The fort hamlet (DM-IT Kup) Thursday March 31st, 2005 9:26:37 PM
(A little backposting)
The weather having cleared just as rapidly and inexplicably as it had come and the cerberus having been tended to, the Chosen made good time in their travels once more. The road that the Chosen had traveled for the day had taken them farther and farther from civilized lands. Farmlands and pastures had long since given way to wild, untamed hills and copses. The land here rolled slightly, and the rocky hills were strewn with the irregular forms of limestone and granite stones and boulders. At times, the path the group followed narrowed to little more than a gametrail through the hills. The liontaurs and centaurs, gifted with four legs, handled the rolling terrain with greater ease than their bipedal minotaur companions, but even so all of the companions managed the changes in elevation without much strain. A squirrel, a bird, a darting snake, the occasional glimpse of an eagle or griffon, far off in the distance: these were the Chosen's only companions during their travel.
This land was at once sun-kissed and sunburnt, a reminder of both the blessing and the warnings of the Mother Wold. Here and there, a cracked foundation stone or ancient pillar were all that remained to recall some settlement, lost long ago in the Breaking of the Wold. The hills tended to yellows, browns, and golds--matching the liontaurs' coats, perhaps, but issuing a mute challenge to the green life that stubbornly clung to them. All in all, it was a far cry from the volcanic rock, wide grasslands, and verdant forests of the Chosen's home islands.
As the hills deepened, so too did the woods that populated them. Stiff, arid pines and stunted, gnarled oaks found purchase in the poor, acidic soils here, forming forests that, while not lush, were rich and varied in their textures nonetheless. The air, dry and whistling faintly through the conifers with the coolness of early spring, carried the scent of pine needles and early spring flowers. The keen noses of the Chosen could just barely scent the faintest hint of sea salt from the waters that lay in the far distance.
Kanchana and Zeoll could not help but feel the pulse and rhythm of the live woods around them, although many of the others--Kale and Brahmah, most notably--shared some echo of this feeling. This was wild power--Mother Wold's power ... and, perhaps, something more? It was difficult for Kanchana or Zeoll to lay a claw on it, but there seemed to be an undercurrent beneath the hum of the living wood. Was it one thread, two, more? The earth-lovers could not tell; it vanished if ever they thought to focus on it. There was definitely a strain, however, a building tension--the druids could just barely feel it, there on the edges of earth-consciousness; like the natural Wold had begun speeding up, out of its regular pace and order. Like that crystalline rain from earlier: Kanchana felt positive that it was natural rain (it had melted away in Solgrin's hands after just a few minutes), but it was somehow strangely ... accelerated, maybe. It was hard to describe. Otherwise, this feeling wasn't anything tangible ... yet; just a presence. It was difficult to tell whether it was something localized, or something more. Regardless, there seemed to be many powers at work in these hills.
In time, the group was able to catch sight, at the tops of rises, of a cluster of tall trees far in the distance. The trees were different than those that surrounded them--tall, slender, and thick of trunk, they carried their towering canopies aloft like leafy spears. There were four clusters of such trees, all surrounding an even larger, central tree, and all seeming to form an unusual grove. The path was taking them in the direction of this grove.
The hills began to level now, and the path led downward into a slight valley. The woods became thinner, a stream ran through the valley bottom, and here and there in sunny spots, bunches of wild berries, grape arbors, seed-bearing flowers and vegetables seemed to have grown up at random from the hillsides. In their hearts, Kanchana and Zeoll felt instinctively what the others must have guessed in time; there was Mother Wold power at work here. The cluster of tall trees grew directly in the center of this valley.
As the group neared the cluster of trees, they noticed, too, a low, wooden hedge or stockade that seemed to have grown around this larger grove. The path led toward the wooden hedge, and coming closer to it, it became clear to the group that it was a proper stockade, made of growing, living trees! Astonishingly, it stretched for dozen of yards in both directions until it was lost behind dips and curves, seeming to flow naturally along the valley floor, and yet clearly quite uniform in height at about ten feet tall.
And it was solid. Trunk touched trunk, and branch laced with branch, all along its length. There was but one visible passage through this barrier, and it was a large wooden gate, seemingly guarded in lackadaisical manner by four oddly dressed humanoids holding spears. The guards seemed occupied among themselves. The path led to this gate. Beyond the stockade lay the grove of tall, stout trees, which, at this distance, clearly displayed thick, red bark around their sizable circumferences.
The Chosen's three-headed guide came to a halt roughly fifty yards outside the wooden wall, its tongues lolling and breath panting in the mid-day sun. Eyes wide and wild with fear, the cerberus Bell-Mort-Laia would approach no closer, although this clearly was its intended destination. Gecktar's fighter's instincts warned him of danger, and he tensed. Brahmah, too, proceeded with caution; he raised his weapons and eyed the area carefully. Flat-top followed suit--his weapons ready, he watched his leader Brahmah peripherally for cues while his keen ears and eyes looked for trouble. Toros watched the cerberus carefully and with concern. Zeoll, by contrast, was less concerned. He shouted a greeting to the humans guarding the gate, just as Kanchana was commenting on how nonchalant they appeared at the group's approach.
(New posting)
The guards snapped to attention at the sound of Zeoll's voice. They turned to one another and exchanged words. What was said could not be determined at this distance, not even by the keen-eared Flat-top; but their reaction was plain enough. All four gripped their spears with both hands and retreated inside the gate, promptly drawing it shut behind them. After another moment, the group saw one of the guard's heads re-emerge from above the stockade wall. In another moment, the other three appeared as well, each at a dip in the natural wood of the stockade that formed effective crenellation. They all held their spears at the ready.
"Who goes there?" demanded the guard whose head had first appeared at the top of the stockade. It was difficult to tell at this distance, but all of the guards were wearing oddly-shaped helmets. Spot check 25: Highlight to display spoiler: {The helmets appeared to be shaped from massive acorns.}
Gecktar Friday April 1st, 2005 2:24:28 AM
Gecktar makes a step or two to approch the entrance.
"My name is Gecktar Cadeqa ! My companions and I have made a long trip and we are willing to have some rest. We're calling for hospitality in your hamlett."
Saying that Gecktar raises his hands in a sign of peace.
Brahmah Friday April 1st, 2005 5:26:15 AM
The minotaur looks over to Gecktar and shakes his head. He then looks to the dog for confirmation. He whispers, "Should they be here? Is the gate usually guarded like this? It seems like a remote place for guards to be on duty at this time of day?"
Still whispering, "Chosen, I suggest we do not tell them who we are until it is clear whether they are hostile." He looks at Gecktar specifically. "Our canine friend isn't comfortable with this situation, and neither am I."
Flat-top d20+3=21 Friday April 1st, 2005 6:57:09 AM
Flat-top tell Brahmah, "Comfortable! I'm so uneasy that I have Gooseburry bumps on my hide. It's your call, Captain."
Toros Friday April 1st, 2005 7:58:32 AM
Toros...
... feels fear and sorrow he has never experienced, ... learns the love for a master he has never known, ... realizes Taur can howl he has never been aware!
...That elven dream and then that elven vision made us common?!? The dead of the beloved master rebuilds a shared bond with a pesky Lion-Taur? Or it is just the temporal and spatial emotions that that pesky Taur creates by himself?!?
The best way to understand is ask... what and how he wants, or does not want, to hear...
...
No utterances, just thinking!
...If reply comes..!.. Then he will see...
Highlight to display spoiler: {"Cerberus? ... Do you feel what I feel? ... I can feel your emotions... Can you... }
Toros cannot find the right words... Can think nothing else. Can sense nothing else.
In fact, A chilling surprise supresses all other emotions, his or others'. Cold sweat drops freezes all his body, mind and soul.
Kanchana Friday April 1st, 2005 10:58:04 AM
Kanchana didn't find the guards non-chalant, she found them to be unconcerned about the Chosen at first sight. However they quickly reacted to the Taurs the way she half expected. Kanchana looks at the drawn weapons abounding among the group. "No wonder they got scared... 'I come in peace, hack and slay!'" Kanchana thinks to herself.
The Warden frowns slightly and glances around her and at the fort guards.
"They might not have reacted with fear and distrust if "we" had appraoched without weapons drawn," she comments. [note comments are based on the last DM post where it says that several fighters among the Chosen have their weapons drawn.] DM-IT Kup comment: that seems right. At least, I read the players' posts that way, and therefore crafted my summary accordingly. If that's not right, let us know! : )
Zeoll d20+8=22 Friday April 1st, 2005 2:33:29 PM
Zeoll does not spot anything out of the ordinary (Spot 22). He had not drawn his sword. He sees the people draw back and he wonders if al is well. He watches to see what the three-headed dog does.
He shouts out, "Hey! Hello! We werre sent herre by Domi and elf frriends of this place! I am Zeoll, Chosen of Domi!"
Solgrin d20+4=6 Friday April 1st, 2005 4:13:38 PM
With no weapons readied Solgrin looks to those that have their weapons out thinking to himself and Rozca 'it could have gone so much more friendly if weapons had not been drawn'
Solgrin will move over by Kanchana and watch what happens.
**** spot 6 ****
Signals and noise (DM-IT Kup) Friday April 1st, 2005 4:28:03 PM DM-IT Kup: posting a bit on the early side on Fridays, because I turn into a pumpkin at sunset.
Gecktar stepped forward toward the gate, but only slightly; even with his long taur strides, he was still several dozen yards from the gate (145'). He raised his hands in a sign of peace. "My name is Gecktar Cadeqa ! My companions and I have made a long trip and we are willing to have some rest. We're calling for hospitality in your hamlet."
(DM-IT Kup: after all that fuss I made about roleplaying in my intro e-mail, now I'm going to ask for die rolls!? But, Gecktar (and Zeoll), as you continue this conversation, if it comes to the point in your mind that the PCs are attempting to sway the guards (not that I'm recommending one way or the other), please feel free to make a Diplomacy or other roll you think appropriate (Bluff, Aid Another, etc.).
In my view, effective IC roleplaying can trump a die roll, and you can earn modifiers on the roll for roleplaying regardless--so don't take the roll as a substitute for your own writing!--but at a minimum, for an action where there is a rules-specified skill or the like, a die roll can provide some context. If you don't perceive yourself as using a skill--for example, rather than affirmatively trying to persuade the guards of something, you're just making conversation, or expect to obtain your goal by logic rather than diplomacy, etc.--then don't bother with the roll.
You all are more experienced at this than I am, and so I'm not trying to "teach my grandmother to suck eggs." It's just that I don't want to be understood, by my expressed preference for roleplay, to be discouraging skill rolls and the like where appropriate; in fact, feel free to make whatever rolls you think might apply.)
While Gecktar was speaking, Brahmah whispered to the cerberus. "Should they be here?" he asked. "Is the gate usually guarded like this? It seems like a remote place for guards to be on duty at this time of day?" Flat-top seconded his Captain's caution.
Bell-Mort-Laia seemed to be having its own problems. Bell whined and hung its head, while Mort snapped at it. "Dead, dead," whimpered Bell. "Get a grip!" growled Mort.
"Quiet, both of you!" insisted Laia fiercely. The Laia head looked at Brahmah. "Guarded, perhaps, but never closed at this time of day. The gates are usually open from sunrise to sunset, and the people of the hamlet are free to come and go. There should be workers in the fields, too," Laia added, indicating the untamed growth through which they had passed--and which had been empty of people-- "As well as ... as ...." the head trailed off and began to sniffle. "I'm sorry. It's just--it's not easy for us to lose our master. It is hard to control our emotions. We feel such loss, and it is so uncertain what we should do ...." Now Laia began whimpering as well.
Toros, meanwhile, felt a surge of emotions, and concentrated his thoughts into a question. He heard no immediate response, though. (DM-IT Kup: sorry, Toros, but it's my lack of familiarity with the PCs showing ... are you just taking a stab at this, or using an ability that Toros has? If so, could you please specify? I don't want to inadvertently deprive Toros of a pre-existing ability.)
Kanchana frowned slightly and glanced around her and at the fort guards. "They might not have reacted with fear and distrust if we had appraoched without weapons drawn," she commented. Indeed, both Brahmah and Flat-top had weapons drawn, which might make parley more difficult. But neither had yet made a move to lower their weapons, perhaps awaiting more information from the cerberus. Solgrin moved over by Kanchana to watch what happened.
Zeoll added his voice to Gecktar's. He shouted, "Hey! Hello! We werre sent herre by Domi and elf frriends of this place! I am Zeoll, Chosen of Domi!"
The guards looked back and forth at one another, but took no visible action to open the gate. "Why have you come here? What do you want with this village?" came the called response. The mid-day sun still beat down on the scene, and the still, natural surroundings provided an oddly quiescent tone to what amounted to an armed stand-off.
Toros - OOC Friday April 1st, 2005 11:59:53 PM
Kup, it is not using an ability, but just role-playing what Toros attempts to do. It relies on Jerry's post in L&B on Tuesday March 22nd, 2005 9:53:18 AM:
Ok, on the Big Dream...
...
We designed this Crossover to be player driven in places. So feel free to drive. Tell your DM what YOU want to do because of the dream.
RPGs are much more fun when they are player driven.
The DM gives you options and hints and directions, but you decide which way to go and how to go about things.
So, how will your game react to the dream? What will it make you decide to do? Will this give your DM a headache when for the first time you tell him or her that you're forgetting about the dragon next valley over and going to talk to the nearby guru about the dream. :)
Not that was not a hint. I don't know if there is a guru where you are. :)
:-b
DM-IT Kup: Gotcha, thanks. : )
Kanchana d20+1=13 Saturday April 2nd, 2005 3:47:11 PM
Kanchana takes a chance. She steps forward to near where Gecktar is, but not too close to him. Of course she doesn't want to rile Brahmah by telling more than necessary so she opts to keep things short.
She calls up to the guards in Common,
"Fetch your local Warden - Druid! -. Mother Wold has called us here to help protect this place She holds so dear. Your village's Druid will know what to do."
At least Kanchana hopes that any wardens [her name for druids] in the hamlett will know of the dream. She is certain that Mother Wold sent the dream. Kanchana is also certain that a warden had something to do with the way the trees have grown to make protective walls. The wemic druidess now waits to see what happens.
(Diplomacy 13)
Flat-top Sunday April 3rd, 2005 7:23:47 AM
Flat-top is taken back by what His Sweet Heart said. He turn to Leets telling him, "Now! Why did I not think of that?"
Toros d20=5 Monday April 4th, 2005 1:21:20 AM
Highlight to display spoiler: {Mort?.. Bell?.. Laia? }
So far, Toros seems not to be heard or hear anything.
Well then... Nothing to worry. But, how should I be feeling now? Relief, anger, disappointment, silly..?
Looking for a better place to direct his attention Toros's mind finally get the chance to concentrate on the ongoing conversation between the Chosen and Hamlett Guards.
Although Toros is totally unprepared, he wants to join the talk by a convincing argument, probably starting with an expression something like:
"...But... We saw you in our dream..."
Fortunately. before Toros speaks his words out Kanchana takes the lead and makes some good comments, which helps Toros to make up his own mind to support the Warden in her attempt to affect the guards.
He draws his large weapon (!) , looks for a piece of white cloth and ties it to the upper end of the weapon. Originally white, the piece he has been able to find and tie looks a bit yellowish because of overuse.
Toros then starts swinging the cloth-tied weapon to the walls of Hamlett as a sign of piece.
(Aid Another for the Diplomacy skill check: d20, 5. Toros has +5 for Diplomacy Skill. Can these be added to the Aid Another check, resulting in with 10?) DM-IT Kup: IMHO, no. Aid Another is a DC 10, which is "cheap" enough for a +2. But, then, there is always the possibility a "roleplay" mod on any roll...
While swinging his peace sign Toros again turns into his own thoughts, asking one more time to the Cerberus:
Highlight to display spoiler: {Laila, Laila, can you hear me?}
Gecktar d20+9=20 Monday April 4th, 2005 3:22:02 AM
Gecktar looks at Kanchana and then Toros that are making efforts to make the guards understand that they come in peace.
He then says "Should we try to come close ? They seem civilised and will certainly fire at our feet first before engaging the hostilities."
Coming close to the guarded entrace, making signs to Toros and Kanchana to join him he says : "Maybe could we discuss of the reasons of our visit closer. It's not easy to to keep talking when yelling." He then adopt a more decided walk and approches the gate.
"As said our Warden, we are here guided by dreams of Mother Wold. We come here to help this hamlett growth in harmony with the surrounding nature and try to give solutions to any conflict that might arise."
(OOC diplomacy 20)
Solgrin d20+4=22 d20+4=15 d20+2=17 Monday April 4th, 2005 4:27:47 AM
Solgrin moves to stand approx. 15' from Kanchana keeping his hands away from his weapons. Solgrin will continue to look around the area while keeping an eye on the guards.
**** spot 22 listen 15 sense motive 17 ****
Flat-top Monday April 4th, 2005 6:31:36 AM
Flat-top moves aside to let Kanchana and Toros beside the Captain. Flat-top will stand next to Solgum.
Brahmah Monday April 4th, 2005 7:26:20 AM
The minotaur stands still and waits for a response from the guards.
Zeoll d20+21=32 Monday April 4th, 2005 8:17:19 AM
Zeoll sees that these humans are nervous, so he tells Croc to stay and keeps his weapon sheathed as he walks a little forward, joining Gecktar in talking with the guards.
He calls out to the guards.
"We have come to help you herre! We werre told by a wise old elf woman to offerr ourr serrvices! Look, herre are thrree of herr people, come to escorrt us."
Zeoll bows in the direction of their elf guides.
"We werre met by this canine being, who you should know! He fearrs forr his masterr."
He bows toward the three-headed dog.
"Ourr intentions are peaceful and helpful. We want to aid you. We serrve Domi the Prrotectorr, and we follow his worrds. Please have the courrage to see ourr good intentions!"
[OOC: Diplomacy check 32]
OOC: Adm Ceil Monday April 4th, 2005 8:35:53 AM
Dearest Sheriff Al
The report from the Chosen of Domi. A not so WOW.
Steve Kup e-mail was not dilevered.
Laurent Had a life problems, Had to be out. But Now He's Back and ready to kick a....
Also Sam's e-mail was also kick back.
So I'm posting the report here for all to see.
================================
Game#7 The Chosen of Domi Week of March 28, 2005
DM James Webber - posted until Thu. 30th CoDM Steve Kuperberg - Started posting on Thu. 31st Adm Ceil LaPlante Missing Posts Jay B/Brahmah Sam C/Kale -------->1 Gilles B.E/Gecklan Ceil L/Flat-top Laurent S/Leets --->5 Dom L'O/Solgum Eunice L'O/Kanchana Tunc M./Toros Cayzle/Zeoll ------>1
Sheriff Al, There was a Easter Holiday.
Yours Ceil PS: Laurent give me back my Cane!!
================================
Leets Monday April 4th, 2005 11:11:45 AM
The Centaur paladin, his shield on his arm and his club not too far away, waits for reactions from the guards. He holds Managarm so that the dog doesn't move forward too quickly, and tries to feel if there is sme kind of evil in the air....
Parley at the gate (DM-IT Kup) Monday April 4th, 2005 1:44:33 PM ooc: hm! Realized that I didn't know the proper form here--after the weekend, should I wait for my usual DM posting time here on Monday (approx. 8:30 pm Woldian time), or just post up? We're only missing Kale at this point, so I figured no harm in posting a little early and thereby give people more time to react for Tuesday. DM post tomorrow at its otherwise regular time-frame.
P.S. Please excuse the long spoiler for Toros below. I might otherwise have put that in a private e-mail, but as a DM in training, I think it's best to preserve all of the continuity here on the board.
Gecktar saw that Kanchana, Toros, and Zeoll, like himself, were making efforts to make the guards understand that they had come in peace. He suggested that they approach, and moved forward casually to about 50' from the gate, where the faces of their interlocutors now became clearer. Zeoll and Kanchana joined him, along with Toros, waving a makeshift flag. (DM-IT Kup: Zeoll, Toros and Kanchana, I'm interpreting your posts in context as moving forward with Gecktar and the others attempting parley. You have every right to veto that if I overstepped your intentions.) Solgrin stood about 15' feet away from Kanchana, keeping a careful watch on the guards and the surroundings.
Solgrin: Highlight to display spoiler: {As you move forward you notice, if you hadn't already, that the guards' helmets are made from huge acorns, and their spears have leaves growing from them. Your instincts don't give you any clear sense about the guards' motives, one way or the other.}
Kanchana spoke first. "Fetch your local Warden - Druid! -. Mother Wold has called us here to help protect this place She holds so dear. Your village's Druid will know what to do." Gecktar added: "As said our Warden, we are here guided by dreams of Mother Wold. We come here to help this hamlett growth in harmony with the surrounding nature and try to give solutions to any conflict that might arise."
Zeoll provided his own voice: "We have come to help you herre! We werre told by a wise old elf woman to offerr ourr serrvices! Look, herre are thrree of herr people, come to escorrt us. We werre met by this canine being, who you should know! He fearrs forr his masterr. Ourr intentions are peaceful and helpful. We want to aid you. We serrve Domi the Prrotectorr, and we follow his worrds. Please have the courrage to see ourr good intentions!"
Brahmah, Flat-top, and Leets stood back somewhat with Croc and Managram and listened, but both Brahmah's and Flat-top's weapons were still drawn. Listening to the others speak, Flat-top muttered to Leets, "Now! Why did I not think of that?"
In the meantime, Toros focused on the cerberus and thought a question once more. Toros's head hurt from all of this intense thinking. Yet again, he heard nothing in response. Then, a moment later, he heard something!
Toros: Highlight to display spoiler: {It was a voice! It was not from anyone near him. Had he imagined it? He looked at the dog, but it seemed to have its attention elsewhere. Toros listened again, focusing his mind as he had before: there it was! Faint, but present. As he focused his mind on this intangible voice and unfocused from the Wold around him, Toros felt a strange sensation, almost as if he were drifting asleep. His conscious mind wanted to fight the drift--to shake himself awake--but Toros's spiritual training took hold and he allowed himself to surrender to the sensation.
His unconscious floated. He could feel an ethereal part of himself lifting upward. Calmly looking down with his mind's eye, he saw his liontaur body--still waving the makeshift parley flag--then the rest of the group, and then the fort hamlet itself. He was rising up, away from his body. The view was tremendous! He could see the inner details of the fort hamlet outside which the Chosen, including his physical form, still stood. There were the four clusters of tall trees, surrounding one larger tree, and a courtyard just inside the gate, where he could see now that there were a number of people beginning to move toward the gate. There was a figure chained to a stake in that courtyard, too; something about that figure alarmed Toros, and for a moment, his consciousness nearly slammed back into his body! But Toros willed himself to relax, to allow his disembodied spirit to follow the sound of the voice that he had heard--and that was still there, just on the edge of perception.
Toros's unconscious continued to float upward, gathering momentum now. Now, he saw the details of the valley in which the Chosen stood--the stream, the fields, a small hut in a field on the far side of the stockaded hamlet--and then his spirit gathered speed and flew across the countryside. Time and space became a blur, and the voice that he had heard became more insistent. As distinct as the voice became, it was also small--Toros realized that it was the voice of a female gnome! He heard the voice clearly now, and beyond it, the voices of many others, raised in a vigorous discussion. Just as the voice became clearer, Toros gained the sudden impression that he had experienced something like this before--in his dreams.
The voice that had led his spirit was speaking again. "You think I did that? Wasn't me! Can we get a round delivered to our table? Before things get too busy, you know."
DM-IT Kup: Toros, your spirit is now inside the Giggling Ghost tavern. Go to the Giggling Ghost and read the posts for the past several days there to gain an appreciation of what is happening. Your presence there is just as it is under usual Giggling Ghost circumstances--for example, your spirit's presence in the tavern does not affect the continuing events in the Chosen, at least at present--but please note the following exceptions. When you materialize inside the tavern, you are in the balcony, standing next to a table where Flea, a female gnome, is sitting. Hers is the voice you heard.
In addition, as you will see upon reading the GG recent posts, there is a meeting taking place inside the tavern involving the Wold's elves. Toros, you sense instantly that it would be bad form to disrupt that meeting, and that it is a special privilege for you, a non-elf, to be present. Somehow you know, even without being told, that you are to stay in the balcony and observe, but not interfere.
When you are ready, you can post a brief message in the GG to let Flea know that you are there. Of course, just as with the usual Giggling Ghost experience, you are also free to leave whenever you wish; simply will your spirit to return to its body (in the meantime, you should, of course, continue to post in the Chosen as normal). Good luck!}
The rest of the group: After several of the members of the group had moved forward and attempted parley with the guards, they saw the head of another figure join those of the guards peering over the top of the stockade. It is the head of an elderly man, sporting grey hair and a salt-and-pepper beard that swirled in the light, mid-day breeze. The man spoke with the guards; although he was speaking in a normal voice, he was still quite far away. The wind carried some of the conversation to those who had approached and had keen enough ears.
Listen DC 15: Highlight to display spoiler: {Man: "You closed the gates?" Guard: "... were armed ... and look at ...." Man: "... sent for them? And now he is ..." Guard" "... Domi? How would we ..." Man: "... deal with them ... here at the gates. Then they will all die."}
Finally, the man addressed himself to the taurs. "You are the Chosen of Domi, then? I see that you come with a three-headed dog. Is that Fienz's pet?" Bell-Mort-Laia perked up and padded forward, barking an affirmation as it drew parallel with Toros.
"You must forgive our guards," the man continued. "But these are strange times, and there are strange things abroad in the land. We are not accustomed to seeing ... taurs ... like yourself in such a group ... and so armed." He looked down meaningfully at the three Chosen--Brahmah, Flat-top, and now Toros--who displayed bared steel.
"Surely, if you are who you say you are, then you should be able to demonstrate it. How are we to know that you are the 'Chosen' of Domi?" He watched the group expectantly.
Kanchana d20+4=23 Monday April 4th, 2005 5:38:08 PM
Kanchana cannot believe how dense the guards are.
"Fetch a Druid and he or she will certainly have been told by the Wold Mother who we are and why we are here," Kanchana calls out again.
She sits and waits. Kanchana half turns to the rest of the Chosen and speaks quietly, "it might help our cause if you put the weapons away..."
Kanchana absolutely hears (listen 23) the fragments of the conversation on the walls, but she does not want to make any hasty conclusions based from incomplete information. She doesn't tell the rest what she thinks she the guards say. The last bit perplexes her. Mother Wold told her to come here. She would think that Mother Wold would have told any druids here that she at least was coming.
Kanchana has no clue how to prove that they are who they say they are, nor does she know anything of the aberration that guided them here. She is getting vexed with the humans at the fort. They are behaving so incredibly annoyingly. She doesn't show her feelings towards them outwardly.
Just to make things clear, Kanchana will not stand next to any of the Chosen who have a weapon drawn. She will be approximately the same distance from the gate as Gecktar however.
Toros d20=2 d20=9 d100=97 Monday April 4th, 2005 11:54:42 PM
Realizing that the makeshift parley flag he waves hinders rather than helps Toros turns his weapon upside down and moves the cloth to the wooden side to hold. Now it looks better as a parley flag and he starts waving it again!
The routine swing of the parley helps him to focus his mind. Suddenly he hears something, or at least he thinks he does. Not sure where it comes from Toros tries to trace the voice back to its source. Together with this effort he feels the arise of a strange sensation, drifting him asleep...
Toros shakes his head - the waving of the flag makes him sleepy. He cannot catch the voice in his mind any more. Instead there are other sources of sounds around. The Dog barks near him. The wind brings the ongoing conversation between the guards and another man.
What are they saying?! At first Toros cannot get the words. (d20, 2+7= 9) He quickly leaves all his inside-talk aside for now and concentrate on the real conversation, which is still too hard for him to hear.
Then suddenly Toros remembers the presents of Wardd that the Chosen received recently. He picks one of the gold coins from his coins, and throws to the air. He sees the face of the Wardd smiling at him. This gives him the encouragement to give one more try to hear the words. Finally, he manages to catch some part of the conversation and he does not like at all what he has heard!
(I am not sure how to use the gold coins but. I assume it gives a %50 chance to reroll. (d20, 9+7=16>15; d100, 97) DM-IT Kup: sounds right to me. 51 or greater on a d100 earns a re-roll--sort of like a hero point. Please keep track of how many coins you have and use (I don't have character sheets!)
Solgrin d20+4=24 d20+2=17 Tuesday April 5th, 2005 1:14:21 AM
Hearing the bits of conversation between the guard and he man Solgrin moves closer to Kanchana, then listens carefully to what everyone has to say.
**** listen 24 (nat 20) sense motive 17 ****
Gecktar d20+3=8 Tuesday April 5th, 2005 3:39:14 AM
As the new man appears on the stockade Gecktar listen to the discussion but catch nothing of it. (listen 8)
"Wise old man" says Gecktar "You asks us to prove that we are the Chosen of Domi, but being one is a personal experience. Only Domi could prove this as this is his choice first, our second only."
"I'm afraid that we could not answer your request like it is asked. Maybe our fellow friends could tell it to you" Gecktar then look at the elves, "but they certainly could not prove it".
"It is like if I was asking to you to prove me that you are human..." "In fact you are, maybe, but these things are what they are and they can not be proven."
"As for the weapons we are carrying... You said it yourself. These are strange times, and there are strange things abroad in the land, and we have no stockade to hide behind. So we must rely on our proficiencies in those weapons to defend ourselves."
"I can say one thing to you. The way of the Chosen is not easy and many are those who want to see us dead. Many times we had to fight, and sadly I thing many times we will have to do it again."
