Secret Alliance IV

[BlueWizard]

The Rebel Town:

This is the continuing adventures of the newest members of the secret alliance.

It is midsummer and our new recruits to the {not-so} Secret Alliance find themselves assisting the good Northern Kingdom as specialists, on an assault versus this rebel town. The town was discovered by our intrepid adventurers when they went there as ambassadors. Even with the seal of the Queen, they were denied access beyond its wooden town walls, and in fact they were attacked by a barrage of arrows from the gate-guards.

Reporting back to their Alliance allies, the Queen and allied elves gathered troops to help take back this surprisingly large town that seemed to spring up out of nowhere.

Travel with the small army was slow, as there were wagons, supplies and other non-combat 'contractors'. Most of the soldiers who came were vassal-knights of the queen, and had brought their own trains of aides along.

On route into the hills two squires turned up missing. Our heroes, along with the troop's head priestess {Frigga}, went in search of this missing pair.

On borrowed horses they could move faster alone, and were able to backtrack miles as the troops set up camp for the night. Led by a ranger-knight and a distraught knight, they found goblin tracks.

It is night now as they debate whether to continue their search into the night, or continue the next day. Already the ranger-knight has volunteered to return to the base-camp to tell commander Calli that the rest of the group might not be returning this evening. "I think Shrike can track from here."

The Cast:
Frigga- Priestess of Freya {Simba}
Shrike- A pregnant scout with psion abilities {Bushranger}
Liam- Wizard extraordinary, and husband to Shrike {Wiz}
Bruug- A mighty, but good aligned ogre warrior {Ipphli}
Sabriel- Elven Druid {Deathslayer}
Daen- A fighter who serves the Platinum Dragon {Cespenar}

[Simba]

Frigga

"Ok, go and let her know what we have done sofar. I hope she dosn't mind, but we need to find out what has happened."

[Wiz]

Liam shrugs, "Personally, I would vote for not trying to continue tracking in the dark... setting up camp."

[Ipphli]

Bruug

The ogre nods in agreement with his friends. "Elf-lady say stay. Bruug stay. Find in morning." He glances at Sabriel before looking at the other members of the group to hear their thoughts, especially that of th distraught knight.

[Cespenar]

Daen

Daen concedes the point without further discussion, what with Shrike and Sabriel being the experts on the field, and looks sideways at the knight, curious about his reaction.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike (aka Dorothy)

Smiling a little at the vote of confidence, the redheaded warrior-woman nods. "I'll do my best. Tracking during the day is easier. And don't worry, we'll find your squire," she says to the Distraught Knight as she rests gently against Liam's side.

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Sabriel nods at the groups decisions and was about to tell the Knight to go back and tell Lady Calli what was happening before she asked to send herself. She'll agree it's a good idea.

I'll walk with your for a bit. And if the others don't mind, I would like to take first watch.

[BlueWizard]

Daen will see that the worried knight {who stays} seems almost heartbroken. He doesn't say much, and will help prepare a camp for the night.

The knight-ranger is friendly enough and will shake each of your hands. "Good luck my friends. Be wary of goblins. But, then..." he smirks, "They should be wary of you." He winks at Bruug, the sad knight doesn't notice the ranger's playfulness.

The upset knight barely registers Shrike's words, and sort of shrugs his armored shoulders. "Mmm..." He'll help with the care of the horses, as he is an expert in this.

[Simba]

Frigga

Trying to comfort the worried knight, Frigga helps him take care of the horses: "If the goblins wanted to kill them they have already done so. If not they will still be alive tomorrow. By light we can find them more easily and they are at no advantage. It is really the best sollution, Sir. I know it is hard, all the waiting is exhausting, bad for your nerves. I've been there myself, you know. Try to get some sleep and we will surely save them tomorrow, if they need saving. You have all the support you need."

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel will leave for a bit with the ranger-knight and tell him to be wary of goblins that could be nearby.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike looks worriedly at the knight, and sighs, then turns to Liam, trying to lead him off to the edge of the area they choose for the camp, to talk for a bit in private...

[Wiz]

Liam smiles at his bride, and is easily convinced to go with her. When they are apart from the others he looks into her eyes. "What did you want to talk about, milove?"

[The Bushranger]

Shrike looks back at the others, then leans forwards to speak quietly to Liam.

"It's about Sabriel," Dorothy says, her voice soft, and her eyes worried. "I...I presume you've noticed how she's been more withdrawn and all ever since...what happened. I'm worried that maybe she was...had the same condition as me, but when she died..." She trails off, unable to actually say what she fears may have happened.

[Wiz]

Liam pauses, "I... wow, I had no idea." He looks thoughtful, "I suppose that could result in her feeling more withdrawn. What do you think we can do to help?"

[The Bushranger]

Dorothy slips her arms around Liam's neck and rests her cheek against his chest.

"I...don't think she wants help. And I'm not even sure, so if I'm wrong..." Dorothy looks down, sighs, then up at Liam. "I don't want to actually ask. If I'm wrong, I feel stupid, and if I'm right...but the way she's acting...it adds up. At least to me. I'm just worried...I guess she just needs time, but..."

[Wiz]

Liam holds Shrike close, "Of course you are, milove... and here I am trying to think of a way to fix it, when I know there are some things that can't be fixed." He kisses the top of her head.

[The Bushranger]

She smiles, just a little, relaxing against her husband. "That's one of the reasons I love you," she whispers, closing her eyes and pressing closer. "You care about things. You're not always stuck in your books all the time..."

[Wiz]

Liam smiles, "I was kind of stuck in my books... til someone wanted me dead. The funny thing is, in running to save my life, I actually found my life - what makes life worth living." He hugs Shrike close, "The most important thing being you."

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will wander out into the forest after Sabriel. He'll stay out of sight until the knight leaves, then approach her. He smiles at her as he gets close, something apparently hidden in his massive right hand. "Sabriel, can we talk?"

[The Bushranger]

Smiling more, Dorothy returns her husband's embrace, turning her head to place a kiss on his neck. "And I once thought I could never find anybody who would make me want to settle down, that I would want to wander, forever...until I met you."

Sighing contentedly, her worries still present, yet much quieted from having been shared and comforted, she stays close to Liam for a few minutes before whispering again. "Do you want to head back to the camp...or stay out here awhile longer?"

[Wiz]

Liam smiles, "I would love to dally with you in the outdoors... explore more geography. But I think it would be safer to be back at camp... after all, I can still do my little rope trick and create a pocket dimension for privacy. In fact, if you wish, I could even create a secure shelter for everyone tomorrow. I have a spell for that in my book."

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Sabriel looks at Bruug and wonders just what the ogre is up too. Of course we can Bruug.

[BlueWizard]

Sabriel will sense danger in the woods, Nature seems to warn her that many goblins pass through these woods, and it is not safe to go into the woods. Bruug being near might keep them at bay though.

Elf flesh is a delicacy among orcs and goblinoids.

The worried knight mutters to Frigga as he sets down his bedroll, "They might be alive. Goblins like eating their meat fresh."

Morning will arrive, but Sabriel will sense unnatural things afoot.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike

That brings forth a small giggle from the wizard's wife, and she leans up to kiss his chin (and press against him for a minute). "Back to camp it is, then...and it might be a good idea to shelter everyone, with goblins about." She pauses. "As long as you and I still have privacy..."

And Dorothy turns to head back torwards the camp, making sure to walk in the way she knows Liam enjoys.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will open his hand, showing the locket they found on Sabriel's body. He looks slightly embarassed. "We found this, when you...died. Thought maybe it was for me, with the large chain and all. I meant to give it to you earlier, let you decide what to do with it, but I forgot. I'm sorry."

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Sabriel looks at the locket and smiles. You keep it Bruug. It was meant for you. She gently closes his hand while he is still holding while looking into the woods. I have a bad feeling about all this. she says to no one in particular.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning

I got a bad feeling. Something's not right out there. Sabriel says come morning.

She'll cast detect magic.

[Wiz]

Liam climbs down from his interdimensional pocket come morning, followed by Shrike. Hearing Sabriel's comment he nods, glad that he has his spells memorized for the day.

[Cespenar]

Daen

Daen sighs as he hears Sabriel's warning and slowly unsheathes his sword, looking around intently.

[BlueWizard]

Sabriel sees no magic, just signs of goblinoid activity.

Morning will come without incident without the normal sounds of nature around.

The knight is still depressed and slept little.

In the morning the sound of rider approaches. You will quickly see it is the knight-ranger, "Lady Calli says good morn!"

[The Bushranger]

Shrike

Strapping on her equipment somewhat earlier than normal at Sabriel's warning, Shrike goes to start the morning fire and breakfast cooking, looking up as the ranger approaches, and waving. "Greetings!" she responds, looking surprisingly content doing women's work. :smalltongue:

[BlueWizard]

The ranger smiles as he dismounts, bringing a sack of fresh food for Shrike to add to her meal. "Eggs and Bacon. I left before breakfast, so I'm starving. Smells great. Wants some help?"

He kneels close to her smiling as he gets close to the pretty red head.

[Simba]

Frigga

"Welcome back. Thank you for your contribution, we can talk while we break our feast."

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel will leave the cooking to Shrike and once more go outside to look at the tracks from the gobliniods activity. She'll take Bruug with her as well as Sam and see what she can scrounge up.

survival: [roll0]
know nature: [roll1]

Scent from Sam as well

[BlueWizard]

The sad knight looks sleepily at Frigga with arrogance. "I believe it is a Fast. You break your Fast. Fasting you know not eating."

"Hey, easy there!!" The ranger snaps at the depressed knight. "We don't all wake looking and acting as chipper as yourself there. Igore him, Milady Frigga, he's just sad because he wasn't keeping good enough eye on his squire." The kind ranger will sit between Frigga and Shrike. "Well, I got the best seat around the campfire. No offense Liam."

Sabriel will find no new tracks from what her search around the camp turned up last night.

[Wiz]

Liam smiles sitting on the other side of his wife, "I will dispute the assumption that my wife has a better side - all sides are equal as far as I am concerned, and equally beautiful. But worry not, I'm quite obviously not offended... were that the case, ebon tentacles (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0020.html) would have already dragged you down into a hellish alternate dimension." He winks.

[Simba]

Frigga

"Well, then at least most of us are going at this with the right attitude. It's good to be with you. Let's eat and then see what we can do to get those people back to safety."

