When faced by a telepath too far away to reply to with words, Jhaelwyn projects her thoughts back trough the bond.
Keep them away ... It can be done!
"Time for killlinnggg! " Meridian says in a pleasant sing song voice
Taking a small cloth from out of a pocket she lays it flat in her hand. A small pebble seems to leap into the cloth from the ground nearby. Without an additional word or gesture she touched the pebble and the area nearby gets significantly darker than it was. The darkness dissipates moments later as you see her folding the last of the cloth around the pebble.
If anyone was looking at her she favors them with a smile then she casts a spell and vanishes
For anyone who can see her:
She kicks off her feet and floats into the darkness of the cavern ceiling . She shifts to lay perpendicular with the ceiling, but she never actually touches it.
Stealth
"Time for killlinnggg! " Meridian says in a pleasant sing song voice
Taking a small cloth from out of a pocket she lays it flat in her hand. A small pebble seems to leap into the cloth from the ground nearby. Without an additional word or gesture she touched the pebble and the area nearby gets significantly darker than it was. The darkness dissipates moments later as you see her folding the last of the cloth around the pebble.
If anyone was looking at her she favors them with a smile then she casts a spell and vanishes
For anyone who can see her:
She kicks off her feet and floats into the darkness of the cavern ceiling . She shifts to lay perpendicular with the ceiling, but she never actually touches it.
Stealth 1d20+31
Just after Meridian speaks her veil pulls itself up to cover her face (per the picture).
A soft breeze wafts into the area around the caravan, as a dusty red cloud swirls in among Illia, Dely and the traders.
::"Ello, sorry I'm late, was on the other side of the Underdark, finishing up a contract. Glad to be working with you all again. Del, you're looking as lovely as ever.":: Dris says conversationally while still in Wind Form.
** spoiler omitted **
When the lady of the group turns away from the cart, Jaduf makes a break for it, grabbing his rope and shimmying up as fast as he can while still being stealthy. I don't know what that is, but I don't want it to see me before I see it...
With a intentionally large movement for the benefit of his spiders the druid indicates a need for stealth pointing in the direction of the Larger thing they had indicated hearing. The skeleton pauses for a few seconds to dash out a quick note and passing it to his monkey companion. "Take that to the dead dragonling, or one of the drow. Spider or non-spider matters little" He commands as he dips into the stone and moves at great speed in silence.
The monkey scampers toward the indiviuals in question offering the message with only a slight tremor of concern being an object of interest to being so much more powerful.
** spoiler omitted **
It will take approximately 4 rounds to reach it
"Umh.. this is some nice fabric" Delyliath says while morphing again, she doesn't changes her visage, the color of her skin or her hair, she remains exactly the way she is, but she lets her horns and wings show into this form, revealing her as a succubus.
"What about a trade instead of a sale? I could bless you both with my lips, and I could do with a new cloak or loincloth made out of this" She says while caressing a fine purple bolt of cloth.
"Beside from the personal convenience, it's not like you are going to miss any money. the boon of a succubus is pretty beneficial to a merchant, there are quite a few merchants I have blessed, and all of them enjoyed an increase in their profits. It's actually quite a win win situation. You really shouldn't miss the chance, it's not like it happens everyday"Delyliath put subtle emphasis in two part of her discourse, looking at him first and at her later.
Reinforcing her coercion into accepting her profane gift.
His reaction to her suggestion is along the lines of
That certainly has a good merit to it. That could help us out in the future for certain and my mate will not mind, nor will she need the kiss as she is past the want of such things. So he looks over at her and there seems no reaction from her either way it looks like he will take her up on the offer.
About this time she turns towards the far end of the cart and points that way and he replies
Look our children have arrived
Cue Large Rat Swarm coming up behind the cart. It is their 'Children'
[dice=Stealh]1d20+17
[dice=Perception]1d20+15
Roof a good 50 foot or so in this section. There is a sort of strange sound echoing slightly from what would be in front and to the right.
The others are in front and more to the left btw
** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **
When the lady of the group turns away from the cart, Jaduf makes a break for it, grabbing his rope and shimmying up as fast as he can while still being stealthy. I don't know what that is, but I don't want it to see me before I see it...
Ahhhh.....son of a bit...Where is my fire? Using his legs and one arm Jaduf continues to climb while drawing something from his belt, but this time he keeps wrapping the rope around his leg so that they are far below and he can't be climbed up after.
Illia- is still simply on guard, examining the wares. She seems relatively not bothered by the rat swarm.
There is some really nice fabrics in there. Silks, spider silks, satins, some fine batiks, along with a bolt of some sort of lace.
Outside of the wares the rats just all come up around the legs of the over large female and she reaches down, pets them, picks some up, etc.
The male turns back to Illia and has the you buying look to his face.
::"Wait a sec, you're sending out a slow poke to do the scouting? For shame my friends!! He's gonna take forever!":: With that, Dris flies in the direction indicated by Anaxian, easily outpacing Sanriel.
