Bink's WotR part 2: The Gray Garrison and beyond!

[MuffinMan]

"Did you say, Aurora?" Waylan asks, turning from his contemplation of the Queen's three specialists. "Master Aravashnial, how can this be? You were not there, but we- we saw her fall before the portal into the Abyss, with the demoness Vorlesh's whip tight around her throat. There were more demons about to come through, so many more..." His voice quivers with emotion as he relives the terrifying scene atop the garrison. "If she was pulled to the other side, I don't know how she could have survived... Are you sure it was her?"

[JWallyR]

Morevek turns to watch Aravashnial with slightly furrowed brows, as the latter fails to master his own excitement until Irabeth's interjection jars the wizard back into cogency. At the startling revelation, the tiefling sways backward, catching his balance on the toe of one outstretched foot, but even as he masters the greater part of his form, the swordsman's tail lashing and writhing against the fringe of his cloak.

The wide-eyed look of surprise on his face, however, quickly melts into a brow-furrowed expression of deep (and frantic) thought.

"If she was pulled to the other side, I don't know how she could have survived... Are you sure it was her?"

"A more fiendish plot the mind... struggles to conceive," murmurs the tiefling, "than the corruption of a... sacred symbol of righteousness to be used as... bait for a cruel trap." His gaze drifts among the faces of all assembled. "It seems unlikely... but no more unlikely than that... fate could preserve Aurora from the fiends into whose grasp we watched her fall."

"We must be... cautious, and not allow hope to... overcome our better judgment."

[Farmerbink]

"Are you sure it was her?"

"I-" The air weighs heavy for a few moments while Aravashnial considers his response. "No, master Henrickson. I am not sure," He admits. Irabeth gently places a hand on his shoulder, "The Queen is with us, sir," she offers, quietly. Aravshnial's eyebrows rise, though he doesn't know which direction to face. With gentle guidance from Irabeth, he manages to genuflect properly. "Pardon the intrusion, your majesty. This matter is, whether accurate or not, of the greatest urgency. You have heard of Aurora, no doubt, and her sacrifice. I believe she may yet live, and any such rescue must both be pursued immediately and may define the course of this crusade."

The queen nods, before realizing that the gesture goes unnoticed. "I understand. Though our project is similarly urgent, the matter of minutes or hours will be of no concern. Please, continue."

Aravashnial nods in turn, before turning back towards the heroes. "As you say, Morevek, it may be that this is the most sinister of machinations, though I can hardly imagine how the forces of the abyss could have engineered it. Irabeth mentioned to me, after your foray back into the Gray Garrison that though Radiance uh, responded to her, the sensation was notably lesser than when she called upon the bond of her father's old blade. There are many possible explanations, but I felt the anomaly worth pursuing. What I found, over the last few days is that it seems Radiance bonded, well and truly, with Ser Pelleas. Consequently, any attempt at bonding with even another paladin were met with... incomplete success. I have had a few of the clerics, thankfully less burdened with healing and restoration working alongside me, and we managed to compose a ritual, uhh to the inverse of a spell known as dimensional anchor. Well, not inverse, exactly, but... Anyway. It appears that with the right preparation, we can follow this tether, to the source of Radiance's bond." He frowns deeply, fully aware of what he's suggesting and the ramifications.

"It may well be that this is a trap, or that this tether will guide us only to a shattered shell that once was our companion. Given what I know of our foes, I find the first actually unlikely. This is deeply complex magic, hinging upon a relationship the likes of which our enemy cannot ever truly experience. In the case of the latter, I feel we perhaps owe it to Ser Pelleas, and her mother, at least the opportunity for a burial."

After a moment, he gives voice to a final possibility. "I remain hopeful, however, that we will find Ser Pelleas herself, though if she yet lives it is no doubt a function of the demon's own designs. At barest minimum, we should expect significant- if hopefully surprised- resistance."

[JWallyR]

"I remain hopeful, however, that we will find Ser Pelleas herself, though if she yet lives it is no doubt a function of the demon's own designs. At barest minimum, we should expect significant- if hopefully surprised- resistance."

Morevek nods thoughtfully. "We do... owe Aurora at least so much as to... investigate."

