What's in the barn, plans and quiet
Subject Turn
I will try and get something out today. I am supposed to get a new computer at work today but I do not know when they are going to be in the office to install it. It is a cheapy $300 unit but still miles ahead of the 6/7 year old model I am using now. Old machine 56MB of ram, new machine 512MB of ram. etc. Windows 98 to XP, AMD K6 processor to I don't know what but it has to be better. Most of the drivers are from 1999. 2 USB 1.0 ports to 6 USB 2.0 ports. 2GB HD to a 40 GB HD.
From: Mark
Subject What's in the barn
As Harp, Ran and Mund subdue the two guards Salix gets up, issuing orders. "Kal, watch the doors, Ragnar and Surin, look around the barn. Make sure we're alone and see what you can find. Ally; see what you can find out from those two. Find out if they know where Acer is and what this Faldor character looks like. Harp and Mund, keep a tight grip on those two; no noise from them. Ran, help people get their gear on and ready. We've done well so far, let's see how long our luck will hold out." The others spring into action, glad to have something to do.
Mund shows Harp how to put a sleeper hold on Hanz. Mund then moves Franz over to a more secluded spot where Ally is sitting. Ally tosses some water from a bucket on Franz's face and the man sputters a bit before Mund starts to apply his hold. Allistair kneels next to him and talks quietly to him. "Franz, I'm going to ask you a few questions, and you will have a choice whether to answer them. If you cooperate and answer quickly and truthfully, we'll just gag you and tie you up until someone finds you. If you do not cooperate, we will simply kill you. I have neither the time nor inclination to be overly merciful to servants of Nerul. And the guy holding you? He'd just rather kill you anyway and be done with it. So if you and Hanz have any desire or intention to live beyond the next 5 minutes, it would be in your best interest to be cooperative. Now, let's begin."
Ally starts asking questions with his brother applying pressure when the mage signals. Several minutes later Ally nods and Mund chokes the man until he passes out. Surin is right there with some rope to tie him up. The barbarian then lugs him over to where Hanz is also trussed up on the ground. The two report to Salix.
"It seems" Ally starts "that there are actually two ceremonies tonight. The barbarians are involved with the first one. It starts an hour before mid night. The second ceremony starts several hours after midnight. It seems Acer is to be used in the second ceremony. The guy said that there are hundreds of guards but I think he was exaggerating. He did say that the guards almost never enter the temple, only Faldor and his acolytes go in there. There is a complex of rooms under the temple where most of the clerics live and work. The captives are kept there."
Surin pipes up at the mention of this. "We found a lift over in a room on the east side. It goes down a ways. Not sure what's down there, but I would guess some type of tunnel. Bet it goes to that complex." Ally nods "That would make sense. He said he has only seen Faldor once, from a distance. Says the guy is tall, bald and gaunt. He has lots of tattoos. He said most of the top side guards were equipped like he and Hanz, swords, leather, small shields, etc. Nothing too fancy. He has no idea about the temple people."
As Ally is talking the others are distributing the potions they got from the Mockers. Even Kal is keeping an ear on things. Surin shows the others the lift. It is a rope and pulley system that can handle 10 or so people at one time. Harp and Ragnar both look over the edge. "Goes down about 40 feet" Ragnar says. "There is some type of rail system at the bottom. I would have to get closer to tell anymore."
OODM: OK now what.
From: Derek
Subject Whats in the barn
"Is there anything we can do to help the tribes? You could say their greed and gullibility is their own undoing, but I can't help but think they are simply pawns that are being manipulated by Faldor. On the other hand, while everyone is busy at the first ceremony is the perfect time to rescue Acer..."
From: Porter
Subject What's in the barn
"Yeah, that's been bothering me too. We could go and rescue Acer and hope that that stops both ceremonies, but I dunno."
From: Kevin
Subject What's in the barn
OOC: Mark, was Ally able to determine if there is any type of pass the guards were wearing or if there is a password of any type?
If we forgot to ask abou it, our bad.
From: Kevin
Subject What's in the barn
OOC: Mark, what time is it now as compared to when the first ceremony is supposed to happen?
From: Mark
Subject What's in the barn
There did not seem to be a pass, but the guards are wearing a type of tabbard over their armor. It has a crest on it.
From: Mark
Subject What's in the barn
It is early evening, just past 6PM. It will be getting dark in an hour or so.
From: Derek
Subject What's in the barn
Allistair thinks out loud. "If I could just get close enough to fire one fireball into the middle of the ceremony, I can guarantee that it would put an abrupt stop to it. I could fire a fireball while hidden behind cover, and then hide in a rope trick for a couple of hours. Or I could even combine it with invisiblity and be completely hidden until I can hide inside a rope trick. If just Mund and I went, we could do that while the rest of you rescue Acer."
From: Kevin
Subject What's in the barn
Can't you cast the spell from the rope trick? I though the description allowed for that?
From: Kevin
Subject What's in the barn
Does anyone have any comments? Or do we just want to divide them as shown below.
From: Porter
Subject What's in the barn
"That's not a bad idea, but I'd sure like to give those clans a chance to stop this. I hate the idea of that bastard tricking the northern tribes."
"I still have half a mind to go talk to their chieftains. If we did that, and it turned ugly, could you magick us out of there?"
