Doing her best to keep her breathing shallow in the fog, Caro finishes checking out the room. Seeing nothing of interest, she follows Haddek to the two closest doors and posts herself by him while he listens, keeping watch down the hallway.
"Hold a moment, there is a great deal of magic here. Give me a minute to identify it." Tiasar concentrates, taking upwards of a minute to analyze all of the colorful auras he sees.
"I don't hear anything behind either door. Of course, that doesn't mean there's nothing there." Haddek looks back at the others, his gaze landing on Tiasar. "Everyone wait here a second. I'll check the door at the far end of the hall while Tiasar figures out what this stuff is."
Haddek walks down the hallway, careful to keep his weight on the balls of his feet to minimize sound. Getting to the far end, he again presses his ear to the door.
While Haddek investigates the hallway, Tiasar begins looking around the area with a very serious look on his face. All the while, Caro doubles over in pain.
"A continual flame spell for light, very typical. There are conjuration and illusion auras that I don't fully grasp...but there are enchantment, transmutation auras augmented someone's form and power, and a very strong necromancy aura. This mist somehow communicates with the undead."
"If one is within this fog long enough they will become immune to its effects."
Tiasar looks very concerned. "I fear we are up against some form of powerful, augmented undead creature."
Caro bends over with a grunt. She looks down at the spear in her hands confusedly and after hefting it a couple times she throws it aside and straightens up. She flexes and looks back at the group behind her. As Berta approaches she watches her warily "I'm good. Yeah. I good." and slowly backs away, not letting Berta get close enough to examine her.
Caro backs down the corridor until she is halfway between Haddek and the rest of the group. She glares at them while frequently glancing over her shoulder at Haddek, growling. She remains there, crouched down and flexing her leg muscles. "Stupid persons. Stay away from Caro, persons."
Illusion and conjuration magic I'm missing. Summon a creature and hide the real Caro? "Caro, what was I drinking in the tavern this morning?" He says with a flat stare.
A gurgling sound similar to laughter bubbles out of her throat. "Elf man likes fruit beer. No drinking real beer for fruity man." Lightning quick, she rushes forward as if to strike Tiasar but stops just short, glaring at him. "Go ahead. Make staring face. Think you're big fruity man?" She flexes her arms and crouches down as if ready to pounce.
Haddek turns from the door, looking back at Caro as she begins acting weirdly. What the hell? Also, why are there apes in the next room? That makes no sense. Looking from Caro to the door beside him, a look of understanding flashes across his face.
"Something is doing this to her. The fog, maybe, but I'm not sure why the rest of us aren't affected. I can hear apelike sounds coming from the next room, so it's affected a bunch of people already. Anyone have any idea how to fix this?"
Walking slowly toward Caro, he holds his hands up defensively, trying not to startle her. "It's ok, it's just us. We're friends, remember? Or, uh, not enemies at least."
Caro shoves Tiasar to the side rudely and steps towards Haddek, breathing deeply as she watches him approach.
As he nears, she clambers nimbly up one of the pillars, gaining height on him. She stares at him curiously but does not reply.
Haddek watches, bemused, as Caro easily climbs a pillar. "Yep, definitely some type of monkey brain thing going on here. Uh, Tiasar, you said we'll eventually become immune, but judging by the sounds in the next room once you're changed you stay that way unless someone changes you back. Anyone have any ideas?"
"Caro is woman. Not monkey. NOT MONKEY!"
She leaps off of the pillar, rushes forward, and swings at Haddek
but her strike goes wide
She glares at Haddek, panting, clenching her fists.
"If one is within this fog long enough they will become immune to its effects."
"If that is the effect of the fog" he says looking up at Caro. "How long would it take to become immune to its effects?"
She leaps off of the pillar, rushes forward, and swings at Haddek
"Grab her before she hurts someone!" he says as he reaches into his pack, pulling out a silk rope.
Tiasar goes white as a ghost as Caro bolts over to him. He freezes for a moment, not even speaking until her attention turns elsewhere.
Once Ileum addresses him he breathes, responding faintly. "I'm guessing you have to resist its effects, at which point you become immune. That is to say, I think the rest of us are safe but Caro's constitution gave way to whatever magic is in the mist." Tiasar reaches a hand into his spell component pouch hesitantly. "We could try bringing her back outside of the fog perhaps..."
Haddek dodges out of the way of Caro's wild swing, then leaps forward to tackle her to the ground. "Everyone help me hold her so Ilium can tie her up!"
