Tishe' and Snout Wednesday January 11th, 2006 1:59:49 AM
Standing dumbfounded at the revelations, Tishe' can only look on in silent wonder. Her mouth gapes open in continued surprise and brown eyes are wide at the spell power, the determination, and the knowledge of a new land are all before her. Her mouth moving before her mind, she blurts out "I will be ready to answer to help free your land."
Stripes and Wart have a different impression and want nothing to do with the woman vampire, her magic, or the new land, thank-you-very-much. They stay well away.
Trellus Wednesday January 11th, 2006 10:20:01 AM
Trellus shoots Tishe a look. He's not about to make any such promise, and he fervently hopes the rest of his friends aren't as impetuous as the Hook City native. The faster this dude steps on back into Koshe Marr or wherever, the better.
And while he might need a vampire's help in the future, he sure can't think of any reason why.
"We'll think about it," he answers cautiously, while adding mentally, Now go on, for Domi's sake.
Anuk Wednesday January 11th, 2006 1:19:46 PM
"Ah...animal blood...I see..," replies the ranger. Yuck. he thinks to himself. After a moment's pause he asks, "Ma'am...what sort of help can you offer us here when you're in your homeland? I mean, we've never really worked with one of your...uh...with someone like you. I guess I don't really understand what you're offering us, here."
Jake Wednesday January 11th, 2006 4:45:49 PM
Vampire. To a native plainsboy, that's even more unrealistic than dragons or snow. I mean, the sun's out, that's when you do stuff. Where do you get shade to get protection? And then there's the feeding on the blood...wouldn't water be better? But most of blood is water, so... Jake puzzles it out, and sees the woman as a weird sorta night-time bug pretending to be human. But what's up with all that stake business? He wonders if a blade of grass coudl do the same... What about silver? Geez. This vampire thing just wouldn't work out in the Plains. And looking at the woman, he has to wonder one last question... "Er, miss, was wondering one thing. Were you this beautiful in your life? I mean, or does vampire things...change people, make them more, well, attractive?" Jake's voice is filled with admiration and revulsion at the same time.
Grymash d20-2=7 d20-2=5 d20+2=5 Wednesday January 11th, 2006 8:34:01 PM
Grymash takes the gem from Elenea and tries to listen to every word. The details are quickly lost to him (Intell 7) but the gist of her message sinks in. His big fingers slowly close around the gem while she casts her spell. All he can do is stare and wonder if he had made the right decision and just let her go. If this were any other walking dead, the barbarian cleric would have destroyed them. But letting her go seemed like the right idea. He wonders what Gargul thinks and if he will be punished for his actions.
It isnt until she is gone when he opens his hand and looks into the shiny stone. What secret, if any, does it hold?
(Search 5, Spot 5)
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended) Wednesday January 11th, 2006 10:02:14 PM
Ulgren whispers, "Koshe Marr," to himself and continues watching the vampire, watching her every move and doing his best to watch her spell hand movements and words.
Gilan and Ciaran Wednesday January 11th, 2006 10:39:32 PM
Gilan listens as the woman talks and shakes his head. Well at least they have a choice with helping her...not that they have always had a choice with the beaters in Rattledam. "Well at least she is not like all the beaters in town...you do this because I say so." He does not really care that he has spoken out loud knowing that at least most of the pack will agree.
Turning to Trel he lays a hand upon the shoulder of the cleric and gives it a squeeze. "Think we did the right thing?" His eyes take in the opening of the door and he shudders at the power. "Did we have a choice but to let her go." He moves over to stand near Gry and lays a hand upon the big warriors arm. "Doubts big guy...I have a feeling that she would choose to walk into the light if her mission was not important." Despite her unnatural nature he cannot feel that she is filling some role in the larger picture of things.
Flea Wednesday January 11th, 2006 10:50:46 PM
Flea doesn't like the creature or trust her sad story one bit. She turns her head in order not to see the woman or the wicked place for which she has magiked a portal. The colour rises in her face as she wonders what a certain other gnome would have made of Elenea VanCleave.
"Should we tell the monks of Rattledam about this Koshe Marr place?" she whispers loudly to Trellus.
The need to believe. (DM Jim) Wednesday January 11th, 2006 10:59:15 PM
Those most of the pack seem to still have problems with the idea of a walking dead that seeks friendship and seems to be wanting to do good deeds, they cannot fully accept the idea of helping her. Though little Tishe' is the first to speak up and offer her help when the time comes.
Ulgren knows these movements and some of the words for this spell. It is a very powerful teleporting spell that opens a doorway to a certain place that the caster knows. This one is the more powerful and more stable of the version.
Gry looks into the gem and feels a small flood of relief that he has done the right thing. As he continues to stare he could not help but think he saw an open eye in the gem for only the briefest of moments.
Elenea smiles at the last minute questions though she feels that they are uncomfortable in her presence. "My dear Jake...I am as I was the day that I was turned into what most would call a monster...worthy of only destruction and revoltion to all." She looks to the lot of you in turn and shakes her head. "Not all things that are evil are truely that way...some break the way things are suppose to be...there are good examples in all races, no matter if they are suppose to evil...the same can be said for the good...you will find evil." Her head slowly turns to Anuk and she arches an eyebrow as she thinks on it. "Really I am offering help in any form that I can give...but rest assured that if I give help before I ask a favor than you will owe me no matter what...the gem will be the link...when things look most dark for your group you may ask for my help...I will aid you in whatever way that I can." She gives a little bit of a cocky smile as she snaps her fingers. "There is little that magic cannot do...if put to the right uses...as your friend Ulgren and Tishe' can attest to."
With a look of pure pleasure she turns to Tishe' and gives her a heartfelt smile of friendship. "As your leader Trellus has said...wait and see about what I ask first...you can decide then if you wish to aid me." The smile does not disappear though as she looks to Tishe' still. "It is good to know though that you would be willing to aid me."
With a last look to Gry she moves over to stand near him with a deeply troubled look upon her face. "You have done me a great favor...one that will be felt in my homeland once more, for those that put me in that gem will have to deal with me again." She lays a hand upon his and the gem that is in it. "If when we meet again, you do not think that I still deserve to be out of that gem...I will take my place in Gargul's realm." She walks back to the portal and looks upon her home with a little misgiving and still a yearning to be back. "Fare the well my friends...if you will let me call you that." She then steps through the portal, which begins to close slowly behind her.
Spot DC 14 to notice the four werewolves that are moving in at Elenea from two different directions.
Sense Motice DC 12 to realize that they are not there to welcome her home, but are attacking her.
The portal is completely closed by now and you figure that you may have seen the last of this vampire...for at least the time being.
Tishe' and Stripes d20+14=18 d20+7=18 d20=11 Thursday January 12th, 2006 4:38:29 AM
Still facinated with it all, Tishe' misses the byplay from her packmates, the significance of the spell (Spellcheck: 18), and the uneasiness of her animal freinds.
She does see the four wolf-human hybrids that are rapidly closing in on Elenea (Spot: 18). "It's nice that she has friends so close by", she tells Grymash (Sense Motive: 11)
Yet now the portal is closed and the group is alone in the Sargrass once more. With her rapidly changing mind, Tishe' thinks about the land around her and how to get home. Finally.
And then? "Well, the land my life.", she says to Stripes. "We learn about and protect the Sargrass from those Barons."
Stripes is just really happy that the undead is gone and only regular things are about. Unable to wag a tail, he grins with lolling tongue.
Mac d20+5=14 Thursday January 12th, 2006 5:03:18 AM
The taur fails to notice the rugs... I mean weres!
He looks about again and asks in a different fashion, "So, just incase we run into her or others in the future, what is a vampire?"
Trellus [-1 Con] d20+9=18 d20+5=23 Thursday January 12th, 2006 8:47:15 AM
[Spot 18, Sense Motive 23]
"They're not her friends," Trellus responds glumly to Tishe. (+2 Aid another on everyone else's Sense Motive check)
The blond man spends a good half minute in silent contemplation, looking blankly at the spot VanCleave occupied a moment before, while dragging his hand over the blond stubble on the back of his head in an unconscious habit.
Finally, he exhales in a big sigh and turns to Mac. "A vampire is undead. They suck the blood of the living, and some say part of their life force as well. Pretty much a non-frozen version of Ice Dude. This one's got wizard powers, too."
He thinks a bit more. "Gry? You shady holding that gem? You want me to hold it for you?"
Trellus scratches his head some more, thoughtfully looking at each of his friends. When his gaze falls on Anuk, a wide grin breaks across his face and the man begins to chuckle. "What's your favorite kind of blood?" he quotes playfully. "Dude, you totally need to work on your pickup lines".
Anuk d20+12=31 d20+4=13 Thursday January 12th, 2006 11:49:43 AM
Wondering what sort of help they might ask of a vampire, Anuk watches the portal close behind Miss VanCleave. The instant before it's gone, he sees the wolves closing in on her and shouts a warning "Wolves!!", but it seems it's too late.
(spot 31, sense motive 13)
Hoping she heard, he tells the pack, "Sorry about the shouting...looked like she might have a little trouble back home is all..."
Anuk turns a little red at Trellus' teasing and grins sheepishly. "Yeah...after spending so much time around Jake you'd think I could come up with something shadier."
Jake d20+6=10 d20+5=24 Thursday January 12th, 2006 2:31:01 PM
Jake frowns sesning something wrong, but not seeing much of the wolves. Oh well. Now it's time to get moving on. "Say, guys... that was interesting and all, but ah wanna get on to Rattledam. Home sounds plenty fine about now." Jake looks over the plains and tilts his hat slightly, and coughs once to clear his throat, then spits. Then he covers his mouth with that mask again. (Kinda looks like a bankrobber in one of those westerns with that face-scarf on ;-D )
Mac (illegal second post) Thursday January 12th, 2006 3:12:03 PM
"Jake? Three directions from the dream - remember? I'm not sure we're ready to go home as yet."
Grymash d20+2=5 d20+2=8 Thursday January 12th, 2006 7:36:20 PM
Grymash watches Elenea as she steps through the doorway. The only thing he can think to say, "Bring da light to thems, Elenea! Bring da fire! Fill Gargul's vaults wit da souls dat do evil!" His attention is caught with a blink of the eye from the stone. He doesnt notice the bipedal fur bags stalking up to her.
(Spot 5, Sense motive 8)
Grymash answers Tishe not knowing she was referring to the werebeasts, "Yeah, it gute dat Elenea found friends here in da Sargrass. Elenea never gets out of da rock if weez not finds it." When Trellus offers to hold the gem for him, Gry simply states, "Naw... Gry wills hold it. Stone be gute for Gry to keep."
Flea d20+9=19 d20-1=10 Thursday January 12th, 2006 9:43:08 PM
Flea spots some furry creatures approach the strange creature after she enters the portal (Spot=19, Sense Motive=10). She looks at Tishe' weird new friend to see if there is a resemblance. When she looks back at the portal it is closed.
With a shiver she listens to Trellus' answer to Mac's question.
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended) d20+1=13 d20+1=8 Thursday January 12th, 2006 10:11:54 PM
Ulgren doesn't notice the werewolves closing on the vampire and only after the portal closes releases his grip on his wand. "Strange that she could stay in the sunlight and not be harmed," Ulgren states out loud, "I wonder how she did that?"
Gilan and Ciaran d20+18=25 Thursday January 12th, 2006 11:20:45 PM
Gilan watches as the lady leaves finally and breathes a sigh of relief. Though he has mixed feelings about her for some reason he feels that she does mean well.
He has not been paying attention as she goes the rest of the way through the portal so he does not notice anything and turns to look. "Huh...what?" By that time the portal is closed and he could not have seen anything anyways. He looks to the direction that the group had been traveling and then to the sky to see how much time they have left. "Shall we move on and find a good camp for the night?" He does not really want to stay and would rather press on if that is the vote.
Wavy grass but no wavy curves. (DM Jim) Thursday January 12th, 2006 11:29:53 PM
With Elenea departed the group now finds that the surrounding area has come back to life. You hear the insects buzzing around the area and the wind is now talking sweetly through the tall grass. The area has also brightened back to its normal brightness for the day and Ulgren gets the first of his answers. There had been some kind of spell in the area that had darkened it enough for her to be here for as long as she was...he has studied a spell in the past that would do that and knows that their are more powerful forms as well.
As the portal is closed and you cannot yell a warning to Elenea about her guests you can only hope that she is ok. Though you silently might be wondering if you will be seeing her again and does it matter to you. Those that saw the furries moving at Elenea noticed that they traveled on two legs and not four, plus they stood as tall as a man. In fact if you could change Gilan's wolf Ciaran to resemble a wolf standing on his hind legs but with the proportions of a man you would have it.
The sun is starting to go down in the sky but Gilan knows that you have at least a good three to four hours of light to travel by, as do others that know the ways of nature. Your thoughts turn to a town out this way that is in need of your help. Most importantly is the thoughts of home that run through everyone's mind. It will be good to finally be able to go back to Rattledam at last. Some of you are even beginning to miss Galafar yelling at you...well maybe not really.
