...maybe I should let the GM roll this if he NPCs Helios? That was horrible!
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Hey gang, sorry to do this to you but I'm going to have to hang up Helios' banjo. I'm running another game right now and it just barely manages to squeeze into my RL these days. I've got a few other games got going and it'll be the same story with them. Hope you guys have fun! In the meantime, Keolin, hope your back heals up! You can also NPC Helios to your desire. Peace
no interest here either.. Sorry guys I've been under the gun lately. I'll get to posting soon.
Helios gives a hand to the Lady as they ascend the ladder. He smiles broadly upon seeing Krystae up and about, thankful for the Tengu's healing potion. "If I may, this studious name-giver is Professor Havelock," Helios waves to the elven sorceress, "And this is Elen of the Elvish realms and a potent user of the arcane..." Then to the big man, "Our resident mystic, Ragnar, an invaluable source of strength and insights..." Then he smiles warmly towards the Inquisitor. "And Krystae Stormcrow, a fixture and stalwart resident of the fair village of Heldren." Then seeing the fallen forms of the two warriors Helios frowns. He moves first to Droviz, taking a knee next to him and checking his pulse. He's pleased to see it stronger than when he'd left him last. The bard attempts to rouse the mysterious warrior by lifting him to a seated position. "Come now Master Droviz, on your feet, mate..." He gives the masked man a shake.
Back to the Lady he finishes introductions. "These brave fighters are Brynjar and Droviz, who gave all they had to see you free." "I agree with my comrades, it might not be wise to travel with our wounded. But that may depend upon what resources we can draw from this place." Helios considers for a moment. "Are there any other items we can use to rouse Brynjar and Droviz?" As of in answer to his thought he nods to the bear skin. "There's crates and such down there. Might be some healing implements?" He heads down there and conducts a thorough search.
Helios quickly sheaths his rapier and holds up his hands. "My Lady Argentea Malassene? It is I, Helios Sunstreaker." He speaks gently and holds up his hands palms forward to confirm he means no harm. "You may remember me, I was one of the storytellers at the last Harvest Day festival. I told the tale of Sir Heironious Bloat..." The half-elf stops himself and waves away what he was about to say. "More to the point, milady, my comrades and I are here to rescue you."
Considering the level of magic he'd seen thus far, and fearing a trap, he continues to let his spell search out any anomalies. Did my Detect Magic pick up anything down here?
Unable to be if any use as Elen continues with aiding the fallen, Helios begins searching the main room. Although feeling some what morose at the turn of events, his elvish heritage yields an interesting find when he gets to the bear skin rug in the neighboring trophy room. Not wanting to disturb the Professor as he fabricates a healing elixir, Helios ducks back into the main room and let's Ragnar know what he's found. "Ragnar, ahīṁ ēka cōra daravājō chē. Huṁ tēnē tapāsavā māṭē jā'uṁ chuṁ... Kadāca amē amārā mitrō māṭē madada karavā māṭē upayōga karī śakō chō kaṁīka chē."
Elvish:
"Ragnar, there is a trap door in here. I'm going to check it out...perhaps there is something we can use to help our friends. Keep a watchful eye over Elen and the Professor as they work. I'll shout if I need assistance." With that, the half-elf returns to the trophy room and explores the area beneath the trap door.
Emerging from the bedroom, Helios heads over to assist with assessing the group's condition.
As he works alongside Elen to the best of his ability, Helios hears Brynjar call for his weapon. The bard moves to warrior's side and brings over his bloodied sword. "Here, brave swordsman. You faced these terrors head on, all I did was scramble about and trip a wizard..." He chuckles nervously to himself. "You know how clumsy those tossers can be, mate. Nothing to it...but you and Droviz, you both carved into them..." Helios tries to sound encouraging, but between the three comrades fallen, his confidence is fairly low. Switching people, Helios then shifts his attention to Droviz. When attempting to administer aid to him earlier he'd seen a peculiar coloring to the warrior's skin...right along the forearm when Helios had attempted to take his pulse. It reminds him of a Mwangi tradesman that had been in a tavern where Helios and his father had been meeting a contact. Cassomir is a large city, Mwangi were rare but not unheard of. The bard wishes he could remember some of the words he'd coaxed out of the tradesman. Perhaps the sound of Droviz' native tongue - assuming it was his land of origin - would be comforting. But the bard can't remember it. Instead, he simply speaks to the fighter, saying words of encouragement. "I can't say this is going to do at all, Master Droviz. To have only just made your acquaintance...that's not long enough for me to write a proper epic. You'll just have to pull through now won't you?" Lastly, he returns over to Krystae and seeks to comfort the inquisitor. She begins stirring, her face pale and her fist opening then closing as though gripping a weapon. "Death before fear...father..." She mutters, jawline rippling as she grits her teeth. "Easy, Krystae...easy. the fight is won and your part is not a small one on the victory." Helios moves her hair out of her face and speaks in soothing tones. "Stay on this side of the veil, young one. Desna hasn't finished the roads of your travels just yet..."
