This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lawrance takes a moment to inspect the crystal up ahead with his magically enhanced vision and reports to the group out loud "The crystal seems to dispel magical effects, once they come within range. I'm not sure if it also lets it's master know, but I'd suspect that it does both. I can try to suppress it for a bit with my own magic, but I'm not sure how successful I'll be. If it works at all, we will need to hurry past it as the effect would likely recover."
Upon agreement to his idea, Lawrance attempts to cancel the crystal's magic for a while with his own energies.
Dispel magic 24
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
Velon reaches into his pack and pulls out several Potion of Healing and offers them to Silas. "You look thirsty" he says with a wink.
To the group he says "let's see if we can take a look at what's happening, then we can charge in a stop this ritual." Velon stays back far from the crystal until Lawrance does his thing, then hurries past. He looks to Mari and says "I can help ensure the safety of our guide if you want to help Lawrance scout ahead."
OOC I had bought quite a few regular Potions of Healing, so Silas can have as many as he'd like up, say, 20.
Lawrence casts his spell, and the crystal dims. Hurrying past, the group comes upon the entry to a large cavern. Within, several dozen humanoid figures appear to be working on a large ritual site, drawing symbols on the floors and walls in blood. Where the blood came from is not difficult at all to discern, twenty one corpses have been arranged in a circle, their throats slit and the blood allowed to pool at the center.
A trio of monstrous and quite slimy froglike beings are busy chasing the cultists around, using tridents to poke at any they deem to not be working hard enough. As you watch, one cultist trips and falls, smearing some of the blood work. In response, one of the frog demons spits a wad of apparently poisonous slime in his face. The cultist claws at the mass and screams, rapidly going into convulsions and beginning to die.
The scene is dominated by a massive demon, currently lounging on a pile of rubble shaped into a crude throne. Flames flicker around his black horns as the winged creature snorts with amusement at the antics of his underlings.
Once past the geologic gatekeeper, Lawrance sends through the link #Velon, I can drop a storm of sorts (Storm Sphere) in their midst without much issue, and engulf a group of them, but do you want the demon to be included in it, or would you prefer to fight the demon close up and personal? Otherwise, I'll cast an aura of illness (Sickening Radiance) and drain their energies a bit.#
Once he can clearly see the foes they face, Lawrance silently summarizes the threats they pose
#The big guy is a Balor, an ancient demonic being wreathed in fire. If you get close to him, the heat he emits is fierce! They are known to teleport, cannot be easily hurt by normal weapons, and explode massively when they die. It also resists magic far too well. They can hit from surprising distances with their weapons. The whip burns as well, and the sword will strike with the added power of electricity. This could be more than a little tough. Oh, and they can sometimes summon other lesser demons, like the underlings here. The underlings are a bit less of a threat, but even there they resist magical spells. They have an aura of illness that will make most people sick and enfeebled, so be careful. The spit is nothing I've heard of before, but obvious it, too, is a worry.#
Lawrance moves with the group as they close the distance, then tries to find some cover to shield himself from easy eyes, and prepares his magic.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
"Explode massively?" "Sounds like we don't want to be anywhere near that thing, even you" says Velon, looking at Poljen. "If your radiance spell works, we still need to hold him in place. Will your spell work again for that, Silas?"
After a bit of discussion, it is decided for the group to ride in and attack with alacrity. In aid of that, Lawrance begins ritually creating a number of Phantom Steed, one for each of the party, to get them into combat far faster. After a bit of time, the group is ready, mounted, and eager for battle.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
Silas states, "My spell can keep him from teleporting if he is capable of that, but we'll still have to physically prevent movement, and those wings of his are not vestigial."
"Either way, I suggest saving him for last. Lawrence and myself should be able to clean up the cultists in a hurry, if the rest of you can focus on the hezrou and get them out of the way as well, we might have a shot at regrouping on the Balor before it can really do much."
Forgot to mention, Silas downed two of those potions.
"Ok then, ride into battle and stay spread out if we're taking it to the big guy, got it. Either of you two feel free to use your magic walls to keep him off of us."
OOC Good to go once Lawrance is done I guess, barring input from our cleric on these challenges.
