Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

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Inferno
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#201 Post by Inferno »

The Strange Black Altar of the Haunted Wood, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Five. After midnight. Wednesday, November 16th, 576 CY
Cold, foggy, cloudy








At the stentorian intonation of Long Bo of the Shalm, roots, vines, shoots and creepers writhe to life with a will of their own, grasping, clutching and holding Mouser the thief and Brevos the ranger!




Around them swirl a chaotic cacophony of wailing trees, shrieking undead, singing phantoms, and the shouts of battle!

Into that pandemonium of sound, the beautiful maidens recite more words that cannot be heard nor comprehended.



Suddenly, Brevos, Ingrid and Telkis feel their armor growing painfully hot! In minutes it will sear them, cooking them alive!

Rudolf evades the grasping flora, running across it and out, beyond the range of its reach! He joins Telkis, who has broken free of the noose-like grip of the plant tendrils, and the diminutive pair advance on the northernmost woman! (W1)

"Prithee, kind sirs, I doth beseech th-!" the innocent seeming maid pleads before they strike her down mid-sentence with sword and bludgeon!



She collapses to the ground, broken and bloody, and doesn't move again.

Startlingly, her shape transforms into that of a old crone, her hideous face locked in a leering death's grin.



Telkis' armor begins to cool!

Ingrid gets free of the strangling vegetation, and helps Mouser loose from the ropes that bound him, but the living plants still hold him fast!

Suddenly, Urdur appears out of thin air as he hurtles a small jar at the fair maiden to the southwest of the chaos! (W2) It contains the mysterious, fiery orange concoction he discovered in the Hell Mouth of the Dark Mother, and when it hits the ground at the woman's feet, it explodes!



The beautiful maiden is consumed in a sudden conflagration that incinerates her alive! There is the smell of fire and brimstone and burning flesh and then the burst of flame is gone and with it, the woman's life!

The charred, blackened remains of her skeleton fall to the ground as Brevos feels his armor cool. But Ingrid's grows hotter still!

Then the ensorcelled druid begins to weave another fearsome spell!


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):
Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 2, Monsters: [1d6] = 3 Monsters win, except for veiled things (V1-3) that always act last in a round.
Urdur miss: distance: [1d4] = 1, direction: [1d8] = 6 1 foot to the left.
Fire damage: [6d3] = 12



PC Status:
  • Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 2/31
    Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 13/19, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
    Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 7/22, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl and 2/4 2nd lvl
    Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 4(3), HP: 20/30, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 0/3 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl
    Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 4/16
    Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 7/32
    Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 5/9, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl and 0/1 2nd lvl
PC Magic:
  • Turned Undead (Ingrid): Duration: Z1, Z2: 4 rounds; V1, V3: 5 rounds.
    Audible Glamour (Urdur): Duration: 6 rounds
    Entangle (Bo): Duration: 8 rounds.
Player Resources:
Last edited by Inferno on Sun Nov 03, 2019 9:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

DM:
Current Games:
The Horror at Briarsgate (1e): Lovecraftian Gothic Horror
Lost City of Eternity (1e): Hyborian Age Sword and Sorcery

Completed Games:
Sauron Victorious (1e): Dire Saga for the Fate of Middle Earth
Once and Future Earth (1e): Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Dungeon Crawl

Player:
Agax Gryyg: Gamer of Urth, Ravenloft
Azoth Al-Aziz: Lovecraftian Cultist, Tamoachan
Blodget: Foolish Young 9th Level Hobbit, Dark Clouds
Dredd Doomsmith: Dwarven Deathtrap Engineer, Tomb of Horrors
Elijah Crowthorne: Marooned Prophet, Pirates
Jack in the Green: Ancient Child, Giants
P.T. Codswallop: Larcenous Impresario, Dimwater
Sir Ugghra: Bestial Half-Orc Aristocrat, Brotherton
Swilbosh: Savage Lizard-Warrior, Keep
Tantos Vek: Failed Paladin, Under Streets
Ulfang Chainbreaker: Barbarian Liberator of Slaves, Tharizdun

DM bio is here.
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#202 Post by ChubbyPixie »

Telkis turns, drops Cranach and draws his shortbow and his last enchanted elven arrow, one of the same that failed him in the Hell-Mouth. “Do not fail me now,” he says under his breath as he draws on the remaining witch and fires:
Short Bow (Firing +3 Arrows) (THAC0 15): To Hit: [1d20+3] = 14+3 = 17, Damage s/m/L: [1d6+3] = 5+3 = 8
...and another, normal arrow, (if she still stands):
Short Bow (THAC0 15): To Hit: [1d20] = 7, Damage s/m/L: [1d6] = 2 Duck, Long Bo! :)
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#203 Post by wolfpack »

