Here as well, hoping we started again at some point!
Search Posts
They forgot AC? Ouch. Welcome back though! Eager to get started again.
Don't worry, Akinra is good about coming back. We had a lull like this earlier in the year as well.
No worries Akinra, we'll be waiting for your return. Hope your final work rush and move go smoothly, and grats on your new job!
Before heading up, Aranthis takes a moment to pray to Torag, calling forth a blessing of light on one of her blades. She thens climbs up after the others and draws her blades, using them to help light the area.
When Allrianne heads off to investigate the next room, Aranthis stops for a moment to clean off her blades, drawing each one from its sheath and wiping it down before re-sheathing it. "I wonder how much further we have to go through this compound before we find the path back to the surface?" she says as she works on the blades. Stopping to gaze up at the ceiling she adds, "I wonder how the battle in Kenabres is going. I hope they've been at least as lucky as we have down here, they certainly need it."
As each person comes up, Aranthis helps them get up through the opening quickly. "It's a good thing those fish had something to distract them. They're looking pretty vicious now, can't imagine how riled up they'd have been otherwise." Upon Zogar's suggestion, Aranthis takes a look at the ladder to make sure it's safe.
Seeing as how the rest of the group was going down into the watery pit, Aranthis decided to stay up top. "I'll be up here if you all need me. I'll keep an eye out and make sure Horgus and 'Vash aren't unprotected."
Just to let y'all know, I'll be gone tomorrow through the 15th. I'll not have internet access during that time, so feel free to GM-PC me in the meantime.
Aranthis is clearly relieved at the decision not to go traipsing through the filth. "Zogar's not too loud, but I admit I'm absolutely terrible at sneaking about. It would certainly be handy to have someone who can warn us of threats ahead!" she replied to Allrianne's suggestion. "Before we continue further, I should mention that not all of the cultists are fighting to the death. One of the mongrelmen who accompanied us from their city took three prisoners back with him, along with two of our companions who decided to remain behind. I know they have treated you three poorly, but please show mercy if the mongrelmen surrender. Perhaps some of them may yet be turned from their path."
"Take no offense at Zogar's words, he means well. It's true though that the path we are taking is fraught with danger. Still we'd happily welcome your company on our journey." she says with a smile. "I'm Aranthis, by the way, and that, as I mentioned is Zogar. In the back, are Aravashnial, Anevia and Horgus." she adds, pointing at the three respectively. Turning to Zogar, she says "Yes, give me a moment." She walks over to him and extends her hand, uttering a prayer to Torag as he does.
"There we go, all fixed up!"
Aranthis moves quickly to investigate the sounds coming from the crates. Realizing there are people packed in, she sheathes her weapons. "Zogar, help me get these open! Hold on in there we'll have you out in a moment!" she says in a remarkably cheerful voice despite the situation.
We're second level.
Welcome aboard y'all!
I think Allriane and Iomedae are good choices. I like Seraphine, but I'm not sure this is a great AP for a CN character.
I'm still here as well. I'll take a look at the thread, seems like it's difficult to get people for games that have already started though. :\
Lets get moving again, must make it to a safe place where we can re-recruit! Not giving up on this game :p
Who is up in the turn order?
Aranthis barely gets to move before the lizard dies to Zogar's quick stroke. Moving in to the room, she helps look around for anything of interest or value.
"Well, I was expecting a bit more resistance. It doesn't seem like this encampment was as heavily populated as I thought it would be." she says, sounding slightly relieved.
"I'm not sure if Torag will be pleased, but at the very least I'll sleep better not having had to kill everyone in the village, evil or not," she responds quietly. Aranthis follows close behind as Zogar charges forward, her weapons still drawn, clearly expecting their luck in avoiding conflict to run out.
When the mongrel men surrender right off the bat, Aranthis calls out to Lann to get him to hold up. Looking to the prisoners, she addresses them in a firm but cordial manner.
"Do you think you'll be safe taking them back to the village Lann? If so perhaps you should. Maybe away from this place they'll be more willing to talk." Aranthis moves up beside the door, waiting for Zogar to open the door.
"I agree we should move quickly, but we can't leave these two to die. We don't know how many of them are actually corrupted and how many just don't know anything else. I know there will be casualties along the way, that can't be helped, but I won't just leave them to bleed out either." Aranthis crouches down, making makeshift bandages and tourniquets from the mongrelmen's clothes, making sure they won't bleed out while the group moves forward.
After she stands she takes a few moments to wipe her blades clean with some of the excess cloth. "Ok, I'm ready."
Oof, lotsa travel! Have a good trip!
Aranthis moves to engage the remaining mongrelman, stepping in quickly and feinting with a high attack before coming in low with her other blade.
Aranthis wastes no time, rushing into the mongrel men to engage them while they're still unprepared. Torag watch over me... Here I go!
Aranthis moves to the side and takes the few moments they have to call upon Torag for a blessing. She then does her best to take cover.
"We should tie him up, gag him and set him off to the side. We don't want him alerting the others or jumping into battle again. We'll need to prepare for others coming to check on them quickly." With that she quickly digs out some rope and begins to bind his hands and feet together. Aranthis does her best to listen for other Mongrelmen coming to the guards' aid.
I'd definitely prefer not to summarily execute the unconscious. If we can get the defenders to surrender perhaps we can still redeem some of them. If we're acting ruthless it's less likely that some of them will surrender I'd imagine.
