Mina Gemblossom |
Packing up the headband (it's a headband, not a belt, get it together, Mina's player.), and the supplies she's using to enchant it, Mina waits for her skunk to clamber up onto her back so it can hide from the light, as it seems to prefer to do.
As she moved to join the others, she spoke up. "What do you know of the Tafganor? Is there any possibility that they are enslaved as the Gymnaga once were? Or are they for certain acting of their own devices?" She favored the orc that they were using as a watchman a glance, to give him the opportunity to answer for his people. "And if he was an ally to the Tafganor, why did he not take his ally with him? On a completely unrelated note... it would seem that the orcs harried at least two distinct locations at seemingly the same time. This means they have some sort of plan. Perhaps maps, perhaps simply hearsay... maybe even using the villages to find other villages. Maybe something worse..."
Despite the fact that it wasn't particularly dark, Mina cast light on a single bolt, which she loaded into her crossbow.
Calex |
"A moment if you will, Dieredon. I have a question about our 'friend' here.." Calex indicates the captive orc with his thumb. "If he's given us all he knows, would it not be best to turn him over to the Lypth for keeping? I do not relish trying to sneak into an enemy camp with this prisoner on a leash and expect him to not betray us."
Terquem |
Day 10, just before noon, north of the lyph village, in the woods
Collin says nothing more to Dieredon, but listens closely to Poseus’ words, and nods when the Gymnaga hunter mentions Riku
When Mina asks about the Tafganor, Collin shrugs his shoulders and says,I have heard that these, Orcs, or Tafganor, as you call them can be found on the dwarven island of Baylor, south of Urandoma, but they are not known in Alodoa. I have only been here in Urandoma for a short time, and this is the first time I’ve ever heard them being mentioned here at all
When Mina mentions the dilemma of the prisoner and the spy, Collin shrugs again, and says, off-handedly, It was only a conjecture, perhaps I was wrong, or perhaps he was a spy for someone other than these orcs and their allies.
Dieredon ensures the Tafganor is tied up well enough that the lyph should not have a problem with him, and Collin assures them that they will return to take the captured prisoner off their hands once they have dealt with the situation in the lyph village.
Rudggal lands on a low hanging branch, and his weight bends the supple tree limb down close to Dieredon’s head. The chubby altilyph give Dieredon a few details, landmarks, trails and other information to ensure the group finds the village quickly, and once again reminds him of the danger of a chained monster that may still be within the village.
Setting out at a quick pace the small group hurries through the forest. The walk at a brisk pace for most of the better part of the morning, the ground rises and falls as the group travels further into the foothills below the mountains, until Dieredon stops the group on a rise and points across a small valley to a hill just a little further to the south. On that hill, among the trees is the lyph village, and from the vantage point where the group is standing, small columns of grey and black smoke can be seen rising from that place.
Mina Gemblossom |
Mina maintains her light spell on the crossbow bolt as they travel. She is quiet most of the way, occasionally slipping away to gather supplies for later use when the opportunity presents itself. What food was not eaten the night prior, she would have left to the Lyphs.
Foraging: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 Enough foraged food for 10 medium creatures.
Poseus Murandae |
"Look! Smoke rises from the Lyph village. Let's investigate, perhaps there might be survivors in need of help."
Poseus remarks, before trying to head down there using as much stealth as he could.
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Mina Gemblossom |
"If it is like the previous village, any who are left here are in need of aid. The left no Tafganor in the other village, and relied on the creature to keep the 'Lyphs out. I will stay distant, stealth is not my strong suit, and I would prefer to maintain range anyway."
Stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 9 Mina will maintain a distance of fifty feet from the 'front line' as it were. That way she can fire on anything within 30 feet of them that catches her eye. She keeps the light spell active on the crossbow bolt, which makes it even harder for her to sneak about.
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35Mina keeps her eyes open for anything moving about and less on objects that can be looted. Remember that perception is penalized by range, so the front folks are much more likely to notice something than her. :)
Edit: With a nat 20... she's pretty likely to notice many things before the folks on the front line. XD
Mina Gemblossom |
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Mina checked out the belt during the night, after she'd tended to the Lyphs. Yeah, we'll go with that.
Calex |
"I'll remain with Mina, so as to not ruin our chances. As Dieredon can attest, my stalking skills are...not well developed." Calex adds with a self-depreciating grin. At the same time he quickly casts his mage armour spell in anticipation of any possible trouble.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Terquem |
Day 10, Morning north lyph village, in the woods
the night before
Today
Crossing the vale, below the site of the lyph village, the party opens up a bit, allowing those who can more silently and remain well hidden to take the lead, while the others hang back, some, like Mina even take time to gather supplies, as this valley seems ripe with wild growing apples, plums, and even a few wild raspberry bushes.
