Medium Earth Elemental-Murphy (Kim) Str 20 AC 23 HP 66/66 CMD 23 d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ; d6=4 ; d20+31=45 ; Friday March 31st, 2017 2:57:39 AM
"There is snow and ice a ways beyond the darkness," Murphy tells his companions in halfling. "Follow my voice if you cannot see. 'Leah, some light, if you can, would be welcome, to dispel the darkness. Mister Hairshirt is to our east about 50 feet at the far end of his table. The darkness is about 15 to 25 feet, and once past it, you should be able to see fine."
The ice storm Murphy cast toward the end of the last round did 12 hp bludgeoning damage and 9 hp cold damage in the area of effect, no save unless spell resistance vs DC20, so 21 hp total.
He walks towards the stone giant (giving Pressi a light pat on the bottom in passing), as far as rounding the corner, and glancing at the rest of the room to see who else may be present. As he walks, speaking now in the common tongue (assuming that is the language the giant spoke), earthy-Murphy responds to the invitation, "Hello, eater of halflings. We have a letter for you. We've not come to sit, nor to allow you to dine further. However, we thought, along with a cold shoulder, we might offer you a colorful outline." He casts faerie fire on the stone giant, likely not ingratiating himself further with their 'host.' [No save, SR vs DC 17.] The stone giant is now limned in a turquoise glow [if you'll allow the druid the privilege of blending the blue and green coloring options, elsewise - a green glow].
Murphy's negotiating style may not seem overly gracious.
============= Perception: 45 (41 to perceive things inside the ice storm area, except for the stone giant, for whom his perception is now 61)
Active effects on Murphy: Longstrider (+10 move on foot) 473.7 minutes Mage Armor via Bliss (+4 AC) 53.7 minutes Message via Bliss 32.8 minutes Invisibility via Shel canceled due to casting of offensive spell (ice storm) Owl's Wisdom 6.0 minutes Call Lightning 6.1 minutes, up to 8 bolts at 3d6, DC 19 for half in 30' tall 5' wide columns Bull's Strength (+4 Strength) via Alleah's wand 2.6 minutes Haste via Shel .7 minutes
On Pressi:Bear's Endurance 6.0 minutes
Ice storm: .7 minutes Faerie fire on stone giant: 8 minutes
Bliss peeks in to see if his darkvision can pierce the darkness. If so, he moves with stealth into the area and shoots the giant, sniping to stay hidden.
Attack at +2 with Cat's Grace, +1 Haste, and +1 PBS = hits AC25 for 12 damage.
Stealth 48.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22+2, HP 74/74, CMD 20+1; Spells: Bless, Haste, Protection from Evil d20+12=29 ; d3+2=5 ; 4d6=16 ; Friday March 31st, 2017 4:01:25 PM
OOC: Well since Bliss is attacking....
Kezzem moves into the room (counting each darkness space as two).
Well, points for offering to feed us," says Kezzem. "At least until you suggested that we eat our friends. May I counter with a suggestion of eating...A SNEAK ATTACK DAGGER TO THE FACE!"
Bardic Music: 0/5 rounds used Level 1 Spells: 0/2 used
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57 d20+16=22 ; Friday March 31st, 2017 7:29:03 PM
With the sound of combat in the air, Alleah advances up to the next wall.
She still has her faerie fire wand in hand. "Maybe when I'm a bit stronger I can cast a Light spell that will counter Darkness?" she absentmindedly wonders.
--------------------- Move action: Move to U8 Ready action: Cast Faerie Fire on any enemy that she can see. UMD check: 22 = Ok
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26+4), HP 58 (74), CMD 27 d20+12=14 ; Friday March 31st, 2017 8:05:55 PM
Pressi made her way around the corner, eventually finding herself face to face with the stone giant. She does not attempt an attack like the others, suspecting that he would not just stand there for an attack.
"So, what's your story?" she finally asked the giant. "Do you thank us for doing your bidding? Offer us a deal? Make a nice long speech about what halflings did to your grandparents? If you've set us a table, then you know why we're here. And you know we won't let ourselves get eaten without making sure you're the main course."
She keeps an eye out for traps and any sign of trouble (Perception 14, darkvision).
----------
Buffs
Mage Armor +4 (force) AC for 1 hour, replaces the +1 bracelets (+3) Bears Endurance +4 con for 8 mins orc form for 1 hr: +2 str, medium size, darkvision, etc. Protection from Evil for 8 mins, +1 (deflect) AC, second mental save, protect evil summons Haste: +1 for AC, attack rolls (reverses loss from being medium) Total Defense Action +4 this round
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Friday March 31st, 2017 8:16:31 PM
Shel wasn't sure if the giant was merely setting a trap, but she risked moving forward and casting a spell. She moves to W7 and covers the stone giant in a Glitterdust spell.
OOC: Will DC 18 to resist.
Dm Shawn - Hell or Hairshirt d20+14=25 ; d20+7=22 ; d20+23=34 ; d20+18=29 ; d20+13=20 ; 3d6+16=21 ; 3d6+16=25 ; d20+9=20 ; 8d10=40 ; Saturday April 1st, 2017 12:14:55 PM
Murphy walks around the corner and the scene becomes more obvious. Three ogres are off to the side. He also notices a halfling rounding the corner. The halfling has an apron on, covered in blood and he has a tray with food on it. His faerie fire lines the giant in a bluish green flame. Unfortunatly for him the giant and one of the ogres charge at him lashing out.
Bliss's shot goes wide and misses the giant. as does Kezzem. Bliss's keen eye also notices an ogre mage standing off to the side of the table.
Alleah casts her own faerie fire on one of the ogres. (og 3)
Pressi tries to reason to the giants, but any chance is out the window when he was pelted with a snowstorm.
Shel casts glitterdust on the giant, and catches an ogre. For some reason it sticks on neither one.
The giant smashes his giant sword into murphy twice. The third shot just misses. ( 21 dmg, 25 dmg... 46 dmg total). "Stupid halflings... bring stupid rock to fight hairshirt. Rock dies... halflings die... then I eat them all. The ogre misses murphy. The other two ogres run towards the table to go after Pressi.
An ogre mage appears as his offensive spell goes off.. cone of cold covers Pressi, Bliss, Kezzem, Shel, and Alleah. ( 40 dmg, ref sv DC 18 for half).
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22+2, HP 74/74, CMD 20+1; Spells: Bless, Haste, Inspire Courage, Protection from Evil d20+17=32 ; Saturday April 1st, 2017 12:51:35 PM
"There once was a giant Hairshirt? He wanted halflings for dessert, He wanted to eat, Their big smelly feet, That's something we hope to avert."
Kezzem actives Inspire Courage +1 (+1 competence to attacks and damage; the rest won't stack with bless). He then moves behind the ogre mage, tumbling to avoid AoOs.
Acrobatics: 32.
----
Bardic Music: 1/5 rounds used Level 1 Spells: 0/2 used
[OOC: Sorry, Bliss's stealth for last round should have been a 43, not a 48, because he did not drop prone to snipe.]
With Haste and Cat's Grace, Bliss has a +13 on reflex saves ... he rolls a 29, and with evasion, that's no damage from the blast of cold.
[OOC: I'm sorry, I'm confused by the map. What's that black splotch? Is that brown rectangle the table? Is that a wall from T9 to Z9? What's that from A14-K14?]
Bliss giggles when he hears Kezzem's poem, and it lifts his spirits after that cold flashed past. He looks into the chaos of melee and decides he needs to get closer. He moves with haste-enhanced speed to Q10. He takes cover under the table. As he looks around, he looks for invisible things, chairs, or other objects that could provide a tiny fellow like him with cover.
Perception 26
Bliss usually cannot attack and move and snipe in the same round. But he makes a heroic effort and drops prone as he fires his bah at the ogre mage and rolls to stay hid. [used a hero point for an extra action.]
His shot at the mage: hits AC25 -- no wait! that's AC26 with inspire courage! -- for 11 damage.
His roll to stay hid, using BOTH cover and Hide in Plain Sight as double redundancy ... 34 Stealth.
NOTE that Bliss's AC base 20 +4 mage armor +2 cat's grace +1 haste +4 cover +/-4 prone gives him AC26 vs melee attacks and 34 vs ranged attacks. That's if an enemy beats his stealth check first.
===== Bolts in current clip at end of this round: 3 Hero points used: 1 of 4
Spell Status:
Bliss: Mage Armor, See Invis, Haste, Bear's Endurance [cast a while back, forgot to add to this list], Cat's Grace (6 rounds left) Mookie: Mage Armor, Reduce Person Others with Mage Armor: Pressi, Shel, Murphy, Silvie the Silver Raven, and Sky's Tiger Sky has Bliss's Hat of Disguise
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26+4), HP 58 (74), CMD 27 d20+14=16 ; d20+14=28 ; d20+14=33 ; d20+14=16 ; d20+9=22 ; d8+5=7 ; d8+5=9 ; d8+5=10 ; d8+5=9 ; 2d6=6 ; 2d6=9 ; 2d6=9 ; 2d6=11 ; Sunday April 2nd, 2017 9:46:21 PM
Pressi turned towards Murphy just as the cone went off, and barely evaded the full blast damge. (Thought I rolled a 16, but forgot Haste and Bless adds 2).
Her head reeling, she understood that she had to find some way to get the momentum back.
Taking a five foot step, she moved forward towards the orc mage (and away from the advancing foes). She considered grappling the mage, shutting down the magic altogether, but chose instead to attempt stunning him.
"We know everything," Pressi called out. "We know about the necromancer! Gargul knows what you've actually been doing."
----------------
Attack Rolls: 28, 33, 16, 22 Damage Rolls: 7, 9, 10, 9 Sneak Rolls: 6, 9, 9, 11 Stunning Fist: DC 16 to avoid stun for one round
Buffs
Mage Armor +4 (force) AC for 1 hour, replaces the +1 bracelets (+3) Bears Endurance +4 con for 8 mins orc form for 1 hr: +2 str, medium size, darkvision, etc. Protection from Evil for 8 mins, +1 (deflect) AC, second mental save, protect evil summons Haste: +1 for AC, attack rolls (reverses loss from being medium) (7/8 rounds left) Bless: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects for 8 mins Haste Inspire Courage
Used 1/5 stunning fist
Medium Earth Elemental-Murphy (Kim) Str 20 AC 23 HP 29/66 CMD 23 d8+5=9 ; d20+31=39 ; Sunday April 2nd, 2017 10:15:45 PM
He liked Kezzem's poem, but has no time to comment. Murphy shouts in halfling, "Fireball, SHEL, centered on ogre by table behind giant!" then immediately drops into the floor, compacting his form to fit entirely beneath the surface of the floor at T10, as a 5' move - about a foot or so of stone above him. He figures if he were to remain above ground now, that the stone giant and adjacent ogre would kill him. Is this really Hairshirt, or just a stone giant who wants us to think he is Hairshirt? Ah, forget it, that's gotta be the chief.
He casts cure light wounds on himself (healing 9 hp), feeling the pain of the slices from Hairshirt's large sword. He hopes Shel can launch the burst of fire.
============= Perception: 39
Active effects on Murphy: Longstrider (+10 move on foot) 473.6 minutes Mage Armor via Bliss (+4 AC) 53.6 minutes Message via Bliss 32.7 minutes Invisibility via Shel canceled due to casting of offensive spell (ice storm) Owl's Wisdom 5.9 minutes Call Lightning 6.0 minutes, up to 8 bolts at 3d6, DC 19 for half in 30' tall 5' wide columns Bull's Strength (+4 Strength) via Alleah's wand 2.5 minutes Haste via Shel .6 minutes
On Pressi:Bear's Endurance 5.9 minutes
Ice storm: .6 minutes Faerie fire on stone giant: 7.9 minutes
[PS: Can you explain why Murphy with a perception of 50 could not discern the invisible ogre mage?]
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 d20+10=12 ; 8d6=32 ; Sunday April 2nd, 2017 10:32:13 PM
Shel feels a cold take over her like nothing she's ever felt and the spell sapped her of almost all vitality.
OOC: 12 fails the reflex save and takes 40 points of damage, leaving her with 11 current hit points.
With her strength fading, she moves to P8 and uses a Fireball from her staff, directing it to strike at the corner where S, T, 13, and 14 join together.
OOC: math isnt my strong suit, but I think I might be able to get all the nearby baddies in the fireball. 32 points of fire damage. DC 19 Reflex for half.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57 d100=56 ; Monday April 3rd, 2017 2:03:26 AM
Highlight to display spoiler: {At U9 Alleah has total cover from the Ogre Mage so I'm going to assume not affected by the Cone of Cold}
Alleah can now REALLY hear the sound of combat. She moves carefully through the darkness and appears on the other side.
Things are certainly more interesting on this side!
She quickly targets the nearest ogre with a hold spell.
------------------- Move action: Move to P7 Standard action: Cast Hold Person on the Ogre Mage. Leyline check: 56 = Pass. Ogre Mage to make a Will Save vs DC21 or be paralysed
Dm Shawn - Hell or Hairshirt d20+14=20 ; d20+14=32 ; d20+14=19 ; d20+5=24 ; d20+2=11 ; d20+2=13 ; d20+2=5 ; d20+12=26 ; d20+12=17 ; d20+23=31 ; d20+18=38 ; d20+18=33 ; d20+13=22 ; 3d6+16=28 ; 6d6+32=50 ; d20+7=9 ; d20+7=20 ; d20+7=24 ; 2d8+7=14 ; 8d6=24 ; Monday April 3rd, 2017 11:30:02 AM
Kezzem deftly avoids the cone of cold while moving behind the ogre mage. He inspires his friends with his song.
Bliss moves under the table and fires at the ogre mage. His shot connects. Under the table he sees the odd assortment of the chairs. Nothing invisible is hidden. (OOC: all the gray is walls, the black was the darkness spell. The brown is the table,)
Pressi moves up to flank with Kezzem and rains down three shots. The ogre doesn't drop though. Doesn't seemed stunned either.
Murphy calls out a plan for Shel to drop the spell while also dropping into the floor to heal. (OOC: Because he beat your perception check. In the first round I believe, you can see I rolled a 50 which was actually two points higher for 52.)
Shel heeds Murphy's words and drops the fireball on the entire room.
Alleah drops her spell on the ogre mage but it doesn't seem to work on him.
The ogre mage looks beat up, sneers at the stone giant. " he won't like this. Failure is not an option." and with that he turns into a gas and dissipates away finding a crack in the ground.
Hairshirt isn't shaken his ally is gone. He is annoyed at the fact his target is gone. "Coward pet leaves... the girl will die...."So he bounds over the table and rips into Pressi. If not the boyfriend, the girlfriend will die... but he doesn't know that. The first shot slashes into Pressie easily (28 dmg), the second shot is much worse... much much worse as it nearly cleaves her in half. (50 dmg) The blood from pressi that covers the giant is smeared in . " The VALLEY WILL BE MINE....."
Two ogres go after Kezzem but both miss. Shel isn't as lucky as on of ogres smashes into her( 14 dmg).
The halfling with the bloody aron drops his dish and heads back from the way he came.
OOC: The cone of cold dmg was wrong last round. Had the wrong dice selected. So it was 24 if failed, or 12 for half.
Bliss was pondering whether to fire twice a round or once a round. If he shoots twice a round, he can use that haste spell to its full effect, but he can't snipe. If he fires once a round, he can snipe.
Then he sees Pressi get cleaved clean in half.
Bliss snipes.
Still prone under the table, Bliss shoots again, at the guy who killed Pressi. Bliss is adjacent to both the giant and ogre 1, so he would provoke AoOs, but he has cover, and he is hiding, so I think he is safe from that danger. His sniping shot against the stone giant (with the bless bonus I forgot last round) hits AC 36 (that's a nat 18, but Bliss needs a nat 19 for a crit threat). Bliss hits the giant for 11 damage.
