Sooron stares at the paper bemused, his brain really working now. Donkor excels at on-the-fly shenanigans, but is a lot less effective at long-term planning, and he knows it about himself.
Absently, he calls upon Pharasma's beneficence and creates an icicle on his finger, which he then proceeds to bite little chunks off of and chew on, regretting not taking a water creation spell the previous evening.
At last, he turns back to the little lizard and tries to determine if there is a way it can be induced to deliver a message for him.
Failing that, he will turn to his clairvoyance ability again and see if he has the distance to check out how how two groups are faring, and then look for a suitable piece of rock to Stone Shape as a night-time hidey-hole.
Karek, sweat pouring off his brow, glances up at the golem, and spends his turn scaling the ladder.
As Karek climbs the rope ladder up the golem, Hurgah glances upwards to see what awaits his fellow battlerager. Taking note of the single uninjured soldier, Hurgah suddenly inhales sharply and exhales in a slow, measured hiss. For a few brief seconds, the roar of blood in his ears subsides, allowing him to focus on the low draconic voice in the back of his mind, whispering words of power.
Hurgah fixes his suddenly cold and clear stare on the weapon of the uninjured soldier and gestures, barking a series of arcane words. Instantly, the haft of the polearm flashes white hot, leaving the solider with the unpleasant choice of either dropping the weapon or suffering the excruciating pain.
Karek, sweat pouring off his brow, glances up at the golem, and spends his turn scaling the ladder.
-----
The golem has completely stopped. It slowly turns its head and returns Karek's stare. The massive construct is without expression. Kogan cannot tell if the look is a warning, an invitation, both or neither.Nonetheless, the dwarf decides to take a chance on the ladder and makes his way to the battle up topside. Fortunately for him, if the soldiers above even notice Karek's ascent, they are far too busy fighting for their lives to do anything about it. Their hands are full battling the Potentate's terrifying summoned monsters.
(fails!)
The soldier’s ko stick suddenly glows bright red, then a star-like white, as though the weapon was fresh from the forge. A split-second later, blistering scars rip across the soldier’s hands. He panics and quickly lets go of the stick; but that simply permits the cherry-red weapon to topple down across his body. The molten blade cuts through his unprotected flesh like a burning razor wire, bisecting him in half, from shoulder to hip. At the same time, the body-length wound is instantly cauterized by the intensity of the heat, creating two bloodless half-corpses. Even Ima-aello the elemental - violence personified - pauses and takes a look, seemingly impressed at the horrid display.
A
note
on
palanquin
positioning:
XABCDEFGHIJ
1XXXXXXXXXX
2XXPPPPXXXX
3XXKP1PXXXX
4XXPPPPXXXX
5XXP3CPXXXX
6XXXXXXXXXX
Legend:
P = a square of palanquin which is vacant
K = Karek (on palanquin)
1 & 3 = remaining soldiers (on palanquin)
C = Mr. Ssqueeze (celestial constrictor snake - on palanquin)
Ima-aello hovers 5 feet above E3 - directly above soldier #1.
One of the soldiers, in desperation backs away to the corner of the palanquin, slashing his ko stick in front of him. He tries to ward of the giant snake; the creature's thrusting head darts up and down, side to side, patiently, searching for an opening.
-----
(miss)
(n/a)
The last remaining soldier on the palanquin senses his doom and makes a dive for the edge, hoping if he could just reach the sand, maybe, just maybe the killer cloud and deadly snake might turn their attention to the armored newcomer cresting the ladder instead.
(hit!)
(applies!)
Ima-aello morphs her form yet again, this time turning into a translucent mirror image of Mr. Sssqueeze. She waits for the human to begin his diving escape and then wraps her tail around him in mid-flight. She then crushes him in a hyper-dense coil of solidified air.
Mr. Squeeze turns and eyes the sudden doppelganger with great suspicion.
And
just
like
that
it's:
Moonpate, Ilma-aello and Mr. Sssqueeze: 11
Hurgah: 6+
Karek and 'the whip': 6-
Palanquin golem: 4
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The bolt sails into the Soldier nearest the base of the rope ladder at the top of the palanquin. There is a disgusting hiss as the bolt pierces and then decompresses the soldier's lung, suffocating him in seconds.
The shaft also slices through the victim's body and buries itself in the large throne-like chair in the center of the palanquin.
The bolt sails into the Soldier nearest the base of the rope ladder at the top of the palanquin. There is a disgusting hiss as the bolt pierces and then decompresses the soldier's lung, suffocating him in seconds.
