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Argon has had his head down, both working on the city and on the star metal plans. He was not sure about the best thing to craft, but he's hoping to do something unique. Now he starts to think about their task of closing the nearest portal. "Um, Ssillax, can you suggest some spells for me to pick? If we coordinate, we'll be that much more effective."
Goblin administrators, I hear.
We could let the people work it out themselves. Might work...
Gaming stores, lots of gaming stores. And pubs. Gaming pubs! Seriously, probably whatever a city that size needs. It doesn't have a government, or leader yet, does it. I propose a leader picked by us and serving for one year, with plans to have an election every year at the beginning to pick a new leader or keep the same one. I think we would pick someone with a great deal of life experience (i.e. old) and preferably someone who can make decisions, defer to experts, and who knows how to run things. The hope would be that this person would work out well and be re-elected or re-appointed after the year.
Argon has much to say about city sewers and defences, as he's always studied engineering on the side, as he went. But not tonight. He escorts Me'lar and Graff to their small stone forge and home, still unfinished but operating busily as there is much to forge. He leaves them with promises to visit soon. He heads back to the castle thinking about portals.
Argon is struck dumb at the surprise of Me'lar running in his direction. She has grown, as has he, but is now more beautiful, more womanly though still a child in some ways. He greets her as warmly as she greets him, shy and tentative about her intentions. He asks about what and how she has been doing, and asks after her father as well. It seems the inhabitants of the city are all doing well. Graff's skills with metal would be useful here; though Argon never saw his handiwork directly, it seemed all of the metalworkers of his strange underground town had taken great pride in all their metalwork. Argon had assumed Graff would be no different. A part of Argon is jealous, a bit, at the opportunity to concentrate on something with a single mind, fully, and not worry about dragons, demons, or world eating behemoths. Before he realizes it he has invited Me'lar to dinner at the castle, and her father too, and hopes there is someone there who can cook for them all. He would have to see to that, now. He looks forward to explaining about Rivven of Ebberon to Graff, and smiles at the thought.
After spending some time in his room near the forge, resting, cleaning his gear and eating a good home-cooked meal, Argon does a thorough inspection of the grounds, reminding himself of the defences. He notices that through his experiences in other, very different places (such as Sigil), he has a different perspective, wider view of things, than he had previously. He makes mental notes as he goes, with hope to implement fixes and improvements to the castle. He wonders if they should hire a few stonemasons. After the castle inspection, he heads into the city to meet the people. He keeps his eyes open for Me'lar, or her father Graff. At this point he just wants to see what everyone is building and what they're doing. He hopes they are not keeping bad old habits from Caern. He hopes to see some reading, as Wrathe had started teaching.
Argon stands and stretches, reminiscent of a cat. "We should talk in the comfort of our own castle. I'm hungry, too. Can you bring us home?" he asks Sssilax.
Calshaim? Doesn't ring any bells...
"The metal itself should have some special properties, that's all. Plus, some strange creature came with it, said our names, gave us some dire warnings, and then attacked us. Later, a storm appeared at the stone and transported us to that other world, Golarion," says Argon, recalling it vividly.
Argon smiles and greets Storm. "We were pulled away, quite by surprise. And then there were some... complications. Ssilax just feels guilty because we actually learned things, and enjoyed it to a degree. But I think we're all glad to be home, right Dog?" He wanders around, looking at Storm and then at the big stone, wondering about how to cut it up into movable pieces.
"Why to the rock?" asks Argon, "Do you have a way to move it, or to break it up?"
"Perhaps we should research the ruins first. I don't think we know much about them," suggests Argon. "Plus, we would do well to prepare in other ways. Spells and such."
Argon seems to have his spirits lifted. "If those truly are the ruins of Akhyl, that means we are on Saevia, and not too far from home. Someday, perhaps, we will call them part of our domain."
"Perhaps if we wait until dark we can use the stars to estimate where we are. Or someone can go way up to see if any other land can be seen," says Argon.