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will gladly accompany Sabriel and Sam into the woods. He glances around before looking at the elf. "Thank you for the gift. I don't think I said it earlier. I'll get you something soon as we get back to a town."

[The Bushranger]

Shrike

"Thank you, but I'm almost done," Shrike responds to the offer of help, and soon has breakfast ready for everyone.

At the ranger-knight's comment about seating arrangements, she chuckles. "I personally could think of a few better ones...but, then again, that just might be me." She winks at Liam, then leans softly against his side as they eat, whispering in his ear for a moment.

"I thought you had a preference for my back side?" She giggles.

[Wiz]

Liam chuckles and whispers back to his wife.

For Shrike:"Not at all, milove... every side has it's advantages, and I never get tired of looking at your lovely face or into your beautiful eyes."

[The Bushranger]

"Good answer, although I think any would be right. And I love looking at any of you, too. Face, chest...anywhere at all, I could look at you for the rest of my life and nothing else, and be happy."

Dorothy's eyes sparkle, and she delivers a kiss to her husband's cheek.

[Cespenar]

Daen

Wondering what was wrong with Sabriel's 'sense', Daen shrugs, disarms himself and sits down to breakfast. He's generally a little uncomfortable being with Mila, Liam and Shrike at the same time, fearing the fact that Mila could somehow get the idea to 'compete' with the couple.

He silently stabs his bacon and hopes that day would never come.

[BlueWizard]

Lucky for then for Daen, Mila was forced to stay with the priests in the base-camp.

Breakfast is excellent and enjoyed without a hitch. The knight-ranger is eager to be off, and will barely finish his breakfast before standing and scanning the area. Sabriel and Shrike already know what direction to go.

The depressed knight will take care of and ready the horses.

{OOC- Bruug would've been offered a massive Clydesdale, that was being used to pull an armory wagon.}

[Wiz]

Liam smiles, returning the kiss, but on the lips. He then helps Shrike break down the camp and load up the gear, then assists her getting up on her horse.

[BlueWizard]

On horseback, the trackers will lead the group over heavy goblin tracks, of multiple sizes. {Meaning bugbears and hobgoblins as well.} As you get closer the ranger-knight will get nervous. "There might be over a hundred goblins that came this way."

[The Bushranger]

Oblivious to Daen's thoughts, Shrike lets the kiss linger for a minute (or two) before turning her attention to cleaning up the campsite...

She accepts Liam's help glady in getting up aboard her unfamiliar mount, and spends the day keeping an eye out.

She looks at the ranger-knight. "Over a hundred? Even odds, then," she declares, trying to bolster his spirits.

Spot: [roll0]
Listen: [roll1]

Bluff: [roll2]

[Wiz]

Liam nods from his mount. "I tried to pick spells for area combat, just in case... sometimes it's harder dealing with many smaller foes than a few larger ones."

[Simba]

Frigga

"I can strike them with lightning a few times when needed. I can also call on Freya's power for some additional protection in combat, but that only lasts a few minutes. It will affect all of us."

[Cespenar]

Daen

"Only over a hundred?" Daen smirks amusedly. "Bruug is going to have a field day."

He glances around in hopes of catching the ogre's sight, but gives up after a while.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug looks unsure of himself atop the large horse. At Daen's comment he shrugs and scans the surrounding forest. "Bruug scare gobbos. Maybe no kill gobbos. Gobbos maybe friends."

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

It would be best if we did not linger then. I would rather not want to get near those 100 goblins if i could help it.

[BlueWizard]

By late morning Shrike and the ranger will lead you to a dense forest, that clearly has many wolves, but they stay far from your group with a big armored ogre among you.

There is a small stream that you cross, and it disappears into a small cave in the ground {Bruug will have to duck severely}. The entrance stinks, and was clearly blocked at one time. It looks to have been blocked with cement, and then blasted from the inside. The moment your party approaches Sabriel and Shrike will spot several guardian goblins inside, who panic. "Eeek!!" Then retreat down into the slippery, and smelly cave.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will frown at the cave, as if it was at fault for being so small. He'll glare after the goblins, shaking his head before looking at the others. "Bruug go by self? Talk to gobbos? Not scare gobbos as much."

[The Bushranger]

((*blink* Thought I posted...))

Shrike blinks for a moment, sighing as the goblins flee. "I was thinking about yelling that we come in peace and wished to parley, but they'd probably be more likely to listen to you, since you do speak their language."

[Wiz]

ooc: I've done that before too... posted, and then, my post is gone.

Liam nods, "It sounds like a good idea."

[BlueWizard]

Even with Bruug entering first the goblins will scatter madly screaming the whole way down into the darkness.

None of the goblins will make any attempt to parley with your group.

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

shall we just find one and make it talk Sabriel asks? Semi laughing semi serious.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug frowns and glances at the others. "Maybe Bruug go alone. Not scare gobbos so big. No repeat last time."

[BlueWizard]

The hole goes deep, and steep into the earth, and due to the cramped quarters Bruug's progress is slowed severely. The goblins flee from Bruug deep into the darkness.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike raises an eyebrow slightly at Sabriel, then nods to Bruug. "Perhaps. We'll wait up here for you, I suppose..."

Sighing, she leans against the wall of the cave, slipping her arm around Liam.

[BlueWizard]

Bruug will disappear for sometime into the hole.

You will even not be able to hear him or the squealing goblins.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will continue down the tunnel, growling occasionally at the tight quarters. He'll call after the goblins in their own tongue. "Stop! Only talk, no kill! You stop, we talk."

[Simba]

Frigga

"I don't feel like this is right, but if Bruug thinks he can make it work I will trust him. Just be ready to help if it is needed. I wish he would have waited for some spells on him..."

[BlueWizard]

Deep in the earth it will level out, those above can faintly hear Bruug yelling in goblin-tongue after the goblins.

It is cold, and pitchblack down here, and smells of feces.

Even worse down here.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will shake his head and turn his head towards the tunnel he just came out of. "Come down! Gobbos no listen! Bruug wait, go with group."

[Simba]

Frigga

"Just give me a second, please."

Frigga offers a prayer to Freya, her patron goddess, protectress of lovers, and asks her to shield her friends from harm, especially from fire. She offers a second prayer, just before the group nenters the cave, for additional protection from any harm that might come their way.

"Let's go, our protection will not last forever! Does anyone need some further protection because they have no armor and no magic to protect them?" she asks, looking at those around her who wear no armor.

[Wiz]

Liam casts a spell, the words of which sound like weapons thudding on armor. He nods to the priest, "I am always willing to take extra protection, but if you have a limited supply, cast it upon Shrike first." cast Mage Armor - extend with rod

[Simba]

Frigga

Frigga offers another prayer to Freya to cast Magic Vestment on both Lian and Shrike: "No problem, I am always prepared for these. They should last all day."

[Cespenar]

Daen unsheathes his sword and whispers to it very closely. "Lend me your strength for this battle."

With that, he will enter the cave and take point.

Cast Bull's Strength from the sword.

AC 25, HP 74/74

[Deathslayer7]

We should be fine she says heading down after Bruug with Sam by her side.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike starts to protest, that Liam should be the one being protected first, then decides not to and merely hugs her husband closely before straightening up and slipping her now-improved bastard sword from its scabbard in readiness, turning to follow Daen, Sabirel, and Sam, after leaning up to whisper in Liam's ear, then winking and heading down into the cave directly in front of him as she manifests her psionic shielding...

To Liam:
"Don't get hurt, love, my rolling southern hills need exploration tonight."

Actions:
Manifesting Force Screen (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/forceScreen.htm) (+4 shield to AC, effective against incorporeal touch attacks, duration 4 minutes)

[BlueWizard]

After a while you will hear no sign of Bruug. The medium sized party members won't have as much trouble navigating this steep cave, but will have to go single-file.

It gets really stinky after a while, and an eerie silence below may give you concern about what happened to Bruug. He's not exactly built for stealth, and the farther you go, you will all notice a lack of the ogre's jingling armor. :smallfrown:

[Wiz]

Liam frowns, "I haven't seen any splits... he couldn't have gone another way..."

[The Bushranger]

"I think I have a bad feeling about this," Shrike mutters, shaking her head as she pauses. "I don't suppose anyone thought to leave a strand of string indicating the way out?"

[Cespenar]

"Perhaps you could look for some tracks?" calls Daen without turning his head.

[Simba]

Frigga

"Good idea, Bruug is too big to not leave a trace of his whereabouts. And it is too quiet."

[The Bushranger]

Shrike nods, flushing a little in embarassment at not having thought of that herself, and quickly starts searching for any evidence of their ogre friend - or of goblins.

Search: [roll0]

[BlueWizard]

The ranger-knight will help check out the tracks. The depressed knight will watch the horses in the meantime.

It is hard to see tracks on the rocky moist ground, but it is well traveled. Sabriel knows more slime or moss would be on the ground if it weren't.

There are no branches and as the group nears an open area below {as the steep path levels out} you will hear the sound of metal creaking... as if something big in armor were trying NOT to be heard; like a Bruug.

The ranger-knight will slow up. "I got a bad feeling about this." It smells horrible, and if you all go further, you may have to make a fortitude check; or puke and be nauseated. Goblin feces is quite nasty, and it seems like you may have come across a dumping area ahead.

Progress is slow, on the slippery path, so a couple minutes have passed since you entered the dark cave.

[Wiz]

Liam chokes a little, "Isn't this how we started adventuring together? It seems like a rather unsettling trend."

[BlueWizard]

The ranger-knight mutters, "Goblins have no sense of being clean... Don't step in any $#!^, many an adventurer has gotten sick from visiting goblins."

[The Bushranger]

Fort: [roll0]

"It does seem rather familar, doesn't it?" Shrike answers her husband as she screws her nose up. "I think he's up ahead though..."

[BlueWizard]

Something lurks below, and none of you will get the jump on one another over what it is below. A whiff of nastiness overwhelms your senses, and all of you nearly puke. With the roar and clanging of Bruug's armor rushing at you, Shrike might be happy that her husband is bent over puking with Frigga in the back of the group.

Sabriel can tell by the ogre's roar this is no practical joke, and something has gone terribly wrong! Clearly the metaled figure waiting in the dark was none other than Bruug!

"He's with them!!!" Screams the knight-ranger as he lifts his sword to face off against the ogre, about 30 in front of him. You are behind the knight-ranger, it is crowded, and you might be able to squeeze by him into the front, for the area before you opens up a bit.


