Scott's Ode, Scott's Curse
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 4
You guys should really read the open source description of the spell 'detect evil.'
Hoo boy. You really, really should.
My ode to Farron:
Farron the Diviner
Thought naught could be finer
Than to sit on his keister all day
He made no reply
To five angry guys
He ended the game with no pay.
:)
Can't wait to get you back, Karl.
Seriously. I can't wait.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 4
At work.
Bored.
Need RPG fix.
Curse you, Karl.
:)
I'll be on and off AIM all day, if anyone wants to chat.
Raja Takes Over For Karl
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 4
I'm actually surprised not to see him yet. He said he would be back by Sunday. Perhaps someone whisked him away to Fire Island for debauchery? He did say this week was a vacation...
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 4
I thought he meant that he'd be back Sunday, 9/7.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 4
:rends clothes, gnashes teeth:
From: Ty
Subject: an update from karl
I just got an email from a workmate of Karl's. He is on vacation from work, (which we knew), but his home email is down. He won't be back for a week. He has asked for someone to take over playing Farron for this week, so as not to stop the game. We do this on my other game as well, so it's not that unusual.
So, my thought is that we should have Raja play Farron, and just have him play both mages. Does this work for everyone?
If so, go ahead and do Farron's turn, Raja.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: an update from karl
Works.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: an update from karl
So, raja, we are waiting on you to check in for Farron.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: an update from karl
Of course, Raja is also on vacation :b
From: Ty
Subject: Re: an update from karl
All week?
From: Dan
Subject: Re: an update from karl
He's back in Nova Scotia until this Saturday. He does have access to the internet, and I'm sure he's online daily, it's just not a steady thing like it was while he was working.
On a completely unrelated note, dude, I ransacked your room. So, if you come back and your stuff is everywhere, that was my bad. But I needed some DVD action and you were the only man who could help me ;)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: an update from karl
By "looking over Farron's sheet" I actually meant "not noticing that WordPad had crashed trying to open the .doc."
My folks don't have Office. However, I DO have Farron's current memorized spell list around here somewhere from an email exchange we had about spells. If you could send me his equipment list in a .rtf file or just plain text, that'd be really handy.
Update: Okay, so I DON'T have Farron's current spell list here. I thought I had saved the e-mail with it, but unfortunately it appears to have been deleted.
So, Ty, I need Farron's character sheet in .rtf format before I can do his turn. I'm trying to convert it here myself but not having any luck. If I can eventually extract the text I'll just send out the turn straight away, but I'm not hopeful. I'll almost certainly need it in .rtf or .txt format (either is fine for me).
I'll make sure to keep checking my email twice daily, and more if I'm home.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: an update from karl
Er, I sent out a message before the one I'm replying to here, but maybe it only went to Ty or Dan or something, because I didn't get it.
At any rate, Farron's character sheet is inconvertible as far as I can tell, even by apps that claim to be able to read the .doc format. So I'm SOL until I see Farron's spell list and whatnot. I'm going to bed now, but as usual I'll check my e-mail first thing in the morning. :)
Hallway Scene, Entering the Room, Garyth and Cadfael Flee, Meet Anileth
Subject: Re: an update from karl
I can't believe it.
Jack Chick must somehow be manipulating the rules of the universe to stop our game. But why THIS game? What does he have to fear from our little group of gamers-on-remote?
Hold, on someone's at the door. . .
From: Raja
Subject: Farron's Turn
Upon hearing Cadfael's shriek, Farron nearly falls out of his chair and takes off running down the hall with Garyth and Rennik. When the party has converged on Cadfael, Farron will cast Haste to give us a much-needed boost.
Sorry to keep everyone waiting :(
From: Ty
Subject: Something wicked....
OOC: Sa'id and Farron were in the public room when this happened, not in their room.
The keening whine of someone in pain causes the party to leap to its feet. Rennik is the first down the hallway, followed closely by Sa'id, Garyth and Farron. In the hallway, Cadfael is on his knees, facing the door behind which the mysterious 'other guest' is staying. His face is pale, and twisted into a grimace of pain. Rennik puts one hand on Cadfael's shoulder, and the priest looks up at him, clearly recovering, but still with a look of horror in his eyes...
(We need Cadfael's response, and the party's next actions)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something wicked....
Addendum:
Sa'id may go ahead and cast dispel magic if he wishes, and Farron may cast haste if he wishes, immediately on entering the hallway. However, I wanted to set the scene so that you can make that decision after having seen what happened.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something wicked....
. . . and Mission is still outside playing fetch with the Kujo.
:)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something wicked....
To be a sport, the DM gives Mission a Listen check to see if he can hear any of the goings on in the lodge. Mission rolls 4 + level 6 listen skill versus a DC of 15, and fails to hear anything of note.
Kujo continues to monopolize his attention.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Something wicked....
Cadfael puts his hand on Rennik's and takes a deep breath, steadying himself.
"There is something beyond that door brother, something so vile I cannot bear to think on it. It's evil is suffocating and for a moment I thought I would pass out from the pain."
"I cannot tell you what is beyond that door, save that it is strong. It may be a beast so malicious the light cannot touch it or a woman who prays to a God of darkness. Their connection would have to be strong though, for the presence of her God to overwhelm me so."
"I do not know what to do next, brothers. But we must make haste! She must have heard my cry as you did, we have already wasted to much time."
He then struggles to his feat and makes his way to the door.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something wicked....
Cadfael is moving to open the door.
I really need everyone to check in (except Mission and Cujo).
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Something wicked....
At Cadfael's words a shock of fear strikes Garyth's heart. But before he even really knows what he's doing, his dagger is in his hand and he is kicking down the door to the woman's room.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something wicked....
Sa'id and Farron both back away from the door even as Cadfael and Garyth move toward it. "Don't!" shouts Sa'id, but it is evidently much too late for that, as both Garyth and Cadfael seem intent on getting everyone killed. Farron sighs, and begins his Haste incantation. Sa'id starts on Mirror Image.
(OOC: If Mike and I have both misread Dan's message and he is NOT planning to bust down that door, then Sa'id won't cast Mirror Image and Farron will wait to cast Haste until it's certain that we're going to fight.)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something wicked....
Garyth is in fact kicking down the door.
We just need Rennik now, and I can write up the next turn: "Life in the bowels of Hell"
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Something wicked....
(OOC: I have a feeling I will live to regret Garyth's last move [as will Garyth, if he lives] but I just couldn't convince myself that he could stop to think it through and still be in character.)
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something wicked....
(OOC: Unfortunately, Rennik's in the same boat as Garyth, acting on instinct here. This ain't the woods anymore, and he's already a bit edgy in this place)
Rennik follows quickly on Garyth's heels, ready to hack to pieces anything that may be on the other side of the door.
(OOC: Yep. We're all gonna die.)
From: Ty
Subject: Something wicked: fear and loathing
In spite of, or perhaps because of, Cadfael's dire warning, Garyth rears back and kicks the lodge door with all his might. The thin plank door is no match for him, and goes flying off its hinges into the room beyond. Wielding his dagger, Garyth charges into the room.
Right behind him is Rennik, gripping his axe in both hands and yelling his distinctive tribal war cry. Out in the hall, Sa'id and Farron begin casting spells, while Cadfael peeps fearfully into the now open doorway, trying to get a glance around Garyth at whatever might be in the room.
The room itself is very dark. The fireplace is cold, there are no candles or lamps lit, and the curtains are drawn on the window. A bit of faint light shines in through the doorway, dimly illuminating the single bed, a small table, and a chair. As Garyth and Rennik crowd through the doorway into the room, the figure stands up. In the dim light, it appears to be a young woman dressed in black robes, and enormously pregnant. The only thing that belies her harmless and normal appearance is the incredible sense of dread that falls over all that view her. Her presence seems to suck the warmth and light out of the air, and even breathing becomes painful.
Garyth takes one look at her, and turns around with a shriek [Will save 8 vs DC 20]. Before anyone else can even react, Garyth pushes past Rennik and shoves past Cadfael hard enough to knock him over, then runs down the hallway screaming. He runs out the door of the lodge and flees as fast as he can into the woods.
