Wrath of the Righteous - Worldwound Incursion [IC]

[Zhentarim]

Diamond feels he has nothing to add, so he stares silently at the scene before him, weapon still drawn and loaded. He is noticeably less rigid than normal, perhaps due to fatigue.

[Diachronos]

Skerak crosses his arms, ready to blast the tiefling if the librarians don't back up his claims.

[Kallimakus]

"He certainly didn't have any qualms about hurting us" a female librarian says.
"Hey! I didn't enjoy it." the Tiefling defends himself.
"Might not have relished it as much as the other two." one of the chained librarians says. "Don't mean he was just going with the flow."
"But..." the Tiefling says.

The others arrive, Aravashinal being escorted to what is left of the Blackwing library. The librarians recognize him. "Mister Aravashinal? Thank Heavens you're here. With all the others gone..."
The elf nods. "What about the others? The brotherhood?"
"They... They are no more. Our doom came in the form of an abomination. A mound of worms in shape of man. He commanded a host of demons to tear down the library and slaughtered every last Riftwarden present"
Aravashinal sags. "That makes me the last… Wait? He defeated Quednys?"
"No" the librarian says. "The head librarian was at the epicentre. He might have survived, laid low" she continues, obviously hopeful.
You can see the elf waver. He has little illusions of the odds of that being true. "You're right. But we need to secure this place."

[Zhentarim]

"Let's take the tiefling with us. We can watch him and see if he's really being truthful. We could use the extra help. What's your name, sir?

[NeoSeraphi]

"Survivors? Why didn't you say so!" Shauna exclaims. "Everyone, help me move this rubble! We need to help whoever is trapped beneath!"

She rushes over to the epicenter of the library and begins lifting the debris, piece by piece.

[Frosty]

To Diamond, Luna responds, "Shouldn't we tie up this tiefling's hands in front of him securely? We can take him with us but I'm not sure I trust him yet." She gets some rope from the librarians, sine they were tied up earlier.

Seeing the paladin start digging through the rubble, Luna blinks in confusion. She goes back to the librarians. "Are there additional people trapped under rubble that we can help rescue? Quednys isn't under there is he?"'

To Aravashnial, Luna says, "Well, we are glad to have helped these people, but I'm not that...securing this place is feasible. Our group has to move on, so we can stay at keep this place safe for the librarians. What if this worm-man comes back? They should come with us as we seek an actual fortified place. Bring the most important tomes with us if desired."

[Kallimakus]

"He wasn't here." a librarian tells Shauna. "...At the cathedral…"

"If the worm-man wanted to come back, he would have done so. The objects of power here are either taken or destroyed. What needs to happen now is salvage. I know much, but we need every book from here for the chance it has some helpful information…" Aravashinal rants. He pauses to think about it. "...You're right." he sighs. "We should move."

The librarians hesitate. "Your group is getting larger. If you take us with you too, you'll catch the attention of the nastier things that linger in Kenabres."
"We'll all have better odds if we stay here" another chimes in.

"We'll send help for you then" Aravashinal says. "As soon as we find some."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

You can try to talk Aravashinal into ordering the librarians with you, but it will lead to more dangerous encounters.

[NeoSeraphi]

Shauna shakes her head. "No. We cannot allow these people to remain here. We are already escorting four wounded people, we can handle more. We will protect everyone. Please, do not risk your lives by remaining here."

[Zhentarim]

After a moment of hesitation, Diamond said ”Tie the tiefling’s hands behind his back and if we have enough rope, we should individually tie a knot around each leg and loosely tie the legs together to slow him down. I also say the librarians should come with us—too dangerous to stay here.”

[Diachronos]

Skerak looks around at the remains of the library. "This place seems safe enough to me, as long as the doors are kept barred. It might be safer for them to remain here until we can get a better escort for them."

[Frosty]

Lunalesca
HP: 24/24 | AC: 19 | Init: +2 | Fort/Ref/Wil = 6/4/8
Diplomacy/Bluff +11 | Knowledge Religion/History +8 | Knowledge Planes +10 | Perception +11 | 
Resources:  Channels 4/5, Fire Bolt 5/7, Dragon Scale 2/3
Effects: SHAKEN, Alter Self (medium humanoid, +2 Str), +4 Bluff against evil creatures.

"Skerak, if this place were 'safe enough', then the poor librarians wouldn't have been THIS close to being burnt to death in the middle of their precious tomes. Gather the most important tomes, and then let's GO!"

Luna turns to the tiefling. "Who did you work for before the crusader 'forced' you into his employ?"

Spoiler: ooc

Show

5ft step behind Shana if possible. If not, just step away from the rogue.
Cast Burning Disarm (Reflex DC 15) on crusader mace. He must make save or take 3d4 damage. Success means he has the option to just drop his mace.

[Diachronos]

Skerak shrugs. "Do what you want. Just know that I'm not taking responsibility for any more stragglers that we pick up."

