The Four Lands - The Great North

[J. Alexander]

Sailing North

For Finnian
[sblock]Searching thru his mind, Finnian comes to the conclusion that the woman was forced into this act....he recalls numerous passages and stories relating to virgins being sacraficed to summon demonic prescences in such circles that have a tell tail red, yellow and black poweder. The dark mass on her chest should be her heart upon which the summoned prescence will feed and which acts as a tribute to the demonic forces so as to ensure their good will and cooperation. A more distribuing recolleation is that the victums soul was forceable riped from her lifeforce and condemend to one of the lower demonic planes for torment.[/sblock]

For Bertrand
[sblock]Bertrand searches his memory and comes across several references in regards to the summoning of demonic presences.....something in the back of his mind tells him that his shaman friend may be more familar with this type of summoning...but he can not place his finger on it for some reason. Searching the room for tracks...Bertrand discovers several very faint tracks of a cloven hoof which appear to have been slighlty burned into the deck planking....following them the appear to lead out the door and down into the hold. OCC: Wanna go into the hold alone?[/sblock]


The party from above descends to the lower deck where the find Bertrand intenlty looking at the hallway........a qucik check of the open cabin door reveals Finnian lost in deep thought as he studies the body of a young female within a circle of blood..with various colored powders, which have been smeared surronding her. A dark mass is glistening on her chest.

For Vadric
[sblock]As Vadric descends the stairwell he senses the prescence of demonic forces but can not place them.[/sblock]

For Anniston
[sblock]As Anniston descends the stairwell he senses the presence of demonic forces but not place them... It does appear to be recent but is fading.[/sblock]

For Jaroth
[sblock]Following Annistion and Vadric Jaroth, perhaps due to his recent struggle, feels a weight in the air that appears to be lessing. Something foul has occured that is against the laws of nature and freewill.[/sblock]

 

[Rhun]

Vadric again draws Warsong, the blade gliding into his hand, reddish-orange flames licking along the weapon's black length. "There are demons here," says the warrior-priest. "I can feel their dark presence. We must find them, and by the power of the Light destory them."


OOC: Was Vadric able to cast Magic Circle vrs. Evil and Divine Favor earlier?

 

[Canaan]

Jaroth

Jaroth intones: "scutum!" A shimmering green glow surrounds Jaroth for a moment and disappears.

A few seconds later he chants: "nature's mark, thick as bark." Jaroth's skin darkens and hardens like bark

A few seconds later he beckons, "Bertrand, Anniston, come a here a moment. You may need the sight to see our foe."

Once they gather, he intones:

"from the deepest pits evil doth rise,
murderous fiends full of lies,
grant us the sight so we may see
that which is hidden from our eyes."

[OOC: Jaroth first cast shield, followed by barkskin, followed by see invisibility on each of Bertrand, Anniston and himself.]

Jaroth then examines the scene in the girl's room and speaks with Finnian to see whether he can ascertain what type of demon was summoned.

[OOC: Knowledge Arcana Check is a 1d20+13 +2 synergy or assist. Jaroth will take 10, resulting in a check result of 25.]

 

[Rath Lorien]

Sensing the evil and seeing Jaroth begin to prepare himself, Anniston kneels to the floor and prays to the Light, casting Magic Weapon on his dagger and Bull's Strength on himself.
[OOC question: has the Protection from Evil spell Anniston cast on himself earlier expired?]

He also takes a moment to change the appearance of his armor to a brilliant silver-colored full plate armor with golden trim that reflects even the faintest light with a mirror-like surface.

He then stands and approaches Jaroth to receive the spell of sight that Jaroth offers.

Finnally, he turns and addresses the group with a powerful voice, "There is a demon on this ship, summoned from the depths of our worst nightmares. But we have are been brought here to this very spot, guided by the Light and blessed with the strength and courage of overcome this foul beast. Against the Light it shall not prevail!" (Aura of Courage)

Turning to Bertrand, Anniston says, "Where did the beast flee? We must move quickly to stop this insanity."

 

[Dracomeander]

Finnian steps out into the hall with the others.

"Unfortunately, this young woman was the sacrifice and that is what's left of her heart after the fiend that appeared sealed the bargain. I can't tell who might have performed this abomination, but unless part of the bargain was using the fiend's powers to escape the ship, he or she should still be here.
"Do any of you know how to wrest the soul away from the lower realms where it has been consigned? I hate to think of anyone - even an enemy - receiving those torments just for being a sacrifice."

 

[J. Alexander]

Sailing North

Standing just outside the cabin door and at the entryway to the hold below, the party halts in brief consultation. As they plot and prepare their delibrations are interrupted by a cry "Storm waves to port, Storm waves to port...all hands man your stations...all passagers brace for rough weather......Storm waves to port, Storm waves to port...brace for rough weather...all hands man your stations" No sooner has the cry reached the parties ears than the ship is rocked by waves hitting it's port side causing the heavy ship to roll. Soon the cry can be heard from the Captain "Turn her into the waves, turn her into the waves before we roll......"

 

[Canaan]

Jaroth

Jaroth's head perks up at the sound of inclement weather. "I must do what I can to counter this weather, before we are all drowned. You will have to vanquish the demon without me. Hopefully it is the demon that is causing this and his destruction will end it."

He turns to run up deck, but remembers something and turns back to his companions. "Wait. Before I go, in case things go horribly wrong...."

Jaroth pulls a piece of straw from one of his pockets and incants a spell:

"Neptune, spirit of the depths, ruler of the sea!
Stay your wrath for these strangers to your realm!
Let your brackish waves flow like air through their bodies
So mote it be!"

Jaroth then touches each of his companions with the straw and finishes with himself.

[OOC: Jaroth cast water breathing on everyone, including himself (1 casting).]

Jaroth then smiles, "If the Light so wishes, today will be a good day to die. If we do not see each other again on this world, I look forward to swilling wine with you all in the afterlife!"

Jaroth then turns and runs to the deck to cast control winds. This time, however, knowing it may take a lot more than this spell's power to counter the weather, he will slice open his arm, adding his life essence to the power of the spell.

With his arms outstretched above him, he is on his knees on the deck in supplication. He intones his spell:

"Sethia, Sky Duchess of Elysium, hear my plea!
In Neptune's realm, we are lost at Sea!
Tempest blows, a hurricane's wall!
Knife bite deep, life blood fall!
I bind these winds and pay the fee!
Manifest your will, so mote it be!"

[OOC: Not sure if this is going to have any extra ummph to the spell. I just figured that control winds--though a powerful spell--will not likely be enough (control weather would be appropriate, but Jaroth doesn't have it yet), so I thought I would do something to try to increase the power of the spell. Perhaps, I lose hitpoints, xp or constirution from the blood loss. It's your call whether your want to do anything with this. In any event, it's good flavor text.]

 

[Scotley]

Bertrand

Bertrand keeps a hand to the wall to steady himself. "I see tracks leading from the corpse toward the hold. It appears to be a cloven hoof and the tracks seem to be burned into the deck. Did we sail into the Hells over night and someone forgot to tell us? There are more evil presences on this tub than you can shake a flail at. I think we better have a look in the hold."

 

[Rhun]

Vadric too holds onto the wall with one hand to steady himself. He hadn't spent enough time at sea to stand easily upon the rolling deck. Still, he manages to maintain his footing as he speaks to his companions."Evil oft gathers to itself. But the Light shall guide us, and we shall deliver out foe's to its mercy. To the hold, say I. Let us be done with this."

 

[Rath Lorien]

"If we are prepared, then we shall proceed." Anniston leads the party down into the hold when all of the preparations are complete.