Heal Thyself

Log Info

• Title: Heal Thyself
• Emitter: Ravenstongue
• Characters: Aelwyn, Eztli, Jay, Khepri, Nemori, Robert, Dirk
• Place: Alexandros: The Town of Clarity
• Time: Sunday, July 17, 2022, 2:00 PM
• Summary: The village of Clarity, which is about an hour from the city of Alexandria's borders and known for being hostile to 'outsiders', has refused all attempts at contact for evacuation--but has sent a call for aid. The adventurers dutifully arrive to a deserted town with a cathedral. Exploring the hovels first reveals little, entering the Cathedral they meet Clarity, the self-proclaimed avatar of Althea. She offers eternal life if they join her; understandably, they refuse, and two crawling hands as well as an abomination made from several of the congregation attack. Battle Ensues, with the reluctant Jay striking the false goddess, and the others finishing the congregation and grasping hands. The leader of the ravens speaks now, a rook, asking that the Cathedral not be burned. They decided to burn it, and search the town, finding a diary of a young girl who ran off into the woods to escape this madness.

• Encounter 1 - CR6 (2400 XP):
  • (2) Crawling Hand (CR 1/2, 200 ea)
  • (1) Necrocraft (CR 3, 800 ea) - 2 CP, Extra Legs & Mostly Zombies
  • (1) Faceless Stalker (CR 4, 1200 ea)

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Aelwyn       5'3"     150 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      Runt of a Dragoon.
Eztli        4'6"     140 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A two-toned, short sith-makar.
Jay          5'9"     145 Lb     Eaglefolk         Male      A perky male Blue Jay with a discerning eye.
Khepri       6'10"    300 Lb     War Golem         Male      A tall, gangly war-golem draped in religious charms.
Nemori       4'10"    110 Lb     Mul'niessa        Female    A tall and slender, dark skinned elf.
Robert       6'3"     235 Lb     Human             Male      A middle-aged Cerenzan with a friendly, fatherly vibe.
Dirk         4'11"    295 Lb     Mountain Dwarf    Male     A rugged old dwarf, dressed for the outdoors.     
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  As the GM  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ravenstongue 5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

It is the occupation of adventurers to go into danger and to find themselves in terrible peril. This is an accepted fact of the profession, and it's something you and your allies have likely had to face before.

Anyone with a sense for danger can tell that there's something that's "off" about this job. The briefing was, well, brief, and it sounded far too simple: the town of Clarity, which is an hour's ride on horseback away from Alexandria, has refused all attempts at emergency evacuation, citing the protection granted by their doctor and cleric, who they call the 'Holy Doctor Clarity Arzt', as reason why they should stay put.

It appears--according to the brief description from the case file that the Explorer's Guild contact handed you--that Clarity is home to a cult surrounding the Holy Doctor. She preaches herself to be an avatar of Althea and promises those who come to the town eternal youth and happiness with all of their wishes granted--so long as they agree to forsake their past lives and never speak to outsiders. But since it's a small town and the cult surrounding the Holy Doctor is maybe only about fifty to a hundred people strong, it's managed to stay off the radar. Until now, when a distress call was received, with the guild obligingly sending out help.

The promises of the Holy Doctor ring hollow as you find yourself in the town of Clarity at high noon, the summer heat bearing down on you. Little hovels and cottages dot the gravel-laden streets, but there seems to be hardly a soul at home in any of them. The air is quiet and still, as there's not even a hint of birdsong. The occasional rat can be spotted darting across the gravel.

Well, it's almost quiet. The large cathedral in the middle of the village, decorated with statues of an angelic-looking woman holding a rose in one hand and smiling, is pristine compared to the worn-out buildings around it. And there's the call of ravens from within the cathedral, their distinctive and deep croaks seeming to indicate there's something to feed on inside.

When someone talks about subverting the natural order with 'eternal youth' and whatnot, it tends to grab a Vardamen's attention. Khepri is very much here in a ecclesiastical role as much as an adventuring one, as it clambers off the wagon and its feet clang on the gravel streets. The beaked head turns one way, then the other, tilting ever so slightly. and its hand moves to rest on the pommel of its khopesh.

"Abnormalities. Suddenly I begin to understand why cults develop such a poor reputation." The light gleams off its gunmetal skin, and the yellow eyes glimmer. Carefully, the golem loosens its blade in the sheath, before instructing, "Even in the high-heat days of summer, there should be more activity. I am..." It pauses. "... anxious? This is a curious sensation for me."

An hour's ride on a horseback is just long enough for a waterskin to run out, when that waterskin is used by Integrity C' Truefeather, esquire. The 'c' is for consumption. He has on a conical straw hat, with a wide brim that's almost as wide as his armspan. He's not a great rider, but seems competent enough.

Unwilling to remedy the lack of birdsong, he instead flicks his head about, looking at various things. Rats catch his attention frequently, but his eyes keep being drawn to the statue with a rose. "So, that's the doctor, I guess?"

He nods to Khepri's question, "Well, the wights might have already gotten them, or maybe they only come out at night now." A slow and careful glance drifts towards Nemori, "Do you have a perspective?"

"... if they do not wish to be evacuated, why send anyone here?" A ruddy-scaled sithmakar asks, with his very ribboned, but very worn, glaive proudly leant over his shoulder. His collection of javelins was haphazardly strapped across his body once again; at least most of the tips were pointed skyward.

"First time for every feeling, Scales. Cherish the taste." Aelwyn suggests as he gets a step onto the streets. Having absolutely no knowledge of life outside a city, he idly routes over towards the nearest hovels, trying to take a peek inside of them.

