To Xen'drik – Chapter 1: Welcome to the Jungle

[Daracaex]

To Xen'drik
Chapter 1: Welcome to Stormreach

http://content.turbine.com/sites/compendium.ddo.com/images/uploaded/4/48/Welcome_to_Xen'drik.jpg


Two days ago, a group consisting of Dragonmarked members from each of the Houses boarded an airship headed to Stormreach, all sent by their house in response to the Stormlords' invitation. The Dragonmarked Houses would each be allowed to set up official centers for their trades in Stormreach in order to bring profit and civilization to Xen'drik. These are the harbingers of a larger movement, sent ahead to help establish a place on the continent and seek its riches in advance of the rest of their houses. Though, as is often the case with politics, many have their own reasons for the journey...

Winds favored the ship for the first day, speeding it across the gap of ocean between Khorvaire and Xen'drik. On the second, they became even more fierce, the clouds darkening in the skies. Now, on the third day of the journey, the ship's passengers find themselves forced together for the first time in a cabin protected from the lightning and thunder as a storm heralds their arrival in the appropriately-named city of Stormreach. Huddled around a cabin no larger than a small tavern, all of the delegates watch each other, waiting for someone to break the silence between thunderclaps.

House Cannith brought three members, two human, each representing a different faction of the house, though only one with a Dragonmark. From Cannith West, the Dragonmarked Aralyn d'Cannith, her Cannith artificer's robes also bearing symbols of the Wardens of the Wood. She sat as far away as she could from Cannith East representative Seeker Kadhur, a tall, gaunt man who examined the other representatives with a calculating gaze but had greeted them politely. Then there was the third of that house...

House Deneith has sent one of its Sentinel Marshals, a human named Cael d'Deneith. He watches every other passenger carefully and you have not seen him without his lightweight metal-plated leather armor.

Representing House Jorasco is Healer Asalda d’Jorasco, an older Halfling woman wearing regalia associated with a cleric of the Sovereign Host.

House Medani sent someone fairly well-known from the ranks of their Inquisitives. Creilath Movanek, a distinguished man with white streaks in his hair, is flanked by his Orc partner, Urzat.

From House Phiarlan is the Elven bard Merrilla d'Phiarlan, occasionally plucking at her harp in one corner.

House Sivis has produced a gnome scribe, Ehren d'Sivis. He doesn't look as particularly dangerous as some in the cabin do, but he keeps a large covered object near him, never letting it leave his grasp.

The half-orc from House Tharashk is Ulrik d'Tornn. Tattoos cover his face and he carries a veritable arsenal of axes, knives, and even one of those three-pronged vicious-looking boomerangs you've heard are used by the Drow of Xen'drik.

House Vadalis sent one of its tamers, a human woman named Aeslin d'Vadalis. She has managed to find a bit of space where she is calming her hawk from the storm outside, a grey wolf curled at her feet.

And then, there is you...

[Zen Gypsy]

Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20763170&postcount=12)
Hp's: 41 of 41 | Surges: 8 of 8 | Action Points: 1.
Conditions & Effects: Normal.

Sab paced as the airship proceeded through the storm, Dhrydis was curled underneath the table, his long, sinuous tentacles twitching nervously as the thunder boomed across the sky. The heat inside the room, large as it was, seemed almost stifling, twenty some of the assembled representatives crowded together for the first time in days, eyeing one another nervously, old rivalries flaring in their mind's eyes.

Some of the faces he recognized, both familiar and friendly, or only passing, others, less so. He smiled at the Lady Merrilla d'Phiarlan, and spoke, his voice raised slightly to be heard over the din of the storm outside the cabin walls, "The weather, indeed, perhaps the mood itself within this room is both gloomy and oppressive, perhaps a song m'lady? Something to lift our spirits as we approach foreign lands, a song of hope, of opportunity, a song that speaks of new beginnings, and the companionship of one's fellows?"

As he spoke, he bowed in a courtly manner, sweeping his arm before him, "Sabbonsiel, of the Etherfass family, scion of House Orien." A pause, "At your service."

[Darth_Details]

Mallister turns at Sabbonsiel's remark. He had been at the window staring into the storm. The half-elf cuts a rather striking figure. He wears a finely crafted longcoat and vest in black or dark grey, it's hard to tell in the gloomy cabin, with a black scarf around his neck. He carries a finely crafted staff which appears to be made of some sort of charred wood. His left arm seems to hum with barely contained energy, and on the skin peeking above the scarf on the left side of neck you see why, a Dragonmark. Most notable is his mask. It covers most of his face down to his upper lip. It is made of some sort of porcelain and is painted with a fearsome skull image.

"Gloomy you say? I think it's glorious. The rain, furious as it is, feeds all life on Khorvaire, as the Rainbringer will surely attest. And the lightning, well, that is the only reason this ships stay aloft, the power of lightning and thunder spirits. I thank the Host for such encouraging weather to start our journey. I suppose it is the time for introductions. I am Mallister d'Lyrandar, Lightningblood, Wind Rider, representative of House Lyrandar."

[Elricaltovilla]

Adrik really had no idea who anyone else on this trip was. He recognized the different houses, sure, but guarding Kundara Vault wasn't the kind of job that led itself to meeting new and interesting new people. Still, House Kundarak had one guaranteed way to meet new people. Adrik took up a seat in a relatively open area and pulled out a deck of cards and a bottle of whiskey.

Adrik cleared his throat loudly and held up the deck. "Who's up for a game?" he asked.

[kingofferrets]

The strangely-attired halfling glanced up from feeding his clawfoot at that - his House wasn't evident to others at the moment, his Dragonmark concealed by the dark leather covering his whole form, and the presence of a dinosaur at his side not particularly a mark of either halfling House. A bit of logic, though, would help observers mark Jirgal as House Ghallandha. The process of elimination, specifically - after all, the other halfling was the representative of Jorasco.

The old teeth dangling around his neck clattered against each other as Jirgal gestured towards the deck in the dwarf's hands, his skull-clad head cocking to one side. "What, with that?" Since he'd never spent much time in taverns, having gone straight from lack of civilization to the height of it, Jirgal had never had the opportunity to encounter the classic games of chance.

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8xkIxM36m6qbUdvclQwN3pCZFE/view?usp=sharing)

Zanne stands at the windows, watching the rain as motes of water trickle between her fingers in time with the storm.

Zanne politely declines the card game, nods at Mallister's description of the importance of rain, but scoffs a bit when he calls himself the Lyrandar representative.

One of the Lyrandar representatives, Mallister. The house has placed the Rainbringers secondary to the Windriders for long enough, and I will not let myself be bullied by you any longer. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, but you will treat me as an equal on this mission.

She realizes that the rest of the room is now watching, and smiles elegantly.

Probably not the kind of song you were looking for, Sabbonsiel Etherfass d'Orien, but I am pleased to see you well.

She greets the others, and stops at the second halfling. Little one, what on the Dragon Between is that creature?

[Elricaltovilla]

Adrik nods to the halfling Jirgal. "Not for money of course. Unless you're the gambling type. But a little game's a great way to pass the time when you're stuck in one place. Have a seat, take a nip if that's your taste," he gestures to the bottle of whiskey, "it's not like we're going anywhere so we might as well try to enjoy ourselves. The name is Adrik, representative of House Kundarak."

[Dimers]

A slim and slightly short elf man in a gray suit comes to sit beside Adrik. "Jubal, recently of Glimmer Casino. I represent Thuranni ... at least as long as I can turn a similarly impressive profit here in the wilds. We might end up playing Fifty-Two Card Pickup in weather like this, but in the meantime, I'd be pleased to join you for cribbage or pinochle. I'm not much of a gambler." The studied blankness on Jubal's face gives way to slight amusement.

[kingofferrets]

Jirgal blinked, glancing away from the dwarf as he heard himself being addressed - towards the elf-girl, first, then towards his clawfoot companion, who was busily nibbling scraps of dried meat off the tip of the halfling's dagger, blissfully unaware that he was a subject of contention. "What, Dorji? He's my bond-mate - a clawfoot. It's fine, he's friendly." He tugged gently on his blade, leaving the meat nestled in the scaled beast's mouth. The halfling tossed the blade to his other hand and spun it, hilting it at his waist with a flourish, then reached down to pat his friend's flank. "Go on, say hi, Dorji."

The sitting dinosaur unfolded its legs, rising to its full height - only roughly as tall as its bonded master, but as long from snout to tail as Zanne was tall. It trotted forward, tail swaying gently behind it as it moved across the room, sleek and powerful - but not dangerous at the moment, just curious, and aiming to sniff inquisitively at the Rainbringer if she lets it.

The creature's master springs to his feet as well, full of energy, and addresses both Adrik and Zanne. "Jirgal, representing Ghallandha." He smiles at them, then blinks and tries to flow into a graceful bow. Ah, right, gotta be polite I guess. Forgetting completely about Zanne for the moment, seeing his task there as done, he rises back to his full 3' 10" stature and nips over to the dwarf's table, his stride quick and feet light, and slides into a seat, nodding to both Jubal and Adrik.

Being familiar with primal forces, the dwarf might notice a touch of the spirits around Jirgal. Not the spirits of frost and stone he would know from home, but something similar, wrapped up in both the boy's touch with his bond-mate and his fluid motions. "So, how do you play?"

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless warforged

In a corner equidistant from both Aralyn and Seeker Kadhur sits the third representative of House Cannith, though had it not been announced as such at the start of the voyage it doubtless would have been regarded as a servant. Given the cooly indifferent reception it had received thus far, it likely was still regarded as such, or perhaps the humanoids simply did not know how to regard it within their present context.

Such thoughts pass idly through its mind as it tinkers away at a small object it's holding while a quadruped in the size and shape of a stylized canine--only made of metal--lounges beside it. It takes no outward notice of the others huddled in the cabin, though it does find it curious how humanoids, when sharing a space with strangers, will transition from no one saying a word to each other, to one breaking the silence, to all of a sudden a deluge of words and phrases and emotions. Having no need of its own to "make conversation," it keeps such observations to itself while it occupies its time making something tangible.

The "it" in question is of course a warforged, and one that apparently has not "humanized" itself: though clearly an artificer as well, it wears no robes, nor clothing of any kind apart from a series of leather straps and harnesses that conveniently hold an assortment of tools and alchemical resources. Its only visible armament is a mechanism protruding from its left arm that's fitted with a projectile weapon on top and a blade along the outside edge. Whatever else it possesses are stowed within a backpack tucked in its lap as it continues to tinker away, seemingly oblivious to the chaos swirling around it--of both the natural and humanoid varieties.

[Daracaex]

Many eyes in the cabin turned toward the Elf that had just declared himself of House Orien. It was very much an oddity. After a moment however, Merrilla smiled, nodded, and began to play. The cabin relaxed a little, though some still kept to themselves.

"I wouldn't mind playing a game," Creilath Movanek said, approaching Adrik. "What game were you planning to teach our friend from Talenta?"

[Elricaltovilla]

Seeing the crowd that had gathered, Adrik smiles and starts shuffling the deck. "All things considered I was thinking something simple like Three Dragon Ante (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-Dragon_Ante). Pretty simple, pretty fun and eats up plenty of time. Used to play it in between shifts all the time. What do you say?"

