The people you know best at the University are Pirot Samagal and Magister Weltmann, although you've also had dealings with Magister Ibrox.
Reason
Spoiler:
The temptation to open the book is very, very great. You itch to take a small peek beneath the covers. Just to check that the right rune is really there. This time you manage to quell the obviously reckless urge.
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17 - attack v Will.
The book seems to twitch slightly in Reason's hands.
Maybe a random inn would be safer. After all, a lot of people at the University seem to have known Kyleth, and her operations have centered there. It might not be wise to keep the book there for an extented time.
If I may press gently for a decision on this one, I'd be grateful.
The options on offer so far are as follows:-
Random inn
University - possibly locking the book itself elsewhere
Camp outside Namarth and keep watch in pairs
Post your preferred option. I'll take the first two same type views as concensus as neither Gobi nor Seraphiel are available right now.
Who is keeping watch? One person post an order and if anyone objects, they can say so. Please tell me what you are doing with the charming book - i.e. any precautions you are taking and who (if anyone) is holding it.
"I really think we should consult Magister Weltmann before we do anything silly. The book feels to be much more dangerous than I had thought it would be. Perhaps he could suggest how to rest with the book safely warded or something. And I think we should do that quickly before one of us does something we might regret."
Want to talk to Weltmann before settling in for the night? I'll update you properly in the morning. Been away all day and am exhausted and a bit stunned. A show I worked on earlier in the year (and in honesty thought was mildly rubbish at best) was nominated for a new award and won. Red carpet and everything.
Well, Kia certainly wants to talk to Weltmann. That book is dangerous and she feels the need of professional advice. If necessary she can take a brief detour (without the book) to see him herself, agreeing to meet the party somewhere outside the town. Or just catch them up if she can be brief enough.
Fair enough. If anyone wants to tag along, feel free to say you're there.
Reason
Spoiler:
[ooc]1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 - v Will.[ooc]
The book twitches again in your hands, begging you to open it. Once again, you resist.
Weltmann listens critically to Kia story and looks slightly alarmed at the suggestion that you should camp with the crucial volume.
"Exceptionally stupid. You should all know better, having met my ex-classmate." He raises a hand. "I know it needs to be out of the Library for you to deal with it, but that was in many respects by far the safest place for the thing."
"Leave the book here. I will lock the doors and leave myself. I suggest you do not oversleep in the morning."
Extended rest back at the Way with Words will be assumed unless you say otherwise.
You return to the welcome of The Way with Words where Roswitha is once more on duty and serves you a particularly good meal. She seems a little distracted, constantly looking at Gobi and finally asking for a quiet word with the dwarf.
Gobi
Spoiler:
"Ummm. I told my parents about you. I mean, I know it's very soon and maybe you don't feel like that and you can tell me I was stupid ... but they really want to meet you. Now. As soon as I told them what kind of dwarf you were, both of them just turned into really old-style "Can he provide a proper dowery and what's his clan" type dwarves. It's not really like them and I know they'll like you a lot, but things are going to be really awkward until you do meet them."
She blushes furiously.
On waking, you will have 1AP and all your level 7 powers. You also have the choice of where you would like to fight this coming battle. Where would you like to be?
Important edit - note that you need Pirot Samagal around to force the rune to activate in your choice of space rather than pulling you into Kyleth's choice of space. This is partly why you went to the trouble of rescuing him.
Whiteclaw takes extra time grooming herself the next morning, making sure she looks her best for the upcoming battle. She, as one might expect, doesn't care where the battle takes place.
"Kyleth certainly keeps our lives interesting. How much do you think it will annoy her when we kill her again?"
When you last met, Kyleth was an infernal pact warlock with some sorcerer thrown in the mix. She had no particular resistances or vulnerabilities, but she had good magic items and used them well. As you may recall, she used a lot of fire spells. She has both grown and changed somewhat, but I am not prepared to reveal more than that at this time.
