Jowyn's lips form a thin line. Before any mention of reward is made, she's already launched into her questions.
"What can you tell us about the imprisoned demon? Do you know their name? Do they have a master? Is there report or rumor of any cult surrounding them? We would be grateful for any reading material you may have regarding the names, dates, and - most importantly - the methods used to capture the demon initially. What resources can you make available to us? (etc)"
It is clear where her priorities lie - in containing or destroying the demon. But her hatred for such creatures may blind her to other important points of interest.
Cuervo has been quiet since her initial speech. She was always taught you were given one mouth and two eyes and ears for a reason. Observing is what helps you learn. She was still keen to progress with the task at hand, but was beginning to wonder about the present company. But then, it would be a measure of the party in how they behaved when the chips were down, as opposed to the present circumstances.
So, she joined the others in entering Lady Elara’s study – and suddenly her interest was piqued. For all of the opulence in the other rooms she’d visited, this was something else. Value to Cuervo was not monetary, but knowledge – and this room was a veritable treasure trove on that basis. It was all she could do from stepping up and studying the various tomes on the shelves.
Taking a seat, she listened intently. Initially the task sounded mundane – recover a lost heirloom. But the mention of a demon changed all of that.
At the first bidding, Cuervo spoke up. “Do you suspect anyone of stealing the amulet? Has anyone shown an interest in its history? And can we presume from your warning that you suspect the intention of the thief is to release the demon?”
Kalhala steps carefully into Lady Elara's private study, trying his best not to ogle at all the cool stuff, but concentrate on not wrecking anything. Though, it was very good to now have Jowyn at his side. He heads over and selects an oversized stuffed chair, plopping in it hard enough that dust plumes out a bit. He does his best to stifle a cough.
He listens as intently as he can to the woman, but his attention does drift as it often does as he looks around her decorated study. So many beautiful things. Wait,he thinks, imperil the entire city? Does she truly believe that? He tries to do a better job of paying attention.
As he takes a peak at the photograph, "Whoa, it has actual veins that look like blood vessels, that's so cool!" he exclaims before remembering that this is a more somber occasion. "Did you say it is a prison for a demon? That is actually possible? I mean, other than the fact it is a demon, that's a pretty amazing feat to accomplish." he looks back towards the framed photo that is now located back on her desk.
"Would the Director have a list of people that has visited the museum since they had the amulet? Something to go off of? Or at least a greeter of some sort that we can question? And how long as it been missing?"
All - Lady Elara listens patiently to your questions, and answers succinctly to each.
Cuervo -
Do you suspect anyone of stealing the amulet? No one specific.
Has anyone shown an interest in its history? The amulet's history and its contents are closely guarded family secrets. The only reason lady Elara now shares them with you all is because she believes the danger warrants transparency. She doesn't believe anyone else knows that the amulet contains a demon, but she supposes it could be possible that one of the others responsible for its capture could have passed the story onto their descendants.
Can we presume from your warning that you suspect the intention of the thief is to release the demon? Lady Elara doesn't believe the thief knows the true nature of the amulet, but merely targeted it for its apparent value.
Kalhala -
Would the Director have a list of people that has visited the museum since they had the amulet or at least a greeter of some sort that we can question? Lady Elara does not know if the director or any one else would have a list of visitors, but remarks that it would be as good a place as any to start. She does confirm that there is a person that works at a small information desk near the entrance.
How long as it been missing? Three days, today is the fourth. Lady Elara is not sure what sort of timeline you are working with in regards to the demon's escape from the amulet. She suggests seeking information from a Cleric or Paladin with experience in such matters.
Jowyn - Lady Elara weathers your storm of questions with attentiveness and patience. When you are done she smiles and says, "I am thankful to have a Dawnbringer among those searching for the amulet. You saw Theroc's attitude toward my warnings, a sentiment shared by most, unfortunately."
