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Poe leads you a little ways down the path to the gate. You immediately realize why the gate had to be positioned here instead of atop the cliff... the runic circle which forms the gate is large enough there wouldn't be room to draw it on any horizontal surface up there. Reynolds... whoever he is... needed the cliff face to paint it on. Speaking of which... the 'paint' looks disturbingly similar to blood.
"GATES OF HEAVEN, OPEN FOR ME!" Poe shouts, holding forth his right hand. His ring glows bright crimson, then the runes follow suit. A pinprick of brilliant light shines through the center of the circle. This hole in the cliff face slowly expands to fill the entire circle of runes. The walls of the tunnel formed are intensely black, while the light at its end is intensely white. Anyone who looks past this to take note of the state of the runic circle will see that a steady flow of fresh blood trickles around the mouth of the gate.
"Here, take the ring, if you are ready," Poe says, offering it to Cage.
__________________ Avatar: Barca The Arbiter, The Thundering Surf, The Scourge of Wavecrest
Neillos stands there slack jawed, trying to comprehend the situation.
Spoiler
Spellcraft check to reckognize the spell effect - (1d20+8)[25]
EDIT - Actually, there's another +2 on there - Stupid me mixed up synergies, so I actually have a +10 on spellcraft checks and a +6 on Knowledge (arcana) checks. Fixes the error on my character sheet.
__________________
If there's a rule, there's someone out there trying to figure out how to get around it just to piss off his DM.
Spoiler
- The Jack-signal. Thanks Jokes!
Avatar created by Yeril, who made it look awesome.
Last edited by JackMage666 : 09-12-2008 at 11:16 AM.
Zurktz stares at the gate, frowning a little; blood was powering this thing? Where was the steady supply of blood he saw coming from? Either way...
The orc moved forward to the gate, flicking the shield off of his hip and muttering the word that animated it, leaving it to hover nearby in a defensive position.
"I'll lead the way," he said, leaving whoever wanted it to take the ring. "They'll have issues getting past me." Then he stepped toward the gate, eager to enter Heaven for reasons of his own.
__________________ Now if you don't mind, I am somewhat preoccupied telling the laws of physics to shut up and sit down.
I cast irresistable phantasmal killeras a 4th level spell. No save, just die.
Toryn frowns at the appearance of the gate. "Th' gate to heaven ain't supposed to be ringed by flowin' blood an' framed by deep black..." His voice isn't so much as fearful as dissapointed. "Bah. We'll just touch the gate up when we tell the tale to th' tale to th' bards, aye?" He follows the necromancer and his gigantic pet corpse into the breach.
"Well now, I don't know. Blood and darkness seem to be quite in keeping with the usual means of getting to heaven, or so I'm told. I'm usually watching from the other end when that happens, mind you, so this ought to be an interesting change in perspective," he grins.
"Alright, Mr. Poe. I don't know what kind of magic is behind all this, but I'm willing to take you at your word. We'll see if your Mr. Reynolds is telling the truth when he says he's got a way to travel to and from heaven. And if he isn't, then by God we'll find one just so we can come back and deal with him." He still grins, although all mirth has drained from his face. Bracing himself, he turns and heads into the portal.
Unnervingly, the ground squishes beneath your feet as you pass through the black tunnel. You think you see movement in the darkness out of the corner of your eye, but if you stop to look, nothing is ever there. The air inside of the tunnel is musty and uncomfortably cold.
When you emerge from the tunnel, though, you find yourself surrounded by lush vegetation. The plants seem more healthy and beautiful than anything you've ever seen on earth, and their branches are all heavy with fruit of all kinds, often growing several species to a tree.
This vast orchard stretches almost as far as the eye can see in all directions. To the north, though, you spot a mountain rising above the trees. A golden light shines at its summit... this must be The Golden City of The Nameless God.
Spoiler
JackMage, Proven Paradox, PirateJesus, check your PMs.
