DM Kathy Monday November 19th, 2012 10:25:51 PM
Back outside the wall, you take a few moments to catch your breath and count heads. Yes, all of the Vanguard made it out safely. There are also two more adventuring companies out here, most of whom are in the air, looking over the wall. "Glad you kids made it out," one of them calls.
Another group of adventurers comes bursting through the opening in the wall, and also pauses to rest. "Hey, the kids made it out," one of them says. Another group comes through, and another. "Oh, good, the kids made it out." It is both heartwarming and irritating.
The Order of the White Rose comes through, also all flying. Then another group, looking a little the worse for wear, accompanied by Graf the Falcon. He pauses, just outside the opening. "Swords!" he shouts urgently. "Swords of Triumph! Has anybody seen them?"
The adventuring companies look at one another. "I think we heard them at one point," a dark-haired woman says hesitantly, "but it was before the stones turned red."
Graf utters a few choice phrases, and you are reminded that rogues spend a lot of time with unsavory people. He stays just outside the opening, looking back at the Castle, every line in his body tense. The opening gets smaller and smaller.
"Sir, you have to come through!" one of the spellcasters gasps. "We're losing--"
Graf steps through the opening seconds before it collapses. Whoever the Swords of Triumph are, they are still inside. The mood is somber.
Graf turns to the group of adventurers. "Did anybody at least see the green glow?" he asks.
[Emrys's feast is a lovely idea, but it may be a while before we get to it. :) ]
Grell AC 26 (29 vs. Evil)/14/19, HP47/47, Silversheen (Gtswd), Prot. from Evil, Magic Weapon, Shield (Flail, Bow), Bless Weapon (Gtswd)Hide from Undea Monday November 19th, 2012 11:03:10 PM
Grell steps forward. All joy and exaltation is removed knowing that another party didn't make it. "Sir, I saw the light. Just before we left, we found a room with the glow. When we opened the door, and looked in, the glow looked like it was coming from a window or a door. Except, it was all wobbly like. I believe Ariach and Emrys also got a good look too. I hope this is the information you need." Grell answers any of Graff's questions to the best of his ability.
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KUlT3552MqS8NLcvza8td3fzoOpFycIoX9scEgITcZQ/edit?hl=en_US/">Grell AC 26 (29 vs. Evil)/14/19, HP47/47, Silversheen (Gtswd), Prot. from Evil, Magic Weapon, Shield (Flail, Bow), Bless Weapon (Gtswd Monday November 19th, 2012 11:04:02 PM
OOC: Tomorrow is our Thanksgiving (since hubby has to work on Thursday), so I might not be able to make my post.
Emrys (ac19 (21evil), hp18/21), hide from undead, detect magic, see invisibility, shield, prot. evil, magic weapon, light d20+14=32 ; Tuesday November 20th, 2012 12:24:28 AM
Emrys nods with Grell's assessment, "Yes, I too saw the thing that Grell speaks of. At first, I was theorizing that the source of the viridescent light was the flickering flames of Witchfire. However, it proved not to be. My divinations confirmed no incorporeal presence was within the light. There were auras of magic present, but I was unable to determine the type. We were immediately attacked by wights and a pair of wraiths, who took tactical positions in the hall, blocking our escape route. One thing is certain, it wasn't a creature. As Grell described, the objected looked like a shimmering portal or sensor with edges that wafted away like swirling mist. One thing is certain, it is magical, possibly a ____________!" (see skill check below)
(Knowledge [arcana]: 32, to recall the aura Emrys saw and make an educated guess-timate at the type of magic.)
Vaniime AC 18/14/14, HP:18/23 Protectrion from evil, shield, hide from undead Tuesday November 20th, 2012 2:09:52 PM
Obviously irritated at all the "Kids" remarks, Van listens as Grell and Emrys make their reports and then adds her two cents worth.
'It also seemed to be fairly mobile as at first it seemed to be in the hallway and then behind the door of this particular room.
And yes, before you ask, we should be able to show or give you directions to the room as we marked our route to the door we found it behind with arrows pointing back to this exit. The marks are made in chalk, at shoulder and knee level, so at least one set should be still in existance.
*********
1 negative level
Thessa - HP: 23/23, AC: 17/17/14 (19vsEvil), Guidance, ProtE, Shield, Exp Retreat(Mv:60) Tuesday November 20th, 2012 4:49:22 PM
Vaniime, Grell and Emrys all seem occupied with Graf, and doing a nice job of describing the source of the green glow. She only half listens to them as she attends to Wilma, offering any help she needs to feel better.
