"Yes," Khessa confirms "I have one of those magic bags that seem to hold anything! You can put in here pretty much whatever you want".
"Considering what they were doing" the blonde arcane warrior nods darkly with her head at the piles of skulls "I doubt there are any survivors in the immediate vicinity, but in fact it's better to be safe. Let's quickly check among the burning houses. And if, as I fear, the buildings contain nothing but corpses, let us continue following the trail of these murderers - and exterminate them as they deserve. As I noted earlier, they don't seem so tough, when surprised by someone who knows how to fight".
Having said that, the tall adventuress quickly goes from house to house, also getting help from Alfred. If, as she fears, she finds no survivors, she, even more gloomy and determined than before, is ready to follow the scouts (presumably Vrox and Tyekanik) at a safe distance, on the trail of the murderers.
Clarac wipes the blood from her sword and returns it to its scabbard."I agree, Lord Akkron," Clarac says with a hint of derision,—'I never thought I'd be agreeing with a lich'— and continues, "we absolutely should search for survivors." Looking around at the actively burning farmhouses, she adds, "And we must not delay."
She casts Locate Creature, hoping to find the location of a surviving villager (but expecting to find none). If she can sense one, she would says so and attempt to rescue them, then physically search the other buildings with Khessa for additional survivors.
OOC: I'm not super clear on how Locate Creature actually works, particularly how finely-tuned the query can be. If Clarac cannot exclude her companions from the spell, she will go to the edge of the village on her pegasus and cast it there.
As you search the bodies, you find on the cultists 7 black steel bladed daggers, 7 scimitars, and loot from the town (130 sp, 12 gp).
The demon on the other hand, has two distinct items that draw your attention. First the distinct sword its carrying, glowing with a heinous energy and bathed in the blood of the innocent townsfolk.
The other object that draws your attention is the spiked collar the demon is wearing. It appears to be made from brass, cruelly spiked and engraved with the sigils of the Blood God Azash.
Vrox supposes that no one is alive to return the coins to. If they have kin, the party would at least have to take the treasure back to Queen Ehlana to be redistributed later. He asks, "Does anyone have a bag for carrying treasure?"
Does Vrox know anything about the demon's collar or sword? He doesn't suppose that anyone in the party would want to use them, but is it dangerous to leave them lying here? Or does the cleric need to cleanse them in some way? And do these items have any powers that they should watch out for in their future encounters with Azash's fiends? Arcana25 (rolled with advantage since fiends are one of his Favored Enemies)
Akkron chuckles when he notices Vrox eyeing the beholderkin.
"That isn't even the most powerful thing I can conjure up," he chuckles.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Vrox does not find this comment very reassuring, especially coming from a powerful (undead) lich. Vrox looks at Akkron for a moment. Then he looks a bit wonderingly at the beholderkin hovering near Lord Akkron and says, "No! I imagine not! It's just that I have fought dragons and giants and even demons but never such a strange, unnatural-looking monster. It is odd to see such a creature fighting for our side."
"Speaking of the most powerful thing I can conjure... let's make sure that the forces of evil don't have any captives... at least not in the line of fire... then I have an idea of how to definitively punish their crimes."
Vrox asks, "Should we search the burning town for survivors? Would such a demon,"gesturing to the Bloodletter demon, "leave anyone alive in the village? Or you just mean when we find their local base of operations?"
(OOC: Lord Akkron would really like to use illusory dragon to wipe out as many of the cultists as possible... I don't think I've gotten to use that spell before and it looks awesome!)
(OOC: Ha! Yeah, really spell for those melee-focused enemies with really good DEX and CON saves but terrible INT saves!)
From what you recall from legends told, the swords are known as a Hellblade, a Hellblade is the physical manifestation of the sheer bloodlust of the user. Few mortals have the strength of will to wield such a weapon. However, the more blood it sheds, the more powerful it becomes, glowing with ever-stronger crimson hues as the blood flows.
