Highland Archipelago: Terror in the Mist (IC)

[Crazyfailure13]

As the impending danger looms close, the company of heroes prepares themselves, aside from vash, who instead rushes to the unopened western door, before he reaches it the door is smash open from the opposite side, you see a skeletal knight and several zombies on the other side they walk in and look at the adventurers, for a moment they seem like they will attack, but then they turn to face the emerging children, the skeleton yells as 6 children enter the room, with more in the hallway "Protect the Fleshlings."

[ninthbit]

ohh come on now......

[Grail]

{table=head]

Pedivere

|

Level

|

HP

|

AC

|

TAC

|

FAC

|

PER

|Effects

|

3rd

|

28/28

|

16

|

11

|

15

|

+5

|

Darkvision 60', Immune Fear & Disease

[/table]

Pedivere stepped back and let the new undead creatures past. Yes, protect us. he said to the skeleton and zombies. Let these fight our enemy. We can use the time to continue, if they fall, they fall. And if they succeed, then it is less enemies that we will need to fight. He spoke to his allies, still keeping an eye on the new arrivals.

[Morbis Meh]

What fresh new hell is this? Fleshling? What in tarnation is going on here why are they helping us... something must be seriously off for this to be happening!

Bishop keeps his gun raised and moves out of the way keeping an eye on both undead parties. In truth he had no qualms about someone else taking care of the evil midgets but he was unsure of this new development and what it would mean after the conflict ended.

[ninthbit]

Vash falls back to join his companions in the back of the room to quietly discuss. do you suppose its a ruse to earn our trust? Or perhaps the crazy skel down the stairs is the lessor of two evils? If you can sense the aura of evil from things, which is stronger? Maybe the enemy of my enemy is just the guy we destroy later.

[Comissar]

Cael glances at the two different groups of Undead. Why are they fighting each other? Are there two factions here?

She listened to what the others said in hushed tones before adding "If they want to protect us, then shouldn't we let them?"

[Grail]

{table=head]

Pedivere

|

Level

|

HP

|

AC

|

TAC

|

FAC

|

PER

|Effects

|

3rd

|

28/28

|

16

|

11

|

15

|

+5

|

Darkvision 60', Immune Fear & Disease

[/table]

It is too dangerous to do that, it will take me time to determine the strength of their evil, and that would be better putting distance between us and them. Lead on Vash. Said Pedivere, never taking his eyes from the enemy.

[Crazyfailure13]

the armored skeleton slashs a child in half, and two more come out of the hallway after it. the skeleton's head turns 180 Degrees, to face the party "Go to the master, we can't hold them forever."

[shugyosha]

Thar

The half-orc watches the group waste time as the obvious threat lies before them.

[Morbis Meh]

...oh joy so that's what they want us to do, we're being herded like cattle Looking to his companions and the new additions he sighs "Well it seems we better get a move on.

[ninthbit]

To the hells with it... Vash rests the dull edge of his blade on his shoulder and places his hand on Thar's shoulder. Lets go find your hooded man he the heads off to the stairs.

[Comissar]

Cael gives Vash a worried glance upon hearing that they were to head down to see the man behind her capture. She held her tongue though, these people probably knew best in this case and she didn't much like the idea of waiting around to see what would happen between the two fighting undead groups.

Without a word, she hurries to catch up to Vash.

[Morbis Meh]

Bishop moves in behind the others silently with his gun at the ready.

[Crazyfailure13]

As your group agrees, with some resistance from Pedivere, you meet the skeleton at the stairs from before, only this time his sword is drawn and his eyes are now red, several young corpses litter the floor blood splashed against the wall. "Why, hello again! It's seems I won't have to find your bodies. Anything else you want to do before you meet the master, he's in a bit of an rush?"

[Morbis Meh]

Bishop smirks "I wouldn't mind seeing you blush but I doubt that will happen anytime soon, now could you just shut that jaw of yours and take us to this master of yours."

