Rokugan in the Shadows - Rise of the Nezumi

[Tjallen]

Ikrit shakes his head slightly and objects: "We-I must find-make corpse-body for Tun-thing, Chieftain orders-wills it. Better the dead-fallen than the willing-sacrificed, but keep loyal-true eye-watch, must not be allowed to be hidden from us-I, but must be hidden-secret from soft-weak."

As his last parting words, Ikrit murmurs, just loud enough for Chokka to hear: "You will-must believe, First-Mother"

Spoiler: Listen

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(1d20-5)[-4] Listen check!

[~Corvus~]

Chokka looks taken aback.O...of course I trust you. she returns, as her voice softens. I must return to the Throne room, where we make battle preparations. I believe you mentioned your desire to find more resources to poison them? You must make haste. We attack in ten days, and we shall need time for your diseases to spread to the enemy camps.

[Tjallen]

"Faith-belief is a must-need, Blessed-True Chieftain will-shall ascend, perhaps by wrestling the mantle of godhood from a false-weak god, but we-I shall be the arrow-spell he loosens upon the weak-faithless. The cloak-shadow that shields him. We must-can not fail." Ikrit responds, taking the opportunity to enlighten Chokka as to the ultimate goal of the Cult: Apotheosis.

As he is made aware of a deadline he quietly bows and requests aid before taking his leave: "I require new-old diseases, tombs of old-dead, if-when hear-know of any, inform-find This One, Blessed First-Mother."

With the goal of unearthing more tombs and their possible diseased remnants, Ikrit sets out to find the one in charge of the Eshin. The only Nezumi to have been tutored personally by Red-Eye: Second-in-Command. While she may have another name, that was what she was known as to Red-Eye and through him, the Cult.

[~Corvus~]

Although he has significant status among the Nezumi and even his bretheren, Ikrit learns, via crow messenger (the "contact" Chokka had talked about) that the Chieftan himself had a prescient vision of Ikrit and Chokka's altercation atop the tower. Although he kept secret what he saw, the Great Chief screamed that Ikrit was not to recieve aid.

Alone, his search takes nearly two weeks, significant travel between the Citadel and the battlefield, and finally he manages to track her down. Their conversation, held on the thirteenth day just after the sun has passed its zenith, lasts less than a minute. You seek-find many-much places in Shinomen. We-Eshin-I not give you aid by command Great-One-Chief. Go-seek now the big-big beasts.

-|-|-|-|-|-|-

The Shinomen, treacherous and wild, has yielded only small game and terrible-but-edible moss for the last fifteen days. Chokka sends a crow messenger every three days with a simple message:
Tough battle. New warriors strong; meet hobgoblin and bugbear with losses on both sides. Battlefield not move much.
-Ck
The message has not changed yet.

Ikrit walks through a thick tangle of trees only to find a great and crumbled stone structure, worked into the ground, that descends far below. His eyes take several moments to register...yes, four Large snake-creatures with arms, well-blended into the surroundings, that guard this stone structure. Two of them are coiled around dead, moss-covered trees that flank the entrance to the ruins; another two, both wielding what appears to be staffs adorned with skulls that patrol the perimeter of the massive descending staircase.

[Tjallen]

Mumbling praises to Red-Eye under his breath, Ikrit sheaths himself briefly in silvery dust as he walks out into the clearing, his hands visible and one raised in greeting: "Hail, This One comes-walks in peace-quiet, Diplomat-speaker for Red-Eye tribe-clan. Speak-talk-peace?"

Spoiler: Spell!

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Eagle's splendor cast.

[~Corvus~]

One of the patrolling serpents hiss, and the guards untangle themselves from the trees. They remain at their posts, however, and the one patrolling continues its leisurely patrol around the sloping stairs, occasionally giving a glance towards the ratling.

The two guards hiss to each other, and they reach down to their sides. The air shimmers near their hands and bright green halberds coalesce into their hands. One of them moves forward, and keeping the weapon raised, it replies to Ikrit in a voice with elongated S and vowel sounds and avoids R sounds. Thiss place isss not oopen to outsidaahhsss. It beloongss to Naga. Keep disstance and sspeeak whaat you sseeak.