Once Wilma is settled in or brushes Thessa off, she finds a quiet spot to sit down and indulge her nagging curiosity. She sets the box she discovered in the castle on her lap and runs her hands over the seams, feeling for the hinges and the latch. If it's not locked, she will open it and examine the contents. If it's locked, she'll pull her dagger out and see about prying the box open either at the latch or hinges - whichever seems weakest.
Ariach AC 25(31) (+2 fighting defensively+2 combat exp.+2 evil//14/19 ; HP 34/47 Tuesday November 20th, 2012 6:33:44 PM
Back outside Ariach sits down. He feels dizzy and wants to avoid to black out. But he nods to the words Emry and Grell are telling Graf. "I can affirm the truth of their words. Unfortunately we hadnīt enough time to inspect the portal in detail."
(Ariach took 3 points of constitution drain. His HPs are reduced by 10 - or is it more?)
Wilma; AC17 (+1 Mithril chain shirt)/AC19vsEvil; HP 24/35 Tuesday November 20th, 2012 9:06:33 PM
Wilma's face--which seldom saw too much sunlight since she tended to burst out in vivid freckles whenever she was in the sun for too long--was definitely paler than normal.
"I...I got tagged by the wraith that chased...us out of the castle..." the young priestess told Thessa, "...I...I guess my spell...didn't work...as well as I'd...hoped..." The redhead allowed Thessa to help her over to a nearby carved stone bench and perched on its edge, slowly recovering from the feeling of weakness that the wraith's touch had invoked. Her sapphire eyes roved the faces of her teammates, noting that Ariach and Grell looked a little worse for wear as well. She also listened to the conversation between everyone who had managed to escape Lasher Castle.
"We should..." Wilma said, still a bit breathless, "...discuss plans to rescue...the others...after...we attend to...the draining effects...we've suffered on this...mission..."
Tuck HP 33/36 AC 28/28/24, Mage Armor, Shield, Prot. from Evil, Magic Weapon Tuesday November 20th, 2012 10:30:54 PM
Tuck uses the break to control his breathing and stabilize his body rhythms.
DM Kathy Tuesday November 20th, 2012 10:44:06 PM Grell and Emrys describe what they saw, with Vaniime supplying a few details now and then. Graf listens intently. Emrys is able to conclude that the fluctuating door-window thing is most likely a portal to another plane. The other, more experienced spellcasters gathered around agree with his assessment. Which plane? That's impossible to tell without first-hand observation. All you know for sure is that it glowed green. The Elemental Plane of Pistachio? Probably not.
Meanwhile, Thessa is opening the box, which is quite easily done. Inside are a composite longbow, a scroll, three potions, and a quantity of coin which ends up being 1400 in gold.
Tuck takes a moment to recover. Ariach and Wilma are feeling a bit shaky from their brush with the wraiths.
After a short discussion, it is Saadi Droverson who says, "We need to go back in."
Graf the Falcon nods. "Yes. We need to rescue the Swords, if at all possible, and track down this portal thing before it....does whatever it's going to do. I can't imagine it'll be good, whatever it is." He glances around. "Get ready. Re-cast spells if you can. I'm going to talk to the wizards; see how soon we can get back inside."
Wilma; AC17 (+1 Mithril chain shirt)/AC19vsEvil; HP 31/31(with Lower Constitution) d8+5=8 ; Wednesday November 21st, 2012 1:34:49 AM
"If everyone who suffered damage would step in a little closer, please..?" Wilma said out loud, getting to her feet. Once she saw that she was surrounded by the rest of the Vanguard, she produced her wand of curative magic and tapped people as needed.
OOC: Wilma's Constitution is now only 13, which means her max HP is now only 31 until her attribute is restored. She has tapped herself with the CLW wand and cured 8hp of her physical damage, bringing her up to her current max HP, 31hp.
Everyone else in the group wishing for their PC to be healed of physical damage must roll a d8+5hp per charge they need to be healed. Please remember to state how many times you want Wilma to use her wand on your PC.
Tuck HP 36/36 AC 28/28/24, Mage Armor, Shield, Prot. from Evil, Magic Weapon d8+5=11 ; Wednesday November 21st, 2012 9:37:05 AM
Tuck asks Wilma for a touch of healing and the weariness of the wraith's touch disappears. "Perhaps we should ask some of the more experienced teams if they have the ability to heal the few of us of our deeper wounds."