Nemori has an air of vague sufferance. There are things she would rather be doing. But it has been stressed to her more than once from more than one source means stepping out and providing aid. At least occasionally. And if the undead are left free to roam then there may very well not be a community left on the near future.

So here she is, sticking relatively close to Robert and Jay. "We could burn the structure down. Ensure nothing escapes. " A suggestion. Efficient. Relatively straightforward and easy.

Just what Alexandria needed, a cult, and a stubborn one at that, which would put people at risk when people needed to evacuate. Well, at least there was a distress call that was put out, which meant that there may still be people alive out there.

"If that doctor is still alive, I say we have the guard arrest them for murdering people in this town, and lying to them." Eztli grumbles. "Stupid people getting people killed by wights, it's getting really tiresome."

"Because, with wights, anyone they kill just becomes one of them. And you know, best not to leave people brainwashed, too."

"We can't burn the place down until we ensure there's no one alive in it." She sighs. "If there are people still here, they have to be holed up somewhere or other."

Self-important figureheads claiming divinity and leading cults are likely to be fairly charismatic if they have a town spring up around them; the ones that aren't tend to wander the streets ignored as they spew their gibberish. Bob is a generous and forgiving sort, generally, and he's more than willing to make exceptions for people who're led astray in these turbulent times. If their 'come to Light' moment involves dire circumstance..?

Well, who's the Cerenzan to argue with Inspiration?

"Relaxed is the last thing you'd want to be on a job like this," Bob comforts Khepri with a mild grin. "Anxiousness just means your head's working the way it's supposed to," he adds, observing aloud as he looks from Jay to Nemori, Aelwyn to Eztl, and then resumes scanning the buildings.

"The temple is a house of succor, Nemori, not a forge." The artificer doesn't find the humor (if there was meant to be any) in Nemori's statement. "At least it should be." His oversized titan's armor is made of powder-black adamantine plates trimmed in golden brass and it clanks, whirrs, and hisses as he takes a slow stroll to have a look around.

<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "If anyone would like to make perception checks to try and look through windows of the houses, give me a Perception check with a +5 bonus. If you want to help someone else in lieu of your own roll, they can roll at a +10 bonus."
GAME: Robert rolls Perception+5: (3)+9+5: 17 (+5 RT Heroic)
GAME: Jay rolls perception+4+5: (14)+14+4+5: 37 (+4 Fav Terrian Mastery Urban, +5 RT Heroic)
<OOC> Aelwyn supposes he'll take the assist then. ._.,
GAME: Aelwyn rolls perception+10: (5)+1+10: 16 (+10 RT Assist)
GAME: Eztli rolls perception: (19)+5: 24 (+5 RT Heoric)
GAME: Nemori rolls perception+10: (5)+9+10: 24 (+10 RT Assist)

Hopping off his horse, the bluejay peeks into a few of the hovels. He's careful to do so from a distance, far enough away something couldn't lunge out and grab him. It would have to take a least a step. "They look like regular houses."

"I guess they would burn fine." He muses, "Probably shouldn't though."

Another step, another home peered into, "It's not a forge, you can't beat people into shape, or make them act in their best interests. Alexandrians seem to run into trouble then expect some hero to swoop in and save them."

And usually, some do. "So, direct approach or look around some more first?"

The houses you check out seem very threadbare. There's hardly any furniture in it--basically just a bed, a table, and a chair. A long white robe is folded neatly on the bed. It seems like it might have been vacated only recently--within the last few days. There's not a lot of dust.

One house is a little larger than the others. This one has nicer furniture in it, including a dresser for clothes. However, there's a layer of dust on everything despite the place being otherwise tidy. This home has not been occupied for some time.

All in all, the town of Clarity appears to have gone somewhere. Or vanished. But they probably didn't go too far.

Nemori doesn't give the impression that she's been attempting humour. Neither does she push the issue however, instead opting to take the longer option of actual investigation. Like some of the others she picks a house to go and snoop from the outside... finding little more than she expected. "Empty " she reports. "Abandoned."

Khepri looks thoughtfully at Robert and Aelwyn, before unsheathing its khopesh and inspecting the blade for a moment before carrying it with an easy grasp. "In cases such as this, I would rather ask forgiveness than permission before drawing steel."

The golem shades its eyes (whether it needs to or not is up for debate), watching for any movement. As the ravens croak from the cathedral, Khepri comments, "Wasn't there someone in Alexandria who could talk to ravens? I thought I heard some mention of it. A pity they're not here. Still... we should inspect the cathedral. Survivors may have taken refuge there."

"This is a nice place," the l-eagal egalrin evaluates what he observes, "It is larger than the others, and they're all recent construction. It has very nice furniture, there's a dresser for clothes, a four post bed with canopies. It's tidy."

"Lots of dust. I'd say it hasn't been occupied for several weeks. I'd guess this is the dwelling of the Good Doctor - and that she hasn't been in it some time."

He glances at the statue with the rose again. "She's attractive for a human, yes? Oh, well, anyone can talk to ravens, they're very talkative. I suppose not everyone can understand them."

Aelwyn takes hold of his glaive and takes a glance into the hovel he was hovering by. "Abandoned." The draconian calls out, before stepping back and joining the rest of the group. "Though this one does not object to fire. Perhaps it will flush out the survivors. Or what is surviving down there." That probably was an attempt at humor. Towards Eztli, he calls out, "Things will remain just as afflicted without Spellreader shedding her scales in agitation."

