"Dang, you got a computer bag, and headphones? All I got were some scrubs I was planning on sleeping in. If I can get the staining out, I'll wouldn't be surprised if I ended up sleeping in 'em after all! Got here just after Niversal, you can call me John."
Glad that she does not appear to be angry, Serill retrieves the Book from Delman's safekeeping and offers it back to Merlynn. "I'm not sure a powerful artifact like that can simply be copied. With the number of years she has lived, it could literally contain every spell known." He says after Niversal.
"Merlynn, if I cannot learn from your Book, I would ask to learn under you and be your apprentice and agent. Likely you have many but I was sent here to help against the forces of darkness. I wish to learn everything there is to know about magic and I can think of no better way than to learn from you."
Even without her I will find a way... somehow. There are other magically powerful beings.
Seeing as it seems that the situation is not as I first perceived it I relax a bit and take a step back from the center, retrieving my bag as I do so. Then, turning to the man who spoke to me, Hi John, it’s pleasure. M’names Cameron. And yup. Got my whole office in here!
I pat my computer bag affectionately, then glance at you with a slightly unsettling look in my eye. Miss... “There” do ya? Well I got me some Math homework for ya if ya like!
I pull out a thick, heavy and bright orange Math textbook for you to see.
As Serill hands the book back to Merlynn a small orb seems to plop out of it and into your hand.
Merlynn shakes her head then offers, "In your hand is a wishing stone. Just like one you would get from defeating a dark soul maybe stronger. Since you have given up your wish you get another. I would suggest asking for a copy of my spellcasting tome. Sorry I dont have time for an apprentice right now. I will keep my eye on you and once you are strong enough we will talk again about becoming my agent. Shall we interigat the orcs, open the gates and continue?"
[dice=K(History)]1d20+9
[dice=K(Nobility)]0
[dice=K(Local)]1d20+9
[dice=K(Metaknowledge)]1d20+10
Basically general setting info :)
I take a moment to look around at the gate and then the fort in it. ...tis a nice gate... before returning my attention back towards John.
"Let's open these gates", King Joseph declared. "We're in need of much-needed backup, if the security of this fort is unclear."
John kicks at the gate, furtively hoping that maybe he could break it down with his mediocre class features. Mostly it just hurt his foot.
I put my textbook back in my bag once again as John apparently prefers kicking walls rather than talk about math. ah once again math is ignored...
Sighing I walk over to the nice gate and muse out loud So. You guys need to get through that? I’might have an idea.
I pull out my calculator, a pencil and some paper then start jotting down some estimates.
Serill catches the orb and stares at it in wonder, very happy that he got the chance for another wish. "Wow, incredible." He listens to Merlynn's advice and nods. He could make a more careful and informed wish this time. He took a few moments to come up with a more concrete wish than the "Merlin's Spellbook!" he had blurted out previously. "I wish for a device, much like Merlynn's spellbook, but made from mithral, in the form of a smart tablet that holds the knowledge of every known spell in its infinite memory, encrypted so that only I can unlock and read it, powered by a magical battery that never dies." A light but strong tablet, he decided, would be easier to use and less cumbersome than the tome of earlier.
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"I can actually understand orcish. I wasn't paying attention during the battle but I now remember understanding the orders they gave. I can help. What should we ask it?"
"Hmm. I think wishes are more personal. What you want or wish for might not be the best or most efficient. But that's ok. It's what you desire. Like someone wishing to fly. Well why not teleport? It's faster. But you can't get the feeling of what it is like to fly if you always get there instantly."
Serill smiles, almost laughing, and glances at Jellena for a moment. "That sounds like something the jedi priestess should say. Myself i'm not too good at asking for help or advice." Serill will also stock up on crossbow bolts, he used 4.
If no one knows orcish or has magic to understand them, Serill will translate questions that others give him, as well as ask a few obvious ones he could think of if given the chance.
"Why are you here?"
"Who do you serve?"
"What are their plans?"
"Where are they?"
Well, he was no master interrogator after all...
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"I have lots of experience with wishes and I can cast an augury for you as well. I am going to scout ahead." She goes through the doors unless asked to do something else first.
"Previously it was some kind of teleportation trap. Little I could have done with that." She sweetly says to Joe but you could see her mischievous eyes telling another story.
"PLEASE don't go to far ahead this time!" Joe said sternly.
As Serill begins to intimidate the orcs you tell they are not impressed. But he still gets some responses: We serve the Overlord, to rule the world, in the fort, to pillage and take what we can.
The tablet appears before Serill.
Cameron starts to give instructions and within a minute the gates are moving. Another minute the portcullises are up and the doors are open.
"That's not useful. Shall we take them prisoner? Does your army have questioners?" He asks to Joe/Merlynn.
