Garrivek moves to get a better view on the enemy.
Garrivek holds out a gloved hand and unleashes the psychic energy he stored inside, firing a blast of fire at the korred!
Arryn: 11
Garrivek: 6
Aramis: 21
Dregg: 21
Isabella: 20
Antagonist: 13
The creature ducks Arryn's screwdriver and Garrivek's blast , but ends up right in the path of Isabella's blades -- neither of which seem to penetrate its skin . Again the squat form seems to be awfully stable, and Aramis is unable to knock it down, leaving it to swing its wrench at Isabella. To add insult to the injury from the heavy blow , the korred's hair reaches out to grab at the half-elf.
Arryn gathers power and flings a small hammer at the fey.
Alas, but no, the hammer flies well wide.
Having no luck with her vines, Aramis casts out her arms, sending a pair of magic missiles slamming into the korred's face.
Garrivek casts out with his hand again, firing a gout of flames from his old gloves.
Dregg watches as the korred either avoids or shrugs off everything thrown at it. He seems about to erupt, but instead the half-orc works his jaw side to side for a moment, watching the fey intently. "Hmpf. He's favoring his left side. Hit him where he's tender!"
Dregg then looks at Goggles, seems like he's about to say something, then thinks better of it and wades back into melee with the korred with a darkening glower.
HP: 48/49
AC: 16 (12 T / 15 FF)
CMD: 18
F/R/W: +8/+4/+3
Rage rounds used: 6/8
Limited Focus used: 1/10
Spell slots used
Level 1: 2/3
Bless (bead): 0/1
Cure serious wounds, remove blindness/deafness, or remove disease (bead): 1/1
-Ongoing Effects-
Rage: +2 to hit, +2 damage, +2 Will, -2 AC, +2 temp HP
Accurate stance: +1 to hit
Power attack: -2/+6
Focus: +2 Str
Precise Strike (1/4): +1d6 melee damage
Arryn: 11
Garrivek: 6
Aramis: 21
Dregg: 21
Isabella: 20
Antagonist: 13
The korred easily ducks Garrivek's flames, but Aramis' missiles are guaranteed to hit -- until they fizzle out as they touch the foe .
As Arryn's hammer flies by, Dregg points to a weak spot, then closes back in. Aramis, struggling with the korred's hair, nonetheless manages to get a slash in. It's barely a scratch, though, just catching the weak point Dregg noticed.
Undaunted, he has his hair continue to grasp at the half-elf, and carefully casts a spell of her own. Everything seems to speed up momentarily for Isabella, her own reactions feeling like she's fighting in a pool of molasses.
BB: 10
Dregg hefts his axe overhead and brings it down as heavily as he can, hoping to overwhelm the korred with his strike.
HP: 48/49 | Temp: 10/10
AC: 14 (10 T / 13 FF)
CMD: 18
F/R/W: +8/+4/+5
Rage rounds used: 7/8
Limited Focus used: 1/10
Spell slots used
Level 1: 2/3
Bless (bead): 0/1
Cure serious wounds, remove blindness/deafness, or remove disease (bead): 1/1
-Ongoing Effects-
Rage: +2 to hit, +2 damage, +2 Will, -2 AC, +2 temp HP
Accurate stance: +2 to hit
Power attack: -2/+6
Focus: +2 Str
Precise Strike (2/4): +1d6 melee damage
Frustrated by his lack of success, Arryn grabs up a chisel this time and takes aim again.
x 1.5= 30
Garrivek takes a five foot step closer to the korred, whirls his dorn-dergar over his head, and brings it down as hard as he can on the korred's head.
"Oh, you are stubborn!" he growls.
Isabella grunts under the dual assault of hair and magic, and just barely manages to stab at the korred.
Arryn: 11
Garrivek: 6
Aramis: 21
Dregg: 21
Isabella: 20
Antagonist: 13
Arryn chisel plunges home, slamming into the creature's shoulder, though he can see it pop out slightly as the fey's natural resistance proves difficult to overcome. Garrivek also lands a blow, but Dregg just missed as the korred's hair pulls Isabella ever so slightly into his path.
