The Torture Chamber (Everquest RPG PBP)

Game Master Xenh

"If you don't want to come, let me know where you want to met you in a few months to a year." It goes without saying that the vah shir will be taking the page written in Iskar blood with him.

Gwendalyn puts her hands out placatingly. "No, I'll come. But without getting better magic first, we need to equip ourselves the best we can."

Seeing your faces crinkle in confusion he chuckles, likely wondering if you know what you are about to get into, "Shadowed men are a race of invisible men who wander the world seeking some secret magic they claim is destined to make them all-powerful. They are naturally invisible and seem to have no need for sleep, food or rest. I have heard from those that can see invisible creatures that they are black-clad humanoids, charcoal gray in colour and with emotionless, vaguely elven features. They are strong, swift and ruthless, needing little provocation for attack."

Gwendalyn holds out a hand toward Sajeek as if to say, "See what I mean?!"

"Okay, I've thought about it some more," Sajeek turns and nods his thanks to the guard. "After hearing some of the highlights of what might await us, it would be smarter and safer to travel with the caravan. Honestly, my foster parents won't really need rescuing if their still alive," Sajeek smiles rather proudly.

"Oh good, I think we could all use the rest. And we could use the time to get better prepared, too."

Revery looks at Nogglegrop. "Yes, Noggy, I would like a suit of armor that doesn't interfere with my spells. I know that's impossible, or perhaps extremely expensive, but you did ask..."

Gwendalyn coughs and raises a hand. "Actually, I could make you some raw silk armor for just twenty-five platinum. Cured silk armor would be harder and would cost more like eighty-two and a half platinum, for all the different ingredients. I know because I tried to make you some for a wedding present; long story." She looks a little embarrassed. "Anyway, I wouldn't start until after a good night's sleep, since I'd want to be at my best."

She pauses. "Of course, you could just buy some cloth armor for five gold, or I could make some for half that; but it does hardly anything." She waves a hand dismissively, and turns to Nogglegrop. "I'd be interested to know what all you can make; and did you know that I can make Blood of the Wolf potions? I'd love to make you one, for an emergency. They cost seventy-five gold, though. And of course, we'd have to find some wolf's blood somewhere... I doubt that they keep wolves here for that, the way my church back home does."

Nogglegrop chuckles as he realizes that he had reached for a nigh empty coinp urse when he had offered to do his part for the women's return to their homes. The gnome holds the 4 light green peridots, or "p-dots" as commoners call them, up to the light and thanks Gwendalyn for her distribution of the iksar's wealth.

Nogglegrop provides a list of the things he could make for the others given sufficient time and materials, giving an honest assessment of the risks involved in making each item (+15 to tinkering):

• Animated Bait (DC 12, 7.5sp, +1 to fisher)
  
• Aqualung (DC 26, 1000gp, enduring breath, 100 hours before recharge)
  
• Collapsible Fishing Pole (DC 12, 20gp, +1 to fishing)
  
• Compass (DC 12, 15gp, always indicates true north)
  
• Flameless Lantern (DC 14, 30gp, 40' illumination for 200 hours before recharge)
  
• Gnomish Brew Barrel (DC 18, 200gp, +1 to brewing, 20x before recharge)
  
• Gnomish Fireworks (DC 12, 6gp, firework)
  
• Gnomish Vanishing Device (DC 32, 2000gp, invisibility for 25 minutes before recharge)
  
• Mechanical Lockpicks (DC 13, 77.5gp, +1 to pick lokcs)
  
• Powered Gloves (DC 22, 850gp, +1 for STR based checks, +1 ranged with thrown)
  
• Rebreather (DC 30, 2000gp, enduring breath)
  
• Spyglass (DC 17, 500gp, magnify spell)
  
• Stalking Probe (DC 20, 750gp, 5 use of eye of zomm)
  
• Standard Single Bow Cam (DC 15, 40gp, for fletchers for advanced bows)
  
• Thermal Cloak (DC 21, 1000gp, cold resist 4, cold save +1)

Revery is looking for something in the realm of what a tailor could craft, likely a magical raw silk.

A day later you see the first caravan skirting the river traveling westward with a destination of Qeynos. Guards professionally scour its contents, and momentarily speak to each person, before permitting them to carry on. Before they leave the guards speak to the wagonmaster and come to an agreement. A number of the women and children leave with the caravan, bidding a tearful goodbye to the group, guards and the other women and children. Those with sharp eyes notice that the guards hand over some money to the wagonmaster, likely funds that come from a pool of the guard's meagre wages.

This part of the world is much different from what you have seen previously, since they appear to take care of their own.

6 days drift past before a 5 wagon long train appears on the horizon.

The cipher is not a simple letter exchange, as it builds on the last translation, forcing Revery to go back time and again to ensure he has everything perfect before moving on to the next step. It is a laborious process, but the brilliant enchanter is equal to the task. Waiting for the erudite to translate each piece is a horrific tease.

The next translation:

"Rahn begged me to stop as I fell deep into the control of the Shissar.

