Garyth Gets the Message; Back to the Seaman's Haven; Welcome Back, Dan
Subject: Re: The Exodus; The Evening of day two, and a message received
"Don't worry, Garyth. Even if the woods were filled with ghouls and Murrkat, no one has a better chance of getting through to the Kalama than that scout."
Garyth turns to Rennik as the halfling speaks. He's right, of course. Melani knew the land and her people well, and without the refugees and guards to draw attention she'd move even more quickly and silently. Still, with all that's happened, he can't help feel a twinge of worry--after all, the last time one of the group went off alone, he was ambushed.
He's about to reply when he feels a presence in his mind. His eyes widen and grow distant. A panic begins to rise in him. The demon has found us! But the fear has no sooner come than the words begin to allay it.
"Garyth Tel'Arden. Farron says, demon solution found. Must return to temple with Pelor cleric. Leaving Nesalin soon. Meet at Gully's. Glad you're all well."
A wave of excitement comes over Garyth. His friends had found an answer! There's hope, then. His spirits lifted by the news, he chuckles slightly at the the last words. Well, indeed. As though the message were a letter received and read by a warm fireplace, perhaps with a glass of wine in the other hand. The incongruity is humorous.
The words cease far too soon, and a thousand questions spring to mind. But there's no time; Garyth can already feel the presence fading. "We will come," he says. "As soon as the townspeople are safe." The presence is gone nearly before he can even get those few words out--he's not sure he got through.
Coming to his senses, Garyth realizes that Rennik is giving him a strange look. He must have spoken aloud. "I've received a message from Farron," he explains, relaying the message to the halfling.
From: Ty
Subject: wizards
Need something from the wizards.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
"Sa'id, hang back a few yards, but keep an eye out." Farron then approaches the man in front of his apartment cautiously, keeping an eye out for any companions the man may have hiding nearby. His hands almost subconsciously rummage through the spell components in the pockets of his robes. If the man shows no sign of recognition nor makes any other suspicious movement before Farron gets to a point about 30 feet from the man, Farron will stop there and call to the man, "Hail, stranger! Are you looking for me?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
Farron stops thirty feet from the steps that lead to his home. The large man has moved into the shadow of the wine merchants booth, and is pretending to be very interested in some wine bottles. He does not appear to have noticed Farron's approach. When Farron stops and calls out, "Hail, Stranger! Are you looking for me?" the man jumps, and looks around quickly, as if scanning the street for danger.
After looking up and down the street, the big man begins moving quickly toward Farron. Farron begins to back pedal, but as the man gets closer, the wizard can see he has an open and concerned expression on his face. Not the hard look of a man preparing to kill, but the look of a worried friend. Farron instinctively feels a trust for the man. He slows down to let the man approach. Once he gets close, he begins speaking in an urgent near whisper.
"I believe I am. Fairn Upill, isn't it? And that would be Sed? I am?" his mouth hangs open for a second as he glances behind him "come, let me buy you an ale. Or wine. Or water. Or?" realizing he's rambling he trails off, quickly collects himself and gestures down the road while gently but firmly ushering Farron in the direction he's pointing. "Come. I know a place. Or if you know a place we can go there."
[need farron and sa'id reactions]
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
"I know a place, " Farron says. "It's not far." He will then lead the man in the opposite direction toward any well lit, relatively safe, and hopefully well patronized pub or inn.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
Sa'id follows cautiously.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
Feeling like having Otto available in case of trouble is a good idea, Farron leads Sa'id and their new companion back to the Seaman's Haven. Though the stranger is large the crowd parts instinctively to make a path for him. His is not the kind of big man one feels safe teasing. Once seated there is a long silence punctuated by drumming fingers while the wizards wait for the man to tell them why they're here. After several attempts to begin speaking he heaves a sigh and looks up at them, speaking lowly enough to not be overheard, so softly that it's immediately apparent to anyone paying attention that he does not wish to be heard. "I believe we have, at different times, shared a traveling companion. An unforgettable woman, this Lady Duskane, who left Nesalin in search of two wizards who struck down a paladin of the White Heart and fled inland to the jungles. Two wizards who, I'm told, have recently returned to the city." He pauses, making sure this point has sunk in. "Tell me if you would, Fairn, Sed, of your travels inland to the mountain temple. Tell me of your time with Lady Elise."
From: Mark
Subject: Re: wizards
OOC;
Maybe this is part of what Ty is trying to set up but have Farron and Sa'id been out killing Palladins? ;)
I think I might remember who this might be. Or could be.
M
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
"Where have you heard such a story?" Farron asks. "And what would make you think it had anything to do with us? Who are you?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
More drumming of fingers. "The story of Sir Conal's demise and Lady Elise's subsequent departure is common knowledge, if not often spoke of. As for your involvement in the murder, this I heard from Elise herself, she arrived in Nesalin not an hour after you. As of this evening you two are wanted men, the signs should be going up soon. For my part I wish to know why you left, what connection you have with her, and just what you did in the temple." He finishes, ticking each point off his fingers. "If you do not tell me, I will call the guards. If you kill me, the guards will be called. And if you waste more time asking me questions instead of answering mine the guards will come in here and find you."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
"Nobody questioned her story, of course. And I don't suppose a priest happened to cast a spell of truth-saying before she told it." Sa'id sighs. "I will tell you, then, but without any magic to tell truth from lies, how will you know who to believe?"
He shakes his head to clear it. "I left Nesalin for Overlook not long ago, and Farron left before I did. Both of us were verifiably in Overlook at the time of Sir Conal's murder. In Overlook, we and several others were enjoined by the town to investigate a number of mysterious deaths. We first encountered Elise," the lack of honourific is palpable, "at the scene of the last slayings. Later we found one of her former companions dying on the road. He told us that she had stabbed and poisoned him."
"One of the men travelling with us was searching for a former lover who was pregnant with his son. We learned that the son was to be sacrificed at the temple in the jungle immediately after his birth. We travelled to the temple and managed to rescue the newborn. The man has since returned home with his son."
"Elise never travelled with us, and we have only encountered her a handful of times."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
The drumming of fingers stops. "Helm would not bless her if she were lying about this, are you honestly charging her of murder under his watchful eye?" The intensity in his voice is rising, but he seems to be excited more than angry. "You say you were with her on a handful of occasions but only tell me of one. You tell me I must choose to trust you but then clearly leave out details. Please, Sed, Fairn. Farron? Farron. You must know more than this."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
"Do you know that Helm still blesses her? Have you seen her use any of her holy gifts since returning?" Sa'id pauses. "Yes, we saw Elise more than once. There was a halfling travelling with us, and at one point he was separated from the group. We found him later, and he told us that he had encountered her. Our entire group saw her at the temple."
"Very well. I will be open with you." He lowers his voice slightly. "She was going to sacrifice the baby herself. She has forsaken Helm."
Sa'id watches the man's response intently.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: wizards
"No," he says, "she has been acting most unlike a knight of Helm for a long time now." He hesitates for minute, adjusting his cap and seeing to an itch as excuse. "You cannot return to Farron's apartments, the guards will find you there. I would normally suggest hiding you outside the city, but now, now I do not think there is a place for you to go. Is there somewhere you can go where nobody would think to look for you for a few days? I will need time to talk to the duke, if I can even convince him to listen to me."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
Aaaaaaaannnnndddd....
Welcome back to the game, Dan!
Nice convo to get you started back in. Wasn't sure if Sa'id would pick a fight or not. :)
From: Dan
Subject: Re: wizards
I totally wanted to be all like, "I dare you to fire ball me, little man. I double DOG dare you."
From: Mark
Subject: Re: wizards
In our best Cheers voices.
Bob.
Mark
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
Initially I actually considered it. Sa'id doesn't like being threatened. If we'd been talking outside the city walls I might well have tried to kill you. :P
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
"We are leaving Nesalin tomorrow with a priest of Pelor," Sa'id says quietly, "to meet our former companions. There is nothing more we can accomplish in Nesalin."
From: Dan
Subject: Re: wizards
"No," he hisses, "I need you here. Though it's tenuous at best you're the only other evidence I have. Have your priest friend hide you, send word you'll meet the others later. Nesalin needs you to help me bring Elise down."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
"Elise's new master lurks in the temple," Sa'id murmurs. "We have to go back and seal its prison before it can break free. If it breaks free it will destroy this island. How much damage will she do here if left unchecked?"
From: Jake
Subject: Re: wizards
Glad you're back in the game Dan!
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
(Damn, I leave work early and all hell breaks loose!)
Farron listens as Sa'id takes charge of the conversation, nodding in agreement with Sa'id's story where appropriate.
(OOC - Ty, that is a really cool twist. I totally did not see that coming.)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
Would still love to get Farron's take on it, if he has one. Also, Sa'id and Farron will need to confer on what to do.
Back on Monday
Subject: Re: wizards
I'll have something out by sometime Monday if not sooner. Very busy weekend.
Karl
From: Scott
Subject: Re: wizards
Well, welcome back to the game, Dan!
w00t!
Um. . . maybe I missed the email, but Dan hasn't explained who he is, or why he cares yet. . .
Meet Kasen; Spellbooks?
Subject: Re: wizards
Upon hearing they were wanted for murder, Farron sat in stunned silence, listening as Sa'id spoke in their defense. He nodded in agreement at appropriate times, but inside his mind was whirling. Elise had returned to the city? He wouldn't have though she'd dare! Then a worse thought occurred to him. We've given her the perfect opportunity to return unquestioned. We've become her alibi. Now more than ever, Farron wished they had just gone out with the others to meet the demon army head-on.
"Sir," Farron begins, "If you truly wish to bring down Elise, you must help us get back to the temple. Anything we do here in the city will be but swatting at flies while the source of her evil lies festering in the jungle, unmolested."
He turns to Sa'id. "We need to go. This is the second time today that we have been here, where I am well known. By now there are dozens of people on the streets who, when questioned, will be able to say, 'Farron? Why I just saw him at the Seaman's Haven not two hours ago.' If we stay here any longer we'll be pondering our next course of action from inside a cell, if indeed Elise hasn't arranged to have us run through on the spot."
A wanted man. How had it come to this? A few short weeks ago he was on holiday to visit his family. Now his family was homeless, or worse, the city was soon to be under siege, and he was wanted for the murder of a member of the White Hart. Even if he survived the scandal, his reputation was shot. He'd never find work on the merchant ships again. Immediately he felt selfish and not a little stupid. Work on a ship, indeed. If they failed, there wouldn't be any trade work for anyone. The next ships out of Nesalin would be filled with zombie hoards and helmed by a she-devil, from the look of things.
He turns back to the stranger, "You're right that we cannot return to my apartment. We cannot stay here. We've made open inquiries at the wizard's college since we returned, so it's a cinch they'd look for us there soon. I don't think we have any choice but to return to the Sunmaster now and tell him of this new urgency. If we don't leave the city soon, we will not be able to."
From: Dan
Subject: Re: wizards
The stranger looks incredulously at the two men.
"Seal the prison of a demon that is already all but completely free? Surely you're not serious. Lady Elise on herself is more than I can handle else I would have confronted her already. If you can truly tackle and defeat her master in his own temple dealing with Lady Elise should be a trifling affair. No, I think you vastly overestimate your own abilities."
"Leaving the city is madness, and seeking aid from the Sunmaster is likely more trouble than it is worth. He is too well known in the city, his actions are always watched by the faithful. Being with him is more out in the open than staying here in the tavern. Better to go directly to your cleric friend and see if he can hide you. If its some place outside of the city, so much the better."
OOC: Um, Karl, are we sending messages to some of your addresses outside of the mailing list? They seem to be included in Raja's game E-mails as well.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
"Our 'cleric friend' as you put it, *is* the Sunmaster. And as far as we can tell, the Demon feeds off the souls of his faithful once they have been killed, which we have seen he can do at will and remotely. Eliminating Elise as a threat will only feed him further, and in her case probably feed him well. You're going to have to trust us on this. We have the advantage of the greater picture. It was the clerics of Pelor who imprisoned this monster ages ago. Now the prison has been weakened. It is only the power of the representative of Pelor that will be able to repair this prison before it is completely breached. Once the breach is complete it won't matter if Elise has been neutralized or not, or even if we're rotting in a cell somewhere or drinking ale in the Haven. Nothing on Nesalin will stop this being once he's free, nor in the world, I'm afraid, once he has the souls of this island to feed him and do his bidding. We are even now making arrangements with the Sunmaster to escort him to this temple in order to effect the repair."
Farron casts a worried glance at the door. Otto catches his eye and gives a concerned look, which Farron waves away, returning what he hopes is a cheery grin to signal that all is well.
"Otto is my friend, but his allegiance is to the Haven. If the guard comes through that door, I do not believe he will help us at the expense of his employer. We have to leave NOW."