Stealth for this round as Bliss stays hid under the table: 31
===== AC26 vs melee, AC34 vs ranged Bolts in current clip at end of this round: 2 Hero points used: 1 of 4
Spell Status:
Bliss: Mage Armor, See Invis, Haste, Bless, Insp Courage, Bear's Endurance, Cat's Grace (5 rounds left) Others with Mage Armor: Shel, Murphy, and Sky's Tiger Sky has Bliss's Hat of Disguise
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Monday April 3rd, 2017 7:13:32 PM
Shel takes a 5' step back and casts Invisibility on herself, knowing she couldn't withstand another attack.
OOc: current HP 13/51.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (-4), CMD 27 Monday April 3rd, 2017 9:09:45 PM
Pressi collapsed upon the ground.
Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61/61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18(MA:22) Monday April 3rd, 2017 9:49:33 PM
Hey sorry guys, going to need a sub until the 17th. Going out of town.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22+2, HP 74/74, CMD 20+1; Spells: Bless, Haste, Inspire Courage, Protection from Evil d20+15=31 ; d3=3 ; d20+15=35 ; d20+15=33 ; d3+3=4 ; d3+3=5 ; d3+3=5 ; 4d6=17 ; 4d6=17 ; 4d6=19 ; Monday April 3rd, 2017 11:47:28 PM
"Have you heard of the ogre mage? For he seems to have left the stage, A coward at his heart, He turned into a fart, A stink that is stronger than sage."
Kezzem unloads on Ogre 2 with his daggers.
OOC: All attacks include bonuses from Flanking (with Pressi), Bless, Haste, Two-Weapon Fighting
Bardic Music: 2/5 rounds used Level 1 Spells: 0/2 used
Medium Earth Elemental-Murphy (Kim) Str 20 AC 23 HP 29/66 CMD 23 d6=6 ; d6=2 ; d6=2 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ; d6=2 ; d6=4 ; d6=5 ; Tuesday April 4th, 2017 1:45:46 AM
Murphy travels sótto tčrra, coming up fully by the time he reaches Z14. Spilt food lies on the ground next to him, and the blood-stained halfling waiter is not where he was a moment ago. He takes a quick look to see what has changed since he submerged.
An ogre attacks someone - Alleah? He barely sees Shel disappear. Two ogres face Kezzem, who needs help.
With reddened sword and blood-spattered torso Hairshirt roars, "... LEY WILL BE MINE..." as Pressi crumbles beside the stone giant to the ground.
Murphy casts flame strike (DC20) centered at P-Q/9-10, taking in Hairshirt, and ogre 1, and [sorry] Bliss for 29 hp damage. Half the damage is divine damage for which there is no reduction by resistance to fire-based attacks (15 hp), and half is fire damage (14 hp).
Pulling from deep within (hero point), he casts a second spell, spike stones, laying down several squares 20'x20' each, leaving space along the walls for halflings to move.
Only if the spell succeeds (hero point allowed for 2nd spell) will he do this: In halfling he says, 'Floor spikes to east, along walls safe.'
"COME HERE, HAIR PUKE!" Earthy-Murphy shouts in Common
figuring that, if Hillshirt does come his way, he'll do so at half speed; his feet may be obliterated (1d8 damage dealt per 5' moved (except over table), plus reflex save (DC20) each 5' to avoid debilitating injury to feet and legs (not to avoid hit points taken). A failed save causes the creature's speed to be reduced to half normal for 24 hours. Does that mean he moves 1/4 speed moving through spiked area after he fails a save?)
============= Rolled in 'Private to DM': d20+12=29 ; d20+7=26 ; d20+31=47 ; Perception: 47 Survival: 29 (did not get lost moving through stone) Acrobatics: 26 (including +2 for coming out of floor rather than wall or ceiling) (did not trip coming out of stone - Mark's rule)
Active effects on Murphy: Longstrider (+10 move on foot) 473.5 minutes Mage Armor via Bliss (+4 AC) 53.5 minutes Message via Bliss 32.6 minutes Owl's Wisdom 5.8 minutes Call Lightning 5.9 minutes, up to 8 bolts at 3d6, DC 19 for half in 30' tall 5' wide columns Bull's Strength (+4 Strength) via Alleah's wand 2.4 minutes Haste via Shel .5 minutes
On Pressi:Bear's Endurance 5.8 minutes
Other:Ice storm: .5 minutes Faerie fire on stone giant: 7.8 minutes Spike Stones 480.0 minutes (8 hours)
Sky & Meko (ADM Kim for Marty Hoober) HP:61/61; Ac:24 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 20(MA:22 d20+19=30 ; d20+14=34 ; d20+14=32 ; d6+6=9 ; d6+6=9 ; d6=4 ; d6=5 ; 3d6+18=29 ; d6=3 ; d20+12=21 ; Tuesday April 4th, 2017 2:15:12 AM
Wolf Meko moves Sky through the darkness and on past, and the wolf stops at L5.
Sky sees the stone giant, and looses a pair of arrows toward him with the first release of the string, hitting AC 30. First arrow does 9 +4 ice damage, second arrow 9 +5 ice damage. The next arrow loosed is a critical hit (crit nat 20+14=34, confirmed at 32), causing 29 +3 ice damage. 47 + 12 ice damage totals 59 hp damage vs Hairshirt.
He prepares for his next shot. Very noisy combat.
Perception: 21 [OOC: Hope I got these right. Please let me know if not. -ADM Kim]
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57 d100=82 ; d100=21 ; d20+12=26 ; d20+12=24 ; Tuesday April 4th, 2017 5:37:40 AM "Well THIS isn't good" Alleah looks aghast on Pressi's body and the ogre standing in front of her.
Alleah takes a step backwards and concentrates on a spell. Wardd is finally watching out for her! So she uses it to her advantage.
----------------------- Free action: 5ft step to O6 Standard action: Defensively Cast Hold Person on O1. Leyline check: 82 = Freebie! Concentration check to avoid an AoO: 26 = Ok. O1 to make a Will Save vs DC21 or be paralysed If that spell doesn't work... Hero point action: Defensively Cast Hold Person on O1. Leyline check: 21 = Ok! Concentration check to avoid an AoO: 24 = Ok. O1 to make a Will Save vs DC21 or be paralysed
Bliss (AC26/34, HP72) & DiminuMookie (AC30, HP28) (Cayzle) d20+15=31 ; Tuesday April 4th, 2017 8:50:39 AM
Extra post ...
Bliss saves vs Flame Strike at +2 with cover ... total +15 to save ... rolls a 31 for no damage.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (-4), CMD 27 d20-2=18 ; Tuesday April 4th, 2017 9:00:28 AM
Extra Post: Pressi makes her con roll (nat 20) and stabilizes.
Shel steps back and casts invisibility on herself.
Pressi goes down.
Murphy comes up and casts his flame strike dropping it on Hairshirt, an ogre and Bliss.... the flame strike kills the one ogre. His second spell breaks the ground up into huge spike stones. (OOC: what is Murphys speed burrowing? Because I don't think long strider works while burrowing and the move between rounds was a good distance. )
Sky finally makes it into the room, and is much needed. His arrows look true and conect solidly. (Looks good Kim)
Kezzem was no longer flanking with Pressi (shes dead), but her help wasn't needed as he kills the ogre.
Alleah changes her target and holds the last ogre whose body goes frozen.
"She'll be tastier then you..." Hairshirt booms at Kezzem. Two of his shots connect with the halfling. The first chop into his elbow, while the second chops into his thigh. Both wounds are garish and will porbably leave some scars. 23+27dmg= 50 dmg total.
Murphy is startled to hear a booming voice to his left... " You like to play with fire... child of earth." a huge obsidian skinned, red beared giant come charging in from the hallway the halfling went down.. twice the giant sword takes chunks from Murphy's earth skin... (31 dmg+30 dmg= 61 dmg total)
MAPUSE 4A Tab OM: gone 01: dead 02: dead 03: 32-held sg: 125 fg 8
Bliss continues to snipe from under the table! He hits the stone giant with a natural 19! That IS a crit threat, and he follows up with a confirm against AC28. Assuming that confirms, the stone giant takes 8+12 = 20 points of damage.
Bliss stays hid with stealth 35.
===== AC26 vs melee, AC34 vs ranged Bolts in current clip at end of this round: 1 Hero points used: 1 of 4
Spell Status:
Bliss: Mage Armor, See Invis, Haste, Bless, Insp Courage, Bear's Endurance, Cat's Grace (5 rounds left) Others with Mage Armor: Shel, Murphy, and Sky's Tiger Sky has Bliss's Hat of Disguise
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57 d8=1 ; d8=1 ; d8=6 ; d8=3 ; d8=8 ; Tuesday April 4th, 2017 7:38:39 PM
With the imminent threat now dealt with, Alleah quickly moves over to Pressi.
"Hang in there" she whispers as she places a hand on Pressi's forehead "Gargul isn't ready for you just yet"
------------------------- Move Action: Move to O11. Alleah takes d8=1 pt Spike Stone Damage. Standard Action: Spontaneously cast CSW. Pressi is healed for 22pts
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 4d4+4=14 ; Tuesday April 4th, 2017 9:25:22 PM
Invisibly, Shel moves away from the stone giant threatening the group. She casts a spell, momentarily reappearing before the group. Quick as a cat, she casts Invisibility yet again, winking back out of existence.
OOC: move action to put more distance between me and the giant. Standard action: cast magic missile, doing 14 damage to the big guy. Burning my second hero point ever to gain another standard action and cast Invisiility again.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Tuesday April 4th, 2017 9:27:07 PM OOC: forgot to put my coordinates in, but I moved myself on map round 5.
Medium Earth Elemental-Murphy (Kim) Str 20 AC 23 HP 29/66 (or way less) CMD 23 Wednesday April 5th, 2017 1:30:39 AM
Murphy does or does not do something involving hero points and maybe, or maybe not, cheating death. To be determined...
Sky & Meko (ADM Kim for Marty Hoober) HP:61/61; Ac:24 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 20(MA:22) d20+19=26 ; d20+14=33 ; d20+14=22 ; d6+6=12 ; d6+6=8 ; d6+6=12 ; d6=2 ; d6=6 ; d6=2 ; Wednesday April 5th, 2017 2:06:04 AM
Sky sees the stone giant still attacking his friends. He releases more shafts to bury deeply into the wicked leader of the valley of the giants.
Vs Hairshirt. Hit AC 26 for 12 and 8 arrow damage plus 2 and 6 ice damage, then vs AC 33 for 12 arrow damage combined with 2 ice damage for a grand total of 42 hp damage, if they all connect. [ignore 2nd d20+14=22 --> accidentally double rolled]
"Fire giant over by Murphy!" he shouts in halfling.
Held action: With his knees, he is ready to guide Meko to move in a loop, taking evasive action possibly over to about P8, should the stone giant begin coming his way. If the giant does not come his way, he takes only a 5' move to M6.
ADM Kim - Spike Stones Wednesday April 5th, 2017 2:41:44 AM
Note, friends: For each 5' you move through a spike stones area, you roll 1d8 damage. AND, each time you roll 1d8 damage (again, every 5 feet), you also need to roll a Reflex Save (DC20, in part due to Murphy's bonus from owl's wisdom) in order to avoid an excessive limp for a whole day, in which you are limited to half normal movement speed.
Suggestion: If your character is thinking about moving through the pink area on the map, read the spell description.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (18/74), CMD 27 d20+10=14 ; d20+10=23 ; d20+10=13 ; d20+4=18 ; Wednesday April 5th, 2017 10:09:01 AM
"Get up," Pressi thought to herself as Alleah began to approach her. A million feelings, a million regrets ran through her head, but the struggle to fight continued as Alleah's warm spell engulfed her body. "Get up."
Pressi opened her eyes to see Murphy fall to a new fire giant, to see the stone spikes rise above her, and to see the stone giant still hovering above with a nearby ogre ready to attack at any moment. "Yeah, for this you could have let me sleep in."
"Hey, Hairball," she called to the giant. "The next time you threaten to eat someone, you'd better finish the job. Say hi to your buddy Uthvas when he takes your soul as we tried to warn you."
(Even while prone, Pressi still threatens and thus gets the flanking bonus. She can still full attack with a -4 penalty, so 14/14/14/9 becomes 10/10/10/4.)
Attack Rolls 14, 23, 13, 18 if any of those land, damage is 1d8+5 + 2d6 sneak.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22+2, HP 24/74, CMD 20+1; Spells: Bless, Haste, Inspire Courage, Protection from Evil d20+16=32 ; d20+16=23 ; d20+16=33 ; d3+3=4 ; d3+3=4 ; d3+3=5 ; 4d6=18 ; 4d6=13 ; 4d6=20 ; Wednesday April 5th, 2017 10:34:42 AM
Kezzem continues his song as he attempts to kill Hairshirt with daggers.
"There once was giant named Hairshite, Who was very mean and like to fight, He thought he was strong, Although he was wrong, For strength has nothing to do with might."
----
Attacks include Bless, Flanking, Haste, Inspire Courage, Two-Weapon Fighting
Bardic Music: 3/5 rounds used Level 1 Spells: 0/2 used
Dm Shawn - An even Newer Challenger enters the Arena d20+20=33 ; d20+15=30 ; 3d6+16=27 ; 3d6+16=25 ; d20+9=26 ; d8+15=17 ; d6=2 ; Wednesday April 5th, 2017 12:06:34 PM
Bliss connects with the stone giant, but not as flush as he thought.
Alleah sacrifices her own well being and moves through the spikes, wounding herself to heal her friend.
Shel casts her magic missle, and then goes invisible again.
Somehow, some way Murphy doesn't die. He just goes out cold.
Sky pops the giant again, and Hairshrt is looking bad.
Pressi wakes up and tries her best to help but is unable to connect.
It is Kezzem, who saves the day... one of his shots opens up the giants artery in his leg. As blood squirts out, soaking the floor, Kezzem and Pressi... he staggers before falling backwards towards the table.
His ability to celebrate is cut short though as another booming voice bounces off the walls. " Who needs fire when you have a cold heart..." A gigantic, albino looking female giant smashes her axe into Kezzem twice. 27+25=52 dmg.
The fire giant looks at his predicament and decides to launch a rock at Alleah. the steaming rock smashes into her, 17 dmg+2 fire... 19 dmg total.
"Just give up ants" the fire giant yells. "This is bigger then some stupid hill and stone giants. "
OM: gone 01: dead 02: dead 03: 32-held sg: dead fg 8 ig
Sky & Meko (ADM Kim for Marty Hoober) HP:61/61; Ac:24 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 20(MA:22) Wednesday April 5th, 2017 3:11:05 PM d20+19=33 ; d20+14=22 ; d6+6=11 ; d6+6=11 ; d6+6=8 ; d6=4 ; d6=3 ; d6=4 ; Wednesday April 5th, 2017 3:08:50 PM
Sky changes his angle of attack over to the bellowing fire giant.
First pair of arrows strike AC 33 for 11 and 11 normal damage, and 4 and 3 ice damage - which may be even more harmful (maybe 14 hp cold damage rather than just 7? -DM can decide effects), for 29 or 36 total from the first paired shot. His next arrow hits AC 22 for 8 + 4 ice damage. If that is effective, then another 12 (or 16) hp damage to the temporarily cooled fire giant.
"Just how big is it, Obsidian Big One?" he asks the fire giant. "Give us details."
Meko moved to K9 (ar-ar) to gain partial cover versus any flying stones the giant may wish to hurl in their direction. Sky leans to the left to try to keep an eye on what the fire giant does, and is ready to pull back against the wall should he see him throwing a rock his direction, until the rock lands somewhere, after which he looks again.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 8d6=40 ; 8d6=28 ; Wednesday April 5th, 2017 5:43:37 PM
Shel takes a deep breath. Everyone was about to die. This called for her to be brave and try to at least save as many of the others as she could manage. She moves forward to Q 9, looking for a good angle to blast that ice giant. She centers the fireball at J K 15 and 16, catching both the ogre and the giant in the blast and missing her mates.
