I'm gonna put in a dot for now. I may be in too many PbP's already, but if I think I can handle another I'll update this character's fluff and crunch to be Reign of Winter appropriate. How would you feel about a witchguard ranger?
Hi, Mahb. ;D
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Exactly, Cathran always gets uncomfortably close to zero hit points (including negatives). She's definitely not gonna let Mahb just save her life and heroically sacrifice herself without some post-battle Speak With Dead or something similar. "I'm supposed to be the Witchguard here, remember???"
Well, I'm sorry that we couldn't muster up the ending ourselves, but it was a good end. It's been great playing with you all, especially with this game being my first foray into PbP. Good to see Cathran went down swinging...like always. ;P I'm also glad we finally figured how the skeleton construct was "useful"! It may have been a pain in the butt, but it certainly wasn't a liar. In my headcanon, Cathran hangs out with Mahb's ghost somehow (despite her problems with the undead).
"Alexis! Get back from the door!" Cathran bellows through her newly enlarged larynx. The sorcerer nods and steps back from the vine-wrapped skeleton, then fires a spell into the closest one.
The half-elf grits her teeth and widens her stance, her burnished armor clanking. She brings her bardiche down on the skeleton she pushed back earlier, hoping to destroy it.
She watches for any more skeletons who dare to move in on the group.
Oh no! :c Likewise, I hope everything works out as well as it can.
I like weekly. PbP is pretty slow anyway, and this game is definitely one of the highest quality I've been in, even if we don't post every day!
My job gets especially busy in December, and I'm working on submissions for both Wayfinder and RPG Superstar. So it's just a particularity of the times for me. I'm still interested, even if we're going slow. I think we can bot/delay Alexis and Eva for a couple of rounds to get things moving. At least until we're up to our eyeballs in skeletons.
Sorry for the silence, I've been busy. Work is especially busy this month, and I've been working on some of my own stuff as well. I'll try to post something for Alexis unless someone else takes her turn for her. I don't know if we should post for Eva or not.
I appreciate the update! Take care of yourself--I'd rather you took a bit longer to post than to get sick and chug Nyquil. :P
Hey friends, just checking in. How's everyone doing?
Cathran grits her teeth at the sound of the skeletons scratching against the barricade, and in preparation for the ones she knows are coming in from the upper floors. "They will be upon us soon. We cannot fall," Cathran calls out, her voice mixed with determination and desperation. The hair on the back of her neck rises when she feels a tingle on her leg, but seeing that it's Mahb's hair, she gives a nod to the witch and turns her attention back toward the doorway.
Cathran rushes downstairs to defend against the coming horde of undead.
Hope all goes well! :) Speaking of getting a post up today--I can't quite tell whose turn it is. Alexis'?
Cathran moves away from the window and toward the stairs, drawing her bardiche as she moves. "Prepare yourself, Alexis. There will surely be more of them," says the half-elf, holding her weapon at the ready.
Alexis calls out, "They're climbing the tower! Hold the door!" Alexis starts casting a spell, and the tangled grass and saplings outside pop up and swarm over the skeletons, grasping at the bones and vines.
She then retreats from the window and starts heading down the stairs.
We could always take turns, too. I figure we can have her cast that entangle on her list if we start to get overwhelmed by numbers.
Cathran grits her teeth and calls out in a strong voice: "May Lythertida grant me strength!" She then draws a javelin and levels the tip through the slit, grabbing tight to the amentum at its base. Her aim fell on the largest creature toward the back ranks, and she let loose two javelins toward the abomination.
Cathran calls out to Mahb: "If our friend Kjel is not interested in your spell, Mahb, I would not be opposed to getting a bit more reach on my bardiche. Those of you without armor as thick as mine as Kjel's: if they get in, stay close, and I will do my best to interfere with their onslaught."
Cathran grits her teeth and her eyes fill with fire as the dead and vines tear their way out of the ground. "Good thinking with the door, Kjel. That should hold them for a bit. We need to find out how many of them there are," she calls out. She rushes up to the second level and looks out the arrow slits to get a better of idea of how many bodies have risen, and whether they're heading for the door or climbing the Outpost.
At the mention of marching for several more hours, Cathran's armor seems to weigh even more, ready to drag her down among the overgrown grasses and saplings. Briefly interrupting her search of the Outpost's grounds, she turns to Alexis. "I suppose I could manage it, but I do not much look forward to marching much further in this armor. Not to mention that I will need to stop to prepare my spells at sunset. "I would at least like to check on this Outpost. Even if we do not stay here, it is a common enough waypoint for travelers, and I would be remiss if I did not at least check to see if anyone--or anything-- dangerous passed by recently."