From: Dan
Subject: Re: wizards
"The Sunmaster!?" He splutters, trying valiantly to look even more incredulous than before, "Your priest of Pelor is THE Sunmaster? But... why would he go with you? Who will take his place? So many arrangements would have to be made and you have only been in the city for a few days. How long have you three been planning this? And how will you leave with one of the most recognizable men in the city riding beside you? Where will you go that someone will not recognize him? For that matter, how will you get him all the way to the mountain? His Grace can barely walk!"
"The Sunmaster." He shakes his head, realizing he's lost any authority he had with the simple drop of a name.
"But you're right, this conversation has gone on longer than it should have already. I do not know when his grace was expecting you, but it would be best to go to him now and leave the city immediately. If youve left any belongings at your apartment youd best get used to the idea of living without them. I will see to bringing food and water to you outside the city, if you can tell me where to meet you. Understand, however, that I will be going with you, youre too valuable to my city to risk having you vanish into the jungle once the Sunmasters work is complete."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
(TY - just for formality's sake, Farron would like a sense motive check on this dude whatshisname. I'm assuming that Farron is going to feel that he can trust this guy. If I'm wrong, I'll re-write the turn below.)
'Vanish into the jungle', Farron thinks suppressing a shudder. He decides against mentioning that there are a hundred ways this could happen that are beyond this guy's control, whether Farron wanted them to happen or not. He rises. "We should leave by the back door," he says, once again catching Otto's eye across the room. He gives Otto a wink and nods slightly toward the back of the Haven. Having had reason to leave the Haven that way in the past, he trusts Otto to understand his signal. He was leaving and wished to do so quietly. Hopefully, if Otto were questioned in the near future, he wouldn't feel the need to give out too much info. Otto was loyal to the Haven, but if Farron was no longer there, being cagey shouldn't be a threat to his employment. Maybe those good tips over the years would buy Farron some discretion.
Once in the Alley behind the haven, Farron speaks. "We still don't know your name or really anything about you. What is your position in all this?" he asks, making for the Sunmaster's temple with all caution, keeping to the shadows and using the least traveled route he knows.
(OOC - Farron will also tell whatshisname of a spot where they can meet outside the city. I'm sure he knows some small farm or out of the way landmark that would make a convenient rendezvous point. Unless Sa'id has a better idea, he intends to go to the Sunmaster with the latest news of their "wanted" status, and plead the case for their immediate departure. Of course, I'm sure what Farron intends and what Ty has in mind are probably two very different things. ;)
Boy this has gotten exciting! :D /OOC)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
By way of answering your question below, Dan, I'm not getting all the emails to the list, but I'm apparently getting all of Raja's. I haven't gotten anything much today from either game other than the emails I've responded to. I don't know if that's all there has been or if I've missed anything. I don't mind getting duplicates, so if anyone wants to include my addresses in addition to the list address I don't mind.
Karl
From: Dan
Subject: Re: wizards
The stranger balks slightly at the question of his name and looks uncomfortable when he does answer. "I suppose I owe some sort of answer, I've asked for much honesty from you. You must forgive my hesitation, I do believe that you are innocent of this crime... but it's hard to shake the fact that you stand accused of murder."
"My name is Kasen of the White Hart," he swallows hard before continuing, "and Squire to the late Sir Conal. I suppose my position in all this needs no more explanation."
"There are some things I must do before leaving the city, I'm sure my time with you has not gone unnoticed and soon the guards will have some questions for me, questions I would just as soon not answer. Certainly my leaving the city will be suspicious, but that is my own problem to sort out. If there's anything aside from food and water you need for the journey I will try to bring it when I leave, but I can make you no promises."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
OOC: I like the name of the late knight. :) Also, I hope our spellbooks aren't sitting in Farron's house.
IC:
"The Sunmaster was going to ask the Duke for some men to accompany us in secret. If he has not already gone, and if... she... does not already have some sort of hold on the Duke, perhaps Fellus' words will sway him."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
Farron feels like their large new companion is being completely straightforward with them. He is actually quite charismatic.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
Mmmmmmm. . .big, burly, charismatic man. . . ;-) /Homer Simpson drool voice
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
(OOC - Ty, do we have our spellbooks and components for casting? If not, Farron will give Kasen his key and instructions for getting into the apartment, hopefully by some back entrance so he can maybe pick those up for them. Otherwise he has no other specific needs and will trust Kasen to gather food and supplies as best he can.)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
It seems unlikely that Farron and Sa'id would be lugging their full spellbooks around the city.
Something Hits the Fan
Subject: Need an update
Ok, I need final actions from farron, kasen, and sa'id so I can write up the next turn.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Need an update
Farron gave Kasen his key and (hopefully) any instructions that might get him inside the apartment unnoticed where he can grab Sa'id's and his packs (w/spellbooks and components). He also told Kasen about a farm or landmark of your choosing where they can meet outside the city. Then he and Sa'id are heading to the Sunmaster to try and convince him of the need for an immediate departure. (Unless Sa'id has other plans).
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Need an update
Got it. Sa'id and Kasen?
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Need an update
Assuming we've been pretty quick I'm going to head back to Farron's and grab his and Sa'id's gear using the back roads if I can. If Farron has any food/water skins there I'll be sure to stuff them in their bag. Then return to my estate to pack up as quickly as I can and get the hell out of the city before word spreads that I've been talking to the two of them. If there's time I'll buy some food while passing through a market. Otherwise whatever I've got in my larder will have to do.
That's my plan, of course. If I should run into anyone who calls "halt!" or some such, it's subject to change. I'm not meeting the Sunmaster though, I want to get out of town as quickly as I can.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Need an update
I'm going straight to the Sunmaster's. As a foreigner I'm far too easily identifiable. I will explain the situation to the Sunmaster and find out if he has already spoken with the Duke.
From: Ty
Subject: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
By the time the wizards have exited through the kitchen door of the Haven, the enormity of the situation begins to sink in. Suddenly every passing face is suspicious. Did the fishmonger stare over long as they passed by? Why has that girl with the basked followed them for two blocks? Are the four guardsmen chatting at the intersection waiting for them?
Every time they think that they are getting ahead of the demon, his reach is revealed to be even longer. Now his high priestess Elise is manipulating Sir Danbury, one of the Lords of Nesalin. The demon has shown raw power and brutality in his displays at Gully's trading post and in the battle for Overlook. But he is also showing an insidious subtlety. It is the combination of these two things that leave Sa'id suddenly breathless.
"We are not smarter than him?" he says to Farron, his voice catching in his throat.
Farron turns to look at his friend. "What?"
"He was powerful, yes. Overwhelmingly so. And terrifying. He had many servants, and granted some of them dark powers. But I had been assuming we were smarter. We snuck into his lair and took his prize right from under his nose. We would beat him because for all his strength, we were more clever. It was only a matter of time."
Sa'id grabs Farrons arm for a moment, stopping him and pulling him into a dark corner beside a merchants booth. "But we are not. The demon was blinded through some agency of Pelor's while Cadfael was with us. The demon did not understand we were a threat. It did not know what was happening until after it had happened. Anileth must have believed it was just Mission and a few friends, trying to save the baby. Kor Garesh only knew what his servants told him.
"But know the demon knows. Now all its will and resources are turned against us. And Pelor no longer shields us from his black gaze. We are not smarter than it is, Farron. We have been fools to believe so. If we survive to escape this city, we should not make that mistake again."
Farron nods. He did not disagree, but how did this help? Sa'id tended to overanalyze everything, but Farron didn't want to discourage him. Sometimes his friend made startling leaps of intuition from these ponderings. Farron just says, "I agree, Sa'id. We must not make that mistake. But let's hurry to the Sunmaster."
**
Kasen walks quickly back to the wizard's apartment. He pauses a moment at a leather workers shop, pretending to look at boots, while scanning the street. No guards were visible. Perhaps Sir Danbury would not move as quickly on Elise's lies as the she devil wished. Sir Danbury was still a good man, despite falling under the blackguard's influence. Surely he would not be hasty to throw men in irons without further investigation.
Best not to tempt fate. Kasen hurries to the stairs, and uses his long legs to climb them three at a time. Farron's key opens the lock with a well oiled click, and Kasen slips inside closing the door behind him. The apartment was very lavish, to Kasen's eye. As a paladin's squire, he had only a stone cell with a hard pallet and a table for study and prayer. The wizard had two rooms and his own cooking space. He had shelves lined with books, and in his room a larges soft feather bed. Kasen feels a temptation for contempt at such soft luxury. But then he remembers that this wizard recently crossed miles of the most dangerous terrain on Huss, and faced a demon in its lair. He must be made of harder stuff than his rooms would indicate.
Shaking off his reverie, Kasen grabs the two well worn packs sitting in the Wizard's bedroom closet. He glances inside them, and sees they are equipped for hard travel. Also inside each pack is a slim but well bound book. That must be the spell books.
He moves to the kitchen to take what food he can find, when there is a hard knock at the door.
Times up.
Holding the two packs by their straps, he moves to the door. A second hard knock, followed by someone yelling to "open in the name of the Duke". Kasen takes a deep breath and opens the door.
Five men dressed in the livery of the City Watch crowd onto the landing at the top of the front stairs. Their leader, a very young looking lieutenant begins to speak, then stops. After a second, he says, "You are not the Wizard Farron Uphill."
With a grim smile, "No, I am not. And curse his eyes, but it seems he left his apartment before you could get here."
The guardsman seems to wait for Kasen to say more, but when the big man just keeps smiling, he says, "And you are?"
Kasen says, "I am Squire Kasen, of the White Hart. I am here to collect some of the wizard's personal things. We may have need of them." He gives the guardsman a knowing look.
"Ah. Right. We are here to take custody of the men."
Kasen gestures at the sitting room behind him. "Then perhaps you should wait inside. If they return, you will have the drop on them."
The guardsman nods emphatically. "Yes. Men, move inside and take up positions. Thank you for your assistance, Squire Kasen."
Kasen shakes the man's hand, "Carry on with your duty, Lieutenant. I am off."
Kasen is two blocks away when he stops to lean against a wall, and pant. I didn't lie, he says to himself. I never lied to the guardsman. I have kept my oaths. Even if my words were designed to mislead him, I never spoke falsehood.
The letter of the oath, if not their spirit.
Several hours later, Kasen sits on his gray charger, Stormcloud, and leaves through the front gate of Nesalin. The men manning the gate take one look at his brilliantly gleaming full plate with the emblems of Helm, and do not even ask his business. They just open the small trader's gate and let him out. It is a half hour ride to the farm Farron chose as the rallying point.
Once there, Kasen grazes the horse and oils his sword. Something tells him that he will be needing the blade soon?
**
Sa'id and Farron get to Temple Row without running into any trouble, though they take side streets several times to avoid patrolling guardsmen. No telling whether the guards would notice them or not, but no reason to risk it.
But they stop several blocks short of Pelor's temple. It is surrounded by guards. A dozen or more at the very least.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
Shit.
Unless they're the men the Duke is giving him to go with us. ;)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
The bitch.
She must have killed Cadfael. Maybe that was even the same knife she was going to use to kill Promise.
They had been stymied almost at every turn since coming to Nesalin. Now he knew why. Sa'id bristles at the thought of being outwitted, even by the hellspawned beast in the black pillar. No, he wasn't going to give up on the Sunmaster until he at the very least found out what was going on. Sa'id wishes he'd taken the time last night to review his spells. There wasn't much point in being a walking arsenal in a situation such as this, and he was precisely that at the moment. Still, he'd manage.
"Follow me," Sa'id murmurs to his friend, walking as normally and unobtrusively as possible into a nearby alleyway. Turning a second corner, behind piles of broken wood and other refuse, he gestures at Farron to stand near him. "You know the routine, stay within ten feet or they will see you," he says. "Six minutes." He begins murmuring an incantation softly [Invisibility Sphere].
[This part assumes that Farron agrees to come along rather than waiting outside. I'll just sort of write invisible actions for the both of us in the next paragraph. Also, when the spell takes effect I want to begin marking time so that I have an idea of how much longer the spell will last.]
The two wizards fade out of existence. "We should hold on to one another," Sa'id says, and they fumble about invisibly for a moment before clasping hands so as not to be separated. They walk out into the street, keeping away from the pedestrian traffic, and make their way toward the temple.
[We'll take a longer route to the main entrance if it means not passing too close to the guards. We'll walk slowish so that we can go quietly, though I don't expect the guards to notice us over the street noises. Once we're inside we'll see where to go next; obviously we're looking for the Sunmaster and hoping feverishly that he's alone and not so exciteable that hearing two invisbile wizards out of nowhere will give him a heart attack or something...]
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
Well crap. You're not gonna make this easy, are you.
I do hope at least that you are going to make it possible. ;-)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
Farron agrees with this plan, of course.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
Sa'id leads Farron across the street, gripping his arm tightly to maneuver him. He slows down once he reaches the group of guards out in front of the temple. There are gaps large enough for them to move through, but if a guard moves suddenly and bumps into them, the caper is up.