Lia nods grimly. " I will try to banish the Balor to another plane to give us time to eliminate the rest of them. Sune will not tolerate this evil festering under this city full of so many beautiful people. " She steps astride her phantom steed. " Stay safe all of you. I will not let any of you down. I will dedicate all that I am to keep you alive. " She looks across the group and her gaze lingers on Velon.
Mari looks to Velon and asks via the mental link. " What would you have me do Velon? To keep him safe i will have to stay back a good ways which would delay me aiding the group if needed. Do we even need him at this point? I can end his life now and join the battle. Whatever you think. "
Also astride his solidified magic mount, Lawrance looks for the signal to start them racing across the distances to their foes, deciding where he'll place his area of glowing harm. The mount itself is dark and shadowed, like a hole in the universe, the saddle and other equipment slightly more visible. #Give the word, Velon#
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
"Let him go Mari. No need to make an enemy of the Xanathar. Maybe if we fail here he'll come clean up this mess. We'll certainly need your help."
Velon mounts the summoned steed and says "well, it's not much of a plan but stay clear of the balor and don't group up when it's time to finish him off!" "Let's go!"
"By the way Irdeith, there's probably no time like the present to let the dragon out, eh?"
Cratol gets on a steed and rides it to the next battle as best as he can. He makes sure that he stays spread out from the others so that they can do some hit and runs. He will Get off his horse when they get within melee range as he can move swiftly and still do the hit and runs as he is not that comfortable on horse back.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lawrance rides with the group up to the foes, slowing down once he is within 20 feet of the nearest. He then casts his Sickening spell, enveloping as many of the demons as he can on it's edges. DC19 CON.
Init 3
OOC - since it's a 30' radius, I'll have the edges envelop the nearest creatures, with the rest of the area going towards the big bad guy. Hopefully we can knock these guys into the area often, to stack the exhaustion.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Poljen charges along with the others, looking forward to dismounting and fighting the frog-like creatures. He will engage the big demon after they manage to kill a few of the minions.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Mari races forward with her eyes cold and focused. She communicates via the link, " Poljen, let us work together. I will let you take the brunt of their attacks while i stab them in the back. "She smirks as she says this.
Moving towards the Balor, Lia's stomach is knotted up. " I will take care of the main one. Buy all of you some time to deal with the others. " She rides at an angle approaching the demon to not make it obvious who she is targeting. When she gets within 60 feet she holds her amulet high and calls upon the might of her goddess. A brilliant portal forms around the demon. Will it be able to resist her attempt to send it away?
Mari Initiative w/ Adv: 11
Lia Initiative: 12
Lia casts Banishment on the Balor. 16 DC charisma save or it is banished for 1 minute.
The wererat squeaks slightly as he is released. Without a word, Gerrick is soon running back up the tunnel in the direction from which you came.
Sheltering out of sight, Lawrence goes through the motions of summoning a small herd of horses while the others rest. Soon enough, everyone save Silas is mounted and ready to move in. The phantom steeds make no sound as they run. It is fairly eerie. The only sounds made are those from your own gear, and soon enough, the beating of wings as a large gold dragon flies low over the charging group.
The cultists and demons take a few moments to recognize that they are under attack The cultists go scrambling for weapons as the hezrou start hopping in your direction. The Balor for its part smiles a toothy grin as it sees you coming. The creature flicks its fiery whip, and a globe of flames appears, lasting only for an instant. When they subside, a new figure is there. The demon has the lower body of a thickly armored serpent, and the upper body of a six armed woman, each arm wielding a weapon.
I rolled for each group to see if they reacted in appropriate time, Balor's the only one that passed. So you essentially get a surprise round. Everyone's in range to strike at the Hezrou, or could move past them for the cultists. Balor and the newcomer are still a few hundred feet off.
Poljen dismounts and moves for the nearest Hezrou and begins to snarl. The creature seems to be slow-witted, or at least slow-footed, as he closes in and begins to hack at it.
OOC: Bonus to Rage, standard fare for the big guy.
Attack 1 w/Adv 2814
Attack 2 w/Adv 2820
Damage 1 & 2 1911
Cold Damage 1 & 2 62
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Lawrance takes a moment to inspect the crystal up ahead with his magically enhanced vision and reports to the group out loud "The crystal seems to dispel magical effects, once they come within range. I'm not sure if it also lets it's master know, but I'd suspect that it does both. I can try to suppress it for a bit with my own magic, but I'm not sure how successful I'll be. If it works at all, we will need to hurry past it as the effect would likely recover."