Brevos starts screaming at the last witch trying to draw her attention

You filthy whore! you slime god is nothing and has no power! He is the son of motherless goat!
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#204 Post by rredmond »

Taking a quick breath and seeing Telkis go for his bow, Rudolph nods in grim determination. The bullet will be quicker than his feet, though somewhat more reckless. Even if he misses, perhaps he can ruin some casting, so he slingity slings at W3!

Sling To Hit: [1d20+6] = 20+6 = 26; Damage (s/m): [1d4+1] = 1+1 = 2
:shock: Natural 20! Dang.
This is a game about killing things and taking their stuff so you can become more powerful in order to kill bigger things and take even better stuff.
Alethan: I'm good with NOT pressing our luck this time.
mjulius: That's how I know I'm home.
Pulpatoon: The whole point of PbP is to take the scheduling pressure off the game. We're just chatty because we're so eager!
Scott308: ...everyone should be reminded of just how wonderful the people they play games with here can be in real life.
Leitz: Quality and quantity wise, I think US is the best I've seen.
Paladin: I can promise terror, glory, and riches...or a quick and brutal death.
Inferno: Come on! That's was Vicar's Head, a completely different doomed village!
Rex: I can move to the wait list to let someone else into the game.
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#205 Post by SocraticLawyer »

Urdur charges at Long Bo, attempting to jump on his back. Hopefully the little gnome can interrupt any somatic gestures and keep the druid from completing his spell. If possible, he also puts his hands over Bo's mouth.

If needed: Jump on Long Bo [1d20] = 20
How do we know you're not a donkey-brained man?
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#206 Post by Scott308 »

Ingrid Esthof

The cleric, becoming very uncomfortable from her rapidly heating armor, casts Resist Fire on herself.
On November 2nd I will be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.

https://www.extra-life.org/participant/Scott Peterson
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#207 Post by Inferno »

The Strange Black Altar of the Haunted Wood, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Five. After midnight. Wednesday, November 16th, 576 CY
Cold, foggy, cloudy







Unable to struggle free of the enchanted roots and feelers, Brevos shouts, adding to the hellish discord at the black altar.

Long Bo continues weaving another fearsome spell. Urdur, whose last trick immolated one of the witches alive, lunges at the grey druid and interrupts his casting!

The last witch remaining (W3) readies a sorcerous escape.




But before she can act, Rudolf and Telkis slaughter her with stone and arrow!




The fair maiden's corpse changes into that of a withered ancient hag.

Upon her gruesome death, her arcane domination of Bo's will is suddenly broken! Ingrid's armor cools before she need pray for further aid. And, at that moment, the wailing tormented trees fall silent.

But the phantom singers, and the shrieking of the ensnared, wretched undead young woman (V3) continue!




Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):
Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 2, Monsters: [1d6] = 1 Party wins.
Telkis' second arrow misses: Distance: [1d6] = 1, Direction: [1d8] = 3 Telkis' second arrow goes one foot to W3's "short right." It doesn't hit Bo.



PC Status:
  • Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 2/31
    Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 13/19, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
    Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 7/22, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl and 2/4 2nd lvl
    Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 4(3), HP: 20/30, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 0/3 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl
    Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 4/16
    Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 7/32
    Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 5/9, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl and 0/1 2nd lvl
PC Magic:
  • Turned Undead (Ingrid): Duration: Z1, Z2: 3 rounds; V1, V3: 4 rounds.
    Audible Glamour (Urdur): Duration: 5 rounds
    Entangle (Bo): Duration: 7 rounds.
Player Resources:
Last edited by Inferno on Sun Nov 03, 2019 9:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

DM:
Current Games:
The Horror at Briarsgate (1e): Lovecraftian Gothic Horror
Lost City of Eternity (1e): Hyborian Age Sword and Sorcery

Completed Games:
Sauron Victorious (1e): Dire Saga for the Fate of Middle Earth
Once and Future Earth (1e): Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Dungeon Crawl