Serill holds the tablet in wonder, any nerves from the battle fully gone now. He would study this later. He picked up the leopard bag and placed the tablet inside and strapped the bag over his shoulders.
"None that I know of though there might be some clerics that could help loosen their tongues and get the truth out." She states.
"I doubt our forces will get much information out of these prisoners. I had fully intended on not taking prisoners on based on the fact our forces would have been shown no mercy; for none was given three years prior."
Looking exasperatedly at Serill, Joe continued. "But since these beings have been taken under the pretense of prisoners, they shall be accorded as such", the king sighed. "They shall be given their day in court to plead there case."
When King Joseph regroups with the Avalon forces entering the now-opening portcullies, he directs some troops to take the captured orcs prisoners, but reiterated to the troops that any more taking of prisoners will be at the troop's discretion.
Its soldier drops the falchion and begins to beg on its knees. Jellena and Ed bring their living orcs back into the room away from the bloody room.
"I didn't take them prisoner. My King." He hoped he hadn't accidentally got on the king of Avalon's bad side.
King Joseph's look softened. "It's fine, Serill. You didn't know. As a paladin, I must follow the rules of engagement. I can't, in good conscience, execute those who have been taken prisoner, lest I walk the slippery slope to anti-paladin."
Looking to the others, Joe continued. "You know what every fallen paladin ever said? 'I'll never turn from my ideals'. I'm very much aware of the slippery moral slope all paladins must walk. If I kill those taken under the banner of prisoners, I'm no better than the orcs."
With a quick trip down with the crystal Joe and probably the entire group are in the courtyard with all of the troops.
The soldiers salute and begin heading out in groups of six. Some of the soldiers take the orcs and secure them with rope.
Ed continues to munch on orc legs.
"If they surrender and are unarmed, will you kill them?"
Serill tried to imagine the orc leg as just another lamb shank...
If they are near the main army Serill will try to get the use of a full component pouch or at least a little bit of butter from a supply tent (or something appropriate/maybe Merlynn has a spare).
"Where will you strike next?" he asks the King, "I wish to continue helping you." Watching the squads of soldiers head into the fort.
It's why i'm here after all
"If they surrender and are unarmed, will you kill them?"
"Hopefully, they will not", Joe said shortly, leaving the statement hanging in the air.
"Where will you strike next?" he asks the King, "I wish to continue helping you." Watching the squads of soldiers head into the fort.
It's why I'm here after all
"As I am thankful for that help, Serill", Joe gave the spellcaster a nod. "Hopefully, with our stronger number, our forces can go room-by-room, quelling any resistance while making our position more secure."
The paladin king looked around the filling courtyard. "Let's pray whatever happened here, the shadows that fell upon this fort before we could, are gone and left what resistance remains in total disarray."
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Niversal looks at them all and says Ideals are fine but they don't feed troops or take rape of your country and women away. They won't keep you safe and warm while your home burns because you let evil continue on instead of ending it. There is no quarter for evil. If your conscience won't let you kill them fret not. I will do it for you Niversal says plainly with practical experience written on his face
"I appreciate that sentiment, Niversal", Joe spoke frankly, looking down at the ranger's improvised weapon. "I think I have one hell of a weapon's upgrade for you, when we get back to Camelot."
"Gear sounds nice," John says, still a little shaky from getting his teeth bashed in by orcs. "Maybe front-lining isn't for me, not until I finish sorting through all these memories." He frowns then, "Still, I'm most useful in the front, and I'm no coward... I think?"
"Ideals are fine but they don't feed troops or take rape of your country and women away. They won't keep you safe and warm while your home burns because you let evil continue on instead of ending it. There is no quarter for evil. If your conscience won't let you kill them fret not. I will do it for you."
"Usually someone has to get their hands dirty."
As John and Niversal implement battle plans he pipes up also speaking to Joe. "I guess earlier was a bit of a shock to me being thrown into battle like that. I will be more useful next time. I know I can do much more than shoot this crossbow."
With his name said he stops chewing and looks up panting happily. Wagging his tail looking at his master.
One of the mage soldiers hands Seril an extra spell component pouch he had for reserves.
The company spreads out in defensive formations in the courtyard as squads go into the walls. Information quickly comes back and they find small patches of orc resistance. In a half hour most of the wall is secure and the front doors to the fort have been opened. It seems most of the orc forces with have been slaughtered by something else.
Lancelot is willing to go in with his knights to face this threat.
Jellena has finally returned.
"Has there been any sign of the Red Horde leadership?" Joe asks when reports come back.
If there would be time Serill asks to be able to change clothes into something more fitting that his earth clothes and stolen orc boots. I put on my robe and wizard hat. Serill laughs quietly to himself.
