Hrunndalf points out that the scrolls of Magic Circle Against Evil will last for almost an hour, and thus make for good preparation when one or more big fights are expected. As it is the case now.
Mel blinks back at Hrunndalf, her mind obviously very much elsewhere. "What?" And then as she remembers what he said, "If someone wants it cast, I can probably manage to activate the scroll for them. Just let me know."
Headed down the stairs, Mel's shoulder start to shake, her lips pressed tight to keep sound from tumbling out. It's fairly obvious that she is either trying to not start laughing or screaming. Kinda hard to tell.
"Well, maybe it's silly, but I... I used to sit on the roof of the place across from the Rusty Dragon, and listen to the music coming out of there in the evenings. I liked the fun sounding dance songs, and Ameiko is quite talented. I like how haunting some of her music can be. I heard Mel's aunt who fiddles a few times, that was always amazing, if unusually sort of depressing. I even heard my granddaughter play once. I'm not sure what that was supposed to be, but I think it was music." She looks a little sad, but her smile for you is genuine. "I suppose I hadn't really thought about it before. I like a lot of different things I hear. But I think my favorite is elven drinking songs." She looks up at you through lowered eyelashes.
"I have," Shalelu replies, smiling back, "Become extremely fond of elven drinking songs."
"In fact, though," she admits, "I am probably fondest of elven music in general. I almost wish I weren't; it's so ... cliché."
"But, as they say, the music that was popular when when someone was 60 is always the best music of all time for them, and I suppose I am no exception."
And then as she remembers what he said, "If someone wants it cast, I can probably manage to activate the scroll for them. Just let me know."
Myri so requests. :)
Mel blinks back at Hrunndalf, her mind obviously very much elsewhere. "What?" And then as she remembers what he said, "If someone wants it cast, I can probably manage to activate the scroll for them. Just let me know."
Kalimac raises his hand. "Please do. When we find the ogre, I'm likely to be right up in her face; I'll take all the protection I can get."
"If someone wants it cast, I can probably manage to activate the scroll for them. Just let me know."
Rhost also raises his hand.
"I have," Shalelu replies, smiling back, "Become extremely fond of elven drinking songs."
"In fact, though," she admits, "I am probably fondest of elven music in general. I almost wish I weren't; it's so ... cliché."
"But, as they say, the music that was popular when when someone was 60 is always the best music of all time for them, and I suppose I am no exception."
Lio smiles a little, happy to find out these things about you, but conflicted because her memories of being that age were significantly less pleasant, making them difficult to share.
"I haven't really heard much elven music, but I would like to. I... haven't met many elves." Lio says quietly. "I've not been in an elven town since I was a really small child. I don't really remember it." But then you probably already knew that. She wonders if she should ask you about growing up, or if talking about your parents would be too painful.
After a moment of just being in your presence, silently, and contemplating what to say, she adds, "The music that was popular when I was 60, was sort of heavy on the percussion side." A small smile. "I don't know if I'm overly fond of drumming, but some Orcs are quite musically talented." Another moment. "If anything, when there was drumming, it was nice, because it calmed down my son while I was carrying him. When he felt the vibrations, he always went right to sleep. He kicked a lot when he was awake, so I suppose I might be fond of percussion after all." A small smile for a bitter sweet memory. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get so melancholy." She adds very quietly.
"What you like about elven music? Think we can find some in this town?"
Mel moves into the center of the bedchamber and one by one uses the silver to draw circles followed by the scrolls to cast Magic Circle against Evil.
Headed down the stairs, Mel's shoulder start to shake, her lips pressed tight to keep sound from tumbling out. It's fairly obvious that she is either trying to not start laughing or screaming. Kinda hard to tell.
Alaric very quietly takes her hand.
Mel looks at Alaric, squeezes his hand.
A small smile, torn between amusement and terror, "I shouldn't understand the precipice that overlooks madness so well, but there it is again."
Mel smiles up at Alaric, no longer torn, nicely centered on the healer's green eyes.
