As you struggle with a particularly tenacious beastman you hear a howling over the clamour of battle, like a cold storm wind, or thousands of souls being tortured.

A blast of red light erupts from the Skull Pillars direction, throwing nearby combatants back. Your foe is distracted and you cut him down, before turning to look.

Around the Skull Pillar now stand a hundred or more demons. They look like beastmen might wish to look like: tall with powerful long limbs, fanged maws and two horns curled around their heads with two more jutting upwards; the symbol of Urgorg standing out on their foreheads. They carry long black swords and at a signal from Gorrask they leap into combat, cutting your beastmen allies down like grass, a single blow of their swords seems deadly, even the smallest wound they make fountains blood like a major artery.

Though small in number, this could turn a hard-fought battle into a rout for your forces: especially if Gorrask can summon more of them.

What do you do?

Beastmen
>Keep Fighting
>Fall back
>Other

Ogres
>Join Battle
>Stay in reserve
>Other

Giants
>Join Battle
>Stay in reserve
>Other

Dragons
>Continue flyby attacks
>Enter melee
>Stay back
>Try to steal the Skull Pillar (who?)

Fivefold Death of Cities
>Fire (target?)
>Hold Fire

Sireyi
>Keep fighting Beastmen/Orcs
>Engage demons
>Hang back and command
>Use Power (what?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

>>34694359
Can we fire the FFDoC at this point without it counting as firing into a melee and endangering our own troops?

>>34694371
Yes, the armies are large enough that you can fire it without risking hitting your own forces.

>>34694359
>Beastmen
>>Keep Fighting

>Ogres
>>Stay in Reserve

>Giants
>>Stay in Reserve

>Dragons
>>Try to steal the Skull Pillar (Shahulzer)
He's the least likely to get messed up by it, on account of being a hellwyrm, and he has the highest STR score.

>Fivefold Death of Cities
>>Fire (Demons)

>Sireyi
>>Use Power (Lightning Storm)

>>34694385
Would the demons be applicable targets without endangering our own guys as well, given their low numbers?
Are the Giants capable of using boulders to attack from range?

>>34694409
Demons have rushed straight into your troops, attacking them with boulders or FfDoC risks friendly casualties.

>>34694424
Alright then, some changes:

>FFDoC
>>Fire (Beastmen)

>Giants
>>Throw Boulders (Beastmen)

>Sireyi
>>Engage Demons

File: And so I greet the day.png (246 KB, 600x750)

246 KB PNG

Beastmen
>Keep Fighting

Ogres
>Stay in reserve

Giants
>Join Battle

Dragons
>Try to steal the Skull Pillar (Shahulzer)

Fivefold Death of Cities
>Fire (Beastmen(Gorrask if possible))

Sireyi
>Use Spell (Seeds of Destruction)
Lightning storm next round

Fuck. Linking.
>>34694467
>>34694359

>>34694467
Demons have a casualty multiplier unless engaged by a paladin, Mathrian.

>>34694481
...
bloody multipliers.

Good point, though.

Changing

Sireyi
>Use Spell (Seeds of Destruction)
to
Sireyi
>Engage Demons

>>34694477
Good morning Mathrian

Ok, you're agreeing except for whether to fire the FfDoC at Gorrask or just hit the army, since he's probably by the Skull Pillar.

Someone change vote or re-vote with unmodified d20 roll whilst I write the other stuff

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>34694467
One other thing, Gorrask is likely near the skull pillar and firing the FFDoC at him while Shahulzer tries to steal it seems like it'll result in a dead hellwyrm.

>>34694498
Aim for the army for above reasons.

>>34694504
>>34694498
I concede to >>34694504 once again. lol

Good morning to you as well Pally.

Thanks.

Please roll 2d20, first is for Shahulzer, second is for you vs demons.

Samefagging rolls is certainly allowed this early in a morning.

Rolled 11, 1 = 12 (2d20)

>>34694535

Rolled 12, 13 = 25 (2d20)

>>34694535

Rolled 8, 5 = 13 (2d20)

>>34694535
>>34694542
Samefagging rolls.

Rolled 10, 16 = 26 (2d20)

>>34694535
>samefagging

Thanks, writing

Your beastmen forces keep fighting; they are holding their ground for now. The demons are taking a bloody toll from your forces, they are incredibly fast and strong, and your troops weapons seem to have no effect on them.

The ogres hang back as you ordered, with loud complaints.

The giants start hurling their prepared piles of boulders into the beastman ranks, each boulder crushing a dozen beastmen before rolling to a halt.

As Nicolvren and Ebonsong continue to harry the beastman horde with their breath weapons, Shahulzer bides his time, waiting for the right moment.

With no demons near the Skull Pillar he swoops down and grabs the heavy metal structure with all four claws, wings working furiously as he tries to lift it into the air.

There is a flash of red light and you hear Shahulzer roar in anger and pain. Across the telepathic bond you established prior to the battle you hear a lot of swearing, including some terms he just made up on the spot.

-Shahulzer- you send –are you ok? Talk to me-

-Bastard thing burned me- he complains –also tried to mess with my head; I’ve never felt so angry, I’m going to try that again, I won’t let it beat me.-

-Back off and catch your breath- you say -You can try again after that.-

As the light fades you can see Shahulzer winging his way up to the heights, he doesn’t look so good.

(Shahulzer HP 45/60)

The Fivefold Death of Cities powers up and a blast of powerful magical energies erupts from high in the mountains, blazing towards orc and beastman army below.

[FfDoC 5/6]

The blast of magical energies hits and explodes in all directions, blasts of lightning blaze through the air followed by sheets of fire, the earth is torn in horrible rents. Shards of ice are flung around by powerful winds even as trees and vines erupt from the ground, strangling those they touch.

>>34694663
When it is over the land is churned into mud and rocks, with vines crawling all over it. Hundreds of beastmen and orcs are dead. The battle pauses as combatants cower from such a powerful weapon.

Then the chieftains yell at their troops, calling them cowards, forcing them back into the fray with curses and blows to the head.

Some of the orcs facing you flee, but not enough.

The Skull Pillar starts to move in the direction of the Fivefold Death of Cities, though it will be a long time getting there.

You engage the demons, lashing out with your halberd and liberal use of your smite power, cutting many of them down. They’re incredibly fast, far faster than you, but their blades fail to penetrate your armour and protections, a fact that surprises them and you catch a number of them whilst they are standing there looking gobsmacked.

You’ve accounted for perhaps 20 of the demons

(DE 25/35)

Next actions?

Beastmen
>Keep Fighting
>Fall back
>Other

Ogres
>Join Battle
>Stay in reserve
>Other

Giants
>Keep Throwing Boulders
>Engage in melee
>Stay in reserve
>Other

Dragons
>Continue flyby attacks
>Enter melee
>Stay back
>Try to steal the Skull Pillar (who?)

Fivefold Death of Cities
>Fire (target?)
>Hold Fire

Sireyi
>Keep demons
>Use Power (what?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

>>34694671
Second verse, same as the first, other than one change:

>Ogres
>>Join Battle

Bugger, forgot to put quest in the title, apologies to anyone who filters quests.

>>34694671
Beastmen
>Fall back
Let the orges do a charge.

Ogres
>Join Battle

Giants
>Keep Throwing Boulders

Dragons
>Continue flyby attacks
>Try to steal the Skull Pillar (who?)

Fivefold Death of Cities
>Fire (target?)
The troops behind the skull pillar

Sireyi
>Keep demons
>Use Spell (what?)
Blinding Breath

>>34694671
Beastmen
>Keep Fighting

Ogres
>Stay in reserve

Giants
>Keep Throwing Boulders

Dragons
>Continue flyby attacks
>Try to steal the Skull Pillar (Shahulzer, he said he wants to...)

Fivefold Death of Cities
>Fire (Beastmen again)

Sireyi
>Keep demons


Pally, what is the area of effect of Seeds of Destruction? If we can hit a large portion of the enemy army and possibly the demons I feel it would be useful, but without proper reach it isn't going to really be effective.

>>34694705
We need to keep the demons occupied, they have a casualty multiplier if there's no paladin engaging them.

There are only 50 ogres but ~25000 beastmen in our army (at the start) against ~50000 beastmen, the ogres would probably be overwhelmed if they're the only ones in melee.

>>34694671
Are the beastmen actually clashing with the enemy beastmen army or are they only engaging the demons while the main enemy army hangs back?

>>34694732
>Are the beastmen actually clashing with the enemy beastmen army or are they only engaging the demons while the main enemy army hangs back?

Clashing with enemy beastmen and orcs. Currently everything is one mass confused melee.