The soldiers have nothing to report concerning Red Horde leadership.
Serill changes into his explorer's outfit.
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As Joe talks about the Red Horde leadership she adds, "Oh yes! I should tell you, Morgana and the Overlord were in the throne room. I saw them as I was paralyzed, after I was teleported to that room with Ryada. Mr. Cameron actually saved us. He freed us from the paralysis and then the Mistress took over. At least until we all appeared in the other room with Cameron. Shall we go for the fort then, Lancelot and his knights might have more trouble than us."
"Absolutely", Joe agreed. "It may be early in the morning by the time we get back to Camelot, but it will be good to know, we will leave this place searched."
Entering into the fort you find more bodies. Human, orc, dog men, goblin, lots of bodies... The first room is a 40 foot wide 10 long murder row. Rocks and all sorts of ammunition is lodged into the ground, mostly through the bodies. As Jellena steps forward she confidently leads the group to the right.
Nothing attacks you. No movement from the murder holes above you.
At the end of the room you see she jumps up and with her weight on the chain reveals the end of the room to be a door. With Joe or someone else holding it open for a few moments she is able to slip in with you.
up the stairs which have much less bodies only one every three steps or so. The blood still made the stairs slick. Acro DC 12, four times to get to the top with no falls; OR you take a 5 foot step each turn.
Eventually the whole group gets up to the second floor to find the place littered with debris, broken weapons, rocks, and a few orc bodies. Jellena is willing to take lead again as she appears to know which way to go. She passes the murder holes and pulls one of a set of double doors open, holding onto the door.
Artemis
Joe
Ryada
Jellena
Delman
Niversal
Serill Elamaer
John Smith
Cameron
Asuras
gnolls
Joe takes his time climbing the stairs, and recommends other do the same. The paladin king assists the opening of doors. Trying not to vomit, Joe remarks, "We may have to come back here, Jellena. With..no much gruesome death, surely angry undead will either arise or be drawn to this place!"
"FIND COVER! CROSSBOWS!" King Joseph barks to those who followed him and Jellena.
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Surprise Round
She whispers into her ring, which for all but Ed and John you hear as if she was talking to you, "Careful it sounds like an ambush." Then she moves around the door turning on her lightsaber.
You can hear the triggers of four crossbows and three bolts whizz by. You hear her whince at the contact.... once you see her the bolt isn't in her.
Round 1
She raises the black light saber above her head and brings it down upon the closest dog faced man.
Serill steps carefully and slowly up the stairs, avoiding as much blood as possible. His crossbow is loaded and ready. He brought extra bolts this time.
He looks around as they go, making the habit of using Detect Magic to enhance his search and spot any possibly magical items, traps, spells or lingering auras.
Ambush! His heart started to pound again, but this time he was ready. Seeing Jelena go around the corner he also follows.
If Jellena doesn't kill the first one she struck, Serill aims at it, fires and reloads. He steps forward 5ft.
Surprise Round
Artemis would walk up the stairs, keeling an eye out for trouble before hearing Joe yell out as Jellena rushes forward. Following behind Serill, Artemis moves up to get a better line of sight.
Round 1
Taking a five foot step to the side, Artemis readies his gun aiming to the gnoll on the left, "I'd suggest covering your ears!" Artemis would yell at Serill before firing a shot down range.
"Crap!
Looking at the situation, John decides that getting in the way of the paladin with the magic sword and taking up the other spot in the door would be a bad plan. So instead he follows the first rule of RPG's, and body-blocks for the wizard, stepping in front of Serill. "Hope I don't get in the way of your spells," he says, as he tries to obstruct as many crossbow bolts as possible.
John takes the oft overlooked total defense action, bumping his AC up to 22, while still providing soft cover for the wizard against the crossbow toting gnolls.
I seem to be withdrawn into a deep, moral quandry from which I quietly contemplate.
I do snap out of it briefly and appear a bit uneasy once the conversation comes around to killing the captive orcs. I know that releasing them is the more dangerous route but I won't kill them. It's how I know I am not one of the baddies. Still, not my world, not my rules.
I am still visibly relieved once the decision to not kill them is made.
When Jellal mentions how I played a role in her rescue I just tip my hat with a Ma'am. and continue my contemplation, following the group.
God knows what possessed me but the urge to show off is irresistible.
On the second step you hear a just before I leap a frankly impressive 8 feet straight into the air followed by a double backflip. Impressive really.
If I didn’t land flat on my face.... owwww....
Seeing a bad ambush a mile away I jump into the defensive and start barking out orders Wach out! Ambush. Dog Dudes down the hall. You. Shoot the one on the left!
I continue to bark out orders with high efficency at those around me.
Good shot! You! Now you swing at that remaining poodle over there. And come on man, put your back into it!