Sohar-snake ensnares the dreadnoughts leg's, pulling them tightly together like a bundle of sticks as Molok's strike again breaks its defenses. "Grr...you don't know what you are doing. Killing me will not stop the Vonindod...ergh...so pointless and shortsighted..." He throws a giant boulder at flying Pindleton out of spite...
...catching him full force out of the air.
Round 5:
Urth, Jax, Molok, Sohar, Pindleton <--UP
Enemies
With a final swing of his maul, Molok slams the weapon into the giant's nethers, hoping to drop him once and for all.
Attack:
Damage: (re-roll 2 & 1 ) = 9
Attack:
Damage:
The giant trips over Sohar-snake, falling to the ground. Its at that moment Molok finally breaks through the dreadnought's skull like a muskmelon rind.
As the sound of the maul cracking the giant's skull reverberates around the chamber, Molok drop to one knee. Breathing heavy, he mutters a few words in his own tongue before struggling to stand once more.
"Never have I come across a more worthy foe. He did us honour by accepting our challenge, and I do honour to him by carrying his memory with me."
He reaches down and removes a small piece of the giant's armor and cuts a length of the creature's hair, making it into a sort of trophy he then attaches to his armor. It joins a number of other such trinkets festooning the goliath's stone-like armor.
A very large chest is nearby that looks to be of dwarven make. Inside:
a Rod of the Vonindod (large adamantine cylinder the size of a small child)
potion, murky
potion, milky
extra sets of chain and manacles, with key, sized for large creatures (x5)
"What do you think of this rukking thing? Is there anyway to break it? Adamantine is an expensive commodity. Plus, it would be great if the rukking colossus was one-armed if it ever got re-assembled"
The block and tackles making up the buckets look like they might be able to lift the hand, however even if you got it up to the surface where you would go from there is a bit unclear. As for destroying it, who knows what effect the lava might have on it. If the fire giants are all carrying these diviner's rods if it didn't break they could just find it again.
Molok will search the giant as well as the area the trolls were digging before trying to drag the "hand" up out of the pit (using the block and tackle)
Seeing Molok interested in the dig and arm, Urth helps him search and haul the arm to the top.
"Do we want to see about destroying the arm, perhaps? I want to make sure we don't wind up doing the giants' work for them in getting it out of this cave."
Besides the treasure chest, the dreadnought himself also has a large keyring. Certain pieces of his armor might be salvageable with a little work, for example the besegew could be an interesting shield.
You've reached the bottom of the cave, and there doesn't seem to be any other branching paths from here, save the river of lava. A natural stone bridge arching across has been bolstered in places with a few rivets and iron sheets.
Molok and Urth together hook up 7 chains stretching back up to the surface and find the large wheel that makes it all work. With the trolls long gone, they have to work the wheel themselves...but its an easy task considering the incredible mechanical advantage of the pulley system. It would seem fire giants are no strangers to engineering. Just a few minutes later, the hand of the Vonindod is laying up at the mouth of the cave.
Pindleton, you vaguely recall from a certain library escapade (or maybe it was something Chipluck mentioned) that while adamantine can be forged into weapons and armor by flame, the Vonindod was said to require some kind of legendary fire from another dimension. Trickster that you are, you also recall illusion magics able to hide objects from scrying...perhaps that could work to keep the hand out of their hands.
Bairre's Winking Beaver is a sight for sore eyes after that battle, and after explaining to the crew everyone is half amazed and half skeptical. "Well, getting on sunup now. Get what rest you can, we should reach Mornbryn's Shield just past midday..."
He isn't far off, and about that time you are awoken in your little hammocks in the shade by the sound of arguing. Captain Bairre is just off the barge on the docks speaking with a knight in shining armor. They are arguing about money and it seems to be getting rather heated...
At one point the knight shoves Bairre hard and he hits the docks, the knight standing over him with a finger pointing down "You'll pay the fee or we'll confiscate these goods as retribution."