When Garyth pushes past Rennik, Rennik gets his first good look at the woman. He too feels the deep dread of her fall on him, but his Halfling resistance to panic is strong [Will save 22 vs DC 20], and he does not flee, though the fear leaves him shaken and trembling. He stands his ground gripping his axe, and tries to decide what to do.
Cadfael begins standing up, but when he sees the woman in the room, his mind empties in panic [Will save 15 vs DC 20]. He turns away and begins crawling past Farron and Sa'id down the hallway, whimpering as he goes. When he gets past them, he gets to his feet and runs out the door that Garyth had left standing open and into the woods.
Farron and Sa'id feel the dread fall across them, but their focused minds and powerful mental resistance block most of the affects of the fear [Will saves 25 & 28 respectively]. However, the need to resist this assault on their minds robs them of the concentration needed to continue casting their spells [Concentration checks 12 & 5 respectively] and both spells are lost. They do not, however, feel the overwhelming need to run away.
Mission is standing outside petting the wolf, and just thinking about coming back inside, when a screaming Garyth runs out of the lodge and hurtles off into the woods. A second later, Cadfael chases after him, leaving only a trail of sobs behind him.
Gully, who was standing open mouthed in his great room, feels the dread fall upon him. He turns with a whimper and runs into the kitchen closely followed by a pack of growling wolves.
(next round: Rennik is shaken (-2 to actions), but can act next round if he wishes. Farron and Sa'id are NOT shaken, and may also act next round if they wish. Cadfael and Garyth will continue running into the woods until they can no longer see the cabin, at which time they will cower and hide. Their path into the woods will be random, and they will not wind up together. Mission may act on what he has seen.)
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing
I tells ya. A +10 Will save just doesn't get you what it used to, y'know?
:p
Although. At least I'm ALIVE :)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing
Cadfael actually has the best Will save in the party. Even with his halfling bonus against fear, Rennik's save is still 6 points lower. Sadly, the random factor looked with favor on the little guy, and stamped its foot in disapproval at the cleric. Damn those rules that include dice rolls! Damn them!!!
:)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing
Mission stares after the fighter and the cleric.
"Gully must tell some truly terrifying ghost stories, eh, wolf?" he says amicably.
Mission will run inside to check on the party.
If it looks like the hallway and door are too crowded with panicked folks to squeeze through, he will run back outside, smash the window to the Pregnant Evil Woman's (hormones will getcha every time) room, and enter that way.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing
That is, he will use his staff to smash through the window. . . no sense cutting up his hands just yet.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing
Rennik's eyes narrow and a low growl erupts from the back of his throat. He feels naked before the woman, standing alone in the room with no armor, with only his axe in his hands. He does not take his eyes off the woman, but backs slowly toward the door, much like a wild animal.
His mind is not functioning rationally, and higher thougth has mostly left him. The wolf has stumbled upon the pregnant mother bear in her den and knows it is a fight he cannot win alone.
(OOC: Rennik will take this action to guardedly back up toward the door, hoping to get into a position where he can duck behind the wall should something happen.)
(Also OOC: Suuuuure. Leave me with the siamese mage. Just lovely, guys. Fantastic. :p )
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing
Farron's eyes widen as half the party takes off into the woods, but neither he nor Sa'id is overcome by fear. As he stumbles over his incantation and the spell's energy dissipates, Sa'id curses.
There is a pause, then, as the woman stands up. Farron moves closer to the doorframe, but stays outside the door to cover Rennik's retreat if need be. (OOC: If Farron has a ranged weapon, he will get it ready.) Sa'id, murmuring softly, casts a quick Detect Undead spell before stepping confidently -- or at least trying to convey the illusion of confidence -- into the woman's field of view. His eyes move conspicuously from Rennik to the woman's belly... then, swallowing his fear and hoping it doesn't show, Sa'id's gaze flicks up to meet hers as evenly as he can manage.
"Is what you bear a great honour or a great burden for you?"
From: Ty
Subject: Something wicked: fear and loathing 2
Rennik moves back slowly toward the door, making sure never to take his eyes off the woman in black. She makes no sudden move toward him, and he breaths a sigh of relief when he can feel the door jamb at his back. He knows cover is but a single step away, should he need it.
Farron bolts up the hall to his room to collect his crossbow and load it.
Sa'id steps lightly up behind Rennik, placing one hand on the halfling's back to let him know he's there. While he stepped up, he quickly uttered a charm of detect undead, but as the last syllable leaves his lips, he smoothly switches to his normal mellow speaking voice. "Is what you bear a great honour or a great burden for you?" The last word comes out as a bit of a squeak, as his newly augmented vision shows an undead being of overwhelming power.
The woman moves gently towards the door, passing out of shadow and into the rectangle of light the doorway casts into the room. She is of average height, and slender of build. Her features are comely at first glance, though closer inspection turns them monstrous. Her skin is alabaster white, and covered in fine lines, like the effect of mummification. Her eyes are a milky white, as though blinded by cataracts, and her hair is colorless and limp.
When Sa'id speaks to her, she turns her dead eyes toward him and says, "No. I am not looking for you." She then speaks in a low tone, caressing her belly in a gesture that is turned obscene by the horror she provokes as she says, "Where is he? Tell me where he is." She nods her head as if listening, then says, "Ah, outside, but coming in."
She turns away from you to face the window, and for one brief second Rennik considers taking this moment to strike her in the back with his axe. But Rennik is not a fool, and he holds his blow until he better understands what is happening here. Shortly after she turns away, the glass window in her room shatters, and the curtains are thrust aside. Mission leaps lightly into the room, his hands held at the ready, his tattoos glowing with power.
"There he is. There's daddy," the woman says, rubbing her belly and speaking to Mission.
(I need Mission's reaction to this. Rennik can act next round if he wishes, though he is still shaken. Sa'id may act next round as well. Farron will take a round to locate and load his crossbow. Cadfael and Garyth are still running like the hounds of hell dog their heels)
Anileth and Mission, Attacking Anileth, Mission Dying
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 2
Mission swallows. "Hello, Anileth."
He had tried to say some thing clever and witty, something to brighten the thick atmosphere of loathing. Something to take the pain out of his heart. But 'hello' is all that would come out.
Mission lays his staff against the wall and moves deliberately in front of Rennick and Sa'id. Putting himself between the party and the mother of his child.
Child. . . could a child form in that loathsome belly? What kind of creature would call him father after being subjected to the twisted magics within Anileth?
His child, nonetheless. His Redemption. And Mission would have that child, one way or another.
He extends his hand to Anileth. His voice shakes from fear and emotion. He is hard pressed to say which is stronger. "Father told me pregnancy would change you. I didn't expect this."
Mission will not attack Anileth. If any of the party does, he will use stunning blow against them. If she attacks him, Mission will try to inflict only subdual damage (that's damage that will knock her unconscious, right?).
(OOC: Ty, Mission's father was named Rigor, if Anileth chooses to talk about grandaddy.)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 2
Sa'id's eyes widen as Anileth addresses Mission and names him father of the monstrous horror in her belly. Since Anileth has ignored him, he decides to risk speaking freely.
"Mission, do you know what she carries?" He shakes his head. "Abomination."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 3
Mission can hear Sa'id speaking behind him, but the words do not register. All he can think of is what has happened to Anileth. He does notice though that he seems unaffected by the fear that has stricken all the others.
She watches him walk past her to stand in front of Rennik. "I came for you, Mission." She holds her belly, "He can feel you, you know. He could feel you come to the island. He could feel you begin moving east. It was too tempting for me to resist. Can you feel him calling out to you? I can. He is telling you his name. His name is Promise. Can you imagine? The Gods of our Path gave him a name even before his birth."
"I am going to kill you. But I wanted you to see what you had done, first." She lunges forward suddenly, with a look of rage that twists her face. "And I am going to rob you of hope," she says, as her faces shifts back to normal.