Was waiting for someone to weigh in on the stay-at-the-Outpost/don't-stay-at-the-Outpost decision, but I'll just try to post a response to Alexis tomorrow. Hope you all get through your busy stuff okay! Take care of yourselves! :)
Cathran's pace becomes less plodding as she catches sight of the Outpost. She had grown stronger and learned how to carry herself in this new, heavy armor, but a full day's walk had her dragging her feet through the tangled grass. "We will need to stop soon. I suggest that we stay in the Outpost for the night. It looks dilapidated--and certainly, much of it is just that--but the first two levels are sturdy. It is certainly more defensible than any camp we would make in these woods," Cathran says with a nod toward the ancient stone structure. She rolls her neck to loosen the muscles and carefully draws her bardiche. "We should be careful entering, if we decide to stay here." With steady steps, Cathran slowly approaches the Outpost, looking for any sign that the familiar landmark has changed significantly since she last saw it, and for signs of recent use or visitation.
Cathran gets caught up on the strange situation with this new Alexis, and does her best to enjoy the town's welcoming meal. She assumes that the tankard-draining Ulfen man is a recent addition to the town, another logger, until he shows up ready to go to the Chateau in the morning with Cathran and the others. As preparations are made for each group to depart from Perdition's Point, Cathran asks Lineera to help her put on her armor, and takes the opportunity to say her farewells. Afterward, she prepares Bertha for the journey ahead, thinking awkwardly about returning to and leaving her birth town so much in the recent weeks. She properly introduces herself to Kjel and the new Alexis, explaining that she was born in Perdition's Point but left when she was young, only to return and settle down just in time for tragedies and kidnappings. As the group prepares to leave, Cathran's eyes are sharp and fiery as she simply says, "Let us put an end to this."
Pretty busy at work today--will try to get a post up tonight. I can't think of any preparations that I want to make in town. Probably will just be a general wrapping up with the townsfolk post before we hit the road.
I think that's all Cathran wants to ask, plus the answers to Eva's questions will be useful, or at least interesting. I'm ready to move forward! The rest of y'all: I hope you're all feeling well and aren't quite so swamped by work! :)
Cathran gives a warm smile to Eva's hug, reaching down to return it with her free arm, her gauntleted hand meeting the gnome's teal hair. "It is a pleasure to see you, too, Eva. I am glad to see you all safe. Aurora . . . yes, she will be okay," Cathran answers tentatively. "Let us just say that we were both lucky that we ran into some healers on our way back--some priests. I--well, I actually joined their order," she admits, as if surprised by her own religiosity, holding out the teary-eyed holy symbol around her neck.
Cathran nods at Kalvant's plan, with her usual serious expression. "I will gladly head to Chateau Doeleurs. Has anyone managed to uncover any further information on the threat we face? Do you have any idea what we can expect at the Chateau?" she asks with a singular focus.
The tall half-elf woman ducks under the tent flap, with a singularly intent stride. Since she had last been to her home town, her eyes had grown more haggard around the edges, but maintained their sharp attention. She was also clad in new armor, auburn-colored steel from the neck down with black tabard covering it, holding the helmet under her arm. The tabard, as well as the painted symbol hanging from a black string around her neck, feature an eye brimming with a single tear. "Kalvant, I--" Cathran starts, but is quickly stunned into silence by the assembly before her. "Mahb? Eva? Riley? Lineera? . . . Alexis Carevin?" she asks, surprised to find her companions before her with a dead woman. So to speak. She arches a skeptical and cautious eyebrow at the familiar stranger, but quickly regains her composure as she turns to the dour elf. "Kalvant, Aurora and I had a run-in with something disturbing in the forest. Some sort of . . . undead plant? Aurora was injured," Cathran admits, as if she had harmed the woman herself: embarrassed, her face hot with disappointment. "She is on a ship back to Caliphas now. She said we should split up, and that you would want to see these." Cathran pulls a small pouch from her belt, pulling a small glass vial from it half-full with cruel-looking seeds and handing it to the Iomedaen paladin. Turning back to her companions, Cathran asks, "What are you all doing back in Perdition's Point? Did-- Did you manage to eliminate the evil in that tower, or find out anything else about the ones we pursue? It is a relief to see you all still breathing." This last sentence is delivered to her friends with sincerity, and to Alexis with another raised eyebrow and a piercing stare.
