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I was chatting with Russ about the game, and how I would need to take a break by the start of next semester, due to how heavy my school/workload is (this semester was nuts trying to run the game on top of class stuff). So that would be the start of January.

So the game would be on hold until after the Winter Semester.

Looking for someone to step up with something else to keep the group together. Any volunteers?

I'll take this as a heads up that everyone's as slammed as I.

With that in mind, I'll toss the game on hold, and look at throwing it in gear in mid-April. Won't be checking here, so if you're not able/willing to wait that long, or you just want to touch base, then feel free to e-mail me at my Google addy.

/throws the PBP car in park

I was chatting with Russ about the game, and how I would need to take a break by the start of next semester, due to how heavy my school/workload is (this semester was nuts trying to run the game on top of class stuff). So that would be the start of January.

So the game would be on hold until after the Winter Semester.

Looking for someone to step up with something else to keep the group together. Any volunteers?

No word of the princess' return had reached the general populace's ears, to your knowledge, and the mud-caked body that was dragged in atop the litter bore little in the way of resemblance to the stunning creature that the statue honoured. As far as the populace is concerned, the princess is still lost to them. The jaded part of you wonders if they are doing it on purpose to continue to fuel the war effort.

The room you are in is small, a sitting room of sorts, without food, drink or chamber pot. It does, however, have pomp, frills and ornate chairs to sit upon. You get a hint as to how well built this building is made, and how sturdy the doors, by the lack of ability to hear any noise from beyond either locked door.

You had been conveyed by guards with unreadable expressions. It is difficult to know if you are here to be congratulated, exiled, or poisoned.

The group does indeed end up in separate cells from one another. Hours of interrogation follow. No matter what you say, no matter how many times you say it, the questions are answered again and again. Sleep is not permitted, neither is water or food.

This is a familiar situation, and strangely making you miss the cells of the iksar, for at least it was warm there.

Time and again you are told that the second the princess dies, you will follow. A day or two pass, and then you are released, cleaned, handed back your gear and escorted to the largest building in the area. You have been conveyed to a small waiting room, with a very familiar group, less one foot, waiting as well for an audience with royalty.

Revery has a new "foot" now, though this one is made of wood, and is craftily strapped around his calf (roleplaying mechanism, affects not stats).

(groups have merged)

Though patrols are commonplace, getting to the city is another matter, since the accumulation of extremely powerful monsters in this area are truly nightmarish.

You still have a couple to few miles before you reach the city guards.

In your next post give your sweeping plans of what is to come in regards to delivering the princess, and I'll fast forward, so the groups can meet.

Firiona's skull has been held together by a wide bandage, truth of the cleric's ministrations. Physically she much better than her unconscious state would suggest. Several skull plates had been cracked, which only time could mend. Some remain in their coma for a day, some a month, while still others never regain consciousness.

The makeshift litter should keep her upper torso free of the waters.

Two tendays less four pass, as the strange group fights their way free of the wilds of the swamps, dodging patrols, large predators, deep bogs, and nearly constantly battling a creature of some sorts. Widget's ability to perfectly discern direction is invaluable for the maze of the swamps, when everything is mist and fatigue, is at times overwhelming.

Firiona remains unconscious, though there are signs that she is getting better.

The shift away from waters to dry is gradual, but eventually you find yourself on solid land with only solid land ahead of you.

Wending your way through a maze of ruins, drolvargs, drachnids, and giants, you find yourself next to a raging freshwater river, which climbs down the hill from the area around the Lake of Ill Omen to flow southward into the Timorous Deep near the city that bears the princess' name.

Patrols of goodly creatures are everywhere.

As your eyes flit to the city you see the immense mithral and marble statue, which bears a startling resemblance to the unconscious high elf you are carting about.

Markus has stabilized Firiona, though she remains unconscious, and sees the materials to make a crude litter. Widget crawls onto a nearby branch and works to purge himself of water and mud.

Losing to frogloks was something the iksar have been doing for decades. These are no minor foes, lest they would have been expunged years ago, which is why the could be found so close to the iksar home city.