OOC: can I expend another hero point in back to back rounds? If so, can one be used to allow another use from a magical staff? If so, Shel plans on using two fireballs in the same spot this round. Current HP is 13/51, so she realizes she will probably die the round after this. The first fireball does 40 points of damage plus any extra if it is susceptible to fire. DC 19 Reflex for half. If I can use another hero poin, the second fireball does 28 points plus whatever extra to cold. Same save for half.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 38/57 d100=83 ; d100=99 ; Wednesday April 5th, 2017 8:12:58 PM "Um, OW!" Alleah glares to the fire giant "Who throws a rock? Honestly!"
The normally pacifist Alleah lets loose "Pressi! Coup-de-grace that sucker in the face!" she indicates the paralysed Ogre 3. "I'll do what I can about the others. We're not going to be able to save our friends with two giants running around"
She digs deep, casting spells on both giants. Fortunately Warrd favours the foolish, and today that looks to be her.
--------------------------- Standard action: Cast Hold Person on the Fire Giant. Leyline check: 83! FG to make a Will Save vs DC21 or be paralysed. Hero Point action: Cast Hold Person on the Ice Giant. Leyline check: 99! Ok, now I feel a little guilty, but I'll take it. IG to make a Will Save vs DC21 or be paralysed Free action: 5ft step to O10
Sky & Meko (ADM Kim for Marty Hoober) HP:61/61; Ac:24 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 20(MA:22) Wednesday April 5th, 2017 8:31:35 PM
"Pressi, Murphy told us there's a clear area along the wall," Sky tells her in halfling.
Murphy lies on the ground at the foot of the wall, the fire giant who slashed him yelling at the halflings to give up. Murphy dreams of his loud uncle who one day woke up him and a few siblings as they camped just inside the Culverwood. "Just get out of the way of the ants!" he had shouted. As Murphy scrambled out the tent, an ant about six inches long walked right past him - and many more were visible, coming their way, maybe twenty feet away. One he hadn't seen bit his heel. Ants. Need to move out of the way.
It looks to Bliss like he has a clear shot to that fire giant, so he shoots. He hits AC38 with a nat 20! He follows up with a 23. His damage is 12, or 12+10=22 if the crit confirms.
Bliss uses a move action to stand from prone, and a five ft step to move to R10, still under the table. His AC is now base 20 +4 mage armor +2 cat's grace +1 haste +4 cover = 31.
Bliss's clip is now empty, so he'll have to reload next round.
===== AC26 vs melee, AC34 vs ranged Bolts in current clip at end of this round: 0 Hero points used: 1 of 4
Spell Status:
Bliss: Mage Armor, See Invis, Haste, Bless, Insp Courage, Bear's Endurance, Cat's Grace (5 rounds left) Others with Mage Armor: Shel, Murphy, and Sky's Tiger Sky has Bliss's Hat of Disguise
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22+2, HP 24/74, CMD 20+1; Spells: Bless, Haste, Inspire Courage, Protection from Evil Thursday April 6th, 2017 7:28:32 AM
Kezzem will burn hero points to force the frost giant to reroll her attacks until they either both miss or he's out of points (he currently has 3).
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (18/74), CMD 27 2d8+10=17 ; 2d6=8 ; d20+12=29 ; Thursday April 6th, 2017 9:34:08 AM
Alleah yells at Pressi to take the coup de grace on the held ogre (who happens to be within reach). Skye yells at her to move out of the spike stones and take the narrow path... somewhere. She chooses the former. (I'm not supposed to roll every round I am in the stones, right. Only when I move.)
Though worried about the situation, Pressi seems quite resolute against retreating. She does yell "Oh come on" when the ice giant appears.
"Bigger than hill or stone giants or not, you're the ones that attacked our ant hill. I don't suppose you'll just let us leave with our comrades at least? Because if you are just going to kill us, you at least owe us a monologue."
With that, Pressi coup de grace's the ogre. (She should be in reach. Otherwise, she moves a 5 foot step to N12 and takes the damage.)
She also takes some time to eye the area to see if anyone else is coming and if there is anything unusual about these new contenders. (Perception 29, darkvision)
----------------
Crit damage 2d8+10 (2 times 1d8+5) = 17, plus 2d6 sneak damage = 8.
Fort save = DC 35
---------------
Buffs
Mage Armor +4 (force) AC for 1 hour, replaces the +1 bracelets (+3) Bears Endurance +4 con for 8 mins orc form for 1 hr: +2 str, medium size, darkvision, etc. Protection from Evil for 8 mins, +1 (deflect) AC, second mental save, protect evil summons Haste: +1 for AC, attack rolls (reverses loss from being medium) (7/8 rounds left) Bless: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects for 8 mins Haste Inspire Courage
Used 1/5 stunning fist
Dm Shawn - An even Newer Challenger enters the Arena d20+9=28 ; d20+9=23 ; d8=5 ; d8=6 ; d20+9=16 ; d20+9=13 ; d20+20=39 ; d20+20=23 ; d20+15=34 ; 3d6+16=28 ; 3d6+16=26 ; d20+9=22 ; d8+15=22 ; d6=1 ; Thursday April 6th, 2017 1:22:14 PM
Meko unleashes on the fire giant connecting once.
Shel drops the fireball on the ogre, and frost giant. The ogre is no more easily, but the frost giant gets the second one. The giant seems to dodge both, but the flames burn at her skin alot faster.
Alleah calls for Pressi to kill the ogre, but Shels fireballs have done the trick. Her castings both don't work. Neither giant is held.
Bliss hits the fire giant, but not as solidly as he hoped.
Pressi doesn't move, and doesn't harm herself any more. She doesn't see anyone else coming, perhaps this is it,
The frost giant moves up and smashes at Pressi twice. Both shots look good, but one seems to deflect at the last second. (Kezzem's hero point spent.) The second does hit, 28 dmg...sending Pressi back into deep slumber.
"The ants come marching seven by seven... harah, harah.... and I send them to heaven...." the fire giant bellows as he bounces another rock off Alleah. 22 dmg plus 1 fire damage.. " If you run now... I will make sure you are my first concubine little runt... you will watch me eat your friends first though...."
OM: gone 01: dead 02: dead 03: dead sg: dead fg49 ig 62
"How big is this thing, that's bigger than stone and hill giants, rock thrower?" Sky projects to the fire giant.
If any are watching Sky, you likely have never seen him shoot so quickly. He punctuates his question by pincushioning the noisy fire giant with many arrows, including a power-packed critical hit pair from a hero point. (1 of 3)
Paired arrows AC 26 10 +6 ice 12 +4 ice Single arrow AC 33 8 +4 ice Paired arrows AC 39 (crit confirmed at AC29) 33 +11 ice 28 +5 ice
If all attacks succeed, that is: 10+12+8+33+28 = 91, and 6+4+4+11+5=30 ice. Total 121 If ice is doubled to 60, it is 151 damage. If first two attacks (AC26) miss, then totals are 69 + 20 = 80 or 69 + 40 = 109. If paired arrows not allowed, but only a single arrow on hero point attack, then ... I'll let you figure it out
Also, I've not been taking extra attack from haste... so, one more roll AC 28 for 10 + 5 ice. So 15, or 20 if ice doubles. Max 171 hp damage.
[Can you just tell us the fg's AC now that we're in several rounds, and we won't need as many conditional statements?] [Also, sorry, this isn't my character, and I'm trying to figure things out. Any help/guidance appreciated]
Preparing for next round, Terimus Skyland Underhill blows on his string fingers.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (-10/74), CMD 27 Thursday April 6th, 2017 4:10:08 PM
OOC: The worst part is that I forgot to use a swift action to up my AC +4. I was going to do that.
Pressi once again finds herself on the ground.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 8d6=29 ; 8d6=33 ; Thursday April 6th, 2017 6:26:36 PM "Just die already, you cold hearted giant!". Shel uses the final bit of energy in her staff and (using a hero point), she summons two more fireballs to wash over the giant. "Leave us alone!". After yelling at the giant, and using her magic, Shel backs away.
OOC: same as last round. 2 fireballs...Reflex DC 19 for half. First one deals 29 points, and the second deals 33.
Bliss uses a full round action to reload his bah, and another hero point to shoot at the ice giant. He hits AC25 for 7 damage, or AC26 for 8 damage if the Inspire Courage is still going.
===== AC26 vs melee, AC34 vs ranged Bolts in current clip at end of this round: 4 Hero points used: 2 of 4
Spell Status:
Bliss: Mage Armor, See Invis, Haste, Bless, Insp Courage?, Bear's Endurance, Cat's Grace (1 round left) Others with Mage Armor: Shel, Murphy, and Sky's Tiger Sky has Bliss's Hat of Disguise
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Thursday April 6th, 2017 6:54:27 PM OOC: forgot... Shel is still at 13/51 HP.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 21/57 d6=6 ; Thursday April 6th, 2017 8:20:20 PM "Uh, deal!" Alleah groans to the fire giant
She reaches out to bring Pressi back to consciousness and then makes a strategic withdrawal (it's like running away, but bravely!).
Alleah has no intention of leaving her friends behind, but she can't take a third rock to the face. She needs a safe place to be able ot cast some spells.
------------------- Standard action: Channel energy to heal everyone within 30ft for 6pts Move action: Move to P5
[HP total in header edited by Cayzle pre Rob request.]
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (-4/74), CMD 27 Thursday April 6th, 2017 10:59:26 PM
Though not enough to bring Pressi back to consciousness, the energy does stabilize her.
If Pressi can use one of her hero points to somehow knock out an attack from a giant to the remaining players, she does so.
ADM Kim - notes for DM Shawn (so many rules to figure out, right?) Friday April 7th, 2017 1:03:18 AM
In Murphy's dream, the halflings transform into giants. They do step on some of the ants. However, the ants transform into halflings with antennae, and they make the giants slip and trip and fall, and swarm over the giants, and bite off their ears and other bits. The giants bellow and thrash about, as thorns from the ground stick into their backs. More giants come, and more ants come. The ants are relentless and, though some are lost, the halflings begin to turn the tide increasingly against the giants, popping out of the trunks of trees to fall upon the giants. Then, the halfling-ants form ranks, seven by seven, and send the giants off to ... somewhere besides heaven.
Dm Shawn - An even Newer Challenger enters the Arena d20+9=17 ; d20+9=21 ; d8=7 ; d8=4 ; d20+20=36 ; d20+20=39 ; d20+15=30 ; d20+15=24 ; 3d6+16=26 ; 3d6+16=27 ; Friday April 7th, 2017 11:34:22 AM
"The ants come marching four by four, hurrah hurah.. and I'll make the runt my.... " the words stop in his throat as Sky's first arrow punctures his chest. " Weak" he bellows as he breaks it off. The next one again punctures as does the one after. " Ants.. " he starts but the last arrow, the hasted one flies true puncturing through his thick brow and destroying his brain Inside. His eyes cross as he collapses down to the ground.
Bliss' bah shot is also true.. connecting with the frost giant.
Alleah heals those around her before making a tactical retreat.
Shel again drops a duo of fireballs on the frost giant. The first one absolutely wrecks her, and the second hurts a little less. Her hair is completely singed off but she moves none the less through the spike stones to Sky. " I am going to take you with me.. " she says as she launches into an attack. Even with both Kezzem and Pressi using hero points the frost giant connects twice. 26+27 dmg.. 53 total.
The giant stops.. actually putting her hand on the wall, holding herself up. " Come on.. do it. I'm here.. do it. " She yells
Murphy and Pressi dream, while Kezzem sees black.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vBUAcKFBZb8kWCK-4UrhsThST1JvIS6K2kS4C8JSHbM/edit?usp=drivesdk OM: gone 01: dead 02: dead 03: dead sg: dead fg dead ig 146
Bliss shoots twice at the ice giant, not even hiding.
He hits AC21 for 8 damage, or AC22 for 9 if there is inspire courage.
He hits AC20 for 7 damage, or AC21 for 8 maybe.
Ugh.
That ends Bliss's Cat's Grace spell. His AC drops to 29. He has two bolts in his clip. What's the duration on that Haste? Is that expiring too? I'm assuming the Bless is a longer spell.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 d20+9=27 ; d20+9=14 ; 4d6=14 ; 4d6=17 ; Friday April 7th, 2017 5:42:24 PM
Shel casts Scorching Ray at the frost giant, amazed that it was still standing. If it got closer, there was nowhere else for run. If she didn't finish it now, next round it would do the same to her. So she fired off two bolts at it.
OOC: first ray hits touch attack 27 for 14 points of fire damage. Second ray hits touch 14 for 17 points of fire damage.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Friday April 7th, 2017 7:57:12 PM OOC: current HP 19/51.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 26/57 d6=5 ; Friday April 7th, 2017 8:33:11 PM
Alleah moves back into the room - close enough to Pressi - that when she channels energy it affects her downed friends.
----------------------- Move action: Move from Q5 to P10 Standard action: Channel energy. Pressi, Sky, Kezzem, Bliss, Alleah.. and the frost giant heal 5pts
A giant falls near Murphy. Some blood is sprayed over his rocky surface. His soul begins to stir. But the rest of him cannot seem to stir. He tries to rouse himself. Instead, he feels immobile, not able to will his limbs... Having the will is not enough. Having the rest of his body respond to his will is what is needed. His mind drifts to one of the valley's foods - bread surprise. Would that he had a bread surprise, with healing sweetmeats inside the tasty crust.
============= Gang: Read below, as some of the effects (e.g., Alleah's 5 minute Bless from 15 rounds ago, and this one last round of Shel's haste) still are in force. [b]Active effects on Murphy: Unconscious, stabilized at -2 hp
Longstrider (+10 move on foot) 473.1 minutes Mage Armor via Bliss (+4 AC) 53.0 minutes Message via Bliss 32.2 minutes Owl's Wisdom 5.4 minutes Call Lightning 5.5 minutes, up to 8 bolts at 3d6, DC 19 for half in 30' tall 5' wide columns Bless via Alleah 3.5 minutes Bull's Strength (+4 Strength) via Alleah's wand 2.0 minutes Haste via Shel .1 minutes
Inspire Courage via Kezzem is concluded
On Pressi:Bear's Endurance 5.4 minutes
Other:Ice storm: .1 minutes Faerie fire on stone giant: 7.4 minutes Spike Stones 479.6 minutes (8 hours)
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Saturday April 8th, 2017 7:25:01 AM
[ii]OOC: just realized I didn't take the fact the giant was in memes into account on my last post. Please take four away from both my rolls to hit. That means I hit RTA 23 with my first attack and 10 with my second. Sorry. [/i]
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (-4/74), CMD 27 Saturday April 8th, 2017 9:43:59 AM
Alleah casts a weak wave of energy but it's enough to wake Pressi up. To move even 5 feet would kill her.
If the last giant is still standing, she throws three stars (10 10 5 at 5 hp a star). But with everyone down, she seems unsure of what to do besides stand there.
Sky & Meko (ADM Kim for Marty Hoober) HP:61/61; Ac:24 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 20(MA:22) d20+7=16 ; d20+7=27 ; d20+7=25 ; 2d6+10=17 ; d20+8=20 ; Saturday April 8th, 2017 11:14:57 PM
Sky had just started to pull a couple of arrows from his quiver, when the frost giant came around the corner and cut him swiftly and deeply. He fell, his body going into shock (1hp shy of death). Grey wolf Meko, furious at this massive creature who attacked his friend, closes his teeth first on some of the cloth that covers the deadly ice woman [AC17]. With the benefit of the haste Shel had cast a while earlier, he leaps up, digging his teeth into her inner thigh. He holds on, and whips his body around between her legs, trying to use his grip, and weight, and momentum to trip her to the ground, where he may rip into her with greater vengeance. A deep growl emanates from the grey's throat.
