AC = 22
HP = 26/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Blessed
Kikinnin presses his momentum, hoping to snick another squiddy, before another head gets wrapped up in the conflict.
"Yiah, yiah! Get yourselves somewhere else, you ugly face suckers! Wait, Maxim, do they understand the common tongue?"
"Three of 'em. One's done, and one's bleedin' hard, now."
As Marigold gets tense she instinctively rises her hand in an attempt to help JJ and all of a sudden a string of stars jump from it lightning everything until they reach the darkness effect where they disappear. Nevertheless you can hear a burst.
The burst seems to take both enemies, Kikinnin and JJ alike as you overhear a cacophony of curses as they all burn!
Maxim closes by and stabs his shortsword on the darkmantle hovering over Kikinnin's head.
JJ steps back unsure on how to defend himself against the creatures but taking Ryan's potion when it is offered.
With a commanding swing of his axe, Kikinnin ends the darkmantle attacking JJ and still burning on Marigold's fire.
The last darkmantle reprisals by attacking the dwarf with it's tentacles.
But the armor is too strong for it to damage him.
AC = 22
HP = 22/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Blessed
"Damn it all, we're trying to fight here!! Who's calling down the fire?!"
Kikinnin turns back on the others, looking for the backstabber, and tries to lock eyes with Marigold in a 'dunna doit agin' look, but finds no recognition behind the angry eyes, on the other side of the blackness veil.
Still smoldering, he throws his axe out a third time, hoping to end the last wet mop.
JJ tries to pat out his flames as he drinks the potion.
" owe, Owe, OWE!"
Then he notices the group is still missing a dwarf.
"Wheres...?"
He asks as he continues his slow way out of darkness
With a strong blow of the axe Kikinnin sends the last of the creatures directly to the ground!
Once the darkness disappears and you walk farther in the cave, you discover a couple of goblin corpses laying on the natural rock.
As the darkness fades, Marigold's eyes widen at the sight of the charred darkmantles...and her singed companions. "Um...I..." she stammers, at a loss for words. She'd managed to call upon some amazing magical effects when under stress but this was the first time she'd ever actually hurt anything with her magic - or anyone.
"S-sorryd-don'tkn-knowwh-whath-happeneditj-justd-didb-butw-won'tl-letith-ha ppenagains-sorry..." she stammers, the words running together in her embarrassment and shame on having hurt two of her friends. With shaking hands, she pulls out the healing wand yet again and tries to repair the damage done by the darkmantles and herself.
"Thank you MG, and worry not it'll take more than a few burnt whiskers to truely hurt Kikinnin. Granted his pride may have taken a hit with their burning" all said with a smile, and the last directed in jest as much at the dwarf as her.
As everyone has a chance to collect themselves, Ryan takes a moment to check the dead goblins, pretty sure what might have killed them.
anything of worth on them
the dark mantles did kill them right
"Don't worry!" says JJ, somewhat braver now the horrible darkmantles have gone.
"What horrible creatures they were."
He pokes around the cave. "On the plus side, looks like they ate goblins."
JJ looks back at the main cave that leads into darkness.
"I think before exporing down there, we should update the guard on what we have discovered. It they don't post a guard down here, they might at least want to arrange to get iron bars put in. Or maybe post a guard and put iron bars in."
He slowly heads back to the dwarf hold.
"I wonder who built this, and why it was abandoned? The histories at the Bluecrater might tell of it..."
He looks hopefully at Mairgold and Juraan.
"Good idea JJ, and the church may have record of this since a good portion of this was dedicated to another deiety."
"I don't think you need to apologise, Marigold."
"That was a pretty impressive display of light!"
"And anything that got me out from having my head becoming an entre is okay by me. "
He looks at his ragged shirt.
"Though I may new some new "around town" clothes."
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"S-sorryd-don'tkn-knowwh-whath-happeneditj-justd-didb-butw-won'tl-letith-ha ppenagains-sorry..."