Initiatives:
Shrike 14+3
Liam 17+0 {Nauseated}
Sabriel 13+3
Knight-Ranger
Daen 10+2
Bruug ???
Frigga 7+0 {Nauseated}

Nauseated: Unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.

[Cespenar]

Daen

Being reminded of the instance where Bruug got enchanted by a mind-affecting spell, Daen decides there's probably a similar reason behind this and assumes a defensive stance, warily moving forwards with his shield held strong.

"Uh, does someone have something to calm our big friend here?" Daen calls out to his companions with a twinge of fear in his voice, for he has seen many times that what Bruug can do to a man in battle.

Moving forward but to a place where Bruug won't be able to full attack him, and take Total Defense for +4 AC, bringing it to 29.

[BlueWizard]

OOC- I assumed the group followed ranger-knight. If this is not true, please post. Liam has likely delayed and may be a ways back of the group. Bruug will only be able to attack the ranger this round.

[The Bushranger]

Dorothy's eyes go wide as she sees Bruug charging at them! "Bruug, no! It's us!" she calls out, darting out of the way in a hurry.

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Bruug stop! This isn't you! Sabriel shouts.

If he doesn't she'll attack with her bow and a spell storing arrow.

hit: [roll0]
damage: [roll1]

poison DC 16 fort save or take [roll2] con damage. repeat in one minute.

edit: Sam will go in front of sabriel.

[Wiz]

Liam did move forward, and is choking and gasping in the rush of foul air accompanying the large armored ogre. His only action is to interpose himself between Shrike and the onrushing form even as she scoots to the side.

[BlueWizard]

Liam and Frigga won't keep puking, but they are still horribly ill from the stench.

Shrike calls to Bruug and she can see there is a little bit recognizance in the ogre's eye, but he is bent on destroying this knight-ranger who is right before him.

Bruug doesn't seem to be responding at this point, even to Sabriel's voice.

The knight-ranger trusts your judgment and holds defensively as Bruug wails into him.

Daen moves up near the knight-ranger.

The knight-ranger can't duck under the ogre's greatclub, and it glances off his head. He's a tough fellow and stays in! "Can I attack him yet? Something's wrong!!!"


End Round 1---------------------------->



Initiatives:
Shrike 14+3
Liam 17+0 {Nauseated}
Sabriel 13+3
Knight-Ranger been clubbed
Daen 10+2
Bruug ???
Frigga 7+0 {Nauseated}

[The Bushranger]

Shrike hesitates, activating her Skin of the Defender and drawing her greatsword, but not attacking Bruug yet. "Knock him out if you must!"

[Simba]

Frigga

...is feeling sick...

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Sabriel will keep trying, Bruug! she yells. Stop! with authority in her voice.

[hit:
[roll1]

for DC 16 or con [roll][1d10

Sam will growl and attack Bruug as well.
hit:[roll2]
dam:[roll3]
trip attempt if hit: [roll4]

[Cespenar]

Daen

Daen will simply grit his teeth and try to dive past Bruug without attacking him.

"If he is somehow enchanted, there's got to be a spellcaster around here. I'm going to find him."

Standard action: Total defense for +4 AC, Mobility gives a further +4 AC against AoOs for moving around him. So, Bruug would get a AoO but against an AC of 33.

[BlueWizard]

Shrike gets ready...

Liam is feeling a little better, he might be able to summon up some strength in a moment, but his body still wants to puke.

Sabriel's arrow whizzes over the ranger's head, and deflects off Bruug's armor. As Sam tries to bite Bruug the ogre easily bops her on the head, and her bite-trip utterly fails. Sam's head is bloodied!

The knight unleashes his full attack on Bruug, and is able to cut him, but only a little with one of his long swords.

Daen, using Sam's distraction, slips by into the larger part of the passage. He can feel in the darkness behind him that the cavern opens up into the stink zone. {OOC- Bruug with Dex and combat reflexes would be ridiculous.}

Bruug batters the knight-ranger and frowns at the wolf. He doesn't recognize the attacking wolf at all.

Frigga is nearly recovered....

End Round 2----------------------------->


Initiatives:
Shrike 14+3
Liam 17+0 {Nauseated}
Sabriel 13+3
Sam the wolf hp 21/39
Knight-Ranger clubbed-hard
Daen 10+2
Bruug ???
Frigga 7+0 {Nauseated}

[Simba]

Frigga

Feeling a little better, Frigga looks at the situation, moving to the side of the tunnel to gain a better view of the conflict in front of her.

[Cespenar]

Daen

Leaving the fighting behind, Daen hustles further, his eyes racing around to catch any signs of the person (if that) responsible for Bruug's condition.

Double move forwards. Here's a Spot check, just in case.
[roll0]

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel will move to the ranger knight and heal him herself.

CLW:[roll1d8+5[/roll]

Sam will still attack!
[roll0]
[roll1]

trip if hit:[roll2]

[Deathslayer7]

reroll for CLW: [roll0]

[BlueWizard]

Shrike holds keeping an ear out...

Liam will be able to react in 6 seconds, though he is a little woozy. {-1 to actions}

Bruug sees Sabriel enter his reach to aid the ranger, and for some reason doesn't bop her on the head when she heals him.
Sam fails to nip at the armor ogre, but the ranger-knight has no trouble cutting Bruug a little more.

Daen will sense movement in the dark cavern ahead. He senses a a very large area.

Bruug is confused by Sabriel's aid of the ranger and decides to wail into the growling wolf. Bruug crushes Sam's head, and she yelps loudly. She is DISABLED.

Frigga is feeling a little better now as well.

End Round 3--------------------------------->


Initiatives:
Shrike 14+3
Liam 17+0 {-1 to actions}
Sabriel 13+3
Sam the wolf hp 0/39- disabled
Knight-Ranger clubbed
Daen 10+2 -moving into the smelly cavern beyond
Bruug ???- cut twice
Frigga 7+0 {-1 to actions}

[Simba]

Frigga

Finally almost recovered, Frigga decides to try and help Bruug. She sends a quick prayer to her goddess and casts Protection from Evil on him, hoping to at least interrupt any control someone might have over him.

[Wiz]

Liam speaks arcane words that sound like the wind howling, and as he repeats the chant it grows louder and louder, til you suddenly realize the wind is whipping through the tunnel very quickly. It doesn't displace Bruug or affect the others (since they aren't attempting to move against it). But it will possibly affect goblins or any other small creatures that are moving up. Most importantly, it clears the stench away and possibly gets Bruug's attention. "Bruug! Stop! Why are you attacking us?"

Cast Gust of Wind down the tunnel.

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Sam will take a move action to get away.

Sabriel will cast CLW again on the Knight-Ranger.
[roll0]

She'll then take a 5ft step and be in front of Bruug as well.

Will you strike me down? she asks, holding her bow at her side.

[Cespenar]

Daen runs even further, his swordarm poised to strike down anything that might leap at him from the darkness.

Double move forward, or, if he would be able to see something with only one move action, engage and attack.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike, seeing Sabriel's gambit, doesn't move to antagonise Bruug further, instead stepping forwards to help Sam out of the way of the furious - possessed? - ogre, trying to soothingly help the wolf's wounds even as she strains to hear anything else that might be approaching.

...dragging Sam clear? Strength: [roll0]
Heal: [roll1]
Listen: [roll2]

[BlueWizard]

Shrike moves into the crowded area to try and drag the disabled wolf to a safer spot. She will take a glancing blow off her shoulder that practically breaks it! {d:21} Bruug has incredible reach!

Liam's gust of wind clears the stench from the passage, and Daen can feel it whip around him. However, Bruug still seems under the control of this enchantment.

Sabriel manages to heal the ranger a little, and stands in the space next to the ranger, but still Bruug sees only what the 'charm' tells him to.

Sam whimpers as Shrike tries to pull her to safety.

The knight-ranger continues to fight. "This sucks!!" He fumbles on his attack and pulls a muscle in his sword arm, causing his next attack to look pretty feeble.

Daen can't see anything. It is pitch black here. He is also having trouble hearing for Liam's magical wind is whistling by him.

Bruug keeps hammering at the ranger, and the brave man takes it like a champ still hanging on!

Frigga is thankful the same weak will that failed to resist the enchantment, also causes Bruug to fail to resist her protection. He will suddenly stop attacking as Frigga's protection from evil covers his mind. His only memory in the darkness will be the dark elf that spoke to him, and the fleeing goblins.

End Round 4---------------------------------->


Initiatives:
Shrike 14+3 hp 19/40
Liam 17+0 {-1 to actions}
Sabriel 13+3
Sam the wolf hp 0/39- disabled
Knight-Ranger- pulled his arm muscle; clubbed
Daen 10+2 -moving into the smelly cavern beyond
Bruug hp 67/80
Frigga 7+0 {-1 to actions}

[Ipphli]

Bruug


Bruug will look in horror at what he's done. He shakes his head as he finds Sabriel's gaze. "No Bruug! Drow!" Speaking the name, he turns back towards the darkness and hustles off, a grim determination obvious on his face.

[Wiz]

Liam goes down on one knee to check out Shrike, "Are you all right, milove?"

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Bruug wait! Sabriel will cast light on an arrow and hand it to him before he runs off. Take this. Daen is already down there. she says warning the ogre.

Not even giving him a second glance Sabriel turns to Shrike and Liam. They'll need your help Liam. You too Frigga. I'll take care of Shrike. she says.

You stay here too. she says to the Ranger-Knight. She'll pull out a wand and prepare to heal Shrike and the Ranger-Knight and Sam.

casting light then moving over to Shrike.

[BlueWizard]

Combat has ended momentarily....

Bruug will feel that Frigga's divine power is the only thing keeping that seductive voice of the drow from his head. Though Bruug can feel urges to start attacking his friends, he can resist them for now.

The ranger is banged up, but he is a veteran of wars. He'll want to follow Bruug, trying not to take any more of Sabriel's magic.



Ahead of the Group:
Daen's 'new friend' will tell him to take a nap in the cool ooze on one side of the cavern.

When Bruug gets to the larger cavern area he will see that the stream from above pools to this area. On one side of the room is a great pit where the goblins seem to dump their sewage.... scarily close to their water source!

Daen is happily about to climb into the sewage pit, near wheel barrows and shovels. At the far end of the shadows Bruug will see the goblins are fleeing towards other passages from this large cavern.

