Mits grins and thumbs-ups.

Imp grins as well.  "Can't wait to see what Mav does to him when we bring him back!"

"Is there a way we can teleport back here quickly once we tie up the badguy?" Cherub asks.

Adam shrugs.  "I think?  Ask the wizards.  Glad to hear you'll be staying, Maverick."

He gets up and heads for the door.  "This way to the mages."

Lucky and all the Mittensezezez follow.  Lucky offers Mav a ride on his back.

  "Since they have teleportation circles set up here, that's actually an option.  Well, if they haven't prepared for such things at least."  Less wizardly knowledge, more paying attention.  Besides, he's qualified for creation rituals.

Maverick takes the offered ride on Lucky. "I have a lot of catching up to do... with my parents. But with you also, Adam."

Carla rides on Lucky also, pulling Mav's arms around her as a "seatbelt" and tilting her head back to smile up at him.

Raichel and Timothius follow, curious what this will look like.

Angel follows along and says, "You'll be missed, Maverick. But I'm sure you'll be ready for more once we return."

Fancy palace is fancy.  Lots of shinys.  Adam smiles and nods to Mav and gets started with the catching up.  Cherub glomps Mav from behind.

"I'mma miss my cuddle wubkin Mavvie wavvie!"

Imp rolls her eyes.  "We'll be back in no time!"

Mits shrugs.  "Minimum two days.  If I never return, I bequeath my irretrievable worldly possessions to my lil sis Raichel.  May she grow up to be an epic hero!"

The group arrives at the mage place.  It's a library with various archane trappings.  Adam talks with the headmaster who leads the group to the teleportation circle.  A teleportation ritual scroll is given to Matt.

"Use this to return here.  Only takes 5 minutes to perform the ritual."

The mages begin to configure the teleportation circle for the trip out to Wrashk's borders.  Horses and provisions are being brought in while this happens.

  "Thanks.  It shall certainly beat our last return trip with a prisoner."   Or corpse.  Or both, could be an undead.

  "Still not used to having actual help with anything.  Too many empty promises back when we were traveling with Adam."

  He looks over to the tiny kitties and says "He probably won't even mind if you don't wait to wash off the blood first."

Cherub manages to make Mav blush a bit, but he doesn't argue.

Carla goes to assist the mages, who are quickly able to see she is more than able to keep up.

Not used to Mittens' antics, Raichel asks, "If they are irretrievable, why would you give them to anyone?"

Maverick says, "Oh they will be retrievable. As will be your corpse, Mittens. I will see to that..."

Angel says, "Mittens has no intention of dying, Raichel. She's just kinda joking around."

Maverick double-takes. "This one can joke?"

Adam chuckles awkwardly at Matt's comment.  "Yeah...  Those weren't the days...  Best of luck on this latest trip."

Mits nods.  "Yes.  Though I usually reserve my humor for mocking villains.  Since Adam has a resurrection relic, might make sense to leave behind a lock of hair from each of us just in case."

She soon finds that cutting a bit of hair with her sword is challenging.  Soon the portal is opened.  Nifty magical lightshow!

  "Thanks Adam, and I am going to be foolishly stubborn and not plan for my own death.  Gods know I need to work on my optimism."

  Portallness happens, and unless there is some notable case of 'crossing portal will kill you' on the other side, opts to lead the way because he is the one with a shield larger than some party members.

Mav's parents and Mitts' siblings, of course, are amazed at the sight of the portal.

....actually, so is Maverick, Angel, and Carla. Just not AS amazed.

Angel and Carla step through and guide their horses through.

Angel asks, "Alright. We have directions. Let's go to the assassins' guild. Poor little Mav's gonna feel left out, so the sooner we kick butt, the better."

Angel and Carla soon mount up.

The group arrives at a druidic circle of stones.  There is a trackless forest surrounding the clearing.  Directions and map are clear enough, though.

"So happy to be on my way to slay a tyrant!" Mits cheers.

"We should probably not say stuff like that out loud from now on," Cherub reminds.

"Yeah.  We're a traveling band of merchants or something.  Maybe we should just pretend to be cultists.  Worked for us last time, and in Villain Land, might be considered normal-ish."

  "They might frown upon unsanctioned dark god worship.  I suppose world weary guard is a role I can deal with easy enough."  He looks to the three tiny winged sorts, and lady who can shoot with her feet better than most famous elves can with their hands and says "Though I wonder if a traveling roadshow would be looked upon better or worse than cultists."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 06:24, Sun 22 Mar 2015.

Angel says, "The hand of fate Carla drew up for us said it would be dangerous for us to walk into the kingdom. So we have to assume we're recognizable as we are."

She dawns a cult robe, but does not dawn a symbol. "We could be refugees from that cult and looking to join anyone willing to feed us."

Carla throws her own cult robe on. Because that dastardly cult recruited even toddlers.

The Mittensezezez all don their cult robes.

"One way to find out!"

The trek in the wilderness is mostly simply annoying with the occasional random encounter with dangerous wildlife.  Eventually the forest gives way to farmland.  Then to a town or two.  Finally to a city.  Most avoid the group of "cultists" but there is the occasional person bold enough to stare for half a second.

  Why are Elk so angry?  Seriously.

  Since they are trying to only draw as much attention to themselves as to look like broody evil worshipers, Matt merely buffs his hammer when people stare longer instead of brandishing it.

Angel does wear a cloak of her own, keeping her hair pulled back so it is harder to see with the hood up. She keeps her calm, confident smile, though.

Carla is wrapped up in some kind of baby blankets, though it only appears to be tightly tucked like swaddling. At a moment's notice, Carla can pop out and move around. That said, it hides her wings and she keeps her eyes closed as if asleep whenever in public areas. So she basically just looks like a baby Angel is toting around. Carla does keep her ears open, though...

Angel does lock eyes with anyone who looks her direction, with an almost "what a tasty morsel you are" look in her eyes. However, she keeps on task and doesn't allow anything to distract unless someone's life is in danger.

Maybe because they have to share the woods with BEARS!

Cherub stays out of sight altogether.  And even as much as a cat with bat wings would fit the creepy cultist image, Angel's guess that there's a bounty out on the group has her riding inside Mit's backpack rather than being a dead give-away.  Mits' face is hidden behind the face shield of her helm.  The directions make it easy to find the curio shop.

The PCs find the curio shop empty, but light leaks
out from cracks in the basement door.

 Matt quietly asks "So, would knocking be too polite in these circumstances?"  Manners or not, he's hoping if his Perception score doesn't notice traps that happen to be at the door, his hitpoints are a better alternative than Carlas.

Angel goes to check the door to the basement. Seeing it is unlocked, she opens the door and whispers, "I can go check things out for us. Or you two can fight for the right to take point."

Carla looks up at Mittens and Matt.... M&M

No traps to be found.  Mits had taken the cloth off her shield.  What it had covered was a mirror finish with several taunts in various languages for the one looking into the shield - "loser" "weakling" "dead man" and so forth, along with rude hand gestures cartooned along the edges.  The moment the door is opened, Mittens barrels down the stairs!

"Tremble, badguys!  Your doom has come!"

The PCs begin
on the stairs, having discovered the assassins in
their den.
When the PCs step onto the stairs, read:
Three pale, tattooed people cluster near the far side of this
cellar. They start at your appearance, becoming alert and
drawing weapons.
At the beginning of the encounter, place only Fatale
the witch and two of the shadar-kai warriors; the
other two warriors enter later.
Perception Check
DC 19: The wine rack rocks precariously with the force of
your entrance.

Surprise round.  Mits uses her action to get down the stairs.

Angel brings her crossbow up and fires at the nearest warrior. "Watch out, guys, the wine rack is unstable!"

The crossbow bold appears to hit the assassin, but he smiles looking unaffected before tossing his cloak aside to reveal he wasn't quite where Angel thought he was; a bolt sticking out of a hard leather panel of the guy's armor.

---

Fleeting Spirit Strike v Warrior 2. Miss(19)
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Tue 24 Mar 2015.

The smirk is wiped off the assassin's face when Carla shakes a finger at him and he feels the weight of divine justice hovering over his head.

---

Offering of Justice v Warrior 2.
 dmg: 18 if he attacks anyone this turn.
 +5 thp if he does not attack anyone this turn.

  Matt wonders if this is going to result in fighting in a burning wine cellar from clinking booze, as he heads down the ramp to stop besides Mittens.  "Well, the wine never did anything to us.  Yet, I suppose hangovers are a possibility if any of us were the sort to drink on the job."

The other assassin, however, heads over to Mittens and slashes her twice, causing some gashes in her flesh. "You made a mistake coming here... wait, why aren't you dead?"

---

Double Attack v Mittens. Hit(30)! Hit(22)!
 dmg: 13

Mitts HP: 55 - 13 = 42

Angel turns the corner. "Wha, seriously? Fine." and takes aim, hitting the guy in the arm with a crossbow bolt. But it doesn't seem to do much compared to what she is used to doing.

---

Twin Strike v Warrior 2. Hit(27)! Miss(19? Again?)
 dmg: 10

Warrior 2 HP: 86 - 10 = 76

  Matt comments to the warriors surprise, "Oh, you must be the one they send on the pity jobs then."  That over with, he heads over to the next warrior and makes sure they won't be going anywhere fast for the moment with a hammer swing to the kneecaps.

Move: duh.
Standard: Steel SS vs warrior 2. Hits. 12 DMG. marked.  Can't shift and is slowed until end of my next turn.
Warrior 2 HP: 76-12= 64

Mits gashes the guy back then mocks surprise.  "Why aren't you dead?!"

The other one narrows his eyes at Carla then attacks Matt!  "You're gunna regret that!"

Sissy damage compared to what Matt's used to.

Carla steps down a few stairs and says, "No." and the two warriors feel the crushing angelic presence in Carla's voice.

Interestingly, while Matt and Mittens can hear Carla's voice, and certainly feel it is intense and unlike any other voice, they are not harmed or negatively effected by it.

---

Word of Fiery Condemnation v Warrior 1 and 2. Hit(21)! Miss(18)
 Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes: 5. Miss becomes hit.
 dmg: 14 and ongoing 5 dmg

Warrior 1 HP: 66 - 14 = 52 and ongoing 5 dmg
Warrior 2 HP: 46 - 14 = 32 and ongoing 5 dmg

"Fatale shall be your doom, fools!" the witch boasts, moving closer to the stairs.

She fires a bolt of black energy at Carla's face!  But it bounces off harmlessly.

The assassin answers Matt with sarcasm, "Because, clearly, you've been an assassin before, so you know exactly how strong our marks are."

He then slashes Mittens again, but makes a gripping motion and she becomes restrained!

---

Ongoing dmg: 5
Cage of Gloom v Mittens. Hit(28)! Secondary: Hit(28)!
 dmg: 8 and restrained save ends
Save v ongoing: 1 EPIC FAILURE

Warrior 1 HP: 52 - 5 = 47
Mittens HP: 42 - 8 = 34 and restrained save ends

  Matt knocks some teeth loose by way of slamming his less ornate shield into the warrior's jaw.  "I suppose my views can be a bit skewed when every assassin we have met so far have been unable to kill things at the time."

<Warrior 2 HP: 32-19= 13

Angel fires a bolt at the assassin, who dodges only to find he dodged INTO the second bolt she had fired.

Angel blushes with a frowny pouty-lip. "...what is wrong with me today?"

---

Twin Strike v Warrior 2. Miss(18) Hit(34)!
 dmg: 8

Warrior 2 HP: 13 - 8 = 5 and since ongoing 5, he'll drop on his turn.

Whiff!

"Well we are fighting assassins," Mittens says.

Whiff!

"Who are known for being dodgy."

GASH!

Matt's opponent keels over.

Carla waves a hand at the direction of Fatale and Warrior 1. Blades made of radiant energy appear and slash swiftly and violently at the two! Even as this happens, Carla walks down the stairs, her body glowing more and she whispers, "Fear..."

Both the warrior and Fatale now have knocking knees against their own will, feeling a crushing fear of the angelic presence.

---

Scourge of Heaven v Fatale, War1. Hit(29)! Hit(24)!
 dmg: 10
 -4 to attacks until the end of your next turn.
 +2 Carla's defenses.
Maledictor's Doom: -1 attacks.

Fatale HP: 77 - 10 = 67
Warrior 1 HP: 21 - 10 = 11

"Enter my sh-shadows!" Fatale stammers, summoning a huge black cloud that envelops her, the assassin, and Mittens!

Two more assassins show up seemingly out of nowhere!  One attacks Cherub, the other Angel!

Angel squeaks! Almost the moment the assassin "scratches" Angel just barely, the lady archer hops back and fires a bolt at him in response, burying it in the guy's left shoulder in a painful location!

Without even another second going by, yet another bolt goes flying squarely into the guy's center of mass, a nasty ache in his belly area.

---

Immediate Reaction: Fox's Cunning v Warrior 4. Hit(33)!
 dmg: 19!
Minor: Ferret Out Frailty
 Angel gains CA on Warrior 4
Minor: Quarry on Warrior 4
Standard: Probing Strike v Warrior 4. Hit(38)!
 dmg: 20

Warrior 4 HP: 86 - 39 = 47

  Matt refrains from sighing, as he tosses his hammer through the shadows and is rewarded with a satisfying thwack.  His hammer comes back to him from one side of the shadows as warrior teeth bounces across the floor out the other.

  He steps around the table to a stop beside one of the reinforcements.  "Hello, have you considered giving up before you are humiliated to the point of ridicule even in the afterlife?"

  So hard resisting the urge to head back for the stairs, but Angel seems to have things in hand while it's Mittens face first in damage patches.

Seeing Matt go to help Mittens and her mini-me's, Carla turns her attention to the assassin on Angel and shoots lasers from her eyes at the assassin, burning his belly wound while shoving him back around the corner!