Just as Ileum gets his question out, he also crumples over in pain.
Haddek manages to grapple Caro, but then looks back over his shoulder only to see the young elf crumpled over in pain.
Berta
Haddek
Tiasar
Sustos
Caro
Ileum
Caro flails wildly as Haddek jumps to tackle her
I threw it into HL and temporarily it looks like I have
AC 15 (13 Touch) | CMB +4 | CMD 16 (14 FF) | +4 to hit and damage on melee
The rest remains the same other than updated skill modifiers
As the events unfold Sustos watches in confusion, not quite understanding how the magic is affecting Caro until Tiasar explains it. As Ileum hits the floor he springs into action, taking Haddek's lead and grabbing up the elf to prevent him from getting away.
Or at least attempting to.
A grappled creature cannot use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling it, even if a special ability, such as hide in plain sight, would normally allow it to do so. If a grappled creature becomes invisible, through a spell or other ability, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its CMD to avoid being grappled, but receives no other benefit.
Casting Spells while Grappled/Grappling: The only spells which can be cast while grappling or pinned are those without somatic components and whose material components (if any) you have in hand. Even so, you must make a concentration check (DC 10 + the grappler’s CMB + the level of the spell you’re casting) or lose the spell.
Casting Spells while Pinned: The only spells which can be cast while grappling or pinned are those without somatic components and whose material components (if any) you have in hand. Even so, you must make a concentration check (DC 10 + the grappler’s CMB+ the level of the spell you’re casting) or lose the spell.
Caro initiates a surprise attack on Haddek with a wild swing and misses.
Haddek returns the attack by attempting to grapple Caro, which results in an AOO from Caro. Her slam attack successfully connects for 6 points of real damage.
Berta Joins the grapple adding a +2 to Haddek’s next grapple attempt. Berta now has the grapple condition as well.
Haddek May release the grapple or continue the grapple with a +7 to the attempt. If the grapple is successfully continued, Haddek can attempt to move Caro half his movement speed, Damage Caro for whatever his natural attack damage would be, or attempt to Pin Caro, giving Caro the pinned condition.
Tiasar Undeclared
Sustos Made an attempt to grapple Ileum, but was unsuccessful because of having a shield in his hand.
Caro Depending if Haddek successfully continues the grapple or not, Caro’s options may change.
Ileum Continues to change.
Berta
Haddek
Tiasar
Sustos
Caro
Ileum
Kicking one of Caro's legs out, Haddek throws her to the ground and falls on top of her. "Quick! Tie her up!
Thrashing and straining, Caro manages to get out from underneath Haddek and gets back up on to one knee, but cannot get completely out of his control.
As violence suddenly breaks out within the group, Tiasar steps back in shock. This was decidedly not what he expected would happen, and all of the infighting threw him. But as he sees Ileum going through the same change as Caro, he steps back with a sad expression. He reaches into his spell component pouch, pulling out a thimble of multicolored sand. "I am sorry my friend...kluchuduun ingis!" With a gesture the sand explodes forward violently, cascading over Ileum.
Berta: Joins the grapple adding a +2 to Haddek’s next grapple attempt. Berta now has the grapple condition as well.
Haddek: Continues the grapple and applies the pined condition to Caro.
Tiasar: Moves back and casts color spray, attempting to effect only Ileum.
Sustos: Made an attempt to grapple Ileum, but was unsuccessful because of having his shield in his hands.
Caro: Manages to wiggle free of Haddek’s pin.
Ileum: Ileum falls over unconscious
Once Ileum falls over unconscious, you can physically see a belch of silvery gray vapor leave him.
Berta: Releases the grapple Retrieves a rope from her backpack
Haddek:
Tiasar:
Sustos:
Caro:
Ileum:
Tiasar's hand shakes as he lowers it, watching Ileum slam into the ground. "The...the mist left him!" He turns to look at the other struggling with Caro. He reaches for his pack but stops himself. No, you'd either hit everybody or force them to let go, and if she resists it... Taisar hesitantly moves over, trying to help subdue Caro. However while the timid wizard does little but edge closer, Morde suddenly comes alive and gives a loud cry, buffeting Caro with his wings and flitting about madly to distract her.
vs CMD 14
As Caro wriggles partly free and begins to get to her feet, Haddek shifts his hold and wraps his legs around her, pulling her back down to the ground. "Any day now, guys! This isn't as easy as it looks!" He buries his face in her back, wiping blood off his nose. Leading with my face on this tackle probably wasn't the best idea. Damn that hurt!