Cheiron's hands tighten almost imperceptibly on his crystal staff as Kspress explains that the group is in league with the enemies of Cabilis. You know not if the Swifttails' Grandmaster was angry with the group for siding with their enemies, or the iksar for enslaving their own people though.

Not one to act without considering it from a number of angles, and to give himself a sober second and third reflection, the elderly monk stands as a statue, taking the group's measure with an inscrutable gaze.

Your downcast eyes honour his station, showing respect that has been ingrained in your from the time you hatched. You have ever been beneath notice, which is why you are still alive, despite being a genetically superior specimen, and exploits far beyond those above your station.

His cold voice is a whisper, "Follow." He only address Velkuriss and Kspress. Removing a wicked blade, obviously magical, considering the runes that bedeck its fine edge, he approaches. Once out of sight of the foreigners he has each fall to their knees.

The coming of age ceremony, where you would stop being referred to as a "broodling", "hatchling", or any of the other names that demonstrated how much support you required to continue to draw breath in the pitiless iksar society, is a mystic, terrifying and horrifically painful affair, performed upon those that have earned it.

Monk and shadowknight walk back to the cleric alone, both bear obviously magical scars on their legs, the pattern different for each, denoting this important step in their maturation. They can now look any iksar in the eye.

Cheiron does not return with them. He cryptically told them that some exiles were doing the work of their god, and though the path was treacherous, and the hatred of their people a burden almost too heavy to bear, the rewards would be endless.

An hour and more had passed with the duo gone, giving Markus time to fashion a crude litter for Firiona, and to recover some of his energies (1 hour's meditation).

The tactics on how to best work together, complementing each other's strengths, while covering for each other's weaknesses, is something forged over many years.

Hopefully you live long enough.

Air is found more often than flesh by the skeletal minion, and while Velkuriss' first attack bypasses the creature's defences, it is completely blocked by something else (rune), which also partially blocks his second attack.

Velkuriss feels a little weak in the knees from the Krup's lifetap spell (failed Fort save), which he recognizes the nature of instantly.

---

Despite how much healing the Krup (123 damage taken) has received, he is looking much the worse for wear and exhausted (out of mana).

It's lip curls, tired of the insolence of a weak skeleton touching its flesh, it unleashes something that catches the breath of those nearest.

Masterwork Broad Sword 1 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (20) + 28 = 48 (critical threat)
Critical Confirmation (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (19) + 28 = 47 (confirmed)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 (success)
Damage 2d10 + 6 ⇒ (2, 9) + 6 = 17
Masterwork Broad Sword 2 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (19) + 23 = 42
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Masterwork Broad Sword 3 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Masterwork Broad Sword 4 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Masterwork Broad Sword 5 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 (success)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Velkuriss feels the power of this fellow shadowknight, understanding how close he took it to death, and stood toe-to-toe with it for several seconds, with limited magical support, before it overpowers him from every angle. He falls (-7/140 hit points), and his pet collapses into disparate parts.

Glancing down at its fallen foe, the froglok (113 damage taken) cricks its neck, offers Velkuriss a salute, and then turns its head to gaze at the other two. It stops in mid-step (5' step), makes a strange burbling noise and all frogloks abandon the group, diving into the deeper waters and disappear.

(end of combat)

Glancing up you see singular iksar casually leaning on a staff made of a dull transparent crystal. It glances at you with impassive slitted eyes. Kspress recognizes him instantly. This is Grandmaster Cheiron, exiled from Cabilis 3 years prior for some reason not privy to a hatchling, or even a broodling. They are as babes before this creature that is powerful enough to so scare the frogloks. Though an exile, looking this one in the eyes is probably not a good idea.

With eternal patience Cheiron waves for Markus to care for the wounded.

Poisons run their course, after Markus has healed himself and Velkuriss (out of mana) they are barely conscious.

Cheiron crouches down, with preternatural hunting cat agility, to glance closer at the princess' face, wiping a leaf from her cheek, then whispers but a single word, "Explain."

All the little croaking bastards look the same, and they dance around so erratically, splashing the ankle-deep water high into the air, making it impossible to get a definitive count, but Kspress is confident that he has identified at least 12 novel frogloks. There might be more, but definitely there won't be less.

