In Search of Heroes

Game Master verdigris

"Well done everyone. That was a tough fight!"

Othoe, still clean and only emotionally marred by the combat, walks into the room and begins to look around. He'll cast detect magic as part of his search. He is careful to avoid touching the chain at all costs. He notes the child in the sack, but presumes that Simon is all over him long before Othoe can get there.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Both the hammer and the chain radiate as magic, as does something sticking out from beneath a pile of bones in one corner.

Othoe gets excited at the magic he finds and loses track of the kid. He's still careful not to touch the chain as he examines it.

Spellcraft Hammer: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Spellcraft Chain: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Spellcraft Cool Stick: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Nimeon moves quickly into the room.

"Where's the child?"

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29 +2 vs. Humans

The child, or at least what you presume to be the child, appears to be two feet sticking out of a sack near the furnace. He remains unconscious and badly battered upon removal from the bag.

Othoe informs the others what he has found.

"...and so I think we must destroy this chain and do it quickly. It is likely that anyone who wields it will become as this forger - hideously evil."

Othoe doesn't even poke at the chain with a long stick. He keeps his distance.

Othoe informs the others what he has found.

"...and so I think we must destroy this chain and do it quickly. It is likely that anyone who wields it will become as this forger - hideously evil."

Othoe doesn't even poke at the chain with a long stick. He keeps his distance.

"Righto!"

Chrystosm, reasoning that a hammer is the thing to use in this situation, grips it with both hands and whacks the chain with it until the damned artifact shatters.

Necessary to make rolls, if only for the amusement of seeing Chrystosm miss the chain and flatten his toes?

*lol* No, Chrystosm will eventually destroy the chain, though I do appreciate the offer of a day's worth of entertainment in trying.

Chrystosm's final blow shatters the chain, leaving only dust in its wake. Thirty independent whisps come howling out, swirling over and around the companions. Faces of dwarves, elves, kobolds and humans swirl past, then fade away, a chorus of "blessssss yooouuuu" echoing in its wake. You have saved the slaves of the chain. Please level your characters to 5.

Kast doesn't want to stop fighting...in fact, he's barely even started fight yet, so is noticeably disappointed when the dwarf falls.

He turns his disappointment to focused rage as he casts off his shield and drops the Iron Quill in favor of his morninstar. He grabs it with two hands and begins to pound the chain, trying to break the links and release the trapped souls.

"BREAK! DAMN YOU! BREAK!"

Power Attacking/Sundering

1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 damage
1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 damage
1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 damage
1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 damage
1d8 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 damage
1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 damage

Kast slumps back, giving his twisted left leg a break as drops the 'star and leans against the wall panting.

"That thing was monstrous. Thank you for your help, Chrystosm," Kast smiles and recovers his breath.

* * *After cleanup and people are ready* * *

Kast picks up his shield and the Iron Quill, readying for battle again.

"We have more children to find, do we not? There are kobolds to deal with?"

Simon rushes to the bag of child and carefully removes the boy. "Here now, there's still breath in his body!' Calling upon divine favor, he asks for healing of the child.

CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

The boy startles awake, mumbling, "If you hurt me, my dad will turn you into a newt, he will!" blinking slowly he finally takes in Simon's face. "Oh! Master Shrewsbury. I'm sorry. Dad won't really turn you into a newt."

Kimi, Edgrin, and Kibbo come in from the other room, all chattering at once, "Javros, are you ok?", "There there son, the heroes will take care of you now.", "Great Liberators liberated this one too. I guess we don't eat him either, huh?"

Simon turns a foul look on Kibbo at the suggestion of eating the child. Turning back to Jarvos, he asks the boy if he knows where any of the other children are hidden. "Be a brave lad and help us, Jarvos, try to remember where the other children may be hidden in these tunnels?"

Dorial returns to her normal form once it's clear that the chain and soul forged are destroyed. Seeing that Javros is already being tended to, she kneels near the remains of her club and pokes at it. "Well, that was a good club." She lifts her head, "You don't suppose I could have that beautiful stick do you?"

****

Dorial nods at Kast, "Aye, we do have more children to find, but some of us were injured that fight and I'd rather not get into any more fights while already wounded." She pulls the healing wand from her bag and closes the wounds on her hands.

Healing Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Healing Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Charges used: 2/50.. Charges remaining: 44/50

"Gentlemen, ladies," he nods to Dorial, "I think we should rest a bit. Not long, just an hour or so. I have some new abilities that will take me some time to memorize, but I think we may need it as we continue to delve for the children."