"When I left the ring, I saw all that the Gods of our Path had foreordained for our son. I saw that though they rejected me, they forgave you your pathetic weakness. They chose you over me! So, I determined to rob them and you of any redemption." She pulls back her black robe to expose her chest above her left breast. There is a terrible open wound there, ragged and dry. You can see clear into her heart, and it is not beating, though some blackish fluid trickles sluggishly through it. "If the child is dead, how can the prophecies of his greatness and your redemption come true?"
She chuckles. It is not a pleasant sound. "The Gods are not so easily thwarted, it seems. The child is filled with their power. So full, that I can not die while he lives inside me. But I have found another way..."
"I've found a new God. When he is ready, I will give the child to him. And when he devours its soul, it will be like devouring the soul of a god itself. Then, I will be given gifts beyond your comprehension."
"I had toyed with taking you to Him, so that your soul may be given him as an offering. But even that is too good for you. No, I am going to kill you, and you will die without having received your redemption. Then, whatever black hell is reserved for those who violate the Path is where you will reside. We will never meet there, because soon I will not be able to die."
She smiles a terrible smile, "Come to me, Mission." She starts to walk towards him.
(Rennik can act if he wishes. Farron returns with his crossbow and is in the hallway with it. Sa'id can see everything that is happening in the room. Mission may act or speak. Garyth and Cadfael are hiding in the bushes about 200 yards from the lodge.)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 3
Sa'id gasps. "It's not the child, it's HER!" Seeing her dart forward, Sa'id takes a step back. Gritting his teeth and forcing his fear aside, he begins the incantation of his Halt Undead spell -- the most powerful spell for dealing with the undead in Sa'id's repertoire.
Farron hears the exchange from out in the hall, and moves into the doorframe behind Rennik, his crossbow at the ready. If Anileth attacks Mission, he will cast True Strike on himself before firing, and do his utmost not to hit her belly.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 3
"The path is not straight, nor is it soft. Hard as stone, hot as blood, it runs from me to my child," Mission says. "My Promise."
"Come on, then, Anileth. Come and kill me. If you can."
He will Tumble past Anileth and dive out the window in an attempt to draw her outside.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 3
In retrospect, my failing that saving through was probabaly for the best. I'm not around to get all huffy and religious at Mission :b
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 3
Rennik will watch Mission tumble out of the room in some confusion. If she follows, Rennik will run out of the house in pursuit to offer any aid to Mission. If she does not leave the room and turns to the halfling, Rennik will only attack if she were to attack him.
If pressed to attack, Rennik will try to take out the woman's knees and then go for her head.
From: Ty
Subject: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4
Mission's eyes betray no fear as he boldly says, "The path is not straight, nor is it soft. Hard as stone, hot as blood, it runs from me to my child. My Promise."
"Come on, then, Anileth. Come and kill me. If you can."
He takes a step forward on the balls of his feet, coiling like a spring for a lightning fast dodge past her. But before he can move [Initiative order: Anileth, Mission, Rennik, Farron, Sa'id], she hits him with an open hand punch in the middle of his chest [Attack 20 + 13 = 33, critical threat roll 12 + 13, critical hit, Damage 34]. The blow is incredibly powerful, and lifts Mission right off his feet and hurls him against the wall with devastating force. The plank constructed interior wall of the lodge actually breaks at the point of impact. He stiffens in pain, a terrible look on his face, [Fort save vs paralysis 25], but shakes off the paralyzing cold of her touch.
Anileth screeches like a wounded animal, and yanks back her hand. Her right hand has been burned as if by fire, and is now just a blackened and shriveled claw. "They protect you from me?"
Even as she speaks, Rennik screams and swings his axe in a powerful blow aimed at her knee. The blow strikes home [Attack 20 + 10 = 30, critical threat roll 5 + 10 = 15, critical failed] and on any normal creature would completely remove the leg. However, on Anileth, the blow bounces off; leaving only a shallow wound that heals closed even as Rennik watches in shock.
She hisses and backhands him [Attack 9 + 10 = 19] across the room. He strikes his head on the wall, [Damage 17] and bounces off. He too grimaces as her ice cold touch tries to freeze his bones [Fort Save vs paralysis 28], but he shrugs off the affect and doesn't even drop his axe.
Farron moves into the hall next to Sa'id, and Sa'id can hear him uttering a quick charm. Once he finishes the spell, he takes careful aim into the room with his crossbow. (can fire next round)
Sa'id reaches into his robes, and pulls out a pinch of sulfur and garlic, mixed together. He hurls them into the air as he loudly speaks words of power. The mixture flares as it strikes Anileth, and there is a sound like a thunderclap. She pulls away with a wooden slowness, and for a moment Sa'id thinks he has her. But her eyes flash with hidden reserves of power [Will save vs hold 24], and the enchantment is shattered with a sound like distant glass breaking.
Anileth backs further into the room, set upon by the four party members. As Mission bounces back to his feet to press the attack, she says, "Maybe the Gods protect you from me, and maybe not. Death has taught many new tricks." Then, clutching her withered right hand, she springs into a dark corner of the room and vanishes with a pop.
As soon as she disappears, the ground begins to shake...
(Rennik is fully recovered from his fear. He and mission are hurt, but still active. Sa'id can act. Farron can act, but if he doesn't fire this round, he loses his true strike bonus. Garyth and Cadfael are both past the panic phase, and are now just shaken [-2 to actions]. They can both act, and can begin moving back to the lodge if they wish. [I overstated how far away they had run. Garyth is 240 feet from the lodge in his hiding place. Cadfael is 160 feet away. They are both 2 rounds at a dead run from the lodge])
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4 addendum
Actual, if Cadfael removed his armor (as it appears he did) then he too is 240 feet from the lodge, still 2 rounds away at an all out run.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4
Garyth huddles in the brush, quivering. He has never felt anything like the blinding terror that gripped him when he entered the room. He had to get out, to save himself from the horror in that room.
Now, the fear begins to fade, and he comes back to himself. He looks down at his still shaking hands, and is overcome with shame. And finally realization comes that his cowardice may have cost his companions their lives. Resolve returns, and despite the quailing in his heart, he rises to his feet and runs back toward the lodge.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4 addendum
OOC: By "disappears," do you mean she's gone? Or that she's invisible? Would I be able to tell the difference? Does Farron have nothing to shoot at now?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4 addendum
Disappears with a pop of inrushing air. Sa'id has heard this sound many times before at the College. It is the sound usually heard when a being teleports, gates, or dimension doors to another location. His guess is that she has used some means of magical transportation to move to another physical location.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4 addendum
(OOC - Combat has started and where is Cadfael? Why, several rounds away from combat, of course! I hope this becomes a habit ;)
The icy tendrils of fear detatch from his mind as he puts more and more distance between himself and the creature until he finally finds his feet slowing. Gingerly he puts one hand up to his head, his mind still realing from the assault it took from the Detect Evil spell and the subsequent mind-numbing fear. He takes a moment to get his barings, then grits his teeth and begins making his way back to the lodge, offering a silent prayer that he may be able to get there in time to aid his companions.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4 second addendum
After Anileth leaves, Mission looks back at the rest of you, his eyes roll up in his head, and he collapses. You are not sure what brought him back to his feet the first time, but the blow he was struck nearly killed him. He is in the process of dying right now. (-2 hp)
[Sheesh, I hafta keep better records. My HP note for mission was actually Garyth's HP. Mission only has 32. sorry about that guys]
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4 second addendum
Rennik rushes to Mission's side and asks if either Farron or Sa'id have any skill at healing... the healing draught won't have much effect, he doesn't think, unless Mission can swallow it.
If neither speak up, he will attempt to stabilize/recussitate the monk himself. (no ranks in Heal, or any Wisdom bonus, but he has to try something).
(OOC: Hm. Well, next he'll set about wiping up the monk juice likely oozing out of Mission's body somewhere)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4 second addendum
Mission sends 'hurry-up thoughts' out Cadfael's direction. . .