[Tjallen]

Looking at the Naga blankly for several long seconds, Ikrit slowly answers: "This One comes in peace, I-I hunt-search for the diseased-dead, to fight-kill. Also, This One seeks alliance, against hobgoblin, bugbear, and human-things. Naga-clan help with war, at end, take part in spoils."

[~Corvus~]

The Naga hisses at Ikrit's request. "The Naga ssleep uuntiil the Akasha's reeleaassse. We ssstand watch over thoosse assleep. No deaaad distahb thiiss place. it motions with its halberd away from the site to the north-east. Travel thiss way to the oold ccity of Senkuntin. Theahh you ffind many dead.

We ssstand watch, nnoot join conflict

[Tjallen]

"What-who is the Akashas? Can This One find-free, so Naga can join-fight in conquest? How long-far to Sekuntin?" Ikrit answers slowly, waiting for an answer before setting out towards the city of Sekuntin.

[~Corvus~]

The Akasha is what you humanoids caal meditation...maaybe ssleeep, buut thosse in Akasha sshare the ssleep-meditation. Moosst of the Naga staay in Akasha uunntiiil the Eeviil Ooone, the Taiinted Oone....Fu Leng cooomesss baack. Hhee hass beeen knoown to usss long beefoore thiss place was maade of the Kami's will. We Sslept and liived in the Akasha, the Looong Ssleep. Now ooonly a feeew of us staay awake soo the othersss may sleeep and keeep magicss aaaliive. Youu Nezuumi oonce heelped usss liive peacefuull liives until Fu Leng caame.

Wee manifesst magiics to keeep thosse in Akasha sssafe. It looks at Ikrit with curiosity. Maaybee you show uuseefuul way to uuss. Go to Senkutin, thiiis waay. Slaay the ghouuuls and giive eevicence of slayiing...mmm...thumbss. Theen we sspeeaak of aiid.

the Naga motions again to the north-east. Go now, Nezuumi.

[Tjallen]

"I-we shall bring the final peace they deserve."
Wielding The Herald of Red-Eye, made from the skull of slain mummy and a looted and remade, desecrated, and re-blessed unholy symbol swaying at the end of a mastercrafted chain of iron fastened to a haft inscribed with verses of devotion on the bonewhite wood found in the forests of Shinomen, Ikrit trods towards the indicated city. As he walks, his shadow becomes deeper and from it, six figures rises and follows. The true skaven, born of madness and nightmares, wear naught but rags, daggers, and faith.
As Ikrit nears the city, he brings his tail to his side and removes the cloth covering it, revealing the four foot long tail covered in metal and religious verse, the whole thing tapering into a razor sharp point, glinting slightly in the few rays of sun shining down through the canopy.

[~Corvus~]

It's not hard to find the place. He arrives on a street where moss-covered cobbled stones lie fractured and disturbed by wild, unchecked plants. Buildings wrapped with vines and invasive trees have crumbled from gaea's grip, and groups of people-like figures mill about in packs of five around the crumbling city.

The Thew cautions Ikrit, I feel my presence slipping in this place. Such profane power. Be cautious of the ghouls..

A nearby pack, skulking about a pile of unused and partially mossy cobbled stones, has stealthily approached Ikrit and his group. Their skin is leathery, as if oiled and maintained somehow, and a tone of green. They charge, mouths open and head thrust forward in hungry anticipation, their hand spread wide to grip Ikrit's body.

Spoiler: attacks!!

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(1d20+6)[20] (2d4+2)[6]
(1d20+6)[20] (2d4+2)[9]
(1d20+6)[10] (2d4+2)[7]
(1d20+6)[26] (2d4+2)[9] Edit: critical, x2
(1d20+6)[16] (2d4+2)[4]

On any hit, grapple: (1d20+5)[15]
(1d20+5)[9]
(1d20+5)[6]
(1d20+5)[12]
(1d20+5)[14]

[Tjallen]

As Ikrit prepares to put up his combat spells, a group of Ghouls charge him, snapping at his armor. As one of them aims a bite straight at his throat, Ikrit realizes one thing: He does not want to die. Instinctively he pulls one of his six companions in front of the attack and dispassionately brings his flail down on the ghoul that suddenly found a different throat to rip.
As he swings the Herald of Red-Eye, Ikrit mumbles the first syllables of the litany of hatred: "For it claws-bites at the roots, hate-hurt the parasite..." imbuing the strike with greenish light.
As his tail whips out, sharp and viscous, he slams a vial of disease into the Herald which soon releases foul yellow-green vapors.

