[3.5E] Heretic's Bane Icewind Dale

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

{{Forgot my fire damage for my chain. Here it is:
[roll0]

[Melody]

((ooc: I'm seizing this opportunity to type since I've been having trouble logging into the site lately. This isn't in story format, since these are dependant on what is going on as to what action I have to take. I wish to hold an action until I see the Shaman cast a spell. At which time something should be visible. I could use my rapier and get the rerolled miss chance for my blindfighting feat, but if he does an action and then moves I'll be at the wrong spot to hit him.. again. So.. I'm using the Lurien Shortbow (seeking), and I'm firing when I see him. The seeking ability for the Shortbow negates concealment, so when I see him I fire. If I don't see the flash, so be it, but if Bundoc hits him I'll also have a target. So I'll hope for that and hold my action accordingly for a ranged attack. Otherwise I'll just be uselessly chasing him to where he was a minute ago.))

[ArmanMadero]

((Waiting on resolution so I know where things are. Holding position for now.))

[mshady]

Orc Shaman (Init 22)

With the bleeding stopped and at least some of its wounds healed, the shaman casts another spell. The harsh sound of the orc language, strained with pain and euphoria, take on an unnatural echo that cuts through the din of the raging battle…

Atop the altar stage, the area fades and takes on a blue glow. With a loud snap, a tear between this plane and another is torn open. A blast of cold air radiates out of the rift and bluish green creature with a wild looking beard that looks like it is made of wire and coated in ice. It looks around for a moment and sees the naked woman covered in those dark blue runes.

The blast of cold air and the throbbing power of magic that briefly radiated from the rift finally stir the woman. She is younger, in her late teens or early 20s with red hair and she is about to die. The runes on her naked form pulse in the presence of whatever the shaman just summoned and her eyes finally snap open to see the creature looking down at her.

And she screams.

Not long though, as the creature turns his head, smiles and lifts its terrible saw toothed glaive high in the air and drives it through her chest, silencing her.

Yanking it free, it looks around at the raging battle. Its eagerness to join is palatable.

Duervar (Init 21)

Seeing Buna’s predicament and hearing Thordek’s bellowed order, Duervar briefly debates with himself if he actually wants to help or not. After how he berated him, saving her would be about the best way he could think of to put her in her place.

Duervar turns and charges at Buna’a attackers, but doing so gives the nearest orc a chance to take a swipe at him. The orc’s axe bites deep into his hip and thigh, slicing through the thin leather protection but the wound isn’t enough to slow Duervar down any.

He charges fourth, calling out an unintelligible battle cry and he swings his war pick down hard on an orc. The sharp point is driven right through the back of the orc’s knee cap as it flails around on the ground trying to grapple with the Arcanii on the ground. It howls in pain but is still very much alive…

Duervar takes a 13 pt wound, leaving him at 43/64 hp. In turn, he does 15 pts to the orc on the ground…

Bundok (Init 21)

Seeing the spell cast by the shaman, Bundok charges at the source of the light. Quarterstaff held high, he charges in and slams it to the ground where he thought the shaman was.

The shaman was not there anymore. He must have moved after casting.

Bundok curses. Again denied, the dwarf curses. Loudly and creatively, directed both at the shaman and Sable…

Arum Faer Wed (Init 19)

The portly gnome curses at his wounds and this battle. He casts a magic missile spell at the nearest orc but the spell has absolutely no effect on the monster. It knows it has been hit though, and by whom. Baurus’ efforts are similarly useless as he jostles, scrapes and nicks the surrounding orcs, but does little else…

Arman Madero (Init 19)

Standing in place, Arman tries to knock down one of the onrushing orcs with a magic missile spell. If he could at least wound one, Raltise and Lythe might be able to handle these two. If the remaining group broke and ran though, they would all be trampled into the ground.

He casts his spell and the bolts of magical energy work this time. The orc is buffeted by the blows, howling in pain. It clutches its side and looks around wildly, trying to figure out who just smashed him in the back with a bunch of hammer blows.

Damn, that should have killed him… Arman thinks…

Arman does 13 pts to Orc G4

Sable (Init 18)

The human scout, or assassin depending on the circumstance, drops to the ground and slings her bow. Drawing her rapier out next to where she lost the orc shaman, she now finds herself standing next to Bundok. A very irritated Bundok…

Thordek (Init 18)

Enlarged by his own spell, the Levtokuld can strike powerful blows but is easier for the orcs around him to strike. Seeing that he is becoming surrounded, Thordek falls back into a defensive posture.

He makes two, guarded, strikes at the orcs pressing around him. His first blow comes in low and wounds the orc in the leg badly. It drops to one knee for a moment as Thordek’s second blow splits the orc’s helm and cracks its skull. The flanking orc drops to the ground, dead…

Thordek kills one orc, dealing 13 and than 15 pts from two separate blows.

Hjalmar (Init 15)

The grim paladin keeps grinding on. Slowly but surely, he is keeping pace with the two enormous minotaurs. It was a point of pride for him. With a swing of his hammer, Hjalmar crushes the life out of another one of these thrice-cursed orcs, but he was still surrounded by them. He takes a swing at a second orc, but the orc’s shield blocks it…

Hjalmar does 13 pts of damage with his warhammer and slays an already wounded orc.

Carmard (Init 14)

“Nalrak! Take care of Gore and Kerik! Magnum, you too! The shaman’s summoning!” Carmard roars, his rough voice now stressed and imperative.

The Arcanii sees the new arrival and curses, but turns his attention to the minotaurs. Exactly where he didn’t want to be right now. His throwing hammer in hand, he pulls back he reaches back and throws it orc even though it is yet engaged with the beleaguered minotaur.

The terrible hammer strikes the orc in the back of the head and it tumbles to the ground, quite dead….

Kerik Many Skulls (Init 10)

Battered and wounded, none the less the massive minotaur has plenty of fight left in him. Ignoring his less foes, he roars at his wounded half ogre foe and the beast replies with its own challenge. Worked up into a fearsome rage, the minotaur swings his massive hard and fast at the orc. It bites into and through the orc’s makeshift armor and wounds the creature, but apparently not enough.

As the blow swings through the armor and flesh, Kerik reverses his momentum and its too fast for his foe to block this time either. This time, Kerik’s terrible blow severs the half ogre’s left arm, crashes through its actual armor and lodges deep in its guts. Blood gushes from the wound and his foe drops to its knees.

Kerik looks at it for a moment, thinking it was dead, but once again the half ogre roars and rises to attack him.

“Just die!” the minotaur roars.

His deadly axe flashes one last, sweeping forward as the half ogre rises only to have his head removed at the collar bones. The momentum of his last, wild swing carries through in a wide arc and strikes another one of those ugly orcs. It’s shield is sent flying the axe splits its chain and abdomen. Yanking the axe free, the orc looks at its wound and it drops…

Gore (Init 9)

In far worse shape than Kerik, Gore swoons from his wounds. The sudden assistance from Carmard is barely noticed; all Gore can tell is one of his foes just toppled over in his red haze of rage and pain. Regardless of the pain, his terrible axe keeps swinging.

His first blow cuts deep into the orc next to him, but the awkward angle only makes it a nearly mortal wound. The next blow from the great axe crushes the orc’s hip and severs its leg. The momentum carries but next orc in line blocks the blow. Stepping into the blow, Gore closes the distance and drives his spiked elbow down and through the orc’s collar bone. The orc lives and looks fearfully between the two enormous minotaurs who are quickly slaughtering all of their companions…

Nalrak (Init 9)

Moving towards the beleaguered minotaur, Gore, Nalrak calls upon his God to heal his ally. Doing so leaves him open to an attack from the orc he was facing, however. It’s axe strikes out at the dwarf, but his thick armor rings in protest as the axe bangs off it harmlessly. While getting that close to the raging bull might intimidate a lesser dwarf, Nalrak counts on his God’s protection and the minotaur’s training to protect him. Wild eyed under his helmet, Gore turns towards Nalrak to swing his axe at the newcomer but realizes he is one of the dwarves and turns back to the orcs. Nalrak’s spell heals the minotaur’s wounds significantly and much of the bleeding stops from its terrible wounds…

The act of rushing in and casting draws the attention of one of the orcs standing between Gore and Kerik. It takes a vicious swing at the armored priest, but this two manages is turned away from his unyielding armor. That neither blow did not open his armor like a ration can surprises the dwarf and he thanks Gorm for the protection, but knows he may not be so lucky the next time….

Nalrak sacrifices a Summon Monster III spell to heal Gore for 14 pts.

Grathalmor (Init 10)

Less than pleased by the hammering he has just taken from the half ogre’s meaty fists, Grathalmor makes a quick cut at the orc with his axe head of his urgrosh but it bangs off the half ogre’s armor. Having swung to the right, the spear point of the urgrosh is aligned with the half ogre and he jams it hard at his foe’s leg. It sinks deep into its trunk like legs, banging off a bone before he yanks it free. Grathalmor tries to make another quick attack with the axe part of the urgrosh but the half ogre catches the haft of the weapon in mid swing and violently it aside. The veteran Legionnaire barely keeps a grip on the weapon. Wounded once more, the half ogre is clearly being worn down but it was hardly dead yet…

Grathalmor’s first and last attacks miss. His spear attack does 8 pts to the half ogre…

Kelith (Init 9)

Clearing his head from the pain of the javelins, Kelith moves towards the orcs trying to flank his position. With his bloody chain whistling over his head, he first sends another dagger streaking towards the orcs trying to flank him from the diminishing cloud of daggers whirling around him. The phantom dagger spits the orc right through its armor and lodges into its chest. It immediately yanks the dagger from the wound and screams in pain as blood flows from the wound and froths from its mouth. Taking the opening, Kelith sends his chain flying towards the orc in a straight line. The blow catches the orc right in the face with the spiked ball at its end, caving in its nose and part of its forehead. It drops to the ground and twitches…

Johannes (Init 9)

Sword tightly gripped, the diminutive dwarf stabs out at the half ogre facing him one more time. His thrust dives between the half ogre’s legs and groin, hoping to sever the vital arteries he knew were there from his studies. The mithril longsword finds the gap and it sinks deep. While a terrible wound, his strike missed his mark. Cursing, he brings his sword back into a defensive position and hopes the massive creature focuses on the far tougher Grathalmor instead…

Johannes used 2 inspiration points and wounded the half ogre for 10 pts. It’s still alive though…

Body Guards (Init 8)

The half ogre between Johannes and Grathalmor shrugs off both of their attacks. It single-mindedly continues its attack on Grathalmor. Gripping its two fists together, it raises them high and lands a crushing blow on Grathalmor’s shoulder. It nearly drives him to the ground. The second blow just thumps against the shoulder of his armor but does little. Wounded but still deadly quick, the half ogre lunges at Grathalmor and bites down hard on his helmet. It shakes the dwarf to and fro, nearly knocking him off his feet and rattling him badly.

The half ogre does 21 pts to Grathalmor between its fists and teeth.

Buna (Init 7)

Struggling beneath the press of the three orcs, Buna pulls one of her pistols from her belt. She manages to avoid the grasping hands of the orcs and fires the weapon right into the face of one of the orcs atop her. The bullet explodes its skull and it drops atop her, limp and heavy. Emptied, she throws the pistol aside.

She hollers and yells incoherently as she tries to fight off the remaining orcs…

Buna shoots and kills one of her three grapplers…

Raltise & Lythe (Init 5)

To the north of the battle, Raltise and Lythe fight on. Ordering Lythe to fall back, Raltise throws a Tanglefoot bag at one of the orcs, hoping to glue it the rocky floor. The bag catches the orc in leg and the bag flies apart, gluing it fast to the ground and it roars in astonishment. Like the well drilled team the two are, Lythe takes a step back and pounds the ground with her foot. A wave of psionic energy radiates out from her as the ground quakes beneath her foot.

Both orcs tumble to the ground, falling hard as they lose their footing.

Magnum (Init 4)

Lumbering and heavily armored, Magnum takes a mighty swing with his axe against the half ogre. The blow comes in high and cleaves through the half ogre’s shoulder bone and deep into its chest cavity. The fearsome beast snaps its head around in Magnum’s direction and its hand darts out to dislodge the axe. Badly wounded once more, it none the less seems ready to battle on.

After a moment though, matters change. Heart thundering and full of adrenaline, its body none the less finally succumbs to its wounds. The half ogre topples over to the ground, thoroughly dead, in a pool of its own expanding blood…

Eastern Orcs 1

The two remaining orcs near the minotaurs and now Nalrak judge their chances and they’re not good. Shield held out defensively, the two orcs back peddle away their foes and head towards the exit….

Eastern Orcs 2

The orcs press in around Hjalmar and Arum. One moves in too quickly to make its attack, and Hjalmar nearly blasts it off its feet with a hammer blow to the chest. Far tougher than the average orc though, the blow only staggers the orc momentarily.

Now in contact with four of the orcs, even the dwarf’s famously thick armor cannot shrug off the wild, crazed attacks of all his foes. Through skillful shield work and maneuvering, he blocks one axe and shrugs off another. It’s not enough, however. One axe blow chops down into the same thigh that he nearly lost days before to an ogre and the strike feels even harder. The hardest blow comes high and is just outside of his narrow field of vision. It strikes him square in the helmet, cleaves through the steel and rakes across the side of his face. He can feel his jaw crack and skull fracture from the blow. The gleeful orc pulls back its axe and looks gleeful, thinking he just killed the fearless dwarf.

Hjalmar swoons from the blow for a moment and regains his composure. He spits blood and raises his shield once again, banging his hammer against it. Ready for the next onslaught, it comes in the form of orcs trying to leap and try to bite at him. The get nothing but a mouthful of shield and dwarven steel, however…

The orcs deal 45 pts of damage to Hjalmar through a critical and a regular hit. His attack of opportunity against one does 16 pts, but does not kill the orc…

The last orc in the line takes another at Arum. This time, his axe strikes true and it nearly rocks him backwards but he is at least able to avoid the orc’s snapping jaws…

Arum takes a 10 pt hit from the orc.

Western Orcs 1

The orcs surrounding Thordek continue to flank the Levtokuld and things are looking grim for this side of battle. Their blows rain down on Thordek, battering and knocking him about. His shield work and armor defeats most of the attacks, but three of them chop into him hard. He takes painful wounds to the arm, leg and right through his chest armor. The wounds are a well of blood, and while he can still fight he won’t be able to stay inside this circle of steel for long…

Thordek takes 30 pts of damage from 3 axe blows… 20/60 HP

Western Orcs 2

The two remaining orcs that are trying to hold down Buna pummel her with blows. They crush in the front of her ornate helmet, dislodging one of the eye crystals and try to break her legs. It’s impossible to tell how badly wounded she is, but it doesn’t look good…

Western Orcs 3

The two orcs closest to Kelith back away, but not before one of them can take a swing with its crude axe at him. Kelith’s magically reinforced armor shrugs off the axe though as it slides harmlessly, but not painlessly, off his chain. Its bite misses him cleanly, snapping into clear air. The second orc back peddles and throws a javelin at Kelith, followed by a rain of javelins from its cohorts on the other side.

Of the javelins, most miss or tumble as they fly, thumping against Kelith but doing little more than bruising him. One, however, spears him in the leg. It strikes deep and falls out as his leg bolts backwards from the wound. It leaves a hole in the flesh in his thigh and he thanks Kossuth that it hadn’t hit his belly instead.

Having thrown two javelins now, it looks like the orcs are out of them now…

Kelith takes a 10 pt hit from one of the thrown javelins. It was a potential critical but was not confirmed. 38/63 hp

“Kerik! Gore! Some o’the rest o’ye! The orcs to yer right! Yer right!” Carmard bellows as he watches the battle unfold, high in the air….

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5867/orccave7em3.th.jpg (http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?image=orccave7em3.jpg)

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5867/orccave7em3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5867/orccave7em3.be8968ac5c.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=293&i=orccave7em3.jpg)

[mshady]

Sorry for the delay in getting the turn posted. I've had some connection issues and time constraints. We're going to proceed at a faster pace going forward :)

If you can't read the map, lemme know...

As one can imagine, this was a pretty brutal turn to resolve.

Mike

[ArmanMadero]

((I will be able to resolve my stuff tomorrow night or wednesday morning. Wasn't able to connect until now.. just in time to go out for dinner for our anniversary. hee hee. So.. will let you know then!))

[PocketRocket]

Grathalmore

Grathalmore is becoming agitated at the presence of the half-ogre in front of him. "Ye can hit me all ye want, but ye will die by me weapon, beast!"

Attack1 (axe):[roll0]
Damage1:[roll1]
Attack2 (spear):[roll2]
Damage2:[roll3]
Attack3 (axe):[roll4]
Damage3:[roll5]

Seeing Magnum take down the large half-ogre, Grathalmore lets out a sigh of relief. As he sighs, he looks up and notices the large summoned creature, murder the sacrificial female. Grathalmore looks at Magnum. "Well I guess that be our next enemy. Ye think ye can help me with some healing 'fore we go?"

[King Tius]

Nalrak

Obeying Carmand's orders, Nalrak delivers another jolt of healing juice to the minotaurs (whichever one needs it more) and stays close behind them (though out of their immediate rage) to provide further healing assistance.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith
AC: 26 (+4 from buffs, +3 from Armor Rune)
HP: 55/63 (+6 from buff)

Seeing his blood start to make a noticeable pool on the ground beneath him he hurls his second to last dagger at one of the retreating orcs before starting his chant. As he finishes brings his hands together and with the friction between them flames erupt. He quickly moves his hands from one wound to the next, and while he touches the javelins they quickly erupt into flame and disappear as the fire seals up the wounds. Now feeling in much better shape, Kelith moves to AH-18 readying his chain for the onslaught to come.

((Casting Cure Serious Wounds and moving to AH-18}}
[roll0]

Spells Cast
0-2
1st-2
2nd-3
3rd-2

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

{{Crap, forgot my dagger attack}}
[roll0]
[roll1]

[ArmanMadero]

Arman looked around and saw a few things that disturbed him. And there was nothing he could do. While looking around, he noticed that Thordek was in some real trouble. He was just glad that he would be invisible for another few moments. Maybe something could be done then. Reaching once again into one of his pouches, he pulled yet another scroll, and with a grimace he noticed his last of that spell, and moved foreward to get a better attack.

He was going to have to take a chance. And he knew it. Calling out some directions, he quickly cast his spell and started moving again, grateful he was invisible. "Raltise-DOWN! Thordek-Some lightning coming to help you!" Aiming, he yelled out a final time... the word from the scroll that activated the spell... "Tintreach!"

The scroll disintigrated from his hand as lightning went out from his fingertip, and he quickly started moving away from where he was, knowing that he was just made a target.

I should be in square AH-04 BTW M.

5' Step to AG-04. Lightning Bolt from scroll. Then moving to AJ-07. I should be able to do all that. If Raltise moves before my spell is complete, because I'm not sure if his position is correct, then I needn't worry about him ducking my spell. Thordek, I'm hoping that the lightning runs out of juice by the time it reaches you. My bad if it doesn't. Just trying to cause the most damage effecively. And they are all nice and lined up there...

[mshady]

Hey everyone. Just wanted to say I appreciate the continued interest!

I'll be fishing this weekend but the turn will be resolved this Monday. Tuesday at the latest as I'm leaving tomorrow night right after work.

So.... turns are due this Sunday and I'll process everything Monday.

This should develop into a very interesting round. Some of you are in a tough spot right now too, so watch for the actions of others i.e. Thordek watch out ;)

Mike

[bchilders]

Magnum

Magnum looks over to Grathalmore and says, "So...me and you against this Ice demon. Let's say whoever lands the finishing blow, the other buys ale when we get back to civilization, eh?" Magnum hands over a potion bottle and says a small prayer over his companion.

Handed over a potion of Cure Serious and waiting to see the result of my Knowledge religion to decide what spell to give

Knowledge Religion: 22 (rolled in OOC)

edit: Decided on bull's strength

[PocketRocket]

Grathalmore

"Ha! I like your style priest. I'll gladly take that bet." Grathalmore smiles as he looks at the demon who appeared and swallows the potion that was just given to him.

Cure Serious = 3d8+5 (29)

[Katasi]

Seeing how badly things are going Arum casts shield.

[loopy]

Johannes

I look around the swirling melee, watching the battle progress, as if slightly detached from reality. Seeing bright red blood spill, I walk over, grasping a holy symbol around my neck, mumbling as I move. I lay my hand upon my companion, a simple benediction, like I saw that priest do so long ago...

((Johannes moves over to an injured ally and uses a charge of Opportunistic Piety to heal someone for 16 points of damage, provided he's in range of someone in need. If not, he just continues meleeing.))

[Yuki Akuma]

Raltise Siprite
HP: 42/57
AC: 23
Speed: 30ft

The psionicist smirks slightly, jogging towards the exit so no other orcs can try to escape. Almost nonchalantly, he fires off another bolt of psychic energy at one of the orcs.

Move to AG-2 and attack closest orc.

Attack! [roll0]
Damage! [roll1]

[thorgrim29]

Thordrek take a step back and sideways and, risquing an attack from an orc, takes a potion from his belt and drinks it.

((5 foot step, down and right, the drinking a potion of healing))

[roll0]

[mshady]

Heya everyone - post will be up tonight. Almost done - its an exciting round :)

[mshady]

Partial Resolution...

Orc Shaman (Init 22)

The shaman remains invisible, its summoning not giving away its position. The same foul incantations can be heard once again and a second fiend appears in a blast of cold air from a portal ripped into the fabric between the planes. The light from the casting gives away the shaman’s position momentarily, but whether it cast and moved or moved and cast is impossible to tell.

This new field holds a fearsome looking saw toothed glaive. It looks around, momentarily confused about what is going on before it sees the sacrifice before it.

This second fiend spies its sacrifice and roars with delight and fury before plunging its weapon into the second sacrifice, what looks like an older man still barely encrusted in the ice. It’s pact satisfied, it turns towards the onrushing dwarves and side steps to meet them.

The other devil spins his saw toothed glaive and it takes on an incandescent blue hue for a moment before it slashes through the air. With an ear piercing call into the portal that forms behind the Forgemark dwarves. A mass of fleshy blobs materialize, mindless and possessed only with a hunger. Lemures, the conscripts of devils are the quintessential fodder of the planes and quite dangerous in groups.

The rain down blows on the dwarves around them, with Magnum being struck one hard in the knee (2 hp) and Grathalmor takes a body blow from another without his shield to protect him (4 hp), while Johannes escapes unscathed but rattled. The lemurs groan is agonized hunger, desperate to eat, desperate to do their master’s bidding.

Duervar (Init 21)

Swing his pick once again, he drives it through the flailing orc’s armor and the pick digs deep into the orc’s chest. The orc coughs and clutches it’s wound before it falls off the beleaguered Arcanii. With no other orcs within arm’s reach, he hopes Buna can throw off her last assailant as he move towards Thordek as the Levtokuld is pummeled.

“Buna, yer on your own! I gotta help the big fella!!” he says as he moves off.

Bundok (Init 21)

Frustrated at being out of a fight that is raging around him, Bundok is aching to get into the fight. When he sees the flash and hears the chanting of the shaman’s casting again, he doesn’t bite this time. Instead, he swings south to support his comrades but not without giving that incompetent long legged woman who blew his ambush and missed her kill a scornful look.

Hopefully, he will cut off the shaman or be closer to him as it moves closer to the main battle itself. He figured there were three sacrifices and the shaman couldn’t get too far from his summoning circles or he couldn’t complete the last summoning. Hopefully the slippery bastard was closer to him this time.

With the fire pits and flashes of magic streaking through the slaughter, his eyes catch a bloody foot print. Nothing else was near it, alive at any rate. The ground was scorched and littered with mostly charred bodies. A still wet print is visible on the white cloak of dead orc near him…

gotcha…

Arum Faer Wed (Init 19)

Spurring Baurus and pulling back on its reins, Arum backs the raging badger off a bit and is thankful no one has managed to land a blow upon it yet. He wasn’t sure what would happen with this badger and wished he had a few weeks of practice before getting on it. Reeling from his own wounds and cursing bitterly at his luck, he calls out some incantations once again and weaves a lesser but very useful adjuration. A nearly transparent shield of force appears, interposing itself between these hard hitting orcs and himself. He felt a little less naked this way…

Meanwhile, his summoned beetles swarm one of the nearby orcs as they lunge at it with their pincers. The first one’s lunge is sidestepped. The other two are better positioned but the orc blocks both attacks with his shield with little effort. Dangerous if they can find an opening, the enormous insects can’t quite find another one yet…

Arum casts a shield spell, raising his AC by +4

Sable (Init 18)

The sharp eyed scout none the less cannot find her foe. Her job was to bring it down and that was all that mattered to her right now. However, she couldn’t see it and seemed to be in an endless game of tag with her quarry. Moving towards the only datum she had, she bolts towards the area where she saw the light from the shaman’s latest summoning. Between her and that scruffy dwarf with his ridiculous stick and her, she hoped they could triangulate its position and force it to move, than cast rather than the other way around.

Thordek (Init 18)

Using the terrain to his advantage, Thordek drops back and puts his back against the stone wall. At least he could not be completely surrounded and Duervar might come back and help him. Or not. You just couldn’t tell what the hell that dwarf was going to do…

Keeping in the best defensive posture he could manage, he clutches his waraxe with his shield hand for a moment thanks to his casting glove. Swiping a potion off his bandolier, he pops the thin metal tube in his mouth, bites off the cork and swallows the vile tasting contents than spits out bits of cork and the bottle out on the ground. He feels the healing potion course through his body, but it can hardly make goods his already significant injuries nor stop the blazing pain that made his head spin.

Thordek heals himself by 7 HP with a CLW potion. 27/60 HP

Hjalmar (Init 15)

Taking a step backwards to fill the hole that Arum just left and hopefully protect the portly gnome, Hjalmar keeps on swinging despite his significant wounds. This time though, the orcs seem to have learned his timing. The one orc flanking Arum and blocking the potential charge of the minotaurs side steps his first blow and sends its shield out ahead of it to block the second swing. Hjalmar joins Arum in his cursing as the eight remaining orcs look to finish off the mountain of a paladin. Concentrating on his defenses now more than offense, they’ll find a much tougher job of that than they expect…

Hjalmar is in full defense and fighting defensively, boosting his AC for the round..

Carmard (Init 14)

Looking between the quickly unraveling situation on his left, Carmard curses bitterly at his lack of options. Gambling that his magic can even get through this bizarre resistance these orcs had, he casts another spell and sends two rays of flame at the orc next to Arum and Hjalmar. The first scorching ray beam scorches the orc badly, but it still stands. The second burns it fiercely, igniting some of its clothing in the process. The orc drops to the ground and thrashes about in flames.

Gliding towards the north east, he looks about for the shaman as well, trusting the other dwarves will be able to hold against the summoned devils without him for a moment.

“Kerik, Gore! Charge those orcs to your right! Forgemark, hold those devils!! Nalrak, keep those damn minotaurs alive!” the Arcanii bellows, loud but devoid of passion as he rearranged his mental lance board for this battle. His sharp eyes dart across the battlefield and he notices Buna’s predicament, but is powerless to effect it…

Kerik Many Skulls (Init 10)

Heeding his orders, perhaps something that surprises even him, Gore turns towards the orcs pummeling Hjalmar and Arum. Lowering his helm and aiming his blood slicked horns at his foes, the bull minotaur roars and hurtles towards the orc. It’s axe swings out at Kerik as he comes charging in with a reckless, frenzied abandon and strikes the minotaur right between the horns with a tremendous crack as his helmet splits from the blow.

The blow doesn’t even slow the onrushing minotaur as its helmet spike and two true horns are driven right through the orcs chest and out the other side, spitting it like a piece of meat on a fork. With a sharp upward jerk of his head, Kerik throws the orc off his spike and horns, sending it tumbling through the air, spilling blood out of its chest cavity like it was a broken keg…

Grathalmor (Init 10)

"Ha! I like your style priest. I'll gladly take that bet." Grathalmor smiles as he looks at the two demons who have just appeared and swallows the potion that was just given to him.

His confidence wanes as this devil or demon summons fourth its foot soldiers. A dozen fleshly blobs of moaning flesh appear around him. They lunge and thrust at him with their gelatin heads and one of blows rather hurts! They don’t look too tough to the experienced Legionnaire, but there were a lot of them.

And he had cast aside his shield.

Grathalmor is healed by 29 pts by the potion, bringing him to 70/76 hp

Gore (Init 9)

Following his leader in the charge, Gore launches into his own headlong charge. The skilled orc that is the target of Gore’s charge also lashes out with its own axe, striking the minotaur hard in the side of its head. Bone cracks and blood streams from the rent in its armor but while it’s a serious wound, it doesn’t stop the minotaurs momentum or cause its savagery to abate whatsoever. The spikes and horns lance through the orcs armor, from groin to shoulder and Gore casts the dead orc much as Kerik did. Roaring, he stands up to his full height and prepares to continue the slaughter…

Nalrak (Init 9)

As the minotaurs charge by, Nalrak follows behind the charge. The already heavily battered Gore takes another very solid wound from the orc he just speared with his spike. Converting a third level spell, he places his hand on the minotaurs back and calls out a blessing of Dumathion. His hand pulses blue for a long moment as the healing strength of the Silent God courses through his feral ally.

Nalrak heals Gore for 13 hp, converting a 3rd level spell. Please let the DM know which one as part of the next round’s resolution.

Kelith (Init 9)

Seeing his blood start to make a noticeable pool on the ground beneath him he hurls his second to last dagger at one of the retreating orcs before starting his chant. As he finishes brings his hands together and with the friction between them flames erupt. He quickly moves his hands from one wound to the next, and while he touches the javelins they quickly erupt into flame and disappear as the fire seals up the wounds. Now feeling in much better shape, Kelith moves southwards, readying his chain for the onslaught to come.

Kelith heals himself for 17 pts, bringing him to 55/63 hp. DM Note: Instead of moving to AH 18, he moves to AJ18. Otherwise, that would have put him in direct melee with 4 orcs, giving up his combat reflexes bonus

Johanssen (Init 9)

Being surrounded by these fleshy blobs spawned from the Hells complicates his original plan for trying to heal one of his allies. Instead, he takes his mithril sword and quickly swings it at these disgusting new arrivals. Lemures? Only thing they could be, he thinks. In his haste, he strikes the creature with the flat side of the sword. Instead of a deep slashing wound, all he can hear is his sword thump against the creature’s flesh. It doesn’t even seem to notice the blow…

Buna (Init 7)

Down to only assailant, Buna skillfully gets both hands around the orc’s one hand and moves it away from her and twists hard on it. Using the opening, she rolls out of the grapple and scrambles to her feet.

“I’m going to roast yer arse for that one, ye damned runt orc!” she hisses. With her urgosh on the ground, she only has her shield to protect her now. Reaching up with her free hand, she tosses aside her battered Arcanii helm and growls at the scrambling orc…

Raltise & Lythe (Init 5)

The psionicist smirks slightly, jogging towards the exit so no other orcs can try to escape. Almost nonchalantly, he fires off another bolt of psychic energy at one of the orcs.

Perhaps a bit too casual, the bolt of energy crashes into the stone floor instead.

Lythe has better luck as her fists slam the orc hard in the ribs, crunching bone. The stout orc none the less remains standing from the blow, its eyes leveled on little Lythe with a blazing ferocity…

Arman Madero (Init 19 – Delayed to Init 4)

He was going to have to take a chance. And he knew it. Calling out some directions, he quickly cast his spell and started moving again, grateful he was invisible. "Raltise-DOWN! Thordek-Some lightning coming to help you!" Aiming, he yelled out a final time... the word from the scroll that activated the spell... "Tintreach!"

As he unleashes the magic in his precious scroll, Thordek steps out of the line of his spell quite inadvertently and so does Raltise. It courses through his body and he feels a supreme urgency to let it fly, barely able to hold on to the magic. His fingers crackle and become enveloped in electrical energy as he gestures in the direction of the orcs, sending another powerful lightning bolt scything through this seemingly endless enemy.

Of the seven orcs in the row, three of them appear to shrug off the magic entirely – although they certainly notice its passing. Two of the rest dodge away, only being scorched. Of the other three, one orc takes the bolt of lightning right in the chest but somehow remains standing yet in extreme pain. Two of the others drop to the ground, succumbing to their wounds including the one adjacent to Thordek as the lightning explodes into the stone. Fragments of it are blown about and the fragile stone column shudders and groans.

Arman’s summoned hell hound continues its own attack. Laying prone and immobilized by the Tanglefoot bag Raltise just threw at it, the hell hound leaps for its prey. Its teeth gnash, claws fly and its fiery bite char the orcs neck. Locked on, its teeth squeeze the life out of the orc…

Magnum (Init 4)

Magnum looks over to Grathalmor and says, "So...me and you against this Ice demon. Let's say whoever lands the finishing blow, the other buys ale when we get back to civilization, eh?" Magnum only has time to hand over his potion bottle and says a small prayer for his companion as he eyes the demon or devil. He suddenly finds himself surrounded by another kind of outsider.