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4 second addendum
Neither Farron nor Sa'id have any healing skills (OOC: AFAIK; if Farron does he'll use them). We'll help Rennik try to staunch any bleeding that's going on until Cadfael gets here. Sa'id now regrets having used his Prestidigitation spell to dry off, since he could be using it to keep Mission's blood in his body... (OOC: If Mission's going to be dead in two rounds, it might be Fate Point time, but IIRC it's -1 HP per round and you die at -10, so he'll only be at -5 by the time Cadfael arrives.)
Surrounded by Skeletons
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4 second addendum
(OOC: The "monk juice" comment was only a joke... I'm pretty sure he's not bleeding. He's got the consistency of a jellyfish, sure, but Ty tells me the blood would be contained. He's just close to an invertebrate in his chest cavity.... or, possibly, an ex-vertebrate... :( It was kind of a Hulk Smash moment.)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4 second addendum
This is where the wizards get me back. . .
"We'll just let Mission die a LITTLE bit. . ."
:)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something wicked: fear and loathing 4 second addendum
:-P
Exactly!
From: Ty
Subject: Something Wicked: dead rising
The quake ends quickly.
Inside the lodge, Rennik rushes to the fallen monk. He pulls Mission's shirt up, and sees the beginning of an enormous bruise forming on his sternum. He is still breathing, but his breath comes in ragged gasps, and each is accompanied by a grimace of pain. Sa'id kneels down to help, but can't help but feel frustrated. For all his considerable skill with dead bodies, he knows so little of how to aid a live one.
Farron looks down at the stricken man over Sa'id's shoulder, but moves away to look out the window. He seems drawn by something he sees there.
A moment later, Rennik and Sa'id hear a throat cleared from the hallway. Gully stands there, with one frightened looking wolf by his side. Gully has an ashamed look on his face. "I feel so ashamed, running out on you all like that. I don't know what came over me. All the lads have run off into the woods, all save Cutter here. Is your friend hurt bad? I have some bit of skill with tending wounds."
From the window, everyone hears Farron say, "Oh my god."
Flushed with shame, Garyth rushes back toward the lodge as quickly as he can go. Cadfael runs back as well, uttering prayers under his breath. Both of them feel the short quake, but run on anyway.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something Wicked: dead rising
Rennik looks up at Gully desperately. "Yes, friend. He is hurt bad, and we have no skill at healing."
He then rushes to the window to see what Farron is looking at.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something Wicked: dead rising
(OOC: The lodge is surrounded by skeletons. Lots and lots of skeletons. Everyone should be able to see them next round or whenever you arrive on the scene.)
Sa'id looks up at Farron's words, his gaze questioning. Farron nods sharply, and Sa'id fairly leaps up from Mission's prone form to see what the other wizard has been looking at. Hearing Rennik address Gully, Sa'id doesn't bother to turn. His breath catches in his throat as the scene outside sinks in, and he immediately begins rummaging about in his component pouch. He glances at Farron. "Did you memorize Web this morning?" Farron smiles grimly, realizing Sa'id's intent. "After you," Sa'id says. Farron begins his incantation, aiming his Web through the shattered window at the skeletons.
Sa'id begins some spellwork of his own. He begins weaving his Command Undead spell, targeting the skeletons nearest to what's left fo the window.
(OOC:
Farron wants to plant his Web in the middle of a group of skeletons that is NOT directly in front of the window -- i.e., he wants to target a group that is relatively far away either to the left or the right, as far as he can see, at any rate. He doesn't want the Web to touch the lodge.
I'm flying back to Ontario tomorrow, so I won't be checking my e-mail until the late afternoon. However, I have the next couple of rounds planned out for both Farron and Sa'id...
This round -- Sa'id will cast Command Undead and Farron will cast Web, as outlined. Sa'id will order any skeletons that come under his control to attack the other ones.
Next round -- Farron will cast Summon Monster III to help Sa'id's skeletons out. Sa'id will move out through the broken window so that he can see beyond Farron's Web and then cast Fireball, aiming at skeletons past Farron's Web, but touching the Web with the Fireball so that it too catches on fire. IF he can't do this without risking burning the lodge down, then he will instead cast Scorching Ray on one of the skeletons in Farron's Web. If even THAT would burn the lodge down, he'll instead use the Ray on a non-Webbed skeleton.
The round after that -- Farron will start using Magic Missiles, and Sa'id will use Scorching Ray or, if he's used that one, Burning Hands to attack any conveniently located skeletons.
That should be enough forward planning to get me through the next 18 hours. And remember, only you can prevent forest fires.)
:)
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something Wicked: dead rising
(OOC: Rennik has something of an "oh shit" moment looking out the window)
Rennik will run past Farron and Sa'id, careful not to bump into them as he can see they are deep in concentration. He will then do the following things in this order:
1. Drink the healing potion he's carrying.
2. Don his armor
3. Leave his pack, arrows and bow in the room.
4. Run towards whatever entrance Garyth and Cadfael are coming in.
(OOC again: Since his axe is pretty damn hefty, would it also act as a bashing weapon to these guys? I know slashing weapons do half damage, but I always think of that as scimitars and scythes and whatnot, rather than bigass axes)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something Wicked: dead rising
Actually, under 3e rules, a skeleton has damage resistance of 5/bludgeoning.
That means that the first 5 points of non bludgeoning damage are absorbed. Anything over 5 affects them normally. Since Rennik's axe does so much damage, it negates quite a bit of the 5 point damage reduction anyway. So, I would treat it as normal.
It will take Rennik 5 rounds to hastily don his studded leather armor.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Something Wicked: dead rising
I'm sure Cadfael isn't really sure that this is going on. He will continue running toward the lodge, he should be there at the end of this round, right?
Garyth Keeps Running
Subject: Re: Something Wicked: dead rising
Same for Garyth: he doesn't know yet so he continues running back to the lodge at top speed.
Karl Returns, Siege of Skeletons Begins
Subject: RE: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 4
I agree. Oh, and I'm back now. (But I can only play during the day since my home internet is still down.) :-(
From: Karl
Subject: RE: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 4
LOL :-)
From: Karl
Subject: RE: Something Wicked: dead rising
(ooc - I agree with this plan for Farron's actions and am eagerly awaiting the next update at which time I'll take charge of Farron again. Thanks to everyone for their patience while I've been incommunicado. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Oh, and just for clarification, is the lodge completely surrounded or does it just look like it from our single-window vantage point?)
From: Scott
Subject: RE: Something Wicked: dead rising
I think it worth noting that Mission is equipped with blunt weapons.
Of course, he lies expiring on the floor of the lodge until Gully or Cadfael's gets their tuckuses in gear and heals him. . .
From: Ty
Subject: RE: Something Wicked: dead rising
Next turn coming in just a bit. I am drawing a crude map of the layout.
From: Matt
Subject: RE: Something Wicked: dead rising
A CRUDE map?
Rennick will be the only one able to read it. . .
From: Ty
Subject: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 1
(I include my rough map of the outpost and its surrounding area.
Gray wall sections are known windows. Double lines intersecting walls are doorways.
The large room is the dining area. The rectangle against the east wall is the fireplace. The other two long rectangles are the two long tables in that room.
The room to the north of the dining room is Gully's kitchen. You have not been in that room, so don't know if there are doors or windows in that room.
The first room to the west of the great room, on the south side of the hallway is Anileth's room, and the room you are currently in.
The room north of that is empty, and the door is open.
The next room to the west on the south side of the hallway is Farron and Sa'id's room.
The room north of that is Rennik and Garyth's room. Rennik is running to that room to put on his armor.
The room furthest west is Gully's personal quarters. You have not been in that room, so don't know if there are windows or doors in it.
The outbuilding to the southeast of the lodge is the outhouse. The other three small outbuildings are smokehouses and tanning sheds. The large outbuilding is the barn.
Small gray ellipses are known skeleton positions.)
