DM Cayzle - Hardly a Meeting, and Quite a Meeting! Friday April 23rd, 2010 7:39:47 AM
Garret is alert to possible trouble; he listens to Hmark give the warning and gets out his sling. Sjurd gives Hmark a light and is ready to cast a spell. Zeph too is ready with magic.
You hear clearly some movement ahead, and a minute in, a lizard head pokes around and takes a peek. He's maybe 30 feet away. Immediately, he gets bonked with a sling bullet and a stiff breeze whips up. Maybe he sees or hears Zeph cast his spell too. The lizardman, one of the short ones, ducks back and you hear the sound of feet hitting the floor and going away.
That's it for now. At least a half hour goes by with no more to report.
==========
Jet drinks a potion (yup, fine) hands the prisoner into Keela's care, and moves with Alexi forward.
Keela talks to the ratman leader, who is squinting and blinking. "Not ratman magic," she says. Keela keeps 20 feet behind.
Alexi babbles about something, then quiets down and sneaks with Jet to see what's up ahead.
Charek chides his friend gently, and Gruemor leads the two forward before the bats return.
In the middle of a bend in a cavern, Gruemor and Charek come face to face with Alexi and Jet! Please do describe yourselves, and post appropriately.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Friday April 23rd, 2010 7:54:51 AM
Garret says, "Well, that will be their scout, and he's sure to return with many more quite soon. Think we can withstand a full assault here in the tunnel? Is there a good narrow point that will force them to come at us one at a time? Or shall we move and retreat now to confuse them when they arrive?"
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 16/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Friday April 23rd, 2010 10:47:03 AM
Jet is a large, barrel chested man standing just over six feet tall. His visored helm is shut and from underneath the helm grows long black, curly, tangled hair. His plate armor has spikes protruding from it at various angles, which would likely be used for grappling, as well, he carries a buckler and two handed sword in his hands. Normally, his armor would be shiney and polished, but at the moment, he is covered in gore and blood from battle. One might think, is that brain matter splattered across his chest and arms? and they would be correct! He wears a tabard, with some kind of device upon it, but the gore is to much to see legibly without a serious spot check.
Highlight to display spoiler: { All the Woldian gods are depicted upon his chest in a circle, like a pie chart. Equal on all sides.}
Jet did not expect to see this and is in no mood for nonsense so he steps out past Alexi while whispering in his ear, "Say nothing of our plight, we don't know who or what they are." Once in view, Jet gives as well a greeting as he can at this moment, "My name is Jet Stormway! The corridor you are entering is protected territory. State your business and be fast about it, unless you have some whiskey or ale with you, then feel free to throw that over here and take your time talking."
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 16/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon d20+7=26 ; d20+5=20 ; Friday April 23rd, 2010 11:33:34 AM
Diplomacy: 26 (natual 19)
Sense Motive on a Hunch: 20
Just in case... :)
Gruemor Blackhammer AC 17 : HP 47 Friday April 23rd, 2010 1:52:29 PM
Looking up to see 2 humans, armored for war, covered in gore, Gruemor takes a couple steps back.
And looks hard at the two as the one speaks. And noticing the tabard, aside from its dirtyness, brings a smile to his face. Pulling out his own holy symbol, he wears around his neck on a piece of chain, Gruemor displays the symbol of Alemi with pride.
Standing before you is a short, yet portly dwarf. Hair kept loose, and long, about waist in length, and his beard is long enoug to be tucked in to his waist belt. Both hair and beard are black as night, dripping with water. Wearing banded armor and sporting a light crossbow. Which also glistens with water.
cover your axe brother lest you keep the humans blinded. His eyes are of the same color, if you could see them, which I am sure you will be able to once his companion covers his axe.
As for the mention of booze, another smile broadens the dwarf's face and out comes a skin, brimming mostly full. (hey, I am a dwarf for pete's sake) Try this stranger. Made it meself not but a month ago. Not my best but close, he says as he tosses it over to the lad. As for why we are here, I could ask you the same. Why are You here in my cousins' tunnels? Where is he and the others. We have news for him and him first so instead of standing here, waiting for godknowswhat to come jumping at us, let us walk and talk and drink, (another smile) and get to the safety of ....... Midsentence Gruemor turns to Charek saying, brother, do you recognize these two? They remind me of two of the people Katarina told us about.
Looking back at the gooey human, Gruemor inquires, There were others with you, are they with Dwain?
Hmark Friday April 23rd, 2010 4:40:13 PM
Hmark nods at Garret's assessment. "Yeah, he went back to bring some help." The lad considers how long it took him to get here. "Which should give us a few hours anyway."
The archer looks around at the dwarves. "Don't suppose there's a nice long, narrow passageway around here. If we could get some torches or light spells up, and get a hundred feet or so of me being able to see them, and then a trap or two to slow 'em down, well, I could make that an awful long walk."
Charek AC 24; HP 47/47 Friday April 23rd, 2010 4:59:17 PM
At Gruemor's prompting Charek covers his ax and replaces it at his back in a move that leaves no doubt as to his proficiency with said weapon and them moves up next to his friend. He too is litterally still wet behind the ears and dripping with water for his recent emersion.
Charek has nearly black wavy hair with dusky grey skin, and at 4'5", is a good sized dwarf His black wavy hair which due to his accident and scarring doesn't grow over his ears is kept fairly long in the back, plaited in warrior's braids. His beard is quite a bit different from most dwarven beards as well. Because of his accident Charek's beard will not grow along his cheeks or neck, so he has a nicely shaped and plaited mustache and long goatee. Where once he would have been considered quite handsome by the young ladies, the scars that cover his body and face have created a young man, while upbeat and positive, is a bit reticent and shy. His scars cover most of his body from head to toe and can be quite off putting to those who first meet him. There is now an ax strapped to his back and a mithril buckler on his arm that shows a silver anvil surrounded by gold flames in its center.
"Why are we here? Now that is a long and thirsty tale. But boiled down into a bite sized piece we were sent to aid the dwarves and folks of my families mine."
Sjurd Friday April 23rd, 2010 10:12:23 PM
"I need to replenish my spells und cannot stay at the front all night. Ve may have to prepare a fire in a narrow portion of the tunnel. The smoke vould drift upvard to the tunnel entrance und delay the lizardmen. It vill deplete the air in the tunnel, but the cave netvork is extensive. Or vhatever you prefer, but please do not let me be murdered in my sleep, yes?" Sjurd and Uli then retire back to the campsite to sleep. Uli dutifully watches guard over his master.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:31/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Friday April 23rd, 2010 10:57:08 PM
Alexi, standing next to Jet, exhales, "Bat Beard's Ghost! Two dwarves as drenched as a drowning rat! Is this what happens when you go through a bat cave?" Alexi sniffs the air to see if he catches a whiff of bat pee.
Alexi, a 5'9" tall human, wears a suit of Full Plate armor, which wears a suit of bloody gore. The armor is devoid of any symbols or emblems, but on his steel shield the two see a painting of a wolf head, jaws snarling. Above the wolf head is the symbol of the Mailed Fist.
Knowledge (history) DC10 Highlight to display spoiler: { Mailed Fist: an elite mercenary army, feared by some, respected by all. See description under Woldian Organizations.}
Alexi holds a still bloodied londsword and arrayed about his person is a flail, hand axe, dagger, and composite short bow. A dark cloak hangs off his back and the stubble of a 3-day old beard darkens a well tanned face.
DM Cayzle - Extra Saturday April 24th, 2010 5:21:23 AM
Feel free to post more often if you are so moved this weekend.
Keela Mage Armor [hp 18/29] Saturday April 24th, 2010 10:42:13 PM
Keela stays out of sight, and keeps a firm grip on the prisoner's ropes.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 16/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Sunday April 25th, 2010 9:52:18 PM
Jet opens his visor to reveal a large white smile. A face with blood upon it can be seen, but only the nose, eyes and teeth. A black bushy beard covers the rest. He smells the flask and takes a drink. Likely better then mushroom wine for certain but it could have set another few months before being casked. Time restraints be cursed though, if I were given the word to move out, like we were, we would cask what we had too. Jet passes the flask to Alexi and looks around with his rod.
"Where do the bats exit through? Surely they do not swim in water to get outside?"
"Dwain is one of a few major partners in Bryn Baraz, but we all answer to the Task Master Garth. That is who we work for. Our small scouting party had a battle with these rat people. Come, we will lead you back through. Do not disturb them and we will bring this shaman back as our guest, for Garth to decide on if they should get their valuables back."
If the shaman starts to protest Jet will simply add, "If you don't return with us, there is no chance of you getting your weapons or magic back. We will let you go now and tell you, a lot of us will be back through. Do not be aggressive with us again and no more will be harmed." Jet unties her. If she does not return with us, they can all go and hide in another hole somewhere. The point was made.
DM Cayzle - Nearly There Monday April 26th, 2010 7:34:02 AM
Garret warns that the enemy will be coming. Hmark agrees and looks for a place to set up a defense. Sjurd suggests a fire, but he goes to sleep, exhausted and needing to recharge his batteries. Hmark notes a place with a decent (60-foot) line of sight, but that's the best he can find outside the main cave in which the refugees have taken shelter.
In fact, some time passes without lizardish intrusion. But soon there is sound and light coming from the other direction. After a long time away, it sounds like your scouts -- or something else? -- are coming.
==========
Jet challenges the dwarves, in a friendly way. Gruemor says they are looking for their kin, and mentions Dwain! Charek puts away his weapon and confirms what his friend has said. Alexi makes a pee joke, and Keela stays in the background. Jet seems to trust these two, since he them leads the group back, and unties the ratman leader.
The dwarves see that these three humans have a captive -- a bedraggled female rat-person. Her head is ratlike, and her body has a kind of hunched humanoid shape, with fur. When she is freed, she runs off, towards the caves of her people. Observers might get the idea that she intends to go to earth and stay there.
Soon, you are near to the cave with the pond where you left the refugees.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] d20+9=21 ; d3=3 ; Monday April 26th, 2010 8:32:56 AM
Garret says, "Well, I hope this is your scouts returning...but if not..." He starts his sling spinning again, preparing for an attack.
-----
Prepared action: Attack a lizardman that comes into view. Hit AC 21 Dam: 3
Sjurd Monday April 26th, 2010 9:26:54 AM
OOC: Has Sjurd slept long enough to replenish his spells?
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 d20+12=18 ; d20+12=28 ; d20+9=13 ; d20+9=19 ; Monday April 26th, 2010 9:57:26 AM
Zeph holds his Schocking Grasp charge in his hand and his Spiked Chain in his other, he crouches, ready to see what shows up.(Move silent =18. hide =28. listen =13, spot =19)
Zeph hopes that whatever shows up, if it is hostile, gets within 30feet of him so he can charge it and surprise it with one heck of a precise static discharge.
Hmark Monday April 26th, 2010 10:44:38 AM
Hmark places an Everburning Torch 40' down the corridor he's found, so that he can see any approaching lizardmen as far away as possible. Then, he tries to take a quick, hour-long nap.
He awakens with his companion's preparations. "Can't be lizardmen," he muses. "Or dwarves. They wouldn't need the light." The archer readies his bow, and waits.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Monday April 26th, 2010 4:53:04 PM
Jet would call out to the camp as they approch. "Send for Dwain. It seems we found some of his kin folk."
He is kind of mad he used that nice healing potion without necessity, but as Wardd would have it, he would have needed it if he hadn't used it.
He does not wait to shoo away women and children when he gets to the waters edge and starts to strip off his armor, down to his loin cloth and submerges himself in the water with a gasp as the wounds he still has seeps out the beginnings of infection. It will be tomorrow before he can heal them and he will let the other priests tend to Alexi and Keela as they need. For now, Jet just washes the gore first from his body, then his armor, before he reports to Garth on the rat people and "silver" weapons that were found. Including the magic.
As far as he knows. The tunnel they used is still caved in and secure. Let alone, they have guests from that direction...
DM Cayzle - Extra Monday April 26th, 2010 7:38:25 PM
Oh, although you do not know for sure, it seems likely that there is an exit from the bat cave that can only be reached by flying.
Sjurd Monday April 26th, 2010 9:14:48 PM
OOC: Hey Cayzle! Sjurd could fly up there if he knew if his spells had been replenished... :)
DM Cayzle - Extra Monday April 26th, 2010 10:08:07 PM
Sorry, it is not morning. Maybe it is 8 pm when the prodigals returneth, dwarves in tow.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:31/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Monday April 26th, 2010 11:00:14 PM
OOC: AHA! Sjurd could transform into a bat, kill the bat leader and proclaim himself Bat King, then order the other bats, large and small, to carry us up and out! Now THAT'S role playing, eh?
IC: While Jet goes almost-skinny dipping, Alexi leads the others to Garth and Dwain. "Keela, why don't you go see the clerics and get some of those scratches seen to. You don't want to scare your niece and nephew with them," he says smiling, but very much relieved she is ok.
When the two dwarves meet Dwain, Alexi heads to Garth. "Jet can give you a better report, but the jist is that we found a way out, sort of, and the Ratmen. Some good diplomacy with the Ratmen may gain us safe access to the cave with the exit, but from there, we either swim like the two dwarves, or find the exit the bats use."
"Or, keep exploring for another exit, if we have time."
Alexi then goes to see the cleirics, seeking out Mikal, for some healing.
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 Monday April 26th, 2010 11:02:50 PM
Zeph waits in silence, in the dark...
Keela Mage Armor [hp 18/29] Monday April 26th, 2010 11:44:43 PM
"Hello," Keela greets the two dwarves as they approach.
Keela is a human woman, rather ordinary-looking, with brown hair and brown eyes. She wears a dark-grey skirt, divided for riding, and a well-made shirt of forest green. Two wands are thrust into her belt. She doesn't speak much, seeming to defer to others for decisions.
When they reach camp, she sighs a little as Jet begins his performance. "I have a Prestidigitation prepared," she remarks to noone in particular.
She hovers nearby as Gruemor and Charek are introduced. She is curious to hear their story.
DM Cayzle - All Together Now Tuesday April 27th, 2010 6:43:31 AM Sjurd, Hmark, Garret, and Zeph see that the light approaching is indeed the scouts returning. And they have two dwarves with them.
Jet matter-of-factly washes off and goes to report to Garth. As he is dousing himself, Dwain approaches the two dwarves. "Can it be? Is this Gruemor, my cousin?" Grinning, he embraces Gruemor hugely. He turns to Charek. "Dwain, founder of Bryn Baraz, such as it is, at your service."
Clearly this is a meeting of friends.
Gruemor and Charek see a crude camp with several dozen humans set up in a large cavern, along with almost a dozen dwarves. The cavern has a pond -- the one Jet is washing in.
Keela stands ready to use her magic to clean people off, but Jet has jumped the gun. Maybe the still-damp dwarves they brought here could use her help.
Alexi notices the four strangers clad in fighting gear. One of them is wearing a mask. Another has an exotic spiked chain readied as for attack. Another is a gnome.