I held my daughter while she died screaming in agony inflicted with the very same Greenmist that destroyed the Shissar on Norrath.

Revery shares his translations with the rest of the group, in written form. They are interesting, but so far there does not seem to be anything of specific material interest to the group.

"Silk armor would be wonderful. I would have to try it out to make sure it doesn't interfere with spellcasting, but I've heard of others wearing it, so it ought to work."

5 wagons approach and go through the same routine, with the remote Qeynos outpost guard going through their supplies and speaking to each person separately.

As with the other caravan you see horses pulling the wagons, which alone speaks to their affluence. Horses are a luxury that one rarely sees, and generally in the possession of the very rich. Each wagon is weighed down heavily by supplies, by the looks of the large mounds of cured meat you figure it is to feed large appetites. The wagonmaster agrees to you joining them, and will pay for the group's food and provide each person with 3 gold upon arrival at the mountains. You will ensure there is always three of you ranging around the wagons looking for danger. These three will coordinate their movements with the other guards to ensure that nothing takes that wagons by surprise.

The wagons do not even break stride before they are off with you. More goodbyes are given, but this time it is you leaving.

Weeks drift past permitting you to share stories with each other, see the sights, and relax. Combat is infrequent, but when it is met it is brutal. One of the other guards is decapitated in the night, and you never learn what did it to him.

The wagonmaster assures you that you are less than a tenday from the base of the mountains.

Revery finishes the "ramblings" learning that Swenj:

• had learned the rituals necessary to hide himself and his writings from the distant Shissar's precognition.
  
• he had continued to try to mend the disconnect between him and Cazic-Thule, but the Faceless One would not listen.
  
• he had looked into the future and knew that Pravus Mortis would be the turning point in the destruction of the world.
  
• Pravus Mortis must therefore be protected before the Shissar learned of their importance.
  
• The ritual required blood to be spilled from all to be protected, a task he was grateful to take on himself. If he was to die, then at least he would do so burning and freezing them with his magics.
  
• He had lead them to anger the God of Fear, but defiling the altar and dousing the source of the Greenmist.
  
• This defiling would weaken the magics that had banished the Shissar from Antonica, but it would also draw the gods attention to the Shissar's activities.
  
• He asks only that you beg for Rahn's release when Cazic Thule turns his eyes from the war his people, the iksar, are embroiled in, and sends his avatar to destroy you.
  
• He promises that Rahn has a message for how to stop the Shissar from destroying the world. Once you are successful in begging Cazic-Thule to release her from the god's torment she will be reborn in Justis.
  
• One elven innocent must die, so that another innocent can be born anew.
  
• Justis is dead either way, either as part of the ritual, or dead when Norrath burns.
  
• You can speak with Rahn after you travel to the continent of Faydwer.

"Damn," Sajeek says after reading Rev's translation of Swenj's journal. "His daughter. That's harsh. Still doesn't excuse what he was doing, but still." Sajeek shudders.

Near his friends, the vah shir looks at them and then glances back over at the guards.

"We might want to drop them some coin. So the can pay for passage for the mothers and children with out being able to buy supplies for themselves," Sajeek says quietly to his friends.

Nogglegrop provides a list of the things he could make for the others given sufficient time and materials, giving an honest assessment of the risks involved in making each item (+15 to tinkering):

"Hmm. A compass sounds most useful. I can think of several times when I had no idea which way was what! Usually right after teleporting somewhere new."

"Silk armor would be wonderful. I would have to try it out to make sure it doesn't interfere with spellcasting, but I've heard of others wearing it, so it ought to work."

Gwendalyn beams. "Excellent! I will give it another try." It's funny, she left home partly to avoid become a seamstress like her mom -- and yet here she is, halfway across Antonica, sewing raw silk armor anyway. Fate is a funny thing sometimes...

Tailoring (vs. DC 14): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 Failure

...a very funny thing indeed. Despite practicing some after the debacle on Odus, the tailor's daughter still manages to get the stitches wrong, completely ruining the silk swatches in the process. At least I knew better than to try something harder yet. She's too embarrassed to let Revery know that she failed -- again -- so with their departure still several days away, she just quietly buys some more swatches and tries again.

Tailoring (vs. DC 14): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30 Success

This time she (finally) gets it right. "Here you go, Rev! Try it on, see how you like it." (250 gp, +2 armor bonus to AC)

"We might want to drop them some coin. So the can pay for passage for the mothers and children with out being able to buy supplies for themselves," Sajeek says quietly to his friends.

"Noggy already tried that, but we can try again. I'm sure that even just a plat would go a long way." The Northwoman pulls one of many platinum pieces out of a slightly scorched belt pouch, completely unconscious of fulfilling a stereotype by keeping a used one to save five silver -- and then putting almost a thousand gold worth of coins and gems in it. Indeed, thrift is so much a part of Halas culture that if she thought of it at all, Gwen would only marvel at having so much that she could say "just a plat" with a straight face.

The guards had not accepted any assistance with the children and women. You had done more than your part in rescuing them, and conveying them safely to the outpost.