As he comforts Krystae, Helios signals to Ragnar. "Tamē karī śakō chō kaṁīpaṇa, mitra Ragnar chē? Tamārā sattā vasavāṭa karō chō hīliṅga nathī thatu?"
Elven: "Is there anything you can do, friend Ragnar? Does not your powers extend to healing the living?"
"Hey gang, any idea what these things are? They don't appear to be magica..." Helios waves the three vials of liquid back and forth. But now that his attention isn't on Droviz, he suddenly realizes that the danger isn't passed. One of the zombies is still up and kicking! "Pharasma's Raven! I thought they were all dead!" He hops up and moves away, fumbling for his rapier. "Well, you know what I mean..." He corrects himself. But Ragnar thunders across his field of vision and plunges his ancient weapon into the remaining foe. Then he sees the Inquisitor wounded and fallen. "Krystae!" He rushes to the different areas of the room and begins tossing the place searching for supplies that can aid his friends. "Professor, Elen...any of you see something in here that could serve as a healer's bag? Maybe some potions?" Helios frantically searches the other bodies then the room and then then the outlying rooms for anything that can help. ...fallen enemies
Very cool news indeed!
Helios shakes off the vicious, magical attack and moves to draw his rapier. But Brynjar's killing blow puts a stop to his action. It's to the fallen that his attention is drawn. He launches himself from the table, tumbling passed the zombie that had struck down Droviz and landing next to the masked warrior. "Professor, think we might need a hand over here..." Helios calls over his shoulder. He pulls the flask at his hip and pulls the screw top so he can pour some of the contents over any open wounds to stave off infection. The smell of whiskey wafts into the air around him. "C'mon, Lucky Drunk, see our new comrade through this...he fought like a warrior poet, let's give him a few more lyrics..." Helios sets about stabilizing him as best he can, trying to recall the woodland knowledge his mother had imparted. Treating Deadly Wounds:
First Aid DC 15 Long-term Care DC 15 Treat wounds from caltrops, spike growth, or spike stones DC 15 》Treat deadly wounds DC 20《 Treat Deadly Wounds: When treating deadly wounds, you can restore hit points to a damaged creature. Treating deadly wounds restores 1 hit point per level of the creature. If you exceed the DC by 5 or more, add yourWisdom modifier (if positive) to this amount. A creature can only benefit from its deadly wounds being treated within 24 hours of being injured and never more than once per day. You must expend two uses from a healer's kit to perform this task. You take a –2 penalty on your Heal skill check for each use from the healer's kit that you lack. Once stabilized, he turns about and scrambles over to the headless Rohkar to search for any potions that might help. If he finds any, he'll see of it's identifiable as a healing draught. If it's not apparent, he'll see if Havelock can identify it. Rolls & Actions
Hellos continues his calling if his innate magics to bolster the members of his party. "Aha, Rohkar I presume! You've revealed yourself and that your plans are incredibly short sighted! Much like a goblin archer I once knew named Grubyub Sloppybreaches who traveled with a circus." The half-elf dodges through the fray to get within striking distance off the magician. He dashes up onto the table top and lashes out with his whip to grab hold of the villain magic-user's leg and bring him to the ground. "You have just about the same imagination as poor Grubyub."
Helios' theatrics diminish and fade and he flicks his whip once more. He turns to Elen and Ragnar. "Ragnar, Elen, tamē śuṁ tha'ī rahyuṁ chē tē ōḷakhī śakē chē? Huṁ tamanē bannē ghaṭanā'ō ā bhayānaka vaḷāṅka māṭē anta lāvī śakē chē lāgaṇī hōya chē! Jasṭa Fir'umil blu nā divasō māṁ jaṅgalō cōkīdāra māṅgō!"
Elven:
"Ragnar, Elen, can you identify what's happening? I have a feeling you both can put an end to this horrible turn of events! Just like the Watchmen of the forests in the days of Fir'umil the Blue!" Switching to Common the bard begins working the innate magics in him as he balances between two languages so as to benefit his allies.
》
...w00t! Helios waves for Droviz and the others and points towards the ailing bandits. "You see, he leaves a trail a kitten can follow..." Ah ha, I guess what's good for the goose... Helios considers the recent magics he'd picked, ml namely the ability to disappear from view. "Rohkar you say?" Helios flicks the scorpion whip into the air once more, a casual air about him.