---

Sun Strike v Warrior 4. Hit(22)!
 dmg: 11
 Slide Warrior 4 south 1 to prevent lunge or charge

Warrior 4 HP: 47 - 11 = 36

Mits can be heard laughing wickedly from within the dark cloud of the witch.  "This is great!" she cheers with a growl in her voice, "Not often I get to feel this way!  It's exhilarating!"

There's a flash of light and the simultaneous grunts of pain from the two assassins.

"The cloud doesn't hurt me.  So is this where you want me, Matt?" Cherub asks.

"I've got your back!" Imp says, flying up the stairs to defend Angel!

"Nothing seems to hurt it!" the assassin complains, gashing Cherub to no avail.

"Possibly an illusion," the witch says, also unable to pay Cherub back for the pain.

"Nope!  I'm a fragment of a shattered personality made manifest!  If you surrender, I'll make sure you get lots of good counseling to help you turn from your evil ways."

"...."

"Killit killit just killit."

The warrior does just that and slashes Cherub, downing her!

The other warrior over at the stairs slashes at Imp, doing nowhere near the amount of damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:27, Tue 31 Mar 2015.

  Matt grabs the nearest warrior's arm as their blade wiffs by his face, forcibly dragging them out of the shadows and slamming them against the table.

  "Hah, didn't huBLARG"  The warrior is interrupted as Matt hammers their head through the wooden table.  The crit damage is splinters.
OOC: reaction, hits. 10 DMG. slides, grants party CA.
Standard: Shield feint, CRIT. 20 total DMG.  marks. +3 to hit until end of my next turn.

Warrior 3 HP: 34 left. bloodied
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Tue 31 Mar 2015.

Angel sneezes and shoots a bolt through the stair near her, but VERY quickly tries to make up for the blunder, cheeks red, firing a bolt into both remaining warriors by doing a rapid succession of fires while twirling on her heel! One sinks into the nearby warrior's arm, but the other digs deep into the lung of the one near Matt! "I'm SO keeping you boys alive long enough to see that kitten come back before I send you to the afterlife!"

---

Biting Volley v Warrior 3, 4. Miss(18), Hit(30)!
 dmg: 12
ACTION POINT!
Probing Strike v Warrior 3. Hit(35)
 dmg: 26

Warrior 3 HP: 43 - 26 = 17
Warrior 4 HP: 36 - 12 = 24

Carla sends out a beam of light to Mittens, closing her wounds. She isn't feeling good as new, but she IS feeling better.

---

Standard: Healer's Mercy. Mittens can spend a surge.

Mittens HP: 16 + 13 = 29

"Wow, nice shot, Angel!" Imp commends.

The witch was cackling about killing Cherub, but quickly gets annoyed when the lil kitten just poofs instead of leave a corpse.

Mits steps over and finishes off the warrior in front of Matt with a chop...  Nope  didn't cut all the way through the neck...  with a CHOP!  There we go.  ...that beheads the assassin with her sword.

"So you poofed my decoy.  Whoop-de-doo.  We've slaughtered several of your guys, and you're next!"

Fatale snarls and vanishes in a poof of darkness!

The warriors fight to the death, but Fatale uses
shadow jaunt to teleport to the ladder leading down
from the grate as soon as three of her allies have
fallen. A character who makes a DC 23 Perception
check hears her descend the ladder.

"She teleported down to the ladder under the grate!" Mits says, "Killkillkillkillkill!"

The last warrior looks a little confused but steps forward and slices Angel's leg!

On the one hand warrior still trying to stab girls.  On the other hand, warrior is pretty doomed, so he heads for the grate.  "This adventuring thing really ruins what counts for common sense." he mutters, as he walks over, kicks the grate open, and jumps down.

He almost passes by the witch, but grabs her by the ponytail and yanks her down with him, the party above can hear the cartoonish crash.

Matt sighs, stands up, and tosses the now torn free shadrakai hairstyle to the ground.  "Running will only make it worse, as you can see."

Witch marked, Witch still prone.  Matt used AP to stand.
matt: 62-20= 42
54-20 = 34

Angel shoots at the warrior. Another double shot. But her second shot deflects off the guy's sword because of how close he is. The guy is still standing. "KINDLY keep her alive if you can, people! The more info we can get, the quicker this might go!"

---

Free: Point Blank Crossbow
Standard: Twin Strike v Warrior 4. Miss(20) reroll 3: Hit(32)! Miss(22)
 dmg: 17

Warrior 4 HP: 24 - 17 = 7

Carla shoots lasers from her eyes at the last remaining warrior, causing him to go unconscious.

---

Sun Strike v Warrior 4. Hit(30)!
 dmg: 15/2=7

Warrior 4 HP: 7 - 7 = KO!

The fleeing shadar-kai witch leads the PCs through the grate in the base-
ment and down a ladder into the sewers.

When the PCs climb down the ladder, read:
The murky sewer water moves slowly toward an intersec-
tion south of you.

"Intruders!" Fatale screams, "Kill them!"

"There's more of them down there?!" Mits shouts, sounding eager, "Yippeeee!!!"

She leaps down the open hole!  She lands hard on the witch, knocking her out, but she ends up crumpled in a heap on top of her.

"That was amazing, Matt!"

A quick look around and...  "Aww.... Where's the backup she was hollering for?"

"Awesome, Angel and Carla!" Imp cheers flying by to high-five the two girls.

  Matt fails his save throw vs Sigh, but auto succeeds vs secondary effect Snort. "Please be less disappointed at not immediately having a second battle.  We need to space out our questionable health decisions."

  That said, he offers Mittens Main a hand up if she hasn't already enthusiastically bounced to her feet by now.

Angel and Carla totally go for those offered high-fives, but also turn to head for the grate. Once they both confirm Matt and Mittens are OK and the enemy downed, Angel says, "I'll be tying up the assassin Carla and I took out. Probably better if you rest up here out of that stench. Speaking of, lemme clean you as soon as you get up here."

Angel switches to her Hedge Wizard's Gloves and cleans herself and Carla off on her way to the assassin, who she ties up.

Carla helps, of course.

Soon as Matt and/or Mittens come up, of course, Angel will clean them with prestidigitation also.

Imp grins.  Mits accepts the handup.

"Thanks!"

She helps with dragging the KO body of the witch up to the basement.  Cherub appears nearby.

"Is everyone ok?"

"Been better.  Been worse.  I'll be fine in 5.  So let's search for loot!"

Chest: A character who makes a DC 19 Thiev-
ery check can open the locked chest. (The chest
has AC 5 and 10 hit points, so it can also be easily
bashed open.) It contains payment from Poisoned
Shadows contracts amounting to 600 gp, a blood-
stone (150 gp), and a jeweled dagger (350 gp).
Correspondence in the chest suggests the guild
uses the sewers below to slip past the guards
of both Lord Wrashk and his rival Dutchess Thango.

  Matt will let Maverick field the baby chest so they have something do to with thievery for once that doesn't involve inflated DCs vs eating fireballs or something.

  "Thanks Angel, the option to be clean is one to be appreciated with how much blood and other things gets on us."  Undead Kruthiks, bluh.

Actually, Angel unlocks the chest easily enough rather than wait to take the chest all the way back to Maverick. Just in case there is really useful stuff in the chest.

After loot is had, Angel wakes the assassin first. She lets him see his unconscious boss and says, "OK. So. What can you tell us about this place that might persuade us to spare your life?"

---

Angel has a +10 to thievery, so she can take-10 that DC 19.

"And if you refuse to answer, we'll torture you!" Mits threatens.

"With a feather!" Imp interjects.

Cherub headshakes.  "No torture is wrong.  We should try and convince him to become a good-guy.  Then he'll tell us of his own."

The assassin sweatdrops but says nothing.

00:43, Today: Mittens rolled 4 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 2. interrogate.

  "Would it be abusing Carla's work relations if we got her to have the Raven Queen let everybody in the shadowfell what an embarrassment and failure of a warrior he is when if dies?"  Hey, if people think a glorious death is awesome, then clearly the solution is to make it an embarrassing death right?

Angel stares at Cherub a bit. "....you can't be that naive, can you? Even if we could turn bad guys, that sort of thing would take months. We need answers now."

Angel goes to wake up Fatale. "Wake up, Fatale."

Once Fatale wakes up, Angel asks her the same question in the same way.

Imp shrugs at Matt's question.  "Guess she's not saying."

"Torture is a legitimate interrogation technique," Mittens asserts, "Even if these are assassins that are trained to give misinformation when tortured."

Cherub headshakes.  "No, I'm not naive.  I know just as much as the other mes."

Fatale also does not speak, though she looks rather annoyed at seeing Cherub alive and well.

  "We aren't exactly on a schedule here, so we can take our time asking if she's working for Wrashk, Thango, or just playing both sides instead of wondering why all her answers are variants of 'aaaargh'."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:18, Wed 01 Apr 2015.

Angel says, "Or we could just kill them and move on. The sooner we get this done, the better. However... you have a point about asking the right question."

She looks at Fatale. "Frankly, we're just here for revenge against Wrashk. But we were informed that taking information from the assassin's guild was the quickest and safest way to approach such a task. So if you have no love for Wrashk, maybe you can tell us what we want to know if just to spite Wrashk. Surely the fact we beat you up in a fight is not enough to hate us more than Wrashk. From what I heard about him, he has found a way to make you hate him with every facet of your being."

Carla sits down and begins to pray.

"We could always threaten something worse than death," Imp suggests.

"Oh yea?"

Cherub looks skeptical.

"Yeah.  Like taking her to Unity to stand trial.  In a boring courtroom.  To be sentenced to 50 years of boring prison."

Fatale considers.  "I'll tell you how to get into Wrashk's private chambers and only have to face secondary defenses.  IF you release me and the other survivors."

"We can find that out for ourselves with our divining angel," Mits says pointing at Carla, "You'll have to do better than that."

Fatale looks frustrated.  "Only thing better I can do is tell you what exactly to expect."

  "That would be somewhat more convenient, or was that just an example and not an offer?" yeah, probably an example.  "Though getting your co workers to hold off at least until we are done before you inevitably fail to take us out again would be appreciated."

Angel considers. "Yes. Your life and your freedom for your info and allowing us to go to Wrashk unimpeded. That is a fair exchange."

Carla is keeping to her prayers, but a DC 20 perception check notices her eyebrow twitch.

Mits chin rubs.  "Let's see.  Make a deal with a villain in order to get spoilers that'll make the fight with the bigger villain less fun..."

Cherub looks surprised.  "You would let these killers go free, Angel?"

Fatale sweatdrops.  "Does she seriously want the fight to be harder?"

Imp nods.  "Seems some of us don't want to let you go regardless.  Would you accept a swift death as a compromise offer?"

Fatale frowns.  "Yes."

Imp looks surprised.  "Oh wow.  That like...  never happens!"

 "Shadrakai, Imp.   Sometimes the sterotype is true."  Just like the stereotype of heroes wanting to fight purples even if it really was more convenient to just fight reds instead.

Angel looks over at Cherub and says, "Yes, Cherub. For our safety and success in tearing down a worse villain, I would. So far, the only thing we technically know for sure they are guilty of is defending themselves when we barged into their property. And before you say 'but they said killkillkill', that's no different from our own Mittens here. We are killers. They are killers. The only thing that separates the blood on our hands from the blood on theirs is we don't have any proof they broke any laws. Thankfully, my reasoning is a two-way street and I don't really care about law, so I'm fine with breaking in their place and killing them on the strong chance they are killing people purely for money. It is easy for me to be judge, jury and executioner because I'm a filthy lowlife, like I have been trying to tell you all before."

She narrows her eyes at Fatale. "Alright then, Fatale. A quick death it is. Now talk."

Carla peaks an eye open and glances at Angel.

Imp bashfully shrugs at Matt's explanation.  Cherub gasps and covers her mouth at Angel's claiming to be a lowlife, looking on the verge of tears.  But Imp whispers in Cherub's ear and she "Oooh"s and blushes.

"Wrashk has an emergency secret escape in most of his palace's bedrooms.  To prevent them from being used for infiltration, all but one are set with powerful magic and mundane traps, wards, locks, and so on.  And the one that isn't trapped is changed every day.  But my guild has an insider, so we've set our teleporter in the sewer to get to that exit in a hurry in case we get a rush order from Thango.  But it is guarded by an oni torturer, his Shadar-Kai lieutenants, and their pet gelatinous cube.  I doubt they'll accept any bribe to get past them."

"Good, 'cause I wouldn't want to have to waste time with such nonsense," Mits says, "So who wants the dubious honor of granting this villain the promised swift death?"

  "I suppose there will not be enough cube left to threaten to feed them to it at the end, either."  Wow, a Gelatinous cube.  That's bad enough to be worth using a potion over, the horror.  "The Oni will probably just critituq the wounds inflicted on them."

  He looks over to Mittens, "Probably you, unless that sword is negligently dull."  He'll reassure Angel she's not a lowlife when they are not all trying to look somewhat tough in front of the assassins.

Angel shoots Fatale through the head. Then turns to the other guy. "As you can see, we keep our promises. A swift death. Now do you happen to have anything to add?"

Carla has since gone back to praying.

"Nice shot!" Mits commends.

The other shadar-kai shakes his head, so Mits beheads him.  Cherub hurries over to Angel.

"Imp said you were saying you're a lowlife to get the badguys to talk.  I was worried you believed what you were saying."

"She knows better," Imp says, "If she were so rotten, Mav woulda punished her by now."

"We can talk about the finer points of Angel not counting as a lowlife on our way to the portal," Mits says, heading back to the grate.

  Angel is too high class to be a low life, really.  "Honestly, I'm not surprised saying we were worse than them was as ineffective as showing we were better than them."  So far as willing to eat twenty feet of fall damage rather than deal with a chase sequence against somebody with a head start is 'better'.

Angel says, "If everyone is sufficiently rested, then sure."

Carla hops to her feat and follows after the group.

