Bink's WotR part 2: The Gray Garrison and beyond!

Spoiler: Round 2, Filburn's Statistics

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Filburn Crow
Male Neutral Good Half-Elf Bladed Arcanist, Level 6, Mythic 1, Init 8, HP 59/59, Speed 30 ft. base
AC 21, Touch 13, Flat-footed 19, CMD 26, Fort 6, Ref 6, Will 7, CMB +12, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 Falcata "Baerlyon, Demon-Foe" +11 (2d6+18, 19-20/x3) (Arcane Strike, Black Blade, Power Attack, [Good])
[B +1 Chain Shirt[/B], +1 Blinding Light Steel Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +2 Dex, -1 Size, +2 Deflection vs Evil, +1 Natural)
Abilities Str 26, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 9
Conditions Enlarge Person (6 minutes)
Protection from Evil (6 minutes)
Bull's Strength (6 minutes)
Paragon Surge (Power Attack) (6 minutes)
Terendelev's Scale of Retribution (Align Weapon (Good)) (6 minutes)
Black Blade Strike (1 Minute)

Spoiler: Spoken in Aklo due to Filburn's Tongues Curse

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"Push hard! Don't get surrounded!"

As he calls out in the strange, foreign tongue that possesses him during combat, Filburn uses his magically increased mass to barrel into the enemy, deliberately moving close enough to the demons that he exposes himself to attack (but also ensuring they cannot avoid his reach as they move). Then he swings his enlarged, matte-black blade in a sweeping arc at the most threatening demon nearby before digging deep and slicing again with a backswing!

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Move to V17-W18 in such a way that he avoids incurring AoOs from anything that lacks reach.
First Attack: [roll0] to hit, [roll1] (19-20/x3), [roll2] [Good], magic, slashing damage, +[roll3] critical strike damage

Swift action to use the Mythic Power Champion's Strike (Sudden Attack) to attack a second time (with other advantages):
Attack: [roll4] or [roll5] to hit (select the higher roll), [roll6] (19-20/x3), [roll7] [Good], damage, +[roll8] critical strike damage (all damage bypasses damage resistance)

AoO (note increased reach due to his size): [roll9] to hit, [roll10] (19-20/x3), [roll11] [Good], magic, slashing damage, +[roll12] critical strike damage

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Farmerbink

The cleric immediately recognizes Aurora- almost, kneeling on the oddly misshapen ground. Somehow, he knows its her, but she looks different. She holds the same hammer and wears the same plate, but something in her presence seems off- almost as if she's possessed, or reanimated dead. ... The other figure is even more familiar- the very same witch who cast a small army of demons into the wardstone chamber less than a week ago stands before Aurora.

They appear to be talking, and don't immediately notice Waylan's presence.

---

"It's Aurora! I see her!" Waylan whispers urgently through the message spell. "And someone else - the demoness Areelu! I'm going to get their attention..."

He knocks an arrows an takes aim at the demoness before he speaks. "Aurora! We're here to help you! Stand and fight!" Then he looses his arrow from on high.

Spoiler: Actions

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Speech, plus full attack against Vorlesh. Mythic rapid shot + haste = 3 cold iron arrows at full BAB:

Effects: Weapon Focus, Bless, Aspect of the Falcon, Weapon of Awe, Deadly Aim, Mythic Haste, Mythic Rapid Shot, Hawkeye (1st attack only)

attack [roll0], damage [roll1] cold iron, cc [roll2] (19-20/x3), cdmg [roll3]
attack [roll4], damage [roll5] cold iron, cc [roll6] (19-20/x3), cdmg [roll7]
attack [roll8], damage [roll9] cold iron, cc [roll10] (19-20/x3), cdmg [roll11]

Also up but not relevant for attacks: Protection from evil

Spoiler: Status

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Waylan Henrickson Human Cleric 6 LG HP 65 / 65 Speed ft Init 6 AC 22 Fort 6 Ref 6 Will 9 CMB +5 BAB 4 +1 Composite Longbow +10 (1d8 + 2, x3)
MW cold iron heavy mace +6 (1d8 + 1, x2)
Cold Iron Arrows (, )
Blunted Arrows (, )
Dagger +5 (1d4 + 1, 19-20/x2)
+1 Arrows +9 (+11) (1d8+3 (1d8+2d6+5) , ) Str 12 (1) Dex 18 (4) Con 12 (1) Wis 18 (4) Int 12 (1) Cha 10 (0)

Morevek hisses in surprise and pain as the halberd strikes true... but he grins in vicious satisfaction as his feinting lean towards the foe fools the other demon into ferociously dispatching his fellow demon! Somehow pausing to concentrate in the fracas, the swordsman wills arcane energy into his already-gleaming blade, which flickers wickedly in the alien light of the demonic plane.

Darting into the crowd of lesser demons, the swordsman attempts to weave between their weapons, claws, and maws before lashing out with his own, smokily gleaming blade!

Spoiler: Actions

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Swift: Arcane point to give weapon +1 AND Keen for 1 minute.
Free Action: Activate Daredevil Boots for +5 to Acrobatics checks to avoid AoOs.
Free Move action: Attempt to move to X17 (or somewhere similar to provide/enjoy flanking for/with Filburn) using Acrobatics: [roll0]
If Morevek can tell that a flankable demon would be poorly able to defend against such an effort, he will deliberately attempt to move through its space. Knowledge (Planes): [roll1] to recognize such a foe? If successful, +2 on attacks vs that foe (and prioritize that foe until dead).
Begin a FRA using Spell Combat. If Morevek benefits from flanking he will use Piranha Strike to increase damage by 4; if not, he will not use Piranha strike (Attack rolls below should be valid, but add 4 damage if flanking.)

Attack 1: [roll2], CC: [roll3] for x2 on 25+
Damage: [roll4] slashing plus [roll5] negative energy; Fort save vs DC 17 or 1 str damage.
Crit damage: [roll6] slashing plus [roll7] negative energy and 1 str damage.

Attack 2: [roll8], CC: [roll9] for x2 on 25+
Damage: [roll10] slashing plus [roll11] negative energy; Fort save vs DC 17 or 1 str damage.
Crit damage: [roll12] slashing plus [roll13] negative energy and 1 str damage.

Concentration Check to cast Touch of Fatigue defensively without provoking AoOs: [roll14] vs DC 15

Attack 3: [roll15], CC: [roll16] for x2 on 25+
Damage: [roll17] slashing plus Fort save vs DC 16 or fatigued for 6 rds.
Crit damage: [roll18] slashing.

Spoiler: AoO, if applicable

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Attack 3: [roll19], CC: [roll20] for x2 on 25+
Damage: [roll21] slashing plus Fort save vs DC 16 or fatigued for 6 rds If ToF not expended in original attack.
Crit damage: [roll22] slashing.