Kikinnin looks the halfling over, understanding slowly that some impulse came through her, and a demonstration of power occurred without discrimination. He's about to answer her, when the others speak up.
"Thank you MG, and worry not. It'll take more than a few burnt whiskers to truly hurt Kikinnin. Granted his pride may have taken a hit with their burning."
"I don't think you need to apologise, Marigold."
He raises a single eyebrow at the priest. "My beard's fine, it was my backside that was burnt. Pride's nothing to do with it."
He turns to Juraan, shaking his head. "You don't need an apology, because you didn't get burnt." Kikinnin punctuates the word 'you' with a poke to the poisoner's chest.
"She shot blind, and she didn't communicate. Or if she did, it wasn't in words that I could have understood, and for that, I want an explanation." Kikinnin turns to Marigold.
"I'm sure you meant well, but why can't you speak straight when we get into skirmishes? I told you I almost finished with the squiddies. Did you understand what I spoke? I'm not angry with you, but I'll not have us tongue-tied when it could mean someone's injured unnecessarily." The black-beard rests his axe on the ground, and rests his hands on his axe, waiting to learn something about the strange girl.
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JJ steps between the smouldering dwarf and Marigold.
"Kikinnin! Leave Marigold alone. You have known her long enough now. She always gets this way when something nasty happens. It's just nerves. Maybe she'll grow out of it. We can't all be brave dwarves now can we? Look at her, you've gone and frightened her again."
He then gives the dwarf a smile.
"All the more opportunity for you to lead by example eh? I've never heard of a dwarf that minded the odd burn or two. Honour marks from the forges and all that. Now, we all look a sight, and you've done and distracted me from giving you a well deserved thank-you for not knocking my head off with the axe while you were saving my life. That was much appreciated and well swung."
He rubs his chin. "Don't think I'll need to shave today though.."
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Miserable, Marigold gazes down at the floor. "N-n-no, it's okay J-J-JJ...K-K-Kikinnin is right, even thought I m-m-meant well I hurt b-b-both of you on top of those d-d-darkmantle things..."
"And I d-d-don't kn-kn-know why I have my m-m-magic or why I c-c-can't talk p-p-plain when we f-f-fight," she continues quietly, still unwilling to meet Kikinnin's gaze or anyone else's. "It's like...there's always a p-p-presence hanging over m-m-me b-b-but it's not like when y-y-you or Ryan t--t-talk about A-A-Abadar. If things are c-c-calm then I'm c-c-calm...b-b-but when the f-f-fighting b-b-breaks out it's like a wall c-c-comes down in m-m-my m-m-mind...and every s-s-spoken word is gibberish except f-f-for the language J-J-JJ and I s-s-share."
As she speaks Marigold feels tears beginning to well up in her eyes and she furiously tries to blink them away, feeling stupid for allowing herself to get upset in the first place.
No, I WON'T cry! I won't cry, I won't cry, I won't!
"And s-s-sometimes I get s-s-so f-f-flustrated when I c-c-can't s-s-say what I want to s-s-say...when I c-c-can't even understand m-m-most of you and I d-d-don't know if you're s-s-shouting warnings or victory c-c-cries..." she hiccups, beginning to lose her fight against the tears. "All I've b-b-been good for s-s-so f-f-far is p-p-patching wounds and p-p-protective m-m-magics...I wanted to d-d-do s-s-something m-m-more and I let it get away f-f-from m-m-e and j-j-just m-m-made things worse..." she trails off, unable to continue as a tear rolls down her cheek.
"Leave Marigold alone. She did the best she could."
"I couldn't have dispelled that darkness like she did."
"Besides, what should she do?
Stand there and wait and see if you and JJ may, or may not, get killed?"
"And anyway, we shouldn't be arguing. We're alive and unhurt."
"Shouldn't we proceed to check the rest of that cavern slopping downward?
"Those Goblins and their allies probably came from there originally."