From: Derek
Subject What's in the barn
No spells can cross the window of the Rope Trick, even when it is open. However, Allistair does have improved invisiblity and a feat that allows him to hit the 'pause button' (as it were) while using regular invisibility, cast a spell or attack, and then resume the invisibility.
From: Derek
Subject What's in the barn
Allistair thinks for a moment. "I have enough magical strength to turn us both invisible, which would last about seven minutes - certainly enough time for us to get away and hide somewhere. If things get really bad one of us can fly away, but not both of us. I don't have the sufficient power for that right now, as I instead chose to be able to use two fireballs. "
From: Kevin
Subject plans
Salix listens to Mund and Allistair talk about saving the tribes. He understood their concern, but he had a more important purpose.
"The meeting with the clans is still a few hours away. If we can stop Faldor before then, the clans will come to no hurt. Lets take a look down this tunnel and see what we can find."
OOC: Mark, will anyone have noticed the sashes with the crests on them? Do we need to do a spot check or knowledge check or some such thing. I don't want to write anything up until I know that one of the characters might recognize them as some sort of badge/item that allows them to be recognized. I have an idea, but want to make sure we can use them first.
From: Mark
Subject Plans
They look like items worn by the guards at the gate. It looks to be a sort of livery.
It does not seem to have anything to do with Nerul.
From: Porter
Subject Plans
Mund nods his head. "Yes, that makes sense. I ain't givin' up the northerners to save your druid, at least not yet, but maybe we should spend this time finding out more."
From: Derek
Subject Plans
Allistair also agrees to follow Salix, since he had assumed from the beginning that this would be his decision and Salix's plan ultimately made more sense.
From: Mark
Subject Plans
Ok I need a run down of what is happening? Who is doing what? Where, when?
Etc
From: Kevin
Subject Plans
OOC: ok guys, what do you think? Surin and one other (maybe Kal since he can cast some basic spells and is probably the next most quiet of us) go down the lift to take a quick look at the bottom of the lift? Or we could put tabbards on Ran and Mund and send them down acting like guards. Problem is, the guards, if any, probably know the guards at the top. That assuming there are guards.
Suggestions on how to get to the bottom??
From: Mark
Subject Plans
Well there is a lift.
Also only Ragnar and Harp could see to the bottom easily. Kal, Salix and Ran can see somewhat further down the shaft where the lift is. the other three can not see much beyond the first 10 feet or so.
From: Porter
Subject Quiet
Point of order: Mund is the quietest in the group, besides the rogue.
From: Kevin
Subject Salix's mind
OOC: Just FYI, unless and until I hear from Karl to the contrary, I am going to be playing Salix as follows: he will have almost no concern for the northern barbarian tribes. His goal/task is to save Acer. Even if there was not the follow on issue of Acer knowing where the next gem was, Salix would still try to save Acer to the exclusion of all else. Acer trained him from when he was but a sappling, and Salix will do whatever is needed to save Acer and, hopefully, return the surrounding woodlands to normal. The fate of the tribes will be of VERY little interest to him.
This may be premature, but since I am not Karl, I thought I would give you guys a heads up.
Thanks
From: Porter
Subject Salix's mind
Well, that might cause some conflict. :)
From: Kevin
Subject Quiet
Mund has a Move Silent of 11, Kal is 12.
Kal can cast spells - MM, true stike, and can see better in low light.
From: Porter
Subject Quiet
Huh. I stand corrected.
From: Kevin
Subject Plans
Not a surprise.
Mark, I know that there is a lift. The question is do we try to "sneak" down the lift or send down a couple of guys that sort of look like the guys we just took out? I am trying to decide.
Did we see any torches or such in the building we are in?
From: Kevin
Subject Plans
So long as Kal does not get caught flat footed, he moves faster than a mongoose avoiding a snake. He can get his A/C to almost 30 if he tries.
However, my guess is the lift is goig to make noise. Might as well have fighters go down in case there is a someone down there.
I will wait to see what else others may suggest and then send more later this evening.
From: Mark
Subject Plans
Surprisingly there are no torches in the barn.
From: Josh
Subject Quiet
OOC: I'm at work, can't write up alot, but Kal's got a decent move silently ability. I think it's around 7.
From: Josh
Subject Quiet
Well i stand corrected, 12 it is. :)
From: Kevin
Subject plans
OOC: Mark, would Surin have mentioned that he cannot see very far down the shaft since it is dar?
If he does, Harp will go over and take a look down to see what he can see.
Does he see the glimmer of light at the bottom? Anything in particular that would worry him?
Too bad the two with darkvision are the two who would be noticed the most if there was someone down there.
From: Kevin
Subject Plans
Forget this previous question. I just reread the turn and realized that Mark had put information on what Harp could see at the bottom.
IC: Salix listens to Ragnars report of what he can see at the bottom on the shaft. "A rail system?? Like in a mine??" Salix's mind is confused. This whole journey had been one assault on his senses after another. Why couldn't they do something out in the forest, with trees and animals around? Why did they have to go down in this pit?? Because that was where the Stormfather was, and it was his job to rescue him. Salix was sure that they had gotten farther than the previous druids - Sephira was proof of that. Now the question was - what was the best way to approach this?
After a few seconds, Salix speaks. "Harp, you and Ragnar go down the lift first. Take a quick look around - see if there is anything unusual down there. If you encounter any resistance, defend youselves and get back on the lift. If it is clear, bang your sword on the lift three times, and then we will follow you down."