Friends, we are indeed all together at last. Please feel free to continue roleplay to tell your stories and get to know each other.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Tuesday April 27th, 2010 9:18:33 AM
Garret stops slinging his stone as he sees the dwarves embrace. He eyes the new group carefully, glad they are not lizardmen.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Tuesday April 27th, 2010 9:39:28 AM
Jet thanks Keela, "but no thank you.. That spell.....tickles me." he points to his equipment though. That will help him clean up faster.
ooc: Pond? I thought we had a a underground river flowing through the cavern. Jet wouldn't have washed in the camps only source of fresh water if it was a stagnant, underground pond.
Jet gets dressed and greets everyone, still injured, but feeling better. He now wears his favorite T-shirt that reads, "In my world, I'm a 20th level cleric."
"So, we have reinforcements sent to us from the gods and more dwarves eh? Well, I say, we get these people out of here and then go lizard hunting. They messed with the wrong generic priest!"
"Tomorrow, let us go back again and scout out the area Dwains relatives know about. We have to get these people, either to that stone cave where the children were found, but that is a different direction from where we just were I believe OR back to Plateau City where they are completely safe. If we are going to make some serious enemies, we need to stay on the run as we hit our targets. I swear by all the gods, I will either bring that flying citidale back to the earth destroyed or I will one day sit in the commanders seat controlling it! Some day. .. "
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 Tuesday April 27th, 2010 10:02:04 AM
Zeph smiles when Jet proclaims that he wants to wreak havoc on the lizardfolk way of life.
He stands, smiling, but keeping a wary eye towards the mouth of the cave where he spotted the Lizard scout.
"I like the cut of your jib, man. We were sent here as reinforcements. Not sure how much help we can be, but nonetheless we are here. I think that the lizardfolk sent a scout in here a little while ago and spotted us. SO, they know where we are hiding. Whether they will attack soon or not is up for debate, but we have several traps all the way from us to them, so we are sure to hear something if they approach... but yeah, Lizard-hunting sounds like a good old time... but what about the civilians?" Zeph inquires, worried first about the safety of the non-military personelle.
Hmark Tuesday April 27th, 2010 10:54:41 AM
Taking in the exchange between Jet and Zeph, Hmark leans over and remarks to Garret, "Oh, great. Now there's two of them." Lifting his head, the young man gives Zeph a wink.
Short for a human, and lanky, the brown eyed man almost passes for a half-elf. He waves a hand at the incoming scouts. "I'm Hmark," he states plainly, the 'H' of his name just a quick whisper of sound before 'Mark'.
Use his large, red compound bow as a pointer, he indicates the tunnels leading back toward the village. "Like Zeph said, we could have unwelcome company any hminute now. If you guys found a way out, it hmight be a good time to hmove the kids and ladies along."
Sjurd Tuesday April 27th, 2010 11:37:05 AM
Hearing the party of scouts enter the cavern, Sjurd wakes from sleep and studies the new group. Uli narrows his eyes at the sight of additional dwarves. He listens to Jet and Zeph converse and lets out a small sigh. "Skitur. Utlit eins og vid hafa fleiri hetja."
Giantish Highlight to display spoiler: {"Crap. Now we have more heroes."}
As he stands, you see he is of average height but lanky, wearing a mix of brown leather and green wool. A loose-hanging cloak is draped over his shoulders. On his face he wears a dark wooden mask, perhaps mahogany or deeply-stained oak, fashioned into a leering muse. You may notice that not an inch of skin is showing past his clothing. His movements appear tense and cautious. At his side is a thickly muscled warhound wearing chainmail barding. He walks slowly to his current traveling companions while two or three bright blue butterflies trail behind him.
Hmark: "Oh, great. Now there's two of them."
He speaks softly to not be overhead by the scouting party, "Vell, ve can always smother the new one in his sleep if he grows bothersome, yes? No sense in keeping him around. That is vhat you do vith sick cattle back home. Und the elderly."
He approaches the new party and raises a hand in greeting, "I am Sjurd, Druid of the Vold und Friend of the Green. I have come to investigate the disturbance caused by the lizardmen. I am not a reinforcement for you, but I am open to alliances of necessity. If you vould excuse me, I am going to return to rest und restore my spells." He begins to walk back to the camp, but then turns around one more time, pointing to his warhound, "This is Uli. Do not touch him, he vill bite you." He nods toward the scouting party then returns to his sleeping pallet and lies down.
Gruemor Blackhammer AC 17 : HP 47 Tuesday April 27th, 2010 11:59:05 AM Dwain, this here is Charek. A good friend of mine. With a good head on his shoulders to boot. His father, well, that is something for him to tell you.
After a time for Charek to respond, Gruemor inquires: so, cousin, what is the situation here? How dire is it? Can the mine be saved or is a larger force needed to reclaim it?
In response to Hmark's querry, Gruemor adds: Where we met Jet and Alexi, there was a bat cave with a pool of water, one that through a tunnel underneath leads to a safe place outside where we gained entrance. We have 2 companions, called Hunters, outside there standing guard with our animals. Through a spell or two we could administer a way for everyone to breathe underwater and get the non combatants out of here and off to a relative safety. Then, come back with reinforcements to defeat those lizard beasts and reclaim the mine. OR ...... waits for a response.
Gruemor Blackhammer AC 17 : HP 47 Tuesday April 27th, 2010 12:02:55 PM
A response in Giantish, directed at SjurdHighlight to display spoiler: { Oh crap, a treehugging granolahead }.
Sjurd Tuesday April 27th, 2010 12:24:01 PM
Sjurd , gives Gruemor a nod in approval at his understanding of the language, "Ert thu a hetja? Hetja deyja vanhugsad, svo fyrir thinn sok eg von ekki. Eg hafa seen fleiri vinatta deyja tilvera hetja en thu geta telja." He continues returning to his bed and lies down. As he settles into his blanket, he says aloud to the cavern ceiling, "Hver er sennilega ellefu."
Giantish Highlight to display spoiler: {"Are you a hero? Heroes die rashly, so for your sake I hope not. I have seen more friends die being heroes than you can count."}
Giantish Highlight to display spoiler: {"Which is probably eleven."}
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Tuesday April 27th, 2010 5:58:41 PM
Jet looks back and forth at all the new people that have decided to arrive. Then, his wounds, his empty stomach and his natiral nature takes over.
"Don't think you all are not appreciated, but some things had better be straightened out right now. Garth is the boss. If he doesn't know what to do, then I take over. For those of you smart enough to know more then one language I suggest you also learn some manners. If you don't have the loins to say something in common where everyone can hear, then take it into a dark corner somewhere so others are not distracted by it. If any of you have a desire to endanger any of these people, I will kill you just as surely as I killed those rat people back in the tunnels. If your not willing to do as you are directed by those that are responsible for these people, then just stay out of the way because the rest of us here..." He points to Keela, Alexi, Garth, etc..."have signed a contract under oath to do as we are told."
At this time, Jet addresses Garth, "I believe we should have these newcomers sign some form of contract to us anyway Sir! The lizard people had spell casters and any one of them could be a spy, polymorphed into what they appear to be now. I'm no Oath Bound, but I'm the closest thing to it here at the moment and that is good enough for me."
Yep, there it is. Jet is a jerk and although, he does not mean anything personal about it, he does feel he has made sound points on this very dangerous mission to save the reminants of Bryn Baraz.
Charek AC 24; HP 47/47 Tuesday April 27th, 2010 8:12:23 PM
Charek meets Dwain and passes on any messages from his dad and tries to get an update on who if anyone is missing and what the situation with the mine is.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:31/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Tuesday April 27th, 2010 10:38:45 PM
When Sjurd turns to leave and warns about his dog, Alexi grins and comments, "Oh, you and Fatine would get along REAL well. HER puppy is black, and climb cliffs, slice-n-dice with his front paws and disembowl with his rear ones."
OOC: curious? Fatine's puppy is a Highlight to display spoiler: { Puma! }
"Yep, what he said," Alexi commnets. "Excepting those two dwarves, who clearly seem to be relatives of Dwain, the rest of you need to pass a test of TRUTH. The Lizardmen wouldn't know anything about any relatives of us folk, but you people have no one here to vouch for you."
Alexi pauses a second before continuing, hoping his words sink in the right way. "Mind you, we are very appreciative of any help. But precautions can't be too many. You say you laid traps. Well, as much as we can tell, YOU may be the trap."
Alexi manner is not angry but stern. A sign of the stress they've all been under.
Alexi turns to Garth, "It be wise if you, Tarketh, and Dwain preside over the questioning. Bring each one into your tent, and, in front of the Stone of Truth, have them state their identities, what sent them here, and how did they find this place."
Whispering to Garth he adds, "Remember the attack on the caravan? I'd not be surprised this could be another trick from you-know-who to finish us off and get you-know-what."
DM Highlight to display spoiler: { the Stone of Truth can be Tarketh's artifact. If you think this 'inquiry' would take too long of playing time, ok. But it'd make sense that Garth wouldn't just trust anyone not lizardman that walked through the front door. :) }
Keela Mage Armor [hp 18/29] Tuesday April 27th, 2010 10:58:51 PM
"Keela Larch," says Keela softly, introducing herself. "Hello, Hmark. Hello, Sjurd." To those who haven't yet given their names, she gives a generic "Hello."
"Sjurd, if Uli really is dangerous, please keep him--her--please keep your dog away from the children."
DM Cayzle - Suspicions and Insults? Oh no! Wednesday April 28th, 2010 6:54:21 AM
And just like that, a meeting of strangers begins to take on overtones of negativity.
Garret is neutral, and silent. Why does he not introduce himself to these strangers? And what manner of being is he? No way to tell at this first glance.
Jet finishes his rinse-off, pondering the nature of moving water. This one here, for example, is larger than a stream, since it is deep enough and large enough to hide the beasts that attacked you the first night. It is moving, although not swiftly enough to present any threat of being swept away. And further down its course, when it narrows and exits, it becomes swifter and stronger. Jet emerges from his bath, thanks Keela for the offer of magical help in cleaning his gear, and greets everyone. He is enthusiastic about finding a secure base of operations for the refugees, although he also mentions the very long walk back to civilization. He seems set on vengeance against the lizard men.
His declaration pleases Zeph, who offers a friendly greeting and a complement. Zeph seems to share the same concerns, regarding the civilians, and regarding the lizard men.
Hmark adds a bit of a joke, further lightening the mood. Maybe this meeting of strangers will go well. He introduces himself, and also echoes Zeph's warning that some lizard men may be arriving soon.
Keela responds to Hmark with her own introduction, and greets everyone with kind, albeit quiet, words. Her concern for the little ones is clear.
But a somewhat grumpy Sjurd awakens long enough for a greeting and an offer of alliance. His side comments in another tongue, overheard by a new-comer dwarf who speaks the language, lead to a few pointed words -- but will these barbs turn to jests, or fester, maybe spoiling the chance for comity? Sjurd considers returning to his rest.
Gruemor offers some important information. But ends up trading unkind words with Sjurd. Before things can escalate, Dwain fills him in. "The situation is dire," he tells his kinsdwarf. "As we were, we stood no chance. Even with all this aid, I think we could not win against the flying city that we saw, were it turned in its totality against us. But I am loathe to give up on the mine, or on my revenge." He glances at Zeph.
Maybe the harshness of the unfamiliar words said by Sjurd and Gruemor trigger some negative thought in Jet, because suddenly he is more suspicious of the strangers he greeted kindly just moments ago. Nerves on alert, he puts forth the idea that the newcomers should swear that they are as they say they are.
Alexi, even more full of demands and paranoia, agrees and wishes for oaths to be said at once. Perhaps he does not realize that his words might rub potential allies the wrong way.
Garth looks over everyone and asks the (NPC) cleric and druid to heal and restore you. The dwarf cleric, Durak, adds that they are not polymorphed or magically disguised, so far as he could tell, not are they evil. Healing accomplished, Garth asks for more information, before oaths are sworn. "How did you find us?" he asks both the two dwarves and the four who came through Bryn Baraz. "What are you willing to do to help us, and for how long?"
[OOC from your patient DM: Now look here, kiddies! I haven't been welding plot lines together since February just to see you guys jump at each others' throats at the first chance you get. Yes, it might seem remarkable to Alexi and Jet that you all just showed up at the same moment, but the posting since the start of the game should have convinced the other characters that it all makes sense. Now your job is to explain how it happened and allay fears. And the ones who feel suspicious have to at least not resort to insults and calumny right out of the gate! Just some friendly advice from the DM who is working hard to knit this group together.]
Hmark Wednesday April 28th, 2010 9:33:03 AM
Hmark raises his eyes to the cavern wall and shakes his head in dismay. "Sweet Alemi," he sighs.
Dropping his eyes, he asks Jet, "You wouldn't be related to Kiel Longarm, would you?" The question is obviously rhetorical, as the young man's focus moves to Garth.
"Hme and Zeph and Garret came from Cinammon Valley. Zeph got a vision of folks needing help, and hme and Garret have been with him a while, and decided to tag along and help. We ran into hMr. Personality over there (Sjurd) in the Crying Wood, decided we liked him anyway, and then we four followed the big, red, floaty ball to the hmining town. We snuck in to the town, looking to see what happened to the people, discovered the tunnel, opened the sealed entryway, which is still open by the way, followed the tracks to here, and somehow hmanaged to avoid eating all the little children long enough for you guys to show up and give us what for."
The archer chews on his lip thoughtfully for a moment. "And that's about it. So, would you like to kill us now, or wait till you get home?"
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] d20+4=23 ; Wednesday April 28th, 2010 9:40:55 AM
Garret steps from the shadows and stands forward, between the two groups.
Garret is an average size halfling. His voice is quiet, steady, and even. He has a small topknot in his black hair, sticking up about 4 inches and the sides of his head are shaved. On the sides of his head, and leading across to his eyes, there are various dark but colorful tattoos. He is wearing tan leather pants that end just above his ankles and no shirt, showing off his furry body. Around his waist is a rope belt with a couple small pouches hanging. On his back is a small backpack, clearly far from full. Other than the sling tucked in his belt, there are no signs of any weapons.
He says, "Look, we don't know who you people are, either. But seriously, do I look like a shape-changed lizardman? Do you think for a moment, that if we were some attacking force of lizardmen that we would just be standing around, waiting for you to return? Or would we have already attacked those sheltered here, long before you returned?"
"I am called Garret. Garret Goodbarrel, should you know any of my relatives, though they are far, far, from this place."
"We have come here," he gestures towards Hmark and Zeph, "because of a mystical, supernatural dream that people here needed our help. On our way here, after traveling I don't know how many thousands of leagues, we met Sjurd." Garret nods in Sjurd's direction and continues, "Who had witnessed some massive destruction and attacks by these lizardmen and others. We can here to help because any time lizardmen are involved, its not for the best."
"So let us put aside any questions and focus on the dangers to us now. The lizardmen know where we are, as they have scouted our location. Let us prepare for their attack. If you know another way out of these tunnels, let the young and the elderly make their way towards that escape while the rest of us stay here to fend off or even attack these lizardmen."
----- Diplomacy: 23, so he at least sounds convincing...
