It's dark. You can barley breath and your head is pounding. Armasse! That's where you were! But what happened? Why the pain, the dark, the suffocation? What happened?
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As Mekel comes awake he feels his long hair curtaining his face and without thinking he shakes his head to clear it.
Pain so intense he is unable to breathe. Slowly ebbing, but surging anew with each heartbeat. Pain intense enough he can't think.
Slowly each surge is a little less painful than the one before.
Eventually he can draw a shuddering breath and realises how hard it is to breathe.
Lying there, gasping, he starts to think.
I can feel Smidge, so she's probably here too. I'll have to be careful moving in the dark - if I step on smidge by accident I could kil her. Hold still. Think. All those novels I read had people kidnapped. What dod they do?
A moments reflection
Am I kidnapped? Could be some sort of cave-in. I could've gone blind! CALM DOWN.
A deep breath
I'm not dead. It's dark. I'm an elf, so if I think it is dark then either I've gone blind, I'm underground, or I'm in a box.
Master Maen used to have a spell. He used to use it to write on walls when he was thinking. The writing faded after an hour, he said it was making the stone "remember" light bouncing off it before. If I use that I should be able to make some marks I can see. If I can see it then I'm not blind - and I can feel around me until I find Smidge, and mark where I've looked. Okay - seems like a good plan... as long as there's not something in the dark with me, waiting for me to wake up.
Was that... breathing? In the dark?
Good work, genius. Now I'm too scared to move. Well, I can lie here and die or I can move. Dagger's on my hip, so I reach down, draw that and use it to make the marks. Anything comes for me, I stab it. In 3... 2... 1...
Nossac hears rustling in the dark room around him. He is not fortunate enough to be able to see in the dark, and is struggling to regain his breadth. Once he is able to think clearly again he begins assessing the situation.
No light
He pulls an arrow from the quiver on his back and begins to say something softly to erastil as he gently grabs the arrowhead.
"Erastil, please grant me your light."
Nossac begins to look around to get a feel for his surroundings. Trying to find out if anyone is there with him or if this punishment was his alone.
Nossac is a 5'5 skinny elf that moves with extreme fluidity. He is wearing scale mail adorned with the Symbol of Erastil. He has a backpack and several quivers located on different parts of his body. He keeps his longbow within close reach as well as a sheathed longsword. He has long black hair and deep blue eyes with a mostly pale skin tone.
uuhhh, by the stars why does my head hurt holding his head in one hand his head
well I don't feel any blood so either I'm not bleeding or it stopped
*Cough* *Cough* The air is heavy and hard to breath. I must pace myself, or I will pass out again.
Thomas rests for a moment and then gathers his strength to stand. Thomas slowly checks for his pertinent belongings, His shield, starknife, Cestus, and most importantly his Holy Symbol. Finding them all in order
ok, i'm stranded in the dark possibly alone. anything that lives down here can probably see in the dark, so if anything friend or foe is here, I need to meet them on even terms. Here goes nothing.
I cast light on my shield.
Mekel squints and covers his eyes from the sudden twin blooming bright lights.
The bright light reveals a tall elf with long black hair, dressed in a long, large dark cloak over grey leather armour with a white surcoat. Picked out on the surcoat is a a heraldic shield featuring a key hovering over a top-down stylised view of Kenabres.
A double-sized quiver is over his back, a longsword is at his side and a dagger in his hand. The longsword is in the elven style, but doesn't have the elegance of elven-make.
eh elf rises to a kneeling position. At his feet is a shortbow, a canary and a backpack.
This is a young elf - maybe a hundred or so. Definitely not yet reached his majority.
Slowly regaining consciousness Dorotea slowly drags herself erect. Briefly checking to ensure he is uninjured and has her weapons.
Suddenly, the darkness is lit.
Wincing at the light, Dorotea starts walking towards its source.
Hello, who is there, where are we?
"Is anyone injured? I am Nossac, Paladin of Erastil, and other than a massive headache I seem to be unscathed. Can any of you remember how you got here?"
As you each make contact with each other your memories return. You were at Armasse.........
Armasse officially began at noon, with the blessing of the festival by Lord Hulrun himself, ruler of Krenabres. The crowd gathered in Clydwell Plaza quieted as the aged inquisitor took the stage, clad in shining, resplendent armor. He cleared his throat, but just as he was about to speak, a bright light shone from the west, as if the sun were rising from the wrong direction. Hulrun's shadow fell huge and distorted across the cathedral's facade. A moment later, the sound of a thunderous explosion ripped through the air and earth, along with a violent tremor.