Player:
Agax Gryyg: Gamer of Urth, Ravenloft
Azoth Al-Aziz: Lovecraftian Cultist, Tamoachan
Blodget: Foolish Young 9th Level Hobbit, Dark Clouds
Dredd Doomsmith: Dwarven Deathtrap Engineer, Tomb of Horrors
Elijah Crowthorne: Marooned Prophet, Pirates
Jack in the Green: Ancient Child, Giants
P.T. Codswallop: Larcenous Impresario, Dimwater
Sir Ugghra: Bestial Half-Orc Aristocrat, Brotherton
Swilbosh: Savage Lizard-Warrior, Keep
Tantos Vek: Failed Paladin, Under Streets
Ulfang Chainbreaker: Barbarian Liberator of Slaves, Tharizdun

DM bio is here.
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rredmond
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#209 Post by rredmond »

"We... we won!" Rudolph says, somewhat surprised. Then he quickly stows his sling, as he runs over to V3, and takes out his magic short sword, and dagger and starts to slice and stab it around the neck and face area! "♫Let's go hunt! Let's go hunt!!♫" He continues the fight song.

ETA: Ninjaed by CP! :D Let me know if I need to roll anything Inferno, but Rudolph just wants to slit it's neck or whatever and join in the coup de grâce. :twisted:
This is a game about killing things and taking their stuff so you can become more powerful in order to kill bigger things and take even better stuff.
Alethan: I'm good with NOT pressing our luck this time.
mjulius: That's how I know I'm home.
Pulpatoon: The whole point of PbP is to take the scheduling pressure off the game. We're just chatty because we're so eager!
Scott308: ...everyone should be reminded of just how wonderful the people they play games with here can be in real life.
Leitz: Quality and quantity wise, I think US is the best I've seen.
Paladin: I can promise terror, glory, and riches...or a quick and brutal death.
Inferno: Come on! That's was Vicar's Head, a completely different doomed village!
Rex: I can move to the wait list to let someone else into the game.
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#210 Post by OGRE MAGE »

Bo is a bit confused when he snaps out of his funk and finds little Urdur climbing him like a tree.

"I like you too Urdur, but this is hardly the time or place for random displays of affection."

Looking around the area while letting the gnome down gently, the druid starts to piece together what had just happened. He is glad to find that his unintended spell use hasn't killed any of his companions.

He walks over to the nearest tree and lays his hands upon it, attempting to speak with them again as the others take care of the final threat.

"Great shepherds of the forest, speak to me if you can. Are there any other nearby threats hidden amongst you that we should deal with before destroying this vessel of evil?"
wolfpack
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#211 Post by wolfpack »

yes kill that shrieking bitch then cut me lose so we can burn this place to the ground.
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#212 Post by Inferno »

The Strange Black Altar of the Haunted Wood, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Five. After midnight. Wednesday, November 16th, 576 CY
Cold, foggy, cloudy






The bloodcurdling shrieks of the piteous, damned soul (V3) are silenced by Telkis' morningstar and Rudolf's blade.

The sudden quiet of the trees is deafening. The tormented misshapen faces that plagued their bark mercifully subside.

Long Bo gently communes with the towering ancient beings. "Great shepherds of the forest, speak to me if you can."

The slow ponderous bass of their reply sets the ground rumbling beneath the heroes' feet.



"Thank... thee,.... young... master,.... for... freeing... us...
"We... art... in... thy... debt... "


The grey druid asks, "Are there any other nearby threats hidden amongst you that we should deal with before destroying this vessel of evil?"

"There... remain... fell... creatures... cowering... beneath... the... hateful... altar....
"Curse... it... and... crush... it..."



Actions?


Map:

One square = 10 feet.





PC Status:
  • Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 2/31
    Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 13/19, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
    Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 7/22, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl and 2/4 2nd lvl
    Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 4(3), HP: 20/30, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 0/3 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl
    Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 4/16
    Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 7/32
    Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 5/9, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl and 0/1 2nd lvl
PC Magic:
  • Turned Undead (Ingrid): Duration: Z1, Z2: 1 round; V1: 2 rounds.
    Audible Glamour (Urdur): Duration: 3 rounds
    Entangle (Bo): Duration: 5 rounds.
Player Resources:
Last edited by Inferno on Sun Nov 03, 2019 10:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

DM:
Current Games:
The Horror at Briarsgate (1e): Lovecraftian Gothic Horror
Lost City of Eternity (1e): Hyborian Age Sword and Sorcery

Completed Games:
Sauron Victorious (1e): Dire Saga for the Fate of Middle Earth
Once and Future Earth (1e): Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Dungeon Crawl