All - Lady Elara stands and walks over to her desk, speaking to Jowyn as she goes, "Those are excellent questions, and though I do not have answers for each of them, I do have something that I believe you would find... Illuminating." Behind her desk is a marble bust with a smooth, featureless face. Atop the bust sits a beautiful golden diadem with a large moonstone set into it. Lady Elara places it on her head and you see her amber colored eyes briefly glow with pearlescent light. "My great-grand father was present for the demon's capture. He recorded his memory of the experience and the memories of those with him in this stone as a warning and a tool for future generations. I can allow you all to experience that night if you wish." She looks to each of you in turn, her gaze lingering momentarily on each face as she continues, "I must warn you, the vision is very true to life. You will feel fear, pain, even death as if it were happening to your corporeal selves. It can be too much for some." Lady Elara turns to regard the picture of her great-grand mother once more as she lets you all consider her words. She turns back to you all after a few moments, "Now that you have been made aware of the risks, do I have your consent to cast the spell?" Lady Elara stands with her hands clasped in front of her, looking to each of you as she awaits your answer.
Jowyn hesitates for a breath. Some past encounter with lesser infernal beasts surfaces in her memory. Her hand grips the mace at her side tightly. She nods decisively. "We have to know."
Kalhala moves to the edge of his seat, his hands rubbing together in anticipation, "Um yes, I definitely consent."he says, trying his best to contain the glee of seeing a battle unfold in front of him.
Cuervo considers the answers to her questions and on the face of it, feels slightly more comfortable. Unless Lady Elara is hiding something from them, the likelihood was that the theft was purely for commercial gain. But Cuervo did not consider that to be a guarantee – and vowed to keep her options open (even if she kept her thoughts on the matter to herself).
Then she listened to the rest of what Lady Elara had to say and visibly sat forward when the diadem was introduced. “I consent,”she said, without hesitation.
Lash does have a couple of questions, though he is slow to ask them. "You say the item was on loan to the museum, where was it normally held? And what kind of protections guarded it normally?" When those questions are addressed he will also inquire as to why the amulet was chosen to imprison the demon, "Was there something magic about the jewel before the demon was trapped inside?" And lastly, for know, Lash takes a stab in the dark and asks "Was there some connection between this demon and your family? It is imprisoned in the family jewel, defeated by a memory of your family... It could be coincidental... or not."
Lash, of course, is looking at Lady Elara and her answers critically, trying to perceive any notes of deception or reticence to reveal all relevant details. (Perception: 12. He's not the most perceptive...) When the offer of being allowed to experience that night through magic is made, and the request for consents, he studies the Lady for several moments hoping to gain insight to her motivations and offer. Is it purely a share of information or is there more to it? (Insight: 20)
Barring some information or suspicion garnered by insight, Lash will consent...
You say the item was on loan to the museum, where was it normally held? The amulet is normally held in Lady Elara's vault below her estate.
What kind of protections guarded it normally? The amulet is normally contained in an enchanted reliquary built by Clerics of Lathander. The reliquary maintains the spells within the amulet necessary for keeping the demon contained. When removed from the reliquary the spell work fades over time, allowing the demon to exert influence and eventually escape. The reliquary is currently at the museum without the amulet inside. Lady Elara says that she has the only key to it on her person and she is not sure how it was opened.
Why was the amulet was chosen to imprison the demon? It happened to be on hand and also, more importantly, happened to have the physical properties necessary to contain such strong enchantments and its demonic prisoner. The gemstone is robust in size and the cut and clarity make it ideal for refracting and harmonizing the forces contained within.
Was there something magic about the jewel before the demon was trapped inside? No, it was a magnificent piece of jewelry to be sure, but mundane nonetheless.
You don't notice any notes of deception nor reticence to share relevant details. The offer to experience the vision seems genuine and without malice, especially given the fact that she offers you the choice to experience it or not. You sense that she is truly concerned about the damage the amulet could cause if not recovered quickly and that she believes the vision will help you to better understand what you face.
