Kien looks at the bizarre creature speaking in its bizarre tongue, then shakes his head at the little girl who responds in kind. "Yeah, I'm a decent climber. We got rope or a climbing kit somewhere right?"
[quote+ GM Mercy]Tyrus is advised by several people that there are many common diseases and sickness that are easily caught by those wandering through the jungle. Blood-sucking insects, spore-clouds released by nearby plants, even occasionally the damp miasma of the jungle itself can hide dangers. He is shown how to create a stock of preventatives for many of them, though the ingredients are somewhat pricey. Tyrus can create preventatives for simple disease for the cost of 1 silver per person per week.
Spell loadout wise, I'd like;
Spells/day :
0: 4 [Mending, Detect Magic, Acid Splash, Prestidigitation]
1: 5+1t [Enlarge Person[t], Mage Armour, Chill Touch, Mage Armour, Burning Hands, BLANK]
2: 3+1t [Bear's Endurance[t], False Life [n*], Boneshaker, Boneshaker]
"If it is a light enough rope, I could send Torble." offered Tyrus.
Tyrus paused, and marvelled at how quickly he'd become used to 'Fluffy'.
About 20 feet. I'm only requiring the single check.
Again the creatures moves ahead of the ground, inspecting the ground, the surrounding treetrunks, and peering intently into the canopy before returning.
"Two creatures. Predators. Waiting to ambush from above."
Kien walks up to the wall, testing it for a moment before carefully trying a route up.
Before Kien could get too close to the wall, Luca reached out and tugged nervously on his sleeve. "Um, i-it says there are two predators up above, waiting to ambush." Luca said quietly. She looked down at her hand a moment later. She did have something that might startle them out of their places and let the group go forward, but...
Kien frowns down at the girl, looks to the monstrous creature, then up the cliff. "Have to say I don't fancy climbing up into an ambush. Bad place to be, climbing below an enemy."
Agreed, Kien. - said Timm, shaking his head as he heard the information from Luca - Unless we have a way to sneak above, like some sort of invisibility, maybe we should try to find an alternate path - even though it's just a 20-feet climb.
He looks at the map and tries to check if they can go around, even if the other way takes longer.
"With a twenty foot climb I wonder if they already know we're here." Kien says with a hard frown. "I can go up quietly."
The valley to the west runs along the same route and through the same terrain as the one you are currently in and is just as good of a route to your destination. however, to the east the land's natural shape and the steadily rising foothills of the nearby mountains moves you away from the Temple area unless you want to start doing some serious climbing and moving over other difficult terrain.
"They're up ahead, right? Let me see what we got."
"We could bait them into attacking something else." Dante makes an odd hand sign, speaking its name in the tongue of magic, and calls forth dancing orbs of light. They expand and diffuse, forming a vaguely humanoid form. "I can make it flow forward but it really depends on the intelligence of what is ahead. I wouldn't mind seeing what you guys can do but avoiding them altogether is also an option."
Timm guards the map and gets ready again, thinking about the alternates. He blinks slowly as he sees his companions trying some strategies to deal with the danger above, even though he's not sure they're trying to ambush them on the climbing or at some other point of the journey.
Don't forget to take a rope so we can follow, Kien. - he says, anticipating to the half-elf climb.
With Timm's reminder, Kienyach ties the lead of a rope around his waist and begins his ascent.
Careful to avoid the places where the moss-and-moisture covered hillside looks loose, Kienyach is able to gain the top without incident.
I've always liked the idea of "coordinated casting" though I'm not sure what I'd want to use for that... concentration check? Spellcraft check? Hmm. Anyone else seen rules for similar ideas?
Once at the top Kien quietly comes to his feet. He scans the area, looking for any threats or other things of interest.
Kien looks back over the ledge, nodding an all clear. He grips the rope with both hands and sets his feet. "Ready when you are. One at a time."
Tyrus' gaze searches the surrounds. 'Let a few others go up before I try to move my bulk.' he strategizes 'In the meantime, I need to make sure I don't get ambush by those predators Luca talked about.'
"Well done." he calls out weakly when Kienyach makes the ascent 'And that's something that would have been a real problem for us. Looks like we were wise in getting additional help.'
Luca stepped forward when Kien asked for others. Given her, well, lack of body size, there was no question that she was the lightest member of the group and would be that much easier to raise. Her Eidolon was no good at climbing, but it would be easy enough to simply dismiss and re-summon it once she was at the top.
No attack is forthcoming as Kienyach reaches the hilltop. Nothing changes in the immediate area.
Dante agreed it was probably better to avoid the ambush all together. And since Tien had set the rope, it would be a lot easier climb. So he followed suit only having slightly less difficulty than Tyrus and Luca.
Using the rope, Timm climbs up and pulls his weapon and shield again, getting ready to advance.
Let's keep going, my friends. Keeping an eye on our surroundings - the ambush might happen at any moment. - he says, as he leads the way based on the map he surveyed.
