DM Jan Monday July 23rd, 2007 10:26:36 PM
((OOC - making a couple of assumptions, just to keep it rolling, based on what was discussed before. Let me know if I got it horribly wrong. We're in combat - spells, AC and HPs in the header, merci, gentlemen.))
A few of the locals watch, as the group gather together and declare the rituals of protection and travel. There is an audible 'POP', and they've gone, leaving behind a slight cloud of dust that soon settles.
SOUTH SLOPE OF MOUNT BONE -
The Dragons, and their charges - Config, Tommy and Wentworth - suddenly find themselves stood on uneven ground. Everyone's senses are assailed by heat, smoke, the yellow/red flare of fires.
Directly ahead, to the north, behind more of those rail way tracks - a crazed, ramshackled multi-leveled dwelling rises up, lights pouring out of various holes (windows? doors?). Behind that, Mount Bone rears up, black, lightless, accompanied by it's usual levels of dread.
The ground left and right in the near distance is pockmarked with HUGE holes. That's where the fires and smoke are coming from.
Immediate surroundings - huts, pens, people dashing about in apparent panic and yelling.
And behind, to the south? Something pulls. It is a feeling that can be overcome, but it is a horrible sensation.
Onrad d20+26=45 Tuesday July 24th, 2007 3:30:01 PM
"Wow."
::cough::
Onrad pulls a cloth shirt out of his pack and starts ripping it up and handing it out to put over the mouth like a bandanna.
He turns instantly to the south to see if he can figure out where the pulling is coming from.
Shaking his head to clear it, he decides that the only way to make things better is to do something about it.
So he goes total defense and begins heading toward the ramshackle building to look at it more closely. He won't get more than a round or two's sprint away from the group.
Spot of 45.
----------
Existing effects:
SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, +4 resist bonus to saves, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.)
[No time to look this up. What type of bonus(s) is this? Need to know if it stacks with what I have.--Thanks Daniel]
Shield of Law Tuesday July 24th, 2007 4:56:51 PM
Shield of Law: gains a +4 deflection bonus to AC and a +4 resistance bonus on saves. Gains spell resistance 25 against chaotic spells and spells cast by chaotic creatures. If a chaotic creature succeeds on a melee attack against a warded creature, the attacker is slowed (Will save negates, as the slow spell, but against shield of law's save DC
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 224 d20+16=27 d20+16=33 Tuesday July 24th, 2007 6:06:02 PM
Ve motioned with his arms to the two halflings to move in behind him as he looked about. his hammer still at his side, his shield on one arm, "Thank you." to Onrad as the man handed hima scrap of cloth to put over is mouth. initial investigation of the fortress and surrounding area was for others in the group and so Ve waited to hear what they would discover. For his part he stared mostly to the south [Spot 27] to see what he could see.
The people racing about were of secondary importance to him, but what they were saying was. Ve kept a very well trained ear to that, even as he stuffed the scrap of cloth into his arm pit to free a hnad and slide his full battle helm over his head.
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick]
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law) d20+13=28 Wednesday July 25th, 2007 12:17:33 AM
Nick takes Onrad's temporary handkerchief and nods his thanks.
He looks around. "Where is Crow?" he yells at no one in particular.
Spot DC 28
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 171/171 - AC: 42] [shield of law] Wednesday July 25th, 2007 12:52:42 AM
Cori finds herself jerked along by the teleportation spell but is less effected by it than the others. As they come out the other side she wrinkles her nose at the smell and feels the pull. Still she is more of a mind to take the face cover from Onrad and ties it around to cover her mouth and nose.
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2), floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2) 4th(6): stoneskin(3)*, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3) 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2) 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
Can anyone else really make use of the last two stoneskins? I would have cast them for you before we teleported.
DM Jan Wednesday July 25th, 2007 2:17:46 AM
As Onrad and Ve turn their attention to the south, the reason behind the panic becomes evident. Carriages, like those seen to the north of Dirt City, whizzing by on metal rails, are here, and overturned. There is a small crowd close to the wreckage, including the glint of metalized limbs. Directly above them - a dark, elongated hole, about 20ft high, rimmed with fire, drawing in smoke and light. There is something terrible and dreadfully wrong about it, and the initial pulling sensation becomes something more recognisible - hunger. The subconscious urge to get away from it is hard to resist.
Onrad's cloths help a little with the smoke, and the two halflings stay well within reach of the Protector of Domi. They look scared out of their wits.
Nick's question gets a simple gesture from Config, who points in the direction that Onrad has just taken - to the north, toward the 'fortress'. There looks to be some kind of entrance ahead, partially obscured by smoke and wooden buildings hastily put together. Onrad can see movement, near the entrance. Figures, possibly.
Ve Mundr hears something at odds with the current scene, somewhere off to the left. Someone laughing.
Ve Mundr - a brief note Wednesday July 25th, 2007 9:09:52 AM
If no one stepped forward Ve Would gladly accept a Stoneskin spell
Onrad d20+26=43 Wednesday July 25th, 2007 2:20:28 PM
"I suggest putting the stoneskins on our mages," Onrad quips quickly.
But his attention is on the hole.
"So hole or house? Anyone wanna try a dispel on that hole?"
Onrad, still in total defense mode (AC58) continues to head north to the house, but again, not leaving the vicinity of the group.
He looks for guards of the house, lookouts, and anyone distinctive that is watching us with intent.
(spot of 43)
---------------
Existing effects:
SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, +4 resist bonus to saves, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.)
TOTAL DEFENSE (AC58)
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 224 d20+16=19 Wednesday July 25th, 2007 9:34:13 PM
Ve looks hard at teh great consuming maw in the sky and one thought comes to him and he speaks it aloud, "The creature of the pit in Osto." his attention then shifts with his gaze towards the source of the laughter, but it is hard to pinpoint [Spot 19]
Hearing Onrad, "I don't think that could be dispelled, I think it is a creature. Valdor we should move on the fortress and be away from that." he gestures to the thing in the sky and begins to move north towards the fortress.
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick]
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 171/171 - AC: 42] [shield of law] Wednesday July 25th, 2007 10:17:20 PM
Cori has to agree with Ve on this one as she shivers. Very few things have given her pause in her life but to face what they met in that pit again. "We may well have to deal with it later...but Crow must come first." Her voice cracks a little as she speaks but on the outside she seems to be cool and collected.
Amarth continues to keep his perch on her shoulder as he keeps a look behind her and around her for trouble.
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2), floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2) 4th(6): stoneskin(3)*, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3) 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2) 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
[i][stoneskin(Valdor, Nick, Ve): 150 points of damage or 6000 rounds]
Valdor(AC37, HP 284, Stoneskin, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance) Thursday July 26th, 2007 12:06:32 AM
(OOC:Sorry, I got a computer virus and have been fighting it since last week. A nephew borrowed my computer for his "Myspace" and somehow got my system infected. Norton, Mcafee, and Ad-Aware can't get rid of it...)
Valdor activates his ring of Elemental Resistance against fire and nods to Ve. He heads toward Crow's stronghold and asks Config while they are moving,"Do you know what is happening and what is in that pit?"
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law) Thursday July 26th, 2007 12:56:30 AM
At Ve Mundr's assertion that what lay to the south could be another of those pit creatures, Nick casts a look behind him and stares in horror. It was enough for him to bear that he hadn't quite reconciled what happened in the last encounter, never mind a new one appearing. "I'd rather we went in the opposite direction to that!" he says to Onrad, and follows the duellist toward the fortress.
DM Jan 10d6(1+6+2+4+6+5+6+2+3+5)=40 Thursday July 26th, 2007 1:39:57 AM Overhead View
As the group make their way through the smoke toward the fortress, Config informs Valdor - "The pit, as you call it - is a breach. There lies a tear in the fabric of the Wold. There must have been a fight - a battle between a construct and the elemental contained within it, and the elemental was successful - devastatingly so. Do not go near it. You will be drawn in. "You will die," it adds matter-of-factly.
Light comes from the glow of the massive excavated chasms in the ground, off to both left and right, and the distant sounds of hammering can be heard from their depths.
Onrad, taking point, can see the entrance to the fortress about 100 feet ahead, and yes - there are guards - 4 metal constructs about the size of Config.
There's a lot for everyone to take in.
In the immediate vicinity - hastily built huts lie on either side of the broad pathway that leads up to the fortress entrance, and on the side of nearly every building, there is a painting - a likeness of a human male. "Hey that's a picture of Crow!" yells Tommy, trying not to trip over Ve Mundr, he's keeping that close.
Also, about 20ft ahead, off to the right, is a human female, stood calmly, solomnly, paint brush in hand, painting yet another portrait on the side of a glorified shed. The female looks familiar, expecially to Mordrid, who saw her likeness back in that Dirt City hole in the wall that Crow used to call home.
Unlike the area near the rail tracks, the approach up to the fortress is more orderly, with no one scurrying about. However....
That laughter - Ve glances, sees a shift in the smoke, and suddenly there is a huge fireball, that any respectable spellcaster would be proud of, hurtling toward the party from the left.
Aimed at the entire party except Onrad who's slightly ahead. Flat footed if applicable. Damage to each character = 40 Reflex for half DC 28
Jus AC 49, 150 HP, 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement d20+18=36 Thursday July 26th, 2007 5:54:20 AM
Jus sees the fireball approaching and dives to the side. WIth the help of his now-magical-again ring, he manages to avoid all damaging affects of the spell (ring of evasion).
Jus casts Displacement before heading North, after Onrad.
Active Spells: SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Stoneskin (110 hp) Displacement (11 rounds)
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 224 d20+17=24 Thursday July 26th, 2007 3:25:06 PM
Ve spots the incoming spell and instantly realizes his oversight. He tries his best ot protect the halfings and hopes that Father Nick's spell saves thier lives. As soon as he see to thier safety and corrects that oversight, he'll worry about the opponent. Ve pulls a cube from his haversack and activates it. [Cube of Force 10' Keeps out magic]
Jus is proceeding towards Onrad, Good "Cori, Valdor Mordrid! Move on the spell caster. I'm taking the halflings to the tower after Onrad."
If the caster was evil Alignment Ve suffers no damage as he recieves a +4 bonus and wears a ring of Evasion. Also there is the slight chance of the 25 SR working.
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Onrad Thursday July 26th, 2007 6:38:53 PM
Onrad, concentration ahead of him sees the four metal constructs.
He's about to engage, when he hears the shouts from behind him. He turns to see the fireball go off.
He thinks, ::Someone doesn't know the power of this group to be throwing that at them. Looks powerful though. Perhaps it was an attention getting ploy::
He's about to run and find out, when he hears Ve giving orders.
He thinks, ::Ve's the combat general? No, he's just first to react. Good for him!::
He looks to see if the halflings are still moving. Then turns to face the four constructs.
"Ve, don't bring the halflings too far this way. We got more trouble here if these baddies decide to join in the fray."
He makes no offensive actions, but drops his Total Defense and grits his teeth in concentration. He watches intently to see if anyone comes out of the building to help, or the guards move forward to attack. He readies an action to attack any hostile coming towards him, expending one attack on each as they go by to get their anger up and cause them to want to stop and fight Onrad instead of continuing past him.
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 151/171 - AC: 42] [shield of law] d20+25=29 d20+13=33 d20+14=15 d20+12=15 Thursday July 26th, 2007 11:28:37 PM
Cori growls as the fireball envelopes the area that she is in. Though her natural reflexes allow her to avoid a lot of the damage, she is already weaving a spell of her own. She wants to catch the group before they break up, so she hurries. After her spell she starts moving towards the caster, but keeps her eyes open for others as she does.
Amarth is in even better shape as he was protected by his Mistress's protections as well as his own and nothing touches him.
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2), floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2) 4th(6): stoneskin(3)*, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3) 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2) 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Valdor, Nick, Ve): 150 points of damage or 6000 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 480 rounds; +4 Con]
Valdor d20+28=48 Friday July 27th, 2007 10:07:54 AM
Valdor spots the incoming fireball and immediately realizes the halflings are likely to get fried. With all the experience of twenty years of combat, he snatches the halflings behind their collars and dives, attempting to avoid the fireball completely. He knows he could escape harm, but tries to remove them from the area as well.
(Used evasion and rolled a natural twenty on the attempt to keep the halflings from the blast)
He tries to time the explosion and rolls over to cover them in a bear hug just in case he misses getting out of the area of effect. Immediately, he stands and looks for the source of the spell and the laughter.
Onrad Friday July 27th, 2007 12:51:21 PM
Onrad continues to stay put, watching the constructs and for anyone coming out of the house. He'll use his ready action to be a barrier between the group and anyone coming going south.
His body tenses and stretches with the intensity of his vigilance. He grits his teeth.
"Come on. Make my future," he whispers.
[couldn't resist. :)]
--------------
Existing effects:
SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, +4 resist bonus to saves, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.)
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) d20+12=26 Friday July 27th, 2007 1:04:07 PM
Nick moves. Fast for him, but not fast enough. He sses others moving faster, particularly toward the halflings. By Alemi this was madness, but not altogether unexpected. If the spell resistance wasn't enough, he'll move immediately to to cast Cure Crit on the halflings.
DM Jan Friday July 27th, 2007 1:24:09 PM
Massive flames explode around the party, dancing like wild snakes over armour, hide, wool and flesh. The halflings scream as the fire, and an instant after that, the bodies of Ve Mundr and Valdor move in quickly to shield them. The fire skitters and bounces off everyone like water on stone. No burned flesh. Nothing. The spell resistance appears to have worked. But the air is hot and catches in the throat. One of the small surrounding huts catches alight. Everyone has white spots in front of their eyes after the blast to the retina.
Valdor can see Cori moving closer to the source of the firey spell, off to the left. The dark elf's sharp eyes pierce the gloom and spot what looks like a human male in ragged clothes, standing between two of the huts, about 20 ft away. His eyes, and hair, are chaotic and wild. "I can do this!" he shrieks at her. "I can do this! I can do it!" And promptly shoots another Fireball, straight at her and Amarth.
(Same stats as before, SR is 23)
Up ahead, Jus moves to join the battle-ready Onrad and the four advancing metal constructs. They are now in melee range. And through the wall of moving iron, Onrad spots four more, leaving the building and advancing quickly.
Oddly enough, off to the right of Onrad and Jus, about 15 feet away, and without batting an eyelid, the lady painting Crow's image on the wall of a hut is continuing to do just that, despite everything else going on.
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 224 Friday July 27th, 2007 4:45:24 PM
Ve says a small silent blessing that Father Nicks Spell saved the pair. "I've got them Valdor, you worry about the big guys about to challenge us from the fortress." Ve then smirks and answers the unasked, "Cause there always are big guys at a fortress entrance."
With that, Ve taps the Cube and activates the side that keeps out everything. "Let's move." and he heads further towards the fortress [Cube of Force 10' Keeps out Everything] Cori could handle the pyschopath and Onrad could surely handle the woman painter. It was the unknown enemies he was mostly concerned with. That and how to be effective with his two charges. As much as it gulled him, he might be esentially sitting this entire thing out.
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance] d20+25=26 d20+13=27 d20+12=23 24d6(1+6+6+6+1+5+2+2+2+3+4+6+6+6+4+5+3+5+5+1+2+6+6+3)=96 d20+20=29 d20+24=34 Saturday July 28th, 2007 12:03:23 AM
Cori once again is able to slip away all the damage thanks to the spell from Nick. She launches into her own spell and points her hand in the direction of the enemy caster. Shooting from the white crystal, that flashes green for a second, is a line of acid...much like a polar ray. A smile has appeared upon her face as she starts the duel for good. "You will need to think that way."
Amarth keeps his eyes peeled for other trouble that might come his Mistress's way. He looks to both sides and behind her to warn her of unexpected attacks as she has a mage duel.
[acid(polar) ray: 96 damage, SR 34, touch attack 29]
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2), floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2) 4th(6): stoneskin(3)*, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3) 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Valdor, Nick, Ve): 150 points of damage or 6000 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 480 rounds; +4 Con]
Valdor(AC37, HP 284, Stoneskin, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance) Saturday July 28th, 2007 1:43:03 PM
Valdor says into his earring,"Cori, you've got that I'm sure. But, if you need help, let me know."
As he sprints towards Onrad and Jus, he glances around for Config to see what he's doing. He draws his swords as he runs.
Mordrid (Shield of Law) d20=20 d20=19 Sunday July 29th, 2007 9:12:55 PM
Mordrid pops into existance just in time to hear the crackling of an incoming fireball. Ducking and rolling, he avoids the effects of the intense heat and following explosion.
The party begins giving commands well before he fully comprehends what is going on.
Charging after Valdor, he attempts to "aid another." Drawing his sunsword, he fends off any incoming attacks on Valdor, allowing the groups leader a +2 bonus to hit. (Valdor +2 to hit : Hits AC 53, a AC10 hit required to "aid another")
The ranger looks for ranged targets.
Posting Report for Monday July 30th, 2007 6:57:14 AM
Game # 1 The Platinum Dragons For the week of July 23,2007
Adm Ceil - I don't Know about this bunch, They are too hight They Know all the tricks about posting??
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) Monday July 30th, 2007 5:45:25 PM
Nick looks across at Ve Mundr and nods, reckoning the two halflings will be a safe as they ever could be under the Protector's custodionship.
Looks like there'd be plenty for him to do also as he sees some of the others lining up against the oncoming threat, and so he moves up behind Jus, Onrad, Valdor and Mordrid, ready to heal, if and when it came to that.
Jus AC 49, 150 HP, 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement d20+39=41 d20+34=48 d20+29=40 d20+39=45 4d8(6+5+3+8)=22 8d6(6+4+2+4+2+5+3+1)=27 Monday July 30th, 2007 5:45:41 PM
"Uh, oh," Jus quips as he sees four more Constructs emerge. Four constructs could be fun for he and Onrad, but eight is an entirely different manner. And until Jus reaches Onrad, whether four or eight may be moot. Since no Dragons have yet attacked, they may be after whomever cast the fireball, but Jus isn't going to take that chance with Onrad's life.
Unsure he can reach Onrad before the first four constructs do, Jus tries to pull a couple of them off of his friend. Jus stops in his tracks and fires a full volley at two of the constructs.
If within 30': hit AC 43, 50, 42, 47 If > 30': hit 45, 52, 44 (no fourth attack) Damage: 35, 30, 29, 31 (includes 2d6 Construct Bane damage)
Active Spells: SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Stoneskin (110 hp) Displacement (10 rounds)
DM Jan d20+35=48 d20+35=53 d20+35=55 d20+35=55 d20+35=37(ignore) d20+35=47(ignore) d20+35=55 d20+35=54 2d10(3+9)+11=23 2d10(9+6)+11=26 2d10(4+9)+11=24 2d10(7+7)+11=25 2d10(10+8)+11=29 2d10(4+3)+11=18 Monday July 30th, 2007 11:35:44 PM
Cori's ray of acid hits the crazy spellcaster right in the chest. "Urgh...." says the man, before keeling over dead. There is a smell of burned flesh. Amarth sees folk running about in the gloom beyond the wooden huts, but right now, no one is approaching directly.
Meanwhile! The four metal golems are right on top of Onrad, who's on the forefront of the vanguard, and they waste no time in taking multiple swings at him. (Jerry, you had a readied action, and I'm not sure of your current AC. Just factor it all in and I'll incorporate it. Results below may well change.)
#1 hits AC 48 and 53 for 23 and 26 Dam #2 hits AC 55 and 55 for 24 and 25 Dam #3 stunned #4 hits AC 55 and 54 for 29 and 18 Dam
Jus's arrows hammer home, ringing like bells against the metal surfaces and causing sparks. Construct #3 takes a step back. It looks stunned. It's head swings in Jus's direction.
Under different circumstances, these metal monsters could well have been a delight to behold - polished steel, extraordinarily engineered joints, works of art; their body panels are scrawled with runes, their movements are smooth, efficient and effective. And they appear to have a spring in their step. Much more than one would expect....
Valdor and Mordrid step up, swords at the ready and are now in melee range with the 4 constructs, this next round.
Valdor glances back and sees Config currently alongside Ve Mundr and the halflings, but stepping up to join them at the battle line. He's an extra round away, moving at a slower pace. Config points toward the female painter and says to Ve - "The painting will help me." "Is Config going to fight?" asks Wentworth, partially hidden behind Ve's coat tails, his brother alongside, eyes like saucers.
Going off the current pace, the OTHER 4 metal golems will arrive at the melee in two rounds.
Mordrid sees vague movement in a window of the fortress, second floor.
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 224 d20+16=19 d20+16=30 Tuesday July 31st, 2007 5:09:43 PM
Ve hands Wentworth the cube, "Soon as I leave push this side." indicating the side that keeps everything out. Ve deactivates the cube and heads towards the woman painter. Weapon at the ready and his wits about him. No way he thinks is he going to able to just waltz up and pick of a painting for Config. Heck he has no idea how it will help the construct elemental creature, but a great deal has not made too much sense in recent days. So Ve puts on his 'Yessir' soldier attitude and moves out. The rest are not too far and Ve casts a widened Prayer after moving 20' towards the woman and the painting.
[Prayer 80' radius +1 Morale bonus to Attack/Damage/save/Skills checks. -1 to opponents Will DC 24]
Eyes and ears alert for danger [Spot 19 Listen 30]
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance] d20+14=34 d20+12=14 Tuesday July 31st, 2007 10:06:29 PM
Cori shakes her head as the mage goes down smoking and laughs lightly. Into the earpiece she calls out to see who is in need of help. "Anyone in need of assistance...seems my mage was a pushover." Her eyes continue to scan the area, though she is relying more upon Amarth right about now.
Amarth is keeping his own eyes set for those that might have ideas of hurting his Mistress.
[spot(Cori/Amarth): 34/14]
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2), floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2) 4th(6): stoneskin(3)*, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3) 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Valdor, Nick, Ve): 150 points of damage or 5999 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 479 rounds; +4 Con]
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) Wednesday August 1st, 2007 1:41:32 AM
Figuring he can risk getting close enough to Onrad, Nick steps forward and casts HEAL on the duellist and hopes nothing tries to knock his head off.
150 hps.
DM Jan Wednesday August 1st, 2007 1:43:55 AM
((OOC - guys, I'll post tomorrow morning - much as I like pummelling the life out of Jerry's character a few more posts from you lot would be nice. Dan and Jim have turned up, I'm assuming Steve's comp is on the blink. Anyone else with any probs?))
Valdor(AC37, HP 326, Stoneskin, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance) d20+39=55 d20+38=45 d20+34=50 d20+33=43 d20+29=45 d20+28=34 d20+24=38 d20+23=41 Wednesday August 1st, 2007 11:46:07 AM
(Sorry, got rid of the virus finally, but have no internet at home)
Valdor, seeing Onrad beset with the creatures and knowing his brother is beside him, charges into the fray ton Onrad's side and takes on one of the constructs. He hammers away as if attacking any other creature confident that his swords are up to the task.
He yells out,"If we take one of these out, it may cause one of those crates, so be ready to move away if we do destroy one of these things. Config, if those paintings help you, doesn't it help these others as well?"