All - Lady Elara nods, "Very well. I ask that you all take deep breaths and try to relax." She begins a series of complex hand gestures while muttering arcane spell words. Her eyes glow with the same pearlescent light you saw before, only much more intense this time. Lady Elara's hands come together as if in prayer, "Clear your minds. I am casting the spell..." before she thrusts them toward you all, eyes ablaze and palms out, "Now." You feel as if the very hammer of Tyr knocks your spirit from your body as you suddenly lose all sensation except intense vertigo. You can't tell if you're flying or falling through the void you now find yourself in. With no eyes to shut and no mouth with which to scream, you endure the onslaught with extreme awareness, tumbling endlessly. After an indeterminate amount of time, there is a light, a candle in the void. The candle swells, banishing the void with blinding intensity. With all the suddenness of a lightning strike, you find yourself in your body again, stumbling a bit at the abrupt change. You fall into a person standing next to you, "Stand up soldier, now's not the time go be going weak in the knees." The person says as they help you steady yourself. You see a well armed and armored human woman looking back at you, illuminated by flickering torchlight. Rain presses her short hair against her forehead where it sticks out of her helm. She turns and you see that you stand in formation with roughly twenty other similarly armored people, all waiting for something or someone. It is night and ahead you see a large stone building silhouetted by the moonlight. Its shape resembles a temple of some kind but any symbology has been violently vandalized, leaving headless statues and unrecognizable bas-reliefs. You feel the tickle of rain running down your face and reach to wipe it away, only to very nearly fall over again. You are shocked to find your hand is not your own and upon closer inspection, your body is not your own. You stand in a muddy road, in an unknown body, with an unknown force, facing an unknown threat. You hear someone next to you speak to you, but your mind is reeling and can not process their meaning. Even so, you feel your mouth move on its own and hear a reply that seems to satisfy the person. The faces of those next to you are serious and focused, clearly defined and vivid while those further away are indistinct and vague. The same goes for your surroundings, leaving everything outside the ring of torchlight unfocused as if viewed through rain lashed windows. You feel a presence nearby, panicky and disconcerted as you are and turn to see another armored soldier seemingly full of nervous energy. Looking into their eyes you sense that it is one of your party members. You understand without knowing how that you can speak to them as though you are telepathically linked.
How do you all react to this experience so far? Though some physical movements can be made, you find that you can not move too far from the place you stand.
It is like watching a play on a boat,Lash thinks despite having never done any such thing. The world plays out before him but he has no control of where he looks or focuses. It's a sensation similar to feeling sea sick, he imagines. It's weird... Having things happen in his head, in his thoughts, that are alien and not his own. But it's not the first time. The experience is entirely different but the not being alone in his own brainpan is not unfamiliar.
Lash sits back and tries to relax... So far at least he senses no danger.
As the onslaught of vertigo and extreme awareness and tumbling hits Kalhala, he can't help it, but he throws up. He leans over in his chair so that it hits the floor.
Once they have settled into someones body and gets a feeling of being there but not there, it takes Kalhala a moment, but he does his best to settle in. After looking at a few of the faces and finding trying to focus on them a bit unsettling, he looks beyond the people to the large stone building silhouetted by the moonlight.
This was not what he expected and hopes it is over soon.
Cuervo closes her eyes momentarily and begins to take a deep breath as she re-opens them. Used to waiting for long periods of time, she is adept at relaxing – but that feels different now. Being relaxed when you’re waiting for something to happen is different to remaining calm when something is happening to you.
Whilst considering this conundrum, Cuervo is oblivious of the dwarf’s words, when suddenly she feels as if she’s slammed into and then free-falling – the combination of senses making her feel nauseous. She also feels detached from her body – something she senses but cannot explain – and she is also aware of the feeling of being nowhere.