>>34694732
I meant part a bit in the center for the ogres to charge in for the shock value since we are gonna keep firing FDOC. I never said to run from the demons just to use breath so they would be debuffed.

>>34694720
>Pally, what is the area of effect of Seeds of Destruction?

Base spell affects 20 or so targets, the more power you pump into it the more targets are affected, +20 targets per additional AE.

FUCK YEAH PALADIN OF JOY QUEST!

>>34694753
Yeah, that's about the worst possible situation to retreat from.
A ton of the beastmen too deep in the melee would be cut down if they try to run.

>>34694763
You should specify your targets.
I also wouldn't be surprised if these demons have sensory abilities beyond humans, blinding them is risky.

In the future, change the greentext to what you want them to do, it's confusing otherwise.

>>34694788
Do all the orcs/beastmen qualify as evil or is that too meta for you to reveal?

Ok, same again except commit the ogres, please roll 2d20, same order as before, Shahulzer then Sireyi.

Rolled 10, 18 = 28 (2d20)

>>34694806

Rolled 12, 17 = 29 (2d20)

>>34694806

Rolled 14, 4 = 18 (2d20)

>>34694806

>>34694804
>Do all the orcs/beastmen qualify as evil or is that too meta for you to reveal?

I'll give a not too specific answer.

Of those you are facing, between 50% and 100% would qualify as evil.

The beastmen keep fighting, they’re still holding, but might not for much longer as they’re taking heavy casualties, though they’re also killing a lot of the enemy.

The ogres join battle with a loud roar, enthusiastically tearing into beastmen and orcs.

Your giant allies continue to rain boulders down upon the enemies heads. A contingent of a few hundred orcs breaks off from the main melee and heads towards the giants, intent upon engaging them in combat.

Ebonsong and Nicolvren continue to fly down and account for dozens of orcs and beastmen between them.

Shahulzer once again dives at the Skull Pillar, once again he retreats, burned and swearing and angry.

-Not. Giving. Up- he sends to you, seemingly having difficulty articulating.

[Shahulzer HP 31/60]

-I’m going to help him!- Insists Ebonsong

Once again the Fivefold Death of Cities rips into the beastmen army, leaving hundreds dead and hundreds more fleeing.

[FfDoC 4/6]

The Skull Pillar pulses with red light once more and a hundred more demons appear and rush up the sides of the mountain towards the hiding place of your superweapon. It won’t be long until they’re there.

You are occupied with the demons facing you, cutting down 13 of them, leaving 77 still tearing into your forces.

[DE 15/35]

One of the blades manages to hurt you, the tiniest nick but blood fountains from the cut, fortunately your own recuperative powers quickly seal the wound.

[HP 60/69]

>>34694900
Next actions?

Beastmen
>Keep Fighting
>Other

Ogres
>Keep Fighting
>Other

Giants (about to be attacked by orcs)
>Engage in melee
>Retreat
>Other

Dragons, Ebonsong is about to try to help Shahulzer with the pillar
>Continue flyby attacks
>Other
>Forbid Ebby from helping
>Try to steal the Skull Pillar (who?)

Fivefold Death of Cities
>Fire (target?)
>Hold Fire

Sireyi
>Keep fighting demons in the melee
>Attack demons heading for FfDoC
>Teleport FFDoC away from battle
>Teleport FFDoC to other side of the valley
>Use Power (what?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

Fire the death star on the pillar. I kinda want to see what happens, preferably meaning the thing turns into slag.

That thing has to go if we are to have any chance, and our options in dealing with it are very limited. Should've researched the iron skull pillar with Isla or something - too late for that now.

(I wonder if it could have been crafted specifically to counter devices like our tsunde-ray... after all it's quite some time since Ruler has died on Ellahi's world.)

>>34694908
Beastmen
>Keep Fighting

Ogres
>Keep Fighting

Giants (about to be attacked by orcs)
>Engage in melee

Dragons, Ebonsong is about to try to help Shahulzer with the pillar
>Forbid Ebby from helping
>Have Nicolvren help him instead

Fivefold Death of Cities
>Fire (Approaching Demons)
I'm assuming they've moved out of range of the skull pillar?

Sireyi
>Cast Spell (Seeds of Destruction)

>>34694951
It's likely that it'll either absorb the ray and summon more demons or just neutralize it.

>>34694908
I'll just straight up second this >>34694958

Ok, please roll 3d20

Shahulzer, Nicolvren and Sireyi

And vote on extra Arcane Energy used on Seeds of Destruction (if any)

Rolled 6, 19, 7 = 32 (3d20)

>>34695026
20

Rolled 2, 17, 16 = 35 (3d20)

>>34695026

Rolled 9, 20, 5 = 34 (3d20)

>>34695026
15. Enough to hit 80 targets.

>>34694958

A magic-draining enchantment, much like refrigerator, would have to in itself consume ungodly amount of power. And it's efficiency is limited since it did not kill Shahulzer, instead it burned him - presumably through an unrelated defensive enchantment.

We need to disable it, and we need to do it fast. Pity we don't have something like mordenkainen's disjunction. Although artifact of this size would probably be hard to affect even so.

>>34695026
20 AE is good. I'm thinking the first demons who were summoned or chieftains are the best targets.

>>34695070
>Making assumptions about how the pillar works
What if the magic-draining enchantment feeds the pillar which further empowers the magic-draining enchantment, anon?
What if it's burning Shahulzer with his own stolen magical energy?
What if the burning is just the magic being torn out of him?
Why are you attempting to apply real world physics to magic?

Also, there would probably be backlash from using disjunction on the pillar.

>>34695087
I'm assuming the spell works like 'circle of X' spells in that it's targets are whoever is closest.
20 extra AE would result in affecting the 420 targets closest to ourselves.

>>34695126

>What if the entire battle is just a figment of our imagination and we are still trapped in mad king's rape chamber?

The pillar is a primary threat, pretending it isn't there or trying to repeat ineffectual strategy over and over will not make it go away.

>>34695126
>I'm assuming the spell works like 'circle of X' spells in that it's targets are whoever is closest.
20 extra AE would result in affecting the 420 targets closest to ourselves.

Quite likely, still better to throw out a preference for certain targets than to say nothing.

>>34695126
casting disjunction is an option?

>>34695156

We don't have that spell.

>>34695156
It's an L5 spell, so not in this battle.

>>34695154
Hey, where did I say it wasn't a threat? Nowhere.

Don't strawman, my argument wasn't to not deal with it, it was that shooting it with the laser is stupid and might make the situation worse.

Also that hypothetical ways the pillar could work don't prove anything, since we have no evidence to back them up.

And we did change the strategy, now we have two dragons trying to get the pillar out of there.

If this doesn't work, then we can try firing the laser at it.

The beastmen keep fighting, they’re still holding, but might not for much longer as they’re taking heavy casualties, though they’re also killing a lot of the enemy.

The ogres join battle with a loud roar, enthusiastically tearing into beastmen and orcs.

Your giant allies continue to rain boulders down upon the enemies heads. A contingent of a few hundred orcs breaks off from the main melee and heads towards the giants, intent upon engaging them in combat.

Ebonsong and Nicolvren continue to fly down and account for dozens of orcs and beastmen between them.

Shahulzer once again dives at the Skull Pillar, once again he retreats, burned and swearing and angry.

-Not. Giving. Up- he sends to you, seemingly having difficulty articulating.

[Shahulzer HP 31/60]

-I’m going to help him!- Insists Ebonsong

Once again the Fivefold Death of Cities rips into the beastmen army, leaving hundreds dead and hundreds more fleeing.

[FfDoC 4/6]

The Skull Pillar pulses with red light once more and a hundred more demons appear and rush up the sides of the mountain towards the hiding place of your superweapon. It won’t be long until they’re there.

You are occupied with the demons facing you, cutting down 13 of them, leaving 77 still tearing into your forces.

[DE 15/35]

One of the blades manages to hurt you, the tiniest nick but blood fountains from the cut, fortunately your own recuperative powers quickly seal the wound.

[HP 60/69]


The beastmen hang in there, but they are taking heavy casualties and are slowly being pushed back, several of their chieftains are dead.

The ogres are still tearing up anything that gets near them, though some are now bearing minor wounds.

The giants rush to meet the orcs facing them and tear through them easily. One giant throws an orc into the air and hits him mid-air with a his club, tossing him towards the Iron Pillar but falling short.

>>34695216
-Keep on the horde, don’t go for the pillar- you order Ebonsong, adding to Nicolvren –Help Shahulzer-

-Right- responds Nicolvren, diving down with Shahulzer as Ebby tries to talk you into letting her help.

