Chapter 7: To Kill a Nightingale

[Venatus Vinco]

A Murder of Demons
The group valiantly slices and dices their way through the swarms of demonic birds and creatures swooping down upon them but more and more keep coming they overwhelm even the most dexterous fighters. They peck, bit, and claw yet the front line fighters manage to avoid the worst of their blows. However, being surrounded brings on dread as a flap of wing and high pitch screech erupts from the ruins.

The Nightingale has descended!

Fear

Fear checks at -2 before acting

[Par]

Resist Fear 1d10!! or Wild 1d6!! with -2: [7]+[10!!] = 17

Par sees the demon lord coming in and finds himself filled with fear. Pushing himself it takes all his hope and faith to call out, the grounds around him corrupted resisting. But he does not give up. This abomination does not belong here, his voice, his heart, and his power must be silenced. His deep prayer reaches out as a bush falls over the demon.

Silence, Exalted Silence, Hinder, Glows, Fatiguing

Silence, Exalted Silence, Hinder, Glows, Fatiguing
Forgot I had fatigue, so resist versus 8 at -4

Silence 1d10!! or Wild 1d6!! with +1 to highest: [4]+[1] = 5

Benny Silence 1d10!! or Wild 1d6!! with +1 to highest: [8]+[4] = 12


Benny Again Silence 1d10!! or Wild 1d6!! with +1 to highest: [1]+[2] = 3

[steelbrok]

As the Nightingale takes the field behind his Minions, the stoic cyborgs sighs,

Spirit 1d8!!-2: [6]-2 = 4
Wild die 1d6!!-2: [5]-2 = 3

himself for this new threat

[Palach]

Despite the frightful appearance of the demon thief, Palach is

Spirit vs Fear: 1d8!!-2: [6]-2 = 4
WD Spirit: 1d6!!-2: [4]-2 = 2

.

There are too many monsters between he and the nightingale. He will have to thin them out. So he proceeds to do just that. His silver vambraces are coated in a holy light given by @Par, lending just that little extra lethality against the enemies arrayed against them. He starts with two of the swarms surrounding @Stephen,

Fighting right: 1d12!!+2: [1]+2 = 3
WD Fighting Right: 1d6!!+2: [5]+2 = 7
Damage right: 1d10!!+2d12!!+8: [3]+[5, 7]+8 = 23

first, then taking a second even more

Fighting left: 1d12!!+2: [2]+2 = 4
WD Fighting left: 1d6!!+2: [14!!]+2 = 16
Damage left with raise: 1d10!!+2d12!!+1d6!!+8: [3]+[3, 4]+[1]+8 = 19

at the one on Stephen's left. Both swarms fall sizzling to the ground. He doesn't break pace, instead moving inside the crumbled wall to the left. He takes up a

immediately 3:00 adjacent to the golem

next to the golem, practically inviting the demons to charge him.

He calls out to the Nightingale in his standard unexcited tone. "Ty mozhesh' sdat'sya seychas ili sdat'sya posle togo, kak ya podrezhu tebe kryl'ya."

You can surrender now or you can surrender after I have clipped your wings.

[steelbrok]

Stands

1st strike in case on of them gets past the others:
Fighting 1d6!!+3: [8!!]+3 = 11
Wild die 1d6!!: [1] = 1
Damage 1d12!!+1d8!!+1d8!!+2: [2]+[6]+[6]+2 = 16 Plus presumed Raise bonus 1d6!!: [4] = 4
MD, AP16
Oh yeah, plus the Holy Smite benefit!

, Vlad poised as the battle erupts again.

[steelbrok]

As the battle progresses, Steelbrok uses the old grey matter.

This Nightingale needs needs these magical types to do their mojo, best the steel stalwart keeps the lesser things off them.
He moves to protect the spellslingers, alert for any chance to

Fighting 1d6!!+3: [2]+3 = 5
Wild die 1d6!!+3: [1]+3 = 4

any demon that drops its guard for a moment

[Jose Kerske]

Fear Check 10-2=8

OOC Comments

Boost Spirit +4
Spell d12, SM +2
1d12+2!!: [12]+2 = 14
WD d6
1d6!!: [5] = 5
Spirit 1d12
fear 1d12!!: [6] = 6
WD
1d6!!: [10!!] = 10