[Kallimakus]

"We'll need to come back, miss" one of the librarians says. "We haven't shifted through everything yet. We've gotten a few good tomes out, including a spellbook, but there could be so much more here to save"

They gather up satchels of books.

"I can't believe it..." Aravashinal says, still devastated. "I'm the last Riftwarden in Kenabres"
"That we know of" one of the librarians says.
"Thanks." Aravashinal says. "Anyway, we need to move. It sounds like we've got a crowd on our hands."
"More protectees than protectors too" Anevia says.

The tiefling weighs his options. His shoulders slump. "I was a bakers assistant" he says. "Then this whole f*cking thing goes off, demons pass me by because of my blood and... I didn't have anything to look forward to anymore."

A sob story that he's milking for all its worth.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

You can roll Sense Motive if you like

[NeoSeraphi]

Shauna's eyes widen. "Oh no! You poor thing! Yes, of course, you can come with us." She puts her hands on the tiefling's shoulders. "We will keep you safe. All is forgiven, okay?"

[Zhentarim]

”When this all blows over, and I’ve rebuilt my shop, I could use help like yours.”

[Kallimakus]

The crowd heads out. Anevia, Aravashinal and Emilie bring up the rear, being somewhat combat-capable, as well as the slowest in the group. Ahead of them is the man you saved from the cultists, joined by the five librarians with their heavy burdens, taking all of worth they could. Then follows the Tiefling, his hands bound just in case, something he submitted to willingly, perhaps because of the unexpected acceptance. At the front of the group, Horgus guides the adventurers to his home. A deep trench, dug by something massive crawling through, or perhaps a spell of cataclysmic proportions. It has cut through each of the three layers of walls of Kenabres, leaving no way around it.

Ahead lies the park area, littered with noble dwellings, Gwerm Manor among them.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

There is no combat yet.
The sides of the trench are steep, 10 feet high, requiring two climb checks for 30ft speed (DC 0) to get up or down, with a move action to cross the bottom of the trench from one side to another.

As a reminder, you need both hands free to climb, so weapons and shields need to be stowed.

Everyone should roll Perception and Initiative, so that when it gets dangerous, we don't need to take extra steps then.

[NeoSeraphi]

Shauna walks behind Horgus, keeping her eyes peeled. She's ready to deal with any demons that cross her path.

Spoiler

Show

Perception: (1d20)[3]
Initiative: (1d20+2)[5]

[Diachronos]

Skerak sticks toward the rear of the group, waiting until everyone else has crossed before starting across himself.

Spoiler

Show

Taking 10 on the climb checks, total of 14

Perception: (1d20+6)[15]
Initiative: (1d20+3)[15]

[Zhentarim]

Diamond stays towards the back, his weapon drawn and loaded.

[Frosty]

Lunalesca
HP: 24/24 | AC: 19 | Init: +2 | Fort/Ref/Wil = 6/4/8
Diplomacy/Bluff +11 | Knowledge Religion/History +8 | Knowledge Planes +10 | Perception +11 | 
Resources:  Channels 4/5, Fire Bolt 5/7, Dragon Scale 2/3
Effects: SHAKEN, Alter Self (medium humanoid, +2 Str), +4 Bluff against evil creatures.

Luna takes the scale that creates a cloud of levitation, and uses that to lower herself safely. "Come on, lower the civilians down. I'll be down here ready to receive. Hesper, Shauna, you two should secure the far bank."

Spoiler: ooc

Show

Activate scale that casts Levitate, and go down into the trench.
Perception: (1d20+11)[31]
Initiative: (1d20+2)[8]

[Kallimakus]

Disaster strikes as the group is crossing the trench. Shauna and Horgus cross the trench first, the noble getting his hands dirty on the upward slope, willing to bear a little indignity this close to his home. With Diamond and Skerak staying back, making sure that everyone remains safe, the librarians descending the slope into the trench one by one. Emilie makes the drop handily, though the upwards slope is going to be more tricky for her. Aravashinal and Anevia remain on the original side, waiting for Luna to help them rather than risking further injury for little gain. Hesper is getting ready to climb to the far side as well.

"Now" a voice calls. It's not human. Out of the ruins charges a fiend. Horned and hunchbacked, its face twisted and malformed and filled with malice. "So much prey here…" it says, attacking Skerak by tossing a silvery shard at him. It's little more than jagged glass, but it's enough
"Drop your weapon, dwarf" an imperious voice commands, as a demon cultist exits the ruins, pointing at Diamond. She carries a scythe, marking her as a cultist of Deskari. Another joins her, wielding a glaive, standing by the side of the first, on guard.
They are 20 feet away from Diamond, Anevia, Aravashinal and Skerak.

On the far side, out of the forest, a third cultist, with a pair of mortals blessed with fiendish blood confront Shauna and Horgus (and potentially Hesper)
"You should have abandoned the weak to their fates" the cultist declares, brandishing his scythe. "Although now we reap a greater sacrifice"
They stand further away, more along the lines of 40 feet. The tieflings wield crossbows.