The two dragons grab the Pillar together, again there’s a flash of red light and when it clears you can see Nicolvren flying slowly away, the massive metal pillar clutched in her claws, Shahulzer....isn’t helping.

-It hurts!- she whimpers –oh gods it hurts!- but she’s still carrying it away from the battle.

-I’m going to drop this soon- she sends –I can’t stand this-

-I’ll help!- insists Ebonsong

[Nicolvren HP 20/31]

She’s still over the enemy army, if she dropped it now, they could easily recover it.

Shahulzer is yelling obscenities and threats over the telepathic link, though not directed at anyone in particular. He dives down into the enemy forces, biting and claws and burning them, the beastmen and orcs hack ineffectually at his hide.

The Fivefold Death of Cities unleashes its elemental fury on the demons climbing up towards it, wiping them out, and collapsing part of the rockface.

[FfDoC 3/6]

The Skull Pillar summons more demons, 200 this time and they split into 4 equally-sized groups.
Two head for the Fivefold Death of Cities, but each far apart from the other group.
One group heads for the ogres
One group heads for the giants.

You chant the words to shape your arcane power, convincing those nearby that they are enemies, that none can be trusted.

You spell burrows into the minds of those around you, enhancing their distrust and convincing them that even an innocuous action has a sinister hidden meaning.

The remaining demons nearby you and hundreds of beastmen and orcs suddenly start tearing into the nearest available target, sowing chaos and disorder, some orcs and beastmen use the opportunity to settle old scores and soon two thousand of your foes are fighting each other

[AE 26/48]

Next actions?

Beastmen
>Keep Fighting
>Fall Back
>Other

Ogres (about to be attacked by demons)
>Keep Fighting
>Other

Giants (about to be attacked by demons)
>Keep Fighting
>Other

Dragons, Shahulzer isn’t responding to orders
>Forbid Ebby from helping Nicolvren
>Nicolvren carries the Skull Pillar (where?)
>Nicolvren drops the Skull Pillar

Fivefold Death of Cities
>Fire (target?)
>Hold Fire

Sireyi
>Attack demons (which group?)
>Teleport FFDoC away (where?)
>Use Power (what?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

>>34695216
Repeated some stuff here, only the bit after the last hit points update is relevant, my apologies.

>>34695191

>Taking it with one dragon doesn't work at all
>hey, maybe sending second, younger, less powerful dragon to help will work!

I'm afraid your fear of unknown is more stupid than my gamble. Besides, pillar that absorbs arbitrary amount of chaotic, destructive magic does not make any sense of being brought into prime material plane, considering how much more of destructive magic is being used in hells.

>>34695240
>Beastmen
>>Keep Fighting

>Ogres (about to be attacked by demons)
>>Keep Fighting

>Giants (about to be attacked by demons)
>>Keep Fighting

>Dragons, Shahulzer isn’t responding to orders
>>Nicolvren carries the Skull Pillar (far enough away that they can't easily recover it)

>Fivefold Death of Cities
>>Fire (Gorrask)

>Sireyi
>>Attack demons (The ones approaching the giants)

>>34695266
>50 isn't a bigger number than 30
>There's no reason for a demon lord to spread his influence using a magical artifact

>Prime material plane
Go read the archives, this is just a plane inhabited by mortals, the prime material plane doesn't exist in this setting.
It also doesn't absorb destructive magic, just magic in general, as was shown last thread.

>>34695240
I'll second once more >>34695304

Ok, roll 2d20, first is for Nicolvren, second is for Sireyi

>>34695240

>Beastmen
Keep fighting, avoid areas affected by seeds of destruction
>Ogres, Giants
Fighting retreat, try to keep the demons at distance
>Dragons
Carry it just a bit further, You can Do it, Nico! And Shah is in some deep shit for this.
>FDoC
Fire at demons
>Sireyi
intercept the other group of demons approaching the superweapon

How the fuck is the pillar still summoning demons when it's taken away? Damn.

Rolled 12, 18 = 30 (2d20)

>>34695365

Rolled 16, 16 = 32 (2d20)

>>34695365

Giants are gonna get shrekt.

Rolled 8, 9 = 17 (2d20)

>>34695365

The beastmen you command keep fighting, but are falling back, most of their chieftains are dead, and their retreat will soon become a rout.

The ogres are smashing the beastmen and orcs aside with glee, until the demons attack them. The two small forces tear into each other with equal savagery.
The demons are bleeding the ogres dry, but the ogres are making them work for it, for every 2 ogres that fall, so does one of the demons.

The Giants clash with the second group of demons, even as you fly over to aid them. Despite their speed the demons are having difficulty just getting close enough to attack the giants, Wegenthal and his clan members keeping them at a distance with their long reach. The demons keep darting forward only to drop back again. The battle between them is a stalemate.

Nicolvren manages to carry the Skull Pillar some way up the mountainous side of the valley before dropping it with a shriek of pain and collapsing near it.

Enemy forces start climbing the cliff after it but they will be some time before they get there, it’s out of the fight for now, but so is Nicolvren.

[Nicolvren HP 0; unconscious but alive]

Ebonsong flies over to the silver dragon and the Skull Pillar and takes up a protective stance, glaring down at the beastmen and orcs slowly climbing up towards her.

Shahulzer continues to tear into the army without a care. He doesn’t appear to have taken any injuries yet, but something is wrong.

[Shahulzer HP 26/60]

The Fivefold Death of Cities unleashes another awesome blast into the midst of the enemy army, where the Skull Pillar was until recently, leaving a circle of devastation.

You don’t know if Gorrask is dead, but it quickly becomes clear that most if not all of the enemy commanders are dead. The enemies forces are in disarray, they’re still fighting, but lack any sort of command or cohesion as lesser warchiefs each attempt to establish their own order on the battlefield.

>>34695498
The demons climbing the cliffs reach the superweapon and slaughter the few mages operating it. They remain around it, seemingly unsure what to do.

[FfDoC 2/6; captured]

You tear into the demons attacking the giants, taking down over a dozen of them, with the demons distracted by your presence the giants launch a counter attack, killing all but a few of them, the remaining demons in that group flee.

[DE 5/35, HP 69/69]

Next actions?

Beastmen
>Fall Back
>Flee
>Other

Ogres (fighting demons)
>Keep Fighting
>Other

Giants (no foes)
>Enter melee (target?)
>Hurl rocks (target?)
>Other

Dragons, Shahulzer isn’t responding to orders, Nicolvren is unconscious
>Ebonsong flyby attack
>Ebonsong guard Nicolvren and the Skull Pillar
>Ebonsong carry the Pillar further away
>Other

Sireyi
>Attack demons (which group?)
>Use Power (what?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

>>34695512
Beastmen
>Fall Back
We need them to fall back in an organized manner while they still can.

Ogres
>Keep Fighting

Giants
>Hurl rocks (Beastmen)

Dragons
>Ebonsong guard Nicolvren and the Skull Pillar

Sireyi
>Attack demons (The ones attacking the Ogres)

>>34695512

Beastmen
>Fighting retreat

Ogres
>Keep fighting
Giants
>Assist Ogres

Dragons
>Ebonsong guard Nicolvren

Sireyi
>Fly towards Nico and heal her

hopefully the demons don't get to the core of the device by the time we get Nico back up. We should dispose of those demons right afterwards.

Ebby gaurd Nikki
Gaints throw rocks
Beastmen and ogres fall back
Us teleport the FFDoC out

Next round ebby could try and carry the pillare away more so that we can heal nikki. but we gotta make sure dea\mons dont grab our super weapon.

>>34695512
>Beastmen
>>Fall Back

>Ogres (fighting demons)
>>Fighting retreat, stick near the beastmen

>Giants (no foes)
>>Hurl rocks (Targets of opportunity, anyone that looks like they're a leader, demons far enough away from our own guys)

>Dragons, Shahulzer isn’t responding to orders, Nicolvren is unconscious
>>Ebonsong guard Nicolvren and the Skull Pillar

>Sireyi
>>Attack demons (Group attacking Ogres)

I was hoping the demons would take one turn to arrive and another to capture the FFDoC during which we could've teleported it away.

Main objective is accomplished, now we've got to focus on withdrawing and minimizing casualties.

We'll be teleporting the FFDoC with us, don't worry about that.