[Attack roll should be 1d20+6+1(bless)+1(haste) - Critical threat AC28, succeeds with AC26, damage 2d6+10=17, trip succeeds if giant's CMD is 20 or lower. I think. Never tried a trip attack - going based on reading a bunch of semi-contradictory rules online]
Alleah's healing wash stabilizes ranger Sky at -7 hp. He is unconscious (I think), but alive.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Sunday April 9th, 2017 7:42:53 PM OOC: stupid autocorrect. Last post should say I took four off my attack roll since it was in melee, not memes, lol. Thanks for noticing, Kim.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP -28/74 (dead), CMD 20 Monday April 10th, 2017 10:37:54 AM
Kezzem continues to see blackness.
Dm Shawn - An even Newer Challenger enters the Arena Monday April 10th, 2017 4:41:05 PM
Bliss misses... somehow. But it isn't needed as Shel's first scorching ray finishes the job. The frost giantess falls backwards with a sickening PLOP sound as she impaled on the stone spikes.
Murphy, Sky and Pressi are all alive but in various states of out cold, groggy and in pain. Kezzem is much worse. His body doesn't even move .
Bliss needs to know where these attacks came from, and if there are there any more foes nearby.
"I'll check out the area," he tells his friends. He moves with stealth to where the fire and ice giants came from, keeping very alert. He goes along the wall to avoid the spikey stones.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Monday April 10th, 2017 7:49:57 PM
Shel looks around at what she could see. A good half of her friends were down and might be dead. She saw large spikes rising from the ground all around them, and they looked vicious. "Alleah, I can cast Fly on you if it would help you make it to the others. I'm almost dead, but I think I'm going to live, assuming there is nothing else waiting to ambush us. I'm not so sure about any of the others."
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 26/57 d8=8 ; d8=3 ; d8=1 ; d8=6 ; d8=1 ; d8=1 ; d8=7 ; Monday April 10th, 2017 8:39:14 PM "Thanks Shel, that would definitely help"
Assuming Shel grants Alleah the ability to fly, she flies to each of her downed colleagues, healing them just enough to get them back on their feet.
She first makes her way to Sky, and brushes some of the hair away from the ranger's face (Sky healed for 16pts)
Alleah then flies over to Murphy, and treats some of his wounds (Murphy healed for 18pts.. with a lot of Nat1 rerolls!)
Alleah hovers over Murphy's form for a moment "OOOooooo! I am the ghost of Christmas futurrrrrre. You wandered too far from the party and diiiiieeeeed before we could reach youuuuuuu. OOOoooooo!"
Finally she makes her way to Kezzem, and realises for the first time, that he isn't breathing! "Kezzem? KEZZEM!?!" Alleah shakes him by the shoulders, trying to rouse him back to the land of the living "Somebody! Help! Kezzem isn't moving! Somebody do something!!!"
---------------- OOC: I'm assuming we're not in combat rounds anymore, but I'm also assuming we aren't going to be staying here for very long.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (1/74), CMD 27 Monday April 10th, 2017 10:44:07 PM
Pressi looks around the area, at the surrounding carnage. "So, is this when I suggest we go out for shwarma?"
Pressi drops back to her small size, in case someone has to carry her.
If Murphy can't dismiss the field, she swift casts acrobatics, and tries to jump out of the field without damage.
(High jump plus ki point plus 21 acrobatics means she can make a "running jump" while stationary. She just needs to make 5 to 10 feet horizontal. )
Murphy, spell is dismissable.
Newly Conscious Medium Earth Elemental-Murphy (Kim) Str 20 AC 23 HP -2/66 CMD 23 d8=1 ; d8=5 ; d8=2 ; d8=4 ; d20+31=44 ; Tuesday April 11th, 2017 4:26:59 AM
[No, I don't think Murphy can dismiss the spike stones. Let me know if he can.]
As Earth-Murphy comes awake at Alleah's ministrations, he sees her floating just above him, speaking in a eerie voice about being the ghost of Christmas future. "Uh, what's Christmas, 'Leah?" He looks down at himself where one of the cuts he received is now mainly healed up. "I ... I died??" he asks, disquieted. "It felt bad - but not like - well not all the way dead. I didn't see any spirits, nor feel the pull of Woldsblood," he reasons.
"Thank you. Are all well?" he asks as Alleah flies back across the room. He casts cure moderate wounds upon himself for 15 hp, then CLW for an additional 9 hp (total healed by Alleah and himself: 42, leaving him at 40 hp).
He decides someone needs to peek around the corner. He is not sure he wants to be the one at the moment. Then he notices Bliss speeding his way. "What do you want to do, Bliss?" he asks quietly in Sylvan. He hears Alleah claiming something is wrong with Kezzem, but there may yet be additional danger to deal with. He moves the leg of the dead fire giant out of the way, clearing Z15 for Bliss, and himself peeking around the corner immediately adjacent, and pulling his head back quickly if it looks like something bad is coming his way, with a warning to Bliss about same, just before he drops beneath the floor, if the threat is quite close. If instead he happens to see the halfling, or a few halflings, with no other obvious threats about, he will ask in halfling, "So, are there other hobbits here?"
============= Perception: 44 [Am assuming that perception includes sounds, too, along with sight]
[Figuring about 4 rounds gone by since last list] Active effects on Murphy: Longstrider (+10 move on foot) 472.7 minutes Mage Armor via Bliss (+4 AC) 52.6 minutes Message via Bliss 31.6 minutes Owl's Wisdom 5.0 minutes Call Lightning 5.1 minutes, up to 8 bolts at 3d6, DC 19 for half in 30' tall 5' wide columns Bless via Alleah 3.1 minutes Bull's Strength (+4 Strength) via Alleah's wand 1.6 minutes[/i]
On Pressi:Bear's Endurance 5.0 minutes
Other:Ice storm: gone Faerie fire on stone giant: glowing and dead 7.0 minutes Spike Stones 479.2 minutes (8 hours)
Sky & Meko (ADM Kim for Marty Hoober) HP:25/61; Ac:24 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 20(MA:22) Tuesday April 11th, 2017 4:41:45 AM
[I made a mistake - Sky was not down, as I was looking at Meko's max hp of 42, rather than Sky's of 61. After all is said and done, Sky is at 25 hp, thanks to Alleah - and thanks to subtracting 53 from 61, rather than from 42.]
Sky had fallen off Meko as the result of the huge ice woman's sword strokes, but was only down, and not out. He himself seemed to freeze in action as Meko launched an attack against her. As the frost giant falls, Meko gives her one more bite, and shakes her leg. As she does not seem to respond, he lets go, and turns to Sky, who was sitting there, his bottom and hands and feet halfway sitting, halfway leaning back. Meko's bloody tongue licks Sky all over the face. The ranger covers part of his face with one hand so that the slobber does not blind him, and feels the ache of one of his wounds with particular acuity.
He breathes with relief as Alleah's healing touch helps assuage some of the hurt. "Thanks, Alleah," he tells her, then wraps his arms around Meko's neck and buries his face a moment.
Sky then uses Meko to help him stand up. "Let's take what we can from the fallen giants, and get out of here," he suggests. He starts looking over the frost giant to tried to take him with her, and begins to strip her of anything that looks to be of value, until he hears Alleah call for help.
He mounts Meko. "Stay along the wall, boy." The arrive near Kezzem. "Hey. Kez. Wake up, buddy." He leans over to listen for breathing, to hear a heartbeat.
Dm Shawn - An even Newer Challenger enters the Arena Tuesday April 11th, 2017 5:01:34 PM
The healing is given out and everyone is starting to come around, albeit still groggy. Everyone except Kezzem.
The members are moving around.. clustering together. Sticking to the 5' path along the walls.
To Murphy's question... a week voice calls out... " Here... " the hanfling Murphy saw earlier comes around the corner from were the fire giant came from.
"There are some others in that other passage " he says mentioning as he points to another one of the hallways. " My name is Tomarin... Tomarin Earthshanks."
.........
The group of halflings chained up in the dark room hear halfling voices calling to each other. They can't hear the words but can hear the speech.
Ooc: a map will come up tonight.. and our new member will start with tommorows post.
Sky & Meko (ADM Kim for Marty Hoober) HP:25/61; Ac:24 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 20(MA:22) Tuesday April 11th, 2017 5:47:25 PM
"I think they killed Kezzem, Alleah," Sky says sadly. "He is a very brave sort. D'you suppose Lord Gargul will let him come back to us?" he asks, eyes wide, waiting for her response.
Meanwhile, he crouches and says to Meko. "Friend, I want you to carry poor Kezzem, here. I'm going to tie him to your back. Hope you don't mind." He picks up the young bard, and places his body on the back of the grey wolf. Then he takes out a bit of rope, and seek to secure him to his wolf companion.
Once that is done, he says, "We will likely need to pay to bring him back. Let's take what we can from these giants." Sky begins gathering the carried loot from the downed giants and ogres, stepping up on their bodies to keep from getting poked by the stone spikes.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Tuesday April 11th, 2017 5:57:27 PM "Oh no, I had hoped everyone had gotten away. Poor Kezzem! If only we could have killed that awful giant earlier," Shel cries out, as she realized yet another of her group had passed on. She was at least relieved when she saw the rest of the group beginning to stir, bruised but not broken. She began the usual process by detecting magic in the area.
Ahead of the pack, Bliss is first to reach the captives, and he tries his best to free them. He casts Reduce Person on each so that hopefully they can slip out of or past any restraints.
He hears his friends talk about visiting Gargul to petition for Kezzem to come back, and that makes him tremble. He has no desire to meet with that god, after He declared that it was Pookie or Him, one or the other.
Bliss wishes he had some other immortal patron. Now he'll have to face Gargul without any other god in his corner.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 26/57 Tuesday April 11th, 2017 8:27:29 PM
Alleah steadies herself and fights back the tears. She will be strong. She WILL. "I don't know, Sky. But we can try" she whispers in response.
She reaches out to place her hand over Kezzem's eyes and says a small prayer "Gargul, Kezzem's heart is pure. Guide him to where all hunters return, where all storms become still, where all stars show the path. Guide him to where the traveler never tires, the lover never leaves, and the hungry never starve. Guide him, Gargul, such that we may meet again"
With that, she casts Gentle Repose on his body.
Alleah looks about the dead bodies around her - the ogres and giants. She wants to kick the bodies, to hurt them, to set them on fire and watch them BURN! She wants to take out her anger on them.
Instead, through gritted teeth, Alleah says a prayer.
"Gargul, forgive us this day that we sent these, these ... creatures ... to you. We do not claim to have your wisdom to know when a soul is due to be judged. I pray you judge their souls fairly, and consider their lives actions when you determine their final resting place. May they find peace in the afterlife"
"Nice, Bliss. Just as Alleah did," Murphy comments at the reduce person his friend just cast on each of the shackled halflings.
"We killed in the outer area two ogre guards, an ogre who brought wolves against us, a stone giant woman, and a wolf or two. We let the rest of the wolves return to their pen. In this area we took out Hairshirt the leader of the stone giants, three ogres, a fire giant, and a frost giant. An ogre mage we almost took down, but he transformed to mist and escaped through a crack in the floor. Are any of you aware of others in this area, beside yourselves, giants or something else?"
He asks if they would like to be freed from their slavery to the giants. Murphy tells them he and his friends will do what they can to bring that about, but they cannot totally guarantee their safety.
He also asks if they are aware of any storage areas, secret doors, or other aspects of this area. [By moving about and looking, as well as by asking questions, will try to get a more complete picture of the layout of these rooms.] [Have to run... work calls.]
Medium Earth Elemental-Murphy (Kim) Str 20 AC 23 HP 40/66 CMD 23 d20+31=32 ; Wednesday April 12th, 2017 2:01:03 AM
[continued... had to cut out earlier]
"By the way, glad to meet you, Tomarin Earthshanks. I do not always look this way. My name is Murphy, and I am a halfling... who at the moment looks like an earth elemental. Murphy Leafwin Pipewood. This is Bliss, a very talented and tiny halfling. We'll introduce you to the others shortly. By the way, mind your step. You can't see them probably, but in the main room, and somewhat next to it, are spike stones along most of the floor. Walk right next to the walls, and you will be all right. Those pokey stones can kill you right quick if you go traipsing through them." He introduces the rest to Bliss and himself, then says, "Let's get you headed in the right direction."
With Bliss's help, he leads them the long way around the spike stones. The (rough) path he takes is highlighted in mild yellow on the map - around the bottom section (he does not have them make crisp 90 degree turns). He has Bliss, if he will, follow at the rear of the group, dashing out to the right side if any drift too close to the spikes. He has them rest in the slightly darker area of yellow, with upper left L21, lower right O22. "Is there anything we can get for you all?"
[Concerning halflings - I am thinking that Pressi, and other halflings, would be light enough to be able to climb on top of the fallen giants and ogres without pressing through to the spikes beneath, which should give her a few options for exit - again, sorry, Pressi! (You always hurt the ones you love.) And movement along fallen opponents is at half speed - difficult terrain.]
After leading the halflings to the rest area (unless they object going there, and have other ideas), Murphy excuses himself. "I need to move a few things." While he still has the strength from his form, and from Alleah having augmented his strength, he moves, as well as he can, the giants out of the way of the path next to the wall. He spells out in detail to his friends the boundaries of the spike stones. "I know the spikes are an inconvenience, but, if someone else comes along before we leave, they can help serve us in defense, so I will leave them," he says by way of apology and explanation to his friends.
Also, as he moves the large bodies, he tests to see whether he can earth glide along the spike stones in a way that they do not harm him (will try a five foot section before doing more).
He also mentions at some point, "I am sorry our friend Kezzem has fallen. I wonder if he is sensing any of what I did back in the Red Hills. Kezzem! If you can hear me, we will do what we can to petition Lord Gargul to bring you back to us. I want to hear more of your poems."
============= Perception: 32 [Not bad in general, but for Murphy this is a natural 1]
[Figuring about 5 rounds gone by since last list] Active effects on Murphy: Longstrider (+10 move on foot) 472.2 minutes Mage Armor via Bliss (+4 AC) 52.1 minutes Message via Bliss 31.1 minutes Owl's Wisdom 4.5 minutes Call Lightning 4.6 minutes, up to 8 bolts at 3d6, DC 19 for half in 30' tall 5' wide columns Bless via Alleah 2.6 minutes Bull's Strength (+4 Strength) via Alleah's wand 1.1 minutes
On Pressi:Bear's Endurance 4.5 minutes
Other:Spike Stones 478.7 minutes (DC20) (8 hours)
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (1/74), CMD 27 Wednesday April 12th, 2017 7:01:24 AM
Ooc: traveling for the holidays. Promise I will return with pressi sadness for kezzem when I have more time.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (1/74), CMD 27 d20+14=22 ; Wednesday April 12th, 2017 9:22:45 AM
Pressi, lighting a torch, makes a thorough search of the bodies and the area. Perception 22. Plus 1 traps.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Wednesday April 12th, 2017 9:06:58 PM
Shel continues concert treating on her Detect Magic cantrip. Perhaps the group could discover something here that might allow Alleah to use magic to return Kezzem to the land of the living.
As Murphy works on scooting giant body parts out of the safe pathways, he looks up and asks, "Say, do any of you have any adventuring skills? Are you all from Crescent Valley? If not, where do you come from?"
Bliss asks the halfling prisoners what their names are and where they are from. He's trying to put them at ease as he works to free them.
Inside, he thinks to himself, "We can't take a year and a day. I think we need to get out fast. That ogre mage fellow gassed away. Maybe he is sounding an alarm."
Dm Shawn - An even Newer Challenger enters the Arena Wednesday April 12th, 2017 11:49:09 PM
Sky begins lashing the dead Kezzem to Meko.
Shel is upset about Kezzem, but keeps it together enough to detect magic. She obviously gets a huge reaction from Murphy's spells but also gets some radiations from the gia n ts.
Bliss heads in and sees the halflings. There are also some pigs and sheep. He reduces them down to escape their bonds.
" Thanks me friend.. me names Eberulf Boffin, thsts Elsia Boffin, Sarama Shortbutton, Odger Twofoot, and Yodo Proudbottom. That other guy came in late... a bit quiet. "
To Murphy he adds.. " Nah.. They kept us in here like durned animals.. We didn't see any except some ogres and that one. " he says pointing to Tomarin.