The Dragoon nods his head towards the cathedral. "Enter?"

Robert makes careful his exit from the smaller home he'd inspected. The artificer turns sideways, crouches, and crab-crawls through the doorway. He needs an extra moment to maneuver a pauldron but he manages to pass through the undersized portal only chipping the frame.

"Nothing," the Cerenzan agrees, pinching a simple straw doll in a raggedy dress between thumb and forefinger of his massive gauntlets. He considers the thing for only a moment before dropping it down into his hip sack to join his tools and assorted gadgetry. "... but they're not gone long, either.

"Would you have a look at the doors, IC?" He asks of the bluejay egalrin, canting his head towards the church already walking that direction.

Eztli doesn't have much to add, she's trying her hardest not to peer into anything and find slavering undead or the like. But she's at least able to point out a few small clues she finds here and there as she goes.

"Helps with the charisma of being a cult leader, I suppose. That or she made the statue extra beautiful to lift her ego." Eztli snorts.

"I'll be fine." Eztli huffs. "But I don't want anyone still alive actually getting hurt. But at the same time, if there are wights, they're always a threat. The safety of everyone here at the moment comes first."

The bluejay nods and hops over to the cathedral door. He pushes his hat back and spends a moment examining the surface with his head pressed against it. He makes a few discrete taps. "Solid. Thick. No trip wires or latches in the gaps."

He rests a hand on the door knob, and tugs, "Not locked." He tugs on it, opening it enough to that he can slip inside without letting the entirety of daylight in with him. "Come on."

The Cathedral of the Holy Doctor may be pristine on the outside. On the inside, it's a different story.

Dried blood, bile, and other substances line the walls and the floors. The pews that line the Cathedral, which likely were once filled with zealous congregants that gave up their whole worlds to follow the words of one woman, are now instead broken and covered with more viscera. The place reeks of death and despair.

But there's a woman who stands up at the altar, blonde hair flowing down to frame her face--although both her serene, angelic face and her hair are matted with blood. She turns to face you and your allies, and she smiles, her blue eyes crinkling with delight. "Ah," she says warmly. "It appears we have new visitors, my beloved congregation."

There's a creature that stands next to her. It is tall--seven feet tall--and it is a horrible and writhing mass of arms and legs pulled and stitched together by horrifying means. A mouth somewhere on the creature--it's painful to even look at it--burbles back at the Holy Doctor, a wordless sound that sounds more like an pained moan than a cheerful reply.

The Holy Doctor Clarity Arzst claps her hands, and two disembodied hands spring out from the pews, standing in front of her and her 'congregation'. She smooths down her white dress, stained with blood at the torn and tattered hem, and she smiles sweetly at you all. "Are you interested in joining the congregation? As the incarnation of Althea, I can grant you /eternal/ happiness."

Above in the rafters, a conspiracy of ravens call their approval. Corpses are to be had, no matter who stands at the end.

The Holy Doctor continues to smile at the congregation. She is hoping you will take her up on her offer, or at the very least, talk some more.

Meanwhile, one of the hands skitters forward.

GAME: Eztli casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+5+2+5: (14)+5+2+5: 26 (+5 RT Heroic)
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (14)+4: 18
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "You burn Crawly Hand 1 to a crisp. It's dead, jim. Well, dead again."

Well, she was expecting the problem with the village to be from undead attacking it, not a mentally deranged cultist. Eztli gags from the stench and the sight, and she glares at the doctor when they're addressed. "We came to help the people here, but you've already seen to it that they're beyond death. Alexandria already has an undead problem, and it doesn't need more people contributing to that." She huffs. The small makari conjures a flaming spear in the air next to her hand, and a flick of her wrist launches it at the skittering hand, engulfing it in flames until it falls to a heap on the ground.

GAME: Aelwyn rolls intimidate+5: (17)+8+5: 30 (+5 RT Heroic)

Aelwyn blanches at the scene, nostrils flaring momentarily before they shut off. His teeth are exposed and there's a quiet rolling hiss inside him. He glances towards Eztli, and then the Dragoon simply rushes along the flung spear, sidestepping the burning end of the hand. The Dragoon would have had words to say - but instead his jaw just... dislocates and quite inhuman shrill snarl leaves his lips. "BURN." The sith-makar hisses at Clarity, eyes ablaze. The intense stare contact is barely interrupted by the claws swinging at him, the nimble glaive wielding sith-makar (mostly) weaving along most of the swipes.

<OOC> Khepri says, "Khepri will advance four squares to 9,14 and cast Bless, so everyone gets hit with it."
<OOC> Khepri says, "OH! Wait. Swift for judgement (destruction)"
GAME: Khepri casts Bless. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14

Khepri's eyes glow with hard resolve. "Heretic. Defiler. Submit to the judgement of the temples, or be cast into the arms of the Tyrant." The golem begins to walk forward inexorably, feet slamming onto the paving stones of the cathedral. As if hammering out a very specific epitaph, as it raises its hand.

"Gray Lady, lend us your beneficence in this time of peril. Guide our hands and strengthen our resolve." A soft glow pulses out from the Executor, washing over its comrades as it advances. The khopesh seems to quiver in its grasp, as if eager to begin the purge of such wickedness.

<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Using its extra legs, the "congregation" moves 35 feet and goes to strike at Aelwyn..."
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+5: (14)+5: 19
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+5: (5)+5: 10
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+5: (10)+5: 15
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d4+2: (3)+2: 5

The "congregation" moves forward on extra limbs that it should not have. It--they? if it's multiple people sewn together into one--lunges down at Aelwyn, attempting to claw and bite at the Dragoon. Only one claw attack connects.

GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+5: (5)+5: 10

He was expecting... he was not expecting this. Blood. Bile, eviscerated bodies. Skeletons still bloody with bits of fat and flesh. The stained pews, the splotches of ichor beneath them. Jay stares, his eyes reflecting the carnage.

A question is asked, which he does not answer, does not hear. He is focused on the creature, the amalgam of limbs, putrid and profane.

Then the egalrin's eyes are drawn past, upwards, by the feathery movements. The conspiracy of ravens, backing the human, who most surely cannot be the avatar of the god she claims she is. To believe that would open a pit of despair one could never escape. "Why?" He caws, as if his corvid cousins might answer,"Why did you let her?"

The remaining hand skitters forward and attempts to claw at the inquisitor speaking burning words against its mistress. But it fails to connect with the war golem.

The Holy Doctor's smile remains on her face. "I see," she replies. "Then you will have to join the Congregation in another manner." She still smiles...

And that smile withers away as her form changes. It's a disgusting sound of shifting sinew and bones morphing. Gone is the angelic face, only to be replaced with a leathery, ugly creature with a strange, bladed arm. And she ambles forward, although she still hangs back behind her "Congregation."

<OOC> Eztli says, "move to 11,17, and scorching ray clarity"
GAME: Eztli casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+7+5: (13)+7+5: 25 (+5 RT Heroic)
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+4: (7)+4: 11

Eztli blinks when the doctor transforms. She wasn't surprised entirely, but still it was a sight that made the small makari growl. "This is good, you remove the last bit of concern about killing you." Eztli huffs, stepping off to the side. "Jay, I know it's scary, but we need your help, okay? Just stay back behind us, and do what you can." The small makari calls back. "We'll keep you safe, I promise, but we need your help so no one else gets hurt by this thing."

And while calling back, she's already summoning another flaming lance, and with an underhanded toss of a movement sends it flying at the doctor, setting them awash in flames for a split second before it vanishes.

<OOC> Aelwyn says, "Glaive should have reach, I think."
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon1+5+1: (11)+4+5+1: 21 (+1 Bless, +5 RT Heroic)
GAME: Aelwyn rolls damage1: aliased to 1d10+3: (5)+3: 8
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "The attack connects, but it seems like it hurt this creature less than it should have."

Aelwyn's orange pupils thin at the sight of the woman changing. Yet there was that shambling... the Dragoon decides he doesn't want to think about it too much, and instead swings his glaive up along the creature's form, trying to cut it open. The blade cuts, but the draconian can tell there is something wrong. "The blade is not getting through!" He calls out to the rest of the team, before backing up with a run behind Khepri. The golem was very large and intimidating, after all. Perfect place to poke at the darkness and human condition from.

<OOC> Nemori will move in beside Jay, hit him with Bit of Luck, and slap him upside the head to help Eztli get him to snap out of it.
GAME: Nemori refreshes special ability pools.
GAME: Nemori spends ONE use of BIT OF LUCK.

Upon entering the cathedral, Nemori is greeted with.. she isn't sure what it is. She doesn't recoil, like some.. certainly doesn't freeze, like another. That isn't to say she's seen worse, but there's almost an air of.. 'ah, more of this?' about her. Her sword finds its way into one hand, and the other grasps Jay by the shoulder, giving him a rough shake. "Panic later, Integrity! Now is the time for decisiveness! Your closing argument!" As she shakes him, she imparts some of the Muse's divine fortune to him, then pulls away to face the monstrosities.

<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Make your attack roll with a +5 leeway bonus and a +1 from your own bless."
GAME: Khepri rolls weapon1+6: (1)+5+6: 12 (EPIC FAIL) (+1 Bless, +5 RT Heroic)
<OOC> Khepri begins to gnaw on his desk in anger.
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Well, I'm a dummy and forgot to mention everyone gets one free reroll. Use it or lose it."
<OOC> Khepri says, "Fuck it, I'm taking the reroll. I'm -offended-."
GAME: Khepri rolls weapon1+6: (2)+5+6: 13
<OOC> Khepri says, "..."
<OOC> Khepri sighs, poses.

Khepri is completely unfazed by the pawings of a severed hand. "There is no escape. There is no success here. You will submit to the judgement of the Harpist." The golem's hard voice rings through the cathedral, as the khopesh blade licks downward. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the golem's foot kicks the claw back a little, just enough that its blade hisses through the space where the claw just was. Undaunted, the golem continues to press.

<OOC> Dirk says, "I'll move up to 6,16 and take a shot at the Congregation."
<OOC> Dirk says, "Does Clarity count as undead for favored enemy purposes?"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "She does not as she is not undead. Funny enough."
<OOC> Dirk says, "Gotcha. Does the Congregation count?"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Sure does."
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Add a +5 heroic leeway bonus to your attack roll and make the shot."
<OOC> Dirk says, "Using Deadly Aim."
GAME: Dirk rolls Shoot+4+5: aliased to Ranged+1-2+4+5: (14)+8+1+-2+4+5: 30
GAME: Dirk rolls dmg: aliased to 1d12+4: (7)+4: 11 (bludge, pierce, magic)

Dirk had spent a few extra moments outside the cathedral to ensure that the town was, in fact, a ghost town. But hearing the sounds of battle coming from within, the doughty old woodsman motivates his tubby ass. "C'mon Lulu, our friends need us!" he grunts as he barrels up the stairs and through the door. He skids to a halt as the horrific vista unfolds before him. His face turns as white as his beard as his eyes go wide as Lulu's. "Oh, sweet Blessed Lady defend us," he says in a strangled tone. He gulps hard and gives himself a shake--there's deaders to hunt.

