Courts of the Shadow Fey (Rune Stones Part V - 4e)

Game Master Rev Rosey

"We shall certainly deal with him, but I think we need to be in possession of all our health before doing so. I don't advocate charging in this very second."

"I don't advocate charging in at any point. Except when necessary to throw our foes off balance."

Sorry, two conventions in 10 days.

Reason is pleased that Kia has volunteered, as he was at a loss as to who was best suited to duel without causing offence.

Tutavak looks relieved. "Yes, if the Chosen are fighting, I will be by their side."

Tutavak's look of relief is matched by Yikrugrak's.

"I have said all I can say, but if the opportunity arises to help you in any way, I will do so. The end of the dueling season cannot be far off."

Clearly nervous, the Crawling Knight bows once more and departs, leaving the companions to their own devices.

Yikrugrak speaks no more than the truth. By now all of Arianwyn's Ravens are looking much the worse for wear, cheerfully swapping tales of new gambits learned and cunning opponents felled. Brightspur alone seems prone to sink back into gloom.

"My failure with the slut Lishekki makes it ever less likely that I can duel the Lightning Lord. I must find another means to be glorious. Suggestions, great leader, are most welcome." As usual, it's hard to tell how serious he is as he appears at the edge of the group.

Casting a speculative eye on Chary, he moves towards her.

"We have not met, although I have seen and admired your dark beauty from afar. May I amend that now? Brightspur, lately lord of the Ravens, but now most happily supplanted by Arianwyn."

Chary

Chary looks contemplatively at Brightspur, then curtsies deeply to the gentleman.

"My attention, you may have. I too noticed you from afar, but your timing is unfortunate. Unfortunate in two respects: one, that you are no longer the lord of the ravens, and two, that you have approached me just when I cannot duel with you to determine your worth. As dueling season has ended, your attempted conquest will have to be postponed...indefinitely."

She smiles derisively at Brightspur before turning to Arianwyn.

"LORD Arianwyn, I am Chary and am currently a member of the Black Prince's entourage. I am not an important person in the courts, and I tire of being under the Black Prince's foot every minute. He has recently allowed me some lead, I will take this opportunity to try to hang myself with it." She smiles mischeviously before continuing.

"Your quest seems like an entertaining challenge, as well as being a worthy cause. Would you accept my blade, not to mention my meager healing talents on your quest against this demon?"

Despite speaking directly to Arianwyn, she tries to sneak glances at the other companions to assess their responses to her request, particularly Whiteclaw.

Kia is none too pleased that Chary has chosen to address Arianwyn as if he is the leader of the party. But she realises that she is not a high player in the game of courtly manners so holds her peace and waits to see what Arianwyn will say. Something inappropriate and flippant no doubt.

"I think that Chary would be an asset to our quest, and she does know local politics as well. I say that we should accept her gracious offer." Whiteclaw remarks.

"My thoughts exactly." Arianwyn adds, and then says to Chary "I like the cut of your jib, milady, you are right welcome."

He bows to her.

"You say you are a healer?"

Brightspur bows politely. "Doubtless my charms will increase as you come to know our glorious leader better. In the meantime, I propose to get extremely drunk."

He strolls away, seemingly fairly unmoved by Chary's rejection.

You may all now take the equivalent of an extended rest. Powers, hp, surges are all restored and you have 1AP. You are also level 12, so sort out your profiles please. Not Chary. She's already ahead of you.

Long slog of hand input into my profile now, as I no longer have the offline CB, and the online one has no export function yet. Ah well.

Arianwyn gives Brightspur a slap on the back of the head as he leaves/

[Gibbs]LIKE SO [/Gibbs]

Brightspur grins at his leader and salutes languidly. "I shall endeavour to find something to amuse myself with until the Might of Kargzant can battle me. I've seen his horse. Well worth having."

Tutavak frowns at the drow's offer, but relaxes at Arianwyn's acceptance. His "Welcome, Chary" is polite but not warm.

Updated.

Sounding fine so far. Once you've all updated yourselves, I'll move you along.

Kia and Reason can I ask if you are updated yet? I'd like to move things along.

The day passes quietly, as the companions old and new restore themselves and await the promised arrival of Akyishigal's messenger.