Gwendalyn works for a full week on the first outfit, only to recognize that she had cut the central piece of the pattern on the bias. She sees no way to fix it, after an attempt that lays her hand open spilling blood over everything (critical failure, 3 damage), and is forced to scrap the entire thing.

The next set of armour is perfect.

After the shaman provides Nogglegrop with the funds for the compass (15gp, weighs 0.25 pounds) he gets to work properly aligning the static orb atop the pie tin with the cork and skewer playing an unknown role. It seems to be a simple procedure, but it still takes the gnome half a day to build the device.

Tinkering (vs. DC 12): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 (success)

While the compass unerringly indicates true north she finds that magnetic disturbances, such as those in volcanically active regions will render the results untrustworthy.

...a tenday drifts past leaving you standing at the foot of the Mountains of Rathe. Before you in a pass that the wagonmaster assured you leads to Lake Rathetear. There are no giants in sight, but that does little to allay your fears.

You watch the caravan disappearing into the distance. They had been polite, but not friendly to you. These were hard people, living in a harsh landscape, and considering that they were trading with the ogre city you knew them to be more than capable combatants.

It is morning and your bellies have been filled to the brim with breakfast. This is the first time you have all been full together since the caravan had left the outpost, for even during the night 3 of you were expected to wander about searching for threats.

High peaks, of the largest mountains you have ever seen, cast an oppressive shadow over you, stealing the sun's warmth and give you a sense of foreboding.

While they were waiting for the caravan to arrive, Sajeek asks Noggy if he would make him a Spyglass and a Flameless Lantern. Handing over the coin for the items, and sets out for the odds and ends the gnome might need. Both of those could come in handy. Sajeek offers Rev the Bull's Eye Lantern and the oil if he wants it.

Sajeek had spent the tenday keeping himself to busy to think about his foster parents Lithia and Raji. The drivers of the caravan made that pretty easy for the vah shir. He goes over Rev's translation again and again. The words chilled him to the bone. Especially the part about the God of Fear's avatar showing up.

A large part of him just wanted to dismiss Swenj's translated words as nothing more then madness. The little things that added up, denied the vah shir the ability to just brush off his written words. The fur along his neck raised as he thought about their name, the one Justis had "given" them. From Swenj. Pravus Mortis. And the Shissar. Another thought that chilled him to the bone. He thinks back about the lessons his last teacher had given him.

The old crone had insisted that he learned about the Shissar, he had barely paid attention at first. One or two beatings from her cane helped to give him a bit of focus. Sajeek tries to remember as much as he can about the Shissar. It seemed like it was going to come in handy sooner then later.

Time passes as it tends to do while they travel. Leaving the wagons, nodding at the rather polite goodbyes, Sajeek waves. He stops for a moment and stretches. Scratching Bast's ears, the vah shir joins the rest of his friends.

Sajeek watches the caravan leave, and then turns to his friends. The looming presence of the mountains was beyond intense.

"So, what did you guys think of Swenj's translated journal?" Sajeek asks his friends. He looks over at Revery. "Good job translating those, once again," the Beastlord grins. "Anybody else concerned about the Shissar and our role in preventing or causing the destruction of the world?"

56 hours of tinkering later had produced 4 items he was proud of. Nogglegrop smiles, happy to help the others by plying his passion.

A collapsible fishing pole is brought forth, wrapped tightly is metal twine, which affixes a reflective shard to a metal rod, creating a magical telescopic effect (can see one location up to 1000' away, +6 circumstance bonus on spot checks made within 200' of the target).

While Nogglegrop is happy about the telescopic effects of the device, he seems more interested with how it makes one look like a pirate.

Tinkering (vs. DC 17 Spyglass): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25 (success, 500gp cost, 1.0 lb.)

Sajeek is forced to sacrifice a lantern, which is returned to him also wrapped in metal twine, but this time to connect a mana battery to it. The mana battery is a weak magical stone designed to power certain tinkered devices.

Tinkering (vs. DC 14 Flameless Lantern): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31 (success, 30gp cost, 2.0 lbs.)

It is disturbing to watch your cleric drinking the fuel for the magical lantern, until he explains what's going on. The lantern has been filled with the potent alcoholic beverage of firewater and Nogglegrop explains that it will need to be replaced after 200 hours of use.

If information about the Shissar had been provided to Sajeek he had not paid any attention. He had a smattering of the language (1 rank) and could teach it to the others if he wished.

The gnome raises his hand to show his solidarity to the beastlord's concern over their role, but has nothing to add.

Nogglegrop had looked glum with the idea that the sweet young Justis was fated to die, no matter the outcome, and also did not look overly comfortable that they had drawn in the ire of one of the major deities for evil. They were the walking dead, if the "mortis" of Pravus Mortis could be trusted, and considering that they were betwixt such powerful factions it seemed to be an apt moniker.