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Wednesday April 28th, 2010 10:30:51 AM
Jet listens as each speaks their mind. He is naturally a jerk in serious situations and the new group members will find, once they get settled in, Jet will lighten up.
he accepts the healing and declairs, "Some of us have been up since morning and to attempt to do more today will only lead to fatigue."
Jet pulls Garth slightly aside, "Regardless of their good intentions, which I am sure they have, because it seems we have all had visions about this land in one form or another. I still believe they should sign a similar contract. I will pay for their initial wages out of my own pocket if that is what has to happen, but that might have to wait a few weeks before we can use the Catacombs summons again."
Jet almost sounds mad and he is a little bit. Two weeks ago, Jet wanted to get all of these people out of the area and they would all be safe and sound right now if someone had listened to his advice and now they are no where near safe, at least not yet.
His last response to the smart elecks of the group, "Don't worry, when I decide to kill someone, they are generally the first to know it." His smile hides the fact that he isn't bluffing.
ooc: DM Cayzle- I think you are safe in the thought that we will all get along fine. Jet needs at least one "moment" in order to flex his personality. Heck, he's getting grumpy. He hasn't been with one of Ma Beeles girls in over a week and drunk in at least two. It might just get worse... :)
Sjurd Wednesday April 28th, 2010 10:49:02 AM
Sjurd points at Garret, gives an O-K sign with his hand, then goes back to sleep.
OOC: What? He needs his spells back, doesn't he? :)
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Wednesday April 28th, 2010 11:11:36 AM
Garret nods and says, "Those who need their sleep should get it now, while they can. I need little sleep, so I can continue to watch with others who are more rested."
Gruemor Blackhammer AC 17 : HP 47 Wednesday April 28th, 2010 12:28:10 PM Dwain. What say you and everyone here retire in more comfortable and hospitible surroundings. Katarina, one of the mine's supporters have graciously, with the collaberation of other mine supporters, have entrusted in me and Charek an item that will allow us and you and the others here to safely move from here to the mage's tower back in. (forgot where) It seems to me that reporting to them, but more importantly, getting the hurt, women and children back to safety should be the most important thing we do. A mine can always be redug or reclaimed, a life cannot be.
Charek AC 24; HP 47/47 Wednesday April 28th, 2010 9:59:57 PM
As my friend here has said my father and Katarina the major stock holder in the mine sent us to rescue who we could and salvage what we could. If you think we can take these lizard guys on then by all means let us send what non combatants that we can to safety in plateau city where Katarina will take care of them from that end until things are settled here. In any case we have just finished nearly a month of dry travel to get here and all this water covering me is not how I want to quench my thirst.
Keela Wednesday April 28th, 2010 10:25:12 PM
"Thank you Durak," Keela says when her wounds are healed.
"It's good to meet you, Master Goodbarrel. I'm Keela Larch."
She looks a little worried at Hmark's recounting. "If the mine entrance is still open...." she says. Turning to the newcomers, she asks a little anxiously. "You set traps on the way in? Good ones? You're sure?"
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Wednesday April 28th, 2010 10:46:42 PM
OOC: DM - Sorry to try your patience. :) It would be sooo much easier to just assume our pcs totally trust the newcomers. I mean, us players have followed them all along, eh? But not very realistic. Now, had it not been for the attack on the caravan by powers from Floating City, our PC's wouldn't be as paranoid as they are. :)
IC: Alexi, still covered in blood and pieces of ratmen fur, looks down at the hafling. "Well met, Garret. But seriously, what does a shape-changed lizardman look like, eh?"
He then slaps the hafling a good whack to the arm, but not enough to knock him over, and lets out a good guffaw.
"Hahahahahaw!" Then he noctices the blood he just accidentally smeared on the halfling's sleeve. "Er, sorry about that. We had a little scuffle down that ways a bit. Don't know if this blood is mine or theirs."
Alexi then looks at Gruemor and tries to smile. "That be a very gracious offer, but surely the investors don't want us to give up so quickly? Yes, we've had a tough fight. Yes, we had to hide under ground like rats. Yes, we've lost a few. But these people gave up that life back there in the civilized world to make a living here. Sure, it would be easy to just give up on all this and go back empty handed. And maybe we will have to. But not before trying to save Bryn Baraz at least once."
Alexi takes a breath and goes on. "You see, it's not just us. It's the Ahote too. They are natives of these plains. We have an oath to them to help them fight our mutual enemies. If we don't try to scoot these lizardment out of Bryn Baraz, then the Ahote are left alone. I don't want to even think what would happen to Tocho's sister if the Lizardmen take to hunting them down."
At that Alexi turns a bit red as he blushes a bit and shuffles his feet some. 'Drat! Why did I say that? Keela's right here! Me and my..." he chides himself.
Then he looks around in thought. "So. You've opened up the mine to get in. And you've seen a lizardman scout. (OOC: oh, too bad we can't send Col out to look around and spy on their preparations. sigh...)"
He turns back to Garret. "Say, what time was it when you came down? How light was it? I don't think the lizardmen like the darkness. If we could rest some and be ready whe it is night outside, we could spring a little surprise on them. Being that they don't come down here first, that is."
Pondering... "Yep. We really need to know what preparations they are making so we can be prepared. We need to know where their giant lizards are and where their spell caster leader is."
Alexi turns to Garth and Dwain, "I think Garret here, and another sneaky friend, need to spy on the lizardmen. See what they are up to and how many are preparing to come at us. If possible, even find out where their leader is staying.
Meanwhile the rest of us get cleaned up and rested a bit. I want to sneak into Bryn Baraz at night and take out their leader by surpise, then scatter the others. Without their leader, I think we have a chance of regaining out town."
What say you, Garret, you up for some scouting and spying?"
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 d20+5=14 ; Thursday April 29th, 2010 3:02:25 AM
Zeph smiles at the slightly more friendly transactions. " I wonder if lizardmen have darkvision?"
(Knowledge dugneoneering 14 to think if lizardmen do in fact have dark or lowlight vision)
(OOC: SOrry for not bieing active guys. I have an organic chemistry final tomorrow and I have been studying for the past 2 days...)
Charek AC 24; HP 47/47 Thursday April 29th, 2010 6:14:40 AM
Oh Parsnip Whiskers!" I had forgotten all about them. Charek turns as Alexi mentions the Ahote. We ummm left two Ahote guides up at the entrance that we used to get here. I can't remember if they saidthey planned on waiting ofr us or not. They were not enthused about going into, under and through the water, when we informed them that was the way in.
DM Cayzle - (Sorry, v. short today) Thursday April 29th, 2010 8:29:37 AM
The conversation continues.
Will you go scouting or raiding tonite, before the red orb makes its way back? Will you rest and recover spells? Both?
What are the chances you can actually win this fight? This battle? This war?
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Thursday April 29th, 2010 9:45:07 AM
Garret smiles and nods, "Sure, I'd love to head out and see what I can see while you others rest. Anyone want to go with me?"
"Oh, and who is this Bryn Baraz you're going to save?"
Sjurd Thursday April 29th, 2010 10:40:31 AM
Sjurd rises once again, obviously put out by the interruption to his sleep. "Ve do not have the strength to attack the village, let alone (motions to villagers) an absence of liabilities. I suggest ve retreat to Plateau City. As much as I am loathe to enter such a hive of scum und villainy, it vill provide refuge for the villagers und allow us the means to learn more of our enemy. A direct attack vould break like vaves against the cliffside." With that, he returns again to his pallet and sleeps.
Gruemor Blackhammer AC 17 : HP 47 Thursday April 29th, 2010 11:07:49 AM It should be up to Dwain and his people, not ours due to oaths , or pride. I have given you the option, dear cousin, I believe it is up to you and your charges to decide our next course of action.
Hmark Thursday April 29th, 2010 2:26:26 PM
After Jet's comment, Hmark looks blankly at him for a beat or two, and decides its just not worth the effort. Dismissing the man from his thoughts, the archer turns to join the others in their conversation.
"Sending scouts forward is a good idea," he agrees. With a glance at Keela, he responds, "we set warning traps. They work good enough as warnings, not so good at actually slowing anything down. I got hme a 60' stretch of tunnel lit up down that way, so I can get the best field of fire."
To Alexi - "They found us a few hours ago - enough time to get back, plan an attack, and be on their way here. hMe, I'd ask a couple of our darkvision friends to hmove forward about a quarter hmile to give a warning, then get a plan together to zap back to Plateau City at a hmoment's notice, and then let folks rest up and take the fight to the lizardmen in the hmorning."
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Thursday April 29th, 2010 6:39:30 PM
Jet seems to ease up a bit, "In what manner can you transport these poeple to Plateau City?" he asks.
"Plateau City, I have never been to, but we can't have Lollena and Pliney going back to the Float to deal with a noblemans childish son." Jet thinks a moment, wondering if those kidnappers were able to make it back or not. He gets a cold dread feeling in his guts, thinking about the past, but he fairly gave them the option of Judgement by Jet or by Eberyon and they chose Eberyon. Likely a wise choice anyway. Jet was a little younger and didn't like people as much then as he does now.
Knowing that there are others able to watch the entry way where the lizard men would come "We should likely set up an alarm trap on all the exits from the cavern."
With that, Jet hands over all the possessions they found on the rat people. "I gave the leader an option of returning with us to reclaim their possessions from you Garth, but for some reason, she did not think that was a good idea. I didn't really want to steal the few items they had, but they were planning something bad for us and that is why I attacked them. I was not going to leave behind items they could use against us later when we least expect it."
Jet sets the loot down in front of Garth then, he goes and puts on his chain shirt to sleep in.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Thursday April 29th, 2010 10:07:55 PM
"Two Ahotes? Wow! That is good news. But they'll be in peril up above. But I'm sure they are good hunters and scouts to find a hiding place and stay out of sight. I sure wish we had a way to let them know you two are all right. Maybe Tarketh, being a Druid, can shapechange into a bat and use the bat's exit to find and tell them."
"Yo, little guy. Look all around you. This is Bryn Baraz. These people, this mine, and the homes and farms above that you passed on your way here. This is what we are trying to save. "
Alexi then speaks to no one in particular in response to the one with the speach impediment. (Oh, there's two. :) er, the one with the 'V'). "Humm... vhats up vith him? He thinks ve can learn more about the lizardmen vhile hundreds of miles avay than right here on our doorstep?"
OOC: ok, this is role playing. Alexi had a habit of immitating Fatine's weird speech too. Fatine's player had to bow out, much to our dismay, as Alexi had a good time jiving with her and she gave Jet such a hard time. Ha!
Then, correcting his speach, he adds, "Going to Plateau City, or Floating City, or anywhere else is not our decision to make, but the Mining Company's. They paid us to come here and if they say to leave, we leave. Dwain will have to take it up with his investors, this er, person that you've mentioned, and however many others."
Then, with a big smile, "In the meantime, we find out what the lizardmen are up to so we can be prepared for their attack or our attack. If the scouting goes well, our attack will be a precise attack on their commander here and a quick retreat to the caves if necessary."
"Now folks, I'm going to get cleaned up, eat a bite, take a nap, and see what Garret has found out."
OOC: a bit of history might help. Unfortunately, it's a very long story. A good one, but long one. But the short version is that we all signed a contract to last 2 years and got a lump sum up front, since there'd be no pay once here. Here being Bryn Baraz. So, no one here can technically leave unless the Company gives the OK to, as it would be a breach of contract.
We will periodically refer to events from our travels here. If anyone is interested, I've compiled a good portion of it. Makes for good reading. Just let me know.
Keela Friday April 30th, 2010 1:51:39 AM
Keela suddenly feels very tired. "If all that stands between us and a horde of lizardmen are a few alarm traps, then we can't afford to take a rest right now. We need to make sure everybody is armed and that we have a plan for defense."
She puts her hands on her hips. "And I don't know why people are always supposing that hard-working farmers are just going to up and leave land they've sweated over, and homes they've built with their own hands, and crops they've spen their last copper to sow. This land isn't just property; it's their livelihood. It's all they have. Don't you think they'll fight to keep it?"
DM Cayzle Friday April 30th, 2010 7:45:46 AM
Sorry, DM Post will come around 1 pm today.
Gruemor Blackhammer AC 17 : HP 47 Friday April 30th, 2010 11:10:55 AM Well, since you signed a contract to the company, and us being representatives of said company, ie the owners sent us here with instructions, and we followed through with said instructions, and Dwain is the ranking company official here, then Dwain would be your company spokesman, hence his decisions are binding, and does not in any way harm your contract with said company.
As for what means, by this here device, (shows Jet the teleport rings Katarina gave us). It will teleport all of us to the mage's tower in Plateau City safely.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Friday April 30th, 2010 11:26:18 AM
"What about the lives stock also or wagons? I know nothing of Teleport rings."
"As for Dwain being in command, I don't know what gave you that impression, but I understand kith and kin would stand together no matter what. At this point, I will let Garth and Dwain argue between them over who is in charge, but somehow I get the feeling, if Dwain can't fire me, like he wanted, it's Garth we will be answering too."
DM Cayzle - Garth Steps Up Friday April 30th, 2010 1:44:35 PM
Gruemor explains how the teleport items work: These are five copper stakes, each finely engraved. Set these stakes into the earth to form a pentacle, and speak the command word. Then the pentacle becomes a teleportation circle that lasts for about one minute -- the duration is not exact. While it is active, anyone you send through will arrive in the Star Tower. The command words for the teleportal are "Zharak Zharam! Zharak Zhalasch! Zharak Zhakhesh!" In dwarven, that's "For refuge, be open! For refuge, be wide! For refuge, be home!" The only danger is that if you time it badly, the magic might end before the last folk go through. Otherwise it is completely safe.
=====
Dwain scowls at this talk of who is in charge. It seems to be a bit of a sore point. A human, Garth, steps forward. "Okay, folks, settle down. Number one, this expedition is a company, of which Dwain here owns the most shares. But not the majority. I'm here to represent all the other owners, and that puts me technically in charge. But come on, we all want the same thing here, and Dwain and I tend to agree on everything, after some jawing, maybe."
Dwain chuckles at that.
"Now, Charek here, well, his family is another owner, and I suppose that if Charek and Dwain put their heads together, they could give me my marching orders, but I don't think anyone here wants that. We're all friends, right? We all want the same thing -- to get the colony working great and to get that mithril out of the ground."
"So obviously, Gruemor and Charek here are okay in my book. No question. As for these other four, well, look at it this way -- say your house is burning down, and some passers-by volunteer to help put it out. You going to ask for oaths and promises before they even get started? Hells no! I'm not looking sideways at what's a pure gift, one we need, maybe one the gods are seeing fit to toss us."
"Nope, no oaths needed. Anyone want to argue with that? Okay, I didn't think so. Later on, these fellows want a job and a wage, we can talk. But I'm not spitting on a gift graciously given."
"Now, there are some clear options. Let's spell them out, see if I missed any, and we can debate the merits."
"One, everybody teleports home. We get some rest, learn more, come back later."
"Two, everybody teleports home except the heroes. They stay, find out more, maybe fight, figure out what to do."
"Three, find a local refuge, set up camp there, do some recon and learning. No teleport."
"Four, stay here, scout and fight."
"Is that it?"