Jose Covered in blood and gore, continue blunt the enemies attack and make way for the teams assault,
Clawing and Biting the demons that attacked his friends, Str d12( rising to d12+4 in man-monster form) + Boost+4 Brawler+4
(Damage claw 2d4 Martial Art +1die, Brawler +1die, Bruiser +1die, Advance martial artist +1die=2d12)
AP= Agility=12
Fighting 1d8+3

1d8+3: success
1d8+3!!: [3]+3 = 6
Wild Dice 1d6
WD 1d6!!: [4] = 4

Damage R Claw Str+2d12
RC Strength 2d12!!: [2, 4] = 6 Strength d12+12 1d12+12: [9]+12 = 21
= 34 Damage

1d8+3: success and 3 raise
1d8+3!!: [8]+3 = 11
Wild Dice 1d6
WD 1d6!!: [16!!] = 16

Damage L Claw Str+2d12
LC 2d12 2d12!: [5, 10] = 15 Strength d12+12 1d12+12: [12]+12 = 24
41 Damage
1d6!!: [2] = 2

[Radecliffe]

Radecliffe

-2 Modifier, +2 Brave
Spirit 1d8!!: [1] = 1
Wild Die 1d6!!: [5] = 5

at the sight of the creature they have traveled so far to destroy. Not wanting to take chances he quickly commands all of his elemental friends to bind the creature tightly. The elementals seem unconcerned with the waves of fear as

Single Target, Greater Entangle, Range x 3 8 PP, Rolls to break free are at -4, Hardness is 10

Elemental 1: 1d8!!: [3] = 3 Failed 1PP (28 PP remaining)
Elemental 2: 1d8!!: [4] = 4 Success 8 PP (21 PP remaining)
Elemental 3: 1d8!!: [4] = 4 Success 8 PP (21 PP remaining)
Elemental 4: 1d8!!: [7] = 7 Success 8 PP (21 PP remaining)

ensnaring and binding the Nightingale in place.

[Venatus Vinco]

Home to Roost
The swarms form a cloud of demonic birds around the heroes engulfing them and blocking out most of the surroundings. Palach swings furiously to keep them at bay but many still break through descending upon Stephen (10 AP 8) and the earth elements at the front of the formation (14 AP 8). Palach finally fights his way through the waves toward Stephen who seems ok despite being completely swarmed.

Par uses his magic to silence the nightingale, although the creature has yet to make a sound, it remains silent (success). The remaining two earth elementals try to tangle up the great bird beast, Binding and Entangling the creature. Meanwhile Jose pounces forward ripping through the seemingly endless cloud of demon birds.

Two demon hounds lope back toward their master and begin gnawing at the vines hold it down. They quickly rip away the bonds (Hardness 5) and the Nightingale is free. Unable to speak it takes to the air, suddenly the sky goes dark as another Nightingale appears in the above! It swoops down and sweeps a claw at Palach (make a Smarts roll at -2, target is 8 -2 = 10).

Finally, a pack of hounds rip another one of Radcliffe's element servants to rubble.

[Stephen]

Banish 7

Spellcasting 1d10!! 1d6!!: [2]+[5] = 7

Benny

Spellcasting 1d10!! 1d6!!: [7]+[2] = 9

Stephen pauses and begins to cast a spell of undoing. He traces ancient sigils of warding in the air with his fingers and speaks the words.

[Palach]

Palach tries to react as the Nightingale's doppelganger swoops to attack, but the

Smarts: 1d8!!-2: [6]-2 = 4
WD Smarts: 1d6!!-2: [3]-2 = 1
Benny Smarts: 1d8!!-2: [3]-2 = 1
WD Benny Smarts: 1d6!!-2: [4]-2 = 2

. He swipes fruitlessly at the air to try to drive off his airborne assailant. Thankfully, he is able to

Soak: 1d12!!: [4] = 4
WD Soak: 1d6!!: [2] = 2

the worst of the bird's blow.
Seeing the odds stacked against his allies, Palach picks up the pace. He takes faster, less methodical, almost wilder strikes. The result nets only

Fighting R: 1d12!!+2: [6]+2 = 8
WD Fighting R: 1d6!!+2: [2]+2 = 4
Fighting L: 1d12!!+2: [3]+2 = 5
WD Fighting L: 1d6!!+2: [3]+2 = 5
MAP Fighting R 2: 1d12!!: [20!!] = 20
MAP WD Fighting R 2: 1d6!!: [3] = 3
MAP Fighting L 2: 1d12!!: [5] = 5
MAP WD Fighting L 2: 1d6!!: [1] = 1

that land, but they land with

Damage 1: 1d10!!+2d12!!+8: [11!!]+[7, 9]+8 = 35
Damage 2 with raise: 1d10!!+2d12!!+1d6!!+8: [4]+[4, 7]+[7!!]+8 = 30 . The last two surrounding his friend @Stephen fall, screaming, to the ground. He then moves immediately

9:00 position

, hoping to draw as many of them into melee combat with his shining silver vambraces as he can.