Sa'id waits impatiently for the right time, then darts through as two guards begin a discussion that he thinks will keep them immobile for a few seconds. Farron stays right behind him, and moves quietly enough that if Sa'id wasn't holding his arm, he wouldn't know he was there. [two extremely good move silent rolls made here. Like, Kasen could have snuck through in his plate mail with these rolls. Pelor smiles on the wizards]
Once past the guards, Sa'id leads Farron to the entrance of the temple. There is a large golden sun symbol on the floor in front of the main door, and after he walks across it, he feels Farron pulling on his arm. He turns back, and sees his friend standing there in plain view.
Farron says, "The seal-"
Sa'id curses under his breath as the shout goes up from the guards on the steps. Of course. A temple as rich as this one would have many wards against stealthy entry. He wants to scream and hit himself in the head, but that will have to wait for later. He just takes time to say, "Run," then bolts inside the temple. He can hear Farron right behind him, and the clank of the running guards behind them both.
Sa'id has a dim hope that if he can get to the Sunmaster, perhaps the cleric can protect them. He runs through the main hall towards the private chambers in the rear of the temple. Around him, the shouts of temple workers and clerics join in the din of the running guards. The situation is rapidly getting out of control, and Sa'id curses again. He is about half way across the main floor when the cleric Dominic steps out from the back hall. His face twists up with anger at the commotion, and he yells, "Stop!" There must be some magic in the shouted word, because everyone in the hall instantly does, Sa'id almost falling on his face as his legs suddenly refuse to keep running.
The cleric strides forward, his hands in fists, and Sa'id cringes at the coming rebukes and accusations. But Dominic walks right past him, and confronts the guard captain. "How dare you bring your soldiers into this temple! By royal decree, no soldier may enter holy ground to lay hands on a supplicant. I will have your rank stripped and your back flogged if your men are not out of my sight in the next three seconds."
The captain opens his mouth once, but snaps it shut again, and with a glare at the two wizards, quickly ushers his men from the hall.
Dominic slowly walks back to Farron. "Now, what was that all about?"
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
"Now, what was that all about?"
From the floor, Sa'id gasps, "The Sunmaster. Is he safe?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
"Of course he is. Colin took him to the Duke shortly after the noon bell. He has been in council ever since."
He reaches down to help Sa'id back to his feet. "Why would the Sunmaster not be safe? Why are guards chasing you? What exactly is going on here? If you are guilty of criminal acts, the temple can not protect you. We will have to turn you over to the magistrate."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
"In truth, we are accused, but we are most certainly *not* guilty." Farron stammer, then in a rush of words he tell Dominic of Elise's terrible lies and their desperate attempt to warn the Sunmaster of her infiltration of the city and the White Hart. He finishes with "Please! We must see the Sunmaster immediately."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
[OOC: Going through the archives, the name of the deceased knight has changed from Sir Basil to Sir Conal. Were there TWO murders?]
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
Damn I want to be able to write like that.
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
No, other than the extreme length of time between turns and bad memory, nothing going on there. :)
His name is Sir Conal now, dammit. It's the unholy influence of the demon! Names are changing!
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
During Farron's tale, several of the clerics and adherents drift over to listen in, but Dominic gives them a hard stare and says, "Back to your duties, gawkers. This is not your affair." Those eavesdroppers disperse quickly. Farron is beginning to get the impression that Dominic might be a very stern fellow. If he can't explain what's going on to Dominic's satisfaction, he has no doubt that the cleric will drag them both from the temple and throw them to the mercy of the city guard.
After chasing away the gawkers, Dominic says, "Let us finish in private." He leads the wizards to a small room with a table and four chairs, and no other adornment. It is probably a private council room for penitents seeking Pelor's advice.
"Finish," he says to Farron, and the wizard does, ending with the plea, Please! We must see the Sunmaster immediately."
Dominic frowns. "These are serious charges. The woman you speak of is ranked highly within the paladins of Helm. Though her reputation was tarnished by her disappearance and the unsolved murder, no formal charges have been laid."
He points at the two wizards, "You are the accused here, not her, or the guards would not pursue you."
He gets up and paces. "I will not act until my Lord Fellus returns. He has taken you into his councils, and I will not risk his displeasure. You may remain here until that time. I will do my best to see to your comforts. But first I must speak to the captain who is surely waiting outside the temple for me. I will return in a few moments."
The cleric leaves, and a few moments after he's gone, a boy arrives with a decanter of wine and a basket of fruit. He murmers, "Pelor's plenty to you." Then dips his head and leaves.
Farron takes a grape, but his stomach is in knots and he does not eat it, just rolls in around on the table. Sa'id pours them both a small glass of wine that they ignore.
In fifteen minutes, Dominic returns. "I have seen the orders to arrest you. They are signed by Sir Danbury himself. You are accused of murder, joining yourselves to the service of a demon, conspiring against the city and it's noble lords, and of treasonously giving your service to the Halflings who now threaten it. As evidence, your recent trip to the demon's temple, and your known association with two wild Halflings are noted."
In a statement of astonishing obviousness, he says, "This is very serious."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
Wow. Thanks.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
OOC: A voice in the back of their heads yells "Don't eat the food."
Mark
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
"Yes, it is," Sa'id says. "She has no evidence against us, we were verifiably out of the city at the time of the murder, and yet because of her position there is already a warrant for our arrest."
He pauses. "But there is more. There must be. When we arrived here, one of our companions mentioned her involvement and Sir Danbury wouldn't hear of it. His outbrust was most unbecoming. It is clear to me that she has some kind of hold on him -- either through her beauty, which alone would be more than sufficient to sway even the stoutest heart -- or through magic. He listens to her without question. -That- is why there is a warrant for our arrest and not for hers. It's the only logical conclusion, from my position."
"As always," Sa'id continues, "I am willing to have everything I say confirmed by a magical spell of truth. When we journeyed to the demon's temple with Brother Cadfael, it was to save the life of a child. Elise herself held a black knife over the child at the altar, and would have carried out the sacrifice were it not for Cadfael. I believe she used that same knife to kill him here in Nesalin upon her return. She has forsaken Helm for this demon, the Devourer."
"This is why I fear for Sunmaster Fellus. He is the only one who can stop this demon from destroying the island. I do not -think- Elise has sufficient influence to act overtly against him, but the knowledge that he is in the same city as her, let alone in the same hall, is deeply troubling. Given a hint of a chance she will try to kill him, and if she does all will be lost."
"I understand why you wish us to remain here until he returns, but please understand that -I- am afraid that he will -not- return. I wish only to protect him. When are you expecting him to return?"
Waiting for Fellus, Under Pelor's Eye, Kasen at the Farm, The Paths of the Dead, Meeting Up With Kasen, Black Magic in the Camp
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
Awesomeawesomeawesomeawesome!
You guys rock!
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
"Our desperation should show that we know how serious this is. If Elise has Sir Danbury's confidence so firmly we have no hope of justice through the guard if we do not have allies of our own. Isn't there some way you can confirm the truth of our words? We have seen the evil inside Elise. Surely the servants of Pelor can make her evil reveal itself!" He pauses, realizing he is speaking too loudly and too fast. "Forgive me," he says, bowing his head before Dominic. "I mean no disrespect. We are hopeless without your assistance."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
FYI - I was reading Ty's writeup this morning over breakfast. I got to:
He points at the two wizards, "You are the accused here, not her, or the guards would not pursue you."
and the power went out at my house. I've been on edge the whole drive to work thinking I was gonna find out he'd thrown us to the guard.
This story would make a great book. Think we could get Peter Jackson to do the movie version??
From: Ty
Subject: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
To his credit, the priest Dominic listens to the two wizards without interrupting, and his grim expression shows that he weighs their words carefully.
"I do not know what to do. Only the Sunmaster may give final judgment on so weighty a matter." Turning to Sa'id, he adds, "However, there is a room here in the temple that will allow only truth to be spoken. It is a holy place; the place where acolytes speak the final vows to enter into Pelor's service. A lie spoken in that room would bring instant judgment from Him, and the deceiver would be burned with His holy fire. Would you repeat what you have said here, while kneeling before the justice of my mighty Lord?"
Sa'id can't help but gulp. But after a moments pause, he replies, "Yes. My words have no falsehood in them."
Dominic just stares at him for several minutes. His gaze makes the wizard very uncomfortable, and Sa'id fights the urge to fidget. After some time has passed, Dominic gets up and says, "Follow me."
He leads the two wizards down a long stone stairway deep under the temple. They pass many store rooms and small chambers. The temple of Pelor is the largest in all of Huss, and once below the temple level, it becomes apparent that it is almost a small town in its own right. After ten minutes of taking a dizzying number of twists and turns, Dominic stops at a plain oak door, with a small stylized sun in worked gold hanging on it. He takes out a large key and opens the door, ushering the two wizards inside.
The room they enter is some sort of foyer, with a bench on each wall, and a curtained hallway facing them. Dominic steps in behind them, and locks the door from inside.
"This is a holy place. One of the most holy in this temple. Our God is active here, and his judgments swift. Do not blaspheme. Do not attempt to use sorcery. Speak only truth at all times, or speak not at all." He points his finger for emphasis after each statement, and Farron and Sa'id find themselves nodding seriously in return. "Remove your shoes here, and leave them. Also, if you have items of magic, leave them here. If they pass into the next room, they will never work again. Do you understand?"
The wizards nod again, afraid to speak. They sit at the benches and remove their shoes, along with the pouches containing their magical components, and what magic items they might carry. When they are ready, Dominic steps to the curtain, and kneels before it. Sa'id immediately drops to his knees as well, and after a brief pause, Farron does too. Dominic prays, and then stands and opens the curtain.
Beyond is not the lavish gold of the temple above, or the elaborate fixtures of the Halfling temple. It is a simple stone room, with pillows on the floor for kneeling, and the symbol of Pelor on one wall.
But there can be no mistaking the presence in the room. It is pervasive, almost mind numbing in its power. Something vast and ancient is paying attention to this place. Farron can feel his scalp crawl and the hair on the back of his arms stand straight up.
Dominic leads the two wizards into the room, and bids them kneel on the pillows. After a moment of reflection, he says to both of them in a quiet voice, "Speak what you would have me hear, but speak only truth."
There is no more threat in his voice. Just simple statement of fact. The threat need not be spoken when the weight of Pelor's gaze lays so heavily on them.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
"We did not murder Sir Conal," Sa'id says, and despite his effort to sound confident there is a slight tremor in his voice.
But he does not die. Neither does Farron. The room -- the god -- does know truth from falsehood. Sa'id smiles, and begins to speak more quickly. One does not waste a god's time.
"There is a being known to the halflings as Kor Garesh and to humans as Melancthnagesh, the Devourer. We are certain that the Devourer is imprisoned in a black pillar in the temple in Mount Kessel. His prison is weakening and he is trying to break free. We are trying to stop this from happening. Elise is working against us."
A thought occurs to the Sa'id. He has just been handed a perfect chance to avenge Cadfael's death. To prove, beyond the slightest shadow of a doubt, that Elise is guilty of murder. But if I am wrong, he thinks, I burn.
He takes a deep breath.
I am not wrong.
"Elise, possibly with one or more accomplices, murdered both Sir Conal and Brother Cadfael," he says to the room and the god.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
If Pelor is a just god at all, he'll only judge Sa'id on what Sa'id thinks is the truth. . . not what actually is fact.
:-)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Is this in response to something Ty sent out? If so, I didn't get it. What's this about burning?
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
I just forwarded that turn to you. I can't figure out why this keeps happening...
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
No, if I'm wrong I'm dead. At least that's what Ty told me when I was thinking about it aloud. :P
If I wanted to be a wimp I'd have qualified it with "I believe," like I did with the bit about the Devourer, because that isn't 100% certain. But this is a huge chance, since we can't kill Elise in a fair fight.
Also, Sa'id is very confident in his brain.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Sa'id lets out an explosive exhalation. He had been holding his breath for several minutes.
Farron is staring at him wide eyed as a child. Dominic's frown could crack stone.
There is no fire. Sa'id suppresses a mad impulse to giggle. He takes another deep breath, then says, "These things are true."
Dominic nods. "Indeed, they are, or at the very least you believe they are. Nothing and no one could shield you from Pelor's judgment in this place. I have no choice but to believe you, and shield you from the Duke's men."
The cleric stands, and holds out his hands to Farron and Sa'id. "Please, my friends. Forgive me for mistrusting you. Pelor has shown me my error, and I ask that you forgive me. You are safe within this temple as long as I have strength to defend you."
As the three of them walk slowly back up the stairs, Dominic speaks again. "I will send a messenger to my lord Fellus immediately. We will bring him back to the protection of this temple as soon as possible."
