Adventures in New Ganthar IV

[ilinares]

Spoiler: Everyone except Yara

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Melchizar's voice resounds in the air around you, seeming to emanate from Rosalind's arm, where the spell construct to unseal the prison is bound.

"You have my word, Rosalind of the Lovers. My service in the present conflict, within the limits you have described. And... thank you."

That last he says haltingly, with wonder in his tone at this long awaited end to his confinement.

Thuril completes his preparations and casts a spell - and with a rush of sound and energy, the dwarf cleric Bhatren Kudrenson and half a dozen warriors of Kharheim appear in the circle he has constructed.

The cleric clasps Thuril's forearm, giving a want smile. He speaks in dwarven, true to his vow not to sully his lips with the common tongue:

Spoiler: Those who speak dwarven

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"By the ancestors, it worked! Let's never do it again. I think I left my breakfast behind."

Looking around himself, he nods grimly.

"The battle is upon us, my friend. And we stand alone. So be it. We will do our duty to this realm, even if it cost our lives."

"Not quite alone," Thuril answers in Common. "The humans will fight - and their greatest heroes are here with us."

Bhatren gives a genuine smile at that, and draws his hammer. Touching it to his lips, he raises it high in salute; behind him, the other dwarves do likewise, excepting only Thuril.

Spoiler: Dwarven

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"On behalf of Kharheim, we pledge ourselves to the defence of this land. By the Honoured Ancestors, by my hearth and Clan, by my very life, this is my thrice-sworn oath: to fight for you until the battle is won or this flesh fails."

As Bhatren finishes speaking, the warriors behind him respond in Common, speaking with the unity and reverence of those voicing a sacred ritual:

"Until the battle is won."

[Timble]

Yara tightens her grip on the Chalice as she stares into the light. Well, goodbye me, she thinks, before stepping into her new life.

[ilinares]

Spoiler: Yara

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You step into the coruscating pillar of energy - similar in some ways to that created when your body was destroyed and Dalvar's energy unleashed, but infinitely more intense and of a different quality. Dalvar's power was raw energy, unbound by any guiding will; it was power without direction, with no moral dimension to it.

This Light Relath reveres…

The moment of contact makes thought impossible. Your mind reels and flies apart, overwhelmed by a consciousness so ancient and immense you have no frame of reference for it. Your soul quails within you, every foul thought and word and deed abruptly laid bare - and revealed as utterly, intolerably repugnant. You instinctively throw up psychic defences, pitting a mind more potent than perhaps any mortal in living memory against this onslaught.

Here, now, your defences are meaningless. What is happening to you is what happens when a drop of rain joins the ocean. It is an experience beyond endurance - and you do not endure.

Yara - the amalgam of memory and desire that is the product of a life ill lived - is destroyed.

The Light is everything.

Time passes.

And then, your soul stirs. You become aware once more of yourself as something distinct from the Light in which you are immersed. Thought is still beyond you; but there is something both agonising and poignant in that awareness. You were part of something perfect, something eternal and pure; now you are separate, lesser.

"You?" Can that word truly apply? There is a sense of self, as distinct from the Light around you; but that selfhood is not accompanied by anything that could truthfully be called an identity.

Something new has been born.

Although you are no longer one with the Light, you are still immersed, still linked; and through that link, you receive impressions of other souls, first dozens, then thousands, then millions, until it is a number beyond counting, arrayed throughout space and time.

Beyond your counting, at least. But you sense they are all fully known to the Light - and you sense a fraction of the fathomless love that the Light feels for each and every one of them.

This is the first lesson you learn. Everyone is precious. Everyone is loved.

You hang there, beyond space and time, overwhelmed by the love at the heart of reality that encompasses all who live, have lived or will live; and gradually the incredible truth dawns on you.

You are loved.

Gradually, you become drawn to one soul within the myriad, one individual in a near-infinite cosmos. You find yourself living this woman's life, from the instant of birth, through the struggles and triumphs of childhood and adolescence. Her choices are as often the cause of pain as happiness, and you wonder with a great sense of sadness how it is possible to be so ignorant of the value of others.

Yet, watching those others, you come to recognise she is not unique in this - far from it.

She is simply human.

As you walk the path of her life with her, you feel frustration as she becomes caught up in a false religion, as her nature is distorted by those around her. You witness the wrongs done to her with deep pity both for her and for those who are harming themselves through the evil they perpetrate against her.

Then you encounter something your experience thus far has not prepared you for: a being of hatred and darkness, a creature not of the Light.

And you cry out in shock and outrage as the dark being is forcibly joined to the woman.