Tomarin chips in... " these evil giants made me use my cooking expertise to gut living creatures and feed them.. but there are more. Hairshirt had his women in his room.. just off the one halway.. a secret door but easy enough to f ind. I'll show you."
Murphy's second question gets m ore of an agitated response.. "Do ye want us to be freed? What kinda durned stupid question is that. You have r ock for flesh... I guess y our brain is rock too.. No leave us here dummy. Let the giants keeps us captive."
Murphy does take damage when he tries earthflidinf over.
Allah prepares Kezzem 's body for the journey t o Gargul.
Pressi searches the bodies.
Treasure Chain Shirt Potion Potion Potion Ring Greatsword pair of golden dice jar of pickled children’s fingers dried and preserved crow Amulet of natural armour, Hat Dust Greatsword, Belt Cloak Greataxe 75 g
More interesting is one ogre was a follower of Marteus. He has papers from someone named Gurthax. These are various letters instructing the ogre to support Hairshirt or whoever becomes leader. They also reference a “necromancer recently sent by our lord to aid us.”
Murphy smiles at Eberulf Boffin's reaction to his question. "Ah, so you want to remain. Very well." After a beat, he says, "Of course we want you to be freed, Eberulf." With a more serious look on his stony face, though, he adds, "Setting you free is more than just freeing you from your bonds in this room, as Bliss has done. It also involves getting you safely out of this giant-ruined valley with your skin intact.
"As I said, there are no guarantees. However, if you do as we ask, when we ask it, your odds of getting back home increase. Regardless of whether I have rocks for brains, good halfling."
He sighs as he considers Tomarin's mention of Hairshirt's 'women.'
"Let's get you out of here, and some of my friends get ready, then we'll see if we can brave facing Hairshirt's harem."
If Bliss concurs, Murphy leads them to the area mentioned earlier.
"Everyone, this here is Eberulf Bottin, Elsia Boffin, Sarama Shortbutton, Odger Twofoot, and Yodo Proudbottom. This is Tomarin Earthshanks - he saw us shortly after we came in. He says he can show us where Hairshirt has been keeping his, uh, women.
"You've met Bliss. Over there is Pressi. Alleah. Shel. Sky, and his wolf Meko. On Meko is our fallen friend, Kezzem. Again, I'm Murphy - a halfling in real life.
"Tomarin, how many women, what races, and what are they like? Also - did any of them eat any of our kind? Er, any halflings, I mean? Because, if so, I don't think mercy is their due. One more thing - what were the names of these fallen giants and ogres. Do you know much about them, and what they were planning? Besides killing us, I mean."
Finally, he turns to the halfling who has been quiet. "Didn't get your name yet."
========== Perception: 46
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 26/57 Thursday April 13th, 2017 8:11:23 AM
Alleah steadies herself "Let's pack up what we can and get out of here quickly. There'll be time to go over those things in detail later"
"We should try and do something to make sure the giants don't think halflings did this. I've been thinking. There are already rumours about demons here. Why not play on that? Use the blood of the giants to write on one of the walls 'The valley is under demon protection' or something like that."
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Thursday April 13th, 2017 9:50:56 AM Finally, he turns to the halfling who has been quiet. "Didn't get your name yet."
"It's Lance." He flicks his head up and winks. "Lance Foxwell."
You see a well-groomed halfling male, clean-shaven and with wind-swept hair that seems to defy gravity. His eyes are a deep blue, with small flecks of silver near the iris. His skin is fair and pale. He has small freckles on his nose, high cheek bones, and a strong jaw. He is dressed in a blue monk's gi with red trim, loose blue trousers, and comfortable traveling shoes. His only visible weapon is a dagger at his belt. His forearms and hands are wrapped. He is tall for a halfling, with a solid frame and straight posture.
"Martial artist, acrobat, and semi-professional gigolo. Look's like you could use some help. What's the sitch?"
Bliss (AC29, HP72) & DiminuMookie (AC30, HP28) (Cayzle) Thursday April 13th, 2017 10:40:41 AM
Something about this new fellow make Bliss think that he's someone special. He sounds smarter, or at least more polished, than the other prisoners.
"It is sure nice to meet you, Mister Lance!" says Bliss. He is a half-size halfling, just under a foot and a half tall, dressed all in green, green pants and cloak, headband and shirt, holding a crossbow.
"Did the giants catch your fox friend too? He'll be glad to meet my friend Mookie, who is a talking raven. He's guarding the exit at the moment."
Bliss suggests that the former captives wait in the outer room while we deal with the harem. "Don't worry, Mookie will warn you if there is any trouble coming.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP -28/74 (dead), CMD 20 d20+13=17 ; Thursday April 13th, 2017 11:39:05 AM
"Are you there, Gargul? It's me, Kezzem. I just wanted to let you know that I'm not dead. I'm not dead. I'm not, I'm getting better. I don't want to go on the cart. I feel fine. I think I'll go for a walk. I feel happy. I feel happy."
Bluff: 17 to convince Gargul he's not dead. :-)
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Thursday April 13th, 2017 1:12:44 PM
Lance looks down at Bliss -- a rare occurrence for a halfling -- and raises an eyebrow. "Are you a fairy or a pixie or something? No, I don't have a fox, little guy. That's my name. I do happen to have have two pythons."
He jumps into a defensive stance, flexing his chest and arms. "Right there!"
"Hello, Lance Foxwell," Earth-Murphy says in his growly voice. "No doubt you can help us as we work on getting everyone out of here. What does a 'gigolo' do? Is that a combat specialization? Or arcane art of some sort?
"Also, just curious - how did you manage to slip the dagger past your captors?"
Responding to his question, Murphy says, "Well, you can see part of - the 'sitch'? - all around you. An additional part is we need to deal with the lady giants somehow, then get everyone out of here - every halfling and our animal friends - alive."
He responds to Alleah, "Maybe it would be better if the giants knew it WAS halflings who took out their leaders. Sort of like, 'If you eat halflings, you will die. Leave halflings alone, they will leave you alone' - that type of deal. Or, a sign next to Hairshirt: 'He ate halflings. Halflings killed him. Are you next?'"
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (1/74), CMD 27 d20+15=18 ; Thursday April 13th, 2017 3:08:49 PM
With the danger over, Pressi found the time to finally feel for the fallen Kezzem and the nearly fallen Murphy, to say nothing of herself a couple of times. One fewer buff, one last action from Kezzem's life force - or just a final swipe from the ice giant out of spite - and she'd be joining him in driving Gargul to regret his life choices. She would have to thank Alleah later, probably with fruit.
She probably owed Shel a thank you as well, embarrassing as it would be. Eh, Shel could use the confidence boost.
Putting the stuff away, she thought about the group learning of another harem. She hardly was in any shape to put up a fight or even risk a trap or diplomacy, but without Kezzem.... She at least took a close look at the wall to make sure there were no traps. (Perception 18)
-------------
Pressi shrugged as the captive halflings made their introductions, and then tensed as Lance made his. "Wow, he isn't even cold yet and we're already replacing him."
Pressi curtly nodded as Murphy introduced her. Out of her altered form and deactivated disguise, she wore a basic mix of robes and breeches that indicated her own martial artistry prowess. She seemed rather unimpressed with the gun show but attempted to remain polite. "If you want to help, you are welcome to do so. But you really should have found a better location to set up shop."
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Thursday April 13th, 2017 7:57:23 PM "I say we leave his harem alone. Grab the magic, the prisoners, and let's all get healed up before we make for the exit. We've done what we came here to do. Soon, this army will be broken...let's get home and watch it happen."
Shel nods at the freed prisoners as Murphy introduced them. She'd have time to be more friendly once all of them were home safe and sound.
"But what about the treasure in the harem?" asks Bliss. "Mookie is watching at the cave mouth, and he'll warn us if things start happening out there. Personally, I think they should pay for killing Kezzem, and plus we have to rescue Lance's fox. Probably she's in the harem too! We just can't leave a poor defenseless fox! They'll turn her into a jacket or a hat or something."
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 26/57 Thursday April 13th, 2017 10:32:58 PM "It's true, if the giants think it was halflings it might scare them away from Humble's. Then again, it could make then swear revenge and things could get worse. I'd rather not risk it." Alleah responds to Murphy "Might as well use the rumors of demons to our advantage"
It pains Bliss to do so, but he disagrees with his oldest friend. "Miss Alleah, I'm sorry, but a hero tells the truth, right? I mean, a trick in a fight is one thing, but I don't like using demon stories. Why do we have to say anything? Let's just get the treasure and Lance's fox and go?"
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Friday April 14th, 2017 12:26:22 AM "Your call, guys." Lance stands akimbo. "I would say play it safe, since Kezzem looks like salsa right now." He rubs a non-existent beard in thought. "The little guy might be right. If you make certain the giants know halflings did this, they might leave us alone."
Dm Shawn - An even Newer Challenger enters the Arena Friday April 14th, 2017 1:11:06 AM
Bliss hears Mookie start squawking. .. but not enough time is given. An over, and two works come into the room. Their eyes go wide as they look at the damage.
The first ork goes for his weapon but the ogre grabs his wrist. " leave them... this means we're free.. we're free." He grabs the ork by his shoulders and screams in his face before running out the door. The ork turns and looks at the party, realizing he is alone with a group of armed hallfings...He turns on his heels and runs after the ogre.
After a few more seconds a familiar goblin sticks his face through the doorway... " man you guys started a ruckus."
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 26/57 d100=27 ; Friday April 14th, 2017 1:54:09 AM
Perhaps Kezzem's death rattled Alleah more than she let on? Perhaps the adrenaline was still running through her? She knows that the party are right, and that perhaps writing something in giant blood wouldn't be the way to go.
The over and works certainly change things. "Alright, yep, I'm with you guys. Let's get outta this place before more unfriendlies arrive"
Alleah will find the wolves and FINALLY is able to talk to them "So there some dead giants and ogres in the next room. Feast until you're full and then perhaps make a run for it"
Leyline check 27! Yay! Alleah casts Speak with Animals.
'A familiar goblin' I take to mean one of the group that has been working with us (but it could be one of the goblins just freed in the room before this part of the complex - if someone is familiar, tell us who is is) Murphy, at first inclined to brave the womenfolk of Hairshirt, decides that now may be the time to leave.
Thinking he is most likely to be on the front lines fairly soon, he asks Alleah, "Say, Alleah, have you the ability to heal a bunch of us any more?" as he uses the CLW from his wand on himself for 8 hp of healing, then for 6 hp healing.
He explains to the group, "I have the ability to change into a rather large animal. For instance, an elephant. If many of you can fit on my back - and I have a bunch of rope to help you hang on - we could go riding out of here in some sort of style. I won't change into that, though, until we get near the entrance - probably could not fit through the doors otherwise. Or, if Alleah and Bliss can help keep everyone pretty small, I could change into a large bird or dire bat, and fly you all out of here. Or, we just go on foot." He looks at the newcomers. "I really am a halfling. I'm just dressed like an earth elemental for the moment."
Sky & Meko (ADM Kim for Marty Hoober) HP:25/61; Ac:24 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 20(MA:22) Friday April 14th, 2017 3:52:28 AM
"What do you mean, a ruckus?" Sky asks their goblin friend.
Sky (who has been gathering Hairshirt's items) picks up the greatsword that was next to Hairshirt. "Hey, Murph. Come cut off this stone giant's head. I have an idea." He leans the sword against the table, then steps back along that table to give the druid some room to swing.
He explains further, once Murphy has done the deed. "So, we say that we halflings can do this to whoever goes around eating halflings. And Hairshirt, since he was joking about eating us, we cut off his head with his own sword.
"Humble's Sword they killed the Dolp. Humble's Sword owns Hairshirt's Sword, that cut off Hairshirt's head. Beware the Halflings!"
He gets ready to lead Meko out along the safe path that Murphy cleared, as the grey wolf bears Kezzem on his back. Sky explains to the new batch of halflings that is one safe way to get past the invisible floor spikes. He gets about 25 feet away from the dark area, and nocks a pair of arrows, ready to pull and loose them if someone comes in to attack them while everyone else gets ready. He will be careful not to attack a friend, and may give a warning to a perceived foe.
Medium Air Elemental-Murphy (Kim) AC 20 HP 54/66 CMD 17 d20+13=33 ; d20+13=23 ; Friday April 14th, 2017 3:59:39 AM
So, Murphy picks up the sword Sky mentioned, and tries to cut off Hairshirt's head. To rather a good, clean, sharp effect. He threatens (AC 33 plus whatever enhancement bonus applies), and crits (AC23 plus whatever enhancement bonus applies). I'll let the DM roll the damage, but this likely fairly neatly decapitates the stone giant chief. He sets the head on the table, leaning over to put it on the far side.
"This is the table he talked about eating halflings at." He turns to Tomarin. "If there is an apple in the pantry, it would look good in his mouth, don't you think?" suggesting the cook take him up on that hint.
Dm Shawn - An even Newer Challenger enters the Arena Friday April 14th, 2017 7:00:33 AM
Ooc: Please refrain from posting multiple times.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP -28/74 (dead), CMD 20 Friday April 14th, 2017 12:29:03 PM
"Gargul...?"
"Gargul...?"
"Gargul...?"
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (1/74), CMD 27 Friday April 14th, 2017 1:11:54 PM
"Now hold on a second," Pressi began in response to everyone wanting to avoid the harem. "Don't we have a semiprofessional gigilo of unprecedented physique, who can easily seduce any woman of any size?"
Before Lance can react, Pressi slaps him on the butt. "Go get 'em, Tiger."
Pressi couldn't care less about the treasure - nobody had even scanned the items that they gathered thus far for healing potions - but the items in there could get them more information about the necromancer they faced. Plus she wasn't entirely clear how free these women were, before or after Hairshirt.
She thinks in regards to the orcs finally free and fleeing their captors, the resistance finally begun. Took them long enough.
As Murphy and Skye do... something, she wasn't paying attention... she asks the goblin and Tomarin some questions about the harem and their room, attempting to suss out if diplomacy will work. She also attempts to determine if she can communicate through the door without them just coming out.
Bliss is annoyed at Mookie for being such a poor guard. "Probably fell asleep after gorging himself on eyes," Bliss mutters.
Bliss still wants to get the treasure from the harem. "I still want to get the treasure from the harem," he says.
But he'll go along with the group consensus. "Whatever the most of us want, that's what I want too!"
If Mookie is in shouting distance, he tells his bird to warn them if any groups of giants come up to toward cave.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Friday April 14th, 2017 11:17:40 PM "Like I said, I'm ready to go. Freeing the giant girls is a good thing. They can decide how to live out the rest of their lives. And we can take all the magic in this room...that's our just reward."
Dm Shawn - An even Newer Challenger enters the Arena Saturday April 15th, 2017 6:46:52 PM
" A couple of ogres. " the cook says about the harem. " Probably be greatdul. Plus hairshirt had some coin.. could help to ease the suffering of us prisoners."
While this is going on Allah talks and calms the animals. They thank her for their meal.
The giants. Ogres and everyone is fighting each other" the Goblin says to Sky. " It's panda.. panda.. panda fighting"
Murphy heaves the heavy sword... and lips off Hairshirts head.
" No apples" Tomarin adds.
Pressi tries to goad Lance into seducing the ogres...
Mookie squawks back at Bliss in affirmation.
Shel is in compliance with getting the treasure too.
" So.. I think you said something about getting out of here?" Tomarin asks to the group.
Medium Air Elemental-Murphy (Kim) AC 20 HP 65/66 CMD 17 d8=4 ; d8=8 ; d20+5=20 ; d8=4 ; d8=6 ; d20+31=46 ; d8=7 ; Saturday April 15th, 2017 9:20:16 PM
Leaving the head on the table, to bleed out, sans apple, Murphy sidles up to Pressi. Noting she really looks beat up, he touches her lightly with a rocky finger, and cures (4+1)+(8+1)=14 hp of damage to her via his (embedded) CLW wand, and, taking into account the d8=4 hp damage he took when attempting to earthglide through a 5' segment a few rounds ago (forgot to record earlier), he performs another wand-based CLW on himself for (6+1)=7 more hp (net 3 gain).