He stops in the hallway and places one hand on each of their shoulders. "Is there anything else I can do to aid you until then? I will have someone take you to rooms, to rest and refresh yourselves."
He turns away, his face grown hard and frightening. "And we will see to this, Elise. We will see to her very well. Pelor's fire is reserved in judgment for the murderer of my brother Cadfael. She will burn through all eternity under his fierce gaze."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Karl, respond if you get this.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
I forwarded it to him just in case. And I'm alive! :D Turn forthcoming. :)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
"No forgiveness is needed," Sa'id says quietly. "You acted prudently, and did not condemn us without evidence. You gave us the chance to prove the truth of our words. I am deeply grateful."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
I got this.
From: Ty
Subject: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Much to Farron's surprise, Sa'id immediately falls asleep when he lies down on the bed in their room at the temple. Farron wonders if he would fall asleep so easily had he just risked eternal damnation. Maybe he would. The human body can only handle so much stress. At some point, it just wants to curl up and be left alone.
Farron wanders over to the bookshelf, and looks over the titles. Religious works. Farron snorts. He's seen an awful lot, but not enough to make him want to start reading religious tomes. He eventually finds a book on the fauna of Huss and takes it back to his chair. Moments later, he too is asleep.
A gentle knock at the door wakes both wizards in a panic. Sa'id nearly falls off the bed, and Farron jumps up so fast he bruises his knee on the table. There is a second knock, more insistent this time.
Farron opens the door to a frowning Dominic. "There is trouble, though only one who knows of the treachery would see it."
Sa'id rubs his eyes. "What? What is it? Is the Sunmaster safe?"
Dominic clenches his hands. "I don't know. I am told he is fine, but that the Duke has chosen to keep him in his manse for the time being. 'For his protection', they say. The messenger said that the Duke suspects the work of hidden subversives in the city, and that the Sunmaster may be a target. Elise's handywork is quite apparent, now that I know her black heart. She has had Danbury convince the Duke to keep my lord Fellus sequestered. She knows that Fellus has both the will and the means to face her down, should he learn of her treachery.
"She also moves more quickly against us. The messenger informed me that the Duke has ordered me to turn you two over to the guards immediately. Because I can not speak to the Sunmaster, I am left with little authority to refuse him."
Farron starts, but Dominic places a reassuring hand on his arm. "I have no intention of turning you over now. They would have to storm this temple by force to take you, and even the Duke would fear such outrageous blasphemy as that. We are at a stalemate, or so the Duke will believe.
"I must get you out of the city. Once you are gone, I believe that Elise will turn her attention elsewhere, and the Sunmaster will be allowed to return to the temple. Colin and I will then make arrangements to get him out of the city, and to a meeting place. Is this acceptable?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Karl, feel free to do retroactive stuff as well. There is NO problem with that, when the turns are moving as quickly as this.
I am rushing to get you guys back with the rest of the gang. I apologize if I am going too fast.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
OOC: A little halfling voice yells, No, faster, faster, bring the magic users and Paladins and high level clerics to us. :)
Mark
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
No, not at all Ty!
faster
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Farron sits in awe in the room. There is definitely a presence here. He listens as Sa'id repeats their story, remembering the fire with which the dark god burned his follower back in the tower. These guys didn't play around, that's for sure.
"Please, my friends. Forgive me for mistrusting you. . . " Dominic says, leading them from the room. Farron is just all to glad to be back in less judgmental territory.
"I understand," he says. "I ask that you please forgive me if I implied any doubt about the power or justice of you god earlier."
Back when the guard was chasing them into the temple, Farron's mind had oddly returned to the vision he received back in the dark temple when they were in the presence of the chosen child. He had seen so many paths, so many possibilities in his future. Suddenly, with the guard at their heels and Elise standing as accuser, all those paths seemed to have been cut off with all remaining paths ending in a cold wet cell. Now it seemed that the paths had multiplied again. Most still seemed dark and fearsome, but many again had light at the end. Farron is surprised to find himself making a small prayer of thanks to Pelor for this most recent turn of events.
At Dominic's question of whether there was anything else he could do for them, Farron responds, "We have one ally who even now is preparing to help us at risk of his own reputation and indeed his own life. His name is Kasen and he is, or will be, waiting at a farm outside the city for us to join him. We were hoping to meet him soon. If we are detained here very long could you get a message to him letting him know what has happened?"
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Not too fast. I can keep up today I think. (IF I get all the dang turns!!!!!)
rable-fraskin' technology not working like it's s'posed to . . . .
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
[added to the end of my last turn]
Dominic adds, "It should be possible for me to smuggle you out to the farm where your friend waits."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
"Acceptable?" Farron asks incredulously. "He wants to know if that's 'acceptable', Sa'id." His voice practically squeaking as relief fills his whole body.
"Absolutely! We can't thank you enough for helping us. We will go to meet Kasen and rejoin our friends. We will fill them in on all that has happened and wait for word from you or the Sunmaster. Bless you!"
Bless you? . . . . Bless you? Well, what else was he supposed to say to a priest of Pelor?
"But how will you get us out of the city unnoticed?"
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
I just want to say that I've felt some very palpable "Oh Shit!" and "Whew" more than once over the past few turns. Ty, you're really outdoing yourself on this second chapter.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Sa'id nods at both Dominic and Farron. "That should work. Brother Dominic, are you familiar with a lodge run by a man named Gully? We have arranged to meet our companions -- the ones who guided us to the temple the first time -- there. If that is too far, we can wait closer to Nesalin."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Dominic shakes his head. "I fear that my duties keep me inside Nesalin most of the time. I know little of the forest areas. But there will be those who serve here who do know of it. Fear not, if that is the place we must meet you, then neither Elise nor her demon lord will stop us."
"Now, let me make arrangements. I hope that you are not uncomfortable, and can remain here in this room until I am done. We want to have as few people interact with you as possible."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Sa'id smiles. "We'll try to get some more rest."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Farron for his part isn't too sure, but withholds his reservations until Dominic is gone, saying only, "Please be careful" by way of goodbye. "For your own sake, I mean, as well as ours." he adds as Dominic turns to leave.
"The last time someone offered to help us and left our sight he ended up locked in the Duke's house," he says to Sa'id when they are alone again. "Do you think he'll be able to help us? I mean *really*? It seems Elise is *everywhere* and always one jump ahead."
He sits back down and nurses his knee, which throbs uncomfortably now that he has time to think about it. "I'm glad you spoke, back there. . . in the room, I mean. I'm not sure I could have opened my mouth without being struck down." He looks at his friend silently for a few minutes. Sa'id has lain back down and closed his eyes. Is he sleeping again already? Farron thinks. After a minute he continues, "You and Pelor seem to be getting along pretty well though, these days. . . no?" He doesn't mean that as a jab, but it comes out sounding that way a little, at least to Farron. Maybe Sa'id won't notice he thinks vaguely. Maybe he's already asleep.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
"Elise thinks we're going to try to rescue the Sunmaster," Sa'id says softly, keeping his eyes closed. "Think about it. What good can we accomplish without him? We'd be fools to let him out of our sight." He chuckles softly.
"She doesn't know that we have been vindicated. This time, we are ahead of her. My fear..." the wizard sighs, eyes still closed. "My fear is that we are leaving Nesalin to its doom."
At Farron's mention of Pelor, Sa'id frowns, but does not speak further.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Don't come crying to me if she breaks Nesalin. I wanted to stay ;)
From: Ty
Subject: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
It is early evening, and the two wizards sit at dinner with Dominic in their room. Around a mouthful of roast beef, the cleric says, "It will not be easy. There are guards around the temple, and I spotted at least two people that look like your peers. Wizards, or their apprentices, perhaps. I would guess they will be ready for magical tricks."
Farron, who is just happy that for once someone made it back to help them, nods. "The college will have no way to know we are innocent. With the serious charges against us, they would surely put all their resources at the disposal of the Duke." He cringes to think what Master Thaddeus might think of him now.
Dominic says, "So, we are going to have to use other means. Unfortunately, this temple is only a century old. It does not have the ancient escape tunnels many of the older temples on the mainland have. We've never had need of one, until now."
Here he wipes his face with the back of one sleeve, and grins. Even the man's grin is frightening. "But we have ways of getting around that. Using some of the implements stored here at the temple, and with Pelor's grace called down by powerful prayers, we have the ability to move earth and stone. There are tunnels here that pass under the great graveyard to the east of the temple. It may be possible for us to open a shaft up to the graveyard and into one of the crypts there. The soldiers are guarding the road between the temple and the graveyard, but are not in the graveyard itself. It is holy ground.
"Once we get you into the crypt, we will create a diversion here, at the temple. Hopefully we will draw the attention of all the guards. You can use this diversion, and the cover of night, to escape to the docks. We have a brother waiting for you at the fisherman's dock with a small craft to take you outside the city walls. You must escape on foot from there.
"What do you think?"
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
"This plan has a better chance of success than anything we could come up with alone," Sa'id says. "But what will happen once we are gone? With Elise still free to act in the city, she could do great harm."
"We must return to the temple, obviously; that's the greater threat. But she is powerful and evil, and when she finds out we are gone she will be angry."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
"I'm not sure she cares about us, specifically. If she still thinks the Sunmaster is here, and we are still wanted fugitives, well, what can we do on our own?"
He shudders at the thought of a tunnel under a graveyard, remembering all too well another tunnel and other dead - or *un*dead - bodies. "We have to try this. Have you heard anything else about the Sunmaster? When do you think he will be able to meet us?"
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
Retro RP:
Sa'id remains lying still, eyes closed. "You're more powerful than you think, my friend," he says quietly. A pause, then: "I believe we are doing what we must, but I no longer feel manipulated." He sits up, and turns to look at his friend. "Think of it this way: our purposes just so happen to align with those of Pelor. We are working with the god, not for him."
He grins. "Presumptuous though that is, right at this moment it feels wonderful just being alive."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
Farron thinks on this. He's right, of course, about Elise. As for Nesalin, well, "If Nesalin is doomed it is doomed with or without *us*. This city is filled with wizards and priests, warriors and merchants, and all manner of administrators, guards, and officers with far more power, prestige, and resources than either of us. Or both of us put together for that matter." He looks at Sa'id's frown, sorry now that he had mentioned Pelor at all. "If the city falls at this point it won't be for lack of our being here."
He sits back quietly and stares into the book of fauna he was reading earlier, but he doesn't see the words. "I'm sorry about the 'Pelor' comment," he says still looking into the book, afraid to look up in case Sa'id is looking at him. He can feel a change in Sa'id. He's felt it ever since the witch's attack in the jungle. He always was a little quiet, but that was because he's always *thinking*. Farron admired that. Now though, it was more like he was. . . what? Well, just *changing*, maybe. It was like when he went quiet he was rearranging things inside and Farron feared it was going to be a change he didn't like.
He exhales heavily. "I'm getting tired of all this," he says softly, more to himself than anything. "I just want to go back to work where I'm better qualified? I mean, really, I'm not a body guard. I'm not a jungle guide. I'm certainly nowhere near holy. How did I get caught up in this anyway." He snaps the books shut, throws his head back and closes his eyes. "I *hate* feeling like a pawn! You'd think Pel-- " He stops himself short, too close to uttering something that might be considered blasphemy. "Maybe this isn't the best place to talk about this."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
Dominic pushes his plate away and sits back. "I've heard nothing else from him. But I do not think he has been there long enough to become alarmed. If he feels threatened or coerced, he can draw upon... substantial reserves. He can contact me through spiritual means if that is the case, much in the way he intends to contact your friends this evening. In fact, he may already have done so, as he told me he would wait until after sundown to do it."
After a moment's pause to let his dinner settle, Dominic stands up. "No time for an after dinner pipe tonight, my friends. There is much to do."
The cleric leads the two wizards back down the long staircase into the underground labyrinth beneath the temple. Once again, the wizards find themselves having difficulty keeping track of the many twists and turns, before they finally end up in what looks like a storage room. Several other men and women are waiting for them.
"Did it work?" Dominic asks.
One of the women replies, "We are just below the flat stones of the crypt floor. We sent William up to try and pry them up. He's the strongest."
"Where is it?"
The woman grins, "You'll like this." She moves over to a large wooden crate. Pushing on something at the top of it causes on face to fall open, revealing that it is empty inside. A ladder goes down into a hole in the middle. "The tunnel goes down ten feet, then east twenty five or so, then up into the crypt. It's fifty feet up to the crypt, and it's a tough climb. Can't get a ladder in there, so we've been using rods driven into the side."
Dominic smiles at the woman, and then the others in the room. "This is extraordinary work on such short notice. We keep this to ourselves. If things get worse, we may ALL need use of this escape. If anyone that isn't in this room right now finds out about the tunnel, I'll flay the hide from every one of you."
His words are harsh, but the group smiles at the earlier compliment. "Now get out of here. I'll send William up as soon as he comes out." Dominic says.
The wizards wait with Dominic for another ten or fifteen minutes, and then loud huffing can be heard from the tunnel below. A sturdy looking man with tousled blond hair and filthy clothes comes climbing up the ladder. He is looking down into the tunnel below when his head first appears, and he starts saying, "That floor stone was a Bastar-" When he sees Dominic, the word dies on his lips. "A very heavy stone, Father Dominic. Very heavy."
Dominic widens his eyes, "Indeed, acolyte. Heavy enough to make us forget we are in the holy temple of our God, even. Perhaps tonight a dozen recitations of the Litany instead of supper would help us remember."
William winces. "Of course, Father Dominic. Thank you for your guidance." After Dominic swears him to secrecy, he runs from the room.
"Up you go," Dominic says to the wizards, "It is cramped and dirty, but it will get you safely into one of the crypts above. Wait by the door, and move out when you see the guards drawn to the temple. Do not use a light, as any light coming from the crypt will be very noticeable."
He shakes hands with both wizards and says, "Pelor guide and protect you, as you act in his service. I think Him that I was able to discern your goodness before I made a terrible mistake. It is with his eyes that the true nature of a man is revealed, not with mortal eyes. I will use this lesson you have taught me." He steps away and bows from the waist.
"Now go. I hope to see you again soon. Wait at the trading post till we get word to you, or meet you there."
After the wizards go down the ladder, he closes the crate above, and seals them in blackness.
From: Ty
Subject: Kasen at the farm
It has grown very late, and Kasen sits on the porch of the empty farmhouse waiting for the two wizards to arrive. He has begun to speculate on how long he should wait before returning to see if they got themselves arrested. Should he wait all night? If they have been arrested, what then? Should he return and demand that they be allowed to speak against Elise?
He remembers his one practice spar against Elise in the training grounds and shudders. If she demanded a trial of honor at his accusations, if he had to defend them at sword point, he was done. Not even his master, Sir Conal, was her equal with sword and shield, though he claimed to be better with the lance. She would cut him to pieces, and put his accusations in his grave with him. He spits. To think he had spent more than one cold night in his cell imagining what it would be like to break his vows in her bed. Now he knows. It would be like bedding a viper. He pushes away a flash of memory; Sir Danbury in naked embrace with her, violating everything they vowed to uphold with his secret lusts. The sight of her long pale flank, and a river of red hair, and the thought that he might've made the same trade if she'd come to him?
No. No he wouldn't. And if it came to that, he'd cross swords with her too, and pray that Helm guided his hand. Some things you do *not* betray, no matter the temptation.
He would return to the city in the morning, and face whatever consequences may come.
From: Ty
Subject: Two wizards about town; the path of the dead
It is black as the bottom of the sea, once the crate is closed. Fortunately, it is impossible to get lost, since the tunnel is barely wide enough for a man to move in. Farron reaches the bottom of the ladder, and realizes that the side tunnel is so low he will have to crawl. Sa'id steps on his back. "Sorry."
"We will have to crawl," is Farron's answer.
It is only ten feet, but it is a long ten feet with so much earth above, and not a glimmer of light to see by. Farron imagines the earth collapsing and pinning him, and the moment of his death stretching out to eternity as he screams and no one hears.
And then his head hits a wooden bar. "Dammit."
From behind, Sa'id says, "Are you all right? Is something wrong?"
Farron just laughs, "I am just beating the hell out of myself today. First my knee, now my head?"
The climb up to the crypt is long, especially using the muddy wooden rods that have been driven into the wall, not all of them at right angles to it. Eventually though, Farron's hands hit a layer of canvas, and pushing it aside he climbs into the nearly black vault of a crypt. Sa'id quickly follows. There are small openings to the outside in the upper walls of the crypt, and very little light gets in, but the wizard's eyes have adapted to the blackness below, and they are able to make out the interior of the room. In the center, is a large stone tomb. Just past it is a metal door to the outside. A quick check shows that it is not locked.
Farron opens it a crack and peeks out to get his bearings. Off to the right and several hundred feet away is the temple of Pelor, lit up at night by yellow glass globes blessed with eternal light by the priests. All around the temple, city guardsman stand alert. Farron says to Sa'id behind him, "Nothing yet."
Nearly an hour passes with the two wizards huddled in the dark crypt before Dominic finally walks boldly out the front door of the temple. Behind him is a line of priests and acolytes, all in armor, all armed. Behind them are two men in dark robes with the hoods up to hide their faces.
A guard captain moves up the steps of the temple to confront Dominic, though Farron can not hear what he says. Father Dominic though, responds in a voice like thunder. "Our destination, and the names of the men with me, are of no concern to you, captain."
After the captain replies, Dominic booms out, "We will not be deterred. My authority comes from a higher source than any man. If you attempt to stop us, you endanger your immortal soul!"
All around the temple, guards have begun to converge, backing up their captain. Farron says to Sa'id, "Father Dominic is putting on quite the performance. Every guard in the city is going over to see what he'll do."
Sa'id chuckles, "I have come to think that Dominic might be an extraordinary man to know." Farron nods, "Indeed. I hope nothing bad happens to him because of this."
Farron pushes the door open further. "And we should go now. I am assuming this is our diversion."
The wizards slip through the graveyard to the dark city streets beyond. Less than fifteen minutes later, they are on the fisherman's dock, looking for their contact. A short man in a canvas longcoat comes up to them. "Father Dominic's friends?" Farron nods. "Then follow me, lads, and we'll get right out of here."
The man leads them to a small skiff, and as soon as everyone is aboard, tosses the lines and begins rowing out onto the harbor. Sa'id notices they are only two oars, and so they can not help the man with the rowing. He tries to engage the man in friendly conversation, but gets only a curt, "You'll want to stay quiet, lad," in return. It takes several hours for the man to row them up the north side of the bay, and past the city walls. He never seems to tire, his arms pulling the oars like some powerful machine. When the boat finally scraps bottom a couple miles north of Nesalin's walls, the man says, "All right, out you go."
Once the two wizards are out, he immediately pushes the boat back into the water and begins to row away.
From: Ty
Subject: Kasen at the farm
Kasen wakes from a disturbing dream involving fire to the sound of horses coming down the road. His own charger is hidden around back, and he himself is lying on the dark porch of the empty house. There is no way he could have been spotted yet, he thinks, but the night is so black with the unnatural cloud cover, and he can't see who's coming either.
From the sound, he thinks it is two, or maybe three horses, several hundred yards away at this point.
[need an action from Dan]
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
Hey Ty, are you going to put Kasen's sheet on Sakeriver? No rush, of course, I'm just curious to see who our new companion is.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
I already asked Dan about that and he said he was still thinking of a name for his horse. :)
MY guess is a Paladin of mid levels. Wooo Hooo, another LG member of the party.
Melani is going to have to do something Chaotic to balance the group out.
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
I probably should, yeah.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline
"Wonderful as long as it lasts" he says with a weak grin he hopes shows stronger in his voice. "Working with him. Right," he says. Of course, we wouldn't have to be working with him on this if someone had kept a better eye on the black pillar in the first place, he thinks, glad that -- at least so far -- Pelor doesn't strike him down for his thoughts.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
He thought this day would be different, now that he had met men who could confirm his fears about Elise. Not that they had needed confirming, really, but every voice he could add to his was a weapon he'd need when the time came. But, at the end of it, this day came to a close the same was as all the others -- unsatisfying. It's been all afternoon and all evening and still no sign of his weapons.
Surely they wouldn't have abandoned him, not when he carried both of their spellbooks. He didn't know much about mages but he knew they needed to review the rites and rituals within these tomes every evening or the power they would die for, had already given their lives for, would dissipate like so much smoke. He knew that much. Kasen liked to think he understood men, and a man does not give so much of his life to a book only to turn that book over to a stranger without a second thought.
Night comes. Or at least the day fades. Whatever force has hidden the sun seems no more fond of the moon and stars. Whatever Gods they represented were just collateral damage in this conflict. He wonders, "Just what Elise's master is a demon of? Does darkness bring him power in some way or is it just a convenient tool when your army is made from soulless bodies of the living and their husks?"
Soon he falls into a light sleep. It was perhaps the most valuable thing to have come to him from his time on the lines, the ability to fall into a light sleep anywhere, any time. He's often thought that many dignitaries and religious men would kill for such a skill, though perhaps they earned it through softer means. Nonetheless, it serves him as well now as ever.
His body launches into autopilot while his mind wakes. Sword in hand, whetstone tucked back into his belt, one leg drawn beneath his body to launch him into a standing position if need be. 2 riders. Maybe 3. Farron did not have a horse, he'd have seen it at his apartments, and it is much harder to sneak out of a city when you're seated several feet higher than the crowd. Who then? He shifts his grip on his greatsword, thankful that he can make use of the demon's darkness, and comforted by that fact. There was always something satisfying about using the enemy's strategies against him. In normal lighting he would have to keep Conal's sword sheathed, the blade glittered like a diamond set on a ring -- in a way no metal should. You couldn't actually see through the blade, but sometimes, when the light spilled over it, you felt like you should. He'd lost many hours of his life over the years doing just that. In truth he should not be wielding the sword or wearing the armour until he was knighted. He would probably be in a great deal of trouble for it when Danbury found out. But what a thing to be worrying about now, given his conspiracy with accused murderers that charge might even be overlooked.
Whoever was coming, if they found him it would be a slaughter if they belonged to the demon. Elise certainly knew his strengths and weaknesses and would not send someone he was a match for if she had found out about this farm. If not, well, they may just be here for the night and could be dealt with later. Either way, best not to be on this porch. He slips down the steps as quietly as he is able, trusting the riders will not hear him over their horses' hooves and feels his way around the house to Stormcloud. In this darkness hard riding would be life threatening, and he doubted Stormcloud would be able to outrun them anyway, loaded as he is. He strokes the charger's muzzle and whispers for him to stay quiet. The extra gear would make mounted combat difficult, but Stormcloud was worth several other men in a fight.
And so he waits, hoping for the riders to pass by.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
Farron pauses before going down the ladder. There is much he wants to say to Dominic, but time is short. "Father Dominic, " he begins, hoping the title is acceptable from one not of the order. "I've never been a very religious man, but I try to do what's right. I don't understand the powers that have created this situation or even how we've gotten in the middle of it, but I thank you with all my soul for your assistance and your trust. I promise you that I will do all in my power to see the Sunmaster safely to then end of this journey and back to you." He pauses, wanting to say more, feeling that there is more to be said, but the words fail him. He turns and disappears down the tunnel. As he feels his eyes tearing up, he is grateful -- for once -- to be in the dark.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; the path of the dead
So much water, rolling, rocking the boat back and forth... back... forth... ugh. Sa'id gags, swallowing back a mouthful of bile. Intellectually he knows that the waves are very gentle and that there is no danger of the boat tipping, but ...
Suddenly he's under, the water filthy in his mouth, the rotted body of an ancient zombie pressing down on him. He can't move, can't... breathe... breathe. Don't forget to breathe.
Sa'id's grip on the boat's rail is white-knuckled. Glancing up, quickly, he sees Farron looking at him. His friend's expression is concerned. Farron was a man of the sea, didn't have these kinds of problems, was probably a born swimmer, would be like a fish out of water on arid Ammar. He smiles weakly, tries to talk to the boatman to distract himself, but the stocky rower is having none of it. He catches a glimpse of the ocean and quickly shifts his gaze back to the bottom of the boat. It's all relative motion anyway, he thinks. If the tide cycles once per day, based on the beach distance between high tide and low tide the water must swell at a rate of... ah, yes. But then the waves ...
Waves. Rocking the boat. Up, down, back, forth. The wizard swallows again.
...the waves travel faster than the swell rate. He sneaks a quick glance at the approaching shore. It's been three or four hours. So that's... carry the one... hmmmmm... and the boatman is pulling the oars about once per second, imparting a fair amount of momentum. If you sum the sides of the motion triangle...
And then they're off the boat, he's staggering up the rocky beach, retching but not vomiting, just glad to be both alive and with his feet on the ground again. He stumbles up the beach to where the grass starts and collapses to his knees, pressing his hands and forehead to the dirt, breathing -- no, gasping -- until his stomach stops rolling back and forth.
"I shouldn't... shouldn't have had so much at dinner," he says ruefully to Farron. "Can you find your way to the farm from here? I'll just..." he gags, then calms himself, "I'll just follow you."
Taking a deep breath, he forces a smile and says "If you need some light, I can make a fire."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; the path of the dead
Farron says a quiet "Thank you" to the boatman and walks up to his friend who is retching on the shore. He rubs his hand in the wet, cold grass and gently places it on the back of Sa'id's neck. "Don't jump. This will help."
The randomness of seasickness never fails to amaze him. A man can be the greatest warrior or most fearless explorer, but if he's not at home on a boat, he's like a little baby.
"Can you find your way to the farm?" Sa'id asks.
