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The Master and the Minion - IC Thread

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Tavana:
Saliak sighs inwardly as the villagers flee with their possessions as he knew they would. At least I made it look somewhat convincing. Hearing Ryltar being to set up the device, the dragonborn stopped his house to house search and headed towards safety, rather quickly at that.

Xander Morhaime:
It seemed like you got into cover just in time, as a strange rumbling in the sky and some additional sunshine caused you to look up... just in time to see what looked like a huge pillar of fire scattering any clouds in its way and coming down towards the middle of the village. After that, you had enough sense to lay low and cover your eyes and ears...

Of course that only lessened the effect, but not removed it completely. The flash, however brief, turned the countryside a stark mix of white surfaces and the occasional black shadow. The roar of an explosion made your ears ring, and the heat wave that rolled over the land afterwards left you short for breath... but alive to take all of it in. With the first sensation to come to you after the blast being the smell of ash in the air, it's probably a safe bet that others weren't quite so fortunate.

The scene that greeted you as you opened your eyes wasn't quite as pleasant as what you'd seen when you first arrived at the village. The fields immediately around the village had been turned to ash which now soared up along with smoke on the thermals. Further out, you saw fires consuming what the initial blast missed. The wooden houses had generally been reduced to charred skeletons. The few stone ones had likewise had their wooden elements charred, their stones glowing red-hot and even fused together in some places. But at least they were still mostly standing. Some scrabbling in the charred ground then drew your attention, and you were forced to jump back as what looked like a massive claw of crude black metal ripped up out of the dirt and folded out like some parody of a flower. A swirling cloud formed moments later in the "palm" of the claw, and soon after that, the familiar red goblins began pouring out, scattering around the area, no doubt in search for anything you might have missed. A large group made a beeline to the remains of the tavern - it appeared that the cellar had survived in relatively good shape.

Not wanting to stick around much longer (the ash, smoke, and general shortage of clear air made the area less than hospitable overall) you steppep up onto the portal each with your share of loot (or lack thereof).

A few moments of gut-wrenching magical travel later, you found yourself standing once again in the throne room of the Overlord's tower. The Overlord himself was conferring with several minions, and actually laughing. Not an evil, malicious laugh, but a plain old happy one. Downright disturbing.

"...it worked! Ha, the PIE worked! Hit that marker beacon dead on, too. We should start sending those to our enemies, that'll make for a fun time..."

At this point he noticed your return, and stood up, clapping his hands. "Admirable work, my servants. A good show of loyalty, and you've done your part in the weapon test admirably. What did you think of the Precision Incendiary Enchantment, hmm? Quite a piece of work, eh?" he said, then shook his head briefly. "Well, at any rate, the tower barracks are available for your use if you want somewhere to keep your spoils. Once you're rested, I've got another task for you."

Spoiler (click to show/hide)Your efforts so far have earned you an additional reward of 200 XP, and some better quarters than a dank old cave. And, of course, a place to keep your loot between adventures. You may also now take an extended rest, should you so wish. Otherwise treat the period as a short rest.

And of course...

Gargulec:
Tristan looked at overlord, with a strange, a bit mad look on his face. He made his choice. It terrified him more than he could express- but he knew that it was the thing he was supposed to do- and there was no turning back.

'To hell with you, devil' he spat those words as if they were to show something- and maybe hide the fact that he was trembling. 'I am forever ashamed of my WILLING participation in it... he added after a moment, slowly, almost reluctantly reaching towards his sword's hilt. 'Even if this will turn futile... And it will, surely, you have total control over me...' slight screech was heard as he drew the 'at least, I will not have to live knowing, that I turned away... by my own free will... from the morals I swore to uphold.

The sword resting firmly in his hand, he took a deep breath.

'My willing service ends here!' he shouted, lunging towards the Overlord.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)'Twas fun while it lasted.

 ...and if I manage to land at least one blow...
Attack: Glorious Charge at the Overlord, to-hit roll     1d20+11=27
Damage: 2d8+5=20 + daily item power, activating the sword:     1d8=8 ice damage.

Xander Morhaime:
The Overlord didn't seem terribly surprised, and certainly the initial speech kind of spoiled the element of surprise. Still, he didn't make any move to dodge away, and Tristan's sword connected cleanly, the clang of metal resounding through the throne room, and frost creeping out from where the sword bit into flesh. Then the Overlord tilted his head down with what was probably a slightly puzzled expression.

"Ow?" he said.

Then his fist came around in an uppercut that lifted the paladin off the floor and hurled him clean over the pond at the end of the chamber and left him skidding to the very edge of the balcony beyond it - to say nothing of a likely concussion and shattered jaw. The Overlord wasn't quite done there, either, as he walked over to the paladin, shaking his head.

"You slay my servants, invade my home, try to murder me, and I give you a second chance at life after it all. And this is how you'd repay me? Well... I think you need to learn there's more than one way for a paladin to fall," he said, glaring down at Tristan for a moment more before reaching down to pick him up by the throat and hold him out over the balcony... easily a few hundred metres above the jagged rocky vale surrounding the tower. "You've achieved nothing, and suffered much. Consider if it was worth it on your way down. I will call on you again before long," the Overlord outright snarled, before simply opening his hand.

It was probably a good thing you didn't see the fall itself once Tristan disappeared over the balcony's edge. There was one loud clang as the paladin bounced off a tower buttress, and then nothing more...

"Find where he landed," the Overlord commanded, turning to his minions. "Gather up what remains. He's not weaseling out of his life-debt that easily," he added, then turned to you. "Unless there's any other issues of loyalty, I'd suggest you retire and rest. It'll take a little while before that fool's back with you again. Though I think I'll need to take some steps to keep him in line next time."

Spoiler (click to show/hide)Considering how long it'll take to piece G back together... just consider this an extended rest.

And for Tristan's efforts...

Madtrixr:
"Yes Sir! Right away sir!" Aden bowed a couple times. "Actually, sir...I want to thank you. To tell the truth, his overbearing piety was starting to get on my nerves. That is all." Aden bowed once more, and was the first to leave.

That was...That was terrifying. Aden thought to himself after he left. What was he thinking? We are nowhere NEAR powerful enough...Although he did say he would no longer do it willingly, so I guess it's better to die a painful death, and do bad stuff anyways against your will, than suck it up and keep your life? Oh well...that's one less ally we can count on, if we even do ever attempt it. I have no plans to do so. I have a family to keep alive... Aden kept walking along.

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