Vaniime AC 18/14/14, HP:18/23 Protectrion from evil, shield, hide from undead d20=15 ; Wednesday November 21st, 2012 10:49:20 AM
Van starts going through her mental and physical check lists in preperation of returning inside when a thought pops in her head.
Umm Graf, While in there we did sustain a bit of not so visible damage after being struck by wraiths and the such. I dont suppose there are any non combatants here with a restoration spell or two?
Thessa - HP: 23/23, AC: 17/17/14 (19vsEvil), Guidance, ProtE, Shield, Exp Retreat(Mv:60) d20+12=26 ; d20+12=21 ; d20+12=28 ; d20+12=22 ; d20+12=15 ; Wednesday November 21st, 2012 2:55:04 PM
Not needing any extra healing, Thessa decides to take the few minutes before the next foray into the castle to attempt to identify some of the items she found. If the Vanguards are going back in, there might be something here that could help us all. Of course, she can't help but smile at the bow, but that is the last of the items she'll attempt to identify. She is hopeful that the potions will be something useful against those hideous wraiths! She casts her Detect Magic and examines each item.
[each item will take a few rounds to identify, so she'll continue until she's done, or the group needs to leave. The order is below, with the corresponding rolls.]
After she's done, she'll bring the box over to the group and report her findings.
"I found these items in our last trip to the castle. Hopefully they will be useful to us. I have a way of storing the bow and would like to keep it with me since it's my main weapon and I don't have a magical one, but the rest should be divided among us. And if there's anyone with a method to carry all this gold, that would be helpful, otherwise we could leave it with Graf until we return again."
Thessa - HP: 23/23, AC: 17/17/14 (19vsEvil), Guidance, ProtE, Shield, Exp Retreat(Mv:60) Wednesday November 21st, 2012 2:57:44 PM
[OOC: I just re-read my post. Thessa would use Read Magic on the scroll, so hopefully Kathy will let me use the 22 to identify the bow. :) ]
Emrys notices the odd-looking box that Thessa brought back from Lasher Castle. "What did you find ther... ," he begins to ask but quickly hushes up, allowing her to concentrate. He senses that she isn't really satisfied with her findings and decides to tap her shoulder that gives her a spark of recall.
(Casting Recall (domain ability) on Thessa. You can reroll any ONE of your skill checks from the last minute with a +6 insight bonus.)
While he waits to see what she discovers, Emrys takes a moment and taps himself with his cure wand (9).
Ariach AC 25/14/19 ; HP 34/47 Wednesday November 21st, 2012 7:21:19 PM
Airach doesnīt like to hear they will return to Lasher Castle. His health conditions donīt improve and he has a bad feeling about going back. But he supports the goal to rescue the lost adventurer group. As Vaniim asks Graf for magic spells which are able to restore Wilma and Ariach, the warrior really hopes there will be help at hand. He will be with his group anyway but he would prefer to be in good shape when they face the undead next time. "Thanks Vaniim for taking care."
DM Kathy Wednesday November 21st, 2012 11:21:29 PM Wilma heals herself and her companions. Emrys supplements that with some healing for himself from his wand.
Thessa examines the treasures from the box. They are: a +1 Composite Longbow, a scroll of Death Ward, and potions of Owl's Wisdom, Lesser Restoration, and Command Undead.
Tuck and Vaniime ask about help with more powerful healing, and Ariach listens with interest. A general call for assistance goes up among the other adventurers, and soon, several step forward to help.
The pretty elf cleric of Flower steps up, smiling, to Vaniime. In Elven, she says Highlight to display spoiler: {"I see you, sister."} She begins casting a Restoration spell, which takes a while [casting time one minute]. She annoints Vaniime's forehead with scented oil, and places flower petals in both hands while reciting prayers to Flower. Finally, she leans forward and kisses Vaniime lightly. Vaniime's negative level is removed.
A cleric of Domi, a dwarf, approaches Ariach. "This won't hurt a bit," he says gruffly. A Restoration from a cleric of Domi involves less scented oil and more calisthenics, but it is just as effective. Ariach's Constitution drain is reversed.
There is, unfortunately, no third Restoration available for Wilma. One of the wizards, though, has a make-work solution. "I've got a spell to boost your health," he explains. "Only good for about 15 minutes, but that should give us time to get in and out." He will cast Bear's Endurance on Wilma right before you go back into the castle. Wilma will get a +4 enhancement to her Constitution, which should negate the drain and then some. It will last for 15 minutes.
In the meantime, Graf has been speaking with the wizards, and it looks as if you'll be going back inside in a few minutes.