Spoiler: Stats

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Morevek Balthissar
M CG Tiefling Magus (Fiend Flayer, Kensai), VMC Rogue, Level 6, Init 4, HP 65/48, Speed 60
AC 31, Touch 22, Flat-footed 20, CMD 25, Fort 7, Ref 8, Will 7, CMB +4, Base Attack Bonus 4
Deadly, Masterwork, Cold Iron Katana Ranged+2 (1d8+Dex, 18-20/x2)
(+4 Armor, +4 Shield, +4 Dex, +1 Natural, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 22, Wis 12, Cha 8
Condition Canny Defense: + 6 Dodge AC while armed with Katana and unarmored
Mage Armor: +4 Armor, ~5 hours?
Shield: +4 Shield AC, ~6 minutes
Arcane Point spent: +1 and Keen to weapon, 9 rds remaining
Mythic Haste: +1 atk, +1 dodge AC, Reflex, Extra attack on FRA, double move speed, 1 extra Move action per round, 4 rds remaining
Touch of Fatigue charge potentially held if attack(s) miss.

"It's Areelu Vorlesh! She has Aurora prisoner again!" Elrembriel swiftly relays the message from Waylan to the rest of the group. Frowning in concentration, she focuses on her illusion. Out there, the huge angel flies forward, closer to the center of the throng of demons, still hovering well above their heads, and making great sweeps with her sword. A more attentive observer than the demons might notice that the blade passes well over the heads of her foes.

"Flee, hateful FOOLS! Or my sword will cut you down like WEED!"

Spoiler

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No move. Standard action, concentrate on Major Image to make it move and continue to talk. It flies to U12/V13.

Spoiler: Stats

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Elrembriel Elf Wizard 6 / Archmage Mythic Tier 1 N HP 71 / 71 Speed 60 ft & 1 extra move action Init 6 AC 17 (19 vs chaotic creatures) Fort 7 Ref 7 Will 8 (+2 to all saves vs chaotic attacks) CMB +2 BAB 3 Acid splash +6 (1d3+1 acid, 20/x2)
Dagger, cold iron +2 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
Str 8 (-1) Dex 16 (3) Con 13 (1) Wis 12 (1) Int 21 (5) Cha 10 (0)
Powers/day: Mythic Power 3/5, Prescience 8/8, Pearl of Power 1/1, Exposed to Awfulness 1/1, Terendelev's Scale of Protection 2/3

Active spells: Mythic Haste (6 rounds), Major Image (3 rounds + concentration), Mage Armor (6 h), Message (60 min), Heightened Awareness (60 min), Mirror Image (6 min, 3 images as rolled in OOC), Magic Circle against Chaos (60 min), See Invisibility (60 min) and Terendelev's protection (cold and electricity resistance 30, 190 min)

Filburn dashes forward, blindingly pressing his oversized frame into the gap. With a quick series of slashes, another one of the goat-like fiends finds itself in pieces, the nothingness calling.

Waylan puts a trio of arrows in flight, and finds himself stunned when all three miss their mark. Two plunge into the mass without clearly discernible results. The third seems to fly true, but shatters against nothing, several feet from the witch-turned-demon. The arrow does earn her attention, however. The woman looks up at the flying cleric and smiles.

Spoiler: Areelu Vorlesh

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https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca88...P5ZiqvvFW6Bup4

She eyes Waylan, and the young cleric feels her peering deeper into his soul than anything he has ever known. He is open to her, in a way that is impossible to fully understand, much less describe. She speaks, and though it's a whisper in the roar of a hurricane of combat, he hears her in his mind clear as day. "Ah, yes. The offspring. It's unfortunate that I don't need you. For you." Somehow, Waylan steels himself. Then a rush of excruciating pain floods his senses. His hands dry and crack, deep enough to bleed- yet somehow the blood doesn't spill (Waylan takes 32 damage).

Spoiler: Spellcraft DC 23

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He was just targeted by the spell horrid wilting. He passed the fortitude save.

Morevek clumsily (for him) tumbles past the Goat demon, Abrikandilu, and both Dretches. Despite a brief opening, the Mehrim (goat demon) fails to capitalize, biting on air where the swordsman briefly was. His arm remains true, and his blade keen. Another pair of dretches find their footsteps ushered into oblivion.

And the mass of demons continues to flee Elrembriel's figment. Unwilling or unable to test themselves against it, they part, making clear a path for the rest of the heroes to see the center of the mass. A few particularly ambitious quasits fly upward from the throng, lashing out with their tiny, vile daggers. For the moment, there isn't any clear consequence.

Amidst the chaos, Aurora raises her head. The features remain hers, but the eyes are so dark. She scowls, apparently failing to recognize Waylan's words or perhaps the cleric himself. After a moment, she begins struggling to her feet, but it's clear that it is, indeed a struggle. Whatever else may have befallen her in the past few days, she is visibly so exhausted that movement seems beyond her.

From his new position, Filburn finds himself exposed to the furies of a few of the demons, now between himself and the portal. One of the goat demons displays intimidating awareness, as it creeps around the grand arcanist, to use his bulk against him. He manages to avoid the creature's teeth, but takes a pair of glancing blows from its hooves (for 17 total damage). Once more, Morevek makes the demons look like fools, casually batting aside or narrowly evading halberd strokes from Schir that lack his grace.

Finally, a pair of the demonic assassins you met in the Gray garrison extricate themselves from the horde (Babaus). They grin wickedly as they approach.

Map updated

Spoiler: Round 3, Filburn's Statistics

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Filburn Crow
Male Neutral Good Half-Elf Bladed Arcanist, Level 6, Mythic 1, Init 8, HP 42/59, Speed 30 ft. base
AC 21, Touch 13, Flat-footed 19, CMD 26, Fort 6, Ref 6, Will 7, CMB +12, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 Falcata "Baerlyon, Demon-Foe" +11 (2d6+18, 19-20/x3) (Arcane Strike, Black Blade, Power Attack, [Good])
+1 Chain Shirt, +1 Blinding Light Steel Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +2 Dex, -1 Size, +2 Deflection vs Evil, +1 Natural)
Abilities Str 26, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 9
Conditions Enlarge Person (6 minutes)
Protection from Evil (6 minutes)
Bull's Strength (6 minutes)
Paragon Surge (Power Attack) (6 minutes)
Terendelev's Scale of Retribution (Align Weapon (Good)) (6 minutes)
Black Blade Strike (8/10 rounds)

Spoiler: Spoken in Aklo due to Filburn's Tongues Curse

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"Watch the flanks! We've got their attention down here..."

