To aid him in this task, Darkar has gathered a group of adventurers:
Your Heroes
- Anaya (where two entries are given, the first is for wolf form, the second for elf)
HP: 54/54 or 26/26
Initiative: +2 or +1
Speed: 50' or 20' (medium encumbrance/armor)
AC: 16 (+2 Dex, +2 natural, +2 defense), -2 touch/-4 flat-footed or 18 (+1 Dex, +3 armor, +2 proficiency, +2 defense), -2 touch/-3 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 0 or 2 (+2 hide armor)
BAB: +4 (apply modifiers of +2 to melee or +2 to ranged attacks) or +4 (apply modifier of +1 to ranged attacks*)
Atk: bite +6 (1d6+2, x2 critical) or
¤ club +4 melee or +5 ranged* (1d6, x2 critical, 10' range increment)
¤ dagger +4 melee or +5 ranged* (1d4, 19-20/x2 critical, 10' range increment)
¤ light mace +4 melee (1d6, x2 critical)
¤ composite longbow +5 ranged* (1d6, x3 critical, 110' range increment)
* Add +1 to attack and damage rols for ranged attacks within 30 ft
Saves: Fort +8 or +4, Ref +4 or +3, Will +10 (add +4 vs. fey spell-like abilities)
Abilities: Str 14 or 10, Dex 14 or 13, Con 16 or 8, Int 12, Wis 17, Cha 14
Skills (-3 encumbrance penalty to movement based skills while in elf form): Craft (bowmaking) +8, Diplomacy +3, Handle Animal +9*, Heal +11, Hide +3 or -1, Knowledge (nature) +11, Listen +4 or +6, Perform (song) +3, Profession (herbalist) +9, Search +1 or +3, Spellcraft +2, Spot +4 or +6, Survival +11¹
* Add +4 to checks made with Screech, who may be handled as a free action and pushed as a move action.
¹ Add +2 in natural environments above ground and (in wolf form only) +4 for checks to track by scent
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Quick Draw, Still Spell
Languages: Common, Druidic, Elven, Goblin
Special: barred from using metal armor/shield, low-light vision, scent* (detect within 30 ft, pinpoint within 5 ft), spontaneous casting of summon nature's ally in place of prepared druid spells, trip* (free action with successful bite attack, does not provoke countertrip if unsuccessful), trackless step, wild empathy +8, wild shape (2/2, 6 hour duration, includes elf form), woodland stride
* Wolf form only
¨ - Cassius Gaia
HP: 37/37
Initiative: +3
AC: 17 (+3 Dex, +1 ring, +2 defense, +1 Dodge), -0 touch/-5 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 0
BAB: +4 (apply modifiers +7 to ranged attacks or attacks benefitting from Weapon Finesse)
Atk:
¤ dagger +7 (1d4, 19-20/x2 critical, 10' range increment)
¤ masterwork dagger +8 (as above)
¤ rapier +7 (1d6, 18-20/x2 critical)
¤ quarterstaff +4 or +0/+4 (1d6 or 1d6/1d6, x2 critical)
¤ light crossbow +8 (1d8, 19-20/x2 critical, 80' range increment)
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10
Skills: Appraise +4 (or +7 within a mile of Crebain), Concentration +6, Craft (alchemy) +12, Craft (tattoo) +15, Heal +5, Knowledge (arcana) +13, Knowledge (nature) +8, Listen +0 (or +2 with Crebain), Profession (scribe) +4, Search +6, Spellcraft +17, Spot +1 (or +3 with Crebain)
Feats: Craft Lesser Tattoo, Craft Magical Arms and Armor, Dodge, Martial Weapon Proficiency (rapier), Scribe Scroll, Weapon Finesse
Languages: Common, Draconic, Elven, Ignan
Special: tattoo may be touched to trigger mage armor as a standard action (1 use only)
¨ - Sir Darkar Shadowood
HP: 68/68
Initiative: +5
AC: 23 (+5 Dex, +3 armor, +1 proficiency, +4 defense), -4 touch/-9 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 2 (+1 chain shirt)
BAB: +10/+5 (apply modifiers of +3 to melee or +5 to ranged/finessed attacks)
Atk:
¤ masterwork short sword +18/+13 (1d6+5, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ +1 short sword +18/+13 (1d6+6, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ +2 rapier +17/+12 (1d6+6, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ +1 short sword +16/+11 (as above) and masterwork short sword +16 (1d6+3)
¤ +2 rapier +15/+10 (as above) and +1 short sword +16 (1d6+4)
¤ silvered dagger +15 (1d4+2, 19-20/x2 critical, 10' range increment)
¤ light mace +15 (1d6+3, x2 critical)
¤ quarterstaff +13 (1d6+3, x2 critical) or +11 (1d6+3) and +11 (1d6+1)
¤ composite longbow +15/+10 (1d8+3, x3 critical, 110' range increment)
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +8 (or +10 vs. enchantment spells or effects)
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 20, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 10
Skills (modified for armor and MW tools): Balance +11, Bluff +9, Climb +9 (or +11 with kit), Concentration +2, Decipher Script +8, Disable Device +12, Disguise +9 (add +2 to act in character and another +10 with hat of disguise), Escape Artist +9, Hide +9, Jump +9, Listen +11, Move Silently +10, Open Lock +16, Profession (innkeeper) +1, Ride +8 (or +10 to stay in saddle), Search +9, Sleight of Hand +11, Spot +9, Swim +3, Tumble +13, Use Rope +8 (or +10 to bind another)
Feats: Alertness, Combat Expertise, Improved Disarm, Improved Feint, Iron Will, Leadership, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (short sword), Weapon Finesse, Weapon Specialization (short sword)
Languages: Common, Draconic, Elven, Sylvan
Special: evasion, sneak attack +3d6, trapfinding, trap sense +2, uncanny dodge
¨ - Jace Cornwall
HP: 29/29
Initiative: +3
AC: 19 (+3 Dex, +2 armor, +1 proficiency, +1 defense, +2 large shield), -5 touch/-4 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 1 (masterwork studded leather)
BAB: +4 (apply modifiers of +2 to melee or +3 to ranged attacks)
Atk:
¤ bastard sword +6 (1d10+2, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ silvered longsword +6 (1d8+1, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ morning star +6 (1d8+2, x2 critical)
¤ javelin +7 (1d6+2, 30' range increment)
¤ composite shortbow +5 (1d6+2, 70' range increment)
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +1
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 10
Skills (includes -3 encumbrance modifier to movement based skills): Balance +6, Bluff +5, Climb +4, Craft (armorer) +4, Craft (weaponsmith) +7, Disguise +3 (or +5 to act in character), Hide +8, Intimidate +6, Jump +6, Listen +11, Move Silently +8, Search +6, Sense Motive +6, Spot +8, Tumble +9, Use Rope +7
Feats: Alertness, Blind-Fight, Combat Expertise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword), Stealthy
Languages: Common, Dwarven, Orc
Special: evasion, sneak attack +2d6, trapfinding, trap sense +1
¨ - Kai Heishall
HP: 31/31
Initiative: +4
AC: 19 (+4 Dex, +1 armor, +1 proficiency, +2 defense, +1 Dodge), -2 touch/-7 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 1 (leather armor)
BAB: +5 (apply modifiers of +2 to melee or +4 to ranged attacks)
Atk:
¤ heavy mace +7 (1d8+2, x2 critical)
¤ light mace +7 (1d6+2, x2 critical)
¤ heavy macie +5 (1d8+2, as above) and light mace +5 (1d6+1, as above)
¤ longsword +7 (1d8+2, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ short sword +7 (1d6+2, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ dagger +7 melee or +9 ranged (1d4+2, 19-20/x2 critical, 10' range increment)
¤ longsword +7 (as above) and short sword +7 (1d6+1)
¤ longsword +7 (as above) and dagger +7 (1d4+1)
¤ short sword +7 (1d6+2) and dagger +7 melee (1d4+1)
¤ longbow +9 (1d8, x3 critical, 100' range increment)
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +1 (or +3 vs enchantment spells or effects)
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 18, Con 11, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 7
Skills: Balance +6, Bluff +3, Climb +8, Diplomacy +2, Disguise +2 (or +4 to act in character), Escape Artist +8, Hide +13, Intimidate +0, Jump +12, Listen +6, Move Silently +13, Search +3, Sense Motive +7, Speak Language (Dwarven), Spot +6, Tumble +14, Use Rope +8
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Two-Weapon Fighting
Languages: Common, Dwarven, Elven, Sylvan
Special: evasion, sneak attack +3d6, trapfinding (find traps only), trap sense +1, uncanny dodge
¨ - Lucian Risk
HP: 36/36
Initiative: +3
AC: 18 (+3 Dex, +2 armor, +1 proficiency, +2 defense), -3 touch/-5 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 1 (studded leather)
BAB: +3 (apply modifiers of +1 to melee or +3 to ranged/finessed attacks)
Atk:
¤ walking stick +4 melee or +6 ranged (1d6+1, x2 critical, 10' range increment)
¤ dagger +6 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2 critical, 10' range increment)
¤ light crossbow +6 (1d8, 19-20/x2 critical, 80' range increment)
¤ rapier +4 (1d6+1, 18-20/x2 critical)
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +4 (or +6 vs. enchantment spells and effects)
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills (modified for armor): Balance +4, Bluff +6, Concentrate +4, Diplomacy +4, Disable Device +12, Disguise +0 (or +2 to act in character), Gather Information +2, Hide +11, Intimidate +2, Jump +2, Knowledge (local) +4, Knowledge (religion) +3, Listen +2, Move Silently +10, Open Lock +13, Perform (act) +7, Search +11, Sleight of Hand +12, Spot +10, Survival +1 (or +3 to follow tracks; DC 10 or lower only), Tumble +10
Feats: Combat Expertise, Nimble Fingers, Weapon Finesse
Languages: Common, Dwarven, Elven, Goblin
Special: faint aura of chaos, cleric domains (Luck/Trickery), evasion, 1/1 reroll per day, sneak attack +3d6, spontaneous casting of cure/domain spells, trapfinding, trap sense +1, turn undead (3/3, 1d20+1 check, 2d6+1 damage), uncanny dodge
¨ - Ran
HP: 48/48
Initiative: +4
Speed: 60'
AC: 22 (+4 Dex, +3 Wis, +2 class, +3 defense), -0 touch/-7 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 0
BAB: +7/+2 (apply modifiers of +1 to melee or +4 to ranged/finessed attacks)
Atk:
¤ unarmed strike +11/+11/+6 (1d10+1, x2 critical)
¤ kama +11/+11/+6 (1d6+1, x2 critical)
¤ nunchaku +11/+11/+6 (1d6+1, x2 critical)
¤ siangham +11/+11/+6 (1d6+1, x2 critical)
¤ sling +11 (1d4+1, x2 critical, 50' range increment)
¤ masterwork longbow +12/+7 (1d8, x3 critical, 100' range increment)
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +11, Will +10 (or +14 vs. enchantment spells or effects)
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 10
Skills: Climb +9, Diplomacy +8, Heal +9, Hide +5, Jump +11, Knowledge (arcana) +5, Knowledge (politics) +5, Listen +16, Move Silently +11, Profession (scribe) +6, Search +4, Sense Motive +7, Spot +5, Tumble +15
Feats: Blind-Fight, Combat Expertise, Deflect Arrows, Improved Disarm, Improved Grapple, Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning Fist, Weapon Finesse
Languages: Common, Draconic, Elven
Special: immune to non-magical diseases, improved evasion, ki strike (lawful and magic), slow fall 50', Stunning Fist 9/9 (Fort DC 18), wholeness of body (20/20 hp)
¨ - Silmarwen
HP: 47/47
Initiative: +2
AC: 23 (+3 Dex, +3 armor, +2 proficiency, +2 shield, +1 ring, +2 defense), -7 touch/-5 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 3 (+1 breastplate)
BAB: +6/+1 (apply modifier of +2 to ranged attacks)
Atk:
¤ +1 longsword +7/+2 (1d8+1, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ masterwork longbow +9/+4 (1d8, x3 critical, 100' range increment)
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +10 (or +12 vs. enchantment spells and effects)
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 12
Skills: Concentration +11, Diplomacy +9, Heal +13, Listen +6, Knowedge (religion) +12, Search +4, Sense Motive +6, Spellcraft +11, Spot +6
Feats: Craft Magical Arms and Armor, Negotiator, Weapon Focus (longsword)
Languages: Celestial, Common, Elven, Gnoll
Special: strong aura of good, cleric domains (Luck/Sun), spontaneous casting of cure/domain spells, turn undead (4/4, 1d20+3 check, 2d6+9 damage)
¨ - Crebain
HP: 18/18
Initiative: +2
AC: 18 (+2 size, +2 Dex, +4 natural), -4 touch/-4 flat-footed
BAB/Grapple: +4/-9 (apply modifier of +2 to natural or ranged attacks)
Atk: claws +8 (1d2-5, x2 critical), or touch +8 (deliver touch spell)
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +7
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +12, Listen +5, Move Silently +4, Move Silently +4, Spot +7
Feats: Alertness, Stealthy, Weapon Finesse (bonus)
Languages: Common
Special: deliver touch spells, empathic link, improved evasion, low-light vision, share spells, speak with master and other birds - Screech
HP: 22/22
Initiative: +4
AC: 21 (+2 size, +4 Dex, +5 natural), -5 touch/-4 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 1 (natural armor)
BAB/Grapple: +9/-7 (apply modifier of +4 to natural or ranged attacks)
Atk: claws +9 (1d6-2, x2 critical)
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +3 (or +7 vs. enchantment spells and effects)
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 19, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 4
Skills: Listen +17, Move Silently +17, Spot +11 (+19 in darkness)
Feats: Alertness, Improved Natural Attack, Weapon Finesse (bonus)
Tricks: attack, come, seek
Special: evasion, low-light vision, share spells - Lakilea
HP: 22/22
Initiative: +1
AC: 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural, +2 armor, +1 proficiency), -7 touch/-1 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 2 (chain shirt)
BAB/Grapple: +2/+9 (apply modifier of +3 to melee attacks)
Atk: 2 hooves +4 (1d4+3, x2 critical) and bite -1 (1d3+1)
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: Endurance, Run
Special: low-light vision, scent
Spell Use (spells in red have been cast)
Anaya (save DC = 13 + spell level for druid spells, 12 + spell level for sorcerer spells)
Level 0 Druid (5/5): Cure Minor Wounds, Cure Minor Wounds, Cure Minor Wounds, Flare, Resistance
Level 1 Druid (4/4): Cure Light Wounds, Cure Light Wounds, Pass w/o a trace, Produce Flame
Level 2 Druid (4/4): ?, Flame Blade, Flaming Sphere, Spider Climb
Level 3 Druid (3/3): Barkskin, Stilled, Cure Moderate Wounds, Daylight
Level 0 Sorcerer (5/5): acid splash, dancing lights, mage hand, prestidigitation
Level 1 Sorcerer (4/4): disguise self, true strike
Cassius (save DC = 14 + spell level)
Level 0 (4/4): Detect magic, Daze, Disrupt undead, Disrupt undead
Level 1 (5/5): Mage armor, Magic weapon, Magic missile, Shocking grasp,
Level 2 (4/4): Web, Flaming sphere, Flaming sphere,
Level 3 (4/4): Dispel Magic, Dispel Magic, Lightning bolt,
Level 4 (3/3): Dimension door, Lightning Bolt (Still Spell), Stoneskin
Lucian (save DC = 11 + spell level)
Level 0 (3/3): Guidance, Guidance, Guidance
Level 1 (2/2): Cure Lt Wounds, Armour of Faith
Silmarwen (save DC = 13 + spell level )
Level 0 (6/6): Detect Magic, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Read Magic, Resistance, Resistance
Level 1 (5/5): Comprehend Languages, Divine Favor, Detect Undead, Hide from Undead, Protection From Evil
Level 2 (4/4): Bear's Endurance, Gentle Repose, Gentle Repose, Resist Energy
Level 3 (4/4): Bestow Curse, Dispel Magic, Inflict Serious Wound, Prayer
Level 4 (3/3): Inflict Critical Wounds, Divine Power, Death Ward
Special Items:
Anaya (items inaccessible in wolf form):
¤ arrows (40)
¤ daggers (2)
¤ antitoxin (1 vial)
Cassius:
¤ crossbow bolts (14)
¤ daggers (4)
¤ masterwork daggers (2)
¤ antitoxin (2 vials)
¤ holy water (2 vials)
¤ potions (blur)
¤ scrolls (disguise self, level 2 casting of mage armor x2, invisibility)
¤ statue with everburning flame
¤ sunrods (2)
¤ wand of acid arrow (? charges)
¤ wand of summon monster II (7 charges)
Darkar:
¤ arrows (40)
¤ +2 arrows (24)
¤ silvered daggers (2)
¤ potions of delay poison (2), lesser restoration, neutralize poison, protection from arrows (10/magic), and spider climb (5th level caster)
¤ dust of tracelessness
Jace:
¤ arrows (18)
¤ +1 silvered arrows (3)
¤ javelin (1)
¤ acid (4 vials)
¤ caltrops (2)
¤ silk rope (50')
¤ torches (4)
Kai:
¤ arrows (60)
¤ daggers (2)
¤ flint and steel
¤ grappling hook and two 50' coils of hemp rope
¤ oil (5 vials)
¤ vials of some substance (4)
¤ sunrods (2)
Lucian:
¤ crossbow bolts (10)
¤ daggers (4)
¤ rapier
Ran:
¤ arrows (?)
¤ sling stones (20)
¤ candles (3)
¤ flint and steel
¤ healer's kit
¤ hemp rope (50')
¤ torches (3)
Silmarwen:
¤ arrows (?)
¤ antitoxin (1 vial)
¤ everburning torch
¤ holy water (6 vials)
¤ sacks, each containing 5 lbs of silver dust (2)
¤ sunrods (5)
¤ tindertwigs (10)
¤ potions of eagle's splendor (3)
¤ scrolls of dispel magic, flame strike, mass cure moderate wounds)
¤ wand of cure light wounds (2nd lvl caster, 44 charges)
¤ wand of summon monster I (20 charges)
Silmarwen, is still preparing in her quarters delayed a bit from the early morning prayers. Hopefully the bandits will be quickly routed and the group can move over to inspect the hilltop. Optimistic that the mission will go quickly and well, Darkar is rather calm this morning.
Speaking up the stable boy lets Darkar know that Lakilea is ready. Swinging up into the saddle Darkar sees that with his gear there will be just enough room for Silmarwen to ride along. However Lakilea sensing that she will be leaving the stables and exercise area, is excitied and almost prancing about wondering when they will be off.
"Easy, girl save that energy for when we will need it most. It is going to be a long journey and you will be caring a heavier load that usual."
Patting Lakilea on the neck, he hears the approach of Silmarwen.
"Are the others not yet here?"
"It is still a bit early, they are probably waking, eating, and making last minute preperations. Not everyone starts early like we do."
"I am not early, this is merely a routine that I have kept for one hundred years. Surely you jest. Look over by the gates I think someone is coming along now."
Silmarwen's spells
Level 0
Detect Magic x2, Read Magic x2, Resistance x2
Level 1
Comprhend Languages,Detect Evil, Detect Undead, Hide from Undead, Remove Fear
Level 2
Bear's Endurance, Hold Person, Owl's Wisdom, Sound Burst
Level 3
Dispel Magic, Invisibility Purge, Magic Vestmant, Prayer
Level 4
Death Ward, Divine Power, Greater Magic Weapon
"I am ready sir. Good moring Miss. My name is Jace Cornwall."
*Bow.*
"Greetings, Jace. I am Silmarwen priestess of Thalos. From what I heard you were there at the last attack. About how many unnatural creatures did you see?"
*Jace points to his new morning star.*
Darkar turns back to the others.
"I feel confident that we have assembled a very capable group, and it is just a matter of time until the bandit threat is taken care of."
[OOC: Kai made a few more purchases at Market and Iron:
--Heavy Mace (Carried on his back by a leather strap)
--Light Mace (Strapped to his right thigh)
--weeks worth of rations
--5 flasks of oil (1pint)]
"Well met, and good morning. My name is Ran. I'm one of the Silver Swords who'll be taking part in this mission."
The horse, a sturdy-looking palomino that (usually) listens to the name Scud carries the supplies the elf is bringing along: two extra quivers of arrows aside from the one hanging from his hip, 10 days' worth of rations, his healer's bag, some cooking utensils, a rope and a blanket and a small tent. His other belongings are carried on his person.
It is good to see you again Ran, I am glad that you could make it.
"Good morning, all."
It is good to see you again Ran, I am glad that you could make it.
"That goes without saying, master Shadowood, and likewise.
I see most of us are here already. We should be able to move out shortly then. That's good."
The elf looks at the others, the ones he doesn't know yet in particular, but without being too forward.
"My name's Lucian, pleased to meet you."
"My name is Jace Cornwall, I am also a Silver Sword."
*Jace also acknowledges Lucian, with his bow.*
"Good morning Lucian."
Having dispensed with the courtesies, at least towards those so inclined, the elf finds a pump and fills the waterskin slung over his shoulder.
I was thinking that we have Cassius, Kai, Anaya, and myself in the first group. Then the second group will contain the rest of you with Ran and Silmarwen heading that group up.
Also I want everyone to pick a partner to fight with in battle. When in a fight look out for each other, and take advantage of situations. I will partner with Cassius, leaving Anaya and Kai to work together in the first group. The second group, if you have fought with another person or know them rather well then pick that person for your partner.
When we rest you and your partner will also take watch together. I know that Anaya, Kai, Lucian, Ran, Silmarwen, and myself can see a little better when light is not that great. There should be at least one of us on each night watch. I hope that everyone brought at least a week's worth of food, but if you didn't I took a couple of days extra. It may not be very good since it is military rations.
Anyone have any additional questions before we head out?"
.oO(Very efficient.... Well, I'm not with Kai or Cassius who I've worked with before...)
"Jace, shall we buddy up? I can see in the dark and you can watch my back in the light."
Walks up to the gathered group alongside Maya, Lucian upon her back and looks at everyone that has assembled, bowing her head in greeting to Ran and Darkar and saying hello to everyone else.
She notices that what is described to be Kai leaning up against the wooden beam and she bows her head to him as well.
.oO(Maybe from this trip I will be able to talk to him, to see what actually happened to him so long ago)
She listens to Darkar and nods
That sounds reasonable..
She looks at Kai for comment, if any
-------------
Spells:0th Level (5/day)~Cure Minor Woundsx3, Flare, Resistance
1st Level (4/day)~Cure Light Woundsx2, Pass w/o a trace, Produce Flame
2nd Level (4/day)~Barkskin, Flame Blade, Flaming Sphere, Spider Climb
3rd (3/day)~Cure Moderate Woundsx2, Daylight
-------------
Gear she has gathered, adding to her equipment:
Trail rations for 1 week (plus leftovers she had)
Light Mace
2 Quivers of Arrows
After Darkar gives the orders, the elf looks at Anaya. When she looks back at him he stares at her for a few moments before turning his gaze back ahead of him.
Once outside of the city, he lets Lakilea move a bit faster. Keeping a sharp watch Darkar leads the first group onward, while occasionally looking back to make sure he is not too far ahead of the second group.
"So Cassius what do think of the strategy the bandits have been using?"
.oO (This is what it feels like to be a real performer I guess.)
He waves to the pedestrians as he goes. He falls to the rear of the group and watches for trouble as soon as they leave the city.
*When everyone shows up Jace, gives Jelfser a suger cube, mounts and follows. When the crowd looks on the group Jace suffles uncomfortable in his saddle.*
I didn' think we would get such a croud....But I guess we are pretty big.
.oO(Wonder why Darkar wanted so many....)
"Lady Silmarwen, would you honour me?"
.oO(This quite a good pairing. Jace and Lucian's skills should match well enough, and it makes sense that I would be able to stay close to our band's priestess to protect her when needed - my bow doesn't require me to be close to my opponents.)
The elf mounts his horse and takes up position next to Silmarwen, naturally deferring to her leadership and making sure he's in the best place to protect her in case anything happens.
.oO(I should've remembered to bring a backup bow though - shorter than the one I use normally, or maybe a crossbow. My longbow is awkward on horseback.)
With Cassius, riding along with him, Darkar exits the north gate heading the direction the Jace indicated. The attention paid to the group, Darkar ignores concentrating instead on the mission ahead.
Once outside of the city, he lets Lakilea move a bit faster. Keeping a sharp watch Darkar leads the first group onward, while occasionally looking back to make sure he is not too far ahead of the second group.
"So Cassius what do think of the strategy the bandits have been using?"
"I'm not sure yet Darkar, it seems like hit and run but Hermy told me something that might indicate otherwise. He and his troup ran into a combined group of orcs and ogres. You know as well as I do that those races are usually at each others throats not working together with a common goal. If they're tied in with this it just might be a little more complicated than just a kobold shaman and his goons."
Cassius thinks a while longer
"The first attack will show us what we are up against, expect a reckon strike to feel out our strength. If they are aware of our mission they will try to strike only once, Hard. ..........If they are organised that is"
.oO(This is going to be a loooong trip.
)She walks to the head of the group and looks at Jace and Darkar
I think it would be best if we started off where you and Kai last encountered the creatures and then we can go from there.
She looks at Darkar for any further direction
"Lady Silmarwen, would you honour me?"
"Yes, Ran I will gladly work with you on this mission. Hopefully this will not be extremely dangerous. Not having the chance to work with you before, how would you describe the way you handle an adverse situation?"
"I'm not sure yet Darkar, it seems like hit and run but Hermy told me something that might indicate otherwise. He and his troup ran into a combined group of orcs and ogres. You know as well as I do that those races are usually at each others throats not working together with a common goal. If they're tied in with this it just might be a little more complicated than just a kobold shaman and his goons."
"That is a little disturbing, ogres are tough brutes. I know that the forces of Kakademion where employing all sorts of creatures together to control the fortress. Dragons, ogres, orcs, humans, half-orcs perhaps goblins even. It must take a lot of work to make them get along. If I knew a way to cause chaos and make them fight amonst themselves I would. Hopefully this event is unrelated."