Ryan recovers 4 gold pieces and two shortswords from the dead goblins. Due to their advanced state of putrefaction they are likely dead a year ago or two.
The cavern reverberates the loud voices of the party as they discuss.
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"Kikinnin! Leave Marigold alone. You have known her long enough now. She always gets this way when something nasty happens. It's just nerves. Maybe she'll grow out of it. We can't all be brave dwarves now can we? Look at her, you've gone and frightened her again. All the more opportunity for you to lead by example eh? I've never heard of a dwarf that minded the odd burn or two. Honour marks from the forges and all that. Now, we all look a sight, and you've done and distracted me from giving you a well deserved thank-you for not knocking my head off with the axe while you were saving my life. That was much appreciated and well swung."
Kikinnin looks at the young man, and his protectiveness, letting him speak his mind.
"And I d-d-don't kn-kn-know why I have my m-m-magic or why I c-c-can't talk p-p-plain when we f-f-fight, it's like...there's always a p-p-presence hanging over m-m-me b-b-but it's not like when y-y-you or Ryan t--t-talk about A-A-Abadar. If things are c-c-calm then I'm c-c-calm...b-b-but when the f-f-fighting b-b-breaks out it's like a wall c-c-comes down in m-m-my m-m-mind...and every s-s-spoken word is gibberish except f-f-for the language J-J-JJ and I s-s-share. And s-s-sometimes I get s-s-so f-f-flustrated when I c-c-can't s-s-say what I want to s-s-say...when I c-c-can't even understand m-m-most of you and I d-d-don't know if you're s-s-shouting warnings or victory c-c-cries... All I've b-b-been good for s-s-so f-f-far is p-p-patching wounds and p-p-protective m-m-magics...I wanted to d-d-do s-s-something m-m-more and I let it get away f-f-from m-m-e and j-j-just m-m-made things worse..."
Kikinnin nods slowly. He points JJ to the tear rolling down Marigold's cheek, in case she's unaware.
"Thank you for your explanation, Marigold. You and your... presence... are welcome here. Do not underestimate your healing, and what it does here. I only wish you didn't suffer that frustration of yours. It's a problem, to be sure, but less so now for your speaking." The black-beard strains a smile, uncomfortable that his inquiry came to this.
He looks at the others. "If I ever injure any of you," Kikinnin looks at JJ, "I'll be forthcoming with my own apology. Marigold is not some girl who needs sheltering from honest questions. She's an equal among us all." He turns to Marigold, looking for agreement. "If you ever feel frightened by me, you tell me, and I'll try to behave."
When the others have had their say, Kikinnin encourages JJ to take down the slopes, and continue their exploration.
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Maxim listens the interplay with a wry smile;
"Little Miss... We dwur ain't know for being tactful, leastways not blunt hammers like my brodir. But we have hearts o' gold... just buried deep like. Guess we'll all keep learnin' more about each other and our abilities as we adventure as an official company..."
As the group plan their next move, the gun-mage strokes his beard;
"Speakin' o' which we ain't settled on a nom du guerre for our merry band yet..."
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Marigold coughs and blinks furiously before rubbing at her eyes. She finally looks up at the others and offers a wan smile. "Th-th-thank you. I g-g-guess M-M-Maxim is right, we all s-s-still have a lot t-t-to learn ab-b-bout each other; works in p-p-progress and all, r-r-right?" Her gaze turns to Kikinnin specifically. "D-D-Don't worry...I'm not af-f-fraid of you. Or of anyone else h-h-here."
Except for myself...
She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, finally feeling her nerves beginning to calm a bit. "I...think I need t-t-to go p-p-pay the temple of S-S-Sarenrae a visit...b-b-but for now, let's m-m-move on, okay?"
JJ, relieved that the rather ferocious Kikinnin has calmed down nods eagerly.
"Lets go a little way down there. But if that tunnel goes all the way to the darklands, I'm not sure we are quite well enough equipped for such a trip just yet."