Caoraan moves from tree to tree, in short burst of speed, and then pauses, keeping still as she can. She is surprised, a time or two, when Poseus seems to disappear in the low growing grasses and wild flowers, lowering his upper body close to the ground when he wants to, as he can, is something she did not know before. Dieredon follows Poseus, trying to step as lightly as he can through the underbrush.
Caoraan is the first to see the ruins of the altilyph village. She has been here before, and knows the altilyphs build huts close to the ground, in the twisted roots that are exposed below giant oak trees, and only build a few workshops higher up. But now, the whole of the village is gone, nothing but blackened trunks of trees scorched to practically nothing remains.
When Poseus and Dieredon arrive soon after Caoraan can see the village, they stop, their view still blocked by a few still standing trees on the north side of the village, when Caoraan holds up a hand to warn them to wait just a little longer before proceeding.
The actual plan of the village was laid out in a circle. A mighty oak once stood in the very center, surrounded by nine or ten dwellings, including a small druidic shrine, but it is now nothing but a charred ruin. The forest around this oak had been cleared out to ninety feet or so, and in this space there once stood barns and pens for the long haired rodents that the altilyphs domesticated for their milk and hair.
Around this circle were other oaks, now also burned to the ground, where another twenty or so huts and buildings had once stood, gone now, all gone, and among the ruin, Caoraan can see the charred, and here and there, gruesome remains of those lyphs who did not escape.
When Mina, Calex and Collin are a few yards behind Dieredon and Poseus, they to stop, and wait for a signal to proceed.
All is quiet.
Daring to fly just a bit closer, but wary of any safe perch, Caoraan glides through the air toward the central oak, and then she sees a heavy iron chain wrapped, and shackled around the base of the tree. The cain disappears into a hole, about four feet across in the ground a few feet from the tree.
Mina Gemblossom |
The night prior
Mina handles the belt with the gentle hand one normally affords jewelry. Despite the fact that the object is obviously of superior make, and magically reinforced, the size of the object seems to have an effect on Mina's interactions. After a few moments of her eyes glowing with a pale viridian light, she turns the belt over in her hands, acknowledging the delicate weave of the magic. She takes her time looking it over, before the light fades from her eyes. "An unusual object. Normally such an enchantment finds its way onto an amulet, necklace, or collar. To find it on a belt is unusual. The belt will increase your natural hardiness, allowing your very skin, on occasion, to turn away a blow." Mina offers the belt back to Caorann, resting it in a pair of upturned, open palms.
The Next Day
Knowing that the major threat that awaits them is not human in nature, Mina exchanges her knowledge of hold person for a spell that will be of greater use against a large, monstrous creature. Knowing what she does of vermin, she does not prepare a spell that attempts to overcome the mind... instead, she memorizes Summon Swarm in the hopes that she can create a situation that the creature cannot combat. With luck, the poison of a swarm of spiders will bring the beast down such that it may be brought down harmlessly, rather than shamelessly killing it. "The spell I have prepared will not be within my control after I have cast it. It will summon forth thousands of the forest's creatures against the beast... but they will only disperse after my will has stopped holding them together, or they are destroyed... And it will still take them a moment to disperse completely. Do not go near the creatures, for they will be frenzied, and seek to do harm to any that they may reach."
Present
Mina maintains her distance, but the disgust at the wanton destruction is plainly written on her face. "Would that I had magic to fix this... but the spirits of the wilds care little for such things, and would bid such an act take days to complete... probably even for one single dwelling." She said, quietly, bolt still glowing within the crossbow. When she saw those in front draw short, she renewed the spell.
Caorann |
The night prior
Caorann flits about, her wings an electric blue, elated by Mina's actions. She immediately picks it up and puts it on.
"Oh goodness, in the fary and confusion of the last few days, I had completely forgotten about the belt. Thank you new friend for identifying it for me!"
She flies forward and (tries) to hug Mina's shoulder.
_______________________
The Bullette! Why? Why do the tafganor do this?!
Stealth: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34
Caorann to make her way back to the other to report, taking extra care to remain undetected.
She whispers The village is destroyed, but the bullette here remains chained. And its underground. We must kill it or it will either keep the survivors away or escape and threaten others!
Mina Gemblossom |
Caorann is successful in her hug! Mina doesn't touch her in response, though, afraid that she might hurt the tiny fae. She does provide her with a gentle smile.
"I'll need to be within fifty five feet or so of the creature to use to spell properly... which means it may be dangerous for me. But I do believe it's the safest way. I have to get the swarm to want the creature more than it wants me... hence the range. Do we want to try that option..?" She frowned slightly. "It's a touch ironic that the most fearful thing on my mind is the length of the creature's chain."