To the west, the fortress known as the Kite-the location of Kenabres's wardstone- had vanished. In its place, a brilliant plume of red fire, lightning, and smoke erupted into the heavens.
A moment later, a powerful roar accompanied a welcome sight rising from the crowed-Kenabres's greatest guardian, the ancient silver dragon Terendelev, who until that moment been attending the opening ceremony disguised as a human. Above, another form appeared, as nightmarish as the dragon was breathtaking. A humanoid shape three times the size of any man, with skin coated in fire and lightning, gripped a flaming sword and whip. The creature's identity was immediately obvious: Khorramzadeh, the Storm King of the Worldwound, had come to Kenabres!
As the ground continued to shake and disgorge demons into the streets, the dragon and balor lord clashed above. The fight was over in a few moments, as the valor cut deep into Terendelev's body, swooping down to strike the dragon and arresting her charge. A few more blows, and the titanic duo spiraled toward the crowd.
The sight of the dragon smashing into the facade of the Cathedral of St. Clydwell is one no witness would ever forget. At that moment, a titanic demon erupted from the far end of the plaza, reducing several buildings to ruins as it smashed into this world. The rift it created shot across the plaza, and this time there was no escape-it opened below your feet, angling away into the darkness.
Even as you fell, the dragon noticed your plight. Though she saw death standing over her, she seized this finial chance to save a few more souls. After she uttered a few arcane words and stretched out a bleeding talon, you felt her magic take hold of you, slowing your plummet into the darkness as if you were feathers falling into a pit. Yet the fall remains as inexorable, and as our drifted downward into the debts, the last thing you saw was the Storm King standing before the ancient silver dragon, his sword lashing out and cleaving full through her neck. As her severed head fell, the rift above you slammed shut, and the light of the world above was gone.......
As your eyes adjust to the light provided by Thomas and Nossac you can't help but feel if your plight has worsened. You are in a cave, the ceiling and far walls of this vast cavern recede into the darkness. On one side, the wall has collapsed in an enormous mound of rubble-here and there the arms and legs of victims who didn't survive the fall protrude. In the back of the cavern, a disturbing shape looms. Nearly the size of a hours, what appears to be an immense black spider crouches silent and still on the ground.
go ahead and place your character in the purple.
Yellow squares lead to new rooms
the grey is difficult terrain
purple canot be passed through and grant cover.
if you wanna scout around or make checks just let me know you dont have to engage yet. if one of you engage i will stet the combat. other wise do what you feel needs to be done before it begins
any questions? just ask!
Eyeing the giant spider carefully, Doratea moves over towards the one of the still prone survivors. Whispering, Sshhh,can you get up? We need to move, there is danger here.
Seeing Dorotea's glance pass over his shoulder Mekel gives a quizzical look at her, then glances where she's looking.
Instantly he freezes, his battered and exhausted body suddenly flooding anew with adrenaline.
! Can I move? The HELL I can MOVE! WHAT THE...! LOOKING AT ME!
calm down. Way of the arrow... way of the arrow. desperately Mekel tries to remember the wisdom imparted to him by his Father
well - my uncle... no! That's a distraction... concentrate on not concentrating...
An image of Dariniel speaking to him in the forest "Conscious thought is for planning ahead. Once the arrow fires it is too late to aim the bow. If you have trained then your body will know what to do when the time comes. Your consciousness will only slow you down, get in the way. You must learn not to think, but to do."
He blinks once as his mind goes empty.
Keep your distance!
Man that think is big. What do I do, what do I do?. Ok 1 enemy, 3 allies. 1 ally is unarmored, that spider will rip him apart if it notices him first, I must move to protect him.
I can't act until after the monsters and I need permission to access the doc.
I can't act until after the monsters and I need permission to access the doc.
The man Dorotea talks to is a short, older, and fat man, dressed in nobles cloths. Looking at him he seems fine, a bit scraped up and dusty, but fine.
"I just fell who knows how far and am partially blinded by that light! Now you want me to move?! Your well armored so are those others. What ever it is im sure the three of you should be able to handle it!
See Nossac's arrow disappear into the darkness, Dorotea steps forward, drawing her blade with both hands and awaits the spiders reaction.
Taking his lead from the older elf Mekel quickly grabs his bow and rolls to his feet, taking a bead on the furry monster.
"No-one move! There'll be webs everywhere. Step on one and she'll see you - and she's dripping with poison!"
Who would have thought researching mum's drow heritage was going to come in useful in real life.
Other thoughts struggle to fight through his peace - the demons, the death of the dragon, the fall - but all are let pass.