A self-mocking smile spreads over Alaric's face.
Mel's right hand creeps up to behind Alaric's neck, she pulls him down for a quick but thorough kiss.
When they break, a rapidly reddening Alaric says, somewhat breathlessly: "I love you too, but we're in the middle of raid on an evil fortress."
Mel nods, "Yep. Consider that good luck and motivation to notdie." And she continues down the stairs, hand tightening on Suishen.
"Mr. Haggersley," calls Kalimac from out in the hall, "we are grateful for you warnings, but we do have friends to rescue. We've faced ogres before and prevailed; we are not dissuaded from our task. Can you make it out on your own? Or do you need assistance?"A quick smile for the halfling, "He at least needs to be healed some, cause barely has the strength to stand right now. But... I don't think he asked us to help him. And then people started to insult him, so he insulted us back. Seems like a fair trade all around."
"En whot waye ded ah ensulte ye?" Lio asks the liberated prisoner, quite straight faced.
“I don’t think there weren’t no insultin’ going on,” the man sniffs. ”I spoke my mind, the elf spoke hers back, and that’s all right as makes no nevermind. I didn’t fight in the Battle of Skirr’s Gap to take no guff from nobody, I told that to Runecaster and I’ll tell it to you, friend or foe, but I respect the right of others to do the same, and that’s a fact you can print on paper and sell in Trollheim.”
Lio nods in agreement. At his words, she takes out the wand of cure light that she was asked to carry, and uses a charge on him. He's convinced her he's not in fact a bigot talking down to her because of her slave tattoos, but rather, just an angry old man. This seems to be acceptable in her mind.
Cure light:
Mel looks back and forth between Hrunndalf and Lio, shrugs. "Well... If neither of you is going to..." She grabs the wand from Alaric with a quick smile. Then to Lute, "Sorry, I'm not as good as either of them at this." A pause, "And very sorry, but I just need to check one thing first." She looks closely at Lute.
** spoiler omitted **
Lio looks at Mel, silent for a moment. Then very quietly, "All ye 'ad tah do es aske."
"Maybe you remember that before you go snatching it again, hmm?" he says with affectionate annoyance.Muttering under her breath, but trying to fight a smile, "I couldn't very well grab the one Lio is carrying... And they were just standing over him being..."
"Beaeng?" Lio chimes in, lilting. "Ye ken yer a b'tt'r judge of when tah use 'e wahnd, go raighte aheade an' use et." Her tone is not challenging. She means what she says.
"Sorry, Mr. Haggersley. I think there's some leather further down, under all that chain," says Kalimac, sheepishly.
One the man is situated, Lio adds, "Ef ye wonder about, please stahye awahe frum 'e man trappen en eh glahss kontainer. Et's thot swarm of 'ellwasps, leven under 'e sken of a man."
Kalimac looks to the Tien speakers in the group, hoping for a translation (or any kind of enlightenment, really).
Lio too has no clue what is being said, and silently waits for either something to jump out at them from the well, or for someone to explain what's going on. She remains ready for anything.
Mel turns to Alaric's current head piece, "Helgarval, do you think you could retrieve the swords for us, please?"certainly, answers Helgarval. i was rather perplexed that none of you asked it of me earlier but i assumed you must have had some clever plan in mind.
Helgarval turns into a dove, launches himself off of Alaric's head, and flaps down into the cistern. When he reaches the edge of the water, he tranforms into a fish and dives in after the no longer visible sword.
Lio looks somewhat annoyed. Possibly because she should totally be able to do that. But for some reason, can't.
Lio nods in agreement. At his words, she takes out the wand of cure light that she was asked to carry, and uses a charge on him. He's convinced her he's not in fact a bigot talking down to her because of her slave tattoos, but rather, just an angry old man. This seems to be acceptable in her mind.
With that additional spell, by the time you have left Lute, he appears to have been completely healed.
