Perilous Plunder #2 - Shellfire (Patreon)

"There be many things," the dwarf mused, fiddling with a ring on his heavy hand, "That I did during those days that I weren't proud of. But there's one that still sticks in my mind."

He unfolded another piece of paper, revealing a wicked looking weapon. The heavy firearm was marked with symbols and runes, all clearly painstakingly researched, and its barrel featured the maw of a fiend capping it off. Its stock twisted like a tumult of souls swirling together and crystals, marked as magical sources, were arrayed throughout its design. Many of the unholy symbols that had previously marked the page had been scratched out or otherwise defiled as though their illustrator had been worried of their power even on a page.

"The Hellwaker. Wielded by Bannith Vesser. When the lad came to me, he carried much of the same fury I did. A hatred for our foes and a righteous desire to see them hurt. Just as they had hurt us."

With a deep sigh through his blunt nose, the forgemaster paused to run a calloused hand through his thick, black hair. He stared down at his blueprint, something like disgust rising in his eyes. "The boy, Bannith, was a tieflin'. But he had been accepted by the human side of his family. Raised in love and care. When the war broke out, he proudly defended them and his homeland. But he wasn't there when the invaders descended on his farm. Killed every last one of his kin."

"He had nothin' left. Nothin' but rage. I figured that we could channel that and use the side of the family that had never given him nothin' but strife. And so I made the Hellwaker. It could summon fiends, use them in the war for the good of the people. But I never expected. . . I never thought the fiends would get to him. Would turn him towards their own purposes. But they did, and now he's out there with my weapon, serving the interests of Hell."

"I. . . I don't know if Bannith can be saved. But at the very least, we can step him from hurtin' others."

CATHEDRAL MODERATE 11

Bannith has been commanded to desecrate a cathedral dedicated to a deity that has been interfering with the plans of Hell. This encounter takes place in Pathfinder Flip-Mat Classics: Cathedral, likely in the bloodied side presuming that the heroes don't beat Bannith to the place. He has taken the priesthood hostage and is psyching himself up to execute them. The pews here can provide cover and moving over them is difficult terrain though players can likely Leap or otherwise bound over them.

Creatures: Bannith Vesser is positioned near the pulpit while the Jess Vesser, the pale stranger, lounges against a nearby pillar. The hamatula charged with aiding and watching over Bannith sits in one of the pews closest to Bannith, mocking and urging him onward. When a fight breaks out, Bannith opens by activating the hellwaker's Give Them Hell to likely summon a brimorak or vordine. He has this summoned creature aid the hamatula in melee combat, moving to flank foes and the like while the Vesser siblings use the the pews and pillars as cover to fire at foes from afar. Bannith will further use his Rain of Hellfire and Phalanx Buster to keep foes from closing in on him and his sister. Twisted as Bannith has become, he will still protect his sister and if the heroes manage to pin down his sister, they can force him to surrender the hellwaker - though this made lead to other issues as the fiends allied with Bannith take issues with that choice.

JESS VESSER, PALE STRANGER // CREATURE 10

Book of the Dead pg. 140

Initiative Perception +19

HAMATULA // CREATURE 11

Monster Core 2 pg. 74

Initiative Perception +24

BANNITH VESSER // CREATURE 12

Perilous Plunder #2

Initiative Perception +19

Let me know what you think, and have a terrific, treasure-filled Tuesday!