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Friday April 30th, 2010 2:09:48 PM
Jet is satisfied if Garth is and is more then happy to move along with the topic of what to do next as he watches to see what Garth does with the loot.
"All non-combatants must go. If they can't fight, they are just a liability. That doesn't mean they can't return when we have some success, but that is not now. Leaving should be on a voluntary basis, so anyone staying knows, they will be fighting and on the run."
Jet looks around, "Those that want to stay and fight, we need to use our Ahote resources as much as possible. They know the terrain far better then any of us and they know what resourses the lizard people will want to hit, so we should hit any type of resourse builder that flying citidale has."
Jet begins to go into long term tactics. "There is no way, we can take on a city of lizards by ourselves, but that city needs to eat and it needs to have what we have to continue to thrive. I am committed to following that city, straddling a hunk of earth, until I see with my own eyes, the inhabitants suffer like these fine and decent people here have and who knows how many other people. Even across the blight if that is where it travels. They will call us barnicles. Leeches. Parasites! But they will slowly get weaker and we will slowly get stronger."
Jet is no longer talking to any one person, his mind is wandering off to a time in the future when he can see this prediction coming true.
Off in the distance an unfamiliar voice is heard in the voice of Mr. Ed, "How are you going to do all that, walk?" followed by a neighing sound that brings Jet back to the present. "NO, I'm going ta make you carry me you dumb donkey!" is the humans reply.
Getting closer to the group is easily heard a clippity clop as a BIG beatuful black stallion is soon in view. With the horse comes a return reply, "Better watch that mouth, I can still take you Jet!"
Jet hurrumphs, "I let you win." Then smiles at the others with a nod. "This is Bantom. My best friend and sturdy fighting buddy." Looking at the dwarves and halfling and such, "Also, up untill real recently, the only creature that could keep up with me at the bar. When next we have one, I hope that too will have a conclusion."
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 Friday April 30th, 2010 6:28:54 PM
Zeph thinks about the options that he laid out, and that Garth modified and presented, then his listens to Jet and likes what he is hearing. "I like Jet's plan. He is right, all non-combatants should leave in the most convenient manner. Everyone else will remain and hold the mine until the Lizards move on to their next target. Then we follow closely and gather information. We will need a way to relay information back to the civilians though... Message spell?" Zeph suggests, liking the ideas so far.
"I can't speak for my good friends, Hmark or Garret, but I am in this for the long-haul... lets bring down an empire of Lizards. Sounds like a good campaign to me." Zeph smiles wickedly at the idea.
Sjurd Friday April 30th, 2010 10:11:09 PM
Sjurd mumbles from underneath his blanket, "Staying here is inviting death. Ve can magically scry from the city in safety vithout compromising our defenses. I see no reason to stay here und I have no intention to do so."
Charek AC 24; HP 47/47 Saturday May 1st, 2010 8:56:09 AM
What kind of numbers are we talking about here. We have seen one of the floating orbs, but what is this floating city you are talking about? I mean I am all for a good fight, but I am also smart enough to not be guided by foolish pride and take on unopposable odds.
Keela Sunday May 2nd, 2010 1:33:32 AM
Keela frowns. "This Teleport you're going to use to whisk everyone away--is it a two-way spell? Or will the noncombatants have to make their way back here overland? It took us some little time to get here...."
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Sunday May 2nd, 2010 11:23:41 PM
With the explanation of how the teleportation works, Alexi throws up his hands.
"One Minute? Oh, that'll get a bunch of people safely away!"
After a deep breath and listening to the others, he puts in, "The teleportation isn't an option for the people. I don't think that the Teleportation device was even intended for that kind of use. However, it can be used to send a message back to the Investors as to what has happend and where we are. Just in case, you know, any re-inforcements can be sent.
In any case, we know of only the one Flying City, but we don't know where it is now. The Orbs are scouting machines. But instead of going into the details of their attack on Bryn Baraz, we need to know what is left up above. Our options depend entirely on what forces are left. They didn't come to conquer, but only to pillage, so I'm surprized there are any left at all. But what is left, needs to be gotten rid of.
The machines are vulerable to fire, so a good fire attack on one before it lands would go a long way. The only difficulty there, for us at least, is reaching that height. These machines are driven by someone, and our success was in killing that driver, causing the craft to crash.
My suggestion is wiping out those that are here and waiting to see if more will come. With that information taken to the Investors via the Teleport, that should buy us some time for some re-inforcements if the lizardmen bother to come back.
I'm going to go get this muck cleaned off, eat something, then be ready to go up above with whoever wants a bit of action."
Alexi turns and heads over to the part of the water that is running and removes his armor for a cleaning. Afterward donning his armor again, he eats a few bites then checks in with Garth again for orders - go forward in planning an attack on the lizardmen, or keep looking for another exit.
DM Cayzle - More debate -- coming closer to a consensus? Monday May 3rd, 2010 7:09:31 AM
[OOC regarding the teleport device. Imagine a line of people. Each person takes up a 5x5 space. Figure people move 60 feet a round. Therefore, in one round, 12 people could walk past a particular point. In ten rounds, 120 people could walk past a point. You could probably do twice that number if you invoked the squeezing rule, and maybe more if they were running. You all have here maybe a third to a half of that 120 number. Honestly, it would take coordination, but you could surely all enter the circle in one minute.]
[Still OOC: Now, if YOU want to be stranded but your CHARACTERS want to go to Plat City, then make sure you are the last ones through, and the kindly DM will arrange for the circle to fail just as the last NPC goes through and before the first PC goes through.]
[One last OOC: But note that your DM will tear out his hair if some PCs go through and others do not. Tempt not the wrath of the DM!]
Garth gives the loot back to Jet. "You three earned it. It's yours."
Then he does a doubletake at the "silver" weapons. He shows one to Dwain. "This is mithril!" the dwarf exclaims. "Those ratmen must have found some veins as well -- and by the look of these crude weapons, a richer vein than what we have found so far!"
Talk turns to a return to civilization, prompted by Keela. Yes, the teleport is one-time, one-way trip. The settlers would have to return the way they came, by foot that is, or get similar magic to bring them here.
Dwain looks at Garth. "I think the mining company would be much more likely to teleport the settlers back here once everything is safe if there were some profit to incentivize them. We should send back all the mithril we have collected from the mine. And these mithril weapons! That would get them to put up the settlers in style until it is safe to send them back -- but someone would have to stay here to set up the arrival point for the teleport, I bet."
"But perhaps we should set a guard and rest," suggests Garth. "Our casters are tired, and the enemy's are fresh. If there is a red orb coming back today, maybe we can still get a jump on it if we rest until dawn and take a look up top very early."
Sjurd Monday May 3rd, 2010 9:20:12 AM
OOC: At this point, Sjurd does not want to stick around. If the choice is between sitting in a cave with a small army of angry lizardmen at the entrance or retreating to a nice, safe city to do some magical spying, then it isn't really a hard choice. He has no emotional or professional investment in securing the village and sees his current situation as convenience, not commitment. I suggest the rest of the party arrange to teleport the villagers to Plateau City while Sjurd is still asleep to avoid a confrontation. He will be royally pissed, let me tell you, but it would be an easier solution than trying to physically keep him from going through the portal.
Offer him money or something, everyone has a price.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Monday May 3rd, 2010 9:20:15 AM
Garret steps up to an intersection. Just before he disappears into the shadows he says, "Indeed, some need sleep. Let us sleep on these decisions and have more of a discussion when we are all rested. I can take up watch here for awhile."
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Monday May 3rd, 2010 10:33:33 AM
ooc:I really don't want any prolonged aggression in this group. I would say Cayzles Idea is best. Sjurd would be the first PC to step through, but some small child gets scared and runs away from the group and kills the rest of the time while everyone tries to find the boy or girl, getting it back just in time to take them all away and leave us here. If Sjurd wants to be pissed of at a child for being a child, well, I doubt any of us would approve of that, but it will keep the group in harmony.
Jet lets Keela take the stuff. "I doubt Alexi or I could wear the robe under our armor, so why do you not take these things and discern what you can of them in the morning please."
Jet slaps Bantom in the neck, a bit put off that no one was surprised by a talking horse, but maybe they have seen one before? "Let's go boy. Try not to snore tonight alright. You wake me up."
Bantom replies, "No, you wake you up!"
The bickering slowly fades away to a dark corner before it stops for the evening.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Monday May 3rd, 2010 10:49:51 AM
ooc: Now, as far as the under ground passages go, I as a player, would like to explore the rest of the exits and tunnels. If for no other reason then to use them against the lizard people. Who knows, we could find some valuable allies down there?
GruemorAC17, HP47 Monday May 3rd, 2010 11:45:43 AM I keep hearing a decision made from Jet, yet I still haven't heard anything from the people here under Dwain's leadership. Personally, at the least, we send the non combatants home. Let them be our reports. Let them carry back whatever it is you want sent back. Kills two birds with one stone. As for the rest of us going, that is for Each person to decide, not 1 or 2 of you. As for me, I abide by Dwain and Garth's decision. Alemi has prompted me to save lives and if it means staying here, to complete that vocation, then by all means I shall.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Monday May 3rd, 2010 11:46:37 AM
OOC: Actually, upon visualizing Cayzles description of the teleport again, since it is a circle, the people can just form around the circle and just hop in, one at a time. This would speed things up considerably.
ex: the people form around the circle, one person deep. Garth, or someone else, goes behind these people, clock-wise, and touches them on the back as the signal to go through. As soon as one goes through, one from the crowd takes his place. It is very orderly.
I like the idea that all the people get through except the PCs and perhaps a one or two NPC healers (Mikal maybe) and maybe Garth (does the Captain go down with his ship?). :)
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Monday May 3rd, 2010 12:02:08 PM
ooc: Excuse me, what decision has Jet made? He is stating what he likes, but he isn't giving orders by any means. As for Dwains leader ship, I guess you did not get the point, but no one here follows him except Gruemor, it seems. Jet will only answer to Garth, period, until Garth tells him otherwise, which has not happened.
My next question is beginning to be, why did we join these games if you guys did not want to be in "Uncharted Lands"?
Sjurd Monday May 3rd, 2010 12:24:36 PM
OOC: ....why did we join these games if you guys did not want to be in "Uncharted Lands"?
Combining groups can cause a little friction, both in-character and out-of-character. The key is (1) develop rapport and a relationship of trust and (2) identify group goals. Accomplishing No. 1 just takes time and some good role-playing, which I think we are doing nicely. No. 2 can be a bit more difficult, since not everyone has the same individual goals or motivations. For example, Sjurd is an indifferent cuss. He's not especially mean, he just doesn't have the same noble goals as the Uncharted Lands group (he's more of a Randian Objectivist). It wouldn't bother him to leave your hypothetical child in the cave since he obviously is too foolish to be worth saving and endangers the safety of the other villagers.
So I would suggest that perhaps we should spend some time in-character identifying why everyone should get along and work together. I would also suggest that there could different reasons to cooperate for each PC. Most of the group is going to be fine with the villagers-in-distress motivation, but some others may need a bit more coaxing or persuading to get in line. I promise you that Sjurd is not being difficult just to be the center of attention by complicating matters. Just try asking him what he wants to get his cooperation.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Monday May 3rd, 2010 12:46:54 PM
ooc: I can't play with a character like this without constant conflict. I understand, we all want to play our characters, but from the way Sjurd is being played, that "sounds" like a very neutral character and that is not allowed in the Wold.
We don't just need a team guys, we need hero's! We need to care about these people or why would you have come all this way to begin with if you didn't? That just does not make sense.
If, Bryn Baraz is not the focal point of your characters desires, Jet will hate you for being here and it just will not work. The three primier characters have fought and almost died for these people, one character of which has close family that love her and care for her well being. They took it very hard when Jet asked Keela to join their scouting party, but Keela wanted to protect her sister, brother in law and their children.
If one of them was the one to run away and Sjurd didn't help in the search, which is pretty messed up, not looking for a lost child, Jet will loose his cool, because he too helped keep them alive when they were all attacked by bandits and when they went hunting to bring back food.
That is my opinion and I hope that we can all work as a team to a common goal of saving this community and stopping that vessel in the air from doing to others what happened to Bryn Baraz. This is an Epic Level adventure and we will be weening our Dragon Group teeth on those in the city, I believe. I trust in Cayzle to not wipe us out before then and any other DM's that we have in future migrations.
We had emails months ago and I thought that this was what we kind of agreed to.
GruemorAC17, HP47 Monday May 3rd, 2010 1:22:31 PM
We had emails months ago and I thought that this was what we kind of agreed to.
Not with me you didn't. I do not remember a set of emails about this, only to say we were being forced to combine two games.
If, Bryn Baraz is not the focal point of your characters desires, Jet will hate you for being here and it just will not work. The three primier characters have fought and almost died for these people, one character of which has close family that love her and care for her well being. They took it very hard when Jet asked Keela to join their scouting party, but Keela wanted to protect her sister, brother in law and their children.
If Jet feels that since we are joining you, ie being forced to combine games, and you are gonna primp yourself up, as if its our choice in joining you, then maybe the powers that be should think twice about combining this game. Seems to me we should be at an equal footing, not one player deeming they and their group is more superior, which, to at least me, is how you are coming across.
If anything take it from my viewpoint. We were asked to come here, to give Dwain some info, that he was a representative of the company and pretty much the first thing you do is bark orders, demand oaths, then say the man running the mine isnt the boss, your boss is. Like that is suppose to make us friends.
We don't just need a team guys, we need hero's! We need to care about these people or why would you have come all this way to begin with if you didn't? That just does not make sense.
My point exactly. I keep saying we need to get the people to safety. I have a way to do that yet you keep shooting it down. Like you are the boss or something, which, again to me, is the way you are coming across. I realize your character is a gruff person and you could have been playing him since your get go, but why should I, or someone else, who felt the need for storyline to start a new character be penalized for that decision. Back to my other point. For us to work we need a common ground, not one side thinking they are better than the other.
Sjurd Monday May 3rd, 2010 1:24:03 PM
OOC: I don't really want to get into an alignment debate. Let's just say Sjurd takes a very utilitarian view of what is 'good.' He feels that the moral worth of an action is determined solely by its utility in providing happiness or pleasure as summed among all sentient beings. In other words, if the teleport-spell has a limited duration, and the lizardmen could attack with lethal force at any time, then the time and energy used to find the child who ran off is time and energy that can no longer be used to save more people. It applies both ways; if Sjurd were separated from the group, he would think it very foolish to endanger several lives to save his one life.
A conversation with him might go like this,
"If you could save an entire village by killing one innocent person, would you do it?" "Yes, because to do otherwise is to choose to kill everyone else in the village through your inaction." "How would you feel if you were the innocent person who had to be killed?" "I would think myself very selfish if I valued my life over the lives of everyone else in my village." "So you wouldn't mind being killed to save others?" "If the 'others' are people that were important to me, then I wouldn't need to be killed. I would take my own life first to save theirs."
So it isn't that he doesn't care about the hypothetical missing child. It's that the lives of the other villagers and the rest of the party are too important to gamble trying to save one person.
