Maitreya flowed into a series of moves meant to end with the enemies weapon flying from his hand. Somewhere in the middle the scoutmaster zigged instead of zagged and Maiteryas attack faltered.
The King in Yellow soldiers fought to break free of the grappling tentacles without success, slowly being crushed to death.
The scoutmaster responded to Maiterya's flourish with one of his own, the golden blade flashing and spinning. Too late, the monk realized the moves were meant to be a distraction, masking the true attack. The rapier slashed across his chest, drawing blood.
Yannikar focused once more strode towards Evelyn with unnatural speed, tentalces reaching for her.
>Round 3 Actions Up!
Mastery Round 3 Initiative 12
Maitreya gestured for Evelyn, This way is best
Another disarm attempt followed by a move action away with her.
Full attack action on the man threatening me now (with a stunning fist). with a five foot diagonal move back.
Foe must make a Fort save vs. DC 21 or be sickened for 1 minute
Brand notes an increase in camp activity, several soldiers turning from their nornmal rounds and hastening towards the large central tent.
Maitreya flowed into a series of moves meant to end with the enemies weapon flying from his hand. Somewhere in the middle the scoutmaster zigged instead of zagged and Maiteryas attack faltered.
The King in Yellow soldiers fought to break free of the grappling tentacles without success, slowly being crushed to death.
[dice=Soldier #1 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7
[dice=Soldier #2 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7
[dice=Soldier #3 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7
[dice=Soldier #4 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7The scoutmaster responded to Maiterya's flourish with one of his own, the golden blade flashing and spinning. Too late, the monk realized the moves were meant to be a distraction, masking the true attack. The rapier slashed across his chest, drawing blood.
[dice=Liriborn's Feint] 1d20+14
[dice=Maitreya's Sense Motive] 1d20+14
[dice=Liriborn's Rapier] 1d20+17
[dice=Liriborn's Rapier Damage] 1d6+4+3d6
[dice=Maitreya's Poison Save DC 16] 1d20+9Yannikar focused once more strode towards Evelyn with unnatural speed, tentalces reaching for her.
[dice=Concentration] 1d20+16
>Round 3 Actions Up!
Note: Cloak of Darkness is still up, have not dropped it since last fight. AC=22.
Note 2: The tentacles CMB/CMD goes up by 5 against people already in their grasp.
Note 3: the tentacles are a 20 foot radius spread.
Considering that, what is the size (and condition) of the tent? I didn't get the impression the tent was that big so...
Maitreya flowed into a series of moves meant to end with the enemies weapon flying from his hand. Somewhere in the middle the scoutmaster zigged instead of zagged and Maiteryas attack faltered.
The King in Yellow soldiers fought to break free of the grappling tentacles without success, slowly being crushed to death.
[dice=Soldier #1 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7
[dice=Soldier #2 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7
[dice=Soldier #3 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7
[dice=Soldier #4 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7The scoutmaster responded to Maiterya's flourish with one of his own, the golden blade flashing and spinning. Too late, the monk realized the moves were meant to be a distraction, masking the true attack. The rapier slashed across his chest, drawing blood.
[dice=Liriborn's Feint] 1d20+14
[dice=Maitreya's Sense Motive] 1d20+14
[dice=Liriborn's Rapier] 1d20+17
[dice=Liriborn's Rapier Damage] 1d6+4+3d6
[dice=Maitreya's Poison Save DC 16] 1d20+9Yannikar focused once more strode towards Evelyn with unnatural speed, tentalces reaching for her.
[dice=Concentration] 1d20+16
>Round 3 Actions Up!
Note: Cloak of Darkness is still up, have not dropped it since last fight. AC=22.
Note 2: The tentacles CMB/CMD goes up by 5 against people already in their grasp.
Note 3: the tentacles are a 20 foot radius spread.
Considering that, what is the size (and condition) of the tent? I didn't get the impression the tent was that big so...
Note 3: I keep the battle map is at the top of the page. Please refer to it for any questions you might have about the tent.
Note: Really? Having a cloak of darkness up would have entirely negated the entire plan since it would have been glaringly obvious you were manifesting an ability the scout did not have. That would make this enture scene a do over. You wouldn't have gotten past the first checkpoint. You do not have a cloak of darkness active at present.
