Sunset watches the wretches flee...then turning she sees what every one else is making a fuss about.
"Oh.." IS all she whispers as she walks over slowly to where poor Koridor is transfixed.
Gloisil seeing everyone pause, stops himself to see what has happened. He then sees Koridur on the ground with the shaft of the ballista through him. Gloisil starts to speak to Desidera to see if anything can be done, "Desi...", is all he gets out before seeing the tears running down her face. At that point Gloisil knows that the news is not good.
Gloisil, fighting his fear and the urge to shout at his companions to flee, waits to give them a minute to mourn the loss of Koridur.
You think the dwarf would be a good zombie recruit with some sewing to patch that big hole in his chest and someone to pull out the ballista bolt; you dont see much hope without some serious magic and or a seriously skilled surgeon.
Before taking off after Gloisil, Gyldyr kneels carefully next to the dwarf and tries to tell if trying to save him would still be worth their healer's time.
1d20+4
a great pool of warm red blood pools around the fallen body of the dwarf; the wickedly spiked ballista bolt makes a hollow clatter as it falls with his pearced body...
Gyldyr; you alone see the spirit/soul force off the dwarf swirling aroudn the body; make a knowledge necromancy roll please.
Elsdyn sees the shock on Desidera's face and remembers his first battlefield...He walks up to her and places a hand on her shoulder then says
"We need to get the bolt out, if thee could gather some cloth to limit the bleeding."
He turns to the others "If someone can put together a stretcher quickly, regardless of Koridur's condition here is not a place to rest."
Then to the orc. He points at a spot not too distance from the body on the shaft. "Think thee can break this bolt here?"
On my signal then. He braces the bolt to minimize the cutting affect on the dwarf.
In dwarven "Friend Koridur, we are going to cut the bolt and remove it, steel thyself and make thy piece with thine dwarven gods, rest assured whatever happens thee hast done thine anscestors proud this day."
He then gives the signal to the orc.
Once the bolt is cut he will look and see if Desidra has recovered enough and gotten the cloth. If not he will gather the cloth and have the orc pull the bolt through. Otherwise he will ask Desidra to hold the cloth and he will pull it through. He knows the dwarf will likely be dead after this if not before, but sees no alternative.
Gloisil looks to see if there are anymore ballista bolts at the station that the goblins have abandoned, a couple of them could be used to make a stretcher.
Gloisil is not sure what all this effort is going to accomplish, and is worried that it may well get them all killed, but he is not willing to abandon his companions at this point.
"Elsdyn, perhaps there are some more ballista bolts at the ballista station that the goblins were manning, I'll take a look, they perhaps could be used as a stretcher frame, and if anyone has some spare cloth or a cloak that could be bound to the poles..." Gloisil's voice just trails off at the end as he just doesn't know what else to say.
Sunset pads over, careful of where she puts her bare feet in regards to certain spilled...things...
She moves over and simply places a hand lightly upon Desidera's shoulder...and just shares a silent moment, before turning to every one else.
"Y'know...where I comes from...when some one goes an' kills a friend, we goes an' kills 'em right back..." She says with a quiet but stern tone, though her other hand does tighten upon the grip of her X-bow...
ok; the ballista bolt is removed; there is not much bleeding; the dwarf is very grey looking and turning cold; there are lots of ballista bolts and they can easilty be used; they are between 6 and 8 foot long; but you may wish to cut off the sharp tips and spikes..
Gloisil looks to see if there are anymore ballista bolts at the station that the goblins have abandoned, a couple of them could be used to make a stretcher.
Gloisil is not sure what all this effort is going to accomplish, and is worried that it may well get them all killed, but he is not willing to abandon his companions at this point.
"Elsdyn, perhaps there are some more ballista bolts at the ballista station that the goblins were manning, I'll take a look, they perhaps could be used as a stretcher frame, and if anyone has some spare cloth or a cloak that could be bound to the poles..." Gloisil's voice just trails off at the end as he just doesn't know what else to say.
The gong can still be heard inside; now joined by another; back down the hall there is a gong and now a blast from some several types of horns can be heard.