"The first attack will show us what we are up against, expect a reckon strike to feel out our strength. If they are aware of our mission they will try to strike only once, Hard. ..........If they are organised that is."
"I hope that the area they attacked from last is just a place that the like to lay in wait for travelers. If they are roaming while attacking it could take longer to find them. I think their leader may be what keeps them organized. Although I am not sure if it is the shaman or someone else. Well if they are a good judge of strength they might avoid us or wait until we let our guard down. We might have to come up with other options once we get there."
"The clearing tis in that direction, but mind you I am no tracker or woodsman. I may be a lil' off but I know the general area, and I should be able to take you back there. I don't know bout Kai. He may be able to tell ya better den I, but I am not sure bout it. We should be there afor long. Somewhere around noon time."
Ok then. When we get there I'll need you to let me know where they came from and what direction, if any, ran off.
She bows her head and goes to the back of the group, calling Screech to her as they approach the gate.
The white bird swoops down and as she raises her arm he lands, she treats him with some dried meat and pets his chest feather.
She sends her emotions to the bird and with one word "Scout" she lifts her arm up again for him to take off.
He flies overhead and keeps a keen eye on lookout
"Yes, Ran I will gladly work with you on this mission. Hopefully this will not be extremely dangerous. Not having the chance to work with you before, how would you describe the way you handle an adverse situation?"
"That is a difficult question to answer without more specifics. However, there is one very clear principle I never deviate from: never to take a life needlessly. Obviously, this means I favour a more diplomatic approach whenever possible."
Ran explains his position thoughtfully, his eyes following the group in the distance before them and occasionally looking around for signs of anything out of the ordinary.
"How long have you been in master Shadowood's service? How does he deal with difficult circumstances?"
"Darkar, I think that double watches would be best. I wouldn't want to ghet surprised by either the kobolds or a gang of orcs and ogres. I'll take first watch if you want."
Cassius then turns to Anaya
"if you want I could ask Crebain to cover for part of the airborne scouting missions"
"Caw, Caw, you could mistress Becque to jump from the top of the Tower, your chances of succes would be just as good Caw"
The raven lands on Cassius shoulder and starts to nibble at his ear
"Caw, not before breakfast anyway....."
Cassius takes a strip of beef from his pouch and feeds the bird.
"More for you in the morning, if you're hungry, find your own food"
"They looks like their stoppin fer the night, Lets find a place to lay our heads."
*Looks around for a campsite, when a good spot is found he hops off Jelfser, and goes to the saddle bag and digs for the suger. Jelfser being impatient grabs a hold of Jace's cloak and gives it a tug. Jace in turn makes a strangled noise, and turns around.*
"I'm diggin fer it, you need to 'ave some patience!!!"
*Jace goes back to the bag and locates the sought after suger and hands him a cube. He then takes the tack off, and settles down.
"Well Lucian, do want to take watch or let Ran and Silmarwen???"
"We should take watch first so we have the best light that we can see in. What do you think Ran and Silmarwen?"
"That is a difficult question to answer without more specifics. However, there is one very clear principle I never deviate from: never to take a life needlessly. Obviously, this means I favour a more diplomatic approach whenever possible."
"Very admirable, and a difficult path to take. I should have been more specific of course, I know Hermy favors stealth and guile. Darkar seems fierce and opprotunistic. While Gamis in my opinion relies on faith and determination.
"How long have you been in master Shadowood's service? How does he deal with difficult circumstances?"
"I believe it has been a little over a half of a year, since I first came to advise him. Darkar grasps well what I have taught him, although sometimes he is a little slow to the answer he seeks. In a tense situation Darkar, sometimes will go for the easier solution. However I have heard of him defering to others wishes in the matter. The first goal he has is always bring everyone back alive. On some occasions I believe that circumstances have prevented that goal."
"Darkar, I think that double watches would be best. I wouldn't want to ghet surprised by either the kobolds or a gang of orcs and ogres. I'll take first watch if you want."
Struggling with lighting a fire, Darkar turns to Cassius.
"Double watches, what do you mean exactly?"
"We should take watch first so we have the best light that we can see in. What do you think Ran and Silmarwen?"
"That is fine with me, and it make better sense when you think about it."
"If any thing pokes its head out to say hello, lets pin it between us. I can do lotsa damage if we flank it."
.oO(But in the dark, would it fo any good? I'd be tempted to scream like a ninny if something like that happened.)
"Gotcha."
Lucian sits with his back to a tree and begins humming his favorite drinkings song, after a few round he actually starts singing, rather tunelessly, until the elves begin their rest.
"Those southern belles,
They all raise nine hells,
Bartender get me a whisky!
They lie and steal,
They make my life hell,
Bartender get me a whisky!
Sold my chattels,
Cheated on me,
Bartender get me a whisky!
She took my dog,
He liked her more,
Bartender get me a whisky!
That lass lacks class,
Shows too much sass,
Bartender get me a whisky!
I don't got coin
To pay you right now,
Bartender thanks for the whisky!"
Struggling with lighting a fire, Darkar turns to Cassius.
"Double watches, what do you mean exactly?"
I mean 2 people on watch through the night, based on Hermy's latest news I think we should even set sentinels around a daylight camp. I'll take first watch, together with Cebain, although he cannot see in the dark he's got keener eyes than mine and can take a birds eye view if needed :D
I am sure you have a better linking with your bird than I do with Screech since you are able to have a mental link with him, as I have only an empathic..
Him and Screech should work fine together.
She goes to help out Lucian with Maya, giving her the feed bag so that she can eat.
When talk of the watches arises she speaksup
I can take 2nd watch. Screech has excellent sight in the dark and will be able to help out with the aerial view. I on the other hand have a little better advantage at night vision, so I will scout the surrounding area around the camp while 2 people can take watch here.... in case there is anything I miss.
She looks at the others for comment
The priestess pulls out of her pack the everburning torch and offers it to the first watch.
I mean 2 people on watch through the night, based on Hermy's latest news I think we should even set sentinels around a daylight camp. I'll take first watch, together with Cebain, although he cannot see in the dark he's got keener eyes than mine and can take a birds eye view if needed :D
"Oh I meant for two people to be on watch at all times. I thought you wanted to take longer watches." :embarrass
There is a slight flush to his cheeks as he turns back to try and light the fire.
I am thinking two camps not more that 30ft apart.
"Well this be a intresting thing. I am gonna 'ave ta get me one. Lucian, sit apart from me for watch. On the other side of the camp, so it they will be less likely to spot us."
*With that Jace breaks out some of his food, eats it, gives Jelfser a cube, and sets him to graze. He then goes to the south side of the camp and starts patroling with the covered ears alert.
*Guestures at the first camp.*
"Can you snort like a boar?"
"I can do that.....but Lucian will be closer to you camp.....an I guess he would be batter at it being a actor and all."
*Turns to Lucian.*
"Do you think you can make a boar snort???"
She finds a nice spot under a tree and sets her things down as she takes a seat.
She pulls out some rations and eats for a bit before placing her bag under her head and lays back, crossing her arms over her stomach as she looks at the sky through the canopy of the trees
"Do you think you can make a boar snort???"
Ran overhears the last part of the conversation, causing a bit of confusion.
"Why would you want to make a boar snort? They can be dangerous when provoked, I would suggest trying to get away without angering one."
The setup with the groups spread over two different, but quite close, camps strikes the elf as strange as well, but he decides to let that go.
.oO(This is definitely a first, but I am not the one with expertise in these matters. My training did not include strategy or logistics, so I will defer to those with more knowledge.)
.oO(Are they joking?)
"I guess so, sorta like this?"
The elfling makes a fairly realistic pig's oink.
She then looks around the camps and begins her scouting of the area
.oO(Wonder if there’s gonna be any rain....)
*Looks at his shield and furrows his eyebrows.*
.oO(If somethin comes along I'm gonna be da only one in the way fer a minute...better use it.)
*With that thought Jace slings his shield and draws his bastard sword and hefts it fondly. He then sets it down and takes his equipment over to his pile of tack, and returns retrieves it. He settles himself in to a position that he can see and hear well*
.oO(Wonder if anythin will show up tonight.)
*And with that thought Jace pays attention to his surroundings.*
ooc:What is the weather. the only reason I mention rain is someone turned on the shower here.....its comin down.
All is quiet in the evening crepuscule, when Darkar sees a wolf lurking near the camp. The wolf is approximately twenty feet from the sleeping adventurers.
.oO(That does not appear to be Anaya, this wolf looks larger than she does. Now what did Donnovain say about wolves, something about traveling in packs. I probably can not see the others.)
Using the aforementioned signal, Darkar tries his best to immitate the snorting of a boar. Unfortunately for him it sounds more like a he has a terrible cold and is choking on mucus.
After the signal, Darkar listens for other movement ready to fire off arrows into the first wolf.
.oO (Sure is nice outside the city, I could get used to nights like these.)
.oO(I need ta stop wonderin.)
ooc: (B-Sword, and shiled are in place)
.oO(Snorting like a boar to alert the others? Whatever next?)
Satisfied with his work, the elf turns in for his 4 hours of rêverie. He'll be well-rested for the second half of the night, when it'll be his duty to watch over the others. Deeply entranced in his meditation, he remains oblivious of the wolf's approach of the camp despite's Darkar's valiant but unconvincing grunting attempts.
She creeps around, sniffing the air to see if she can pick up any scent besides her companions.
"Don't shoot it if you don't have to, there are elves living in these woods and they don't take lightly to the unnessecary killing of animals"
The words are whispered on the edge of the audible so as not to alert the animal
[Elven/whisper]"Darkar signaled trouble"
[Elven/whisper]"Darkar signaled trouble"
Ran only needs a second or two to become fully alert. He reaches for his bow and strings it, attaching a quiver of arrows to the belt around his waist.
[Elven/whisper]"Trouble? Did you see what kind of trouble? I don't hear anything, so it's not like we're under attack yet or anything?"
[elven/whisper]"No, trouble was just signaled. No idea what, but best be all awake."
Initiative:
- Darkar
- Cassius
- Kai
- Wolf
- Ran
- Jace
- Lucian
- Silmarwen
(Sort of like this:
Wolf
20'
Camp
30'
Camp)
(elven) "What is happening?"
"[Elven]Darkar signaled trouble. Ran, wait for Silmarwen. It's better to move together."
Lucian scans the area for further intruders, crossbow whirling about.
.oO(Must be soemthing big..)
She creeps around and walks over to Darkar talking softly
[Elvish] What is it?
As Kai notices the increased state of alert, Darkar is approached by the wolf. As he stands, bow ready, the animal skulks from the darkness, going straight towards the elf.
"[Elven]Darkar signaled trouble. Ran, wait for Silmarwen. It's better to move together."
Ran nods and then, realizing it's dark, whispers back.
"I will. I don't intend to act precipitously anyway, until we know who or what is out there we should not do anything rash."
"Crebain sees nothing but this lone wolf out here besides our own group. I don't think he is much of a threat, let him come close. I'm no ranger but from what I have heard that is no wolf attack"
Despite his own advice Cassius stay alert although he lowers his crossbow and steps back a bit, taking a less agressive posture
[whisper]Hurry up!!! Lucian lend me you shoulder so I don't have to pull out the torch. I don't know what sort of danger has turned up but I don't want to leave them alonee.[/whisper]
*When the three elves are ready, Jace moves over to the other camp cautiosly and silently*
She looks at Darkar with her deep green eyes and sits where she is at, showing no threat and hoping the rest of the group doesn't attack
.oO(It seems that I was the reason for the warning call...)
She looks at Cassius and notices that he is not advancing like the others
.oO(His bird must have noticed that it was me)
She stays where she is at and lays down in a submissive position
With an arrow nocked and ready, Ran follows Jace and Lucian towards the other campsite, trying to shield Silmarwen from harm.
"Anaya why did you do that?!?" he glowers at the wolf. "I called everyone to alert!!! Gah, those who were resting were forced to scramble thinking there was danger. We nearly shot you. Why not become a wolf earlier? We could have traveled much further today instead. his frustration is too much as he turns and stalks off in a huff telling everyone he pass that it was false alarm.
.oO(MMMM, well it is good to know that we are all on alert. Maybe being in a single camp would be better.)
*Jace walks over to the bemused elf.*
"We may be better off as two groups durin the day. I could barely hear ya on the othe' side of da camp. We could be closer at night so we could react faster to anythin that may mean us harm. Lucian did not hear your alarm, I was the only one over there that caught it. If there is a next time and the watch doesn't hear the distress call, then the other group may be hung out ta dry. Being in two group fer the day will work just fine but I don't think so when the sun goes down."
Smooth...
A fire leaps up in Cassius' eyes
"You mean to tell me she is a werewolf!!!!!! I'll put an end to her right here and now. Werewolves are a menace and must be destroyed"
Rage flares in the young mages eyes as the memories of torn bodies resurface. Blinded by tears of rage and frustration Cassius gropes around his pouches to find the glassrod he needs to conjure a ball of lightning to smite the vile creature
"It's not as easy as that.."
Her eyes go wide, and her head swings round as Cassius screams out
I AM NOT A WEREWOLF!!!!
She sees Kai rush down and get ready to hit Cassius and she jumps in front of Kai
Kai stop!
Looks at the elf with her deep eyes and shakes her head to tell him no.
[to Cassius] Wouldn't you honestly think that Crebain would have sensed danger if I was?
Sigh
I am not a werewolf, I have an ability to change my form into any natural creature. A wolf just happens to be more suiting.
[Cassius's next move dictates whether the elf moves past Anaya to finish what he intended to do.]
"I am going back to resting, wake me when it our time to take the watch will you?"
Putting her armor back the priestess goes back to her resting place.
"Shapeshifter or not, she's our Anaya. To use the great bard's expression, a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. In this case it merely depends on her form, smell non-withstanding."
He offers an appologetic shrug to Anaya. Then unloades his crossbow.
"From my experience with you, Cassius. I know you're a rational guy. Someone who knows when to hold them and when to fold them. This is a time to check your han and hold of until the morning, then see what comes about."
He hefts his crossbow over his shoulder, then nods shortly.
"If you have any issue with Anaya that can't wait until morning, I'm sure Kai will be willing to assit you with them. Him being her partner, of course. Until then, goodnight all."
He wanders back over to his post, reloads his crossbow, then practices taking aim at imaginary targets.
Thankyou Lucian.
....you're..not a werewolf.....but then, how, oh.....I'm sorry Anaya, it's just that .....well............Oh, I wish somebody had told me about you before hand........... I ran into trouble with werewolves on my last venture for the silver sword a few years back and the memories of the devestated bodies they left in their wake still haunt my dreams from time to time. I swore an oath to myself to destroy any werewolf I'd run into and now.......well I hope you understand. I'm sorry Anaya, everyone.
Saddened by the memories of that ungodly hunt Cassius moves away from the others and sits down with his back against a tree.
"Well Crebain, quite a show I put up out there huh, master Rotharac would be ashamed of me if he were here......."
I travel with idiots.
Just before reaching the tree, he swoops down and picks up his sword. Finally he quickly makes his way back up the tree and takes a seat on the branch.
"I am going back to resting, wake me when it our time to take the watch will you?"
Ran is pleasantly surprised by the priestess' deadpan demeanor.
.oO(A cool head is a major asset for a leader. It's good to know Lady Silmarwen stays rational and composed in moments of crisis.)
The elf inclines his head towards Cassius to signal his understanding of the wizard's outburst.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Cassius. The situation didn't get out of hand. Live and learn. I'm sure we can all take something from this and strengthen the way we act as a team, right?"
The last comment comes with one or two meaningful looks left and right, which hopefully won't be lost on the people they're meant for because of the darkness.
With that, he turns around and follows Silmarwen back to the other campsite, to find his blanket and resume his trance.
"I do not think the two seperate camps is a very good idea. If we had all been together this might of not happened."
Dawn approaches, and with it the remainder of their journey to the ambush site.
*Within A dream Jace awakens. He rises in a snow covered paddock, surrounded by evergreen trees. There is complete silence but Jace can feel the presence of something. Then there is a low growl behind him, and when Jace whirls about with his hand on the pommel of his sword, he sees a gnarled old wild man, standing in the snow leaning on a four foot club. If he wasn't wearing layers upon layers of ragged cloth, he would be rail thin and very boney.*
"Stand up Jace."
*Without thinking Jace stands up*
"Draw your weapon."
*Jace draws the weapon and for the first time notices the old man's eyes, clouded over with white and sightless.*
"Why do you want me to draw ma sword?"
"I will show you what you are to become, the next path, you know me, and to repay you for you past kindness I will teach you."
"What kindness?"
"Helping an old man home, from the tavern where I tried to drown my past and glory."
*The man suddenly leaps at Jace from the distance and plants a blow on top of Jaces skull making the stars come out early.*
"YARG!!! What was that fer?!?!?!?!"
"For not blockin the blow, I am blind and I still hit you."
*Then there was a second attack coming from the left. Jace lifted his weapon up in surprise; it was also coming for his head. How could this crazy blind man still see somehow? Then another attack came from the front but this one passes threw his weapon and when it struck him if felt as if he was wearing absolutely no protection. Jace lifts his hand up to his front and feels that his armor is still in place. The old man then turns and runs away without a word. His feet crushing threw the snow making absolutely no sound, leaving Jace with the feeling of deafness.*
"Hey sleepy head its time to go. We are going to the ambush site, you know the one that you are bringing us to."
"Abuaaat.....[grumble]loony old codger...[/grumble]
*Lucian makes an odd face. And pokes Jace. In turn his hand gets swept aside by Jaces.*
*Within a dream Jace is looking down in a pool of water surrounded by greenery and a distant view of his home town. In the water Jace sees what looks to be four wide black smooth scars running from the top of his forhead to his right ear running over his eye.*
"What's this about. *touches the scars only to feel nothing.* "Looney old codger."
*A tree reaches out and jabs him in the shoulder. He swishes the stick away with the back of his hand and looks back at the pool of water which noesn't have his face in it any more, It is Lucians. The world around him melts away when he looks into Lucians eyes.*
"Its time ta get up."*the reflection of Lucian says*
*Lucian is a little surprised when Jace's black eyes snap open, Lucian gives a little shiver until he notices that the black eyes are full of life and kindness.*
"It's time ta get up."
*With that Lucian wanders off to get his stuff ready.*
.oO(Guy has weird looking eyes.)
*Jace sits up from his dream and rubs at the stubble that grew overnight and grumbles. He then goes about getting ready, He brushes down Jelfser, gives him a cube, and leaves with the rest of the company.*
.oO(At least we got some rest after last night's episode got cleared up. With a bit of food and drink we'll all be right as rain for the next leg of our journey.)
Leaving just the essentials for the morning meal out, he makes sure his belongings are carefully packed and strapped on his horse's back behind the saddle.
"Any idea if we're going to make it there today? Or would that be pushing too hard?"
"We will be there today."
*After a few more passes on the blade Jace tests the edge, and moves off out of the main camp to shave.*
(Same spells as before)
.oO(Those were very odd. Very odd indeed.)
Lucian actually woke up just over a little earlier and when he was pretty sure that nobody was looking, said his prayers to the mother. He nibbles on breakfast quietly.
.oO(I feel weird next to these full bloods. They're so fuch more gracefull and skilled in their actions.)
He mounts Maya after feeding and watering her and assumes his position in the back of the riding line.
At Darkars signal, Cassius is ready to leave, like the previous day, he rides with Darkar
"You know, you could have told me about anaya and her wolf form. Would have saved me a near heart attack last night"
"Lady Silmarwen, I wonder if you would be kind enough to tell me about your faith. I'm afraid I know very little of religion. It is an interesting subject - if you don't mind my putting it thus, I don't wish to gve offense - but a concept I find hard to understand."
She trances for a moment and then chenges into her elf form, makes herself some tea and eats quietly, separated from the others and after eating she picks up her things, making sure that she hasn't left anything and changes back into wolf form.
.oO(Travel shall be quicker and I will be able to track down what we are seeking)
She heads over to where the group is gathered and positions herself in front of the group
"It was there Anaya....on the other side of the hole."
*Jace then looks at the hole closer then he did last time he was here. He sits thinking for a minute, then turns towards Darkar.*
"I really don't like leaving this hole right here where anything can fall in. I will be right back. Lucian do you want to help me."
*Jace wanders off into the trees looking for a log that could be stuck in the hole so that any unfortunate passer Byers will be able to get out, perchance they fall in.*
.oO( So many changes...and not just me.)
The elf shakes his head before looking away from the clearing.
He tries to jump back, arms windmilling, and only barely manages to avoid falling into the pit that opened virtually beneath his feet.
When he is ready to investigate it, he finds a ten foot deep pit, of new construction.
"Apparently, the danger isn't gone here. Are you alright?"
He puts his hand to his sword and wanders around looking for other dangers.
"Yea I am fine, thanks."
*After investigating the newly dug hole Jace abandons his search, and walks back to the clearing.*
"We 'ave some big ants around 'ere. Just about fell down another hole that holds a suspicious resemblance to this one here. Anaya you might want to check the other hole, you will be more likely to find fresher clues there."
*Looks at the hole in the middle of the clearing frowns and looks into the forest again. Shakes his head and sits down.*
"I 'ave a knack for findin' holes....If anybody runs across a log that would suit fer a ladder out of one of these holes.... let me know. Fer now I am gonna sit right here until we find where we are goin' next."
*Jace looks at the ground and sketches the marks that were on his face in his dream.*
"Lady Silmarwen, I wonder if you would be kind enough to tell me about your faith. I'm afraid I know very little of religion. It is an interesting subject - if you don't mind my putting it thus, I don't wish to gve offense - but a concept I find hard to understand."
"What would you like to know about first? There is much to discuss, and if I had an idea of where to start it would be easier?"
We have to be careful now when it comes to tracking them down. If I can smell them, I am sure that if we are close enough, the wolf will be able to scent us.
Keep downwind as much as possible.
*With his strategy known Jace draws his bastard sword slowly and thoughtfully. He then looks down at the wolf.*
.oO(i wonder...)
"If I could cover some of my sent with yours it would be harder to smell me right...may I"
*And if he has Anaya's permission he rubs the she olfs back with this hands covering them with his sent and then he proceeds to rub his face with his scented hands. Once he feels that he is covered well enough he stops.*
Ok, lets go."
[ooc]I have no idea what type of check that would be.[/ooc]
Jace has no trouble keeping pace with Anaya, as she slowly trails the kobolds across the miles.
.oO(This guy's a good trap finder. Well, intentionally or not it isn't happening to me.)
He has his crossbow drawn and aimed on the trail in front of them.
"What would you like to know about first? There is much to discuss, and if I had an idea of where to start it would be easier?"
"Perhaps we could cut straight to the heart of the matter, or to what I have the hardest time grasping anyway: where does faith, or at least yours, come from? Maybe I don't understand the concept of 'believing' because there is no answer to that question but if there is, I'd very much like to know. How did you come to find religion?"
Ran continues the conversation until they get to the site of the ambush. There, he increases his alertness and dismounts to be able to draw and shoot better but he doesn't choose to join the smaller group that goes investigating further. The plan is still to stay together in duos and he's comfortable letting the priestess take the lead.
Scheherazade: Who is going with Anaya and Jace? - as above, not Ran unless Silmarwen joins those two. Then he'll tag along.
"Hey, I thought you were just going to take care of something with the pit over there? Why are you head so far out from the rest of us? Head on back so everyone can go together."
Seeing that Jace and the others are heading a bit too far out for comfort, Darkar nudges Lakilea to move quickly after them.
"Hey, I thought you were just going to take care of something with the pit over there? Why are you head so far out from the rest of us? Head on back so everyone can go together."
"We are lookin ahead. Not every one here can move very quitely. If you follow a few minutes behind you will still bewith in reach if need be. But far enough away so not to be heard, by the enemy."
*With that Jace Falls in step behind the wolf.*
"Perhaps we could cut straight to the heart of the matter, or to what I have the hardest time grasping anyway: where does faith, or at least yours, come from? Maybe I don't understand the concept of 'believing' because there is no answer to that question but if there is, I'd very much like to know. How did you come to find religion?"
"In simple terms faith is confindence that you believe in person, idea, or thing whether or not evidence or logic supports it. As for myself, my faith is much easier to believe. It happened when I was quiet young, not much older than twenty. Has is really been that long ago? Anyways I digress, their was a group of seven of us playing with a guardian watching over us.
The spring rains had been quiet heavy that over the past week, and some of the rivers in the area were running fast and high. One of the boys, Heian was showing off at the waters edge. His foot slipped and he was caught in the current. I was the closest to him, and jumped in to help because he was struggling in the current.
I got to him easily enough, and we made it to a big rock to hold onto so we could wait for help. However the current pulled me away, and I hit my head on something and was rendered unconcious. I probably should have died after that. However I was found over a mile downstream alive along the shore. You can call it luck if you want, but I like to think of it as divine intervention. After that I felt drawn to the Temple of Thalos, it was almost a tangible force pulling me in. Basically that is how I got started in my faith."
"We are lookin ahead. Not every one here can move very quitely. If you follow a few minutes behind you will still bewith in reach if need be. But far enough away so not to be heard, by the enemy."
*With that Jace Falls in step behind the wolf.*
"Surely you jest? In less than a minute a force could kill all of you and then drag off your bodies, and we would never find you. We need to work together on this otherwise things could go very badly for us. I thought that would have been readily apparent after last night.
If you want to scout ahead you should only stay a couple hundred of feet ahead of us. There are only eight of us and each one of us could be the difference out here so we should be seperated beyond the ability to help out quickly."
Look, I am going to scout the area and find out where these things are coming from, whether you come along or not is up to you, it's not like we are rushing right into a group or anything, just trying to find where these things are.
The more people the more problems, if you want to tag along be quiet and keep downwind. They have a wolf with them, and you being on Lakilea, or any of you on horseback, makes you a prime sight, so you'll have to travel by foot.