[OOC: scott: steve did you add your to hit bonus provided by Mordrid?]
(Steve:Yes, I remembered. But, without being able to access my email, I'm winging it a bit, but his stats haven't changed in so long, I'm pretty sure I've got them right.)
DM Jan d20+35=48 d20+35=44 d20+35=53 d20+35=49 d20+35=47 d20+35=46 2d10(8+3)+11=22 2d10(8+7)+11=26 2d10(7+7)+11=25 2d10(8+1)+11=20 2d10(10+9)+11=30 2d10(6+8)+11=25 3d6(2+3+3)+20=28 Wednesday August 1st, 2007 2:40:31 PM
Current state of play:
In melee range - Onrad, Valdor, Mordrid, Ve, Nick - can reach painter and 4 constructs Ranged attacks only this round - Dahlia, Jus, Cori, Nonam - can reach above + 4 other constructs, and fortress
As Cori scans the area, she can see Valdor and Mordrid, Onrad and Nick, all lined up against 4 of the metal constructs.To their right, she can see Ve Mundr, having left the halflings clutching the cube, walking toward the lady painter. And behind the melee group - 4 other constructs are approaching, ready for battle the next round. Like Mordrid, Amarth spots movement in one of the upper windows of the weird fortress building.
Valdor's attack knocks Construct #4 flat on it's back. (Steve I need your damage rolls. Don't know if it's dead yet.) (Still don't know Onrad's HPs - need results of readied action, attack, damage from constructs and healing from Nick) Construct #3 looks dented but now has its wits back. Construct #1 and #2 are still good to go.
And as always, the empire strikes back -
#1 stays on Onrad, swinging two, mightly polished arms that gleam in the firelight. Hits AC 48 and 44 for 22 and 26 DAM
#2 and #3 switch to the new threat of Valdor (aided by Mordrid), and both make a valiant attempt at bashing the Dragonstone's brains in - #2 hits AC 53 and 49 for 25 and 20 DAM #3 hits AC 47 and 46 for 30 and 25 DAM
Meanwhile! As Ve approaches the painter, he gets a better look at both the lady, and the painting itself. He's seen her face before ( Can he remember? INT DC 14). Her face is smooth, her skin looks soft and flawless.The painting is quite detailed, and, if it is a true likeness, going of this he should be able to recognise Crow if he sees him in person. Odd though, how something is moving, wriggling in the painting's top left hand corner. Looks to be something nailed there, like a worm on a hook, although it looks more like a sliver of skin. On his approach, she turns, her face is totally lacking in emotion. "Sha may, neh umbra neh," she whispers and points toward him. Immediately a cloak of dread wraps itself around the Protector, searching, searching, for a way into every pore. This is death, and it is more than eager to live up to its name.
Painter cast FINGER OF DEATH - SR 32 Fort Save DC 20 gives 28 DAM instead.
As for Config - the answer to Valdor's question - why yes it does help them, also. Config will arrive to join melee next round.
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance] d20+12=29 Wednesday August 1st, 2007 3:09:59 PM
Cori slowly moves towards the battle, her fingers going through another complex series of symbols of power. She has no time to think about much of anything else and only vaguely realizes the movement that Amarth sees. Her spell finished she flings a small amount of crushed gems into the air to cut off the fast approaching constructs, that seek to hit the group from behind. "Amarth, keep an eye out for more trouble from those windows and such...my attention is going to have to be turned to other things." She starts to draw a wand from the pocket of her pants with a grin. "Dragons, more constructs behind you...though an invisible wall may slow them down." She giggles into her earpiece after she is done talking. Actually she is enjoying herself a lot right about now.
[spot(Amarth): 29] [wall of force: range 85', 24 rounds]
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2), floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2) 4th(6): stoneskin(3)*, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Valdor, Nick, Ve): 150 points of damage or 5998 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 478 rounds; +4 Con]
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement Wednesday August 1st, 2007 4:37:45 PM
Valdor's words echo Jus' thoughts exactly. If these constructs are weakened, it's a safe bet that the trapped elemental will try to escape. Lets just hope the resulting explosions, or whatever happens, can be survived.
Jus activates his Wings of Flying, and flies upward to a better vantage where he can target all 12 constructs, and the painter, should that be necessary. He scans the area to see if there is anything else the Dragons should worry about, reporting what he sees through his earpiece.
Active Spells: SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Stoneskin (110 hp) Displacement (9 rounds) Bear's Endurance (+4 Con)
Onrad Wednesday August 1st, 2007 6:17:23 PM
Onrad staggers gravely from all the attacks, a muchy blob of forming bruises. One eye is nearly shut. He appears critically hurt and about to drop.
He quickly activates his boots of speed and his cloak of displacement.
"Stupid!" he shouts at himself.
He goes total defense again to try and survive until a healer arrives, though he's aching to attack back, holding the line is more important until more help arrives.
"Healer please!"
Onrad sees Valdor running and positions himself to the left of him.
"Thanks buddy."
Then turning to his combatants, he screams.
"That all you can do! Bring it!"
Onrad is a blur as he moves, spins, and tumbles around his opponents, berating them all the while.
----------- [AC was 52 Jan with my Fighting Defensively up. Now it is higher.]
hit points--76 current (223 was full) AC60 -total defense Haste active 1 of 10 rounds Cloak of Displacement 1 of 15 rounds (50% miss chance)
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) 3d8(6+1+7)+15=29 Thursday August 2nd, 2007 4:32:16 PM
((Could be wrong, but I think Nick's Heal for 150HPs on Onrad was missed. If not, I'll cast that instead of what's below.))
Watching Onrad, able to move like that after taking such a clubbing, Nick is astounded, and realizes that he's in a much more vulnerable position. Not to worry. It all came down to trust and teamwork in the end, and he had to stay where he was.
Assuming Onrad gets the 150, Nick casts a Cure Serious on Valdor (29 HPs)
DM Jan d20+35=43 d20+35=50 d20+35=49 d20+35=39 d20+35=45 2d10(9+9)+11=29 2d10(1+4)+11=16 2d10(7+1)+11=19 10d6(5+2+1+1+6+5+5+2+5+6)=38 d100=43 Thursday August 2nd, 2007 5:11:47 PM
Current state of play:
In melee range - Onrad, Valdor, Mordrid, Ve, Nick - can reach painter and 4 constructs Ranged attacks only this round - Dahlia, Jus, Cori, Nonam - can reach above + 4 other constructs, and fortress
The oncoming 4 constructs in the background suddenly come to a screeching halt, as Cori's Wall of Force comes into play. They line up against the barrier, about 15 feet way from the melee, and watch.
As for the melee itself:
Onrad recovers from the beating, and his face takes on a better hue as Nick's Heal spell goes to work (150 hps)
Valdor swings down, and in a mighty shower of sparks, decapitates Construct #4. The metal head bounces and rolls across the ground, coming to a standstill this side of the force wall. A tiny burst of fire escapes from the neck of the fallen golem, and like a floating, stemless torch, it moves, 6ft off the ground, and hovers in front of Config. The Dragonstone's weapons meet the steel hide of Construct #3. Metal hammers on metal, leaving a significant dent in the construct's chest. Nick's healing gives him 29 hps.
((Holding action with the painter and ve Mundr till tomorrow. Painter is still on offer as a general target, however.))
Tommy and Wentworth are crouched close on the ground, under the protection of the cube.
Jus has swept into the air to get a good look around and is able to report the following -
Ahead and below, hidden behind a few of the huts, closer to the fortress, he sees two dozen small, dirty faces rise in unison, watching him from below. Children, enclosed in a pen.
Behind, there are 5 other metal constructs, leaving the train wreck and the disruptive tear in the air, and are on the approach toward the battle. Probably five rounds away.
And straight ahead, someone leaning out of a window in the fortress.
The enemy bites back: (Constructs and Painter are currently AC 35) (Displacement call 0 -50 miss, 51 - 100 hit)
#1, no doubt dizzy with the duellist's manouvres, takes another swing or two at Onrad -
Hits AC 43, 50, both miss
#2 and #3 stay on Valdor. #3 has a damaged arm and can only take one swing - #2 hits AC 49, 39 for 29, 16 DAM #3 hits AC 45 for 19 DAM
And from out of that window in the fortress! Along comes a rather swift LIGHTNING BOLT, whistling through the air and aimed straight at Jus! DAM 38, displacement 43 Reflex DC 21 for half - Misses!
Valdor(AC41, HP 326, Stoneskin, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance) Thursday August 2nd, 2007 7:20:43 PM
(stoneskins have 5 hp left)
Valdor yells,"Forget what I said about destroying the huts with wide range spells! There are children kept in a pen back there and we can't kill them!"
(Sorry Jan, with Nick's Shield of Law, Valdor actually has a 41 AC)
~~Jan~~ oh, LOL~ I'm forgetting my own character's effects!
Onrad d20+39=57 d20+34=46 d20+29=30 d20+24=38 d20+40=56 d100=72 d100=8 d100=59 d100=12 d100=69 3d6(4+1+6)+14=25 3d6(1+6+4)+14=25 Thursday August 2nd, 2007 8:56:56 PM
Onrad, somehow getting the effects of the heal spell late (grin), goes back from a total defensive stance to just defensive. "Thanks Nick!"
Onrad then attacks one-handed with his rapier.
1st attack: hits AC57 (displacement hit of 72) for 25hpd. 2nd attack: hits AC46 (displacement miss of 8) 3rd attack: hits AC30 (misses) 4th attack: hits AC38 (displacment miss of 12) 5th attack: hits AC56 (displacement hit of 69) for 25hpd. [Total damage is 50]
"This is going to take awhile Valdor, buddy. They have displacement, they don't crit, and they don't get tired--Woah! Watch out Jus!"
---------
hit points--223 current (223 was full) AC52 - fighting defensively Haste active 2 of 10 rounds Cloak of Displacement 2 of 15 rounds (50% miss chance)
~~Jan~~ Guys, sorry for the confusion, but the constructs don't have displacement, but two of the characters have. If I'm attacking those characters I need to roll, don't I?
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance] d20+14=17 d20+10=29 Friday August 3rd, 2007 12:40:42 AM
Cori sees no more immediate threats to the group and heads for the main body of the group. When she reaches Onrad, Nick and Valdor; she starts another spell that should lend even more aid to the group. "Jus, can you take care of the mage in the window?" She just spots the arc of lightning as it slams near the him but does not take the time to trace it that well. She drinks down a potion as she moves, but knows that it will not last long.
Luckily for her, Amarth is still at his job and he places the mage rather well. "Mistress, he is there." His eyes focus upon the window and allow her a good view of the mage.
[spot(Amarth): 29]
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2), floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2) 4th(6): stoneskin(3)*, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Valdor, Nick, Ve): 150 points of damage or 5997 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 477 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 23 rounds]
[haste(Cori): 5 rounds]
Valdor(AC41, HP 326, Stoneskin, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance) d20+39=57 d20+38=47 d20+34=51 d20+33=38 d20+29=49 d20+28=39 d20+24=36 d20+23=42 d8+17=21 d8+17=20 d8+17=24 d8+17=20 d8+16=19 d8+16=22 d8+16=18 d8+16=24 Friday August 3rd, 2007 10:32:50 AM
Valdor smiles at Onrad's comments, an odd thing to do while in the middle of a battle. But, he doesn't lose focus and asks,"Mordrid, can you take out that painter since Onrad's back to his full health?"
He attacks his construct again and tries to finish one and start on the next. He says to noone in particular,"Where is Dahlia?"
(hit all eight for 21, 19, 20, 22, 24, 18, 20, 24-don't know how many it took to knock out #3)
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement d20+41=46 d20+41=61 d8=7 d6=5 d6=1 d6(6+3)+2=11 2d8(6+1)=7 10d6(3+2+6+2+3+1+5+6+6+2)=36 2d8(4+7)+40=51 4d6(5+6+1+2)=14 Saturday August 4th, 2007 12:08:01 AM
"Consider them toasted," Jus replies to Cori's question.
Jus must be a sight to behold to those children below, who have never seen magic before today. Lets give them a bit of show. Jus thinks.
With his magical wings keeping him in the air, Jus carefully steps through the incantations to produce a Fireball. However, towards the end of his spell, he pulls out one of his Bestow Curse arrows, imbuing the spell upon the arrow. Taking careful aim, Jus launches the arrow at the person in the window. His careful aim is aided by his bow, since its Seeking capability makes the mage's cover useless.
When the arrow strikes its target, a thunderclap sounds at the same time that the fireball erupts. Jus raises his eyebrows in a pleased shock. That went much better than he expected.
Hits AC 46 - uses hero point. Hits AC 61 (natural 20), 62 if within 30'.
Special Effects: DC 15 Save or deafened permanently (Thundering) Special Effects: Save vs. Will or Bestow Curse (inaction 50% of the time) Possible Effects: Fireball in a contained area
Possible Effects: +11 hp damage (if target is a construct)
Active Spells: SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Stoneskin (110 hp) Displacement (8 rounds) Bear's Endurance (+4 Con)
OOC: Family is back from a 2 month vacation. If I miss a day next week, I'll activate my Glove (if it is not yet activated).
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 224 d20+22=23 d20+22=39 10d6(1+5+3+1+2+6+5+3+4+3)=33 d20+28=45 d20+23=26 d20+18=33 d20+13=18 d8+10=13 d8+10=18 d8+10=18 d8+10=17 2d6(4+6)=10 2d6(3+6)=9 2d6(2+5)=7 2d6(3+6)=9 2d6(4+2)=6 2d6(5+1)=6 2d6(4+4)=8 2d6(3+5)=8 Saturday August 4th, 2007 12:29:26 PM ooc Sorry sorry sorry all
Ve sees her turn and also what the painting may be constructed from and he knows this might take some more doing than the mad wizard Cori just dealt with. her spell stirkes and for a moment he feels his heart stop. Odd feeling, but it leaps back to life in a moment. Save natural 1 good old die roller the following is all an if.
If Ve has a hero point, when created no one said I did. the following happens:
A gesture as he closes to the painter and a Searing Light strikes her. It is followed by the Protector's Brilliant energy weapon. {Hit Touch AC 45/36/33/18 Dmg 13/18/18/17 If Chaotic dmg +10/9/7/9 If evil dmg +6/6/8/8
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) Saturday August 4th, 2007 11:11:04 PM
Nick winces as the battle continues, and watches his friends fighting the constructs very closely. Jus's news via the earpiece is not good.
"With those other constructs coming up from the rear, may I suggest we cut around those ahead of us somehow and get to the door. Sooner we're in there, sooner we're out. Config! Do you know Crow's whereabouts in that building?"
DM Jan d20+35=53 d20+35=41 d20+35=43 2d10(8+9)+11=28 2d10(8+3)+11=22 2d10(4+6)+11=21 d100=8 d100=59 Sunday August 5th, 2007 12:14:12 AM
Current state of play:
In melee range - Onrad, Valdor, Mordrid, Ve, Nick, Cori - can reach 2 constructs Ranged attacks only this round - Dahlia, Jus, Nonam - can reach above + 4 other constructs, and fortress
Onrad and Valdor (aided by Mordrid) continue with their assault on the constructs blocking their path. Onrad seems to be making headway, although this construct in particular (#1) seems to have a VERY hard shell. Dents and dings all over the place, sparks flying, but still it keeps on swinging.
#1 tries to flatten the duellist: Hits are AC 53, 41 (displacement a hit, and a miss) For 28, and 22) Only first one hits for 22 DAM
Valdor is making better progress. Construct #3 falls battered and bent to the ground, and again, something rises from it, this time like whisp of air. The whisp joins the firey light alongside Config. Construct #2 abruptly finds itself without the use of an arm, but lashes out with the remaining one:
Hit is AC 43 Dam = 21
Cori casts haste. As she does, her companion looks on as a rather spectacular explosion takes place in one of the windows of the fortress - the one from where the lightning bolt had come from. It lights up the sky for a good three seconds, enabling the bird to see Jus suspended high in the air.
From the elven bowman's point of view, he can see a window blown apart and a fiery corpse drop down with a distant thud. The children below watch the fall, and then their eyes are immediately back on him.
(Dan, yes you have hero points). Over by the hut wall, Ve Mundr fights off the terrible effects of the painter's spell. His reply is equally horrific, and her fragile, child-tender skin shrivels. She lets out a heart-rending wail and drops to the ground, dead. Even in death her face looks familiar - the portrait on Crow's wall......
Tommy and Wentworth are still huddled in the same place. Config now has two other elementals with him. Beside him, that tiny little wriggling thing nailed to the corner of the painting continues to squirm.
And behind everyone, the ground vibrates as five more of the metal monsters approach. Now only 4 rounds away.
Edit Sunday (forgot to answer a question) -
Config's answer to Nick's question about the location of Crow is in the form of a gesture. The metal golem points directly to the top section of the fortress.
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 224 Sunday August 5th, 2007 9:30:40 AM
Ve grabs the entire painting, he is pretty sure Config is only interested in the attached thing, likely a fragment of someone and Ve really does not want to think any further on that. It was evidence of Crow's vileness to him, necromantic evil at its blackest. Into the eapiece Ve says to Father Nick "Get Wentworth and Tommy to drop the cube and stick close to you. I will be there in moments." Just before Ve turns to move to Config, he thrusts his hammer towards the constructs closest to the fortress and erects a second Wall of Force.
This one runs perpendicular to the first down the far right side. Cutting off the ramshackle shack from the constructs all the way to the fortress proper. [Spont. cast Wall of Force with Earthquake]
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Posting Report for Monday August 6th, 2007 7:14:12 AM
Game # 1 The Platinum Dragons For the week of Jule 30,2007
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance] d20+14=17 d20+10=21 Monday August 6th, 2007 11:34:13 PM
Cori smiles as she pulls a rod out of the pocket of her pants with her free hand. Her voice is once again raised in spellcasting that she aims for Valdor. With the completion of her spell all those around Valdor, dragons all, find their movements hastened. "Ok, so we push for the fortress?" She slowly moves in that direction as well, letting Amarth keep eyes out for more trouble.
[spot(Amarth): 29]
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2), floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)*, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Valdor, Nick, Ve): 150 points of damage or 5996 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 476 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 23 rounds]
[haste(Cori): 4 rounds]
[haste: 48 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
Mordrid (shield of law) d20+30=32 d20+30=41 d20+25=40 d20+20=40 d20+15=26 d8+10=14 d8+10=12 d8+10=13 d8+10=12 d8+10=16 Tuesday August 7th, 2007 2:35:04 AM
ooc: sorry guys, my life is crazy. Hehe... I am engaged to be married though!
Mordid moves in tandom with Valdor, until the moment is right to strike.
The ranger begins to wade thru the final remnants of the construct front line with his Sun Sword.
[Attack 1: hit AC 32 for 14 dam] [Hasted attack: hit AC 41 for 12 dam] [Attack 2: hit AC 40 for 13 damage] [Attack 3: automatic hit for 12 damage] [Attack 4: hit AC 26 for 16 damage]
Upon seeing that his sword play was weak against this enemy... the ranger quick draws his bow and focuses on the entrance to the fortress.
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement Tuesday August 7th, 2007 3:46:37 AM
"Someone near Config ask him what's up with his friends," Jus communicates via his earpiece. "That sure looks suspicious."
Jus activates his Glove and moves towards Config and the others. Why would the elementals be going to him?
Active Spells: SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Stoneskin (110 hp) Displacement (7 rounds) Bear's Endurance (+4 Con)
OOC: Not doing much this turn while waiting for other to post.
DM Jan OOC Tuesday August 7th, 2007 12:13:45 PM
((Guys, we're struggling right now for various reasons. No worries. I'm going to move things on a little bit and keep the story flowing. I'll post in one hour. If you can get one in, in the mean time, please do. :)
Scott, congrats!! ))
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance) d20+39=54 d20+38=47 d20+34=36 d20+33=47 d20+29=35 d20+28=31 d20+24=39 d20+23=35 d8+17=21 d8+17=19 d8+17=24 d8+16=20 d8+16=21 Tuesday August 7th, 2007 12:30:51 PM
Valdor nods to his brother and says,"Let's finish these and mow a path to thecastle, my brother! Dragons, time to storm the keep!"
His swords spin and slice in an effort to clear this last one out of the way and when it's down, he starts to sprint towards the castle's door.
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Tuesday August 7th, 2007 1:12:50 PM
Ve moves back to Config and hands the construct the painting. Ve is then towards the back of the group. "I'll see to our rear guard."
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) Tuesday August 7th, 2007 2:16:40 PM
Nick listens for a moment and then turns quickly to the cowering halflings under the cube's protection.
"Okay, you two, let go of that, it looks like we're moving out, and we need to be quick, before reinforcements arrive. Stay VERY close."
He'll attempt to keep Tommy and Wentworth in the centre of the party.
DM Jan Tuesday August 7th, 2007 2:56:22 PM
Valdor, Onrad and Mordrid finish off the immediate threat, and two other (what look to be) fire elementals rise from the inanimate tin cans and join Config. The construct is now surrounded by three fire elementals and two air elementals, one of those having risen from the inert form of the painter.
Ve hands the rumpled piece of parchment, with it's tiny, grisly attachment, to the construct. "A piece of Crow," states Config, and after a few beats of hesitation. "The others want me to destroy it. And they want to come with you. With us."
In the aftermath of this battle, certain things become clear - - When attacked and immobilized by a third party, the elementals trapped within were able to escape without damaging the planer fabric of the Wold. - The painting carries a piece of live flesh. Do the paintings aid the constructs in some way? Config says so, but it was hard to establish that during the melee. - The painter - a flesh golem presumably, as an elemental form escaped from it - had a remarkable likeness to the portraits of Crow's wife (on the wall of Crow's Dirt City house).
Cori casts HAste on the group within 30ft of Valdor.
With the immediate opposition down, and the second wall of force up, the group is able to make their way toward the fortress entrance uncontested. The view from outside:
The fortress rises approximately 5 storeys in haphazard fashion, as though the upper levels were added on at different times, with no thought to what was built below. Each of the five levels look to have a few windows, and light shines from them all. Wide, rough steps lead inside, and there is no one to contest the entrance right now. Inside, straight ahead, is a wall, with another painting of Crow upon it, and some stairs. There is also a scent, that brings forth a memory of Crow's old dwelling back in Dirt City. It wasn't pleasant back then, it isn't pleasant now.
Just off to the left of the entrance, lies the pen containing the children, who look upon the group silently, their eyes wide but wary.
Onrad Tuesday August 7th, 2007 4:28:05 PM
Onrad sighs relief that none of the children were hurt in the battle. He starts toward the children. Then he stops. They might be safest just right there for the moment.
He doesn't want to get their hopes up yet either by promising. They might panic.
Tortured, he tries to keep his battle mind in place and moves forward to the steps and climbs, determined.
-------
[Sorry folks. Truly am. Just too many things going on. Setting a widget alarm to post. Perhaps that will help. I promise to get consistent or I'll drop. There. Said it.