The stairs lead down to intersect with a short hallway. As Hrunndalf rounds the corner, the creatures in the room beyond look up -- six zombies and a giant rotting hand that rocks unsteadily, propped upon thick, stubby fingers. Its pale, necrotic flesh pulses and crawls with sickly boils.
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. = 5’ Square
X = Wall
} = Door
? = Unknown
\ = Stair
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X????X..
X????).X
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RLKYAMHX
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. = 5’ Square
X = Wall
} = Door
? = Unknown
\ = Stair
Z = Zombie
E = Giant Crawling Undead Hand
L = Liothonae
H = Hrunndalf
Y = Myriana
K = Kalimac (on Attatoq)
A = Alaric
M = Melinda
R = Rhost
After a moment of just being in your presence, silently, and contemplating what to say, she adds, "The music that was popular when I was 60, was sort of heavy on the percussion side." A small smile. "I don't know if I'm overly fond of drumming, but some Orcs are quite musically talented." Another moment. "If anything, when there was drumming, it was nice, because it calmed down my son while I was carrying him. When he felt the vibrations, he always went right to sleep. He kicked a lot when he was awake, so I suppose I might be fond of percussion after all." A small smile for a bitter sweet memory. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get so melancholy." She adds very quietly.
"There's no need to apologize."
"My own son was fussy. Not that I knew him long or well enough to render judgment. From what I could tell when I visited later, he did seem to grow out of it eventually, but he was difficult to calm when and infant. Sometimes holding him would settle him down, sometimes nothing would."
"What you like about elven music? Think we can find some in this town?"
"We might be able to ... there is no large elven population, but it is a cosmopolitan city."
"It is difficult to explain why I like it ... It tends to be sad in a way that makes me feel happy."
Zombies:
Crawling Hand:
Knowledge: Arcana +6
Knowledge: Local +3
Knowledge: Planes +14
Knowledge: Religion +4
Initiative
Alaric would like to advance to where Hrunndalf is standing, if at all possible.
Grabbing the broken link, Alaric channels undead harming energy.
Cast shield and pull the wand of scorching ray
Mel closes her eyes, whispers an arcane word. As the shield manifests around her, she pulls a wand.
Zombies
Init
Giant Hand
Init
To Hit:
Damage:
Grab:
Runecaster still putting up buffs
Turning the corner of the corridor, Hrunndalf immediately calls back: "!"
Initiative: or .
+1 Cold Iron Morningstar, two-handed, Power Attack (new and improved!), charging:
To hit: (crit )
Damage: (crit )
Possible AoOs (even flat-footed):
Þrumublað, two-handed, Power Attack (new and improved!):
To hit: (crit )
Damage: (crit )
. . . plus electric.
Þrumublað, two-handed, Power Attack (new and improved!):
To hit: (crit )
Damage: (crit )
. . . plus electric.
initiative:
knowledge: Knowledge: Architecture/Engineering +3, Dungeon +6, Geography +6, History +3, Local +3, Nature +6, Religion +3(+2 more vs Undead)
hopefully move into position to at least the corner, behind Hrunndalf, Mel, Kalimac and anyone else who wants to get past. Fire once into undead.
to hit: +1 pt.blk shot, FE:Undead(+2) included, -2 Deadly Aim, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Seeking
dam: +1 bow incl, +1 pt.blank inclu, FE:undead(+2) incl, +4 Deadly Aim
to hit: +1 pt.blk shot, FE:Undead(+2) included, -2 Deadly Aim, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Seeking
dam: +1 bow incl, +1 pt.blank inclu, FE:undead(+2) incl, +4 Deadly Aim
In what may become a familiar refrain, Myri intones "I hate undead." She moves into sight of an (undead) and looses an arrow.
Giant Crawling Hand: Sometimes, they try to grab you after they hit you. Once they wound a foe, they can focus on that particular person, giving them bonuses against that opponent. They can only do this against one foe at a time.
"Zombies up ahead, people!"
Having translated Hrunndalf's warning, Kalimac jockeys for position.
