A Current of Entropy

[Miyako]

A nice wind was blowing through the trees -- it was neither cold, nor humid -- it was soft, it was clean. Lacking a better way to understand it, the wind was fresh.
It was only a brief moment of happiness before something genuinely terrible scarred the land forever. You smelled this moment for all that it was, breathed life in. Around you, the forest was watching your every move, eager to decide whether your plan was folly or fruitful. You were perched in a tree, a Treant, in reality, but for their purposes, a tree.

The caravan wound through the forest, arrogant and cocksure, three wagons guarded by Adventurers, and five floating carriages from the city. The wagons were covered with canopies, drawn by lizards. The carriages were beautiful, ornate works of art that glided several feet over the ground as easily as a bird through the air.

And you were going to tear them apart.

The Treant shifted a little bit underneath you.

"Is it Time?"

[arkol]

"What do you see old friend?" says the little halfling poiting to the caravan and trying himself to get a better look.


spot [roll0]
knowledge nature to identify the lizards [roll1]

I should make my spellist for the day no?

Also questions: Did we stumble upon the caravan or are we knoew it would be here and we're here to attack it?
How far away from the city are we?

[Miyako]

A Spell list would probably be prudent, so we know what you can cast. Otherwise, even your character won't know before someone starts telling you what you prepared for the day.

You are here to attack the caravan, to prove that the people of the cities can be beaten. So naturally, you are far enough from the city that the city itself will not be able to interfere. The forest is full of keen hunters.

"What do I see?" The Treant seems to sway like a tree, subject to the will of the world and the wind. "Idiots, the insane, the ignorant. And the ones who are bad enough to stand against the natural order."
The Treant paused for a long while, his swaying was gentle, it was soothing and it reminded you of being held by a Mother. A squirrel clutched at the Treant, and he did not give it any indication that he was anything except for a tree. There was a bird's nest on this Treant, that he did not disturb them told you very much about how he saw the world.
"I know that I am about to see a very strange thing. The Gold Dragon Reirimsa lies in wait, belittling the idea that sunlight would shine off her scales. The Dryads, the Nymph from the lake, a tribe of Horses, a Tribe of Dogs that smell like men..."
The great tree seemed to sigh, scraping his branches together in a most unobtrusive way. All the while he did not move you even a little, he was always very careful not to disturb those who were in his branches.
"...they all wait for you. They are very curious to know whether or not it is possible the forest can disturb the people, as the people disturb the forest. They do not think it has ever been done before. Because you are my friend, I think you will understand why it is, that I do not interfere."

From your lofty perch on the Treant, easily the largest of woodsie-kind in the region, you can see the forest all around you. From the place that the caravan came from, there is a massive dust trail. To the place that the caravan was going, there were only a few small wagon ruts.

It does not appear that anyone is hiding, and you believe that assumption is correct. All the members of the caravan are in relatively plain view. The five leading are the carriages, the three following are the wagons. On the sides of the wagons, and painted on the canopies, you can see some very creative names. First is the 'Sexy Cow', with a lewd picture of a bovine on the side. Next is the 'Shimmaringring', covered in red ribbons and silver bells, jangling a song every so often. The last wagon is called 'Manly Grunts', it seems to be guarded by elves wearing shimmering gold scarves.

The carriages are protected by heavily armoured people, they hold short bows, and there is always a naginata nearby. The armour they wear is obviously meant for heavy infantry of some kind, and each guard is masked by a frightening menpo. A plain looking haori with a deep cowl covers the entire outfit. Out of everyone, these ones are the most alert for an attack, they are perpetually tense, as if they expect the order to fight at any moment.

From what you can see, the Lizards are some sort of swift Riding breed, meant for war. They remind you a lot of Velociraptors. Probably because they are.

"Well, great one... now is the time. Which path will you take, now that you are here?"

[arkol]

Naginata, menpo... had to google this stuff to see what this was. Going for an oriental theme are we? Also changed a couple scrolls that I realized I get from the druid list. Also apparently I miscalculated something on teh shopping list and seems that I had spent more then I had listed. I think all is good now.

I was also looking for a spell similar to Animal Trance, but one that affected a lot more HD then that one (and higher level of course too). That way I wouldn't not need to kill the mounts in the attack (which seems like something I wouldn't do if possible) Could we homebrew one?

Also jiggled a bit with my skill points. Seem that being able to talk the elemental languages might be usefull when I want to summon elementals so got all those. Also want to check for interesting skill tricks that might be usfull so not entirely done there.


"You are disturbingly impacient for a treant my friend. Let's watch them, learn and then we'll formulate a plan of action.

Don't worry. They WILL fall before the sun does so."

Keeping an eye out. Counting number of guards and all that.

[Miyako]

"Do you understand how a parent feels when they do not interfere?"
The Treant said with a tired sigh, "Do not die."

With that, he let you down to the ground gently, arose to his full, imposing height, and was still as any normal tree should be. From the amount of time you had left before he set you down, you noticed that each vehicle was escorted by five guards. Aside from five guards, there were five support personnel per wagon or carriage, people tending to the Dinosaurs and managing supplies.Sorry that took so long. It really does feel like it takes forever for responses. I will help you work on something.