GRATZ SCOTT!!!!!]
Mordrid (Shield of Law) Tuesday August 7th, 2007 5:58:34 PM
Mordrid advances with the others toward the entrance of the fort. During his jaunt to the gate, the ranger fires a "flame" arrow at the mouth of the entrance; hopefully to provide illumination to whats inside (as they approach).
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Tuesday August 7th, 2007 7:32:45 PM
Ve holds his hand out for the parchment back, "That you can not do. Please?" Assuming config returns the parchment, "Valdor, everyone. Seems my divination was spot on. Bits of Crow are attached to all the paintings. If we need to bring them all back?" Ve lets the question hang.
As for the elementals wanting to come with and help. That could get very busy, very quickly. "Not sure bringing them is the best idea, but it is more gut feeling than anything else." Is all Ve can add to the conversation concerning the elementals.
During all of this, Ve moves as the rear guard for the group, as they close on the fortress.
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance, true seeing] d20+14=24 d20+10=28 Tuesday August 7th, 2007 8:13:26 PM
Cori enters the fortress on the heels of Valdor, Onrad and the rest that are following along. Her own eyes search the area but she is starting to not trust all that she is seeing. She quickly falls into more casting and channels another spell through the rod in her hand.
Amarth joins his eyes with his Mistress's and both are now aided by a new spell. One that shows things as they truely are.
[spot(Cori/Amarth): 24/28]
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2), floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)*, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing* 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Valdor, Nick, Ve): 150 points of damage or 5995 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 475 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 22 rounds]
[haste(Cori): 3 rounds]
[haste(extended): 47 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
[true seeing(extended): 480 rounds]
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement Wednesday August 8th, 2007 3:55:21 AM
"I had the same thought," Jus tells Onrad when Jus sees his hesitation. Jus looks back towards the pen again. "We can't leave them, but letting them free to roam here will lead to their deaths."
"Valdor, can we take the kids to the city we just came from? Will the teleport ring take them all?"
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste) Wednesday August 8th, 2007 10:27:26 AM
Valdor replies to Jus,"If we remove them now, we won't be able to ensure their safety, my friend...unless someone stays behind. We won't leave them once we have found Crow. We also will have to destroy those paintings that creature was painting, just to make sure we have removed as much of Corw as possible."
Then, to everyone in the group, he says,"Remember, we need to take him alive. We need him immobilized where he can't escape."
He continues into the building, taking the front. He tells Cori,"If you have any more Stoneskins, I'll gladly take another one. Those constructs did an efficient job of removing the last one from me."
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) Wednesday August 8th, 2007 4:39:05 PM
Nick pulls the two halflings close as they enter the building. This wasn't the safest place, he was sure - but where was? He'll protect them with his life if necessary.
DM Jan Wednesday August 8th, 2007 4:56:36 PM Haste. He would have preferred more time, but that was a luxury he couldn't afford right now, not with those adventurers on the loose. Back door, then teleport to where he remembered. They'd been allies once, unwittingly on Crow's part, of course. The old madman would never have signed on if he'd known the necromancers true goals, but it had been fun for a while. Fun and enlightening. Crow was a genius, and dangerous - a lateral thinker in an ordered, linear world. Here. Second floor. Oh Gods, the stench. That, he remembered well. As a six year old, he'd been skinned alive here, once. Those flesh golems had to look pretty, didn't they. Have to put that memory away. Have to get to Crow, get his books, find out how he gets these things to worship him. All right, lets put these 10 year old feet to use. Too quick for the metal constructs, stay away from the ladies, and we're good, up to the third floor, fourth, @%$#^& - duck, too close, okay, eat this you #&^%$#!, ah... inelegant 10 year old temper, okay, fifth. Where are you Crow? Ah, there....... dear Gods, what have they done to you?
Mordrid's arrow precedes the group into the building, where it bounces off a wall, sets the painting there on fire, and then skitters to the floor burning and giving off light. Onrad and Valdor get the first look at the immediate surroundings. Glimpses of fires in adjoining rooms, the smell of hot metal. Metal sheets, blocks, metal arms, legs, are all stacked neatly against walls. Cori catches traces of magic in these rooms, a glimmer of runes her and there, tied to objects, rather than persons. A wide stairway (10 ft wide), curves upward, and that's where the charnal house stench seems to be coming from. There is light. Oddly enough, there isn't anyone, or anything here to greet them.
However, there are sounds of metal feet on stone steps, coming from the stairwell, and they sound to be heading UP, rather than down. And suddenly, also from above, the sounds of a commotion, a distant hiss, and something tumbling. The sliver of skin on the parchment in Ve's hand continues to wriggle.
Outside, the construct and the elementals have stopped, and appear to be having some kind of silent conference. Nearby, the children in the pen look on. They have not called out, appealed for help. That wariness in their eyes is perhaps keeping them silent.
Onrad d20+26=45 Thursday August 9th, 2007 9:41:02 AM
Onrad, glances up the next stairway as he hears the sound of someone ascending.
Urgently he whispers, "Up!"
Then going total defense again, he starts racing up the stairs, putting his boots of speed to use.
::Lightly now::
::skipping two, now three steps at a time::
[tumble check of 45]
----------- Shield of Law Cloak of Displacement 4 of 15 Boots of Speed 4 of 10 Total Defense: AC60
Mordrid (Shield of Law, Long Strider) Thursday August 9th, 2007 4:10:25 PM
Mordrid casts "long strider" before bounding up the stairs to support Onrad.
The ranger can't help but think what Crow must look like now strips of flesh have been removed from his body.
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Thursday August 9th, 2007 5:11:30 PM
Ve jams the scrap into his Haversack and moves to stamp out the fire on the Painting. He then looks for another similar scrap. If found, he pulls it free and places it in his Haversack. Heavy footfalls ascending? "Someone else has penetrated the tower in front of us and the defenders are moving."
The question of who else could be after Crow would likely create a list of near infiinte proportions. Even narrowing it by capabilities would still leave a long one over the last few hundred years of the terrible evil creatures that have been reborn into the Wold. AS onrad and then Mordrid begin to double time up the staris, Ve looks to Valdor,
"We form two groups. I will see to those you can not keep pace. Go with Mordrid and anyone else who can match thier speed."
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) Thursday August 9th, 2007 7:38:07 PM
Nick is in agreement with Ve Mundr. "And try not to get seriously hurt until we get there," he adds. "As for you two," he says to the halflings, "don't touch anything, don't go anywhere on your own."
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement Thursday August 9th, 2007 8:56:12 PM
Jus looks for Config, to see what he is doing. He then follows the others up the stairs. Whenever he passes a window, Jus takes a moment to look outside. His concern for the children is a big motivation for it, but he also wants to know if any danger is heading their way -- including the constructs they left behind.
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance, true seeing] Friday August 10th, 2007 12:01:42 AM
Cori takes note of the magic and then sweeps her head to take in the rest of the building. "Seems that a lot of the objects in here are magiced in some way." Glancing to Valdor she nods her head and through the use of one of her magical items, recalls a spell. She touches Valdor's shoulder as she intones the words, her other hand going through the gestures. "That will hold for awhile." She glances to those that have started to race up the stairs and shakes her head. "I could seal off that way up and buy us time." She waits to see what Valdor would like done before she goes along with the rest.
Amarth keeps his eyes open for more trouble and lets his Mistress handle the rest right now. His eyes scan the kids, especially with the spell his Mistress cast...he wants to make sure they are all what they appear.
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2), floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)***, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing* 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Nick and Ve): 150 points of damage or 5994 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 474 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 21 rounds]
[haste(Cori): 2 rounds]
[haste(extended): 46 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
[true seeing(extended): 479 rounds]
[stoneskin(Valdor): 150 points of damage or 6000 rounds]
DM Jan Friday August 10th, 2007 1:59:30 AM
Onward and upward!
Level Two - the air is humid. Open doors reveal steamy interiors and the smell of blood and rotting innards. Neat piles of bones are stacked up just inside the doorways - a pile of skulls, a stack of femurs. There would be a need to venture and explore to discover more.
Level Three - air is drier, scent is cleaner, fresher. Windows on the landing, and possibly everywhere in the building, are open. Open doorways here reveal a glimpse of what look like huge vats covered in runes. Magic spilling from them is of tremendous power.
And here, the stairwell is blocked. Onrad, Mordrid and Valdor are the first to see a tangle of flesh and metal golems on the stairway leading up to Levels Four and Five. Someone has set off an incendiary cloud, and it's edges spit out and throw firey embers onto the Level Three landing. Some of the constructs have apparently fallen down the steps in the mad scramble to move to one of the higher levels, and are trying to disentangle themselves. The stairs are completely blocked.
Out of the window - Config is still at the Fortress entrance with the elementals. However, the four blocked by Cori's wall of force have figured it out and are now walking back toward the entrance. The five constructs striding up from the train wreck are approaching the other side of the force wall. So far, the kids are okay.
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid, Ring of Invisibility) Friday August 10th, 2007 9:58:26 AM
Valdor smiles as he sees the mess on the stairs. He says,"Catch up when you can. I've got to beat this other threat to Crow or who knows what will happen. You guys are the best."
He kisses Cori on the cheek, activates his Cloak of Arachnid, goes out of a window, latches onto the wall and starts moving. He will activate one of his rings and disappear as soon as he's outside. He heads up as far as he can, going directly to the top floor window.
(Jan, with the haste and his proficiency with such maneuvers, I'm not sure how much of this he can do, just let me know-SteveH)
( To Scott:Congrats!!!!!!!)
Onrad Friday August 10th, 2007 12:28:37 PM
Onrad, seeing Valdor scurry outside to go up smiles. He pauses, pops a Spider Climb potion, and tosses one to Mordrid. Then he crawls out onto the ledge and begins to follow Valdor up the wall.
"Hold up Big Guy! Wezza comin'!"
Then...
"Can't let you hog all the glory this time...Hey! where ya go?"
"Oh."
Ummmph.
::Ok, be careful Onrad. You know how you hate to fall.::
As an afterthought, to conserve abilities, with a thought, he drops the cloak of displacement and the boots of speed effects.
-----------
Shield of Law Cloak of Displacement: cancelled for now Boots of Speed cancelled for now Total Defense: AC60
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Friday August 10th, 2007 5:22:15 PM
Ve takes out his flying Carpet, "I think we all should exit stage left" he explains. "No one is coming down these stairs." and with a focused effort Ve conjures a terribly thick Iron wall across the level three landing. 10' per side and 25" thick. [Spont cast Wall iron for Disrupting Weapon]
The carpet it 5x10 and can hold 800 pounds the Protector explains. "Cori, Father and you two" pointing to the halflings and stepping on. "let's get going."
Jus has the fly right? and I'm not forgetting anyone?
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid, Ring of Invisibility) Friday August 10th, 2007 6:43:34 PM
Valdor chuckles at Onrad's words...an odd thing to do with all the craziness going on. He says from somewhere above,"Now how are you going to know where my swords are flying? And I don't want to hog the glory, not all of it anyway."
He's still laughing as he climbs.
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance, true seeing] Saturday August 11th, 2007 12:03:55 AM
Cori accepts the kiss from Valdor and kisses him back quickly before he is gone. She moves towards Ve as he calls for them to ride his magic carpet up. She does glance around to the others to make sure that everyone is going to be able to make it. "If someone else needs, I have other ways of getting up there." She offers her spot to anyone that cannot fly on their own.
Amarth keeps his lookout going as his Mistress makes herself ready to go. He does not want to stay here too long as he does not like all the weird magic that is around and with his shared sight...it is weird and he can see it.
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2), floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)***, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing* 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Nick and Ve): 150 points of damage or 5993 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 473 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 21 rounds]
[haste(Cori): 1 rounds]
[haste(extended): 45 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
[true seeing(extended): 478 rounds]
[stoneskin(Valdor): 150 points of damage or 5999 rounds]
Posting Report for Monday August 13th, 2007 8:06:48 AM
Game # 1 The Platinum Dragons For the week of August 6,2007
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) Monday August 13th, 2007 2:41:01 PM
Nick herds the two halflings on to the carpet, and then climbs aboard himself, reassured he has something like a feathfall spell somewhere.
He keeps an eye on the stairs going up, just in case anything in that tangle of constructs turns its attention on them.
DM Jan Monday August 13th, 2007 2:41:19 PM This will take some time... unless I want to kill him, and I don't want to do that, just yet. All right, smile at the man. Rescue you? Yes, yes, that's why I'm here. Now wait a second. Wall of Force should hold the door, but I don't like the look of those windows.... There, and there, just in case. Heh, casting spells of this caliber isn't doing much for my current 10 year old form, but needs must. Now, beatific smile, shhhh, calm now. Let's get you out of this infernal machine. I'll need to cut...
Things start to happen fast.
Valdor makes easy work of climbing the outside wall of the fortress, with Onrad in pursuit. Past the fourth floor windows where remnants of the Incendiary Cloud can be seen through the window here along with a further tangle of constructs trying to climb the stairs to thefinal, fifth floor.
The Dragonstone is approx 15ft below the fifth floor windows (Onrad is 25 ft below the windows), when two enormous eight legged arachnids appear. They're huge, of gargantuan size. One of them starts spinning a web across the windows. The other seems... distracted, and starts to move rapidly downwards.
Ve Mundr's carpet hovers outside the third floor window, with he, Nick, Cori, and the two halflings on board. - Looking down, they can see 8 metal constructs approaching the building. - Looking up, they can see Onrad, 30 ft up, climbing up the wall, (No sign of Valdor unless you can see past Invisibility) AND - two ginormous spiders guarding the fifth floor windows. And ooh look! There's Onrad, about 25 ft below that window - and one of the spiders is climbing down to meet him (in melee range of the duellist next round) - Looking in - The lower edge of the third floor stairwell is now blocked by the wall of iron, so at least no one is likely to come up. However - two of the flesh constructs and extracted themselves from the tangle, and are approaching the window. Both of them look eerily like the portrait of Crow's wife, and going off previous encounters are unlikely to be friendly.
2 spiders now in melee range of Valdor and Onrad, ranged to everyone else. 2 flesh golems in ranged attack range for everyone except Valdor and Onrad.
Mordrid, Jus, Dahlia - on the carpet, on the third floor, still, flying outside, climbing wall? Let me know.
Onrad Monday August 13th, 2007 7:27:16 PM
Onrad, cursing, uses his action to active his cloak of displacement once again. Staying total defense, he begins backing down the wall again to the room he was in yelling at the spider hoping to lure him into a better place to fight it.
"Can't fight it on the wall. Need hands and feet on the wall or I fall. Would be cool though. Don't ya think? Pulling the spider back inside if I can.
"Wow, he's "Ginormous!" Exactly how big is Ginormous I wonder?"
Onrad pulls back into the room retracing steps and then awaits the spider, hoping that spiders hate noise and will follow.
---------
Shield of Law Cloak of Greater Displacement 5 of 15 Boots of Speed 4 of 10 (not activated) Total Defense: AC60
Mordrid [Shield of Law, Long Strider, haste?] d20=20 d20=4 d8+15=22 2d10(10+9)=19 d6=5 d20=3 d8+15=21 d20=5 d8+15=21 d6=1 d6=6 d20=8 d8+15=16 d6=6 d20=9 d8+15=23 d6=3 d20=10 d8+15=18 d6=5 Monday August 13th, 2007 8:09:59 PM
Mordrid is about to swallow the potion of Spider Climb that Onrad passed, but is haulted when he hears Onrad just outside the window... "Ginormous!"
The ranger sticks his head out the window. Looking up he sees the culprit, and Onrad intellegently luring the creature.
The ranger unloads a flight of arrows at the giant spider. (+5 arrows of flame / full action)
[Arrow 1: natural 20 / hits AC 63 and AC 47 for 22 x 3 = 66 damage plus 19 freezing blast and 5 fire damage = TOTAL 90 damage]
[Arrow 2 (feat): hits AC 46 for 21 damage + 1 fire damage = TOTAl 22 damage]
[Arrow 3 (speed) : hits AC 48 for 21 + 6 fire damage = TOTAL 27 damage]
[Arrow 4: hits AC 45 for 16 damage + 6 fire damage = TOTAL 22 damage]
[Arrow 5: hits AC 41 for 23 damage + 3 fire damage = TOTAL 26 damage]
Arrow 6: hits AC 37 for 18 damage + 5 fire damage = TOTAL 23 damage]
Corialote and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance, true seeing] Monday August 13th, 2007 11:26:12 PM
Cori smiles as she can see that Valdor is far enough up the tower to allow her to be of help. She also can see Onrad luring the spider down or at least trying. "Onrad...move to the side quick....Ve, make sure we are not under that spider." She falls into the motions with her free hand, gesturing out the complex movements of a spell. Her voice is even and steady as she intones one of her simpler spells. With a thrust of her hand at the exact spot the spider is crawling on the wall, grease sudden coats it.
Amarth keeps his place on his Mistress's shoulder as he does not want to break the connection he has with her. His head swivels around to watch for more enemies but he holds out on the few spells he has.
[grease: 24 rounds, 10' area, Reflex DC 22]
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2)*, floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)***, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing* 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Nick and Ve): 150 points of damage or 5992 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 472 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 20 rounds]
[haste(extended): 44 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
[true seeing(extended): 477 rounds]
[stoneskin(Valdor): 150 points of damage or 5998 rounds]
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement 6d20(1+11+15+3+5+17)=52 d20=14 d8+19=27 d8+19=25 d8+19=23 2d6(3+3)=6 2d6(3+6)=9 2d6(3+1)=4 2d6(2+4)=6 2d6(5+4)=9 2d6(1+4)=5 d8+19=23 d8+19=27 d8+19=26 Tuesday August 14th, 2007 5:40:29 AM
Jus leaps out of the window, twisting around and head upwards with his wings providing a rythmic flight. As he twists back towards the tower, Jus sees Mordrid lean out and send a group of arrows into the first spider.
"Capture or Kill Crow?" Jus urgently asks in his earpiece. He sure wishes he remembered which, but the heat of the moment has driven this from his mind.
Heading higher, Jus attempts to see past the the spider and the web that is being built into the room beyond. If he sees anyone in the room, he launches a few special arrows into the room. The remaining fly at the spider by the window.
Full Attack w/ activated Glove: Reroll fumble. If people can be seen beyond the web, inside the tower: First three attacks at figures inside hit ac: 60, 52, 51 Damage: 6 (holy damage if evil), 9 (holy), 27 First two arrows are Tanglefoots: -2 attacks, -4 Dex, save DC15 or cannot move. If save, half speed. Third arrow is Bestow Curse: save vs Will or inaction 50% of time. If nobody can be seen beyond the web: First three attacks at spider, hit ac: 59, 51, 50 Damage 27 + 6 (holy), 25 + 9 (holy), 23 + 4 (holy) Whether people are seen or not Last three attacks at spider, hit ac: 33, 30, 62 Damage: 23 + 6 (holy), 27 + 9 (holy), 26 + 5 (holy)
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid, Ring of Invisibility) Tuesday August 14th, 2007 11:41:46 AM
Valdor sees the spiders and decides to enter the room through the window that Onrad's spider has just vacated. With his cloak, he can traverse any web, so he's not concerned overly much. He looks into the window first to get his bearings and see how many foes are in the room. He whispers into his earring,"Crow must be taken alive! We have to take him back to undo all of this."
Valdor moves into the room and along the ceiling, recalling when he first had met Nick and had to go into Ga'al's temple to extract him from the clerics grasp. He makes a mental note to have a room dedicated to his cloak when he retires.
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 d20+22=26 Tuesday August 14th, 2007 5:38:16 PM
Seeing the golems coming up behind Mordrid, Ve frowns slightly. "Capture." he says quickly to Jus. He can't really assist at the moment needing to stay with the carpet and really it is quite aggrevating to him. Ve calls for the carpet to move 30' horizontally away from the tower. He will keep an eye on the golems and if one casts a spell he will attempt to counter it. [Spellcraft 26 lvl 11 or less]
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) Tuesday August 14th, 2007 8:20:47 PM
Nick sees the two constructs behind Mordrid.
"Mordrid, look out!" he calls, trying not to fall off the carpet in all the excitement. Keeping himself steady, he casts SHIELD OTHER on Mordrid.
Onrad d20+22=24 Tuesday August 14th, 2007 9:17:53 PM
"No, it's ok Cori, we got it....WOAH!"
Onrad, dives inside the window he'd returned to last round.
[Jump check - 24]
"Ow! Stubbed my toe.!"
He picks himself off the floor with his second move and flexes his foot to be sure he's ok.
"Mordrid, remind me to never mess with Valdor's girlfriend."
--------------
Shield of Law Cloak of Greater Displacement 6 of 15 Boots of Speed 4 of 10 (not activated) Total Defense up until further notice: AC60
DM Jan d20+18=32 10d6(5+1+4+6+2+5+5+5+3+3)=39 10d6(5+5+3+2+5+5+1+5+6+1)=38 Tuesday August 14th, 2007 9:25:08 PM
((As specified in last post, spiders are gargantuan, not that it's going to do them any good by the looks of it, LOL. And being the size of a barn door, their AC is 18))
Outside on the wall, Onrad beats a hasty retreat back toward the window below. Is the creature following? You bet it is. Right above him now and descending fast. Then, he sees Mordrid's arrows hammer into the beast, and the wall suddenly takes on a shine. Sprouting arrows like a porcupine's spines and spitting ice and fire, the beast starts to slip on Cori's Grease spell and fall right toward him. The halflings on the carpet (now shifted away from the window) both scream - "AAAAHHHHHH!"
Can he get out of the way, or will he end up being knocked down to the ground, three storeys below?? Onrad REFLEX save DC 22
More arrows fly through the air, courtesy of the airborne Jus. He can't see into the room yet. He'll be level with it next round. No matter. All six projectiles hit heavily into the spider still by the window. The creature slips, and hangs twitching just below the window.
Another yard and those arrows would have parted Valdor's hair. The Dragonstone 'feels' the percussive THUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUD as Jus's arrows embed themselves in the spider that was edging toward Valdor, having felt something on it's web. The attack is effective, leaving the spider alive but helpless. A quick examination of the web. Enough strands to block someone of his size, although one single cut (AC35, hps 15) and he's through. And the room beyond -
Light, from a lot of small torches. Benches along the walls, their surfaces containing strange metal instruments. A table in the centre - wooden, bloodstained, empty shackles at either corner, a man laid partially on top of it. The man is dressed in a loincloth. His limbs are covered in dozens of red welts and scars - grafted skin, cut off and regrafted. Again and again until his skin looks like patchwork. But his face - going off the portraits, it can only be Crow.
There's a boy with him. The boy doesn't look in the best of health, either. His skin looks grey, shadows the colour of stone lie below his eyes. Funnily enough, he looks a little like one of those who were gathered around the adventurers back at Dirt City, after they'd reawakened the Gods. The one Dahlia had taken after. But if it is, he looks like something has wrung the very life out of him. Ah, and the eyes above those shadows. They're not like a boy's eyes at all. The kid looks to be wearing a wizard's robe. Quite grand but ill-fitting; the sleeves are bunched and rolled up, suggesting it's use is something other than sartorial elegance.