"But for now you can see the symbol of Domi on my chest and on my shield." Gecktar shows his holy symbol and the hammer on his shield. "Many of my fellow Chosen have such signs and I don't think that Domi will let Its symbol spoiled by unholy servants without punishment."
(OOC: Just to clarify, Gecktar has no weapon in his hands of course. How could he have made a sign of peace with his weapon drawn.)
Brahmah Tuesday April 5th, 2005 4:49:20 AM
The Captain moves forward, tired of the humans 'way' of questioning.
"Many know the Chosen of Domi have bounties on their heads. Why would we announce something of that nature so openly, if we weren't them? Besides, how many minotaurs do you know that travel so happily with centaurs and wemics?" The minotaur waits, smiling. "We would enjoy audience with someone in the know. Surely let your prefect or lord test us if you wish."
Flat-top Tuesday April 5th, 2005 7:32:19 AM
Flat-top puts his morningstar around his neck, so he can get into his hands quickly. He listen to every word that is said.
He tell the Captain and the others who have special pets "The animals are getting restless!"
Paw'caw(ceil) Tuesday April 5th, 2005 7:36:33 AM
Paw'caw flies in a big circle in the sky, it's a wonder that nobody has nitice her, because she is decending down closer to her master. "Screech! Screech!" she call to Brahmah.
Managram(ceil) Tuesday April 5th, 2005 7:41:01 AM
Managram is restless and blink here, then he blinks there. You never know where he's going to disapper and show up next? Managram growls "Grrr!" but always goes back to Leets.
Roz(ceil) Tuesday April 5th, 2005 7:46:23 AM
Roz lifts her head, sencing that something is wrong. She ask her master "Is there danger? Do you need help? I see your not in a place where scroll are! your out doors where there's always danger."
Elder(ceil) Tuesday April 5th, 2005 7:53:23 AM
Elder awakens to a very still pouch nest. He'll want to know what is going on out side the nest. He stick his head out of the opening of his cozy home.
He see that his mistress is talking to people, way up there. She doing well, he thinks. He ducks into the pouch and eat a yellow pine cone for breackfast.
Croc(ceil) Tuesday April 5th, 2005 8:02:50 AM
Croc is on the alert! looking for danger or water (which one come first will hold his intrest). He is a little put back at the Three headed dog?? So He growls at the odd dog. "Grrr!" (meaning 'remember, to me your food!')
Leets d20+3=6 Tuesday April 5th, 2005 11:37:14 AM
Although he tries to understand what is said by the newly arrived old man, Leets doesn't get it...
He begins to be doubtful about the humans' intentions, and prepares to defend quickly if something happens.
Zeoll d20+21=36 Tuesday April 5th, 2005 12:55:58 PM
Choosing not to eavesdrop, and more or less ignoring his friends' inability to offer "proof," Zeoll is glad to step forward.
"Good sirr, we arre who we say we arre, and so I offerr these prroofs. May I suggest that therre arre many magics available to test verracity, and I would be happy to rrepeat these prroofs underr theirr effect."
"Prroof the firrst! As Captain Brrahmah says, we arre thrree and thrree and thrree of the Taurr race. Who else so trravels, claiming Domi as patrron and offerring aid? Test the trruth of my worrds: We arre the Chosen!"
"Prroof the second! This verry sworrd was held and blessed by Domi himself!" Zeoll holds aloft his greatsword, still sheathed. " Test the trruth of my worrds: Domi named me Chosen and blessed my sworrd with his physical touch!"
"Prroof the thirrd! We bearr the holiest of Taurr totems, the Hearrt of Domi himself! Domi would sufferr only his Chosen to bearr his Hearrt! Test the trruth of my worrds: By ourr possession of the Hearrt of Domi, we arre shown his Chosen!"
[OOC: Another Diplomacy Check -- 36]
Decisions at the gate (DM-IT Kup) Tuesday April 5th, 2005 3:20:13 PM Yesterday I wrote that I would post today at the "regular" DM time-frame ... well, I lied. : ) Again, everyone but Kale has posted, so I saw no harm in posting early yet again. (Kale, you can feel free to backpost, if you're posting today.) I'll try to continue to follow this pattern--usually posting by about 8:30 pm Woldian time, earlier if I can and everyone's posted, so that everyone has the maximum time to read and consider the DM post. Now, on with the show.
Kanchana became vexed with the humans at the fort, but guarded her feelings as best she could. "Fetch a Druid and he or she will certainly have been told by the Wold Mother who we are and why we are here," Kanchana called out again. She sat down on her hindquarters, and added in a quiet voice to her companions, "it might help our cause if you put the weapons away..."
The old man on the wall laughed at Kanchana's words. "Oh?" he replied, in a voice full of mirth--and, perhaps, knowledge. "The Mother herself proclaims your comings and goings, does she? You must have waxed very powerful indeed, madam taur, to have the Wold-Mother as your personal page." He gave a slight bow of mocking deference.
Meanwhile, Toros turned his weapon upside down, moved the cloth to the wooden side to hold, and continued waving it. Then Toros took out one of the gold coins from Wardd and tossed it in the air. Magically, as the coin landed in his hand, he was able to hear the discussion on the stockade, just as the coin turned to lead!
Solgrin moved closer to Kanchana, then listened carefully to what everyone had to say. He still had no clear sense of the guards' intent. They seemed less hostile now than when the encounter began--the words that the others had spoken seemed to have had an effect on the guards, who gripped their spears less forcefully and stood more relaxed in their stances--or was that his imagination?
"Wise old man," said Gecktar. "You ask us to prove that we are the Chosen of Domi, but being one is a personal experience.... I'm afraid that we could not answer your request like it is asked.... But for now you can see the symbol of Domi on my chest and on my shield." Gecktar showed his holy symbol and the hammer on his shield. "Many of my fellow Chosen have such signs and I don't think that Domi will let Its symbol spoiled by unholy servants without punishment."
Flat-top placed his morningstar around his neck, leaving only Brahmah with a weapon readied. "The animals are getting restless!" he told the Captain. Leets began to suspect danger, and prepared to defend the group if something happened.
Brahmah moved forward. "Many know the Chosen of Domi have bounties on their heads. Why would we announce something of that nature so openly, if we weren't them? Besides, how many minotaurs do you know that travel so happily with centaurs and wemics? We would enjoy audience with someone in the know. Surely let your prefect or lord test us if you wish."
Again the man on the wall laughed, and this time the guards joined him. "Indeed! And why not? A group that has the Mother as its page would certainly be accustomed to dealing with lords, and not low-folk at the gate. Perhaps that explains why you approach our gate with a weapon in hand, and demand to speak to our lord. Our apologies to you; would that we had such a lord to provide to you, master taur. I am afraid we must do without much here in this isolated hamlet--including lords. You must therefore forgive us our suspicions, and the inadequacy with which we present them to you." Now the man's face darkened somewhat, and his voice grew sterner as he continued. "But even if there were one, I cannot imagine any lord of this hamlet looking favorably upon one who chooses to bare steel and demand an audience in this sacred grove."
Then Zeoll spoke up. "Good sirr, we arre who we say we arre, and so I offerr these prroofs.... As Captain Brrahmah says, we arre thrree and thrree and thrree of the Taurr race. Who else so trravels, claiming Domi as patrron and offerring aid? .... Prroof the second! This verry sworrd was held and blessed by Domi himself!" Zeoll held aloft his greatsword, still sheathed. "Test the trruth of my worrds: Domi named me Chosen and blessed my sworrd with his physical touch! .... Prroof the thirrd! We bearr the holiest of Taurr totems, the Hearrt of Domi himself! Domi would sufferr only his Chosen to bearr his Hearrt! Test the trruth of my worrds: By ourr possession of the Hearrt of Domi, we arre shown his Chosen!"
The man looked from Brahamah to Gecktar, and then to Zeoll, and mused, one hand stroking his beard, and his demeanor and tone relaxed. "Your words have the ring of truth," he conceded. "I am not learned in such things. But it seems ... unlikely that Domi would tolerate those that do not serve him to display and carry his symbols. And, to be sure, a gathering of the taur races such as this is also ... unusual. Beyond that, you travel with Fienz's dog. One might well beware a group in the wilderness in these troubled days--but a group of mixed taurs, carrying the symbols of Domi, and traveling with one of our own?" The man's head disappeared from the wall, followed soon thereafter by three of the guards, leaving only one remaining to surveil the group.
For a time, nothing happened. The sun continued to shine down on the taurs. Bees hummed past on their appointed rounds of the myriad of flowering plants that dotted the valley floor around the group. The elves accompanying the Chosen stood, as elf-folk often do, seemingly unaware and unconcerned about the passage of time, or the heat of the sun. Surely, however, some of the Chosen had to begin to wonder: had the inhabitants of the hamlet decided simply to leave them there, outside the gate?
Then, the last guard also vanished from the stockade, and the gate opened! The large gate--made of unhewn wood that seemed a living part of the trees that made up the stockade--drew inward, and beyond it stood the old man. The group could see that he was a human, somewhat taller than average, and wearing simple, roughspun robes. Behind him stood the four guards, still holding their spears at the ready. They, too, had roughspun shirts and breeches, but over them they wore banded breastplates seemingly made of bark, and their helmets appeared to be fashioned from the husks of massive acorns. Their wooden spears were long and sharp, but displayed branches with green leaves growing upon them. A fifth man stood next to these guards, scowling. He was dressed similarly to the older man with whom the Chosen had spoken, but was younger, and sported dark hair and a short goatee.
(Brahmah, you may make an INT check against DC 15, the rest of the group against DC 20: Highlight to display spoiler: {The robes that Brahmah received at the Library of the Taurs is of the same roughspun fabric as those worn by the villagers.})
Beyond the guards, an inner bailey of sorts opened, formed by the grove of tall trees. Within the bailey, the Chosen could see many people milling about--humans mostly, although here and there the smaller frames of halflings and gnomes also dotted the courtyard. To a person, those within the courtyard appeared dressed in the same, simple manner as those who now confronted the Chosen. The happenings at the gate seemed to have drawn the inhabitants' attention; all eyes were directed at the taurs.
The old man with the salt-and-pepper beard stepped forward to meet the taurs, and the guards and goateed young man edged forward cautiously to follow him. He stopped several paces (about 15') from the taurs' front line. As he did so, Bell-Mort-Laia bounded forward and through the gate, plowing heedlessly through the crowd. The inhabitants of the hamlet made way for the cerberus, but otherwise ignored it. "I am Z'ken," the old man was addressing the taurs. "You must forgive us our caution, but our village has suffered great loss of late, and we must be careful before we place further trust in ... outsiders."
"As well we should," offered the younger man with the goatee. He stepped forward to stand next to the older man and spoke to him, all the while keeping a careful eye trained on the taurs. "Z'ken, we should not open ourselves to more of these--" he looked at the taurs-- "These outsiders, at a time like this."
"Enough, Ha'mam," the old man dismissed the younger's words with a wave. "The Circle was formed, we drew from our Roots, and extended our Branches. This is the Decision." Z'ken, as he was called, turned back to the Chosen. "Ha'mam would not have had us open the gates to ... strangers from the outside, at this time of great danger. But the Decision of the Circle was this: you may enter, but only as you swear, upon the symbols holy to each of you, that while within our borders you will respect and abide by our laws." He looked meaningfully at Brahmah--and the naked blade in his hands--once again. "Whosoever swears, having besworn before gods and the Mother, may enter here."
Flat-top Tuesday April 5th, 2005 6:52:37 PM
Flat-top whispers to Brahmah "well! that means No! drinking? No! fighting? a rest for a change. Meet you inside.
The centaor advances into the compound. "Sir, I here to help the needy!" With a slow trot in his hooves, he enters the hamlet.
Gecktar d20+1=17 Wednesday April 6th, 2005 3:28:18 AM
Gecktar looks at Z'ken then the young Ha'mam.
"What I understand is that a group of taur just came here before us ? And they spread death ?" he asks to the old man.
"I swear on the Holy sign of Domi to abide by your laws as long as they not interfere with the laws of Domi."
(Int check 17)
Toros Wednesday April 6th, 2005 5:18:35 AM
Waiting for the Hamlett's decision is not good for Toros. He impatiently continues to play with the Wardd's coin. Then he decides to share with others what he has heard from the wind carried, although adding that what he has heard is just incomplete.
Then the humans come and the old man starts talking.
Trying to make sense of what the old man is saying Toros puts the gold coin back into a separate pocket. Then he makes his own comments:
"I understand and respect the concerns of yours, however you also should understand and respect ours. We are called to come here and help, but first thing we meet is a closed door and hostile attitude against us...
Thus, I hope you also appreciate and answer some questions, before making such an important decision.
First of all, what has happened here that has made you that much fearfull of strangers? What are these losses you are talking about..?
Second, which I guess is related with first, Bell-Mort-Laia has felt something very bad happened to their master... I would like to learn what happened to their master.
Finally, please make clear what you have in mind, when you talk about abiding us with your laws. What exactly do you want or do not want us to do?
Toros recognizes that answers to these questions can take a time longer than the circumstances provide for the moment. However, he definitely expects some satisfying responses to his concerns, otherwise he would not hesitate to break his parley flag on the head of one of these humans who were just talking about killing the Taurs some time ago.
Flat-top also has just entered the hamlet, and if anything happens to him, for sure Toros will make use of these humans for a suitable payback.
(rolled 4 for intelligence check)
(I will post later about Toros in Giggling Ghost, but most probably he is coming back, leaving the other Toros, from the Golden Tapestry in the tavern to witness the elven gathering.) DM-IT Kup: that's not exactly how it works. The spirit Toros either stays in the GG, or returns. Should any portion of Toros's spirit remain in the GG, he will gain no further insight into the "waking dream-walk" he experienced en route there. Just FYI.
Flat-top Wednesday April 6th, 2005 8:09:57 AM
Flat-top ask the old man, "I have taken the Leap of Faith, for Mother Nature and Farther Domi has ask us to help you. Now I ask of you to point those spears a way from me, PLEASE! Again I ask you What is it You Need For Me To Do For You?" Flat-top now bows to all of them.
Brahmah Wednesday April 6th, 2005 9:16:26 AM
"I swear my Honor upon my Father's sword. Both mean much to me." Is all the minotaur says.
DM-IT Kup, clarification Wednesday April 6th, 2005 10:42:22 AM An observation: some of the posts thus far are a bit unclear whether the PC actually swore an oath upon a holy symbol. To be clear myself: it is clear to everyone on the scene that Z'Ken, Ha'Mam, and the guards intend to prevent anyone from entering the hamlet that did not explicitly swear such an oath. In the interests of moving forward, however, I will interpret the posts thus far (except for Toros's) in the direction of PC's having laid a hand on a holy symbol and having said words to the effect of, "I swear an oath upon my holy symbol, that while within your borders, I will respect and abide by your laws." (My reading of Toros's post is that he did not wish to swear or enter the hamlet until his questions were addressed.)
If that's not what you wanted your PC to do--if your PC was trying to hold something back, or to intentionally fall short of a holy oath-- please let me know precisely what your PC did. Those who have posted thus far may feel free, with my permission, to post a clarification (or post private to DM, if you wish).
Toros Wednesday April 6th, 2005 11:20:25 AM
Yes I accept that. Just do not want to cause a paradox by making two Toroses meet each other. :-b
DM-IT Kup: Okay. : ) Only one Toros in the GG, then. And no further insights on the dream-walk--although you may feel free to share what you experienced with the others.
Leets Wednesday April 6th, 2005 11:47:25 AM
Leets nods as he approaches the old man and his turn arrives:
"I, Leets Talric of the Talric tribe, paladin and holy servant of the Allmighty Father, swear not to break your laws as you welcome us on your ground."
Managarm follows him.
Solgrin Wednesday April 6th, 2005 1:03:27 PM
Solgrin walks over then places his hand over the holy symbol while saying "I, Solgrin in the name of Domi will honor your laws with the right to defend myself or fellow Chosen members."
Brahmah (OOC) Wednesday April 6th, 2005 2:14:31 PM
It was actually rather unclear whether the man was supplying a holy symbol or if we were to supply the holy symbol or if the symbol was literal or figuretive. Sorry.
As a note to you, Brahmah is VERY Honorable and when he swears on his honor or anything to do with his father, he might as well be swearing it directly to Domi's face. :)
Also, Brahmah's tattoo on his forearm is in the script of High Woldian, or ancient Woldian, and would likely be known to the wise ones in the grove. The tattoo is that of the High Woldian Entangle glyph. This would link Brahmah directly to nature and Domi. http://www.woldiangames.com/oshirr/Feats/tats/tats.htm
I still haven't got you Brahmah's personality profile, but his Character Repose is accurate.
DM-IT Kup: Thanks for the clarification! I understand that honor is very important to Brahmah.
Kanchana Wednesday April 6th, 2005 2:40:58 PM
Kanchana cannot believe how uninformed that man is. Mother Wold; and to a lesser degree Father Tomi, were quite adament in the dream they sent about the Chosen coming here - and he calls Mother Wold a page! Thats not even the correct word; if he was going to demean Mother Wold he should at least have titled the insult correctly and called Her a herald. Kanchana cannot help that She didn't see fit to send him the dream; he mustn't have been worthy enough.
Since Kanchana has a duty to help these people whether they want her to or not she will swear upon her own symbol of Domi (clearly visible on her clothing) and on the holly and mistletoe sacred to Druids. First she preforms a quick ritual to show her respect to the Great Mother. Then Kanchana takes out her mistletoe and holly and makes the required oath to abide by the will of Mother Wold and the local laws. She speaks her oath first in a low tone and in the sacred Druidic tongue; then in Common. If there were any doubts that she is a servant of the Great Mother those doubts should be gone now.
Next she does another quick ritual to show respect to Father Tomi, and she places her hands over her symbol of Domi (which is sewn on her bodice more or less over her heart) and speaks the oath to abide by the will of Father Tomi and the local laws, in Tauric first and then in Common.
Now she will wait with entering the hamlett until the guards et.al. say she may enter.
(Kanchana doesn't know about the robes that Brahmah is carrying around from Plateau City.)
((OOC: DM-IT I suppose you didn't read the dreams that DM James posted a while back. Those dreams were the basis for Kanchana's comments about Mother Wold sending them here in the first place. If you read that little scene you may notice that it was the Divine intervention of the two Gods (the dreams) and certainly NOT the ELf woman's prophecy that caused Kanchana to come here in the first place. Naturally she presumed that any other Druids; either among the Chosen or here in the hamlett, would have had pretty much the same dream. Guess not.))
DM-IT Kup: I read the dreams, too--but I guess people interpret dreams differently! : ) To drop the DM "screen" for a moment, and as you may have gathered, none of the people you have encountered at the hamlet thus far--Z'ken, Ha'mam, and the guards--experienced the dreams you mention. Does that help?
If you think I've really missed something, please feel free to quote the relevant passage to me, either here or in a private to DM post. Remember, I'm still learning, both process and substance, so I welcome these corrections! If you find something and point it out, it's even worth a hero point!
... including noting that the proper term ought to have been "herald," not "page." Not worth a hero point, perhaps, but noted. Your Humbled DM-IT : )
Zeoll Wednesday April 6th, 2005 5:50:01 PM
Zeoll swears on his sword: "I will honorr the laws of this place so long as they arre not evil and do not violate my oaths to Domi."
Within Fort Arbor (DM-IT Kup) Wednesday April 6th, 2005 6:16:41 PM Chosen: check your e-mail for a map.
Flat-top addressed Z'ken. "Sir, I am here to help the needy! I have taken the Leap of Faith, for Mother Nature and Farther Domi has ask us to help you. Now I ask of you to point those spears away from me, PLEASE! Again I ask you What is it You Need For Me To Do For You?"
Z'ken acknowledged Flat-top's oath. "We appreciate your desire to help us. And I would that you may. If Fienz had a hand in sending for you--as he sent his dog to you, apparently--and had a purpose for doing so, I can only guess at what that purpose might be. But perhaps we can speak of such matters within. He may pass, Horatio," Z'ken said, and nodded to the closest guard. The guard narrowed his eyes but did as directed. With a slow trot in his hooves, Flat-top entered the hamlet.
Gecktar looked at Z'ken, then the young Ha'mam. "What I understand is that a group of taur just came here before us ? And they spread death ?" he asked to the old man.
The younger man began to respond to Gecktar's query hotly. "No, not a group of taurs," he retorted. But before he could continue, the older man silenced him with an upraised hand. The younger man scowled and watched Gecktar provide his oath. "I swear on the Holy sign of Domi to abide by your laws as long as they not interfere with the laws of Domi," Gecktar said.
Z'ken acknowledged Gecktar's careful words. "Of course," he replied. "We respect the gods of the Wold here. Horatio." He nodded to the first guard again, and Gecktar, too, was allowed to pass.
Before swearing any oath, Toros wanted some questions answered: "First of all, what has happened here that has made you that fearful of strangers? What are these losses you are talking about..? Second, which I guess is related with first, Bell-Mort-Laia has felt something very bad happened to their master... I would like to learn what happened to their master. Finally, please make clear what you have in mind, when you talk about us abiding with your laws. What exactly do you want or do not want us to do?"
No sooner had Toros completed his questions than all of the group could hear a mournful three-part howl emerging from within the hamlet. It did not sound like physical pain, but, rather, anguish and grief.
Again, Ha'mam began a retort, but Z'ken interceded and replied evenly: "As your colleagues will soon see, dear master taur, we are mourning the loss of several of our number. Three of ours are dead. Fienz, the dog's master, is among them. We are in the process of addressing these deaths. We ask that you respect our laws while you are here. Should you wish to enter with your colleagues, we ask that you swear to do so. That is, I believe, no more or less than what any land might require. Do you wish to agree, or shall we offer you safe passage from our lands?"
All Brahmah would say was, "I swear my Honor upon my Father's sword. Both mean much to me."
The old man raised an eyebrow and bowed deeply. "Your honor suffices for me, master taur," he said. Brahmah was allowed to pass.
Leets nodded as he approached the old man and his turn arrived: "I, Leets Talric of the Talric tribe, paladin and holy servant of the Allmighty Father, swear not to break your laws as you welcome us on your ground." And indeed--what else would a paladin say? Leets entered the hamlet, and Managarm followed him.
Solgrin walked over then placed his hand over the holy symbol while saying "I, Solgrin in the name of Domi will honor your laws with the right to defend myself or fellow Chosen members."
Z'ken nodded sadly. "Self-defense is the right of all, of course. May it not come to that--for any of us," he added quietly. Solgrin, too, was allowed to pass through the gate.
Still exasperated with what she perceived as the villagers' ignorance, Kanchana swore upon her own symbol of Domi and on the holly and mistletoe sacred to Druids, and made the required oath to abide by the will of Mother Wold and the local laws, speaking her oath first in a low tone and in the sacred Druidic tongue, then in Common. Then she performed another quick ritual to show respect to Father Tomi, and she placed her hands over her symbol of Domi and spoke the oath again, in Tauric first and then in Common.
Z'ken did not wait the various translations. Listening to Kanchana's oath in Druidic, Z'ken nodded. Kanchana and Zeoll: Highlight to display spoiler: {"Thank you, earth-sister,"} he replied in the Druidic tongue. He addressed himself to the lead guard once more--still in Druidic. Highlight to display spoiler: {"Horatio, she may enter our grove."} The guard called Horatio inclined his head to Kanchana and smiled. Highlight to display spoiler: {"Welcome, earth-sister,"} said Horatio, also in Druidic. He dipped his spear in salute, and stepped back to allow Kanchana to pass.
Zeoll swore on his sword: "I will honorr the laws of this place so long as they arre not evil and do not violate my oaths to Domi."
"Well spoken, master liontaur," Z'ken acknowledged. Zeoll was allowed to proceed.
Z'ken turned to the elves that remained outside the gate. "And you? Do you wish to enter our hamlet?"
The leader of the elves shook his head. "Our thanks, but our task was to escort these Chosen to this place, and so we have. We have business elsewhere." The elf leader looked at Toros for a moment and smiled knowingly. "We are overdue to an assembly of our kind. We must decide whether to take part in The Awakening. Farewell."
The elf leader waved his hand three times at the group, before he and his fellows turned as one and walked together into a large stand of sunflowers, which were growing by the side of the path seemingly at random. As the elves pushed their way through the tall stalks, they began to fade, until, scarcely a yard into the foliage, they disappeared!
"Incredible," the guard called Horatio murmured. It was Z'ken's turn to smile. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
With that, Z'ken joined the front of the Chosen and motioned them through the stockade gate. "Dear visitors," he said, as they passed through the wall of living wood. "Welcome ... to Fort Arbor!"
Inside the stockade, the immensity of the tall trees that formed the grove was the first thing that struck the newcomers' eyes, and they naturally drew the taurs' eyes skyward. The immense monoliths soared hundreds of feet into the sky, towering over their surroundings, and the taurs could now see clearly that four smaller rings of these beautiful trees each surrounded one larger, central tree, which was at once taller and thicker than any of the others. The view was as awe-inspiring as it was monumental. The trees dwarfed everything around them; even the taurs, as large and imposing as they may have become accustomed to feeling when surrounded by the smaller humanoid races, could not help but feel tiny and a bit insignificant next to these leafy giants. None could look upon this scene and not feel the vast power of the Mother Wold that it represented.
But, of course, the taurs were not alone. The Chosen of Domi now stood in a large open area, between the stockade gate and the trees, and this area was filled with people of various descriptions, as well as animals. Sheep, cows, and goats mingled with humans, as well as a few halflings and gnomes, all dressed in that same roughspun cloth. The bleats and moos of the animals filled the enclosed space. And children! For as many adults as there were, there were equally as many children, tall and short, thin and round, young and nearly mature. Other than the four guards that the Chosen had encountered, however, none of the people in the courtyard displayed any arms or armor.
And the smells! Even Kanchana and Zeoll had never smelled so many herbs and spices, and all at once! Their aromas wafted through the yard from huge gardens, planted along the stockade fence, filled with nearly every herb and spice plant imaginable. The scents assailed the keen noses of the taurs, bringing water to their eyes.
There was still the howling, which was quite evidently Bell-Mort-Laia, coming from the direction of the central tree. But for the cerberus and the other animals, however, the yard was silent. All of the people inside the yard were staring at the gate, and the odd assortment of armed and armored taurs that had just entered.
Z'ken stepped forward and gestured welcomingly to the taurs. "Please, please, don't stand at the gate, come in, come in," he said. His tone was pleasant and cheerful. "These are our people, and this is our home. In all, we are eighty souls of an age to join the Circle, and many more children besides, as you can see. All of us live here together, collectively, after swearing our oaths to each other and to the Mother, to live in harmony with the Wold and to support one another. And with but four guards at any one time to defend us--" he chuckled.
"Z'ken!" Ha'mam protested. He and the guard called Horatio had just joined Z'ken, while the other guards had remained at the gate with Toros.
"Oh, what harm is there in saying so?" Z'ken responded. "These are mighty and powerful taurs, Ha'mam, and we have let them within our gates. They could surely do whatever they pleased to us, now, if they wanted to. Isn't that so?" He caught Brahmah's eye and smiled. "Not that they would. They have pledged their honor not to."
"Four guards at any one time, I'm afraid," Z'ken sighed and continued. "That's all. At least, that has been the custom. The rest of us tend to the animals, or the fields, or study the secrets of the Mother Wold. Each Member of the Circle is pledged to give what he or she is able, and the Circle pledges in turn to provide to each what each may need. We are all of us committed thus--all become Members of the Circle when they come of age, or are free to depart. We have no initiates ... at the moment." He glanced at Kanchana briefly, before continuing hastily, "It is not a lifestyle for everyone."
"...And here is our Third," Z'ken announced. A human woman approached the taurs. Her sandy brown hair was tied back simply, and her face was pleasantly round, clear, and free of lines. "Chosen, this is Emtza, Third of the inner Circle. She joined Ha'mam and myself when Fienz ... well. She is the newest member to join the inner Circle." The woman called Emtza smiled and nodded to the taurs.
"But come!" Z'ken said, and he began walking again through the sea of people that filled the courtyard. "We should bring you to the Council Tree. These heart-trees that you see are our homes, and the central one is our council chamber. Fienz's body is there, along with the others who died ...."
Z'ken was continuing to speak as he walked, and the people of the hamlet parted to allow the taurs to pass. As they did, however, more details came into view. Approaching the central heart-tree, the Chosen could see a large, circular well that stood near it. To one side of the well there was a large pole or stake, formed from a growing, living tree. There was a woman standing close to this stake, and as the people in the courtyard parted, it became clear that, in fact, she was tied to it.
From where he still stood outside the gate, Toros looked within and felt a twist in his stomach. Something about this woman was familiar--like something out of a dream ....
The woman was tall and strikingly beautiful. Long, full red hair flowed down her back. Her face was chiseled and defined, and fierce green eyes blazed defiance. Unlike the other villagers, the woman wore a simple vest to cover her otherwise bare chest, and her arms, though tied, were muscled and lean. She stood proudly and met the eyes of the taurs as they entered the courtyard, and her hooves gave a simple stamp as they approached. She swished her tail dismissively, and her brown flanks flinched reflexively from the gesture ....
Flat-top, Solgrin, and Leets surely had to do a double-take, much less the rest of the group. A centaur!?
Ha'mam caught the looks on the Chosen's faces. "Yes!" he responded to the unasked question. Z'ken sighed as Ha'mam continued with vehemence. "Behold, guests," he emphasized the last word. "And understand our--reluctance--to open our gates so willingly to more of your kind! Behold the creature that murdered Fienz!"
The guard Horatio stood next to Flat-top and nodded grimly. "A witch," he added. "She has cost us the lives of three of our own. And at dawn tomorrow, by our law--she must die!"
