Rounds 8,9, and 10, up top
Subject: Turn
I will have something out later this morning.
From: Mark
Subject: Round 8 actions
If Kal does this it will take him away from the lift mechanism and add another round to the time it takes Mund to get to the bottom.
From: Mark
Subject: round 8 actions
sorry about that, I did not see the part at the end.
Not a problem. there is only one torch.
From: Mark
Subject: Rounds 8,9 and 10
Init: Ranthir (23), Harp (17), Kal (14), Mund (14), Salix (10), Surin (7), C1, C2 (7), Ragnar (6).
Round 8
With the two foes down Ran decides it is time to leave. "Let's get out of here Harp." The ½ elf makes backs up a few steps, keeping his foe at bay and then turns and moves at full speed down the tunnel.
Harp grunts. About damn time he thinks to himself. He makes a lunge at his opponent to drive him off balance and then he too retreats down the tunnel at full speed.
Kal and Ragnar continue lowering Mund down the shaft. The elf looks over his shoulder, the barn darkening as Mund's torch descends with him, and yells at Surin "Little one, can you get that torch for us?" Surin nods and moves to get the magic torch from the fallen man.
Mund shifts his weight back and forth in the lift, like a caged animal. If Ally got hurt, people were going to die. He casually wipes the frozen gore from his ax blade.
Salix turns and heads towards the lift. He passes Ally in the dark tunnel and can see a light growing in the shaft where the lift is. He stops next to the mage and asks "You got anything that might slow them down? It looked like there were still a couple of guys left." From down the tunnel they can both hear the screams of one of the men, his pitiful voice screaming for the burning pain to stop. The voice grows weaker by the second.
Ally nods in the dark "I've got a couple of things that might slow them down, but I have to time it right to get the best effect." The mage starts chanting one of the first cantrips he ever learned, one he had used to entertain young ladies at the pubs and bars. About 20 feet in front of him, towards where Harp and Ran are, 4 lights appear. They look just like torch lights and they give off the same amount of light. He gestures and they start moving slowly down the tunnel.
Round 9
Ran and Harp almost stop in their tracks when the lights appear almost on top of them. In the sudden light they see Salix waiving them on and Ally making strange gestures. The druid and the mage are just a few feet from the lift and the two fighters can see the bottom of the lift just appearing in the opening.
Kal and Ragnar grunt as the lift gets to the bottom and thumps to a stop. Kal looks around and sees Surin standing nearby with a torch in one hand. "Surin, why don't you check on Hanz and Franz before we go? Ragnar, can you handle getting them back up? I want to go get the wagon ready" The elf waits for Ragnar's answer.
When the lift bangs to a stop at the bottom Mund is out in a flash. He pulls up short when he sees everyone waiting at the bottom. "Did you kill them all? Man you guys don't let me have any fun." Salix hushes him as he motions for Harp and Ran to get on the lift. Ally continues his casting, this time summoning up the ghost sounds. Loud noises start to fill the tunnel, like dozens of men moving and talking. Down the tunnel, 4 bouncing torches can be seen moving away from the party.
Mund looks around "When did we get reinforcements?" Ally turns and grins "I made them up. At least that's what I'm hoping they think. But it is just smoke and mirrors. We need to move. NOW."
Round 10.
The five move on to the lift and give the rope a good tug. Seconds later the lift starts moving up, albeit slower than they had expected.
OODM: I am stopping combat at this time. Mund's rage now ends. I will write more this afternoon. If any one wants to say or do anything they may.
From: Derek
Subject: Up top
OOC: Would it be worth it to shoot a fireball down the passageway? Or is this good enough for an escape from the tunnels?
From: Mark
Subject: Up top
You are not sure.
The party knows that two of the guys in plate were down. You have Ran, Mund and Harp with you.
It is up to you.
From: Kevin
Subject: Up top
Harp, his chest heaving from the run back to the lift, looks around. Kal, Surin, Ragnar and Acer were missing. They must be up in the barn. Hopefully safe. Feeling the ringing in his head and the bruises on his arms, Harp reaches into his pouch and takes out a couple of vials, swigging them down as the lift rises.
OOC: Mark, Harp will use 2 of his 5 CLW potions.
IC: As the lift reaches the top, Harp will ready his sword and head to the door of the barn to see who, in any one, may be coming their way.
From: Kevin
Subject: Up top
Unless those guys in full plate want to try and climb up the ropes, work their way around the bottom of the lift, and then get up, they are left with running back to where they came from.
I vote leave em be, and save the heater for later.
From: Josh
Subject: Up top
Kal will setup the horses as best he can, (Ride skill 7) and then go back to helping them pull up the lift if necessary.
From: Mark
Subject: Up top
No they should be up long before Kal is done. I said, somewhere, that it will take minutes with a ride skill of 5+ to hitch up the horses.
From: Mark
Subject: Up top
Time seems to crawl for those on the lift. They strain to hear if the men in armor have reached the bottom of the lift. The ropes of the lift would be vulnerable to attack and they did not want to think about what would happen if the ropes were cut. Eventually the lift reaches the top of the shaft. They can see Ragnar by himself at the wheel, sweating, and his face flush with effort. Surin is next to Acer, a few feet away. As they look around Kal has three of the four horses hitched up to the wagon and is just getting the last one from the stall.
OODM: Actions/comments/ rants.
From: Derek
Subject: Up top
Allistair cuts in quickly. "Everyone off the lift now! We'll disable it so that it can't be used without a time-consuming repair. Cutting the ropes should do the trick."
From: Kevin
Subject: Up top
Harp heads over to the door of the barn and takes a quick look out to see if there is anyone coming or what might be going on (i.e. a large group of torches headed toward the barn).
OOC: Mark, can I assume Harp took the two CLW potions I mentioned in my earlier post?