[arkol]

Ok so lesse if I got everything right (and also summarizing everything for my own good, to better formulate some sort of plant against them).

There are:
5 floating carriages
3 wagons

In that order.

The wagons are drawn by raptors (2 each I presume, so a total of 6 raptors).
The carriages just float on their own (apparently)

Every vehicle has 5 guards and 5 "serfs" attending it.
I'm assuming everyone is a human or I just can't see what they are (with the masks and all), with the exception of the guards of the last wagon, which are elves.

That makes a total of 40 guards and 40 "serfs".

Gona edit this post later on with some action.


Cyrrindy* with a simple gesture calls Gelmir, his faithfull companion, a large and beautifull tiger who's been hiding behind the treant. With a small hop he's on top of him and from the protection of the foreststarts to cast a few spells on himself and his companion in preparation for the attack.


* this is not his birth name, but rather one he adopted later in life.

Ok so the plan is as follows.

First buff self and use share spells ability to have buffs work on the tiger and myself. With spellbound companion we can be 30ft apart and the spells work on both. Since he hasa decent Int now he has been instructed not to leave that radiusfrom me.
The buffs are as follows:
greater resistance
mage armor (we both have armor but the spell is slightly better for him)
greater magic fang
barkskin

and in the end greater invisibility using the normal metamaic rod of extend.

Then I would go to the end of the caravan, dismount and with the tiger in front of me (yes we're still both invisible but this way I get cover (total?)from him) I would cast a couple SNA (some quickened via rod) and then finish up with an animal growth and then prooced to rape everything in sight, casting spells as needed.

[Miyako]

That was oddly vague, it lets things flow. My ruling is that overall, your attack was too blatant. They are capable guards who expect foul play, and they were well prepared for you.

You can press the attack if you want, but I would not suggest it. The odds are not in your favour. The Adventurers guarding the wagons are surprisingly competent. Their reaction is uncertain largely because they aren't positive those creatures were meant to assault the wagons. It does not take them long to understand the plan.
The Golden Scarves are able to halt the animals' advance long enough for the Adventurers with the other two wagons to bring their talents to forward.

All told there are Seven Wizards, one from the elves, one from the lead wagon, and the five guarding the Shimmaringring wagon. You could have sworn there were at least Three Shadowy Folk, wearing hoods, and fitted leathers. You lost sight of them as they rushed into the forest.

The last five seem to be very competent warriors, and augmented by magic, they are giving your enlarged animals considerable trouble.

It would be wise to try a different approach with this caravan.

Amidst the flurry of the melee, and the associated spell battle, you pick up a few snippets of chatter. The Adventurers rally together with mention that they must 'Protect the Ritual Components'. Presumably, those are in the ornate carriages guarded by the warriors in Heavy Armour. Summoned creatures appear, angels, demons, constructs, and more obscure creatures not often seen.

As the fight escalates, the carriages pick up speed and rush out of the region as quickly as possible. Their main purpose, it seems, is to avoid any danger and reach the safety of the city. Whatever is in the wagons, it is very important. Throughout your struggle, the animals of the forest are watching with interest. It seems they have no desire to reveal their presence just yet, lest they bring danger on their tribes and comrades.

You search the area, intent on being more aware of the situation, and you notice something that could prove useful. Most of the less hardy people, probably hired hands and skilled craftspersons for tending the camp, have huddled near the wagons.

A group of three uneducated looking men has made a run for the forest. You could try capturing and interrogating them. In the meantime, it might be a good idea to withdraw and confer with the Treant -- before the Adventurers deal with your animals, and then come looking for you.

Animal TranceAll that does is fascinate creatures. Why don't we give you an improved version that makes them more easily suggestible, as well as fascinating a large group?SuggestionsYou could capture the men who ran off, and interrogate them for information.

You can return to the Treant and speak with him, trying to think about a better strategy than a frontal attack.

You can order your allies to surge out of their cover and attack the three wagons reamining in the area, that will divide the adventurers' attentions. It will also throw a very ferocious Gold Dragon into the mix. But that WILL draw attention. Dragons are impressive creatures.

You can try to press the attack alone (that will have fatal results, you are fighting 15 adventurers who are not far behind you in skill and power.

[arkol]

Seeing things going way againts what he had expected the hafling decided to try and salvage a sure defeat. Information seems to be the only way to avoid today as a total defeat. At least no one REAL is getting killed...

He turns to Gelmir:

"The men who ran into the forest. Go after them. Try to get one of them alive."

Knowing that going into different directions will break the spells that protect them he casts another invisibility spell on the tiger. Then in a blink he turns into an eagle and soars after the carriages.

actually turning int oa legendary eagle, MM2

[Miyako]

The land is painted like a canvas underneath you, and you find yourself floating in a dream. The feeling is incredible, and you scream a shrill, bird scream of absolute joy. The Carriages reach you too swiftly, and you flight is over too soon. You pass over them, moving at speeds surpassing theirs, and make a wide turn to survey the area.