Yes Drisquar you are a touch faster than Sanriel. 2.5 times approximately. So more details on what and where you are headed towards.
Yes the Rat Swarm was what was behind.
A few caverns over Drisquar will find the other thing that, presumably, left the slime trail where the battlefield had been at.
I had said about 4 rounds for Sanriel to make it there, so two rounds for Drisquar to make it there (rounded off).
So he will be there for 2 rounds before Sanriel can arrive
A few caverns over there is a strange thing dragging it's self along. It is close to the size of a Hill Giant, with a huge shell like assemblage on its back. It looks like a cross between an ogre or a hill giant and a giant snail with massive club like fists on the ends of it's overly long arms. It has as misshappen head and wide spatulate like feet. It is obviously slower than most average humanoids, but massive and very densely built. It is leaving a trail behind it.
It seems to notice Drisquar there flying and moves, slowly compared to him, directly towards him once it sights him, a good 40 ft away at that point.
One, I look like a cloud of redish, swirling dust, so very much not a threat.
Two, can I make a Stealth roll?
We do have a deal then she says taking a bolt ofcloth with one hand, while kissing the tip of two fingers from the other.
She comes closer to the merchant and slips the two fingers under the leathers, behind his back.
this should better be in a place notobviously visible. we wouldn't want just everybody know your secrets of the trade don't you think
She removes her fingers leaving a tattoo like mark behind.
and we are done... you should start to feel it's effects right now
the succubus satisfied looks at her bolt of cloth and warns her companions telepathically.
he is now like a sleeper agent of mine. If he walks the merchant routes he might turn useful. nowjust give me a couple of seconds she says teleporting away in her safe house in the river kingdoms, droppin the bolt of cloth down and then returning back to her companions.
"I like this one, but I'm on the job right now. Mind if I put half down on it and you hold it for a week?" Illia- chooses a light blue silk.
** spoiler omitted **
"I like this one, but I'm on the job right now. Mind if I put half down on it and you hold it for a week?" Illia- chooses a light blue silk.
Of course that will be just fine He said. Meanwhile she is tending to the rat swarm and suddenly some of the rat horde all turns simultaneously in the direction ahead of them all. Several much larger rats come forward along with a clump of rats as well. They all seem to be concerned with something ahead of them all and are trying to convey it to both him and her.
Stealth
How far away before you stop to look basically?
About a minute after all the rats show up, they move as a single group out along away from the direction the peddlers had been moving in.
Our children are letting us know there is something that is frightening them. I think we shall follow along with them, detouring around what has frightened them. Care to join us ladies and sir?
Anaxian continued to wait and watch from the shadows, letting the others sort out the complexities of the situation. He wasn't thrilled to be dropped into the middle of an area that was clearly a combat zone without a clear goal. He liked to prepare and shape things, not try to make things up on the fly without fully understanding the situation.
So he waited and considered. Mostly, he considered his companions and their various approaches to the situation.
Others in their number, Delyliath and Drisquar in particular, thrived in chaos. Meredian actively created chaos. Illia didn't actually enjoy chaos, but she didn't really mind it either. She was predictably dependable no matter the situation.
She was a bit too unsure of herself to realize it, but she had become the anchor around which the rest of the group orbited. It was that very insecurity that seemed to make their group functional. For one of the legendary furies, Illia was remarkably non-threatening. Delyliath was an adept social manipulator, but her nature made her actual leadership qualities somewhat dubious, and she would never tolerate another strong-willed female in the group. Drisquar preferred to spend his time on the move and was prone to impulsive action. He needed a 'home base' to make his tactics functional. Meredian was too convinced of her own invulnerability to realistically consider risks. Her almost gleeful disregard for caution made her easily the most unpredictable among them, which, considering their company, was impressive. She was like a lit cannon on a swivel. A liability in most cases, but with someone to point her in the right direction, extremely useful to have around. Anaxian himself had no illusions that such a group would listen to him. He would not have stayed if it had been left to him to focus the group. Illia was the lynchpin. She asked questions, considered the answers, and took simple, direct action. The rest simply went where she went and did what they were best at. It worked because they didn't really get in each other's way.
Most interesting of all, they all got along amazingly well. It was baffling until one considered that none of their natures actually conflicted. None of them were an obvious threat to any other. Anaxian had worked out contingencies related to each of them months ago, but he was beginning to think it had been a moot exercise. Against all odds, they had all developed a symbiotic relationship. Anaxian had actually come to enjoy their company. If nothing else, they were extremely amusing.
He considered their new allies. Sanriel seemed goal-oriented, which was refreshing, but seemed a bit put off by the newcomers. Understandable really. They were unruly at best. He would likely adapt, and if he did not, Anaxian could ensure he was not a problem for them.