Player:
Agax Gryyg: Gamer of Urth, Ravenloft
Azoth Al-Aziz: Lovecraftian Cultist, Tamoachan
Blodget: Foolish Young 9th Level Hobbit, Dark Clouds
Dredd Doomsmith: Dwarven Deathtrap Engineer, Tomb of Horrors
Elijah Crowthorne: Marooned Prophet, Pirates
Jack in the Green: Ancient Child, Giants
P.T. Codswallop: Larcenous Impresario, Dimwater
Sir Ugghra: Bestial Half-Orc Aristocrat, Brotherton
Swilbosh: Savage Lizard-Warrior, Keep
Tantos Vek: Failed Paladin, Under Streets
Ulfang Chainbreaker: Barbarian Liberator of Slaves, Tharizdun

DM bio is here.
User avatar
Scott308
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#213 Post by Scott308 »

Ingrid Esthof

Those foul beings whom Tritherion forced to turn away will soon be free of his power. We need to trap those in the altar forever or be prepared to fight them. As she urges her companions to action, she attempts to free Grey Mouser.
Edited since the attack I rolled for Ingrid was unnecessary after seeing the update.
On November 2nd I will be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.

https://www.extra-life.org/participant/Scott Peterson
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#214 Post by ravenn4544 »

Mouser nods in gratitude at being set loose. "Maybe we can burn that altar back to the hell they came from?"
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#215 Post by SocraticLawyer »

"Light it up, Long Bo," says Urdur. The little gnome pulls out a dagger to throw, just in case.
How do we know you're not a donkey-brained man?
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#216 Post by ChubbyPixie »

"Can your magic reach them down there?" says Telkis, gesturing at the altar with Cranach. "I hope so - I'm in no shape to be going toe to toe with anyone." The burly gnome looks exhausted and bruised. He stows his morningstar, draws his bow again and moves to the edge of the clearing to cover the area, whatever is about to happen. On the way, he'll look to see if his magical arrow can be recovered from the witch: Retrieve Arrow (50%): [1d100] = 81 Sadly, it is damaged.
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#217 Post by wolfpack »

someone free me.
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#218 Post by rredmond »

Breaking out of the revelric revelries going on in his head at their success Rudolph rushes over to free the ranger knowing they’ll need the 1/2 elf’s sword before long. ”We can’t survive another go round. We need to bring out the big catapults,” he says quietly. He almost asks the priestess for healing but realizing as he frees Brevos that he’s not the worst off - not by a long shot. ”We have to finish this or get out of here.”
This is a game about killing things and taking their stuff so you can become more powerful in order to kill bigger things and take even better stuff.
Alethan: I'm good with NOT pressing our luck this time.
mjulius: That's how I know I'm home.
Pulpatoon: The whole point of PbP is to take the scheduling pressure off the game. We're just chatty because we're so eager!
Scott308: ...everyone should be reminded of just how wonderful the people they play games with here can be in real life.
Leitz: Quality and quantity wise, I think US is the best I've seen.
Paladin: I can promise terror, glory, and riches...or a quick and brutal death.
Inferno: Come on! That's was Vicar's Head, a completely different doomed village!
Rex: I can move to the wait list to let someone else into the game.
User avatar
OGRE MAGE
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#219 Post by OGRE MAGE »

Bo likes being referred to as young.

”Then crush it I will, noble friend, and release you and your kin completely from this horrid curse.”

The druid quickly explains to the others what he is about to do and warns them to stay clear of the altar. He finds a suitable spot outside of the blast zone, keeping his active entangling spell area in between him and the altar, where he prepares to begin his long incantation.

“The magic I cast while under the control of the witch will remain in effect, hopefully keeping the beasts below in check if they are able to climb back out.”

“Calling upon the power of nature this destructive will take some time, and if I am interrupted my magic will be lost. Do you think the rest of you can handle the threat of Ingrid’s banished monsters returning? Or should I wait in case they need to be subdued?”
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Re: Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

#220 Post by Scott308 »

Ingrid Esthof

How long do you need? We can try to fend them off, and I may be able to call upon the power of Tritherion to drive them back again. If you feel our best bet is to cast this spell, and it sounds like it is, then perhaps you should start immediately. Let the rest of us make sure those who are entangled get cut free before the foul beings return.
On November 2nd I will be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.

https://www.extra-life.org/participant/Scott Peterson
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