Mornbryn’s Shield, a village on the western fringe of the Evermoors, takes its name from the rocky, horseshoe ridge that forms a natural rampart along the west and south sides of the settlement, protecting it against flooding when the Surbrin River swells in the spring. At the northeast end of Mornbryn’s Shield is a small stone keep with fire-hurling catapults aimed toward the Evermoors. Mornbryn was a ranger of some fame in the North centuries ago, and legend has it that his treasure-filled tomb is hidden somewhere close by.
Molok moves a little unsteadily to where the knight stands.
"There is no need to become brutish. What is it he owes you?"
Standing his full 7 feet, and tapping his maul in the palm of his hand, Molok look down on this bully with a frown upon his face.
Intimidate:
"Woah there big guy, I'm just following Oboth's orders...dock fee. If you want to unload, you pay the fee." the knight says.
Bairre mumbles "...what order are you with...there's never been a fee in the Shield! That's gonna cut the legs off my route!"
"By Volkur's beard, who is this rukking Oboth?! I'll pay him his rukking dock fee in person!" Urth takes personal affront at the dock fee.
Pointing to the knight, Urth demands, "You, Mister Gigggles. Take us to meet this Oboth."
"Bairre, keep the crew near the boat while we're gone. We'll rukking sort this out."
Pindleton steps up in front of the knight (and is quite happy to be on land again), and says, "Ah yes, good sir, I'm sure we can settle this peaceably. Oh, my goodness, how rude of me! I am Pindleton Montegue IV of the famed Pindleton explorers, pleased to make your acquaintance. You see we traveled from a distant land to lay a dear fallen dwarven friend of ours to rest when we came across the results of a giant attack! It was simply dreadful. And the adventures we have had since then, well, I could spend hours telling you them to help explain our current situation, unless, of course, this Oboth fellow is the proper person we should attempting to resolve this with. If not, and you, my good man, are the one we should explain our predicament to, then I would gladly explain, in great detail, just what has befallen us and led us here to your fine docks and we can avoid my companions getting testy and venting their well-earned frustrations with you." Pindleton gives a brief pause to see if the knight is willing to take the group to Oboth, and if not, takes a deep breath, and prepares his next long, rambling lecture.
He raises an eyebrow, listening carefully to your story before "Adventurers. Oh yes, Oboth will very much like to see you. Come with me." and he offers a stern warning to Bairre "If any of that freight makes it off the barge while were gone, I'm going to personally dump it in the muck 'o the moors."
Leading you all into the village there is a certain somber atmosphere of the folk, most have their windows shuttered and road side stalls are closed. You only see a few mounted knights on patrol, and a crazy looking old dwarf with a push-cart of vegetables.
You are led to an inn conveniently labeled "Troll in Flames", but it is obvious this knightly order has commandeered it into a personal headquarters. There is no less than 6 knights posted outside in a tight line, with more inside. Most of the inn's provisions are slowly being crated up.
Around a large table sits what must be the man in charge, a stout half-elf in Damaran splint, pouring through numerous old tomes and taking notes in a little black leather book.
The book and an ornate ring on his finger bear the mark of the Zhentarim faction. The Zhentarim — also known as the Black Network — is a loose affiliation of merchants, mercenaries, and malefactors. Common folk know the Zhentarim as the people to talk to when you need the best guards or mercenaries money can buy. And if the cargo is shady or the cause you’re fighting for is questionable or even unjust, the Zhentarim don’t mind.
He asks "What's this, Ted? Do these visitors know something?"
Ted, your guide, responds "I--I don't know sir, but they don't like the way we do business. That stone-nosed one in particular."
His eyes squint in displeasure "So, you ruffians don't want to abide by the rule of law, is it?" he inquires to the party.
Molok looks at the man speak, then notices the ring on his finger.
Gripping the table, he tosses it out of the way and grabs for the seated man's throat.
"Zentish pig! How dare you come to this town and rob these people of their goods!"
Attack (grab):
The knights spring into action at the sudden assault, everyone drops what they are doing and draws longswords and shortswords. Oboth spittles out "Urgh *gasp* fewls urg wer *gasp* urg..."
Round 1:
Enemy <--UP
Pindleton, Urth, Molok, Jax, Sohar
The gang of Zhentarim knights flick their blades into hand like hardened professionals. There is eerie second of silence before the mayhem begins, with Molok on the bosses throat.