The boy is facing the window. He's using Crow as a shield. He has a narrow blade already stuck about a quarter inch into Crow's throat. "Hello.... cough... hello Valdor, I can see you" says the boy. "Don't come any closer."
Crow is looking around wildly. "Help me!" he's screaming. "Help me!"
Meanwhile!
Back on the third floor, Mordrid suddenly finds himself being approached by two flesh golems. He's seen the portraits back in Dirt City, in the present time. Both of them look exactly like her. Crow's wife, right down to the handsome as opposed to pretty face.
((Still working on this latter part, but I can't post till I get back from fencing tonight. Jerry - look up - I need a reflex from you. I'm sure you'll make it.))
----------------------------- Edit. 10.30pm pacific. ((Okay, back, now where were we? Ah yes! Third floor, Mordrid, Crow's wife x 2:
"Leh feh una, fora-mah" they say in unison while raising their hands. Immediately, two powerful LIGHTNING BOLTS shoot from both golems' fingers, lighting up the third floor landing with a blinding flash, and power toward the ranger.
32 check result Overcomes SR via shield of law Damage 39 and 38 Reflex DC 17 for half damage. However, Ve Mundr's counterspell check on one of these attempts is more than adequate. Able to counter? Shield other gives +1 on save, half damage to Nick.
Crow and boy in Valdor's melee range, in Jus's ranged attack range.
Flesh golems in Onrad and Mordrids melee range, in Cori, Ve, and Nick's ranged attack range.
Onrad d20+18=25 Tuesday August 14th, 2007 9:33:00 PM
Onrad barely dodges the falling spider while diving inside.
[Reflex save of 25]
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid, Ring of Invisibility) d20+39=55 Wednesday August 15th, 2007 4:09:14 PM
Valdor isn't very surprised that this kid is here. He knew Dahlia had chased off after someone. He figures Crow is probably dead if he doesn't do anything, so he decides to do what he's always done...attack! He uses all of his attacks and strength on one focused shot...tothe wrist holding the knife at Crow's throat, hoping to catch the boy offguard and knock his hand back, or, if he's lucky, take it off at the wrist.
Whether the attack is successful or not, he throws his body in between the boy and Crow using his size and strength. He prays to Domi silently that this works and that he hasn't ruined their chances to undo all of this, but he knows the boy will kill Crow anyway and then try to escape.
(If he gets any bonus for using all eight attacks in one, I'm not sure. Also, Valdor will use all of his five hero points if neccesary to save Crow.)
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Wednesday August 15th, 2007 5:06:56 PM Lightning bolts Ve foregoes countering either spell. Mordrid was more than capable of dodging the attacks and surviving. Ve orders the carpet upwards, climbing for the highest window. The fifth floor window was the important one. Mordrid would be fine.
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Onrad Wednesday August 15th, 2007 7:46:36 PM
The spider now hopefully far below, Onrad once again tries to ascend the wall to join Valdor above.
::second time turns the prince into a frog again, so careful::
He climbs to the lip of the window above and peeks in to see what there is to see through the spider webs in the window.
He stays silent for the moment.
-------------
Shield of Law Cloak of Greater Displacement 7 of 15 Boots of Speed 4 of 10 (not activated) Total Defense up until further notice: AC60 Potion of Spider Climb active
Corialote [shapechange: ] and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance, true seeing] Thursday August 16th, 2007 12:26:04 AM
Cori watches as they pull away from the wall and the spider falls. She leans over the carpet slightly as they rise to keep an eye upon it. In her right hand is a wand that she rolls lightly as she watches. "Well at least it did not take anyone with it." For a few seconds she had feared that she had sent Onrad down with the creature. The spiders were secondary targets, the real target had to be Crow. With no immediate threat in range she starts another spell, her free hand going through the gestures and draconic flowing freely.
Amarth flaps his wings a couple of times as he feels magic once again being cast and he knows what his Mistress is upto.
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2)*, floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2), displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)***, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing* 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange*, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Nick and Ve): 150 points of damage or 5991 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 471 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 19 rounds]
[haste(extended): 43 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
[true seeing(extended): 476 rounds]
[stoneskin(Valdor): 150 points of damage or 5997 rounds]
[grease: 23 rounds, 10' area, Reflex DC 22]
[shapechange(Cori): ]
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement 3d20(16+5+20)=41 2d6(3+3)=6 2d6(3+4)=7 2d6(1+1)=2 2d6(1+4)=5 2d6(2+6)=8 2d6(5+6)=11 4d8(7+7+5+7)+7=33 4d8(6+2+6+3)+7=24 4d8(8+2+8+1)+7=26 d20=13 Thursday August 16th, 2007 3:15:08 AM
Jus flies towards the window, attempting to get inside to help Valdor. As he flies, Jus releases three arrows, aimed for Crow.
If he was superstitious, Jus would be crossing his fingers. The arrows are designed not to hurt, but Jus has no idea if his bow's abilities will come into play. Hopefully this works. In case it helps, and since Crow is immobile, Jus aims away from critical areas.
Jus fires three Cure Critical arrows at Crow. They are designed not to do damage, but unless Jus can turn off his bow's abilities for the round, they may cause damage (shown in stats below).
Hit AC: 58, 47, 55 (natural 20 Hero-Point rerolled to avoid Thundering). Note: Precise Shot Feat. No penalty for shooting into melee. Possible Damage: from Holy: 6, 7, 2 (15 hp damage if Crow is Evil) against constructs: 5, 8, 11 (24 hp damage if Crow is a construct) Healing: from Cure Critical: 33, 24, 26 (83 hp healed)
Active Spells: SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Stoneskin (110 hp) Displacement (4 rounds) Bear's Endurance (+4 Con) Glove (6 rounds)
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) Thursday August 16th, 2007 11:28:44 AM
Nick's breath whistles between his teeth at that jolt of lightning. Feeling the carpet rise, possibly taking Nick out of range of his shield other spell on Mordrid, Nick casts AIR WALK.
His aim is to get between floors, and close to the outside wall, trying to keep in range with as many of his fellows as possible, and it would give Ve and Cori a little more freedom, even if they had the halflings on board.
He explains to Ve and Cori what he's doing, then takes that first step off the carpet. Don't look down, Nick..
DM Jan Thursday August 16th, 2007 11:29:17 AM
Incoming....
DM Jan d20+20=21 Thursday August 16th, 2007 12:29:49 PM
Leaving Mordrid in the delightful company of the two Mrs Crows on the third floor, everyone else moves upward toward the fifth floor.
During his particular climb, Onrad comes face to face with the remaining humongous, dangling spider, still helpless, courtesy of Jus's arrows. It snaps it's powerful beak-like mouth at the duellist as he climbs past toward the window.
Nick is a little further below him, hugging the wall, attempting keep in range of Mordrid.
Ve Mundr's carpet rises to the the level of the fifth floor windows, joining Onrad and Jus. Cori becomes absorbed in weaving her latest spell. "Eewwwwww!" exclaim the two halflings as they pass the dangling spider.
Far below, at ground level, a fight has started between Config and the free elementals and the 9 metal constructs seeking entrance into the fortress.
Inside on the Fifth floor (visible to all except Mordrid and Nick):
Valdor springs forward and knocks the knife out of the boy's hand. A rather spectacular arc of bright red arterial blood springs from Crow's throat. Crow lets out an accompanying blood curdling scream. Crow screams again as Jus's three arrows enter the room, zipping about a foot over the top of Onrad's head. They hit Crow like a battering ram, pushing him hard against Valdor and the boy. One in the shoulder, two in the thigh. The arterial bleeding stops abruptly. The crazy paving on the man's skin starts to look a whole lot better. The arrows, however, are still embedded, their entry points haloed by angry red flesh.
Pushed up against the far wall, the boy cackles. He looks sickly, his skin is flaking and grey due to the ravages of high level spells manipulated by a body so young. Too much power, far too soon. It's a fundamental lesson, one that every apprentice in the Star Tower knows via the strict discipline of their tutors. The boy's eyes however.... calculating and old, old as the mountain itself. The pupils are dilated, as black as midnight. They flick past Valdor to the window outside. He raises his hands. A supplicating gesture. His chest rises and falls, slightly out of breath. "So, now what?" he cocks his head. His tone is not mocking, and those black eyes now glitter with calculation and curiosity.
Meanwhile!!!!
Back at the third floor, Mordid is not being neglected.
Mrs Crow #1 attempts to hit the ranger with a POLAR RAY. (Oh, for crying out loud, a natural 1 on the touch attack!!!) The floor suddenly becomes icy cold and brittle. And the struggling pile of constructs trying to get up the stairs slows considerably. Metal limbs and chests start to dull with a layer of frost.
Mrs Crow #2 has turned her attention to the wall of iron blocking the lower stairwell and is twirling her hands.
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid) Thursday August 16th, 2007 2:44:26 PM
Valdor knows that Crow is almost finished when the arrows thud home. He yells,"No, dang it! We need him alive!!!" The large warrior has no idea that the arrows were actually beneficial. He keeps his earpiece active so that everyone knows where he is and what's going on.
He is about to kill the youth, when he realizes that this boy is just a shell being used...abused, more like it, and that killing the boy won't help anything. He addresses the youth and says,"You knew my name and could see me even though I was invisible. Who are you? And I don't mean your outer shell either. Who are YOU?"
Onrad Thursday August 16th, 2007 8:55:58 PM
Onrad, coming to the same conclusion as Valdor yells out the window to Jus, "Can someone cast something that will stop a possession. This kid is possessed! Looks that way anyway. If not, we gotta kill him."
"And can someone help Config? If not, say so and I'll jump down there."
With that Onrad enters the room through the webs in the window and stands by Valdor just in front of the boy, confronting him. He readies an action to disrupt any spells cast by the boy.
His eyes are as cold as his steel.
----------
SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Cloak of Greater Displacement 8 of 15 Boots of Speed 4 of 10 (not activated) Total Defense up until further notice: AC60 Potion of Spider Climb active
The ranger evades the close quarter electrical storm with an almost extra-planer step. [EVADE feat 9th level]
Hair on end, the ranger internally sighes as flesh golem one blunders on her potentially deadly second attack.
Golem two turns toward the barrier and begins to cast; Mordrid decides that this pointless third floor fight [worthy of bailing], was not so pointles after all.
[Just realized that Constructs are a favored enememy + 2 ; adding also the feat "Bane of enemies"]
The ranger unleashes a full volley into the construct's back, in an attempt to do enough damage to interrupt the spell. (+5 flaming arrows)
[ATTACK 1: Hits AC 50 for 26 damage plus 3 bane of enemies and 6 fire damage = TOTAL 35 damage.]
[ATTACK 2 speed: Hits AC 55 for 25 damage plus 12 bane of enemies and 6 fire damage = TOTAL 43 damage.]
[ATTACK 3 feat: Hits AC 59 for 23 damage plus 4 bane of enemies and 3 fire damage = TOTAL 30 damage.]
[ATTACK 4: Hits AC 50 for 25 damage plus 6 bane of enemies and 5 fire damage = TOTAL 36 damage.]
[ATTACK 5: Hits AC 46 for 23 damage plus 9 bane of enemies and 3 fire damage = TOTAL 35 damage.]
[ATTACK 6: Hits AC 41 for 26 damage plus 8 bane of enemies and 2 fire damage = TOTAL 36 damage.]
Corialote [shapechange: ] and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance, true seeing] d20+24=33 Thursday August 16th, 2007 10:05:01 PM
Going on the fly and not really having much time to prepare herself, she once again falls into spellcasting. Her sights narrow on the young boy and her hand comes up in the air and then she closes it tight.
Amarth continues his observation of the surrounding area as he has nothing that would be of much use to the party right now.
[hold person(boy): 24 rounds, SR 33, Will DC 23]
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2)*, floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2)*, displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)***, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing* 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange*, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Nick and Ve): 150 points of damage or 5990 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 470 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 19 rounds]
[haste(extended): 42 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
[true seeing(extended): 475 rounds]
[stoneskin(Valdor): 150 points of damage or 5996 rounds]
[grease: 22 rounds, 10' area, Reflex DC 22]
[shapechange(Cori): 2400 rounds]
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 d20+21=29 d20+24=41 Friday August 17th, 2007 9:23:42 AM Things look fairly secure. But let's not have you going anywhere just yet. Ve points a finger towards Crow and a green beam of emerald hue flies into his chest. [Dimensional Anchor Touch AC 29 penetrate SR 41]
"I have Crow contained." Ve says calmly into his earpiece
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement Friday August 17th, 2007 3:57:40 PM
"The arrows heal, not harm," Jus says as he enters the room through the window. "Embedding in Crow was an unexpected outcome." Quickly evaluating the situation, he sees that the others seem to have things under control. For now.
Jus moves on the periphery, over to the stairs heading down. He stays away from the boy, trying to decide if he is indeed possessed as Valdor and Onrad seem to suspect, or simply trying to exact his revenge. Either way, he could be dangerous, especially since most here would have qualms with killing him outright.
Maybe the boy could be moved to a better location. The recently opened temple, perhaps.
Jus casts Feeblemind, holding the touch long enough to give the boy a chance to answer Valdor. He's sure one of the others could restore the boy later.
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid) Friday August 17th, 2007 8:07:05 PM
Valdor keeps his eyes on the boy, not even blinking and asks Onrad,"What kept you? A little spider and you fall behind."
He grinning somewhat, but is still focused on the boy.
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) d20+15=17 Saturday August 18th, 2007 6:12:11 PM
Pressed against the outer wall, in between floors. He can't feel any other damage comething through via his shield other spell, so it looked like things were in hand on the third floor. The only other scream he could hear had come from a stranger. Not a voice he recognized.
So, all in all, so far, so good.
He looks down, makes sure no mischief is brewing down below.
SPOT DC 17 gee whiz
Earpiece: "Who's screaming up there, and do they need healing?"
DM Jan Saturday August 18th, 2007 7:10:05 PM
((Guys, my apologies for the lateness. I just couldn't get a 'window of calm' to post last night. Cops, helicopters, chasing some guy outside. Don't think they caught him, either.))
Third floor:
Mordrid's arrows stab viciously into the construct's (#2) back. The creature bounces off the wall of force at the top of the lower stairwell and falls on the ground, flames beginning to consume the flesh. The scent of barbeque begins to waft forth and out of the window. The fire starts to melt the frost from the polar ray. Construct #1 moves slightly, splinters of ice begin to fall from her arms, but she looks sluggish.
Fifth Floor:
The boy's eyes look, unflinching, at Valdor. "Two hundred years ago, maybe, you came out of retirement, especially -" frown "- although... you look younger now. I assume you've been reincarnated, like I was, but what I don't understand is -" cough, "-rumour had it, only the evil ones were able to come back. Have you been a bad -"
He stops, abruptly, as Onrad arrives. Someting in the duellist's body language, perhaps. Cold eyes meet those of stubborn defiance. There's a pause. Then all manner of spells kick in, or peter out.
Cori and Jus's spells hit the boy. The boy smiles. "Heeee......" he gurgles. His face now slack. Outside, the strung up monster spider disappears. Inside, someone, or something, immediately starts pounding on the door that leads to the stairwell. Pounding so hard that it starts to splinter and crack.
Ve's spell hits Crow. Still sprouting arrows, the man raises an arm, looking amazed for a moment at his new green aura. "Oh! You can do things like that now..." Then his head turns this way and that rapidly. Eyes roll wildly. "Does it look like I'm going anywhere!!??" he howls, on the verge of hysterics. "Someone help me! Stop this madness!"
Outside, Nick can't see anything of any consequence below. He does see the spider disappear, however.
On the carpet, Wentworth tries to get Ve's attention. "He looks scared. Can we help?" "You're not going to kill him, are you?" blurts out Tommy
OOC: Scott Saturday August 18th, 2007 7:55:44 PM
OOC: Jan, can you please recap the various floors, and the barriers between them, and perhaps what opponents are on what floors? I've lost track.
~~Jan~~ Certainly. :) Outside Entrance: currently guarded by Config and air and fire elementals.
Level 1: Metal storage, metal parts. No opponants in the stairwell. Accessible to Level 2.
Level 2: Flesh and bone storage, stripping and curing. No opponants in the stairwell. Accessible to Level 3. And level 1.
Level 3: Rooms containing mysterious vats, covered in magical runes. Opponants in stairwell - 1 remaining flesh construct with ice damage. Stairs inaccessible to above - jammed with constructs trying to reach the fith floor. Stairs inaccessible to below - block by Ve Mundr's wall of iron.
Level 4: Room contents unknown. Access to both Levels 5 and 3 blocked by constructs ascending stairs.
Level 5: Crow's room. Access to Level 4 blocked by constructs in stairwell.
Onrad d20+32=49 Saturday August 18th, 2007 9:29:53 PM
Onrad, not sure what just happened to the boy, sees his face go slack. Not willing to chance not acting, rushes forward to grapple him.
[Grapple attack hits DC49]
[10+1Str+21BAB=+32 bonus on grapple attacks. NO penalty due to being a Duelist.]
"Valdor, tie him up and gag him if I can hold him down. Quickly!"
---------- SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Cloak of Greater Displacement 9 of 15 Boots of Speed 4 of 10 (not activated) Drops Total Defense. AC44 Currently with Shield of Law up. Potion of Spider Climb active
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Sunday August 19th, 2007 10:37:39 AM
Ve commands the carpet in through the window. He glances down at the pair of halflings and then back to the room the carpet is entering. Ve Mundr does not saying anything in responce form within his full visored battle helm.
Ve steps off the carpet to the floor, his attention to Crow. The others would handle the boy and the door. Ve pulls his war hammer and closes on Crow. "I will take you down, you will not panic and then we will leave."
Towards Onrad and Valdor, "Given his reaction, I would say Cori's Hold spell was successful."
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid) Sunday August 19th, 2007 11:07:05 PM
Valdor nods at Onrad's work and replies to Ve,"Probably, but we just can't take any chances and we've got to move out. Can anyone block that door to the constructs trying to get in? Crow, do you hold any sway over them, or is someone else pulling their strings now? And Tommy, no we aren't going to kill him...unless he gives us a reason to do so."
He talks while he is binding the boy tightly, if Onrad's hold is working, of course. If it's not, Valdor will strike to subdue to boy.(Jan, you can roll if necessary)
As he works, he says quielty,"I think this is Korrig's soul, although he couldn't cast spells before. So I'm really not sure, but he asked if I'd turned evil." He chuckles at this and then replies to the boy,"No, whoever you are, I have still never committed an evil act in my life. And you thought wrong. We have magic that you haven't seen before now and we have stayed young all these years." It's just a little lie, but it will give the soul pause that is inside the boy maybe.
Posting Report for Monday August 20th, 2007 6:42:34 AM
Game # 1 The Platinum Dragons For the week of August 13,2007
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement Monday August 20th, 2007 4:53:17 PM
When the boy's face goes slack, Jus says "Crap! Sorry guys, I might have accidently touched him. Meant to hold that Feeblemind for a minute or two." Jus feels for the spell to see if he's still holding the charge, letting the team know if it did indeed go off.
After Valdor's comments about the boy, Jus suggests, "Those kids outside are probably intended for more of the dead's souls. Who knows how many are out there already? Any ideas on how to identify them, if we need to?"
Jus casts Grease on the steps above the Constructs, hoping to slow them down.
"You're call, Valdor," Jus says, "what do you want to do now? I think we still have one or two downstairs fighting."
Active Spells: SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Stoneskin (110 hp) Displacement (2 rounds) Bear's Endurance (+4 Con) Glove (4 rounds)
Corialote [shapechange: ] and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance, true seeing] Monday August 20th, 2007 5:48:51 PM
Cori slips off the carpet and shakes her head. "I am not sure which spell got him for sure." She just smiles as she moves to stand near the stair that Jus had just greased. Her eyes are trained in that direction as she does not see any reason to worry about the window right now. "If we were all together, I could get us out of here easily enough..." She needs to say no more as they are not all together.
Deiciding on a different course of action she moves towards the window. "I will get the others and bring them here." She blows Valdor a kiss as she starts to shift her form.
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2)*, floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2)*, displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)***, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing* 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange*, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Nick and Ve): 150 points of damage or 5989 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 469 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 18 rounds]
[haste(extended): 41 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
[true seeing(extended): 474 rounds]
[stoneskin(Valdor): 150 points of damage or 5995 rounds]
[grease: 21 rounds, 10' area, Reflex DC 22]
[shapechange(Cori): 2399 rounds]
[hold person(boy): 23 rounds, SR 33, Will DC 23]
Onrad Monday August 20th, 2007 10:01:29 PM
Onrad, still holding on to the boy until he's sure he's tied, says, "Do we have all those lil pieces of crow? All of them? I don't think it would be good if we left any pieces behind."
Onrad deactivates his cloak of displacement to save the rest of its daily use for later. ---------- SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Cloak of Greater Displacement 9 of 15 (not activated) Boots of Speed 4 of 10 (not activated) AC44 Currently with Shield of Law up. Potion of Spider Climb active
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) Monday August 20th, 2007 10:31:04 PM
Nick holds his position outside, using airwalk and staying close to the wall. He'll move when Mordrid's got to safety.
He can't see any spells going off upstairs, and the carpet has just gone inside, so he's thinking everyone has upstairs under control.
Mordrid Tuesday August 21st, 2007 12:44:37 AM
Deciding that enough is enough, Mordrid turns and jumps out the window; he acticates his Armor of the Celestial Battalion, and flies upward.
It is good to see Nick there waiting.
"Come on Nick. Let's join the others."
DM Jan Tuesday August 21st, 2007 1:23:40 AM
Onrad grapples the boy, pinning him very effectively. There's no resistance, due to the Hold. His eyes are still black, but they look dull, and flat, and his mouth is slack. Double checking, Jus finds that his Feeble spell discharged, right after the boy stopped talking, in fact.
(My bad if I interpreted that wrong, John.)
But, who is he?
Crow still looks paniced until the carpet arrives with someone who he recognizes. On seeing the two halflings he trembles and bursts into tears.
Both Tommy and Wentworth scramble down from the carpet and run over to the crazy old wizard. "We're here to rescue you and save the Wold!" states Wentworth. "And we brought the Platinum Dragons!" exclaims Tommy, jumping up and down with excitement until he sees the arrows embedded in the wizard's flesh. He gasps in horror.
Crow blinks as the helmed Protector speaks. "Panic?" he sobs, battling hard to regain some kind of composure, "can you really get me out of here?"
