Rennik's Prayers, Lots of Internal Monologue, An Answer?
Subject: Re: where do we go now
Are Sa'id and garyth going to answer this?
I need to know what to do before writing the next turn.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: where do we go now
Sa'id's gaze flicks back and forth between Rennik and Mission, but he doesn't speak until he notices a glaring ommission.
"No one has mentioned Elise." He lets her name hang over the party like a shroud before continuing: "She could destroy us all, but despite what has happened to Cadfael, his presence still shields us from the sight of Kor Garesh and his minions - including Elise."
Sa'id looks directly at Rennik. "If you leave us again, I suspect she will find and kill you. You seek to warn your people and I believe she will not allow that to happen. I think we can only hope to escape Kor Garesh now by remaining with Cadfael, mad though he may be. I don't wish to see you die, nor myself - but Mission saved my life twice and I have promised to help him save his boy. I believe that if we do succeed, Kor Garesh will be sufficiently delayed and his minions sufficiently confused that there will be time to warn Huss of the coming darkness."
"I believe you when you say attempting a trek through the jungle is madness, but I would rather be killed by swamp dragons than by Elise. Swamp dragons wouldn't take pleasure in rending the flesh from my bones as painfully as possible. Swamp dragons wouldn't sacrifice me to a murderous and vengeful god. If I die in the jungle, at least my soul will be at peace."
"I must go with Mission."
From: Matt
Subject: Re: where do we go now
Rennik's attention snaps to Sa'id at his words, confused and angry.
"What do you know of this dark god's attentions?!? What about our mad priest shields us from anything?!? He is in the service of this dark god - he bears a ring of vile magery that does not blind this evil, but draws its attention!"
"Have we not just been set upon by darkness and madness? Were we not almost killed because they knew exactly where we were heading, and exactly what path we took? How has our closeness to this madman protected us from this god? What do you know, spellweaver? What knowledge do you keep from us?"
Before Sa'id has a chance to react, Rennik will push on.
"And what do you know of the she bitch? How would she know what I seek - does she read minds?!? Do they not *want* us to turn back? Do they not want us to run from the mountain? *Why else* would they put obstacles in our path, but to turn us away? If anything, I was attacked by the she-bitch because I moved *toward* the mountain, and found the map that would lead us to them. What would they gain in diverting their energy toward a fleeing adversary, when others are still forging forward?"
"And your ignorance of this jungle makes your decision even more laughable. I would MUCH rather a fight with Elise than a swamp dragon, or any of several other creatures in this jungle. Elise is a human, and can be beaten. She may be strong, she may be able to wield dark magics, but she is an adversary who can be fought head-on. A swamp dragon is not - nor are any of the poisonous reptiles, amphibians, insects and plants that can cause just as painful a death, without any hope of success."
"I can respect your life debt, though my soul mourns that you have bound yourself to such a one as this monk..."
Calming, he sighs heavily and shakes his head slowly from side to side. He speaks to the ground in the halfling tongue of his people, almost in prayer, but not to any one god in particular. It almost seems as though he is appealing to the forest, or the spirits of the plants and animals that surround him. It is not an appeal to any deity, but to the forces of the world.
"I know not what to do. I am empty, and my goddess has abandoned me with fools and madmen. The path forward reeks of death, and the path behind is treacherous. Evil has come to my people, and I am powerless against it. I have been beaten and my weapons broken, humbled before the world. I am a wolf set upon by predators, surrounded and protected only by blind, toothless cubs. What am I to do? How might I be like the river, or tree? How might I be like the wind, or rain? How am I to know my direction, my place in the world?"
Opening himself to his surroundings, he blocks out the humans, ignoring any words they may speak or pleas they may make. If they leave without him, he would scarcely notice and care even less. It is as though they have faded away, and Rennik is left with his thoughts and the wild.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: where do we go now
A turn coming tonight.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: where do we go now
Did you guys get [my] email when it went out yesterday? It seems like the responses, especially Ty's, indicate that some of you may have missed it.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: where do we go now
[OOC: This email is entirely composed of internal monologue. It doesn't actually affect the game. I did get Mike's email yesterday.]
Sa'id listens to Rennik's angry words in dismay. The halfling's arrogance and narrow worldview had clearly blinded him to all logic and reason. His devotion to his people was admirable, but his mistrust of humans would likely be his demise.
The dark-skinned wizard's eyes flick over the rest of the group. Of them, Cadfael was mad, Rennik and Mission were single-minded and obstinate in the pursuit of their goals... Garyth at least had good intentions, and Farron was possessed of wit. But none of them, it appeared, could see the situation with the same clarity as himself. If Mission saved Promise, he would return to seclusion with his order to raise and safeguard his son. Cadfael would... Cadfael would most likely die. Garyth and Farron would return to Overlook and the former at least would aid in its defense. Rennik would be dead.
..leaving a lone, outcast necromancer to tell the Isle of Huss what was coming to devour it? To somehow convince the cities and towns to combine their forces against the undead and soulless, these blasphemies against the natural order of life and death?
Fools.
None of them even respected his power - with the possible exception of Farron. None of them paid any mind to the destruction he was capable of wreaking, and it was clear that few if any of them respected his intellect. They'd ignored his bluff in the tower, ignored the skeletons he had incinerated at the lodge, and only Mission had bothered to protect him in battle - but Mission must view him as a child, always needing to be followed around to make sure no one accidentally killed him. And for this he owed the monk his life, though he wasn't sure that the other man even cared about it beyond what aid Sa'id could lend in his effort to save Promise.
If only he could simply ride the waves back to Ammar, to the windswept sands of his homeland. Bid'di a'rooh, bas lasim... khara. But the darkness would not be confined to Huss. Gods were not so easily sated. For the thousandth time, Sa'id curses the entire pantheon for his mother's life, but now he also curses them for what they have wrought among the members of this small group.
His black mood is brightened somewhat by a flicker of hope in the back of his mind. He does have SOME respect for these strange people whose company he keeps. Mission, though single-minded, was noble. Garyth was brave. Farron was cunning. These three at least might TRY. If he could convince them. Perhaps if the world was able to rid itself of Kor Garesh, it might realize that it did not need ANY of the gods... The oppressiveness of his surroundings keeps true optimism at bay, though, reminding him that they would all most likely die before even reaching Anileth and Promise.
Shaking his head, he moves to stand with Mission, Garyth, and Farron.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: where do we go now
:applause:
From: Matt
Subject: Re: where do we go now
Yes, Mike, I did get your email. Rennik just has no interest in Garyth's words at the moment. To him, quite frankly, sticking together with Mission and Cadfael has become equated with failure and death.
I probably should have had Rennik acknowledge that Garyth spoke and then wrote off his words, but his reaction to Sa'id's totally out of the blue speculation about Cadfael took precedence. Oops! Sorry 'bout that.
I'm reaaally having trouble justifying Rennik sticking around with the group, though. We'll see what the spirits of the land have to say. o_O
From: Raja
Subject: Re: where do we go now
You just don't love us anymore.
Rennik's Int is just too low to see how right Sa'id is. ;)
From: Matt
Subject: Re: where do we go now
Just as an aside...
That information about Cadfael and the Kor Garesh blindspot is a new entry into the public domain... no one knew about that yet. There was some evidence, but it had never been stated outright. That's why Rennik responded with such hostility - he didn't make the same mental leaps of faith that Sa'id did. Ty says that Sa'id could have figured it out with his high Intelligence, but he presented it to Rennik as a "duh, you should know this" fact... which made the halfling blow his top.
Just so you didn't think I was just being ornery. :)
Though I am curious how everyone else is taking that news... or processing that information.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: where do we go now
Ah, but what you're forgetting is that Sa'id assumes his own word to be gospel for everyone else.
:-P
From: Raja
Subject: Re: where do we go now
..so you're supposed to believe him because he believes himself to always be right. :)
From: Dan
Subject: Re: where do we go now
Cadfael reaches the edge of the clearing and stops as though the trees were a wall. With trembling fingers he reaches out to touch a trunk and looks up through the canopy of branches, the sun casting a patchwork shadow across his face.
..."You will DIE if you follow the PRIEST"...