Tishe' and Stripes Thursday January 12th, 2006 11:49:02 PM
Shouldering her pack and keeping her crossbow handy, Tishe' moves over to the comforting bulk of Mac to walk through the Sargrass. "What dream are you talking about? Must've been when I was with the Manfri."
She pouts for a second in losing some information, but a cold snout hits her hand and the ugly face of Stripes grins up at her. How can she be mad when the striped hyena needs her? And she needs him, too. Companions. And Pack. And Tishe' heaves a sigh of contentment, for no matter where they go from here, they are a Pack together.
Stripes is just really happy that the undead is gone and only regular things are about. Unable to wag a tail, he grins with lolling tongue.
Trellus Friday January 13th, 2006 10:08:09 AM
The blond man's face drops in disappointment at Grymash's reply. He'd much rather somebody else had that gem, but he can't see any way to push it without getting the half-orc all sunbaked. Trellus lets the matter drop.
He pulls out his waterskin, and takes a drink, following years of ingrained training - removing the cap at the very last instant, immediately covering the opening with his mouth, and then capping the container just as soon as it leaves his lips. No open water The precautions are merely unconscious habit by now.
Smiling at Anuk's coloring, the cleric grandly holds his right arm out in their direction of travel. "Let's weave, dudes"
He drops into line, and follows his packmates through the Grass.
Jake Friday January 13th, 2006 2:17:46 PM
"Awww treadles, I'd forgotten about that," Jake says morosely. "Anyone notice this ground and grass is getting a little weird?"
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended) Friday January 13th, 2006 4:29:34 PM
Ulgren follows Trellus lead and grabs a quick drink in the same manner. The drow smiles as they close the waterskins thinking, we are all so different and yet the same. Ulgren readjusts his pack, and changes the color of his pants to white inorder to reflect some of the light off of him.
Anuk Friday January 13th, 2006 4:45:35 PM
Anuk gives Trellus a mock salute. "Weaving now, sir," he says in officious tones, but with a wide smile on his face.
Gilan and Ciaran d20+18=34 d20+10=18 d20+10=15 Friday January 13th, 2006 5:03:48 PM
Gilan falls back into his usual pattern of weaving his way through the group to check on everyone and lend his aid as best he can. He also spends time with Anuk up in the front so that he can help him scout out the immediate area for trouble.
Flea (-2 to Con) d20+10=28 d20+16=32 Friday January 13th, 2006 5:36:38 PM
"You doing okay, Mac?" Flea asks of her minotaur host. "You want me to switch over to the other shoulder?"
As the party make their way through the grass, Flea scans the horizon (Spot=28). If all is clear she takes a peep inside Mac's pack (Search=32) to see if the kitten is awake.
Where to set up camp? (DM Jim) Friday January 13th, 2006 11:24:48 PM
The pack has been moving for most of the remaining day and the sun is starting to get low enough in the sky that it is getting dark. There is still enough light even for those with no extra form of vision for nightime to see but it will be gone before long. The insects have started to move in the plains and you find that you are slapping at biting bugs off and on.
Noone has seen anything of any size since you have been traveling and in fact it has been a rather uneventful little trek so far. Flea does check in on Galea from inside of Mac's pack and finds the little kitten curled in a ball and purring contently.
Finally you feel that you can move no longer but you have found no area that would be suitable for a camp sight. The grass surrrounding you is only ten feet high but as you look out further you find that it is reaching to some fifteen feet.
Stomaches are rumbling and you all are too tired to really push on, but can you camp here?
Tishe' and Stripes Saturday January 14th, 2006 4:08:50 AM
The short woman finds that she can weave through the grasses much better than most of her companions because of her affinity with Mother Wold. She follows Gilan's example to move back and forth among her friends to make sure that everyone is keeping up without problems. And Stripes is able to keep up well enough (1/2 movement for Stripes is still 25') to follow his human around.
When night falls, Tishe' looks to her arcane associate to provide that amazing little shelter of his. "How fortuneate the Pack was to have found you, Ulgren!"
Mac Sunday January 15th, 2006 2:34:36 PM
"You're shady there Flea. Just don't let me forget your there!" He replies with a smile.
Flea (-2 to Con) d20+5=15 d20+13=24 Sunday January 15th, 2006 7:58:10 PM
"Oh, you won't forget about me!" chirps Flea.
As the group make their way through the tall grass, she practices some recent poetry she has tried to memorize (Perform=15)
A bird came down the walk. He did not know I saw-- He bit an angleworm in halves, And ate the fellow, raw,
And then, he drank a dew, From a convenient grass-- And then hopped sidewise to the Wall To let a beetle pass.
From her vantage point the rogue looks for a good place to suggest the party make camp. (Search=24)
Gilan and Ciaran Sunday January 15th, 2006 8:23:19 PM
Gilan looks to Trellus and then the grass that surrounds them, shaking his head. "I don't think we are going to find an open area to camp." He looks to Ulgren and gives a hopeful look. "Can you hut be set up inside this grass...I mean will it bend it over to fit?" He knows that magic can do a lot of things but he is not sure that it would bend the grass down flat so that they can make use of it.
Looking to Trell he covers a yawn with his right hand. "Should we try...or clear an area?" He figures that they have a pair of people that maybe able to clear the grass...if they can be quick before it grows back on them.
Ciaran lays upon the ground and looks to those around him. He seems indifferent right now to the plight of the group...though he does not understand too much of what is said. He does yawn as well and seems ready to catch a little sleep.
Trellus Monday January 16th, 2006 9:38:37 AM
Trellus looks around, as if waiting for an open spot to magically appear.
He ponders Gilan's question for a moment or two before answering.
"Lets just hack out a spot. With a bunch of us weaving we can clear enough for Ulgren to weave his house. The Grass'll grow around it, so I think we'll be shady for the night."
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended) Monday January 16th, 2006 4:37:24 PM
Ulgren smiles at Tishe', "Thanks, your the best!" Ulgren says with a smile as he turns to face others asking him questions. "I am not sure if the house would be strong enough to crush the grass but I am willing to find out, or help cut some of it back and cast it on the ground." Ulgren pats his rapier, "I will need something more suited than this though."
Anuk d20+12=20 d20+12=25 d20+14=25 Monday January 16th, 2006 6:14:42 PM
"Nice one, Flea. Know any poems about ranthoms or sarg moths?" While making conversation, Anuk, too, looks for a good spot in the grass for Ulgren's "campsite".
spot 20 listen 25 survival 25
Grymash d20+9=29 Monday January 16th, 2006 7:00:57 PM
Grymash helps search out a good spot for the pack to camp for the night.(Survival 29, natural 20. wasting all these awesome rolls on skill checks!!). He reminds everyone of the tents and camping gear that he has stored in his magical backpack. He pulls out three tents, two everburning torches, a stew pot and a water keg. He even pulls out a ten-foot pole to act as a center support it they choose to fold down layers of grass over to tie into a dome for added security. Rope, shovel, pitons and hammers are provided as well.
"How much rations do pack have. Do Gry an Anuk need ta go huntin'?
Makin' the camp. (DM Jim) Tuesday January 17th, 2006 12:09:34 AM
With little success in finding any open areas to set up the hut that Ulgren can summon up, those with the right weapons start to work upon the grass so that they can have an area large enough.
It takes quick effort to get it timed just right as the group has no longer worked out the area to a short enough bit of grass than it begins to grow back. Ulgren gets his hut put into place just as some of the grass is beginning to grow a few inches.
With the hut finally in place Gry pulls out spare tents and all the rations that he has. He poses one of the ultimate questions...how much food do they have and does he need to help out others in finding food?
Another issue comes up with the ideas of watch and how to make it effective with the grass the way it is. The grass seems to stay short around the area of the hut for five feet and then you get back into the ten feet tall stuff?
Want to do any additions to the camp? Like a dome over the top of the campsite? Set up a fire pit for cooking? Or anything else you can think of? I would also like to know how much water each person is carrying and food as well on them?
Flea d20+2=16 d20+9=14 d20+11=12 Tuesday January 17th, 2006 12:28:39 AM
Figuring the drow's magic house worked pretty well last time, Flea signal's Mac to put her down. The gnome will enter through the door, search around to see if the 'kitchen' is in the same place as last time. If it is, she will drop her pack in a corner and set to work making a meal for the party using whatever Gry, Anuk, or the others provide. If pickings are slim, she will collect trail rations from those who have them and do her best to spice up the aromas and flavours of the bland food using her magic ways.
When it comes time for watches, she will accept any watch assigned.
Skills/Alchemy (Cooking?)=16 and Prestidigitation Spot=14 Listen=12
(OOC: Flea has 1 week of trail rations, and 1 water skin.)
Anuk d20+14=25 Tuesday January 17th, 2006 12:15:14 PM
"Me? I'm hungry for some of Jake's stew. Let's go find some bugs, Gry." When Gry is ready, Anuk heads off into the grasses to see what he can scrounge up for the group's meal.
Survival 25
(ooc: Anuk carries one homemade waterskin and a couple of days worth of rations.)
Jake Tuesday January 17th, 2006 2:04:04 PM
"See? Someone likes mah cookin'," Jake proudly says, and goes about getting in Flea's way as she tries to prepare a good meal. He insists on making his own, until he realizes how few ingredients there are. At that point, realizing he can't 'experiment' and create anything spicy or interesting, he gets kinda bored and uninterested, and sighs. "Well, ah suppose you might as well cook up something," Jake sighs and sits back, to let the littlest Packmate do her work. "Hey, Gilan, can ya make some of those grass mats you sometimes do ta sleep on?" Jake suggests. "Ah think some piggies slithered up my pants last time, it wasn't pleasant fer sure..." (What's Ulgren's spell do? I missed something about that I think.)
Trellus Tuesday January 17th, 2006 3:12:17 PM
Trellus considers. "That house looked pretty secure last night. Remember The Walker's cave? I'd say we'd be shadiest just getting in there and closing everything up tight."
"Gry, put your water barrel inside the house. Everyone fill up from there. When we got what we need, I'll fill up the barrel."
The cleric also takes stock of the food situation, to see if he needs to memorize a spell for that in the morning.
Once all that is taken care of, he turns back to Tishe with grin. "You mentioned something about presents......"
Trellus has one waterskin and 5 days trail rations (minus whatever he's eaten so far)
OOC - Leomund's Secure Shelter - it doesn't have a kitchen, but it locks up pretty good.
Grymash d20+9=23 d20+2=8 d20+5=19 Tuesday January 17th, 2006 7:36:58 PM "Oh!! the half-orc mutters with a bit of surprise. He wasnt aware that a hut was going to be conjured. He carries his keg inside and sets the stew pot inside the fireplace. He looks for the hook used to hang the pot over the fire.
"If Jake gonna make stew Gry, need ta hunt prairie piggie. Gry thanks Gry hear one squealin' little way back. Nuk, ya wants ta come?" The barbarian then nudges Jake and whispers, "Whut it take for yazz ta make some Jake Cake. Gry still gots a lil green gnomish left."
Grymash draws out his massive bow from his magic quiver, waits to see if Anuk was coming, and then heads out a little ways. Every five steps he casually kinks a stalk of grass with his fist in order to leave a trail back to camp. He keeps a sharp eye and ear for that ellusive piggie! (Survival 23, Spot 8, Listen 19)
(Gry has 2 Casks of Water, 1 Cask of Green Gnomish - mostly empty, 4 waterskins, 5 days of trail rations - minus whatever has been eaten, and unknown amount of leftover food he's taken other hunts, and edible kills from battle.)
Ulgren Tuesday January 17th, 2006 10:11:16 PM
Ulgren walks into the hut and out of the way of the hunters preparing to go hunting. "Good luck!" Ulgren says with a smile. Ulgren then assits in moving the keg of water out of the middle of the floor and then drops his pack on a bunk.
Ulgren has 4 water skins and 7 days rations-depending on what has been eaten.
Gilan and Ciaran d20+10=11 d20+18=34 Tuesday January 17th, 2006 10:40:46 PM
Gilan slips into the hut and settles his stuff into one of the corners. He stretches a little and then shakes himself lightly. "How about we see if any of the grasses around are edible...remember that some of them keep for awhile?" Taking the little bit of time that he has before it gets too dark to see he slips outside to search the grasses for anything that they can take with them...food wise. He also keeps his eyes open for anything that may seek to eat him or the rest of the pack.
Tishe' and Stripes d20+8=25 d20+8=22 d20=15 d20=4 Wednesday January 18th, 2006 3:58:44 AM
The brown-haired girl takes Trellus' hint and passes out the gifts of the Manfri to everyone. While she does this, she takes stock of her own food (1 week trail rations) and water (2 skins). "It's a good idea to hunt for whatever we can find and only use the dry rations to supplement and make them last longer. Wouldn't it be terrible if we ate all our trail rations when the hunt is plentiful and then not have any when we needed it?"
Tishe' keeps away from cooking, "Mother told me that I was the best cook if anyone wanted something burned", and helps watch out for things while the hunters and camp setters are busy; with Stripes helping out.
