"The powers of this mask will enable me to take on the appearance of another. I'll be back in a few moments... wearing the guise of the body at the tower."
Evelyn stealthily moves off to the tower. She attempts not to disturb the reptiles, and activates her mask's powers once she gets within 60 feet of the remains.
Evelyn soon returns wearing the face of the dead man in place of her own.
As Evelyn left Brand walked over to the knight. He stared at the giant branch the man had taken for a club.
"Here left me fix that a bit for you."
As one finger touched the broken end, the wood creaked and snapped. It smoothed over and straightened out from top to bottom. The Haft cracked and reformed leaving a handhold more suitable for swinging.
Brands eyes narrowed and the crest of the knights crusade etched itself into the broad clubs top.There, like it was handcrafted and everything! He gave the knight a broad smile.
Sir Norin Mildegard's eyes grew wide as the wood shifted and grew at Brand's touch. He studied the finished weapon with a practised eye.
"That's an astonishing gift, Mr. Orson. Simply amazing. Tell me, what else can you do?"
Evelyn also takes the robes the man was wearing. Her shadows shift and move, her mask presenting a near-perfect illusion.
"I will go in alone, but It would be nice if you guys were nearby in case this goes sour. I'll try finding out what they are up to."
Then we start moving towards the camp, with people stopping before they get close enough to be seen.
Eveyln approached the outer ring of camp defenses like she belonged there. A pair of gold cloaked sentries stepped towards her. One raised his hand.
"Glory to He Who Must Not Be Named, Brother. You were taking so long, even Brother Phrenim here was getting nervous. Come, Brother Liriborn will want to hear of what you've found. He's awaiting your report in the Tent of Contemplation."
The two sentries moved back to their posts, watching the surrounding area carefully, leaving Evelyn to her own devices.
Brand hunkered down in the bushes, waiting for something to happen.
How are we supposed to know if something goes wrong?
Afternoon, Moonday Rising, Lowfall, AR 67
The companions crouched behind a patch of bulrushes, awaiting the return of Evelyn. Dragonflies darted on the lake, iridescent bodies of green and blue gleaming in the late day sun.
A pair of white-tailed swamp deer walked to the lakeshore and drank. Sir Norin slapped a mosquito, sending the deer fleeing back into the wilds, tails flashing pale against dappled brown hides.
"You know, it's not really my place to say," the knight said, "But this plan is among the worst I've ever seen."
"What if they see through her illusion? What if there is a password? What if she has to go indoors and out of sight? There are holes in this wide enough to fly an airship through. You mark my words, when they break her....and they will break her, the last place we want to be is here, waiting for our executioners in the rushes. We need a new plan."
The knight looked from one companion to the other. "So what's the real plan?"
Brand smiled as a dragonfly landed on his outstretched fingers. He turned his hand over as the insect walked across.
"The problem is, now she's in there and we have to make sure she's safe as she can be before we try anything."
He frowned as the glittering bug flew away.
"We have to trust her on this one. Hopefully if she's made, she has a way to let us know she's in trouble. Be it an explosion or some kind of signal. If we hear nothing by full dark, we will have to go in."
He snapped off the top of a bulrush and picked the fibers apart. He placed them on his palm and blew them away.
"So I'm going to wait for something to happen. If its guards rushing our position, hopefully you can swing that fancy new club of yours with gusto. Then you'll get to see what else I can do"
Amelia listened to the others prattle on. She agreed with the knight that the plan was horrible, but said nothing. In fact she was unsure why they were there.
Amelia listened to the others prattle on. She agreed with the knight that the plan was horrible, but said nothing. In fact she was unsure why they were there.
Evelyn moved into the enemy camp, noting that most of the places activity was centered on a massive scaffold built against a cliff overlooking the mountain tarn.
Orderly rows of tents filled the gulf between the rise and a dense growth of highland spuce and red needle pine, one much larger than the others and boasting yellow pennants flying from its highest point.
Several dozen soldiers in chainmail move about the camp in twos and threes, resplendant in their mustard yellow cloaks. A few nodded to Evelyn as she walked deeper into the camp.
"Somewhere you're supposed to be, Brother?" a voice asked.
