Round 5, The War Journal of Banarad Vash
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 4
The swordsman is taller than Pensive, so the elf has to jump to get a good grip on his throat. Pensive wraps an arm around the man's throat and uses the momentum from his jump to swing over the man's left shoulder. By the time his feet hit the ground again, Pensive is ready.
He aims two sharp blows at the man's head.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
Sa'id takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "And its bonds must be weakening, since it has drawn much evil to it to create this army. It has influence in the outside world again, and is obviously working to free itself."
"But like you I see no solution. Even if Nesalin's army is victorious, Melancthnagesh will still be able to draw the weak of heart to it and create a new army. Some way to mend its prison must be found. A part of the obsidian monolith that holds the Devourer has been broken off; it is this that his followers use as his sacrificial altar. But I just can't see a way..."
"Getting there once was difficult enough. To return? Without the protection of Pelor? Impossible..." For a moment, Sa'id feels nothing but the blackest despair. The Devourer could not be defeated. They might as well simply loose the beast on the world.
"Still. Could we read this account?"
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
Farron looks a Thaddeus and is somewhat more ill-at-ease seeing the expression of horror on his face. But on the other hand, what has he told them that they didn't already know? They were facing a great evil being that it took a god's power to contain long ago which is working to re-enter the world and is calling all evil to him to achieve this goal. "Kor Garesh" or "Melancthnagesh the Devourer", so what? Now they knew another name for him. A rose is a rose is a rose . . .
"Forgive me, Master Thaddeus," Farron begins, "But how does this information change our situation? Is there something about Melanga-- Methangle-- er, this 'Devourer' that might be of practical use to us? or is this just further confirmation that we're fighting a Great Evil? Forgive my obtuseness, but this seems to be important information to you, but I can't see how it changes anything for us."
He looks at Master Thaddeus hopefully.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 4
OOC: I assume that Osred won't be able to reach Munch and have time to cast a healing spell on him in the next turn, right Ty?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
Master Thaddeus looks at Farron with an open mouth for a moment. "Changes anything? It should change everything! When you came here, you spoke of a nameless evil in a pillar of black glass. You knew nothing of its powers or abilities. In fact, many of the powers it has displayed are easily reproduced by relatively minor variations of the undead. I can show you undead creatures that can seemingly 'steal' the souls of their victims. A vampire might draw evil creatures to its service. A lich can create skeletons.
"Is this a vampire or a wraith or a lich? No. This is an infernal abomination of incredible power. This is a creature that could move across the isle of Huss in a day and leave not a living soul in his wake. This is a creature that can, if unleashed, summon forth a full legion of lesser beings from his home plane of Pandemonium. This is a creature whose foremost patron is Mon Kada, the evil god of vengeance and a major deity. I think those are important things to know.
"Is that not enough? Then let's become more subtle. Now that we know the creature's origin, I can tell you this. Those contracts through which it binds its followers are meaningless. This is a being of pure chaos and pure evil. It will not let itself be bound by any rule or agreement, save by greater power than itself. It uses these agreements to enslave those who are foolish enough to believe its promises. But it will always betray those who trust it."
Farron begins to squirm. This is exactly the Master Thaddeus he remembers when some student asked a foolish question in class.
"Is that not enough? Then let's talk of our art. Creatures such as this are beings inherently magical in nature. They do not cast spells, they wield energies as naturally as you or I breathe. And they are nearly impossible to harm with magic in return. Only the most potent magicians can hope to penetrate their defenses. And, if you do once penetrate them, then whatever spell harmed the demon can never be used on it again. The creature develops an immunity to magic, like we develop immunities to the pox, once we've had it.
"Also, knowing its past and its allegiances, we can discern much of who our potential allies and enemies are in this struggle. Farron, when did you become so myopic? There is much here beyond what you see. The thing trapped in the pillar on this tiny island is not even the tip of this iceberg. It is a distant glimmer of light off the tip of the iceberg. It is valuable to know what might lie hidden beneath the waves. Farron, you were a student of Divination! One of my best! When did you become so callous to the gathering of information? Did I teach nothing? Information is everything! The true name of our enemy is of inestimable value!"
He sits down heavily. "I found this information both telling and troubling. If it means nothing to you, then I do not know what to say."
