Resting and healing
Subject Resting
OOC: Coming from beautiful Charleston WV.
Mark, Harp will ask Ragnar about how he came to the Order while they rest. Just trying to get some of his backstory out. This probably would have happened on the trip to this site, but I never got around to it.
Talk to you guys later.
From: Porter
Subject Resting
Mund pulls out his lute and starts singing some songs of his childhood.
From: Mark
Subject Resting
They were belutetiful.
From: Jason
Subject Resting
As soon as Ragnar realizes what Mund intends, he starts spilling his entire life story to the whole group as loudly as possible.
From: Jason
Subject Resting
Ragnar nods aquiesence to Harp's command to heal Mund and Ran using the scrolls they've been provided. Since he had two scrolls on hand in case of emergency in the last battle, he immediately gets up and walks over to Mund. Pulling out the scroll, he says "You're clearly still hurt from our first encounter. While I cannot restore you to full health, this should at least ease most of the pain and help you sleep this night." He then uses a scroll of CSW (ooc: I'm pretty sure they're CSW, but my character sheet said CMW. Do you remember which they are? Let me know and I'll update my sheet accordingly.) IC: He does the same for Ran, as well as using his 5 0 -level blessings to cure what he can for whoever is most injured.
When he finishes, Harp approaches him and says "I'm pleased your order sent you with us. Your skills and your faith have served Heironeous well in this quest. How did you come to join the order?"
Ragnar, who had been frowning at Ran, wishing he could do more. Upon hearing Harp's question, he smiles with amusement. "There aren't too many dwarves in the service of Heironeous are there? Nor are there many in Gort from so far away as myself. Well, if there's any one responsible for where I am today, its Heironeous. But if there are two," he turns to look again at Ran, "the second would have to be your father, Ranthir."
Ragnar's past
Subject Ragnar's past
ooc/So, I'm not cutting my post off here because I think its like dramatic or anything. I'm hoping others might become involved in the roleplay.
From: Porter
Subject Ragnar's past
Mund puts down his lute and pipes in asking Ran "Hey, isn't your pa some wort of big shot back in the city?"
From: Kevin
Subject Ragnar's past
Harp, knowing something of Ranthirs background from the time he had spent with him earlier, waits to see how his friend responds.
He is also curiuos as to how Ran's father is involved in Ragnar's story.
OOC: Last night in Richmond, VA. Heading to Philly tomorrow. Will not be able to check e-mail until late afternoon.
Ranthir's father
Subject Ranthir's father
Ranthir looks up at the mention of his father. He doesn't remember ever hearing of Ragnar before this mission but he had not really paid attention to his father's life or anything he had said since his mother died. There seemed to be an opportunity here to learn some of what he may have missed.
"Ragnar, if I may ask, how do you know my father and how was he involved in your joining the order?"
From: Mark
Subject Healing
I am fairly sure that the party was given 10 potions of Cure Light Wounds and 10 scrolls of Cure Moderate Wounds. The CLW heal 1D8+3 and the scrolls heal 2D8+3.
From: Jason
Subject Ranthir's father
"He is indeed a 'big shot' back in the city, though I certainly didn't know that at the time. This was several years ago, when my mother and I were living in a small village in the Wildlands. The entire village came down with a deadly illness in just a few days. A couple of elderly men and several infants had already died... everyone was sick...
One morning Sir Corrin rode into town, just travelling through on the road. We'd put up signs warning travellers away, but he ignored them and came straight in and started helping the people. His own quest was of great importance, but he stayed with us an entire week, healing everyone that got sick, comforting those who had lost family... He never spoke an impatient word; only later did I learn what an important journey he was on, and how respected he was in the city. Before he finally continued on his way, he made it possible for my mother and I to return to our ancestral home in the mountains of the far reaches. We'd dreamed of doing that, but were never able to. He also left us a short letter, enabling us to receive help in any temple of Heironeous we passed. I later used that letter to help convince the elders in the temple at Gort to accept me in the order, in spite of my age.
"Your father is a truly inspiring man, and after only a few years, I realized that I wanted to dedicate myself to the same vision he had. Heironeous does not have many dwarven followers, but I've never regretted my choice."