His bewildered mind has trouble focusing on lore in this swirling battle, but he recognizes both after a moment. Now two bearded devils and one summoned its retinue of lemurs to join it; the other one had yet to summon. That glaive the devils held and their wiry beards were both nasty in their own right but they were also frenzied fighters as well, not unlike the minotaurs or most of the other orcs he had seen. They could also teleport at will…

Clearly those poor humans are obviously sacrifices; that’s why the first thing they do is kill them and claim their souls before anything else. And there was one left.


The Orc's side of the turn will be up tomorrow night!

[mshady]

Western Orcs

Almost evenly matched in numbers now, these orcs are desperate to even the odds and take advantage of the raging minotaur’s reckless charges. The orc in front of Gore swings his battleaxe at the minotaur and it tears a rent in his thick armor and cuts into his side deeply. Blood streams from the wound and the minotaur grunts hard from the wound and staggers for a moment. He almost seems to be keeping himself on his feet through sheer temerity at this point. A second orc swings hard at Kerik, its axe cutting through the side of Kerik’s chest cuirass. Bones crunch and muscles are cut as blood runs freely from the hard shot he just took. Kerik’s eyes blaze in anger at the orc as the minotaur marks his next victim…

Another orc tries to swing around from behind the first two attackers and attack Kerik. His fearsome axe swings out in a flash and crashes through the orc’s shield, slices through its chainmail and cuts all the way through to the orc’s spine. With his axe sunk too deeply to pull it out, Kerik drags the flailing orc towards him and stops on its head and holds down the orc as he frees his axe. Somehow the frenzied orc stands and tries to stumble off, dead but not quite realizing it yet before its innards move outwards and it collapses.

The two orcs adjacent to Hjalmar now look at taking their own turn with the big dwarf. In spite of Hjalmar’s best defenses, the farthest orc again strikes true. It feints to the right with a blow and Hjalmar’s shield darts to meet it, but the orc is too fast and it reverses its direction. It chops down hard into Hjalmar’s left hip so hard he fears something might have broke.

Hjalmar takes an 11 pt hit from the orc. 13/78 hp.

The other orc decides to try and put one of those damned minotaurs down for good. With a mighty swing, the orc’s axe whistles through the air and strikes one of the minotaur’s hard metal spikes, denting his own axe and bending over the armor spike. Cursing, the orc hopes to survive the wounded minotaur’s next attack and wonders what it took to slay the damned beast…

Eastern Orcs

The remaining orcs, out of javelins, decide to press onwards in hopes the one last push they had in them would be enough to kill some of their attackers. Howling and whooping, they charge onwards at Kelith. With his chain swinging around him, he watches the orcs come in on him from the left and lets his chain dance amongst them. It swings out and strikes one hard, bounces back and is swung around again to batter another and snapped to the left to strike the third on rushing orc. However hard the hits are though, only one of the orcs go down.

Kelith does 12, 11 pts and 7 pts amongst the three orcs attacking him, killing one…

Unfortunately, four other orcs make it within striking distance of Kelith and swing at him. He dodges and blocks two of the blows, but two more strike him very hard. The axes slice into his arm and rake across his back and ribs painfully, filleting the flesh off part of his back. The hot pain from THAT wound is like no fire he’s ever been in.

Kelith takes 23 pts of damage from the two blows, leaving him at 31/63 hp

Buna, now on her feet, finds herself unarmed except for her shield. Fortunately for her, it’s an axe shield. As the onrushing orc lunges for her, she side steps it and slices downwards with her axe shield at the orc’s outstretched arm. The arm is severed at the elbow and the orc pulls it back it’s bloody stump and screams in shock before collapsing to the ground.

Quick as a cat, Buna is back in a defensive stance. She bats away one axe blow aimed for her exposed head with a resounding clang. The second axe blow comes in just as she blocks the other blow and strikes her in the side of her chest. Her armor is torn and she is jolted to the side by the brutal strength of the blow. Red seeps between the seams of her armor. Stumbling, she clutches the wound reflexively and growls. With a broken nose and a battered face, she is wearing a mask of blood and bruises at this point. It’s hard to tell how much more she can take.

Thordek finds himself nearly surrounded as the orcs press on. One sweep of his axe drops one onrushing attacker, but it’s hardly enough. Four more orcs rain blows down upon him. One strikes him right next to the spine, the shock stunning him for a moment and breaking ribs in that tender area. The second blow splits his thigh, digging deep but missing the femoral artery.

The last blow proves to be too much for Thordek to withstand. Tottering, he groans and falls to the ground in a heap. Blood seeps from his wounds as he lapses into unconsciousness…

Thordek is at -4/64 HP. He’s unconscious and fading, but not dead yet.

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/8527/orccave8zr9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
[URL=http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=224&i=orccave8zr9.jpg][IMG]http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/85

[bchilders]

Magnum

Magnum looks at the bearded demons cursing them for summoning these fleshy wretches. Magnum considers pushing through these monster but decides not to leave his fellow dwarves. He attacks the creature in front of Grathalmore, hoping to carve a path towards the real threats. "Blast you demons...come and fight us yourself cowards," Magnum yells at the glaive carrying monsters.

Attack:[roll0]
Damage:[roll1]

I don't know if these guys just appeared around us or moved to us, but if they moved toward us I should have gotten an AOO because I'm large. Just let me know...thanks

[PocketRocket]

Grathalmore

Grathalmore swings wildly with his Urgosh. "Get these blasted jellies out of here. Come and get us ye stinking demons."


Attack1:[roll0]
Damage1:[roll1]

Attack2:[roll2]
Damage2:[roll3]

Attack3:[roll4]
Damage3:[roll5]

[Katasi]

Arum flips off the nearest orc while screaming seemingly impossible obscenities about the orcs' mothers and how girly the orcs look to him. He waits until after the incoming minotaurs attack, then with a few quick hand motions and a couple words of power her sends bolts of force flying from his finger tips into the nearest orc.

[delaying until after the minos attack]

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith
AC: 26 (+4 from buffs, +3 from Armor Rune)
HP: 56/63 (+6 from buff)

{{Circle of Blades Damage: [roll0]
The 3 orcs next to me all take this damage, no save.

If the orc in Ak-18 is still alive i'll toss my last dagger at him, if he is dead I'll just attack the nearest orc.}}

[roll1]
[roll2]

{{Assuming I kill the orc in Ak-18, otherwise I will edit my post}}

After tossing his last dagger Kelith will side step (to Ak-18) away from the orcs and once again ask for Kossuth's blessing as he heals the new wounds he has taken.

{{Casting CSW [roll3] after moving to Ak-18}}
Spells Cast
0-2
1st-2
2nd-3
3rd-3

[Katasi]

forgot ride check

[roll0]

[ArmanMadero]

ROUND 8

Arman wasn't sure what to do now. More things to fight. Thordek went down and nothing could be seen of him anymore. He needed healing. Arman figured maybe another fifteen seconds or less and his invisibility would wear off. Then he would be a target.

"Diúracán déanta de draíochta cruth agus buail" Missiles shot once again from his hand and headed towards where he last saw Thordek, slamming into one of the Orc creatures there.

Arman cursed himself a bit for forcing Thordek to move back and make himself more of a target with the lightning bolt, but it could not be helped. He needed to do as much damage as he could.

[King Tius]

Nalrak sacrifices his final third level spell (Stone Shape) to infuse Gore again with healing energy (unless the other minotaur needs it more). "C'mon now, ye big bulls! Drive them back to hell!"

OOG: Nalrak sacrificed Wind Wall last round.

[mshady]

Hey everyone - still need posts for Johannes, Hjalmar, Bundok, Sable and Raltise... I don't mind skipping a few people in a round but...

Otherwise the turn is resolved :)

Mike

[ArmanMadero]

OOC: Dun Dun DUN

[thorgrim29]

Thordrek slowly bleeds to death, and the prepares an action to bleed to death.
(old tradition with my gaming group, because the dm would ask the ko'd players what their action is)

[Katasi]

Thordrek slowly bleeds to death, and the prepares an action to bleed to death.
(old tradition with my gaming group, because the dm would ask the ko'd players what their action is)

um, shouldn't you roll to see if you stabilize?

[thorgrim29]

((yeah.... traditionnaly, thats the dm's job))

[loopy]

Johannes

Attack:[roll0]
Damage[roll1]

Seeing no other options available, Johannes lunges again, longsword swinging.

[Katasi]

Arum's bugs will make a beeline for the nearest devil.

[GimliFett]

Hjalmar

The big paladin glares at the orcs surrounding him. He calls out in dwarven: "Medic!" Hjalmar then hefts his warhammer and lashes out, though he attempts to maintain the more defensive front he had begun previously.

Continue Fighting Defensively.
[roll0]
Crit not necessary.
[roll1]
[roll2]

[roll3]
Crit not necessary.
[roll4]
[roll5]

[mshady]

Hey everyone! Looks like we are back up! I worked on the turn while the website was down, so for those posting later it may not be an exact match for what you were trying to do. I tried to make the best decisions I could in the absence...

Mike

Orc Shaman (Init 22)

Sable and Bundok can hear the shaman moving northeast, back the way he came. Its breathing is heavy and the ground is littered with refuse, debris and death. Suddenly a blue and red glow emanates from an area equidistant between Bundok and Sable. The air next to Bundok roils and rolls into itself before he hears a dull roar and the area is filled with bluish smoke and a blast of cold area.

Another devil appears, but this time it appears right next to Bundok. It has a less intelligent look about it, but it’s very single minded. The wicked looking saw toothed glaive with its unsettling red hue slashes out at Bundok, faster than he can block the attack with his quarterstaff or move out of its way. Instead, the raging devil’s swing strikes him painfully but his marvelous mithril chainmail holds! The devil roars at him, angered that it didn’t wound him with its sudden attack.

The devil swings at Bundok, rolling a 21 v. AC23. The light from the casting is at H16…

Duervar (Init 21)

Now in a position of trying to hold the line all himself, Duervar decides to fight defensively and combine it with one of the old style Forgemark stances he has learned.

Gripping his trusty mining pick in hand, he swings it hard from left to right hoping to drive it through this particular orc’s chest. He focuses on that moment, sees it happening and swings. His aim is true and the sideways strike swoops just under the orc’s shield and digs deep into its abdomen. Strengthened by his focus, Duervar tunes out his surroundings and feels little of the pain from his wounds.

Duervar yanks his pick from the orc’s side and blood oozes from the wound. Not as deep as he thought! The orc clutches its side and looks at Duervar with a wild eyed hatred, marking his as his next target…

Bundok (Init 21)

Stunned by the ferocity of the attack and indeed not expecting one, the gruff dwarven pathfinder matches the devil’s attack with his own ferocity. Holding his staff in both hands, he spins it over his head and shortens his grip before swinging his staff down hard at the devil. Indeed, he steps into the blow and it whistles downwards. The blow cracks the devil hard on the shoulder, just missing its head. It screams in pain and clutches the wound with its other hand. Bones are crunched and flesh pulped by the blow but the monster continues to clutch it’s glaive, almost heedless of its wound. For how hard he just hit the creature, he can’t help but think it should have done more…

Bundok rolls a 24 and does 11 pts of damage out of a 1d6+13 blow

Arman Madero (Init 19)

Confused about what to do now, he says a quick silent prayer to the Seldarine in hopes that Raltise and Lythe can hold this next batch of orcs. Arman sends another magic missile spell towards the orcs and, unlike Arum, his spell rakes the orc badly with his missile. Staggered for a moment, the orc looks around for what hit it but sees nothing.

Arman’s still invisible…

His hell hound isn’t though, and its jaws snap around the orc’s arm and tear at it. The hound gives it a painful but slight wound.

Arman does 13 pts to the orc, hurting it badly but it’s still very much alive. The hell hound does 4 HP wound on the orc.

Sable (Init 18)

Having watched and waited for her chance, Sable feels confident that the light from the shaman’s casting is truly where he is. Indeed, she even heard its words! She draws back her fine Darkwood short bow, holds her breath and aims down the shaft with a perfect archer’s stance. She lets the arrow fly and her bow tips forward after the shot and she holds it parallel with her forearm as the arrow streaks towards the nearly adjacent orc.

The arrow disappears in the gloom for a split moment and she wonders if she somehow missed her shot until she hears a grunt, than a howl of pain. Blood splatters on the ground, separated from the body that once contained it, it is now visible.

Sable wounds the orc shaman for 21 HP

Thordek (Init 18)

Down and unconscious, the only fighting left to Thordek is his body trying to survive its grievous wounds somehow. Luckily for the tough dwarf, his blood clots quickly enough and major bleeding ceases. For now. The Gods must still favor him…

Thordek is stabilized at -4/64 HP.

Hjalmar (Init 15)

In a moment, the enormous minotaur has killed the remaining four orcs and it burns Hjalmar’s pride that he was not able to finish the group by himself. Having taken some serious wounds so far, ones that might have killed another dwarf if not for the strength of his belief and Moradin’s blessing, he decides to make use of the moment.

Laying his hand against his wounded head, he asks for Moradin’s blessing and his hand glows a soft blue and some his worst wounds fade as the healing power partially rejuvenates him. Still badly wounded, Hjalmar none the less decides to head towards the main fight…

Carmard (Init 14)

Leary of however these orcs are shrugging off even his spells, Carmard hefts his hammer and throws it once more towards the orcs off to the eastern flank. He had to trust his left flank would hold just long enough to save the rest, but they had to survive to do that and that was jeopardy. Carmard glides to the east, closing the range.

Launching his deadly hammer downwards from his airborne perch, it arcs perfectly and strikes the orc in the back. The blow nearly knocks the orc off its feet and its lunges heave, the wind driven out of them. It even aspirates some blood from the pounding it took. Much to Carmard’s surprise, the strike from the powerful hammer does not kill it. He considers this for a moment before looking back at the minotaurs.

“Kerik, kill the last and follow me! Nalrak, keep the other one alive and the rest at those damn devils and that shaman!” Carmard snarls. Finally showing emotion, the once emotionless, cool Carmard is opening the furnace doors to an angrier, bloody minded soul as things start coming unglued.

The Lemure Swarm (Init 13)

The mass of Lemures flail away at the dwarves in their midst. Surrounding their foes, almost all of them flank their enemies and the mindless creatures rain down blows with their stubby fists and fleshy bodies. The moan as they attack with a little more emphasis than they normally moan, perhaps indicating that some soul yet remains inside them. Perhaps not…

Flailing away at the shieldless Magnum, two of the Lemures manage to thump him hard enough to hurt him. It jostles and tips him as his armor clangs from the blows and his leg throbs with pain.

Magnum takes two hits totaling 7 pts, leaving him at 47/66 HP.

Four more rain down their fleshy fists at Grathalmor, with two of them striking him hard enough to hurt. One blow whacks him in the face and his nose throbs and bleeds, the other strikes him hard in the groin.

Grathalmor takes two hits, totaling 5 pts. This leaves him at 65/76 HP

Johannes blocks the two remaining lemures with his shield. Their blows thump uselessly against his shield…

Kerik Many Skulls (Init 10)

Hearing the remaining Arcanii’s orders, Kerik pays them no attention. He’d been in fights far worse than this and never needed a dwarf to tell him what to do. He was a mercenary and he’d keep collecting all the heads he and his axe could manage till that damned shaman showed himself. No one told him how much devils would be worth, but they looked smaller than him so he’d come back for them when he killed off the last of the orcs steel eyed bastard of a dwarf was barking about…

Frustrated at the constant nuisance of these unusually nasty orcs with their stinging axes, the towering minotaur roars once more as his deadly, many notched axe continues its deadly slashing. His first blow cuts deeply into the orc, splitting him open from top to bottom on one long bloody wound.

The creature gasps in pain and surprise it actually survived the massive axe. It’s surprise only lasts a moment as the orc sweeps back and cuts the orc in half just above its hips. The axe continues its arc and the incredibly powerful comes in a bit lower and cuts off both of the next orc’s legs – something Kerik continued poor form. He was after orc heads, not orc balls afterall. Stepping forward, he follows the momentum of his axe and lets the momentum carry it over his head and brings it down in another vicious chop. The blade is driven down through the orc’s shoulder and into its rib cage – if it’s heart had been there, it would be dead. This one only survives long enough to be horrified as Kerik’s axe comes slicing back for his head and sends it flying through the air. The axe continues as well, catching the next orc in line in the chest and crushing many of its ribs. Lunging out with his enormously armored hand, Kerik grabs the orc by the head, using its eye sockets for grip and yanks it off the ground and drives its head against one of his own armored spikes. The orc dies instantly, a look of horror frozen on its face.

Throwing the orc off his armor, Kerik moves away from the sudden pile of dead orcs and heads towards the next group of orcs, building momentum for his charge. Glancing back at the savage minotaur’s attack, Carmard whistles quietly to himself and resolves to pay that minotaur as quickly as possible after the battle…

Kerik kills all four orcs, between his normal attacks and cleaves, inflicting damage in 20-30 pt chunks before moving off…

Grathalmor (Init 10)

Grathalmore swings wildly with his Urgosh. "Get these blasted jellies out of here. Come and get us ye stinking demons."

Without his shield and committed to an aggressive attack, he swings wildly and it is hard to miss the lemures. All three of Grathalmor’s blows strike home, but the lemures are tough than they look. His urgrosh does not bite as deeply as he would expect into such a defenseless lump and he has to strike the first lemure a second time to finish it off. The second blow splits the fleshy mass apart and it’s body collapses into a heap as the spear lances through it cleanly. The last swing of the axe head of the urgrosh chops the next lemure down, barely. It moans and tries hold on to its last bit of life but collapses from the blow.

Gore (Init 9)

With his leader felling all of his foes, the minotaur looks around the battlefield for what to do next. The dwarf wanted him to stay, but he wasn’t going to do that. Staggered by blood loss, the minotaur none the less has enough sense left in red haze it is to not outrun the helpful cleric that was keeping him alive. Turning towards the lemurs, he moves and bellows but does not outrun his help…

Arum Faer Wed (Init 10)

Cursing, Arum watches the havoc the minotaurs cause and casts a spell towards the eastern group that is mobbing his friends. Hurling obscenities at all around him, Arum the gnome is down to his lesser spells now. He casts a magic missile spell once again and the three bolts streak towards the nearest slam into it and do… nothing? In its rage, the orc does not even to notice it has been hit…

Cursing in anger, futility and several different languages wonders how well these orcs could shrug off a crossbow bolt in the back of the head. Not well, he reckons. Oh, where is Thordek? Where’s that shaman? What the hell is going on at that altar? What the hell is going on here?

With a gesture, Arum sends his insects charging towards the devil that is now engaging Bundok. He rationalizes that these, being celestial, would be able to hurt the devil more than their regular weapons might. He certainly wasn’t confident in magic against it.

The three beetles skitter towards the devil. While two of their attacks are ineffective, one sinks a pincer into the devil’s leg. It yelps from the wound, but it is an insignificant one.

Arum’s magic missile spell has no effect on the orc… Arum’s beetles inflict a 3 hp wound on the devil. It seems to notice…

Nalrak (Init 9)

Nalrak sacrifices his final third level spell (Stone Shape) to infuse Gore again with healing energy (unless the other minotaur needs it more). "C'mon now, ye big bulls! Drive them back to hell!"

Some of the big minotaur’s new wounds fade from the powerful healing energy, healing him significantly. Gore grunts in thanks and the minotaur prepares to charge into the mass of hell spawn erupting all over the place…

Kelith (Init 9)

With the last of his spinning blades scything around him, the deadly blade slices the three nearest orcs. Their wounds become bloody flowers and almost all of them are already wounded. However deep a knife wound was, it was tough to kill these infernal orcs and none fall down. It takes Kelith flinging his last knife at the orc to his side (AK18) to kill it, the blade sticking into its throat. The orc fallen and flailing about on the ground, Kelith steps over its body and calls upon the healing powers of the flames of Kossuth to bind his wounds. The spell heals most of Kelith’s wounds… However, he has to let his guard down and the nearest orc slashes at him hard, causing a shallow but painful wound upon his arm…

Kelith kills the orc in AK18 and steps over its body to heal some of his wounds. The spell heals him for 25 pts. After the attack of opportunity (8 pts) Kelith is at 48/63 HP.

Johanssen (Init 9)

The scholarly dwarf none the less carries on with his sword. Able to block all the attacks against him so far, he lashes out again. The sharp blade cuts into the lemure’s fleshy side but his blow is just not strong enough to get past its thick skin. Cursing his lack of strength and eagerness, Johanssen thinks about just stabbing the thing this time. For such a magnificent sword, it wasn’t doing much for him. Not that it surprises the dwarf overly. Devils like these needed silver weapons at least to combat.

Buna (Init 7)

Buna is now surrounded and nearly unarmed, so she draws her short sword and thrusts it at the orc she just wounded. Buna screams “Arcanii!!!” and drives the enchanted blade strikes deep into the orc’s belly, entering it from the side.

With a satisfied snort, she twists the blade in the orc and yanks the red soaked blade free from its blood sheath. Stunned at the wound, the orc drops its axe and tries to staunch its wound by holding the blood in. Having had a sword driven through the orcs kidney and liver, the orc gasps and drops into the center of a steadily expanding pool of blood.

Victorious, she takes a step away from the remaining orc and finds herself back to back the Duervar. She can be heard cursing as she does it, either at her ally or her enemy.

Raltise & Lythe (Init 5)

Figuring that Lythe and whatever it was that Arman had summoned could take down the nearest orc, he summons forth another burst of intense psychic energy. The azure blue bolt streaks towards the onrushing orc and strikes it on the right side of its chest. The wound beneath its armor hisses and glows as the bolt nearly bursts through its chest. Closing his eyes for a moment, Raltise again regains his focus.

That the orc is still standing after such a wound surprises him…

Raltise does 18 pts to the orc with his psychic strike, but does not slay the howling orc. He successfully regains his psychic focus, rolling a 26.

Lythe herself, having watched the orc’s surprisingly skilled defense, times her next attacks superbly. She weaves under the orc’s shield and upper cuts it hard in the groin, doubling over the orc. Brought low, Lythe backhands the creature across its tough skull. With a sharp crack, the orc goes down in a heap. Victorious, Lythe jumps atop it and stomps at its head once more. A wash of bluish energy washes through her psychic link with Raltise.

I got one! He hurt me bad, but I kill it! Let’s go find some more. Fun Ralty. Scared but fun.

Lythe’s first attack is a critical, dealing 12 pts. Her second attack deals 7, finally killing the orc.

Magnum (Init 4)

Furious at being blocked from battle with the two devils, Magnum calls out a challenge to them but he doubts they can understand his words. His gesturing with his waraxe clears up any dispute on intent, but the devils hardly react to it. Taking the heavy waraxe in hand, he swings it hard at the nearest lemure. The big axe splits the lemure like he was slicing bread off a loaf. It collapses into a bloody, fleshy heap… Now there is only one lemure between him and those devils… Magnum steps forward into the gap. He and Grathalmor now have a nearly clear path to the larger devils.

Adjacent to the stage now, Magnum can see the body of a teenage boy still partially frozen in the block of ice. Naked and covered in those strange tattoos, he appears to be in some kind of statis.

The Devils (Init 14 – Delayed)

Waiting to see what the dwarves would do, the devils move in towards Magnum. One stands atop the altar with the last sacrifice, the second stands on the altar. The towering Magnum swings its axe at the devil atop the sacrifice and strikes it hard just above the knee but it shrugs off much of the blow. That devil launches into a furious attack against Magnum with its claws, slicing at him with one blow and then another that cuts through the gaps in his armor. Even its wiry, metallic tangle of a beard the devil wears animates and stabs at him through the gaps in his armor. The wounds burn for a moment as some sort of toxin is pushed into his body but the pain quickly passes.

The other devil swings its glaive at him once, than twice, but neither blow cuts through his armor even though the metal is torn and cut.

Magnum suffers a total of 12 HP damage from the two claw attacks and the devil’s beard. He rolls a 26 on a fort save to resist a disease as well. His earth silk reduces each attack 1 pt. 35/66 HP

Western Orcs

The orc next to Kelith howls and swings its axe hard at Kelith, right at his head. Kelith side-steps the blow and it goes swooshing right by his head. Two other orcs come charging in at Kelith, but he sends his chain flying out to meet them as it whips towards the orc’s head. It strikes the orc hard on the side of the head and it goes down in a heap. When Kelith tries to snap the chain back at the other orc, it’s axe flashes out and bats it aside with a clang. Inside Kelith’s defenses, the orc chops down hard at Kelith’s arm but misses badly. The axe bounces back up off the floor and bites into the orc’s own leg. It’s a shallow but painful wound.

Kelith kills one orc and another orc inflicts a 8 HP wound on itself with a critical failure.

Several orcs fly into their next set of attacks on Duervar. He swings out at the onrushing orc, a bit too hastily and once again drives his mining pick hard into the stone ground and bends over the second pick head. Cursing at his mishandling, his world begins to rain axes. He blocks one blow and dodges a second, but two more cut through his thin leather armor covering his thigh and arm. The blows would have bitten deeply, but his blackened skin is suddenly resistant to the blows due to his sudden focus. His wounds are far shallower than he would have expected. They follow up their attacks with their vicious bites, lunging for his neck. Two more of them bite him, one on the neck and one on the arm.

Duervar suffers two blows totaling 19 hp, leaving him at 15/64 HP.

The orc opposite Buna comes in swinging hard as it charges onwards, and she can’t manage to land a blow against the onrushing orc. Its axe comes flashing in at her midsection and bangs hard into her armor, splitting the metal and cutting deep into her abdominal muscles. Again the blow lifts her up off her feet and a ragged line of blood oozes from her latest wound. This time though, she swoons from the pain and nearly loses her footing. She staggers and stumbles for a moment and labors to raise her head and guard again.

“One o’us is going down, orc and it isn’t gonna be me!” she rasps and spits blood on to the ground. The orc bangs its axe on its shield and lunges at her again, trying to bite her.

The orc by Thordek reaches for the fallen dwarf’s crossbow and, seeing it already loaded, shoots it the oncoming minotaur. While the orc has little idea how to use the weapon, he can none the less get lucky and the bolt catches Kerik in the neck. The minotaur grunts from the wound and flicks away the bolt, but blood streak from the hole in his neck armor…

Northern Orcs

The two orcs that survived the minotaur attacks continue their run to the north and see Raltise, Lythe and the summoned hell hound. One charges right at Raltise and swings at his head, but the agile man dodges to the right and the blow bites into nothing but air. In reply, he unleashes another bolt of psionic energy at the orc and pierces its leg, hitting something vital as blood runs from the wound in a torrent. Lythe similarly dodges the attack and lashes out with her own attack, but the orc blocks the blow. Arman’s hell hound though bites its arm and gives it a fiery wound.

Raltise damages the orc he already attacked before with an 8 pt wound, but it still does not fall. The second one takes a 5 pt wound from Arman’s hell hound.

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/489/orcmap9so9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
[URL=http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=237&i=orcmap9so9.jpg][IMG]http://img237.imageshack.

[Katasi]

Arum pulls his crossbow up and aims at the nearest orc. He squeezes the trigger, releasing the bolt, which flies through the air towards it's target.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[PocketRocket]

Grathalmore

Seeing Magnum get hit several times by the devils, Grathalmore tries his hardest to get ride of the lemures blocking his way to the devils. "Come on and face me ye ugly beasts."

Attack1:[roll0]
Damage1:[roll1]

Attack2:[roll2]
Damage2:[roll3]

Attack3:[roll4]
Damage3:[roll5]

[bchilders]

Magnum

Feeling the weight of several blows, Magnum considers for a moment backing up and healing himself, but one look at the smug look on the devils face wipes that thougth out of his mind. Trying to change the devils face to a look of pain, he swings with all of his might.

Attack:[roll0]
Damage:[roll1]

[King Tius]

Nalrak

Deciding to switch to something slightly more offensive, Nalrak unleashes his Sound Burst spell at the lemurs as Gore charges forward. Hoping to stun them if not actually kill them, Nalrak uses the spell to give the raging minotaur the edge as he runs into a fresh group of enemies.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith
AC: 26 (+4 from buffs, +3 from Armor Rune)
HP: 48/63 (+6 from buff)

{{Circle of Blades Damage: [roll0]
The 3 orcs next to me all take this damage, no save.
This spell is a minute per level so it should be up all combat.}}

Seeing his defensive wall of blades doing their work to the orcs nearest him he will look for the orc that looks the weakest and bring his chain around swinging for it's chest.

[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

{{If all the orcs around me are dead i'll try to help Duervar and move into position so I am ready to attack the closest orc from 10ft away.}}

Spells Cast
0-2
1st-2
2nd-3
3rd-3

[ArmanMadero]

Round 9

Arman saw the two orcs come towards Lythe and Raltise after he struck the one. Then that orc was down and Lythe seemed to go crazy on one of the new arrived orcs. Arman told himself to never make her mad at him….

Raltise also seemed to be holding his own with his own abilities. Arman walked around where his hell hound was attacking the same orc Lythe was attacking. He made his way behind the orc and withdrew his rapier, grabbing his shield in his other. He would have much preferred to use what was left of his magic on the rest of the attacking groups, but his magic was fast depleting, and none of it seemed to be affecting them in any way really. Still glad of his invisibility, Arman slashed at the orcs unprotected neck

Arman moves to AD-04, putting him in a nice flanking position against the orc by him. Attacking Orc with rapier. Tried rolling dice... its not showing up like it should... so Mike, if you would please...

[loopy]

Johannes

Seeing that he is surrounded, Johannes makes a break for freedom, tumbling to 23B, then 24D. Brushing himself off, and wincing at the new bruises, he evaluates his next move.

First Tumble set:
DC 15: [roll0]
DC 27: [roll1]
DC 19: [roll2]

Second Tumble set:
DC 15: [roll3]
DC 17: [roll4]

EDIT: So Johannes takes 1 AoO attack from the Lemures, it seems.
EDIT2: Oh, and I forgot to add 'Brains over brawn', so add 4 to all of the Tumble check results, not that it really changes much. :smallsmile:

[mshady]

Duervar (Init 21)
The militant miner Duervar swings his pick at the orc to the right of him, trying to down it so as to protect the heavily wounded Buna. He has no such luck however, as first one blow and then another is blocked by the orc’s shield in a shower of sparks. Duervar curses himself and the bizarre explosion of light and noise far to his left for disrupting his focus.

Bundok (Init 21)

Blinded by the light from the shaman’s spell, the gruff ranger blinks his eyes to try to clear his vision but sees nothing but spots and feels a terrible stinging sensation. Having a general idea where the bearded devil is he is fighting, he decides to just keep on swinging. He feels his staff crunch into the cackling devil, one strike hitting it in the skull and the back swing catching it hard in the knee. The creature grunts and nearly falls over from the force of the blow, but seems to shrug off much of the blow’s force.

Bundok power attacks again, doing 19 pts after damage resistance

Arman Madero (Init 19)

Rapier already in hand, Arman slides towards the nearest orc as his hell hound tries to take down another orc but fails to do more than get a mouth full of chain. Taking advantage of the distraction though, Arman stabs at the orc with his long, black rapier. The blade slides cleanly between the chain and pokes into the orc’s abdomen just past its muscles, but the chain stops it from going deep enough to cause a mortal wound. In response, the orc lashes out with its own axe. The blow slices downwards, cutting Arman his biceps down to his thigh in a bloody sweep. While his armor spared his torso, it’s still a wickedly painful wound…

Arman does 6 pts to the orc, who does 10 pts of damage to him…

Sable (Init 18)

Still unable to see the shaman, Sable figures it will try to work its way back towards altar to finish its ritual. With a perfect shot at the back of one of the devils, she draws an arrow and shoots it at the one Bundok is fighting. It’s a difficult shot, but she managed to close her eyes in time to avoid the exploding fires that are flashing and rattling the cave, but she makes it. The arrow streaks right by Bundok and lodges deep in the devil’s side… Not as deep as she’d expect though…

Sable does an 11 pt sneak attack against the summoned bearded devil, after damage resistance

Thordek (Init 18)

Stabilized, Thordek enjoys unconscious bliss. Out of the battle, he dreams of frothy ales and beautiful dwarven barmaids playfully braiding his short beard. The small part of his conscious mind still active finds that last part a bit disturbing, actually…

Hjalmar (Init 15)
Blinded but knowing his hammer is perhaps the only weapon in the party able to batter through the devil’s natural resistances, the paladin rumbles forward. Trying to blink away the spots and pain in his eyes, one of many pains at the moment, he generally remembers where everything is and continues. Curving northward, he bounces his shield first off of Bundok and the much larger devil. When that wicked glaive clangs off his thick shoulder board armor to no effect, he wonders why everyone keeps trying to take his head off so directly today before swinging back at the devil. The powerful blow swooshes through the air but strikes nothing; unable to see exactly where his foe is, Hjalmar misses completely.

