JollyDoc's Shackled City: FINAL POST [Updated 11/2!!]
Neverwinter Knight
First Post
Maybe he was not devised with DMs like JollyDoc in mind, who use his powers to the max...Lela said:
JollyDoc
Explorer
Neverwinter Knight said:
Well, and even then I had to tone the SOB down. As written, he could use Blasphemy as a spell-like ability at 30th caster level! That means that anyone with 10 HD or less below his caster level would die...instantly...no save...ie, anyone 19th level or less. Yay.
Neverwinter Knight
First Post
Having been out of touch with the rules for some time now, would this include draining a level from a Level 20 PC and then using his Blasphemy?JollyDoc said:
If so, nice touch adding the tentacles of his...
Lela said:
Truth be told, we had a large party of characters with an average level ~4 below what was required for that encounter. At such high levels a few levels (esp for the spellcasters) makes a huge difference.
NeverwinterKnight said:
Oooh . . . evil strategy.
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
It would probably work though . . .
Neverwinter Knight
First Post
Good thing Entropy drained those levels from Big A...gfunk said:Oooh . . . evil strategy.
It would probably work though . . .
That should have taken some of the danger away.Neverwinter Knight said:Good thing Entropy drained those levels from Big A...
This is actually what happened, esp. in Adimarchus' angel form. He has been drained so many times that his caster level is ~2.
He couldn't even kill Meepo with his blasphemy now.
The Road to Nowhere
The party had left him behind.
Nevertheless, as he watched them enter the morass of death that Nidrama had conjured around them, he did not envy their position. The small, floating mass of tentacles floating in front of him was of more immediate concern.
Houshang took a quick glance around seeing Adimarchus/Grimm and Nidrama engaged in mortal combat and the party dying beneath him. He could not know the outcome and decided that his own protection came first as he encased himself in a resilient sphere. The familiar, lacking any type of visual organs, simply observed the Red Wizard, seemingly uncaring.
----------------------------------------
The wave of panic that initially washed over Entropy had subsided as her smug demeanor returned once more.
The Half-Ogre's first spike chain whip simply failed to penetrate her magical defenses and was merely deflected aside. Subsequent blows were either similarly turned away or dodged. She would ignore him for now and focus on the real threat. A flash of necromantic magic poured forth from the Crown of Corruption as Adimarchus was pierced yet again with an energy drain.
The Prince of Madness stood in awe of the arcanist's power. Though he had slain his Herald in combat mere seconds ago, Adimarchus was impressed with Grimm's combat prowess -- even he, a Demon Prince, found it difficult to evade a spiked chain wielded with such power and grace. Be that as it may, this mortal had avoided the blows like they were nothing. Matters had to be taken into his own hands once more. He drew the Ashen Blade as he closed for combat.
----------------------------------------
Dalthon could not tell which was more painful -- the burning acidic vapors surrounding him, the ebon tentacles that threatened to crush the life out of him, or the cruel betrayal by Nidrama. Though he originally suspected that his grandmother was corrupted in some way, there was no doubting now that they were dealing with an imposter. His ancestor was probably long dead.
He mourned for her loss just as he mourned for the Bright Axes. Would Adimarchus survive to rain destruction upon the Prime Material Plane? Could "Nidrama" indeed slay him? Such thoughts were the only comfort Dalthon could afford before pain wracked through his body in another wave.
----------------------------------------
Yet again the Ashen Blade fell short, the potential of its destructive fury denied. At his peak, Adimarchus could have destroyed them all, but he had cloaked himself in arrogance that left him blind to the true threat they represented. His remaining options now were to flee or continue fighting in his weakened state. Neither prospect particularly appealed to him so he sought a third possibility as he addressed the arcanist, "It seems that we are a stalemate mortal. Allow me to depart with my Herald and return to Occipitus -- what you do with these so-called Bright Axes does not warrant my continued attention."
Grimm shot him a look of hatred, but there was little he could do. Crossing either Adimarchus or Nidrama would assuredly result in his destruction. Hoping that Nidrama was magnanimous hardly seemed appealing, but that was what he reduced to.
Entropy smiled at the Demon Prince's request. Long had she dreamed to be placed in such a position -- where a veritable god would supplicate himself before her. True, Adimarchus was but a minor being compared to the likes of Demogorgon let alone Lolth, but he was an abyssal monarch nonetheless.
She let the wave of euphoria pass over her for a few more seconds before her reply, "No, Adimarchus. I refuse your offer."
A grimace of confusion and disgust crossed the Prince's face, perhaps with a glint of fear, "Then what do you require? What do you want me to do, mortal?"