When you can bear to look again, you find this abomination going through life as though it were one creature - but the change is clear, the darkness of the Other tainting and skewing the actions of the woman. More and more, her actions tend to cause suffering and loss for others, to be focused on what benefits the Other even as the woman's soul shrivels from isolation. You weep openly now; you grieve for the woman she should have had chance to become.

You watch her come to a small island beset by many evils, and even face more like the Other bound to her. All the time, it seems from the outside that she is getting stronger; but you can see it is the Other who is feeding, growing, learning.

Then a good man gives his life to set her free.

No longer bound to the Other, you see her as one who steps after an age in darkness into the dawn: blinking, faltering, beginning to realise that other souls exist and have value. You watch with pride and a thrill of hope as she puts herself time and again to the hazard for the sake of others.

Her trials come thick and fast now, a blizzard of experiences that she struggles through. She even confronts the Other - and prevails, through the love and support of others, part of a greater whole as all are meant to be.

At the last, she resolves within herself to be more than those who shaped her path intended. She glimpses, as though in a mirror dimly, the Light beyond all lights; and though she does not know it, she yearns towards it, pledging herself to its service.

Then she is taken up into the Light - and is destroyed.

No.

Not destroyed.

Reborn.

At that moment, you recognise the woman as yourself - and yourself as her, as Yara. All the memories and experiences return to you - but you have seen yourself from the standpoint of eternity, and the bitterness of the past has no hold on you any more.

You know who you are - and you know, at last, that you are who you are meant to be.

You choose to return to the flesh, although distinctions of flesh and spirit mean nothing to you any more. You are no longer wholly part of the Light above the gods - but you are not limited to mortality either.

You sense you are needed in the material plane, in the isle of New Ganthar where so many of your most defining moments occured. The planes await, and your consciousness expands by the moment towards the new state of being that awaits you - but you have unfinished business to attend to first.

You reach out a hand and produce the Chalice from nothing, purified and rarified by accompanying you on your transfiguration. You consider your nakedness briefly, clothing yourself as you think fit.

You can go anywhere you wish, now. And you know where to go when you are ready. But the choice is yours.

Spoiler: OOC

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Yara's moral alignment changes to Good. Her ethical alignment is unchanged.

She becomes a Rank 1 demigod and may choose the abilities that go with that - see the rules on deities at http://dndsrd.net/divine.html

[dantiesilva]

Looking up to the sky Sister Rosalind calls out to the Lovers as well as the Fatekeeper "I beseech thee allow Melchizar who has been imprisoned for doing his first duty to you to be released from his prison. He may not have found redemption in the way the Sentinel wished however he has thought over his actions and seen that their were other options. Options he plans to take now to defend the people and stop those that wish to bring chaos and destruction to this world until the balance itself is destroyed." As Rosalind finishes she places her hand on the marking and says the words. "Melchizar I release you from your prison to do what you have promised to do. I will hold you to your vow and make sure you uphold your end of the bargain."

As the dwarves come forth and begin speaking in the dwarven tongue Sister Rosalind waits for them to finish before replying in dwarven. " We may be fewer in number then you wished Bhatren Kudrenson, mistakes were made on both sides, however we have allies that the enemy did not count on as well. We have taken out many of their champions already before the war has begun dealing a blow to their forces, and sent many demons back to their plane in the process. I have an ally in the field at this moment hunting down those who are breaking through the runes your ancestors created centuries ago and all of New Ganther will rally to defend themselves from invasion as they have before. There will be loses, but we will see the light of day once more." she says kindly and encouragingly to the dwarven cleric as she looks around at those gathered here.

They needed a clear line of communication to get all forces to work in union if they were to stand a chance of pushing back this force, Melchizar was a capable warrior, however a single warrior against the ocean would eventually break. And without some form of information being delivered to the troops as well as medical aid the chances of success were slim. "We all need to gather our allies and forces and get them to work together. Mr. Gunn you are the expert on communication and information, is their a way your people could provide similar assistance if we are able to mount some kind of resistance? If I had to guess the churches of Charis, Realth, and Maya are already on the field doing what it is they can while the temple of Berun is trying to keep as many people safe as they can. Sadly their creed to never heal a warrior or harm a soul like my own is their greatest weakness at this moment and if the enemy capitalizes on this our forces will have nowhere to turn to be healed. If I can get in touch with Pran I have an idea, however it will require a lot of volunteers and many will not like it however the best way to fight these monsters is to use the dead blessed by the Mother. Pran has a strong affinity to the Mother, and if he is at the temple of Bones I suspect he will be able to raise an army of warriors to protect the people of New Ganther. These will not be mindless undead however, but the mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters whos will is strong enough to hold onto their life and protect the living. I like to think of them as deathless, however even that word is not correct." Sister Rosalind explains to all assembled. If they were to go and deal with the undead daughter they needed to collect the artifacts to cleanse her and to do that they needed time and an army to hold back the demons.