Filburn spits some words as he recognizes the close quarters and begins attacking the enemies with more focus, aiming less to barrel through them and more to deal with the ones in reach. With a wordless cry he strikes again, twice, trying to fight off those he can.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Filburn will first attack the Schir demons, then the Babaus (if given the choice).

First Attack: [roll0] to hit, [roll1] (19-20/x3), [roll2] [Good], magic, slashing damage, +[roll3] critical strike damage

Swift action to use the Mythic Power Champion's Strike (Sudden Attack) to attack a second time (with other advantages):
Attack: [roll4] or [roll5] to hit (select the higher roll), [roll6] (19-20/x3), [roll7] [Good], damage, +[roll8] critical strike damage (all damage bypasses damage resistance)

AoO (note increased reach due to his size): [roll9] to hit, [roll10] (19-20/x3), [roll11] [Good], magic, slashing damage, +[roll12] critical strike damage

Somehow the magic keeping Waylan aloft does not falter, even though he is wracked with surprise and pain. After what seems like an eternity his vision clears enough to discern Aurora again - now on her feet but making no hurry to engage the demoness. "Erastil, give me strength!" he whispers as he quickly casts a spell, bolstering his physical might. Then he slings his bow over his shoulder and swoops down, attempting to seize Aurora and lift her clear of the mass of demons! "I'm coming! Give me your arm!"

Spoiler: Actions

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Cast Bull's Strength on self, increasing STR to 16.

Intention is to fly down to Aurora, grab her, and then fly diagonally up and back towards the portal.

Movement speed is 60ft fly + 50ft haste - 20ft heavy load = 90ft. With two move actions thanks to Mythic Haste we have 180ft to work with.

It's 60ft down to get Aurora. Then, flying 120ft at 30 degree angle would result in ~100ft horizontal movement and ~60ft vertical movement. So IF all goes according to plan, Waylan and Aurora end up around X/29, 60ft above the ground. But that's a big if. :smalleek:

Effects: Effects: Weapon Focus, Bless, Aspect of the Falcon, Weapon of Awe, Deadly Aim, Mythic Haste, Mythic Rapid Shot, Hawkeye, Protection From Evil, Bull's Strength

Spoiler: Status

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Waylan Henrickson Human Cleric 6 LG HP 33 / 65 Speed ft Init 6 AC 22 Fort 6 Ref 6 Will 9 CMB +7 BAB 4 +1 Composite Longbow +10 (1d8 + 2, x3)
MW cold iron heavy mace +6 (1d8 + 1, x2)
Cold Iron Arrows (, )
Blunted Arrows (, )
Dagger +5 (1d4 + 1, 19-20/x2)
+1 Arrows +9 (+11) (1d8+3 (1d8+2d6+5) , ) Str 12 (3) Dex 18 (4) Con 12 (1) Wis 18 (4) Int 12 (1) Cha 10 (0)

Morevek's sweeping motion carries him in a full circle, as bits of demon drift to the ever-shifting surface of the battlefield. Noting with imperceptibly narrowed eyes the wily demon having circled to Filburn's flank, the slender swordsman suddenly adopts a casual, careless posture and begins to gesture nonchalantly with his free hand, almost as though inviting the demons around him to retaliate. Then, as abruptly as his dance-like strikes were paused, they resume...

Spoiler: Actions

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Swift action to spend a Mythic point to activate Deadly Dodge: +4 AC and redirecting attacks on him that miss.

Full Round Action: Begin Spell Combat by casting Grease on squares W15/16. Morevek is not casting defensively. He is in fact deliberately inviting AoOs from the demons, hoping to inspire them to kill each other. Focusing attacks on a weakened demon (if present) or another demon near the thick of it (to soak as many hits as possible).

After AoOs are resolved, Morevek will 5ft step to 5,18 and attack the Abrikandilu to benefit from flanking. He will activate Piranha Strike for -2 attack, and if he succeeds in hitting any foe this round, he will attempt a free Intimidate check; let's presume it to be a scathingly delivered criticism of their stupidity and weakness.

Rolls below do not include flanking. If a crit is confirmed against a not-particularly-weakened foe, Morevek will spend 2 points of his Arcane pool to increase the crit multiplier by 1.

Attack 1: [roll0]; CC [roll1] for x2 on 23+
Damage: [roll2] slashing; [roll3] crit damage
Intimidate check (rolled in OOC): 22

Attack 2: [roll4]; CC [roll5] for x2 on 23+
Damage: [roll6] slashing; [roll7] crit damage
Intimidate check (rolled in OOC): 27

Spoiler: AoO, if applicable

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Attack: [roll8]; CC [roll9] for x2 on 23+
Damage: [roll10] slashing; [roll11] crit damage
Intimidate check (rolled in OOC): 34

Spoiler: Stats

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Morevek Balthissar
M CG Tiefling Magus (Fiend Flayer, Kensai), VMC Rogue, Level 6, Init 4, HP 65/48, Speed 60
AC 35, Touch 26, Flat-footed 20, CMD 29, Fort 7, Ref 8, Will 7, CMB +4, Base Attack Bonus 4
Deadly, Masterwork, Cold Iron Katana Ranged+2 (1d8+Dex, 18-20/x2)
(+4 Armor, +4 Shield, +4 Dex, +1 Natural, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 22, Wis 12, Cha 8
Condition Canny Defense: + 6 Dodge AC while armed with Katana and unarmored
Mage Armor: +4 Armor, ~5 hours?
Shield: +4 Shield AC, ~6 minutes
Arcane Point spent: +1 and Keen to weapon, 8 rds remaining
Mythic Haste: +1 atk, +1 dodge AC, Reflex, Extra attack on FRA, double move speed, 1 extra Move action per round, 3 rds remaining
Deadly Dodge: +4 AC, redirect attacks that miss him to adjacent foes
Piranha Strike: -2 attack, +4 damage this round

Elrembriel sees Aurora and her captor in the distance, notes the failure of Waylan's arrows, but she can't see any physical barrier there, even with her magically enhanced senses. If Waylan can't pick her up, what then? She decides to hinder the demons, in an attempt to keep the path as clear as possible for her friends.

"Qu'ici survienne le brouillard
Une fois perdus dans la mélasse
Cette horde de salopards
Vous laissera, j'espère, la place!"


... And a thick cloud of fog rises up from the ground, to hide her companions from most of the demons on the right side to the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the immense angel above continues waving her massive sword and making loud, but empty threads.

Spoiler

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Elrembriel drops her concentration, so her illusion will continue to act, but no longer move, for this round and the 2 next ones.

No move. Standard action, cast Fog Cloud, centred on AA13-AB14.