Toros Wednesday April 6th, 2005 11:58:56 PM We ask that you respect our laws while you are here. Should you wish to enter with your colleagues, we ask that you swear to do so. That is, I believe, no more or less than what any land might require. Do you wish to agree, or shall we offer you safe passage from our lands?
gThen I believe no land might require the enforcement of their laws as you do. That is more or less is self-evident for any land. When you ask like that it makes me think there is something behind the explicit words you use. Something that you try to enforce with your laws, although by its own nature it does not fit very well to your laws...
Sorry, I do not mean to be mean, but what you say or do not say still leaves room for suspicion and hesitation for both sides. I have to think all over again, before I will make my decision.h
And Toros does nothing but thinks. He recalls the dreams of Elves and Domi, then the cards of Grandma...
... A twin city, one pointing to the top of the card the other towards the bottom. The top on in darkness has a howering clawed hand over it, as if ready to attack. The bottom city has a clawed hand seeming to be caring for it or protecting it. Both cities are covered by vines and it appears as if the forest is closing in on it from both sides of the cities... This fort city that needs your help. They are under attack from a natural source and protected by a natural source as well...The Chosen making thier way to this city as the last hope. The blood moon hangs in the sky, telling of a decision that must be made for good or ill.
Neither the accompany of the guards or the leaving of elves distracts Toros. He does not let anything to enter his consciousness, except...
...except that female Cantaur tied on a stake, he sees inside the Fort. Such a woman, such a familiar, such a beautiful woman - something out of dream, someone of his dream... Toros feels a twist in his stomach for a second.
Then his thinking focuses one more time on some expressions he recalls, which he considers as key to understand whatever he is questioning.
A twin city... A city under attack from a natural source and protected by a natural source as well...a decision that must be made for good or ill .
Then he adds his own comments in the hope of reaching a conclusion.
Chosen came here to help city. What if we are here to prevent the city to make a big mistake, to protect it from its own-self. A twin city, a mirror image of one city, perhaps exhibits the dual nature of Nature, or good and evil forces that have found their own place in the city. Maybe the Chosen is just here to identify what is the real good or evil, contradicting to the claimed ones. Then I can understand why some does not want us here... And that Taur...!?
Brahmah OOC Thursday April 7th, 2005 12:36:34 AM
Brahmah let EVERY Chosen(even Kanchana) know and actually I didn't see a chance we had to put them on before reaching the view of the gates.
Kanchana OOC Thursday April 7th, 2005 1:44:52 AM
When did Brahmah mention the robes Jay? I honestly don't remember it.
Kanchana Thursday April 7th, 2005 2:02:49 AM
Kanchana looks at the massive trees as she walks along with Z'ken. This place feels more like a home to her than any castle made of stone. She smiles and is awed by what she sees. All of the smells and things to see! Kanchana hopes that the Chosen will be here long enough for her to be able to learn many things from these people. She certainly wants to swap knowledge on herb lore, and her herbal is an ongoing project.
Kanchana will politely greeting everyone that Z'ken introduces them to.
Kanchana then notices that Z'ken glances over at her as he mentions initiates and lifestyles. She moves a bit closer to him and speaks lowly, "brother Z'ken, have you heard of the green mages? I realize that this most likely isn't the time to ask..." Kanchana glances over at the captive centaur, "it is just that I have been searching for a long time and it seems to me that your people may have heard of them."
Kanchana doesn't press for answers to her queation right now since dealing with the fate of the centaur must be the primary issue she supposes. She isn't certain what questions to ask considering she isn't absolutely sure why they were called here. Was it because of an outside threat to the hamlett or could it be because of this centaur?
Gecktar Thursday April 7th, 2005 3:38:57 AM
Gecktar looks around him amazed by the size of the trees and the architecture of the hamlet.
He listen carefully to Z'ken explanations about the fort.
Then his attetion is drawed by the beautiful centaur... Proud, fierce strength emanate from her. Then he hears what Horatio says about putting her to death.
He turn to the guard and says "Is there no other punishment than death for her ?"
Then to Leets he mutters "Do you feel she is evil ?"
Brahmah (as requested by Kanchana) Thursday April 7th, 2005 3:46:00 AM
OOC: Brahmah Sunday March 13th, 2005 9:51:25 AM The Captain of the Chosen seems alot happier than the last few months. He smiles and carries a bag the group has not seen before.
"Yes, its great to see you all too." He laughs. "I had to get away and get some answers to a few questions."
He points out the sack to the Chosen, "The three sages at the Library of Magic told me we'll need these robes when we reach the hamlet, and that we'll know why when we get there." Brahmah continues, "We will return here after we've gone to the hamlet. Let's move Chosen." Little doubt seems to remain in the leaders mind and he's quite intent on this current mission.
Brahmah Thursday April 7th, 2005 3:48:21 AM
Remembering the bag of robes a bit late, he realizes that the others forgot as well. Oops.
Kale Thursday April 7th, 2005 6:56:40 AM
emerging from nowhere, Kale joins the group and says "Where have you been? Ive been here for the last hour or so."
OOC, I need one of the DMs to send me a copy of my CS to me please. ive lost my previous one
Toros - OOC Thursday April 7th, 2005 7:59:53 AM
OOC: Toros has just left the Giggling Ghost and on his way to the Hamlet.
Kale, you have to swear to obey the laws of the Hamlet, before you can enter into the Fort and join others. Untill you do this, the guards will make you stay outside together with Toros.
Flat-top Thursday April 7th, 2005 8:29:41 AM
Flat-top follow the others, when Brahmah hand him a robe. "What this? you mean I have put this on? I'm not taking off my mithral chainmail shirt! Not when the guards here still have spears pointed at us! OK! OK! I'll put it on..."
Flat-top put's on the robe, then ask "How do I look?"
OOC: Flat-top has not notice the Female Center tied at the stake yet.
Toros - illegal second post d20=14 d20=15 Thursday April 7th, 2005 8:40:09 AM ... and that Taur ... When his thoughts come to the Witch Centaur Toros's thinking cannot proceed any longer.
He turns his attention to the guards around him. They look pretty interesting with their natural arms and armors. Then observes their gestures, trying to sense their motives about him. (sense motive 14+8 = 21)
If the guards' attitude is not very positive towards him Toros will try to influence their attitude. (diplomacy 15+5 = 20)
"Well, it seems that we will stay here a little bit. I hope you do not mind for this delay... I also want to join others as soon as possible, but I need to think a bit more, before taking any further action."
Then Toros can make some nice comments about the guards' arms and armors, the Hamlet, or the weather, depending on how the conversation develops.
Then, having some feeling of how the guards would treat him positively he will comment on the tied Taur
"Do you mind to tell why that taur is punished like that? Is it because the city thinks she is responsible for the recent losses? Do you think she murdered them?"
If Toros can get positive responses to his questions he will try to get further information by questioning more on these:
Do the guards exactly know what happened here in Fort Arbor?
Why do the town people or the guards think that she is the murderer? What are the evidences against her?
If everything goes well Toros hopes to get some satisfying information from the guards, even some that would not be given by the old man. He will listen attentively any comments or questions that come from the guards.
Zeoll d20+5=7 d20+10=15 d20+10=28 Thursday April 7th, 2005 11:25:17 AM
Zeoll looks around in wonder. Do these trees remind him of the giant Whistal Trees of Centaur Isle? The liontaur wrinkles his nose as he smells the spiced air. He tries to think of a song or tale that offers a hint about this place [Bardic Lore check 7]
He asks if he can approach and talk with this centaur prisoner. If the answer is yes, he approaches. He asks her name, and her story. He tries to draw her out. If she speaks at length, he tries to get a feel for her veracity. [Sense Motive check 15]
Then he asks Z'ken for his version of recent events, with details. [Sense Motive check 28]
DM-IT Kup: the Whistal Trees? Are you kidding me? I'm lucky to remember that you're a liontaur! Whistal Trees. Sheesh. ; p
But if Whistal Trees look like sequoias, then, yes, these look very much like Whistal Trees. Whaddya know about that! : )
DM-IT Kup, clarification Thursday April 7th, 2005 2:03:43 PM Just to let my hypertechnical rules purist side breathe for a moment--technically speaking, attempting to find out information from another is a Gather Information check, not Diplomacy or Sense Motive (Diplomacy is for persuading another to do or not do something; Sense Motive, among other things, assesses whether that other person is lying in response to your questions).
Those who are attempting to Gather Information should feel free to post a roll for that skill, if they wish.
Toros - roll for Gather Information d20=19 Thursday April 7th, 2005 2:49:02 PM
Luckily, another 21 (19+2).
Zeoll - Clarification d20+7=23 d20+7=17 Thursday April 7th, 2005 5:57:30 PM
Zeoll is trying to gather info, and then to get a hunch about or sense the veracity of the info sources.
Gather info checks: 23 and 17.
Kanchana (in case a skill check is necessary) d20=1 Thursday April 7th, 2005 6:40:37 PM
Okay, it doesn't get any worst than that! I sincerely hope a roll isn't needed for her question. If it is then she will just have to keep asking I guess. Particularly since this is the first place she has been to where anyone might have a ghost of a chance at knowing the info she seeks.
Unskilled Gather Info: nat. 1
Incedentally Kanchana will trust the druids to be speaking true, therefore she will not be making any inquiries about the centaur female accused of murder.
((OOC: Thanks Jay. It's good to know that the robes were mentioned even if we didn't remember them when it would have mattered!))
DM-IT Kup: Thanks, Kanchana, and thanks everyone. I hope I'm not causing hang-ups by mentioning skill rolls so frequently. I just want to try to give the benefit to all of you of a good roll for a skill that a PC ought to have. I take bad (or technically unsuccessful) rolls in "context," that is, I judge against the written description of the activity first, and discount or disregard the roll accordingly.
And no, I didn't think that Kanchana needed to roll to ask a simple question. That said, if she gets an answer she didn't expect, and wants to probe further, then maybe some "skill" may come into play....
Anyway, sorry for the frequent explanations as well. I just don't want to be misunderstood. Great playing, everyone. : )
Solgrin Thursday April 7th, 2005 7:23:07 PM
Solgrin goes over to the female centaur prisoner then asks "How, Why did you kill Fienz?"
Solgrin will listen carefully to what she has to say.
Solgrin will then go over to Z'ken and ask "What happened between Fienz and the female Centaur?"
OOC Flat-top to DM-IT Kup d20=8 Thursday April 7th, 2005 7:23:31 PM
To answer on the Big Tree in the center of this Fort, the Whistal Tree does look like the tree of Center Island. Where the High Priest of Domi lives with his flock of other holy Centers and It does look like a Big Sequoia Temple.
You just hit it right, You fell in Guanah Juice that's all.
Okay. : ) Flat-top and Zeoll get one hero point each for filling in the DM-IT.
Whistal Trees. Of course--these are Whistal Trees! I don't know why I didn't mention it before! : )
Questions at Stake (DM-IT Kup) Thursday April 7th, 2005 11:51:11 PM Kale: welcome back! Loved your post! LOL! But let's say that Toros is right, and you and he are both still outside the gate.
Toros turned his attention to the guards and tried to sense their motives about him. The guards had at first seemed tense during the confrontation and discussions that ensued, but now, after seven of the nine taurs had been admitted into the hamlet, the three guards that remained with Toros and Kale at the gate seemed disinterested and calm.
Toros tried to chat with the guards. "Well, it seems that we will stay here a little bit. I hope you do not mind for this delay... I also want to join others as soon as possible, but I need to think a bit more, before taking any further action...." There was more--nice comments about the guards' arms and armors, the Hamlet, and the weather. The guards did not seem moved. They remained at their posts, and kept a lazy eye on the two taurs, while seeming to let their minds wander to the blue clear sky, the flowers in the valley, or ... well, anything, really. Then Toros asked: "Do you mind to tell why that taur is punished like that? Is it because the city thinks she is responsible for the recent losses? Do you think she murdered them?"
The guards gazed at the talkative taur dispassionately, until, at last, one spoke. "Listen," he said in a tired and bored voice. "The Decision of the Circle was, if you want to come in, you have to swear an oath. And if you want to know more, you should probably be asking Z'ken, or Ha'mam, or someone like that. We're just here to see that you don't make trouble, all right? And if you don't swear an oath and come in, then we're going to have to ask you to leave the valley. Okay?"
Then his eyes narrowed. "And as for that ... taur ... in there, well, if you're friends with her, then you're not running with the right crowd of people, you get me? That witch killed three villagers."
Toros: I'm assuming by your earlier post that "all" of Toros's spirit has left the GG. If that's true, you are welcome to share what you experienced in your dream-walk with the others. If you want to try to "reflect" on your dream-walk further, let me know what specifically you want to try to recall.
Kanchana smiled at what she saw in the hamlet. She politely greeted everyone that Z'ken introduced them to. She moved a bit closer to Z'ken and asked quietly, "brother Z'ken, have you heard of the green mages? I realize that this most likely isn't the time to ask..." Kanchana glanced over at the captive centaur, "it is just that I have been searching for a long time and it seems to me that your people may have heard of them."
Z'ken seemed a bit uncomfortable about the question. "Green mages?... Yes, I have heard of them ... but perhaps you're right, this may be a better discussion for another time."
Gecktar heard what Horatio said about putting the centaur to death. He turned to the guard and said, "Is there no other punishment than death for her?"
Horatio seemed certain. "She is a murderer. 'Whosoever sheds blood, by your hand shall their blood be shed.' It is our way. Are you not warriors? Is it not your way, as well?"
Brahmah belatedly remembered his bag of robes.
Kale shook himself from his daydream and found himself at the gate with Toros. The guards looked at him skeptically, as if to say, "So, he's the chatty one and you're the quiet one?"
Flat-top put on one of Brahmah's robe, then asked "How do I look?" A group of children that were watching the centaur giggled and pointed at the robe-wearing half-horse.
Zeoll tried to think of a song or tale that offers a hint about this place, but none came. He asked if he could approach and talk with the centaur prisoner. Z'ken nodded, "Of course."
Zeoll approached the staked centaur. He asked her name, and her story. "What is it to you, wemic?" the centaur snorted derisively and tossed her head. She turned her head away. It wasn't as if he hadn't asked with all the smoothness and polish that one could muster--a moss-covered stone might have answered such a tactful inquiry--but, perhaps the circumstances and the one doing the asking didn't quite make for the most conducive atmosphere ....
Solgrin tried his luck. He approached the female centaur. "How, Why did you kill Fienz?"
The female centaur looked over at Solgrin--appraisingly, it would seem. She snorted again. "How should I know? Ask them." She indicated the humans. "They're the ones with all the answers." She shook her head. "And what are you doing with these ... minotaurs, and ... wemics, anyway?"
Solgrin and Zeoll both asked Z'ken for his version of recent events, with details. "It is a sad tale," Z'ken began, and as the old man spoke, Zeoll sensed no obvious deception in his words. "Amada--" he indicated the centaur-- "came to our valley several months ago. She was drawn to our natural way of life, and our affinity with the Mother Wold. She said that she wanted to study here and grow herbs. We told her that she could stay in the valley and become an initiate--a probationary dweller here in the valley, so as to judge her suitability for joining the Circle. With most initiates, it is a relatively quick and easy matter to ascertain suitability. But not with Amada. Her herbal skills were evident--these gardens that you see are largely her work--but she was not open to joining our Circle, and she remained apart."
"A little over a week ago, we noticed disturbances here in the valley--animals that had gone missing, plants that had been dug up, and so on. None of ours had seen or heard anything tied to these disturbances. Fienz and two others--Mehta and Kerrar--inquired of Amada, but she sent them away. I believe that Fienz began to suspect something. This was about the time that he sent his dog away, apparently to find your group."
"I do not know what proof Fienz had developed to tie Amada to the disturbances, but last night, Fienz, Mehta, and Kerrar went back to Amada's hut to inquire further. I believe that they went there to confront her about her deeds. In the morning, we found their bodies. We held a Circle of Judgment, and it was decided that Amada was responsible for the murders."
Horatio was listening and nodded along. "She killed them for their lifesblood. She is a witch, and must have used it in her ceremonies. Everyone knows that witches do that."
Z'ken shifted his shoulders and shuffled uncomfortably. "Yes, well ... there is no proof of that, so far as I know."
The female centaur kept her head held proudly aloft. When she heard Z'ken's words, she snorted again, and her eyes blazed. She looked from Z'ken--who would not meet her eyes--and passed her eyes over the taurs. Then, in a loud voice, she announced, "I have commited no crime," she began, as she gazed at each of them in turn. Ha'mam turned away and crossed his arms, while Emtza merely lowered her gaze.
The centaur nodded and pursed her lips, before continuing. "But I am not afraid to die--in fact, I deserve--" she stopped as her eyes met Kanchana's, and, for just a moment, her head tilted slightly sideways, as if puzzling over something. "In fact, I deserve to die," she concluded, a bit more quietly.
Gecktar d20+7=22 Friday April 8th, 2005 3:01:06 AM
"But this is very important ! You're going to put her to death without any proof ?"
"Yes I'm a kind of warrior but I leave this way because sheding blood is not the best answer to all problems" he says to Horatio. "Please don't take it for you, I don't want to say you're like this, but as general phylosphic way of thinking."
"You know, I was trained to murder quickly an silently, but I think this is not the way of Domi. Of course we sometimes need to shed blood but always to defend us or other unprotected people."
"I think all of us will help you defending this fort while you give us hospitality, but putting to death someone without proof... Well its not my way of thinking"
(22 Diplomacy check to try to convince Horatio)
Brahmah d20+12=27 d20+5=21 Friday April 8th, 2005 5:44:35 AM OOC: Kup, I, as a player/ADM greatly appreciate the organization you take with the posts and detail you take answering PC's questions, but I suggest really looking at shortening you entries to only include the few points YOU might like to make. It takes awhile for some of us to read posts of that length and it might be kinder on our foreign friends within the game too. Frankly, within a post that large, important info can be lost. That said, onto my post...
Brahmah walks up (passing any guards without pausing) to the staked 'witch' and looks her over for a moment. Looking at her bindings, her injuries and deep into her eyes as she spoke her innocence. He listens for any waver or tone in her voice that might give up her innocence. (favored enemy Centaur, Sense Motive 21 and Listen 27) "Why did you let them take you?" He asks gently. And in a more hushed tone he asks, "This Circle of theirs, why did you not wish to join it? And tell me where these Fienz, Mehta, and Kerrar the last time you saw them alive?"
Kale Friday April 8th, 2005 6:57:59 AM
Kale stares at the guard that addressed him for about 20 seconds then he gives the guard whatever oath he wanted.
Toros Friday April 8th, 2005 9:00:24 AM
OOC: Dear Kup, at the moment Toros from the Golden Tap is still in the tavern, as I mentioned previously. However, the meeting seems to be coming to an end and I will be glad to talk in more detail about what to reflect on Toros's dream walk.
Kale, hope you did not mind to stay with Toros.
As a non-native English speaker, the problem I have with the other posts (of GM or other players) is not the length but some specific words or phrases that I do not understand. My vocabulary is not good enough, as you may also notice it from my own posts.
Guard's response to his inquiries helps Toros to make up his mind. Both being wanted to be here and not being wanted to be here are reasons good enough to make Toros stay here.
He will repeat the oath that old man ask from the Chosen, having already known how he would respond to various variations of each Chosen.
Toros will be happy to be a part of the town but at least untill being able to build a shared trust base he will also reserve his right to object the enforcement of the town rules and laws, if he sees that they are against higher ones. However, if he has an objection he will state it in advance.
(I also sometimes write sentences too long to read.)
Toros hopes that guards will accompany him and Kale inside the town. Hoping that after his swearing his oath they will be more relaxed and friendly towards him, he will continue his friendly talk with them.
Inside the town he will look around, taking notice of every detail he can perceive. Passing by the children that giggles and watches Flat-top he will give the Wardd`s coin he used up to one of them, suggesting them to buy some nice stuff with the gold piece.
Reaching at the Chosen he will try to catch up with what's going on as best as he can follow and his friends can inform him.
Posts too long? (DM-IT Kup) Friday April 8th, 2005 9:36:08 AM Jay is not first to mention the long DM posts. I hear you! There's the "narrative" side of me coming through. I had wanted to give you all fairly detailed exposition and scene-setting to try to "set the scene" and give a good story-telling atmosphere. Now that the Fort Arbor scene is basically "set," the posts should get shorter. But was that not something that you all want in this game?
Don't be coy! Each person that has mentioned the long posts has said something to the effect of, "I don't mind, but I think that other people would ...." If you'd rather have less description and shorter DM posts, let me know!
For that matter: it's been a week with me as your DM-in-training. How am I doing? What am I doing well? What can I be doing better? I've heard from some of you, but I welcome and invite hearing from all of you!
By the way: another disclaimer. The descriptions and game content in my posts (and I trust all others) IN NO WAY is meant to reflect life in the real world. All similarities to real people, places, groups, classes, races, religions, or any other real matter is purely coincidental. No similarity or comment upon the real world is meant or should be inferred. Specifically--recognizing that there are "witches" in the real world, no similarity between Woldian witch class and real witches is meant or should be inferred. Okay? : )
Heh. And a player asked me to describe the stake and the centaur's bindings--see? I should have made my DM post longer! :)
It's a living tree but without any branches--just a solid trunk, rooted in the ground. She's tied to it with multiple bands of thick, hemp rope. It's not immediately clear how secure the bindings are--but it doesn't look like she's struggling to get out, either.
Trial and Error (DM-IT Kup) Friday April 8th, 2005 4:09:17 PM Well, I guess we won't need to worry about a long DM post today. As on all Fridays, I must post a bit earlier to beat sunset.
Gecktar said to Horatio: "But this is very important ! You're going to put her to death without any proof ?"
Horatio frowned and considered the taur's words. "Well ... it is true that no proof of any blood ceremony was uncovered. But the three bodies were found by her hut, all of the rest of the inhabitants of the valley live here in the hamlet, and the gates are closed after dark. I guarded the gates myself last night--none came in or out. There is only she who could have done this. Our Circle of Judgment met this morning and reviewed the facts. When we demanded that she speak to prove her innocence, she said nothing--which clearly shows her guilt. In light of her failure to establish her innocence, our Circle of Judgment found her guilty. And listen! By her own admission, she is deserving of death!" The guard scowled at the female centaur. "Besides, she must be a witch. Why else would she stay apart in that hut for so long? Everyone knows that witches live apart like that to hide their foul deeds. They can't be trusted--"
Ha'mam interjected. "Horatio, that's enough. She stands convicted of murder, not witchcraft. You should not speak of that which you do not know." All this talk of witches was clearly making Ha'mam uncomfortable, too. The guard looked abashed. "Sorry, sir."
Brahmah asked the female centaur: "Why did you let them take you?" And in a more hushed tone he asked, "This Circle of theirs, why did you not wish to join it? And tell me where these Fienz, Mehta, and Kerrar the last time you saw them alive?"
Amada, as she was called, turned to Brahmah and narrowed her eyes: "Minotaur. Horse-slayer. Worshipper of false gods. You think I'm scared of you? You and your ... minotaur-loving friends?" She sniffed and tossed her hair. Her green eyes sparkled with anger. "You'll get no such satisfaction from me, horned one. You're no different than any of these others. What would my words matter to you? To laugh at, over my grave? You untie me and I'll show you what a real taur would do to the likes of you in a Kayleb--"
Emtza, the woman that Z'ken had introduced as the Third of the inner Circle, shook her head sadly. "Amada! You wrong these visitors by your words, and you only worsen matters. I thought we were friends, once: how could you do this?" Amada merely turned her face away once more.
Brahmah knew centaurs--he had studied them, in part to learn their tendencies and weaknesses. His experience told him that this one was defiant, but she seemed no liar to him, either--anger and dishonesty were too hard to hold together. As Brahmah inspected her body, from what wasn't covered in thick, hemp, ropes, he did see some cuts and bruising.
Kale stared at the guards coldly and then gave whatever oath the guard wanted. The guard seemed to wilt somewhat under the taur's scrutiny, and he let Kale pass without further comment.
Toros recited an oath as well and entered the hamlet. Passing by the children that giggled and watched Flat-top, he handed Wardd`s coin to one of them. The children's eyes grew big and round as saucers as they saw the lion-man approach them, and more than a few took an involuntary step backward in apparent fear. But as the wemic pressed the coin into the child's hand, it magically transformed from lead back into sparkling gold! The children gasped with delight and scurried backward to huddle around the one holding the coin, poking their heads up from time to time to look at the liontaur with beams of pleasure and happiness.
Meanwhile, in the center of the courtyard, many of the villagers were beginning to disperse following the initial excitement of the morning and afternoon's activities. A small crowd of children remained to watch the taurs and whisper in a huddled bunch at the strangers' appearances. The sun, well past its zenith, was slowly slipping into the Western sky. One might estimate that there were only three or four hours of daylight remaining.
Horatio returned to stand with the guards near the gate, which remained open, while Z'ken, Ha'mam, and Emtza stayed with the taurs. "Friends, perhaps it is best that we speak no more of this unfortunate affair for the time being," Z'ken suggested. "We can go to the council chamber and I can have refreshments brought to you--you must be tired after such a long journey." He gestured toward the central tree.
Amada, the captive centaur, stood where she was, silently. The guards seemed to be keeping a watchful eye on her from the other side of the courtyard. Above the sounds of the hamlet returning to normalcy, the keening, mournful howl of the cerberus still carried on the air.
Zeoll d20+5=7 d20+12=24 d20+12=23 Friday April 8th, 2005 6:24:24 PM
[Gosh darn missed post!]
The liontaur wonders about the accusations. He wishes he could remember more about witches [bard lore check 7, oh well]. But something just does not sound right.
The liontaur bows and declines the invitation from Z'Ken.
"Thank you, frriend, but I would rratherr stay out underr the sky. I will stay in this centaurr's company."
In Druidic, he adds, "The night calls to me, and I would prray."
Zeoll sits and watches the sunset for a while. He takes out his drum and begins a simple beat. After a while he sings, at first humming, then with wordless sounds, and then in Tauric. He sings the centaur hymns he remembers from his bard training and from his visit to the Isle of the Centaurs.
[Perform check 24]
After a while, he sings a song that he invents on the spot, evoking his memories of Centaur Isle. He sings it in Common and in Tauric. In part, it goes like this:
The Whistal Trrees sway high and frro, Prrotectorrs grrand o'err Domi's land. As colts arre prrancing frree below, The drruids stand by close at hand. And brreezes frrom the vinyarrds blow Wherre scents command ourr hearrts will go.
[Second Perform check 23]
He eats a goodberry he had prepared earlier. He offers one to the captive centaur.
Kanchana Friday April 8th, 2005 8:55:41 PM
[Sorry for missing a post!]
Kanchana now has two things to wonder about; first why did her question about green mages make Z'ken uncomfortable and second why did the captive centaur look at her so strangely?
Kanchana reviews things quickly in her mind. Z'ken said the centaur was a witch and had practiced blood rites; green mages don't use blood. So why was he so uncomfortable? She wasn't staring at the female centaur at all or at any time so why did she decide to look at Kanchana the way she did? I haven't passed any judgement on her; yet any way, I will be remaining as neutral as I can. Kanchana is somewhat preplexed.
"I am sorry if my question upset you brother Z'ken," Kanchana apologizes. She doesn't dare ask yet if he thinks that the centaur "witch" might be a green mage. If she is indeed one then why in the Wold did she practice any blood rites??
"I don't wish to anger anyone but why doesn't anyone ask the trees what happend? I mean here the walls can talk - if you know how to ask them..." Now it is Kanchana who looks a little uncomfortable as she makes her suggestion. She thinks that may the druids here have already consulted the trees.
Kanchana really wishes that she could talk to the plants and trees, but alas she doesn't have the skill to do so yet.
Kanchana flinches as Amada (?) first insults Brahmah and then mentions kayleb. She fights the impulse to take a step back away from the area where the captive is.
((Stephen, long posts don't bother me at all. In fact the more detail the better; esp. for reasons of establishing a setting. The more we know the more we can react to if we wish. I also very much like the fact that you include a little concerning each player character. It proves that you as DM have read everyone's post and not just a few select posts. That increases the odds of a characters question or reaction getting a response in return rather than getting overlooked (unintentionally or otherwise). Stephen you are doing a good job so far.))
DM-IT Kup: Thanks! : )
But, now--not to correct a PC's "view" of things--but it might serve to re-read a couple of those most recent posts. For instance, it wasn't Z'ken who said that Amada had practiced blood-rites, but Horatio. Z'ken and Ha'mam both indicated, in their own ways, that there was no proof of that.
Flat-Top d20+4=24 Saturday April 9th, 2005 10:12:19 AM
OOC: Flat-top just rolled a natural 20 for Wilderness Lore. I hope this post don't mess you up.
Flat-top spots the female centaur all tied up "WHOA! Who's that tied to the tree? Is she the one your going to kill?" He is standing next to Kanchana as he listen to the Circle speakers discribes the murder sceen.
Flat-top ask the iner circle gang, "Bloodlitting?? Did you say Bloodletting? Do you mean thst the Three Victims drain of all their life Blood??"(Wilderness Lore 24)
Then to Kanchana, Gecktar, and Toros. Flat-top tell them "I think that they have Bigger Problems than this female Centaur!!"
Brahmah d20+3=8 d20+10=20 Sunday April 10th, 2005 6:31:30 AM
The minotaur cocks his head and moves closer to the 'witch'. "Your in no position to make challenges. And I take no satisfaction in watching a fellow taur suffer at the hands of her captures. Actually, I quite pitty your position. Besides, Kaylebs must be fought with honor and on equal footing. You are not equal. Your tied to a tree. I am free." He smiles and turns, looking back over his shoulder. "If your a murderer, you must take your punishment. If your not, I would hope you come to your senses."
