Raven, who knows little of enchanted things, is excited about the torch that never goes out, especially if they are underground for more length of time.
She is uncertain, and bites her lip as she considers but finally she answers Varn's gesture: "I would make that barter, all of those items appears useful to us. But if you think coin is more important, I understand."
She steps back to see what Orlando thinks.
Orlando frowns as he thinks.
"In my opinion, that second trade group seems to be best for us."
Varn shrugs again and turns to the merchant.
Ok, we will be taking the set with the everburning torch. Thank you for the deal.
"Of course, pleasure doing business." says the merchant and he hands out the items while putting away yours.
You eventually meet up, your business done on both ends.
Varn heads toward the others his attention drawn by the glowing mace.
We finished our shopping expedition and got a few things. Were did you get that glowing mace and would you like me to check what kind of magic it is.
While he is examining the mace Varn asks
So how did the chief take the news?
"Better than expected. Despite his sorrow, his will remains strong and he thinks of his people first" - Selka nods to Varn, in her words clear admiration for the mongrelman chieftain - "He gave us this weapon. It was supposed to be a gift for his son... He asks that we use it to crush at least a traitor mongrelman's skull on our way to the surface."
Her grip tightens on her own weapon as she adds, in a very serious tone - "I intend to help fulfill that promise."
There is some good news on the selling front. We traded all the stuff for some magic items. 3 potions one each of CLW, expendious retreat and spider climb along with an Everburning torch. So does anyone want the torch and potions.
Raven listens with interest as the other relate the story of the chief and his reaction. She eyes the enchanged morningstar with interest handing sliding to the hilt of her own morningstar.
As Varn asks about the use of the magic items bartered for, Raven pipes in a little intimidated. "A climbing potion, may help me, especially if I need to climb to get us out of here. I also like the idea of a torch that never goes out, but likely shouldn't be the one to carry it if I am to scout ahead. A defer to the others for the rest."
She lowers her eyes in embarrassment at her own boldness and steps back a little kicking at a rock underfoot.
"Well, I can make my own light, and I can already move expeditiously; I would claim a Cure Light Wounds myself."
Tessai nods at Selka's words - "And you will not be alone in doing it"
As Varn recounts the items purchase, she adds - "I do not believe any of those items are helpful in my hands - I have a limited capability to heal, and my eyes pierce the darkness without any difficulty. I could perhaps use an increased speed in combat, but it looks like a marginal advantage for the time being - for that reason, I have no immediate claim to any of the items acquired"
All right then it is time to leave these caves and talk about what we found out and what happened here.
Varn point strait down the road for a moment before taking a look around and seeing that that was the way they came in and starts pointing in the opposite direction.
This is why I shouldn't stand in front if someone with a better sense of direction can take point.
You meet up with Lann and let him know your ready to go. He takes you out of the settlement and heads south. You travel for about an hour and reach a large cavern.
Barricades made of heaped loose rocks and wooden boards bisect this cavern. Beyond the barricades, a wooden screen covers the lower half of a tunnel mouth.
"See that barricade? Their lair is just beyond that. I cant see anyone from here but there are surely guards on lookout. The lair itself is a network of caverns closely connected by short tunnels. Each cavern is a "room" of sorts and it's like a maze...You can find the way to the surface is you take a left at the first two intersection and a right at the third...Assuming the layout is the same I haven't been up that way in over a year."
"Two lefts and a right. Got it. Anything else we should expect? I'd go anywhere to feel the sun on my face and the wind in my hair again. Let's get moving."
Raven looks down the cave to see if there is enough cover to making sneaking worthwhile. If so, she stealthily works her way up to the barricades, looking for any signs of life all the while. If there is no cover, she will wait for the others, hoping that the heavily armored will tank their way through.
If there is enough light for his poor human eyes, Orlando will try to stealth his way close to the barricade.
If not, he will wait just out of sight.
Selka takes Lann's hands in her own, and thanks the mongrelman profusely - "Thank you for all your help. From this point onward, we can proceed on our own. Please get back safely to your town, and tell your people they have our thanks and friendship. Farewell, Lann!"
Eager to see the light of the surface once again, and knowing how close they all are to finally be able to do so, Selka takes hold of her weapon, double checks her equipment, and follow the group into the cave.
Varn keeps his eyes and ears open but listening to his allies clank about doesn't bother to move stealthily.
With Stealth no longer an option, Orlando ducks behind some handy cover and thinks.
He gets an Idea.
Sure he is within earshot of the enemy, he calls out; "COME APHAROE! I SUMMON THEE MISTRESS OF FIRE ELEMENTALS! BURN THE INFIDELS FROM THEIR FORTIFICATIONS! I SUMMON THEE!"
He casts Dancing Lights in the form of a glowing manlike fire elementalish looking thing, and sets it to walking towards the barricade hoping it will force the enemy to panic, reveal their positions, attack it instead of us, or all of the above.