Cadfael grits his teeth to hold back the tears and presses his cheek against the wood. Damp enough that, should he lose control, he need not feel the wetness on his face to be reminded of it. So tired. Always reaching, clawing to stay at the surface, to stay aloft. Someone had fallen, hadn't they? He could see her falling from his arms, burning with fever. So fragile, laying there on the floor. He had felt that if he breathed to hard she might blow away... And yet, somehow it had been he who had shattered and was left with a handful of pieces that kept slipping through his fingers.
..."I have faith in Cadfael"...
Faith... No matter how he threatened and raged his faith still walked beside with him. He could still feel its lingering touch. Desperately he wanted to destroy it for all it had done. To burn it, to punish it, to -- What had it done? ... It was why he was here, it was hard as rock and demanded his blood! It kept his feet on the path to his fate. A fate *he* wanted no part of... but it mattered so to Pelor. Mission? Faces were blurring behind his eyes.
..."If I die in the jungle, at least my soul will be at peace"...
A pardon? Forgiveness? Or, perhaps reassurance that this path lead to a promise. What sins cannot be forgiven? Could the death of a man, a mother, could these be washed away? And, more dearly, could the breaking of a spirit be put in the past? He yearned to regain that trust, but perhaps he had lost it forever. Could he ever forgive Pelor for the wounds he had inflicted?
..."we have strength and hope only together"...
Kor Garesh, the Darkness was the only hope the Light had. Somehow there had to be room for both in his heart, he had to surrender to each. He was the key to the other, the fate of two Gods lay in his shaking hands. They had each set him up to fall and he knew in falling he was to take one with him. So much depended on him that his way had been set with golden and obsidion markers and despite it all he still felt lost.
..."I am empty, and my goddess has abandoned me with fools and madmen"...
How could he be filled with the strength of two Gods and still feel so hollow? Alone with no company but himself. It was not right! The Gods are just that, Gods. And two had staked their fates with him. With the power of two Gods behind him could he not choose his own path? Cut out in a direction of his choosing?
But no. All this talk of emptiness, Gods and madmen was nothing but the whisper of his pride whirling in his mind. And now, now he was too exhausted, to close to his purpose to hold on to that and Gods. The time had come to make his peace and set his pride on a new direction. It could not be left to eat away inside him, to lead him astray. He would be lost without him, he could see that now. Cadfael closes his eyes as a feeling of clarity settles in and waits for it to give him direction.
"Rennik!"
His heart beats faster. Very near to a panic Cadfael runs across the clearing. Where is the Halfling? There, in a stupor, mind closed to the world.
"Rennik," he says softly, kneeling before him and gently holding his face in his hands, "I need you. Your people need you. You were spared the visions I have seen, but Rennik, too many halflings have given their souls to only be members of a forgotten tribe. It has spread beyond the members of the Murrkat. Remember your cousin? A good man, a strong man, and lost to you. There is no home to return to. At least, no home beyond 4 walls. No home to hold on to. We have lived under Kor Garesh's spell for too long, though we did not know it. You are not here to hunt the wereboars, you never were! Your hunt is for their Master. Vengeance is not God's way, you know that. It is salvation that we are striving for. Promise be damned, he is not my child and merely a means to an end. But he must live for there to be any hope at all."
Cadfael's grip tightens on Rennik's face and the stink of sweat fills his nostrils. "Come back to me, I cannot find my way on my own."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: where do we go now
Wow.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: where do we go now
Rennik barely hears the priest's words, but the basics of their meaning registers in the recesses of his mind. Still with a distant look in his eye, he looks up at the priest, studying his face, the darkened eyes, the haggard cheeks. The halfling cocks his head to the side, as an animal might, one that has seen a something totally out of its ken.
Slowly, he puts his hand on Cadfael's shoulder, gripping his armor and clenching his eyelids shut. Gritting his teeth, he speaks in the halfling tongue, words of sorrow and dismay. "My kin, lost. My goddess, lost. My people..." He looks up into the priest's eyes. "...lost."
Suddenly the faraway look in his eye focuses, and hardens. With lightning speed, he draws the dagger from his boot and presses it against Cadfael's throat, gripping the collar of his armor tightly with his left hand. (OOC: He will make every effort to keep Cafael's chest between the dagger and the rest of the party, blocking their sightline of his actions)
Still in the halfling tongue, he whispers, "Spinner of lies... offal of a dark god..." The mad priest may have fooled the monk, speaking the words he wanted to hear, convincing him to stay his hand. But Rennik harbored no delusions of the usefulness of the priest, the pawn of Kor Garesh. He would not be so easily duped.
A growl rises from the back of his throat...
From: Ty
Subject: An answer?
Rennik grips Cadfael's armor and holds his dagger to the priests neck. This rejection of the cleric's attempt to reach out seems to twist something in Cadfael, and his face goes dark. Rennik sees this, but does not move to withdraw his weapon. Blood is about to be spilled.
Both men hear only their own panting breaths, and something about the party's silence seems strange. Is no one going to even attempt to stop them from killing each other? Rennik looks away first, though the dagger never wavers from Cadfael's throat. When he does not look back at the priest, Cadfael risks a glance as well.
The rest of the party stands in silence, staring at a large gray wolf that has just entered the clearing. There is something about the creature that demands such attention. Certainly it has a regal bearing, standing without fear as it looks at the group. But mostly, it is the eyes. They are deep, and intelligent beyond the norm for such a creature. It does not turn away when it meets the eyes of on of the group.
Farron, who has lived on the island all his life, has never seen a wolf here before. He begins to speak, then stops with a puzzled look on his face. Sa'id, who has recently discovered that wolves make him nervous, stands very still. Garyth places one hand on his sword hilt, but does not draw the weapon. He looks at the creature with a mix of wonder and guarded caution.
Mission, who is familiar with the wolves that run the slopes of Bannock's Ire, recognizes this animal as something special. He drops to a squat, and holds out his hand making low clucking noises with his tongue.
But it is Rennik who is most affected. He begins a low hum in the back of his throat, and the wolf stares into his eyes and matches him with a low growl of its own. When the animal reacts in this way, tears begin streaming down the Halflings face. Only the most gifted trackers and huntsmen of his people were given an animal companion. It is a great honor, and a sure sign that the gods looked on with favor.
He begins speaking in Halfling, calling to the wolf. But the wolf sits down on its haunches, and continues to give Rennik only its haunting stare. The Halfling comes to a realization. This is the choice. He can cut Cadfael's throat and leave the others here to die. The monk is swift, but no one will be able to catch him here in the jungle. But if he does, it is the final rejection of his god. The one from which there is no return. And the wolf will disappear back into the woods forever. Will you be a hero? The wolf seems to ask. Will you walk this path so that no other Halflings must walk it in your stead? Or will you run? As you have been running since Lorria died. This last choice is offered to you.
[You guys will be going to next level after you camp. Matt had told me Rennik would take a wolf as his animal companion after taking his next ranger level. I am sneaking the idea in a bit early.]
From: Matt
Subject: Re: An answer?
Rennik stares at the wolf, holding silent communication.
Why now? What had brought the wolf now? Had it been his communion with the nature spirits? Had they answered his need? Mielikki had abandoned him, he was sure of it. She had left him at the mercy of the dark god, at the mercy of the she-bitch, vulnerable in her very bosom...
...or had she? Was she testing him? Was she bending him like a hurricane bends a tree, seeing whether he would snap, whether he could survive in this new, harsh environment? Had she left him alone with the she-bitch and the dark god to see how he would fare? To see if he was worthy?
The wolf's eyes simply stared back, impassively. But there is understanding beneath them, a primal wisdom born of hardship and years abiding by the laws of nature.
Nature knows no vengeance.
There is a poetry in the wolf's eyes. A balance. Survive, kill for food, fight when in danger. Protect the pack.
Are these humans his pack? If they are, he has been a terrible alpha. Or even a beta. He's been the lone wolf, forced to skirt around the edges of the pack for survival.
This wolf was sent by Mielikki, his goddess, his patron. To show him the way. To remind him of the laws of nature, the struggles, the hardships of the wild. And, above all, that even a lone wolf can survive in the jungle - if it has the will.
Will burned in the wolf's eyes. It had a bearing, a presence. Confidence radiated from it, and it showed no fear of the humans. No fear, and no animosity.