Listen 27 (Aid from Stripes) Spot; 22 (fail aid from Stripes)
"I'll take first watch, too." she offers
The night and gifts. (DM Jim) Wednesday January 18th, 2006 8:04:40 PM
Flea goes to searching the hut and finds no kitchen but is able to set up a firepit outside of the hut with the help of Mac. She is soon cooking something that smells rather nice over the fire...a hearty stew is what it looks like.
Anuk slips off with Gry to find some bugs though Gry has another plan of his own as he grabs his bow and quiver. Anuk is able to find a nice little supply of bugs that he slips into a special bag made from the grasses of the plains. Gry is able to find a rather large boar prairie pig that is rooting around in the grass. It's slug like body is turned to him when he finds it and even though it turns at the sound...it is only the release of the arrow that had alerted it. Gry has a nice little bit of meat to take back to the camp as well.
Jake putters around the hut a little and then tries to help out Flea with the cooking but finds that without spices that he has run out of he cannot fix much that has his flair and soon finds a place to stay out of the way. He does hit Gilan up for a blanket woven of grass to help keep bugs out of his pants. Though he figures that inside this hut they will not have to worry about it.
Trellus sets up a plan for the group so that they may not need to set up a watch...though he figures that someone will be up for watches anyways. He also has Gry set up his barrel before he leaves so that they all can refill waterskins and then the barrel before leaving. Then a bright smile appears on his face as he bothers Tishe' about something that she had mentioned earlier...PRESENTS.
Ulgren is more than happy to find a little time to relax after he helps to move the water barrel from the middle of the floor. He does his best to explain the workings of the tent to Jake and even shows him a bunk that the man may sleep in.
Gilan and Ciaran slip into the hut with the others and stows his gear in a corner as he takes a seat for a few minutes. With a look of disinterest in what is going on inside he slips out to look for some grasses and bugs as well. Ciaran falls asleep against his pack and is soon sending a bit of snoring through the hut.
Tishe' is one with the group on seeing what can be found in the wild to eat and save on thier own rations. The dried foods that they have with them are ok but she does not feel like making a steady diet of them either. She then slips into a comfortable spot outside to look for any signs of trouble with Stripes at her side.
A half an hour has passed and finally Gry and Anuk return to the hut. Anuk has found a small treasure of bugs in the grasses and brought them back with him. Gry drops a dead prairie pig upon the ground with that goofy grin on his face. He looks rather pleased with himself as he goes to tend to his bow before doing anything else.
Ten minutes after that Gilan returns as well. He has a look of happiness upon his face as he pulls up a sack of different grasses. All of you can smell the fragrance of both onion and garlic grass coming from the sack. As Gilan takes a seat he starts to sort out what he has found and you notice the following that you know for sure...licorice, potato and an assortment of native spice grasses that will help to spice up any meals in the future.
Though Tishe' has offered to take a first watch the group seems to be going to take a bottle up the hut tactic and ride it out. With that in mind Tishe' pulls out an assortment of packages that the group are pleased to see. She tosses a small bag of spices to Jake and shakes her head as she mentions some dark haired Manfri woman wanting them given to him...not that she would mention what Jake had done to deserve them. With that out of the way she passes out an assortment of packages to each person in the hut...actually they are woven bags of grass that you know will hold water if needed and without exploding.
Tishe' - stylish pants o' plenty(made of plains grass), cloak of comfort, bracers of armor +1, cmw potion, magic fang potion(4)
Gilan - ring of feather fall, barkskin +4(4), cmw potion(2), magic fang potion
Ulgren - ring of feather fall, polymorph scroll, flame arrow scroll, summon monster III scroll, resist energy scroll, locate object scroll, darkness scroll, mirror image scroll, color spray scroll, feather fall scroll, true strike scroll, unseen servant scroll, blink scroll, silence scroll, mount scroll
Flea - ring of protection +1, amulet of natural armor +1, gray bag of tricks, shield of faith +2 potion(2)
Anyone with questions on thier gifts let me know either with you next post of through email. I will get back to you with all the information that you need. Jake will need to replace his old armor with the new Steelgrass one as he gave his old one to the Manfri.
Ulgren Wednesday January 18th, 2006 10:11:35 PM
Ulgren watches for the return of the hunters with eagerness, the long trek through the plains has built a deep hunger within the drow mage. Ulgren watches Tishe' with a puzzled look as she begins to pass out packages to the group. "Who are these from?" Ulgren asks which is followed up with a look of surprise as Tishe' hands the drow one. Ulgren looks inside and his jaw drops as he looks over the collection of scrolls. Ulgren reaches inside his pants pocket for his spellbook and prepares to scribe scrolls when a glint of light catches his eye. Ulgren reaches inside the woven grass bag and pulls out a small ring. The drow smiles as he places the ring on his hand. Ulgren then settles in to scribe scrolls into his spellbook.
ooc: How many spells per night can Ulgren scribe into his spellbook?
Tishe' and Stripes Thursday January 19th, 2006 5:21:16 AM
Happy as an apprentice on holiday, Tishe' opens her present and carefully saves the woven grass basket. The cloak is a welcome sight and she is sure that Stripes will like the potions, but the intricately woven stylish pants o' plenty are what captures her eyes. There is nothing doing than she must try them on immediately.
Stripping off her biege pants without embarrasment, Tishe' sits on the floor in her smallclothes to see how is the fit.
"Nice, very nice", she says, turning around and around and trying to look at herself from every angle. "And the pockets! Wonderful!"
DM - Purchase approved.
Jake Thursday January 19th, 2006 1:33:29 PM
"Oh Ho! Next meal will be mine!" Jake proudly announces, looking through the different little pockets of spice. "Heh... we should save the Jake Cake for when we get back tho. As a celebration, ah mean." Jake is happy to relax and let everyone else do the rest of the work that night, though he will dutifully put in for watch at some time after he can get a good enough sleep. (I do have some questions about the items I got, see my email)
Grymash (ac23) Thursday January 19th, 2006 8:05:41 PM
A big toothy grin continues to stretch from ear to pointy ear. Grymash is very pleased with himself. "Gry find big juicy piggie. Pack eats gute tonight," boasts the barbarian while fighting back every urge to beat his chest and dance around like an idiot. His big hands slap the rump of the big furry slug sending ripples throughout its gelatanous-like body. "Hmmmm, gute an fat. Ripe an tasty. Been too longs since Gry had gute old prairie pig. Dat battle bird* wuz shady, but nuthin' like piggie here!!"
Grymash is quickly distracted when he notices that presents from the manfri are being handed out. The dusty rose-colored prism is placed in his large hand. "Ooh, Gry gets nuther blood rock!?" Its the same color as the gem he just received from the vampire, but looks very different. He stares into it, trying to see if there is another eye, like there was in the other. While holding it up to the torch light for a better look, the prism floats up out of his hand and starts to circle about his head. A sudden rush of insight washes over him. He feels his awareness of himself and everyone else around him become especially keen. "OOOHHhhhh!! Shaadddyy!!"
(*Battle Bird, as Gry calls it, was the dire turkey he fought for Thanksgiving in '04)
(Im also assuming that Gry's gift is the Ioun Stone that gives a +1 Insight bonus to AC.)
Trellus [-1 Con] Thursday January 19th, 2006 9:14:01 PM
"You got a prairie pig?" Trellus exclaims excitedly. "Shady! I haven't had that in forever!"
The cleric settles down for some roast slug, choosing to ignore for the moment Jake's announced intention to cook next time.
Present time is a happy time. The elven chain is so LIGHT! The cleric is certain he'll be able to move faster than the bulky breastplate he's currently been wearing. He stows the potions and scrolls while answering Ulgren. "Tishe said these came from the manfri, right Tishe....." Trellus' words die in his throat as he glances up to see the Hook City native in all her pantless glory. "Uh......."
Descretion is sometimes the better part of valor. The blond man looks away and changes the subject.
"Let's keep a watch going inside, just to keep an ear on things. Um, Tishe, um, first. With Gry. Then me and Ulgren, Gilan and Jake, Nuk and Mac. Flea gets to sleep in."
Gilan and Ciaran d4=1 Thursday January 19th, 2006 11:46:43 PM
Gilan slips the knot off the bag open and peers inside to see what is there. The breathe catches in his throat as he looks to the nice little gifts and he almost forgets to breathe again. As he slips each one out he shakes his head at the ring as he knows what it is. "You think someone knows about a little fall that I took some time back." He laughs at the memory and then turns to Gry with a mischievious smile. "At least I was not holding the rope I tried to climb down." He laughs again at the image of his friend falling while holding onto the rope he was trying to climb...though some of it was shadowed by pain.
When he looks up he notices Tishe' and turns as red as beet grass. He turns his eyes away and has to clear his throat as he brings his focus back to other things. "I don't mind standing a watch." He looks to Ciaran who is sacked out against his pack and smiles. "I can count on Ciaran's eyes and nose." With a little bit of time before his watch his will slip over to lay a hand upon Flea's shoulder. "You still feeling the effects of that ash?" He will cast on of the restoration spells that Trell mentioned to take so that she will be full power tomorrow.
Meals, spells and the watch. (DM Jim) Thursday January 19th, 2006 11:54:43 PM
Flea soon has a nice little fire going and adds the prairie pig meat to the stew. Though she has to lay out a lot of it to be cooked separate as there is way too much.
Everyone seems to grimace a little about the though of Jake cooking for them, but he does not notice. Actually he is use to that reaction and in fact feeds off of it.
Presents seem to be a big hit with the group as they find some stuff that they had been needing. It does lead to one big question. How did the Manfri figure this out and just what else to they know?
Watches are set up and as the night wears on each paired group finds themselves sitting their watch outside of the hut. The stars twinkle above your heads, for each group, when they take their watch. It was nearing the end of Mac and Anuk's watch when the two of you feel the very ground that you are seated upon seem to roll underneath you...or at least that is the best way you can describe it. Though you peer into the grass as best you can, you find nothing out of the ordinary but there is something going on out there.
Ulgren - It will take one hour to scribe a spell into your spellbook per caster level of that spell. All of the scrolls you got are minimum caster level for that spell.
Mikey - Sending a reply to your email out as well. Anyone else interested in the stats for thier steelgrass armor or did I explain that good enough with my earlier email?
Gry's gift is as you named it. Hope it helps out.
Tishe' and Stripes Friday January 20th, 2006 7:11:32 AM
Watch time is a time of great opportunity as Tishe' sits with Grymash. She stays easy, petting Stripes on his ugly head, and talks about growing up in Hook City 'so many people, and nearly everyone can work at least some kind of magic', to her presents 'grass pants, who would have thought!', to wonderings about what is going on in Rattledam and the Barons 'we should take the battle to them', she says vehemetly. 'I mean, you don't let a school bully get away just because he runs out of the room, he's learned nothing!'
Once her watch is over, Tishe' sleeps the rest of the truly exhausted, Tishe' is cuddled with her new companion as a very warm and comfortable pillow.
Trellus Sunday January 22nd, 2006 9:30:16 AM
Trellus nods along with Tishe's exclamation about 'taking the battle to the Barons'. "First we gotta find out where they are," he replies wearily. "Then, maybe we can twist their thread."
Trellus sleeps soundly, but awakens to the weird movement of the ground. Like the rest of the Bloodpack, he steps outside to see what's going on. Like the rest of the Bloodpack, all he sees is Grass.
"Gil, can you fly up top and see if you can make out anything sunbaked?" he asks. In the meantime, it might be a good idea to try out that new armor. The blond man pulls out the delicate looking chainmail and puts it on.
Flea Sunday January 22nd, 2006 11:02:45 AM
Flea studies her gifts. As she puts on the ring, there is a sharp intake of breath as she remembers just such another ring on the hand of another. Soon however, she is distracted as she watches the others open their presents.
The rumbling felt through the ground piques her curiosity, but when the taller folk report there is nothing to be seen for it, a cold shiver steals up her spine.
Gilan and Ciaran Sunday January 22nd, 2006 4:31:44 PM
Gilan slips out of the hut with the rest and listens and feels the moving of the earth. He shakes his head as he looks into the grass and can see nothing.
With the suggestion he nods to Trell and slips into the form of an owl. Taking to wing he flies out around the area looking for anything out of the ordinary that could have been making the ground shake.
Spell List 0th(6): 1st(7): 2nd(6): 3rd(6): 4th(4): * used
Mac d20+5=11 Sunday January 22nd, 2006 8:30:40 PM
Mac gets to his feet and heads for the door. "Once 'round the hut in case it's low to the ground." he mutters before he gets out.
[Spot:11]
Tishe' and Stripes Sunday January 22nd, 2006 10:20:43 PM
"I wonder if the rumble is coming on the ground or IN the ground?"
Whatever it is, Stripes doesn't look too happy about it, and keeps close to his human.
Grymash d20+5=17 d20+2=12 Monday January 23rd, 2006 2:27:49 AM
Grymash gets up from his watch at the first sign of the disturbance. He releases his new ioun stone, and it begins to circle above his head. He then takes his double axe, that was leaning against the wall of the hut. "shhhh, gry tries ta hear wit da ears," whispers the half-orc.