She looks at Lucian and sees Kai not to far in the distance
Ok how about this. Have everyone get into their teams and spread out, but not too far that everyone won't be able to assist in the instance that something does go wrong. Stay in formation and don't stray. If we are going to do this we are going to do this right.
"However we do it, we need to do it quietly. From what i have seen not all of us are of the stealthy sort. Me and Lucian are the only paired group that seems to have much ability in the matter. Ran is good at sneaking around, but he is paired with Silmarwen protecting our healer which is a good thing. Darkar you seem able but need to stay behind with the rest of the group to command....Mmmm I don't know where Kai 'as ran off to but being paired with Anaya he sould come along to. Me and Lucian, are also goin. So there is at least two people goin with Anaya, one of them is pretty good at swingin' a sword. Follow closer behind if you will but try to be as far back as you can possible can. We don't want noise up here."
*After his little speech he goes after Anaya.*
"You quiet folk can scout ahead if you like, I'll send Crebain with you, we share a mental link so I'll know you're in trouble when it hits you, if you agree Darkar...."
Cassius does a quick check of his components and readies his crossbow
"lets go and see who's behind this"
"Look, I am going to scout the area and find out where these things are coming from, whether you come along or not is up to you, it's not like we are rushing right into a group or anything, just trying to find where these things are."
"I said I do not have a problem with the scouting, but they are bound to have look outs after Jace and Kai got away from them."
"The more people the more problems, if you want to tag along be quiet and keep downwind. They have a wolf with them, and you being on Lakilea, or any of you on horseback, makes you a prime sight, so you'll have to travel by foot."
"That is why we will be back at least a couple of hundred of feet. As for keeping downwind we will be following you, and as long as you will be downwind so will the rest of us. Unless the wind shifts suddenly on the group.
Leaving the horses is not an option, it allows us to come to your aid more rapidly."
"However we do it, we need to do it quietly. From what i have seen not all of us are of the stealthy sort."
"As quiet as you move someone could still see or hear you."
"So there is at least two people goin with Anaya, one of them is pretty good at swingin' a sword."
"Yes, but what good is that if they make the plants come alive and entangle you all up? You would be stuck, and easy targets. I am trying to think of the worst that could happen, and possible prevent that. That is my job as the leader." the last bit he emphasizes strongly.
"We don't know how far this trail leads, or even how accessible it'll be. Don't forget we'll be leading the mounts with us: if the path becomes too difficult to follow for a horse without slowing down considerably, don't push on without us. The last thing we want is to get cut off from each other. If we're not careful, it'll be all too easy to drive a wedge between the two groups. Even if you don't think it'll be problematic for us to follow, wait up regularly anyway. Give us a sign so we know everything's clear or if we need to be cautious.
And I don't think it's a good idea to send too small a group out to scout ahead, especially one without Darkar. He's in charge. There's no point in him staying behind to lead the group that's waiting for you to come back from gallivanting about. The decisions about what to do will be made based on what you find, so Darkar should have that information as soon as possible. It's better if he goes along and sees for himself."
.oO(What am I doin'...This is not my group. Darkar knows what he is taking about let him make the decisions.)
"Who do you want to go with Anaya? After you deside let them go because the longer we wait, the less fresh the trail is."
Group A
Jace, Lucian, Kai, Anaya (order to be determined by them)
Group B (200ft back from A or still in sight whichever works)
Darkar point, Ran, Cassius, Silmarwen +horses ride two by two about ten feet apart?
__10ft__,__50ft_
Any objections???[/ooc]
*Jace creeps along several feet behind the tracking wolf with Lucian shadowing his steps. There is a Javalin in his main hand, and his bastard sword in his of hand.*
.oO(I know what he means. If he isn't in control, things get bad very quickly. People think only of the affects their action has on themselves without refering to others. Ohhh. Stick.)
He hops over a stick and tries to move stealthily after Jace.
As night falls she stops and waits for the rest of the group
Darkar, should we continue through night or make camp and wait til morning? It seems we still have a ways to go.
Looks around
"I would say that this place is good as any, let's make camp here. One camp this time, and four watches of two durning the night."
Seeing that Lucian is helping with the horses, he lets the young man take care of Lakilea. Lighting a fire tonight is much easier than the previous night.
Ran helps groom and feed the horses before looking after his own dinner and resting place.
I'll keep watch on our surroundings.
She then leaves and finds herself a spot not to far from the campsite, letting the energies flow and changing into her elven form before climbing a nearby tree and sitting on a branch, her bow at the ready
She looks up at the moon and the stars and closes her eyes momentarily to feel a soft breeze on her face, listening..then opens them and surveys the area from her vantage point
"Don't you need some sleep. We are relying on you to find the kolbolds. i thought you could use some rest."
*With his opinion voiced, Jace grooms Jelfser and settles down for some rest. Taking watch when he needs to.*
You're right... I'll get some rest, let me know if anything happens.
She rests her head against the trunk of the tree and closes her eyes
Cassius, lets say you and I take the first watch again tonight. After that Jace and Lucian, then Silmarwen and Ran, finally with Anaya and Kai. Does that sound good to everyone?
Ran quickly scours the pots and cutlery used with fine sand and clean water after dinner and then finds a likely spot to trance.
"Good night, everyone."
The elf lies down in a comfortable position, closes his eyes and lets all conscious thought fall away until he's awakened for his shift in the guard rotation.
"Works for me, sir."
.oO(Why does this feel so natural?)
With that agreement Darkar begins to partrol the one end of the camp.
"So do we have any idea where the bandits are headed?"
"Anyone think that the wolf howl was a coincidence?"
*When all is ready Jace leaves with the same groups making sure to be extra careful.*
"I'll take point and keep an open eye for traps if you'd like, I have a little bit of experience with that."
"So did you have any other questions about faith, Ran?"
*Gives Darkar a wild grin and turns to Lucian.*
"Sure. You can go before me."
*Moves over to Jelfser and rubs him down, saddles him and secures his belongings on him. He only takes his Bastard sword, his morning star an his Jav. With a second thought Jace turns to make sure no one is looking then hastely shoves his rope into his sac. He then secures everything on his self and anounces that he is ready when everyone else is.*
[ooc]same marching order except me and Lucian switch spots. Everybody good with that????[/ooc]
Wakes well before her watch and absent mindedly looks over at Kai every once in a while.
After eating some rations for breakast she changes back into her wolf form and when everyone is ready leads them back on the trail.
Present
Looks at Darkar with concern, then continues on the trail
.oO(Better to let poor Mr. Risk, take the risks.)
*Fiddles with the pommel of his sword.*
...At least I 'ave good ears though....That 'as ta stand for somethin'. :P I also 'ave some experience fighten' without my eyes. So I won't be entirly helpless if there's a fight when the sun is hidin'.....Well it's not dark yet so let us get a move on then. Or are we gonna do somethin' different."*Jace quirks his head to the side curiously.*
"According to my estimates we will reach the hill, by night fall. The only problem is that any conflict will be a disadvantage to Cassius, and Jace. Silmarwen's torch can be a benefit to only one person, or two if they worked together." Turns to Cassius. "You said earlier that Crebain could help with night watch, but could he be used as a scout as well? It would be an advantage to know if anyone was waiting at the hill for us before we arrived."
With a nod Cassius sends Crebain off towards there destination
"A bird in the sky won't stand out as much as a group of men tramping through the forest. Crebain, go and see what you can find out. If you're unsure come and get me."
Cassius turns to Darkar
"The rest of us should hang back until we have a aerial scouting report. We need to know whether they are on the hill or not. If they are we could try and advance under the cover of darkness and strike at first light"
I saw a little guy riding around on a big dog sort of animal. He has a bow.
"I hope it isn't the same breed as the ones we've met previously."
He tightens his grip on his sword and looks to Darkar for direction.
"We will stop here for the night and then wake early and take the hill around dawn. After that we will track the rest of them down."
.oO(Its a good choice but I just don't like to sit around. wonder if anyone have whetstone. Should have brought one from the foarge.....If I had though to I wouldn't have because of extra weight.)
"Anyone 'ave a whetstone that I can borrow???"
*If there isn't one he searches for a suitable rock. With his training with Aramil and making and repairing weapons He is able to put expert edge on his bastard sword. After this is done he looks about for something else to do.*
"Anyone need somethin' to be sharpened???"
Ran busies himself with looking after his gear as well. After that, unless Darkar or anyone else wants to confer about tactics, he retires to his bedroll early. He doesn't need much rest, but the elf knows chances are there's not going to be much opportunity for that in the days to come.
.oO (Let it go Lucian.....)
He places his sword in its' seathe and walks to the other side of one of the trees near camp and draws out his dice. With his legs crossed and back straight he begins to swing his dice in a figure eight and chants in a soft voice.
[size=1]"Dear Mother. Thank you for this day upon your realm. Thank you for offering me this chance to view this world as it should be, balanced and even. Thank you for the opportunity to be who I truely am and I am very sorry I didn't take it. Please, grant me thy strength to deal with the coming challenges that face me and my friends. I pray that I will be able to acheive my goal of equal opportunities for all."[/size]
I will go as well. The elf says in coldly.
".oO(Guess I have to gaurd the camp.
)*Gives Anaya a friendly look.*
"But personaly I don't think she should go out alone.....if nobody can go with her, then I agree with Darkar...Let...Crebain wasn't it....Let Crebain fly ahead of us in a 'alf circle."
*Plucks a blade of grass out of the ground and tests the edge of the blade on it. The blade easily splits the grass lenghtwise in a clean cut. Satisfied he slips the blade into his scabbard.*
*Gives a playful grin.*
"I do not see how you could get close enough to the hill without being spotted or detected by the dog. Unless you have a way to do that we will have to send Crebain out again before we leave tomorrow morning."
"Leave that to me"
With a smile on his face Cassius chants a few words and turns invisible, a few more words, a rush of air and the Wizard is gone from their midst, flying high over the trees in the direction of the hill circling until he is down wind to keep his smell hidden from the dog / wolf creature. Cassius ventures as close as he thinks safe from detection but close enough to learn details if possible
A river flows in a gentle curve around its eastern flank, while a rocky ravine borders it on the north. A heavy growth of berry vines covers an area of roughly twenty by forty feet on the hillside where river and ravine meet.
He sees no movement, though creatures as small as kobolds would hide easily in the underbrush and trees of the area.
I am pretty sure Kai is a good candidate for not being seen, or even hiding for that matter.
She holds her composure as she says it, looking back at Kai
[i]With a smile on his face Cassius chants a few words and turns invisible, a few more words, a rush of air and the Wizard is gone from their midst, flying high over the trees in the direction of the hill circling until he is down wind to keep his smell hidden from the dog / wolf creature. Cassius ventures as close as he thinks safe from detection but close enough to learn details if possible [/i]
Watches as Cassius dissappears from sight, and then he feels the change in the air and sees the grass move about strangely as the wizard takes flight.
"I wonder...." he muses quietly
He hears Anaya talking about leaving still.
"I think we should wait for Cassius to return first. It seems that he has taken off to observe the area at the hill."
Ran offers a suggestion for the others to mull over while they wait for Cassius' return.
"Darkar, there is no sign of goblins, kobolds or anything not native to this area on the hill, Crebain saw only one kobold and I haven't been able to spot anything moving but a hare and three birds. If there's kobolds up there they are not on the hill. Of course they could be laired inside"
"Alright, we were in the middle of discussing leading some of the kobolds into an ambush."
"So you mean something like having our swiftest person wander by, get their attention, then run off getting them to chase, leading them into an ambush?"
"'Wandering by' is not exactly what I had in mind, but that's the general idea. We could then either ambush the kobolds giving chase or the others could use the diversion to attack their camp. That second option requires the ones taking care of the distraction to be able to lose the kobolds on their tail though."
If that's the plan, we should be looking for a suitable ambush location though - one that's downwind from the kobolds' camp, otherwise their dogs will sniff us out."
Ran looks around.
"We can probably safely go looking in small groups of two or three. That way, we could go about it more efficiently. Or should we stick with using the shapechangers for reconnaissance?"
He turns to look as Jace and Lucian at the last bit.
"I could probably help you with that... All I need is a direction, sir."
"I'd be 'appy to slink about."
*Jace picks up his bag and weapons. He then turns to Lucian.*
"At first we want to be noticed, but after that is done we want to vanish. I don't know your opinion of mud but there is scarce other things that will help you hide the white of your skin. Look about for some clay dirt and put some in a spare bit of cloth. Once that is done get it moist with some water."
*Jace pulls his boots on higher, and claps, his hands together then rubs them.*
"Shall we?"
*With that Jace starts off to the westward side of the hill.*
ooc: I don't expect that to do anything but it seems a good idea. But I have also always wanted to cover myself with mud and go guerilla....It would be kind of redundant for Jace though. Meanings how he is already the color of dirt. All he has to do is not smile or fall in a hole. The bag has his B sword, Morningstar, Javalin and 50' of silk rope.
Kai says loudly as he makes he way outside of camp.
You comming or what? He says over his shoulder.
"Yes, meet back here after about a couple of hours scouting about."
with that Cassius moves to one of the trees, places his pack against it and stretches out, wrapping himself in his blanket and cloak
.oO(Lets just hope that Jace and Lucian manage not to get themselves killed in the process...)
She runs up next beside Kai and keeps his pace
The elf glances at Anaya for a moment, before looking ahead. As they close in on the objective, the elf slows his pace and become more aware of his surroundings.
.oO(Darkar's in command, with Silmarwen as his second. I shouldn't undercut their authority. Besides, Jace should be able to take care of himself. If he can't handle this himself, he probably shouldn't be here in the first place.)
As Jace and Lucian near the base of the hill, they see little besides trees, undergrowth, and rocks. A rustling sound draws their attention just in time for a large furry shape to hurtle forward and savage Jace with gleaming teeth.
The river blocks the eastern slope, with cliffs down to a narrow, rocky beach. A last beam of light from the setting sun passes briefly over Kai, 135 feet from where Jace and Lucian have just met a rather large wolf...
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 22/29 +1 nonlethal
- Lucian 36/36
- Wolf(?)
I swear my d20 hates you all today...
*Being a little distraced with his thoughts he doesn't notice the wolf until its too late. Jace grits hit teeth when the wolfs fangs pierce his flesh. In a thoughtless reaction he pulls his Bastard sword out grips it with both hands. He brings it around to bear with a snarl, his hair wipping into his face as he swings.*
"Get around on the other side Lucian. It will only last about 20 seconds."
ooc:wasn't sure if Jace had his sword out. But I think it will work fine. Wether he had his sword out or not he would be able to attack this turn.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 22/29 +1 nonlethal
- Lucian 36/36
- Wolf(?) Injured/??
I swear my d20 hates you all today...
OOC: I missed Kai's comment earlier.
Lucian charges out of the underbrush, drawing his sword up in a smooth arc. He narrows his eyes as he finishes his run and thrusts the sword forward. Placing himself on the other side of Jace, he hopes it will leave him in the position for a attack to the lungs.
"Hold on Jace!"
Charge if possible, if not tumble into position to flank the wolf and sneak attack with rapier. +6, +2 flanking?, +2 charging? 1d6 +3d6 sneak attack?
Too damn loud...
The elf then turn his gaze on Anaya, awaiting for a reply.
Howling, the creature retreats eastward from the battle. As it does so, both Jace and Lucian are able to attack it one last time. They both hit, and it falls.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 22/29 +1 nonlethal
- Lucian 36/36
- Wolf(?) Dead/??
*Jace starts off in the same direction as before as if nothing happened.*
He probably found another hole.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 15/29 +3 nonlethal
- Archer
- Noises
- Lucian 36/36
- Dead oversized wolf
Lucian runs behind a nearby tree to get cover from the archers. He waves his hands in a frantic figure eight pattern. He speaks a prayer with a great deal of force and emotion.
"Dear Mother, honored be thy name. Please, grant me your protection. Thank you."
An aura of frantically swirling colour envelops him. He looks about nervously, trying to spot a target.
.oO(I wonder how much luck the other group is having)
*With that annoyed thought Jace dives down to the ground behind a bush or tree. He then pulls out his Javalin and looks for a target. If there is one in range he will hurl it at the offender.*
.oO(Should have brought my shield)
The javelin hits, and with a snarl the gnome lets two more arrows fly at Jace. Both hit, and the gnome smiles with satisfaction.
The underbrush rustles, revealing more of the little reptilian yappers that Jace encountered before, and both Jace and Lucian are struck by small lead bullets.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 8/29 +6 nonlethal (Concealment, 20% miss chance)
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Kobolds
- Lucian 34/36 +1 nonlethal(Cover, +4AC, Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Dead oversized wolf
*With that Jace jumps up and retreats staying behind trees and bushes as much as possible.*
.oO(I feel like a porcupine. i don't want to leave these guys to tell their friends but I can't take much more.)
ooc: bluff to get them to follow into the camp.
Lucian...
He looks over at Anaya again just as he lowers his left hand on the short sword and firmly grips it.
I'm going to help.
Drawing the blade from its sheath, he then scans the trees ahead.
Quickly...or quietly? He says without looking at Anaya.
"Jace! Run faster!"
He reminds himself to keep his head down as he runs.
As they stumble through the underbrush, dodging fallen branches and rocky protrusions, the very plants around them come alive, reaching and grasping for the fleeing pair. Jace and Lucian dodge, twist and hop, avoiding the twining branches and vines, but lose even more forward motion in the process.
The kobolds yap with excitement, bullets flying after them, none striking.
And then, in the distance, come the howls of wolves.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 8/29 +6 nonlethal (Concealment, 20% miss chance)
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Kobolds
- Lucian 34/36 +1 nonlethal(Cover, +4AC, Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Dead oversized wolf
Hampered movement: poor visibility plus undergrowth means 4x movement cost, so Jace moves 15' and Lucian moves 30'. They both saved vs. Entangle, but are now moving at half speed, thus 8' for Jace and 15' for Lucian.
"What ways to attack from ambush do we have at our disposal? If I'm not misinformed, Silmarwen's priestly magic isn't really suited for that kind of offensive purposes. And discounting myself, we don't have a lot of good ranged options. Some of us can shoot well enough, and an ambush doesn't have to be all about hidden archers anyway, but it does mean we'l have to set it up very carefully."
The elf looks towards the priestess, inviting her to pitch in if she has any suggestions, but continues talking to Darkar.
"Can we make sure that the ambush can be initiated from close range? Or otherwise prevent the kobolds from fleeing too easily?"
[elfspeak]"Aid me my friends! We're in danger and badly wounded."[/elf]
"Move Jace! Keep on going until you're out!"
Taking comfort in the swirling light, Lucian brings his sword around in large arcs with the point facing up. His feet dance around in a complex pattern that seems intuitive, the creeping plants never far from his mind.
.oO (Please come soon Anaya and Kai...)
ooc: Total defense and if I can, keep moving towards Jace.
"I was hoping to have the decoys lead to the Kobolds directly into the path of archers while we have the other ambushers waiting to close in from the sides. Although I was still open to suggestions."
*As Jace struggles to get out of the plants one of hte four arrows in his chest is jarred by a branch causing it to twist in the wound, and he cries out in anger.*
[GutteralOrcish]Filthy puny weak gnome. I will eat your soul for this. And it will still be beating.[/]
ooc:Contiunes attempting to escape the entanlgement spell
"Kraaa, wake up sleepy head, trouble's brewing, Lucian is in danger, wake up, wake up!!!!!![/i]
With a jolt Cassius sits up and listens to Crebain, then he calls out for the others
"It appears that Lucain and Jace have been attacked. Crebain hust came flying back with the news. I say we go to their aid before they are beyond our help. Crebain can lead us to their location"
[Edit] seems that Lucians voice is to tiny to be heard :D [/edit]
Takes the end of his bow and begins to draw in the dirt.
"It'll depend on what likely sites the scouts find for an ambush, I guess, but that seems workable. Maybe there's a spot around here that could serve as a cul-de-sac, a small area that can contain the others but where I could escape from. Although that's probably too much to hope for."
When Cassius calls out, Ran looks up sharply.
"Trouble... Quickly, Cassius. Show us the way."
When he has everyones attention Cassius motions to Crebain to lead the way, then follows as quickly as possible, A lightning bolt spell on the tip of his tongue, his rapier lightly tapping his hip, almost as if to reasure the young mage that is there
Ran squats down next to Darkar, longbow across his knees and an arrow at the ready.
"What ways to attack from ambush do we have at our disposal? If I'm not misinformed, Silmarwen's priestly magic isn't really suited for that kind of offensive purposes. And discounting myself, we don't have a lot of good ranged options. Some of us can shoot well enough, and an ambush doesn't have to be all about hidden archers anyway, but it does mean we'l have to set it up very carefully."
"It can be suited for battle, but there are many other things that it can do as well. I can drive away or destroy the creatures of undeath."
Scrambles quickly to the ready, taking the longbow off his back and preparing an arrow.
"Let's make haste, and go to the aid of our companions. Can we make use of Ran's speed in this instance?"
When Cassius sets off, Ran follows closely on the mage's heels.
"Careful not to confuse one of our own with the enemy if you go flinging spells around, master Gaia!"
Anaya looks in bewilderment from the direction of the howling to the direction of their companions voices, then gives up and follows Kai.
Meanwhile, back at the rest of the party... Darkar realizes that they probably can't get to the scouts in time to be of any real help.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 8/29 +7 nonlethal (Concealment, 20% miss chance)
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Kobolds
- Lucian 34/36 +1 nonlethal(Cover, +4AC, Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Dead oversized wolf
Hampered movement: poor visibility plus undergrowth means 4x movement cost, so Jace moves 15' and Lucian moves 30'. They both saved again vs. Entangle, but are now moving at half speed, thus 8' for Jace and 15' for Lucian. Lucian is next to Jace.
"Ah crap."
*He fights even harder to get out of the plants. he speaks in a voice only Lucian can hear.*
"A few more hits and I am gonna pass out. If I fall do what ya can but don't give your life for mine."
Jace, hit by an arrow and a bullet, falls into unconsciousness. Lucian is hit by one sling bullet, the second skimming past.
Kai and Anaya continue to search for Jace and Lucian, while Darkar and the others hurry on as best they can in the darkness.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Anaya 54/54
- Kai 31/31
- Kobolds
- Lucian 33/36 +2 nonlethal(Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Dead oversized wolf
Jace is unconscious. Lucian saves again vs. Entangle, so is able to move as described below. Kai and Anaya are around 100' away still.
Hampered movement: poor visibility plus undergrowth means 4x movement cost, so Jace moves 15' and Lucian moves 30'. They both saved again vs. Entangle, but are now moving at half speed, thus 8' for Jace and 15' for Lucian. Lucian is next to Jace.
.oO(As long as I can see the raven and the others can see me, the risks of running into a horde of kobolds is acceptable compared to maybe not getting to the scouts in time.)
"Call out if you're losing sight of me!"
.oO (Damn.. now that he's gone they're going to go after me!)
Lucian keeps up his spinning sword dance, trying to get himself behind cover.
[ooc= move to cover as possible.]
(elven)"Will do Ran, hopefully you can get there in time."
"Ow."
*With that Jace falls over on his face into the plants which in turn make a move to hold him down.*
The gnome and kobolds yap back and forth to each other in their bizarre speech, and focus their assault on the hapless half-elf. Amazingly, none of their missiles strike him.
Jace snores.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Anaya 54/54
- Kai 31/31
- Kobolds
- Lucian 33/36 +2 nonlethal(Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Dead oversized wolf
Jace is unconscious. Lucian saves again vs. Entangle, so is able to move as described below. Kai and Anaya are around 70' away still.
Hampered movement: poor visibility plus undergrowth means 4x movement cost, so Jace moves 15' and Lucian moves 30'. They both saved again vs. Entangle, but are now moving at half speed, thus 8' for Jace and 15' for Lucian.
[Shout]"You have chosen poorly, gnome. You've attacked a party of Garic's City's Jackals. People know where we are, surrender now, and we shall not summon down the garrison of the city upon you."
Lucian drops his blade and loads his crossbow, with slightly shaking hands. Trying to keep his feet madly dancing away from the vines, he hopes panic isn't evident in his eyes.
As she runs she speaks to Kai
The wolves are most likely heading to where Lucian and Jace are...we need to quicken pace, but let me deal with them, concentrate on finding Jace and Lucian.
"You're in luck, elfy-boy," he sneers. "I won't make a pincushion outta ya, I'll just let ya play with my furry friends, instead."
He gestures, and the plants retreat to normalcy, just as three enormous wolves leap into the area, snarling. Their hackles are raised, but even so they are a good foot taller at the shoulder than Anaya... or maybe it's just the undivided attention they are paying to the half-elf.
The animals growl to each other, and move into position around Lucian.
The gnome speaks to the kobolds, and they all stow their weapons and move around towards Jace.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Anaya 54/54
- Three oversized wolves
- Kai 31/31
- Kobolds
- Lucian 33/36 +2 nonlethal(Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
Jace is unconscious. Lucian saves again vs. Entangle, so is able to move as described below. Kai and Anaya are around 40' away still.
Hampered movement: poor visibility plus undergrowth means 4x movement cost, so Jace moves 15' and Lucian moves 30'. They both saved again vs. Entangle, but are now moving at half speed, thus 8' for Jace and 15' for Lucian.
.oO(Sweet Mother, honored by thy name. Please, take me if I should fall.)
He shakes his hair out of his eyes and levels it at the gnome. Lining his head up in the sight.
"What do you hope to achieve here? There will only be more where I come from. You cannot hold out everybody forever. Why not talk this through?"
Ready action, fire on gnome if anybody moves. Drop crossbow as free action, pick up sword as move.
He turns and continues towards Jace, the kobolds accompanying him. Lucian shoots, and misses. He drops his crossbow and lunges for his rapier where the vine dropped it.
The wolves leap forward at Lucian's movement, biting and snapping, their teeth leaving air currents across his skin, but not connecting.
Anaya and Kai, are just able to discern the activity through the evening gloom.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Lucian 33/36 +2 nonlethal(Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Anaya 54/54
- Three oversized wolves
- Kai 31/31
- Kobolds
Jace is unconscious. Lucian saves again vs. Entangle, so is able to move as described below. Kai and Anaya are around 40' away still.