From: Derek
Subject Ranthir's father
Allistair raises an eye from his studies as he hears Ranthir mention his father. Allistair knew from his time living among the elves that half-elven were often touchy about one or both of their parents. Allistiar didn't know much about Ran's past, but he had gathered that Ran was raised elven and had been estranged from his father for much of his life.
Well, whatever Ran's feelings were, at least he always seemed to be very tactful about it. Tact was something that Allistair felt they could use a bit more of, remembering some of the earlier arguments between Kal and his brother. These recent battles and brushes with death had seemed to mellow both of them out a bit, though.
After Allistair finishes memorizing some of his spells, he takes a short break and goes over to talk to his brother. He looks around to make sure that Kal is out of earshot. (no point in stirring up a hornet's nest) "Mund, you mentioned earlier about you having lived with orcs for a while. How did that happen? And wasn't it dangerous for you? Whatever a person's feelings about orcs may be, generally orcs don't care for the company of humans too much."
Mund's history, resting
Subject Mund's history
"Everybody says that orcs don't like humans. From what I've seen, though, it's humans that don't like orcs. Treat an orc like folk, and chances are he'll treat you like folk."
"Especially if he knows that you'll crack his head if he doesn't," Mund adds with a savage grin.
"There were a few orcs that hung out at the Pregnant Whore -- do you remember that tavern? Anyway, I hung out with with them despite Mom and Dad's objections. I must have looked like a pretty silly kid trying to out-orc the orcs, but they took it in good humor."
"I helped them out a few times against some elven raiders, and impressed them enough that I and ended up joining their band. I didn't have the brains to go to some big-city university like you did, brother. These axes", he says as he flexes his biceps, "and those orcs were my ticket out of that hole we grew up in. If it weren't for them, I'd probably still be there, scratching the dirt and dying of some plague."
Mund smiles wistfully as he remembers good times. "So I left home and lived with the orcs for about five years. It was a great time for me. I learned whatever anybody would teach me -- running, weapons, boxing, and summoning the spirit of the great Bear-Totem."
"I guess the wandering bug bit me, and about two years ago I left the band. While traveling on my own, I, well, I met Quarion. He's been hiring me for odd jobs here and there ever since. And that's how I got stuck in this unnatural place," Mund says with a grimace.
From: Mark
Subject Turn
I will write something up later tonight.
From: Mark
Subject Resting
The party settles down for another days rest. Stories are told, songs are sung, gear is repaired, wounds are healed. Ragnar pulls out the scrolls from his back pack and moves around the party, checking for wounds. He uses one on Kal (heal 9), two on Mund (heal 17) and two on Ranthir (heal 27). Looking everyone over, the cleric decides to use his most basic healing prayers on Mund, who still has some burn marks on his arms.( Heal 5) (Jason mark off 5 of the scrolls of CMW.)
Harp sets up the usual schedule. The party uses one of the earlier rooms as an outhouse, hoping that they will not have to spend a whole lot more time in the testing grounds. Surin and Salix break out the rations and cook a couple of meals for the companions, Surin showing an amazing grasp of how to use some of the herbs and spices that Salix keeps on him.
As they talk and time passes, Allistair brings up a point. "You know, we now have 8 of the 11 keys, if I read that inscription right. Only three more rooms to go. They have been getting more difficult. Remember the ogre in the first room? That seems so long ago."
OODM: If any one wants to do any more role playing please go ahead. Otherwise I will write something up tomorrow afternoon.
Elementary my Dear Mund
Subject Elementary my dear Mund
The night passes, faster for some then for others. Watches are kept, stories told, meals are eaten, weapons and armor mended. Both Mund and Salix seem to have an internal clock that lets them keep track of time, at least a general idea of what time it would be if they could see the sun and if they were even back on Kelavan. When it comes time for the entire party to wake, Harp calls every one to attention.
"From my talking to Mund, Salix, Ragnar and Allistair, we think it likely that we may be facing some sort of elemental beings. I know nothing about them and the others do not know much more. We are split on certain things. For example, would a water creature be more or less vulnerable to fire? I would think more but something could be said for the other way. I think we learned from those fire breathing dogs and things that use fire may not be damaged by it. So my question is, how do we want to proceed with these two rooms? Obviously one at a time, but which one first? I know that several of us have ways of protecting people from the effects of fire and heat. Salix, do you know of any way to protect people from the effects of water?" Harp looks at the group, looking for suggestions.