(Listen 17, Spot 12)
Anuk d20+12=22 d20+12=21 Monday January 23rd, 2006 11:18:44 AM
(ooc: sorry for the missed posts)
Anuk spends his watch both looking around and checking out the gifts he received. After putting on his new armor, he picks up rock after rock on the ground and stuffs them into his new grasspack. "Mac...have you seen this thing? I just keep puttin' stuff in here and it never gets heavier! It works even better than my quiver!...I don't know what my problem with magic was...this stuff is great!" He babbles on for a while, taking out the rocks and replacing them with the items from his own pack.
But the rumbling ground gets his attention. It reminds him of the island they stayed on with the giant smoking mountain. He looks out into the darkness and asks Mac, "See anything out there?"
spot 22 listen 21
Jake Monday January 23rd, 2006 1:17:06 PM
Jake wakes up at the first groundshake. "Woah... haven't we felt one of those before? In that other land, the Cold Place?" Jake queries. Just to reaffirm the ground's solidness, he stomps twice, then spits on it. That should be good enough, he thinks to himself.
Ulgren d20+14=24 d20+14=19 Monday January 23rd, 2006 9:40:54 PM
Ulgren sits down with his spell book and scroll and quietly looks at each of them until he reaches a decision. Ulgren spends the next four hours scribing 2 scrolls into his spell book, Flame Arrow (Spellcraft 24), and Mount (Spellcraft 19). Ulgren finishes his work and lays down, exhausted but with a smile on his face.
WIll post spell list tomorrow. SOry yfor the missed posts work was hell last week.
The noise in the morning. (DM Jim) Monday January 23rd, 2006 9:57:42 PM
Everyone is out earlier than the usually are as the ground shakes. Though you peer into the grass you can see nothing at all moving. With a suggestion from Trell, Gilan takes to the air in owl form and scouts out the surrounding area. Though he goes around the camp and out about thirty feet he does not see anything moving...but he does see something that is strange.
Landing back at the camp he relays the information about a stretch of grass that is missing twenty feet from their camp and about fifteen feet wide. Though he did not go lower to take a better look he did not see the grass doing what it usually does...grow back.
The pack realizes that they have two things to consider...a mystery and breakfast. It will be amusing to see which wins out in the end as tummies grumble but minds work on the mystery in the grass.
Grymash d20+2=4 Tuesday January 24th, 2006 12:05:12 AM
After listening to Gilan's report, Grymash rubs his chin, "Hmmm.. sound likes some grassbiter hads some breakfast!" His eyes widen and narrow. Furrows on his brow roll and flatten with each stray thought that quickly withers in the dry barren wasteland of his mind (Wisdom check 4). "Uhhh breaakfasstt! Whut Gry be havin' for breakfast?"
Tishe' and Stripes Tuesday January 24th, 2006 1:58:48 AM
"With no immediate threat, I'd like to commune with Mother Wold and my spellbooks for a while." says Tishe'. "If the hole in the grass isn't going away, I'd just as soon have some breakfast and spells before going exploring." Wistfully she continues, "is there any more of that barbecued prairie piggy left?"
No bones to gnaw, Stripes is content with some more meat off the prarie pig to break his fast.
Anuk d20+14=26 d20+12=14 d20+12=20 Tuesday January 24th, 2006 1:03:30 PM
Hmmm....out in the grass...we're headed somewhere where we're "needed" but we don't know where, when, or why...missing grass but nothing's attacking at the moment...
"I'm hungry, too," Anuk announces. "I'll see if I can find anything to supplement the leftovers."
Anuk takes a short trip out to find a few of the night bugs that haven't burrowed their way back underground yet...and to take a brief look at the missing grass.
Survival 26 Spot 14 Listen 20
Gilan and Ciaran Tuesday January 24th, 2006 2:41:36 PM
After giving his report he stretches and yawns. "Breakfast?" When some of the others are leaning that way he smiles. "Sounds good to me...this will settle better on a full stomach." He moves off to get some leftovers from last night, but he thinks of something else first.
Slipping off to the side of the camp area he settles down to watch the morning sun rise. Ciaran has joined him and they sit together watching and waiting to go through thier morning ritual. After praying to Mother Wold for his new days spells he will move back and get himself something to eat, sharing with his new brother all the while...sometimes eating from the same piece of meat that Ciaran had just bitten a hunk off of.
Spell List 0th(6): 1st(7): 2nd(6): 3rd(6): 4th(4): * used
Trellus Tuesday January 24th, 2006 3:33:54 PM
The blond man nods along at his packmate's comments. He's not keen on exploring anything unusual without a full complement of spells either.
"Let's get some food and some spells, and then check it out," he says.
The cleric climbs into a bunk and sits crosslegged holding the small silver hammer in front of him. As usual, he prays for strength for the coming day and for the protection of his packmates and family.
When he is done, he immediately casts a spell on both his new armor and his old shield, using the power of his Metamagic Rod to extend the duration of each spell.
[Cast Magic Vestment (Extended) on Elven Chain Armor and shield. +2 enhancement to each for 16 hours]
Spells Prepared: d -- domain spell 0 - Create Water (x3), Detect Magic (x2), Read Magic 1 -- Endure Elements (x4), Prot from Evil, Remove Fear, Sanctuary(d) 2 -- Lesser Restoration (x3), Spiritual Weapon, Bulls Strength (d) 3 - Dispel Magic (x2), Prayer, Magic Vestment*, Magic Vestment(d)* 4 -- Air Walk, Freedom of Movement, Summon Monster IV, Spell Immunity (d)
Ulgren Tuesday January 24th, 2006 6:45:28 PM
Ulgren sleepily rubs his eyes and rolls over as his packmates began talking about the shaking ground. Ulgren quickly reaches into his pocket, making sure that the new scrolls from the Manfri are safe. Ulgren rubs the ring on his left hand as he memorizes his spells, a smile playing across his lips as he finishes up. Ulgren springs from his bed and turns to the pack, "A bite to eat would be great before we head out I am famished." Ulgre refills his waterskins from Grymash's water barrel and eats a quick bite before casting an extended Mage Armour on himself. "I'm ready lets take a quick look!"
Flea Tuesday January 24th, 2006 6:56:40 PM
Flea tosses her empty water skin to Ulgren as he stands filling his from Grymash's supply. "Fill it for me, will ya, while I wrestle up some breakfast."
Wrestle is the operative word as the gnome goes to work on the remainder of the prairie pig. She tries to cut off some of the fatter bits with pieces of meat still clinging to it. This she tries to fry up over the little cooking fire. It sizzles and ripples as the fat melts and the meat crisps up.
She listens to what the party druid has to say, but doesn't know of anything that would make that kind of mark. "Do you think the mark could have been made by anything from the circle of life that we learned about?" Flea looks at the others her arms akimbo, "Rapke, or a great Moth?"
Breakfast and the mystery. (DM Jim) Tuesday January 24th, 2006 11:40:21 PM
With a quick decision the group decides to eat breakfast before they head out. Flea is soon cutting off some of the choice pieces of meat from the prairie pig. As it fries she tries to come up with a solution to the amount of grass that is gone.
Gilan would be quick to point out as well that the missing grass is actually more like a path and he could see no end to it in either direction.
After breakfast and everyone makes sure that waterskins are filled the group is at last ready to move out. Anuk points out that the mystery is a little off course for the group but not in the opposite direction of the village they seek. He is also aware from the directions given by the Manfri in the dream that the village is a four day travel still.
MikeK - Did not notice it in the module. Is the village located in a specific direction already? If not I will check out a map and point the group in the opposite direction of Rattledam. That will allow me to use directions so that everyone can picture things a little better in thier heads.
Grymash d20+9=16 Wednesday January 25th, 2006 1:44:23 AM
Grymash eats and puts away a small portion to snack on later. He makes his preparations for the day: water, weapons, and gear all accounted for. He then gives thanks to Gargul for allowing them to live another day. After a little time spent in prayer, Grymash seems ready for the day. He checks the sky and the position of the sun to determine which way they need to go. (Survival check: 16)
"Da pack readys yet? Gonna be nuther hot day."
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended), Mount Wednesday January 25th, 2006 5:29:07 AM
Ulgren fills Flea's waterskins and hands them back after breakfast, "thanks very much," Ulgren says with a smile. The mage then walks outside and streches while Grymash finishes up his morning prayers. As the rest of the pack gathers to go Ulgren quietly cast mount, "Maybe this will allow me to keep up with the rest of you and not get so winded." Ulgren swings up and ensures that his goggles are in place.
Tishe' and Stripes Wednesday January 25th, 2006 5:29:45 AM
Filled in belly and filled in arcane and divine spells, Tishe' is ready to face the Wold with her Pack.
"Let's see if we can unravel this mystery", she says, "if it is new to you who have lived all your lives in Rattledam, it is either a part of the Circle of Life you don't know about, or it is outside the Circle and therefore a threat. In either case, our oath makes it so we have to weave over."
Stripes doesn't care about the talking. He continues to stay close to his human.
Flea Wednesday January 25th, 2006 7:45:25 AM
Flea packs her gear, dons her cloak, and starts the process of wrapping the party's signiture crimson scarf about her head and over her mouth. "Maybe following the cut grass will make traversing the plains easier on us? It could cut down on the time it takes to get where we want to go...where ever that is..." she adds, shouldering her pack and slinging her water skin, and the new Manfri grass sack filled with water over her shoulder.
Trellus d20+7=17 Wednesday January 25th, 2006 1:10:24 PM
"A path through the Grass that doesn't grow back?" Trellus repeats Gilan's find. "Shady. Wonder what it is?"
The blond man ponders that a bit as the pack heads out. [Knowledge (Sargass): 17]
Spells Prepared: d -- domain spell 0 - Create Water (x3), Detect Magic (x2), Read Magic 1 -- Endure Elements (x4), Prot from Evil, Remove Fear, Sanctuary(d) 2 -- Lesser Restoration (x3), Spiritual Weapon, Bulls Strength (d) 3 - Dispel Magic (x2), Prayer, Magic Vestment*, Magic Vestment(d)* 4 -- Air Walk, Freedom of Movement, Summon Monster IV, Spell Immunity (d)
Jake Wednesday January 25th, 2006 5:12:36 PM
"It's gotta be one of those watchamacallits, you know, the big guys that eat the trails in the grass? I mean, it's gotta be. Anyways, I'd trust it more than random grass...but then again, other large predators would too." Jake shrugs. "Either way, ah'll stay in back and watch our rears." he chuckles at the way he put it.
Gilan and Ciaran Wednesday January 25th, 2006 7:32:14 PM
Gilan finds himself ready to move out as well. He slips over to stand by the rest of the pack. "I could be as Jake says...but as to following the path that it made." He places the path in relation to the camp and shakes his head. "Wrong direction unless it turns somewhere."
Ciaran stands at the ready near his brother. He seems interested in the idea of moving along. His tongue is lolled out of his mouth, head cocked and looking up at his brother.
Anuk Wednesday January 25th, 2006 7:45:52 PM
Jake's description makes Anuk's ears perk up. "You mean ranthoms?! Shady...wanna see one of those someday."
After a pause and a sigh he says, "But, like the manfri said...we're needed elsewhere right now."
spells prepared: Entangle, Endure Elements
The path. (DM Jim) Wednesday January 25th, 2006 11:30:23 PM
The pack moves out now that they have gotten a bite to eat for breakfast and prepared themselves. One of the things that you notice is that the ash does not seem to be as thick lately and you do not kick it up as bad. As you travel in the direction of the mysterious path in the grass you all wonder what could have made it and what it could mean.
At last the grass breaks and you step out into the open area that Gilan had described and saw from the air. It is indeed fifteen feet across and the grass is so short that you can almost not even tell that it is there. The strangest thing is that it is not growing back or at least it does not appear to be growing back.
Anuk, Gilan and Tishe' do a little comparing of directions and they soon figure that the path roughly runs northwest to southeast but not in a straight line. This corridor in the grass seems to stretch for as far as you can see in both direction.
I will try to send out a rough map for you tomorrow so that you can start to put things into place a little.
Tishe' and Stripes d20+8=17 Thursday January 26th, 2006 12:57:05 AM
Curiosity overcoming her caution, Tishe' moves about the circle of cut grass that doesn't grow back, looking for clues in the ground. (Spot: 17)
Stripes is becoming a little more easy with the other members of the Pack, and doesn't always keep a shoulder against his human, but moves up to a easy leap away.
White: Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mending, Prestidigitation Red: Shield, Mage Armor, Grease, Summon I Orange: See Invisibility, Glitterdust, Summon II, Summon II Yellow: Summon III, Dispel Magic, Fly
Trellus Thursday January 26th, 2006 10:09:21 AM
Trellus stands in the middle of the huge tear in the Grass, looking up and then down the seemingly endless path.
"Ranthom", he echoes Anuk. "Totally shady." He grins. "It'd be truly waxed to see one of those, all right." The grin fades into a theatrical grimace, and the blond man points to the wall of Grass on the opposite side. "Too bad we're weaving THAT way."
The young man scans curiously around some more, hands on hips, waiting patiently while Anuk and Tishe and whoever gets their fill of exploring a bunch of short grass.
When they're done, the pack can head out again.