Rennik breaks eye contact with the wolf and stands, still holding Cadfael by the collar, keeping the point of his dagger at the priest's neck. With the priest on his knees, Rennik stands almost eye to eye with him.
"It is not my place to take your life, even though you suckle at the teet of dark powers. If the jungle wishes to claim you, it will."
With that, he shoves Cadfael with his full weight behind the push, sending him onto his back. With that, he resheathes his dagger, and walks toward the wolf. Standing before it, the animal's head reaches Rennik's chin.
Moving his head to the side of the wolf's, he sniffs twice, then once more. The wolf sniffs him back, then licks his face twice. Rennik turns to the group again.
"My goddess has sent her messenger. Her strength. Her aid. She wants me to continue, to aid you all in reaching the mountain, to help you find your way through her domain. I don't know why she asks this of me, but I no longer doubt her wisdom."
"Friend Garyth, you are right. We must stay together, as a pack would stay together, if we wish to survive. I was being foolish and impulsive, and I apologize."
"This group may well still die in this jungle. I have no way of ensuring our survival, just as the mad priest has no way of guaranteeing the unborn child's life. No matter what he may say."
He turns to Mission. "I still think you foolish and blinded by emotions, but you are a worthy and formidable warrior. We are not so much different, you and I, in both respects. We were friendly once, and I hope we can be again. For the good of the pack... the good of the group... I hope we can put our differences behind us." He adds with the beginnings of a lopsided grin, "At least, until we are well away from this jungle."
"Now," he hesitates for a moment, and the word 'spellweaver' springs to his lips, but he holds it. "Farron. What can you tell me of the direction we must head?"
Meet Tichenor, Some Rules Discussion, Tom's Group vs. Ty's Group, Another Hole, Levels!
Subject: Re: An answer?
:Bows humbly to the superior role playing of all:
From: Karl
Subject: Re: An answer?
Startled a bit at being addressed directly by the halfling, Farron is momentarily at a loss for words. "W-well," he stammers, "I can remember how the old buildings were arranged above the sewer tunnel, and I'm sure I can keep us above it as long as someone helps me with directions. Once I'm in the jungle I get turned around and can barely even tell which way we came from." He pauses a second, expecting some terse reply or some additional slur on his competence but none comes. "As I said before, the sewer tunnel heads in the general direction of the mountain, where we've said we need to go. If someone will help me keep my bearings in the jungle, we should be able to follow above the sewer and keep an eye out for any additional entrances."
From: Scott
Subject: Re: An answer?
Mission is glad that he kept his anger in check. He returns the halfling's grin, and clasps his forearm. His relief is visible, but he doesn't say anything, mistrusting his sense of humor to keep the fragile peace just made.
Instead he listens to Farron, and then looks to the sky. "How much time until dusk?"
OOC: What time is it?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: An answer?
At this point, it is still an hour before midday. A lot has happened this morning. :)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: An answer?
Boy! this is the longest day I remember playing. (Unless you count the months Nero and party spent in suspended animation running from the werewolves.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: An answer?
Yeah, lots of conversation and stuff, but little time has passed comparatively.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: An answer?
Garyth breathes a sigh of relief. He's not sure exactly what providence has smiled upon them, but the appearance of the wolf at such a tense moment seems too much for a coincidence. He says nothing, but smiles at Rennik and his new companion and waits to hear what Farron has to say.
OOC: Unless there's more conversation on the way, Garyth has nothing to add and will go along with Rennik and Farron's decision. He will propose the same marching order as he had before.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: An answer?
Same goes for Sa'id, except the bit about proposing marching orders.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: An answer?
Mission hitches up his backpack and clears his throat.
"We've got a good bit of light left. . ." and then he trails off, indicating the little eastward leading path in front of them with his staff.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: An answer?
Sa'id shrugs and smiles. "I'm ready. Hopefully between the five.. er, six... of us, we can keep Farron on course." He winks at the other wizard, but can't help glancing nervously at the wolf every so often. He'll keep his distance from it.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: An answer?
(OOC: Er, seven of us? Counting the wolf?)
Rennik will do his best to give Farron his bearings as best he can, from his own memories of the map to the tunnel entrance and basic understanding of the ancient city layout. If it will help, he will draw in the dirt what he can remember and consult with Farron as to directions and other landmarks he may remember. He will try to keep any condescension from his voice, but his attitude will be that of an adult to an astute child - as Farron knows hardly as much as a halfling child would about survival in the wilds.
As Farron and he converse, he will rub between the ears of the wolf, feeling the course hair between his fingers. He would need a name, Rennik decides. Tichenor... the word the elven rangers taught him meaning "unexpected providence." It was normally used when they found a pure spring to refill their waterskins or a field of meaty mushrooms to assuage the need for hunting, and it was a fitting name.
He speaks in the halfling tongue again to the wolf, "I will call you Tichenor, for you are surely unexpected and have brought me great comfort and relief in these troubled times. This is my pack, such as it is." The wolf responds to its name with a cocking of its head, and Rennik feels the animal understood what it will be called. "They may not be much, but perhaps a predator will see them as easier prey than you or me." With that he smiles, and pats Tichenor's head.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: An answer?
Right. Six non-Farron entities to keep Farron on course. Five humanoid non-Farron entities.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: An answer?
OOC-- Hey, how do you tell at what level your character can choose a new feat?
And a poll: At level 6, Mission gets to choose one of two bonus feats:
IMPROVED DISARM:
Benefit: You do not provoke an attack of opportunity when you attempt to disarm an opponent, nor does the opponent have a chance to disarm you. You also gain a +4 bonus on the opposed attack roll you make to disarm your opponent.
IMPROVED TRIP:
Benefit: You do not provoke an attack of opportunity when you attempt to trip an opponent while you are unarmed. You also gain a +4 bonus on your Strength check to trip your opponent.
If you trip an opponent in melee combat, you immediately get a melee attack against that opponent as if you hadn't used your attack for the trip attempt.
I'm leaning toward Improved Trip-- as I understand the rules, this would allow me to trip an opponent, (with the bonus applied to Improved Trip, Mission's STR would be 20), and then attack with Flurry of Blows-- two attacks.
And the opponent would be more vulnerable to attacks from other characters. . .
From: Matt
Subject: Re: An answer?
Wow, that's an interesting question. Um... well, your Str wouldn't go to 20, btw. You'd roll a d20 + Str bonus + 4 for your trip roll, is what it's saying. So essentially, instead of having a +2 mod to your trip, you have a +6 mod.
As to the trip/flurry combo, that's what's intriguing me. A flurry requires a full attack action, which prevents any other action that turn (aside from a five foot step). Then again, a successful trip in melee combat *doesn't count* as an attack, and offers an attack opportunity.
So, if it's not an attack, is it an action, thus nullifuing the "full attack action" possibility? Or would it be considered the first action of a flurry - which would then be replaced by a punch or kick, leading into the rest of the flurry? Or possibly it would be allowed under the 5 foot step rule, since a trip is really just a step, no? ;-)
I really have no idea. I'm curious as to Ty's ruling on this... or Tom's. Hrm.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: An answer?
Actually, what I was thinking was, 'Wow, with that +4 bonus maybe Mission _could_ trip Slash!'
:)
I'm still lobbying for a Tom's-group-vs.-Ty's-Group brawl.
Now that they don't have a magic-user. . . >=)
From: Matt
Subject: Re: An answer?
Well, Rennik's got a good track record against mages, anyhow. :-D
With his axe in top working condition, I think we could take them... once we all level up, that is. :)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: An answer?
Maybe Halla is just like a freaky cute paralell dimension type Paladin of Elise?
Oooh.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: An answer?
Hey guys, no turn from me today. My fever has now broken the 100 degree mark. If you don't here from me tomorrow, I'm still dead.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: An answer?
Actually, a monk DID trip Slash in a fight, and I'm sure he had that feat. Sadly, when Slash got back up, he hit that monk with a 53 point critical, and turned his head into a red chunky spray of goo.
I would not allow a flurry of blows in the same round as a trip. A trip is still an action, and can't be used with a full attack type action.