[Daracaex]

In one corner of the cabin, Aralyn d'Cannith approached Aeslin d'Vadalis and sat, beginning a conversation and, after being given permission, petting the grey wolf, who Aeslin introduced as Varg. Ulrik d'Tornn also wandered over and joined the quiet conversation.

Behind Creilath, the Orc Urzat and the Sentinel Warden Cael d'Deneith spoke to each other, each in short, terse sentences, of cases and marks.

Ehren d'Sivis still clutched his parcel, but seemed a little less nervous as the song permeated the cabin. Healer Asalda also stayed where she was, eyes closed, enjoying the music.

Only Seeker Kadhur still seemed on-edge, keeping to himself in his corner.


"Fantastic," said Creilath as he took a seat in a bolted-down chair at the similarly-secured table. He will then help Adrik explain the game.

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8xkIxM36m6qbUdvclQwN3pCZFE/view?usp=sharing)

Zanne makes her way over to Kadhur's corner without making it obvious that that's her destination.

Standing near enough to him that he can hear, but far enough that it's not obvious to anyone else that they're conversing, and still watching the storm out the windows, she speaks:

Something is bothering you, Seeker. Out with it.

[Elricaltovilla]

Adrik deals out a game of Three Dragon Ante while he explains the rules. Once everyone is on the same page, the game begins in earnest.

As I said, I'm representing House Kundarak on this expedition. I was originally a member of the vault guards, so I'm not familiar with any of the usual house representatives."


I'm not sure how people want to handle the playing of the card game. I figured we could just... ignore/roleplay around it and not worry too much. I think there's rules in some 3.5 book that address Three Dragon Ante as a card game within a game, but that seems super complicated. Ultimately, up to the GM.

[Daracaex]

Kadhur jumps and looks at Zanne, then settles slightly and gestures to the room. "These games are a charade," he says softly, so hopefully only Zanne can hear. "You think there is any real purpose for us being here? The Elf with a Human's mark? The feral Halfling? The upstart Rainbringer? Some of us are as likely to get assassinated as do any real work in Stormreach."

Another flash of lightning and clap of thunder override the music for a moment and shake the ship.

"Ah, yes, Korunda Gate. A magnificent city," Creilath said. "I am Creilath Movanek, Inquisitive of House Medani. You might have heard of me?"

[Dimers]

"No matter, friend Adrik, you'll learn quickly enough -- vault guards are a sharp and canny lot, or they wouldn't stay vault guards long."

Displaying both agility and agitation, Jubal of House Thuranni fiddles with some sort of sparkling string toy, making it dance around his hands as he glances at his cards. He was moving around the crowded room before and seems to reject the idea of staying still now that he is seated. Showing no interest in either his hands' action or his cards, Jubal turns with curiosity to the Inquisitive and says, "Creilath Movanek, yes, I know I've heard that name ... I don't recall the circumstances, but I was left with the impression that you received only weak credit for some important task ... Remind me what it was?"

[Zen Gypsy]

Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20763170&postcount=12)
Hp's: 41 of 41 | Surges: 8 of 8 | Action Points: 1.
Conditions & Effects: Normal.


"Gloomy you say? I think it's glorious. The rain, furious as it is, feeds all life on Khorvaire, as the Rainbringer will surely attest. And the lightning, well, that is the only reason this ships stay aloft, the power of lightning and thunder spirits. I thank the Host for such encouraging weather to start our journey. I suppose it is the time for introductions. I am Mallister d'Lyrandar, Lightningblood, Wind Rider, representative of House Lyrandar."

Sabbonsiel turned towards the Lyrandar representative with a feral smile, "The usefulness of a thing, does not preclude it's nature Master Lyrandar." He paused and nodded towards the Rainmaker, "It is good to know that not all of House Lyrandar are above getting mud on their boots," he turned his attention back to the porcelain masked Mallister, "it's a matter of perspective, when one is too often above the clouds, one cannot judge his height until he falls."

He turned dismissively and returned to a seat near the Lady Merrilla d'Phiarlan, and listened intently as she began to play, Dhrydis padded softly to his side, nuzzling against his thigh with a throaty growl until the ranger dropped his hand to his neck and began to scratch. The beast responded with a contented purr, even as the tall, gaunt man representing Cannith East rose to his feet, speaking with Lady Zanne, his whisper almost a hiss.


"These games are a charade," he says softly, so hopefully only Zanne can hear. "You think there is any real purpose for us being here? The Elf with a Human's mark? The feral Halfling? The upstart Rainbringer? Some of us are as likely to get assassinated as do any real work in Stormreach."

His eyes still closed, he spoke softly, but enough that the Seeker could discern his words. "I know why I am here Master Cannith, to prove my worth to those in my House who disapprove of the favor the Host have chosen to bless me with, so why are you here? What answer do you find in the Blood, please, enlighten us."

[kingofferrets]

Jirgal ends up making the group spend a little longer than is perhaps strictly necessary on the rules - asking endless questions, extremely curious about the nature of the rules.

"I haven't heard of you. Or anybody I guess."

His hand dips forward a bit - enough that a canny and unscrupulous player could look at his cards, or just one who happened to be leaning the wrong way when glancing over.

[Darth_Details]

Mallister listens to Zanne, a wry smile visible on the lower half of his lip not covered by his mask. "So you say, Rainbringer. I have never been to Xen'drik, but I'm quite certain the jungle has more than enough rain." After his quip, Mallister does bow slightly, making a hand motion known among the members of House Lyrandar as a sign of friendship and brotherhood.

The wizard turns back to Sabbonsiel. "Perhaps, but then it would seem the trick is simply not to fall."

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8xkIxM36m6qbUdvclQwN3pCZFE/view?usp=sharing)


"These games are a charade," he says softly, so hopefully only Zanne can hear. "You think there is any real purpose for us being here? The Elf with a Human's mark? The feral Halfling? The upstart Rainbringer? Some of us are as likely to get assassinated as do any real work in Stormreach."

Another flash of lightning and clap of thunder override the music for a moment and shake the ship.


Zanne easily remains standing as the ship shakes, but she notes the discomfort the storm is bringing most of the passengers in the cabin.

I know not the answers you seek, but I am not a frail creature, and I've never been part of the rivalry between our houses. In that, perhaps Lyrandar knew I was their best chance for lasting peace, or perhaps they merely saw an opportunity to dispatch with a nuisance alongside their enemies. I'm not afraid, Seeker. If assassins await us, let them try. I'll protect you, if it comes to it.

As the ship continues to shake, Mallister's words echo in her mind.


"So you say, Rainbringer. I have never been to Xen'drik, but I'm quite certain the jungle has more than enough rain."

Ignorant wind-rider, she thinks. How can they carry the same mark, without understanding what it's for? Does he truly believe that Raincalling is as fleeting as calling a gust of wind, or a bolt of lightning? It's not about quantity of rain, but about timing, placement, balance. Calming a storm is as vital a skill as causing one. So too with matters politic, it would seem.

She again turns her full attention to the storm outside of the windows. Both hands now have water motes dancing around them, and her eyes glaze over slightly, as if full of tears. The glowing lines of her dragonmark are faintly visible through her navy dress, beginning underneath the seashell clasps on top of her hands, tracing ornate designs up her arms, and meeting in a mirrored lightning-bolt shape between her exposed shoulder blades.

Now, let me see what I can do about this storm. You're welcome to help, Mallister, or to stand there.

She stretches her arms out before her and attempts to calm the thunder and lightning, to slow the rain to a more manageable, nourishing downpour, and to temper the winds to a constant flow rather than a cacophony of turbulences.

[Elricaltovilla]

Another flash of lightning and clap of thunder override the music for a moment and shake the ship.

"Ah, yes, Korunda Gate. A magnificent city," Creilath said. "I am Creilath Movanek, Inquisitive of House Medani. You might have heard of me?"

"A boring city." Adrik snorted as he looked at his hand, it wasn't terribly impressive. "Apologies, they mostly kept me underground and away from anyone or anything too interesting. That's why I took up card games."


"No matter, friend Adrik, you'll learn quickly enough -- vault guards are a sharp and canny lot, or they wouldn't stay vault guards long."


"Flattery will get you everywhere. Not that I ever had much talent for it. Though it does take a certain dogged awareness to manage the vaults from day to day."

Tensions seemed to be rising at the same rate as the storm outside. The spirits seemed agitated too, though Adrik wasn't certain why just yet.

[Daracaex]

Khadur looked both surprised and skeptical at Zanne's offer to protect him, but turned to respond to the eavesdropping Sabbonsiel. "I am not interested in getting into some kind of theological debate. Many people disparage those of..."

He continued on as Zanne concentrated on the storm outside.
Arcana Check: [roll0]
Any control of the storm you usually have is ripped from you by whatever is happening outside. It's powerful. TOO powerful. Some form of magic is accelerating the storm to impossible speed and viciousness. You know that the Windriders used some magic to speed the airship's journey. You recall that Xen'drik is sometimes reported to have odd weather patterns due to ambient magic around the continent.

"You must be referring to that business in Sharn about the Forgotten Forge," Creilath said to Jubal as they played a hand. "Yes, I was credited only with-"

The door to the cabin suddenly slammed open, the breach in its warded walls allowing the roar of wind and and rain and crackle of lightning to override everything else in the cabin. One of the crew stumbled into the cabin. He was soaking wet and quickly formed a puddle on the floor around him as he turned and forced the door closed again, breathing heavily, his eyes wild with fear. "The storm-" he gasped, "too powerful. Bindings – weakening." As if in response, another flash of lightning and clap of thunder came simultaneously.

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8xkIxM36m6qbUdvclQwN3pCZFE/view?usp=sharing)

Zanne recoils from the window as the storm rejects her calming, just in time for the crewman to barge in.

I...I agree. This storm is not natural, not in the slightest, and whatever magic is fueling it is stronger than my mark. This is evidence you may be right, Seeker.

She turns to Mallister.

We MUST calm this storm before it rips the ship apart. Help me.

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless warforged

The cacophony of voices may not have been enough to disrupt it from its labors, but the last round of ship-shaking thunder and lightning were. Even its formerly-inattentive canine construct had perked up.

At first it merely stowed whatever contraption it was working on into its backpack, but when the crewmember entered sopping wet and pronounced his breathless warning--followed by the Lyrandar woman's own dire statement--it pointedly gestured to its canine companion, which responded by climbing up into the pack and, well, shrinking to fit the accommodations. It hoisted its belongings, stood up and turned to address the crewman.

"If the storm has caused a deficiency within the dragonshard binding the elemental spirit to this vessel, then permit me to be of assistance in its repair."

That was the first time many, if not most of those gathered in the cabin had heard it speak.

[Darth_Details]

Mallister reaches out with left hand to gently touch Zanne's shoulder as she attempts to calm the storm

ooc: Ninja'd by dM, but that's what he would have done :)

As the crewmember stumbles into the room with his proclamation, Mallister turns to his house-mate. I am no Raincaller. Unleashing the fury of a storm is my domain, not calming one. But bending the wind spirits to my will is the true calling of a Wind Rider. Do what you can with the storm, I will see to the ship. Airman, take me to the binding chamber immediately. Warforged, with me, your assistance may be needed.

