Nights of Steel and Fire (D&D)

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris, still hovering above the devil, didn't have time to think about anything else. Bright Edge, once again glowing white with power, swung forward at the fiend, followed by more strikes.

[Attack 1: 15+19+4CHA+1high ground+2flank=41 to hit, 6+5+4holy+20sneak attack+8smite=43 damage. Attack 2: 12+14+1high ground+2flank=29 to hit, 1+5+3holy+11sneak attack=20 damage. Attack 3: 17+9+1high ground+2flank=29 to hit, 7+5+8holy+16sneak attack=36 damage.]

[Cynical Cat]

Blood fell smoking from Gaheris's first strike. Then the pit fiend tore at Abbot Khazar. Fangs struck homes, claws clutched, wings buffeted and the tail wrapped around him. Blood poured from the Abbot's wounds.

[SirNitram]

Malkamar just tried to speed up, his sword sweeping forward to try and rend the Pit Fiend's already large wound even larger. Slash after slash came, seeking to open the chinks in the creature's armour.

[Full Attack. Let's hope I get this.

20 + 5 Enchantment + 1 Weapon Focus + 2 Flanking = 28 to Hit bonus. d10 + 5 + 2 + 10 = d10 + 17 damage.

19 + 28 = Crit Chance. Confirm roll = 13 + 28 = 41. 7 + 17 = 24. 48 if critted.

17 + 23 = 40. 8 + 17 = 25.

15 + 18 = 33. 9 + 17 = 26.

2 + 13 = 15. Ha. Haha. Ha.]

[Cynical Cat]

Blood sprayed from Malkamar's first two blows. The others slid off hell tough scales or were turned aside by its unholy aura.

[Cynical Cat]

The Pit fiend vanished in a cloud of black smoke that reaked of sulphur, taking Khazar with him.

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris set down on the scorched flagstones, almost visibly deflated. "DAMNATION," he shouted as he went to his knees, slamming his sword hand, Bright Edge still in it, to the ground. He stood, snarling. He had to take command and try to pick up the pieces, and quickly.

"All right men," he called out through barely restrained fury as he stood. "Healers, see to the wounded! I want a detail to properly gather bodies and take the rolls of the slain, and somebody see to Astinius; I'm going to need his talents," he continued. "Everyone else whole of body is to assemble in the sanctuary as soon as possible. Move!"

[Comrade Tortoise]

In just a few seconds, the archmage was released from the effects of Power Word Stun spell

"Mother mystra!" the archmage shouted. He had seen everything, taken down a pit fiend, but could do nothing to help the Abbot.

Spellcraft check to identify the magical effect used to take the Abbot: 11+29=40

Astinius needed to know if they were still on this plane of existence

Knowledge Planes check to see what that Pit fiend would have been capable of doing: 14+27=41

[Cynical Cat]

Since Astinius's mind was reeling when the pit fiend cast its spell or invoke the power or whatever, the elf mage has nothing to analyze but the after effects of the pit fiend's vanishing. As to how far the pit fiend had travelled, sadly the great fiends have the ability to draw upon the raw power of the Hells themselves at infrequent intervals. The pit fiend could be literally anywhere with the powers known to be at his dispossal.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Alright, Well... I dont know what was done, but if I can scry on him, quickly enough I may be able ti find him before they block me out. I dont have scry preppared however, so I will need to find a scroll, and a scrying mirror"

Astinius hurried to the repository to look for a scroll

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris pointed to a monk; they were all familiar with the organization of the repository. "Brother! Help Astinius find a scrying scroll, and quickly," he ordered as his boots lifted him up towards the wall.

[SirNitram]

Malkamar grunted; he knew well.. Too well, really.. The power of a Pit Fiend. They had done remarkably well, but he wasn't quite out of the woods. He made sure the Justicar was alright, as his weapons and armour faded, leaving him only in his leather armour. "Rise. It seems the time for knives in the shadows has passed."

[LadyTevar]

Torma came down for a landing, tucking her wings close to her sides, her head hanging. Once again, all she'd done was prove to herself that she was too young, too little, and too weak to help anyone. Even her idea of trying to find whomever might have been behind this attack outside the Abbey walls had been the wrong choice.

Unwounded in all but her pride and her spirit, she moved to a wall out of everyone's way and huddled silently with her unhappy thoughts.