[Par]

Par looks watches as the demon lords over the battle field then draws up deep within. Focusing he summons a Spirit of Light. The giant Sepherath easily larger than the demon draws its blade and begins to assault the creature.

Deadly Illusion roll Smarts to resist versus a 15

Illusion, Deadly Illusion (+3), Sound (+1), Psionic +2 to roll (+4), Strong -2 to resistance rolls (+2)

Illusion 13, Deadly Illusion (+3), Sound (+1), Psionic +2 to roll (+4), Strong -2 to resistance rolls (+2) Psionics 1d10!! or Wild 1d6!! with a +2 to highest roll: [8]+[11!!] = 19

Roll 11 Psionics +2, Resistance -2 = Needs a 15 to resist. On a raise he takes a wound

[steelbrok]

- as in First Strike
Fighting 1d6!!+3: [2]+3 = 5
Wild die 1d6!!+3: [3]+3 = 6
Probably a hit if anything ventured too close
Damage 1d12!!+1d8!!+1d8!!+2: [5]+[6]+[6]+2 = 19 AP16, MD

, Steelbrok sees if any opponent is foolish enough to attack him

[steelbrok]

Then he moves to protect his arcane comrades, allowing them to concentrate on the Nasty, Naughty Nightmare of a Nightingale

"Take

Fighting 1d6!!+3: [1]+3 = 4
Wild die 1d6!!+3: [13!!]+3 = 16

, foul fiend" and watches with

Damage 1d12!!+1d8!!+1d8!!+1d6!!+2: [11]+[7]+[1]+[3]+2 = 24
AP16, MD plus the arcane boosts so nicely handed out

as his cunning stroke slices into demon flesh.

[Jose Kerske]

Jose moves westward trying to take out as many as possible to help Stephen who seems to have been cut off.

Jose Covered in blood and gore, continue blunt the enemies attack and make way for the teams assault,
Clawing and Biting the demons that attacked his friends, Str d12( rising to d12+4 in man-monster form) + Boost+4 Brawler+4
(Damage claw 2d4 Martial Art +1die, Brawler +1die, Bruiser +1die, Advance martial artist +1die=2d12)
AP= Agility=12
Fighting 1d8+3
1d8+3!!: [5]+3 = 8

Wild Dice 1d6
WD
1d6!!: [1] = 1
Damage R Claw Str+2d12
RC Strength 2d12!!: [4, 7] = 11 Strength d12+12 1d12+12: [4]+12 = 16
= 27 Damage
Extra Dice 1d6 1d6!!: [4] = 4

L Claw1d8+3: success and 3 raise
1d8+3!!: [6]+3 = 9

Wild Dice 1d6
WD 1d6!!: [1] = 1

Damage R Claw Str+2d12
RC Strength 2d12!! 2d12!!: [8, 22!!] = 30 Strength d12+12 1d12+12: [3]+12 = 15
= 45 Damage
Extra Dice 1d6 1d6!!: [2] = 2

[Radecliffe]

Note: Using standard telekinetic trappings as allowed under the Master Psionic edge.

Base 1, Elemental Fury (+2), Exalted Manipulation (+2), Selective (+1), +2 to Psionics Roll (+4) = 10 ISP

Psionics 1d10!!+2: [2]+2 = 4
Wild Die 1d6!!+2: [2]+2 = 4

Spending Last $%^&$%#! Bennie

Psionics 1d10!!+2: [7]+2 = 9
Wild Die 1d6!!+2: [21!!]+2 = 23

This is a free action

Psionics 1d10!!: [9] = 9
Wild Die 1d6!!: [3] = 3

Radecliffe unleashes the full force of his psychic abilities in an attempt to hinder and harass the demonic creatures arrayed against them while at the same time maintaining his concentration in order to spare friends and allies from the brunt of the storm.

[Venatus Vinco]

A-maze-ing

Stephen's wards glow with supernatural powers driving back the demons. One of the hounds vanishings from sight while another swarm of demonic birds seems to vaporize. The rest fight against the power of the wards, maintaining a tenuous grip on this dimension. Above them the Nightingale (illusion) swoops toward Par, sensing he is a threat (Deadly Illusion: Roll Smarts -2 vs a 7). The second shadowy figure, still airborne swoops away deeper into the ruins disappearing into an old crumbling tower.