He happily leads off, taking his time and looking for tracks, especially ratman tracks.
"I wonder if those two magic using goblins can managed to charm Orak and the ratman somehow. Doesn't seem that likely though, does it?"
As you advance through the cavern formed on the volcanic rock of Cauldron, you can overhear Kikinnin’s metallic armor hitting the ground and observe your light pouring through the protuberances of the cavern. You are suddenly stopped by the shout of alarm from Maxim and Ryan "Gobs over platform at left!"
Upon raising your eyes to your left, you see three goblins perching over a rocky platform 10’ over your heads, and three bolts readied! They are somehow distracted by some kind of discussion pointing at you but do not shot when Maxim and Ryan point them out.
With the warning Ryan steps forward and aims at the goblins,
AC = 26, Total Defense
HP = 34/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = None
Kikinnin moves up, tapping his axe against his shield, at the ready. "Alright, now, have at it. You take your shot, then I'll find a way to take mine." Trying to back his words up, he starts looking closer for a way up and at 'em.
"More goblins!" calls out JJ as he dashes forward, starting to climb as he gets towards the end of his movement.
Having foolishly expected more riders rather than archers, Marigold reaches for her crossbow as she hurries to catch up with JJ and Kikinnin. She comes to a stop a few feet behind the dwarf and fires a shot at the goblins, trying to offer some cover fire.
As more goblins appear above the group Maxim moves closer to their front line, drawing his pistol as he goes
The dwur stops short and loads his pistol with shot and bullet .
Ryan's shot goes low and hits the wall.
Marigold attempts the same, but the sneaky goblins are prone on the ground and give so little area to shot them out.
A metallic noise is heard when Maxim readies his gun for a shot.
Kikinnin and JJ advance towards the crossbow goblins. When they overhear shouts to their right, JJ gets disconcerted and fails to climb the wall. Kikinnin instinctively readies to receive the charge of the previously unseen goblins by setting his axe to parry.
The three goblins perching over the rocky platform 10’ over your heads shot their crossbows, three bolts coming for you!
Kikinnin and Ryan see their bolts passing over their heads on the first line, but the third bolt lodges on JJ’s right shoulder. The snipers reload their crossbows.
Almost at the same time the war cries of a goblin squad armored with morningstars roar from the right as they charge over you!
On their roaring ferocious attack the goblins fail to understand how difficult is to charge up through an uneven slope and three of them end up hitting each other and discussing each other about whom has pushed whom.
Two of the goblins reach Kikinnin and JJ, but their charges arrive soft and both are able to dodge their attackers.
Thankful that goblins are apparently pretty bad at executing an organized ambush, Marigold approaches the fray and sets her sights on the goblin menacing JJ.
Run away!
She tries to channel her anxiety and fear into the goblin, hoping to make it break away and flee.
As the new group of screeching jeblin present themselves, Maxim readjusts his position, moving ahead of Ryan , before levelling his pistol at one of the new targets .
With a hard smile, the gun-mage charges his pistol with arcane energy and fires:
:
:
Having fired once, the dwur keeps his gun levelled at the goblin ambushers and shifts casting a spell from his firearm that takes in as many of the creatures as possible.
The cool headed gun-mage then shifts backward away from his burning foes...
Not wanting to waste any more time, Juraan moves forward and uses his wand of Color Spray
Colour Spray
Juraan follows up by hitting another goblin (green) with a Magic Missile spell
"Yow!" cries JJ, turning on the orange rider even has he draws his weapons.
Well at least with this guy in front of me, the crossbow goblins hopefully won't be aiming at me... oh no... they'll be going for the others, that is even worse!
JJ tries desperately to finish off the goblin in front of him quickly.
Round 2
Ryan turns the crank on the heavy crossbow, reloading it ....
Round 3
Taking aim at the light blue goblin...
When Marigold points the goblin attacking JJ, the creature open wide his eyes in complete terror, his face twisted.