Note 2: Ok, so noted.
Maitreya flowed into a series of moves meant to end with the enemies weapon flying from his hand. Somewhere in the middle the scoutmaster zigged instead of zagged and Maiteryas attack faltered.
The King in Yellow soldiers fought to break free of the grappling tentacles without success, slowly being crushed to death.
[dice=Soldier #1 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7
[dice=Soldier #2 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7
[dice=Soldier #3 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7
[dice=Soldier #4 CMB VS CMD 24] 1d20+7The scoutmaster responded to Maiterya's flourish with one of his own, the golden blade flashing and spinning. Too late, the monk realized the moves were meant to be a distraction, masking the true attack. The rapier slashed across his chest, drawing blood.
[dice=Liriborn's Feint] 1d20+14
[dice=Maitreya's Sense Motive] 1d20+14
[dice=Liriborn's Rapier] 1d20+17
[dice=Liriborn's Rapier Damage] 1d6+4+3d6
[dice=Maitreya's Poison Save DC 16] 1d20+9Yannikar focused once more strode towards Evelyn with unnatural speed, tentalces reaching for her.
[dice=Concentration] 1d20+16
>Round 3 Actions Up!
Note: Cloak of Darkness is still up, have not dropped it since last fight. AC=22.
Note 2: The tentacles CMB/CMD goes up by 5 against people already in their grasp.
Note 3: the tentacles are a 20 foot radius spread.
Considering that, what is the size (and condition) of the tent? I didn't get the impression the tent was that big so...
Note 3: I keep the battle map is at the top of the page. Please refer to it for any questions you might have about the tent.
Note: Really? Having a cloak of darkness up would have entirely negated the entire plan since it would have been glaringly obvious you were manifesting an ability the scout did not have. That would make this enture scene a do over. You wouldn't...
An illusory disguise can cover many an effect.
Evelyn Nyx Round 3 Initiative 21
Evelyn disengages from combat with Yannikar, going around/through the troops, straight to the nearest exit.
Evelyn Nyx Round 3 Initiative 21
Evelyn disengages from combat with Yannikar, going around/through the troops, straight to the nearest exit.
You all have access to the map to move your pcs.
Evelyn slipped between two soldiers in yellow cloaks who were unable to grab her.
Golden tentacles snapped from Yannikar, the barbed hooks at their tips tearing at the oracle as she went, defeated by her cloak of shadows.
Maitreya slapped the rapier from the scoutmasters hand and called out to Evelyn.
"This way is best!"
Evelyn hurried towards the monk, slipping out of the gap in the tents wall...
behind her the tentacles gripped and squeezed.
The soldiers struggled in vain, their armor creaking under the enormous pressure of the black tendrils.
With a nimble move the scoutmaster leapt and rolled, his rapier once more in his hand, just out of reach of the tentacles. He smiled grimly. "You're surrounded by a hundred soldiers. Surrender now! Or face the wrath of He Who Should Not Be Named!"
Yannikar began to walk towards the tent opening. He cocked his head, listening to snapping bones and pained groans. He waved one hand slowly, as if conducting an orchestra, as he came.
>Next Round Actions Up!
Evelyn Nyx Rnd: 4 Init: 21
"Quiet you. I need to know exactly what you are up to here, and how to properly read these scrolls."
And with that, Evelyn bored deep into the warrior's brain, and started to bite and tear at what was within...
Then I move out past the monk.
Full defence this round to cover her escape. Next round I disengage entirely and "head for the hills" so to speak.
Evelyn tore at the scoutmasters mind. A flood of images rose, a lake of black water, a city lurking on its shore, the buildings architecture strange and alien. A sky of stars matching no known constellation save one. Above the city hung a configuration that matched the one that adorned Evelyn's palm. A voice called out to her.
"Carcosa, Evelyn. Come home."
The tentacles continued their deadly work, crushing and writhing. Bones cracked, soldiers slumping in the shadowy clutches.
Liriborn screamed, a streamer of blood leaking from one nostril. His rapier flashed, seeking holes in Maitreya's defense.