The shaft also slices through the victim's body and buries itself in the large throne-like chair in the center of the palanquin.
Hal turns to Breach and Gandel. "We should go the long way around no sense in getting spotted or having an encounter now".
And
just
like
that
it's:
Moonpate, Ilma-aello and Mr. Sssqueeze: 11
Hurgah: 6+
Karek and 'the whip': 6-
Palanquin golem: 4
"Fierce daughter of the wind lords, go aloft and search for other enemies approaching."
Seeing that Karek was able to scale up to the palanquin without getting squished, Moon will sling his crossbow over his back and make his way up join Karek and Mr. Sssqueeze.
Hurgah spends a last round in rage covering Moonpate's climb, then drops rage, dismisses his enlarge and climbs up to join the others atop the golem.
Keeping a sharp eye out for any enemies approaching the golem, Karek fumbles around, looking to see if there is anything in the way of... golem controls.
"Fierce daughter of the wind lords, go aloft and search for other enemies approaching."
----------
Ima-aello reverts to cloud form and then rockets another 100 feet up into the sky (125 feet up). She then arcs another 100 feet south scanning the dunes below.
(Because it went so well the last time we tried to ride something big. . .)
Moonpate the Potentate and Hurgah the Reaver make their way to the palanquin golem. The vulture-headed giant of stone does not react to them in any threatening way. They each have enough move to make it half-way up the rope ladder, though perhaps Hurgah wants to wait. I don't mean to imply anything here, but it looks doubtful the rope ladder will support both of them at the same time.
Karek divides his attention between scouting for foes while searching the palanquin. Deep in the distance, towards the dig site to the south, he sees he sees a growing cloud of dust, suggesting more of something is headed his way - what he cannot tell.
As to the flat, open palanquin deck, mostly he just sees the remains of 'monster carnage'. If he wasn't so busy, he'd sure like to use a broken ko stick to jettison some of the corpses up here. And oh yeah, also there's a giant glowing snake sunning itself atop the bodies.
The throne-like chair is a rather simple affair. The chair itself is oak of some kind, though stone supports from the palanquin are molded into its base. In the center of the chair's sturdy back, just below where Moonpate's fletched bolt lodged itself, there is a single hieroglyph, possibly an animal or bird symbol of some kind. The Osirians use such strange characters in their written language.
Before climbing up, Hurgah steps back over to the remains of Sylaxer, and sees if he can spot one of those potion bottles. If so, he grabs it.
The throne-like chair is a rather simple affair. The chair itself is oak of some kind, though stone supports from the palanquin are molded into its base. In the center of the chair's sturdy back, just below where Moonpate's fletched bolt lodged itself, there is a single hieroglyph, possibly an animal or bird symbol of some kind. The Osirians use such strange characters in their written language.
Moonpate will remove the bolt from the chair and read the hieroglyph. He will then take a seat and command the golem to turn towards the south, speaking in Osiriani. He will also reload his crossbow and set it aside, looping its carrying sling over the arm of the chair for quick access. We won't start moving anywhere until Hurgah is done searching the body and up with us.
Hal turns to Breach and Gandel. "We should go the long way around no sense in getting spotted or having an encounter now".
-----
Very helpful summary Dennis. It's probably even more helpful to Javell, our new Breach.
Unless Gandel or Breach takes issue then, I'll have the infiltration team swing south and skirt around the sentries, keeping 200 feet of dunes between them. They will then continue to their way west getting closer and closer to the dig site. The sentries appear quite stationary.
More information on the layout will be provided as the inflitration team gets closer. For now with them this far out, I can't do much better than to refer you to the map.
Leaving the translation to the scholar, Karek will rummage for his next need - he will take out and drink a potion of cure moderate wounds.
Hal turns to Breach and Gandel. "We should go the long way around no sense in getting spotted or having an encounter now".
"Aye, 'tis a good plan Morgrym." He says without taking his eyes off the camp before them. "'Sides," he begins as they prepare to move out, "I'd have ta listen ta Kogan an' The Reaver carry on about us chargin' into battle withou' 'em." A wry smile forms for a brief moment before he returns to the business at hand. "Alright boys, let's move."
Moonpate will remove the bolt from the chair and read the hieroglyph. He will then take a seat and command the golem to turn towards the south, speaking in Osiriani. He will also reload his crossbow and set it aside, looping its carrying sling over the arm of the chair for quick access. We won't start moving anywhere until Hurgah is done searching the body and up with us.