The collar, a collar of Azash - Said to be forged from Azash's own rage and hatred of all magic users from the ancient war, Collars of Azash are gifted only to those that have given their lives to the Blood God. These brass collars, cruelly spiked and engraved with the sigils of the Blood God is worn around the neck. Each protects the wearer from cowardly sorcery or psychic powers, and once attached they can never be removed as long as the champion lives. On rare occasions a collar is stolen from a fallen warrior, and these unattached collars are highly desired by those who have not yet received Azash's attention and attained one for themselves.
"Yes," Khessa confirms "I have one of those magic bags that seem to hold anything! You can put in here pretty much whatever you want".
"Considering what they were doing" the blonde arcane warrior nods darkly with her head at the piles of skulls "I doubt there are any survivors in the immediate vicinity, but in fact it's better to be safe. Let's quickly check among the burning houses. And if, as I fear, the buildings contain nothing but corpses, let us continue following the trail of these murderers - and exterminate them as they deserve. As I noted earlier, they don't seem so tough, when surprised by someone who knows how to fight".
Having said that, the tall adventuress quickly goes from house to house, also getting help from Alfred. If, as she fears, she finds no survivors, she, even more gloomy and determined than before, is ready to follow the scouts (presumably Vrox and Tyekanik) at a safe distance, on the trail of the murderers.
as you feared, there are no survivors. Nothing is left alive, no man, woman, child or creature lives. blood covers everything, their heads added to the piles.
Clarac wipes the blood from her sword and returns it to its scabbard."I agree, Lord Akkron," Clarac says with a hint of derision,—'I never thought I'd be agreeing with a lich'— and continues, "we absolutely should search for survivors." Looking around at the actively burning farmhouses, she adds, "And we must not delay."
She casts Locate Creature, hoping to find the location of a surviving villager (but expecting to find none). If she can sense one, she would says so and attempt to rescue them, then physically search the other buildings with Khessa for additional survivors.
OOC: I'm not super clear on how Locate Creature actually works, particularly how finely-tuned the query can be. If Clarac cannot exclude her companions from the spell, she will go to the edge of the village on her pegasus and cast it there.
As you reach out with your mind, you are disturbed to feel...nothing. Absolute silence, no living thing in or around the village. All have been slaughtered
Vrox asks, "Should we search the burning town for survivors? Would such a demon,"gesturing to the Bloodletter demon, "leave anyone alive in the village? Or you just mean when we find their local base of operations?"
"It is as you say, Mr. Honeysweet," says Clarac, brow furrowed. "All have been slaughtered."
In frustration, she kicks at a pile of accumulated ash and dirt.
Does Vrox know anything about the demon's collar or sword? He doesn't suppose that anyone in the party would want to use them, but is it dangerous to leave them lying here? Or does the cleric need to cleanse them in some way? And do these items have any powers that they should watch out for in their future encounters with Azash's fiends? Arcana25 (rolled with advantage since fiends are one of his Favored Enemies)
From what you recall from legends told, the swords are known as a Hellblade, a Hellblade is the physical manifestation of the sheer bloodlust of the user. Few mortals have the strength of will to wield such a weapon. However, the more blood it sheds, the more powerful it becomes, glowing with ever-stronger crimson hues as the blood flows.
The collar, a collar of Azash - Said to be forged from Azash's own rage and hatred of all magic users from the ancient war, Collars of Azash are gifted only to those that have given their lives to the Blood God. These brass collars, cruelly spiked and engraved with the sigils of the Blood God is worn around the neck. Each protects the wearer from cowardly sorcery or psychic powers, and once attached they can never be removed as long as the champion lives. On rare occasions a collar is stolen from a fallen warrior, and these unattached collars are highly desired by those who have not yet received Azash's attention and attained one for themselves.
Vrox shares these unsavory details with the others. He clearly has no interest in such fiendish implements and would like to destroy them, but they cannot spare the time.