Spells Prepared: d -- domain spell 0 - Create Water (x3), Detect Magic (x2), Read Magic 1 -- Endure Elements (x4), Prot from Evil, Remove Fear, Sanctuary(d) 2 -- Lesser Restoration (x3), Spiritual Weapon, Bulls Strength (d) 3 - Dispel Magic (x2), Prayer, Magic Vestment*, Magic Vestment(d)* 4 -- Air Walk, Freedom of Movement, Summon Monster IV, Spell Immunity (d)
Mac Thursday January 26th, 2006 3:31:38 PM
Taking the time, Mac feeds and waters Galea and then picks at leftovers himself before topping up his one functioning waterskin.
When he is armoured up (Gee, this is comfortable!) he awaits the final explorations before the pack heads off again into another already warm day in the Sargrass.
Gilan and Ciaran Thursday January 26th, 2006 8:16:22 PM
Gilan takes some time to search out the area and takes note of anything that seems out of place. He does have to agree with Trel. "I would agree...Ranthom." His memory fills with a different time and place when he was first coming to the Plains. It had been a ranthom then that had destroyed the druidwood boat he had been on. Still with the sad memory comes the good as he looks around at those he travels with now. Not realizing that he was speaking out loud he voices thoughts in his head. "I have gained much for my loss."
Grymash d20+9=14 d20+2=19 Thursday January 26th, 2006 8:31:47 PM
Grymash walks out into the clearing with great interest. "Who says Ranthom!? Thems be BIG piggies!!" He looks for fresh tracks that might be left behind. Grymash examines the tiny blades of grass that have yet to grow back. In fact, he plucks up several, along with a hand full of soil, and sniffs them for any strange odors. "Hmmmm!?"
(Survival 14, Spot 19)
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended), Mount Thursday January 26th, 2006 8:52:49 PM
Ulgren swings up on his conjured mount and rides out to the short grass, "strange, but interesting," Ulgren says surveying the area. Ulgren nudges his mount forward into the center of the circle and waits for directions.
Flea Thursday January 26th, 2006 9:16:20 PM
Huffing and puffing, the 3 ft. 3 inch Flea finally clears the tall grass. "Let's go that-a-way," she says pointing down the long avenue of flat grass, just as the party leader points to the wall of grass opposite and suggests that is the direction they are to take.
Flea curses the secrecy of the Rattledam monks and wonders if she is sneaky enough to start detailing the party's travels on parchment.
Discovery and moving on. (DM Jim) Thursday January 26th, 2006 11:38:33 PM
The area is amazing with grass so short that you can see the soil underneath. As you all fall out and check it out, many things are noticed. The ground is flattened out rather well and any tracks that might have been found have been rolled away. No real odor is available on the grass but you do notice slight amounts of moisture on it but it does not seem to draw the insects to it.
The path that runs in both directions seems to be straight but it could have many turns in it. With a sigh you all listen up as Trel speaks and points in the direction of the village that you seek. In fact Anuk makes a sketch in the little bit of exposed dirt that lays out the relative position on the village and the path of eaten grass. If it did not branch in the wrong direction you could follow it for awhile but through the grass is the more direct route.
Either direction that the pack takes will eventially take them back into the grass and that is where they find themselves. The ash is still present though it seems to not be as bothering now(Fort DC 10 or 1d3 Con damage}. Though it is hot out you find that it feels slightly cooler than it has been in the past and you wonder what effect that exploding mountain had on the heat or maybe it is the ash.
Spot checks required.
Jake d20+6=22 d20+7=25 Friday January 27th, 2006 5:47:17 AM
Jake feels the heat of the sun down on him and pauses to remove his hat and wipe the sweat out of his forehead, then take a small drink from his waterskin and admire the view. He doesn't mind the ash at all. He is still using that mask, but it, too, is sweaty, and he's finding himself really feeling tired in the sun-ridden area. "Ah wish we were restin' in sweet shade," he mumbles... (Spot 22)
Anuk d20+11=17 d20+12=29 d20+12=13 Friday January 27th, 2006 10:44:16 AM
"Shade would be shady, Jake" agrees Anuk as they trudge along. "Maybe whoever needs our help'll have some. Wonder how far away they are?"
Fort 17 (endurance +4) spot 29 listen 13 (nat 1)
Trellus d20+8=17 d20+10=17 Friday January 27th, 2006 11:42:57 AM
[Fort 17] [Spot 17]
Forcing his way through the wall of Grass, Trellus can't help but grin at Jake's whining. Just like old times "That's why they call it sunbaked," he responds lightly. "At least this dust is going down. We must be moving away from that volcano."
The young man shoves his way through a particularly strong stand of Grass, stumbling as he breaks through to the other side.
"Dudes, next time we really gotta get ourselves a boat."
Spells Prepared: d -- domain spell 0 - Create Water (x3), Detect Magic (x2), Read Magic 1 -- Endure Elements (x4), Prot from Evil, Remove Fear, Sanctuary(d) 2 -- Lesser Restoration (x3), Spiritual Weapon, Bulls Strength (d) 3 - Dispel Magic (x2), Prayer, Magic Vestment*, Magic Vestment(d)* 4 -- Air Walk, Freedom of Movement, Summon Monster IV, Spell Immunity (d)
Gilan and Ciaran d20+10=22 d20+3=19 Friday January 27th, 2006 7:13:26 PM
Gilan follows along with the rest of the group but continues to move among the group to check on condition. He does stop by Flea and gives her a smile. "How ya holding up?" He is hoping that his easy smile will put her at ease as he stays by her side for awhile.
Ciaran moves along with his brother and comes up along the other side of Flea. His head pushes at her hand several times and if he gets no attention he will lick her hand several times and whine.
Wet situation. (DM Jim) d20+9=29(Flea) d20+2=12(Gry) d20+5=22(Mac) d20+8=10(Tishe') d20+1=10(Ulgren) Friday January 27th, 2006 11:31:34 PM
Jake is whining about how he would like some shade as he wipes sweat from his head. Anuk comments to Jake that maybe they will have shade at this village they are traveling too. While Trel is just happy to hear the usual complaining from Jake that reminds him of home. Gilan slips back to talk to Flea with his wolf companion.
The rest of the group is strangely silent as they think over the turn of events lately. The fall of ash, the erupting mountain, the fight with the Barons and thier meeting with the Manfri. Then there is the good luck to have Tishe' back with the group as well. Some many things have been happening and that does not include the bizarre arrival of a vampire in the middle of the day.
Anuk, Jake and Gilan are just about to call out a warning when they hear the unmistakable sound of several loud pops. Flea had stopped to point at a large bulge in the ground when the sounds went off. Mac had been about to ask about the bulges in the ground as well when he whirls around, axe in hand.
Gry, Tishe', Trell and Ulgren find that their legs are saturated in water from the bladders of hidden pockets of water, created by the growing grass for nourishment.
Suddenly the quiet of the plains is broken by the insistent humming and clacking of insects as they start to come out in droves. All of the pack know that it will be only seconds till this area is crawling with bugs of all sorts, seeking the now exposed water. This includes the three leg soaked pack members.
Now that it has been brought to your attention the whole area is pretty well scattered with bladders here and there. You suddenly realize that getting out of the area will be tricky and then there are the bugs themselves...they will not give up if you flee.
Trellus Saturday January 28th, 2006 9:12:35 AM Sweet Domi's Light
Trellus looks up in horror at Grymash. Maybe Tishe and Ulgren don't know what just happened, but the blond man shares the Plains bond with the half orc. They are in serious trouble. You can fight a band of rapke with spell and axe, but a billion blood sucking bugs is a totally unwinnable situation.
"Dudes," he gasps to Tishe and Ulgren. "We are truly twisted. We gotta get out of here, and get dry, and I mean now."
"Have we gotta enough spells to get everyone flying? That'll get us over this spot, and the air should dry us out too. I got two flying potions and my Air Walk spell."
The cleric focuses on Gilan and Anuk. "Any ideas dudes?"
Gilan and Ciaran Saturday January 28th, 2006 6:14:15 PM
Gilan winces as he looks to those that have just gotten soaked. With a look of thought he tries to run through all the ideas that he can come up with. "I can take a form that would allow me to get Flea out of here fast or I could maybe delay the bugs with some water a little further out." He looks to Anuk with a look of fear. "Anything?" He hopes that maybe Anuk will come up with something that he has missed.
He glances around at all the other bladders and shivers. "We will be hard pressed to run in this mess without setting off more of them." He lays a hand upon Ciaran's head for comfort and support as he tries to continue to think fast.
Jake Sunday January 29th, 2006 2:18:20 AM
"Ah know a way, but ah don't know if you guys are gonna like it... Take EVERYTHING off, shove all the gear into waterproof bags those things can't smell through, then toast ourselves in a fire!" Jake is half-joking, half-serious. He figures they're screwed here, no matter what.
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended), Mount Sunday January 29th, 2006 10:10:01 AM
Ulgren smiles as he enjoys the view from a slightly different perspective atop his conjured mount. The mage looks down in horror as his legs are soaked by the exploding water bulges. The drow quickly drops down from his mount and strips off of his pants, rolls them in a sodden ball and pushes them into the waterproof gift bag from the Manfri. "I dont have any fly or levitate spells or scrolls at the moment." Ulgren says quickly. "I can try to outrun the swarm on my mount but I dont know if that will work." Ulgren looks around, "Will they swarm the closest water source or the most abundant?"
Flea d20+3=14 d20+9=28 Sunday January 29th, 2006 8:12:20 PM
Flea struggles to make her way through the grass, however the scarf across her mouth does the trick (Fort. Save=14, made) and her breathing isn't so difficult. She rests a hand on Ciaran, and the animal seems to welcome the gesture. It almost seems as if the beast treads the grass down and makes it easier for the gnome to pass.
Before Flea can call out a warning to her friends, they tread on the grass bladders. Ever vigilant (Spot=28) Flea makes her way to Tishe' and casts a spell* hoping the simple magic will do the trick and dry the woman's garments.
Gnome spells, 1 per day (Prestididgitation)
Tishe' and Snout Sunday January 29th, 2006 10:22:23 PM
The short grass was most interesting, especially the dampness that did not attract insects, but the path to the village is throug the 'Grass, and Tishe' and her hyena companion march on.
Her curiosity gets her to looking at the tops of the grasses when *squish*, "Ugh!, it's a pocket of water!" Tishe' gets out of the bladder and stamps a couple of times, ruefully thinking that she may get a blister with wet shoes.
And then the humming of insects come to her ears, and Tishe' remembers how they were done with the Kall'a'tek. "Water and insects... oh Piggies! I don't want to get eaten by a million insects!"
Trellus' suggestion of flying calms her down somewhat, and she immediately downs a potion of flying from her satchel (sharing with Stripes). Rising into the air, she announces "I've got my fly spell memorized and can use my pearl to cast another. We can do the same like we did to get away from the Rapke."
Anuk Monday January 30th, 2006 11:35:34 AM
Anuk's mind is racing as the bugs draw nearer. "Uh...most important thing is to get dry and get away from the wet areas. Like Jake said: if it's wet, take it off and leave it here! Flying might help, but these things can fly too--we gotta keep 'em occupied. There here for the water so, once we're dry if we can keep away from the wet areas we should be okay. Umm..."
After a moment more he pulls his new magical bow out and nocks a couple of arrows. They hum with electricity and the hair on Anuk's head stands on end while he holds it. "All of you go and I'll stay behind a bit longer and then I'll catch up -- I'm dry so they oughta leave me alone if I'm a safe distance away. Last time we encountered these water pods it was a lightning storm that caused them to pop. I'm thinking when the bugs arrive I'll shoot a few arrows into the area then I'll take off. Hopefully, the electricity from the arrows will be enough to pop a few more pods. If we can shower enough bugs in water, maybe they'll go after each other instead of us? Give us a bit longer to get away?"
Mac Monday January 30th, 2006 2:35:41 PM OOC: My post on the weekend isn't on the board!
"Or we could cram the wet stuff into your magic bag, Anuk?!"
Anuk (illegal 2nd post) Monday January 30th, 2006 5:34:30 PM
"Put as much in there as you can," agrees Anuk. He takes off his pack and opens it for any who can use it.
ooc: the pack can hold up to 120 lbs: 80lbs in the main compartment and 20lbs in each side compartment. Not sure just how much stuff is wet.
Ideas, thoughts and actions. (DM Jim) 5d3(1+2+3+3+2)=11 5d3(3+2+2+2+2)=11 5d6(6+6+6+1+6)=25 Monday January 30th, 2006 9:08:12 PM
Trellus knows that the group maybe in deep trouble here and he looks to Gilan and Anuk for advice. He does talk of flying if that should be a good idea.
Gilan lays out the idea of dropping some water in a different area for a distraction. He also knows and suggests the idea of changing forms to allow at least Flea to move faster.
Jake makes the obvious suggestion of taking of all wet clothes and stashing it till they are gone. Still being Jake he adds the idea of toasting those that are wet with fire.
Ulgren is quick to shed his own wet pants and stuff them into that bag that he got earlier. It was waterproof after all and should help him out. He does ask about water distractions as well.
Flea was feeling a little better about her travels in the grass, with Ciaran seeming to crunch the grass before her. As the bladder goes off, as Tishe' steps on it, she is quick to move in and use a simple spell that dries her off fast.