[Dimers]

One of the crew stumbled into the cabin. He was soaking wet and quickly formed a puddle on the floor around him as he turned and forced the door closed again, breathing heavily, his eyes wild with fear. "The storm-" he gasped, "too powerful. Bindings – weakening." As if in response, another flash of lightning and clap of thunder came simultaneously.

Shouting to be heard over the roar of winds just outside and the hubbub within, Jubal responds, "Then you'd better get back out and try to fix them, brother, because salvation isn't standing around in here! You can't survive a fall into a storm-torn ocean, so figure out something you can do." He drags the man by the arm back toward the door, bearing a good bit of his weight. "Come on. What do you need?"

[Elricaltovilla]

One of the first things that a young vault guard was taught was how to remain calm in situations of extreme stress. It rarely came up in Adrik's time, but the training served him well. As the storm grows worse, the stalwart dwarf only grows more calm. In the quiet of his mind he opens himself up to the cries of the primal spirits of wind, rain and thunder.

Alright now, what's all this about? he asks the spirits.


I think a Nature roll would be appropriate here? Possibly? If not, at least it'll let me test how much the forum's dice roller's going to screw me this game :smalltongue:

Nature check to talk to the storm: [roll0]

[Daracaex]

The crewman's eyes widen in terror as he is dragged toward the door. "We can't go back out there! We've lost three men to the winds already! This cabin's the safest place on the ship, but the binding chamber's on the other si-"

Suddenly, the entire ship lurches and sends objects and people tumbling toward the back of the cabin. You've sped up again, and by a fair amount.

The spirits, as always, speak to you more in feelings than in words. Helpless exhilaration from the spirits of the wind indicate that they are along for the ride, some other force whipping them into a frenzy and pushing the ship far far faster and harder than any natural winds short of hurricanes.


Challenges being undertaken so far:

Get to the Binding Chamber – If you're going outside, I'll need acrobatics or atheltics checks, or any other skills you think are relevant. Describe what you are trying to do in order to justify your choices of skill.
Calm the storm/Stabilize the winds – Trained arcana checks if you have an arcane power source may help counter or stabilize whatever magic is feeding the storm. Trained nature checks if you have a primal power source may call wind spirits to your aid. Relevant rituals or powers may also help.
Other?


Go ahead and make skill checks proactively in whatever way you think works best so we can streamline this. I'll roll any skill checks I think are called for as part of a response post if you don't, as I did for Zanne.

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless warforged

The sudden lurching, and the logical consequences thereof, forced it to accept the cold hard facts that 1) whoever created it did not have aerobatics in mind, and 2) it thus would be better able to assist with the matter at the binding chamber if the storm--and whatever was empowering it--were first brought to an end.

So, departing from its original course of action, it made its way to the window and attempted to focus its sensors upon the arcane forces at work behind the storm so that they can be more effectively countered.


Arcana check to analyze the magical energies behind the storm: [roll0]

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8xkIxM36m6qbUdvclQwN3pCZFE/view?usp=sharing)

Zanne turns back to the windows, desperately searching for a way to unweave whatever aeromancy has reinforced the storm.

Further arcana! [roll0]

[Dimers]

"Buddy. Look," Jubal says earnestly to the airshipman, not loosening his grip in the slightest, forcing the man to meet his eyes. Thinking quickly, he throws out trick after psychological trick as quickly as he can to see what sticks -- refocusing, discussing the odds, stoking the fires of ego, implying unmanliness if the airshipman refuses, showing that's he'll put skin in the game himself. "Pay attention. Now, you're gonna die horribly if you don't take action. You're trained better than anyone in this room and nineteen outta twenty other flyers, or you wouldn't have been trusted on this trip. I know it's hell out there, but your best chance at survival is getting back to it. Now grab yourself by the balls and let's go."

Well, I was picked for this trip because I'm a leader, so I'm gonna lead. That's an Insight check -- using awareness of how the human (halfling, minotaur, etc.) mind works to fight the influence of terror. [roll0]

[kingofferrets]

The rocking of the ship makes the clawfoot screech, Dorji's vicious talons digging into the floor of the cabin to stay put. Jirgal vaults over the back of his chair, rushing to his friend's side and patting his flank gently, trying to calm the beast while he listens to the others.

Hearing the others argue over how to get to - well, wherever that was - with the storm, the halfling rushes across the room to get sight of the door and throws out a hand, calling to the spirits.

"Follow the roots! They'll grip you to the floor!"

In point of fact, roots really are appearing in front of the door - a large section of the deck before the door twisting and shifting into a squirming mass of roots. Thick, ropey formations of wood wrap around anything on that section of the deck, lashing down anything that moves to keep them steady against the raging winds.

Using Bridge of Roots - a Hunter daily utility. I create a 5x5 zone until end-of-encounter where allies ignore all difficult or hindering terrain, up to and including bottomless pits. I can move it around if they need it shifted to cover the full distance to where they need to go, and I'm hoping that Dara will let them grip and steady things to ignore the "hindering terrain" of a rocking ship and heavy winds.

[Elricaltovilla]

The primal spirits of air weren't always friendly with Adrik, not like the steady spirits of earth and stone, or the cold but caring spirits of winter's icy chill. Still, Adrik knows the spirits and he knows how to speak to them. Even if these are not his spirits, he at least was a friend of a friend... of sorts.

Adrik follows the halfling's advice and uses the vines to carefully go out onto the deck of the ship, fighting against the fierce winds and showing no fear to the storm spirits dancing overhead.

"Spirits of the air, of the water, of lighting and storm! Hear me! I am a herald of the winter and a friend to the great north wind! I implore you in the name of great winter and call upon your loyalty to the north wind to calm yourselves and return to your natural state!" Adrik shouts into the storm.


So that'll be an athletics check outside, and a Nature check to try and calm the storm. Let me know if I'm doing anything wrong :smallwink:

Athletics: [roll0]
Nature: [roll1]

[Zen Gypsy]

Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20763170&postcount=12)
Hp's: 41 of 41 | Surges: 8 of 8 | Action Points: 1.
Conditions & Effects: Normal.


The door to the cabin suddenly slammed open, the breach in its warded walls allowing the roar of wind and and rain and crackle of lightning to override everything else in the cabin. One of the crew stumbled into the cabin. He was soaking wet and quickly formed a puddle on the floor around him as he turned and forced the door closed again, breathing heavily, his eyes wild with fear. "The storm-" he gasped, "too powerful. Bindings – weakening." As if in response, another flash of lightning and clap of thunder came simultaneously.

Sabb took a step back as the door slammed open, the cards that the House Kunark representative had spread across the floor swirled in a rising calming before scattering across the cabin. Dhrydis growled and approached his master's side. For the first time he realized the peril that they were in, even as the diminuitive d'Gallandha summoned a path of roots and vines that others may approach the Binding Chamber without fear of being carried away by the gale force winds that ripped across the deck.

He ventured out the cabin door, towards the leeward side of the ship, looking down, the wind and the cloud prevented him from ascertaining their altitude. He opted for the more prudent course, he followed the path of vines, fighting against the savage winds which whipped at his cloak. He looked for an Officer, one who could direct him to the Captain of the vessel. "YOU THERE," he shouted to make himself heard over the winds, which threatened to carry his words away, despite the short distance to the man, "WHERE IS YOUR CAPTAIN! WE NEED TO SET DOWN AND ANGLE INTO THE WIND! IF WE FALL FROM THIS HEIGHT WE'LL SPLINTER AGAINST THE SEA, WE MUST MAKE SEAFALL WHILE THE BINDINGS HOLD!"

First an Acrobatics test to withstand the winds as I search for a Crewman who still has his wits about him, [roll0], and then I will make both a Perception Check, [roll1], to find the Crewman, and then a Nature Check [roll2] to determine our course of action, which I am going with descend closer to sea level. Hopefully I don't get whipped overboard, otherwise, it's Sea Elf for me! :p

[Darth_Details]

Mallister peers through the open the door, the winds whipping around his face. invigorating him. He spins his staff around and slams in to the floor Winds, heed my command!

The winds seem to coalesce just outside the door and small tornado appears. With a gesture from Mallister, the creature zips across the deck, searching for the clearest route through the storm. Following his minion and the path of roots summoned by Jirgal, Mallister makes his way into the torrent.

Mallister summons his Dust Devil, level 1 Daily. It grants him +2 speed. As a minor action, Mallister sends it across the deck, looking for a [I]relatively[I] clear path. He then follows

Acrobatics +2
[roll0]

[Daracaex]

The magic driving this storm is just as chaotic as the storm itself. You can't determine much about it, save that it probably wasn't made by mortal magic. Or, at least, not just mortal magic. You have been told by your master that ambient magic around Xen'drik has strange effects sometimes.

Zanne's reach is not very far in this chaos, but what she has, she uses effectively. She is able to set up a small barrier around parts of the ship, smoothing the winds and reducing the shaking they have induced. Though unable to do much against the entirely of the storm, she is able to do this much locally.

Nice try Dimers, but I think this is...
Diplomacy: [roll0]
With a bit of a bonus aided by insight. :smallwink:
The crewman seems to respond to Jubal, nodding and running back into the storm. He manages to make it to the main mast and grabs a bundle of rope, then runs back to those at the door, keeping a hold on whatever he can find as he moves. "IF YOU'RE GOING TO HELP, YOU NEED LIFELINES. TIE THESE AROUND YOUR WAIST."

Jirgal's quick-thinking pays off as Adrik, Sabb, and Mallister venture out onto the deck. The vines grip at their feet and legs as their feet fall and release when they take a step, securing their passage across the deck. Even so, the winds whipping at you make passage slow, and, if not for Mallister's Dust Devil creating a steadier passage, he might have slipped free.

Adrik's shouts are swallowed by the storm and ignored. The wind spirits here are too caught up in the rush of the storm and the passage of the ship to pay heed to the mortal that speaks to them.

Sabb notices that most of the crew have lifelines tied to the main mast. He follows the path of one and grabs hold of a passing crewman's arm, shouting to be heard. "HE WENT BELOW DECKS WITH THE SHIP'S ARTIFICER TO CHECK ON THE BINDINGS. WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN JUST TO STAY IN THE SKY," the man shouted back, before turning again to pull on the line he was working.

Creilath joined some of the group at the door to the cabin and peered out. A flash of lightning lit the sky again, this one a distance away, and he cursed. "TOO LATE TO CONSIDER A SEA LANDING," he shouted. "THERE'S A MOUNTAIN, DEAD AHEAD."

Now that it's been pointed out, you can see the shadow of darker sky rising to a point ahead of you, just barely visible through the turbulent sky. And it's quickly growing larger.

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8xkIxM36m6qbUdvclQwN3pCZFE/view?usp=sharing)

Zanne squints and looks where the crewman is pointing, trying to make out the mountain ahead.

I don't suppose we brought a Geomancer with us, did we? That would have been too convenient.

She turns to the room. Perhaps I can give us a bit of a water landing, even on the mountain. I am a hydromancer, after all, and there is plenty of ambient water in this storm. It's merely a matter of channeling and condensing it into a suitable landing pool.

Confident though she manages to keep her voice, her eyes betray her fear.

