Still here, don't plan on going anywhere.
The long stone bridge, bereft of hand or safety railings leads you to the first part of Schloss Caromarc. You can see the castle is cunningly built to hang over the river with seperate portions linked by bridges to make a disjointed whole.
Thunderstorms start to roll in and between their rolling booms and the roar of the river crashing over the rocks below the noise is nearly deafening.
In the distance and across the other side of the river a large figure climbs up the rocks in an amazing feat of pure strength - is it your old friend The Beast?
You turn towards the castle itself and its large wooden door bound in blackened iron.
Jaru peers through the falling rain at the retreating figure and then at his heavy wet robes. "I won't be climbing anything. Can we get the gate open? "
A door panel, very narrow and hard to spot (if not for Elidals' perceptive nature) opens for a brief moment before it slides shut... and then the storm seems to whip up around Elidal forming into a large whirlwind which is lit from within by a pair of glowing eyes!
You may have initiative as the thing forms but it doesn't count as flat footed... party up!
Round 1! Fight!
Simeon watches the large figure climb the far slope, "Indeed, not many could follow such a path."
His eyes slide to the gathering storm, then to the door that promises shelter and danger in equal measure.
He steps back as the whirlwind forms around Elidal, eyes narrowing...
Oh for the Lady's sake. Now the very elements oppose us...
Nalun begins inspiring his allies
Emmett grumbles at the appearance of the whirlwind: "This place is a fortress, and welcomes visitors only with death! Best to strike it down before it reaches us..." and, fighting a wincing pain in his left shoulder, he pulls his bow and lets fly an arrow.
"Sterne! Guard me!" he adds to his companion, who takes a few steps forward and growls darkly.
Simeon watches the large figure climb the far slope, "Indeed, not many could follow such a path."
His eyes slide to the gathering storm, then to the door that promises shelter and danger in equal measure.
He steps back as the whirlwind forms around Elidal, eyes narrowing...
[dice=Knowledge(arcana)]1d20+14
Jaru frowns uncertain how and arrow will affect a creature made of wind, but he follows Emmett's lead and loads and fires his crossbow anyway.
Round 1
Simeon tears a scroll from his pouch and rapidly utters the arcane words inscribed there, his hand pointed at the elemental.
All the attacks seemingly do no damage to the creature - whether this is due to the quality of the attack or if it is due to the weapons itself is not clear but Simeons missiles strike home.
It reaches out in a twisting torrent of winds to strike Jaru.
for damage
for damage
With a roar as if winds were being drawn through a funnel the creature moves into a whirling vortex that pulls at Elidal...
It sucks the Changeling inquisitor into the air and shoots her upwards.
, it spits her 30 feet into the air by diagonally back away from the door... where she comes down on the bridging walkway close to the edge.
damage.
Yeah, you maybe right. Ok, just Elidal then... There are 2 results that would have had her flipped off the side of the bridge but she dodged a bullet.
Also 30 ft falling is 3d6 - my home rules it would be 6d6 but let's keep it base for here.
Sooooo instead of 6d6?
Nalun continues his inspiration and he draws a scroll of Bull's Strength.
Jaru ducks the furious wind and then winces as Elidral is thrown hard high and hits hard, but breathes easier when she gets right back up. He relodas and fires again.
Simeon winces as Elidal is hauled bodily up into the air to be deposited roughly onto the bridge.
Pulling another scroll out, he quickly converts the potential magic inscribed into two lightly glowing grey orbs that fly and strike the elemental with unerring accuracy...
"El-!!!" shouts Emmett in surprise. Relieved to see her land on the bridge, he tries pinning that thing further.
Emmetts second shot seems to catch on something in the flurry of winds before the arrow is tossed away... maybe it hurt it? Who can say when it comes to a creature of air? Jaru's bolt also seems to pass through something before it is snatched away in a torrent.
Again Simeons glowing bolts of energy appear to strike into the midst of the maelstorm of winds... and the creatures eyes turn on the wizard...
It takes a 5ft step and then reaches out with long arms. buffeting the wizard.
Slam for damage
Slam for damage
Jaru notes that the wizard does not appear to have weathered the storm as well as the sturdy Iomedean. He looks for an opening to assist the battered bookworm.
Nalun uses his scroll of Bull's Strength on Emmett!
Go get em!
Round 3
The world spins and turns topsy-turvy as the elemental blows Simeon off of his feet, sending him skidding across the stoney bridge.
Groaning, pain emanating from every limb, Simeon manages to get to one knee, when Jaru's strong hand grips his shoulder. Even above the howling wind of the elemental, Simeon can hear the muttered words of healing coming from his friend, then the healing warmth stealing through his body.
Taking a deep breath, he looks up at the Pharasmin and nods his thanks.
Plucking another scroll from his pouch, he almost shouts the arcane syllables his hand shaking as orbs of force burst forth...
"Not very subtle..." complains Emmett as he feels the effect of Nalun's spell.
With a further grunt, he lets his bow drop with a clatter to the floor and frees his axe as he steps up to the wispy whirlwind and strikes through it.
"Happy?" he adds as his blade cuts deep, glaring at Nalun.
Elidal strike home feeling resistance before the blow passes through the wind storm... and Emmett hews the miniature tornado and it dissolves into a gentle breeze before disappating completely.
Jaru blinks as Emmett's powerful ax blow annihilates the air elemental. "I am certainly happy," he notes. "That was a dangerous threat. Now while you are feeling powerful, perhaps you can hack open the door or climb up and drop a rope for us."
... and at that point the door clunks then creaks open.
Squeeeeeeeeeeeelkg
" With everything we've run into on the way to the front door, anyone inside surely knows we're here," she adds.
Jaru raises an eyebrow and gives the door a suspicious look. "So it appears. Shall we?"
Emmett was about to say something, but the gate opening strangled his voice. With wide eyes, he looks at the gate, then at the fortifications beyond, but nothing calms the dread rising in the pit of his stomach.
He exhales loudly, unable to look at his companions without betraying his fear, then forces his legs to step through the portal. Sterne follows on his heels without a second thought.
Sh!t... he thinks to himself.
Nalun beams at Emmett, not quite understanding the man's anger.
Oh. Wow. the young man exclaims when the door opens seemingly of its own accord. He follows Elidal.
Simeon rolls his scroll back up into a tight bundle, and tucks it back into his pouch.
He joins Emmett for a moment, looking up a the strange edifice of the Schloss, before joining the other in cautiously entering the now open gate.
A huge portrait hangs above an enormous, lit fireplace in this large entry chamber. A set of steep stairs rises to the right.
Night vision shows a contraption of metal and wood in the far corner of the room which animates as you enter, flailing arms at you while other arms clasp a slate board. It rolls towards you on wheels, arms whipping about.
"Damn those nuisances!" grumbles Emmett as he rushes forward to intercept the automaton, with Sterne growling and snapping at its wheels.
Jaru stays in the back, "Another guardian?"