[Rogue 9]

Nothing was left of the guards on the walls save for ash. Gaheris shook his head sadly as he turned and made for the gatehouse. Maybe the guards in there had managed to survive; he hadn't seen the devils attack the gates, after all.

[Cynical Cat]

The repository was rather short of arcane magics. Nothing suitable could be found.

[Rogue 9]

Nothing was left of the men on gate duty except charred flesh and blackened bone. Leaving the gatehouse, Gaheris flew around the wall until he came upon two men hauling a third between them, the one they were supporting burned almost beyond recognition. He landed on the wall in front of them.

"The fiends are gone, men. Let me tend to him," he said, his right hand and eyes beginning to take on a watery blue light as he did so.

[Cynical Cat]

The pit fiends had left slaughter in their wake. The gatehouse had been struck first, blasted by infernal fire before the devils had turned on those in the courtyard or upon the walls. They had then blasted the nearest and most exposed parts of the abbey and the cathedral, turning the nave into a charnel house and cells into sepulchers.

When their superiors had realized the what they had faced, they had ordered their brave young warriors back and away, into cover and sanctuary. Too many had died before safety had been sought and found. A few had been saved, for although outmatched these men were no cowards. The wounded and some of the dead had been dragged from the blast areas and their wounds tended as best they could. Two such rescuers had paid the ultimate price for their valor.

Justicar Krelbin threw down his helmet. Tears washed down his face. "All that can, tend to the wounded. Bring the worst inside where our surviving brothers can treat them. Brother -," his voice faltered as he realized the man he was about to name might be among the dead. "I shall attend to the vaults so that the direst cases may be treated with the magic we possess. Those who are abled bodied attend to the wounded and secure the gates."

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris glanced down into the courtyard as he placed his hands onto the burned man. Krelben was up. He was glad that he lived, but his taking over command would mean no end of difficulty for him once the immediacy of this was over. He forced himself to turn his attention back to the wounded man, who flinched at his first touch. The char began to disappear from his face as the shimmering blue light flowed out of Gaheris' hand and over the victim's body, concentrating at the worst points of his burns. As Gaheris pulled his hand away, the man's eyes fluttered and he groaned, but he made no move to rise.

"He'll be all right now, but get him to the sanctuary," Gaheris said to the other two, grim faced. "The surviving fiend captured the Abbot. Justiciar Krelben is your commander now, until we get him back." He didn't want to voice what he knew was the most likely case; that his honored superior was languishing in Baator. No, there was still hope that the devil had captured him on behalf of an as yet unknown summoner and had taken him somewhere within reach. At least, that's what he told himself.

[Five points of lay on hands spent.]

[Comrade Tortoise]

"DAMNATION" cried the mage as he looked in vain for a proper scroll.

He headed back, with all speed, to the courtyard and stood behind Gaheris

"There is nothing in the repository, I will have to go and acquire a scroll...Greater Scrying I think, the more powerful of the two..."

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris looked up from the guard he was administering. "Then there's no time to lose. CLERIC," he called, to summon a healer to continue his work.

"Imryth Tower is the closest place where we can probably find one," Gaheris said as he lifted off and turned to the northwest. The local magic shop and shrine to Mystra was on Twoturrets Lane, just down Southgate Market Street. If Audara Imryth didn't have what they were looking for, well, they'd know in less than a minute and be off to other purveyors of magic. He caught sight of the spires that gave Twoturrets Lane it's name as he rose above the wall, and started for the one that belonged to the woman known as Starshoulder.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Astinius was familiar with the place and uttered the initiators of his spell of flight which he almost always had prepared. He rose above the wall and moved as quickly toward Imryth tower as was possible under the magic of the spell.

[SirNitram]

"Always rushing about.." Malkamar grunted as he hurried after Gaheris and Astinius. If the two ran into trouble of the armed kind, they'd at least have support.

[Cynical Cat]

Gaheris found who he was looking for soon enough. Audara Imryth was pacing her shop nervously, a wand in her hand.

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris looked behind him before knocking at the doorframe as he opened it. "Priestess Imryth?"

[Cynical Cat]

"Yes?" she said. "The explosions. Is everything alright?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

"My Priestess. The Abby was attacked and the Abbot taken captive. We need a scroll of Greater Scrying to locate him..." Astinius left out the part about the pit fiends