Buchek Becomes Enraged, No Help For Holn
Subject: Regrouping, and, er, Still More Ineptitude
(ODM: Okay, I'm still really busy, but if I don't start getting mails out to you guys, I'm afraid both you and I will forget what's going on. I don't want that. Plus, the cool stuff is yet to come, and I want to get there before I'm old and gray. So, I'm going to try to get out a turn as often as possible. That may mean missing a day here and there, but it's better than nothing. Without further ado...)
Buchek stares at the guard's hands as he trembles with the keys just out of arm's reach. The bustle of guards in the next room has caught his attention, and their strong arms has bolstered his resolve against the caged barbarian. Still, he glances furtively at Buchek before backing slowly away toward the door.
Erk pushes into the guardhouse along with the men, watching what should have been smooth, praciticed tactical procedures. Instead, the guards were fumbling - not through inexperience, but because of inebriation. The dwarf could tell many of them were in the cups as they grew frustrated with belt holes and bowstrings.
In the confusion, he looked for cells and saw an entryway to his left that led to a hall. Moving in that direction, away from the press of men, he bumped roughly into the back of a guard not watching where he was going.
Jumping suddenly in the air, the man let out a yelp and spun away from Erk toward an empty cell. A clanking jingle drew Erk's eye, as he realized the guard must have fumbled the large iron keyring in his fright - a good three feet inside the cell beside Buchek's.
As the keys fall, the diminutive form of Kayla slides in virtually unnoticed, popping up next to Erk and staring at Buchek's angry face, his white knuckles gripping the cell bars. With a look of mild surprise at the anger and frustration on the man's face, she chimes in with "Heya!", not quite sure of the situation she's stubled upon.
****
Bermid draws his sword meekly and follows after Elotai into the street. His depression turns quickly to confusion as he sees the streaming fire of arrows in the air and the blazing buildings. Elotai walks briskly across the street to the guardhouse, ignored by the passing guards now streaming out of the guardhouse toward the main gate.
Entering the common room, he sees several guards fumbling to equip themselves, and the backs of a dwarf and halfling just beyond the doorway to his left.
****
Telwyn sheathes his sword and runs, feeling the heat from a flaming arrowhead brush within inches of his cheek and bury itself in the dirt ahead of him. There doesn't appear to be any marauders in his path, but the war cries and horns behind him give speed to his steps.
(you can sheath and take 2x your speed, not 4x. So, 60 ft for you)
****
Holn watches the barbarian recover his glancing blow with agility, but also amazement. The mace should have crushed ribs and given him a satisfying crunch, but instead felt like he had hit a tree. He levels another blow, a little more warily this time, aimed at the intersection of neck and shoulder, but his confusion at Holn's magical armor makes his attack obvious, and the sorcerer twists away from it [attack 6, miss].
Again, Holn speaks the strange words, calling internal energies to his fingertips, and his opponent makes another attempt, a desperate arcing swing that misses utterly [attack 8, miss]. As Holn reaches calmly for the barbarian's shoulder, he backpedals away in fear, sure in his knowledge that he wants no part of this strange mystic [touch attack 5, miss].
There is a look of panic in the raider's eyes, and Holn can't decide whether he is about to make a last all out attack, or run in terror.
(WTF?!? This is getting ridiculous. I had to guess that you were using the Shock again, since you only said the ball was in the barbarian's court, last time)
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Regrouping, and, er, Still More Ineptitude
Wooohoo! We're playing again!
Buchek watches unbelieving as the keys go flying, landing in the cell next to him, and throws back his head, howling in a mixture of fury and frustration as he begins shaking the bars before him. As he shouts, the fury that has been building in him bursts forth, screaming through his veins in an adrenaline rush that blots out all reason. [ie--Buchek is going into a rage]. In a remote corner of Buchek's mind, his rational self watches dispassionately, disconnected from his body, as his arms flex against the cell's bars [ie--Buchek, in his enraged (and strength enhanced) state, is attempting to free himself by bending the bars of his cell].
If Buchek's bend bars is successful, and assuming that other players' actions don't necessitate a change in plans, Buchek will tear his axe from its peace bindings and run from the prison into the melee outside, howling like a madman all the while.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Regrouping, and, er, Still More Ineptitude
Standing outside the cells, Erk hears the howl of rage from one of them, and guesses the barbarian is in that one. He yells out, ?We?re here, Buchek! Give us a moment, and we will have you out!?
Turning over his shoulder to Kayla he says, ?Grab those keys; see if one fits the cell locks.? Then he will rush over to Buchek?s cell door and speak to him, trying to calm him down.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Regrouping, and, er, Still More Ineptitude
Telwyn continues to run, heading for the guard tower.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Regrouping, and, er, Still More Ineptitude
Elotai turns to Bermid. ?Are these your companions?? he asks, gesturing at Erk and the halfling.
Just then, he hears a roar from further inside. What have they got caged in there, he wonders, some kind of wild animal? He had seen the wolf in his visions, but the wolf wouldn?t make such a noise.
[OOC: If Bermid acknowledges Erk and Kayla then Elotai will go with him into the room with the cells.]
From: Erik
Subject: Re: Regrouping, and, er, Still More Ineptitude
I blindly hit the reply button this morning for Holn's reaction. Just so everyone knows:
Holn takes a 5-foot step backwards and performs a ready action to melee-touch the barbarian if he closes the distance to attack again.
(OOC: I want the initiative.)
From: Clara
Subject: Regrouping
Kayla eyes the cell with the keys, and wonders if she can squeeze through the bars. If they look wide enough, she'll walk through and grab the keys, hoping the guard doesn't see her. With the keys, she'll open the lock and follow Buchek.
If they're too narrow, Kayla motions to Erk and whispers, "Get in front of the lock and keep talkin!" while moving in front of the lock at Buchek's cell. She hopes that Buchek is bending bars unassociated with the lock. After checking to see if anyone can see her standing in front of Erk, she'll try to pick the lock with her lockpicks.