The Godkiller Part I: Meet the God Squad

Dara 22-24

Next holiday: Darkest Night, Dara 35th, the winter solstice.

The Party:

• Rig Bigny, Gnomish Beastmaster
  • Flit, the bat familiar
  • Clench, the Wardog War-Badger
  • Midnight, the Panther
  • Faufe Yitaw, Dogwere (Badgerwere?)
    • Rawf, Wardog familiar
    • Aroof, Wardog familiar
  • Llarm Paphyra, Elvish Polydoctorate
    • The Metal Man, construct
• Caranthir, Human Leader of Men
  • Rhea Trueheart, Elvish Nightblade
  • Lucille "Luce" Burwood, Fighter
  • Elenora Garrard, White Mage
• Gróin of Norston, Dwarven Sapper
  • Laurita Gomez, Priestess
  • Sal Rrentath, Thrassian Gladiator
• Quetgar, Thrassian Assassin
  • Zarc, Thrassian Gladiator
• Gottes Segen, Cleric
  • Betül Tirmizi, Ectomancer

After doing some shopping for magical items and selling Caranthir's ring of fire resistance, the party was accosted by a city guard. He asked that they accompany him - he needed their help. Or rather, the Guard needed their help; they were led to the entrance of the Street of the Gods.

The city guard quickly blended into the rank-and-file, surrounding a mob of mercenaries. A tall city guard with lieutenant stripes on his shoulders and a nervous look on his face stood in front of them; behind him stood a lithe fighter, a shaman with a serene smile, and a mage with a disfigured face. After clearing his throat several times, the guard spoke. "There's been a... murder."

A mercenary laughed, "Izzat all?" Everyone joined in the amusement, until the guard added, "On the Street of the Gods."

The crowd went silent. A few asked questions - "Who?" "Where?" "Has a Rule been broken?"

The guard sighed, and responded, "It was the Immortal Phoenix. As for how... we don't know. That's why we need help. The gods are anxious; if we can't get this cleared up, there's going to be a riot. Or worse, a war."

A few of the mercenaries quietly slipped away; it seems they did not want to hunt a god-killer. Some make excuses, others just leave, until it was only the party remaining. The guard looks at you hopefully. "We'll pay you 5,000 gold each if you can find the killer."

The party agreed, and began investigating. The Immortal Phoenix, they found, was killed near midnight; he was in his study, and was stabbed inexpertly. His wife didn't hear anything. Instead of resurrecting at midnight, he remained stone dead.

They introduced themselves to the three members of the God Squad: Rasmus, the skinscribe, Resting Cougar, the shaman; and Aaron Flynn, the fighter.

The next night, his wife went to visit Auntie, never to be seen again; additionally, the Skincrawler was murdered. Its minions went on a rampage, but were quickly killed. They investigated the murder; the Skincrawler was killed with a short sword, that somehow overcame his rapid regeneration (the creature moved by breaking its own bones and healing them). In the muck of its lair, they found an empty potion bottle - Inaudibility. Someone din't want to be heard, which makes sense, as the creature had no eyes to see.

Later, visiting a holy tavern, Flynn showed them the power granted to each of the God Squad. Each has a tattoo, woven with spells; concentrating for a round can summon a crystal shard, like diamond. Activating it creates a 30 foot cube of Dispel Magic within 60 feet, that additionally deactivates magical items and drains spell levels for the rest of the day. Releasing the knife causes it to vanish. Additionally, the keen eyes of Gróin matched the description of one of the scales with the shining shard; perhaps it was the flash the ranger saw in her vision?

They learned a bit about Resting Cougar, too; she used to be a socialite, part of high society. She was chosen to be a shaman, and left to learn the old ways with her mentor. When her teacher died, she became the tribe's shaman - though members of her tribe are few. She has few friends, now, as her mentor is gone, and her society friends have abandoned her.

After speaking with some of the denizens of the Street, Caranthir noticed Flynn moving furtively away; he send Rhea after her. Rhea trailed the man to an unassuming building; moments later, a woman emerged. Or rather, Flynn, in woman's clothing! Rhea trailed her suspect to the edge of the market district, where Flynn entered a shop, made a deal with the owner, and returned with some smallish items. Finally, Flynn returned home, but rather than entering the front door, entered through a secret entrance.

Rhea conveyed this to Caranthir, who gathered a few of the party and went to investigate. Flynn gave in easily; her name was, in fact, Erin, not Aaron. She had been dressing up as a man ever since she started working with her father, an actor. He had done well, but eventually, the acting guild had grown jealous, and used their power to ruin him. He died a broken man; Flynn, meanwhile, had hired a thief to steal every single piece of her father's equipment: props, clothing, and all. Each piece was fenced to the shopkeeper, who then sold it to Flynn at bargain prices.

On the 24th, the team was called to the Street - there was a riot. The members of the Fighting Horror and those of the Angelic Sword were openly fighting in the Street. Flynn activated the anti-magic knife, dispelling the magical protection of the Angelic Sword, and the regenerative powers of the Fighting Horror. Their minions' weapons and armor were reduced to mundane versions. As the minions battled, the two hulking monsters began fighting. The Angelic Sword, an awesome mechanical force, slammed into the Fighting Horror, spilling its black blood in the street, but the Horror's claws ripped at the Sword even more fiercely. Eventually, the Sword was dead; the party engaged the Horror, and in two short rounds, it too was dead, as were its minions.

In the lair of the Horror and the dojo of the Sword, the party found notes, each blaspheming the other, stirring up the war between the factions. Once again, it seemed two invincible gods were destroyed by the work of the mysterious killer.

Meanwhile, the following equipment was recovered from the minions: 4 sets of gray leather armor, 8 crooked knives, 4 swords, and 4 sets of plate armor. It's likely they are magical, but suppressed until tomorrow.

• XP from Treasure: None
• XP from Encounters:
  • 1 Skincrawler minion (65 XP)
  • 4 Angelic Sword Paladins (3 killed by others)(185 XP)
  • The Angelic Sword (killed by others)
  • 4 Fighting Horror acolytes (740 XP)
  • The Fighting Horror (8200 XP)
• Total XP: 9190
• XP per PC: 1021
• XP per Hench: 511

Note: Since Llarm's player can no longer make it to sessions, I've given her character to Rig as a henchman. With the addition of Betül Tirmizi, that makes a total of 10 henchmen, or 11 if the Metal Man is activated. Also, sorry for getting this out so late; taxes, construction, and insurance take up a lot of time!