And so I ask again... do you want me to deafen it?
Is there some way to determine if it is more than just a bird? I've little knowledge of the arcane, but if it is a familiar, or whatever you called it, wouldn't there be some magical signs?
The raven's eyes seemed to flare a dark red colour as the bird's gaze was drawn away from the fascinating light display- only to look directly at Malthir.
Then, impossibly, unpredictably and brutally- the bird literally exploded, with the force of a powerful fireball. The Guardians were all caught in the blast as whatever dark force was using the Raven as its eyes sacrificed it now that it was captured.
Kip's quick reflexes allow him to throw himself to the ground avoiding the brunt of the blast.
Standing up again quickly Kip remarks sarcastically, Well that settles that. It has been a while since something has blown up in my presence. Thought I was beginning to lose my touch.
Malthir gets his shield up just in time as the Raven-Fireball goes off. I suppose we should heal up and then give them a dose of their own medicine.
Fenna was just beginning to lean in to speak with the raven when it erupted in her face, scorching the gnome's small frame and throwing her back with the force of the explosion.
"Augh....there's a magical sign for you, Kalev. Our enemy must be under pressure to do something like this."
Fenna was just beginning to lean in to speak with the raven when it erupted in her face, scorching the gnome's small frame and throwing her back with the force of the explosion.
The fire catches Ricter's unshielded side, cooking him inside his armor
"Ghah! What by the GODS was THAT!?"
He pats out a fire on his cape
"I hope you're right, Casimir. This steady trickle of attacks is beginning to feel like we're being toyed with"
Round 1, Malthir emits an aura of healing.
Channel
We should use wands if possible and save our spells, this could take some time to grind our way through these guardians.
I suggest Ricter and I lead the way with Kalev attacking from the second rank and Casimir cutting off any that try to flank us.
Sounds good, Malthir. We had best rely on our blades and brains as much as possible. I have a few things here that will help us, and a little something that may serve to draw the attention of some of the more mindless defenders.
Casimir grabs a helmet and a cloak from one of the defeated zombies, then conjures up his invisible servant. He drapes the cloak around the force figure, then has Fenna cast light on the helmet before setting it on the figure's "head".
[b]"Our friend here will serve as an advanced scout, lighting the way before us. He will not trigger any traps though, so we had best keep an open eye."[b]
He then pulls out a couple of wands and activates them. Once he is done, he places a wand in each of his wrist sheaths.
Ricter shifts his weight from foot to foot, getting used to the wand's mobility enhancing magic.
"Cunning plan, Casimir. And I too agree with that formation."
"Do we have any ways of covering our retreat if the opposition becomes overwhelming?"
"Thank you, Ricter. And between myself and Kip, I'm confident we have enough creative tricks at our disposal to cover our escape, should the need arise. There are more charges left in the wand of haste, if nothing else."
Kalev manages to turn his back and cover his head with his arms just as the bird detonates.
What foul magic is this? he says, a note of anger on his voice.
Kip looks at Kalev and Ricter. It would seem that the bird's master has, quite spectacularly and with finality, severed his link with his familiar.
Kip nods along with Cas and adds, I can summon more pits if necessity dictates.
Kalev will not require feather step until the fly spell is exhausted...
As Kip talks he removes a wand from his pack and reloads it into his wrist sheathe.
Kip then produces another wand from his pack and offers it to Cas and Malthir. I've been carrying this one... not much to it, but it is something.
I also have a wand of enlarge if anybody wishes to match up to the big brutes...
Making me larger for battling the Zombie giants would be useful. Ricter, you want to be a giant?
My reach would be considerably longer, if I were to grow by 8 feet, but use the magic as you think best
Ricter, Malthir and Fenna can go around the south side of the column, while the rest of us go the other way.
Let's see how they like a pincer maneuver!
Kip moves to the north, past the recently closed pit, with Cas and the enlarged Kalev in the lead.
"Does anyone else require healing? If we have no wands, I shall do what I can regardless."
"One touch of healing over here wouldn't go amiss, Fenna."
"I don't think now is the time to enlarge more than one of our number. These tunnels are too cramped to fight effectively in that state. Perhaps Kalev would benefit, though"
"Pincer or phalanx, then? What's the call, Baron?"
I say we stay together. If we separate, we are exposed if anything unexpected hits us, and we've seen several examples of that already.
I'm slightly wounded after the explosion, but should be able to push on
No point in taking chances, Fenna can you heal Kalev? How about Ricter and I in the front with Kalev enlarged just behind us with Casimir and Fenna bringing up the rear, that way we take advantage of your defenses as well as Kalev massive reach?
"I should be up front, directing our "scout" and watching for invisible enemies. Other than that, the plan is good."
Okay, then Kip by Fenna ready with pits or other countering magic. Sorry Kip I did not forget you, just a little foggy headed from te battle...
Fenna accepts the wand from Kip, before using it to soothe Kalev's burns and returning it.
"I believe we are ready?"
"That formation seems sound. Let us press forward!"
A lull came over the battle as the Guardians prepared for the pits to disappear and moved into a rough Phalanx formation, Casimir preparing his "scout". In the darkness ahead and around the corner, the enemy surely made their own plans...
As one, the Guardians moved into the tunnel and with the lights illuminating their approach, their foe were ready for them. Unfortunately, Casimir's gambit seemed to be completely ignored- for what reasons the duellist could not possibly know for sure. The foe had adopted a similar formation to the Guardian's themselves- some of the remaining armoured zombies occupying the front with two visible, giant Cylops' looming just behind; lacking Kalev's extreme reach with his polearm. Both sides came across each other and the fight began in earnest once more...
Round 1-
Ordered Initiative-
Guardians- 14
Undead- 4
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Action-
Having steadily marched into the narrow gap, the forces of the living were quick to capitalise on the ground they had gained and surged to the offensive...
Hold your ground, Guardians, Kalev said. Let them come to us.
Saving his magic and bardic inspiration, Casimir nods, shifting his grip on Brightclaw and adopting an offensive stance.
Cas, maybe you should give them a nudge with one of you explosive devices if they don't come over here?
Delay.
Ricter waits silently in formation, flail spinning steadily in readiness to strike.
I could drop a pit behind them... force them to move this way... Kip offers helpfully. Under the big one in the back...
Fenna utters a short prayer, laying a hand on Kalev's back, "May the Soldier guide your blow."