Aranthis swings as the mongrelman recoils from the flash of colors Phoenix unleashed.
As the battle starts, Aranthis takes a deep breath and charges forward, her blades at the ready. She seems to take off quicker than usual, much to her surprise, her armor seeming weightless as she prepares to engage the mongrel man lookout.
"Thank you for the spell Aravashnial, every little bit will help in this situation, I'm sure of it!" She smiles at the blind elf and pats him reassuringly on the shoulder. "I'm not sure we have a rapier Horgus," Aranthis says, trying to think if they'd found anything to that effect. [b]"Perhaps someone has a knife you could borrow? If not it might be best if you kept 'Vash safe while we move forward." With that she draws her blades and prepares herself mentally for battle. She bows her head in prayer for a moment. "Torag, these tools of war were crafted in your name, please bless them that they may serve their purpose and see me through the coming battle safely." As she finishes, she steps forward, preparing to lead the way.
It might work, but Aranthis isn't good at bluff or disguise.
"Somewhat, yes. Up above it's only dark for half the day, which is when most people sleep. So at this point I'm out of ideas, I think the best we can hope for is to approach as quietly as possible and perhaps the gods will watch over us."
Finding the paladin at a loss for words, Aranthis speaks up again. "We may just have to take our chances with approaching quietly. Is there something that passes for 'Night' down here?" Thinking for a moment she realizes the concept might be foreign. "That is, a time when most of the village goes to sleep? At the least that'd buy us some time if their guards called out in alarm."
"It's certainly a situation which in which we're strongly disadvantaged." Aranthis says with a frown. "Do they normally attack on sight Lann? If they do then walking in openly is certainly not how to do it. Also, an ambush might work to draw out the outer guards, but it'd be quite dangerous to try and attract more attention than that. What would you do if they had bows Zogar? You might not make it back here if our earlier luck with projectiles is any indication." She thinks about it for a moment more. "What do you think Ghorza?"
"Absolutely, I think we definitely need to rest and eat before we consider heading out." she says in response to Zogar. I should try to talk to Horgus. He seems to have a problem with the tribe down here. Perhaps I can help him see that they're our allies and should be treated with respect. Torag willing I can find the words to change his opinion of them. Reaching down she grabs her holy symbol and utters a short prayer.
When the seer mentions the cost to heal the two, she looks a bit defeated. "Would that we had such! We've only found a few things on our trip. Are blades and weapons highly sought down here? We found a mace when we cleared the temple of Torag, it was surely crafted by a skilled smith." "Or perhaps we could aid the other tribes somehow to help defray the cost?" "The scales were a gift from Terendelev, I don't know if we should part with them Zogar. They may be meant to serve a greater purpose. Although if there's a good reason to trade one away, I imagine healing Anevia and 'Vash would be it." she adds, looking a bit conflicted.
Aranthis nods in agreement with Zogar. "It is a sad tale indeed. It is truly a shame that the neglect and scorn of those in the city above has brought this darkness upon you down here. Zogar speaks true, I think if we had a chance, Ghorza and I would try to use words and deeds to change the hearts of those who can be swayed still." Reaching down to where the arrow had pierced her armor, she looks sad for a moment. "But I've also learned that sometimes even the purest of intentions and noblest of words are not enough." "I swear that we will do everything in our power to sever the cultists ties down here and break the will of the traitors to fight. And when we return to the surface we will do what we can so this tragedy is not repeated in the future." she says in a solemn tone, the words seeming to echo in the cavernous chamber. "Let us go see this seer, I'm sure Anevia and Aravashnial could use the help of someone more skilled than Ghorza or I."
Reiterating Ghorza's words, Aranthis also responds to the Chieftain. "We will make sure the message is heard. I'd like to think that even such a grim turn of events can lead to some good, surely the gods are watching over us." she says with a smile.
Thankful for Zogar and Phoenix's quick reaction to the old elf's inappropriate questioning, Aranthis throws them a smile. I think that poor elf lost his tact with his eyes. It's a good thing Zogar and Phoenix have been able to keep him occupied. Turning to Lann she says "I'd love to learn about your village and life down here, and I'm sure Ghorza is of the same mind. We also have news from above that your village will probably want to hear. Do you have elders here, who should we speak to?"
Aranthis turns to Ghorza as she finishes speaking. "On hearing that all recounted, it's been quite a day hasn't it? I think we just might have earned ourselves a rest!" As they walk in, she smiles at the guards, then turns around to make sure that Anevia and Aravashnial are making it in alright. "How are you two holding up?" she asks them.
Aranthis nods in agreement with Zogar. "It'll be nice to be somewhere safe and quiet for a change," she says, clearly eager for a chance to rest without worrying about the possibility of being attacked.
Aranthis takes her time climbing down and then attempts to climb up the other side without aid, taking the rope that'd fallen in the chasm with her.
Watching the rope drop into the chasm, Aranthis allows herself a laugh. "Nice work there Zogar!" she says teasingly. Digging out her own rope, she sets about trying to find a better place to anchor it.
Worst is that it looks like poor Phoenix is going to be at the bottom of the pile. At least Flitwing won't be crushed :p
Aranthis takes a minute to remove her armor to make climbing down and back up easier. After doing so she helps up top until it's her time to climb down.
|