"Noggy, for the gnomish vanishing device how does it get recharged?" The rogue asks the gnome, thinking that not having to relay on Revery, or anyone else for the being invisible would be a great idea.
Upon hearing the translation of Swinj's journal Kwen's fists tighten until the knuckles turn white. On one hand upon hearing the only way to help prevent the world burning. " How do we know that anything else he wrote is correct? He was delving into the depths of madness, yes on one hand he had the ability to see the future and he had seen his own death. Still after all that we went through, why would we need do this ritual."
Kwen spits to the side, angered at this thought, having to kill someone just to get another person's soul back into a different body.

A gnomish vanishing device is at the upper end of Nogglegrop's skills to create, and is one of the most powerful gnomish inventions there is. When worn about the neck the vanishing device grants its wearer invisibility for a total of 25 minutes before its Class V Mana Battery must be replaced at a cost of 250 pieces of gold each time.

The gnome chuckles as he answers Kwen's question, "A hint will be found when an avatar of an angry god comes to destroy us, or the Shissar destroy the world." It is gallow's humour, but it comes from a kind place, as one might throw their hands up and have a belly laugh when their house burns to the ground.

Revery thanks Gwen for all her hard work on the armor. He accepts it with eager eyes and tries it on immediately. After some experiments, and some faux fighting, he hands Gwen the four peridots and ten platinum coins and gives her a deep bow and a hug.

After receiving the armor, Revery had spent many hours, after completing the deciphering, studying the language of the Iksar. He had had many questions for Sajeek, who was the group expert on the language. It kept him occupied for most of the trip during the hours when he was able to study. If any of his group preferred to be out scouting, he had traded their time so he could spend more studying.

The group also discussed the words of Swenj. Revery is scared by the by the revelations, but when asked what he thinks, he replies, "I think we need to go about our business as normal. If this ... destiny ... is indeed that, it will be realized no matter what we do. If not, we must do what we think best, as always. That's not to say we ignore the information provided. If this girl can be sent to her haven, and we can aid her in that, it's what we should do. As for sacrificing another, I don't know if we could do that, or if we should. But we will know when the time comes, I believe."

"I'll take your leftover oil if you don't want it, Sajeek." Nogglegrop had somehow rigged the Vah Shir's lantern to run on firewater, and instead of six hours, it would last over a week of continuous use between refills. Gwendalyn was hoping to avoid spending that much time underground in the near future, but it was still amazing.

Revery's revelations about Swenj's strange writings leave her with more questions than answers, and from the comments of the others, she's not the only one. She contemplates the unimaginable dangers and hard choices that will surely come their way if even half of it is true, and sighs. "I have no idea what to do about all that right now." Her hands flutter uselessly. "I think we'd better concentrate on getting through the mountains alive."

Sajeek hands over his remaining 2 flasks of oil to Gwen with a cheerful, "Here ya go." The vah shir couldn't contain the big smile that sliced across his face. Raising the spyglass to his eye, a "Arrr, Matey," slipped from his muzzle. And his new Flameless Lantern was almost as much fun. Just not as piratey.

"Well, I think our best odds of surviving will probably come from finishing up what we started looking for," Sajeek says with a nod, absently tracing the white clawprint on his right arm. "Assuming we live through finding my foster parents. Or their trail." The vah shir says. "Or final resting place." He mutters more to himself as he turns to look at the mountains.

Looking at his new spyglass in hand, Sajeek raises it to his eye. The vah shir scans their surrounds and looks towards the base of the mountains . He wanted to eyeball this path the wagon leader had spoken about.

"Hey guys, this is a bit random, but remember the woman talking about the dwarf prince? Back when we where traveling to the portal. The mute dwarf prince?" Sajeek looks back at his friends. "What are the odds that that's Khae?"

Sajeek easily finds the path, and a quick scan of the mountains reveals a number of moving shapes. Even from this distance the vah shir recognizes that they are huge: Giants. Daylight might not seem like a good time to travel, but all giants can see in the dark, and you will stand out like a sore thumb in the night.

Nogglegrop laughs, "Khae? A prince?" He barely had paid attention to the women's ramblings, since women rarely shut up for 5 minutes. "Maybe he'll make me a knight."

" Refresh my memory, who was Khae, someone you met on an island, correct?" The rogue asks innocently enough, having a very good idea who they were talking about from what little they told the half elf. Kwen had been training with the Iksar tongue, making sure that he could understand and speak it quite well.
" Sorry Noggy, I'll have to have you make the vanishing device later, it seems like my pockets are not that deep yet, have you given a thought on how a rogue could improve his armor, keeping the ability to move quietly unhindered? I'm sure an armor smith could do something, but with your gnomish expertise, I'd like to hear an idea or two." Kwen asks the gnome cleric, impressed with his design on the rogue's treasured lock picks, thinking that the gnome might have an idea or two.
Kwen had spent time, with the caravan guards, doing his the tasks that he had agreed to, also trying to get some specific information on what the guards had seen in their travels, tips on fighting some of the various life forms that lived in the plains. To the other cities and outposts that they had traveled to, and what each one had been like. It never hurts to have more information when one finds himself in a new land the rogue had thought to himself.