As Angel walks, she says, "Imp is right. I mostly said that to let them know I really don't care. However, I do believe myself unrighteous. Hero or not, my goals have less to do with rescuing people than the rest of you..." she glances at Mittens and says, "Well OK. Probably as much to do with rescuing people as this current Mittens. But certainly less to do with punishing the guilty than the rest of you."

"Different goals or no, the results are still awesome!" Imp boasts of Angel with a grin.

Cherub flutters over to cuddle Angel.  "I'm glad you know you're a hero."

Mits thumbs-ups.  "Glad that's all cleared up!"

  "I'm sure the world at large would prefer more people do generally good things for claimed to be selfish reasons, than all those cases of horrible things claimed to be good ones."

Angel bounces Cherub in her arm (the other arm holds her superior crossbow) and continues on with the others. "Portal. With an oni.... what's an Oni?"

Carla just looks at Mittens as though fully expecting her to answer.

"Dead meat once we're done with it!" Imp brags.

Cherub smiles and cuddles.  "Totally agree with Matt!"

Mits answers Angel.  "Legends tell of wicked, ogrelike creatures with formidable magical powers. Cruel and domineering, they often enslave weaker creatures and devour the innocent. These monsters are called oni, and they figure prominently in many children’s tales... and nightmares."

The group finds the assassin teleportation circle.  Mits moves to step through.

  "That sounds like the sort of thing you could just replace the word Oni and perfectly describe so many other things we have to deal with."



He prepares to enter alongside Mittens so any inevitable ambushes have to choose between two people to hurt instead of one.

Angel and Carla step through. Upon seeing what they are up against, they take their usual positions and prepare to fight.

The murky sewer water moves slowly toward an intersec-
tion south of you.

Mits heads that way.

When the PCs move far enough to see into
the alcove, read:
In an alcove to the southeast, a torch gutters on the floor
next to a badly beaten elderly man who moans weakly.
Underneath the alcove, sewage flows into an intake pipe;
somewhere beyond the grate, a faint light flickers.

Insight Check
DC 19: The elderly man is not as hurt as he wants you to
believe. As you focus on him, his facade melts away, reveal-
ing a gaunt green-skinned ogre with horns and a wicked
morningstar.

Perception Check
DC 14: The sewage does not swirl in the intersection as
you would expect, suggesting that something large is con-
cealed beneath the surface of the water.

"Old man is the oni in disguise," Cherub warns.

"Cube in the water there," Mits points out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:48, Sat 04 Apr 2015.

Nothing seems to happen for a moment. Then Matt notices a little splash in the sewer water.

Back in Unity, Maverick feels the urge to facepalm.

---

Gloomblade 1: Invis, move, move
Delay
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:13, Sat 04 Apr 2015.

  Matt refrains from sighing, "More worried about the mindless cube, since that's probably going to be more annoying even after potions." He pulls the by this point found in the seat cushions change worth potion or resistance, and chugs the thing.

OOC: Potion of Resistance, Heroic.  -1 surge. 5 Acid resist until end of encounter.

8/11 surges

Angel, not happy with how her aim was last fight, decides to shoot at the cube carefully.

---

Careful Attack v Cube. Hit(24)!
 dmg: 14

fun fact! Angel would have to roll a nat 1 to miss that attack. And then she could reroll it because of a feat I took, lol

Cube HP: 212 - 14 = 198

The cube slithers forward and slams Matt!  Then a gloomblade invises up to Carla and attacks!  But misses.

"So you saw through Maiko's disguise?" the oni says, changing into his large, ugly form, "No matter.  Maiko shall devour your souls either way!"

It flies over the cube and breathes a hypnotic breath upon the team!  Then a gloomblade attacks Angel, blinding her!

Mits turns and slashes the gloomblade!
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:24, Sat 04 Apr 2015.

Carla says, "Burn." and all the enemies in the hall catch fire! They also take the initial holiness damage just from hearing her voice! Her countenance seems to fill the room as far as the enemies are concerned; they now know an angel is present.

---

Word of Fiery Condemnation v Gloom1,2,Cube,Maiko. Hit(23)! Miss(18) Hit(30)! Hit(30)!
No action: Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes. Rolled a 5, turns the miss into a hit.
 dmg: 13 and ongoing 5 fire
 Covenant of Malediction: The target takes a -2 penalty to the save
   throw against ongoing damage.
 Aversion Staff: +2 all your defenses vs target until effect ends.
 Baleful Malediction: Hit target takes -2 to attack rolls until start
  of Carla's next turn.
Save v dazed: 15 success!

Gloomblade 1 HP: 54 - 13 = 41 and ongoing 5 fire
Gloomblade 2 HP: 40 - 13 = 27 and ongoing 5 fire
Cube HP: 198 - 13 = 185 and ongoing 5 fire
Maiko HP: 180 - 13 = 167 and ongoing 5 fire

  Matt shakes off the status effects, and then spatula flips the gel cube back into the gutter with his shield.  Against his better judgment he moves up, but not like the gel cube probably wouldn't climb back to exactly where it was in a few moments.
OOC: Standard: Tide of iron vs cube. hits. 17 DMG.  push one and shift after it.  Marked cube.
Saves: saved vs daze and immobilize.

Cube HP: 185-17=168/212

Angel says, "Can't see..." and then shoots at the gloomblade that hit her. THUNK! "We can even do this blindfolded, guys."

She then shakes off the daze.

---

Careful Attack v Gloom2. Miss(19)
 if attack misses, can grant CA to attack again
Ranged Basic Attack v Gloom2. Hit(33)!
 dmg: 19
Save throw v dazed: 16 success!

Gloomblade 2 HP: 27 - 19 = 8

NOM!  The gelatinous cube engulfs Matt then slithers to be next to Angel!  The first gloomblade slashes and blinds Carla!  The second misses Angel.  The oni frowns.

"You think you're something special, little one?" it roars at Carla, "You soon be much littler when Maiko SMASH you!"

He smashes Mits first then hovers over toward Carla.  Mits guts the gloomblade that blinded Angel earlier.  Then Cherub blasts all the enemy with heavenly hammers that empower the heroes!

"Heroes one, badguys zero," Mits says, "'cause Matt's not out yet!"

Carla mouths the name of her eldest brother and Gabriel appears. He looks around, spots the gloomblade and raises a hand. The gloomblade steps to the side in a dodge and sees the sewer water splash up 3 feet as if an invisible force shot through it!

---

Minor: Angelic Protector
Standard: Gabe attacks. Miss(17)

Matt may only be taking inconvenience damage so far, but it's still a complete waste of a turn.

Angel slips back and fires at the remaining gloomblade, downing her! But in the process, she gets stung by the gelatinous cube. In return, Angel shoots the cube! "Carla didn't say anything about being special, monster, YOU did! So it is you who thinks she is special!"

---

Ferret Out Frailty
Fleeting Spirit Strike v Gloomblade 1. Hit(24)!
 dmg: 30
Cube AoO v Angel. Hit(29)!
 dmg: 11
 Angel is immobilized
Fox's Cunning v Cube. Hit(32)!
 dmg: 11
Save v Immob: 13 success!

Angel HP: 47 - 11 = 36
Gloomblade HP: 26 - 30 = Dead
Cube HP: 145 - 11 = 134

The cube moves over and engulfs Mittens while also catching Angel and sucking her in! about to suck Angel in, only to get hit by Mittens' disruptive strike!

The Oni says, "Keep talking big, 'heroes'! You will soon be no more than a snack for Maiko's pet!" and he delivers the smash on Carla he promised. Which doesn't to much as she rubs her head pouting. "...." Maiko looks confused.

---

Cube uses engulf on Mittens and Angel. Hit(28)! Hit(27)! Miss
 Mittens and Angel are dazed and will take ongoing 11 acid as long as they are inside the cube.

Mittens Disruptive Strike on Cube. Hit(25)!
 dmg: 19

Maiko smashes Carla! hit(25)!
 dmg: 7

Cube HP: 129 - 19 = 110
Carla HP: 38 - 7 = 31
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:47, Fri 22 May 2015.

Even dazed, Mits is a whirling dervish of swordplay and slices a nice big gap in the cube's side, escaping through the hole she just carved for herself.

"Something whitty...  Being covered in sewage beats your smelly breath!"

Gabriel wonders what Sparky would say if he were here. Probably would give a 'your momma' joke or mocking the guy looking like a unicorn or something. But Gabe figures the next best thing that he and Sparky would BOTH say. "Your pet is more of a threat, Maiko. We'll take care of him. Then you're next!"

He holds his hand up and blasts a beam of light through the cube.

---

Gabe swings and misses. Reflavored as a hit that did damage to the cube equal to HP the cube didn't have. >.> Because my brain breaks at "missing" a giant 10x10x10 cube at point-blank range.

  Matt takes it as just another sign how ****ed up his life and mindset are when he considers fighting a gel cube from the inside, and staying there, as it slowly dissolves his flesh perfectly normal and hey at least he hit it this time.

  He makes a rude gesture at the Oni with a bored look on his face.

---

Standard: Insightful strike vs cube. hits. 26 DMG. Marked cube.
minor: Rain of steel activated. 1d10+2 DMG to enemies who start next to me.
Save vs immob: fail.

Cube HP: 35
Matt HP: 54
This message was last edited by the player at 04:12, Fri 22 May 2015.

Angel hops back five feet and fires two arrows into the cube, finishing it. In a mock deep voice, Angel says, "Oh! Look at me! My name's Maiko and I have a club!" her tone goes back to normal. "You think YOU'RE something special? You can talk when you at least have the competence of a brainless pile of gel!"

---

Biting Volley v Cube. Hit(23)! Hit(31)!
 dmg: 34
 quarry: 3 for total of KILL

Cube HP: 35 - 37 = DEAD

The Oni roars furiously and swings at Angel, nearly crushing her! "Maiko crush you! You will live to see you and your friends eaten slowly!" SLASH! Matt gives Maiko something to think about immediately.

Angel hops back some more, almost collapsing. She misfires as a result of her being hit so hard. "Not... good enough. Carla! Some healing!"

---

Maiko basic melee v Angel. Hit(28)!
 dmg: 15

Fox's Cunning v Maiko. Miss(20)

Maiko HP: 162 - 10 = 152
Angel HP: 36 - 15 = 21
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:31, Fri 22 May 2015.

Mits sloshes over while Imp flaps into flanking.  Hack!  Slash!  Severed Oni foot plops into the mire and the monster roars in pain!

"I'd tell you to put a sock in it, but I'll love to see you put your foot in your mouth some more!"

She flashes him her mirror shield to let him know he's a loser.

Carla pats the wall to feel her way as she heads towards Angel's voice, then bursts with holy energy that heals Angel and Mittens!

Gabriel says, "Nice one, Mittens!" as he fires another purely flavor beam of light.

---

Move: South a few.
Standard: Healer's Mercy. Angel and Mitts spend a surge.

Angel HP: 21 + 16 = 37
Mittens HP: 26 + 13 = 39

  Matt forgot he had a close burst 1 attack which would have been useful to remember when there was more than one enemy.  But he's using it now, and hey 2[W] are better than 1.

  He circles around the Oni and cracks his hammer against it's favored punching arm. "Have to get your entertainment somewhere in a fight I guess.  Honestly the gel was more of a worry than you are.  What is it with people keeping pets more impressive than themselves?"

Angel fires two bolts. One goes past the Oni's head, shaving some hair. The other deflects off the Oni's skin. "...this has just not been my day." she says quietly as her eyes water.

---

Twin Strike. Miss(21) Miss(21)

Double 4's? On the bright side, that means Oni remains unbloodied so his power doesn't recharge yet.

Matt slashes the Oni! The Oni yells so loud, it hurts the team's ears then he clubs Mittens! Only to be slashed by Matt again! "I KILL YOU!"

---

Melee Basic v Mittens. Hit(22)!
 dmg: 11

Mittens HP: 39 - 11 = 28

"Thanks!" Mits answers Gabe.

She hacks up the Oni's other foot.

"I guess like those thugs in that alley, they think of pets as an opportunity to have a powerful weapon."

Cherub flutters over to Carla to kiss some of her boo-boos better.  Mits grins and seems to be healing up too.

Gabriel shoots another beam of light at the Oni, injuring it.

Carla rubs her eyes with her fists ( http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x...ing-eyes-6427253.jpg ) and when she lets go, she blinks a few times before looking over to see the near-defeated Oni. Then looks over to Cherub and gives a bright smile, mouthing the words "thank you"

---

Gabe melee v Oni. Hit(29)!
 dmg: 13
Carla save: 16 success!

Oni HP: 46 - 13 = 33
This message was last edited by the player at 05:38, Fri 22 May 2015.

  LOL 1 turn failure.

  "Honestly, at this rate some bandits with a puppy would be a change of pace."  Because making a puppy sad for smashing it's owner would be more effective than a murderpet as a deterrent.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:49, Fri 22 May 2015.

Angel fires two more bolts and they find purchase! Hope is restored in her expression. _"Yes!" she whispers.

The oni looks to be on his last bit of health.

---

Twin Strike v Oni. Hit(30)! Hit(33)!
 dmg: 17
 quarry: 4 for total of 21

Maiko HP: 33 - 21 = 12

The Oni screams like a rock star, breathes on the heroes, dazing them, and then swings his clu-CRACK! Matt downs the guy.

---

<Gray>Hypnotic Breath v Matt, Mitts, Angel. Hit(26)! CRIT(31)! Hit(18)!
ACTION POINT!
Melee on Mittens! WHACK! Matt kills Oni. The end.

Oni HP: 12 - 11 - 16 = the end</Gray>

Mits was bracing for another bonk to the head, but relaxes when the big brute hits the ground/sewage.

"Whew!  Thanks for the save, Matt!"

"That was amazing, everyone!" Imp cheers.

She starts to reenact the fight with her own sound effects.