[The Bushranger]

(Back at the combat zone)

Shrike drops back onto her backside, grabbing her shoulder, once she has Sam out of danger, her face screwed up in pain - but she manages to take a deep breath and look up at Liam with a bit of a smile. "Remind me...not to piss Bruug off," she manages to quip. "I'll be fine, love. Thank you..."

She leans up to give her husband a quick kiss, before looking over at Sabriel, her expression still pained, but also worried. "That was too close."

[Deathslayer7]

Let's walk and heal. Sabriel says.

Using the wand to heal Shrike.

CLW: [roll0]

[BlueWizard]

Bruug will be able to grab Daen before he enters the sewage, and Daen will be able to snap out of his charm as Bruug grabs the warrior. However, a tendril of protoplasmic flesh jets out, along with a weird murmured gibbering that comes from the goblin sewage. Something seems to be moving within it. Daen will remember hearing the voice of a drow in the dark who cast the charm on him.

Daen is grabbed and the thing tries to pull him into the sewage. The strong-footed warrior snaps out of his charm just in time to brace his feet. He can feel a tiny mouth bite him on the leg as the tendril tries to pull him in.

A stream of acid comes streaming out of the sewage toward Bruug's eyes! {Fort save 5+11} The big ogre's eyes are painfully washed with the nasty acid. They didn't destroy his eyes, but definitely temporarily hindered the mighty ogre as he is blinded! {d:4}

The surprise now over the rest of you can act. Likely those behind Daen and Bruug will hear Bruug's roar in pain. The rest of you will start to hear a gibbering noise that confuses you. Daen and Bruug resist this sonic mind effect, but the rest of you are protected for the moment as Liam's wind is blowing the sound of the gibbering away from you.

The knight-ranger will give Sam the wolf a minor healing potion, so the poor girl can move about safely. Sabriel will have healed Shrike a little.


Initiatives:
Shrike 16+3 hp 28/40
Gibbering Mouther
Frigga 19+0
Knight-Ranger- pulled his arm muscle, slightly hurt
Liam 13+0
Bruug 12+0 hp 63/80 -BLINDED
Daen 9+2 hp 73/74
Sabriel 3+3
Sam the wolf hp 2/39

[Wiz]

Liam enters the cave, and seeing the tentacle coming from the pit focuses his mind to a twenty foot area at pit of sewage that excludes Bruug and Daen for the moment. "You like tentacles... try some of mine!" He chants a spell that sounds like squelching tentacles crushing things.

Cast Black Tentacles (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/blackTentacles.htm) on the pit with the gibbering mouther.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike smiles gratefully at Sabriel, her shoulder still very stiff, but not as badly as before. "Thanks. That helps, a lot..."

Then: gibbering mouthers! And tentacles!

...And Shrike eyes the tentacles almost appraisingly for a minute :smalleek: before narrowing her eyes, and throwing out her hand in the abobmination's direction, a blast of force lances out at it!

Manifesting Concussion Blast (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/concussionBlast.htm), augmented by 2 power points.
...I believe this power auto-hits? If not: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Cespenar]

Daen

Regaining his will, Daen blinks as he assesses the situation for a moment, and then lashes onto the creature in front of him with a shrug.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[roll2]
[roll3]

[BlueWizard]

Everyone is able to ignore the confusing gibberish the thing gurgles from the sewage. {OOC-Saves all around, woo-hoo!!}

Shrike's psionic concussive force splatters sewage on Daen and Bruug as it strikes the main body of the gibbering mouther. {d:5}

The strange aberration reaches out toward Daen and tries to pull him into the sewage, but this time with more tentacles that jet out! Each tentacle has more mouths all speaking evil sounding gibberish, each tendril with even more wicked looking eyes. Only one of the 6 tentacles can bite Daen, and once again tries to pull him into the morass of poo. {d:1} Daen is strong and braces himself not letting the thing pull him in.
It sprays Daen in the face with a spittle of acid to blind him as well. {d:2} Daen closes his eyes in time, but feels a sting as the weak acid burns his face a little.

Also the stone under Daen and Bruug's feet begins to soften...

Frigga in the rear of the group will move into the bigger cavern, and put herself into a better position. {DM action}

The ranger will move up with Frigga.

Liam steps in, perhaps a little hasty with his newly learned spell. Massive scary looking tentacles pop up all over the sewage, surely grabbing the amorphous mouther, but also long enough to grab nearby Daen and Bruug as well!! One grabs Daen and critically crushes him, and tries to bang him around! {d:6} Bruug is better able to fend off the tentacles grabbing at him, but his movement is slowed, and he still can't see what is going on.
It is hard to say how the tentacles affect the mouther, but it is clear the moving mass in the sewage will be having a new type of trouble via Liam the wizard. As Daen is grabbed he gets more of the sewage splashed on him.

Bruug lashes out at the mouther, but in all the confusion, and lack of sight he instead creates his own gust of wind.

Daen hacks at the tendril that bit him, and even gripped by the black tentacle is able to chop the tendril from the body of the mouther. The severed tendril falls into the sewage and it squeals in pain from all its mouths, but it still lives, and will try to retreat to the bottom of the muck.

Sabriel and Sam can cautiously move up.... {DM action}

End Round 1---------------------------------------->


Initiatives:
Shrike 16+3 hp 28/40
Gibbering Mouther
Frigga 19+0
Knight-Ranger- pulled his arm muscle, slightly hurt
Liam 13+0- and his black tentacles
Bruug 12+0 hp 63/80 -BLINDED
Daen 9+2 hp 64/74
Sabriel 3+3
Sam the wolf hp 2/39


DM note:
Liam is only 4th level on the sheet I have a connection to. :smallconfused:

[Cespenar]

Daen

Daen pulls back immediately as he sees the creature doing the same, trying to get out of the range of Liam's magical tentacles.

"This is so much fun," he mumbles through his gritted teeth. "I can't even imagine how many baths I'll need to get this muck off."

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel will remember what Bruug said and look around for that drow.

spot: [roll0]

[Deathslayer7]

Unable to see or hear the drow (most likely) she'll Cast Soften Earth and Stone beath Bruug and Dean and make sure it hardens again. She'll still try to look for the drow once more.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will continue to fight defensively, attempting to ward off the monster attacking him. (OOC- Total defense)

[BlueWizard]

Shrike will hold and move carefully into cavern keeping an eye out for the shadows beyond.

The gibbering mouther can't be seen beneath Liam's thick black tentacles, in any case it doesn't attack any allies if it did survive the tentacle onslaught.

Frigga keeps an eye out on the other side of the cavern.

The knight-ranger pulls out a light arrow from his quiver and launches it across the cavern {about 200 feet across}.

Liam will watch as hi tentacles batter the whole area around the sewage pit.
Daen will slip out of the grasp of his tentacle, and Bruug avoids them completely.

Bruug fends off the tentacles, and it looks like the mouther dove back into the muck. Some tentacles have dunked into it.

Daen is a little stinky, but pulls back safely.

Sabriel and Shrike will both spot a crowd of movement in the light of the ranger's arrow, it is as if many goblins were leading something large in, and it hisses like a lizard. Sam will growl, she will smell a big lizard ahead.

End Round 2-------------------------------------->


Initiatives:
Shrike 16+3 hp 28/40
Gibbering Mouther ?
Frigga 19+0
Knight-Ranger- pulled his arm muscle, slightly hurt
Liam 13+0- and his black tentacles
Bruug 12+0 hp 63/80 -BLINDED
Daen 9+2 hp 64/74
Sabriel 3+3
Sam the wolf hp 2/39
Big Lizard ?

[The Bushranger]

"...oh, crap. Guys! Saurian, incoming!"
Shrike calls back, and draws her sword, taking it in both hands and bracing for the oncoming creatures.

(Total Defense)

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will head towards the sound of Shrike's voice carefully, calling out as he does so, "Saurian? Where? Can't see anything..."

[The Bushranger]

Shrike quickly points in the direction she sees the movement. "Sounds like a big one, too!"

[Simba]

Frigga

Frigga raises her hands in prayer, gathering the power of her goddess, then waits for her target to move into visual range.

[Cespenar]

Daen

Daen stands on the edge of Liam's spell and braces his defenses. He eyes the lizard warily over his shield and waits for the fight to come.

Total Defense for 29 AC.

[BlueWizard]

Setting up for what is coming the group will see a great lizard with its eyes covered by a leather strap. The great lizard has eight legs, and before you can get more detail, the goblins cover up the ranger's light arrow.

Chamber is roughly 200' X 60'.

End Round 3---------------------------------------->

Initiatives:
Shrike 16+3 hp 28/40
Gibbering Mouther ?
Frigga 19+0
Knight-Ranger- pulled his arm muscle, slightly hurt
Liam 13+0- and his black tentacles
Bruug 12+0 hp 63/80 -BLINDED
Daen 9+2 hp 64/74
Sabriel 3+3
Sam the wolf hp 2/39
Eight-legged Lizard

[Simba]

Frigga

Before the 8-legged creature can attack Frigga releases the energy she has gathered into a massive colums of holy fire that stikes the lizard and anything within 10' radius of it.


Flame Strike: [roll0]#
Half of the damage is fire, the other half is untyped divine power.

Status:

AC 29, touch 13, flat-footed 29
HPs: 76/76
Fire resistance 10

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel will look at the others and head towards Bruug. She'll heal him with the wand as well and take a look at his eyes.

CLW:[roll0]

heal check: [roll1]
(cant access MW so don't know modifier.)

[The Bushranger]

Shrike stares at the lizard before it comes into view, racking her brain as she sees its eyes covered...

She thrusts out a hand and sends a barrage of crackling energy missiles (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/energyMissile.htm) at the oncoming enemies, then spins about to head back from whence they all came.

Energy Missile time!
Targeting the lizard - and four of its handlers, if I can.
Augmented by 2. Reflex save DC 20.
Damage: [roll0]
If there's Miss Chance involved, that's for the DM to roll. :)

...then a full move away...

[Wiz]

Liam casts another spell, this one sounding misty and unclear, as well as very slow.

Cast solid fog in the way of the slow-moving reptile, if possible, trapping it still in a tunnel, if not, putting a 20' radius cloud in it's way, forcing it to move around or go even slower.

[BlueWizard]

Shrike knows one thing for sure about that eight-legged lizard, it ain't from nature! She has NO CLUE at all about this creature, however Liam does, and can give the same warning on his turn. She does send crackling bolts of electricity toward the monster-lizard and sizzles it quite good.