They must have gotten ahead of the group with Aravashinal and Anevia slowing them down.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Diamond needs a Will Save vs a spell, or he drops his gun (Spellcraft identifies)
Skerak is attacked: (1d20+5)[9], (1d6+2)[7]

The tieflings waste their opportunity to strike first for the intimidation factor. They're still tense and have readied actions.

[Diachronos]

Skerak launches a blast of stone at the demon that had attacked him.

Spoiler

Show

Hit: (1d20+7)[26]/(1d20+7)[12]
Damage: (2d6+8)[14]/(4d6+16)[25]

[NeoSeraphi]

Shauna gasps in surprise. "Demons! Everyone, ready yourselves! We must protect the civilians!"

She glances at Luna. "You, strumpet! You can fight, right?"

[Zhentarim]

Spoiler: Saves

Show

Will:(1d20+4)[20]
Spellcraft (untrained): (1d20+2)[6]

Diamond uses his study target on the demon and fires.

[Frosty]

Lunalesca
HP: 24/24 | AC: 19 | Init: +2 | Fort/Ref/Wil = 6/4/8
Diplomacy/Bluff +11 | Knowledge Religion/History +8 | Knowledge Planes +10 | Perception +11 | 
Resources:  Channels 4/5, Fire Bolt 5/7, Dragon Scale 2/3
Effects:  Levitate

Lunalesca's eagle eyes saw the ambush, and she is quick to levitate back up to ground level, and plants herself in front of Aravahnial and Anevia. "Stay behind me. I'll protect you."

Looking back at the paladin, she raises an eyebrow. "Did you NOT see me burn that crusader's weapon, paladin?"

Spoiler: ooc

Show

Levitate back up to protect the back line.

[Kallimakus]

Diamon shoots the demon. "Claim them for your masters" it calls, and the cultists advance on both sides. On the far side, Shauna sees him present a demonic rune. "Abyss blesses us!" he cries, motes of power radiating from him and clinging to the tieflings, leaving her and Horgus alone.

"You can take them, right?" he asks, his rapier drawn. The cultist approaches them, almost reaching them, scythe ready. He is in no rush, and a pair of crossbow bolts from his cronies sail past him.

The demon charges Skerak, angered by the injury dealt to it. The scythe cultist moves to assail the dwarf gunslinger, while the last cultist bypasses them, sliding down the trench. She sweeps her glaive around menacingly.

Aravashinal starts to chant a spell of summoning to bring some aid from the higher planes. Anevia drops her crutch and lets loose a shot against the cultist she has access to. Down in the trench, the group of survivors huddles together. They're on the verge of panic. Emilie conjures up a weapon for herself. The female librarian, the one who spoke before, Fenna, unrolls one of her scrolls and reads it out loud, but it has no effect.
"A crippled girl and an inept mage is the best I'll get?" the cultist taunts.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Horgus takes Total Defense this round (though only after he is shot, with initiative)
(1d20+4)[18], (1d8)[1] Crossbow vs Shauna
(1d20+4)[20], (1d8)[6] Crossbow vs Horgus
(1d20+7)[10], (1d6+2)[3] Demon vs Skerak, also requires a Fort save vs a supernatural ability
(1d20+5)[8], (2d4+3)[11] Scythe cultist vs Skerak

(1d20+5)[9], (1d6)[2] Anevia, bow against scythe cultist.

[Zhentarim]

Diamond uses a paper cartridge to reload and he fires again.

Spoiler: rolls

Show

(1d20+6)[8]
[/roll]1d8+1[/roll]

[NeoSeraphi]

Shauna narrows her eyes as the demonic rune appears. "The Abyss demands a price for its blessings...a price you will pay sooner rather than later!"

She charges and delivers a pounding blow.

Spoiler

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Charge vs the guy with the blessing.

(1d20+7)[16]
(1d8+6)[11] (Power Attack)

[Diachronos]

Skerak backs away and launches another bolt of stone at the demon.

Spoiler: Attack

Show

Hit: (1d20+7)[22]/(1d20+7)[10]
Damage: (2d6+8)[12]/(4d6+16)[26]
Reminder that Skerak's stone blast counts as magic

[Frosty]

Lunalesca
HP: 24/24 | AC: 19 | Init: +2 | Fort/Ref/Wil = 6/4/8
Diplomacy/Bluff +11 | Knowledge Religion/History +8 | Knowledge Planes +10 | Perception +11 | 
Resources:  Channels 4/5, Fire Bolt 5/7, Dragon Scale 2/3
Effects:  Levitate

The cleric scoffs as a cultist just ignores her and instead leaps down into the trench. "What am I, chopped liver? HEY YOU, FREEZE!" She intones a spell she hasn't tried before, but should prove very effective if the cultist is not strong of mind. "Emilie, cut her head off if she holds still!" Luna quickly follows back down into the trench so she can defends the civilians if the cultist survives.

Spoiler: ooc

Show

Cast Hold Person on the cultist inside the trench (DC16 Will save). Then move back into the trench, next to the cultist.