Subject: Attack! (part pi, or Tossuc Gets Tagged)

"Tossuc!" Holn screams, static crackling about him. "You'll fry for what you did to our kin!" He holds his ground brandishing his mace in defiance, determined to make a stand at any cost.

OOC: There, now I wish that I had taken Web instead...

Subject: Adjustment to Last Turn

After discussing a couple points with TomD, I noticed that I missed a few AoO when Tossuc cast his spell and withdrew. Everyone who had been threatening him previously should have gotten one whack at him. Elotai had his and missed, as did two guards on his way out (they missed, so I didn't write those up), but I never made rolls for Buchek, Bermid, Erk or the last remaining guard. (I had only rolled for those he passed on the way out, not those who he was running directly away from)

So...

<

One guard also lands a blow on the leader as he flees [attack 19, damage 4], but then the large raider disappears into the darkness.

Erk [attack 9] and Bermid [attack 15] feel their weapons catch only air.>>

I'm including a map here for everyone, too. The two red dots in the inn are the raiders, the two blue dots outside are Kayla and Telwyn. The blue dot closest to the river is Holn. Everyone else is inside the darkened area. While inside that area, you may make an attack on someone who is within a 5 foot step of you, though you have a 20% miss chance due to concealment. Anyone further away is out of your vision and you cannot attack them.

You know which way they have headed, generally, and may do a Listen check to try to get close to them, but ranged attacks have an automatic miss and you can't move at top speed. You may move at one quarter speed without any difficulty. You may move at half speed with a successful Spot check DC 15 to avoid tripping on the unconscious or dead bodies, or their dropped weapons. If you move at full speed, you must make a Balance check to avoid falling down on said obstacles.

To answer Kayla, all you see is stars at the moment. ;) No, seriously. You were slammed against the doorframe for no damage, see a lot of smoke coming from behind the tower and large cracks in it. You see only a dark cloud where the melee had once been, and burning buildings all around it. You can even start to smell smoke from inside the inn. That all goes for Telwyn, too.

Also, as a side note, the town is burning, and all your gear is stored in the inn, with the mules. I'm sure that thought would occur to *someone* - but it's been so long since you stored your gear in RL time that you may have all forgotten about it.

Subject: Re: Adjustment to Last Turn

OOC: Whoo-ho! Buchek finally landed a blow! How much damage has Tossuc sustained, in total?

IC: Buchek grunts in satisfaction as he feels his axe bite into the flesh of his uncle's back. As the electricity courses into the elder barbarian, Buchek shouts "feel that, brother slayer? That sting is the wrath of our forebearers. By our ancestors, I will hold your heart in my hands, and wear it's ashes about my neck! You are mine, uncle."

With this (as before), he tears out after Tossuc, running at top speed, ready to bowl over any that get in his way.

OOC: I had completely forgotten about our gear, but in any case Buchek wouldn't be in any state of mind to consider the stuff anyway. Honestly, it's been so long that I can't even remember what Buchek's gear was. I'll have to dig out my character sheet and see. Of course, given the fires that may be a pointless thing to do.

By the way, how's your shoulder doing Matt?

Subject: Re: Adjustment to Last Turn

Okay, let's try that with the attachment this time...

D'oh!

Btw: Shoulder update - the orthopedist said I was lucky and there isn't so much damage. Mainly just strained and stressed ligaments and muscles. Nothing's torn or broken, which is great. I'm not using the sling anymore for household things, only for more active things. So, I'm typing with two hands again, which is so much nicer.

Subject: Re: Adjustment to Last Turn

Hold off on that spell, then.

Replace with:

Holn sees an oncoming blackness, and prepares himself for the worst.

(total defense)

Subject: Re: Adjustment to Last Turn

Telwyn shakes his head, trying to clear the ringing from his ears. Pulling himself up off the doorframe, he looks back at the guard tower. It's a good thing they got out when they did; there's no way they would have survived a blast like that from any closer. The smell of smoke from the inn brings him back to the moment. All of the party's gear is in there. He signals to Liwanu to come in close, then spins around and takes a step through the door.

OOC: Telwyn will fire on the closest raider he sees. I assume that since he has only taken one step, he can get off two shots with Rapid Shot, in which case he will do so (both at the same target), but if not, then just one shot (obviously). The map shows both raiders still in the common room, so I assume that he can see at least one, but correct me if that's wrong. And I apologize for the holdup, everyone. Getting the site switched over took a lot more work than I expected.