He sits up painfully, no longer shackled to the table. "I thought I recognized some of you, from a long time ago. A long time ago." "Ohh..... I haven't had control of the constructs in a long, long time, I'm afraid, " he answers Valdor. "Part of the magic. It gave them too much independance. But they kept me alive. Skin, transplants. Needed me, I suppose." He scratches his head. "They just kept on going, and going, building for no reason..... ouch, these hurt... But wait! We can't leave! The equipment! It needs to be dismantled!" He rolls his eyes, looks around, and then points at the trussed up kid. "Where are we going? Who is he?? How did he know I was here? He wanted my secrets!" Crow's manner suggests that the old man may have gone a little crazy, and he begins to ramble. "Talked to me like one of them..." laugh, "... Parnoth kidnappers at one time... so THEY claimed. Never believed it... powerful, I'll give them that..." sniffle. He stabs a finger toward the boy. "Well you're done in, now, aren't you! They brought heroes! With the machine!" Then his eyes shift back to the halflings. "You did come through the time machine, yes? Why didn't you come sooner? I waited..." he starts to cry again.
Something keeps on hammering at the door. Right now, the grease spell doesn't appear to be making any difference, although it might, if the door was breached. One particular hard blow tells Cori that the door won't last too long.
In fact, as she looks through the window, and sees Nick and Mordrid floating up to join the group, there is a loud CRACK, and a solid metal fist manages to punch through the heavy wood. Constructs appear to be crammed together at the top of the stairwell, with more behind, shoring up the line.
Onrad Tuesday August 21st, 2007 4:53:29 PM
"We need to get this boy out of here. Crow too."
He thinks a second.
"Valdor, I suggest now getting these two out of here with all the children. Then come back for the machines.
"Staying to fight at this moment might put these two at extreme risk. There's no reason to fight these constructs at this time."
----------
SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Cloak of Greater Displacement 9 of 15 (not activated) Boots of Speed 4 of 10 (not activated) AC44 Currently with Shield of Law up. Potion of Spider Climb active
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Tuesday August 21st, 2007 9:44:39 PM
"No Onrad, we definately do not have all of the pieces taken from Crow. I have two and saw dozens, maybe hundreds in my spell. As for leaving, some of us should take the children and the halflings back for certain. I would not leave Crow unguarded, nor this 'boy'. Personally I do not think him possesssed, but a reincarnate. Possibly Korrig as Valdor suggests. Possibly not and some other evil escaped from Gargul's reach."
Ve is moving to assist Crow and pauses for a moment as the door cracks. Concentrating for a moment he lays a wall fo Force across the wall and door the constructs are trying to get through. [Spont cast Wall of Force for Firestorm]
"That should hold them well enough for us to be away." Ve's attention then turns back to Crow. "Equipment? What equipment and where is it kept?"
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Corialote [shapechange: ] and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance, true seeing] Tuesday August 21st, 2007 10:18:53 PM
With the arrival of the others she holds on her shapechange and then turns to regard Crow. "Ve is right...where is this equipment." Her eyes flash as she is not happy with the whole mess. They still had pieces of Crow all over the place and evil souls brought back to do more evil.
She tries to remember if there are any more levels to this place that she could tell. Maybe another window up further that they did not need to go to.
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2)*, floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2)*, displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)***, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing* 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange*, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Nick and Ve): 150 points of damage or 5988 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 468 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 17 rounds]
[haste(extended): 40 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
[true seeing(extended): 473 rounds]
[stoneskin(Valdor): 150 points of damage or 5994 rounds]
[grease: 20 rounds, 10' area, Reflex DC 22]
[shapechange(Cori): 2398 rounds]
[hold person(boy): 22 rounds, SR 33, Will DC 23]
Mordrid [Shield of Law, Long Strider, Shield Other, Cats Grace] Wednesday August 22nd, 2007 12:29:42 AM
In regards to equipment, "I saw equipment in the levels down below... I assume to make constructs. We need to raise this place down to the foundation."
Mordrid casts "cats grace" as he draws his sword, advancing to the entance to this level; Ve's wall in front.
[All Defense AC 37]
"I advise we retreat to Dirt City, with all in tow... in this time period."
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid) d20+29=36 d8+37=38 Wednesday August 22nd, 2007 1:28:32 PM
(OOC:Sorry gang, I just moved into a new home and have not had internet cause I have used my vacation for this move. I'm up and running at home now though.)
Valdor says,"Onrad, bring the boy. Ve, you and Cori still have the halflings to look after. The carpet can carry Crow. Mordrid, you and Jus make sure our way is clear up front. I'll handle these in the rear. We go to move the children, then someone can destroy this building and all the equipment. Crow, who is in control of these machines? Are they, themselves now in control? Is that what you are saying? They take you apart, then heal you, over and over?"
He gently picks Crow up and carries him like a child and sets him on the carpet. He turns and waits beside the door for the next fist to come through, and will promptly attempt to remove that fist from the wielder's arm.
(Power attack for one attack)
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) d20+19=33 Wednesday August 22nd, 2007 2:13:52 PM
Once up in the room, Nick approaches Crow and shifts into healer mode. Crouching down on the carpet - "I can take out those arrows, it's going to hurt. But I can heal you right afterwards."
Providing there's no objection from the wizard, he'll work as fast as he can, bringing out his healers kit, borrowing a dagger and getting the old guy to bite on the handle while he pulls out the arrows, then hitting him with a Heal spell.
"Which way are we moving out?" he asks.
DM Jan Wednesday August 22nd, 2007 2:54:32 PM
As discussion takes place on what to do next, another massive punch, and the door cracks wide open, it's pieces, and the pile of constructs behind it, coming to a halt only inches from Valdor's, Jus's and Mordrid's faces, kept back by the Wall of Force. There is some stumbling back there at the top of the stairwell, as some of the constructs lose their footing on the slippery steps. Tommy and Wentworth are back, hiding behind Ve Mundr again.
Crow doesn't wince or cry out as the arrows are removed. He has dulled senses, or - he's used to a heck of a lot of pain. The heal spell seals the puncture wounds very effectively. "The equipment," he says, taking a long breath, "is on the floor below, and the floor below that."
Cori remembers that the third floor, at least, appeared to have some large, strange items, magically empowered, in some of the rooms, although it was only a quick glance. As for another floor. There was only one way to go, and that was down. No more upper floors.
Crow nods at Valdor. "Yes, they kept me alive by replacing what failed. And they took parts of my skin on their travels. It gives them peace, to be close to me, you see... it's in the magic, for them to need me." He looks down at his hands. "I gave them all my knowledge on anatomy, empowered them.... I wanted them to help me bring back my wife," he stifles a sob. "I had no idea they'd become such monsters. I am over three hundred years old! Look at my skin! How many children's lives has it taken to keep my skin so smooth?"
Mordrid's comment hardens his voice. "Yes! Destroy everything! Burn it all down! Once the magic disrupts and fails, this will all stop! Then you must kill me! I deserve to die, for what I've done!" He starts to cry once more. "I only wanted to get her back.... that's all I ever wanted...."
In contrast, Onrad will note the mysterious boy, bound securely, is placid, mute, and glassy-eyed.
Mordrid [Shield of Law, Long Strider, Shield Other, Cats Grace] Wednesday August 22nd, 2007 9:57:05 PM
"It looks like Ve's wall is going to hold."
Acknowledging Valdor's request, the ranger jogs back to the window. He leaps out, armor activated, and makes his way down to the group's next stop... the pen full of children.
Onrad Thursday August 23rd, 2007 12:33:21 AM
"So there are pieces everywhere of Crow. That doesn't help. Do we need to find every piece? How will we know when we have them all, if we do indeed need them all?"
Onrad picks up the boy like a sack of potatoes, and heads to the ledge, preparing to descend.
He looks down to see where the spiders are now.
"Hmm...I'd bet that the gods in the temple can guard these two while we return to mop up things here. I bet Marteaus could be a very good babysitter if he was properly motivated. What'cha think? Offer him 5 copper an hour?"
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid) Thursday August 23rd, 2007 2:13:37 AM
Valdor didn't see the Wall of Force, so he clangs his sword, then figures out what happened. He chuckles and says,"Onrad, five copper would be way overpaying him, I fear. Do you think a dragon can be reincarnated? Maybe that's Parnoth inside the boy. Who knows. Crow says we can destroy the machines by destroying the building, so that's our task now. We get the kids clear, then someone throws an earthquake on it, or something like that.
Once the machine's magic fails, I would bet that the pieces of Crow's skin won't hold the magic anymore, so they will be useless, except maybe to him. I doubt he'll care from the looks of him. Let's try that and see. We can always dig back up the machines if it doesn't work."
He's covering everyone's exit at the back, just in case the constructs somehow break through.
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement Thursday August 23rd, 2007 2:50:41 PM
Jus recasts Displacement, then follows Mordrid out the window, heading downward.
As he passes windows, he reports back to those above the numbers of opponents he sees inside, as well as whatever he sees waiting outside.
And now that he's away from Crow, Jus speaks through the earpiece, "Could Crow be a construct, himself? I did not expect those arrows to stick into him, but my bow does have an affinity for hurting constructs."
Active Spells: SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Stoneskin (110 hp) Displacement (11 rounds) Bear's Endurance (+4 Con) Glove (3 rounds) Spells Remaining: 6/6/7/6/7/3
Corialote [shapechange: harpy] and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance, true seeing] Thursday August 23rd, 2007 5:24:21 PM
Cori moves back over to the window, her form rippling as her spell does it's work. When she reaches the window she now wears the form of a harpy and she literally throws herself out the window. Her mind is racing over the spells that she has available and how best to use them in the destruction of this place.
Amarth has flown out the window already as he does not like to stay on his Mistress's shoulder when she is doing the flying. He wheels around outside and keeps a look-out for anything that the group should know about.
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2)*, floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2)*, displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)***, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing* 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange*, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Nick and Ve): 150 points of damage or 5987 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 467 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 16 rounds]
[haste(extended): 39 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
[true seeing(extended): 472 rounds]
[stoneskin(Valdor): 150 points of damage or 5993 rounds]
[grease: 19 rounds, 10' area, Reflex DC 22]
[shapechange(Cori): 2397 rounds]
[hold person(boy): 21 rounds, SR 33, Will DC 23]
Onrad Thursday August 23rd, 2007 7:33:10 PM
"Cori? Ewww! Why did you pick that form?"
Onrad shivers at the sight.
Onrad nods at Valdor's decision.
"Some well placed Greater Dispels or Disingrate might help too. Heh, listen to us! Like we know anything about magic."
and does his best to work the boy to the ground by climbing down the wall. He will not endanger the boy, though. If he falls, he will position himself so that he hits the ground.
Nick Valentine (AC 36, HP 147 Shield of Law, Stoneskin from Cori) Thursday August 23rd, 2007 10:55:56 PM
Nick will help Crow to his feet. Hopefully the heal spell has put a spring the the wizard's step. "Let's get you to the carpet," he says. "Assuming there's room."
Jus's suggestion has him wondering. Part construct, at least? crow was certainly odd. he'd lived a lot longer than he had a right to.
DM Jan Friday August 24th, 2007 12:04:51 AM
Right now, the constructs have a singular purpose - to get to Crow - and that purpose appears to make them utterly ignorant of any other course of action. Again and again they struggle against the Wall of Force, giving the Platinums ample time to clear out.
Mordrid, Cori (in harpy form), Amarth and Jus are straight out of the window and into what's left of the night. Below them is what looks to be a minor firestorm at the entrance of the fortress, making the doorway impassable. Fire, whipped up into a column of heat, with the lone form of Config standing in front, up against nine other metal constructs.
Not too far away, two dozen small heads turn and look up toward the flying man, elf and harpy bearing down on them. Amarth is a mere speck beside them. The children crowd together in one corner of the pen. After all, what could this be, other than another form of death? Their eyes are flat, the inevitability of what is to come sucking away any pretense of emotion. They already know what lies in store for them.
Crow is a little shaky, but only to glad to climb onto the carpet as Nick, Valdor and Ve get ready to leave. Tommy and Wentworth climb up alongside. Both halflings are shaking, frightened out of their wits. This is a far cry from the Halfling Quarter in Dirt City.
Onrad has the boy on his shoulder. The lad is putting up no resistance. The duellist has a close up view of the boy's clothing now - a black robe, obviously stitched to fit a much taller person. Runes have been embroidered upon it in dark grey thread. It is fraying slightly and smells musty and old. It feels like there are two short lengths of cane, or rods tucked away inside, past the boy's shoulder - and something else, a large curved object on one of the pockets. Maybe a horn.
Mordrid Friday August 24th, 2007 12:00:29 PM
On his way down to the pen, Mordrid ponders Jus' puzzle, "The arrows stuck in his body. What did you expect an arrow to do? Am I missing something?"
Once the ranger lands, he secures the area around the pen. The children were so frightened, the grizzly man of the forest didn't know what else to do.
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Friday August 24th, 2007 2:24:54 PM
"They seem bent to get to Crow, Which means when we exit the Tower or where ever we take him, they will pursue in the most direct path possible." Ve moves to the Carpet, "We can't take Crow to Dirt City."
Ve orders the carpet exit and continue upwards over the tower. "I have no spells for the Tower, I used my Earthquake and except for entering personal combat with the constructs I have little there as well I'm afraid."
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement Sunday August 26th, 2007 2:43:28 AM
As Jus flies down to the kids, he explains his comment. "The arrows were blunt and padded, imbued with Cure Criticals and were not supposed to do harm or puncture. My bow has Construct Bane, which could have had an impact on the results. Then again, Crow's patchwork skin may have just been too tattered and worn to keep the arrows out."
I'm full of questions -- much like my old self, Jus thinks to himself. Through the earpiece, he asks, "What do we do with the 'Evil Souls' and their vessels?" Jus suspects he knows the unfortunate answer. "And do I remember correctly that the cube teleports only so many times a day. I can teleport 5 kids at a time to the temple, 15 with 3 trips, if needed. "
Jus has more questions, but stops talking as he lands just outside of the pen, on the other side away from the kids. "We're here to free you," Jus tells them calmly. "We can take you somewhere safe, away from this madness, if you are willing." He keeps himself away, trying to stay nonthreatening, hoping to allow them to stay calm and decide for themselves to trust the Dragons. Tentatively, he adds, pointing to the Constructs at the tower, "We don't have a lot of time before they notice us again."
Active Spells: SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Stoneskin (110 hp) Displacement (10 rounds) Bear's Endurance (+4 Con) Glove (2 rounds) Spells Remaining: 6/6/7/6/7/3
Onrad Sunday August 26th, 2007 8:12:31 PM
"Jus, hold up a sec. There's some stuff here on the kid. His clothes are for an adult. There are some rods or short staves here too. And this hornlike thing. Can you check this?
"Valdor, I can't take him down because of the mess down there. Which way to go boss? Should we go ahead and take out these constructs?
"Can we put the kid here on the carpet with crow, so I'm freed up to fight?"
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid) Monday August 27th, 2007 1:05:05 AM
Valdor frowns at all the options they have to decide from. All of a sudden he smiles and says,"I think the machines are what gives the constructs their magic to locate and follow Crow. Onrad, remove his items and put him on the carpet. Ve, Jus, Mordrid, Nick, and the halflings go try to get the children a safe distance from here. Cori, Onrad, and I can make sure this tower comes down around their ears. Once you move off with Crow, we may find it a bit easier to move through the structure and destroy what needs to be destroyed without constructs all over us.
Jus, I think that those children haven't been used yet in that manner. They just need to be moved a little distance. Try to see if one is older and a leader of the others. That might help them trust you more. I'm going back in the fourth floor. And keep an eye on that boy we caught. Now that I think about, it may be Parnoth's soul. Who else could cast high level spells like that? Who knows. We won't figure it out until we get this place dismantled."
He starts to head down the outside wall using his cloak and heads for the windows to the fourth level.
Posting Report for Monday August 27th, 2007 6:40:52 AM
Game # 1 The Platinum Dragons For the week of August 20,2007
Nick Monday August 27th, 2007 4:13:29 PM
Nick nods at Valdor, and cast another airwalk. he'll head down to where he can see Jus and Mordrid below, near the children's enclosure.
DM Jan Monday August 27th, 2007 4:42:56 PM
The carpet heads out of the window, with Ve, Tommy, Wentworth and Crow on board, and shifts toward the other side of the tower, toward the close, forbidding slope of Mount Bone. Off to the east, a narrow strip of light is forcing its way above the horizon.
Immediately the constructs stop their assault on the doorway onto the fifth floor. They're turning around, retreating back down the steps. Nick begins his 'walk' back down to the ground. Valdor heads toward the fourth floor window and is able to see construct movement downward.
((I need to know what's being done with the boy. Does he go on the carpet? Onrad still got him? Anyone checking his stuff?)) ((Cori - on the carpet or with Onrad and Valdor still at the tower?))
On the ground, Mordrid sees a shift over by the tower entrance, too. The attacking constructs seem to have broken off and are heading around the back of the tower. Config and two fire elementals are now striding directly toward him.
At the pen, as soon as Jus speaks to the children, two of the small humans push their way to the front of their group. A boy, and a girl, the girl slightly taller. They both spread their arms, a gesture of protection toward the others. All are now looking toward Jus, all a bundle of rags and dirty faces. "Come close, I kill you," the girl snarls, completely human, utterly feral.
Onrad Monday August 27th, 2007 6:52:45 PM
Onrad pulls the items off the boy and hands them to Jus. He then hands the boy off to those on the flying carpet.
Then having done all he can do for the moment, he prepares to follow Valdor to destroy the machines.
"Let's do this Valdor."
----------
[Jan, if I did too much, no worries. Just deny a step.]
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Monday August 27th, 2007 9:21:39 PM
Ve Continues to push the carpet further up and away from the tower. Having the boy does not make him terribly happy, Wolf in sheeps clothing the boy was only held and well it was no boy. Ve keeps an eye on him, there was not much room on this with so many aboard. Ve leans in close, he was only held so he would still be able to hear. "I will not think twice if you try anything." and he leaves it at that.
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Corialote [shapechange: harpy] and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance, true seeing] Monday August 27th, 2007 10:11:28 PM
Cori, hovering in the air, in her harpy form watches the ground before her and the tower. Into her earpiece she calls for confirmation to her questions. "Are all the innocencents out of that tower yet and are they far enough from the tower to take it down?" She plans to make us of her spells to at least make a go at it.
Amarth continues to fly around, making a circuit of the tower and giving his Mistress the bird's eye view of the surrounding area and the tower itself.
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2)*, floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2)*, displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)***, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing* 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange*, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Nick and Ve): 150 points of damage or 5986 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 466 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 15 rounds]
[haste(extended): 38 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
[true seeing(extended): 471 rounds]
[stoneskin(Valdor): 150 points of damage or 5992 rounds]
[grease: 18 rounds, 10' area, Reflex DC 22]
[shapechange(Cori): 2396 rounds]
[hold person(boy): 20 rounds, SR 33, Will DC 23]
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid) Tuesday August 28th, 2007 12:18:53 PM
Valdor nods to Onrad and smiles at Cori saying,"We will make sure this device or machine is disabled and destroyed, then bring down the building."
He enters the window and begins to search for the machines Crow talked about.
Onrad Tuesday August 28th, 2007 5:01:30 PM
Onrad follows at Valdor's heels watching their flanks and the rear as they proceed.
His visage shows grim determination. He bounces a bit as they go to keep loose.
Nick Tuesday August 28th, 2007 6:34:07 PM
Nick arrives at ground level and approaches the pen. "Are any of you sick? I can heal you" he asks the kids, as calmly as he is able. "We mean you no harm, but we need to get you away from the tower. Where you'll be safe."
He looks for a way to unlock the pen.
DM Jan Tuesday August 28th, 2007 7:02:08 PM
((OOC - thanks for helping me get my ducks in a row, guys. I was cross-eyed with abdominal pain yesterday. We think it was the green tea ice cream at the chinese restaurant, night before last. Hit us both like a freight train. That'll teach us to be adventurous.))
In the air:
Amarth wheels around the roof of the tower. North of the bird, and higher in the air, against the back drop of Bone mountain, is Ve Mundr's carpet. Directly below, construct appear to be stumbling out of the tower entrance and also heading north. Are they trying to get to Crow, who is on the carpet? it would appear so.
Aboard the carpet, Crow, Tommy and Wentworth are huddled together, across from the Protector, with the boy slumped and hog-tied in between. The boy's eyes look vacant. "Ever been inside that mountain?" Wentworth asks Ve.
In the Tower - 4th floor:
Constructs heading down the stairs pay Valdor no mind whatsoever, and by the time Onrad joins him, the Dragonstone has discovered four rooms, completely filled with tanks, vats, pipes, and other strange contraptions. Pipes loop and sink into the floor, suggesting there is more below. In one of the rooms, standing within a frame, completely motionless, is what appears to be a naked female human; her eyes are closed. She does not appear to breathe. And yes - she looks exactly the same as the others. Her arms have some clear pipes attached, and fluid of various colours seems to be rushing back and forth, in and out of the body. The metal surfaces of the tanks and bowls are covered in runes - carved on by a delicate hand. The runes are lit up. A standard magical glow. No sign of any prisoners, children.
Hovering outside, Cori is able to note two things: 1) the entire fortress is top heavy, each floor in some way, seems bigger than the last. 2) the fire elementals, while they were guarding the entrance, appear to have set fire to it.
Down on the ground:
Config and the fire elementals come to stand alongside Mordrid, facing the building. At the entrance, through a halo of flames, constructs are pouring out and heading, literally, for the hills. Crow, their whole raison d'etre, was out there somewhere.
Nick finds a heavy lock attached to the gate of the pen. Two short wizard's staffs, and what looks like the tip of a dragon claw (?) attached to a leather necklace, are on the ground nearby, awaiting further inspection.
The children aren't coming any closer. They are still unsure of who stands before them.
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Tuesday August 28th, 2007 9:47:51 PM
Mount Bone, Ve had never been, perhaps one of the reasons he was still alive. His Company had been sent long ago and not a single man survived the mission. He had been pulled at the at last minute to replace the main healer of the 32nd who had been KIA. Since the 15th had two other besides him, he was picked to move. Ve shakes the thought and answers with a simple, "No Wentworth, I have not."
"It would appear we are the target for the constructs. Luck is with us then." he says to switch the subject. "Nick, I will lead the constructs off. Get the children to safety."
Ve turns the carpet away from Mount Bone and maintaining his height, starts to put land between himself and the Tower. "Wentworth, Tommy. This carpet is very easy to command and the cube can fully protect you both and Crow..." the Protector begins in solenm tones to the pair of halflings. They would need to be prepared.
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Corialote [shapechange: harpy] and Amarth [HP: 171-171 - AC: 42] [shield of law, mass bear's endurance, true seeing] Tuesday August 28th, 2007 9:55:17 PM
Cori laughs as she listens to the ongoing stuff through the earpiece. Taking note of the tower she shakes her head, then speaks into the earpiece again. "You guys might want to get out of there soon...this place is on fire and the construction is shoddy...this tower is topheavy." Still through the earpiece she sighs and then gets a little upset. "It might be a good idea to let me know when everyone is clear...I would hate to crush anyone." This is followed by a bit of laughter as she clears her throat. Cycling through her spells she nods her head again and then starts a simple set of gestures and intones a new spell in draconic...leaving the very last unspoken.
Amarth is busy relaying all the information that he is getting to his Mistress and then moveing away from the tower. He wants to have a safe distance when his Mistress starts.