What now?

[arkol]

Enjoying the flight all too much the hafling soon snaps back to reality, focusing on the task at hand.

With a step dive he soon is on level with the carriages slowing down to keep up with them.

You said they glided trough the air. You didn't mention any sort of beast of burden so I guess they move on their own.

Can I see anything let tells me how do they float? Do they have any drivers? Does the carriage itself as any windows or anything that I can peak inside?

[Miyako]

As you swing alongside the gilded, ornate carriages, you can see through their massive windows very clearly. You don't want to get caught up in the currents flowing underneath them. It is definitely an unnatural means of propulsion.

There are strange things at work guiding these odd vehicles. The Guards watch you carefully, noticing your unusual behaviour, but have not yet readied any arrows yet. Without any drivers, the perhaps the carriages are constructs like Golems?

You see very expensive looking artefacts inside, artwork, rare minerals and salts, pottery, costumes...

[arkol]

I had greater invisibility cast on me. Duration is 15 rounds. Is it over already?

Trying to figure out how the carriages float the halfling-turned-eagle casts detect magic and tries to focus on how do the cariages float.

Using the skill trick to concentrate on the spell

[Miyako]

I did not think that you cast the invisibiliy spell on you, Share Spells only effects spells you cast on your Animal Companion. Spells that you cast on your Animal Companion only affect the animal and not you. There is nothing I noticed in the text that says otherwise.
More than this, I noticed your eagle shapechange, but not any further castings of Invisibility. Only the one on your animal companion.

You would have been revealed in the battle, and so if you wanted to remain invisible, casting it again on yourself would have been the thing to do.

Is there something I am missing?Your magically enhanced eyes first notice an intense, and incredibly strong, series of magical auras that bloom from the carriage like a radiant star.

You sweep your gaze across the bottom of the carriage, and get a feeling that there is potent conjuration magic afoot. You can tell there are also very strong spells not associated with any specific school. An impending feeling of dread fills your senses, and the more animal, sane parts of your mind realize something you have not.Succeed on a DC 5 Dex Check. Roll 1d20 an add the bonus of your ability score.

[arkol]

I did not think that you cast the invisibiliy spell on you, Share Spells only effects spells you cast on your Animal Companion. Spells that you cast on your Animal Companion only affect the animal and not you.

Corrected that for you. But I think you got it right from the next sentence just typed the wrong word.


More than this, I noticed your eagle shapechange, but not any further castings of Invisibility. Only the one on your animal companion.Right


You would have been revealed in the battle, and so if you wanted to remain invisible, casting it again on yourself would have been the thing to do.Well... unless the duration has expired, no I wouldn't. But at rounds/level it might have. I did use the extend rod on it so it's tenically 2 roudns per level or 30 rounds. Which is 3 minutes. I though that it was still going?

About the dex check... I have Dex30 in legendary eagle form. Unless I fail on a 1...

Gonna roll anyway:
[roll0]

[Miyako]

Whoa, that was pretty close. With a +10 Modifier, that was a six.You're able to tuck your wings against your body at the eleventh second -- a terrifying moment where there is no wind passes you by -- you realize you've barely avoided an especially large tree. One of the guards laughs at the sight.

It is a pleasant, melodious laugh, and it sounds like a very cultured man is underneath one of those masks. Your flight through the forest continues, you rise through the tree canopy, and into the sky again, flying for all the hopes on your shoulders. No one seems to find your presence out of the ordinary, what shall you do now?

The longer you wait, the closer the carriages will get to the city, and as that happens they will pass under the protection of the Rangers lurking in the forest. Your keen eyes, you notice, can see at least this much. Flight is truly a blessing.

The Carriages will reach the protection of the city in rounds.

I get the impression it was a short battle anyway, so okay. We'll say you hit a wild magic zone -- your spell still works for 15+[roll]1d10 rounds. You can roll it.

[arkol]

Ok I'm confused here. So there ARE guards with the carriages... where exactly? Are they on top of them? Following them with mounts or on foot?

My initial idea was that the carriages had sort of fled the scene on their own...

[Miyako]

I definitely mentioned that everything had guards -- at least five guards to each vehicle, driven by lizard or flying on magic.

To each carriage, there are FIVE of the city's protectors. There are five carriages, and you just flew near One of them.

You made the calculation yourself, forty guards, and fort 'serfs'.The carriages move unerringly onward, and you take careful note of the guards. They ride on the carriages, covered from head-to-toe in their armour, and carry Naginata and Short Bows.

They cling to the edges, ride on attached platforms, and on the roofs in some cases.

[arkol]

Right... but for some reason I thought the guards had rallyed together to fight the summons. It's not like they are physically attached to the carriages... so I'm following just ONE carriage, who has 5 guards.

How high is it flying and where are the guards exactly? Are they also flying? Are they on top of the carriage?

Only read the spoiler. Ok only need to know how high is it flying to decide on attack mode.

