Cubismo

Baal's broad grin didn't leave his monstrous face. He was starting to like these clever children. "You speak truth, the both of you. A few extras souls wouldn't make much of a difference in the grand scheme of but add a few more pawns to the Great Cressboard in Hell." Baal's admission made Mike relax if only a little in the demon's grip. His next words though made him try to cry out again. "You're armor is quite impressive. Yeeeessssss. I can smell the arcane power coming off of it. Having something of a similar make at my disposable would be fine addition to my war crest. Besides," He gave Mike a knowing sideways glance, "Even without direct ownership of their souls chances are the fools who summoned me will be damned to Hell for their stupidity anyway, especially this failure." He laughed at Mike's flailing before returning his focus to the three heroes before him. "I am willing to agree with your proposal. An item of your own design, a spear or a suit of armor for one of my champions would be preferable, for the freedom of four human souls. BUT! I'm going to need a bit more assurance that whatever item you create for me won't be somesort of dud or trap at my expense. I believe the most prudent way to do that would be with a contract as a your fey friend suggested. A long contract form made out of some type of hide immediately appeared in Salvo's hands along with a quill. "By signing that contract you will hereby promise that your weapon will serve to make a difference in the Great Wars in Hell. If it does not or proves faulty in anyway you forfeit your soul and that your companions to me. Rather fair if I do say so myself.

@Zeitgeist Blue OK. Salvo can get away with not having to sign that rather unfair contract by making an Intimidate check or either a Diplomacy, Arcane Lore or Civics check if she would prefer. Remember she has +10 to the roll. She can also just decide to try and blast Baal in the face. That's totally still an option. ?

Just as Astrid was finished pummeling one group of Dark Elves another decided that taking was a fine and healthy idea. "<Of bloody course!>" She cursed loudly in her native tongue. The suicidal arrogance of minions never failed to not astonish her but even this was getting annoying. "<I just destroyed the last sortie of you fools with my bare hands. You really think your going special compared to the last!>" She said in Old Norse hoping that they'd be able to understand her but when they didn't reply and charged at her Astrid cursed once again and readied Porrklubba with her recovered hand. When the dark elves finally closed the gap between them and made their attacks, Astrid had to burst out laughing. She wasn't as nimble as she was brawny but even she could avoid their uncoordinated strikes with ease, docking a swipe there and dodging a bite there. "<Freya be good. You poor sods need training something fierce.>" Her plan of attack was going to be beautifully simple in her mind: Hit them with Porrklubba until they stop. A tried and true strategy that usually worked but Astrid had sudden reservations he as he prepared to strike the dark elves. The Krampus was the true enemy. His underlings were small potatoes. She needed to get into the thick of it with the Big Bad and avenge that shameful miss that she made at the beginning. But Astrid hesitated. In the corner of her eye she saw Alex take a hit from one of the dark elves and for a split second wondered if he needed her help. His immediate words after reassured her that he had things well in hand. "<Alex I know you got things thing here I'm going after the Big Guy!>" And with that Astrid turned away from the dark elves and made a beeline towards the weakened Krampus with Porrklubba held high above her head while she screamed out a Aesir battle cry. When she finally got to the feet of the monster she stroke downwards with all her might.

Move Action: Moving towards Krampus on the ground. Standard Action: Using Porrklubba's Base Power of Strike and using All-Out Attack and Power Attack. Her Defense is now 5 and her Strike is DC 32 vs Toughness. Attack: 1d20+8 10 Gonna use a HP to roll again. Attack: 1d20+8 27 Much better.

Opposed Sense Motive: 1d20+20 31. Since Forever Boy has the higher bonus the Bluff is successful. All Interaction Rolls against Baal are now a +10. Still going to need a Diplomacy, Arcane Lore or Civics roll to clinch the deal.

GM Fright Night at Claremont 5 posts x 2 = 10 10 = 2PP Ms Thursday The Red Will Rise 1 post With Black Curtains 3 posts Giant Krampus 2: Krampus Campus 1 post 5 = 1PP GM point goes to Ms Thursday.

Fort Save: 1d20+10 26.

Salvo's Arcane Lore Questions

Y'all are ruthless. ?

If anyone wants to argue with Baal and convince him to let Mike and the rest keep their souls without a fight you're going to need to make a very high Diplomacy, Arcane Lore or Civics roll. If no one wants to bother with diplomacy or lawyering than we can just start combat. Also, for those curious, Baal is being completely earnest about his offer here.

