Riley Tobias's page

"Step back, Lorthan, please," he says wearily. "If anyone's going to get eaten today, I'd prefer it be me."

The sound of Kallie crying causes Riley to move back, plant his staff in the ground and pick her up to shush her. The oversized bundle of legs and hooves looks comical in his arms, but he manages to quiet her. "Though I'd prefer she wait until Jeeves casts her spell before she tries," Riley coos to Kallie.

He looks up from the foal in his arms. "I'm sorry, Shalelu. I can't control the Wheel. Whatever strange confluence of events put you in this form, I know I had some part of it. I'm sorry. I can't take away the months you've spent like this, but we can put you to your rightful body. Will you let us?"

Ryli's form flows and shrinks, taking on that of a human male just entering middle age. "Because you wouldn't do that to an old friend, now, would you?" He leans on his staff and gives the beast a sad smile.

Lurking this evening.

Death is part of nature.

Nothing is more a part of nature than death. The two are inextricably linked. Hunter, prey, herbivore, carnivore, scavenger, all life is surrounded by death -- sustained by it, nurtured by it, kill-or-be-killed, eat-or-be-eaten.

In death, new life is found.

As Riley's life was snuffed out in a single, brutal second, new life was poised to take shape. The violent storm raged outside, a tempest of life-giving/taking energies coursing through the currents and lashing the stiff stone edifices erected to keep it at bay. The blood-soaked stone scoured clean with the driving torrents of rain sluicing down the mountainside.

Riley's essence faded, drawn into the cycle of life and death and rebirth, churned by the tumult of screaming wind and peals of thunder. The lightning danced amongst the clouds rising and falling and then discharging to the earth in white-hot displays of nature's fury. Heedless of the senseless cruelty and despondent grief in the scurrying creatures below, the storm shook the bare stone and battered the poor scrub tenuously clinging to the slight purchase in the unliving rock.

Driving rain, pounding hail and merciless lightning raged across the Iron Peaks. The sun tracks its path across the sky unseen behind the thick, black clouds and passes away. Darkness becomes absolute, punctuated by the flickering flashes of lightning dancing through the thunderhead clouds and occasionally lancing down to the jagged peaks below. Under its supernatural influence, the storm refuses to abate as the night progresses. Tiny, mortal creatures huddle in what shelter they can find as the tempest continues its fury throughout the night.

Time marches onward, slowed by the chaotic tumult of wind and driving rain. Eventually the sun rises, turning the black sky into a dim gray as the storm continues unabated. The maelstrom of existence courses across the sky, and a druid's spirit catches the spinning vortex and gets hurtled back to the earth. Air, rain, stone, hail and lightning mix into a primordial soup that coalesces into a single body, clutching desperately against the driving winds that threaten to fling it from the mountaintop and dash it upon the rocks below.

New eyes open for the first time; new lungs draw in their first breath, and Riley screams.

Olympus is trained to bear riders now, and Zoli worked with him to get him to that point. So hopefully there won't be much problem getting down.

I think Thron said the storm would last for 30 hours, so Riley v2.0 is coming back in a thunderstorm. Have some thoughts about that. But that still means the remaining party members have a bit of time in a cave to wait. I don't want to rush it too fast so you can have some rp together.

Looking forward to coming back, but I have a question which will impact the manner in which I return. Zoli and Setsuna, did you indeed stuff my body in the bag of holding and if so, how long are you keeping it in there?

The amount of death this ogre was dealing sickened Riley, and then the halfling rushed into melee with it, taunting. "Zoli, no!" Riley shouted and moved forward himself through the hallway so he could view the monstrosity.

He couldn't fathom why she would want to draw its ire; perhaps it was a madness borne of the deaths of her companions so raw and fresh. He couldn't let her light be extinguished. "And I am the one who is calling nature itself to end you!" He punctuates his statement with a peal of thunder as a bolt of lightning lances through the roof and upon Jaargrath's form.

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 saves
Lightning: 3d10 ⇒ (2, 9, 7) = 18 = 9

"'Lu, aw, no!" Riley yells, heart sick as he steps back into the hallway to see the carnage wrought by the massive ogre. The druid's face is hard as he faces the chieftain.

