Fear. Fear. Can't stay near that thing. Thing is going to come for you, eat your mind. Run. Run. Run, Osei. RUN!
(Do you have darkvision? No, right? So after the first round of running, you'll be out of range of your dancing lights and scrambling over rubble in the dark.)
Follow the wisdom of the wise. Balek nods slowly, following Haruka's advice. "She's right, you know. We have to stick together, or we will all be stuck here. Remember who stands beside you, who fights with you, who has been at your side and helping you."
I hope that works.
One of the mouths giggles in a horrible slobbery way. The other one titters. (They have different voices.)
At our side? You can come to our side now! Hee hee hee!
Ah heh heh heh! No more being afraid! No more hiding! Happy now!
HP 5/8 Init +1; Per +1 AC 15/11/14 Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +3
Douglas Muir 406 wrote:
Fear. Fear. Can't stay near that thing. Thing is going to come for you, eat your mind. Run. Run. Run, Osei. RUN!
(Do you have darkvision? No, right? So after the first round of running, you'll be out of range of your dancing lights and scrambling over rubble in the dark.)
No darkvision, here, just us humans. Rolling for random direction - 1 = E, 2 = NE, 3 = N, etc. counterclockwise around a compass.
1d8 ⇒ 6 = SW
"Lauri--aa--AAAAUUGGH!" Osei's eyes go wide and he bares his teeth backing away from Laurine and the THING; he crouches instinctively, covering his head. Get it away. There's a way - I know the way. He madly scans the area, and bolts at top speed towards the southwest, scrambling on all fours over jagged rocks and bodies - half feeling his way in the dark, skinning hands and shins in the process. Can't stop. Mustn't stop. It's back there. Waiting for me. No. Coming for me.
A wordless vocalization, alternating between growl and moan follows his animalistic flight into the darkness.
HP 5/8 Init +1; Per +1 AC 15/11/14 Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +3
Douglas Muir 406 wrote:
(Do you have darkvision? No, right? So after the first round of running, you'll be out of range of your dancing lights and scrambling over rubble in the dark.)
A question: I can't cast a spell while frightened, but wouldn't I be able to bring the lights with me (concentration/act of thought) as a basic survival tactic? Even in a state of magical fear, would one rush into a dark area if one had the means to brighten it? Would one throw a torch away?
Regardless, if I'm feared for more than the remaining duration of Dancing Lights - those particular lights go out for all until I'm no longer afraid. Balek, Haruka, Gwerm, Felice (as far as I know) and Osei would be affected. Did I miss anyone?
AC 16 t.12 ff.14, hp -2/9, saves F3 R2 W7, init +2, Per +6, touch of good 7/7, calming touch 6/7, channel 1/3
"Be calm," Balek says, stepping forward and touching Laurine's cheek. "You are yourself, not your hands and not your mouth and most especially not the plaything of demons."
Domain power: calming touch: touch a creature as a standard
action to heal 1d6+1/cleric level nonlethal damage. Also
removes fatigued, shaken, and sickened conditions (but no others).
In his other hand, he holds his spear loosely and non-threateningly.
Calm the hound; hunt the mad dog. I hope she is not mad.
female Human Inquisitor (Iconoclast)(Preacher)hp 3/8|AC 15|perc 8|init 1|Agile feet 7/7
"Laurine, you need to find yourself again. You know that you can trust me, I have never lied to you, I stayed by your side when you needed me, so trust me now, accept this spell, it will help you" Haruka moves closer to Laurine and reaches out with a softly glowing hand, after muttering a short praier in Minkai.
A question: I can't cast a spell while frightened, but wouldn't I be able to bring the lights with me (concentration/act of thought) as a basic survival tactic? Even in a state of magical fear, would one rush into a dark area if one had the means to brighten it? Would one throw a torch away?
...you know, I thought moving Dancing Lights around was a move action (it is for some other spells, like Flaming Sphere). But no. So, actually, you'd *have* to bring the lights long; if you can use magic or an item to assist your flight, you'll do it.
"Be calm," Balek says, stepping forward and touching Laurine's cheek. "You are yourself, not your hands and not your mouth and most especially not the plaything of demons."