Fortunately, as the duration of the feelings grow, she sees a light. Feint at first, then, suddenly, the candle becomes intense white light and she feels her body again. Except it’s not her own body.
Glancing down and sideways, she is a soldier – one of about a score. And she’s aware of listening and speaking, but not due to her own volition.
Deciding not to question what is happening, she goes with the flow and forces herself to concentrate on what she can see and hear, doing her utmost to not fight the sensations. Yet, even as she tries, something new forces its way into her consciousness. She may have limited control over her body in a conventional way, but she seems to be somehow connected to others through her mind. Her sense of logic says this should not be a surprise – all conventional wisdom should be ignored right now. But, deep down, she’s sure she knows which of the soldiers are members of the party and which aren’t.
Tentatively, she attempts to project her thoughts. ‘Can you hear me?’
All - You see a dark-skinned dwarven man march out in front of your line and stand facing the temple. He has amber colored eyes that are a sharp contrast to his dark skin and large dark beard. He shouts to be heard above the rain, thunder, and wind, "By order of the Lord's Alliance, I command you to exit and surrender immediately or face summary justice. You have thirty seconds to comply." Commander Emberstone turns to face you all, "Ready yourselves, I don't expect it to surrender without a fight." He pauses and glances back at the temple before continuing, "Remember, we have reason to believe there are innocents inside. Extermination or capture of the fiend is priority, but we will do our best to preserve innocent life..." He trails off, looking away and blinking rain or something else out of his eye as the armored woman from earlier says without much confidence, "Sh-she'll be alright Commander, we'll see to that. Won't we men?" You hear a few assents from the others and Commander Emberstone barks, "Just focus on the mission. We must stop this thing here and now. The whole of-" He is cut off by a booming sinister voice that seems to come from everywhere, "Oh come ye faithful..." Followed by evil laughter as the darkened windows of the temple suddenly glow red. The doors to the temple fly open and arcs of red energy burst forth from inside. The arcs hit a few of your comrades in the chest, drawing horrifying screams as they appear to melt within their armor. The screams turn to unintelligible babbling and gurgling as the piles of flesh quiver and slough off their armor. Where your brothers and sisters at arms stood only moments ago, now a number of fiendish abominations scream and gnash their teeth, raising malformed appendages to strike out at you! The line of armored soldiers breaks and chaos reigns as every man and woman tries to fend off what's become of their former comrades. In addition to the Lemures, you see two devilish figures zooming about overhead. One Imp cackles as it thrusts its stinger into the neck of the armored woman from before. She drops to the ground, convulsing and frothing at the mouth. Commander Emberstone roars for you all to get back into formation as the hellish laughter continues to boom forth from the desecrated temple.
I have rolled initiative for everyone, and the order is as follows:
Cuervo
Imp A (IA)
Kalhala
Jowyn
Lash
Lemure B
Lemure C
Norill
Imp B (IB)
Lemure A
Lemure D
The battle map is under the spoiler. Your tokens have a gold outline and your selected color inside. Lash is BLUE. The Gray tokens are NPC allies. The enemies are the black tokens. Each square is 5ft.
ROUND 1 Cuervo is up! Followed by Imp A, then Kalhala.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Cuervo is acting purely on instinct right now. Is this real, is this something she’s witnessing or just a figment of her imagination? As these three thoughts coalesce and decide to do battle in her brain, she draws a short breath, banishes them, and acts.
The repugnant, shapeless creature she now sees in front of her is clearly a threat and there is one sure fire way to manage threats.
Drawing her rapier, she stabs at the abomination, relying on the fact she is shoulder to shoulder with Lash to hopefully land a more powerful strike, given the creature may be debating which one of them to attack.
Cuervo - The fleshy abomination screeches as your rapier pierces it, driving deeply to its core. Whatever fiendish magics animated it are extinguished, and it dissolves into a puddle of ooze.
Lemure C is DEAD.