To be clear

The Nightingale (real) has disappeared into the ruins. The illusion remains fighting.

Radecliffe's commands the elemental forces to harry the demons arrayed against them. Winds whip, trees writhe and grab, and the earth shakes throwing them all a kilter. A gust of wind pushes the doppelganger aside temporarily disrupting the illusion - allowing Radecliffe to see it for what it really is. Smoke and mirrors.

Palach wades into the fray with his silver blades flashing, the demons - momentarily distracted by Stephen's magic - take the blows are with two of them fall to the group cut into vicious pieces.

Par summons a massive seraph to fight alongside the group but the target is not there, only its illusory self. Instead the Seraph send another demon back to its plane of damnation.

The Nightingale (illusion) is in the skies and out of reach of Steelbrok's sword so instead he too cuts down some of the swarms surrounding the group. From the other flank Jose is all tooth and claw as he gleefully shreds demons around him.

Seeing the onslaught two hounds move around the corner and wait for the group to come to them so they can pounce!

[Jose Kerske]

Queen of Diamonds
Smart 1d4 -2+3
1d4+1!!: [2]+1 = 3
WD 1d6
1d6!!: [2] = 2

Jose sees that most of the enemies close to him can be handled the two straight north are at a distance , I have speed on the light saber.
Jose Grabs the light saber in one hand and activates the speed component.
Spell d12 success and a raise Speed 12 running becomes a
free action,
1d12!!: [8] = 8
WD d6
1d6!!: [3] = 3

Jose body appears to somehow blur then disappears as he launches to the two north and doing some amazing parkour off walls and trees along the way. If anyone has ever scared a pet cat there jumping and speed is amazing.
Attacks
AP= Agility=12
Fighting 1d8+3 success and a raise
1d8+3!!: [7]+3 = 10

Wild Dice 1d6
WD 1d6!!: [9!!] = 9

Damage R Claw Str+2d12
RC 2d12!!: [33!!, 2] = 35
Strength 1d12+12!!: [10]+12 = 22
= Damage
Extra Damage
1d6!!: [10!!] = 10
total damage 61

L Claw1d8+3: success
1d8+3!!: [4]+3 = 7

Wild Dice 1d6
WD 1d6!!: [2] = 2

Damage R Claw Str+2d12
RC Strength 2d12!!: [1, 8] = 9
Strength 1d12+12!!: [5]+12 = 17
= Damage 26

[Par]

Smarts 1d10!! or Wild 1d6!! with a -2 to highest: [2]+[2] = 4

Edit: Per GM, forgot Arcane protection

Par find himself under the demons gaze and is shaken trying to figure out how it got so far from his illusion. When the creature hits him he is knocked to the ground and injured.

Looking around he does the best to clear his head.

Unshake 1d10!! or 1d6!! with -1: [9]+[3] = 12

Coming to himself Par mentally command the Seriph to attack the demon now attacking himself. Looking for the other demons.

No rolls, the one attacking me is an illusion. Just cinematic statements for going on hold.

[steelbrok]

Steelbrok turns on the Hellhound to their left and advances, keeping Vlad

1st Strike in case it attacks first:
Fighting 1d6!!+3: [8!!]+3 = 11
Wild die 1d6!!+3: [11!!]+3 = 14
Assuming that's a raise damage would be:
1d12!!+1d8!!+1d8!!+1d6!!+2: [6]+[6]+[4]+[3]+2 = 21 MD, AP16, Reach2

Advances steadily on the Hellhound and

Fighting 1d6!!+3: [5]+3 = 8
Wild die 1d6!!+3: [2]+3 = 5
Damage 1d12!!+1d8!!+1d8!!+1d6!!+2: [8]+[2]+[1]+[2]+2 = 15 MD, AP16, Reach 2

[Palach]

With all immediate threats dispatched, Palach wastes no time following after the Nightingale, heading deeper into the ruin at a full break. "We go now. Faster." As he goes, he

Notice: 1d4!!+4: [2]+4 = 6
WD Notice: 1d6!!+4: [2]+4 = 6

, making full use of his "armor's" 360-degree awareness.

