DM Kathy Monday January 2nd, 2012 10:00:33 PM F'aast gets a headcount, and realizes that Lord Bydrian is also counting heads. The two compare notes, and all the kids are accounted for.
Wilma volunteers to be disguised, too, so Professor Silver makes her look like another girl who seems to be a friend of Dawn's. The girl now looks like Wilma.
He nods in agreement with Vaniime. "Yes, I think that's enough," he says. "I'd rather save the rest of my spells in case we're attacked."
Emrys tries to get Dawn to act like Grell, with mixed results.
You step out the door, and onto the lane that leads from Lord Bydrian's manor to the safety of the public road.
You've barely gone 200 yards when the attack begins. Elementals burst from the ground, and the children fall back, screaming. More bandits come up the track behind them. The professors run forward to meet the assault, and a distant figure, robed in scarlet, gestures with a staff. A fireball erupts among the professors, momentarily halting them, but (fortunately) missing you and the kids.
As with the earlier fight--was it only yesterday?--the professors have most of the attackers under control, but a few are angling around them. Four bandits head your way, and a couple of earth elementals dive below the surface.
[Here is the map. Grey areas are rocks; brown is the track; light green is lawn and the darker green is bushes. Let me know if you have questions.]
Wilma AC16 (chain shirt); HP10/10 Tuesday January 3rd, 2012 4:25:30 AM
Wilma frowned to herself, suddenly remembering that--due to all the hubbub and tensions about protecting the children before--she had completely forgotten to review and change any of the spells she received from Gargul that morning...so her choices remained the same as before...with none of them being very good in a battle situation.
Or were they...?
The redheaded acolyte of Gargul stepped over to where the disguised Dawn was and spoke to her in a firm voice:
"I'm going to cast a protection spell on you now..." she explained to the girl, "As long as you do nothing to attack anyone else, it will prevent anyone from hurting or grabbing you...do you understand..?"
Then Wilma cast Sanctuary on Dawn...
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 Tuesday January 3rd, 2012 6:53:12 PM
To the outside observer, should they care to watch, the little girl Dawn's hands twitch and reach toward her back. There is a brief frown and then she begins to cower, grabbing onto another student (namely the new improved form of Wilma...after she cast the spell, of course). In whispered tones, a very *unlady like* voice says "If you *ever* breath a word of this to the varsity team, I will make you *pay*."
Grell does the best he can to act scared and frightened, but the sight of the bandits so close by makes his blood boil. He soooooooooo wants to charge, but he knows that they should stick to the plan. And so, he does his best to cower and act like a scared little kid.
Seeing a bit of distance between her and the bandits, Vanime whips off her bow and sends an arrow straight at Bandit 1.
AC 17 for 4 points of damage.
Emrys (ac 14, hp 8) d20+1=15 ; d8=6 ; Tuesday January 3rd, 2012 9:10:19 PM
Emrys pulls out his crossbow and sends his bolt flying at one of the bandits. He prays it connects.
With shaking hands, Emrys reloads his weapon.
(Attacking B4: Hit AC 15. Damage 6.
[Edited at Stephen's request by Jerry]
F'aast d20+2=17 ; d6=3 ; Tuesday January 3rd, 2012 10:02:07 PM
"On the Bandits!" Faast yells and charges forward to L15 attacking Bandit #4 hitting AC17 for 5hpd [added bonus after the roll] if it hits.
Then turning to the bandits, he calmly says, "There is no way you will survive this if you continue. Do you really want the last thing anyone ever says about you to be that you tried to harm a little girl? Think Man!"
DM Kathy d20+3=4 ; d20+3=19 ; d20+5=22 ; d20+5=10 ; d6+1=7 ; d6+1=5 ; d20+6=8 ; d20+6=8 ; Tuesday January 3rd, 2012 11:59:22 PM
As the attack begins, Grell, who looks like Dawn, cowers in pretend fear. Dawn, who looks like Grell, backs away in genuine fear, and it's quite a sight to see that expression on Grell's face. Wilma manages to get to her and cast a spell before she retreats.
Meanwhile, Vaniime shoots at one of the bandits, who hisses in pain as the arrow tears through his leg. Emrys also fires a shot, but his misses.
F'aast charges into the fray, smacks one of the bandits, and tries to talk him out of proceeding. [Moving to L-15 would put you in reach of Bandit 2, not 4, unless you have a reach weapon? Let me know which one you meant to hit.]
The distant figure in scarlet gestures again, and writhing black tentacles erupt from the ground where the professors are battling. Startled screams from some of the bandits tell you that the tentacles are not selective in their targets--but fortunately, none of the tentacles are near you.
The bandits move up to engage F'aast, attacking with rapiers. One pierces the half-orc's shoulder for 7 damage; the other stabs into the meat of the leg for 5 damage. The other two miss. "Maybe you should give up, Tusky," one of them sneeers.
Meanwhile, two earth elementals burst out of the ground right next to Grell (who looks like Dawn). Both attack, but both miss.
Here is the map. Bandit 1 is injured, and either Bandit 2 or Bandit 4 is injured, depending on what F'aast meant to do. The other bandits, and the elementals, are unharmed.
Wilma AC16 (chain shirt); HP10/10 d20+4=8 ; d6+4=5 ; Wednesday January 4th, 2012 3:33:53 AM
Wilma rolled her eyes when she heard her baby brother's warning but took a moment to gently but firmly push the disguised Dawn towards the other cleric in the student party.
"Stay by William!" she told Dawn. "He protected you last time--he'll keep you safe this time, too...and remember: do NOT attack anyone!" Turning back towards where Grell was facing the two elementals, the redheaded acolyte gripped her staff, moved up to stand right beside her brother, and swung her quarterstaff with all her might at the elemental now in front of her.
OOC: Wilma has moved to K5 and taken a swing at E1 with her quarterstaff, hitting AC8 for 5hp damage.
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 d20+6=25 ; d20+6=10 ; d20+6=12 ; 2d6+6=9 ; 4d6+12=26 ; Wednesday January 4th, 2012 11:07:52 AM
Grinning as the earth elementals appear, the warrior takes that as his cue. He slices into E2, globing dirt into the air and taking a chuck out of the critter. (AC25/10 for 9 or 26 if crit...which is HIGHLY doubtful!...other d20+6 is mistake).
He anxiously watches to see how F'aast is doing, knowing that it will be dangerous for him to have so many opponents ganged up on him at one time.
OOC: Shouldn't that just be one hit on F'aast? I'm pretty sure his AC isn't 10. Just checking.
F'aast Wednesday January 4th, 2012 12:15:18 PM
Faast's eye instantly roll back into his head as he collapses upon the ground unmoving.
He dreams of home.
----------- [Doesn't matter which one Kathy. Your choice maam.]
Setting her sights on B1 yet again, Vanime draws her arrow back and just as she is about to let fly Wilma rushes by and slightly bumps her, sending her arrow off into the statosphere somewhere as the bowstring slaps her arm like a rank amatuer. causing her to drop her bow to the ground. AC6 (Natural 1)
Emrys (ac 14, hp 8) d20+1=8 ; d8=6 ; Wednesday January 4th, 2012 7:35:01 PM
His first bolt was so close, "Zounds!!" His next bolt is ready. Emrys puts his faith in Grell to handle the elementals, however F'aast has fallen and he's surrounded by bandits. Again, he decides to fire at the same bandit (b4), now that his back is turned. "Darnation!! At least ricochet off that stone!? NO! the other way!"
(Attack B4. Hit AC: 8. Damage 6, yeah right!)