"So, giants and ogres are fighting each other in the valley, now, eh? That's not bad news," Murphy says to their goblin friend (would that be Knuckles?).
"Alleah, or any others who may be able to help heal in an area, any more of that available? Let's gather together if so. We are looking pretty ragged for the moment."
After that, he says, "Let's talk with the ogre ladies. Who wants to join in? Tomarin, you know where. Take us there. Let us have weapons ready, in case they decide to be hostile." As they draw near, he hits himself with one more CLW for (7+1)=8 hp (total one shy of full hit points).
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 30/57 d6=1 ; d6=4 ; Saturday April 15th, 2017 9:36:28 PM
Murphy looks to be struggling to use his CLW wand (Highlight to display spoiler: {Your gear merges into your elemental form and "Items that require activation cannot be used while you maintain that form"}), so Alleah unleahes her final healing channel for the day. (Everyone is healed for 4pts)
"You guys need to understand that losing my spells to heal you means that I can't contribute in other ways, such as in combat. For the benefit of the party I suggest you invest in healing potions" she lectures Murphy "Or prepare your own healing spells. Especially if you keep wandering off ahead of the party despite repeatedly being advised againt it"
"Now then, we don't have time to stand around and fully heal ourselves. As our goblin friend has said, there is fighting going on outside. Let's free the women, grab what we can and get outta here. Stopping to heal everyone right now could take several minutes that I don't think we have."
Alleah holds her handy haversack open for the group to pile the heavy items into. When done she makes a further suggestion to the party
"I've heard women in harems can wear all sorts of .. 'revealing' attire. In the interests of modesty, perhaps Shel, Pressi and I should address them first. Speaking to us might put them more at ease than a group of halfling men and an earth elemental"
"How bout it, Pressi? Shel?"
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Sunday April 16th, 2017 8:54:26 PM "I suppose we can talk to them really quickly. Then we have to go, okay? And I'm still beaten up, so if they aren't ready to listen, I'm going to blast them and run," Shel advises.
OOC: current HP 23/51.
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Monday April 17th, 2017 1:04:55 AM "Okay, then. Talk to the ogre wenches, go home. Easy peasy." Lance makes an exaggerated inviting motion with his hands toward the harem room. "There's a chance more big guys will be here soon, so I suggest we don't lolly-gag."
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP -28/74 (dead), CMD 20 Monday April 17th, 2017 10:42:25 AM
"Okay, Gargul, I'm just going to sit here and hold my breath until you answer me."
Several minutes later.
"Crap, ghosts don't breathe."
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (5 or 20/74), CMD 27 d20+6=19 ; d20+14=15 ; d20+12=31 ; d20+3=7 ; Monday April 17th, 2017 10:53:29 AM
Regardless of whether or not Murphy can heal her, Pressi wonders if she will regret opening her big mouth, but she decides to make an attempt.
Before anyone opens the door, she tries shouting through the door, explaining the situation, and letting them know that they are freed to join up with the other harem. She even makes it clear that this sharing of the treasure will be far more generous. (Diplomacy 19) (Yeah I know but she does feel sorry for them - and wants to make sure they don't attack more than to make sure they get some gold.)
If there is no indication that they heard her, she checks the door for traps (Perception 15 to hear noises, 16 for traps) and attempts to open the door (Disable 31, strength check 7 if needed). The same speech comes as she opens the door.
Dm Shawn - The Harem Monday April 17th, 2017 11:10:28 AM
Murphy, unable to heal, is healed with everyone else by Alleah.
Shel agrees on talking but adds if they fight she will blast them and run.
Lance is also game with the plan.
Pressi calls through the wall and an a brutish, yet feminine voice calls back... " He's dead?" She checks for traps but none are found.
Tomarin nods. He moves down the one hallway and slides his hand into a small alcove. The wall pops out about and inch, and he pushes it to the left and slides it back.
Two ogre women appear. both are draped in blankets. They have no weapons. " are you going to enslave us? or can we pass."
Behind them, the room is sparse, and mostly features just a bed. ALong the side is a chest containing 2000gp. On the night stand are some papers.
Bliss is super glad that this time the "wives" are not violent. "Bye bye, Ladies! You may pass. Halflings have no interest in giantkinds! Farewell!"
Bliss helps quickly search the room and gather papers and stuff.
Perception 19
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Monday April 17th, 2017 5:20:35 PM "What do you guys see in-NO MY GODS! " The mingled smell of rotten food, body odor, and ogre-loving hits him in the face. He staggers back and makes dry-heaving noises several times. He waves Bliss to continue. "Onward, brave soldier! Onward! Your sacrifice will not be soon forgotten!"
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 d20+10=30 ; Monday April 17th, 2017 7:26:52 PM "We know you ladies have been tortured and kept against your will. We will not hurt you, you are free to go. We killed the bad giants. I have to warn you, it sounds like there is a lot of fighting out there. You all be careful," Shel warns the ladies.
OOC: natural 20 on a Diplomacy roll for a total of 30!
Medium Air Elemental-Murphy (Kim) AC 20 HP 65/66 CMD 17 Tuesday April 18th, 2017 1:39:37 AM
Murphy walks around a corner as an earth elemental, and walks back around the corner as a halfling druid.
"Good luck, lady ogres," he tells them, uncharacteristically not even asking their names, then thinks again, then drops the thought of asking their help. There have got to be more blankets in the room than just the ones draping those two - maybe a blanket or sheet or two left on the bed? He leaves it to Pressi to negotiate how much she tells them to take (if any - they seem fine just getting out of here), and how much to share with the in-the-process-of-being-freed halflings.
"We need blankets, or some sort of cloth. We need NOT to look like a bunch of halflings. That includes all of those who've been captured here for a while."
Meanwhile, he heals Pressi and himself as indicated in my previous posts (because I'm not going to go back and roll all those dice) now that he is halfling-ized again.
He gathers the papers from the brothel, takes a quick look through them, then places them next to his other documents in his bag. "Where else do people here sleep?" He looks in the room that the frost giant may have come out of.
"All right, friends - many goblins wear hoods, cloaks, capes - that's likely the best way to make it less than obvious that a bunch of halflings are walking through the camp. Let's see what we can whip together in the next couple minutes.
"Then get out of here."
Sky & Meko (ADM Kim's last post for Marty Hoober - he's back Tuesday) HP:29/61; Ac:24 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 20(MA:22) Tuesday April 18th, 2017 1:48:15 AM
Sky goes along with the others, helping out where he can. He takes some of the clothing worn from the dead frost giant, using his +1 long sword to cut it to size to start helping the rescued halflings get disguised. He himself still wears the hat of disguise that Bliss earlier lent him, looking as goblin-like as he can.
"Shall we try to take the wolves with us?" he asks Alleah, Murphy, and whoever else might have an interest in the idea.
[Marty - it's your turn to post from here on out - hope you had a good trip - Sky made a big difference! -Kim]
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 30/57 Tuesday April 18th, 2017 5:27:15 AM
Alleah grins at Lance's reaction. You can tell a lot about a person by their sense of humor, and she gets a feeling Lance might be alright.
"Feel free to take the clothes of the giants and ogres here" Alleah offers to the ogre women. If they're going to be walking around a camp full of ogre men, these women would do well to cover up.
"Might be best to leave the wolves behind. I've already told them they can fill their bellies on ogres and giants. Besides, walking around with a wolf pack might draw unwanted attention"
Bliss helps gather the papers and treasure, and then he is ready. He helps give advice on disguises costumes.
Aid Another checks for disguises ... 20, 12, 18
When the party is ready, he sneaks to the entrance, gets Mookie and Silvie ready, then himself peeks out and looks for the best time for everybody to depart.
Perception 36, 27
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (20/74), CMD 27 Tuesday April 18th, 2017 10:49:57 AM
Pressi finally gets healed a bit. Murphy is finally in a less conspicuous form. And the team seems rather interested in getting out.
Pressi helps Bliss take the 2K gold from the chest and the papers from the nightstand, barely looking at the latter. From the gold, she gives the ladies 25 gp each, 50 gp total, along with some information about the other harem and the prior fleeing ogres and orcs. She approves Alleah's attempts to clothe the ladies and give them some dignity, even opening her portable hole to what large clothes and cheap armor might have been collected. She is far less approving of Lance's comments.
(25 gp a piece is what we gave the other harem, so I figured that would be fair this time around as well.)
Giving some more clothing, along with burlap and sacks, to Murphy, she mentions that they could hide some halflings if they found a cart or some animals. She activates her Hat of Disguise to better blend in as a goblin, and puts the hood of her robe up. Worst comes to worst, she does still have the invisibility injector left.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP -28/74 (dead), CMD 20 Tuesday April 18th, 2017 5:38:01 PM
"Being dead is boring," says Kezzem. "I'm going to go find some goblins to haunt."
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Tuesday April 18th, 2017 7:19:04 PM
Shel pops her hood as well. She could turn Invisible at the first sign of trouble, and that was going to be her backup plan. "Be sure we get all the magic. Don't leave any survivors any of those wicked swords or armor!"
Dm Shawn - The Harem Tuesday April 18th, 2017 7:20:20 PM
The ogre harem I both thankful for the clothes/sheets as well as the severance pay. They move out with any aggression.
The group starts dyving up the treasure and moving some of the coins reveals a scroll tube. The ebony wood is lined with skulls.
Three people grab for the papers but Bliss comes out with them.
Murphy heads into the other bedrooms. One for the frost giant, and one for the fire giant. A third bedroom is empty but some food rememant are left. The bed catches his eye. It is more suited for a human or elf.
Murphy (halfling druid) (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17 d20+24=38 ; d8+1=7 ; Tuesday April 18th, 2017 8:44:58 PM
Murphy taps Pressi once more for healing (7 hp)
"Hey, guys, come take a look at this bedroom. Looks like a human or elf sleeps here." Having been in the presence and abode of Uthvas Bethud before, does this room smell anything like him?
Murphy begins investigating closely. He looks under the covers, under the mattress, around the bed, checking any other furniture in the room. He looks for secret doors, compartments. He casts detect magic. And asks for help from others.
============= Perception: 38
Active effects on Murphy: Longstrider (+10 move on foot) 471.2 minutes Mage Armor via Bliss (+4 AC) 51.1 minutes Message via Bliss 30.1 minutes Owl's Wisdom 3.5 minutes Call Lightning 3.6 minutes, up to 8 bolts at 3d6, DC 19 for half in 30' tall 5' wide columns Bless via Alleah 1.6 minutes Bull's Strength (+4 Strength) via Alleah's wand 0.1 minutes
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 d20+16=23 Tuesday April 18th, 2017 11:57:57 PM
Lance helps Murphy search the room.
"You should probably look over there." He points, helpfully. "An over there. And there. And over there, too. Okay, now lift it up. Good. Check the sides. Don't rush! Okay, good. Next one..."
ooc: Perception 23
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 30/57 d20+14=15 ; Wednesday April 19th, 2017 12:12:30 AM
Alleah stands at the entrance to the cave with Bliss, Mookie and their goblin friend.
She wants to see for herself what the fighting looks like and whether it is causing enough of a distraction for the group to make a run for it
Perception: 15
Bliss (AC29, HP72) & DiminuMookie (AC30, HP28) (Cayzle) Wednesday April 19th, 2017 6:33:43 AM
Mookie peers out across the former camp, now a scene of pandemonium. "Kid, I don't like this!"
Bliss nods and turns back into the cave. "COME ON YOU GUYS WE GOTTA GO!"
[OOC to anyone in Uthvas's bedroom ... a hair from a pillow or similar would be great for scrying!]
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (20/74), CMD 27 d20+14=19 Wednesday April 19th, 2017 12:48:59 PM
With everything gathered and secure, Pressi moves back toward the kitchen and guards for one last search.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Wednesday April 19th, 2017 8:59:39 PM
Shel casts Detect Magic in what could be the alchemist's bedroom. She wants to take as much of his gear as might be left lying around. She will pluck a few hairs and safely stow them, knowing some strong magics can be done with something as simple as a single hair. If there is magic, she tries to carry it out and was ready to leave.
Dm Shawn - The Harem Wednesday April 19th, 2017 9:25:24 PM
Shel examines the room but finds not a single hair. Nothing.. as if the room was cleaned magically. No items either.murphy too finds nothing, even with Lances help.
Pressi searches the kitchen and the guards but everything was claimed.
At the mouth of the cave, the others see the bedlam first hand. Giants on both sides fighting... each other, among tribes.. or smashing a goblin, ork or ogre.
A giant rock smashes into the face of a ogre right by the cave mouth. His head is snapped back at an odd angle.
..........
Kezzem floats in total darkness... atleast he thinks. Suddenly he hears a goblin voice... " They eat you tooo?" It asks. Behind him is a floating goblin.. or what's left. An arm, half a body. Kezzem can see right through him.
Murphy (halfling druid) (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17 d20+24=35 ; Wednesday April 19th, 2017 11:03:16 PM
As they work together, Murphy asks Shel for a brief description of what happened after he got worked over by the fire giant until Alleah brought him back to consciousness. Once she finishes, he puts his hands on the outside of her shoulders and says, "My good, good friend. You impress me so much." He gives her a brief, brotherly hug, then a quick, relatively light noogie on her head with the knuckles of his right hand - no where near as hard as his brother Nalfein used to give him. "Brave lady, you, Shel. I have to tell your folks just how brave you have been."
He then walks to the opening of the room they just examined and takes a last look inside. "Clean as the insides of a sliced turnip." Not sure just where Bliss is, he tries to communicate through the message spell, "Murphy here. Nothing found in this room aside from clean sheets and bed. We're coming out now."
"Thanks for your help and suggestions - Lance, isn't it? Let's go," he says, heading out of the room.
"Sky - go ahead and lead our new friends here," he says, nodding to the newly freed halflings, "the way along the wall past the spikes with Meko and Kezzem. Do you want to grab Hairshirt's head? We can leave it by the entrance." If Sky chooses not to do so, he asks Lance for his help in climbing up on the table, taking it by the hair, and dragging out the leader's head. In his rocky form, it would have been easy for him to do it himself, but as a halfling he is not so very strong.
He works with Lance, and/or Sky, to get the head through the short area of darkness, through the special door (where he stops for a brief moment just to look at the mechanism), past the room where orcs and goblins had been imprisoned, through into the large kitchen area, to the double doors, and leaving the last of the bloody trail about smack dab in the middle of the entrance, not too far from where the bodies of the two guardian ogres lay still. Hairshirt's head faces outward. Writing in a circle around the head using chalk in Giant, in Goblin, and in Common he leaves the following message:
"Hairshirt says, 'DO NOT EAT HALFLINGS, or you may join me.'"
Along the way he chats briefly in the halfling tongue with Lance and any halflings close enough to hear. "We are called Humble's Sword, a group that started in Humble's Ford. We were sent by a war council to find out what the giants are up to, and do what we could to foul their plans. We killed Dolp, leader of the hill giants yesterday. Today we slew the leader of the stone giants. Now, I think it may be time to leave this desecrated valley, and report back in."
Addressing the freed halflings, having some notion of what they are about face, he says, "We're about to enter a real mess. If you want to argue any points with me, feel free - but know that delays may increase dangers. Eberulf Boffin, you will be spokesman for your group, those just rescued. Lance, will you take charge of their direct defense as needed?
"Sky - your main job is to make certain that you and Meko and Kezzem get safely back to where we left the goblins. Whatever else you can do to help out is gravy - but that's your main goal, all right?
"Alleah Highhill," Murphy says, though he knows she has other family names she has used at other times and places - that is her Humble's Ford name. "You take overall charge of getting the group safely back to where our goblin friends are awaiting our return. If you can't for some reason, then, Pressi, you take over."