He trundles around the pews, setting himself up and taking aim at the hideous congregation of limbs. He sights and fires with a single smooth motion. CHK-BOOM! His thunderbelcher kicks as the bullet slams into the monstrosity's center mass. "I ALREADY DONATED AT GILEAD'S TEMPLE, YE NASTY BITCH!" he roars at the thing-that-was-Clarity. For now, he keeps Lulu in reserve on his shoulder. The little owl is Not Pleased by the scene unfolding. She draws herself up tall and skinny, narrowing her eyes and hissing at Clarity. She'd best beware, Dirk has a vampirowl on his side, and she is Not Happy.

<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "The Congregation is still up, still standing. So It's going to move and attack Khepri. :("
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+5: (9)+5: 14
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+5: (16)+5: 21
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+5: (10)+5: 15
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d+2: (2)+1d+2: 4

The congregation looms forward and swats at Khepri again with far too many arms. Only one connects again, and the bite that comes from a mouth on somewhere on the creature also misses. The lumbering actions of the creature result in it groaning in frustration from multiple mouths.

<OOC> Jay says, "Move to 11,14 and stab with a rapier"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "For roleplaying your character brilliantly last turn, please add a +10 to your attack roll."
GAME: Jay rolls weapon2+1+10: (5)+8+1+10: 24 (+1 Bless, +10 RT Roleplaying Bonus)
<OOC> Nemori says, "You get two rolls for the attack roll, Jay, from Bit of Luck."
<OOC> Nemori says, "Not sure if they can be crit, but might be worth rolling for."
GAME: Jay rolls weapon2+1+10: (7)+8+1+10: 26
GAME: Jay rolls damage2: aliased to 1d6+1: (3)+1: 4 (piercing, Mithril, so counts as Silver)

Jay looks at Etzli, hearing her, yet her words do not sink in. He jumps when Nemori grabs his shoulder, feathers fluffing out. "I'm not... I... uh. I am."

He drops his briefcase, and his hand moves first to his bolas, and then across his body to the hilt of his rapier, "I can't make a closing argument without an opening statement first, and there's always the option of binding arbitration."

His somewhat... confusing battle cry given, the l-eagal egalrin surges forward, circling to the right of the strange creature threatening Khepri and thrusts.

A solid attack, the point of his weapon slides into a seam, some damage is done.

<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Okay. Crawly Hand is going to try and go for Aelwyn, skirting around Khepri to do so."
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+5: (16)+5: 21
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d1+1: (1)+1: 2
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+0: (2)+0: 2 (Grapple Free action = Grab)

The remaining crawling hand strafes around Khepri and goes for Aelwyn. The Dragoon gets a clawing attack, but the hand is ineffective at trying to lock him down.

<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Clarity is going to step forward and try to attack Jay."
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+8: (17)+8: 25
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d8+4: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 2d6: (8): 8
GAME: Clarity damaged Jay for 8 points. 26 HP remaining.

The Holy Doctor may no longer have a face to smile with, but there's a serenity in her steps as she goes forward and lunges at Jay with the strange sword-like arm, scoring blood. It appears Jay being egalrin doesn't disqualify him from being a potential member of the Congregation.

GAME: Eztli casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17
GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+5+2+5+1+1+1-4: (6)+5+2+5+1+1+1+-4: 17 (+5 heroic leeway, +1 Bless, +1 point blank shot, -4 in combat)
GAME: Eztli rolls 4d6+1+4: (17)+1+4: 22
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "You score a massive hit against her. She's still up, but she's on the ropes. Pose it."

"Jay, I said stay back if you need to!" The small makari shouts at the egalrin who charged forward, and earned a stab from the doctor for his troubles. "Aelwyn, you too, get back if it gets too rough!"

Eztli brings up her hand, and summons one more flaming spear, and this close to the sorcereess, very little of the flames burn away in flight, leaving the brunt of the heat to wash over the doctor and burn away at them more.

<OOC> Aelwyn says, "Five step to 9,16 and smack at the mean hand. ._."
GAME: Aelwyn rolls weapon1+5+1: (4)+4+5+1: 14 (+5 heroic leeway bonus, +1 from bless for your attack roll.)
GAME: Aelwyn rolls damage1: aliased to 1d10+3: (5)+3: 8

Aelwyn takes another scrape from the hand, and he summarily raises his clawed foot and kicks the grappling digits back to where they belong with a snarl. Which is not on him. The sith-makar's ruddy red scales had bright blotches of red running down along them and he seemed pretty battered with blood splattered across his scales; but for now, he seemed to be doing fine. Fine enough to slice down against the monstrous hand and teach it manners by the way of the glaive.

GAME: Nemori casts Spiritual Weapon. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15
GAME: Nemori rolls spiritual weapon: aliased to cleric+wisdom: (15)+5+3: 23
GAME: Nemori rolls 1d8+1: (5)+1: 6, "It's a force/magic effect, so physical DRs do not apply."

Nemori pulls her token from her pocket, using it as her connection to the divine.. sildanyari words combined with ritualistic gestures summon forth a larger, translucent version of the sword she carries behind the unholy mass of multiple limbs and other parts. It immediately slashes at the creature, harrying it.