From the two hallways on either side of keep you are in; hundreds of goblins poor forth; Spider riders; worg riders in the front then infantry; they seem to say in their clans with Big Bosses, massive looking goblins and their underbosses maintaining a strict pecking order. The with spears and choppers, the most common armor is studded leather, but a few chain shirts or breastplates can be seen; the sound of gears can be heard and drumming; torches down the hall can see seen; from the great lift a elite group of 50 norkers with two handed spiked clubs can be seen; following up the rear is couple hundred archers; all told; look like about 800 goblins exiting the citadel to wrech untold havoc outside, what threat can brought this about....the last in line appears to be the Cadre; of several goblin bosses; two bugbears and three gnolss surrounded by 12 more gnolls, in addition are two humanoid figures roughtly 6ft tall but hunched wearing dark full lengty cloaks and full hoods; the carry staves and have the looks of wizards of some sort. The bugbears and gnolls are equipt with very good equiptment and a lot of it yet appear unburdened. Several of Cadres items glow with magical power radiating very dim colored light.
the pack of gnolls scents the air...but but with the troops that just overtroddened your tracks; they move on.... Mox has the goblins outside the keep in a shoulder to shoulder line with sheilds and spears, roughtly standing at attention as he walks up and down the line; well, in his limpy gate anyway, keeping them in line. none of the moving army even looks back with more than a casual glance.
|
Gyldyr gets up, unbothered by the blood on his knees (and the army). He's far more concerned by his companions' irrational behavior. He's staring at Desidera with a look not unlike someone who's found a fascinating insect in their soup. "Elanesadriel, think of tactics, please," he says distractedly. Then he focuses his attention on Desidera. If she snaps at him he's fairly sure he won't be able to hold a confrontation, but for now he's more bemused than anything. "Miss Tahn, he's gone. If we continue on our odds will likely improve."
Sunset slowly reaches out and very gently and delicately places a finger upon Gyldyr's nose.
"Does I have yer attention...?" She asks of the dusky skinned Elf quietly, not taking her comforting hand off Dresidera's shoulder...
Sunset smiles as she beings,
"Well then. First, I be a Bard an' not a Fighter so's 'Tactics' be somat I sing about, not think about." She Adjusts her stance slightly,
"The second? As a Bard, me bally-wick is t'be helpin' lift people's spirits..."
As she deftly flicks Gylgyr's nose with the fingers placed so easily in reach,
"So...you be considerate o' t'others!" She admonishes him, "Desidera's skills be in th' healin' an' lookin' after of t'others. When a thing like whut jus' happened...happens..." And her voice trails off as she turns and hugs her friend.
After a few moments she turns,
"Okeys then, lets get things t'gether an' be gettin' along, I s'pose..."
Gloisil spying some of the ballista bolts heads off in that direction to retrieve a couple of them. He looks back at the noise of the army and stops, not moving not breathing. When the army passes and apparently has not seen them, he continues on.
As he moves forward, he looks back at the others and sees Gyldyr and Sunset in conversation.
Hearing most of the conversation, Gloisil says to himself, "Gyldyr better watch himself with Sunset, or he'll be learn'n himself a new lesson the hard way, 'cause she'll show him a thing or two."
Gloisil drags a couple of the ballista bolts that he found back to the group. As he approaches, he says, "Here Desidera, if we cut the tips off of these they will make a good stretcher frame."
"If we could find a secluded room to leave Koridur in until we finish our task and can return for him, would that be acceptable?"
As he helps to build the stretcher to carry or drag Koridur with the party, Gloisil says, "I know not what would be best at this point for Koridur, except that Desidera is probably correct in what would happen if we just left him here."
"My biggest fear at this point is that as soon as that goblin army figures out that we're not out there, they will be coming back in here, and that would not be good for us. So we need to be moving along as fast as possible."
After removing the bolt, Elsdyn continues to work on the dwarf. He rapidly but carefully, removes Koridur's backpack then wraps him up in Koridur's cloak. He places the dwarf's hands on the outside holding Koridur's sword point down and when the stretcher is ready he will place Koridur in it with his backpack at his feet. It is obvious that this is not the first time he has seen to a fallen companion.
Listening to the others conversation he comments as he is working;
"Aye, the goblins feast on the fallen and wear their bones as ornaments, it is not a fate I shall leave a comrade too.
The fire would alert those assembled below and is not the dwarven way. It is best we take Koridur with us. Though a safe resting place till we or his fellow dwarfs can return, I think, he would find acceptable.
The orc and I will carry him, though be aware it will take a moment longer for us to respond to threat so additional care must be taken.
Also, Master Gloisel, it appears our goblin companion has some influence with yon goblins. Though I trust them not, perhaps we can speed and ease our way with guides that can avoid the worst?"
Gyldry only:
you know those hooded figures to be Ghoul priests; unholy undead with a great hunger for living flesh; Gnolls and ghouls are allies and serve the same Demon Lord, but you have heard a few years ago; the dwarven hero Kojan killed Yeenoghu, the Demon Prince of Gnolls and Ghouls. Since the great dwarven hero killed him in the Abyss, his energy was dispersed and you do not know what or who the new diety of Ghouls and Gnolls, but the Drow Archmagus commands a great horde of each and serves the Cambion Prince Rheabau; so there might be more to this in that connection. Muglubiyet, God of Goblins, is there ally as well.
