Subject: Re: blah blah blah (too lazy to look it up)

Kayla realizes that the guards are practically ignoring her. Being short has its distinct advantages. Now that Erk and Buchek are taking up most of the guards' attention, it's time to take some action of her own. She recalls reading of a cantrip that might come in handy. Since the guards seem to be being difficult, she figures it's worth a shot.

She pulls out a small piece of wax from a pouch, and tries to minimize any attention towards herself. She concentrates on the sounds of clashing swords and a man shouting for help. With luck, shout and metal scraping should sound as if arising from outside the tower, about twenty feet away.

Subject: Re: A Clash of Wills and Steel

Elotai looks up. How remarkably unobservant he'd been, to assume that this building had a thatched roof. He glances at Bermid. "Bermid, we should be helping in this battle, even if only to ensure our own continued survival. Can you explain to these men that we're on the same side?"

Curse these humans, he thinks for what must be the tenth time tonight. Can't think clearly at all, too impetuous.

Subject: Re: A Clash of Wills and Steel

Telwyn pauses, waiting for Bermid to do something. Anything. Damn it, if this boy couldn't even be of use in civilized parts, what good would he be in the Tall Grass?

He nods vigorously at Erk's words. "And he's not even your prisoner to begin with! Tomorrow morning we are all riding into the plains, Buchek included. Now let us out so we can help!"

Subject: Sorry about this week

The end of the school year is upon me, and my life has been a bit hectic. I'll try to get out some turns next week, but I'm a little swamped at the moment. Things should hopefully ease up in a week or so. Sorry for dropping off the planet.

Re: Kayla's antics

Kayla realizes that not only are the guards ignoring her, all of humanity is ignoring her. Perhaps time has stood still. Those magic beans were worth something afterall!

She walks past the motionless adventurers and guards to find herself on the streets in the middle of a raid. What fun! She saunters into the nearby Inn and pulls herself an ale.

Re: Matt's long absence

There is light at the end of the tunnel! I promise! Just not right now, I'm afraid. It's been a long tunnel. (My apologies for those of you who got this email twice.)

I just returned last Saturday at midnight from a three day overnight trip with 80 thirteen year olds, and this week has so far consisted of an awards ceremony last night (I was nominated, which rocks, even though I didn't win), and a National Honor Society induction for my students tonight. This is on top of early mornings and late afternoons of extra help preparing for next week's final exam.

Many apologies for holding things up, but it's unavoidable. Any posting I could do right now would be very spotty and without much thought or preparation. Next week I have a final exam to grade for 65 students and an algebra readiness assessment to grade for the same number. Lots of grading, even more outside-of-school-hours help, and then finally the end of the year...

...when I can finally write this damn freelance crap assignment that's been sucking my will to live. :(

BUT, the light comes on the 21st, it seems. That monday and tuesday are half days, and I should be done with most stuff... at least enough to sit down at my computer, catch up on all the emails, and send out turns.

I'm really sorry for the hold up, but June for teachers is like early April for accountants and December for North Pole elves.

I'm not dead, though, and I shall return eventually. I just hope you all don't rise up en masse and burn my house down in the meantime.

~Matt

Subject: Re: Matt's long absence

Who told you about the plans to burn your house?

:eyes Karl:

Subject: Re: Matt's long absence

Hey, I've been playing City of Heroes too much to be getting involved in real-world plans of mayhem.

Subject: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

"This is no raider we have freed. He is a lawfully appointed member of our party, sent by the Elders of Segreda, as can be attested to by Noble Bermid."

The guard barely contains laughter, only smiling at Erk's words. "Noble? This one? If not for his father's name, he wouldn't be fit to clear manure from the Guard's stables. His father's discipline is nowhere in this whelp, and if he was sent with you into the Tall Grass, it is to be rid of him."

Bermid seethes, but doesn't act. It looks as though he is fit to burst, but unable to bring himself forward. Elotai moves close and whispers as the guard is finishing his diatribe.