-----
Could it be that simple?
First, a DC 10 Strength check to remove the bolt from the chair back. Also possible, a DC 15 Disable Device check to remove the bolt with care so that he does not damage the chair.
The hieroglyph, unfortunately, is not Osiriani. Moonpate does not recognize it, at least not immediately. A successful DC 20 Linguistics check might assist.
Moonpate can though, reload his crossbow and hang it over the chair - that seems simple enough. As is sitting in the chair - though if the bolt is still there, he has to crane his neck to one side.
If Moonpate does sit in the chair, how about a DC 15 Knowledge (arcana) check?
"Sounds good to me," Gandel agrees with the dwarves.
"Looks like the distraction team has matters well in hand," he adds, his eagle-eyed gaze keeping track of the battle in the distance. "Let's not waste their efforts."
Could it be that simple?The hieroglyph, unfortunately, is not Osiriani. Moonpate does not recognize it, at least not immediately. A successful DC 20 Linguistics check might assist.
Moonpate can though, reload his crossbow and hang it over the chair - that seems simple enough. As is sitting in the chair - though if the bolt is still there, he has to crane his neck to one side.
If Moonpate does sit in the chair, how about a DC 15 Knowledge (arcana) check?
"Karek, could you kindly remove my crossbow bolt from this chair, taking care not to damage the chair. Or, perhaps you can just snap the bolt off from the seat side so its not sticking into my backside. I'm going to see if I can figure out how to make this dunderheaded golem work."
Linguistics Check:
Knowledge Arcana Check:
if helpful Use Magic Device check:
Random Awesomeness Check:
Before climbing up, Hurgah steps back over to the remains of Sylaxer, and sees if he can spot one of those potion bottles. If so, he grabs it.
-----
He does.
Tucked into Sylaxer’s belt is a large dinosaur fang with a cork stopper. Hurgah has no difficulty sliding it out and claiming it for his own.
Sensing that the fang has more weight than it should, Hurgah can tell that the rather unusual flask is currently ‘loaded’.
A quick sniff reveals a rather pungent smell. Once unstoppered, Hurgah can see that inside is a murky grey liquid. What is rather unusual though, is that the liquid appears to have a current. It is slowly churning in a circular clockwise motion – even when held perfectly still.
Sooron stares at the paper bemused, his brain really working now. Donkor excels at on-the-fly shenanigans, but is a lot less effective at long-term planning, and he knows it about himself.
Absently, he calls upon Pharasma's beneficence and creates an icicle on his finger, which he then proceeds to bite little chunks off of and chew on, regretting not taking a water creation spell the previous evening.
At last, he turns back to the little lizard and tries to determine if there is a way it can be induced to deliver a message for him.
Failing that, he will turn to his clairvoyance ability again and see if he has the distance to check out how how two groups are faring, and then look for a suitable piece of rock to Stone Shape as a night-time hidey-hole.
-----
Nice move with the icicle. I will cease bothering Donkor with dehydration references.Unless you have a specific idea though, it doesn’t look like Donkor can see how he can conscript this Tiny-sized animal to send a return message.
Donkor knows that he is too far off for his clairvoyance ability to give him an update on the others, so he can conserve his rounds. Though if I read right that you want to use it to assist your search for the right boulder, that could very well work.
What are you looking for in terms of a rock for your stone shape? Assuming such a stone was available, I’d have him make a Survival check, with the DC dependant on how picky he is. There are not a lot of giant stones out here. Lota sand though – I can definitely get Donkor sand.
I’d give you a +2 circumstance bonus on his Survival check for every round he expends using the ‘Eye of Sooron’ to scout for boulders – up to a maximum of +8. How many rounds does he have left? I know he used a bunch in the splicer beast ambush.
Also, if Donkor finds his rock, how does he intend to stoneshape it?
Leaving the translation to the scholar, Karek will rummage for his next need - he will take out and drink a potion of cure moderate wounds.
-----
Moon studies the hieroglyph. Professor Trapspringer would be proud of him. Moonpate realizes his initial assumption that the lettering was Osirion was close, but incorrect. It is actually a character of Ancient Osiriani, a much older language, one that dominated this land millennia ago. It is the language of ancient texts and tombs.
Although Moonpate doesn’t speak the language, if the Potentate is not mistaken, this particular character simply means “bird”. It would potentially convey more meaning if it were placed in the context of other characters, as the language is built in vertical sequences, but here, in isolation as it is, it just seems to say “bird”.