How this plays out depends in part on your choice of location. Her powers are fixed now and won't change, but I need to draw you an appropriate map.
Since the offer of a choice of locale seems to have rendered everyone silent, I place the following on the table for your consideration:-
Chez Pirot
Elsewhere in the University grounds - the practice yard or Weltmann's rooms
The Library itself (which I suspect Vel might veto)
Outside the city in lightly wooded terrain
Somewhere else entirely that you haven't told me about yet.
Please note the following:
Brown blobs are practice mannequins. They provide cover.
Trees provide cover and can be climbed with a DC15 Athletics check.
Pink things are the edges of surrounding buildings.
Greeny tan is sand. You can't shift on it. A bloodied creature starting its turn on the sand gains regeneration 2 until not bloodied as long as they remain in the area.
Orangey things are 5 foot barriers. The can be hidden behind if you crouch or climbed on for 2 movement points.
Make your plans, tell me what you're doing and where you all are. I'll sort out Pirot, Gobi and Seraphiel when I know where everyone is.
I'm not sure that choosing a field that gives her cover chances is a good idea. A nice open meadow might be better, but, since we're using the field, Whiteclaw will be next to the book, ready to lay into Kyleth as soon as she appears. Oh, and lets make sure to keep her off the regeneration sand.
"Well, first of all, let's not all stand together. I suppose the ranged people should spread themselves out around the yard to be safer from any attacks over an area. (Of course, she probably has some aura with a huge range). I think we should open the book in a fairly exposed bit of the courtyard, so we can run for cover, but she can't that easily. Also, whoever does open the book should probably be protected, if possible, against any attacks to the mind."
Reason can buff a person's will can't he?
Who has the best will defence? I'm only guessing but it seems possible that her first attack will be against the will of the person who frees her.
Kia has 18 Will, but might be best to keep her at a distance so she can grant saving throws and free moves etc to those who fall under Kyleth's thrall
Suggest opening the book at 11N. In which case Kia will be stabning at 4J (assuming she isn't doing the opening)
Pirot looks critically around the yard casting a professional eye on the proceedings as he eyes the book uneasily.
"Not the worst choice you might have made. Now listen. I can almost guarantee that my ex-student will have found a way to empower herself from the essences she did manage to absorb. She's greedy. Always was.
I can only control the rune if I'm conscious and within a few feet. If my control breaks, she'll be free to summon allies from any of the pocket dimensions she pulled her victims into."
In game terms, Pirot needs to stay conscious and within 5 squares of the book throughout the fight. If he isn't, Kyleth is free to summon up an ally (as a standard action) from any of the fights you've had so far. Swarms, the vicious clerics or some of the fancy dwarves.
Make any further plans you wish, tell me where you want the book placed, tell me who's opening it and where you all are and roll init.
"In that case, if the book goes there," (she indicates) N11 "then you, Pirot could stand behind that dummy.." (indicating the dummy) i.e. Pirot stands at Q8. "Should give you a bit of cover."
A monent's more thought. "Vel... If we place the book where we want it, could you open it up using your mage hand? then you can step back out of harm's way. That way, no-one needs to be near Kyleth at the start. The good thing is, that you don't need to worry about your fire spells this time."
If this looks OK to you so far, please continue to add yourselves in and roll init, adding +2 from Kia. Note that you will get a surprise round - one action (move, minor or standard). Any amendments to those already placed, make them in your next post.
Init so far:
Kyleth - 26
Vel - 26 (Vel's interweb is chancy from Paris, I rolled and placed at her request)
Seraphiel - 10
Gobi - 8
If this looks OK to you so far, please continue to add yourselves in and roll init, adding +2 from Kia. Note that you will get a surprise round - one action (move, minor or standard). Any amendments to those already placed, make them in your next post.
Init so far:
Kyleth - 26
Vel - 26 (Vel's interweb is chancy from Paris, I rolled and placed at her request)
Whiteclaw - 15
Arianwyn - 8
Seraphiel - 8
Gobi - 8
Technically, Seraphiel doesn't get the +2 because he is not within 2 squares - not sure if you factored that in. I forgot to add that to Arianwyn, so he is also on 8.