Hjalmar would have landed a powerful blow but fails his miss chance due to blindness

Carmard (Init 14)

Blinded but still flying, Carmard curses but keeps moving eastwards to help his allies. Unable to target anyone with his spells, Carmard summons a translucent shield spell to protect himself. It pops into existence next to him as he tentatively closes the distance towards his foes…

[loopy]

Ouch. And no, I don't adjust my actions.

[Katasi]

Arum jerks the trigger as he goes blind, sending the arrow shooting off across the cave.

[mshady]

Orc Shaman (Init 22)

Wounded once again, the invisible shaman grunts at the sharp wound from the human woman that dogs his steps. It grasps at its ring and points towards the fire pit by the altar…

Suddenly the fire pit flares up, the flames seem ready to burst from the ground and indeed they do. The fire blossoms in a brilliant, incandescent light and bits of fuel go flying only to explode when they strike the ground and explode as well. The painful light and cacophony of noise from the explosions and disorients all who were not prepared for it. Bits of flying coals hiss and whistle through the air as the fire spits them fourth.

As the shaman slinks backwards, he can he heard laughing as the room explodes in a kaleidoscope of light and fire… None of the nearby devils, the bearded kind or the lemures, seem effected by the chaotic scene as they delight in it and the raging battle….

Checks for blindness

Sable: Passed
Bundok: Blinded 4 rounds
Magnum: Passed
Grathalmor: Passed
Johanssen: Failed 5 rounds
Hjalmar: Failed 4 rounds
Nalrak: Passed
Arum Faer Wed: Blinded 5 rounds
Baurus the Badger: Blinded 3 rounds, enraged.
Carmard: Failed 3 rounds
Gore: Passed

Duervar (Init 21)

The militant miner Duervar swings his pick at the orc to the right of him, trying to down it so as to protect the heavily wounded Buna. He has no such luck however, as first one blow and then another is blocked by the orc’s shield in a shower of sparks. Duervar curses himself and the bizarre explosion of light and noise far to his left for disrupting his focus.

Bundok (Init 21)

Blinded by the light from the shaman’s spell, the gruff ranger blinks his eyes to try to clear his vision but sees nothing but spots and feels a terrible stinging sensation. Having a general idea where the bearded devil is he is fighting, he decides to just keep on swinging. He feels his staff crunch into the cackling devil, one strike hitting it in the skull and the back swing catching it hard in the knee. The creature grunts and nearly falls over from the force of the blow, but seems to shrug off much of the blow’s force.

Bundok power attacks again, doing 19 pts after damage resistance

Arman Madero (Init 19)

Rapier already in hand, Arman slides towards the nearest orc as his hell hound tries to take down another orc but fails to do more than get a mouth full of chain. Taking advantage of the distraction though, Arman stabs at the orc with his long, black rapier. The blade slides cleanly between the chain and pokes into the orc’s abdomen just past its muscles, but the chain stops it from going deep enough to cause a mortal wound. In response, the orc lashes out with its own axe. The blow slices downwards, cutting Arman his biceps down to his thigh in a bloody sweep. While his armor spared his torso, it’s still a wickedly painful wound…

Arman does 6 pts to the orc, who does 10 pts of damage to him…

Sable (Init 18)

Still unable to see the shaman, Sable figures it will try to work its way back towards altar to finish its ritual. With a perfect shot at the back of one of the devils, she draws an arrow and shoots it at the one Bundok is fighting. It’s a difficult shot, but she managed to close her eyes in time to avoid the exploding fires that are flashing and rattling the cave, but she makes it. The arrow streaks right by Bundok and lodges deep in the devil’s side… Not as deep as she’d expect though…

Sable does an 11 pt sneak attack against the summoned bearded devil, after damage resistance

Thordek (Init 18)

Stabilized, Thordek enjoys unconscious bliss. Out of the battle, he dreams of frothy ales and beautiful dwarven barmaids playfully braiding his short beard. The small part of his conscious mind still active finds that last part a bit disturbing, actually…

Hjalmar (Init 15)

Blinded but knowing his hammer is perhaps the only weapon in the party able to batter through the devil’s natural resistances, the paladin rumbles forward. Trying to blink away the spots and pain in his eyes, one of many pains at the moment, he generally remembers where everything is and continues. Curving northward, he bounces his shield first off of Bundok and the much larger devil. When that wicked glaive clangs off his thick shoulder board armor to no effect, he wonders why everyone keeps trying to take his head off so directly today before swinging back at the devil. The powerful blow swooshes through the air but strikes nothing; unable to see exactly where his foe is, Hjalmar misses completely.

Hjalmar would have landed a powerful blow but fails his miss chance due to blindness

Carmard (Init 14)

Blinded but still flying, Carmard curses but keeps moving eastwards to help his allies. Unable to target anyone with his spells, Carmard summons a translucent shield spell to protect himself. It pops into existence next to him as he tentatively closes the distance towards his foes…

The Devils (Init 14)

Wounded by both Bundok and Sable, with the blinded Hjalmar in the fight, the summoned devil slashes at Bundok and howls in rage. The first blow smashes into the stone and Bundok’s armor shrugs off the next blow. Enraged and frothing mad that it simply can’t connect with its glaive, it howls in anger.
The bearded devil on the left side of the altar swings it’s saw toothed glaive at the shieldless Magnum. It whistles through the air and catches Magnum’s arm, snagging on his armor. At first he thinks his armor saved him once again until the devil yanks hard on the glaive and it saws through his armor and cuts deeply into his arm. Blood streams from the wound. The devil flips the glaive upside down and the weapon darts between Magnum’s legs. The devil tries to catch the saw teeth on something around Magnum’s groin and castrate him at the least, but it instead bites into metal by his thigh. Again yanking backwards, the blade tears a bloody swatch along the back of his thigh. Magnum’s lucky to not be hamstrung by the blow. His wounds ache, even burn and them seem to coarse with blood…

Magnum suffers two wounds from the devil. They deal 13 pts in total after damage resistance from earth silk. Having suffered two wounds from a wounding weapon, Magnum will loses 2 HP per round, per wound (total of 4) until healed or tended… 22/66 hp

The second devil roars mightily and takes a step backwards. It swishes it’s glaive back and forth in a circle as another gate opens. It screams out in its infernal language, calling for assistance. Once again, a retinue of lemures pours forth from the gate…

A total of 10 new lemures arrive through the devil’s gate…

The Lemure Swarm (Init 13)

Four of the lemures flail away at Magnum with their fists and again, one strikes him painfully. The creatures moan as they attack, clearly mindless, as they try to pull down Magnum. They may not recognize him as anything but another meal in an unusually tough shell, but they were wearing down the priest…

Magnum is hit again for 2 hp by a Lemure. 20/66 hp

Three more try to bring down Grathalmor. He bats two of their attacks away, swatting one aside with a gauntlet and another he catches his own fist and throws the flailing cretin backwards but another throws itself at him. It wouldn’t have been a problem, but his foot catches a rock and he twists his ankle badly from the blow and he instantly feels it throb with pain.

Grathalmor takes a 3 pts hit from a Lemure. 62/76 hp

Three more try to bring down Johanssen, but the dwarf uses his shield to block the blows that come raining down upon him…

A trio of freshly arrived lemures flail out at the blinded Hjalmar and Bundok. One lands a solid blow against Hjalmar’s back, again wounding the big paladin. Bundok is also hit by one of the lemures, taking a similar wound.

Hjalmar takes a 1 hp wound. 24/78 Bundok takes a 2 hp wound 67/69 hp

Kerik Many Skulls (Init 10)

The wounded, yet enraged, minotaur hurtles forward towards the orcs. He lines up the one that just shot him in the neck painfully with the deadly head spike and his own horns and thunders across the cavern floor. The orc, unable to figure out the crossbow’s unfamiliar mechanisms, tosses it aside and takes its axe back in hand. It swings at Kerik and its axe bangs off Kerik’s thick helmet right before the spike and both of his horns are driven right through its chest. The orc flails about atop Kerik’s helm as blood pours from the wounds down on the minotaur before he stands to his full height and throws the orc off his helmet with a bellow. The corpse slams against the weakened natural column of stone with a splat. Bits of stone break off again, but there is otherwise no effect… The rest of the orcs, now aware of the minotaur’s presence, seem horrified by its arrival. Having not witnessed it in action before as they were involved in their own fight, Kerik’s brutal arrival strikes fear into even them…

Grathalmor (Init 10)

Urgrosh in hand, Grathalmor tried to chop his way through these foul lemures. His first blow splits a lemure in two and it collapses in a limp blob. Having slain one, he lunges forward with the spear tip of the urgrosh and it spits another lemure. The spear pierces one side and goes out the other, but if the creature feels pain it barely registers. Instead it slaps Grathalmor across the face weakly. He pulls the bloody weapon out of the fiendish blob and lifts the urgrosh high over his head and strikes the creatures head, caving it in. It’s body continues on for a moment, a mindless creature without a mind doesn’t really mind. Soon it expires too….

An odd thought occurs to Grathalmor; these things do not even have any bones. It’s amazing what you learn about anatomy with your axe…

Arum Faer Wed (Init 10)

Already becoming frantic at his helplessness in this battle and painful wounds, Arum curses as the cacophony of light and noises nearly deafens and certainly blinds him. What the hell was THAT? he asks himself. Unable to see in the middle of this pitched battle, sitting in the open with a powerful cleric on the loose, he doesn’t think things can get any worse until they do. His badger, Baurus, has been blinded too and the light and sound have sent the badger into an incurable rage.

Arum can barely hold on and accidentally fires his crossbow in the air. The bolt bangs off the ceiling near where Carmard is floating and falls to the ground with a clatter. Letting the crossbow fall back across his chest on its harness, Arum takes the reins and tries to hold on for dear life but loses his grip as quickly as he gains it. If it wasn’t for his military saddle, he would have fallen off. He has no desire to be anywhere near the badger’s sharp teeth or claws….

To the north, Arum’s beetles shift their attack to the lemures in hopes of an easier kill. They find no better luck, as none can hit the lemures hard enough to wound them…

Gore (Init 9)

Bloodied and lumbering, Gore does not charge the lemures. Instead, he strides forward swinging axe to build momentum before striking out at the nearest lemure. The powerful blow sends the pathetic fiend flying backwards, bouncing it off the back wall. The backswing of the axe splits another one! Rumbling with glee, Gore swings once more. His terrible axe slashes to and fro, cutting down two more lemures with ease. The two devils, seeing Gore carving his way through their retinue, howl with rage.
Nalrak (Init 9)

Trying to get into the fight, Nalrak casts a Sound Burst spell on the mindless lemures where he can hit as many as possible. As he casts, a flash of white light and the crashing sound of a hammer striking an anvil feel the area and the lemures quiver and shudder from the damaging sound. None fall, but all look weakened. Being mindless, the creatures are not stunned by the spell but as weak as they are, the spell’s damage itself is fairly effective… Not quite what he was hoping for though. Frowning under his helm, Nalrak steps forward.

Nalrak deals 4 hp to four lemures. His casting is centered on C22…

Kelith (Init 9)

His last blade swirling around him drawing blood from the orcs around him once more, the one in the center goes down with a mortal wound to the neck. Kelith looks for the weakest remaining foe and his chain goes swishing at the furthest orc. The chain whistles through the air and the spiked ball at the end of the chain cracks the orc in the chest. Its ribs in that area are pulverized and the humanoid grunts and topples over, grasping at its wound. Kelith steps forward to bring his chain close enough to support Duervar, but one of the orcs chops at him with its axe. The blow strikes Kelith squarely, but his enchanted chain shrugs off the blow as the axe slides off the armor.
Johanssen (Init 9)

Surrounded by these fiendish lemures, Johanssen decides his best bet is to reposition himself. The surprisingly agile dwarf tumbles away from his current position, too fast for any of the lemures to hit him, even for the one that tried to.

Buna (Init 7)

“Burn with me!” Buna shouts at the orc squaring off against her. The orc bangs its shield with its axe and slashes at Buna’s face as she tries to cast, but she jerks her head out of the axe’s path. Her hand glows with a brilliant fire and one, two and then three first sized beams of fire blast the orc right in front of her. The rays immolate the orc, charring flesh, slagging metal and igniting its clothing and oily hair. It screams a blood curdling scream as it tries to run away from Buna and the flames that engulf it. Now more torch than orc, it scrambles for the water but finally collapses near it, dead and smoldering.

Looking behind her at the newly arrived minotaur, Buna grins evilly.

“Kerik’s here! Say g’bye to yer pig orc friends, this’ll be over soon!” Buna laughs as the body of the orc splats against the nearby stone. She steps next to Duervar, hoping to distract some of the orcs from the beleaguered warrior. Why, she didn’t know…

Raltise & Lythe (Init 5)

Another bolt of energy stabs fourth. This time, the orc is caught in the throat and topples in a bloody spray. Psion though he may be, a part of him feels a great deal of frustration go away. Lythe, similarly, pummels the other orc that Arman and his hound had wounded into the ground. Thoroughly dead, Lythe jumps up and down on the dead orc’s chest and filling Raltise’s head with thoughts of triumphant glee.

Magnum (Init 4)

Using his extra reach, Magnum takes his waraxe in both hands and swings hard at the already wounded bearded devil on the right. The blow crashes into the beast, sinking deep into its abdomen and a bloody red ichor gushes from the wound… That blow would have killed anything with a normal anatomy, but the devil continues on. It doesn’t even seem slowed in its rage.

Magnum does a 16 pt attack against the devil, after accounting for the devil’s resistance.
Western Orcs

One orc swings at Kelith and once again misses the priest. The priest simply side steps the blow.

Three more swing at Duervar and two strike the fierce miner hard; very hard. He is staggered by the blows as first one than another chop down hard at him, slicing through his armor and into his body. Blood oozes from the wounds and he swoons with pain. His stance wavers for a moment, but he retains his footing and tries to focus beyond the horrific pain he is in right now…

The last orc swings hard at Buna as well, but the axe bangs off her sturdy breast plate with a resounding clang. She grins at the orc. “You’re next” she says…

Turn 10

Shaman (Init 22)

Still invisible, the shaman casts once more. This time, it appears he has made his way back to the altar platform. The platform visibly darkens and the air temperature plummets as the air swirls in a blue and black haze. Yet another portal opens and out steps a towering Ice Devil.

The bug eyed creature with its blue scales and ferocious spear steps through the portal and surveys the battlefield with glee. It sweeps its bulbous head from left to right, taking in the scene.

Over a hundred bodies lay fallen on the ground, between orcs and lemures; souls ripe for the reaping. It looks around and sees the waiting sacrifice. It raises its weapon high and drives it through the remaining ice and straight through the human’s torso and out the other side. With delight at collecting its sacrifice, the ice devil looks around. Its eyes seem to lock on the enlarged Magnum…

"Yooouuuu again!" the devil rasps. "Raz-Petrin has marked you, dwarves. This shall be a feassssttt of souls, for you face the Reaver of Cania!"


http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6977/orcmap10mu4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6977/orcmap10mu4.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a><br/><a href="http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=230&i=orcmap10mu4.jpg"><img src="http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6977/orcmap10mu4.c6468a9252.jpg" border="0"></a>

[mshady]

Hey everyone - sorry for the late post. I tried to put it up yesterday but the board was down and well, it hasn't been too reliable lately. Seems fixed now though!!!

Next round is due wednesday with a post up on friday to saturday. I've already started to resolve the NPC actions.

... and yes, the shaman really did just summon an ice devil.

Mike

[loopy]

Johannes

Johannes, still blind, remembers a parlour trick he once watched an illusionist do as the crowd turned ugly. He casts invisibility on himself, then continues stumbling the direction he was moving.

(South east)

[ArmanMadero]

Arman felt his rapier enter the Orc easily, but then stall. He tried to push it in further, but the orc was already moving and the rapier pulled out again, not doing as much damage as he was hoping. He brought his rapier across his body in an attempt to strike again, but before he could, the orc seumg its axe at him, guessing his position correctly, and the axe hit into his upper arm, then into his torso and thigh. For the most part, his chainmail saved him from a more serious injury, but it still hurt. He cursed softly and almost dropped his rapier, when Lythe jumped upon the orc he had just stabbed and killed it, jumping on its chest when it went down, seemingly excited.

"Thank you, little one." he said to Lythe and then turned around and started towards where everyone else was. Stay at the entrance be damned, they were getting killed. He signaled the Hell Hound again as he went forth, directing its attack again. "Maraigh!"

Drawing his bow, He strung an arrow and aimed it, drawing it back and touching his hand to his cheek. His left arm burned where he was cut, and he could feel the blood running down to his hand, the flow stopping to it momentarily while he had it bent and ready to release the arrow he held.

He released the arrow, just as he once again became visible. He cursed again, knowing now that the odds were no longer on his side for the most part. He had a few things going for him, but not much more...

Moving to Z-07. Attacking the critter marked B2. Sending the hell hound to the group of Lemurs

[bchilders]

Magnum

Magnum desperately wanting to crush his axe through the devils skull, realizes he is fast losing blood and decides to channel some of his divine energy into healing himself.

Sacrifice 3rd lvl: Protection from energy to cast cure serious

CSW:[roll0]

Concentration to cast defensively:[roll1]

And partial defense if possible

[PocketRocket]

Grathalmore

"I'll help ye out eventually. These stinkin jellies keep gettin in the way." Grathalmore swings at as many Lemures as he can get through and tries to get himself closer to the demons.

Attack1:[roll0]
Damage1:[roll1]

Attack2:[roll2]]
Damage2:[roll3]

Attack3:[roll4]
Damage3:[roll5]

OOC:bchilders, what spell did you put on me?

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith
AC: 26 (+4 from buffs, +3 from Armor Rune)
HP: 48/63 (+6 from buff)

{{Circle of Blades Damage:[roll0]
Two orcs next to me take this damage, no save.}}

Starting to find his rhythm Kelith will bring his chain around at the nearest orc, aiming for their chest.

[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

Spells Cast
0-2
1st-2
2nd-3
3rd-3

[mshady]

Turn 10

Orc Shaman (Init 22)

Still invisible, the shaman casts once more. This time, it appears he has made his way back to the altar platform. The platform visibly darkens and the air temperature plummets as the air swirls in a blue and black haze. Yet another portal opens and out steps a towering Ice Devil.
The bug eyed creature with its blue scales and ferocious spear steps through the portal and surveys the battlefield with glee. Over a hundred bodies lay fallen on the ground, between orcs and lemures; souls ripe for the reaping. It looks around and sees the waiting sacrifice. It raises its weapon high and drives it through the remaining ice and straight through the human’s torso and out the other side. With delight at collecting its sacrifice, the ice devil looks around. Its eyes seem to lock on the enlarged Magnum…

Duervar (Init 21)

Seeing that help has arrived in the form of that big Minotaur that he had been playing dice poker with earlier, Duervar realizes help has arrived. Marking the only uninjured orc left, as far as he could tell, it has its back to the natural stone pillar. Figuring it could flank Kerik as the minotaur moves through, Duervar raises his pick over his head and feigns a strike at the one in front of him and strikes at the orc adjacent to him on his left.

The long bladed pick is aimed right at the orc’s neck at a downward trajectory. It pierces the side of the orc’s neck and the bent tip of the weapon is driven deep into the orc’s chest, perforating both lungs. The fire rune flares inside the orc’s chest cavity in a flash of fire, scorching its lungs from the inside. Duervar yanks the pick free into a geyser of aspirated blood from the wound, the orc gurgles and drops to the blood slicked cavern floor.

His second blow has less luck. The pick goes flying towards its original target, but the orc’s shield snaps out and sends the blow flying off to the right. Duervar nearly loses his grip and curses, but steps forward and taking the position of his former foe.

Duervar rolled a critical hit for the first blow, doing 56 pts between the pick and the flame rune.

Bundok (Init 21)

Choking up on the quarterstaff, Bundok lifts his staff high and squares his stance. His eyes lock with the devil and a smile curls on to his lips. Still blinded, he can only make out the vaguest outlines. Shouting a battle cry to Clangeddin, Bundok swings his staff hard at the devil’s head and the blow is too fast for it to block it. With a thunderous crack, the quarterstaff hits the devil with such force its green skull splits in a shower of gore. It totters and drops to the ground with a moan before dissolving in a flash of green flame and brimstone. Following through with the momentum of the swing, the stave whistles in a spin over his head before crashing down into a lemure. The power of the blow crushes the pathetic creature. Victorious, Bundok looks around for a moment, blinking through the blindness taking snap shots of his surrondings. Lemures everywhere. More devils. And one very familiar looking one…

“Frak…” he whispers.

Bundok does a critical hit off a power attack, doing 31 pts. His second blow squashes a lemure…

Arman Madero (Init 19)

With his intended target dead and dissolved, Arman lets an arrow fly towards the next devil. The long flight of the arrow ends with it sticking in the back of the closest remaining devil. Little more than the arrow head seems to pierce its tough hide, and while its wounded the creature merely flicks the arrow out of its back. His summoned hell hound moves like an arrow in its own right, ready to tear at the flesh of a devil…

Sable (Init 18)

Sable finds herself standing behind the towering Ice Devil. Its retinue is all around it along with the shaman nearby, possibilities and options click through her mind like a sum being totaled on an abacus. Never before had she seen such a sight and it terrified her. An unnatural dread and fear thundered through her… but then it passed. The fear was like a wave but she stood like a stone and it broke around her.

Breathing deep, her eyes dart around the narrowing battlefield. They had everything they needed, except time to regroup. Saying a soft prayer to Tymora, Sable decided to do perhaps the bravest thing she had done in her life. Her free hand traces an arcane sigil into the air, she summons up a globe of darkness and blots out the area around the devils and the shaman. Stepping up on to the platform as her world turns to darkness, she feels the area through her heightened senses. She is in her element now. Black rapier in hand, she moves up behind the bearded devil that Magnum was fighting. The shaman had to be close too… who to slay first?

Thordek (Init 18)

Dreaming dreams of many things, Thordek remains stabilized and unaware of what’s going on.

Hjalmar (Init 15)

As the lights go out from Sable’s darkness spell, Hjalmar doesn’t have a clue it just happened. One of the benefits of being blinded, one would suppose. Just on the edge of it and much of the area obscured, even rapidly blinking does not help him here. Instead, he remembers where the lemures were that just hit him and goes about making sure that does not happen again. Despite his blindness, Hjalmar manages to splatter two lemures with his hammer in a spray of ichor. The holy radiance of his hammer burns off much of it as it reacts violently to the presence of the devil or components thereof… Grunting in satisfaction, Hjalmar’s not sure what to do. Reeling from his wounds and sensing something terrible has just arrived on the scene, thanks to that shaman, Hjalmar takes a step back.

Hjalmar kills two lemures. Additionally, his HP were miscalculated. He received 14 temporary hp from an Aid spell earlier, leaving him at 26/80 HP

Carmard (Init 14)

The emerald green lenses of his Arcanii helmet were far from ornamental. Blinded, yet shielded from the worst of it, Carmard blinks away the last of his blindness. Realizing that Kerik was going to be able to sort the problems on the eastern side and only one of his dwarves was down, he is heartened that it had not been worse. One hundred orcs was one thing. One hundred of these orcs was something else entirely. It would have been a fitting death to earn entrance into Dwarfhome and yet may be.

Turning and gliding back towards the altar, he cursed his indecision.

“Kelith, get Kerik healed up and back to the altar! The shaman’s still alive!” Carmard yells over the din of the battle. Turning abruptly, he glides back towards the main battle.

As he closes with Hjalmar, he snarls out new orders.

“Get yer arses back towards me and hold!”

Taking a wand from his belt, Carmard gestures towards the center of the shadowy globe where it seemed the ice devil was. The humble spell contained in the wand was prepared by Glorian herself for just such an occasion. All three devils and a fourth humanoid shaped creature suddenly are wreathed in a nimbus of harmless blue flame.

The Devils (Init 14)

From the right, the terrible saw toothed glaive of the devil darts out at Magnum through the inky blackness and again cuts at him, but can’t get through his defensive stance. It scrapes off his armor with a painful tear. The second blow misses him entirely, as the devil misjudges his location. Another glaive comes chopping down at him from the left and clangs against the floor and again, the last blow misses him cleanly. Even Magnum is a little surprised not to be wounded and the devils bellow their rage.

The Lemure Swarm (Init 13)

The lemures slither across the floor, repositioning themselves to attack now that several of them have fallen. Grathalmor’s axe swings his urgrosh and it smacks into one of the lemures but the blow is not enough to kill it. It barely holds together, but it does and lashes out at Grathalmor. The blow catches him hard in the gut. Three more rain down blows and one of them lands a painful blow…

Grathalmor does 3 hp of damage to the already injured lemure. The others do a total of 6 HP of damage to Grathalmor. 56/76 HP

One trails Johanssen and its meaty fists swing out at the dwarf and connect. The blow jars the dwarf and makes him yelp but does little more…

A lemure connects with Johanssen and does 2 hp. 44/46 hp

Kerik Many Skulls (Init 10)

Stepping within reach of his axe, Kerik growls. His armor shrugs off several attacks from the orcs, as if they were merely rain on a copper roof. The enormous axe he bears whistles through the air and chops down orc after orc in a bloody, gruesome spray as he chops through the four remaining orcs with unerring accuracy. Two of their heads are separated at the neck by his whirlwind of blows.

His work done, Kerik turns breathes heavily. Blood drains from his wounds and he wheezes from the exhaustion for the moment, yet his eyes are still fierce, even wild. Seeing the dead orcs and the fallen dwarf, he grunts towards Thordek.

“Yers is still alive. So be many o’the orcs. We kill the wounded later, orcs dead but they bring bigger friends”

Grathalmor (Init 10)

Pummeled but still with a lot of fight left in him, Grathalmor is confused where the shadowy darkness has came from. Remembering where his foes should be, the Legionnaire swings his urgrosh in a powerful sweep from left to right, felling one lemure with a wet “thwack”. He lunges for another one, but the spear tip misses it in the darkness, so he swings at it again. His axe blade sends another tumbling to the floor.

Gore (Init 9)

Stepping towards the next batch of lemures, Gore swings his terrible axe. Hard to miss for anyone, Gore slays two from his first blow and one off his second strike with ease, splitting the creatures through the sheer force of his blow. Two near Grathalmor are struck down, as well as the one close to the wall. Somehow me manages to miss the final lemure that is oozing towards Johanssen, but the big minotaur figures the dwarf can take care of himself against THAT at least.

Arum Faer Wed (Init 10)

Still blinded and still riding a raging badger, Arum can do little more than hang on at this point. He again manages to do so, thanks to his saddle but it is an increasingly close thing…

Additionally, his summoned beetles disappear… not that he notices…

Nalrak (Init 9)

Knowing how badly wounded Hjalmar is, Nalrak moves to assist him, leaving the fierce minotaur be for a moment.

“Oi lad, don’t be swinging at me, it’s Nalrak not no orc! Here to heal ya!” he says. Hjalmar only grunts in reply as Nalrak presses his arm against Hjalmar’s beaten armor and calls fourth a prayer from Clangeddin to heal him. His hand glows with a golden aura as the healing energy of the spell passes from Nalrak into Hjalmar…

Nalrak heals Hjalmar for 15 pts. 41/80 HP

Kelith (Init 9)

With all of the orcs dead so suddenly, Kelith is momentarily at a loss of what to do until he hears Kerik’s words. Relieved that the dwarf, still under the effect of the enlargement spell, is still alive, he rushes to his side and angles his last remaining blade away from his fallen ally.

Casting his most powerful remaining spell, Kelith pours healing energy into the fallen dwarf and many his wounds fade away to nothingness. His heart skips a beat and he wonders if the effort was in vain or he was still alive afterall.

Thordek’s eyes snap open and he looks around, “Oi lad, what the hell happened to me?”

Kelith casts his last level 3 spell, healing Thordek for 24 hp. 20/60 HP AC 18

Johanssen (Init 9)

Hearing the order to fall back and knowing his own limitations in a straight up fight like this, Johanssen decides the better part of valor is discretion and simply disappears. Clear of the fight, he falls back to the south east…

Buna (Init 7)

Staggered but alive, Buna relents now that all the orcs are dead. Her battle lust evaporates for a moment and her chest heaves from pain and exertion. Fumbling for a potion from her bandolier, she pops the cork with one hand and sheathes her short sword. Downing the potion like a champ, however foul such things taste, she appears quickly rejuvenated as she staggers back towards where her own urgrosh lays.

“Thordek, nap’s over. Get on yer feet, get yer damned shield and get rid o’that enlargement spell. Yer too damn big a target as it is. Stay loose ‘nd move towards the ‘enter, those damn devils can teleport all over the damn place!” she snarls.

Raltise & Lythe (Init 5)

With no more orcs to prevent from slipping out the exit, Raltise and Lythe follow Arman towards the altar. Moving swifter than normal, the two close the distance quickly. Barely able to discern a target, Raltise holds his fire. What caused that darkness and what’s going on in there?

Magnum (Init 4)

In the darkness and unable to see, Magnum decides the best course at this point is to try and heal himself. He calls out a prayer to Clangeddin and the healing energy courses through him once again, stopping the terrible bleeding from his wounds. Now he just needed to survive long enough for help to arrive… The wave of fear from seeing the devil against sends a chill up his spine, but he shrugs it off as well…

http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=orcmap105mw2.jpg

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/4522/orcmap105mw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
[URL=http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=365&i=orcmap105mw2.jpg][IMG]http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/4522/orcmap105mw2.8569065262.jpg[/IMG

[loopy]

Johannes

Johannes attempts to move quietly towards the source of the commanding voice, still invisible.

Move Silently: [roll0]

EDIT: Quiet as a whisper, apparently.

[King Tius]

With no real offensive spells remaining, Nalrak follows the regroup order and moves towards Carmand. En route he calls out:

"Good fightin' lads! Get over here quick for some healin' before we finish these buggers off."

Nalrak will wait till the group is mostly assembled to cast Bless upon them. He will then heal as needed.

[thorgrim29]

Devils... Moradins butt hair!

He curses under his breath as he dismisses the enlargement spell and looks at the situation, and at his and his companions' wounds.

Ok, the way I see it we have to hope they hold a few moments, charging in now would be suicidal, wounded as we are, we've got to get treated... these are minor healing potions, could'nt afford better unfortunately....

He takes healing potions out of his pack and gives one to any who ask, and chugs one.

[roll0]

Duervar takes one:


[roll1]

Small announcement, I will be controlling Duervar from now on.

[mshady]

Hey everyone: I will be away fishing until Saturday night. The next turn should hopefully be up on Sunday or Monday night.

Good luck!

[Yuki Akuma]

Raltise is relishing his newfound freedom. Eager to stretch his legs, the psionicist runs over towards the darkness. He has a slight grin on his face; whatever's in there has got to be more interesting than guarding an exit.

I'm a-runnin'. Stopping beside anyone who might need some of those healing potions they foisted off on me.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith
AC: 26 (+4 from buffs, +3 from Armor Rune)
HP: 48/63 (+6 from buff)

Kelith will cast Cure Moderate Wounds on the minotaur before grabbing a single potion from Thordek. "My thanks Thordek, this should keep me from wasting too much of my own power on healing myself."
[roll0]

{{Shady, you know my cure serious wounds spell was supposed to give an extra 6 hp because of a feat I took? If you didn't factor that in let Thordek knows so he can get his extra hp =)}}
Spells Cast
0-2
1st-2
2nd-4
3rd-4

[ArmanMadero]

Arman cursed in a soft voice and moved around again a little, trying to see what he could do. Unfortunately... he wasn't exactly near the fighting group.

The area around the devils suddenly grew dark, and Arman could no longer see anything within the area. He cursed again. Can't aim at what you can't see...

He heard Carmard yelling for everyone to gather up and start fighting, and suddenly the devils became outlined within blue flames. The flames didn't seem to be burning, and Arman assumed it was some sort of faerie fire spell. How convenient. Now he could see them...

He took aim at the smaller of the flame outlined creatures, and fired another arrow.

Moving to T-08. Shooting at the smaller humanoid that is lit up

OOC: Why the move to Germany?

[bchilders]

Magnum

Thinking Clangeddin that he didn't suffer any more wounds, Mangum sets his sites on the blue outlined devil.

Attack:[roll0]
Damage:[roll1]

OOC: I saw some rolls for potions, but I was under the impression potions in this world did the max possible healing. Let me know if I've been doing this wrong

[mshady]

OOC: They do an average. You roll to see if you get better than average. They take a day to brew. I figure there has to be some quality control, right?

[bchilders]

My wife and I accepted teaching jobs over here. So starting next monday I'll be teaching Physics to german teenagers...it's a lot less fun than it sounds.

Wait a minute it doesn't even sound that fun....:smallfurious:

[PocketRocket]

Grathalmore

Grathalmore takes a five foot step to the left to finish off the lemures in front of him

Attack1:[roll0]
Damage1:[roll1]

Attack2:[roll2]
Damage2:[roll3]

Attack3:[roll4]
Damage3:[roll5]

[Katasi]

Arum panics and starts screaming.