Initiative:
Rhost moves toward the combat. Doesn't even have the movement to get off the stairs.
"There's no need to apologize."
"My own son was fussy. Not that I knew him long or well enough to render judgment. From what I could tell when I visited later, he did seem to grow out of it eventually, but he was difficult to calm when and infant. Sometimes holding him would settle him down, sometimes nothing would."
"We might be able to ... there is no large elven population, but it is a cosmopolitan city."
"It is difficult to explain why I like it ... It tends to be sad in a way that makes me feel happy."
"Do you regret not living with him?" Lio asks, almost cautiously, because she doesn't want to hurt your feelings and this is something you've never really talked about. Her arms still in place around you, she gives you a supportive look.
"Well then, we shall find the high bard and listen to her, and then we shall set upon a great quest to find some elven music for comparison." Lio suggests, rather... she states.
Lio continues to advance towards the creatures, her sword drawn.
Initiative:
Lio continues to advance towards the creatures, her sword drawn.
Although Hrunndalf is loath to forfeit the tactical advantage of his reach weapon, he realizes he must establish the front line as far ahead as possible to make space for his comrades. He drops Þrumublað, draws the mace, and charges the disembodied hand with a grunt. However, his powerful swing misses the target.
A zombie punches Hrunndalf in the face, getting in a lucky blow.
Rhost moves toward the combat.
In what may become a familiar refrain, Myri intones "I hate undead." She tries to move forward, but finds her way completely blocked by the press of bodies.
Having translated Hrunndalf's warning, Kalimac jockeys for position. Like Myriana, however, he can get no closer.
The Giant Hand lifts two fingers and swings them at Hrunndalf, connecting with a solid blow.
Completing the swing, it wraps its fingers around the Oracle.
Mel closes her eyes, whispers an arcane word. As the shield manifests around her, she pulls a wand.
Alaric would like to advance, but he cannot. Grabbing the broken link, Alaric channels undead harming energy. The Hand and all but one of the zombies are caught in the energy wave and bits drop off of them. The Hand is clearly injured by it, and most of the zombies are damaged severely indeed, although none of them fall.
The remaining zombies mostly mill around and make zombie noises.
Giant Hand -11
Zombie One -11
Zombie Two -11
Zombie Three -5
Zombie Four -11
Zombie Five -11
Zombie Six
Hrunndalf -16, and -6 from Con damage
XXXXXXXX
X????X..
X????).X
XXXXXX.X
XXXX...X
XXXX...X
XXXXXX.X
XXXXXX.X
\\\\\\.X
XXXXXXXX
. = 5’ Square
X = Wall
) = Door
? = Unknown
\ = Stair
XXXXXXXX
X????X..
X????).X
XXXXXXZX
XXXXZZZX
XXXXZZEX
XXXXXXHX
XXXXXXLX
\\KYAMRX
XXXXXXXX
. = 5’ Square
X = Wall
) = Door
? = Unknown
\ = Stair
Z = Zombie
E = Giant Crawling Undead Hand
L = Liothonae
H = Hrunndalf
Y = Myriana (on stairs)
K = Kalimac (on Attatoq) (on stairs)
A = Alaric (on stairs)
M = Melinda (on stairs)
R = Rhost
to hit1: +1 pt.blank not incl, FE: Undead(+2) incl, -2 Rapid Shot incl, -2 Deadly Aim, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Seeking
to hit2: +1 pt.blank not incl, FE: Undead(+2) incl, -2 Rapid Shot incl, -2 Deadly Aim, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Seeking
dam1: +1 bow incl, FE:undead(+2) incl, +4 Deadly Aim incl
dam2: +1 bow incl, FE:undead(+2) incl, +4 Deadly Aim incl
Zombies
(add +2 if charging)
(add +2 if charging)
Giant Hand
To Hit:
Damage:
Runecaster
To Hit:
Damage: (plus poison)
Init:
Longsword +6 (1d8+2/19-20/x2
To Hit:
Damage: (includes increased strength.)
Channeling: