[IC] Tales of Folly and Hubris

[roryb]

A play by post duet (2 players w/o GM) in a sword & sorcery world using Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells using a variety of oracles, world generation tables, randomization, and GM emulation.

Players:
Chronicler
roryb

OOC Thread

Spoiler: World Map

Show

[roryb]

Spoiler: Setup

Show

Adventure Set Up: Goal & Location: 4#1d6 1 1 4 4

Goal (1, 1): Attack, Kill, Destroy - an Influential Person
Where (4, 4): Dark Forest (most prevalent part seems to be forest north of Khuul, and I like saying “Khuul”)

(Asked via GM’s Apprentice)
Who are they seeking? the Regent Zincara
Are they performing this service for an NPC? Exceptional Yes
For whom? Anolius Rookshadow
Do we know details about Zincara or why we need to get this person out of the way? Exceptional No

I assume This Rookshadow is withholding a clue or person we need to further our cause, and this Zincara person goes hunting in the forest. We are left to our own devices.

Feel free to season and throw in other reasons we might be conscripted to this foul deed.

How the pair had made their way to Uthuum was lost to the delirium of days. Anolius Rookshadow was a nefarious man — a keeper of secrets and contacts — and, it was said knew of men with the power to pervert the elements and aether of the void. Perhaps his contact would give a clue as to thwart the curse that afflicted one strong-armed warrior woman. The other stranger companion had reasons and secrets of his own.

By ill fortune, the pair played the part of marionettes to Rookshadow’s subtle pull of strings. The Regent Zincara of Khuul frequented the dark forest north of the equally dark City of Shadows. A huntsman and a powerful bureaucrat, the Regent loved the woods where he might revel, feast, and make pacts with like-minded coxcombs. He had a small lodge not far from the city in a climb of black pines overlooking a verdant vale. On such a seasonably pleasant summer evening as that one, the Regent was certain to be enjoying his favored pastime.

However, Zincara was doomed to die.

Alzara cursed as she marched parallel to the stream. Her battered and thonged shield was slung at her back along with her unremarkable but serviceable blade. Rust colored locks hung limp with sweat. Her companion could see she was born to the saddle rather than suited for the slippery bank in her worn leather boots.

“I do not trust this Rookshadow any more than I could toss him!” she voiced. “I am no assassin! How did we get into this mess in the first place?”

The dusk began to deepen the black-green shadows of the dense forest. The gurgling brook and the churl of evening birdsong continued their chorus. The place was full of familiar earthly fragrances, and under the dense canopy, bright viridescent moss still enveloped the sleepy boles and stones.

Alzara
15 Phy, 16 Agl, 12 Int, 15 Wil
Blood 16/16; Luck d6

[Chronicler]

Xecna the Heretic (Chaosborn Sorcerer) Archetype: Magic User | Level: 1 | Blood: 13/13 | Fray Die: d4 | Luck Die: d6 Attributes: Physique 12, Agility 15, Intellect 15, Willpower 16

Xecna trudged wordlessly behind his Forlucian companion as she led the way through the forested vale. But at her mention of Rookshadow's name, he spat in disgust. His gob of spittle sizzled noisily where it landed upon a flat rock, a clear testament of his disapproval of the conniving broker and his tactics. Which was saying much coming from a Chaosborn Mortyllan used to the sinister dealings of his own people.

"I am no one's pawn," he hissed under his breath. While the brooding sorcerer had no qualms about eliminating Rookshadow permanently, he had promised to help Alzara break the curse that bound her in exchange for her protection. And apparently they needed the man alive for information that he had but would only divulge if they did his bidding. Despite Xecna's initial protest, the swordswoman had agreed to his terms.

So now the duo found themselves plodding through unknown territory to hunt down a target for no other reason than Rookshadow wanted this particular person taken out. The dusk-skinned Mortyllan had no doubt that the murderous deed would somehow benefit their taskmaster greatly as they took on all of the risk. If only he had known more about blood magic, then they would not have been forced into this situation. But Xecna's sorcery was instinctive and raw. He did not currently possess the knowledge or the finesse necessary for breaking a blood-bond, but it was only a matter of time.