>>34695512

Beastmen
>Rally around Nicolvren

Ogres (fighting demons)
>Keep Fighting

Giants (no foes)
>Enter melee (join the Ogres)

Dragons, Shahulzer isn’t responding to orders, Nicolvren is unconscious
>Ebonsong guard Nicolvren and the Skull Pillar

Sireyi
>Drop half Dragon guise and deliver gratuitous storms everywhere

ok, writing, please roll 1d20+11 for Sirey fighting the demons

Rolled 13 + 11 (1d20 + 11)

>>34695645
rolling

Rolled 17 + 11 (1d20 + 11)

>>34695645

Rolled 18 + 11 (1d20 + 11)

>>34695645

Rolled 19 + 11 (1d20 + 11)

The beastmen on your side begin to retreat, fighting all the way, with no coordination in the opposing force they are able to retreat in good order. Although they have not fully disengaged most of them are out of the fight, with only a rearguard still in combat.

The Ogres continue to battle the demons attacking them, though a number on both sides have fallen the ogres are slowly losing....

...Until you and the giants arrive. The giants throw boulders and charge into melee with the demons. Wiping them out.

Ebonsong continues guarding Nicolvren, easily dealing with the few beastmen that get close, though there’s far more scaling the rocks towards her.

Shahulzer is still tearing into the beastmen and orcs, he’s now taken a few wounds.

[Shahulzer HP 18/60]

The demons that have captured the Fivefold Death of Cities hack at it with their enchanted blades, reducing it to scrap.

You will find the Elemental Nodes undamaged in the wreckage after the battle.

You join the giants and ogres in combat with the demons, helping cut down the last remaining ones.

Next actions?

Beastmen
>Hold Ground
>Continue Retreat
>Other

Ogres (no foes)
>Enter melee (target?)
>Hold Ground
>Other

Giants (no foes)
>Enter melee (target?)
>Hurl rocks (target?)
>Hold Ground
>Other

Dragons, Shahulzer isn’t responding to orders, Nicolvren is unconscious
>Ebonsong flyby attack
>Ebonsong guard Nicolvren and the Skull Pillar
>Ebonsong carry the Pillar further away
>Other

Sireyi
>Attack demons (near FfDoC)
>Attack Beastmen/Orcs
>Heal Nicolvren
>Try to calm Shahulzer (how?)
>Use Power (what?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

>>34695745
Beastmen
>Hold Ground
Reorganize so we can mop up or absorb the losers.

Ogres (no foes)
>Hold Ground


Giants (no foes)
>Hold Ground

Dragons
>Ebonsong guard Nicolvren and the Skull Pillar


Sireyi
>Heal Nicolvren
After this I want to try and calm Shahulzer

>>34695745
>Beastmen
>>Hold Ground

>Ogres (no foes)
>>Hold Ground

>Giants (no foes)
>>Hurl rocks (Targets of opportunity, anyone that looks like they're a leader, demons that try to approach)

I don't want all of the enemies to dogpile Shahulzer immediately.

>Dragons, Shahulzer isn’t responding to orders, Nicolvren is unconscious
>>Ebonsong guard Nicolvren and the Skull Pillar

>Sireyi
This depends, are the beastmen scaling the rocks putting Ebonsong and Nicolvren in immediate danger?
If yes, heal Nicolvren and have them get away.
If no, try to calm Shahulzer (Persuasion).

>>34695745
Beastmen/Ogres/Giants
>Hold Ground (we need to keep organization)

Ebby
>Guard Nicolvren

Sireyi
>Heal Nicolvren

>>34695745

Beastmen
>Hold ground, regroup

Ogres
>Hold ground, regroup

Giants
>Hurl rocks onto any elements of the horde that try to advance towards coalition forces

Dragons
>Ebby guards Nico

Sireyi
I'm torn between helping Nico and dealing with the demons lest they make away with the power core.
Banking on demons being satisfied with having slaughtered the mages and destroyed the device to move towards rest of our forces, I'll go with
>Heal Nicolvren

We'll have condolences to write and sign after this... but Nico should get substantial reward for her heroics. We should also come up with a particularly fitting punishment for Shahulzer.

>>34695803
I don't think Shahulzer is even in control of himself at the moment, let's not speak of punishment.

Anyway, I agree we should heal Nico then have her help Ebony while we go to keep Shahulzer from getting killed.

>>34695803
>Punishing Shahulzer
I...what?
His mind was overwhelmed by the skull pillar, which we sent him to try and remove.
Even after being overwhelmed, he's just been ripping through our enemies.
I don't understand what about that is worthy of punishment.

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>>34695803
>We should also come up with a particularly fitting punishment for Shahulzer.
>pic related


You are aware that Shaulzer was obviously severely mentally fucked up by the artifact right? He is consumed by rage to the point he cannot do anything beyond kill. And besides, other than not being able to take orders he has not done anything wrong.

ok, writing, no rolls required...

...yet

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>>34695858

>>34695835
>>34695839
>>34695844

He disobeyed direct order out of stubbornness, not because some mind-changing shit in the artifact. Nico kept her faculties just fine, and at expense of her own health too.
Although if it turns out the pillar somehow did take control of him, I suppose I would be fine with some clemency.

>>34695925
>>34694663
>-Bastard thing burned me- he complains –also tried to mess with my head; I’ve never felt so angry, I’m going to try that again, I won’t let it beat me.-
>Also tried to mess with my head

When did he disobey a direct order?

If you mean wanting to go after the artifact again, we told him it was okay each time; the third time he failed his will save and didn't help, instead throwing himself into the enemy.

Because the artifact drove him berserk.

>>34695925
from here >>34695226

-Keep on the horde, don’t go for the pillar- you order Ebonsong, adding to Nicolvren –Help Shahulzer-

-Right- responds Nicolvren, diving down with Shahulzer as Ebby tries to talk you into letting her help.

The two dragons grab the Pillar together, again there’s a flash of red light and when it clears you can see Nicolvren flying slowly away, the massive metal pillar clutched in her claws, Shahulzer....isn’t helping.

-It hurts!- she whimpers –oh gods it hurts!- but she’s still carrying it away from the battle.

-I’m going to drop this soon- she sends –I can’t stand this-

-I’ll help!- insists Ebonsong

[Nicolvren HP 20/31]

She’s still over the enemy army, if she dropped it now, they could easily recover it.

Shahulzer is yelling obscenities and threats over the telepathic link, though not directed at anyone in particular. He dives down into the enemy forces, biting and claws and burning them, the beastmen and orcs hack ineffectually at his hide.
*******************


He did exactly as we told him until he was finally overwhelmed. Please pay more attention in the future, anon.

Your beastmen hold their ground, and it’s a good thing they did, too. Whilst still not completely recovered from the loss of their leaders the enemy army renews their attack, slamming into your forces once more.
Your beastmen are holding, for now.

You have the ogres and giants hold position, with the giants having plenty of boulders nearby just in case...

...the remaining demons abandon the wreckage of your superweapon and come leaping down the mountainside, dodging thrown boulders (some, others hit). The ogres and giants meet them head on, and stop them, a brutal melee erupts.

Ebonsong remains where she is, throwing her attackers from the heights, she’s ok for now, but more and more orcs and beastmen are climbing towards her.

Shahulzer continues to rip into the foe, his blood and theirs streaming down his flanks. He won’t last much longer.

[Shahulzer HP 8/60]

You make it to Nicolvrens side and pour your remaining divine energies into her. With the Skull Pillar so close, it’s almost impossible to heal her, you try harder, burning your own vital energies to help her.

[DE 0; Nicolvren HP 5/31; Sireyi HP 39/69, Regeneration - Sireyi HP 69/69]

Nicolvren climbs to her feet and joins Ebonsong in holding back the forces trying to swarm up the cliff.

You stare at the Skull Pillar, this close you have resumed your angelic appearance, and your magical abilities seem quiet within you, almost not there at all. Your ability to sense evil, dulled as it is, still reveals the evil magic present in this...thing.

[Magic; Demon, Summoning, Warding, Anti-Magic, Blood Sacrifice, Enchantment (Rage)].

Without your senses being dulled by being so close you suspect the feeling of demonic energies would be much stronger.

>>34695964

Hmm. Now that I'm reading it again it seems we did order him to keep trying (which was pretty dumb). I take it back. If there's anyone deserving of punishment, it's us.

>>34695986
So dispelling the magic on him and retrieving him is our top priority right now, right? He's still in the midst of the enemy army and slowly losing health to mysterious and less mysterious causes.

Also, if I was one of the beastmen in that army I would run away from the dragon as fast as I could instead of still fighting. Not that he isn't faster than beastmen, but still.

Next actions?