Until after he unleashes 5 accurate blows.

The first 3 connect on the one with the bleeding snout, the last of which causing an extremely loud snap as its backbone is left in twain.

There is one less.

His roundhouse, followed by an off hand blow starts the process of sending another froglok to the grave.

Between Markus and Kspress not one of their foes is paying any attention to the helpless princess.

(Kspress takes a -2 to AC while protecting the princess)

So 63 /110 (not 100).

He takes 3 from the Krup (10 - 7DR).
He takes 8 and 1 from poison.

Leaving him at 51. Just to clarify.

Perfect, thanks for the update : )

Karana provides a boon to Velkuriss, which restores some of the damage wrought by the necrotic magics.

Though Firiona had dropped her fair share of the amphibians a few more appear to have joined in the fight. Heavy blows fall upon Markus from numerous angles, but he is in the embrace of Karana, and his protection is total (no damage).

Though the cleric is safe from further damage the shamanistic poisons coursing through his veins could turn out to be his downfall, since he cannot cast spells in the meantime and to cancel the spell early takes time (dismissing a spell is a standard action).

(Markus takes a -2 on AC while protecting the princess)

Markus,

Quickened spells/free-action spells don't need to be cast on the defensive, since they come out so fast that the don't incur and AoO.

It's because my character sheet clearly says 10 hp/ hour, and Kspress cannot read English.

Will adjust them back to where they should be...

Short hours, you healed yesterday and Wednesday as well. Might be more, I didn't look back any further than Wednesday.

Kspress opens himself up to counterattack, as he rushes to help the princess, and true to form the Krup does not ignore the opening.

AoO (Kspress) 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (8) + 28 = 36
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

He snaps out an attack, bloodying the protuberance where he imagines a nose might be on the frog.

(need to include the poison damage from the dot for this round)

--

It did not feel comfortable being a lifeforce meal for a shadowknight.

It is good that the monk attracted the attention, since it affords the heavily-damaged enough of a diversion to avoid getting smacked (using a move action since you mention both taking a 5' step and a move actions, which cannot be done in the same round, AoO incurred, no AoO since it had already been expended on Kspress).

The cleric joins the iksar monk to form a partial defensive shell around the princess. His spells restore a great deal of his own energies, and the princess as well, though she remains unconscious. Of luck is that her head is above water, it initially looks as if her head was resting on a twig, but closer inspection reveals that the fully-submerged Widget is working to prop her head up.

Firiona will not die, but the broken skull will keep her unconscious for an unknown amount of time.

(need to include the poison damage from the dot for this round)

--

Much of the advantage that had been realized from the attacks just a moment prior had been lost, as the Krup had transferred Markus' lifeforce into himself. Though Velkuriss attacks twice, and his pet misses twice, more wounds are closed than open.

---

(Krup - 148 damage taken)

The Krup releases and other spell in just a word or two, which requires a jasper as a reagent, and then another spell at the usual pace one expects magics to be unleashed upon the world.

Unknown Spell 6d10 ⇒ (9, 4, 1, 5, 2, 1) = 22

Channeling (defensive casting) 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25 (success)

Spirit Tap Damage (Velkuriss) 8d10 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 8, 4, 6, 2, 9) = 38

(Velkuriss: please include a Fort save vs. DC 23 spirit tap in your next post for half damage)

Blows come in from all angles leaving the duo around the princess far from unscathed.

Damage taken (Kspress) 2d13 ⇒ (11, 13) = 24
Damage taken (Markus) 3d13 ⇒ (11, 3, 6) = 20

(end of round)
(start of new round)

How is Kspress healing 10 hps per round? I haven't seen a spell healing him, and it cannot be fast recovery.

p.s. The little guys will just do damage each round. Kill em quick.

Kspress presses the action, landing 4 solid blows himself.

(Krup - 181 damage taken)

Though the froglok before you has taken abuse that would fell any of you with ease, it continues to battle, but it is bright enough to understand that tactics are required to win the day. The first spell is cast too quickly for words (quicken), and the second requires some finesse.

Cast Defensively (Krup) 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30 (success)

Thick globs of oily blue-black mana coalesces about it's fingers, which it points at Markus, since it is an attack of the body, not the mind.

