Gilead's Horn Part 4

Log Info

• Title: Gilead's Horn Part 4
• Emitter: Aftershock
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Ezil, Faranmidahn, Shara, Shin, Zapolklnex
• Place: Along the coast, near the border with Charnath
• Time: Friday, February 28, 2020, 8:29 PM
• Summary: The adventurers continue their pursuit of the priest who has stolen Gilead's Horn. He attempts escape while they battle his demons, and is nearly successful. Cryosanthia manages to catch up with him, and while she succumbs to a mind control, as Faranmidahn also did, her casual nature delays things enough for the others to arrive and snap her out of it. Immediately, the Mul'neissa who appeared to help the priest issue an ultimatim: let them leave or their families and Alexandria will be destroyed.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing at some point  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Cryosanthia  6'7"     245 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, lithe white lizardgirl with tattoos.
Faranmidahn  3'3"     35 Lb      Halfling          Female    Albino Lucht woman in black leather armor with a BIG spider
Shara        5'2"     120 Lb     Dawn Elf          Female    Red haired Elf w/green eyes
Zapolklnex   4'5"     115 Lb     Shadow Elf        Male      A darkly dressed traveling Mul'niessa man
Shin
Ezil
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Previously

The Party is on the hunt for the mythical horn of Gilead. The target vessel pulled into a coastal town, sending their sailors to slaughter the villagers. The other ship tried to sink the adventurer's, but they managed to repair it and catch back up with them at a town near the Charnath border. The group found the priest and some demons in a clearing. The priest has the horn in hand, and he was just hit by Faran.

Now

GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d6+2: (3)+2: 5

Faranmidahn sees the signing toward the hornbearer and nods to the sith, turning to retrieve her lance from her saddle straps. Once Cryo is off to the races, she nudges Torrent to the side with her feet and, with a shrill yell, infuses the lance with her mystical energies and kicks the spider into a full on gallop. There is a moment, where it looks like's not going to make the mark, but something, or someone, manages to get her back on target. WHAM!

Two of the demons are going to grab Cryo, and the other three demons will attack Ezil who moved in. The priest himself will step back away from Faran and try to dump some of the blood on her.

GAME: Cryosanthia spends ONE point of PANACHE. (2 remaining)
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (7)+8: 15
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon2: (11)+7: 18
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls damage2: aliased to 1D6+2: (3)+2: 5
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (3)+6: 9
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (3)+6: 9
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (4)+6: 10
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (2)+6: 8
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (10)+6: 16
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (4)+6: 10
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (17)+6: 23
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls will: (9)+6: 15

The demons scratch and claw and growl at the combatants in their midst, but for the most part their attacks are inefectual. Only the priest lands his mark, purposefully spilling the blood in the horn on Faranmidahn's arm as he backs away from her quickly. "Defend the horn from these unworthy souls!"

GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+5: (16)+5: 21
GAME: Shin rolls 1d4+2: (2)+2: 4

Shin moves forward with Mirai, who claws a demon to get it's attention as her partner pulls out his greatsword. The green of living steel glinting in the light as the Xian born human holds it in two hands, closing as fast as he can. Instead of immediately attacking, he raises his voice, "Lo and behold, friends, our quest's end is in sight! Let not this foul priest nor these demons hold us back! Face down your fears and let them know what it means to face our blades and our might! Onward! Onward for the Horn!"

GAME: Zapolklnex casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Zapolklnex rolls 2d4+2: (3)+2: 5

Zapolklnex sizes up the situation, and he sees one being that looks particularly dangerous. The priest. So, still yet doing his best Merek impersonation, he flings a pair of magic missiles imperiously at the priest.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (9)+9: 18
GAME: Ezil rolls Weapon8+3+2: (7)+8+3+2: 20
GAME: Ezil rolls damage8+8: aliased to 1D6+3+8: (1)+3+8: 12

Ezil is suddenly surrounded, three on one. Cryosanthia is noted being on the other side and engaging one of his foes. Yes, that's the one that doctrine dictates. "Telmentar guide my blade, give the grace under your guidance to smite my foes with your shining light!" his blade erupting in a radiant energy as he simply raises his shield to the onslaught coming his way, and throws a quick and burning slash at his foe. The strike sputters and sears the flesh of the outsider, letting him bite deeper than he could of without this blessing. "Be gone from here, and return to your home plane!"

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls intimidate: (8)+3: 11

Demons are trying to grab her! Cryo slaps at their claws with her rapier, managing a quick twist around the arm of one that draws blood.