Sjurd is here because the lizardmen were damaging the local ecosystem. If you want his help with the villagers, you are going to have to convince him.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Monday May 3rd, 2010 1:42:59 PM
Alright, I see your point. Just to clear up, Premier to me, means the first or the earliest. It is a term used in the SCA in regard to people being the first to do something or achieve something. I did not mean to imply I was the boss, but only that Alexi, Keela and Jet have been here from the beginning and have invested interests in what is happening.. I did not think of a better word only due to habit of it's use within my society. I really did not mean any offense and for that, I apologize.
Secondly, Jet said many times Garth is in charge. Jet only follows orders. That is all he has ever done, to the best of his ability and that will not change as long as he has a superior.
Third, you are all right. You don't have a reason to be here. Some of us do. It is a hard core dilemma I don't have the answer to.
Sjurd Monday May 3rd, 2010 2:06:43 PM
OOC: It isn't all that bleak. Sjurd wants to defeat the lizardmen just like Jet, but he doesn't have the motivation to save this particular village. He's looking at the big picture right now. Until he does share that motivation (or anyone else in the group, for that matter), secondary motivations like gainful employment might be suggested.
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 Monday May 3rd, 2010 2:40:48 PM
Zeph says, "Well. It seems we agree on a few things: Lets get all the civilians out of here. We, the PCs with character class levels, will enter the teleporter last to make sure that everyone gets through. Deal? Garth? Gruemor? Dwain? Jet and crew? Garrret? Hmark? Sjurd? SOunds good, how do we get this teleporter thing fired up anyways? I don't want the lizards to attack the civilians and they can attack at any moment it seems." Zeph is very worried about the people, knowing that everything else can come after they are safe.
Hmark Monday May 3rd, 2010 3:26:00 PM
Hmark plops down on a stone next to Keela, only half-listening to the debate regarding who's in charge and whether the adventurers will step through the portal. He's pretty sure he heard the horse talking, and files that one away for later inspection. But right now doesn't seem like the time to get into it.
Zeph asks for some confirmation, and the young archer gives him a wave of acknowledgment. "Right behind you," he tells his friend.
While waiting for general resolution, the lad looks up at Keela. "You hmentioned the farmers wanting to stay and fight," he says. "Well, not sure I'd agree. <raises a hand defensively> And I have spent my fair share of time in the turnip fields."
The brown haired man considers for a moment, and then continues. "Fighting for your land, sure. Dying for it, not so hmuch. If a flood came back home, we'd leave, wait, and then come back when the water went down. No point in fighting it. I'm guessing this is kinda the same. Big debate here whether the lizards are too hmuch for us. If that's so, they gotta be way too hmuch for folks that don't fight for a living. Best bet hmaybe treat lizards like a flood - get out of the way, wait till some fool heroes drive them out <he flashes the wizard a depreciating smile at that>, then come back."
Hmark shrugs again. "Least, that's what we'd probably do back home. There's always hmore land."
Sjurd Monday May 3rd, 2010 3:26:02 PM
OOC: Hey, Zeph, mentioning 'PCs' and 'character levels' while in-character kind of breaks the 4th wall, buddy! :)
Keela Monday May 3rd, 2010 3:56:49 PM
Keela smiles rather absently back at Hmark. "There's some sense in that," she acknowledges. "It just makes me mad that they don't even ask. They don't ask the people what they want to do, or if they want to run away, or even if they have other suggestions."
"And it's not like with a flood, you know," she continues. "People pretty much sold everything they had and gave up everything to come out here. What wealth they had left, they used to build their homes and sow their crops. And now they can't even harvest them. What are they supposed to use for money? How are they supposed to live once they get to Plateau City?"
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Monday May 3rd, 2010 4:02:40 PM
Garret nods to Zeph and says, "If we're going, let's be on our way. Perhaps we can make more decisions away from this lizardman army and find out how to save these people and this land."
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 Monday May 3rd, 2010 5:38:41 PM
Zeph nods a Keela and feels a bit ashamed that he tried to make the decisions for the people , "You are correct. We forgot that there is free will in the Wold huh? Let us ask what they wish first, then." Zeph says in agreement.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Monday May 3rd, 2010 10:16:43 PM
OOC: Item #1: Despite whatever reason each one is here, let's find a reason to stay together.
Item #2: The Primary Goal should be to save the people. Teleport them out. With these Teleport stones/markers, the Investors can trace a way back here once the lizardmen threat is over, and with seed and tools supplied by the Investors, start over again.
Item #3: We all want to fight the lizardmen above, each for his own reason. We'er itching for a good fight. Once that battle's done, we are free to pursue any quests set for us. (Alexi thinks it might be meeting Tocho's sister...)
Item #4: Jet was given the authority, by Garth, to boss us around. Once this information is established with the newcomers, in Character, each Player needs to work out with their Characters how to accept Jet as leader. At least for now. Once we are released from duty of guarding Bryn Baraz, a new leader can be chosen.
Item #5: hmmm... did I cover everything? Oh, yeah. Let's have fun. It's not unusual for PC's to wrangle with each other and it can be entertaining as long as the Players understand each other and the Primary Goal (kill the monster, save the world, get the treasure, kill the monster, save the world, get the treasure...) is the same. Alexi has disobeyed Jet numerous times but not in self interest, but in his desire to be the most effective daring hero, heh. :)
"Jet was given the authority, by Garth, to boss us around. Once this information is established with the newcomers, in Character, each Player needs to work out with their Characters how to accept Jet as leader."
I'm still a little fuzzy as to why this applies to the new guys without some sort of contract in place. Now, if the new PCs were hired as 'employees,' then it would be understandable. But until then, we are just a mutual-benefit association with no definite leader in place.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Tuesday May 4th, 2010 12:07:42 AM
ooc: That was kind of why Jet wanted the new people to sign a contract, to avoid the argument. No problems. perhaps the easiest thing to do is let Garth give the authority of things to Dwight now and let Dwight decide on who is boss and what will happen.
Really, it is between Garth and Dwain ultimately what happens in the near future. Jet is just an opinionated cuss and takes everything he says, as is, until proven other wise.
Not to split hairs, but there is a bit of a difference between an employment contract and an oath of loyalty. Jet seemed to be demanding the latter. Hence the contention. :)
Jet never demanded anything. He may have strongly suggested it to Garth, but he did not demand it.
I think your dislike of Jet is good role playing, but please don't put words into his mouth.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Tuesday May 4th, 2010 4:30:10 PM
Garret looks around as the discussion continues and then looks back down the passageway from which the lizardman had appeared, watching for an attack.
My bad. Jet did (rather enthusiastically) suggest we sign contracts. It was Alexi who suggested being questioned before the 'Stone of Truth,' or some such. That's where I got the whole Oath-of-Loyalty thing. Come to think of it, he made fun of Sjurd's accent, too.
*scribbles notes in a small notebook*
If Garth can just throw out an employment offer, I think we can get the group up and rolling.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Tuesday May 4th, 2010 5:23:25 PM
IC
Jet is heard snoring "ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..............."
Bantom is heard laughing softly.
DM Cayzle - Extra Sort Of Tuesday May 4th, 2010 6:01:57 PM
Sorry, with the Wold being down the better part of the day, I'm going to skip the DM post for May 4 and get one up bright and early tomorrow.
Thanks!
Cayzle
PS: Keep chatting. I like the RP we're getting going, and I appreciate the desire to enjoy some good character building while also laying the foundation for a strongly knit group going forward.
LOL, most of Sjurd's RP-ing is occurring while he snoozes. But darn it, he needs those spells back! :)
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Tuesday May 4th, 2010 9:23:58 PM
Garret looks around for things to shove in the nostrils of those snoring...
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 Wednesday May 5th, 2010 1:56:36 AM
(OOC: International Star Wars day precedes Cinco de Mayo... May the 4th be with you.)
DM Cayzle - Extra Sort Of Wednesday May 5th, 2010 4:13:37 AM May the 4th be with you.
Okay, that was good for making the DM snort first thing in the morning!
DM Cayzle - To debate, perchance to dream Wednesday May 5th, 2010 7:18:11 AM Sjurd, Garret, and Jet go off to sleep. Well, Garret comes back, restless, and takes up guard duty.
Hmark, Keela, and Zeph are concerned about the farmers and villagers. But they decide to go talk with these folk to find out what they prefer. Of course, there are a few who want to stay and fight -- maybe three out of dozens. Most, especially those with children, think it is most important to find somewhere safe to stay. Here in these caves or back to civilization, or in some other haven. But there is a consensus that safety and a place of refuge have to be a priority.
That said, only about a third think that Plateau City is the best place to go. Most have the feeling that that would mean betraying what they worked for. Or giving up. These people are not quitters. They just want a reasonably safe way to realize their dream of starting a new place.
All that sounds good to Alexi. He wants to save these people and fight lizards. Gruemor and Charek are not as forthcoming, but they look to Dwain and want a reckoning.
Well, Gruemor does. Charek holds his own council for now.
Dwain and Garth confer. Garth says, speaking for both, "Our first priority is safety for our people. Then it is getting mithril back to Plateau City. After that, we will stay with the people here as guardians, and you all will be on your own. But we think you should find out more before throwing yourselves in front of an avalanche."
Finally, everyone tries to get some rest. For the next post, it is "morning."
[Some DM Editorializing: No PC or PCs are more important or central than any other. It does not matter what your origin is in this game -- your PCs can and will shine as brightly as you make them. No one should claim otherwise.
Yes, everyone is being forced to merge ... because the alternative was to just retire PCs and start a whole new game. Sorry to force the issue, but there is no way around it. I have tried to give you all a common purpose strong enough to keep you together. We'll see if i succeeded in that!
Also, let me make this clear -- you are not strong enough to take on Al Mathir ... that's the flying mountain city-state of the lizard-folk. You have some choices, as I see them ... 1) Go find out more*. 2) Try to retake and hold Bryn Baraz. 3) Fight and eventually get defeated. 4) Negotiate for survival/coexistence. 5) Re-establish the mine in secret, so that the lizards don't find out about it. 6) Go away and have other adventures for a while, then come back when you are more powerful. 7) Establish a refuge for your people nearby, maybe in the broken badlands caverns Jet, Keela, and Alexi found.
*Find out more ... a) Go visit the lizard folk the two dwarves found. b) Track back the flying mountain city-state, see where it came from, why it appeared, what it left behind. c) Go back to Plat City and do research there, or in the Float. d) Go find the Ahote, maybe get more visions. e) Go to Al Mathir! Learn more by visiting. Try not to get killed.]
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Wednesday May 5th, 2010 8:47:51 AM
Having risen early, Garret first checks the passageway to ensure lizards haven't prepared an attack. He then looks back at the others as they start to rise. As soon as a couple are up, he says, "So, how many lizardmen were there in this city? And can someone tell me more about the floating city thing we saw? Does that thing just show up and drop off troops to attack places?"
---
As an OOC side note, Garret only sleeps about 2 hours a night, so he's up a lot. :)
Sjurd Wednesday May 5th, 2010 9:22:54 AM
Sjurd rises from sleep. Almost simultaneously the druid and his warhound stretch and yawn, taking in their surroundings. He stands and his joints pop like twigs underfoot while Uli licks himself in his nether regions. He looks at the assembled party members, "I can now cast a spell to shape the stone und block access to Bryn Baraz, if ve so choose. I still believe gathering knowledge of our enemy is vital to success against the lizards. Vhether in the hinterlands surrounding their flying fortress or from Plateau City. It vould take some additional motivation or demand to convince me to attack the village or stay in these caves."
GruemorAC17, HP47 Wednesday May 5th, 2010 11:06:13 AM Has anyone attempted at diplomacy with these creatures?
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Wednesday May 5th, 2010 11:12:49 AM
Jet wakes up and the newcomers can watch as he prays to all the Woldian godds and toasts each in turn with some form of alcohol.
Jet remains quiet. A bit stiff from the batle yesterday, but no worse for wear. "Yes, Diplomacy was attempted. It was when they demanded slaves that, that conversation went down hill fast."
Jet waits on Garths every word this morning.
Hmark Wednesday May 5th, 2010 11:56:16 AM [ooc - DM Cayzle, can you clarify? The red orb that Hmark and company saw. I was under the impression that is was several hundred feet in diameter - impressive, but not city sized. Is that correct?]
Hmark concedes to Keela that the soldiers are making decisions for the civilians. When it turns out that most don't want to fight and also don't want to run, he nods with renewed understanding.
The archer also nods at Garret's question.
"So, if they want slaves," he responds to Jet, "and there ain't any hmore folks at Bryn Baraz, I wonder why they keep coming back?" And then addressing Garth, "You folks farmers or hminers? I hmean, couldn't dwarves just set up shop right here under the hmountain? We take out the lizards occupying town, dismantle the place and get all the goods underground, seal up the tunnel, and hmake it look like everyone's left, and there'd be no reason for them to show up anymore. Then, you could set up some new tunnels or whatever, and work to keep out of sight from flying thingies."
The archer turns back to Zeph and Jet "And with these folks safe and sound, those of us with the pointy steel could really get to work."
So, to all the players, are we going to hunt lizards or is there something else others want to do? As far as I am concerned, Cayzle can fast forward four or five years and say in that amount of time we all became friends and we can start an entirely new adventure, We just need to come to a decision as a group and I am willing to say, I don't care what we do any more. As long as we do it as a team.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Wednesday May 5th, 2010 6:31:30 PM
-----
OOC: Well, I'm not too sure what we're facing. Perhaps that's because I really didn't read the posts of the other group before we met. If I was supposed to, I'm sorry. But I honestly have no idea of the forces we're facing. If there's hundreds of lizardmen up there, including spellcasters and giant things, we don't have a chance. We need to get the heck out of here before we get squished like bugs. So perhaps we need to get the people to a safe place, then perhaps we can find out more about this lizardman movement and decide if we can stop it slow it, or just get out of the way and set up defenses somewhere else.
Sjurd Wednesday May 5th, 2010 6:48:43 PM
OOC: Hmark The lizardmen attacked the village, the humans surrendered, the lizardmen demanded slaves, the humans retreated to the caves, the lizardmen occupied the village. I'm all for retaking the village, but I doubt that we are in a position to do it right now.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Wednesday May 5th, 2010 9:49:04 PM
OOC: well, reading the posts would have helped but it is our (my) fault for not asking you guys what you knew about this part of the adventure before. It's not like we didn't have plenty of time to discuss what we'd do once we met. DOH!" :)
Ok, so here goes.
IC: Alexi returns to the group chewing on some dried meat, piece of cheese in the other hand. "Man, rat meat tasks gamie. HA! Just kidding!"
Alexi had time to think things over while cleaning the dried blood, rat blood and human blood, off his person and eating a bite, and felt sorry for how things had turned out. These folks showed up unexpectedly to help us and here we seem push them away. Can't blame us for being suspiscious though.
"Well, seems like we have to right feet and you guys have two left feet. Let's get our feet sorted out so we are on the same foot. What say? OK. Now this is what happened. Dwain found a vein of mithril in this mountain and started digging. The vein of ore proved lucrative so he decided keep at it. But he needed to eat to. But he didn't want to spend time farming or hunting, only mining. So he made a deal with these people to come and farm the land in front of the mine and this would provide the food the miners needed. To protect these farmers, the Security Team was hired. There were more of us, but some have perished in the dangers surrounding us.