Hampered movement: poor visibility plus undergrowth means 4x movement cost, so Jace moves 15' and Lucian moves 30'. They both saved again vs. Entangle, but are now moving at half speed, thus 8' for Jace and 15' for Lucian.
"Won't matter if they see the light, we're making more noise then an army of orcs crashing about in the dark like this. At least this way we'll be able to make more speed"
"Piddlyass we may be, gnome. But how about in thousands. Filling your forest with iron shod boots of war. It could be avoided. Damage to your forest could be prevented."
Lucian swings at a wolf in a nearly perfect arc that almost disables the animal. It howls with anguish, and the three dart in again, attempting to rend the half-elf. He is savaged twice.
Within easy arrow-shot now, Kai and Anaya see Lucian staggering under the onslaught of three vicious and very large wolves.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Lucian 18/36 +4 nonlethal(Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Anaya 54/54
- Three oversized wolves, 1 injured
- Kai 31/31
- Kobolds
Lucian took 9 and 8 hp damage, 2 of which converted to nonlethal.
Jace is unconscious. Kai and Anaya are around 10' away.
Hampered movement: Undergrowth means 2x movement cost. Ran could be at the melee in another 20 rounds.
Kai quickly stabs both blades into the dirt before reaching around his back and grabbing the longbow. In one swift motion, the elf draws an arrow, knocks it, and releases.
[Kai will shoot at the wolf Lucian injured (if he saw it) If not, then the wolf he has the best shot of hitting.]
"I was not really bothered, the moon is providing enough light for me. Perhaps we should make more noise as we go? It might make them think we are a larger group? It might make them hesitate since the others are in trouble, and we are not going to get there fast enough."
"Very well, how about a battle Cry? "
Runs along as fast he can as Ran starts to gain ground upon them further.
.oO(Gotta hit him again!)
He savagely pulls the sword out of the wound back into a defensive position then launches it forward again.
The other two wolves continue harassing Lucian, one biting him badly. Lucian fights back, but does not connect.
Kai shoots the third, and turns its baleful eyes upon him.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Lucian 9/36 +5 nonlethal(Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Anaya 44/54
- Three oversized wolves, 1 injured
- Kai 31/31
- Kobolds
Lucian took 10 hp damage, 1 of which converted to nonlethal. Anaya took the full 10 hp damage. Jace is unconscious. Kai is shooting from 10' distance.
Hampered movement: Undergrowth means 2x movement cost. Ran could be at the melee in another 20 rounds.
(Casted Barkskin on self, taking her distance to be able to cast the spell)
"Argh.. Kai.... Get them off me!"
Tumbling and crossing my fingers
Anaya retreats and casts her spell, feeling a tightness through her skin as takes effect. Her opponent follows, teeth gleaming whitely, but she dodges too quickly.
The last wolf leaps forward to attack Kai, vengeance gleaming in its eyes. The elf avoids the attack almost casually, dropping his bow and snatching up his blades. They flash out, carving gashes into the beast.
Lumbering away with the unconscious Jace, the gnome darts a backwards glance, and urges the kobolds on.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Lucian 9/36 +5 nonlethal(Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Anaya 44/54 (Barkskin +2 AC for 1 hour)
- Three oversized wolves, 1 injured
- Kai 31/31
- Kobolds
Hampered movement: Undergrowth means 2x movement cost. Ran could be at the melee in another 18 rounds.
Hold on!!
[Spring Attack]
[Kai will attempt to get the attention of the wolf Lucian is currently engaged with.]
.oO(Please... let this finish it off!)
Anaya bites into her opponents neck, causing minimal damage, but twisting around she throws it to the ground. It scrambles to its feet, biting her in turn, but not before she seizes the opportunity to bite it first.
Kai's wolf manages to bite him, and he decides to rearrange the playing field. Leaping up, he goes forward, slicing down on his wolf as he passes, then runs forward, yelling.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Lucian 1/36 +6 nonlethal(Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Anaya 39/54 (Barkskin +2 AC for 1 hour)
- Three oversized wolves, all injured
- Kai 27/31 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds
Lucian is unconscious.
Hampered movement: Undergrowth means 2x movement cost. Ran could be at the melee in another 18 rounds.
The other two converge on Kai, ripping into him and knocking him to the ground. With both wolves nearly on top of him, he strikes out with his swords, cutting deeply into the one that had so recently dropped Lucian.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Lucian 1/36 +6 nonlethal(Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Anaya 39/54 (Barkskin +2 AC for 1 hour)
- Three oversized wolves, all injured
- Kai 13/31 +3 nonlethal
- Kobolds
Lucian is unconscious.
Hampered movement: Undergrowth means 2x movement cost. Ran could be at the melee in another 16 rounds.
"How about, to arms, and to victory?"
Runs along as fast he can as Ran starts to gain ground upon them further.
"Be my guest, I have my own"
with that, Cassius takes a deep breath and yells on the top of his lungs
"Fot the tower, the city and Daron's honor !!"
So be it...
[Attack directed towards wolf #1 (wolf Lucian was fighting)]
The wolf to Kai's left, that had been attacking Lucian before, leaps back several feet, shaking its head and licking gingerly at its latest injury. The other snarls, and snaps again at Kai. The teeth sink painfully into him, before the masked elf unleashes his fury. The longsword hits its target, and this wolf also backs away, snarling.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Lucian 1/36 +6 nonlethal(Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Anaya 29/54 (Barkskin +2 AC for 1 hour)
- Three oversized wolves, all injured
- Kai 7/31 +4 nonlethal
- Kobolds
Kai, the wolf you intended to target took a five-foot step back, so I put your attacks on the one biting you.
Lucian is unconscious.
Hampered movement: Undergrowth means 2x movement cost. Ran could be at the melee in another 16 rounds.
One rushes right past Kai, and he swings out with his longsword, cutting it down. It falls headlong, and lays twitching.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Lucian 1/36 +6 nonlethal(Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Anaya 29/54 (Barkskin +2 AC for 1 hour)
- Three oversized wolves, two injured & fled, one down.
- Kai 7/31 +4 nonlethal
- Kobolds
Lucian is unconscious.
Hampered movement: Undergrowth means 2x movement cost. Ran could be at the melee in another 14 rounds.
oO(We have to be in time, Lucian must live, I won't lose another friend to those yapping filth)
"Save him" she says with a growl "He'll be able to tell us where the others went."
She closes her eyes and lets healing energy pass through her and into her before changing into her elven form.
She kneels next to Lucian and looks down on the half elf, placing her hands on his chest, as her hands begin to glow, and pours positive energy into him.
Casted Cure Minor on self, Cure Moderate on Lucian
Lucian awakens to find that he yet lives.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Lucian 19/36 (Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Anaya 2/26 (Barkskin +2 AC for 1 hour)
- Three oversized wolves, two injured & fled, one down.
- Kai 7/31 +4 nonlethal
- Kobolds
Hampered movement: Undergrowth means 2x movement cost. Ran could be at the melee in another 13 rounds.
She places her hand on herself once again and sends another surge of healing energy into her and then looks over at Kai and the wolf
"Let's tie him up" She says as she throws him a length of rope "I'm going to need to meditate before I am able to do anything with him."
She checks on Lucian for a moment, bandaging the rest of his wounds that hadn't healed, placing a seal of plant matter on them to prevent infection and then walks over to Kai to check on his wounds
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Gnome Archer injured/??
- Lucian 19/36 (Entropic Shield 20% miss chance)
- Anaya 9/26 (Barkskin +2 AC for 1 hour)
- Three oversized wolves, two injured & fled, one down.
- Kai 7/31 +4 nonlethal
- Kobolds
Hampered movement: Undergrowth means 2x movement cost. Ran could be at the melee in another 13 rounds.
"We're alive?! We're alive!"
He smiles broadly for a minute through the pain, then frowns. He moves to gather his belonging scattered about the clearing.
"Thank you both, for saving me, I owe you alot. We were ambushed by that one wolf and we took it down."
He looks down, slightly embarassed.
"We were ambushed by a gnome and a pair of Kobolds. The gnome cast some forest magic at us, causing the plants to twist at our feet, we were trapped. They knocked Jace out with arrow fire. Then, the gnome sicced his wolves on me while he dragged Jace off."
He looks up.
"You're both wounded. Let me see what I can do to help."
He walks over to Kai., he pulls out his dice from his belt pouch and swirls them in a figure eight. He lightly touches his hand on the wound.
"Dear Mother, honored be thy name. Please, grant your servant the ability to heal the wounds of a friend. Thank you."
"That should help."
He sends healing energy into Kai's wound then turns to Anaya. He frowns appologetically.
"I don't have much more energy to heal today... The only spells I have left, would only really be enough to stop the wounded from dieing when very weak."
ooc: converting bless into Cure Light Wounds.
Initiative and HP:
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Lucian 19/36
- Anaya 9/26 (Barkskin +2 AC for 1 hour)
- Kai 14/31
Hampered movement: Undergrowth means 2x movement cost. Ran could be at the melee in another 13 rounds.
That's quite alright, as long as you are feeling better. I have some healing energy left, though I may need to meditate for a bit to gather more so we are at optimum health, and to see if our friend here can tell us where they took Jace off to.
Don't ever make me do that again... He says for Lucian ears only.
The elf the looks over at Anaya as she finishes tying up the wolf.
You know...we could just follow their trail.
"We could... but wouldn't it be better to go back and get help first? I mean... I like Jace, but in the state we are now it wouldn't be close to fair. We're wounded and they've got numbers on us."
We need to heal up before we do anything like that, plus letting the others know what is going on would be best.
Silmarwen continues running after Darkar and Cassius.
"Let's head back to the others.... If they come back with more we might not be able to hold them off..."
Without really waiting for an answer, he starts hurrying back to camp.
Too close...I can't die...not yet.
"What happened and where is Jace?"
"That should help for now, I will check Kai next I think"
Walking over to the elf she examines his wounds. Noting he is not as seriously hurt as Anaya she uses some lesser healing on him. (Convert Detect Evil to Cure Light Wounds 1d8+5 and Resistance to Cure Minor Wounds)
"It seems that you handled yourself better than her. Try not to open those wounds again, and they should heal well."
Finally making her way to Lucian and judges his wounds to be between Kai and Anaya's. Healing energies again pass from her into the patient. (Convert Detect Undead to Cure Light wounds 1d8+5 and Read Magic to Cure Minor Wounds)
"There hopefully you should be much better now. What of the other, Jace? I do not see him."
- Jace 6/29 +9 nonlethal
- Lucian 32/36
- Anaya 25/26 (Barkskin +2 AC for 1 hour)
- Kai 21/31
Hampered movement: Undergrowth means 2x movement cost.
"Jace and I were ambushed by a wolf, a big one. We dispatched it pretty quickly, but then we were attacked again by two yipping dogthings that look like men as well as a gnome. We tried to run but were set upon by forest magic that impeded our retreat."
He slides his rapier back into its holder and takes a seat.
"The gnome and dog-things lay down bow and sling fire into us. They knocked out Jace. Then.."
He pauses slightly to compose himself.
"They dragged Jace off, and the gnome set three more wolves on me. Kai and Anaya arrived and managed to dispatch one. I guess the others fled. We heard them howling again and came back to you to determine our next step."
Exhausted, the theif hangs his head down.
"What's next, it seems our presence here was anticipated, this sounds like a well laid trap to me. I'm beginning to think our enemy is more organised then we at first thought"
Ran shakes his head in dismay.
"This will likely be a lot harder than we may have hoped for until now. Jace should be our first concern. They took him alive? That means he has use for them, so we can hope they won't kill him before we have a chance to try and spring him from their hands."
We should get moving if we plan to save the human...
After the unexpected remark, Kai leans up against the closest tree and crosses his arms.
It will be very difficult to sneak in for a rescue when the wolves can smell us coming, and can warn the others before we take them out. It seems likely that in order to rescue Jace it will be a fight going in, and depending on their numbers a long and difficult one."
The wolves headed off in that direction. points We had one of them knocked unconscious and I tied it up. I was going to to try to see if could get some info from him, but then we heard the howls of several more off in the distance, and we weren't in any condition to fight again...
She looks over at Kai and gives him a look of concern and then looks back at Darkar
The wolves were very formidable foes and they aren't like any wolves I've seen, much larger than average and have one heck of a bite at that.
She rubs her neck
I'm going to need to gather more energy for my spells before I am able to be of much use to anyone at this point. I have very little healing magic left, and if at all possible I want to have a little talk with one of them.
Ran sighs.
"I don't relish the thought of rushing in unprepared, but we should probably risk it anyway. With any luck - not that we've had much of that so far - Jace is slowing them down sufficiently for us to overtake them before they make it back to wherever they're hiding out. And if those wolves felt forced to flee, maybe they won't have rejoined their masters just yet."
He shakes his head.
"It's a long shot though, very long. What do you think, Darkar?"
Also you said the wolves did the majority of the fighting and fled after sustaining numerous injuries. I would say that part of their forces have been depleted as well. We may be hurting, but they may be more so.
Allowing them time to rest and restock is a disadvantage to us. We have fewer numbers, and fewer resources they can wait us out and whittle our numbers away until we are ineffective. Now is the time to press forward while we still have a fighting chance."
A grim smile crosses Cassius face
"Lets go get Ran."
.oO(Fortune may favour the brave, but she doesn't favour the stupid.)
He chews on his lip.
.oO(I'm glad they didn't ask about when I learned those tricks...)
.oO(Well here is to hoping that the assumptions I made turn out to be correct.)
.oO(For Jace's sake, and for the rest of us, I hope we can catch up with his attackers before they make it back to their hideout...)
"No use going single file, that'd make us all sitting ducks. make sure to cover each other, pair up spell casters with fighters if needs be. Let's see if we can make those overgrown dogs wish they stayed in their denn today"
oO(We better be in time for Jace)
HP and Initiative:
- Lucian 32/36
- Skeletal Kobolds
- Silmarwen 47/47
- Kai 21/31
- Ran 48/48
- Darkar 62/62
- Cassius 37/37
- Anaya 25/26 (Barkskin +2 AC for 1 hour)
There are approximately a dozen skeletons, scattered in an arc through the area blocking your path. I'll be more detailed later, but now I have to get to work!
I assume these creatures are meant to slow us down...
As the clatter of bones draw near, Kai narrows his eyes and scans the arc of skeletons before them.
Let's do this quickly...unless your woman has a spell for just the occasion.
The elf's tone and present expression remain cold as usual but with a hint of anger. Those near him, get the feeling he prefers the first option.
"Show some respect or else I will omit you from this plan, and leave you fend for yourself against these abominations. I will not tolerate statement belittling myself or the others any more out of you."
She give Kai a cold glare.
"Gather around I think I might have a way for us to avoid a fight that is meant to wear us down more. Once I cast we can not attack or touch the undead creatures, but we might be able to sneak past them and gain some time on the live kobolds."
Starts to cast Hide from Undead touching each member of the group, and she makes it obvious that she touches Kai last.
"Alright let's give them a wide berth as we go around them. This should gain us valuable time and we might actually be able to suprise them. If not it should give them cause for concern."
Moves off to the left of the skeletons, at least twenty feet from the nearest one as he continues around behind them, and back on path they were previously taking.
"If we move quickly we may surprise them, I'll send Crebain out to find them"
Cassius whispers a few words to Crebain and the bird flies off in the direction they think the kobolds took jace
"Can you still do the spider web thing that you did at the undead keep? I was thinking that since they like to tie people up with trees and vines, turn about would be a good strategy."
.oO(Even if this is a power of more divine origin than what mortals may aspire to...)
He silently slips after Darkar, Cassius and Kai, who had taken up position closer to the fore.
You always have a way with people... don't you?
She smiles
Just remember that whatever happens you have a friend in me...at least I am one female you haven't upset.... yet. ;)
Caw, I did not see him, but I saw wolves, where the fighting was before.
...
When they reach a safe distance from the skeletons, Kai switches back to his swords.
Turns to Cassius to ask a question
"Can you still do the spider web thing that you did at the undead keep? I was thinking that since they like to tie people up with trees and vines, turn about would be a good strategy."
I know the spell you're talking about, alas, I haven't got it prepared, I do have a few spells to take out their spellcaster though, all I need is one clean shot."
Crebain lands on his shoulder and reports loud enough for Darkar to hear
As Crebain land Darkar waits anxiously for the report.
"That is a good warning to have the wolves went one direction and the gnome headed the other with Jace. Perhaps this might not be so difficult, come on lets hurry on after the gnome."
Turning back north Darkar continues to lead the pursuit.
Ran lets Darkar take the lead as before and follows with an arrow at the ready.
By the way, I was mistaken before. I do have a web spell ready, just been to busy running to focus, I thought you meant that burning web thing, that was not a single spell but a combination. Maybe if I time it right I could do something similar"
Cassius holds the group up for a moment to consider the options
Looking up at the slope in the night, it is covered in brush and vines, with the occasional tree. According to Crebain, the ravine entrance is to the north about 30', while the wolves are some 90' to the south.
Anaya, gazing at the vista, sees some dead brush in a clump near a viny growth, 20' away. She stares, wondering at the scene, knowing that those plants never grow near each other, having quite different needs.
Is marching order Darkar-Cassius, Ran-Kai, then ???
[Whispered]
"What's wrong Anaya, what do you see?"
ooc: Cassius moves side by side with darkar where ever possible
(OOC: Silmarwen is with Lucian and Anaya covering the rear guard.)
Looking up at the slope in the night, it is covered in brush and vines, with the occasional tree.
[whisper]"That looks like an easily defensible place, especially in the dark. We'll have to be careful."[/whisper]
Ran tries to keep an eye out for danger as well as he can by the moonlight, and waits for Darkar to call the strategy.
Marching order looks about right. Ran is paired with Silmarwen, so he won't stray too far from her though.
Those two plant growths there... they never grow near each other.
"That means they are not growing together but someone placed them there to conceal something. An entrance perhaps?"
"Wait here let me check it out before we decide what to do."
Taking out the quarterstaff, Darkar holds it at one end and uses the other as probe. He walks carefully using the quarterstaff to test the ground ahead before he steps.
(OOC: Searching the area leading up to the plants in question using the quarterstaff to look for any pit traps. Then he uses the quarterstaff to check the ground under the plants. Search +9)
The low-roofed, narrow tunnel is quite dark.
"I thought as much that there might be a pit. They seem like a strategic lot trying to gain an advantage before attacking. Why should their base of operations be any less dangerous.
The question remains though did they continue to the ravine or did they go in the small tunnel over there. It would be easier for them to move in the tunnel than us, but it would slow them down if they were taking Jace in with them.
Anaya you think could tell if they went down the tunnel or continued on to the ravine?"
Sniffs the ground and searches for any signs of their opponents or Jace, searching the immediate area up to the entrance
In fact... there are gnomes quite close by inside the tunnel.
"Cassius! What if Jace was in there?"
He draws his sword nervously and looks to Darkar for instruction.
For your sake he had better not be.
He turns to face Lucian and nods.
Stay close...
"Will do."
"The globe is mine to control, it won't hurt jace, even if he is that close to the entrance, which I doubt. Now go do what you're good at Kai, ...Kill"
The elf starts off for the entrance but stops short. He slightly turns his head and looks over at Darkar from the corners of his eyes.
Well...
"Silmarwen, Ran keep a watch out for more trouble. Let's go retrieve Jace, Kai."
Hurridly he moves to the opening to the tunnel being warry of the pit.
Spins his blades ready to deflect any incoming attacks.
He states while he swings both swords around so that the blades run smoothly down his forearm.
He makes his approach to the left side of the tunnel.
.oO(They should save their breath right now....)
.oO(Can he see inside that tunnel with those human eyes? I hope he knows what he's doing...)
When Darkar organizes the troops, he nods and draws his bow taut, waiting for a gnome or kobold to come running out to escape the fire.
[readied action: shoot first gnome or kobold to come out into the open]
The first item of interest, besides the flame sphere a few feet back of the entrance, is the discovery that the narrow, low-roofed tunnel will not permit Darkar and Kai to enter abreast. Single-file is the order of the day.
Although Anaya had not yet posted informing the group of her findings, I'm proceeding with the actions posted by the other players.
.oO(He did want to see what I could do.....)
Darkar maintains a tight defense as he moves into the narrow tunnel.
Total Defense
"I wont be able to look for traps if I'm in back.."
"Take care, Lucian. Someone needs to keep a cool head in there, and the others seem a bit gung-ho. Make sure to come back for us or get out of there when the situation gets too hot for comfort. Remember that Jace likely needs to get patched up some, and our healer is staying behind with me..."
"Keep safe she tells the others as they head for the tunnel."
OOC: Readied action cast bear's endurance on herself at the first sign of trouble.
Ran's voice is tense, but other than that he radiates a focused calm and intense concentration.
.oO(In and out quickly, just make sure we do what we can for Jace. We'll be back to eradicate those gnomes when we're better prepared...)
Using the light from the sphere, Darkar keeps an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. OOC: Search +9
.oO(Is everyone just ready to commit suicide or something?)
Sighs
We all need to keep a clear head...I know everyone is anxious to get in there and destroy these things and get Jace back but acting on impulse and not thinking first is going to get all of us killed.
She looks at Cassius
I say we stay with our partners.
Turns to Lucian
Lucian you can stay with me and Kai if you would like.
The three of us should be in front. I have a bit of an advantage for the fact that I can see somewhat better and I will be able to track Jace's scent. Kai will be a fighting support and Lucian can help with the traps, like he said.
Looks at Darkar for approval of them going first
Cassius presses on, ignoring Anaya's plan. With four of them already in the tunnel, he condiders the plan moot until they reach a place where they can actually reconfigure their formation
"Good plan Anaya but it'll have to wait, for now you're stuck watching Lucian's back, Sorry"
.oO(The way the group is acting isn't working. Too may hands in the pocket...)
He looks back at Anaya, then to Darkar.
.oO(Why are they talking so loud? The whole tunnule will know what we're planning.)
He looks at his leather shoes and shakes his hair out of his eyes. It's starting to get frustrating.
.oO(I really should tell them....
But what if I offend them?
That'll be the least of our problems before long.
But...
just say it.)
He raises a hand.
"I have an idea. Lets all talk really loud about our plans in the common tounge where the kobolds and gnomes can hear us."
(Elven)"This is Darkar's gig... he's bossman while we're here. And why are we speaking in common here? Honestly? The gnomes will all know where we are now. That, and what are planning to do. How about we stick to elven from now on?
(Whisper)And be quiet? Please?"(/elven)
He looks at his shoes slightly embarassed by the outburst. He looks forwards and starts marching further into the cave.
[elven=sarcastically]I don't know that it even matters now. It's not like a barrage of people charging into a cave like this isn't going catch any attention to us[/elven]
She growls under her breath
A crossbow bolt clatters against the wall to his side, and Darkar sees a gnome in the doorway opposite him. There are no doors to the doorways, and the gnome turns and flees, dodging to the left after fifteen feet.
Marching order:
- Darkar
- Kai
- Cassius
- Anaya
- Lucian
"The gnome went down that hallway and to the left after about fifteen feet. We probably should be wary I did not see others. No telling what traps could be in here. Lucian if you still want to go ahead to search for traps there is room for you to go ahead now."
If Lucian goes first Darkar follows right behind him. Otherwise Darkar continues in the lead.
"You know on second thought I do not think we can all fit in this room, and avoid the sphere. I will go on ahead to see what is next. Follow as you like."
He moves through the room left around the sphere and then follows the path that the gnome took. Ducking low before he goes to the left to try and throw off any potential shots from a crossbow.
Cassius has been keeping the sphere five feet ahead of Darkar, so it is now in the fifteen foot east-west tunnel, while Darkar remains in the round chamber. Darkar can hear some speech in the distance, but not in any detail.
"Of all the blasted luck....." he mutters to himself
Darkar spends 7 rounds raising the portcullis. Only Darkar and Kai are in the chamber, and Anaya is outside between Ran and Silmarwen. The tunnels are short and narrow, causing all party members to move awkwardly, stooped over. All are at -4 AC and -4 to Attack.
"Keep alert that tunnel looks cramped. I wonder if the wolves would have a hard time moving through?" she ponders
(Elven)"Probably, they were larger than Anaya in her wolf form..."
"This is taking to long, if Jace weren't down there I'd just collapse the tunnel and leave it at that. I hate having to work in such cramped places, hardly room enough to move my hands and cast a spell, let alone wield a rapier."
Cassius readies his crossbow
HP and Initiative:
- Anaya 53/54
- ? ??/??
- ? ??/??
- Silmarwen 47/47
- Ran 48/48
Darkar leads his team into the tunnels, listening intently as they move along the smooth stone floor. Cassius finds time to wonder if he really could collapse the well-crafted stone walls and ceiling, cramped as it is. Sounds echo softly down to them all, a clink of metal, shuffling feet, a whispered word.
They are not alone... Darkar stops before entering the cross-tunnel, eyes flicking back and forth as he seeks hints of what awaits the group.
The tunnel itself reveals no clues, though the noises heard have them all in a state of alertness, and Darkar is sure the enemy lurks just ahead.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 37/37
- ? ??/??
- Darkar 62/62
- Lucian 32/36
- Kai 21/31
- ? ??/??
The ? entries are the ones Darkar is sure lurk just around the corners.
"I recommend not going into that tight tunnel Ran. We will be fighting at a disadvantage. However if we stay here with the tunnel at our backs we can keep them from totally surrounding us, and still have the option of going down the tunnel should the need arise."
.oO(This is a trap... and we're walking right into it. Willingly...)
"I recommend not going into that tight tunnel Ran. We will be fighting at a disadvantage. However if we stay here with the tunnel at our backs we can keep them from totally surrounding us, and still have the option of going down the tunnel should the need arise."
Ran steadies his heartbeat, which had increased at the sound of approaching danger, and draws the string of his bow to lightly kiss the fletchings of his nocked arrow.
"You are right. Moreover, we need to keep this exit open for the others, so they can make a safe retreat once they have found Jace."