The slender swordsman falls silent, aside from the quiet click-clack from the fidgeting of his tail's claws.

[DarkOne-Rob]

"We can't afford to not do this - if Radiance is to be used against the demon hordes we need it at full power. If it is...hesitant...to bond with another because Aurora still lives then we must at least try to rescue her," Filburn says, only just loud enough for all assembled to hear. His face is a stormcloud of conflicting emotions and he looks to be physically biting his tongue as he stops speaking, with a violent tic accentuating his apparent discomfort. "How long until we can begin? We should get ready and not delay a moment more than we must..."

Spoiler: Inner Dialogue

Show

Radiance is really being very picky...not at all like a selfless, legendary weapon should be...

"That's not only nonsense, but completely ignores that Aurora is a Paladin - blessed with powers tailored to defeat demonic forces. Even if we were only rescuing her as a Paladin this would be worth it."

Well sure, I'm just saying that...

"I get it - you want the attention, not Radiance, but for now we do this so stop arguing with me!"

...Fine...

[MuffinMan]

Aravashnial nods in turn, before turning back towards the heroes. "I have had a few of the clerics, thankfully less burdened with healing and restoration working alongside me, and we managed to compose a ritual, uhh to the inverse of a spell known as dimensional anchor. Well, not inverse, exactly, but... Anyway. It appears that with the right preparation, we can follow this tether, to the source of Radiance's bond." He frowns deeply, fully aware of what he's suggesting and the ramifications.

"You're talking about going into the Abyss."

Waylan pauses, letting the blunt words work their full effect. "Based on incomplete information from this... bond, against an unknown number of demons, to rescue an ally who may not be herself anymore, if she yet lives."

He frowns and strokes the edges of beard pensively, staring hard at the blind wizard for several long seconds.

Finally he shrugs. "Well, she would do the same for any of us. When do we leave?"

[Gwynfrid]

"The Abyss..." The young elf girl remembers all too well the horrors of battling demons, just a few days back. She had wondered whether she would be strong enough to stand again against one of the babau, or the hideous vermlek... And now, it isn't just about going back to Drezen, it's about entering the demons' own world. Utter folly.

But an absolute sense of duty, still a very new feeling for one who grew up an over-protected, privileged recluse, now takes over. This is about Aurora. Not only she would do the same for us, but she already has. And then... She remembers the look in Aurora's mother's eyes, at the funeral. This may be about folly, but it's also about Elrembriel's debt to the one who did so much to give her courage in the middle of despair. And about faith, too. You shall have it.

"Well. It's a good thing we must always be ready for battle: I studied the right spells this morning." Her voice is barely above a whisper, but she doesn't quaver.

Spoiler

Show

She studied the right spells, but I (the player) need a moment to check on that and make the right changes.

[Farmerbink]

"You're talking about going into the Abyss."

Aravashnial's excitement wavers, as if he perhaps hasn't put it in such blunt terms to himself, yet. "Yes, I suppose I am. It is perhaps not quite, what you've envisioned, but it is certainly not feat to be taken lightly. To put it simply, myself and a few of the clerics will be holding together something much like a summoning spell, with you all as the intended summons. Instead of directing the spell to our own location, we'll use the blade to direct you to its bond." He pauses a moment, to listen for confirmation of understanding, before continuing.

"Unfortunately, that's where the similarities end. Unlike a more traditional summons, where the creature is only transported in spirit, we'll be holding the ritual in place as a sort of portal. You will have to pass through, recover Aurora, and return, while we hold it steady. Uh- ideally, you would also make sure nothing else passed through..." He shrugs slightly.

"As I said, this endeavor is not without substantial risk. If you are still willing, I think we should perform the ritual immediately. For lack of a better place, there is a room dedicated for storage that has recently been running low in the basement. It is where we have prepared, so as to avoid distractions."

[DarkOne-Rob]

"So...it's a sending as opposed to a calling, then...I don't like it," mutters Filburn. Then, a bit louder, he says, "Well, we mustn't keep her waiting - your Majesty, please excuse us," With a bow made awkward by his frequent twitch the half-elf heads for the door and the storage room described by the blind Riftwarden.

"Yes...I know I just walked out on royalty - you don't have to tell me!"