[roryb]

Spoiler: Checks

Show

SS&SS encourages checks, so this will help kick us off: Encounter Check (1-2 on a d6): 1d6 2

Other Q’s
What kind of encounter is this? Deactivate Elusive Tool — sounds to me like the place is trapped
Is it a game snare? (Highly Likely) Yes
I’ll have Alzara make a roll to evade since she’s in the lead. I’m getting a difficulty of +4, and she’ll use her Intellect to spot it.
Intellect roll at +4 difficulty to avoid a trap: 1d20+4 11
She just made it! In fact, high is good as long as it doesn’t exceed the stat number.
Once disabled, do they encounter anyone coming to check the trap? (Unlikely) Exceptional No.

Alzara pushed aside a low-hanging branch as she climbed a short mossy rise. She was about to voice her reluctance to Xecna about carrying through with their sinister plan when her sharp eyes spotted something out of place within a group of ferns. She held out a warning hand and slowly drew her blade. Using its length to uncover the area from leafy foliage, she revealed a cruel looking trap of iron meant to ensnare large game. However, the trap looked rusted from age, and might not have even been functional — if nothing else, it showed neglect.

“It seems we are within the Regent’s realm,” she said to her robed companion. “Rookshadow was not wrong to point us in this direction. According to him, his lodge shouldn’t be far. I wonder if he’s at home, or even hunting at all. No one has been here to check on this for some time, I am guessing. Perhaps we should watch his movements from a safe distance?”

Alzara
15 Phy, 16 Agl, 12 Int, 15 Wil
Blood 16/16; Luck d6

[Chronicler]

Xecna the Heretic (Chaosborn Sorcerer) Archetype: Magic User | Level: 1 | Blood: 13/13 | Fray Die: d4 | Luck Die: d6 Attributes: Physique 12, Agility 15, Intellect 15, Willpower 16

Having lived nearly all of his life within the confines of Trillithon, a walled city of foreboding temples wreathed in constant smoke and screams from the sacrificial fire pits, Xecna had very little exposure to the wild. He just automatically deferred to Alzara in matters of nature and survival due to her much greater experience with the outdoors. So he assumed that her voiced question was rhetorical because she would certainly know better than him what they should do next. But he responded anyway.

With a noncommittal grunt, the cityborn sorcerer shrugged as he brushed a stray twig off of his shoulder. "Well, with night falling, if we can find the Regent's hunting cabin, we can at least see if there's a light inside or not. That should tell us something." After stating the obvious aloud, he realized it probably would have been better if he had kept his mouth shut. But what was done was done. With a sigh, he eyed the jagged metal teeth of the animal trap that Alzara had discovered and suppressed a shudder, fervently hoping there weren't many more of them scattered around.

---

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Onward! Tally-ho!

[roryb]

Spoiler: Checks

Show

Do they encounter anything before arriving at the lodge? Yes
What? Something slithering, The reek of vomit, something creates a home

Wow, that sounds revolting and diabolical. It sounds like some beast has/or is making its home out of the lodge, and perhaps meals out of its occupants. This just sounds so weird and implausible, I’m going with it!

Don't be afraid to ask your own questions too.

They emerged from the closeness of the forest to the heath of the vale just as twilight spilled its azure after-light across a star studded sky. By any measure, the evening temperatures were pleasant and the setting breathtaking. Upon an overlooking tor, they spied a collection of rustic buildings, exactly where Rookshadow had indicated them. However, no curl of smoke wafted from the chimneys nor winking cozy light illuminated the windows.

The short climb to a closer vantage point began to fill them with a strange sense of foreboding. They heard no sound, but smelled something repugnant long before they stepped foot near the grounds of the summer cottage. The door to the largest of these — a lodge or hall stood ajar. Though they stood safely distant, they could make out a glistening trail of slime leading through the portal. The sky was reflected in the ghastly ichor.

“What deviltry is this?!” Alzara hissed to her companion. “What has happened here?” Xecna could hear her increased respiration as her simple mind tried to give shape to the bizarre and nightmarish insinuations of a nameless terror laid before her.

Alzara
15 Phy, 16 Agl, 12 Int, 15 Wil
Blood 16/16; Luck d6

[Chronicler]

Xecna the Heretic (Chaosborn Sorcerer) Archetype: Magic User | Level: 1 | Blood: 13/13 | Fray Die: d4 | Luck Die: d4 Attributes: Physique 12, Agility 15, Intellect 15, Willpower 16

As the foul reptilian stench washed over him, Xecna raised his arm to cover the lower half of his scarred face with the thick sleeve of his crimson robe pressed tight against his nose. His abrupt action made his reply to Alzara come out slightly muffled. "Maybe the hunter became the hunted," he suggested humorlessly. Still, it was such an abnormal circumstance to stumble upon just as they arrived, and the cynical sorcerer did not believe in coincidences. It seemed that there was more going on here than either he or his companion knew about. Fortunately, there was at least one way that he could try to find out if that were true or not.

After a deliberate blink, Xecna's midnight blue eyes became unfocused and took on a faraway look as his mystically-enhanced inner sight took over. He gazed once more at the trail of mucousy secretion left behind by the unknown trespasser and gasped at what he now saw. Residual motes of riotously-changing colors shimmered along the ground. He quickly turned to Alzara and whispered, "Whatever that thing is it may not be what it seems. There's sorcery involved--strong transmutation magic." Pausing for a moment as an implication set in, he added in a less sure tone, "A shapechanger perhaps? Or some kind of curse?" Were the Regent and the creature one and the same?

---

Spoiler: OOC

Show

• Intellect Test (Sense Magic): 1d20 17 (Failure)
• Downgrade Luck Die for a reroll. [d6] -> [d4]
• Intellect Test (Sense Magic Reroll): 1d20 12 (Success)
• Is there magic present? (Low Odds) Yes
• Is it transmutation magic? (Low Odds) Yes

[roryb]

Spoiler: Checks

Show

Building purpose? dormitory or meditation cells
What contents? rugs and woolen coverings tossed in disarray
Any dead bodies here? (Even Odds) No
Encounter roll: Encounter roll (1-2 on d6): 1d6 6
Search (Intellect: 12) at Disadvantage (Dark): 2#1d20 13 10

Xecna’s words were nearly as incomprehensible as what Alzara’s senses screamed at her. Alzara unslung her shield. Sword gripped firmly in hand, she compelled herself forward slowly, moving first toward one of the lesser outbuildings. Wordlessly, her friend understood the warrior’s motives. Perhaps they might uncover any clues before approaching the main hall.

The first building was darkened. The door was unlocked. Alzara opened it and slowly pushed it away with her foot. Inside the darkness was deep. At first glance, she saw little more than a few cots pushed to the edges inside an oddly shaped chalet. Various rugs and woolen coverings were tossed about in disarray. Strange designs had been chalked to the wooden floor and still there was the lingering scent of burnt incense or other herbs.

After allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness, Alzara tossed some of the cots and coverings aside, but she saw little else of interest to her in the room. To her occult companion, there was probably much more to see and comprehend here.

Alzara
15 Phy, 16 Agl, 12 Int, 15 Wil
Blood 16/16; Luck d6

[Chronicler]

Xecna the Heretic (Chaosborn Sorcerer) Archetype: Magic User | Level: 1 | Blood: 13/13 | Fray Die: d4 | Luck Die: d4 Attributes: Physique 12, Agility 15, Intellect 15, Willpower 16

With the evening's growing tension making the muscles in his neck feel tight, the uneasy sorcerer followed the female warrior into the closest dwelling as she led the way with her weapon drawn. Though Xecna's own hands were empty at the moment, a slim long-bladed dagger hung sheathed within easy reach at his waist. For now he wanted to be unhindered in case he needed to grab a hold of Alzara so that the two of them could beat a hasty retreat through the shadows. It was an escape tactic that had worked well for them before.

Glancing around the interior, the hooded Mortyllan stooped low to make a closer inspection of the scrawled drawing on the ground. It appeared to be a thaumaturgic circle, though one drawn by an unpracticed or hurried hand. What it was specifically used for though he could not immediately ascertain. The miscellaneous occult paraphernalia scattered about the room provided little clue other than revealing that someone had tried to perform a ritual here. He looked up at his companion, indicated the littered floor with a sweep of his hand, and informed her, "More signs of magic-making." With a snarl of frustration, he added, "And of course, Rookshadow never bothered to mention that the Regent might be involved with sorcery."

Xecna quickly straightened back up to his full height. Eyeing the doorway they had first entered through, he hissed, "We should move on."