OODM: OK discuss.
From: Porter
Subject Elementary my dear Mund
"OK. I've got some questions."
"Would these "'mentals" be damaged by normal weapons, or only by magic? If I tried to wrassle with one of them, would it burn or drown me?"
From: Karl
Subject Elementary
I just updated my spell list. I'm going to have to ask you to trust me that I wanted to memorize "Water Breathing" and "Endure Elements" before reading the turn below. It's true, seriously.
From: Mark
Subject Elementary
Not a problem. I actually wanted this discussion to take place before spells are memorized/prayers are prayed for. This was Harp's planning meeting on how/what to prepare.
From: Ashley
Subject Elementary
"Any innkeeper's wife can tell you that water makes quick work of fire most times. Using water against a fire creature seems the easiest choice, but I wouldn't put it past a magical creature to not work diffrently. Mund has a point about magical weapons -- those that's got 'em should probably use 'em, and get as much an edge as we can. I didn't get a good look at the layout of the rooms, but you think someone might be able to get invisible like before and sneak around to do damage from behind?"
Surin is mostly throwing ideas out, but if the invisibility idea flies, he'll volunteer in place of the big, noisy, non-sneaky Mund. It might not work in practice because of the invisibility-not-working-if-you-attack-someone thing.
From: Porter
Subject Elementary
OOC: Invisibility works *until* you attack, so you'd probably get one good backstab.
Unless these creatures can see invisible. Which I wouldn't put past them. <_<
From: Mark
Subject Elementary
This is what is called a learning experience. At the school of hard knocks. :)
From: Karl
Subject Elementary
Salix listens to the discussion with interest. Finally he speaks up. "Do we even have any confirmation that there *are* creatures to fight in these rooms? Do we *know* more than that one room is very hot and the other is full of water? Isn't it possible that the test here is to simply get past the water and fire and find the key hidden somewhere in there?
"It would of course be foolish to proceed without being prepared for a fight, but maybe there is a way we can avoid fighting. I have a prayer that will grant the protection of Obad-Hai to one of my choosing who would then be able to endure fire or ice for a day. Perhaps one of us could be blessed in this way and be granted the invisibility that Allistair so remarkably conjures, and search the hot room for the key. If he sees an elemental or other creature, he can retreat and tell us, or perhaps lure it out for us to fight in the common room.
"As for the water room, Obad-Hai can lend the gift of breathing under water. This gift I can grant on any of our numbers or all of us, but the more to whom it is granted, the shorter the duration of the gift. But even if all of us are so blessed, we should have over an hour to search the water room. Granted, invisibility won't help there if we leave a void in the water where we stand."
From: Karl
Subject Elementary
Salix adds "I should mention that the protection from elements is only for environmental protection. If there is another fire-dog, for instance, his breath will still hurt you even with this protect of which I speak."
From: Derek
Subject Elementary
Allistair speaks up again. "If these are indeed elementals, which Salix is prudent to point out has not been entirely established yet, but if they indeed are, I do remember learning a few things about such creatures from other planes in my studies."
"Due to thier extraplanar nature, elementals are generally more difficult to hurt than ordinary creatures. So Mund will want to be careful because there is a strong possibility that his non-magical weapon may not be able to harm them. Also any elemental will be immune to attacks from its own element, so it is safe to say that if there is a fire elemental in the fire room that my fireballs will not effect it. However, a fireball should have full effect on a water elemental."
"Also, elementals often employ some kind of special attack based on thier element. A fire elemental might throw fire around, or a water elemental might try and pull you underwater to drown you, etc."
"From what we saw before, if there are indeed elementals in those rooms, simply opening the door didn't seem to provoke them in any way. Nor did Mund actually stepping in the water room have any effect. After shooting a fireball into the water room and closing it, a huge wave crashed against the door, which could have been the water elemental reacting, or could have just been a wave created by the explosion."
"Based on this, I suggest that we all go into the room, open the water door, and then stand back while I throw fireballs into the open door. If there is a water elemental in the room, and if it then rushes out and attacks us, that is to our advantage, because a water elemental would probably want to stay in the pool of water where it could use the environment to it's greatest advantage. So if it rushes out and attacks us, we fight it and defeat it. If it for some reason cannot or will not leave the room, then I'll use all my fireballs on it first to soften it up before we charge in to destroy it."