In his middle years, the man wore a variation of the camp's uniform, though his breast sparkled with odd broaches pinned in place like military medals and his cloak gleamed as if made of flowing metallic gold, matching the hilt of the curved sabre at his waist.
"One of Brother Liriborn's scout's are you not?" The man looked towards the large tent. "I'd hurry if I were you. He's in a foul temper and could use some good news. For your sake I hope you have some."
The man laughed, flashing a wide smile and walked away with a swirl of golden cloth, leaving Evelyn to her own devies once more.
Maitreya had been distracted, focused on the disharmony of this place as the others made their plans and worked their way into the camp or into hiding. Brand was right, it was too late to change the plan now, instead Maitreya stealthily moved around, looking for a vantage point in the swamp that afforded the best view of the camp, and hopefully a glimpse at Evelyn should she need help.
Maitreya had been distracted, focused on the disharmony of this place as the others made their plans and worked their way into the camp or into hiding. Brand was right, it was too late to change the plan now, instead Maitreya stealthily moved around, looking for a vantage point in the swamp that afforded the best view of the camp, and hopefully a glimpse at Evelyn should she need help.
Maitreya moved closer to he camp, watching Evelyn in disguise pass a sentry post, have a breif conversation with an older man and walk towards the largest tent.
He moved closer still, crouching behind a fall of boulders near the lakeshore. The lake suddenly rippled, throwing a distorted reflection of an enemy soldier as he releived himself noisily just a few feet away.
Evelyn walked towards the large tent and nodded to the pair of guards stationed outside. The warriors stepped aside and lifted the flap aside.
"He's been expecting you." one said.
The floor of the tent was carpeted with soft hides. An ornate desk sat to one side, heaped with large tomes and scrolls. A pair of chairs sat before it, occupied by an older soldier in a soft yellow uniform and an another man in strange attire. A veil hid the lower part of the mans face, a bundled wrap of black cloth wreathing everything above the mans eyes, eyes like shards of flint. A shapeless robe of midnight cloth hid the mans form but Evelyn could tell he was tall, head and shoulders taller than the tallest men she'd ever seen.
Engrossed in a game of kings, the older soldier looked up as the flap opened. He gestured towards the desk. "Ah, Brother Semmis. You're late. I hope you have good news for me. Leave your report with the others and go. Yannikar is schooling me in the art of tactics."
The robed man, Yannikar apparently, reached out and shifted a scholar peice with a black-taloned hand.
Brand fidgeted as he tried to get a comfortable spot to relax. This is taking too blasted long.
He watched at the monk moved stealthily moved away.
He's got the right idea, at least he's trying something proactive.
He looked through his pack, making sure everything was still where it should be. The third time he'd done so in as many minutes.
Anytime now Evelyn.
Well Sir Norin, it seems we have some time to chat while we wait! I have a question for you, what do you know of the Fairvale five and a goblin named brunt?
Evelyn walked towards the large tent and nodded to the pair of guards stationed outside. The warriors stepped aside and lifted the flap aside.
"He's been expecting you." one said.
The floor of the tent was carpeted with soft hides. An ornate desk sat to one side, heaped with large tomes and scrolls. A pair of chairs sat before it, occupied by an older soldier in a soft yellow uniform and an another man in strange attire. A veil hid the lower part of the mans face, a bundled wrap of black cloth wreathing everything above the mans eyes, eyes like shards of flint. A shapeless robe of midnight cloth hid the mans form but Evelyn could tell he was tall, head and shoulders taller than the tallest men she'd ever seen.
Engrossed in a game of kings, the older soldier looked up as the flap opened. He gestured towards the desk. "Ah, Brother Semmis. You're late. I hope you have good news for me. Leave your report with the others and go. Yannikar is schooling me in the art of tactics."
The robed man, Yannikar apparently, reached out and shifted a scholar peice with a black-taloned hand.
Do I see any other reports?
The knight scratched his chin. "Adventuring group out of Fairvale. I only met them the once but it was in the heat of battle."
Sir Norin smiled.
"You should have seen it, thirty lances and their squires against a horde of shambling dead in the kingfisher lilies of the Tomb Hills north of the Vale."