[Elricaltovilla]

Adrik D'Kundarak

The spirits were wild and out of control, gaining their attention was nearly impossible but Adrik knew he had no recourse but to try again.

"Spirits of the Air and Storms, I plead with you! Fight against this magic controlling you! Do not let these people suffer and die because you were too weak! Cease this driving storm!" Adrik shouted.


Nature to try and calm the spirits: [roll0]

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless warforged

It paused to consider the data it had gathered and processed, before turning to the dwarf.

"I estimate a high probability that the ambient magic permeating Xen'drik is responsible for the severity of this storm. Therefore it is unlikely that these spirits you call upon will be able to be of assistance by themselves. However," and here it turned to regard the half-elf, "if you combine your magical command over storms with his primal connection to the spirits underlying them, it may be possible replace the forces currently driving it against us with forces that are more favorable to our situation. Permit me to act as a conduit; any other assistance from magically-competent passengers would be appreciated. Should that prove insufficient, the water landing you propose will likely become necessary."

It stood ready to assist.


Just to be clear, I'm proposing we do Aid Another checks to boost one of our skills high enough to overcome this challenge. I have an Arcana of +12, so if we can get a few successful Aid Another checks I should be able to get it up there pretty high, maybe not enough to auto-succeed but to have a very good chance of hitting the difficult DC (assuming that's what we need).

[Daracaex]

Adrik interprets the response of the spirits into words as they finally notice him. "You should not be in this sky, Child of Earth. It is dangerous. We did not create this storm, though we may be carried by it. We will help you, if you guide us."

The dwarf feels a hand on his shoulder. Its owner turns out to be the Half-Orc from House Tharashk, Ulrik. "YOU COMMUNE WITH THE SPIRITS. ALLOW ME TO ASSIST." Adrik feels a sudden strengthening of his connection to the relatively unfamiliar wind spirits. You may now use them to try to influence the ship, as Zanne is doing.

Inside the cabin, people are in various states of action. Kadhur braces himself in some of the bolted furniture, looking somewhat helpless. Ehren has whipped the covering off of a large glowing stone he has been holding the whole trip and is speaking to it in the Gnomish dialect they keep from outsiders. It is all Aeslin can do to keep her beasts calm in the chaos. Merrilla has abandoned her music and is helping Aralyn mount some sort of devices around the cabin. Urzat and Cael have joined the group at the door of the cabin, ready to help in whatever way they can. Only Healer Asalda seems to be both calm and unmoving, though the careful observer can see her lips moving in prayer.

[Dimers]

Jubal takes the lifeline as directed and tries to make a quick-and-dirty harness based on his hazy memories of rappeling. Not a skill often used while fleeing the effects of war ... but his family had done whatever it took to stay ahead of disaster. He then heads out onto the deck to see if he can be of any assistance there. He finds himself hanging onto Jirgal's bed of roots with some maneuvers reminiscent of the grappling/takedown sport he fancied in his teen years.

Athletics: [roll0] plus any bonus for lifeline, roots, dust devil. Not sure what to roll to actually help with the ship once I'm on deck ... I can just go to the binding chamber immediately if no crew are up here to give me other directions.

[Elricaltovilla]

His connection to the primal spirits strengthened, Adrik commanded their attention.

"Spirits of air and storm, please, cease your attacks against this ship. The whole of the sky is your playground, elsewhere you will find the freedom to blow and rain and thunder as you please, without harming innocent lives. If some magic compels you to attack this airship against your wills, then I implore you to fight back against it. At least aid us in pushing this airship clear of the mountains, if it is beyond you to cease this assault, then at least give us a measurable chance to survive!"

[Daracaex]

Ok, to help speed this along, let's try a bit of a more-organized short cut.

Breaking down events by tasks currently being undertaken:

Manning the Ship
Even if more magical help succeeds, the ship cannot make it without important adjustments being made, as is the case in any storm. Work with the crew to help hold the ship together and steer it to safety.

Harnessing the Storm
Whether calming the winds around you or directing them in a safer way, you are reducing the turbulence around the ship and guiding it toward safety. Those with primal or arcane talent are working hard to control the storm.

Strengthening the Binding
Like all airships, a giant ring with a bound elemental powers this ship. However, the ring is cracking, and the elemental threatens to break free. The captain is in the binding chamber, trying to assure that doesn't happen. Help him!

Warding the Cabin
Aralyn d'Cannith has produced some artifice that she is placing about the cabin to protect those inside. Additional protection or help with her devices may not go amiss.


If everyone could state which of these tasks they are helping with (or any other ideas you might have), I'll divide things up and get us moving again.

[Elricaltovilla]

Adrik continued to guide and direct the wind spirits, calming some, redirecting others, in an effort to lessen the dangers of the storm.


Nature: [roll0]

[Zen Gypsy]

Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20763170&postcount=12)
Hp's: 41 of 41 | Surges: 8 of 8 | Action Points: 1.
Conditions & Effects: Normal.

"DHRYDIS!", he shouted to make himself heard over the storm, "Back to the Cabin with the others!" He pointed towards the cabin, the displacer beast, the wind and rain matting it's hide to it's already unnaturally gaunt frame, skulked back towards the cabin.

He again followed d'Gallandha's path of twisted vines and roots towards the main mast, trusting his elven heritage he vaulted up the rigging, until he was perched between the mast and the crossbeam, he looked further up towards the Lookout's platform. He surmised that there should be a spyglass or viewing crystal there, and perhaps he could discern the location of the best possible impact site for the vessel, hoping against hope that there was a plateau or something similar this far up the mountain.

He continued his ascent, bracing against the storm raging around him.

An Acrobatics check to vault, flip, and otherwise get up to the Lookout Platform. [roll0], and once there, a Perception Check [roll1] to determine a suitably safe looking landing spot, hopefully aided by an eye glass or some such.

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless warforged

As it appeared its skills were not needed for calming the storm and dispelling the magics behind it, it decided it would attempt to assist the captain and ship's artificer with the binding.

It clambered over the vines and made its way to the chamber, where it asked "How may I be of assistance?", though as it did so it was already analyzing the particulars of their attempt to secure the binding for ways in which it could be made more efficient.


Arcana to analyze dweomer if necessary: [roll0]

Sorry for taking so long. :smallfrown:

[Daracaex]

The next minutes are tense as everyone gets to work, helping how they can.

Adrik and Ulrik, and Zanne and Mallister together work the storm and winds in their way, trying as much as possible to smooth the turbulence and adjust their course to avoid the looming mountainside.

Hastening across the deck, kept secure by the vines grabbing at its feet, the Warforged disappeared below decks, making its way to the ship's binding chamber. There, he saw the ship's artificer and captain struggling with a glowing dragonshard set in a magic circle. The dragonshard pulsed like the binding ring around the ship was doing, growing unstable. As the warforged watched, a small crack leaking light formed on the surface of the shard.

Your quick analysis tells you that the strain being put on the elemental ring encircling the ship is being mirrored in the crystal here, and it's far more than what the enchantments are meant to contain. You might reinforce it with a larger circle around the existing enchantment, which would work, but only long enough for the ship to land or crash. Or you could attempt to erase the existing circle and replace it with something stronger, which would be more stable, but also much harder to do quickly and would lead to a much worse outcome should you fail.

The less magically-inclined quickly helped tie lifelines to themselves and their companions. Most began taking instructions from the crew working the ship. Together, Jirgal, Jubal, Cael and Urzat help the crew make adjustments to ride the wind as best they can.

Sabbonsiel successfully scrambles up the rigging and peers out into the storm. The mountains are ahead, but you also can better see below now that you are higher up. The only ocean is one of trees. You have somehow traveled much farther than you intended, leaving the ocean behind. You do however see a dark furrow carved through the jungle below, running from your left to behind the mountains. Perhaps a river?

[Elricaltovilla]

Adrik continues to direct and negotiate with the winds spirits, doing his best to help guide the ship as directed by the people in the crow's nest. Lessening the turbulence affecting the ship was less important in his mind than ensuring that the ship didn't crash outright, so he tried to use the excitement of the wind spirits to push the ship where it needed to go, rather than reduce the overall wind effects.


Nature check for wind control: [roll0]

[Zen Gypsy]

Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20763170&postcount=12)
Hp's: 41 of 41 | Surges: 8 of 8 | Action Points: 1.
Conditions & Effects: Normal.

As his keen elven eyes picked out the details of the dark furrow in the jungle's canopy he lifted his hands to his face, cupping them around his mouth he sincerely hoped that he could make himself heard over the wind raging around him.

"RIVER! Port Side! We could set her down through the trees! Hard to Port! HARD TO PORT!"

[Dimers]

Jubal can barely even make out the mountain through the horrifying storm, but he catches Sabbonsiel's cry clearly enough. He adds his own to make sure the remaining sailors can hear. "Safe landing, hard to port! Safe landing, hard to port!"

[kingofferrets]

Jirgal sprints out onto deck, a touch of what magic he knows keeping him steady as he gets to his roots. He starts using them to fasten down anything he can on deck that might cause an issue - pulling loose ropes, dropped tools, and in the worst case, unconscious crewman into the tentative safe harbor of the tight, unyielding grip of the animated wood.

Can't imagine it actually matters what the roll is, and I'll take 10 if I can, but should probably do this anyway. He's using Body Equilibrium - assuming this counts as an an Acrobatics check to balance, which seems roughly reasonable, that's a +5 in addition to his normal good Acrobatics score of 14. [roll0]

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8xkIxM36m6qbUdvclQwN3pCZFE/view?usp=sharing)

Zanne slowly makes her way onto the deck, continuing to maintain her focus on dampening the storm's wrath to the best of her abilities.

As she concentrates, much of the rain begins to miss the deck, not because it's being warded off, but because it's being drawn to the bottom of the hull, where it condenses into a solid form.

Aim for the river! I think I've managed to add a bit of cushioning to the impact point, but it won't help if we crash into the mountains!


Many minors: Sustain my arcana -- let me know if you want a new check.
Many moves and standards: move onto the deck, bracing myself with the roots.

A standard towards the end: Wall of Water: Create the best cushioning I can on the mid-front of the bottom hull.
after that: Sustain both my arcana and the wall of water, moving it slightly as needed to compensate for storm run-off or any debris we may encounter in the river landing.

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless warforged

After a cursory review of the situation, it was prepared to offer its analysis and recommended course of action to the captain.

"It appears the existing binding is insufficient to contain the tension being reflected upon it by the elemental ring. It may be possible to replace the binding with a stronger enchantment, however I do not anticipate having sufficient time or resources to do so. Therefore, I recommend constructing a second binding around the existing one in order to support it long enough to facilitate a controlled crash landing. If this is suitable I will proceed immediately with creating the support binding."

That was when reality set in to it, as it realized it cannot successfully accomplish such a task on its own.

"I... will require assistance."

:smalltongue:


That does seem like the best approach, especially with preparations already under way for a water landing.

Arcana to create the outer binding (assuming that there are materials on hand to do so): [roll0]

[Daracaex]

While the warforged's initial evaluation was spot-on, it seemed not to have the experience necessary to do the task quickly without more time to think. Time the ship and its crew didn't have. Operating off the Warforged's explanation, the ship's artificer began using chalk to construct a circle, eventually pushing the Warforged out of the way when it began slowing him down more than helping.

