Too Much Talking [DM Jeff] Wednesday February 24th, 2010 3:42:05 AM
Vran looks at Tratin with sadness. "The Coins connect all of the Sons to someone in the Dread leadership. For most, it is tethered to whoever leads their particular cell. For some rare and powerful members, it is tied to one of the eight Dread Liches. In my case, this coin is connected directly to the Lord of the Dread..." He lets that sink it to the Knights and, more importantly, Tratain. "It allows any member to be located and, to some degree, controlled by whoever their Coin is bound to. If you'll recall, Gargul altered mine to protect me. A protection that I'm not entirely confident will be absolute now that they are aware of my duplicity."
"You saw what was happening to me without mine. Without one of your own, the same will happen to you. If the Coin leaves your body, you have mere minutes to live. Likely much less. There are certain benefits that come with it, although they vary depending on the individual." Vran stares at Tratain's hand held within his own and shakes his head. "You need this Coin. It has Gargul's protection, however weak that may be now. And the last thing that you need is to be bonded to the Lord of the Dread. Which means I have two options and neither are particularly good: the first is that I simply let go of the Coin and accept the fate that I deserve; the second is that I take one of the Death Squad's Coins. It would work well enough to prevent me from dying. But it will lack any protection from Gargul."
"That decision I leave entirely in your hands, but there is some information that you need to know before you do... I believe now that the Dread was not aware of your where-abouts. They had attempted to discover your location previously, but every time the Diviner ended up frozen solid. They made me believe you were at risk and then followed me when I came to warn you. I was foolish enough to fall into their trap. But it presents us with a rather interesting opportunity..."
"I don't know if you are aware of how the Sons of Dread work, but it is a decentralized organization. The cells operate independently which makes it very difficult to put a stop to them. It could takes years to go around and kill each group. But right now, we've got a chance to cut off the head of the Sons. For the first time since the Sons of Dread were formed, all eight of the Dread Liches are gathered in a single place." He points to the Skycastle. "Up there are the eight liches responsible for nearly all of the activities undertaken in the name of the Sons of Dread. And if they're all there together, it means that they need new orders and going to summon the Lord of the Dread himself."
Plyf (AC:32 ; HP:114/134) 1 Magic Vestment, Greater Magic Weapon, Wednesday February 24th, 2010 9:58:27 AM
"There is a third choice not mentioned. We turn Vran back to stone so he does not degrade while Traiten uses Vran's coin?"
Echlhin AC 34 (Touch 28/34 vs. Incorp.) HP 190 of 191 d20+27=36 ; d20+21=25 ; Wednesday February 24th, 2010 7:14:27 PM
Unsure as to how to proceed, Echlhin first shifts his vision hoping to possibly perceive the bonds between the coin Tratain and Vran (threw in a spot check 36). He also uses his Sense Spirit ability to try and discern the connection.
If discernable or not he tries to determine if he is able to assist in the situation in some way (spell craft 25).
Feeling uncertain as to what else may be done under his own means, he begins to meditate, silently calling to Gargul for his assistance in the matter.
Vedik AC 24 (13 touch) HP 186/191 Character SheetSpells d20+18=33 ; d20+33=37 ; d20+33=41 ; Wednesday February 24th, 2010 9:17:27 PM
Vedik frowns.
"I've no more spells to put you to stone." He thinks for a moment. "Does the link travel across planar boundries? Could it the link be broken somehow?"
OOC: K: Arcana: 33 Spellcraft: 37 K: The Planes: 41
Contingency: Contingency: If enemy begins to cast disjunction: DDoor 1000' feet straight up. Magic Vestment x2 (40 hours, cast in morning) Ring of Counterspell: G. Dispel Magic
TratainCurrent Spells AC 47 HP 207/211 Wednesday February 24th, 2010 10:26:03 PM
Tratain says "Well, you just letting go of the coin is right out, I will not allow that. Just touching the coin forms a link? Is there any way to break it?"