---

"Morevek, I can still help you scout, but when combat begins I'll speak in gibberish again...also, you won't be able to see me at all...just letting you know," says Filburn to the tiefling once they are down near where the portal will be conjured. "If I can tell that combat is about to begin I may take a moment to use a trick or two, but I will be able to help if things go poorly..."

Spoiler: OoC

Show

This is to try and help explain to everyone that Filburn is moving towards a self-buffing Eldritch Knight build. It will work differently than it did when he was a Bard.

[MuffinMan]

Waylan looks somewhat askance at Filburn's twitching and muttering - the young man hasn't been the same since the experience at the garrison. I guess none of us have, have we? He mirrors Filburn's gesture with the jerkiness of someone clearly unused to such etiquette, then departs for the cellar.

---

He is adjusting the tension of his bowstring and testing its draw as the rest of the others arrive, the hawk Kestros perched atop a nearby crate. "Are we ready? If Master Aravashnial thinks this portal can be opened... promptly, I can call upon the gods' favor just before the ritual. It could give us an edge over there, and I think we'll need all the help we can get."

Spoiler: Buffs

Show

Aspect of the Falcon
Protection from Evil
Bless
Weapon of Awe

[Gwynfrid]

Elrembriel performs a curtsey to the queen, a polite gesture made especially awkward by the fact she hasn't ever seen anyone doing this, so it's entirely modeled on what she understood from reading books.

She joins the group downstairs, after a brief meeting with Sruech'ul. The owl seems to have a hard time with being left behind, but he eventually goes to perch atop an unlit lantern, looking rather miffed.

Before the group goes, she casts a quick series of spells, before she announces, in her best, but high-pitched voice: "Ready as soon as all of you all are. If you can stay close to me, it will offer a measure of protection against demons."

Spoiler

Show

Spells cast: Message, Mage Armor, Heightened Awareness, Mirror Image, Magic Circle against Chaos. She also activates Terendelev's scale.

Spoiler: Stats

Show

Elrembriel Elf Wizard 6 / Archmage Mythic Tier 1 N HP 71 / 71 Speed ft Init 6 AC 13 Fort 7 Ref 7 Will 8 CMB +2 BAB 3 Acid splash +6 (1d3+1 acid, 20/x2)
Dagger, cold iron +2 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
(, ) Str 8 (-1) Dex 16 (3) Con 13 (1) Wis 12 (1) Int 21 (5) Cha 10 (0)

Active spells: Mage Armor (6 h), Message (60 min), Heightened Awareness (60 min), Mirror Image (6 min, 3 images as rolled in OOC), Magic Circle against Chaos (60 min), and Terendelev's protection (cold and electricity resistance 30, 190 min)

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[JWallyR]

Morevek stands suddenly straight and rigid as the members of the party begin to depart to make their preparations. Turning to the queen, the swordsman bows low, the gesture itself rigid and deliberate, before wordlessly taking his leave as well.

"Morevek, I can still help you scout, but when combat begins I'll speak in gibberish again...also, you won't be able to see me at all...just letting you know,"

Morevek turns to eye the swordsman with furrowed brows, but simply nods his acknowledgement.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Cast Mage Armor: 6 hrs.

[Farmerbink]

Irabeth and the queen share a look, heavy with unspoken questions. "Master Aravashnial," Galfrey interrupts. "I will attend you, as well." Quednys Orlun raises his eyebrows, visibly shocked to hear the declaration. Aravashnial turns, stammering, prepared to deny her aid. "Do not misunderstand," she begins, allowing no time for disagreement. "This is as much an issue to me as it is to anyone else. Though I lack the personal touch, it is undeniable that our companions here hold the key to what I pray desperately will truly be the final crusade. I would be remiss indeed to deny them my best."

Unsure what lies ahead, but imminently sure that the path leads such, the party follows Aravashnial and the young page who has become his assistant to the basement of Defender's Heart. In a stark room, lit by several sconces placed conspicuously around a grand arcane symbol painted on the floor in white chalk, three cloaked men wait. They nod at Aravashnial's entry, and seem to take on a sort of weight when the rest of the heroes file in- as if they weren't quite sure they were going to go through with this until you arrived. They don't appear to even recognize Queen Galfrey, though the kneel respectfully when Irabeth pointedly indicates it from her back. As they rise, you note Radiance, lying in the center of the floor on a rough stone serving as a sort of pedestal.