Spoiler: Stats

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Elrembriel Elf Wizard 6 / Archmage Mythic Tier 1 N HP 71 / 71 Speed 60 ft & 1 extra move action Init 6 AC 17 (19 vs chaotic creatures) Fort 7 Ref 7 Will 8 (+2 to all saves vs chaotic attacks) CMB +2 BAB 3 Acid splash +6 (1d3+1 acid, 20/x2)
Dagger, cold iron +2 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
Str 8 (-1) Dex 16 (3) Con 13 (1) Wis 12 (1) Int 21 (5) Cha 10 (0)
Powers/day: Mythic Power 3/5, Prescience 8/8, Pearl of Power 1/1, Exposed to Awfulness 1/1, Terendelev's Scale of Protection 2/3

Active spells: Mythic Haste (6 rounds), Major Image (3 rounds + concentration), Mage Armor (6 h), Message (60 min), Heightened Awareness (60 min), Mirror Image (6 min, 3 images as rolled in OOC), Magic Circle against Chaos (60 min), See Invisibility (60 min) and Terendelev's protection (cold and electricity resistance 30, 190 min)

Filburn lashes out, concerned for the potential that the party might soon be getting surrounded. His first swing suffers as a result, but through the mythic power conveyed by the world stone, he lashes out again- this time connecting and deeply wounding one of the goat-headed demons.

Morevek executes a particularly deft strategy, and is rewarded by several injuries to the demonic denizens. None manages to fell one of their own allies, but none of them escape unhurt. Then he dodges between a pair of them, driving his sword into their flanks. Another pair of demons (Abrikandilu and Schir) fall.

Elrembriel conjures a think bank of fog from the ground beneath the demons' feet. Perhaps consequently, as the demons approach and attack (one dretch dies to an AoO), none of them manage to connect.

Meanwhile, Waylan makes a daring rescue attempt. Bolstered by his own God's gift of flight and Elrembriels nearly unreasonable haste, the cleric lands, scoops an arm under Aurora and begins to rise. Even as he flies away, the witches voice appears in his mind once more. "Oh, I think not. She still has much to answer for."

A simple word from the witch seems to sap the party of much of their strength

Spoiler: OOC

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Filburn's Bull's Strength, Waylan's Fly and Morevek's Mage armor have all just been dispelled, along with the majority of the Elrembriel's fog cloud (she can't quite reach the center to dispel the effect, but it is suppressed within her 20-foot burst).

. Then, as Waylan begins to fall to the ground, a brilliant ray of colored energy lances out from the demoness. Waylan almost drops Aurora immediately, as his muscles wither and atrophy in an instant (He takes a 10 str penalty from a ray of enfeeblement). As they land, he finds himself in a similar position to Aurora- almost unable to move, and suddenly her apparent apathy makes a little more sense.

If that weren't enough, a pair of huge (mechanically large) locust-like demons climb from the mass. Easily 12-feet long, one nonetheless takes wing to rise above its companions and charge. Vorlesh also demonstrates that her wings are not merely for show. She takes to the air, but stays near her army.

Map updated

Spoiler: Round 4, Filburn's Statistics

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Filburn Crow
Male Neutral Good Half-Elf Bladed Arcanist, Level 6, Mythic 1, Init 8, HP 42/59, Speed 60 ft. (30 ft. base)
AC 21, Touch 13, Flat-footed 19, CMD 26, Fort 6, Ref 6, Will 7, CMB +12, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 Falcata "Baerlyon, Demon-Foe" +9 (2d6+18, 19-20/x3) (Arcane Strike, Black Blade, Power Attack, [Good])
+1 Chain Shirt, +1 Blinding Light Steel Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +2 Dex, -1 Size, +2 Deflection vs Evil, +1 Natural)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 9
Conditions Expeditious Retreat (previously cast, probably 5 minutes left)
Enlarge Person (6 minutes)
Protection from Evil (6 minutes)
Paragon Surge (Power Attack) (6 minutes)
Terendelev's Scale of Retribution (Align Weapon (Good)) (6 minutes)
Black Blade Strike (7/10 rounds)

Spoiler: Spoken in Aklo due to Filburn's Tongues Curse

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"Time to go!"

With a curt statement Filburn pauses. Then he pivots and boldly pushes past the demon in the way to reach the downed cleric and paladin. Once there he picks them both up, taking advantage of his prodigious size (and only slightly decreased strength) and begins to carry them towards safety!

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Delay action until all debuffs to enemies are applied to minimize AoOs taken.

Filburn will move so that he is adjacent to both Waylan and Aurora/Grace, avoiding as many AoOs as he can with his 60 ft. movement speed. I think V21-W22 looks about right.

He will then grab both Waylan and Aurora. Picking up an object is a move action - due to his increased size can Filburn scoop them both up if he isn't worried about being gentle?

Elrembriel's heart jumps with hope and joy when the brave Waylan grabs Aurora and flies back, but sinks in dread when she sees the power of the witch's reaction. "Grab them and get back, quick! I'll try to slow them down!" she whispers over the Message channel.

She feels, once more, the incredible power surge through her whole body, her pale blonde hair now blue with the glow of eldritch light. Her fingernails glows in the same color, and so do her eyes as she calls:

"Je n'en ai pas fini avec la météo
Ils n'aiment pas la brume, voilà un peu de neige
En espérant bien qu'elle les rendra tout patauds
Que penserez-vous de mon petit sortilège?"


Starting over the flying enemies' heads, but lower than the immense angel's waist, a new, broader cloud comes into existence out of thin air! It is sleet this time, and it makes vision just as hard as the fog, even though it covers a much greater area.

After this, the young elf girl starts one of her long incantations...

Spoiler

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Free action, Prescience [roll0] (- if 12 or better, use it as a roll for a saving throw if one is needed this round)

No move. Swift action use 1 mythic power point for Wild Arcana, casting Sleet Storm, centred on AC9-AD10 (40-ft radius!). The zone is only 20-ft high, so she'll center it at the altitude of the flying enemies (between 15 ft and 35 ft of altitude).