Beastmen
>Keep Fighting
> Retreat
>Other

Ogres (fighting demons)
>Keep Fighting
> Retreat
>Other

Giants (fighting demons)
>Keep Fighting
> Retreat
>Other

Dragons, Shahulzer isn’t responding to orders
>Guard Skull Pillar
>Carry the Pillar further away (who?)
>Other

Sireyi
>Attack demons
>Attack Beastmen/Orcs
>Resume Disguise (optional, does not use action)
>Try to calm Shahulzer (how?)
>Use Power (what?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

>>34696033
Beastmen/Ogres/Giants
>Retreat

Nicolvren/Ebby
>Get away from the Pillar

Sireyi
>Use Stormwind to blow away those trying to climb up.

>>34696033

>Beastmen, Ogres, Giants
Stand your ground and keep fighting

>Dragons
Guard the pillar

>Sireyi
Resume disguise
Fly towards Shahulzer, heal him (spend up to 1/3 of own HP, try to calm him down)

>>34696033
>Beastmen
>>Keep Fighting

>Ogres (fighting demons)
>>Keep Fighting

>Giants (fighting demons)
>>Keep Fighting

Retreating from demons seems like an even worse idea than retreating from a normal melee, and the Giants/Ogres will get overwhelmed w/o the Beastmen.

>Dragons, Shahulzer isn’t responding to orders
>>Guard Skull Pillar
Nicolvren uses her breath weapon on the ones climbing the cliffs, Ebby takes out ones that reach the top, if it gets too damgerous they withdraw.

>Sireyi
>>Resume Disguise (optional, does not use action)
>>Try to calm Shahulzer (Dispel Magic, talking is a swift action [I think? It's definitely not free])

Has the skull pillar burned all of it's own magic from blood sacrifices at this point?
It's not summoning demons anymore, nor is it lashing out at us despite being in it's AoE, so I'd assume it has.

>>34696033

Beastmen
>Keep Fighting

Ogres (fighting demons)
>Keep Fighting

Giants (fighting demons)
>Keep Fighting

Dragons, Shahulzer isn’t responding to orders
>Guard Skull Pillar

Sireyi
>Resume Disguise (optional, does not use action)
>Other (retrieve the wind Node, it may be time to summon a storm and we'll need the power if we want to destroy the Skull Pillar)
>Try to calm Shahulzer (dispel magic)

>>34696033
Sireyi
>Try to calm Shahulzer (how?)
>Use Spell (what?)
It's an enchantment. Probably a really powerful one at that. And given the sacrifice magic and the fact that Shahulzer mysteriously lost some health I fear it is powered by his life-force. I'm not that firm on which spells we can do, but I think something less direct then a dispelling might be easier. Maybe a sleep spell?

Ogres (fighting demons)
>Keep Fighting

Giants (fighting demons)
>Keep Fighting

Dragons
>Guard Skull Pillar
One of them could do a fly-by against the demons, killing incoming enemies on the way so that the other is not overwhelmed.

>>34696086

At least the antimagic field seems to be still in effect.

we should have destroyed it with the superweapon

>>34696033
Beastmen
>Keep Fighting

Ogres (fighting demons)
>Keep Fighting

Giants (fighting demons)
>Keep Fighting

Dragons, Shahulzer isn’t responding to orders
>Guard Skull Pillar

Sireyi
Destroy Skull Pillar

I say we heal Shahulzer as we try to get through to him. If we fail to end the effect he's going to get killed otherwise.

>>34696114
Just joined the thread now. Why wasn't that thing destroyed with the superweapon. That's exactly what I wanted to reading through the thread

>>34696137
We were too worried about the possible effects a massive source of non-good magical energy could have on the Skull Pillar. If it managed to absorb the energy released from our superweapon, the day would almost certainly have been lost.

>>34696127
We really need to destroy the pillar first. What if it summons more demons? Then we are totally screwed. So destroy pillar and then immediately help Shahulzer.

>>34696092
>Wind node
You mean Storm Node, right?
We also can't summon storms and we don't have one stored.

>>34696095
That's a good point, actually.
We might be able to overpower it before it can try to drain Shahulzer's HP if we burn enough AE.
We don't have any sleep spells, though.

>>34696114
That might've just given it a ton more magic to summon demons with. Ideas based on unknowns are always bad.

>>34696127
Link and greentext your vote.

>>34696137
The pillar drains magic, we didn't want to risk giving it enough fuel to summon an army of demons.

>>34696157
Ok, I see. I still think our first priority should be to destroy the pillar before it can summon more demons or is that not a problem anymore while we are guarding it?

ok, writing, roll 1d20+13 to use Dispel Magic on Shahulzer and vote on extra arcane energy used (if any)

Rolled 15 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34696184

Rolled 11 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34696181
It's out of juice, I think.
It didn't attack us, and demon artifacts hate the shit out of anyone with angel blood.

>>34696184
15

Rolled 15 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34696184
AE 15

Rolled 18 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34696184
15 AE

>>34696162
Yes, Storm Node is indeed what I meant.
>we don't have one stored.
We don't? Damn, I thought we did.

>>34696162
>Ideas based on unknowns are always bad
that's a very bold statement, and also a very wrong one. Without experimentation there would be no science.

>>34696162

>making assumption about how the device works
there's a difference between 'draining' and 'stealing and storing away for future use'

Rolled 7 (1d20)

Don't mind me, just rolling a die, low is bad, high is good, for you guys.

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>>34696220

Oh wow.

>>34696200
Okay, let me rephrase that.
Firing a magical superweapon at the other magical superweapon that either eats or nullifies magic is a bad idea because it's unknown if it will fuck us over completely, waste a turn or actually work.

>>34696217
Possibly, but we don't know what it does either way.
Do you really want to take that kind of risk?

>>34696220
Dammit.

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>>34696220

Roll 1d20+3 for perception please

Rolled 11 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>34696308

Rolled 18 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>34696308

Rolled 1 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>34696308

Rolled 4 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>34696308

Your beastmen keep fighting, holding back the advancing horde as best they can.

Then disaster strikes; with the last two of your allied chieftains dead, and with no clear successors the beastmen clans turn on themselves.

Your beastmen forces will be driven from the battle next turn.

Your ogres and giants are giving a good account of themselves, beating back the demons. Casualties are happening on both sides but your forces are slowly gaining the upper hand. They will be standing alone against the oncoming beastmen and orc horde next turn.

>Perception success
You can see Wegenthal leading the giants, he’s got one arm around a smaller giant, holding him upright. The smaller giant looks semi-conscious and covered in blood, it’s Bokin.

With a combination of claw and breath weapon, Ebonsong and Nicolvren hold the cliff edge and keep guarding the Pillar. More orcs and beastmen are scaling the cliff and they can’t hold out forever.

Resuming your half-dragon appearance you fly over to Shahulzer wehere he is tearing into the enemy forces. You focus your arcane energies and cast your spell.

>Dispel Success

[AE 10/48]

“What?” he says, looking around in confusion “OW!” he exclins as an orcish spear pokes his belly “What’s going on, get off me!” he roars.

Then he catches sight of you “Oh Sireyi....” He says “Did we win? I..ow...I feel kindof sleepy...”

Despite still being attacked he doesn’t seem too bothered, and is shaking his head and trying to focus. If you want him to do anything you’ll need to stay nearby and keep talking to him.

Next actions?

Ogres (fighting demons, soon beastmen too)
>Keep Fighting
> Retreat
>Other

Giants (fighting demons, soon beastmen too)
>Keep Fighting
> Retreat
>Other

Dragons, Shahulzer will need help understanding what’s happening, his actions are listed with Sireyi’s
>Guard Skull Pillar
>Carry the Pillar further away (who?)
>Other

Sireyi
>Attack demons
>Attack Beastmen/Orcs
>Talk to Shahulzer, get him to fly away (where?)
>Talk to Shahulzer, get him to fight (who?)
>Use Power (what?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

>>34696353
Ogres/Giants
>Retreat

Dragons
>Hold out at the pillar

Sireyi
>Get Shahulzar to assist the retreat of our allies

>>34696353
Ogres (fighting demons, soon beastmen too)
> Retreat

Giants (fighting demons, soon beastmen too)
> Retreat

Dragons, Shahulzer will need help understanding what’s happening, his actions are listed with Sireyi’s
>Guard Skull Pillar

Sireyi
>Attack demons

How do we destroy the pillar? If we can do that and then retreat it would be good.

Ogres (fighting demons, soon beastmen too)
> Retreat

Giants (fighting demons, soon beastmen too)
>Retreat


Dragons, Shahulzer will need help understanding what’s happening, his actions are listed with Sireyi’s
>>Guard Skull Pillar

Sireyi
>>Talk to Shahulzer, get him to defend the Skull Pillar
>Destroy the pillar

>>34696367
Or even kill Gorrask. Where is he by the way? Can we target him?