If there are no survivors, Vrox is ready to follow the demon's tracks out of the town, tracking back to wherever it came from before it arrived in this village. Survival18
(OOC: I think that it's correct to roll with advantage here even though we killed the Bloodletter demon. Favored Enemies simply says, "You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track your favored enemies," and we're following a fiend's tracks.)
The tracks are not hard to follow, they were not attempting to hide them. You follow them down the road, but off in the distance, you do get a feeling of unease as you spot large flocks of carrion birds
"Large flocks of carrion birds..." Khessa raises her hand to her eyes to see better "So, probably, the scene of another massacre... Unless the distance deceives us and they are flocks of Vrocks instead".
"Be that as it may," the blonde arcane warrior shrugs "we have to check. Most likely the stealthiest of us" she smiles as her blue eyes linger on Vrox and Tyekanik "will be able to help us surprise the Nefarious Duo's forces this time too".
you do get a feeling of unease as you spot large flocks of carrion birds
Vrox wonders whether there's another scene ahead like at the last village. Or maybe the cultists have gathered a huge charnel pile. But if there's a massacre in progress, maybe they could hinder it if they hurry to the source of the bird's interest.
Vrox looks back at the group, some 300 ft. behind him (except for maybe Tyekanik, if he's also scoring). He stops at his current hiding place and sends a Message to Khessa as soon as she's in range, saying, "All clear so far, but the carrion birds portend more slaughter ahead. Should we hurry ahead? Or huddle up to plan?"
(OOC: @Aaggie - Vrox can cast Commune with Nature once per day, but only "where nature has been replaced by construction." Is the land around them mostly wilderness? They're not near any big cities?)
“If the birds area already gathering we may be too late. Let us take giant steps to see if there is anyone left to save,” Tyekanik growls looking ahead.
...Vrox looks back at the group, some 300 ft. behind him (except for maybe Tyekanik, if he's also scoring). He stops at his current hiding place and sends a Message to Khessa as soon as she's in range, saying, "All clear so far, but the carrion birds portend more slaughter ahead. Should we hurry ahead? Or huddle up to plan?"...
Khessa replies, in the way the spell allows: "I'm afraid that there is no longer any reason to hurry; I would suggest continuing at a pace that will allow us to surprise our enemies this time too".
Khessa replies, in the way the spell allows: "I'm afraid that there is no longer any reason to hurry; I would suggest continuing at a pace that will allow us to surprise our enemies this time too".
Vrox sends a second Message to Khessa, saying, "OK. I'll scout ahead with Tyekanik, but you may want to send Anton or maybe Clarac to spy from the sky."
Vrox continues ahead stealthily. (Stealth26) He continues to follow the demon's tracks, but if they don't seem to be leading to the source of the carrion birds interest, he'll stop at the spot where the trail diverges. If the tracks lead to whatever attracted the carrion birds, he stops and finds a place to hide and observe as soon as he sees any cultists or demons. Perception17 (advantage because he currently has his [Tooltip Not Found] equipped)
Khessa assures: "By all means! My brother will assist you from above" and she sends Anton to spy from the sky. She isn't too worried... from afar, a common bat is not easy to spot.
The blonde arcane warrior (presumably with the others?) meanwhile continues to follow on foot, but keeping a distance from which she does not risk giving away the much more stealthy scouts.
Clarac follows along with Khessa (and others presumably) on her pegasus, at ground level. She does not take to the sky, for even on such a cloudy day, a woman and a winged horse clad each in polished plate armor would be very easily seen for miles around. She sees Khessa whispering messages and assumes she and the two scouts have things under control.
Looking up at the flock of birds, she thinks, 'I do wish I could talk to one of those scavengers; they would have seen much by following the demons' trail of destruction.' Ultimately, she decides that doing so would not be worth becoming a veritable beacon. 'I am certain there will be no shortage of them wherever it is these tracks lead.'
you do get a feeling of unease as you spot large flocks of carrion birds
Vrox wonders whether there's another scene ahead like at the last village. Or maybe the cultists have gathered a huge charnel pile. But if there's a massacre in progress, maybe they could hinder it if they hurry to the source of the bird's interest.