SPELLS 0th(4): acid splash(2), dancing lights(2) 1st(7): grease(2)*, floating disk(2), ray of enfeeblement(2), expeditious retreat 2nd(7): glitterdust(2), web(2), blur(2), mirror image 3rd(7): dispel magic(2), hold person(2)*, displacement, haste(2)* 4th(6): stoneskin(3)***, wall of fire(2), greater invisibility(2) 5th(3): hold monster, wall of force(3)* 6th(6): greater dispel magic, chain lightning(2), mass cat's grace, mass fox's cunning, true seeing* 7th(6): greater teleport, summon monster VII(2), extend mass bear's endurance*, reverse gravity, phase door 8th(4): summon monster VIII(2), polar ray(2)* 9th(4): summon monster IX, shapechange*, time stop(2) *used spell
[stoneskin(Nick and Ve): 150 points of damage or 5985 rounds]
[extend max bear's endurance(everyone): 465 rounds; +4 Con]
[wall of force: range 85', 14 rounds]
[haste(extended): 37 rounds, everyone withing 30' of Valdor up to 24 people]
[true seeing(extended): 470 rounds]
[stoneskin(Valdor): 150 points of damage or 5991 rounds]
[grease: 17 rounds, 10' area, Reflex DC 22]
[shapechange(Cori): 2395 rounds]
[hold person(boy): 19 rounds, SR 33, Will DC 23]
Valdor(AC41, HP 310, Shield of Law, Fire Resistance, bears endurance, Haste, Stoneskin, Cloak of Arachnid) Wednesday August 29th, 2007 12:12:40 PM
Valdor tells Onrad,"I would think that we have an explosion coming. That flesh golem obviously has something to do with what's happening. Let's start destroying stuff. I really don't want to get covered in goo so I'll upend the vats of stuff last."
He takes out the adamantine warhammer he brought and decides to attempt to destroy a machine that has runes on it.
(Jan, do I need to roll attacks and structural damage? I wish he still had his Maul of the Titans that Jerry made me sell off years ago:) )
Onrad d20+39=54 d20+34=42 d20+29=44 d20+24=36 d20+40=58 d20+39=55 d20+29=39 d20+40=49 3d6(6+5+2)+14=27 3d6(3+2+2)+14=21 3d6(6+5+4)+14=29 3d6(3+3+5)+14=25 3d6(5+2+5)+14=26 3d6(2+5+2)+14=23 3d6(2+3+1)+14=20 Wednesday August 29th, 2007 7:25:36 PM
Looking at the woman, "Is she alive? Construct? Somewhere in between? I can't just kill her until we know."
Then he nods, Valdor having made a decision. He knows and respects the need to have a leader in such situations.
Refusing to attack the girl directly, Onrad in an instant, draws his rapier and strikes out at the tubes and other things connected to her.
Attack #1 hits AC54 which is a possible crit. The crit try is AC55. Damage is
Attack #2 hits AC42
Attack #3 hits AC44 which is a possible crit. The crit try is AC39. Damage is 27 if there is no crit. Damage is 77hpd if it crits.
Attack #4 hits AC36. Damage is 21hps if it hits.
Onrad is careful to avoid getting hit with the liquids and other things in the tubes.
--------------
AC42 if Shield of Law is still up. Spider Climb potion active.
Nick d20+1=6 Wednesday August 29th, 2007 9:52:14 PM
Glancing back toward the tower, (earpiece) "Cori, wait a sec. I'm trying to get these children loose. There's a lock."
He looks at the enclosure. If he thinks the children are able to climb over it, he urges them to do so, and tells them to run away from the fortress. He'll use his rope if it will help. Otherwise it's down to brute force and ignorance on the lock.
STR roll 6 (ick)
If he gets chance afterwards, he'll cast STATUS on as many of them as he can.
(Earpiece) "Ve. Onrad took what looks like a dragon claw from that boy. I haven't examined it yet, but if it's what I think it is - be VERY careful with our prisoner. What's his alignment?"
DM Jan Wednesday August 29th, 2007 10:33:00 PM
((OOC - to save time, I'm going to assume that Nick gets help from Mordrid and Jus with the kiddies))
On the ground, with the help of rope, one by one, the children and haul themselves over the wall of the pen and start to run in a southerly direction, downhill, away from the fortress. There's quite a crowd of flesh and metal constructs, heading in the opposite direction, although some of them appear to be faltering.
In the air outside the fortress, Cori in harpy form hovers, her spell prepared. Amarth realizes it's time to move and flies some distance away from his companion.
Still in the fortress, there's a loud *CLANG* as Valdor's hammer gets to work. A dent. Another. And another. Part of the metal splits, right across one of the engraved runes. It's glow falters and fails, so does the glow of the next rune, then the next one. Each rune in turn starts to lose power, going down like a stack of dominoes. The glow begins to fail on the next piece of equipment, too. And the next.
Onrad's rapier slices neatly through some of the tubes attached to the female. There's a sudden stench of formaldehyde and something sweet. An orange fluid splatters to the floor and begins to pour from the slashed tubes. The female's head slumps.
Up in the air, away from the tower, on the carpet, Tommy and Wentworth are trying their best not to look down. Crow, in comparison, seems fairly relaxed. "This is like the story of the rat catcher, isn't it," he says to Ve Mundr after glancing down toward the ground and the distant specs that can only be the line of constructs trying to follow. "The one who can lure them to their deaths with his pipe. Only the townspeople don't pay him for his services so he takes their children. "Speaking of children, what are you going to do with him?" He nods toward the tied up boy. "You know it wouldn't bother me if you pitched him over the side. He did try to kill me."
Valdor Thursday August 30th, 2007 2:02:39 AM
Valdor says to Onrad,"Nice smell, eh? I think our work here is done my friend. Lets head down one more level just to make sure."
He checks the machines in the other rooms, just to be sure, then will head downstairs for the same attempt at disabling it.
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Thursday August 30th, 2007 5:02:23 PM
Ve looks down at Crow, "You do not talk." he states flatly and with complete authority.
Ve continues to bring the carpet towards the ground and away from the tower and the others, leveling off at about 50'.
(earpiece) "Dragon claw you say, Nicholas? Yes I will be careful. Just a moment and I will have more information" Ve Casts Detect Evil, and turns the spell against the 'boy'.
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori] Detect Evil
Onrad Thursday August 30th, 2007 11:45:13 PM
"No, the woman is still here and hurting. I don't know whether she needs killing or saving."
Onrad pours a Cure light Wounds potion potion down the woman's throat to start closing wounds and continues to slice and dice at the tubes on her.
If he can get them all, he'll pick her up and carry her following Valdor. If not, he stays and continues to attack the tubes.
Valdor Friday August 31st, 2007 1:11:13 AM
Valdor replies to Onrad,"I think she's dead, my friend. Your compassion does you credit, but she wasn't breathing and looks just like those other replicas of Crow's wife. I am fairly certain she is a flesh golem. But check on her just in case. I believe you are right in that."
As there doesn't seem any immediate danger, other than his love's desire to roast the building further(he grins at that thought), he goes about his search down below on the next level.
Nick d20+12=20 d20+12=25 d20+13=17 Friday August 31st, 2007 12:50:56 PM
Assuming his STATUS spell is keeping tabs on where the children are running off to, Nick turns his attention to the items Onrad left.
He's talking while examining. Earpiece ( everyone to hear):
"Valdor, Mordrid. we have what might be a dragon claw here. Remember when we rescued Parnoth a while ago from this mountain? We left a piece of him behind..."
If he can't determine anything from the claw, he'll pass it to Mordrid. A ranger would surely know more about creature anatomy.
DM Jan Friday August 31st, 2007 1:29:47 PM
At some distance away from the Fortress, Ve's carpet levels off and holds. From here, there'll be a grand view of the fireworks.
That thin band of light on the horizon is starting to grow. The dawn light is now beginning to reveal the ruin of the surrounding land. Nothing green, endless pits and mine shafts; a land stripped of what little glory it had in the first place. Mount Bone, most of it still hiding in the folds of its own shadow, appears to be gloating over it all. Crow's fortress looks like an ugly little appendage at the base of it. Just to the south east, the fracture between planes glows like a firey wound. However, it does look smaller. A trick of the light?
After Ve Mundr's stern admonition, Crow has lapsed into a miserable silence. His head is slumped, as though he can hardly bear to look at the surroundings. Not so the halflings. "Look!" cries out Tommy. The distance between the carpet and the fortress is being covered by a marching column of constructs, eager to get to Crow. How many? A hundred? More? A formidable number, although... some appear to be falling, or just grinding to a halt and standing still. As for the boy, still slumped and glassy-eyed on the carpet - evil - not so much on an initial study, but there's something dampened, latent, something of immense power embedded in the child.
At the Fortress, Cori catches a glimpse of Onrad and Valdor moving to the third floor. The flesh construct had looked perfectly human, perfection honed after years and years of construction, and mile upon mile of skin and entrails.. More pipes, vats, metal cauldrens on this floor. Pans bubbling with foul smelling brews. But here too, the magic is failing, rune by rune, as though it is all connected, and just one breach is enough to disrupt it all. On the ground outside, stood beside Mordrid, Nick and Jus, Config abruptly pitches forward and falls on its face. Beneath it's metal shell, the dry, barren earth starts to shift.
Examination of the items reveals the following:
1 staff of power 1 staff of necromancy Both staffs give off a dark, brooding sensation that suggests intelligence, and a less than stellar alignment.
The 'claw'? Non magical. It is the sharp tip of a dragon claw, from a green dragon, threaded onto a knotted length of leather like a huge trophy, to be hung around one's neck.
Valdor Friday August 31st, 2007 2:11:14 PM
After banging a few more runes, seeing that their work is done, Valdor yells to Onrad,"Time to go my friend. It's done down here. I'm on my way out before Cori brings this building down on our heads." He dumps over a couple of the vats, holding his breath as he does, just for good measure.
He sprints down the stairs and makes a quick glance on each level to make sure there is nothing he's missed. His Fire resistance ring is still active, so he's not concerned with the fire downstairs.
Posting Report for Monday September 3rd, 2007 6:06:33 AM
Game # 1 The Platinum Dragons For the week of August 27, 2007
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 d20+15=33 d20+17=36 d20+17=28 Monday September 3rd, 2007 12:35:40 PM
"The boy is evil, or rather a deep seeded evil is within him," Ve reports across the earpiece. Ve slows and lowers the carpet to the ground. Ve nods to Wentworth, "Yes something like that story. Except we lure them to their doom instead."
With the Constructs failing, he knows he has the distance to stop. About 3' off, Ve hops down and grabs the boy. Pulling him off and lying him on the ground. It is a long shot but Ve knows it is worth it. Touching the boys forehead and calling on Domi's power that was offered earlier, He casts Break Enchantment CL 33
Ve looks towards the constructs coming his way and then back to the boy and those in his charge. It should be over soon, but there was still plenty of time for things to go quickly wrong or get dangerous. Ve remains alert. [Spot 36 Listen 28]
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori] Detect Evil
Valdor Monday September 3rd, 2007 3:35:00 PM
Valdor pipes in on the earpiece,"We pretty much have this machine destroyed. Hey Ve, if the constructs are still blindly following Crow, you could always lead them over a cliff or a really deep crater with your carpet safely under you. Just an idea. Whew, it stinks in here and is getting warm!"
Mordrid Monday September 3rd, 2007 6:53:41 PM
Mordrid looks at the ancient claw, "I don't know how common dettached green dragon claws are, but I bet that is the very claw that Parnoth lost in Mount Bone."
"If so... I gather he would be thrilled to see it returned. Even it has seen the decay of over three hundred years."
Mordrid moves to coach the children away from the tower, "this way! Come on! To safety."
Nick Tuesday September 4th, 2007 3:16:00 PM
Nick nods after receiving Ve's news.
Earpiece: "Ve, we rescued Parnoth a few years ago, from three necromancers who held him in this very mountain. It wasn't easy. Shirri had to chop one of the dragon's toes off in order to get him out - which is why he wears a gold prosthetic today. "This claw came out of the boy's pocket. It could well belong to Parnoth. Mordrid concurs. "Valdor, I think that boy is one of the necromancers. And going off what happened here, and the trouble that's been caused, I suspect we've only solved part of the problem. "At some point - when we get back home - one of the dragon groups is going to have to go into Mount Bone. We can't afford to let that power build. "Oh - and Config has just fallen over. The ground is moving...."
He backs off, while keeping his eyes on the ground.
DM Jan Tuesday September 4th, 2007 3:38:43 PM
((OOC - Both Jerry (Onrad) and Jim (Cori) are having connection problems, so we're a bit thin on the ground. I'm going to make a few assumptions to keep things moving))
Valdor overturns a vat containing a bile-like substance. It gives off a bitter, acidic scent as it splatters on the floor. As soon as he and Onrad are out of the window, Cori lets loose a few incendiary spells. Coupled with the fire at the entrance, things start to burn pretty quickly.
On the ground, about 50 ft from the entrance, alongside the fallen metal construct, the ground rises and coalesces into an earth elemental. "There," says Config, "I have been released." At it's shoulders, two whisps of flame hover.
The children are running full tilt away from the fortress with Mordrid right behind them. Some of them are screaming, some are laughing.
A short distance away to the west, Ve Mundr brings down the carpet. Crow, Tommy and Wentworth watch silently as he brings the tied up boy onto the ground. The boy mutters as the spell runs it's course, but it doesn't appear to change him in any way. Jus's feeblemind spell still holds sway. it's going to take a Heal, or somesuch, to bring him out of his stupor. As for the marching column of constructs - all of them are now standing still. Some of them have flaming lights dancing around them, others appear to be releasing tiny wind funnels, that drag up detritus from the ground, flinging it in the air.
There's an explosion, from deep within the fortress, enough to make the ground shake. A huge plume of flame escapes on of the upper windows. It's time to get away. Quickly.
Onrad Tuesday September 4th, 2007 4:56:34 PM
Onrad takes a last look at the beautiful woman...construct.
"So beautiful."
He then shakes his head and races out of the building before it falls upon his head.
He jumps from the building and uses tumbling to soften his fall.
"Ugh!"
Then he's on his feet and running away from the building.
---------
[will be posting from work for a few days. Bad modem...I think. NTS is supposed to hook me up with a new one if that is the problem.]
Valdor Tuesday September 4th, 2007 11:59:40 PM
Valdor hears all of the discussion from Nick, and it all makes sense. He approaches Config, as he's just exited the building. He says,"You have been an enormous help. We could not have done this without your help. I know it helps you and your kind be free again, but I do appreciate it and will remember you."
He bows low and runs to join up with the group again, looking around for other constructs and making sure that the danger from them is past. He says,"I hope this works. The Wold doesn't deserve to end up like this. All the beauty gone. When we get home, I'm going to find a place to just lounge around and enjoy the sand of a beach somewhere. Hopefully I'll have some company, though."
He glances at Cori and winks. He then says,"I think it's about time to go home my friends."
(OOC:Scott, I found all of my Magic cards if you still want them. My email at home is jacked up so email me at stevehott@herbeasley.com )
Ve Mundr AC 45 HP 196/224 Wednesday September 5th, 2007 10:37:22 AM
Ve looks at the boy and then back to Crow and the halflings. Ve unties the boy and scoops him back up and then moves to the carpet, "We are on our way, be there momentarily." Stepping onto the magic carpet he commands it to fly back towards the others.
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori] Detect Evil
Nick Wednesday September 5th, 2007 3:45:05 PM
Nick picks up the two staffs and the dragon claw, and starts to run, following Mordrid. "Config, you scared me there, for a minute," he says.
He's easily overtaken by Valdor.
DM Jan Wednesday September 5th, 2007 8:46:48 PM
Down the slope, on past the railway tracks. Three groups are now able to watch the fireworks -
1)The new bouldersandearth form of Config acknowledges Valdor. "We will try and fix the tear in the fabric of the Wold," it says, in its usual matter-of-fact, no-frills manner. And off it goes, trailed by lots of firey wisps and tiny tornados, toward the ugly fire-rimmed hole to the south east of the fortress.
2) Directly south, the Platinum Dragons have now regrouped, along with Crow, Tommy, Wentworth, and the mysterious boy.
3) About 60 ft away, little ways to the south west, the two dozen children are huddled together, watching the Platinums warily.
What's left of the fortress goes up with a few spectacular bangs. During it's final death throes, a window frame and part of a roof, land twenty feet away from the group. They're afire, but the flames die down in seconds.
It is now dawn. There are no birds singing. No rabbits up from their warrens. Growing daylight is having a hard time getting through the thick clouds in the sky.
Onrad Wednesday September 5th, 2007 10:37:10 PM
Onrad finds himself restless and not knowing what to do with the lull in the action after the explosions.
"Uh, so what now?"
and
"Wow."
and
"That was intense."
Valdor Wednesday September 5th, 2007 11:32:16 PM
Valdor shrugs at Onrad's question and replies,"I guess we should see how many of these children have parents here at these mines. Then, however many are left, we should take them to Dirt City and turn them over to those stout hearts who showed an interest in adventuring and let them see them to their homes. It would be a good first adventure and a chance to bond without too much danger now that the constructs are destroyed."
He pauses and sighs before continuing,"And I guess then we have to decide what to do about the boy before we head home. But, I could use some sleep first."
Mordrid Thursday September 6th, 2007 1:54:09 PM
Mordrid stands dumb founded. It just occured to him, the odd duality of the group's last two adventures. One, the unbridled release of the power of nature; the second, the imprisonment of the elements. Strange.
Mordrid listens to Valdor's assessment of the children. Walking up to the group of children, "What would you like to do? Where would you like to go?" The ranger reaches in his pack and brings forth whatever food and water he can muster.
Bending over to bring his face closer, "Your wish is my command."
Ve Mundr Thursday September 6th, 2007 9:37:10 PM
Ve looks at the boy, "We should leave him with a good man and woman in Dirt City. to care for him the remainder of his days as he is now. Perhaps a life of simple rest will allow his soul to recognize his earlier follies. I see two other options to place a mark of justice upon him that he take no life or contribute to the taking of any life or cause harm to any he meet. Or we destroy him and return his soul to Gargul's care."
"We have what we came for" he gestures to Crow. "We take the refugees to Dirt City and then away to home to finsih this business."
Valdor Thursday September 6th, 2007 11:43:50 PM
Valdor, a little unnerved around children and a bit confused about where their parents might be, simply shrugs again and leaves himself out of this decision. When Ve mentions the bot, however, he says,"I wonder if we took him back to Gargul's temple, where the souls of the dead were, if somehow the soul possessing this lad's body would be taken away, back to where it should be. It's worth a try, and I couldn't kill a boy this age, no matter how evil. It just wouldn't be right."
Nick Friday September 7th, 2007 12:41:56 AM
Nick listens to Valdor and Ve's assessment about the boy. "I can't condone the killing of him, either. I suppose a lot depends on whether he's possessed, or a reincarnation. If he's reincarnated, and someone figures out how to heal him, then we're leaving these people with a psychopath they'll be ill equpped to deal with. Just something for us to consider."
He'll join Mordird and break out his own rations for the children.
DM Jan Friday September 7th, 2007 1:38:19 AM
As the group discusses the next step -
The children back off as Mordrid approaches, their eyes taking in the man, the weaponry, the cloak of a dead beast they have never seen. Like the others stood behind him, he is exotic, and frightening. However, misgivings can be overcome, and when presented with food and water - The ranger finds himself being jostled in the sudden mad rush to get at his rations and canteen of water. Father Valentine is treated to the same fate.
As for where they want to go, some of them point toward the yawning holes and pits that surround the now destroyed fortress. And there, at the edges of the pits, there is movement.
Drawn by the light, their captors and overseers incapacitated, they are free to rise. Their ancestors may have been farmers, Dirt City folk, sailors, soldiers, adventurers, tradesmen, but the descendants of such have led a vastly different life. Some of them look so pale that it is likely they have never been above ground. Ever. Both men and women are lean and sinewy. Musculature is sharply defined, evidence of the back breaking work that had to be performed under ground - digging, dragging, filling, tunneling, pounding, hauling. Only the strongest could survive that, and here they are - mostly human, with a few pointed ears and the occasional tusk scattered amongst their pale features. All are dressed in rags. Most are blinking sharply in the morning light. Others are looking toward the party in utter astonishment.
Ten rise from the pits, then ten more, and ten more. The number grows until a rough count would estimate around two hundred of them. One of the children appears to spot someone she recognises, and runs toward a tall, stern woman in the crowd.
The atmosphere is charged with wonder, expectancy, as they gaze upon the Dragons. Until one word brings it spiralling down into something darker. One of the men is pointing toward Ve Mundr's carpet. "Crow!" he howls. Eyes collectively narrow. Someone picks up a rock.
Valdor Friday September 7th, 2007 12:17:56 PM
Seeing these come out and their reaction, Valdor moves quickly to the front of the group, his mithril armor shining and snaps out both swords. He booms out,"Stay your hands! Their will be no stoning here today. He was not the one who did this to you! Those responsible just used his name and his body to futher their evil and made him look like the one who was behind all of this. We came here to kill him, but discovered the truth and have destroyed those who were responsible.
We have also destroyed the magic that sustained and created the constructs who have held you captive for so long. By the grace of the good gods, Alemi and Domi, we have come to you and they are back as well. Instead of filling your hearts with a desire for vengeance and killing, you should replace those feelings with appreciation that your ordeal is over. You should have learned by now that hatred is no answer.
We have come so that you may have freedom. We didn't come so that you could kill someone. I implore you to find your children and try to find a life for yourselves that doesn't involve hate, jealousy, bitterness. Find peace, comfort, happiness. I know you have been through so much pain, but that is gone now...and this man was not the one who caused it.
Find the Gods Alemi and Domi, for they are here. If you search for them in your hearts and actions, you will find them and they will help you and bless you. I am Valdor of the Platinum Dragons and you are now free to find your own way in the Wold."
He whispers into his earpiece,"Ve, put Crow inside that cube of force, just in case my sermon doesn't work."
Ve Mundr Friday September 7th, 2007 2:47:30 PM
Ve responds to Valdor "Way ahead of you." as he activates the cube, keeping out all non living matter around the halflings and crow. Ve orders the carpet to rise a foot or so, if need be, he could whisk them away. His Bracelet could then pull most of the Dragons out.
"Lovely speech sir, may I suggest next time performing it without the weapons in hand." Ve whispers into the earpiece. "I am concerend with what will happen to these folks. For a very ling time they have been hunted and forced to labor. Likely they have no means of feeding or truly caring for themselves. Establishing dependance is the first step in Dominance. But we can not stay here for the rest of our lives. Those in Dirt City will learn and slowly spread the word."
Spells in effect: Greater Magic Weapon Magic Vestment Armor Magic Vestment Shield Endure Elements Freedom of Movement 220 minutes Protection from Elements Fire 220 minutes Status 22 hours Shield of Law [Father Nick] Stoneskin [Cori]
Onrad Friday September 7th, 2007 3:42:01 PM
Onrad flips a gold piece at Valdor. With a straight face he says, "I repent sir."