[esorscher]

"Let's not forget the soldiers of New Ganthar," Gunn begins. "Soldiers who no doubt are better equipped to ferry communication on the battlefield than the volunteers who run my organization. My people will be making sure the streets are clear of innocents, but I'll see who can be spared for combat duties. We need to get to the palace, and coordinate with the Prince--and we need to perform the ritual and resolve this matter at its source."

[dantiesilva]

Sister Rosalind nods, Soldiers were not better at staying hidden then those that worked for Gunn so their information may never arrive however she would accept his views as she was not one who had learned the ways of war and her ways of thinking followed a much simpler logic.

[gallagher]

Agreed. Theo nods. He then salutes the new dwarves to the scene, recognizing them from weeks ago - though it felt like a lifetime since he had last fought with them. Welcome, brothers. We have fought together before, and we are here to do it again. I pray that it will not be our last battle, but that is not the way of war. Our destiny is decided in this fight, and we will face it sword and hammer and axe in hand.

He then turns to Gunn, Perseus and Rosalind. When we get back to New Ganthar, I must return to the Temple of Charis to give my orders to Lord Commander Niall so that my forces are fully mobilized. Our new company can ready themselves as best they can at my temple as well. With Melchizar on patrol, Hadurel will have been released from my Planar Ally spell; I have another prepared, and this will be my best opportunity to cast it again. I will then take Ardaionn to the Palace with the instructions for the ritual, and we shall move from there. To complete the ritual, we must return to the Mount of Skulls, so any time you have before we regroup should be spent preparing for that.

Spoiler

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That deathless army sounds dope as hell. Dope as the seven hells. Possibly even an eighth hell.

[ilinares]

Spoiler: Theo, Gunn, Perseus and Rosalind

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Thuril takes his staff in hand, turning to the door.
"I sense no demons of sufficient strength to hinder us between here and the Palace. I have teleport spells prepared, but it may be better to preserve them for when they are most needed."

Bhatren nods. Wordlessly he gestures for the four of you to take the lead, as his soldiers take positions on your flanks.

Before you leave, Thuril lays a hand on Perseus's shoulder and speaks softly to him. "Now is not the time, but we must speak soon, son of Ironshield. You carry a power within you that should never have been given away - but perhaps it will prove invaluable before this day is done."

[dantiesilva]

"I agree we should save whatever powers we still have available to us until we need them." Sister Rosalind replies. Once outside she calls forth Lady Amalthea and the four bariaur defenders to escort them all to the palace and if along the way they encounter demons Lady Amalthea and the four defenders would be free to engage to protect the people.

Spoiler: OOC

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Lady Amalthea and them can't die. She will simply be sent back to the forest of the Fey Witch for the remainder of the day, and the four bariaur defenders will simply return to their home plane and as they can serve me for up to a year this is the best time to use them. I figure the more of us on the playing field the smaller the losses will be. And at CR 9s for the defenders with Rhino's rush prepared on a charge attack they can kil some low level demons easily I believe with L.A providing support as she herself has over 100hp.

[esorscher]

Perseus nods, his curiosity piqued. Taking position at the front of the group, he leads the unit toward the Palace, with Gunn moving to the center of the assembly surrounded by soldiers on all sides.

[gallagher]

I will call Ardaionn when they reach outside. The book in his office was necessary, and the great bird was necessary to take a direct path.

Upon reaching his temple, Theo has a page bring two scrolls of Sending, and sends another to alert the Lord Commander of his arrival. Without waiting, Theo goes directly to his office, knowing Niall would seek him there.

[ilinares]

Bursting out through the doorway, you feel as though you have stepped into a nightmare. Eerie crimson light covers everything; an unnatural cacophony of shrieking, baying and other noises with no worldly analogue fills the air, set to a counterpoint of agonised screams, battle cries, and ringing steel. The air is heavy with electricity and raw magic, and the temperature has noticeably risen to the point of discomfort.

The stench is overpowering: a potent animal odour mixed with blood and sulphur, laced with decay and infection.

As your group reaches the streets, there are three civilians in sight: two fleeing a gang of dretches, and the third on the floor being savaged by a babau. The fleeing humans adjust their course, passing through the ranks of dwarves and celestials who part to admit them and close ranks to form an impenetrable wall behind them.