He walks to the highest authority human in the bunch and speaks. "Is she being punished because she's a suspected witch, because she's a centaur or because she's a suspected murderer?" He attempts to read the human's demeanor. "Have you THOROUGHLY in vestigated the crime?" (Sense Motive 8, Listen 20)
Solgrin Sunday April 10th, 2005 6:32:48 AM
Solgrin tells Z'ken "I will be there shortly."
Solgrin looks to the Centaur Amada then says to her "I am a follower of Domi and have been Chosen by him to help try to bring all of the taurs together and work out the misunderstandings between our races."
Solgrin will walk calmly over to the cerberus and ask "can you sense who killed Fienz?"
Kale Sunday April 10th, 2005 10:30:48 AM
after entering the fort, Kale just gives the others a quick glance, then goes over to Flat-Top. "I need a drink." he tells Flat-Top. "Lets go find a tavern."
((OOC comment to DM IT Stephen)) Sunday April 10th, 2005 3:02:01 PM
((This is actually what is important in that post: "I don't wish to anger anyone but why doesn't anyone ask the trees what happend? I mean here the walls can talk - if you know how to ask them..."
Innocent 'Who said what mistakes' shouldn't be so central. Particularly since Kanchana was thinking it and one human pretty much looks the same as another! And finally a little FYI Dom and I live in Norway (Europe), there is a minimum 7 hour time difference between our little part of Europe and at least the Eastern seaboard so a good posting hour for you in the States is more than likely very unlucky for us, so don't expect any re-reading to occur over much. RL schedule doesn't leave much time to take leisure with reading long posts.))
DM-IT Kup: No problem, you can feel free to play Kanchana however you wish, of course.
I'm sorry if the long posts are inconvenient. I don't mean to make more "work," but rather to add to the game. If you don't like long posts--I thought you said you didn't mind them--I will, naturally, take that into consideration! : )
Addendum (borrowing Dom's log on to save a new post.)
I don't mind long posts at all. I prefer them to short posts containing little to no information in fact. The way I see it however is that descriptive posts are meant to be tools to help assist in creating decent responses. Asking for attention to detail is OK but it should not be the central thing that's all.
Descriptions are very important in deciding how to have a PC react.
My point is please don't expect a re-read to nit-pick for small details. 'Who said what' is a small detail all in all. Long posts aren't inconvenient, nit-picking through them for all details minor or otherwise is inconvenient; or causes more work as you put it. :)
Toros d20=12 Sunday April 10th, 2005 11:26:57 PM
Toros contributes to the performance of Zeoll, meanwhile he respondes to the interest of children with smile, and other times just simply watches around - the city, the cerberus, the captive centaur, and their hosts (Aid Another d20, 12>10).
When Zeoll offers goodberry to Amada, Toros will also offer some water. He has said nothing to the Centaur until that time. It is mostly because he cannot find good words to talk to her, and wants his deeds to speak for him. If she does not refuse the water she will help her to drink it.
Toros d20=12 Sunday April 10th, 2005 11:37:14 PM
Toros contributes to the performance of Zeoll, meanwhile he respondes to the interest of children with smile, and other times just simply watches around - the city, the cerberus, the captive centaur, and their hosts (Aid Another d20, 12>10).
When Zeoll offers goodberry to Amada, Toros will also offer some water. He has said nothing to the Centaur until that time. It is mostly because he cannot find good words to talk to her, and wants his deeds to speak for him. If she does not refuse the water she will help her to drink it.
Gecktar Monday April 11th, 2005 3:42:15 AM
Gecktar has suddenly a bad feeling about what is going on here... Two opposing forces growing. He can feel it in the air, and the female centaur is in part responsible of that.
'Why does she talk about false gods ?' he thinks 'was she talking about Domi ? Is there another power raising that she knows ?'
All theses questions come to Gecktar when he ears Kanchana talking about asking the trees. He knows that some powerful druids or cleric would be able to do it any personnaly regret to not have powerful divination prayers.
He then turn to Flat Top, "You're maybe right, but my feeling is that she is part of their problem. A big one indeeed..."
Gecktar seems to meditate his thoughts and follow the other where ever they go.
Flat-top Monday April 11th, 2005 7:50:49 AM
Flat-top listens to Gecktar and think about wat he said. "Hmmm! Gecktar you may be right, but I still would like to know about this blood letting???" Flat-top turns to Kale "I'm reary for that drink! Too much thinking for a fighter like me!" The center and the Minotaur are off to find some spirits.
Songs of the Motherland (DM-IT Kup) Monday April 11th, 2005 8:25:22 AM Only missing Leets after the weekend, so it seemed appropriate to press on--again, to give everyone as much time as possible to read and react before the Tuesday post.
Zeoll wished he could remember more about witches. But something just did not sound right. ooc: Another poor bardic knowledge check--rats! But if you let me know specifically what Zeoll would like to "recall" about witches, maybe we can come up with a more appropriate skill roll. : ) BTW: there are still "three to four hours of sunlight" remaining until sunset. He decided to stay with the centaur. He sang haunting, beautiful melodies that recalled his memories of Centaur Isle, with Toros's accompaniment. Afterward, he offered a goodberry to the captive centaur Amada, with Toros offering water.
Amada kept her face turned away from the wemics as they sang their melancholy, evocative songs. Had they not touched her? Was her heart so hard as to ignore the memories of a distant homeland? But then the liontaurs offered the goodberry and water, and she turned her face back to them. The tears were streaming freely down her face from red, swollen eyes. "Who are you people?" she sobbed. "What--what do you want from me?" Zeoll sensed that his songs had reached her--perhaps she would now be more willing to speak.
Kanchana was somewhat perplexed. "I am sorry if my question upset you brother Z'ken," Kanchana apologized. "I don't wish to anger anyone but why doesn't anyone ask the trees what happend? I mean here the walls can talk - if you know how to ask them..."
"Ahh ... yes, yes of course, earth-sister," the old man replied, and glanced at Emtza and Ha'mam. "But I am afraid that speaking to the trees in that way is not part of our abilities. Fienz was the one most knowledgeable in such things. His loss is a terrible one for our hamlet."
Flat-top asked, "Did you say Bloodletting? Do you mean that the Three Victims were drained of all their life Blood??" Flat-top seemed to recall from his survivalist training that vampires sucked blood, and clearly suspected that was what was involved here.
"No, no," Z'ken replied hastily, and waved his hands and shook his head emphatically. "No, all this talk of blood-letting is purely conjecture. There is no proof that Amada was shedding blood for witchcraft--" he looked meaningfully at Horatio, the guard who had mentioned the topic earlier. "Not that there would be anything wrong with there being witches here in the valley, at least, not witches that didn't mean to harm anyone, that is ...." He trailed off as he looked at Ha'mam, who merely scowled, and Emtza, who raised surprised eyebrows. "No, although there was much blood spilled, there was no sign of a ... blood ritual or draining," he concluded lamely.
Brahmah refused to allow the captive centaur to provoke him, but smiled and turned, looking back over his shoulder at Amada. "If you're a murderer, you must take your punishment. If you're not, I would hope you come to your senses." And, perhaps she was at that--Brahmah could see that Zeoll's songs had sparked something in her, as the tears streamed down her face.
Brahmah spoke to the three human members of the "inner Circle": "Is she being punished because she's a suspected witch, because she's a centaur or because she's a suspected murderer? Have you THOROUGHLY investigated the crime?"
Z'ken, Ha'mam, and Emtza looked one to the other, before Emtza finally cleared her throat and spoke. When she did speak, her voice was level and even. "It was the Judgment of the Circle that Amada had murdered Fienz, Mehta, and Kerrar. She was not accused of being a witch and, I hope, not treated differently by the Circle by virtue of her being a taur. But the thought had occurred to us, when your group was sighted approaching the hamlet, that you might ask such questions about her treatment." Emtza looked at Ha'mam and Z'ken before continuing. "And, perhaps, your group might be able to satisfy itself that the Judgment of the Circle was proper--as a sort of an objective party. You are not of our Circle, of course, and, obviously, you ... share a common heritage with ... the convicted. In particular, there are those in the village who believe that Amada was a witch, and perhaps you could ... satisfy them ... that witchcraft does not ... pose a threat to our existence here."
Solgrin said to Amada, "I am a follower of Domi and have been Chosen by him to help try to bring all of the taurs together and work out the misunderstandings between our races." Amada, her face still wet with tears, looked from Solgrin to Zeoll, and back. "Domi? Bring all the taurs tog--but--" she stammered. "But I thought the liontaurs and minotaurs do not follow Domi. Do they?" She looked at Zeoll with confusion.
Solgrin followed the sound of the cerberus's howl into the central Whistal Tree. A large archway facing the courtyard opened at the base of the tree, as if the bark and insides of the tree had pulled back to form a natural hollow. Inside, a large, circular chamber opened to fill the center of the tree. Everburning torches provided ample illumination to the chamber without the danger of actual flame. A series of benches and tables ringed the room, and in the very center, a space had been cleared for three shrouded forms that lay neatly parallel to each other. At the feet of the center body, Bell-Mort-Laia kept up its mournful, three-part howl.
Solgrin asked the cerberus if it had any sense of who had killed its master. As before, Laia was the first head to regain a semblance of its decorum. "No," it admitted. "We are just so ... <hrrmm> so lost ... <hrrmm, hrrmm> I am sorry. With our master gone, we find it difficult even to ... <hrrmmm> to speak ...."
After entering the fort, Kale just gave the others a quick glance, then went over to Flat-Top. "I need a drink," he told Flat-Top. "Lets go find a tavern." The two, minotaur and centaur, sauntered through the fort hamlet. They quickly realized, however, that they would be hard-pressed to find a tavern in an outpost this small and secluded. They noticed there were only twenty-odd trees in the hamlet, which were clustered in four clumps around the central tree, and which were the only forms of habitation visible. They all seemed to be dwelling-places. None seemed to be stores or taverns, so far as they could tell. Instead, each of the four clusters of trees crowded around small, central wells. Families seemed to live in each of these trees, which each had an archway at its base that seemed to lead inside to living quarters. There was no tavern, no shops--not a single luxury.
ooc: I don't mean to swell Zeoll's head, but I wanted to point out a terrific bit of roleplaying in his last post, combined with some lucky skill rolls! No one says that you have to write the words to your song to attempt a Perform check--he just did it! And the roleplay was well crafted and reflected an appreciation for, and contribution to, the game world. That's what I consider important and valuable as a "narrative" DM. As a result, Zeoll might just find, whether the die rolls dictate it or not, that he will be successful in accomplishing whatever it was he was attempting with his performance. Make sense? Making the game more enjoyable and rich means, in my view, getting the benefit of that contribution. Just thought I'd share one last "behind the DM screen" comment so that everyone understands where I'm coming from. : )
Brahmah Monday April 11th, 2005 11:42:47 AM
The Chosen's Captain just shakes his head as the two go off to the tavern, knowing or at least realizing, that they might get into trouble in the hamlet.
Brahmah wanted to get free of these walls, with or without acquiring the knowledge they need, as soon as taurically(humanly) possible.
He looks down at Emtza, Ha'mam and Z'ken and says, "We will speak with the Circle, all of us. And perhaps, if it is possible, Amada can sit on the... meeting? I can be entirely objective when it calls for it. The Chosen can be neutral in this matter."
He walks back to the 'witch'. "We are the Chosen of Domi. All three races worship Domi, Tomi and Imod, he is One and the Same. He likes to be called Father too."
His mouth curles into a grin. He leans and and speaks quietly, "When I was younger, I'd as soon kill a centaur upon sight. Now...? I only have one murderous centaur in mind that I'd slaughter on the spot. My father's dishonorable killer."
His eyes drift. "Didn't even look my father in the eyes when he killed him... dagger in the back..." His eyes return to the bound centaur. "Sorry. Didn't mean to go so far... "
"If your innocent, let me know now. Please do not lie to me. If you know or saw who did kill them, let me know now. Please. We do want to help you in some way."
Zeoll d20+21=34 Monday April 11th, 2005 2:01:54 PM
Zeoll pauses at Brahmah's words, then adds softly, "Patience, good Captain. Give herr a moment to think."
To the captive centaur, Zeoll says, smiling slightly, "We arre who we say we arre -- serrvants of Domi. I know this to be trrue, because it was Domi himself who called me to serrve him."
"We came herre because we saw in a drream that people needed help. Maybe Domi sent us herre forr you. My guess is that we arre herre forr you and forr all the people of good will in this village. What we need to know is what happened. Tell us yourr storry, please."
[OOC: Thanks, Kup, for your kind words! Zeoll's Diplomacy check to get Amada to open up is 34.]
Flat-top Monday April 11th, 2005 7:59:53 PM
As the odd duet (Minotaur and Centaur) roam around town, looking for a tavern of some kind. Flat-top tells Kale "There's nothing around that even look like wine! Boy! I guess this is what they call a Dry Town?? But the building are beautiful and cool."
Kanchana Monday April 11th, 2005 8:07:05 PM
Kanchana nods. "Oh, too bad..." she answers simply to the reply that they cannot talk to the trees.
She now knows that this "murder problem" has just gotten that much more difficult. Trees don't hide things, people do...
"Are there any physical signs of how the people died?" Kanchana asks as respectfully as she can.
Kanchana figures that if the trees cannot tell the story; because no one can speak to them, then maybe the bodies can?? (Kanchana is more or less thinking along the lines of 'autopsy evidence'; at least obvious signs of attack via some form of weaponry; mundane or natural.)
She doesn't really want to ask to see the bodies because that might seem extremely disrespectful of her.
Off on a different tangent Kanchana wonders if this place really holds any of the answers she personally seeks; these druids seem to have less interest in green growing things. She had hoped for more.
Kanchana is also unhappy that the Chosen have stumbled across yet another problem situation. They seem to have "all the luck" when it comes to "finding" the bad situations. She remembers vividly what happend after Domisha was born. She really doesn't want any enemies among the druids, it's bad enough to have half the Taur clergy of Domi after your blood!
Toros d20=10 Monday April 11th, 2005 11:45:33 PM
Toros maintains his meaningful silence, knowing that his presence here and now alone supports Zeoll, Brahmah and even the captive Centaur.
(another Aid Another check, 10)
Gecktar Tuesday April 12th, 2005 3:33:03 AM
Gecktar turn to Z'Ken and says "Would you like us to investigate about this crime ? Maybe finding a proof of the culpability of the taur will enhance the autority of the circle as in his inner wisdom you already find that she is guilty. But finding a proof that she is not the murderer will allow us to save a life which is the more important for Mother Wold..."
"What do you think about that ?"
Kale Tuesday April 12th, 2005 6:43:32 AM
Kale looks at one of the buildings Flat-Top points out and says "I guess they are, but they would be cooler if one of them had something to drink!" then, leaving Flat-Top for a moment, Kale walks up to the nearest person and asks "Is there anyplace here that me and my friend can get a drink?"
Flat-top Tuesday April 12th, 2005 8:20:48 AM
Flat-top also stop a female (she carrying a basket of veggies), he ask her as to where, in this town, Could he and the Minotaur could get a nice cool drink?. The female points to the Well in the cenyer of the circle of trees (their homes. Flat-top smiles at her, "I thank you, My Lady!"
As Flat-top trots back to Kale, he mumbles to himself. "I had to ask!!"
Brahmah Tuesday April 12th, 2005 9:11:25 AM
He waits to see what all the questions from the Chosen uncover.
Leets Tuesday April 12th, 2005 10:38:18 AM
The Centaur paladin first wonders why Domi sent him there with his fellows Chosen.
What could look like a witch hunt finally appeared to have investigations led, and the captive was obviously an heretic....
However, while syanding behind Solgrin, Leets is astonished by what Amada says...
"What??? What part of the Taur Islands can be so lost that your very soul remains blind to the reality that is ours!"
"As true as the sun rises every morning, the Allmighty Father of the Taur race stands three-in-one and one-in-three, Imod, Tomi and Domi!"
"When the day will come when I will join Domi in his eternal light, the only thing I'll be proud of is the friendship that ties each of us in this group."
"Like every Taur in this place tonight, you'll have to finally see the truth: Minotaurs and Wemics are our brothers and sisters, and together, we are the three faces of one and only glorious race."
Solgrin d20=19 Tuesday April 12th, 2005 6:17:12 PM
"Bell-Mort-Laia, I am deeply grieve for your loss. Shall we try to make sure the true person responsible for Fienz's death? I am concearned that the others may have jumped to conclusions without investigating the deaths carefully enough. Would Fienz want the wrong person punished?" Solgrin tells Bell-Mort-Laia.
**** Diplomacy 19 ****
The Circle Inquest (DM-IT Kup) Tuesday April 12th, 2005 10:03:26 PM
Brahmah looked down at Emtza, Ha'mam and Z'ken and said, "We will speak with the Circle, all of us. And perhaps, if it is possible, Amada can sit on the... meeting? I can be entirely objective when it calls for it. The Chosen can be neutral in this matter."
The Three of the inner Circle nodded. "Yes, yes, perhaps that is what's called for," Z'ken agreed. "We will call for another Circle tonight. The moons will be full again and our Decision will be blessed by the Mother." Z'ken smiled. "I see that one of your number--" he indicated the piebald form of Flat-top, who was trotting his way around the Council Tree with Kale-- "Is already dressed for the occasion."
Brahmah walked back to the 'witch' and told her about the Chosen, and his father. Amada shook her head mutely, as if to deny that Brahmah had overstepped, and listened attentively, her red-rimmed green eyes glistening. "If you're innocent, let me know now. Please do not lie to me. If you know or saw who did kill them, let me know now. Please. We do want to help you in some way."
To the captive centaur, Zeoll also explained the Chosen's mission, and said, smiling slightly, "What we need to know is what happened. Tell us yourr storry, please." Toros maintained his meaningful silence. Leets, too, corrected Amada as to the "proper" place of Domi, Tomi, and Imod, and the unity of the taurs. Amada appeared stunned by all of this.
Meanwhile, Kanchana was addressing Z'ken. "Are there any physical signs of how the people died?" Kanchana asked him, as respectfully as she could.
"Please, you can see for yourselves," Z'ken gestured toward the Council Tree.
Gecktar turned to Z'Ken and said, "Would you like us to investigate about this crime ? Maybe finding a proof of the culpability of the taur will enhance the authority of the circle as in his inner wisdom you already find that she is guilty. But finding a proof that she is not the murderer will allow us to save a life which is the more important for Mother Wold... What do you think about that ?"
Z'ken rubbed a hand along his neck and nodded. "Er, yes, well, that's right. The idea was that you could ... assure yourselves ... that we were not mistreating one of your own." Ha'mam spoke up. "Z'ken, I told you, this was a bad idea!" But Z'ken waved him down once more and addressed himself to Gecktar again. "Yes, that would be fine. Investigate, come back here this evening with your answers, and we will hold another Circle so that all may assess what you have learned."
The odd duo of Flat-top and Kale roamed around the fort. Kale looked at the "buildings"--they are all trees, hundreds of feet tall--as Flat-Top pointed them out and said, "I guess they are cool, but they would be cooler if one of them had something to drink!" Kale walked up to the nearest person and asked "Is there anyplace here that me and my friend can get a drink?" The woman carrying a basket of veggies pointed to the well in the center of the circle of trees. Flat-top smiled at her, "I thank you, My Lady!" Flat-top mumbled to himself. "We had to ask!!" ooc: LOL! Classic! And, as it happens, exactly right! : )
In the Council Tree, Solgrin addressed the Cerberus. "Bell-Mort-Laia, I am deeply grieved for your loss. Shall we try to make sure of the true person responsible for Fienz's death? I am concerned that the others may have jumped to conclusions without investigating the deaths carefully enough. Would Fienz want the wrong person punished?" The Cerberus shook its heads in agreement.
Having heard from liontaur, minotaur, and even centaur of the Chosen's theology, Amada appeared amazed. She turned back to Zeoll, and spoke slowly and carefully. "It has been many years since I left our homeland in search of knowledge. I had no idea that ... creatures, such as yourselves, existed. Truly, if minotaurs and wemics have discarded their blasphemies and mindless hatreds for centaurs, and have come to embrace Domi, I am glad of it. It is time that those races learned to set aside their hatreds and distorted views."
She looked about the yard and lowered her voice, and the taurs speaking with her had to lean in to hear: "There are secrets here that I have sworn to keep, and that I dare not reveal, even now. And there are other things ... things I have learned ... that I fear to tell, for fear that the telling will make a truth of them. Things are not as they seem. I do not know the manner of the three villagers' deaths--nor do I know for certain what caused my own wounds. But I fear ... I fear ...." She stopped herself. "I dare not say it. I have committed no crime--at least, I do not think I have ... sometimes, I am unsure. Visions have come to me today, of blood, and rending. A call of violence--a lust in my heart that was not there before. I would not have killed them! ... But then, I cannot recall ...."
She lapsed into silence and looked toward the western sky, and the late afternoon sun that was beginning its slide toward the horizon. There were now just a few hours, perhaps no more than two or three, before sunset. "There is not much time. If I am right, then with the setting of the sun, you will all be in grave danger." She looked back at the taurs, and her eyes were wide and wild. "Please! Leave me to die! It is no more than I deserve! You will all be in great peril! What happened at the hut last night will happen again, and there will be no way to stop it! Go to the hut, and you will see--perhaps you will understand! Go, before it is too late!"
OOC: EVERYONE, PLEASE READ JERRY'S POST ON LnB FROM TODAY REGARDING THE LOSS OF LYNN BECK, A WOLDIAN AND A WONDERFUL PERSON. WE WILL BE OBSERVING AN HOUR OF SILENCE ON THIS BOARD IN MEMORY OF LYNN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, FROM 12:00 PM TO 1:00 PM WOLDIAN (CDT).
Gecktar d20+7=16 d20+5=19 Wednesday April 13th, 2005 2:54:57 AM
Gecktar looks to the other Chosen. "Maybe investigating the hut should be our first task." Gecktar turn to Kale and Flat-Top "would you dare come with me. I thing we could use your talents friend Kale."
Waiting for an answer he will go for the hut be before says to Z'ken "We have not much time until the night. So please forgive our haste to try to find some clues."
If some Chosen come with him he will wispers to them "Don't you have heard things about this disease some call lycanthropy ? Z'ken talked about the full moon, Amada talked about not recalling what happened... That sounds odd for me."
(OOC Knowledge religion 16 and Arcana 19 to remember some things about lycanthropy)
Kale Wednesday April 13th, 2005 6:59:48 AM
Kale looks at the well, then tells Flat-Top "I was hoping for something stronge." then, hearing Gecktar's request, Kale shrugs his shoulders and says "Sure. What dirty deed needs to be done now?"
Leets d20+9=21 Wednesday April 13th, 2005 7:22:39 AM
Leets nods at Gecktar.
"I don't like the idea of you being alone at night in this place...Especially if there is some kind of feral beast lurking around...I come with you."
On the way he says:
"I've been hearing tales about werewolves or such beasts, when when I was younger and sheperds would gather around the campfire at night...Maybe it could be such a creature..."
(Knowledge: Religion: 21)
Flat-top Wednesday April 13th, 2005 7:35:58 AM
Flat-top Draw some water from the bucket, then cups his hands and drinks some water. Tells Kale "Well I am thirsty." Smiling at the woman, "Thank-yiu, my Lady."
Gecktar has ask both Kale and himself to go to the hut with him, The cleric want to see the sceen. Also ask about a Disease? "Sure I'll go with you, I don't this thing you call Limycanthroupiy. I'm not a healer. I just get taurs out of trouble."
When Leets starts to mention Werewolves and such creature, "Whoa! Are you kidding?? I heard they were killed by a bunch of vanpires!"
ooc: I meant to miss speled the Disease Lancanthropy.
Brahmah Wednesday April 13th, 2005 8:57:22 AM
Brahmah nods to the three humans and moves on.
Coming to stand, finally, with the Chosen centaurs. "Shapeshifters!? That could be it. They seem worried about evening and night-fall." He turns to Flat-top when he mentions vampires and slaps him hard on the shoulder. He says in a hushed tone, "By Gargul! If I see ONE vampire in this hamlet I'm blaming you! Bad enough there's one working at the Catacombs!" He gives the centaur a cursing look. "Damn it Flats, now I'll be thinking about them everytime a bat screeches or a wolf howls." He smirks, but is truly fearful and unequipped for such a thing.
Must by silver weapons! He thinks seriously.
An Hour of Silence - DM Donna Wednesday April 13th, 2005 1:12:54 PM
This board will now observe an hour of silence in honor of Lynn Beck (and her husband Dave) who was taken away from The Wold before her time...
Good-bye Dave & Lynn Beck - DM Donna Wednesday April 13th, 2005 2:13:13 PM
The hour of silence is over now. Posting may resume. Thank you and let's all hope for the best for young Alex Beck.
Kanchana Wednesday April 13th, 2005 5:58:37 PM
Kanchana will immediately go to the council tree to study the bodies intently and to look very carefully for any and all wounds (no matter what the source) and any broken bones or discoloration (like bruises) on all of the corpses. Kanchana will take as much time as she can until she has witnessed all of the physical evidence (even maybe collected some??) that is possible to see.
(I hope I can take 20 on the spot check and search check at least, and even the healing check (used to "mimick" a surface only "autopsy".) I will roll if it is necessary of course.)
Zeoll d20+8=24 d20+5=19 Wednesday April 13th, 2005 7:44:46 PM
Zeoll thanks Amada for her honesty qand help. he urges the Chosen to follow her advice and head for the hut she mentioned.
Once there, Zeoll takes a good look around. [Spot 24]
He also tries to think of any dangers he has heard legend of that would match the hints Amada has let fall. [Bard Lore 19]
Toros d20=18 Wednesday April 13th, 2005 8:08:49 PM
Once more, Toros will do his best to aid others who seems to be knowing what they are looking for better than him. (d20, 18)
T-CSI (DM-IT Kup) Wednesday April 13th, 2005 10:57:36 PM Chosen: check your e-mail for a map.
Gecktar suggested that the Chosen investigate the hut. (OOC: Knowledge: religion and Arcana for lycanthropy? I'm not sure that fits ... undead, maybe, but lycanthropy is different--possibly a disease, possibly involving animals or magical beasts ... of the standard knowledge skills, it sounds most like a Knowledge: nature check to me.) He searched his memories of religious events for stories or tidbits about lycanthropy, but could come up only with the most general of things: beasts that were half-humanoid, half-monster, almost like ... a taur? No, these were hybrids from head to toe; wolves, and sometimes others.
Kale agreed to join Gecktar, as did Leets. Leets, too, remembered tales from his youth of werewolves and the like. Flat-top joined them as well, along with Brahmah, who was concerned about anyone bringing trouble down upon the hamlet by mentioning a fell creature, and Toros, who was willing to help any who needed it (Toros, buddy, in the future, please specify who or what you hope to assist, okay? Great notion, though--I love Aid Another. Let's apply the roll next time--don't want to deprive you of a good roll. : ).
Zeoll also joined the group heading to the hut, and tried to think of any dangers he had heard legend of that would match the hints Amada has let fall. Well, the others had mentioned lycanthropy, he reasoned: full moons and attacks at night certainly could fit that. Then again, perhaps Flat-Top had been right to suspect vampires--there were legends aplenty about night-stalking blood-drinkers. But what about these other things that Amada had mentioned? A place where things were not what they seemed? Zeoll had heard rumors of a tavern in Plateau City that specialized in catering to the rich and elite by providing customized illusions to fulfill fantasies; was this something similar? This place was unusual; try as he might, Zeoll had never heard of any druidic settlement like it before. Yes, the druids of Centaur Isle lived in Whistal Trees--but not like this! Just what would it take to build and sustain something like this, anyway? And what of Amada's death-wish? Was she simply despondent about the deaths, nursing a secret guilt--a secret guilt ... what was that she had said, about secrets she dared not reveal? Who in the Wold feared disclosure so much that they kept their secrets to the grave? Witches were a secretive, mysterious lot; was it true, then, what the villagers suspected? Was Amada a witch, and a murderer at that?
Meanwhile, Kanchana went to the Council Tree to study the bodies. (Kanchana, you may, of course, "take 20" on the search of the bodies--but is Kanchana trained in Healing? I'll assume yes (I don't have character sheets). Otherwise, it's like a non-doctor performing the "surface autopsy.") She carefully removed the simple sheets that covered the bodies and looked over the mangled human forms that lay beneath. At the sight of its master's ripped and lifeless face, Bell-Mort-Laia's howls erupted anew, echoing through the council chamber and reverberating through the hamlet.
The bodies were of three humans: one, in the middle, was that of an elderly man--this had apparently been Fienz--the others were those of two middle-aged women. All three were horribly mangled and disfigured. Long, jagged wounds raked across faces, arms, throats, and torsos. The forearms were torn apart and dangled flesh and broken bits of bone. Each of the three throats had been completely ripped out. Long, parallel wounds ran along the faces, with the flesh that hung, limp and pale, barely covering the bone and bits of muscle and tendons beneath. The bodies all showed extreme signs of bruising, all along the backs of each of the limbs and especially the backs--Kanchana puzzled over this for a time until she realized--rigor mortis, of course! The blood that was left in the bodies had all pooled on the sides that had lain on the floor. Not that there was much blood left in the bodies--each of the three had been fairly disemboweled, and left little in the body cavity to retain blood. It was difficult to make any more assumptions about the nature of the deaths with the bodies removed from the site of the deaths, yet one thing was clear--these three people were savagely attacked.