1d20+11
Gyldyr gets up, unbothered by the blood on his knees (and the army). He's far more concerned by his companions' irrational behavior. He's staring at Desidera with a look not unlike someone who's found a fascinating insect in their soup. "Elanesadriel, think of tactics, please," he says distractedly. Then he focuses his attention on Desidera. If she snaps at him he's fairly sure he won't be able to hold a confrontation, but for now he's more bemused than anything. "Miss Tahn, he's gone. If we continue on our odds will likely improve."
as pc's you can be as inspire; calmed or not as you wish, in general, by Sunsets poetic inspritation; Sunset; what are you trying to inspire; calm; frensy; mourning? just a note; which all the diverse races and backgrounds; it is difficult to find common ground for inspiration drawing from only your own culture which is why I leave it up to the pc's to choose to be inspired or not unless you feel it important enough to have rolls take place.
Sunset smiles as she beings,
"Well then. First, I be a Bard an' not a Fighter so's 'Tactics' be somat I sing about, not think about." She Adjusts her stance slightly,
"The second? As a Bard, me bally-wick is t'be helpin' lift people's spirits..."
As she deftly flicks Gylgyr's nose with the fingers placed so easily in reach,
"So...you be considerate o' t'others!" She admonishes him, "Desidera's skills be in th' healin' an' lookin' after of t'others. When a thing like whut jus' happened...happens..." And her voice trails off as she turns and hugs her friend.
After a few moments she turns,
"Okeys then, lets get things t'gether an' be gettin' along, I s'pose..."
Gloisil, A ballista bold is about 6 ft long with fletching and small spies and a steel head; each weighs about 15 lbs.
Gloisil spying some of the ballista bolts heads off in that direction to retrieve a couple of them. He looks back at the noise of the army and stops, not moving not breathing. When the army passes and apparently has not seen them, he continues on.
As he moves forward, he looks back at the others and sees Gyldyr and Sunset in conversation.
Hearing most of the conversation, Gloisil says to himself, "Gyldyr better watch himself with Sunset, or he'll be learn'n himself a new lesson the hard way, 'cause she'll show him a thing or two."
Gyldry only:
with your connection to the dead; this place and your companions dwarves connection to it; you see the swirling mist and realize it for what it is; the dwarves spirit, which looks to be forever tied to this spot without help. With concentration [a roll] and focus [roll percentile] you can use your connection to to necromancy and the realm of spirit to perhaps coalesce the dwarves spirit for a few moment; perhaps to ask a question or gain insight; if you can convince other pcs to help; you can draw a circle and some symbols to give you bonus to your roll. This can also give you clue to how to release his spirit rather than keeping his ghost here reliving the last 10 or so minutes over and over for eternity.
the Black orc grunts:
"'ware there me biscuit and yea other; der beeza strange current as something moving in the flux o shadow...closeby and per near givin me da willies."
"With as heavy as these ballista bolts are, it may take more than two of us to carry Koridur. Perhaps if we tied a rope to one end, it would easier to lift up the one end and pull the stretcher behind?"
"Elsdyn, if you feel that would be easier, I can start tying the rope to the front end of the shafts."
Sunset offers Desidera another small hug before then offering a hand to Gylyr,
"Okeys then, lets be gettin' yer thing done an' then be off, hey?" She suggests.
I am not sure the cause of your religion roll; please add a bit of detail; if it is about the revanant and likely hood; then you might consider that a dward in a dwarven hold controlled by goblins might very likely make his soul/spirit very unrestful.
This was where Desidera paused, tilting her head to look at Gyldyr-- a figure that was not yet trusted by her. While her eyes still held sorrow, suspicion was large in her expression, her brows drawing down at the mention of a circle, and a revenant. "What cause would he have to pursue us?" she questioned him, though she knew that time was running short for them all. They could not linger here.
She cast about the rest of the group to see if anyone had any opinion to offer on this suggestion, since he may have been with them, it remained to be seen if he was with them.
Gyldyr begins drawing mystical symbols on the brick floor and incanting in Drow; he indicates postions to the rest of the group; indicate please if you will follow his guidance...
Gloisil listens as Gyldyr explains what he is about to do. He understands the gist of what is about to happen, but as a practitioner of the arcane arts, he know not the details.