The light reveals two mongrelmen hideout out along the wall and one of them fires his crossbow at the glowing being while the other takes out a signal whistle and starts blowing into it.
Mongrelmen init
Varn summons another spear to be sent hurling at the mongrel men but it only a few scraps of wood are drawn from his magic. He stares aghast at what should be a spear before it fades a way. Varn quickly draws his bow and follows Orlando's example and heads to cover.
They are 40 feet away but the 4 foot tall barricade gives them cover and you need to climb up (dc 10 climb) or jump over (dc 10 acrobatics) to engage in melee.
Tessai is slow to react, but her actions are resolute and she closes the distance to the ones attacking them - "We have not attacked you, but we WILL defend ourselves"
Aeron looks at the others with a shrug. "So much for sneaking through..." With that he charges the barricade and makes to climb over it to reach the mongrelmen behind it!
Tessai is slow to react, but...
When the bolt from the enemy's crossbow pierces the air near them, Selka instinctively dodges to the side - 'Those must be the traitor mongrelmen Lann warned us about...' - and frowns visibly as the signal whistle piercing sound spreads into the cave.
"Quickly! We need to dispatch them before they alert the others!" Weapon in hand, she jumps forward trying to reach the barricade and get past as fast as possible.
Round 1 Init:
Orlando leaps up, draws his sword and charges the barricade, leaping it as he comes to it. His Dancing Lights Elemental does the same.
He crashes to a stop as he hits the barrier, then takes the whole round to laboriously climb over it.
But finds himself held at the barricade; defeated as he can't seem to do either one.
round 1
Orlando: Runs up to the wall and fails to get over it
Varn: Summon a magical javelin and fires it off but misses
Aeron: Runs up to the wall and fails to get over it.
Selka: Runs up to the wall but cannot climb it this round.
Raven: no action posted yet.
Mongrelmen: They Reload and fire their crossbows targeting Aeron who got over the wall. One bolt misses and the other digs into his shoulder.
Tessai: By making a double move you can get over the wall.
round 2:
You can start posting round 2 actions and raven post round 1 and 2.
Varn will walk to the barricade and wait to go over until three allies are up there if so he will try to climb up the barricade.
Round 1
Hearing the stealth is out of the question, Raven rushes the barrier, drawing her new warhammer on the way. She reaches the barrier and climbs her way over.
Round 2
Making it over the barrier, Raven engages the nearest mongrelman in melee, swinging with both hands, and trying to keep it from firing anymore.
Round 2 (Init 23)_____
Face burning with embarassment, Orlando jumps the barricade.
Finally!
He then engages an enemy.
for a possible piercing damage.
for a possible extra piercing damage.
Aeron attempts to climb the wall once again; however, the bolt in his arm catches and he is unable to get to the top. He yanks out the bolt in frustration and attempts a second, at which point he finally clears the wall!!
Orlando runs up and wounds one of the mongrelmen with a precise strike.
Varn: Tries to climb over the wall and fails.
Aeron: Just barely makes it over the wall.
Selka:
Raven gets up there and with a powerful hammer blow drops the one Orlando wounded to the ground.
Mongrelmen:
Tessai:
Having reached the barricade, Selka swiftly climbs it and drops on the other side, weapon in hand and ready to strike.
Turning toward the closest enemy, she twirls her spear and lashes forward.
After having passed over the barricade, and being received by two crossbow shots, one of them hitting her painfully, Tessai grits her teeth and attacks - "You have made your choice"
The second mongrelman is taken down by Selka's strike.
You can hear shouting coming from inside the caves. Reinforcements are likely on the way.
If any cover is available Raven will take it, drawing out her longbow. She will ready a shot at the first available target.
"The whistle has alerted others, prepare to repel an attack. I will do my best to thin them as they approach."
Disliking the thought of a full frontal assault, Orlando uses his Dancing Lights to look around the area, seeking a way to go around the defenders.
Varn walks back and tries to vault the ledge throwing himself over easily.
Would anyone like to be enlarged before the reinforcements arrive.
Tessai looks for the most probable direction where the reinforcements will be coming from, and places herself there, waiting and watching.
We're in the chamber to the left of the three marked red dots?
If so, Orlando will hug the wall at [M,5], waiting for them to come in before sneak attacking them.
Tessai summons her power, and protects herself against the onslaught of Evil creatures, getting ready for the probably incoming fight.
Following her friends example, Selka uses surrounds herself with divine energy, then follows Tessai as the tielfing woman plants herself firmly in front of the narrow entrance to the next chamber.
"I've got your back. As soon as they step up, we'll strike them down!"
Seeing the two women have already positioned themselves into the most advantageous positions, he simply stands by and waits for an opportunity to strike at the mongrelmen. "Save some for the rest of us!"