Subject: Sorry about this week

My apologies for the break, but I've been occupied in transferring files from one computer to the next, and then moving my comp between houses. I still don't have internet access with it, and won't for a week or so, likely, but I'm sneaking some time on my roommate's laptop. Unfortunately, my cowgame files are all on the other comp, and I don't have access to them with this machine.

Hopefully all will be up and running relatively shortly. Fingers are crossed.

Subject: Checking In

Okay, I'm back online in my new digs and the game can go forward.

Unfortunately, my saved emails were left on my other computer. So, based on what I had sent Mike for the cowgame archive, and what I remember, this is what I think everyone is doing. If I'm wrong, or if I have nothing for your character, please let me know.

To refresh the scene, the barbarians are turning and running after the explosion at the tower. A dark cloud has erupted around the combatants, making any visibility past five feet impossible. Melee attacks suffer a 20% concealment and ranged attacks are impossible. Erk, Buchek and Elotai are in darkness at the moment. Tossuc and two barbarians have emerged from the cloud and are headed toward Holn. Holn sees the cloud start to move toward him, and next turn all will again be in darkness.

Two raiders have entered the inn with torches, as well. Kayla and Telwyn are at the door, having been knocked there by the blast from the tower across the street. So...

Buchek: Still enraged, giving chase of Tossuc in an attempt to tackle. Going to have to make a Listen check to even run in the right rough direction.

Erk: Also giving chase, trying to run off the barbarians.

Elotai: Staying put and waiting for the cloud to pass him by, while readying his sword.

Holn: Standing his ground and readying his mace in total defense.

Telwyn: Bursting through the inn door with arrows drawn, ready to use Rapid Shot if possible.

Kayla: ?? Also entering the inn, I'd imagine, but I'm not sure exactly what you sent as a turn.

Once everyone checks in, I can send out the next turn. The first encounter is nearly over! Yay! No one's died yet! Well, um, thanks to our friendly neighborhood Cleric, that is... ;)

Subject: Re: Checking In

Is this thing on? Test. One, two....

Subject: Re: Checking In

You have the right of it as far as Telwyn is concerned.

Subject: Flight into Darkness, and Telwyn's Revenge

Chaos reigns on the field as combatants scramble in the dark to find one another. Buchek runs forward in his rage and trips on one of the prone raiders lying unconscious in the dark cloud, with a howl he falls hard on his chest on top of the man. (Balance check 12 v. DC 15, fail).

Erk moves more cautiously, carefully picking his way through the cloud in the direction of the gate and manages to avoid tripping. (Spot check 19 v DC 15, success) He remains in the cloud, however, moving ever forward with care. [he moved half speed, which is 15 feet, which is still within the cloud].

Elotai waits patiently for the cloud to move past him, listening to the grunting and the howl in the darkness, and wonders about his impressions of the spell. Surely it would have moved past by now, yet he still stands in darkness.

Tossuc, in darkness for only the briefest of moments before emerging again at a run, moves wide of Holn with his two men and heads at full speed toward the gate of the outpost, joined by others of his mean who had been fighting on the courtyard. Holn stands his ground courageously and lets out a sigh when the giant of a man chooses to pass him by.

***

Back at the inn, Telwyn burst through the door with arrow drawn to see the back of one of the raiders standing on a table lighting the thatched roof of the tavern's common room. The other raider is not in sight and has presumably ran down the hallway leading to the rooms. Almost without thinking, his arrow is loosed into the man's back, followed by a second. He topples forward onto the floor, landing heavily with the torch falling from his limp hand[Attacks 21 and 17, two hits, damage 10 + 7 = 17 total +2 (one each for Kayla's song of Courage) = 19, dead].

Kayla waits patiently, hearing two thwangs and a thump inside the inn and smelling smoke, but not seeing either raider come out.

Subject: Flight into Darkness, and Telwyn's Revenge

OOC: Buchek really isn't the most...capable of barbarians, is he?

IC: Buchek scrambles to his feet and charges after Tossuc once again, heedless of the body-strewn terrain.

Subject: Flight into Darkness, and Telwyn's Revenge

Engulfed in darkness, Holn calls to Fancek Fa, feeling vulnerable without his expanded senses. He continues to hold his ground defensively.