Calex |
A cold dread settles on Calex as he too readies his light crossbow for action. He realizes that he has yet to see any survivors...or even victim remains. He points this grim fact out to his companions, adding "I hope any survivors are safe, and not added to the captives already taken."
Mina Gemblossom |
Mina gives the whole village some distance as she sweeps around, looking for any signs of burrows further away than the hole is, from its apparent anchor point. She likewise searches for any sort of rutting that the creature may have made, in testing the length of the chain. In short, Mina is tying to gauge how safe being as much as fifty feet away from the hole would actually be... cloister, while remaining safe, is better.
Perception-holes or other significant marks the bulette May have made: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
survival-locating tracks that indicate the same.: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Poseus Murandae |
Poseus nods in agreement to Mina.
"We do have need of a distraction, hopefully the swarm will draw him out. Didn't the orc say the chain of the 'Land Shark' was relatively short, it could go underground, but it couldn't go as far or deep? Wouldn't it be more handy to let the swarm roam aboveground and wait for the shark to try to bite them?"
Mina Gemblossom |
"The difficulty is that the swarm very probably will frenzy towards anything they perceive as a threat.. And without the creature nearby, that will likely be me."
Terquem |
Day 10, Morning at the lyph village
Mina Gemblossom |
"So, twenty yards or so..." Mina frowns, as she speaks quietly.
She moves to the far-left side of what appears to be a well. (17-M) and summons the swarm into a square shape. (15 and 16, -g and -f) It will take her a full round to summon the swarm, however. She does her best to do so quietly.
Taking 10 on stealth for DC 13. at 60 feet away, the creature's perception is a -6. So you could just say DC 19 to make it easier. Mina's screwed. XD This means the swarm is 30 feet from Mina and 20 from the hole when it is conjured. So if it's more than 10 feet down... the swarm's still more hungry for Mina than Bullete. XD
Calex |
There is an option. I could stay beside you and if needed cast color spray on the swarm if it goes after you- that might stun the swarm long enough for the spell to expire. The downside is that I won't have the spell to use vs the landshark itself. Want me to do that?
Mina Gemblossom |
It's up to you, really. The swarm would act in the same round as Mina.. and Mina would flee. They have the same speed, so it depends on if the DM lets Mina move first, or the swarm move first, as to whether or not she can get even further away once she finishes the cast.
Calex |
If you do manage to flee, would that get you out of range of the swarm far enough for it to not react to your presence? I.E. You are going to run up, cast the spell then run back? If so I'll stay back, so if it works my spell won't be needed, but if you're being pursued, I can still use the color spray to help.
Terquem |
Day 10, Morning at the lyph village
Round 1 will begin now
Mina creeps forward, stopping by a small well. She can see the hole in the ground, and the chain, but the chain is still. She closes her eyes, lets out a breath and then summons a swarm of spiders. Mina speaks the words of the spell as quietly as she can. The village is still, for a moment, and then there are small sounds, a bucket rolls against a piece of wood, a burnt piece of fencing falls with a thud, the noises begin to grow all around as literally tens of thousands of small spiders begin to scurry from every place, from the buildings, from the trees, from the grass, until a massive swarm begins to build just a short distance from the hole.
The movement of many thousands of small spiders does not go undetected. The chain pulls tight, and then goes slack again.
It comes out of the hole slowly. Its nose is a blunt hard shell of dark grey covered with the dirt and clay of the ground all around the hole.
Its eyes are small and black. It comes out of the ground slowly, so slowly that it is abundantly clear that the thing is squeezing out of the hole. One massive claw breaks out of the side of the hole just as the swarm begins moving toward it.
Bulette Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
I would like everyone to roll initiative, please
Dieredon D'atarisian |
Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
My stealth roll from above was a 15 to garner a position to fire when it showed itself.
Dieredon awaits the monster to fire.
Poseus Murandae |
Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Poseus readies the bow he looted from the Tafganor and is aiming for the hole in the ground where the claws are scraping out of.
Terquem |
Day 10, Morning (turn 64)
Collin’s Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Caorann – 20
Mina – 17
Poseus – 16
Dieredon – 14
Calex – 8
The swarm will move toward the Bulette on Mina’s turn
The strange armored creature bursts from the ground and runs toward Mina, covering at least half the distance between the tree and her. As it comes it bellows and tears at the ground with its front legs
Seeing the thing now out of the burroew, Caorann swoops stealthily through the trees that were not burned to the ground, and when she is within range she summons a spell that she hopes will put the monster to sleep.
