Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

[wolfpack]

Brevos pulls him self to his knees leaning heavily on Brood and coughs and spits blood on the ground. He makes his way unsteadily to his feet and moves back directly in front of the druid he holds his magic shield tight to his body with his left arm and Brood down and at an angle to the right, its hum and soft blue light illuminating him in the darkness.

[Inferno]

The Strange Black Altar of the Haunted Wood, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Five. The other side of midnight. Wednesday, November 16th, 576 CY
Cold, windy, storming






The wind moans louder and thunder booms across the endless midnight sky!

The heroes create of circle of protection around the druid with their bodies, as Long Bo keeps summoning the inconceivable power of the storm!

Suddenly....

KRA-KA-BOOM!!!



A jagged, bristling bolt of white-hot electricity explodes from the heavens and strikes the center of the black altar!

The deafening thunderclap echoes along the spine of the dark mountains.

When the smoke clears, the heroes behold the altar, sundered! Its diabolical power is broken! If anything yet lives beneath it, it dares not emerge from the smoldering rubble of the shattered pedestal!

Purified by fire from the gods, the incinerated corpses of the witches and their vile horrors are reduced to charred skeletons splayed within the radius of a smoking black ring that encircles the former site of unspeakable evil!


Actions?!



Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

This post covered 4 rounds.
Lightning strike damage: [6d8] = 29 Dang!
The ghoul Z2 saves vs Spells: [1d20] = 18 Saves and takes half damage.

PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 6/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 13/19, Spells: 1/2 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 0/4 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 0/2 3rd lvl
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 10/16
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 8/32
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 5/9, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl and 0/1 2nd lvl, Torch

PC Magic:

• Call Lightning (Bo): Duration: 39 rounds. Next bolt can be summoned in: 9 rounds.
  Turned Undead (Ingrid): V1: 3 rounds remaining.

Player Resources:

• Tale of Terror (the story so far)
  A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
  Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
  Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis is silent for a moment, then speaks. "Is that all?" he says. "I mean to say, is it safe to approach? I wanna see what's in that hole."

[wolfpack]

I am going to scout the perimeter to see if I can find trace of hothill

Brood in hand Brevos will begin looking in the last area he saw him.

[1d100] = 63

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur stays by the druid, torch in hand, dagger drawn. Somehow he knows there will be more bloodshed before the night is through.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo continues his chanting, in case another menace shows itself 9 minutes from now.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser also searches the perimeter - staying away from where the lighting struck.

[rredmond]

Rudolph sticks close to the druid, assuming (with the continued chanting) that whatever is going to happen being close to the druid is the safest bet. If anything survived that, and I'd bet it did, then we are screwed... I mean, we'd better be ready, he says in an Irish whisper. But he'll try to make himself small, and hide in the vegetation around him. He keeps his sword and dagger out, ready to attack from the shadows if need be.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Trying to blink away the after-image of the lightning, Ingrid is impressed. Very nice! She stays near Bo, waiting to see if anything else arrives.

[Inferno]

The Strange Black Altar of the Haunted Wood, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Five. The other side of midnight. Wednesday, November 16th, 576 CY
Cold, windy, storming






Writhing arcs of electricity retreat into the roiling heavens, slowly building into another thunderbolt as Long Bo continues his arcane orisons to Nature itself.

Ingrid and Rudolph remain close to the grey druid. The hobbit rogue tries to makes himself small and unseen.

Telkis cautiously approaches the smoking ruin of the black altar. When he crosses the threshold of the unhallowed ground, his neck doesn't tingle with dread, nor does he feel the whisper of a deep hum. He peers into the reeking lair beneath the altar. In the pit, he finds the electrocuted remains of the last of the lurid despicable fiends that feasted upon the blood of the sacrificed innocents. (Z2)



Urdur the dark gnome also remains by the druid's side, torch in hand, dagger drawn, expecting more bloodshed and death before the night is through. He doesn't wait long.

Brevos and Mouser scout the area in opposite directions, walking the perimeter of the black scorched earth. By the cold light of his sword, Brevos finds fresh blood and drag-marks on the ground. He follows them deeper into the darkness where he makes a dreadful discovery!



Brevos finds the horrific remains of Hothhil, cut apart and positioned upon the ground as if for some ghastly occult ritual!


Actions?! ...for the next 4 rounds please.


Map:

One square = 10 feet.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

This post encompasses 5 rounds of activity.

PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 6/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 13/19, Spells: 1/2 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 0/4 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 0/2 3rd lvl
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 10/16
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 8/32
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 5/9, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl and 0/1 2nd lvl, Torch

PC Magic:

• Call Lightning (Bo): Duration: 34 rounds. Next bolt can be summoned in: 4 rounds.

