The Black Shingle Fiasco

[YossarianLives]

"Laelth and his minions rounded us up - all together, there must have been over five thousand of my kind. Mostly from other clans. We were marched through an enormous hole in the air, into the place you call Black Shingle. We materialized underground, in some sort of sewer."

[Marlowe]

Avita snaps her fingers. "Open drains..." she growls. "We've been worrying about alleys when we should have been filling holes. Cabal Macabre take it! We're going to have to go underground aren't we?" I don't want to go underground! Well, let's keep these questions coming. "You...mentioned a "Blood God" earlier on. Is there some name to this "God" that we might recognize? And is it an actual evil God, or some sort of Demon Lord? I realize the difference can be...largely academic for such as you and I, but I was always told it's unusual for fiends to follow Gods."

[YossarianLives]

The demonspawn bites his lip, apparently thinking hard. "Most call him the Blood God but the greater demons, Laelth and his ilk, refer to him as Acvielimncfz or more commonly, Anckor. I... do not know if he truly is a god. The arch-fiends are the most powerful beings on my home plane, but none of my kind has ever seen one."

Just as the demonspawn finishes speaking, there comes a shout of alarm from the crossbowmen upstairs, followed by the twang of bowstrings and a shrill cry.

[Marlowe]

"Excuse us" Avita gives the Demonspawn a nod and a smile; grounds her lantern and wields her bow. "Sarim! Up the stairs. After you, I think. Dworc before damsels?"

She strings an arrow and prepares to follow the Barbarian up.

[YossarianLives]

A look of anxiety slides onto the demonspawn's face, but he remains still and silent as you make your way up the steps. Sarim goes first, pushing the hatch open, only to stumble as one of the gnomish guardsmen hurtles into his knees, then flops to the floor, unconscious and bleeding.

Atop the tower's roof, the three remaining crossbowmen are fighting for their lives, beset by a birdlike creature with swamp green feathers. Roughly the size of a horse, it squats on two talons while lashing out with it's other, longer pair. The beast caws furiously through a pointed beak, all four of it's eyes roving independently of their partners, it's head ringed by a crown of pointed black spines. A pair of wings forcibly beat the air, and any gnomes unfortunate enough to get in their way, blowing back your hair and clothes. Two of the gnomes have drawn shortswords and are trying their best to avoid evisceration, while another fumbles trying to reload his crossbow.

In the square below, you can clearly hear Ygor's shouted orders, the clash of weapons, and the beating of a drum.

[Marlowe]

"Pretty" mutters Avita, stepping back to put a respectful distance between herself and the creature. Her right hand snaps out a familiar green, coruscating ray.

Spoiler: Ray of Enfeeblement

Show

To hit (touch)(1d20+3)[18]
Strength dam (1d6+1)[7]

[Kushina43]

After heading up the stairs to see this aggressive feathered creature, Sarim's battle instincts burn once more and he grabs his mighty axe, swinging it at the beast with a mighty war cry and an overhead swing

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Attack: (1d20+6)[18]
Damage: (3d6+4)[14]

Spoiler: On 26

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Confirm: (1d20+6)[12]
Damage: (3d6+4)[10] + (3d6+4)[14]

[Bartmanhomer]

Eric shoots the demon creature with his shortbow.

Attack: (1d20+3)[22]
Damage: (1d6)[1]

Critical:

Attack: (1d20+3)[18]
Damage: (3d6)[6]

[YossarianLives]

The three gnomes see your arrival and rally, redoubling their efforts to slay the demon. One manages to reload his crossbow and fires a bolt at the flailing demon, burying the shaft deep in it's haunch. The other two slice at the demon with their swords, shouting half-halfheartedly, with no result - their blades are too short to reach the creature without slaying themselves on it's scything claws.

The beast stumbles as Avita's necrotic bolt collides with it, almost collapsing as the strength flows from it's limbs - before it can recover, Sarim's smites the beast's neck, sending blood and loose feathers flying. Eric's arrow flies true, grazing the beasts side.

For a second, it seems the demonic-bird is defeated. Hissing feebly, it backs itself against the battlements - then without warning it leaps forward, propelled through the air by it's flapping wings. Cawing aggressively, the beast fights for it's survival, hitting Sarim and the gnomes with everything it has. The two guards are able to avoid harm, but the brave Dworc is buffeted in the face and jab in the side by it's long, sharp beak. The monster is desperate.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Sarim takes 5 damage. Turn to you guys.

[Bartmanhomer]

Eric shoot the demonic bird with his shortbow.

Attack: (1d20+3)[12]
Damage: (1d6)[6]

Critical:

Attack: (1d20+3)[14]
Damage: (3d6)[8]

[Marlowe]

"Pretty little chicken. Pretty little chicken wants a plucking" Avita purrs. She darts forward, right hand flaring with black and graveyard chill, and tries to weave her way through the claws to plant a hit on the creature.

Spoiler: Charnal Touch

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to hit (touch) (1d20+2)[4]
Damage (1d8)[6]

[probably have to eat an AOO getting in.]

[YossarianLives]

Undaunted, Sarim roars and lands another ferocious blow on the giant bird, removing one of the beast's eyes and a good portion of it's face. It shrieks in agony, then leaps forward to nip at Avita as she tries to close with it, missing completely. Nevertheless, the bird continues to relentlessly flail, keeping the necromancer at arm's length. Eric's aim is true, his bolt streaking through the air but bouncing off the beast's tough hide.

Seeing the bird distracted by Sarim's onslaught, one of the guards slips under it's defenses and, with a passionate exhalation, sinks her sword into it's rump. The monster offers one last swipe in Sarim's direction then collapses, dead.

[Bartmanhomer]

Undaunted, Sarim roars and lands another ferocious blow on the giant bird, removing one of the beast's eyes and a good portion of it's face. It shrieks in agony, then leaps forward to nip at Avita as she tries to close with it, missing completely. Nevertheless, the bird continues to relentlessly flail, keeping the necromancer at arm's length. Eric's aim is true, his bolt streaking through the air but bouncing off the beast's tough hide.

Seeing the bird distracted by Sarim's onslaught, one of the guards slips under it's defenses and, with a passionate exhalation, sinks her sword into it's rump. The monster offers one last swipe in Sarim's direction then collapses, dead.

"That was easy."

[Marlowe]

"Whoo boy. We eat tonight!" says Avita, quickly crossing to the side of the roof overlooking the door. Stringing an arrow, she looks down to see what sort of mess of Wheels Ygor's gone and put a spoke in.

[YossarianLives]

With the bird's shrieks silenced, the sounds of combat from below become clear. At the tower's base, Ygor and his four pikemen are surrounded by almost twenty of the miserable Zaghifd, the demonic Children. The guardsman have lowered their weapons against the fiend's charge, but the Zaghifd show no signs of hesitation - they enthusiastically throw themselves on the soldiers weapons, dragging down the polearms with their corpses. Even as you watch, the pike is wrenched out of a guardsman's hand by the groping talons of several Children, leaving a gap for them to pour in.

[Marlowe]

Avita bites her lip; "Someone better get down there quick as they can--hold the door--Ygor,
get your guys inside!...Sir!" She picks a target amongst the swarming Zanghifd and lets an arrow fly.

Spoiler: Twang

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Attack (1d20+3)[7]
Damage (1d8)[6]

Spoiler: Crit stuff if needed

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Confirm (1d20+3)[23]
Extra damage (2d8)[10]

She turns to the gnomes, and to Eric. "Crossbows! Arrows! Let's give 'em some support!"

[Bartmanhomer]

Eric shoot the demon children with his Shortbow.

Attack: (1d20+3)[14]
Damage: (1d6)[3]

Critical:

Attack: (1d20+3)[22]
Damage: (3d6)[9]

[YossarianLives]

As Avita and Eric open fire, the guardsmen down below cheer their thankfulness. Recovering their senses, the three other crossbowmen join you at the battlements. Together, all six archers are able to score two kills on the Zaghifd. They continue to swarm forward completely unfazed, claws waving madly. One, near the centre of the mob, beats a small drum with it's human hands.

Fighting for their lives, the soldiers cut down the charging Children, but are surrounded by the wretched little things - Ygor repeats Avita's command and they begin to cut a path towards the door, but the going is slow. One guardsman takes a nasty slash from a Zaghifd's claw, but does not waver.

Lacking much proficiency at ranged combat, Andras rushes over to the downed crossbowman and begins chanting a spell of healing. The wounds start to knit together, the blood already drying.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

15 of the Zaghifd remaining. Turn to you guys.

[Bartmanhomer]

Eric continues to shoot the messenger Zaghifd swarm with his shortbow.

(1d20+3)[20]
(1d6)[1]

Critical:

(1d20+3)[18]
(3d6)[7]

[Kushina43]

Hearing the sounds of combat, Sarim rushes to exit the building and join up with the guard, glaive in hand to help hold the line

[Marlowe]

Avita bites back some kind of useless snark about the command abilities of anyone who can get himself surprised and cut off from retreat by a bunch of bongo-playing children while stationed in a large open space and takes aim at the bongo-player. Because frell bongos.

Spoiler: Twang.

Show

To hit (1d20+3)[8]
Dam (1d8)[4]

Spoiler: Crit stuff if required.

Show

Confirm (1d20+3)[4]
Extra Dam (2d8)[11]

[YossarianLives]

The three crossbowmen continue their barrage, with more success. Three bolts fly, and three Zaghifd fall to the cobblestones dead. Eric and Avita have less success - the crowd below is shifting with the tides of combat, and they struggle to find a mark. The drow is only able to score a wound, while Avita misses entirely.

