Paladin of Astaroth(Porne)

[Sallin_Kari]

Their eyes follow you as you approach. So much for stealth. Though as you begin to climb, they grab stone and begin throwing them at you. Luckily their aim isn't very good, though as you get closer to the top their accuracy will only increase.

[porne]

Oh good, they're going to try and brain me with a rock. Maybe I could return the favor and throw things back. I flex my shoulders, feeling the amount of muscle I could put behind a solid pitch. I don't necessarily need to kill, or even maim them, but I need to be able to get them where I can put a hammer to them.

I take a few steps back and pitch a fist sized stone with my full strength at one of them.

[Sallin_Kari]

Roll 19
The rock flies true, smacking one of them right in the gut, knocking it off balance causing it to slip down the slope. It catches itself though, but it slipped down about half way.

[porne]

I have my first prey it looks like. If he's low enough, I make a leap and try to get in a good smack with my war hammer. If not, I return to throwing rocks to try and dislodge him to where I can get to him.

[Sallin_Kari]

Roll 6
Unfortunately for you the creature isn't low enough to reach with a jump, though not by too much. Still you follow up throw is less effective then you hoped, and the umber hulk remained stuck in place, its thick back deflecting any rock you manage to hit it with. As you decide to do something else you notice the other lifeforce begins moving, and you spot a few tendrils over the ridge, followed by a large sphere, dominated by a single large eye. It glares at you, it's tendrils turning to face you, all revealing they end in eyes as well.

[porne]

Shit. Is that... yes, it looks a great deal like one of those eye monsters. A watcher? A looker? No, a beholder. That's right. What was it, each eye has a different spell or element or something?
I begin to fall back, but hesitate, before deciding that maybe sticking near the cover might be a better idea and hug up against the small hill.

[Can you do a massive swarm of darkness I can see through?] I ask, beginning to panic a bit. How much do I actually remember about the monster besides its name?

[Sallin_Kari]

The beholder watches you move to cover, but does little to stop you. It certainly doesn't float over the edge to engage you. Luckily too, the umber hulks aren't throwing rocks at you at the moment either.
[What lights do you think are in this cave? You can see in darkness just fine... as can they.] Astaroth points out. [Now, you can cast shadow magic, what you used to restrain the wolves, but it isn't exactly suited for blinding creatures that can see in the dark.]
Knowledge roll 14
You know they are intelligent and, though very hostile to humans typically, there are cases where they have made deals for their own benefit. Generally their word is reliable, though one must be careful of the words actually given as, much like the proverbial genie, will exploit any loop holes or vagaries to their benefit. As for their spells, you recall that their main eye can negate magic, and their tendrils can have a variety of spells, though typically are the ability to sedate creatures, inflict wounds, kill, turn them to stone, turn things to dust, move objects, slow, and cause fear. Luckily you're pretty sure that you are highly resistant if not immune to the nastier of those abilities.

[porne]

[Ah... I did not realize that. How much of these abilities will I lose if the antimagic ray hits me?] Now I'm more worried as I realize that I'm still used to thinking like a human and not realizing that I don't know quite how much of my new abilities are actively magical in nature. But the fact that my resistance will be active any time the creature attempts to cast a spell on me is likely to be my saving grace. The question becomes after that if I will lose my strength beyond what I had as a human...

"Parley?" I shout to the creature, [Astaroth, I need a brief peace agreement between us, is there some kind of standardized peace agreement I can demand?]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Are you shooting for weird tentacle sex as well?

[Sallin_Kari]

[Your shadow, fire, and charm spells are susceptible to anti-magic, at least for now. Once you fully awaken, mere anti-magic will not be enough to contain your powers,] She informs you.

It's eye stalks wiggle at your comment as it's main eye shifts slightly. [No, certainly not with these type of creatures. Any peace agreement will have to be made from scratch.] It's toothy maw opens, speaking an alien language that you yet understand, "Perhaps... What does this creature that wears human skin offer?"

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Not unless you want it. It's just beholders are one of those really interesting monsters that doesn't ever seem to be used enough, so I thought I'd throw it in for spice, not sex.

[porne]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

I'm fine with it, but it seems rather rare for something like a beholder to be interested in it, well outside of YAFGC. Not that a last ditch defense by Astaroth of making the monsters lusts surge is out of the question. Up to you though.