She quickly assesses the situation, she's surrounded in the thick of things, can't back out. Well, there are other options. To her friend she cries, "Ezil! I'm the distraction! I can't take another hit!"

To the demons, "HISSSSSSSS! C'mon, you think you can take me down? You can't even touch me. Forget him, forget her! This one is the fight." Fully expecting them to bring the fight, she drops and is whipping her rapier around, forgoing all attacks, fighting defensively and evading.

GAME: Shin rolls weapon9: (6)+9: 15
GAME: Shin rolls 2d6+7: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+5: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)

Shin brings the sword across on one demon, slicing it diagnolly as Mirai futilely tries to claw another. The two are definitely showing their worth, however, as Shin gives a battle cry as he turns towards another demon in preparation to swing again.

GAME: Faranmidahn casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 2d4+2: (8)+2: 10

All at once, everything changes. All of that, for a drop of blood. The Purple Rose blinks in confusion behind her visor with a near silent intake of breath, before turning her back to her previous target, glowering as the bolt of force strikes her new charge. She traces a figure eight with her fingers and invokes her rebuke, "By will in strife, I send might's shard, go forth and strike!" and paired bolts of force arc back toward Zap. Apparantly it is a stern rebuke. <halfling>

GAME: Shara casts Saving Finale. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls will: (2)+6: 8

Shara is singing with all of her heart, but when she realizes Faran's turning to fight against Shin, she ends the performance with a spin....then begins a new song to continue to inspire her friends.....

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (6)+8: 14
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (12)+6: 18
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (15)+6: 21
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (2)+6: 8
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (4)+6: 10

The two demons try to bring Cryo down. Two demons try to bring Ezil down. The demons keep them occupied, and so too does Faranmidahn, whom the priest managed to get under his control. It's enough for him to quickly make a break for the woods behind him. The priest escapes!

GAME: Zapolklnex casts Grease. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls reflex: (14)+4: 18

Zapolklnex takes it personally when he gets missiled back! So, no more Merek impersonations, he tries to knock down Faranmidahn with a wave of his hand and an application of grease.. but he fails.

GAME: Ezil rolls weapon8: (6)+8: 14
GAME: Ezil rolls damage8: aliased to 1D6+3: (1)+3: 4

Ezil watches the one before him fall, Cryosanthia and Shin coming to his aid. With one down, he switches to the next, putting himself out there for the las two's attention, and slashing at the closest one. He only moves as minimally as he can, keeping his shield close to his form. Another slash, but this one is only a glancing blow, barely penetrating the demon's thick flesh with his attack.

GAME: Cryosanthia spends ONE point of PANACHE. (1 remaining)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (2): 2
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls acrobatics+2: (20)+9+2: 31

The priest is getting away! Cryosanthia has to do something about it. She's surrounded by demons, the way is blocked. She digs in her claws, and then something magical happens. She moves like a streamer through the air, over blade, under blade, past demon, rolling, and leaping clear of the fray, following on the heels of the Priest.

GAME: Shin rolls weapon9: (14)+9: 23
GAME: Shin rolls 2d6+7: (10)+7: 17
GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+5: (13)+5: 18
GAME: Shin rolls 1d4+2: (2)+2: 4

Shin beheads another demon as he steps to where Cryo was, Mirai clawing away at another as the two continue to show their might as warriors.

Faranmidahn believes the Priest is now her best buddy (we're engaged!) but she still likes people she liked, before. Although she feels very compelled to proactively protect the horn from them. It is the last piece of cheesecake. If she's gotta fork-stab a buddy to protect it, her buddy will understand.

GAME: Faranmidahn rolls weapon2-4: (5)+5+-4: 6
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls will: (8)+6: 14
GAME: Shara casts Saving Finale. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14

As her precious charge is suddenly pursued, the Lucht Knight, wheels her spider around with a carefully choreographed coded tap with her right foot and couches her lance, "Not so fast!" she calls and, with another kick with noth feet, she spurs the arachnid to a surprisingly fast gallop, actually. Faran tries to line up the lance to keep the strike away from anything vital, but ends up overcorrecting and she puts the lancetip in the dirt, which ends up sheering her stirrups free and casting the armored little sorceress flat on her back, knocking the wind from her lungs with what sounds like a feeble chirp.

Shara keeps trying to Return Faran to their side, but once she starts her performance up again, she sees that Faran is still on the side of the priest. "I can't keep doing it. I have to leave Faran under her control...for now."