__________________ Avatar: Barca The Arbiter, The Thundering Surf, The Scourge of Wavecrest
"So... this is Heaven." Zurktz looks around, his grip tightening upon the haft of his greataxe. Then he laughs; a short bark of laughter that disturbs the peace and tranquility. "I'll be honest. I was expecting a swarm of angels bearing down on us to punish us for being here while still breathing."
The Orc steps forward, calmly examining the vegetation, glancing every so often to the golden light in the distance. Then he turns to face it, tapping the axe against the ground.
"I was expecting something more... heavenly, too. Despite the odd vegetation, it seems almost... normal."
__________________ Now if you don't mind, I am somewhat preoccupied telling the laws of physics to shut up and sit down.
I cast irresistable phantasmal killeras a 4th level spell. No save, just die.
Toryn emerges wide eyed and pale. His voice seems tired and shaken as he whispers, "Holy shi..." He sees Cage get his pipe out and says, "'Ey, lemme get a hit from that..." He seems to not really notice the surroundings yet.
Asani raises an eyebrow at the blood, but she steps through nevertheless. When she emerges, there is an enormous smile on her face. "That was-" she pauses, seeing the vegetation. "Oh. Well. This is disappointing." She crosses her arms, frowning. "I sincerely hope this gets more interesting."
Hiram's face is gaunt and gray as he strides stiffly out of the portal, his jaw set in a stern grimace. He pauses briefly, breathing heavily and leaning on his glaive as he takes in the more wholesome atmosphere of the orchard.
"Well, I hate to disappoint a lady," he says, recovering his color. "Let's make things interesting, shall we?"
Cage looks back and sees that some of the group didn't make it out of the portal. He then looks back to the ring he received and puts it on. We'd better get moving before the portal takes more of us.
__________________ Taifu Azjer
Avatar by Echowinds,
The portal begins to close behind you. If you look back at it you will notice that you can no longer see through it to the material plane. It is also apparent that Galdrie'al and Tos are no longer among you.
You hear a voice from above... or rather, two voices, one male, one female, speaking in perfect unison. If you look up you will see four fully armed and armored winged humanoids floating about ten feet above your heads in a perfect square formation. Each of them wields a pair of matched longswords. The two to your left have pitch black skin and parchment-white armor, while the two on your right have their coloration reversed: white skin, black armor. Each pair includes one apparently male angel and one apparently female angel, who speak as one.
The white pair speak first: "Welcome to Heaven, travelers."
"We are the gatekeepers," the black angels explain.
"We felt your intrusion from afar."
"So we came to investigate."
"We have one question for you."
Finally, they all speak in unison, dropping to the ground as they do. They now have you boxed in.
"WHY HAVE YOU COME HERE?"
Spoiler
I kind of feel bad about literally dropping an encounter on you without spot checks, etc., but it seems like action would be the best thing to jumpstart the game again, and I had this encounter planned anyway, just originally you had a bit more warning.
Initiative is as follows, in case you decide to attack:
Zurktz: 24
Cage: 22
Neillos and his Servants: 21
Black Gatekeepers: 16
Asani: 13
White Gatekeepers: 11
Toryn: 15
Hiram: 7
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Spoiler
Last edited by Ascension : 09-17-2008 at 07:50 AM.
As the "face" of the group, Cage speaks up. I have come to visit two who have been taken before their time. Will you grant me passage? He says with his forearm resting on the handle of his sword.
Spoiler
Diplomacy if needed - (1d20+9)[14]
__________________ Taifu Azjer
Avatar by Echowinds,
I see...angels of war no doubt. You speak as though I've come to tear them from this city. Men of the cloth can speak freely with the dead. Others such as us have to resort to other means. A small tear runs down his cheek as he tries to keep his composure. I must tell her... Will you continue to block my path? His grip tightens around his sword.
__________________ Taifu Azjer
Avatar by Echowinds,
"Your words do not impress us. We wish to speak with you no longer."
They turn their attention from him to each of the other party members in turn as they continue to speak.
"Perhaps another"
"Would like to speak?"