Domain power: calming touch:
Interesting. Strictly speaking, she doesn't have the fatigued, shaken or sickened conditions, so formally it shouldn't do anything to her. But there's definitely agitation there. Calming Touch is a fairly minor power, but... well, let's see:
Alderman Gwerm cowers away from the enraged kobold. "I... I... yes, of course... we, uh, we must work together for the um, common good... naturally, I agree..."
Of course, intimidation wears off. And then people don't like you very much.
Eh, Takka figures nobody liked him before. Why be nice if it gets no results? (Obviously not his best move, but at the moment, he's not thinking too long term.)
Takka nodded firmly, before climbing down off the rock and exhaling. "Thank you. I'm sorry, I just... nevermind. We have bigger issues." Takka squinted through the dark as his eyes readjusted. It had been a while since he'd had to see through pitch black like this. He could spy Osei fleeing from Laurine... and the stone in her hand. It looked like a corrupted piece of the Wardstone!
"Ah! Uh... master elf!" Takka said, turning to the blind elf and realizing he didn't actually know his name. "One of our former training commanders - her name is Laurine - she's... there is something wrong with her. She has... mouths in her hands, and she's got a glowing green rock. I... I think it's a corrupted piece of the Wardstone above. I remember that green glow... I saw it in my vision. I think she's possessed. Please, elves are good at magic, yes? How do we reverse this curse?"
"Laurine, you need to find yourself again. You know that you can trust me, I have never lied to you, I stayed by your side when you needed me, so trust me now, accept this spell, it will help you" Haruka moves closer to Laurine and reaches out with a softly glowing hand, after muttering a short praier in Minkai.
"Ah! Uh... master elf!" Takka said, turning to the blind elf and realizing he didn't actually know his name. "One of our former training commanders - her name is Laurine - she's... there is something wrong with her. She has... mouths in her hands, and she's got a glowing green rock. I... I think it's a corrupted piece of the Wardstone above. I remember that green glow... I saw it in my vision. I think she's possessed. Please, elves are good at magic, yes? How do we reverse this curse?"
"A corrupted piece of the... Get it away from her! It's deadly! It's probably killing her right now!" The old elf is obviously still in pain, but his voice has the crack of command. "Don't just stand there! Move!"
Takka felt himself start to panic slightly at the elf's orders, but managed to force himself to move closer. "Ah! A-alright, I'm going!" he stuttered back, before rushing closer. He was sure HOW he was going to get the stone away from her, but-
Takka froze as he saw Balek fall down, his mind suddenly racing with flashbacks to Kyami... and something broke. Somewhere in his mind, he could feel the fury rising up in him, but was powerless to stop it. "...no... no no no... NO! NOT ANOTHER! YOU WILL NOT TAKE ANOTHER!!!" he bellowed, his voice suddenly transitioning from it's normally scratchy high pitch to a deep draconic roar. His eyes glowed brightly as white-purplish light streamed from them. He could feel his maw growing white hot as the same light flew from his jowls like flames.
He could hear it all. Roars of draconic might, some spreading eons back, and others echoing into the far flung future. He could pick out individual bellows of power, as the voices of dragons filled his consciousness. He could even hear Terendelev's mighty roar. But slowly, two began to separate themselves from the others. They were impossibly loud, and complete opposites, yet they somehow harmonized in unison. One spoke to him in a gentle and kindly voice to let go of his inhibitions, let this rage flow freely. But the other spoke with authority, telling him to restrain it, control it.
"I... hear you. Who are you..? Who... are you..?" Takka could feel power returning to him, as his own will started to supersede the fury he felt. "..no! I won't... give in! Control it! Con...trol... it...!" Takka caught sight of the glowing green rock. That! He had to destroy it! Concentrate on it! "..b..back up! Stand..! Back..!" he yelled, before reeling his head back and suddenly snapping forward. The white-purple fire darted incredibly fast from his gaping maw as he squinted intensely at the shard of the Wardstone. Go! Destroy it! That's an order! he thought, demanding the bolt of energy to obey... and it did, darting right towards Laurine's hand.
Using Eldritch Bolt to dish (I think) a ranged touch attack on the wardstone shard. Trying my best not to hit Laurine. It'll do Force damage, which I hope the stone isn't protected against. Eldritch Bolt:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 41d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
The force bolt hits Laurine square in the face, snapping her head backwards. If she were an ordinary human, it would have knocked her out cold. But while she's definitely rocked by the attack -- she'll have a nasty bruise on her face -- she's very much still standing.