.oO(*If* they find him, and hopefully alive...)
"Anaya, can you detect anyone lurking out there? Silmarwen, if you have a means at your disposal to create more light once they attack, that would be of great help..."
[readied action to shoot first opponent that Ran can see and identify as an enemy]
Sniffs the air and perks her ears to the left and the right, listening... trying to pinpoint a location.
Sling bullets and crossbow bolts begin to rain down around the group, and Ran is struck by a bolt, his hands occupied with his bow. Anaya is struck twice, while Silmarwen is well served by her armor.
Silmarwen prays for vigor, while Ran turns in search of a target. He sees a gnome crossbowman, and fires twice, hitting once.
HP and Initiative:
- Anaya 48/54
- Gnomes ??/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Silmarwen 47/47
- Ran 47/48
Ran takes 1hp damage, Anaya takes 5.
Ran doesn't like risking the kobolds using their numbers to split them up, but he realizes they cannot afford staying pinned against the tunnel entrance to serve as target practice.
"We should keep an eye on each other, but we have to take the fight to them!"
He drops his bow behind him and goes for the gnome he just shot, trying to drive his shoulder in its face.
[charge attack - +13 to hit, damage 1d10+1/*2, subdual; AC for the round: 20; position presumably adjacent to both goblins, not adjacent to the kobold]
Silmarwen moves after Ran, she stops when she comes in striking distance of the last Kobold by the gnomes and lashes out with her longsword. Her strike is a fluid motion to slice across the arms of the reptilian creature, she then repostions her shield to give Anaya room to come and attack the gnomes. (+7 1d8+1 19-20 x2) OOC:The spell was Bear's Endurance
(elven)"Get ready, I am going to try and make some room here, push through if a hole opens up."
Quickly as he can unleashes the fury of his blades on the fool holding a crossbow.(+10/+10/+5 1d6+6 +2 rapier 1d6+4 +1 short sword)
"Come on try and reload I dare you little tin man."
Calm down Lucian!
Darkar's opponents drop their crossbows, and he is stabbed by the armored gnome's sword. He retaliates, cutting into the smaller gnome twice, but without dropping him. More green lights slam into him, then the small gnome stabs him with a silvery dagger.
Lucian runs out of the tunnel, staggering into the fresh air only to hear the sounds of battle here, as well. Kai calls after him, then thrusts futilely around the corner at the armored gnome. An arrow sails past, unimpeded.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 37/37
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 29/62 +6 nonlethal
- Kobold ??/??
- Lucian 32/36
- Kai 21/31
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
Darkar takes 17 hp damage and 4 nonlethal, plus I adjusted a previous error. Magic missiles bypass damage conversion.
Missiles rain down over the trio, and Anaya is struck again.
Silmarwen cuts into her target kobold, and it falls. Ran slams into the injured gnome, and knocks it unconscious.
HP and Initiative:
- Anaya 46/54
- Gnomes ??/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)
- Ran 47/48
Anaya takes 2hp damage. 'x'=dead, 'u'=unconscious
(+7/+2 1d8+1 19-20 x2)
The elf's statement ends with a quick twist of his head as an arrow whistles past him.
That one is going to die for that.
[Kai will slash out with both blades until Darkar makes a decision.]
Switching the spin of his blades he fights defensively as he backs out of the position he is in. (Figthing defensively expertise for 5 AC+8)
"The gnomes supposedly are in charge. If we take them out and maybe a couple more of the kobolds, the rest might flee!"
[5-ft step towards the remaining gnome, flurry of blows +9/+9/+9/+4, 1d10+1/*2 subdual, AC 22]
[elven]
"Kai, Darkar, fall back, I've got the corridor covered"
Cassius aims his crossbow towards the end of the tunnel Darkar and Kai are in
Lucian stands indecisively just outside the tunnel entrance, and the kobolds send another volley of sling bullets at the group. Both Anaya and Silmarwen are struck, and Silmarwen tries to provide some cover for the wolf. She slices down the kobold that was trying to spear Anaya.
HP and Initiative:
- Anaya 44/54
- Gnomes unconscious/??
- Lucian 32/36
- Kobolds ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
Anaya takes 2hp damage, Silmarwen takes 3. 'x'=dead, 'u'=unconscious.
Cassius and Darkar avoid the worst of the attack, but Kai is hit full-on. Standing outside the tunnel entrance still, Lucian dodges but feels his hair stand on end as the air around him crackles.HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 28/37
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 29/62 +6 nonlethal
- Kobold Spellcaster ??/??
- Kai 3/31
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
Cassius takes 9 hp damage, Kai takes 18 hp damage. My apologies for the earlier error. Kai, I've been reminded there is no Dmg. Con. for Lightning Bolts.
.oO(Ow...)
The theif takes steps back 10 feet to the north of the door and waits for any Kobolds or gnome steps out, he then lunges at them throwing himself at their throat in a swirl of elvish profanities.
Anaya snaps again at her Kobold, again without effect. Ran's gnome tries to shoot him, but misses, and pays for it with a severe pummeling which sends him into unconsciousness.
Dodging the gnome's bolt and dispatching him swiftly, Ran sees the continued barrage of projectiles raining down on Silmarwen and Anaya. He moves to position himself between the two females and their assailants, ready to deal with the close-by kobold if the priestess or druid don't manage to do so first.
[move towards a position somewhere as indicated, provided S and A stay more or less where they are - the goal is to provide as much soft cover as possible. If the kobold is still standing by the time Ran's init comes up, standard attack to put it out of its misery (+11, 1d10+1/*2 subdual, AC 22).
That *cough* felt great...*huff*...One more like it *breaths in* and I'm done.
While staggering, Kai looks back with blood dripping from his chin.
Lucian! *kaff* I need assistance!*huff*
(elven)"Quickly get out you are just waiting to take another shot like that!!!"
He continues to maintain his defensive withdrawal out of the cave.
(Expertise for 5 and figthing defensively +8 AC)
(Elven)"Lady Silmarwen, Kai's hurt bad.... We need your help over here!"
HP and Initiative:
- Anaya 39/54
- Gnomes unconscious/??
- Lucian 32/36
- Kobolds ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
Anaya takes 5hp damage. 'x'=dead, 'u'=unconscious.
Ran, what did you want to do after all?
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 8/37
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 29/62 +6 nonlethal
- Kobold Spellcaster ??/??
- Kai -17/31
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
Cassius and Kai take 20 hp damage.
Ran, what did you want to do after all?
.oO(Damn is he? Not looking too good down two members now.)
(All movement to get Kai and Darkar out of cave)
KAI!!!!! NOOOO!!!!!
She rushes to Darkar as he carries Kai's limp body, staying by his side as they rush to exit the cave
.oO(Please don't be so... please....)
[ooc: Cassius uses his last remaining healing potion ]
Disturbed by the noises from the tunnel, Anaya wonders what could be going on, and regrets her inability to see the action inside.
Darkar squeezes in next to Kai, and fumbles for a decent grip with which to drag the unconscious elf. As he braces himself to pull his comrade to safety, the kobold unleashes yet another arc of doom. Darkar presses himself against the smooth stone blocks of the wall, sucking his stomach in as far as it will go, and once again avoids the blast of electricity. Kai is helpless to defend himself, and Cassius manages to avoid the worst of the blast. Silmarwen is quickly there, rendering aid.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 28/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 29/62 +6 nonlethal
- Kobold Spellcaster ??/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 32/36
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Kai -20/44
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
Cassius gets 3hp from the potion, loses 8 to the lightning bolt, and regains 25 from Silmarwen. Kai is hit for 16hp.
Ran is torn between the obvious predicament Darkar and the others are in and dealing with the kobolds that still keep them pinned close to the entrance of the underground lair, but if his retreating brothers-in-arms really are in deep trouble they need safe passage to get away and there is precious little the elf can do inside the cramped corridor.
[if the remaining kobolds outside don't beat a retreat yet, Ran will charge the closest one (+13 to hit, damage 1d10+1/*2, subdual; AC for the round: 20); if they do, Ran moves to the tunnel entrance to try and cover his friends' retreat if possible]
The elf lets out a howl as pain explodes throughout his entire body. His vision quickly blurs as his legs give out. Ages seem to pass as his battered body falls to the ground.
.oO( This is it...I'm dying...)
A cloud of dust is lifted from the earth ad he heavily drops. Darkness quickly engulfs his vision and all feeling is lost. While floating in the black void, a distance scream barely reaches him.
.oO( Who's that? Who would be upset over my death...Oh thats right. It's you Anaya isn't it?)
Kai moves what he thinks is his hands towards his face but sees nothing but darkness.
.oO( You would have been better off never knowing me...Ughh...how pathetic. I get nothing do I...not even my revenge. Idiot.)
.oO( My life has been nothing but a failure...it only makes sense that I die as one. Gamis...I wish I could have s........)
The remaining of his being disappears from the void as the last bolt strikes his unconscious body. All that is left is the dead silence.
(elven)"SNAP OUT OF IT! OTHERS LIVES STILL HANG IN THE BALANCE KEEP FIGHTING!!!
"They killed him...."
.oO(Kai... I'm sorry I failed you...)
Darkar's shout rouses him to conciousness, he feels angry at Darkar for a minute.
.oO(He's right though.)
He levels his blade at the one of the reptilian archers.
"You shall all die, now!"
He charges across the clearing and swipes at the Archer's throat while launching his other hand backwards to pull back momentum.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 28/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 29/62 +6 nonlethal
- Kobold Spellcaster ??/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Kai -20/44
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
Lucian is hit for 1hp +1 nonlethal.
She howls and an anger grows within, the howl changing into a low growl enough to make any animal want to run in fear.
[elven]Mother, grant me the power of an arrow struck true[/elven]
(casts true stike)
She rushes in, attacking the closest kobold
Anaya, enraged, prepares to attack the nearest kobold, running to Lucian's side.
The angry Jackal bursts from the tunnel, quite unhappy with matters, and exhorts his troops to action.
With Darkar out of the way, the kobold spellcaster sends more of the energy balls at Cassius. All three strike with arcane inevitability, burning into his flesh.
Lucian, roused from his dread by Darkar's shout, and with an uncanny certainty of Kai's doom, rushes the kobold stone-throwers. He cuts into it, but it stands its ground, dropping the sling and drawing its spear.
The other kobolds attempt to take Lucian down with their slings, but none hit, and when Ran pummels his target into unconsciousness the rest begin to retreat. Silmarwen also turns her wrath on the kobolds. One drops, bleeding from the ears, while the other stands helplessly drooling.
With Darkar out of the way, the furious mage decides to return the same as he got, sending a lightning bolt back at the spellcaster. The kobold is slammed into the wall behind by the force of the crackling bolt.
The armored gnome steps forward, grabbing the kobold, and dragging it from sight.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 19/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 29/62 +6 nonlethal
- Kobold Spellcaster down/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Kai -20/44
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
Cassius is Magic-missiled for 9.
"That's all I can do for now........ to give us a little breather...... Their spellcaster ....more powerfull than...... I anticipated........ I think I knocked him down ...........pretty hard with that .......lightning spell .......... He is ............prime target."
The pain in his chest is preventing any further speech for now as Cassius fights of a spasm that contorts his face.
.oO(Gah....)
He sweeps it back around him and aims a swing to the abdomen. His grey sweater gets a bit on it, but that's not his main concern right now.
.oO(When Mundavi asked me if I'd ever killed, I didn't think I'd acxtually have to.)
Anaya should be able to catch the kobold, unless it was some other kobold she was going after?
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 19/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 29/62 +6 nonlethal
- Kobold Spellcaster down/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Kai -20/44
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
Cassius is Magic-missiled for 9.
"Catch."
He plants his feet against the momentum, but allows his arm to carry the momentum into his toss, towards the small of the reptilian's back.
"If you want to be a hero, Cassius, be a smart one - take a breather and let Silmarwen take care of those injuries."
His wry tone is meant to take the edge of the seriousness of the situation. The elf has seen Darkar pull Kai out of the tunnel and, while he doesn't know how bad it is yet, he realizes his comrade didn't look like he was going to get up again.
.oO(I hope one of the magical healers got to him in time. Compared to what they're capable of my mundane skills won't be of any help, so his fate probably lies in their hands...)
Once past Cassius, he continues more carefully until he comes to the sticky strands of Cassius' web. There he halts and tries to make out what their enemies are doing.
[Move as close to the web as possible, running at first and more cautiously once inside the tunnel; Listen +15; Spot +5]
(Tis ok Sche..I guess I am better at hiding than I thought :P)
She sighs and there is more than a hint of remorse over losing a comrade, albeit not a well liked one. Chanting she channels some healing energy into Darkar and then some more into Cassius.
(Magic Vestment converted to Cure Serious Wounds 3d8+8 for Darkar, and next round Owl's Wisdom converted to Cure Moderate Wounds 2d8+8 for Cassius)
(elven) "Careful movement is severly hindered, and there are at least six in the tunnel by my guess."
Cassius reaches past Ran to fill the tunnels with webbing, to the dismay of the denizens there. Unhappy cries and yips attest to the success of his spell.
Back on the hillside, Anaya pursues her target, catching and killing it on the border of a thick tangle of berry vines. She is now on the far side of the hill, out of sight of the rest of her group. Small trails through the berries show where the two other kobolds have vanished.
With the fleeing kobolds gone, Darkar shoots at the stunned ones, hitting and killing one of them.
You are halfway through round 8, and Lucian is next up. If you want to change your action, go ahead.
HP and Initiative:[/size]
- Cassius 19/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 51/62
- Kobold Spellcaster down/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Kai -20/44
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
(elven)"Was that the web magiks? If so let's burn them we planned to do that at the undead keep right?"
(+14 1d8+3 if it does not drop, fires again)
.oO(Regroup first, see to the wounded, then we can push on... I hope none of the others will be pursueing those kobolds too far. That'd be a waste of time, and they could run into trouble like the patrol did.)
The elf goes into the open again and looks around to see if everyone's accounted for. When he sees Kai's body still lying on the ground, his fears are confirmed.
"Is Kai gone?"
.oO(May his soul be reborn to a happier life...)
"Is Kai gone?"
"I believe either the second or third bolt of lighting did him in. Darkar said he was gone for certain after the third one."
Shoots again at the next stunned Kobold. He sees Cassius do something vaguely familar and thinks of the webbing.
(elven)"Was that the web magiks? If so let's burn them we planned to do that at the undead keep right?"
(elven) "Aye, it is but I won't burn it yet, it will keep our back clear for a little while and hopefully get some of them worked in a little deeper if they try to come through, then we send a few torches hurtlling into the web"
"Ran can you ready a few torches? we want to set the web on fire along with any unlucky yapper caught in it after we had time to catch our breath that is"
"No less than you would do to me."
He turns and sees Anaya gone.
"Don't go too far Anaya."
"Ran can you ready a few torches? we want to set the web on fire along with any unlucky yapper caught in it after we had time to catch our breath that is"
"Certainly. Let's not take too long catching our breath though, Jace is still in there. How long are these webs going to burn? I really don't want to stand here waiting for half an hour while who knows what is being done to Jace..."
Ran retrieves a pair of torches from his pack, but doesn't light them until they're in agreement it's the best course of action.
Silmarwen continues her efforts at healing the group, affording some relief to Cassius, while Ran readies some torches.
Darkar, much to his frustration, is unable to target the last kobold, as it vanishes into darkness and the protection of the hill itself.
Lucian, my pink & purple semi-translucent d20 hates you
. Darkar, the kobold went to the other side of the hill, gaining cover.HP and Initiative:[/size]
- Cassius 29/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 51/62
- Kobold Spellcaster down/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Kai -20/44
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
Looks around for Anaya, and signals for Lucian to return the enterance. He takes a moment to pick up his weapons and sheath them, and then keeps his bow in hand.
Ran is not happy with the plan. He'll follow the majority, or even abide by Darkar's decision alone if it comes down to it, but he's not going to just go along and not voice his concerns.
This is the only way I can think of to try and even out the terrain disadvantage we are suffering. Even if Jace was just fifty feet ahead of us, we could not get to him before they killed him. As for another exit I am not sure, but there might be smoke we could see to indicate another exit and we could head around to there while the fire still burns."
Ran sighs dejectedly, but accepts the inevitable. He hands Darkar and Cassius a torch each, clearly unwilling to do the grisly task himself.
(ooc: Cassius casts stoneskin obviously)
She looks back to the others and then back to the trail
.oO(Darkar would kill me if I went off alone....)
She pauses for a moment
.oO(But they killed him!! Those dirty rotten no good for nothing abominations of nature!!)
AHHHHH!!!!!!
She howls, trying to let go of all her feelings and releasing the tention that swells within her for her friend's death
.oO(Stupid.)
He walks over to the nearest one, and grabs it by the throat and hauls it over to Darkar. He winces at the strange feeling of it's skin and its rank smell.
"What're we doing with these Darkar?"
(Elven)"We need one of the gnomes incase this plan fails to interrogate for further information. Do what you think best with the others."
Grabbing the unconscious kobold like a giant rag doll, Lucian drags it back to Darkar.
.
HP and Initiative:[/size]
- Cassius 29/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 51/62
- Kobold Spellcaster down/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Kai -20/44
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
"Why not use them as sheilds for when we go in next time. Better they die than us."
He looks down the tunnel with a sigh. He sits down besides the little creep.
"Darkar said others still live, and Kai didn't come out. He's dead isn't he?
(Elven)"Cassius if you could there is not room for both of us to safely light the webbing."
(elven) "Don't worry my friend, the webbing is thick enough to provide cover if you walk into the corridor, at least until we've burned a good portion of it. We'll have to light them by hand. I used my fire spell before and i don't want to take 20 or 30 minutes to relearn the spell, that would give our opponents the same advantage."
With the stone skin in place Cassius takes the second torch from Darkar and moves into the tunnel, throws the first torch into the web, steps back and waits for the conflagration to end
[SIZE=1]"Darkar said others still live, and Kai didn't come out. He's dead isn't he?[/SIZE]
(elven)"Unfortunately he did not make it. I noticed between healing the others that several of the kobolds were running in the same direction. Did that seem the case to you?"
Web burns at 5' per round.
HP and Initiative:[/size]
- Cassius 29/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 51/62
- Kobold Spellcaster down/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Kai -20/44
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
(elven)"Careful unless they are willing to brave more flames those caught in the web can only come our direction until the fire dies out."
Hearing Silmarwen's comments he turns to Lucian and Silmarwen.
(elven)"Retreated all in the same direction did they? That suggests a fall back point, probably near another exit of the tunnel. We should check that out, but I do not want them to sneak out this way while we go the other direction. Someone should stay here."
"Respectfully Darkar, spliting up has not seemed to work in the past. It's like those stories that the famous bard Hanna tells about a group of young adventurers going off into the dark and scary unknown when the daring leader, Freyd, suggests they split up.
Someone always manages to get kidnapped. That's already happened. Can we please stay together? They've already taken Jace when we were alone, but we drove them back when in numbers."
"I just don't want anybody of ours hurt."
Ran retrieves both Kai's and his own pack, as well as his bow, and quickly follows the others.
(OOC: Darkar, Cassius, Silmarwen, Ran, Anaya, Lucian sound like an acceptable marching order pictured below?)
"Good thinking about the potion Miss, I checked him for anything else that might be enchanted, we don't want to leave anything behind for that scum.
"Crebain, that fire will die down in 40 minutes or so. If we're not back by then come find me and the others. No heroics.."
order works for me
She keeps herself collected knowing that it is for a better cause in finding Jace, but keeps herself separated from any conversation
Crebain caws his concern, but takes up a vantage spot, while the others loot Kai's corpse.
Kai was carrying: heavy mace, light mace, longsword, short sword, longbow, arrows (60), daggers (2), flint and steel, grappling hook and two 50' coils of hemp rope, oil (5 vials), vials of some substance (4), sunrods (2).
HP and Initiative:[/size]
- Cassius 29/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 51/62
- Kobold Spellcaster down/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
(elven)"We should try to be as quiet as possible, and if we get the drop on them I want to try and concetrate a volley of arrows on the gnomes. Especially those wearing little or no armor. They will be the easier targets. After the first volley spread out quickly we do not want to be caught in that tangling of plants that they can do. The gnomes will be the primary targets, the kobolds have run before, so I think they might decide to run if we take out the leaders, and it might be an easier time for us."
.oO(How am I going to explain this to Mundavi.... he's going to be sooo mad.)
.
HP and Initiative:[/size]
- Cassius 29/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 51/62
- Kobold Spellcaster down/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
.oO(This is all taking too much time. I understand we can't just storm in and expect to be able to rescue Jace and walk out unscathed - Kai is the unfortunate proof of that - but we're not getting anywhere like this.)
He resigns himself to stick to the plan though, as far as they have one, and follows Darkar as silently as possible, eyes open to spot any lurking gnomes or kobolds before those see them in turn.
.oO (I've lost Kai, who besides being my friend was a possible enforcer in the making and I've just met Jace...)
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 29/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 51/62
- Kobold Spellcaster down/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
.oO(I'll just bet the other entrance is even more cramped than the main one, and we'll have to crawl through that thicket to get to it. I mean, it figures.)
Raising his eyebrows questioningly he points first at his nose, ostentatiously sniffing, and then towards the bushes - is that where the trail is leading?
(OC: I'm of on a holiday for the next week so please try to keep Cassius alive :D :D)
Blue in the map below is the river. 'r' is 'ravine', 'b' is 'berries'.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 29/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 51/62
- Kobold Spellcaster down/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
Eyeing the rocky ravine they're apparently going to have to descend, the elf decides the slope shouldn't be anything they can't handle - no ropes necessary to prevent them from making that descent rather more rapidly than desired. Still, he takes his right hand off of the string of his bow to provide extra support and make it easier to maintain his equilibrium. He follows the leader, staying approximately at the same distance, ready to cover the others with suppressive bowshots as well as possible.
[elven]I wouldn't have gone off after them, straying myself from the group. What would of happened should I of went and gotten ambushed?[/elven]
Darkar leads the group to the ravine, and sees that the eastern end has been dammed, keeping the river out at normal levels.
Blue in the map below is the river. 'r' is 'ravine', 'b' is 'berries', 'c' is 'cliff'.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 29/37
- Anaya 39/54
- Armored gnome ??/??
- Darkar 51/62
- Kobold Spellcaster down/??
- Gnomes (outdoors)unconscious/??
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Kobolds (outdoors) ??/??
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Ran 47/48
- Gnome ??/??
- Gnome injured/??
- Kobolds ??/??
- Gnomes ??/??
[elven]I wouldn't have gone off after them, straying myself from the group. What would of happened should I of went and gotten ambushed?[/elven]
"Good thinking." Ran nods once, to underline the importance of the group staying together. "It looks like this way is more promising anyway, considering that dam must be built for a purpose - like preventing an entrance from being flooded. Can you pick up their scent again here, or didn't they come this way?"
As Darkar steps among the rocks, he sees that some of the rocks and sticks are actually skeletons. They rise up, readying their slings.
Blue in the map below is the river. 'r' is 'ravine', 'b' is 'berries', 'c' is 'cliff', 's' is 'skeleton'.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 29/37
- [size=1]Skeletons
- Darkar 51/62
- Ran 47/48
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Anaya 39/54
.oO(This really is not what I meant when I said quiet......
)(+14 1d6+3, x2 bludgeoning)
turn undead (1 of 4, 1d20+3 check, 2d6+9 damage)
(elven) "It seems they do not appreciate our attempts to be quiet."
Blue in the map below is the river. 'r' is 'ravine', 'b' is 'berries', 'c' is 'cliff', 's' is 'skeleton'.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 29/37
- Skeletons
- Darkar 51/62
- Ran 47/48
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Anaya 39/54
.oO(What am I doing?)
[elven]"The Mother supports the bright Son in his cause. Begone. Your time is done."
Aiding Silmarwen.
Blue in the map below is the river. 'r' is 'ravine', 'b' is 'berries', 'c' is 'cliff'.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 29/37
- Darkar 51/62
- Ran 47/48
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Anaya 39/54
.oO(Pay attention! I should never allow myself to be surprised like this...)
"The good news is that this would indicate we're on the right track. The bad news is our enemy probably knows."
(elven)"Perhaps, but lets not go trouncing about and keep announcing our presence. I would prefer not try and dodge any more lighting or glowing orbs today."
At the ravine, Darkar leads his group into the rocks. Silmarwen, Lucian at her side, is stymied by the uncertain footing. Lucian reaches to assist her, and is temporarily stuck as well. The other move along carefully, and Anaya smells a trail leading to a shadowed opening.
Berry vines overhang it, but only enough to obscure it from ready sight.
Blue in the map below is the river. 'r' is 'ravine', 'b' is 'berries', 'c' is 'cliff', 'T' is 'tunnel'. The opening is actually in the cliff face, but there wasn't a good way to show that.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 29/37
- Darkar 51/62
- Ran 47/48
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Anaya 39/54
.oO(Hopefully we'll be able to get to Jace soon now... We've lost far too much time already.)
(elven)"What another tunnel? I hope we have a better plan than the last one?"
[size=1]"And I forgot to bring my kobold sheild."[/size]
Anaya is sure this tunnel is used by both gnomes and kobolds, and peering past her Darkar sees that there is a narrow ledge along the right-hand side. The tunnel would not allow a human to stand fully upright, but it is not uncomfortably short, like the gnome tunnels they were in before.
Fresh water flows through a channel on the left of the ledge, entering via a pipe laid from the river.
Blue in the map below is the river. 'r' is 'ravine', 'b' is 'berries', 'c' is 'cliff'. Anaya is in front of the tunnel opening.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 29/37
- Darkar 51/62
- Ran 47/48
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Anaya 39/54
(elven)"There is a little more room to move here, however Anaya says that there is a narrow ledge. Be careful with your movements, or if you are unsure move slower."
He then turns back to the tunnel opening, putting away his bow he draws his rapier and short sword. He maintains a tight defensive posture incase something manages to catch him off guard.
(Expertise +5)
Ran sighs inwardly but leaves his bow and quiver outside, making sure they can't accidentally end up in the water, and takes his place in line with the others following Darkar.