Also can I change directly into another animal form or do I need to change to halfling and then back to a new form?

[Miyako]

Notes
-Three wagons stopped for the battle, the five carriages moved onward. They carry something valuable.
-The carriages can all fly (think of hovering, like in Star Wars)
-Every carriage has five guards, and five attendants, though only the guards can really fight effectively.
-The guards are riding on the carriages, on platforms where they can stand comfortably, inside them and looking out windows, or on the roofs. They may also be attached by harnesses in some cases.
-The word carriage may not convey their size. Think 'larger than your typical princess carriages, like a school bus'.Changing back into halfling mode would be pretty lame. Go for the animal-to-animal change mechanic. It makes more sense.

[arkol]

Ok. sorry for all the questions, but I wanna get this right this time.

So again how high are they hovering? Just a few feat above the ground or something?

Also (I edited this one in the last post put it was too late or maybe not :smallsmile: ): Being in eagle form do I need to go back to hafling form to change into a different form? Assuming I don't if I change into something else (swift action thanks to my cape) could I use a partial charge as my action for the surprise round?

How fast are they moving foward? How far away each carriage is from one another? Could each carriage hold a dire bear :smallbiggrin: ?

[Miyako]

:smalleek: lol...Notes
-Affirmative, just a few feet above the ground
-I would guess that since conjuration magic is involved, I would say 'Air Elemental' but we will assume you are capable of keeping up with each other.
-Assume the spacing is 30ft. apart
-Each carriage could hold a Dire Bear, if you don't mind thrashing what is inside.

-I was never very clear on Partial Charge, is that readying a half action to complete on your next turn? Or is it 'charging when you can only make either standard/move action'?

[arkol]

Or is it 'charging when you can only make either standard/move action'?That! Ok so no dire bear... a legendary ape could certainly do it, but would suck on grapples and oddly doesn't have racial bonus on jump checks to keep bouncing from carriage to carriage...

[Miyako]

That's pretty odd, so we'll just assume that it can do it. It should be able to.

[arkol]

Greater Invisibility still works for [roll0] rounds


Cyrrindy gains some altitude from the carriages and approches the last one at an angle. Then it drops quickly into it, towards one of the guards. In the last second the eagle turns into a black furred ape and stikes the guard into the face. Of course no one can actually see any of this happening, but the guard certainly feels the impact!


While flying cast bull strenght on me.
Then charge one guard while (greater) invisible.

Attack: (+2 from charge +2 from being invisible)
[roll1]
Damage:
[roll2]

[Miyako]

Make a Strength Check.

[arkol]

Before I forget, I updated the sheet so that all the bonus and stuff are up to date. The attack in the above post is missing the bonus from greater magic fang (duration is minutes /level so it's still going. i'm using the version that gives a +1 bonus to every natural weapons, so that's a +1 to hit and +1 damage. Doubt it matter much but you never know...)

[roll0]

[Miyako]

Brute Force

The armoured warrior never saw it coming. He had been prepared to face a bird, and he was nearly crushed underneath you. His fast reflexes saved him from that, but not the follow-up.

He gasped with surprise and the air left his lungs, you bashed him so hard he was launched off the roof and sent flying into the air. In the hazy, rage-filled quagmire of the mind, you notice him smash into a tree and crumple into an uncomfortable mess that bounces to a stop on the ground. His weapons had flown in two different directions.

The warrior on the roof of the carriage ahead of yours screams something you cannot understand. To make an analogy, it is like a man hears a beast crying out. It means something, you cannot comprehend it though.

[roll0] - He draws three arrows from a quiver at his waist...

...strings all three, pulls back with all his strength, and lets them fly.

[roll1] - The arrows sing as they fly through the air, it's a pleasure to have one shot at you. But three is perhaps too much -- the fates reject his gift, and all three make a spine-shivering sound as they slice by your head.

You notice an armoured hand clutch the top of the carriage from the walkaround on the edge of the vehicle. Another guard's face is already peeking over the edge on the opposite side to see what all the fuss is about. The guards on the other carriages are likewise investigating, and once they realize what's going on...

...you're about to have a lot more trouble on your hands.

[arkol]

Milady... this is where I gently remind you that greater invisibility doesn't end with an attack so... either someone dispelled it from me, or I'm still invisible....

[Miyako]

So it does not, after all. But I'll do you one better, just accept my COOL STYLE and stop complaining. ...you force a moment of clarity in your muddied mind, and realize something. They still cannot see you.

"What's the trouble, I see no one!" One of them shouts to his comrades in common, thoroughly ruffled.

"I could have sworn there was something there! Onaga did not lift himself off his feet and break his own back on a tree!" The one on the other side answers.

"And so I let fly--" The armoured warrior on the carriage ahead of yours begins...

...only to have one of the guards peering onto the roof of the carriage you stand on to finish. "Alas... nothing."

The one on the opposite side finishes. "The weight of time was too much for him."