Two demons turn on Shin, and one attacks Ezil. Priest runs further into the forest!

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (6)+6: 12
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (15)+6: 21
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (14)+6: 20
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (17)+6: 23
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (18)+6: 24
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5

The demons do their best to bring you down, and this time their claws dig in and draw blood where they failed to before. The resulting wounds are vicious things, and Ezil in particular bears the brunt of the attack.

GAME: Zapolklnex casts Grease. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20: (11): 11
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20: (9): 9

Zapolklnex sighs at himself, disappointed that he could not bring down his wayward friend. So instead he trise again on what might hopefully be an easier target. A pair of nasty demons. Eldritch words are followed by another shiny coating on the ground, bringing down two demons!

GAME: Ezil rolls weapon8+3: (2)+8+3: 13

Ezil goes for another smite on the one left standing, channeling the energy of Althea through his blade with a prayer. Sadly, those biting claws tore deep into him, and his arm wouldn't work as he wanted. He's too shallow, and there was not enough force. The radiant blade goes wide and misses, sputtering out without finding it's mark. "Shin! Go after the bearer with Cryosanthia! We'll try and hold these here." sparing a glance to the floored Faranmidahn and shaking his head. "We have to get the horn."

The priest is hellbent and running like heck.

Cryosanthia is panting, running. Free of the demons, the forest is her enemy now.

Eeep! And a lance which slams in the ground behind her, tail and ankle whipping out of its way without her even noticing.

Keep up, keep him in sight. Don't let him get away. Losing him means going closer and deeper into Charnath. The sith fears this greatly. She flat out runs as fast as she can after him. He's not slowing down to cast, at least.

GAME: Shara casts Saving Finale. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls will: (15)+6: 21

Shara ends her performance with a flourish now that she sees everyone going after the priest. Hopefully Faran will comes to her senses now cuz she's going after the priest.....whether or not Faran is with them or not.

GAME: Ezil rolls fortitude: (2)+10: 12

Once both of the worlds synch back into each other, 'You leave him alone!' she calls as the little Knight hurriedly clambors to her feet and scrambles up, awkwardly into the saddle once more. Faran gets ready to resume the charge when she suddenly teeters in her seat for a moment, blinking, "Wait... wha- what am I...?" And all at once, befuddlement becomes righteous indignation, "THAT PERFIDOUS LOUT!" <halfling>

The demons vanish in a puff of noxious smoke, the stench of which makes the whole area smell like sulfur. Ezil is the only one that is left to be affected by it, but the poor man's eyes water and his stomach rolls with how disgusting the smell is. The demons of course use his discombobulation as a chance to make good their getaway.

Ahead of Cryosanthia the priest stumbles to a stop, his black eyes peering into hers for a brief moment and then he quickly splashes outwards toward her with the liquid held inside the horn. While he does this several black-clad figures pull themselves out of the area around him. Their skin is varying shades of coal from gray to obsidian and she will recognize them immediately as Mul'niessia. One of them steps in front of the priest and that individual's red eyes peer at her imperiously. "You stand in Charneth lands now /creature/."

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (11)+11: 22
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls will+3: (4)+3+3: 10

Chasing prey through the forest! The lizard brain part of Cryo's lizard brain is very satisfied! She's throwing herself into it as much as she can, her neck stretched out, nose pointed, tail ruddering behind her, helping her pacing and balance. Feet pounding, with claws ripping shreds in the groud. Her arms tucked in, and her rapier slapping small branches out of her way. Keep the priest in sight.

She bursts into the area. The priest turns on her, flinging blood, as the Mul'nessa steps in front of her. Surrounded! Now the fear part of her brain screams! Cryo doesn't care. Rapier up. Stabbing for the imbecile's eyes. Except, she's frozen. Completely frozen.

Zapolklnex sees that the demons are down, and takes off, moving aggressively after where he saw the Priest fleeing, with the intent of trying to help finish this.

Ezil was sickened, his body quivering as he fought to stand. The demons may of gotten away, but he turns to where the party went, and quickly follows after. Managing to keep his lunch, despite that unpleasant ordeal.

Cryosanthia blinks, her eyes going dark. Fights over, everyone is friends. She looks at the priest, "You know absolute Bestie, whose name I can't seem to recall right now, this is great. I love games in the woods."