Baal used one his spider legs to crass his human head's chin thoughtfully. The children's threats were tiresome but one of their number's assessment of the situation had merit that could not be overlooked or ignored. "Yes, yes, yes. You banished a few of my employees back to home office. A fine accomplishment, if only a minor one. Still, you heroes do bring up a good point." Abruptly, Baal used his massive tongue to wank a panicking Mike into the air and display high above his fellow Claremont students. "You see, my dear servant here is the true mastermind behind the events of this night. He was the one who contacted me through his magics and concocted a plot to grant me entrance into this realm while at the same time damning the souls of friends in the process. Two of Baal's heads started to laugh and the sound of it shook the hellish cavern. "I do love to see young entrepreneurial warlocks try to make a bid for greatness. How could I possibly refuse him when he had such spunk? Betraying your friends and all your classmates in a scheme to make yourself all-powerful? He showed the signs of a great infernalist." Baal's human face turned to Mike than and have him a disappointed glare. "But alas. The proved himself a disappointment when he allowed one of his friends to escape. Resulting in you heroes learning of summoning and forcing me to exert power that needed to be conserved to possess the errant lad." Mike tried to make more excuses in his defense but Baal's tongue muffled his words and the Prince of Hell ignored him. "Though it pains me to say it, you are right, children. This school and the city beyond is filled with beings that I would prefer not to contend while I'm in my weakened state. So I offer you this dear children. I will release the two remaining victims of dear Michael's scheme and the boy himself to you while I shall promptly return to Hell." Baal's calm and playful voice dropped them and turned deeper and all three sets of his eyes stared down at the Claremont students then. "The boys will be yours to do with as you wish but their souls are still mine. The ritual they performed damned their souls to Hell and I. WILL. COLLECT THEM." But just as quickly as it had changed Baal's tone returned to be being diplomatic. "But I am a patient being. What are a few decades of life when I shall own them for eternity. The boys will be allowed to life their mundane human lives with no memory of this night in exchange for me retaining direct ownership of their souls at the moment of their deaths." Mike had started to cry now but Baal kept on ignoring his whimpering and even started to smile to the other students. It revealed the several rows of sharp teeth in his cat and human heads mouths. "Now. What say you children? Why should we battle over the souls of three foul youths and one traitor when I have provided such a peaceful solution to our all problems?"

None

Opposed Sense Motive vs DC 26 Intimidate: 36. Alas, another Failed Intimidate. I'll post Baal's response (and counter offer) later today.

Astrid's piqued up at the mention of Freedom Hall. She hadn't visited the Freedom League's headquarters yet and was curious about what kind "behind the scenes" stuff she might see while there. The thought that her would probably be thrilled to visit it too was an added bonus that made Astrid smile to herself. Leroy voice brought her out her daydreaming. "Forgiveness granted," she said coyly before looking at the window Dio had just flown out of. She pointed a finger at the window knowingly. "Sooooooooo... You want to talk about what that just was? Or is that personal stuff that you want to deal with by yourself?" Astrid was no stranger to drama between friends mostly because she was usually the one to cause it in the first place. Still, she wanted to be someone people could confided in even if settling drama wasn't her strong suite as opposed to causing it.

Opposed Sense Motive vs DC 21 Intimidate: 38. The Intimidate is a Fail. ? @Azuth65 Do you wanna have a go?

Opposed Sense Motive vs DC 35 Bluff: 22. The Bluff is a Success! Baal is definitely questioning why he's been bothering with this deal, which in game terms translates into everyone getting a +5 to all their Interaction Checks against him from here on out. If anyone wants to follow up RocketLord's Bluff with an Intimidate, Diplomacy, Bluff or check than go right ahead.

Need everyone to give me immediate Fortitude roll on account of Baal being such a real ugly mofo. If you can beat a DC 20 you're fine! If not, you're only sickened no matter how much you fail it.