All three guards are visibly tense, but for the moment they relax their stances, and go back to watching the forest. Apparently the conflict with the wagons has slipped their minds. You might be able to use that short-sightedness to your advantage.

[arkol]

Ok so anyone on top of the carriage I am right now? If not someone on top of one nearby by? How far away is that carriage AND the guard?

Assuming there's no one on top of the carrriage I am in could I grab the guy that peeked from inside the carriage, since he grabed the edge and all... what could I do? Opposed str checks to throw him out of the wagon? Grapple?

[Miyako]

Something like that would be a Grapple. Make an attack roll, and assuming that succeeds, we will skip right to the Grapple. You do not provoke an attack of opportunity for this.

[roll0] - The Guard's opposed Grapple Check

[arkol]

I don't provoke aoos 'cause I'm inivsible. :smallsmile:

Touch attack: [roll0] edit: wow that was almost an auto-miss...
Grapple Check: [roll1]

If succefull I deal unarmed damage which I belive would be a claw damage?

Damage: [roll2]

Now I'm on clear on what I can do. A character with high bab that has more then one attack can use them in a grapple. Not sure if that applies to natural weapons... either way what I wanna do is throw the guy overboard.

[Miyako]

A Broken Shell

Your fist clamps around his throat, making it impossible to scream, and crushes it in the same motion you use to pull him through the window and toss him away like a neglected toy. One of the guards finally notices, and shouts an alarm that 'someone is here'.
Another guardsman moves to blow a horn, and if he finishes...That leaves three guards total on the first Carriage

[arkol]

How far away is he? How long do I have to react? A normal round? Less?

[Miyako]

For Cinema's sake, if you do not finish him this round, he will blow the Horn. Choose your pistol wisely. Assume that reaching him will not be a problem.

Five guards to each Carriage. You smashed one off a roof, pulled one through a window then tossed him away.

There should be one guard on a side walkaround, and two guards inside. I will leave it up to you whether the horn blower is the guard inside, or the guard on the walkaround.

[arkol]

Assuming I can charge the would'be bell ringer...

With a leap the invisible ape reaches the guard easily smashing his face with a mighty punch.


[roll0]
[roll1]

[Miyako]

His resplendent armour isn't just for showing off, the impact snaps his head back, but he does not give any more than that. At most you guess it left a nasty bruise, and the menpo is still intact. There isn't very much space on a carriage, and with an educated guess, he slides a little further away from your presumed terrible presence and takes a wide slice with his Naginata, trying to root you out.

[roll0] - Cutting Ferocity
[roll1] - Clean Cut

He hollers to the other guards, inside the carriage. "Trouble, one of the ghosts from the tomb is making a joke out of us!"

They both kneel down and begin to recite a long prayer, presumably meant to banish the dissatisfied spirit.I still have to roll a miss chance...

[Miyako]

[roll0] - If Lower than 50% the attack is successful.
Against all odds, the Naginata does not meet your flesh. You are able to juke around it, in defiance of your massive size, and are prepared to make your next move. The guardsman does not give you ground, perhaps expecting that he can anticipate where your attack will come from. He is obviously confident in his Martial Arts -- or he really does think it is a ghost.

In which case, he suspects that whatever he does will be useless.

The Carriages move on, like the flow of time, and you are left to wonder at your good fortune up to this time.Make a Spot Check.

[arkol]

[roll0]

Can I full attack the man? Do I need to take a 5ft step to do it?

Could I cast a black tentacles spell on one of the carriages? So the tentacles grapple whoever is on top of them? Or can I only cast it at the ground? Could it theoretically grapple the carriage itself?

[Miyako]

Any of those uses of Black Tentacles would work, I consider the Carriages big constructs. Do you want to attack the man cutting at you, or cast Black Tentacles on one of the Carriages?

[arkol]

I want to attack the man, the black tentacles thing was just thinking ahed.

[Miyako]

Your fist smashes him, a brutal backhand slap that sends him reeling, he leans over the side of the Carriage... perilously close to the ground.

[roll0] - The Painful Bruises

He seems too dazed to speak, his helmet and Menpo have a small dent in their collective sides. Your keen awareness of the situation makes you realize what that blur standing on the end of the carriage ahead happens to be:

There is another guard, shouldering what looks suspiciously like a shoulder cannon with a projectile shaped like a dragon in it. Some kind of Explosive Missile.

The fuse has already been lit. "Quickly, shoot them! Shoot them! If the ghost thinks we're on its side nothing will attack the rest of the ceremony treasures!"

With a tacky whistling sound, and the sizzle-whisp of smoke and wind, the roaring Dragon's head soars. It slams into the Carriage you're standing on with staggering force, an impressive BOOM that shatters some of the ornaments.

[roll1] - The Terrifying Explosion
Roll a DC 18 Reflex Save for half damage.

"I missed!" You cannot see his face, but you get the impression the one who fired the cannon looks very smug, under all his armour.

"Shoot it again," The guard beside him urges him on. "shoot it again!"The Carriage you are on has just been hit with an explosive missile. The Damage is superficial, as they were built to protect something precious. However, it may not be wise to let them fire their next missile.