He continues "What does dangers to myself an the group does this now present? You said the person on the other end of the bond with the coin gains power over who holds the coin? What can they do? If you can use the coins from one of the death squad members would I be able to as well?"
He finishes "Also, any information you have regarding that flying castle would be helpful. How many defenders would be there? The layout, can we teleport there or is travel blocked and any other dangers that await there would be helpful to know. Also the death squad members seemed different in this battle that the last, strange powers and such, do you know how they aquired them?"
Dwight hp 92/160, ac 33(touch 25) Wednesday February 24th, 2010 10:37:01 PM
Dwight worries about the new connection Tratain has, if only Echlin had touched it, a connection with Gargul wouldn't hurt him
"I wisssh I had a sssuggessstion. Vran, would the Dread know you had a different coin? If not, we might be able to sssay the Sssquad had a sole survivor after defeating the Knight and then 'report' to the lichesss as the Sssquad likely had plansss to do. "
"Also," as an aside, "do the coins require a physical touch, or would gloves, gauntlets provide protection? I ask, because while EXTREMELY dangerous, we could use their coins as a weapon against them. If they were say 'hit' with a coin, they would then be required to hold two coins. As the coin fell, they would begin suffering immediatelly. Am I thinking of this correctly?"
OOC: Dwight is thinking he might be able to use the coins as a weapon, while he wants to avoid physical contact, would encasing a coin, say inside a clay arrow head, be safe (according to Vran)? The clay would break upon impact, allowing the coin to touch the person --- effects would then be dependent upon how the coin works, but based on what Dwight knows, it could be instantly bad. Dwight will ask questions of Vran to see if this is possible. Lastly, Dwight has Nolzurs Marvelous Pigment which allows for the creation of generic/cheap items.
More Talking, with Answers [DM Jeff] Thursday February 25th, 2010 3:42:07 AM
Vran nods his head at the thoughts of the Knights, although in no particular order. [I've tried to answer everything, if I missed something, lemmie know. I will be happy to answer any and all questions you have. But I'll also be happy to shut up and let you get on with the module if that is what you'd prefer]
Echlhin's Questions
Echlhin's Sense Spirit attempts to discover more information about Tratain's condition and the results aren't good. The situation is similar to when Vran appeared to the Knights, his soul clearly missing. It seems that Tratain's and Vran's souls are both lacking something. It is difficult to tell exactly what that something is, but Echlhin can tell that whatever it is, it has been placed in the Coin.
As for Gargul... The God seems silent on the matter.
Vedik's Questions
"The Lord of the Dread himself is not on this plane. So it is likely that interplanar travel would not help. As for breaking the link, it is outside of my powers. And you'll recall that Gargul himself didn't remove it. Perhaps he didn't want to get involved in a fight with another God over me. You, on the other hand, are the Gray Knights." He pauses for a moment. "Another way to eliminate the link would be to kill the Lord of the Dread... The magic is tied directly to the controller."
Tratain's Questions
"The coins aren't bonded particularly to the individual. Either of us could use one of the extras and our lives would be spared. But using any coin other than this one, and perhaps even this one too, will result in two immediate problems. The first is that one of the Dread Liches will instantly know where the Coin is. And if you're planning on assaulting them, you lose the element of surprise. The bigger problem is that they would start sending commands to you through the Coin. Not just simple requests, but orders that you would have to struggle to disobey." He glances over at the coins laying on the ground where MOM left them with a curious look in his eye. "That being said, the Coins don't transmit back information on who is holding them. So if one of us were to pick up those other coins, the Lich on the other side would have no way of telling that it wasn't one of their henchmen."
He looks up to the Skycastle. "I don't know a lot about the castle. I would suggest not teleporting up, because you don't know who will be there where you appear... And at the moment, there are at least eight very powerful Liches there. Likely some of their henchmen or guards, although probably not too many since there is a very delicate balance of power between all the Liches and they don't trust each other very much."
Finally, on Tratain's concern about the Death Squad. "As I understand it, they were punished rather severely for their failure to eliminate you last time. They were then tasked with finishing the job and it was made clear that failure again would not be permitted. The Sons of Dread have access to some incredibly... evil magics. I believe that they, knowing some of your tactics, sought out individuals with abilities that would prove useful in a fight against you: they were talking about Athers and Ciphers. I only found out afterwards... If I had known before, I would have tried to stop them. The way that they drained the abilities out and those heroes. There were hardly even bodies left."
Dwight's Questions
A smile almost seems to appear on Vran's face as Dwight speaks. "You are a creative individual... I would not suggest picking up the coins in any way that was connected to you. Their powers are incredibly strong. As for their use as a weapon, I think it would only really be helpful if they weren't already connected to one of the Coins. And even then, I know that they have to be alive. So the Coins couldn't be used against liches or the Dread himself. But as for the rest of it, I don't know."
TratainCurrent Spells AC 47 HP 207/211 Thursday February 25th, 2010 10:10:55 PM
Tratain says "If you don't mind using one of the other Dread Coins for a little while Vran, I'll hold onto this one while we go confront the Dread. We'll need a way up there and we'll need to make sure everyone is healed and ready to go with all of the protections we can offer. Its time we took the fight to them now."
Plyf (AC:32 ; HP:114/134) 1 Magic Vestment, Greater Magic Weapon, Thursday February 25th, 2010 10:37:59 PM
Plyf looks worried, "What if Vran is controlled and forced to fight us? It would be a shame for us to have to kill him. I hate to say it, but perhaps he has done all he can and Gargul has seen to it by your actions."
Plyf isn't condemning anyone, just presenting the fact that gods control mortals on a whim and why else would an other wise reasonable and intelligent adventurer, experienced in the ways of evil, do something so out of character, if not forced by the gods themselves?
Vedik AC 24 (13 touch) HP 186/191 Character SheetSpells d20+16=35 ; Friday February 26th, 2010 8:17:45 AM
Vedik nods. "So be it. Let's bring the fight to them. Remember, when we face the Liches, hit them hard and fast. Spread out somewhat to avoid their area spells. But above all we must hit them hard quickly. If they get the initiative in the fight we are done. We need them responding to our actions, not us responding to theirs."
"Liches are more vunerable to bludgeoning weapons. Don't bother with frost, lightning, or mind attacks. The good news is generally undead can not take a huge amount of damage. Nothing near what that barbarian took."
"Monthor, ever been a Stone Giant?" He smirks slightly.
OOC: K: Religion: To recall the details on Liches.
Contingency: Contingency: If enemy begins to cast disjunction: DDoor 1000' feet straight up. Magic Vestment x2 (40 hours, cast in morning) Ring of Counterspell: G. Dispel Magic
Echlhin AC 34 (Touch 28/34 vs. Incorp.) HP 190 of 191 Friday February 26th, 2010 9:02:15 AM
Echlhin checks on Vigo (DM decision on this?) and preps a spell into his staff
DM Jeff: The way it happened, I say Vigo stays alive. But keep in mind, that won't always be the case. If it is on the battlefield, it will be a target. And as you may have discovered, Dan and I have some tricks up our sleeves. :P
Monthor Hit Points:(213 of 213) AC 44 Friday February 26th, 2010 1:45:15 PM
Monthor nods. "Let's quit yapping and get on with this. Shirley's getting anxious."
Troy subbing for Yves
Dwight hp 92/160, ac 33(touch 25) 2d8+5=20 ; 2d8+5=14 ; 2d8+5=15 ; 2d8+5=16 ; 2d8+5=17 ; Friday February 26th, 2010 5:54:23 PM
Dwight has a worried look on his face as he realizes more battle is looming close. He nods, at Tratain's decision, ready with his broom, his bow, and as much luck as he has remaining.
(fully healed from several posts ago, just didn't know what to roll.)
Plyf (AC:32 ; HP:114/134) 1 Magic Vestment, Greater Magic Weapon, Friday February 26th, 2010 11:13:05 PM
Plyf shrugs her shoulders. She as ready as ever and willing to take down some undead. She thinks of her secret weapon and hopes she has a chance to use it.
More Talking, with Answers [DM Jeff] Monday March 1st, 2010 1:47:19 AM
[Won't be posting tonight. Feeling lousy. Will get a post up sometime tomorrow, but feel free to figure out what you're all up to with the Castle and such. Assume Vran's willingness and so-forth regarding the coin.]
Plyf (AC:32 ; HP:134/134) 1 Magic Vestment, Greater Magic Weapon, Monday March 1st, 2010 4:15:05 PM
It seems Plyf has nothing better to do so she will use her mental faculties to record what she can about the present and the recent past. If she lives through this, her fame will grow like a torch thrown in a barn at harvest time. If she doesn't? Well, maybe Gargul will bless her with a happy afterlife. Some tavern in The Realm of Shadows, where her drinks are bought and the food is plentiful. never needing to rest and composing songs for eternity...
Well, she has to work for all of that and no one should assume they have done enough to earn their dream afterlife.
She just smiles at the group and even at Vran. It may seem somewhat inappropriate, but she just can't resist. How can she feel bad for the ex-Dread member? At least he has done something to make amends.
Dwight hp 92/160, ac 33(touch 25) Monday March 1st, 2010 8:26:58 PM
Dwight speaks with Plyf about tactics. "We ssshould ssstay on opposssite sssides of, that way at leassst one of usss ssshould have a ssshot each round. Not sssure how effect my arrowsss will be againssst undead, but we will know sssoon enough."
To Earn Your Wings... [DM Jeff] Tuesday March 2nd, 2010 3:00:46 AM
The Knights, having dealt with Liches before, know all the standard details about the creatures. As for the Dread Liches or the Lord of the Dread, only the tiniest rumors support the idea of them existing. This missions is going to be blind in more ways than one.
---
Vran leans down and picks up one of the other Dread coins. As he releases the protected one, Echlhin watches the strange soul-transfer complete itself. Both Vran and Tratain seem empty shadows of themselves, held together only by the tiny bit of mental in their hands. The Knights brace for Vran to lose control and after a few tense seconds, after nothing has happened, everyone relaxes.
"As I suspected... All I can sense from this coin is confusion. And a repeated command to 'return', but there is no compulsion to do so." Vran says to the Knights. Tratain, unsure of how the Coin works, feels nothing similar. In fact, if anything, Tratain feels more empowered than he did before. The Protector has always had the touch of Domi within him, but now he also feels the cold embrace of Gargul. "The closer I get to the commander, the more influence that they will have."
"One last thing. You may be wondering what exactly I've been doing within the Sons of Dread. I've been taking orders from someone who I believe some of you know of? If there was time enough to get him a message, he might be able to rally more forces to help with this assault, but we've no clue when their Castle will disappear again... I've been working with the Dragon Consortium: Valdor Dragonstone, to be precise. He has been attempting to find a way to strike at the Lord of the Dread for a long time now. I informed him that you had drawn the eye of the Dread and he told me to pass on this message: Succeed here and you will be Dragons."
Plyf (AC:32 ; HP:134/134) 1 Magic Vestment, Greater Magic Weapon, Tuesday March 2nd, 2010 5:02:09 PM
Plyf nods in agreement at Dwights suggestion. "We can focus on any nonundead we run into and utilize our Sneak attacks, if the opportunity presents itself."
Dwight hp 160/160, ac 33(touch 25) Tuesday March 2nd, 2010 8:47:00 PM
"Sssure, assssssuming thessse leadersss allow any of our kind around them."
"Now, getting up to the cassstle. I could fly on my broom, perhapsss with one other."
"Tratain, any sssuggessstionsss before we attempt thisss epic battle?"
TratainCurrent Spells AC 47 HP 207/211 Tuesday March 2nd, 2010 9:34:04 PM
Tratain says "We'll need some way to get all of us up there to the castle. We also need to have all of our defenses prepared before we go up there. I have protected us from Fire, Vedik can you use the stoneskin wand on us. I will also use our death ward wand on us and don't we have an invisibility wand? It may not help us against the Lich's but it may keep whatever they have keeping watch from seeing us."