There are some options that a blacksmith could make, in terms of armour, such as acrylia, or royal velium armour. A tailor could make some softer armour with black pantherskin or haze panther armour. Each of these options is extremely expensive, but provides some of the best armour imaginable.

Nogglegrop has no knowledge of better armour, unless one considers the full plate of tinkered Clockwork Watchman Armour he plans to make one day.

The caravan riders were difficult to prise their lips apart, but Kwen finds a way to learn a bit more about Kromdul mountain giants. They are impossibly large (40' speed, large creature, 10' reach, 19' tall, 6500 pounds), strong (STR 30+), vital (high fortitude saving throw, a large number of hit points), can see perfectly in the dark (ultravision), have tough skin (high AC, damage reduction), can throw rocks long distances, and are resistant to magic (spell resistance). They are loners by nature and quick to anger. Sometimes Kromdul set up to control a mountain pass, taxing everyone and everything that comes through it.

"Actually, I think we met Khae on the boat. Hard to tell since we couldn't see, but someone helped guide us out in the pitch black underwater. Then we met him again later with a bard, Syn. Haven't seen either one since that underwater cavern with the firepots."

Gwendalyn considers the road ahead. "Let's make what time we can while we can see the giants to avoid them. But keep an eye out for a good, sheltered place to camp; we'll have to go without a fire, to keep from drawing attention."

Wilderness Lore: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

"That..., is a whole lot of giants," Sajeek says out loud as he peers through his new pirate accessory. "Okay, new plan. We do a lot of sneaking around. I have no idea if moving at night would work, but it certainly doesn't for most of us."

"Oh, I agree completely, Gwen. I'm just glad the grass is fairly high and most of us don't tower above it," Sajeek flashes a grin at the shaman. The Beastlord looks over at Kwen. "Both Khae and Syn help save our butts and we did the same for them."

"So, while we move, we can talk a bit. I mean this is a good chance for us to figure out some more details of the town we were thinking about," the vah shir says. "I mean if Khae is a prince of the dwarves, they might know of some land. Plus, I think that's the same continent that the wood elves live on. I could be really wrong about that though," he holds up his hands and grins.

"Or should we think about some place on the plains, near an existing caravan route?" Sajeek asks. "It might take some scouting, but we should be able to find something defensable."

Sneaking is a wonderful idea...until it isn't.

A few hours into the mountain pass, far from the perceived of the high grass, you find yourself shadowed by the Rathe Mountains, and the recipient of an ambush from on high. Luckily for you the chunky baby-sized rock explodes against an outcropping of stone, showering you with shards of the collision.

Skulking stealthily from rock-to-rock might have just saved one of your lives.

Glancing up you see a creature leaping down to engage you in combat. It hits the ground not 20' from your position.The Kromdek is 19' tall and well over 6000 pounds, considering that you felt it collide with the stone even from nearly 7 paces away. Its colouration emulates slate. In its expansive hands it wields a freaking tree, complete with roots that still have clumps of soil clinging to them.

Nogglegrop's maw hangs stupidly agape as his eyes slowly pan up the giant's expansive frame. It is a tinny "Ooooo!" the echoes forth from within his helm.

Closing within this creature's expansive reach will suck for the first person to do so (10' reach, AoO to close in closer than that).

(end surprise round)

Initiative:
- Group
- Giant

You can chat with the survivors.

Nogglegrop understands that the first person running in is likely to suffer greatly for their insolence. Being the one wearing the heaviest armour he has the best chance of avoiding damage. The cleric puts his shield above his head, yells a particularly offensive battlecry and sprints into the belly of the beast (double move action, partially defensive +2 AC, incurring AoO).

Strike (AoO, Nogglegrop): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Damage (Nogglegrop): 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (3, 2, 1) + 12 = 18

The gnome (48/56 hit points, 68/70 mana) shakes his head and blinks a few times, wondering what his name is. It was a glancing blow and felt like getting hit by a runaway cart.

Minor Healing (Nogglegrop): 1d10 ⇒ 10

Shaking off his surprise, Sajeek leaps into action, running at the giant as fast as he feet can take him. Embarrassingly, he had been spured into action by the tiny form of Noggy running forwards. To have receive a smack from an uprooted tree. He tries not to think about how his feet want to run away from the giant. That would leave his back very open to catching a large rock.

The vah shir doesn't even give himself time to curse his foolishness. He had leaped at the chance to find his foster parents, hopefully alive. Realistically, they were dead, and had been for that last 2 years. Perhaps on his own, he could sneak around, but there didn't look there was any chance that was going to be happening with so many people. He was just going to end up getting his friends killed.

"Try to wear it down!" Sajeek hisses in iskar as he follows Noggy. He wasn't sure if the giant could speak common, and was not the time to find out. He really doubted it missed on purpose. "We can't beat it in a straight up fight! Fight dirty!"

Calling for Bast to attack, Sajeek is suddenly standing not even waist high to the giant. Claws digging into the wood of his spear, the young Beastlord stabs upwards. He seeks to give the giant a piercing in a very sensitive area. Sajeek believed humans called a "Prince Albert," whomever that was.