"It was glorious." The knight shifted a sleeve to show a pale white scar on his forearm. "Bony gave me that. Nearly had me, too, but Angus the Grey came to our rescue with that crossbow of his. Bought us the time to get out of the way when the hill giant....thing arose. I never saw unholy power like that thing had, smashed through us like we weren't even there."
He paused....remembering. "But it were Cale and Jotun who came over the hill and into the thick of it. Right into the teeth of the horde. How they came out of it, I'll never know but they did somehow.
The knight frowned."As for the goblin.....I don't remember him being there. He was a member, I think....and the woman, Darkark or something like that....I'm a little fuzzy on the details."
"Why do you ask?"
Do I see any other reports?Evelyn walked towards the large tent and nodded to the pair of guards stationed outside. The warriors stepped aside and lifted the flap aside.
"He's been expecting you." one said.
The floor of the tent was carpeted with soft hides. An ornate desk sat to one side, heaped with large tomes and scrolls. A pair of chairs sat before it, occupied by an older soldier in a soft yellow uniform and an another man in strange attire. A veil hid the lower part of the mans face, a bundled wrap of black cloth wreathing everything above the mans eyes, eyes like shards of flint. A shapeless robe of midnight cloth hid the mans form but Evelyn could tell he was tall, head and shoulders taller than the tallest men she'd ever seen.
Engrossed in a game of kings, the older soldier looked up as the flap opened. He gestured towards the desk. "Ah, Brother Semmis. You're late. I hope you have good news for me. Leave your report with the others and go. Yannikar is schooling me in the art of tactics."
The robed man, Yannikar apparently, reached out and shifted a scholar peice with a black-taloned hand.
"oh" Brand snapped a bulrush stalk in half.
From what I've heard most of those folks came in after my pappy was already dead. He was part of the original fair vale five.
His headshot up, eyes blazing. Amelia was the women no one could name for me?
He raised his voice as he leaned forward. "Wait, did you say Darkark? Could you have meant to say Darkarch? Perhaps the women's name Amelia?
He pointed to her.
Sir Norin took a long look at Amelia and then shrugged. "Maybe....it was something like that. I was a little busy at the time and didn't honestly pay the closest attention."
The knight turned to Amelia. "You connected to the Fairvale Five, Amelia.....is it? They saved my squad once."
Amelia's eyes grew cold and the shadows seemed to grow longer, despite the mid day sun.
" I do not willingly speak of those times, sir knight. They were dark times full of waste and loss. They are better left forgotten".
[ooc] Looking back through the posts reveals 35 damage at the end of battle. Evelyn healed 6 hp, then 24 more....so you are down 5 hp, 2 Strength, and 2 Constitution. Better than the 11 hp I had you down. If the point of Con you got back from the lesser restoration gave you back hp, you are correct and unharmed hp wise.Maitreya had been distracted, focused on the disharmony of this place as the others made their plans and worked their way into the camp or into hiding. Brand was right, it was too late to change the plan now, instead Maitreya stealthily moved around, looking for a vantage point in the swamp that afforded the best view of the camp, and hopefully a glimpse at Evelyn should she need help.
Brand jumped up, his face taught. "So you knew them? personally? Can you at least tell me anything of my father or the whereabouts of my mother? Or where Brunt really is?"
He walked over and stood below her icy gaze.
"Please Amelia, I'm begging you. You must know something!
His voice rose and cracked. "Anything!
Sir Norin looked to Amelia as well. "It is a terrible thing to be alone in this world. No mother. No father. I can hardly imagine what that must be like. What do you know of the boys parents?"
Amelia glared at the knight
"We are all alone and adrift in this world, Knight. I was trying to do the idiot boy a kindness, but you have stripped that away"
Switching her gaze to the brand she continued in a harsh whisper
" They are dead. You carry your father's skull, you know he is dead. Your mother is dead too. A diseased dryad. She died horribly, and your father carried the seed of her essence which I supposed turned into you. The truth is that you are a mistake that resulted from a single fumbling moment of carnal passion, and your father's death is the only thing that caused you to grow"
Switching her glare back to the knight she concluded her vent
" Are we happy that we spoke of this now" ?