[how deep is the channel?]
Darkar finds a closed door in the tunnel wall, seventeen feet from the entrance. The tunnel, with ledge, continues beyond his vision's reach.
.
HP and Initiative:
- Cassius 29/37
- Darkar 51/62
- Ran 47/48
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 8 minutes)+3 nonlethal
- Anaya 39/54
Ran motions for Darkar to open the door cautiously and prepares himself to rush in in case the situation warrants it.
(Move Silently +11, Listen +11)
Whoever is speaking is not very close by, though still near enough to be heard.
Search +9
In other words, it swings away from Darkar.
(Casts guidance before attempt.)
.oO(We'll have to commit fully as we go in and hope for the best. Better not find ourselves in over our heads...)
"(Elven)[size=1]"Here we go..."[/size]
Closing his eyes, he kicks the door open and rushes inside.
Two gnomes are in the guard chamber, taken by surprise by Darkar's sudden appearance.
HP and Initiative:
- Ran 47/48
- Anaya 39/54
- Darkar 51/62
- Gnomes
- Cassius 29/37
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 7 minutes)+3 nonlethal
(+16 1d6+6 +3d6)
"Take them out quickly, it seems we have an element of surprise rigth now"
Ran, speeding down the corridor, discovers the 20 x 30' room holds two gnomes, three kobolds, and various furnishings. It seems to have been a communal living area, with two long tables and a number of bedrolls. A door is in the south wall, nearest the west wall. He also passed four doors in the corridor.
Alerted by the noises, the two gnomes shoot at Ran, both missing. Black scorch marks cover parts of the walls and floor in this room, and a dead kobold on the floor attests to the recent effects of Cassius' burnt webbing.
HP and Initiative:
- Gnome injured
- Armored Gnome
- Ran 47/48
- Kobolds
- Anaya 39/54
- Darkar 51/62
- Cassius 29/37
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 7 minutes)+3 nonlethal
He runs to the first door and flings it open looking for their missing member.
.oO(Dear mother he's fast...)
He rushes to find a spot where he can flank if something opens up. Seeing an opening he lunges for the kidneys.
Black scorch marks cover parts of the walls and floor in this room, and a dead kobold on the floor attests to the recent effects of Cassius' burnt webbing.
.oO(That door over there must lead to the area Cassius webbed and burned down... Probably nothing to fear from that direction then, but I'll have to try and keep these guys from getting away through there, if the fire's stopped burning.)
"Someone keep an eye on those doors behind me! We have to avoid getting overrun by superior numbers!"
Ran moves around to cover the other exit as best as possible and attacks whoever is nearest, cringeing when Cassius unleashes his deafening blast.
[move around/past gnomes/kobolds to get between them and the door, tumbling (guaranteed success) if necessary, standard attack against the opponent nearest that door (+11, 1d10+1 *2, subdual)]
Anaya moves as quickly as she can down the corridor, followed by Cassius and Lucian.
Darkar yanks the nearest doorhandle only to find it is locked. Silmarwen finds her balance, and enters the complex.
The more lightly armored gnome jerks a vial from his pouch and swiftly downs the contents. His skin becomes more leathery, and he throws the empty vial to the floor with an angry jerk of his hand.
The gnome in plate armor thrusts at Ran with his sword, grunting in mild surprise when he misses.
A sound echoes down the hall, filling the room with the brassy vibration of a distant gong.
HP and Initiative:
- Gnome injured
- Armored Gnome
- Ran 47/48
- Kobolds one down
- Anaya 39/54
- Darkar 51/62
- Cassius 29/37
- Lucian 31/36 +1 nonlethal
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 7 minutes)+3 nonlethal
(+16 1d6+6)
.oO(That sound... We've been found out, and they're calling reinforcements. Hopefully we can take care of these guys before the others arrive.)
[Flurry of blows against the gnome in full plate (and if that one drops before Ran runs out of attacks, the kobold next to him), +11/+11/+6, 1d10+1 *2 subdual, Stunning Fist (1/9) on first attack (Fort save DC 18)]
The two remaining kobolds divide their attention between monk and wolf, and the wolf is struck. Anaya responds by savaging the kobold.
Darkar struggles past his teammates, battling the cramped space as well, to make his way into the room. As he does so, Cassius lets loose his spell, right into Lucian, and cascading it over the others as well. Darkar stands barely outside the spell's range.
The lightly armored gnome falls to the ground, but the other snarls and holds his ground. Anaya's kobold also falls to the ground, and she and Lucian both find themselves deafened as well as injured by the noise.
17 points sonic damage.
HP and Initiative:
- Gnome down
- Armored Gnome injured
- Ran 39/48
- Kobolds two down
- Anaya 20/54 deafened
- Darkar 51/62
- Cassius 29/37
- Lucian 14/36 +1 nonlethal deafened
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 7 minutes)+3 nonlethal
.oO(Argh....)
He twists and turns through the battle until he finds himself on the other side of the kobold Ran is near. He draws his sword up in a brutal cut, in line with several vital spots in the human body. He hopes that they're the same for rat-things.
(sneak attack)
[grapple attempt (+11/+6 to grab, +12/+7 for opposed grapple checks); 1d10+1 subdual; no AoO to initiate because of Impr. Grapple, but an AoO from the kobold due to moving into the gnome's square if the grab attempt succeeds]
From the soot-stained hallway behind Ran, they hear the sound of running feet and a slamming door. The sounds do not come closer to the room Darkar and his companions occupy.
Correction, no kobolds are standing.
HP and Initiative:
- Gnome down
- Armored Gnome injured
- Ran 39/48
- Kobolds all down
- Anaya 20/54 deafened
- Darkar 51/62
- Cassius 29/37
- Lucian 14/36 +1 nonlethal deafened
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 7 minutes)+3 nonlethal
"I will say this once. Stop struggling and answer my questions or I will gut the life out of your body. Where is the young man that was taken prisoner?"
Cassius turns to the source of the running noise his crossbow covering the direction
"See if it's locked, and if not, if you can somehow lock it or otherwise prevent it from being opened. Maybe shove a wedge under it."
He holds the struggling gnome tight so it knows there's no escape, but leaves the talking to Darkar.
[Ran attempts to pin the gnome, but doesn't do more damage.]
"Sorry, I can't hear you."
Suddenly, sensing danger to not be quite over he moves to his feet.
Ran indicates the door behind him with a couple of nods of his head.
.oO(Hopefully he'll realize what I want him to do.)
.oO(He wants me to open the door? Why? Oh... wait. Maybe he means I should keep it shut.)
He hurries over to the door and checks to see if it's locked.
Lucian finds the door is merely pushed shut, not even fully closed. There is a distant murmur of a voice from down the hallway.
.
HP and Initiative:
- Gnome down
- Armored Gnome injured
- Ran 39/48
- Kobolds two down
- Anaya 20/54 deafened
- Darkar 51/62
- Cassius 29/37
- Lucian 14/36 +1 nonlethal deafened
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 7 minutes)+3 nonlethal
Seeing Lucian check the door, he recalls passing a couple of others in the corridor.
"Cassius, can you check those doors behind you? We don't want to have to worry about more than one door at a time..."
Cassius moves to the doors Ran indicated and checks the door closest to the group
"We'll need to rest for an hour or so so that I can memorize a few extra spells."
"I don't think we can do that. I fear we may already be too late for Jace..."
Worried about their comrade, Ran applies more pressure to the captive gnome.
"Speak, you wretched midget!"
"That one is locked."
Silmarwen and Cassius find that the three doors on the south side of the corridor are locked. The door on the north side of the corridor leads to a lavatory.
.
HP and Initiative:
- Gnome down
- Armored Gnome injured
- Ran 39/48
- Kobolds two down
- Anaya 20/54 deafened
- Darkar 51/62
- Cassius 29/37
- Lucian 14/36 +1 nonlethal deafened
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 7 minutes)+3 nonlethal
.
HP and Initiative:
- Gnome down
- Armored Gnome injured
- Ran 39/48
- Kobolds two down
- Anaya 20/54 deafened
- Darkar 51/62
- Cassius 29/37
- Lucian 14/36 +1 nonlethal deafened
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 7 minutes)+3 nonlethal
"All doors locked save the lavatory but I'm not expecting any threat from there other than the stink"
oO( No time for new spells, that leaves me with a few deterrents for undead, a weapon enchantment, a missile and a minor shock spell and that hold person. Time to let Crebain know we're down here.)
Cassius reaches out mentally to Crebain to let him know where they are
She looks at Lucian and calls his name only to see that he too is having the same problem.
.oO(This can't be good...)
"Does anyone know how to get rid of my inability to hear?"
Crebain responds to Cassius with feelings of worry and irritation.
.
HP and Initiative:
- Gnome down
- Armored Gnome injured
- Ran 39/48
- Kobolds two down
- Anaya 20/54 deafened
- Darkar 51/62
- Cassius 29/37
- Lucian 14/36 +1 nonlethal deafened
- Silmarwen 63/63 (for 7 minutes)+3 nonlethal
(-4 to attack deal nonleathal damage not sure if sneak attack is included or not)
"Never leave an enemy in your back, not even incapacitated."
He then moves through the room making sure all kobolds and gnomes are dead
"I really wish you had not done that. It makes my word seem like nothing when I offered it. Plus there might have been more information later I could have used. If we want to try and rescue Jace he is in the temple up the stairs ahead of us. Not sure how many there are but Anaya and Lucian might hang back a bit until they recover their hearing."
Cassius walks over to the unconsious gnome,drawing a dagger and slits its throat
"Never leave an enemy in your back, not even incapacitated."
"Hey!"
Ran shoves the mage backwards, unfortunately too late to prevent the killing of the gnome.
"When I'm around, never take a life unless you have to, not even someone who'd do the same to you. That is a power you have no right to."
He then moves through the room making sure all kobolds and gnomes are dead
The monk glares at Cassius, his anger barely in check, and prevents any more killing.
"Now is not the time, but the last word has not been said in this matter."
Turning towards Darkar but not letting the wizard out of his sight, he continues: "If nothing can be done about their hearing now, let's keep moving. We're wasting time."
"When I'm around, never take a life unless you have to, not even someone who'd do the same to you. That is a power you have no right to."
"Agreed."
Turning towards Darkar but not letting the wizard out of his sight, he continues: "If nothing can be done about their hearing now, let's keep moving. We're wasting time."
"I will lead the way hopefully it won't too much of a struggle."
He touches Lucian and motions for him to move and then he opens the door heading for the stairs. He keeps his blades loose ready for action."
She moves to the rear of the group again as they continue down the hallway.
.oO(Did they even hear me?)
Sigh
Follows Darkar as he gestures to Lucian to move forward, keeping close to the elf
"Remember me to thank you if one of these plants a knife in my back will you. They already took out Kai, so they are obviously a force to be reckoned with, shaman or no shaman. Now let's go get jace"
In a low tone, Ran warns the others: "I'll go first to draw any possible enemy fire." He then runs through the hall at full tilt, jumping over the gnome's body, and crouches down in a defensive posture just beyond it.
ooc: I'm off for the weekend so Cassius actions will probably be
0 Enchant Darkars sword with magical weapon
1 asses the room for any spellcasters
2 Hold person on the spellcaster(s)
3 Magic Missile on the held spellcaster
followed by any appropriate offensive or defensive action as needed
Watches the groups surroundings, keeping an eye out for any movement, making up for her loss of hearing
[charge if possible, regular attack otherwise, against whatever Ran saw first (unless it turns out to be Jace, obviously ;) - still subdual damage)]
Ran hesitates a split second but decides to follow Darkar's lead, even if it might leave an enemy at their backs.
.O(I don't think they'll be too eager to confront us at this point anyway, and we do need to make haste.)
"I'm coming! Lead the way!"
Looking up the straight staircase, Darkar sees the outline of a kobold, who barks sharply. Darkar and Ran hear a voice rise in an intonation that makes the hair on the backs of their necks rise.
Marching order: Darkar, Ran, Cassius, Anaya, Lucian, Silmarwen
Rushes up the stairs and stabs at the Kobold with his rapier.
(+16 1d6+6 If it falls Darkar moves another square forward so the others can file up after him.)
Now on the landing at the top of the stairs, he sees the room ahead of him. In the shadowy chamber, twenty feet wide and twenty-five feet deep, there is a dais towards the far end. Standing on it, arms held high, is a gnome, chanting. In front of the dais is an armored and saddled skeleton of a four legged beast with thick fangs. To it's right is a small black reptile, and the walls are covered in hangings showing black flames.
On the ground just inside the door and to Darkar's right, is Jace's motionless body.
Marching order: Darkar, Ran, Cassius, Anaya, Lucian, Silmarwen
Pushing past Darkar, Ran hurtles into the room and throws himself onto the undead quadruped.
[charge if possible, regular attack otherwise. Unarmed strike, lethal damage this time.]
The sole remaining kobold flings a stone at Darkar, missing widely, while Lucian hurries to Jace's side, finding his companion alive, but unconscious.
Marching order: Darkar, Ran, Cassius, Anaya, Lucian, Silmarwen
(Convert Invisibility Purge to Cure Serious Wound on Jace 3d8+8)
Then to Lucian she speaks.
"Try and channel the mother's favor to hold back the skeleton creature to aid Ran."(Suggesting turning)
Silmarwen watches to see if Jace is going to be ok before aiding the others in battle.
As Cassius follows her up the stairs, he is also startled by the utter silence.
(+16 1d6+6)
(+7/+2 (1d8+1, 19-20/x2 critical) If the kobold falls on the first strike second strike on the undead creature)
A snarl from the shadows near the lizard indicates to those who can hear that not all the occupants of the room have revealed themselves. The lizard slaps at Ran, but misses. Anaya, seeing the monk in combat, risks moving past the wizard, and hurries to help.
As the final, bone-chilling sound falls from the priest's lips, a hideous stench fills the room, and three creatures appear. Approximately four feet tall, they appear slothful yet hairless. Their fang-filled mouths suggest they are not entirely helpless, and they attack immediately.
Lucian suffers a clawed back, and Ran nimbly avoids his new attacker.
d=ugly things, ?=snarly, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
(+14/+14/+7 1d6+6/1d6+5)
(+7/+2 (1d8+1, 19-20/x2 critical)
d=ugly things, ?=snarly, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
"Everyone, focus on the priest! He might have more such tricks left up his sleeve!"
[flurry against Skelly]
The lone kobold focuses on fending off Anaya.
d=ugly things, ?=snarly, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
Ran punches and kicks for all he's worth, keeping one eye on the skeletal steed, half an eye on the priest and the other half on his friends.
[keep flurrying, unless the first attack drops Skelly - if that's the case, move action to get next to the priest]
The small lizard tries to bite Ran, but misses, while Anaya takes down the kobold in front of her. The slothy humanoid immediately steps into the kobold's place, swiping at the wolf but missing.
On the dais, the priest chants a phrase and points at Darkar. The elf feels an unclean aura wash over him, but fights it off.
d=ugly things, ?=snarly, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
Lucian fails to penetrate its hide, and Silmarwen does nothing more than distract her target.
Ran deals more damage to the armored skeleton, which manages to sink its teeth deeply into the monk.
d=ugly things, ?=snarly, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
As the slobby thing in front of Darkar vanishes, the shape in the shadows leaps forward with a snarl, swiping at Darkar with a clawed hand. It fails miserably to connect, but Darkar notes it is wearing the tattered remnants of a Jackal tabard.
d=ugly things, ?=snarly, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
"YOU BETTER START PREPARING FOR THE AFTERLIFE GNOME!!!!" Darkar screams at the top of his lungs.
(+14/+7 vs Ghoul 1d6+6 +14 vs Ugly 1d6+5)
+7 1d8+1
Ran deals more damage to the armored skeleton, which manages to sink its teeth deeply into the monk.
"Aaargh!"
Searing pain knifes through Ran when the creature's fangs finally find flesh. The elf brings down his elbow repeatedly on its skull and tears himself loose from the vile teeth, gasping for breath.
.oO(Ordemet preserve me, that hurts!)
[same action as last round]
The priest grunts with an annoyed expression as Darkar shakes off his spell, then tosses water and sparkling powder around him, intoning another phrase. Finishing his quick rite, the priest chuckles at Darkar's exclamation.
"Prepare for the afterlife? Fool! I am your afterlife!"
Darkar fights on in his fury, driving his sword deeply into the ghoul. Lucian, next to him, is unable to hit.
Ran manages to land one blow on the skeleton, with an audible crunch. It fails to bite him this time, to his great relief.
Silmarwen is equally unable to hit the slothy thing in front of Lucian.
d=ugly things, ?=snarly, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
Ran focuses on his inner energy to gather his strength first, waits for an opening and then propels himself forward, squeezing past the skeleton to end up next to its gnome master.
[standard action to use Wholeness of Body for 19 points, provoking an AoO from adjacent opponents + move action to squeeze past Skelly and get into position behind (to the right on the map) the gnome priest (possibly provoking an AoO from the priest, hopefully every other opponent will have taken one already and won't be able to take another one). Straightforward squeezing movement, no tumbling (since hopefully there won't be AoO opportunities left and because a failed tumble attempt would mean Ran wouldn't get past Skelly)]
oO(There has to be sound where Darkar is, They seem to be having a conversation)
Darkar continues to let steel fly at the two targets.
(+14/+7 vs Ghoul 1d6+6 +14 vs Ugly 1d6+5)
(2nd of 4 on turn attempts using greater turning ability, 1d20+3 check, 2d6+9 damage)
The skeletal beast bites into the monk once again, gripping him with unnaturally strong jaws. The lizard single-mindedly tries again to hit Ran, but misses.
Cassius takes advantage of the ghoul's collapse to scoot over to that space, finding it just as silent as the rest of the room.
Anaya tries to bite the slobby thing in front of her, missing.
Seeing his ghoul collapse, the priest glares at Silmarwen, where she brandishes her holy symbol.
"In Demmion's Name..." He raises his hands, fingers spread widely, and pain crashes against everyone in the room.
Due to low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
-12 hp to everyone but Anaya, who saved & took -6. Poor Jace
d=ugly things, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
Ran takes a brief moment to regain his health, then ducks under the snapping jaws of the skeleton, moving to a better position.
Silmarwen thrusts her sword at the hairless biped, but fails to penetrate its hide.
Due to low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
d=ugly things, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
Pushing the pain away Ran now starts to pummel the priest, hoping he'll prove a little less resilient than his mount.
.oO(Maybe we can turn the tide if I can bring this one down...)
flurry of blows against the priest, subdual, while using Combat Expertise for 2 points: +9/+9/+4, 1d10+1 *2, Stunning Fist Fort DC 18 on first attack; AC 24
Due to low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
d=ugly things, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
.oO(It's risky, I'll be more vulnerable, but with the others around the gnome's minions shouldn't get to me so easily...)
provided the priest doesn't run away, Ran goes for the grapple on the gnome. It's a touch attack to initiate, so I'm keeping CE at -2 to hit/+2 AC.
Seeing himself surrounded, the gnome grimaces, shouts "By the will of Demmion!" and reaches to touch Cassius. The wizard feels the slap of energy against his mind, but fights it off.
The slobby creatures attack Anaya and Darkar, but fail to connect.
Due to low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
d=ugly things, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
(Bluff +9, +16 1d6+6 +3d6 if bluff success)
(+9/+4 1d8+1 thanks to Cassius' flanking)
Ran decides to become an encumbrance on the priest, and moves in close. With a sudden movement, he wraps himself around the gnome and begins to squeeze.
Silmarwen takes advantage of the situation to try again to attack the priest. Still, she fails to connect. The skeleton, on the other hand, connects painfully with Silmarwen.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
d=ugly things, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
(+14/+14/+7 1d6+6/1d6+5 +3d6)
"Ran keep him tied up, and I will run him through!" Darkar exclaims
"If I'm unable to use my spells I'll break your voice to stop you from casting yours foul Demmionite"
(1d20+3 check, 2d6+9 damage 3rd of 4 turning attempts)
"Keep that thing away from Lucian, and try to get him back on his feet again!"
[two grapple checks for damage, subdual]
Silmarwen, can you give me a hand here?...I can't seem to get a good hit on on this thing.
Continues her attempts at taking down her ugly opponent
Anaya finally manages to get a bite in on her opponent, only for it to vanish! The other like it also vanishes.
Struggling in the grip of monk and wizard, the gnome turns a baleful gaze on Ran, uttering a phrase, only to garble it and cough.
Darkar stabs the gnome painfully, while Ran presses his attack, driving more air from the gnome's lungs.
Silmarwen waves her holy symbol at the skeleton, but it is unimpressed and snaps at her, missing.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
d=ugly things, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
(+14/+14/+7 1d6+6/1d6+5 +3d6)
[move action towards Lucian, squeezing past Darkar and Cassius; standard action to attempt to stabilize Lucian (Heal +9, DC 15)]
(OC: Did cassius hear his own voice?)
For both Cassius and Silmarwen, the battle has a particularly eery quality as no sound whatsoever can be heard, not even their own voices or heartbeats. Anaya, at least, has regained the hearing lost to Cassius' earlier spell.
Ducking out of Ran's grip as well in a stroke of luck, the priest dashes to the corner of the temple chamber and yanks down a tapestry. A strange rune is revealed on the door that had been hidden behind the cloth.
Twisting in singleminded intent, Darkar lashes out with his swords, failing repeatedly to strike home.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
d=ugly things, C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, J=Jace, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya, k=kobold
oO(this is not going well, I need to get my voice back so I can blast that priest to smithereens)
Ran, studiously dismissing the effects of the spell, hurries to Lucian's side and does what he can to stop the young man's life from slipping away.
Silmarwen and the skeleton continue their standoff, neither gaining any ground. Anaya manages to bite the skeleton, but finds her teeth jouncing uselessly against the unnaturally hard bones.
The priest opened the door and left, shutting the door behind him.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, P=Priest, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya
With the priest having fled, Ran decides it's probably safe enough to leave Lucian where he is and take care of their remaining foes first. Cassius seems to be in the most trouble, so the elf steps over and starts pummeling the pesky critter, at the same time interposing himself between the unconscious Lucian and the enemy.
"Hang in there! If we can get rid of these two, we can take a moment to regain our strength!"
[flurry of blows, attacking the lizard (if the critter goes down before all attacks are used, the remainder are used on Skelly); +11/+11/+6 (1d10+1, x2 critical, subdual against the lizard, lethal against Skelly), Stunning Fist (Fort save DC 18, 2nd use out of 9) on the first attack]
"
oO(Ran's able to speak?????? that means there is no bubble of silence, but I can't remember that gnome casting a silence spell on me. A ward perhaps to protect against spellcasters,........)
.oO(Uncovering the symbol must have caused this!) thinks the elf.
"I am going to cover the symbol back up. Perhaps the pain will stop....."
Through the nausea, and the near blinding pain, Darkar attempts to cover back up the symbol.
(+7/+2 (1d8+1 19-20 x2)
Ran steps up to draw the lizard's attention from Cassius, and strikes the creature with his second blow.
Silmarwen brings her sword down on the skeleton, only to have it bounce off uselessly. Anaya tries to bite the skeleton, and it tries to bite Silmarwen, while the lizard tries to bite Ran. None of the biters succeeds.
Next to the door, Darkar hears a bar thud into place on the other side.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya
.oO(I haven't heard him cast any spells since entering this room... More vile magic from that priest?)
[same action as last round, 3rd Stunning Fist attempt]
Struggling through the pain Darkar examines the door before attempting to open it
(Search +9)
Ran strikes the lizard twice, feeling his full strength slam into it, and is startled to see it does not even flinch. Watching it more closely, he notes the dull eyes, sluggish movement, and sees old injuries that are neither healed nor bleeding. This... thing is not alive!
Silmarwen continues parrying the skeleton, without making any headway, but with the consolation that it is having just as much luck biting her.
Cassius has no more luck stabbing the lizard than Silmarwen has against the skeleton. Anaya moves to the spot Silmarwen points out, but doesn't find a good opening for an effective attack.
The lizard sinks its teeth into Ran and bites down.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya
(+9/+4 1d8+1)
The lizard sinks its teeth into Ran and bites down.
"Gaaahhh!"
Ran shakes the targeted limb vigourously to dislodge the tenacious critter.
.oO(Another undead creature... This place is crawling with these abominations...)
He resumes kicking and punching the lizard, now no longer trying to beat it into submission without killing it.
[flurry of blows against the lizard, lethal damage, +11/+11/+6 1d10+1 *2]
Ran manages to land one light blow on the zombified lizard-like thing, and it in return sinks its teeth into his leg again. Cassius hits it, but to no effect.
Silmarwen, Anaya and the skeleton continue their dance, none coming anywhere near connecting with the others.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya
.oO(Disgusting creature... I'll have to check for infections when we get out of here...)
move aside to set up a flanking situation with Darkar, standard attack on the lizard
The young mage moves over to Lucian and begins to drag his comrad to relative safety without waiting for the others, silently hoping he will be able to speak again outside the room......
Cassius makes a half-hearted parting jab at the lizard, not even distracting it, then prepares to leave the room.
With the nearer target no longer the closest, the skeleton turns to snap at Anaya, missing. She does not miss it, this time, but it avoids her attempt to trip it.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya
(Full Attack)
Suffering from blood loss and frustrated by their opponents' resilience, not to mention the loss of the lives of several of his comrades, Ran is slowly losing his composure. He keeps kicking away against the lizard, the realization that Cassius is making sure Lucian won't get hurt further at least calming him down a little bit.
[flurry of blows against the lizard, remaining attacks if any against Skelly; +11/+11/+6 1d10+1 *2, lethal]
Silmarwen tosses the flask of holy water at the skeleton, striking it squarely. The spray that erupts leaves a glistening sheen on Anaya's fur, but on the skeleton has a far different effect. The animated bones steam and hiss, the liquid leaving deep pock-marks.
Cassius starts to drag Lucian, moving slowly due to the unwieldy burden, cramped situation, and the desire to not re-open Lucian's deadly wounds.