Bast takes off a few heartbeats after Sajeek. He casts wide eyed look at his spirit brother as he runs. Snarling, Bast darts past the giant, claws digging in the earth as he turns and savages the giants ankles with his fangs.

Spear and fang work in concert, each attracting the giant's attention for the other to strike home, and both draw blood, but not as much as one might imagine (AC 20, DR 5, 7 damage taken).

Tiny trickles of ichor work their way down the giant's legs.

Kwen blinks at the giant, the rock that it threw down then rushes forward to help flank with Sajeek and Bast, knowing that another person attacking the creature couldn't hurt. " Very dirty strikes." the rogue says in the lizard tongue as well, seeing Sajeek aim with his spear.

HP: 63/ 63
AC: 18

Giving a snarl at missing such a large target, the rogue curses feeling outmatched against the giant.

Kwen positions himself opposite of Nogglegrop, and attempts to utilize the tactical advantage to strike a vital spot.

He only catches air.

Revery looks way up at the giant and hopes he doesn't like his spells... This is what he was worried about. They encountered Very Big bipeds before, but they managed to avoid a fight with them each time. This time it is attacking from close in, so there is little chance to run. Perhaps it will run?

He casts Fear on it, and then a Quickened Weaken

Fear (7 mana)
CL Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Lasts for 1d4 ⇒ 4 rounds.
Save: Will 21 negates

Quickened Weaken, free action, no AOO (4 mana)
CL Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
-4 STR for 1min/L.
Save: Fort 20 negates

(HP: 49/49, Mana 115/126)

Gwendalyn always hates how giants make her feel so small and vulnerable. Wincing at the powerful blow that Nogglegrop takes, she casts a couple of quick spells to heal the gnome a little and strengthen herself some more.

Noticing that Revery cast Fear and Weaken, the mystic rasps in crude iksar (3 ranks), "Blind it! Attack its mind!" She finds it unlikely that spells attacking the body will find much purchase in such a sturdy specimen, and would rather down it than wonder if it will come back.

Joining the fray with her trusty two-handed hammer, the sturdy Northwoman finds herself swinging at a massive kneecap, since the Kromdek is nearly three times her own impressive height. It would be a crushing blow to a human, but she's afraid the giant might not even notice...

Revery's spells are thrown off with simplistic ease.

Will Save (vs. DC 21 Fear): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 (critical success)
Fort Save (vs. DC 20 Weaken): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36 (critical success)

(please include a spell resistance roll for each individual offensive spell you cast at this giant, your roll is 1d20+7 vs. DC 21 to have any effect, before the giant rolls his saving throw)

Gwendalyn's hammer slams home, but the giant's thick skin wards off much of the power of the blow.

The giant looks to make short work of Nogglegrop, and then fully intends to meet Revery thereafter. Revery understands that he is next, and the giant has been barely scratched (15 damage taken).

Random (by alpha - Bast, Gwendalyn, Kwen, Nogglegrop, Revery, Sajeek): 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

Strike (Nogglegrop): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Damage (Nogglegrop): 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (6, 2, 6) + 12 = 26

Strike (Nogglegrop): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Damage (Nogglegrop): 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (1, 4, 6) + 12 = 23

An entire tree was a very powerful weapon when trying to knock a gnome into low orbit it appears. Nogglegrop (2/56 hit points, 68/70 mana) stands on shaking legs, his eyes wide with fear. Gritting his teeth together he screams, "Is that all you got?" and spits on the thing's foot.

This thing appears to understand the common tongue, and only smiles in response. It is looking to feast on your cleric's bones before it sups on your enchanter's flesh.

Should someone else seek to be the focus of its attentions they need only say the right words (successful taunt check will reorient its strikes). In the iksar tongue, Nogglegrop asks the others to leave him as the centre of attention, at least for now.

(end of round)
(start of new round)

"Run! We are to pathetic to stay here! Bast and I will distract it for a few seconds!" Sajeek hisses to the others. "Run godsdamnit!" he roars as he and Bast attack. He never should have brought the others with him.

Sajeek misses with both strikes, and Bast lands a single bite, which opens a new spigot of blood from the giant's side (20 damage taken). This single attack does not pull the giant's attention from the gnome (requires a successful taunt check with the giant getting a +10 its sense motive check for attacking someone else, can be done untrained as a move action).

Nogglegrop looks at Sajeek as if he is addled, he wasn't about to leave teammates to die so he could escape. "We all chose to be here."

The gnome's walking pace was fully half the group on a normal day, and even slower than that when attempting to run in his heavy armour (3x run speed), compared to the giant's long legs (40' move speed) and long ranged attacks, not to mention knowledge of the surroundings, they were unlikely to easily outpace it. The default position was that someone could carry the cleric, but he was heavy enough, in his full plate armour, to slow them down, as had been gleaned in previous occasions where running was the order of the day.

Unless a fear or blinding spell landed, the group was toe-to-toe with this behemoth.