Unless anyone tells me otherwise.

As the light turns to dusk in the Courts, a roachling of unusually disgusting appearance, wearing a coat of writhing insects, approaches your chambers. Antennae twitching and an expression of ill-concealed glee on its face, the insectoid makes a prefunctory bow and speaks. Like Yikrukrag, the voice is completely at odds with its appearance, being mellow and entirely charming. This roachling however appears to be male.

"I bring greetings, Lords and Ladies. You are invited to treat with one who has watched your rise from the sewers to the stars. Lord Akyishigal would share his confidences with you at the bottom of the Black Well at moonrise tonight."

Another bow and he scuttles away, leaving a trail of roaches in his wake.

New Kia up an running. Took the Harrowing Swarm Student feat which adds the Rattling keyword to her Paint the Bullseye attack

Heading to the Dark Well?

Arianwyn trances and then spends the rest of the early morning transcribing rituals in his own shorthand manner. He looks down his nose at the messenger and regards the invite with distaste.

Distasteful or not, as the moon rises once more, adding sharp dark shadows to the always disorienting light of the Shadow Court, the comrades gather together in the Royal Halls. Outside the chambers of the Black Prince, in a small courtyard, a dark pit opens leading downwards. Slick and hard to climb, it will be a test of some skill to descend.

DC20 Athletics check to climb down. Failure by more than 5 means falling 50 feet and taking 5d10 damage. Using ropes or climbing kit will reduce the DC by 2. You may aid another.

Reason and Arianwyn - any rituals you want to cast?

Ain't got no components, guv. If I can buy some from someone, then I shall. Also, Arcana check (I believe that's right for demons) to ascertain any further info (combat or otherwise) on the blighter.

Arcana 1d20+20 = 36!

You can haz components. Narin (Reason's dwarf pal who's after Parthenon membership) can supply them and you'd have the whole day free to buy them in. What does sir wish to purchase?

Arianwyn's knowledge of demons proves deeper than anyone expects.

And will follow when I get back from dealing with the nativity play I'm directing. "Shepherds, the audience is this way. Please show me your sheep."

I'll get 100gp worth of alchemical reagents (Arcana components) please, and then cast Fastidiousness before entering the Well.

Chary looks intensely down the shaft, as if trying to intimidate it into submission.

"I would feel better to have some sort of rope to climb down." She looks around to see if anyone volunteers a rope. If not, she will pull out her own coil of silk rope to tie off to something sturdy at the top of the shaft. She then steps back and offers the rope to someone (anyone), clearly hiding her unease at such a climb down.

Almost imperceptibly, she whispers to herself, "Just after dinner, AND I don't like heights...great."

Does she see anything down the shaft (Darkvision)?

50 feet down, so you can't see much.

Chary flinches despite herself as she realises that the walls of the pit are covered in roaches heading downwards like a glistening waterfall.

Arianwyn thinks and remembers ...

The others can look at the spoiler, I suppose :D

Arianwyn reveals the depth of his research.

"So, in conclusion, do not stand anywhere near him."

Pristine and smelling of whatever aftershave it is that he most favours, Arianwyn delivers a short, but informative lecture on your foe.

Yes, they can look.

Looks like I will be hard pressed to use my powers that render me invisible with him being immune to illusions and charm. Just as well we found that out. I have a power that can deal 5 radiant damage each round - that's 15 damage to him. If I can get Crown of Stars to hit, then we have a nice ace in the hole.

I have to agree with your warlock that some kind of battle plan would make sense here. I won't be giving away any secrets if I say that this is a very tough one and if you don't have some strategy in place, you could all end up in very dire straits.

I do more fire and weapon, but I do have a melee at-will that does radiant. I have some defender powers, but not enough hp to stand up with this guy very long -- more a ranged + hit-and-run type. And not having my horse will be a handicap, but I don't really see an option for that.

Shall we take strategy/tactics discussion to the discussion thread?

You can't make OAs while engulfed, but can you make normal attacks? If not, Whiteclaw's pretty much useless.

As it imposes the restrained condition, you can still make attacks (as being restrained does not prevent you from doing so, but you take a -2 penalty to attacks.) p277 PHB.