The dretches draw up short, shrieking horribly, before turning to slink away from your group; the summoned bariaur, however, have no intention of letting them. Gleaming arrows arc through the air, cutting down the fiends swiftly and mercilessly.

As for the babau, the sight of its savagery seems to rouse Thuril's anger. He gives a sharp gesture with one hand, and a shimmering green rune forms in the air. A heartbeat later, a barrage of half-seen force surges out towards the demon, barely more than a distortion in the air until it hurls the fiend away from its prey, crashing it into a wall and continuing remorselessly to bludgeon the demon to a pulp.

For the victim, it is too late. He is already dead.

Theo summons Ardaionn grimly, sitting astride the mighty bird and setting off for his temple. The rest of you proceed on foot to the Palace.

Spoiler: Theo

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From the skies, you could pretend the attack isn't happening. The sounds are distant here, the rush of wind and beating of wings creating an illusion of peace; if you shut your eyes, you could almost believe it.

But it has never been your way to shut your eyes in the face of evil.

It takes less than a minute to reach the temple. Ardaionn circles once, giving you chance to survey the scene: Templars battling demons on every side, a stronghold besieged but enduring. The demons have gathered in numbers, and the gate has been broken down - presumably by the enormous bebilith whose twitching corpse lies in the street outside. A line of Templars stand in the breach, and the fighting seems to have found a rhythm, an impasse; at least for now, the foe lacks the strength or numbers to penetrate that line.

You spot Niall there, where the fighting is thickest, drenched in demonic ichor but uninjured, showcasing all his skill and courage in the fray. Although he has been a bitter rival for much of the time you have known him, and despite the streak of cruelty and callousness that makes it impossible to like him, you cannot help but be glad of his presence among the defenders. He leads them well; as you watch, he rushes to buy time for an injured Templar to withdraw, driving the demons back in disarray while your clerics rearrange themselves to bring fresh fighters to the fore.

Seeing you, the Lord Commander raises a hand in greeting and tersely gives the command to a Knight Lieutenant. Accepting a drink of water from a frightened young acolyte, he follows your lead to a quiet space to meet.

Saluting, Niall greets you with a gravelly [b]"Father."[b] Jerking his head in the direction of the fighting, he reports tersely: "The attack started ten minutes ago. So far nothing we can't handle, but we should be prepared for worse. What are your orders?"

Spoiler: Rosalind, Perseus and Gunn

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As Thuril predicted, although you encounter many more demons on the journey to the Palace, they amount to trivial threats for you and your companions. Tragically, the same cannot be said for the civilian population: but you do what you can, rescuing those you find alive and avenging those you are too late to save.

You find the Palace in flames. Its entrance has been demolished, and several charred and mangled corpses lie in the street. A number of demonic bodies can also be seen - although given how often you have watched demon corpses collapse, decay, or otherwise self-destruct you guess the true death toll among the invaders to be far higher.

Bhatren and Thuril pause to cast a spell each, wards that extend to all of you.

Spoiler: OOC

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Mass Resist Energy (Fire) and Mass Conviction

The Runewarden speaks quietly. "There are powerful demons within. Many demons. The good news is, if they remain focused here, they have not completed their task - or they would have dispersed. Your ruler likely lives."

[dantiesilva]

Sister Rosalind watches in horror at the devestation being unleashed in New Ganther, at least here the people had some form of protection from the town guard and churches however the poor district was no doubt suffering the worst. Reaching out through the magical thread that connected them she tried to speak to Melchizar. " Melchizar I do not know if you can hear me, I hope you are okay. Is there any chance you can make it to the poorer district of this city? The people there will have the least amount of defense and will need all the help they can get. I am going to see if me and Pran can find a way to get an army of the Mother's soldiers at your back, but I can't promise anything as I have never tried something like this before. It will take time though." she explains to the vampire, hoping he can hear her, and listening if he had any suggestions.

As Theo departs Sister Rosalind bids him good luck before following the others towards the palace. Once the chain of command was safe they could begin to launch a counter attack, not before however. To many pieces were not yet in place for them to go on the offensive. And so the best she could do was allow those with her to do what it is they did best as she cast a simple spell to protect them all.

Spoiler: Mass Shield of Faith

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16 creatures total,
1. L.A
2 Perseus
3 Gunn
4 Dwarves
5 Summons
6 Anyone we happen to pick up along the way/she happens to see next to us trying to flee that could still use the protection.

+4 Deflection bonus to AC for 16 minutes

"There was also a church of Malture below the temple, this could be where their main portal is." Sister Rosalind adds so the dwarves knew that this could be a potential hot spot for demonic activity. "I am no longer at my strongest however I will see what I will try to keep us all alive for as long as I can." she tells everyone, having spent many of her spells earlier in the day fighting devils she was close to being spent on most of her spells that would prove most useful in a fight, now all she had left were defenses.