Imp A swoops over to a half-orc solider and tries to stab him with its stinger, but the man knocks it away with his shield.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Watching the people around him turn into creatures from the thing in the tower was a bit terrifying. After going through whatever the hell it was to get him into this strange body and now this? Kalhala lets his training take over as his mind is a jumble of confusion.
Using his longsword to attack the one in front of him, (B), he swings..
Attack: 25 Damage: 11
If that hits, Kalhala then lowers his head and rams the creature, using a bonus action of Hammering Horns, shoving the creature 10 feet if he fails a STR save of 14. He's hoping it gives the other guys some flanking advantage on B.
Kalhala - Your longsword carves a large rent in the creature's flesh, spilling foul black ichor down its body. The Lemure barely has time to react to the injury before it's flung into the air by your horns, landing in the muddy path with a SMACK.
Lemure B has been pushed two squares north, between the two NPC soldiers.
Jowyn is up! Followed by Lash, then Lemure B.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Jowyn's lips form a thin line. Before any mention of reward is made, she's already launched into her questions.
"What can you tell us about the imprisoned demon? Do you know their name? Do they have a master? Is there report or rumor of any cult surrounding them? We would be grateful for any reading material you may have regarding the names, dates, and - most importantly - the methods used to capture the demon initially. What resources can you make available to us? (etc)"
It is clear where her priorities lie - in containing or destroying the demon. But her hatred for such creatures may blind her to other important points of interest.
Cuervo has been quiet since her initial speech. She was always taught you were given one mouth and two eyes and ears for a reason. Observing is what helps you learn. She was still keen to progress with the task at hand, but was beginning to wonder about the present company. But then, it would be a measure of the party in how they behaved when the chips were down, as opposed to the present circumstances.
So, she joined the others in entering Lady Elara’s study – and suddenly her interest was piqued. For all of the opulence in the other rooms she’d visited, this was something else. Value to Cuervo was not monetary, but knowledge – and this room was a veritable treasure trove on that basis. It was all she could do from stepping up and studying the various tomes on the shelves.
Taking a seat, she listened intently. Initially the task sounded mundane – recover a lost heirloom. But the mention of a demon changed all of that.
At the first bidding, Cuervo spoke up. “Do you suspect anyone of stealing the amulet? Has anyone shown an interest in its history? And can we presume from your warning that you suspect the intention of the thief is to release the demon?”
Kalhala steps carefully into Lady Elara's private study, trying his best not to ogle at all the cool stuff, but concentrate on not wrecking anything. Though, it was very good to now have Jowyn at his side. He heads over and selects an oversized stuffed chair, plopping in it hard enough that dust plumes out a bit. He does his best to stifle a cough.
He listens as intently as he can to the woman, but his attention does drift as it often does as he looks around her decorated study. So many beautiful things. Wait, he thinks, imperil the entire city? Does she truly believe that? He tries to do a better job of paying attention.
As he takes a peak at the photograph, "Whoa, it has actual veins that look like blood vessels, that's so cool!" he exclaims before remembering that this is a more somber occasion. "Did you say it is a prison for a demon? That is actually possible? I mean, other than the fact it is a demon, that's a pretty amazing feat to accomplish." he looks back towards the framed photo that is now located back on her desk.
"Would the Director have a list of people that has visited the museum since they had the amulet? Something to go off of? Or at least a greeter of some sort that we can question? And how long as it been missing?"
All - Lady Elara listens patiently to your questions, and answers succinctly to each.
Cuervo -
Kalhala -
Jowyn - Lady Elara weathers your storm of questions with attentiveness and patience. When you are done she smiles and says, "I am thankful to have a Dawnbringer among those searching for the amulet. You saw Theroc's attitude toward my warnings, a sentiment shared by most, unfortunately."