Full round casting, Summon Monster III

Spoiler: Stats

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Elrembriel Elf Wizard 6 / Archmage Mythic Tier 1 N HP 71 / 71 Speed 60 ft & 1 extra move action Init 6 AC 17 (19 vs chaotic creatures) Fort 7 Ref 7 Will 8 (+2 to all saves vs chaotic attacks - edited, since protection from chaos doesn't stack with the cloak of resistance) CMB +2 BAB 3 Acid splash +6 (1d3+1 acid, 20/x2)
Dagger, cold iron +2 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
Str 8 (-1) Dex 16 (3) Con 13 (1) Wis 12 (1) Int 21 (5) Cha 10 (0)
Powers/day: Mythic Power 2/5, Prescience 7/8, Pearl of Power 1/1, Exposed to Awfulness 1/1, Terendelev's Scale of Protection 2/3

Active spells: Mythic Haste (2 rounds left), Major Image (1 round left), Mage Armor (6 h), Message (60 min), Heightened Awareness (60 min), Mirror Image (6 min, 3 images as rolled in OOC), Magic Circle against Chaos (60 min), See Invisibility (60 min) and Terendelev's protection (cold and electricity resistance 30, 190 min)

Noting the sudden arrival and precipitous drop of Waylan, carrying a slumped figure he can only assume to be their recovered ally, Morevek clicks his heels together, darting and rolling away from the cluster of demons. Freed from the imminent threat of retaliation, he murmurs words of spell casting, and makes a throwing gesture toward them, causing a burst of blinding, glittering dust to explode within their ranks!

Spoiler: Actions

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Free action: Click Heels to activate Daredevil boots for +5 Acrobatics
Move action: Acrobatics [roll0] to move to Y20 without incurring AoOs.
Standard action: use a Spell-scar "scroll" of Glitterdust, targeting roughly Y17 (not sure on the shape) to blind as many of them as possible, preferring targets in range to AoO Filburn.
Will save is DC 18

Spoiler: Stats

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Morevek Balthissar
M CG Tiefling Magus (Fiend Flayer, Kensai), VMC Rogue, Level 6, Init 4, HP 65/48, Speed 60
AC 27, Touch 22, Flat-footed 16, CMD 25, Fort 7, Ref 8, Will 7, CMB +4, Base Attack Bonus 4
Deadly, Masterwork, Cold Iron Katana Ranged+2 (1d8+Dex, 18-20/x2)
(+4 Shield, +4 Dex, +1 Natural, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 22, Wis 12, Cha 8
Condition Canny Defense: + 6 Dodge AC while armed with Katana and unarmored
Shield: +4 Shield AC, ~6 minutes
Arcane Point spent: +1 and Keen to weapon, 7 rds remaining
Mythic Haste: +1 atk, +1 dodge AC, Reflex, Extra attack on FRA, double move speed, 1 extra Move action per round, 2 rds remaining

Waylan hits the ground at an awkward angle, trying to protect both Aurora and his bow from the worst of the impact. Kestros screeches indignantly and moves to fly towards the demoness - only a sharp command from Waylan holds it back. The former clergyman struggles to his feet before weaving a spell on the paladin. "Ughn - I see now. Come on, Aurora - move your legs! The portal is just up ahead." He leading the way in a weak half-jog, moving as quickly as his enervated muscles will allow.

Spoiler: Actions

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Waylan will cast dispel magic on Aurora, trying to target the ray of enfeeblement effect:
dispel check [roll0] vs DC of 11 + spell's caster level

Then double-move towards the gate, slowing down as necessary to stay with Aurora.

Spoiler: Status

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Waylan Henrickson Human Cleric 6 LG HP 33 / 65 Speed ft Init 6 AC 22 Fort 6 Ref 6 Will 9 CMB +7 BAB 4 +1 Composite Longbow +10 (1d8 + 2, x3)
MW cold iron heavy mace +6 (1d8 + 1, x2)
Cold Iron Arrows (, )
Blunted Arrows (, )
Dagger +5 (1d4 + 1, 19-20/x2)
+1 Arrows +9 (+11) (1d8+3 (1d8+2d6+5) , ) Str 12 (3) Dex 18 (4) Con 12 (1) Wis 18 (4) Int 12 (1) Cha 10 (0)

Aspect of the Falcon
Protection from Evil
Bless
Weapon of Awe
Mythic Haste
Fly

Filburn and Morevek begin to make good on their escape in earnest. For the most part, it seems they will do so unscathed, but one of the demonic assassins manages to make very good with its spear (Morevek takes a crit AoO for 35 damage). In the next moments, he weaves an incantation and is rewarded by the sudden floundering of all of the nearby demons. Only the recently exposed Derakni and the Mehraim (it was outside the area) seem to be acting with their full capabilities in the wake of the cascade of brilliant particles.

Elrembriel calls down a storm of sleet between Areelu and her prey, for the moment separating Waylan and Aurora from the demons. As the pair hobbles wearily away, the earth begins to tear and heave in front of them. With a great screech, the firmaments of the abyss shatter into the air, revealing a huge (mechanically) demon, perhaps as much as twenty feet tall between themselves and the portal.

Spoiler: The glabrezu

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https://i.pinimg.com/originals/80/0b...c7bd8cdd48.jpg

With a sudden cry, Queen Galfrey steps into the Abyss. Eyes aglow with righteous fury, her voice cuts through the din, "I think not, fiend!" Her sword, likewise ablaze, draws all eyes (at least those who can see past the blizzard) to her, as she raises it against the newfound threat.

For the moment, the demon recognizes her as the greater threat, and turns its attention away from the fleeing Aurora and Waylan. It hammers down its heavy pincers on Galfrey, who avoids one and takes another on her shield- the impact driving her gauntlets two full inches into the semi-stone floor. She responds in kind, drawing a gruesome gash of thick black ichor from the creature's muscled midsection. It takes a moment, but she manages to drive the demon off to one side. There's no way to avoid the glabrezu's reach, but at least his focus is diverted.

The derakni fly forward, out of the sleet storm, unleashing a mesmerizing drone. Like a hideous, contra-bass locust swarm, the vibrations creep through the ground, your armor, the air and everything else, drowning out your thoughts.

Spoiler: Unfortunate things result

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Morevek passed his saves, and is immune to the confusion effect of these demons. He gets an AoO on the one that flew past him and landed beside Filburn.
Waylan failed one. He must spend this turn "dealing 1d8+ str (lol) damage to himself with an item in hand. He will act normally not this round, but next.
Filburn failed one. He does nothing but babble incoherently this turn, and can act as normal afterward.
Elrembriel was out of range of the effect, for now.

One of the two locust demons lands adjacent to Filburn and stings him for (11 damage). The other stays airborne, and fires a sickly ray at Elrembriel. She "gains" 3 negative levels.

Finally, Areelu Vorlesh flies clear of the sleet storm, and smirks as she looks down on the madness. "Delicious," she purrs, as she spreads her arms wide in an arcane gesture. (Morevek and Waylan take 4 nonlethal damage and are sickened. Filburn saved.)

"Voici un nouvel ange de lumière,
Un soutien, un espoir qui saura
Contre la mort, la peur et la guerre,
Sauver notre chère... "

Elrembriel gasps for air when the ray hits her squarely in the chest, her spellcasting cut midway through. In front of her, a scene of terror beyond her worst dreams unfold, beings of pure evil and enormous malevolent power spring from the ground and rise in the air, eager to obliterate her and her friends. She senses the continuing surge of divine strength still coming through her body, but knows that it will not last long. A weak "Get out now... Please..." is her urgent, whispered plea to her comrades. In the distance, her illusory celestial continues with increasingly aimless threatening gestures and taunts...