While Kanchana performed her careful examination, several of the other taurs asked for directions to Amada's hut. It lay several hundred yards roughly southeast of the gate, they were told; follow the path past the wild corn and the oats to the stand of pines, and traverse the creek to the middle of the wood. The taurs set off with the slowly sinking sun at their backs. The sounds of the late afternoon in the valley were peaceful and soporific; insects hummed and buzzed through the tall, wild plants, and here and there, the telltale hop or slither of a larger animal joined in. Wild plants and herbs created a dizzying array of scents. As they passed into the pines, a hush descended about them, born of the whispering wood--and the reek of death.
The hut was visible ahead. It was a small, round affair, made of rough-hewn wood and a thatched roof. Unlike the other structures here in the valley, it did not appear grown, but rather assembled, if still made with care. On one side, planted in view of a clearing in the woods that admitted some sun, a small, disheveled herb garden grew. The entrance to the hut faced the garden, but even from here, as the taurs approached, the blood splatters were clear. Flat-top and Gecktar knew it first; a heartbeat later, Leets, Brahmah, and Kale could look at each other as well with the shared, unhappy knowledge from a hundred-hundred battlefields:
There had been carnage here.
Gecktar Thursday April 14th, 2005 3:18:47 AM
Seeing the scene, Gecktar looks around in search of clues about who did this carnage.
"Brahamh ? Do you see special tracks ? I'm not sure this fight involved humans... but maybe beasts."
Gecktar then enters the hut and search inside for any unusual object...
(Search 22 take 20)
Solgrin d20+8=17 d20+5=24 d20+4=7 Thursday April 14th, 2005 4:14:27 AM
Leaving Bell-Mort-Laia with the bodies Solgrin follows the other Chosen to Amada's hut. Once there Solgrin will cast Detect magic, Solgrin then starts to move about slowly looking around carefully.
**** Concentration: 17 Search: 24 Spot: 7 ****
(Kanchana OOC to DM IT) Thursday April 14th, 2005 4:56:08 AM
((Heck yeah Kanchana is trained in Healing. :) Heal 12 (and (just in case) Profession: Herbalist 12 and Knowl. Nature 12). She is more or less THE healer in the group. ;) Incedentally the skill ranks in healing et.al. that she has is why I try and use mundane healing over magical healing whenever I can; to save the wand charges! P.S. Stephen, what is that "large rug" in front of Amada's hut on the map? Is it the herb garden?))
DM-IT Kup: Yes, the "rug" is supposed to be the herb garden. The big round circle is supposed to be a hut. There's no visible "well" here--just the creek, which is off of the map (assume it's about 50 yards away to the northwest).
Brown squiggle was supposed to be a path. Green circles were supposed to be trees. And I was supposed to be clearer about all of that. Sorry.
Sheesh. : )
Kanchana (Kanchana goes CSI!) d20+12=24 d20+12=23 d20+3=5 Thursday April 14th, 2005 5:14:24 AM
((Stephen please interpret the OOC comment with humor. It was meant to be a little funny.))
Kanchana studies the massive wounds and the mangled corpses. She is amazed that there was any blood left to cause lividity.
"Calm down please Bell-Mort-Laia. I have to do this to try and find out who or what murdered your master. I am sorry that it distresses you."
Kanchana carefully holds her paw out over the wounds (claws out and spread as if attacking) to try and see if a wemic sized creature could have done this; or even if the rabid dire wolves the Chosen encountered could have done this! She mimics claw attacks through the air above the wounds (NOT touching the corpses as she does so!) to try and see if the attacks were done by something used to making such attacks. Her movements follow the pattern of the wounds. She is trying to gain insight into the order of the attacks (what came first and so on). Since the bodies were moved and laid out she has quite a bit of work ahead of her! Kanchana suspects either a large wolf-like being, a cursed creature of some sort (werebeast); or even possibly a large cat-like being! (Oh dear!)
(Heal check 24, Knowl. Natur 23, Search 5... I can only hope that the 2 first rolls count the most!)
Toros Thursday April 14th, 2005 5:30:04 AM
Hearing the confessions of the captive Centaur Toros will cast Elven Vision on himself and start searching for any secret doors or passages, as much as an Elf can do. He will try to get a sense of, if any, things that might be well hidden behind the things on the surface, starting the place where the big well is and ending where the hut and herb garden is.
Toros-OOC Thursday April 14th, 2005 6:47:27 AM
BTW, Kup, do you think we can make use of the Seal of Flying from the Golden Tap?
DM-IT Kup: I don't see why not. I don't have any experience with "seals," but I certainly know what you're talking about and the context in which Toros obtained it. Jim, Cayzle, anyone--any reason Toros can't add his Gold Tap "seal" to his CS?
Update: got an answer. Yes, Toros, if you wish to add your seal to your CS, you may use it. Fun! (When you post its use, remind us of its power description from the Tap.)
Leets d20+4=20 Thursday April 14th, 2005 9:16:36 AM
The Centaur paladin knows the smell of blood will be stronger as he gets closer.
"I knew there would be blood in this place...Remember the red moon..."
Looking on the ground, Leets will try to see the traces of a beast or predator (profession: herdsman = 20). He will also see if Managarm seems to find the scent of the beast....
Kale d20+7=21 d20+7=17 Thursday April 14th, 2005 9:25:19 AM
Kale will go over to the area that contains the biggest blood stains and beging to search for signs of what might of happened(looking for prints, discared weapons, pieces of hair, that sort of thing, search check of 21, spot check of 17)
Flat-top Thursday April 14th, 2005 11:20:37 AM
Flat-top rubs his head, "Why did you hit me for?? Just because you are afriad of B-A-T-S!" Flat-top his hand together, locking his thumbs together and waves his hand(like a flying bat) "Wooo! Wooo!"
Turn to Leets Telling him "Don't you start! with 'red Moons'. The next thing Your going to tell me is 'Look out there's a Vampiretaur behind me!"
He goes to where the scuffle seen to have been "Look this is the crime sceen?"
Paw'Caw(ceil) Thursday April 14th, 2005 11:23:55 AM
Paw'caw who has found a nice place to nest in the tallest tree in the village. After all it is going on sunset time.
Managram(ceil) d20+5=20 d20+5=25 Thursday April 14th, 2005 11:28:38 AM
Managram will follow Leets (his master) every where he goes. The dog alway spot for any sign of a bone and listens for any other dog to steal any such Bone.
OOC: Spot 20 - Listens 25.
Roz(Ceil) Thursday April 14th, 2005 11:32:11 AM
Roz is restless because her master is running around so much. So the little dragon will tickle Silgum's ear and ask "Are you going to stop soon, I need my beauty sleep!"
Elder(ceil) Thursday April 14th, 2005 11:36:05 AM
Elder has eaten himself into a stuper, the weasel settles in his speacial pouch and just sleeps. "ZZZZ snort! ZZZZ yum yum ZZZZ"
OOC: Dreaming about shiny things and Food.
Croc(ceil) Thursday April 14th, 2005 11:42:56 AM
Poor Croc, he has such little legs and he's always running after this taur with the yellow soft food.
As he is running after Zeoll again, he smells water?? Sure enough there some water over there. 'Hmmm! that's where I'm staying for the night!'. He heads for the water and the deepest part of the wet stuff.
OOC: that's so Croc woun't hear Zeoll call him, untill Crock is good and ready to come out of the water.
Zeoll d20+8=16 Thursday April 14th, 2005 1:58:16 PM
Zeoll smiles as his Croc heads for water. He should be safe there.
The druid/bard looks the scene over. Not having any talent at tracking, and not wanting to disturb any evidence, he keeps watch, looking for intruders both from the house and from all around. [OOC: Spot 16]
Brahmah d20+14=18 d20+12=29 Thursday April 14th, 2005 2:05:13 PM
OOC: I suggest, Toros, you save any seals or the like for when it is absolutely useful. Currently, we are fine.
The minotaur shakes his head coming upon the scene. "That single female DIDN'T do ALL this." Exclaims the ranger. "This is clearly something more."
He looks at the bodies. "These wounds were not made with a shark weapon." He says with almost positive tones. "Too jagged. Too inaccurate."
He thinks for a moment, and says, looking at Gecktar. "Any clear tracks would likely be damaged or gone with the Circle scalking around here. Not to say they didn't look, but to say that they may not have been careful." The minotaur looks around and slowly shifts a body so not to desturb any tracks UNDER them. (tracking for proof of centaur under the body. surviival 18 vs centaurs) "The bodies haven't been here long and the tracks would still be fresh." He thinks.
He then looks at the soles of the three dead peoples shoes or boots to be able to eliminate theirs from any other human tracks that might have been near the corpses, or under them. (tracking humans, Survival 29)
He figures if it was an animal attack that the animals would drag and tear to feed, smearing and damaging tracks. Humans often move murder victims too, while looting.
DM-IT Kup: just to throw a quick clarification out there--the bodies are with Kanchana in the council chamber of the Council Tree, back at Fort Arbor. The taurs investigating the hut are several hundred yards outside of the fort. Not that Brahmah couldn't draw similar conclusions from the dried blood and gore at the hut-site.
We now return you to your previously-scheduled T-CSI
Scenes of a Crime (DM-IT Kup) Thursday April 14th, 2005 10:48:12 PM
Gecktar entered the hut through a tall, open doorway. The door had been a loose collection of logs at best, but now it was little more than splinters. It had been ripped completely from its hinges and its parts scattered across the area. The hut seemed like it would be airy and light on most occasions--there were windows facing in all four directions, and a smoke-hole in the roof--but now, with the fading light and pallor of death, it appeared gloomy and dim.
The interior of the hut was lined with shelves, several of which had been upended and their contents spilled across the floor. On the left side of the door, shelves of books lined the walls; most of the volumes dealt with botany and arcane subjects. The owner of these books was obviously an herbalist, and at least a few, from the descriptions on the spines, seemed to be collected notes. Others dealt with tracking and survival in the wilderness; here, too, there were several volumes with lettering in the same, neat hand along their bindings. One book from among this collection of lore of the wild was missing from its place.
There was a centaur-sized cot that had been positioned along the wall immediately to the door's right. Now, that cot lay flipped over and broken on the floor. Beneath one end of it, that had fallen across the firepit, Gecktar saw the edge of a book. Lifting the book up carefully by its edges, Gecktar could see that a large section of its middle pages had been ripped out and the book itself had been badly burnt. Gecktar could just make out the letters on the spine: "L-GEN-- OF -HE WILD -OL. --- -----CHAN----, --C-N--R-P-, ------ & F--I-----." In the firepit, the ashes of burnt pages scattered at the gentle probing of a taur hoof.
On the far wall stood shelf upon shelf of bottles, flasks, and containers of various shapes, sizes, and colors. Strange odors seemed to waft from these containers. Removing a stopper or two, Gecktar took a tentative sniff and confirmed his initial suspicions; these were potions of various kinds (indeed, some of the containers had been smashed and their contents seeped down the wall behind them). Whatever system of organization their owner kept was a mystery to Gecktar; there were no apparent labels or clear system for sorting. Alongside many of these potions were also containers of dried leaves, and more viscous materials that looked like salves or ointments of some kind. These containers were made of a very peculiar kind of wood that seemed to glow with vitality in the half-light. It was all very curious.
Outside the hut, Solgrin cast Detect magic and started to move about slowly looking around carefully. Solgrin detected no immediate signs of magic outside the hut apart from the familiar items that his fellows carried--but several items within the hut were radiating the presence of magic. Poking his head within, where Gecktar stood, Solgrin noticed that many of the vials on the far wall radiated magic of various kinds.
Toros cast Elven Vision on himself and start searching for any secret doors or passages, as much as an Elf could do. Although his elf-like senses detected nothing hidden like a secret door, he did notice that the initial appearance of the garden as disheveled was not accurate. Really, only one part of the herb garden was disheveled; it was as if a particular row of herbs had been trampled and ripped out by their roots. The herbs were neatly organized into rows, and there seemed to be a logic to them ... but then, herbs weren't really Toros's thing. (Are they?)
Looking on the ground, Leets tried to see the traces of a beast or predator. There were many tracks around the hut, and discerning their identity was made more difficult by the degree of traffic. There were centaur tracks, clearly--Leets recognized those--and many human tracks. There was something else here, too--animal tracks, it seemed to him. There were many such tracks, in many places around the hut. They were sizeable--and they were not cattle.... Managarm seems to find the scent of the beast.... Managram sniffed and growled--the scent of blood, and something foreign, was heavy on this place.
Flat-top looked over what appeared to be the "crime scene." The main bloodshed appeared to have taken place just outside the entrance to the hut. Blood splatters and gore still coated the ground and surrounded the doorframe. It was a gruesome scene, but more than that. Flat-top had seen many battles, but few where so much of the bodies of the defeated had been torn. It was ... animal. Almost gleeful.
Zeoll looked the scene over. Not having any talent at tracking, and not wanting to disturb any evidence, he kept watch, looking for intruders both from the house and from all around. He saw none but themselves, however, in the fading light of the day that trickled through the woods.
Brahmah shook his head coming upon the hut-site and the drying blood and gore that coated the doorway and ground outside the hut. "That single female DIDN'T do ALL this," exclaimed the ranger. "This is clearly something more." He looked around for tracks. Like Leets, he saw many human tracks here, and centaur's--and something else. Brahmah squinted and lowered his head to the ground: some of the human tracks were misshapen. There were claw marks here, and the feet were longer and thinner than a typical human's foot. Some were larger, some smaller--more than one creature had made these tracks, that was certain. And there were two other tracks--a particularly large set of the elongated humanoid tracks, and another, like--like a boar's?
Could a boar have caused this carnage? It didn't seem likely. And yet--how else to explain this strange set of tracks?
Meanwhile, back at the council chamber, Kanchana was carefully holding her paw out over the wounds (claws out and spread as if attacking) to try and see if a wemic sized creature could have done this; or even if the rabid dire wolves the Chosen encountered could have done this! She mimicked claw attacks through the air above the wounds to try and see if the attacks were done by something used to making such attacks.
Claw attacks could have made these marks--indeed, they seemed to make the most sense. And more--the marks could not have been made by a hoof. A hoof was too blunt, too rounded--these marks were jagged, and thin. Those marks around the necks, too--teeth made those marks, Kanchana felt certain--sharp teeth. Liontaurs had such teeth, to be sure--but generally, a wemic's bite was rounded from its humanoid face. These bite marks were long, thin--and savage. A creature with a snout, then; dire wolves could certainly have done that.
But what about the marks on the arms? Defensive wounds, it would seem. Kanchana twisted and raised her arms to approximate the posture in which they may have been made. An attack from below would have come ... here ... at chest level, with the arms like so ... but no, these wounds were made with the arms higher--to protect the neck. The attacker was of a height with these humans. Big, then, and probably bipedal, judging by those marks--a beast, that was bipedal, with a snout, and vicious enough to take down a full-grown human? Kanchana nodded knowingly. She strongly suspected werewolves.
A chill swept over her suddenly from the doorway. The Council Chamber's entrance faced roughly eastward, but the Wold's shadow against the sky was deepening in its purple hues--night was not far off. There, in the east, the faintest hint of moonsglow was beginning to show. The two full moons would rise with the setting of the sun.
Brahmah Friday April 15th, 2005 1:56:27 AM
Brahmah tells the Chosen what he found and suspects. Then listens to Kanchana's thoughts (assuming she says anthing). "Damn. I knew it. Were-creatures...!" He says, socking Flat-top in the shoulder rather hard and giving him a sharp look with narrowed eyes. "I saw a boar or wild pig print... could it be a gang of were-beasts?" He askes outloud to no one particular.
"Well..." He begins. "...maybe we should stay out in this area through the night and possibly we could catch a creature and even protect the evidence we found?" He pauses as he moves toward the house, which he doesn't enter just yet. "Kanchana, how can we preserve the prints?"
He looks at the centaurs of the Chosen. "No centaur was among the carnage, no scuffle with a centaur happened here.... by my knowledge."
Toros Friday April 15th, 2005 3:16:12 AM
Toros contributes to Brahmah's comments:
"It seems that these creatures were looking for something. Look at the herb garden, only one part of it is disheveled; it is as if a particular row of herbs is trampled and ripped out by their roots. The herbs are neatly organized into rows, and there seems to be a logic to them, these herbs are important somehow but I can not figure it out. "
"And I think it is almost the same thing inside the hut, look at this mess and devastation..." Toros concludes his comments, having a brief look inside the hut.
Glancing at the last lights of the sun, and starting to worry about what might be expecting the town and taurs with the coming of night, he then waits for others to share what they have learnt... Meanwhile, he cannot help but murmur, last light of sun, last night of some
OOC: Chosen, recently Toros has received a Seal of Flying. It is a powerful seal, which gives all party members the ability to fly for 10 minutes (like the third level spell). If you have any suggestion for how/when to use/not to use this seal, please do not hesitate to tell it.
Flat-top Friday April 15th, 2005 7:39:38 AM
Flat-top rubs his arm, Thinking out loud, Flat-top starts mumbling "We found tracks that looks like a boar,only byped? A wereboar? what else could make track like that?" Turning to Zeoll, the center ask "Zeoll! Remember the Purple Wine Bandit? He turned out to be a Alcoholic Satyr? Could there be a Were Satyr??".
Brahmah Friday April 15th, 2005 7:43:24 AM
Brahmah looks at Flat-top, "Alcoholic Satyr?!" He askes with a smile.
"Maybe the herbs were just something these creatures valued."
DM-IT Kup, clarification Friday April 15th, 2005 9:31:07 AM ooc: Just to make clear again--Kanchana is with the bodies back at the Council Tree in the center of Fort Arbor. She is at least a quarter of a mile away from the rest of the group at the hut as a flying wemic would travel, possibly more. She is not in conversational distance, and probably not even within really, really loud shouting distance. No, she is all alone ... with several bodies ... that the group apparently suspects were attacked by one or more lycanthropes ... with the moons rising ....
Might she be within really, really loud SCREAMING distance? ; )
Also, just a reminder: the DM Post for today will likely come by around 4 PM Woldian time. (CDT, -5 UT)
Toros - illegal second post Friday April 15th, 2005 10:35:13 AM
OOC: Sorry I was hoping to write this part, after others' posts, but there may not be another time for me to post so I feel the need to write it now.
Having talked with and listened to other Chosen, Toros will suggest that at least some of the Chosen return to the town, and warn Z'ken, Horatio and others about what could happen tonight. And also it would be good to talk with Amada one more time about what they have found here at her hut.
The time passes very quickly and they should get ready for the night. The Chosen can help the Hamlet, and the Hamlet can help Chosen. Also, the Chosen should keep an eye on the Captive Centaur, and even some of the humans. Anyone can turn into a were-thing, and anyone can be in dire-danger. He is also not feeling comfortable to leave any Chosen alone.
we were were, again he murmurs.
If he is agreed and accompanied, or if Kanchana is still alone, Toros will quickly go back to the Hamlet. He wants to talk with the town rulers. On the way he will talk to decide what to tell and not to tell to them.
He will tell or suggest to tell that the Hamlet can be in great danger tonight, and what happened last night can happen again in a few hours. The Taurs and Town-people should work together to prevent this.
And, if everything goes well until this time, Toros will ask to town rulers whether they can provide Chosen some equipment, magic or herb support?
OOC: Dear GM, If the reply to this question is "yes", could you please provide a list of readily available items like some potions, scrolls, weapons, wolfsbane etc from the Hamlet.
Kale Friday April 15th, 2005 10:42:22 AM
not finding any clues to what he was looking for(no response to my post), Kale will go inside with Gecktar and say "Find anything good in here? I guess the people who lived here wont need their belongings anymore."
DM-IT Kup: oops! Sorry, Kale. As you all can tell, I make a point of trying to respond to each player's post. But there was a lot of private traffic on the board yesterday, yours got squeezed between several other messages, and I missed your post! Give yourself a hero point, and treat what Kale saw as substantially the same to what Brahmah and Leets had observed.
Feel free to post again today if that changes what Kale might have done.
Toros-OOC Friday April 15th, 2005 10:57:45 AM
And I think I have a trouble with the conceptualization of time, it seems the time in the story is proceeding faster than (the speed) I perceive.
I said a few hours in my last post, but if there is no time like that, the first thing Toros will do is to see whether Kanchana is allright. Second he will see if the captive Centaur is doing allright. And then, if there is still time, he will see the town rulers and ask whether they can provide any help for Chosen. Perhaps they cannot gather potions and stuff, but use their Druidic spells.
And about the place, I hope all these can happen not in a distance from each other - a common place can be, for instance, next to the well, where the Centaur is tied.
DM-IT Kup, clarification on time Friday April 15th, 2005 12:26:24 PM This is important enough, I think, to violate the "one post per day rule" again.
By my reckoning, it is about 30 minutes until sunset as of today's post. By the time the taurs made their way back to the fort, the sun would be setting. Let me explain.
There were several "take 20's" in the last few posts, so I was taking that as my guidepost. "Take 20," especially on Search-type activities, takes a big chunk of time. If it helps, here, in a nutshell, is the timeline so far:
-- ~2 pm: taurs arrive at the fort. -- ~2 - 3:30: taurs negotiate at the gate, wait to be let in. -- ~3:30 - 4: taurs see the inside of the fort, speak with the inner Circle -- ~4 - 5:30 : taurs investigate the hut; Kanchana conducts examination of the bodies
It is presently about 5:30. Sunset is at 6. It will take time to get back to the fort, and time to locate those whom you may want to speak with. Giving the traditional "18 minutes" leeway, if the taurs left the hut now and went straight back to the fort, they'd be there in time to have a conversation just as the sun sets.
Okay?
Zeoll Friday April 15th, 2005 1:25:55 PM
As it becomes clear that this is a dangerous place to be, Zeoll worries about Kanchana.
"Come, my fellow Taurrs!" he calls. "We have found all we will find herre today. Let's get back fast beforre disasterr befalls!"
He urges everyone to return to the village. He himself proceeds posthaste.
A non-DM post DM post (DM-IT Kup) Friday April 15th, 2005 3:38:47 PM ooc: owing to real-time and game-time confusion, and in an effort to take the pressure off of coordinating actions and posts, I will delay the DM post until Sunday night to allow everyone to post regarding their intentions. Those who have already posted for this "round" may do so again, if they wish. I think that will make it easier for everyone to absorb all of the information that I've conveyed in stray "clarifications." (I apologize for not making things clearer.)
Take the "game time" at the beginning of your next post as about one-half hour before sunset. To the extent that it affects your thinking (and I'm not saying that it should), there is, naturally, a short time after sunset where there is still dim illumination--i.e., dusk--before complete darkness. (This being a rural, pre-industrial setting, dusk is short, and "dark" is dark.) At the beginning of spring, full moons rise at sunset (at least, it does in the real world, and it's too complicated to assume anything different in the Wold). So, if the taurs at Amada's hut wished to get back to the fort before either sunset or moons-rise, they would need to leave "now." If it helps, you may recall that Z'ken had agreed for the taurs to investigate and report back to the Circle "this evening," and that Amada is scheduled to be executed at "dawn."
Hope that helps.
Brahmah told the Chosen what he found and suspected about were-beasts. He suggested that the group stay in the area of the hut through the night to catch a creature and protect the evidence they had found. Flat-top wondered whether there might be a were-satyr involved.
No one had ever accused Flat-top of suffering from a lack of imagination.
Kale entered the hut where Gecktar stood. "Find anything good in here? I guess the people who lived here won't need their belongings anymore." A very cynical attitude, but one imagines that the interest will make money in someone's bank account.
Toros suggested that at least some of the Chosen return to the town. He quickly headed back in the direction of the hamlet. Zeoll joined him. "Come, my fellow Taurrs! We have found all we will find herre today. Let's get back fast beforre disasterr befalls!"
Gecktar Friday April 15th, 2005 3:51:34 PM
Gecktar feels his heart squeezed by the fear. They have left Kanchana alone... And there are werethings around...
Answering Zeoll, he says... "We delayed it to much. We must hurry... Maybe Kanchana is not safe alone..."
Flat-top Friday April 15th, 2005 5:54:08 PM
"Come on Captain!, Let's take this Druid centaur bach to the safty of the Circle. Theres time enought to get these were cretures. What else would do this kind of killing?? Suckquelis? No! I think not!"
Taking the prisoner by the arm to lead her back with them.
Kanchana Saturday April 16th, 2005 7:53:30 PM
Now satisfied that she has a few "findings" Kanchana prays for the souls of the dead. Then she leaves this hut and goes looking for Z'ken or any of the other "Village Elders" (Elder denoting sosial position, not necessarily age). If she finds any of them she will ask if any of the people around here have seen any unnatural or sick animals; particularly wolves. Kanchana will tell them about the rabid dire wolves that they encountered a few days back; but not about the battle. She will also ask if the attacks have only occured during nights with full moons. The wemic druidess has of course noted the approach of nightfall and the imminent moonrise. She hopes that the other Chosen will be alright. She herself feels moderately safe here within the hamlett-fort...
Kanchana (info update) Saturday April 16th, 2005 7:56:21 PM
Kanchana will state that the wolves were definately suffering from rabies. She will confirm that it was not some other form of disease; mystical or otherwise.
Brahmah Sunday April 17th, 2005 8:21:18 AM
Brahmah looks thoughtful. "Just remembering something... remember those wolves that got away from us awhile ago?" He directs to Kanchana, as if readig her mind. "Those wounds look like canines, right? What if the leader gathered a few others and did... did this?"
Kale d20+10=15 d20+5=16 Sunday April 17th, 2005 9:54:25 AM
rolling his eyes as Gecktar leaves the hut and ignores his question, Kale thinks to himself, "I guess im only noticed when we need someone stabbed in the back or someone robbed." then he will do his own search of the items on the shelf to see if there is anything of value(search check of 15, appraisal of 16)
Solgrin Sunday April 17th, 2005 2:33:27 PM
Solgrin looks to the others then says I think we should get back to Kanchana before it gets dark if at all possible.
Solgrin will then head out at a moderate pace back to where he last saw Kanchana. If it looks to be getting dark Solgrin will increase his pace.
Toros Sunday April 17th, 2005 10:22:38 PM
Dear GM, if you think it would be possible in terms of story pilot, time and space; together with meeting Kanchana and town rulers, Toros also would lead a conversation to learn Amada's comments about what Gecktar, Brahmah and Toros have found out in and out of the Centaur's hut.
DM-IT Kup: ooops, Toros, overlapping posts. Read the DM post and let us all know what Toros thinks in the ordinary course for a Monday post, okay?
Sunset, moonrise (DM-IT Kup) Sunday April 17th, 2005 10:44:17 PM
Brahmah thought questions to Kanchana, who was ... still ... a quarter of a mile away, in the fort. Perhaps Brahmah had been affected by the series of dreams and visions more than anyone had suspected. Whether he heard answers to his mental questions, however, was another matter. Kale stayed with Brahmah at the hut, searching for hidden treasure. Kale noticed that several of the potion containers still remained intact. The containers did not seem to possess any special value--they were wooden, mostly--but he figured that some of the potions might have value. But there were dozens on the shelves; which ones would be worthwhile to "lift"? Leets remained as well, scouting out the territory.
Toros, Zeoll, Gecktar, Flat-top, and Solgrin headed back to the hamlet, where Kanchana and the centaur prisoner still remained. They hurried in order to return before the sun set and the moons rose.
Meanwhile--back at the fort, a quarter of a mile away--Kanchana went to find the inner Circle of Z'ken, Ha'mam, and Emtza, to ask if any of the people around here have seen any unnatural or sick animals; particularly wolves, and to tell them about rabid dire wolves that the Chosen had encountered a few days back.
It took some time for Kanchana to locate the three members of the inner Circle. It seemed that they each had mundane responsibilities within the hamlet, like all of the rest of the villagers, and were busy tending flocks and managing crops. The three returned, along with much of the village, as the sun was nearly set. Toros, Zeoll, Gecktar, Flat-top, and Solgrin arrived not much further behind.
Z'ken pursed his lips and stroked his beard while Kanchana spoke, while Ha'mam merely scowled. Emtza leaned in carefully to listen to each word. It was Emtza who spoke first.
"It would seem that you have learned much today, earth-sister," she said. "I am anxious to learn what your fellows have discovered as well. Let us convene the Circle of Judgment so that all make take part in your understanding."
Emtza signaled to the guards and they entered the Council Tree, emerging a few moments later with a large, black kettle that they placed in the center of the courtyard. The large kettle contained a quantity of clear liquid--it was hard to judge against the black of the kettle, but it appeared to have light tinges of green and brown in it, almost like tree sap might.
(Kanchana and Solgrin may roll Knowledge: Nature 10, Spot 10 -- anyone else present may roll a Knowledge: Nature 20 --Highlight to display spoiler: {For those who had been inside the Council Chamber before, you hadn't noticed that kettle there previously. It was not clear where it came from. It was also the only metal object you have seen while in the hamlet. The liquid did indeed bear a striking resemblance to tree sap ... but there was so much of it! To fill a kettle like that would take the sap of hundreds of normal trees!})
One of the guards picked up a stone from the courtyard and banged it against the side of the kettle. It seemed to be a signal--villagers started emerging from their homes and arriving through the gates and all begin milling about the courtyard. Emtza raised her hands in greeting to all of them.
"It is time to reconvene the Circle of Judgment," she announced. "Let us all drink of the Draught of Life, and prepare ourselves for the Moment of Decision."
One by one, the villagers came forward and cupped their hands, dipping into the kettle and bringing their hands to their lips to drink of the unusual liquid. They had smiles on their faces as they walked, tranquilly, back to their places to form a large circle around the kettle, the three members of the inner Circle, and the taurs. (Amada, the centaur, remained tied to her post, of course. Her eyes were narrowed throughout this process.) All of the villagers drank and joined hands, until their circle encompassed the area of the courtyard.