"Once the water room is clear, then we can try a similar approach on the fire room, only I won't have any 'water balls' to throw at it. I could just shoot a magic missile in there, or we could throw a bucketful of water from the water room in."
From: Porter
Subject Elementary
"Can anybody magick up my axe so that it can hurt these guys?"
From: Jason
Subject Elementary
You can count on it! Ragnar plans to ask for at least 2 magic weapon blessings tomorrow.
From: Kevin
Subject Elementary
Sorry, long day getting to Boston. Mark, take what liberties you need with Harp. He will pray for what ever prayers will benefit the group the most, and will be VERY willing to be in the front line with his magic sword.
From: Derek
Subject Elementary
OOC: Clarification on the elementals. I misunderstood what 'damage reduction' meant.
IC: Allistair clarifies that normal weapons will also be able to harm an elemental, but any attack must be of sufficient damage or it will just be absorbed without effect.
Planning
Subject Planing
Kal aproaches Ragnar:
"I think it would be a good idea if we coordinated spells. My strengths lie in offensive spells, I am accustomed to having elvish preists around to handle defensive and healing spells. What sort of powers does your God grant you?"
From: Mark
Subject Planning
Any other planing? Or do you want me to write something up for Harp?
From: Randy
Subject Planning
Ranthir is in favor of trying the water room plan first. Chuck a fireball in with the door open and see what happens. If nothing happens, he will volunteer to enter the water first.
From: Kevin
Subject Planning
Harp agrees - water room first with fireball and Sailx's little fire ball if needed. Mund, Ran, and Harp at the front, with whatever protection spells they need.
OOC: Does Salix have the ability to call on a small thunderstorm? I know he can call lightning, but can he make it rain? That might be usefull against the fire when the time comes. Or maybe something cold - I assume that Salix and Allistair have stated all that they "know" or assume about elementals.
From: Karl
Subject Planning
Salix cannot call rain. He can only call lightening. It's energy, so it ought to damage both water and fire elementals if we encounter one.
Ready to go
Subject ready to go
Harp looks around the group. "Are we settled then? We go after the water room first. Allistair starts off with another fireball and Ranthir and Mund will then enter the room. Ragnar will have blessed their weapons. Ragnar and I will wait at the door as a reserve. Salix will have given them the water breathing blessing, just in case. Am I missing anything?"
From: Josh
Subject Ready to go
"What do you want me to do?"
From: Karl
Subject Ready to go
Salix can give the water breath blessing to both of them, or everyone. The duration of that spell is 2 hours per level divided by the number of people blessed. I don't think we'll need the blessing for a whole hour, do you?
From: Mark
Subject Ready to go
Harp thinks for a moment. "Mund, the room looked to only be 30X30, right?"
Mund nods."Yep, they both looked to be the same size."
"Let's put it on the three of us who might go in then Salix."
"Kal, you stay back here and keep an eye on this other door. If this is a trap of some sort, your job is to stop whatever comes from that door. Got it?"
Kevin back
Subject Game
Ok Kevin is back in town. I will write up the next room tomorrow. I will try and get the party through the rest of the dungeon before the end of May. :)
From: Kevin
Subject Game
Mark, don't know if it is too late, but Harp will have been more focused on protection from fire spells than water spells. He feels pretty confident that between Salix and Alistair, they can beat the water thing, but the fire thing scares him, alot.
After the fight, the alter
Subject After the fight
Salix will do as Harp orders regarding searching the room, using all pertinent skills to help find the last key or any secret doors or such.
At some point when Harp isn't otherwise preoccupied, Salix will approach him quietly and say:
"I must admit that when the door was flung open and I knew we'd have to face all those trolls without being able to close the door and prepare fresh prayers, I thought we were dead for sure. As you can see, those were definitely not creatures to be trifled with. My first instinct was to try to run to the previous door and shut them inside. But you kept your cool and through your leadership we were able to keep them contained. We didn't have to fight them all at once, or run and re-group. Now they are dead and we are all alive. You led well, Harp."
From: Mark
Subject After the fight
Where is that butt kissing emoticon when you need it? ;)
From: Mark
Subject Mund
I think his brother is having a moderating influence on him.