From: Ty
Subject: The jungle; looking for holes
Rennik and Farron spend some time drawing in the dirt, and picking out landmarks. For all his arrogance about his survival skills, Rennik is forced to admit that book learning may have its uses. Farron's memory, and his ability to re-create the map, is astonishing. When he is done drawing it out, it looks exactly like the Halfling remembers. Rennik orients himself above the tunnel, and facing in the direction of its path, and leads the party into the jungle. It is none too soon. Behind them, the party can hear the H'rugda beginning to get active again.
Rennik leads the way, his new companion at his side. There is a peace in the Halflings face never seen before by any of the group. Clearly, the animals appearance has settled something for him, and he has lost the nervous anger that had so defined him before. The group is glad to have him back. Even just a few hundred feet out of the clearing, Farron completely loses his sense of direction. If it were not for Rennik keeping him on track, he would quickly lose the tunnels path. Also, as the group travels, Rennik points out the hidden dangers of the place. Here, mud so soft a man can drown in it. There, a plant that is poisonous to the touch, and brings slow paralysis. The jungle is filled with so many bad things that it is easy to believe it was created by some foul intelligence rather than nature.
It is also hot. The temperature seems to rise with each step. Sweat sticks to the skin, and soaks clothing and hair. An hour after the party stops to eat, it begins to rain, and doesn't stop for several hours. The rain does nothing to lower the temperature, though it does wash off the sweat at least. The group takes to competing at the most creative curses to be hurled at the weather. Unfortunately, when the rain finally does stop, it is immediately missed, because the bugs come out. There are swarms of insects, all of prodigious size, and seemingly all bent upon stinging, biting, or sucking blood from the group. It is easy to see why even the Halflings do not try to live in the jungles of Huss.
On the positive side, and much to Rennik's amazement, not one swamp dragon crosses the party's path.
Farron stops the group from time to time when he believes they are near the location of one of the buildings on the map. He hopes to find another entrance to the sewers, but the group has no luck in finding one at first. Finally, when the daylight is almost gone, and Rennik begins to worry about where the group might camp, Farron stops them one last time. Everyone spreads out to search, and several people find old stones or other signs that a building used to be in this place, but it is the wolf that finds the hole. Rennik sees him digging at a spot on the ground, and when he goes to check, finds that Tichenor is working at a hole no more than six inches across and trying to widen it.
When he looks down into the hole, it is very black and deep. The edges of the hole are flat rocks, fitted together like cobble stones. It takes the group only a few moments to work the stones free and open a hole several feet wide. The sewer lies below. A torch is dropped inside, and the tunnel is revealed. It looks the same as the tunnel the group had been in earlier, but now the floor is visible. A narrow channel runs through the center of the tunnel, and in it dank water sluggishly moves, but on both sides is nice dry stone. Farron smiles, "Looks like a nice place to bed down for the night."
Mission laughs, then starts to cough. When he stops, Sa'id can still hear him wheezing. "Are you ill?" he asks. Mission considers, "My chest hurts. I had thought it was because of the damp hot air, but it's getting worse. To be honest, I feel a little dizzy, and it's hard to breathe."
[Check in with actions. You can camp in the sewers or on the surface. When the group finds the hole, it's about 6pm, and it's getting fairly dark under the jungle canopy. Mission failed a fort save (amazingly, everyone else made it), and has caught a disease from the jungle water he swallowed.]
From: Ty
Subject: addendum; leveling up!
Let me know what class you are taking a level in, and I will roll your hit dice. Matt, you have to take ranger now. J
If you are comfortable updating your own character sheet, go ahead and do it, just make sure to send me a copy of the sheet when you are done. If you need help with leveling up, let me know.
Feats, Mission Refuses Help
Subject: addendum; leveling up!
OOC: How do we know if our characters have earned the right to choose a new feat? (I looked in the open source for something, but it implied that if you have the prerequisites, you can take the feat, whatever it may be, and as many as you had the prerequisites for-- which can't be right, can it?)
Are you rolling for the new level hp, or are we?
From: Tom
Subject: addendum; leveling up!
Characters gain just one feat every three levels (at 1st level, 3rd level, 6th level, etc.) Humans start with one bonus feat, and some classes -- like fighters and wizards -- get bonus feats as part of their progression.
From: Ty
Subject: addendum; leveling up!
The feats are:
Garyth 2 (one of which is a bonus fighter feat)
Rennik 1 + animal companion
Mission 2 (one of which is a bonus monk feat) + slow fall 30'
Cadfael 1
Sa'id 1
Farron 1
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
"Do you have a blanket in your bedroll? Hot though it may be, it is best to be wrapped up when ill. I am not well-acquainted with curing such illnesses, however... but if it's possible, perhaps you should skip taking watch tonight." With this, he turns to the rest of the party. "I think Farron is right, we should camp in the tunnel. Perhaps we should even follow it on its course tomorrow rather than returning to the surface... but that is something we can discuss once our camp is set."
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Mission looks concerned. "Something is not right." He coughs, and nods at Sa'id. "I have a blanket, yes."
He looks at the mage, a little alarm in his eyes. "This jungle is. . . not natural." He coughs again.
"I can't be sick, Sa'id. Sickness is illusion, and Veracity taught me. . . something."
He's rambling. Mission knows it. And so he swallows, and takes a deep breath. "It's not natural," he repeats.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Once they move into the hole, Mission will heed Sa'id's advice. He'll put on the robe that he picked up from the zombie for extra warmth, and will not volunteer for watch tonight.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
OOC: Yikes, if Mission got it then it must be a pretty hard core disease, since monks are supposed to be immune to normal diseases. Are Heal checks good against supernatural or magical diseases?
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
[OOC: I didn't know that... Wow.]
"I may be able to help a little bit," Sa'id says, "at least with the breathing." He looks as though he's about to cast a spell, but then, remembering Mission's aversion to magic, he pauses and grins at the monk. "Don't worry, it's harmless. I'm just going to try to cool the air around your head so you don't feel so stuffy. It should last about an hour." [Prestidigitation]
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
In this case, no. But Cadfael has a 3rd level spell that would help.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Mission shakes his head. "No, Sa'id. If anyone is listening for magery, I don't want to alert them."
He spreads his palms in apology. "I don't mean to insult you. But I'm not so sick that I can't abide a little warm air."
And underground, things would be cooler anyway. Mission peers into the hole and shivers. Blood be stone.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Sa'id quirks an eyebrow. "I understand your concernt, but I don't really think that's necessary. I had, in fact, planned to work a fair amount of magic both tonight and possibly tomorrow morning with Farron, investigating the magical nature of some of the items we have found. Like that robe, for instance, and a ring I found on the halfling cleric at the lodge."
"In light of your concern, though, I will speak of this to the others first to see if they share your view. I'm confident that the risk is negligble, but as we've seen, my words aren't always heeded around here." He says this last with a wink and then moves to talk to Farron.
[OOC: Sa'id will help the others set up camp -- preferably in the sewer -- before broaching the subject of massive amounts of identifying and disarming trapped spellbooks with Farron.]
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Garyth is glad to see the hole, if for no other reason than to get away from the heat and the accursed insects. Hopefully this night will pass without trouble.
Hearing the exchange between Sa'id and Mission, Garyth interjects. "We're in enemy territory, Mission, and from all we can tell, they already have some idea of our position. We can't afford to have anyone at anything other than full combat readiness. I think you should accept all the help you can get." He glances uneasily toward Cadfael as he finishes, though he tries outwardly to pretend that he didn't. Given the... events of this morning Mission probably wanted nothing to do with the priest, and Garyth could hardly blame him.
Up or Down?
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
OOC: How deep is the hole?
Mission shrugs at Garyth's comments, and notes how the warrior looks sideways at Cadfael. "The important thing right now is to get down there, and set up."
He unrolls his rope from his pack. "We might want to use yours, Garyth. Mine was scorched in the explosion."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Like the previous tunnel, this one is 25 feet deep. Though, of course, this one doesn't have 5 feet of water at the bottom.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Garyth nods and sets to work tying the rope to something sturdy.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
I guess all I really need here is a general check in from everyone with a "we camp" type thing. I can write up the next turn then. Any special arrangements for camping should be noted.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
(OOC: Er. We Camp.)
