Before Delman leaves if he does, Serill will retrieve the spell book. He flips through the pages, searching for a particular spell he believes should be there. There! He stands quietly for a couple of minute and reads the spell, memorizing the magic to be ready to cast it, adding Protection from Evil and to his prepared spells.
"I have prepared a protection from evil spell, it might help if we encounter any flying demons or their friends."
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"Frank was the one to lift us over," he states with anxiety in his voice. Then talking into his ring he asks, "Artemis, please go back to camp. Tell Lancelot or just Merlynn that the situation has changed and we want the forces to advance to the gate. We will work on opening it."
Then to Serill he adds, "Yes that will be beneficial for the one you place it upon. I have it on me already."
"I know you are weak but it will be safer if you are with us." he states to Markas before helping him to his feet and offering an arm to steady him.
He slowly walks with the man out into the courtyard and asks, "Which way to the courtyard? Ah, hold on." Shield is still active but he casts dancing lights and three colored balls that illuminate and fly around him to give Markas and the others the ability to see.
Taking hold of Markas again he follows the direction of Markas to walk towards the gate.
If no other deviations happen the rest of you easily get to the gate before Markas and Delman. It is much more than just a set of doors. A protcullis has been closed so you can't even reach the secured doors from this side. This side of the fort has no doors on the ground level and the walls are 50 and 80 feet tall. The grisly scenes of fighting are not even here. No corpses or even blood.
Artemis would nod, Roger, I'll be back, just please don't get hit by flying enemies and such..." he says, giving a brief look down at the group, gently nodding and quickly departing the skies above as he flies down towards the camp.
Flying over towards the camp and if unable to see Lancelot nor Merlynn from above, would fly towards one of the forward sentries, "Excuse me my good fellow, do you know where Lancelot or Merlynn is? I have to inform them that the original plan has... unfortunately changed..."
"Hey guys? I think I got turned around in these passageways? Where did everyone go?" John continues to search as bided, but quickly finds himself only listening to the echo of his own voice. "At least I found some smelling salts if I find another unconscious guy."
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Never one to drop a useful weapon, Niversal keeps the light crossbow and bolts and then grabs the composite longbow with a clear gleam in his eye giving it a pull with his arm and finding it matched to his strength with glee he puts to arrows on his back and carries the bow ready in his hand as he says Ed, help me find John looking for where the kid got off to.
Serill follows Delman as he aids the stablehand and keeps an eye out, glad that the dancing lights were lighting the way. Prepare a light cantrip next time...
If there were any hidden way on this side to open the portcullis, he probably wasn't seeing it. "Anyone have any ideas? I don't know a spell able to open this."
The dog puts his nose to the ground sniffs around and then leads you to John with no side trails. Seeing John he sits and waits.
"The easiest way to get there is by one of the towers. But I got the captains crystal. Here, walk up to corner and tap one of the stones with it." With his free hand he presents the crystal.
"Thanks for comin' to look for me, my mom always used to say I could get lost in an open field. Come to think of it, I did once." He holds out the small jar of salts that he found while exploring, as he follows Niversal and Ed back to the rest of the group. "Any idea what this could be? It's a pretty fancy silver container, but it doesn't smell strongly enough to be smelling salts. Maybe salt is really rare in this world, like ancient China?"
"Beats me though."
There is a portcullis blocking the door into the fort as well. Though the one in front of you blocks your path to the outside gate.
The one who is hanging on Delman is Markas the stablehand turned soldier, Markas. He also is the one handing out the crystal.
"Where are the other two?! Why wouldn't they say something before leaving. I guess they are exploring?" He says rather frustrated.
King Joseph looks around. Delman's right. The oracle and bard have wandered off. "Oh no!" The paladin moans quietly. "Jellena! Ryada! Where The Mistress are you?!"
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"Joe they have been missing for minutes. Also no response on the ring, which is bad but nothing we can do about it. We will find them once we have reinforcements. I was talking about Niversal and John, by the way what is up with that name?" He sourly states to Joe, even though Serill is with them too.
Serill takes the Captain's crystal that Markus gave him and studies it with detect magic before going over to tap it against one of the stones on the corner.
The young monarch gives his fellow paladin a hard stare. "We used to have a Frank Steel in the party." Frowning, Joe continues. "Okay. We use the crystal to let down the gates. Fine by me."
Joe places a hand on his shoulder to have the silent crow hop on his finger.
"Brandon. Find the girls." The crow flies off to look for the missing team members.
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this salt has some sort of strange essence about it John, can't put my finger on it...
Then he hands he salt back and says best have someone who can figure out magical things take a look at it. In the meanwhile, Ed, bring us to Joe. with that Niversal follows along with Ed's sense of smell guiding the way back.
First tapping it to the wall of a keyed location and it will open a secret door.
Second, saying the activation word 'Open' it acts as a knock spell within the keyed location.
Tapping the crystal to the wall the stones move to the sides magically revealing a door. The door appears locked.
Brandon flies off looking for the girls.