From: Kevin
Subject After the fight
Harp watches with relief as Mund and Ran cut down the final troll, dispatching it to whatever hell is would suffer in. Two of their group had almost lost their lives in this encounter, and had it not been for Ragnar, Kal and Ran would surely have died from their wounds. Even Harp was feeling somewhat worse for wear after fighting those things. Harp heads over to the doorway, and starts clearing body parts out of the way so the rest of the group could more easily make it into the next room. As he finishes the work, he says to Surin " OK, my friend, your turn. Go take a look in there and see what you can find. Salix, will you and Allistair help him?"
"Ragnar, lets you and I take a look at Kal. He still seems a bit out of it. Ran, would you and Mund search those troll bodies. I doubt they have anything worth anything, but we have to look."
OOC: Harp will sacrafice a 2nd level for cure wounds of the same level if needed. Mark, I assume someone has succeeded in their spot checks to see the brown thing in the middle of the room.
From: Mark
Subject After the fight
Believe it or not eveyone failed their DC5 spot check and not a single person sees the very large wooden alter in the middle of the room. :)
I will write up something at lunch time.
From: Kevin
Subject After the fight
Can Harp make a listen check to see if he can hear the altar?
Let me know how he rolls.
From: Derek
Subject After the fight
Mund is still excited from the heat of the battle. He punts one of the severed heads across the room, and then wipes the green blood off his axe. "Now THAT was a battle! That golug got in the way, but those things showed him how stupid that was even better than I could have done."
Mund then turns to Ran as they start inspecting the bodies of the trolls (OOC they're not clothed or anything, right? Nothing to search on them, is there?) "Doesn't look like these guys have much besides they're appetites. You wanna cut one open and see if it has anything in it's stomach?"
Allistair follows the rest of the group into the room, carefully stepping over the pile of troll bodies in the doorway. He first examines the wooden altar in the center of the room.
From: Mark
Subject The alter
As tensions ease the rest of the party enters the room, stepping gingerly over the headless forms of the trolls. Allistair jumps when a hand twitches a little, but a more careful look shows that it is just left over death spasms. Harp, starting to clear the bodies out of the door way, starts organizing things. "Surin, your turn. Take a look around. Salix and Allistair, give him a hand. Don't touch anything yet, but see if you can find the key. Ragnar, let's you and I take a look at Kal. He still seems a bit out of it. Ranthir and Mund, would you search the trolls. I doubt you will find much, but we have to look."
A few minutes later the trolls are moved out of the way. "Not even clothes or food on them" Mund reports. "No key visible" is Surin's report. He looks at Allistair and the mage speaks up "However, the large wooden alter in the middle of the room is a likely place to look. That thing is huge." The alter in question looks to be made of some odd wood and is 10 feet wide by 20 feet long. It is intricately carved and parts of it stand over 15 feet high. Surin looks up at Harp. "Let me guess. Time for the little guy to go first?" he say with a smile.
From: Kevin
Subject The alter
"Unless you want Ragnar or me to look first?" Harp says with a smile. "But, maybe we should have Allistair see if ther is anything unusuall about this thing. Allistair, do you have the ability to see if that thing is magical or normal?"
OOC: Harp knows that this whole place radiates magic, but is hopeful that Allistair will be able to get a reading on the alter specifically.
From: Kevin
Subject The alter
OOC: Also, Mark, does any one recognize any of the carving on the alter, or is it just indeterminate decorative carving (i.e. no obvious religious item showing)?
From: Derek
Subject The alter
Allistair is willing to use a detect magic to see what he can on the altar.
From: Mark
Subject The alter
No one has gotten close enough yet to check out the fine detail work, but there are no large religious symbols that anyone recognizes.
From: Derek
Subject The alter
Is there any kind of writing or script in the carvings?
From: Mark
Subject The alter
Again no one has gotten within 5 feet or so yet. There is no obvious large writing or script.
From: Mark
Subject The alter
Allistair wants to take a closer look at the altar. "Do you think it's alright if I take a closer look, or do you want Surin to check it out first?"
Allistair also asks his familiar if he can smell (or otherwise sense) anything strange in here besides the troll corpses.
From: Mark
Subject The alter
The little snake slithers out of the mage's robes and wraps itself around his wrist. Tongue flicking back and forth, it hisses at Allistair and then returns the the warm folds of the robe.