"Bermid, we should be helping in this battle, if only for our continued survival. Can you explain to this men that we're on the same side?"

As though the words of encouragement were all he needed, Bermid steps boldly forward drawing his sword on the guard who spoke.

"If we wanted you dead, you would be dead. The only reason you still draw breath is because we are on your side, you sniveling whelp. It is not my father's name the gives me the right to bear the Guardsman's sigil, but the blood that courses through my veins - and even my most distant cousin has more strength on his deathbed than you will have in your finest hour."

Behind Erk, Kayla subtly works her magic, taking time so that she will not be noticed and to be sure she creates the desired effect.

"Stand aside, or I *will* become your enemy! You are preventing our defense of this outpost, and the price of treason is death. This barbarian is under *my* charge, by order of the Captain of the Guard, and if he betrays our cause it will be *my* sword in his back, not yours."

The speech practically knocks the guards backward with its unexpected force. It's as though the housecat turned lion in the blink of an eye. Erk, Elotai and Telwyn can see in Bermid shadows of great presence mixed with streaks of panic and anxiety. He could crack at any moment, and had mustered all his willpower into this one push. But, under it all, there is a seed of potential greatness. It is as though if he hadn't been raised under his father and grandfather's shadows, Bermid would be a formidable opponent.

After a moment of tension, as it looks like the two men are about to regroup and hold their ground, Kayla completes her incantation. Outside the door grows a sound of clashing swords and struggling voices, as though the battle has pressed back toward the tower itself. Over it all, a voice calls "To arms! To arms!" in a plea for aid.

The guards, having outside reason to concede to Bermid's words, mutter "Our apologies, Watch Commander... of course..." and turn to open the door. Bermid slumps noticeably with an exhale of breath, all energy sapped out of him. As the door opens, Holn appears running toward the opening, out of breath with his hand on his mace.

The two guards shout "For Caro!" and press their attack on the "charging" barbarian.

[Initiative Order:

Elotai 25, Second Guard 22, Kayla 15, Telwyn 14, Holn 13, First Guard 12, Erk 12, Buchek 9, Third Guard (by jail cells) 7, Bermid 3]

Subject: Re: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

OOC: it was nice playin' wit'chall, but I am sooooo dead.

In Character:

As Holn enters he is taken unawares. Attackers outside, attackers inside, this has not been his day. He prepares for their onslaught.

(i.e. Holn will use the action "total defense", +4 dodge bonus. That is assuming he survives the first guard, of course!)

Subject: Re: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

Elotai is dumbstruck by Bermid?s unexpected display of leadership. That was always the nature of humans, though ? unpredictable, always doing impulsive things. Sometimes unforseen brilliance shone through; sometimes unfathomable stupidity.

Like, for instance, these guards.

If the barbarian ? Holn, if Elotai remembered correctly ? were killed here... but no, that couldn?t happen. Could it? He hadn?t seen it. He had seen Holn before, had expected the man to be with him in the grasslands. Elotai had seen the dwarf Erk drowning, gasping for air. He had not seen Holn die. The man, then, had to be kept alive if Elotai wanted to get out to the grasslands.

?STOP!? he shouts. ?He is with Bermid!? He moves forward, trying to get himself between the guards and Holn, keeping his sword?s tip down to remind them that he is not an enemy... and silently praying that his mage armour holds if they attack him.

Subject: Re: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

OOC: What horrible timing, Holn... good luck ;)

Kayla makes an enormous mental groan when she sees Holn at the door. "Of all the,..." she starts to mutter.

Leaving the hand-to-hand fighting to her companions, she steps quickly out of the way and begins singing to inspire courage in Holn and the rest of her friends. With luck, the guard will assume she is singing for them, not the "intruder."

"Gather round ye kinder
and listen to this tale,
of warriors brave and cunning
who have come to save the day."

Subject: Re: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

OOC: So, a Barbarian is chasing Holn into the guardpost? That won?t turn out well for him?