Cherub flutters over to glomp Angel.  "That swing woulda flattened Mits if not for the help of your arrows, ya know.  Yay for our guardian Angel."

  "Well, glad that was finished before it got-" comedy post fight save throw failure occurs and Matt falls asleep on his feet.  Interrupting him feeling needlessly guilty over having the most HP left at the end of the fight despite spending most of it inside a gel cube.

Carla looks worried for Matt at first, but when she goes to check on him, she sees he will be OK. She then looks over at Gabriel.

Gabriel bows lightly. "My appologies. I would join you longer, but I must go." He looks at Carla. "Be well, sis."

Carla blows Gabe a kiss. He smiles, "catches" it and kisses the palm of his hand before vanishing.

Angel goes to rest by Matt and Mittens while holding Cherub. "We all rescued each other, Cherub." she says as she idly pets Matt's sleeping self.

The prestidigitation in her Hedgewizard's Gloves cleans off her team mates while she rests.

The three Mittensezez all wave bye bye to the departing angel.  Big Mits looks surprised by Matt's sudden narcolepsy.  Cherub enjoys the Angel cuddles.  Imp shrugs.

"That's what teammates are for and all that."

"We've carved ourselves an opening.  Let's not let this opportunity pass us by.  Nothing stands between us and Mav's revenge now!"

  Matt wakes up at Revenge O'clock.  "It would be nice if that were true, but I think the only way it won't is if what is between us and said revenge was sitting or crawling."

Angel says, "Let's scout things out. Maybe this Oni isn't the end of the line for the assassins..."

The team finds evidence of something just a little farther down one of the pipes. When they reach the end of the pipe, they see a room where the sewage converges.

Glowing moss covers the ceiling of this room, filling it with dim light. Mushrooms grow on the southern ledge, and part of the northeastern ledge has crumbled away. A barrel bobs in the holding pool, caught in an eddy of the swirling sewage. This room smells particularly acrid.

Perception Check
DC 10: Something metallic glints in the patch of
mushrooms.
DC 31: A large, black, scaled snout pokes out from underneath the sewage in the central pool.

  "Some kind of animal in the water waiting for us to walk close enough to bite, or maybe it's peascfuaahahaha I can't even finish that sentence."

"Well then let's kill it," Mits offers.

She gets ready to javelin the thing.

Suddenly, a black dragon rises up out of the sewage and roars! The group can FEEL terror flood through them as the dragon rushes forward and breathes acid on them!

Angel screams in fear and pain.

The dragon says, "I AM NIGHTSHADE! How DARE you all come into MY hideout and slay MY servants! I will destroy you utterly, you puny weaklings!"

---

Begin initiative: Angel uses Begin the Hunt.
 Effect: You gain a +2 bonus to the initiative check, and using your Hunter's Quarry, you designate one creature you can see as your quarry. You gain a +2 power bonus to attack rolls against that creature until it is no longer your quarry.

Frightful Presence v Imp, Angel, Carla, Cherub, Mittens, Matt. Hit(31)! Hit(30)! Miss(16) Miss(15) Hit(26)! Hit(32)!
 the target is stunned until the end of Nightshade’s next turn.
 Aftereffect: The target takes a –2 penalty to attack rolls (save ends).
ACTION POINT!
Breath Weapon v Imp, Angel, Carla, Cherub, Mittens, Matt. Hit(23)! Hit(30)! Hit(32)! Hit(29)! Hit(23)! Miss(15)
 dmg: 11 and ongoing 5 acid and -4 AC (save ends both)

Imp HP: 45 - 11 - 5 = 29
Angel HP: 69 - 11 - 5 = 53
Carla HP: 48 - 11 = 37
Cherub HP: 13 - 11 = 13 (Resist 13)
Mittens HP: 54 - 11 - 5 = 38
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:18, Fri 22 May 2015.

Carla rushes over to the side of the room so she is no longer a target and raises her hand up, leaps into the air and throws her hand downward before landing. A beam of light shines through the ceiling and onto the dragon!

Carla then says quietly, "Burn." and the dragon catches fire, roaring in anger!

---

Carla takes 5 dmg from acid
Brilliant Beacon. Crit fail, miss.
 Effect: The burst creates a zone of brilliant light that lasts until the end of your next turn. As part of a move action, you can move the zone up to 6 squares. Enemies in the zone take a -2 to attacks, defenses and save throws. The zone ends if you are in it at the end of your turn.
Aversion Staff: +2 all your defenses vs target until effect ends.
Baleful Malediction: Hit target takes -2 to attack rolls until start of Carla's next turn.
ACTION POINT!
Word of Fiery Condemnation. Hit(24)! thanks to brilliant beacon
 dmg: 13 and ongoing 5 fire (save ends)
Covenant of Malediction: The target takes a -2 penalty to the save throw against ongoing damage.
Aversion Staff: +2 all your defenses vs target until effect ends.
Baleful Malediction: Hit target takes -2 to attack rolls until start of Carla's next turn.

Carla HP: 37 - 5 = 32
Nightshade HP: 560 - 13
This message was last edited by the player at 23:20, Fri 22 May 2015.

  Matt is incredibly shocked at the presence of a drag-wait no, nitpicky questions have derailed his fear.  "Why are you in a sewer? You're a dragon, you rate higher than a sewer."

  He sighs as acid splashes off his shield instead of his face, and chugs a potion of acid resistance.  Alas, his hammer swing wiffs to the point where even a low level dragon would have dodged.

---

OOC: start of turn saved vs stun, made it.  End of turn save vs debuff. made it (crit).
Attack, miss.
Minor: potion of resist acid (5 acid resist).

Nightshade says, "HA! Was that a swing or an arm spasm? You're even more pathetic than I imagined! My servants must have been asleep or drunk for you to get past them! Now..." her eyes grow dark and seemingly the whole room gets enveloped in darkness as she says, "Grovel in the sewage before me and BEG for mercy! I might even spare one of you."

Nobody but Carla can see anything now.

---

Nightshade takes 5 fire damage
Cloud of Darkness:
Close burst 2; this power creates a zone of darkness that
remains in place until the end of Nightshade’s next turn. The
zone blocks line of sight for all creatures except the dragon.
Any creature entirely within the area (except the dragon) is
blinded.
Save throw: 2 failed

Nightshade HP: 547 - 5 = 542
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:58, Fri 22 May 2015.

Angel smirks and says, "A shot in the dark? A challenge." before firing off two bolts. One hits the dragon in her literal potty mouth. The other hits the dragon in between a couple scales! Not that anyone but the dragon knows this. But judging from the thunk thunk and roar of anger, everyone knows Angel hit her mark despite the darkness. "We'll see who is puny when the fight is over, won't we?"

---

Twin Strike v Nightshade. CRIT(34)! Hit(28)!
 dmg: 32

Nightshade HP: 542 - 32 = 510
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Fri 22 May 2015.

Carla says, "Shh..." and the dragon can be heard screaming!

---

Visions of Blood v Nightshade. Hit(30)!
 dmg: 12
 -1 to all defenses until start of your next turn.
Aversion Staff: +2 all your defenses vs target until effect ends.

Nightshade HP: 510 - 12 = 498

  At least Matt has the excuse of magical LoS blocking for his miss this time.  "You seem to be avoiding the question.  Do you actually like wallowing in filth?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:04, Sat 23 May 2015.

Mits takes a shot in the dark too.  It's not very effective.

"Black dragons are swamp monsters.  I guess this is the closest to home that a country mouse living in the city can get."

Imp circles around to flank it.  "Wow.  I thought that witch was the boss.  A dragon assassin?  Next thing you know there'll be an Ogre sheriff."

Cherub flies over to whisper to Carla.  "We could probably use some angelic backup..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:52, Sat 23 May 2015.

Nightshade says, "Like I have to answer to the puny likes of you?! The insolence!" The dragon furiously claws at Matt, but misses. Thankfully for her, the only person who can see she missed is her. "Ha! Once again you prove your worthlessness! Not that it matters that you miss. Even when you muster up enough competence to hit me, it doesn't even hurt!"

---

Nightshade takes 5 fire dmg
Double Attack v Matt. Miss(13) Miss(16)
Save v ongoing fire: 19 success

Nightshade HP: 498 - 5 = 493
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:57, Sat 23 May 2015.

Angel fires a couple bolts at Nightshade. "So much talking. Then again, if I had as much sewage in my mouth as you, I'd have to regurgitate it all at once."

One bolt finds its way into the dragon's mouth again, lodging itself between teeth like corn skin sometimes does. VERY annoying.

---

Biting Volley v Nightshade. Hit(24)! Miss(19)
 dmg: 18
Save v frightful: 5 fail

Nightshade HP: 493 - 18 = 475
This message was last edited by the player at 02:00, Sat 23 May 2015.

Carla shakes a finger at Nightshade. The beam of light on her gets brighter and slightly wider.

She then looks at Cherub, nods, and prays.

Nobody shows up. Carla looks back to Cherub and gives a helpless shrug.

---

Offering of Justice
 dmg: 23
This message was last edited by the player at 02:09, Sat 23 May 2015.

  Matt reenacts embarrassing workshop accidents by smashing the dragon's toes (fingers?) with a hammer.
standard: SST, 20 DMG.
Dragon slowed and can't shift.
Dragon HP: 455

"Ack!" Mits says, hiding behind her shield, "Make the darkness come back!  Your ugly mug is worse than your smelly breath!"

Imp just laughs, flying around and clawing at the dragon's backside.

Cherub nods and flies to be above the dragon.  "You're pretty puny compared to a god, ya know.  And we have a favorite of two gods here.  You miiight wunna consider repenting of your sins considering you're probably not long for this world."

---

Twin strike
Dragon-39=416
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:17, Sat 23 May 2015.

Nightshade says, "Flattery will get you nowhere, cat!" as she steps back to position herself. The attempts to attack her as she does all fail and hit only scales. She spews more acid at the group! "Your gods are ignorant at best to send their favorite to die!"

ACID SPEW!!! ...and only Cherub gets acid to the face. And resists it entirely.

---

breath weapon v Angel, Mittens, Matt, Cherub. Miss(23) Miss(16) Miss(17) Hit(30)!
 dmg: 10

...does nothing to Cherub, lol

Angel heads over and shoots a barrage of arrows! One of them hits the dragon in the corner of its eye! "AAAAH!"

Angel sings in a pretty voice, "Cry, baby, cry. Stick an arrow in your eye."

---

Ferret Out Frailty: Gain CA on Nightshade
Blinding Barrage v Nightshade. Hit(33)!
 dmg: 28
 blinded until end of your next turn.

Nightshade HP: 416 - 28 = 388 and blinded!

Carla finishes praying and Sparky appears! "Bluh, this place stinks!" He pulls out his chain and says, "OK, you overgrown terd. Let's see what you're made of!"

---

Summon companion

  We are running out of creative ways to say Matt missed again. Only 388 hitpoints on the boss to go!

"Woow," Mits says, stepping forward to slice the dragon, "And here I thought snowflake dragons were supposed to be the stupid ones.  Keep talking like that, genius!  'Cause I'll be laughing my head off when you're burning in hell!  I will at least grant you that you had the sense to cover up the mirror with your sneeze so you don't have to look at your own ugly face anymore!"

Imp smiles slyly at Sparky.  "Glad you could join the fun, Mr. Awesome.  We're having a rousing game of 'Who can infuriate the poop dragon the most?'"

Cherub takes up position to Matt's left and wiggles her fingers at Sparkie.  "Help me hem it in, won't you please, cutie-pie?"

Nightshade slaps Mittens across the face with her tail, sending Mittens spiraling back. "You're the one trying and failing to badmouth a dragon, fool! You are my playthings and you will die slowly as I toy with you!"

And Matt connects! The dragon does well to hide its annoyance. She paws at the arrow in the corner of her eyes, but fails to dislodge it.

---

Tail Slash v Mittens. Hit(32)!
 dmg: 8
Matt v Nightshade. Hit(32)!
 dmg: 15
Double Attack v Matt. Hit(31)! Miss(20)
 dmg: 6

Mittens HP: 33 - 8 = 25
Nightshade HP: 370 - 15 = 355
Matt HP: 70 - 6 = 64
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:17, Sat 23 May 2015.

Angel is not liking this. The dragon can literally hit her allies while blind? Seeing Mittens get smacked like that and tossed aside, Angel frowns. (Matt made his hit look like someone nudged him)

Angel says in a playful tone, "Alright. Since you seem to think us playthings, how about I do the same to you? Here's the game: Whenever you hit Mittens, you'll immediately feel the sting of my arrows. I'll be shooting you as normal otherwise, but I'll show you I've been going soft on you so far if you lay another limb on her."

---

Guardian Arrow v Nightshade. Hit(24)!
 dmg: 29
 Effect: Choose an ally adjacent to the target. Until the end of the encounter, if the target attacks that ally, you can make a ranged basic attack with a weapon against the target as an immediate interrupt. You cannot make this attack if the target is marked by that ally.

Nightshade HP: 355 - 29 = 326

Sparky blushes slightly from being called Awesome. And cutie. "Trying." he says as he slaps chain against scale to no apparent avail.

Carla quietly says, "Naughty.." and the dragon moves as though a battering ram hit it in the side!

She then traces her finger on her own cheek and the wounds on Mittens' cheek vanish as she feels much better.

Carla then waves to Imp and quickly blows a kiss. Imp feels slightly healthier.

---

Durp. Realized I forgot to do dmg as per Offering of Justice earlier. So I'm doing it now and reflavoring it.

Nightshade HP: 326 - 23 = 303
Mittens HP: 25 + 13 = 38

  Matt was finally hit, Matt is more surprised it took this long.  He retaliates by showing that he can (just barely) hit a blind target in the face.

  "Toying with is is why it's taking this long, I guess."
Dragon HP: 283
-2 to-hit, until end of my next turn.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:46, Sat 23 May 2015.