Rennik shows interest in the idea of having the party set up camp in the tunnel, as it would offer greater protection from predators. However, he feels it makes the watch difficult. Someone should definitely stay topside on watch, to be sure the rope stayed secure and there was a viable escape from the tunnel itself should it too be blocked, or otherwise not an acceptable route. But that would leave those below vulnerable to anything coming up or down the tunnel, unless a second watch was posted underground.
That in mind, it might be best to camp above ground, so the group would get more rest. If we tied the rope off anyway, and let it dangle, it would always be possible to slide down the rope underground if a H'rugda or swamp dragon came upon the camp.
With that, he asks for what the rest of the group thinks.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Garyth agrees with Rennik.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Cadfael is still feeling like crap and gets a headache when he thinks about trying to catch up with all these messages and say something intelligent. So he'll just go along with whatever ideas the rest of the party has re: camp so Ty can get on with another turn.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Sa'id would rather camp in the sewer with one person on watch at the top of the hole and another directly underneath in the sewer, but will defer to the judgment of Rennik and Garyth.
Email Virus, Identify?
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Farron is ready to make camp. He will listen to whatever Sa'id wanted to talk about and assist him as he is able.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Mission will go along with whatever Rennick recommends, but will avoid taking a watch if he can.
OOC: I'm sick. So is LiteBrite. I may not be on for the rest of today, and maybe tomorrow.
In the event that Mission is needed, would you mind controlling him, Mike?
Ty: Since we haven't camped yet, can I change my skill point assignments? I'd like to assign all 5 points to tumble, but if that's not permissable, I understand.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
I'm feeling a bit sick myself, but nothing to interrupt my schedule. I'll take over Mission if need be. Get better, Scott. And that goes for Dan as well. And me, for that matter.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
And I'm just getting over a nagging cold. Hmmmm. You don't think we've been spreading an email virus or anything, do you?
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Seems like all your character's saved against that water, but you guys didn't.
:)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Whatever the party's decision (and currently the consensus seems to be camping on the surface by the hole), once the camp is set up, Sa'id will find Farron.
"Farron, how many ways do you have of identifying things magically?" he asks. "I have been carrying a magical ring since the lodge -- I found it on the halfling cleric who was outside." Sa'id shows the ring, with its green eye gem, to the other wizard. "I am uncertain as to its function. Could you identify it?" He pauses. "Actually, if you have an extra scroll of the identify spell, would you mind permitting me to copy it into my spellbook?"
Sa'id then draws Farron's attention to the coughing monk. "This robe, as well, must have some magical power -- at the very least, a preservation spell to keep it from decaying, given how long we know it has been there. I can only assume that it was Danmonoth's."
Drawing a deep breath, Sa'id then turns back to Farron. "There is also the matter of the wizard from the tower. I suspect his spellbook is trapped, and given where we are aiming to go, it might be wise to try to get at its contents, since they could prove useful." He pauses. "I am loath to simply take his belongings for our own use, but given Garth's actions the next morning and given our current predicament, I'm unwilling to sacrifice any advantage we might find for ourselves because of my own discomfort."
He looks back at Mission, but speaks quietly to Farron, not wishing to be overheard. "Mission opposed the idea of even using a simple cantrip earlier, though I'm uncertain how much of that comes from his mistrust of magic and how much comes from true prudence. I am confident enough that we are hidden from Kor Garesh and his minions to work whatever magics we see fit, but perhaps we should ensure that the others are not vehemently opposed to the idea."
[OOC: If Farron doesn't mind, Sa'id will scribe Identify into his spellbook, and then once they've gotten the ring and robe identified, plus anything else Farron thinks should be identified, they can settle down to look at Finlan's spellbook. Hopefully there's a way to get the thing open without anyone getting killed.]
Greed, Garyth the Chew Toy
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
[OOC - I don't know how many scrolls Farron actually has. I know he has at least 1 left and maybe as many as 3. Ty????]
At any rate, Farron will give Sa'id a scroll to copy into his book. Just this morning he would have been loath to part with it considering how valuable it is and the fact that it will cost the loss of one of the perfect pearls each time either he or Sa'id casts Identify as a spell. (And now that Sa'id wants the spell, he'll surely want to share the pearls as well). But at this point, he surrenders the scroll gladly. The dead mage's artifacts have begun to feel very heavy in his pack this day and if it weren't for the fact that they needed every advantage they could gain he'd be tempted to throw the spoils of that battle into the murky sewer water at the bottom of the hole. Because of this, and partly to make amends for his uncharacteristic (he hoped) greed the day before, Farron digs in his pack and returns to Sa'id not only with his last remaining [??] scroll, but half of the pearls as well. "When you learn the spell, you'll need these too. You have to crush one and stir the powder into wine with an owl feather. Unless you brought one, we'll have to share the one I . . . have. Then you drink the potion and touch the item in question while weaving the spell." Farron hands the pearls and scroll to Sa'id, and looks almost relieved when the other mage takes them.
Looking around to make sure the rest of the party is occupied, Farron lowers his voice. "Sa'id. . . brother, did you not desire in the least to have these items before. . .when we were in the tower?" he asks quietly.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
I was going to write the next turn, but Farron is opening up a very interesting discussion, so I am going to wait until Raja answers before I move on.
Karl? According to my notes, you still had two of the scrolls. So, you have one left after giving one to Sa'id for his spell book.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
[OOC: Ok, NOW I understand how Identify works. Ty, I may need to modify my spell memorization plans based on what Karl and I decide to do about these items, if that's ok.]
Sa'id takes one of the pearls and looks intently at it. "Identify is an expensive spell," he mutters. "There must be a more efficient way." He looks back to Farron. "This is too much, my friend. I am not a diviner. You should keep the lion's share, it will be rare that I find the room in my addled brain to memorize this. Besides which, it isn't so relevant which of us casts the spell on the items we have found." Sa'id smiles slightly, hoping to lighten the mood somewhat, but his eyes widen at Farron's next words:
"Sa'id. . . brother, did you not desire in the least to have these items before. . .when we were in the tower?"
Sa'id looks at the other wizard, and speaks equally quietly. "Of course I was curious. Especially about the contents of that spellbook. The pursuit of knowledge is a vice of mine. But seeing him there, his body so ruined that even my father could not have made it look presentable for a funeral, and at our hands..." he sighs. "We did what we had to do. Of that I am certain. However, I had expected to be able to send the wizard's belongings with his surviving companions, to help defray the cost of revivification... Garth's oath, despite the grisly and disturbing nature of his death, did ultimately make me feel somewhat better." Sa'id pauses for a moment and leans closer to Farron. "Not that I'm certain I believe Cadfael's explanation... but for the time being, at least, I think it may be best to let it lie. And now that wizard will rot, because his companions fled and his friend swore an oath on the darkest of the gods." The necromancer shakes his head.
"I will admit, though, that the events of this morning have overshadowed what happened at the tower. At the very least, I believe we need the priest to keep us from the dark god's sight. But that makes an interesting balance -- we cannot prod him or push him too far, for fear he will turn on us again, but we cannot simply let him go about his business, for he would walk through the jungle without stopping to rest or sleep and promptly be killed when he arrived alone at his destination. That ring he wears is an insidious influence. It has divided us. But I am glad you and Garyth, at least, have kept your senses."
Straightening, Sa'id looks back at Mission. "I think it may be worthwhile to identify that robe as well as this ring. I suppose we'll have to spend some time memorizing the spell first, but if I memorize one instance of it to cast on the ring, it will serve as good practice for me." Sa'id smiles. "Then, however, we should decide what to do about that spellbook. I think it is important that we try to get at its contents -- spells are, of course, the best asset that you and I have."
[OOC: There's just the ring and the robe, right? Then we can deal with the spellbook? Does Farron have identify memorized? ...at any rate, Sa'id will scribe the spell into his spellbook, memorize it (in the slot I had planned to allocate to Cause Fear, Ty), cast it on his green eye gem ring with Farron's assistance to make sure he doesn't screw it up -- at least, provided no one in the group vehemently opposes spellcasting tonight.]
