a raised eyebrow.

"Boy?" he says incredulously, before shaking his head and walking out to go to the sewers.

[Fungusamnguss]

Thorah'nes watches his companions carefully as the group slowly divides into two teams, both in search of some ancient relic. He knew the sewers would be where he could contribute most. Ha had already spent more months than he could remember pouring over book after book trying to learn anything he could. No, he was familiar with the sewers and had already fought the skaven in the past. The others could come along if they wanted, he didnt care much as he knew how bad those tunnels could get.

"Well, you guys can do what ya want. I'm going after those thieves. If nothing else, we can hopefully bring one back to interrogate. Before we go our seperate ways though, I believe that even while separated, I can be of great assistance to each of you."

Thorah'nes looked at each group member, as if making up his mind, before quickly reaching into his pack to pull out a double hand-full of vials, each with a different liquid inside. He slightly organizes them to be a little easier to hold all at once and then he eagerly opened his palms flat to offer the vials to everyone.


See OOC thread for details on offered potions!!

[DrK]

The stench of the sewers is breath-taking but the young "boy" and the Inquisitor drop down into the vile smelling caverns. The slime and excretions on the pathway are filled with rats and other vermin.


Upstream or downstream?



-------

The barracks are more pleasant this time. The Captain offering you seats in his slightly quiet office. Treatise on law and a set of full plate on a wooden stand in the corner dominate the room and a massive oaken desk sits in the centre of the room buried in papers and with a pair of religious icons - one a wolf and one a comet.

After a few moments a clerk comes in with a tray. Glasses with filled with stout Midden mead are offered round before the clerk returns. This time with three small packages each wrapped in cloth. Peeling back the cloth reveals 3 razor sharp darts similar to the one that had been found in the dead Father.
"3 more bodies were found. All killed in the same manner. We have not had much progress." He reads some information from a piece of paper.

"The first was a wathchman patrolling outside the Collegium, he was found in the morning by his relief with the dart in his neck. His family are somewhere near the southgate if you wish to seek them out."

The second victim was a dwarven doorkeeper as the Guild of Khazak Engineers. All we know is that he died, the stout folk have ben unwilling to speak much with us."

"The third victim was nameless as far as we are aware. He was found dead with a loaded crossbow and several other weapons in an alley in the Old Quarter.

The Priests of Morr were about to give him a nameless burial in the paupers graveyard when a group of men led by a Gerhard Koen arrived and insisted he was buried in a Sigmarite fashion. He was tall, with a good blade, pale blue eyes and a long scar



You can make an obscure knowledge check to see if you've heard of Koen

[Starbin]

Serabeth sat quietly, accepting the mead with a polite nod. Sipping on it, she waited until the clerk returned with three wrapped objects. Focuing on the items, she listened intently to the Captain's explanation, turning the information over in her mind. After a few moments, she finally spoke.

"Where might we find this Gerhard Koen, Captain? And can you provide writs of authority for us to engage in an officially sanctioned investigation within your city? I do not wish to have a jurisdiction battle every time we wish to ask a question."

Taking a moment, Serabeth concentrated for a moment and looked at the blades with her minds eye ...

Detect magic. Also, need a map and markings on where the folks we wish to talk to are located.

Not sure what rolls we need, but here's an open d20: [roll0].
Add 9 for Religion, 4 for Planes/Nature/History, and 6 for Nobility

Sigh. Well kiss my d(*k. This roller really hates me.

[BananaPhone]

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh483/tempestII/Seli_zpsfb926590.jpg Selindra


Seated, a glass of wine in her hand, the elf rose a silvery eyebrow at the humans description of the three victims.

"Sounds to me that the first two were victims of their station. Both senintels of an area, both murdered to further the success of infiltrators.

The third saw something that he wasn't supposed to see and was silenced."

Taking another sip, Selindra placed her goblet down - there was only so much human wine she could drink while retaining an air of civility.

"Hew-mon," Selindra addressed the clerk, her way of saying 'human' rather habitual.

"Do you possess a map of this city? If we observe the location of these murders we might be able to form a pattern. Additionally, what is the 'Collegium'? What knowledge does it contain?"

[BelGareth]

Gerrard drops down into the sewers, splashing the water without care, he was in the hunt, and nothing would stop him now.

He kneeled down and sniffed the air, looking with a beady eye at any sign of disturbance above the norm that was the sewer system.


[roll0]

Sorry it took so long!
no excuse
also, no dwarf?

[Fungusamnguss]

As the pair enter the sewers, Thorah'nes happens to wonder what it must look like for a small child of ones race being seen jumping into a sewer with a grown male. The thought was mild and fleeting however, as once he was well out of sight he removed the cap and returned to his elvish nature.

Once he had his cap safely stowed in his bag, he swiftly removed two potions. After getting Gerrards attention, he handed him the potions with a short explanation of each.

"The first will make you more resilient in battle by toughening your skin."

"The second is a very mild healing agent. Save it, and it may save your life!"

After he hands the potions over to the Inquisitor, Thorah'nes looked back a forth a few times up and down the sewer they now stood in. After a moment he asked, "Well my friend, which way do we follow these damned thieves?"



The two potions he hands Gerrard are

Barkskin (+4 Nat Armor)
Cure Light Wounds (1d8+5)