Hey y'all, I'm still planning on coming back in! I've been updating Cathran's stats and gear, and have also been sick this past week. I'm feeling better, though, and I plan to get back in on the action by tomorrow. :)
Updating Cathran's Gear roll:
. . . Hello friends. :) I have 500+ gameplay posts to catch up on, but from the recent discussion posts, it sounds like you're losing people again? If there's room for one more, I have been considering bringing Cathran back in if you'll still have her.
"All right then, let us head upstairs--I will help Riley keep an eye out for any more traps. Ready?" Cathran asks, moving toward the door.
Cathran grasps the top of the cage, and nearly sprains her shoulder trying to remove the bird from its perch. She reddens slightly, in frustration and embarrassment, but quickly regains her composure. "Did you say earlier that you can bite through these bars, Maggie? Care to give it a try now?"
Cathran emits a weary, but grateful, sigh as the strange animated thing stops talking. "I think Mahb has the right of it. We should tend to our wounds and head back upstairs. Eva, may I use that wand?" Cathran asks. She activates it for herself and Mahb, offering charges to any others who need their burns soothed.
"I suppose you will be coming with us," Cathran address to Maggie, picking up the iron cage and heading out and up the stairs with the witch.
"Well, I had taken its appalling pronunciation as simply a further nuisance--but perhaps there is something to do with a 'bull'? Maybe we can trade it to a minotaur. Or perhaps it can serve to help us avoid any further fiery blasts--no point in all of us getting burnt up when this little bird-thing seems able to tough it out just fine."
Cathran lets Mahb take the forefront in addressing the bird--she holds her bardiche at the ready for the foul thing, until Mahb reveals that it is a magical construct, and not undead. She still finds it unpleasant, though. "My word, you are a foul little thing," Cathran scoffs. "Will you tell us anything actually useful? Maggie, was it? Perhaps if we ask nicely?" Cathran poses, ripe with sarcasm.
Ready to help Mahb with the door again, Cathran is standing quite close to the door as the explosion of fire bursts forth from it.
She dives aside, but the flames lick at her nonetheless. She pats out small bits of clothing caught on fire, then stands, groaning. "I do not suppose whoever put these traps here expected them to outlive their makers." With a wince, Cathran rotates her shoulder, mildly bruised in her dive, and peers inside the trapped room. "Shall we see what it was guarding?"
Ah, I forgot your shield was darkwood. Well, we can at least try to sell these, or trade them in for other magical armaments. The light hammer seems like it could be a good back-up weapon for any of the front-liners. Riley is the only one who currently has a bludgeoning weapon, but it's also a sap, which is worse than his sword when fighting the usual skeleton-based need for such things. So I don't know if we should use it now, maybe just keep it around as a throwing weapon. :P
All right, here are my thoughts on the gear we just found: Mitral chain shirt: It appears that Riley has one of these equipped; I'm not sure if he had one before, or if he's claimed this already. Otherwise, myself or Lineera could use it if we wanted to sacrifice AC for speed (although I think I'll be keeping my breastplate for now, and maybe hold out for some mithral medium armor). It would also be good for Aurora, whenever she gets the chance to rejoin us. Lastly, I'm not really sure what the rules about inappropriately sized armor are, but is there a chance that Eva could use the chain shirt as a chain dress? :P +1 shield and +1 light hammer: These seem basically perfect for Lineera. Arrow of Giant Slaying: The first choice would be Aurora, but should we face any giants without her, I think Riley is the best one to hold on to this (technically Cathran has the same to-hit with ranged attacks, but I don't actually have a bow...).
Cathran makes way for Mahb in front of the door, curious to see what the old woman had up her sleeve. As Mahb's hair grows out and wrenches the wood from its rusted hinges, she smirks slightly. It's been a while since I've seen that. Catching Riley's shocked look, she shoots him an amused glance, joking, "You seem surprised. Would you have expected anything other than infinite resourcefulness from our Mahb?" Cathran steps up to help Mahb with the next door as the ancient metal pops and creaks. Leaning her weapon against the nearby wall, she wraps her hands around a length of white hair and pulls along with the witch.
So there is! Is it behind the stairwell?
Cathran wrinkles her brow. "Perhaps there is a more active hostility in this place than the emptiness of this floor would suggest." She looks from the uniforms to the self-impaled skeletons on the bunks and back. "If they were pursuing the same foe we chase, we should be careful. In any case, these daggers may come in handy--hopefully they will be of more use to us than their former owners," Cathran suggests, picking up one of the sheathed blades. "Let us ascend the tower stairs--and be ready for vile traps and evil workings. Are we ready to face what may come? Perhaps we should tend to our wounds first--Eva, do you still have that wand?"
You said it. My weekend was crazy busy. If anyone here works in the service industry, you have my thanks and awe.
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