Echlhin AC 34 (Touch 28/34 vs. Incorp.) HP 190 of 191 Tuesday March 2nd, 2010 9:57:55 PM
Echlhin will cast his Fire Seeds spell when the time is right (duration 180 minutes), after all of the other preparations have been made.
(Not sure of travel times to get there, etc. For example if we take a method that appears it will take 2 hours to get there, he will wait. But for example if we are going to teleport, he will cast it before the teleport)
Plyf (AC:32 ; HP:134/134) 1 Magic Vestment, Greater Magic Weapon, Tuesday March 2nd, 2010 10:00:04 PM
Plyf waves her wand of Greater Invisibility between her index finger and her thumbe, with a smile, "Why yes. Yes we do."
MonthorHit Points:(213 of 213) AC 44 Wednesday March 3rd, 2010 7:10:37 AM
We need to be warded against possession somehow as well. Me'd hate to have to knock one of ye out because a beasty took ye over.
Vedik AC 24 (13 touch) HP 186/191 Character SheetSpells Wednesday March 3rd, 2010 10:43:26 AM
"Let's fly up under it, it's probably an easier approach. Vran, any thoughts on what direction to approach from? How many entrances are there? Which are likely to be least guarded?"
He uses the stoneskin wand on everyone. He then looks around for a large slab of stone, metal, or even a large tree, up to 36 cubic feet. If he can find one he casts shrink item on it, turning it into cloth.
Contingency: Contingency: If enemy begins to cast disjunction: DDoor 1000' feet straight up. Magic Vestment x2 (40 hours, cast in morning) Stoneskin (CL 15, 150 minutes. Cast before attack) Ring of Counterspell: G. Dispel Magic
Dwight hp 160/160, ac 33(touch 25) Wednesday March 3rd, 2010 10:00:32 PM
Dwight accepts all the preventative and protection type of spells knowing this is going to be a very tough battle.
"Bessst we call in any divine favorsss, we are likely to need them."
OOC: Any word on "Monthor"?
MonthorHit Points:(213 of 213) AC 44 Wednesday March 3rd, 2010 10:28:47 PM
ooc>Monthor's back.
... First You Must Fly [DM Jeff] Thursday March 4th, 2010 4:06:55 AM
The journey up to the Skycastle shouldn't take more than half hour of flying. The Knights all prepare for heading up. Echlhin with Fire Seds. Vedik with Stoneskin. Plyf has her Invisibility wand. And Vedik also gets a big ol' tree and shrinks it.
"It's best not to think of it as a flying castle. Think of it as a flying chunk of land that happens to have a castle on a part of it. I would not be surprised to find a small forest or lake up there as well. The direction that we approach from is likely not going to make a big difference. If they know we're coming, anywhere will be dangerous. And if they don't, then there is the element of surprise on our side." Vran says while staring upward. The Knights notice that he has cast his own fly spell and is ready to go.
Just as the Knights are attempting to head up, MOM reappears. The Teucri guardian appears to be smiling and holds out the burnt out Star Crystal that the Knights so recently replaced. "Hopefully, this will come in handy... I was able to manipulate the remaining magic within the Crystal so that it will give you a one-use stasis field. It will create a rest area for you. Which is only useful because of the second effect: it will dramatically speed up your personal perceptions of time. Seconds will go by for everyone else, but you will experience ten hours. Should you need an opportunity to rest, this will serve you quite well. And I've included some goodies that should be helpful, but the magic is not the most stable. I doubt that it will survive for more than a day. And don't try to alter it with your own magic. There's no telling what the consequence would be in poking around with such unstable magic."
[Looking into the Crystal, the Knights can see that is has been transformed. Inside a shimmer tower that, even trapped within the Crystal, is awe inspired. Activating the Time Capsule requires a full minute. There is an indentation on the top of it where someone's hand will go to start the activation process. Each person who wishes to be affected by the magic must be touching either the crystal or the person who is activating it.]