DM Kathy d20+6=22 ; d20+6=14 ; d6+4=7 ; Wednesday January 4th, 2012 11:03:55 PM Wilma steps up next to her brother and swings at one of the elementals, but misses. Grell has more luck with the other one, and manages to take a slice out of it.
Vaniime and Emrys both shoot at bandits, but both miss.
F'aast slumps to the ground. [OOC: There are four bandits; two had flank, so were +2 to hit. I rolled 4, 19, 22, and 10. The 19 and 22 hit.]
The bandits leave the half-orc bleeding on the ground, and move toward the rest of the party. They must double-move, so they do not attack this round.
The elementals continue their assault on Grell. One smacks him for 7 damage; the other misses.
The distant figure in scarlet seems to cast a spell, but a shout and a shimmer from the direction of the professors shows it has been dispelled.
Bandits 1 and 2 are injured. Elemental 2 is injured.
Wilma AC16 (chain shirt); HP10/10 d20+4=13 ; d6+4=7 ; Thursday January 5th, 2012 12:31:53 AM
Wilma's lightly-freckled nose wrinkled in annoyance as she realized that her group was now toe-to-toe with all of the bandits as well as the summoned elementals. She pulled back her quarterstaff and proceeded to bring it down upon the head of the elemental facing her, hoping that this time the blow would actually connect..!
(OOC: Wilma hits AC13 for 7hpd.)
She worried about Fa'ast--he would at least be in need of healing, but time might be his enemy, too, if he needed to be stabilized first. However, she would need to dispatch the enemies nearby before being able to even see to the fallen monk.
Emrys (ac 14, hp 8) 2d4=5 ; 2d4=4 ; Thursday January 5th, 2012 7:30:08 PM
Emrys needs to try something even more desperate. The whole endeavor of him connecting a bolt with a bandit is just not looking good. He drops the crossbow and pulls his lute around. "Here goes nothing!"
He begins to pluck at the strings in a methodical and meticulous manner. The result is a pulsating and rhythmic tune. One that can mesmerize and bewilder. At the bandits he directs his words of power. "Swordsmen, please flee and save yourselves!"
(Casting Hypnotism on the bandits. The spell can effect up to 5HD of bandits, lowest HD are affected first. The spell will last 4 rounds. While in combat, the bandits get a +2 on their Will save. Will save DC 16, or become fascinated and follow my pleasantly worded and completely logical suggestion to run away. I said please!)
F'aast d20=14 ; Thursday January 5th, 2012 8:24:41 PM
Faast continues to dream of battle and home. Then the scene changes to visions of all the things he wanted to do in life.
Far off in the distance, he dreams of two large snakes bearing a wagon on their backs coming his way.
Having dropped her bow Vanime sees the bandits coming towards her and draws her curve blade and has it at the ready swinging as B1 steps into range cutting deeply into the bandits side. AC 23 for 14 points of damage.
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 d20+6=17 ; 2d6+6=8 ; Thursday January 5th, 2012 11:21:03 PM
Biting his lip, Grell is uncertain what he should do. If he leaves his position, he leaves Wilma and Vaniime to be surrounded. Then again, F'aast isn't moving...at all. It's too far away to tell for sure, but is that blood beginning to pool next to his body?!
Growling, he decides to stand his ground and fight to the finish. It's what F'aast would have wanted, he thinks. He hammers his sword down on the injured bandit that just pulled up next to him, hoping that he can perhaps reduce the number of opponents that are now swarming toward them.
AC14. Used hero point to reroll. AC 17 for 8 damage.
DM Kathy d20+1=3 ; d3=3 ; d20+1=7 ; d20+6=14 ; d20+6=7 ; Friday January 6th, 2012 1:29:42 AM Wilma hits out with her staff, but misses her bandit. Vaniime and her curved blade make short work of the first bandit, who crumples, bleeding to the ground.
Grell hesitates, but realizes his best chance is to drop his foes as quickly as possible. He slashes at Bandit 2, and he, too, crumples to the ground.
Emrys drops his bow, grabs his lute, and attempts to Hypnotize the remaining bandits. It works like a charm. [Which is good, because, you know, it's a Charm.] Bandits 3 and 4 take Emrys up on his quite reasonable suggestion and withdraw from combat.
This leaves only the two elementals, who are still after Grell. Both miss.
The professors, too, seem to be winning their battle, and the figure in scarlet seems aware of it. With a shriek of rage, she gestures and disappears. A green ray, fired from the direction of the professors, arrives a split second too late.
William Willsden AC10 HP 7/11 Friday January 6th, 2012 2:26:27 AM OOC: Sincere apologies for my prolonged absence, just got back from my family's place. I will post later today, as I'm off to work now.
F'aast Friday January 6th, 2012 10:26:56 AM
Faast, in his vision, finds himself waving at the two snakes who, now that they are closer, have almost half orc faces. One kinda looks like granpa OrocK. He starts walking towards it. The land looks shadowy around him. He feels a warm sense of "welcome home" after a long battle campaign.
William Willsden AC10 HP 7/11 Friday January 6th, 2012 1:11:10 PM .....Where...... is .... this?
His eyes flutter open, closed, open.
This is .... not.....
More blinking.
A dream?
William's silent and almost comatose form begins to stir. His mind flickers like his eyes and suddenly, the frantic scenes in front of him become clear. His eyes widen now in terror, his mind and pulse racing. F'aast, down. The others, wounded.....
"Oh, goodness..... what has happened to me! Goodness.....so sorry! Sorry!"
Without further ado, the big priest lifts his white robes and begins running towards the form of F'aast; heedless of the steamed state of his spectacles or his own safety. He manages to shout to the girl to stay where she is as he steams off.
Double move to J12 (via i3 to avoid any AoO)
Wilma AC16 (chain shirt); HP10/10 d20+4=15 ; d6+4=5 ; Friday January 6th, 2012 3:12:09 PM
Wilma roared in frustration as her blow missed the elemental yet again. Even more annoyed now than before, the cleric-in-training doggedly persisted in trying to pummel the being in front of her soundly about its head and shoulders...assuming it had any.
OOC: Wilma is aiming her thwackage at E1; she hits AC15 for 5hpd.
Taking a 5ft step forward to (J5) to stand beside her best friend, Vanime slices her curve blade into the earth elemental (E1). AC 19 for 9 poiints
Emrys (ac 14, hp 8) d20+9=11 ; Friday January 6th, 2012 9:02:22 PM
Emrys is shocked and delighted. It actually worked ... in combat even! It's worked before, to animals and the occasional classmate, but to burrow into someones mind who is bent on flaying the meat from your bones is another! The bard decides to perform the lecture on elemental lore to help his friends finish off the final two combatants.
(Perform Naturalist. Knowledge [Nature]: 11 ... just shoot me!)
"Uhhhh ...?!" Emrys fails to remember the very lecture he gave just the day before. The exhilaration and pride he felt from pulling off the previous stunt has completely blocked his mind. "Uhh, they're elementals ... they're made of earth and stone ... uhhhh ... EGADS!!!!"
Grell AC19; HP 5/12 d20+6=25 ; d20+6=10 ; 2d6+6=11 ; Sunday January 8th, 2012 9:40:54 PM
Grell rolls his eyes as William blunders off and then Emrys makes his grand announcement. How did he get stuck with these... Any further thoughts are cut short as a lumbering arm swings toward him. Growling, he takes another slice at the elemental that dares to stand before him.
AC25/10 for 11
DM Kathy Monday January 9th, 2012 12:39:33 AM William makes a belated entry into the combat, and rushes toward the unconscious F'aast.
Wilma aims another blow at that dratted elemental, but to no avail. The little critter is rocky as anything. And nimble.