Yannikar stood at the opening in the tents side as if unwilling to enter the light. His black eyes glared at Evelyn. his turban shifted slightly as though something moved underneath.
"That will be quite enough of that."
Purple lightning crackled across his eyes, leaping to scour the oracle's mind.
Evelyn Nyx [7 damage]
Maitreya [23 damage]
King in Yellow Soldier #1
King in Yellow Soldier #2
King in Yellow Soldier #3
King in Yellow Soldier #4
Liriborn [20 damage]
Yannikar
Around the heroes the camp moves into war footing, soldiers racing towards the pair from all directions.
>Next Round Actions Up!
Maitreya and Evelyn raced from the enemy camp, pursued by a mob of yellow cloaked soldiers.
Arrows whistled from watchtowers, javelins arcing towards the pair as they fled.
Brand and Evelyn watched the pair and the horde chasing them draw closer. Beside them, Sir Norin clutched his wooden club.
"Ok, now what is the plan?", the knight asked?
Brand gave the knight a hollow stare. "Now you can see what else I can do."
His eyes flashed a greenish hue. He looked over the camp and spoke strange slow tongue.
"I will attempt to cover our escape from this foolhardy assault" Amelia said to no one in particular, as her eyes rolled over white and she began chanting
Elementals
The soldiers battle cries turned to yells of alarm as they rushed into the tangle of vegetation. Grass wound around their limbs, vines snaking and curling. Their forward charge halted in an instant.
Maitreya leapt, clearing a broad swath of the area, then forcing his way forward through sheer force of will. Evelyn ran through the space, the greenery sloughing off her as though she were coated in oil.
Arrows flew, turned aside by living storms that manifested from the darkening clouds above.
Racing to the companions camp in the bulrushes, Evelyn revealed her stolen scrolls.
Sir Norin pushed the eel boat into deeper water. "Quick! Get in! That won't hold them for long!"
Javelins, heavier and harder to turn with gusts of wind thumped down to quiver from the lakeshore, drawing ever closer.
Brand drunkenly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small green seed.
"Bah, what's the point."
He flopped down on the seat of the eel boat and tossed the seed behind his head, past his companions into the path of the javelins.
Evelyn Nyx Rnd 5 Init 21
"Though I appreciate the thought, I was not in need of rescue as such. I hope you know what you are doing... Good luck."
Evelyn gazed deep into the ring she wore. A moment later, great, raven-like wings stretched out of her back like inky shadows, and she took flight...
Maitreya stepped to the back of the boat, glancing at the tree rapidly rising from the swamp to block their pursuers aim. There was little chance this eel boat would travel faster than any means of locomotion possessed by the enemy, but nevertheless it behoove do Maitreya to take up the ship's pole and once more work it through the murky bog.
Brand reached out and grabbed a large branch that bumped into the eel boat.
"Cant have you doing all the work this time Maitreya." He forced a smile.
The branch snapped and popped as it shifted into a smooth pole slightly shorter than the one Maitreya held. Brand set his feet and timed his movements with the celestial monk as they ploughed forward.
Maitreya bowed his head, Many thanks treehopper.
As the young monk prepared his pole Maitrya took a quick moment to look back to see how organized their pursuers were.
The eel boat lurched forward as Brand and Maitreya heaved and pushed, forcing the angled prow through the mass of floating swampweed and marsh lilies. Working in tandem, the pair propelled the craft much faster than Maitreya had managed on his own.
Behind them, the magically created tree shook and quivered as several javelins thudded into its trunk. Other missiles sailed left and right of its bulk, harmlessly wide of the mark.
Leaves spiraled from its branches to land atop the crystalline waters of the lake.
Slowed by the entangling vegetation, the King in Yellow soldiers watched helplessly as the companions moved away and into deeper water.
Sir Norin watched them come, a smirk on his face. ”Ha! They weren’t expecting that, I’d wager! Earth and Air!” the knight looked at Evelyn and Maitreya. ”Fire and Water, I presume? Whatever is in those scrolls, I hope they were worth the risk you took.”