(Markus: please include two Fort saves vs. DC 23 spirit taps in your next post for half damage)

Quickened Spirit Tap Damage (Markus) 8d10 ⇒ (4, 7, 3, 8, 7, 1, 3, 8) = 41
Spirit Tap Damage (Markus) 8d10 ⇒ (8, 10, 9, 6, 2, 8, 2, 3) = 48

Markus feels the horrific drain of his very lifeforce being drawn out of his own body to nourish the Krup.

Firiona had sacrificed her superior position to down both shaman, and down them she had, but the sacrifice left her wide open to being blind-sided. You hear the sickening crack of her skull fracturing, and turn you head in time to watch her bonelessly fall to the ground without trying to brace herself.

As she sacrificed position, so must you to surround the princess before she is stabbed through the heart (need move action to get to the princess, will incur an AoO).

(end of round)
(start of new round)

Markus feels the shaman rot tearing through his body as surely as a hot knife. He gives as good as he gets though, using his morning star effectively the first time at least.

The skeletal pet finally finds purchase, opening a small gash along the froglok's leg, tactically-positioned to maximum effect as its shadowknight master tears into the Krup twice in close succession.

(Krup - 128 damage taken)

Re: confirmed critical: Kspress is AC 30 vs. the Krup.

Good catch on the poison, though. So Kspress would take half of 12 (6) less 4 for his resistance, so 2 that round instead of 8 I reported?

Ah gotcha, not confirmed then :)

Yes.

Markus connects with one of his two blows against the agile froglok shadowknight (AC 22) and feels the satisfying crunch of flesh under his hands. Though the cleric is able to ward of much of the effects of the shaman's spell when ranged attacks were still being exchanged, he feels the lingering effects (successful save vs. DC 19, half damage).
--
Nearly all of Kspress' attacks find the mark, with heavy blows time and again bringing deep bruises to the surface of the Krup. The monk had been poisoned, but had fended off much of its intensity (Kspress takes half damage from the poison with a successful save).
--
Velkuriss' pet is but an annoyance, but the intimidating iksar is incredibly effective with two deep slashes into his opponent's torso and face. While much of his death energies had been resisted by the Krup, enough go in (successful save vs. HT) to tear a nice little hole in the creature's side.
---
Finding that he cannot really wound either cleric or monk, the heavily-damaged krup (117 damage taken) focuses on his fellow shadowknight instead.

Masterwork Broad Sword 1 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (20) + 28 = 48
Critical Confirmation (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (11) + 28 = 39 (confirmed)
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 (fail)
Damage 2d10 + 6 ⇒ (4, 2) + 6 = 12
Masterwork Broad Sword 2 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (15) + 23 = 38
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Masterwork Broad Sword 3 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Masterwork Broad Sword 4 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Masterwork Broad Sword 5 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

With a loud froaakk, healing magics are cast upon the leader by 3 of the shamans that had poisoned the party previously.

Light Healing: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 6, 3) = 15
Light Healing: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 1, 5) = 16
Light Healing: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 4, 4) = 15

While a useful tactic, it is not completed without its costs, for the shaman have now identified themselves to the very dangerous princess, and will be targeted as priority targets. No future spells of healing will come from these three.

(forgotten errata for save vs. Velkuriss' Harm Touch, and confirming the missed critical against Kspress from the previous round)

Fort Save (Krup vs. DC 18 Harm Touch) 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21 (success, half damage)

Confirm Critical (Kspress) 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29 (confirmed)
Damage 2d10 + 6 ⇒ (1, 10) + 6 = 17

(Krup - 71 damage taken)

(end of round)
(start of new round)

Maybe just tell us how far away they are and then we can decide?

I did (and modelled what I wanted by not offering up any ranged attacks against thee): "They close into melee range after ranged strikes are exchanged, and the fight is met in the middle of the swamps."

Dealers choice to not want to extend the combat two days of ranged combat.

Roll with it or lose another foot. I'm starting a collection : )

is this game still going on? if so im very interested. Ive played EQ for a long time and always played the healer or shaman.

