Round 4, A New Revelation
Subject: Re: The Sunmaster's tale
"We appreciate your time. We will do our best to fight this evil that has taken our friend." Farron says to the Sunmaster. "I am not a follower of Pelor, though I am learning to respect his power. Is there any aid or blessing that you can give us that might serve to help us in our fight against the dark power? Any warding that might help protect us against his assasins?"
(OOC - Farron would ask this before leaving the Sunmaster, of course)
From: Ty
Subject: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 4
[Initiative bowman1, Pensive, Melani, Tichenor, Pikeman2, Pikeman1, Garyth, swordsman3, Brute, Vincy, swordsman2, Osred, alchemist, Rennik, Robert, Pickle]
The initial ambush had not been particularly successful, but Garyth's squad had acquitted themselves better in the follow up, and now less than half a minute into the fight, Rennik and Robert control the camp. It is less clear who's winning in the confusing melee around the half orc.
Hearing the cry of his leader to "kill that one," the remaining bowman turns and shoots at Osred. [Attack 20 vs AC19, hit; Damage 6] His shot bounces off the big clerics breastplate, but nicks his forearm as it goes by in a painful cut.
Above on the ridge, Pensive dodges the wild swings of his sword wielding opponent, and then in one smooth motion steps inside the arc of one swing, and grabs the swordsman's arm. [Disarm attempt; improved disarm used; Attack 13 vs Opposing roll 12; Disarm succeeds] Pensive twists the man's arm, then snatches the sword out of it and dances away. It happens almost too fast to see, but when he is done, pensive stands in front of the swordsman, with the man's weapon in his hand.
Melani, battered and bloody from the brute's counter attack, scrambles backward as fast as her damaged hip will let her. Apparently, the half orc is not worried about her getting away, because he ignores her and stays focused on Garyth. Melani is, in a strange way, angry that the orc is not paying more attention to her. It's insulting to be so easily overlooked by an opponent. But her anger does not override her good sense, and she moves as far away as she can. [Withdrawal move]
Rennik is just getting ready to hack the wounded swordsman in front of him, when a gray blur streaks past and slams into the man's chest. [Attack 22 vs AC18, hit; Damage 3] The swordsman goes down under a fury of snapping teeth. Tichenor begins trying to tear the man's throat out, so Rennik knows he isn't coming back into this fight.
The second pikeman attacks the heavily wounded Munch again, [Attack 17 vs AC19, miss] but again Munch is able to evade his thrust while still keeping his attention on the half orc.
The first pikeman continues thrusting at Garyth, hoping to distract him enough that the half orc can get through his guard. [Attack 12 vs AC22, miss]
Garyth keeps his guard up, knowing that the next blow the half orc lands on him could be his last. [Fight defensively -4; full attack; Attacks 19, 19, 17, hit, hit, hit; Damage 9(-1) = 8, 9(-1) = 8, 7(-1) = 6 total 22] Garyth displays his rapidly improving swordsmanship on the brute. He quickly slashes a cut across the brute's upper arm, then twists to avoid the counterattack while smacking the brute on the wrist with his mace, then follows it up with a nasty cut to the side of the neck. All while keeping himself as protected as possible. The half orc screams in rage at the quick flurry of wounds, and bleeds all over everyone.
The third swordsman continues to press Vincy on the right flank. [attack 20 vs AC18, hit; damage 7] He finally finds an opening in the guardsman's defense, and cuts a quick crease down his side.
The half orc, still howling in rage at his wounds, swings a lethal blow at Garyth's head [Attack 26 vs AC23, hit; Damage 16]. Garyth is able to get his guard up, and keep from being decapitated, but the force of the blow slams into his already hurt shoulder with a very disconcerting crunching sound. Almost without pausing, the half orc lunges backwards, slamming the other head of his axe into Pickle's chest [Attack 23 vs AC18, hit; Damage 16]. The guardsman is hurled backwards, coughing blood. Astonishingly, the man keeps his feet, though he looks gravely wounded. The half orc uses the power of his backwards thrust to spin to one side and sweep his axe across Munch's legs [Attack 19 vs AC 19, hit; Damage 15]. The axe nearly cuts Munch's left leg off, and the guardsman drops like a felled ox, blood gushing from his almost severed limb. Pressed from all sides, heavily wounded, probably facing his own death, the half orc has become a whirling bladed demon. It would be awe inspiring, if it weren't so painful.
Vincy counterattacks his opponent [Attack 21 vs AC18, hit; Damage 5], and lands a solid blow on the man's shoulder.
