"I feel spent after the day's exertions. Remember we have been up since dawn and it is now dark night. I would really like to rest for a time and approach the barrow fully refreshed. What do you say?"
Arianwyn grinds his teeth, "Very well! We shall camp for the night, whilst the dark ones plot further and no doubt seed more corruption here. Ach, I have done." he says.
"I should think you could spare a little thought for the rest of us Arianwyn. After all, we have been fighting all day. But then, I dare say we shall see who is right in the morning."
"Rest? Will we never complete our quest?"
Anarak sighs in frustration, but finds a comfortable place to sit. "If we're camping, I'll take the first watch."
"Could I suggest we go to the place with the stones. That spirit shouldn't bother us since we are doing it a favour and it might even help us if we need it."
"By the way Anarak, Arianwyn and I can keep watch and rest at the same time so you don't need to stand watch. I should take advantage and rest as well as you can."
"For once, Sir Drake, you and I are in agreement. It seems we are in the minority, however, and I shall say no more."
He heads back to the grove of stones.
You return to the sacred circle and Vel pitches her tent. Despite the evidence of your earlier visit, the grove holds no menace for you now. You sleep. Perchance you dream.
You waken early to the welcome sound of birds just as the blush of dawn is leaving the sky. Where are you going and what will you do when you get there?
"And so, rosey-fingered dawn comes once more to the lands of men." Arianwyn murmurs.
"The barrows." he says aloud and proceeds back to the mounds.
"Could I suggest we go to the place with the stones. That spirit shouldn't bother us since we are doing it a favour and it might even help us if we need it."
"By the way Anarak, Arianwyn and I can keep watch and rest at the same time so you don't need to stand watch. I should take advantage and rest as well as you can."
"Well, I believe on doing my share so I will take a watch with you all the same. Those Duergar may attack at night and I'd rather be awake if they do."
As an afterthought, he adds, "I don't care where we sleep."
"And so, rosey-fingered dawn comes once more to the lands of men." Arianwyn murmurs.
"The barrows." he says aloud and proceeds back to the mounds.
"Come on then. Let's finish our Good Deed."
Arianwyn heads for the oldest barrow. "What secrets lie beyond the ken of mortal men?" he ponders.
"Ah yes, several."
"This one, I suppose you want," Vel says, standing near the oldest barrow.
"Indeed, which is why I have chosen it also."
I7 with his axe drawn, ready to lead the way in. "Who's got a light?"
I7 with his axe drawn, ready to lead the way in. "Who's got a light?"
"Do you want it? I can make your axe our light."
"That may be enough light for some of us, but the barrows are quite big inside. We may need something that spreads light a little further, or risk being surprised by something coming at us out of the dark."
"Very well." Vel digs another sunrod out of her pack and cracks it. "This should do."
I7 with his axe drawn, ready to lead the way in. "Who's got a light?""Do you want it? I can make your axe our light."
"Sounds good to me. I'm never without my axe! Err..except that one time. Um, oh, nevermind..."
The barrow is closed off with a large rock. It's perfectly moveable and now that you look at the place in the light of day, you can see clear evidence of something having gone in and out recently.
There is a rustle from the trees to your left.
Whiteclaw had simply rolled her eyes a little at the attempted drama arguing against the rest break. She made no comments, though, and took her watch shift readily, not seeming to mind the night at all.
Her senses already on edge, Vel looks around the trees and swiftly identifies two further sources of noise. HERE.
You cannot however see anything.
Not wanting to rush into the trees against unknown foes - and not all that thrilled about still being poking around Barrows, Whiteclaw drops back to give her more options once they appear.
Vel targets the easternmost invisible creature with her favored ambush spell, but is thrown off by the concealment.
Illusory Ambush vs Will (1d20-2=0, 1d6 4=6)
A handful of poisonous beard quills hurtle towards Arianwyn and fall short to the accompaniment of curses from the right hand clump of trees.
An enraged duergar pops into view and advances on the eladrin. His warhammer thuds down, almost crushing the lithe figure.
"Thus Mar deals with defilers and unbelievers."
hammer attack on Arianwyn (extra 2d6 for combat advantage on hit): (1d20 8=28, 1d10 2=4, 2d6=8).
"YOU DARE?!"
*thin stream of blood slowly trickles from mouth. Artfully, of course.*
With a roar of outrage, Anarak advances on the suddenly visible duergar and clouts him with his axe.
Perception from earlier: 1d20+2 = 7
Seeing no way to get flanking without provoking an attack, Anarak moves through the trees to take a position next to Arianwyn at G9. He will make a Reaping Strike at Mar, the only visible foe. And, considering Arianwyn's recent injury, he will release the pressure on him by marking the Duergar.
Reaping Strike: 1d20+8 = 24 vs AC. Damage: 1d12+4 = 5 (4 on miss).
If the Duergar shifts, or attacks Arianwyn, I make an opportunity attack. Rolls:
Whiteclaw holds back for now to get a feel for the odds before commiting to action.
If the Duergar shifts, or attacks Arianwyn, I make an opportunity attack. Rolls:
With vengeful purpose, Anarak steps closer to Mar and slices an almost contemptutous blow into the duergar. The pair size each other up as worthy adversaries.
Rustling from the trees to the left of her causes Kia to swing around just in time to see another duergar pop into sight wielding a warhammer. Taking advantage of her distraction, he attacks her, but the damage is less appalling than it might be.
"We shall crush you, fools and intruders."
Skeggi warhammer attack on Kia: (1d20 10=26, 1d10 2=5).
The sight of yet more renegade dwarves as well as the vicious attacks on his companions spur the paladin into action. Hefting his warhammer and issuing a Divine Challenge at the interloper, he swings. The blow falls short, alas, but the duergar cannot resist Gobi's challenge.
Holy Strike on Skeggi (Divinely challenged, so gets Wis mod as well on hit): (1d20 5=7, 1d10 5=13)
A crossbow bolt pings out of the trees at Vel, but falls short. With an aggrieved yelp, the duergar snaps into view and moves to support his comrades.
Witchfire vs Mar's Reflex Defense (1d20+4=9)
Arianwyn seethes with fury and unleashes a blast of white fire ineffectually, screaming with rage.