"Plus, Kromdek are notorious for being weaklings." The gnome says the words in a matter-of-fact manner, as if everyone had accepted it as truth.

Taunt (Move Action, Nogglegrop): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Sense Motive (Giant vs. Taunt): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

You doubt you are pulling this creature off of the cleric anytime soon, which is good news for Revery, but bad news for the gnome.

Quickened Light Healing (Nogglegrop): 4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 1) = 10
Light Healing (Nogglegrop): 4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 2, 3) = 14
Minor Healing (Nogglegrop): 1d10 ⇒ 7

Nogglegrop (33/56 hit points, 39/70 mana) is a tough little bastard, considering that he can barely stand right now.

"I am fine! Knock his f!**ing head off!"

The gnome trusts the others to heed his words, and not try to help him as he casts one more spell on himself.

Nogglegrop whispers, in the tongue of the lizardman, "Blind and fear him not...yet. I will call for it when ready for a reprieve."

Kwen growls at the fact that he had moved to quick to land a blow on the giant. Taking aim, he swings one of his Kurki's into the giant's ankle, hoping to sever the tendons in that section of the giant.
Kwen nods at the gnomes words, trusting that the gnome would have to handle himself for another round.

HP: 63/63
AC 18

Revery assumes it's Gwen's lack of Iskar speaking that makes her speak such contradictions, for he had just attacked its mind with his fear spell, and using his blinding spell would indeed be attacking its body. Still, he figures the blinding one would be a good one to try next, until Noggy suggests otherwise.

He notes Noggy's spell and understands what he is doing.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32

But, he is not sure what to do himself. In frustration he pulls out a javelin and hurls it at the giant's head.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

Then follows it up with another Weaken spell.

Quickened Weaken (4 mana):
Spell Penetration (DC 21): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Victim loses 4 pts of Strength
Save: Fort negates, DC 20.

Finally, Revery prays to remove the curse of bad luck that had been following his spells around.

(HP: 49/49, Mana: 111/126)

Another of Revery's spells shatters against the giant's impressive array of defences as a flea might be rebuffed by an iron wall.

The ranged attack isn't worth mentioning.

Kwen finds his footing, after his first miss, and digs deep (28 damage taken).

Gwendalyn can tell what Nogglegrop is doing, and nods in satisfaction that they will have a brief reprieve to do their worst to the giant, as long as they don't draw its attention away from the brave little gnome. Noting that Kwen had been making excellent use of the cleric's distraction, she casts Fleeting Fury on the rogue and then shifts to be more opposite him, explaining in bad iksar, "With me now! Noggy no fight!" She lays into the Kromdek with all she has, swinging furiously with her hammer, and even slamming into its leg with her shoulder.

Gwendalyn rips into the giant using her not inconsiderable force (45 damage taken).

While one might imagine that such a creature can not be felled, as a tree might appear to be immune to the axe, but you are slowly chipping away at his defences, and the blood is flowing.

The giant, enraged by the smallest member of the group's continued taunts, slams its tree into his body twice in perfectly accurate succession, knocking him to the rocks of the mountain pass.

Surely the gnome is dead.

(end of round)
(start of new round)

Standing slowly the gnome makes a production of slowly brushing himself off, as if the biggest issue associated with the giant's attack was a bit of schmutz that might have transferred to his person.

Nogglegrop shows no sign of the giant's attack (divine aura, no damage).

"That all you got?"

The gnome rotates his position, to permit Gwendalyn to stand opposite of Kwen, and move the enchanter out of his line of sight. He mimes like he is about to charge into the monster, but then runs in the opposite direction (9' move action).

The giant, enraged all the further (an AoO it might get will do no damage to the invulnerable gnome) charges opening itself up to the reprisal of al the melee combatants on the field.

(please include an AoO in your next post for those in melee range of the giant, can simply take a 5' step to do a full set of attacks this round)

(please include fully 3 rounds of attacks in your next post, separating each round out from the others, make sure to include the AoO and your hit point and final mana total at the end of your post)

Even knowing that Nogglegrop cast Divine Aura, Gwendalyn's heart still skips a beat at the sight of the stalwart gnome crushed beneath the giant's heavy blows. She is more relieved that she can express to see him get up, but is unable to capitalize at first on the opportunities that he provides. The fierce mystic swings her two-handed hammer over and over, repeatedly slamming into the Kromdek with shoulder and steel, yet not seeing much effect on their foe's thick skin.

Gwen counts off the seconds and begins to despair for their lives when she realizes that Noggy's spell has likely ended; but she sticks to her grim task, even as she tries to heal the still-wounded cleric a little and draw the monster's attention away from him. "Ha! Kromdeks are so stupid, they keep on doing what doesn't work! More like Krom-dumbs!"

Current Status
18 AC, 63/63 hp, 56/70 mana

Active Buffs
Talisman of the Beast (Bast, Gwendalyn, Kwen, Nogglegrop, Revery, Sajeek): +3 buff Str, indefinitely
Fleeting Fury (Kwen 3, Gwendalyn 2, Sajeek 1): +1 insight AC, +4 Dex & +4 Str, 3 rounds

Thick giant hide wards off most of Gwendalyn's blows, but a few find purchase in the meat 'neath the creature's natural armour (71 damage taken).