[Strangie]

(OOC: The "too long didn't read version" - I'm controlling Bundok for the time being, and mshady has given me permission to join. I will have a new character after this combat. See spoiler for more stuff.)

(Hey everypeople! The main man mshady over here has given me control of Bundok for now since I guess his player dropped. I know Mike personally, and I asked to join his campaign, so here I am. I do have a fresh PC lined up to join, but that will come after this combat I guess. For now, I'll be controlling Bundok just to get into the swing of things. I'm not terribly comfortable RPing a character I didn't create so if I screw something up don't hate me too much. Anyways, looking forward to playing with you all! If you want to talk to me outside of the forum, feel free to shoot me off a PM.)

Silently thanking Clangeddin for his luck up to this point, Bundok takes a step from the offending lemures in front of himself, twirling his quarterstaff for a moment to keep them away. Moving one hand from the quarterstaff, he reaches into his pack and draws out a vial, popping the top off with his thumb and pouring the substance from it onto his hand, which he then rubs down the higher end of the quarterstaff with to apply the oil.

The end of the staff slightly shimmers with a holy light, as Bundok twirls the staff back into position, adjusting his hands down on the staff as he points the shimmering end towards where he thinks the lemures still are. He might be blinded still, but he still smirks slightly as he figures he'll have the advantage soon enough.

(Action: 5-foot step to the east, drawing out Oil of Bless Weapon and applying to quarterstaff, end turn)

[mshady]

Turn 11

Orc Shaman (Init 22)

Taking stock of the shifting tide of the battle and the sudden darkness, the shaman isn’t exactly sure what is going on. But it doesn’t much matter to him; the ice devil had finally arrived. Wreathed in this fire be damned, he remained undeterred. The shaman stands and casts a healing spell. Calling out a prayer, the still invisible cleric’s hands glow with divine energy as the spell builds…

…. and a length of cold metal lances through his forearm and pokes deeply into his abdomen. As quick as the blade was inserted, it’s withdrawn and he has no idea where the attack came from at first. Than the pain hits the shaman like a wave and he roars at the latest outrage against his body. His spell dissipates into nothingness; lost as he clutches his new wound. Realizing he needs to get away, the shaman backs away from his position….

Sable scores a critical hit, dealing 16 pts to the orc

Bundok (Init 21)

Still blinded, Bundok has a pretty good sense that things are just getting worse. Reaching into his satchel, Bundok fumbles for his prized flask of holy oil and empties its contents into his hand. Rubbing down the end of the staff, it glows brightly with a holy radiance; not that Bundok can really see that at this point… He takes a step eastward, away from the fray until his sight returns, cursing his luck this day.

Bundok has use an Oil of Bless Weapon on his quarterstaff

Arman Madero (Init 19)

Striding forward, Arman pulls another arrow from his quiver. Disappointed at the results of his last shot, he decides to aim at the new figure. Somehow it was wreathed in flames, like faerie fire, but he could see it inside the mysterious darkness. It looked like some kind of drow spell. Or a spell the drow would use. Clever certainly.

Barely able to see the smallest flaming figure in the mass of darkness, Arman levels his bow and fires. The arrow strikes the figure and drops to the ground, unable to penetrate the shaman’s cloak.

His ferocious hell hound charges forward as well, closing with the lemures and near the blinded Bundok…

Sable (Init 18)

Sticking to the cloud of darkness, Sable stalks the shaman quietly. Unable to stop her in the inky blackness, Sable follows him across the altar platform. She keeps an eye towards the towering ice devil and its retinue, but none notice her passage amazingly enough.

Rapier held in a perfect striking stance, she looks over orc with a trained and deadly eye. Stepping slightly to her side, she thrusts forward with all her weight behind the blow. Her blade slides right through her opponents cloak, deep into its abdomen and out the other side. With the blade in the orc’s guts guy, she smiles maliciously and turns the blade hard as she slides it out. The orc roars with pain and grasps its new wound as a widening stain of blood soaks its robes. Flicking the blood from her blood, she stands poised to finally put this damned orc on the ground…

Sable rolls a second critical hit with her rapier, dealing a 27 pt sneak attack critical hit

Thordek (Init 18)

Finally recovered, Thordek stands and dismisses his enlargement spell. He passes one potion to the nearby Duervar and guzzles another himself. The warmth of the healing of divine energy courses through his body. The potion, however, tastes like it was brewed from either piss or powerfully bad spirits…

Thordek heals himself 5 more HP. 31/60 hp

Duervar (Delayed to 18 - Init 21)

Winded already and badly wounded, Duervar is quite surprised to have survived everything. By the looks of it though, there was a lot more to do though. He advances over to where Thordek now stands and takes the proffered potion. Biting off the cork, he sucks down the foul tasting potion. Not dwarven made, that’s for sure. It tastes like distilled piss. Or human beer. Forcing the potion down his throat, his stomach quakes but some of his wounds heal.

The Ice Devil (Init 17)

It’s head on a swivel, the fierce devil looks about the chaos of the battlefield. So many souls to feast on here… the dead, the dying, ones who might make pacts to spare themselves? With a tremendous bellow, the devil swoops its spear through the air to open yet another portal here.

The momentarily glowing spear slices through the air and between the planes as a portal is formed. The Ice Devil calls into it with its own infernal language but the portal begins to collapse before anything can come to its aid. It roars in protest, shaking the room and echoing through the caverns for miles, no doubt.

Hjalmar (Init 15)

Blinded: 3/4 rounds left…

Still unable to see, Hjalmar decides to pull back until he can see again. He falls back to the sound of Carmard’s voice. He uncorks a moderate curing potion and guzzles it down as he falls back, letting the healing energies course through him.

Hjalmar’s CMW potion cures 13 pts, leaving him at 56/80 HP

Carmard (Init 14)

Sliding north through the air, Carmard’s head swivels around as he hunts for the orc shaman. His eye track the purple fire wreathing it and he sees someone, presumably Sable, practically gut the orc. It howls of pain draw Carmard to its location. Unwilling to chance any lesser spell against the powerful orc, Carmard reaches into his satchel and withdraws another tiny crystal globe with its delicate runes.

He chants the proper arcane words of power and the glove levitates in his hand as the light in the immediate area drains around him from the Weave. He gathers the strands of power to form the spell and the crystal globe shatters and its fragments spin once again before they fly towards shaman…

This time, he can’t shrug off the spell. The shards of glass swirl around him and form into a sphere of crystal and force. Suddenly, utterly, the orc shaman is locked inside the sphere. Howling in surprise now, it pounds its fists against the sphere containing it…

“Now ye just stay put…” he whispers to himself before turning to the rest of the group.

“Kelith! Get ov’r here! NOW! Magnum, Grathalmor, get outta there! Cold spells! And drop yer damn enlargement spell!!” Carmard bellows.

Looking towards the sphere of darkness, he can see the flames dancing around the Ice Devil. Its enormous head and shimmering blue eyes are tracking him now… Suddenly they turn towards the entrance into the cavern and its ice blue eyes flare in recognition of something…

Frak

The Devils (Init 14)

The two remaining Bearded Devils turn and look at the Ice Devil and between themselves. In bellow something between each other in infernal and raise their glaives in the air…. and disappear.

Suddenly, they air twists and spins in a silver whirl. One of the bearded devils appears next to Nalrak, the other by Hjalmar.

The Lemure Swarm (Init 13)

The lemures swarm forward again, rearranging themselves to attack. Five of the remaining lemures pummel Magnum once again, with one hitting him hard enough to cause him to wince badly.

Of the two other lemures, they lunge at Grathalmor. One of the two slams the burly Legionnaire hard, rocking him backwards. Another moves north towards Grathalmor’s rear but Gore’s axe catches it and sends the lemure bouncing against the wall. In two pieces.

Magnum suffers 4 HP blow from a lemure… 37/66. Grathalmor also suffers 4 HP hit 52/76 HP

Grathalmor (Init 10)

Wounded once again by these damned, perhaps literally, lemures the Forgemark lashes out with his urgosh; quick and deadly. His first swoop with his urgosh only thumps into the lemure’s tough hide; the axe blade was turned at an awkward angle and the blow nearly wrenches it from Grathalmor’s hand.

Gore (Init 9)

Hearing Carmard’s call, but unsure of what’s actually going on or why, the minotaur none the less does so inadvertently. He turns towards the newly arrived bearded devil next to the blinded Hjalmar. The devil’s glaive chops downwards at Gore near the neck and when it is yanked back, it slices through the thick neck armor into the meat of his shoulder; nearly a lethal wound but none the less quite painful. Gore shrugs off the pain as blood streams from the wound on to the floor, the wound glowing with infernal energy.

He returns the favor by blasting the devil backwards with first one blow than another in quick succession. One blow nearly snaps the devil’s leg while the next shatters ribs and filets its hide off in places in a sheet of ichor…

Arum Faer Wed (Init 10)

Once again, Arum is bucked about on the back of his vicious mount. It hears the noise of the battle, and Arum’s screaming and tries to run from the sound, only crash headlong into a pillar of stone. This, finally, does throw Arum off and he goes flying over a pot of fire and lands on the ground, singed and smoking from the sudden heat but otherwise unharmed.

Baurus appears stunned and confused, his rage abated by his staggering headache…

Unharmed. Baurus is now listed as “DB” on the map; for dire badger

Nalrak (Init 9)

Without any offensive spells left, Nalrak had other plans for his time until one of those bearded devils had appeared behind him. His maul in hand, he wheels around to face the new threat. Calling out for Dumathion’s blessing and the secrets of success from the Keeper, his maul flashes out towards the devil. The blow strikes the bearded devil in the chest, the crunch of bones and the howl of pain echo as the already wounded devil is staggered from the wound. It looks like it was going to keel over for a moment before it shakes off the blow and sends its own saw toothed glaive flashing over Nalrak’s head in a wild attack…

Nalrak connects, dealing a 7 hp wound (after damage reduction) to the bearded devil

Kelith (Init 9)

Taking the potion from Thordek, Kelith calls forth another blessing from Kossuth as he moves to the minotaur’s side. Kerik feels the intense heat of the purity of Kossuth’s blessing as it surges through him, healing some of the worst of his wounds,.

Kerik Many Skulls (Delayed till 9 - Init 10)

Still badly wounded, the labored breathing of the furious minotaur echoes like a cavern. Blood froths from his mouth, from wounds and exertion. Realizing his wounds though, Kerik’s big meaty hands reach for a potion vial. He doesn’t uncork the bottle or anything time consuming of the sort. Instead he just throws it into his mouth and chews the vial until it ruptures, sucks out the liquid and spits the tin vial back out onto the ground with a clatter.

“Damn” says Buna. Kerik only grunts and moves forward, wounded but more rejuvenated.

Johanssen (Init 9)

Still blinded, Johanssen skulks towards the sound of Carmard’s voice. He does it rather quietly, to his surprise, sensing his surroundings as he moved. There were a lot of bodies or parts their of covering the floor.

As he moves forward, he realizes that the floor actually dips into a slight basin hear. Enough blood has been spilt this night that he has difficulty moving without splashing in it in places… The thought sends his stomach roiling…

Buna (Init 7)

“If yer on yer feet, get yer arses moving!” the bloodied Buna yells, enraged by the lack of movement and battle lust. Not quite the friendly dwarf from before..

Buna strides forward and quaffs a small potion as she does. Her eyes are locked on the raging battle ahead of her, her mind thinking about what to do next…

Raltise & Lythe (Init 5)

His movements enhanced by his powers, Raltise moves forward rapidly. Intending on getting close to the darkness, his intentions change somewhat as the two devils suddenly appear. Still shimmering in the wreath of flames, he has no trouble spotting them or his allies.

Focusing his mind on the one fighting Nalrak, he lets a bolt of energy fly. The bolt of psionic energy strikes the devil in the leg, tearing a bloody wound into its thigh. It grunts first than howls at the pain, but stays on its feet.

Raltise performed a psychic strike and does 7 hp to Bearded Devil 2. Not quite dead yet though…

Magnum (Init 4)

With the Bearded Devils gone, Magnum now stands alone facing the towering Ice Devil. With his enlarged axe held in both hands, he swings hard for the devil’s bulging abdomen. His axe barely cuts through its thick chitin hide as it is, but the devil’s supernaturally hardened flash is nearly unyielding.

The powerful axe blow does little more than a shallow cut to his enormous foe, and already he can see the wound healing itself. Suddenly he has another overwhelming sense of dread.

He can’t hurt this thing… Not with this axe.

[I]So now what?

[mshady]

Sorry for being past the deadline!

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/2166/orccave11yu2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/2166/orccave11yu2.a79c6e6dbc.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=389&i=orccave11yu2.jpg)

http://img389.imageshack.us/my.php?image=orccave11yu2.jpg

[img=http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/2166/orccave11yu2.jpg] (http://imageshack.us)

[loopy]

Johannes

Johannes, still invisible, continues moving slowly in Carmard's direction. He blinks continuously, trying to regain his vision.

EDIT: I hate being blinded. :smallfrown:

[Melody]

Sable smiles delightedly as she sees the crystal prison form around the shaman. No more running, no more hide and seek. Not that those weren't her favorite games, but this game had gone on for far too long. With a flick of her fingers Sable banishes the darkness and readies her bow.

[Strangie]

Unsure of why the lemures he thought he heard in front of him aren't attacking him, Bundok shakes his head and blinks his eyes, trying to recover his vision. He retains his position for now, unsure of what to do next. He decides that calling out that he's still blinded would probably not be smart, not wanting to alert to his enemies that he's vulnerable at the moment.

Action: Delay until one of the following occurs - Bundok is attacked (undelay and return the favor with two handed quarterstaff full attack, Blessed end forward), someone addresses him directly (will be followed up on with new post, depending on action), or vision returns (also will likely require another post detailing action on my part, depending on what has transpired)

Don't worry, I'll be keeping tabs on this thread.

[Katasi]

Arum waits to see what the new devil will do, prepared to try to counter anything it might cast.

[roll0]

[thorgrim29]

Duervar hands a bottle to thordrek, and takes one himelf. They bang the bottles together and drink them, wincing at the taste.
Thordrek's potion:[roll0]
Duervar's potion:[roll1]

well then, lets go shall we, Duervar, take the lead. So Buna, do we go for the bigger one or the smaller ones?

They start walking towards the battle.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith
AC: 26 (+4 from buffs, +3 from Armor Rune)
HP: 56/63 (+6 from buff)

Kelith will quaff the potion he got from Thordrek before moving towards the battle scene.

[roll0]

Spells Cast
0-2
1st-2
2nd-4
3rd-4

[bchilders]

Magnum

Hearing the call to fall back and regroup, Magnum retreats although it irks him to do so. He falls back first knowing the way is clear, then heads towards the rest of the group looking to see if anyone is in need of healing.

Quick question...who needs healing the most in the group forming up around to bone devils?

[PocketRocket]

Grathalmore

Tired of these annoying Lemures, Grathalmore retreats towards the rest of the group, so that they may get an upper hand

[ArmanMadero]

Arman cursed again. His mother would be appaled at the words coming from him this day.

He needed to get into the fight again. Slinging his bow across his back, he grabbed one of the wands from his belt and spoke a single word to it, sending a dart of blue from its tip to strike at the one he just missed with his arrow.

Soon after it struck, the darkness dropped and he saw what looked like a glass sphere within the group ahead of him, encasing the shaman. At least nothing would be surprising them from him anymore. The other creatures in the room were a different matter. he moved foreward a little, wondering where he could strike again.

Arman will fire one of his magic missle wands at the one he just missed, the smaller lit up humanoid, and then move five feet to S-09

[mshady]

Turn 11

Orc Shaman (Init 22)

Imprisoned in the sphere, the shaman pounds his fists against the container. Barely able to move and bleeding from his wounds, his leg is slick and stained red from his wounds. Woozy, he still clearly has plenty of fight left in him. He looks around frantically at the battle and his eyes lock on Sable, who stands beside him smiling. His eyes blaze red with anger and… something else.

“Scrawny runt bitch! I and Xurshin-in-Auril’s Name curse ye! May the Cold One freeze ye for attacking us during a worship! Take your warmth and life for this! Ha, and now His sight falls upon this place! You, runt bitch?? I only hope He saves ye for me! Xurshin, I invoke your name! Attacked as we presented your gifts! The dwarves!”

Bundok (Init 21)

Trying desperately to blink away the blindness, Bundok stands poised and coiled in the darkness. An overwhelming sense of desperation threatens at the edge of his consciousness and the mere presence of the Ice Devil has greatly unsettled him. But he’s not even sure what it is… he can’t see…

Duervar (Init 21)

Duervar hands a bottle to Thordek, and takes one himself. They bang the bottles together and drink them, wincing at the taste.

Duervar's potion:(2d8+3)[8] Duervar: 41/64 HP

Arman Madero (Init 19)

With no real magic left that could harm the devils and seeing that his own bow won’t do much at the moment, Arman walks briskly towards the battle as they try to regroup. Taking a potion from his bandolier, he quaffs the oddly tasting potion in one go.

Arman’s summoned hell hound comes bounding in at the nearest bearded devil and takes a near fatal wound from the devil’s saw toothed glaive. None the less, the relentless beast latches on to the devil’s wounded leg and shakes it, trying to bring it down.

Arman quaffs a CLW potion and heals 9 hp. Arman’s hell hound does 5 pt wound to the Devil

Sable (Init 18)

Unable to dismiss the darkness spell and intensely wanting to distance herself from the ice devil, Sable sheathes her rapier and unlimbers her bow once again. Popping back into the air up to 20 feet, she is amongst the nooks and crannies of the cavern ceiling once again. She slides back towards the group by 20 feet as well…

Thordek (Init 18)

Taking the bottle from Duervar, they clank the potion flasks and the wounded Levtokuld sucks down another potion. His body feels horrific still from the pounding he has taken, but the potions are quickly repairing most of the actual physical damage…

Duervar's potion:(2d8+3)[8]

The Ice Devil (Init 17)

The Ice Devil decides to demonstrate exactly how it earned its name. It’s arms splay wide and it lowers its body, hunching downwards before belching a blizzard of cold and ice at Magnum and Grathalmor. The cone of freezing air and vapor rolls out ahead of the devil in a fast moving cloud.

The cloud of super cooled air blows past three of the lemures, freezing their bodies in the blink of an eye. It blows past Magnum and Grathalmor. Somehow Magnum is able to twist his enlarged body low and puts his back towards the air, saving himself from certain death. Grathalmor isn’t so lucky, as he catches the air full into his face and body. His body is numbed beyond the point of feeling for a moment and he feels his heart lug for a few moments, trying desperately to push the nearly frozen blood through his system.

The cone of super cooled air keeps rolling forward. It barely misses Gore, but envelops Nalrak and the Bearded Devil he is fighting with. The reckless attack nearly freezes the Bearded Devil to death; a shell of ice is formed around its back and it shrieks from the stinging cold. So does Nalrak; the stinging cold saps the energy from his body. Crystals of ice festoon his armor in sheets, an unwanted glaze of ice.

The devil rises and huffs repeatedly, almost laughing at the devastation that it had wrought. Ice vapor curl up from its mouth…

The Ice Devil uses its Cone of Cold attacks, causing serious harm to the PCs. Only Magnum was able to make his save. Magnum:17/66, Grathalmor: 12/76m Nalrak: 11/51

Hjalmar (Init 15)

His hammer glowing with holy radiance and able to see again, Hjalmar’s hammer traces a streak through the air as it comes crashing into the wounded bearded devil. The first blow lands like an avalanche and drives the devil to the ground, its knee cap smashed into a pulp. Bits of bone stick through the wound as sizzling blood drops to the ground and the devil screams. Briefly.

The next blow crunches in its skull and the devil screams no more. With a swift kick, Hjalmar sends it to the ground in a heap splayed out across the floor. Leveling his one good eye at the Ice Devil, he none the less takes a step back away from it for prudence’s sake…

Carmard (Init 14)

“Get back! Get the frak back! Now!” Carmard bellows as the blast of cold envelops a swath of area in front of him. That Nalrak, Magnum and Grathalmor are even alive after it clears almost surprises him.

Carmard reaches for a scroll from a tube and snaps it open. The power of the magic is evident as the scroll burns up in his hand in a puff of smoke, but the actual effect seems… muted. With the spell completed, Carmard slides backwards in the air.

“Damn ye, Kelith! Get yer red robed ass over here!”

The Devils (Init 14)

The last remaining bearded devil thrusts once at Nalrak. The sudden, shocking cold from its supposed ally and resulting pain is more than enough to distract the devil. Having made its quick attack, it decides to leave the scene before the Ice Devil attacked again. It flees towards the approaching Raltise, Lythe and Arman with surprising speed. It moves right past Raltise, putting the psionic warrior in a flanking position…

The Lonely Lemures… (Init 13)

The two remaining lemures seem heedless that the massive new devil had just slain three of their own. They mindlessly flail out again towards Magnum, but this time fail to wound the nearly frozen warrior priest…

Grathalmor (Init 10)

Nearly killed by the Ice Devil’s blast, Grathalmor does exactly what his Arcanii says this time; he runs.

Gore (Init 9)

Seeing the blast of cold magic roar through the area and envelop three of his allies, Gore has a moment of clarity; he wanted no part of that. Falling back towards Carmard, the younger minotaur is still gravely wounded and knows it.

Arum Faer Wed (Init 10)

Able to see again, Arum quickly takes stock of the situation. He had to stop the Ice Devil from casting such a spell again and buy some time. This was quickly developing into a very different battle than before. He found that quite… unnerving and terrifying. Had he not thought he was already in it, this was the fight of his life.

Kerik Many Skulls (Init 10)

Moving towards the center with his enormous axe in one hand, Kerik reaches for another potion. Again he cracks it open with his teeth and spits the tube into the floor, bouncing it off a corpse.

“Gore! Get behind me and heal yourself! Look at yourself!” Kerik growls at his comrade in arms.

Nalrak (Init 9)

Nearly flash frozen to death, Nalrak none the less understood exactly what he had to do. That was run and regroup with the rest. Big and swarthy for a dwarf, no one had ever accused Nalrak of an inability to hustle. He bolts as far and as fast as he can away from the Ice Devil, happy to still have his life.

Kelith (Init 9)

Chugging another potion, Kelith moves closer to the new battle. He profoundly did not like what he was seeing and Carmard kept roaring for him. So onward he went…

Johanssen (Init 9)

Blinded and stumbling still, Johanssen keeps moving forward. Whatever the hell just happened, he felt a startling chill and the screams of pain made him feel like he very immediately wanted to move elsewhere. He could almost see again though… Whomever did this to him, he badly wanted to get his hands on them. Not sure what after that, but…

Buna (Init 7)

Wounded but rushing forward, Buna moves rapidly closer to the center. She stumbles and trails blood; her face an outrage of bruises.

“Carmard! I’ll try to counter-spell it! It’s one o’the Ice Devils Glorian warned us of!”

Raltise & Lythe (Init 5)

Raltise watches wide eyed as the bearded devil moves with remarkable speed, moving not just close to him but behind him. Nearly point blank, Raltise summons his will and lets a holt of psionic energy go. It lances into the devil’s belly, sinking into its abdomen in a splash of purple and blue light. Blood oozes from the wound, but still the devil stays on its feet.

Raltise does 6 HP damage to the Bearded Devil, after damage reduction. He rolled a 23

Lythe wheels on the devil and tries to keep it occupied and away from her beloved Raltise. She slams her stony fist into the fearsome devil, the blow does nothing to it; the devil shrugs off the blow entirely. In reply the devil tries to slam its glaive down on Lythe, attempting to split her into gravel but the hasty blow only results in him banging the blow off the floor.

Magnum (Init 4)

Following Grathalmor’s lead and Carmard’s orders, he manages to disengage in the darkness without the Ice Devil or the Lemures landing a blow on him.

http://img254.imageshack.us/my.php?image=orccave12oh0.jpg

(http://imageshack.us)

[IMG]http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/8199/orccave12oh0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[thorgrim29]

note: after taking their potion, both thordrek and duervar moved 20 feet towards Carmard last turn, they'll do the same thing this time.

Still moving towards the battle, Thordrek and duervar only slow down enough to take another potion out of the Levtokuld's pack and chug it.

Thordrek: [roll0]
Duervar: [roll1]

[loopy]

Johannes

Johannes delays his turn until he can see.

((Could I grab a map key from you Mike? Aside from my character I have no idea who any of the others on the map are.))

[mshady]

I'll correct the movement, Thorgrim.

Map Key:

A: Arum Faer Wed
Ar: Arman Madero
B: Bundok
Bu: Buna (actually a B too, but on the right. Will change that...)
B2: Bearded Devil
C: Carmard
D: Duervar
DB: Dire Badger
G: Grathalmor
GM (2 squares): Gore
H: Hjalmar
ID: Ice Devil
J: Johannes
K: Kelith
KM (2 squares): Kerik Many Skulls
L: Lemures
L: Lythe (Will be LY on next map)
M: Magnum
N: Nalrak
OS: Orc Shaman
R: Raltise
S: Sable
T: Thordek

Dang.... there IS alot going on with this map!!

[King Tius]

OOG: I'm back!

Thanking Dumathoin that he is still on his feet, Nalrak slows his run and casts a healing spell upon himself, sacrificing comprehend languages.

[Strangie]

Undelaying, following Carmard's orders.

Bundok hears Carmard ordering a retreat, and the screams of pain from the bitter cold to his left, and decides that staying put isn't the greatest idea anymore. Still blinded (probably), he turns and runs back toward Carmard's voice, hoping he doesn't trip over his own two feet on the way, given that he can't see. Given any other situation, he'd go and beat the hell out of whatever was in front of him, but this was just too much for one dwarf.

The next thing to add to his list of worries is hoping he's running in the right direction...

Withdrawing to the east as far as he can get (N17 I think)

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith
AC: 26 (+4 from buffs, +3 from Armor Rune)
HP: 56/63 (+6 from buff)

Shaking his head as he runs towards the now retreating group, he heads for the most injured person before reaching out his hands and healing them.

{{Casting CMW}}
[roll0]

Spells Cast
0-2
1st-2
2nd-5
3rd-4

[ArmanMadero]

currently coming up with a good response. And I think that Arum is Ar and Arman is the A because i know i wasn't that far south. In fact, not sure if i was as far south as I am now... but i take it

[mshady]

Deleted by Owner.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

So I'll keep with my action of healing the person who needs it most.

[bchilders]

Magnum

Seeing Gore in bad shape and knowing that the bulls might be their best chance of bringing down the huge devil, Magnum heads over to the younger minotaur with aching joints from the recent blast of ice and channels some divine energy. "Here you are lass," he says after a few muttered words of prayer and as some of the minotaurs wounds begin to heal in front of his eyes.

Losing protection from energy to cast cure serious
[roll0]

Falling back behind Gore to put some room between me and the devil

[ArmanMadero]

Keeping up with my last action that got changed. Magic Missile Wand at Bearded Devil (b2)

Sorry about short post.. extrememly tired after working and painting until 1am all weekend.

[mshady]

Turn 12

Orc Shaman (Init 22)

Like a fish in a fish bowl, the shaman can’t get out. He pounds the bubble with his staff, but it just flexes and rebounds back into shape. Indeed it rolls slightly in place, nearly tumbling the shaman.

Bundok (Init 21)

Able to see once again, Bundok quickly takes stock of the situation and falls back with the rest of the group. That they were running away from something at all was… a different experience. He wanted nothing more than to charge at the Devil… until he realized what it was capable of doing…

Duervar (Init 21)

Downing yet another potion, Duervar continues to move closer to the battle.

Duervar drinks a CLW, healing for 5 HP. 46/64 HP

Arman Madero (Init 19)

Wand in hand, Arman unleashes a magic missile spell at the bearded devil. The bolts streak out towards the devil and strike it in the back… and seem to be absorbed. The devil snaps its head towards Arman’s position and sneers at the mage and his worthless mortal magic…

Arman frowns, but figures that the devil does not have long to live. A rather bold move for the devil, considering it was called here, not summoned. Otherwise liking his position, Arman decides to stand in place. He can’t help but look at the orc shaman in sphere and wonder how long before it collapsed and the dangerous shaman was on the loose again…

Arman’s hell hound charges right at the Ice Devil as well. With a quick, hard thrust the devil spits the onrushing hell hound on its spear. The hound is killed instantly and the devil barely has time to throw the limp corpse off its spear point before it disappears in a cloud.

Sable (Init 18)

Hovering in the air once again with her deadly bow in hand, Sable looks between the large and small devil threatening her fellow archer. Doubting her ability to drive an arrow through the enormous devil hide, she settled on the smaller one and took aim for its head. Bobbing as she was, she knew it was a tough shot but she was also a very skilled archer and had made harder shots in the past, in Waterdeep.

Having decided on her target, she knocked an arrow, drew back and held her breath for a moment and looked down the shaft of the arrow. In that moment, she always felt a bit of a connection between her and her target, but not this time. This thing was foul and more wicked than she felt deserved any empathy. With that thought in mind, she smiled slightly and let the arrow fly with a twang.

Sable’s arrow streaked out towards the bearded devil, but it missed its mark. Rather than striking the base of its neck, the arrow was driven right through the devil’s ear and out of the roof of its mouth. Silently the devil dropped to the ground, limp as a puppet who just had its strings cut…

Still not a bad shot, I guess…

With the speed granted to her by her flight, Sable moves across the chamber to close the range but stay out of the likely path of the devil’s next attack. She profoundly wanted to stay out of its way, however nimble she was…

Thordek (Init 18)

Moving forward along with Duervar, the Levtokuld downs yet another potion. The tangy, bitter taste threatens to kill any chance he’d ever have of tasting again; not that he was a culinary by any stretch. Thordek had few options left at this point, having expended much of his “Axe Magic” but he was still a competent fighter. He just needed to get close to that Ice Devil. Of course… actually hurting it might be the real problem…

Thordek drinks a CLW. It does the minimum 5 HP. 44/60 HP

The Ice Devil (Init 17)

The Gelugon’s giant head sweeps through the murkiness. It seems unbothered by the cloud of magical darkness and clearly tracks the exit of its victims from its cold attack. The beast slams the butt of its spear into the altar platform, cracking the stone beneath it out sheer frustration.

Striding off the platform, it leaves a foot print of ice behind it as it moves towards the exit. Again, its eyes flare with a blue glow and the devil squats and blows a thick vapor of cold and ice once again. This time, it is not towards the party but the exit itself. The icy cloud of vapor suddenly suspends itself and a wall of ice starts forming. The torrent of super cooled air blown from the devil is beyond any imaginable lung capacity for something of even its enormous size…

The exit disappears. It is now a wall of solid, magically constructed ice anchored to both sides of the entrance.

It’s wall complete, the Gelugon turns to face the rest of the part and snaps its tail with a thunderous, supernatural crack.

“Harmless mortals. You think you can harm the Eternal of Cania? A servitor of Mephistopheles! Prostrate yourselves before me for the privilege of your enslavement. Or your souls shalt serve me as lemures in Cania” it says. Its voice thunders through the cavern, yet oddly… no sound is heard.

The Ice Devil is speaking directly into your minds.

Hjalmar (Init 15)

Seeing the Ice Devil blocking the wall and moving closer, even paralleling him and close to the party once again, Hjalmar knew he needed to keep the big devil occupied long enough for at least the minotaurs to arrive. Wounded, but not grievously so and no longer blinded, Hjalmar turned and charged at the enormous devil.

“For Moradin!” he cries as he rumbles and clanks towards the Ice Devil.

Seeing the onrushing attacker, the Ice Devil is actually silently amused and impressed with the dwarf’s suicidal intent. The devil’s massive spear is thrust outward hard at Hjalmar as he tries to spit in charging dwarf upon it, but Hjalmar’s armor is far too thick for anything but the straightest of shots to be pierced. Instead the blow nearly spins the dwarf sideways and instead he tries to balance between one foot and the other before careening out of control. But he succeeds and regains his footing just in time to take a mighty swing with his hammer.

The blow comes down hard enough to split stone; what it does to the devil's knee cap is excruciating to see. The hammer blow crunches the knee and fractures the girder like bones that keep the devil on its feet. Icy black blood oozes from the wounds and the devil howls, audibly this time and the surprising strength of the blow. Indeed the wound smokes from the wound, for the impact of a weapon possessed with such purity of purpose in anathema to the devil.

Hjalmar charged and declared a smite upon the devil. He rolled a 33 and does 28 pts, overcoming the devil’s damage reduction due to his good aligned holy weapon.

Carmard (Init 14)

Bobbing in the air gently, Carmard watches as the Ice Devil blocks their exit and can guess its intent in the coming moments.

This Devil isn’t going to let us leave. It’s going to ice over all the exits, than the whole chamber. We can’t harm it faster than it regenerates either. Not really. What to do? Carmard thinks to himself, but decides he has to act sooner rather than later.