"Die."
----------------------------------------
Returning once more to his angelic aspect, Adimarchus' glorious white wings were spread widely as he plunged down Skullrot's central shaft.
In a final act of defiance, Grimm's spiked chain tore into his flesh as its pointed tip tried to seize the Prince like a grappling hook -- all the better to pull him back to Nidrama's embrace of death. Ignoring the wound, a sizable piece of flesh was torn from his back as he continued his descent.
----------------------------------------
Houshang saw his chance to escape as he dismissed the resilient sphere. Adimarchus was going to blaze a trail to the exit and he was quick to follow behind him. However, before he could begin his descent down the shaft, the tentacled familiar beside him began to radiate with magic as a large, disembodied fist of force sprung into being. Without hesitation, it pummeled the Wizard mercilessly as he fell to the ground senseless.
As the pseudonatural familiar approached him, there was nothing he could do but wonder what fate lay in store for him.
----------------------------------------
The battle field froze as Entropy entered another time stop. First, she placed an additional pair of Huge Earth Elementals at Skullrot's exit to block the Prince's flight. Then she dismissed the various spells Winterwood had placed to slowly slay the Bright Axes. This was not an act of kindness, but merely a practical gesture. She intended to put as many obstacles as she could between Adimarchus and his freedom.
"You," she screamed, pointing to Rusty, "heal your friends and do whatever it takes to make sure that Adimarchus does not escape."
Then, turning to Grimm, "You were wise to try to stop your former master. Now let us complete the task."
Together, they descended after him.
----------------------------------------
Despite spells by Dalthon, Rusy and Gunther and the physical interventions of Tilly and Ike, Adimarchus simply breezed past them all relatively unharmed. Even the Elementals could not strike the Prince, who was warded with a powerful abjuration to prevent bodily contact from such creatures.
Confidently, he burst through the door as the dull red glow of Carceri stood before him once more. He turned to his would be executioners, "You shall rue this day Bright Axes. My revenge shall be swift and unmerciful -- never again will I underestimate you."
Turning to Entropy, "And you . . . Pretender. I have a special place reserved in Occipitus where I shall watch you suffer forever by my hand."
He switched to his demonic aspect once more, preparing to plane shift -- but not before a gate opened before him.
----------------------------------------
Cronus had come to enjoy these calling spells quite a bit. Not only would his patron, Entropy, present him with a wide variety of beings to hunt and slay -- but she was most generous with her rewards.
Seated on his throne in the Abyss, he was at the moment considering activities that would strike his fancy when a familiar gate opened before him. On the other side was a demonic creature of some sort, battered but unbroken, bearing a magnificent sword with a quartet of threatening tentacles writhing from his back.
Seizing the adamantine maul next to him, the Titan rose and approached -- delighting in the abject horror on his victim's face. However, he quickly realized something was blocking him from entering.
Some type of warding spell he guessed. Cronus watched with disappointment as relief washed over his would-be victim's face who quickly plane shifted away.
A pity . . .
----------------------------------------
The Bright Axes stood in a semi-circle around Nidrama, now in Solar form. Tilly and Ike had managed to collect what personal effects and items they could from the mess that remained of Kiko's corpse. An undead Rusty had healed the rest of them, though the emotional scars of this battle would not likely heal soon.
"What now, Nidrama--"
"No need for that obvious falsehood anymore, fellow Sorcerer. I am Entropy, Chosen of Kiaransalee, Blessed of the Moonsea. My interference in your quest was not intended but the result of the subliminal interference of my alter-ego," she smiled at the irony of her next statement, "somewhat like Demogorgon, I am at war with myself. Both of my personalities try to usurp the body to manifest their desires. This time, for now, it seems that I remain victorious."
"So I suppose another battle with you is not on the horizon?"
"Far from it Planar Champion. As I said, my business here was not a product of my mind -- you are all free to go. However, if you do not wish to leave as undead creatures, then you must abide by my conditions of your release."
She turned to Rusty, "You have been given the gift of unlife by the Dark Lady. No longer will you feel pain, fear or remorse. As a Cleric, you will maintain your link to your god unless undeath is an abomination in her eyes. The damage inflicted upon you will heal quickly as your link to the Negative Energy Plane is stronger than most undead. Never spurn your gift and never seek to reverse your condition. You will be a Revenant forevermore."
"As for the Red Wizard," Entropy gestured high above their current position where her familiar stood guard over Houshang's unconscious body, "he belongs to me now. I find that I am lacking in powerful retainers and he should serve nicely. Besides," she tapped her Crown, "I've always wanted to make a Kry'i'zoth."