You have killed two guards, leaving two praying inside the Carriage you are on, and one you are fighting. He is staggered, so you can tip him over the side as a Swift action and send him sprawling.

There are now two guards at the back of the Carriage ahead of yours, and one of them has a Shoulder cannon. With the other guard helping to reload it, they will be ready to fire as soon as you have made your next action.

Getting from the Carriage you are on, to the one where the Missile Guards are will require a Jump Check.

Spells that are affecting you:

Bulls Strength
Greater Resistance
Mage Armour
Greater Magic Fang
Barkskin
Greater Invisibility

[arkol]

Ref Save [roll0]



With an almost gentle poke, the invisible ape sends the guard to meet the ground. He then runs towards the next carriage and with a mighty jump he lands by the soldiers and embraces the loader with a deadly grip.


Jump Check [roll1]

Starting to grapple one of the guards. If possible the loader:

Touch Attack [roll2]

Grapple [roll3]

Claw Damage [roll4]

[Miyako]

You sustain 11 Damage from the explosion. We earlier established that each Carriage was moving 30ft. apart. You managed to jump 24ft. and so you managed to jump to the ground just short of the next Carriage. You were only 1ft. short of the Reflex save to grab hold of the edge. Your arms reach out -- but your fingertips only graze the edge of the Carriage, and with a dexterity belying your form you manage to roll to your feet.

You keep pace with the carriages, running at full tilt and wary of being crushed by the Carriage you just leapt from. The 'loader' successfully inserts another missile, and the Guard shouldering the cannon takes careful aim this time. THIS projectile is far more frightening.

First a menacing Click WHOOSH, the flames roaring out the back are intensely hot, you can feel the residual energy as the missile streaks by your head. It leaves a thick cloud of ugly black smoke in its wake.

A blinding flash forces you to squint, it is definitely a good thing you were looking in the other direction. The sound is deafening, the nature of the world pushes both you and your quarry, somehow you both manage to endure it. You do not look back, certain that would slow you down, but you are certain the last carriage is a smouldering wreck... if there is even that much left.

"Hehehe, take that you filthy tomb looters!" The Guard with the shoulder cannon jeers.

"No," The 'loader' whines. "We should never have done that, it was hard stealing all those artefacts from the Dead Queen's Dowry."

"Fool, shut up! The ghost will hear you!" They both fall deathly silent, and lower their guard.

In the ensuing seconds after that, you close the last few feet and step onto the side of the carriage; your massive weight causes the vehicle to tilt just enough for the guards to notice.

"Uh-oh -- Is the last thing the loader manages to say as your arms capture his body in death's embrace.[roll0]His effort is genuinely remarkable. For a few seconds he actually succeeds in resisting you. But only for a few seconds. Your massive size and brute strength start to crush the wind out of him. To the other Guard, it must seem like something has stolen the breath out of his friend. The Guard with the shoulder cannon leaps from the Carriage, tossing away the horrible weapon like a cheap toy. It bounces and shatters, skipping like a stone across the ground.

Evidently, it is fragile. The armour of the Guard you're crushing puts up more of a fight. You feel out the weak points in it, and rake for blood. The act is ineffectual, probably just flesh wounds, but at least you got something. Of more pressing concern is the Guard in your arms. He is horrified, you can hear it in the rapid beating of his heart.

He cannot breathe. He cannot scream. Another guard is strolling up to see what the problem is.

"What's the matter," He sounds very concerned. "Have the medicines worn off?"

[arkol]

Questions: can I now peak at the hit carriage?

Is the speaking guard approaching or just standing still? If he's approaching could I delay my action so that with a full atack I can finish the guard in my grip and attack the new one?

[Miyako]

To investigate the exploded carriage in any detail you would have to get off the one you are on. The talking guard is approaching you. Might I suggest swinging the guard you have like a Bat -- and smashing the approaching guard off the Carriage?

[arkol]

Sounds like a lovely sugestion. :smallbiggrin:

Grapple check: [roll0]




Twisting the arm of the guard behind him the invisible ape then throws him against the approaching guard.

[Miyako]

[roll0] - The guard tries to wrench away from the 'ethereal' grip, desperately trying to scream, anything to save his comrade!I need you to make an attack roll, minus the usual for being an improvised weapon.

[arkol]

There you go:

[roll0]

[Miyako]

Zam, direct hit!At the most opportune moment, you lock the Guard's body and smash his companion with him. Baffled, the other warrior's feet lift off the ground, and he goes flying through the air to land softly in a clump of bushes. At the fullest moment of extension, you let go of the Guard you were holding, and watched him spin through the air until he came to a landing on top of his companion. Both are too senseless and winded to say anything as the Carriage speeds away.

That was three, so if the same amount of Guards were on this Carriage, there were two left inside the coach.

[arkol]

Using it's masive claws Cyrrindy holds on to the edge of the carriage and takes a peak inside the carriage.