He accepts the ring from Sa'id. "I will have someone look at this for you." The old master seems to slump. The speech he gave Farron seems to have sucked a great deal out of him.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
After a moment's silence, Thaddeus hands a large tome to Sa'id. "You can read of the creature and its background in this. I have marked the pages. Sadly, there is not a great deal of information, but it may be of use."
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
OOC: I hope it is in a language they can read. Opps, thats right, they are MU, they can just cast the Comp. Languages.
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 5
[Initiative bowman1, Pensive, Melani, Tichenor, Pikeman2, Pikeman1, Garyth, swordsman3, Vincy, swordsman2, Osred, alchemist, Rennik, Robert, Pickle]
The first bowman, seeing Osred now running towards the melee, fires another arrow at his flank [Attack 25 vs AC19, hit; Damage 4]. The arrow hits him in his broad back, and sticks in his armor. He can feel the point cutting him as he runs, and a trickle of blood runs down his back. He growls at the irritation, but continues running toward the dying Munch.
Pensive, having stopped the fleeing swordsman with a choke hold, releases the man and strikes twice at his head, hoping to incapacitate him. [Attack 10, 15, miss, miss] The swordsman seems surprised to suddenly be able to breathe again, but his reflexes are quick, and he staggers back away from the monk's flurry of punches.
Melani beings moving around a large bush, hoping to get the swordsman in range for a flank attack, but also trying to remain hidden [Hide roll 20 vs spot roll 10, success].
Tichenor jumps back down off the slope, and runs at the one remaining enemy he can see; the bowman. [Attack 12 vs AC18, miss] The bowman sees him coming out of the corner of his eye, and smacks the big wolf on the snout with his longbow. Tichenor backs away and circles, growling deep in his chest.
The second pikeman turns to face Pickle, and thrusts at the guardsman's chest with his polearm [Attack 17 vs AC18, miss]. Pickle is just barely able to turn the weapon, and good thing too. He looks pale, and blood runs down his chin from his coughing. The half orc wounded him badly before it died.
The first pikeman concentrates on Garyth, searching for a gap in his defenses with quick faints and thrusts. [Attack 21 vs AC23, miss] But Garyth is fighting carefully, and when his guard is up, he is very difficult to hit.
Garyth parries and ripostes, hoping to get a lucky hit on the attacking pikeman, without opening his own guard up to counterattack. [Fight defensively -4; full attack; Attack 19, critical threat 7, not critical, attack 7, attack 19, critical threat 11, not critical; hit, miss, hit; Damage 11, 10] Without the half orc to distract his opponent the pikeman finds himself suddenly outmatched, and two quick sword thrusts later, is down and bleeding at Garyth's feet.
The third swordsman, not seeing the decimated state of his allies, continues to press Vincy. [Attack 20 vs AC19, hit; Damage 7] He lands a wicked blow on the guardsman's hip, staggering Vincy back.
Up on the ridge, the second swordsman is struggling with Pensive. Pensive releases him and tries to hit him, but he manages to back away from the monk. As he moves, he draws his shortsword, and then suddenly lunges at the monk's chest. [Attack 14 vs AC20, miss] Pensive easily dodges the blow.
Osred runs full speed at the melee to save Munch. As he approaches the fallen guardsman, the second pikeman spins sideways and swings his polearm at the cleric. [Moving through threatened square, AOO; Attack 12 vs AC19, miss] Osred blocks the weapon with his shield, but can't get past the pikeman to get to Munch's side.
Inside the wagon, the alchemist reaches into his robes to grab a weapon, and Rennik lunges at him. [AOO; Attack 18, hit; Damage 16; Save 17 vs DC15, saved] Rennik smacks the alchemist across the head with the halberd, and he falls instantly to the floor.
Seeing that the alchemist will not be getting up any time soon, Rennik moves back out the door. Off to his left he can see the bowman fighting with Tichenor. Out in the field, he can see the melee winding down, as very few of the witch's men are still standing.
Robert fires his crossbow at the last bowman, hoping to use the distraction of Tichenor to get a better shot. [Attack in melee -4; Attack 21, hit; Damage 6] His bolt slams into the bowman's right arm, spinning him to one side.