Technically, Seraphiel doesn't get the +2 because he is not within 2 squares - not sure if you factored that in. I forgot to add that to Arianwyn, so he is also on 8.
10 squares, not 2. Arianwyn now goes before Gobi - edited above.
Pirot nods to Whiteclaw and readies himself as the companions prepare for battle.
The book almost explodes open and a draped and shadowy figure emerges, head bowed and emanating seething rage. For overwhelming is the mental impact that both Gobi and Whiteclaw feel themselves weakening.
Kyleth's voice rings across the practice ground, although with a husky note you don't recall from your first meeting.
"O life, no life, but lively form of death."
She's got an aura 1. Creatures moving into the aura or starting their turn there take 5hp damage and -2 to Will.
Vel is going to get online when she can, but if those of you that are available can post your surprise round actions, I'll stitch the whole thing together once they're all up.
*Kyleth - surprise round, no actions.
Vel
Kia
Reason
Whiteclaw - takes 5hp psychic damage at start of turn and -2 Will defence(aura effect)
Seraphiel
Arianwyn
Gobi - takes 5hp psychic damage at start of turn and -2 Will defence (aura effect)
Whiteclaw grins. "We're going to kill you again, witch." And the gnoll shifts, her icy form sending a chill over the area around Kyleth.
Form of Winter's Herald. I gain +1 AC, and cold resist 5. All squares within 2 of me are rough terrain for my enemies. If a free action is also possible, I mark her.
Balls. The bloody, bloody boards just ate an enormous post. Recreation follows.
Vel, Seraphiel and Arianwyn are all unable to make any impact on Kyleth, but Reason, Whiteclaw, Gobi and Kia each in their different ways prepare to wreak havoc.
Whiteclaw, no mark. Surprise round is one action only. Whether it's free, standard, move or minor is up to you.
Shifting slightly away from the flanking comrades, Kyleth pushes back her hood to reveal the same coldly beautiful features you know so well.
"Why, tis a merry meeting," she laughs. "For all of us."
Her rod stamps twice on the ground and to your horror, you see two more Kyleths rising to join the battle.
"My time was profitably spent, I thank you all. I am more lovely than a summer's day and like that day, my heat shall burn you."
Duplicate 1 moves north and unleashes hellfire and madness on Arianwyn, Reason and Kia.
I stupidly used the in-house roller and will not do so again for monster rolls. This is from memory, but I'm not cheating you, promise.
Wrathfire Curse - v Ref. Close blast 5. On hit, target is slid 2 squares and makes a basic attack against an ally in range. On miss, half damage and slid one square. It hit all three of you, even taking into account Reason's +2 for cover. 12hp fire damage to Arianwyn and Kia, 7hp fire damage to Reason.
Kia and Arianwyn need to attack each other.
Reason's attack against Kia missed.
Duplicate 2 moves through the trees and does the same thing with Pirot, Whiteclaw and Gobi, hitting Whiteclaw and Gobi.
10hp fire damage to Whiteclaw and Gobi who need to attack each other. Gobi's attack against Whiteclaw does 13hp damage.
The dwarf goes pale as he realises belatedly what he's done. "I'm sorry Whiteclaw - it wasn't my idea!"
NOTE - Kyleth and her duplicates have an aura 1. Entering or starting a turn in the aura deals 5hp damage and gives a -2 penalty to Will. Enemies only.
Vel
Kia
Reason - 47/54HP; 1AP; 8/8 surges; 2 Healing Words
Whiteclaw - resist 5 cold and +1AC; +2 to next attack against Kyleth (via Reason)
Seraphiel - 46/46hp; 1AP; 7/7 surges
Arianwyn
Gobi - 50/65HP; 1AP; 12/12 surges; 2 Lay on Hands;
*Kyleth
Duplicate 1
Duplicate 2
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