Aravashnial breaks the silence. "I cannot reiterate this enough, we don't know precisely what to expect on the other side, so be ready for anything- anything dangerous, at least." He walks up to the sword, not led by the young page, and yet he stops precisely half a foot shy of the handle. "Gentlemen?" On cue, the trio of clerics begin chanting and humming rhythmically. Many of the words are familiar to Elrembriel and Morevek, passages of familiar summoning texts. Filburn's blade cackles manically in his mind, quite certain that this is insanity and folly. Kestros preens his feathers anxiously on Waylan's shoulders, uncomfortable beneath the earth. After what feels like the longest 2 minutes ever, Aravashnial raises his hands. He lifts his head, and begins speaking in a loud voice. Almost immediately, a bright orange pinpoint of light appears where there was once a wall. Over the course of a few moments, it erupts into a gaping chasm, perhaps twenty feet across.

Uncomfortably warm, but not dangerously so, the sights beyond strain your very sanity. Geysers of flame burst into clouds of ash and sulfur and nothingness. The floor is as hard as onyx, but sometimes invisible, and often seems to be liquid or living matter. And you can see, in the distance, an ocean of flesh. Perhaps a hundred feet away, as abruptly as a retaining wall, a mass of flesh writhes disturbingly. Waylan is the first to note it for what it is: demons beyond numbering, packed so tightly and so ravenously angry with whatever commands their focus that they've begun to tear each other to pieces to get at it. Demons packed so tightly, you can't see through them.

Map updated

[MuffinMan]

"Demons!" Waylan cries, drawing and nocking an arrow in one swift movement. "They're trying to get at something - not us. Shall I loose, or would you have us creep closer first?"

[DarkOne-Rob]

"Yeah, you're right - that is a lot of demons," murmurs Filburn to his weapon grimly. "I don't like the idea of fighting them all at once, so let's not announce our presence just yet," he says to everyone, specifically looking at Waylan. "I will be back - they won't see me and this won't take long..."

A moment later the swordsman disappears from view as he starts to move forward purposefully...

Spoiler: Mechanics

Show

Filburn casts Invisibility, which combined with the Legendary Item power "Undetectable" makes him:

This grants its bonded user the ability to become utterly undetectable while invisible. While invisible and in physical contact with this item, the bonded creature can’t be detected or scryed by any method.

He will then scout around the mass of demons, running at a full sprint if necessary to get to a good position to see what is going on past them.

[JWallyR]

Morevek raises one eyebrow questioning at his fellow swordsman's sudden disappearance. "Shall I... wait?" he whispers to Filburn, audible to all over the shared Message spell. Not waiting for an answer, he murmurs and gestures, and a circular area in front of his torso begins to... bend the light passing through it.

Wordlessly, he glides silently after his invisible comrade...

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Cast Shield, +4 AC.

Morevek moves in through the... portal? stealthily.
Stealth: (1d20+12)[24]
Perception: (1d20+9)[22] to... look for important things?

Spoiler: Stats

Show

Morevek Balthissar
M CG Tiefling Magus (Fiend Flayer, Kensai), VMC Rogue, Level 6, Init 4, HP 65/65, Speed 30
AC 30, Touch 21, Flat-footed 20, CMD 24, Fort 7, Ref 7, Will 7, CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus 4
Deadly, Masterwork, Cold Iron Katana Ranged+2 (1d8+Dex, 18-20/x2)
(+4 Armor, +4 Shield, +4 Dex, +1 Natural, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 22, Wis 12, Cha 8
Condition Canny Defense: + 6 Dodge AC while armed with Katana and unarmored
Mage Armor: +4 Armor, ~5 hours?
Shield: +4 Shield AC, ~6 minutes

[Farmerbink]

For several seconds, your hearts beat uncomfortably. After almost a full minute, Filburn returns, having circled the massive throng. Unfortunately, most of what he has to report is that the demons remain focused on something that they encircle. It seems, unless Aravashnial's theory was off-base, that Aurora must be within the crowd, somehow, though it defies imagination that she's still alive, given the single-minded, animalistic fury of the outermost demons.

Filburn also reports that much of the ground that seems like sturdy footing nonetheless gives and pulses and writhes unreliably. Without more time to investigate further, it's best to treat every step as risky.

Map updated

[DarkOne-Rob]

"...so we need some way to get through that mass and then get back out. There are too many to fight them all, but if we can get through to Aurora and get her out to here then we might be able to do this. Watch your step, too. Does anyone have a way to hit several of them at once - a magical spell or something?" says Filburn, his disembodied voice strangely sounding from several places at once, making it impossible to tell where he actually stands. "I don't think we can use brute force, at least not for long, against that many demons...How do we do this?"

[Gwynfrid]

"I could try to burn some of them... I can also try to open a path that we might go through, but then they would immediately rush and the gap would be closed. And then, well, we could always try to fly?" Elrembriel's hesitant voice expresses her fear and doubt more than her words could.

[JWallyR]

Morevek slips down into a cross-legged position, narrow chin captured between the thumb and forefingers of one hand while his clawed tail stirs the air behind him. "Possibly... a diversion could be provided to draw off a portion of the demons? I... should be able to avoid... the majority of their claws, and retreat into invisibility."

[MuffinMan]

"To fly..." Waylan exchanges a glance with the falcon on his shoulder, and nods. "I think I could manage that - for a short time, anyway. If the rest of you are able to create a diversion, and Ser Pelleas is indeed in there, I may be able to swoop down from the sky and retrieve her like a hawk plucking a fish from the river. I can also conjure some mist to obscure the demon's sight, once I have her."

[DarkOne-Rob]

Filburn looks at Waylan with a curious expression, though no one can see it through his invisibility. "You can fly? That's new...but good timing. Alright, here's what we will do: Waylan will do the rescuing, just like he described. We will use Elrembriel's magic to both protect her and create as big and distracting of an illusory threat as possible. Morevek and I will give that illusion some teeth and be ready to disappear once Aurora and Elrembriel are both safe. Once we are back here Aravashnial closes the portal."

Turning to the Queen, Filburn (invisibly) nods his head and says, "Your Majesty, I would not dream of directing you. We will trust you to do what you think is most effective to enable our success. Morevek and I would be honored to fight beside you, but I also feel like this portal will be a great risk. My recommendation would be for you to defend the portal and ensure it remains safe for all of us to retreat back here."

As the half-elf's disembodied voice stops speaking everyone gets the impression that he is waiting for confirmation of the plan...

[Farmerbink]

Galfrey smiles and nods, her face level with Filburn's. "Even so, young knight. I had considered much the same." Her naked blade glistens awkwardly among the red not-exactly-fire that seems to emanate from everywhere, but she makes no move to leave the immediate vicinity of the open portal.

[JWallyR]

Standing to his feet a smooth, spinning motion, Morevek unsheathes his blade with a flourish, and strides to the fore. "Let us begin."

[Farmerbink]

As he steps boldly into another plane of existence, Morevek notices several things almost immediately. First, though bizarre, there is something oddly comfortable about the situation. Though impossible to describe, the chaos and un-reason surrounding him seems to call to the depths of his soul. There is a part of him- a significant part, which is at home for the first time.

Secondly, though Filburn made his concern clear, the earth seems as solid to Morevek as anything he's ever walked on. What would undoubtedly be awkward footing for the humans seems to place itself conveniently underfoot.

Finally, the nearest row of demons immediately looks his way. A small portion of the writhing mass peels off, organizing itself into something like a raiding party. Led by a trio of wretched dretches, they approach with caution- for now.

Map updated

[Gwynfrid]

"May the Inheritor be with us today", the young elf just says, nodding in approval of Filburn's plan. Her pale blue eyes begin to shed a soft light of the same hue, and her hair and fingernails soon emit the same radiance. The effect is duplicated in the illusory images dancing around her, quite a spectacular sight.

Speaking her arcane words at an accelerated pace, Elrembriel's sibilant, urgent voice rises:

"Ainsi s'élève l'image
De l'ange venu du ciel!
Pour ces démons, un mirage,
Une peur existentielle!"