Spoiler: Actions!

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Immediate action: Verminous Valor - Use adjacent ally as meat shield to avoid crit: 18 damage, ally dies 5/6 left.
Standard action: Smite ghoul, power attack 6 (1d20+13)[17] for (1d10+27)[31] if hit, also trip Opposed str/dex roll (1d20+8)[16]
Also attack with tail: Power attack 6 :/ (1d20+4)[24] for (1d6+8)[9]
Move action: Load plague censor with plague vial (Blinding sickness) for the next hour, dc 16 fort 1d4 str, every 2+ points forces a save against blindness. 3/4 vials left

[~Corvus~]

The ghoul's howls begin to attract others. He sees another pack of five a bowshot away.

Spoiler: Actions!

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Fort vs 16: (1d20+8)[10] or (1d4)[3] Str damage & potentially (1d20+8)[21] vs Blindness.

Attacks! Ghouls are going to Aid Another, giving each other Advantage (roll 2x, take best result) on attacks.
(1d20+6)[21] & (1d20+6)[12] (2d4+2)[7]
(1d20+6)[17] & (1d20+6)[10] (2d4+2)[9]
(1d20+6)[10] (2d4+2)[6]

Any hit rolls a grapple check:
(1d20+5)[16]
(1d20+5)[9]
(1d20+5)[12]

One of the ghouls looks like it has some of its strength sapped, and it falls back just a bit to give another help attacking Ikrit; this one looks as if it's about to grasp onto the Skaven, and they scream in triumphant chorus.

[Tjallen]

Slapping away the probing hand and retaliating with his tail, Ikrit starts maneuvering backward towards a wall, not liking the risk of being surrounded by grasping ghouls.
Making way by swinging the herald and releasing clouds of disease that affects nobody except those struck directly, Ikrit fights with annoyance and building rage.

Spoiler: Actions!

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Grapple: 19+10, rolled in discord.
Martial Spirit stance! For each hit heal 2 hp.
Attacks: Power attack 3
Tail: (1d20+7)[16] for (1d6+5)[8]

Herald of Red-Eye (1d20+12)[17] for (1d10+15)[18] / (1d20+7)[19] for (1d10+15)[19], if hit dc 16 or take 1d4 str, if 2+ damage new check to avoid blindness. If immune to disease get +5 on save.

Bite (1d20+10)[20] for (1d4+4)[5]

[~Corvus~]

Ikrit's attacks tear into one of the bodies around him, viciously ripping it asunder. It vibrates violently as it falls to the ground, but he continues his savage attack. Before he's landed his second mace swing, a second body falls, but something strange happens as he whirls his mace for a follow-up attack against a third; the first creature that's fallen erupts in a violent explosion, nearly throwing him off his last attacks. He anticipates the next three ghouls' exploding forms, handily dodging the worst of the exploding bodies, but he tumbles into the last one's exploding form

Spoiler: damage space

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Damage, all Acid:
28
25 12
34 17 Heal 4
21 10
16

83 damage, healed 4 (also healed 2 before he took damage)
79 Acid damage

[Tjallen]

The pain not yet registering, Ikrit focuses his will to live on himself, his desire to not fail. As he does, his arms light up in searing light. Now covered with eerily familiar patterns as the light flows over him.

Spoiler: Actions!

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Casting Cure serious wounds for (3d8+6)[11]

[~Corvus~]

The nearest pack of five creatures, with pale and leathery skin that look stretched tight are nearly upon him, a mere 20 feet away.

[Tjallen]

Needing time to survive another explosion like that, Ikrit hurries away, mumbling one of the Verses of Worth: "The red eye shines-sees upon-in strength-power".

Spoiler: Action!

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Move away, 30ft!
Maybe resist energy (Acid), else double move!
(1d100)[3] if 10 or lower, failure!