Othoe would really like to leaf through his spellbook for an hour... please? *looks up innocently at the party and bats his eyes*

Kast hands the club to Dorial, grip first, so that she may wield it.

* * *
Kast nods at Othoe and relents, taking a position near the entry way to sit guard.

He kneels (or as much kneeling as his left leg will give) and begins his own hour long meditation.

I hope the remaining children can survive that long..

"I'll rest if that is everyone's desire."

Dorial will kneel and commune with Nature's Whim, adding new spells to her thoughts for the day.

Simon sits with the children, assuring them that everything will be ok, even though he's scared himself.

Edgrin keeps watch as the heroes take a much deserved break. Kimi and Javros whisper together quietly, eventually allowing even Simon to get in a break. The place remains quiet for the duration.

Chrystosm gazes mournfully at the remains of his rapier, hefting the battleaxe in his right hand and trying a few practice swings with it and accidentally shaving a few hairs off Ortho in the process.

"Sorree!! Er, Dorial, can I have a go with that wand if you've finished with it? And when did you learn to turn yourself into a monkey?!", he adds, sharply.

When the heroes wake from this hour's rest, they find yourselves more refreshed than usual. Extremely refreshed. Please consider that everyone has had a full night's rest wherein you heard the laughter of the Queen of Fey.

"My Queen!" proclaims Simon, with just a bit of crazy in his voice.

"It's a sign, my friends, this divine strength shows we are a conduit for the Will of the good Gods, let us rescue the children and end this foul menace to Falcon's Hollow!" Full of fire, literally, the smoking herbalist is eager to continue.

Othoe awakes confused. I thought I was studying my book, not sleeping on the job! Foolish child, get up and get back to your studies or you'll be useless to these people!

"Clearly Simon. Clearly the Queen means us to find the children quickly. I, uh, think I'm ready. Let's be off!"

The player is a little confused as well. So do I get my full slate of spells back - or just the new ones from the new level? Also what about my 'daily' powers (force missiles) do those also reset or are they still used? Not looking for anything special, but not wanting to pass up the benefit of a good Queen boon either. :)

"I think it more likely the Queen wants her people cleared of charges and the usual deal to continue with the Hollow, but at this point we'll need all the aid we can get."

Kast rests with his arms on his knees and his feet tucked under him. His eyes are closed as he practices the deep breathing that usually brings him deep peace and down towards the road of Perfection. Unfortunately, while trying to find his quiet spot, the Queen's laughter does little to help reach a nirvanic state.

So it is strange that when Kast opens his eyes after the hour that he feels like he has rested the entire night. In fact, he feels better than usual. Sure, his left leg is cranky and grumpy (like it always is after setting for too long), but his mind is clearer and stronger than ever before.

Kast rises and sniffs the air, looking around, his senses sharpened (but not necessarily better), but definitely different. Reaching down for the Iron Quill, Kast begins to stretch, re-freeing his muscles for the combat that is sure to come.

Perfection cannot be given. It must be earned. Beware those that give it freely...some illusions are esily disbelieved.

Kast slowly and gracefully works on his combat forms, finding new movements to practice and working on his defense.

After a time, he finally deigns to notice and see the others around him.

"That was an interesting rest, was it not?" Kast says while calling forth water for which to clean his sweated face. "The Queen haunted me, yet bestowed vigor upon me. She is strange and I do not trust this."

all daily use abilities that are organic to your character are refreshed, but things such as pearl of power were not affected.

Javros jumps up, pacing. "What queen? This is Andoran, we don't have a queen...do we?" Clearly someone has been educating this child in some way. "b...but they'll have to wait, won't they? We have to go get Hollin. " Thin and jumpy on a good day, the poor boy seems near to panicked by recent events.

Edgrin examines his lute, frowning at its shattered body. "I'm afraid this won't be of any help to us right now, but we'll manage, I'm sure. We should be going soon. When we've freed Tyron and Hollin, perhaps you will share your stories with me so I might sing your praises throughout the country."

Kimi looks about the place, searching out likely rocks for her sling. As the others finish their preparations, she straightens, her mouth a tight line of focus across the young girl's face. "Let's go."

Chrystosm scratches himself behind his left ear, dislodging a beetle who'd been resting there.