Upon agreement to his idea, Lawrance attempts to cancel the crystal's magic for a while with his own energies.
Dispel magic 24
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
Velon reaches into his pack and pulls out several Potion of Healing and offers them to Silas. "You look thirsty" he says with a wink.
To the group he says "let's see if we can take a look at what's happening, then we can charge in a stop this ritual." Velon stays back far from the crystal until Lawrance does his thing, then hurries past. He looks to Mari and says "I can help ensure the safety of our guide if you want to help Lawrance scout ahead."
OOC I had bought quite a few regular Potions of Healing, so Silas can have as many as he'd like up, say, 20.
Mari nods at Velon. " Ok. I will go back up front. Please take good care of my new friend though. " She winks at Velon.
Perception: 10
Stealth: 33
Lawrence casts his spell, and the crystal dims. Hurrying past, the group comes upon the entry to a large cavern. Within, several dozen humanoid figures appear to be working on a large ritual site, drawing symbols on the floors and walls in blood. Where the blood came from is not difficult at all to discern, twenty one corpses have been arranged in a circle, their throats slit and the blood allowed to pool at the center.
A trio of monstrous and quite slimy froglike beings are busy chasing the cultists around, using tridents to poke at any they deem to not be working hard enough. As you watch, one cultist trips and falls, smearing some of the blood work. In response, one of the frog demons spits a wad of apparently poisonous slime in his face. The cultist claws at the mass and screams, rapidly going into convulsions and beginning to die.
The scene is dominated by a massive demon, currently lounging on a pile of rubble shaped into a crude throne. Flames flicker around his black horns as the winged creature snorts with amusement at the antics of his underlings.
Once past the geologic gatekeeper, Lawrance sends through the link #Velon, I can drop a storm of sorts (Storm Sphere) in their midst without much issue, and engulf a group of them, but do you want the demon to be included in it, or would you prefer to fight the demon close up and personal? Otherwise, I'll cast an aura of illness (Sickening Radiance) and drain their energies a bit.#
Once he can clearly see the foes they face, Lawrance silently summarizes the threats they pose
#The big guy is a Balor, an ancient demonic being wreathed in fire. If you get close to him, the heat he emits is fierce! They are known to teleport, cannot be easily hurt by normal weapons, and explode massively when they die. It also resists magic far too well. They can hit from surprising distances with their weapons. The whip burns as well, and the sword will strike with the added power of electricity. This could be more than a little tough. Oh, and they can sometimes summon other lesser demons, like the underlings here. The underlings are a bit less of a threat, but even there they resist magical spells. They have an aura of illness that will make most people sick and enfeebled, so be careful. The spit is nothing I've heard of before, but obvious it, too, is a worry.#
Lawrance moves with the group as they close the distance, then tries to find some cover to shield himself from easy eyes, and prepares his magic.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
"Explode massively?" "Sounds like we don't want to be anywhere near that thing, even you" says Velon, looking at Poljen. "If your radiance spell works, we still need to hold him in place. Will your spell work again for that, Silas?"
After a bit of discussion, it is decided for the group to ride in and attack with alacrity. In aid of that, Lawrance begins ritually creating a number of Phantom Steed, one for each of the party, to get them into combat far faster. After a bit of time, the group is ready, mounted, and eager for battle.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
Silas states, "My spell can keep him from teleporting if he is capable of that, but we'll still have to physically prevent movement, and those wings of his are not vestigial."
"Either way, I suggest saving him for last. Lawrence and myself should be able to clean up the cultists in a hurry, if the rest of you can focus on the hezrou and get them out of the way as well, we might have a shot at regrouping on the Balor before it can really do much."
Forgot to mention, Silas downed two of those potions.
"Ok then, ride into battle and stay spread out if we're taking it to the big guy, got it. Either of you two feel free to use your magic walls to keep him off of us."
OOC Good to go once Lawrance is done I guess, barring input from our cleric on these challenges.
Poljen readies his axe, and will ride if a steed is provided, or will just run on foot if not.