The Drider Jhaelwyn seemed analytical and academic. A welcome addition in Anaxian's opinion. He expected tension between the Jhaelwyn and Meredian, though given Meredian's approach to things, it was entirely possible that the Drow would not hold the usual expectations and prejudices as the rest of her kin. Meredian simply didn't care enough to try to establish dominance. No one could really establish dominance over her, and that seemed to be the important thing. It was a bizarre sort of 'live and let live' mentality that could only come from having no real fear of anything. It was too soon to tell Jhaelwyn's mind on the matter, but hopefully Meredian's aloof nature would be enough to convince the Drider that there was no reason for antagonistic behavior.
The human, Jaduf, was clearly skilled but was nonetheless a sheep amid the wolves. It was only a matter of time before things began going horribly awry for him. Delyliath and Jhaelwyn were already eyeing him hungrily. Their charms would be the death of him. Anaxian would not interfere. Jaduf was going to make a very interesting corpse.
In the roof of the cavern, Jhaelwyn patiently waited. She was slowly moving in the direction Sanriel and Drisquar had disappeared and humming softly to herself. She didn't mind waiting, but it could get awfully boring. Hopefully the curious creature would come soon. In the meanwhile, she pondered on the mystery of the peddlers and their children. Hmhmhm. Some modifications could make it a reality - but why ? Whywhy why...
I'll get within five feet, so I can really investigate what our apparent enemy is.
Perception, just in case.
"Oh, we're rather frightening ourselves. We've got some new team members and I'd personally like to shake down the group dynamic a bit before the real job. So if you could give me spacial coordinates, I think we could use the practice."
Anaxian continued to wait and watch from the shadows, *snip*...
To those in telepathy range: "This is getting dull. Can we please start something?"
In the roof of the cavern, Jhaelwyn patiently waited. She was slowly moving in the direction Sanriel and Drisquar had disappeared and humming softly to herself. She didn't mind waiting, but it could get awfully boring. Hopefully the curious creature would come soon. In the meanwhile, she pondered on the mystery of the peddlers and their children. Hmhmhm. Some modifications could make it a reality - but why ? Whywhy why...
That noise was the Rat Swarms coming along was all
** spoiler omitted **
It is the size of a large ogre or a small hill giant
A rough humanoid like shape, thick with muscles with a strange large snail like shell on the back. Like a cross between a turtle and a snail shell, obviously providing a large amount of defense for the thing. It has a thick looking skin as well.
Two large spatula like feet leaving a slime trail, again like a snail, carries it along. Two massive arms end in club like fists, more like massive greatclubs than fists in fact.
It is sniffing the air more and more the close you approach
Dris sends out a tendril of wind, smashing into whatever this creature is.
To Illia
Ohh Yes that would be just perfect. We shall have it saved. Your mark on a scrap of parchment please to keep with it to make sure we hold it safe
Drisquar's first attack seems to hit
Damage Done = 6
Then initiative for straight up slugfesting
Round 1 Begin
Sanriel is about 2 Rounds of movement away
Dris reforms, and strikes lighting quick with his rapier
Oooh - the sound of struggle, of carnage and death! Stirred by the noise in the distance Jhaelwyn skitters along the roof in that direction.
"Oh, we're rather frightening ourselves. We've got some new team members and I'd personally like to shake down the group dynamic a bit before the real job. So if you could give me spacial coordinates, I think we could use the practice."
** spoiler omitted **
Sanriel is within range and she could reach out to him. He is almost out of range though so a single message in essence
Dris reforms, and strikes lighting quick with his rapier
1st Attack Miss
2nd Attack HitDid not confirm Crit
16 total damage taken
It now gets to strike back
Ogre Flail Snail Mashup Thing takes a swing at Drisquar
4 Attacks with its Club like Fists
(Full Attack)
1 to 20 missses
Looks like 3 hits total for a paltry 39 pts of damage
Round 2
Initiative
Apologies I missed seeing the DR. The attacks are just giant club like fists so reduce by 10 each one that hit so total damage a very paltry 9 points of damage
Dris winces slightly as the beast batters him with blows that are mostly turned aside thanks to his celestial heritage. He then strikes again and again, almost too quick to perceive.
"Hey Dris." Illia- poofs into existence next to him.
"Hey Illia" He says, not at all bothered by the big, hulking creature trying to pound him into the ground. "Feel like lending a hand? Pretty sure I can take this thing, but an assist will make things go faster"
Dris winces slightly as the beast batters him with blows that are mostly turned aside thanks to his celestial heritage. He then strikes again and again, almost too quick to perceive.
The Strange monster in front of Dris seems to be stung a bit with those blows and is becoming a bit more frantic in the flailing and attacks
37 Total Damage done to the Monster
Full Attack Again (It is not very bright)
1 hits, 3 misses (it might wise up a little next round)
Total Damage = 0 (Due to the DR)
Well does Illia have an action yet or Init for Rd 3
Sanriel will be arriving at the end of this round based on Spd and what I had said before
Anyone else?
Rd 3 Init for the Monster
Meredian continues to wait in the shadows. Unseen she sighs in boredom. Her mind wanders to options in what she might do to amuse herself. She smirks with amusement at the possibilities.
"Sure, let's not take it down too fast though, I wanna see if any of the new people are fighters."