---

Spoiler: OOC

Show

• Were the items in the room used for an occult purpose? (Even Odds) Yes
• Is it obvious what that purpose was? (Even Odds) No

[roryb]

Alzara made a circular gesture, indicating the remaining buildings around the circumference of the complex.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

...Which is to say, shall we investigate these first?

[Chronicler]

Xecna the Heretic (Chaosborn Sorcerer) Archetype: Magic User | Level: 1 | Blood: 13/13 | Fray Die: d4 | Luck Die: d4 Attributes: Physique 12, Agility 15, Intellect 15, Willpower 16

For someone like Xecna, who preferred to resolve things quickly, the direct approach was usually what he favored the most even if it meant, like in this case, they would have to confront some monstrous abomination. "It all leads to that creature out there. If we want answers, we'll have to face it at some point. Might as well be now," he opined to his companion. Did the Regent summon the thing? Did it devour the Regent? Or maybe it is the Regent? All of these thoughts swirled wildly around inside the sorcerer's head as he pondered the confusing situation. But the sooner they could complete their task, then the sooner they could return to Khuul. He was starting to despise the wilderness and was looking forward to being back within the four walls of a nice, grimy city. At least an urban cesspool was more familiar and comforting to him than this summer-kissed vale with its fresh air and annoying greenery.

[roryb]

Spoiler: Checks

Show

Torch usage - 1-2 on d6: 1d6 1
She moves her supply down the chain to a d4.

Okay if Xecna carries it?

Alzara nodded. “Whatever may still be there, by now we’ve lost the element of surprise.” She dug into her pack to produce a torch. Once lit, she offered it to Xecna.

“I fear to face whatever might be within the dark without a light at my back,” she argued. “I also wouldn’t face it without my shield.”

Alzara
15 Phy, 16 Agl, 12 Int, 15 Wil
Blood 16/16; Luck d6

[Chronicler]

Xecna the Heretic (Chaosborn Sorcerer) Archetype: Magic User | Level: 1 | Blood: 13/13 | Fray Die: d4 | Luck Die: d4 Attributes: Physique 12, Agility 15, Intellect 15, Willpower 16

Luckily for Alzara, Xecna could still be effective with his evocations with only a single hand free. He reached out and took her proffered torch, its ruddy flame flickering for an instant as it was passed over, causing their shadows to dance wildly against the interior confines of the cottage. Grasping the wooden base tightly, with the heft of its weight feeling reassuring in his grip, the robed sorcerer led the way out of the building and back into the deepening night. "With any luck, maybe this creature is afraid of fire," he hoped aloud. Otherwise they would only have his companion's steel and his own magic to deal with the intruder.

[roryb]

Spoiler: Checks

Show

Questions:
Any unusual obvious sounds? (Even Odds) Yes
What does it sound like? curious murmuring
Like chanting? (Likely Odds) Yes
More than one voice? (Even Odds) Yes

Stealth check (Agility 16) at +2 penalty due to walking on boards: 1d20+2 10 (Success)

More Questions:
Does she see any unusual beast? (Even Odds) Yes
What seems to be going on? Alter Despondent Daemon
What does the thing look like? Struggle Tension; Advanced Illness

Alzara nodded, girding herself to move forward. She readied her shield at the fore and slowly moved forward, planting one foot deliberately in front of the other. As the two crossed the grounds toward the main hall, they first noticed the sound of unison chanting in low baritone voices. Secondly, they noted a dim orange flicker reflected against the open door from a source within. Candlelight appeared to be the likely source.

Although thought of nameless horrors from the void made Alzara’s skin crawl, the thought of flesh-and-blood cultists performing a ritual offered no additional comfort. She looked over her shoulder at her strange companion to make sure he marked the sound. In her work with the Black March, her counterparts had adopted a number of hand signals useful for coordinating an ambush. She realized that Xecna would understand none of these. Nonetheless, she pointed at the steps.

She kept moving until she climbed slowly and silently the three steps to the threshold of the wooden hall. She risked a peek through the open doorway. What she saw stole her breath.

A number of hooded figures sat in a circle around some sort of design chalked to the floor of the lodge. At various points were candles and other occult paraphernalia. Amid the circle lay a grotesque scaly figure. The misshapen thing was huge. Corded muscles writhed and convulsed along its considerable girth — it struggled to get up against some unseen force. Pustules and discolored protuberances covered its otherwise smooth scaled body. The smell the two had encountered was even more foul here.