"Queens", he muses. "I heard her too, and she called me 'Sir Chrystosm'. Whenever been called 'Sir' before, it's been followed up with 'Put your trousers on and come with me, please. You're under arrest', so it made a nice change."

He looks nervous.

"Er, I have got some trousers on, haven't I?"

He checks, looking relieved once he sees that he is decently clad, then hefts an axe in each hand and tries to look determined.

"Hollin is my responsibility"

Your responsib-WHAT?!

"And I will *not* let him be harmed! I swear by... by... ah, BEER! That I will rescue him or die in the attempt!"

He raises the axes above his head in a gesture of heroic defiance. Unfortunately, though he did remember to clothe his lower limbs, he forgot to do his belt up, so the sudden movement causes his britches to rapidly descend to ankle level.

"!!! I'll catch you up!"

Simon relaxes as Chrystosm swears by the second most important element next to fire, Beer! That man has conviction! I know I can trust him!

"Did you see this back here?" Kimi points out a crevasse at the back of the Forge area. It's tight, much like the one that leads into the place, but is a much harder go, requiring climbing in several places as it leads down.

There is also a set of doors to the south from room 17, or the well,that the runaways used to come up to this level. Which way do you go next?

"We need to find the others. The rest was necessary but by now they'll know we're here. We should move to those doors and see what's beyond them."

Kast nods at Nimeon and aheads where he has indicated.

Joining his companions, Simon slinks forward with the group.

Just to make sure there's no misunderstanding; there is one child left to find, and Edgrin's friend Tyron the half elf. They are both on the next level. You're certainly welcome to go through the doors, however.

was Hollin in the room where the other kids climbed up from the well?

No, Hollin was recaptured while they were making their escape. He is on the lower level with Tyron waiting to be sacrificed.

"Forget the doors, my friends, let us climb down the well, there's no time to waste!"

"I agree, the well will get us there quicker."

Othoe peers over the edge into the darkness below.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Is there a rope here to climb down? Or do we just jump and hope for the best?

Othoe drifts back to his place near the rear of the party, but he's clearly not enthusiastic about going down that hole.

Othoe peers over the edge, just able to make out some of the rigging for the make shift elevator crafted out of a large dwarven cauldron.

While it will easily old his weight, perhaps even half of the company's weight, it will certainly not hold them all.

Kast limps onto the elevator.

"I'll go first. My life your yours."

Soldiers lead.

Kast climbs into the large cauldron, ready to ride the rickety elevator down to the next level. At the last minute, Kimi climbs in as well. Javros soon follows. Edgrin attends the children.

The additional stress on the contraption is easy to see and feel. The frame shakes above as the group disappears into the darkness....

Othoe resists the urge to go down in the first batch with Kast. Even so fierce a warrior as he shouldn't be alone with the children in the first wave.

He impatiently awaits his turn in the second, or even third group.

Chrystosm offers to go down last, eying the ramshackle lift with a certain air of trepidation.

Hope it holds. Ulp!

Kast, upon seeing the children climb onto the lift, places the butt of the Iron Quill across their path. He gives a look to Chrysto and Simon.

"Thank you for offering to go down first, children...but uhm, I need you to stay up here and protect..." Kast's eyes go to Dorial, but his mind's eye shows her shifting to the bear and so his gaze slides over to Othoe. "...Othoe. You need to stay and protect Othoe. Now, out!"

Kast shoos them away, then glares at Nimeon, Chrysto, and Simon, making room in the lift for another.

"Or I can go alone."

Soldiers lead.

Reluctantly, the children back off. Edgrin's chin comes up and one brow arches. He may be small, but he is certainly no child. "not alone. Tyron is still down there."

"Children, do not worry", soothes Simon, "Let us adults go first, just in case there are more angry fire-chain-smokey spirits." Simon enters the cauldron with Kast, ready to descend.

oh please, let there be No more fire-chain-smokey beasts!

Kast nods as Quinn enters the lift.

I sure hope there is another chain beast...one that I can actually see. Kast's fingers tighten around the Quill as he prepares for battle.

Assuming that Kast and "Quinn" (sorry)...I mean, Simon, are going down the lift.

Kast casts light on the Iron Quill, and makes sure that Simon can see.

At the bottom, Kast steps off and in front of Simon and the <<redacted>>.

"I'll hold them off, you get the rest down here," Kast says with grim determination as he enters...initiative...his soldier's fighting stance.