Maxim moves past Ryan and shots his gun between JJ and Kikinnin. The magically charged bullet gets into the goblin skin that shouts angry at the dwarf "Gwedejd!"
He then fires his gun, this time a burst of flames flowing from it and engulfing the two goblins at first line!
The first one starts piing of fear as the fire takes him, and collapses full of burns, but the one next to Kikinnin jumps and the flames just lick him for much less damage.
Juraan boldly moves between the cavern wall and the goblins and uses his wand for multiple strings of colors to engulf the goblin second line.
The one damaged by Maxim cannot hold more and collapses unable to ignore the colors due to his pain in the bullet's hole.
He then focuses on the violet goblin that and makes a couple of magic missiles to fly over the creature bursting on his chest. The terribly damaged goblinoid collapses to the floor.
Seeing the goblin in front collapsing, JJ sidesteps and stabs his shortsword into his belly, finishing quickly with the still burning menace.
Ryan shots his heavy crossbow but the bolt goes low and hits the wall.
You overhear an invisible creature behind the line of fallen goblins casting a spell.
Bless
The snippers fight with renewed conviction despite their companions falling one after the other. They fire their crossbows.
But the companions are focused in the combat and get to dodge all the bolts as they come close. The one on JJ hits his armor and is deflected without harm.
JJ steps forward and once again tries to climb the small cliff.
And makes it to the top, though precariously balanced.
AC = 26, Total Defense
HP = 34/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = None
Kikinnin moves forward, trying to get a sense of the cavern build, hoping for a set of stairs around the side of the sniper nest. He keeps up his guard, uninterested in getting snipped from behind.
If he finds something interesting, he pursues it.
JJ climbs atop the platform the goblins looking at him with a vile smile.
While Kikinnin gets deep into the cavern, he can see some stone stairs build on the natural rock had been carved into some of the areas beyond. All thanks to his racially adapted vision.
Though she has no idea what sort of magic was just used, Marigold was certain that she did hear some sort of magic incantation.
"There's s-s-someone else there! A m-m-magic user!"
And for once, Marigold can't blame Kikinnin for forging ahead of the group - she certainly had little desire to try climbing up onto the ledge herself. She readies her crossbow and takes a shot at one of the goblins.
As Kikinnin ventures deeper, and the snipers continue to snipe Maxim attempts to discern the nature of the invisible incantation;
:
"Skit. No idea what them jeblin varmits are up to!"
The gun-mage reloads with an alchemical cartridge then levels and charges his pistol with arcane energy...
... before firing at the goblin sniper directly opposite him
:
:
With the goblins prone over the platform, Marigold and Maxim have little target to aim to. Their shots go too high and end up on the wall behind.
JJ finds there is no place in the ledge to make an stable foot and is left half clinging from the edge. The goblins smile with vicious evilness, two of them shooting at him as he tries to make his foot.
Fortunately his armor deflects both bolts, although the young man needs to cover his face as the wooden ammunition rains over him.
Observing JJ's hands are occupied trying to place him on foot into the platform, the last goblin takes his crossbow with both hands and attempts to hit his head to make him fall.
But JJ clings with one hand only and hits with the other the crossbow protecting himself from the goblin's maneuver.
Somewhere between the field of fallen goblins you overhear the invisible creature's voice again chanting arcane words. This time the chant is not the short one but the one that keeps on time.
Sleep
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With both of his shots against the goblin archers gone awry, Ryan overhears the sounds of chanting in goblin, figuring it can't be good he tries to move forward and pinpoint the goblin's caster. Unfortunately he neither recognizes the spell or can locate the caster.
drop crossbow and move forward to edge of circle (my 30') drawing mace and shield as he goes
Juraan moves up (South) slightly and tries to fire a Ray of Frost (doing acid damage)
at one of the snipers (cyan)
"Avoid that fork in the tunnel!"
"There is an area of magical sleep there!"