---
When all their business on the ground is sorted out, the Knights and Vran begin to fly. Seconds pass into minutes and the Knights get a feel for just how isolated this valley is. For miles and miles is simple forest. How calm a life these people must have had before. But the attention is focused above as Vran's description of the Skycastle seems more and more accurate the higher the Knights get. It is as if someone tore a part of the Wold out and put it in the sky.
Vran directs the group to fly directly beneath the floating land. From here, the Knights are close enough to touch it... "What now?" The old man asks of the group.
Plyf (AC:32 ; HP:134/134) 1 Magic Vestment, Greater Magic Weapon, d20+24=40 ; d20+24=40 ; d20+24=29 ; d20+24=39 ; d20+24=30 ; Thursday March 4th, 2010 8:04:49 AM
Plyf removes her belt before she attempts to use her wand and begins with Tratain, then Echlhin, Dwight, Monthor, then herself.
"Shall we hold hands so we know where we are?"
Dwight hp 160/160, ac 33(touch 25) Thursday March 4th, 2010 9:39:20 PM
Before departing, Dwight tells MoM of the dangers of the coins and suggest that he makes sure that none of the villagers come into contact with the coins. We will return to find a way to destroy them once the island has been taken care of.
------
Dwight looks to Vran, "Honessstly, knowing the shortest path to where a lich isss likely resssting would be helpful. If we can find a lich alone, or at leassst not with the other lichesss, that might allow usss to ussse our element of sssurprissse to the fullessst. Any chance that coin of yoursss worksss both waysss; can you trace the path to the coinsss' lich?"
"Without that, I'd sssay, off to the grand hall?"
"Tratain, thoughtsss?," he says to all the empty space around him.
TratainCurrent Spells AC 47 HP 207/211 Thursday March 4th, 2010 10:46:59 PM
Tratain says "Now that we are here we need to be very careful. Plyf and Vedik can the two of you fly up and try and find us a safe place to land? remember when we attacked the gate though, that they had some kind of magic set up that told everyone in that camp exactly where we were and that we didn't belong. Keep an eye out for something like that and see if there is a way to disable it. Once we've found a safe place to land we can move inward towards the castle."
Vedik AC 24 (13 touch) HP 186/191 Character SheetSpells d20+31=42 ; d20+31=35 ; d20+31=45 ; Thursday March 4th, 2010 11:16:24 PM
Vedik nods. "Let's go" he says to Plyf, and moves slowly up over the edge, trying to find a place that will give him some cover. Once there he casts detect magic and scans the area looking for auras.
OOC: Move up over edge, cast detect magic. Detect magic spellcraft checks: 42, 35, 45
Contingency: Contingency: If enemy begins to cast disjunction: DDoor 1000' feet straight up. Magic Vestment x2 (40 hours, cast in morning) Stoneskin (CL 15, 150 minutes. Cast before attack) Ring of Counterspell: G. Dispel Magic
Plyf (AC:32 ; HP:134/134) 1 Magic Vestment, Greater Magic Weapon, Friday March 5th, 2010 9:05:26 AM
Plyf leaves with Tratain after she too casts Detect Magic.
Cast Detect Magic
0-8/ 1
1-6/ 0
MonthorHit Points:(213 of 213) AC 44 Friday March 5th, 2010 2:07:28 PM
Works for me....
ooc> Who's got the Star Crystal? I'm noting the following additional buffs: GMA- shield GMW- Shirley protection from fire (30) Stone skin Death ward fly {?} Greater invisibility {?} Am I missing anything?
Note: They could still have some other detection abilities of course. How are we getting there? Monthor's winged boots may be able to get him there. He does have two charges left on the helm of teleportation but I'd prefer not to use those up if we can help it.
Dwight hp 160/160, ac 33(touch 25) Sunday March 7th, 2010 10:44:43 PM
Dwight awaits the return of those searching with Detect Magic.
OOC: I propose Vedik holds it. He provides the greatest ability in using it should TPK be occuring.
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