Lia nods grimly. " I will try to banish the Balor to another plane to give us time to eliminate the rest of them. Sune will not tolerate this evil festering under this city full of so many beautiful people. " She steps astride her phantom steed. " Stay safe all of you. I will not let any of you down. I will dedicate all that I am to keep you alive. " She looks across the group and her gaze lingers on Velon.
Mari looks to Velon and asks via the mental link. " What would you have me do Velon? To keep him safe i will have to stay back a good ways which would delay me aiding the group if needed. Do we even need him at this point? I can end his life now and join the battle. Whatever you think. "
Also astride his solidified magic mount, Lawrance looks for the signal to start them racing across the distances to their foes, deciding where he'll place his area of glowing harm. The mount itself is dark and shadowed, like a hole in the universe, the saddle and other equipment slightly more visible. #Give the word, Velon#
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
"Let him go Mari. No need to make an enemy of the Xanathar. Maybe if we fail here he'll come clean up this mess. We'll certainly need your help."
Velon mounts the summoned steed and says "well, it's not much of a plan but stay clear of the balor and don't group up when it's time to finish him off!" "Let's go!"
"By the way Irdeith, there's probably no time like the present to let the dragon out, eh?"
Mari grins and jumps on her steed. " Let's finish these creatures off quickly. This is light work. " She races forward blades ready.
Cratol gets on a steed and rides it to the next battle as best as he can. He makes sure that he stays spread out from the others so that they can do some hit and runs. He will Get off his horse when they get within melee range as he can move swiftly and still do the hit and runs as he is not that comfortable on horse back.
Lawrance rides with the group up to the foes, slowing down once he is within 20 feet of the nearest. He then casts his Sickening spell, enveloping as many of the demons as he can on it's edges. DC19 CON.
Init 3
OOC - since it's a 30' radius, I'll have the edges envelop the nearest creatures, with the rest of the area going towards the big bad guy. Hopefully we can knock these guys into the area often, to stack the exhaustion.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
Poljen charges along with the others, looking forward to dismounting and fighting the frog-like creatures. He will engage the big demon after they manage to kill a few of the minions.
Init w/Adv 11 14
Mari races forward with her eyes cold and focused. She communicates via the link, " Poljen, let us work together. I will let you take the brunt of their attacks while i stab them in the back. "She smirks as she says this.
Moving towards the Balor, Lia's stomach is knotted up. " I will take care of the main one. Buy all of you some time to deal with the others. " She rides at an angle approaching the demon to not make it obvious who she is targeting. When she gets within 60 feet she holds her amulet high and calls upon the might of her goddess. A brilliant portal forms around the demon. Will it be able to resist her attempt to send it away?
Mari Initiative w/ Adv: 11
Lia Initiative: 12
Lia casts Banishment on the Balor. 16 DC charisma save or it is banished for 1 minute.
The wererat squeaks slightly as he is released. Without a word, Gerrick is soon running back up the tunnel in the direction from which you came.
Sheltering out of sight, Lawrence goes through the motions of summoning a small herd of horses while the others rest. Soon enough, everyone save Silas is mounted and ready to move in. The phantom steeds make no sound as they run. It is fairly eerie. The only sounds made are those from your own gear, and soon enough, the beating of wings as a large gold dragon flies low over the charging group.
The cultists and demons take a few moments to recognize that they are under attack The cultists go scrambling for weapons as the hezrou start hopping in your direction. The Balor for its part smiles a toothy grin as it sees you coming. The creature flicks its fiery whip, and a globe of flames appears, lasting only for an instant. When they subside, a new figure is there. The demon has the lower body of a thickly armored serpent, and the upper body of a six armed woman, each arm wielding a weapon.
I rolled for each group to see if they reacted in appropriate time, Balor's the only one that passed. So you essentially get a surprise round. Everyone's in range to strike at the Hezrou, or could move past them for the cultists. Balor and the newcomer are still a few hundred feet off.
Poljen dismounts and moves for the nearest Hezrou and begins to snarl. The creature seems to be slow-witted, or at least slow-footed, as he closes in and begins to hack at it.
OOC: Bonus to Rage, standard fare for the big guy.
Attack 1 w/Adv 28 14
Attack 2 w/Adv 28 20
Damage 1 & 2 19 11
Cold Damage 1 & 2 6 2