The Evils game is currently on hold while the DM/GM/Guide adjusts to a new job.

My game (Torture Chamber) is still going strong, check out the in-game thread, get a feel for the commitment (1 post per day at the minimum) and the flow of the game and touch back in the Discussion Thread if it's your cup of tea.

Revery wrote:

So, are we able to get one full round of ranged attacks in? More? Less?

I gave the ranged attacks as flavour only, rather than just having them pop out of the swamp, permit you to come up with strategies, and buff yourself.

I only have described actions/spells, to those not involved in ranged attacks, so if you included a ranged attack in your post I'll just ignore it.

That is unless everyone ignored what I wrote:

(may include up to two actions in preparation, casting spells, drawing weaponry, et cetera if you are not planning on being part of the ranged exchanges, as the Krup is also casting spells, rather than throwing javelins)

I guess I'll take it into account and throw spells and javelins at the group.

Javelin after javelin finds purchase in Firiona's flesh.

Fearlessly the princess of the Koada'Dal throws herself into onrushing hoard. There is a coldness to her fighting style, as she exploits every opportunity presented, effectively using their numbers against them as she agilely dances about the battle field. This is an exhausted warrior though, fighting without armour, or her chosen short sword, and it shows in the injuries that accumulate on her body. She urges the others to ignore her plight and focus only on the foe before them, for if the Krup does not fall the battle will be lost.

Frogloks swarm, and are cut off from the trio by the princess, who does something that enrages them such that they only focus on her (AoE taunt).

(feel free to use the battle between Firiona and the frogloks as a backdrop for roleplaying in your post, assume that they are engaged in an incredibly savage exchange)

---

Velkuriss finds that he has no language in common with the froglok, but anger and threatening gestures are fairly universal (+5 to language check).

Language Check (Velkuriss vs. DC 15) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 (success)

The Krup's charge is momentarily slowed (shaken for 1 round: -2 to attack, damage rolls and skill checks), and it looks at the other shadowknight with newly-found respect.

Will Save (Krup vs. DC 33 intimidate) 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27 (fail)
Shaken Duration 1d4 ⇒ 1 (1 round)

The iksar shadowknight's spell is partially shaken off, but though he expects it to be hurting the creature he sees no effects of it (resistance: fire).

Fort Save (Krup vs. DC 18 Heat Blood) 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 (success, half damage each round, no effect)

While the undead minion blow bypasses the creature's small size, and agile moves, it is fended off by its small masterwork breastplate.

(Velkuriss please include a DC 19 Fort save vs. Envenomed Breath in your next post for half damage. Initial poison damage (halved wish successful roll) is 4D6 and 2d8 damage per round for the next 6 rounds, please roll and track the damage as you go)

--

Markus protects himself and the monk, then tries to adhere the most powerful froglok in place, but his spell has no apparent success.

Reflex Save (Krup vs. DC 18 Root) 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31 (success)

(Markus please include a DC 19 Fort save vs. Envenomed Breath in your next post for half damage. Initial poison damage (halved wish successful roll) is 4D6 and 2d8 damage per round for the next 6 rounds, please roll and track the damage as you go)

--

Kspress easily bypasses the Krup's defences and holes his side, then makes sure that the attack is not returned.

(Kspress please include a DC 19 Fort save vs. Envenomed Breath in your next post for half damage. Initial poison damage (halved wish successful roll) is 4D6 and 2d8 damage per round for the next 6 rounds, please roll and track the damage as you go)

---

There is a flash as its masterwork broad sword catches the half light as the Krup (krup: 14 damage taken) splits its attacks between all of the group.

Masterwork Broad Sword 1 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (2) + 28 = 30
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Masterwork Broad Sword 2 (Velkuriss) 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (11) + 23 = 34
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Masterwork Broad Sword 3 (Kspress) 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 (success)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Masterwork Broad Sword 4 (Markus) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Masterwork Broad Sword 5 (Markus) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 (fail)
Damage 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

It then reaches out and harm touches the monk.
Harm Touch (Kspress) 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (3) + 28 = 31
Proc Check (vs. DC 19 Shroud of Death 10 damage lifetap): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 (fail)
Damage: 30

(Kspress: please include a DC 23 fort save for half damage from the harm touch)

As the Krup's blade hits Kspress the first time you watch most of it's wounds close and transfer the javelin strike to the monk instead (krup: 4 damage taken). The speed of this tiny froglok takes your breath away, demonstrating just how powerful it is.