[Miyako]

Inside it is very spacious, you stare in awe at how spacious this Carriage really is...And it was as big as a school bus..!...and promptly notice the pair of guards. One to guide the vehicle using some sort of crystal ball mounted on a ship's steering wheel, and another -- napping inside a sleeping bag splayed across a big pile of precious stones.

Both appear not to have noticed the commotion outside, and the interior is very quiet. There are several boxes, neatly stacked, but not tied with rigging to prevent them from tumbling around. There are expensive looking scrolls, but they look ancient, and are perilously close to the candles around them. A plate of food is out, half eaten, not covered so that insects cannot start to feast on it. A stack of what looks like precious and fragile sculptures, and no special care has been taken to ensure that they will not fall and shatter at the slightest provocation.

A well made Katana is hung on a hook set in the roof, swinging to and fro, near the driver. It feels like it might cut him in half at any moment, but he does not appear to care about that danger. It may be a good idea to stow on this Carriage, and infiltrate the city. Tearing the entire Caravan apart would also be prudent, whichever seems like a good idea to your ape-mind.

It is obvious that for expensive ritual components, they did not choose the most grounded of guards.

[arkol]

Could I open the door or would I have to smash into a window?

Also, by my count we're on round 8 after we rolled for 17 rounds left to the city and 16 left from invisibility. Match up with your math?

[Miyako]

The guards would get listen checks to notice you, no matter what you tried. I will check the amount of rounds when I return. I am going to go for a walk, so I will get back to you later. Mata ne.

[arkol]

The massive ape tries to silently infiltrate the carriage without alerting the guards to it.


if a move silently is needed:

[roll0]

Ja ne! Tanoshinde.

[Miyako]

An Artform

The large ape is suspiciously silent, tip-toeing into the coach with all the wisdom of a forest-creeper. He waits until the occupants seem distracted, until the sleeping guard is busy turning over getting more comfortable. Rather than walking through a window, or smashing through the wall, the ape elects to go through the door.

[roll0] - Sleeping Guard Listen Check
[roll1]- Driving Guard Listen Check

Both guards snap to sharp attention as soon as the door creaks, and they definitely heard the explosion. They are both very suspicious.

"These machines are so rickety, even the door does not stay shut." The sleeping guard props himself up on his elbows and glances at the pile of statues.

"In life it killed them, in death it makes them suffer. It is unfortunate." The Driver pivots on his feet and kicks the pile of fragile statues, shattering the entire stack and sending their fragments all over the coach.
His companion shoots up from his lounging on the gem pile, and claps his hands twice. A swirling blue aura settles over him, and his armour seems to glisten with a curious polish.

The fragments of the statues rattle like a pile of shaking bones, insane, angry; your animal mind is telling you to get out of this room. The door slams shut behind you.

[arkol]

Assuming there is a square in which I can attack both of them I will move there and then full attack them:

Claw 1 [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

Claw 2 [roll2]
Damage [roll3]

Rend (if I hit one of them with both claws)
[roll4]

Bite [roll5]
Damage [roll6]


Cyrrindy decides it's time to put this carriage to a stop.

[Miyako]

The rattling bones get louder and louder, pounding in your skull, crawling down your spine... though you know they are doing no such thing. A sickly aura of filth wraps your senses in on themselves, you fight the urge to gag. Your blood chills and boils inside you, horrifying images gurgle like slop across your vision that only your subconscious understands. Somehow...

Make a Fortitude Save at DC 95. Also pass a Will Save DC 95.

...you think that seeing (what was it?) has smeared something filthy all over your eyes. You imagine it like someone has taken a polished glass bauble and slapped a layer of feces over it. An awful wind drowns out all the sounds you might have heard, you feel yourself being sucked out of yourself; you have been pulled to a place you do not understand. You just wanted it to stop.

Something is caressing your cheeks, it feels a little bit like soft, silky hair. Something hard and smooth teases your lips. A cold, stinging breath is kissed into your lungs. Your moan is lost before it begins -- you cannot breathe. The kiss was pleasant, but --

You remember seeing something. You do not remember falling asleep and you remember having a dream. You stare at the Guards, or what should have been who they used to be. Now only the empty shells of their armour remain, and two piles of ashes.

You are still in the body of an Ape. Your very first breath (somehow you know this. It is your first breath.) comes out as an icy gasp of frost.

You are alone in the Carriage, and everything is intact. With a glance you can tell it has stopped moving, and is now overgrown with trees, vines, plants.

The world is eerily quiet. Your body is heavy and tired.

What do you do?The inside of the Carriage is pristine. There is still a pile of gems, still a vacant sleeping bag, still a sharp Katana swinging to and fro. The mechanism to steer the carriage appears to be the same kind of wheel as you would find on a Sailing Ship. There is a crystal ball set in the center of that wheel, and that is the only thing that marks it as a different sort of thing.

There is a scattering of broken statue fragments -- the bones, as it were -- all over the floor. There are still neatly stacked crates full of whatever the Carriage was transporting.