>>34696353
Ogres (fighting demons, soon beastmen too)
> Retreat

Giants (fighting demons, soon beastmen too)
> Retreat

Dragons
>Guard Skull Pillar

Sireyi
>Talk to Shahulzer, get him to fight (Demons attacking the Giants, general assistance with the retreat is good as well )

>>34696374
Haven't seen him. He may have been killed by the blast that took most of the enemy commanders

>>34696353
>Ogres (fighting demons, soon beastmen too)
>> Retreat

>Giants (fighting demons, soon beastmen too)
>> Retreat

>Dragons, Shahulzer will need help understanding what’s happening, his actions are listed with Sireyi’s
>>Guard Skull Pillar

>Sireyi
>>Talk to Shahulzer, get him to help with the retreat

Ok, writing.

What's to stop every ally from retreating while the dragons and Sireyi stay back and defend the artifact? This might seem suicidal, but the artifact is, as I understand, somewhere on a cliff or so. With 3 dragons defending it, practically no enemies should be able to land a hit. Sireyi can use her regenerating power to heal up the others and I think we would regenerate faster than the enemies can harm us with this method.

Also, other than the demons, I doubt the enemies are crazy enough to keep attacking a group of dragons. We could then wait out the beastmen and leave at our leisure.

Sireyi would need to recover the elemental nodes at some point though, and might want to spend her energy slowing the enemies so that our allies can retreat for a while.

The Giants and Ogres retreat, following the friendly (if disorganised) beastmen forces. The demons follow but are unable to inflict any real casualties on the larger foes, and so turn their attention to the fleeing beastmen, cutting many of them down.

Nicolvren and Ebonsong are protecting the Skull Pillar, but have been pushed back from the cliff edge and there are more than a hundred orcs and beastmen on solid ground attacking them, with more scaling the cliff.

-Sireyi!- sends Ebonsong –Sister, help!-

With your encouragement and support you get Shahulzer into the air and flying over to the giants, fighting alongside them against the demons. With the giants looking after him he won’t fall asleep, even though he looks near-dead.
Your forces are retreating from the battlefield and the dragons guarding the Skull Pillar are losing.

The remains of the Fivefold Death of Cities appear undiscovered for now.

Gorrasks whereabouts are unknown.

The ogres and giants are in full retreat along with Shahulzer and will not be taking any further actions in the battle, unless requested.

Next actions?

Dragons, Shahulzer is retreating
>Guard Skull Pillar
>Carry the Pillar further away (who?)
>Flee
>Other

Sireyi
>Help the retreat
>Help Nicolvren and Ebonsong (How?)
>Retrieve Elemental Nodes
>Search for Gorrask (how?)
>Other

>>34696467
Dragons
>Guard the pillar

Sireyi
>Help Nicolvren and Ebonsong
>Use Stormwind to blast the enemies of the cliff

>>34696467
>Sireyi
>>Use flight speed bonus from Storm Winds to get over there immediately, burn HP to full heal Nicolvren
Shouldn't take too much HP, and we regen fast enough for it to not be much of an issue.

>Ebonsong
>>Flee

>Nicolvren
>>Carry Skull Pillar further away

Order of operations is important here.

>>34696467
Dragons
>Guard the pillar while Sireyi destroys it

Sireyi
>Destroy the pillar

>>34696497
We should bring the cliffside under control before trying to destroy te pillar,we have no idea how hard that might be.

>>34696497
There are about 100 guys, Nicolvren has 5 HP and Ebonsong is still a child (by draconic standards).
They'll die.

>>34696483
I don't think Gust of Wind will be able to affect a hundred guys at once, and the dragons are too weak right now to make up the difference.

>>34696520
Alternatively, we could just retreat further up the mountain with the pillar.

>>34696521
>I don't think Gust of Wind will be able to affect a hundred guys at once
It pinned a grown dragon to the ground, yeah, I'm pretty sure it can throw these guys off the cliff.

But healing Nicolvren is a option too, just retreat isn't really.

>>34696467
Dragons, Shahulzer is retreating
>Flee

Sireyi
>Retrieve Elemental Nodes

Abandon the pillar, flee, regroup and come back with more forces allies.

>>34696467
>Dragons
>>Retreat

>Sireyi
>>Take the pillar and fly higher up the mountain
Our strength is higher than Nicolvren's.

>>34696536
If it doesn't kill Nicolvren for trying anymore. Of which I wouldn't be sure.

>>34696550
Hey, guess what?

>>34696488
>Full heal Nicolvren before she takes the pillar
>Order of operations is important
I already thought of that.

>>34696548
>>>Take the pillar and fly higher up the mountain
Maybe this is a good idea. Let's try it.

>>34696537
It can throw them off, and anyone caught in it's AoE is going to experience a sudden stop shortly, but we don't know what exactly it's AoE is.

>>34696565
Please don't nest votes.
Please.

>>34696467
>>34696488 Looks good. Supporting. Provided we heal first

Also can we touch the pillar and see if it hurts us? We may just want to carry it ourselves., or teleport with it.

No hivemind this time huh? Ok.

You know the drill, Final Destination, 5 minutes

1 - You and the dragons defend the pillar
2 - You retreat, Nicolvren carries the pillar
3 - You retreat, you carry the pillar

Healing Nicolvren is a lock-in.

I think I covered all the popular options.

>>34696654
Is that last one supposed to be dragons retreat, you carry the pillar?

>>34696654
2

>>34696665
Yes, option 3 is you all retreat, with you carrying the pillar

>>34696654
3

>>34696654
If we burn health to heal Nicolvren, we might as well let her carry the pillar.

What about the elemental cores?

>>34696654
3

>>34696695
only counted 1 vote for them, so not this turn.

>>34696695
We can still get those after having dealt with the pillar, ideally the round after the next one.
Or the next one if we let Nicolvren destroy the pillar, which I would suggest not to do, because I bet the thing explodes or something.

>>34696654
3

>>34696690
Is that a vote?
Are you the guy that already voted for two and are now just making an argument in an effort to persuade other voters, or did you forget to include a number to make sure your vote is clear?

Stop voting please

Ok, please roll me 2d20, both rolls are for Sireyi as she tries to lift the Pillar.

First is Will
Second is Con

>>34696722
Final destination voting requires a number, so obviously it wasn't a vote. I merely pointed out why having Nicolvren carry the thing ould be sensible now, even though otherwise Seiryi might be the better choice.

Rolled 2, 10 = 12 (2d20)

>>34696745

Rolled 7, 5 = 12 (2d20)

>>34696745

Rolled 20, 18 = 38 (2d20)

Rolled 3, 5 = 8 (2d20)

>>34696745
Yeah, thats what I had feared, oh well, hoping for the best.

Rolled 9, 1 = 10 (2d20)

>>34696745

>>34696749
My logic in having Sireyi carry it is her generally higher stats, higher HP pool and far superior resistance to magic.

>>34696758
>Rolls so damn well
>Isn't linked
I really hope this counts, anon.
Please remember to link your rolls in the future.

>>34696758
Hell, yeah, that is some awesome rolling there, anon

>>34696758
And there is the best, thanks based anon.

>>34696769
>My logic in having Sireyi
Yes, thats why I said that normally she would be the superior choice.

Haha! my rolls saved the day!

Haha! I discounted the non-linked roll!

No I didn't, it's included

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>>34696801

>>34696654
1

“Guard my back and follow me” you say as you approach the Pillar, preparing for a lot of pain as you grab it.

The metal feels slightly warm, huh, maybe it’s out of powe-

Hellish fire explodes around you, searing into your flesh even as rage and hatred attempts to overwhelm your mind. Damn that hurts.

[HP 29/69]

You’re holding onto the Pillar, barely and it’s still burning you, it will kill you in seconds if you keep hold. The pain is beyond description as hellfire billows around you, but you grit your teeth and focus on your task.

You’re holding the desire to kill everyone around you and bathe in their blood at bay, for now.

It’s clear that touching this thing isn’t your brightest idea, but you don’t have a lot of options right now. It’s heavy, but not so heavy you can’t fly with it, at perhaps half your normal flight speed (50mph; faster flight is not an option)

>Stick to the plan, fly away
>Let go

You cannot use any magic whilst touching this thing.

>>34696901
Missed a bit.

This should be at the start of my post

You fly over to Nicolvren and Ebonsong and attack the orcs and beastmen harassing them, pushing their attackers back with stormwinds to give you enough time to quickly heal Nicolvren, despite pouring a great deal of energy into healing her, this close to the Pillar your powers don’t work very well.