Will Save, DC 18: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
She watches for clues, and it looks to Caorann as if the spell has failed miserably. The beast keeps heading toward Mina.
Young Bulette, large magical beast | AC 21, t 11, 19 (=2 dex, +10 n, -1 size) HP 42 (4d10+20) | f +7, r +5, w +3 | bite +7, 2d6 +5, or 2 claws +6, d8+4, space 10, leap str 19, dex 15, con 20, int 2, wis 13, chr 7
Mina Gemblossom |
Mina maintains concentration, thankful for the beast having entangled itself, and backs cautiously away, so she can keep the swarm going for as long as she can. She's hopeful that they can bring it down without killing it... and while the stings will likely bring a lot of suffering, maybe they can make up for it later. By teaching it what not to eat, and giving it a good home...
She had a feeling that wasn't going to happen at all. But she could dream.
Also, that is the most amazing spider swarm token in the history of spider swarm tokens.
Dieredon D'atarisian |
Round 1, Studied Target
Dieredon moves to -N 10, draws his Curveblade and studies the Bullete carefully, pondering his next move.
Mina Gemblossom |
Note: Concentration as a thing is very mutable. It's not, to my knowledge, a clearly defined term. I'm treating concentrating to keep the swarm active as a standard action in my posts. I've seen some people treat it as a free action, but you can't cast during, etc. Either way, though, I don't think she'd use her standard action for anything.
Terquem |
Day 10, Morning (turn 64)
Bulette – 21
Caorann – 20
Mina – 17
Poseus – 16
Dieredon – 14
Collin- 12
Calex – 8
Round 1, wrap up
The strange armored creature shakes its whole body, struggling to move naturally even though its back legs are shackled together and moves toward Mina.
Caorann hovers, hidden in the trees now wondering if this monsters is immune to some forms of magic or if there is something different about this creature that gives it the power to shake off the spell.
Mina backs up and puts the small stone well between her and the charging beast, and concentrates on the magic that summoned the swarm of small spiders, trying to force her will upon the near mindless mass. The spiders move onto the chain trailing behind the beast and quickly catch up to its position
The spider swarm token is now under the Bulette token
The small tiny, tiny spiders crawl under the armor plates of the behemoth biting and irritating the creatures sensitive hide.
Spider Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Fortitude Save versus Poison: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Poseus moves to the edge of a large tree that is still standing and raises his crossbow, while Dieredon sprints to a small fence made from interwoven round wooden poles and studies the beast carefully. Collin moves toward Mina, but stops, not certain if the monster will even reach the Maetaur girl while Calex starts toward a small burned out farm house on the other side to the fence where Dieredon is watching the scene.
Round 2
The monster keeps barreling forward, and suddenly the chain goes taunt, stopimng its forward momentum, struggling and snarling, the beast jumps in the air as high as it can, which is quickly restricted by the chain, and it seems to careen sideways and smashes into the small ruined building ahead of Dieredon.
Young Bulette, large magical beast | AC 21, t 11, 19 (=2 dex, +10 n, -1 size) HP 42 (4d10+20) | f +7, r +5, w +3 | bite +7, 2d6 +5, or 2 claws +6, d8+4, space 10, leap str 19, dex 15, con 20, int 2, wis 13, chr 7
Mina Gemblossom |
Mina continues to back slowly away... if the thing is infuriated enough, it may well snap the chain. She maintains the swarm.
Terquem |
Just a moment before Caorann is about to speak the words of a spell, she sees the swarm of tiny spiders as it flows along the chain toward the monster, and it hits her suddenly that all those creepy crawling spiders, getting under the armor of the beast and biting it, are sure to prevent her spell from working for more than only a few heart beats. She moves from one branch to another and tries to think of a better plan.
The monster snarls, , digs at the ground with both front feet, throwing dirt into the air behind it, and jumps from side to side, in a most impressive display of rage and anguish.
Calex |
Calex gulps audibly as the beast gets within feet of him before smashing the miniature building. He takes a few steps back to give himself more space 5' move to square -P,11 and fires his crossbow at the creature.
Ranged Attack:: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Damage:: 1d8 ⇒ 8
Calex snarls in disgust at his shot, tosses his crossbow aside for the nonce and makes the decision to switch to what he does best- MAGIC!
Mina Gemblossom |
Mina continued maintaining the spell as she continued to slip backwards from the creature. She looked regretful, still.
Dieredon D'atarisian |
Round 2,Studied Target, Power Att
Dieredon on slides to -N 11 and swings mightily with his Curveblade.
CB Att: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 20
CB Dam: 1d10 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 3 = 8
Does the chain make the Bullette lose its Dex? Thus, making sneak Att available?