Maneuvers: (1d5)[5]
(1d4)[1]
(1d3)[1]
from the top:
1 Crusader Strike
2 Mountain Hammer
3 Battle Leader's Charge
4 Revitalizing Strike
5 Bonecrusher

[~Corvus~]

It's a tense half-minute before Ikrit both regains use of his spells and also has enough time grant himself Resistance to the creatures' acidic death explosions. Just after he's managed to cast the spell, the creatures have chased him well into the jungle.

Spoiler: Attacks!

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(1d20+8)[19] & (2d4+4)[9]
(1d20+8)[13] & (2d4+4)[8]

(1d20+6)[25] & (2d4+2)[8]
(1d20+6)[23] & (2d4+2)[7]
(1d20+6)[10] & (2d4+2)[6]

On any hit, Grapple:
(1d20+7)[23]
(1d20+7)[25]
(1d20+5)[15]
(1d20+5)[21]
(1d20+5)[10]

Two of the creatures seize Ikrit while the others fumble over one another in the jumble.

[Tjallen]

Wrenching out of the claws, Ikrit swings the herald defensively, not trusting his ability to withstand another chain explosion.

Spoiler: Actions

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Revitalizing strike go!
Combat expertise 4+1 (1d20+11)[30]+1 for (1d10+9)[19]+2 + healing (3d6+6)[20] + 2 martial spirit

Edit: Forgot furious counterstrike +2! So changing combat expertise to -5/+5 and adding +1hit/+2 dmg edited in a +x

[~Corvus~]

With his swinging censor, the creatures can't land a grasp on him long enough. Ikrit feels his vital essence recovering as he lands a solid blow. He hears bones creak and splinter, but the ghoul barely gives out a moan as it doggedly pursues him.

[Tjallen]

Laughing at the failure of the beasts, Ikrit swings his flail at the injured one once more, this time with more power than sense.

Spoiler: Actions!

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Granted maneuver: Crusader strike.
Crusader strike at the ghoul, no expertise, 2 power attack: (1d20+15)[22] for (1d10+13)[21] heal for (1d6+5)[10] + 2 martial spirit

[~Corvus~]

Red Eyes assumption of leadership for the Nezumi had been cause for celebration for the clans, though it caused a great deal of disruption among their ranks and traditions. The old ways of being and doing broke beneath his unwavering gaze and steady stream of shouted demands. Although the beleaguered tribes found new ground and space to live and grow, his choices and direction proved myopic by the time the Hobgoblins attacked them from the West. The time for the Nezumi-Skaven conquest of the Rokugani had to be deferred.

The Nezumi were unable to find a lasting way to combat the organized Hobgoblins. The first battles the Nezumi won led to a sense that the war would be easy. Most of the Nezumi had honorable methods, and the few young skaven were vicious but few. The Hobgoblins' discipline, deep coffers and powerful martial techniques spelt trouble for the Nezumi. Ikrit, plague acolyte, joined the fray after his nearly-fatal foray into the Shinomen. However, his arrival meant an introduction of terrible disease both for his Nezumi allies and the Hobgoblin invaders. His arrival was too late, and his dangerous presence spelt doom for his fellows.

He led a small group in guerrilla resistance to lead the Hobgoblins' forces into Scorpion-clan territory. He gave his life along with Chokka, a long-term companion of Red-Eye, to ensure the longevity of the clan and to cover the Nezumi retreat to the harsh hills before the Unicorn Clan.

The weakened and broken Nezumi need a new champion to pursue both the secret long-term goals Red-Eye and the otherworldly agents that give the Nezumi support. With the burden of the Hobgoblin invaders pressed to the Scorpion-clan's flanks--and their Unicorn-clan neighbors occupied by invading mirror-creatures from the North--the Nezumi have a chance to evade notice by the humans and renew a search among the ranks of the young ratlings for hope.