Then he is off to help unite children and parents. He is very careful to see that both children and parents are recognizing each other. No funny business allowed.
Valdor Friday September 7th, 2007 6:23:43 PM
Valdor suppresses a laugh and replies where only the Plats can hear,"The weapons were to make an impression and to intimidate a bit. I didn't want anyone to get an idea they could throw rocks. And, being a cleric of Domi previously, I like to fight while I preach."
Jus AC 49, 150 HP (+10 with glove, +42 with bear's endurance), 110 Stoneskin, 50% Displacement Sunday September 9th, 2007 9:00:13 PM
Jus steps back and allows Valentine to take care of the kids. They obviously need healing, which isn't exactly Jus' strong point (as he remembers the arrows embedding in Crow).
Jus is heavily distracted when the boy's belongings are handed to him; he isn't even sure who gave them to him. He doesn't move, and seems barely aware things. It's nothing like a curse -- "Jus" is still there. But he's not paying attention to his surroundings. The kids leave and the tower is brought down. Still nothing but Jus' eyes move; flitting around, landing on nothing for but the briefest of moments.
The loud crash of the window and roof pulls him back to reality.
Parnoth, they said, Jus thinks, as the last few minutes of conversation begin registering with his brain. Regardless of which dragon the claw came from, it already stirred Jus' memories. Jus misses his friend, and practically his son. Being apart now by time as well as distance makes it that much harder. Jus can't imagine that he's dead in this world, no longer to be seen. Still, there is a chance that with the magic restored....
With a distant feeling of embarrasement or chagrin, Jus closes his eyes to ignore the others and "thinks" as strongly as he can. It's worked before, it may work again.
Keiran!!!
Active Spells: SHIELD OF LAW on group. (+4 deflection to AC, SR 25 on chaos spells, block possession.) Stoneskin (110 hp) Displacement (5 rounds ???) Bear's Endurance (+4 Con) Spells Remaining: 6/6/7/6/7/3
OOC: Sorry for my missed posting. I'm on a business trip to Boston and will not have continuous Wold access. I hope this post fits well. It was my (Jus') first thought when I read about the dragon's pendant.
Posting Report for Monday September 10th, 2007 5:55:51 AM
Game # 1 The Platinum Dragons For the week of Sept 3,2007
Names-----MTWTF DM Jan H--OXXOX Valdore---XXXX2 Mordrid---XOOXO * Fr.Nick---OXXXX Dalia-----OOOOO * VE Mont---XOXXX Coralot---OOOOO * Onrad-----OXXOX Jus-------OOOOO *
Adm Ceil - * Has missed 3 post or more.
Mordrid Monday September 10th, 2007 10:37:27 AM
Mordrid lends Valdor his support. Rocks in hand... swords in hand. It was fair.
"I like the idea of taking the boy two the temple at Dirt City. It is likely we can get him back to where he belongs."
[OOC: I'm having flash backs of Mad Max - could Mordrid have been the next Captain Walker? I will be in Reno until Thursday morning. So likely to miss more posts.]
Nick Monday September 10th, 2007 4:22:57 PM
Nick isn't surprised at the reaction of those risen from the pit, but he is surprised at their numbers. Who would have known there were so many down there?
Seeing Onrad stride off toward the mob does nothing to quell his already growing apprehension.
Alemi, let this not end in violence.
DM Jan Monday September 10th, 2007 5:15:47 PM
((OOC - well, we've had Steve moving house, John and Scott traveling, Jerry back at 'skool', Jim's online service kaput, I'm assuming Kent's mad busy in his other games, and yet we're still rolling. We're not doing so bad under the circumstances. Good work, everyone.))
For a long moment, aggression taints the air as both sides square up.
Then, one of the taller men pushes to the front. He has a wide jaw, uneven, fang-like teeth, and possesses shoulders the width of a barn door. He raises his hand. "Enough!" he growls at the others. "See! He wears the sign!" The raised hand lowers and points - straight toward Valdor's chest plate. The rock is dropped.
Both Valdor and Mordrid see hard eyes looking them over, for these people have no experience with the kind of adventurer's magic that both men can weild, no idea at all what danger the Dragons could represent. Cori and Jus's perception is perhaps is similar, although, having not made any aggressive moves as yet, are not subject to the same hard scrutiny.
"So!" booms the big spokesman, "we are free to roam because of you?" A wide grin breaks into his face. "Then if you are hungry we can offer shelter and food by way of thanks. But Crow now belongs to you. He is your responsibility. I am Kalder, I bid you welcome."
People are beginning to edge forward. Curiosity is taking over and the tension lessens to practically nothing. Onrad discovers that most of the children, particularly the younger ones, have gravitated toward the same woman, giving him the impression that perhaps the social orgainzation of this group is rather different to what he's used to. One of the girls shows the woman a piece of the rations she's been given.
Over by the carpet, Ve will note that while the two halflings are terrified, Crow seems accepting of the hostility toward him; resigned, maybe fatalistic, which does not bode well for the man's overall state of mind. The boy is still lying on the carpet, bundled up in his robe. Moisture drips from the corner of his mouth. Occasionally he sighs, or says something unintelligable. From what Ve can see of the crowd, there were no angry glares aimed in the boy's particular direction.
Jus's thoughts turn toward his distant companion. Dead? Like everyone else? A mental dip into the magical ether will tell him the worst, just as it would Cori, if she sought out a similar question, or indeed any of the magic users. Metaphorically, arcane magic was like a stormy sea in the mind - pulled and pushed by the tides, drawn into a frenzy by the winds. It's multitude of users and uses substituted for the moons and the winds, and it was rarely at ease, always churning. But now - nothing. Except for a mere ripple emanating from the group, it is a calm, untouched expanse. Never has anything felt so still. There is immense power out there, and none of it is being used. Where were the wizards, the sorcerors, the mighty purple worms, the dragons, the displacer beasts, and the beholders? Akin to loneliness, it is not a good feeling.
Valdor Tuesday September 11th, 2007 12:53:09 AM
Valdor's swords snap back into their sheaths at the man's words. Valdor nods an understanding to him and then replies,"He is indeed our problem. However, he is not evil and is a complete wreck emotionally. I doubt he will recover."
Valdor shrugs his shoulders and says,"We have come from another time...one long past...to retrieve him. He and the constructs will bother you no further, I assure you. Have you seen or heard of other places like this one? Are their other people around the countryside like you all? There used to be a huge city called Plateau City. Have you heard of it and do you know if it still stands?"
Valdor says to the group,"Before we go home, I would like to see what has become of our city and the area there. Any objections? If these were the only beings alive, Alemi, Domi, and the others would have shown up by now."
Onrad Tuesday September 11th, 2007 9:23:19 AM
Onrad introduces himself to the woman who seems to be "mom" to all these kids hoping to find out more.
"Greetings woman. I am Onrad. It is good to meet one that children respect so much."
Ve Mundr Tuesday September 11th, 2007 7:38:05 PM
Ve remains near the halflings and Crow. Nodding his agreement with Valdor. the mission was a success as far as he was concerned, the rest was now to the rest of them. In particular he felt his old friend Nicholas would be interested in being amognst the people and helping where he may. Given the offer of the Kilder, Ve was a bit hopeful they would be moving on though. This was not a people with much to spare, and certainly none of them were in need.
"we should thnk him for the offer and be away. Perhaps Father Nicholas could stay for some time to assist where he may. I will be able to keep him safe, even from Plateau City
Corialote Tuesday September 11th, 2007 9:33:30 PM
Cori slowly moves forward to stand near Valdor as she loops her arm through his. "Well...we do have a lot of pieces to pick up Dear Heart." She leans against him and lets her mind wander to find out if Amarth is ok. She does so hope that he was not caught in the explosion as she did truely love him.
She watches the people and then just resigns herself to leaning against Valdor. She can easily feel the void that has been left in the land and the amount of magical energy that could be harnessed. She might be able to do that herself but right now she feels no inclination to do so...the voice is silent for now at least.
[Just an FYI. My internet is still not a whole lot better. I have not gotten the disk to make the change over to my phone companies internet. My current provider is still bugged and I still have to fight to get on. Will try to get back into the swing of things.]
~~Jan~~ No worries, Jim. Good to see you. Post when you can.
Nick d20+19=27 Wednesday September 12th, 2007 1:24:14 AM
Nick stands unthreatening and smiling as the people approach. He is, however, watching them with a practiced eye, looking for signs of malnourishment, and physical cruelties that might have been inflicted, disease, etc etc.
Heal Check DC 27 (sheesh...)
DM Jan Wednesday September 12th, 2007 2:44:57 AM
As the fire dies down to embers around the fortress, the mine people start to mingle, openly staring at Cori's purple braid, Nick's white robes, Jus's narrow features, Mordrid's cloak, Ve Mundr's armour and weaponry, Valdor's sword and that massive 'V' on his chest.
And Onrad? "You're short for a man," the woman says to him with a rather alarming candour. "Although, if you were strong enough, they'd have let you live. All the children were given to me, while the others worked. You come from a place with no metal men? What do they do with children where you come from? One of the boy children milling around her points. "What's that? he asks, his gesture indicating Onrad's rapier.
Kalder looks puzzled for a moment, then whispers to another one of the men stood nearby. That man walks toward a low building where one of the Crow posters are pinned. Cori's crow Amarth flaps away, having been caught pecking at something there. The disgruntled bird lands on its companion's shoulder. The man rips the poster off the wall, turns it around, places it on the ground and starts to scribble on it with a sliver of charcoal taken from the back pocket of his ragged trousers. In the meantime - "There are other places such as this," Kalder says. "We know that much because they brought others in on the rail way in times gone by, and they had stories. And we've seen many, many of the metal men climb on that train and head to the east. To other mines, we thought. I don't think any of us has heard of a place called Plateau. But that - he points at the letter 'V' "That stands for hope. That message came, from a city somewhere, our ancestors say, before most of us were born. And this - " He hesitates as the man with the poster rejoins him and holds up his handiwork. "This is even older," says Kalder. "It's a message on part of a carved tablet someone brought in from somewhere. We have the piece hidden below. Some of us are sworn to defend it with our lives." On the rear of the poster, in dusty black lettering, are the following letters -
g o n C o n s o r t i
ENDURE !
"Now, we know what endure means. That's what we have been doing. Resistence killed many. But now we do what we're told, we eat the specified foods in the right order, we work, we give up half our children. In the belief that whoever wrote this knew there would be an end to it." He shrugs. "And yet none of us knows what gonconsort-eye means. Do you know?" There is a tag of skin hanging from the corner of the poster, which is starting to look rather like turkey jerky.
None of these people get to close to Ve Mundr's carpet, not wishing to go anywhere near the man who was the legend who brought so much misery. "When do we get to go home?" Tommy asks the Protector miserably.
Nick discovers that most of these people, beneath the dirt, appear to be in reasonable health. Their eyes are clear, no obvious lesions on the skin, they have teeth.
So, what next for the dragons? Stay awhile? A trip east? Or back home?
Valdor Wednesday September 12th, 2007 10:40:34 AM
Valdor smiles at Kalder and takes the charcoal and poster from the man. He writes the letters 'Dra' at the front and the letters 'um' at the end and says,"We are known as the Platinum Dragons, the lead group of the Dragon Consortium. Our main objective is to keep peace in the Wold and take care of problems that others cannot handle. We fight if we must, but only if we must."
He points to the pile of constructs that they destroyed upon arrival at the tower nd continues,"All of us have sworn to stand against evil and to protect those who cannot protect themselves...the good people of all races. To become a Consortium member, one has to be exceptional in battle and prove to us with their lives that they are the kinf of people that we need and that we can trust. I can't believe that the Consortium could have allowed this situation to get so out of hand like it is, but we came to fix it."
Valdor then holds his hand out while appraising the man before him and says finally,"We got off on the wrong foot earlier, I am Valdor of the Consortium, and it is good to meet you." Somewhere in the back of his mind, Valdor wonders at the man's size and the similarity in the name structure to his...
Onrad Wednesday September 12th, 2007 4:57:46 PM
"Welllll...
"The birthing mother and the male who fathers the child bind themselves together and raise their children together in a group. We call it a family. The children learn from both the father and the mother about life until they are grown. Then they leave to bind with another in love or pursue their own goals. It is pretty simple really."
"But as long as the children are loved and cared for, and it appears that they are, then all is fine. :)"
-----------
Onrad excuses himself and goes to Jus, the smartest man he knows. He calls Cori over too. And Ve. He talks softly.
"Hey, is this enough to change the timeline back or should we head east?
"See I'm worried. These people have a right to live and enjoy their newfound freedom. However, if we go back, then the timeline reverses and these people will never have been, right? Or am I confused. I'd hate to know that they wouldn't get to continue on.
Corialote and Amarth Wednesday September 12th, 2007 9:17:27 PM
Cori moves over to stand with Jus, Onrad and Ve as a discussion is started on this time. Looking to the others she reaches up to rub her temples. "We have had this arguemnent at the Star Mage Guild at least a hundred times. Now as to if we are done here...that is a different matter altogether. This is just a guess but if the magic that was binding the elementals was working through the small pieces of skin from Crow. Then our work here could be done as the machines were destroyed and the skin looks to be deteriorating." She continues to rub her temples as the next part was what causes the true headaches.
Glancing to Jus and Ve, though she does not know Ve's thoughts on this or Jus's for that matter. "This timeline depends upon a number of things. Is this an alternate reality and if it is it should continue on when we are gone, though it should have changed for the better. If this is part of our Wold's future, than these people will most likely live on but in different ways when we get back to our time and our time catches up to this period in the Wolds' history." She is giving herself a major headache and she expects that the others might have arguements to what she is talking about.
Amarth is chuckling upon his Mistress's shoulder as she drones on. Bringing his beak near her ear he whispers to her. "Brilliant, maybe you should write a thesis for the Guild on this." It is a joke but one he hopes his Mistress will get.
Mordrid Wednesday September 12th, 2007 11:12:40 PM
Mordrid is plagued by Valdor's keen interest on other matters of this time period.
"Valdor, my brother, with all due respect... It is a dangerous path that we tred here in the future. I would advise that we not tamper with it any longer. We should make our way home... if you truly feel this job is done. It matters not what the state of Plateau City currently is. It will all be undone."
The ranger's sense of time and nature is accutely aware of meddling.
Nick Thursday September 13th, 2007 5:23:04 PM
At some point, Nick wanders over to Ve Mundr. He says, quietly - "The boy's fate troubles me. I don't like the idea of leaving him here, and yet - what do we do with him when we get home, IF we take him with us? It seems to me that the Necromancers in Mount Bone will eventually become a serious problem if left unchecked, and this future incarnation will have all kinds of information that might help us. There are probably some who'd pull his arms off to get at that information if he doesn't talk, and we can't exactly condone that, either. What do you think we should do? Was it Mordrid that suggested we take him to the temple while we're still here? But what then?"
DM Jan Thursday September 13th, 2007 5:45:26 PM
Kalder shakes Valdor's hand. "I don't know what to say, or how to express our gratitude, other than to let you know that you have it, thrice over. I would definitely say that you've 'fixed it'. We have livestock and water down in the pits, and there are crop fields not too far distant to the south. The metal men were very thorough in making sure we were 'fully functional'," he says with a wry smile. Examining his features more closely, Valdor may well come to the conclusion that there is a touch of orc in his genes.
Close by, some of the others are examining the completed sentences and are trying to remember other things their ancesters might have told them. They are also looking on the Dragons with renewed awe. Some have gathered by the fallen constructs and are pulling them apart. One holds up a chest panel and holds it against himself with a grin. Some of his comrades slap him on the back and laugh.
"We did our best to do the same," the woman tells Onrad, and a tinge of sadness enters her voice. She shrugs. "Things will change for the better now, yes?"
There's no telling how things will develop in this community. All of them seem very erudite and intelligent, and physically well-built. They can obviously read, write, and they possess a good vocabulary. Somewhat of a contrast when compared to those who emerged from the ruins of Dirt City.
While certain aspects of this adventure are discussed by the group, the beleagered Izen slowly strives toward full daylight, or what passes for it under this cloudy sky. The land is damaged, but now the mining and smelting production has stopped, perhaps things will start to mend. As a backdrop, Mount Bone is the only naysayer, brooding as it always has, enveloped in its own miasma of doom.
As for the discussions themselves... who knows for sure? Maybe no one does. Most explanations so far seem valid.
Onrad Thursday September 13th, 2007 8:29:07 PM
Onrad, his eyes growing wet says, "I kinda wish I could stay. But that would probably mess things up. These people touch me. Very noble."
He turns and starts walking towards Dirt City. Then stops.
"OK, where's that stupid machine."
Ve Mundr Friday September 14th, 2007 12:49:29 PM
Ve listens to Cori with a thoughtful look. "Iagree it seems the work and original supositions of getting crow will end the immediate threat to the Wold is complete. the rift is gone, the elementals freed and the constructs neutralized. We have Crow and have every indication that the final step is to return to our own time and end the possible future threat he poses and place him upon final judgement. As to what happens here upon that?" Ve's head moves a bit side to side, "As you have said, we've had lengthy discussions and everything is suposition. My personal belief is one to the bent of parallel existance."
When Nick speaks about the boy, Ve moves off a short distance. "Father Nicholas my old friend. He is a reincarnated evil. One that escaped during this folly of Crows from Gargul Punishment. The easiest thing would be to return him to Gargul's keeping." Ve's eyes are serious as is his tone and Nicholas knows Ve would not dwell on the execution of this plan were he to carry it through. "But he is not an evil entity, merely a soul bent to the wrong path and I would prefer reconcilliation. The spell upon him is pernament unless Healed or similar powerful magic is applied. Something I do not think will be available to the peoples of this Wold for a very long time. With love and caring of other humans, he may change in the interim. One thing I believe is that we can not take him back. He is of this time, not ours. I believe my friend that he is turned to loving people here or Dirt City and here seems better and they will care for raise him and show him love. We take a precaution and place a Mark of Justice upon him as well and we pray."
Ve then adds to Mordrid's thought to the rest. "We should be going home right after the reincarnated soul in the boy is decided... I still see only two real options." Ve does not elaborate as this discussion is not one to have in front of the newly freeed peoples about them.
Onrad Friday September 14th, 2007 5:04:03 PM
"The machine that takes us back. It that with us?"
He looks around to see if anyone knows.
Ve Mundr Saturday September 15th, 2007 12:56:56 AM
Ve nods to Onrad, "Yes the halflings have it."
Jus Saturday September 15th, 2007 10:27:53 AM
Jus smiles as Onrad approaches and begins the discussion. Many times, Onrad has done the same; bringing up the very topic that is on Jus' mind.
"I too, have been considering this... line of time. My heart wants to stay and train those willing in magic, arms, and what it means to be a defender of the Wold."
Jus shifts, showing his discomfort. "I know there are others here better suited to do so, but it is a task that harmonizes with my heart."
In much quieter words, he finishes, "Still, I do not wish to throw my remaining years into the ether if this Wold will be 'never was here'."
Jus gives a weak grin and shrugs. His thoughts race madly towards a solution he doesn't see. And, once again, a melancholy mood sets in as he is once again reminded how life isn't always what you wish it would be.
Valdor Monday September 17th, 2007 1:46:53 AM
Valdor nods at Mordrid's words and replies,"You are right, my brother. I would just like to view our home in this time...to see if our castle still stands, or any of the city."
His brow furrows up and he says,"I'd like to think that by coming into the future to do something good and to help people, that we haven't completely destroyed their existance." He shakes his head, giving Mordrid one of those 'this is giving me a headache' looks. He has no idea of how this will change future events and people's lives, but he knows they had to do it.
Seeing that so many are intelligent, and hearing that they can obviously grow food, he says to Kalder,"My new friend, therer are other people who live in the city down these tracks. They are those who have escaped the rule of the constructs, but haven't fared as well as you and these have. They have little food and seem to be less schooled as you all have been. I would ask you to seek them out. We are going back there and will tell them of you as well. One last question I must ask. Where were the constructs assembled and where are the metals used?"
Posting Report for Monday September 17th, 2007 7:57:28 AM
Game # 1 The Platimum Dragons For the week of Sept 10,2007
Names-----MTWTF DM JanH---XOXXO Valdor----OXXOO Mordrid---XOXOO Fr.Nick---XOXXO Dalia-----OOOOO * BAD BAD! VE Mont---OXOOXS Coralot---OXXOO * BAD BAD! Onrad-----OXXXX Jus-------XOOOOS * BAD BAD!!
Adm. Ceil
DM Jan Monday September 17th, 2007 11:02:56 AM
((OOC - just got back from the track, I'll post this morning.))
Nick Monday September 17th, 2007 3:31:58 PM
Nick nods at his friend and colleague, declining to say much more about it at this point. 'Return to Gargul' of course meant a death sentence for the boy. And Ve was correct to be reticent when the others were out there, working hard, talking to and reassuring the surviving population. This problem would need subtlety.
DM Jan Monday September 17th, 2007 4:03:00 PM
Onrad and Ve's short conversation about the 'machine' has Wentworth suddenly patting all his pockets. "Oh, please don't tell me you've lost it!" implores his brother Tommy. A frantic few seconds later and Wentworth gives the thumbs up. "Don't scare me like that," grumbles Tommy.
The current situation holds quite an allure. There's a lot a good man or woman could do, here. Especially with the high level of skills held by this particular adventuring group - magic, martial arts, survival, politics, the ways of the gods, history, geography, commerce, debate, a myriad of professions and skills.
Right here is the beginning of a new way of life for all the survivors. Many paths can be taken, some better than others. And the young boy currently drooling on Ve Mundr's carpet is one example of what could happen if the wrong path is taken.
In this particular area, life WILL be hard, just as it always has been. Bad weather, stony ground, and Mount Bone, sentient and dreadful in the Dragons' time period, is already, quietly, slowly, brewing malevolence now that the Wold's magic has returned.
"We will make sure to seek these people out, and welcome them," Kalder tells Valdor. "It's a new world, isn't it. We shall need new ways." As for the constructs and the metal - "The metal for the constructs, and the ore from which it is extracted, is down in the pit. So are the componants and tools. we made the pieces, then they were brought up here to be built." Kalder points at the destroyed fortress.
Over to the east, a shaft of sunlight has broken through the clouds. It's a natural sight after a daytime storm, but to the eyes of these people - something wonderous, and they turn and stare.
Right now, for the Dragons, hard decisions have to be made. Crow has to be returned to the present. Something must be done about the boy. Is there time for a trip over to Plateau City? Theoretically, yes. So long as nothing happens to the group's primary objective.
Onrad Monday September 17th, 2007 5:12:44 PM
"OK, let's get the boy to Dirt City and see if the gods can help us with him there. Then, probably the less we know of this time, the less we will feel the pain of leaving here.
"If I can't stay, I need to leave.
"Can we set up the teleport to DC?"
Onrad motions for everyone to join in a circle and get the ring passed.
He grins sheepishly as his need to "get things moving" when they are not.
