I'm sadly going to have to bow out of this campaign. The foreseeable future just took a turn for the crazy-go-nuts, and my posting is already spotty at best.
but thanks for the opportunity, and I've enjoyed the game.
cheers
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Alrick gazes out in open mouthed shock at the contents of the room. Noticing the bodies, he drops down to examine what exactly happened to them.
Alrick jumps back as his goblin foe is killed, trying to avoid the spray of blood. He looks at his companions with awe, and maybe a little fear. "That was... Well, I hope we didn't alert any more." he says.
Alrick gives a wordless battlecry and charges headlong into the room, his mace raised high into the air. He brings it down toward the goblin but misses badly.
Alrick grabs the ring of keys and begins to frantically attempt to open the gnome's cell. Trying key after key until a click is heard "Just a moment, friend..."
Alrick's expression brightens. "Finally, some good news. has anyone found a key? Or can you give the door a Dwarven knock, Klor?
Alrick takes a long pull on the ale offered to him, then exhales. "Aye. That's a fine brew. My thanks..."
Alrick walks into the room, a little appalled at the ruthless efficiency. "Maybe... Maybe we could have taken them unawares, as prisoners? And found out some information...? he doesn't seem terribly convinced of his own idea, but the sight of the dead goblins has clearly unnerved him.
Alrick, creeping behind the group as best he can, can only stifle a laugh at the phrase 'Dwarven knock'. "I imagine it's not terribly subtle." he whispers.
Alrick takes the coins from Tae graciously. He remains silent, eyes on the ground as Karakas is given his funeral service by Zarick. ...Will this be my end, one day? Is this truly better an end than dying abed of old age? he thinks. He glances at his new companions, then back to the pyre. We still have a job to do...
Alrick sets to the grim work of searching the refuse, a still-shaken look on his face. He keeps glancing at his arm where the rat bit so deeply. "I uh... I suppose I could use a dagger." His gaze lingers on Karakas's body. "What are we going to do about ... him?"
Alrick clings to the wall to the side of the door, glancing around the corner at the huge rat. He shudders, and raises his mace. "Sarenrae, shine your light upon us!" ...and he steps into the breach, swinging hard as he can at the giant rat.
But perhaps his eagerness gets the best of him, and he swings badly, missing the rat completely.
Alrick too readies for when the cork comes unstuck, so to speak, prepared to take a swing at the first rodent he sees and can reach.
technical difficulties, posting to resume for me tomorrow
Fighting back waves of revulsion and nausea, Alrick peers into the filthy room.
Alrick sighs. "Is every ruin so infested with oversized rodents? Or do some have giant cats to keep them in check?" He looks to his companions. "Onward then, to the largest rat?"
Seeing the rats, Alrick bites back a shout of revulsion. He grips his mace, but rather than charge one, he readies to attack the first to approach. "Your priorities are quite odd, Master Kragsson" Alrick says with a grin.
"No choice then, but to press on toward Guthash, I say." Alrick says. He grips the mace he borrowed and grits his teeth. The worst is yet to come...
"I'm sure we'll be able to find something. The goblins no doubt have stores enough to sustain us. Perhaps the kobolds will trade after we've rescued their dragon!" Rescued a dragon Alrick think again, and can't help but laugh.
"For what it's worth, we need to be smart about this... A direct fight will only end in our deaths. We need to take away their advantages in whatever way we can." Alrick pauses, thinking. "We need to rescue this cleric. Without the aid of the divine, the Goblins are weakened. We need to find this dragon, and rally the kobolds behind Meepo. With more on our side, their advantage of numbers is less of an issue." "Lastly, if we can find some way to kill their leader, they will be a broken force. Goblins aren't known for their spine nor their intellect. Without a leader they would be in chaos..." Alrick shrugs. "Or at least that's what they'd do in the stories."
Alrick gapes at the news of two dead heroes. Who...? Which of them...? the idea of true consequence settles heavily on his shoulders. Heroes never died in the stories... Alrick nods to Tae, to indicate his agreement with the plan.
Alrick, too overwhelmed by his current situation, notices little. When the queen asks, he bows to her, and responds. "Your Highness, if you've a task to ask of us, in return for this information, please ask. If the trade is fair, we would certainly do our part."
Alrick nods after a moment's hesitation. "As long as they keep the peace, I can." He glances at his companions to see if they consent as well.
Alrick watches in quiet fascination as the party seems to strike a deal with a kobold of all things. Not quite the horrible little vicious creatures I was told about in the stories..."
"I'll need to brush up on my Draconic, I'm thinking." Alrick grumbles as he looks at the sign.
Alrick grips his mace tightly. The tedium not replacing the overwhelming anxiety the situation brought on. As the voices approached, his feet strongly suggested a reversal of course, but he won the internal battle of wills and remains with the companions, ready for whatever may come.
"Something about a dragon... Infrared.. Infrana! Definitely Infrana, conquered an ancient Dwarven Hall. Named Ashardalon. The dragon renamed it Dragon Mountain in a display of utter banality." Alrick shrugs and grins.