[~Corvus~]

~~~

In the turnings of one season, the Unicorn have begun to know their foothills were occupied by more and more and more of the Nezumi. The primitives and commoners, warned by their local lords and the better-educated, left them be. But when Khan Moto Chagatai spotted the first snowflake on the steppes of his residence, he sent a messenger-falcon to his southern vassals. By the end of day of the first snowfall, a score of unicorn riders rode into the foothills of their new neighbors. They sent up five soldiers as messengers to the Nezumi camps. Here the five of them wandered, until all made their way to the throne of Red Eye.

They happened upon Red-Eye in a whole day of Clarity. The reports of what the clans had salvaged left him in a foul, if not salvageable, mood. The Lava-ooze relic had been preserved, as had his personal belingings. However, Chokka, Ikrit, and most importantly, The Thew had been lost in the guerrilla-war escape. Most of the Nezumi had lost their lives by Hobgoblin sword, but the majority of the Hybrid and his new Skaven-born remained with the clan. He considered killing a few Nezumi to make himself feel better, but now was not a time for wanton slaughter of his precious few resources.

Speak-tell what you want-seek from us, Red-Eye demanded of the messengers.

One of them nodded his head, and as they all bowed low the one who spoke did so humbly. "The lords of the Unicorn Clan have seen the Nezumi on the mountains south of the Unicorn, and wish to proffer condolences for the terrible losses at the invasion of the...invaders. If it pleases you Mage-Lord Red-Eye, we extend an invitation for yourself and your representatives to join Khan Moto Chagatai at Hokhum Castle. We bring twenty extra horses should you require mounts."

[Tjallen]

Remembering his previous interactions with humans, Red-Eye starts reaching for his magic. The scars on his lower arms reacting to magic once again flooding through them, sluggish from disuse. Just as the first signs of casting becomes visible, he pulls back on the magic, changing his mind from slaughtering the irritants.
"I-We accept the gift-horses. Lords-Unicorns not here-visit. Only lord-human, not ruler-Chieftain, can meet-talk with same rank-authority, in neutral-open space. What is subject of talk-meeting? Why have you human-things come to great-mighty Nezumi-clan?" The foul mood of Red-Eye barely concealed, the aborted spell leaving a slight pressure wafting off of the skaven, barely noticeable, but oppressive to the weakest nevertheless.

[~Corvus~]

"The Great Khan has much to tell you, O mage-lord but these horses are fine stock."

Red-Eye knows a minor deception when a Rokugani speaks, and his advisors have learned--by now--that he would want to know. The advisors interject that the speaker is humble about the horses' quality; if anything, they appeared *perfect* when the Nezumi examined them. The human pauses to give an uncomfortable nod.

"Y-yes, they are fine stock for a Lord befitting your station. The Khan wishes to tell you about the horses himself, I suspect. His message reads thus...
'This ride will lead us to a newly-made fortress north of the Shinomen, where I, The Great Khan, have marshaled a great army to help defeat the shadowlands invaders. We wish to greet you and your clan, and again wish to present gifts and secrets that will buoy your spirit.'

...Should I tell him you are on your way?" The messenger waits for an answer, his head bowed and his body nearly prostrate.

[Tjallen]

Snarling audible Red-Eye answers the man: "Last human-thing I-I met butchered the last-only of my birth clan. Poisoned-burned ally. Now, want me-us to ride-go to army, far from home-safe? I-I smell-see ambush-treachery. Could-should out heads on spikes, but..."
At this point, Red-Eye visibly brings his anger in check with greed, bloodlust, and insanity visibly flashing in his eyes, unseen to the bowing human: "Unicorn-things give gift-horse, ally-friend offering. I-We repay in kind, I-I stay, meet with Khan Chagatai later, first I-I send-present you with good-fine Daughter and Son. Second-in-Charge will-shall inform them, arrange for others. The pact is sealed-made, Unicorn-thing." The chieftain smiles, and it almost reaches his eyes.

[~Corvus~]

The messenger's eyes tighten as Red-Eye twists the offer given him. He tightens the grip on the paper, but he forces his grip to relax and mirrors the smile Red-Eye gives. "You are a cunning warlord, and a fine tactician. We are not like Lion or Scorpion, who would have let your people be slaughtered for whatever reason they seem OK nor the cunning Crane, all who say one thing and may mean or do another. We Unicorn say what we mean. I'm sure the Great Khan will find amusement from your judgement.

...We leave early this next morning. Can we provide anything else for you or your representative named..?"

[Tjallen]

"Second-In-Charge will decide-choose, guard-servants too. When-how can I-We expect Unicorn-things to deliver-give own children-hostages? How many servant-guards, for this peace-deal?" Red-Eye lifts a single eyebrow as he questions the messenger.