Vaniime has more luck, and slices into the elemental for some serious damage.
Emrys, flushed with his success, attempts to help his friends with knowledge about elementals, only to find that it has gone clean out of his head.
Grell slices the second elemental in half, and it crumbles into dust.
The bandits continue retreating. Lady Ostine (if that was her) has already fled the battle. The remaining elemental dives underground, and you doubt you'll be seeing it again. Dame Brightseeker and Professor Goodnight rush over to assist you, but they are not needed. The battle is over.
Wilma AC16 (chain shirt); HP10/10 d6=1 ; d6=6 ; Monday January 9th, 2012 2:56:09 AM
"Thanks, Van..!" Wilma told her friend and then towards Fa'ast, arriving at the spot behind the big tall cleric of Alemi.
"How is he, William?" she asked anxiously. "Do you need any help with summoning healing energy...?" The redhead was ready to invoke a burst of positive energy if William deemed it necessary.
OOC: Wilma will use Channel Energy on Fa'ast if William says the monk needs more healing, otherwise she'll use the energy on Grell; re-rolled the healing attempt as the first try was only 1hp--the second roll was 6hp.
F'aast Monday January 9th, 2012 12:25:04 PM
Faast's eyes open with a start. He kips up and has his weapon out immediately almost striking out at William until recognition registers.
"Woah!"
He shakes his head vigorously to remove the visions of snake headed people carrying a huge litter. As recognition comes, his face darkens and a bit of controlled anger surfaces.
"When someone charges in against four warriors, he expects someone to join him! That's all I'll say about that."
Then as if turning off a switch, he spins. "Are the children ok?"
William Willsden AC10 HP 7/11 d6=3 ; d6=3 ; Monday January 9th, 2012 1:14:26 PM
Seeing that he has missed the entire battle, William flushes red in embarrasment. Such shame! Perhaps he wasn't ready for this at all. In fact, he should have stayed at the school, as he had intended.
With head slumped, he releases two waves of healing energy when in a position to affect everybody.
He daren't say a word, and hopes Grell doesn't even notice him.... the hug was bound to be angry.
Channel Energy gives a total of 6 HP healing to everybody within 30'. He will wait until a good position so as to effect everybody.
Wilma (second "illegal" post; RP only) Monday January 9th, 2012 4:53:34 PM
Wilma saw that William wasn't feeling very happy and then she heard Fa'ast round on everyone else about their lack of support.
"Hey, now!" she exclaimed indignantly. "Didn't you remember about the elementals? They used the same tactic this time as they had last time--they burrowed under the ground and then popped up right next to the children. If everyone had charged off along with you, the little ones would have been completely defenseless and easily carried off, or--at the very least--handy hostages for the enemy." The redheaded cleric grimaced, and then sighed, her defensive expression fading.
"Still...I'm sorry that you didn't have anyone with you when you charged...and I'm very glad William was able to revive you."
Emrys (ac 14, hp 8) d20+9=21 ; Monday January 9th, 2012 6:48:36 PM
Emrys sighs with relief when all the combatants retreat and he deeply exhales. Now that the battle is over, he now remembers everything about elementals that he should have known only seconds ago (Knowledge (nature): 21). "Peas and carrots ... I've got to work on my pluck and grit if I'm ever to be a benefit to anyone."
He looks around at the children, especially Dawn who should be disguised as Grell. "Is everyone ok?" He makes a quick count.
Vaniime AC 17/14/13, HP: 11/11 Monday January 9th, 2012 7:56:59 PM
Vanime wipes off her sword and then winces a bit as F'aast rips into the group.
"Umm sorry F'aast, but by the time you yelled, I was already drawing my bow and firing an arrow. After that I had bandits and elementals in front of me and you were down."
As the professors return Vanime looks to them. "Well, did you get her?"
Grell AC19; HP 5/12 Monday January 9th, 2012 11:18:52 PM
The battle finished, Grell turns his attentions to matters that weigh on his mind. Rounding on the cleric, Grell grabs him up. "YOU! I saw what you did out there!! If you EVER choke like that again, I will feed you to my father's cats!"
Taking F'aast's rebuke in turn, Grell lays a hand on the half-orc's shoulder. "Brother, I fear I failed you. I wanted to make sure that the ruse worked and that the child was kept safe. Then when you fell, I could not leave the others for the bandits threatened to overwhelm us. Never again will I attempt to use a ruse in combat. It was a foolish idea." Hanging his head in shame, Grell cleans his weapon.
DM Kathy Monday January 9th, 2012 11:54:44 PM William provides healing to all his companions, and Wilma follows it up with extra healing for anyone who may still need it.
And, there are recriminations. Grell blames William. Emrys blames himself. F'aast blames everybody.
Professor Goodnight claps a hand on William's shoulder, and addresses all of you, "Come now, you did well. You defeated the bandits, and the children are well. Combats never go as planned."
Looking around, you can see that his assessment of the children is correct. They are unharmed, and most of them are looking at you as if they want to be you when they grow up.
Dame Brightseeker sheathes her sword. "No, she got away," she says in answer to Vaniime. She sounds disgusted. "Cowardly creature! Never got close to the battle, and let her minions fight and bleed and die for her."
F'aast Tuesday January 10th, 2012 2:06:44 PM
"No problem. I'm over it already." He flashes a big grin at everyone. "Never felt better!"
F'aast works quickly with the team to get the children ready for travel. As soon as everyone is ready, he decides he'll stay at the front this time and gives the instruction to head out.
He keeps the pace slow, but steady, constantly checking with the others to see that no one is getting left behind.
"Sing us a song to walk by, Emrys? I'll bet some of us are getting a bit sore on this second day of travel."
Wilma d20=6 ; Tuesday January 10th, 2012 5:54:56 PM
Wilma heaved a sigh of relief, grateful that Fa'ast was able to walk away from this battle. She turned an annoyed eye towards her brother and proceeded to give one of her customary smacks across the back of his head.
"That is for saying that you were foolish!" she told him, glaring as she did so. "The ruse was a great idea--our teachers would never have enacted it if they had thought it was a foolish tactic! We just need more experience is all..." Wilma's sapphire eyes ranged around, double-checking that Grell's wound was now all healed up, as well as seeing whether or not there was anything left behind by the fleeing bandits that might be searched for more clues.
OOC: made a generic d20 roll in case a check of some kind is needed; rolled a 6.
Sheathing her sword, Vanime goes back and picks up her bow from where she dropped it and keeping it at hand takes a flanking position 100 yards to F'aast's left and heads out with the others.
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 Tuesday January 10th, 2012 10:05:42 PM
The warrior rubs the back of his head. He has NEVER understood how he can successfully ward off endless sword attacks and somehow Wilma *always* manages to sneak past his guard. "Huh...yeah, but I still don't like how it all went down. I got me a grudge to settle."
Emrys (ac 14, hp 8) d20+11=24 ; Tuesday January 10th, 2012 11:03:16 PM
"Anyone have any suggestions for traveling music?" He doesn't care anymore. He just wants to sleep in his own bed tonight.
(Perform (strings): 24)
DM Kathy Wednesday January 11th, 2012 12:22:36 AM
You catch your breath, gather yourselves, and attempt once again to return to Maplehurst. It seems as if the trip back takes twice as long as the trip here. Going around the mudslide again is especially nerve-racking; every rustle of every bush seems to be a bandit ready to pounce on you.
But no bandits pounce, nor does anything else. You return to Maplehurst tired but triumphant. Your professors heap praises on you until it becomes a little embarrassing.
Has it really been less than 24 hours since the elementals first attacked?