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Farron's hopeful look falls as Sa'id returns so many of the pearls so easily. And falls further as Sa'id speaks of his distrust of Cadfael, fearing him under the influence of evil powers. When his talk so quickly moves on to the business of identifying the items Farron can contain himself no longer. "Brother!" he interrupts in a stressed whisper. "I'm not talking about curiosity, though I'm as susceptible to that as the next man. And I'm equally prone to a healthy amount of greed, too. But back in that tower. . . well. . . I . . .I *wanted* his things. As soon as I saw the man dead against the wall it was all I could do not to trip over you to get to his pack. I've never wanted anything so much as I wanted his things, especially his spellbook. I can't say what came over me. I. . .I do not think this covetousness is from within me. I hope it is not. I have been trusted with riches like you've never seen on my voyages for the merchants of the city and I never once . . . I swear to you, NEVER ONCE betrayed a trust to greed or avarice."
Farron looks nervously around to make sure no one is interested in their whispered conversation. Seeing the others still settling their own things for camp he continues. "I'm afraid, Sa'id. Is this the influence of the Dark God we are pursuing? If so, why have you not felt this? What is it in me that could give over so easily to . . ." He trails off not willing to name his fear. "I don't claim any special righteousness, Sa'id. But Cadfael is a good man of some reputation in Overlook. If he can be led to serve an unspeakable evil, what chance have I?"
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
"This is what happens when the gods meddle in the affairs of men," Sa'id mutters. "I am sorry for my feeble attempts at humour, they have had the exact opposite of their intended effect."
Sa'id mulls over Farron's words before speaking. His tone is tentative. "Perhaps when we do things we believe to be wrong, we expose our minds to Kor Garesh's influence. It would explain Rennik and Mission's wrath in the tower, as well as your uncharacteristic avarice. But I think it is simpler than that." He subtly emphasizes the word 'uncharacteristic,' to ensure Farron catches that Sa'id's belief in the other wizard's strength of character is firm.
"There is also the matter of stress. I am no counselor, but the things we have been exposed to since leaving Overlook are enough to fray even the strongest of people around the edges." He says this last with a flick of the eyes at Cadfael. "It need not even be the direct meddling of the gods, it may simply have been a subconscious way of getting your mind off the killing." He pauses. "If I still had faith in my sense of humour, I would add that unlike me, you aren't particularly used to corpses." Sa'id is sure to make it clear that this last is a joke.
"I am not certain of Cadfael," Sa'id says. "I do not believe his actions are forced directly by the gods. Rather, I believe they have broken him, and now he clings to all that is left to him. But he is so unpredictable..." he trails off, and stares into nowhere for a moment before looking back at Farron, leaning forward, and focusing intently.
"You are not alone in this. I have felt, said, and done things on this journey that I would never have done before it began." Sa'id sighs. "I had not wanted to tell anyone of this. I prefer to deal with my inner failings on my own terms. But in light of the circumstances, perhaps it is best that I tell you. After the battle at the lodge, I came back in through a a door that my fireball had burned. Looking at the embers, I felt... I'm not sure how to describe it. Pleased with myself, with the destruction that I had wrought. Arrogance is another of my vices, but this went beyond that. I was looking forward to doing it again, whether I was destroying undead blasphemies against the cycle of life, or burning halfling priests alive. There are times when I am almost hungry for a battle, so strongly do I desire to revel in my power. The fire is an outlet for my frustrations, but more than that, when I bend the laws of the universe to my will I feel like I am a larger part of it. And after all of that destruction, not a one of our companions respects my power -- with the sole exception of you. When my mood is black, I can't help but think that the only way to earn that respect is to destroy even more."
"This is not easy for me to admit. Inside, I rage at myself and at the others for their lack of respect, but when I regain my senses I regret it. I know they are worthy and of good intent, and I am deeply thankful for Mission's numerous interventions on my behalf. But it is not easy to keep thinking light thoughts in times such as these."
"No, I do not believe us to be tainted by the dark god. Rather, I believe we are all having trouble coping with the disturbing events of these last days, and that this manifests itself in uncharacteristic outbursts and thoughts. My intent, with regard to the identification of these items and the investigation of the spellbook, is both to gain what advantage we can and also to distract us from the dark thoughts lodged in our minds. I have no more wish to think about my darker thoughts than you."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
Farron listens to Sa'id with the attention of a man being told he's not going to hell. He sits quietly for some minutes after Sa'id finishes and replies, "I hope you are right. I too have been frustrated by the others, so sure they are of their own worth and not recognizing any of ours. And I know how you feel. . . well, *powerful* when weaving the threads of magic to influence the universe." He pauses.
"I will accept your assurances for now. But let's not turn a blind eye completely. There *are* dark forces at work here. If they are trying to corrupt us and I am more susceptible, I want you to help keep me true. I have felt such a strong curiosity in the spellbook that I have begun to fear the Dark God wants me to see inside. If this is the case the spells it contains could be dangerous indeed. I will not look inside it unless you are there to back me up. Who knows? Maybe I've just been paranoid and it will just be low level love potion recipes." He adds with a chuckle. His first in what seems like months.
[Ty, Farron will help Sa'id with the ID spells in the manner I described earlier to you. Also, he and Sa'id will examine the spellbook very carefully, looking for a way to get it open without killing anyone or destroying it.]
From: Ty
Subject: The underground trail; two days left
The party decides to camp above the tunnel, while leaving a rope dangling inside for rapid retreat if necessary. This seems like a very good idea when Rennik mentions it, but during the first watch, as Rennik sits swatting blood sucking insects, he questions his own wisdom. The jungle is not any more pleasant at night than it was during the day. It remains stiflingly hot, and the insects maintain their constant vigil. If anything, it seems that a great many creatures become active during the night that were quiet during that day. Rennik counts at least five new bird sounds during his watch, and several great cats scream as they hunt. He fingers the cat's pelt he wears, and remembers the ferocity of the creature he took it from. He keeps his bow close.
During the night, Mission continues to hack and cough, but some time before the early morning hours, he quiets, and his breathing becomes clearer (Fort save 21). The monk's almost supernatural resistance to illness seems to have finally won out.
Prior to sleeping, the wizards had spent quite a bit of time together, talking quietly and working with their books and scrolls. At one point, they replaced the robe Mission was wearing with a blanket, and then sat making obscure gestures over it and chanting. With the exception of Garyth, who is quite comfortable around magic, the rest of the party eyes them suspiciously during this open use of magery.
Later, during Garyth's watch, he sees something huge and low to the ground slither by not more than forty feet away. It's head pops out of one side of an opening in the jungle, and at least twenty feet of body goes by before the tail appears and then disappears into the jungle on the other side of the clearing. It did not appear interested in the party in the slightest, so he settles back down after it disappears. (listen check 15) However, he doesn't sit for long. A moment or two after the slithery thing goes away, he hears what sounds like deep breaths coming from behind him. Spinning around on one knee, he sees a huge toothy face not more than fifteen feet away. One of the gigantic crocodiles that Rennik's people call swamp dragons has snuck up closer to the camp site than Garyth would have thought possible, considering its bulk. It is easily twenty five feet long, and must mass upwards of a ton. It is covered in a scaly hide so thick it must be harder to penetrate than most armor, and its jaws look capable of snapping a horse in two. It is no wonder the otherwise brave halflings live in fear of these creatures.
Once the beast sees Garyth move, it launches itself at him in a lightning fast charge. That thing is as fast as a horse! Flashes through Garyth's mind in the split second before the creature is on him. But Garyth's reflexes have always been good, and he was already keyed up and on edge from watching the giant snake go by, so he reacts almost instantly to the attack [surprise round, swamp dragon bite 12 (natural 1) miss]. The huge jaws snap shut with a terrifying crash just inches from his face.
[First combat round, initiative Garyth 14, Crocodile 5]
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The underground trail; two days left
Farron will lie quietly acting the part of swamp dragon kibble until someone wakes him.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
"This will be in my thoughts, you have my word. If I can see any truly dark influences growing in anyone, I will speak out. But I do have faith in you, brother. You are stronger than you know, I think."
[OOC: This next bit is after Farron identifies the robe, but before the morning when Sa'id identfies the ring.]
"It seems that it might be best for Mission, with his fever, to keep the robe on," Sa'id says with a mild chuckle. "At the very least it will bring him some relief from the heat. It's no use to me, though, because I already wear a ring of protection. It would help you, though, Farron."
The wizards then turn to the spellbook. [Cue poking it with pointy sticks. ;) ].