[ilinares]

Spoiler: Rosalind, Gunn and Perseus

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It seems the spell construct that allowed Rosalind to free Melchizar still connects her to him, allowing for long range communications.

Melchizar responds with a frustrated snort.
"The strongest demons will be deployed at strategic targets," he retorts. "Sending me where the weakest demons are is a waste of resources. I am pledged to your service, and will obey; but the loss of life and souls will be far greater if this city falls than if a few mangy packs of dretches go unchecked."

[dantiesilva]

Sister Rosalind listens to what Melchizar has to say, to her knowledge demons didn't follow any kind of strategy they just tried to cause as much mayhem as possible, than again Melchizar had been dealing with creatures like this most of his very long life before being locked in his prison. Her wish to protect everyone fought with her logic greatly in this moment, and no doubt the vampire could sense it with how long she was taking to reply. However at last her voice came through their connection. " You were once a proud and respected warrior of the Mother, I trust you to do what you believe is best, even if it means not going to the poor district. I will not order you to do something you are certain of in a field your knowledge vastly outnumbers my own. Just if you see guards or someone who can help that to your knowledge could take on these dretches please send them that way." she asks kindly, reassuring him that she would not order him to do something unless she herself was certain her way was right and his was wrong, and giving her trust to him to make said call on things of this nature. "At the moment we are about to storm the palace where the runewarden can sense some powerful demons meaning the prince is still alive. I will try to keep you updated, be safe and good hunting Melchizar." she replies through their link before looking to two of her Bariaur guardians. " Would the two of you please go to the poor district, they will be the least defended right now and from what I have been told it is only dretches there." she says to them, hoping they would be eager to go fight the enemy, splitting her own forces like this was dangerous, however she knew the moment the prince was safe she would be sending the rest of those with her that she could to go to the poor district as she herself found Pran and together they found a way to raise an army.

[gallagher]

We must be prepared not just worse, but for the worst. This is but the first wave of Maltur's forces; this is a move he has been planning. Any scroll in our armory is at your disposal. If any are of Planar Ally variety, use them. If we have any summoning at our disposal, use them. The demons rely on their numbers, we must keep that advantage to a minimum. I have a scroll of Commune, and I am going to my office to see what Charis will illuminate. I will return in ten minutes with is revealed, you must hold this line until then. Allow any civilian to pass through and take refuge within.

Ardaionn, assist the Lord Commander - maintain air superiority, and swoop to intercept any demon that threatens to breach our line. He commands his great eagle. He salutes his lord commander and his celestial companion, and retreats to his office.

Theo first checks to see if Hadurel might have remained behind - but did not keep his hopes. He then checked to see what remained of Melchizar's prison, and what evidence remained of the prisoner. He then retrieved his ancestor's journal, and drew his scroll of Commune and began to cast from it.

Question 1 - From where are the demons breaching into New Ganthar?

Question 2 -For how long will Melchizar stay true to his word?

Question 3 - Has the time come to attempt the ritual?

Question 4 - Does Maltur intend to come to the Material Plane?

That is 4 of a possible 13. I am

[ilinares]

Spoiler: Theo

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Niall looks grim, but snaps a salute. "So be it. We serve the Sentinel; we are not unprepared for such eventualities. We will hold the line."

Once dismissed, he rushes away - not in the direction of the doorway, but towards the vault that stores the most potent relics of the Temple.

Trusting your sometime rival to continue the struggle in your brief absence, you return to your office. Melchizar's cage stands empty, a prison cell pulsating with quiet, subdued power. Even as you watch, the potent sigils are fading; but you sense intuitively that the cell is not dying away, but going dormant. Of Hadurel, there is no sign.

You retrieve the valuable tome from your desk, and then unfurl the scroll you have saved for just such an emergency, breaking the wax seal with a surge of power. As you read the ritual words, focusing your thoughts into a prayer of petition, you feel the magic of the spell beginning to build, forming a bridge between you and the divine. It is a time-consuming affair, time part of you recognises is being bought for you at a cost in innocent lives; but you force yourself to focus on the task at hand, knowing that the answers to your questions could prove invaluable in the conflict ahead.

You feel it when Charis answers, Her unyielding will brushing against your own. Your instincts tell you that it is not the Sentinel who has answered; rather, your spell has pierced the veil of time, reaching back to garner answers from the Shield of the Righteous Herself. Perhaps it is more true to say that this moment was foreseen, and answers prepared for you long ago, held in readiness for this precise casting, in this very instant.