F'aast Wednesday January 11th, 2012 10:28:37 AM
"One hundred bottles of Gnomish on the wall, one hundred bottles of Gnomish.
"Take one down. Smash Emrys crown!
"Ninety nine bottles of Gnomish on the wall."
He grins shouting between verses, "I'm the best bard in the land! Yup I am!
Vaniime AC 17/14/13, HP: 11/11 Wednesday January 11th, 2012 6:03:33 PM
Oh F'aast, that's pretty good, but How about this?
Here we are just a marching down the trail, singing doo wah diddy diddy dum diddy doo Slappin at mosquitoes that are biting at my tail, singing doo wah diddy diddy dum diddy doo
We came "we came" we fought "we fought". We came, we fought. Back you go to be taught.
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 Wednesday January 11th, 2012 10:51:43 PM
Upon returning to Maplehurst, Grell heads straight to the practice fields. He works out his frustrations by bashing the living daylights out of a practice dummy. He is VERY frustrated with the last combat at the way the magician got away and is determined to make himself stronger so that the next time he sees the mystery magician, things will be MUCH different!
Wilma Wednesday January 11th, 2012 11:59:14 PM
Wilma accompanied Dawn to her assigned dorm room to make sure that the girl was safe and sound. She was pensive on her way back to her own dorm. While it was good that the children were now back where the more experienced teachers of the school could guard them, nobody here was any the wiser about the assumed mastermind behind these very blatant attempts to snatch Dawn from her safe haven.
Would they ever truly know..?
The situation reminded her about a story that her own mother, K'Nara, used to tell her: a noblewoman named Madam Colsum had hired the Emerald Talons to investigate some sort of incursion to the lady's wine cellar, but the assignment had turned out to be nothing but a ruse to draw the group into a gas trap. Fortunately for the Talons, they found their way out of the trap and escaped up through the mansion after defeating the spell-casting lady.
"But, Mama...why did Madam Colsum try to do that to you?" Wilma had asked. K'Nara could only shrug.
"I wish I had an answer to that question, Wilma," the blade singer admitted ruefully, "But I don't. We were never truly able to find out what that lady's reason for doing that was...we were all just lucky to have lived through it."
Wilma was definitely hoping that this particular situation wasn't going to be one that left her and her classmates wondering about it for the rest of their lives.
DM Kathy Thursday January 12th, 2012 12:50:28 AM
Back in familiar surroundings, you think about your recent adventure. It is a source of pride, certainly, but many of you are curious about the spellcaster and how she came to escape.
The next day, you are called to the Headmaster's office. When you arrive, Headmaster Roww is talking to a sturdy-looking human woman and an elf man with pale blond hair. Between them, holding each by the hand, is a beaming Dawn.
"Ah, there you are," the headmaster says with a smile. "Dawn's parents were asking to meet you. This is Saadi Droverson and Tilannen Wintershine, well-known adventurers. And here are Vaniime Elemiire Claudia Nightseer, William Willsden, Grell Illutu, Emrys Myrridanmyl, Wilma Illutu-Grell, and F'aast of the Red Fang, the students who were instrumental in saving your daughter."
Dawn's parents shake your hands warmly. "I can't tell you how grateful we are," Mistress Droverson says.
"The tale we get from Dawn is a little garbled," Master Wintershine adds, with a fond smile at his daughter. "Perhaps one of you would care to tell what happened, from your point of view."
William Willsden AC10 HP 7/11 Thursday January 12th, 2012 2:21:16 PM
Despite his size, his befuddled appearance and the air of nervousness that surrounds him, William tries to remain inconspicuous at the back of the group. At least they were back at Maplehurst now. the sooner this meeting was over, the sooner he could get back to the kitchen and do what he did best. Perhaps a roast dinner today..... or fish. Yes, fish would be good.....
Such thoughts keep his nerves from fraying altogether, and he waits for someone else to speak.
F'aast Thursday January 12th, 2012 3:28:51 PM
Faast, looking very serious, points to Emrys. "He's our storyteller. My version would be, 'We fought, we saved, we lived.' We were proud to help."
Vanime looks very uncomfortable having been called to the headmaster's office and then not getting into trouble. It's an unusual situation for her.
She waves lightly to Dawn as she sees her and then steps to the back behind Grell and next to William.
As Faast speaks, she voices her agreement that Emrys should speak for them.
Emrys (ac 14, hp 8) d20+9=16 ; Thursday January 12th, 2012 9:02:17 PM
"It's so wonderful to finally put a face with a name. Dawn has told us so many wonderful stories about your adventures. Yes, I wish our meeting could have happened under more pleasant circumstances." The gears and cogs beginning turning in his head,a legendary tale of that banded together to defeat the very ground on which they walked. A story of dispatching highwaymen and saving the damsel with golden hair from their foul clutches. And in the end to finally meet the nemesis, only to watch her flee from their sight after confronted with the combined might of the professors and students currently present.
(Perform (oratory): 16 = an enjoyable performance according to the charts in the book :)
Emrys (ac 14, hp 8) Thursday January 12th, 2012 9:06:14 PM
OOC: What I meant to say, since I hit the submit button before editing my post...
'The gears and cogs beginning turning in his head, as a legendary tale of a group of young heroes that banded together to defeat the very ground on which they walked rose up against them.'
Emrys (ac 14, hp 8) Thursday January 12th, 2012 9:09:25 PM
(OOC: I messed up again. I give up! I'm too tired. Not my night. I should have just rolled the dice speak for themselves.)
Wilma Thursday January 12th, 2012 9:36:18 PM
Wilma clapped at the end of Emrys' performance, smiling. The half-elf truly had a knack for his profession. Then the acolyte of Gargul turned to Dawn's parents.
"I'm sure that the masters here at the Academy have already told you about the attack on school grounds and how we were escorting the youngest students to safety..." Wilma said evenly, "...as well as the very surprising fact that our group was attacked both on our way to Lord Bydrian's and coming back to the Academy, too. We were lucky enough to manage capturing two of the bandits during the second attack--the one that took place while we were going to Lord Bydrian's estate. They are from Dirt City, and told us that they had been specifically hired to kidnap Dawn. They described the mastermind of the kidnap plot as an elf lady who 'had long red hair and was really beautiful.' The bandits said that they never personally learned her name, but they were witness to the fact that she used magic to teleport about thirty of their group from Dirt City to Plateau City." Wilma blew out a breath.
"We're only guessing," she admitted, "But we think that maybe this Elven lady wizard may be a nemesis of the Order of the White Rose--the one named Lady Ostine..? Dawn thought about everything that we were asking her about the adventures of your Order and she seemed to recall that this Lady Ostine was a spellcaster and a particularly persistent enemy of yours."
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 Thursday January 12th, 2012 11:12:49 PM
Grell fidgets with his hilt as he lets Wilma and Emrys do the talking. Because if he were to tell the story, it would go something like "We had a sloppy first victory, and then we barely scrapped by on the way back. We're going to have to work on our teamwork if we truly wish to become heroes."
DM Kathy Friday January 13th, 2012 1:33:13 AM
The adults listen as Emrys recounts the tale. Mistress Droverson smiles at him when the story is completed, and Master Wintershine nods in appreciation of the bard's technique.
Wilma adds some details and a few theories. The parents glance at one another.
"Yes," says Master Wintershine. "This...attempt does seem to have Lady Ostine's refined stink on it. We have decided to remove dawn to the Order's headquarters in Plateau City, until the school's defenses are back in place."
"Professor Bounderly tells me it will be another two weeks at least," the Headmaster says.
"I expect she's right," says Master Wintershine. "Dawn will miss some classes, but it can't be helped. Her safety must be our foremost concern."