IC: Erk watches Bermid take control of the guards using only bearing and voice. The boy clearly knows something of command, though it shows only rarely. To encourage it to show more often, Erk will whisper to Bermid, ?Well spoken, Captain.?

The sudden appearance of Holn and the pursuing barbarian changes everything. Erk knows that they need Buchek out of that cell, and helping with the fight. Figuring that the guards and the rest of his party can handle the doorway for now, Erk yells, ?Keys!? to the captain, and claps his hands together, the universal sign for ?throw me the keys.? Once he has them, he will move back to let Buchek out, and then the party can draw up in formation to stop these raiders.

Subject: Re: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

Matt, how close are the raiders? It sounds like Holn is just outside the door, and if I remember right, they were not that far behind him. Can you recap the tactical situation? How many guards are up against how many raiders, and where is each group in relation to the tower?

Subject: Re: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

Oh yes, and how much of this can Telwyn see through the door?

Subject: Re: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

Oh dear. Let's recap.

Buchek is out of the cage. He got out a couple turns ago after Kayla successfully picked the lock. Upon trying to leave, two guards blocked the "jailbreak" from happening by closing the door.

Holn was running back to the tower with hopes of regrouping with the others. He ran through a line of guards, who let him pass after seeing him torch a barbarian. The guards then engaged the barbarians a full turn at a run from the tower. As Holn arrives at the door of the tower, his unfortunate luck has Kayla's Ghost Sound spell creating the sounds of combat just outside the door. The guards capitulate to Bermid because of sounds of conflit outside, and open the doors to engage the barbarians....

...thing is, Holn's the only "barbarian" there, clutching his mace at his side and now facing two angry city guards who *didn't* see his pyrotechnics display and who (unbeknownst to him) think one of their brethren was being attacked just outside their door.

That better?

So, recap. Everyone but Holn is in the tower. Holn is just outside the tower. The door has opened with two guards coming out to attack Holn. About 80-90 feet outside the tower and to the left, there are a couple dozen guards battling a couple dozen barbarians, and one large badass barbarian with a big doubleaxe.

Subject: Re: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

It's been a while.

Subject: Re: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

Aye, it has. :)

Did you all forget about the elder black dragon sleeping atop the tower, too?

Subject: Re: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

OOC: Buchek's initiative roll is pretty low, so this turn may be invalidated by what everybody else does. If that's the case, I'll write up something else. As it stands now, though, here's my turn:

As the door swings open, Buchek takes in the situation--the line of guardsmen clashing with the barbarians, Holn fleeing from the melee, and the two guards directly in front of him obviously preparing to attack his childhood friend. With a roar, Buchek moves forward. If the guards are close enough to each other, he will attempt to knock their heads together, hopefully with enough force to stun them, but without enough force to kill them. If they aren't close enough together for that, he will attempt to tackle one or both of them.

Subject: Re: Muddling through...

Apologies to those (including myself) who will get this twice.

I will be incommunicado for the next two or three days while I drive 1,800 kilometres back home to Nova Scotia with my family.

Sorry for the inconvenience. Matt or perhaps Erik could handle Elotai; as for Sa?id, Ty, Dan, or Karl can cover for me provided we don?t get to the point where I need to submit a spell list.

Talk to you guys in a few days.

Raja

Subject: Re: Muddling through...

Oops, I accidentally sent this only to Matt:

Telwyn springs forward ahead of one of the guards, but the other is too fast. He grabs for the second guard's shoulder, yelling, "No! He's with us!"

Subject: Re: Bermid's Moment (the game resumes)

OOC: oops! Too long between turns I guess! :)

IC: Erk watches the guards move toward Holn with weapons raised to strike. "No, he is one of us!" he yells, hoping to stay their weapons. When it becomes clear that they intend to strike anyway, he rapidly prays, "Mighty Clangeddin, Lord of Battles, hold this man firm in your irresistible grip. Stop him from committing this murderous crime." [hold person on the second guard]

Subject: Holn's Bad Timing

The door opens as though in slow motion, revealing Holn running, carrying his mace low, straight for the two guards in the doorway. As their faces turn from shock to grim determination, he pulls up quickly, trying to stop his forward motion.