"Now, leave me."
Rusty entered their ranks once more and offered his hands, "Hold me hands laddies and form a circle -- it's time we left this blasted plane."
Adimarchus' escape had been a devastating blow to the Bright Axes. Yet they were consoled by their other accomplishments -- shattering the Cagewrights and their plan to conquer the Prime, saving the entire population of Cauldron from a volcano's eruptive fury, and, with their valor and bravery, honoring the deaths of countless comrades.
In the end, cosmic forces beyond their control dictated the outcome of events. Perhaps, in time, their paths would cross with the Prince of Madness. When that time arrived, they vowed, they would finish matters decisively.
The party had left him behind.
Nevertheless, as he watched them enter the morass of death that Nidrama had conjured around them, he did not envy their position. The small, floating mass of tentacles floating in front of him was of more immediate concern.
Houshang took a quick glance around seeing Adimarchus/Grimm and Nidrama engaged in mortal combat and the party dying beneath him. He could not know the outcome and decided that his own protection came first as he encased himself in a resilient sphere. The familiar, lacking any type of visual organs, simply observed the Red Wizard, seemingly uncaring.
----------------------------------------
The wave of panic that initially washed over Entropy had subsided as her smug demeanor returned once more.
The Half-Ogre's first spike chain whip simply failed to penetrate her magical defenses and was merely deflected aside. Subsequent blows were either similarly turned away or dodged. She would ignore him for now and focus on the real threat. A flash of necromantic magic poured forth from the Crown of Corruption as Adimarchus was pierced yet again with an energy drain.
The Prince of Madness stood in awe of the arcanist's power. Though he had slain his Herald in combat mere seconds ago, Adimarchus was impressed with Grimm's combat prowess -- even he, a Demon Prince, found it difficult to evade a spiked chain wielded with such power and grace. Be that as it may, this mortal had avoided the blows like they were nothing. Matters had to be taken into his own hands once more. He drew the Ashen Blade as he closed for combat.
----------------------------------------
Dalthon could not tell which was more painful -- the burning acidic vapors surrounding him, the ebon tentacles that threatened to crush the life out of him, or the cruel betrayal by Nidrama. Though he originally suspected that his grandmother was corrupted in some way, there was no doubting now that they were dealing with an imposter. His ancestor was probably long dead.
He mourned for her loss just as he mourned for the Bright Axes. Would Adimarchus survive to rain destruction upon the Prime Material Plane? Could "Nidrama" indeed slay him? Such thoughts were the only comfort Dalthon could afford before pain wracked through his body in another wave.
----------------------------------------
Yet again the Ashen Blade fell short, the potential of its destructive fury denied. At his peak, Adimarchus could have destroyed them all, but he had cloaked himself in arrogance that left him blind to the true threat they represented. His remaining options now were to flee or continue fighting in his weakened state. Neither prospect particularly appealed to him so he sought a third possibility as he addressed the arcanist, "It seems that we are a stalemate mortal. Allow me to depart with my Herald and return to Occipitus -- what you do with these so-called Bright Axes does not warrant my continued attention."
Grimm shot him a look of hatred, but there was little he could do. Crossing either Adimarchus or Nidrama would assuredly result in his destruction. Hoping that Nidrama was magnanimous hardly seemed appealing, but that was what he reduced to.
Entropy smiled at the Demon Prince's request. Long had she dreamed to be placed in such a position -- where a veritable god would supplicate himself before her. True, Adimarchus was but a minor being compared to the likes of Demogorgon let alone Lolth, but he was an abyssal monarch nonetheless.
She let the wave of euphoria pass over her for a few more seconds before her reply, "No, Adimarchus. I refuse your offer."
A grimace of confusion and disgust crossed the Prince's face, perhaps with a glint of fear, "Then what do you require? What do you want me to do, mortal?"
"Die."
----------------------------------------
Returning once more to his angelic aspect, Adimarchus' glorious white wings were spread widely as he plunged down Skullrot's central shaft.
In a final act of defiance, Grimm's spiked chain tore into his flesh as its pointed tip tried to seize the Prince like a grappling hook -- all the better to pull him back to Nidrama's embrace of death. Ignoring the wound, a sizable piece of flesh was torn from his back as he continued his descent.
----------------------------------------
Houshang saw his chance to escape as he dismissed the resilient sphere. Adimarchus was going to blaze a trail to the exit and he was quick to follow behind him. However, before he could begin his descent down the shaft, the tentacled familiar beside him began to radiate with magic as a large, disembodied fist of force sprung into being. Without hesitation, it pummeled the Wizard mercilessly as he fell to the ground senseless.