Initiative order:
Mission, Rennik, skeleton group two, Farron, Cadfael, Sa'id, mystery guest one, skeleton group one, skeleton group five, Garyth, skeleton group four, skeleton group three, mystery guest two, Gully and Cutter (will only fight if attacked)
Now that you have a map, I am going to do some quick scene setting, then wait to write up the first actual combat round until you get back to me. The layout may alter some of your plans.
In Game:
Mission continues to breath in ragged gasps, but now gully kneels next to him, shifting the monk's body into a position that looks very uncomfortable, but allows him to breath more freely. Gully looks up at whoever is closest and says, "Have any of your band healing draughts? I have some bandages and poultices, but they will have little affect on an internal wound such as this." (Mission is stabilized, but needs healing before he can act)
Rennik pulls one of the Cure Moderate Wounds vials from his belt as he runs to his room. He quickly swallows the thick, milky fluid, and feels a heat on the back of his head as the wound there knits up (heals 5+6+10 = 21 points of damage, he is fully healed). He grabs his armor off his bed, and prepares to don it, cursing the wasted seconds it will take to put it on.
Farron prepares to cast his web spell, looking for the most effective placement for it. (Karl, tell me where you want the web to go).
Sa'id stands by his side, preparing to cast his control undead spell. (Raja, tell me which group he is going to try and control).
Cadfael and Garyth burst out of the woods into the clearing surrounding the lodge. They see each other at about the same time, and are only 50 feet apart. The also both see the crowd of skeletons surrounding the lodge. So far, the skeletons act like they are unaware or unconcerned by the two men outside the lodge. Their attention is fixed on the room Mission is in.
(Give me updates on your strategy at this point, using the layout I have given)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 1
Mission groans and tries to move.
If he can articulate at all, he'll point out that he still has his Cure Moderate Wounds potion, and would be absolutely in favor of drinking it now.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 1
Garyth skids to a stop at the sight of the horde of skeletons surrounding the lodge. The sheer number of enemies is shocking, and Garyth knows that charging in this time could only lead to his death. The only hope for survival is to reach the lodge and hope that the walls provide some measure of protection.
Seeing Cadfael come crashing out of the woods, he shouts "Don't stop! Make for the lodge!" Assuming Cadfael heeds his advice, he'll also run for the lodge, making sure that Cadfael makes it through the door before he does, and barring it behind him.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 1
Farron reaches above the window frame and sweeps off a small cobweb, which he rubs between two fingers while gesturing with his free hand and muttering a few arcane syllables. (Casts Web, aiming in the area I have circled on the map, trying to entagle as many skeletons as possible. )
If Farron sees Cadfael returning from the woods (which I'm assuming he should), he will (upon completing his spell) yell to Cadfael, "We need your healing inside, NOW!"
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 1
Rennik is still in the midst of hastily donning his armor (curse those penalties - I need an armor wench!), and will rush to the door Garyth and Cadfael are coming through as soon as that's completed.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 1
(OOC: The skeleton I'm targeting with Command Undead is marked with an X. I'll command it to attack the other skeletons.)
Sa'id has readied a small piece of raw meat from his component pouch. Glaring directly at one of the skeletons, he pierces the piece of meat with a sharp shard of bone as he concludes his incantation. "Attack!" he shouts, ordering the skeleton to turn on its bretheren. Then he turns to Gully. "Mission carries a healing draught," he says, "but if it isn't at his belt, use mine." He tosses his own healing draught to Gully. Then he turns back to the window, noting the position of Farron's Web and mentally preparing an apology to Gully on the off chance that his tanning shed and outhouse go up in flames next round.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 1
Noticing Garyth and Cadfael approaching from the south, Sa'id grimaces in frustration. They're right where I want to cast my Fireball, he thinks. "Stay back!" he shouts at them, and then begins rummaging around in his component pouch.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 1
Ummm?.
No Raja. You are casting command undead when they appear. They can attempt to run to the door in the round while you cast. So, your yelling and rummaging is a bit premature. :)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 1
Oops. Okay.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 1
However, if they do not run to the door this turn, your yelling may be appropriate next turn. :)
Siege Round 2
Subject: we are waiting on you, dan
You claimed you were sending me a turn yesterday when you got done playing with your legos. Why did you lie to me like that?
From: Dan
Subject: Re: we are waiting on you, dan
Cadfael's eyes widen in shock as he breaks free of the trees, the sight of the skeletons ringing the lodge is not one he expected. He quickly glances around to take stock of the situation, and sees another figure heading toward the lodge. Moving to cut him off he realizes that it is Garyth and calls out, "Brother, keep behind me! Pelor will carve a path for us through these restless souls."
Brandishing his shield before him like a man brandishes a torch to ward off the dark Cadfael advances on the skeletal horde. When he is no more than a few feet behind the nearest skeleton he raises his voice to the heavens, "Pelor! Light the way in the darkness so these souls may find the rest they so justly deserve. For your light is the beacon to guide them. Guide them home, Father, guide them home." (Turn Undead)
He then makes a bee line for the door of the lodge.
From: Ty
Subject: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2
Gully catches the potion tossed to him by Sa'id, and helping Mission to a sitting position, pours it down his throat. Mission's eyes snap open as the burning heat courses through his body, and you can hear a cracking sound as bones are repaired in his chest. Mission wonders why everything those Pelor clerics cast or create includes this uncomfortable burning sensation. But when it is over, he appreciates their aid nonetheless (healed back up to 22 HP). He will now be able to join the fight.
Rennik is in his room, hastily working the clasps on his armor, getting it ready to put on, when he sees a dark shadow outside the window. He pauses for a second, to get a better view....
To Cadfael and Garyth outside, it looks like some invisible command is given, because a group of skeletons on the west side of the lodge suddenly lurch forward and smash through a window in Gully's rooms. Those inside the lodge can hear the glass breaking on the other side of Gully's closed bedroom door.
Farron pays no attention to the sound of breaking glass, as his concentration is fully absorbed in finishing his spell. A small ball of rolled up spider web streaks from his hand to land in the middle of a group of five skeletons (where you marked it Karl), and explodes into a large area of heavy and sticky strands. The five skeletons in the area all attempt to lurch away from the blast, (Reflex saves 22, 5, 17, 11, 12) but three of them are hopelessly entangled. The other two begin moving towards the window.
Cadfael runs toward the door, praying loudly to his god, and holding his shield in front of him. About five feet from the backs of the skeletons on the south side of the lodge, the shield erupts into blinding brilliance, as if the sun suddenly reflected of a perfect mirror. All of the skeletons within 60 feet of his shield suddenly erupt in flame, and collapse into dust. Six skeletons are instantly destroyed, including one of those trapped in Farron's web. This opens a wide corridor for both Cadfael and Garyth to run through.
Sa'id, meanwhile, is just finishing his Control Undead spell. He shouts out the window to the skeleton to attack, and it begins moving to intercept one of the two skeletons that evaded the web.
The shadow that Rennik saw through his bedroom window suddenly looms larger, and a snarling hissing beastman bursts through in a hail of shattered glass. The twisted, hybrid wereboar form of Horan faces Rennik, his face twisted with rage. He speaks slurred words, through a tusked mouth not designed for halfling speech, "Finally, I am allowed to kill you." Then he drops into a fighting crouch, mouth agape, and clawed hands held wide. Rennik suddenly realizes how the boy and the horse got claw wounds. In his hybrid form, the wereboar's hands become hideous claws of hooflike substance. Those in the other room can hear the breaking glass and the wereboar's threats.
Outside, the appearance of the Cleric and Garyth seems to spur the other skeleton groups forward, and two more large groups of skeletons assault the lodge, breaking windows and trying to get in.
Garyth just slips past one group that is moving so seal up the breach created by Cadfael's turning. He and Cadfael get in the front door just in time to slam it shut and bar it before the skeletons get in. A split second later they are breaking the large window into the dining hall. In moments they will be inside.
(Everyone is able to act. I am including an updated map. The red circle is the area of web, in which two skeletons are caught and marked by red X's. The green X shows the skeleton that Sa'id controls, and the green arrow shows its path. The large black circle with black X's in it shows the area covered by Cadfael's turning spell, and the skeletons destroyed by it. Please check in. Even though Raja gave me a bunch of actions last round, I still want him and Karl to check in and confirm, as recent events may have altered their plans.)