When Moonpate sits in the chair, he feels a dull hum filter through the recesses of his mind. It is as though tiny motes twinkled in the invisible recesses of his imagination. One less trained in the arcane arts would not have noticed, but Moonpate picks up on it immediately, having mastered many magic items in his training. He is now quite certain that his original hunch is correct: the chair can be used to receive commands from someone who sits in it and is properly attuned. Becoming attuned is likely out of the reach of many, but not for a wizard of Moonpate’s skill.
It will depend upon how close danger is. Looking around from our perch, can we spot any reaction to the battle and our presence? Has Ilma-aello spotted any enemies heading our way?
Speaking to Karek, Hurgah, and Mr. Sssqueeze:
"Friends, I think I can actually command this thing. Should we ride it towards some more trouble or see if we can draw them towards us and then lead them on a merry romp away?
Karek has little in the way of Disable Device, but he attempts to snap the bolt in half in order to enable Moonpate to sit unimpeded. Strength check? Then he rummages for his glasses.
Gib'em'ell, Bade. Sowd!
It takes Ilma-aello another round before she returns. In that time Hurgah is able to join Moonpate and Karek up top the palanquin, such that all three are now being carried aloft by the vulture-headed golem. Meanwhile, Mr. Squeeze continues to lie atop the bodies sunning himself while he visibly digests his meal. The hump inside him slowly travels down his body.
When the elemental does return she comes from the north, slipping in behind you, which suggests she's done a rather complete fly-over. Hovering just above the Potentate, the elemental resumes her appearance as a young janni princess. She reports in Auran, a language which sounds not unlike a breeze. In many ways it is felt in the ear drums, more than it is actually heard:
By the way, is it Ilma-aello, or Im-aello? I thought it was Im-aello, but that "l" seems to want to be in there. I figure by the time I get it straight her duration will expire.
Karek has little in the way of Disable Device, but he attempts to snap the bolt in half in order to enable Moonpate to sit unimpeded. Strength check? Then he rummages for his glasses.
That will do it for sure. Karek's giant stubby fingers snap the bolt like a toothpick.
Yet another spare set of lenses finds the dwarf's face.
Hurgah climbs onto the platform and arms himself with one of the discarded bows left by the unfortunate soldiers.
Sooron ponders a little bit longer and...
He then takes this new note, and returns it back to the lizard's locket, and proceeds to feed the original note to the tiny beast as ordered. If it doesn't scamper off or magically disappear, he will tell it in common to find it's master.
Assuming all of that goes as planned, he will then use 2 more rounds of clairvoyance scouting the area for rock formations, more or less happy to find anything large enough to contain him after it's shaped. If it could do so with him both sitting and lying down comfortably, that would be a bonus. He just wants to make a hollow large enough to squirm into, and then be able to relax comfortably through the evening. He has no real skills to try and design a hidden entrance, so will just do the best he can.
Survival:
Hurgah climbs onto the platform and arms himself with one of the discarded bows left by the unfortunate soldiers.
-----
While slightly different in style than Hurgah is accustomed to, the discards are functionally longbows. There are archery stands (wooden blocks with angled holes designed to hold arrows) conveniently located on the edges of the palanquin. With next to no shots actually fired, there are dozens and dozens of arrows available. The soldiers seem to have had a thing for golden and green-colored fletching, as their arrows certainly contain it in abundance.
Once Donkor feeds it, the gecko eats the original message, though it doesn't appear to particularly enjoy its meal. It accepts the re-loaded locket, but it doesn't appear to follow Donkor's command. The lizard just continues to sit there, blinking unintelligent. After several minutes it finally slinks off. It is headed vaguely in the direction of the dig site, which gives Donkor some hope that his attempt to send a return message might succeed. However, given the creature's meandering path, it is equally possible the lizard is just traveling on instinct.
Donkor then sends up his 'eye' yet again, hoping to take advantage of the very last of the light provided by the sunset. As hoped, his pharasmatic sensor spots a boulder-cluster of reddish rock, a half-hours scramble to the east. He realizes he will need to move fast if he hopes to find it before the darkness has taken hold. Unlike the rest of his Dune Squad companions, his eyes have no ability to handle the blackness of the desert night and he knows lighting a torch this close to the dig site is sure to carry consequences.
With his glasses, Karek can see the impending doom much better. And he likes what he sees. Karek still has plenty to do before he is ready for the inevitable company, however. Once Hurgah is up, he will draw up the ladder. He makes sure that his potions of fly and cure moderate wounds and his smokestick are within easy reach, in case he needs them, and he curses himself for not bringing a tanglefoot bag.