"Ashardalon... I feel like I came across that name in a book..."
Alrick turns slightly green at the bodies, but tries to swallow the nausea before anyone spots it. "I wonder..." Alrick takes a moment to examine any weapons left behind, even going so far as to attempt to remove the spear pinning the goblin to the wall.
Alrick yelps in a most un-heroic manner when the trap triggers. He moves to the edge as Tae dispatches the rat to help retrieve the errant dwarf. "This place is treacherous beyond anything I could've expected. With traps like these, vampires may be the least of our worries. Kobold treachery for sure..." he mutters.
Alrick gasps, audibly, more than once as the story is recounted. It is hard to tell if it's excitement, terror, or surprise. "Vampires?!" "Dragon cults?!" "Kobolds!?" his emotions seem to morph into genuine elation, before they suddenly deflate. "I do hope the heroes are alive and well... I truly fear the worst for them now..."
Alrick jumps back when the rat starts to speak. "That's... " once again his words fail him, and he mostly just stares. Talking rats, walking trees... this is great!
Alrick stares in quiet awe at the remains of the citadel. This is... the thought fades, Alrick simply unable to complete it.
Alrick follows, last in line, picking his way along the ledge.
"Rats!" Alrick shouts, and moves down the rope. "Ware, friends, Rats!"
Alrick moves a way down the rope, grumbling that he cannot get down to help just yet.
Alrick too, fills his water, grateful it was the one thing he did remember to bring. He follows as the group presses on, lingering the back. When they finally reach the end of the plain, he washes his mouth and face with some of the water, and sits for a moment. "That was most unpleasant."
Alrick grunts as the terrain impedes his movement. Seeing the thing close with Zarrick, he steps around him, and swings his mace.
When the mace connects, he gives out a wordless cry of triumph.
Alrick's eyes settle on the thing closing near Zarrick, realizing that Tae is fine with Grommund nearby. "I am with you, Zarrick!" Alrick moves close, readying his mace to attack, should the thing approach. Dice Rolls for readied attack, if applicable.:
I relate to that all too well. Trying to arrange people to get together for a RL pathfinder game is like herding deaf, blind and ornery cats that are dipped in grease.
Alrick sits bolt upright, even before his eyes are fully open. "Wha...? is the best he can offer, before he sees Tae and Ekan's magic. At that, he stands surveying the scene as best he can. He picks up his mace, and prepares to interpose himself between Tae and the thing that appears to be closing on her.
Alrick, drained by the excitement of the day and the prospect of some actual heroism in his future, snores fitfully and shifts in his sleep, oblivious to anything and everything.
Alrick accepts the mug with a puzzled expression, then shrugs. "As you wish, Master Geargrip. I'll keep a watchful eye on it."
Alrick glances at what he has brought with him, and the others, all laden with equipment. "I uh... I guess I didn't come very prepared. I am sorry.." He looks slightly dejected. "I appreciate your kindness, Tae, Ekan. Hopefully it won't come to that."
Alrick leaps to his feet, and races to the group, perhaps a bit too eager. "Greetings! I'm uh," he grins nervously, glances down. "I'm here to help!" He nods to the mace he has over his shoulder.
Alrick pauses, his bluster robbed from him by the scowling judge. "I uh... I..." His gaze drops, and his shoulders along with it. "Sorry to bother you." Alrick turns and walks back toward the inn, his eyes to the ground. Back to scrubbing mugs and stirring stews... He lowered the mace he had appropriated and gazed at the head of the thing. He hefted it, swinging it again. No. No more mugs, no more stews, no more scrubbing floors. Alrick turned, and started walking north, grinning again. I'll fall in with them on the road north, yes. They could use the help, I'm sure!
Alrick stopped in front of the judge, trying his best to heft the stolen mace in an impressive manner. "I want to help! I'm ready and able and I want to help!" he says, trying to not sound over-enthusiastic, but failing miserably.
As the crowd parted, Alrick beat a hasty retreat to the inn, hoping to beat the Elder back. His neck felt hot as he ran back. Shame? Fear? Weakness? I have to help them, I have to do something. I have to help them, I have to do something. He closed the door of the inn behind him, only to see his father looming over him. I'm taller than him, and he still pulls that off. Alrick mused before a meaty hand boxed a guilty ear. "You're to be tending this place when I'm gone son, you know that. Now go start dinner for tonight, I'm off to see the priest." Alrick dutifully retreated, shoulders slumped. I have to help them, I have to do something. I have to help them, I have to do something. He turned and looked at the weathered mace hanging above the bar. I have to. he thought. Reaching up, he grasped it by the handle and yanked, collapsing back to the wood floor with a grunt. Standing slowly, he took some measured swings. It felt natural, right... Alrick grinned the grin of the triumphant, and raced out the backdoor to the judge's house. I hope I'm not too late.
I see Alrick as sneaking out after the party is en route to join rather than try and join normally. Does that gel with what you have planned or should I just have him step up with the rest?
I'm EST as well. My job is low impact and has access to Paizo.com, so I post mostly in the day, between 10 am and 5 pm. night posting comes more sporadically
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