From: Ty
Subject: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
[Editor's Note: I lost Ty's original map that went with this entry, but the one I substituted in is the same except for the letters indicating players/NPCs.]
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2
The moment that Garyth crosses the threshold his eyes search the room for anything that he could use as a weapon: a fire poker, a piece of firewood, anything. His puny dagger will obviously be of no use against the fleshless undead.
Having grabbed any avallable makeshift weapon, he scans the room, trying to establish good lines of defense. His planning is interrupted by the sound of breaking glass, though. "Stay back!" he shouts at Cadfael, and moves to protect the cleric.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2
(OOC: It's clobberin' time!)
Rennik doesn't hesitate. His hands immediately grab the haft of his axe leaning against his bed, forgetting the armor entirely, and he wastes no time forming words. The inarticulate burst of sound from his throat is half scream and half growl, as though it came from his opponent instead of himself. (rage starts now)
Swinging his axe with full force, Rennik seeks to end the fight before it begins, hoping to drive the ribs in Horan's chest through his back and into the window frame (Power Attack +2).
(OOC: C'mon critical... papa needs a new pair o' shoes...)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
Sa'id's eyes widen as Pelor's might burns the skeletons to dust, but he doesn't have time to adjust his plan as he hears Horan burst into Rennik's room behind him. Turning, he looks to see if he can line up a clear shot, but Rennik is between him and Horan. "Magic Missile won't miss," he says to Farron, "but my spells might." Then he steps out of the shattered window onto the lawn surrounding the lodge. Looking quickly to his left and right, he sees skeletons approaching with unnerving speed. Muttering a quick apology to Gully, he begins his Fireball incantation, targeting the skeletons to his left (OOC: as indicated on the map, though hopefully since the skeletons are moving that fifth one is now inside the Fireball's radius).
BMP vs. JPG, Round 3
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2
(OOC - and if things don't go so well, papa might need a new pair of feet. :-) )
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
(OOC - If I recall correctly, Rennik is not in the room directly across the hall, but one room up and across the hall. Correct? Also, if one of the webbed skeletons has burst into flame, then the web is on fire, right? That will do fire damage to the two remaining trapped skeletons, right?)
Farron hears the noise from Rennik's room and, seeing that the skeletons in the front of the lodge are mostly taken care of, he moves towards Rennik's room. (As soon as he can reasonably see what Rennik is dealing with and target Horan, he will cast magic missile. If that is this round, great. If not, he will cast it next round.)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
"Where is she?" Mission groans. "Where is Anileth? What happened?"
The stink of magery is heavy in the room. Mission pushes himself to his feet and sees the skeletons lurching toward the lodge.
Time for questions later. Mission will follow Sa'id to keep him safe from attack.
(OOC: I've included a map noting where everyone is. Have I got things right, Ty?)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
OK, unless I'm confused, the character placement should be as I have corrected below. Ty, who, if any of us, is most accurate? (and I'm assuming the "W" is "Wereboar" (i.e. Horan).
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
OK, unless I'm confused, the character placement should be as I have corrected below. Ty, who, if any of us, is most accurate? (and I'm assuming the "W" is "Wereboar" (i.e. Horan).
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
Oh, and the "G" is Garyth. Gully should be in Anileth's room with Farron and Mission at the start of this turn.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
Once reaching the common room Cadfael will not slow but will continue to the room where Farron called him to administer healing.
(OOC -- Ok, can we please please please stop saving that map as a bitmap? Today, in under 12 hours, I got over 1.5megs worth of maps for the game. While I appreciate having the maps, it also stuffed my Hotmail account to the brim and I haven't been able to receive any messages of any kind for the past few hours. Along that vein, if anything happened after Karl's message saying that the "G" was Garyth I haven't gotten it. Can someone forward it them to me?)
(OOC2 -- In closing: .bmp = bad .jpeg = better.)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
Hotmail = bad
Yahoo mail= better
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
Fair enough, I suppose. Can we get wally_russ@hotmail.com removed from the mailing list and add bobtlawyer@yahoo.ca -- Just to make life easier for me.
Also, based on that snide remark, I'm going to assume that I didn't miss any game E-mails :)
Lastly, I still say .jpgs are better, if only because they take less time to download (and I don't want to appear to be wrong)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
Done.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
OOC email regarding image formats:
The .bmp format, while uncompressed, is precisely what its name implies: a "bit map." In other words, the reason .bmp files are so big is that each individual pixel, even if it's just white space, is saved. The compressed formats -- .jpg, .png, .gif, and so on -- all use various algorithms to prune out useless data (like all that white space). It's analogous to .mp3 versus .wav for audio -- .wav is uncompressed, and therefore massive, while .mp3 is compressed.
Whenever I get a .bmp map and add my update to it convert it to .jpg and then send that out, so if nothing else there I'm always going to be a source of .jpgs.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 2 ( now with map!)
Um, excuse the completely incoherent final sentence in that last email. Last night was late and drunken. :-P
From: Ty
Subject: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 3
OOC: Answer to karl. No, the holy flame that destroyed the skeleton in the webbing did not cause the web itself to catch on fire. There are still two undamaged skeletons caught in it.
Mission looks about him, confused and groggy from his injury and sudden healing. Anileth is clearly gone, but she has left something evil in her wake. All around him, he can hear the sounds of fighting and breaking glass. Out the window in front of him, he can see groups of skeletons moving toward the lodge. Sa'id has been casting spells out the window, by the look of him, and now looks like he is getting ready to climb right outside. "Wizards," Mission curses under his breath. He moves to Sa'id's side, and pushes him gently back, then leaps out the window to defend it. Immediately he is set upon by two skeletons from the right. Without thought, his leg flashes out in two rapid kicks [Attacks 22 and 10]. One of them strikes home, and the skeleton closest to him [Damage 7] collapses into a pile of inanimate bone shards.
When Rennik first saw Horan, his rage came up without a moments thought. Now, as he steps forward in a powerful swing, it focuses down to a white hot intensity, unlike anything Rennik has ever experienced before. Three years of hunting, three years of sorrow over his lost bride and his best friend taken by evil, three years of torment and self doubt, are all compressed into this one second in time. The swing has no finesse, no art to it. There is no attempt at defense, or caution. But in the tiny room, there is nowhere to go, and the blow lands on Horan's side with a sound like the chopping of damp wood [Attack 20]. Horan is flung against the wall with the power of the blow [Damage 17], but rebounds onto his feet, looking wounded but still in the fight.
From the west, the sounds of scratching on wood can be heard. The skeletons are pouring into Gully's quarters, and they begin pounding on his bedroom door to get into the hall. Fortunately, he keeps his rooms locked, and the key is on him, but the thin plank door will not keep them out of the hallway for long.
Farron moves into the hall behind Rennik as his battle with Horan rages on. He is discomfited by the pounding of the skeletons on the door to his immediate left, but is able to focus in spite of it [Concentration check successful]. He casts magic missile into the room, pointing at the slavering werebeast. Three missiles strike, [Damage 5, 4, 2], and three small holes are punched into Horan's leathery hide.
Cadfael rushes into the hallway, having heard Sa'id yelling for healing help. He runs into Gully and Cutter, who block most of the hallway. Gully has an expression on his face close to panic, but he grips a bedwarmer he picked up from somewhere in both hands, and looks ready to swing it at the next skeleton to show its face. By his side, the big wolf, Cutter, rumbles out a steady growl and shows its teeth in a frightening display. It is clear that any skeleton trying to get to Gully will have to go through the wolf first. (I put Cadfael's move on hold for a moment)
Sa'id is momentarily irritated by Mission pushing past him like that, but gets over it quickly when he sees the monk engaged in hand to hand combat with two skeletons right outside the window. Sa'id realizes that that would be him, trying to kill the undead things with his bare hands, had Mission not taken his place. Still, he wants to carry on with his original plan, so trusting to Mission to protect him from the closer skeletons, he leans out the window, tearing his shirt a bit on the jagged glass, and casts a fireball spell at the skeleton group moving toward the front window of the lodge (skeletons in red circle). He aims it carefully, trying to hit as many of the undead as possible, without lighting the lodge or the outhouse on fire [Touch attack 9]. Unfortunately, the awkward position throws off his perspective, and the edge of the blast hits the front wall of the lodge. The heavy and rain soaked logs of the lodge do not catch fire easily, but the window pane, made of lighter wood, does burst into flame. On the positive side, all five skeletons caught in the blast are instantly annihilated.