She hesitates on the verge of panic, her first instinct to just use her magic to disappear from everyone's view. But she sees Aurora's exhausted face, so close, so far... Do... Not.. Give up! In a desperate move to buy just a little more time for her companions, she haltingly steps forward, her tiny voice rising again over the tumult.

"J'ai ouï dire par les grands sages
Que cet être n'aime pas le froid
Voyons si mon apprentissage
Tient l'épreuve du combat!"

With all her remaining strength, she throws something in the air, a ball of snow and ice that becomes somehow bigger and faster as it flies towards the disgusting locust demon. Immediately, and with even greater urgency, she starts another incantation, one that brings the light emanating from her to a nearly painful level of brightness.

"Le thème aujourd'hui, c'est l'hiver
Vent et grêlons ici sont rares
Qu'ils nous mettent alors à couvert
Et à l'abri des regards!"

Another storm of sleet and snow erupts in mid-air, with a lower ceiling this time, just over her friends' heads, obscuring the entire area.

Spoiler

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Free action, Prescience [roll0] (- if 12 or better, use it as a roll for a saving throw if one is needed this round)

Move 5ft forward to W31

Standard action, cast Snowball (defensively, since I suspect she might be in reach of the glabrezu - yikes...)
Concentration DC17 [roll1] (includes the -3 for negative levels)
Ranged touch attack at the derakni in Y23-Z24: [roll2] (includes the -3 for negative levels) for [roll3] - EDIT: actually 4d6 for 10 total, rolled in OOC - cold damage , cc(23) [roll4] cd [roll5]
CL check vs SR (includes the -3 for negative levels): best of 2 rolls thanks to Eldritch Breach, [roll6] and [roll7]
If the derakni takes damage, it needs to make a Fort save DC17 or be staggered for 1 round.
The odds of this to work are amazingly low, but hey, desperate times!

Swift action use 1 mythic power point for Wild Arcana, casting Sleet Storm (as a swift action I don't think this can provoke an AoO), centered on W24-X25 (40-ft radius), between 10 ft and 30 ft of altitude. This should hopefully force any flying demon to land in order to attack, unless Vorlesh takes the time to dispel it.

Spoiler: Stats

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Elrembriel Elf Wizard 6 / Archmage Mythic Tier 1 (3 negative levels) Alignment N HP 56 / 56 (normal max HP is 71)
Speed 60 ft & 1 extra move action Init 6
AC 17 (19 vs chaotic creatures) Touch AC 13 (15 vs chaotic creatures)
Fort +4 Ref +4 Will +5 (includes the -3 for negative levels)
CMB +2 BAB +3
Acid splash +3 (1d3+1 acid, 20/x2) (includes the -3 for negative levels)
Dagger, cold iron -1 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2) (includes the -3 for negative levels)
Str 8 (-1) Dex 16 (3) Con 13 (1) Wis 12 (1) Int 21 (5) Cha 10 (0)

Powers/day: Mythic Power 1/5, Prescience 6/8, Pearl of Power 1/1, Exposed to Awfulness 1/1, Terendelev's Scale of Protection 2/3

Active spells: Mythic Haste (1 round left), Major Image (ends at the end of this round), Mage Armor (6 h), Message (60 min), Heightened Awareness (60 min), Mirror Image (6 min, 3 images as rolled in OOC), Magic Circle against Chaos (60 min), See Invisibility (60 min) and Terendelev's protection (cold and electricity resistance 30, 190 min)

Waylan is in the middle of readying his bow when the maddening drone of the demon swarm pierces his senses. Suddenly he is overcome by the sensation of demonic insects crawling all over his skin beneath his armor and clothes, and his thoughts give way to panic. "Agh! They're everywhere! Get them off of me! Help! Help!" As he exclaims he is thrashing at his own limbs in an effort to exterminate the imaginary bugs, dealing very real damage in the process.

Spoiler: Actions

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Deal [roll0] damage to self and... I think that's it. :smallsigh:

"Sickened" isn't reflected in this statblock, but it's a thing.

Spoiler: Status

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Waylan Henrickson Human Cleric 6 LG HP 26 / 65 Speed ft Init 6 AC 22 Fort 6 Ref 6 Will 9 CMB +2 BAB 4 +1 Composite Longbow +10 (1d8 + 2, x3)
MW cold iron heavy mace +6 (1d8 + 1, x2)
Cold Iron Arrows (, )
Blunted Arrows (, )
Dagger +5 (1d4 + 1, 19-20/x2)
+1 Arrows +9 (+11) (1d8+3 (1d8+2d6+5) , ) Str 12 (-2) Dex 18 (4) Con 12 (1) Wis 18 (4) Int 12 (1) Cha 10 (0)

Morevek gasps in pain, his dark-pool eyes widening as the blood from his wounds trickles into his linen clothing. His wide-eyed gaze frantically flits between the demon witch and her allies, and he freezes for a heartbeat.

Suddenly, his face twists into a visage of fury every bit as demonic as the foes that surround them. Sputtering out curses and epithets, the swordsman darts out of the reach of the large demon before him, looping around to rejoin the clerics and wizards that hold the line. "Must... must think..." he mutters to himself, rubbing his free hand worriedly against his forehead.

Spoiler: Actions

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Withdraw action. By my math he can loop around the back entry to where the portal is (assuming that's a valid path...) to W31. Otherwise... move as close to the "front" entry as he can without being in range of the Glabrezu.

Spoiler: Stats

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Morevek Balthissar
M CG Tiefling Magus (Fiend Flayer, Kensai), VMC Rogue, Level 6, Init 4, HP 13/65, Speed 80
AC 27, Touch 22, Flat-footed 16, CMD 25, Fort 5, Ref 6, Will 5, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 4
Deadly, Masterwork, Cold Iron Katana Ranged+2 (1d8+Dex, 18-20/x2)
(+4 Shield, +4 Dex, +1 Natural, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 22, Wis 12, Cha 8
Condition Canny Defense: + 6 Dodge AC while armed with Katana and unarmored
Shield: +4 Shield AC, ~6 minutes
Arcane Point spent: +1 and Keen to weapon, 6 rds remaining
Mythic Haste: +1 atk, +1 dodge AC, Reflex, Extra attack on FRA, 80 move speed, 1 extra Move action per round, 1 rds remaining
Sickened: -2 atk, damage, saves, skills, and ability checks

Grace was done, she looked up at the queen, or...demonness, or whatever she was, she stood like a regal statue on the precipice of the bow, as if she steered the chaos with her looks.