Frigga casts a spell that chars the eight-legged lizard and burns the leather mask from its face, as well as the surrounding goblins; who are now blackened husks of their former selves. Her brief flash of divine fire will reveal another similar lizard being led out by other goblins in the passage behind the first.

The knight-ranger is already set up and fires arrows across the cavern with minor success wounding the charred lizard.

Liam can trap it near the tunnel with his solid fog, and can try to keep the other horse sized lizard trapped in the tunnel. One thing is for sure, he's heard of these legendary magical beasts and their petrifying gaze. Tis the Basilisk, only he among you all will know anything about them. He had just seen the glowing eyes when the mask burned off and would be quite happy to keep it trapped behind his solid wall of fog.

Bruug still can't see a thing, but he is beginning to feel the acid clear out of his eyes.

Daen can hold or set up, but it looks like Liam's tentacles are at least keeping the mouther down, and it may be dead already with those lashing, bashing tentacles waving about.

Sabriel heals Bruug a little, and the blinded ogre can feel the gentle touch of his oldest friend.

A commotion is heard on the other side of the solid fog, and it may be the sound of the unmasked basilisk now turning on the remaining goblins in the tunnel.

End Round 4------------------------------>


Initiatives:
Shrike 16+3 hp 28/40
Frigga 19+0
Knight-Ranger- pulled his arm muscle, slightly hurt
Liam 13+0- and his black tentacles
Bruug 12+0 hp 71/80 -BLINDED
Daen 9+2 hp 64/74
Sabriel 3+3
Sam the wolf hp 2/39
2 Basilisks

[Wiz]

Liam shouts, "It's a basilisk - it's gaze can petrify you if you look in it's eyes... it looks like they have at least two of them!"

[BlueWizard]

Things are under control for the moment as the squeals of goblins beyond Liam's thick fog will fade. The fog prevents the basilisk's advance, and it sounds more interested in tormenting the goblins.

Once the tentacles are done splashing and bashing the ditch there won't be a peep from the mouther even if it IS alive.

[Wiz]

Liam glances back, "So... how do we want to handle this? I'm not in favor of moving into a goblin community defended by basilisks - though they are notoriously difficult creatures to handle, as is currently evident. A hasty retreat and the lizards are unlikely to pursue, but I suppose we need a concensus."

[Deathslayer7]

Is there any reason we should go farther? Sabriel asks. And once more she'll heal Bruug and look at his eyes.

CLW:[roll0]

heal: [roll1]

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will lean down to allow Sabriel easier access to his eyes. He speaks up in answer to Liam's question. "We no save boy? Leave gobbos behind to attack later?"

[Cespenar]

Daen

"I'm not liking this 'petrification' business," Daen says with a frown. "Unless you guys have means to either protect against it or kill the beasts from afar, it seems a little too risky to engage."

[Wiz]

Liam shrugs, "I have a spell, which if I'd had it memorized could have rendered a basilisk helpless... in fact I could do it twice and hit them both. But not until tomorrow, since I don't currently have it memorized." He chuckles, "Thanks to our benefactors, I have many more different spells I can memorize than I could possibly cast in a single day, sorry about the tentacles there, by the way... sometimes it's hard to judge distances in an area spell."

[The Bushranger]

Shrike shivers, thinking about the possible results of being petrified while pregnant...and not liking those thoughts very much at all.

"I can't fight them," she admits. "Not with things as they are. I can take on the goblins, but not the...basilisks? Not them."

[Wiz]

Liam puts his arm over Shrike's shoulder. "It's all right... if I'd known about the basilisks, I would have suggested you not come. I don't know what would have happened either."

[BlueWizard]

Liam imagines the crunching rock noises that come next from beyond his solid fog, are the basilisks eating their stoned prey.

The solid fog only lasts so long, and it sounds like there are no more goblins alive on the other side of it.

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel looks at the others. I can collapse the tunnel she says, somewhat hesitantly.

ooc- what type of material is above the tunnel?

[The Bushranger]

Shrike bites her lip, looking between Liam, Sabriel, the knight-ranger, and the fog cloud.

"It would stop them, but..."

She trails off, leaving unsaid the 'it might cause our mission to fail'.

[Wiz]

Liam shakes his head, "They're very sluggish creatures... if we just go, they're unlikely to follow and they certainly couldn't pursue us effectively. As far as the young man goes, we can come back here tomorrow, and slay the beasts if they're still here... one of them might still end be blindfolded at that point, as they aren't much more intelligent than your average animal."

[The Bushranger]

Shrike nods, standing close to her husband as she looks back across at where the fog cloud lingers, if only for a moment. "That might be a better plan, then?"

[BlueWizard]

OOC- I don't have the spell, but don't worry I like it. How long does it last? Where is it from again?

[Wiz]

Solid Fog (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/solidFog.htm) is Players Handbook 3.5... and it lasts 7 minutes.

[BlueWizard]

OOC- I don't know where I was looking. Probably why I didn't find it in my other books.

7 minutes are rapidly approaching.

Those who decide to return back up will hear a different noise from the woods above, as if troops are camped outside the cave.

[BlueWizard]

OOC- You guys busy? Tell me, so I don't start killing PCs willy-nilly.

[Wiz]

Liam takes this lack of decisiveness from the others as a need for the wizard to take charge again. "Let's go back up the tunnel." When the get near the entrance, the sounds of an encampment are outside. "Should we send someone to see?"

[BlueWizard]

The closer you get to the exit, the sounds of goblinoid voices talking will get closer as if there were goblinoids coming into the cave.

[The Bushranger]

"Oh...crap," Shrike mutters softly as she hears the sounds of goblin voices. "I don't suppose you have invisibility available, do you, love?"

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will frown as he hears the goblinoids speaking. He moves to the front of the group. "Bruug handle. You stay."

[Wiz]

Liam shakes his head, "If I had, I might have been tempted to try it on the basilisk. Gaze weapons don't work if you're invisible."

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

So what now? she asks as the approach the voices.

ooc - is it also possible that while waiting i could heal everyone? :smallconfused:

easiest way is to calculate total damage (knight included) and then use average per wand cast.

[BlueWizard]

Bruug will encounter a band of about 15 heavily armed hobgoblins coming toward him in the small slippery steep passage up. They freak out and begin to set up for an attack, but make no attempt to advance toward Bruug. They all look quite freaked out.

Sabriel will have time to heal the group. {OOC- You can make those rolls on the OOC thread.}

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will stand up straight ad glare at the hobgoblins before speaking to them in their tongue. "You tha runts that rule here? Who's your boss?"

[Cespenar]

Daen

Daen will just stop before getting into the sights of the hobgoblins and wait. Bruug may try some things, but if they fail, Daen will be there to take his side.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike keeps her sword out, standing next to Liam, and ready in case Bruug's Ogre Diplomacy fails.

[BlueWizard]

The hobgoblins are intimidated by Bruug, but don't back up. A burly hobgoblin with many scars on his face wearing old plate mail moves to the front, though he and the others stand behind their tall shields. The scarred hobgoblin is cocky, and waves off Bruug's question. "An armored ogre? Are you with the ogre-magi? I'm sure they'd like to meet you."
{He answers in goblin-tongue.} "If you don't know who the 'boss' is. You shouldn't be down here." Despite being intimidated the hobgoblins are very hostile from behind their small shield wall. {Barely two shields side-by-side in the front.}

[Simba]

Frigga

The blond Warrior-priestess stands beside her friends, ready to take the hobgoblins on: "I can ask Freya for some more Flame Strikes if necessary. Talk is fine for now, I guess. Anyone in need of healing?"

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug bristles slightly at the mention of the ogre-magi, but shrugs it off as he answers. "New here. Escaped a band of humans who thought wanted to make me a sideshow. Taught them good too." He grins and chuckles evilly before continuing. "Saw the little gobbos run in here, checked it out. So how do I meet these ogre-magi?"

[BlueWizard]

The scarred hobgoblin smiles, still speaking in goblin-tongue. "We were sent in here to kill an ogre with his human friends. If you killed your human friends, I might be able to arrange a meeting with an ogre-mage, but I'm just a sergeant. Believe me, I don't want to fight you, but I don't think you want to fight us either. Even if you cut your way through us, there is an army behind me." No bluffing here, he seems to be telling the truth, and is clearly frightened of the mighty armored ogre before him.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug raises an eyebrow at this news. "Sent by who? And I don't appreciate their being called my 'friends'. And you say there's an army out there? Sounds like my kind of party!"

[BlueWizard]

The hobgoblin smiles when Bruug realizes he doesn't know who his leader is. He continues to speaks in goblin-tongue. "I can only assume they are your friends since you came with them... AND the dead knight and horses we are currently roasting above for a feast. Fresh surface meat is a hot commodity. You are free to join us in this feast... we'd love to add your human friends who went down with you to the menu." He chuckles, "And since you have no idea who my leader is, I think it is best that it remains that way. He is a private individual."

[The Bushranger]

Shrike narrows her eyes and strains to overhear the conversation between Bruug and the goblins down the tunnel.

Listen: [roll0]

[BlueWizard]

All of you can hear the conversation, but can only make out the language of the goblins.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug shrugs as his 'friends' are mentioned. "Humans are gone. Half of them fell to some beast in the sewage, the others are nothing but statues or goo. Let me just get rest of my stuff and we can go meet this 'boss' of yours." So saying, Bruug turns around and heads back down towards his friends.

Once there, he'll speak quietly as he informs the others about the group of hobgoblins below. He'll look at Frigga and Liam. "Cast big spell, kill gobbos?"

[Simba]

Frigga

"I can do two more of those Flame Strikes today, plus some minor things. I could also block the tunnel with a Wall of Stone any time if needed."

[Wiz]

Liam frowns, "How many are we talking? I can do some area spells... say about a 20' radius, to take out smaller groups - and I have a fireball prepared... it could kill a large group of goblin soldiers if they are massed together."

[BlueWizard]

The hobgoblins don't answer Bruug as he goes back to his friends, and make no move to follow him. 15 hobgoblins were seen by Bruug in the tunnel ahead.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug will shake his head at Liam's response. "15. Big gobbos. Hobgobbos. Come to kill us. Need one alive to talk."

[The Bushranger]

"I can cast a spray of crystals out to about 15 feet or so," Shrike adds, as she considers the situation.

[BlueWizard]

The knight-ranger will follow your lead, but for now will guard the rear.

Daen and Bruug are clearly the more skilled warriors.

[Cespenar]

Daen

Daen looks at his companions who are laying out their strengths in brief words.