[Last chance to cast spells and distribute the goodies from the treasure box!]
Emrys (ac19 (21evil), hp21/21), remove fear, see invisibility, shield, prot. evil d20+12=21 ; Thursday November 22nd, 2012 1:51:38 AM
Seeing that they are about to venture forth into that hellish place once again, Emrys takes the second of his wands and activates its magic upon himself and each of his friends. You all feel an overwhelming sense of confidence. Whatever fears you had about reentering Lasher Castle are quickly chased away.
(Casting Remove Fear. From his wand, 6 charges. Everyone has a +4 morale bonus against fear effects for the next 10 minutes.)
(Perception: 21)
Ariach AC 25/14/19 ; HP 44/47 d8+5=10 ; Thursday November 22nd, 2012 5:58:10 PM
Ariach thanks the dwarfish cleric for the treatment and thanks Domi as well. He is very reliefed when the weakness disappears. Knowing they will fight one more time against the undeads he prepares for the next skirmish. Ariach hesitates to ask Wilma for healing. But he comes to the conclusion that an unharmed warrior is more valuable for the group.
Therefore he asks Wilma "It would be great if you use a charge on me. It will be not wasted. I will pay it back during the next fight."
(Wilma uses the wand 1 time for 10HP healing)
Then the warrior get ready to go back in. He positions himself in front of the Vanguards to lead them through the entrance.
"Ok Vanguards! This time we will fight and destroy all undeads who are crossing our road. No chance for them to hit us in the back while we are running."
Wilma; AC17 (+1 Mithril chain shirt)/AC19vsEvil; HP39/39 <b>(temp Con Bonus via Bear's Endurance); Protection from Evil; +4vsFe Thursday November 22nd, 2012 8:23:59 PM
After having healed up herself, Tuck and Ariach with her curative wand, Wilma swapped it out for her Protection from Evil wand. She made sure that everyone in her party was protected once again before putting it away once more.
"Will the warning stone work the same way again?" she asked of Graf. "You know--flashing a warning before the portal closes?"
Grell AC 21 (23 vs. Evil) /14/19, HP47/47, Protection from Evil Thursday November 22nd, 2012 10:19:52 PM
Though his shoulders droop, Grell resolves himself to go back in. Looking over at Thessa, he motions to his bow on his back. Would you mind tapping my bow and flail with the Magic Weapon wand? Then I'd really appreciate the Shield once we get to fighting. It worked AWESOME last time!" Readying his gear, Grell gets ready to head back in to that abysmal house of horrors. He nods at Vaniime's statement, more than ready to dispatch as many undead as possible!
Thessa - HP: 23/23, AC: 17/17/14 (19vsEvil), ProtE Thursday November 22nd, 2012 11:58:03 PM
Thessa walks over to Wilma with her arms full of the enchanted items.
"These might come in handy," she says as she hands over the potions of Owl's Wisdom and Lesser Restoration. "And this was written for you more than I." She hands her the Death Ward scroll.
She turns to Emrys and offers the potion of Command Undead. "Perhaps you can help turn our enemies against themselves with this?" she says with a wry smile.
"Grell, I think Wilma has the Magic Weapon wand, but I'll be happy to Shield you as soon as we get inside. Let's get this over with as quickly as possible!"
Wilma; AC17 (+1 Mithril chain shirt)/AC19vsEvil; HP39/39 <b>(temp Con Bonus via Bear's Endurance); Protection from Evil; +4vsFe Friday November 23rd, 2012 3:11:48 AM OOC: oh, yes: PLEASE state which normal weapons you wish for Wilma to bestow the temporary +1 bonus upon...
Tuck HP 36/36 AC 28/28/24, Mage Armor, Shield, Prot. from Evil, Magic Weapon, Remove Fear Friday November 23rd, 2012 12:50:39 PM
Tuck asks Wilma to magic him up with Protection from Evil and Magic Weapon on his fists. He also asks Thessa for a touch from her Shield wand. Feeling ready to venture back in, he nods to the others that he is ready.
"One more round. Oh man."
Ariach AC 25 (27 vs. evil)/14/19 ; HP 44/47 Friday November 23rd, 2012 6:02:55 PM
Ariach follows Tuckīs example and asks Wilma for casting spells upon him. He also asks for "protection from evil" and the temporary magic bonus for his mace.
His face takes on a determined look as he speaks to his friends. "I am here with you to keep away any harm from you. If you want me protecting you, stay close to me and donīt play a lone hand. I will accompany you to the hells if neccessary. We will not give the undeads the chance to hurt us a second time! ..... and now letīs go and find and rescue the lost group."