Her eyes flare with rage. Literally flare: green light flickers and sparks from them. She whirls on Haruka. "Trust! Trust!" One hand lashes out...
Takka snarled as the bolt hit Laurine right in the face. Dammit! DAMMIT! Control it! Stay... under... control! he thought, snarling as he reeled back and built up more energy in his maw. "G..grrrrrrrrr! Sir Constantine! Get them out of there! H-hurry! I... can't guarantee... I won't...!"
Takka couldn't restrain himself any more as he let loose another bolt of energy, squinting. The stone..! STRIKE! THE! WARDSTONE!
"Just a... moment..." Felice shifts her weight on you to get both her hands free. The movement is painful -- you can hear her gritting her teeth in pain -- but she persists. "Dark Father... give me... strength!" She makes a sudden abrupt flinging gesture with one arm.
1d20 ⇒ 6 Whatever she was trying to do, it didn't work.
"What's going on? What's happening? Is this woman... possessed by demons?" Alderman Gwerm moves to place Constantine and Takka between him and Laurine. "Completely unacceptable! She must be expunged completely, at once!"
female Human Inquisitor (Iconoclast)(Preacher)hp 3/8|AC 15|perc 8|init 1|Agile feet 7/7
'Lord Daikitsu, grand me strength against evil' activate healing judgement
Haruka takes a step back, mumbles a short prayer and points at Balek. cast stabilize at Balek(I think he is still bleeding) "Laurine, please let go of the fragment, it's power will kill you.
Laurine, look into my eyes if you belive I am lying"
Constantine turns and sees his friend possessed by a fragment of the ward stone.....
"By the seven knights! Release her from possession!"
Constantine lashes his whip hoping to knock the fragment free.....
Whip Attack 1d20+3
Damage (non-lethal)1d3+2
I'll treat that as a Disarm attack, which is a combat maneuver that does no damage. I believe you can use a whip to disarm someone from up to 15' away without a feat? Correct me if I'm wrong. Also, using the whip this way (1) provokes an AoO if you're within reach of an enemy (you're not), and (2) does no damage, not even nonlethal damage.
Anyway: she has a decent CMD, but it's not 21. So the whip lashes out, and slaps the glowing fragment from her hand!
Haruka takes a step back, mumbles a short prayer and points at Balek. cast stabilize at Balek(I think he is still bleeding)
He was, but now he's not!
Quote:
"Laurine, please let go of the fragment, it's power will kill you.
Laurine, look into my eyes if you belive I am lying"
She's lying!
She's totally lying!
The lizard hit us ow ow OW! Right in the face! Stupid lizard!
And now the orc is trying to steal our wonderful soul-stone no no NO!
"Soul-stone..." Laurine looks down. Then she bends down and picks the stone up, gripping it firmly in one hand. She turns and scowls at Sir Constantine.
Yes! Hurt him!
Eff! Hurf dem all!
She's gripping the stone tightly, giving her +4 to CMD against future disarm attacks. On the plus side, while she's doing that she can't bite with the mouth in that hand. Also that mouth's raving is muffled, for what that's worth.
Male Half orc Paladin 1 (redeemer archetype) AC 18 , HP 11/11, Int+1, Percep+1
"That was pointless, guys you weren't supposed to let her pick it back up again, though it seems removing it from her grip did not cancel the possession!"
"Do not give in to them they are the lords of lies!"
"That was pointless, guys you weren't supposed to let her pick it back up again, though it seems removing it from her grip did not cancel the possession!"
To be fair, it did cost her this round's action. So everyone can act again now.
female Human Inquisitor (Iconoclast)(Preacher)hp 3/8|AC 15|perc 8|init 1|Agile feet 7/7
Haruka moves back in front of Laurine "Laurine, have I ever lied to you or done something to harm you? Who has saved you from the dwarf and his companion? Please, Laurine let go of that stone, it will kill you.
ready action on stone drop (if possible, picking it up and throwing it away, if not just picking it up)
Haruka moves back in front of Laurine "Laurine, have I ever lied to you or done something to harm you? Who has saved you from the dwarf and his companion? Please, Laurine let go of that stone, it will kill you.
ready action on stone drop (if possible, picking it up and throwing it away, if not just picking it up)
Well, since nobody else is doing anything this round...
You don't want to hurt them? Okay. Okay. We don't have to hurt them. Now, yet.