Alzara retreated behind the blind, her face white and drawn. Her muscles were taut, ready to spring.

Alzara
15 Phy, 16 Agl, 12 Int, 15 Wil
Blood 16/16; Luck d6

[Chronicler]

Xecna the Heretic (Chaosborn Sorcerer) Archetype: Magic User | Level: 1 | Blood: 13/13 | Fray Die: d4 | Luck Die: d4 Attributes: Physique 12, Agility 15, Intellect 15, Willpower 16

The evening breeze carried upon it the susurrations of a strange mantra and the stench of putrid decay. Not exactly an encouraging combination. Xecna wrinkled his nose in disgust at the offensive smell. He was trailing behind Alzara as she silently led the way toward the main hall, and stopped short when she slunk up to its entrance for a furtive peek inside. Staying a few steps back so that the light from his torch would not give away her position, he waited to gauge the female warrior's reaction. The bleak expression she wore when she turned back toward him was not very reassuring. Whatever it was she had seen, it was definitely not good. The grim-faced Mortyllan immediately readied himself to unleash mayhem at a moment's notice.

---

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Initiative time?

[roryb]

Spoiler: Checks

Show

in SS&SS, surprise is determined by the GM, initiative reverting to a higher HD, or Agility test among equals. I’m assuming we’ll have lots of 1HD grunts here. This is so reckless, but here goes nothing...

Questions:
Does Alzara get the jump in them? (Likely Odds) Exceptional Yes (and so does Xecna)
How many ritualists are there? Sounds like 6 or so. Correct? (Likely Odds) Yes
Any that stick out as a leader or outlier? (Even Odds) Yes
How so? Decrease Material Investment — sounds like one is most humble or shabby looking. I’ll leave that vague for now to present potential twists to be revealed later.
Are the five uniform ones all 1HD? (Likely Odds) Yes

Round one ours!

Attack with advantage (Phys 15): 2#1d20 9 13

Damage (d8) va. hp (d8): 2#1d8 1 1

Phew! I’ll call that ritualist 1

Secondly, she’ll take an advanced maneuver to kick over a candle to start a fire.

Maneuver (Agil 16): 1d20 11

Does this create enough distraction to occupy two or three for another round? (Likely Odds) Yes

Alzara leapt into the room with the suddenness of a great cat ready to pounce. The startled screams of the gathered broke their unison. The first hooded figure to turn in protest was decapitated in the warrioress’s initial lunge. The headless corpse toppled into the chalked circle. With a sideways sweep of her leg, Alzara knocked a burning candle over where it quickly ignited a stack of burlap. Her movements were not the graceful practiced execution of a trained athlete, but unbridled and precipitous, powered by raw determination and brutal power.

Alzara
15 Phy, 16 Agl, 12 Int, 15 Wil
Blood 16/16; Luck d6

[Chronicler]

Xecna the Heretic (Chaosborn Sorcerer) Archetype: Magic User | Level: 1 | Blood: 13/13 | Fray Die: d4 | Luck Die: d4 Attributes: Physique 12, Agility 15, Intellect 15, Willpower 16

Being careful not to crowd his warrior companion so that she could execute her swordplay, Xecna moved to block off the open doorway. He quickly noted that Alzara, as quick and as deadly as a stalking panther, had already struck one of the hooded cultists down before the fool even had a chance to react to her presence. Glad she's on my side, he thought to himself with some relief. Her ferocity even gave his personal enemies, the Hadronites, pause. And they were fanatics.

However, not to be outdone, he evoked some magic of his own. Eyes blazing as he channeled raw chaos through himself, he lifted his free hand and discharged a blast of kinetic force that sent one of the enemies closest to Alzara hurtling through the air at great speed, smashing him listlessly against one of the log walls. Almost immediately, the Mortyllan's obvious display of power drew the attention of a dagger-wielding foe near him who menacingly turned his way. Lurid purple lightning wreathed Xecna's right arm as he pointed toward this new target and unleashed a crackling bolt of arcane energy. It struck unerringly and the armed ritualist crumpled to the floor, his robes in smoking tatters.

---

Spoiler: OOC

Show

• Ritualist #2 Hit Points: 1d8 3
• Fray Die: 1d4 4
• Ritualist #3 Hit Points: 1d8 4
• Willpower Test (Casting Arcane Projectile PL2): 1d20 4 (Success)
• Damage Roll: 2d6 6

[roryb]

Spoiler: Checks

Show

That takes care of three. Now it’s their turn. I have some Q’s first.