"There's no place like home!" says Argon, truly happy to be back in this crazy world. "Yeah, I don't know why the corridor had to go up, if we're in a mountain. They could have made it level, then we'd have come out lower down. Oh well. Can anyone tell where we are? Or what that city is?"
"It's strange. Now that we found Dainoth, I don't know what I should be doing.
A heads up: I'll be on holiday in Minkai from July 20 through August 13. During that time I'll have limited access to the internet, so my posting will be less frequent.
Argon is not an arcane caster, but he's been around them enough not to be surprised, mostly, at all the strange things they find. After dealing with the impaled beings, burying them and saying a few words, this cleanup is much easier. After they free the steward, Argon watches it for a while. Soon he asks, "How do you maintain security in the tower, steward? Do you have weapons? Because the bugs that had got in here were pretty big and... extraplanar. Oh, hey, speaking of planes, do you happen to have a key to our home?"
Argon feels the blood draining from him, so as soon as he sees the demon drops, he cuts off its head, then he channels energy for all of the living.
"If we cut them down, will that help?" he asks.
Could you describe how bodies are "impaled on a portal"? Does the portal have spears sticking out of it?
Lol, 4 falcata attacks with an average roll of 4 to hit on them. For Bleed, Argon takes 1 damage per round, right?
Argon is concerned about how strong the demon is, but he's determined to take it down. He unleashes his full, calculated attack at the creature, casting Forceful Strike again on his shield attack. (Power attack, Studied target, flanking, sneak attack, speed, two weapon fighting, Forceful strike on shield attack)
Status:
Argon is frustrated that the demon just disappeared, only to appear by Ssilax. He moves to flank and attacks the thing with his Falcata (Power attack, Studied target, speed)
Critical confirmation:
Status:
Will roll for SR on future spells... It would be good to get feedback about whether that 100 damage was effective or not. Did the demon feel it?
Argon activates his boots (free action), and casts a quick spell (Forceful Strike - swift action) as he attacks the evil denizen with his falcata and shield spike. (Power attack, Studied target, sneak attack (from Hunter's Surprise - no flank required), speed, two weapon fighting, Forceful strike on shield attack)
Status:
Dang, forgot to use my boots of speed. Next round.
Argon is ready now, and with Daxniss moved around, takes a full out attack on the demon. He moves forward and stabs at the rage demon with his +3 shield spike (Power attack, Studied target, sneak attack, flank, two weapon fighting)
His attacks are less effective than he was hoping for. He resolves to do more... Status:
"Not into conversation, then? I can understand why," says Argon as he studies the Rage Demon (move action). "Daxniss, can you move to flank?" A quick spell (Quickened Geniekind - Efreet - 9 manai) transforms him into a genie, of sorts, with his skin turning red and horns growing on his head. He moves forward and stabs at the rage demon with his +3 shield spike (Power attack, Studied target, sneak attack)
Status:
Argon expects these creatures to attack, but he is hoping to find out a little more about them before that happens.
"I think you mean tasty. Our souls, unlike yours, are always tasteful," says Argon
Argon looks at the larger creature, and asks it, "What do you want?" He looks more closely to see how bodies are impaled on the portal. Is the door a gate, with vertical bars?
What is behind the throne?
Shortest post ever, and proud of it!
Argon considers Ssilax's words. He's not sure he's ever ready to face a powerful foe that he knows nothing of. But his training, at least, may allow him a chance to study any foe and take advantage of its weaknesses. For safety, he casts Ward Shield on his shield (4 mana). Then he casts Protection from Evil, Communal (2 mana), and touches all four of them including Dog. Finally, he casts Weapon of Awe on his Falcata (2 mana), which is still in its sheath. "Ready" he says. "Ahead lies the way home. Is there anything I can do to help you with the .... correction?"
As the stairs and room change into some kind of more diabolic setting, Argon slows his pace even more. He keeps a careful eye out for anything unusual or dangerous. (each round a move action to move and a standard action to look around).
Um, I think we're not in Kansas any more, Toto.