"Perhaps another"
"Could convince us?"
"We will admit you"
"Only if you have good reason for being here."
Spoiler
If you'd like to catch them off guard, PirateJesus, I could give you a surprise round if/when they push Cage over the edge. After your action initiative would continue as previously stated.
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Last edited by Ascension : 09-17-2008 at 07:50 AM.
I didn't mean that kind of over the edge. I thought that coldly telling a guy who's heartbroken about his lost love that they don't want to listen to him whine might trigger him to fight even without a demon egging him on.
__________________ Avatar: Barca The Arbiter, The Thundering Surf, The Scourge of Wavecrest
Sensing the situation tensing, Hiram lays it on thickly in an attempt to defuse the encounter... or at least provide a distraction, if Cage proves to be beyond defusing.
"I do apologize if you've taken offense from the boy, begging your pardon. He's a bit distraught at the moment from the trip, as you may understand. We've been sent to deliver a message from a heartbroken young lad to his lovely lady lost, for whom he grieves most deeply. Now I confess I am not a learned man, so I can't rightly say I know much about this edict of nature business; that sounds like something for the philosophers to speechify about. But seeing as we walked through the portal, seems to me like it can't be entirely wrong for us to be here, right? Like you said, things happen as was meant to be, and if we really weren't s'posed to be here I can't imagine it wouldn't be in God's power to stop us from coming this far in the first place."
"And if you simply wish to talk, why come at all?"
"Some clerics can speak with the dead, even those long slain."
"Why come physically to deliver a simple message?"
"Unless the message is not simple."
"Unless your motives are not pure."
"Unless you seek to disrupt the balance."
"What about the rest of you?"
"Why have you come?"
"Enlighten us."
"We may yet let you pass unharmed."
Despite their tough talk, Hiram's words have obviously had an effect on the angels. Their stance has relaxed somewhat.
Spoiler
You did well, TeeEl, not just with the check but with the actual speech. You're not quite out of the woods yet, though. They're still curious about the rest of the party.
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Last edited by Ascension : 09-17-2008 at 07:49 AM.
"And defense, in case the planar predictions were incorrect and we ended up in the Hells. We're new to this whole Planar Travel thing, and didn't want to be caught off guard if we used to much magic dust. Kor here is a personal servant indebted to us after he lost a confrontation."
Spoiler
1d20+19 Bluff check
__________________
If there's a rule, there's someone out there trying to figure out how to get around it just to piss off his DM.
Spoiler
- The Jack-signal. Thanks Jokes!
Avatar created by Yeril, who made it look awesome.
Last edited by JackMage666 : 09-17-2008 at 04:46 AM.
The four angels each tap their two blades together and the gate behind you begins to reopen. Poe's ring begins to grow uncomfortably warm.
Spoiler
Lighter blue is still White, darker blue is still Black, the in-between color is still all of them talking at once, but I've retconned the shades to make them more readable.
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Last edited by Ascension : 09-17-2008 at 07:53 AM.
"HOW DID YOU DO THAT!? I mean, the other guy used blood, and you use swords! Seriously, I want in on these secrets! I'll go get my notebook, and you can explain it to me!"
Meanwhile, he's walking over to his back of holding and reaches inside, pretends to feel around, and looks to Hiram and Cage for further instructions.
Spoiler
(1d20+19)[32] Bluff check to pretend I'm getting my notebook, if necessary. It should be a decent enough lie. And, yep, putting my hands in the bag and planning on pulling out the Erinyes's first, if push comes to shove.
__________________
If there's a rule, there's someone out there trying to figure out how to get around it just to piss off his DM.
Spoiler
- The Jack-signal. Thanks Jokes!
Avatar created by Yeril, who made it look awesome.
Last edited by JackMage666 : 09-17-2008 at 08:19 AM.
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Re: Annabel Lee Ch. 1: Raging Against the Heavens
- The Jack-signal. Thanks Jokes!
Now if you don't mind, I am somewhat preoccupied telling the laws of physics to shut up and sit down.