Juraan will then try throwing one of his acid flasks at what he thinks is the centre of the spell's AoE:
I'll leave the penalties to try and hit the invisible spell caster up to you.
I put a little splashy symbol on the map to show where I'm trying to hit.
That leaves me with 4 acid flasks and 3 alchemical fire flasks
AC = 26, Total Defense
HP = 34/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = None
Kikinnin turns back, more aware now that something is among them, on the cavern floor, instead of on high with the cowardly gobs.
Having no general idea about where there might be something antagonizing them, he has to relate to Juraan's words, so he ambles back to the fork in the cavern halls, and looks around the other side of the fork.
"What are you talking about, Juraan? You know where it is? Be more specific. Something stalking about invisibly?" The black-beard doesn't like the idea of something lurking about, so he turtles up, expecting to be struck out of the black at any time.
"There's an invisible spell caster in the tunnel fork."
"He's surrounded himself with a spell that causes sleep."
"So, he's trying to put himself to sleep? All he has to do is show his face, and I'll oblige him."
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As Maxim watches a precious shot go high wide and handsome, he spits in frustration.
"Gods be damned! Them jeblin are dug in deeper than Sasserine ticks!"
The gun-mage reaches to his belt and pulls forth a flask of alchemical fire then lobs it up toward the centre of the platform ;
"Har! Burn ye wee basterds!"
:
:
JJ lashes out at the closest (red) goblin sniper, irritated he doen't have the space at the moment to use two weapons.
<- extra +4 if they are still prone.
"I'll keep these ones busy, you find that spellcaster." he offers bravely, if perhaps a little foolishly.
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Juraan produces a ray of acid from his hands, splashing on the head of one of the goblins while it is prone in the platform!
Ryan advances towards the sounds of casting drawing mace and shield.
Juraan successfully pin-points the place the chanting is coming from draws and throws a flask full of acid.
You see a direct hit of the flask that breaks into something invisible and burns in smoke as reaction to skin contact. Apparently with effort, the voice keeps chanting.
Kikinnin turns out to see where the sound of the flask crashing happened and he can also hear the goblin chanting. Thus he prepares to defend himself against whatever happens next.
With great resolution Maxim prepares an alchemical fire and throws it at the top part of the platform. It crashes over the central goblin that starts shouting in pain as the fire takes him. The fire splashes burning a bit JJ and the other two goblins.
JJ frees one of his hand to draw a sword and stabs it at the neck of the leftmost goblin. The blade goes truly deep and when he removes the weapon the goblin faints unconscious while losing great quantities of blood. JJ finishes his climb stepping over the now nonreactive goblin.
The goblin just in front of JJ rolls on the floor trying to put off the flames on his back.
But he is too nervous and the flames keep burning furiously.
The other one stands up and shots at JJ.
The bolt flies unerringly and scratches JJ's face.
Down, at the tunnels crossing the goblin finishes his spell and a strong feeling of sleep comes over Maxim, Juraan and Ryan.
Simultaneously, a goblin adept appears, just at the place where Juraan had thrown his flask. Rising his hand, he points to the armored dwarf in front of him and an arc of fire is born on the tip of his finger.
Despite Kikinnin was ready to defend himself and dodges the ray, it goes very close to his face, so near that he can feel the extreme heat.
The goblin squeaks then and moves as fast as he can around the rocky wall of the cavern.
The goblin on fire in front of JJ falls unconscious due to his multiple burns.
Ryan shakes his head as the wave of magic rolls across him, eyes momentarily drooping he gathers his will and rejects the magic continuing forward with his attack. "There you are"
***missed the part about him moving can still catch him though :)
JJ kicks the burning goblin down the cliff as he draws his second blade and advances on the last of the snipers.
"Time's up!" he says, wondering if goblins even speak common.
His sword of his forefather again licks out, and he takes the time to also draw his second blade, even though it looks like there will be little opportunity to bring it into play.