Behind the mass of demons, floating in majesty over them, a colossal figure appears. It is the figure of an angel: Giant wings, a gleaming full-plate armor made of a pearl-white metal, a greatsword of impossible size, a bright halo around her beautiful head. Her face resembles that of the goddess Iomedae as Elrembriel recalls it, but her skin is a light copper in color. She calls, in a thunderous voice:

"Quake and tremble, pitiful FIENDS! I have come to enact JUSTICE!"

"It is done, my best to try and distract them. And now..." She beings another casting, the light emanating from her becomes even more vibrant, increasingly bright and pulsating, as if urging her companions and herself to action.

"Promptitude et célérité,
L'urgence est immédiate!
Marchons vers l'échauffourée,
Compagnons, en toute hâte!"

Instantly, a supernatural speed animates the gestures and actions of all those around her.

Spoiler

Show

Swift action, Wild Arcana, use 1 point of mythic power to cast Major Image at +2 CL for 12 10-ft cubes of size, including sounds and smell. The illusion is 60-ft tall (fits in 6x2x1 10-ft cubes) and floats 40ft in the air in the O/P16 area.

Standard action, use 1 point of mythic power to cast Mythic Haste over Morevek (if she still has a line of effect to him...), Queen Galfrey, Irabeth, Waylan, Kestros, and herself (sorry Filburn, she can't see you even with See Invisibility!). Effects: +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves, 1 extra attack on a full attack, increase in movement speed by 50 feet to a maximum of twice the normal speed, and gain an additional move action per round.

Spoiler: Stats

Show

Elrembriel Elf Wizard 6 / Archmage Mythic Tier 1 N HP 71 / 71 Speed 60 ft & 1 extra move action Init 6 AC 17 (19 vs chaotic creatures) Fort 7 Ref 7 Will 8 (+2 to all saves vs chaotic attacks) CMB +2 BAB 3 Acid splash +6 (1d3+1 acid, 20/x2)
Dagger, cold iron +2 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
Str 8 (-1) Dex 16 (3) Con 13 (1) Wis 12 (1) Int 21 (5) Cha 10 (0)

Active spells: Mythic Haste (6 rounds), Major Image (3 rounds + concentration), Mage Armor (6 h), Message (60 min), Heightened Awareness (60 min), Mirror Image (6 min, 3 images as rolled in OOC), Magic Circle against Chaos (60 min), See Invisibility (60 min) and Terendelev's protection (cold and electricity resistance 30, 190 min)

[MuffinMan]

Waylan crouches like a sprinter before the starting line, his gaze focused on the horizon. When feels the magic of Elrembriel's spell take hold he casts his own, and then springs upwards with a mighty leap! Only, instead of coming back down, he accelerates higher and higher, faster and faster, until he is streaking across the sky alongside his falcon! He can't help but laugh for joy at the sheer exhilaration of it all, before turning his gaze down to try and pick out what is in the center of the demons.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Standard action to cast Fly.
- 60ft fly speed
- Maneuverability increases from Good to Perfect thanks to Feather subdomain

Move + double move (from) haste gives 220ft of diagonal movement. Ascending to 60ft elevation (higher than any demons, right? ) leaves ~100ft of horizontal movement, so (plenty of movement to get there) He ends up in X/12 and 60ft above the ground.

Perception if necessary to see what's going on in there: (1d20+15)[22]

Spoiler: Status

Show

Waylan Henrickson Human Cleric 6 LG HP 65 / 65 Speed ft Init 6 AC 19 Fort 6 Ref 6 Will 9 CMB +5 BAB 4 +1 Composite Longbow +10 (1d8 + 2, x3)
MW cold iron heavy mace +6 (1d8 + 1, x2)
Cold Iron Arrows (, )
Blunted Arrows (, )
Dagger +5 (1d4 + 1, 19-20/x2)
+1 Arrows +9 (+11) (1d8+3 (1d8+2d6+5) , ) Str 12 (1) Dex 18 (4) Con 12 (1) Wis 18 (4) Int 12 (1) Cha 10 (0)

[DarkOne-Rob]

As it becomes clear that the plan is set Filburn activates several magic items and casts some spells on himself (with the aid of his Black Blade). Then, when the illusion is cast he is already moving forward, invisibly, beside Morevek.