Ed quickly moves back and leads Niversal and John to the group with ease just as the door appears.
"Sorry about that guys. I did get lost, Niversal found me." John looks at the locked door. "I uh, think I might be able to pick locks now? I used to do it as a hobby, but I was always rubbish at it, but a past hero was really good at it. Law of averages I guess?" He shrugs. "Anyway, I'll take a crack at it if you folks want."
Serill is glad to see John, Ed and Niversal make it back. This would be a bad place to get lost in. He hoped the two women would make it back also.
"Open."
"I think the door is unlocked now, thank you Markas. Anyone want to go first?"
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"Joe if you would do the honors. Markas have a seat." He states and slowly puts Markas down. Then he pulls his bow out of his quiver. Then with a quick lean on the bow he strings it again and pulls out the goblin bane longbow. Then an arrow. He then points out, "Nice bow Niversal. Stand by me and you will get precise shots, my paladin aura grants it."
Joe grabs the handle of the door, and counts down from 3..2..1.. and opens the door quickly.
The door opens and seems to open into a small guard room. There are six wooden chairs, an empty weapon rack and a cot with a pillow and bedroll.
"Ah. John says somewhat lamely, looking embarrassedly at the now open door. He perks up though at seeing familiar sights like a bedroll and even a pillow brings a sense of normalcy back to the unfamiliar battleground. "Innit this a bit much for a simple guard room? Why all the fancy hiding?"
"Everyone in, and the real power will be revealed. It is a quick way up." Markas says. Slowly standing with or without help.
Once everyone enters and closes the door. You can hear the stones closing around the door again. Moment pass before you feel the room lifting. Then you hear the stones moving again. With Joe doing his countdown again. You find yourself looking into the gate room.
Markas sits down in one of the chairs and asks, "Please give me back the crystal."
The obvious threat is the six slightly aware orcs. They have falchions in hand or crossbows. Your group surprises them.
Surprise Round
Joe cautiously followed Markas, Escalavar drawn, and quietly pointed at the new guide's back.
Serill gives the crystal to Markas when he asks, wondering what he meant by 'real power'.
Serill sees the orcs and instinctively reacts, aiming the loaded crossbow at them and loosing the bolt.
Hesitating for only a second, John maneuvers around to get in position for a flank with an orc, preferably one with a falchion.
Surprise Round
Two missiles find the red armored orc and drop him. You hear roars from those within the room. Ed follows John into the room to the South.
Joe
Delman
Niversal
Serill Elamaer
John Smith
Markas
orcs
pink and yellow orcs
25 John Smith
24 Serill Elamaer
18 Niversal
17 Delman
17 Joe
11 Markas
10 orcs
Ed finds an orc to terrorize and trips it to the ground.
XP 135
Orc warrior 1
CE Medium humanoid
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception –1
Weakness light sensitivity
DEFENSE
AC 13, touch 10, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor)
hp 6 (1d10+1)
Fort +3, Ref +0, Will –1
Defensive Abilities ferocity
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee falchion +5 (2d4+4/18–20)
Ranged javelin +1 (1d6+3)
3rd level sergent:
ArmigerCR 2
XP 600
orc Fighter 3
LN Medium humanoid (human, orc)
Init+1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 18 (+8 armor, +1 Dex)
hp 27 (3d10+6)
Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +2 (+1 vs. fear)
Defensive Abilities bravery +1, orc ferocity
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee mwk alchemical silver glaive +7 (1d10+2/×3)
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 12
Base Atk +3; CMB +5; CMD 16
Feats Furious Focus, Intimidating Prowess, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (glaive)
Skills Intimidate +10, Knowledge (planes) +1, Sense Motive +3; Racial Modifiers +2 Intimidate
Languages Common, Orc
SQ armor training 1, orc blood, weapon familiarity
Combat Gear oil of magic weapon, potion of bull’s strength, potion of cure light wounds; Other Gear masterwork half-plate, masterwork alchemical silver glaive, 12 gp
Surprise Round
He quickly follows John into the room. Seeing the orcs he growls and bares his teeth.
Round 1
He steps up to the white orc and bites...
plus trip)
Round 2
You hear a big come from the guard room and you see that three more people have joined.
Jellena, Ryada, and a human male that looks like he is from earth...
Round 2
She looks even better than before almost like she has a glow to her. She quickly begins to sing inspiring you all to fight better.
Round 1
Joe cursed himself to see orc forces snuck upon them. The paladin charges in to the next room to give John and The Wonder Dog support. King Joseph first attacks the black orc.
Round 2
The orc in black slumps to the floor, while Joe steps into the room to continue the attack, this time attacking the blue orc.
He froze for a second as he realised he had killed something. He had never harmed anything but bugs or vermin in his previous life. Fortunately his fight response kicked back in a moment later and he remembered how to load the crossbow. Slamming another bolt in he aims at the nearest standing orc and puts a bolt straight through its brain, killing it instantly.
The adrenaline is flowing and he reloads again, shooting another orc just in the shoulder this time.