My standard is used up, but hopefully I can move back into the hallway this round. At work so I can't see the placement of everyone, but I'll interpose myself between the ogre and someone squishy/wounded.

No, I was sticking with my original plan.

Riley takes advantage of the surprise to identify the spellcaster in the room, then take a step back so he had her full in view. He waited for the precise moment to call his lightning, and as soon as she began chanting he found it.

The bolt lanced through the fort's roof and scorched her, disrupting the magics she was about to cast. A tight, humorless smile touched his face as he readied for another bolt.

Roll20 resolved: Called lightning to disrupt her spellcasting. Worked, barely.

Riley nods sagely. Then he goes through the extensive motions to reassert control over the storm's lightning.

The big black carrion bird drops next to Zoli and shifts back to Riley. He calls Olympus to him and uses his wand a couple times. Then he sniffs the air as he listens to the planning.

"I'm afraid to say that this storm is speeding up unnaturally. Someone is manipulating it through magic. So I believe we have to move inside soon. I'll have Olympus fly everyone up, but I'd like for him to be brought inside, too, if there's room."

Wand: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1) + 2 = 9

As the ogre outside the wall falls, he banks and flies toward the last ogre menacing Zoli. Once more he concentrates and a bolt of lightning streaks from the sky.

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 saves, takes half
Lightning: 3d10 ⇒ (7, 8, 1) = 16

Riley screeches with his avian vocal chords as Minktuk threatens Shalelu. He again sends a bolt of lightning down on the ogre lieutenant, hoping to draw its attention to him and away from the elf.

Reflex DC 18: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Lightning: 3d10 ⇒ (5, 4, 4) = 13

Riley climbs higher into the air, to be able to see over the wall and keep an eye on each of the battles taking place -- one within the grounds and one just beyond the wall.

He then sends another bolt streaking down on Minktuk.

Minktuk's Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Lightning: 3d10 ⇒ (2, 9, 1) = 12

Riley continues flying toward Olympus, screeching loudly over the din of battle to give him the "down" command to keep him from getting within the reach of the ogres. As the druid soars past the open gate, he sees the fallen form of Vale leaving poor Kibb alone against more ogres. He concentrates and another bolt of lightning lances from the sky.

Reflex for an ogre surviving Theo's fireball, DC 18: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Lightning: 3d10 ⇒ (4, 1, 10) = 15
Move: 30 feet
Free: Handle Animal to Olympus

Isn't Karly-Lop still on fire? I don't see where he put himself out.

Can't access Roll20 right now. So best guess here.

Seeing that Olympus is fighting contrary to his instructions, Riley takes flight from his roost in the rocky crags. He flies toward the fort's wall after directing another lightning bolt at Karly-Lop.

Karly-Lop reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Lightning: 3d10 ⇒ (1, 1, 6) = 8

Move 30 feet east

Riley narrows his eyes at his potent fire spell being snuffed out so quickly. With a bit of concentration, he attempts to avenge his fire with a bolt of lightning on Karly-Lop.

Reflex DC 18: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Electricity: 3d10 ⇒ (3, 6, 9) = 18

Riley observes the ogres chatter in the confusion of the attack. He decides to start targeting the leadership to continue to keep up the mayhem. With a few squawks and wing movements, he summons a burning sphere of fire that erupts at the feet of the lieutenant at the back.

Casting greater flaming sphere
Karly-Lop Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Fire: 6d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 6, 2, 6, 6) = 26

Riley continues to fly along the rocky western ridge of the fort, looking for a spot to land which gives him a vantage of the main gate. When he spots a nice outcropping, he banks towards it and comes to roost.

Double moving this round to get into a good position.

The buzzard's beak prevents Riley from making any kind of human expression when he heard the screams and shouts of the burning ogres inside. It's just as well; Riley truly didn't know how to feel about it.

He spreads his wings and takes flight over the fort, picking out an ogre upon the wall that has an arrow sticking out of it. With a moment's concentration, Riley draws the energy of the gathering storm and sends it lancing down on the brute.