<OOC> Khepri says, "Five foot step to 10,14 to strike at Clarity."
<OOC> Khepri says, "Since she's been so kind as to get close enough for me to engage her."
<OOC> Khepri says, "See if we can give her a tracheotomy with my khopesh :)"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "
GAME: Khepri rolls weapon1+6: (7)+5+6: 18 (+5 on your leeway bonus to attempt surgery)
GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+4: (4)+4: 8
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Hits! She is still standing! But VERY badly wounded."

Khepri's yellow eyes glitter as Clarity approaches. "Thank you. Accept your fate." The irony does not escape it -- it knows she's not accepting her fate -- but there's no point in belaboring the obvious. Khepri's also trying to draw her attention from Jay, as it whips back its heavy blade and sends it biting into the demonic-looking woman's shoulder. "You will pay most dearly for this sacrilege."

<OOC> Dirk says, "Gonna shooty-shoot. And remember to add in my Favored Enemy bonus to the damage roll this time. x.x"
<OOC> Dirk says, "The Congregation. Deadly Aim again."
GAME: Dirk rolls Shoot+4+1+5: aliased to Ranged+1-2+4+1+5: (18)+8+1+-2+4+1+5: 35 (+5 to your roll from leeway bonus)
GAME: Dirk rolls Dmg+8: aliased to 1d12+4+8: (1)+4+8: 13
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "The Congregation is put down."
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Pose your one shot, one kill."

Dirk racks his rifle, and one of the tiny glowing gems on his bandolier winks out as the bullet is loaded into his thunderbelcher's breech. He lifts the weapon and sights down the Congregation. "Have some o' -this-!" he snarls, pulling back on the trigger. CHK-BOOM! The bullet smushes one of the heads on the monstrosity's core. And, it seems, it was the -right- head, as the massive pile of rotting flesh totters and collapses. Dirk pumps his fist with a savage grin. "BOOM! HEADSHOT!" he thunders. He swings his rifle to cover Clarity. "YER NEXT, YE BLADY-ARMED BINT!"

<OOC> Jay says, "I'd like to move to 12,12. Should be 15' going around her. Using Acrobatics I'd move at 1/2 move, so could manage the 15' and go around so the DC is just her CMD to avoid provoking an AOO. Once there, Sneak Attack the Doctor with +2 Flanking with Khepri, +1 Bless."
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Okay! Make your attack roll with a +5 leeway bonus."
<OOC> Jay says, "DC is CMD"
GAME: Jay rolls acrobatics: (15)+11: 26 (vs CMD - Success!)
GAME: Jay rolls weapon2+2+1+5: (20)+8+2+1+5: 36 (THREAT) (+2 Flanking with Khepri, +1 Bless, +5 leeway bonus.)
GAME: Jay rolls weapon2+2+1+5: (12)+8+2+1+5: 28 (Confirmed)
GAME: Jay rolls damage2+2d6: aliased to 1d6+1+2d6: (4)+1+(7): 12
GAME: Jay rolls damage2: aliased to 1d6+1: (3)+1: 4 (16 total, silver)
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "She is super duper dead, Jay."

>>Squawk<<

Jay is hit. Jay objects!

"You aren't part of the brief!" He tells the 'Good' Doctor. To his left, the congregation is struck down. He dives, a flurry of feathers rolling in a ball around her side to pop up behind her, flanking with Khepri.

He thrusts! He strikes the base of her skull, feels the shudder up his rapier as it pierces through the bone and pierces deep, impaling her pineal gland and halting with a jerk at the inside of her forehead. A trickle of blood and spinal fluid runs down the silvery length of his weapon.

"This is a closing argument!"

Followed by a startled, "Cernan and Ceiwen! I... " He abruptly pulls his weapon free.

The Doctor drops to the floor.

<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Crawly hand is on the verge of death. It goes for Khepri."
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+5: (2)+5: 7
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Yeahnah. It gives Khepri the middle finger as it misses."

The remaining undead hand flails at Khepri and is unsuccessful in its efforts. Perhaps out of an inkling of its former life's sensibilities... It holds up its middle finger in offense at the inquisitor.

<OOC> Aelwyn admits that was some spankin' moves, bird man.
GAME: Eztli casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
GAME: Eztli rolls 2d4+2: (4)+2: 6
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "You kill it, Ezt. Pose it!"

Eztli was getting ready to finish burning away the corruption in this place, but Jay was ahead of the game, and already dispatched the doctor. And that left just the final hand.

Eztli snaps her fingers, and summons a pair of light orange projectiles that whizz through the air, and smash into the remaining hand. There's a snapping noise of bone, and the hand falls still.

"Aelwyn, Jay, Khepri, are you all alright?" Eztli asks quickly as she takes stock of things. "Nemori, can you heal their wounds? It seems we're in the clear for a moment, but there's no knowing if that doctor has any more... creations."

CHUNK. The sound as Khepri promptly decapitates the 'holy doctor' rings through the cathedral. It's not that the golem thinks Jay didn't do the job right -- but it does pay to make sure, and a missing head does tend to make any 'second chances' a bit less convenient.

Once that's done, Khepri flicks its khopesh, pulling a cloth from its harness to clean the blade. "My damage is minor," the golem intones. It looks around the place of horror, yellow eyes blank and not showing any sign of emotion. "However... this place must be cleansed. Fire is an extreme option, but better that than to let it fester."