Subject: Flight into Darkness, and Telwyn's Revenge

Elotai is sure he'd heard Buchek running off down the street. So why hadn't the darkness dissipated? He will move backwards slowly and carefully to see if he can escape the darkness.

Subject: Flight into Darkness, and Telwyn's Revenge

Erk will keep on truckin'.

Not much he can do till he gets out of the darkness.

Subject: Flight into Darkness, and Telwyn's Revenge

Kayla sees Telwyn and the dead barbarian. "Good shot," she mutters under her breath. At the same moment, realization hits. The inn's roof is beginning to flame up and all her group's possessions are in danger. Kayla recalls seeing a well nearby, between her and the menacing black cloud.

She debates whether to involve the townspeople hiding behind the inn. On one hand, it seems safe out and the extra hands would certainly improve the Inn's chances. On the other hand, she'd be risking humans for material goods, which bothers her terribly.

She grits her teeth. This outpost is the last stop before entering wilderness. She and her new friends need to push on.

Resolute in her new course of action, Kayla grabs a bucket near her right inside in the Inn. Soapy water sloshes on her leg as she runs to the townspeople waiting behind the Inn.

She pulls herself up straight and she reaches them. "The Inn is burning. Act quickly wi' me to save it from these raiders' fire. If'n you have a plan, use it. There are buckets right inside. Les' show'm we won't let 'em destroy us." Kayla brings forth all the emotion she can to convince these townspeople that the Inn is worth fighting for.

Subject: Telwyn?

Just waitin' on you, bud. Slash tells me that you're at Kama-con, which explains a bit.

Subject: Re: Flight into Darkness, and Telwyn's Revenge

Telwyn runs a hand over his face, surprised to find a sheen of sweat on his brow. His brush with death has set his nerves jangling, but at least his hands are still steady. He pauses a moment to stamp out the fallen raider's torch, then slings his bow. It will do him little good in these close quarters. He draws his short sword and signals Liwanu to heel as he enters the hallway. At his first step, a brief pain flares from the wound in his gut. He would wish for more backup, but hopefully Liwanu would be enough.

Subject: Fire, fire everywhere

Taking a moment to stamp out the torch, Telwyn draws his short sword and creeps down the hallway, not yet worrying about the fire just starting in the thatch above his head. At the end of the hall, he sees a shadow across the flickering light from the fire outside. Running with Liwanu down the corridor, he sees the raider fleeing into the night.

Without a torch.

Backtracking, he scans the rooms near the door to no avail, then sees an ember fall just outside the door. Running outside, he turns to see the torch resting on the roof, slowly spreading its flame outwards.

Meanwhile, Kayla grabbed the sudsy bucket and runs outside, coming around the corner of the inn to find a group of huddle men and women staying back from the fight. The innkeeper is there, and the chef, and several women who Kayla assumes are bar maids. There's an elderly man, and another handful of women she guesses are wives or sisters of the soldiers. Not a lot to work with, but they might be the inn's only hope.

She pulls herself up straight and bringing forth all the emotion and conviction a trained performer can put into words. "The Inn is burning! Act quickly wi' me to save it from these raiders' fire. If'n you have a plan, use it. There are buckets right inside. Les' show'm we won't let 'em destroy us." [Charisma check 15 v. DC 15]

As though woken from a trance, the innkeeper starts pushing the bar maids before him. "Get back in there, or yer all out of jobs! The raid is over! Save my inn, ye lazy wenches!" He follows them and Kayla around into the inn to grab buckets, stopping only momentarily to gape at the dead man on the floor.

***

Staggering around in the dark, Buchek races forward with all his speed, nearly bowling over Holn in the process, heading for the gate.

Elotai is suddenly able to see, as the darkness moves past him, and, looking around, sees that the raiders have been run off, save for the three unconscious at his feet. Three dead guards lay inert at his side, and two more dead raiders oozing blood onto the street. The rooftops of the buildings on all sides burn brightly in the night, sending billowing smoke up from the outpost that would be seen from Segreda if it were day.

Erk, still moving cautiously forward is shocked when the darkness lifts from his eyes, and races off ahead of him. Beside him are Elotai, Bermid, and four guardsmen, looking somewhat bewildered, and three unconscious raiders at his feet. Buchek is nowhere to be seen, and the dwarf assumes he is in the cloud rapidly moving toward the bridge leading to the Tall Grass. Cursing under his breath, he turns to see if there are any wounded.