Mistress Droverson turns to you. "But before we go," she says, "my husband and I have agreed that the six of you deserve a reward for your heroism, and your Headmaster has kindly given his consent." She smiles, and her eyes twinkle. "How would you like to accompany us to the Catacombs, to choose your reward?"
F'aast Friday January 13th, 2012 1:55:45 PM
Faast crooks his head sideways. "Our reward is to go to an underground cemetery? Are we hunting undead?"
We graciously accept.
He wonders why the reward is more danger, but is willing to accept if it means less homework.
Vanime can't help but giggle at F'aast's comments, and then tries to inform him without seeming condescending.
"F'aast, These catacombs aren't a place where bodies are buried. It is the Wold's most commonly used magic shop. I have always wanted to go but dad would never let me accompany him for some reason."
William Willsden AC10 HP 7/11 Friday January 13th, 2012 3:50:04 PM
William had heard of the Catacombs, of course, but had dismissed the idea as one of those that was unlikely to ever affect him.
He remains silent, uncomfortable, nervous, waiting for the next step.
Emrys Friday January 13th, 2012 6:53:38 PM
The Catacombs!! He had only been there once, on a wonderful trip to Plateau City with his father. The idea of returning fills him with nostalgic thoughts of his childhood. "We are overjoyed with your most generous reward, thank you so very much!" He can't mask his emotions, the young bard is grinning ear to pointed ear.
Wilma Saturday January 14th, 2012 8:40:48 PM
Wilma's jaw almost hit the floor.
"Thank you..." she sputtered her gratitude before taking in a deep breath and then continuing in a firmer voice, "Thank you both very much...a trip to the Catacombs will be sooooo exciting!" She glanced back at her classmates, seeing her own awe and anticipation mirrored in their expressions.
A trip to the Catacombs! Just wait until she wrote home to tell her parents! (And wouldn't her younger sister Gunda be so envious!)
DM Kathy Sunday January 15th, 2012 11:16:57 PM F'aast misunderstands at first, but his classmates eagerly fill him in. Most of you are excited to visit the legendary magic emporium, although William, as ususal, has his doubts.
Headmaster Roww smiles at you all. "So, it seems your adventure is not quite finished! Mistress Droverson and Master Wintershine will accompany you to the Catacombs, and help you pick out a magic item. This will be considered a school outing, so you must wear your uniforms. We are all very proud of you."
Mistress Droverson begins discussing logistics. "We value our Dawn very much, but of course we can't just give you the run of the place." She smiles. "I was thinking everyone could pick out some magic armor."
Her husband laughs. "Not everybody wears armor, you know! Let's say this: each of you can pick out a set of magic armor or a first-level wand of your choice or a Pearl of Power or Bracers of Armor. I think that should cover everyone. Are you ready to go?"
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 Monday January 16th, 2012 10:44:31 PM
In shock at Dawn's parent's generosity, the warrior's lips flap, but no noise comes out. Looking very much like a fish out of water, Grell follows behind the others in a daze. The Catacombs...the actual Catacombs!!! With that creepy Mindflayer and the vampire...and ALL THAT MAGIC!!!
DM Kathy Monday January 16th, 2012 11:08:28 PM
[It looks as if most people took the holiday off. :) Next DM post Tuesday evening.]
Wilma Tuesday January 17th, 2012 1:10:15 AM
Wilma's sapphire eyes are sparkling with anticipation every bit as they are rounded in awe at the prospect of the class trip to the premiere magic shoppe of the Wold.
"Grell!" she said, poking her brother in the side, "Do you remember the story Mama told us about how she went to the Catacombs to get her sword repaired after some demon sundered it and they fixed it? That was right before she applied that magic stuff to the blade and it became sentient! Remember the story..???"
Wilma ("illegal" second post; RP only) Tuesday January 17th, 2012 4:02:41 PM
OOC: Wilma has stepped up and will be ordering a Cure Light Wounds wand for her magic item.
F'aast Tuesday January 17th, 2012 4:51:54 PM
F'aast's face turns red. He blusters, "How am I supposed to know that? I was adopted out to my tribe by mom as is the Orcish way. My human father doesn't know I exist--but I will change that someday. That I vow."
His face turns dark and he follows the others.
Emrys Tuesday January 17th, 2012 9:26:54 PM
"Please, lets get going. What are we waiting for!!" Emrys is so excited, he is beside himself.
DM Kathy Tuesday January 17th, 2012 9:53:26 PM
You are all eager to be off, so your group is soon on its way.
There is no Catacombs entrance here, but Plateau City is not far away. The Wintershines have hired a coach, and you drive to the Lift in style, passing the Monster Preserve as you go.
"Have you been to the Monster Preserve yet?" Mistress Droverson asks you. "Dawn says Lower School pupils aren't allowed to go, but the Upper School sometimes goes."
Before long, you are in famed Plateau City itself. And not just Plateau City--you are in the heart of the Dragon Quarter itself! Oh, if only you had time to look around!
But the Catacombs beckon, and soon you are in the famed magical emporium, selecting your magic items.
F'aast Wednesday January 18th, 2012 2:05:35 PM
"Is this another civilization thing?" F'aast asks. "I may be stupid, but I just don't get it. Why preserve a mosnter? Aren't they evil? Don't they want to kill us? Why aren't we hunting them to extinction? I daresay that Izen is a safer place to bring up children than the 2nd Plateau of New Elenna."
He peers into the trees looking to spot a Hydra or Bulette or something.
"Mistress Droverson, can you explain why the High Lord Mayor allows such a place to be near Plateau City and....civilization?"
Vaniime AC 17/14/13, HP: 11/11 Wednesday January 18th, 2012 7:49:29 PM
No Mistress Doverson. We have yet to go to the preserve. Is it true that there is a drow settlement located in the preserve?
Emrys d20+9=19 ; Wednesday January 18th, 2012 9:49:37 PM
"Anyone could be labeled 'evil' depending on the perspective of the viewer. From the books of history and legend lore that I've read, some of the greatest evil resides among the so-called noble races." He thinks a little bit and finally remembers their name. "The northern barbarian Guachoti tribe believe all music is the voices of their devil god. Anyone who so much as caught whistling is considered evil, hunted down and and chopped to bits. What's iconic is that they boil those 'bits' into a broth and consume them, actively taking that evil into themselves. Doesn't make much sense. Some myths rarely make sense."
DM Kathy Wednesday January 18th, 2012 10:55:34 PM
"Knowledge is power," Master Wintershine says to F'aast. "We preserve the monsters in order to study them, that we might gain knowledge of how to defeat them in the wild."
"Also, they're good practice," adds his wife with a grin.
All too soon, your outing is over and you have returned to school. You have new magic items to test out, and a new tale to tell your classmates. But will they be appreciative, or envious?
Wilma Wednesday January 18th, 2012 11:24:56 PM
Wilma couldn't help smiling at the slender and smooth wooden wand in her hands. It was a rather plain wand, with the only the ancient Woldian rune for "heal" etched along its shaft giving any kind of clue to its function. She was proud of her choice and turned to the adventuring couple from the Order of the White Rose responsible for funding its purchase.
"Thank you both so much!" she told them. "I can only hope that we can be anywhere near as successful as your Order has been in helping the Wold in the future..."
Header edited at player's request--DM Kathy
F'aast Thursday January 19th, 2012 2:03:40 PM
Faast considers Emrys words. "I don't like evil mixed in with good. It gets confusing. To me, 'shades of gray" is the worst evil there is. It is cowardly evil."