That swinging Katana still swings, though there is no motion to make it do so. The outside of the carriage is overgrown with the wilderness, though that will not hamper you in getting out. The Carriage is no longer with the Caravan, it is now inert and sitting on the ground.The candles have been extinguished, and the precious scrolls are untouched, unblemished.

[arkol]

Ok stupid questions first... it appears that I've been here for a long time. My first tought was actually time travel :smalltongue: so...
are my buffs stil running? I presume I would know this...
Do I still have my prepared spells?


Slowly the halfling gets up and approaches the crystal ball, looking into it.

[Miyako]

Your buffs are not running. You do not have the same prepared spells that you had before. They are different. All your spells are refreshed. I will respond to your post later on, right now I have a very special someone to see.

[arkol]

So my suspicion on time travel might not be that crazy.... hmm....

And you didn't comment on my pathetic atempt at japanese...

Special someone eh? Use protection! :smallamused:

[Miyako]

Nothing like that. Ai -- true love -- you dedicate yourself wholeheartedly in everything. You do not look at people, at pictures, or listen to pervert music or read stories, or feel yourself up. The first four are obvious, the fifth is because you dedicate yourself to them. Mind, body, heart, soul; you are solely for them and not for yourself because that is selfish. Besides that, I just do not like sex, the thought of sticking a condom inside myself is too invasive.

If you promise to be with someone, you should be with them. There must be no distractions like television, a movie, a video game. Your attention belongs to them. That is genuine friendship and compassion. If you want to pay attention to a pet, you do not pet them at the same time as doing another thing. You do something with your pet, and your pet is the sole focus of your attention.

Time 'travel' as you put it is not impossible, but it eventually catches up with you. Many immortals have aged quickly because of it, and grown white hair. It is better to be outside of time, beyond it. Not subject to the quantity of time. You have to become faster than time, you have to outrun it, and then step outside of it.
If you do not satisfy this quantity, you need to hop your soul between bodies, and that is generally unethical depending on your approach to it. People do not like it when you do that, and there are specific groups dedicated to rooting out 'rippers' and forcing them back to their original time and place, whether they like it or not.

I am also familiar with people who do not age, whether they can jump around time, to past or present or not; this probably varies with the individual. Kami-level people can, and many intelligent types could too. It usually thought that going into the future is dangerous for your sanity and spirit. Going into the past is perceived as both dangerous and unfair. It depends on who you are working with, who you are, and how educated and intelligent and capable you happen to be.

Believe.

Keep the Light shining -- and not the electric kind. Those automatically go out, that is why they flicker in close proximity to that stuff. Sometimes they are made to flicker, but I cannot remember why. Maybe to expose Yurei. Flames can be snuffed out. The only thing left is your Soul.Your fingers stroke the surface of the crystal ball lightly, you see residual images, foggy fragments of dreams and a wonderful paradise. A shimmering city, where there are no imperfections, no flaws, and it makes your eyes water. The dream is gone too swiftly, and you find yourself craving more.

In the coach, the obvious things are the swinging Katana, the crates, and the scrolls. There may also be hidden compartments. That was a universal trait among the animals, you knew that nature told you much.

[arkol]

Nothing like that. Ai -- true love -- you dedicate yourself wholeheartedly in everything. You do not look at people, at pictures, or listen to pervert music or read stories, or feel yourself up. The first four are obvious, the fifth is because you dedicate yourself to them. Mind, body, heart, soul; you are solely for them and not for yourself because that is selfish. Besides that, I just do not like sex, the thought of sticking a condom inside myself is too invasive.

If you promise to be with someone, you should be with them. There must be no distractions like television, a movie, a video game. Your attention belongs to them. That is genuine friendship and compassion. If you want to pay attention to a pet, you do not pet them at the same time as doing another thing. You do something with your pet, and your pet is the sole focus of your attention.


With the exception of the sex part I couldn't agree more. Unfortunelly for me that's one big issue with this girl I know...
About the whole time travelling... your speech left me... confused to say the least...

The halfling/ape tries to pick up the katana.

[Miyako]

A surge of energy wraps though you, cold not because of the temperature. It is the unendurable loneliness. The weight of being utterly to yourself. Weeping, screams, a chilly frost washes over you. Countless voices are in lament.

They cry out as one:

"We will save you, we will protect you, and you will be with us!"

The Coach is filled from wall to wall, floor to ceiling, with ethereal people. Men and women and children in Kimono and more simple outfits, too. Their bodies are stained, cut, burned, stabbed, crushed -- plainly visible wounds and rot. They all chant at once, some of their fingers brush your body.

Your eyes go to a small mirror, and its reflection says you are alone. But you can see them, you can see yourself. Your hair has grown longer, it has become bone white, your skin is a strange corpse-green. You blink your eyes, trying to dispel the sight, surely a trick.

The more your eyes blink, the blurrier they get, wet with tears. They drip on the floor, a noisy patter you cannot stop. A child in a gorgeous red Kimono, sitting on the floor, stares up at you. She tilts her head and says:

"You don't remember?"That is none of my business. Listen to what she has to say, and take it seriously. No more about that.