She turns her gaze on the Mul'nessa standing front of her. "You know, that hurt. That was really rude. I thought we were friends. I could say you're a self-important, stinking turd left over from Loth's last mistake of a meal. An egotistical egg-head with no real connections beyond books, and only the friendship I so generously give you. But I don't! Because you're such a cutsey wootsie when you pop out of the ground and look all threatening and like what you're saying matters. So please, respect will be given when respect is given? 'Kay Babe?"

Cryo winks, "Just kidding. I love you."

GAME: Faranmidahn casts Mending. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14

Shara's still running. Good thing she's got light armor on.

Looking somewhat abashed in the wake of her mental liberation, Faran glances back to see her companion looking a littl green, but giving chase. She utters a simple, 'I'm sorry...' before she interlaces her fingers and chants, "Unbent, unrent and clean, return to form pristine!" The stirrups of her saddle reattach their broken ends, and she slips her feet into them as she nudges Torrent once more into a pursuit speed, 'He must not escape!' <halfling>

Seeing that Cryosanthia is no longer a threat the Mul'niessa move up; surround the sith-makar while watching the tiger carefully. The priest walks right up to Cryosanthia, moving the horn toward her. "Drink from the horn and such savage thoughts will leave you. We are all meant to serve the horn are we not?" The priest grins and the leader of the Mul'niessa lowers her hood, revealing feminine features and hard red eyes that watch Cryosanthia one might watch a worm they plan to crush beneath their heel.

GAME: Zapolklnex casts Charm Person. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (8)+10: 18

Zapolklnex looks intently at the one with the horn, having gotten in the area. He speaks quietly some Eldritch words. Nothing else appears to happen.

Ezil is making pace now, trying to catch up to the others as he keeps his quick jaunt up through Charneth. He is not mounted like some of the others, but that doesn't seem to stop him and his detemination. "I already hate this place."

"Rrr... Which savage thoughts?" Cryosanthia blinks, reviewing herself for savagry. "Shouldn't second-bestie have a drink first? She's giving me some really angry eyes. Like 'grrrr! Gonna squish you."

Cryo crouches down so she's at the Mul'nessa's height, "Look, I'm sorry you're short, and your skin is soft and tears easily, and your ears catch on the branches. These are deep uncomfortable flaws you have to live with, and you're strong for doing so. I'd be completely curled up in a ball if I was as weak and squishy as you. Except, it's not my fault. I'm not trying to make you feel inferior." She puts her hand on the Mul'nessa's shoulder, "Really, it's ok. I know my friendship can be harsh, but it's how we are. Thanks for being my friend. C'mon, lets have a drink together, as friends!"

She stands and reaches for the horn to guide it to her and second bestie's mouth, so they can drink together.

GAME: Shin rolls weapon2: (2)+6: 8

Shin finally catches up, bringing his composite bow up as he nears and releases an arrow towards the Muls and the priest specifically, "Release them and drop the horn, foul one! Make me come over there and not even your friends will save you from my wrath!"

GAME: Faranmidahn rolls weapon7: (2)+7: 9 

Torrent's glistening legs are a flurry of activity as the arachnid carries his mistress in pursuit of their prey, the halfling readying her bow as they come upon the scene. With a carefull set of kicks, she steers the monstrous steed up into the trees for a better angle of fire as she nocks an arrow, infuses it with some of her arcane energies.... and puts the shaft in the ground somewhere near someone's feet. "DAMNIIIIIIIT!!" <halfling>

GAME: Shara casts Saving Finale. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls will+3: (18)+3+3: 24

Shara's speed slows as she comes to see Cryo starting to tilt back the horn. She belts out a roar that a sith-makar could be proud of to get Cryosanthia out of it.

Cryo wakes up about to drink from some nasty blood-filled horn with a Mul'niessa you don't recognize! Cryo's hand casually on her shoulder, something she is NOT comfortable with. OH NO. Forcing Cryo to drink is vengance enough, SHE knows what'll happen once the sith does.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (7)+11: 18

It's clear from the look on the Mul'niessa woman's face that she is /not/ pleased to be touched by Cryosanthia, and so she sort of shoves the sith-makar more towards the horn, ignoring the whizzing arrows and spilling the blood in the horn in every direction but on herself and the sith. She growls and furiously glares at the sith. "No longer under the control of the horn are you? That's alright." She lifts her voice and watches Cryosanthia as she speaks. "I am Lady Shrulvus, sorceress and martron of House Shrulvus. If you harm me or mine my family will see Alexandria burned to the /ground/. You will release this man who is my servant to my custody with all his belongings intact. Or you and /yours/ will suffer."

The silence grows loud, waiting for an answer to fill it.