Taking a rod off his belt, etched in faintly glowing green runes with a beljuril at the tip as a focus, Carmard aims it at the Ice Devil and takes a deep breath. His eyes glow faintly as he looks at the Ice Devil, watching its shimmering natural wards and trying to find a weak point in its protection. He does and adjusts his aim slightly. An emerald ray of green erupts from the rod, like a focused explosion of magical energy as the spell crackles out towards the Ice Devil… and strikes it just below the eye socket.

For a moment, Carmard and the Devil seem linked as the ray locks on the Ice Devil. Now the real power of the spell pours forth in a wild, unstable stream of magic lashes it. The Ice Devil roars in protest, shocked by what is happening to it. The sound echoes both through the chamber and through everyone’s minds like a bizarre, primordial echo.

The Ice Devil is now covered in a nimbus of glowing green light. Its eyes flare in anger, coursing with energy and radiating a harsh blue light.

“You’re locked now, Gelugon! You who were bought so cheaply! Make a pact with us for better terms! You may kill some us, yes but you too shall fall. See to your wounds! Know the Patriarchate CAN harm you! Know I can banish you! Know Kerik Many Skulls took the head of a Hamatula effortlessly just week! You were called here, Gelugon. Think carefully with your life!”

Turning back towards Kelith, he rasps to the priest.

“Kelith, I need your holy symbol of Kossuth for the banishment! Hand it here!” he says, and lowers himself towards the ground.

The Lonely Lemures (Init 13)

With the being that summoned them dead, the two remaining lemures fade out of existence.

Kerik Many Skulls (Init 10)

Still too far to charge, the enormous minotaur knows it still needs to get closer. Breaking from the gathered herd of Forgemark and their allies, he rumbles south west and takes cover behind the enormous stone pillar. He breaks open another vial, this time in his hand, and rubs the faintly glowing oil across his axe.

Grathalmor (Init 10)

Barely alive, Grathalmor stumbles and reaches for the most powerful healing potion he possesses. That was a sudden reversal… he thought to himself. Flipping off the cap of the potion, he sucks it down like the old pro that he was; at drinking at any rate. Looking about for a shield, he decides he would be better off falling back a bit further. It barely seems to change how he feels, but nonetheless it does.

Grathalmor drinks a Cure Serious Wounds potion and is healed 17 pts. 34/76 HP

Arum Faer Wed (Init 10)

Arum does what he can at this point, and it is precious little yet so critical. With his sight returned, Arum watches the Ice Devil’s every movement as he remains poised to counter-spell, if he can. He had never actually tried this before, but he figured his last fireball might be able to dispel another blast of primordial cold from the devil’s bellows like lungs….

Nalrak (Init 9)

Sacrificing another spell to convert it into raw healing energy, Nalrak attempts to unfreeze his body. Already it stings as his hot blood tries to defrost his limbs, leaving his fingers stinging. Still, he cobbles together the dexterity to cast a healing spell with his free hand. The spark of healing energy does its job and courses through his numb body, praise to Dumathion!

Now to take a step back; the farther he could get back from that devil the better…

Nalrak sacrifices a Comprehend Languages (level 1) spell and heals himself 11 pts

Kelith (Init 9)

Moving forward into the gathering group, Kelith tries to figure out who the most badly wounded is. Seeing how badly frozen Nalrak is as he fumbles through his spell and how he just fled from the devil’s cone of ice, he seemed as good a candidate as any.

Striding towards Nalrak, the fire priest conjures a spell of healing and presses his hand against the frozen dwarf’s side. Kelith’s hand glows with a super natural fire before that energy infuses itself into the dwarf’s body. Steam rises from Nalrak’s body, armor and even beard as the heat surges through him. It almost makes him wince, but both man and dwarf nod their heads at each other in acknowledgement and respect for their fellow faiths.

Now standing next to Carmard, he hears the Arcanii’s orders and reluctantly nods.

What the hell is he up to?

Kelith heals Nalrak 20 hp, bringing him to 42/51 HP

Johanssen (Init 9)

Able to see once again, Johanssen likes his position for now. He certainly was not going to melee that Ice Devil unless he had to, yet had no more orders from Carmard. Invisible as he was, Johanssen decides to do what he does best for the moment; watch and see where he could jump in.

Buna (Init 7)

Moving closer to Carmard, Buna watches as Hjalmar barrels into the Ice Devil and wounds the creature. With her specialized Arcanii training, Buna was perhaps a bit more capable than the average mage at getting her spells through the tough natural wards of a creature. While the training was mainly intended for fighting drow, it none the less applied to Outsiders such as this.

With a simple arcane gesture, Buna gestures towards the Ice Devil and a dull green ray lances out towards it. The ray strikes its legs and the creature wobbles for a moment as it pulses green and brown. The well aimed and fortified spell chews through the devil’s spell resistance until it connects and flashes. The true power of the spell arcs along the line of the ray and numbs the creature badly.

With a whoop at her own success, Buna looks up at Carmard.

“So now what, Carl? What the ‘ell do you think you’re doing? Parlay? We kill it and move on, be what we do!”

Buna casts Ray of Enfeeblement against the Ice Devil. The spell somehow connects and lames the Ice Devil, reducing its strength by 8 pts. It still seems enormously powerful though…

Raltise & Lythe (Init 5)

Adjacent to Lythe, Raltise decides mobility is his best bet for staying alive. Manifesting his psionic power once again, Raltise shares a new spell between him and her. Both of their feet begin to glow beneath them, a spell anyone familiar with the two would know suddenly just made them much, much faster…

Magnum (Init 4)

Seeing Gore in bad shape and knowing that the bulls might be their best chance of bringing down the huge devil, Magnum heads over to the younger minotaur with aching joints from the recent blast of ice and channels some divine energy. "Here you are lad" he says after a few muttered words of prayer and as some of the minotaur’s wounds begin to heal in front of his eyes.

Magnum then shifts behind Gore, trying to put as much distance as his short legs allow in the time he has. He could not take another hit like he just did from that devil…

Gore (Delayed to 3 - Init 9)

Still wounded, Gore sucks down another potion. Watching his leader move southward, the lumbering minotaur does the same. His wounds seem to fade even more, but one can only imagine the scars the enormous beast had accumulated this day. With the last of the fluid drained, he spits out the tiny flask and bangs it off the ground.

With a thundering roar, Gore follows Kerik’s lead as they try to flank around Ice Devil and beat it down.

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/4145/orccamp12yz1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img413.imageshack.us/my.php?image=orccamp12yz1.jpg

[bchilders]

Magnum

Hearing Carmand's ultimatum, Magnum decides to wait and see how the devil will respond, so he uses the time he has to down a potion and start heading down after the minotuars to better support those rushing in to fight.

Cure moderate:[roll0]

Heading down towards the minotuars T24

[Strangie]

Bundok thought carefully. Charging headlong into battle has worked good up to this point, but this was no ordinary foe. Now that he could see again, he can target the ice devil! But throwing himself at the thing was definitely not the best idea. The monster's reach was too far - he'd get nailed before reaching there. This... required a bit of cunning, Bundok thought to himself, as he reaches in his pack once more to fetch another potion - specifically, his potion of Invisibility.

Downing the potion and fading away, he regrips his staff, shiny end forward, and strides toward the beast. If he can get it between his comrades and put himself in a good flanking position unnoticed, this fight may not be lost after all.

Using Potion of Invisibility, taking most direct route possible toward the Ice Devil, though I think that limits me to a five foot step this round.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

Kelith will stare Carmard down as he hands over his holy symbol, "You know, if this doesn't make it back into my hands you'll have the nine hells to pay."

[thorgrim29]

Just one thing Mike: I may be wrong, but bI have Thordrek's HP at 55 right now... Would you mind double checking?

Satisfied with his health, Thordrek reaches carmard and drinks another potion. Duervar drinks another healing potion and they both snap to attention, waiting for the devils answer.

Drinking Shield of faith+2 potion, raising AC to 26.
Duervar drinks another healing potion: [roll0]

[mshady]

OOC: You're probably right about that. I'll adjust Thordek's HP.

Soo much to keep track of sometimes :) Tracking those orcs to a point was insanity itself though. lol

Mike

[ArmanMadero]

Arman could see that everyone was gathering around the Ice Devil, but that no one was really watching the Shaman. He knew that he couldn't attack the shaman within the bubble around him, but he could ensure that should the "cage" burst, that he would prevent the shaman from getting away. He moved to where the Shaman was.

The Shaman looked at him in frustration. There was no getting away. Arman looked behind the stage again, trying to see what was back there behind where the group had disrupted events just moments ago.

Double move to C-13. Withdraw rapier and stand guard. Should the "cage" burst, Arman will attack with his Rapier. Spot check behind the stage area. Also keeping an eye out so I dont get ambushed

[King Tius]

Nodding towards Kelith, Nalrak keeps to his orders and takes off after the minotaurs. "Thank ye, got to go keep these bulls alive!"

[loopy]

((Mshady - I found out that Arcane Dilettante needs an inspiration point, unfortunately.))

Johannes

Johannes, seeing that he will not be able to do much at all to the Ice Devil with his current equipment, quickly moves towards the bubble holding the Orc Shaman, trying to cut off its escape if possible.

((I move 40ft west))

[PocketRocket]

Grathalmore

Still feeling a little woozy, Grathalmore searches in his bag for any more potions.

OOC: Don't know if I have anymore but if I do, I will drink one and proceed towards the minotaurs. If not I will follow just behind Magnum towards the minotaurs and pull out my crossbow.

[mshady]

Turn 12

Orc Shaman (Init 22)

Still locked in the bubble…

Bundok (Init 21)

Bundok thought carefully. Charging headlong into battle has worked good up to this point, but this was no ordinary foe. Now that he could see again, he can target the ice devil! But throwing himself at the thing was definitely not the best idea. The monster's reach was too far - he'd get nailed before reaching there. This... required a bit of cunning, Bundok thought to himself, as he reaches in his pack once more to fetch another potion - specifically, his potion of Invisibility.

Downing the potion and fading away, he regrips his staff, shiny end forward, and strides toward the beast. If he can get it between his comrades and put himself in a good flanking position unnoticed, this fight may not be lost after all…

Striding southward, the enormous devil looms in the murkiness of the invisibility. It does not seem to notice his disappearance, focused on Hjalmar as it is. The bright, glowing blue eyes send a shiver down his spine. He instinctively did not want to get close to the devil. A sense of elemental fear and dread filled him and it only intensified as he got closer.

Those eyes, those glowing eyes…

Duervar (Init 21)

Downing another potion, the cynical miner drinks and closes with the devil. A sudden feeling of dwarven kinship overcame him for a moment. He was actually downing drink after drink as he closed with the enemy; what a typical perception he must be giving to the non-dwarves of the party. Of course… they did have better things to do at the moment...

Arman Madero (Init 19)

Arman could see that everyone was gathering around the Ice Devil, but that no one was really watching the Shaman. He knew that he couldn't attack the shaman within the bubble around him, but he could ensure that should the "cage" burst, that he would prevent the shaman from getting away. He moved to where the Shaman was.

The Shaman looked at him in frustration. There was no getting away. Arman looked behind the stage again, trying to see what was back there behind where the group had disrupted events just moments ago.

As he looks around the area, the globe shimmers with magic made substantial. Like a hard glass she, he can see the foggy image of the orc inside and certainly hear its rants. He can even hear the orc thump its meaty fists against the side to no effect. Not sure how long Carmard’s spell would last, he at least felt confident the orc could not escape it.

The rest of the altar stage is a grim sight. The sacrifices are twisted visages of their former selves. They lay naked, their bodies twisted and discolored by the foul magic that allowed the devils to claim their souls. The red embers of summoning circles are etched into the surface of the altar. The blood and offal from friend and foe alike cover the stage. Little else to see there. Arman casts his eyes towards the rearward passage and sees nothing…

Sable (Init 18)

Thinking it wise to keep her distance from the Ice Devil and unsure if she can even drive an arrow through its thick hide, Sable is out of targets. Mentally shrugging, she draws another arrow and draws her bow. Looking down the arrow shaft for a moment, she aims for one of the Devil’s glowing blue eyes and concentrates for a moment. Her arrow vibrates and shines softly for a moment and this time she does feel a link between the monster and her…

Sable’s arrow streaks towards the Devil with a soft whistle. The Ice Devil snaps its head towards the sound just in time. The arrow is driven right into the devil’s neck. Deep. It reflexively tries to bat the stinging arrow out of its hide but only breaks off the shaft. A stream of black blood oozes from the wound; steam rises from the wound and the monster roars.

Sable scored a critical hit, causing 25 HP wound against the Ice Devil after damage reduction

Thordek (Init 18)

Downing another potion, this time Thordek feels far better protected as a shimmering aura of protection surrounds him and settles just about his armor. Satisfied at its effect, he casts aside the potion and strides towards Carmard.

As he walks, the number of dead orcs all around him staggers him a bit.

There were THAT many?

As he gets closer to the Ice Devil, he can only grimace.

After all this, we have to kill THAT?

Saying a prayer to Dumathion, he hopes Carmard knows what he is doing…

The Ice Devil (Init 17)

Reeling from its sudden wounds, the Ice Devil chose to get away from its attackers. Unable to teleport, the enormous devil drew in its breath and Hjalmar felt a cold wind surge through him for a moment as it concentrated the necessary magic for what would come next.

The Ice Devil rises into the air, putting twenty feet of air between it and the air leaving it out of reach of anyone except a jumping minotaur.

The minds of everyone in the chamber thunders; a tremendous mental pressure is felt as it reaches out into everyone’s minds once again. The power of the connection is harsh enough to send Raltise reeling, holding his head from the pressure of the psionic connection.

“Raz-Petrin the Reaper, Gelguon of Cania, servant of Mephistopheles and bound by Pact to serve Auril accepts your offer of parlay. Amuse me, Arcanii. Speak your offer and I will hear it. This one knows your minds are too feeble to reply otherwise. Know your time is short.”


Hjalmar (Init 15)

Watching the Ice Devil rise into the air, Hjalmar tries to take a swing at it as it rises but his blow has no effect. Sensing distance was a good idea now, the wizened old Paladin falls back…

Carmard (Init 14)

Watching in horror as the Ice Devil rises, Carmard’s mind races and his first thought is to throw his hammer at the monster. Until he feels that tremendous pressure in his mind once again. Blinking with surprise that his offer was accepted, Carmard holds his throw and stares across the cavern at the floating Ice Devil now paralleling his altitude.

"Legion, fall back to me and keep a spread. No one shoots till I say!" Carmard bellows at his command.

“Raz-Petrin! You are weakened, immobilized and here on the Prime in your true form. Die here, now and you are dead. We are all mortal here, now! You may kill some of us, but you know we can wound you, Leave now and live! You are of Cania; no servant of this foul, corrupted orcs that dare to summon you. You are bound by Pact to aid them? I hold your binder! You are bound to serve them not die for them!”
Carmard watches the Ice Devil, waiting for acknowledgement. It does not come immediately.

As Kelith comes closer to him, he takes the priests holy symbol but says nothing in reply.

[mshady]

Combat Rounds are suspended for the moment. I'll keep track of the approximate time in terms of tracking your buffs if still required.

Carmard has entered into parlay with the Ice Devil, so RP as you like right now... Do you want to parlay with it or fight, how does your PC feel, whatever...

[loopy]

Johannes

Johannes keeps his Longsword raised, ready to take the Orc Shaman down quickly if the shield disappears.

(Readies an action to charge and subdue the Shaman if the shield goes down)

((Note to the DM, if the devil starts talking in any other languages, Johannes knows pretty much all of them))

[Strangie]

Disappointed that his potions were used in vain against the ice devil now, Bundok frowns - not that anybody can see that. He had a plan all lined up, too. But he was willing to give Carmard's parlay a shot since it seemed to have the ice devil's attention. The idea of bargaining with Hell seemed unsettling, however... but fighting this thing, or even looking at it, seemed more so.

His eyes turned toward the orc shaman and the crowd of allies gathering around him. Damn, I'd nearly forgotten about him... he thought to himself. Taking advantage of his invisibility, he switches targets and moves over to the imprisoned orc shaman with the others. At the very least, he could aid in denying the orc shaman freedom should the spell holding it down burst.

Moving directly to the Orc Shaman, moving into a position to flank with any other character. Once arrived, ready action to deliver the two-handed smackdown, shiny end first, on the orc shaman should it try to escape once the spell is broken.

[loopy]

((Oh, and Mike. Are we still in the same encounter, as far as my Inspiration Points go?))

[bchilders]

Magnum

Magnum moves up behind Kerik and says, "I can't see this parlay lasting too long, and I'm of a mind to send this bastard back with an axe through his skull. If the devil makes any move I'll fix it to where you don't have to jump to leave your blade between his eyes."

Waiting to see how the parlay goes, but holding an action to enlarge Kerik.

[ArmanMadero]

Arman stayed near the bubble with the shaman and even eaved a little bit, just to let the shaman know that he was there... waiting.

And then there seemed to be a "echo" within his head, and then a seemingly loud voice entered his mind as the Ice Devil once again addressed them all.

“Raz-Petrin the Reaper, Gelguon of Cania, servant of Mephistopheles and bound by Pact to serve Auril accepts your offer of parlay. Amuse me, Arcanii. Speak your offer and I will hear it. This one knows your minds are too feeble to reply otherwise. Know your time is short.”

Arman took a brief look at the Ice Devil, but stayed where he was. He would let Carmard parley with the devil, and if it came dwn to it, he would abandon the shaman to help kill the ice devil should that happen.

Arman wasn't sure how the parley would go. Needless to say, he wasn't sure f the ice devil would listen or not, or if he was merely toying wth them all, and about to have a dwarven-human-elven-gnome snack before wreaking havoc on the Realms...

[mshady]

((Oh, and Mike. Are we still in the same encounter, as far as my Inspiration Points go?))

Still considered the same encounter. Each of my DM posts count as 6 seconds during the parlay for tracking purposes.

[loopy]

((Damn. I really hope combat doesn't start again, or I'll be useless.))

[thorgrim29]

Parley... why not. but just in case...

Thordrek prepares to cast scorching ray should the devil decide to attack.

On his side, Duervar goes next to the bubble with the orc shaman in it, should it burst, the orc's head wont be long behind.

[mshady]

Turn 13

Floating in the air, both Raz Petrin and Carmard hover in the air. The two watch each other over the distance, silently, for a long moment.

Without warning, the devil’s words are heralded by an overwhelming psionic force; like massive waves cresting on a beach. The words throb in each of your minds, leaving your ears ringing. If there was any more impressive demonstration of the beast’s power it was this; prolonged exposure to trumpet call of mental energy could leave anyone staggered. It speaks in a sharp, clipped and forceful tone.

“Raz-Petrin considers and rejects your offer. You hold my binder. My Pact is with him. You hold him hostage. Threaten to kill him. That ends parlay. You kill him, I kill all of you and am free of my bonds upon the Prime. Arcanii, you offer me nothing and ask me to leave. Not good enough and I likely win fight. Make another offer or end parlay I shall” the Ice Devil says. Its tone is imperious, arrogant and one of supreme confidence.

Carmard curses softly to himself and approaches the Ice Devil, in range of its icy blast now, daring it to attack. The devil’s eyes flare blue once again and pulse slowly, in time with its heart beat.

“Gelguon, if you fight us we shalt kill you. Already you are wounded greatly! Weakened and your defenses bare to me. Don’t think I cannot bring you back to the ground or shirk from collapsing these walls. Either we both leave this place, or none of us do.”

Carmard reaches towards his belt and withdraws a worn metal rod, ornate but streaked with rust. Gesturing towards the far exit, a bolt of energy streaks towards it and a cloud of red dust erupts and swirls for a moment until a wall of iron thoroughly blocks the exit.

“Bold, Arcanii but foolish” the Gelguon’s mental speech throbs through your minds. “You trap yourself here with me?” a chortled of what could only be laughter erupts, pulsing through everyone’s minds; it’s a chilling feeling.

“I trap you, Raz-Petrin!” Carmard bellows in reply. The Ice Devil looks between the two exits and tilts its head, curious at the strategy.

“I commend you, dwarf. It is rare I confront such an incomprehensible stratagem. A sign of madness, suicidal intent or brilliance; truly your masters must be proud or shamed by you.”

Turn 14
Holding his hammer in one hand with the leather tong of Kelith’s holy symbol wrapped around it, Carmard brandishes the two in front of him.

“Look towards your bane, Raz Petrin! A weapon of purity able to wound you and a symbol of Kossuth, the primordial God of fire and creation!” Carmard thunders back at the Ice Devil.

“So you chose to Banish me? You lock yourselves in this great chamber and threaten to banish me?” The Ice Devil bangs the butt of its long spear into the ground. “Thus you may or thusly, thou shalt not. You forget so quickly mortal that you have bound me here. Where would I go? If you release your spell, I may be upon you before your casting. If your casting fails and you do not throw me from your mewling Plane, what leverage do you have? Again you call me not to task. I decline your parlay once more. Amuse me once more and parlay ceases, dwarf.”
Carmard nods.

“Very well than, Raz. What if I just do both? Lock you to this Plane yet Banish you too?” Carmard says and unfurls a scroll with a flick of the wrist and a snap. “I hear tell the colliding powers could unravel your own soul and body into nothing.”

With that, Carmard begins his casting and both his hammer and Kelith’s holy symbol become wreathed in blue flames as the script from the scroll disintegrates as he reads it. A ring of alternating red and blue energy swirls around Raz Petrin. It lashes at him, stinging him with each strike and filling the room with a sound of crackling electric as a ring forms around him. As the spell completes, the energy collapses inwards on to Raz Petrin and for a moment he fades from view before snapping back to this Plane of existence.

“You failed, Arcanii! Your spell has failed Arcanii! I end the parlay!” the Ice Devil shrieks through its mental connection. More sensitive to the energies, Raltise’s ears bleed from the powerful energies…

“Kerik? The horn. Two notes please.” Carmard says without glancing towards the minotaur. Looking up at Carmard, the enormous minotaur seems… surprised, shocked even but reaches for the horn and blows it.

The sound reverberates through the room, its sound and effect unnatural and loud. It moans through a high note and low…

[mshady]

Turn 15

Nothing happens as the echo of the sound fades and even the Ice Devil looks about, surprised at the noise and unsure of exactly the minotaurs are up to.

…and then the air turns blistering hot for a moment and energy of the Weave itself in the room shimmers blue, visible in great ribbons through the area. Then they twist and are sucked inwards, as if being drawn into a great whirl pool.

“What trickery is this, Arcanii?” the Ice Devil demands.

“Return to parlay!” Carmard shouts back at it as the air itself sizzles and crackles with energy.

“Agreed! What have you done??”

“Introduced uncertainty of result to you” Carmard says, smiling amidst the vortex.

“Explain!” the Ice Devil exclaims.

“Beyond this cavern lies an ancient weapon. One that can drain the weave into a massive spell engine until its cup run over and it explodes. It’s a failsafe, in case we lose it.”

The tearing Weave buffets the Gelguon and it bangs its head against the ceiling, sending shards of stone tumbling to the ground.
“We’ve never lost one before, so I don’t know how long we have. Agree to terms or we find out, Gelugon!”

“Agreed!” it shoots back, almost completing Carmard’s thought by mind.

“Agree to TERMS!” Carmard demands. “Leave! Now!”

[mshady]

Turn 16

“I cannot! The Pact with the filthy orc binds me to it!”

“Then the Orc must die! Kill him yourself!” Carmard yells.

“The Pact with the filthy orc forbids me from killing it and I must defend him! To those terms have I been bound! Filthy but not a stupid orc…”

“Than we face the Fire together, Raz-Petrin!”

“You’re a mad dwarf! You parlay with me to save your soldiers, so you threaten to kill everyone!”

With a flick of the wrist, the sphere around the shaman shatters into a thousand bits of hard glass. The wounded orc falls to the ground at Arman and Duervar’s feet. It has a look of unbridled terror as the who cavern shakes from the torrent of magical energy whipping about it.

“Duervar, Arman and Sable! Drag that orc forward now!” Carmard yells across the cavern. "Now!"

[ArmanMadero]

Arman watched at Carmard tried to use a scroll upon the ice devil.. and watched it fail. The ice devil laughed... for all of about two seconds. Then two piercing notes echoed in the cavern and suddenly streams of magic filled the air.

Never before had Arman see the Weave in the brightness that it was at now. And it seemed that others could see it as well. Ribbons of the Weave flowed through the air, making strange patterns, but all seeming to flow towards one point, turning as if in a great maelstrom.

The energy crackeled in the air, and everything around Arman felt charged. Almost like lightning was about to strike. Even the bubble next to him holding the shaman, intensified its glow, as though the very magic brightened. Then the ice devil was shouting again, asking what Carmard had done...

By Corellion and Mystra no... Arman's eyes opened just a bit wider when he realized what Carmard had just said. A failsafe. The energy flowing around the room was starting to make his head pound, and the feel of so much energywas making his skin feel as though centipedes were crawling upon him... like his skin wanted to jump off. His rapier fairly hummed with all the energies touching along it, and then flowing towards the ever brighter growing area near the stoneburner.

Suddenly the bubble next to him burst, sending shards of magic into the air. They were soon sucked into the ever growing brightness. Carmard yelled at him to grab the shaman and drag him over.

Holding his rapier in his left hand, Arman grabbed a hold of the shaman with his right, not sure what Carmards intention was. He waited for Bundok to grab him on the other side. When Bundok had done so, at least, Arman hoped it was him since he couldn't be seen, although a faint blue blob seemed to be on the shamans side, they drag-walked the shaman over to where Carmard was pointing, at a point between the ice devil and Carmard. Arman let him drop and took a few steps back from the growing intensity of the Weave. His head was hurting, and his muscles also felt achy.

He couldn't remember being exposed to the Weave this much.

Corellion and Mystra spare this servent of yours...


The Weave continued to flow towards where the stoneburner was, flowing thorugh the ice and rock near the entrance. The ice devil was still held within the green ray, seemingly moving but still at the same time. The shimmering around the ice devil seemed thicker in areas, and almost transparent in others. Magic played around everyone before it flowed to the stone burner, hiding and revealing things, with the greatest concentration near the ice devil where the ray was. Arman thought about the spells that were cast on the ice devil and a few things became clear...

He hoped that Carmard knew what he was doing. This was definately not what he signed up for...

[thorgrim29]

Ok.... so he isn't the sane one either.... Either both Tolrin and the patriarch are or we are all in trouble.... that is, if we survive.

[loopy]

Johannes

Johannes follows the group dragging the orc shaman, searching it for valuables and backup weapons while it is (relatively) defenceless.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

Kelith will keep his eyes on the devil as he tensely waits for what's to come.

[King Tius]

Nalrak closes his eyes and places the head of his magmer (magma hammer!) on the ground so he can hold the haft. He breathes deeply and incants a prayer to Dumathoin. It is a prayer about saving a space in the great books to recount the deeds of his companions and to watch over their souls as the Weave comes loose.

[Strangie]

Seeing nobody else will, Bundok decides to aid Arman in dragging the orc shaman to where Carmard wanted him.

So much for remaining undetected. Oh well.

(Yeah, nothing special here, I know.)

[PocketRocket]

Grathalmore

Grathalmore stands in amazement at what is taking place. He puts his hand on Magnum's shoulder. "I think i'm going to be needin a drink pretty soon lad"

[loopy]

Grathalmore

Grathalmore stands in amazement at what is taking place. He puts his hand on Magnum's shoulder. "I think i'm going to be needin a drink pretty soon lad"

Johannes

((If Johannes hears Grathalmore over his looting of the shaman...))

"Grathalmore, over here. I've got a few potions on hand." If he moves over, I offer him his choice of my CMW or four CLW potions.

[mshady]

Turn 17

Arman and Bundok drag the stunned orc shaman between them, while flanked by many of the others.
Around them, the Weave crackles with light, arcing between blue and red as ribbons of it are drawn towards what can only be the Stoneburner. It is like a hundred balls of yarn being unraveled are drawn into a gigantic loom of light and fire.

The orc watches what is going on, confused and terrified. For a creature of his demonstrable power to be shaken by the scene, even momentarily, is a statement. Ribbons of magical energy stream around him, hissing and crackling, sizzling and snapping around in the air. They all flow in the same direction and a quickening rate. The sound is like a roar and the cavern sheds the accumulated dust from its ceiling like a dog shaking off water… Pinned between an elf and a dwarf, the orc just… looks around, muttering a prayer to himself. It looks up at the floating Ice Devil, utterly confused about what is going on.

The Ice Devil hovers in the air, safely aloft but says nothing as his summoner is dragged before him. It glares down and presses its hand against the wound that Sable had dealt it. For the moment, the creature remains silent but emanates an aura of deadly tension. Its eyes remain fixated on Carmard as the two float at equal height amidst the maelstrom. One strand of Weave contacts the end of the Devil’s spear and it explodes in a kaleidoscope of light, fire and sound. The reaction startles the Devil, who swishes the spear away and hisses sharply in response.

Those not escorting the orc shaman to the no-man’s land between the Devil and Carmard line up parallel to Carmard, watching the scene play out as the Weave unravels…

[mshady]

Turn 18

Bundok and Arman heave the shaman to the ground in the area between the devil and the merciless Arcanii. He lands on his hands and knees and groans from his wounds as rivulets of blood stream to the floor. He takes breath and looks around languidly before pushing himself to his feet. He runs a hand over his belongings and grips his fetish covered stave. Nothing of his had been looted during the pat down on the way to the center.
The ceiling rumbles and quakes now as the energy from the disintegrating Weave runs squarely through a stone pillar and a section of it explodes in a shower of blue flame and grave. The roar of the exploding stone echoes throughout the chamber. Carmard turns to look at it and returns his gaze to the Ice Devil.

“Our parlay is impassable than” Carmard growls. “We cannot slay the shaman or you are bound by Pact to fight us. You cannot kill him due to the same Pact. You also don’t have the TIME to kill us before the Artifice kills us all or you are Banished; or just shattered by the two spells upon you.”
The Ice Devil remains silent for a moment before responding.

“You fail your ancestors, dwarf. Most dwarves would rather die fighting. You have some power, yet you hide behind other races and slaves and wish to blow your terrible horn and die talking. Death shall come as a disappointment to me. You shame your forefathers. Parlay ends.” The devil’s booming mental voice resonates once again, but at a less shrill frequency than before.

Carmard laughs.

“Shaman! None of us can kill you and now all must die. Who knows what the fire I’ve unleashed will do to our souls, eh?” he pauses a moment for that fact to settle in, but not too deeply.

“If you don’t want to die, I propose Trial by Challenge. Order Raz Petrin to stand aside orc. Fight those I choose to the death. You win, you live and we withdraw. Raz Petrin claims the souls of the fallen and my own. We win, we take your head and Raz Petrin your soul. Either way, I stop the Artifice! Choose quickly! Time waits for no one!” Carmard yells down towards the beleaguered shaman. “One of mine against you as you are, or two of mine after your God tends your wounds! Choose!”

The shaman looks between Carmard and up at the Ice Devil. It’s mental voice booms through the room as it doesn’t bother with the effort to focus his thoughts.

“Do it, Mortal!“

[loopy]

Johannes

Wonder who Carmard's going to pick for this duel of his, Johannes wonders, beginning a brief meditation. Delving deep into his own mind, remembering past experiences, he tries to recapture that 'spark' that proves so useful for him in everyday life.

If it is to be me then by Cyric's shiny dagger I'll be for ready for the fight.

((Basically, I'm trying to regain my Inspiration points. No point in fighting without 'em))

[PocketRocket]

Grathalmore

Looking at Johannes pull out the potions, Grathalmore laughs. "Not that kind o' drink lad, but thanks fer the offer. If I be picked to fight in this duel, I'll come back to ye though."

[loopy]

Johannes

Johannes' face reddens under his beard. Truly I've been away from the mines too long if I cannae get a simple reference like that.

[bchilders]

Magnum

Magnum laughs at the misunderstanding and replies to Grathalmore, "I'll buy us the first round when we get out of this whole mess." After the laugh his face turns quickly serious and he tightens his grip on the axe. That is if we get out of this

[ArmanMadero]

Arman stood quietly, trying to concentrate on not being sick. The Weave was strong within the room, and getting stronger. Everything was now taking on a glow, the residual magic within everyone starting to be amplified by the powers.

A duel. One agsinst one as the shaman is, or two against him should his god decide to heal his follower.

What if the shaman had more potions? Arman took a mental list of everything that he had on hand and whatever he had left for spells. He was not a duelist. He hoped that Carmard knew what he would be doing.

[mshady]

Turn 19

The shaman snorts at the demands. It stands and looks up at Carmard and speaks slowly as it tries to speak in the rarely used Illuskan tongue of the region.

“Hah! As if a choice is given?" the orc mutters. “Fine. Yes, I take your challenge and forbade interference from my Devil. I’ll heal myself and fight two of you. Not yourself or your slave minotaurs nor may ye give your beardling anything not presently on their person. Now stop your Artifice before you kill us all!” the orc growls out.