"The Vanguards fear nothing!"
Wilma; AC17 (+1 Mithril chain shirt)/AC19vsEvil; HP39/39 <b>(temp Con Bonus via Bear's Endurance); Protection from Evil; +4vsFe Friday November 23rd, 2012 9:12:56 PM
Wilma made sure that Tuck's hands were enchanted with a boost from her wand and did the same with Ariach's mace.
"Anyone else..?" she prompted. "These undead are being particularly unruly, so every little advantage any of you can use will help, I'm sure..."
Wilma; AC17 (+1 Mithril chain shirt)/AC19vsEvil; HP39/39 (temp Con Bonus via Bear's Endurance); Prot fm Evil; +4vsFear Friday November 23rd, 2012 9:18:38 PM OOC: anyone else needs a Magic Weapon boost?
Grell AC 21 (23 vs. Evil) /14/19, HP47/47, Protection from Evil Friday November 23rd, 2012 10:48:21 PM
Grell nods at Wilma. "My flail and (ahem) my bow."
Thessa - HP: 23/23, AC: 19/19/14 (+2vsEvil), ProtE, Shield Friday November 23rd, 2012 10:54:44 PM
Considering that the Shield spells will last a while and they are bound to run into more undead as soon as they re-enter Lasher Castle, Thessa decides to err to the side of caution and Shield her comrades before they enter. She taps Tuck, Grell, Wilma, Emrys and Vaniime (if she wants it).
No sense in being chivalrous, she thinks to herself as she touches her own breast with the wand. She's seen what these things can do to even the strongest of her companions.
She asks Wilma to enchant her curved Elven blade, in case she gets caught in close-quarters fighting and even casts Cat's Grace on herself before she enters the portal for an extra sense of proficiency with her weapons.
She struggles to calm the raging fear in her heart and prepares enter the portal once again.
Vaniime AC 18/14/14, HP:23/23 Protectrion from evil, shield, remove fear, magic weapon (staff) Saturday November 24th, 2012 9:23:55 AM
(sorry all, been traveling)
Vaniime breathes easier once the spell has been cast and responds in kind to the clerics greeting Highlight to display spoiler: { Thank you Devotee. Your love and compassion are most welcome. May the beauty of the Wold be always be open to your eyes.}
Se also accepts a shield shot from Thessa and a magic weapon shot to her staff from Wilma.
As the others move together for re-entry she joins them, looks around at all the assembled folk and then turns to Graf.
"Sir, what is the goal for this entry? Are we all going in as a rescue team going after our missing group, or are there separate goals here?"
Emrys (ac19 (21evil), hp21/21), remove fear, see invisibility, shield, prot. evil d20+12=13 ; Saturday November 24th, 2012 4:22:20 PM
Emrys thinks about having Wilma enchant his crossbow, but for what good. He is a terrible archer. Even with the magical benefits, he seriously doubts he can hit anything other than the broadside of a wall, on a good day! However, no one ever knows. "Here Wilma, will you enchant my poor crossbow."
Then Thessa offers him the Potion of Command Undead. Emrys accepts it with a wry smile of his own. If it weren't for the Remove Fear spell cast upon him, he would have accepted the dark gift with much trepidation. The bard has always been fearful of necromancy. (ooc: too bad it only affects ONE undead)
(Perception 13, nat. 1. I guess he's distracted.)
( REMINDER: Everyone has "Remove Fear" cast upon them. +4 saves vs. fear. For 10 minutes.)
Wilma; AC17 (+1 Mithril chain shirt)/AC19vsEvil; HP39/39 (temp Con Bonus via Bear's Endurance); Prot fm Evil; +4vsFear; Shield Saturday November 24th, 2012 5:35:33 PM
Wilma dutifully enhanced the weapons of all who asked, using eight charges of her wand this time around, enhancing the weapons of the Vanguard from Ariach on through to her brother.
"Here, Grell," she said, saving his enhancements for last, "Your flail...and (ahem) my bow..."
Emrys (ac19 (21evil), hp21/21), remove fear, see invisibility, shield, prot. evil Saturday November 24th, 2012 8:14:15 PM
(OOC: I have a correction. The Remove Fear spell, that was cast on all of you, will last 20 minutes, not 10 minutes. I forgot Emrys has Arcane Training and can cast bard spells from wands, staves, rods, scrolls, etc at +1 caster level.)
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