"That would explain the feeling I'm getting..." He holds his hand out as though he were touching something. "...A presence approaching the ailing miscreants there... I'm experienced in the arts of illusion...Rohkar. Why not come out plainly so one of my friends here doesn't stab you accidentally?" "I can smell you...I can smell your soul... so weak, so delicious..." Helios takes on the persona of a vile creation, mimicking a dramatic turn from a Varisian actor he once saw in Cassomir. Then he begins flicking the whip about himself and gesturing angrily with his right hand. "Drop your subterfuge now, or face my wrath! " Ethereal apparitions begin coalescing about the half-elf. And upon his visage the horrid aspect of a white, gaunt and ghostly figure supplants the handsome features of Helios Sunsteaker. "My paaaaatience is thiiiiiin. Come out noooo" His voice is like the hiss of the Tazylwyrm calling out of nightmares.
Haunted Fey Aspect: HAUNTED FEY ASPECT School illusion (glamer); Level bard 0, sorcerer/wizard 0
You surround yourself with disturbing illusions, making you look and sound like a bizarre, insane fey creature. You gain DR 1/cold iron against a single opponent until the end of the spell, or until you take damage.
Helios steps a bit closer to them, at least within 10 feet as he shoulders his bow and pulls the scorpion whip from the loop at his belt. He spares a glance with Ragnar and in a guttural tone speaks in elvish. "Huṁ tamanē ēka śaktiśāḷī śāmana chē kē tēmanē kahē chē, anē tē'ō śaraṇē na hōya tō tamē vr̥kṣō tēmanā ātmā'ō bandhāyēlī rahē chē. Tēmanē bahāra bihāmaṇuṁ anē kadāca amēl māhitī mēḷavavānō."
Elvish:
"I have told them that you are a powerful shaman, and you will bind their souls to trees if they don't surrender. Act fearsome and perhaps we will ge tuseful information out of them." Helios lashes out at the thin air with his weapon, the whip-crack loud in the confined space. "Answer the lady's question and be honest...or I'll have some sport with you beforeIi give you to the shaman."
Seeing that the door isn't opening, Helios shifts his attention to the battle in the gathering room. When the Professor takes a devastating blow, the half-elf raises his bow and looses at the bandit attacking him. ...shooting into melee
He here's Droviz call for surrender and adds a bit of dynamic theatrics to the commnd. ...it's worth a shot...
Helios follows Krystae into the house, seeing if there is an available target. Since the main hall is so crowded with friend and foe alike, he trains his bow on the doorway to H8, conscious of the potential foe they saw through the window earlier. He readies a shot and should an armed assailant emerge from that area, then... Readied Action
Seeing the woman in the kitchen readying her weapon and waiting by the door from his vantage point at the window, Helios rushes around the building (double move) and spies the doorway in the back further south of their position. He calls out in elven..."Ragnar, Elen, head to the other side of the building (H6), there's an entrance there. I'll distract here from this door here then move in to support you..." As he passes by Krystae, he translates his plan. That said, he fires an arrow at the kitchen door, aiming to convince the enemy inside that someone is about to come through there..."Hey, everyone, I found a door back here, c'mon!" Helios uses a deeper,gravely voice in an attempt to fool the enemy inside.
Helios nods to Elen and steadies his aim, waiting for the first of their potential enemies to emerge from the house.
>
Aren't we supposed to be in the area of H16? Isn't that the back door? Or are we trying to go into thru the windows? I've moved my toon to he near the Krystae group...just in case.
If with Group: Helios holds up a hand to signal the group to halt. He points to his ear then to the cabin... "They've heard us...they're readying weapons."
Helios creeps along behind Krystae and sets up at the rear entrance, bow at the ready. Readied Action
Helios takes the offered potion and tips it in salute to the Tengu. "My thanks, good Professor."
His muscles loosen and his bruised body knits itself to rights with the aid of Havelock's potion. The half-elf takes in a deep breath and works his shoulders with a broad smile. "Put me in the front, commander of the guard. I do believe I'm ready for battle." Drawing an arrow from his quiver, Helios whispers a quick prayer for luck to trusty Caiden and sets up near Krystae. "Once we're engaged, I'll see what I can do to keep everyone properly inspired."
Helios grins and agrees to the plan. "Sounds like a solid plan, my friends. After all, we have the element of surprise on our hands. How hard could it be?"