Pickle, badly wounded and just wanting this fight to be over with, lunges at his one remaining opponent with abandon [Power attack 2; Attack 20 vs AC20, hit; Damage 11]. He smashes his sword overhand into the pikeman's shoulder, almost driving him to one knee.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 5
OOC: Melani does this if she is with in 10' of swordsman 3, if not she moves as much as she can at what speed she is allowed while hidden and then does this.
IC: Melani scoots around the tree, looking for another opponent. She sees a swordsman strike one of the Blood Falcons, she thinks it was the one called Vincy. The Falcon staggers back. Melani pulls one of her throwing daggers from her other boot and throws it at the swordsman, aiming for the throat.
Mark
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
(OOC - well, we DID get a lot of cool additional information)
Farron, looking crestfallen at first and increasingly ashen as the true horror of what they are facing finally sinks in, stares at Master Thaddeus as he finishes his diatribe and slumps into his chair. When Master Thaddeus hands the book to Sa'id rather than to himself, he sees a rebuke in it and feels even worse. After a moment, he moves to stand directly before his old master, sinks to one knee and bows his head, "Forgive my foolishness, Master. It has been a long two weeks."
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 5
Pensive's attacks touch only air-- but with his hands free, he stretches into his sleeves and unravels the cord from around his forearms. The scarlet cord shivers in the dusty air, somehow as fluid as blood and as solid as stone.
Pensive whips the cord in half with a single motion, and attacks the swordsman.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
Thaddeus looks crestfallen at Farron's apology. "No, no, my friend. I apologize. My outburst was uncalled for. I find myself in a position I have not been in in a long time. I am truly, deeply, afraid."
He grips Farron's hand warmly. "But I am glad of one thing. I am glad my favorite student is on the right side in this fight. So many of us become intoxicated by the power of magic, and wind up serving only their own desire for more. You make me proud, young man. I am sorry I got so worked up."
From: Jake
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 5
Is the pikeman that pickle brought to his knees the same one that was in Osred's way?
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
"Thank you, sir," Sa'id says quietly. "Because the Devourer is known, and has a place in history, I am hoping that I may be able to find more information about it at the Temple of Pelor, as well. If they can help us devise a way to repair the prison, Brother Cadfael's death might not have been in vain."
Sa'id sighs. "The problem is that we know so little about the ancient halflings," he says. "If we knew why the Devourer manifested here we might be able to determine how it was imprisoned, but..." a hint of bitterness creeps into his tone, "we can't simply ask Pelor what He did to create the prison, and how it might be repaired."
"There is also the question of how Cadfael was killed, which is troubling because it speaks to the Devourer's influence even here, relatively far from its prison."
Sa'id will sit and read the marked pages.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
"So many of us become intoxicated by the power of magic, and wind up serving only their own desire for more."
Sa'id looks away as Thaddeus speaks these words, then focuses intently on the tome.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
The mix of emotions Farron feels threatens to overwhelm him. He is pleased to his soul that he has not lost Master Thaddeus's esteem, yet like never before he is afraid of what lies ahead. There is a difference between fearing for one's life and fearing for all that one knows and loves. And when Thaddeus mentions the intoxication of power and desire for more Farron remembers all to vividly his weakness in the tower and near surrender to Kor Garesh during the retreat from the mountain. He feels his face getting hot and says quickly to his Master before turning to leave, "We will keep you posted on our progress if we can, especially if we find something new or useful. Thank you again."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
Sa'id and Farron read the War Journal of Banarad Vash:
We move now deeper into Pandemonium than at any point in my hundred year service as Vassal in the armies of Bhaal. The fighting here is ceaseless and of an intensity that would shatter the psyche of most men. I entered into this willingly, but my reasons seem distant to me now. Did I believe I would gain in power? If so, then I have been successful. The constant battles have grown my skills beyond even my wildest aspirations. Did I hope to gain knowledge? In that too, I have succeeded. I have seen things beyond the comprehension of most mortal men. I have watched the limitless legions of evil clash in battles that stretched across the very planes themselves. I have met creatures of power so vast it is only matched by their malevolence. But is this power and knowledge of any use, once my time here is done?
I wonder.
I also begin to wonder if I am a fool to believe I will ever leave this place, and these battles. How does one measure time here? It seems that my century of service nears an end, but what timepiece keeps accurate measure in the bowls of chaos?
