Continuing from A Matter of Concern for the Hadereum

Goran confronts the Priestess of Flora.

Hograth and Urrun have just exited the Flora/Janus
temple complex to the lower level of the tunnels, and
are opposite an unlocked gate.

Goran has shrugged off the Priestess' spell, and should be engaging with her by now...?

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 2):

Shocked that her attempt to seduce Goran into madness has failed as he prepares to strike,the Priestess looks at first stunned, then touches her forehead and begins to laugh, her eyes wide and wild.



She is not resisting.  Swing away.

Goran smites the priestess with his Morning Star, although it is not a mighty one.  Apparently the tingling she caused during the cast of her spell somehow affected him.  Or, somehow Hors was prevented from guiding his hand.  The evil of the woman was probably to blame.  With menace, Goran grits his teeth, and feels the scar on his face pull, ever so slightly.

[Private to GM: Goran hits but did not roll well for damage.  Not quite the minimum, but very close.

16:06, Today: Secret Roll: Goran the Marked rolled 5 using 2d6+2.  Goran damage to the priestess.
16:06, Today: Secret Roll: Goran the Marked rolled 13 using 3d6.  Gorag swing for the body, flail 15.]

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 4):

Bloodied as she is, she continues laughing as her eyes roll back, even as you ready your next swing.

In reply to Flora priestess (msg # 5):

Hograth pursues the escaped demon, crossbow ready with a silver bolt as he goes.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 6):

You don't immediately see the demon. What do you both do?

Goran continues his assault on the priestess.  This time, he doesn't bother speaking.  The woman was obviously mad to be laughing hysterically in the face of her demise.

In fact, her crazed reaction only strengthened his resolve on the matter.  A person of normal temperament would react nothing like this.  Only someone who wholeheartedly believed in a bastard religion would react in such an insane matter.  No one in their right mind would accept demonic copulation without subversive manipulation.

With renewed conviction, Goran strikes her true, in a manner consistent with his expectations.  Hors was with him!

[Private to GM: Much better this time.  10 crushing to the body.

11:11, Today: Secret Roll: Goran the Marked rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  Flail damage.
11:11, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 10 using 3d6.  Flail 15, to the body.]

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 8):

Coughing up blood, she continues laughing and trembling, apparently in the
grips of whatever bizarre ecstacy she tried to infect you with.






Urrun, Hograth, how about some perception rolls?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:52, Wed 10 June 2020.

Goran looks at the priestess, battered and dying from her wounds.  She did not deserve to live, infected as she was with the madness of an evil religion.  However, she had information that was valuable, and Goran felt that he could easily handle whatever she might throw at him.  She had failed miserably to affect him with her weak manipulation attempts.  With not a moment of hesitation, he puts away his morning star and kneels next to her on the ground.

[Private to GM: Esoteric Healing to try and remove her madness, and stabilize her condition.
15:39, Today: Secret Roll: Goran the Marked rolled 9 using 3d6.  Esoteric Healing 14.

If he is able to do that, snd she stays conscious, follow up with Compel Truth so he can interrogate her:
15:40, Today: Secret Roll: Goran the Marked rolled 9 using 3d6.  Compel Truth 15.]

Urrun is watching Hograth's back and sees nothing, hears nothing and smells nothing.





[Private to GM:  14:53, Today: Urrun rolled 17 using 3d6.  Perception.]

In reply to Urrun (msg # 11):

Hograth also tries to detect the thing, or where it went...

[Private to GM: Rolled perception exactly...]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 12):

As Urrun got a snootful of dust, and is now noisily sneezing, Hograth spots a bit of ichor on the pavement, and a few drops heading past the opposite gate into the other temple.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 13):

"It seems to have gone this way..." Hograth said, looking up to check the thing was not actually above them, nor could it be. He headed off, following the thing cautious of any ambush from sides, below or above.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 14):

The gate creaks softly, and you enter the space beyond. You can hear the chanting you heard before, although the goat is no longer bleating.

Urrun follows quietly

In reply to Urrun (msg # 16):

Hograth also tries to keep the noise down as he follows...keeping an eye out for demonic trouble.

[Private to GM: Rolled stealth, rolled 4 under perception]

OOC No update on Goran's actions, but I expect they might be a bit longer too.  This was more intended to note I was through and checked the status of the thread.  :)

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 18):

Goran is standing over a badly wounded, laughing woman.

Hograth spots a blood trail heading to an alcove where robes hang. To his right are a crowd of robed worshipers in front of a marble statue of a handsome young man holding arrows and leading a goat, illuminated by red lamps painted to resemble lava.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:53, Wed 10 June 2020.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 19):

Hograth will move over to investigate...

[Private to GM: Rolled 1 under perception]

Goran stands over the woman, weapon in hand.  She is dying, but still awake enough to answer questions.  Calmly, and evenly, with the voice of an inquisitor, Goran asks his questions.

"Who among the Hadereum is involved with your cult?  And who else is involved?"

[Private to GM: Since you didn't specifically address it, I assumed success in casting the spell, and in stabilizing the priestess.]

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 21):

"The Hadereum? Hah! They know nothing! Those fools still believe in an afterlife!"

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 20):

There's a slight pooling of ichor, then a few drops leading into the crowd.

Goran finds himself gratified that the administration was clean.  Still, he pushes on.  "Who else guides these ceremonies?"

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 24):

Hograth curses under his breath, before calling out

"A cursed Demon has come here to hide amoung you until he can unleash the evil he has within him. He is injured from fighting us: give him up so we can rid you of this evil!"