All - Lady Elara stands and walks over to her desk, speaking to Jowyn as she goes, "Those are excellent questions, and though I do not have answers for each of them, I do have something that I believe you would find... Illuminating." Behind her desk is a marble bust with a smooth, featureless face. Atop the bust sits a beautiful golden diadem with a large moonstone set into it. Lady Elara places it on her head and you see her amber colored eyes briefly glow with pearlescent light. "My great-grand father was present for the demon's capture. He recorded his memory of the experience and the memories of those with him in this stone as a warning and a tool for future generations. I can allow you all to experience that night if you wish." She looks to each of you in turn, her gaze lingering momentarily on each face as she continues, "I must warn you, the vision is very true to life. You will feel fear, pain, even death as if it were happening to your corporeal selves. It can be too much for some." Lady Elara turns to regard the picture of her great-grand mother once more as she lets you all consider her words. She turns back to you all after a few moments, "Now that you have been made aware of the risks, do I have your consent to cast the spell?" Lady Elara stands with her hands clasped in front of her, looking to each of you as she awaits your answer.
Jowyn hesitates for a breath. Some past encounter with lesser infernal beasts surfaces in her memory. Her hand grips the mace at her side tightly. She nods decisively. "We have to know."
Norill sits up straight and says "I consent. It will be very valuable information."
D&D since 1984
Kalhala moves to the edge of his seat, his hands rubbing together in anticipation, "Um yes, I definitely consent." he says, trying his best to contain the glee of seeing a battle unfold in front of him.
Cuervo considers the answers to her questions and on the face of it, feels slightly more comfortable. Unless Lady Elara is hiding something from them, the likelihood was that the theft was purely for commercial gain. But Cuervo did not consider that to be a guarantee – and vowed to keep her options open (even if she kept her thoughts on the matter to herself).
Then she listened to the rest of what Lady Elara had to say and visibly sat forward when the diadem was introduced. “I consent,” she said, without hesitation.
Lash does have a couple of questions, though he is slow to ask them. "You say the item was on loan to the museum, where was it normally held? And what kind of protections guarded it normally?" When those questions are addressed he will also inquire as to why the amulet was chosen to imprison the demon, "Was there something magic about the jewel before the demon was trapped inside?" And lastly, for know, Lash takes a stab in the dark and asks "Was there some connection between this demon and your family? It is imprisoned in the family jewel, defeated by a memory of your family... It could be coincidental... or not."
Lash, of course, is looking at Lady Elara and her answers critically, trying to perceive any notes of deception or reticence to reveal all relevant details. (Perception: 12. He's not the most perceptive...) When the offer of being allowed to experience that night through magic is made, and the request for consents, he studies the Lady for several moments hoping to gain insight to her motivations and offer. Is it purely a share of information or is there more to it? (Insight: 20)
Barring some information or suspicion garnered by insight, Lash will consent...
Lash -
You don't notice any notes of deception nor reticence to share relevant details. The offer to experience the vision seems genuine and without malice, especially given the fact that she offers you the choice to experience it or not. You sense that she is truly concerned about the damage the amulet could cause if not recovered quickly and that she believes the vision will help you to better understand what you face.
Lash consents...