"Then what are we waiting for?" he asks, after the last of them finishes. He slowly unsheathes his sword as to give more emphasis.

[Simba]

Frigga

Switching out her longsword for her spear, Frigga quickly prays to her goddess, asking for her blessing for the coming fight. Then she asks: "As I will be standing in the second line for a change, I would offer to take some of the wounds you take onto myself. Freya grants me this power and I offer it freely to those who will stand against our common enemies."


First Shield Other on Daen or Bruug, whoever will accept it.
At the last oportunity, just before the attack:
Elation:
– All allies within an 80’ radius Spread of the caster become full of energy & joy:
+2 Morale bonus to Strength & Dexterity; +5’ movement.

[Wiz]

Liam speaks words that sound like arrows zinging off of a shield and makes a gesture of an oval in front of himself. He will start a chant that will seem to double and redouble on itself, causing multiple ([roll0] images of himself to spring in to being. He will then (assuming there is room - since Bruug is standing okay in the cave - he won't do this if there's not room) chant another spell where the words seem to grow longer with every repetition and touch Shrike in a familiar spot, causing her to grow to a larger size. Finally, just before everyone is ready to move he will speak words of power and repeat them faster and faster with each iteration, causing the party to begin moving faster.

Shield, Mirror Image, Enlarge, Haste

[The Bushranger]

Shrike grins at Liam as she feels the familar magic, and wiggles slightly against his touch before returning her attention fully to preparing for the battle, taking her sword in a two-handed grip and standing next to Freya.

"Daen, Bruug, you should go first..."

Any more speed enhancements, and she'll reach Ludicrious Speed! :smalleek:

Shrike (Dorothy Williams) (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=117041)
Female CG (N) Human Scout/Psion (Kineticist)/Barbarian, Level 1/4/2, Init +3, HP 40/40, DR ER20Fire, Speed 75ft
AC 29, Touch 16, Flat-footed 26, Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +5, Base Attack Bonus 4, Power Points 9/21
+1 Bastard sword +9 (1d10+6, 19-20/x2)
Dagger, MW Silver (+2 normal daggers) +9/+8 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
Shortbow (15) +7 (1d6, x3)
Studded Leather, Force Screen (+5 Armor, +4 Shield, +3 Dex, +4 Natural, +3 Deflect)
Abilities Str 18, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 10
Condition Resist Energy (Fire, duration 100 minutes)
Shield of Faith (+3 AC, duration 10 minutes)
Magic Vestment (+2 AC, duration 10 hours)
Force Screen (+4 shield bonus, force effect, 4 minutes)
Elation (+2 Morale to STR and DEX, +5 movement, ? minutes)
Enlarge Person (7 minutes)
Haste (7 minutes)
Short sword
+5 / 1d6+3 P / 19-20 x2 / 2lb

[BlueWizard]

As the party prepares there is a commotion up the passage as if the metal armored hobgoblins were moving about quickly, but not toward you.

OOC- And remember to add Elation, one of the most powerful 2nd level spells, I SOMETIMES allow. Luckily Frigga is exalted.

Shrike will fill the passage enlarged, and will have to stoop just a bit.

Shrike should also recharge her shielding spell for it will run out at the beginning of combat.

[Cespenar]

Daen

"Come on then, Bruug." he pats the ogre's armored arm jokingly. "Let's do our job."

He starts advancing onto the hobgoblins unless someone stops him.

[BlueWizard]

When Bruug and Daen advance they will see that the passage ahead is blocked by an ice wall. Through the thick ice wall, movement can be detected. A voice shouts through it. You can barely make out what is said. "Fools! You won't be coming this way!! I don't want you killing my soldiers. It would be foolish for you to even try. You will have to find another way out."

[The Bushranger]

Shrike mutters to herself as she feels her shield manifestation failing, and quickly channels her mental energy into raising it again, and follows Bruug and Daen to the ice wall.

"Think a Flame Strike might melt it?" the enlarged psionic barbarian asks, looking at Frigga.

[Deathslayer7]

Only one way to find out. Sabriel says. Would you like to do it or shall i?

[BlueWizard]

The muffled voice yells, "Don't try it!! I have 500 hundred hobgoblins waiting to eat your pretty elf-girl."

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug growls as he stands next to Daen, club in hand. "Can't fit 500 in tunnel."

[Simba]

Frigga

"Pure fire would be more effective than the holy flames my goddess grants me. And pure force, like a hammer or axe, will work just as well, especially if they are flaming."

[Wiz]

Liam (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=125095)

Male Neutral Human Wizard/Geometer Level: 5/2, Init: +1, HP: 39/39, Speed: 30, AC: 19, Touch: 11, Flat-footed: 18, Fort: +3, Ref: +2, Will: +7, Condition: Mage Armor (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/mageArmor.htm) (6 hours), Shield (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shield.htm) (67 rounds), Mirror Image (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/mirrorImage.htm) (6 images) (68 rounds), Haste (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/haste.htm) (6 rounds)
Liam points to the wall, "Someone take it down quickly, if we give them too much time to prepare it will be harder - I don't have the spells to deal with this right now. If we can blast it away completely the spell effect should end, if we simply break through it - a freezing wall of air will remand that will damage us as we pass through."

[Cespenar]

Daen

"It's only... ice?"

Dropping his shield to the ground for a second, Daen wields his sword two-handed, and with a great heave, he brings it down on the wall, once, twice, and thrice.

I'm not sure if the sword's Bull's Strength still persists on Daen, it's 1 min/caster level, and I don't know its caster level. :smallbiggrin:

Anyway, let's say it has worn off. Daen's making three attacks (thanks to Haste) with full Power Attack.

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

The damages get halved, since I'm striking an object, but hopefully it's enough as it is.

[Cespenar]

Misroll, sorry there. Should've been 1d10, not 1d20.

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[Simba]

Frigga

"I could call on a fire elemental to help take down the wall. Let me ask Freya for her help."

Frigga takes out a small stump of a candle, then lights it with a touch, calling out in prayer and summoning. In front of the wall, a creature of fire appears, about 8'' tall and blistering with heat. it immeiately turns towards the Wall of Ice and sets to destroying it, burning away sheets of ice while sizzling itself.


Summon Monster V: Medium Fire Elemental (26 hp, AC 16), Burn attack.



Female Neutral Good Human Cleric of Freya Level: 10, Init: +0, HP: 76/76, Speed: 20, AC: 29, Touch: 13, Flat-footed: 29, Fort: +9, Ref: +3, Will: +10, Condition: Bull’s Strength (10 minutes), Shield of Faith (10 minutes), Haste (6 rounds)

[BlueWizard]

OOC- Your choice....

Your group will break through the wall in no time, and in that moment it goes down the sounds of crazed hobgoblins will fill the air. A cold cloud of air is still between you, and there is no sign of whoever was talking to you by now.

Combat Begins-------------------------------->




Initiatives:
Daen 20+2
Shirke 18+3
Sabriel 18+3
Sam
Frigga 19+0
Fire Elemental
Liam 18+0
Bruug 15+0
Hobgoblins
Allied Ranger- rear of group

[BlueWizard]

OOC- Did you all want to hold?

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

The moment before the wall breaks, she'll cast a spell. Storm clouds appear right below the cave roof. Unnatural for sure.

The next moment, thunder flashes and a lightning bolt comes down from the clouds hitting a goblin (an important looking one otherwise random).

Sam will stay by her side for now.

casting Call Lightning. Ref Dc 16 for half or take [roll0]

[BlueWizard]

Sabriel can actually get this lightning spell ready as the men bash the ice wall. Liam's advice on the fire elemental melting the rest is wise: You will need to clear back anyway, for the tiny cavern leaves no space near the fire elemental.

The fire elemental will melt the wall, creating a rush of water toward your group, the fire elemental will turn much to steam. It will rush up toward the hobgoblins and likely block the way for a few rounds. Though no one else will be able to get by it or even fight next to it without getting hurt.

[Cespenar]

Daen

Daen advances a few steps, but stops when he sees the elemental blocking the way. He glances back at his companions with a "What now?" look and stands ready.

[BlueWizard]

The group can conserve the whole time the fire elemental fights as it will wreak havoc on the front-line of hobgoblins for the full duration of Frigga's spell. Sabriel will still have plenty of time left on her Calling of Lightning and Shrike's 2nd Shield is still up with time.

When the fire elemental is gone, you will be walking on at least a dozen charred corpses or more. Hard to say. Anything you needed prepped in the 50 or so seconds can be revved up and ready.

{You will need it.}:smallamused:


Initiatives:
Allied Ranger- rear of group
Daen 20+2
Shirke 18+3
Sabriel 18+3
Sam
Frigga 19+0
Fire Elemental- time elapsed
Liam 18+0
Bruug 15+0
Hobgoblins

[Wiz]

But if it's more than 7 rounds, the haste will be gone... correct? Darn... should have extended that one. Didn't think of it.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike stands ready, waiting on the elemental to dissolve, her sword tightly in her grip.

[Deathslayer7]

Lightning bolts will come down from the sky as well wreaking hobgoblins during those 50 secs. :smallbiggrin: (Total of 7)

and once the lightning bolts run out, she'll cast prodeuce flame and start throwing that. :smallbiggrin: (Total of 7)

[BlueWizard]

The hasting can be delayed, when Sabriel will have her flame ready.

Sabriel's 7 lightning bolts Ka-Koomed through the hall sending up a chorus of screams from the scores of hobgoblin voices heard storming toward you. Those who fall are pushed forward or crushed. Even if hobgoblins tried to turn around in the small cavern they would be crushed, so the hobgoblins keep coming, and Liam {who is smarted than all of us players :smallwink:} can time his haste in a better spot in the battle, about when Sabriel is producing flame in her hand.

Daen and Bruug can try rotating their front-line attacks, or you could try to fight a retreat to the lower wider area, some distance below and behind you.

[Wiz]

At this point then, Liam would cast his haste at the most intelligently appropriate moment - and use his rod of extension to extend it to a 14 round effect. (Sometimes I wish I was a smart as my characters!)

[BlueWizard]

OOC- If the group truly wants to go toe-to-toe with the hobgoblins, I may have to speed through a couple of rounds. Sabriel will have difficulty in throwing her flame over rotating Daen and Bruug already, so not much else can be grouped to the front in this small passage.