At that same moment, Sa'id's dominated skeleton attacks one of his comrades. It swings with both of its bony claws [Attacks 17 and 11], and one of the blows connects [Damage 5]. The skeleton it struck mindlessly returns its attack [Attacks 14 and 10], also landing one blow [Damage 4].
Garyth can hear skeletons breaking through a door into the kitchen behind him, he can also see skeletons starting to come through the broken front window, though only two make it in before a sudden blast of fire outside annihilates the rest of the group and sets the window frame on fire. Those two skeletons immediately attack him [Attacks 16, 1, 9, 14]. Two of the blows hit [Garyth's AC is 14 versus the 1st skeleton, and 13 vs the 2nd] inflicting painful scratch like wounds [Damage 2 and 2].
Garyth had been looking for a good blunt weapon, and had his eye on the fireplace poker. But now, backing away from the two skeletons that stand between him and it, he takes one last desperate glance around the room. Partially hidden by a hanging cloak, and leaning on the wall right behind him, is a stout walking stick. He quickly grabs it up, and it feels like it could make a useable weapon. In fact, it is almost exactly the same length and weight as the practice stick he would use when training to fight with a two handed sword. He knows that it can deliver a powerful blow in a two handed grip. Now equipped with a weapon, he steps forward and swings at the first skeleton facing him [Attack 14]. He is not accustomed to fighting with a heavy two handed weapon, and his attack lacks his usual finesse, but on the unarmored skeleton it still lands home [Damage 10] and the undead thing is crushed.
All around the lodge there is the sound of breaking glass and shattering doors. Directly north of Gully, in the empty room, the window shatters and skeletons begin to enter the room. (now unpausing Cadfael). Cadfael quickly steps up to the doorway to block their access into the hall.
Inside the room with Rennik, Horan, heavily wounded by the axe blow and magic missiles, launches himself at his opponent. The wereboar swings its vicious claws and then tries to gore with its heavy tusks [Attacks 23, 17, 10]. Both claws hit, though luckily the tusks do not [Damage 4 and 7]. Outside the window at Horan's back, skeletons are already crowding around and trying to climb in.
(Round four after you guys all check in. By next round, the lodge will be crawling with skeletons. As you can see from the map, they are entering in at least five different locations.)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 3
Garyth hears the sounds of skeletons entering the kitchen and knows that if he lets them gain entry to the common room he will soon find himself overwhelmed. He quickly disengages from the remaining skeleton and jumps over the nearer table. As fast as he can he overturns the other table and jams it against the kitchen door.
(OOC: Keep his Dodge point on the remaining skeleton.)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 3
As Farron sees the horrible sight of the wereboar in the room with Rennik, he hears cracking wood to his left and a snarling wolf to his right. It takes only an instant to realize that the snarling is not a threat to himself. The cracking wood can only be bad, but he puts his hope in the strength of Gully's door and casts Summon Monster III (1 Dire Badger) in the room, hopefully between Rennik and the wereboar, but a little to the side to give Rennik room to swing. If possible, he will direct the dire badger to full attack (2 claws and bite) on the wereboar.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 3
Cadfael desperately tries to keep the door closed against the skeletons, but knows he is fighting a losing battle. As skeletal hand bursts through the door, clawing for his face he suddenly gets an idea.
He lets go of the door and does his best to place himself between Gully and the oncoming skeletons and prays to Pelor to protect him and his companions from evil (Magic Circle Against Evil centered on himself).
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 3
Rennik sacrifices his body to the attack from Horan's claws to avoid the tusks aimed at his throat, bending his head and neck out of the way at the last moment. Bolstered by the satisfying crunch of his first attack and the holes that ripped through the beast's chest a moment ago, he presses his advantage and swings again at Horan's main body mass, hoping to split the beast in two like cordwood and ignoring everything else in the room. (power attack +4)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 3
"Thanks," Sa'id says to Mission as he clambers fully out of the window and onto the lawn. Circling past Mission and his own controlled skeleton, he moves over to the web, muttering a short prayer to Pelor and then preparing to cast Burning Hands, targeting Farron's Web to deal with both trapped skeletons.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 3
We are only waiting on Scott at this point. :)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 3
Mission gives Sa'id a nod. "You're welcome." But his tongue is thick and his voice rough, and there is less welcome in it than ever before.
He was so close to his child. So close to redemption. To have it snatched away, and then not be able to pursue is infuriating. But Mission remembers his duty-- and reminds himself that if Anileth has disappeared, he knows he will find her. Eastward.
Mission will attack the remaining skeleton in front of him, and continue to watch Sa'id's back.
Round 4
Subject: TEST
test
From: Karl
Subject: Re: TEST
Passed.
From: Ty
Subject: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 4
Mission watches the first skeleton crumble to dust with a grim satisfaction. Did Anileth really expect *these* to kill him? Then two more of the clanking things quickly round the SW corner of the lodge. Numbers. She expects to overrun him with numbers. But he has laid eyes now on his promised redemption, and the world itself does not contain enough dead men to stop him from laying hold of it. His arms flashing with power, he strikes the skeleton in front of him with two quick blows, though only one of them lands solidly [Attacks 23 and 8]. Even one punch from Mission is enough to destroy these brittle things [Damage 11]. He then turns to face the two that approach, keeping himself between them and the wizard climbing out the window.
Rennik's blood pounds in his temples as he shifts his position to keep an overturned bed between himself and the next wereboar lunge. He has been wounded twice, and a deep panicky part of his mind wonders if he is infected now. What did the elves say? Is it only bites? Must saliva or blood get into the wound? The hot rage keeps him from concentrating, and there will be time enough to sort it out after the beast is dead. Rennik feints around one side of the bed, and when Horan moves the other direction, Rennik leaps to the top of the bed, and brings his axe down in a diagonal slash aimed at the creature's thick torso. His tactics are good, but the bed wobbles as he jumps onto it, and he nearly falls [Attack 14 (roll 4+14 to hit -4 power attack, so, for the first time your power attack made you miss, matt)]. It is all he can do to keep the axe from flying out of his hands, and his blow goes wide.
[I am writing Farron's turn next, even though skeleton group two (the one in Gully's room) is higher in the initiative order than him. The reasons will become apparent.]
Farron is watching the battle in Rennik's room with wide eyes. It is like watching two ferocious dogs fighting. The feints and lunges and blows happen so fast that they can barely be discerned by the naked eye. One thing he does know is that the valiant little halfling is facing the werecreature alone, and a horde of skeletons are trying to get into the room with him as well. He will need help. Farron squares his shoulders, and plucks his trusty candle out of one of the many pockets in his robes. Before he can even begin to cast a spell though, the door to his left explodes into the hallway, striking him on the shoulder, and skeletons begin coming through.
[Skeleton group two]
The first skeleton into the hall launches itself at Farron's throat, sharp bone fingertips reaching and clawing. Farron steps agilely away, and both attacks miss [Attacks 2 and 7], but he can see a half dozen or so skeletons in the room behind the first, and he feels a panic rise as he realizes that he can not hold this hallway against them alone.
Cadfael, deep in prayer, is only peripherally aware of Farron's plight. He prays in a resounding voice, "Great Pelor, giver of light, shine down on your servant. Drive back this foul darkness." A gentle glow fills the air around him. It extends a full ten feet in every direction around (blue circle on map), and judging by the reaction of the skeleton in the room north of Cadfael, the skeletons are loath to enter the glowing area.