Then it was the inner Circle's turn. Z'ken, Ha'mam, and Emtza each drank from the liquid, in the same manner as those who had drank before. Z'ken and Ha'mam positioned themselves at two point of a broad triangle around the kettle, just far apart enough so that their fingertips could brush when outstretched. Emtza smiled and motioned for the taurs to drink as well.
"Come," she beckoned. "Drink of the Draught of Life, so that our Circle may share in your wisdom and learning." She indicated the kettle, and then indicated that the taurs should form a circle around Z'ken, Ha'mam, and herself after having drunk.
The sun was setting, and the first glimmer of moonlight would not strike above the valley rim for a few more minutes.
Kanchana d20+5=14 d20+12=30 d20+5=14 Monday April 18th, 2005 1:49:56 AM
While Kanchana was looking for the village elders she watches the everyday lives of the villagers. Considering what has happend here recently they seem content still.
Kanchana will briefly incline her head in respect to Emtza as she comments that Kanchana did a good job finding out things. "I will share my findings in more detail when the Circle convenes."
As she takes a place within the courtyard (?) near the Council Tree; as near the Elders and the kettle as she can, she notices the metal kettle and becomes curious about its contents. Kanchana gets a peep in. (Spot 14, Knowl. Nature 30).
'A drink made of treesap? It would take hundreds of trees to get that much sap. I know of birch-bark tea and willow tea, but never in such large quantities. Amazing,' Kanchana thinks to herself.
Kanchana will smile as she looks to other Chosen who have joined the assembly. When offered to partake of the Draught of Life Kanchana will not hesitate to accept.
Reverently she will approach the kettle and dip her cupped hands in and take a drink of the draught. As she drinks she will focus on its taste, texture and the feelings the draught may or may not invoke. The she will take a place behind the Council Elders as they said to do.
As the sun sets and the moons arise she suddenly notices that Brahmah, Kale and Leets are not present. She mouths a question at the other Chosen (NOT talking aloud!): 'where are the others??' Kanchana scans the crowd again looking for the three missing Chosen.
Leets Monday April 18th, 2005 7:46:19 AM
Leets will let Managarm follow the scent path of the beast if the celestial dog finds it, and will himself follow Managarm. If it leads them too far away, he will call back his dog and go back to the place where the ceremony takes place.
If Managarm finds nothing, he will go back too.
Gecktar Monday April 18th, 2005 7:51:47 AM
When Gecktar leave the hut and hears the comment of Kale, he realizes that he has been unfair with him... He says while hurrying to the hamlet "Don't be upset there should be some were-things to stab in the back in the hamlet ! Com'on. We must gather before the night falls."
---
As the villagers gather and drink this strange liquid, Gecktar come close from Amada and asks her. "Should I drink this strange drink ?"
Flat-top d20=12 d20+6=23 Monday April 18th, 2005 8:06:02 AM
As Flat-top enters the hamlet, hesees Kanchana mouth to them as to 'where the others are??'. Flat-top turn around to see what she means, and sure enough Kale and the Captain is missing?? Flat-top srougs his shoulders as he trot to her. "I don't know, I thought they were behind us. Want me to go and get them??"
Flat-top is ask to drink the Draught of life??, He looks into the Kettle, sniff at it??. Look to Kanchana (as if to say is ti ok?) then cups his hands and drinks.
Kale d20+5=21 d20+6=17 Monday April 18th, 2005 9:33:20 AM
watching Gecktar leave, Kale waits a moment to see if Brahmah says anything to him, then Kale will take the 5 potions that seem to be the most valuable to him(appraisal check of 21) and slip them into his pockets, hopefully unseen(pick pockets check of 17)
Zeoll d20+3=20 d20+5=22 d20+3=22 d20+21=33 d20+10=17 d20+10=20 Monday April 18th, 2005 10:41:58 AM
Zeoll, keeping his Croc at his side, hurries back to the tree-village. He arrives (I think) just in time to see this Circle convening.
Of course, as a Druid, he is well aware of the many Druidic Circles of the Wold. He tries to figure out if this group is affiliated with one of them. This drawing into a Circle seems too reminiscent of that not to be the case. [Untrained Know Nature 20, Bard Lore 22 woot!]
He looks and scents the drink in the cauldron, and suspects its origins as tree sap. [Untrained Know Nature 22! Wow, I'm on a roll.]
If Zeoll feels uncomfortable drinking the tree sap elixre because of his druidic or bardic knowledge, then he will politely decline. Even if his personal knowledge reveals nothing, he will ask the three leaders of the tribe what this drink is, and what it does, and what will happen to those who drink.
As he listens to the explanation, he does his best to figure out if he is being lied to, if the villagers intend the Chosen harm, or if he has a hunch that things are not what they seem. [Diplomacy check to ask questions without being rude: 33. Sense Motive check to sense the village leaders' veracity and intentions: 17.]
Finally, Zeoll tries to ask LEETS to detect evil without being obvious about it. [Bluff check 20 to send a secret message.] [Name "Leets" emphasized so that Laurent will see it. :-) ]
Zeoll will drink if he has no warning signs against doing so.
Solgrin d20+4=19 d20+4=17 Monday April 18th, 2005 2:35:49 PM
Solgrin looks to Kanchana for if it is safe or not then looks at it carefully before he accepts a drink from it. If Kanchana nods that it is safe Solgrin will take a drink of it with respect that Solgrin's father (druidic council member on centauy isle) instilled in him.
***** knowlege nature: 19 spot: 17 *****
Brahmah Monday April 18th, 2005 4:03:38 PM
OOC: Brahmah would have likely turned his question, not to Kanchana since she wasn't near, but to Kale. I misread several posts. Aw well.
IC: Brahmah remains looking around for any sign of suspicious items or any folks that shouldn't be there. He hopes Leets is careful looking around by himself. "Return every ten minutes Leets, to report in with us." He asks, this was NOT a command, but it was a request.
Toros Monday April 18th, 2005 6:51:44 PM
Toros's worries find relief for the moment, as everything seems to be in order at the hamlet.
When the druidic ritual has started he is talking to Amada, "we saw with our own eyes Amada, there was a carnage in your hut but it was not what a Centaur had done. There were... were-boars or wolfs, we guess... It seems that they also looked for something, to find and destroy. I checked the herb garden myself; Specifically some herbs were trampled and ripped out. Inside the hut was also not much different... And the moons are rising once again... Is there anything we can do, for you, before it is too late. We can prevent what happened last night to happen here again, but time is limited and we also need help from you."
Toros hopes that Amada will respond to him, but if not, he also will understand.
Then, the ritual starts, one by one the town people drinks from the cauldron, and Taurs are invited to do so, to share what they know and learn.
Toros does not like this at all. They may not, do not, have the time for this. They should be mentally awake for the coming darkness. And they should not share all what they know. Still, first Kanchana, followed by others drink to join the circle. However, Toros will not, untill Zeoll's questions are satisfactorily answered. He starts to think going back to hut.
Word of Warning. (DM Jim) Monday April 18th, 2005 9:16:38 PM
Dear Chosen,
I hate to say it but Kup will be leaving us, as he has gotten an appointment to the Cresent Valley game. He will of course do an excellent job there as he has here, but it will be a sad thing to see him go.
JayB and Sam - Your last purchases of silversheen and potions, then the alchemical shortsword...respectively should be held onto till after the battle. There is no Catacombs representive sight in the Hamlet that you are in, so no way to buy these things. Sorry and hope you understand.
When darkness falls across the land (DM-IT Kup) Monday April 18th, 2005 10:18:09 PM At Fort Arbor:
Kanchana took a place within the courtyard near the Council Tree, as near the Elders and the kettle as she could. It struck her that she had never heard of a druidic ritual that involved a kettle like this ... still, Kanchana did not hesitate to accept a drink of the 'Draught of Life.' The liquid was sticky and sweet, like tree-sap--but it left an odd tingling in the back of her throat, like spiced, mulled wine.
As the villagers gathered and drank the strange liquid, Gecktar came close from Amada and asked her, "Should I drink this strange drink?"
Gecktar noticed that the centaur's eyes were wide with fear ... but not at the events transpiring in the courtyard. She looked to the eastern horizon. "The ceremony is harmless ... if misguided ... but there is a greater danger here. Please: you all will be in grave danger! You should leave, before it's too late! I deserve to die! I deserve ...." But she said no more. Having heard no warning from Amada about the draught, Gecktar still hesitated; why did she still desire death, in light of the evidence of her innocence?
Flat-top looked to Kanchana before drinking from the 'Draught' himself. His tongue tingles, as if he had eaten too many sweets.
Zeoll, keeping his Croc at his side, hurried back to the tree-village. He arrived just in time to see the Circle convening. Of course, as a Druid, he was well aware of the many Druidic Circles of the Wold. He tried to figure out if this group is affiliated with one of them. This drawing into a Circle seemed too reminiscent of that not to be the case.
... but then, perhaps not! After all, druidic 'Circles' do convene from time to time--and, indeed, sometimes form physical circles--but Zeoll had never heard of one separated out like this. Circles were formed from druids of similar interests and learning from around the Wold, meeting once in a great while--this was a group of people, not all of whom appeared learned in druidic ways, and none displaying the interests or studies that a 'Circle' typically had. And usually there were visible symbols of the Circle, associating it with its area of study--there were none such here. Then there was the kettle ... druids didn't usually depend on metal devices. And such quantities of liquid in a metal cauldron might tend to alter its natural traits ...
Metal cauldron ... altering natural traits ... wait a minute ... what if ... suddenly, Zeoll was recalling things he had heard in rumors about the secretive witches of the Wold, and a thought sprung to his mind as he politely demurred on drinking the elixir, at least until he had a moment to ask a few more questions:
What if Amada wasn't the witch?
Solgrin looked to Kanchana before he accepted a drink from the 'Draught of Life.' Solgrin's own memories of druidic life didn't include such a ritual, but then, who was to say that it wasn't the way elsewhere? There was much about this hamlet that was strange, and this was no more strange than many other things. Besides--Kanchana didn't seem to have a problem with it.
Toros's worries found relief for the moment, as everything seemed to be in order at the hamlet. When the ritual started he spoke to Amada, "We saw with our own eyes Amada, there was a carnage in your hut but it was not what a Centaur had done. There were... were-boars or wolfs, we guess... It seems that they also looked for something, to find and destroy. I checked the herb garden myself; Specifically some herbs were trampled and ripped out. Inside the hut was also not much different... And the moons are rising once again... Is there anything we can do, for you, before it is too late. We can prevent what happened last night to happen here again, but time is limited and we also need help from you."
Amada stared at him. "No!" she cried, and her mouth twisted. "No! Don't you see? Don't you understand! You are all in terrible danger!" She began panting, then twisting, and heaving. The ropes in which she was bound seemed to move of their own accord ...
... no, that wasn't right. It was as if her body was moving within the ropes ... shifting ... changing ....
But the ritual had already begun. The villagers were linking hands and chanting, and Emtza, Ha'mam, and Z'ken, in the inner Circle, were touching fingertip to fingertip, swaying to the rhythm of the words. Toros saw that Zeoll had declined the Draught, and he did as well. The villagers did not seem to mind, one way or the other.
"We call upon the Circle!" Emtza declared.
"We call upon the power of the Wold!" said Z'ken.
"We call upon the Mother!" said Ha'mam.
"THE MOTHER!" chanted the villagers.
"We call upon the Mother's life-force!" the Three declared, and the outer Circle replied, "THE LIFE-FORCE!"
"We call upon the Woldsblood!" "THE WOLDSBLOOD!"
"We call upon the Realm of Shadows! Gather, darkness!" "GATHER, DARKNESS!"
Emtza declared: "Grant us your power and sight, Mother, and giiive us yourrrrr POWERRRRRRR...."
Those who had drunk from the Draught of Life feel a surge of power, and suddenly, as a group, they see! It is as if they were granted spiders' eyes--no, not quite--it was more like, they were seeing many things at once. The Chosen realized that they were all seeing the images that each had seen during the day. There was Kanchana's view of the gate, and of the Council Tree, and the autopsy; there was Flat-top's tour of the hamlet with Kale, and his view of Amada's hut, and the gory scene outside; there was Solgrin's discussion with the cerberus, and his travels through the valley to the hut.
And there was more ... a whispering ... a murmuring ... like dozens of voices in each person's head. The taurs who had partaken of the Draught realized it was the voices of the villagers, each commenting and discussing the images that they were seeing. It was a collective consciousness, and it felt natural and normal ... and powerful ... very ... powerful ....
Gecktar, Zeoll, and Toros each watched the ceremony, but could hear or see none of these things. They could only see the swaying of the villagers, and the hum of their subvocalized chanting, and the howl of the cerberus in the distance ....
... wait a minute. They had last seen the cerberus in the Council Tree. But that howl was ...
... outside the gates?
Meanwhile, back at the hut:
Watching Gecktar leave, Kale waited a moment to see if Brahmah said anything to him, then Kale quickly pocketed 5 of the potions that seemed to be the most valuable and slipped them into his pockets, hopefully unseen. The morality of stealing from the female centaur that the Chosen were supposed to be helping seem to escape Kale. But, as long as she was going to be executed in the morning, she would hardly miss them, would she?
Brahmah remained looking around for any sign of suspicious items or any folks that shouldn't be there. He hoped Leets was careful looking around by himself. "Return every ten minutes Leets, to report in with us," he asked.
Leets nodded and let Managarm follow the scent path that it seemed to have found. They had been at the hut-site for quite some time already, though, and the celestial dog was just now alerting to a scent?
Leet followed the dog into the woods. The darkness was pierced only by the light of the moons as they rose silently over the lip of the valley. How was Managram suddenly tracking a scent in the middle of all of those tracks, and beasts, and ... and ...
Managram had stopped in its tracks, and growling at the darkness in front of Leets. Its tail stiffened and it pointed into the gloom.
From somewhere in the darkness, the darkness answered. A low growl matched Managram's own, until it slowly rose in volume, cresting into a howling crescendo to match the twin, full moons.
There were shapes in the darkness. It seemed that they were all around them. And they were moving ....
DM-IT Kup Monday April 18th, 2005 10:22:31 PM Sorry to say that Jim is right. It's Dirt City, actually, and I'll be helping to relieve SteveK as he gets deployed to some gods-awful place .... So, this last post was probably my last as your DM-IT. I'll leave you back in Jim's tender mercies. (Sorry to leave you in such straits! : ) But then, that's why we play the game, right?) I'll keep watching what's going on here to see how things progress (and how Jim manages to fix all the stuff I've messed up...).
I hope you all enjoyed this little stint. I had a blast! Thanks to all of you!
Toros 61/61 hp, AC 29 (+4 Mage Armor, +3 Defensive Fighting) Tuesday April 19th, 2005 1:02:56 AM
Not the ritual but the changes in the Centaur's body takes Toros's attention.
It has started... Her greatest fear is happening, she is transforming into a were-taur, and she is still worried about us! I still do not believe she killed any human, and will do my best to help her remain like that.[i/]
Then Toros hears the howls from the outside.
[i]Where is safer, no, more dangerous, inside or outside the Hamlett? And Brahmah, Kale and Leets are at the hut... They can, can they, take after themselves?!
Toros looks at Zeoll and Gecktar with asking-eyes...
Then he will get one of his Mage Armor potions and drink, looking interchangably at the transforming Centaur, and his Taur friends.
OOC: Well, am I right to remember from some previous talk that all the previous games that Kup has GMed ended up with Total Player Kill!? ;-) Thanks a lot for everything Kup, it was a very nice time for me to be GMed by you, as well. It also has helped me a lot to develop my D&D role-playing skills. Good luck in Dirt City, and please wish the same in here!
Brahmah Tuesday April 19th, 2005 2:18:54 AM
OOC: With Kup's posts, I'm I to understand that we CAN use our purchases? The posts seemed unsure.
The minotaur is still inside the hut, cleaning his falchion and watching (unconcerned) Kale 'snatch' potions. Deep down, Brahmah knew that the hamlet wouldn't likely pay the Chosen for the investigation, especially if we found her (the witch) innocent.
Gecktar Tuesday April 19th, 2005 3:32:37 AM
Gecktar gives backs his asking look to Toros and then says "We must protect the Coucil. If Amada's shape change she will be able to escape her bonds and make a slaughter among the villagers. But this means that the other Chosen will be alone to fight with the outside threat."
"Brahmah and Leets are two powerful fighters and Kale is ressorceful... That may help them..."
Gecktar now understand why Amada was calling for death and Gecktar thinks that this is the best suited answer to the curse she has. He has no power to heal her from this kind of disease.
He then call for the strength of Domi, and the energy suddenly infuse his muscles. He then draws his silver dagger.
"Amada, do you want me to put a end on this curse ? You know the only way to do it, isn't it ?"
OOC: cast Bull's strength
Active spell : Bull's strength (50 rds)
Flat-top Tuesday April 19th, 2005 7:15:28 AM
OOC: So we ARE too much for you??? Just a few week and you run to Dirt City. Kidding aside, We'll miss you Kup, Dirt City are the lucky ones. But maybe we'll see you again some time in a year or so. No good-byes to Good friends, just a good luck.
Flat-top drinks the liquid, it start to warm himself, He starts to sway, "Too bad Kale is not here, this drink is what we were looking for! Now he startd to sway, seeing things that was done on this day.
Flat-top starts to realise that he, the Chosen and the rest of the people here are in trouble. Because he heard the howeling in the distance. As he sways on the the rhythem of the moment, 'I'll try to fight this feeling, or die trying!' As he sways on.
Leets Tuesday April 19th, 2005 8:11:44 AM
As the growling seems to be menacing from everywhere, the Centaur Paladin tries to remain calm, and bows to his dog.
"Calm down Managarm...- He whispers- We need help. You'll go as fast as you can, and you'll find our friends to help us...Now go my dog, we need help!"
"We need help quickly!"
With this, Leets clenches his fist on his shield and makes a couple of steps backward against a large tree. His grip tightening on his club, he faces the darkness, waiting for the things to appear and to sell his life in an expensive way...
OOC: He will use his darkvision to try to see the beast, and detect evil to see if those are just rabid animals or really malefic creatures. If attacked, Leets will turn into the full defense action.
Kale Tuesday April 19th, 2005 9:32:55 AM
after hiding the potions away, Kale looks for a chair to sit down in and starts flipping his dagger. after a while, he asks Brahmah, "Did you hear that howling? It sounds like it came from outside the village."
Zeoll (barkskin) Tuesday April 19th, 2005 12:17:21 PM
Zeoll casts barkskin on himself, shared with Croc. He commands his reptile friend to stay close.
Solgrin Tuesday April 19th, 2005 6:48:27 PM
Solgrin tries to focus on what is happening and what is going on outside of the circle.
Managram(ceil) Tuesday April 19th, 2005 8:39:03 PM
Managram Growl at the shadows and listens to his master. Then the dog *blinks* Poof! he's back at the shack *Blink* Poof.
Managram enters shack, barking and runs out side. Run back in the shack barking, goes to Kale and plull on his arm, then runs out side. Runs back in the shack barking a pulls on Brahmah boots, then runs out side.
(Managram will do this untill they follow him back to Leets.)
Kanchana Tuesday April 19th, 2005 10:18:35 PM
Kanchana is concentrating on all of the mental images, trying to piece together all of the information now in her mind. She wants to make sense of all this. She does not 'hear' the howls as clearly as the others are hearing them. The druidess is more or less "living in the moment", and it dawns on her that these people aren't druids at all. They are the 'fabled' witches (meaning that Kanchana has only heard of witches in stories before). Why didn't they just say so to her at the outset? she wonders.
The Coming of Terror. (DM Jim Wednesday April 20th, 2005 12:14:01 AM The Hamlet
The link for those that chose to drink fills them with a certain amount of knowledge that has been gained over the past month. It goes no further though than that, so some are relieved to find secrets still intact. Kanchana realizes that at least some of the members and maybe citizens of the hamlet are witches but they also have a connection to nature as well. At least the three council members are at least part druid, that she can tell.
Gecktar and Toros are interrupted from thier observation of the ritual with the groans of Amada. It is easy to tell by the way she is reacting and the change of her body that she is a werecreature herself. Still she makes no effort to speak as spittle is spit from her mouth with the change that she is going through. As he muscles expand to fit her newer form, you find that you are looking into the face of a werebear. With little effort she snaps the bindings and back away from the silver weapon as she roars defiance into Gecktar's face. Then you see her head turn towards the hamlet entrance and her lips pull back to expose a set of powerful teeth, she lets out a roar at the howl.
Zeoll casts a spell upon himself and his crocodile as the other things go on around him. He turns to face the entrance area, but cannot see anything from this distance.
Flat-top is lost in the flavor of the strange alcohol and the feelings and memories that flood his mind. He does hear the howl and turns slowly to see what is up, but can see nothing yet.
Solgrin tries to focus on all that is going on around him, both with the ritual and with the howl outside. He feels that he needs to clear his head and think straighter for some reason.
From the direction of the gates you hear several bloodcurdling screams, that are cut short. There is also the sound of fighting but it only lasts for five minutes at the most and then all is quiet. Suddenly you notice a group of soemthings approaching from the gate direction, no not creatures or somethings but werecreatures. In the lead and running hard are a set of four large wolves, like you met earlier but these ones are obviously not rabid. behind them are the running forms of several werewolves and something a lot larger and meaner looking. To even look at it makes your blood run cold and flight is suddenly a great option....but for the hamlet.
The villagers seem stunned and just stand around looking at the invaders with fear. The council is of no help at the moment as they fight off the drug in thier systems.
Fort DC 12 to shake off the effects of the drink from the cauldron or -2 to hit in combat.
The Hut
Brahmah watches with little interest as Kale pockets a few potions, but does not comment. He is not even sure if they will get paid for any of this or even if there will be a reward. Still he is hopeful about it all.
Kale from his seated position hears the howl outside, but is sure that it came from both near the hamlet and somewhere near the hut as well. Both taurs will realize that Leets is outside by himself at this time and the appearance of Managarm will give them pause.
Brahmah and Kale find themselves suddenly being enticed by Managarm to come with him. It would seem that something is wrong and maybe Leets is in trouble.
Leets had sent his dog back to get help when he felt the great need for backup. He was not far from the truth as he lets his paladin abilities slip towards the dark. He can feel the hate, the evil, the foulness of something that seeks only to kill.
From the shadows of the forest he sees four large wolves appear, that he will recognize form earlier...not the same ones though he can tell. Further up on each side of him steps out a werewolf as well that has a maddened red gleam in thier eyes. They almost have you circled and you know as a shepard that that is not good.
This is the sight that will meet Kale and Brahmahs' eyes when they reach the area that you are in.
Sorry, the silver stuff was bought after reaching the hamlet and when werecreatures were a possibility. There is no Catacombs branch in the hamlet to get stuff at.
Map to come.
61/61 hp, AC 29 (+4 Mage Armor, +3 Defensive Fighting) d20=19 d8=8 d20=17 d4=4 d4=4 Wednesday April 20th, 2005 2:36:08 AM Amada! Hamlet! Chosen! Dire wolves and Werewolves!
Toros will position himself so that if any creature wants to attack the villagers and Chosen at the circle, until they recover from the effect of the drug, it will have to encounter Toros first. (E11 seems to be the best square to stand)
To welcome the dire wolves in the lead, he will draw his composite shortbow on his move and shoot the closest one (at P11) with a masterwork arrow.
AC = 19 (including distance penalty and defensive fighting penalty)
Damage = 14 (including +4 strength bonus of composite bow, +1 masterwork arrow, +1 totem of dire wolves?)
Toros continues to watch Amada, but his inner voice tells that she will be a help, not a threat to the Chosen.
He will ready himself against any approaching wolves.
(In case of any AoO, AC=22, Claw Damage=16 (with totem))
Zeoll (AC18, HP46, Barkskin) Wednesday April 20th, 2005 6:59:12 AM
Zeoll shouts to the werebear, "Amada! I know you arre purre of hearrt! Please help us fight these wolves!"
Then the liontaur druid/bard casts Entangle centered on space R9. With the spell's 40 foot radius, it should affect all the foes. (Save DC 14).
Finally, Zeoll steps 20 feet back so that his back is to the cauldron. He tells his Croc to stay close.
Bard slots unused: 3 Level 0 spells; Difficulty Class 15 2 Level 1 spells; Difficulty Class 16
5 goodberries from earlier.
Brahmah Wednesday April 20th, 2005 8:49:47 AM
Noticing the trouble their in, Brahmah looks at Kale. "This is no good. Leets!" The ranger backs toward the door and speaks in tauric "Into the hut, control entry. Kill one at a time!" He says loud enough for Leets to hear. He draws his other weapon and backs inside.
Your Former DM-IT Kup Wednesday April 20th, 2005 9:22:33 AM Sorry, but I couldn't resist a funny clarification. Reading Jim's DM post made me realize one of the screw-ups I had made. I just must have misread or misunderstood one of the e-mails he and I exchanged....
But to clarify: the tracks that the group saw at the hut, those funny ones that didn't seem to match the rest? They were BEAR tracks, not BOAR tracks.
Oh, yeah, now I get it. The tracks belonged to a were-BEAR (and now you have a hint as to who that might have been), and not a ferocious, nasty were-BOAR. ROFL!
We now return you to your regularly scheduled desperate, pitched battle for survival. Good luck!
Your ever-lovin', former DM-IT, Kup
Flat-top (AC22 85/85hp) Wednesday April 20th, 2005 9:42:16 AM
Flat-top sways to and fro. He's thinking about old wives tales that he heard when he was still in the heard. Something about a schock would snap you out of a stuper, 'this might just work/'so he calls to Silgum's little dragon Roz "Rozca! Come out and slap Silgum with your tail, that might snap him out of his state od stuper. If it works come and slap me!". "Oh! I'm so dizzy! Kitten! do you have a potion that will sober me up Quickly?" pleads Fla-top.
To Kup - A spelling mistake?? You guys complain about me making Miss spelling. HA - HA the joke is on us.
Kale(Ac 22, Hps 66) d6+4=6 d20+7=21 d8+8=11 Wednesday April 20th, 2005 10:17:40 AM
(OOC, first roll is for my hps. forgot to do it earlier)
Kale nods to Brahmah's idea, draws his bow, then shoots an arrow at the werewolf in K14, then moves into the hut with Brahmah. "Get inside!" he yells at Leets "There are too many to take on!"(arrow hit AC 21 for 11 pts of damage)
Paw'caw(ceil) Wednesday April 20th, 2005 10:22:59 AM
The Golden Eagle sleep in her nest, Just like good girls should do when the noons are out.
Managram(ceil) d20+5=21 Wednesday April 20th, 2005 10:30:36 AM
Managram seeing that Brahmah and Kale are out of the hut, thinking that they are going to help. The celestrial dog *Blinks* Poof! Gone to Leets and jumps into his arm. Then *Blinks* Poof! transporting Leets out of the middle of the pack (that was about to attack him)and *blink* Poof! into the hut with Brahmah and Kale (who just entered the hut).
Now he sits at the entrance growling. "Grrr!" And scratching the ground (Saying 'Your sick Puppies cannot do anything but Howl at the Moons. Come here an fight!'
Rozca(ceil) Wednesday April 20th, 2005 11:06:22 AM
Rozca is not quite a sleep here under Silgum's hair, it's nice and cozy there. When she hear Flat-top vioce callin gfor help? 'Slap My master? In trouble? Slap Flat-top? Why?'
She comes out from around Silgum's neck, As she tried to telepathicly but something wrong? He's is still swaying. So she slaps Solgrim face with her tail 'SLAP' Staying away from her stinger.
Elder(ceil) Wednesday April 20th, 2005 11:08:14 AM
Elder is still a baby and with a full stumack, He'll sleep all night. "ZZZZZ!"
Croc(ceil) Wednesday April 20th, 2005 11:12:44 AM
Croc is following his masterBut when Zeoll back to where the Big Round Black Thingie. He (who was following him (For more soft food!) Turn and faces the entrance to the compound.
He sees the Enermy and thinks "Oh! No! More hard food!"
Leets Wednesday April 20th, 2005 11:16:07 AM
OOC: Wasn't there something about Managarm not able to carry a whole Centaur with him, or something like this? If Managarm couldn't bring his master with him, Leets would simply run to the hut (50ft/round should be at least as much as the beasts...)
"There are Werewolves and some of those evil wolves on our way to this cursed place! At least two werewolves, and maybe three or four of the others malefic beasts!"
With those words, the Centaur paladin will check for windows or other issues in the hut, and will try to find things to block them (a table, a bed...).
Leets would have to run to the hut. Only in a life and death situation will I allow Managarm to teleport something as big as a taur. :)
Kanchana (HP 44/44, AC 19) d20+8=26 d20+12=18 d20+15=29 Wednesday April 20th, 2005 3:43:15 PM
(Fort save (DC 12): 26)
Kanchana easily shakes of the effects of the sap-beverage. The enemy being so close must have triggered some Fright/Flight/Fight-instinct in her?
Instantly upon hearing Flat-top ask about sobering up and potions; Kanchana realizing that she has nothing like that on hand, turns to "shock therapy" - she swats Flat-top on the back of his head! (just hard enough to shock him, not nearly hard enough to hurt in any significant manner!)
Next she "sizes up" the enemy. (knowl. nature 18, survival 29; trying to ID the creature types among the enemy - and hopefully any useful weaknesses or favored tactics that the enemy creatures might prefer (pack mentality et.al.))
Finally Kanchana casts BARKSKIN (4th lvl drd) on Solgrin. Kanchana would hate to have to visit with Gargul again this soon because she didn't take the proper steps to help protect Solgrin.