Lizard, skeleton and druid-wolf all snap and bite, hitting only air, as the relentless combat continues.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya
.oO(At least they seem to be holding their own against that gnome's mount.)
[same action as last round]
Silmarwen throws another flask of holy water on the skeleton, watching with satisfaction as it shrivels. Nevertheless, in its mindless dedication to the orders it was given, it sinks its lifeless fangs into Anaya.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya
Despite being extremely leery of getting anywhere near the critter's fangs, Ran decides to wrestle it into submission instead of trying to land a punch and missing more often than not.
grapple attempt on the lizard - grapple check +12/+7, attack mods for the melee touch attacks +11/+6, damage if succesful 1d10+1 *2, lethal; moving into lizard's square provokes an AoO from Skelly
Cassius continues his slow and difficult effort to take Lucian to a safe place, but has still not found a zone where he can hear and be heard.
The lizard turns to snap at the man with the swords, but misses.
Darkar in turn stabs twice into the disgusting zombie, feeling his blades bite deeply.
Ran steps up, grabbing the lizard and beginning to crush it. With a mighty effort it breaks free, but not before sustaining damage.
Anaya is at 0hp.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, l=lizard, R=Ran, s=Skelly the riding beast, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya
The lizard swings its head around, chomping into the monk once more. Three quick jabs from Darkar force it to release Ran, and then sink to the ground, dead again.
Anaya is at 0hp.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
C=Cassius, D=Darkar, L=Lucian, R=Ran, S=Silmarwen, A=Anaya
"We need to get out and recover, this has been too much of a beating to continue. Also I think we need a different plan on how to deal with this gnome. Let's get Jace and leave this place for now."
Cassius notes that, oddly, no sounds emanate from the room he has left.
"I think we should go out the back way since it is eaiser to move through there, but we should be careful heading out." he moves to help Silmarwen carry Jace's body.
Due to the low ceiling, this room costs double to move in just like the rest of the place. So far, only the water tunnel was built for Medium size beings.
- Darkar 45/68
- Ran 24/48
- Lucian 17/36
- Silmarwen 46/63 (for 6 minutes)+6 nonlethal
- Cassius 14/37
- Anaya 13/54
- Priest
Let's get Jace and leave this place for now."
Ran nods, too tired and sore for a real reply. After a final glance around the room and a heartfelt thankyou for Silmarwen's healing spell the elf follows Darkar back down the corridor from where they came.
.oO(Boy, did we take a beating... And our numbers have been reduced even further. May our lost friends find more luck in their next lives.)
"I do not like fighting in these cramped quarters. If we can I would like to force them out of the tunnels."
"What happened?"
He turns to Darkar, and sees him carrying Jace.
"I'm glad we got him out of there. Let me see if I can help with his wounds."
What? Lucian closes his eyes.
"Oh no..."
He feels himself weaken and his knees give way. Everyone I was supposed to protect. He sits on the floor, crying.
"It is not easy losing people, but staying here mourning will not help avenge them. Come on let's get out of here and recover so we can give them hell."
"Jace and Kai. Some of the only people I knew..."
He slides his sword into its seath and draws his walking stick. He leans on it heavily.
"I don't know about you lady but I am not anxious to get back in there, not until I've fully recovered and restored my spells. Hoping that beyond that cursed room I'll be able to speak to cast my spells.
That room is warded against spellcasters I'd say and that door is covered with Demions foul symbol of pain. I can still feel it crash through my body..."
As soon as they are out in the safety of the open sky Cassius collapses in a heap of pain
"Remember we have to be careful there is a lot of loose gravel here."
"Ran can you get that gnome there."
"I got him."
Ran unceremoniously tears a couple of long strips from the gnome's clothing, ties his hands behind his back and drags him along as he follows the others out of the oppressive dungeon.
Seeing Lucian break down, the elf's heart seems to break as well.
.oO(I have failed them again, and they paid with their lives. So much to account for...)
While binding the gnome, Ran sees that he carries a mace, hand crossbow, two silvered daggers, and several bags at his belt, and is wearing a beautifully made cloak over his finely-crafted studded leather armor.
"Perhaps we should go out this way instead. It will be less difficult for all." Speaking of the cramped hall.
Ran shows the others what he found on the gnome's body.
"Maybe these items can be sold to ease the suffering of those dear to our friends that have passed on, or at least to send them off to the next life in proper fashion."
The theif makes his way out of the tunnel, face down on where he is walking. There isn't any spring in his step.
When they are ready to go she waits patiently for the others to get ready and then follows them keeping towards the middle front
casts cure minor x2 and cure light x1
(Whisper)"What's wrong Cassius? Where does it hurt."
I hate this. I never want to leave my city again. Lucian forces himself to smile, for the sake of the others.
"It's not something easily remedied. I think it is an effect of the rune that was engraved in the door the gnome escaped through. As soon as I saw it pain crashed through my body and it still does, it's not as debilitating as before thanks to the lady's healing and I think it will wear of with time as the effectg subsides. Maybe you could look at my leg, that lizard ghoul tried to make a lunch out of it....... "
Cassius turns to Darkar
"Now will you listen to my suggestion to take a break.... If we had rested before like I asked, I would have been able to summon a globe of flames before we went into that room, then I wouldn't haven been so Damn useless and would have immolated that cursed demionite priest"
Ran sounds angry, but it's clear it's himself he's upset with rather than any of the others.
"We didn't choose this battle, because it was out of our hands. One of ours was in danger, that was more important than anything else. For everyone's sake, we should avoid being trapped in a similar situation again. If we stick together and don't lose our heads, we'll pick the fights from now on and we'll set the terms."
Cassius indicates the prisoner with a look on his face that might make those who know the level headed mage a bit concerned. Pure hatred and white hot anger shine from the mage's steal gaze as he regards the prisoner
Crebain flies to Cassius' shoulder. About time you came out of there! Two of your gnome pals ran off north, coughing like crazy.
Anaya regains 15 more hp.
- Darkar 45/68
- Ran 24/48
- Lucian 17/36
- Silmarwen 46/63 (for 6 minutes)+6 nonlethal
- Cassius 14/37
- Anaya 28/54
- Priest
"Let's head back to the camp and rest. Then we can come up with ideas on what to do next."
"If we'd waited any longer, Jace would have been dead before we even got there. I know everything's a mess and we desperately need to regain some control over the situation, but at least we tried our level best to give him a chance to come out of this alive."
Ran sounds angry, but it's clear it's himself he's upset with rather than any of the others.
"We didn't choose this battle, because it was out of our hands. One of ours was in danger, that was more important than anything else. For everyone's sake, we should avoid being trapped in a similar situation again. If we stick together and don't lose our heads, we'll pick the fights from now on and we'll set the terms."
"Ran is right if we wait who knows what the gnome would have done to him. One of those undead creatures, was once a member of the Jackal order. It is better that we saved Jace from that fate at least."
""It is better that we saved Jace from that fate at least."
Ran shudders at the thought of being prevented from passing on to the next step in his existence and being doomed to mindless servitude in an evil mockery of life. He helps move the bodies of their fallen comrades, his mind, already numb from the horrors they came through, reeling from the idea of what their fate might have been.
"Let's just hurry. I can't abide much longer in this accursed place."
As the band makes its way back to the camp, images of the battle keep flashing through the monk's head. He has to mentally shut himself off from them, silencing the questions of what he could have done differently and where he went wrong before they can sap the last of his strength and determination.
"Ran care to assist in tying the gnome to the tree?"
Darkar takes extra care on tying the gnome up to the tree. He doesn't want him to have any chance of getting away. Together with Ran after several minutes he is satisfied that the gnome is secured. (OOC take 20 on Use Rope to Bind gnome with Ran's assistance)
"Anaya keep watch on him let's us know when he wakes."
He moves back to the center of the camp to rest a bit.
Silmarwen goes about checking those who are wounded and tries to get them healthy enough that a good nights rest will make them well. She goes to Cassius, Anaya, and Ran first. Then she lets Lucian help some if he wishes
- Convert Dispel Magic to Cure Serious Wound for Cassius 3d8+8
- Convert Greater Magic Weapon to Cure Critical Wound for Anaya 4d8+8
- Convert Remove Fear to Cure Light Wounds for Ran 1d8+5
Silmarwen heals Ran, Cassius and Anaya. Lucian has to suffer. :P
- Darkar 45/68
- Ran 36/48
- Lucian 17/36
- Silmarwen 46/63 (for 6 minutes)+6 nonlethal
- Cassius 32/37
- Anaya 54/54
"M'lady Silmarwen, I can not thank you enough for keeping us all alive. If it hadn't been for the gift of your god, goddess........"
Cassius realises he hasn't been paying much attention as to which of the gods the lady follows
"What I am trying too say is that I would give you gladly from my share of the spoils to compensate, or make a donation to the temple of your deity if you so choose"
Cassius turns to Darkar
"Crebain reported that two gnomes got out of the inferno alive and fled into the forrest, they have to much of a head start now tp catch them. We have to be prepared for them returning with re-inforcements"
Placing a hand on Lucian's forehead she prays channeling energy and closes up most of his wounds.
(Convert Divine Power to Cure Critical Wounds 4d8+8)
"Much better right? I think Darkar could use a bit of attention too."
"Only treat me if everyone else is fine first. I am waiting for the gnome to wake up first. Perhaps we should have some people start resting now so we can be prepared to go as soon as possible?"
Ran looks at Darkar for approval.
.oO(It'll be difficult to find sleep. Everyone is still wound up from the danger and the emotion. But Darkar is right, we should go back there as soon as we've gained some strength again.)
The night is quiet, and far advanced, as the group beds down to recuperate from their ordeal.
- Darkar 45/68
- Ran 36/48
- Lucian 36/36
- Silmarwen 46/47
- Cassius 32/37
- Anaya 54/54
She wakes shortly after her trance passes and feels alot better now that she has gathered her energy.
For the rest of the night she stares up at the stars, thinking of the past and the times she had with Kai.
A tear rolls down her cheek and feels a warm feeling to howl, but keeps quiet and just rolls over to her side
.oO(Mother... I know he is best and safe in your loving arms. Keep him in your graces as he was always in mine.)
She sighs deeply and eventually falls into a deep sleep.
OOC: Cassius prepares the following spells:
1st: Magic missile
2nd Flaming sphere 2x
2nd Web
3rd Dispel magic 2x
3rd Lightning bolt
4th Stone skin
4th Lighning bolt (still spell)
5th Shout (still spell)
.oO(Tomorrow can't be as bad as today was...)
(Converts last 1st level spell to cure light wounds on Darkar 1d8+5)
With that said, Silmarwen heads off to rest for several hours.
"You need some rest as well, brother. We'll depend on your leadership in the trials ahead.
Did you find out anything from the gnome, or did you want to wait until after we've all gotten a chance to recover and get our heads together?"
Darkar goes and finds a quiet spot to sit and rest while waiting for the new day.
I don't have the new spell lists for all the casters, yet... *hint-hint* ;)
Level 0 Detect Magic x2, Read Magic x2, Resistance x2
Level 1 Comprehend Languages, Divine Favor, Detect Undead, Hide from Undead, Protection from Evil
Level 2 Bear's Endurance, Gentle Repose x2, Resist Energy
Level 3 Bestow Curse, Dispel Magic, Inflict Serious Wounds, Prayer
Level 4 Death Ward, Divine Power, Inflict Critical Wounds
Yesterday was bad.
He pulls out his dice, and slowly goes through a set of prayers that he finds express his stance, and respect. He looks around for Anaya and sees her missing.
Probably went to go hunting or something. I should appologize to her. I kinda snapped at her yesterday.
He sees Jace's body again. He moves to the bushes and is quietly sick.
Yep, yesterday couldn't have been much worse.
Osirons: Guidance (2), Light (2).
Level 1: Bless, Hide from Undead, Sheild of Faith.
"Anaya wake up." her tone is stearn, and not to be taken "Anaya you need to discuss your tactics with Darkar for the next battle, and speak with me on what spells you prepare. It seemed like you were struggling to do much of anything in the battle other than distract the enemy. Down two allies, we can not afford to have anyone be a burden. she emphasizes this last part and then moves back to the camp.
.oO(That priest will definitely be waiting for us. He was ready for us yesterday already, if that magical symbol and our mages' spellcasting difficulties are any indication, and he certainly won't be any less prepared now. And while we have destroyed his undead minions, he may have already replaced those with others...)
"That gnome had spells in place to hinder us, and especially those of us with magical power. Is there any way to avoid that happening again, or maybe to counteract such spells? Do we maybe even have some such spells of our own that can be used against him?"
Burden? I'm sorry if you think that I'm am of no use to the party and excuse me for not killing off as many enemies as the others, but I'm not taking a tally on how many things I kill off.
Changes into her elf form and stands
It's not how many you get rid of, it's getting what needs to be done and then getting your butt out safely. We have already lost two good men.
Says no more and goes off to converse with Darkar
Stirs and looks at Silmarwen
Burden? I'm sorry if you think that I'm am of no use to the party and excuse me for not killing off as many enemies as the others, but I'm not taking a tally on how many things I kill off.
Changes into her elf form and stands
It's not how many you get rid of, it's getting what needs to be done and then getting your butt out safely. We have already lost two good men.
Says no more and goes off to converse with Darkar
"Upstairs you were not able do anything, but take out the kobold. I also saw you talking so that means you were not affecting by the silence like Cassius, and I were. Yet you kept trying to chew on the skeleton like a dog."
Her tone becomes sharper
"Did you not have anything else you could do? Heal comrades or use some other offensive capability spell? Or perhaps you didn't think that far ahead, and had nothing useful prepared?"
"That gnome had spells in place to hinder us, and especially those of us with magical power. Is there any way to avoid that happening again, or maybe to counteract such spells? Do we maybe even have some such spells of our own that can be used against him?"
"That is why we need to try and get him in the open. In the caves he is to difficult to hit. It is possible we can not beat him in there. We need to find out all of the exits to the cave and close all but one. The one where we choose to battle them."
"So has he woken yet? I have questions that I want answered before we decide to do anything."
Ran shakes his head at the argument between Silmarwen and Anaya.
.oO(Petty squabling isn't going to help us any, even if I can understand the frustrations that fuel it. I'll have to step in if they can't get their act together, but I'd rather not. If anyone has to settle this, it'd probably be best if it was Darkar anyway. Maybe he should just tell everyone what to do. Not very democratic, but it'll make things a lot easier.)
Seeing that the gnome is lying on his side. Darkar props him back up and tightens the ropes holding him against the tree some more.
.oO(Not good, he already had some ropes loosened)
"Who are you?"
"If there is anything i can do to help get this demionite to talk, just ask "
Rumscuttle. Travis Rumscuttle Nodberry.
The gnome lets his gaze pass over the assembled adventurers, gauging, perhaps, the odds.
Rumscuttle. Travis Rumscuttle Nodberry.
"Well Rumscuttle if you are honest and helpful with us you will continue to live, and get some water and food. If my friends here tell me you are lying I am afraid the consequences will be quiet painful." (Bluff +9)
Gets down to business
"How many gnomes, kobolds, and undead are part of your group?"
"How many gnomes, kobolds, and undead are part of your group?"
How many did you kill? Rumscuttle eyes the group apprehensively.
There were a couple dozen o'them ratty skeletons... Buncha them slimy kobolds, but most of those were females and cubs, an' we kept those in the cage. Ta keep the males under control, y'know.
Waits for the answer before asking the next question.
"Keeping the woman and cubs locked up to control the men? So they are not willing allies?"
His eyes rove over the group.
The others got away, then... They'll be back with reinforcements.
"How many other gnomes, and where are these cages?" he asks casually
Half a dozen, I guess. The cage is in the room with the gate across the entrance. To your right when you go in...
"Where will they get those reinforcements and how long will it take them to get here?"
I dunno... Bonepicker didn't tell me stuff. But he mentioned his superiors pretty often, and how favored he was.
You gonna let me go, now?
"We will when we're done with you."
He moves near Anaya and sits on his haunches.
"Now Rumscuttle, besides the enterance with the gate, and the one by the ravine are there any more?"
Level 0 Druid (5/5): Cure Minor Wounds x2, Flare x2, Resistance
Level 1 Druid (4/4): Cure Light Wounds, Entangle x2, Magic Fang
Level 2 Druid (4/4): Barkskin, Bull's strength, Flaming Sphere, Heat Metal
Level 3 Druid (3/3): Call Lightning, Cure Moderate Wounds, Poison[/SIZE]
.oO(Is he going to attempt to turn the kobolds against the gnomes?)
Darkar motions for the others to be silent a moment
"Now Rumscuttle, besides the enterance with the gate, and the one by the ravine are there any more?"
Oh, you found the one in the ravine? No, that was the only other ... our escape route.
Ran notes the way the gnome's eyes slide to the side, and is sure there is something being hidden.
Ran notes the way the gnome's eyes slide to the side, and is sure there is something being hidden.
Ran's eyes narrow slightly and he speaks up in a low but clear voice:
"You're not telling us the whole truth, are you? That's not very smart. Why don't you try again..."
"Yes, being fully truthful is less painful."
It's just an old well shaft, after all, to the cistern...
Despite the gnome's verbal backpedaling, it appears he is being truthful.
"Where is the well?"
Despite the gnome's verbal backpedaling, it appears he is being truthful.
Ran nods once, to signal Darkar that he's satisfied with this answer.
.oO(It'd be best to keep up the appearance of knowing what's going on inside that gnome's head.)
"We'll be the judge of what's useful for us to know."
Ran nods once, to signal Darkar that he's satisfied with this answer.
.oO(It'd be best to keep up the appearance of knowing what's going on inside that gnome's head.)
"We'll be the judge of what's useful for us to know."
Darkar nods along with Ran's signal and statement
Look, let me go, I'll leave the area. I don't want him knowing I told you anything.
Rumscuttle's voice takes on an edge of nervousness.
Look, let me go, I'll leave the area. I don't want him knowing I told you anything.
.oO(He's probably right. Even if that priest can't know this one's been talking, he'll know he was captured by us. Showing up alive and unharmed isn't going to look good.)
"We found several items on your person that might be useful to us. Tell us about their properties first."
Ran's tone is dry, but it carries an unmistakable edge.
.oO(This piece of garbage had better not try me any further, or I'll be tempted to hand him over to Cassius and turn a blind eye...)
"Cooperation is what kept you unharmed so far. I suggest you keep it up. Now answer the question."
You're going to send me out into the wilderness with nothing? How will I survive? You've already killed my companions, I'm going to have to make my way in the world all alone, do I have to do it with no equipment either?
"I am not going to let you loose in the wilderness, when we finish up here I will let you go before we reach Garic's City. That way you can either go into the city at your choice or go to one of the nearby communities. I personally recommend finding a caravan leaving the city for far away, and offering your services as a guard. That way you are not likely to meet up with us again."
"But before we do that, what traps are there? I mean, other than the falling gate. Your kobold buddies probably would like to see us spitted on spikes, no doubt."
Glancing at Lucian, he nods slightly. Yeah, them kobolds like those spikey pits. They're all over the woods around here, Plumpduck saw to that.
Gritting his teeth, Rumscuttle lets out an explosive sigh. The cloak is supposed to be some sort of protection, but I'm not too sure how it works. The grey bags make a sticky mess that'll slow people down -- kinda like that stuff your wizard did, but a lot smaller. The reddish flasks have a sort of wet fire in them. It'll stick to you and burn, so don't break 'em unless you mean it. The other two flasks are poison.
Glancing at Lucian, he nods slightly. Yeah, them kobolds like those spikey pits. They're all over the woods around here, Plumpduck saw to that.
"Would Plumpduck be the leader of the kobolds?"
Ran turns to the gnome specifically: "And given their purpose, I see no reason why you should have any more need for them after we set you free. You need to change your ways and find a more honest path to walk through life."
Looking at the others now, the elf adds with a sigh: "I was hoping for some sort of curatives. I still can't believe I didn't bring any..."
He glances at Ran, and manages to keep from rolling his eyes. Yeah... Sure. I'll be on the straight and narrow. How about you let me go, now?
He turns to the group.
"I really dont want to fall into any."
"Do you follow the dark brother yourself? Do you serve his vile purposes, murder innocent people?....Count yourself lucky today, I have little tolerance for the servants of the dark one. It is but for the sake of my companions that you will run free here today, althought the spirits of my parents scream for your blood."
Cassius indicates Lucian
"You better do as my friend here asks or you jeopardize your safety"
the mage then turns to Darkar
"I suggest we divide the vials between silmarwen and myself, that way we won't be so useless if we get trapped in another silenced area"
He glances warily at Cassius, I'm no priest.
"As if not beeing a priest is any assurance that you don't follow the dark brother. Do you really think that all followers of demion are priests, fool!!! that assurance of yours is null and void..... Now you stay here, if you as much as flinch I'll burn the flesh from your bones so fast you will still be screaming after your dead"
The mage joins the others at the place darkar indicated, making sure that he keeps the gnome in his line of sight
"I can't be sure, but I think the information we got can be relied upon. That would mean there is a fair number of enemies left, but given that there are few entrances to the lair it won't be too hard to avoid being attacked from behind and caught between two groups of them."
"There does seem to be a lot of tension between the two groups, yes. Do you have an idea how we can exploit that?"
Ran nods.
"Is there anything that would take care of any remaining undead, Silmarwen? That liquid fire, perhaps, or should we keep that for the wolves? When burnt, their instincts might force them to flee..."
"We must remember that those we release might decide to turn on us for a reward. They're kobolds after all."
"It is a possibility, but they are woman, and children. They have been locked up for awhile, and I think they would rather be free than used to make their mates submit to the gnomes."
Ran looks around at everyone, trying to sense their mood.
"Has everyone been able to replenish their magical reserves? Are there any spells likely to be used that we should know about, so we don't interfere with them or can use them to our best advantage? I'm thinking of spells like that sonic one Cassius used. If they affect areas, we have to know how to avoid being affected as well."
"However I have a few that could be dangerous, but I would have to touch you in order for it to take effect."
"I shouldn't think those will present a threat to us. We have faith in your capabilities, lady Silmarwen, and I cannot accept the idea that you would harm any of us even by accident."
(Elven)"I know one that allows me to take the shape of someone else. Perhaps I could use it to good effect with the likeness of the gnome."
"That is an intriguing notion, master Lucian. The ensuing confusion, whether it lasts but a moment or is even more successful, could give us a vital advantage. I wouldn't like to see you put yourself in a position where you'd be at more risk than necessary though: it is out of the question that you would have to keep too much distance between yourself and the rest of us. We'll have to consider the idea from all angles."
Ran nods thoughtfully, casually glancing towards the prisoner to check he's not trying to get away.
The priest is likely to have prepared more nasty surprises, so it's good to know you're prepared for such an eventuality."
Ran inclines his head towards the wizard to show there are no hard feelings, even if they don't see eye to eye on the way to treat their enemies, and that he is grateful to have him in their band.
"I have a hat that allows me to alter my appearance, and I could sneak around there a bit if we think that would be a good idea."
To Ran quietly as he glances back to the prisoner.
"Do you think we should render him unconcious when we head out again?"
"Lady Silmarwen, I think is best that you take the other vial of fire. We'd best be ready for the other gnomes to have weapons like this too"
Checking his weapons Cassius realises he left his crossbow in the warded chamber
"How do we purpose to close up the exit in the ravine?"
"Do you think we should render him unconcious when we head out again?"
"We could, but I don't see much point."
Ran shrugs.
"It's not in his best interests to hang around, let alone follow us, since next time he runs into Cassius he can expect to be torched. Going back to his former master will probably have even worse consequences. I'm convinced he's aware of that, and we can tell him to make sure. Leaving all of this behind and starting over is the only sensible option for that gnome."
"I agree with Darkar,he's more than likely to steal our horses, Demionites can not be trusted"
"If I remember correctly the passage wasn't that big, I may have a trick up my sleeve to close that way so that it can only be opened by those that I allow through "
"That sounds interesting, but will it stop the priest? He seems to have been given ablity from the dark brother, that even I have yet to receive from Thalos. Bonepicker might have a way around it, perhaps Crebain could watch the exit after you do what you are planning. If someone does manage to get out we could get a warning and not be caught between two forces."
We can either keep him with us to make sure he doesn't try anything or leave him tied up out here, or maybe one of us can take him a bit of ways off so he wouldn't be able to find his way back or to where our camp is..
Looks to the others for comment and pauses
It would be interesting if we had a spell that would be able to erase his memory of any of this...
Ran finds a length of rope and proceeds to secure the gnome's wrists and ankles.
.oO(This smacks of going back on our words, but what's done is done. Hopefully he won't come 'round until we return.)
"Are we ready then?"
Cassius ends the discussion about the gnome by whirling his staff and clubbing the gnome over the head, with the intention to knock him out
"I agree with Darkar,he's more than likely to steal our horses, Demionites can not be trusted"
Darkar is caught off guard with Cassius' actions once again.
"Wait, we were..... still discussing the matter, as the gnome falls over unconcious. Why is he so impulsive on the matter?
"Cassius, can you please explain why? We were trying to discuss the options before acting. Anaya thought leading him off into the wood until he was lost was an option."
Darkar is caught off guard with Cassius' actions once again.
"Wait, we were..... still discussing the matter, as the gnome falls over unconcious. Why is he so impulsive on the matter?
"Cassius, can you please explain why? We were trying to discuss the options before acting. Anaya thought leading him off into the wood until he was lost was an option."
"He's Demionite scum, the followers are worse than the priests. I don't trust his words nor his intentions." Cassius snaps irritably "And just how far we're you planning to lead him away. He has lived here for some time, he probably knows the area better then anyone of us. Besides we don't have the time.......Stop questioning my actions when it comes to Demionites, as far as I am concerned they are worse then the lesser undead."
Cassius turns to Silmarwen to answer her question about the door
"Lady Silmarwen, I don't know the extend of the power of the priest so I cannot say whether or not my door will hold him, but it will block the way for the others"
"Cassius, many people I know say the occasional prayer to Demmion. They're not all horrible monsters, they just have different priorities.
Lucian pushes himself to his feet.