"I'm not entirely certain I'm in fighting condition, my friends. I've been blessed with some abilities that could prove useful if we were thinking of a more covert entry..." He shrugs and gives a friendly smile. "But somehow in don't think a good night's sleep is in the offing." Helios leans back on his haunches and contemplates. "An attack via the front door could work...perhaps I could draw their attention to the rear of the house? I've a particular trick that I've been thinking of, it will lend my aspect the horrible likeness of a fey demon. Add to it my own twist on an Osirion drama I once read... If they're looking my way, you'll have a moment of surprise when you burst through the front door." With Krystae he pats his now and points to hers. "Once they come to the rear we can feather them with arrows along with anything Elen and Havelock can toss in their direction." Helios points to Brynjar, Ragnar and Drovitz. "Then our resident warriors can crash through the front door. If we hold up our end of the bargain, the arrows and explosions and spellcraft will send them right fleeing right into their blades."
Helios wrinkles his nose and nods to the main house. "Go slow and quiet, use the well and the debris over there for cover..."[/spoiler] He whispers to the others. The half-elf meets eyes with Ragnar. [smaller]"શાંત અને નીચી, મારા મિત્ર જાઓ. અમે શોધી રહ્યાં છો તે પહેલાં અમે અવલોકન કરી શકો છો, વધુ સારી..."
Elven:
"Go quiet and low, my friend. If we can observe before we're detected, more the better..." That said, he grips his bow and an arrow in his left hand and focuses on being as quiet as possible as he crosses from the outhouse and to the debris south of the well. ...scanning before he makes his move
I'll take the Axe if that's alright
"Armed men are in the lodge, some very sick." Helios translates for Brynjar and begins thinking on what it could mean. "He is unable to clearly see their number." "I like the idea of scouting ahead." He nods to Krystae his willingness to volunteer for the effort. "I'm wondering if perhaps our enemy may have poisoned the Sentinels' water supply...or their food." He rubs at his chin as he considers. "They'd be the first to retaliate in the region of there were evil afoot. It would only make sense to remove them as a threat. What more insidious way than poison?"
"Not so sure it's them down there, Brynjar." Helios responds as he surveys the surroundings. "Could be our quarry has taken control while the Sentinels are in the field." ...making sure no one is approaching.
Helios moves cautiously forward. After the finding of old Dansby he wonders if their luck had finally changed. But as he gets closer his hand leaps upwards as he calls an immediate halt to their progress. "Ok, it's not the friendly welcome we were hoping for..." he whispers back to the group. Gesturing downwards the bard points out a trip wire and then the line that leads back to the crossbow trap and noise maker right at the trail head leading to the lodge. "Don't suppose it might be friendlies just shoring up defenses, huh?" By his tone it's obvious how much he doubts the prospect. He nods to an area off trail so they're not out in the open so they can strategize.
Helios' heart sinks as he reveals the face of Dansby. "Will this nightmare ever end?" The half-elf feels a deep anger swirling behind his eyes. He rests back on his knees and rests a hand on his chest then waves it outward after the elven fashion of saying goodbye. Something his mother had taught him many years ago when a local I'll village's headman had passed on. He signals to Krystae across the frozen river. She was local and would know more of the old farmer than the others. For his part, Dansby had given Helios shelter when Lord Richton had come hunting for a half-elf who'd been trying to stir up his servants. At risk to more than his standing Dansby had hidden Helios inside a large trunk while the Lord's men had searched. Standing once more he retrieves the pouch of coins and awaits the others. Once they're near, he holds up the pouch. "The rest of his belongings I think will find use among us in this fight. But this coin, it should go to his family. At the least with it coming from us, the local nobility won't be able to dip their beaks." Helios falls to an uncharacteristic melancholy, hoping in the back of his mind no one objects.
Helios breathes a sigh of relief as the last of the elementals fall. Shouldering his bow and dusting off the snow from his cloak and clothing he begins searching around for any indications of further aggression. At Elen's question he waves to her and smiles. "Doing okay, just hurt my pride, that's all. Not sure how to point out our successes, but I guess vanquishing these summoned creatures is easier to transcribe than the elimination of a snowma..." The half-elf pauses, eyes resting on the boots and legs of a body in the snow nearby. "Oh, Cayden Cailean, why do you taunt me so? Can you not stow your mirth and let us find something positive?" Searching the surrounding snow before he tramples the scene, Helios hopes to find clues as to what might have deposited the body into the snowbank. ...searching the surround Once done, he steps gingerly forward to investigate the body. Considering the dangers left behind at the treasure chest and the two tasylwyrms that had been laying in wait, the bard is keen to not set off any traps. ...searching for traps in the snowbank over the body and on the body ...general search of the body He signals the others to come across the river and take a look at his findings.