As the pseudonatural familiar approached him, there was nothing he could do but wonder what fate lay in store for him.
----------------------------------------
The battle field froze as Entropy entered another time stop. First, she placed an additional pair of Huge Earth Elementals at Skullrot's exit to block the Prince's flight. Then she dismissed the various spells Winterwood had placed to slowly slay the Bright Axes. This was not an act of kindness, but merely a practical gesture. She intended to put as many obstacles as she could between Adimarchus and his freedom.
"You," she screamed, pointing to Rusty, "heal your friends and do whatever it takes to make sure that Adimarchus does not escape."
Then, turning to Grimm, "You were wise to try to stop your former master. Now let us complete the task."
Together, they descended after him.
----------------------------------------
Despite spells by Dalthon, Rusy and Gunther and the physical interventions of Tilly and Ike, Adimarchus simply breezed past them all relatively unharmed. Even the Elementals could not strike the Prince, who was warded with a powerful abjuration to prevent bodily contact from such creatures.
Confidently, he burst through the door as the dull red glow of Carceri stood before him once more. He turned to his would be executioners, "You shall rue this day Bright Axes. My revenge shall be swift and unmerciful -- never again will I underestimate you."
Turning to Entropy, "And you . . . Pretender. I have a special place reserved in Occipitus where I shall watch you suffer forever by my hand."
He switched to his demonic aspect once more, preparing to plane shift -- but not before a gate opened before him.
----------------------------------------
Cronus had come to enjoy these calling spells quite a bit. Not only would his patron, Entropy, present him with a wide variety of beings to hunt and slay -- but she was most generous with her rewards.
Seated on his throne in the Abyss, he was at the moment considering activities that would strike his fancy when a familiar gate opened before him. On the other side was a demonic creature of some sort, battered but unbroken, bearing a magnificent sword with a quartet of threatening tentacles writhing from his back.
Seizing the adamantine maul next to him, the Titan rose and approached -- delighting in the abject horror on his victim's face. However, he quickly realized something was blocking him from entering.
Some type of warding spell he guessed. Cronus watched with disappointment as relief washed over his would-be victim's face who quickly plane shifted away.
A pity . . .
----------------------------------------
The Bright Axes stood in a semi-circle around Nidrama, now in Solar form. Tilly and Ike had managed to collect what personal effects and items they could from the mess that remained of Kiko's corpse. An undead Rusty had healed the rest of them, though the emotional scars of this battle would not likely heal soon.
"What now, Nidrama--"
"No need for that obvious falsehood anymore, fellow Sorcerer. I am Entropy, Chosen of Kiaransalee, Blessed of the Moonsea. My interference in your quest was not intended but the result of the subliminal interference of my alter-ego," she smiled at the irony of her next statement, "somewhat like Demogorgon, I am at war with myself. Both of my personalities try to usurp the body to manifest their desires. This time, for now, it seems that I remain victorious."
"So I suppose another battle with you is not on the horizon?"
"Far from it Planar Champion. As I said, my business here was not a product of my mind -- you are all free to go. However, if you do not wish to leave as undead creatures, then you must abide by my conditions of your release."
She turned to Rusty, "You have been given the gift of unlife by the Dark Lady. No longer will you feel pain, fear or remorse. As a Cleric, you will maintain your link to your god unless undeath is an abomination in her eyes. The damage inflicted upon you will heal quickly as your link to the Negative Energy Plane is stronger than most undead. Never spurn your gift and never seek to reverse your condition. You will be a Revenant forevermore."
"As for the Red Wizard," Entropy gestured high above their current position where her familiar stood guard over Houshang's unconscious body, "he belongs to me now. I find that I am lacking in powerful retainers and he should serve nicely. Besides," she tapped her Crown, "I've always wanted to make a Kry'i'zoth."
"Now, leave me."
Rusty entered their ranks once more and offered his hands, "Hold me hands laddies and form a circle -- it's time we left this blasted plane."
Adimarchus' escape had been a devastating blow to the Bright Axes. Yet they were consoled by their other accomplishments -- shattering the Cagewrights and their plan to conquer the Prime, saving the entire population of Cauldron from a volcano's eruptive fury, and, with their valor and bravery, honoring the deaths of countless comrades.
In the end, cosmic forces beyond their control dictated the outcome of events. Perhaps, in time, their paths would cross with the Prince of Madness. When that time arrived, they vowed, they would finish matters decisively.
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