[Nicolvren HP 10/31]

>>34696901
It really doesn't like people with angelic blood.
How much HP did we use healing Nicolvren and how much was from the pillar?
This is important.

>>34696933
30 to heal Nicolvren
10 from the Pillar

>>34696945
That makes a pretty big difference.
Also, 30 HP burned to heal Nicolvren.
I was thinking we'd wind up burning 15 maximum, even if the anti-magic field made it not work.

About how much distance could we cover while flying and holding this thing, assuming we hold it until we're almost unconscious?
Is it actually doing more damage to us than it did to Nicolvren?

>>34696758
Is that some RULESOFNATURE?

>>34696901
>Stick to the plan, fly away
Hmm okay, so at 50mph thats 73 feet a second. That should be fast enough to get us out of here. Hopefully.

Ffs, should just have destroyed it already. Keeping it intact only did us bad.

>>34696975
>About how much distance could we cover while flying and holding this thing, assuming we hold it until we're almost unconscious?

You're not sure, but not very far, maybe a mile if you're lucky.

>Is it actually doing more damage to us than it did to Nicolvren?

Yes

send ebby to get the cores
Have nikki on stand by to catch us when we fall.

Stick to the plan guys.

>>34696901
Lift it up really high and then throw it at the ground. Let gravity do the job.

>>34697011
Ech. Think we'd take less damage just dropping it and fighting off the horde?

>>34697011
This question is a bit meta, but would a sufficient impact break the pillar?

Would terminal velocity be sufficient?

>>34697027

No, fuck that, one mile is no distance at all for an army. The orcs will just recover it, we need to destroy the thing now.

>>34696901
>Rise as high as we can in this round, and mve a bit away from the horde, then let it fall on the nearest stone surface.

>>34696945
That's ok then.

>>34696901
Just move to the top so that we are not surrounded anymore, while retaining the advantage of the high ground. Regroup and hold off the horde. With three strong, flying fighter we might be able to keep them at bay while Sireyi regenerates enough to heal the others.

Actually, move the Pillar farther away so that we are not under its influence while holding off the beastmen and orcs at the cliff. Keep flying and attack them from the air, I don't think the enemies have had any long-range weapons so far.

>>34697047
>This question is a bit meta, but would a sufficient impact break the pillar?

You don't know, maybe it would work

>>34697011

One mile? Wow, shit's intense.

Maybe we should just try to destroy it already instead of dragging things longer, we can't keep fighting much longer.

>>34696901
>Fly directly up, as high as we can, Nicolvren standing by to catch us if we lose consciousness before choosing to drop the pillar.
>Try and drop it so that it'll fall onto a hard stone surface
>Ebonsong stays out of trouble

>>34696901

Break the damn pillar.
Send ebonsong or someone else to retrieve the cores.
Then run away.

>>34697130
Maybe you should try suggesting a way to break the pillar?

>>34697116

I'd say throw it at angle so it flies a bit away from the horde too.

Most popular option appears to be drop the pillar from a great height, with Nicolvren on hand to help you if you pass out.

And Ebonsong retrieves the Elemental Cores.

Writing, but I'll check back in case there's any dissent.

>>34697192
As long as it falls long enough to reach it's maximum velocity and hits a hard stone surface, I don't care.

>>34697211
I'd really rather not send Ebonsong to get the cores alone.

>>34697211
I don't want Ebosong going out of our eyes, there are still way too many enemies around here to risk that. And we might not be able to rush to her right now.

>>34697211
>And Ebonsong retrieves the Elemental Cores.
Ebonsong should really stay with us, we can easily get the cores back with scrying even if someone should take them-

she's is a dragon, she'll be FINE.

2 for Ebby to retrieve the cores
4 against (earlier vote upthread for stay out of trouble)

Ok, writing.

>>34697301
You really need to start linking your posts.

>She's is

“Nicolvren” you say “Follow me, catch me if I pass out.” She nods

“Ebonsong” you say “stay out of trouble” She nods and takes flight, heading towards your Giant allies and Shahulzer. With the beastmen and orcs closing in, Nicolvren and you take to the skies.

You fly up as far and as fast as you can carrying this heavy metal object that’s trying to kill you.

Just before you pass out you let go, or try to. It seems your hands don’t want to let go of this things, as though it’s holding on to you as tightly as you’re holding on to it.

With hellfire burning your skin away and charred lumps of your own flesh falling off you, you pass out, still holding onto the Pillar as it falls.

Darkness

You wake up suddenly, there’s shouting and the clash of weapons all around, you roll to your feet, your halberd in your hand.

All around you are people fighting in armours of all styles, using weapons of all kinds, the ground beneath your feet is uneven and spongy, looking down you realise that you and the fighters are standing not on the ground, but on an endless field of corpses.

There seems to be no clear sides to this conflict: as soon as a fighter kills one foe he attacks another nearby.

Is this a vision? A dream?

A swordhilt smacking into your face and drawing blood stops that line of thought, you lay about you with your halberd, defending yourself in the packed melee.

Other than a split lip, you are uninjured.

You fly up to try and get some sense of where you are, only for a chain to wrap around your ankle and drag you back into the melee.

“No true warrior leaves battle” snarls a guttural voice and a dozen armoured attackers come at you in unison.

You fend them off as best you can, only for the combat to suddenly stop, everyone falling back.

>>34697392
A clear circle opens around you, at the edge of the circle a demon approaches. Thrusting the nearby warriors aside this monster towers over them as it walks into the open space with you.

12ft tall looking like a beastman with four horns, goat legs and two huge wings on his back, he carries a two-headed axe in one hand, and a thick-bladed sword in the other.

“Well, well” it rumbles “The Abyss smiles upon me, you come to my realm, and bearing a gift I see.”

>Urgorg I presume?
>Introduce yourself
>What gift?
>Fly away
>Attack (how?)
>Other

>>34697409
>Urgorg I presume?
>Introduce yourself

>>34697409
>>Urgorg I presume?
>>What gift?

>>34697409
>Urgorg I presume?
>Introduce yourself

>>34697409
>Urgorg I presume?
>what gift?

>attack (kick ass)

“You must be Urgorg” you say “I am Baroness Sireyi Valyenya, Paladin of Velya.”

“Yes indeed” he says, his voice sounding like clashing weapons “But I did not expect to see you here.”

“I did not expect to be here” you say “And I apologise, but I brought no gift with me.”

He throws back his head and laughs “That’s amusing” he says “A paladin, lied to by their goddess, very well, allow me to be generous: forswear your goddess forever, pledge fealty to me, and I’ll tell you everything.”

“Wow” you say “What a generous offer, let me think about that: no.” Your last word comes out a little harsh.

He chuckles “Well, with that done, the only thing left is for me to take what is mine”.

He advances towards you saying “I prefer prey that fights back, and the bragging rights over that simpering coward Salvastis will make it all the sweeter.”

“What about Salvastis?” you say, backing away from the demon lord “What’s he got to do with this?”

“He kidnapped the wrong angel” grins Urgorg and attacks, you dodge his first swing, jumping back.

Looks like you’re going to have to fight a demon lord, alone.

>Fly away
>Just keep dodging
>Attack with Halberd
>Use Spell (what?)
>Use Power (what?)
>Other

>>34697628
>>Use Power (what?)
Ride the world storm, get back to our dragons.

>>34697628
>Just keep dodging
If we fly away, we'll just get dragged down by a chain again.

We're still out of DE and AE is pretty low.

Not going to suggest plane-shifting because I don't think we're actually here, just that our mind is here temporarily as a result of losing consciousness from touching the pillar.

>>34697628
>Use Spell (what?)
>Plane Shift

>>34697628

Redeeming touch debuffs targets who do not repent, right?

Do we have power left, or is Sireyi still in the red?

>>34697628
>Just keep dodging

>>34697665
Agreed

>>34697628

Magic Mirror

>>34697674
Good question

HP 69/69
DE 35/35
AE 48/48

>>34697674
Far too heavily in the red to attempt this even as distraction (and we really shouldn't do that).

>>34697665

Interesting theory.

I also guess that defeating the demon lord here will seal a victory for us against the orc horde too.

>>34697686
>>34697689
Wow okay, we got full heal, means this probably is a illusion afterall.

Changing:
>>34697666
to
>Lightningbolt

>>34697686

Sweet. Lt's go all out on this guy.
>engage in melee with the halberd
>Smite and try to use redeeming touch just to distract the demon

>>34697704
I would advise against attacks at first, its possible we would attack Nicolvren in reality with that.
>>34697628
>Try using your familiar bond o communicate with Ebonsong.