The first swordsman gurgles a bit as Tichenor continues to tear at his throat.
The second swordsman, finding himself suddenly without a weapon, chooses the better part of valor, and runs away. Pensive would normally let the man go, but knows that if he does, the man might be able to warn the witch. [AOO; Grapple attempt 19 vs AC 11, hit; Grapple roll 13 vs opposing roll 8; grappled; Damage 7] Pensive leaps at the man as he runs by, and quickly throws an arm lock about his throat.
Osred, trying to ignore the painful wound on his arm, prays again to Hieronious. [Concentration check 20 vs DC16, success] The warm glow of Hieronius still fills the cleric, and he is able to ignore the pain of his wound as he communes with his god. [Searing light cast; Ranged touch attack 20 vs AC13, hit; Damage 17] Once again, a blinding lance of light streaks from his hand to strike the half orc in the chest. Garyth hears the sizzling of the orc's skin under its bright glare.
After the light fades, the brute grunts once, then with an almost confused look on its face, sinks to it's knees.
From inside the wagon, a glittering glass vial is hurled out at the ground near Tichenor and the dying swordsman. [Ranged touch attack 10, miss] Rennik dodges to one side, and Tichenor seems to leap almost ten feet up the hill in one bound when the glass breaks nearby. The alchemist succeeds only in immolating his fallen comrade, and, if possible, further enraging Rennik.
Once the vial has burst, Rennik charges up the small wooden steps into the back of the wagon. The alchemist is just getting ready to pick another glass vial out of a box on a workbench when Rennik thrusts the spike of his halberd into the man's side [Attack natural 1, miss]. Or, rather, tries to thrust the halberd into his side. The inside of the wagon is a disaster of tools and garbage, and the halfling, in his haste to get to the alchemist, steps on a slick spot on the floor and loses his balance for a second. The alchemist is able to dodge aside and avoid the attack.
Robert fires an arrow at the lone remaining archer in the camp [Attack 21 vs AC18, hit; Damage 1]. The arrow skips off the side of the man's armor, appearing to do little damage.
Pickle, coughing up blood from the vicious wound the half orc gave him, steps forward and growls out, "Die, you ugly bastard." He then runs his sword into the back of the kneeling and dazed brute [Attack 23, hit; Damage 11; death]. His swordpoint appears out the half orc's chest, and the big man falls over without a sound.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Sunmaster's tale
"If only we knew what form such an attack might take. I do wonder if a Death Ward might be able to defeat the soul draining properties of these obsidian daggers, but sadly such a mighty prayer has a short duration. It would last only moments. But I will give you this: Return to this temple at need, and if we have a blessing or curing that will aid you, you will receive it."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Sunmaster's tale
"Well, we thank you for your hospitality and kindness."
Farron heads out with Sa'id.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 4
OOC: Dame Pickle did take him out. :) With a little help from Garyth. Garyth has become quite the fighter hasn't he.
That searing light spell is one the Derek is going to have to learn. No save spells are great.
IC: Melani looks in revulsion at the carnage around her. The brute is finally dead, killed by one of the Blood Falcons. It took three of them to dispatch the creature, and it looked as if the brute had almost killed all three of them as well as her. The human in the metal suite had seemed to call upon the spirits he worshiped and that seemed to turn the tide.
There were still others to deal with. She sees that one of the guardsmen is being attacked by a swordsman and decides to try and go help the man.
OOC: Melani will try to hide and then move over to surprise swordsman 3.
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: Ongoing investigations
After taking their leave of the Sunmaster, and thanking him for his generous help, the two wizards head back out into the city. It is now an hour or two after noon, and the city bustles with life. Of to the west, Farron hears the bells ringing at the dock, as a ship calls its sailors back. The smell of salt water is strong and invigorating. Here, so close to his home and the things he knows well, it would be easy to drop guard. Farron resolves not to let that happen.
He and Sa'id stop at a street vendor not far from temple row, and eat a quick lunch of meat and vegetables stuffed inside baked pastries. Even that simple luxury, eating a warm and tasty meal while sitting in the sun, seems intoxicating. There is a dark undercurrent though, as each time a suspicious looking person walks by, both the wizards tense up and watch till he leaves. At one point Sa'id even remarks, "I do not remember there being so many people of ill aspect wandering about the city." Farron just laughs, "I don't remember us hunting down a soul stealing killer before, either. But surely that has nothing to do with it."