"Think for amoment about Kai. Where do you think his worship went? I doubt it was Thalos."
"Come back after you have seen your father fall slaughtered under their blades and watched helplesly while your mother died of their poisons. Then tell me they are just people with different priorities. I will shed no tears over Kai's death but I doubt he worshipped anything but his own rage and hatred"
Lucian thinks for a moment.
"I am sorry for your loss, Cassius. Please, think though. If you incinerate every Demmonite you see, you escalte the violence yet again."
He shakes his head and sits back down.
"Not that I am suggesting rolling over either. But if the chance exists, why not try peace?"
Rage and pain creep into Cassius voice as he answers Lucian
"Come back after you have seen your father fall slaughtered under their blades and watched helplesly while your mother died of their poisons. Then tell me they are just people with different priorities. I will shed no tears over Kai's death but I doubt he worshipped anything but his own rage and hatred"
"Cassius, I am sorry for you loss, and that insight allows some slight understanding on why you are doing what you do."
"Have you considered, Cassius, that these Demmonites may have children as well? Loved ones?"
Lucian thinks for a moment.
"I am sorry for your loss, Cassius. Please, think though. If you incinerate every Demmonite you see, you escalte the violence yet again."
He shakes his head and sits back down.
"Not that I am suggesting rolling over either. But if the chance exists, why not try peace?"
"Peace is not going to work in this situation. Lord Malifayer wants to set up an outpost where this gnome has taken control. He does not seem threatened by us, and is not impressed by our threats to kill him. The only way is to actually fulfill our word. Any other thoughts before we head back out to try our plan?"
"Darkar...I am ready, let's head out to block the backdoor."
Cassius throws his hand skyward, launching the black bird from his wrist into te air.
"Crebain, keep a good look out for Gnomes, kobolds and those dire wolves. We want no surprises this time"
.oO(This is something Cassius will have to learn to control or it will consume him, but now is not the time to cut open old scars again. We will get bloodied enough in the hours to come.)
The elf looks for his bow and remembers he left it near the other entrance.
.oO(That was careless. I should have remembered to go and find it, even after the disastrous turn of events inside the gnome lair.)
.oO(I wonder if Mundavi woul let me study at the church instead of working for him)
.oO(At least I can pick up my bow when we get to the entrance. Hopefully I'll be able to keep that gnome too occupied for casting with it, without having to fight through ranks of his minions.)
"We're not under pressure to save one of our own this time. If we're thorough and methodical and look after each other, we're sure to prevail," he says quietly before the group comes within earshot of the entrance.
.oO(Hopefully this will be useful, even in those cramped corridors and tunnels inside...)
"Good work, Cassius. That'll give anyone trying to get out this way pause."
"I sure hope so master Ran, now with this way blocked I suggest we move in through the front door "
.oO(At least the well is a much more narrow exit, it shouldn't be too hard to block. It doesn't have to be permanent after all.)
Ran motions for Darkar to take the lead again, positioning himself near Silmarwen.
"Do you have another one of those spells, master Cassius, or will we have to improvise?"
"No Master Ran, my robe only held one such door, besides, like Sir Darkar said, a large stone should be enough to plug that hole."
Cassius positions himself with behind Darkar and Ran so he can cover them with magic in case of an attack
The opening itself has a sturdy iron bar wedged to one side, with two ropes trailing down. One is strong cord, the other a thicker, knotted, rope.
Given the trampled ground around the well and rocks, this appears to have been a sentry point.
"It's not like they didn't already know we're coming."
He assists Darkar with the heavy slabs of stone, hoisting them on top of the well.
"That ought to do it."
"Alright let's double time it back to the opening we left alone."
Cassius pulls a scroll out of his pack and tucks it in his belt, the same goes for one of his potion bottles which dissapears up his sleeve
Lucian moves his hand in a quick circle while speaking a prayer, he puts his hand on Darkar's shoulder and there's a feeling of confidence in his actions. Moving past Darkar, Lucian moves to the entrance.
"There shouldn't be anything too tricky about it, well, until the porticlus. There wasn't anything yesterday but Kobolds are reknown for their work."
Lucian slides his sword into the seath and takes a look see around the passage, stopping every few feet.
Aside from a distant whimpering, the tunnels are silent. Lucian finds no traps.
(elven)"Didn't find any traps, doesn't mean there aren't any so be careful."
He continues down the tunnel.
The stairs to the temple of Demmion are to the left.
(Elven)"What's your call boss? There's something down there to the right. Should we go and handle it or go straight for the head? I personally think we should take a look to the right."
"Maybe have half our group stand down the corridor to the left and the others go down to open up the cages?"
Ran has his bow out, keeping it ready for use even in the cramped corridors they have to travel.
[elven]"Has anyone thought about what we are to do with the captives once we release them? No offense to Cassius but he makes it sound like after we have the women and children freed, we go on a Demmionite killing spree... and how do we know the the kobolds won't rebel against us afterwards?"
"So we really dont."
He shrugs apologetically, then walks down the tunnel, stoping every couple feet to check for traps.
Ran keeps the other corridor covered with his bow while Lucain carefully makes his way to what could be the captives.
.oO(I hope this isn't a trap. I hope this isn't a trap. I hope this isn't a trap.)
"Don't be afraid we are here to set you free. We heard that the gnomes were keeping you prisoners, and came to let you out."
"Not a killing spree Anaya, I want that Gnome's head on a platter for what he did to Jace"
)She looks at the group with a clueless face and shakes her head
I'm sure that their gratitude toward us for saving their mates will be justworthy... and as for the gnome's head comment turning towards Cassius I think we all want to give back to him what he did to Jace....
.oO(I wonder what Gamis would say to Cassius if he was here...)
She shakes her head and keeps close to Lucian, keeping her senses peeled
Cassius keeps hsi attention on the direction of the temple
"Monstorous......" he then mutters several elven curses that fit the horrible situation.
"It's okay little one."
He sets to work on the lock.
"All the others dead. What will become of the child? Why kill the kobolds unless they were fleeing?"
He looks around for other dangers.
.oO(What's taking them so long? Are the kobolds too afraid to come out?)
The elf hisses: "What's going on? Is there a problem?"
"The gnomes must have decided to kill all of the kobolds. The only survivor is an infant. I am not sure what it means."
Ran forgets about the corridor, turns around hurries over. A glance inside makes his stomach turn, the atrocity of such an act uncomprehensible.
.oO(Thalos preserve us, what manner of evil could conceive of this slaughter...)
Seeing the frightened kobold infant, he makes himself as small as possible and tries to approach slowly, reassuring the babe that it'll be ok in a gentle tone of voice.
"It's all right, little one. We won't hurt you. Don't be afraid." He repeats the same phrases over and over, first in Common, then Elven, then Draconic.
[Diplomacy +8, if applicable]
"someone care to tell me again why we shouldn't kill demionites?"
"I do not have a problem with killing them in battle, but when we took one prisoner for information and then decide to kill him would be a problem for me. No more on the subject for the moment. There is a hidden door back there, and I was wondering if we should check it out before we try to head back through the rest of the caves?"
Mama wake up? Mama wake up?
[Draconic]"Come here, little one. Mama had to go, but it'll be ok..."[/Draconic]
.oO(... even if I have no idea how...)
Trying to comfort the tiny kobold infant, Ran turns to Silmarwen and Cassius.
"Does either of you have a spell to make him - or her - sleep for a little while? It's a bit of a gruesome idea, but I think he'll be safest staying right here. Nobody will come and bother him."
[Draconic]"What's your name, little one? Are you hurt?"[/Draconic]
The small creature clings to Ran's robe with a fierce grip.
"Does either of you have a spell to make him - or her - sleep for a little while? It's a bit of a gruesome idea, but I think he'll be safest staying right here. Nobody will come and bother him."
Sadly Silmarwen shakes her head no.
"Is the child alright or does he need any tending too?"
"Is the child alright or does he need any tending too?"
Ran gently picks Zeppo up and rubs the child's back while checking for injuries.
[Draconic]"Come here, little fellow. Your mama is gone. That's just her body, her soul is getting ready to be reborn into a happier existence. I know you can't understand right now, but I promise it'll get better."[/Draconic]
"I don't think he's hurt. They probably didn't even notice him."
"The infant should be brought outside. There are kobolds still out there so it might be found."
"Or not. He's not able to look after himself and if he doesn't get found and we don't take care of him, he'll die. I'd rather make sure nothing happens to him until we can find someone who can take care of the little one."
Ran tucks the little kobold in the crook of his arm, softly stroking his back to calm him down.
"Is there any food or drink around?"
Hungry.
He appears to be uninjured, having been small enough to be overlooked by the killers.
"You mean it's that young?"
Cassius hears the pipsqeak say it's hungry, dips into his pack and takes out a few morsels of bread and cheese. Then he hands it down to silmarwen
"Here ad this to it, that'll make a meal for the poor thing. If it's that small it can't stay here alone, either it goes with us or one of us will have to remain behind"
Ran gratefully accepts the gifts of food from Silmarwen and Cassius and offers them to the tiny kobold.
[Draconic]"Here, little one. Eat something."[/Draconic]
"Splitting up doesn't seem like a sensible solution either. We'll need all our strength to face that gnome and live. But I agree we don't have many choices. Do you think Crebain might be able to watch over him until we return, Cassius?"
"Splitting up doesn't seem like a sensible solution either. We'll need all our strength to face that gnome and live. But I agree we don't have many choices. Do you think Crebain might be able to watch over him until we return, Cassius?"
"I would say it is safest to leave him where we found him since they think all the kobolds are dead. However it seems a gruesome place to leave a child."
"I'd rather not leave him here, not if we can't make him sleep until we return. This is no place for a child. If we can't think of anything else, I'll take Zeppo outside and convince him to hide for a little while. I'd feel better about it if Crebain could keep an eye on him though."
Ran nods towards Cassius and leads the mage and the kobold outside, where he looks for a place nearby where little Zeppo can easily stay hidden.
[Draconic]"Zeppo? We have to go back inside for a little while, but you can't come with us. Can you be brave and wait out here? My friend Cassius has a big black bird, and we would like you to keep an eye on him so he isn't alone.We'll be back very soon, and you and Crebain can keep each other company. Do you think you can do that?"[/Draconic]
Bright! Too bright! Too big! Stay with you!
It occurs to Ran that the kobold has likely never been outside that one underground chamber in his life.
Ran gently covers the little kobold with a fold of his robe and looks apologetically at Cassius.
"That's obviously not going to work either. Was there a room we can leave him in, other than that cage?"
I wouldn't advise leaving him here alone... should they come back to clean up the mess they had made here. He would most definately be found among the bodies and killed off just like the others.
"That's obviously not going to work either. Was there a room we can leave him in, other than that cage?"
"I would not recommend the room that smelled like the bathroom. Most of the other doors were locked last time, perhaps one of them could be opened and prove safer?" Silmarwen says ignoring Anaya's comment about the cage since it was already decided they could not leave the child there.
We don't know what are behind the other doors and we can't have him with us should we get into a battle should there be something behind the rooms we haven't checked.
I don't know..but it is only a suggestion... Maybe 2 of us can stay here and watch him while the rest of us find somewhere to keep him? I can't think of any other solution without at least someone staying with him..at least for the time being.
"I second that suggestion Anaya, good thinking. I'll stay behind, Crebain will go with you to keep an eye out"
Ran looks at Darkar and Lucian, to see if they agree with this course of action as well.
[Draconic]"Hey, little Zeppo. Is this better? Not so bright?"[/Draconic]
Zeppo looks up at Ran, a fleck of apple clinging to his muzzle, and in a serious tone says, The gnomes are bad.
"Very well. Does that plan work for everyone?"
"No that is not alright. Ran you said it yourself that splitting up was a bad idea. It may not be a good idea to leave Zeppo alone by himself, but we can not take him with us. Nor can we split up, the ones watching the child would be easier targets.
We would do Jace and Kai a dishonor if we fail to get rid of the gnomes while we can. It was obvious after yesterday that we were at a disadvantage, and we will need each of us working together to even have a chance. Pick a place to hide Zeppo until we can come back for him later."
"No that is not alright. Ran you said it yourself that splitting up was a bad idea. It may not be a good idea to leave Zeppo alone by himself, but we can not take him with us. Nor can we split up, the ones watching the child would be easier targets."
"That's not what I meant, my apologies for the confusion. My suggestion was for two of us to find a hiding place for Zeppo - in the part of the building we've cleared out so far - while the others remain here and work on that other exit. When the little one is safely tucked away, we regroup and only then move on."
[Draconic]"The gnomes are bad."[/Draconic]
[Draconic]"That's true. We will punish them for being bad, but that's going to be dangerous. That's why I want you to hide for a little while, so you'll safe. Do you think you can do that?"[/Draconic]
Ran wipes the sliver of apple from the little kobold's face.
[Draconic]"Is that better? You're not hungry anymore?"[/Draconic]
Zeppo considers Ran's request, then nods. I hide.
He pulls a fold of Ran's robe over his head.
Well Ran I think you will have to go since Zeppo likes you so much, and perhaps Lucian can help opening the locked doors. I think though we should have someone that can still see you if there is any trouble. That way if you are caught in some problem we can still come to your aid. Would not do well if you walked into room where we could not hear you like yesterday.
[Draconic]"That's right, Zeppo. Nobody will see you, but I'll know where you are and we'll come back for you quickly."[/Draconic]
"I think that guard room we came in through last time will have to do. That's just around the corner. It means going past the stairway that leads to where we got butchered though. Are we going to go through there, or are we going to try that hidden door in the back of this room."
"I think we will save upstairs for last, I am curious about the hidden door. I will check it out while you help Zeppo hide."
(OOC: Am I correct when I read that Lucian has found a second hidden door? If so Lucian please share the info ;) )
[i] The big bird caws once then flies of cassius shoulder and circles around Rans head once before settling on the top edge of the nearest door"
Examining the concealed door he found at the south end of the corridor, in what appeared to be a dead-end alcove, Darkar finds no traps. A bit of clever work with a lockpick has the door ready to open in a short amount of time.
[Draconic]"Look, Zeppo. That's Crebain. He's a friend too, you can trust him."[/Draconic]
The elf walks out the door and cautiously crosses the corridor towards the guard room. It's not clear who's supposed to come with him, aside from Crebain, but since it's such a short distance he isn't really worried. If anyone wants to, they'll follow.
Coming to the stairs leading up to where they had their confrontation with the gnome priest, he halts for a moment and tries to make out if there's anyone or anything up there. If he can't hear anything, he continues towards the other room.
Scattered around the room, the corpses remain.
The raven flies around the room once to check the corpses
"Something wrong that you could not help Ran?"
"So where should we hide Zeppo?"
[Draconic]"Sit down for a minute, little one. Do you think you can hide here for a little while and be brave while we're punishing the rest of the gnomes for being bad? I'll leave you a waterskin in case you get thirsty, and I promise we'll come back for you soon. Can you promise me not to run away until then?"[/Draconic]
Turning to Silmarwen for a moment, Ran replies: "These cots will do, like Crebain says. It's the best solution I can think of anyway. I'll leave him some water and drag the corpses out of sight, there's nothing more I can do on short notice."
You come back? Scary here, alone. Where is my papa?
[Draconic]"I know it's scary, little one. That's why you have to be brave. You're papa is not here, but I'm sure he's looking for you."[/Draconic]
.oO(At least, I hope he's still alive so he can look for his son...)
[Draconic]"When we come back for you, we'll go looking for your papa, ok? We'll help you find him."[/Draconic]
"Can you check the bodies, Silmarwen? I want to sit with Zeppo a little bit longer, until he settles down. He's naturally very upset."
Maybe I could go too if I'm quiet?
Starts searching the corpses looking for vials and potion primarily. After that Silmarwen looks for what it there.
Your papa is probably very worried about you, and he wouldn't like it if you came with us. I don't want him to be angry with me."[/Draconic]
The other two, gnomes, had three potions between them. One also had a wand and two tanglefoot bags. Their other gear was also most likely valuable.
Zeppo chews on a fingernail and thinks about Ran's advice.
Papa said the boss gnome did bad magic.
Papa said the boss gnome did bad magic.
[Draconic]"Your papa is right, Zeppo. The boss gnome is an evil priest, and he does bad magic because he enjoys hurting others. That's why we have to go and punish him, so he can't do that anymore."[/Draconic]
Looking around the barracks, Ran decides to try a different approach.
[Draconic]"What if we make a hiding place just for you, Zeppo? I bet that if we turn one or two of these cots over and use a couple of blankets, we can make a really good hiding place where nobody will find you. If I do that, do you think you can be a brave kobold and stay here until we come back for you?"[/Draconic]
(OOC: Detect magic holding until all information on the items can be learned in the room)
Ran picks Zeppo up, puts him down next to the cot and tries to up-end it. Leaning against the wall, it'll make a little half-tent that is more than large enough for the tiny kobold whelp to crawl into. He tosses a few blankets and sheets over it to create the illusion that it was carelessly flung there by someone ransacking the place, checks that it can't come crashing down if Zeppo bumps into it from inside and steps back with a satisfied look on his face to take in the result.
[Draconic]"What do you think, Zeppo? Will that do for a hiding place?[/Draconic]
Seeing that Silmarwen is occupied with the items she found on the bodies, the elf waits until she's finished before asking if there's anything interesting among her finds.
The wand's aura is that of transmutation, four potions have a healing aura, and one potion is a glamer as are two of the scrolls. The other scrolls have two each of abjuration and conjuration. The other potions remain mysterious to the cleric.
Zeppo scampers into the shelter Ran has manufactured, then pokes his nose out. This good hidey place. You not gone long?
"Are you about ready over there?"
"It looks like it. I'm coming."
Ran gives Zeppo the waterskin he had slung across his back.
[Draconic]"Here, little one. In case you get thirsty. I won't be gone long, I promise. Make sure nobody sees you, and when we've punished the bad gnomes I'll help you find your papa."[/Draconic]
He turns around, back to Silmarwen.
"Do you need a hand with those?"
If necessary, he helps the priestess carry the items she founds and returns to the other room, where the the others have been working on the secret door.
"Healing magic will be very useful indeed. I should have brought some myself. What do the others do?"
When they rejoin the others, Ran let's the priestess explain about the potions.
"Little Zeppo is safe for now, as safe as possible at least. How are we doing here?"
"I think we should leave it locked for the moment, I have already unlocked the hidden door. We should check that out first."
He turns when he hears that Ran and Silmarwen are back.
Meanwhile Cassius covers one hidden door while Darkar and Lucian check the other
"They better get back soon, I'm itching to take out that gnome"
"They better get back soon, I'm itching to take out that gnome"
"Don't fret, master Gaia. We're here and we share your desire for urgency."
Seeing Darkar and Lucian working on a door Ran asks, after Silmarwen had a chance to tell of her finds: "Is that the way we'll be going? Lead the way, Ser Shadowood. Master Gaia can have a spell ready for when we run into the priest or his minions, we'll cover the rear and prepare to move in immediately following that first offensive wave."
.oO (I wonder if that's a possible escape route... bears keeping in mind)
This is cassius, if you have a line to him, he has one to you. Just remember to watch yourself. We also dont really hae enough room to spread out nicely. I'd like to get closer to him in order to go to work, so just tell me when you want me to.
Cassius gropes in his pack takes out two vials and holds them out to lucian
"Here take these, they contain holy water. They're my last so make sure they count"
Silmarwen gives a healing potion to Ran, Cassius, Lucian, and Darkar. She does not accept no for an answer when handing them out.
.oO(In the midst of combat it might be useful to be able to administer this to a fallen comrade. Better it not come to that, but that is not entirely in our hands...)
"I'll try to use my bow for a first volley, master Gaia, but in these cramped quarters that is not so easy. I will hold back from rushing our foes until you've had a chance to use your magic without having to worry about me being in the way. However, we cannot afford to keep you in the first line indefinitely. That priest will have subordinates, it'll be imperative we dispatch them before they can bring the fight to us."
"Let's get on with it."
The sound of a chain rustling on the stone floor is followed by a man's voice, rough with disuse, saying, "Who's there?"
"Darkar Shadowood, and you are?"
The clank of chain on stone accompanies a man's shape rising in the back of the room. Shelves of some sort are dimly visible against the walls.
"Thalos must have guided you to me -- those hateful Demmionites have kept me in this pit for an eternity..."
He ponders a few moments before asking questions
Who recruited me into the Jackals? he waits for the right answer before continuing
(OOC: Additional questions and answers sent in a PM)
You were recruited by Thorn, as I recall.
Please, bring a light closer. I have been kept in this pit, eating food thrown on the ground, with neither light nor warmth for so very long..."
There is a silence, and a sigh. With sorrow evident in his voice, Allegion replies, "You disappoint me, Darkar. Still, I will accept that perhaps your tribulations have been so severe that you are reduced to mistrusting those in whom your faith should be the strongest.
You were recruited by Thorn, as I recall.
Please, bring a light closer. I have been kept in this pit, eating food thrown on the ground, with neither light nor warmth for so very long..."
Darkar motions for the torch and moves slowly in.
"You have been gone missing almost a year Sir Allegion. Many feared you dead at one point. This demmionite seems to have several tricks up his sleeve, has control of undead creatures, and other minions as well. It would be unwise for a leader to trust a situation based on perception. Two more questions, and I will release you sir. Who lent me a weapon in the final against the final fight against Khan, and what was it?"
Very well, you may continue your questions. Lady Tao lent you her bow."
The torchlight reveals the devastation wrought by months of imprisonment in filth and darkness. While Sir Allegion flinches from the light, he nevertheless moves towards it, a heavy chain dragging at his foot. Oozing sores from the constant chafing surround his ankle, and his unwashed and unshaven face shows deep exhaustion. Nevertheless, he stands upright and proud.
Silmarwen listens carefully to the conversation trying to make sense of it all. She remembers Darkar saying that one of the undead from before was a Jackal, and she thought from Darkar this Sir Allegion was dead. Calling on Thalos' sight Silmarwen chants a prayer to reveal undead creatures near to them.
As Silmarwen searches the area, she becomes certain there are no undead about them.
"Last question, and then we will have you free. What is the name of "Brother" Gamis' horse?"
He tries to see past the glare of the torchlight, "Who is with you? Did you destroy the Demmionites in this horrible lair?"
He begins to work with his lockpick to free Sir Allegion
"The leader and some of the other gnomes have escaped at the moment. We are not sure if they are still here, and we were searching the area to try and finish them off. I think they might have fled considering that all the kobolds that they were using are dead, but we must be certain."
"No doubt the creature has scuttled away to inform his superiors. We must return to the city immediately, so that I may report to Lord Malifaeyr.
How far are we from the city? They brought me here under such circumstances, I do not know where we are."
He steps away from the chain with relief as the shackle falls open.
Darkar leads Sir Allegion back to the others and explains the situation.
"We have found Sir Allegion behind this door, my superior in the Jackal order a prisoner of the Demmiontes. I have been ordered to escort back to the city so that he can report to Lord Malifaeyr what he knows. Ran, Silmarwen it would be best to go get the child now we are heading out."
.oO(They kept a ranking Jackal officer imprisoned here, in secret, for an entire year? What could they possibly have hoped to accomplish with this?)
When Darkar addresses him, he snaps out of it, puts his arrow back in his quiver and unstrings his bow.
"Right away, I won't be a moment."
The elf quickly leaves the room to return to the barracks.
[Draconic]"Zeppo? Change of plans, little one. We're leaving straight away. You can come out now."[/Draconic]
Okay! Bad gnome dead?
Zeppo reclaims his perch on Ran and watches around them avidly as they proceed.
Silmarwen finds the prisoner emaciated, bug-bitten, and barely covered in the rags of his uniform.
"Does anyone have any food left on them?"
"I didn't think of bringing anything but water and Zeppo was so hungry he'd have eaten five times what we had for him, I think."
Ran returns in time to hear the question, but unfortunately doesn't have any food to share.
"Maybe we should make haste towards the camp anyway, and take care of sir Allegion's immediate needs there. This place still isn't safe, after all."
The elf takes off his overshirt though, and hands it to the senior Jackal before lifting Zeppo back to his shoulder.
"We're not done here yet Darkar, you won't return here without me"
"I'll need to regain my strength, if I'm to be of any use to Lord Malifaeyr. You say you lost two of your people to the gnomes?" He glances over the group. "Were they Jackals?"
.oO(He speaks of replacing the fallen soldiers... Does it bother him that they had names and were people too?)
"You are all welcome to come back here with me after we return to the city, and resupply."
"I will come with, if you'll have me. I'd like to stay around a little while longer while the rest of you return to Garic's City though. Little Zeppo lost his mother, but maybe his father got away. I want to at least try to find him first. Not that I intend to stay long, that'd be too dangerous, but I'm hoping the surviving kobolds have stayed in the vicinity to see if any others of their kind made it out alive."
"Would you mind if I stayed with you Ran? I really have no reason to return to Garic's right away."
Cassius casts his spell, speaking the arcane phrase to trigger it, and Sir Allegion glances at him. He shrugs off the odd behavior, and continues to walk alongside Darkar.
As the wizard focuses on the freed paladin, he finds no magical auras on the man.
"Would you mind if I stayed with you Ran? I really have no reason to return to Garic's right away."
"You would be very welcome to, master Lucian, provided Ser Shadowood doesn't need you. Sir Allegion's safe return is our first priority, after all. And I'll rejoin or at least follow the group soon: this place is not safe to wander around in yet."
"I will come with, if you'll have me. I'd like to stay around a little while longer while the rest of you return to Garic's City though. Little Zeppo lost his mother, but maybe his father got away. I want to at least try to find him first. Not that I intend to stay long, that'd be too dangerous, but I'm hoping the surviving kobolds have stayed in the vicinity to see if any others of their kind made it out alive."
"It would be quicker to have Crebain fly over head to see if there were any in the area. It save you time and potential peril should you encounter the gnomes by yourself. If there are not any kobolds here we should all just leave."
.oO(Why do I want to stay away so bad? Probably because I'd rather avoid the Strikers and they will know if I go back.)