"Bliss, Mookie - do what you always do best. I trust you completely," he says with a wink.
Turning to the goblin [and I am assuming it is Bizig, the first goblin we met here in the valley, as he gathered bugs and grub - if instead it is Gutplug, Scabby, Knockhead, Bungleak or Socket - let us know], Murphy says, "Bizig, you think we can all get back to the cave we left you at? Is everyone still here? It's only been a little while since we left." As it's only about a hundred yards there, he figures they've got a good shot at traversing that short space.
To the group as a whole, Murphy says, "I'll start with the group. If some diversion is needed, I may summon some help, I may wild shape to pull trouble away from you. Feel free to lecture me about this, Alleah - but later, maybe on the trip home." He is ready to set out when Alleah & the others think the group is good to go.
============= Perception: 35
Active effects on Murphy: Longstrider (+10 move on foot) 470.5 minutes Mage Armor via Bliss (+4 AC) 50.4 minutes Message via Bliss 29.4 minutes Owl's Wisdom 2.8 minutes Call Lightning 2.9 minutes, up to 8 bolts at 3d6, DC 19 for half in 30' tall 5' wide columns Bless via Alleah .9 minutes
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Wednesday April 19th, 2017 11:51:06 PM
The monk snaps his fingers and points two finger-guns at Murphy. "Okey-dokey, Smokey." Lance takes position to guard the other prisoners as the group moves forward.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (27/74), CMD 27 Thursday April 20th, 2017 11:24:02 AM
Pressi hung around the entrance as the other halflings gathered. "You did good," Pressi said to Shel before moving off. "Alleah, you too."
Pressi looks out in the war zone. "Ok, looks like disguises won't really be needed or helpful, so don't worry about it. We are going to run, and run fast, but we stay in formation. Lance in front, I'll take rear, Alleah will be on point.
(OOC: Post originally stated that Pressi joined Murphy's conversation. This would have been impossible.)
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP -28/74 (dead), CMD 20 Thursday April 20th, 2017 11:41:50 AM
"Hey buddy!" says Kezzem to the gobiln.
"Have you heard of Kezzem the bard? They all thought he was quite the card, A giant bashed his head, And now he is dead, And stuck with you in this graveyard."
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 30/57 Thursday April 20th, 2017 9:13:24 PM
Alleah looks about. She's trying to wait for a moment of chaos. A time that the group can move about without much attention.
"Once we're out there, try not to speak halfling. It might give us away. If you see any goblins screaming or flailing their arms, try and follow suit. Are we ready? Ok, let's do this!"
When the timing is right Alleah steps out of the cave and tries to lead the group away from the camp
Dm Shawn - goodbye Thursday April 20th, 2017 9:33:30 PM
Murphy plops his head down and makes his warning. Some giants and ogres see, but if they care they aren't showing it. No one pays the group any mind an instead worries about themselves and their own.
Alleah, Pressi, Shel and Lance wait for a lull in the action then follow the goblin back to the other cave. Murphy doesn't encounter any pushback and the group makes it to the cave without incident .
Sky pulls in with Kezzem's body and helps the others cut him down and lay his body down.
" I have decided.. and I want no arguments. I am heading out by myself and going to Humbles Ford. I can make it there a lot faster by myself." He hops on Meko... " I hate the cliche.. but this isn't goodbye, just see you later."
..........
" That's a good one." The goblin says. " me mum used to be able to fart the letters of words. Well.. before hairshirt ate her. So a bonk on the head got You? I ate a rock.. to the face. I tried to tell a joke but it wasn't good. That Hairshirt picked me up while Groggy and ate my foot. Threw me to the cook and had him finish preparing me for food. Hope I have him the squirts."
Bliss says goodby to Sky and wishes him well. And his kitty.
He looks sadly at Kezzem's body. "Miss Alleah, do you know a spell to bring him back?"
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Thursday April 20th, 2017 10:58:59 PM "Later, gator." Lance gives Sky a lazy salute and turns to Kezzem. "So is he dead, or only mostly dead?"
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Thursday April 20th, 2017 11:19:02 PM
Shel smiled weakly at Pressi. "Thanks. You did amazing as well. We all did good. Now we need to get ourselves safely out of here and figure out how to heal Kezzem."
She takes a deep breath and exhales. 'Im ready to run when the rest of you are.i can still cast Haste to give us a little extra edge before we take off.". If she heard no objections, she used her magic when the others decided to sprint.
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Friday April 21st, 2017 2:40:36 AM
(ooc: With haste and a ki point, I have a base speed of 100 feet and a run speed of 500 feet.)
Murphy (halfling druid) (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17 d20+24=27 ; Friday April 21st, 2017 3:27:50 AM
Murphy is relieved the short passage is safely made. He helps Sky with respectfully removing Kezzem's body from Meko. "You're going, Sky? Ah, well, fare well, brother adventurer. Say, here is my hooded cloak. I'll trade you for Bliss's hat of disguise before you go. Hope we meet up later, that the good powers above keep you safe, and that we meet up later! Goodbye, to you, too, Meko," he says, scratching the grey wolf's ears, then waving to them as they take their hasty leave.
He counsels Shel to hold off on the haste spell. "We may need it soon, but not yet. Let's try to take care of at least one other matter before that, Shel."
He turns his attention to Kezzem. "Wasn't there a scroll in a tube lined with skulls? Who has that? It may have a way to carry us to council with Gargul, for Kezzem's sake. Or, has any other means been found to assist us in such an endeavor? Did someone collect things from the giants, besides the harem room?"
As the party fishes around for the scroll he mentioned, or other possibilities, he asks about papers found - and knows some were in the women's room - Bliss grabbed them up just as Murphy had been about to reach for them. He asks Bliss for them, and starts glancing through, seeing what clues he might find therein. He asks also if anyone else found any papers (he doesn't know about the ones Pressi found).
"By the way - what happened after I got soundly knocked out?" he asks the group - pestering each person to give him his or her own story of the action as it unfolded. [You don't have to go into detail - but maybe mention you tell Murphy what happened during the last battle from your perspective.]
Perception: 27
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 30/57 Friday April 21st, 2017 6:12:46 AM "Murphy has the right of it.Let's take stock over what we have. I can feel my knowledge of the arcane and divine growing, but seeking Gargul's permission to bring Kezzem back? That's beyond my skill"
Alleah fidgets with her lucky coin in her pocket. "Wardd, I hope you can hear me. I have felt your influence today, and felt my luck rise or fade at every turn. If you're watching, please let me find a way to bring Kezzem back"
She then casts Detect Magic followed by Guidance and look over the items the party recovered.
Spellcraft check to ID: Take 10 + 11 + Guidance 1 = 22. Anyone want to aid another?
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (27/58), CMD 27 Friday April 21st, 2017 10:54:11 AM
(OOC: Question about Bear's endurance. When it ends, do I keep the hit points I originally had or do I subtract points. Bears endurance added 16 HP so Pressi is either at 27 or 11 HP out of 58).
Pressi pulls out the skull scroll and all the other items gathered, but there is no possibility that she could figure out which of the items helps Gargul. She also hands to Murphy any of the papers she had. (I think any papers Pressi found were gathered by Bliss, but just in case....)
She tries very hard not to look at Kezzem's body as she takes things out. In answer to Murphy's question, "Honestly, I know what happened even less than you do. I guess I really do owe Shel my life, which is... complicated. I've never been a fan of being shown up. But I kind of always thought of her as a squish, so to see her really put herself on the line like that...."
She glances at Kezzem's body, and at her own wounds. "I guess we all put our lives on the line to some degree. But I can't help but feel like I failed you all. That last round, I just stood there at let all that damage come in. I didn't even get the mage. And yet I don't even have the imagination to know what I should have done."
She was quiet a while more. "He was my partner, you know. In some ways, I knew him better than I know Shel or Bliss or even you. When we met, I was even more reserved and rigid than I am now. No leaving the LG path. No bluffs, or breaking into stuff, or even wisecracking while fighting. I think I drove him crazier than he drove me."
Bliss tries his best to help Alleah ... Aid Another spellcraft rolls are 14, 15, 19, 22.
He wants to bring Kezzem back, but wonders if this place is a safe spot to do so. He looks around to try to determine the risk in casting here.
Perception 22
Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61/61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18(MA:22) Friday April 21st, 2017 4:40:02 PM
Ooc: sorry for my late return. I been trying to read up the last day. So far I see we got the giants, rescued some halflings. An am I riding back to humbles ford with Kazeems body?
Florida was great! Thanks for the sub on so short notice, I was supposed to have WiFi o. The trip, but didn't..
ADM Kim Friday April 21st, 2017 6:37:44 PM
Yay, you're back! Touch base with Jerry and Shawn, Marty, and Sky's exit can be a quick local scouting trip. And... Sky left Kezzem in the cave with the party. Glad you had a good trip to Florida, caballero! -ADM Kim
Dm Shawn - goodbye Friday April 21st, 2017 10:09:25 PM
The magic is cast and the items are checked, th lost is quite impressive.
+1 Chain Shirt, Potion of Cure moderate wounds Potion of Bears endurance Potion of Delay poison Ring of Energy resistance (fire) minor (10) DR 10 from an energy +1 Greatsword 1 has a pair of golden dice with gems worth 100 gp 1 has a jar of pickled children’s fingers 1 has some a dried and preserved crow (no value) Amulet of natural armour (+1) +1 Nat armour Hat of disguise +10 Disguise Dust of disappearance +1 Greatsword, Belt of physical might Cloak of resistance (+2) +1 Greataxe, Frost 4000 SP 575 GP various jewelery worth 1000 GP, Rod of Extend Spell, Lesser Scroll of Raise Dead
Bliss looks around and other the the stench from some goblins.. it's not a bad spot. Not the best.. but serviceable.
Sky goes to head out.. sees the commotion. " Better yet.. I'll stick around."
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Saturday April 22nd, 2017 2:08:26 AM
Shel desperately wanted to get out of this cave. The emotional high was running out and the others were starting to contemplate exactly what had happened. Kezzem was dead, Pressi was beginning to process those feelings and the others would probably begin to do the same soon. At least if we are moving toward the village we have a goal to keep everyone's thoughts focused...
"Grab some of the loot, or at least toss it in Aleah's magical bag so we can get on the run. If they are all fighting outside, the survivors might come looking for us next. I don't want to be here longer than I have to. The village needs us."
Murphy does not yet manage to pull any information out of the papers he has been examining - perhaps when things are quieter. And Pressi's words and gaze now capture his attention.
"I know you told me before, and I have not forgotten, but I've sometimes wondered how two so disparate personalities and moralities might wind up traveling together. Kezzem - all jokes and bluffs and playful prevarications, and you, Pressi, serious in some ways, with a defined moral code, earnest, thoughtful about things. And sometimes like a thistle. Kezzem - Kezzem's tomfoolery grew... vexing to me. I thought he might cause more troubles than he helped us resolve at first. But my affection for him has grown, and his value to our group has become ever more evident. I am liking his recent ventures into poesy. And our opponents best beware their backsides when he is about.
"You -," Murphy is about to continue, then he rather chokes up. He bows his head so no one can see that he is beginning to tear up. After a moment he rubs his eyes with the palms of his hands, and sniffs a couple of times. When he looks up, the skin around his eyes is somewhat reddened, and his eyes glisten. "Hairshirt rained blows on you, and I thought you gone - or near so. Though I thought someone might soon be upon me, and I should sink into the floor, I knew I must rather act quickly so as to draw his attention away from you. I caused the stone of the floors to grow points, and beckoned he come my way, that his feet might bleed, and he leave you be.
"That's the last thing I recall, though, other than a fire giant appearing beside me, and cutting me down rather swiftly, until Alleah's ghost of krissmas future spoke to me." He steps forward and takes the bottom of Pressi's sleeve in his fingers. "I cannot lose you." He draws her to himself, and wraps his arms about her, holding her for a good moment. About that time, someone - Alleah? - mentions a scroll of raise dead.
He relaxes more, finding comfort in her arms, and kisses Pressi's forehead. "Ah! There, you found it," he says, coming out of the embrace, taking Pressi's hand in his. "Friends, if any of us are ever lost, let us pledge to find each other again. Sky! Glad am I you are back! There is hope for Kezzem. Be with us as we come before Lord Gargul. Let our goblin friends here watch out for us. Alleah, can you read the... Bliss - are you feeling all right? There is a strange look on your face."
Murphy (halfling druid) (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17 Saturday April 22nd, 2017 3:05:13 AM
[Missed Shel's post above as I composed mine. Quick addendum to respond to her.]
"Shel, Sky just returned - things are very hot outside. The village needs us, yes," Murphy agrees, but argues the following. "We need Kezzem to help us travel there. If Lord Gargul will grant our petition, then K can move with us, rather than we carrying him."
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP -28/74 (dead), CMD 20 Saturday April 22nd, 2017 11:40:40 AM
"Dude, your mom's the coolest! So what's your name, friend?"
"Have you heard of the goblin ghost, To Hairshirt he had tried to boast, But his joke was bad, Which made Hairshirt sad So he turned him into a roast."
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 30/57 Saturday April 22nd, 2017 11:34:59 PM
Alleah grins on seeing the golden dice. They are surely a sign that Wardd has been watching. If noone objects she would dearly love to include those as part of her share.
She is happy for the loot to be thrown into her haversack or bag of holding for a later time.
"A raise dead spell is very quick to cast. It would literally take me but a minute." If there are no objections, Alleah begins the ritual.
"Gargul, Lord of Life and Death. Your humble servant begs an audience. Grant me this boon that we may petition you to return the soul of our friend Kezzem"
Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61/61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18(MA:22) Sunday April 23rd, 2017 11:23:24 AM
"That's alotta loot, sky smiles as he sees everything thrown into Alleahs bag.
" Now, for this Gargul business. Never thought I'd actually meet him, unless ya kno... It was time. Does he bring people back often? "
While awaitng to meet the god of life and death, Sky remembers his father. All the time in the forest, alone after he passed.
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Sunday April 23rd, 2017 11:59:26 PM
OOC: Friday's post.
Lance was busy surveying the loot when his selective hearing picked up several words. "Dead... Gargul... Audience..." He had been around the block a few times in his adventuring career. He knew what was going to happen.
"Yeah... I'm going to be over here. You do your thing."
Lance walks over and chit-chats with the other released prisoners until the group is finished.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (27/58), CMD 27 d20+7=15 ; Monday April 24th, 2017 9:16:19 AM
Pressi almost cried when Murphy held her hands in his. "Alleah got me conscious briefly. I saw you and Kezzem lying on the floor and these giants.... But, it is over. And it looks like we do have a chance to bring Kezzem back.
"As for how Kezzem and I got together.... He was actually in prison when they assigned him to me. He had information about the Quickfoot clan and how they were gathering this magic goo to fight these mutant turtles. But we only had 48 hours to find the guys at Spectre... You know, it's just a whole thing."(Bluff 15.) "Sorry. You know Kezzem would have wanted it this way."
In response to Sky's and Lance's discomfort. "Oh don't be such a baby. At this point, Gargul owes us a free sub."
She holds and braces herself as Gargul once again enters their lives.
Murphy (halfling druid) (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17 d20+9=28 ; Monday April 24th, 2017 1:00:13 PM
Quick reaction As she had never mentioned mutant turtles and a place or organization called Spectre before, Murphy internally questions Pressi's story - he gives her a quizzical look, but otherwise lets it ride for the moment. Possibly a mixture of truth and fanciful story? She knows of all sorts of things Murphy has never heard of before. They can discuss things at a more propitious time. Right now, his focus has to be Kezzem's appointment with Lord Gargul, so he puts other thoughts on the back shelf.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Monday April 24th, 2017 8:57:24 PM
Shel had experienced the whole Gargul thing once before and to be honest, she wasn't a big fan. But she'd do what she had to in order to help bring back a friend. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, waiting for the group to be called for judgment.