Outside, calls were relayed, and a combination of the arcane and primal forces directing the winds and the crew's efforts began altering the ship's course. The elemental ring strained and cracked, barely keeping the ship up.

The mountains drifted to the right as the ship steered to avoid them and aimed toward the river. Another loud crack in the ring was accompanied by a lurch. The ship pitched downward. A call was raised and everyone on deck was hastened into the cabin. Jubal dragged an unconscious man into the cabin and slammed the door. Once it was closed, the vibrations lessened. Aralyn d'Cannith's artifice was at work.

Ehren d'Sivis was shouting now into his glowing stone. The entire ship jolted as it hit the treetops of a ridge, passing into the jungle before the river. There was nothing again for a few tense minutes.

In the binding chamber, a rudimentary circle had been constructed, and had been working for the past few minutes. At least the whole thing hadn't shattered five minutes ago. Now the second circle was also failing. The ship artificer cursed and began working on a full circle. The captain was at the back of the chamber, holding onto a net in the corner. The dragonshard shattered, and the arcane backlash took the artificer full in the chest. A loud crack heard even over the storm announced the final failing of the elemental ring.

A few moments later, the ship crashed into the jungle.

OOC:
Nameless Warforged takes [roll0] damage, since it is outside the slightly-protected cabin.

Everyone else takes [roll1] damage as they are thrown forward in the cabin.

If you are trained in Acrobatics, you may make a check to reduce this damage by 1/2 the check result, rounded down, as per the falling rules.

The crash could have been a lot worse. The shield of water helped brake the landing, as did the trees the ship hit first. You sit up from where you have fallen in darkness. The storm sounds far away now, compared to what it was before, and everything is still. Breaks in the walls and hull of the ship let in just enough dim light for a human to see the shadows of bodies scattered all over. Those with better eyes can identify individuals. Several are moaning in pain in the cabin, while the Nameless Warforged in the binding chamber can see and hear no signs of life.

[Elricaltovilla]

The sudden jolting halt of the airship sent Adrik tumbling through the cabin, though his low center of gravity kept him from getting seriously hurt, the dwarf was definitely banged up by the impact. Lying face first on what was either the floor or the forward wall of the cabin, Adrik reached out for something to prop himself up on as he regained his footing. His searching hand found something soft and a bit fleshy, recognizing it for what it was, he immediately withdrew his hand and jumped up, muttering "Sorry..."


I watch a lot of shonen anime, and couldn't really pass up the opportunity. If someone else wants to join in on the bit, great! Otherwise we can just skip over it.

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless

At least one being stirred amidst the wreckage of the binding chamber.

"Initiating self-repair protocols," it declared as it stood up, and for a brief moment the gem it wore on its neck glowed faintly crimson while its damaged chassis began knitting itself back together.

"In retrospect, a training mission prior to departure would have been optimal. Will make a note of it in my report to the Master," it said absently as it began its search of the darkened chamber, checking as best it could for any signs of the captain or the ship's artificer.


Not sure if we're getting a short rest here or not; if so I'll spend two surges to go back up to full health, if not I'll Second Wind+Amulet of Life to do the same. Either way I'll be at 44/44 HP and 8/10 Surges.

My familiar was in passive mode at the time of the crash so no concern there.

And I'll make an active Perception check of the chamber. It doesn't have a light source (or any special senses) unfortunately, but I'm AFB at the moment and I don't remember what the penalty is on Perception checks in darkness without any special senses. So here's its roll without the penalty applied: [roll0]

[kingofferrets]

Jirgal braced himself and Dorji, calling his roots over to them for a tighter grip and using the climbing ability of the clawfoot's... well, clawed feet... to dig into the cabin floor - while their weight dug long furrows into the wood as the impact gave them a very different momentum than the "ground" below them, they managed to avoid being tossed into any walls, which to Jirgal was a win. A win that still hurt, but a win nonetheless.

He groaned a little and collected himself, but nonetheless sprang to his feet - no time to waste. From what the guy up above had shouted, they were in an unknown and potentially hostile wilderness, and who knew what all this racket would attract. He briefly glanced around the cabin, but couldn't really help anyone well - he was quite a bit smaller than all these folks, they'd be hard to help up. Gently encouraging his sore companion to come along with him, the halfling walked out onto the deck, instinctively drawing on the power of the spirits to sharpen his vision, and looked out to see where they'd landed.

Oh, while he was thinking about helping people - he called the roots out from inside, and then stretched them out from the edge of the ship, towards the nearest clear area of ground he could see, forming bridge between the ship and the ground. This place didn't seem terribly stable at the moment, and it's easier to carry someone unconscious down a ramp than climb over broken and shattered ground with them...

New health: 42-16+1/2 of [roll0]

Again, roll shouldn't matter too much to the narrative I take here - I should be blunting it by about half with a low roll, more with a high one.

After that, he'll assume Aspect of the Seeking Falcon for a +2 and then Perception at the surroundings - [roll1]. And, why not, he'll also Nature to see what he can figure out about the place. [roll2]

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8xkIxM36m6qbUdvclQwN3pCZFE/view?usp=sharing)

ADRIK D'KUNDARAK! Zanne shouts angrily, and then trails off.

I...suppose I can't complain overmuch. I'm alive; that's the important part. Perhaps I should have put some cushioning in here, rather than out there, and then we wouldn't all be a tangled mess on the floor.

Zanne looks intensely focused on something for a few moments, and then water begins to rush in through one of the shattered windows, washing the pile of bodies in the room apart from each other and righting Zanne to standing position, her wounds lessened.

That done, Zanne pulls a dagger out of one of her boots and, holding it in two hands, she whispers a dismissing incantation and plunges the blade of the dagger into the pool of water. The dagger flashes with bright blue light and...drinks...the water. Seconds later, the room is, if not exactly dry, no more wet than it was before. She slips the dagger back into her boot, and turns to assess the damage.

No longer sustaining arcana, but still sustaining the Wall of Water.

Several move actions to move my wall of water into the room with us. It doesn't actually have really any of the mechanical implications i'm using in the fluff above, but I figure standing up from prone and separating from a pile of bodies is, if anything, less Move actions than moving the water in, and moving the water in is more fun.

Similarly to the warforged, I am either spending a surge as part of a rest, or using my second wind. This puts me at 40/44HP.

And the fluff with the dagger is really just failing to sustain the Wall of Water.

[Zen Gypsy]

Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20763170&postcount=12)
Hp's: 39 of 41 | Surges: 7 of 8 | Action Points: 1.
Conditions & Effects: Normal.

As the verdant green canopy of the jungle rushed up to greet them, Sabb, realizing the perilous position manning the crow's nest had placed himself in braced for the impact, coiling his legs beneath him, he looped a coil of rope around his shoulder. As he felt the mast shudder, at the first moment of impact he flung himself from his perch, there was a momentous crash, as the vessel itself began to plow through the forest, shattering trees and timber alike, time seemed to slow down. For an exhilarating moment, he felt weightless, until the snap of taut rope terminated the arc of his descent, he quickly reached up with a long handled knife and severed the cord, dropping to the deck below. He tucked into a roll, coming up hard, as his shoulder impacted port side rail, the deck was skewed at a sharp angle, making his ascent to starboard side of the vessel difficult.

He jumped the port side rail, landing in the soft loam of what he could only assume were the wilds of Xen'drik. As the riotous noise of their landing died down, the jungle was eerily silent, the local fauna had retreated to relative safety. He whistled sharply, and shortly thereafter, was greeted by Dhrydis, who was limping, one of his tentacles dragging along the muddy soil.

He kneeled, calling her to him, he cradled her head in his hands and pressed his forehead to her brow, "Shhhh, we've been through worse." He took a moment, a deep breath, nuzzled her face, and stood, ready to survey the wreckage for signs of life. "Stay close, who knows what dangers these wilds hold."

As he spoke, he unslung his greatbow, and knocked it with a broadhead arrow. The crystal shard the hung from the recurve glowed with a cold, pale blue light.

Acrobatics Check vs Falling Damage [roll0]. Able to reduce falling damage by 14 points, as such only suffers 2 HP's of damage. Dhrydis, my Displacer beast who was in the cabin, however is NOT trained in Acrobatics, and as such suffers the full 16 HP's of Damage. Reducing him to 4 HP's. When we link up on the shore of the River as described above, Dhrydis, using my Surges as per Companion rules, will Second Wind, restoring himself to 14 HP's. Also spending a Minor action to convert all damage done by my bow to Cold.

[Daracaex]

Nameless Warforged
The binding chamber is in ruins, and a small amount of light comes through the shattered walls. You take some time to feel around until you find two shadows you recognize as humanoid. Neither is breathing.

Jirgal & Sabbonsiel
The ship has landed in the jungle, not far from tumbling over a small cliff. Much of the ship has been destroyed, and what remains is kept from sliding down the slope and off the cliff only by the large trees that finally stopped it. Only the passenger cabin has not been entirely destroyed, and only has a few breaks smashed into it. Behind the ship, your crash has left a swathe of destruction with wood both from the ship and destroyed trees. The ground slopes downward from the bottom of the cliff and you can see a break in the trees that indicates the river only a few miles away.

Everyone Else
Zanne's "helpful" use of rainwater elicits several shouts of surprise and irritation. And some in pain. In a moment, Healer Asalda is at someone's side, chanting one of the healing spells she had been preparing during the crash. Others are standing up. Some aren't.

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless

Once it had found the two bodies, it commenced checking to verify whether their apparent lifelessness was indeed actual.


Heal checks on each one to check the nature of their injuries and see whether either can be revived by any means short of resurrection.

[roll0] for the captain.
[roll1] for the artificer.

[Elricaltovilla]

There was little Adrik could do to help with the wounded, but he did his best to help those that could walk or didn't seem too injured to leave the crash safely. Always a wary sort, Adrik kept a sharp eye out for trouble.


Current HP: 38/54

If it's possible for Adrik to spend a healing surge without using Second Wind, he will. Otherwise I'll sit on the damage.

Also, if possible and necessary, Adrik will take 10 on an athletics check to carry wounded out of the crashed airship. I'll include a roll as well if taking 10 is inappropriate.
Taking 10: 21
Athletics Roll: [roll0]

Perception check to scan surroundings: [roll1]

[Zen Gypsy]

Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20763170&postcount=12)
Hp's: 39 of 41 | Surges: 7 of 8 | Action Points: 1.
Conditions & Effects: Normal.

Sabb and Dhrydis circled the wreckage, walking carefully, searching the debris field for the dead, and the injured. He called out to any survivors, "Ho! Airmen! Call out if you need aid!", he continued walking the circuit, until he found the stout shouldered Kundarak representative hauling the wounded from the wreckage.

He nimbly walked across the debris, skipping from shattered plank, to stone, to lilting deckboard, "Adrik! You survived! You dwarves are a hardy lot. Let us begin to mark the dead and wounded, if the gods have seen fit to allow any of our healers to survive this catastrophe!" As he spoke, he scanned the circling vegetation, to ensure that the wild predators had not yet returned, no doubt lured by the impact of the Lyrandar vessel.

The result of an Active Perception Check is 18! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20931926&postcount=99). Rolled in the OOC thread, because I forgot it in my initial post, and can't edit in a roll. Did I mention I hate d20's, an 18, with a +12. Sigh!