The purity and power of Charis whelms you to your fullest; every fibre of your being resonates to Her presence, as an instrument responding to the touch of a master musician. In later days, it may well be that the very fact that Charis answered you in this way is more personally significant then the actual answers She now speaks.

From where are the demons breaching into New Ganthar?

THE SKIES ABOVE

For how long will Melchizar stay true to his word?

HE CANNOT BREAK THE LETTER OF HIS WORD.

Has the time come to attempt the ritual?

I CANNOT COMMAND YOU IN THIS, MY CHAMPION. I, TOO, CANNOT BREAK MY GIVEN WORD.

Does Maltur intend to come to the Material Plane?

YES.

Spoiler: Rosalind, Gunn and Perseus

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Having allowed time for you to make your preparations, Bhatren takes the lead heading down the burning corridor, warhammer in hand. You pass more grizzly corpses, going down familiar corridors made nightmarish by their transformation into a burning abattoir.

Once you get close enough that there are fewer walls in the way, Gunn's mindsense registers several familiar minds in the throneroom: Prince Amdel himself, with Livana, Clauth, Rithelm and - surprisingly - Arbiter Lothrain. Confronting them are several powerful fiendish intelligences; Thuril likewise draws up short, turning to you in concern.

"They have a balor," he reports, eyes distant as he focuses on senses only Gunn can relate to. "And a marilith, and three hezrous. Champions, if Bhatren and our warriors deal with the lesser demons, can you take the leader?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Please roll initiative.

[dantiesilva]

"We will do what we must in order to protect the Prince." Sister Rosalind assures looking to Gunn and Perseus to see if they were ready as Lady Amalthea stands besides her, all ready to do what they must to protect the prince.

Spoiler: Initiative

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(1d20)[16]

Note Aura of Peace is Will DC 33 for those demons to attack anyone who hasn't attacked them yet once we go into the room
Weapons Shatter on Fort DC 28 against Rosalind
Double Strength MCaE is in constant effect around Rosalind so everyone in the throne room should be getting a rather good bumb to AC and saves, as well as immune to mind control (+4 bonus), and any harmful spells thrown at us of 3rd level or lower Rosalind will auto cancel with her Protective Aura, turning it on and off depending on if it is an ally casting a spell or an enemy as it is a free action.

She will cast Seed of Life before they open the door on Perseus giving him Fast Healing 2 for 26 rounds. At any point during this time Perseus can activate the seed (spending the remaining time) they can heal them self half the duration rounded down in d4s. (so say 11 rounds remain, he could heal himself for 5d4 and end the spell in the process, this is a standard action)

Because Seed of life is a conjuration healing spell, Perseus heals 40 temp and 8 normal hp

[esorscher]

Perseus nods, eager for another challenge, yet remembering how close to death he came in the last fight. Gunn prepares for battle by casting Haste on the party, dwarves included.

Spoiler

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Initiative rolled in the OOC thread (10)

[ilinares]

Spoiler: Gunn, Perseus and Rosalind

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Bhatren gives a battle cry in dwarven - "Death before dishonour!" - and signals to one of his followers to kick in the door before rushing inside.

Some form of standoff was taking place inside, with the Prince and his small knot of defenders gathered on the dais around the throne, with the demons arrayed around them. Lothrain, sword blazing, has locked eyes with the balor; on the opposite side, Livana is crouched with a pair of short swords at the ready, both shrouded in shadowy energies as she studies the marilith. Rithelm holds himself awkwardly, using the bloodied spear in his hand to support some of his weight, while Chancellor Clauth...

Clauth, the diplomat and retired cleric of Dalvar, is ablaze with divine magic as he stands between the Prince and the demonic force.

There are bodies on all sides, mortal and fiendish, and the air is thick with smoke - smoke which recoils from an invisible barrier around the dais, but reduces visibility around the demons. The first flames are licking at the walls, the beginnings of a conflagration that will consume the defenders if they cannot soon win free of the trap.

The dwarves waste no time interposing themselves between the demons and the royal party. Bhatren calls up a barrier of whirling blades in front of Rithelm, holding the hezrou on that side back, before menacing the serpent-tailed demon with his hammer; the dwarf warriors choose more mundane means of intervening, engaging the two nearer hezrous in combat with cries of delighted battle-fervour.

Lothrain locks eyes briefly with Rosalind and smiles before turning back to the Balor.

"Looks like my reinforcements arrived first, demon. Now, in Relath's name, prepare to die!"

Spoiler: Initiative

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Rosalind next, then Gunn and Perseus.