Now this cave was an accident. The dwarves broke through a wall and found it, but also found some Ratmen living down here too, so they closed off this cave. Now, it so happens that, while minding our own business, a floating red orb passed by. We watched with concern but it passed on by. We were to find out shortly that it was on a scouting mission. Soon, several flying things came at us and dropped a squad of lizardmen. We killed the driver on one and it crashed, killing its occupants before they could land, but the others managed to dump their soldiers. We had a big fight on our walls. Several of our Security Team were killed, but we did repell them, killing many.
Then a huge floating mountain came into view. From this mountain several flying things came out and landed a task force designed to destroy our walls. Several giant lizarcreatures with tower shields protected a battering ram and a powerfull spellcaster. We killed several of their advance archers, but we could see we had no chance of taking our the battering ram.
That's when we evacuated the town to the mine. Dwain reopened this cave, and the traps set to catch any Ratmen that came through caught Lizardmen instead. HAH!
Now, you guys are here. I'm actually surprised that you encountered lizardmen up there, since they came to plunder and get slaves. Surely they've plundered all that can be plundered. Hmmm...
So, you see, that's why I was wanting to go up there, kill what's left hanging around, and see if the floating mountain city would return. If not, the people could get back to farming. If it returned, then they would use the teleport and wait to return a month from now, or so."
Alexi takes the last bite of dried meat. "So, chew, chew, chew, you've just come from up there, chew, chew, chew, what did you, chew, see? How many? chew, chew, gulp, burp."
OOC: having someone with good nightime vision and good sneaking to scout out their locations, barracks, leader types, etc. would be really helpful for a dawn raid. AND, the scout would get some bonus xps for it too, right DM?
Keela Thursday May 6th, 2010 12:58:26 AM
Keela spends a restless night, trying to sleep alongside her family.
Not knowing what else to do, she prepares the same spells today as she had yesterday.
"Our trouble is," she says. "We don't know what these lizard creatures are going to do. We could research them, find out who they are, what their history is, but that still wouldn't tell us what they're going to do here and now."
"The dwarves here are miners," she says in response to Hmark. "But the humans are farmers. I don't think they'd do well, trying to farm underground. These caves are a temporary refuge."
DM Cayzle - Leading to a decision Thursday May 6th, 2010 7:29:51 AM
Garret asks how many lizardmen are up there, but of course, only his folk have actually been up there recently. If Garret thinks back, he will recall that the only lizardmen you saw were the short ones, like those you killed, and not more than ten total, for sure.
The red orb that all have seen at one point or another is big, like 100 feet in diameter, or more. It has never gotten anywhere close to fighting distance. It seems to be a kind of troop carrier or cargo hauler, not a warship.
The smaller fliers hold just a handful of attackers. They come close enough to fight. You have not really seen many of those, and only Alexi, Jet, and Keela have seen any. Those three are also the only ones to have seen the city-state itself, and that from miles away. Its power and beauty was clear from that distance, though.
Sjurd wants to mend the broken wall and gather more info on the lizard-folk.
Gruemor wants to know if anyone tried to talk with the lizards. Jet explains that they wanted to take some people back to the flying mountain, to serve as hostage-slaves. That was a deal-breaker.
Hmark wonders why the lizards left a skeleton crew holding the village above them. He does think, after talking with Garret, that the team of heroes here could retake Byrn Baraz temporarily ... but if a red orb brings back another team of mage and giant lizards, it would get rough. That is a partial answer to Sjurd OOC: You likely could retake the village, but holding it long-term by force of arms? probably not without diplomacy (and they might insist on hostages) or incredible stealth. Or something else clever your DM has not thought of.
Garret is starting to agree with Sjurd. Get the civilians to a safe place, then try to find out more.
[OOC to Alexi: Yes, you could send a scout in the very early morning hours to look around up there. All I need is a volunteer and some stealth checks.]
Hmark asks if the refugees can just set up shop here underground. Keela thinks not.
Hearing how the conversation is going, Garth speaks up. "No, we can't stay here forever. Food will be a problem eventually. And we can't lurk in the dark."
==========
Okay, as DM, let me nudge us along. Please vote on the following:
Choice 1) Scout above, go on up and attack, retake the village, see what happens. Great deeds lead to great heroes! Maybe you can capture some lizards, talk with them, hijack a red orb, fly away, who knows?
Choice 2) Seal up the cave, set some traps, get the civilians to safety, retreat and find out more about these lizardmen.
If the group picks Choice 1, and you want to scout, roll some checks. If the group votes for Choice 2, say whether you want to send the civilians to Plat City or to some haven closer by.
BTW: It is morning. Can Keela identify the loot? Does she want to try? There is a robe, a mithril buckler, and a few potions.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] d20+17=25 ; d3=3 ; d20+17=25 ; d20+17=21 ; d20+15=24 ; d20+15=18 ; d20+15=19 ; d20+13=27 ; d20+13=18 ; d20+13=16 ; d20+5=6 ; d20+5=25 ; d20+5=19 ; Thursday May 6th, 2010 8:18:27 AM
Garret nods and says, "Good enough. I'll take a look upstairs and perhaps we can take this town back for the people. Maybe the lizardmen were just out getting slaves and they're done, heading back to wherever they came from. Perhaps one would be good enough to tell us what they're doing..."
"Anyone else want to come check things out upstairs? All this darkness is getting to me."
-----
I vote #1 to Scout. If no one objects, here I go: Hide: 25, 25, 21 (Please ignore the d3, jumpy fingers) Move Silent: 24, 18, 19 (New dice at table #3, please) Listen: 27, 18, 16 Spot: 6, 25, 19
If the party agrees, Sjurd will cast stoneshape and happily seal the tunnel.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 27/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Thursday May 6th, 2010 11:08:40 AM
"We still have two Ahote friends out there waiting for some sign of the dwarf and halfling. We need to either get them in here with us, or get them a message to find their way back to their people."
Jet refuses to let anyone, new or native, go out there by themselves. "If you get seen, fall back to me so I can help protect you."
Jet looks around, not giving any orders and since garth is the one suggesting the scouting mission, that automatically means, Jet is involved and eager to make sure everyone stays alive.
ooc: Spells to come.
GruemorAC17, HP47 Thursday May 6th, 2010 11:31:58 AM
I vote for option 3. Send the civilians back and let them turn in a report written by one of us. Send the mithril and other items you want sent back. We stay behind since we now know of an escape route should we need it. (where the Hunters are) And scout the village above. Gather information. Perhaps get our own prisoner or 3.
If worse comes to worse, Sjurd seals up the tunnel. We leave stuff to slow down pursuit, and make a run for safety. The Hunters can safely move us about being this is their land and all. We can regroup and decide on another plan. Not to mention, Once we are out of the mine, Charek and I can communicate with our Mage friend in Plateau City and go from there.
Hmark d20+6=17 ; d3=3 ; d20+6=16 ; d20+6=10 ; d20+8=24 ; d20+8=17 ; d20+8=19 ; d20+6=18 ; d20+6=16 ; d20+6=10 ; d20+6=17 ; d20+6=13 ; d20+6=24 ; Thursday May 6th, 2010 11:53:18 AM
"I can go with Garret," Hmark volunteers. The archer scampers off after the halfling.
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 d20+12=20 ; d20+12=21 ; d20+9=10 ; d20+9=11 ; Thursday May 6th, 2010 5:43:41 PM
Zeph goes with Garret and Hmark. "At least I know I have you guys on my side." He says to his two good friends. (Move silent =20. Hide =21. Spot=10. listen =11.. YEKCKCKCKC DAMN YOU DIE ROLLER)
OOC: By my count, that's three votes for option 1, 1 vote for option 2, 1 vote for option 3. I guess unless someone posts a strong opposition, three will head out to scout. Hopefully the fact they're the new three won't cause and undue in-character problems...
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Thursday May 6th, 2010 9:26:11 PM
OOC: Jet, don't forget you got healed by the npc clerics. :)
I vote for Choice 1 and 3 Combo. Choice 1 to start, and if things go south, send the people though the teleport. Although Jet and Alexi won't be able to take their horses through the bat cave, so we may just have to make a run for it in the open.
IC: Alexi awakes, rested, but sore from the previous day's fight and the hard cavern floor. "Ah, how I miss those barracks," he comments.
Getting a bite to eat he hears that several of the newcomers have gone out scouting. Alexi approaches Jet, "I'm going to get Lobo saddled and ready. If we do go up and attack, I want to be in my best form. Besides, Lobo wants to see some sun and real grass. Bantom will probably want to go to."
Alexi then readies Lobo for battle, but leaves off the chain barding, and has all his equipment checked once more. "Man, this feels real good, don't it Lobo?"
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Thursday May 6th, 2010 10:21:21 PM
ooc: Jet is all about being a hero, so, I say we go for #1. If we can capture one of those orbs, we can take the villagers anywhere we want to and keep them safe in that manner. The things literally dropped off and entire army, so Bryn Baraz would be an easy load. Thats not to say, we can not set up the teleport device in advance, holding off on the last part of activation for if a quick "get away" is needed.
Jet would not want to be further then 60' away from the scouts. He understand their necessity for stealth, but stealth usually means light armor also. Who knows what level warriors they left here and a powerful lizard warrior could kill someone pretty fast, he believes.
Jet will ask one of the scouts for one of their favorit missile weapons and then will cast Silence on it, (arrow, dart, dagger) so that they could launch it behind any enemies, to prevent them for sounding an alarm further away down the tunnel.
Keela Thursday May 6th, 2010 11:31:39 PM
Keela accompanies Jet's "reserve" party if asked.
[OOC: Identify is not in Keela's spellbook, so she is not able to prep it. Did we have a scroll left?]
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Friday May 7th, 2010 12:45:44 AM
ooc: Can anyone else beside Jet use a buckler? If not, he will carry it until it can be sold for treasure.
Cayzle Comments: It has 0% arcane spell failure and no non-prof penalty. Only a druid cannot use it.]
DM Cayzle - A-Scouting We Will Go Friday May 7th, 2010 8:07:32 AM
There is enough of a consensus to get us this far: Before Sjurd seals up the cavern, a few heroes -- Garret, Zeph, and Hmark in front, Alexi, Jet, Keela and two horses lagging 50 feet behind -- take a look back toward the mine.
The delvings are all deserted. No one is in them. No lizards, anywhere.
There is only one way out of the mines and back to the village -- through a doorway that used to hold a reinforced door. Giant lizardfolk bashed that door in. When you get there, you see that the doorway has been filled with debris, a cottage wall and several doors, and so on, for a length of say 15 feet. You could weasel through at a rate of maybe five feet per round, IF you made an escape artist check -- DC10 for a small creature, DC15 for a medium creature, and DC20 for a large one.
Looking through the blockage and outside, you see that there are at least two lizardmen standing watch.
Those in the foreward group, if you make a spot check vs DC12, you notice that Highlight to display spoiler: {there is oil spilled onto the debris.}
The question of choices still remains. Battle here and now to retake Bryn Baraz. Or pull back to a haven and pursue a course of investigation.
[OOC: I know that I could have Garth tell you all what to do. In fact, he will! If the players come to a decision as to what they prefer, then I will have Garth order your characters to do it. So talk about it over the weekend and cast your vote. Fight here and now, or pull back to safety and find out more. Note! the option remains on the table to choose to send the civilians back via teleport, and have the magic fail, stranding the PCs -- who would still have the choice of fight or investigate.]
Charek AC 24; HP 47/47 Friday May 7th, 2010 8:13:11 AM
Ok all I say we send the miners and townsfolk who want to go to safety, back to Plateau city along with whatever mithral etc. has been salvaged. That will satisfy the rest of the owner and the investors and probably allow for the opportunity for reopening the mine at a later date, once this situation is cleared up. That is my mission as given to me by both the owners and the mage investor who sent us with the teleport device.
Then I think we scout around and kick some lizard skin backside.
(OOC:sorry for the lack of posting,my wife and I separated this week and well I just haven't felt like doing much.)
Sjurd Friday May 7th, 2010 11:22:58 AM
Sjurd waits patiently in the main cavern with the refugees, ready to seal the tunnel if anything goes south.
OOC: Sorry to hear that, buddy. I hope this all works out well for you in the end.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Friday May 7th, 2010 12:16:14 PM
ooc: I say if the scouts can sneak up on the guards with that silence spell, they can try to take them out or at least occupy them long enough for Alexi, Keela and Jet and anyone else that went, to get there to help.
DM Cayzle, how many rounds have passed on the Silence spell? I had hoped they would move much faster with it, instead of trying to sneak all the way back to the blockade.
Jet looks around getting ready to head out when he sees Keela standing off by herself as if waiting for an invitation. Jet, in his usually gruff manner just frowns at her and points to the ground nera where he stands, as if that is where he expects her to always be when they are about to face danger. When she is close enough to talk softly, he will ask her, "You going soft on me and getting scared, or do you still feel like your an extra wheel around here? Until either Garth or you decide you are not on this team, I want you to believe you are an asset here!" Jet then hands her the buckler after he is done playing with it, "Very unusual. Put that robe on and keep this handy." He hands her back the buckler. "It's simple enough to use and if it gets in your way, you can put it aside then."
It almost sounds like he is angry, but anyone that has known him for a time would know, he is just being honest and he is trying to stoke the fires of her courage.
When the guards are seen, Jet will ask Keela well behind the silence spell he cast, "Can you try to put them to sleep when they are engaged?"
GruemorAC17, HP47 Saturday May 8th, 2010 9:28:15 AM
Looks over at Charek, back with Dwain and the others. That Jet character, seems like a bloodthirsty lot. Gonna get someone killed one day. Not that he seems to be the kind of person to care, as long as he gets his way. Dwain. Garth. About the civilians here. Since you two are the responsible persons here. What are your ideas about what should be done? Dwain, cousin, you know I love and respect you. You tell me what it is you want done and I will abide by it. Garth, I want no anomosity between us. If Dwain says I am to listen to you, then so be it. But that guy you have working for you, Jet, he is making it truly hard on some of us to trust him with his bullish ways. Perhaps you might want to pull him to the side and have a chat with him before he really ticks off someone. The gods' know we don't need anything like that happening.
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 d20+9=28 ; Sunday May 9th, 2010 12:39:10 AM
(SPot = 28)
Zeph notices the Oil on the debris, "Um... I'm not crossing that. They plan to ignite it if we try to cross it I suppose. I wonder if the smoke will make the cave uninhabitable?" Zeph ponders.
Then Zeph sees the lizardmen guards on the other side of the blockage to confirm his suspisions.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Sunday May 9th, 2010 2:11:21 AM
"Oil?" Jet asks. <if the Silence spell is still going> Jet will motion for them to drop the item and move away from it so they can talk.
He calls everyone together well away from any guards hearing them and asks for options, "I think we should go back. If they think we are still cowering, maybe we can find a back way in and get the Ahote to safety that are waiting."