"I'm fairly sure I can," he says, turning back toward the shore line to get a bearing from the stars.
But there are no stars. Of course. He stares hard into the clouds but can't find even the tiniest break in them anywhere. No stars, no moon. No compass, either. He looks back with embarrassment at Sa'id, but he appears to be still preoccupied with keeping his dinner down, periodically rubbing his hand in the grass and putting the cold dew on the back of his neck, apparently getting some relief.
Farron turns back to the shore and studies the shoreline in the darkness. He looks to the North, but there is nothing visible in the blackness. To the south, he can just make out the familiar outline of an outcropping of rock backlit from the glow of the distant city. "From the time we were on the boat, we must have only gone about two miles," he figures. "We should head this way. I don't think the farm is far."
He helps Sa'id to his feet and together they head off into the darkness.
From: Ty
Subject: Two wizards outside of town
Farron helps Sa'id walk until the faintly greenish wizard gets his land legs back. "Forgive me, I dislike sea travel a great deal?" Sa'di begins, but stops when his dinner tries to come up on him.
The wizards have only walked a short distance, Farron trying to get his bearings and aim for the main north south road, when a nearby horse nickers and stamps a hoof. The wizards freeze, Farron quickly running through his spell selection for one that will work well in near darkness.
"Is it the two wizards then?" comes a gruff voice.
"Aye, and white as a sheet too. You've scared the stuffing out of them, ya mutt." There is a scratching sound, and then a lamp is lit nearby. In the light of the lamp, the wizards can see two men in dark clothes, and three horses.
The man with the lamp steps forward. "We're friends of Father Dominic. He asked that we wait for you here with horses and travel gear." He steps to one side to point at the three horses. "They're not the finest mounts, but healthy. The third has a tent, some bedrolls, food, and whatever other gear we could scrape up at the last minute."
He pauses, clearly expecting some sort of response. It takes Farron a minute to get over the initial surprise and the sudden flash of fear that comes from "I'm caught!"
He steps forward and does a slight bow. "Thank you, good sirs. Your aid is appreciated more than I can possibly express. You did take us by surprise?"
Sa'id also steps forward, nodding. "The resources of the temple of Pelor continue to astound. How did they arrange this?"
The first man laughs, "You've not met the good Father then? He did what'ee allus does. Said, 'make it happen, or someone'll lose some skin.' So, we makes it happen."
Moments later, the two wizards are riding down the road toward the rendezvous.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards outside of town
Well, if Kasen doesn't ambush us in the dark, looks like we're golden. ;)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
The riders do not pass by. They stop not too far from the porch, and someone calls out in a quiet voice, "Kasen?"
[Can do any RP or whatever you want. Where to from here, boys?]
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
Thank the Unsleeping Eye, they had found themselves horses. Escaping the city seemed too simple, too perfect. But perhaps one is rewarded with moments like these when the Gods take interest in your work.
He offers a prayer to Helm then, for seeing them through the gates, and begs forgiveness for his half-truths and for the fact that he is about to ride far from Nesalin and leave Elise to find her own justice. Perhaps Helm can see fit for another to find out about her wicked ways and hold her in check until he returns. But she would not be brought down without him, justice demanded he be there for her fall.
Sliding Truth back in its scabbard he guides stormcloud around to the porch. "Do I need to know why you're late or shall we be off?" he whispers, dropping their packs before them.
From: Ty
Subject: The Exodus; black magic
Garyth dreams of the demon.
In his dream he sees the terrible figure that appeared on the battlefield and drove the army of Nesalin to flight. But now, it does not disappear in an instant, it roves around freely, snatching up all who stand in its path with terrible claws and flailing tentacles. Those grabbed are torn and sundered and the red maw of the demon drinks their life while they scream horribly. Garyth looks down at the sword in his hand and wonders, what was I going to do with this?
But the screams grow louder, and closer, and when Garyth finally wakes up, they are still happening. He sits up, pivoting his head to find the source. The center of the camp.
Around him, the Falcons were jumping up and grabbing weapons. A small figure darts in from the brush, and Garyth almost stabs it before he recognizes Rennik. The Halfling snorts at the implied threat, then says, "Something in the camp."
He and Garyth begin running toward the noise, with Osred, Pensive, and the Falcons closing ranks behind them. Garyth's mind whirls. How did it get in? Past the pickets and the guards and right to the middle of the camp. It didn't make sense.
The closer they get to the sound, the more they run into Overlook citizens headed in the opposite direction. Garyth pushes his way past a knot of fleeing townsfolk, and into a clearing filled with tentacles.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, all of the are currently occupied, and they do not attack him. Each black tentacle has a citizen wrapped in it, most of them dead, but the tentacles continue to squeeze and batter the corpses.
At his side, Rennik hisses, "The witch!"
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
"Let's be off," Farron replies. "We can fill you in on the way. Were you able to bring our spellbooks?" he asks with more than a little concern in his voice.
When Kasen produces the packs Farron's relief is obvious. "Thank all that is good!" he says. What would he have done if Kasen hadn't been able to retrieve them? It was too terrible to imagine.
Farron then tells Kasen all he remembers about the path they took to get to Gully's outpost on their previous trip to the dark temple. He explains that they are to meet their friends there and wait for the Sunmaster to arrive.
"We should leave now and ride as far as we can before we camp."
(Ty, how long will the trip take from where we are? What are the rules for mages and taking watches, etc? If Sa'id and Farron take the first and last watch will that be enough uninterrupted rest to be able to replenish our spell lists?)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
Actually, it's the middle of the night right now. Like, 2am. So how far do you want to ride before camping?
According to the rules:
Rest: To prepare her daily spells, a wizard must first sleep for 8 hours. The wizard does not have to slumber for every minute of the time, but she must refrain from movement, combat, spellcasting, skill use, conversation, or any other fairly demanding physical or mental task during the rest period. If her rest is interrupted, each interruption adds 1 hour to the total amount of time she has to rest in order to clear her mind, and she must have at least 1 hour of uninterrupted rest immediately prior to preparing her spells. If the character does not need to sleep for some reason, she still must have 8 hours of restful calm before preparing any spells.
So, tough for them to take watches and still memorize spells.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
Oh, and you guys are a good three days from Gully's.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: The Exodus; black magic
Osred looks at the tentacles in bewilderment. "Wha--but they're coming out of the ground," he thinks, his mind still thick with sleep. "What are they? The demon back again?" His sword is drawn, and Osred is glancing from tentacle to tentacle, deciding which one to attack when he hears Rennick hiss "The witch!"
"The witch," he thinks, shaking his head to clear it. "Should have known she'd be back." He backpedals away from the camp's fires, shields his eyes with one hand, and scans the sky for a glimpse of her, cursing the darkness as he does so.
Pensive and Verul Benardi, Arrows at the Perimeter
Subject: Re: Two wizards outside of town
That make me laugh out loud last night.
Chris asked me what's so funny. Normally I've just answered "Oh it's that D&D game I'm playing" but that line at that time tickled me so much I had to start from the beginning.
"I play this wizard who was taking a holiday to visit his aunt and uncle in Overlook . . .
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
Farron is rather desperate to put some distance between himself and the city, but he will acquiesce to Kasen's feelings on when it would be good to camp.
From: Scott
Subject: Pensive and Verul Benardi
OOC: Started writing this yesterday before the black magic turn went out-- didn't want to waste it, so . . .
"You're the priest's boy."
Pensive turns to the gruff voice. It isn't a friendly voice-- the speaker is a tall man, with broad shoulders and a bulbous nose. His hands are an unnatural color-- Pensive recognizes the mottled, discolored skin as the mark of a dyer. Huge hands. "I help Sergeant Osred, yes," Pensive says.
"I am Verul Benardi. I understand that my son. . . struck you this evening."
Pensive says nothing, but stares at Verul.
Verul clears his throat. "I have come to apologize for my son." And with that, he thrusts two silvers toward Pensive. "There. That should cover any embarassment you suffered, boy."
Pensive does not take the money. Verul gestures impatiently at him, holding the coins at the end of his fingers. "Come on, now, boy, I'm not angry here, I'm apologizing. I'm not going to hit you, take the money."
"Where is Yancy?" Pensive asks.
"What?"
"Where is your son's apology? You were not the one fighting."
Verul Benardi's face twitches-- Pensive recognizes the twitch, having seen it on Yancy's face. "Listen, son, you don't mind about that. You just take this money, and have done with it, all right? Yancy isn't going to bother you again, I swear. Here, now, take this for your embarassment."
He pushes the coins toward Pensive again, touching them to the front of Pensive's vest. Pensive guides his hand away. "You cannot purchase your son's shame, Verul Benardi. Let him buy it himself."
Verul shakes his head, gives a nervous little laugh. "What's the matter with you, boy? This is _silver_, real silver! You could buy yourself. . . well, all kinds of things, once we get to Kantuck! Take the money, and take my apology."
"No. Neither hold value for me." It is a cruel thing to say-- how long has Verul been buying out his son's victims? Had he offered the same to Bastorien?
Verul draws in a deep breath, and his voice goes quiet and cold. "You want to hold this over our heads, then, boy. You want to shame my whole family. Make a laughingstock of the Benardi's, is that it? So you can feel righteous, and get a little pat on the head from your Lord Priest. Tell everyone what a bunch of brutes we are, hmm?"
Pensive lets the words hang in the air between them.
"Take the damn coins!" Verul hisses. "Take them!"
And Pensive reaches out. Not to take the coins, but to grip Verul's hands, and fold them over the money. It happens so quickly, the dyer doesn't have the chance to resist. "You have lived too long with the illusion that your money will buy your son respectability. Why are his hands not dyed, Verul? A son should know his father's trade."
Verul jerks back from Pensive's touch. "Don't-- don't you tell me how to raise my son."
Pensive watches him.
A log, suddenly descending deeper into the fire, casts a red light over both of them-- and Verul's face turns from defensiveness to hard rage. "You miserable little elf," he says. "You skyte. You filthy, stinking skyte."
Pensive feels his stomach twist and knot, and grimaces. But he stays silent.
"Priest's boy, indeed," Verul says, quietly, intensely. "Parading around our town like you owned it, were you? Skyte." His face twitches again. "You, shaming my family. I should. . . I should. . . hurt you." Verul licks his lips, and cocks his head to the side like he is listening to some far away song. "I should. . . devour you. I'll devour you, little boy, I'll strip you out of the Stone, I'll find you by darkness on the Path, and I'll eat you, I'll rape you, I'll gorge myself on your blood, and I'll find your little baby king, and I'll bury my muzzle into his guts, and I'll make his whimpers sing in your ears, and his father's ears as I chew you all slowly, and rip you, and mash you, and you will all sink forever in the scarlet light of my maw. . ."
Pensive hands are trembling, but he makes no move. "Blood and Stone will abide," he says.
Verul snaps his head upright. His voice is clear as he says, "Skyte. You'll not get my money. Spread your lies as you will. Others have tried. Others have met. . . ill fates."
And he turns and walks away.
Pensive rolls his shoulders. Blood and Stone will abide.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Exodus; black magic
The night is a confusion of screaming and rushing bodies. Pensive keeps behind Osred, closely, so that the priest's bulk diverts the crowd's press. In the lee of the stone, as it were, Pensive thinks. Apt, and comforting. He draws an arrow, and nocks it on his bowstring. The stonesash is coiled loosely around his shoulder
"The witch!" he hears Rennick mutter.
Pensive peeks his head out from behind Osred to see the black tentacles-- the demon's tentacles. Why had she attacked here, in the middle of the camp? Why not where the soldiers were resting? Pensive frowns. How many of these nests of tentacles could the witch conjure up?
Pensive steps out from behind Osred, moves a little bit away from him. A crying mother, holding a child far too large to be carried, runs past him. Chaos. He checks the edge of the camp, and finds that there _is_ no discernible edge, at least not from his vantage point. People scattering everywhere.
And they were sitting here, watching the tentacles batter bodies on the ground-- they were the only ones not moving among 1000 fleeing bodies.
"Spread out!" Pensive urges, and keeps his eyes on the sky. He moves toward a patch of shadow.
OOC: I don't know what you spells you have memorized, Jake, but some air support in the form of a ticked off hippogriff might be nice. . .
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Exodus; black magic
Garyth's sleep-fogged mind struggles for a moment to comprehend what he sees. It almost seems that he still dreams. But no, he's seen this before, in the jungle. The sight of the flailing tentacles and the memory of the icy bite of an elven blade makes him shudder involuntarily.
From beside him, he hears Rennik's voice. "The witch!" Yes, of course. His mind works feverishly. If the witch were here, the rest may not be far--this may be a diversion to occupy the guards while the undead army falls on a defenseless camp. That must not happen. As horrifying as these... these *things* are, they pose little threat to anyone outside their range. "To arms! To arms!" he cries. He scans about quickly, spotting a nearby guardsman. Grabbing the soldier by the arm, he barks out orders. "Find Bragga and tell him to prepare the sentries for an assault. Go!"