[dantiesilva]

As Sister Rosalind looks at the situation in the throne room she tries her best not to seem worried for the princes benefit. " Its good to see you all, I see your diplomats have already started the talks." she says with an amused smile at Clauth "Didn't I tell you one is never to far from their god so long as they still believed?" she says with a grin at his new found power before bowing to the Prince. "Sorry for not announcing our selves before entering, I hope you can forgive us this once." she shares a brief nod of encouragement to the others before looking directly at the demon leading these forces for she knew not what it was.

"Here are the terms, surrender now, return to your home plane with those who came with you and you will not feel the Mother's grasp like many of your brothers and sisters outside of here who at this very moment are remembering the taste of the Mothers favorite son." she says. She already knew they would refuse, demons hardly ever listened to reason, however she had to give them that small chance, to see with her own eyes if their hearts, no matter how twisted and vile were in this fight.

Spoiler: Sense Motives

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She is trying to determine if the demons are here out of fear of what would happen if they didn't or if they truly wish to be here. (1d20+12)[19]

Spoiler: If (When) the demons refuse

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As the demon refuses the only offer it was going to get Rosalinds entire demeanor seems to change as she begins speaking in celestial looking at all the bodies cut down by the demons. "Fratres vestri invocamus principem lapsis fortitudo tuenda modo. Non impune ferat phialam bestiis et scelera eorum nanos materno requiem ire."

Spoiler: Because Google translator probably botched that

Show

Brothers and Sisters who have fallen defending your prince I call on your strength and bravery now. Let us not allow these vial beasts crimes to go unpunished and strike back at them before you go to rest by the Mother's side.

As she is saying these words Lady Amalthea charges the Belor, horn lowered, trying to make herself gain its attention so that Livana could use the distraction to get the prince to safety.

Spoiler: Charge attack (Impaling horn of death)

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(1d20+18)[22] Damage (1d8+9)[12]

A moment after the unicorn charges ghostly shapes arise from their body and charge at the balor from all sides, hearing Rosalind's call and wishing to aid their prince, even if it was from beyond the grave.

Spoiler: Hammer of Righteousness

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Fluffed it as the souls pounding into the demon hope you don't mind
Fort Save DC 25 for half damage
Caster Level Check vs SR (1d20+16)[23]
If it punches through (16d8)[85] nonlethal damage

[gallagher]

Theo takes a moment to consider what he just uncovered, and continued on his line of questions.

Where will Maltur attempt to cross over to the Material Plane?

Where can I find more help to repel the Demon Horde?

Is Natalia acting against me?

(I will give Timble time to post again before Theo starts asking after her)

[ilinares]

Spoiler: Gunn, Perseus and Rosalind

Show

The balor gives a sinister laugh and tells Rosalind to do something anatomically implausible. With resolve and regret, the priestess draws on the power of the Mother to draw the spirits of the slain to her aid.

They react slowly, for Rosalind is far more accustomed to wielding the primal forces of life than those of death. Half seen, half felt as a cold anger from beyond the grave, the spirits rise to your aid. The first two - Royal guardsmen whose spectral forms echo the savage maiming they received in life - test the balor's defences; and though the iridescent aura of warding magic holds, it is clear to all that this is just the beginning.

Spoiler: Theo

Show

Where will Maltur attempt to cross over to the Material Plane?

THE MOUNT OF SKULLS

Where can I find more help to repel the Demon Horde?

WAKE THE SWORD

Is Natalia acting against me?

INDIRECTLY

[Timble]

New Ganthar was in grave danger once again. Once Yara would have been annoyed more than anything, her sense of duty conflicting with her sense of self and interrupting her life. And the new Yara was also annoyed, at the senseless evil that that spread suffering for no real reason beyond existing to. But now her life was to be opposing this evil and building a new society resistant to it.

Chalice in hand, she prepares to leave. But her friends were still atop the mountain. She would have to go there first, wouldn't she?

"New Ganthar needs me, but why? And where should I start?" Yara asks Relath, if he is still there. Once she has her answer, she leaves the divine realm for the site of her ascendance (Unless told that Theo/Gunn/Rosalind are no longer there, in which case to New Ganthar).

[ilinares]

Spoiler: Yara

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Relath makes a sweeping gesture, and you find yourself looking down on the city of New Ganthar from above. The whole city is bathed in an eerie crimson light; by some instinct you cannot wholly explain, you sense that you are seeing an intrusion from the demonic he'll often called the Maw into the material plane.

Your eyes sweep the streets, distance no obstacle to your perception, as you bear witness to hundreds of demons running amock through the city.
Most of the demons are rampaging without purpose or destination; but in knots around the major Temples, the Palace, and a number of military structures you see demons behaving with strategy and focus.