[Radecliffe]

Radecliffe points at the false Nightingale shouting, "That one is a fake! It is an illusion meant to distract us!" With no other enemies around Radecliffe follows after Palach at a discrete distance shifting his spear to his off hand and jerking a sawed off shotgun from his belt. Knowing its service is nearly complete anyway he releases the lone surviving elemental allowing it to return home.

[Venatus Vinco]

Nesting Dolls
Radecliffe points out the fake Nightingale as the others make quick work of the remaining hounds. Suddenly the snarl of tooth and claw vanishes and an eerie silence descends over the ruins. Demon birds circle silently above but don't engage. Instead a deep "caw" echos through the hallways. The Nightingale has its voice back and is calling to the group.

Into the Ruins

The Nightingale is hiding within the ruins. It's kind of like a funhouse that isn't fun as demons prowl the ruins and the Nightingale occasionally pops out, or sends an illusion to draw your attention. This is a Scheme Pyramid, let me know if you need the rules, to move through.

Everyone picks a card and describes the opposition (more demons, crumbling walls, darkness, etc. and the suit determines the skill you roll. Each face card is an encounter with the Nightingale, maybe an Illusion (smarts), or an Intimidation (spirit), or some other way it tries to mess with you as you advance to its nest.
Spades Agility skill
Hearts Spirit skill
Diamonds Smarts Skill
Clubs Complication, any skill but at -2

[Stoic]

Occult 1d10!!-2 1d6!!-2: [2]-2+[10!!]-2 = 8

[Jose Kerske]

Diamonds Smarts Skill d10

OOC Comments

1d10
1d10!!: [7] = 7
WC d6

1d6!!: [4] = 4

spending a benny elan+2
1d10
1d10+2!!: [1]+2 = 3
WC d6
1d6
1d6!!: [3] = 3

spending a benny elan+2,+1 for trait roll =8
1d10
1d10!!: [5] = 5
WC d6
1d6
1d6!!: [3] = 3

spending a benny elan+2,+1 for trait roll 10+3=13
1d10
1d10+2!!: [4]+2 = 6
WC d6
1d6
1d6!!: [10!!] = 10
(finally made a decent roll) Going after one, he hopes that he will over come him seems to be struggling at first . he uses his psi power to use Arcane Protection for all 1+8 ISP -4 for spell caster

[steelbrok]

All around their seem to be things suddenly happening. If the Steel Soldier had any hairs on the back of his neck, he was pretty sure they'd be standing tall. Some sort of horrific giant bird

Notice 1d6!!+4: [4]+4 = 8
Wild die 1d6!!+4: [21!!]+4 = 25

to swoop down on him. However the cerebral cyborg's sensors easily see that this is some sort of illusion (I mean, seriously. no microwave radar reflection!?)

[Par]

As Par begins looking for the real Nightingale he moves out with the team. As he moves a powerful feeling of isolation and being watched begins to come over him. Each time he looks and sees another team members they are in cloudy and difficult to see, as if not really here with him. The earth and walls around him distorting and leaving him disoriented.

As Par tries to clear his head it is all he can do to recenter himself falling into a sort of walking meditation he thinks his relationship to the earth, to the sky, to the dimensions around him. He is one with the universe and belongs in this creation. It is these abominations that do not belong.

Q of Hearts Faith 1d10!! or Wild 1d6!!: [3]+[5] = 8

[Radecliffe]

Persuasion 1d4!!: [1] = 1
Wild Die 1d6!!: [3] = 3

Spending a group bennie

Persuasion 1d4!!: [1] = 1
Wild Die 1d6!!: [2] = 2

Spending a second group bennie

Persuasion 1d4!!: [2] = 2
Wild Die 1d6!!: [4] = 4

Radecliffe somehow manages to fast talk his way past a lesser demon mostly by spouting enough nonsensical arguments it left the creature utterly confounded just long enough for Radecliffe to make a getaway. It takes Radecliffe several minutes but he is eventually confident he has given the creature the slip. Unfortunately he just can't shake the feeling he used up way to much luck in the encounter which will probably come back to bite him in the butt before this is all over.

[Palach]

9 Spades:

Palach has no fear of the dark, nor trepidation about moving through the ruins. His "armor's" sensor suite is borderline prescient. He even has forewarning of the pit trap dug out immediately around a blind corner. With a

Athletics: 1d6!!: [4] = 4
WD Athletics: 1d6!!: [1] = 1

and light feet, Palach leaps to the safe side and calls back to his compatriots. "Is hole here. Jump over." He points a flashlight beacon at the cleverly hidden trap, ensuring those behind him notice before moving forward.