Mits stands up, laughing.  "Ohohohoo!  That was just... pathetic!  You call that a hit?!  Please!  I've met dogs that hurt worse!  One wink from a cherub and I'm all better.  Here.  Let me show you how it's done.  I'm going to make you spew with this one.  I'll even let you know where it's coming from and to.  Your right.  To the gut."

Mits circles around while Cherub heads over to be with Carla.  WHAM!  Mits rams the butt of her sword into the dragon's belly!

Cherub mews.  "At this point I'm starting to feel sorry for the thing."

Imp headshakes.  "Not me."

---

At-will, AP encounter.  19 and 23 damage for a total of 42.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:05, Sat 23 May 2015.

The dragon, infuriated, blindly turns and shoots acid at Mittens, missing, and getting arrowed and whacked for attempting such. Then she wildly swipes at Mittens, getting an actual hit in while getting arrowed and whacked again for her efforts.

---

Breath Weapon on Mitts. -11 to attacks means miss. Barely.
Double Attack. Miss, Hit!
 dmg: 8

...seriously. 1d6+4 dmg. Was the 74 damage worth it, Nightshade?
Nightshade: "Yes."

Nightshade HP: 241 - 19(Matt) - 19(Angel) - 22 (Matt) - 14(Angel) = 203
Mittens HP: 38 - 8 = 30

Angel comes over to be by Mittens. "Well this worked out nicely. I wanna come be at your side to watch the expression on Nightshade when she finally realizes she is done for."

---

Fleeting Spirit Strike. Hit(30)!
 dmg: 28

Nightshade HP: 167 - 28 = 139

Carla comes up behind Nightshade and shoots eyebeams at the dragon! This time, the dragon decides not to attack anyone who isn't Matt.

Sparky grins. "Ironically, Imp, Cherub's comment probably infuriated it more. Pity. Pity for the weakling dragon."

---

Sun Strike. Hit(22)!
 dmg: 13

Nightshade HP: 139 - 13 = 126

  Matt knocks a tooth loose with his hammer, finally bringing their enemy below... 100 hitpoints.  He is starting to see the appeal of MM3 design even if those tend to deal more damage.

  "Look, if you give up we may well accept just out of boredom."

Dragon HP: 95

Mits snorts.  "Boredom.  That why you've taken up practicing dentistry?"

She sheathes her sword and shakes her head at the dragon.

"S'matter?  Run out of blowhard things to say?  Cat got your tongue?  Say something!  Just don't be so boring."

Cherub blushes.  Imp considers and nods.  She tries to slash at the beast but can't harm it.

Nightshade bursts with darkness again, flies over the heroes who now can't see her (or anything for that matter) and lands behind Mittens and Angel before spewing more acid!

Angel lets another arrow fly at the dragon, injuring her! The dragon retaliates with a bite! Angel hops back and fires again, missing this time.

Carla, Mittens, and Angel are all hurting and Sparky collapses! "You would make a good assassin, daring me to kill one of your comrades so you aren't bored anymore. Well are you happy?"

---

Cloud of Darkness
Fly over heroes
ACTION POINT!
Breath Weapon v Carla, Matt, Mitts, Angel, Cherub, Sparky, Imp. Hit(32), Miss(15), Hit(22), Miss(16), Miss(15), Hit(29), Miss(14)
 dmg: 15
Angel basic attack. Hit(32)!
 dmg: 17
Nightshade AoO. Hit(26)!
 dmg: 11
Angel Fox's Cunning v Nightshade. Miss(18)

Carla HP: 37 - 15 = 22
Mittens HP: 30 - 15 = 15
Sparky HP: 13 - 15 = POOFED
Nightshade HP: 95 - 17 = 78
Angel HP: 53 - 11 = 42

Angel says, "You should have taken Matt's offer." and buries another arrow into the dragon. We know because THUNK "AACK!"

---

Twin Strike. Hit(34)! Hit(32)!
 dmg: 20

Nightshade HP: 78 - 20 = 58

Carla emits a powerful glow and she and Mittens get restored some.

She looks saddened over towards her unconscious brother.

---

Healer's Mercy.

Carla HP: 22 + 12 = 34
Mittens HP: 15 + 13 = 28

  Oh look, a 1!  Aaaaaaaaargh.

  Also, Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh.

"Yay!  The darkness is back!  No more ugly face!"

Mits whiffs.

Cherub flies over the dragon.  "You misunderstand.  All the cherubs in this room cannot die.  Sparky can come back good as new in a few seconds.  Your only chance to survive is to turn from your evil ways."

"Or flee," Imp says, "But neither of those are gunna happen."

---

14.  still a miss.  sadface.

Nightshade swipes at Matt a couple times and misses.

Angel goes up to Nightshade's face again, a cold expression on her face. She fires an arrow at the chest, shattering a scale and then fires another arrow, piercing the skin, and then ANOTHER arrow, pushing the previous arrow into the dragon's heart!

---

Probing Strike. Hit(32)!
 dmg: 12
ACTION POINT!
Twin Strike. Hit(33)! Hit(34)!
 dmg: 20
Quarry plus Sneak Attack
 dmg: 16

Nightshade HP: 58 - 48 = 10

Carla slowly walks forward, a stern look on her face. Blue lasers shoot from her eyes into the eyes of the dragon, causing Nightshade to scream and collapse as though her own weight was too much. She keeps screaming, her screams becoming multi-voiced. The lasers don't let up. And then even as the screams keep going, the dragon's flesh seams to slowly collapse as though her insides were melting.

---

Sun Strike. Hit(30)!
 dmg: 11

Nightshade HP: 10 - 11 = FATALITY OF MOLTEN BONES

  "Well, now it gets to be part of the sewer instead of just living in it."  He looks over to Sparky, poor little holy midget tries so hard but hey at least this time he only got knocked around some.

  "Is everyone going to be okay? You know my unreasonable mindset when it comes to coming out of a fight not too harmed myself."

"That. Was. AWESOME!" Imp cheers!  "You all were AMAZING!"

Mits grins.  "Yeah.  We just stomped a dragon!  Pretty exciting!"

Cherub looks confused.  "But you said you were getting bored."

"Pure smack talk.  Especially after Angel's 'game.'"

"We'll be alright, Matt."

"Yeah.  Once we get all this yuckie sewage off."

Angel smirks. "Angel to the rescue." she takes off the gauntlets of blood and puts on the hedgewizard's gloves to start cleaning her team mates.

Carla re-summons Sparky, who looks annoyed. "There is something restricting me. I intend to find out what. Until then, I'll see about Rainbow keeping you company, OK?"

Carla nods and hugs Sparky, who hugs her back before vanishing.

  "Thanks Angel.  Just because I'm used to worse doesn't mean I want to deal with it."  zombie bug insides exploding all over you, marginally worse than fighting a gel cube in a sewer.

The Mittensezez were all sure to bid Sparky farewell each in their own way before he left.

Cherub flutters over to cheek-kiss Angel.  "Yes thanks!  With us all clean, I can kiss you again!"

A voice can be heard approaching.  "I can't believe they think they can get away with trying to kill me.  ME!  Lord Wrashk!  They're going to rue the day the crossed me.  Fools.  Did they really think I wasn't prepared for such an attack!  These escape tunnels sure have served me well..."

Mits can hardly contain her laughter.

Angel gets a "...really?" expression and finds a hiding spot with crossbow ready.

Carla shrugs and also looks for cover.

  Matt facepalms.  It's been a while, he deserves it.

  He opts to loom ominously because Maverick isn't here so somebody has to.

The noble unwittingly walks right into an ambush of several powerful heroes.  But apparently misses that he's surrounded.

"Woah!  Dead dragon!  Looks recent."

He looks around nervously.

Mits and the other two step out.

"You're surrounded.  Any sudden moves and you'll regret it."

Wrashk slowsly raises his hands and smiles.  "I surrender, beautiful."

Cherub smiles.  "Well he's surprisingly nice."

Imp frowns.  "I don't trust him."

Mits shows him the mirror shield.  Wrashk looks amused.

"Oh that's cute."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:31, Sat 23 May 2015.

Angel circles to block his escape. "Hello, Lord Wrashk. My comrads and I just killed that dragon. You were saying about being prepared for such an attack?"

Carla goes to block the opposite escape route, eyes glowing.

Angel says, "Matt, you mind tying this guy up?"

  "I'm sure he will find that preferable to broken legs.  Or maybe he wouldn't, you never know these days."

  Matt used Rope on Jerk.

Wrash doesn't resist Matt.  "Politics, good looking.  Some rivals thought they could depose me.  But you all don't look like you work for them.  Perhaps we can come to an arrangement.  How much are you all being paid to kidnap me?"

Cherub headshakes.  "We're not kidnappers!  We're heroes!  And you're under arrest!"

"Oh that's cute.  Under arrest?  I'm the authority in his realm.  Nothing legal about taking me prisoner."

Imp gets angry.  "Don't try and weasel your self outta this!  You're evil and you're gunna pay for it!"

Mits shrugs and moves to gag him.  "Let's just gag him and go.  I've had enough of this place."

Angel says, "No argument here." and gags the guy before heading out with the others. "So... we took out the assassin's guild, thinking we were going to use that to take Wrashk. Technically, that's how it happened, but who knew he'd come walking right into our hands?"

Carla keeps an eye out as the group walks.

  "Hopefully, the return trip is much easier." it should be considering the teleport scroll, but he wouldn't be surprised if that failed somehow just by cynical factors.

  "Carla, could you start up the scroll for us?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 07:00, Sat 23 May 2015.

Imp recovers the tooth Matt knocked out and asks Angel to clean it off.  The return trip is much easier.  Ritual done, portal made and walked through, the heroes find themselves at the teleportation circle the left from!

"Home sweet home!" Cherub cheers flitting around to hug each of her friends.

Which apparently includes Mits and Imp.

Imp grins and brandishes the tooth.  "We slew a dragon!"

The page there stares wide-eyed and jaw agape.  Even the mages look shocked.

"We didn't know Wrashk had a dragon guarding him..."

"I don't think the dragon was his," Cherub says.

"But it was evil and in the way," Imp explains.

"So we slew it!" Mits finishes.

"But only because it refused to stop attacking!" Cherub qualifies.

Imp grins proudly.  "Same story for all the other monsters we slew before it!  Have we an epic tale to tell!"

Mits presnts the prisoner.  "The person formerly known as Wrashk.  Now his name is 'Maverick's Plaything.'"

The page bows and hurries off.  The mages study the prisoner and begin carefully removing any magic items they sense on him.

Angel says, "So should I bother telling Maverick's Plaything why he is now labeled such? Or just leave it all to Maverick?"

Carla sighs and offers a piece of paper to Angel.

Angel says, "Carla says it kind of depends on Adam. She personally highly recommends either a lot of supervision from us, or not allowing him any more than a day with Wrashk. She says she is worried about what this could do to Maverick if he is allowed to continue for a long period of time."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Sat 23 May 2015.

  "It wasn't a very big dragon." Yes, ONLY large solo boss Matt.  That's not even huge!

  In regards to jerkface mf facejer, "Well apparently he was already deposed when we got there, so not a lot will be missing him."

Wrashk struggles and mutters a lot to Matt's statement, shaking his head.

Imp gawks.  "Sheesh.  What's it take to impress Matt?  Tiamat?!"

Mits headshakes to Angel's question.  "Nah.  I don't want any spoilers to slip before Mav has a crack at him."

"I'm sure his birth parents were able to get through to him," Cherub assures Carla.

Imp grins impishly.  "I hope not.  I wunna see what Mav was planning!"

A small group of guards step in.  The leader salutes.  "We were asked to escort the prisoner to a holding cell to await trial.  A page is on his way to let Adam know you have returned successful.  If you wish to go meet Adam first thing, one of us can show the way.  If you chose to see the prisoner to his cell with us, we would be honored."

Angel answers, "If it is all the same to you, as anxious as I am to see Adam, I want to see the prisoner put behind bars." She glances. "And see some of Unity's finest put him there."

Carla looks at Angel and then the others, nodding.

Angel says, "I don't know what would impress Matt, but I know what impresses me: You bunch."

  "That depends, does Tiamat live in a sewer?"  Even Tiamat's sewers are probably made of solid gold (compared to Bahamut's platinum, ruby studded toilets).   "I think me suffering dull surprise at best is a coping mechanism for all the stuff we deal with, honestly."

  He nods to Angel's intentions, "Yes, that and a proper shower if time for it."

Cherub sing a jingle about not being fully clean until you're magically clean.

Imp shrugs.  "Sure!  let's throw him in the slammer together!"

The prisoner is put in manacles which are triple-checked.  Then taken to a cell.  Which is inspected.  And who's lock is triple checked.  The key is then locked in a box in a separate room and the key to the box is handed to Angel.

"Adam requested that this be given to you for safekeeping.  Of course, this means that if he really is dying of a sudden case of stomach cramps and not faking it to try and escape... well...  we'll just to deal with that then."

Mits snorts.

"Thank you, heroes, for all you do.  Both for Unity's people and those beyond our borders."

"You're welcome!" Mits answers with a big smile.

Angel smiles brightly. "...thanks!" She grips the key in her hand and then says, "Well then if you would be so kind as to show us to Adam."

Carla heads off with the team towards Adam. Angel comments, "By the way, be warned that if anyone removes his gag, he will make your brain hurt just listening to him."

  "Listening to him was somewhat more unpleasant than being inside that gel cube."  Matt do you stop to think about these things you are saying before you say them?  Signs point to either no, or 'yes, I'm as confused as you are'.

Mits laughs.  "Here I thought I was the only one.  Glad to hear I'm not alone in thinking that."

The guards salute, but it's clear that they now dread to hear one word from Wrask.  Soon the heroes are reunited with Adam, Mav, and his parents in what looks to be Adam's private lounge.

"Welcome back!  Good to see you all well!"

Cherub glomps for Mav, etc.