He turns to Mrs. Wintershine and wonders if he should continue. He does. "No offense maam, unless it is deserved, but it IS a form of evil to study evil. To set ones mind on how evil works is to let it into your heart-- just a bit. Evil should be destroyed, not studied, not practiced upon, and not placed in a zoo!"
He stares at her, watching to determine what adventuring has done to her heart and ethics. Will she dismiss him as a youth, swat him down, or engage him. He awaits her.
Emrys Thursday January 19th, 2012 10:18:25 PM
Emrys' exasperation with F'aast's behavior can no longer be tolerated. "Why are you being such a imbecilic blatherskite!? And who do you think you're talking too. Everyone is capable of good and evil, light and dark. Only those who believes in rigid absolutes and act with such zealotry only makes fertile ground for which evil is allowed to thrive. Your dark speech is laced with evil tones. Demonstrate to us you can rise above your breed and apologize to the Lady who graces us with her presence!" The bard's face is red and trembling with rage. "To god my wrath, my fury that you would drive me to slap the tusks from your slacken jaw!!"
DM Kathy Thursday January 19th, 2012 10:39:26 PM
Mistress Droverson smiles at Emrys. "Thank you, sir," she says, then the grin is back on her face. "But I'm no lady; I'm a fighter."
"Anyway," Master Wintershine adds, "I was the one who said we study the beasts, not my wife. And we do it so we know how to defeat them. The monsters are savage, but most lack the intelligence to be truly evil. Evil requires a choice; most beasts act simply on instinct."
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 Thursday January 19th, 2012 10:42:25 PM
Grell lovingly fondles his new armor as he listens to the conversation around him. He looks over at F'aast. "Some would say that all orcs are evil and deserve to be destroyed by the Grell tribe of Izen proves that not all is as it seems. Perhaps some of these monsters are not all evil. But if they are not...then why use them for "practice"?" As the warrior talks, he becomes confused by his own logic. Clearly debate is not his element.
DM Kathy [End Matter] Thursday January 19th, 2012 10:45:46 PM
I see that I forgot to give experience for the "Chateau Henderly" scene. Bad DM! Everybody take 200 XP for that scene.
Also, everyone take 600 XP for this final scene. This should put everyone at second level, unless I've mis-added someplace.
A Hero Point goes to Emrys who saved your bacon in that final fight. I was getting worried there, but that hypnotism did the trick. Another Hero Point to F'aast for charging in where angels feared to tread. :) That's an additional 30 XP each, gentlemen; well done.
[If anyone has further nominations for Hero Points, let me know.]
Everyone, please try to complete your Catacombs transactions and level your characters over the weekend.
"Thank you ever-so-much for the trip to the Catacombs. Your gift is unbelievably generous. Especially for doing something we volunteered to do and would have done in any case."
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 Friday January 20th, 2012 11:37:06 PM
Grell nods his head in enthusiastic agreement with Vaniime. "Yes, it is an amazing gift of generosity! I pledge to use your gift to make the Wold a safer place!" Glancing over at Wilma, Grell smiles an impish grin. "And I'll make sure my sister stays out of trouble too."
Wilma Sunday January 22nd, 2012 12:42:36 AM
"Of COURSE you will, Grell!" Wilma agreed with her brother with a bright smile and a pat on his shoulder. "Otherwise your life would be so dull and boring..!"
DM Kathy Sunday January 22nd, 2012 9:04:33 PM
It's odd, returning to the normal routine of classes and homework after the excitement of your two-day adventure. Of the eight of you who first responded to the threat of the elementals, a close group of five remain. Your friend Fizzle has begun working on his final-year project, and spends almost every waking hour in the alchemy lab. You rarely see him, even at meals. Nymirin received an urgent summons from his family, some kind of emergency. You aren't sure when he might be coming back. You still see William around, but he seems to be avoiding you. He spends more and more time with Brother Vessix in the infirmary or puttering in the kitchens.
For the rest of you, your recent adventures have brought you a measure of fame at the school, and you are finding that this isn't necessarily a good thing.
F'aast felt isolated before, but now students and teachers alike seem to be treating you like some kind of dangerous lunatic who could become unhinged and attack at any moment. Whispers follow you wherever you go, and professors never seem to take their eyes off you.
Vaniime finds that some of the silliest girls in your year all of a sudden want to be your best friends. Teelie Dwen tells you that your hair "looks really cute like that," and switches her seat in Geography to sit next to you. Amya Rellis makes a big deal of inviting you to sit with her at lunch. Neave Zvarra lends you her necklace and offers you treats out of a care package she recently got from her home.
Wilma, meanwhile, finds that she can't make a move without practically tripping over Clarin Hoke or Royse Mollen. The two young men want to carry your books, fetch you things, sit with you at meals. They tell you how pretty you are, how smart, how brave. You aren't sure what to make of their sudden interest.
Grell was accustomed to being Big Man on Campus, and had a trio of like-minded, athletic young men he liked to hang out with. Now, however, they seem to have turned on you. "I hear that the Slug is your new booooyyyyfriend," one of them sneers, while the others laugh and make kissy noises. They no longer join your team at practice, and take delight in tripping and pushing you when they think the professors aren't looking--the same kinds of tricks all of you once played on smaller, weaker students.
Emrys, meanwhile, is trying to immortalize your recent adventures in a new ballad or possibly epic poem. Much to your annoyance, however, you find that every other student in the Bard program is trying to do the same thing. They pester you for details: who did what, and where they were standing, and what the blood looked like when the blows hit.
Wilma Sunday January 22nd, 2012 10:46:50 PM
Any casual observer would likely stare and wonder why in the Wold there was a student who was hunched over as though trying to make themselves smaller than they were. This--added to the fact that the female was also wearing a conspicuously floppy hat (in the light blue/dark blue of the approved school colors, of course) and holding their text book so ask to mask most of their face gave the definite impression that the girl was trying to hide from someone. The impression was cemented by the furtive bob-and-weave walking that she did through the throng of other students while glancing around as though expecting an ambush at any moment.
The "inconspicuous" student slid into place next to Vaniime and hissed in a whisper:
"Psssst! Please tell me that neither Clarin nor Royse are around!" The book lowered to reveal the frowning face of Wilma. "I've been dodging them since I left them bickering about which one of them would carry my books after Monster Myths class this morning...!"
::Vanime is sitting with her nose buried in a book as if trying to ignore everyone but chuckles softly as she sees the incognito Wilma sit down nexyt to her complaining::
Vanime looks around and whispers back conspiritorily,
"Not at the moment anyway. But don't you think you have it bad. At least you have boys bugging you. You can always beat them up and be done with it. I have a gaggle of frippery, silly, giggling, geese that seem to think I should become some sort of frail, face painted, long nailed, salon girl. I am about ready to set them on Grell, but I wouldn't even wish these three on him. Besides I hear he is having issues of his own."
Wilma Monday January 23rd, 2012 3:13:01 PM
("illegal" post; RP only) The redheaded human rolled her eyes.
"Unfortunately for me, Brother Vessix has pointed out that I am to be a cleric of Gargul, and not Domi, so my natural instinct to punch these guys hasn't been...encouraged." She blew out a breath. "And I thought my brother has been more Orcishly grumpy than usual, but he hasn't told me anything. What have you heard..?"
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 Monday January 23rd, 2012 10:47:23 PM
The words of his former friends cut like a knife, for Grell has always worried that he was too weak, too slow. Anger boils within him like a fire elemental. He NEVER wanted to get stuck with the Slug, but there was nothing he could do about it and NOW look at mess he's in! He deals with the torments the only way he knows how...fights! He can't stop the name calling, but by the gods he *will* give them something to remember him by!