Argon thanks Daxniss for her trapfinding skills, and listens carefully to Quilallithmor as she tells her story. He is sorry to hear about her traveling companions, even though they were not exactly companions. He's glad to be out of the cold, hot places being more to his liking. He starts heading down the stairs to the basement, cautiously and silently, in case there are more spiders or other nasties.
Great job, JB! No need to apologize!
"These are not normal gargantuan spiders..." Argon says as he dances away from the bite. He is reminded of that island, Doldrom, where a whole bunch of much smaller spiders bit him all over. Seeing the little one forming, he tries to chop it with his falcata once as he thrusts upward with his shield at the parent, followed by further falcata strikes if he can manage it. Before his final attack, he quickly (swift action) casts Forceful Strike. attacks:
RH: Attack: +12 +6(str) +3(mag) +1(haste) +3(studied except on little guy) -4(power) -2(TWF) Damage: 1d8 +6(str) +3(mag) +3(studied) +8(power) +2(w.o.a) LH:
Note: Previous round shield damage should have been 1d3 instead of 1d8. My bad.
Forceful Strike:
You cast this spell as you strike a creature with a melee weapon, unarmed strike, or natural attack to unleash a concussive blast of force. You deal normal weapon damage from the blow, but also deal an additional amount of force damage equal to 1d4 points per caster level (maximum of 10d4). The force of the blow may be enough to knock the target backward as well. To determine if the target is pushed back, make a combat maneuver check with a bonus equal to your caster level to resolve a bull rush attempt against the creature struck. You do not move as a result of this free bull rush, but it can push the target back if it defeats the target’s CMD. A successful Fortitude save halves the force damage and negates the bull rush effect.
Status:
Argon starts on the side, staying out of his way of the spells as much as he can. He lays into one or more of the spiders after activating his boots (free action) and drawing his falcata and imbuing it with extra magic (+2 more for 5 rounds) attacks:
RH: Attack: +12 +6(str) +3(mag) +1(haste) +3(studied) -4(power) -2(TWF) Damage: 1d8 +6(str) +3(mag) +3(studied) +8(power) +2(w.o.a) LH:
Criticals, 2 falcata hits:
Status:
"Ugh. Time for some cleaning. I think this time we need to do it the hard way, as there could be people still living in there..." Argon studies the spiders (studied targets), starting with the three most to the left. He puts his falcata back in its sheath. He stays out of the room and casts a few magicks to help him out as he prepares to kill off the spiders. Before moving into the room he plans to let his boots give him Speed (Haste). Spells:
Status:
Argon keeps his eyes open as they all search the floor. Soon enough, they spot a spider and some webs. He draws his falcata and looks around for other possible bodies and/or living victims.
Argon is satisfied that the tower is Dainoth's, and wonders about the spiders. Again, he asks the invisible servant, "Tell us, did the giant spiders outside manage to get into this tower? Did they cause any trouble or are any still here?"
"What is the name of your master?" asks Argon of the disembodied voice.
Argon looks with surprise as Daxniss magically removes the door's lock. "Remember, we're here for a portal. And to rescue anyone who those spiders have trapped." He starts looking around the room for victims, spiders, or some other nasty creature.
Argon comes back and says to the others, "Looks like the spiders were brought or summoned here recently." He goes to the entrance, shield ready and falcata drawn, and looks into the tower and up the stairs (or ladder?).
Figuring if the captives are alive they'll be alive for a few more minutes, Argon does a quick survey trip around the tower, to ensure it is safe in the immediate short term.
Argon sees the spiders moving closer and, not really wanting to fight them, casts another fireball at the moving group. Maximized Fireball (60 dam, DC 17, 6 mana).
Argon looks at the others. Only three of them now. He is not sure what spells Dax has, but expects she must have some destructive power. Ssilax, too, has a plethora of spells. "Fire, then?" he says, smiling. He was born among fire. He casts a Maximized Fireball at the pair of groups on the right (60 dam, DC 17, 6 mana), trying to get as many spiders in it as he can.
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