We fight now against the most powerful beings the Lord of this domain has at his disposal. The closer we come to Mon Kada's seat of power, the greater the opponents we face.
Today, his general took the field.
I had thought myself incapable of fear, after nearly a century of constant war. I was wrong. I have looked into the face of Melancthnagesh, and felt fear again.
My legion had taken up position on the right flank of our enemy's main body of troops. We were to draw them to face us, while our main force smashed them once their lines had turned. But when our assault began, Melancthnagesh appeared on the field to lead his troops against us.
It was a slaughter.
Let me describe the creature, before memory erases his visage to protect me from madness. He stood great than three times the height of a man, though he did have in general a man's shape. His hands are enormous, and end in long claws of incredible sharpness. I saw powerful creatures sliced into pieces by the most casual swipe from those claws. On his back, where most of his type have large wings, he has instead to masses of black tentacles that flail constantly about. Any caught by them are rent and shattered.
And his face. Can I describe such a face and keep my sanity? I do not believe I can. But I do remember the eyes. Deep pools of red. Seemingly portals into a vast fiery place. And I have seen the fuel that burns there. For each time the Devourer snatched up an enemy, he bit it with his huge jaws, and the almost insect-like mandibles that brace them. Any creature bitten so was destroyed in an instant, and its life force would seem to make the flames behind Melancthnagesh's eyes burn brighter still.
I hurled my most potent magics at it, but it laughed off my powers and showed them paltry indeed when it used its own vast magics to devastate my command. When we finally fell back, less than one in ten of my legion still lived.
We will not be able to take palace of Mon Kada. No matter how many of our legions we hurl at it, how can we defeat such raw power? These wars have been going on since the beginning of time. This must be the endless way of it. Advance, and fall back. Thousands lost each moment, but the reserves are endless, and the malevolent madness that drives the powers here never allows for negotiation or respite.
I must leave. I must get away. I can not stay in this place any longer.
***Sa'id pages ahead to the next marked section***
We hurl ourselves on the rock of Melancthnagesh and are broken.
Our masters do not allow us to retreat, and we are crushed and rent and destroyed for nothing.
But we have been given new orders. Our masters say that the great strength of the Devourer is also its great weakness. We are ordered to force the creature to expend its energies, while not giving it lives to devour and replenish. How we are to do this, I do not know.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 5
OOC: I think you forgot to give Vincy a turn.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 5 addendum
Mike pointed out I forgot Vincy. Oops. Vincy attacked and missed his opponent. Attack of 10. Just forgot to note it in the turn.
Sorry. :)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 5
Garyth whirls on the remaining pikeman as his comrade falls. Just in time, too; Pickle is fading fast. "Pickle!" he shouts as he advances on the pikeman. "Fall back!"
OOC: Full attack on the pikeman, fighting defensively. If the pikeman is dead after the first attack, Garyth will move down to assist Vincy.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
(OOC- contrary to my last email, I'm assuming we're still in the chambers of Master Thaddeus as we're reading this. Correct me if I'm wrong).
"'force the creature to expend its energies, while not giving it lives to devour and replenish' ?" Farron reads aloud. "How would one do that?" He asks the question with a rhetorical tone, a little afraid of revealing further stupidity but still opening the issue for discussion.
"Is there any record of what became of Banarad Vash? I don't imagine he's left a 'How I did it' entry, has he?"
He thinks a moment. "Well, he is making a move now, with his armies closing on Overlook. He must be expending a bit of energy on that alone. But how is it he devours lives? Are they his in defeat alone? When they give him their allegiance? Or is he fed when his minions are killed? Or is he only fed when the kill is made with a weapon like that which killed Cad--" He stifles a gasp as he realizes what exactly may have befallen their former companion. He looks in horror at Sa'id and Master Thaddeus grasping for some word of hope.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 5
OOC: Melani is going to save his life. She has to KILL something in this battle. :)
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
Master Thaddeus replies, "Why, yes! Banarad did return from the Blood Wars. His journal was quite popular in certain circles for centuries after he returned. It is one of the better works we have describing the internal mechanics of that longest and most horrific conflicts.