Salvo lead the charge through the burning, ethereal door, her two compatriots and fellow demonslayers following her way. Though hastily cast, the portal held together and allowed the trio to transcend the mundane limitations of normal spatial travel. It was by no means an easy voyage, though. The space between spaces that served as the spell's "road" from their current location to Baal's lair was a surreal dimension of multi-colored flames that encircled them like blazing kaleidoscope as they made their way. Salvo was right. The flames weren't dangerous. They weren't hot, nor did they even have a scent. They just were. Half real embers made of empyreal and arcane energies that defined notions of science and reality. It was a pretty sight. Breathtaking really, but it all came to an end when the heroes finally made it to the end of the road and out the other side of the portal. Back in "true reality," the first thing that all three Claremont students immediately felt was the drastic return of the frothing heat they had experienced back in the tunnels, only this time it was like being right beside a furnace instead of enduring an especially hot summer day. That sensation was nothing to what they saw next, though. They had materialized right in the middle of an enormous cavern that was spatially impossible for Claremont's Underbelly to possess. The place was a patchwork realm that resembled a rusty boiler room, the insides of a human stomach, and a molten hellscape all it once. To even look at it was hard for the mind to fathom but it was nothing compared to the monstrosity that occupied most of it. Baal hadn't bothered to take a more humanoid form, instead manifesting in his full demonic glory. He was a massive beast, with three enlarged inhuman heads that each bore a six-pointed crown of their heads. Rather than having a torso, those three heads were supported by nine hairy spider legs that couldn't possibly carry his bulbous heads yet somehow did anyway. Physics be damned. The Prince of Hell brought all three pairs of eyes to the newly arrived Claremonts. Each head gave one of them a respectful nod in welcoming recognition of their presence. Before any one of them could make a greeting or threat to the heroes a slim figure moved out of the cavern's shadows and made his presence known. It was Mike Carpenter, and the look of his face was one of incredulous surprise. "H-How... how the Hell did you guys get here so fast?! It was supposed to take you at least an hour to get here at best." He looked towards his massive three-headed master and tried his best to muster an explanation. "Lord Baal, I swear I did my best to distract them. They were literally in the middle of nowhere. I totally fooled them and everything! It doesn't make any-" Baal's toad head cut off Mike excuses with a flick of its massive tongue which wiped around Mike's mouth. "Yes, yes. I'm sure you did you're best to hamstring your classmates. I am o so proud of your diabolical efforts, Dear Michael. They've all been so inspired and warm my ancient heart. Rolling all his eyes and sighing deeply, Baal returned his attention to his three new guests while Mike sheepishly accepted the disgusting gag. "Welcome, welcome, dear children! I must say you've made this routine midnight business acquisition a lot more entertaining than I had expected. My dearest thanks. Now, I'm sure you have concerns that you wish to discuss with me. Don't be shy in expressing them. I'm all ears!

All of that checks out to me, ZB. Salvo can Teleport everyone right to Baal. And since everyone else seems on-board with that plan I'm gonna make a IC post in a tick.

Mike couldn't believe his luck. They trusted him again! For a second he actually thought one of them would call him out but they instead still gave him the benefit of the doubt. Well, most of them did anyway. Pan though had a couple questions that made Mike nervous. "That's the thing, Pan. The Underbelly is changing slowly. Slow enough that the tunnels I just went through shouldn't have twisted entirely to be entirely unrecognizable. Plus... I can still kind of sense, Baal. It's faint, but there's still that connection there in my head. It creepies me the Hell out but I might as well use it to make things right." Talking about Baal wasn't going to be as easy, Mike knew. He had to pick his words carefully. Saying the wrong thing after all could possibly ruin his chances for redemption after all. "Sam might have told you all this already but Baal is one of the top-dogs in Hell. I'm talking sitting on the left of the Guy Down Stairs level of power and authority here. As for his goals, well, its like I said, he wants to transform the entire school into his domain on off. Sounds to me like he wants to invade and plans on planning Claremont as a staging point." Mike scratched his head. "That's my theory anyway. How about we ask him if my theory is right after we kick his ass, huh? We're running out of time!" And with that Mike turned his feet and started running down the tunnels again. He was reasonably confident that the other three students would follow him and so didn't turn his back. When he heard three sets of feet following him, he smiled. The group ran the tunnels for nearly some time, going down corridors that more and more started to like chthonic and unnatural. Every time they reached a fork on the path, Mike would reassure the heroes up and down that this was the right way and that they would reach Baal soon. By the fifth time he gave them that excuse it was clear that their patience and faith had worn thin. That's when Mike suddenly stopped at and looked at his watch. About half an hour had passed. He wished he had wasted more of their time but half an hour would have to suffice. He looked back at his rescuers with a smug grin of his face. "Hate to break it to you guys but you've conned. The map was never wrong. Sure, the tunnels have been transformed but the map itself still leads right to Baal," Mike said proudly before pointing a finger to himself. "That's why Master Baal needed me to distract you idiots long enough for him to regain more of his power. Couldn't have you facing him while he was still recovering from the summoning now could we. Speaking of the ritual. Sam got it wrong. He and rest of my team were idiots, sure, but even they couldn't mess up a summoning spell that badly. I was the one who redirected the spell so that Baal could be summoned. Me! I was never possessed by him. I've been serving him for weeks just for this night!" Mike was screaming now, rather theatrically in fact. "Sure, Sam managed to get away with the book, but that's in the past. By lingering you all here I've made up for that failure!" He said trying his best to sound self-assured. "Anyways, it's too left for you morons now! You can't beat Baal and you'll be his eternal slaves if you try, while I'll become his greatest servant on Earth for all my efforts! The Infernal Prince of Claremont!" When Mike noticed that none of the trio seemed particularly impressed by his scene-chewing, he self-consciously tried to regain his composure by lowering his voice. "Well, see you chumps later. My Master awaits. Face him if you danger." And with that Mike snapped his fingers and was gone leaving all three heroes alone in the tunnel.