Spoiler: Pre-Combat Buffs

Show

Filburn casts Enlarge Person, Protection from Evil, Bull's Strength, and Paragon Surge (taking the Power Attack feat temporarily). He also activates his Scale of Retribution (Align Weapon (Good)) and his Black Blade Strike (+2 Damage for 1 minute) before combat.

Spoiler: Round 1, Filburn's Statistics

Show

Filburn Crow
Male Neutral Good Half-Elf Bladed Arcanist, Level 6, Mythic 1, Init 8, HP 59/59, Speed 30 ft. base
AC 19, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, CMD 24, Fort 6, Ref 6, Will 7, CMB +12, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 Falcata "Baerlyon, Demon-Foe" +11 (2d6+20, 19-20/x3) (Arcane Strike, Black Blade, Power Attack, [Good])
[B +1 Chain Shirt[/B], +1 Blinding Light Steel Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +2 Dex, -1 Size, +2 Deflection vs Evil, +1 Natural, -2 Charge)
Abilities Str 26, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 9
Conditions Enlarge Person (6 minutes)
Protection from Evil (6 minutes)
Bull's Strength (6 minutes)
Paragon Surge (Power Attack) (6 minutes)
Terendelev's Scale of Retribution (Align Weapon (Good)) (6 minutes)
Black Blade Strike (1 Minute)

Arcane Strike (swift action, this round)
Charge (+2 to hit on charge attack, -2 AC)

"Aurora! We are coming!" calls Filburn before his curse overtakes him and combat begins. Then the enlarged, invisible swordsman charges the nearest demon, his black blade appearing suddenly as he attacks with a vicious overhanded strike!

Spoiler: Mechanics

Show

Swift action to activate Arcane Strike.
Full round action to charge (with Expeditious Retreat active he should have no trouble reaching them this round): Charge attack (1d20+13)[31] to hit, (1d20+13)[29] (19-20/x3), (2d6+21)[29] [Good], magic, slashing damage, +(4d6+42)[59] critical strike damage

AoO (note increased reach due to his size): (1d20+11)[14] to hit, (1d20+11)[27] (19-20/x3), (2d6+21)[29] [Good], magic, slashing damage, +(4d6+42)[55] critical strike damage

[JWallyR]

Morevek glides, barely seeming to touch what passes for ground in his speed to engage with the demons, hands gesturing and lips murmuring as he goes. His blade takes on a smoky, purple sheen along the way, and he arrives with a spinning flourish, sending the blade toward the frontmost demons!

Spoiler: Actions

Show

I'm assuming that Morevek can use Spell Combat, beginning by casting Chill Touch, then using his bonus Move action to move to W19 and take all of his attacks (including Haste). Following which, he will use a Swift action and a point of Mythic power to gain +4 dodge AC and (after his own AoO) will redirect any missed attacks directed at him toward one of the demons, whichever is closest to dead (and in range of the attack) at the time.

Edit: Morevek will focus on the *middle* dretch on the front line, until/unless it dies, or another dretch is closer to death (for some reason).

Attack 1: (1d20+9)[27], CC (1d20+9)[24] for x2 on 27+
Damage: (1d8+4)[12] slashing plus (1d6)[1] negative energy; Fort save vs DC 17 or 1 strength damage
Crit damage: (1d8+4)[8] slashing plus (1d6)[1] negative energy and possibly 1 strength damage

Attack 2: (1d20+9)[15], CC (1d20+9)[19] for x2 on 27+
Damage: (1d8+4)[6] slashing plus (1d6)[5] negative energy; Fort save vs DC 17 or 1 strength damage
Crit damage: (1d8+4)[6] slashing plus (1d6)[4] negative energy and possibly 1 strength damage

Attack 3: (1d20+9)[28], CC (1d20+9)[24] for x2 on 27+
Damage: (1d8+4)[9] slashing plus (1d6)[2] negative energy; Fort save vs DC 17 or 1 strength damage
Crit damage: (1d8+4)[9] slashing plus (1d6)[6] negative energy and possibly 1 strength damage

