The group battled Niha (pic below) and it was a tuff battle as she seemed to be quite an exceptional individual in strength, ability and power. So much so that the group retreated to Montravail to escape her devastating attacks. Luckily, you made it, but she also entered! Is this to hunt you, find you, spy on you or irritate you? Either way, this female human paladin named Niha Zozuft showed what strength one individual can have.
Most importantly the group was able to recognize that she wields the sword from the Borderlands named BASTION, the weapon which swore revenge against Taladel. Its vengeance has been unleashed in a furious way ironically controlling a female paladin of Iomadae!
This upcoming week we start in Montravail but is this really a safe haven with Niha Zozuft and Bastion entering as well. Let us not forget the Anuaroch Desert and their sands calling to Sindrax. Is the group heading there next?
Really fun game and I know Sean would have loved it. We will miss you next week Pete!
From the pic you can see why Niha's AC was so high with that armor! She's a BEAST and a paladin of Iomadae so it seems! If her face is not the look of a serious, kick-ass, no nonsense paladin of conviction (good or evil) I don't know what would be!
DM Speaks:
I think tomorrow is going to be a very exciting game with some unexpected surprises. You have some stuff before you right now with Niha Zozuft but she might be the least of your worries!
However, you deal with Niha you still have to travel to the Anuaroch Desert. How are you getting there? Walking there would take FOREVER and you'd still have to get off the island. Boat travel is a possibility, you teleporting to a location closer would work, someone else teleporting you to the exact location would work as well but for a cost. Anyone have tree stride or similar spells for quick travel?
Takamaru speaks:
We will not be able to beat her, she is too powerful with that sword in her possession
She nearly killed me in 2 strikes, was only by luck granted me by Hachiman that I survive
i will tell you that I could sense hesitation on her part. She could have easily take a 3rd strike upon me but she chose not too
She seemed in conflict
Our enemy is this sword , not itโs wielder
We need to plan to either disarm her , grabble her, or destroy weapon (sunder)
All of these options require us to get close to her. if we had sone way to bypass her resistance to magic to incapacitate her
We can then get weapon from her
As was suggested , perhaps church can aid in some way as she is paladin or Iomadae
DM Speaks:
AS PLAYERS: How worried or concerned are you to battle Niha Zozuft with worry of defeat or death? Me, NOT SO MUCH ๐.
I have no idea what the above emoji really represents, but I posted it because it reflects what I feel with my above comment of "me, not so much"! Was my post true feeling or sarcasm?
We are in for some great gaming and battles ahead!
The sun starting to rise in the barren Anuaroch Desert!
DM Speaks:
This is a fun, interesting and precarious situation. On the one hand Niha Zozuft is out to kill Taladel. Of course, the group will not allow this to happen. However, you know she is more than likely good, and her compulsion is being drawn from Bastion the evil longsword. Is killing a paladin not under their own control the wrong thing? Could it be considered evil? Just some thoughts to consider.
Kylor Speaks- I feel that the Anuaroch Desert will need to wait until we handle this current situation. I am unsure how long we can delay going to the Anuaroch Desert. I just do not feel it is good to do so with this situation with the paladin and sword wanting to take out Taladel.
Kylor Speaks
Again this sword has set it sights upon Talpade. It is almost tongue in cheek paradoxical that the sword chose a female paladin of Iomadae to carry out it revenge. I am concerned because we do not know if she is indeed dominated or if she has chosen this course of action of her own free will. Given the last interaction with the sword, all were given a choice. IF that is the case, I am unsure if the plan of separating the sword from this Niha Zozuft will be effective. I feel the fact that we do not know if this is indeed compulsion magic, domination, a curse or just the choice of Niha Zozuft to work with the sword Bastion to enact its revenge.
Perhaps some research would be prudent and we need some guidance. Library (the sword), Church of Iomadae, Bards (tales of the sword).
I agree that we are a group and what affects one of us affects us all. Since we chosen to be a group we have been able to achieve much together and this will be no different. However, this is not something that we should rush into blindly. We are at a major city, let us use this to our advantage.
Taladel speaks:
Perhaps I can try to reach her through the influence of her being of the same Goddess as me. I have to try.
But as physically acting on her, you can see, she is VERY POWERFUL. Perhaps if we use our numbers to an advantage and all try and grapple her, we can get the sword away and try to break the hold it has on her....
Taladel, the answer to your question. Is yes. You have the aid of my crossbow, in this matter with the paladin. And this goes for anyone else. We have all been traveling for quite a while now. And I feel we have done well, working as a unit. And if this continues, there much more that we can accomplish. This situation is definitely unquie. And if we can just get the sword away from her. The compulsion magic, on her. Should end. I do believe, with her being a paladin, that she does not control these actions against us. I understand, you not wanting to kill her. We can try and get unconscious from battle and then remove the sword. We can try and grapple her and rip the sword from her hand. And we can even sever her, that wields the sword. And that would work aswell.
Taladel speaks:
I am most disconcerted that a mighty Paladin of Iomedae has been befallen and bewitched by this terrible weapon. She must have chosen totally with it before being dominated? We (and this includes the Abbas Hal group) were all given a choice to accept the sword. And she must have accepted.
This requires my immediate attention. I must free a fellow Paladin of my beloved Goddess of this servitude. And then the weapon should be given to Iomedae in sacrifice.
Sindrax, I am relieved your parents are safe, and can only hope I have the groups collaboration here. But if not I understand...I will do what I must.
Now, with Niha Zozuft a concern you are heading to the Anuaroch Desert to meet Sindrax's calling! Does this concern you? Too many concerns it seems!