“That cannot be done, from here” Carmard says simply. “I accept your terms. Ready yourself quickly; I’m not sure of the device’s patience”

Cursing, the shaman reaches for a large potion and sucks its down. His physical condition seems greatly improved, but his temperament and degree of fatigue remain unchanged.

“You’re mad, dwarf” the shaman says and spits blood on the stone ground. “Mad, ruthless and fearless to the point of recklessness. You’re like me though. You’d sacrifice anyone to win” the orc says, flashing a sardonic smile full of teeth and tusks.

Carmard simply nods and otherwise ignores the remark. Turning towards the assembled group, Carmard looks down at them.

"The orc accepts" Carmard proclaims. His tone is stiff, officious, emotionless and utterly out of context. "Who accepts the honor of trial by combat?”

As the strands of the Weave continue to flow towards the Stoneburner, the cavern wall is being slagged by the intense energy. Already a hole is beginng to be carved through the side. The room itself tingles with energy, indeed it is taking on a slight blue aura.

It also seems to be physically vibrating from the surging energy. The water far to the east is boiling, even. Steam pours fourth from it as it gurgles and splashes.

The heat in the room is rising considerbly as well.


OOC: I need two people who can commit to posting every day until this is resolved. If possible, I would like to resolve this in 1 night with an Instant Messenger chat via MSN or Yahoo or AIM. We need to move along and wrap this up.

[loopy]

((OOC: I can commit to both, and I prefer MSN.))

Johannes

Johannes stands. "I'll fight, if you need me." He says resolutely. Oh god's I'm going to die.

[thorgrim29]

Yea... once a day at the least for me, but IM may be a bit iffy, with time zones and all.

I can do it sir.... I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve, here's for hoping we don't all blow up

he waves at the strands of weave energy around him, as he downs another healing potion.

[roll0]

edit: well that puts him at full hp (60), with an ac of 27 (animalistic power+shield of faith FTW)

[Strangie]

(I can do that. I'm on IM every day of the week, and Mike already knows my schedule. I have MSN and AIM at my disposal, though I prefer MSN as I have die roller programs there and everything)

Bundok steps forward to Carmard. "I'll fight for ye, Carmard, if need be." He simply states, nodding once to the Arcanii.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

Kelith shrugs his shoulders as the three of them step forward, "Well, I suppose at least one of us should stay back and make sure there isn't any interference. Guess it's guard duty for me."

[bchilders]

Magnum

Weak and wounded, Magnum still has never backed down from a fight in his life. He uncorks a healing potion and after downing it speaks up, "I'm always in for a little fightin'. Tho I don't know if this one would be good sport."

I can post several times a day to get this wrapped up. Pick whoever you want but know Magnum is always ready for a fight.

CMW:[roll0]

[PocketRocket]

Grathalmore

"Well ye know I'm always ready fer a fight. Let me heal up and I be ready to go"

OOC: This is what Grathalmore would say but myself, I can't promise I can be an everyday person and don't have any IM programs that I'm signed up for. Things are still hectic here since the hurricane hit.

[ArmanMadero]

Arman nods and gives a slight bow to Carmard. "My skills are at your disposal."

Sorry about not posting right away like i said i would mike. you know my crisis here. :) I have Yahoo at my disposal. I don't have MSN.. but i'm sure that would be easy to fix. I can post pretty much everynight this week since i only had one day at the one job and the other job i am off by 230. I'm in the CST zone if that helps anyone.

[King Tius]

Nalrak opens his eyes from his long prayer/meditation. He's heard all that has transpired and nods assentingly at the proposed situation.

[mshady]

Carmard listens as almost everyone who is able to do so volunteers, stepping forward for the dangerous challenge.

A thunderous crack rolls through the room as a strand of Weave coils around itself and explodes in crack of light and heat.

“Thordek Torrun, step forward and champion the Patriarchate of Moradin in this challenge. Arman Madero, step forward and represent the allied Sammikon of the Patriarchate of Moradin.”

The two move towards the area between Raz Petrin the Ice Devil and Carmard and into proximity with the Shaman.

As they move, the shaman begins to heal himself. A look of psychotic desperation is upon his face. A rage builds within him and his blood shot eyes seem to bulge from his head. Growling, he chugs another potion and casts the empty vial aside with a clatter as the tortured Weave continues to stream towards the Stoneburner.

“A dwarf and an elf?” the shaman sneers. “You two easy meat for me. The Ice Wyrm Xurshin no doubt watches and see the glory I bring to his name in slaying the both of you!” the shaman growls.

Arman and Thordek, you have two rounds to act prior to the commencement of the duel. Please post that you are ready and I will post a map and get us started.

OOC: I'll post a map tonight. If there is nothing you would like to do in the next two rounds, please post to that effect as well.

I'm available after 9 PM US EST till 2-3 AM US EST on MSN IM [email protected] or [email protected] on Yahoo IM if you'd like to try and play things if you two would like to with Thordek and Arman..

[ArmanMadero]

"Thordek Torrun, step forward and champion the Patriarchate of Moradin in this challenge. Arman Madero, step forward and represent the allied Sammikon of the Patriarchate of Moradin.”

Arman stepped foreward after Thordek, placing his bow across his back and digging into a side pouch for a component. He only had one shot to do the spell he thought about casting, and he had better make it well.

“A dwarf and an elf?” the shaman sneers.“You two easy meat for me. The Ice Wyrm Xurshin no doubt watches and see the glory I bring to his name in slaying the both of you!” the shaman growls.

Arman stared at the orc shaman, his amber eyes boring into him. For a moment, the shaman seemed to cower under that stare, but seemed to find his strength and sneered again.

Arman looked to Thordek and then to Carmard. "Ready"

[thorgrim29]

(actually, I'd prefer if you open up with an acid arrow, let me close in before using the scroll, as it probably wont last long and I need full round actions to be at my best)

Before the start, the Levtokuld uses one of his prized wands on himself, nearly doubling his size, and his reach.

Lets do this. You know what orc, I have a feeling you used you best spells and items getting away from the lovely human lass... we'll see wont we?

When the duel starts, he charges the orc immediately, hoping to keep the beast from casting as well as getting close enough to hit it with his trump card.

initiative: [roll0]
to hit: [roll1]
Damage [roll2]

HP at 66, ac at 25, so 23 for the next attack

[mshady]

Going to hold on resolving the action for a moment here. You both have two rounds before hand.

Do you and Syenna want to do anything for the two rounds before combat?

[loopy]

((I've got a bull's strength, bear's endurance potion if anyone wants a buff.))

[ArmanMadero]

Still subject to change :)

ROUND 1

The Weave continued its cracking and whispers, some of the sounds extremely loud in the cavern, and some so soft they seemed loud. The colors continues to flow towards the Stoneburner, and Arman wondered if his spell would be affected.

From his pouch he grabbed an adders stomach, some powdered rhubarb and also a small dart that he used for this spell specifically. He didn't have a crossbow himself, so the small dart he found one day at a magicusers shop, supposedly from a drow weapon, served its purposes. Looking towards the shaman and directing all the energies he could gather towards him, he crushed the stomach and rhubarb in one hand, and pointed the dart with his other towards the shaman. "Saighead de aigéad."

OK.... so there is the acid arrow for you... that should hopefully keep him a little busy for at least three rounds. Casting my scroll second round, unless something comes up. That should also keep him busy a few rounds. During which time the acid will eat away at him...ew...

PS... mike... Syenna was another campaign!!!! lol. Waiting to post on round two to see what i have to react to.

As far as buffs go, The strength and endurance would almost be wasted on me right now since i plan on using my magic for the first part of this battle. Almost. Anything that could be used to increase my will, and fortitude saves would be more helpful if anyone has those to use in the two rounds before our duel. Otherwise, i'm ready... ::gulp:: i think...

[thorgrim29]

(thanks but I'm good too.

[mshady]

Round 1 - Duel

The shaman sneers at Arman, locking eyes with the Elven mage.

“Ha! I’ll kill you both! Remember, I’m the one with the power to summon such demons! They should have sent four to make it fair!”

Arman (Init 22)

The Weave continued its cracking and whispers, some of the sounds extremely loud in the cavern, and some so soft they seemed loud. The colors continues to flow towards the Stoneburner, and Arman wondered if his spell would be affected.

From his pouch he grabbed an adders stomach, some powdered rhubarb and also a small dart that he used for this spell specifically. He didn't have a crossbow himself, so the small dart he found one day at a magicusers shop, supposedly from a drow weapon, served its purposes. Looking towards the shaman and directing all the energies he could gather towards him, he crushed the stomach and rhubarb in one hand, and pointed the dart with his other towards the shaman. "Saighead de aigéad."

The focus glowed for a moment with a green energy as Arman focused his will on the bolt and directed his energy to flow through his mind and out the bolt. A globule of acid formed at the tip of the bolt for a moment and Arman aimed it at the powerful shaman. With a mental thrust, he projects the globule of sizzling acid at the shaman, striking him in the thigh.
Nothing happens. The acid sizzles and scours the orc’s already tattered robe but instead of a look of pain and horror, there is only one of amusement.

The orc waggles his finger at Arman and sneers…

Arman hit with the acid arrow, but rolled a 15 for spell resistance against the orc…

Thordek (Init 20)

“Lets do this. You know what orc, I have a feeling you used you best spells and items getting away from the lovely human lass... we'll see wont we?”

When the duel starts, he charges the orc immediately, hoping to keep the beast from casting as well as getting close enough to hit it with his trump card.

The orc watches the onrushing Thordek and grips it’s staff in both hands as Thordek raises the axe. The axe falls like an avalanche on the now smaller orc right for its skull until the last moment.

The orc’s stave lashes out and bangs against the side of the falling axe noisily, redirecting its path into a wild arc that nearly collides with the stone floor.

Shaman (Init 3)

Reaching for the components from his pouch, the shaman falls back towards the nearest blazing pot of fire. As he does so, Thordek lashes out with a savage strike with his blackened axe and it catches the orc square in the gut. The blow seems to lift the orc from his feet. The strong enhancements of his robe stop the weapon from cleaving through them and into its belly, but the bloody line traced through the orc’s abdomen is clearly a bloody wound.

Thordek rolls a 26 on an attack of opportunity, dealing 12 pts to the orc, after damage resistance

The orc stumbles backwards, the breath driven from its body by the force of the blow. When it reaches the fire pot, it almost seems to… laugh for a moment before raising his fist upwards and calling out to Grummsh for strength, followed by an incantation. As he recites the incantation, the orc rapidly doubles in height and certainly in mass as the divine power of the orc’s God infuses him with divine energy. As the spell finishes, he slams his ugly staff into the ground and laughs again.

“I am the champion of Grummsh! Come to me dwarf! Feel the wrath of One Eye! Let him shame you before your coward Gods!”


(http://imageshack.us)
[img=http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/orcduelbh2.jpg/1/w640.png] (http://g.imageshack.us/img502/orcduelbh2.jpg/1/)

[IMG]http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/8327/orcduelbh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/orcduelbh2.jpg/1/w640.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img502/orcduelbh2.jpg/1/)

[ArmanMadero]

Arman cursed as his acid arrow fizzled against the shamans defense. He was running out of spells....

Deciding that this would be his only chance to get anything out of ths whole thing, he decided to try his holding spell.

Grabbing a piece of parchment that the spell was written on, he quickly chanted the words, pointing towards the shaman. The Weave was getting more powerful every second, and a smidgin of that went towards his spell.

"Dofheicthe cruach greim seo arracht."

The words forme the symbols in the air, that immediately went towards the shaman, and seemed to form a sphere around him... the next second would tell if it would hold him or not...

If it did... Then Thordek would be able to slash himself a shaman.

Casting Hold Monster from scroll at the shaman.

[thorgrim29]

Funny you should say that orc... I always thought Grummsh was overrated, I mean, he got his smelly behind handed to him by the elven god of arts, that doesn't scream "dangerous berserker god of battle" to me, more like "pansy one-eyed runt", well, to each his own I guess.

As he finishes taunting the orc, the enlarged dwarf charges again

(out of time right now, but same thing)

[mshady]

Arman (Init 22)

Arman cursed as his acid arrow fizzled against the shaman’s defense. He was running out of spells....

Deciding that this would be his only chance to get anything out of the whole thing, he decided to try his holding spell.

Grabbing a piece of parchment that the spell was written on, he quickly chanted the words, pointing towards the shaman. The Weave was getting more powerful every second, and a smidgen of that went towards his spell.

"Dofheicthe cruach greim seo arracht."

The words formed the symbols in the air, that immediately went towards the shaman, and seemed to form a sphere around him... the next second would tell if it would hold him or not...

The translucent magic of the spell streaked towards the orc. Such spells are favored in the delicate, precise magic of the Elves and Arman was more proficient than most with such disabling spells. This time, the raw power of the spell was shaped differently on a metaphysical level; more concentrated, more precise. Targeted on the orc’s skull, the spell punched through the unusual orc’s natural resistance to magic. For a moment the magic flashed as it connected and the magic flowing from Arman’s finger arced.

The spell connects with the orc’s mind and for a long moment the shaman pits his considerable will against the Elven magic before Arman’s spell seizes the orc’s mind. He knew the effect was fleeting, but they only needed a moment…

With success apparent, Elven let out a joyous cry in Elven in praise of Corelleon!

Arman rolls a 28 and beats the shaman’s spell resistance and the orc failed his will save, rolling a 17

Thordek (Init 20)

As Thordek charges in with a bellowing battle cry on his lips, he sees that the vaunted Elven mage of Tolrin’s had once again proven himself effective against a creature that had resisted even Carmard’s spells.
Rumbling towards the orc, who stood wobbling and leaning against the pillar of stone, Thordek lifts his adamantine axe high over his head and chops downwards at the orc’s skull. Instead of splitting the orc’s skull, his blow lands on the edge of the orc’s shoulders and rakes down the length of his chest, carving a bloody ribbon into his already tattered robe. The orc’s unresponsive eyes cannot register the pain, but Thordek hoped the orc felt every bit of that blow mentally.

As Thordek recovered his weapon, he looked into the orc’s eyes to make sure it was not going to strike at him for a moment. The dwarven line whoops with appreciation of his success at landing a second blow.

Spinning his axe in his hand once, than twice, Thordek looks at the helpless orc’s muscular, stubby neck and the ease in which he could sever its head with his next blow. The wound he just struck, Thordek considers, did far less damage to the orc than he had hoped. Was the orc’s hide now even tougher, somehow?

Thordek rolled a 19 and does 9 hp to the orc shaman after damage resistance.

No new map this round. The only change in location is that Thordek is next to the orc now.

Sorry for the late reply to this round. I was away on a fishing trip. Lets get another round in ASAP :)

[thorgrim29]

Well, this is over...

The Levtokuld's shield clanks on the ground as he takes his axe in a two-handed grip and sends it towards the shaman's neck with terrifying speed.

(coup de gracing the shaman)

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

edit: 45 damage

[King Tius]

Nalrak hoots and cheers like a soccer fan

[ArmanMadero]

"Buiochas Corelleon! Buiochas Mystra!" Arman praised the two gods that were a part of everything that he did.

Grabbing his wand once again from his belt, he fired it once towards the shaman, a magic missile striking the frozen shaman just before Thordek struck the Shaman once again., still using his will and concentration against the shamans mind.

OK. so... firing one missile at him from my wand. glad that spell is working again. Glad i bought those scrolls!!! WOOT!!! Kill Thordek Kill!!!

[mshady]

Arman (Init 22)

Arman is… shocked that is spell had taken hold of the shaman’s mind. Reaching for his trust wand, Arman almost fumbles it in his rush to send a spell fourth and wound his paralyzed foe in his enthusiasm. Finally having a grip on it, he gestures towards shaman and releases the spell.
Several reddish blue bolts of magical force streak towards the shaman in a blink of the eye, striking him squarely in the chest. There does not seem to be effect though and Arman can almost see the magic “splash” off of the orc’s chest. If it wasn’t paralyzed, it would have probably been amused at the thought that such feeble magic could harm him…

Arman’s magic missile wand spell failed to beat the orc’s spell resistance, rolling a 15

Thordek (Init 20)

The orc had other things to worry about though; chiefly Thordek and his waraxe. Taking the waraxe in both hands now, the enlarged dwarf is still a bit shorter than the enlarged orc. None the less, this fight would be over as soon as Thordek could take the orc’s head. What a magnificent axe he had to do it with, as well.

Squaring his stance and chambering the blow behind his head, Thordek marks a spot on the orc’s neck and swings with all his might. The axe whistles through the air and cuts through the collar of the orc’s robe… but he may as well have been cutting through plate armor as what can only be magic catches the blow. While the blow bites deep into the orc’s neck, only the muscles are hurt and nothing vital is cut; although you couldn’t tell that by the amount of blood…

Thordek curses as the orc yet lives; somehow.

Thordek does… The coup de grace fails due to an enhancement that the orc is somehow using, preventing the critical hit but wounding it for whatever Thordek's first roll was.

Shaman (Init 3)

The shaman quivers for a moment as it tries to throw off its mental yolk; and throw off it does.

The shaman looks squarely at Thordek and growls, locking eyes with the dwarf. Blood runs down the orc’s neck in a slow moving sheet.

The orc is held no more…

Sorry for the delay everyone. Had a trip, a move and evening plans at no notice followed by another weekend trip. Ugh!

[thorgrim29]

Moradin's butt-hair, you have got to be kidding.... what does it take to bring you down? Well, you're not the only one with tricks orc.

Holding his axe in one hand, Thordrek casts two spells so quickly they seem to meld into one, and the head of his axe starts crackling with magical electricity, as he unleashes a titanic yet perfectly accurate two-handed blow.

(using quick cast to cast true strike as a swift action, then arcane channeling shocking grasp and two handed power attacking for -6 to hit, +12 damage. Furthermore, I have a +2 to my caster level roll to penetrate spell resistance because I hit him in melee thanks to spell power)

to hit: [roll0]
spell resistance: [roll1]
Weapon damage: [roll2]
spell damage [roll3]

So thats... 26 damage, +20 if I overcame the spell resistance.

[ArmanMadero]

Arman's elation dies as does his holding spell, and the shaman glared at them both, seeming to point out how futile this would be...

Once again, Arman tries his acid arrow, knowing that this would be a last chance for that spell as he had nothing else that might harm the shaman.

"Saighead de aigéad."

Melf's Acid Arrow again. Lets try that one more time... after this... not much else do i have... ugh...

[Strangie]

(Man, that sucks. I thought you guys had this one in the bag for sure with that combo. But good strategy! I think I'm gonna like playing in this group once I use my normal character.)

Bundok does a double-take at the orc surviving Thordek's wouild-be death blow... how was that even possible? That orc was still taking quite a beating, and would likely drop soon at the rate things were going...

He hoped.

[mshady]

Arman (Init 22)

Arman's elation dies as does his holding spell, and the shaman glared at them both, seeming to point out how futile this would be...

Once again, Arman tries his acid arrow, knowing that this would be a last chance for that spell as he had nothing else that might harm the shaman.

Focusing his will to a knife’s edge, Arman once again focuses on the drow crossbow bolt held in his hand. Within moments, the focus is covered in acid once again and Arman points it at the center mass of the orc.
The acid from the bolt streaks towards the orc once again mimicking the shape of the crossbow bolt used as its focus. It strikes the orc square in the chest at tremendous velocity and lands with a splat. Once again, the orc smirks and wipes arrow the feeble spell as it sizzles against his robe. Grinning, he shakes it off his hand…

… until his hand begins to sizzle and the orc curses in pain, trying to wipe off the acid as his hand and robes smoke. It is the fetid sweet smell of burning flesh on top of the sulfuric smell of acid that confirms the spells success.

Arman rolls a 25 for spell resistance and does 5 hp with his acid arrow spell

Thordek (Init 20)

Without his shield, Thordek’s only defense now is footwork and his fine legionnaire’s armor. Somehow, that orc was still alive and Thordek glances at the bloody axe to make sure there was not something wrong with it…

For a less experienced warrior, such a sudden reversal would have stunned them. Being both a dwarf and a Levtokuld, and an experienced one at that, triggered only one response: attack.

Focusing his will, Thordek quickly cast two spells, channeling arcane energy into his magnificent axe. The black axe crackles and flares with a sudden electrical charge and a nimbus of argent light. With the axe firmly gripped in both hands, Thordek swings at the giant orc before him.

The blow comes in low, slashing across at the orc’s belly in an attempt to disembowel his foe, spilling his organ out across the floor in one powerful, clean strike. The orc attempts to parry the blow by swinging his stave at the oncoming axe, but the blow only bounces off Thordek’s lobstered armor that protected his bicep and forearm.

Thordek’s blow cuts diagonally across the orc’s belly, landing with a dull wet thump and stops. Not quite the plan Thordek thought. Instead he draws the blade across the orc’s belly as his axe crackles with electricity. The explosion of electrical magic tries to transfer to the orc but instead disappears with a hiss, to no effect.

The orc is rocked back from the blow. He reaches down to instinctively cover the wound, but the scarlet blood oozes from the wound; lucky for the orc. Thordek’s disemboweling strike had not quite been hard enough…

The orc grins at Thordek, still very much alive and fighting.

The orc takes 18 pts of damage after damage resistance and reduction

Orc Shaman (Init 3)

“My turn, dwarf!” the orc snarls.

Gripping his quarterstaff with both hands, the orc swings low at Thordek. Very low. At his knees, actually. The blow lands with a resounding clang of the wood against Thordek’s armored legs.

The blow rocks Thordek backwards, but it does not knock him off his feet like the shaman planned. It is hard to knock down a dwarf, let alone one the size of a giant even if you are the same size.

Cursing profusely, the orc swings its staff at Thordek’s head but the blow bangs off Thordek’s helmet to no ill effect. To the helmet at least. Thordek’s world spins for a moment, dazing him, but the blow was largely deflected by his helmet…

The orc misses its trip attack and second attack, doing no damage

[loopy]

Watching the orc shaman's completely ineffectual attack, Johannes smirks and calls out loud enough for the shaman to hear him. "Now that was just embarrassing!"

[ArmanMadero]

Arman gives a grim grin as his spell takes effect a little bit. Not having much left for spells, he decides for a more foreward attack, moving towards the shaman and then, after giving a small salute with his sword (something that his mother instilled in him was honor even if the other was a scum sucking orc), followed with a slash towards the orcs throat.

Moving to M-24. Attack with rapier

[thorgrim29]

(oups, sorry 'bout that...)

The dwarf sneers at the shamans pathetic attempts to hurt him as he casts yet another spell, and another titanic blow comes crashing down with perfect accuracy.

[roll0]
[roll1]

(arcane channeling true strike, power attack for 6)

[mshady]

Arman (Init 22)

With a salute and a flourish, Arman steps forward towards the towering orc battling the Thordek. The blows and blood are flying furiously between the two combatants. Getting into a melee with such a foe was certainly not what he had planned, but Arman was an elf. A wizard too but first a competent swordsmen.

His salute seems to catch the orc’s eye, however, but it looks away as quickly as it looked. Striding forward, Arman hopes to stick his blackened rapier right into his foe’s side, taking him unawares. Almost faster than he can blink, however, the orc’s oddly ensorcelled quarterstaff comes whistling down at him faster than he would have thought possible.

Arman tries to raise his sword to block the blow, but rapiers are not made for such a thing and he certainly did not have the strength to deflect the blow. Instead of blocking it, Arman nearly breaks his own wrist and drops his sword. The fearsome blow cracks Arman hard on the shoulder; harder than he ever recalled being physically hit. While his armor and bunched up cloak absorb some of the blow, it is nearly strong enough to drive Arman to his knees. His whole arm goes numb from the blow. Tottering, he tosses his rapier to his other hand and lets out an Elven war cry; less to frighten his enormous foe and foe to strengthen him.

His sword plunges through the orc’s armor and into its unusual, thick hide. He feels an almost mystic resistance to blow. Instead of sliding into the orc’s flesh, the blade hardly goes in at all. The orc merely grunts and swats at Arman, before focusing on Thordek again…

Now what the hell do I do?

Sensing the indecision, Carmard roars across the battlefield; the sickly magenta of the room as the Weave twists and shreads and cascades.

“Elf! Distract the orc for Thordek!”

The Orc Shaman does 11 hps to Arman on his charge. Arman does 1 hp of damage to the Orc Shaman with his own attack

Thordek (Init 20)

Thordek sneers at the shaman’s pathetic attempts to hurt him as he casts yet another spell, and another titanic blow comes crashing down with perfect accuracy.

Channeling another true strike spell, Thordek knows this is the kind of combat a Levtokuld was born and trained for; toe to toe with a lone, powerful foe in combat. His axe vibrates with the spell and his focus sharpens to a razor’s edge. Taking a deep breath, Arman swings with all his strength at the orc, trying to sever its head once again; a bit more difficult when the target is moving!

Thordek’s attack is a feint, and the orc raises its quarterstaff high to catch the blow that never comes. Instead, Thordek stops the blow and snaps his around and his body follows. The blow comes in hard, chopping hard into the orc’s leg. The blow clearly cuts to the bone and splits its flesh. Blood flows freely and the orc howls in pain at the crushing blow before looking down, horrified.

Horrified, still alive and further enraged.

Orc Shaman (Init 3)

Stay tuned!

[thorgrim29]

(I'd flank him.... but there's a brazier in the way....)

Still up cockroach? No matter, I'm not done with you yet.

With a now familiar to the onlookers gesture, the seemingly invincible dwarf casts another true strike and attacks the orc.

Only one more where that came from, I hope this is it or else...

(indeed, second to last level one spell..... can I use a level 2 slot to cast a level one spell, there's a feat that lets you cast more then one I know, but is just 1 for 1 goos for everybody?)

[roll0]
[roll1]

edit: Wow.... what happens when you fumble a true strike?
And also.... that should be 2d8+19, not 2d9....

[mshady]

Orc Shaman (from last round..)

As the acid from Arman’s spell sizzles away, the orc once again drives to brush some of it off; this time with his robe instead of his now burned hand but meets with no success. The effect of its wounds are certainly slowing the orc down now. Its’ breathing is labored and pained. Blood oozes from wounds running from its neck to legs.

Holding out its quarterstaff in a defensive stance, the orc glares at Thordek and reaches for a familiar looking rod again. The end of the bejeweled rod glows red again for a moment as he points it at the fire pot. Thordek tries to find an opening, but his quick strike is batted away painfully by a whack to his wrist.

The fire erupts out of the pot, spilling forth like an overfull cup at first before exploding in a fresh kaleidoscope of sound and painfully stinging light. Bits of wood and ash go shooting out of the pot, bouncing off the floor or ceiling before exploding with a bang and a pulse of painful white light. It mixes with the magenta glow the chamber is taking on as the area the magic is being sucked from the store or the air by the Stoneburner. Thordek and Arman try to shield their eyes from the cacophony, but the explosion came too quickly, too unexpectedly.

Over the din of the exploding fire and light, two other noises can be heard. The laughter of the shaman at the glorious effect of his spell and another, more disturbing sound.

A dull, bass, echoing boom. The air in the room ripples. The effect is like a pebble cast into a pond. Than a flash of stinging energy comes rolling back into the chamber from the presumed location of the Stone Burner. It singes everyone equally, as the burning energy sweeps through your bodies…

Arman and Thordek both fail their Will saves against the shaman’s Pyrotechnics spell. They are both blinded for one round.

The Stoneburner’s first pulse causes 2 pts of magical damage.

[mshady]

While I realize you have both posted already for the next turn, seeing as you are both blinded again, I thought I'd let you reconsider your actions. Let me know if you want to change anything.

To answer Thorgrim's question, a natural 1 is a natural 1 is an auto-fail. To answer the other question about using level 2 spells for level 1 actions, I'm going to have to say no right now on that.

[ArmanMadero]

Arman saw the staff coming down but was too far into his strike to move back. Instead, he changed the direction of his rapier and tried to block the staff with that. With unlikely strength the shaman pushed, causing his wrist to bend back farther than he would have thought possible without breaking it. Almost dropping his sword, he lets it go into his other hand and takes a blow on the shoulder.

The blow almost drove him to his knees, but Arman was still standing and, enraged, attacked again with his rapier. He felt it strike this time, but for some reason, his fine edge didn't seem to be cutting that well. He knew it wasn't the sword.

Suddenly one of the fire pots blazed to life, the shaman chanting frantically. Unable to close his eyes in time, all Arman could see when he did open his eyes was color and brightness.

Muttering part of a saying in elven, he attacks again, hearing Carmard say something about keeping the shaman busy. "Bheith ag obair in aghaidh bithiúnach agus orchóideach..."

Attacking the shaman again. Fighting defensively full. Aid Another to Thordek

[thorgrim29]

Blinded, and not wanting to hit Arman, Thordrek simply raises his guard and tries his best to "feel" the combat.

(total defense)

[loopy]

Johannes

Johannes lets out a string of profanities in at least 7 languages.

"OH SWEET MERCIFUL GODS MY EYES!!!"

[mshady]

Arman (Init 22)

Blinded badly by the shaman’s spell, Arman tries to put up the best defense he can manage when not being able to see a blow coming down at him. His eyes are stung by the light and he tries to blink away the light and pain to no avail. He can see for a moment every time he blinks his eyes, but it is only for a moment as “holes” in his vision obstruct everything.

Arman knows he is still right next to the towering orc and does he can to distract it. He cries out in Elven and starts flailing at any part of the orc he can reach with the flat of his rapier. The sound of it is lost in the chilling harmonics of the shredding Weave, but he can imagine it must at least hurt the orc. Getting slapped by the flat of a blade had always hurt him, but he was flailing at a foe with a hide tough enough he could not hurt it with the sharp end of the sword either…

Arman can hear the acid sizzle away at the orc and it groans in pain as it chews through the orc’s tough hide. There was not much more time before the spell expired; he hoped it got to something vital first…

Arman’s spell does 4 hp of damage to the orc and did 5 hp last round.

Thordek (Init 22)

Blinded, vulnerable and lacking his shield now, Thordek knows he is vulnerable. Hoping to ride out the storm that was coming, Thordek puts up the best defensive stance he can manage in his blindness. The orc was nearly slain; he could sense it. One or two more blows like the last, it would be dead. Now it would have the time to heal and return the favor to Thordek… His entire method depended on quick offense aided by his magic; playing defense was not his preference; at all. Hopefully he would not end up being beaten down by the orcs a second time…

Orc Shaman

“Aur-Krasu, Kill the dwarf and elf now and be done with it!” the Ice Devil’s emphatic thoughts crash over the assembled group, as the Ice Devil does the telepathic equivalent of shouting. If the orc hears or understood what the Devil just said, there is no reaction.

Ignoring Arman for now, the orc focuses on his biggest threat: Thordek. Once again, his stave comes whooshing in at Thordek’s knees. This time, he cracks the staff behind Thordek’s right knee and pushes through with all of his great strength. It sends the dwarf flying on to his back with a bang and clatter of his fine armor. Crying out a praise to Grummsh, the orc’s stave glows with a sickly orange color before the orc drives the blunt tip of it down right at Thordek’s skull.

Thordek turns his head away at the last second, more sensing the blow, and it strikes the thicker side area of his helmet. Dwarven attention to the smaller details of engineering saved Thordek’s like here as the helmet did not just sit atop his skull but was held in place by a leather thong that fit his head and suspended by cord. The leather between the two shells of his helmet also helped to deaden the blow slightly. This had three net effects; the helmet looked overly large on him, it wobbled and it absorbed blunt force trauma a bit better.

However much it helped, the blow felt like he had just taken a hammer to the side of the head. Blood runs from the wound down the side of his neck…

The orc shaman makes a successful trip attack and follows up with a Smite attack that causes a critical hit. The blow does 28 pts to Thordek.

Prone and blinded, the orc swings his staff again and Thordek, eager for the kill orc swings down at Thordek’s head two more times. The first blow bangs against the ground and the orc curses. The last blow swings unerringly at Thordek’s head, but Thordek senses the blow without really having a reason to; his world is full of stars and pain at the moment. None the less, he rolls and the blow lands broadside against his back. The effect does little more than drive the wind from his already tortured lungs.

“Just die, dwarf! Die for the glory of Grummsh!” the orc screams at Thordek. He kicks out with his foot as well, landing a vicious kick in the area of Thordek’s kidneys. Once again, his armor saved him a great deal of pain, but it was still painful.

The orc shaman misses his two follow up attacks

The orc lunges at Thordek once more, this time using his sharpened tusks as weapons. Thordek raises a hand to push the orc away, but it grabs his arm and snaps his jaw closed, biting into the unprotected flesh on the underside of Thordek’s lobstered arms… It’s teeth come away bloody and Thordek’s arm stings with pain…

The orc’s bite attack does 4 HP damage

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

Feeling the wave come from the stoneburner Kelith glances towards Carmad with a glare in his eyes. For now he'll stay silent though, quickly moving his focus back towards the fight.