All - Lady Elara nods, "Very well. I ask that you all take deep breaths and try to relax." She begins a series of complex hand gestures while muttering arcane spell words. Her eyes glow with the same pearlescent light you saw before, only much more intense this time. Lady Elara's hands come together as if in prayer, "Clear your minds. I am casting the spell..." before she thrusts them toward you all, eyes ablaze and palms out, "Now." You feel as if the very hammer of Tyr knocks your spirit from your body as you suddenly lose all sensation except intense vertigo. You can't tell if you're flying or falling through the void you now find yourself in. With no eyes to shut and no mouth with which to scream, you endure the onslaught with extreme awareness, tumbling endlessly. After an indeterminate amount of time, there is a light, a candle in the void. The candle swells, banishing the void with blinding intensity. With all the suddenness of a lightning strike, you find yourself in your body again, stumbling a bit at the abrupt change. You fall into a person standing next to you, "Stand up soldier, now's not the time go be going weak in the knees." The person says as they help you steady yourself. You see a well armed and armored human woman looking back at you, illuminated by flickering torchlight. Rain presses her short hair against her forehead where it sticks out of her helm. She turns and you see that you stand in formation with roughly twenty other similarly armored people, all waiting for something or someone. It is night and ahead you see a large stone building silhouetted by the moonlight. Its shape resembles a temple of some kind but any symbology has been violently vandalized, leaving headless statues and unrecognizable bas-reliefs. You feel the tickle of rain running down your face and reach to wipe it away, only to very nearly fall over again. You are shocked to find your hand is not your own and upon closer inspection, your body is not your own. You stand in a muddy road, in an unknown body, with an unknown force, facing an unknown threat. You hear someone next to you speak to you, but your mind is reeling and can not process their meaning. Even so, you feel your mouth move on its own and hear a reply that seems to satisfy the person. The faces of those next to you are serious and focused, clearly defined and vivid while those further away are indistinct and vague. The same goes for your surroundings, leaving everything outside the ring of torchlight unfocused as if viewed through rain lashed windows. You feel a presence nearby, panicky and disconcerted as you are and turn to see another armored soldier seemingly full of nervous energy. Looking into their eyes you sense that it is one of your party members. You understand without knowing how that you can speak to them as though you are telepathically linked.
How do you all react to this experience so far? Though some physical movements can be made, you find that you can not move too far from the place you stand.
It is like watching a play on a boat, Lash thinks despite having never done any such thing. The world plays out before him but he has no control of where he looks or focuses. It's a sensation similar to feeling sea sick, he imagines. It's weird... Having things happen in his head, in his thoughts, that are alien and not his own. But it's not the first time. The experience is entirely different but the not being alone in his own brainpan is not unfamiliar.
Lash sits back and tries to relax... So far at least he senses no danger.
As the onslaught of vertigo and extreme awareness and tumbling hits Kalhala, he can't help it, but he throws up. He leans over in his chair so that it hits the floor.
Once they have settled into someones body and gets a feeling of being there but not there, it takes Kalhala a moment, but he does his best to settle in. After looking at a few of the faces and finding trying to focus on them a bit unsettling, he looks beyond the people to the large stone building silhouetted by the moonlight.
This was not what he expected and hopes it is over soon.
Cuervo closes her eyes momentarily and begins to take a deep breath as she re-opens them. Used to waiting for long periods of time, she is adept at relaxing – but that feels different now. Being relaxed when you’re waiting for something to happen is different to remaining calm when something is happening to you.
Whilst considering this conundrum, Cuervo is oblivious of the dwarf’s words, when suddenly she feels as if she’s slammed into and then free-falling – the combination of senses making her feel nauseous. She also feels detached from her body – something she senses but cannot explain – and she is also aware of the feeling of being nowhere.
Fortunately, as the duration of the feelings grow, she sees a light. Feint at first, then, suddenly, the candle becomes intense white light and she feels her body again. Except it’s not her own body.
Glancing down and sideways, she is a soldier – one of about a score. And she’s aware of listening and speaking, but not due to her own volition.
Deciding not to question what is happening, she goes with the flow and forces herself to concentrate on what she can see and hear, doing her utmost to not fight the sensations. Yet, even as she tries, something new forces its way into her consciousness. She may have limited control over her body in a conventional way, but she seems to be somehow connected to others through her mind. Her sense of logic says this should not be a surprise – all conventional wisdom should be ignored right now. But, deep down, she’s sure she knows which of the soldiers are members of the party and which aren’t.
Tentatively, she attempts to project her thoughts. ‘Can you hear me?’