His previous trips to the Headmaster's office are now eclipsed by daily visits. While he might have the occasional bump and bruise, Grell's superior strength guarantees that his former friends sport a broken nose here or there.
When he's not in class or busy getting in fights, Grell redoubles his workout schedule, pushing himself to exhaustion. He doesn't need friends, he needs to be stronger,,,faster. Grell keeps his distance from the small members of the group, especially Wilma. That was the LAST thing he needed right now was her sticking her nose into his business. He can handle this all on his own. He doesn't need her help because he will MAKE himself strong enough.
DM Kathy Monday January 23rd, 2012 11:03:57 PM Wilma and Vaniime have a few minutes to commiserate, but before long, a lilting voice says, "Oh! There you are!" and suddenly Teelie and Amya are standing right next to you. "Vaniime! Hi! What are you reading? Is it nice? Gosh, you're so smart. Do you want to come with us this afternoon? We're going to go by the practice field and watch the boys."
And Wilma, looking up, sees Royse heading in your direction. He is, by the way, really cute, though his sudden interest in you is as baffling as ever. "Hello, Wilma!" he calls cheerfully. "Walk you to your next class?"
Grell has problems of his own. You gets into several fights, which gets you several detentions. Detention with Ganz isn't so bad; he runs you to the point of exhaustion, but that's kind of your plan anyway. Detention with Dame Brightseeker is horrifying, and not only because it brings you to the chapel and close proximity to William. She has you read and copy out texts about Being Good and Doing One's Duty, and you can't help but feel a little judged. Detention with Professor Lobrian is the worst; he makes you sort historical texts into alphabetical order: using the Elven alphabet, with which you barely have a nodding acquaintance. It is fussy, fiddly work for a fussy, exacting master, and the time seems to go by at a crawl. Worst of all, when you finally come trudging out of detention, your one-time friends are there to mock you.
Wilma Tuesday January 24th, 2012 1:34:49 PM
"Well, hello, Royce!" Wilma responded with a wan smile. "Thanks for the offer..." Her sapphire eyes darted around the area for two reasons: first, she was wondering where Clarin was (she could swear the two boys were practically conjoined twins!)--second, she was desperately trying to think of some way to get rid of Royce that didn't involve Domi-inspired intervention. Unfortunately, she was still stuck with no ideas and now there was Van's fan-girls to dodge, too.
Hmmm...wait a minute...
"...bu-u-u-t..." Wilma drew out the word as an idea came to her and her smile visibly brightened by a few watts. "...have you met these two marvelous young ladies...? They're...eh..." What were their names??? The acolyte of Gargul waved a hand in each girls direction as she stumbled through an introduction.
"Tillie and Amyrna...this is Royce. He's a very nice guy. Maybe you've seen him around...?" Wilma prompted. She paused, watching carefully to see if the three of them were sufficiently distracted by each other to allow Van and herself to beat a hasty retreat.
Emrys Tuesday January 24th, 2012 7:01:34 PM
Emrys announces to all the other want to be bards in the music hall, "Not to worry everyone, you will find out soon enough the nature of my adventure .... as soon as I finish composing it. You all should know better than to ask for the ending of a narrative before it's finished!"
After suffering from all the begging, Emrys can finally get back to writing his music.
"Oh, Yes. It is a wonderful book." As she shows them the page she is on with the bloody hewn arm nearly severed from an ogre's body, she continues." It is The Art of Cleaving Limbs: The Anatomy of Arms and Legs."
As she hears Wilma start the introductions to her pest, he adds her piece as well. She nearly simpers doing a good imitation of a giggly girly girl, or flighty elfin lass.
"Oh yes, Royce is soo nice and friendly. And look at his arms, he is soo strong. You two really should get to know him."
Oh Shoot! Wilma, Isn't today when we are supposed to be working with healing herbs, in the garden with Professor Lumkornig and Brother Vessix? We are about to be late if we don't hurry."
As they escape the trio, vanime whispers quickly.
"Apparently Grell is getting a bit of his own back from his friends. I'm not sure if we should help or not. It could make the problem worse".
She is all but grinning at that thought.
DM Kathy Tuesday January 24th, 2012 11:27:49 PM Emrys decides to play it cagey with his fellow bardic students. They continue to pester you, but the frequency dies down once they begin to realize the futility. Then, they begin performing their "masterpieces." Some aren't bad. Migla, a halfling girl a year behind you, turns out a particularly stirring ballad.
On the other hand, some are awful. Gleer attempts to rhyme "Emrys" with "dentist," which not only doesn't rhyme; it doesn't even make sense. Ossel tries to turn the whole thing into a comic song, which would be a challenge even for the wittiest bard, which Ossel clearly is not. The performances are excruciating.
Vaniime shows off her book, earning a startled "Ewwwww!" from the girls. Wilma tries to introduce them to her swain, but it appears they know one another.
"Good afternoon, Master Mollen," Teelie says stiffly, with an iciness that proclaims bad breakup. Amya says nothing, only tosses her curls and looks miffed.
Royse soldiers gamely on. "Ah, Wilma, you're breaking my heart!" he says. "As if I could look at another girl when you're around."
Vaniime's timely cover story allows you to retreat....for now.....
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 Wednesday January 25th, 2012 10:20:37 AM
Emerging from a particularly painful detention with Professor Lobrian, Grell's head is pounding as he reflects on the afternoon. Of all the cruel and barbaric things to do...Elven...Elven of all languages! Why not Common?! I mean, there's a reason it's called *Common* after all...since it is the most often used of languages! Bah...Elven...words twisted around words with little meaning half the time! What Mom ever saw in the people, I'll never understand! Why can't they be like the orcs...say what you mean and mean what you say. You have a problem and you settle it...right then and there with a nice fist to jaw. None of this "It is one's duty to stand for the equality of all, lest all be doomed to inequality." What did that mean anyway?! More words twisted upon words.
Grell is mid contemplation (which is a bit awkward for the action oriented young man!) as he heads out to the fields for some sword work. The post would have to suffice for now, since he hadn't had a proper practice partner since he came back from their adventure. The warrior growls at the thought. WHY? He hadn't wanted to be stuck with the Slug in the first place..it wasn't like he had a choice. You know what, though...considering everything, the Slug didn't do too bad. Yeah, he massively choked on the last battle, but he did pretty good in the first one. Better than Grell EVER thought he could do. No matter what anybody says, in any combat, there is that moment of sheer terror when you know that the battle isn't practice and the blood that's shed is for real. You had to give the Slug some credit...while his practice partners had RUN away, the Slug had stood up for that kid, and that took guts. Especially for someone in as pathetic shape as him!
Grell spots his former friends approaching as he walks and thinks. His fist clinches. By the gods, they were stubborn! How many times was it going to take before they figure out that he can take care of his own?! And then there is an inkling of a thought...just the smallest little waggle of the conscience. Grell stops and stands still, waiting for the others to come to him as it dawns on him. "It is one's duty to stand for the equality of all.." If he had been wrong about the Slug, what else had he been wrong about? With great effort, he relaxes his hand and stands patiently. Perhaps it was time for a change of strategy. As they approach, Grell nods in their direction. "Alrighty boys, it's time we had a talk..."
Hey Wilma, let's head out and see what's going on I feel the need to work of some frustration and maybe crack some heads.
DM Kathy Wednesday January 25th, 2012 11:48:00 PM Grell emerges, muttering, from detention, but perhaps all those hours of actual thinking helped you. At any rate, you are open to a new method for dealing with yourformer friends.
Unfortunately, they have not undergone the same kind of personal growth that you just experienced, and they continue mocking you all the way back to the dormitory.