Evelyn crouched cross-legged in the boats bottom and withdrew one of the scrolls. ”We shall see.” She ran a fingernail under the wax seal and cracked it. Unrolling the parchment, she studied the cryptic writing.
Even now, the memories stolen from the scoutmasters head had begun to fade and she sifted through them quickly, seeking the key to the cultists coded writing….. There!.
The words twisted and writhed into the common tongue and she read quickly.
She set the scrolls aside….considering.
”So? What now?” Sir Norin asked.
Amelia arched an eyebrow as she considered the two courses of action.
"It seems an interesting choice, but when we observe our current resources and configuration, as well as our primary mission statement it is an obvious one. Our primary mission statement is to protect the village of mudwater. We do not know enough about the giants to venture forth, but we do know that a strike team has been sent where we came from. I can have us back in mudwater by morning, but that does not serve our purposes properly and I was ill prepared for the arrival of sir knight"
With that she gave an arch look at the knight.
"If Talon is amenable to it, I would ask that he scout the giants for us, while I escort you three back to mudwater to foil the strike team and find the elevator. Talon and I have done this kind of scouting before and it has been very handy".
Turning to Talon she continued
" If you agree to this I will check in on you in the usual way starting the day after tomorrow"
Turning back to the others
"What say the rest of you"?
The usual way
Brand leaned on the pole, both hands under his chin. "If there is a strike team headed there, then so are we. No point in looking for reasons for broken traps to feed dead people."
Brands face flashed angrily for a second then went blank.
"Dead people don't eat."
His hair hung low over his face as his head dropped down. "Why not try and track them though? put less distance between us and the caves to cover on the way back."
A wicked smile showed through breaks in his long blonde hair.
"We just find them and make them tell us what in the hells they are digging up."
Amelia's mouth quirked up in a slight smirk
"Well, there are many reasons not to do that. Not the least of which is that these men have done no wrong yet. That is quickly followed with the fact that we are neither judge, jury, nor executioners. I thought you monks were supposed to be orderly and peaceful"? she quipped
Adding a raised eyebrow to her upturned mouth Amelia continued
" Plus, attempting to track highly dangerous men and women over swampy ground sounds dreadful. Adding in the fact that we do not know if they are travelling by foot, boat, wing, or magic I feel that we will only find them if they want to be found. If they want to be found it means they have the advantage. I would rather we had that. "
Pausing for a moment she narrowed her eyes as if assessing each person before continuing.
"As for distance, well.....that is something of no consequence that is easily overcome. Time is the more valuable commodity"
Brand looked at the knight then back at Amelia.
"You said you could send the three of us back to foil the strike team. I've seen what your foiling entails so don't pretend to be righteous for even a second."
The pole splashed into the murky water as he absently let it go and took a step forward.
"Did you make a miscalculation in your counting? There are four of us out here with you right now and I'm not leaving the knight with a wooden club surrounded by giants, monsters and yellow cloaked men."
"My mathematics are never wrong, young one" Amelia began in a very calm and steady voice, while her eyes flashed blue ice.
" I said I would escort you, Sir Knight, and Maitreya back to mudwater. Escort. As in I will take you three there. Talon will scout the giants"
Her voice grew colder as she continued
" And what do you think you've seen me do? What does my foiling entail"?
Brand visibly shrunk back and lowered his gaze to the deck.
"Sorry M'lady. Forgive my impudence." His voice cracked and his arms straightened down to white knuckled hands.
Small dark stains appeared below his head on the old wood of the eel boat. A single droplet caught on his nose and hung there.
"I..I....what about lady Evelyn?" He wiped at his face and kept his head down.
"We find the servants of these cultists and kill them. To Mudwater. Or just North of there apparently. I too could fly under my own power if we wanted Talon to come with us, though I admit, I'd rather not use that ability up so soon."
Talon looked from the wizard to the monk and finally to the knight. He clambered onto his seat and jumped, hooking clawed fingers into the low-hanging branches of a willow.
Taking his bearings he climbed and jumped and then jumped again, working his way northwards and out of sight with a final squawk.