Questions:
Do any of the survivors run? (Even Odds) No
Do two of them attack Alzara? (Likely Odds) Yes
Roll: (1) both attack with mundane means; (2) one mundane/one magic; (3) both use magic: 1d3 3. Cripes!
Spell selections: 2#1d50 18 34 Mark of the Hunter and Putrid Cloud
I’m going to say that it makes the most sense the first caster is actually directing the nasty thing within the circle to attack, not summon a new thing. I also won’t roll for their casting, assuming a PL equal to their level and success.
What HD is that demon thing? 3 — okay, I can deal with that.
Do the flames spread quickly? (Even Odds) No
What’s special about the demon thing? Weaken Medical Foe — sounds like it may inflict wounds that create wasting or rotting if untreated (we’ll say wounds require a Physique test or be inflicted with some descriptive affliction causing disadvantage in some circumstances)

I’ll leave you to decide what the third more shabby ritualist does. Only one round of penalty dice from the Putrid Cloud.

Agility (16) test at disadvantage to avoid attack at +2 difficulty: 2#1d20+2 4 18. She’s hit.
Forgot to add in the Shield benefit of negative dice to opponent. That means I’ll take the first roll and assume she avoids a hit.

Smoke began to rise from the little flame that caught their roughspun supplies. The choas didn’t completely last. One of the ritualists turned toward Alzara and uttered an incantation. Immediately, a horrid stench more powerful than any smoke filled the corner where she and Xecna had entered. The gas filled their lungs, causing them to gag.

At the same moment, the hideous abomination in the circle raised itself to its “hands” and “knees” (though some other words to describe beasts would have been a more apt description). The thing suddenly charged with terrifying speed toward Alzara who still staggered to stay on her feet. A massive arm ending with dreadful filthy talons nearly took off her head. She was slammed back to the wall, taking the brunt of the attack with her shield.

Alzara
15 Phy, 16 Agl, 12 Int, 15 Wil
Blood 16/16; Luck d6

[Chronicler]

Xecna the Heretic (Chaosborn Sorcerer) Archetype: Magic User | Level: 1 | Blood: 13/13 | Fray Die: d4 | Luck Die: d4 Attributes: Physique 12, Agility 15, Intellect 15, Willpower 16

These aren't charlatans simply playing at make-believe, Xecna realized belatedly with a hacking cough. Unfortunately, he and Alzara had stumbled upon an actual cabal of real magic users. And although they had already taken out half of their number, the three ritualists that were left still posed a major threat with their spells. Not to mention the diseased-looking creature which was also a physical menace to the outnumbered duo. It was currently assaulting Alzara but she seemed to be holding her own for the moment.

Xecna's mind raced as he considered his next course of action, but before he could attempt to assist his compatriot, a wave of null magic washed over him. He screamed as his innate connection to the seething realm of chaos was severed. It felt as if all of the air around him had been siphoned away and he could no longer breathe. As a living conduit, the Mortyllan was always in touch with ambient levels of anarchic energy. And to be suddenly deprived was a terrifying and alien experience.

The unlikely pair's situation had just taken a turn for the worse.

---

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Ritualist Leader
• Willpower Test (Casting Drain Spells PL2): 1d20-1 8 (Success)

Xecna the Heretic
• Willpower Test (Resist Drain Spells) (Disadv): 2d20 13, 19 (Failure)

[roryb]

Spoiler: Checks

Show

New round...looking bad!

Initiative (Agil 16) at Disadvantage: 2#1d20 2 14. She gets the jump on the casters, but not the demon thing.

Defend (Agil 16) at +2 difficulty — advantage and disadvantage cancel: 1d20+2 3. Dodged!

Fray die (versus demon’s controller) with dagger: damage versus hp: 2#1d8 5 7. Ritualist #4 has 2/7 hp.

Q. Does the caster lose control of the demon? (Likely Odds) Yes
Q. What does it do? Halt Personal Merchant — it turns on ritualist #4

Advanced Maneuver (16) at disadvantage: 2#1d20 4 3 against ritualist #5.

Attack (Phys 15) (adv/disadv cancel) vs. leader; damage vs. hp: 1d20 19 1d8 7 1d8 4. Miss!