Tishe' quickly takes a potion and downs it so that she can now fly. She feels the water on her legs dry up really fast though, even before she starts to drink her potion. Stripes stares up at her for a few seconds till he finds himself floating in the air. to say the least he is not happy with the new situation.
Anuk lets the group know that the most important thing is to get dry and fast. He pulls out an arrow that crackles with lightning. He throws out his plan and it does seem sound. He also take the cue from Mac to offer up his own waterproof bag to hold some of the wet clothes.
Mac suggests that all watered clothes be stuffed into a waterproof sack and then the group get going as fast as the can out of here.
As the group draws on plans of action the sounds get even louder and then the ground around you seems to come alive. Insects are crawling out of the very dirt that you stand upon. Grymash and Trellus find that their wet pants are soon swarming with biting insects. They are both on the outside of your pants and on the inside of them as they seek all of the water that they can get too.
Ulgren on the other hand fairs a lot worse as he is now bare legged and his legs the object of the insects attention. Though they are swarming over the lower parts of the horse he summoned, it does not notice.
A black swarm of insects are closing in from all sides as you watch. It is apparent that a distraction maybe in order really fast since the group is already in a bad way.
Will need concentration checks for those being attacked if you cast a spell. You can also move at half movement if you are on the ground but full movement if you are flying. You can guess that the full swarm will be upon the group in the next round.
Grymash (ac23, hp83, locate object: dry soil) d20+3=21 d20+9=27 d20+2=11 d20+5=14 Monday January 30th, 2006 10:02:05 PM
(sorry for not posting in time. just got home.)
"GRRRRRRRR!!!" growls the half-orc in frustration. He feels the stings of the creepers and can easily sense countless others on the way. Why did Gry allow this! He knows better. He knows all to well what the creepers would do if they walked in such a place. How could he be so blind? He wants to rage, but he knows that would bring his end all that much quicker. Now was a time to keep his wits. His frustration is building to its peak. He needs to do something quick while he still has some control over the situation. "GRRRRRRRRRR!!! Well that didnt take long! Focus, focus, focus ...FOCUSS!! "GRRRRRR .. MUSSS FIND DA DRY DIRT ... MUSS FINNDD DAAHH DRRYYY DUURRRTT ... GRRRUUGHHH!! GARGULLL, OPEN GRY EYE TOO DA DRY DIRRTT!! DA DEEP SOIL ... DA SHADY DEep soil. Grymash wants his hands in dry deep soil of mother wold! Show it too me. Oh Gargul, open my eyes so that I can see!"
(Concentration Check 21 to cast Locate Object [dry soil] from his Travel Domain of spells. Area Effect: 540' radius.)
Grymash's eyes begin to glow with a holy light. As soon as he senses a direction, he shouts, "Hurry! I see dry land this way! Follow!" The barbarian will do his best to trample over the grass as he can, hoping the others will have an easier go in his wake.
(Survival: 27, Spot: 11, Listen: 14)
Tishe' and Stripes d20+3=14 Monday January 30th, 2006 10:25:15 PM
When there are people in trouble, the brown-eyed mage is not distracted by small curiosities (why ARE my legs dry? <mental slap> Get shuttlecocked, girl!) and is at a loss to try anything other than swooping down to grapple Ulgren and get him away from the insects. (AC 14) If she can get ahold of him, she rises into the air to leave the crawling bugs behind.
Stripes is yipping quick staccato barks. Doesn't seem to like this. Doesn't like it at all!
Flea d20+9=17 Tuesday January 31st, 2006 12:01:59 AM
The rogue is out of tricks and a dark swarm of some sort is descending on her pack mates. Flea watches as Tishe' starts to rise into the sky, her arms around the new drow as she tries to lift him off his horse, then Gry goes berserker and charges off through the tall grass yelling something about Gargul and dirt.
Flea makes to follow the barbarian as he breaks trail through the high grass she moves as fast as she is able. She tries to spot any new bladders of water (Spot=17) and will try to avoid them as best she can.
(OOC: Flea's base speed is 20 ft.)
Anuk (HP 52/52, AC 22, rapid shot) d20+12=30 d20+13=15 d20+8=16 d20-2=12 d8+4=5 d8+4=11 d8+4=7 d6=1 d6=1 d6=6 Tuesday January 31st, 2006 10:49:23 AM
"Follow Gry! Go! Go!" cries out Anuk. He turns to peer through the swarm, trying to see any unpopped bladders that lie opposite the direction the group is traveling. (spot 30)
"Light, I hope this works," he mutters. He aims the shortbow and three of the electrified arrows zip toward their targets.
Atk 1: hits AC16 for 5 pts +1 pt electrical Atk 2: hits AC17 for 11 pts +1 pt electrical Atk 3: hits AC13 for 7 pts +6 pts electrical (ooc: when rolling I forgot to add in +1 to hit for the bow of shock bonus, so I added it in above.)
Modifiers: Attack: +13/+8/-2 (BAB +11/+6/0, +1 mw arrows, +1 Point blank shot, +2 bracers of archery, -2 rapid shot, bow of shock +1) Damage: +4 (+1 point blank shot, +2 str, +1 bracers of archery), and 1d6 electrical damage (bow of shock) Precise shot: can fire into melee w/o penalty
Jake Tuesday January 31st, 2006 2:34:08 PM
Jake reaches in his pack, hoping to find something useful and pulls out a torch and a clump of those herbs and spices the Manfri. They smell VERY strong, almost overpowering. "Hey, someone light this torch," he yells out.
The pungent smell of some of the herbs, he hopes, will overcome the smell of the water a little. Maybe that was something the Manfri taught him, or maybe it's just something he thought of on the spot. In either case, he doesn't know how well it will work until he tries it. He's definitely heard stories of how blood-eaters were held off by weird herbs called Carlicks... He's also prepared to rush after Gry, though carefully curtailing the water area...
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended), Mount. Hps:8/33 Tuesday January 31st, 2006 4:36:29 PM
Ulgren yelps in pain as the bugs begin attacking his bare legs. Ulgren willingly allows Tishe to grab him and cary him upwards. As he is being carried upwards Ulgren uses his drow ability and dries his legs, pants and the water proof bag with prestigitation. The spell like ability coupled with the biting of the insects drains the drow though and with his remaining strength the mage holds onto Tishe'.
Gilan and Ciaran Tuesday January 31st, 2006 4:42:25 PM
Gilan no longer thinks as he slips into the power that Mother Wold have given him. He casts a simple water spell twenty feet from the group, watching in satisfaction as a large amount of water slams into the ground. "Follow Gry...I will try to help Anuk in holding them back or at least delaying them." He watches as the rest of the group move on through the grass though at a slower speed to avoid the other bulges of water in the ground.
Glancing to Anuk he shakes his head. "This reminds me of a time with fire...I did not enjoy that too much." He gives a wry smile as he waits long enough to see what will happen. He looks to his wolf brother and gestures in the direction that the rest are moving. "Go Ciaran...watch Flea." With what seems to be a nod the wolf takes off in that direction to watch out for the one called Flea.
Trellus (56/67 hp, Air Walk) d20+10=30 Tuesday January 31st, 2006 5:07:27 PM
Time to shut up and move.
Trellus casts a spell, oblivious to the creatures attacking his legs. [Casting Air Walk - Concentration check 30, sweet]
"We're out," he tells Anuk, and then he takes off after Grymash, stepping upward into the air as he sprints ahead. [Run - 60' move]
Tishe' and Stripes d20+2=14 Tuesday January 31st, 2006 10:17:40 PM
Firming her grip around the body and under the unresisting Ulgren's arms (Grapple: 14) Tishe' then mentally wills the spell to carry herself and the shared Stripes forward following the path Grymash blazed. Not able to do anything other than fly (what with her arms and head full at the same time), the plain-faced spellweaver flies over the Grass, brown tresses flying in the wind.
"Bark, Yip, Yip, YIP!" complains Stripes.
The good, the bad and the ugly. (DM Jim) Tuesday January 31st, 2006 11:52:53 PM
Gry casts a simple spell and he is instantly alerted to the presence of ground ahead that has no water bladders infesting it. He finds that his movement is still slowed as he needs to watch for other bladders that maybe in his way. Still he is leading the group straight to land that is safer for the whole group.
Tishe' finds that she is dry and though she would like to ponder it she finds that grabing Ulgren is more important. She grabs him and soon is following along with the rest of the group, but she is farther behind them. Her poor friend Stripes seems uneasy in the air and makes little progress as he tries to run in the air, though he does seem to keep up with her.
Flea takes off after the big barbarian, hoping that he knows what he is doing. She dodges through the water infested area and wishes that she could move a little faster.
Anuk calls out to the group to follow along with Gry as he takes an easy aim at the soaked ground and some of the surrounding bladders. He lets off three arrows in rapid succession and hopes that it will not cause a chain reaction in the whole area.
Jake pulls out some of the spices and herbs that he was given by the Manfri. He remembers that you can use certain herbs to keep away undead as well as insects. Didn't Gilan make a smelly sauve that would keep them away and protect against sunburn once. As he calls for a torch he hopes that he can join Gry and the rest in thier retreat soon.
Mac just turns and runs as best he can while trying to avoid the remaining bladders in the surrounding area.
The sudden and intense pain leave Ulgren with other things on his mind, so when he is picked up he just lets it happen. Mustering his will he casts a simple spell that was cast earlier by Flea and dries his own legs. Looking down he notices that without the moisture there the bugs just fall off or take to wing to find water. Still there are a lot of nasty welts and some wounds that are starting to seep blood.
Gilan drops a load of water in the opposite direction of the group, hoping for a distraction as Anuk tries to fry the insects. He watches as the others run in the other direction and he motions Ciaran to follow and help out Flea. Ciaran seems to understand his brother as he takes off and after Flea, though he does avoid bladders as he goes.
Trellus concentrates on casting a spell as he feels the critters inside and outside of his pants. They are biting his legs and he feels his concentration being tested but luckily he gets the spell out. He is soon running over the top of the air as he calls back to Anuk and follows Gry.
Three arrows slam into the wet ground and send a cascade of electricity through the water that stands on the ground. Those that are moving can hear the explosions of many more bladders as they are hit by the shock. Gilan's spell goes off shortly after and the electricity is carried even further out as it follows the water source. There are another series of small explosions as more water pops around the area. Too late Anuk and Gilan make a realization...the grass actually carries the charge through it and around it. Many of the bladders that explode send showers of water over the two men as they look on in slack jaw terror.
What those running are unable to see as the explosions end is the surrounding area cover in fried bugs of all different types. Though many of them are dead, you can tell that many more are just stunned. There is also a small cloud of them that had been higher in the air when the whole thing went off that are unhurt. Anuk and Gilan quickly realize that they are wet from head to toe and the insects will surely find them just as edible as the rest of the wet grass.
Everyone but Anuk and Gilan were well out of range of the water bombs that went off under the electricity.
I figure that the faster members of the group are now 20-25 feet from the explosion area. The slower members of the group are 15 feet away from the area.
Those that are still wet should consider that they will soon have insects from the new area they enter looking for the source of the water as well.
Jake Wednesday February 1st, 2006 1:50:55 PM
Jake just spends this round running ahead of the others. Gotta get some distance. Might as well go first, in case there's anything dangerous up ahead. He leads the way at a run, though not a spectacular run, as he is in heavy armor, and others can run ahead of him. Up to them.
Flea (Hasted) Wednesday February 1st, 2006 3:11:03 PM
Flea keeps a steady pace. She had trained for this, but her short stature does not permit her to keep up with those who have longer legs. A click of her magic boots gives her a burst of speed, but the gnome knows it is only temporary.
Glancing sideways Flea spots Gillan's friend loping easily beside her. Flea concentrates and tries to use the gem embedded in her chest to send a 'thank you' to the druid. The rogue hasn't used the Dragon's Tear in a while and since leaving Ice Vein she had tried to shut off her emotions.
*Boots of Speed-p. 250 DMG guide-act as though affected by a Haste Spell...p. 239 PHB) 1/10 rounds (not required to be consecutive rounds)
Trellus (56/67 hp, Air Walk) Wednesday February 1st, 2006 4:27:19 PM
Trellus is rapidly remembering the 'everybody is out to get us' feeling he developed the LAST time he was out on the Grass.
Lacking any better ideas, the blond man hurries along above and behind Grymash. He keeps an eye on Anuk and Gilan. He may need to backtrack soon.
Spells Prepared: d -- domain spell 0 - Create Water (x3), Detect Magic (x2), Read Magic 1 -- Endure Elements (x4), Prot from Evil, Remove Fear, Sanctuary(d) 2 -- Lesser Restoration (x3), Spiritual Weapon, Bulls Strength (d) 3 - Dispel Magic (x2), Prayer, Magic Vestment*, Magic Vestment(d)* 4 -- Air Walk, Freedom of Movement, Summon Monster IV, Spell Immunity (d)
Gilan and Ciaran Wednesday February 1st, 2006 5:52:45 PM
Gilan looks to Anuk and shakes his head as he flips a little of the water off of himself. "Well at least we got the others away." His wry smile does not do much to ease the tension of the new situation that they both find themselves in. "With the bladders gone...I think it is time for us to make a full out retreat." With that he turns and starts running in the direction that the rest took, following Gry. Gilan feels the heart touch from Flea and returns it with a tinge of worry, not that he meant too.