All - You see a dark-skinned dwarven man march out in front of your line and stand facing the temple. He has amber colored eyes that are a sharp contrast to his dark skin and large dark beard. He shouts to be heard above the rain, thunder, and wind, "By order of the Lord's Alliance, I command you to exit and surrender immediately or face summary justice. You have thirty seconds to comply." Commander Emberstone turns to face you all, "Ready yourselves, I don't expect it to surrender without a fight." He pauses and glances back at the temple before continuing, "Remember, we have reason to believe there are innocents inside. Extermination or capture of the fiend is priority, but we will do our best to preserve innocent life..." He trails off, looking away and blinking rain or something else out of his eye as the armored woman from earlier says without much confidence, "Sh-she'll be alright Commander, we'll see to that. Won't we men?" You hear a few assents from the others and Commander Emberstone barks, "Just focus on the mission. We must stop this thing here and now. The whole of-" He is cut off by a booming sinister voice that seems to come from everywhere, "Oh come ye faithful..." Followed by evil laughter as the darkened windows of the temple suddenly glow red. The doors to the temple fly open and arcs of red energy burst forth from inside. The arcs hit a few of your comrades in the chest, drawing horrifying screams as they appear to melt within their armor. The screams turn to unintelligible babbling and gurgling as the piles of flesh quiver and slough off their armor. Where your brothers and sisters at arms stood only moments ago, now a number of fiendish abominations scream and gnash their teeth, raising malformed appendages to strike out at you! The line of armored soldiers breaks and chaos reigns as every man and woman tries to fend off what's become of their former comrades. In addition to the Lemures, you see two devilish figures zooming about overhead. One Imp cackles as it thrusts its stinger into the neck of the armored woman from before. She drops to the ground, convulsing and frothing at the mouth. Commander Emberstone roars for you all to get back into formation as the hellish laughter continues to boom forth from the desecrated temple.
I have rolled initiative for everyone, and the order is as follows:
The battle map is under the spoiler. Your tokens have a gold outline and your selected color inside. Lash is BLUE. The Gray tokens are NPC allies. The enemies are the black tokens. Each square is 5ft.
ROUND 1
Cuervo is up! Followed by Imp A, then Kalhala.
Cuervo is acting purely on instinct right now. Is this real, is this something she’s witnessing or just a figment of her imagination? As these three thoughts coalesce and decide to do battle in her brain, she draws a short breath, banishes them, and acts.
The repugnant, shapeless creature she now sees in front of her is clearly a threat and there is one sure fire way to manage threats.
Drawing her rapier, she stabs at the abomination, relying on the fact she is shoulder to shoulder with Lash to hopefully land a more powerful strike, given the creature may be debating which one of them to attack.
Attack: 21 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.
Damage: 6
[Sneak Attack] 2
Cuervo - The fleshy abomination screeches as your rapier pierces it, driving deeply to its core. Whatever fiendish magics animated it are extinguished, and it dissolves into a puddle of ooze.
Lemure C is DEAD.
Imp A swoops over to a half-orc solider and tries to stab him with its stinger, but the man knocks it away with his shield.
Kalhala is up! Followed by Jowyn, then Lash.
Map:
Watching the people around him turn into creatures from the thing in the tower was a bit terrifying. After going through whatever the hell it was to get him into this strange body and now this? Kalhala lets his training take over as his mind is a jumble of confusion.
Using his longsword to attack the one in front of him, (B), he swings..
Attack: 25 Damage: 11
If that hits, Kalhala then lowers his head and rams the creature, using a bonus action of Hammering Horns, shoving the creature 10 feet if he fails a STR save of 14. He's hoping it gives the other guys some flanking advantage on B.
Kalhala - Your longsword carves a large rent in the creature's flesh, spilling foul black ichor down its body. The Lemure barely has time to react to the injury before it's flung into the air by your horns, landing in the muddy path with a SMACK.
Lemure B has been pushed two squares north, between the two NPC soldiers.
Jowyn is up! Followed by Lash, then Lemure B.