The knight looked to the wizard and shook his head sadly."We are only truly alone if we make it so. Clearly something in your past has poisoned you against simple kindness. That way leads only to pain. Pushing everyone away may seem like strength but it is the worst kind of weakness. I will add you to my prayers tonight."
Sir Norin turned to Brand."Brief though it may have been, your parents love brought you into this world. I weep for your parents passing but it is not how they died that matters but how they lived. Live as they did. Embrace love. To do othersise is to squander the gifts the Four bestow upon their faithful. To be dead already where it matters, inside."
He turned back to Amelia."It's not too late for you, Sister Darkarch. Even this wound, no matter where it stems from, may be healed in time. Let me help you."
Maitreya took the guards lapse in guarding to relieve himself as a sign, and used the opening to slip closer towards the last tent he saw the disguised Evelyn approach. Seeking to get close to the fabric walls if possible Maitreya slipped into the camp, careful to keep canvas tents between himself and watchful eyes.
Amelia arched an eyebrow at the ridiculous man before her.
"Thank you for judging me without knowing absolutely anything about me, Sir Knight. Thank you for stating that clearly something has poisoned me against simple kindness. I would never have guessed that being pressured to speak of something that is obviously painful for me, even after I said I did not wish to speak of it, especially when trying to hide from armed and dangerous cultists who will kill us and leave us in a shallow grave was being poisoned against simple kindness . My definition seems to differ from yours. As does my knowledge of his parents, whom you had never met. Now, unless you have more things you wish to judge me on without any right, I will ask you not to speak to me again. Thank you".
With that said, Amelia floated a distance from her fellow travellers and waited for word from Evelyn
Amelia arched an eyebrow at the ridiculous man before her.
"Thank you for judging me without knowing absolutely anything about me, Sir Knight. Thank you for stating that clearly something has poisoned me against simple kindness. I would never have guessed that being pressured to speak of something that is obviously painful for me, even after I said I did not wish to speak of it, especially when trying to hide from armed and dangerous cultists who will kill us and leave us in a shallow grave was being poisoned against simple kindness . My definition seems to differ from yours. As does my knowledge of his parents, whom you had never met. Now, unless you have more things you wish to judge me on without any right, I will ask you not to speak to me again. Thank you".
With that said, Amelia floated a distance from her fellow travellers and waited for word from Evelyn
Sir Norin turned to Brand. "Classic emotional transferance. I was the same after the death of my squadmates. She's lost something important to her and locked away her heart so that it nrver gets hurt again. I was able to move on with the help of The Four. In time, I hope she can do the same. Talking about these things always helps the healing process. It's a shame. So young to be so bitter."
Maitreya took the guards lapse in guarding to relieve himself as a sign, and used the opening to slip closer towards the last tent he saw the disguised Evelyn approach. Seeking to get close to the fabric walls if possible Maitreya slipped into the camp, careful to keep canvas tents between himself and watchful eyes.
[dice=stealth]1d20+14
Maitreya hid by the tent, aware of just how many enemy stood nearby.
All it took was one person to walk around that corner and things would fall apart.
He could hear snatches of conversation from inside the tent.
"Blast it all. That was my last Apprentice!" a weathered voice said.
A deep sibilant voice answered,"You play too aggressively with it. Once you had lost your Scholar, a different game plan is required. Something defensive. Sammar's Gambit or the Hen in the Rushes....although you also seem to lack The Crusder to make that particular plan work. I wonder why?"
It took Maitreya a moment to realize the men were discussing a game of chess.
Suddenly, excited voices rose in the camp and running footsteps rapidly approached the tent.
"Sir! We've freed the creature from the stone. The carcass is complete."
"Excellent. I concede the game, Yannikar, just as I have these last.....what is it, forty times? How soon can the machine be made ready?"
The deep voice answered,"No later than tonight. A few minor adjustments..."
"Excellent. Please make your preparations. If this works, no one will be able to stop us."
The pair rose to their feet.
The turbaned giant paused for a moment."There is one other minor point."
الكشفية الخاص بك هو جاسوس تحت وهم. انها هنا لاستكشاف خططنا. وقالت انها سوف يمنعنا إذا كانت تستطيع ذلك.