[thorgrim29]

You're pretty pissed off... Aur-Krasu right? See, that's why Dwarves are better, we don't loose control like that

As the stars clear from his eyes, he spits a ball of phlegm and blood, stands up, and attacks the orc once.

(yea, I know, AOO against me but....)

[roll0]
[roll1]

[ArmanMadero]

Arman blinks away the last of the spots and can finally see the shaman. Taking his rapier he once again strikes towards the shaman.

Still fighting defensively. Aid another to Thordek. PS. Can you update the map by chance... i think that we are flanking but i can't remember where Thordek is...

[mshady]

Arman (Init 22)

Arman tries to blink away the spots, but it still nearly impossible to see. Thankfully, the orc has not really moved so he continues flailing away at, particularly its arms to disrupt anything it tries to do. He still tries to keep his best defensive stance, but fervently hopes the orc ignores him for the time being. It’s legs were as big as trees!

The acid continues to sizzle away and slowly dies away as the magic catalyzing it fades. The smell of it is putrid and the orc groans in pain from the wound. Arman can clearly see his acid has chewed a pit into the orc's side; not a deep one but to describe the wound as nauseating would be appropriate.

Arman's Acid Arrow spell does 4 hp more of damage before fading...

Thordek (Init 20)

Beaten down and dazed, Thordek tries to shake the stars out of his head as he stands up once again. This leaves him open to another attack from the shaman’s stave, but he had to count on his armor being able to shrug that blow off. He calls out to the orc as he rises and spits at his foe, trying to taunt it some more.

Standing only earns Thordek another hard blow to his body as the shaman snarls and swings it like a club down across his back. While his armor did not yield, it did not have to. The force of the blow cracks ribs and the pain of the blow is beyond distracting.

The orc shaman, Aur-Krasu, does 10 pts of damage to Thordek on the attack of opportunity

Thordek manages to rise however, gritting his teeth at the pain of every movement; he knows the orc is in just as rough a shape as he increasingly is. Now is the time to finish this orc off once and for all. Thordek launches into another attack at the shaman; what it lacks in elegance, it makes up for in power.

Unfortunately, the shaman sees the blow coming again as Thordek chops at him and bangs his stave off the axe and sends the blow off into an unintended direction. The orc snarls at Thordek, but says nothing. The wild look in its yellowed eyes makes clear its intentions….

Thordek is at 26/60 HP

Orc Shaman (Init 3)

The shaman reverses its momentum from its previous parry and sends its stave whipping around in an arc in a powerful spin aimed at Thordek’s knees once again. The blow knocks one foot out from under him and sweeps cleanly through and Thordek careens forward before hopping to get both of his feet back under him again.

Growling at the result, the shaman attempts the same maneuver once again but fails utterly to unseat the sturdy dwarf. Frustrated, it lunges at Thordek and rams the blunt end of the stave hard into Thordek’s already tortured ribs. The blow nearly knocks the dwarf down in and of itself, more from the pain than the shock.

Off balance, the orc lunges at Thordek once again with its mouth and sharpened tusks but snaps empty air instead.

The shaman failed two trip attacks, but also did not lose its stave. The third attack was a regular attack and it did 7 hp to Thordek.

Thordek is at 19/60 HP

One more round of blindness for 3 total...

[thorgrim29]

Funny thing, I just realized that true strike ignores concealment, and that, when you're blinded, you treat foes as having total concealment, so:

With some difficulty, Thordrek weathers the storm of alarmingly hard and impossibly fast blows, and having a good idea of where the enemy is, he closes his eyes, finding the calm center and, as he casts another true strike spell, the shaman's outline appears amidst the stars and black spots.

gotcha

Once again, the black war ax comes down on Aur-Krasu
not sure if it's necessary, but I,ll roll a concentration check to cast while blinded just in case

concentration [roll0]

to hit [roll1]
damage [roll2]

[mshady]

Arman (Init 22)

Arman continues to hold his defensive stance, while poking and jabbing almost randomly at the orc. He manages to distract the orc sufficiently enough to look his way; not that Arman can really tell. Annoyed, it turns back to Thordek.

Thordek

Battered and bloodied, Thordek grits his teeth. His world is still spinning and his body aches from the blows. The bends in his armor limit his mobility slightly; when the joints catch, they catch painfully now to him.

Setting aside the pain, the dizziness and pushing through the blindness, he can still sense where Aur-Karsu is. Summoning his will once again, Thordek casts another spell and his sight opens up, after a fashion. He visualizes where the shaman is and where he was unguarded and the magic flows from his mind to his hand and into his adamantine axe. That actually surprises him; a trick to share with his brothers some day.

Gripping the axe tightly in both hands, Thordek draws his axe back with a snarl curled on his lips as the magic pulses through him.

“Gotcha” he growls out to the orc.

Thordek’s axe flashes through the air on a slight downward arc aimed for the orc’s neck once again. The shaman senses the incoming blow and twists his body just enough to avoid being decapitated by the blow. Instead, the axe catches him square in shoulder and chops downwards. The axe severs an artery and blood erupts from the wound. The axe itself stops in Aur-Karsu’s chest cavity, just above the orc’s heart.

The orc tries to scream out in pain, but only a gurgle and a bloody froth erupt instead. As Thordek’s eyesight returns, he looks into the dying orc’s eyes. The light is quickly fading; their arrogance being replaced by shock at what had just happened. The scale of the effect is much like watching a castle’s wall crumble…

Gripping the waraxe by both hands, Thordek yanks the axe from the wound cavity with great effort and is greeted by a sucking sound instead. Thordek steps away and tries to shake some of the copious amounts of blood off his axe as he watches the orc stagger. It continues to try to breath, to gruesome effect, before finally dropping to its knees. It stays there for a moment, looking tired and pained but momentarily normal. Weakly, it tries to prop itself up with its stave. The shaman looks at Thordek, its eyes half focused on him, than Arman. Turning to the right, it seems the rest of the party. The terrible minotaurs, Carmard floating in the air and over a hundred of dead orcs around it. It next looks towards the hovering Ice Devil and shudders for a moment. Or perhaps it was a convulsion?

Nodding its head in recognition of its fate, the orc loses its grip on its stave slowly and rolls to the ground. For a moment, it breaths yet and then it expires. Its magic fades and it returns to a normal size.

[mshady]

“This Trial by Combat is concluded. Your champion, Aur-Karsu is defeated and dead, Raz-Petrin. Abide you by the terms of our bargain, devil?”

Carmard’s voice echoes through the chamber now, clear and stern. It cuts through the chaos of the unwinding Weave as strands of it continues to materialize and are drawn towards the Stoneburner. Already, a hole has been cut between the chamber and the Stoneburner.

The devil hovers in mid-air for a long moment and says nothing. It appears to be furious, shaking with anger.

“Raz-Petrin of Cania, servitor of this cult of Auril, abides by the letter of our bargain. Know that I mark you, dwarf. I claim this one’s soul today and shall reap yours another. Now release me from your bin-"

“Be quiet” Carmard says and waves his hand and the Devil screams. The air around him erupts in a blue fire and air rushes towards the fires, creating a modest breeze. A sound like tearing metal shrieks through the chamber and the sound of a thousand gongs can be heard; the chaos of the Abyss. The blue fire envelops the Devil and it shrieks and flails about, dropping its terrible spear to the ground.

Blue fire erupts from its body as it splits open and begins to dissolve. In a flash of brilliant light and booming thunder, the Devil disappears from the cavern.

Lowering himself closer to the ground, Carmard slings his shield and places his hammer back on his belt. As his feet touch, there is another brilliant flash of light and energy. The Stoneburner booms again and a wave of translucent blue fire rolls out of the area. It stings everyone; the pain is felt in flesh and bone.

The Stoneburner inflicts 4 HP damage to everyone

[mshady]

“Arcanii, stop your device before it kills us. I swear oath on Tempus’s stones, if you cannot you die first for this madness!” Kerik growls at Carmard.

“Carmard! We have to stop the Stoneburner. It’s going to kill us!” Buna yells at him, the chaos of the room drowning her out.

“Buna, lass?” Carmard says as he approaches her. “Did Tolrin tell ye how to stop the kettle once it starts?”
Buna wipes the blood from her face and looks at Carmard, blinking.

“What?” she says, appearing to be dumbstruck by the question.

Carmard removes his own helm and looks around. Nodding his head in acknowledgement, he strokes his beard and grimaces.

“I thought so.” He says and clicks his teeth together. “Too risky to tell anyone, although I suspect Glorian knows. Or that’d be too risky for her. I had hoped that was one secret Tolrin could not keep. We have… a minute before it goes now? No one’s ever stopped one before. ”

Carmard shrugs slightly, resigned.
“I suggest we all pray now” Carmard says quietly.

“Yo-you… you set that off without any way to stop it?” Buna looks at him for a moment, thunderstruck, before she backhands Carmard across the face. The grim Arcanii shrugs and spits out some blood.

“Why did you do that! Go kill yourself when I’m not around, you sonuvabitch!” she demands.

“We don’t have time for explanations” Carmard says pointedly, even a bit heated.

“So… you have a plan?” Buna growls at him. Kerik and Gore are now standing next to her, their enormous weapons in hand. They scowl down at Carmard, breathing heavy.

“Three. One involves dying. One involves it not being here when it goes off. The other? We ask it nicely.”

Carmard snorts at that prospect.

“Ask it nicely?”

“Yes” Carmard snaps back in a tone more fit for admonishing a student.

“That poor soul Glorian bound to the Stoneburner? The traitor? Weeks of screaming as its consciousness was consumed in arcane fire? We ask it very nicely not to kill us all.”

The minotaurs look at each other and grip their weapons tightly. The rattle of their gauntlets can be heard as they scrape against each other.

“Oh, well that’s fraking simple!” Buna screams at him.

“Just so. If it says no, use your pistol on yourself. Save your soul at least, that way. So, let’s go ask it. Anyone else?”

[mshady]

Please direct your attention to the OOC thread for an important statement/announcement by your DM.

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60703&page=4

[loopy]

Johannes

"Well whatever ye are doing, lords and ladies, do it bloody quickly." Johannes snarls, his dwarven upbringing made more evident in his voice by the stress. "I'm in no mood to meet m' maker yet."

[Yuki Akuma]

"Luckily for you, then," says the psionic human, striding towards the Stoneburner - or perhaps Carmand - with a stoney expression on his face. "This... thing will destroy your soul when it goes off. There won't be anything left of you to meet anyone."

A soft, silvery energy crackles down his right arm, as he continues his approach. The energy soon coalesces into a blade, still crackling as Raltise's eyes glow a rather unsettling silvery colour of their own.

[loopy]

Johannes

"By Gruumsh's mouldy eyeball, why would one create such a weapon!"

[Strangie]

Bundok stared at Carmard, like he was absolutely mad.

"What in the hells do ye exactly tell a thing that's gonna turn ya into a whole bunch of nothin', anyway!?" asked Bundok, getting very uneasy now. "How do ya tell a bomb not to blow everyone up, when that's what a bomb does?!"

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

"First off, my holy symbol." Kelith says reaching out his hand palm up.

"As to the current problem, I don't care to bother chatting it up with a psychopathic bomb, if all we have are a couple of minutes let's get moving NOW."

[King Tius]

"Oh blessed Dumathoin, if ye be listen', I fear my services to you may soon be at an end, both in this life and the next." Nalrak looks around at the blood spattered and beaten team. "Chins up now, lads and lasses. We're Dwarves and Warriors all. Let's go." The priest will wait by Carmand and follow him in his crazy plan.

[mshady]

"Run from it?" Carmard chuckles softly, amused my that. "Unless you can teleport out of here, there's no time to get clear. We'd need... much longer than we have."

Carmard shrugs at the realization.

He turns to Bundok and addresses the dwarf.

"Yes, it is a bomb in the middle of doing what a bomb does. We have to ask it to stop. With time of the essence, yes, lets repeat the obvious? Why would it do that? Well I don't think it truly wants to waste itself here. As for why build such a thing? To do what its doing now. Just elsewhere."

Shaking his head, Carmard strides towards the southern exit of the cavern and casts a spell. Fist sized beams of flame erupt and slag the Ice Wall into nothing in a matter of moments. Only a cloud of steam remains.

As Kelith follows, Carmard absently hands him back his holy symbol.

"Now, some of you want to go talk to it? I strongly suspect it doesn't like me over much right now."

Carmard points to the exit, full of clouds of stinging steam.

Looking down, Carmard frowns slightly. The floor beneath him is starting to glow red from the heat.

"Quickly, now. The pulses are just excess energy it can't absorb. Once it gets ahold of enough strands of the Weave, they'll feed right into the heart of it to sustain it. Overload and boom. It has to let go and vent the energy... I think."

[Melody]

Sable wastes no time talking and races through the mist wreathed exit. Icy steam? She has barely a moment to ponder the irony as the still cold air actually burns her skin as she passes through it. Damn that was one powerful spell. Holding her breath she sprints for the stoneburner.

[Yuki Akuma]

Raltise throws his mind blade at Carmard - aiming to miss but not really caring if he does actually hit - and turns to approach the Stoneburner. He sighs to himself, reaching out to take Lythe's hand as the two walk almost casually towards the bomb.

But fast enough to reach it before it goes off, of course.

[ArmanMadero]

Arman shook his head to finally get rid of the spots and flashes in his eyes, just in time to see the shaman take its last breath. With a small sigh of relief he puts away his rapier, after wiping it down on the shaman's clothing to get rid of the blood.

Over the howling of the Weave, Arman could hear Carmard yelling at the Devil, and the howling increased to a harsh metal screeching sound, as the Weave and planes were torn open, forcing the Devil back to its home.

Arman tiredly went towards Carmard, only to hear Buna shouting at him to stop it.

It couldn't be stopped. They had only a few minutes. "Great Mystra no...


Arman started walking towards the stoneburner, hearing Carmard that they should try and talk with it. He shouted, trying to raise his voice above the clamor of the Weave, hoping that Barauk's soul would hear him."Barauk! Dwarf within the Stoneburner! It is not time yet! Please, STOP!!!!"

[bchilders]

Magnum

Magnum begins a booming dwarvish song about a group of soldiers who sacrificed themselves to save their clan. He begans to march toward the bomb, praying to Clangeddin as he continues singing through the whirl of energies.

[Melody]

"Barauk! Dwarf within the Stoneburner! It is not time yet! Please, STOP!!!!"

Sable hears the shout behind her as she runs. At least I know his name now she thought, skidding to a stop. Her feet rolled across some loose stones and slipped out from under her as she tenses up in shock at the sight of the stoneburner in action. She lands heavily on her bottom, the shock of remembered sensation bringing another name to her mind. The name was Glory, no, Glorian.

"Barauk! Glorian wishes you to stop! The stoneburner is not yet in position. Camard has started you too soon. It is too soon yet! Stop Barauk! It is not time!"

Sable gets quickly to her feet as she registers the heat coming up off of the floor, brushing off dirt and pebbles as she did so. She turns and looks helplessly over her shoulder to see Raltise step through the mist, the tendrils of which matched the color of his unsettling eyes.

[thorgrim29]

As the spots cleared, he victorious warrior looked at the corpse. he saw it twitch a few times, so he buried his axe into its neck, again, just to be sure, that thing had been magically protected to an impressing extent. Then he looked up, saw the devil being offhandedly banished now the it's summoner was dead. Then, he realized the orc was probably the lucky one, and that carmard was insane, as another wave of weave energy washed over him and made his hair rise. He rushed to the stoneburner, and, gasping, without even bothering to to dismiss his enlargement spell, bellowed in the tortured soul's native language:

Barauk! Stop this insanity, this is neither the place nor the time for you to explode. If you do it now, you will be remembered as a traitor and a failure, and Glorian will be very disappointed. Wait until the appointed time, and she and all of us will consider you redeemed and a hero!

[Yuki Akuma]

Raltise puts his hand to his face and sighs softly as he continues walking towards the Stoneburner. He mutters in Terran: "Because invoking the name of the person who put him in there is going to do us any good..."

He continues to walk almost sedately towards the weapon, ignoring the heat as his eyes continue their glowing, even when he facepalms.

[mshady]

Malevolent laughter reverberates through the cavern and in everyone’s mind. It is an unhinged, manic kind of laughter. In another context, it might even be disturbing.

“Power is like river and my soul stands within it. Holds it back. Now the dam has broken. The river runs through me! The fire that burns me! The relief of an ending! Burn with me! Burn with me and know blessed release! Your sins made no more! Join me in the fire and save your souls from Judgement!” the rambling speech of Barauk echoes.

As the Ice Wall comes down and party members move towards the Stoneburner, several address the Artifact, pleading with it.

“Stop? Stop in the name Glorian? It is not time?” it says.

The strands of disintegrating Weave streaming towards it slow for a moment as it contemplates.

Again, the unhinged laughter rolls through the cavern. There is a power behind it now. Dust falls from the ceiling and the room rattles.

“Stop? Stop for Glorian? This is what she wants! Why she made me! To explode! Stopping would be a sin against my destiny! This is the Salvation she gave me! Why not this time? Anytime offers me Salvation! I have no Judgement now. Barauk only needed the wards lowered to fulfill my purpose. Where? When? How? NO MEANING! NO MEANING! NO MEANING!” Barauk’s last words thunder. The closest feel like they’ve been struck in the face by the force of its words.

“ I am the Bane of all Heresy. I will purge you and I of ALL sin. I am Barauk of Clan Jilker below. Witness my Ascension!”

The cavern glows red and the boots of the closest sizzle. The smell of the blood on the floor baking on the stone is beyond repugnant.

The cavern wall between the Stoneburner and the party shatters and melts as it projects a beam of fire the size of horse cuts through. Stone melts and it is blown across the room.

“Behold me in my full resplendence. It is Just for you to see who brings your salvation for the power of Moradin himself flows through me. For one brief moment, I shall become unto a God myself. Glorian’s purpose fulfilled…” it says, darkly and a bit manically.

The chest hovers in the air now, blazing blue and bursting with radiant energy.

Carmard stands apart from the group. His eyes are locked on to the Stoneburner. He says nothing. In one hand is a pistol. In the other a clenched holy symbol.

[Yuki Akuma]

Raltise continues to walk towards the weapon, Lythe clutched closely to his side. He ignroes the heat, moving ever closer, reaching his hand out to place it on the chest once it comes within reach.

Determination!

[Melody]

Barauk! How would you be remembered? If you end it now, we will die with you. A paltry handful to the hundreds you were meant to cleanse. The very lair of a dragon would have been your resting place. Who would speak your name? Would songs be sung and glory heaped upon your name for this ignoble death?

Sable's voice grows taunting. No. You would find oblivion and your name would die as well. Your moment of godhood unseen and not spoken of except as a failed mission. However, Sable pauses and draws out the word her voice becoming hopeful, if you were to wait we would sing songs of your moment of glory. We have seen your awesome power and would speak your name in tones of reverent honor. Songs would be sung and your name would live on after you. Ask yourself Barauk. What have you to loose in waiting, and what have you to gain?

To destroy us all now gives you nothing, but to wait gives you immortality.

[ooc: Comon persuasion!]

[loopy]

Johannes

Johannes grabs the book he's been reading out of his pack. "Imagine your name as part of a saga like this. Scribes and scholars would whisper your name reverently for all time. This won't happen if you leave no witnesses, will it?"

Diplomacy: [roll0]

[bchilders]

Magnum

"Now to bring a dragon and his hordes down with you, that would be a feat to shout throughout all of Clangeddin's Halls," Magnum chimes in thinking of the fight ahead and hoping he makes it there.

[thorgrim29]

Exactly, destroy us now, and your only place in history will be an odd earthquake, wait until the appointed time, destroy the foes of Moradin, and be remembered at the very least until our lines end, possibly even later, as a mythic figure, an agent of the god's wrath. What will it be, Barauk of Clan Jilker?

As he speaks, he vaguely remembers Glorian speaking of a failsafe, something to keep the stoneburner from destroying everything in range, souls included. If the insane spirit does not relent, it will be a better fate then obliteration...

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

Trying to yell above the noise of the impending explosion Kelith responds, " Who cares for noble deeds and tales sung; you didn't make yourself this way for such things! No, you wanted penance, you wanted forgiveness for your sins.

Now how do you seek to get such forgiveness but by killing only those who seek the same judgement as your god? You shall get forgiveness and be purged of your sins only in the fiery destruction of those that oppose your god and his beliefs. Killing us now does none of those things, and would only further your own sins! Take this cheap escape if you will, but know that your sins would not be forgiven and your soul taken for naught!"

[roll0]

[King Tius]

Nalrak resists the urge to add his two cents to the growing madness and waits with a steely resolve for things to resolve themselves.

[mshady]

The party approaches the Stoneburner to parlay with the tortured soul that resided in it. The air is now saturated with magical energy. It seems to pulse now, as if in step with the beating of a heart. The feeling is mildly nauseating, yet the raw power coursing through the air is nearly euphoric.

With each moment, the effect of the Stoneburner overloading itself had rapidly intensified. While the Weave was still being drawn to it, the flow had lessened now. The tendrils solidified as the mind inside took the strands and wound each strand of Weave directly into the empty Glowstone at its center.

Barauk says nothing now. The clatter of locks being sprung and combination keys spinning into place can be heard. The noise reverberates in the now sudden, still silence.

A powerful blow knocks the top of the chest open. An aura of blue fire bursts forth and stings the eyes. A blackened sphere slowly rises from the chest now. It is the Stoneburner itself now, free of its scorched encasement. The sphere is perhaps the size of a gnome; large but unnaturally slow for the power it wielded. It is covered in runes that glow green. They whirl around in their tracks; a soft glow emanates from them as they slide along their tracks slowly with a mechanical swish. The click-clack of the gears inside driving the assembly drives the runes along their track.

“I flew into the wilds of the fire. I danced and died a thousand times over. Look. Behold me as I sit at the zenith of my Ascension. How dare you ask me to stop?! You! Priest of primordial Fire! LOOK AT ME!” the angry voice of Barauk thunders.

The cavern shudders from the volume.

“Servitor of the Elemental Fire, behold me and know me. I am the Fire of Creation, the Fire of Cleansing. The powers of the Making and the End have become my mind. You who should worship me, come forward! Offer me your fealty and your blessing” Barauk says.

The unnatural silence returns as the air in front of the party shimmers. A translucent image of dwarven head appears in the air before Kelith. Its features are severe and it is bereft of a beard. It’s eyes blaze with a white fire.

“Worship me and I will slay you outright; your soul will go to your God and tell him of my glory. Deny me and I name you a heretic to your own beliefs. Your body. Your soul. It will die with me, Fire Priest. Now pick your words; more carefully. Provoke me no further. Asking me to stop?”

Laughter rumbles.

"I am the ideal of your faith! You cannot offer me forgiveness. Worship my legacy of fire and sundering. Offer me THAT and you alone survive this. It is within my power."

It pauses for a moment.

“Chose your fate.”

Clutching the gravely wounded Lythe, Raltise moves through the stinging steam; the pain is biting. The little elemental shakes in his arm. She looks up at him with her gemstone eyes and looks at the floating sphere and reflexively wants to bolt out of his arms.

Raltise can feel only one emotion out of her: Fear. Raw, pure, primal fear.

“Who approaches my sarcophagus?” Barauk demands. His voice thunders once again. His voice is high and imperious. The psychic power of it echoes through his mind painfully.

Only another psion could have that effect; a powerful one at that.

[Melody]

Sable shakes her head as she hears Barauks words, in doing so she sees Raltise approach. All hopes were with him then. She sees Lythe badly wounded, cradled in his arms like a child. With a slightly sad smile she opens a scroll case on her belt and reads it quietly, the words dissapearing from the page as they are spoken. If it were the end, there was at least this much she could do. Hopefully this might ease his burden, if only for a moment. As Raltise passes her fingers lightly brush Lythe's leg.


Scroll of cure moderate wounds on Lythe.

[ArmanMadero]

Arman listened to the others plead, and listened to Barauk consider himself a god who job it was to judge. And they were certainly being judged. Arman fought down nausea as wave after wave of energy from the Weave pulsed through the room, heating the floors and making the blood upon them boil.

"Barauk! You have no right to judge those within this room! You who were a heretic to their own clan! Judgement is reserved for those of the false and the faithless in Hades with Kelemvor. Him and him alone. I know who my gods are. Mystra, goddess of magic and Corelion, god of elves. It will be within one of their realms, whether it be Nirvana or Arvandor, that my soul will find its final resting place."

Arman knew that his words meant nothing to the heretic dwarf. But he didn't care. At least he and the others were trying. The Weave was now getting stronger, and his body was becoming more painful. Being an elf, he was also a part of the Weave a little. He was being torn apart, it felt.

"Please stop, Barauk. You want to take souls with you! Fine! But please wait until the right time! More souls await you in this place! More souls of unbelievers and faithless and heretics such as yourself! Taking the soul of a dragon! A great white dragon! That is your duty, dwarf! This is why you were made! That will prove yourself to Glorian! To take heretics with you! Those among this group are not heretics! We all have our faiths! You do not have the right to give us judgement! How can you save our souls, when you were made to destroy them? Please wait, Barauk! We shall soon set you free to do as you wish! Sable's right, we cannot tell your tale if we are dead! And you think that if we go to our gods, and plead them to tell your tale after getting to our god's homes, that they will deem YOU worthy of telling about! You? A heretic? I think not! Let your fires die for a while longer, so that we can spread the tale of Barauk."

Arman looks at the runes upon the black sphere, wondering if he could see a way to stop it within them.

Arcana Knowledge check

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

"I look, and I see Barauk. I see a fake, a false prophet, one who has earned nothing but was given everything he is.

YOU! YOU are NOT the fire of creation, nor are you the fire of cleansing. You are a one time spark, a small flash of flame, in Kossuth's never ending fires.

You who hold yourself to be a god is no more worthy of worship than the rest of us here. Just because you hold someone else's power you think you can demand worship? No, there will be no worship here; only pity. Pity for a soul so twisted by his own arrogance that when given a second chance at redemption he would think to throw it all away.

You were given a second chance, I only hope you don't throw it away."

[bchilders]

Magnum

Magnum continues singing, deciding that if he is to die he will do so with a song on his lips and his axe in his hand.

[thorgrim29]

Barauk, you call us heretics, but tell me, what is more heretical for a dwarf of Clan Jilker then to willfully destroy the souls of other dwarves? To go against the work of Moradin the Soul Forger Himself?

[ArmanMadero]

Arman looked at Carmard. "If you know of anything that could help us now, please, let us know. This battle we are not winning... We are trying, but like any dwarf, he is stubborn."

[mshady]

“False prophet!” Barauk thunders in reply.

“There’s no redemption for me. The fires scour my soul and I wait for the wards to be let down so I might free myself! Now they are. I am but a thought away from no more pain.”

The voice stops and the face moves closer to Kelith.

“Your choice is made.” Barauk says, his voice deep and grave.

Kelith’s chain suddenly alights in flame and come alive; a python in his hand. It coils around his neck just under his jaw, the spikes digging into his flesh and barely missing an artery. The actual heat of the flames themselves Kelith’s faith allows him to largely ignore but the magical energy that is streaming into his body is beyond agonizing; beyond comprehension of any pain Kelith had ever felt truly. The blessing of his system going into shock refuses to come.

And then the chain lifts up into the air. Kelith is now suspended; his chain becoming a hand man’s noose. He dances in the air, gasps for air that will not come, screams words with no sounds.

“Feel what I feel before I send you on your way!” almost casually.

Kelith takes 10 hp damage from the chain and is now paralyzed. He is suffering a bleeding wound of 2 hp a round. The magical fire pouring into him does sub-dual of 10 more.

The Face of Barauk seems to almost shudder with delight and looks away from Kelith and sweeps around the ground, before settling its argent gaze upon Arman.

“I’ve no right to judge, you say? Powers gives ME the right to judge! You judged these pathetic orcs and slayed them. The Patriarchate judges its cousins and intended me to judge them. The Gods would judge me for my falseness in life. Only Glorian could save my soul from that. Because she had the power. Power gives right to judgment. It is the way of things. Wait until the right time? I just want a release! That was the bargain!”

A telekinetic thrust of magical energy strikes Arman in the chest; a hammer blow so hard it sends him flying back 20 feet and sends him sprawling to the ground.

Arman takes 20 hp worth of falling damage, sub-dual.

He next moves to Johanssen.

“What could be more heretical for a dwarf of Clan Jilker than to destroy the souls of other dwarves? Destroying the souls of other dwarves is what I was MADE to do. They’re all like me. I save my brothers the Judgement and an eternity on the Wall. They won’t take me there. It matters not anymore. You tongues carries the lies of an idealist like I once was. Perhaps I should spare your cohorts and snap it from you like was done to me?”

The face bobs in front of Johanssen silent for a moment as Kelith croaks desperately in the air near him. It has the look of calculating malevolence.

“Shall I be merciful? I think…” Before it can complete it’s sentence, the face snaps around towards the Stoneburner itself, hovering and blazing with energy.

“Who of you approaches me! Step away!” Barauk thunders, finally noticing Raltise, Lythe and than Sable approaching him.

“Now!” Duervar screams. Pick held high over his head, Duervar, Kerik and Gore charge the Stoneburner.

A ball of white, crackling energy shoots from Buna's finger tips right towards the Stoneburner. The powerful dispel hisses and crackles and the Stoneburner lolls over onto its side. Some of the energy contained within it seems to dissolve for a moment.

[Yuki Akuma]

Raltise suddenly breaks into a run, tugging Lythe along behind him. He jumps up into the air, Lythe's hand clenched tightly in his own, as he places a hand against the Stoneburner, not seeming to care that it's likely to burn his hand clean off. His eyes are glowing a pierce silver now, the light spreading out along his face, his skin seeming to crack to reveal glowing flesh.

There's a faint buzz at the back of the minds of those nearby...

[mshady]

Raltise places his hand against the blazing black orb of the Stoneburner just as Barauk notices his presence. There is a buzz that pierces the air, and indeed ears of all in the cavern as the two touch. The Stoneburner glows a brilliant, resurgent, blue. A sphere of blue flame expands from the Stoneburner, enveloping both it and Raltise.

A manic laughter rumbles through the minds of everyone present; a manic, almost happy kind.

Than the floor opens up as a hole is torn between the Planes with a “whoosh” and scream of protest as a hole is torn between the prime and somewhere else. Air is sucked through the Gate and the heat generated by the unleashed magic slags the floor. Molten lava streams towards the party members.

With a tremendous clang and thunder, the tear in the fabric between the Planes closes with a whoosh that sends the hardened sarcophagus rolling out of its space with a clatter. The cavern walls in space previously occupies glow a cherry red, dripping molten rock before they crumble downwards with a splat that sends molten magma spraying outwards.

The entrance closes and Raltise, Lythe and the Stoneburner are gone.

The room goes silent and plunges into utter darkness as the fire pots blink out.

[ArmanMadero]

Barauk apparently didn't see things the way that the party did, for suddenly he seemed angry. Kelith's chain suddenly wound itself around Kelith's neck and started to choke him, lifting him in the air and exerting magical energie into him.

Then Barauk was in front of him, saying that he had no more right to judge than himself, but that Glorian was the only one who would have promised release. A magical force slammed into his chest, making him fly backwards and slamming into the ground. He lay there groaning and could see the walls where the stoneburner was near, start glowing red with all the released energy.

A tear opened in the Weave, all the energy being sucked in, and lava starting to flow outward. A blue glow surrounded Raltise, Lythe and the stoneburner and then the tear in the Weave was suddenly shut, and everything went dark, at the same time, Raltise and Lythe disappearing with the stoneburner.

It all happened so fast, that Arman really didn't have time to notice everything that did happen. The cavern went dark, only the remaining glow from the slagged walls and cooling lava giving any sort of light. Arman looked around with his night vision, getting up slowly and looking around. Reaching into one of his pouches, he pulls out a vial and swallows the contents. He felt a warmth flow through him for a breif moment, and then he felt a little better.

"What happened to Raltise and Lythe? Where did they go? Is there anyone else missing?" Reaching into his bag, he pulls out a stick, and unwrapping some cloth from the end of it, a glow from the end lights up the area for about 20 feet, throwing shadows everywhere else.

He walks over to the dead shaman, and takes the staff. Putting away his rapier and leaning on the staff a bit, he checked all his hurts and surmised that he broke nothing, and in fact, was, ok. Getting thrown like that certainly hadn't been the plan. He searched the shaman, getting whatever he could and laying it out.

One vial of CLW. Yummy.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

Kelith, released from the spell picks himself back up and casts Lesser Vigor on himself before looking around.

*coughs, then clears his throat* "Any of you know mages what Raltise just did? I don't plan on letting him play the martyr and then getting away with it too."

He'll look around at the rest of the group and cast lesser vigor on any who look in need of healing (should have 4 casts left in spells per day of 1st level after casting that vigor on myself).

[thorgrim29]

Well.... I'm not a psychic expert, but it seems to me he used the nascent gate to get out of here with the stoneburner....

He shrugs, then grimaces in pain.
Can anyone help me out of my armor, i think I've got a cracked rib and its pressing on it.