The creature chuckles at first at the collision but then lets out a now all-too-familiar laugh, which causes your brains to scream in discomfort.
BB: 50
”Oh, will you just shut up!” he growls as the laughter starts again and flings another hammer at the laughing mouth.
x 1.5= 30
Garrivek grits his teeth, ignoring the laughter, then swings his weapon really hard at the korred.
Aramis drops her wand, stunned.
Isabella stands stock still.
Dregg frowns at the laughter and brings his axe around again in a flashing arc. He growls darkly, ”Do as the man back there suggests.”
HP: 48/49 | Temp: 10/10
AC: 14 (10 T / 13 FF) (includes -2 from rage)
CMD: 18
F/R/W: +8/+4/+5 (includes +2 from rage)
Rage rounds used: 7/8
Limited Focus used: 1/10
Spell slots used
Level 1: 2/3
Bless (bead): 0/1
Cure serious wounds, remove blindness/deafness, or remove disease (bead): 1/1
-Ongoing Effects-
Rage: +2 to hit, +2 damage, +2 Will, -2 AC, +2 temp HP
Accurate stance: +2 to hit
Power attack: -2/+6
Focus: +2 Str
Precise Strike (3/4): +1d6 melee damage
Isabella feels a quiver of fear race through her brain -- all she can manage as the laugh steals her will and the korred lifts his wrench to brain her -- but Dregg's axe comes crashing down just in the nick of time, the final wound the creature could suffer after its accumulated pains.
As the two half-elven women recover, a quick search of the korred's body reveals a wealth of items: oil of magic weapon, potions of cat’s grace (2), potion of protection from law, scroll of beast shape I, scroll of elemental body I, scroll of gaseous form, scroll of owl’s wisdom, 2 alchemist’s fires, 2 tanglefoot bags, a wrench that can function as a heavy mace, a belt of giant strength +2, a ring of maniacal devices, 5 stubborn nails, a traveler’s any-tool, a magnifying glass, mwk thieves’ tools, a spell component pouch, diamond dust (worth 200 gp), and 112 gp.
In addition, the tables in this room contain several pouches of powdered jade in a variety of colors (worth 150 gp in total), three 1-pound lumps of gold (worth 50 gp each), an elixir of fire breath, and a complete alchemist’s laboratory.
The center of the room is filled with a six-armed wicker mannequin stretching from floor to ceiling. A wooden box the size of a footstool rests in an opening in the mannequin’s chest.
Arryn will motion everybody to stand well back and uses his mind to lift the box out of the mannequin from a hopefully safe distance.
Arryn carefully lifts the box -- a wooden cube approximately 18 inches on each side and weighing 40 pounds -- clear. It doesn't seem to be a solid piece, but consists of several pieces of wood fit snugly together. The pieces can move and shift in complicated patterns.
You think it's a puzzle box, which could be opened if you can figure out the right sequence.
”Give me a minute...”
He sits down cross legged and holds his hands out, levitating the box in front of him. The box slowly turns over on itself, suspended in the air, before pieces start to slide in place...and then stick.
Not ready to give up, he pushes the pieces back and starts again.
And again.
And again.
A grand total of 17 attempts, and almost 3 minutes later, interspersed with irritated growls at Dregg that he ”almost has it”, the box finally clicks open.
"Take your time, Angel. I gotta catch my breath." He boots the korred's body out of the way, then pulls a small stool out from underneath one of the workbenches and crashes down onto it gracelessly with a groan. He mutters a few curses to himself, broken up with "fey" and "grabbybeards" and "more fey" before finishing up with a heavy sigh.
Looking up at the group while Arryn works away at the puzzle, the half-orc asks honestly, "How do you all manage it? Being, you know, a group? A team? Things were a lot easier before I ran into you lot at that bridge; back when I was only looking out for my own skin." He shakes his head and saws his jaw back and forth as he considers his words. "See, I'm good at 2 things: I'm fast and I can take a lot of hits. Cramped in these halls and whatnot, being fast isn't much use. So the only thing left that I'm more suited to than the rest of you, is being front and center when the blades come out." He works his jaw back and forth again before turning to Isabella. "I get that you hate these fey, Goggles. Not asking why, but I get it. When it comes times to dance with the next one when room's tight though, I can either be in its face and you can shoot it, which, frankly, you're better at than Feathers, but don't tell him I said that. Or, you can mix it up with your swords and I can plunk at it with my crappy bow. However you prefer it, Goggles. I'm beat and won't argue."