Finally, Karek picks up one of the longbows, but it doesn't look like he plans to use it much. Instead, he takes careful stock of the dead aboard the golem.
. . . Once Hurgah is up, he will draw up the ladder.
Check!
. . . He makes sure that his potions of fly and cure moderate wounds and his smokestick are within easy reach, in case he needs them. . .
Is he setting them out in front of him on the palanquin? Or is he just putting them say on the top of his backpack?
Six. Though the battle was unusually gruesome and many of those are not whole. While disgusting, the "parts" are suitable for Karek's lesser hurling rage power if that's where this is going. . .
Is he setting them out in front of him on the palanquin? Or is he just putting them say on the top of his backpack?
While realistically, setting the items out in front of him in an organized line should make them more accessible for a quick grab, under the game rules he can get at those items with a move action either way. So in that sense, placing them at his belt or at the top of his pack is probably marginally better - that way if he leaves the palanquin for some reason he won't have to stop to pick them up. The only advantage to setting the items out that I can think of is that other party members could grab the stuff for Karek or for themselves, if they had the action economy.
Next round, Karek could in theory begin firing at the soldiers in the dust cloud. He will suffer a crazy range increment penalty, but it's not like he's short on arrows and if his goal is to attract attention there doesn't seen to be a downside to the Hail Mary shot. Then again, there might. Firing on the soldiers in formation inside the dust cloud might cause them to rush forward to attack, which might shorten the battle. Hard to say.
Phrip: Am I right that Moonpate will devote the next two rounds to attune himself to the palanquin golem? Or was there something else he wanted to do first?
Just a clarification nit-pick: That's 'part of a move action'. A regular potion flask, say, at the belt can already be drawn as a move action by anyone. However, in Hurgah's case he can draw the fang flask and still use his move action. The act of drawing effectively becomes a free action, as long as the bearer had a move action already planned.
It still takes a standard action to consume the potion. So the big difference is normally it takes a full round to draw and then drink a potion. With a fang flask it still takes a full round to draw and drink, but you can also use your full movement rate at the same time - or do other move actions such as slam a door shut. Sometimes it makes no difference, but every now and then it's really useful.
Phrip: Am I right that Moonpate will devote the next two rounds to attune himself to the palanquin golem? Or was there something else he wanted to do first?
"Things are beginning to look grim, which I guess is what we signed up for with this crazy raid. If my elemental friend here is afraid of the enemy to the north of us, it sounds like we are dealing with none other than the leader of these infernal monks. If would not be good to face him whilst surrounded by a horde of troops at the same time. I think we should go right at the devil and deal with him before we are surrounded. I will send the elemental after the furtive threat approaching from the southwest to slow them down for what little time she has left to us. Friends, are we in agreement? I am no battle hardened tactician, so I will bow to your wisdom in this matter."
Ilma-aello launches into the air and arcs southwest, headed for whatever threat she believes lurks in that direction. As she does so she transforms into the wisp-like outline of a predatory bird from a world or plane for which you are not familiar. It has six talons, instead of two, and several blade-like protrusions from its wings.
Moonpate closes his eyes and begins to concentrate on the chair and the motionless golem beneath it.
-----
No worries - I am sure you got the idea, you are usually ahead of me.
100% sounds pretty demanding. We'll certainly give you a break around these parts. Though, if it's not just me, I have seemed to notice that ever since Superstar, Hurgah's started italicizing his spell names. . .
Nice roll on the perception check, Beetle. He also tries to remember to capitalize his Feats and keep his schools of magic lowercase.
Seriously, if you have any tips, advise or just general insights on the subject of writing and developing awesome adventures and encounters you feel like sharing, drop me a PM.
Ilma-aello launches into the air and arcs southwest, headed for whatever threat she believes lurks in that direction. As she does so she transforms into the wisp-like outline of a predatory bird from a world or plane for which you are not familiar. It has six talons, instead of two, and several blade-like protrusions from its wings.
Moonpate closes his eyes and begins to concentrate on the chair and the motionless golem beneath it.
Concentration
Not sure if I have the modifier correct.
Anyway, yeah. Karek will just put the things at the top of his pack. He doesn't want to have to grab them if we suddenly evacuate. I don't think he has any more things to do, so he will stand by Moonpate until he can engage an enemy at bow range. He's specifically looking out for any monks.