Gwendalyn attempts to be insulting, but actually comes across more as a jester (critical failure) and as a result will forever fail to draw this particular giant's attention.

The giant pants with exertion of swinging so hard and so fast, but is far from even tired.

Nogglegrop (51/56 hit points, 37/70 mana) had spent the last seconds taunting the giant into a frenzy, but now feels a coldness of fear when the warm eye of Bristlebane Fizzlethorp leaves him, and the cleric realizes that he will have no defence against the successive attacks.

Minor Healing: 1d10 ⇒ 8

Nogglegrop (no flanking partner) attempts to crush the giant's shinbone, but his grip on his tiny mace is lost in mid-swing and his weapon sails far from the battlefield (critical failure).

Strike: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Nogglegrop watches his mace arc high and then drop in the distance. He starts to continue his stream of insults, but his voice cracks.

Shocked to see Noggy stand up and brush himself off, Sajeek realizes that the gnome must have used divine magics to protect himself. The Beastlord stabs at the Kromdek giant as it charges the gnome. Noggy had brought them a handful of seconds to either cripple or kill the kromdek giant. Sajeek would be (and probably is) triple damned before he let their only chance to kill the giant slip through his claws.

Feeling Gwen's magics infusing his body, Sajeek redoubles his efforts to try and at least cripple one of the giants legs. He knew that these powerful buffing spells didn't last long. Unlike her totem blessing, which was a powerful strength enhancement as well.

Jagged lines run down the giant's legs as both Bast and Sajeek work opposite of one another to bring the behemoth down.

The giant (142 damage taken) is finding it difficult to catch its breath, perhaps as a result of one of the beastlord tearing a large gash in his lung. The wound is not slowing the giant's movements, but it does look at the group, especially the invulnerable gnome and the powerful beastlord, with newly found respect.

Bast rips much of the giant's achilles' tendon free from the monster's lower leg (double critical success, -25' to speed).

Bast (confirmation of last critical): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31 (double critical success)
Damage: 3d6 + 7 ⇒ (1, 4, 2) + 7 = 14

Taunts and harsh words are successful in gathering your foe's attentions, but proving yourself to be the largest threat on the field of battle is a better way of doing so: Sajeek is the focus of the giant's affections.

Kwen grins as the giant takes the bait of the gnome, and takes another stab, using the same area that he had hit last time, he digs into the wound.

Seeing the effect of his Kurki into the giant's ankle, he takes a step with the giant and gets to work on the same one; trying to keep the effectiveness of his flank; trying to turn it's ankle into ground mutton.

HP: 66/63
AC: 20
Fleeting fury on Kwen for the next two rounds, giving a +4 on STR/DEX

Round 4:

HP 66/63
AC: 20
Active buffs, Talisman of the bear, Fleeting Fury

Kwen demonstrates the proper way to fillet a giant, working the creature into fits as he wends his way around the monster's body, seemingly always just out of reach.

The giant blinks stupidly as it wonders why it is getting harder and harder to breathe (196 damage taken).

Revery sees the giant chase Noggy, but he is a good thirty feet away so there are no free attacks. Noggy wants Revery to forego his most powerful spells, so he is left with less powerful ones, or Javelins.

After his second javelin, he has no more available. Figuring Noggy needs a break, Revery ensures he's close enough to him (35') and casts Invisibility on him after trying once more to Weaken the giant.

Finally, he figures it's time for his blinding spell on the giant.

(HP: 49/49, Mana: 90/126)

Nogglegrop (51/56 hit points, 37/70 mana) barks out, in the iksar tongue, that his god's protections are gone. This would be a wonderful time to blind, stun and fear this monster into oblivion. Then again the group could just kill the giant, that would work for the gnome as well.

Revery might want to switch to melee combat, since his final javelin throw is nearly perfect. Sadly the force behind his blow does not pierce the giant's hide (DR 5, no damage).

The enchanter's spell fails to affect Nogglegrop (divine aura, immune to all damage and spells).

The giant throws off the effects of the only spell that gets through its defences with an ease that will keep Revery up for many nights.

Fort Save (vs. DC 20 Weaken): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Sajeek feels what it is like to be the focus of the giant's attention (196 damage taken, -25' to speed), and gains newly found respect for the gnome's toughness. Another strike will invariably send him to meet his ancestors, if they talk to people smooshed by giant trees.

Strike (Sajeek): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33 (critical threat)
Strike (Sajeek): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29 (confirmed)
Damage (Sajeek): 6d6 + 24 ⇒ (1, 4, 2, 6, 1, 3) + 24 = 41

Strike (Sajeek): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Damage (Sajeek): 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (5, 4, 4) + 12 = 25

(end of round)
(start of new round)

Bast growls and will work to draw all of the attention off of his master (will use only a partial attack next round, Bast will use his move action to attempt to taunt the giant off of Sajeek).