And to confirm, Scarletts enhanced strength is not magic dependent, it's intrinsic to her body now?

I take another look with my new life sensing ability, mostly to see if there are any other life forms up there and look for anything that might be more dangerous. "I can keep the other humans out so you won't have to waste your laborers on that task." I offer, the only thing I can really think of right now. "A powerful creature like yourself is likely too busy to be worried about every little invader."

[Sallin_Kari]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

True... but just as Astaroth can shape the human body and desires... so can it shape the body and desires of monsters.

Yes, that is correct.

You realize that your magic sensing ability is suppressed as you speak, though from what you last recall, everything in range should be right up that cliff side. "Little consequence. Annoying yes, but not distracting. But what would this creature want in return?"

[porne]

It must be using its anti-magic on me if I can't sense it. [Do you know if the strange life form we were sensing is the Beholder or something else?] I ask Astaroth hoping she'll know. Next thing I buy is going to be a belt of throwing knives, and I'll practice with them for hours. As is, the only tactic I can think of that might work is to try and charge it and hope it drops the anti-magic field for an attack so I can turn loose my hellfire on it.

"Are you building a nest, or is there something you are searching for? Do note, this is not an exchange of information, merely a clarification of terms. I only ask so that I may know the approximate time span or events that would trigger an end to our deal so I can estimate value." I stall a bit, hoping to figure out where I can take this.

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

I'm not sure where this encounter is going. I've been stalling hoping I can figure something out, but I haven't. Chances are, I'm just going to have her act if I can't figure out where to go from here.

[Sallin_Kari]

[It would be consistent,] Astaroth reminds you, [Just before the beholder showed up it moved towards us... And it is alive so it should be detected by it.]

"Yes... Nest. Elder Orbs not like new monsters... Threaten domains... Cast us out. Gather minions and came here. Shallow. Poor. But sustainable," It muses, before repeating, "Duration reliant on conditions. What does this creature want?"

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You have three main options here. Negotiate a deal, subdue and enslave them, or slaughter them. I'm leaving it open for you to think of a method, though if you are running into issues, I can offer you some hints.

[porne]

"I want some of the ores and things. Also, anyone you might have captured. I will take them away. Is there anything more I can offer you?"

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Based on our conversations, I am assuming that a basic trade deal with the Beholder is viable, and a continuous one at that so it might be possible to trade fresh meat or whatever for raw ore. Unless it's after some kinky tentacle sex or something.

[Sallin_Kari]

"Foodstuff useful. Help grow minion's numbers. Trade for useless ore. Intruders serve decoration. If want, give replacement. Ugly anyways," It states.

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Yeah pretty much.

Again... it won't really be interested in sex, though you could bring them into Astaroth's cult though... A potential clause in the contract if you want. That would certainly fix that.

[porne]

"I will see what can be traded. But, we have an accord? Peace paid with peace, violence with violence. Trading is allowed." I state the very basic terms before I step out from behind the wall to show that I am being honest. I would never have thought to 'trade' with a monster like this, but my time with Astaroth living in my head is making me re-examine many things.

[Sallin_Kari]

[I should point out that I'm not picky about the race of my followers. If you convert them, I can ensure they stay in line,] Astaroth adds.

"Acceptable. We not interfere with this creature and this creature not interfere with us. We trade useless things for useful things," It nods, the main eye closing, and you notice that your life sense returns to you, "However... Minion was killed by this creature. Another crippled... Compensation owed."

[porne]

I quickly take a look around, just to make sure. If not, I can head out to see if I can find something like more wolves that would make good food. [Can you restore them to life?] I ask Astaroth. Making a show of bringing them back and restoring them one at a time should probably make it much easier to set up a circle of worshipers to feed Astaroth.

"...How do you think I should compensate you?" I ask him, not entirely sure how to go about repaying that. Perhaps Astaroth can enslave some mindless monster and I can hand it over.

[Sallin_Kari]

[It is a simple curse. While I can, it will cost you some power. However, others could also restore them.] She points out.

"Expansion slowed by loss. Something that accelerate expansion necessary. Understand such things take time. Will give time to find suitable compensation," It retorts.

[porne]

I have no idea how to take that. Some kind of food maybe? I'll have to think on it. As is, I've accomplished about as much as I can here. With the creature mostly satisfied, I'll definitely need to do some quick hunting in the area to see if I can't get started.