Free At Last, Free At Last...
Subject: Re: Whew.
Elotai approahches Telwyn, half-dragging Bermid along with him. "Do you know more about what's going on out there?" he asks.
From: Matt
Subject: Free at last, free at last...
The more talkative of the two guards, blocked from the hallway by Telwyn, Bermid and Elotai, grabs Elotai by the arm and pulls him away from Telwyn, "I asked you a question! And I don't appreciate being ignored! What's going on in there!?" He tries to pull Elotai from the doorframe and get by, but Telwyn steps in his way.
Erk hears this confrontation from inside, but can't see either of the two guards. He does his best to stay between the doorway and Kayla, but three bodies block his view into the common room.
Kayla dips the end of one of her tools in a small vial of lubricant oil before making another attempt, and this seems to do the trick. The lock, though stiff at first, finally gives way all at once, almost shocking Kayla into a gasp. [Open Lock 26 v. DC 20, success] As the lock releases, there is a bit of a clang and the door swings open a few inches, gaining Buchek's full attention.
...
Outside, Holn looks quickly for cover, but finds none. Choosing the shortest route away from the burning rooves of the buildings meant cutting across the open courtyard, and, short of dropping chest to the ground and praying, there aren't any hiding places.
The raiders will be on him by the start of next turn, and the guards by the turn following.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
Hearing a satisfying click come from the lock behind him, Erk whirls around and says to Buchek, ?It?s time to go, my friend. The fort us under attack, and we are still missing one companion.? To the entire group he says, ?I suggest we move out in force and aid wherever the need is greatest. If someone spots our young sorcerer along the way, that would be helpful as well.?
If no one disagrees, he will push his way past the group at the doorway, and placing one hand on the nosy guard will begin pushing him back, saying, ?There is no problem here. We are on our way out to help in the defense of the fort, and I suggest you do the same. There are no enemies to fight in here.?
From: Matt
Subject: Fwd: Free at last, free at last...
This was Buchek's turn. Jake only sent it to me, accidentally.
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Addled with rage, Buchek throws back his head, howling in exultation, and bolts for the door. If Kayla or Erk don't intervene in some way, Buchek will go pelting down the hall, toward the door, his axe held at the ready.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
Oops, sent this only to Matt.
Matt, how do we handle something like this, where Ty and I gave conflicting responses to the same information. Do the responses just happen simultaneously, or do you roll initiative to see who does what first, or what?
Note: forwarded message attached.
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Addled with rage, Buchek throws back his head, howling in exultation, and bolts for the door. If Kayla or Erk don't intervene in some way, Buchek will go pelting down the hall, toward the door, his axe held at the ready.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
OOC: Actually, Erk WILL intervene.
As he is speaking, Erk hears Buchek?s cry of rage. He quickly turns to place a restraining hand on the barbarian. ?Stop! We did not free you so that you could be cut down by the first guards you see! They will mistake you for those that are attacking unless you remain with us. Do you understand me?! Stay with us, or die uselessly in the fight outside.?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
You can also do addendums to your turn when other players create new situations, or add new information.
As Erk is doing in response to your turn.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
Well, seeing as you have to go through him to get to the door, I'm gonna say he's got the jump on you.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
:) Sounds good.
At Erk's words, a little of the madness fades from Buchek's eyes. His body quivering with the effort of suppressing his desire to run toward the battle, he nods to the dwarf. "We go together."
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
"Nothing for it but to attack the raiders," Holn thinks, "and do it in as visible a way as possible--don't want any confusion on the part of the guards as to which side I'm on."
With that, Holn wheels, feeling the exhilirating gush of magical energies coursing through his veins as he calls forth a blazing line of fire, aiming it at the nearest raider. [ie-casts scorching ray]
[I don't remember exactly how scorching ray works, but if possible Holn will play the beam of fire across as many raiders as possible, basically hosing them with flame. If not, he'll just roast the nearest one.]
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
Erk looks the barbarian in the eye, and gives him a nod of gratitude. He then tries to get the group to move outside together, unless the guards intervene.
From: Clara
Subject: Re: Free at last
Kayla quickly wipes the extra oil off the picks and puts them away. She gives a cursory check to make sure all her bags are in place, and pulls out her sling. "Followin' you, Erk. Not much fer hand t' hand though." She notes her handaxe and hopes that she has time to pull it out if the raiders come in too close.
Hoping her fiddle makes it out of this okay, she follows Erk.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Free at last
Well, I HOPE Kayla is not forced into hand to hand. Because that will mean that Erk, Buchek, and Telwyn, and Elotai are all taken out. In this gang, Kayla should be the last person to have to slug it out up close. :)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Free at last
The seven of them and a rabble of drunken guardsmen against a barbarian raiding party. Telwyn didn't like the odds, but it didn't seem anyone was listening to his opinion.
He looks the talkative guard in the eye and asks levelly, "Don't you have somewhere to be?" He pushes past the man, nocking an arrow as he exits the tower and scans the outpost for raiders. If there are any close enough (within 110'), he will loose as many arrows as he can get his hands on (Rapid Shot, one arrow per raider). If not, he will look for Holn and move to assist the mage.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Free at last
Elotai is taken aback as Telwyn brushes past him brusquely, completely ignoring the elf and his human charge. He opens his mouth and then closes it. The half- elf was almost as impetuous as a human. Perhaps the longer-lived dwarf would be more level-headed. "Erk," he calls. "I have brought Bermid." Maybe the priest could sort out what the boy's problem was.
Seeing the dwarf again triggers a flicker of dream-memory - the stout bearded one gasping for nonexistent air, bubbles streaming from his nose and mouth. Elotai blinks and shakes his head, trying to dispel the thoughts. He didn't remember this kind of fire from his visions, though. This was not something he had seen. His frustration was growing in tandem with his uncertainty. Elotai fiddles with his sword hilt absently, wanting to lose himself in the dance, to forget about travelling and hot-tempered, impatient humans.