[kingofferrets]

Close... best not to move things towards the cliff... Jirgal sent roots lashing from the side of the wreckage towards the debris-strewn forest behind them for his ramp, giving clear, easy passage off the ship. He called over his shoulder, towards the cabin - "I've made a clear way off - better get the wounded out of there, this thing feels pretty rickety!"

The halfling bounced on his heels for a moment while he thought before nodding decisively, glancing over at his companion - not too hurt... "Alright, girl, let's get to work..." Jirgal climbed smoothly up onto Dorji's back and trotted her down the bridge of roots, guiding the larger and stronger beast to shift aside debris and clear space to care for the wounded on the ground below.

Dunno if I need a check or not to guide my fey beast tamer companion through that slightly more complex task - let me know if I do.

[Daracaex]

The Binding Chamber
You feel at the bodies to assess their condition. One has a nasty hole in its chest. The backlash of arcane energy when the dragonshard shattered must have killed the ship's artificer instantly. That would make the other the captain, and his head was at a very wrong angle for a humanoid. The warforged was the only survivor in the ruined chamber.

Outside
The survivors begin climbing out of the cabin, those who can walk supporting or carrying those who cannot. While there are some serious injuries, the protections in the cabin and Healer Asalda's magic prevented loss of life there, though some were lost to the storm before the crash. Notable among the casualties are Ehren and Jubal, both knocked out cold, and Mallister, who seems missing entirely. Adrik and Jirgal direct people down the ramp formed of roots and onto solid ground.

The jungle around you has plenty of movement, but you cannot distinguish any wildlife from the whipping of wind and rain. What you do hear out of the ordinary is the crackling of lightning gathering around the shattered ring around the ship.

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless

Having confirmed neither of them had survived, it now began searching for a way out. It started with the way it came in, and if that is now barred by debris it proceeded to try the cracks in the walls that were letting the light shine in.

[Daracaex]

Nameless
Athletics Check: [roll0]
You push against the wreckage barring the easiest way out, but it doesn't move very easily. You shift it, but not enough to clear the way.

Passive Perception: 19
You can see out of the chamber a little, but you also hear the same crackling of lightning Sabbonsiel heard...

Arcana Check: [roll1]
However, you are able to correctly identify it. It's not from the sky, so the next logical conclusion is that the elemental bound to the ring is now unbound.

Everyone Outside
Everyone is able to hear the crackling of lightning nearby as it grows louder, as well as the sound of shifting wood as something pushes up on some of the debris near the binding chamber.

I hope you're ok with me making those skill checks for you like that, Dacia. Just trying to save time instead of the back-and-forth otherwise required. :)

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless

As soon as it heard the sounds of the elemental freeing itself, it sounded the alarm as best it could from behind the wall, hoping there was at least someone alive and conscious on the other side.

"Emergency! Emergency! The elemental is unbound from its containment ring! Repeat, the elemental is unbound from its containment ring!" it declared, before stepping back and launching an armbolt into the wall in an attempt to damage it further and thereby break out of the chamber.


Oh yeah, no problem, I'm glad you did. I wasn't sure what to roll, so thanks. :smallsmile:

Not sure if this is even going to work, but here goes Magic Weapon into the wall.

[roll0]
Hit: [roll1] damage (no allies adjacent so the rest is moot)

[Elricaltovilla]

Adrik was helping one of the sailors off the airship when he heard the Warforged shout its warning. Looking at the wounded sailor he asked what was probably on everyone's mind.

"So when that elemental becomes unbound... what happens?" A tinge of worry crept into his voice.

[kingofferrets]

Hearing the warning cry, Jirgal reacted swiftly - pulling Dorji away from the wreckage, they dashed back up the root-ramp, the halfling unslinging his bow. He patted his friend reassuringly, watching closely towards the sounds... "Get ready, Dorji, something's coming..."

Jirgal took a whole four damage before, so he's at 38/42. Unfortunately, the fey panther rules I'm using for Dorji aren't actually trained in acrobatics, for some reason! So the crash left her at 5, she's going to Second Wind right now and get up to 15/21 before the fight. That leaves me with 7/8 surges for the day.

[Zen Gypsy]

Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20763170&postcount=12)
Hp's: 39 of 41 | Surges: 7 of 8 | Action Points: 1.
Conditions & Effects: Normal.

His keen elven ears were able to pick out the Warforged's exclamation, and as such he hopped quickly to the nearby shore, drawing his bow, and keeping an arrow on the string. He whispered softly to Dhrydis, "To my side. Now."

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8xkIxM36m6qbUdvclQwN3pCZFE/view?usp=sharing)

Zanne rallies with the others, and again pulls her dagger from her boot, in case it's needed. Though it's not glowing nearly so bright as when she was contending with the storm, the faint glow of her mark is still visible through her gown.

Where the hell is Mallister when we've got a lightning to contain. Typical Windrider.

[Daracaex]

There's a solid thunk as a crossbow bolt slams into the wood with magical force, and a piece of rubble snaps, loosening the pile. It's a far cry from simply blasting a way out, but might make it easier to shift, and did make a bit more space for Nameless to see out of the chamber.

You see electricity jumping out of the ruins of the ring, gathering at the edge of the destroyed ship closest to the cliff. Dark clouds billow into existence around lightning forming into claws. They dig into the broken wood as the form of a small dragon made of storm clouds crackling with lightning pulls itself into existence in front of you.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/65/ef/0b/65ef0bac3721b7cea8da244b24331b51.jpg

Sabbonsiel: [roll0]
Jubal
Storm Elemental
Adrik: [roll3]
Zanne: [roll4]
Jirgal: [roll1]
Nameless: [roll2]

[kingofferrets]

While Jirgal was a skilled halfling, he wasn't exactly a complicated one. He had pulled out his bow. He was waiting for something nasty. He needed to protect Dorji.

So, when a huge roaring dragon appeared, a fulminous beast of cloud and storm clawing at the ship? Well, he shot it. In the eye.

So, as I recall, we declare actions here -

Move action moves me to max range, or the edge of the ship, whichever makes more sense - I'm not gonna run off the edge and fall. Minor swaps to Aspect of the Lurking Spider. Standard is Disruptive Shot, applying a save-ends daze and damage. I don't know if I roll for that yet or not, but here's for if I do:

To-hit vs AC: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1], plus one item bonus if it's larger than me (probably is), plus one feat bonus if no other creature is adjacent to it, plus two power bonus if someone has granted me combat advantage against it.

Edit: Oh, also - half damage and slowed until the end of my next turn on a miss.

[Zen Gypsy]

Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20763170&postcount=12)
Hp's: 39 of 41 | Surges: 7 of 8 | Action Points: 1.
Conditions & Effects: Normal.

As the storm clouds took an ominous shape, he couldn't be sure that his arrows would have any more effect on the elemental than they would on clouds themselves. An instinct, one obviously shared by Jirgal, told him to aim for where the lightning coalesced, in the creatures eyes.

He moved forward, trailing a wisp of frost crystals as he commanded his bow, hoping arrows of pure ice would affect the elemental. He loosed two arrows in rapid succession at the dragon shaped stormcloud, all the while Dhrydis remained faithfully at his side.

Intiative Check; [roll0]. Move action to approach the dragon-shaped elemental. Free Action to switch my Frost Greatbow to Cold damage. Minor Action to designate the elemental as my Quarry.

Attack Check: +1 to Attack Check if no Ally closer (Prime Shot); 1st Arrow [roll1]; 2nd Arrow [roll2]. Damage; All Damage is considered Cold Damage (Frost Greatbow); +1 to Cold Damage (Siberys Shard); +1 Damage if no creature Adjacent to target (Bow Expertise): 1st Arrow [roll3]; 2nd Arrow [roll4]; Quarry Damage if either attack hits: [roll5]

+1 Power Bonus to all Defenses (Companion Displacement Aura); +1 Item Bonus to all Defenses if attacked at range greater than 5 (Cloak of Displacement); +1 untyped bonus to all Defenses from attacks by Quarry (Predator's Armor).

[Elricaltovilla]

Adrik D'Kundarak
HP: 38/54 | Surges: 12/12 | AP: 1

As soon as the elemental breaks free of the ring, Adrik rushes to engage it.


I don't think Adrik is likely to be close enough to get into melee with the elemental without at least double moving. So he will be double moving as close as possible to the Elemental. If that is enough to get him to adjacent range, he'll use a Free Action to use Nature's Wrath, marking all adjacent enemies (-3 penalty because of Mark of Warding).

If he is able to attack, He'll use Weight of Earth.
Attack: [roll0] vs. AC
Damage: [roll1]

[Dimers]

Jubal claws his way back to consciousness, his ears forcing his mind to return. After decades of life on the run, a problem as obvious as gathering lightning and shouts of alarm wouldn't pass him by even while out cold. He sees with gladness that everyone is focused elsewhere, and his dragonmark seems to pulse with shadow on his skin.

Slipping a small blade from a well-designed sheath -- thank the gods it hadn't found its way into his throat in the crash! -- Jubal slowly comes to a crouch. Then he dashes several steps, slipping away from visibility as he goes, as if he were oil to the water of vision. From the relative obscurity, he throws the blade at the heart of the forming disturbance, trusting his shadow magic to find the mark.

Move action to stand from prone.
Minor action to draw my shuriken of long range.
Standard action: rogue power fleeting spirit strike. Shift 3, triggering Shadow Walk and allowing Cunning Sneak, with a roll of [roll0] to become Hidden against the storm elemental's passive Perception. Make a ranged attack roll anywhere within 22 squares with no penalty for distance, [roll1] (plus two if I have CA from being Hidden) against AC. A hit deals [roll2], and if I'm Hidden then add +5 necrotic and +[roll3] Sneak Attack. The hit also lets me shift 3 again, but I can't hide again because it's during the same action I lost the Hidden condition, so it doesn't matter much.

If I hid successfully but flubbed the attack roll, I'll use elven accuracy to reroll: [roll4] (including that inherent CA). Won't waste it if I'm not Hidden.

Should any enemy enter a square adjacent to me, I'll use smoke bomb to shift 6 and try to hide: [roll5]

Though his maneuver attracts some attention, Jubal's image refuses to be looked at straight-on, bending the eye and mind.

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8xkIxM36m6qbUdvclQwN3pCZFE/view?usp=sharing)

The motes of water that hover around Zanne's fingertips coalesce into three concentric rings around each of her wrists, and begin to hum with power. The slow melodic pulse of the hum fills the air with its steadfast, percussive beat and tinkling high notes, contrasting starkly with the crackling energy coming from its opposed element.

Chanting in time with the beat, Zanne brings her hands together effortlessly, producing a rather loud thunderclap aimed directly at the beast's left ear.

As the thunderburst echoes off of the dragon's head, it forms a slighylu shimmering shield in front of both Adrik and Zanne.


Without knowing distances precisely, it's hard to spell out exactly my plan. It also swings on how generous you are about allowing me to begin combat with my Aura and Stance enabled -- I generally assume that at least the Aura is automatic, which leaves me with a move action.

Ideally, with my 6 speed I can get to a square that's within 10 of the dragon and within 5 of Adrik.