Player Resources:

• Tale of Terror (the story so far)
  A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
  Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
  Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[wolfpack]

Brevos will move the body parts out of whatever ritual position they are in just in case it is being used for some dark magic still and place them in a pile.

he will then return to the group.

I found the remains of Hothill, he was cut into pieces and positioned in some kind of ritual pose.

[OGRE MAGE]

As long as nothing stops him, and everyone is clear of the danger area, Bo continues chanting, ready to drop one more bolt to further cleanse this area of its accumulated evil.

[rredmond]

Rudolph continually scans north, east and south, looking to the skies as well. He's expecting nothing from the west, but even so they'll have more time then. He keeps his blades out and ready, and stays close to the druid. He will attempt to hide in the shadows now, as he scans, knowing he's much more effective from the back of a creature than the front.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

The cleric will continue to stay by the druid as protection should anything try to get near. Do not range too far. We know not what other horrors these woods may possess. One lone victim may easily fall prey to something that might not approach a group.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur nods at the wise cleric's words. He waits by the druid, daring to hope that the night's bloodshed is over.

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis shakes his head at the mention of Hothil’s fate, thinking to himself that this may be a mercy considering what they have all become. Still, one must press on.

“I will check out the inside of this tomb. I may need help getting out. Bo... never mind,” he says and, if he can do so without injuring himself, he’ll jump down in. If not he’ll lash a rope around some rubble and rappel down to check carefully for any items or secret passages. He considers the possibility that more lightning make come, but can’t dredge up any feelings about it one way or another.

If needed (for the smell): Save vs. CON (12): [1d20] = 16

[Inferno]

The Strange Black Altar of the Haunted Wood, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Five. The other side of midnight. Wednesday, November 16th, 576 CY
Cold, windy, storming







Beneath the towering trees and the wild lightning storm, Brevos makes a startling discovery in the darkness of the haunted wood: the bloodsoaked, violated corpse of Hothhil!




The grim ranger repositions the ghastly crimson remains of his friend to disturb any ritual they may yet serve, and returns to the others with the heartbreaking news.

Telkis borrows Urdur's torch and descends beneath the sundered altar into the lair of the depraved, bloodthirsty undead. He enters a small, low subterranean chamber filled with the stench of death, and completely lined with tree roots that have been force-fed the blood of slaughtered innocents.




A frightful mound of human bones and skulls is the only thing he finds in the gruesome den.




Mercifully, none are the size of a child. After probing them with Cranach, Telkis is content there are no horrors here left to discover. He retreats from the pit of sorrow and gets clear.

Suddenly, lightning strikes twice!



KRA-KA-BOOMM!!!

At the command of the grey druid, a second deafening blast of fire and light detonates from the heavens, consuming the heinous unnatural altar in the righteous power and wrath of Nature itself! Shattered and smoking, it is utterly destroyed.

Telkis remains convinced this altar cannot be the ancient shrine they are looking for; it is not nearly old enough.
Ingrid concurs. Its scale is too modest. It is not the source of the evil that blights these mountains, but merely another dread symptom of it.

Slowly, the wounded, tortured Ents creep back toward the scorched earth.
"Thank thee youngling for saving us... Thou hast earned the everlasting gratitude of the Trees..." one says in a slow deep rumble.


Actions?


Area Map:

Green "?" might be the heroes' current location. Red "X" is thought to be the location of the Lost Shrine of Evil.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Lightning strike damage: [6d8] = 29

PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 6/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 13/19, Spells: 1/2 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 0/4 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 0/2 3rd lvl
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 10/16
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 8/32
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 5/9, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl and 0/1 2nd lvl, Torch

PC Magic:

• Call Lightning (Bo): Duration: 29 rounds. Next bolt can be summoned in: 9 rounds.

Player Resources:

• Tale of Terror (the story so far)
  A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
  Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
  Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[wolfpack]

Brevos addresses the trees

Wise ones, we came into this wilderness looking for an ancient source of evil. Do you know of any other evil sources besides this shrine we have destroyed.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Well, that's one less evil in the world. Now we just need to zap ourselves into oblivion," says Telkis, only half joking. He is quietly fascinated by the trees, now that they are returned to their true selves and awaits their answer to Brevos' questioning.

[rredmond]

Unafraid of the dead... as long as they ain't moving, Rudolph smiles at the trees, and goes over to give the area where the altar once stood a good once over. Check and see if there's anything left, or any other secret doors or hidden chambers, etc. He knows that the tall ones will talk until they are blue in the face before suggesting splitting the party again, so he takes his time. As he leaves he says to the druid, "that was incredible, really awe inspiring... youngling," after a quick smile to the tall Bo, he adds "thank you."