You can attack exactly as normal when you're restrained, you just can't make OAs. Actually, Whiteclaw would be fine as she tends to lock down her enemies anyway. If she gets engulfed, the locking is done for her as she would move with the monster.

You can attack exactly as normal when you're restrained, you just can't make OAs. Actually, Whiteclaw would be fine as she tends to lock down her enemies anyway. If she gets engulfed, the locking is done for her as she would move with the monster.

True, but her lockdown tends to keep them from attacking other people, which she won't be able to do inside it. Though, most defenders lose effectiveness when unable to OA. This'll be a hard fight I think :)

yes, I think this will be a hard fight. Chary is mostly melee, but if she gets engulfed , I assume she will be unable to do any healing (line of effect is blocked by engulfing, I think). Chary does have the ability to switch places with a character within 5 squares of her once during the encounter, although I am pretty sure most will not want to switch to an engulfed state.

Chary doesn't have radiant powers, but one of her at wills gives an ally 11 temp HP if she hits. That is nothing to sneeze at! Hopefully, the she can keep doling out the HP, temp HP, and the occasional healing surge to keep the group strong.

OK. Let's get this show on the road.

Chary fixes her rope and prepares to descend into the Black Well.

DC18 Athletics check to climb down, thanks to the rope. Failure by more than 5 means falling 50 feet and taking 5d10 damage. You may aid another.

Can't fail by more than 5, so not sure it matters. Happy to aid -- please feel free to make the aid rolls if you want them.

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

Tutavak descends Chary's rope as well, pausing as needed to lend aid to the less athletic.

Tutavak starts to lower himself into the depths. The lantern dragonettes chirrup in distress and disengage from the necks of Whiteclaw, Reason and Kia, leaving the party bereft of light.

Tutavak pauses in the sudden mirk, awaiting light from his companions.

Chary does her best to climb down the rope, but is really not too good with heights (or athletics), so please be on the look out for giving her a hand, if she doesn't fall too soon for help.

athletics = 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Nice!!! If there were critical misses, that would certianly be one!
AND this is sure to impress her new buddies with her prowess!
AND there are not enough aid anothers in the group to help me.

Edit: Chary tries to grab hold of the rope as she falls.

according to athletics check, I can try to stop the fall with a check that is 5 above the original check (so, dc=23) athletics check = 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

and she fails that too!, Yipee!

At Level 12, you should be on +6 to Athletics checks, not +5, not that that helps right now.

Arianwyn looks stunned and startled.

And forgot that he has a climbers' kit, but only he can use it.

At Level 12, you should be on +6 to Athletics checks, not +5, not that that helps right now.

Armor

Doh. I forget that other people wear heavier armour. Don't mind me! :D

Hearing the drow plummet past, Tutavak resumes a hasty descent into the dark. At bottom, he fumbles in his pack for a light source.

Athletics if needed again 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

HA!

As I choke quietly on my decaff, may I wish all that celebrate it a Happy Thanksgiving.

Chary demonstrates her impetuous nature in full measure as she misses her footing completely and plunges down the hole past Tutavak, landing prone and sending roaches scuttling away.

5d10=26 damage to Chary.

Tutavak

Clutching a sunrod in his teeth, Tutavak shins down much more gracefully, lands beside his fallen drow ally and holds the sunrod high. To his consternation, the light is less effective than he had hoped. Halved. Only 10 squares visibility.

What he can see is disturbing enough. Every possible surface is coated in a moving blanket of roaches, although as Tutavak's feet touch ground, they skitter away from him, leaving the pair isolated in an area surrounded by black stone pillars. Surrounding them are roachlings of two types and to the south a gigantic cockroach. Judging from the repulsive goo oozing from its carapace the creature is almost certainly poisonous.

From the cover of one of the pillars a charming voice laughs lightly. "So eager to greet me? Do more of you come to pay obeisance to the Skittish One?"

MAP

Only Chary and Tutavak can see this at the moment.

Good-oh.

Arianwyn growls a curse to himself, and readies his climbing gear.

Although, scratch that, it's only any use in climbing surfaces rather than rope. Athletics 1d20+9 = 29.

Shimmying down effortlessly, Arianwyn lands catlike.

and sees many, many roaches.

"Welcome to the blackest pit of the Courts."