S1 E14: The Paladin of Camazotl

General Summary

The party continues its skirmishing tactics against the rising threat of the Bat Deity/Demon called Camazotl, Shargaas, and other names by other denizens of the Caves of Chaos. After dispatching three cultist Martial Adepts, the group decides to try to get a long rest in, despite the relative danger inside the temple. They choose the chapel room which they have thoroughly searched already and know to be both easily defended and relatively close to the action. Rongo feels the pull of the profaned vessels, but Xi Shi and the others are able to explain that the temptation is a curse and merely a distraction from their goal, to destroy Naphan and if possible, whatever it is of Camaazotl that has already come into Tergaith, and to prevent any more incursion in the future. 
Lorfel's expanding divination knowledge has given him the ability to clairvoyantly spy on the group's enemies, which he uses to great effect to preview the Temple's altar room where voices have been heard intermittently, in between the screams and squeals of pigs. This clairvoyance brings them good news, and bad news.
The bad news is that there appears to be a big, beefy, plate-mail-armored foe in the room, clad head to toe in bat-themed armor and armed with a wicked-looking sword. The good news, however, is that this dark paladin is arguing, loudly, with Naphan Agrippa. The pastor is being berated for his repeated incompetence and failure to stop the group, of which Lorfel is a member. He overhears the paladin asking why they don't attack now, and Naphan replying that it's best to leave them in there with the vessels and that perhaps one might be turned, leading Xi Shi and Mae to speculate that these profaned sacred cups, bowl and ewer are cursed with a certain temptation not simply as a curse on its own, but that in drinking from them or eating food out of them, a person would be brainwashed into the cult's way of thinking. Such things are known in the Fey realms, and it would explain a lot about how they managed to collect so many henchmen; Of course, selling some nebulous concept about a Voiceless God is also easier than signing normal good people up to worship a bat demon. In any event, they find out that their presence is known, but work together to turn this to their advantage as well.
In scouting the room Lorfel finds that it is not heavily guarded; the paladin probably assumes he's more than a match for any threat, and besides him and Naphan there is only one giant bat, hanging drowsily from the ceiling seeing as it's mid-day, when it would normally be asleep. They approach it as a group and are able to eliminate it before it can even do so much as squeak a warning.
The fight commences with Blizzard charging in with his attack and the dark paladin racing up to meet him; Blizzard's axe cuts into the armor of the Paladin of Camazotl but it sends out a fearful wave with its Dread Aspect, and Blizzard falters then. While on the one hand, he find himself powerless to move any closer, the paladin doesn't retreat, and instead Blizzard becomes a focal point for many attacks which, despite his hesitation, never land. Even though Blizzard is under the effects of a fright he can barely believe he feels, he had the presence of mind to cast a spiritual weapon attack which goes on to winnow the paladin, acting on its own volition. The Paladin is also entangled and in a red rage at a shadow-snake invoked by Xi Shi's Yuan-ti magic; The occupation of the paladin in turn frees the others to also attack and to turn their attention against Naphan, who breaks ranks almost immediately, running for a door in the back of the room. In the meantime Mae brought forth a glimmering magical moonbeam on their opponents, though the effect of the moonlight on the altar is unexpected; the portal on the dais in front of the altar begins to glow softly, as if ready for something to come in, or to go out.
Lorfel has forseen a path to success, and is able to spring his trap through judicious use of his divination magic, not only in casting Hold Person but doing so at the perfect time to prevent the targets - first Naphan, then the paladin - from breaking the hold. Once pinned down in such a way, the defeat of the paladin and evil priest is only a matter of time against so many skilled opponents, with Mae in dire wolf form fighting ferociously and also receiving some hits from the paladin, but not enough to make her revert to her true shape. Rongo's blade bites in, and the finishing attack to each is delivered by Keebler, who has an enormous advantage against pinned opponents and delivers devastating attacks with his psionic blades. The Paladin is destroyed and disincorporates in a puff of abyssal popcorn, and Naphan drops dead a few feet short of the doorway he pursued. Of the paladin nothing remains but the armor and his longsword, which is ornately carved but not enchanted with any magic; even as mundane items Keebler knows they'll fetch a small fortune, probably three thousand or more in gold, a price steep enough that there may not be anyone back at the Keep who's both wealthy and motivated enough to buy it. Naphan is dressed in magical gear, with a magical shield and armor and a magical mace he didn't even swing at anyone. Other than 16 silver in spending money, his pockets are filled mostly with receipts and IOUs, and collections letters from Raven's Rock Keep as well as the three nearest towns - Voyen, Duskriver and Bellfall.

Rewards Granted

• +1 Shield (adds 3 to AC)
• +1 Chain Mail (Heavy Armor, Min Str 13, Disad on stealth checks; AC 17)
• +1 Mace (+1 to attack rolls, 1D6+1 Bludgeoning)

XP

1655

Missions/Quests Completed

• "The Last Book Signing"
• "Blackguard Paladin Fight"

Report Date

05 Jul 2022

Primary Location

The Caves of Chaos

Secondary Location

The Borderland Marches