The skirmish below continues unabated, with little progress on either side. The gnomes have been effectively immobilized by the mass of bodies, their polearms rendered useless by the close range, but the Children's claws are easily rebuffed by the guardsmen's armour and discipline. Ygor takes a scratch to the face, but dispatches his assailant in return.

Despite his haste, the damaged stairs slow Sarim considerably and he is only able to reach the tower's main floor.

The rejuvenated guardsman sits up, blinking confusedly, but is still too disorientated to get back in the fight.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

11 Children remain. Your turn.

[Bartmanhomer]

"These demon creatures are annoying as heck."

Eric continues to shoot the Zaghifd swarm with his shortbow.

Attack: (1d20+3)[10]
Damage: (1d6)[4]

Critical:

Attack: (1d20+3)[12]
Damage: (3d6)[14]

[Marlowe]

Avita just sighs in a resigned fashion as she puts another arrow into the press.

Spoiler: Twang.

Show

To-hit(1d20+3)[9]
Dam (1d8)[1]

Spoiler: critty stuff

Show

confirm (1d20+3)[9]
Extra Damage (2d8)[9]

[YossarianLives]

Another synchronized volley from you and the crossbowmen provides pitiful results, despite now being reinforced by the recovered guardsman. A single Zaghifd is dropped by a bolt, while all the other shots glance or go wide. At Ygor's behest, the soldiers below make another push for the door, hacking at the swarming Children - their attempts are rewarded with only a single kill. The already-rapid beat of the drum grows faster, more frantic, driving the Zaghifd into a frenzy and, for a moment, seemingly spelling the poor guardsmen's doom.

Then, with a deep, menacing roar, Sarim charges from the tower's door, glaive at the ready. One of the little fiends is instantly spit upon it's blade. For a moment, it almost seems as if the Children will flee. Then they surge forward again, three splitting off to attack the newly arrived Dworc, all five limbs flailing, the open wounds where their throats should be puckering and sucking, emitting a wet slurping noise. While the guardsman hold the line adequately, Sarim is isolated and more vulnerable. He suffers a multitude of small scratches, in addition to a larger cut along the calf.

Andras, satisfied with the guardsman's recovery, hefts her glaive and follows Sarim downstairs, into the fray.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Sarim suffers 9 damage. Only 8 Zaghifd remain. Your turn again.

[Bartmanhomer]

Eric continues to shoot the Zaghifd swarm with his shortbow.

Attack: (1d20+3)[12]
Damage: (1d6)[2]

Critical:

Attack: (1d20+3)[5]
Damage: (3d6)[13]

[Marlowe]

Avita sets her jaw and shoulders her bow. "Keep at it; guys. Looks like I'm on the front door."

She makes for the trap, trying to get downstairs as quickly as possible. "Those things get into the lower floors we'll be at a REAL disadvantage."

She take the time to give the captive Daemonspawn a "you-okay? You're-okay." nod on the way down.

[Kushina43]

Surrounded on all sides and with foes bearing down on him, Sarim unleashes an even more furious war cry and swings his glaive at whatever poor Zaghifd is within his range

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Entering Rage
taking 5ft step if necessary
Attack: (1d20+8)[10]
Damage: (2d8+6)[11]

Spoiler: On 28

Show

Confirm: (1d20+8)[19]
Damage: (2d8+6)[15] + (2d8+6)[17]

[YossarianLives]

Eric and the guardsmen continue pumping out missiles, slowly whittling down the horde. One Zaghifd is slain by a bolt through the eye, while another is struck in the side, then finished off by an arrow from Eric.

Sarim takes a heavy swing at the nearest foe, and just misses as the Zaghifd leaps in for a reckless attack. This attack, along with those of it's brethren, are ineffective, the Dworc brushing aside their feeble limbs with ease. Andras bursts out of the door, hot on Sarim's heels, and charges the larger pack of Children, eliciting a cheer from the cornered gnomes. A swing from her glaive bisects one of the Zaghifd. At this, the guardsmen break free of the trap, falling upon their ambushers with retribution, slaying one more. The Zaghifd try to fight back, but only manage to score a scratch on one of the guardsmen's cheeks.

Avita passes Sycarus and the demonspawn on the way down. The former regards her with interest, absently fingering his holy symbol, while the latter sits next to the unconscious Marion, looking pale and frightened. He looks taken aback at her acknowledgement, but returns the nod hesitantly. Going as quickly as is possible down the rickety stairs, Avita manages to reach the tower's ground floor, but cannot make it out the door.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

4 Zaghifd remain. Your turn.

[Bartmanhomer]

Eric continues to shoot the Zaghifd swarm with his shortbow.

Attack: (1d20+3)[21]
Damage: (1d6)[4]

Critical:

Attack: (1d20+3)[19]
Damage: (3d6)[13]