Unlimbering his bow and nocking an arrow, he turns his head to shout orders to the Falcons. "Bows at the ready! Fan out, and stay clear of the tentacles!" He scans the starless sky, searching for the witch.
From: Mark
Subject: Melani
OOC: In honor of the 1-1/2 webcast where a customer basically wants us to do all their customer service for no charge, in a market where all of our margin has shrunk to nothing, Melani is going to change to CE and sell out the humans to the evil god.
Mark
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Pensive and Verul Benardi
Scott, if you ever run a PBEM game I want in.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Pensive and Verul Benardi
Me to.
I am almost having withdrawl today after the past two days.
Mark
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Pensive and Verul Benardi
That was fantastic Scott. Great stuff!
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Pensive and Verul Benardi
Me too. And if I ever get my game off the ground and you are interested in playing, you've got a free pass--I'll find a way to work you into the game.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: The Exodus; black magic
> OOC: I don't know what you spells you have memorized, Jake, but some
> air support in the form of a ticked off hippogriff might be nice. . .
:) Just what I was thinking, and luckily Osred happens to have that spell memorized. His spell arsenal is pretty close to being tapped out, but Summon Monster III is one that he's still got prepared. I'll be waiting until he spots the witch to cast it though.
From: Ty
Subject: Black Magic
[I am kind of worried about Matt. Haven't heard from him in any form in a long time. I will be remote controlling Rennik until I can figure out if Matt's ok and around]
Garyth and Pensive scan the pitch black skies for a moment, then stop and look at each other at almost the same moment. With the low burning fires on the ground around them, and the thick cloud cover, it would be impossible to see anything more than ten feet in the air.
Pensive opens his mouth to say something, when there is a rapid hissing sound and new screams coming from eastern edge of the camp. Rennik yells, "Arrow shots!" It clicks in Garyth's head. The hissing sound is a barrage of arrows coming in from a high arch. He grabs the two nearest guardsmen and says, "Cut those tentacles down. Save anyone who is still alive."
He leads the rest of his band over to the edge of the camp where the arrows are hitting. He can see several wounded citizens, some severely. Even as he moves to get to the edge of the camp, the hissing sound comes again, and arrows begin raining down. They do not appear to be aimed, but rather just shot in a long arch into the camp. Many of them go harmlessly into ground, but a few hit, and more screaming and running begins. As he watches, a late arrow strikes on young woman on the back of the head, and she slides silently to the ground, oddly graceful in death.
Garyth is just getting ready to order his men to charge in the direction of the barrage, when a second barrage hits several hundred yards away, and from a different direction. It's all happening to fast. How many are out there? Garyth feels a rough hand yank his arm. He looks down, and Rennik scowls up at him. "This is how I would attack us, if I had small numbers of my people to use. Attack the center to drive the masses out in a panic, then raid the edges with arrow fire to keep my numbers and position hidden. Those fleeing the middle and those fleeing the edges will meet in chaos in between. You'll lose more in the crush of bodies than the arrows will take."
Behind Rennik, Vincy nods. "And if we chase off into the dark after them, they can just keep dodging around our perimeter and firing into the crowd. We don't have the numbers to cover all directions."
From behind, Osred's deep voice asks Garyth, "What do we do, Captain?"
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Black Magic
Osred unlimbers his his shield and holds it ready, his arm crooked to catch any arrows that find their way to him. If he is aware of the shaft that seems to sprout from its surface moments later he gives no sign. "I've gotten soft," he thinks angrily to himself, ignoring the thrumming vibration in his shield arm. "The Lord gave me a gift that could have stopped these arrows, blown them to hell and back, and I wasted it, sacrificed it not more than three hours ago. Hell. I traded one little boy for how many? Should have left him there under the wagon's wheel before I let this happen."
Splitting Up Again, The Wra(i)th of Elise
Subject: Re: Black Magic
OOC:
Rennick states that this is a probably a small force of archers. Remember that they're not firing at individual people; they're just loosing arrows into the crowd. Because it's dark, they can probably only see folks who are gathered around campfires-- but if they shoot in the general vicinity of a fire, they're going to hit someone.
The high arc of the arrows means that the haflings are some distance away. Can anyone in our force pull a Sa'id and calculate the arc to get a estimated distance? Probably not, but it don't hurt to ask. . .
There are two ways to beat a force of archers-- hunker down behind cover until they run out of arrows, or charge, and hope that your attacking force can cover the ground between you and the archers before too many of your buddies get shafted.
Neither is a particularly nice option for our scenario. On the plus side, we DO have ~50 guardsmen, plus the Blood Falcon force. Ty, how many of Overlook's guards have horses? All of the Blood Falcons could work as cavalry, at least.
A plausible solution is to have a force of soldiers rally the townspeople to make an escape. Everyone gathers in a knot, and makes for the general direction of the forest. Before they flee, a larger force is dispatched to distract and hunt down the archers. The folks leading the townspeople will hopefully be able to smash through any enemy lines, and the hunters will harry the archers so they can't pursue.
This plan would work much better if it wasn't dark. And if there wasn't a witch around. . .
Does anyone else have any ideas?
IC:
Another flight of arrows whistles through the crowd-- smallish things, to create such chaos. Pensive steps aside as an arrow digs into the earth at his feet. It really is a smallish thing-- an arrow for a halfling bow.
"They're not aiming," he says to Garyth. "They could be trying to drive us to escape into a force of infantry--" Pensive shudders, remembering the shambling undead he'd seen before arriving in Overlook. "Or they could be trying to pin us in, to make us wait for the infantry to attack. They won't have enough arrows to destroy the whole town-- they're just attacking to confuse and weaken us.
"Either way, we need to harry the archers! We know the general direction the arrows are coming from-- send men on horseback to attack, while the rest of your soldiers gather the townsfolk to rally."
Another volley of arrows. None of them fall anywhere near Pensive. "I can see well in low light; let me go out to the edge of the camp, where there's no firelight, to see if I can spot the witch, and maybe bring her down."
OOC, pt 2: Ty, if Pensive thinks that his low-light vision would still be useless because of the fog, then disregard the last bit. . .
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Black Magic
Garyth dodges a fleeing townsman, desperately trying to think of what to do. Tentacles to the rear, archers to the front. They're caught. How much time has passed? A heartbeat, maybe two, but it feels like an eternity, and he can feel Osred's gaze on him. These men are looking to him, and he's frozen, useless. Damn! There's no time for this, no time for shame and self-pity right now!
Pensive's voice brings him back to himself. Of course. "Runner!" he shouts, ducking under another arrow. A few moments pass before a young private approaches. "Get to Captain Bragga," says Garyth. "Get the camp moving toward the forest and keep them under control. My men and I will deal with the archers and rendevous down the road. Go!"
The private hesitates barely a moment, then runs off to find Bragga. Garyth turns to Rennik. "We'll need to be on horseback to catch the archers--I don't know if you'll be able to keep up--and the camp needs a guide. Will you lead the way?"
OOC: Garyth will have the Falcons mount up and go after the archers. I don't know if Pensive has a horse or not, but he's welcome to go either way.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Black Magic
Pensive looks to the darkness and then back to the camp.
"I'll come with you, Garyth."
OOC: Quick question: What kind of penalties is Pensive facing if he fights from horseback? I'd prefer to fight on foot if there are any penalties or skill checks at all; but if there aren't, heck let's me an Mr. Ed get on down there and attack!
Whatever the case, Pensive will attack with his bow until he gets within range to use the stonesash.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Black Magic
Rennik hesitates only a moment, then grabs Garyth's arm tightly. "You've come a long way in a short time, warrior. Remember the stripling who charged a group of Murrkat and almost died. Remember the lessons learned since then.
"The Murrkat will be firing and displacing. Always moving around the perimeter. Not stopping. If you charge them, they will scatter. And try to fire on you from cover. It's what I would do."
He starts to turn, then turns back, "And they will have a surprise to draw you into. Maybe a group in reserve. Maybe an area set with pits and traps. They'll have something set up to deal with a counter attack. Bet on it."
Then Rennik runs off to follow the runner back to Bragga.
Robert and Kenneth run off to get the horses. Garyth watches the occasional barrages of arrows, trying to get a mental fix for how fast the Halflings are moving between shots, how far away they are, if there is a pattern to their movement he can exploit.
But in the running and screaming and chaos, it is difficult to remember his own name, much less figure anything out. He wishes the wizards were here.
Just as the two Falcons are fighting their way through the crowd with the horses, a bright light begins shining from a hill several hundred feet away. A bright fire, probably lamp oil, is burning. Next to it stands Captain Bragga. He shouts out, "To me, Overlook, to me!" and begins waving a lit torch back and forth. Arrows rain down around him, but he is miraculously unhit. Then he turns and begins trotting to the east, continuing to yell, "To me Overlook!"
Garyth nods. Ok, the town would either follow Bragga toward the woods, or they'd die, but at least they'd have a chance now. He leaps up onto his horse when Kenneth hands him the rains. "Let's go get those Murrkat, boys."
The Falcons raise a shout, then fall in behind their leader as he gallops off into the dark.
Once outside the perimeter of the camp, it becomes easier to see what's going on. The camp is beginning to move and follow Bragga northeast toward the forest. A barrage of arrows hits them from the southeast, and Garyth turns his horse that direction.
[mike, guys, you have a general idea of the direction of the murrkat. How will you approach? Full speed charge? What's the plan?]
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Black Magic
More arrows, from the southeast. How long would the Murrkat stay there? Where was the witch? Pensive squrims in the saddle-- two days riding this horse had done nothing to make it more comfortable. It would be difficult for him fighting from the saddle, but getting off could be disastrous. The falcons would not have time to wait for him. . .
Pensive squeezes the horse with his knees as he rides, and tests galloping with no hands. It would be easier if the stirrups were wider. . . he looks down at his feet doubtfully. Nothing to be done for that now.
He raises his bow for the battle.
OOC: Okay, not sure where to go from here. Pensive could run up close to where the arrows are being fired from, and back very quickly. . . or we could just ignore Rennick and close quickly, blindly. . . I dunno.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Black Magic
OOC: Here's my idea. We ride hard to the northeast briefly, then cut east, then carefully south. Hopefully, this will take some attention off of us as an attacking force--the bad guys will think we're leaving with the rest--and allow us to cut off or flank the archers. Garyth will ride point with the Falcons in formation behind and to the left and right (what the Army calls "echelon formation"). At the first sign of contact, Garyth, Pensive, and Robert will try to pin down or distract the archers with bow fire, while the rest of the Falcons swing around to the sides and try to flank the archers.
Sound good?
From: Ty
Subject: Two wizards out of town; the wra(i)th of Elise
Kasen leads the two wizards away from the empty farmhouse. It would probably make a more comfortable place to sleep, and it was so late that he could barely keep his eyes open, but on the off chance that someone knew of their rendezvous, he'd put it a few miles behind them first.
Behind, he can hear the two wizards chattering quietly about something. He thought about asking to be included in their conversation, but then realized that even if he was, he probably wouldn't understand a word they said. Better to ride a little ahead and make sure the road will still clear-
Stormcloud stops so suddenly, Kasen is thrown forward in his armor. "Now now, girl, what is it?" He does not try to force her head. Storm would charge recklessly at a wall of spears, or spin and kick like a demon if he was knocked from the saddle, putting her flank between him and an enemy's blade. If something was making her stop here, he would find out what it was before proceeding.
The two wizards catch up, and the darker one says, "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure yet?" but Kasen is glancing up, something having caught his eye. Something billows down from above, like a bedsheet dropped from a height. Slow, and rippling in the breeze. Kasen backs Storm away from it, and it lands twenty or thirty feet ahead on the road, far enough away to be hard to see if it didn't glow with its own faint luminescence. It appears mostly shapeless when lands, but gradually it forms into a face, five feet high, still rippling in the breeze.
"Elise?"
"Kasen. I've gone to some trouble to find you. You left town so suddenly, and no one knew where you'd gone. Who would have thought you capable of guile? Such a sweet and open face you have. The truth is, I probably wouldn't have even noticed if you hadn't taken Truth with you. I'd been meaning to collect it, but when I went to Conal's room, here his armor and weapon were gone. The smith said he refitted the armor for you, at your request. Who gave you that armor, squire? I don't remember your knighting ceremony, but then I've been out of town. And certainly no one gave you that sword. You've let us all down, Kasen. Now a thief, consorting with criminals."
Her ghostly face gives a playful smile, "But you can make it all up to us. Just bring the two wizards back, and the sword too. It can all be forgiven."
Kasen's face turns hard as stone, "I know what you are, demon. You'll get nothing from me but a bloody end, if you come within reach of this blade."
"Fine. Then die, and I'll send someone to collect the corpses."