More possible threats or not, Nemori's rapier is returned to its scabbard as the larger summoned one fades. She turns her face to Eztli when the smaller makari addresses her.. and while she's not typically one to say she told-- No, she's absolutely one to say that. "Perhaps next time we will simply burn it down rather than poking our heads into a den of abomination," she offers, attempting to keep her voice neutral. But she does do as Eztli requests, holding out her token and concentrating through it, briefly opening a connection to the positive energies of the divine.. using her body as a reservoir to first fill, and then release. As the energies wash over her comrades, she grips the side of one of the pews to steady herself.

Aelwyn straightens his body when the last of the moving things stop wriggling. Eyes ablaze, he looks towards Eztli as if she had just offended him. Indeed, he whirls around the room and stares at _everyone_, before he hisses loudly. "Next time this one will demand toxic hazard pay." The draconian says, and with his wounds still bleeding red along his scales, he walks over towards Eztli and Nemori. "Beautiful flames." He says, with a gracious bow of his head, then walks right on past her behind the pew in the corner.

Strong sound of gurgling and vomiting can be heard.

Dirk rises up from his crouch at the pews, lowering his thunderbelcher. "Beards o' me sweet tapdancin' fathers," he grunts as he lumbers over to join his comrades. He gives Clarity's now-headless body a poke with the end of his rifle. "What the fuck is -that-? She's nae a deader. Some sort o' filthy demon?" He turns his glance up to the -very large number- of ravens perched up in the rafters. "Hope that lot aren't on -her- side," he grumbles.

"I'm... I'm cut. I'm bleeding." Integrity says, having lost some and now leaking. He is more rattled than injured, staring at the Doctor's head as it rolls away, and the matter on the tip of his blade.

He can feel the conspiracy watching him. The ravens' eyes fixed on his back. His head twitches, quick as a thrush's as he gazes at Nemori, seeking strength in the darkness.

"It was the right thing to do. It -was- the right thing to do." The warmth of healing washes over him. He takes a small cloth and wipes his blade clean, then sheathes it.

Another glance is cast over his shoulder, he stares at the Ravens. He shakes his head slightly, his thought regarding them unshared.

GAME: Khepri rolls knowledge/dungeoneering+3: (19)+6+3: 28
GAME: Khepri rolls knowledge/religion+3: (16)+7+3: 26
GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+1+4: (14)+1+4: 19, "Favored Enemy, I can make Knowledge rolls untrained. :)"
GAME: Nemori rolls knowledge/religion: (9)+6: 15

Khepri reaches down to pick up 'Clarity's' featureless head, quizzically tilting its own head as it inspects the grisly trophy. "Curious," the golem intones. "This is not an undead creature. It is an aberration known as the faceless stalker. They typically prey on the living, feeding on their blood, but they are not vampires."

The inquisitor turns to inspect the shattered carcass of the monstrosity. "Apparently this one took up necromancy as well, though it seems a poor fit. It could have remained hidden for weeks if not months. Hmm."

The ravens up in the rafters have been watching things the whole time. The din of their noise went quiet during combat, as though they were treating the whole thing like it was a performance back in the Theatre District. (If only it were.)

Then a bird up in the rafters /speaks/. This one is... actually not a raven, although it's shaped similarly to one and possesses the same dark plumage--but its beak and face makes it look almost skull-like. A rook.

With violet eyes.

"I'd rather you don't burn it down. My friends and I are fond of the place, and we were looking forward to dinner after the show," he says, his voice playful, yet deep. "Alas, my flock will have to find our food elsewhere. It was fun to watch you, though. Ta-ta!"

The rook takes flight, and the ravens follow. They flow out of the belfry that's attached to the top of the church and out of the building.

Dirk scowls at the remnants of the Congregation. "Well... good sodding -riddance-," he growls, hawking and spitting. Then there's a voice. From up above. Sloooowly the woodsman turns his gaze up as the rook addresses them. Blink blink. Lulu looks up as well. Blink. Blink blink. She's just as baffled as her master. As the ravens take wing, Dirk looks back at the others. "So -that- just happened," he says. "Are we done here? I think we're done here, aye? I -desperately- want us tae be done here."

"I know, but we couldn't know for certain, Nemori." Eztli sighs. "Will you at least accept burning most of the things in it as a compromise? And, thank you for helping the others. I appreciate it."

Now the small makari was left with nothing to do but take in the scene. "What a horrible thing to do to so many people, and all for some horrible aberration. At least it can't hurt anyone else though."

Eztli blinks. But the ravens were already gone. "Well, those aren't normal animals. I hope they didn't have anything to do with this, but that's probably being hopeful."

"Oh." The bluejay says, watching the conspiracy evacuate, the whirlwind of feathers circling like a small tornado, upwards and out.

"Do you think the Rook sent the call for help?" He looks back at the others. "Or should we search for a survivor still?"

Aelwyn straightens from his own little pit of despair, pours water all over himself, and then straightens. Slowly rolling his shoulders, he stares coolly towards the birds in the rafters. "More fire the better," The draconian grunts as he rejoins the others.

Though Jay makes him completely stop. "Call for help?" The sith-makar gestures at the scene. "It is finished. Finished."

Nemori looks up sharply as the raven speaks. She is fully aware of how badly things could turn if the not-raven and its compatriots decided to take further offense to some of her vocal suggestions. By the look of her face, however, burning the place is still on the table. As the birds depart, she pushes them from her mind, instead nodding to Eztli. "It is why I am here," she tells her friend, then seeks out the other. Jay. She watches him working through his actions, then working through the potential trouble presented by the ravens. "It was the right thing to do, Integrity." Though the shadow elf might place little weight on right and wrong.. at least insofar as it doesn't affect her personally... well, she's coming to understand some of the others a little better.