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"Solitude has its place," Garrivek admits. "But being part of a group, a family, a band... Wherever it is your heart feels at home -- there's nothing more satisfying. That's not to say its not difficult. Looking out for others as well as oneself can be a challenge. Particularly when on can't do both. But together, we can be more. Do more." Garrivek drums his fingers on his armour. "Look in your heart, Dregg. Are you with these people for survival? Because you have to be? Or are you here because you want to be? Perhaps then, you're worried over their safety?" He shrugs. "Whether you're meant to be with this group is something only you'll know. And you'll only know if you listen to your heart. Truly listen." He chuckles. "That can be hard for many of us." He claps Dregg on the shoulder. "You'll figure it out."
Arryn takes his time puzzling over the thing, but FINALLY gets the pieces in the right order, causing it to open -- and revealing a smooth ceramic cube inside.
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Aramis looks a little wounded at Dregg's words. "Do you... want to leave?" she asks. "Because you'd rather be alone?" She looks away. "I've been alone. But it's other people and the relationships I've made that have made life worth living. Worth fighting for. There's nowhere else I'd rather be than with the refugees or fighting for them."
Aramis looks back at Dregg. "If you're worried that you're not doing enough, stop. You're good at more than you think you are, and we need you on the front lines. And not just so you can take a hit. You're one of us, if you want to be."
"What?" Dregg seems surprised at Garrivek's words and then more so at Aramis'. "All that inner-spection stuff can wait until we're not up to my balls in stupid fey and grabbybeards. And no, Red, I don't want to leave. Dammit I danced toe to toe with that walking canker sore Scarvinius - twice - and lost - twice - because I, how'd you put it, Beltbuckle? 'Worry over your safety.' Of course I'm not leaving." He then huffs, "Look, I've got one job when we're doing this," he waves his hand around vaguely to indicate the fort, "whole adventuring band thing. I get hit so you all don't. Just-" he works his jaw again, "just let me do my job when things get violent. That's all I'm saying."
"Not so good at the team-thing myself," Isabella says, shrugging. "Also don't favour the odds of pinking some critter if you're toe to toe with it..."
The half-elf shrugs uncomfortably. "Hrrm. Willing to give it a try. But if that's the plan, I need to take point. Let me squeeze off the first shot, then you move in, then I follow up, soon as I've got my swords out.
Sound good, green genes? And I got most of my hate for Fey from the ones we've been meeting lately, really."
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Arryn points at the ceramic cube that’s now floating in front of himself, triumphant grin plastered on his face...and nobody notices, too intent on their conversation. He gently clears his throat and resumes his pointing and grinning, but still nothing as the others continue their conversation about the importance of teamwork and being together.
Eventually, he sets the ceramic cube down and lifts the fallen chisel into the air, gently bonking Isabella on the head with it. ”If anybody cares, I finished!” he says, pointing at the ceramic cube.
"Yeah? Great. What is that?" Isabella asks.
”A Ceramic Cube,” Arryn says, filling his words with both importance and impending doom.
"... Yes? So why's it floating?"
”Cause I don’t know what it is and if it’s safe to touch it.”
He floats it over to the work bench near Aramis for study.
At the sight of Dregg's uncomfortable reaction Aramis gives him a smirk. "Good. You're not allowed to leave. I'd drag you back kicking and screaming." Despite her joking tone she looks relieved. She gives him a clap on the shoulder. "You've ran headlong into the thick of things since I met you. I'd expect no less. You do you, yeah?"
Then she turns her attention to Arryn and his cube...
"Interesting... Nice job, Arryn. Puzzles aren't really my strong suit."
Garrivek, understanding this is more of a tactical issue than an emotional issue, lets out a deep belly laugh. "Oh! Yeah, cramped rooms are always a pain." He gestures at Isabella and Dregg. "You two will figure it out. Just takes time."