At that point 2 half-naked teenagers who were hiding burst out from behind the bar, clanking through a huge pile of empty beer bottles and flying drunkenly through the door.
"Oy, time to swat these pesky flies..." says Ted.
Yellow lunges at Molok, trying to slash off his arm at the shoulder with a black longblade, and following up with a thrust from his offhand...
Cyan likewise steps forward in defense of his boss...
Oboth struggles against the stone mans grip...
...but even giving it all hes got, its no match for Molok! His eyes bulge out of his head, turning pink about to burst.
The other 4 agents draw heavy crossbows and winch them taught...
Round 1:
Enemies
Pindleton, Urth, Molok, Jax, Sohar <--UP
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Urth draws his sword and shouts "Illusio Vim!"
Yellow sees rock similar to Molok's skin start to encrust his sword where it cut the fighter. The rock then rapidly encases the sword leaping to encase his hands, arms and finally enclosing him in a rocky coccoon.
Yellow starts to shake his sword until it appears frozen in air, scratching his skin and brushing his sides when finally he too stands frozen in a mind prison of Urth's design.
Round 1:
Enemies
Pindleton, Urth, Molok, Jax, Sohar <--UP
Not too sure how to do this, but Molok would like to continue to squeeze the life out of Oboth, but also use his body as a shield/weapon. That is, slamming the fellow beside them with Obote's body as an attack, then recovering and using it as a shield against the crossbowmen. Is this possible?
With a click of his heels, Pindleton hops up on the table next to him and mutters, "dewin llaw" to activate his mage hand and have it pull the chair in front of red into him, trying to disrupt his crossbow preparations.
"Well, then, this should be fun! Molok, we have your back."
-5=0
Red is about to fire hit heavy crossbow point blank but the tricky halfling scoots an old oak rocker up betwixt his thighs, the effect is so unnerving the disrupted Zhentarim fires directly into his allys back!
"Damnit...sorry Charlie, just where the hell did that rocking chair come from?!"
Swinging the struggling form of the knight into the guard standing beside them (Green), Molok uses the fellow as a battering ram...all the while continuing to choke the knight into unconsciousness.
Attack:
Damage:
Molok shoves Oboth's hard armored shoulder into one of the knight's faces, but Oboth slips on a beer bottle and throws off Molok's momentum.
Round 1:
Enemies
Pindleton, Urth, Molok, Jax, Sohar <--UP
Yellow struggles against the illusory stone...
...and seems to startle free as his movement returns "...the hell? Theyre some kind of shadowcasters..."
Jax's magic punches into Magenta's splint, knocking the wind out of him, and he returns the fire with a point blank xbow shot...
...and a nasty black feathered bolt sinks into Jax's shoudler. White follows his lead...
Meanwhile Green gets a clear shot at Molok...
The three of them dive behind the bar for cover and reload.
...and pins his foot to the floor momentarily with an excruciating wound.
Cyan retaliates against Sohar-bear with a flurry of slashes...
...and gashes open the bear leather despite obviously peeing his pants in front of the wild predator.
Oboth meanwhile struggles against the stone grip...
Round 2:
Enemies
Pindleton, Urth, Molok, Jax, Sohar <--UP
"By Volkur's Beard! Stay still! Illusio Vim!" Urth steps up and yells at Yellow.
Yellow sees blue mist erupt from Urth's sword and envelop him. Then, it quickly solidifies into a crystalline cocoon.
The Zhentarim knight struggles in his brand new prison...
Round 2:
Enemies
Urth, Pindleton, Molok, Jax, Sohar <--UP
Molok shrugs off the Zhents attack (stones Endurance) to some extent and with the last clench of his hand on the man's throat, tosses him into the warrior standing beside them (green) He then readies his great maul and prepares to lay into the two entangled Zhents.
Choking Damage: 6
Oboth stumbles into his partner gasping for life, giving Molok the chance to draw forth the huge granite maul. Meanwhile Polar-Sohar continues to engage Cyan, but it seems it isn't the first time the Zhentarim ne'er'do'well has encountered a bear, dodging up and down the massive black claws.
Round 2:
Enemies
Urth, Molok, Sohar, Jax, Pindleton, <--UP