Lightning, Reflex DC 18 for half: 3d10 ⇒ (8, 8, 6) = 22

Sorry, thought we were waiting on a post from Thron. I'll do my early morning stuff.

In the damp, chill morning still black from the heavy cloud cover, Riley prepares his spells for war. Noting the air pressure continuing to rise, he quckly casts ant haul on Olympus and scratches the roc's neck in a farewell gesture. "Take care of Eugeni, will you? And stay well yourself. I'll see you soon."

He looks to the others getting ready. "The fire and lightning will be the signal. I'll see each of you again soon."

While the cave crew heads out on foot, Riley again shifts into the form of a large carrion bird and takes flight. He soars low beneath the laden clouds flapping hard against the wind. When the black, squat shapes of Fort Rannik come into view, he banks around to the south and west. Approaching the fort from the rocky ridge that protects its flank, Riley drops in low and finds a spot to land. He settles in a small outcropping that protects him from the worst of the wind and watches the fort for signs of a change in the ogres.
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34

After waiting a span of time to allow the cave team a chance to get their fire started, he begins to cast his own spells. First, he begins with call lightning, knowing that the spell will last several minutes. Then he flies to the back of the barracks under the cover of the early morning light. He casts burning gaze and his avian eyes suddenly burn with a red glow. Focusing on the wooden structure, he stares at the slats and panels until they smolder and smoke. Eventually, they burst into flame and he then gazes at another section, and another, until the entire building is burning.

The spell description says unattended objects automatically catch fire. I'll target any wood or brush around the barracks if you say I can't target sections of the building. I've got seven rounds of that, so hopefully it'll be enough to get the fire going. If not, I've got flaming sphere as well that sets things on fire.

He then looks to everyone gathered. "I think we should hit them at noon. It will be when it is the most light out, and while that will not hinder them, it will help us by giving us as much light as possible."

Riley speaks up after having been silent during the passing of judgment on the traitor.

"What?!? No, that's a terrible idea. What part of thunderstorm do you not understand? My nose tells me the storm will be at its worst by midday. We should strike ahead of the storm or let it bypass us entirely."

Taking 10 on survival gives me a 27. I was going to fly ahead of the rest and set fire to the barracks BEFORE the rains come. I figure if the battle goes south, we'll have an easier time getting away/hiding from the ogres in the storm.

Sorry I wasn't clear, but I thought we would start at the beginning of the next day, not noon or later when the storm was at its worst.

EDIT: okay, I reread a bit and saw where I distinctly stated going ahead of the rains to set the fire. It was Jakardros who suggested going at noon, talking about the light being best. I think us knowing about the storm would have changed that plan quickly, and moves up our timetable.

Thoughts?

That should be fine -- I don't want Olympus mixing it up in melee unless it gets really bad. I'll give him basic instructions when I'm in bird form myself (basically fly over the fort in a circling pattern), and I'll fly along side him once the battle begins in case more specific instructions are needed.

Before he leaves, he throws in his two cents.

“Would that suit us or the ogres better? The foul weather might conceal our approach, but it feels a bit of a grim omen considering Riley’s reports of the Fort.”

The druid cants his head as if listening to something far off in the distance. "I don't know about omens. We could always wait if you're not up to fighting in the rain. However, I hope to set fire to the barracks before the rains come, and the storm itself will empower the lightning that I will direct against the ogres."

Riley nods sagely, understanding Jakardros' determination. "That's good that you've become inured to it, though it is bad and has to be worse to have known them. I'm just glad I had chosen a carrion bird's form in which to scout, since the stench was less repulsive that way."

Folding his arms against the evening's chill, he walks over to the cookpot and forces himself to eat though he still doesn't have an appetite. Between mouthfuls, he adds, "I did catch a few names of some ogres who seemed to be in charge. One was called 'Jolly', an overly fat ogre. Another with backwards-bending knees was Karly-Lop, and one who lacked a lower jaw was Minktuck."

Riley sniffs the air and rolls his eyes. "And the weather has taken a turn. Instead of snowfall, we are in for a storm tomorrow."