Almost entranced, she was trying to listen to the words that were coming out the demoness' mouth, but something was wrong, what was that noise? The seething throng split for a second, and she saw some...people coming towards her, who in the nine were those people? they looked familiar, did she know them....

She shook her head as if to rid her of the cobwebs, cradling it in a hand as the other held onto the hammer whose head rested on the strange floor before the demons.

Something was so wrong, and a small quiet voice within her spoke 'Move!'

Confused, and barely able to stand, she frowned, but, she obeyed, and stood up, raising the eyebrow of the queen. Which was when the madman grabbed her from out of the sky, and took her off, all she knew, all she thought of, all she desired, was to hold on! And she did, what little strength she had, she held as fast as she could, it wasn't the demon skull smashing strength she once had, not the divine power that she wielded with the continuous thrumming of her hammer slaying those around her, but the strength of a mortal who knew she had to escape.

And then she was on the ground again, she looked up to her savior, or whoever it was, and placed a palm upon his arm, calm as the eye of the storm, letting the divine energies heal his wounds, as if saying, 'thank you'.

Spoiler

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Lay on hands [roll0]
Removes Fatigued and Dazed status effects.

The moments feel like hours as the horde of demons descends. As Morevek and Elrembriel watch from the portal's opening, Filburn and Waylan seem visibly overcome by something. Their frantic flight comes to a sudden halt as they appear to forget where they are and what they're doing. Though it lasts only for a moment, it is plenty of time for the Derakni to pounce and the Babaus to prowl up behind them.

The demons, for their part, seem to be savoring the moment. They lick their lips with long, mottled and vaguely mammalian tongues. The Schir demonstrate a more... feral sort of arousal- all the more terrifying for its hideousness and utterly unleashed fury.

Between one blink and the next opening of the eye, Areelu Vorlesh appears in their midst, beneath the swirling torrent of sleet and snow that rages overhead. Standing between Filburn, Aurora, and Waylan and any semblance of safety, she eyes the confused and weakened heroes with... amusement? For the first time she speaks aloud, and it's immediately apparent that the demons are fully, 100% an extension of her will. Though they could strike, and no doubt destroy all three heroes, they stay their weapons and claws. Even the glabrezu, seemingly ignored behind the witch has taken up a defensive stance and is retreating from Galfrey rather than trying to hold its position.

"Dearest Aurora," she purrs. "Do remember what we've discussed."

As one, the demons step aside.

Inexplicably, they champ and stomp in place as Filburn and Waylan recover their senses. Aurora remains too weak to walk under her own power, and has to rely almost totally on the swordsman just to take wavering steps towards the portal.

The witch smiles. "I'll be seeing you, dear."

Though shocked at the demons' forbearance, Waylan wastes no extra time in considering it. "Here - give me hand with her!" he grunts urgently to Filburn as he throws one of Aurora's arms around his shoulder. Then, keeping his eyes on the demons as much as possible, he sets off in a halting, limping shuffle back towards the safety of the portal - and the Material Plain.

Spoiler: Round 6, Filburn's Statistics

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Filburn Crow
Male Neutral Good Half-Elf Bladed Arcanist, Level 6, Mythic 1, Init 8, HP 31/59, Speed 60 ft. (30 ft. base)
AC 21, Touch 13, Flat-footed 19, CMD 26, Fort 6, Ref 6, Will 7, CMB +12, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 Falcata "Baerlyon, Demon-Foe" +9 (2d6+18, 19-20/x3) (Arcane Strike, Black Blade, Power Attack, [Good])
+1 Chain Shirt, +1 Blinding Light Steel Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +2 Dex, -1 Size, +2 Deflection vs Evil, +1 Natural)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 9
Conditions Expeditious Retreat (previously cast, probably 5 minutes left)
Enlarge Person (6 minutes)
Protection from Evil (6 minutes)
Paragon Surge (Power Attack) (6 minutes)
Terendelev's Scale of Retribution (Align Weapon (Good)) (6 minutes)
Black Blade Strike (5/10 rounds)

"Ugh..." groans Filburn as his head clears. His weapon now sheathed and the confusion ended, Filburn doesn't take any more time to consider the remaining threats. He promptly picks up Waylan and Aurora and makes a break for the portal and presumed safety.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Pick up both Waylan and Aurora and retreat expeditiously. If possible, I would like to use this as a withdraw action, though that may not apply...

"Pleaaase... Move now!" is all that the desperate elf can utter through her arcane channel, to urge her friends to take advantage of the reprieve the demonic witch is now allowing them, for whatever foul reason of her own. She walks a few steps back towards the portal, keeping a keen eye on any movement from Areelu Vorlesh.

Spoiler

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Free action, Prescience [roll0] (- if 12 or better, use it as a roll for a saving throw if one is needed this round)

Standard action, ready an action to use her last mythic power point to cast Wall of Split Illumination. She will do this if she sees Vorlesh starting to cast anything. She will make the wall appear between Vorlesh and whatever she seems to be casting towards, or between Vorlesh and Aurora if a target can't de discerned. The shadowy side will be on Vorlesh's side, of course.

Spoiler: Stats

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Elrembriel Elf Wizard 6 / Archmage Mythic Tier 1 (3 negative levels) Alignment N HP 56 / 56 (normal max HP is 71)
Speed 60 ft & 1 extra move action Init 6
AC 17 (19 vs chaotic creatures) Touch AC 13 (15 vs chaotic creatures)
Fort +4 Ref +4 Will +5 (includes the -3 for negative levels)
CMB +2 BAB +3
Acid splash +3 (1d3+1 acid, 20/x2) (includes the -3 for negative levels)
Dagger, cold iron -1 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2) (includes the -3 for negative levels)
Str 8 (-1) Dex 16 (3) Con 13 (1) Wis 12 (1) Int 21 (5) Cha 10 (0)

Powers/day: Mythic Power 1/5, Prescience 6/8, Pearl of Power 1/1, Exposed to Awfulness 1/1, Terendelev's Scale of Protection 2/3

Active spells: Mythic Haste (1 round left), Major Image (ends at the end of this round), Mage Armor (6 h), Message (60 min), Heightened Awareness (60 min), Mirror Image (6 min, 3 images as rolled in OOC), Magic Circle against Chaos (60 min), See Invisibility (60 min) and Terendelev's protection (cold and electricity resistance 30, 190 min)

In a fashion that feels agonizingly slow, Filburn collects both Aurora and Waylan and carries them from the abyss by main strength. In what is undoubtedly the single most awkward experience of his life, he trudges between ranks and files of demons, each staring balefully at the meal denied them. As he moves past Areelu, she takes up pace beside him, keeping up easily despite his height and lengthened stride. "I remember you as well, mister Crow. Your progenitor was greatly amusing." She stops a few paces away, turning her attention now to the queen. "I think she'll be in good hands with you. Don't you agree, your excellency?"