[BlueWizard]

Daen and Bruug will fight an amazing retreat as they circle together and slay over a dozen hobgoblins. Sabriel will run out of fire to throw, and still the hobgoblins come. Daen and Bruug will be forced to lose a step as they try to step back and forth to allow each to attack. Bruug is most dangerous when the hobgoblins run in for he is able to reach out and bonk them in the head with his great club in addition to crushing those coming in too close.

Daen and Bruug will take some damage in this time, but in the first 7 rounds, they are none the worse for wear.

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel will stand close to Bruug and Daen and heal them respectively when they move back to let room for the other.

[BlueWizard]

Doing the rotation with Shrike's wand will liven things up for the heroes, keeping Daen and Bruug healthy far past the pair's magical hasting from Liam. Scores of hobgoblins will have been killed in 2 minutes, and Shrike would be using the wand quite often.

It will be about this time that Bruug sees the tiny pea launched from somewhere above. It explodes burning the front ranks and killing several hobgoblins in the blast. Sabriel wasn't expecting it, and is hurt the worst. The other 3 are able to shield themselves somewhat.


failed:
Sabriel reflex 12+5

Successful reflex:
Bruug 19+2
Shrike 14+5
Daen 16+4


After Fireball: 2 minutes into battle
Initiatives:
Allied Ranger- rear of group
Daen 20+2 hp: 50/74
Shirke 18+3 hp: 21/40
Sabriel 18+3 hp: 15/54
Sam
Frigga 19+0
Liam 18+0
Bruug 15+0 hp 61/80
Hobgoblins

[Ipphli]

Bruug

The ogre will grin savagely as he slays the servants of ogre magi. He quickly falls into the routine of circling with Daen, always ready to lash out over the human's head if necessary.

[Wiz]

As the rounds pass, Liam will throw spell after spell - exercising some control over the battlefield, rendering individuals or small groups helpless and funneling other goblins into the two chainsa... I mean fighters. Stinking Cloud, Glitterdust, Web, Sleep, Sleep... and when or wherever a particularly large group of Goblins becomes massed... a nice little 7 die fireball. If you want to handle the spells round by round we can, but I just thought I'd list the overall plan for you in case you wanted to shift to mass combat.

Meanwhile, Liam and his multiple images will hang close to his giant wife like a bevy of clownfishes near an anemone, luring bigger fishes into tentacle range (in this case not actual tentacles, just her enormous size and increased AOO range).

[The Bushranger]

(I presume you mean Sabriel's wand? :smalltongue:)

Shrike, meanwhile, will take full advantage of her AoOs and normal attacks to slice-and-dice the hobgoblins as she can. If an opening presents itself, she launches a Swarm of Crystals at the enemy - twice - while keeping mental track as best she can of her shielding.

((Given the swarm, it might be best to take the 'general plan of attack, roll 'em all and let the DM sort 'em out' method, yes. :smalltongue:))

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Sabriel grunts from the blast and moves out of the front for a moment, healing herself from the blast, and cursing. She puts her hand to her side to feel the burn there and all over her body. Blood mingles with pus as she pulls out her own want to heal herself.

She looks to Frigga as well. A little help with this one would be nice but not needed.

CLW rolls:

[roll0] +20
let me know how many i use for the next few rounds.

[Simba]

Frigga

"Let me do this, ok?" Frigga says, putting her hands on Sabriel's shouldes and uttering a short prayer to Freya. "There you go!"

Then she resumes poking Hobgoblins whenever there is a chance, using her weapon's reach to stab between the front row fighters.

"If one of you guys in the front needs a break, I am ready to stand in!"


CCW: [roll0]

[Cespenar]

Daen

Daen easily gets into the trained set of moves he and Bruug has wordlessly managed over many battles. He sometimes leaves a few meters open for a wide swing of the mighty ogre, sometimes fights low (almost crouched) to allow him shots over his head, but finally grits his teeth in pain as a wave of fire passes over them.

Pointing his sword to wherever the bead of fire came from, Daen calls out to the longer ranged members of the group.

"Get the mage! Please."

[BlueWizard]

Minutes will pass and the dead will pile up. There will be some delay after each of Liam's fireball. But for every one he sent two more came toward you in the delayed time. This will keep the healing wand very busy.

Liam is guessing 120 hobgoblins have died, and the ground is becoming a flowing stream of blood straight down past you.

All of you will be injured when Liam and Daen begin to slip in the blood. Shrike can try to hold Liam, but with Daen crashing into her, she too will have trouble keeping her footing in the flowing blood. Bruug will have to meet the on-coming hoard alone as Daen will have slipped back.

Unfortunately only one person at a time can face the enemy. If Shrike wants to step up she can take some damage too.


Initiatives:
Allied Ranger- rear of group
Daen 20+2 hp: 28/74
Shirke 18+3 hp: 35/40
Sabriel 18+3 hp: 47/54
Sam
Frigga 19+0 hp 54/76
Liam 18+0 hp 20/39
Bruug 15+0 hp 41/80
Hobgoblins

[BlueWizard]

Liam will be running low on spells, and the relentlessness of the many hobgoblins will not let up. In fact with each successive charge, you will hear distant roars from above as well as fierce drumbeats driving the countless hobgoblins toward you.

The knight-ranger at the rear of the group will be the first to slide back into the darkness, yelping out of sight, likely to the part of the path where it widens out deeper down.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike takes a position behind Bruug, ready to relieve him the moment he needs it, lashing out with her sword as best she can at any hobgoblins attempting to slip past the mighty ogre. Not eager to put herself in the front line, but willing to take the risk if necessary...

[BlueWizard]

Liam will slip again as yet another enemy fireball is launched into the midst of your front rank. The whole cavern passage now flows with red blood. Shrike will be hurt badly, and likely should pull back. She would also likely make a grab at Liam, when she does this under the currant of blood and water she will slip. Her current size prevents her from being hurt as she falls, but she will be able to cradle Liam safely in her enlarged form.

They will fall into darkness.

The rest of the group doesn't do well, and after a 3 successive rounds of fireballs the noises from above will stop.

Liam and Shrike will be in dark silence, drenched in blood and gore. They will stop and slide safely into the dead body of the knight-ranger. His neck has been slit, and the couple can feel the presence of something in the darkness ahead. Toward the stinky cavern with the Gibbering Mouther.

Moments later a burnt and dying Sabriel, and a charred dead armored ogre will come tumbling down the passage. It was Bruug.

There will be no sign of Daen and Frigga.

[Wiz]

Liam pulls a copper wire from his spell component pouch and casts a quick cantrip (Message) - he whispers to Shrike "I think someone or something is down here with us milove... do you think you can do anything for Sabriel... I can't use her wand." He casts another quick cantrip (Prestidigitation) and gestures, cleaning dirt and blood (not touching clotted blood) from Shrike, then himself.

[Deathslayer7]

*sigh*

why am i always the one dying?:smallsigh:

[The Bushranger]

((But you're not dead yet!
Unlike the others. :smallfrown:))

"I can't either love, but I'll do what I can."
Reluctantly, and wincing in pain, Shrike lets go of Liam and moves to Sabriel's side, quickly trying to tend to her wounds as best she can. "C'mon, I'm not going to have you die on me again!"

Heal: [roll0]

[BlueWizard]

Sabriel is lucky to even be alive, and her last memory of it will be Bruug shielding her from the final blast.

Liam and Shrike have each other. Sabriel continues to fade from life.

[Wiz]

Liam starts by keeps an eye out, as best he can in this place, while Shrike works. He seems frustrated by his lack of ability to help. I have to start carrying some healing potions on me... what if that was Dorothy lying there. He goes over to Bruug's corpse and casts another cantrip (Detect Magic) to see if he can locate any unburned potions on the Ogre's corpse.

[Deathslayer7]

awww. now i feel bad. :smallfrown:

[The Bushranger]

Dorothy bites her lip and falls quiet, desperatly trying to stabilise Sabriel even as she curses her own lack of healing potion carriage.

Heal: [roll0]

[BlueWizard]

A voice in the darkness speaks. "I can save your friend, but you must surrender to me."

[Wiz]

Liam looks into the darkness, "Blind surrender can be worse than final death... what are your terms for our surrender, and can you save them both?" The ogre looks dead to him, but frankly - he's seen worse.

[BlueWizard]

The voice speaks calmly without fear, "I can make the ogre live again. But, I fear your two companions above are already the feast du'jour."

[Wiz]

Liam nods, "I see... but again, what do you require from us as your captives. Who would we be surrendering to, and what are your terms for that?"

[The Bushranger]

Shrike looks up momentarily, narrowing her eyes, then turns back to trying to help Sabriel. She doesn't like the thought of surrendering, but she doesn't want to lose Sabriel - again...or Bruug, for that matter.

[BlueWizard]

A handsome drow in black silver studded leather steps from the shadows. He is well-armed, and wears a holy symbol of the Spider Goddess openly about his neck. He lifts his gloved hands peacefully. "I am Bel-Mtor. You would be my... 'guests'." He will get close enough to touch Sabriel, but lifting his arms up and making eye contact with Liam and Shrike to see if it is okay.

He will heal her for a point, and stabilize her wounds. He motions up the passage. "I'd make a deal. My associates above are quite upset at all the hobgoblins you guys killed. Ruined their chance to put a good hurt on that troop of soldiers that passed by."

He looks at Liam, "You are known to be a skilled wizard. I could use a research assistant. And this... lady, is pregnant. She needs a proper place to rest. As for the ogre, he'll be quite at home here, but the elf will have to stay in seclusion. Some of my fellows aren't as understanding as I."

[Wiz]

Liam chuckles, "Guests sounds rather nice, except of course that guests are not required to follow orders and may leave whenever they wish. If you're looking for anything permanant in the way of employment, I've no desire for that long-term of a job. I've already seen that you are fond of enchantment to achieve your ends, so please take no offense when I say that I don't see an extended stay with you as much more than a long-term attempt to manipulate us however you wish."

[The Bushranger]

Shrike keeps a sharp eye on Bel-Mtor as he heals Sabriel, but stays silent, letting Liam handle...diplomatic negiotiations, even as she sits and tries not to wince in pain.

[BlueWizard]

Bel-Mtor listens to the activity that seems to murmur from above ever so faintly now. He will pull back a bit into the shadows. "You are right. Guest is the wrong word. But, if you feel another option is available to you be my guest. I am actually here to help you."