"Wait for me! We need to stay together! " calls Tyrus, quoting an old saying [b]"'Better late than Late'"[/bb]
Kien barely notices when Luca climbs up, but as Tyrus grabs hold he grunts and veins stand out on his neck and arms. He grits his teeth, quickly grabbing onto the fat mage and unceremoniously hauling him up the last bit. Kien rolls his neck with a crack! "Feels good to be out and moving again. Let's get on forward than."
Part of the valley wall gives away in a torrent of mud and loose scree as Timm makes his ascent up the rope, but he deftly avoids losing his grip and those that follow him are able to avoid any mishaps. After some miles traveling in the other valley, you find an easy crossing point and return to your previous route. You make camp that night expecting that the next day will deliver you to the temple's immediate surroundings so you can begin your search for the exact site.
Luca stands the third watch, a duty her "companion" fortunately seems to take very seriously. It's multiple unblinking eyes stare unceasingly into the darkness all around. For a moment, the slight breeze that filters through the pre-dawn jungle dies away, and Luca notices that even the animals nearby have fallen silent. In the eerie absence of natural sounds, Luca hears a voice in the bushes not thirty feet away utter a single gutteral word. Fluffy spins in place, snarling, as several orcs burst from the foliage to attack.
Surprise Round
Luca
Tyrus
Kienyach
Timm
Dante
Orcs
On the map are lots of bits of foliage. There are trees and ferns (I think it should be plain which is which). Ferns do not break line of sight but do give concealment against ranged attacks. Trees break line of sight.
IT IS NIGHT so people without darkvision or low-light vision will be impaired. I'm sorry I can't represent this easily on Roll20.net, so do your best. There is a campfire providing the equivalent of torchlight (20') at the shown position.
As soon as she noticed the Eidolon's activity and heard the rustling in the bushes, the light in Luca's eyes dimmed... and she clapped her hands together, sending a wave of magic through their campsite. "EveRYboDy uP! oRcS!" Another voice - deeper than her own - seemed to be speaking at the same time as she was, its voice overlapping hers as magic was channeled through the area. She jumped back a moment later to get closer to the others, even as her Eidolon remained out in front as a distraction.
Timm stands up pulling one of his starknives. He plan to equip his shield next - he feels almost naked without it.
Several orcs make a furtive dash out from the ferns in a show of force. "Fluffy" stalks a few paces from the tents, bristling and growling. The closest orcs respond with javelins.
But with the aid of Luca's magic and it's own uncanny agility, it avoids every attack.
A fourth orc chooses Luca as its target.
Fortunately for Luca, the dancing shadows cast by the campfire throw off its aim.
Rustling from the foliage indicates several other orcs moving in from all directions.
End Surprise Round
Begin Combat Round 1
Luca (Haste 1/4)
Tyrus (Haste 1/4)
Kienyach (Haste 1/4)
Timm (Haste 1/4)
Dante (Haste 1/4)
Orc 1 (used jav)
Orc 2
Orc 3
Orc 4 (used jav)
Orc 5
Orc 6
Orc 7 (used jav)
Orc 8 (used jav)
Dante didn't respond too quickly to the ambush. He sits up quickly but his head spun from the shift in blood. Then a strange magic washes over him, giving him clarity and concentration. He hopes to his feet, staring confused as shadows move in slowly the dark. They resolve themselves into orcs and the slowness must be because of his own speed. He unsheathes his black blade, tossing the sheath to the ground, and holds up his arm as if carrying a shield. A muttered arcane word forms a transparent shield in front of the appendage as large as a tower shield but weighing nothing.
Having stood up with one of his starknives, Timm now pulls his shield, and casts a spell targeting himself.
Shine your protection upon this warrior, Cyaile!
He then five-foot-steps towards the closest orc, grinning his teeth in hatred. Tonight is a good night to die, taking some of the disgusting green skinned aberrations with him.
As the attacks rained down - and fortunately weren't too accurate - Luca's gaze dimmed again, as Vilstraks erupted up from the ground and swung at an orc right to the north of Luca's position.
To, alas, no particular effect other than being a sudden wall of bodies that would hopefully distract the orcs for a little bit. With that done, Luca wasted no time running to the south and trying to use the foliage as cover. She was terrible at defending herself, and quite frankly, had no business being anywhere near a melee if she could avoid it.
Her Eidolon, meanwhile, continued to serve as a 'forward' of sorts to help distract the attackers as Luca hid.
Kienyach wakes with a start, heart flooding adrenaline through his body. Shit. He scrambles to his feet, peering around the darkness in all the confusion. People scrambling about and yelling, the witch-child summoning more grotesque creatures, and orcs flitting about in the darkness. Kien fixes on one and snarls, taking off towards it. The sudden burst of speed from the magic nearly makes him trip, but he uses it to launch himself in the air and come down hard on the orc, going strait for the temple.
Tyrus lurched to his feet and ran after Luca. three steps in he span, pointed at an orc, spat a word and turned back to running.