Mmph mmph. Mmf o ah mmph ee um ack mmpher.
Laurine steps back and makes a series of quick, jerky gestures. Then she whirls and runs towards the wall... and *up* it, like some sort of huge insect. She pauses for a moment, 20' above you, looking down.
"Dark Lord... preserve us!" Felicia's breath is coming in short gasps of pain, and her grip is digging into Sir Constantine's arm. "Stop... trying to talk to the thing! It's... not your friend any more! Just... kill it!"
"No I will not! I will not attack her unless she attacks first, myself or my friends."
"Ach sz'yek-ptah chtung *kek'ha zofort n!ek'r-ziet! Tears are running down Felicia's face, but it's hard to say whether they are pain, grief or rage. "If this is how you fools defended the Wall, no wonder it fell! My father was right about you! Right about you all!"
If you speak Infernal:
Oooh, that was nasty. She used the Insult mode, the pejorative case on both nouns and the pronoun, the verbal tense of superior-to-inferior, and the -ziet suffix to indicate extreme contempt. And that's without getting into what she actually said.
female Human Inquisitor (Iconoclast)(Preacher)hp 3/8|AC 15|perc 8|init 1|Agile feet 7/7
"Laurine, drop the fragment, it will be your death"
if she drops it:
Haruka reaches for the fragment,to pick it up and throw it as far away as she can.
if not:
Haruka speaks with a sad but determined voice "I am sorry Laurine, buta ny other course of action would be abbadoning you to death or worse through the fragment"
she draws a blunt arrow and takes aim, muttering "Lord Daikitsu, please grant me your divine light" and shoots the arrow, glowing in a soft orrange ligth, that evokes a fealing like summer sun, at Laurine.
swift action to switch judgement from healing (should have healed about 2 or 3 HP by now) to bane
HP 5/8 Init +1; Per +1 AC 15/11/14 Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +3
Still at conference, but need break from practicing my talk, so making a quick post.
It's coming. Brain-eater. Thought-sifter. Soul-crusher. Solace. Must find the light. Climb. Scramble. Hide. Wait ... what?
Whenever Osei is no longer under the influence of magical fear ...
Osei finds himself removed from his comrades in a southwest corner of the caverns. He reaches to pick up the quarterstaff he had dropped to cover his face from The Thing while cowering and winces as the torn flesh of his hands grips the smooth wood. The wizard looks down at his robes, now tattered below the knee, and his bleeding shins. She has gained much power to have controlled me so thoroughly.
He refreshes his Dancing Lights, and makes his way back to his teammates.
If possible, he will get into range of Laurine (30') with his staff, and invoke the Hand of the Apprentice Power
The wizard calls out, "Laurine and Friends - you aren't leaving in the middle of our conversation, are you?" Osei tosses his staff in the air, and it hangs at head-height. He invokes a word of power and thrusts both of his hands towards Laurine, causing the staff to blur towards her faster than the eye can follow.
AC 16 t.12 ff.14, hp -2/9, saves F3 R2 W7, init +2, Per +6, touch of good 7/7, calming touch 6/7, channel 1/3
Breathes a little easier. Still out.
And dreaming. Nightmares of dead dragons, of ruined cities, and of older days...
A young boy, huddled against the wall, while crusaders' children mocked his half-breed heritage. One threw a stone... and the crushed finger never healed.
An old tree, kept by his mother in her garden, a seedling of lost Sarkoris. A seedling brought from old Sarkoris. It flowered once. Only once, before it died. No one knew how to tend it when Mother died. "Someday we will plant those trees again, and enjoy their fruit," Father had said.
The pride of success, of drawing a bow for the hundredth time, and striking the target dead center. Good. Now to do it when demons are filling the air with rain and fire, and your heart is full of fear. But each small success builds to another.
Male Half orc Paladin 1 (redeemer archetype) AC 18 , HP 11/11, Int+1, Percep+1
"No you are wrong both Takka and I begged them to stop wasting time on a trial and to find out how an assault occurred on the safehouse, and to find out what was happening with the wardstone, our pleas fell upon deaf ears, it is as you say. Your father was right in arrogance they have failed, but we still live and still hope!"
"Swallow not the bitterness and bile spit it out and have hope that we may be restored!"
Knowing that diplomacy takes a long time, should I go ahead and roll it now or later?