Gecktar (AC 22) Wednesday April 20th, 2005 4:00:44 PM
Gecktar quickly realizes that Amada is looking at the gate. He then turns to face the gate going near Flat-Top (E11). After that move he calls for the favors of Domi to help them in this fight.
(OOC: cast prayer 40ft radius, all allies gain +1 luck bonus to attack roll, damage, skill check and saves. Please Chosen remember to add this to your rolls. Enemies are given a -1 penalty to all these rolls, please DM remember to apply these penalties:)
Solgrin (AC18, HP26, Barkskin) d20+2=19 5d6(5+6+5+5+6)=27 Wednesday April 20th, 2005 7:31:50 PM
Solgrin shakes off the effects of the drink then quikly sees the trouble that the group is in and casts fireball (centered at Q10.)(DMG 27, REF vs DC17 for 13)
Death Reigns. (DM Jim) d20+10=27 d20+7=9 d20+7=22 d20+7=18 d20+7=18 d20+9=25 d20+9=20 Thursday April 21st, 2005 12:14:04 AM The Hamlet
Toros moves over to stand next to Flat-top and pulls out his bow, nocking an arrow as he goes. He lets it fly at the nearest werewolf, figuring them to be the bigger threat at present. His arrows glances off the things furry hide and appears to have done no damage at all.
Zeoll implores the good Amada to help the group out in their time of need, though he is not sure if his words are heard or understood. He moves back to the cauldron and calls back his crocodile. He was about to cast an entangle spell, but with the lack of close tangling stuff he knows that it would be a waste. *May hold for a different spell or make another action altogether. It will happen in the next round with your normal action.*
Flat-top seeks help to shake off the effects of the drink and seems to talk, through mind, to Solgrin's dragon. He then turns to Kanchana for some form of relief for his condition. Otherwise he holds his ground.
Rozca follows along with the idea and slaps her master in the face. Though it is not hard it maybe a distraction to his ability to cast a spell. Something the little dragon most likely did not think of.
Croc grumbles to himself as he backs off. This does not look like what he would call soft meat and he does not really like to have to work for his meals.
Kanchana slaps Flat-top in the back of the head to jar out the cobwebs, though it most likely will do no good. She then takes the time to study their opponents. She realizes that the worgs, as they are, are pack hunters and will most likely attack as one or maybe pairs. She also knows the werewolves for what they are and knows that they will be a different story as they have resistances to damage, unless it is silver. They are also know to have a killer frenzy that they can enter if stories are true. The last though is a complete mystery, it does appear to be a werewolf...but it is different somehow. Shaking her head she takes a step back and casts a simple spell upon Solgrin.
Gecktar is about to move over next to Flat-top when Toros beats him to it. So he moves over next to Toros instead and then casts a spell of his own. He silently hopes that it will be enough.
Solgrin takes the more direct approach and sends a fireball into the center of the charging group. He thinks a little too late about the hamlet that they are in and burning it down. What in this place could be flamable.
All four worgs charge right through the stunned hamleteers heading for the group at full speed. It is apparent that they will reach you in the next round and it will be on for good.
The werewolf to the right of the group also comes charging in, but slows long enough to brings claws swiping in at a small girl that is standing near the hut. Her little head swivels down to look at the mess of intestines that have just blossomed from her stomach. She did not even have the time to scream before the light left her eyes. The werewolf howls in glee as it licks the blood from it's claws.
The werewolf on the left side catches a small brown headed boy by the throat as he is running by. His jaws snap shut on the throat, effectively crushing it shut and most likely killing the boy instantly. He flings the boy's lifeless body around like a ragdoll before sending it flying into a man standing nearby.
The last werewolf comes straight up the middle of the hamlet. He howls in glee as he neatly rips the arm off of a guy and throws it to the side. His other hand shoots out to small into a young woman's chest, sending her flying back. The claws of that hand come back to the werewolf dripping blood and he howls again in pleasure.
The large werewolf has since disappeared in the confusion that is starting in the center of the hamlet. *Spot DC 16 to spot him right before he disappears behind the hut on the right.
With the sudden death being dealt out near the square, all havok breaks out. People are now running in all directions to get away. Some of them are in tears over those that have just been killed. One woman, the mother most likely, is holding the disemboweled body of her daughter. Most of the people are still trying to throw off the durg that they had just drank and are unaware of the danger around them. The eldest council member is yelling for the people to get into their huts and lock the doors...hide. The young man of the council is hollering for the guards to get things in order as he pulls the spear that had been near him out of the ground.
Amada seems to be torn right now and has her nose in the air as if smelling for something. It is unsure if she will even get into the fight at this point. After all even in her altered form she will most likely remember the unkind treatment that she was given.
The Hut
Brahmah calls for a retreat within the hut and hold them off there. He ducks back inside and takes up a point at the front door with weapons drawn.
Kale fires off an arrow at the nearest werewolf and then ducks back into the hut as well. He does take the time to yell at Leets to get inside the hut as well. His arrow embeds itself into the werewolf but he has a feeling that it did little damage.
Leets comes charging back to the hut as fast as four hooves will carry him. Once his is inside he looks to putting things in the way of the various openings in the hut. Glancing around he find that there are three big windows that one of those werecreatures could climb through and two smaller windows that they could maybe squeeze through. There is then the back door and the front door that he just entered. The only item of note that could be put in front of any openings is the single large heavy table. All the shelves are built into the hut walls.
Managarm pops into the hut about that time. He barks back out at the creatures with his own show of defiance. He is answered by the combined howls of all those outside.
Brahmah and any others near a window will notice that the worgs are now outside of the front of the hut. You can not see the other two werewolves as they are not at the front of the house, which does not bode well.
Kale/Brahmah/Leets - Werewolf AC 20
New Map Coming
Zeoll (AC18, HP46, Prayer, Inspire Courage, Produce Flame) d20+2=9 Thursday April 21st, 2005 2:27:47 AM
[OOC: Jim, thanks for the chance to redo my last turn since I am not casting Entangle!]
Last round: Zeoll uses his metamagic rod of extend and casts an extended Produce Flame. That's a full round action, so he does not move.
He ends his turn by hurling a produced flame at a wolf, making a ranged touch attack that hits AC 9, oh well.
This round: Zeoll steps back 40 feet to A9, figuring that standing behind the cauldron will give him some protection from a wolf charge. He sings an inspirational song, designed to lift spirits and inspire courage in his allies.
Produce Flame: 1 of 6 flames used. Inspire Courage: Gives all friends a +1 to hit and damage.
Brahmah Thursday April 21st, 2005 4:17:13 AM
The taur leader moves to the of the hut and bars the other door, if he can. He peers carefully around so not to run into any unwelcome guests. "Kale, watch the windows. Leets, we need silver and protection spells cast, now! Anti-evil might be good. Geez, what a time to be caught with our pants down!"
He thinks for a minute. "Pah'caw!" He shouts. Realizing she's nowhere near them, he swears. "*&$#!!! We could send her for help!" Not realizing the other are in the same situation.
Gecktar (AC22/24 hp57) Thursday April 21st, 2005 5:20:01 AM
Gecktar stays where he is for the moment waiting for the charge of the wolves. He calls one more time for the protection of Domi drawing a virtual circle around him.
OOC: cast Protection from evil
Active seplls: - Bull strength (48 rds) - Prayer (4 rds) - Protection from evil (50 rds)
Toros - OOC Thursday April 21st, 2005 5:21:57 AM
Dear GM, sorry for the misinterpretation but, when Toros mentioned about "dire wolves", he meant the worgs, not the were wolves. Could you please re-evaluate Toros`s post according to this, he should have shot at the nearest worg, not the were-wolf?!
Kale(Ac 22, Hps 66) d20+8=18 d8+3=4 Thursday April 21st, 2005 6:52:40 AM
"Leets! Cover the back door!" Kale yells to Leets as he moves to the window on Brahmah's left(L10). then he breaks the glass and shoots the nearest wolf with his bow(shot at warg in P10, hit AC 18 for 4 pts of damage)
Toros61/61 hp, AC 29 (+4 Mage Armor, +3 Defensive Fighting) d20=18 d8=2 d20=11 d20=17 d8=1 d4=3 d4=2 Thursday April 21st, 2005 7:27:25 AM
Since the large wolves do not slow down and continue with their charge Toros cannot determine the effectiveness of his shot from distance. He will drop his bow and move to E6, drawing his halbert.
"Flat-top, Gecktar lets meet the wolves on the front line, before they can reach others!"
Toros will ready his halbert against the charging wolf.
(In case of an AoO, also AC = 17, paw damage = 19)
Meanwhile he will watch the werewolf that seems to be the leader of the pack disappear behind the hut (spot, 22).
Toros-correction Thursday April 21st, 2005 7:32:37 AM
Sorry, please read Toros`s position, E6 as E8.
Flat-top(AC 22 85/85hp) d20+3=20 Thursday April 21st, 2005 10:25:55 AM
Flat-top shakes the dizzyness off, after the slap Kanesha just gave him, he does not want another, Go see to Sligum he's the weakest one here, and remind me not to get you mad at me. Wow That was KaBong! Sweet lips."
Flat-top takes his shield and sword will attack the closest one (worg) to him. (Witch is 30 feet away from him right now)
OOC: Con save 20
Paw'caw(ceil) Thursday April 21st, 2005 10:27:51 AM
Paw'caw sleep on. (After all It's night time.)
Leets Thursday April 21st, 2005 10:39:43 AM
"We'll have to do without silver and without any protection but our faith captain! Domi granted me useful ressources fora journey, but not for a battle today!"
"I'm at the backdoor, and be sure I'll have some anti-evil for those beasts' skulls!"
Shield in one hand and club in the other, Leets is ready for anything that would try to enter.
Managram(Ceil)(Ac 20 18/18hp) Thursday April 21st, 2005 10:55:25 AM
Managram will *Blink* Teleporting from one window to another, baarking warnings.
Roz(ceil)(Ac 20 28/28hp) Thursday April 21st, 2005 11:03:00 AM
Roz sits on Silgum shoulder, Looking over to Amada's direction, asking Sigum "Where did the Bear come From?"
Elder(ceil) Thursday April 21st, 2005 11:12:05 AM
The little weasel sleeps on.
Croc(ceil)(Ac 20 37/37hp) Thursday April 21st, 2005 11:16:57 AM
Now the croc figers that if he's to have that nice soft food, He better go to work.
Croc will advance some twenty or twenty-five feet, Showing his teeth and growling freacely, then backes up beside Zeoll again.
Solgrin (AC18, HP26, Barkskin) 3d4(4+2+2)+3=11 Friday April 22nd, 2005 4:34:27 AM
Solgrin casts magic missle into the worg (I10)(dmg 11)
Note. (DM Jim) Friday April 22nd, 2005 5:26:50 PM
Having to post between storms around here. So please hang with me.
Please not that I forgot to mention the fireball effect upon the worgs. They were all hurt to some extent by the fireball but none of them dropped and are still moving.
I also went back and reapplied Toro's arrow damage to one of the worgs as well. Still they are not dead.
Now for anyone that maybe wondering about the two werewolves that the Hut Group is facing. They have not disappeared but are not to be seen from the position that the group is in, from inside the hut. I figured that most of the group would be by the front windows and door. Maybe Leets would be trying to block a window or back door with a table. Just don't count them as being gone or anything, fear what you cannot see.
Ceil, go ahead and take over for Gilles.
The Terror Continues and a Song? (DM Jim) d20+10=28 d6+5=7 d20+10=23 d20+10=15 d6+5=6 d6+5=9 d20+14=20 d20+14=29 d6+4=9 d6+4=6 d20+16=27 d20+11=24 d8+5=6 d8+5=8 d20+16=21 d20+11=24 d8+5=10 d8+5=6 d20+14=29 d20+14=32 d6+10=11 d6+10=13 d20+10=23 d6+5=11 d20+14=22 Friday April 22nd, 2005 10:33:38 PM The Hamlet
Zeoll steps back to get protection from the cauldron. He starts to sing a song that will inspire his companions in this fight.
Gecktar makes ready for the attack as he casts a spell upon himself. This gives him protection from evil and most likely will ward off the creatures they fight now.
Toros moves forward, droping his bow as he moves, and draws his halberd to meet the charge of the worgs. He calls for Flat-top and Gecktar to follow him so that the others can prepare another attack.
Flat-top does not make any move forward but does draw his weapons. He is all prepared to meet the worgs as they get within range.
Croc advances to show his bravado, but then backs up to stand by Zeoll again.
Solgrin casts a simple spell this time at a worg. Missiles streak out to smack into the wolf.
A worg rushes forward totally unprepared for the halberd that is at the ready and neatly impales itself upon it. It flops on the head of the weapon, dying as it's blood stains the ground.
Another worg circles around and snaps at him from the side as Toros deals with the first worg, that dies (hit: 28 and damage: 7).
Two worgs charge in at Flat-top at the same time and he finds that he is defending against a pair of snapping jaws that seek his life (hit: 23/15 and damage: 6/9).
The werewolf to the left runs right on by Toros and seems to be heading for Zeoll and his crocodile.
The werewolf on the right seems to sense that it cannot get at Gecktar and makes a mistake as it tries to circle around him, it runs right into Amada or the werebear Amada.
The last werewolf goes straight up the middle and Kanchana finds herself face to face with the hairy brute. It's claws come slashing in at her with a wild savagness that is mind-numbing (hit: 20/29 and damage: 9/6).
The larger werewolf comes out from the side of the hut but takes stock of the situation. It seems to be gauging who is the biggest threat and who would be worthy of his time.
From out of nowhere Toros finds a pair of crossbow bolts flying in his direction (hit: 27/24 and damage: 6/8). Looking around he may spot a form upon the roof of the light blue hut *Spot DC 16:Toros is also flat-footed*.
Gecktar finds himself peppered by a pair of bolts but he does not notice a shooter right away (hit: 21/24 and damage: 10/6). If he looks for awhile he may spot the archer upon the roof of the light green house *Spot DC 16:Gecktar is flat-footed*.
Shortly you notice a large rat like form come slinking out from behind the light green hut as well. In it's hand is a rapier that it seems all to comfortable with.
Amada tears into the werewolf that got too close to her. Both claws lay into the poor creature as it stumbles back some under the serious attack.
The Hut
Brahmah starts to put the table in front of the backdoor and soon has it blocked. He calls for any protection that Leets can get for them as he makes ready for the attack, near the front door.
Kale calls for Leets to cover the back door but with it blocked, will it be that important at this time. He shoots an arrow out the front window to the side of Brahmah. The window is already open and the shutters swing outwards, with no glass to speak of. His arrow is off target by a little, narrowly missing the worg.
Leets shakes his head and lets Kale and Brahmah know that he has no silber or protection persay for this battle. He will be able to lay a little anti-evil upon them when they get close though.
Managarm blinks from one window to another, barking with each blink.
Two worgs move towards the front door. The first one to get there sends it jaws snapping at Brahmah who is barring it's entrance to the hut (hit: 23 and damage: 11). The other one stands right outside and paces as it waits for it's turn to get into the fight.
The worg to the left takes a charging leap and makes it through the small window. It rolls to its feet and glares upon those that are inside the hut.
The worg on the right also takes a charging leap at the other window and right into the form of Kale. It's full weight plows into the poor taur who fights to hold his ground and not let it in *Str DC 22 to keep it outside*.
There is still no sign of either of the werewolves that you saw earlier and that has a tendency to worry some of you.
In the sky the night is suddenly plunged further into the shadows as both moons converge and the exlipse is revealed. Faintly in the air you all catch the sense of a song being sung. It is a charming melody to speaks of hope and peace to come in the Wold. It is as if a million different beings are singing it from all over the Wold, but it is so faint you cannot make out what is exactly sung.
Sorry, know that eclipses usually happen in the day...but it was night for this battle and I could not see a way to advance the day without problems. :)
Brahmah d20+7=21 d20+8=25 d20+15=35 d20+15=34 2d4(2+3)+7=12 2d4(4+1)+7=12 Friday April 22nd, 2005 11:23:33 PM
(OOC: A lunar eclipse happens when the earthly body, in this case the Wold, passes inbetween the moon and the sun, casting its (the Wolds) shadow upon the moon.)
Brahmah swears loudly at the advancing worgs, but is happy not to see a lycanthrope as of yet.
He swings(standard action) at one of the worgs once with his falchion so that he can move in a moment. (AC 35(crit 34) for 24 damage) He cleaves the beast with a mighty strike. If he's able, he'll move to his next task(move action).
Realizing the lack of a werewolf so far is bad, Brahmah listens(Listen 21) at the roof and moves to block the chimney by starting a fire. (ONLY IF THERE IS ONE A CHIMNEY!) Otherwise, moves to the backdoor and looks out(Spot 25) the window, reaching out to close the shudders.
"The worgs are just a distraction. Watch the entrances! Barricade them. Close the shudders." He says as he flicks the worg blood off his sword.
Toros61/61 hp, AC 29 (+4 Mage Armor, +3 Defensive Fighting) d20=1 d20=5 d20=15 d20=18 d4=1 d4=1 d6=6 d6=1 Friday April 22nd, 2005 11:48:40 PM
Toros's readied halbert finishes off one of the charging worgs. However, while he deals with it another worg circles around and snaps at the Liontaur. Thanks to Gecktar's Prayer, Toros manages to dodge the attack, even if he can not respond to it.
Meanwhile, werewolves join the battle. One of them goes straight up the middle of Flat-top and Toros to attack Kanchana. However, Toros cannot do anything, as he still tries to get rid of the dead worg from his halbert.
(I think AoO rises for Toros and Flat-top from the move of the werewolf, but unfortunately I rolled a natural 1 for Toros. On the other hand)
Then suddenly, two bolts fly from nowhere to Toros's direction. His warrior senses help him to dodge these attacks as well, although he cannot spot their shooter.
(Toros has Barbarian Uncanny Dodge and does not lose his Dexterity Bonus even when Flat-footed. However, spot check is 10 < 16, DC)
Encountering the first wave of the wolf attack, now it is Chosen's turn to act...
Toros will activate his Tattoo. The wolves around Toros will suddenly see an enlarging lion-taur, as if he is already not large enough! During the process of his shape-change, using his bardic performance skills Toros will give a great show, aimed to remind the wolves who is superior. His huge sharp paws and bass frightening roar hopefully will make them shaken from the hearth.
(I am trying here to benefit from the effect of Enlargement, Toros's standart action, also to cause Fear affect, supported by bardic performance (performance, 15+5, 20). It is not a standart Intimidate action, but the accumulated intimidation bonuses come with the Enlargement of a Large Liontaur Barbarian provide a context for such an attempt, I hope)
Positioning himself in D8, Toros roar one more time and point out the wolves with his finger to come to him.
"Come little things, come!!"
(In case AoO, AC=22, Paw Damage= 28, Please ignore d4s)
OOC: I forgot to include the statistics of the newly-purchased Buckler until now!
Dear DM,
Are the werewolves medium or large creatures? And what is the reach and foot step of a huge creature with respect to the squares of the map we are using?
Awakening Saturday April 23rd, 2005 2:57:11 AM The Wold stirs....
A breeze springs up, seemingly from out of nowhere. On the Sargass Plains, the unending grasses begin to move and toss, and the rapkes pace, restless and uneasy. In the Windbourne Hills, horses whinny and break into a run for no reason. In the tunnels beneath Dirt City, sewer rats begin to flee their hiding places, running into well-traveled corridors while the people wonder what it all could mean. And in the Emerald Kingdom, the anticipation is very nearly palpable as the animals awaken and the trees stir in the wind.
Something is coming.
The Wold seems to hold its collective breath as the Sleeper stretches, turns, sighs...and awakens. Eyes the color of the sea blink and focus as the Sleeper regards the Wold around him. The expanse of New Elanna, the great bulk of Shadow Mountain, the mysteries of the Southern Continent, even the wonder that is Floating City--all of these are known to the Sleeper in a heartbeat. A frown of concentration crosses his face, then a satisfied smile as he begins to know what must be done.
The Sleeper takes a breath and stretches out his hand...
Flat-top (AC 22 70/85hp) d20+15=31 d20+15=26 d20+15=32 d8+9=16 d4+6=8 d4+6=8 Saturday April 23rd, 2005 8:19:26 AM
OOC: Now I'm getting Bad storms, and have to hurry to post, I know you'll understand DM Jim, these storms will not end untill Monday.
Flat-top move his fist and hit his Right shoulder, the tattoo of Protection from Evil on himself.
He swings his sword (A cross attack). Then hit the worg with is hooves (Hoves attack are a natural attact).
OCC: I don't think Flat-top can move in this round.
Gecktar(ceil)AC 24/22 51/57hp d20+6=25 d6+4=8 d6+4=9 Saturday April 23rd, 2005 8:59:04 AM
Gecktar is taken back by that archer, He call again we have to close rank, we also have to do something about that archer. I wonder what's that music is all about?"
But He will take out his Silver Knife (+1)and attact the worg (in F11) Attack Ac 25 critical Damages 8+9= 17 hp.
Spells
Bullstrenth 48 rounds
Prayer 4 rounds
Protection from Evil
Kale(Ac 22, Hps 66) d20+8=14 d20+8=27 Saturday April 23rd, 2005 10:06:48 AM
Just barely able to push the wolf back outside(str check of 27 on a hero point re-roll), Kale locks the window back up, then turns to face the wolf already inside the hutt.
Gecktar (precision) Saturday April 23rd, 2005 1:16:25 PM
OOC : Last post before leaving you for the week. Gecktar has +3 str bonus + prayer 1 luck bonus + bull strength additional +2 bonus for a total of +6 to hit and damage. So the damage should be 21 instead of 17.
Thank you dear Ceil for taking care of Gecktar ;)
Kanchana (29/44 HP, 19 AC) d20+5=21 d20+5=7 d6+2=6 Saturday April 23rd, 2005 4:56:43 PM
((I am very sorry for missing posts. I didn't realize that the training period at the elderly center would drain me so badly. I barely get home without falling asleep at the wheel while driving! I will do my best to keep up with posting now that my first strenuous week is finally over.))
The attack is far from mind numbing, predictable certainly...
Having little else she can do in such short notice Kanchana lays into the blasted werewolf with her own claw attacks. She misses once. The first attack must surely have connected with the creature (hit AC 21, dmg 6). She doesn't expect to wound the far too powerful creature though. Perhaps she will be facing Gargul before the night is over?
After attacking she takes a 5ft step back.
Kanchana herself is of course leaving a rather heavy blood trail from the long, ragged tears in her hide. If she had the luxury of time she might be experiencing a "life in review scene" soon enough? One more attack like the one she just suffered through and Gargul will be having "the Back again so soon?" chat with her...
Kanchana addendum Saturday April 23rd, 2005 5:06:58 PM
((I forgot to add the +1's from Gecktar's Bless.))
The one claw attack will hit AC 22 and do a paltry 7 whopping points of damage! The second attack will probably still miss... hitting only an AC of 8.
P.S. James it looks like you forgot to subtract -1 from your critters' to hit AC rolls and damage rolls; nevermind any saves they may or may not need to make. If I have read the rolls correctly then the stats for the hits on Kanchana should read: hit: 19/28 and damage: 8/5, and not: hit: 20/29 and damage: 9/6...
((Here is a copy of the post with the relevant information: "Gecktar (AC 22) Wednesday April 20th, 2005 3:00:44 PM Gecktar quickly realizes that Amada is looking at the gate. He then turns to face the gate going near Flat-Top (E11). After that move he calls for the favors of Domi to help them in this fight.
(OOC: cast prayer 40ft radius, all allies gain +1 luck bonus to attack roll, damage, skill check and saves. Please Chosen remember to add this to your rolls. Enemies are given a -1 penalty to all these rolls, please DM remember to apply these penalties:)
Cayzle OOC Saturday April 23rd, 2005 10:31:57 PM
Remember the +1 from Zeoll's Inspire Courage!
Solgrin (AC18, HP26, Barkskin) 5d4(2+4+2+2+4)=14 d20+9=20 Sunday April 24th, 2005 1:09:47 AM
Solgrin takes a 5-foot step back then casts burning hands (dmg 14, REF save vs DC 15 for half dmg) on the werewolf attacking Kanchana.
Toros - OOC Sunday April 24th, 2005 3:14:53 AM
Dear GM,
This weekend, fullmoon is on the sky!!
Could you please let us know what the NPCs other than Amada are doing? Are they in a position to be able to help the Chosen and the town people, or just watching the happenings with mixed feelings...
Also its name is stated, but I cannot see the "Cerberus", on the map.
One other thing I would like to tell is about the possible consequences of Toros's actions: He aims not only to frighten the wolves, but also take their attention. Hopefully, as a result, for the moment they would see him as the biggest threat to fear and, although frightened, choose to attack him instead of Kanchana and Zeoll.
Finally, one question: Could you please tell whether the shooters have Precise Shot feature?
Thanks a lot!
Zeoll (AC18, HP46, Prayer, Inspire Courage, Produce Flame, Flaming Sphere) 2d6(3+2)=5 Sunday April 24th, 2005 11:23:00 PM
Zeoll touches his Rod of Metamagic and casts an Extended Flaming Sphere. He causes the sphere to land right on the canine most threatening to him (Reflex Save 15 for 5 or no damage)
========== Produce Flame -- 1 of 6 flames used Inspire Courage -- 1 of 5 rounds used Flaming Sphere -- 1 of 6 rounds used
Leets Monday April 25th, 2005 10:20:57 AM
Ready for the battle, Leets feels really frustrated. His friends would need his help, but he must guard this rear door! The werewolves haven't appeared yet, and those beasts are intelligent enough to behave fouly!
Although he hesitates, Leets follows Brahmah's orders, and guards the back door.
Flat-top (AC22 70/85hp) d20+15=34 d20+15=28 d8+5=13 d8+5=11 d20+14=30 d20+14=22 d4+5=8 d4+5=7 Monday April 25th, 2005 5:16:17 PM
Now Flat-top cannot move because if he does, Kanchana will be open for an attack. So he will ask Gecktar, "Friend Gecktar! move next to me, so we both can fight better!".
Will swing at the wolf (bothering Kanchana), swing with his long sword (critical hit), then hitting the wolf with his Hooves.
OOC I'm using the last week's map.
Long Sword attack AC 34 & 28 critical hit) - Damages 13+7=20hp. Hooves attack AC 30 &22 - Damages 8 & 7 (hopfully)
Gecktar(ceil) (AC22 57/59) d20+6=24 d20+6=19 d6+6=12 d6+6=8 Monday April 25th, 2005 5:28:18 PM
Gecktar not wanting to leave Amada to the wolves will attack Wolf at F11, What he does next will depend on Amada.
Toros uses one of his tattoos and his form grows. He postures to all those nearby trying to strike some fear into them. He then taunts the wolves to come to him and meet his steel.
Flat-top swings his sword and then brings his hooves crashing into the worg in front of him. It neatly drops with the sudden barrage of damage.
Gecktar pulls out his dagger and stabs it into the worg near him. The dagger makes a nice little punture wound in the things body. Still it stands for the fight.
Kanchana rears up and brings her claws to bear upon the werewolf. Her one claws hit and leaves a nice set of bleeding claw wounds, but they start to close before her eyes to leave...unmarked flesh. She then moves back to stay away from the brute and avoid any other wounding.
Solgrin brings forth flames from his hands to burn the werewolf with. The flames lick over the creatures body and you smell burnt hair in the air.
Zeoll casts a spell of his own with his new rod to enhance it. The ball of flame drops right on the head of the werewolf.
Dead Worg.
Another worg circles around and snaps at him from the side as Toros deals with the first worg, that dies (hit: 13 and damage: 6).
One worg drops under the attacks of Flat-top. The other worg circles around so that it is behind Gecktar and Amada.
The werewolf on the left rushes at the now enlarged Toros with all the ferocity of it's kind using teeth and claws (hit: 37/30/26 and damage: 11/7/10). The flaming sphere seems to have been a momentary distraction and did little to no damage.
The werewolf on the right follows along with the worg and moves around behind Gecktar.
The last werewolf seems to be more interested in just tearing into something than anything. It tears into the enlarged Toros, teeth and claws leading (hit: 26/21/34 and damage: 11/9/10). It is singed by the flame but does not seem to have suffered any long term effects.
The larger werewolf charges at Amada with a ferocious snarl. At the last minute it brings a large sword tearing in from the right at her (hit: 38 and damage: 16).
Toros finds another set of bolts shot at him from the roof of the hut (hit: 38(crit21)/28 and damage: 12/11). *Spot DC 16 to notice a wererat on the roof*.
Gecktar is fired upon from the roof as well, a pair of bolts screaming in at him (hit: 30/32 and damage: 15/8). *Spot DC 16 to notice the wererat there:Gecktar is flat-footed*.
The wererat is quick to get in near Toros and his rapier leads the way as he tries to stick him (hit: 18/24 and damage: 7/5).
Amada tears back into the leader of this group with her own viscious claws. Her teeth bite into exposed flesh and mauls the arm of the Wolf Lord.
The council has all it can handle in dealing with the dead and dying hamlet members that lay about. They are also trying to direct what few people are outside to safety. It is not an organized little party for them either.
You hear a high pitched howl that is one of rage and hate come from the center building. From out of it's door comes the cerberus at full speed. It seems intent upon one target and one target only...the Wolf Lord. You notice that there is a more wild look to the beast now and it seems to be in a full rage.
The Hut
Brahmah tears into the worg that is at the door trying to get in. His weapon cuts a nice gash into the side of the worg. He listens for sounds of the werewolves and hears nothing on the roof and the small chimney would be hard for anything to climb down. He would have moved but figures that leaving an opening that the living worgs can come through would be a bad idea.