Remembered it's five hours per Wild Shape use because of my archetype. But I've got a couple uses of it, so that shouldn't make a difference.

Well after midday, the big black buzzard returns to the camp. It roosts for a moment in a tree and exchanges a few squawks with Olympus, then drops to the ground and shifts back into the druid.

Riley gathers everyone together to share what he learned. His face is drawn and lined with concern as he looks at his companions, new and less-than-new. "My friends, it's as we feared. The ogres have complete control over the fort. I've counted twenty-seven ogres in and around the walls. I have no idea how many lie within the keep."

He lets that sink in before continuing. "Now. Good news. The outbuilding that you believe to be a fire trap is being used by the ogres. I estimate about a dozen use it at any one time. Setting fire to it could mean the end of nearly half their force.

"But there's bad news. The passage to the aerie is collapsed, so that is cut off."

He moves to the map that had previously been sketched out and traces his finger along the line showing the wall. "Six ogres patrol the wall. Four additional ogres guard the southern gate." His finger lingers on that area. "They seem sharper-eyed than the rest."

He next points to the northeastern gate. "Oddly, only one ogre stands guard here. They've made some attempt to restore the gate, but it does not look secure. The buildings just inside that gate see use by the ogres, but I do not know for what purpose."

Drawing attention to the building along the wall between the two gates, Riley looks somewhat green. "This building is now their... larder."

He looks directly at the men who comprise the last of the Black Arrows. "You must know, and accept, that the fort is now a charnel house. The ogres have defiled the place -- and the woods surrounding it -- with the bodies of your comrades. You've escaped one nightmare to enter another, if you so choose. If you do not think you can handle seeing the grisly remains of those who once were your friends, I believe it will be best for you, and everyone else, to stay away from that place."

The next morning, Riley wakes and moves a short distance away from the camp. He sets a number of stones in a circle and sits in the middle of the ring as he connects with the powers of nature.

Once he has replenished his magics, he returns to the group. "I'll soar over the fort and do my best to get an idea of the state of affairs within. Hopefully they will not suspect a simple bird soaring overhead. I should be back in a few hours. If I don't return this day, well, I would ask that you not shoot a stranger wandering in the camp until you've ascertained it's not me. I'm sometimes a little confused after riding the wheel."

He gives Olympus a command to remain on guard, and then shifts into a large black buzzard. With a hop and several strong beats of his dusky wings, he takes flight and soars in the direction of Fort Rannick.

One use of Wild Shape lasts seven hours. Going to find the fort, then circle around it in shifts. Circle for an hour, find a spot to roost and observe the interior of the fort, then circle some more, then roost in another spot, check out the aerie, and generally get an idea of the forces arrayed within and without the fort. Not sure if it's possible in this situation to take 20 on Perception, but if I can, that's a 35.

With the battle plans as complete as possible for that night, Riley steps to the edge of the camp to prepare for sleep. The upcoming battle would no doubt be brutal, and he feared not everyone would survive. Though he had the means to bring them back, he knew that who they are now would cease and someone else slightly different would return. It may even be him.

Shalelu's fight with her stepfather dredged up long-repressed memories and now that they've broken free, they assail him. He fights off tears for his lost family, the one he left behind after riding the wheel once more. He shudders with the weight of years and stares into the night sky.

We're still on...

Riley stares at the broken man for a moment, then nods to Kaven. He moves over to him and kneels next to Kibb, giving the cougar a scratch behind his ear.

"Kibb here never gave up. Even when he was trapped in a bear trap, with a hunter and hounds on his trail, he didn't give up. He saved you," Riley says softly to Jakardros. "Now, we need to know more. More than just that you failed. I don't think that's true, at least not yet. It'll only be true if you give up now."

Riley returns with Kaven and sits him down by the fire. He helps get the men warmed up and clothed with whatever blankets and provisions that they have among the party and what remained of the Black Arrows' gear.

"What did I miss?" he asks when he notices Shalelu's sobbing, the accusatory stares at Marcellano, and the general tension in the camp.

"I would have expected this to be a time of relief and healing. The Grauls are no more -- take solace in that. Let's everyone start again."