After lunch, Sa'id says that they should go back to the magistrates offices, and see if he will release Cadfael's belongings to them. Especially the ring. Perhaps the wizard's college may be able to learn something from it. Farron shrugs. It seems as good a place as any to go next. It's frustrating to have so few answers, though of course he knows that they have only been looking for one morning.
The magistrate has no argument with turning the broken ring over to the two wizards. It just seems like a cold metal band now. There is no hint of magic or taint to it. But perhaps the college will find something. Sa'id tosses it in his pocket and the wizards head off to the keep.
The man who stood watch at the front door remembers Cadfael leaving, but did not see anyone following him. He says that the cleric was whistling a jaunty tune, and seemed quite happy as he left. He doesn't really have anything else to report.
[you guys can do any RP you want, or ask additional questions. I assume back to the college after that?]
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations (question for Mike)
BTW, Mike, we never really said, but what would Garyth have done with Cadfael's shield?
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations
OOC:
Of course, the doorman could easily be a conspirator, and we have no way of determining if he's telling the truth.
I'd like to use another Detect Magic glamour at the murder site. I imagine any auras have long dissipated, but it can't hurt to check. Then to the wizards' school to see if they can tell us anything about the ring. We should maybe be asking them about the dagger, too, but one thing at a time. I don't particularly want to be carrying that thing around.
I don't have anything else to ask the doorman aside from the time of Cadfael's departure. Also, I don't suppose there's any accurate way to determine time of death, is there? It would be nice to know, roughly, how long passed between when Cadfael left the castle and when he died. That would give us a clearer idea of whether he was killed en route or killed later; it's possible the temple was not actually his destination.
Man. So many unknowns.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Ongoing investigations (question for Mike)
Not having a place of his own in Nesalin, Garyth would have left Cadfael's shield and mace with the Guard's quartermaster's office for safekeeping until his return.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 4
Garyth lets out a shout of satisfaction as he feels his weapons connect with the half-orc's hide. But his cry turns to one of dismay when he sees Munch go down. "Osred!" he yells. "Man down!"
Munch's only hope is for Osred to reach him before it's too late. And the only way that can happen is for Garyth to make sure the pikemen are occupied. "Come on, you bastards!" he roars at the two pikemen as he advances.
OOC: Full Attack, fighting defensively against Pikeman 2. Dodge point on Pikeman 2. If Pikeman 2 dies, any remaining attacks will be against Pikeman 1.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 4
Hearing Garyth's call, Osred is on the move, pounding his way across the battle field before the afterimage from Hironeous's divine light has faded from his eyes. He moves with all speed, heedless of attacks that might be leveled at him.
From: Ty
Subject: Ongoing investigations; a new revelation
Sa'id casts another detect magic at the street on which the murder occurred. Of course, it is quite different in broad daylight with the street full of people. Several people pass by that display some small glimmer of magic. Most probably minor protection or warding charms. This area of town is frequented by the wealthy, and they have the means to purchase such things. But the street itself offers no clues. If magic was used here, its traces have long since vanished.
The wizards then head back to the college. They are surprised when the doorman tells them that Thaddeus has requested they be brought to him immediately if they return. The are quickly ushered back to his office, and he greets them with a strange expression. Sa'id says, "We have brought this-" But Master Thaddeus interrupts him impatiently.
"I have something important to tell you! Curse me for an old fool, but I missed something of importance when we last spoke. You mentioned this Kor Garesh, and I told you I had never heard of it. Well, that was both true and not true. The term Kor Garesh is an ancient halfling mish mash. Of course I've never heard it used that way. But then I started to think about the meaning. 'Soul Drinker'. And it hit me. Melancthnagesh. The Devourer. The general of Mon Kada's legions in the blood wars. It is not in a book you boys would have read, since we keep it in the private library for Masters only. But there is an account there, written, oh, perhaps a thousand years or more ago, by a magician of vast powers who fought for a time in the blood wars. He describes this creature, this Devourer. An abomination of incredible might, who led the legions of Mon Kada in the endless wars in pandemonium. I have read no other works that describe this creature. Which, of course, would make a great deal of sense, if he vanished from his own realm a thousand years ago.
"If this Kor Garesh of the halflings, is indeed Melancthnagesh the Devourer, then this is a problem beyond my ability to see a solution for. This is an outsider of vast power; nearly a minor god in its own right. It would have taken the strength of a being like Pelor to contain it at all."
He stops speaking, a combination of horror and awe on his face.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 4
Frustrated at his ineptness, Rennik forces his breathing to slow somewhat, though it still is forced in and out of his nostrils like a cornered H'ruggda. With a low growl in his throat, he performs a full attack on the alchemist in the confined lab.