"I hate sitting still. I do."
Jus Monday September 17th, 2007 7:26:15 PM
Jus stands next to Onrad, amused by his incessant movement. "I bet they have a name for the bug in your pants -- the one that prevents you from staying still."
This, in turn, reminds him of Nonam and Gareth. It is a shame that the two of them couldn't make it on this trip. They would have loved it. Nonam especially. To be one of the only magic users in the land would have been intoxicating to him.
Corialote and Amarth Tuesday September 18th, 2007 12:16:44 AM
Cori moves over to stand now by the larger group of her fellow adventurers. She waits to see if the will check out anything else in this world or go back. Truely she is looking forward to the time that she can retire. This past few months have been aging to her, though she shows no outwards signs of it.
Turning to Valdor she shrugs. "Your decision...do we see to the boy and then go home...or do we see to the boy and then sightsee?" If it is the later at least she will be with her dear heart and they can hopefully take it easy.
Valdor Tuesday September 18th, 2007 2:13:14 AM
Valdor rubs his chin at all the thoughts as they are discussed. He laughs aloud at Onrad's assessment of himself, then says still chuckling,"And everyone always accused me of rushing through things without thinking them through. Next time I see Mycroft, I'll have to tell him I go in slow motion compared to old Onrad here!
Well, while I would like to see our old stomping grounds, I don't want what we see to affect how we feel about things and change what we do once we get back. We know what's right and we must take the boy to Dirt City. Now that magic is back, once someone gets strong enough in priestly magic to heal the boy, they won't know what's inside him and that evil soul that is probably one of Marteaus's necromancers, will be released into a world not ready to combat him.
Any wizard of great power could be a king here...or more, and I don't like the idea of leaving him in case someone heals him later. We should seek out guidance in Gargul's temple, much as it turns my stomach to say so. Or in Alemi's or Domi's, if Dirt has a temple to them. Of course, our clerics could rest up and memorize some kind of Commune spell or something similar and tomorrow cast it to ask questions.
Doesn't really matter for the moment...we need to get moving I guess."
Valdor turns back to Kalder and says,"It is a new world, and it's up to you and yours to make sure that you do things differently than those like Crow. Also, I would immediately start reforming that metal into materials to build houses, swords, armor and things like that. You should destroy any written designs of those things so noone can begin again what we have stopped. As I said before, seek Alemi and Domi, the greatest of the good Gods and ask their guidance. With faith, and I assure you that they exist, you will be amazed at what good you can do. Take care my friend and lead these people well."
Valdor hooks his arm in Cori's and heads back to the carpet.
Onrad Tuesday September 18th, 2007 4:48:35 PM
"Can we pass the ring now daddy?" Onrad gives Valdor his best bratty kid look.
Nick Tuesday September 18th, 2007 8:20:35 PM
Turning his attention to those who emerged from the pit, Nick whispers a prayer and watches as Valdor imparts advice on their leader.
Alemi take care of thes people. lift their spirits. Guide them true...
He then joins the others, ready for teleportation.
DM Jan Tuesday September 18th, 2007 8:27:38 PM
Teleportation back to Dirt City brings the Platinum Dragons back to the area they left, ie. right outside the Gargul Temple.
The immediate area looks slightly different in daylight. The air is more fresh due to a breeze blowing in from the sea. The top level of Dirt City looks dilapidated, overgrown and rundown, but decidedly more cheerful now there are no lost souls hanging about.
There's an elderly woman sweeping detritus and leaves from the temple doors, who will offer no comment, if the adventurers step inside.
Ve Mundr Wednesday September 19th, 2007 3:15:17 PM
Ve's face remains impassive to the fate of the boy. The final three, two really, possibilities were all that really mattered. Ve had made up his mind on this, but would carry ou either as the desicion was handed down.
Appearing at the Gragul temple, Ve scoops up the boy, steps off the carpet and moves past teh woman to the interior.
Corialote and Amarth Wednesday September 19th, 2007 5:14:18 PM
Cori keeps her arm laced in Valdor's, even during the teleportation. Once on the other side she take the time to act like she is having trouble standing, just so that she can be closer to him. Her smile and flashing eyes tell all though when she looks to her dear heart. "I have to agree with Onrad on a few things. We could make a very good life here and the good we could do..." She lets it hang as that would not be retirement and she has her heart set on doing something other than fighting. She shakes her head and laughs lightly. "No...Valdora will be needing us and we have a business to start, her and I." Still the day is too nice to waste and she does not relish the idea of entering the temple anytime soon.
Amarth seems amused from his position on his Mistress's shoulder, but wisely keeps his beak shut. He got away with the earlier comment and will not chance his luck again...so soon.
Valdor Wednesday September 19th, 2007 11:59:42 PM
Valdor takes great comfort in Cori's closeness and relaxes when they get back. He asks Nick and Ve,"Are there any temples to Domi or Alemi here and can either of you ask your God's questions relating to this boy's fate? I don't want the boy to die, but the soul who has stolen the body has to go. I wonder if the boy's real soul is in there somewhere? And would he have control if the evil soul is somehow removed from his body? We could use a rest anyway and then take care of him, then get back to our own time."
He listens to Cori, happy with her resolution. He never for once considered staying, but understands where her thoughts are. For if they stayed, taht means all the decades up to this point were still in place and the havoc wreaked upon their children, grandchildren...no, it must end this way.
Onrad Thursday September 20th, 2007 1:03:04 AM
As they arrive, he somehow ends up with his arm wrapped up in Valdor's.
"Eww."
Then he looks at Cori and Valdor's "intertwinings."
"When we get back, I'm getting the two of you a room and locking you in for a week!"
Then he follows the others into the temple.
Nick Thursday September 20th, 2007 1:39:53 AM
Nick thinks for a moment after Valdor's question. "Alemi didn't have a big presence here, from what I remember, although I'm sure there is a shrine, or what's left of one, somewhere in the interior. "Valdor, I'll be honest. If I have my thoughts straight about the boy, then our decisions regarding his future will fall solidly on Gargul's territory. "My own faith sees cruelty, when I look upon that boy. Cruelty draped about our shoulders, for leaving him in this feeble state for so long. Both faith and training bade me to heal the boy, and yet..."
He trails off. Yes, heal him, Nick. Unleash the monster. A monster that, despite all misgivings, is still just a boy.
DM Jan Thursday September 20th, 2007 1:55:17 AM
The old lady with the brush looks to have been busy inside the temple. The floor is clean, and there is no sign of the dead priest. The altar exhudes power and gloom, but this time, the rear wall is solid - the way into the Shadowlands is now as it should be - blocked - to all except those who have the power to open up the way.
A small creature sits atop the altar. Gargul's companion, Gimp, appears to have been waiting...
Ve Mundr Thursday September 20th, 2007 10:23:01 AM
Ve stops as Valdor speaks of the boy. "Valdor with all due respect I don't believe you are grasping the true aspect here. The boy is evil, the soul did not steal this body, it is not possession, it is reincarnation. The evil escaped and has been escaping Gargul for hundreds of years. Being reborn just as the righteous have always done. There is no other, he simply is as you and I are. He is of this time, and can not go back with us." Ve then turns and heads towards Gimp.
Valdor Thursday September 20th, 2007 11:27:06 AM
Upon hearing Onrad's statement, Valdor smiles and replies,"Works for me. But let's make it two weeks." He stops and then laughs aloud saying,"Can you imagine going two weeks without having to chase a dragon, time travel, wipe out an undead problem, find lost cities, stop an army, or smething else like that? I will be bored silly if I went two days without Sturdevant calling on us to go somewhere and do something."
He turns more somber at Ve's words and says,"I wouldn't advocate taking him back with us. I just feel we should try to make sure there's not a ten year old boy's soul trapped in this body somewhere before we let him be destroyed. And, I wouldn't consider leaving him in this state forever...that's worse than torture and wouldn't be fair to whoever had to take care of him. We take him to Gargul's temple, put him on the altar and pray to Gargul to take his soul peacefully to his realm. Whatever happens...happens."
Onrad Thursday September 20th, 2007 3:15:29 PM
Onrad moves forward, his hand on his sword in its hilt as he has little good feeling left in him for Gimp.
None in fact.
His flippant manner leaves him and he's all business once again. Intent and alert.
Mordrid Thursday September 20th, 2007 5:39:13 PM
"I don't agree with everyone's usage of the word 'die'. In and of itself, changing forms is not as bad as you think. Why then do we not dress in black and mourn as each Fall approaches?"
His attention is redirected toward Gimp. "I bet this little guy has the answer."
Corialote and Amarth Thursday September 20th, 2007 9:04:45 PM
Cori continues to keep her arm intwined with Valdors and nods her head when he laughs. She is glad to see him happy for awhile at least. She looks to Onrad and gives him a wink. "If you lock to the door, do not come back to try and open it...for it will be locked by more than meer steel." Her eyes twinkle but she would also relish the idea of being along with Valdor. As he goes into the ideas of going crazy with all that free-time she laughs a little more. "Oh, I think that I could find something to keep your mind busy. Besides, I could easily kidnap you if I needed to." She doubts that she would have to try very hard to do that but it would be possible.
As the thoughts and needs to turn to the child and the use of the word death. She once again becomes all business and she does glance to Mordrid as he speaks. "Yes, let us think of it more as a rebirth. This soul needs to go back were it belongs and maybe the soul that once inhabited this body can be reborn. If not into this body, than maybe another to a gentle woman and man." For such a long-lived race it is hard to observe death as a permanent thing. In fact she has felt on many occassions that she has been something else before she was Cori the drow...flying is one of those rare pleasures. Maybe she was once a bird or something else that was able to fly.
Nick Friday September 21st, 2007 11:27:24 AM
Nick approaches the altar and gives Gimp a solemn bow. "With respect, we seek an audience with Gargul," he begins. "We have brought a young boy, someone who exhudes evil, and believe him to be a reincarnation from the Lands of Unrest, who does not belong here, but we need guidance."
DM Jan Friday September 21st, 2007 12:02:03 PM
Gargul's companion shifts to the right hand edge of the altar. "Let me see him," the creature says.
Assuming the boy is placed on the altar, Gimp crouches over the feebleminded boy's prone form. The creature's eyes, like bright stones, then regard the party. "Gargul still roams the Isles of the Dead. There is much to put right there, such as the likes of this boy, if what you say proves correct. "In order to be sure about this one, I will need to look into his soul. You will see things. Things you may not like. Things about you and what could be. Are you ready?"
Is it everyone's imagination, or did the temple abruptly take on a more somber air? Do the walls feel to be closing in, shutting out the Wold and the joys of life it contains? That shiver down the spine, maybe it's just cold in here...
Valdor Saturday September 22nd, 2007 12:20:31 AM
Valdor hears Gimp, and gets that 'feeling'. He says aloud,"If what he says is true, those who fought against that pit monster must hold true to themselves now. This will not be real, my friends and we must remember who we are."
He nods to Gimp to proceed, still remembering diving in front of Gimp to take that sword thrown by Marteaus...
Ve Mundr Saturday September 22nd, 2007 10:30:32 PM
Ve steps forward and places the boy on the altar by Gimp. The cleric then just steps back a few paces, his war hammer slipping from its hanger and into his gauntleted hand.
Posting Report for Monday September 24th, 2007 7:10:53 AM
Game # 1 The Platinum Dragons For the week of Sept 17, 2007
Names-----MTWTF DM Jan H--XXOXX Valdor----XXXOOS Mordrid---OOOXO * Bad Boy! Fr.Nick---XXOXX Dalia-----OOOOO * Bad BoY! VE MONT---OOXXOS * Coralot---OXXXO Onrad-----XXXXO Jus-------XOOOO *
Adm CEil
Nick Monday September 24th, 2007 4:31:55 PM
Nick's eyes flit toward Valdor as he mentions that thing in the pit. Well, they'd stared death and all sorts in the face before.
He takes a breath and tries to remain calm.
DM Jan Monday September 24th, 2007 5:59:20 PM
After a few moments, there is an abrupt drop in temperature. Gimp becomes merely a shadow. Everyone else, with the exception of Cori, Jus and the boy, appear to fade in varying degrees.
Valdor, Nick, Mordrid, Ve and Onrad feel a sensation not unlike a cloak of gauze dropping around their shoulders. This cloak brings strange thoughts -
Nick - candlelight and the smell of wax; a dull pain; voices murmuring in prayer; a glimpse of Plateau City from a window; men, women, dressed in white, moving about the room.
Onrad - his niece's face, looming above, trying to smile, to reassure; a door opening and closing, bringing with it childrens voices, and the breath of autumn.
Ve - a cloudy sky and distant thunder; a gentle rocking, and the sound of a slow, tentative oar cutting through water; someone humming a tune; it hurts to breathe but the air feels moist.
Mordrid - the scent of moss and blood; wet leaves and cold ground beneath the hand and against the face; a bug's eye view of the trail ahead, and a voice, "Mordrid. Mordrid," growing fainter.
Valdor - the sound of steel, ringing on steel; a howling storm of pain, held back by a stubborn wall of anger; darkness and shifting forms; a cavern and the smell of sulpher; the sword, singing, ingniting the will; a dance, abruptly snatched away.
Jus's form stays whole and three dimensional, but it shifts, and now he is seated, crosslegged, his eyes are closed. His own perception is of somewhere else, somewhere cold. Far from here. A massive, still form, covered in black scales is curled around him. Concentration. He breathes, once every five minutes. His heart beats, once every five minutes. Not as slow as the dragon, not yet. Not yet.
Cori also retains substance, but her palor shifts to a sickly grey. Red welts cross her arms and torso. Her eyes burn with a fearsome, cold, rage. There is a wand in her hand. There is no sign of Amarth. Everyone can see an arm reaching out and pulling her toward the altar. It is the boy - the boy grown to a man. His face longer, thinner, he looks tired, ravaged with disease. The ruin of the Wold is written upon his face for all to see. This one is the killer of thousands. "I'm not going alone," he whispers. Cori's hand sweeps down, strikes him with the wand, but there is nothing left. She lets out a cry of rage and frustration. Steel flashes in the firelight as he pulls her close. She drops the wand and goes for his throat with her hands, and squeezes as he stabs her again and again. "I'm not going alone..."
And then it is gone, leaving behind a strong punch-in-the-gut disorientation.
Gimp and the boy are on the altar, as they were before. Cori and Jus are both as they were. "I can't kill him," says the creature, looking solemly at the group. "I cannot physically interfere. But he belongs with us. He should not have been reborn."
Close by, Crow is sobbing quietly, and Wentworth is staring into space, a look of horror on his face. His brother Tommy also looks to be in shock. He has pulled out his fruit paring knife and is advancing toward the altar with vacant eyes.
((OOC EDIT - something I might not have made clear. The vision is of the current past, but in your own time, it would be a vision of the future. Eeek. Hope that makes sense. It's kinda in between then and now.))
(OOC: SCOTT: This is as far as I've read so far. Jan, simply brilliant. You do not fail to amaze me.]
((OOC ~Jan~ Thank you :) ))
Corialote and Amarth Monday September 24th, 2007 7:52:09 PM
Cori swallows hard as she is still trapped within the nightmare. Though it is in her mind she can still feel the knife as it buries itself into her again and again. The feeling of death is heavy on her shoulders as well, but she cannot force herself to move...to run.
Finally, after aganizing minutes have passed she slumps to the floor. Her head is in her hands and she finds herself crying. The weight is still there and she feels that she has been called upon to do something vile.
Ve Mundr Monday September 24th, 2007 10:37:28 PM
Ve closes his eyes as the feeling fades. Not what he expected. One hand moves to wipe away the imagined rain from his face. He hadn't failed and that was solice. He looks down towards his feet and wiggles his toes inside his boots and then raises his gaze to Gimp and then the boy. His right hand clenches harder on his glowing warhammer and he states quite flatly without emotion that sends chills down his own spine to hear the words, "I can."
Nick Monday September 24th, 2007 11:04:23 PM
Nick gasps audibly. What was that? My own death?
Seeing Cori drop, he steps quickly to her side and examines her vital signs. He's hoping it's just a faint. He was darned near passing out himself. Gimp did warn them. "Cori," he says softly, cradling her head, devastated by her tears. Alemi help them all.
Glanncing up he spies Ve near the altar, and he looks then toward Gimp. "We will not be judged?" he asks, his tone perhaps a little more stern than it should be.
At this moment he hasn't noticed Tommy.
Valdor d20=14 Tuesday September 25th, 2007 1:13:40 AM
Valdor groans out loud as he has his vision, but he's completely unaware he's making any sound at all. He finally comes out of it and shakes his head. Never has he trusted magic...except where Cori is concerned. He hears Gimp and then Ve. He says much more quietly than most have ever heard,"Ve, my friend, you are a cleric of Domi. This you should not do. I may face judgement, as Father Nick has wisely voiced, but nothing like you will for killing a boy. I will take no joy from it, but I see now that it must be done. Do you agree?"
Onrad Tuesday September 25th, 2007 4:12:16 PM
Onrad, slow to come out of his vision, thinks about his family. What he would want done if this boy was his...
An untidy task. Needs doing. Not drawn out. Don't think. Do. Suffer later.
Fast as lighting, draws forth his rapier and 5 times stabs into the chest of the boy.
As he does do, he shouts in anguish, as if he can feel the pain. He falls to his knees, unable to breathe. Uncharacteristically, his rapier clanks loudly to the floor.
----- [Jan if you need to hits and all that, let me know. This seems like a roleplaying situation.]
Jus Tuesday September 25th, 2007 5:08:05 PM
Jus watches his vision, trying to stay distant, trying to picture it as a dream. It is too real, however, too much like what could be. As the visions fade, Jus realizes the longing in his heart for his friend.
He looks up and watches everyone else return from their own visions. As Valdor speaks, Jus gives a resigned nod. Several times now, Jus has been tempted to pull out a dagger and off the boy. But Jus kept quiet and let the others deal with this in their own way. It sounds like Valdor has finally decided.
Which makes Onrad's sudden actions all the more shocking....
DM Jan Tuesday September 25th, 2007 11:39:24 PM
What must be done...
It hangs there, heavy in the air. Responsibilty, consequence. The taking of a life.
The folded and refined steel of Onrad's blade slashes through that moment, and enters the boy's black heart five times; back and forth. Those stood close are spattered in blood - warm, bright red and oxygenated. In seconds, it's over. Over and done.
"This is now as it should be," says Gimp, looking down at the still form of the boy. "And you will not be judged. In fact there may well be a boon, although I cannot say for sure."
Tommy the halfling is stood staring at the altar. A thin line of crimson is painted across his face. He has dropped his paring knife. "I want to go home," he says miserably.
Corialote and Amarth Tuesday September 25th, 2007 11:57:10 PM
Cori looks up as Nick's voice fills her head and not that far from her. Her eyes are anguished and she cannot bare to move at this time. She looks to the boy upon the altar and then the sudden movements of Onrad.
With a shiver she realizes that she could not have done it. Things from her past that she has tried to hide from, to run from would have caught up with her. The blackness that she feels in the pit of her stomach and heart, is part of her past as well as the thing in the pit. "I...I could not...it would have killed me." That part of her that she holds so dear would have been lost in the instant she killed the boy.
Now she realizes that all along she has been wrong. She has been running from something that she can never escape. To confront her past, embrace her past and then move on with the life that she leads now...that is the answer. "I must accept my heritage...what I have witnessed and done..." She slowly stands up, though she allows Nick to help her and she leans on him...but not a lot. "I must stop running."
Looking to Valdor she knows that it is true. If they are to have a future, she must settle her past first. Maybe a trip home is in order...one long overdue.
Valdor Wednesday September 26th, 2007 1:06:32 AM
Valdor's sword appears in his hand as Onrad attacks. He almost...almost, parries the blows, not wanting anything bad to happen to his friend. Always has he been willing to take the wrath of a dragon, or even the Gods for his friends and his family, the Dragons, but he really doesn't want to stop Onrad. Even though it sickens him, it is right, he believes.
Seconds later, Gimp echoes his thoughts, and he sheathes his sword. He looks around the room, then to Cori as she seems so lost. He says gently,"Well, you have no reason to run anywhere, my love, for if anything is pursuing you, it must first pass me and I promise it will have to pass my dead body first. And I have accepted your heritage and don't care what has gone before, so you should as well. Of course," he adds with a smile,"you'll have to accept a person who is only part elf and part human. Whatever you must do, we'll do it together."
He looks at Ve and says,"I guess Onrad beat us to it, eh? He's just mad that I got past those spiders first. Let's go home."
Onrad Wednesday September 26th, 2007 12:53:05 PM
"If there is a boon, Gimp, it goes to Valdor. He's our leader. He made the decision. I carried it out.
"If there had been a consequence, I didn't want it sullying the name of our leader. The people back home need him. Need him to be strong forever. I still don't trust you. Never had. Never will. So I acted to prevent harm to others."
Onrad then stands, does a cursory wiping of his shirt, and walks away to be alone, trying to hold it all in for some later time.
Nick Wednesday September 26th, 2007 2:32:15 PM
Nick lets Cori go to Valdor, stands, brushes down his robe and takes stock, looking at the faces of his companions. It never got any easier. And when they thought they could shoulder the load, other, heavier burdens came along and were heaped on top of the ever growing pile. The strain showed on every man and woman here. Weary faces, haunted eyes. It wasn't just the fighting. It was the sheer, horrific scale of it all - thousands of lives held in the balance, heartbreaking decisions. Just the act of standing before the Gods was like standing in the face of a hurricane. He turns his attention to the halflings. Two little mischief-makers from Dirt City. They'd been exceptionally brave, but they had witnessed far too much. Their lives would be vastly different now, if not shattered beyond repair. Alemi bless and strengthen those caught in these terrible winds...
He crouches in front of Tommy. "It's all right, now," he says quietly. "Pick up your knife. It's time to go home."
Ve Mundr Wednesday September 26th, 2007 2:42:09 PM
Ve is angry and it shows. What also is very clear is he is not entirely sure why he is angry. Jaw clenched and eyes fixed upon Onrad but standing in such a way that Gimp is clearly within his peripheal vision. The Warhammer still glowing and still held tighlty. Ve breathes in and out in low slow purposeful breaths as his nostrils flare on each exhale. Valdor's tension breaking comment slides off without affect and the Protector doesn't even seem to acknowledge the man has spoken. It is the klink of Tommy's knife that causes his gaze to shift and his jaw line to slacken slightly.
Ve turns and moves to Crow, his left hand siezes him about the shoulder and half pulls half drags him into his wake as Ve exits the temple
Mordrid Thursday September 27th, 2007 1:09:30 AM
'Who have I failed?" the ranger squeezes as he takes his last breath. Mordrid's heart pounds with a maddening ache. Just don't close your eyes! If only by will alone.
And back again into more madness. Onrad is stabbing the child. In stasis, between seconds, he moans..."NO."
Actions like these were best left for 'lost souls.' Not Onrad. Not one so such. He would never wish the burden on one so much. Should have been left to the lost souls.
And if things couldn't get stanger; Ve just walked out with crow... and he didn't look happy.
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