The orc Tyrus had cursed paused for a second, then resumed its approach. A second later it stopped, puzzled. A second after that it roared in agony. A second after that it shuddered as if suffering a fit, stumbling backwards. Teeth bit through lip, and with a series of wet cracking noises ribs began to poke through the skin of the chest, splaying outward as if being bent by unbelievable force.
The group rushes to position themselves for battle - save for Kienyach, who dives directly at the nearest orc. It gets in a hasty jab with its spear at the half-elf hurtles towards it.
Kienyach's own speed helps the spear drive deep into his flesh even as his blow lands and the orc's mouth explodes in a shower of blood and loosened teeth...
... and laying the orc out quite unconscious at Kienyach's feet. Another orc that attempts to jab a spear through the half-elf is instead subjected to Tyrus's necromancy, its bones grinding and splintering within its body. The orc collapses dead on the spot.
The orcs at the periphery rush in to engage in melee, while some of those in the back toss their javelins.
Fluffy manages to avoid every attack that comes its way, even a flying net trying to ensnare it - until an orc dares to get in close and thrust home a spear. The alien creature gives a strange scream as black-blue blood spurts forth from the wound.
The orc who attempts to attack Timm is entirely confounded by the divinely-strengthened defenses of the drecna.
One orc, seeing Luca and Tyrus flee behind the bushes, moves to intercept them.
Begin Combat Round 2
Luca
Fluffy (Haste 2/4)
Tyrus
Kienyach (Haste 2/4)
Timm (Haste 2/4)
Dante (Haste 2/4)
Orc 1 (used jav)
Orc 2
Orc 3 (used jav)
Orc 4 (used jav)
Orc 5
Orc 6 (used jav)
Orc 8 (used jav, 13 damage, unconscious 1/3)
Luca's vilstraks appear from a warp in the air, ready to join the fray on the side of their mistress. Their swinging fists, however, do not manage to land a blow on the surprised orc.
Timm swings twice at the Orc in front of him, but he's so drunk of hatred that his attacks come out without much precision.
You will all drop like flies, bunch of disgusting orcs! I am Utenvari, tremble before the might of the free Drecna! - he provokes the ones near him.
With her Eidolon out, Luca couldn't continue calling reinforcements to the battlefield - not until the existing Vilstraks were gone, anyway. That didn't really solve the issue of the orc approaching from close to her, though, and Luca took off running to get out of the way.
The Vilstraks, meanwhile, each stepped five feet south - one to flank with Timm and attack his target, the other to fight the one they'd been striking at before.
for
for
As that happened, however, Luca glanced back towards the orc that had been after her... and her eyes briefly flashed in an angry glare. The Void REALLY didn't like things that were rushing in at her... and was all too ready to make that foe in particular suffer.
Evertything moving his direction seemed to be handled. And Kien should be able to see his two foes. He was a half-elf. The one to the side concerned him but he placed his faith in Tyrus and Luca for handle it. So Dante, instead, turns north. He snaps his fingers four times and launches several brightly, glowing orbs to the north, shedding light on their enemies.
Desperately Tyrus wished he had Luca's ability to summon guardians. Struck by inspiration he used the lull in the battle to do his best to attune his senses to the proto-life in his carry mug. 'My wife used to be able to do this with her damn songbird. Somehow you push through the link...' Tyrus cast a simple spell, pushing the effect through to Torble.
Distracted he stumbled towards Luca.
standard: Cast Chill Touch, with Torble as the Toucher.
Move: Move over to Luca.
Torble will hold his action to charge any orcs coming within 5 ft.
Also: Am I right that Tyrus' daily buffs will have worn off?
Kien growls his approval as the enemy next to him falls, kicking him once viciously than moving back to be a wall between the enemy and their casters.
Dante bathes the area in light, illuminating the orcs. Timm lashes out at the enemies of his people but the attackers - lankier than their cousins on Timm's home continent - managed to evade his flashing blades.
Luca's otherworldly minions continue to do their work as the Void turns her body to lock eyes with the pursuing orc.
It's eyes go wide, as if seeing beyond the world into planes containing horrors unknown. It staggers back from its pursuit, and cries out to its fellows.
Kienyach ensures the downed orcs' continued oblivion with a kick and moves to put himself in front of the more vulnerable members.
Several more orcs rush to put down the various summoned creature, but - whether confounded by agility or stony skin - only one manages to land a blow. Likewise, Timm's divine armor protects him from harm.
End Combat Round 2
Begin Combat Round 3
Luca
Fluffy (Haste 3/4)
Vil 1 (6 damage)
Vil 2
Tyrus
Kienyach (Haste 3/4)
Timm (Haste 3/4)
Dante (Haste 3/4)
Orc 1 (used jav)
Orc 2 (Staggered 2/4)
Orc 3 (used jav)
Orc 4 (used jav)
Orc 5
Orc 6 (used jav)
Orc 8 (used jav, 13 damage +11 Non-lethal, Unconscious)