(end of round)
(start of new round)

So, are we able to get one full round of ranged attacks in? More? Less?

I gave the ranged attacks as flavour only, rather than just having them pop out of the swamp, permit you to come up with strategies, and buff yourself.

I only have described actions/spells, to those not involved in ranged attacks, so if you included a ranged attack in your post I'll just ignore it.

Both iksar know the general direction that will take them out of the swamps, despite having been out of commission for months and months, though it will be a several days before wend their way to find dry land.

It is good that Firiona is well armed-because moments later you are set upon by more than 14 frogloks, taking advantage of the half-light they throw crude javelins, more as a diversionary tactic than to draw much in the way of blood.

They swarm as they close in, screaming their FROAAAK! battle cries.

Firiona whispers, "You focus on the Krup, I will keep the others busy." Unquestioned confidence exudes from this woman, her body wracked by malnutrition, and without any armour.

Your eyes sweep over the oncoming rush and quickly pick out the one she had indicated, one froglok jumps along with the others, but holds noble markings, and a nimbus of death dancing along his offhand.

They close into melee range after ranged strikes are exchanged, and the fight is met in the middle of the swamps.

(may include up to two actions in preparation, casting spells, drawing weaponry, et cetera if you are not planning on being part of the ranged exchanges, as the Krup is also casting spells, rather than throwing javelins)

Initiative:
- Markus, Kspress, Velkuriss, Firiona
- (16) Frogloks
- Krup Froglok

It will fall off every 9 miles.

Firiona tries the bow, then hands it right back, then accepts the heavy flail, swinging it with practices precision.

After several false starts food sticks to the recesses of everyone's shrunken stomachs, and with wounds closed, and clean drinking water filling systems, but it is when Markus cleans their systems of disease that they really start feeling back on the road to their old selves.

As the layers of filth are scrubbed free of the princess you come to realize just how beautiful she is, even though she takes every measure to walk with a slouch, keep tangles in her hair.

Firiona Vie simply lies through her teeth in response to Velkuriss' question, hoping none of the trio were familiar with the ancient Koada'Dal tongue, "My name is a common enough phrase, which first daughters are referred by, as they come of age, until the naming ceremony when they are to be wed. The city was formed as a promise made by those that man its walls, to return to those left behind. I work in the castle as the private martial trainer to Queen Thex herself." She adds the last bit with the perfect amount of pride, even raising her chin slightly.

Bluff: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

The lie slides so easily from her lips, not that the web of deceit could not be pierced, but there is practice behind those deceitful words: the princess is a maestro at lying and as such will make a wonderful politician.

Of course, the lie will be able to maintain when the group closes close enough to the city to see the 100' tall mithril and marble statue in the perfect likeness of the person they currently walk with.

Velkuriss and Kspress had heard the princess had been taken from the wretched high elves, which makes them dubious of her story (bonus +10 to sense motive vs. the above bluff roll).

She chews her lip to consider that the iksar saviours might be something beyond what she saw. She admits that she might know them, but cannot be sure. "I imagine they were there for the princess, and got caught before they found her." Tears brim in her eyes at the thought that her princess still remains in the control of the dark lizard race.

Noises in the distance put the group back to moving. You notice that Firiona keeps whispering to Widget, which causes him to spin his upper torso only, his legs being held in her hands, and he finally stops by pointing one arm out to indicate a direction, which you quickly deduce to be true north.

The teleportative magic's direction and distance, "short range" being a subjective term, is a complete unknown. This becomes all the more obvious when the group leaves out of one exit from Cabilis, which forces them to dodge patrols, and monsters, and finally give up on the trail to find the princess, since they find absolutely no sign of her passing.

Perhaps she's in a shallow grave, with the criminals having slit her throat.