Ciaran slips back a little and noses Flea as he tries to push her up and onto his back. Being a large creature he knows that he can move easier than she can and faster at that.
Anuk (woodland stride) Wednesday February 1st, 2006 6:53:32 PM
"Light!...That was...uh...'interesting.' Right behind you, Gil," Anuk replies. He scoops up his soaking pack, hoping that Twinge is still nestled safely somewhere inside. No time to check though. Still dripping, he takes off down the trail created by Gry, hoping that the heat of the Plains will quickly dry off he and Gilan. As they run, he tells the druid, "Thank you for staying behind, my friend."
Grymash (locate object: dry dirt) d20+9=23 d20+2=8 d20+5=22 Wednesday February 1st, 2006 7:49:27 PM "I see it! GRY SEES IT, Lord Gargul! My eyes are open! I will praise Lord Gargul and sing your name IN DA GRASSES OF DA SARGRASSES. Your mercy is GUTE, oh Master!" The well spoken barbarian continues to charge forward. Tearing a path through the chaos.
(Normal movement is 40', double would be 80'. Survival 23, Spot 8, Listen 22)
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended), Mount. Hps:8/33 Wednesday February 1st, 2006 10:55:39 PM
Ulgren settles in to Tishe's grasp and tries not move until he is set down looking ahead Ulgren doesn't notice the explosion of water behind him. "Thanks for saving my butt."
Tishe' and Stripes Thursday February 2nd, 2006 4:09:49 AM
"Oh, you'd do the same for me!", the brown-eyed girl says brightly as she holds the dark elf tightly around the chest.
"Let's fly over the others and you can use your white spell of prestidigitation to dry them off as well."
Tishe' mentally lowers Stripes so he can run on solid ground and then flies Ulgren out to where Grymash is to get him dry.
"Trellus!", she calls, "is everybody here?"
All hail the insects. (DM Jim) Thursday February 2nd, 2006 4:23:07 AM
Jake continues his run finding that he is out of the bladder field he can now pick up the speed, though he knows that most can keep up with him or run faster than he can.
Flea keeps a steady pace but does activate her boots to make it a little easier. Soon she is also out of the bladder field with Ciaran with her. She sends out a heart touch thank you to Gilan, for his thoughtfulness.
Trellus can only think one thing as they run to safety. That is the happenings the last time they were out in the grass, that had not been so fun. He does keep an eye out for both Anuk and Gilan as they stayed behind to delay...but not get killed.
Gilan is horrified at the sudden dousing of water that he takes. Still he tries to bear it in a stoic manner and even jokes about it with Anuk. He returns the heart touch to Flea but a little of his current emotions transfer through. He take off with Anuk at a rather nice pace, with no bladders left to worry about he can run flat out.
Anuk is rather surprised by the happenings but at least they have delayed the insects for a few. He gives Gilan thanks as he runs along with the druid...mostly for covering his back. He does hope they can dry out fast as he does not want to be eaten alive.
Grymash finds a nice place as he passes by Jake that they could take a rest at. It is good dry short grass with no water bladders to worry about.
Ulgren just settles into the arms of Tishe' and tries not to move too much till they are seated again on the ground. He does thank her for saving his butt.
Tishe' continues her fleeing form the area of water. Being dry she is not too worried about the insects now but she does not know that Ulgren is dry and worries about his condition. She sees Gry slow though as she flies through the air. Stripes is still behind her but he does not look to be in too good of shape...looking a little green.
Mac barrels along with the rest of the group as he hears the explosions behind him. As he pulls up on where Gry has stopped he leans over a little breathing hard.
As most of the group finds a safe area to hold up till Anuk and Gilan catch up they turn their thoughts to those that are still wet. The little run through the grass has dried off part of your legs but it is not complete enough to keep the insects away. You can see that some insects have started to move out of the very grass that you stand upon, but at least it is dry ground. Both Gry and Trellus can see the start of a whole new set of bites coming upon their legs and it is not a nice though.
Anuk and Gilan race along through the wet grass. They can hear some of the insects buzzing behind them and they know that they are being followed. This just spurs them on to run faster and get to their friends and hopefully get dry.
Sorry for such a early morning post. Had to do some updates to my computer for earthlink. If all goes as planned I should be able to do a makeup post on Saturday.
Flea d20+15=29 Thursday February 2nd, 2006 10:26:57 AM
Flea senses the proximity of the wolf, but the nudge is unexpected and the gnome starts to loose her balance! She twists around and reaches out a hand to clasp the creature around the neck. The momentum of the beast sweeps her off her feet and she scrambles to clamber onto his back. (Tumble=29)
Anuk (woodland stride) Thursday February 2nd, 2006 11:03:50 AM
The sounds of the insects behind him spur the ranger on. "Keep moving Gilan! They're on our tails!"
Trellus (56/67 hp, Air Walk) Thursday February 2nd, 2006 11:50:23 AM OK, Dude, Trellus tells himself. Time to come up with a truly waxed pick.
Unfortunately, the blond man draws a complete blank.
Or, I can just try and pull one from the dam.
Trellus runs back to Anuk, and casts a spell on the ranger[Sanctuary]. Maybe it'll help....
Spells Prepared: d -- domain spell 0 - Create Water (x3), Detect Magic (x2), Read Magic 1 -- Endure Elements (x4), Prot from Evil, Remove Fear, Sanctuary(d)* 2 -- Lesser Restoration (x3), Spiritual Weapon, Bulls Strength (d) 3 - Dispel Magic (x2), Prayer, Magic Vestment*, Magic Vestment(d)* 4 -- Air Walk, Freedom of Movement, Summon Monster IV, Spell Immunity (d)
Grymash Thursday February 2nd, 2006 7:23:40 PM
Once the barbarian cleric spots the dry ground with his own eyes, he quickly falls to his knees. He grunts as he stabbs his hands into soil and pulls up two heaping handfuls of dry sandy dirt. Trails of dust blows away in billowy clouds like smoke. He then begins to rub them against, covering his armor, clothes and skin. Absorbing the water still dripping from him. "Hurry! Take Gargul's mercy befores too late!! Grymash holds out a handful of dirt to any packmate that wishes to take it.
Gilan and Ciaran Thursday February 2nd, 2006 8:16:19 PM
Gilan only glances behind him once to see the small swarm that is collecting to come after them. He cusses under his breathe as he runs, not slowing his pace. He does glance to Anuk and gives a half-hearted smile. "I did not plan on doing more than running anyways...unless you feel like going to lunch with the bugs." He cannot laugh at his own attempt at a joke as he pours on as much speed as possible.
Ciaran winces slightly as Flea grabs his fur, waiting for her to get a good hold. Once he feels her settle in fully he takes off, taking full strides that carry them both.
Tishe' and Stripes d20+12=26 d20+8=12 Thursday February 2nd, 2006 9:37:55 PM
Bugs here, too! They must be all throughout the soil.
"Ulgren, you are dry!" She says with some surprise, "how did you...Prestigiditation of course." (Spellcraft: 26)
"Quick! lets dry the others!" Tishe casts her own Prestidigitation and begins to dry Grymash.
At a slower pace than his usual briskness, the ugly looking hi-eena follows his nose to where his human is (Scent: 12)
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended), Mount. Hps:8/33 Thursday February 2nd, 2006 10:02:47 PM
Ulgren nods at Tishe', "Yes while we were flying I dried myself and my pants." Ulgren flushes as he looks down at his bare bloodied legs. The drow then turns and begins to dry another of his packmates with prestigitation.
Jake Friday February 3rd, 2006 2:21:39 AM
Jake hurries to get to the dry spot that Grymash seems to be hanging around. Quickly he says, "Light up this torch and we can smoke 'em away! They don't like smoke or fire..." If none of the magic-dudes move to help him out, he digs out his own flint and steel and gets ready to light a torch up (next round).
It could be worse. (DM Jim) Friday February 3rd, 2006 2:40:53 PM
Flea finds that she is almost pushed forward as Ciaran nudges her from behind. She tumbles back and over onto his back as she takes a handful of fur. She hangs on as the wolf picks up speed.
Anuk keeps running as the insects continue thier pursuit of him and his group. He encourageous Gilan to continue his own run for thier lives.
Trellus racks his brain as he tries to come up with some plan that will save the day. With an inward groan he does the only thing that he can think of. He casts one of his simpliar spells on Anuk as he gets close enough.
Grymash grabs up handfuls of dirt and rubs it onto his wet legs and pants. He calls out to those that are still wet to do the same and dry themselves with Gargul's mercy.
Gilan continues his own headlong run as he jokes with Anuk about joining the bugs for lunch. He does look back again and then spurs it on a little faster.
Tishe' is surprised to find that Ulgren is dry and then she thinks back on what she noticed as they had fled. He had used a simple spell to dry his legs. She then steps closer to Gry and uses the same spell upon him...though he is mostly dry now anyways and very dirty. Stripes paces after his human though he does it a little stiffly as if he is still upset about being made to fly.
Ulgren nods and lets Tishe' know that she as right about the spell and then he looks down at his bare bloody legs. Though he knows that he should at least feel a little uncomfortable but he knows that he has work to do. He moves over and dries Trellus with the same spell that he used on himself earlier.
Jake pulls up his torch and comments about lighting it up. Bugs don't like smoke and if they can make some smoke than they can drive away the insects. Without waiting he digs into his pack to find his own flint and steel to light the torch.
Mac is bent over as he tries to finally catch his breathe from the long run they just made. With a few wheezes he looks back to find out if everyone made it safely.
The buzzing of insects is getting louder behind Anuk and Gilan as they run. It should not be too much longer and they will be caught by the insects. The can also see their friends standing in a small clearing ahead...about thirty feet further. Then you notice the insects that have come out of the ground near your friends in the opening.
Anuk feels a spell being cast upon him and wonders about where it came from. He only has an instant to decide what he will do.
From a distance you can hear a rumble and then the ground begins to shake as if another mountain is about to explode. Though you are standing in a small clearing you also cannot see very far as the grass all around, except what was trampled, is over twenty feet tall.
Anuk has a choice of accepting the spell though he does not know where it came from or what it does. He could also just let it take effect. I do believe that any spell can be resisted if you want to.
Tishe' and Stripes Sunday February 5th, 2006 3:41:35 AM
Feeling the rumble just like last night, Tishe' wonders what may be causing it. "Well, it's certainly not the bugs", she says out loud. And then raising her voice, she calls out to Gilan and Anuk, "Ulgen and I can dry you off!" The brown haired girl concentrates her Prestidigitation on Gilan to dry her packmate.
Stripes comes stiffly into the grass but keeps a little distance between himself and his human. If that air-stuff is what'll happen a lot, maybe he made a mistake in choosing this human...
Jake Sunday February 5th, 2006 12:45:57 PM
Fire's always useful. Jake sighs and figures next time, he'd better get an autofire thing... Save him some time. So it is that he lights up his torch. He shoves the herbs and flint and steel into a pocket.
Trellus (Air Walk) d20+9=21 Sunday February 5th, 2006 3:16:53 PM
The blond man looks down in wonder at his now dry legs. "Shady," he comments.
The pack is on dry land, and the four who got wet in the first place are dry. 'Course, that leaves Gilan and Anuk, and whatever is making the ground move. I wonder if Ranthoms move back and forth.
"You two (Ulgren and Tishe) dry off those two (Gilan and Anuk)," the cleric directs. "I'm gonna climb up and see what's making that noise.
Using his Air Walk ability, Trellus climbs up the air itself to get above Grass level, and then some. Once he's got a decent view, the man looks about. [Spot 21]
Flea d20+4=16 d20+11=20 d20+11=19 Sunday February 5th, 2006 7:08:20 PM
Flea squeezes the wolf's sides with her legs, then releases her hold on the creature's fur in order to slide her arms around his neck. She lays one cheek against his neck as she tries to form her body to his and keep her seat(Untrained Ride Check=16*, Balance=20).
She hears the rumble, and tries to discern it's source (Listen=19) comparing it to other sounds she has heard.
*(OOC: Don't know what kind of penalty to apply.-Carla)
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended), Mount. Hps:8/33 Sunday February 5th, 2006 8:56:11 PM
Ulgren does as instructed and dries whichever member is closest to him.(Prestigitation) The mage then takes a moment to pull his now dry pants from the bag and quickly pulls them on.
Grymash 2d8(3+6)+3=12 Monday February 6th, 2006 12:30:36 AM
Grymash looks around wildly. He is free from the waters stench, he looks around to see who needs help. The first signs of heavy bleeding that he sees receives his first touch. That packmate happens to be Ulgren. The mage feels the sudden tingling of positive energy enter his body. However, also present is a strong scent of blood that only he can smell. A pungent reminder of the mage's own mortality. No gift from Gargul comes without its price.
(Sacrificed Spirtual Weapon to spontaneous cast Cure Moderate Wounds on Ulgren. Cure: 12 points.)