Her face disappears as the material billows out to a new shape, that of a horrible ghostly knight with a horrific skeletal face. Sa'id gasps, "A wraith. It is a wraith... Don't let it touch you! It will drain your life!"
The wraith billows up to a height of seven feet tall, then slides toward them claws extended...
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Two wizards out of town; the wra(i)th of Elise
Ty you bastard. Friday night at 7:30 ET you put this out? ;)
Mark
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Black Magic
OOC: Wow. Checked my mail to find 118 messages. Work's been busy, and I've been sick the past couple of days. Next week doesn't look a whole lot better, but I'll try to keep up. The following week I'll be away for three days, definitely.
Ty, feel free to have Rennik serve as an NPC whenever you need to, if I'm not responding, and don't forget about Tichenor.
IC: Rennik watched as the camp fell to chaos. There had been no way to prepare for this assault, and no way to avoid it. It had only been a matter of when their enemy would strike.
The archers were likely a small force, a couple dozen at most. While they had a good tactician leading them, it was the witch that worried Rennik. She was unpredictable, and could strike from above. He could find himself dodging tentacles at any moment, or worse. Still, Garyth had charged him with finding some way of moving these people deeper into the forest, and he had to act quickly.
Running as fast as he could, with Tichenor at his heels, he darts to the front of the pack and past it into the woods. Giving himself some distance, he pauses crouching to get a feel for the land - its slope and terrain. A fleeing mob would naturally run down any incline, simply because they would not be thinking and it is the path of least resistance. If there was a trap, it would be in that direction, as the crowd moved unconsciously downhill in their panic.
Trying to remember the lay of the land from his scouting the previous evening, he makes a mental note of the most and least likely ambush spots, and goes back to find Bragga and urge him and the throng towards what he hopes is safety.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Two wizards out of town; the wra(i)th of Elise
OOC: Oh, and when we finally reunite with the wizards, I'm going to be the best roleplayer in the world, because Rennik will have NO IDEA what's happened to them since they last met. I just haven't had time to read any of that stuff. I had been saving it at one point, but now there's just so much that there's no time to ever go back and recap for myself. Alas, Rennik will have no outside information to cloud his thinking with metagaming decisions. :)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Black Magic
Sounds good to me, Mike.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Black Magic
OOC: Sounds like a good plan to me. Much better than just throwing caution to the wind and thundering directly toward them.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards out of town; the wra(i)th of Elise
Elise's face hangs before them, disembodied and glowing eerily, but all Sa'id can think is: She killed Cadfael. I will destroy her.
Sa'id's fingers drift down to his component pouches. If there was any substance to this image, maybe a part of it was linked to... he gasps. "A wraith. It is a wraith... Don't let it touch you! It will drain your life! And STAY BACK!" His voice grows louder and by the end it has blended into a scream of raw anger.
His right arm shoots outward almost involuntarily, pinched fingers pointed at the... thing. There is a puff of sulphur, and a glowing ember darts from the necromancer's fingertips. Everything is still for a moment...
[Fireball, targeted 10' above the wraith's head in case anyone is foolish enough to charge forward. My move action will be to move backward, obviously, in case the wraith gets to go first and advances. If I can't do that and toss a fireball, though, because of poor horsemanship or whatever, I'm tossing the fireball. Sa'id needs to vent, and this is how he vents.]
Pensive Question
Subject: Pensive
Scott
OOC:
Can't Pensive move about as fast as the horses when he is on foot?
Mark
Pensive Answer
Subject: Re: Pensive
No-- these are light cavalry, built for speed.
Pensive's fast, and according to Ty, could outpace a warhorse handily; but he's no match for the Falcons' mounts.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Pensive
OK. But that is why you need to take the run feat. :)
Mark
Archers: Surprise Round; Wraiths: Round 1
Subject: Re: Two wizards out of town; the wra(i)th of Elise
Karl, since you have had several opportunities to sleep, and have never sent me an updated spell list, my sheet (and the one on sakeriver) just show you with the default spell list you've had for some time now. But you have them all memorized.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Two wizards out of town; the wra(i)th of Elise
As the night wore on Kasen wonders if leaving the farmhouse hadn't been a mistake. Surely it would have made a more comfortable place to sleep, and what were the odds any had learned of their meeting point? If they had he couldn't imagine the Duke sending troops into the unnatural night, not while he was preparing for a siege.
In truth he had been afraid and had acted in fear, leaving behind the relative protection of the farmhouse for the open field where it would be even harder to hide 3 men and 5 horses. A knight of Helm did not make such mistakes. A true knight kept his head at all times and did not let fear touch him. Perhaps they had been right all along...
A trick of the darkness perhaps, but the road seems to go on forever and the lulling motion of Stormcloud's strides and low murmur of the wizard's voices see Kasen drifting into a half sleep, allowing Stormcloud to pick her own steps.
Then Elise's apparition rips him from his rest.
"Elise..."
The words were true, he had technically stolen Conal's sword and armour, but coming from her mouth they carried no weight. She had the gall, the audacity to accuse him while he knew, he *knew* that Conal had died by her hand and she had seduced the head of their order, blinded him and bent him to her will? The hell she would touch any part of Truth but the blade. He smiles to himself, "Seems I'm always dreaming of sticking something inside her."
And yet, he finds himself unsure as he pulls Truth free from its scabbard. She knew he had it. She knew he wore Conal's armour. He did not pretend that wielding them made him more powerful than she, not by far. And so he wondered if this ghost could even feel the blade. Nonetheless, truth is man's only defence, and truth can topple one's greatest foe. Helm would see him through. He had to.
He forces a smile at Sa'id's words. "Don't let it touch me? If only I'd met you earlier Sa'id, you could have saved me many a lump in the practice yard." Keep the men happy, keep them confident. This was no different than staring down a cavalry charge with nothing but a pointy stick between you and a ton of horse, man and metal.
He pulls Stormcloud to the side, letting his size block as much of the road as possible, forcing the creature to go through him before the wizards, while leaving him free to hack down at the wraith if it comes within reach.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Two wizards out of town; the wra(i)th of Elise
:)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two wizards out of town; the wra(i)th of Elise
> Would Farron know whether "Hold Person" would work on a wraith or not?
It wouldn't, but Sa'id's Hold Undead would.
From: Ty
Subject: The Exodus; Black Magic
Garyth leads his men northeast, riding hard. They can hear another barrage of arrows fired off in the distance to their right, but they ride past it. After a few moments, Garyth begins to angle off to the east, letting the Halfling position slip farther and farther to his right flank. Then, when they are exactly (he thinks) 90 degrees to his right, he yanks the reins hard over and leads the Falcons on a charge south.
For a moment, there is only darkness, and he begins to think maybe he miscalculated, then suddenly a group of Murrkat materialize around the horses. One of them goes under Garyth's horse before he even sees him. He can hear Robert's crossbow fire, and the twang of Pensive's bow, but it is so dark out here away from the camp, he isn't sure he could hit anything more than three feet from him. The Halflings run around them cursing, and Garyth yells out, "Kill any that you see!" They may not get them all, but at the very least they can keep them from shooting the town.
He is just starting to think of drawing his sword when a Halfling runs out of the dark and throws something at his horse. It hits the horses flank and break with a sound like glass. Garyth spins to see what it did, but as far as he can see it just made a large brightly glowing spot on the horses flank. "Wait-" a barrage of arrows begins falling around him. "A second group!" he yells. He can hear Vincy yell, "To the east!" The spot on his horse is bright enough to illuminate the ground around him for 60'.
The arrows continue to rain down. Robert yelps once as an arrow goes through his arm [damage 4], and Garyth's horse jumps when an arrow goes into its flank [damage 3].
[surprise round over. Map with details attached]
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Exodus; Black Magic
Now, with map!
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Exodus; Black Magic
Ty, how far away is the other group of archers? And would I be wrong in assuming that our horses are trained for mounted combat?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Exodus; Black Magic
You have no idea how far away the other group is. Based on the volume of arrows and the low number of hits, probably not real close. Most likely they are just firing at the light.
You're horses are light warhorses provided by the Falcon's. They are not only trained for combat, they've actually seen some action too. If not, Garyth's horse would have dumped him on his head when the arrow hit.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards out of town; the wra(i)th of Elise
Farron looks in horror and the apparition of Elise transforms into the wraith. His horror deepens as Sa'id yells to "not let it touch you." If a necromancer tells you something is especially dangerous, you can bet it isn't something you want to see.
He mentally runs through his list of spells for the day, no simple tasks seeing as the day started what seems like a week ago now. He finger the rod of iron in his robe pocket but discards that option as he's sure that would be useless against a wraith. He feels the candle but can't quickly think what summoned creature would do the most damage against their foe. Finally he ops for the shaving of licorice root. Pinching it between his fingers he makes the arcane movements and recites the words to give an added boost of speed to the group. (Casts Hasten on Kasen, Sa'id and himself).
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards out of town; the wra(i)th of Elise
Oh, and he moves in whatever direction is away from the wraith, trying to keep out of melee range.
From: Ty
Subject: Two wizards out of town; the wrath of Elise 1
[Initiative rolls Kasen 21, Wraith3 17, Wraith2 15, Farron 9, Wraith1 8, Sa'id 5]
Kasen dances Storm sideways, putting her right flank to the approaching wraith, and readying his greatsword (readied attack). He curses that he has never been initiated into the mysteries of the White Hart. He knows that his brethren there enjoy special protections from such undead creatures and their life draining attacks.
Farron begins backing his horse away from the approaching wraith and mentally preparing his haste spell, when the horse lets out a little scream of fear. He swivels his head, and sees a second wraith bearing down on him, and a third moving toward Sa'id. They are trapped inside the legs of a tripod. He remembers thinking that his horse could probably outrun the wraith, and curses. There won't be any running now. The wraith will have reached him in seconds [wraith3 and wraith2 will be able to attack next round].
Farron grits his teeth and finishes his spell. The air around him seems to take on a muddy and thick quality, while his blood seems to bubble. The approaching Wraiths slow down noticeably. [group hasted]
The first wraith noticed, the one that Elise sent her message through, moves into range with Kasen, who immediately swings his greatsword at it. [Incorporeal creature 43%, hit; Attack 25 vs AC15, hit; damage 14] Truth not only strikes the approaching Wraith, but seems to flash with an inner fire when it does so, and the wraith screeches as a slice is opened in it's ghostly fabric. Sir Conal's weapon is a mighty token, and blessed by Helm. These evil undead are not immune to its power.
But the damaged wraith recovers quickly, and glides forward with claws outstretched. [Attack 11 vs AC14(hasted touch attack AC); miss] Without thinking, Kasen brings Truth up to deflect the approaching claws, and it does seem to have some effect. The creature shies back from the glowing blade.
Sa'id, seeing that the wraith is now too close to kasen, changes the direction of his spell, and fires it at the wraith approaching from his rear. [Fireball spell; incorporeal creature 1%; hit; damage 19] There is a flash and a streak of light, then the world erupts into flaming brilliance for a short second. Sa'id throws one hand over his eyes, and his night vision is overwhelmed by the flash. When he looks again, the approaching wraith seems shredded and charred by the attack. Good. His fire magic does have an effect. But he knows that such creatures are difficult to harm even with magic, as they can fade in and out of reality.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Exodus; Black Magic
OOC: Wait is that 60 FEET, or 60 INCHES? I can never remember which is one apostrophe and which is two. . .
Pensive will attack the northernmost enemy with the stonesash as a reach weapon, without using flurry of blows. If he's too far away, he'll fire on the same enemy with the bow, and try to close the gap between them.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Exodus; Black Magic
60 feet. It's glowing very brightly.
This is very probably the trap Rennik warned of.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Exodus; Black Magic
So is Garyth's nickname "Target" now?
Mark
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Exodus; Black Magic
This won't make any difference to my round, but is Pensive's low light vision helping at all?
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Two wizards out of town; the wra(i)th of Elise
> no simple tasks seeing as the day started what seems like a week ago now.
:)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Exodus; Black Magic
Garyth curses. On a night this dark, a light might as well be a bullseye. As much as he hates to give up the advantage of a mounted position, only a madman would make himself such a target. He jumps down from the horse, weapons in hand almost before he reaches the ground [Quick Draw].
OOC: Garyth will try to do a fast dismount (free action). If he is able to do that, he'll try to send the horse away (I don't know if that requires a full-round or move-equivalent Handle Animal action, and preferably he'd like the horse to go east toward the second group of archers). If there isn't time for that, or if there's time left after doing that, he'll attack the nearest halfling.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Two wizards out of town; the wrath of Elise 1
There was hope then, if Helm could work through Truth and strike the evil down, if he could assume the creature would not simply pass through him to the wizards behind him. Peripherally aware of the two incoming threats he hacks down at the first wraith, hoping to fell it quickly.
Full Attack (assuming I can do that from horseback)