Vaniime and Wilma leave their new fan clubs and head off in search of Grell. They find him walking stiffly amid a trio of equally large-muscled and tiny-brained young men, all of whom are teasing and mocking him. And hey, didn't they used to hang out together?
Wilma AC16/12/14; HP20/20 Thursday January 26th, 2012 12:24:44 AM
Wilma's eyebrows elevated at the sight of Grell's so-called buddies turning on him. Her grip on her omni-present quarterstaff tightened in anger as she witnessed for herself the trouble that Van had warned her about--the trouble her Orcishly-stubborn brother had kept to himself.
Well, Grell might have been a stubborn "Orc"...but he was her stubborn Orc and nobody else had the right to give him a hard time except for Wilma herself!
"Why, Grell! Fancy meeting you here!" the redheaded cleric said with a fixed sort of smile. "Extra mentoring from Professor Lobrian..? Mother will be pleased to hear that you're finally remembering the Elven part of our heritage..." Her fixed smile and icy blue eyes were trained on the trio of tormentors, taking on a quality that uncomfortably reminded her brother of those times when their mother would "smile"--just before beating the living tar out of some enemy.
"Hey Grell, Weren't you mentioning the other day about small group combat and how, you know, a lot of what mattered is really just communication and teamwork? It looks like we could try out few of those tecniques if you and your friends would like to practice?"
Emrys d20+15=26 ; d20+9=29 ; Thursday January 26th, 2012 9:51:27 PM
Emrys decides to show off a little by giving his fellow musicians and storytellers a taste of his soon-to-be epic composition with an impromptu performance of the Ballad of the White Rose. A performance made even more difficult when he attempts to sing it as well.
Grell AC19; HP 12/12 d20+7=11 ; Thursday January 26th, 2012 10:54:02 PM
Grell smiles at the arrival of Wilma and Vaniime. Moving slowly, he shifts his position so that he and Vaniime are flanking one of the bullies. "Yes...communication and teamwork...to bad you guys weren't able to listen to Dame Brightseeker's session last Monday. You would have found it...enlightening..." Grell kicks out with his leg, attempting to sweep one of the bullies off his feet, but not having a whole lot of luck (Attack-11).
DM Kathy Friday January 27th, 2012 1:00:21 AM Emrys retaliates with a superb performance of the "Ballad of the White Rose." Most of your fellow bard students are duly impressed, but Gleer does not seem to get it at all. "I've heard that one before," he scoffs.
Wilma and Vaniime come to Grell's aid, as adventuring companions will do. The three young men seem to know that it's time to cut their losses and go. "So now you've got girls fighting for you," one of them scoffs as they move away. "Girls and the Slug. See you around, loser."
Wilma AC16/12/14; HP20/20 Friday January 27th, 2012 5:34:12 PM
"You really need to reconsider your so-called 'friends', Grell," Wilma said in a loud, harsh voice, "First it's three-on-one odds, and now they run away when it's even up? They're nothing but cowards and you're well rid of them, then!"
Vaniime AC 18/14/14, HP: 15/15 d20+5=19 ; Friday January 27th, 2012 5:54:08 PM
As Grells leg lashes out and his opponents dodges his attempV, vanime puts out her leg in a last minute effort to trip up the same guy as he moves away from Grell. trip Attack AC19
Even if she manages to trip him up, she lets him get up and flee, with a couple of comments aimed at the retreating trio.
"Oh we weren't here to fight for him, just to make sure you three snakes weren't going to pull weapons out while Grell was flattening all of you with his fists.
"Besides what does it say about you three if you are fleeing because of us two little frail girls?"
Grell d20=4 ; Sunday January 29th, 2012 10:44:19 PM
Grell growls as the cowards flee. "Don't think this is over! I'm shutting you down!" He looks over at Wilma and Vaniime with gratitude. "Thanks." he d
DM Kathy Sunday January 29th, 2012 11:56:43 PM
The three boys continue to retreat, hurling back insults in response to the ones lobbed at them. It appears, however, that nobody is fighting today. Which is probably just as well; Grell would probably be well-advised to avoid drawing more detention just now.
Over the next few days, Grell finds that his one-time friends have definitely broken off the friendship. The fact that this is almost certainly jealousy is scant consolation. On the other hand....his sister and Vaniime were willing to stand with him. F'aast and Emrys probably would, too, if he asked them. Perhaps he has simply found some better friends. Something to think about.
The girls continue their pursuit of Vaniime, and at least begin to reveal why they're doing it in the first place. They begin to drop hints that perhaps Vaniime's good friend Grell could join them all for this or that activity. Grell's praises are sung regularly, and Vaniime is pressed for details about what he's really like.
Meanwhile, Wilma begins to suspect that Clarin and Royse are less interested in her fair person than in her adventuring skills. They offer to "help her with her homework," but end up asking for far more help than they receive. They also drop some broad hints about how Wilma's adventuring group could maybe use a couple of extra people.
All of your frustrations, however, begin to fade to the background as you begin to hear rumors that Professor Goodnight is planning another of his famous field trips.
[OOC: I think everyone has their character leveled and their Catacombs purchases added to their character, except Jerry who has been out sick. Please make sure your character is ready for second level, and I will start the next module tomorrow.]
Wilma AC16/12/14; HP20/20 Tuesday January 31st, 2012 4:01:27 PM
Wilma tilted her head as she considered the two boys who were currently arguing over the finer points of distinction between a ghoul and a ghast. At least now she was pretty sure that the pair weren't really interested in her on a personal basis--they were trying to make sure they had options open for their future careers. She decided to remind them of the obvious:
"Royse...Clarin..." she spoke up, slicing across their debate with her tone, "...the fact is--ghasts are ghouls, only they're nastier than normal. Ghouls have a chance of paralyzing you when they touch you, but most Elves don't have to worry about it. However, the touch of a ghast can paralyze even an Elf--and they also have the most ungodsly stench in the Wold that they can unleash at will to make every living thing in the vicinity violently ill." Wilma rolled a shoulder, taking time to pick her next words carefully.
"I want you both to realize that I still have some time to go before graduating from Maplehurst," the redhead told them, "So the...uh...adventuring group that you're dropping so many hints about joining really doesn't exist yet. Not only does it not exist yet...it's also not my particular responsibility to recruit for it, either. However, if you two do your best while we are all here at the Academy, I just know that you'll be snapped up for membership to just about any group when the time comes...later. Much later."
Vaniime AC 18/14/14, HP: 15/15 Tuesday January 31st, 2012 6:05:44 PM
Knowing that the girls are more interested in Grell than getting her to join them in their frippery is a relief but at the same time something bothers her about their real interest as well. is it the fact that they are interested in Grell and not her, simple professional jealousy, or something else entirely.
Puzzled she shakes it off and suggests that they simply introduce themselves to him. She tells them she is sure he would enjoy getting to know them.
Sendng them their way, she again feels a bit odd about the situation, but can't pin point what or why it is bothering her.
Emrys d20+9=17 ; Tuesday January 31st, 2012 10:39:54 PM
On a whim, after leaving the music hall, Emrys decides to stroll down to the office of the record keeper (whatever it's called ... the place where records are kept on students and faculty). The first clerk he sees, the bard attempts to turn on the charm. "Excuse me, but I was wanting to find out some information about Professor Silver. I was thinking about creating a musical composition or poem in his honor ... for his birthday. Do you know where he is from originally, where he was educated? I would like to tailor the composition in the style of the region from which he is from. I would ask him, but I fear revealing the cat in a bag instead of a pig in a poke."
Emrys always thought that expression sounded strange. Maybe he should word it differently. He thinks, 'hmmm ... letting the cat out of the bag ... that does sound better.'
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