"I may be able to dispel the warding on the book," Sa'id says, "but if I fail then the wards will detonate. Most likely it would be an explosion of some kind, intended to destroy the book first and whoever tried to open it second. I could cast a spell of resistance to protect myself somewhat from the effects of the explosion. But it's a risk, more so because if I fail in the dispel, the explosion could attract the attention of wildlife or other, darker things." He sighs. "It is frustrating to leave such a useful thing untouched. Perhaps in the tunnel..." he trails off.
[OOC: I'd just like to sort this out with Karl before we sleep; if we decide it's best for me to try "opening" the book, I'll do it in the morning, after memorizing Resist Energy -- Fire -- in a slot that was going to contain Mirror Image originally.]
[OOC 2: All right, got the turn and Karl's message, I'll memorize Resist Energy and we can talk more in the morning. In the meantime I'll snooze until someone wakes me up.]
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The jungle; looking for holes
(OOC: Oh, yeah, great idea. Open the exploding thing *in the tunnel*. Yep. Didn't we just leave that party? ;)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The underground trail; two days left
How could something so big move so quickly? He jumps back just in time, but the bite was close enough that Garyth could smell the creature's fetid breath. His sword and mace are in hand by the time his feet meet the ground.
"Awake! Awake!" he shouts. "Swamp dragon!"
The creature seems to be attracted to motion; he needs to distract it while his companions slip down the hole. With a cry, he swings at the beast. [Full Attack]
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The underground trail; two days left
:-D
Well, it does make a perverse sort of sense. It's certainly more sensible than opening it up top where it'll alert swamp dragons...
Oh wai
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The underground trail; two days left
(OOC: Dibs on Garyth's stuff after he dies... fighting a swamp dragon with a melee weapon... he listens about as well as my students...)
Rennik awakes in an instant, coming up with bow in hand and grabbing reflexively for one of the arrows he routinely prepped point-down in the dirt before bedding down.
Seeing the beast and Garyth turning to swing, he calls out "No, you fool! Run! RUN!"
Rennik will fire an arrow into the creature's head, still screaming, "Down the hole! The HOLE! Keep your distance!!!!"
Rennik will mechanically grab and fire another arrow, and then a third (using Rapid Shot feat).
Finally, in the halfling tongue, "Tichenor, get clear!"
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The underground trail; two days left
Sa'id's heart just about pounds clear out of his chest at the sight of the swamp dragon, and any thoughts he had entertained of spellwork as he awoke to Garyth's cries vanished from his mind. There was nothing to do but run.
[OOC: As soon as he is able, Sa'id will head straight for the hole.]
From: Ty
Subject: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
Ever since the fight in the tower, Garyth has been practicing using the light mace in his left hand. It has become more and more comfortable. Now, faced with his first fight, he is surprised to see his left hand draw the weapon without even thinking about it. He slashes at the swamp dragons face with his sword, and tries to strike its skull with the mace. [Full attack 17, miss; 17, miss; 12, miss] His skills are good. All three weapons strike their targets. Unfortunately, the creatures hide is even thicker than he had thought, and all three blows bounce harmlessly aside.
The monster does not look amused. The huge tooth filled mouth flashes forward again, and this time clamps around the young guardsman's torso with a sickening crunch [Attack 31, hit; damage 20; grapple attempt 37, hit; grappled]. The monstrous creature picks Garyth up in his jaws and begins whipping his body back and forth trying to snap his spine.
The sounds of Garyth's yelling, and Tichenor's barking wakes the rest of the party, who roll out of their bedrolls to the horrifying sight of Garyth in the dragon's jaws?
[Initiative Sa'id 20, Garyth 14, Cadfael 13, Rennik 12, Mission 12, Swamp dragon 5, Farron 4]
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
Addendum to previous actions... which still stand.
Rennik will do his best to shoot *around* the writhing body of Garyth, so as not to damage any of the stuff he has dibs on.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
OOC: Of course, you'd have to convince the swamp dragon not to attack you while you were coming to claim Garyth's stuff. :)
All rational thought leaves Garyth as the dragon swings him back and forth. Bare instinct keeps him fighting as hard as he can to break free and run for the hole.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
(OOC: Oh suuuuure... NOW you think about running... should we start calling you Jonah yet?)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
It should probably be noted, that had Garyth run right off the bat, the swamp dragon would have just munched whoever the closest sleeping person was.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
What might it have done if he hit it with his sword then took his movement off to the side, I wonder?
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
You can have his stuff, you're going to have to crawl inside the belly of the beast to get it.
Do we all wake up? I thought you had to make a Con check or something. Tyyyyyy.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
Everyone is awake, what with Garyth yelling his head off and Tichenor barking up a storm.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
Sa'id watches in horror as the beast snaps up Garyth in its jaws.
He was only trying to defend us, Sa'id thinks. And now he's as good as dead. But maybe if I can distract it...
If he could distract it, it might drop Garyth. Perhaps in the time it took the beast to get to him he could cast Mirror Image... for the first time, Sa'id regretted his inability to learn spells that would allow him to fly. He doubly regretted memorizing Identify over Cause Fear, though hopefully the morning would tell him something useful about the eye ring.
He had never seen such an animal before, but given the size of its head with respect to its body it couldn't possibly be too intelligent. Singing it might distract it. Pointing at the beast, he calls on the fire he has come to know so well on this journey [Scorching Ray]. He hopes to hit the thing on one of its legs if he can, or at least in that general vicinity.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
Fever dreams. He saw his father, Rigor, working steadily on the stones around the Garden of Vicar Hope, chiseling away at the dark granite with his bare fingers. He was making a bird-- an ulaan, one of the songbirds local to Bannock's Ire. Mission watched how his father's fingers swept across the stone easily, shaping it as easily as clay.
He turned to Mission. "We do not mold the Stone," he said, clearly and calmly. But he had just formed the wide, open eye of the songbird. "The Stone molds us."
And then he was facing Deacon Comfort in the Room of Discipline. "Illusion, Mission. The physical world is only Illusion. Sand and Shadow." Comfort moved swiftly to the side, and then lept at him, striking out with his two feet.
Mission caught the attack, and swept it away. Comfort laughed on the floor, delighted. Mission stared at him. If the physical world was illusion, why bother attacking with blows and fists, why discipline the body at all?
Because the physical world was not an illusion. It was just not everything there was. Incomplete.
Yes. Only a portion of the Stone could be touched. Only a part of the Path could be seen.
Blood.
The part unseen. The hidden.
Mission struggled out of his sickness, the sickness that Shadow had laid on him. It was not illusion, this thing that held his chest so tightly. It was real. And it ate at him. So that his elation at having discovered. . . something. . . about the Path was tempered in pain and hurt.
But that was the way of things. The way of the Path of Blood and Stone.
Mission hears Garyth's call for help, and wakes to see the giant lizard snatch him up. Rennick had screamed something as well-- Down! it sounded like.
Mission will flank the swamp dragon and attempt Stonetap (stunning blow).
Hopefully, that will make the dragon release Garyth. Mission will then help Garyth get to the safety of the tunnel.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
I'll be using my dodge bonus against the swamp dragon, if it comes to that, Ty.
If we get a chance to retreat, and Rennick and the wolf are amenable, and Garyth can climb down the rope himself, Mission will carry the wolf down the hole using slow fall. Um. . . that's a lot of if's and only if he can use the walls to get down.
But I don't see another way to get the wolf down the sewer. . .
Thinking ahead. . .
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
Yeah, at this point, Tichenor's scrambling. I figured we could probably lower him down using the rope and a bedroll, or cloak or something, if we weren't harrassed by the swamp dragon. Hrm.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
I would also allow Mission to use slowfall next to a rope.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 1
Cadfael wakens quickly to the sounds of Gayth's screams and when he sees the man caught in the swamp dragon's jaws his laughter cuts through the night.
"I told you you were nothing Garyth! But it seems the Gods have seen fit to make you a sacrifice. Do you like heroics? How does it taste?"
Cadfael will then, in no particular hurry, pack up his gear and head down the rope.
OOC -- If the others succeed in upsetting the thing or if Garyth isn't enough to satiate it Cadfael will hurry the heck up to get his ass down the rope.