Hmark d20=1 ; Sunday May 9th, 2010 10:32:40 AM
Hmark nods agreement with Jet. "I don't think I can squeeze through the junk they piled up there," he adds. "All I can come up with is get outside and go back around to the goat path, or maybe Sjurd can do his stone shaping thing to open up this tunnel"
He shrugs, "Either way, we gotta go back and plan. And at least we know they don't plan to come in after us."
To Zeph - "Tunnels go too far back. They can't get smoke all the way back there."
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Sunday May 9th, 2010 1:31:29 PM
"Right. I think we need to head back and get these people out of here. The lizards clearly aren't coming down here any time soon -- but then why are they staying there in the city?"
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Sunday May 9th, 2010 7:35:24 PM
"Only two of them? Oil in that stuff in front? Hmmm... I think we can take them on. Keela can try to put them to sleep, then we can light the oil ourselves. We'll then see who comes to investigate. The oil won't burn very long and when it dies out, we hit them with arrows and see if we can lure them into these narrow passages. Heck, you guys had a way to drill a hole through our blocked passage, surely you still have the same means to drill a bigger hole through this, right?"
Alexi shrugs. The plan is simple, easy, and doable.
Keela Sunday May 9th, 2010 9:59:20 PM
"I'm sorry," Keela says miserably. "I didn't prepare a Sleep spell today."
As Jet ordered, she is wearing the robe, trying to get used to the odd feel of it hanging about her. It is too hot, and she isn't sure whether she's supposed to wear the hood or not.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Monday May 10th, 2010 12:14:21 AM
Jet smiles at Keela, "I'm sure what ever you have will come in handy when you use it."
"Sorry Alexi, I admire your courage..." His visored helm turns to the member of the Mailed Fist, "but the majority has decided to return and report. Let's go."
Jet knows how the sneaky types get defensive when they don't get to take the front, so Jet lets them move back on their own and the noisy, or at least not as quiet, people can follow.
DM Cayzle - To the Back Door Monday May 10th, 2010 7:37:36 AM
While the scouts are away, Gruemor has a chat with Dwain and Garth. He tells them that the civilians are his first concern. His second is helping out. His third is that this Jet fellow seems too brusque, and is liable to make tempers flare. Garth tells Gruemor that while his manner may be off-putting, he and his team are the only reason the refugees are still alive. Please try to work together, he asks. Dwain nods at that.
Jet gets Keela to use the former ratman leader's gear. She does feel more protected.
Jet, Hmark, Garret, and the other scouts agree (overruling Alexi) -- it is time to report back: The lizards have blocked the exit and are waiting outside. It looks like the haven in the cavern will not be attacked just yet. They return safely and tell what they have found.
Charek suggests sending the mithril and the civilians back to Plateau City and then scouting and attacking lizardfolk.
Garth and Dwain have been conferring. "Let's move out, folks," says Dwain. "We have a breather here. A chance to get away. We can always use the teleporter later if we need to. At least, let's get through to the cave where the bats are." Garth adds, "The lizards will never follow us there, and then we can send scouts out to swim and see what there is to see."
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Monday May 10th, 2010 11:01:51 AM
With that Jet yells out to Bryn Baraz, "Pack your gear and stow your equipment. We head out in 30 minutes!"
Jet moves to help those that need some extra strength in getting their stuff together.
Sjurd Monday May 10th, 2010 1:05:35 PM
Sjurd waits patiently, sitting cross-legged on the cavern floor while the refugees prepare themselves. He bides his time writing stanzas of epic poetry in Giantish in the rock dust.
Hmark Monday May 10th, 2010 1:57:55 PM
Hmark picks up his pack and sits down on a convenient rock, patiently waiting for the villagers to get their gear together.
At one point, out of the blue, he glances over at Dwain. "How many bats are we talking about, anyway?" he asks.
Keela Monday May 10th, 2010 3:38:56 PM
Keela helps her family prepare to evacuate the caves, dealing as best she can with the flapping sleeves and trailing hem of her new robe.
"This dratted thing had better be doing me some good," she grumbles, after nearly tripping for the third time.
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 Monday May 10th, 2010 6:03:38 PM
Zeph shrugs at the idea of the Lizards not attacking any time soon... a little disappointing.
He is ready to explore other exit points throughout the cave with everyone else asap.
"So that's it huh? Explore for another exit somewhere else in the cave and only use the teleporter if absolutely necessary? Sounds good to me, let's get going." he says, agreeing with Jet that time is always of the essence.
Charek AC 24; HP 47/47 Monday May 10th, 2010 9:08:37 PM
Don't need to explore for another way out. We could just leave the way we came in. Although that will entail everyone getting very very wet.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Monday May 10th, 2010 10:58:07 PM
OOC: the horses may have a bit of trouble going underwater, so another way out, not quite as wet, needs to be found.
IC: Alexi stops by Lollena and Pliny's and tells them what the situation is and to get things ready to move out. Next he gathers his own belongings, what little he has, and packs his saddle bags.
"Lobo, we are going deeper. Hope we 'see the light' soon. Mushrooms don't suit you too well."
Alexi grumbles all the while.
OOC: by the way, what was the XPs for the Ratmen fight?
DM Cayzle - To the Bat Cave Tuesday May 11th, 2010 6:47:31 AM
[OOC: I'll award xp at the end of this scene, which is coming up in days or weeks, depending on if you get yourselves into a fight.]
The refugees pack up and get ready to go. Some help, others just watch, as they are inclined. I mean guard, not watch.
Those helping the refugees find that most of them think it is about time. These caves are dark and dank and not fit for people. The sooner they can see the light of day, the better.
More to the point, there is some division of opinion. Many refugees from Bryn Baraz think that going to Plateau City is the best bet, especially if the company will send them back when it is safe. Others think there's no way they'll do that. Some want to find a place to hide -- better than these caves, though -- until the heroes chase off the lizards. Others doubt that will ever happen.
It takes about an hour, but then everyone is set to move out. You pass through the ratman caves with no sign of ratman at all, not even corpses. Then you get to the big bat cavern -- but you have not gone in yet. You know that in the past, big bats have swooped, and attacked. Any special plans for dealing with that?
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Tuesday May 11th, 2010 8:15:54 AM
Garret helps some folk pack and listens as they grumble about where to go.
As they approach the bat cavern, he says, "Just bats? Can't we just run past them all?"
GruemorAC17, HP47 Tuesday May 11th, 2010 8:43:43 AM
A bright light should scare them off, as it did when we first encountered them, and Jet and Alexi.
Readies a spell: Daylight, for if and when those giant bats attack.
Sjurd Tuesday May 11th, 2010 11:05:18 AM
Sjurd ponders for a moment, "Do ve have have a thunderstone? They are very sensitive to sound. That vould perhaps throw off the bats long enough for us to run across the cavern."
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Tuesday May 11th, 2010 11:11:41 AM
An hour? Jet would be groussing a bit at the slow speed of the others, "If those lizard people were coming, it wouldn't be taking us an hour to get moving would it?"
To answer others questions, "There are some very big bats in there. Bats like anything else can die. That is what will happen if they attack. Those of you that want to be a part of the scouts, follow me. Lets clear them out."
Jet does not stop to see who follows. If Keela still needs to be invited, maybe she should stay behind with her family. He thinks, "If Alexi can't scout without Keela, then he should stay here also and wash her feet then paint her nails for her."
Jet checks in with Garth before entering the cave. He readies a Sunrod in case Gremors spell expires or something else happens.
DM Cayzle, I am still unclear on the time of travel through this place. If it takes us until night fall to reach this bat cavern, I doubt there will be any bats in the cave, because they are out feeding somewhere I would presume.
Hmark d20+16=24 ; d8+1=4 ; Tuesday May 11th, 2010 2:31:27 PM
As Jet blusters, Hmark looks over at Zeph and rolls his eyes.
"We probably should go ahead, though," the archer conceeds. Nocking an arrow, the young man follows the armored fellow into the cavern.
Ready Action - shoot any giant flying objects approaching. hit ac 24 for 4 hp
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 Tuesday May 11th, 2010 6:38:12 PM
Zeph nods in understanding to his friend Hmark, "Yep, I suppose I would prefer lizard hunting over bat hunting, but I suppose our fate chooses us now doesn't it?" he says, jesting to the best of his ability in the current situation.
Zeph carries an everburning torch and juggles a couple of thunderstones from his pocket, keeping his spiked chain very close.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Tuesday May 11th, 2010 9:35:02 PM
Alexi leads Lobo and Lupin through the caves, weary of the slipery surfaces, wondering where the Ratmen were hiding.
Nearing the Holy Bat Cave, he leaves his two mounts with Pliney and joins the front guard, Everburning Torch stuffed in his belt, shield and longsword readied.
"Runing through might work if we were not running in the dark and knew where we were going and didn't have a caravan of women and children lugging all their belongings along. As is, let's just kill what comes at us and be done with it."
Alexi joins Jet and readies for an attack.
Keela Tuesday May 11th, 2010 10:31:15 PM
As the refugees get underway, Keela stays with her family, helping them carry their belongings and keeping the children moving. As they get to the unexplored area, however, Keela leaves them behind, admonishing her niece and nephews to mind their parents and watch out for each other. She makes her way to the front where the defenders are congregating.
"If somebody would prefer to fight these bats with a sword, in the air," she says, "I have a Fly spell prepared which I can cast on somebody. I also have a Haste that would help us move faster." She looks around. "Just us, I'm afraid; not the whole group. And Jet and Alexi have seen what a well-placed Web can do."
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 Wednesday May 12th, 2010 3:08:25 AM
Zeph nods at Keela, "Yeah, Webbing down some ungodly bats may be a good idea, can stop em from flying about and such. Would you happen to have a fireball prepped as well?" Zeph asks Keela hopefully.
DM Cayzle - A Light In The Dark! Wednesday May 12th, 2010 7:36:32 AM
In the Bat Cave, the heroes go first to clear the way. There is some squeaking in the upper regions of the cave, and something swoops down. Gruemor's Daylight surprises the bats again, and Hmark's arrow hits one giant dire bat. As you peer up, you see at least ten dire bats and thousands of mundane bats.
Jet wonders whether they won't just clear out at night. Probably in a little while, they will ... but it is so hard to keep track of time underground. [OOC: So you feel off balance as to the passage of day and night? Haha! Your evil DM is doing his job!]
Garret and Sjurd advocate dashing across. But the next step is a dive and swim through the water over there, and to dash and then dive while dodging bats is likely beyond the livestock and children, and maybe of some of the other refugees. Sjurd also suggests a thunderstone.
Zeph is ready with reach weapon and thunderstones. But he has not acted yet.
Keela is ready with Web and Fly, but she has not cast yet.
Alexi thinks about his dislike of slippery places, and his distaste suddenly grows by leaps and bounds. The floor of the cave is covered in bat poop, inches, and even feet deep. Cockroaches crawl through it, munching and skittering.
The Daylight (and an arrow hit) have bought you at least a short respite. The cavern narrows as it goes up up up, and it does seem to you that Keela's idea of a well placed Web would suffice to pretty much keep the bats entirely at bay.
Sjurd Wednesday May 12th, 2010 8:03:32 AM
Sjurd nods, "Veb avay." He and Uli ready themselves to dash across the cavern floor.
OOC: Aren't accents fun?
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] Wednesday May 12th, 2010 8:34:38 AM
Garret waits for the web, then will stay behind to make sure all the others make their way across before he goes.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Wednesday May 12th, 2010 11:19:57 AM
"Problem is all, her web will not last long enough to get everyone out."
Jet thinks for a minute before coming up with a plan, "What think scouts of this. I take the fly spell and fly up there with an alchemists fire. I doubt the dire bats will die from it, but the normal bats should, which sucks, because I hate insects more then bats myself and the thought of these mammals eating those nasty little vermin brings a smile to my face."
Jet looks around and says to the new people, "We don't know you very well or what you can do, so, can any of you talk to the bats or control them in some way? If not, we have to go with my plan or another plan not brought up yet."
Hmark Wednesday May 12th, 2010 1:02:30 PM
Hmark replies, "Why not do both? You flying up with an alchemists fire should drive them further up the crevice. You come back down a bit, and when you see them coming back, shout out, and Keela casts her web to gum up the place.
And then, when Keela says the duration of the spell is about up, set fire to the web, and the smoke will drive them up again.
And in the meantime, we get the good people through here as quick as we can.
That way, when we're all done, there'll still be a bunch of bats around if the lizards ever come this way."
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Wednesday May 12th, 2010 1:34:39 PM
"Hmm. Not bad, not bad. They seem to be more afraid of Gruemors spell then anything. he looks at Dwains cousin, "If you are up for it, I can give you the alchemists fire and Keela can cast the Fly on you. It might be you can just chase them outside and we can save our resources."
"Of course, we could just wait until dark and not use any resources. We have waited this long. I think it might be better for the villagers as well, to move above ground at night instead of daylight, anyway. Plus, an observer outside would definitely find it odd, bats exiting their hole during the day. That would make me very suspecious in fact. I think waiting for night be the best idea."
Sjurd Wednesday May 12th, 2010 6:04:17 PM
Sjurd asks no one in particular, "How far is the swim after the end of this cavern?"
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Wednesday May 12th, 2010 9:49:39 PM
Alexi nods in agreement to waiting until night.
"I don't mind killing the giant bats, but I like the little ones. Well, not the ones that suck your blood."
Then he adds. "The two dwarves that came in this way can go back out to see if all is well. Then, with the appropriate signal we start moving people out. Sure wish there was a way to float these people out, though."
DM: Alexi will think back on what he saw as they passed the abandoned Ratmen area in hopes of remembering anthing that might float, like casts, wood planks, etc. Don't know what roll he needs, so go ahead and do the roll. You can click on Alexi link for any skill bonuses.
Keela Wednesday May 12th, 2010 10:53:08 PM
"No, I'm afraid I don't have a fireball," Keela says. There are competing strategies being discussed, but as the bats seem pretty well-grouped now, she decides to fling a Web up there now and let Jet scold her later if he wants to.
[Reflex save DC 15. Obviously, aiming to get as many bats as possible.]
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 Thursday May 13th, 2010 5:27:26 AM
Zeph throws a thunderstone to scare the bats away. "Get out of here! Get! Get" he shouts.
DM Cayzle - Bats in the Web Thursday May 13th, 2010 7:44:53 AM
Jet concentrates on how much time passes. He feels strangely uneasy. The day began talking tactics. Then sneaking through the mines. Then coming back, deciding to try the back door, getting the refugees moving, shepherding them through the ratman caves, finally to here. Maybe it is twilight? That makes sense. [And let it not be said that your evil DM does not love you. Check out the name of the scene: Per Aspera Ad Astra. See! I'm really a very nice DM! It was there all along.]
Jet also uges caution. If the group just waits for night, the problem solves itself, with no chance of revealing anything to bat-watchers outside. But, alas, these are people of action, and when a good answer presents itself, there is no turning back.