One guard is quicker to react than the other, lunging out the doorway bringing his sword up in a wide arc before Holn can put his mace up in a defensive position. A curse escapes the sorcerer's mouth as he scrambles to defend, but a passing thought of amazement at the guard's speed flits across his mind.

As if in a dream, he hears an unfamiliar voice shout "Stop! He's with Bermid!" and a strange elf pushes to get between him and his attacker. The silver-haired elf manages to partially shield him, but the guard adjusts his swing reflexively to accomodate his target's newfound cover.

The sword alters it's arc, which would have sure cleaved Holn's left arm from his shoulder, and adjusts to avoid Elotai's charging body. Losing power on the swing, the sword crashes hard against Holn's chest, sending a splashing ripple of blue energy swirling around his body. [Holn AC 14 +4 Mage Armor +4 Cover = 22. Attack 16 +5 = 21. Attack bypassed cover, impacts Mage Armor, no damage]

The bluish flash across his eyes comes with an exhale of breath Holn didn't know he was holding as he pulls his mace rapidly into a defensive stance. As though he is watching these events unfold as though in some strange drama, he hears a soft singing - a woman's voice accompanying the action, inspiring the courageous hero to stand tall against his foes.

"Gather round ye kinder
and listen to this tale,
of warriors brave and cunning
who have come to save the day..."

As the song continues, Holn hears Telwyn's voice shouting this time, "No! He's with us!", grabbing at another sword arm swinging for his head. The swing goes wild as the half-elf's weight pulls at the guard's elbow [Attack 5].

Over the music, amidst the chaos, a booming baritone roars "Mighty Clangeddin, Lord of Battles, hold this man firm in your irresistible grip. Stop him from committing this murderous crime!" The man whose sword had just whistled past Holn's head is held firm, having already reestablished footing to try for a second swing.

With a roar, Holn sees his friend Buchek fly from nowhere to tackle the first guard, knocking him off his feet to the ground.

Subject: Re: Holn's Bad Timing

OOC: hmmm, what to do with these guards now that we have them sort of held for a minute. Should we lock em up in the recently opened cell? Now that I've held on of them, and buchek is grappling the other, they are probably dubious about our claims of being on their side. I don't want them whacking us in the back as we go out to defend the outpost.

What do you guys think?

Subject: Re: Holn's Bad Timing

OOC: Why not throw them outside to fight the invaders? It's a win-win situation.

Subject: Re: Holn's Bad Timing

Heh, that sounds pretty good to me. :-P

Subject: Re: Holn's Bad Timing

Yeah, we probably should. The held guard is out of the action for at least a little while, but the one Buchek tackled is probably still conscious. If he weren't, I'd say to just drag them back into the guardhouse and leave 'em just inside.

Subject: Re: Holn's Bad Timing

OOC: Heh. You don't think that it might violate our various-flavors-of-good alignments to throw a temporarily paralyzed ally into a group of bloodthirsty enemies?

Subject: Re: Holn's Bad Timing

OOC: No worries there, Holn is nuetral. ;D

Subject: the DM clears his throat

So, to recap.

Currently, the village outpost of Caro is under attack. Raiders have flooded past the walls and engaged the guards. They are lead by a big tough badass with an orc double axe. The night is lit by the fires of thatch rooves and torches, and the sounds of shouts, screams of agony, and clashing steel fill the night air.

The party has just stumbled out of the guard tower after two guards who mistakenly took Holn to be one of the attackers. The first guard is immobilized by a Hold Person spell. The second has been tackled to the ground. The party has saved Holn from getting thwacked.

However, the town is still under attack, the fires still burn on nearby buildings, and the barbarian raiders are still skewering guards as best they can.

Please check in with your actions.