One raider is bleeding badly from under his armor, and Erk moves to check his wounds. "Bermid, see to tying up those fallen barbarians - we will wish to speak with them when they come to their senses." Sure that the man is in no danger of dying, the dwarf checks for signs of life from the fallen guards, finding one who still has a faint pulse and shallow breathing.

Placing his hands gently on the man's chest, he closes his eyes and prays, "Clangeddin, let your grace aid this fallen warrior." [Cure Minor Wounds, 1 HP re gained]. With a shallow breath, the man opens one eye briefly, then moans in pain. He will live, but it will be a long road, and Erk cannot do more for him now. Checking the fallen barbarians, all are beyond help.

Bermid runs to the inn to find some rope, and Elotai leaves with him, sure to keep the young soldier close.

Buchek, running at full speed for the bridge toward the Tall Grass, runs half way out onto the wooden boards before putting a foot over the edge in the darkness. With a splash, he lands heavily in the water, pulled slowly downstream in the oppressive magical dark.

[ODM: Okay, the fight's over and the town is burning. Kayla was successful in rousin the townspeople from their fear, and they have set up a bucket brigade passing water from the river down a line of a dozen or more people to the inn. The soldiers involve themselves in this too, and the inn is put out without too much damage.

The buildings become the next step in the process, but at this point it is unlikely that many can be saved at all. Still, they are doused to stop the fire from spreading.

The unconscious barbarians will wake up and become coherent again in this time, as well.

Let me know what you all want to be doing for the rest of the night. This won't be turn based, so talk amongst yourselves and let me know what you'll be doing. I'll respond when I can to questions and the like, but I won't move on until everyone gives me an "okay, my character is going to sleep" email.

Jake, your rage ends, and you're tired and in the water. It's dark, and you're not quite sure how to get back to the opening in the gate. You have just under an hour left in total darkness, so you know.]

Subject: Re: Fire, fire everywhere

Erk smiles at the man Clangeddin saved. He would have a long road back to recovery, but at least his life was still his.

They boy Bermid moves quickly to tie up the three barbarian's and Erk assists when he can. He will also gather up at least two guardsmen and place them in charge of watching the raiders. "Do not let them move or speak," he will tell them. When it looks like no one will die or escape, he moves over to help those at the inn, but sees they have already stopped the fire there.

Turning to Bermid he says, "Where did *our* barbarian go?" Bermid shrugs. Then Erk remembers the rapidly moving cloud of darkness, and he heads over to the gate to try and find it.

OOC: if erk can find the darkness, he will yell to Buchek to remain still until the spell has passed. He will also ask him if he needs aid.

Subject: Re: Fire, fire everywhere

Buchek flounders for a moment as he is plunged unexpectedly into the water. The sudden cold of the water, and the surprise of it, extinguishes his rage in a heartbeat. Using the last of his strength to kick his way to the river's edge and haul himself onto the bank, the barbarian collapses. Each heartbeat causes his temples to throb, and involuntary twiches ripple across the surface of the muscles of his chest and shoulders. Flying into a rage twice in a single hour, along with his disappointment at failing to slay his uncle, combine to exhaust Buchek utterly. Sprawled on the bank, both tired and depressed, he is dimly aware of the darkness around him.

After a moment, rolls over and with an involuntary groan pushes himself onto his hands and knees, and holds this position for a few moments before rising to his feet. He sways for a moment, seeing points of light swimming in front of his eyes, but after a moment the dizziness fades, and he trudges up the bank, trying to orient himself. Which side of the river is he on? Where is the outpost. He stops for a moment, listening, trying to find his bearings.

Subject: Re: Fire, fire everywhere

Fa leaps to Holn's shoulder. He is exhausted, but knows that his friends may still need his aid.

He goes to see how he can help put out the fires.

(OOC He will do what he can to help, then go get a room and sleep before meditating the first thing in the morning.)

Subject: Test

Making sure I added everybody back in. Here's the list I put in:

[Edited for privacy.]

Did I miss anyone?

Subject: Argh!

The mailing lists got deleted again. If this keeps happening I may look into a different hosting service. Mailing lists should be working again. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Subject: Re: Argh!

Mike, you are a prince among men, and a Chow Yun Fat lookalike.

I want to be you when I grow up.

Subject: Re: Argh!

I appreciate the compliments, Ty, but I'm not going to sleep with you.

Subject: Re: Argh!

Oh, yes you are.

Subject: Re: Argh!

Will this conversation be archived?