Khepri snaps its head up as well, staring at the ravens -- and their rook master, as the birds fly out and away. "Ominous," the golem remarks, as it casually hucks the head of the faceless stalker onto the floor. "We will need to make a full sweep through the village to determine if there are any survivors to rescue."

It pauses. Then continues, "Once that is done we will burn down the temple. It has been defiled and we lack the resources to restore it, let alone sort the bodies of the dead. Cremation and prayers will have to suffice."

Dirk nods his head. "Aye, I'm -really- likin' this fire notion," he grumbles. He casts a hairy eyeball towards the windows where the ravens took their leave. "They can damn well find somewhere -else- tae roost." He holsters his thunderbelcher in its back-mounted scabbard, before hooking his thumb over his shoulder. "Lulu an' I'll go do a sweep o' the village. If we find any survivors, we'll give a shout. An' if ye hear gunfire... well, suppose ye know we found summat -else- that's gone teats up." "Okay. Okay. Sounds Good." Jay says, nodding along, watching Nemori primarily, listening to her. Hearing other things, like 'sweep the village'. "Okay."

The egalrin runs outside, where he can be heard loudly cawing. "Hey! Hey! If you're here come out! Come Out! It's finished! We're going to burn the place and you'll be left behind!"

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

"Fire is probably the best. This village serves as nothing but a base for a cult. Best not to leave it as a place for another evil to take root when we leave." Eztli sighs. "Be careful everyone, though. We can't let any potential fire spread to the forest. It's a good thing that it has not been a long dry spell, at least."

A full sweep of the village, and trying the doors reveals that they were all left unlocked. One house contains a diary kept by a 15 year old girl named Amily, apparently in an act of teenage rebellion, as she reveals in her writings that the Congregation of the Holy Doctor is forbidden from keeping a diary, but /are/ permitted books to write prayers and exhalations of their false Althean avatar. Apparently the cult was dedicated to exalting and pampering the Holy Doctor to their own detriment--Amily often complains in her writings about how her clothes were becoming thread-bare and how the Doctor was always guaranteed a meal when Amily and her family would starve.

The last three weeks of her diary entries become far more fearful and frantic. The Holy Doctor's preachings about the wights became more dire. She said she had to call upon members of the Congregation to volunteer themselves. She had a vision of a "beautiful thing" that would defend their settlement from the wights. People gradually began cleaning their rooms, leaving their homes, and leaving in the dead of night to the Cathedral--where they never came out, and no one dared to ask where they went.

Amily's last entry details, "I have to be brave. So I'm running away, and I'm not looking back. If you read this, I'm gone. If the wights take me, then so be it."

So there may be one survivor of the village, but she's long gone. Everyone else... appears to be accounted for within the walls of the Cathedral.

Cleansing fire licks away at the Cathedral. Rites are read by those who may offer them. So ends the town of Clarity, where even 'incarnations' of goddesses may die, and all becomes clear.

OOC & Combatty

Inspirational music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d__5a0FzHw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxgRUyzgs0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE8PTMSFMUg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTSsGubEiSc

Map
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mny2xvj9mbz

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
  >> 18   Clarity          1   <<
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     18   "Crawly Hand 1"     
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     17   Eztli            1  Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)               
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     15   Nemori           1  Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)               
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     15   Aelwyn           1  Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)               
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     14   Robert           1  Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)               
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     12   Khepri           1  Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)               
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     12   "Congregation"      
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     10   Jay              1  
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     1    "Crawly Hand 2"     
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 ==============================================================================

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 2 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     18   Clarity          1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     17   Eztli            1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     15   Nemori           1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     15   Aelwyn           1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >> 12   Khepri           1   <<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     12   Dirk             1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     12   "Congregation"   1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     10   Jay              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     1    "Crawly Hand 2"  1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================

Scene Preamble
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "No worries. If Dirk arrives, we'll be rolling with a party of seven, but until then, we're gonna start as-is."
<OOC> Khepri says, "No response on Discord, sorry to say."
<OOC> Ravenstongue nods.
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "In which case, I'll give my pre-ride Disneyland ride talk now."
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "I want to be very, very up front: this is a horror-inspired PRP. There's going to be blood, there's going to be guts, there's going to be gore, and there's going to be body horror. It's gonna get gross. If you, the player, have any issues at any point, please let me know and I can engineer a way for your character to drop out gracefully."
<OOC> Jay says, "Nah, I'm cool with it. Jay will freak out."
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Second item of business: housekeeping stuff. Once we hit combat, which will probably be almost immediate, please speak up within 5 minutes of your turn in initiative (an "okay!" will suffice). I am trying to keep it moving and respect everyone's time that they set aside to roleplay today, so this helps you and your fellow players out."
<OOC> Eztli says, "Oh uh, okay"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Finally: those of you who have played in my last POP series know that I use a system called 'heroic leeway'. I developed this to counteract the low dice RNG on TinyMUX and expedite combat. Basically, if you want to do something, I can award you a +5, +10, or even a +15 bonus at my discretion. The intention is to reward people playing to their characters and to reward teamwork--if someone coordinates an attack with an ally, or if they pair up to do a skill check together, they get a higher bonus added to their roll. If you're curious, I have a lengthier write-up available here on my wiki user page: http://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php/User:Ravenstongue"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "I'll be dropping the set in 5 minutes. If you have any questions or want to dip out due to the content, let me know."