If pinned:
If tied up:
Caro struggles against mightily but is unable to break free. She growls and spits at anyone who comes within range, rage in her eyes.
I guess I should wait for Sustos so I know if I'm doing Escape Artist vs the pin or CMB vs a rope, but offline a lot today so I'll roll both now.
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Berta, suddenly being reminded of several childhood summers spent wrangling calves for the village, expertly binds Caro's hands and feet, making sure to bind the hands behind her and slightly at an angle. Not too uncomfortable, but enough that getting any leverage against the knots will be difficult.
She shakes her head and moves over to see how Sustos is doing with Ileum, only to see him unconscious and rigid on the floor. She looks up at Sustos and Tiasar with alarm. "What happened? Is he dead??"
Sustos drops his shield to the floor and bends down to help Ileum wake up by bringing him to a sitting position.
"Not dead, just unconscious; we may need to do the same for Caro. Is that right Tiasar?"
Continuing to struggle against the ropes, Caro all of a sudden stops, cocking her head as if she heard something. She looks around suspiciously and starts yelling and keening unintelligibly. It is strangely similar to the sound of a trapped animal that is calling out for help or in order to warn others of a threat.
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Haddek lets go of Caro and slowly gets to his feet, panting with exertion. "Damn, she's stronger than she looks. Wait, what the hell happened to Ilium? Is he ok?"
He wipes his nose uselessly with his sleeve, but the blood still runs fairly heavily down his face. "Someone else can carry her out of here. I'm not going near her until she's no longer a CRAZY MONKEY!" He leans over her and shouts that last into her face angrily. Then steps back quickly, putting Berta between himself and Caro.
"I need a little patching up anyway. Can anyone do something about this?" He waves at his bloody face.
He takes out his leather case again, filling another vial with powders and liquids. After a vigorous shake, it's mixed well enough and he downs it in one shot. He shivers a little as he puts his case back in his backpack, the extract taking effect quickly.
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Berta pants heavily as she recovers from the exertion of pinning the surprisingly spry woman. She looks at the others as she bends over, hands on her knees, drawing slow, heavy breaths.
At Haddek's shouts, she gives him a level gaze. "She is not in her right mind. You are shouting at an invalid." She shakes her head and walks over to Sustos. "What do we do now? Take them outside?" She looks inquisitively at Tiasar. "Will that help them, do you think?"
"CRAZY MONKEY!" He leans over her and shouts that last into her face angrily."
unless something happens
Caro continues to act in an inhospitable animal-like manner while Ileum, on the other hand, becomes conscious and seems to be free of the fog’s effects.
Frustrated as she realizes she is making no progress on breaking out of the ropes, Caro starts yelling louder. Her voice echoes through the halls as she throws herself across the floor towards Haddek. All of a sudden she stops, as if remembering something, and starts scooting towards where she had discarded her spear.
"No! Just unconscious, it was a spell that overloads the senses. I think if we bring Caro outside she should throw off the effects of the fog. I'm not sure how long it will take, but with any luck not more than a few moments or minutes at the most."
Caro scoots into the corner and rocks in place quietly, seeming to be lost in despair.
Caro has reached her spear and is trying to use it to free her hands from the rope. It's slow going because although dexterous, her reasoning skills seem to be limited.
"This does not bode well for the immediate future... Yes we should take them outside, if Caro does not change within a short while then perhaps we will need to, uhh.. reset her? Like we did with Ileum..."
Sustos heads over to Caro to begin dragging her away from the fog.
With a simple thought, which had solid merit, Caro inched her way over to the spear laying on the ground. She managed to wiggle her way up against the sharpened part of the weapon at about the same time Sustos decided to drag her outside for some fresh air. Bound and unable to resist, Sustos makes short work of retrieving her, where he also finds the spear. Without hesitation, he then carries Caro out of the building like a sack of potatoes.
Before Haddek leaves the building, he goes down to the end of the hall and listens at the door again to check if anything has changed.
After listening for a moment, he follows Sustos out."How long do you think it'll take to clear her head? Shouldn't take more than a couple minutes of breathing fresh air, right?"
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Berta nods in agreement, glancing over at Caro scooting across the floor. "It is worth trying."
When they bring Caro outside, Berta kneels over her and presses a firm hand down on her midsection to keep her from wriggling too much, then begins whispering a prayer under her breath.
When she's finished, she continues to kneel beside Caro, patiently holding her in place until the effects of the fog wear off.