Imp is excited to brag, "We got 'im, Mav!  Not even close to dead!"

Maverick was sure to great each member of the team with a smile and a hug. When Imp breaks the good news, Maverick's eyes become saucers and immediately, tears wells up in his eyes. "...I love you guys."

He looks up at his parents. Then up at Adam. Then looks back at the others and takes a deep breath. "I was told that whatever I do to him, I should be willing to do in front of those I love. Whatever I do, it should be for justice. Adam has gotten me the full list of recorded crimes Wrashk has done. He also got me the corresponding list of punishments that go along with those crimes. I have seen a psychologist while you were gone and understand the darkness inside me... and how I personally will overcome it. I ask you, who have been through Hell with me, felt the pain I feel, and know the betrayal I know, to go with me and be part of this."

Adam already knows this includes him.

Angel says, "Whatever you do, I'm sure the man deserves it. Our only concern has been for your own mental health. But if even your parents AND Adam agree to what is about to happen... how can I say no?"

Carla gives Maverick a hug and a thumbs-up.

  What's a little kidnapped political figures between friends?

  "If you take to wearing skulls on your face, we want it to be because you think skulls are cool, not vindictive reasons that end up wearing somebody you really disliked."  Maverick would probably love the store Nothing But Skulls anyways.

"You can do some pretty amazing things with regeneration magic," Mits points out, "Imagine.  Removing his skull, piece by piece, regenerating the pieces as you do, and constructing a helm out of the pieces.  Prisoner stays alive, and you get a nice conversation starter!"

"Metal," Imp agrees.

"Why are we revisiting the wearing of dead people topic again?" Cherub complains.

She cuddles Mav.  "Love you too, Mavvie-wavvie!  Of course we'll support you."

Adam nods.  "For the record, this is an exceptional case.  Unity is not in the habit of punishing foreign leaders for their misdeeds.  So my parents have officially declared neutrality.  This is technically a war between me, my friends, and Wrashk."

Mits raises a finger.  "Oh!  You weren't told.  His name is now 'Maverick's Plaything.'  A gift from us to him."

Maverick stares at Mittens for a bit at her mentioning skull formations. "That... is really clever, Mittens."

Maverick idly pets Cherub before smiling at her. He begins walking with the group to the prisoner's area. Then looks back to Matt. "I thought our group strictly forbade the wearing of sentient victims' body parts? Have you suddenly changed your mind? Because the only reason I ever wanted to wear an ogre skull was because it was cool."

No really. He felt almost nothing for those ogres by the time things were done and over with.

Angel glances at Mittens and asks in a quiet tone, "Were you trying to give Maverick ideas?"

Carla quietly follows everyone, neither showing annoyance or happiness on the current topic. Just a calm expression.

  Matt facepalms at Mittens's advice.

  "Well I'd find it tacky and unpleasant, but it gets brought up so much I'm figuring skulls are probably the least concern if that is as far as you go.  Compared to going crazy like Mittens suggests."  Maverick, we don't care if it gives you a bonus to necrotic and cold resistance, knitting a sweater out of gnolls is just gross.

The guards of course let everyone by with the proper salutes and such.  Key retrieved, the group finds Wrashk where they left him, still bound and gagged.

Cherub folds her arms and says in a stern tone.  "Yes.  No wearing dead people."

"Wearing live people is perfectly fine," Imp interprets.

Mits laughs.  Cherub facepalms.  "No it's not!"

Mits smiles to Mav.  "Thanks!"

She shrugs to Matt's crazy comment then answers Angel with a proud grin, "Yup!"

Adam just headshakes with a smile that says he believes his friends to be just joking around.  He addresses Wrashk.

"I am Adam.  I have declared war on you.  This is my army.  You have been captured."

Angel gives Mittens a look of mock-disapproval. Like she is obligated to pretend to disapprove, but really, she doesn't.

To Matt, Maverick says, "Actually, I don't plan on wearing anyone's body parts anymore." he turns to Imp. "Yes. I can totally wear living people. Lemme show you." he grabs Imp and wraps her arms around him to wear her as a backpack.

Once facing Wrashk, Maverick says, "I'll introduce the army to you. This is Mittens, her two counterparts Imp and Cherub, Matt, Angel and Carla. My name is Maverick Sargas. These two are my parents. Who you killed some years ago." he displays his parents. The boy seems surprisingly calm at the moment.

He then goes to remove the gag. "What do you have to say?"

Angel and Carla are both silent.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:59, Sun 24 May 2015.

  Matt prefers  Mavericks change in fashion sense.  Everybody loves kitten backpacks right?  He's going to stick to calling the captive his normal name because that's much faster to say and type.

  Speaking of saying, he says nothing for the moment.  Maverick deserves some serious time before Matt starts taking things more casually than reasonable again.

Mits folds her arms, trying to look impressive.  Imp giggles and huggles Mav's neck.  If he was going for intimidating...

Wrashk looks bewildered.  "Killed?  I don't know what you're talking about.  I don't recognize them.  Or you.  And your 'army' I've only met just today."

Cherub nibbles nervously on her nails.  Adam also stays quiet.

Jonathan testifies. "You were parading down the street when you saw my wife. You found her attractive and demanded she be brought to you. You kissed her. She bit your lip. I fought to get to you, but your guards apprehended me. You were angry about her making you bleed in public, so after you found out I was her husband, you had me killed in front of her. She was furious and kicked you in the crotch. You stabbed her in the gut in return and left her in the street to die slowly. Then you instructed the people that anyone who helped her would suffer the same fate."

Maverick says, "I witnessed the whole thing. I wanted to save my mom. By the time I got to her, she had died. I know what I saw, Wrashk. I know it was you. I saw your face. And I heard you parading your name."

Maverick looks at the others. "He's lying. I can see it in his eyes."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:27, Sun 24 May 2015.

  Matt trusts 'this guy is jerkface mc facejerk' more than his botched insight roll.  That and Maverick's watching you sleep beyond watching you sleep.

  "The only way I'd expect otherwise would be if he just did not remember, Maverick."

Wrashk frowns.  Cherub tisks.  "Face it.  Your only option now is to repent of your evil ways and turn to good!"

Imp sighs.  "Don't you ever get tired of saying that?"

"Why would I?"

Mittens chuckles.  "I guess even my fragments are tireless in their single-mindedness."

"What do you want from me?" Wrashk asks.

Angel glances at Matt. "Well... there is also dopplegangers. Guy could have been framed by a shape shifter. Or the guy is a shape shifter."

Maverick thumbs at Cherub. "I want you to repent. That means apologizing, meaning it, turning from evil, and working to make amends with everyone you ever wronged. But despite what she said, that isn't your only option. Your other option is to not repent. If you don't repent, then I will turn to what I have wanted just as much all these years; for you to suffer. Either way, you are going to pay for what you have done." He displays the list of crimes.

Maverick's parents are hugging each other. Jonathan looks like he is holding his tongue, but is staring daggers at Wrashk.

  Matt could have sworn the Mittenses had just told them what they wanted, but Maverick does clarify.

  "If you are considering your chances against a child, they are not so good.  If Maverick had been along that dragon would have been dead probably twice as fast."

Wrashk looks bewildered then puts on an evil smile.  "So it's revenge you want, is it?  Well now it all makes sense.  Your pretending to be righteous had me confused.  Well you wont get what you want from me.  I enjoy suffering."

The 3 Mits are speechless.

When Matt says his piece, Maverick blushes and smiles over at Matt. "...thanks."

Maverick says, "Enjoy suffering? I think you will find I know new ways for you to suffer you never even thought of."

Jonathan says, "Maverick?"

Maverick says, "Don't worry. All of the ways to torture him that you would have disagreed with are made pointless because he would enjoy them. But that's the ones you would have disagreed with."

Maverick puts the gag back on Wrashk and goes back to Adam. "I'm asking the sensory deprivation punishment for now. No sight, sound, taste, smell, or touch. It is legal and a fitting punishment for one who deprived people of their senses by blinding, deafening, burning, etc. However, I am only taking his senses from him for a time." Perfectly legal. Maverick researched the law thoroughly between his psychology visits.

He proceeds to lock up Wrashk and head off with his friends. Jonathan seems satisfied and relieved. As does Christy.

Angel looks unsure while she leaves with the others, after locking the key away and holding onto the key to the key herself.

Carla also seems to get a suspicious look on her face.

  The only reason Matt has any distaste for this end result is because a live villain imprisoned is one plotting crazy revenge while a dead one is... Wait, constant fights against undead versions of things they already fought.  Okay, this isn't so bad then.

  "Would you prefer some time to yourself, maverick?"

"How infuriating!" Imp blurts out.

"How can anyone enjoy their own suffering?" Cherub wonders, still confused.

Mits shakes off her earlier bewilderment and smiles at Mav.  "So glad you came prepared!"

Adam nods.  "This punishment is very appropriate for a narcissistic megalomaniac like him."

Maverick answers Matt, "I don't need to be alone. I need to be with you guys."

Maverick smiles at Adam. "Glad you approve."

Maverick then looks up at Mittens. "Thanks for not killing him, by the way. As you know, that means a lot to me. I assure you; Everyone has a weakness. Everyone has a breaking point. By the time I am through with him, he will be begging for the chance to set things right."

His parents give him hugs and affirmation before Christy stands up and asks, "So what do you bunch do for fun?"

Angel answers, "Target practice."

Carla holds up a piece of paper that reads, "Gardening."

Maverick doesn't answer. Probably because his parents already know his answer.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:48, Sun 24 May 2015.

  "Casual smithing for a sense of normalcy?"  Matt you'll never make good sales if they never have to replace the horseshoes as long as the horse exists on the physical plane.

"Hugging!" Cherub says, fluttering around to glomp everyone, starting with Mav.

"Hanging out with epic heroes!" Imp says, grinning.

Mits pretends to be indecisive.  "Oh... I dunno... slaying dragons, maybe?!  Or... visiting other worlds!  No wait, recovering one-of-a-kind ancient relics!  And and, trouncing demon cult overlords!  So yeah.  I have a pretty long list of what I do for fun."

Adam laughs his usual Adam laugh.  "Glad at least one of us enjoyed all that stuff for it's own sake.  Me, I have to agree with Imp.  Spending time with you all is my favorite thing."

Christy says, "Then... let's do all of the above. Mav's favorite things are spying, rock collecting and star gazing. So let's play some three-dragon ante in order to "slay some dragons" like Mitts was suggesting. And then we'll walk the palace garden where Mav can find some rocks and Carla can appreciate the flowers on the way to the archer's area, where Angel can practice some archery. Then we can go to the smithy to watch how Matt does his thing. At night, we could all go star gazing..."

Mav is silent through the whole thing.

Angel is smiling and nodding, seeming to like the idea.

Carla is also smiling, especially when the garden is mentioned.

  "Watching smithing can be surprisingly boring.  I appreciate the thought though." plus that many people at once crowding around is a safety hazard Tark would be displeased.

"Perfect!" Cherub cheers before fluttering over to glomp Christy.

Imp grins and thumbs-ups at Mav and then the others.  Mits shrugs.  "Not exactly what I meant by slaying dragons, but OK.  Not like any real dragons will be presenting themselves to us any time soon."

Angel nudges Matt with a smirk. "Let the rest of us decide for ourselves what we consider boring or not, Matt. But if you find smithing boring, we'll skip it."

Three-Dragon Ante is a game practiced widely in the D&D setting. People are almost as likely to be seen playing that card game as they are to be seen playing poker. Like poker, it is a gambling game. But Christy insists on either fake money being used (like in Monopoly), or that the stakes be incredibly low.

....of course, this is when Maverick's parents discover that the definition of "low stakes" can vary when talking to adventurers who are used to spending thousands of gold at a given time.

Of course, the garden is beautiful. Carla looks very happy and sniffs flowers often. She gets especially girly, gets permission to pick certain flowers and puts them in each girl's hair. Carla has the sneaking suspicions Adam, Matt and Mav might be uncomfortable with flowers in their hair and she just wants this to be a fun time.

Maverick only finds two rocks he especially likes (though that is two more than most anyone would have picked out of this garden since flowers were the main attraction here).

When the group makes it to the archery range, Angel has a chance to show off since she isn't busy shooting with lives on the line. She takes her boots and socks off to demonstrate foot archery and then invites her team to challenge her however they want.

.....and then comes Matt's turn. At least if he is up for smithing by then.

  Hey now, cookies are VERY serious betting currency.

  Matt does not volunteer that he'd allow Carla to put flowers in his beard or something if she asked, because it's Carla so he'd do it for her.

  Matt is... clueless about rocks at this moment.  But hey at least Maverick is happy with rocks outside of using them to spill brains.

  "Hammer toss would be a bit iffy, considering we'd have to pick archery targets back up each throw.  Maybe I'll think of something later."

  As for Smithing, yes he is still up for it.  Though he had nothing particular in mind, intending to see if there was something that had actually needed doing first before making horseshoes just for the sake of horseshoes or something.

The Mittensezez are all fun-loving sorts.  Bit Mits is mostly into retelling the recent adventure for Maverick's sake, going into very explicit detail about every dodge, swing, acid burn, etc.  Imp embellishes by mockingly imitating the badguys.  Cherub of course chimes in from time to time about how brave and virtuous her friends are.  Mits takes up Angel's challenge with her javelin, but proves Angel's vastly superior ranged accuracy.  Cherub is very happy to girl it up with Carla.  Imp aks Matt to make an iron setting for her dragon tooth but Cherub reminds about the "No wearing dead people" rule.  But the three have endless ideas for decorative smithing.  The most practical suggestions being armor and weapons for the twins.  Though Timothius would probably be more comfortable with a leather sap than an iron mace.

When armor is suggested for the twins, they seem to like the idea. Maverick, of course, loves hearing all this detail and is sure to give Mittensezez a hug for their story-telling.