The scoutmaster sighed."Very well, Yannikar. I bow to your infinite wisdom as always. Could the guards please enter?" He waited as the pair moved inside and pointed at Evelyn.
"Seize him!"
Initiative Order
Evelyn Nyx 21
Maitreya 12
King in Yellow Soldier #1 10
King in Yellow Soldier #2 10
King in Yellow Soldier #3 10
King in Yellow Soldier #4 10
Liriborn, King in Yellow Scoutmaster 9
Yannikar 5
> Evelyn is Up!
Maitreya Round 1 Initiative 12
Hearing that Evelyn's gambit had been foiled Maitreya jgrabbed for the dusty bottom of the tent.
Standard Action at top of combat: Cast .
Move Action: Grab the scrolls.
Evelyn called on her dark gifts and wreathed herself in magic. She snatched at the scolls on the desktop, clutching two in one hand as she looked for a way out.
Suddenly the back wall of the tent ripped open, revealing the form of Maitreya in the opening. The monk yelled,"This way, Lady!"
King in Yellow cultists poured into the tent, grabbing at Evelyn, their grips slipping from the oracle as she wormed free.
"Stop them! Kill them!" the scoutmaster yelled at the monks sudden appearance."Don't let them get away!" the elder cultist drank a vial of emerald fluid and shimmered into a half down copies of himself, racing towards the monk, a rapier ablaze with magical light suddenly leaping into his hands.
"No! Do not kill them both! Leave one alive to be put to the question," Yannikar rumbled, his veil shifting and flexing as he spoke. His eyes suddenly blazed with blinding yellow light as magic wracked his body. His long arms grew longer still, lengthening and twisting, reshaping into a pair of questing tentacles studded with hundreds of barbed hooks.
>Round Two Actions Up!
Great. Now the monk is in the way. Why do they always think I need rescuing???
"FOOL! Get back!!!"
Evelyn casts centered on herself in an attempt to keep the monk out of it (if possible), but keep Yannikar and the leader in it regardless.
Evelyn's eyes rolled back, then coated with black. She spit a single unknowable word, and suddenly, tentacles of pure darkness started to rupture the ground beneath them all.
5 foot move action to retreat with the scrolls a bit. She also drops the pretense of disguise as her black cowl most likely 'leaks' through her yellow robe at this point.
Scoutmaster Skirmish Round 2 Update
The middle of the tent erupts with a writhing mass of crushing black tentacles, swallowing up the onrushing King in Yellow soldiers. They began to struggle against the tentacles terible power
The tentacles reached for the scoutmaster, but he dodged their rubbery grasp with a combination of acrobatic twists and furious slashes with his rapier.
Yannikar stood unaffected in the tendrils midst, his own tentacles bright against the shadowy arms. Seeing the black tentacles sliding off Evelyn as she retreated with the scrolls, he nodded his turbaned in respect at Evelyn's cunning combination of magics. "One is measured by the quality of one's enemies. I look forward to crushing your soul...very soon."
Evelyn Nyx 21
Maitreya 12
King in Yellow Soldier #1 10 [grappled,10 damage]
King in Yellow Soldier #2 10 [grappled,10 damage]
King in Yellow Soldier #3 10 [grappled,10 damage]
King in Yellow Soldier #4 10 [grappled,10 damage]
Liriborn, King in Yellow Scoutmaster 9
Yannikar 5
> Maitreya is up!
The plan is to flee with Evelyn, guiding her out the way I came in, where the guards were least attentive and the path seemed shortest. Faced with an attacker I shall fight while she falls back with valued intelligence. And scrolls.
The plan is to flee with Evelyn, guiding her out the way I came in, where the guards were least attentive and the path seemed shortest. Faced with an attacker I shall fight while she falls back with valued intelligence. And scrolls.
The plan is to flee with Evelyn, guiding her out the way I came in, where the guards were least attentive and the path seemed shortest. Faced with an attacker I shall fight while she falls back with valued intelligence. And scrolls.
Then I shall make a single attack (Disarm attempt) I have improved disarm so that will provoke no attack of opportunity and grant a +2. Then I shall move once Evelyn has preceded me.
Yep.