Things had gone from bad to worse since Astrid took up Porrklubba and started pursing Corinne's would-be kidnapper. Smoke had suddenly filled most of the gallery and Astrid could an explosion coming from somewhere through all the craziness around her. She wanted to turn around a deal with the smoke, whoever was making that noise, and help civilians get out of here in one piece. She wanted to deal with everything going wrong right now but she was only one person after and she had to believe that her friends would do what came naturally to help. Also, she was mad. Really, really mad, which made it difficult to focus on anything else but the kidnapping asshole that was going after. The asshole in question had managed to get a headstart on her but with Porrklubba letting her fly above the crowd of people, Astrid was able to finally catch and drop right in front of her as she was still trying to escape. "You have exactly one chance to hand her over nicely you jævel. If not I swear I'm going to-" Astrid was cut off before she could finish. The kidnapper tried to simply push past her but Astrid wasn't about to be accommodating. She stood her ground and swung with her right. Her opponent tried to catch the blow with her free hand but Astrid had the strength of an Asgardian and was to overpower. Caught off guard, the kidnapper opponent lost her grip on Corinne. Instinct and training told Astrid she should just keep going to town on her enemy, but a better part of her wasn't going to let Corinne hit the ground. She slammed the kidnapper out of the way and dove for Corinne and managed to catch her before she hit her head on the hard gallery floor.

Grapple Check: 37.

Mike thought he was doing pretty well. Sure, Nicole and Pan chewed him out but they at least were willing to give him a second chance and even the grimoire itself. The third member of the group wasn't as forgiving it seemed, having used her powers to take the tome right from his fingers. The teen sorcerer was piqued by the act, though he did his best to hid it. He had to play cool after all if he wanted to set things right. "You got me there," Mike admitted sheepishly. "We messed up major and for the most pathetic reasons possible. I get why you wouldn't trust me, like, at all after that. But I really want to help, guys. Honest." Mike scratched the back of his head trying to think of a way to make things right. "Look, you want to keep Sam's book safe and sound? Fine. That makes sense given the circumstances. In fact, since I'm kind of a weakling who got possessed and you guys are freaking demonslayers apparently, I think its best that it does stay with you. All I wanted to show you guys was the map Sam made. It's still in the grimoire, right? Well, if you plan on fighting Baal than you going to need to rely on me instead of that map." He turned and pointed at the dark tunnel he just came from. "Baal's presence on this plane has done something to the tunnels down here. They've become warped and twisted. I think he's trying to slowly transform the whole school to resemble his demesne in Hell, which is one giant labyrinth. Point is, the map is useless now but I remember the paths I took to make it this far. I can still guide you to Baal! Just trust me."

Everyone give me another Sense Motive check. If you can beat Mike's 23 Bluff than you know he's lying about the map. Since Gauss already called him out as untrustworthy, and his Bluff is kind of out there, everyone gets a +5 to their roll.

Got a 6 but I'm going to burn a Hero Point to get a 21 on my second try. Since she knows where the baddie (Ren?) is now she's going to try and get Corinne back as well. Move Action: Closing the distance between herself and Ren. Standard Action: All-Out Attack (+5 Attack -5 Defense) Melee Attack. 23. I believe that's a Hit. Is there still a grapple check or does Thursday just have Corinne now?