He pulls out a wand and uses it on his companions.
He looks to the others. "Anyone else need a patch-up?"
He wanders over to Arryn and his cube. "Wow! Look at that. What a lovely trinket! Mind if I take a look?"
As you try to figure it out, a little shake reveals a sloshing noise inside. What exactly that is, though ... Garrivek just isn't sure.
Eventually you decide to venture on, opening the door in the room. Doors and staircases cap both ends of this long, twisting hall. Several arrow slits look out on the forest along the eastern wall. The walls of this gallery are scratched, seared with fire, and stained with blood.
"Wait - was that Angel's cube making that noise? Slosh it around again for me, Beltbuckle? Yeah, yeah. Let me hear it again."
Dregg thinks it's like green slime, which presumably would attack anything in its area if the box were broken.
"Fascinating!"
"Oh, this could be very useful."
Garrivek offers the cube back to Arryn. "You worked for it. Did you want to hang onto it?"
Arryn will carefully wrap it up and tuck it away for sometime they are facing a very tough opponent.
Garrivek double checks no one's wounded.
Then he heads over to the double doors and opens them.
A dozen bunk beds have been rearranged in this room. The straw mattresses have all been stacked to make a ludicrously high bed, and the metal bed frames have been pounded into uneven shapes and stacked to the north to create a dais surmounted by a metal throne. Scattered empty bottles, casks, and cups litter the surrounding area. Four squat stone blocks, each about two feet square, stand around the room, sealed to the floor.
A burly korred with a thick torso, large facial features, and a wild profusion of matted head and beard hair lounges on the throne, a pair of filthy and ill-smelling humanoid, with twitching, large pointed ears in front of him. One is the size of an ogre, the other a halfling.
They're spriggans, gnome-like creatures with no sense of joy.
"And that's Halk!" Cirieo shouts, apparently referring to the korred on the throne.
As Cirieo's words, the korred staggers to his feat. "Kill them and you can join the revel!" he calls out to the two other creatures, and starts chanting "kill them, kill them, kill them!"
The two figures turn to the door with a look of rage, and both of them gesture, casting spells at Garrivek. A flash of light threatens to blind him as a surge of fear runs through him and Dregg.
Arryn delays until after Garrivek and Dregg have entered the room (or run off).
Once the way is clear, he will slip into the room, lift an empty drink bottle, and flings it at the big creature.
x 1.5 = 34
Garrivek thrusts his gloved hands forward, making a fiery explosion consumer the room.
Then he takes a step into the room and a step to the left to enter the room without blocking the entrance.
Aramis enters the room and casts a quick spell, sending a pair of magic missiles at the biggest enemy.
Garrivek: 21
Arryn: 10
Aramis: 9
Isabella: 8
Dregg: 4
Cirieo: 3
Antagonists: 22
Garrivek's blast catches the two gnomelike creatures, though the smaller one manages to avoid the worst of it. The flames seem to move around Halk, not touching him at all!
A second later, Arryn enters and drives broken bottle into the skull of the larger creature. It totters for a second, looking surprised, and then collapses to the ground, twitching slightly. Aramis follows them both, her magical bolts hitting the smaller, remaining creature.
Dregg gestures for Isabella to precede him, and she does, cutting with her longsword at the creature. She puts the blade through its chest, leaving the way open for Dregg to reach Halk. The half-orc's axe cuts into the master of the Red Rock Revel, but doesn't seem to hurt him badly. He roars in rage and his hair starts moving -- but this time it doesn't try to grab Dregg, but rather the korred's club, which it proceeds to then swing at the half-orc! It lands with a brutal thud, ringing his bell and bloodying his nose
He steps back and casts a quick spell, and suddenly there are four Halks, all seeming to dance around until you can't tell which is the real one.
Lil Sprig: 16
Halk: 8, club 1 rd, 3 images
Arryn moves closer and rips the broken bottle from the ogre’s skull and flings it at Halk.
The bottle slides through one image, shattering it and the bottle against the far wall.
Isabella drops her sword and swings up her crossbow, discharging a bolt at Halk!