Of course, after Matt is done smithing some quick thing to demonstrate smithing (since armor would have them there all day for several weeks), the group is taken to eat with Adam and them at the royal dinner hall. (Lunch was had at a local restaurant Jonathan recommended)

It's like last visit in that dinner is pleasant and catching up is fun. And when it gets late, Christy guides the bunch to the top of one of the towers to gaze at the stars. Maverick is sure to begin pointing at constellations and share what he knows about them. While it is something he would have already done with the group by now, it is something he has yet to share with Raichel and Timothius.

  Matt totally sets Imp up with a fitting for the dragon tooth either way. "When we have more time, I'll make you some armor if you still want me to.  "

  He wishes more days could be like this, instead of what his life has apparently turned into.  But he wouldn't stop protecting his friends or stopping disasters happening right in front of him despite it all.

Imp is very happy with her now fitted dragon tooth!  "Awesome!  Thanks so much, Matt!"

Cherub recalls that the stars of the other world were so different.  Mits muses about some day getting an airship to fly as high as possible to try and catch some stars in a butterfly net.

The star-gazing time goes well and Carla falls asleep on the top of the tower. Maverick is getting tired, but Angel looks more tired.

Raichel yawns a kitty yawn before she curls up against Timothius and the two fall asleep.

Jonathan and Christy look about as tired as Angel.

  Matt looks to the recently revived parents, and softly asks "Would you prefer to stay up here, or for me to slowly carry everyone down to some proper beds?"

Mits yawns.  Imp curls up with Mav and falls asleep.  Cherub doesn't get tired.

"We can all crash up here.  It's roomy, the weather's nice, and all that needs done is to get a few pillows and blankets."

Adam nods.  "Sure.  Camping out on top of the tower sounds more fun than dealing with guest quarter shuffles."

Whatever the arrangements, the following morning at breakfast Adam is given a letter.  "Seems we have news on your parents, Angel."

The parents did thank Matt for his offer and ultimately, everyone opted for tower-top night-spending.

Next morning:
Angel ohs and raises an eyebrow. She takes a deep breath, despite the controlled calm expression on her face and says, "Alright. Let's hear it."

The letter is read and it is indicated that a pair of heroes known as Billy Bard and Velocity Bard; aka The Voice, are known to be alive and are becoming well known as powerful heroes with the ability to influence anyone - good or bad alike - to see things their way by simply using their voices. Most reports confirm that they both use magic, sing, and generally do not engage in melee combat.

Carla and Maverick have hopeful expressions as they look to Angel. Angel looks like she is kind of stunned and doesn't know what to say.

  Matt finds this sound suspiciously not terrible.  But then, Maverick's parents are no longer dead and he has revenge dealt with.  So 'not terrible' does seem to be a thing that can happen.

  "Does it say who some of those they dealt with have been, and what the end results were?"  Well, they probably would not be getting known as heroes if they were convincing people to burn down orphanages.

Cherub is elated!  "Yippeeee!  Oh I'm so happy for you, Angel!"

She flutters over to glomp Angel.

"Looks like awesomeness runs in the family!" Imp says with a grin.

Adam headshakes to Matt's question.  "Details on that are sketchy.  Because the region they are becoming well known in is very very far from here.  Far enough that the closest known teleportation circle will still be months away."

Mits shrugs.  "Not like we've got any world-shattering heroing to do right now in these parts.  And from the sounds of things, there's plenty of action over there.  We could always teleport then ask those locals where the next nearest teleportation circle is.  For all we know, they might know of one right under the noses of The Voice."

Angel finally composes herself enough to talk. "Months away just for a teleportation circle that leads there? That's... really far. Perhaps we can take this moment to establish some ties? If you or your parents give me the authority, Adam, to speak on behalf of the crown, I will offer perhaps a trade treaty with this far-away realm. In return, they will permit you to create a circle that leads to their lands and vice-versa. In essence, opening the trade route while also giving us the chance to go to and from there so we can visit you between whatever adventures await us in that land."

Maverick says, "Can politics really be that straight forward?"

Angel glances to Maverick. "I.." then looks at Adam. "I kind of figured the only reason there are not teleportation circles to connect all the regions was less about cost and more about political boundaries?"

  Matt, having limited access ritual training, comments "More likely it is simply that the details of those circles are not this far.  With certain exceptions-" AKA, when the plot/module says so just because,  "ANY circle on the same plane can be reached with the linked portal ritual.  But you have to know what that circle's design is... Hmm, I wonder how often problems turn up with repeat designs?"

 Meh I'm just gonna make mine a bunch of dots that's easy to remember right?  NAME DESIGN TAKEN!? AARGH *mashes random circle until they get a design the like*

  "Cost is probably also a factor though.  You'd need to make it worth opening a portal, usually at best for 30 seconds at most.  Making the circle in the first place even if somebody gave you a copy of the ritual itself takes a thousand gold every five foot square.  So just making a teleportation circle with just enough room to safely stand in takes eleven thousand gold to make, plus the year of daily maintenance to make sure it doesn't just vanish.  People are going to be pretty possessive of those unless the whole point is public transit"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Wed 27 May 2015.

Adam nods.  "If you can somehow reach this other region you have my permission to offer a simple trade agreement.  I'll have a scribe write up all the proper documents and stuff."

"Angel, you're so smart!" Cherub cheers.

Imp hmms, "Couldn't having our teleportal info mean the other nation could invade?"

Adam shrugs.  "Not really.  At least, so I was told in school...  Only so many can make it through at a time and our circle has plenty of defenses around it.  So it would take a very powerful small team who would have better chances at doing the nation more harm if they instead targeted our various outlying provincial lords."

"Alrighty, then," Mits says, "Let's get this show on the road!"

Angel goes back to hugging Cherub and smiling at her. "Thanks."

She nods to Matt. "Yeah. The expense may be high, but the mere fact that we could afford to make one if we really wanted to, combined with the fact a King's treasury dwarfs our wealth, tells me that it would be an expense easily and willingly paid by kings if it meant trade and thus, making more money. Which is why I figured the only reason was politics. But you have a point about the whole knowledge business. Still, any wizard worth their salt, given enough time, could likely figure out the arcane combination for a location they have been to. And by the way, the mere fact you knew all that? Proves you are *not* just another mighty warrior, Matt. You are quite smart. Sure, we have personal experience with teleportation, but it's not like anyone was teaching us about what was going on... you clearly have read up on this." What? Matt keeps singing the "I'm nothing special" song, so Angel felt the need to remind him he IS special.

But even as Angel says this, she is getting up to go with Mittens.

Maverick says, "I wonder what they look like."

Carla grabs Imp by the horns to wobble her head a little, playfully.

  "What, you mean most people who can kick down the average portcullis don't have a minor in creation rituals? Shocking."

Imp grins impishly at Carla with a blush. "You tangle with the Imp, you get the horns!"

Cherub giggles.  "'Thanks for the compliment, Angel,' is what you're s'pose ta say."

Mits thumbs-ups.  "We should take a couple scrolls of return with us in any case.  Send my regrets to the blood parents, blood siblings.  I may be half a year or more getting back depending.  But I really doubt they'd have any more fun with Paladin of Tempus! than they did with Savageface anyway, so no great loss there."

Carla grins at Imp. Then faces Imp, tilts her head down and causes her halo to appear.

Timothius says, "Good luck, sis. You will be missed."

Raichel nodnods and says, "Give Tim and I a hug before you go."

Various hugs, goodbyes and such are had before people head out. Maverick opts to go with the group to find Angel's parents. But Mav's parents, of course want to go with (and Mav wants them to come along). Maverick explains that while it might be dangerous, there is no way he or his parents are parting so soon, but also no way Maverick is staying behind when he could help Angel find her parents. The only caveat being that the group go ahead of him and then open a portal for him to join them once they have reached the area the parents live in.

If it is decided that Maverick and his parents can accompany the group, he gives Adam a note. It is a detailed regiment concerning Wrashk; how often the guy gets an "allowance" of sensory reprieve. He also requests that anything Wrashk says be recorded for later reference.

  Unless they averse to vertical movement, Matt gives Timothius and Raichel pickup hugs (at the same time).  "I'm glad I met you two, not just because you are related to somebody I know."

  As for the Maverick parental situation, he says "We could also bring a scroll of reverse portal with us.  So you could step through the portal to right next to us wherever that may be." _{Yes we know that's a level 12 ritual shut up.}

Those who chose to go through get through without any issue.  The group arrives in a place that looks like a town plaza.

In the distance you see a small, open-walled construction
that is the site of some activity. Even though a roof partially
blocks your view, you can see that figures are clustered in and
around it. A low railing runs along three of the four sides,
and an entrance to the south is flanked by a pair of statue

A scream of terror erupts from the structure!  Mittens draws her sword and charges toward the sound!

"For Tempus!"

Angel jogs behind Mittens a ways to keep distance while also going to the problem, crossbow at the ready.

Carla follows along also.

But Maverick decides to do what he loves doing: Go stealth!

Angel fires off a couple bolts, downing a couple cultists. Though without knowing the situation, Angel is on stun setting, so they merely go unconscious.

---

Stealth roll: 27
Angel init: 26
Carla: 15
Maverick: 10

Angel's turn first:
Standard: Twin Strike v Minions. Hit(34)! Hit(29)!
 Two minions down!
Minor: Quarry on Cambion
Move: To a statue to hide.

The temple floor is saturated in wet blood, draining from
two headless corpses. A third victim lies in front of a pair of
cloaked attackers while several onlookers watch intently.

Mittens, Imp, and Cherub all charge into the frey!

Cherub hovers over one of the half demons, in tears over the two beheaded figures and the dying magistrate.  "How could you!  You'll be punished for your terrible crimes!"

She tosses a hammer into he air that splits into several that come raining down, knocking out several cultists!  Mits flashes her mirror shield at the cambions and grins.

"Can you read?  If not, I'll be happy to translate what's written on my shield."

The cambions look infuriated!

"Die, wretched mortal!"

It shifts to stand over one of the braziers and readies an attack with it's sword.

Carla toddles up to the steps and says quietly, "Burn."

The last remaining nearby cultist screams and falls unconscious while the two cambions shoot light out their eyes, nose, mouth and ears! They catch fire, but grin, looking unhurt by the flames.

The group hears Carla's adorable (if ominous and reverb-ridden) little toddler voice coming from all around them and coming in clearly. "Someone please move the body away from the fight so I can heal him before he dies."

---

Word of Fiery Condemnation v cambions, minion. Hit(19)! Hit(26)! Hit(27)!
 dmg: 14

Carla used Telepathy! It was super effective.

Cambion 1 HP: 186 - 14 = 172
Cambion 2 HP: 186 - 14 = 172
This message was last edited by the player at 04:32, Sat 30 May 2015.

The cambions and the last remaining cultist all flank Mittens and attack!  One of the half demons gashes her good!  He looks impressed.

"These are some tough adventurers."

"Then they will make for good sacrifices.  We should take them alive."

They both look conflicted by the suggestion.

---

Flank, attack Mittens. Cambion 1 hits and Cam 2 misses.
 dmg: 14
Cultist attacks Mittens and misses.

Mittens HP: 65 - 14 = 51
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:37, Sat 30 May 2015.

Maverick pulls out his poisoned short sword from several fights back, when the Imp and Cherub first appeared. He rushes up the steps and then suddenly darts to be behind one of the cambions, stabs him good in the back, and continues his darting until he is safely behind the alter and seemingly vanishes!

....he's the sneaky one. He'll leave body moving to the adults.

---

Move: Move to steps
Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike v Cambion 2. Hit(25)!
 Shift 3 to flank with Mitts
 dmg: 23
 Secondary attack of sword v Cambion 2. Hit(31)!
 Cambion 2 takes ongoing 10 poison dmg.
 Mav shift 3 away to hiding spot
Stealth roll: 36

Cambion 2 HP: 172 - 23 = 149 and ongoing 10 poison (Save ends)

  Matt walks in, and absentmindedly bashes the cambion in the face with his shield "scuse me"  That said, he grabs the fallen whoeverhisface, wanders back outside, and drops them further out of harms reach than they were before.

  "Did anybody see enemies I should worry about while I was dealing with that?"  Matt's perc is enough to have obviously seen the Cambions.  But he's not giving them the credit.

---

Move: duh.
Standard: Tide of iron vs cambion. hits. 13 DMG. push. marks.
minor: grab dude.
ACTION POINT: move dude outside then drop em.

Cambion A HP: 149-13= 136
This message was last edited by the player at 04:57, Sat 30 May 2015.

Angel darts in similarly to Mav and shoots at the cambion's backside. The bolt hits bone and doesn't even seem to bother the cambion hurts the cambion, though not as much as if it actually ENTERED the flesh. "...confound it." she then says, "We are the heroes of Unity. If you surrender, you live."

---

Fleeting Spirit Strike v Cambion 2. Miss(21) Hit(22)!
 dmg: 18

Cambion HP: 136 - 18 = 118
This message was last edited by the player at 05:13, Sat 30 May 2015.

The cambions are annoyed by Matt's comment.  To Angel, they answer, "Unity?  Never heard of it."

Mits beheads a cultist and steps over to harass the poisoned cambion while Imp and Cherub block flanking positions.

"So nice to meet some villains who aren't just screaming Oni or full-of-themselves dragons.  Downside is no, Matt.  These guys won't last 20 seconds."

Carla waves a hand behind her and the dying man stops dying! In fact, he is restored to full health! Force of habit, though, instead of thanking Matt telepathically, Carla mouths the words "thank you" to him before looking back to the cambions and shaking a finger.

---

Offering of Justice.
 dmg: 19

The bloodied cambion steps over and points at Maverick.

"This one hits hardest and looks weakest.  Let's kill it first!"

The other one begins to fly away from Cherub but she grants Angel speed enough to shoot him as he does.  "Oh no you don't!"

"Oh yes I do!"