Vrox looks back at the group, some 300 ft. behind him (except for maybe Tyekanik, if he's also scoring). He stops at his current hiding place and sends a Message to Khessa as soon as she's in range, saying, "All clear so far, but the carrion birds portend more slaughter ahead. Should we hurry ahead? Or huddle up to plan?"
(OOC: @Aaggie - Vrox can cast Commune with Nature once per day, but only "where nature has been replaced by construction." Is the land around them mostly wilderness? They're not near any big cities?)
Khessa replies, in the way the spell allows: "I'm afraid that there is no longer any reason to hurry; I would suggest continuing at a pace that will allow us to surprise our enemies this time too".
Vrox sends a second Message to Khessa, saying, "OK. I'll scout ahead with Tyekanik, but you may want to send Anton or maybe Clarac to spy from the sky."
Vrox continues ahead stealthily. (Stealth23) He continues to follow the demon's tracks, but if they don't seem to be leading to the source of the carrion birds interest, he'll stop at the spot where the trail diverges. If the tracks lead to whatever attracted the carrion birds, he stops and finds a place to hide and observe as soon as he sees any cultists or demons. Perception27 (advantage because he currently has his [Tooltip Not Found] equipped)
Eventually, you come to the edge of the forest onto what was once pastureland. Now, it is the remains of a battlefield. Hundreds of bodies lay strewn across it, including dead demon forms, figures you recognize as Cultists, but others you haven't met yet. Armored warriors and their horses lay mixed in death grips with other humans on the field. Several demons have lances pinning them to the ground, where piles of armored bodies lay cut to pieces at their feet. From your vantage point, its hard to see. Smoke from fires lay low upon the ground, numerous carrion birds circle, or sit in groups on the ground.
Once Khessa gets close enough to notice that 'smoke from fires lay low upon the ground' she instructs Anator to fly into the smoke... Her brother, with his Blindsight, can very well being able to see even in the midst of smoke... while, on the contrary, it will be difficult for anyone to see him.
Once Anator finds out if there are still living people (or Demons): if there are, the blonde arcane warrior suggests approaching sheltered from the smoke, being guided by Anator, to surprise them... if instead they are not there, she suggests to continue to follow the tracks backwards.
Evidently the place was the scene of a furious battle, but the tall adventuress doesn't feel so optimistic as to think that that Demon and that handful of Cultists encountered earlier were the only survivors... she is afraid that, somewhere nearby, there are still forces of the Nefarious Duo to be neutralized. And that's what she wants to do.
If Khessa's brother finds no survivors (cultists, their allied demons, or soldiers who were fighting them) in or around the battlefield, Vrox will crouch down and --- trying to remain obscured by the smoke -- creep forward to the first tangle of dead bodies. He wants to get a closer look to see whether he can tell how many different "forces" there were. Was this a class between an organized army and Azash's cultists and demons? Two separate demon forces struggling for power? A combined force of multiple armies trying to fight off a combined force of different types of demons? Are these people all dead, or does he see any survivors who could tell them more?
Looking for survivors of any kind or any other details he can see on closer inspection: Perception22 (from his Sentinel Shield)
If Vrox still doesn't see any immediate threats, he'll wave the party closer so that they can take a closer look too. He assumes that Sir Sparhawk would be familiar with the insignia of the armies in this region.
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"Yes," Khessa confirms "I have one of those magic bags that seem to hold anything! You can put in here pretty much whatever you want".
"Considering what they were doing" the blonde arcane warrior nods darkly with her head at the piles of skulls "I doubt there are any survivors in the immediate vicinity, but in fact it's better to be safe. Let's quickly check among the burning houses. And if, as I fear, the buildings contain nothing but corpses, let us continue following the trail of these murderers - and exterminate them as they deserve. As I noted earlier, they don't seem so tough, when surprised by someone who knows how to fight".
Having said that, the tall adventuress quickly goes from house to house, also getting help from Alfred. If, as she fears, she finds no survivors, she, even more gloomy and determined than before, is ready to follow the scouts (presumably Vrox and Tyekanik) at a safe distance, on the trail of the murderers.
Clarac wipes the blood from her sword and returns it to its scabbard. "I agree, Lord Akkron," Clarac says with a hint of derision,—'I never thought I'd be agreeing with a lich'— and continues, "we absolutely should search for survivors." Looking around at the actively burning farmhouses, she adds, "And we must not delay."
She casts Locate Creature, hoping to find the location of a surviving villager (but expecting to find none). If she can sense one, she would says so and attempt to rescue them, then physically search the other buildings with Khessa for additional survivors.
OOC:
I'm not super clear on how Locate Creature actually works, particularly how finely-tuned the query can be. If Clarac cannot exclude her companions from the spell, she will go to the edge of the village on her pegasus and cast it there.
From what you recall from legends told, the swords are known as a Hellblade, a Hellblade is the physical manifestation of the sheer bloodlust of the user. Few mortals have the strength of will to wield such a weapon. However, the more blood it sheds, the more powerful it becomes, glowing with ever-stronger crimson hues as the blood flows.
The collar, a collar of Azash - Said to be forged from Azash's own rage and hatred of all magic users from the ancient war, Collars of Azash are gifted only to those that have given their lives to the Blood God. These brass collars, cruelly spiked and engraved with the sigils of the Blood God is worn around the neck. Each protects the wearer from cowardly sorcery or psychic powers, and once attached they can never be removed as long as the champion lives. On rare occasions a collar is stolen from a fallen warrior, and these unattached collars are highly desired by those who have not yet received Azash's attention and attained one for themselves.
as you feared, there are no survivors. Nothing is left alive, no man, woman, child or creature lives. blood covers everything, their heads added to the piles.
As you reach out with your mind, you are disturbed to feel...nothing. Absolute silence, no living thing in or around the village. All have been slaughtered
"It is as you say, Mr. Honeysweet," says Clarac, brow furrowed. "All have been slaughtered."
In frustration, she kicks at a pile of accumulated ash and dirt.
Vrox shares these unsavory details with the others. He clearly has no interest in such fiendish implements and would like to destroy them, but they cannot spare the time.
If there are no survivors, Vrox is ready to follow the demon's tracks out of the town, tracking back to wherever it came from before it arrived in this village. Survival 18
(OOC: I think that it's correct to roll with advantage here even though we killed the Bloodletter demon. Favored Enemies simply says, "You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track your favored enemies," and we're following a fiend's tracks.)
The tracks are not hard to follow, they were not attempting to hide them. You follow them down the road, but off in the distance, you do get a feeling of unease as you spot large flocks of carrion birds
"Large flocks of carrion birds..." Khessa raises her hand to her eyes to see better "So, probably, the scene of another massacre... Unless the distance deceives us and they are flocks of Vrocks instead".
"Be that as it may," the blonde arcane warrior shrugs "we have to check. Most likely the stealthiest of us" she smiles as her blue eyes linger on Vrox and Tyekanik "will be able to help us surprise the Nefarious Duo's forces this time too".
Vrox wonders whether there's another scene ahead like at the last village. Or maybe the cultists have gathered a huge charnel pile. But if there's a massacre in progress, maybe they could hinder it if they hurry to the source of the bird's interest.
Vrox looks back at the group, some 300 ft. behind him (except for maybe Tyekanik, if he's also scoring). He stops at his current hiding place and sends a Message to Khessa as soon as she's in range, saying, "All clear so far, but the carrion birds portend more slaughter ahead. Should we hurry ahead? Or huddle up to plan?"
(OOC: @Aaggie - Vrox can cast Commune with Nature once per day, but only "where nature has been replaced by construction." Is the land around them mostly wilderness? They're not near any big cities?)