[Crazyfailure13]

The skeleton turns and moves his fingers in a small pool of blood, then moving it to his face, he turns to look at you again this time with 2 small red spots on his cheeks, "oh, look at me, I'm just ghushing... no, wait that's you." he addresses the bloody corpse on the ground. "Let's get on our way, I wouldn't want to tell anymore jokes." he starts to lead you down the large stairway,during the trip the creaturesjaw moves up and down clanking together, after moment you notice the sound is a seafaring song, however grim it may be.

As you get close to the bottom of the stairs you see a faint light, which steadly grows as you move further down, the light gets so strong it stings you eyes a bit, once your eyes adjut you look at a room full of white flowers, hanging from the ceiling and growing from the floor, and a young girl sits tied up, her purple hair and eyes a splash of color in the sea of white, next to her stands a tall man in a white robe, his long black hair covering his face. the girl speaks up "See! the ones who have come to save are here, they will end your wicked plan."

[Grail]

Spoiler

Show

Detect Evil and concentrate to find strongest aura on girl, guy, skeleton.

Also,

Sense Motive on the girls comments: (1d20+8)[24]

Also,

Perception on the room/girls bindings (1d20+5)[16]

[Crazyfailure13]

Spoiler

Show

The girl is neutral, and the skeleton and hooded man are evil, the room it's self is rather bare, aside from the flowers, the girls bindings are made of rope and appear to be tight, and you get the feeling that something is a bit, off about the situation as a whole.

[shugyosha]

Thar

To the hells with it... Vash rests the dull edge of his blade on his shoulder and places his hand on Thar's shoulder. Lets go find your hooded man he the heads off to the stairs.

The half orc gives a nod and follows the others.

Once they get down the stairs Thar growls, "Hooded Man..."

[Grail]

{table=head]

Pedivere

|

Level

|

HP

|

AC

|

TAC

|

FAC

|

PER

|Effects

|

3rd

|

28/28

|

16

|

11

|

15

|

+5

|

Darkvision 60', Immune Fear & Disease

[/table]

Speak. Called the Paladin. He had no desire to placate evil and foul creatures and men of hate. He would not justify them more than he had to, but when he could, he would 'sanctify' them for the harm they had caused.

Spoiler

Show

Who has the stronger evil aura, taking into consideration that Clerics/Fiends have more powerful ones than normal people.

Also,

Is the Hooded Man human or undead?

Perception: (1d20+5)[12]
Knowledge (Religion): (1d20+4)[21]

[Crazyfailure13]

The hood man looks to you, or he seems to, " Hello, guests and released prisoners we are here so that you can understand why your being helped by me, you see im currently under siege by a rival necromancer, and he wants this girl dead, iI do not however, so here's my proposal, you take this girl and live, or you refuse and I turn you into minions to help in my defense, how about it?

the hooded man, seems human, and has an overwhelmingly strong aura, the skeleton less so.

[Grail]

{table=head]

Pedivere

|

Level

|

HP

|

AC

|

TAC

|

FAC

|

PER

|Effects

|

3rd

|

28/28

|

16

|

11

|

15

|

+5

|

Darkvision 60', Immune Fear & Disease

[/table]

I have a better idea, said the Paladin, striding forward. Tell us who this other Necromancer is first, why he wants this girl dead, and why you want her alive. Then we can decide what our actions will be.

Pedivere stopped short of the 'hooded man', perhaps no more than ten feet. Speak up, let us all hear.

Spoiler

Show

Sense Motive again to his words, I want to know if there is anything possibly being hidden or potentially omitted as well as falsehood.

Sense Motive: (1d20+8)[18]

[Crazyfailure13]

"Well, let's see, the necromancer is called Ruin, it is my business why I want her alive, but you should know, she is an innocent,and as a holy man I do believe you can be picky about who you save, If someone wants an innocent dead it is your duty to protect them. I just hoped that you might enjoy me helping you along."