Mission Kicks Some Ass, Takes Some Names
Subject: Peeping Wizards
Are the two of you whisperers going to let anyone else know the results of your finding?
Assuming we survive Godzilla . . .
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Peeping Wizards
Uh.. . that would be 'the results of your findings about the robe.'
A little clarification for ya. . .
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Peeping Wizards
All in good time. All in good time. Farron is still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "D-did someone say 'dragon'?"
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Peeping Wizards
Seriously, though:
Farron awakens with a start. Instinctively his first thought is to scramble for the hole, having made sure he set up his bedroll right at the edge the night before. But he is distracted by Garyth's screams. Knowing he could not simply retreat and leave Garyth to die in the jaws of such a terrible beast, and knowing he could not himself fight such a thing, he does the next best thing. [summon monster: Celestial Hippogriff] He pulls the familiar candle and tiny bag from the pocket of his robes and weaves the spell to summon a Celestial Hippogriff. Once it appears he will order it to attack the dragon with all it's weapons, hoping the distraction will cause the swamp dragon to drop Garyth and defend itself.
From: Ty
Subject: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
The sound of crunching bone and Garyth's screams are terrible to hear. Sa'id is barely able to concentrate as he rolls out of his bedroll, and immediately begins searching through his robes for his components. Pointing one finger at the giant lizard, Sa'id speaks a word of eleven syllables and a lance of fire leaps from his outstretched hand. [Touch attack 13; hit; damage 1, 5, 4, 1] The fire strikes the swamp dragons flank, and works its way across leaving a black scorch mark. But the creatures hide must be incredibly tough, because other than the black mark, the fire does no visible damage.
Garyth, still being shaken back and forth and in terrible pain, tries to break free with superhuman effort. [Grapple roll 24 vs opposing roll 34] In spite of his strength and will to break free, the creatures jaws are just too strong, and he remains clamped between crushing three inch teeth.
Meanwhile, Cadfael hums happily to himself while he begins picking up his bedroll and other gear.
Rennik desperately fires three arrows at the dragon's head. Firing past Garyth is dangerous, but leaving the dragon to chew on him is probably worse, so he takes the risk. [Rapid shot 21, 13, 16; hit, miss, miss; damage 4; misses 37%, 50%] Only one arrows strikes the creature, and it only skids off appearing to do almost no damage. Fortunately the other two do not hit the hapless Garyth, though one misses him by inches.
Mission rolls out of bed, disheveled and sweaty looking. His color is beginning to come back, but he looks like he had a tough night. In spite of this, he leaps at the swamp dragon with amazing speed, and runs right up to the side of its huge head. He slams one open palm just under the creature's eye socket. [stunning fist; attack 27; damage 13; Fort save 13 vs DC 16; stunned] The blow is amazingly powerful, and strikes at exactly the right angle to inflict maximum damage. The crocodile visibly reels from the hit, and its jaw sags open, allowing Garyth to tumble out. The injured guardsman tries feebly to get up, but is unable to stand.
The crocodile continues to reel after the punch, and starts shaking its head as though trying to wake up.
Farron pulls his components out of his pockets, and calls forth a summoning spell in a voice like thunder. As soon as the last word is spoken, a huge hippogriff appears. It immediately launches itself into the air with a birdlike screech and a powerful down stroke of its wings. It claws the back of the staggering swamp dragon as it goes by, and then flaps its wings furiously, fighting for altitude. [Attacks 14, 15; miss, miss] The crocodiles back armor is very thick, and the hippogriff, in spite of its size and ferocity, appears to do no damage.
[Initiative Sa'id 20, Tichenor 17, Garyth 14, Cadfael 13, Rennik 12, Mission 12, Swamp dragon 5, Farron 4, hippogriff 4]
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
BTW. Holy... CRAP Mission is stinking cool.
Makes me want to play a monk now....
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
Pain. The whole world is pain. It would be so easy just to give up, just to let it all end. But before he can even make up his mind about it, Garyth realizes that he is stumbling to his feet. He grits his teeth as he feels his broken ribs sliding past each other.
"Hurry!" he croaks. "Get below!"
He moves to protect the party as they get down the hole.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
Cadfael looks up and sees that the swamp dragon has lost his meal, though Garyth is still broken at its maw. He then glances back toward the hole and picks up his pace, resigning himself to the fact that he'll likely have to throw his belongings down rather than carrying them safely on his back.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
OOC: I should probably clarify a bit. Garyth will retreat toward the hole, but will want to make sure that Cadfael and the wizards, at the least, get down ahead of him, so in the event that they aren't hustling fast enough he'll keep himself between them and the swamp dragon.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
Despite the fury of the dragon and the miasma of Shadow in the jungle, his feet were on the Path still.
But Mission has no desire to face the swamp dragon. Not alone, not with the group, not ever, if he had his way.
"It won't remain stunned for long," Mission says. "Down the hole, and let's hope that armor can't contract!"
Mission will move for the hole. Hopefully, the mage-formed griffon would occupy the swamp dragon's attention long enough for all of them to get to safety.
Mission will snatch up the wolf, if it seems willing, and will slowfall down the rope.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
Tichenor recoils from the monk with a growl, drawing Rennik's attention. Somehow sensing Mission is trying to help from his confident and purposeful stride, he trusts the monk has some sort of plan to get the wolf into the hole. The gods only know what, but after what he did to the swamp dragon, Rennik believes Mission to be capable of almost anything.
In the halfling tongue, he calls out, "Tichenor! Go with the human!"
Grabbing his pack, Rennik will also move quickly toward the hole, firing an arrow back toward the creature when he has established himself within 5 feet of the hole.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
And again, Mission comes to someone's rescue, Sa'id thinks to himself. At least the monk wasn't self-righteous about it.
Sa'id turns and runs for the hole, since his spell didn't really affect the thing at all. He'll go down in to the tunnel.
Is He Down Or Not?
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
Farron watches with some pride as the hippogriff appears majestically and slashes at the now-dazed swamp dragon. Dazed? When did that happen? he thinks to himself, then seeing the monk climb down from the head of the thing begins to understand. He glances at the monk with renewed awe, but then puzzlement as the monk ignores the fallen Garyth, picks up the wolf and heads for the rope. "Garyth is down!" he cries to the group. "Rennik, Help me!"
Not knowing how long the dragon would be stunned, Farron quickly orders the hippogriff to insert itself between the party and the dragon and attack it with full fury while he attempts to help the fallen Garyth to the hole.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
OOC: I thought Garyth was already moving toward the hole?
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
Oops-- I didn't notice that Ty wrote that Garyth was unable to stand after Godzilla dropped him.
Ty-- can Garyth get up and make it to the hole?
If it looks like Garyth can move and get away, or that Rennick will help the warrior get clear of the swamp dragon, Mission will Tumble away from the swamp dragon so as to avoid a AoO (the stun will wear off just before my next round). He'll snatch up Tichenor, and slow fall down the rope.
If it looks like Garyth can't or isn't moving and Rennick can't help him, Mission will try Stonetap again, and hope the fighter can get away next round.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
Well, the turn from Ty said he couldn't stand.
Mike's turn seemed to ignore that, and I was anticipating a note from Ty saying as much. I just don't want him to get left behind and thought this might be a chance for Farron to show some gumption.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
I didn't let Garyth stand up during my description, but once his turn rolls around, his player can have him get up. There is no rules based reason for Garyth to not get up. I just added it as color, since I figured getting shaken by a one ton crocodile would leave even the best of us a bit dizzy.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The underground trail; nice lizard lizard lizard... 2
OK. That won't change my turn for Farron, but it will make the next turn easier if Garyth can walk.
Short Break
Subject: sorry
I am at a client site and they are going live tomorrow. I won't be checking in again till probably Friday.
I apologize for monkeying up the works.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: sorry
*starves to death, dies*
From: Karl
Subject: Re: sorry
*Tosses starved, dead Mission to swamp dragon and drags Garyth to safety*
From: Scott
Subject: Re: sorry
Friggin' opportunistic mage. . .
You just want me out of the way so you can have Anileth all to yourself. . .
Or were you just jealous of my newly formed platonic relationship with tall-dark-and-crazy Cadfael?
:)
:)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: sorry
I was just thinking "Waste not, want not." ;-)