>>34697674
It might have negative effects on creatures of pure evil that it fails against, due to flooding them with positive energy.
Never tested it, though.

>>34697686
I get the feeling that this guy will probably have an anti-magic field in his realm similar to the effect of his pillar, are we getting any feeling similar to that?

>>34697702
Assuming we can actually destroy a demon lord in his personal realm and that it'll still kill him if we are only here in spirit, yeah.
Aside from that though, we've killed all their leadership and demon lords still outclass us by a pretty large margin.

>>34697719
>That's all out
You must be new here.
First, that's two actions.
Second, our melee abilities are totally eclipsed by our spell-like abilities.

>>34697628
>Burn everything on a redeeming touch

Dodging it is, writing.

>>34697787
You don't get to decide how much we spend on an ability when voting for it.
In addition, there's virtually no chance of that working on a full-power demon lord, as has been explained several different times.

You keep dodging and avoiding his attacks, trying to figure out if you’re really here, if this a dream, if maybe attacking him will result in you striking out at Nicolvren.

You avoid most of his attacks but a backhanded sword-strike carves off a third of your left wing, the pain is excruciating, like burning needles being shoved into your entire body, and blood fountains from the wound.

[HP 59/69]

He keeps coming at you, never tiring, never slowing down.

>Fly away
>Just keep dodging
>Attack with Halberd
>Use Spell (what?)
>Use Power (what?)
>Other

Roll Willpower 1d20+6

>>34697833
But that means there is a slight chance!

Rolled 18 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

Rolled 10 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>34697884
>Forcecage around ourselves.

Rolled 10 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>34697884

>>34697884
>Attack with halberd

>>34697811

> writing
writing

Rolled 13 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>34697884
>>Other
Smite 10 DE.

>>34697923

And stay trapped and give him the chance to do anything he want?

Guys, stop being pussies and fight the demon.

>use lighting bolt

>Success
-reyi, wa-
-ream-
-p-
-ome b-
-s yo-
-ter-
-ack-

There's a voice in your head that sounds like Ebonsong.

>Taunt him or something else to get him to let something slip about what he knows.

>>34697957
>>34697965
There you have your answer, its not real, if we attack we might kill Nicolvren with our Lightningbolts

>>34697957
Try using that that empty space in between your ears for something, this is clearly not actually happening.

>>34697884
>Just keep dodging

>>34697884
>>34697923
Changing to
>Dodging
Since people refuse to be sensible about the obvious illusion.

I would prefer trying to shake off the illsuion, but too many idiots want us to murder our companions.

Dodging it is

My best guess

-(Si)reyi, wa(ke up)-
-(D)ream-
-p(lease)-
-(C)ome b(ack)-
-s yo-
-(sis)ter-
-(Come b)ack-

>>34697965
Ok. I assume our mind is trapped. This is not simply an illusion or dream, because that guy was able to give us new information. Either the whole thing will end if we 'die' here, or if we defeat whatever that is, (Or through magic stuff, following the link to our sis or something).

I suggest using divine powers. Sanctuary would be my first choice, but others might be good as well. Flood it with divine energy, should either do nothing because it's not real, or hurt the guy without posing risk to our friends back in real-space.

>>34698031
Yeah, Ebonsong and maybe some others are definitely trying to get us to wake up from the coma that pillar put us in.

>>34698006
I'd prefer to dodge until we know a bit more about what's happening, but it's also possible that we have to defeat Illusory!Urgorg before we can wake up.

>>34698006

Why do you think Sireyi is attacking the others instead of just being unconcious on the ground and having a nightmare?

>>34698065
Because we have precedence of Shahulzer attacking under the influence of this thing ?

You keep trying to avoid him. Without you fighting back he’s simply carving pieces off you.

You lose a couple of fingers to a sword slash, the tip of your other wing to his axe. A blow from his fist pulps an eyeball.

“Don’t be a coward” he grumbles “Fight, unleash your power, show me my prize!”

[HP 44/69]

He keeps coming at you.

>Fly away
>Just keep dodging
>Attack with Halberd
>Use Spell (what?)
>Use Power (what?)
>Other
>WAKE UP

-ister-
-a dream-
-ome bac-
-miss y-
-plea-
-be good, I pro-
-Sirey-
-lov-
-lease com-

There’s Ebonsongs voice again

>>34698085
>WAKE UP

The demon wants us to fight, that's enough reason for me to not want to.

>>34698071

He didn't hold the pillar as long as Sireyi, however.

And the message from Ebonsong doesn't sound like they're fighting. If they were fighting, it would probably be asking her to stop instead of wake up.

>>34698085
WAKE UP

>>34698085
>WAKE UP

>>34698085
>>WAKE UP
>"What was that about you being good I heard?"

>>34698085

>Redeeming touch
>All DE

>>34698118
>And the message from Ebonsong doesn't sound like they're fighting
Because we didn't choose to attack at any point.

>>34698118
That's because we haven't been choosing to fight.
Or it could be that Ebby can tell we aren't ourselves and is asking us to wake up, or in other words, to snap out of it.

Shahulzer also isn't as resistant to magic or strong of will as Sireyi.

Ok roll Willpower 1d20+8

>>34698085
>Wake up

Rolled 8 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>34698165
We're coming back Ebby.

Rolled 8 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>34698165

Rolled 12 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>34698165

>>34698174
>>34698178
>>34698195

Welp

>>34698195
I really hope the DC for waking up isn't very high.
Otherwise we can just keep trying.

You jerk awake, thrashing around and falling out of bed. You look around, you’re in your room at the keep, Isla is sat in a chair nearby, just waking up herself, seems you were pretty loud.

“Uhmm, wha?” says Isla, then catches sight of you on the floor.

“By the gods!” she exclaims “Sireyi, you’re alright!” She rushes forward and hugs you tightly, then turns towards the open door and yells “She awake, Sireyi’s awake!”

You stagger to your feet, trying to make sense of what’s going on.

The hammering of feet signals all of your friends rushing into your room, all talking at once, all trying to hug you at once. The women are crying, the men...well maybe it’s dusty in here.

For a few moments you’re surrounded by a cage of bodies and arms.

Isla, Jianxi, Matthias, Sofia, Jal, Shahulzer, Nicolvren, Ebonsong, Ophillian, Lunia and Bokin all seem overjoyed to see you.

“What happened?” you ask. Several of them start talking at once, it’s a bit confusing.

“You were asleep for three days” says Isla

“I’m sorry” says Ebonsong tearfully “They got the Skull Thingy. I...I got you back though, I heard you, that makes it ok, right?”

“About your arms” says Nicolvren “Uhm, they grew back, so no hard feelings right?” She looks a little unsure as she says this.

“We couldn’t get to the death-ray in time” says Bokin despondently, bandages on his arms, legs and head.

“One at a time!” you protest.

Bit by bit, you assemble the story.

You passed out, still latched onto the Skull Pillar, Nicolvren had to bite your arms off to separate you from it.

It hit the ground pretty hard, but didn’t break, and was retrieved by the enemy beastmen.

You were asleep for 3 days, in that time your arms grew back.

With your forces in full retreat, the enemy also captured the elemental cores.

It appears as though the beastmen/orc warband has been dealt a blow, with many tribes leaving and going their own ways. There has been no sign of Gorrask.

>>34698358
“And the casualties?” you ask

The good mood evaporates.

“Ten of my family” says Bokin somberly

“And twenty of mine” says Grax from the back, you didn’t see him there before.

“The beastmen we fought with don’t want to know us either” says Shahulzer “They screamed and threw rocks at me last time I checked on them. And I’m sorry about losing it, that artefact was powerful stuff” you nod, thinking about those that lost their lives, and whether it was worth it or not.

“Still” says Matthias “We’ve seen no sign that Gorrask survived, and the power of his warband has been broken.”

“Until another warlord figures how to make the Pillar of Skulls work” says Philly.

“Don’t be such a worry-wart” says Poppy “We’ll deal with that another day, as for you” she says, pointing a finger and glaring “I don’t care how tough you think you are, you’re having another days best-rest at least, now, back into bed.”

“Yes Poppy” you say, resigned. Staggering back to your bed, you’re fully healed, but a little light-headed.

Seeing you tottering a little, Jal and Sofia are closest, and rush to support you “Well help you in bed” Jal says, as they guide you to the edge of the bed.

As soon as they let go of you Poppy insists “No! You two” pointing at them, “Out, I said rest and I mean REST!”

Everyone files out of your bed-chamber, Poppy is the last to go, saying “And if you’re good, I’ll let you have some soup later.”

It seems for now, you’re confined to bed, for the next day at least.

Next, some character stuff and family, then village of the undead.