In order to keep his options open, Nossac also begins looking around for an escape route.
A bedraggled canary flutters off the floor and onto the young elf's shoulder.
My surprise round action will be to stand myself up then.
Mekel's shouts, Nossac's arrow, the movement of the fighter, the spider stirs from none of these. It just sits in the shadows.
Your turn again Combat map is here for you
Dont forget about the perception check, go ahead and make it once per turn, so Dorotea, you can make it again
Going to knock another arrow and start detecting evil. Then I am going to try and get a better look around.
Is this thing blind and deaf?
Backing away from the spider, towards the other survivors, Dorotea whispers It is already eating something. We should go around. Quietly.
Thomas nods and slowly to not alert the spider begins moving around it.
My the luck of the stars shine even in this place Thomas whispers
Move action, move at half speed to stealth 15 ft to the left
Standard action draw the starknife just in case.
Nossac motions at one of the non-moving survivors. He then whispers.
Lets try and carry them out of here. If you need help, I will help you carry them out. You all should go first so I can keep this things attention if necessary.
Nossac Motions for the east door.
Go quietly.
He then tries to head for the closest survivor.
"Seriously?"
"Look" hisses Mekel quietly "I'm not a paladin, just a city guard. I'm not sure I can do it. Freeing these survivors and trying to carry them out is going to make a lot of vibrations... and when we're past here if we do get in another fight we've got the problem of not knowing if this thing is creeping up on us from behind. We've got the drop on it. If we prepare and starts shooting we might be able to kill it now, while it is distracted. If it gets the drop on us we probably won't even know the fight has started."
You make a valid point. Everyone take a tactical position so that we can strike fast. When we are all in position we will strike at once, as a unit. Do not let up until this thing has dropped. Call out when you are ready to strike.
Ready.
Mekel blinks
He listened to me?
stepping up in front of the old man he also prepares to fire
"Ready"
With Mekel firing upon the spider, Dorotea advances and attacks.
Knowing I can't hit very well, Thomas will move behind Dorotea to block the spider moving to the other people. I will then use touch of luck on Dorotea, so she can roll twice on all d20 rolls this turn.
The two arrows of the elves bounce harmlessly off the shell of the spider. Yet, has Dorotea's blade makes contact with the spider, it passes through the hide! She and Thomas quickly realize that the massive spider is in fact dead. However, living inside are two giant maggots, which tumble forth angrily, one of them cut by Dorotea's sword!
Both maggot's mindlessly attack Dorotea, however they teeth of the beasts do not make it past the fighter's armor.
Both of the Maggots attack Dorotea but miss!
Players! Your turn! Combat mat is provided
Stepping to one side, Dorotea retaliates against the maggot, sinking her blade deep into the creatures body.
Mekel quickly moves around Dorotea to get a better shot at the maggot, then fires
Back Vile Worm!!
The attacks from the heroes quickly devastate the maggots, but they hold on to their life barley. Too stupid to try to run they strike again, one at Dorotea and one at Thomas but the heroes armor deflect the attacks!
please remember when you hit a creature to assign the damage to that creature on the stat sheet. do so in equation form so i can track individual damage (ex =1x+2x+3x) if that didn't make sense just ask ill try to explain again
PLAYERS! YOUR TURN!
Well done, now let's finish them off!
Nossac takes his time to hone his last shot, he studies the target and lets an arrow loose.
Take that Vile Beast! Nossac says as his last arrow digs deep into the maggot.
"Done!" announces Mekel
Wiping her blade clean on the ground after the last maggot is slain, Dorotea hurries back over to investigate the other survivors.
Are you injured, can you stand up?
Well done, nice teamwork. Let's check the survivors and try and figure out what happened.
Nossac puts his bow away and checks one of the other survivors.
Mekel pauses, then slowly turns and looks around the room, carefully considering each part of it.
One doesn't apprentice to a Dwarven Stone Wizard as long as I have without learning something about the underground.
we've got three unarmed people and more weapons = good. Broken is not as much of a problem with Mending.
how far underground are we?
best way to find the surface? (look for air currents?)
if cut off, how much air might we have
has Mekel heard of any caverns below the city? Or mazes, or dungeons, etc...
is it safe to free the trapped girl's leg?
Sheathing the starknife but keeping the shield on and lit.
Does anyone know where we are?
Noticing the girl with her leg trapped, Thomas rushes over.
Miss are you alright? We need to get that rock off you.
on the girl
to move the rock assuming she is ok, apart from the rock on her leg obviously.