Seeing that his shout did some damage to the ice beast and sends his remaining power in it again. ...attacking same one I hit earlier / Ear-piercing
Once done, he gets himself into position to attempt support of the team with arrows.
Indeed, happy birthday! I'll grab a broom and begin whistling a tune.
Helios sets himself up on the other side of the river as his spell ends. He materializes and then unleashes a shout at the first elemental Elen... ...Fortitude Save DC 14 Ear-Piercing Scream: School: evocation [sonic] Level: Bard: 1; Inquisitor: 1; Sorcerer: 1; Wizard: 1; Witch: 1 Casting Time: 1 standard action Components: V, S Range: close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Target: one creature Duration: instantaneous; see text Saving Throw: Fortitude partial (see text) Spell Resistance: yes Source: Ultimate Magic Summary: Deal sonic damage and daze target.
"By the rods of Ozymandus...what in the bloody hells is it now?" Helios curses and quickly whistles a three note tune...and promptly Vanishes from sight. The half elf makes his way forward to get to the other side of the river as quietly as he can muster
Helios steps forward, coiling his whip into the loop on his belt as he retrieves his longbow from the snow. "Whatever it was, it's purpose was to turn aside pursuers." The half-elf kicks at the piles of powder that were the remains of their animated foe. "Maybe here to dissuade the layman, but not seasoned veterans. I'd anticipate much worse on the road ahead." Thinking on that, he steps to the edge of the frozen river and knocks an arrow. "Let's see about this beastie you spotted earlier, my friend..."
If things are looking clear, or the beastie is far enough off, Helios will make his way across the frozen river, careful to avoid the thin points Elen indicated. ...to cross over without slipping.
The nerve of RL to get in the way of our enjoyment. I just had a long talk with mine...it didn't go well.
... surrounding area. Seeing that the warrior's battle plan left little room for his scorpion whip, the bard steps back and studies the surrounding area to avoid any surprise visitors to the snowball fight. I'm sure there's a great tale in this battle... somewhere. Helios tries not to grin despite having felt the magical being's cold wrath.
Helios winces and feels blood trickle from his ears. "Okay, really rude. *ugh* This is going down on my journal you snowbound fiend." In a smooth motion he lets his bow fall to the snow and unhooks his scorpion whip to lash out at the enemy.
"Be careful you two," Helios warns Brynjar and Ragnar. The half-elf moves forward a few steps to train his bow on the river's surface, ready to launch an arrow at a moment's notice. He pauses for a moment and asks the others, also signaling to the two warriors attempting the crossing. "Maybe we tie at least one of you by a rope so if you smash through or get attacked, we can pull you back?" He looks to the others. "Does anyone possess some rope we can use for the endeavor? If they make it across, then we can exchange and do the same thing for each one of us."
"Well, that's rude, right?" Helios comments when the snowy watchman doesn't respond. "To think we've reached such a day as this, when an ensorceled snowman refuses proper conversation." Eyeing the ice covered river warily, he casts outwards with his magical senses to see if the ice is magically trapped in some way. "What do you guys think? Do we cross here anyway?" Helios thinks on where the nearest bridge is located.
Hehe I do love playing a bard.
"Oh my..." Helios mutters to himself. He gives a flask he wears on his hip a flick. A thing of habit to touch upon the emblazoned symbol of Cayden Cailean the flask bears. "Okay, I've seen sprites, winter fey using a stag as a puppet, two tazylwyrms... I suppose a talking snowman can't be that far fetched..."
Trusting in the others to keep an eye on the perimeter, Helios steps around the tree he'd been using for cover and moves towards the snowman. "Uhm, greetings stalwart guardian. Your warning and advice are heard." The half-elf scratches at the manicured beard at his chin and trying to puzzle out how to proceed. He continues forward and stands alongside Droviz and places a hand on his shoulder to forestall him. "Please excuse the passion in my friend's manner, guardian, but our given task has drained our reserves of friendly banter. Could we not ask a question or two of your snow-armored countenance?" "I and my comrades are in the market to reacquire a lost lady. Someone dear to yon settlement," Helios motions towards the south and Heldren. "Could we perhaps barter for passage and information? We think the lady was taken across the river here and into the forest beyond."
"Can anyone tell how thick the ice is?"
Helios flinches a bit when Droviz sends his weapon down range at the snowman. The thought that a prisoner could be tied up within the snow at the back of his mind. The bard knocks an arrow and seeks the cover of the nearest tree so he scan the surroundings and get a bearing on things. First he'll spy the near side of the river, then he'll scan the treeline across the way. ...nearside
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