Without warning, Areelu lashes out, and Galfrey cries in agony. With a cry, Elrembriel's spell flashes into existence between them, casting the demons into physical shadow while illuminating the queen, clutching her chest in desperate pain. The last 10 feet to the portal feel like 100, as the demons suddenly burst forth. Aravashnial's voice can dimly be heard, as if he's much further away than 30 feet, and on his mark, the portal evaporates. The ringing laughter of Areelu Vorlesh, somehow simultaneously alluring and terrifying- echoes in the dim, torch-lit storage room.

On the stone floor of the basement of Defender's Heart, you take a tally. Perhaps unsurprisingly, all things considered, one of the clerics assisting Aravahsnial lies still in a slowly growing pool of his life's blood. The other has survived, but one arm the lesser for his troubles. Queen Galfrey is sitting against the wall, breathing and bleeding heavily. Something wracks her body with spasms and pain as she tries to put a good face on it. As you watch, she calls upon Iomedae for sustenance, to less effect than might be desirable.

Aurora lies still, almost comatose in Filburn's arms; blinking quickly as she tires to understand where she is.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Farmerbink

As he moves past Areelu, she takes up pace beside [Filburn], keeping up easily despite his height and lengthened stride. "I remember you as well, mister Crow. Your progenitor was greatly amusing."

---

Spoiler: Spoken in Aklo due to Filburn's Curse

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"My progenitor? You knew one of my parents!?"

Filburn blurts something out at the demonic witch, his surprise overwhelming any good judgement he may have otherwise had. When the violence ends suddenly and dramatically he stands still inside the basement room, breathing heavily and looking around. "We're back...and she let us go...that can't be good," he says, his voice modulated an octave lower than normal by his increased size. Showing no sign of strain or fatigue he continues to hold Waylan and Aurora gently in his arms until triage has been given to the queen and the two clerics. Only once a litter is ready for the two in his arms and medical aid is ready to be rendered does he carefully lower them down and give them over to their allies nearby.

As his enhanced size deflates and he returns to normal his expression remains haunted. His frequent tic has returned, only with much greater frequency. Filburn watches the people in the room react to the events of the last several minutes in silence and shock, barely reacting to anyone else should they address him. He's also one of the last to leave, turning back to stare intently at the wall where the portal opened into the Abyss with a look of mixed with fear and...something else...

Elrembriel wails out in pain. On her cheek, the ugly dark mark flashes, pulsating in the color of fresh blood. A reminder of her exposure, marked forever, awakened by her stint in the demonic realm.

... And just like that, it is over. The portal vanishes. Back on the material plane, in the basement, the familiar faces. Creatures of flesh and blood, not magic and pure evil. Elrembriel stumbles, utterly drained of all energy. The pain on her face irradiates her entire body now, but its peak has passed.

She looks at Aurora, at the dead, the wounded. A life for a life, was it worth it? She gets next to her, on her knees, and tries to scrutinize her erstwhile mentor's eyes. "Oh, Aurora... It's me... Elrembriel. Do you remember?"

"I- I can stand..." Waylan protests hoarsely, writhing free of Filburn's grasp. His knees buckle as he reaches the floor, though, nearly giving him the lie as he reaches for an earthen wall for support. "Erastil... preserve us..." he prays weakly as his hands glow with now-familiar divine radiance. He moves to address the wounded priests and Galfrey before turning his attention to Aurora.

Spoiler: Healing

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Convert 3 slots into Cure Serious Wounds and distribute them to whoever most visibly needs them. Also a lesser restoration towards Galfrey or Aurora, if he can diagnose what's ailing them.

If relevant, Heal [roll0] to diagnose.

(This is mostly for RP purposes, as I believe we're out of the immediate threat of combat.)

Grace was surrounded, again. But this time, the nightmare had stopped, was this a different nightmare, a more pernicious one, with the facade of caring people, people who knew her?

She tried to shake herself, shake loose the cobwebs that were in her head, over her thoughts, she couldn't, she could barely move, her mind felt like a storm cloud was over it, surrounding it, at least there was no lightning she thought to herself, grimacing.

But who were these people, they looked so....familiar, friends from...when? Did she have a life before she was broken? Before her existence was pain, and death, and crushing demons in a never ending torment?

She looked around, at caring eyes peering at her, stone walls...no, this felt real, no matter what, this felt real, this couldn't be imaginary, a dream concocted by some evil thing to manipulate it?

Could it?

Tears began to streak down her cheek as she closed her eyes against the reality she saw before her, it was too good to be true, and her eyes felt so heavy....

Morevek staggers through the corridor of beings whose visage is only somewhat more abyssal than his own, toward the presumed safety of the material plane. As the hostilities threaten to renew, he leaps forward, desperately... and then the portal suddenly vanishes, and the howls and wails of demons and the cacophonous sounds of the abyssal plane itself vanish with it. In the comparative quiet that follows, Morevek quickly analyzes the room, realizing that their mission seems to have been a success... but not without cost.

Though his closest friends and allies seem to have managed to escape the demonic plane without loss of life or limb... Aurora seems barely to be alive, and in return for their aid, the clerics aiding Aravashnial have paid a dear, dear price. Looking from the one maimed cleric to the other who breathes no more, the slender swordsman crumples to the floor, his beloved blade clattering, forgotten, to the stone. Morevek sobs, relief, anguish, and pure fury mingling in the guttural, barking sound.

As the flood of emotions subsides, Morevek peels himself from the cold floor, the heaving of his chest in the depth of his breathing gone as quickly as they appeared; if not for the clear trails through the dirt, soot, and grime of the abyssal plane upon his face, his stony visage would give no hint of the wracking sorrow gripping the tiefling mere moments ago.

Standing slowly to his feet, he glides to Where Waylan is ministering to the other survivors, silently waiting his turn.

Spoiler: Actions

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Morevek is certainly in need of healing. Precise amounts depend on how many rounds of the witch's spell are allowed to run their course.

"Aurora... Aurora... Listen to me..." The young elf girl, drained and exhausted, finds the look in the paladin's eyes more worrying than any of the horrors she just witnessed. "Are you with us? You're back! Back... home. Well, at least, back in Defender's Heart. You remember Defender's Heart? And... Do you remember Radiance?" She points at the sword, lying on its stone pedestal.

"That's how we found you. Through Radiance... I... believe... Iomedae didn't want you to be left down in this horrible place."