And you see your allies: Gunn, Perseus and Rosalind at the Palace, and Theo at the Temple of Charis.

"Maltur drives them," Relath says, the softness of his voice at odds with the tightly controlled fury you sense from him. "He will overrun the city and, from there, the world. But you can make the difference, Yara."

[esorscher]

Gunn begins Inspiring Courage, aiding the efforts not only of those facing the Balor, but also those engaged with the lesser demons.

Perseus, so inspired, charges the Balor, flanking with Lady Amalthea. If this is to be the end, let it be a glorious one. His axe is a flurry of assault, biting into the Balor's flesh.

Spoiler

Show

Gunn: Inspire Courage, +5 attack/damage as standard.

Perseus (Raging, Leap Attack, Charge, Flanking, Power Attack, Inspire Courage, Haste):
(1d20+36)[47], (1d10+44)[54]
(1d20+36)[43], (1d10+44)[51]
(1d20+31)[44], (1d10+44)[51]
(1d20+26)[46], (1d10+44)[48]
(1d20+21)[37], (1d10+44)[52]

[ilinares]

Spoiler: Gunn, Perseus and Rosalind

Show

The heroic dwarf lands three mighty blows on the demon, feeling the furnacelike heat of its body against his flesh as the boiling ichor flies.

From behind you, Thuril looks aside from an invisible struggle of wills with the marilith long enough to shout a warning. "Ware its death throws!" he cautions you all. "Nothing within 100 feet will survive the blast!"

With an oath, Lothrain begins chivying the Prince and his other charges towards the door, a cautious retreat as youand the men of Kharheim hold the demons back.

The balor turns its furious gaze on Perseus.
"A little blood and you're planning for victory already. Optimistic, aren't you?"

So saying, it lays into Perseus with flaming sword and whip, its rage almost more palpable than the fire and steel of its onslaught.

Spoiler: Full attack on Perseus

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Vorpal sword: 41 to hit for 21 damage
29 to hit for 23 damage
27 to hit for 21 damage
32 to hit for 19 damage

Flaming whip: 34 to hit for 9 damage + 4 fire
32 to hit for 7 damage +4 fire

If the whip hits, it entangles Perseus. In that event , make an opposed strength check (balor's roll: 14.) If the succeeds it traps Perseus against its flaming body, where it deals an extra 21 fire damage.

[dantiesilva]

Sister Rosalind watches the entire ordeal as Perseus and the demon class like two mythical beasts of legend. The fact either was still alive was surprising to say the least, however when Thuril reminds them all of its death throws she pauses thinking about her next course of action. "Gunn please communicate this." Rosalind says as she shows him an image of her, Perseus, and Lady Amalthea holding the demons back while everyone else feel back. She was confident she could keep the two of them alive, and Lady Amalthea would simply return to the forest she was summoned from suffering no harm. While she waits for the mental reply she watches her magic slowly patch up Perseus, not wanting to use more power than was necessary as they only had one chance at doing this right.

Spoiler: OOC

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Basically she is allowing her mental wall to come down to communicate with Gunn and hoping he can convince everyone else to go with the plan or offer a better one.

[Timble]

Yara grimaced as she took in the sight.
"How Do we stop it? She asks, "And where am I most needed?

[esorscher]

Gunn receives Rosalind's mental image, and communicates telepathically to everyone on their side: When this Balor is near death, be prepared to escape this room. Rosalind, Perseus, and Amalthea will keep the demons at bay. Whether they choose to listen, is of course, up to them. But Gunn, for his part, will. Before leaving the room, he uses his Belt of Battle to cast an additional spell this round.

Spoiler

Show

Belt of Battle for a bonus full-round action, Ray of Dizziness first, then Force Missiles, both boosted with Song of Arcane Power

Ray of Dizziness CL vs. SR: (1d20+23)[33]
Force Missiles CL vs. SR: (1d20+23)[30]; (10d6)[28] force damage

Perseus, for his part, has no intention of retreating at any cost. If I die, I die, he allows himself to think, momentarily distracted from battle by Gunn's mental whisper. Then he adopts his traditional tactic of teleporting a short distance away before charging into the fray once more.

Spoiler

Show

Anklet of Translocation to teleport away, then:

Perseus (Raging, Leap Attack, Charge, Flanking, Power Attack, Inspire Courage, Haste):
(1d20+36)[45], (1d10+44)[47]
(1d20+36)[52], (1d10+44)[54]
(1d20+31)[41], (1d10+44)[52]
(1d20+26)[28], (1d10+44)[51]
(1d20+21)[37], (1d10+44)[48]