Kale is able to push the worg back out the window, before it can get in. He then locks the window in the hut and turns to face the worg that has gotten in.
Leets wonders why he is guarding a backdoor that has a large table in front of it, but that was his captain's orders so he stays at his post. He listens for the werewolves but hears nothing.
The worg at the door takes the blow by Brahmah and tears back into him for his trouble (hit: 28 and damage: 10). The other worg continues to pace for a few and then throws itself over the top of it's partner to slam into Brahmah *Str DC 28 to keep it outside*.
The worg that just got into the hut turns and attacks Leets as he stands at the backdoor (hit: 30 and damage: 11).
The worg that had tried to charge through the window finds himself laying on the ground. It jumps back up and shakes itself off as it growls in anger.
A werewolf crawls through the left large window and smiles with drawn back lips. His teeth gleam in the small light that illuminates the hut.
From the right window flies a pair of bolts at Leets (hit: 21/18 and damage: 22/6) *Spot DC 16 to notice the wererat at the window:Leets is flat-footed*.
There is still one werewolf unaccounted for that you know of and had seen outside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The werewolves are medium creatures, so are the worgs as well, the wererats are also medium, but the Wolf Lord is a large creature.
A huge creature will take up more room. Most likely a twenty foot area for a huge creature. Not looking it up as I am not that anal.
I have been doing the minuses from the very beginning of the battle. After all, it was almost the first spell cast at the time.
Toros - Would any archer not have the precise shot feat. :)
Yeah, no post yesterday. Had some spotty internet abilities yesterday and all. Plus I went to the dentist to have him look at a tooth. Yipee...I get to have one pulled.
Toros 37/61 hp, AC 29 (+4 Mage Armor, +3 Defensive Fighting), Enlarged-9 rounds d8=4 d8=8 d20=1 d20=14 d20=20 Tuesday April 26th, 2005 6:10:17 PM
(Bless you for the tooth, Jim!!)
The worg that tries to circle Toros comes too close and faces the claws of the Liontaur.
(Dear GM, I think the move of the worg provokes an AoO, and could you please take into account the rolls in Toros's previous turn: AC=22, Paw Damage ahould be 23?)
Not sure whether he made them frightened or not Toros manages to take the attention of all the surrounding were-things. Although he does dodge most of the attacks (eleven in total), the remaining ones (four of them) are enough him to give serious damage (40 hps).
For certain, his enlarged body cannot play any longer his role to pose a big threat to the were-things, and takes one little(!) 10ft step back to the cauldron, letting Toros's hands to drop his halbert and draw his whip.
Standing there (C8) Toros reaches his handy potion (the last CMW potion that Mikhal has given him) and drinks it. (8+4 + 4?, 16hp gain)
Since the were-things require all his attention Toros is almost blinded, and yet too busy to spot the bolt shooter (spot, *natural 1*).
Getting ready for their next attack, in common Toros will continue to taunt the were-things. Meanwhile, in tauric he will ask the help of other Chosen, as he may not stand one more assault like that!
As the were-things pursue their attacks, Toros will look for an opportunity to use his whip on the first moving one to make a trip attack. (With Toros's reach, AoO should rise with the move of were-things, AC, melee touch = 19, strength check = *natural 20* + 13 = 33)
Kale(Ac 22, Hps 66) d20+12=32 d20+12=31 d8+5=10 d8+5=9 4d6(4+5+6+5)=20 4d6(2+3+4+5)=14 Tuesday April 26th, 2005 9:06:29 PM
seeing the hutt fill with wolves, Kale moves behind the worg that attacked Leets and stabbs at its back(flanking with Leets therefore its a sneak attack, hit ac 32 - possible critical with a hit of ac 31, 10 normal damage plus 20 sneak attack damage, then 9 damage for the critical hit for a total of 39 damage. i dont know if i get my sneak attack bonus for the critical hit, but if i do add 14 more damage to the total). feeling sure of himself that he's hurt the wolf bad, Kale turns around to look at the werewolf in the hutt. "Come and get me!" he yells to the monster, hoping to distract the werewolf from attacking Brahmah.
Brahmah (73 of 83 hps) d20+13=28 d20+13=30 d20+8=16 2d4(3+1)+7=11 2d4(2+1)+7=10 2d4(1+2)+7=10 Tuesday April 26th, 2005 9:13:07 PM
The minotaur doesn't bother trying to bar the door; it would be nearly impossible.
So, backing up slightly, he strikes out with his falchion again. (AC 28(crit 30) and 16 for 21 crit and 10 damage)(standard action) Then with a swift movement he draws his kukri.(move action)
Looking at the werewolf, Brahmah swears mentally. "Leets!"
There was another one somewhere, but where?!
He swears mentally again. "Too bad my Catacombs order was late!" He thought.
Kanchana (39/44 HP, 19 AC) d8+2=10 d20+5=19 d20+12=28 Tuesday April 26th, 2005 10:01:36 PM
((I haven't seen the most current map, but I will try this move anyway.))
Kanchana steps sideways so she is behind Solgrin and Flat-top(?). She takes out one of the healing wands and taps herself with it. Now she devotes most of her attention to trying to keep the Chosen alive; and as healed as possible!?
"Thank you Solgrin and Flat-top," Kanchana speaks a hasty thank you to her rescuers.
(Heal self 10HP).
(Spot 19 (looking for any immediate threats to the Chosen; i.e. anything that isn't already uner the Chosens' noses! Also looking for any serious injuries on the Chosen.) Heal 28).
Toros - mee too!! Tuesday April 26th, 2005 11:46:51 PM
Strength check result is 34 (*natural 20* +14)
Flat-top(AC 22 70/85hp) d20+15=32 d8+5=11 d20+14=25 d20+5=20 d4+5=7 d4+5=7 Wednesday April 27th, 2005 10:50:09 AM
Flat-top Tell her, "Kitten! Just keep us alive! and I'll buy you some katnip, OK?"
will now attack the wolf (that was going after Kanchana) he swing his sword, hit the wolf and while the wolf is dizzy. He will use his speical hoove's knuckles.
Sword attack AC 32 - Damages 11 hp. Hooves attack Ac 25 & ac 20 - damages 7+7=14
Gecktar (AC 22 - 51/57 hp) d20+6=25 2d8(6+3)+6=15 2d8(6+4)+6=16 Wednesday April 27th, 2005 11:15:37 AM
Gedktar will charge the Worg(at F/11), He critcally Gore the animal.
Attack (Two horns) Ac25 critical hit - Damages 15+16= 26hp.
Managram(ceil) d20+8=26 d6+4=8 Wednesday April 27th, 2005 11:46:31 AM
Managram will attack the worg(F6) *Blink* and ~Poff~ he bites the worg (Ac 26 - damages 8hp) *Blinks* again. He will reapear (at J/5) ~Poof~ He barks at the Wolf at the window.
Rozca(ceil) Wednesday April 27th, 2005 11:50:20 AM
Rozca ask Solgrim " Master! Can I have fun too? Can I play with the dogs?" She starts to beat her wings, to get readu to fly.
Croc(ceil) d20+8=28 d8+7=10 d8+7=10 Wednesday April 27th, 2005 11:57:33 AM
Croc is none too happy at this growling and snapping dog, so he bites the Wolf(B/7) and it's a critical bite (attack bite Ac 28 critical - Damages 10+10=20 hp.)
Confusious say: Don't spit in a open mouth of a Croc.
Leets d20+11=20 d20+6=21 d6+7=12 d6+7=11 Wednesday April 27th, 2005 12:09:25 PM
Clenching his teeth, Leets turns on himself, and gathers the holy power of Domi in his fist as he strikes the Worg with his club (Smite evil, attacks 20 and 21, damage 12 and 11).
Zeoll (AC18, HP46, Prayer, Inspire Courage, Produce Flame, Flaming Sphere) d20+4=15 d6+3=4 2d6(3+6)=9 Wednesday April 27th, 2005 3:50:55 PM
Zeoll uses a standard attack to toss a Produced Flame on the canine nearest himself -- Hits AC15 (ranged touch attack) for 4 hp fire damage. With his move action he directs his Flaming Sphere onto the same canine -- Reflex Save 15 for 9 or no damage.
[OOC: Prayer spell offers a "+1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls ..." Does that include spell damage rolls? I think not, so I have not included a +1 damage above. If I am wrong, please boost damages by one, above.]
========== Produce Flame -- 2 of 6 flames used Inspire Courage -- 2 of 5 rounds used Flaming Sphere -- 2 of 6 rounds used
Solgrin (AC18, HP26, Barkskin) 5d4(4+4+4+4+1)=17 Wednesday April 27th, 2005 5:43:18 PM
Solgrin takes another 5-foot step back away from the werewolves then lets loose with another burning hands spell directed at the same werewolf.(dmg 17, REF save vs DC 15 for half dmg)
Toros takes a step back towards the cauldron and drops his halbred to draw his whip. He then takes a potion and drinks it down. He still does not notice the shooter though he is aware of the attack.
Kanchana moves to the side of the cauldron and uses a healing wand to heal up herself. She takes the time to thank Solgrin and Flat-top for their assistance. She spots the wererat upon the roof of the house that is shooting at Gecktar and the one that is shooting at Toros. The Chosen that is wounded the worst is Toros that she notices right off.
Flat-top lets his kitten know that it is no big deal and that is she keeps them alive he will buy her katnip. He then brings his sword and hooves into the werewolf that is near him.
Gecktar turns and charges into the worg that has moved in behind him to get at those behind him. His horns are devastating and tears the thing open. It falls to the ground very much dead.
Rozca seeks guidance from her master to see if she should pitch in on this fight.
Croc moves forward and chomps down upon the worg that moves too close to him and his master. It neatly bites the head off the worg with one little snap of it's powerful jaws.
Zeoll drops a flame upon the werewolf that is facing off against Toros and then directs his flaming sphere against it as well. His flame leaves the werewolf smoking again and the scent of burnt hair is now stronger.
Solgrin gathers himself together and sends another burning hands into the werewolf that he had injured earlier. His flames lick over the beast and more burnt hair is added to the already choking scent in the air.
Four dead worgs.
The werewolf on the left rushes at the now enlarged Toros with all the ferocity of it's kind using teeth and claws (hit: 33/25/20 and damage: 9/10/10). It easily dodges the snaking whip as it seeks to strike and trip him up. The werewolf is once again pelted with a little ball of fire and then slammed into by another one, it howls in a murderous rage.
The werewolf that had circles comes after Kanchana and she soon finds herself meeting a pair of claws once again (hit: 29/22 and damage: 8/7).
This werewolf turns and tears into Flat-top who had just attacked him. It's teeth and claws trying to find soft exposed skin to rip and tear (hit: 25/21/26 and damage: 7/12/9). It is suddenly touched again by flames and howls in rage as it turns eyes to Solgrin.
The Wolf Lord brings it's large sword chopping into Amada three times in rapid succession with devastating effect (hit: 38/26/16 and damage: 10/16/10).
The wererat on the roof is having so much fun that it fires off another pair of bolts at Toros(hit: 29/30 and damage: 6/8). *Spot DC 16 to notice a wererat on the roof*.
The other wererat fires upon the turned back of Gecktar, two bolts traveling at his exposed back(hit: 21/15 and damage: 13/9). *Spot DC 16 to notice the wererat there*
The wererat sees and opening and heads for the wizard in the group of the Chosen. His rapier weaving a deadly pattern as it strikes, it then leans forward and bites at Solgrin (hit: 29/27/12 and damage: 5/6/5).
Amada continues her assault upon the Wolf Lord, but Kanchana can tell that she is also in big trouble. It is apparent to her healing skills that the werebear will fall before long.
The council has finally gotten it's act together and everyone is safe, well to a point. You then notice that the three head council members join hands and begin to chant in a low voice that gets louder. Soon it is a deafening roar that fills the sky with an electrical energy and the very air seems charged. A bolt of jagged lightning slams into the werewolf that is attacking Kanchana.
Belle-Mort-Laia has emerged from the hut earlier and continues it's charge towards the Wolf Lord. They slam into the Wolf Lord, all three heads biting and ripping hunks of flesh off.
The Hut
Kale moves to hit the worg that attacks Leets. His sword bites into the thing from behind and it goes down easily.
Brahmah's falchion slices into the airborne worg as it jumps at him. He backs up in time to get out of it's way but now it is inside the hut and still alive. He draws his kukri and prepares a better defense as he listens for the other werewolf.
Managarm blinks and tears into a falling corpse of the worg, but it makes him feel better.
Leets see the enemy go down and figures that his best bet is to engage the werewolf that just came in before it can do any damage to them. The werewolf withers under the holy attack of Domi.
The worg that had been first fighting Brahmah slips inside the hut behind it friend and heads for Managarm. It's teeth try to find purchase upon the poor friend of Leets (hit: 25 and damage: 11).
The flying worg lands though badly cut up by Brahmah as it made it's flight into the hut. It snaps at Brahmah tyring to force him back even further into the hut (hit: 23 and damage: 7).
Dead worg.
The worg has shaken off it's blow to the head from Kale earlier and slips inside the hut and growls at Brahmah.
A werewolf finds itself on the receiving end of some holy energy and it howls in pain. It turns it's attention to Leets and tears into him with teeth and claws (hit: 22/28/17 and damage: 9/8/5).
None has noticed the little ratface that peeks in through the window, but it does send another pair of bolts flying into the room at Kale (hit: 34/18 and damage: 23(7+16)/12) *Spot DC 16 to notice the wererat at the window*.
You can hear a growling at the backdoor of the hut and a loud bang upon the door. The heavy table shakes but does not move, then there is a louder thud as if something is throwing it's weight against the door. Still the table does not move and you all sigh, till you see the still open window in the back.
Kanchana (24/44 HP, 19 AC) d8+2=7 Thursday April 28th, 2005 12:14:04 AM
Once again Kanchana is leaving one heck of a bloody trail around her. She sees that the Chosen are faring rather badly, the werebear isn't her concern for the moment - eventhough Amada is a Taur.
"REGROUP CHOSEN! Beware the werecreature on the roof Toros!"
She cannot heal all of the Chosen at once and they are now spread too far apart. Shoddy tactics yet again. Kanchana takes another 5 ft step back.
She wishes that the villagers had had more sense and not panicked when the attack began.
If Solgrin is still within touching range Kanchana will heal him with a touch of the wand; there is no time for any mundane care.
(Heals Solgrin (if within touching range) or self if not: heals 7HP)
(James you must tell me who gets the benefit of the healing so that HP can be corrected.)
Brahmah (64 of 83 hps) d20+11=21 d20+12=15 d20+6=26 d20+7=22 d20+6=12 2d4(3+4)+7=14 2d4(3+1)+7=11 d6+4=6 d6+4=7 Thursday April 28th, 2005 4:04:58 AM
Brahmah needs to finish off the worg, so he attempts it. (AC 21, 15, 26(no crit) and 22 for 14, 6, 11 and 7 damage)[both weapons are magical] If he has to, he will split his attack if the worg falls.
"I bet you the others are sitting back to a quiet dinner with the druids!" He shouts to the others.
Gecktar (AC 22 55/57hp) d20+6=22 d6+4=10 Thursday April 28th, 2005 6:55:38 AM
Gecktar will now take his Silver knife and drive the knife deep into the body of the Were Wolf.( Attack Ac 22 - Damages 10hp )
He hears what Kanchana said about were cretures shoting arrows at them. "Solgum!" yells the Cleric, "Send Rozca to take care of those Were Archers. She's the only one that can fly at night!"
Flat-top (AC 22 54/85hp) d20+15=31 d20+11=31 d8+5=12 2d8(8+4)+10=22 Thursday April 28th, 2005 7:19:02 AM
Flat-top will attack the nearest WereWolf to himself. He will attack in a cross cut effect with his sword. (He does not want a Wolf attacking his under belly!)
Attack Ac 31 & Ac 31 (critical) - Damages 12+22=14hp.
Toros 34/61 hp, AC 29 (+4 Mage Armor, +3 Defensive Fighting, -1 Enlarged), Enlarged-8 rounds, Inspire Courage, Prayer d8=1 d8=8 d8=8 d20=18 d8=1 d20=17 d8=6 d20=4 Thursday April 28th, 2005 9:25:50 AM
If one wants, one can track Toros easily with the weapons he drops on the way, this time his whip being added to the list. Much to his surprise the werewolf is able to continue its brutal attack and one pair of bolts hit their targets on the Wemic. (Fighthing defensively, Toros drops his whip in order not to be tripped)
Toros steps back to the right side of the cauldron, moving to the side of Kanchana and Solgrin. During his move, he draws his scimitar.
Thanks to the potion from lotto, Toros still is able to survive without healing from other Chosen. (Drink CMW potion, thanks!! to the re-roll of 1, 20 hp regain)
Now, the enlarged Liontaur again waits the were-things's move in order to get an opportunity to attack. As Kanchana (and hopefully Solgrin) takes 5 step back, their opponents will have to move in order to pursue their attack, which would give Toros a good chance to get a pay-back for the Chosen. (Toros will use the 20ft reach of his scimitar for an AoO against either the wererat that has attacked Solgrin or the werewolf that has attacked Kanchana - depending on which one seems to be a bigger threat for the Chosens. If Toros cannot attack any of these were-things then he will look for the right opportunity to attack the werewolf that has been attacking him.)
AC= 24 (critical threat) Damage=11, AC=23 (critical confirmation) Additional Damage=16 total damage= 27 before damage reduction(assuming he can use two-hand to attack)
Meanwhile Toros hears Kanchana's warning about the were-thing on the roof, although he still cannot spot it clearly yet (spot=9 (4+5) < 16).
In the absence of Brahmah, Kale and Leets, together with Gecktar, Toros is doing his best to support Flat-Top and keep the were-things away from other Chosen. Meanwhile, Solgrin and Zeoll seem to be giving good damage to the were-things, and now the Council and Cerberus join the fight for revenge and the defense of Hamlet. Taking a second for break, the Liontaur cannot help but wonder what the Chosen at the Hut are doing.
Toros also notices Amada is close to the edge of falling. Not sure she will (be able to) listen to him, he will call in Tauric to the Were-bear Centaur "Amada, don't do something crazy, come here, we can heal you!!"
Toros- addendum d20=16 Thursday April 28th, 2005 9:33:58 AM
OOC: Do not have the map, but in case to see whether Toros's movement will create an AoO, I rolled a tumble check (16+6 =22 > 15, DC for Tumble at one-half speed as part of normal movement, provoking no attacks of opportunity while doing so.)
Kale(Ac 22, Hps 66/43) d20+9=21 d20+12=30 d8+5=6 4d6(1+3+3+6)=13 Thursday April 28th, 2005 10:05:55 AM
after getting hit by one of the bolts, Kale turns around and sees the little monster shooting him(spot check of 21), but decides to go over and help Leets with the werewolf, once again trying to stab at the back of his enemy(move into flanking position with Leets on the werewolf, gets sneak attack bonus and flanking bonus, hit AC 30 for 6 normal damage and 13 sneak attack damage for a total of 19 pts) then he yells to Brahmah and Leets "There's a rat with a bow over there!"
Zeoll (AC18, HP46, Prayer, Inspire Courage, Produce Flame, Flaming Sphere) 2d6(6+4)=10 d8+1=7 Thursday April 28th, 2005 4:57:52 PM
If any enemy is still in the same square as the Flaming Sphere, then it must make a reflex save vs DC15 for 10 or none.
Zeoll takes out a curing wand, moves five feet up to Kale, and touches him with it.
This is the wand that Brahmah used to carry. [OOC: Jay, what kind of curing was it? I'm assuming CLW until you say otherwise.] Kale is cured for 7.
Solgrin (AC18, HP22/26, Barkskin) Friday April 29th, 2005 3:28:23 AM
Feeling the two rapier strikes Solgrin yelps in pain, while the bite misses him. Solgrin smiles as Kanchana heals him of some of the damage then he casts Invisibility on himself while sharing it with Rozca.
Solgrin tells Rozca mentally "fly over and give the archers alittle sting for the Chosen my love but becareful."
Solgrin then moves back away from the wererat.
(OOC to Cayzle) Friday April 29th, 2005 5:02:51 AM
((Kale is at the hut Cayzle, Zeoll was in the fort wasn't he?))
((LOL Jay! Brahmah would love the party games the rest of the Chosen are having!)) ;)
Rozca (ceil) d20+4=23 d4+5=8 Friday April 29th, 2005 7:28:43 AM
Rozca smiles (if she can)Yes! Master!. She flies to where the archer or archers are, Still invisable and sting him (in a place where he cannot teach!)
If there's another archer there She'll get him next round. (remember this little girl IS Invisable! and proud of it.)
Attack ac23 - damages 8hp.
Managram (ceil) d20+8=25 d6+4=8 Friday April 29th, 2005 7:37:38 AM
Managram will go after anything that even put Leets in danger.
Attack (bite) Ac 25 - Damage 8hp.
Croc(ceil) Friday April 29th, 2005 7:39:55 AM
Croc will defend Zeoll by swishing his tail and growling.
Flat-top (AC 22 54/85hp) d20+15=29 d20+11=16 d8+5=12 d8+5=7 Friday April 29th, 2005 7:48:30 AM
Flat-top will attack the same wolf or any other that is in range of his sword. As he swing at his target. He yells at his enermy "Get off our healer! Poss Bucket!"
Attack AC 29/16 - Damages 12/7hp.
Gecktar (AC 24 51/57hp) d20+9=24 Friday April 29th, 2005 7:58:23 AM
Gecktar will try to get Amada to come with him, so they can protect and heal her properly. "Come with me, Amada! Let the Wolf Lord come to us, then we have a better chance to defeat him. Come with me, my Dear."
He still has his silver knife in hand. BUT will gore the Wolf Lord if he should come too chose to them.
Kanchana is hurt and bleeding but she is still able to dole out some healing. She taps Solgrin with her wand after moveing back five feet for protection. She calls for the Chosen to close up ranks so that healing and punishment can be dealt out in two and threes.
Gecktar slams his silver knife into the body of the werecreature and watches in satisfaction as the weapon has full effect upon it. He has Solgrin send his familiar after one of the archers on the houses.
Flat-top uses a cross slashing motion on the werewolf before near him not wanting to expose his belly to the thing. Both of his attacks strike true.
Toros falls into a full retreat once again as he drops yet another weapon. He moves beside the cauldron and chugs down another potion and feels the effects of healing. He then draws his scimitar and waits. He calls to Amada to join up with them for healing and to help out.
Zeoll had been thinking about Kale at this time when he pulls out his wand of curing. Though Kale is not there he moves over and heals up Kanchana instead as she seems to be in need of it.
Solgrin is struck by the rapier and it makes him yelp in pain. Still he backs off and then casts a spell, sharing it with his familiar. He asks her to go and give the little archer on the roof a little sting for him but to be careful.
Rozca flies up to the hut on the right and stings the little wererat that is positioned there. She then moves back out of the way to launch another attack.
Croc moves slightly to defend Zeoll, swishing his tail and growling loudly for all to hear.
Four dead worgs.
The werewolf on the left rushes looks directly at the posturing crocodile and moves in that direction. He attemps to rip into the poor thing with tooth and claws (hit: 29/19/28 and damage: 11/9/8). This time the ball of fire has no effect as the werewolf dodges past it with no effects.
The werewolf feels the bite of a silver weapon and turns upon Gecktar with a vengeance. His teeth and claws go to work upon the taur (hit: 26/28/34 and damage: 13/10/9).
This werewolf once again attacks Flat-top. It's teeth and claws trying to find soft exposed skin to rip and tear (hit: 24/17/29 and damage: 11/11/10).
The Wolf Lord turns it's attention to the cerberus as it comes out to attack him. The sword decends upon the things body in three rapid strokes (hit: 40/23/29 and damage: 16/16/17).
The wererat looks over the targets that remain on the field and picks one to shoot at. He fires off a pair of bolts at Flat-top who is closer than the rest (hit: 24/28 and damage: 11/11). *Spot DC 16 to notice a wererat on the roof*.
The wererat finds itself stung by the little flying dragon, but now she has a problem as she becomes visible. The wererat fires off a pair of bolts at the little dragon as it snarls (hit: 33/17 and damage: 7/6). *Spot DC 16 to notice the wererat there*
The wererat watches as the wizard goes invisible and shrugs his little rat shoulders as he turns to attack Toros, his rapier leads but he does follow it up with a viscious bite (hit: 30/18/29 and damage: 7/7/3).
Amada falls back with the sudden onslaught of the Wolf Lord. She had not been prepared for that level of an attack and she shakes it off.
The council continues its chant as it directs another lightning bolt into the werewolf by Croc. The bolt slams into the werewolf with some effect and gives the poor crocodile a jolt.
Belle-Mort-Laia seems to feel no effects from the sword at all. In it's frenzy it sees only one thing and can know only one thing. This is the one that killed it's companion and friend...it must die. All three sets of jaws snap into the Wolf Lord tearing off more flesh.
werewolf AC 18 wererat AC 20 worg AC 15
The Hut
Brahmah decides to make short work of the worg that is before him so that he can move on to more problematic enemies. His sword neatly cuts into the worg, dropping it to the ground lifeless.
Kale feels the bite of the bolt and turns to see the little ratface in the window of the hut. He decides that the werewolf already inside the hut is more danger than this little rat so he helps Leets with it. He does let Brahmah know about the rat in the window.
Managarm blinks over to attack the werewolf, biting into its legs with ferociety. It had attacked his master after all.
Leets is momentarily stunned by the sudden rumbling sound that he hears outside. He could have sworn that he just heard a loud, well bang and then the tremble of the ground.
The worg sets up a flank with the last other worg standing and attacks Brahmah from the other side (hit: 19 and damage: 7).
Two dead worgs.
The worg charges in at Brahmah, his teeth leading the way (hit: 13 and damage: 6).
A werewolf turns on Kale as he stabs into his back. Teeth and claws meet the rogue with a vengeance for the earlier attack (hit: 25/32/26 and damage: 6/7/13).
The wererat has been spotted by Kale and he points it out, but the rat is not worried. After all it is outside, so it turns it's crossbow at Brahmah and fires off two bolts at him (hit: 11/29 and damage: 11/18(6+12)) *Spot DC 16 to notice the wererat at the window:Brahmah is flat-footed*.
There is a sudden loud crash from the backdoor as it splinters and comes apart. The table is neatly thrown back out of the way with great force. From the opening walks in a werewolf that snarls in defiance at the small group.
[i]werewolf AC 20 worf AC 15
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Zeoll - Applied your healing to Kanchana as she is the nearest in need.
Kanchana - Applied your healing to Solgrin. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry for no post yesterday, but with this combat I am wanting almost all of you posting. As you can see this is not an easy one. :)
Kale(Ac 22, Hps 66/17) d20+12=25 d8+5=13 4d6(4+3+2+4)=13 Friday April 29th, 2005 4:11:27 PM
bleeding from the arrow and the claws of the werewolf, Kale will continue to attack the werewolf(flanking attack, hit AC25 for 13 pts of damage and 13 pts of sneak attack damage for a total of 26 damage) then Kale will take a 5ft step back and prey that that was enough to take down the 1st werewolf.
Brahmah (<64 of 83 hps) d20+7=15 d20+15=18 d20+10=13 Friday April 29th, 2005 5:19:13 PM
(OOC: I would like a map for the next round please. :))
(Spot 15, missed check... as to the damage he takes, I'm unclear on what AC you hit. Brahmah's flat-footed AC is 21)
Brahmah sees Kale is in trouble with the werewolf and moves to a flanking position with Kale. Brahmah strikes at the were wolf with his Falchion, missing twice but giving Kale the advantage.
In tauric, Brahmah says to Kale, "If we can capture one of these beasts, we'd have proof she's innocent."
Brahmah (additional) Friday April 29th, 2005 6:05:50 PM
Also speaking tauric. "Leets, send Managarm for help!"
Toros - OOC Saturday April 30th, 2005 9:37:58 AM
Thanks for the map, Jim.
Would it be also possible for you to list the HPs of Chosen according to your records? I am a bit worried that there could be some discrepancy with ours, and I want to make sure the health condition of Chosen, as this has become a fight for life. :-)
Also, how many turns would you allow one Chosen to leave hamlet and reach the hut? Kup had mentioned about a 19 minutes. With "fly" and "haste" how would it be?
And one last little thing.., there were four guardsmen, Horatio and others... Are they all dead? I remember you were talking about one "who was reaching his spear..." :-b
Zeoll (AC18, HP46, Prayer, Inspire Courage, Produce Flame, Flaming Sphere) 2d6(3+4)=7 Saturday April 30th, 2005 1:03:52 PM
Zeoll directs the flaming sphere onto the werewolf again (reflex 15 for 7 or no damage). Then he casts Tasha's Hideous Laughter on the Wolf Lord (will 16 or takes no actions for two rounds).
(How much damage has croc taken?)
(People, remember your Inspire Courage and Prayer bonuses! Jim, are the enemies taking the -1 penalty on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks from the Prayer?)
==========
Produce Flame -- 2 of 6 flames used Inspire Courage -- 4 of 5 rounds used Flaming Sphere -- 4 of 6 rounds used Hideous Laughter (if it works) -- 1 of 2 rounds used
Bard slots unused: 3 of 3 Level 0 spells; Difficulty Class 15 1 of 2 Level 1 spells; Difficulty Class 16
5 goodberries from earlier.
Charges used from CLW wand: 1.
Zeoll Again Saturday April 30th, 2005 1:22:22 PM
[OOC: Sorry! Hideous Laughter has a range of only 30 feet for Zeoll. He will target the Wererat fighting Toros.]
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