Spoiler

Show

he is obviously hiding something

[Grail]

{table=head]

Pedivere

|

Level

|

HP

|

AC

|

TAC

|

FAC

|

PER

|Effects

|

3rd

|

28/28

|

16

|

11

|

15

|

+5

|

Darkvision 60', Immune Fear & Disease

[/table]

Her innocence has not yet been determined. Just because you say she is, does not make it so. And the question remains, why do you want her to live? What purpose does her life hold for you? Pedivere's patience has worn thin. Pointing at the girl, he states One last time, why does Ruin want her dead? What does he hope to stop you from completing?

[Crazyfailure13]

" ha, one last time eh? And what if I chose to not answer you? Regardless, Ruin seeks to stop nothing, this girl death is to his gain, not mine, infact you taking her sets my plans back, but they stop altogether if she died. the girls head popped up and she spoke " he's hiding the fact that I'm a seer, he's been using my visions to further his goals... and" she is cut off as the hooded man kicks her in the chest knocking her over.

[Comissar]

Cael recoiled a little when they came face to face with the hooded man, her confidence in her rescuer's wavering a little. She winced as the young girl was kicked, feeling a pang of sympathetic pain at the same time.

She turned to Pedivere, "We have to help her"

[Grail]

{table=head]

Pedivere

|

Level

|

HP

|

AC

|

TAC

|

FAC

|

PER

|Effects

|

3rd

|

28/28

|

14 (17)

|

9 (12)

|

13 (16)

|

+5

|

Darkvision 60', Immune Fear & Disease, Smite Evil v 'The Hooded Man'

[/table]

I have no intention of not helping her. Pedivere said to Cael.

Hooded man. I condemn you. For torture, for imprisonment, for kidnapping and for the foul practice of necromancy. For dealing with abominations. For the death of Makoa. For the invasion and corruption of this temple.

Suddenly, the Paladin rushed forward. His axe was a blur as he brought it towards the man in a deadly arc. I SMITE THEE IN THE NAME OF IOMEDAE!

Spoiler

Show

Charge, Smite Evil, targeting 'The Hooded Man'
AC vs Hooded Man goes up by 3 (Deflection)

Attack: (1d20+11)[12]
Damage: (1d12+7)[14] +3 if 'The Hooded Man' is undead, evil dragon or evil outsider.
Crit Confirmation: (1d20+11)[29]
Crit Damage: (3d12+21)[43] +9 if 'The Hooded Man' is undead, evil dragon or evil outsider.

[Crazyfailure13]

The hooded man laughs, and deftly dodges the paladin assualt "Now, now, what type of guest are you, don't you know it's rude to attack a man in his own home. Well lets see how you deal with this!" his hands become a flurry of motion and begin to glow as he mutters words laced with magic. After a moment a burst of darkness shrouds the room, and is gone instantly, revealing a large bear, the hooded man points at you and the bear growls at pedivere.

[Morbis Meh]

Bishop shakes his head "Blasted holy men and their thick, empty skulls!" He walks up to the necromancer and sighs "Look partner, forget the young stupid one, he don't know any better and I can definitely testify that he rushes blindly into situations better suited for those who have a little more wisdom. If you feed him to this bear, well honestly I wouldn't be too broken up about it; however, the fact that I would have one less body along with me helping me to get off this damn island would be a mite upsetting. Now let me get this straight, we take this girl and we get to leave her alive, no questions asked, or is there a catch to all of this?"

Spoiler

Show

Sense motive (1d20+3)[4]

[Grail]

{table=head]

Pedivere

|

Level

|

HP

|

AC

|

TAC

|

FAC

|

PER

|Effects

|

3rd

|

28/28

|

16 (19)

|

11 (14)

|

15 (18)

|

+5

|

Darkvision 60', Immune Fear & Disease, Smite Evil v 'The Hooded Man'

[/table]

Pedivere continued the attack. Bishop was a fool to forget so quickly why the shade wolves had sent then down here.

Spoiler

Show

ATTACK: (1d20+9)[25]
DAMAGE: (1d12+7)[14]

CRIT CONFIRM: (1d20+9)[10]
CRIT DAMAGE: (3d12+21)[37]

Spoiler

Show

+3 further damage if he is undead, an evil dragon or an evil outsider, and smite bypasses all DR.