From: Mark
Subject: Up top
Yes.
Cure total 13 HP for Harp.
Update your sheet.
Any one else who has used spells recently please update the spell list.
If you want to take any potions let me know.
From: Derek
Subject: Up top
Once the lift is disabled, Allistair talks to Salix and the rest of the group.
"Unless there is something else I am unaware of, our two methods for getting out of here are busting out on the wagon and going for speed, or sneaking out. If we bust out, I have two fireballs that should be very helpful in that regard. Using the wagon will give us greater speed. However, we will almost certainly be pursued.
"If we want to sneak out, I think we can get everyone out using either flight or invisibility. I have sufficient power to give two people the ability of flight, and if I used that magic on say Harp and Ragnar, they should be able to carry Acer and Surin while flying. Furthermore since it's dark out, being just a hundred feet up should make them essentially invisible. All they would need to do is fly up a hundred feet or so and then fly horizontally until the spell dissipates or they reach our meeting place. As for invisiblity, we have 4 invisibility potions and I have the ability to make two people invisible. Furthermore I have the additional power of making someone invisible and still be able to attack and cast spells (OOC improved invisibility). We could get everyone out of the estate undetected, and then meet up and head for the wilderness or back to Bodentown. The main disadvantage that I see is that if we are later discovered we will be on foot which is slower than in the wagon."
From: Randy
Subject: Up top
"Can any of your magic be used to make the wagon and horses invisible?" Ran asks. "Either way, I think that stealth is our best bet here. Salix and I have both been weakened by the wights and I would prefer getting out of here as soon as possible. I will defer to your judgment in this Salix."
From: Derek
Subject: Up top
Allistair shakes his head. "I know of such magic to be able to make larger items invisible, but I do not currently have the ability. Also, If we use the potions we have to assume that the invisiblity from them may as short as 3 minutes, whereas if I use my own magic to make someone invisible it will last for about 7 minutes."
"If we don't want to use the potions, then we can't use magic to get everyone out right now. However, I do have access to the interdimensional space with the rope trick, which would let up to 7 of us hide there undetected for up to 7 hours."
From: Josh
Subject: Up top
"We should definitely get the Stormfather to safety. I think we should split into two groups. Salix, the Stormfather, Surin and one of the big folk", Kal motions at Harp, Ragnar and Mund, "should fly out of here to ensure the stormfather's and the mission's safety."
"The rest of us can figure out a plan from there. Whether it be sneaking out or riding out or whatever plan we come up with, much less will hinge on our fortunes.
"Personally? I want to go after Faldor. I'll leave that up to the group, but once the stormfather is safe it seems like the best course of action."
From: Derek
Subject: Up top
"Getting Acer to safety is the top priority, but I don't know that the rest of us are in much of a condition to do anything. I'd like some assurance that the tribes are at least safe for tonight, but I'm willing to assume that the rescuing of Acer and the fact that the alarm has gone up in the compound will keep the foul ceremony from occuring tonight."
"We might try hiding in the woods on the compound. Even with the various tribes here, there is still lots of unimproved woodland here on the very property that we could use to hide out it. Especially if they expect us to try and get as far away as fast as possible."
Allistair pauses as he has another idea. "Not only if the expect us to get away, but especially if they actually see us getting away. How about this? With potions and my magic, everyone but Mund and I go invisible and sneak into the woods north of here. Then Mund and I cover up the wagon to make it look like there are more people in the back, including Acer. Mund and I ride out as fast as we can on the wagon, using a fireball or two to break through the gates and cause general confusion. We get on the road at full speed, and then Mund and I will fly up and disappear using my magic. We can then fly back unseen to where the rest of you are, or at least back to the forest where Mund's outdoor skills and Sysyphy's scent ability would help us locate you quickly."
From: Randy
Subject: Up top
Ranthir listens and nods more and more as Allistair spells out his idea.
"I had thought of using the wagon as a distraction but it seemed like it would draw attention sooner than we might like if we were trying to sneak away. If we follow this plan, then hopefully the pursuit will follow the wagon long enough for us to put some distance between ourselves and this foul place."
From: Kevin
Subject: Up top
Harp listens to the group discuss ways to get outside.
'I would rather be on the outside of this place than on the inside. What if Ragnar and I fly out with Surin and Acer, those remaining get on the horses, leave the barn, and then toss a fire ball in the barn. During the distraction, you could ride out to try and find the tribes. If you don't find them, Ally could set up his rope trick until tomorrow morning, when the rest of you could fly out and meet us back in town."
Harp will go along with whatever is decided, but will emphasize that he would rather be outside of the estate.
From: Josh
Subject: Up top
Kal strongly agrees with Harp's sentiment. If we can't go after Faldor he wants out tonight.
From: Karl
Subject: Up top
Once off the lift, Salix rushes to the Stormfather. "Father, I feel so stupid waiting until now to ask this, but have you been poisoned? Do you know? Sister Sephira was given some vile drink that kept her from wild shaping. I prepared the blessing to remove poison today, in case the same was done to you."
(OOC - Salix will cast Neutralize Poison on StFr Acer)
As the others discuss ways to escape, Salix listens to each idea. "Yes, our first duty is to get the Stormfather to safety. I believe that safety is outside the estate, not within it. We should not hide here. I think we should fly out. One of Ally's fireballs into the barn should keep people distracted a bit while we make our break. Remember, I do not need a spell to fly. I can become an eagle and follow whoever is carrying the stormfather. We need to get away from this estate and this town. If we can get to any part of the Great North Woods that Faldor hasn't corrupted, we will have an advantage."
(OOC - Mark, how far are we now from the GNW, assuming we head straight for it. How far before we'd be out of the parts Faldor has corrupted? How far away is the nearest druid outpost?)