“If the birds area already gathering we may be too late. Let us take giant steps to see if there is anyone left to save,” Tyekanik growls looking ahead.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Khessa replies, in the way the spell allows: "I'm afraid that there is no longer any reason to hurry; I would suggest continuing at a pace that will allow us to surprise our enemies this time too".
Vrox sends a second Message to Khessa, saying, "OK. I'll scout ahead with Tyekanik, but you may want to send Anton or maybe Clarac to spy from the sky."
Vrox continues ahead stealthily. (Stealth 26) He continues to follow the demon's tracks, but if they don't seem to be leading to the source of the carrion birds interest, he'll stop at the spot where the trail diverges. If the tracks lead to whatever attracted the carrion birds, he stops and finds a place to hide and observe as soon as he sees any cultists or demons. Perception 17 (advantage because he currently has his [Tooltip Not Found] equipped)
(OOC: Ugh. That should have said that he has his Sentinel Shield equipped.)
Khessa assures: "By all means! My brother will assist you from above" and she sends Anton to spy from the sky. She isn't too worried... from afar, a common bat is not easy to spot.
The blonde arcane warrior (presumably with the others?) meanwhile continues to follow on foot, but keeping a distance from which she does not risk giving away the much more stealthy scouts.
Clarac follows along with Khessa (and others presumably) on her pegasus, at ground level. She does not take to the sky, for even on such a cloudy day, a woman and a winged horse clad each in polished plate armor would be very easily seen for miles around. She sees Khessa whispering messages and assumes she and the two scouts have things under control.
Looking up at the flock of birds, she thinks, 'I do wish I could talk to one of those scavengers; they would have seen much by following the demons' trail of destruction.' Ultimately, she decides that doing so would not be worth becoming a veritable beacon. 'I am certain there will be no shortage of them wherever it is these tracks lead.'
Yes, wilderness
Eventually, you come to the edge of the forest onto what was once pastureland. Now, it is the remains of a battlefield. Hundreds of bodies lay strewn across it, including dead demon forms, figures you recognize as Cultists, but others you haven't met yet. Armored warriors and their horses lay mixed in death grips with other humans on the field. Several demons have lances pinning them to the ground, where piles of armored bodies lay cut to pieces at their feet. From your vantage point, its hard to see. Smoke from fires lay low upon the ground, numerous carrion birds circle, or sit in groups on the ground.
Once Khessa gets close enough to notice that 'smoke from fires lay low upon the ground' she instructs Anator to fly into the smoke... Her brother, with his Blindsight, can very well being able to see even in the midst of smoke... while, on the contrary, it will be difficult for anyone to see him.
Once Anator finds out if there are still living people (or Demons): if there are, the blonde arcane warrior suggests approaching sheltered from the smoke, being guided by Anator, to surprise them... if instead they are not there, she suggests to continue to follow the tracks backwards.
Evidently the place was the scene of a furious battle, but the tall adventuress doesn't feel so optimistic as to think that that Demon and that handful of Cultists encountered earlier were the only survivors... she is afraid that, somewhere nearby, there are still forces of the Nefarious Duo to be neutralized. And that's what she wants to do.
Vrox waits for the report from Anator via Khessa.
If Khessa's brother finds no survivors (cultists, their allied demons, or soldiers who were fighting them) in or around the battlefield, Vrox will crouch down and --- trying to remain obscured by the smoke -- creep forward to the first tangle of dead bodies. He wants to get a closer look to see whether he can tell how many different "forces" there were. Was this a class between an organized army and Azash's cultists and demons? Two separate demon forces struggling for power? A combined force of multiple armies trying to fight off a combined force of different types of demons? Are these people all dead, or does he see any survivors who could tell them more?
Moving stealthily: Stealth 29
Looking for survivors of any kind or any other details he can see on closer inspection: Perception 22 (from his Sentinel Shield)
If Vrox still doesn't see any immediate threats, he'll wave the party closer so that they can take a closer look too. He assumes that Sir Sparhawk would be familiar with the insignia of the armies in this region.