At the urging of Sjurd and Garett, the party mage gets ready to cast a Web. There is some talk of Flying up there from Jet and Hmark, and some mention made of alchemical fire. But the one with the spells in her head gets to decide, and Web it is! Keela casts, trapping many, and those who are not trapped flee to the unseen exit far above. Zeph hurls a thunderstone up thre for good measure, and no bats flutter down on membraneous wings at all.
Alexi is already thinking ahead to the transit of the water. The way is not too bad: you need to swim 20 feet underwater (two DC10 checks). That would be easier, Alexi deduces, if there were a rope set up for people to use as a guide and hand-hold. The intelligent horse can understand and make it through okay. The other animals will have a tough time of it. But Tarketh, the NPC druid, has a couple Reduce Animals and Speak with Animals prepped to help. He asks Sjurd for his help too. Durak, the NPC cleric, has one water breathing spell prepped, and he intends to use it on the littlest kids.
You have about an hour to get the refugees through. Plans? Who will be first through? Any ideas to make it easier?
Sjurd Thursday May 13th, 2010 9:25:18 AM
Sjurd will assist as Tarketh directs. He stops momentarily to offer words of encouragement to a group of youngsters, crouching down and placing a hand on a child's shoulder, "Remember, children, you need not be discouraged, because those silly bats are just as afraid of you as you are of them."
He starts to rise, but then pauses and crouches back down, "Vell, perhaps not as afraid. To be honest, they are much larger than any of you und have probably never felt threatened by human children. You don't have sharp, gnashing teeth, the ability to find prey in complete darkness, the gift of flight, or an insatiable hunger for flesh." He rubs where his chin would be on his wooden mask, "Now that I think of it, you aren't much in comparison, are you? You are generally uncoordinated, easily frightened, possess no natural veaponry, und are covered in soft, pink flesh." Sjurd leans in close and whispers, "I suggest you do exactly as you are told. No running avay, no falling behind. Because if any of you stray, ve vill not be able to keep them from eating you." (long pause) He pops up on his feet, "There, now! Go und mind your elders!" He tousles the hair of the tallest child in the group and continues on his way to Tarketh.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon d20+4=8 ; Thursday May 13th, 2010 11:16:02 AM ooc: Luckily, Jet did not hear the little drama Sjurd just gave the children or there would be a entirely new hate for Jet after he was done. I guess Sjurd feels the children haven't been through enough already?
Sorry Cayzle, I never took Latin. :)
Jet just looks down at Keela as she casts her spell while the group is still in the middle of conversation, "What are you thinking?"
He walks away from the area and starts to strip off his heavy armor. "This is what I think, but the ability to breath water is granted bu you Durak. Cast Water Breathing on me and let us put people that can not swim in one of those large kegs we have here. If one isn't empty, let us make it so. I will stay in the water and ferry the barrel back and forth from inside to outside and back again. I have skills in swimming so with the assistance of a rope I think it can go quickly."
GruemorAC17, HP47 Thursday May 13th, 2010 12:44:19 PM
ooc: then maybe your ooc was inappropriate cuz seriously, non of us here can read your thoughts. and since you didnt hear him, your ooc was not called for. personally, I never cared for the im thinking this post. cuz believe it or not, people do tend to react to it.
Let's do like me and Charek did before. Strip off your armor and bundle them up and drag them through. Also, I have a spell prepared just for this occassion. Water Breathing. It will allow someone to traverse back and forth, helping those who need help through. Not to mention they can also go through and secure a line to help as well. Who wants to be the helper?
*whoever volunteers, Gruemor casts Water Breathing on them. duration: 10 hours*
Gruemor strips out of his armor, bundles them up securely, and waits.
Zeph AC20 HP 42/42 d20+2=5 ; d20+2=12 ; d20+2=18 ; Thursday May 13th, 2010 12:59:53 PM "Why does this remind me of my adventures with the Hawkmen of the mountains? Oh yeah! They had us swim through a fast-moving river in order to pass their test! That was fun, I even got some tattoos and an earring piercing from them after I was initiated a hawkman!" Zeph says as he jumps into the water and begins swimming.
"Umm, I will go on ahead and scout out the area beyond the water eh?" he adds, trying to play his role as the party scout.
(Swim checks =5, gotta get my sea legs in 12 = getting there 18= pops his head out of the water, lovely!
Sjurd AC 17, HP 42/42 Thursday May 13th, 2010 2:50:18 PM
OOC: Well, remember the hypothetical missing child from before? Sjurd just guaranteed that no children will wander off or do anything foolish. At the end of the day, he's saving lives, my friend.
*waves hand* The more you know.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Thursday May 13th, 2010 4:49:27 PM
OOC: I WILL USE AN OOC WHENEVER I WANT!
I will not tell you how to post and I expect the same respect! I reserve the right to say what I want, within the rules for this board and only Cayzle has the authority to reign in my vernacular. Now, I can see some of you having a problem with Jet, but I am beginning to get the idea, you are taking it personally and you are having a problem with me? If this is the case, let us go to emails and solve this problem so we can all enjoy the game.
Hmark d20+3=9 ; d20+3=5 ; d20+3=6 d20+3=4 d20+3=18 d20+3=10 Thursday May 13th, 2010 6:40:11 PM
Hmark sloughs his pack and removes the length of silk rope tied to it. He hands one end to Keela with a grin. "Neat spell," he says.
Zeph mentions the hawkmen hamlet, and the archer theatrically rolls back his head. "Oh yeah, bring THAT up." As an aside to Keela - "I got washed down the river. Barely survived. But I've been practicing since then."
Still smiling at Keela, the archer leaps into the water, and promptly gets tangled up in his own rope. Unable (or possibly unwilling) to surface, the lad thrashes about in the bottom of the pool for nearly half a minute before getting himself loose and swimming frantically after Zeph.
Swim checks - 9,5,6, oooo, nat 1 - especially nice - 18 and 10. Oy.
The archer surfaces next to his long time friend, hands him the rope, and softly bangs his head onto the ground, mumbling, "I'm so shreked".
Keela Thursday May 13th, 2010 10:24:46 PM
"If the horses can be coaxed across, then we should be able to get some people across on their backs. Others can use Jet's barrels. The stronger adults may be able to cross using the ropes, once we get them set up."
Privately, she hopes she doesn't have to resort to the Fly spell to get herself across. It would be embarrassing. For now, she remains on the bank, helping to organize the people so they'll be ready to move when they need to.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Thursday May 13th, 2010 10:51:58 PM
OOC: at first I thought the rope Charek and Gruemor was still there but in back-reading, it is clear Charek pulled it in. Oh well...
IC: Alexi looks at Charek and Gruemor. "You two came this way, you two lead the way out." Then he asks Jet, "You still have an Enlarge spell? The extra strength would come in handy, maybe." Then he asks Keela, "You have that Haste spell handy, right?"
Then he suggests to the group, "My suggestion is send Charek and Gruemor first with one end of a rope. They've been this way before. Then cast the water breathing spell on the strongest of the group, and Jet's Enlarge spell on someone. Have other ropes tied to the people, as many as we can handle per rope. Then pull them through. With them helping swim, they won't be dead weight and with the Haste spell we should decrease the time under water considerably."
ie. ---x---x---x---x---PC using hand-over-hand on the lead rope to pull himself through the water, the 'x' being the people doing the same. Repeat the process until all across.
Does this make any sense?
The little ones can be carried in a barrel or by an adult, but all are tied to the rope.
DM Cayzle - People in the Water Friday May 14th, 2010 8:03:16 AM
It takes some fast work, some magic work, and some clever work, but you are able to get just about the entire group of refugees out of the caves and through the water.
Zeph and Hmark lead the way and stand guard on the outside.
Sjurd does his best to shepherd the kids and keep them safe.
Alexi and Jet work hard to get with their barrels, and that helps a lot.
Gruemor's water breath spell proves invaluable.
Pretty soon, only Charek, Garret, and Keela remain underground. Jet and Alexi are ready to help them across.
Outside, the early night sky is clear. There is no obvious sign of the dwarves' hunter friends, or their ponies.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Friday May 14th, 2010 11:16:49 AM
"Barrel or no, lets get you three wet!" Jets says enthusiasticly as he assist in getting everyone outside.
Once everyone is free of the underground, Jet relishes the slight breeze as he dons again his armor and asks Garth, "What now? We can be seen for miles from the sky on a clear day. I suggest we stay near ravines and other natural obstructions, to break up our pattern against the horizon."
GruemorAC17, HP47 Friday May 14th, 2010 12:47:14 PM
ooc: I suggested emails 2 weeks ago, and you are just now saying take it to emails.
no, im done with you.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Friday May 14th, 2010 1:55:15 PM
ooc: Suggesting one and starting one is two different things. I received nothing in my box from you and I don't have a problem with anyone, so why would I start the emails?
Sjurd AC 17, HP 42/42 Friday May 14th, 2010 9:00:24 PM
OOC: I think both of you need to chill. Seriously. Gruemor, style is a matter of taste. If Jet wants to post his inner thoughts, that's his business. You take care of your part, alright? Jet, please take a humble suggestion and consider having Jet vocalize his thoughts. No biggie, guys.
Sjurd dries himself and waits for the group to prepare itself.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Friday May 14th, 2010 10:27:37 PM
OOC: WFTW, or Word From The Wise:
I know what Gruemor's Player is feeling in respect to Jet's OOC's. I (Alexi's Player) felt similar in the begining, but I concluded quickly that they weren't anything personal and, picture this:
You are sitting around the table and your Paladin is asked to go look at (whatever) so he won't be around while the others 'interrogate' the prisoner. OK, You (the Player) know what's going on and tell your friends, "Hey, if my Paladin were here to see this...blah blah blah..." and then your friends laugh and reply "Well, he's not."
So, the OOC's are no different. It's not personal, is just an expression of a PC's personality given by the Player, that otherwise the others wouldn't know. Ignore it as you please.
With that in mind, it was easier for me to take Jet's OOC's in light of the game and not get uptight about it.
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Friday May 14th, 2010 11:33:06 PM
ooc: Pretty much what Alexi said. Just because I don't end every sentence written with a ":)" doesn't mean I am angry. :)
Sjurd AC 17, HP 42/42 Saturday May 15th, 2010 11:07:23 AM
Ceci n'est pas une smiley-face.
:)
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Saturday May 15th, 2010 3:51:10 PM
ooc: LOL, I had to look that up.
Funny.
:)
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:26 HP:25/25] d20+1=2 ; d20+1=11 ; d20+1=7 ; d20+1=8 ; d20+1=20 ; Saturday May 15th, 2010 4:55:26 PM
Garret carefully watches and helps the others get started in moving across the water. Despite the blockades, he keeps watch to the rear, waiting for bats or lizardmen to appear. When they do not and everyone else heads across, Garret jumps in. He bumps his head on a rock and spins in circles for a few moments underwater, unsure of which way to go. As he starts to run out of breath, he jettisons off the bottom and surfaces with a gasp on the correct side. He treads water a moment, then heads to land, still cautious and looking around, expecting an attack at any moment.
"I do not know this place. Should we expect more lizards and beasts? Or is this place as safe as another wilderness area?"
Hmark Sunday May 16th, 2010 3:06:53 PM
Following his stellar swimming exhibition, Hmark keeps himself out of the way. The villagers are transported and soon enough, everyone is out of the caves. Hopefully the last person through brought that end of the rope with him. If not, Hmark makes the round trip to retrieve it.
And now that everyone's here, the young lad looks about with a realization.
"Wasn't there supposed to be hunters or guards or somebody here waiting for us?"
Keela Sunday May 16th, 2010 8:54:30 PM
With help, Keela manages to cross and emerge, dripping, on the other side. She catches up with the rest of the group as best she can. The absence of the expected guards is a problem, but....
"We can't afford to wait for them," she says. "We have to start moving. They should be able to catch up, if they were only delayed. If it's more than that......we can't afford to wait for them."
DM Cayzle - Escape Under Stars Monday May 17th, 2010 7:41:10 AM
At last, the entire group of refugees is ferried under and out. The ropes are retrieved, and the entire group stands together at the edge of the pond from which you emerged. It is early night, maybe an hour or two after sunset. In the west there is still a hint of purple, rather than true night.
Above you, the first stars shine. They might seem cold and uncaring, or hopeful and encouraging. In any event, they mean that you are free under the sky, that you have emerged from the dark, that the first part of your trials is over.
What dangers await? Where are the hunters who befriended Charek and Gruemor? Are there lizard-folk nearby? But for this second, at least, you feel like you have gained something, gotten somewhere. Where will you head next? A rest or a march? Are you safe or in peril? For the moment, the future holds endless possibilities.
[OOC: This is the end of the scene, a long one. I will be sending out e-mail messages with xp very soon. I appreciate, by the way, that despite some clash of personalities, you guys are trying to work it out. I would go so far as to suggest that sometimes it is better to adjust your role-play style than to alienate your friends and fellow players. Thanks!]
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon d20+4=19 ; d20+4=7 ; Monday May 17th, 2010 9:47:33 AM
Jet looks around, "Can anyone track before the light is gone? Fine out which direction they have left in? he also,listens for sounds of the unnatural."
Jet looks toward the sky for any big red balls or other flying objects that could spot the small community from the air.
Listen: 19 Spot: 7
Sjurd AC 17, HP 42/42 d20+1=12 ; d20+17=21 ; Monday May 17th, 2010 6:19:14 PM
Sjurd and Uli disappear into the underbrush, searching for the trail.
Uli, Aid Another check 12 Sjurd, Survival check 21 (both have Track feat)
OOC: Who or what is Sjurd looking for, BTW?
Jet Stormway (AC:22/21 no dex, HP: 42/42 ; Bantom AC:19 HP: 51/51) Magic Weapon Monday May 17th, 2010 6:24:50 PM ooc: Ahote Hunters that brought Gruemor and Garret to us. I think that is correct, my apologies if not.
Alexi (AC: 20/11, HP:46/46) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Monday May 17th, 2010 7:44:17 PM
Alexi is quite overcome with joy that his two beloved horses made it through, even underwater. More so, that all the others made it too! He has trouble keeping his eyes off Keela in her wet clothes but since it is dark, he grins and does not try to avert his eyes, knowing he won't see anything anyway. (sigh...)
"Darkness hides us from anything from above unless we turn on a light," he says and quickly puts his Everburning Torch in his backpack.
"My suggestion is to head back to the entrance of these plains, the same entrace we came in through. We have the maps and know the way. That canyon maze is easy to hide and get lost in."
Charek AC 24; HP 47/47 d20+3=19 Monday May 17th, 2010 8:29:10 PM
Once back out and drying out, Charek looks around. "Hmm They were mounted on two horses, and had our two ponies with them as well. Walking over to where he and Gruemorh had left the two Ahote and had tehthered their ponies and looks around. Survival roll DC 19
Sjurd AC 17, HP 42/42 Monday May 17th, 2010 8:59:25 PM
OOC: The fickle fate of the die roll! I had a +17 to my die roll and got a 21, Charek has a +3 and he gets a 19! *throws hands in disgust*
Keela Monday May 17th, 2010 10:48:52 PM
"I could conjure a light," Keela says, "but under the circumstances, it might not be such a good idea. If we have to wait for light, though, we need to find a safe place to do it."
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