"I believe he settled in Karad for a time, eventually becoming Earl of some minor province or something. He died nearly 700 years ago, but it was still over 200 years after his return. Apparently, he came back from the wars quite... potent.
"I do not believe that he ever actually did defeat this creature Melancthnagesh, but I found the passage interesting. At least in theory. If the creature is in fact powered by those he devours, which seems likely, then keeping him from a steady supply of souls to take does seem a useful way to contain him.
"Unfortunately, it also tells us more of what his army's purpose is. He may be attacking the town of Overlook in an attempt to recapture the Monk's boy. But a large town's worth of souls to eat is certainly a nice bonus. And there are many, small defenseless towns on this isle. Think. If he could take Overlook, one thousand new zombies for his army, or more. And one thousand human lives to drink down and replenish his power."
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 5
The alchemist fell like a sack of sweetroots, leaving Rennik unsatisfied. The pain of the burns and the frustration at not being able to vent his rage roil inside him as he bursts out through the wagon's door.
The fight in the field seems quiet, and the hulking mass of the Brute is nowhere to be seen. A good sign, to be sure. Rennik absently wondered just how badly damaged the rest of the Blood Falcons were... and grew suddenly concerned about whether Garyth and Melani had survived the battle. He hoped he'd sent enough arrows into the half-orc to have made a difference, but there was no time to think about that.
Tichenor growled at the bowman, his teeth bared and burned back exposed. Moving quickly, Rennik covers the distance between him and the human, and swings his axe to finish the man off.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 5
If Osred can sidestep the pikeman:
Osred moves past the pikeman and kneels at Munch's side. "Still with me boy?" he asks, checking the fallen guardsman for signs of life. The copper tang of blood fills the battle cleric's nose, along with the stench of the shit Munch's bowels had released when the brute's blade bit through his leg.
[OOC: Possibility One:]
Munch's skin is a startling white where it isn't smeared with blood or filth, and a startling quantity of blood is pooled around him from his myriad wounds. By all rights he should have been killed by a blow like the one dealt him by the brute, but somehow, even through his shock, he has clung to life. His grip grows feebler by the moment as the last of his lifeblood oozes from his wounds, but has not yet released. With a brief prayer of thanks to the battle god, Osred sacrifices one of the spells he had prayed for this morning, and feels the warmth grow in his hands as the god accepts it, giving him the power to heal in return. [Sacrifice Bull's Strength (2nd level) for Cure Moderate Wounds (2nd level), which he then casts on Munch. "You'll be fine, boy, he says and then stands, taking in the final moments of the battle (OOC--unless it's over, in which case he'll hurry over to Pickle)
[OOC: Possibility Two:]
Osred curses softly as he kneels in the mud at Munch's side. Perhaps if the damned pikeman hadn't slowed him down, he might have reached the guardsman in time. The man's flesh, where it isn't smeared with blood and filth, has taken on a waxy pallor, drained of almost all of its blood, and his eyes stare sightlessly toward the sky. Gently, Osred closes the soldier's eyes and mutters a brief prayer to Hironeous, asking him to let Munch fight along side the battle god in the afterlife. He stands, his knees smeared with mud and his palms with the fallen man's blood, and turns toward the battle's final moments (OOC-again, unless it's over, in which case he'll hurry over to Pickle).
If Osred can't sidestep the pikeman, and Garyth doesn't kill him before Osred has had a chance to act, he'll draw his longsword (I assume he couldn't have been running over that kind of distance with a longsword in hand, could he?) and attempt to run the pikeman through.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
"So we need to stop it from consuming sufficient souls to break free of its prison. No wonder he hungered for Promise's soul -- that child already holds more power than..." he trails off. "There must be a way to repair the prison walls. But it was so difficult even getting to the mountain to rescue promise, going back with enough force to restore the prison, even if we knew how... all the while watching your back in case someone fell under Melancthnagesh's influence... the challenge seems insurmountable without support beyond what we are able to muster."
"If Nesalin carries the day at Overlook, that will buy us some time. But we must discover how to restore the prison. My knowledge of imprisoning evil beings does not extend beyond the simplest magic circle spells, however..."
Sa'id shakes his head. "My guess is that this prison will turn out to be of a singular nature, but it hurt cannot to study other examples in the library, and also perhaps to talk to the Sunmaster about such prisons."