He swings but Maverick dodges.  The bloodied one gashes the boy hard.  He shrieks from Carla's offering of justice then blinks in surprise.

"What?!  How is it still alive?!"

He swings again, hurting him even worse.

"Well not for much longer!"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:33, Sat 30 May 2015.

Maverick narrows his eyes at the cambions. "Just so you know: We can bring the dead back. So unless you kill all of us, your efforts are wasted."

Oh dear. The heroes have become a VERY annoying boss fight where you have to kill them all at once.

With that, Maverick stabs the cambion who flanked him and rolls aside, putting out the fire while also getting some distance from the bad position.

---

Take 5 fire dmg
Piercing Strike v Cam 1. Hit(29)!
 dmg: 13
 Secondary attack: Miss
Save v ongoing: 13 success

Cambion 1 HP: 156 - 13 = 143
This message was last edited by the player at 06:13, Sat 30 May 2015.

  Matt heads back in, and unfortunately meets enemy weapon instead of enemy face with his swing.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:02, Sat 30 May 2015.

The magistrate regains his senses.

"Heroes!  Thank you!"

He stands up.

"I heard them say they will soon be sacrificing their prisoners!  Please save the others!"

He runs away.

Angel fires another bolt at the cambion who fled from Cherub and says, "Every hit on the boy will cost you an even more painful hit from me." She then QUICKLY turns and fires two bolts at the poisoned cambion, snapping the bone she hit earlier and then burrying one of the bolts inside him! "Is it really worth fighting to your death?"

---

Guardian Arrow v Cam 1. Hit(27)!
 dmg: 21
ACTION POINT!
Biting Volley v Cam 2. Hit(30)! Hit(22)!
 dmg: 34

Cambion 1 HP: 143 - 21 = 122
Cambion 2 HP: 89 - 34 = 55

"Maverick!" Cherub screams, rushing over to him to kiss his booboos better.

"No, you're not going to be alive for much longer!" Imp hurries over to ready flanking for Maverick.

Meanwhile, Mittens intentionally runs into flanking!  The cambion attacks her, but Matt thwaps him silly making the attack miss by a mile!

Mits sings as she hacks off one of his arms!

"My sword cuts through clothes and skin
Like a hot knife cuts through snow"

The cambion screams in pain!  Mits stabs him through the heart and twists.

"I smile as the bastard screams
When I twist my sword!"

Carla walks north and says a quick prayer. A cherub the others have yet to meet appears. Telepathically, Carla introduces; "This is my sister Rainbow."

Carla does that thing again where she traces her finger on herself where Mav's wound is and his wound mysteriously heals up, vanishing.

Meanwhile, Rainbow fires off a rainbow at Mittens, causing her to heal up some.

---

Move north
Sun Strike v Cam 1. Hit(20)!
 dmg: 8
Standard: Summon Rainbow
Minor: Healing Spirit
 2d6 on Mittens: 8

Cambion 1 HP: 122 - 8 = 114
Maverick HP: 37 + 15 = 52
Mittens HP: 53 + 8 = 61

"What's with all the friggin cherubs?!" the cambion screams, swinging at Cherub, who evades the attack.

Maverick does a ninja flip off the platform and flanks the cambion before stabbing him. "Because the gods have blessed my team. Last chance to surrender. As you can see, my team can heal each other anyway, so it will take way more than you to kill even one of us."

---

Piercing Strike v Cam 1. Hit(29)!
 dmg: 26

Cambion 1 HP: 114 - 26 = 88

  "Hello Rainbow, wish we could meet you in nicer circumstances."  That said, Matt hops up the railing, and checks the Cambrion's reflexes XTREME style.

Crunch

  Yup, that's a kneecap allright.

The cambion refuses to surrender.  Mits rushes past it and we get a repeat of earlier.  BAMF!  Matt thwack means she can flank it.  And double-hack.

"I raise my sword above my head
My eyes stare in furious rage!
Yet more blood will be shed
This is a victorious day!"

Angel walks to the edge and says, "Is it really that hard to surrender? Or do people just assume a heroic team comprised of angels who say things like "stop your evil ways" are obviously lying about keeping prisoners alive?"

Two more bolts fly, this time at the guy's kidneys. It hurts badly.

---

Twin Strike v Cam 1. Hit(29)! Hit(29)!
 dmg: 20

Cambian HP: 39 - 20 = 19
This message was last edited by the player at 07:13, Sat 30 May 2015.

Carla just fires lasers from her eyes at the cambion, burning him.

Rainbow says, "I'll be sticking around after the fight."

---

Sun Strike v Cam 1. Hit(20)!
 dmg: 8

Cambion 1 HP: 19 - 8 = 11
This message was last edited by the player at 07:11, Sat 30 May 2015.

The cambion replies with two desperate swings at Matt.  The fighter dodges the first, but the second... he doesn't even have to budge the swing is so wide.

Maverick says, "Thanks for not surrendering. It makes things easier for us. And you can take that with you to the Abyss."

He stabs the cambion in the gut, slices downward and then pulls out.

The cambion collapses. Nobody can see it, but the guy literally urinates poison as Mav's last attack permeated the guy's innards in poison.

---

Piercing Strike v Cambion 1. Hit(31)!
 dmg: 22
 Secondary attack. Hit(25)!
  ongoing 10 poison dmg

Cambion HP: 11 - 22 = DEAD ...and ongoing 10 poison (save ends)

  We're just running with Matt not making his perc check because he doesn't want to pay particular attention to a demon's urine anyway.

  "The fleeing guy mentioned other prisoners, but I'm not seeing any here."  He looks to the trap door he passed on his way up the Balcony.  "Fairly easy to guess where they might be though."

"That's tellin' 'im, Mav!" Imp cheers!

"Apparently," Mittens answers Angel.

She nods to Matt and thumbs-ups.  "When in doubt, go down."

"We're not going anywhere till we rest up and tie up surviving baddies," Cherub says.

Imp looks at the gutted cambion.  "Survivors?  Seriously?"

"The cultists, silly.  I didn't kill them with my hammers.  Every time we come across cultists, some of them were innocent people forced into it."

"Oh.  Right.  Mind-control tentacle-faces and all that."

Cherub commences with the tying up.  Mittens just rests and chooses not to point out she beheaded a cultist.  Or argue the point that even the cambions might have been mind-controlled.

Carla looks upset.

Angel helps gather and tie up cultists.

Maverick goes to wake one. "What was going on here?" He asks softly, but sternly.

  Matt has the pleasing situation of not having to much to recover from, even if that is for the displeasing reason of the enemies going after Maverick over himself (it's like leaving Maverick alive is 19 trillion times more dangerous to evil than leaving Matt alive or something).

  "Place seems a bit more well put together than a cave, but then crazy blood scenery tends to show up wherever it wants."

"I know right?" Mits answers.

The cultist gulps.  "Don't kill me!  I'll tell you everything!"

He infodumps:

A newly constructed temple of Bahamut lies along a
road outside a rural township. As the PCs approach
the place, a scream for help erupts within it.
The temple is a front for a succubus and her cabal
of cultists, devotees of the archdevil Levistus of
Stygia. The cult has two goals: first, recruit and subvert the local populace, slowly indoctrinating them;
second, capture pilgrims and travelers to ritually torture and sacrifice in the hidden lower levels.
The local magistrate had gathered evidence of cult
activity and, accompanied by two members of the
militia, confronted the temple occupants. As the head
of a guard tumbled past him, the magistrate found
out the hard way that he was out of his league. He is
overcome by the temple denizens just before the PCs
get involved in the fight.

Mits stands and heads for the trap door.  "All rested.  Let's go!"

Carla remains upset, but does not say anything about it.

However, Angel says, "By the way, Carla, since when could you speak telepathically?"

Carla answers telepathically, "Today. I'm slowly regaining the abilities I had before I became mortal." as she had stated long ago when the team first met her, really.

Maverick wonders how "innocent" or not these cultists are, but he agrees with Mittens that the group can't waste time finding that out for now, knocks out the cultist and follows down.

Maverick answers Matt, "Blood is a natural consequence of introducing our team to an area."

Rainbow puts an arm around Carla.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:46, Mon 01 June 2015.

  "I'd like to disagree, but it seems everywhere we go these days already has problems in need of a hammer to the face before we even get there."

When the characters come down the stairs from
area 1, read:
Icy mist clings to the floor and slides around your feet. The
walls and floor are well-carved stone. You can’t make out
all of the room ahead, but you faintly hear the sound of
glass being crushed underfoot.

When the characters see the rest of the area,
read:
Cold emanates from panes of ice set into the floor. A curtained area, a semifrozen fountain, and a large statue
complete the room’s furnishings. Five great black hounds,
covered in icicles, bare their sharp teeth.
Perception Check
DC 16: You see frozen faces pressed up against some of
the ice panes in the floor.
DC 21: The ice panes without faces look only semifrozen.
DC 23: You spy a sparkling blue wink of light beneath
each of the ice panes.

Maverick looks at Carla and bends down to whisper in her ear. She nods. He pets her and stands straight again.

Carla telepaths, "Funneling enemies seems best here if possible."

Angel prestidigitates an image of Matt blocking one opening while Mittens blocks the other opening.

Upon Matt passing along about the ice, Carla paths, "If we can draw the enemy here, we won't need to worry about stepping there."

  Matt steps out, and throws his hammer as quietly as possible.  Unfortunately while quiet enough to avoid notice from Teiflings in corners, ICE DOGGY is too smart for that and headbutts the hammer back towards Matt.

  "...That is an impressive doggy."

The hell hound bays and the others join in.  Then one in the back starts to approach.

Whenever a frost hound moves, ice grinds under its feet
from the constantly forming frozen sheath around it.

The hound charges and bites Matt with it's icy teeth!  A tiefling appears from around the corner and throws fire at Matt that shoves him further away from his team and ignites him!

"Interlopers!  You will pay dearly for your blasphemy!"

Another hound appears to the right and it blasts the heroes with icy breath, freezing several to the ground!  A tiefling inside the room rushes over to the gong and rings it, then throws fire at Rainbow!
This message was last edited by the player at 05:59, Mon 01 June 2015.

Angel says, "And how are we paying? With our lives? Please. You kill people whether they are blasphemers or not, so what should anyone care if they blaspheme your failure demon god?"

She fires a crossbow bolt that shatters some of the ice on the nearby hound, then a second bolt that pierces the hound's flesh, clearly rendering it half-dead. "We, however, offer life. If you surrender."

---

Biting Volley v Hound 2. Hit(28)! CRIT(37)!
 dmg: 41
Save throw: 13 success

Hound 2 HP: 80 - 41 = 39

A frost hound charges Matt!  Another frost breaths the team!

Rainbow hurries over and fires a rainbow at Mav's wounds, healing him!

Carla does the finger-trace thing and Matt's wound closes.

She then fires lasers from her eyes at one of the dogs, injuring it further.

---

Sun Strike v Hound 2. Hit(25)!
 dmg: 13
Move: Spirit to Mav
Minor: Healing Spirit on Matt/Mav
 Mav HP regain: 8
Save throw: 10 success

Hound 2 HP: 39 - 13 = 26
Maverick HP: 47 + 8 = 55
This message was last edited by the player at 06:36, Mon 01 June 2015.

Maverick chatters his teeth for all the cold, looking quite annoyed.

He points his parrying dagger at the hound south of Matt and clouds of black with teeth overshadow the hound's eyes.

---

Eyebite v Hound 1. Hit(19)!
 dmg: 9
Save throw: 11

Hound 1 HP: 80 - 9 = 71

Yet another breath weapon!  Mits slices it.  Then slices it again.  Then slices it a third time!  It yelps in pain!

"Ok this is officially annoying.  I'm going to enjoy making you all a bunch of bloodcicles!"

---

disruptive strike.  then two-fang with a crit.  mits and imp fail saves.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:06, Mon 01 June 2015.

  Matt swings his hammer in a wide arc, smashing across the face of both nearby devil doggys.  He manages to avoid sighing as the fire on him sizzles out as ice shards spatter onto him from the impact of his attack.

  "I can see why you hide behind the dogs.  You don't seem particularly effective."

---

Hydra Charge. miss and hit. 25 DMG.  -2 to hit until end of my next turn. marks both.

Doggy A and B? 55 HP
This message was last edited by the player at 07:18, Mon 01 June 2015.

A hound next to Matt tries to move but gets thwacked.  It blasts the group anyway.  Ice spikes fly from the other one next to Matt and hit him!

"Big talk from a dead man!" the tiefling answers, flinging fire at him... and missing.

Doggie bites at Mits.  Second tiefling lights Carla on fire!  She answers Angel, "While you kindof have a point, we do accept recruits.  So if you repent, you'll likely be offered a job."

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Frost breath attack from earlier did not hit Angel due to disruptive strike.  Her HP was adjusted to 69 to reflect this.  But breath weapon attack from dog1 vs. mav and angel hit.  11 damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:49, Mon 01 June 2015.

Angel fires a couple bolts at one of the hounds, finishing it off! Then breaks free of the ice for the second time (she was "immobilized" twice in one round, then once again the next round). Angel says, "Counter-offer! We kill your dogs, but keep you alive. Then kill your boss. Then you see we're stronger and join our side."

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Twin Strike v Hound 5. Hit(30)! Hit(32)!
 dmg: 20
Save throw: 12 success

Hound 5 HP: 18 - 20 = Dead

Another dog quickly takes the downed one's place and takes a bite out of Carla!  One next to Matt uses it's breath weapon on him, Mav, Rainbow, and it's fellow hound!

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Although the dog resisted the breath weapon damage, it is still immob.

Mits hacks a leg off one of the dogs, leaving it near dead.  While Cherub kisses Mavvie's booboos, Mits takes up a song to heal Carla.

"Stand up, we'll all sing along
Together, ain't nothin' as strong
Won't quit, we ain't in the wrong
You can't bring me

You. can't. bring. me. down!"

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failed save.