Invasion of Mori - IC [3.5][CE/NE][planar]

[moritheil]

For a moment there is silence and stillness. Behind the party, the caves that the kobolds have chosen for their lair are narrow and cramped, but in this more spacious area, the smoke collects above. A prime feature of the defenses seems to have been the flaming pool of oil.

The flames part for a moment, and the veiled diplomat from the Festering Realm strides through, taking in the scene of the carnage with equanimity.

A brilliant, blue, actinic light appears and resolves itself into a robed cultist, accompanied by several other figures. Almost simultaneous with this arrival, a horrible shriek rises in the distance. Those of you versed in the ways of war or smithing recognize it as the sound of metal deforming.

OOC: I wanted to first let everyone know that we weren't going to still be in combat.

The other figures are new and returning party members.

 

[Shayuri]

Silhouette whirls around in the air at the new arrivals...then relaxes a bit and smirks wryly.

"Typical. Reinforcements arrive -after- the battle's over. Better late than never, I suppose."

She then glances towards the direction the metal bending noise is coming from.

"Unless it's -enemy- reinforcements we're talking about. Then never would be fine..."

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Gabriel Sovot, male "human" bard

A beautifully handsome human man, his hair golden blonde and his eyes a lovely shade of blue, steps forth with an air of a man gratefully interrupted from something boring. His clothes are expensive blue and gold silk, breaches and a fine shirt and vest, a jewel-studded rapier and dagger at his belt.

"Well then, how perfectly marvelous! Terrible that we were called away when things were just getting so perfectly... sleep-inducing. Silhouette my darling, what fun is in the offing? Tell me you finished off that pack of kobolds," he says, his voice a rich and pleasing tenor.

 

[Voidrazor]

Kaelvorr's enormous head turns on its ematiated frame towards Gabriel. Though the fiend's gaze is shrouded from view by an opaque veil of ebon silk, the intensity of its regard is uniquely unsettling. "I believe I saw you returning from the gate as my entourage and I were entering Mori. Perhaps you would care to share, in the interest of mutual survival, whatever it was Derwydden's lackeys spoke to you about?"

Not waiting for an answer, Kaelvorr turns to one of the captured kobold sorcerors, and begins to fade from view even as it speaks, "Let us see what this one knows about that sound. I do so loathe surprizes. And someone bind and gag the other. We can't have him turning on us at an inopportune time."

_____________________________________________________________________

OOC: Attempt to possess the kobold, DC 28, 30 if the kobold is evil. If successful Kaelvorr will probe his memories also DC 28.

 

[Dichotomy]

Rose, the small but stout tiefling, still pants heavily from fatigue from his whirling dance. He stares venomously at Gabriel.

"By the lords of death! You NEVER shut up!" Rose's tone isn't quite as nasty as his words, but it is still hard to discern whether he means it as playful banter, or sincere emotion.

"We came hoping to find treasure and kobold death, yes? Let's finish this. You can make chummy with all the new help later," he concludes dismissively as he catches his breath.

 

[Shayuri]

"The kobolds, yes...though the worm is still at large, I believe, and if you listen over the sounds of Rose screaming, you'll no doubt hear his latest and ideally final scheme."

She turns to face the direction the noise is coming from.

 

[Pyrex]

Note: Skeletal minions have been left behind guarding the portal for the moment. Somehow I don't think kobold warrens will be a useful location to deploy large & huge skeletons...

A humanoid skeleton wearing little but a battered but servicable breastplate and a cloak of shimmering dragonscales steps out from behind the cultist who just teleported the new arrivals in.

With the dark presence of a pair of wraiths behind him, he surveys the invaders; curious as to just who he'll be working with.

"Word has reached our lord of your need for further assistance in clearing out these vermin and paving the way for the broader invasion. We, " he gestures to the others who have been teleported in by the cultist, "have been sent to ensure the job is completed in a timely fashion. My name is Aldred, I was called to join the invasion to keep you fighting and forestall the need for further reinforcements."




Active Effects
[sblock]

 Racial
  Undead Traits
  Immune to Cold
  DR 5/ Blunt & Magic & Silver
  Turn Resistance +4
  Spell Resistance 14

 Spells
  [i]Deathwatch[/i]
  [i]Magic Vestment[/i]
  [i]Resist Energy, Fire[/i] (Fire Resistance 30)
  [i]Shield of Faith[/i]
  [i]Superior Resistance[/i]

 Magic Items
  Acid Resistance 5 (Dragonscale Cloak)
  Immune to Positive Energy damage (Ring of Positive Protection)

[/sblock]

 

[moritheil]

The veiled diplomat pulls one of the kobolds aside and converses quietly with him. After a matter of minutes, they return. He seems to affect a very mechanical gait, and his eyes stare dully. He answers every question she puts to him.

A few questions reveal that neither he nor any other kobold is likely to know anything of use regarding the sound. They speak of the inner lair with great fear and reverence, for none but the high priest can enter and leave alive. To them it is evidently a sort of sacred site, though they are at a loss to explain its exact purpose or the rituals that presumably take place there.


Gabriel had a private audience, the details of which he may or may not disclose to the party at some point in time. Anyone who was previously recalled (or new) is aware of his private meeting, though not necessarily its contents.

The marilith general Talessera is the one who issued orders to the newcomers; the balor has been busy beheading enemies and wading through an ocean of gore.


[sblock=Isida Kep'Tukari ONLY]You have been instructed to increase the priority of finding resources to send back, as there is now a dire need for funds. This includes bodies for animation as well as the more traditional forms of loot.

Derwydden's layer of the Abyss is stable for now, though probing attacks continue to be launched upon it.[/sblock]

 

[Voadam]

Snargle feasts upon the dead kobolds, taking his time in his reduced man-sized but still recognizably troll body. At the appearance of the skeletal minion his long nose wrinkles in disgust at the fleshless. He picks up a kobold by its thin arm and snaps the bones there then sucks out the warm marrow.

 

[moritheil]

A dull steel ring on the dead kobold's hand, jostled by Snargle's feasting on the arm, tumbles to the ground with a clatter. The nearest kobold shudders openly and backs away from the troll, while the other keeps producing answers for the emissary at a steady pace.