Q. Ritualist #4 holds his ground against the demon? (Unlikely Odds) No
Q. Ritualist #5 occupied with removing burning fabric for the turn? (Likely Odds) Yes

After your action, we should be free of the Putrid Cloud.

Coughing and gagging, Alzara braced against another monstrous blow, deflecting with her shield. Their outlook was dire — not surprising given their foolishness. Alzara pivoted to line up the sorcerer that seemed to be controlling the aberration from below. She then flung away her shield. With a quick flick from her boot with her now freed off hand, she threw her dagger end over end. The dagger buried itself in the robed figure, but didn’t drop him.

At that moment, the fiend abruptly turned and advanced on his erstwhile and now mortally wounded puppet master. Clutching his abdomen where the hilt of the dagger protruded, he ducked and limped toward the back of the room through a waiting doorway.

With a whoosh, Alzara flung the burning fabric with the top of her broadsword onto the head of a remaining ritualist as she turned to ward off the remaining leader who was now preparing to release another sinister spell at Xecna. She was overspent, lunging but going far wide of the mark. Behind them, a figure shrieked, thing to remove the burning smoking burlap from his head.

Alzara
15 Phy, 16 Agl, 12 Int, 15 Wil
Blood 16/16; Luck d6

[Chronicler]

Xecna the Heretic (Chaosborn Sorcerer) Archetype: Magic User | Level: 1 | Blood: 5/13 | Fray Die: d4 | Luck Die: d4 Attributes: Physique 12, Agility 15, Intellect 15, Willpower 16

Unlike the other cultists whose garments appeared neat and clean, the robed attire of the one who had stymied Xecna was frayed and worn with age. And in comparison, even his physical appearance seemed older than his peers. Having denuded the Chaosborn Mortyllan of his magic, the cabal leader struck him with several pulsing darts of energy. Still choking on fumes, Xecna staggered from the arcane assault. Without any sorcerous recourse, he swung his torch wildly in a two-handed grip in desperate retaliation but only managed to land one blow to his foe's ribcage. The injured heretic spat and smiled grimly when he heard his opponent grunt in pain. I'm not completely toothless yet, he thought savagely.

---

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Ritualist Leader
• Attack Roll vs. Agility (SA: Arcane Blast): 1d20+1 19 (Hit)
• Damage Roll: 2d6 8
• Ritualist Leader Hit Points: 2d8 12 (Currently 8/12)

Xecna the Heretic
• Fray Die: 1d4 4
• Physique Test (Melee Attack) (Disadv): 2#1d20+1 16 7 (Miss)

[roryb]

Spoiler: Checks

Show

Looks like the leader is a 2 HD guy. Hold my beer…

Q. Does the ritualist turn on Alzara? (Likely) Yes
Q. Spell? (Likely) Yes
Q. Which one? Spell Selection: 1d50 50 (False Face — not applicable here; re-roll) Spell Selection: 1d50 24 — Hypnosis — sounds more like Imprison in this case.

Willpower (15) task at +1 difficulty: 1d20+1 10

Attack (15) with advantage at +1 difficulty; damage 1d8: 2#1d20+1 9 13 1d8 3

Ritualist: 8 —> 5 hp

Maneuver (leg lock) Physique (15) at +1 difficulty: 1d20+1 7

Ritualist #5 is still there and ready to go next round.

“Deal with me, sorcerer!” Alzara hissed breathlessly.

The old enchanter saw the warrioress was spent due to the lingering effects of the repugnant spell. His incantation was hastily woven when Alzara closed on him despite her disorientation. Whatever fell sorcery was loosed at the Forlucian, it either had no noticeable effect or it failed altogether.

The air then noticeably cleared suddenly, and with it came Alzara’s renewed stamina. She struck, nearly taking off the man’s beard and chin. He turned enough to expose his flank. Recklessly, Alzara leapt, locking her legs around the man’s waist. The two went down in a heap together on the floor. The spell caster struggled to claw his way out of her python-like grip as she maneuvered atop to get her sword pommel free and ready to strike him over the head.

As they rolled on the floor the other remaining apprentice finally smothered the flames that licked his embroidered robes.

Alzara
15 Phy, 16 Agl, 12 Int, 15 Wil
Blood 16/16; Luck d6