[King Tius]

Nalrak blinks a few times in astonishment then turns to Carmand. "Be there any way we could try and scry Raltise's location? Are we sure he's gone for good?"

[Melody]

Sable walks over to where Thordrek is standing and starts helping him strip off his armor, her fingers nimbly slipping leather straps through buckles that are still hot to the touch. Her face is curiously deadpan and she speaks in a flat emotionless voice. "He's moved himself and it somewhere else, to another plane perhaps. I wouldn't put any location, no matter how distant past him." She gives a sharp tug to free a strap from where it had snagged on metal that had partially melted. "You might be able to scry for him. I don't know about scrying other planes, but maybe he can get himself back here if he lived..."

Sable's voice trails off as she stares at the spot where the stoneburner had sat. Her gaze moves over the devastation the stoneburner had wrought in so short a time. The rock where it had sat was still glowing an angry sullen red like a baleful eye. You can see her assessing Raltise's chances as her hands fall down limply to hang at her side. The mask cracks for a moment, and it almost looks like she is about to cry. Her hands and jaw clench as you see her exert control over herself. Her shoulders relax as her face settles back into an expressionless mask. Sable turns back towards Thordrek and starts working on another stubborn buckle. Her voice when she speaks is steady and toneless, "What now Carmard?"

[Edited to change the visual surrounding where the stoneburner was.]

[thorgrim29]

Thanks lass.... What I can say is... if he's dead, then he died a hero, and Dumatoin as my witness he'll be remembered as such, but for now we need to carry on, somehow salvage what we can of the mission. If he's alive, well, there's nothing I can do about it, maybe a very powerful priest or mage. And if none we know are willing, I've heard of a mighty cleric of Deneir in the south, name of Cadderly, maybe he could help, and if not, then we'll go to Elminster himself! The point is, dead or alive, there's not much we can do about it right now

[Katasi]

Arum lets loose a string of loud curses. "I can't believe we lost a member and before we even faced the dragon. And now what are we going to do without the stoneburner? Obviously we're going to have to destroy this place ourselves." He says. "Looks like we've got our work cut out for us. Might even have to take on the dragon ourselves to."

[mshady]

The cavern is still steaming with heat from the Stoneburner and the sundered Weave. The collapsed area where it, Raltise and Lythe disappeared stays cherry red. Indeed the glow does not seem to fade at all and provides what little illumination there is in the cavern. The area around it, however, is fading rapidly as the heat radiates away. The temperature inside the cavern is steaming however. Sweat streams down many a forehead, stinging painfully against fresh wounds.

Buna and Duervar both produce lanterns to illuminate the area and torches in the other hand. They begin making their way to the extinguished fire pits that were snuffed out when… whatever just happened ended. The air in the room seems very thin now. Air in the Underdark is a precious thing and it takes a great deal of time for the few plants and lichen in it to produce more. The combination of exertion and thin air leaves everyone fatigued now. Buna is careful to direct that only two of the fire pits are lit. While she does this, Sable works on removing Thordek’s battered armor and the rest say what few words they can manage before Sable poses her question to Carmard.

“What now, Carmard?” Sable says.

The Arcanii takes some time to respond to that question. He stares at the ever glowing rubble; a long and distant stare. Nearly a minute passes before he responds.

“We go and find it” he turns to Sable and says flatly, tonelessly. Gone is the battle fervor and thundering voice of the Arcanii in battle.

“What?” Buna snaps. “How are we going to do that?” Her tone is clearly incredulous. Carmard fixes his expressionless eyes on her for a moment and returns to the previous target of his stare.

“We go and find it. Each senior Arcanii has a Gate rune. We use it to follow the bomb” he says simply.

Buna looks at him, eyes wide and a bit staggered.

“Wasn't that how we escape the blast? What about Raltise?” Buna says, suspicious. She clearly bites her lip, and no doubt a response before turning to the party. Carmard says nothing in reply to that.

“Okay… Carmard says we follow the bomb, err Barauk. It’s not just the Stoneburner now, but it really is Barauk. When the fail safe was released, that gave the soul inside full control over its power to operate the magic. In talking him out of killing himself and us, it means that angry little soul inside has full control now. So… aye, this could’ve gone better, eh?” Buna says and laughs bitterly.

“Half o’ye, see if there be any survivors and pile all the loot and I’ll organize whatever fetid bit of junk these uglies had. Kerik, Gore… I want ye to take Hjalmar and Sable into that back area. I think there still be some in there. If this be a full tribe, they’ll be females and little orc runts.”

Buna looks up at the two minotaurs, a fierce look in her eyes.

“Alive. I want’em all alive. Hjalmar’s there to keep ye straight on that” Buna says. The gruff paladin bangs his hammer against his battered shield.

“No glory to Tempus in that” Kerik scoffs.

“Good” Buna replies.

“We don’t go until you find the others. The ones who guarded the Stoneburner.” Kerik rumbles. He glares over at Carmard. “Then we all have words with Arcanii”

“Right… Duervar, the dwarf with the big pick? He’ll see about moving the rubble. Some kind of miner”

Both Duervar and Kerik grumble at their respective orders. Kerik and Gore head off silently with Hjalmar and presumably Sable.

“It ain’t a mining pick!” Duervar grumbles. Buna glares at him and Duervar mutters something and heads off.

“Arman and umm, whatever the hell yer name is gnome? Armur? Arum? Go over and study the area… see if ye can figure out where it went. We’ll leave Carmard to his thinking…”

Turning to Thordek, Buna tips her head respectfully.

"Fine job, Thordek. Ye done the Levtokuld proud. Take a rest and tend to yer wounds..." Buna says before walking off into the gloomy chamber, looking for anyone left alive.

"Kelith! Yer with me! Some o'them gotta still be kick'n. Heal a couple up, I wanna talk to'em."

[Melody]

Sable helps Thordrek ease the last piece of his armor off as Carmard begins to speak. She looks up from her task and meets his eyes, their gazes locking across the distance. Sable listens in disbelief and Buna's voice echoes her first thought. What?! As incomprehensible as the idea was the message sinks in as Carmard speaks for the second time. "We go and find it. Each senior Arcanii has a Gate rune. We use it to follow the bomb.”

Raltise.. the bomb, hope rises so suddenly she is momentarily dizzy with it. She steadies herself with a light hand on Thordrek's shoulder. Nodding at Carmard, Sable hears Buna's orders. She gives Thordrek a pat on the shoulder before slipping off into the area Buna indicated, to look for survivors.

[Strangie]

Bundok sort of just stared at everything that just happened. The stoneburner just bamfed right out of existance, taking Raltise and that little rock thing with it! He knew he wouldn't have escaped in time - it's not like dwarves are known for their speed. The fact he was still alive after all of this sort of surprised him.

"How in the... what the hell... why..." Bundok stuttered. He raised a hand and opened his mouth once more to speak, but couldn't find the words and just let his hand drop, lowering and shaking his head a little. "By the gods, I was sure this was it." He folds his arms. "But I guess it just ain't my time to die, eh?"

He turns to Carmard as he mused to himself, then shrugged and turned to Buna instead. "Is there anythin' I can put meself to use fer?" He asked, waiting for a response.

[mshady]

Carmard does not like at Bundok directly, but just nods.

"Yes. Check the bodies. See if any yet live" he says quietly.

[Strangie]

Bundok nods back, and goes about his duty quietly, poking around each corpse with his quarterstaff, double-checking by crouching down and inspecting for a brief moment if it doesn't respond from the initial check, then moving onto the next.

[bchilders]

Magnum

Magnum sputters in his song as the Stoneburner blinks out of existence with Raltise with it. As the others start to talk about what is going on he looks back and forth confused. Never one to think things over himself he looks to Carmand and says, "So did Raltise take the stoneburner away or did the stoneburner take Raltise away?"

[mshady]

Carmard continues his wool gathering until Magnum asks his question. Sighing, he turns to Magnum.

"We don't know yet. I'm thinking about it. Now please, go help Buna" Carmard says and frowns slightly.

Looking at the rubble, Carmard tips his head slightly and an idea occurs to him.

"Nalrak! Go and help Duervar. Dumathion's blessing may aide ye in getting through the stone."

[bchilders]

Magnum

Magnum makes his way over to Duervar and offers his services with the stone, casting a spell to help the process along. Afterwards he will head over and help Buna.

Clear out 16 cubic feet with stone shape

[thorgrim29]

(about the hp for the new level, how does that work again? roll, average, average+1??)

Thordrek, still heavily wounded, takes a look at his armor, and those who are close can see it bears his personal rune on the inside of the breastplate. He then takes a small hammer from his bandoleer, wraps it in cloth and carefully hammers the bumps into place, explaining to those nearby if they seem interested.

You see, the good thing about magical armor and weaponry, besides the obvious, is that they are very durable. When you bind the magic to the item, in this case the armor, it tends to conform to the idea of armor, it's even more pronounced for me since I forged and enchanted this one myself back in Barakbar, so it wants to return to a shape I can use.... So, with a few careful nudges, it should pretty much "pop" back right into place... there.

Indeed, the shining mythral armor soon recovers from the beating the shaman and the orcs before him had inflicted on it. The owner, for his part, winces with nearly every movement, and, tough he tries to hide it stoically, it is evident a few miracles wouldn't be remiss.

Hey, Magnum, do you thing you could help me? I'm all for dimension hopping, but right now a stiff breeze could take care of me.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

Kelith will take out his wand of lesser vigor and start healing those who need it.

((Just let me know how many charges to take off, i've no clue of everyones HP totals.))

[ArmanMadero]

Arman stood there leaning on the shamans staff for a moment, thinking about what was going to happen now.

Along with his everburning torch, Buna and Duervar produced lanterns, and lit a few of the braziers that went out with the stoneburners disappearance.


Arman heard Buna give a snort and looked over towards her, his night vision allowing a good view of her expressions. “Okay… Carmard says we follow the bomb, err Barauk. It’s not just the Stoneburner now, but it really is Barauk. When the fail safe was released, that gave the soul inside full control over its power to operate the magic. In talking him out of killing himself and us, it means that angry little soul inside has full control now. So… aye, this could’ve gone better, eh?” Buna says and laughs bitterly.

“Half o’ye, see if there be any survivors and pile all the loot and I’ll organize whatever fetid bit of junk these uglies had. Kerik, Gore… I want ye to take Hjalmar and Sable into that back area. I think there still be some in there. If this be a full tribe, they’ll be females and little orc runts.”

Arman took an inward breath at what Buna said about the stoneburner becoming Barauk. From what she had just said, Barauk was now the weapon, and the weapon was now Barauk. Did this mean that the soul of Barauk could perhaps redeem itself also? And how would it go about such a thing?

Buna kept talking and she was saying something about the back area. Arman recalled seeing an orc female with a child at one point, and now Buna was talking about them. Arman bit his tongue in trying to stay quiet. It wasn't him that would be going in there, and he was glad of that. Fighting orcs he could handle. Possible defenseless females and children wasn't something that sat well with him. He watched Buna carefully, wondering at her intentions. when she looks up at the two minotaurs, a fierce look in her eyes.

“Alive. I want’em all alive. Hjalmar’s there to keep ye straight on that” Buna says. The gruff paladin bangs his hammer against his battered shield.

Arman let out the breath he didn't know he had been holding, and nodded his head absently, not caring if anyone noticed. For now anyways, it seemed that the issue wouldn't come up.

Arman was soon directed to looking and trying to figure out what happend with Arum where the stoneburner disappeared. Arman could still feel the Weave repairing itself and the after effects of the powerful magic, and was glad he still held onto the staff he picked up from the dead shaman.

He walked over to where the stoneburner had been, the heat from the still hot stone flowing across his skin. He looked to Arum.
"What do you think?"

[Melody]

Sable slipped her goggles back over her eyes as the light from the torches dimmed behind her. Closing her eyes for a moment she listened to Thordrek's faint explanation on magical armor and felt the currents of air on her face. The air was thinner now, burned away by the fire that had bloomed earlier. She forced herself to take slow breaths, slow quiet breaths as her eyes reopen. Black and white bloom where before there had been color, only now the images were crisp and defined without the flickering firelight to throw confusing shadows.

Sable reaches over her shoulder and pulls out a supple leather tube with a heavy lump at one end. With her fingers she checks the surface of the leather for weak spots where the heavy ball at the end might tear through on a forceful downward swing. Satisfied that her sap would serve its purpose she tucks it into her belt and begins making her way deeper in. It had been a long fight, but slowly the fire begins in her stomach and soon all of her aches fade away, each sense sense straining, each step sure. The adrenaline giving her a feeling of invincibility that would probably leave her fatigued later. She hoped there would be time later to rest.

[mshady]

Arman and Arum

Arum trots over to the collapsed stone and squats. The rough looking gnome winces at the effort, as he still bears the significant wounds from his wild charge upon his badger into one of the orc formations to save Hjalmar. His scruffy looking white robe is slick with blood stains. Arum scratches his head as dandruff flakes off as he takes a long look at the area, pondering. The only illumination is the constant, soft cherry glow of the rubble.

Then he curses. In a language Arman does not know. Which is saying something.

“Yeah, what do I think? Frak all them is what I think! That mad beard Arcanii there’s as suicidal as that Barauk fella. Going to get us all killed. Ain’t no Tolrin.”

Arum scoffs and shakes his head, than glances at Carmard to make sure he was not heard.

“Oh, wait! Is the great Elven mage Arman MADERO asking this little old gnome what he thinks just happened? Hah!” Arum laughs and clucks in amusement.

“That Raltise fella went up and grabbed the thing after Buna threw something at it and it disappeared. Enough damn power to make my tum roll over, it is. Now, seeing as yer lily white hands ain’t ever seen a real day’s worth of work at a forge or know forge magic, lemme tell ya something tall & point…”

Arum smirks and takes a step closer than he was to the rubble; the heat intensifies and rivulets of sweat collect upon his brow, but he seems unphased.

“See… this heat ain’t going away, Army. That’s not heat from the Stoneburner doing its thing; it created a weak spot between here ‘nd another Plane. Someplace hot I guess. Elemental Plane o’Fire doesn’t bear think’n of. We find Raltise, it’ll be extra crispy next to a cute little puddle. Lemme show you a trick my Great Uncle Auro showed me…”

Arum snorts, shakes his head and spits on the ground and appears to counts the seconds until it evaporates. He waits a minute and does the same, counting once again.

“See!” Arum shouts with an almost unnerving glee. “Same time. It’s the frakking same time. The heat’s not going away. We’ll be lucky if something that doesn’t like a hole in its neighborhood comes plowing through. See… that’s what happens when you go drilling holes ‘tween here and another Plane like that. Just raw power, no subtlety or class even. May as well ‘ave sent a minotaur charging through a wall!”

Stepping out of the heat, the furious and portly gnome continues.

“Yeah as for where they done gone? No idea. Good chance they’re all dead. All I have for ye, so put yer pointy ears to work” Arum says sarcastically and limps over towards the rubble from a pillar. He sits down and removes his tattered robe and looks at it, a bit bewildered. He sits bare chested; he now bears several shallow axe wounds that raked his chest and nearly separated his arm.

Cursing, he reaches for a flask and drinks from it. It’s effect is fairly immediate; the gnome is quickly becoming intoxicated.

[mshady]

Magnum and Duervar

Standing aside from Arum and Arman is Duervar.

Holding his damaged pick in his hand, the chaotic and brawny ex-miner can only look at the collapse. His armor still bears the marks from several axes and is stained with blood; mostly his own. The heat from where the Stoneburner passed is still a bit too hot without causing blistering. Fatigued and wheezing from lack of air and adrenaline now, he grumbles in frustration.

"What the FRAK am I supposed to do? Oh, Duervar's got a pick. Duervar was a slave miner. Duervar can knock down a wall. It takes HOURS per inch for a bloody team."

He considers walking away and giving up, knowing the futility but he actually like the minotaurs. Deciding it is better to try and fail then anger Carmard, Duervar surveys the stone some more. His pick chips away a small bit of stone and he sighs.

"I'm not a slave anymore, right?" Duervar says to him, his tone bitter. Sighing, he continues to bang away at the stone in a slow but steady pace.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang of the pick echoes throughout the cavern.

Magnum trundles over to where Duervar is working and gets his attention. Knowing what it means, Duervar stands aside and grumbles.

Holding his holy symbol in one hand, Magnum uses it as a focus. Calling out a prayer to Clangeddin, Magnum gestures towards the stone. The spell itself is nearly invisible, so unremarkable in its way. The effect is a little more dramatic as tne stone where Duervar started to work is peeled away and reshaped into a narrow passage.

While a new tunnel, somewhat wide passage is created, it does not open up into the cavern passage; such is the amount of rubble. Before stepping inside to survey the result, Duervar looks up at the ceiling of the newly formed passage and grumbles.

"Going to need to brace all that or it's coming down", Duervar says glumly. "At least that'll save me some time.... I reckon we've about a foot o'hard stone to go here."

[mshady]

Sable, Hjalmar, Kerik and Gore

Sable, Hjalmar and the two minotaurs move towards the passage that was next to the gruesome altar. As the small group walks by, Hjalmar and her can't help but look at the sacrifices they had been unable to prevent. Each rune carved body has an almost husk-like appearance. It is far different then a normal body might appear, so drained of vitality by the ritual. There is little blood at this point as the ice quickly melts away in the heat.

The group moves with all the quiet of a wagon full of pots and pans. The clatter of her heavily armored companions leaves little in the way of surprise as they approach. Hopefully their noise would mask any of her noise however.

"Remember you two, Carmard wants them alive. So they stay that way" Hjalmar says, although his tone is decidely lacking in fervor.

"Remind me why, dwarf knight?" Gore rumbles. The minotaur seems to smile and swishes his sword back and fourth until Kerik thumps him across the chest with a bang of metal on metal.

"Because Carmard gives no bounty for them" Kerik says, clearly distasteful of the task.

Sable peers around the corner with goggles on, ignoring the other three and says a quick prayer no one tries to take her head off when she does.

Looking inside, the passage opens up into a large cave with several passages off to the side. They seem shallow, like living quarters? There's no sound but a cook fire smolders inside and blankets are tossed about. Wood and other debris has been array just ahead of her; a kind of febble barrier.

However feeble it was, there was no way of getting past it quietly as it was too high for her to jump, but perhaps there were other ways.

As she studies the area, Sable seems the head of an orc stick out from around an alcove. It looks every bit as fierce as the ones she just fought, but rather then attacking, it ducks its head back in.

Listening more intently, Sable can hear the clatter of chains rustling for a moment as well.

[Melody]

Sable slipped a scroll out of her belt and read it, the sound of her voice barely louder than the brush of cobwebs on stone. The effect of the scroll was soon apparent as her body dissolved. First her skin became translucent and then her body lost form, the outlines blurred and became a faint mist. Sable stepped through and flowed around the barricade and then moved up to the top of one of the passages. One thing she had learned, people, and hopefully orcs, never looked at the ceiling. The mist crept in.

Used one scroll of gaseous form

[ArmanMadero]

Arman listened to the little gnome rant and rave about the still hot area of stone and shook his head a little bit. He shook it even more when Arum took a drink from a flask, and seemed to be getting inebriated. Arman wondered at the little gnome, but made no move to help yet.

He pondered over what Arum just explained, that he could see for himself as well. So the plane was still slightly open where Ralitse took it with Lythe. And just what plane was it. Arman found a slightly clear spot away from the heat and sat down cross legged. He continued to stare at the area, looking for the Weave, wondering if it was still being pulled in.

Arman is looking to see how strongly the "break" is between the planes. Knowledge Arcana and Concentration. Also, if he can figure out what plane it is.

[bchilders]

Magnum

Hearing Thordrek's request, Magnum makes his way over to his companion and says, "Quite a scrape, eh?" He mutters a few prayers a he looks over Thordrek's wounds.

CLW:[roll0]
CMW:[roll1]

[thorgrim29]

As his worst wounds fade, Thordrek outs his armor back on as he wanders near the place the stoneburner had been. he notices that the heat does not fade, and sits on a rock while he ponders what he knows of portals and planar travel.

Thank you.

hp: [roll0]
knowledge arcana: [roll1]
knowledge history: [roll2]
spellcraft: [roll3]

edit: so... do I take 2, 4, 5 reroll for the level 7 hp?

[King Tius]

Nalrak nods to Duervar "Aye, I'll see what I can find to brace this." He moves off into the cavern, looking for spears and other pieces of wood/support to brace the newly formed passage.

[Katasi]

Arum sighs and goes over to a corner. He whips it out and takes a leak.

[ArmanMadero]

Arman continued his meditation for some moments, his eyes open and sightless as he looked inward to the Weave, following the patterns from the stoneburner. Finally opening his eyes, he blinked a few times to get them moist once again. Getting up, still using the shamans staff, even though he was feeling a little better and less sore as the healing potion he took worked on his battered body, he went over to Carmard.

"I have followed the patterns as best as I could, and from what I know, the stoneburner may have gone to the Plane of Earth. Now, the only reason that I am thinking this, is because it is my belief that if it were the Plane of Fire, it would be much much hotter. However, there are other planes out there, that they could very well be on in the Outlands.

As far as why it still is seeping that much heat into this plane, the rift between them is still there, and its larger than it would normally be considering it just occured. Think of it like water eroding away stone. It takes millenia to form canyons and stuff, something that the stoneburner did in just moments here. For now its stable, but the stability is frail, and it could burst at anytime. Which would turn this cavern, and the area around here, like the plane Barauk went to. Which may bring more surprises in the future should the 'hole' stay open."

Arman looked at Carmard, edging a little closer and speaking more quietly, not wanting to alarm those that were still around. His eyes went a little hard, not wanting to deal with anymore intrigues than he already had for this whole thing. However, he didn't make himself aggressive either. He wanted answers.

"I think Barauk knew where he was going, and I'm wondering if he did for a very good reason. Tell me, did he visit any planes when he was alive?"

[thorgrim29]

Well then, lets keep our guard up shall we? Elementals aren't so aggressive and desperate to come in our plane as demons or devils, but nonetheless one could blunder through, and i don't feel like getting sucker punched by a 15 meters tall pile of dirt myself

[ArmanMadero]

Arman kind of smiles at this point remembering a time when a friend dwarf of his long ago had gotten attacked by what he called a "Dire Branch". His old friend had received a few cracked ribs and some dented armor in the process of losing his dignity and getting a bunch of pine needles in his fine beard.

Arman sobered up a little when he wondered if anything such as this could come through the breach. Still talking low to Carmard, he placed a hand on the Dwarf's shoulder, wondering if the dwarf was in a sort of Reverie.

"Carmard, we need to move soon. Has barauk been to another plane before. One where he may visit again?"

[mshady]

Arman and Carmard

Carmard sturs from his mental turpor and shifts his head in Arman's direction. His cold, gray eyes settle on him. It is a somewhat chilling looking into the eyes of a person of a quiet, dangerous cunning and innocent of morality or concern beyond his goals.Was that really him or who he had to be for this mission?

Sighing at the fact Arman seems intent on an answer when he wanted to only keep his own counsel, he addresses him finally in a quiet, flat tone...

"I see you cannot wait for an answer, elf. Very well, I shall indulge your curiousity about what is intensely dwarf business only because you are already so tangled in it" Carmard says, crossing his arms and pinching his thick lips tightly.

"Barauk travelled amongst the Patriarchate freely for sometime, despite well founded concerns about his loyalty. The Patriarch decided to trust him in hopes he could learn to be trustworthy" Carmard sighs, his tone a bit bitter.

"Yet he tried to kill the Silver Rune, Glorian Silvernail and nearly did so. I broke bread with him many times before. I helped break his body that day and his mind over the weeks hence. I had befriended him. So much for the Patriarch's trust or the Arcanii's trust in it. At least the one who matters. Now I convey him to his end. Fitting. It is who he was though" Carmard shrugs; a more matter-of-fact action of acceptance common to dwarves.

"Yes, he travelled to several Planes and was a powerful mage hungry for knowledge of the outside. Effectively, he knows all that would matter. He has the power to go anywhere and being a psion, of great strength of will. Where he went is irrelevant, as he will go many places now. It is where he is going. A place like Pandemonium, where he can shape an island onto himself through force of will alone? Perhaps. Or a place safe from us? Or perhaps a place safe from him?

I do not KNOW what transpired just now. If he intended to kill us and was disrupted, he will return. If he intended to run, we may never find him. He could go to any of our own holdings and unleash himself; perhaps he already is? Outside of the moment, perhaps he simply chose freedom. Where we find him will tell us much, but we won't know until he tries to kill us. Or not. If Raltise yet lives, it shall be a clue."

Again, Carmard shrugs. Either possability does not seem to phase him overly.

"The amount of power he holds, especially if he yet boils, will leave a trail... even carve a path through the Planes. We must act quickly though, for that kind of power will draw many Outsiders as well. They shalt be drawn to it. All the moths to the flame, yes? If Raz-Petrin yet lives, he will be most keenly aware of it."

Carmard pauses and runs a hand through is short, black beard of wiry, rough hair before speaking again.

"We shall see, as Moradin wills. Now please, leave me be to rewatch the last moments in my mind and recover; the magic I worked took much from me as well as the duel of wills with the Devil. It took more from me than I know yet. I will not be able to join you if we hope to recover him. I am not sammas to him, I think."

Carmard smiled slightly at the irony. Perhaps that was the first smile Arman had yet seen from him.

[mshady]

Carmard and Nalrak

Having ignored Nalrak's question at first to deal with the Elven mage pressing concern. Turning towards Nalrak, Carmard only shrugs. It would seem to be his only reply for a moment, but respond he does.

"Neither Barauk or Raltise may be scryed. They've gone to a different Plane and you cannot scry between the Planes. If we go to where they went, we may know more. Divinations may be of little use either. The more powerful a being, the harder it can be to "see" at times and oracles one can normally consult are less... willing to, for fear of offending the target, yes?"

Carmard frowns deeply and continues.

"The Stoneburner itself is heavily warded against scrying as we; shielded us all really. Wouldn't due to be seen coming. Another reason to leave this Plane. The shaman named the White Dragon; with its name spoken its attention may be drawn here..."

[ArmanMadero]

Arman listened quietly, sad that he had to disturb the dwarf in his musings, but glad he had done so. It had been necessary.

"We shall see, as Moradin wills. Now please, leave me be to rewatch the last moments in my mind and recover; the magic I worked took much from me as well as the duel of wills with the Devil. It took more from me than I know yet. I will not be able to join you if we hope to recover him. I am not sammas to him, I think."

"Sammas?"Carmard let a small smile upon his face. Arman wondered at that, not having seen the dwarf smile before.

"If it were to leave a trail that large. Could say, a dragon be following it?" Arman looked around, wondering really how much time they had. Dragons were magical in and of themselves. A burst of energy like what had just happened, would have been felt. Arman knew he was still sore from it. But if the dragon could sense the trail, and the shaman had already spoken its name...

"We should grab what we can and leave soon. We should also find a spot to rest. Going after them in the condition that we are in, would not be wise. However, we may lose the trail if we do. What shall we do?" Arman waited, aside from what Carmard thought, he was a patient elf, but then again, he wasn't up to facing a dragon quite yet.

[Tharar_Greenleaf]

Kelith

Content to just listening for the time being Kelith finally remarks once Carmad is done with his tale.

"Rest is something we could all use. Plus, if this trail is as big as it's said to be I'm sure a nights rest won't be enough to cover its tracks.

You are right Arman, that dragon should certainly know something is up by the power emitted from the stoneburner, we must leave this place. What I'm most worried about now is that dragon, and anything else that might be living in here while we rest.

[thorgrim29]

from what little I know of planar travel, time is just about as relative as space, so I,m all for a good night's rest myself.[/COLOR]

[mshady]

Buna, Kelith, Johanssen, Bundok and Grathalmor

Kelith, Buna and the rest of the party move into the interior of the cavern and site of the recently concluded battle.

The area is filled with the bodies of the fallen, slick with blood and the smell itself was already starting to become overwhelming. Some smolder from the barrage of fireballs, others are in various states of integrity. Quite a few are missing heads, thanks to Kerik and Gore’s bounty hunting.

Buna surveys the grizzly seen and places her hands on her hips.

“Frak” she says quietly. “We’re good. I cannae believe we all survived that…”
Shaking her head, she wades into the mess.

For the first time, the party members get a chance to get a close look at the orcs. They are clearly orcs, but far more bestial, savage and more compact then anything most had likely encountered before. Their heads are thick and knobbed with bone but also square, not unlike a dwarf’s actually although that is where the resemblance ended. Their skin was scaly and hard and teeth sharp and tearing. They all bore remarkably similar equipment as well, not just in type but make as well.

Squatting down, Buna pokes at one with her short sword and grunts when she observes this.

"Standardization here be way too close for these to manage… Who the hell are they?” she says, troubled but curious by the question. “Obviously allied with the dragon; reckon they guarded this approach. Some kind’o devil worshipping orc cult?”

Short sword in hand and poised to finish off the creature if it moved, Buna undoes the straps on the orc’s armor and folds it back after some trouble to reveal the creature’s barrel chest and scales.

“Some kind’o half orc but half o’what? Half devil, I’d guess… recently too, they be breeding very true. Just a generation removed. Ain’t heard o’them before. Johanssen! Come take a look. Any idea what in the Hells these orcs are?”

Scratching her head, Buna looks around at the carnage and sighs.

“See if any be alive, we’d like a few to chat with Berronar preserve me for saying that.”

The group includes Buna, Kelith and Grathalmor, which leaves any of the healing really to Kelith.

Five orcs are still found alive, but barely. The Stoneburner had been enough to kill most of the crippled so pickings were few. Each requires only a minimal amount of healing (a cure light wounds or equivalent) to keep alive at this point.

Heal or finish them?

[mshady]

Sable, Grathalmor, Gore and Kerik

Sable dissolves herself quietly into a mist with her spell. Her essence floats towards the top of the chamber and over the makeshift barricade. She hopes no one notices the mist or can figure out what it is, but she seriously doubted any of the orcs would be able to determine the threat.

Her life probably depended on that.

The chamber is fairly large. It is clearly what she suspected it to be now; living quarters. There are 20 small chambers carved out along the sides of the cavern, like spokes on a wheel. Curtains of furs hang over many of them. Pressing herself against the ceiling and thinning the cloud of gas, she rolls towards a corner alcove and looks into it. On the other side of the furs cowers a female orc, who appears very similar in nature to the orcs the group just thought but lacking any of the ferociousness; it was probably there but she was not sure why they cowered inside. Looking more closely, however, she can see it clutches a bundle to itself. Orc children?

Moving through the alcoves, she sees similar scenes of orcs accompanied by one or more children. Some of the orcs do hold weapons. Towards the rear, Sable spies something else entirely. Next, she spies a much larger, square chamber that has numerous dug out areas and runs at least a couple hundred feet in length. This is clearly a barracks area; it is filled with sleeping furs, fresh fires, cookware racks of crude weapons.

Sable tries to keep a mental note of the time she had left with the spell as she explores the area. Towards the far back is another chamber, with a real door on it. The sigils on the door mark it as perhaps the shaman’s quarters. As she rolls back towards the exit, she hears the rattling of chains again. Moving backwards again, she looks around once again to find an alcove she overlooked. It is far deeper than she expected.

Inside, she spies two small figures and an animal. A bear actually. All are heavily chained, gagged and blindfolded. The work looks very hasty. Only one is consciousness, but he does not see the unusual gas either.

Sable slides back into the chamber to think about her course of action here…

[loopy]

Johannes

"Its Johannes." He wanders over, adjusting his spectacles while he looks at the crippled orcs. Kneeling down and muttering a benediction to three of the orcs, he examines the fallen while watching the wounds knit.

Knowledge Arcana: [roll0]
Knowledge Religion: [roll1]

((I don't have the rules of Opportunistic Piety on hand, but it is at least equivalent to a CLW potion))

EDIT: Wow... bad rolls.

[mshady]

"Sammas means friend. I am not that to him." Carmard says quietly.

Carmard walks over towards the rubble left over by the Stoneburner and stares at the heat glazed rock as a constant heat pours out from it. He holds his position for a moment, than steps back.

"Yes, the dragon will sense something if he was close. The power was nowhere near a full release. His attention was drawn be drawn here though, eh?"

Carmard strokes his beard and looks down at his feet. They soles of his boots smoke upon the hot floor.

"I doubt not the Wyrm's curiosity. He may come here and a powerful aura he will find. Here. But it is not here, now is it? So we must not be either."

Carmard looks around and walks away from the rubble.

"We have a little time here" he declares. "No time to rest or recover fully. We have to get to the other side beforehand. Or some of us. Some will have to go ahead to the rendezvous, so they will not leave when we do not arrive. It will also give the dragon's forces something to chase... if it comes to that."

Carmard frowns again.

"We'll have to split up."

[thorgrim29]

It,s your call sir, I've always wanted to go plane hopping, but my team and I are more then up for a bit of cross country if you want us to