When the redhead screams and runs off into the woods, Riley gets up with a groan. "I'll go get him," he mutters as he draws upon the powers of nature to lend him speed. Casting longstrider

Using his enhanced speed and his druidic powers to move effortlessly through the undergrowth, he tries to catch up to the panicked human.

He keeps pace with him, then calls out in a soothing tone, "Son, it's over now. Look around you; you're free. Don't think too hard about the nightmare, just know that it's over. We're friends. You're safe with us."

He stays with the terrified ranger, offering reassuring words until he coaxes him back to the camp.

"Perhaps we should check the barn?" Riley calls after Eugeni.

I don't think we're done here yet?

Seeing that "Mammy" is a spellcaster, Riley decides to play it defensively for the protection of his comrades. Rather than hurl another ball of fire, he watches her closely and readies a spell to disrupt her from casting.

Ready action to cast dispel magic as a counterspell if Mammy tries to cast again.

Caster level check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

You should also know that eagles get two talons and a bite attack. You've shorted yourself of 2/3 of you possible attacks this round. :)

Riley moves further into the room to get the best shot he can -- though the flurry of celestial eagles makes it a tougher throw. He chucks a ball of fire at the obese ogrekin anyway, hoping to land a strike.

Ranged touch, into melee, bless: 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 4 + 1 = 13
Fire: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Riley scowls at the disgusting clan and with a quick chant conjures a bloom of fire in his palm. He pushes past the others and steps to the side of the entrance to the room. Once set, he reaches out to apply the flame to the closest ogrekin.

Standard: cast produce flame.
Move: move inside the room
Free: touch attack
Melee touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Fire: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Lurking a bit this evening

Survival: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21

Riley shudders at the bones and refuse, but doesn't look too close.

"Dang it," he says, looking even sadder than before.

"Aww," Riley says, dejectedly, as one of his summoned eagles blinks out to the scythe trap.

When the other door is opened on the other side of the dining room as Setsuna had suggested, he whistles a couple times to direct them back from the "playroom" and into the next chamber.

"Ah, they were drawing us into the trap! Good thing it missed you, Eugeni," Riley observes as he moves in. Seeing the door leading out, he points to it. "Quickly, now! My feathered friends will only be around for a few more seconds. Open those doors and we'll make further use of them."

Take 10 on Handle Animal to send them into the next room.

Riley completes his spell as he takes a step forward. Out of the ether screams 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 glowing eagles into the next room that immediately begin clawing and biting at the ogrekin inside.

Hopefully #1 and #2 can flank with each other.

#12talons: 2d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12, 11) + 5 + 2 = 30 19, 18
bite: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 2 = 17 17
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

#22talons: 2d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (14, 3) + 5 + 2 = 24 21, 10
bite: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 = 23 23
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

#3 2 talons: 2d20 + 5 ⇒ (7, 11) + 5 = 2312, 16
bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 14
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"A priest? No, sir. But I am a servant of nature. Shall I demonstrate?"

With that, Riley begins chanting and tracing mystic gestures with his hands. Switching out fog cloud for summon nature's ally II

I think that's it!

"I was not looking forward to finding the kitchen. Let's be out of here as soon as possible."

Despite the gruesome nature of the scene, Riley pokes around a bit in case there's anything to be discovered amongst the disgusting refuse.

Take 10 for a 25 Perception

Riley makes sure his scimitar is loose in its scabbard. "I agree that we should keep moving. It troubles me that Jakardos's weapon is here, but he is not. So we should be fast in case he still lives, but not at the expense of thoroughness. There's likely more traps ahead."

His face is grim as he contemplates moving upstairs and finding the kitchen, but doesn't mention that thought to Shalelu.

Seeing how wounded Kibb is, he uses his wand one more time on the cougar. 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

You probably didn't catch my post.

I think the shocking bow might be going back to Jakadros, or Shalelu if Jakadros has shuffled off this mortal coil.

I'd like the ring (since I've already got something in the amulet slot), but since you're more of a front-liner than I, I wouldn't mind you getting both, either. You might need it more.