So: Escalated Thunder Bolt at the Dragon -- may as well throw on my dagger's daily if it hits:
[roll0] vs Reflex
Hit: [roll1](base) + [roll2](Escalation) + [roll3](thundering dagger daily) thunder damage, slide it 1 square closer to Adrik (and choose not to push it 1 square from the daily), and Adrik gains 5 THP.
Effect: I gain a +2 bonus to defenses EONT

If Adrik is not yet adjacent to the Dragon, but is within 3 squares, and Bolstering Speech was also free, I can try to move him adjacent with Beguiling Flash, which is a non-damaging attack vs will. Up to him/you, though.
vs his Will (which is 16)

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless

Seeing the "dragon" taking shape, it moved up to the opening to get a better look and--after plucking out a small blue vial and placing it into the barrel of its megabuster armbow--let loose a glob of frigid blue matter at the elemental.

"It would be preferable if those using ranged weapons would fall back into position nearest to this opening, as my enhancements to your weaponry have a limited range," it advised over the din of battle.


Move action to move up to the edge of the viewing area Magic Weapon created.

Minor action to draw/load my use of Alchemist Frost for the encounter.

Standard action to attack with Alchemist Frost using the armbow's range.
[roll0] vs. Ref
Hit: [roll1] cold damage and the target is slowed UEMNT.



If either myself or another member of the party gets hit by an attack on the elemental's next turn (not on this one unfortunately due to not acting before it during the first round of combat), I will use Channeling Shield as an Immediate Interrupt to reduce the damage by 8 and gain a +3 power bonus to damage for my next attack against it.

[Daracaex]

Round 1

Sabbonsiel's pair of arrows pierce the elemental's form, one after the other, dealing a total of 20 damage to the elemental.

From behind you, a shuriken flashes out from the awakened Jubal's location, taking the elemental through one of its "eyes" and dealing 18 damage.

Sabbonsiel, being closest and having recently put steel into the elemental, becomes the target of its ire. It rushes across the deck to a position adjacent to the elf and claws and bites at its attacker.
Claw attack: 29 vs AC; Take 19 lightning damage and fall prone
Bite attack: 16 vs AC; Miss!
As the elemental draws near to you, you can feel the powerful aura of grasping wind around it, making movement difficult, and the aura grows more powerful, expanding from an Aura 1 to an Aura 3 and including Sabbonsiel (and Dhrydis), Adrik, Zanne, and Jirgal (and Dorji), with everyone but Sabbonsiel being a space back from him. Moving through the aura is difficult terrain, and creatures in it cannot shift.

Since the dragon was kind enough to come to him, Adrik does not have that far to move. Adrik moves in with a hammer blow, but misses the main body of the elemental himself. The elemental is now marked by the dwarf as Adrik occupies its attention.

Zanne's blast of thunder slams into the elemental for 38 damage, but the thunder of her attack resonates in the elemental and is fed back into the winds surrounding it. Everyone in the aura (Sabbonsiel, Dhrydis, Adrik, Zanne, Jirgal, Dorji) takes 5 damage and grants combat advantage until the end of the dragon's next turn.

Jirgal retreats out of the aura to the edge of the ship, moving back four spaces. His arrow hits the elemental in the head, dealing 8 damage and dazing it (save ends).

From the entrance to the binding chamber, off to one side, the Nameless Warforged shoots a cold payload at the elemental, dealing 5 cold damage and slowing it.

Next Round

[Elricaltovilla]

Adrik D'Kundarak
HP: 33/54 | Surges: 12/12 | AP: 1

The reverberating thunder makes Adrik's ears pop in a most painful way. "They bound you, I know. Forced you into a service you never agreed to nor wanted. You're angry, but you're free now! Take your leave if you wish, but harm these people and you will taste my hammer."

Adrik takes a swing at the elemental, his hammer charged with magnetic force to drag the monster into a more advantageous position. As he does so, he opens his mind to the call of the stone, filling his body with resolute strength and restoring his flagging spirit.


Standard Action: Thorn Strike against Elemental. Pulling it 1 square so that Adrik is better positioned between the Elemental and the rest of the party.
Attack roll: [roll0]
Damage roll: [roll1]

Minor Action: Second Wind, HP is now 46/54. Activates Earthstrength. So I get +CON to my AC for the round, in addition to the +2 to all my defenses from second wind.

AC: 27 Fort: 20 Ref: 18 Will: 18

Free Action: Use Nature's Wrath to mark all adjacent enemies. -3 because of Mark of Warding.

[Zen Gypsy]

Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orien (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20763170&postcount=12)
Hp's: 17>27 of 41 | Surges: 7>6 of 8 | Action Points: 1.
Conditions & Effects: Bloodied>2nd Wind. +2 all Defenses.

The massive claws slammed into Sab, throwing him from his feet. He struggled to rise, the smell of ozone and thunder rising from the rent across his armor. Even as he fought through his pain, he heard Adrik's impassioned plea to the newly freed elemental, and he couldn't find fault with it. Perhaps the elemental would flee, perhaps it would continue it's onslaught.

As the other delegates continued to harry the dragon-like storm, he thought that perhaps it would be the latter, he steeled himself for further confrontation, knocking an arrow while keeping a second held loosely in his draw hand.

Move Action to Stand, Standard Action to 2nd Wind. +2 All Defenses for 2nd Wind; +1 All Defenses for being in Displacer Aura.

[kingofferrets]

Dorji and his rider were pressed down by the sudden burst of thunder, the clawfoot screeching in protest as the winds whipped and tore at them. They backed away swiftly, getting away from the whirling storm, retreating towards where the Warforged had called out something about needing ranged fighters over near him.

"You hurt my dinosaur, jerk!"

Nocking his arrow and pulling, the halfling spent a moment carefully preparing, then fired a shot to ride the winds, the trajectory curving through the aura around the elemental... and going, with luck, straight into the lightning dragon's foot.

Jirgal HP: 33/42
Dorji HP: 10/21
Surges: 7/8
AP: 1

He'll move towards the Warforged - speed 8, since he's on Dorji - and take a Clever Shot at the elemental, knocking it prone on a hit vs AC.

To-hit: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1], plus one if it has no adjacent creatures, but I'm guessing it will.

Off-turn: If I get hit, I'll use my halfling racial interrupt to make the dragon reroll. I can't imagine he has much that I wouldn't want to reroll if he hits me.

[Dimers]

Jubal continues circling the raging elemental creature, trying to dance away from visibility. He throws another blade at the monster but keeps alert for any other wildlife that the sound of conflict might be attracting.

I'll use a move action to stroll three or more squares, refreshing Shadow Walk and rolling Stealth to hide: [roll0]
Minor action to make an active Perception check against unfamiliar creatures that might be sneaking up: [roll1]
Standard action is poisonous shuriken, range 22 with no range penalty. If I sense non-humanoid creatures incoming, I'll target two of them them along with the elemental.
Elemental: [roll2] vs AC, plus 2 if I have CA from being Hidden. Damage [roll3], +5 necrotic if hidden, +[roll4] executioner, +[roll5] assassin's strike on a hit. And again, if I miss but I'm Hidden, I'll reroll with elven accuracy: [roll6]
Sneaky creature 1: [roll7] vs AC, +2 if CA, for [roll8] damage +5 necrotic if hidden
Sneaky creature 2: [roll9] vs AC, +2 if CA, for [roll10] damage +5 necrotic if hidden
Triggered action: If I finish off any creature, I'll activate hidden lore to turn invisible.Free action: If I saw sneaky creatures, I'll shout to briefly let folks know what and where.


If an enemy comes ajdacent to me, I'll use smoke bomb to shift and attempt to hide, [roll11]

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=873448)

Zanne curses a bit as her own thunderclap reverberates back in her ears. With a moment of concentration, the hum coming from the motes of water encircling her wrists becomes less sharp, but somehow colder.

She nods at the Warforged's beckon, and does her best to reach it without getting clawed by the dragon.

Once there, she pulls off one of the rings, now solid ice, and throws it at the elemental fiend.


So um...theatre of the mind just caused me to deal a crapload of friendly fire damage that I otherwise would not have dealt. Can we get a map please? I suspect the three of us would have moved away from the dragon if we had realized it was on top of us.

Free: turn off thunder damage conversion.
Minor: Beguiling Flash [roll0] vs Will, Slide the dragon up to 4 squares, such that as few of us other than Adrik as is possible are in the aura, ideally also opening up a route for me to stand by Nameless.
Move: move to adjacent to Nameless but still within 5 squares of Adrik, if possible. If not possible, and I missed the minor, move to not in the aura, unless the dragon is no longer dazed, and is adjacent to me, cause I don't want to provoke.
Standard: If I'm adjacent to Nameless, I'll ready an action to use Elemental Bolt on the dragon as soon as he takes his standard action (in case he wants to Magic Weapon). If not, I'll just fire it off now.
[roll1] vs Reflex, [roll2] cold damage. I can also slide any ally adjacent to him 2 squares, if they want me to. Adrik gets another 5 THP.

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless

While the battle raged outside, it took stock of the situation. It surmised that a standard enhancement rather than another elemental-based one would be appropriate to the situation.

As its armbow auto-loaded and charged a projectile of its own creation, it took aim and fired a magical blast at the "dragon," with any residual energy coalescing beneficially upon its nearest allies.


Reload as a free action.

Standard action to use Magic Weapon on the dragon elemental.
[roll0] vs. AC
Hit: [roll1] damage and adjacent allies gain +1 power bonus to attack rolls and +3 power bonus to damage rolls UEMNT.

No minor or move actions.



As mentioned before, I will use Channeling Shield as an immediate interrupt to reduce the Dragon elemental's next successful attack by 8 and gain +3 to damage on my own next attack.

[Daracaex]

Round 2

Sabbonsiel takes a moment to stand and ready himself, watching the elemental warily.

Jubal quickly scans the area around the ship. The rest of the survivors of the crash are putting as much distance as they can safely gain between themselves and the battle, with those more fit protecting the weak or injured. You see no other movement from the jungle. Your shuriken flies out from behind your new cover, another piece of debris from the ship ripped out of the deck. The elemental is unable to track your movement and takes 24 damage.

The elemental roars in rage. The small humanoid in front of it does not seem as large a threat as some of the others, but he is making it difficult to attack around him. He viciously rips into Adrik.
Double Attack
Claw: 19 vs AC; Miss!
Bite: 29 vs AC; 19 11 damage and ongoing 5 lightning (save ends)
Interrupt! The Nameless Warforged interjects between Adrik and the elemental, reducing the damage by 8
Action Point
Double Attack
Claw: 17 vs AC; Miss!
Bite: 18 vs AC; Miss!
The storm whipping up around the dragon continues to grow in power, expanding to an Aura 5. It now reaches both edges of the ship and intrudes on the wrecked entry to the binding chamber, including all members of the party currently on the deck of the ship. The elemental shakes off the daze inflicting it.

Saving throw: (1d20)[8]; Adrik takes 5 lightning damage
Adrik's hammer digs into the form of the elemental to pull it away from the binding chamber doorway, dealing 9 damage. The aura now stops just short of the door. Adrik fortifies himself, ready against further assault from the elemental. The elemental appears as though it heard Adrik, but before it can react...
Saving throw: (1d20)[17]; Adrik is no longer taking ongoing 5 lightning damage

Zanne sets off a flash of light and the elemental stumbles away back toward the other edge of the ship, leaving Adrik and Sabbonsiel (not Dhrydis) the only ones still in its aura. The way clear, she easily moves to the warforged, just outside the binding chamber and gets ready to attack together with the artificer.