[Wiz]

Liam shrugs, "How about this option. You agree not to use enchantments on us - or any spell intended to alter our minds or bodies against our will. You agree to leave us our gear and not take anything from us. You agree not to try to order us to do anything that we would feel violated our personal beliefs. You do not try to separate us. We will agree to follow reasonable orders, work directly under you and nobody else, and not to try to escape for a reasonable period of time. If you make any move to harm my wife or our unborn child, all deals are off and I will kill you - and obviously, I define what harm is..."

[BlueWizard]

The drow pulls away, he frowns. "You don't make demands on me! All of your possessions are mine. I'd hurry and take my choice. I don't think you can withstand another onslaught."
He pulls back into the shadows and hides.

[Wiz]

Liam laughs, "So much for you being here to help us... you asked me for another option and all you can give is an outright objection to it and a demand for total surrender without guarantees.."

With a touch to his spell pouch and speaking words that sound sticky and entangling, he recalls the web spell and creates masses of sticky fibers filling the tunnel between himself and the drow (hopefully gaining total concealment if more than a 20' mass of sticky fibers errects between Liam, Dorothy, and him - if he's less than 20' away, well, he's probably entangled). He whispers through the message link to Dorothy, "Be ready... you'll have to leave Sabriel with Bruug because I don't know if she carries anything that would disrupt our 'special' place."

[The Bushranger]

"Wait...I can try and, remove her bag or something...bags of holding would be bad, right?" Dorothy whispers back, quickly checking Sabriel over for magical items, purses, and such, determined to try and bring her friend along, realising her husband's plan.

[BlueWizard]

Sabriel and Bruug both don't have dimensional items.

One problem might happen is that this priest will pass through the webbing as if it were his.

{OOC- Not sure how Liam plans his escape.}

[Wiz]

Liam pulls out a familiar rope and casts a famliar spell, the rope becoming taut and disappearing at the roof of the tunnel. "Go baby, if you think it's worth the risk, take Sabriel."

[BlueWizard]

The Drow is angry and will point his finger from the webbing and cast a spell upon Liam and Shrike, as Liam tries to create his ropetrick.

It is Flamestrike, but instead is unholy coldness.

Cold Darkness surrounds them both.

Time will pass, and when Liam and Shrike awaken they will be together, but in total darkness. And wearing nothing, but their underwear.

They will be in a cold dank cavern, with no concept as to how much time has passed. They are mostly injured too. Feeling around will show that a massive boulder blocks this roughly shaped room about 40' radius.

[Wiz]

Liam bends over Dorothy, "Are you all right, milove?"

[The Bushranger]

Dorothy, awakening, shakes her head to try and clear it. The cold...

She then realises Liam is talking to her, and she takes a moment to compose herself, reaching down and putting a hand on her stomach. "I...think so, milove. Where are we? Where are the others?"

[BlueWizard]

Liam and Shrike will be in darkness for some time.

After a period the great boulder will be moved. Liam will feel as if his spells were wiped from his mind. Shrike's psionics are fully charged though.

The boulder is moved by armored Bruug, who carries a torch for the human's benefit. It is clear Bruug is not himself. Shrike and Liam will recognize a psionic charm bracelet about his neck. Any thought of escape is momentarily delayed. When the familiar drow steps forward. He speaks in imperial common with his thick accent. "Oh good you have woken up. We have much to discuss, but my first priority is to tell you your elven friend is safe. For the moment.

As you can see the mighty Bruug is back with us as well. I may let you get to see 'him'- for a bit- if you promise to play nice. As you can see you and your lovely bride are uncollared. This is my act of good faith. And in exchange I will need bright lab assistants. You see my wizards need a fresh thinking mind like yours. A new perspective, and I have come to learn Shrike's practical knowledge is quite useful. You two can even work together... and be clothed properly."

OOC- Basically we can skip this endeavor into magical construction. Liam and Shrike are indeed slaves, but as long as they are respectful they will be treated as members of the household, even with elevated position over other slaves. If Liam and Shrike are patient, they will learn about this drow's Underdark estate, and possibly even the location of Sabriel and your items. The time we skip, will have been the couple slowly gathering information, while aiding in research and even actual lab experiments.

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel spends her time completating the thoughts of suicide and the advantages of it, and on her spare time will mourn in her sorrows. :smalltongue:

[BlueWizard]

Sabriel won't remember much of these dark times.


Liam and Shrike's Studies:
This drow works around other drow, but his specialty is cloning. Mostly in cloning goblins as experiments, but he wants to work his way up to 'higher creatures', in his words.

Liam believes there is a more sinister purpose for the cloning.

In his spare time Liam can practice his tantric breathing, and will be able to master this skill. He can also hone and put time toward other studies, but these will be works in progress. He will be some steps closer to his spell mastery of the fire spell.

Liam can do what he can to slow the progress of cloning, but he is only there to research locales of rare ingredients for the most part. In the lab the married couple will mostly be observing, and occasionally retrieving ingredients or tools. Bel-Mtor doesn't have Liam and Shrike look up the evil begotten additives. The set-up of the lab is quite elaborate, and with all the tubes of humanoids it looks more like a science fiction scene of the future, but is all quite magical. Other drow are working on other constructs in this warehouse sized lab.

Shrike can enhance her knowledge as well, as she too is given free reign of the drow library. Both Liam and Shrike are given magical glasses to read any language. The glasses have to be returned to the librarian before they leave.

Still no sign of Sabriel, but charmed Bruug as a guardian in armor is a common sight.

At times Bruug is allowed to meet with his friends uncharmed, but will have no armor, and only a loincloth and collar in these visits. Apparently, he will have seen Sabriel and she is safe.

[Wiz]

As the months pass, Liam and Dorothy assist the Drow - researching locations of hard-to-find components. In their private time, Liam continues to enjoy expeditions in their personal landscapes. He continues his "special" exercises with her, and after several months they bear some interesting fruit.

Shrike:Her intelligence is boosted by +2 for the next day - I'm not sure how that might improve her psionic abilities for that day, but it is a temporary boost that requires such interaction to achieve the effect. Liam isn't aware if Dorothy experienced this with the Bandit Queen before, but he did, which is what inspired him to attempt to recreate the feat.

[BlueWizard]

Shrike will find that a little animal brings her messages from Illanee.

They haven't been forgotten!!

[The Bushranger]

As the months pass, Liam and Dorothy assist the Drow - researching locations of hard-to-find components. In their private time, Liam continues to enjoy expeditions in their personal landscapes. He continues his "special" exercises with her, and after several months they bear some interesting fruit.

Shrike:Her intelligence is boosted by +2 for the next day - I'm not sure how that might improve her psionic abilities for that day, but it is a temporary boost that requires such interaction to achieve the effect. Liam isn't aware if Dorothy experienced this with the Bandit Queen before, but he did, which is what inspired him to attempt to recreate the feat.

Well, Dorothy never got to...experience...the Bandit Queen like Liam did. :smalltongue: A boost of Intelligence by +2 improves her INT modifier, of course - that will boost both her available power points, and the DC of saves against her powers.

Of course, the means of acquiring said bonus is, to her, the best part. :smallwink:

Dorothy does her best to pass the time without growing stir-crazy, however their confinement, de facto if not totally actual, grates on her, as does the Drow having put the control collar on Bruug, and Sabriel's being nowhere to be found; however, she asks Bruug to pass on words of encouragement, if he can. She pours herself into her work in order to keep her mind occupied - and, when not working, can be found in the library, studying both psionics, and the workings of explorations in dungeons and underground.

And ways to kill the 'devil rays', of course.

And in the evenings she is always more than happy to assist Liam in his geographical expeditions, the rolling hills, mountains, caves and trees all getting thorough explorations. Even as time passes and she finds herself growing larger with her child...


When the animal messenger arrives, she tries to find a quiet place to read the messages, and nearly cries at being remembered - and tries to send back a discreet message hinting at where they are and what's happened.

[BlueWizard]

So much time will pass that Shrike will have the child. Although drow priests and clerical orders are there, they merely observe, and will even advise Liam how to 'handle' the situation.

The seers in the room are quite fearful of the baby, but will make no effort to take or harm it. "Powerful psionics your son will be capable of. Great guardians look over him." Liam and Shrike will be given a wider berth, and would even be allowed to teach their son. Liam is literally a scholar and is trained to take on an apprentice... though he might rather when he has more time and is truly powerful.

Shrike will find she can communicate with their son telepathically {very simple terms right now: eat, sleep, poop}. Liam will be in the dark on this telepathy. Though the bond between mother and son will go deep. The baby will like Bruug and laughs hysterically when he sees the loin-cloth wearing ogre on his visits.

Sabriel will be able to get a message through to Liam and Shirke: the drow are taking skin samples of her. The two cloning assistants won't have access to parts of the lab, but have seen enough to know there are dark scary areas where Sabriel could be cloned.

Illanee is able to take the form of a mouse and will tell Shrike: The plan is to get the baby to safety first, and get you out of the enemy's clutches.

Liam will also have met a pixie with clipped wings, who will be in on it. He is totally effected with wild magic and changes colors and shape often. If he is freed from the dimensional anchor he has the power to teleport another humanoid along with him. He will the boy to the land of the fey in safe-keeping of good fairies and protector's of Nature.

Illanee will also be bringing a great orc-warrior to help free the group. His name is Lockhart.

[Wiz]

Liam will spend quality time with his child and Dorothy. Meanwhile, he will look for ways to seek out the Sabriel clones if he can, as well as look for means of freeing the faerie from the dimensional anchor - if he finally achieves spell mastery of Scorching Ray he will begin working on Dispel Magic.

[BlueWizard]

A day comes during the Winter Solstice, when the lead drow is away in the Arctic Circle. These will be the days she comes to free you.

The pixie will tell Liam to be patient once he learns of Illanee's escape plan.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike, who names her son Daen after his fallen biological father, will spend her "free time" oberving the various people who are about - searching for weaknesses, physical or psychological. Most of her time though is spent tending for her child, and spending as much time with Liam as she can, and will also try to make friends with the pixie.

The knowledge that Bel-Mtor is busily trying to clone Sabriel enrages her, though, and adds another reason to the list of reasons she'll be looking to give the drow a swift, painful death.

[BlueWizard]

OOC- I am jump cutting to the rescue point. I will give you each +4 planar knowledge bonus for all the lab work. Maybe more elsewhere.
Bruug, Sabriel, Liam, and Shrike will start together in the lab area with the one-person-teleport-pixie, wiith all of their items plus two other PCs: Illanee and Lockhart.

Link here: Secret Alliance V (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8202397#post8202397)

Post any questions here.

New OOC here:
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147580