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Monday April 24th, 2017 11:56:55 PM
Lance shrugs. "I'm good. Really. I've done that whole thing before. It was great. Five out of five stars." He holds his hands up in a warding gesture. "I'm just not down on repeating it. I'll be here when you get back, m'kay?" He turns and continues chit-chatting with the released prisoners.
Bliss (AC29, HP72) & DiminuMookie (AC30, HP28) (Cayzle) Monday April 24th, 2017 11:59:11 PM
Bliss wonders what is going to happen. He resolves to stay quiet.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 30/57 Tuesday April 25th, 2017 7:11:33 AM
Alleah keeps her eyes closed, but worries: Did she cast the spell right?
"Friends," Murphy whispers to his nearby friends, "We've known Lance and the other halflings here all of, what, five minutes? This visit should be for those who know Kezzem."
"Keep an eye on things if we disappear for a few minutes, will ya?" he asks Lance and the other halflings - and their goblin friends. "We'll be right back - I trust."
Are the six or seven goblins who've been helping them out all at the cave? "We'll pay you what we promised shortly," Murphy promises again. "Don't worry. Let's get ready to leave in a few minutes, though, all right?"
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Tuesday April 25th, 2017 6:52:58 PM
Shel opened one eye, and started tapping her foot impatiently. "I know Kezzem's jokes weren't the best, but surely Gargul will hear his petition, right? Murphy, did you have to do anything to get the process started when you were judged?"
Lengthening Shadows [DM Jerry] Tuesday April 25th, 2017 7:24:41 PM
Very slowly, so that some do not even notice at first [Perception 25], the shadows begin to lengthen. Eventually, everyone sees the subtle changes.
Longer, longest, until the shadows begin to overtake reality. The real Wold fades until only the colors are left and only if you concentrate on them and the Shadowlands become the all-encompassing environment. Smells are diminished.. Sounds seem distant, even your own voice seems that way. The shadows can be lightly felt. Real.
Except in Kezzem's case. He feels buoyant, almost alive again. And he feels a tug. Towards something glowing in the distance. Something warm and vibrantly alive. He must go there. Irresistible.
The party spots a spirit travelling with them. Definitely Kezzem. His eyes are looking forward, facing something. Something is distorting his spirit, pulling on him. He glances at you and then with a jerk he is pulled forward....at increasing speed.
[The lower the perception roll the longer it takes you to notice--just something to role-play.]
As Alleah finishes reading the Raise Dead scroll, Bliss immediately senses that the shadows begin to gather. How could he not? He still remembers, sort of, being lost in shadows when the bag of holding he was in burst and he died of exposure and thirst while lost in shadows. How could be not, when he has made his living as a stealthy sniper, using shadows for defense. And how could he not, given his training as a shadowdancer and a witch?
But none of that reassures him. He begins to shiver uncontrollably, and tries to make himself as small as possible.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (27/58), CMD 27 d20+14=21 ; Tuesday April 25th, 2017 9:20:14 PM
Perception 21
"...And that is why Gargul is too stupid to arrive on time, or to understand how easily a buffed monk can make a reflex save even on a two. And if he doesn't get a move on, I'm gonna shove..."
Pressi stopped to look around.
"... a basket of puppies into the loving arms of our nibbly shadow overlord. Hey, is this where we're delivering Cam's fan mail?"
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Tuesday April 25th, 2017 11:56:42 PM
Lance watches the shadows lengthen and engulf the party. He turns to the prisoners. "All right, ladies and gentlemen. I am your designated protector until they return. Everyone is going to find a corner, sit on the ground in a circle, and keep quiet. Pronto." The monk sits in a lotus position and keeps a watchful eye on the spot where the party disappeared.
Murphy (halfling druid) (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17 d20+22=27 ; Wednesday April 26th, 2017 2:16:09 AM
Murphy answers the sorceress, "Well, Shel, I think my role in starting the process may have been to be in need of the intercession in the first place. Pressi rubbed something on what remained of my beat-up chest, then we started our journey into the... all right, here they come - the Shadowlands."
The druid notices Bliss beginning to shiver, and to look even smaller than he usually does. He places a hand on his friend's shoulder for a moment or two. Quietly he says, "I know, Bliss. Not your favorite place, though you may know it better than any of the rest of us. I wanted to thank you, too, for lending me your shadow a few weeks back. One of the most generous things I have ever been lent."
"Ah," he says, pointing off to their right. "Look - Kezzem is with us." He points as the roguish spirit races forward.
After a little more travel, he remarks, "Kendry - my brother - once told me the grass presses hard into the feet here."
Overall, he travels with a measure of solemnity and reverence, somewhat pensive.
Perception: 27
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 30/57 d20+14=23 ; Wednesday April 26th, 2017 7:47:55 AM
It takes a little longer for Alleah to notice the lengthening shadows, but that's what happens when you cast a spell with your eyes closed.
"Kezzem! It's Kezzem!" Alleah rushes to spirit-Kezzem and tries to grab hold of his arm. When that fails she tries to throw her arms around him to give him a hug, but that too fails.
What are you supposed to ask the spirit of a deceased friend? "Kezzem? Are you, um, ok?"
When Kezzem starts moving forwards Alleah tries in vain to grab hold of him and slow his progress.
Perception: 23
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP -28/74 (dead), CMD 20 Wednesday April 26th, 2017 10:41:57 AM
"Oh, it's you guys. What are you doing here? Alleah, knock it off. You'll make Knucklehead jealous, and then he might, you know, kill himself or something to get this kind of attention."
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Wednesday April 26th, 2017 8:34:17 PM
Shel opens both eyes, as the shadows roll in. She was more used to this now, but she still didn't feel comfortable with the situation. She waved at ghost Kezzem, happy to see him sort of alive again.
The Moment is a Masterpiece [DM Jerry] Wednesday April 26th, 2017 8:45:44 PM
Some of the party makes pithy remarks while others grow serious and look within. All normal responses to the stress of the situation. Anticipation fills the Shadowlands.
Kezzem jerks forward making him move kinda sideways as he was speaking with his friends. Then as he is pulled again, a fine tether can be seen pulling him forward and out of reach, speeding towards something ahead. Smells earthy. In fact it is pretty much the only thing one can smell here. An earthy, cross between fertilized soil, but more spicy.
As the party follows, they see a glowing river flowing along as it it was as thick as lava. To those who have been here before or seen it before, they know it as Woldsblood. Dead souls ride along the surface, seeming to be travelling several times as fast as the flow of the river. Souls, that will combine with their mother and father sparks of life to reincarnate into a new being, fly over the river upstream taking off into tributaries and rivulets to rise and disappear into the Wold Prime.
Kezzem will soon disappear from sight if the party cannot keep up. Is he just moving ahead? Is he being summoned ahead of the party? Is this normal?
=====
Far ahead of him, Kezzem spots a soul trapped in the branch of a tree growing out of the River of Souls. The tree pulses with unnatural 'negative energy' and the soul shakes with pain and horror. The Woldsblood surrounding the tree bubbles angrily looking dark and menacing.
The soul looks at you entreatingly her mouth open in a perpetual mask of fear. Her eyes look imploringly at you asking for deliverance. But what can you do? You are just a soul!
Then a voice is heard, resounding with holiness and power throughout the Shadowlands. Booming loud enough to cause pain, it asks a question.
"WHO WILL YOU SERVE? KEZZEM! WHO WILL YOU SERVE? SPEAK IT!"
All the options are his: Alemi. Domi. Flower. Pantheon. Ffloy. Gargul.
The moment is a masterpiece. The weight of indecision is in the air. Floating there. A symbol and a sign of all you seek. Who will you seek?
Bliss says to his friends, "Come on! We have to follow Kezzem!"
He races after his dead comrade in arms, although he is still shaking with fear.
Murphy (halfling druid) (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17 d20+22=38 ; Wednesday April 26th, 2017 9:57:39 PM
"Woldsblood," Murphy says, watching some souls flow swiftly by. Then, Kezzem's spirit surges ahead of them.
"Run! Follow Kezzem! RUN!" the druid urges his friends forward.
Murphy runs.
Perception: 38
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 30/57 Wednesday April 26th, 2017 11:16:25 PM
Alleah rolls her eyes. At least Kezzem still had his sense of humor.
As a bloodwitch she is quite impressed at the sight of Woldsblood. "I wonder what would happen if I tried to cast a spell here?" She quickly dismisses the thought and tries to catch up with Kezzem.
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Wednesday April 26th, 2017 11:52:28 PM
Lance continues his meditation in lotus position, awaiting the party.
"Inner peaceeeeeeee. Inner peaceeeeeeeeee..."
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP -28/74 (dead), CMD 20 Thursday April 27th, 2017 10:34:03 AM
"Ack, I'm moving again!"
"I will serve you Gargul if you allow me to continue to protect my friends."
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (27/58), CMD 27 Thursday April 27th, 2017 12:27:56 PM
Pressi continues to rush forward, trying to keep up.
Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61/61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18(MA:22) Thursday April 27th, 2017 8:01:34 PM
Sky and meko rush ahead to keep up with Kezeem,
"This place is darkness and spooky. I don't like it*
Watching. Waiting. Observing. Hoping. [DM Jerry] Thursday April 27th, 2017 9:44:37 PM
As the party strives to keep up with Kezzem rushes forward, they discover something unusual. It seems their great need to travel faster allows their speed to increase. But it is a weird effect in that to one the legs seem to blur creating speed, yet to another, their pace seems the same, but they pass over the ground with a greater pace. Unnerving. But is it enough?
The shadows begin to pass by a greater and greater speed. Yet with the Woldsblood boiling and roiling and tributaries joining, the passage is difficult. Instinct says that touching pure Woldsblood would be....deadly.
There, in the distance, floating over the Woldsblood is Kezzem.
=====
As Kezzem says the word "serve" something substantial changes within him.
His awareness.
His knowledge of lore.
His confidence and faith increase.
Class crafts and abilities.
Instantly, he is a paladin. In word and deed. His life a living promise to be true, loyal, dedicated to what and WHO he has chosen.
At that same moment, the voice spits back at him with pride and honor.
"DONE!"
It seems to come from the Woldsblood itself now.
As Kezzem's awareness clears, he is approaching the tree and the trapped soul. Instantly, he realizes what needs to be done. He must counter the negative energy by channeling his own newly discovered positive energy. He must save this lost soul.
The soul writhes and bends with the pain of long agony. Being torn apart.
He must save it.
NOW!!
=====
In the distance on the other side of the river a lone figure rises to the top of a hill, walking cane in hand, face obscured. Watching. Waiting. Observing. Hoping. His attention focused on Kezzem.
To those in the party who have seen him before and to those for whom this is the first time, the identity of this being is obvious. One always recognizes the god of life and death when one sees him, even when he is on walkabout.
Bliss (Cayzle) Thursday April 27th, 2017 11:07:05 PM
Bliss follows Kezzem with his friends, and dances over the streams and rivulets of Woldsblood.
Then he sees Lord Gargul.
A small squeak escapes his lips.
But the innate bravery of halflings helps him. So does the bravery training he had in his fighting days in the Mailed Fist. He may not be in the Fist any more, but at least he knows how to stand at attention.
That's what he does, trying to keep his fear from showing.
Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 85 -- AC 26/26/19 -- F+11 R+15 W+12 -- CMD 27 Thursday April 27th, 2017 11:58:08 PM "Chantiiiiiiing. Chantiiiiiing. Inner peeeeeeeeeace."
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Friday April 28th, 2017 1:05:47 AM
Shel sees the change immediately in Kezzem. She wasn't sure what it was, but his countenance seemed to change. She smiled for some strange reason.
When she noticed the other figure, she kept her head low. She didn't want to do anything to attract undue attention from a God.
Kendry sees some sort of, of, something. Kezzem is changing before their eyes. Less sneak. More soldier. More. More uprightness? A bit further along, a tormented soul. A test?
Over there - it is this realm's Lord. Looking that way for a moment, he returns his focus to Kezzem. What are you going to do, buddy? he thinks towards their friend.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (26), HP 58 (27/58), CMD 27 Friday April 28th, 2017 10:54:08 AM
Pressi's quip that we have got to stop meeting like this ends in her throat. "What did you do?" she asks Kezzem.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 90/90, CMD 23 5d6=20 ; Friday April 28th, 2017 12:02:25 PM
Kezzem moves towards the soul and lays his hands on him.
"There once was a lost soul, To save him was my goal, But if life remains, So do the pains, Until your buried in a hole."
Lay on Hands: 20.
Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61/61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18(MA:22) Friday April 28th, 2017 10:27:59 PM
Having no idea what is going on, Sky just looks around, until he hears a very rare sound. Meko let loose a quiet wimper. The Greg wolf had saw Gargul. The lord of life and death had actually scared Sky's brave companion.
Sky's gaze moves to Gargul, a hand falls to pet Mekos head, between his ears.
"Its OK boy, were here to bring back Kezeem, not petition for our own lives "
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 30/57 Friday April 28th, 2017 11:52:23 PM
Alleah immediately recognises the Lord of Life and Death. She turns to watch Kezzem. This is no doubt a trial for him. A trial he must complete.
But there is no way Alleah can let Kezzem stand alone - in life or in death. This may be his trial, but she will support him in it as best she can.
She steps forward from the party and stands just behind Kezzem's left shoulder. "We're here for you Kezzem" she whispers "Where you go, we go." Alleah isn't sure what she really can do to help Kezzem at this point, so she just stands ready. Clutching her lucky coin (her holy symbol) tightly, she stands ready to defend Kezzem should the soul in front of him attack.
"Nice poem by the way. I just hope they're not your last words"
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Saturday April 29th, 2017 12:04:59 AM
Shel would normally have Alleah's back, helping their friend. But that Gargul was just so intimidating. She again stood back hoping that Kezzem's newfound healing ability was enough to help him pass the test in the god's eyes.
Murphy steps up opposite Alleah to offer what support he might near Kezzem's right shoulder - letting his friend lead, but prepared to support him however he might in overcoming the soul-sapping arboreal threat. "Can you channel positive energy now, Kezzem, to help her? Maybe that's what you are doing with your hands?"
There Once was a Soul from Wold [DM Jerry] Saturday April 29th, 2017 2:05:27 PM
Kezzem steps forward to touch the trapped soul in the evil tree filled with negative energy. He lays hands on the soul and it has two effects.
First, it seems to take away some of the pain from the creature as he is healed. Second, it seems to make the soul look more substantial...maybe. It could be a hopeful perception. Third, the tree seems to suffer a bit. However, shortly it is gaining strength again.
"GOOD! NOW CHANNEL THAT POSITIVE ENERGY. YOU MUST DIRECTLY OPPOSE THE NEGATIVE ENERGY. DRIVE IT OUT. CONQUER IT"
Then he takes off his brooch--a grey lidless eye--and tosses it at Kezzem. It attaches itself somehow to Kezzem insubstantial hand.
"USE THIS....PALADIN. I BELIEVE IN YOU AS YOU BELIEVE IN ME."
With the arrival of the holy symbol of Gargul, Kezzem becomes fully aware of all his abilities and responsibilities. He knows instantly what to do.
=====
The party arrives, well as close as is possible due to the Woldsblood and offers encouragement, advice, and support.
Suddenly, with a popping sound, Gime the Imp appears jumping in and within the party.
"There once was a soul from Wold. Who died when he was very old. Got stuck on a tree, A paladin set him free, Because he was good and bold."
The imp dances around with glee in a sing-song voice,
"Set him Free! Set him Free!"
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 90/90, CMD 23 5d6=14 ; Saturday April 29th, 2017 3:06:48 PM
Kezzem continues to lay his hands on the wounded soul.
Lay on Hands: 14.
Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 Saturday April 29th, 2017 9:03:22 PM
Part of Shel questioned why the imp was cheering for this 'good' soul to be set free. Imps are evil, aren't they, she thought as she kept a close eye on the devil thing. Maybe, if this were a bad thing, the god would have pointed that out. Basically, Shel kept her mouth shut as she waited to see how this played out.
LOG ON