Jirgal joins Zanne by Nameless' side and fires a shot while it's still reeling from the flash, dealing 12 damage and causing it to fall prone (elemental now bloodied).

The Warforged takes a shot, but the awkwardness of aiming through the debris causes it to go wide. The follow-up blast from Zanne, however, hits its mark, dealing 23 cold damage. Adrik gains 5 THP and an opportunity to slide closer.

Next Round
Sabbonsiel and Jubal, take your turns

[Dimers]

Satisfied that he's helping while staying out of trouble, and seeing no incoming problems, Jubal continues his stroll away from the betraying touch of light while flinging another blade. His too-good-to-bother attitude interferes with an ideal throw, however, and the blade goes well over the creature's roughly defined head.

Lather, rinse, repeat. Move, hide, RBA. Actually, first I'll draw my shortsword into my other hand as a minor action. I can benefit from the executioner damage boost on basic attacks, so I gain a few points of damage over the poisonous shuriken power when there's only one target. My hide attempt: [roll0]. Attack: [roll1] vs AC, +2 with combat advantage from being Hidden, for [roll2] plus [roll3] executioner on any hit, plus 5 necrotic if I'm hidden. If I'm hidden and I miss, elven accuracy reroll is [roll4].

EDIT: That pretty clearly used up my racial power, because my stealth roll was better than before and my attack roll was wretched. Ah, well.

As usual, smoke bomb is ready to go if something wicked this way comes, and anything provoking an OA can eat my Dexterity-based MBA.

[Daracaex]

Round 3

Sabbonsiel takes his chance to move out of the ensnaring winds growing around the elemental.

Jubal again throws his shuriken, which seems to go too high. His elven reflexes kick in at the last moment of his throw and, without thinking, a slight adjustment to his throw bounces the projectile off a metal piece of the ship to ricochet down into the elemental's back, dealing 14 damage.

The elemental, hearing the dwarf's threat and being attacked by several powerful humanoids, dissipates the energy of its storm in a roar and a powerful burst.
Raging Storm: 12 vs Fortitude; Miss!
Adrik, being the only one left in range, holds himself against the shockwave. The elemental then turns and leaps off the ship and the edge of the cliff, becoming more cloud-like as it flies up and into the clouds above.

End Combat

[Elricaltovilla]

Adrik heaves a heavy sigh of relief as the elemental soars off into the distance. He quietly stows his warhammer and shield, then turns to the rest of the emissaries.

"We need to get as much as we can off the airship. We should camp beside it for tonight, then we'll need to head downriver and towards the coast. Unless somebody here can fix us a ship and get a new elemental bound." He doesn't wait for a reply, instead he immediately begins looking for useful materials to salvage.

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless

Though unfortunate that the elemental escaped, thereby assuring there would be no new binding, it had to admit to itself that this was for the best as it did not appear that sufficient personnel were available to reconstruct the ship. Thus it agreed with the dwarf's proposal.

"That is unlikely, as I can confirm that neither the captain of the ship nor the ship's artificer survived the impact of our landing. Therefore, I suggest you make any preparations you need for traveling by land. I will assist in whatever way I am able, once I am no longer trapped inside the wreckage."

It resumed its efforts at dislodging itself from the rubble.

[Sol]

Rainbringer Zanne (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=873448)

The motes of water circling Zanne's arms return to her, absorbing swiftly into her skin and cooling the burns caused by the elemental's feedback.

With the immediate threat lessened, she now begins to search through the wreckage of the ship for her fellow Lyrandar. Wind-rider or not, he hadn't been that bad.

spending another healing surge in the short rest following the fight. I don't suppose the Elemental dropped any sort of loot?

[Dimers]

"That is unlikely, as I can confirm that neither the captain of the ship nor the ship's artificer survived the impact of our landing."

"Damn. How about the navigator? Do we have any idea where we are?" Jubal's voice comes out of the shadows of the unfamiliar trees, and his shape joins a moment later. His sharply tailored grey suit is wildly incongruous, its only connection to the surroundings being that both are drenched. "Could've been trying to avoid the storm for hours before things got that serious." The elven man goes to enter the wrecked ship to lend what aid he can, having no trouble overcoming the mounds of torn-up vegetation and earth.

As he passes Zanne, he touches her lightly on the arm and says quietly, "Thank you for the softening of the blow, Rainbringer."

Spending two surges to get back to full HP.

[kingofferrets]

Jirgal scowls at the elemental as it departs, still angry at the bloody thing, before hopping off his raptor and quickly looking her over - tending to her wounds, with a little help from the spirits. Distracted as he is, he can't maintain his roots any longer - they unwind from where they've connected ship and ground, the wood pulling back into the ship, perhaps restoring a bit of integrity (though not much).

He does find the time to comment, however - "Do you think we should actually move tomorrow? Might take longer for people to heal, if there're bad wounds."

Short rest time. Since I think Jirgal is plotting to explore sometime reasonably soon, I'll be a bit less conservative about healing surges than I might otherwise be.

Jirgal: 42/42 (33 + 10)
Dorji: 20/21 (10 + 10)
Surges: 5/8 (7-2)

Also, since he's not trying to be stealthy at the moment, he's adopting his Seeking Falcon aspect, for +2 perception and +2 speed.

[Daracaex]

The injured and those tending them are left a ways from the ship and the others come to help. The Warforged is quickly extracted from the binding chamber entrance, and a quick survey done of the ship. There is cargo in the lower decks, but it's harder to get in because of the rubble, and probably impossible to get the crates out without making a way through. Several crates contain food and water, as well as other supplies for the ship like rope, iron nails, sailcloth, and pitch. You also find a small chest with 250gp worth of coins in various denominations and an emergency medical box containing 4x Potions of Spirit and 4x Potions of Healing. Prying open all the crates to check specific contents will take some more time. While the crates will be difficult to get out of the ship, you at least find some food in the galley. Enough for a few days. You also find the shattered remains of the stone the gnome from House Sivis was clutching in the cabin. Apparently, he had brought one of the sending stones Sivis keeps so secret, not that it will do any good now.

In the space under the passenger cabin, in the sturdier and more protected part of the ship, you also find a small room. Try as you might, you cannot seem to make the door move.
The door is sealed shut by a small nail in the upper right of the frame. The small nail has a single rune visible on its head that glows almost imperceptibly when you attempt to open the door.

As you are searching, Healer Asalda approaches, speaking to whomever is nearby from the ground next to the ruined ship. "I'm afraid the news isn't good. Masters Movanek and d'Tornn both have broken legs, though the fool half-orc tried to hide it from me. Mistress d’Phiarlan broke her wrist and is distraught over not being able. The mistress d'Cannith hit her head and is dazed but standing, though head injuries can be more dangerous than they seem. The real concern is Master d'Sivis. He hit his head in the crash and hit it hard. Did damage to his neck. He is in critical condition, and shouldn't be moved far, though we do need some shelter from this rain or we might expect illness to accompany our injuries."

Short rest and a little loot found on the ship (the elemental itself didn't really have pockets).

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless

Once it had extricated itself from the rubble, it began to assist with the efforts at salvaging the ship's contents.

Upon discovery of the small room beneath the passenger cabin, it examined the door for any active arcane bindings.


My passive Perception is 19, so I gather that's enough to spot the rune on the nail.

Arcana to analyze dweomer: [roll0]

[Daracaex]

There is an Arcane Lock enchantment on the nail, making it a Nail of Sealing. The enchantment bestowed upon the door by the nail effectively locks the door better than a mundane lock. Usually, this kind of enchantment includes a pass phrase to release it or allows certain specified individuals or types of people to open it.

[Elricaltovilla]

"We need to start caring for the injured then. I'll get the crewmen who are fit together to start setting up a base camp. So long as the ship doesn't fall off a cliff, we'll at least have some time to get our supplies in order." Adrik says to the healer. "Do the best you can, We don't want to see anyone die."

Adrik goes and gathers up the crew and passengers that are the least injured and begins setting up a camp.

[Dacia Brabant]

Nameless

Turning from its labors with the locked door, it stated, "I have identified the locus of the spell sealing this portal shut. Should any of you who are trained in bypassing locks wish to attempt it with this one, it is a Nail of Sealing that holds it shut. I am uncertain what the propriety of such an act would be, however in this circumstance survival would logically take precedence."

If anyone steps forward it will assist by pointing out the nail at the very least. If not, it will assist with the construction of a shelter out of the ship's supplies.

[Dimers]

"Gods, I'm so sorry, I just don't have any skills to help," says Jubal to the Healer. "Finance management is ill-suited to dealing with fractures and concussions. I'll speak with d’Phiarlan; perhaps I can help her mindset even if I can't help set her wrist. And I'll take another look at that warded door on the way," he adds upon hearing the report of the warforged. "It's not unusual for there to be a hidden workaround. I've seen enough construction to know there's rarely just one way in."

Finding the harp player first, Jubal speaks with her in a low voice about the importance of spirit and how she would treat her own woe if it belonged to another. Then he has a long look at the sealed room away from the press of the wounded, dazed crowd. His description notwithstanding, the tool he applies is a lockpick rather than architectural knowledge.

A little cognitive behavioral therapy for mistress d'Phiarlan. Insight to winkle out the core problem preventing her from being effective, [roll0]. And if awareness isn't enough by itself to get her feeling more active, I'll happily use it in support of either healers' techniques for calming patients (Heal [roll1]) or standard-issue words of encouragement (Diplomacy [roll2]), whichever is more appropriate.

And as for that door: Assuming my thieves' tools give a +2, my roll to pass that door is [roll3]. If I can use Dacia Brabant's check as "aid", add another 2.

[kingofferrets]

Jirgal ponders for a moment before hopping back on his mount, once Dorji is nice and healed up, and guiding her back down to the ground - resuming his attempt to clear out an area, removing the rubble of the crash to create a spot to camp. After he's gotten her started, though, Jirgal hops off his mount. "Keep at it, alright?" He pats her flank encouragingly, then calls up to the people on the ship - "I'm going to go scout the area, figure out what's around! If you need anything from Dorji, just ask her!" He walks to the edge of the camp, disappearing entirely from sight along the way.

Jirgal is going to go scout, hidden by the invisibility power of his Gloaming Leather Armor - he's invisible until he attacks or end of encounter. He's sort of spiralling out from the crash site, looking for useful stuff. He'll assume the Lurking Spider aspect for a bonus on Stealth rolls, swapping freely to Seeking Falcon and back when he's trying to look at something, standing still when he does. He's also using Body Equilibrium for his movement, improving his balance and preventing him from sinking into things like mud or quicksand or silt, which hopefully will disguise his tracks as well as keeping him safer, and will be looking around a bit for edible plants he might be able to take without breaking his stealth.

So, rolls!

Sneaking, with Spider: [roll0], plus anything I get for being literally invisible.
Perception at anything interesting he sees, with Falcon: [roll1]
Nature, to forage: [roll2]