Anuk (HP 52/52, AC 22, woodland stride, sanctuary) Monday February 6th, 2006 1:28:01 AM
Chugging along and trying to keep ahead of the wave of insects on his trail, Anuk suddenly feels another sensation. "Wha?..." he mumbles.
No time to pause...gotta keep movin' away from these sunblasted bugs... He keeps running, oblivious to whatever the feeling might mean.
(ooc: Anuk does nothing to impede the spell.)
Mac Monday February 6th, 2006 6:59:54 AM "We've got cure potions if spells are runnin' thin. Who wants one?" asks Mac as he tries to rummage through his backpack.
OOC: Firstly, thanks DM for getting Mac moving, rather than burying him in bugs. Secondly, I've had a ^$(*%^%#&^ of a few weeks here - the joys of seeing a doctor, two specialists, being examined and cut on - but should be posting in my more regular mode again.
Gilan and Ciaran Monday February 6th, 2006 6:41:46 PM
Gilan pulls up into the small area of clear short grass and leans over, breathing heavily. He feels the sudden drying of his clothes and body but is unable to thank the person as he wheezes.
Then he feels the ground moving a little under his feet and he feels a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. As he straightens up he feels the shooting pains of running so far and so fast shooting through his body. "What..." That is all he is able to get out through his sucking of breathe.
Ciaran has his ears layed back flat and his hackles raised. A low growl starts in his chest and then moves out to his throat and he seems agitated. From the way he has his tail tucked between his legs he is also a little scared.
Big ranthoms keep on roll'n. (DM Jim) Monday February 6th, 2006 9:34:33 PM
Tishe' calls out her observations of what she hears but moves to dry Gilan as he draws near. Stripes has still not moved too close to his human as he does not want to fly again.
Jake lights up his torch but puts the herb and then his flint and steel away. He figures that it might not be a bad idea to get something that auto lights to make lighting a torch faster.
Trellus calls out for dry for Gilan and Anuk as he starts to accend into the air. He looks around to see what might be making that noise.
Flea holds onto the wolf as he starts a swifter movement into the good area of short grass. She tries to orient herself as she focuses on the sound that is being made. It is without a doubt the same sound that was heard in the night and that can mean only one thing...I Trellus was right.
Ulgren uses a spell to dry Anuk as he draws nearer him. He then reaches into his sack to fetch out dry pants. He is soon sliding a leg into them when he hears the noise.
Grymash moves over to Ulgren who is in the most trouble and pours some healing into the drow. The scent of blood fills his nostrils and is sweet to his senses.
Anuk reaches the rest of the group that are going through their various actions in the small clearing. He finds himself out of breathe from the long run but suddenly dry as a spell hits him.
Mac lets it be known that they have healing potions if spells are running low.
Gilan would have thanked the caster that dried him but he is trying to cath his breathe. He does feel the ground moving and straightens to listen better, despite pains in his sides. Ciaran seems aggitated and paces with Flea still on his back. He does let off a throatal growl to the northwest but his tail is tucked for good measure.
Trellus notices a very large fast approaching body. To put it bluntly it is huge...no beyond huge and it is moving in the direction of the pack. From behind it he can see the path of grass or lack of that is behind this monstrous creature. He does spot something else but does not have time to ponder it as the monster pulls closer. As he shouts out a warning to the pack....
The grass surrounding the front part of the clearing suddenly explodes as a huge form comes shooting through. The creature is near thirty feet tall and at least fifty feet across with a large mouth...in fact from the front it is all mouth. Trellus can see large muscled legs from his aerial postition and then what appears to be a rolling mass of muscle where back legs should be. There is no slow or stall as the behemoth barrels into the clearing and seems that it will not stop.
All those in the clearing will need to make one of two rolls...Jump DC 18 or Tumble DC 18. If you pass your whichever is higher you got clear of the mouth of this large beast. If you failed than you are currently engulfed in the mouth of this beast and take 2d6 acid damage. Anyone that ends up in the beasts mouth can make one of another two rolls...Jump DC 15 or Tumble DC 15 to escape form the things mouth and take another 2d6 acid damage.
Ulgren, please remember that you have one leg in your pants and the other outside of it. Anuk and Gilan are both rather tired as well and will have a harder time moving. Please add a +2 to your Jump or Tumble checks.
Ulgren: Mage Armour(extended), Mount. Hps:20/33 d20+5=25 Monday February 6th, 2006 10:39:47 PM
Ulgren looks up in time to see the behemoth barrel in to the clearing, "what in the name of all the gods is that?!" Ulgren yells as he jumps(Nat 20) out of the way of the monster. "Everyone clear?" Ulgrens scrambles into his pants and stands up looking for the rest of the pack.
Grymash (ac23, hp83) d20+11=31 Tuesday February 7th, 2006 12:52:08 AM
(Including a +4 bonus to Jump checks for having a Movement speed of 40. Jump: 31, nat20. Gee!!)
The barbarian priest takes flight, literally! Reaching a an altitude of 7 feet and lands some 30 feet away (according to that roll!). He collides with the ground rather hard and rolls through the grass with his arms and legs flailing about. Until finally he comes to a sudden stop. His eyes become bloodshot with fury. "GGGRRRRRRRRRR!!"
Jake d20+11=13 d20+11=26 Tuesday February 7th, 2006 1:05:41 AM
Normally, Jake is as lithe as a natural acrobat. Normally, the skinny half-elf is good at dodging around and reacting quick. Heck, when they were back at the pools as kids, he was always splashing just about everyone. Great fun, then he'd get dunked by Grymash or Trellus and Anuk would team up on him. But the hugeness of the creature makes him react just a bit too slowly. He is caught up in its mouth and acid trickles on him. A second later he dives and rolls through the grass, away from the creature. His body is noticeably sizzling. "Ow! Ow ow ow ow!" he keeps on repeating, standing there quite perturbed. Somehow he's still holding the torch, though fat luck that does him.
Flea d20+15=18 Tuesday February 7th, 2006 1:25:25 AM
Flea lets go of the wolf at the sight of the charging monstrosity. "Run away Ciaran! Run away!" The gnome rolls out of the way of the creature, escaping by the narrowest of margins. (Tumble=18)
Tishe' and Stripes d20+2=13 d20+2=4 2d6(5+1)=6 2d6(6+2)=8 Tuesday February 7th, 2006 5:52:43 AM
The rumble gets louder and a wall propelling teeth and cavernous mouth rumbles through the clearing. Tishe' has time to start flying upwards, but the beast is faster and a roof of acidic spittle closes over her (6 points damage). Stripes has not even that reaction. The ugly head whips around and the hyena is gone, lost inside the humongous mouth (8 points damage).
Anuk d20+1=16 Tuesday February 7th, 2006 10:36:10 AM
Dry at last! "Hah! So there you stupid bugs! I--yaaaghgh!?"Anuk is stopped mid-sentence when the ground grows a mouth and leaps up to eat him and the rest of the pack. He stumbles backwards and is miraculously missed by the great jaws trying to engulf him. "What in Gargul's name is that?!!"
Jump 16 (+3 dex, -2 for being tired)
Trellus (56/67 hp, Air Walk, -9 STR) Tuesday February 7th, 2006 11:22:50 AM
"DUDES! LOOK OU......light".
Trellus looks down in horror as the Ranthom rolls over the spot his packmates are currently occupying. Frantically, he tries to spot who got out.
Ulgren, Gry, Jake, Flea, Nuk.....
Tishe is caught.
The cleric's mind whirls. He know he doesn't have the speed to go in there and get here. How then? How? An idea....
Concentrating on the gem in his chest, Trellus wills his own strength into the Hook City girl. Maybe, just maybe the extra help will be enough for her to free herself.
[Tear of Dragon. Lose 9 STR points to give Tishe +3 STR]
Spells Prepared: d -- domain spell 0 - Create Water (x3), Detect Magic (x2), Read Magic 1 -- Endure Elements (x4), Prot from Evil, Remove Fear, Sanctuary(d)* 2 -- Lesser Restoration (x3), Spiritual Weapon, Bulls Strength (d) 3 - Dispel Magic (x2), Prayer, Magic Vestment*, Magic Vestment(d)* 4 -- Air Walk*, Freedom of Movement, Summon Monster IV, Spell Immunity (d)
Gilan and Ciaran d20+2=11 d20+2=5 d20+7=8 d20+7=10 4d6(4+5+2+4)=15 4d6(3+1+2+4)=10 Tuesday February 7th, 2006 1:57:06 PM
Gilan looks on in stark terror as he sees this monster of the plains barreling down on him. He tries to get out of the way but finds that the last of his strength has abandoned him and he ends up engulfed in the monster's open mouth.
Ciaran fares no better as he springs away but finds that he cannot get far enough out of the way of this new monster.
Both brothers find themselves in the open mouth of a ranthom with lots of grass all around them. The acidity in the things saliva is hard on both of their fleshes as it burns.
Mac d20+15=32 2d6(2+5)=7 d20+15=33 Tuesday February 7th, 2006 3:48:32 PM
With no apparent concern for self preservation Mac leaps into the maw [Jump:32] grabbing Tishe, Gilan and any companions/familiars he can get over his shoulders on the way in and on the way out. [Jump:33]
Out of the ranthom and struck by a bolt. (DM Jim) d20+10=14 d20+10=30 d20+6=25 d20+6=16 d20+12=18 d8+4=5 d20+12=32 d20+12=30 d8+4=6 2d8(3+6)+4=13 Tuesday February 7th, 2006 11:47:23 PM
Ulgren jumps clear of the behemoth as it barrels into the small clearing. He somehow remembers to keep ahold of his pants as he calls out to see if everyone made it out safely.
Gry takes flight as he gets out of the path of the monster. He rolls across the grass, knocking it over as he goes, and finally comes to a stop with a growl. He is really angry and vents it with a roar of his own.
Jake finds that he is not so lucky and ends up jumping into the things mouth. He feels the bite of acid as it seeps under armor and touches his skin. With a little luck he is able to rolls back out of the things mouth before it goes too far, though he does come in contact with more acid.
Flea rolls off of Ciaran and calls for him to get out of here. She lands on the ground in a roll and goes with it. This brings her out of the path of the great beast.
Tishe' makes a decision to fly straight up but finds that he few seconds delay is enough to leave her in the things mouth. Stripes does not even get that lucky as he is taken without warning. Both find themselves in contact with the acid that lays within it's mouth.
Anuk is celebrating his escape from the insects when he turns to see the great beast barreling down upon him. He only has seconds to make a decision that sends him stumbling out of the things way.
Trellus looks on in horror from his vantage point as some are swallowed and some get away. He can think of only one thing to do as he pours strength into Tishe' so that she can make an escape.
Gilan is not even able to move a few feet before he is swept into the things gaping maw. The acid burns and numbs his mind as he cannot seem to find a way out. Ciaran would have sought shelter but instead moves in to help his brother. He ignores the burning as he tries to get to his human brother and then get out.
Mac makes a decision that would border on insanity...maybe. He leaps into the mouth of the beast and makes a grab for both Tishe' and Gilan. He feels the acid burn him as he puts his friends' safety ahead of his own.
Inside of the gaping mouth of the beast Mac fights off the pain of the acid as it bites into exposed skin. He is able to grab both Tishe' and Gilan as he throws them over his shoulders. He knows that he has no choice but to escape with his current burden. The two animal companions will have to wait.
Trellus watches the events unfold before him and hopes that they will make it out of this encounter with little harm. Then he feels a pair of bolts rip into his shoulder from the direction that the ranthom came from. It is then that he remembers the shapes that he saw moving behind the great beast.
The ranthom has now traveled some thirty feet past the main part of the group that got out of the browsing path. Anyone that looks in the other direction will note that there are three humanoids standing in the path created by the beast and two of them have crossbows out.
Anyone that ends up in the beasts mouth can make one of another two rolls...Jump DC 15 or Tumble DC 15 to escape form the things mouth and take another 2d6 acid damage.
Trellus is flat-footed and facing the wrong direction to make use of his shield, if it was out. Hit AC 18 for 5 damage and hit 32, critical 30, for 6 or 13 if critical damage.
Kowledge: history or local or plains DC 12 to realize that these humanoids are raiders. This means that they are little more than slavers and most likely see an opportunity for some easy money.
Will send a map out tomorrow and you can consider yourselves in combat.
Grymash (ac23, hp83) d20+2=21 d20+12=24 d20+7=16 d8+7=15 d8+7=14 Wednesday February 8th, 2006 12:35:00 AM
(Spot 21)
Grymash's eye catches sight of the bolts striking Trellus. "YOOZZ," he shouts! "BLOODPACK ... WEEZ BEIN' ATTACKED! BOLT CHUCKERS!" The barbarian draws his own compound bow from his magic quiver and quickly answers the attackers with two of his own arrows at one of the shooters.
Flea ( AC21, 53 HP) d20+14=15 d20+23=41 d20+9=27 d20+11=25 Wednesday February 8th, 2006 12:49:51 AM
Flea jumps to her feet, drawing a wand out from under her cloak. She moves cautiously through the grass as she tries to spot the enemy. Her free hand clutches the new amulet hanging about her neck.
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