Spoiler: AoO

Show

Attack: (1d20+9)[10], CC (1d20+9)[19] for x2 on 27+
Damage: (1d8+4)[5] slashing plus (1d6)[5] negative energy; Fort save vs DC 17 or 1 strength damage
Crit damage: (1d8+4)[7] slashing plus (1d6)[1] negative energy and possibly 1 strength damage

Spoiler: Stats

Show

Morevek Balthissar
M CG Tiefling Magus (Fiend Flayer, Kensai), VMC Rogue, Level 6, Init 4, HP 65/65, Speed 60
AC 35, Touch 26, Flat-footed 20, CMD 29, Fort 7, Ref 8, Will 7, CMB +4, Base Attack Bonus 4
Deadly, Masterwork, Cold Iron Katana Ranged+2 (1d8+Dex, 18-20/x2)
(+4 Armor, +4 Shield, +4 Dex, +1 Natural, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 22, Wis 12, Cha 8
Condition Canny Defense: + 6 Dodge AC while armed with Katana and unarmored
Mage Armor: +4 Armor, ~5 hours?
Shield: +4 Shield AC, ~6 minutes
Mythic Haste: +1 atk, +1 dodge AC, Reflex, Extra attack on FRA, double move speed, 1 extra Move action per round, 6 rds
Deadly Dodge: +4 Dodge AC, missed attacks generate AoOs (or can be redirected at a target adjacent to Morevek and in range of the attacker)
Chill Touch: as many as 6 charges potentially remaining

[Farmerbink]

A great many things happen at once, as the heroes dash into the Abyss. Waylan rockets into the sky, like a bizarre wingless bird. From his vantage, the mass of demons looks, if anything, more bizarre. It immediately becomes apparent that they have no concept of (or at least respect for) personal space. Masses of flesh only barely recognizable crawl under and over each other like a hideous amalgamation of a tense tiger, prowling at the end of her cage and a handful of grub worms, diving into an overripe fruit. Some heads protrude as high as 15 or 16 feet, while a few dretches and quasits literally crawl over one another in a constant contest to be in the middle.

However, as the center of the mass becomes visible, there's a space, about 20 feet across with a pair of figures in it. The cleric immediately recognizes Aurora- almost, kneeling on the oddly misshapen ground. Somehow, he knows its her, but she looks different. She holds the same hammer and wears the same plate, but something in her presence seems off- almost as if she's possessed, or reanimated dead. Still, none of the crouching, restless demons approaches within reach of her hammer- though she couldn't possibly wield it effectively from her knees. The other figure is even more familiar- the very same witch who cast a small army of demons into the wardstone chamber less than a week ago stands before Aurora.

They appear to be talking, and don't immediately notice Waylan's presence.

Morevek and Filburn take a different tack. Morevek's lithe steps carry him into the demon's land with an inexplicable familiarity. Though the dretches watch the charge, they seem to be wading through molasses for their ability to respond to it. The first is dead before it raises its foul claws, pierced through the neck and decapitated with beautiful, terrifying efficiency. His partner falls to an unforeseen strike from Filburn, cloven almost fully in half.

Morevek's charge is only slowed by his own over-urgency. In his haste to be onward, he misjudges the next demon's steps and lunges where it would have been, were it moving as fast as he. Fortunately, bolstered by Elrembriel's boon, the swordsman repeats his first performance, ending the dretch before it gets a chance to move.

Then madness begins to envelop the demons. Three of the remaining four close with Morevek in concert. The Schir's halberd manages to strike true, despite Morevek's best efforts (Morevek takes 17 damage). However, the magus makes it pay for it. A demonic goat almost 4 feet tall at the shoulders lashes out with both front hooves and an unreasonably toothy maw. Morevek not only turns aside the barrage, but manages to direct all three of them into the Schir- the final one at the demonic humanoid's throat. With savage ferocity, one demon destroys another, while the hunchbacked abrikandilu does nothing worthy of note.

The Vermlek burrowed into the ground when the Dretches fell, leaving only the Mehrim and Abrikandilu between the heroes and the horde.

Finally, the mess of demons visibly recoils from the huge figure of Iomedae. Like ants trying to avoid rising water, they pour away from her visage, stumbling over one another in their madness. Finally, another small band of demons pulls themselves from the mass to approach Morevek and Filburn.

Map updated