Sir Norin nodded. "And we are one less.....In truth, with the loss of my companions I feel I must need travel to my chapterhouse and make a report of my own. The actions of these men in yellow are troubling, as is the agression shown by the giants of the marsh. I fear I must take my leave of you when we reach this village you speak of.....Mudwater, right? It sounds properly dreadful if you ask me. I hope the four of you can find your way without the Crusade's beacon to light your path."
Evelyn waves her hand over the scrolls and concentrates.
Evelyn waves her hand over the scrolls and concentrates.
Evelyn waves her hand over the scrolls and concentrates.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Sir Norin nods,"A wise precaution, to be sure. You never know what kind of unpleasantness could be hidden in something that looks so innocent."
The knight waved a hand back towards the enemy camp. "An archeological dig on the surface but dark overtones hidden in the shadows. The gall of them. My family once ruled here, you know, its my lands they despoil. The Mildegard banner flew proudly here. With a hundred lances by my side it could be so again, my families honor restored." The knight released his white-knuckled grip on the edge of the eel boat."I suppose it's no matter. Those days are long gone now."
Evelyn puts up if its not already (Not sure), otherwise the first part of the surprise round, if any, will be casting defensively.
"By the way, Sir knight, you are probably a liar, and either a deserter, or more likely, a servant of the Yellow King yourself."
Other than taking defensive steps, Evelyn takes no hostile actions until seeing the knight's. Sorry, I meant "Knight's".
Evelyn puts up if its not already (Not sure), otherwise the first part of the surprise round, if any, will be casting defensively.
"By the way, Sir knight, you are probably a liar, and either a deserter, or more likely, a servant of the Yellow King yourself."
Other than taking defensive steps, Evelyn takes no hostile actions until seeing the knight's. Sorry, I meant "Knight's".
Evelyn worked a quick enchantment, her magic sheathing her in a defensive aura. She looked at Sir Norin.
"By the way, Sir knight, you are probably a liar, and either a deserter, or more likely, a servant of the Yellow King yourself."
The knights head snapped around to face Evelyn and his expression darkened. "What did you just say! By what right do you say such things to me? Me? Who have faced off against the hordes of Voil? Me? Who stood by here to come to your rescue with nothing more than a stick to defend myself? Me? A noble of fallen Empyria! Explain yourself and quickly, Nyx!"
His club groaned as his grip tightened, barely holding back furious rage.
Brands face twisted in anger. "Not you Sir Norin, please no."
He brought up his fists and took a step back. "Evelyn?" His voice squeaked.
Maitreya sat cross legged and I,passive at the back of the boat as those around him bickered and argued. He could sense the push and pull of his companions egos, and so sat and let the drama play out around him.
The clearest path seemed to be the one championed by the majority. A return to the village was clearly necessary. So he sat, waiting for the arguments to end and the path to continue.
"My powers can pick up the taint of Evil, and it now picks up such a taint from you."
Evelyn then motioned to the scrolls...
"Meanwhile, these missives suggest an attempt to contact the giants, to try making peaceful contact. The very things we found you with, alive, though friendly they decided not to be. And you openly admit to being of this place, in your family's past. And your fellow knights, we have seen no sign of. Any one of these things is a concern, though not a grave one. But together, you can see how it could be taken."
"And now, with but a stick to defend yourself, you mean to wander off again. Or perhaps to make contact with the camp we just left, and arm yourself..."
"I have explained myself, as you demanded. Do you wish to do the same?"
Evelyn continues to calmly sit in the boat.
Sir Norin closed his eyes for a few moments and took several deep breaths to clam himself."When you put things like that, I can see what you mean."
The knight forced a smile, though it never reached his eyes."Though, in my defense, you wrap yourself in darkness, wear a mask to hide your features, and crush your enemies to death with magical tentacles, so there is that. By any definition, your judgment of evil is suspect at best."
"I mean you somehow entered an enemy camp alone, somehow stole scrolls from under the noses of the enemy, and somehow escaped from hundreds of troops without a mark on you. And then you call a knight of the shining crusade evil to divert suspicion. Do you take these people for fools? I'm just saying what we're all thinking."
He looked at the other companions."Am I right?"
Having heard nothing from the knight to suggest why he may be unknowingly tainted, only an attempt at deflection, Evelyn says nothing, and merely awaits the responses of her companions.