From: Derek
Subject The alter
Allistair shakes his head. "He doesn't sense anything specific, just the magic of this whole place. Sysyphys also thinks the trolls smell yucky. I agree with him."
From: Kevin
Subject The alter
"Go ahead and look , but don't get too close. I want Surin to take a look for any traps before any of use get too close."
From: Kevin
Subject The alter
Harp laughs at the comment from the small snake. "Tell him they did not feel too good, either. They won't be botherin us any more."
From: Jason
Subject After the fight
ooc/
A: 43/48
H: 26/58
K: 13/37
M: 45/59
Rg: 45/47
Rn: 46/53
Sx: 26/39
Sn: 27/27
/ooc
Ragnar looks up from his work just in time to see Ran finishing up the other troll in the same manner. Almost eagerly he looks around for more foes, and is almost disappointed to see there are none left. Truly this day he had demonstrated the might of Heironeous and his people. The adrenaline pumps through his veins, and he nearly misses Harp's order to join him in seeing to Kal. Still, he does not look to Kal immediately; the foolish elf may have jumped in where Ragnar himself would have been better suited, but the he was already safe from any serious danger through the grace of Heironeous. Instead he quickly scans all his companions for injuries, taking note of the most injured. He notes that Harp himself seems to be the worst off of all his companions. He then follows Harp's lead in seeing to those wounds, insisting however that Harp allow him to heal him as soon as he has finished with Kal.
/ooc Ragnar will follow Harp's lead for healing, but he'll at least insist on a CSW (Searing Light) for Harp and CMW (Spirit Weapon) on Mund (assuming also that Harp casts his CMW on Kal.)
From: Kevin
Subject After the fight
Harp agrees with Ragnar's suggestion (including sacraficing his 2nd level for a CMW on Kal. Harp will be hesitant about Ragnar sacraficing another 3rd level on him. He would rather save that grace until they have a better idea of what is left in this room. He will, however, give in if Ragnar pulls rank within the Order. Harp may be the lead on this mission, but Ragnar is of a higher rank within the Order.
From: Jason
Subject After the fight
Honestly, "pulling rank" wouldn't even occur to Ragnar in this situation. He'll be as insistent and as persuasive as he can, but if Harp tells him to wait, then he'll do it.
From: Mark
Subject The alter
I just realized that I did not state the obvious.
No key was found in the general search of the room.
From: Kevin
Subject The alter
If that is the case, Harp will have Surin search around the alter for traps, then let Allistair and whomever else wants to examine it do so. He will then ask Surin to serach the angle wall for any secret doors, allowing him to take his time.
Fire and Water
Subject Turn
Just update your spell list. No action has taken place yet.
This is true for all spell casters. Update your list on Sakeriver.
From: Josh
Subject Turn
Mine's updated.
From: Mark
Subject Fire and Water
Allistair nods at Harp's command and the party moves towards the door. As they go the mage gives the others warning. "I am going to center my spell on the fountain in the middle. That should cover the entire room. In fact there is a distinct possibility of fire coming out of the door. I would suggest standing to either side so that you are not affected by it. Ragnar and Salix chant their prayers. When Salix is done the air seems a bit dryer to the two. When Ragnar is done both Ranthir's sword and Mund's axe glow with a dim light. "You sure that godspoke stuff worked?" Mund asks. "It don't feel no different." Ragnar nods and says "Move quickly now, the blessing will not last more than a few minutes.
Ran and Mund stand next to the door and Allistair stands several feet back from the door. At his signal Mund grabs the latch and throws open the door. Allistair completes his spell and the party sees the familiar sight of a burning ember flying through the air. A second later there is a silent detonation. Fire spews out of the door a good 5-6 feet, almost reaching to where the magic user was standing. As soon as the flames recede Mund and Ranthir rush into the room. Their feet splashing in foot deep water, they stop just inside the door, seeing a 10 foot high wall of water form just the other side of the fountain in the middle. The water at their feet pulls back until it is only a few inches deep.
Initiative: Mund (15), Ranthir (14), Creature (9)
I need round 1 actions.
From: Josh
Subject Round 1 actions
Kal stands by guarding the other door, Idly wondering to himself why we're only sending in two people instead of the whole party.
From: Porter
Subject Round 1 actions
OK, what am I seeing in that map? What's the square, and what's the circle?