Sa'id finishes clambering out the broken window, though not without a few more rips to his garb. Such things as the state of his clothing do not even enter into his mind. *This* is all *very* interesting. Clearly the woman was an undead creature of great power, perhaps a lich of some type, since she lacked many of the characteristics of vampires and other undead. And now, they are literally surrounded by hordes of the undead. It is an astonishing display of negative plane power. Whoever is behind it has the ability to tap into that dark plane on a level Sa'id has never seen before. Even as Sa'id moves to the edge of the web, and casts his burning hands spell, his mind is racing with information overload. Fortunately, long years of training have taught him to focus that part of his mind required for successful spell casting, even when there are so many other interesting things happening. He fans his fingers toward the web, and a spray of fire ignites it in a flash. Both skeletons are charred [Damage 7 and 8], and destroyed.
By his side, the fight between the two skeletons rages on. Sa'id's skeleton attacks twice more [Attacks 16 and 8], and one of the blows strikes home, destroying his opponent. With no enemies in its immediate area, it stands motionless afterward.
Sa'id takes a quick look around him. The skeletons at the front of the lodge seem to be destroyed, though there are two left fighting mission. While he quickly ponders his possible actions, a blur in the air catches his eye, and he turns his head just in time to see what appears to be an incorporeal glowing flail swing at his face. [Attack 15] He is able to duck his head out of the way, but the magical flail strikes him on the shoulder [Damage 6] with a painful and almost collarbone breaking blow. It then pulls back and hovers, readying another strike.
The remaining skeleton fighting Garyth attacks again [Attacks 14 and 4], and one claw lands a blow [Damage 3]. Meanwhile, another skeleton crawls in the window from outside, and moves around the table toward him.
Garyth, realizing that if the skeletons in the kitchen get in he will be totally surrounded, drops his staff and throws his shoulder into the big table to his left. He shoves it across the room and up against the north wall, blocking the door shut. However, as he pushes, both skeletons in the room attack him [2 attacks of opportunity, Attacks 20, possible critical, threat roll 12, critical failed, and second attack 5]. Only one hits, and another stinging wound is opened up [Damage 4].
The skeletons on the other side of the kitchen door can be heard banging into it. Each time they do, the door pushes the table away a little bit. They will quickly be able to push their way in, especially if Garyth is busy defending himself from the two in this room. However, from his current position, Garyth can now see the gentle magical glow surrounding Cadfael, and Gully and Cutter cowering inside it next to the priest. No skeletons seem to be attacking them.
Outside, the two skeletons attack Mission. They run at him, claws outstretched, in a way that would almost be comical without their murderous intent. They look like puppets, Mission thinks. But this thought brings to mind who the puppet master is, and all humor is lost. [Attacks 6, 14, 16, 11] With grim purpose, Mission blocks each of their clumsy attacks, looking for the opening he needs to destroy both the unholy things.
Inside Rennik's room, Horan watches him slip off the bed and nearly fall, then lunges at him, laughing in a strange gurgling mockery of the pure laughter they shared before the devilboar change. Again he attacks with claws and tusks [Attacks 17, 21, roll 20 possible critical, threat roll 17, critical hit], and this time his off balanced opponent can't defend himself. All three blows strike home, and the tusks gore him with a vicious blow to the chest [Damage 6, 7, 8, total 21]. He just infected me, Rennik thinks, as he fights to get his balance back and finish Horan off.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 4
Garyth notices the skeletons staying away from Cadfael and Gully and feels a bit of relief. He needn't worry about keeping them safe for the moment. But there is no time to reflect on that, he must destroy the two remaining skeletons before the others get into the room. He grabs the staff and attacks the nearest skeleton.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 4
(OOC - I guess Farron's spell was lost (??). The "before he can even begin" part makes me question, though, but for turn purposes I'll assume it was lost. You can edit my turn as necessary if this is not correct.)
Farron curses himself for the second wasted spell in the space of seconds even as he dodges the blows from the skeletons. Clearly he can't be of use if he can't get a spell off before being overrun. With lightening quick thought, he considers entering the room with Horan and Rennik, but would probably be in the way. Just then he notices the gentle glow of Cadfael's circle and moves toward it hoping to find enough protection to cast Magic Missile at at Horan again. (If he can't move then cast this turn, he will move into safety and then cast next turn.)
(OOC - I'm out of the office early tomorrow (10:30 AM or so, so I'll let Raja play Farron if I can't before then.).
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 4
Sa'id grimaces in pain as the magical flail strikes him, but the pain spurs his mental gears to turn even quicker. "Defend me!" he calls to his skeletal ally. He then turns his attention to his assailant, allowing his speculations about Anileth's nature to churn about in the back of his mind while focusing his intellect on the more pressing problem. Sa'id flicks mentally through his options... Detect Undead would tell him if the flail is animated by a Poltergeist, but possibly at the cost of another broken bone. Mirror Image might be able to protect him. Scorching Ray and Burning Hands are useless without targets. All of this goes through Sa'id's mind in a heartbeat, and he discards each of these possiblities in turn before settling on the spell most likely to help him -- Dispel Magic. The flail's incorporeal nature leads Sa'id to suspect that it is a magical apparition. Shifting his attention outward to the flail, he points his finger and thumb outward toward it, then spins his hand in a circular motion. Mindful of his inflection, he speaks the words of Dispel Magic in a commanding tone. (OOC: Targeted dispel at the flail.)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 4
No, you didn't lose it. They interrupted you prior to casting. (skeleton group 2 is higher up the initiative order than you.)
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 4
The sounds of battle rage all around him and for a moment Cadfael appears unable to decide where to go and what to do. Then he calls out, as loudly as he can, "Brothers! This evil cannot cross the circle! Rally to me!" He then takes a few steps backwards (OOC -- I'm going to try and get Farron in the circle, but mostly I'm trying to cover bother Northern doorways in the hall. If I can't I'll make sure it totally envelopes the one closest to Garyth and cover as much of the rest of hallway as I can).
He then closes his eyes and gets down on one knee and begins praying once more for Pelor's blessings (Casts Prayer).
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 4
Rennik is reeling from the last hit, tossed like rag doll through the footer of the bed into a bureau. The gash in his chest gives him a sickly feeling in the pit of his stomach but only strengthens his resolve. He will not waste away as Horan did for a month, waiting to change and be taken into the woods by his former friend. He will kill his attacker or die in the attempt - hoping that the belladonna they picked yesterday will cure him of his infection.
His wild attack had thrown him off balance, as his rage clouded his mind. Reigning in his anger, he tempers it and freezes it in his chest, placing more care into his next attack - an upward thrust intended to plunge the blade of the weapon up under Horan's ribcage on his left side. (power attack 1)
Vaguely he hears a voice calling out to rally, but it doesn't register as conscious thought. The world has been erased. His pain has been erased. The world does not exist beyond Horan's back and his own, and the blood dripping from his chest is forgotten in his cold rage. All thoughts of self preservation have fled, and his single goal is to kill Horan.
(OOC: Sure... HE gets all the good rolls. I get a friggin' 4. A four! And he criticalls me, damnit! Grumble, grumble, grumble, stupid lycanthropes, grumble...)
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 4
(OOC: Btw, my total attack bonus right now should be +15, not +14... and what is my Fort save roll CD 15 against infection? or don't you want to tell me that?)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 4
Mission sees Sa'id wandering off toward the skeletons trapped in the web out of the corner of his eye. Idiot! Wandering off into the dark with an army of skeletons and who knows what else, and not so much as a dagger to. . . and then a burst of light from Sa'id's fingers and a fan of fire erupts to engulf the web, the skeletons, everything in front of him.
Magery, again. Mission almost turns away to face the skeletons, but the flash of the spectral mace draws his gaze back toward Sa'id.
He curses as he sees the wizard take a blow on the shoulder. He will tumble to Sa'id and protect him from any enemy he can sense.
Sand take all mages and their foolishness!
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Something Wicked; Dead men siege 4
I am waiting till after the fight to tell you :)