"Gyldyr, just tell me what I can do if anything."
ack gloisil; yikes; guess we all kind of fear that; good luck with your search.
Gloisil listens as Gyldyr explains what he is about to do. He understands the gist of what is about to happen, but as a practitioner of the arcane arts, he know not the details.
"Gyldyr, just tell me what I can do if anything."
1d20+10 1d100
ok; what we did he is called a hard side roll used for unusual or otherwise situations where a lot of game modifiers and winds of fate, magic and various powers all roll into one and a pc tried to do something that requires more juice than they really have but is good for the story. So, on a hard side, I roll a d100 and come up with a number 50 or less or 51 and greater. you roll a die and if your roll is on the hard side of what I rolled; you get success; so I got a 73; so you had to roll over a 74; so you were successful, but as your number is close to mine; not extensive success. so,
the mist swirls and gathers together inside the circle Gyldyr has drawn; he chants on, his voice in an strange yet melodic form full of mystical vowels and constanance yet little intonation. His voice begins normally but then takes on a hollow sound that looses depth yet triggers a certain auto response of nervousness.
the party members helping are at, yet outside, cardinal points of the circle. each has been asked to drip one large drop of their blood inside the circle and call upon the dwarf by name; in dwarven if possible, and remember him clearly and such; inside the circle is the dwarves body and his gear...the mist swirls around and around it; gaining color and form as the drips of blood from the party (each person contribute 1 hp if your participating)
The cold ethreal form of the dwarf appears before you; clear and distinct; but only spirit, with burning eyes, the dwarven spirit speaks, strangely aware and present:
"my friends; I have fallen, but that is of no matter and little import, attend quickly for the Klarion call has sounded and my to my brothers I must join to gain the time for you to finish our quest. Our worst fears are realized, it is a demon who has bound the goblins together and it is the souls of the dwarves who have fallen here whose souls keep the treasure safe, the demon can only consume and destroy our souls so fast though Its hunger is without bounds; when the last of us is consumed; the treasure which cannot fall will be in this abyssal creatures hands and the world will shake and thus Judgement might fall. This treasure has been guarded by dwarves since our creation by the Soulforger; it must be secured and taken to a priest of Dumathion. In this foul goblin infested place there are few places to rest; but one of those is in the area of the preisthood; there you may find rest before you enter the Pit. Also, I can tell you close by are allies, even so; very close. My body and gear; take it, if you will, to a forge and burn it in the fires that warm it; thus will I have hope in being forged anew. <the ghost starts to becomes quickly pale, Gyldyr's brow is tight in concentration; his eyes rolled up and blood red> the call to battle is strong, my time here is short; be safe my friends yet hurry"
The dwarven ghost looks down through the earth; he can answer perhaps one question....if asked quickly.
Gloisil watches as Gyldyr casts the spell, and then when the shade of the dwarf Koridur appears before them, Gloisil listens intently to his words.
When the shade of Koridur finishes speaking, Gloisil bows reverently before him and asks, "If you can tell us, what is the fastest route to the object that we seek?"
"death", the shade answers "but I dont recommend it, rather seek yea the holy temple of Dumathion for aide and rest."
As Gyldyr's ritual unfolds, Sunset does everything that is bid of her by the dusk skinned Elf. Though there is a slight wince at the drawing of her essence. (>_<)
While his voice drones on she herself stills, with not a tremor -nor a movement from her tanned frame, as the form of their fallen companion takes on its ethereal shade.
As the ritual slowly comes to an end and the power fades, she slowly stirs, a hand lifting to her cheek,
"Got's somthin' in m'eye...*sniff*" Is her explanation as she hurries to gather her equipment and gets ready to be under way towards the destination given to them by their stalwart but departed friend. (-_¬)
Gloisil following Sunset's lead, also gathers his belongings and prepares to continue on. Looking around to see what their options are in which direction to go.
"Do we continue in our original direction, or choose a different route?"
Sunset, finishing with her gear and still fidgeting with straps and buckles, moves over to Gloisil,
"Well, have ye an' idea as t' th' were's of our mate Koridur was indicatin' these others t'be hookin' up with might be?" She asks, sounding a little hopeful, even as she blushes,
"I be havin' no real idea of direction down here..." She admits quietly, hanging her head sheepishly as she admits her plight.
"Unfortunately no Sunset, I do not. At least not anymore idea than we had before... Down, farther down. This fortress was suppose to be likely to have a way down, let's find it before those goblins come back."
"I say we continue the direction that we were going unless anyone has a reason to choose differently."
Gloisil then begins walking in the direction they were heading in when they encountered the goblins with the ballista.