Revery's leg heals into a horrific wound that requires constant attention and the beastlord's healing spells to stop from festering, and causing his blood to fill with sepsis. The enchanter is more and more feverish as the days turn to a tenday and more. The call is made to continue on to Firiona Vie to seek medical attention for the enchanter, before they lose another friend.

It is lucky in a way that the party had taken so long to return, since their illusions have dropped long before they get close to the city. There is a positive to the journey, since it showed them many of the dangers between them and the route to the Lake of Ill Omen, which is the next leg of their journey to their epic weaponry.

It was a harrowing journey, but somehow the group finds themselves in the city of Firiona Vie, having been forced to train a rabid drolvarg into the guards to get there in one half-mangled, and bleeding piece. Sajeek and Kwen wait for hours as the medical professionals work on their friend, and in the morning they are permitted to visit him, though he remains unconscious. Only after they leave do they realize that the healers had expected them to say their goodbyes.

They do not understand Revery.

Revery's right lower leg has been cleanly amputated almost exactly halfway between the ankle and the knee. The healers know of no magic that permits limbs to be restored. Days drift past, as they stand helplessly as the healers fight the infection, and the delirium. More than once you consider ending the enchanter's torment yourself, but finally, two tendays from the time the wound had been inflicted, Revery walks beside you with a crude prosthetic limb, fashioned from wood, and a simple staff to lean upon.

There is no word of Firiona Vie. Her uncle had visited and taken your failure with far more aplomb than you expected him to.

(Revery, Kwen, Sajeek/Bast scenes on hold)

For a foot, nah I'd say his essence would drop down to a 4.5-4, if he had a whole cybered limb then yeah I could see the 3.5.

You're thinking of Betaware, this is like Zetaware.

He will have a friggin steam engine in his ankle, and have to shovel coal to keep it moving.

Yes, we figured out that she is important...

With regards to the clockwork foot, I think that would be a very cool body part for an enchanter!

Revery - Essence 3.6 until he can get Alphaware

Oh, gotcha, I figured I was talking to Revery (as weird as that sounds), and nope you have absolutely no idea who she is.

She matters enough that people she says she doesn't know (if you trust her), came to rescue her, and that she was the only slave with a single cell to themselves.

Sajeek and Kwen feel as if the entire world is staring at them, understanding that the lie is all that stands between living and dying, and Revery likely bleeding to death. The female iksar stares at the two broodling's foreheads, for what feels like an eternity before she and her pet walk brusquely through both of them and continuing on to the scene of the escape.

It is a good thing that necromancers focus more on intelligence, and death magics, than common sense and reading others. If it was a monk that they had encountered, their ruse would have been pierced immediately.

Sense Motive (including innate +2 racial mod to WIS) 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20 (fail)

Picking one's way across the city is not difficult, though the duo need to hide the trooper's belongings along the way, since they reveal their presence as surely as if they intended to be found out.

It takes very little time before they find an opening to enter the ruins undetected. The reunion with Bast is heartwarming, as is finding a very familiar dagger. As Revery returns to some healing magics he can think of no magics, even high level cleric magics, that can restore a missing limb.

An exit from the city lies not far from their position, for it is where many of the froglok slaves awkwardly hop to and fro from.

About the princess... I didn't think we were informed of who she was. I figured we just thought of her as an elf with the same name as the city. Did anyone mention that she was a princess, or famous?

Her uncle identified her, as did the war effort, as being the princess of the Koada'Dal.

http://paizo.com/campaigns/TheTortureChamberEverquestRPGPBP/gameplay&pa ge=9#442

"Revery gleans a surprising amount of information about the unwelcoming arcane caster that helped them to escape their isolated island. Alrik Farsight is a high elf royalty trained in the arts of war wizardry. He was already in his latter years when his niece Fironia Vie was born, and doted on her like she was his own. Elves marry for life, and his mate had already passed, so his bond was understandable."

http://paizo.com/campaigns/TheTortureChamberEverquestRPGPBP/gameplay&pa ge=9#416
"- "Fironia" could only refer to one thing and that was the high elven princess Fironia Vie. Her golden locks fall about a face so beguiling that any elf, and if truth be told nearly every other race, would die to kiss. Such beauty makes one wonder if there is some siren blood in her line."

http://paizo.com/campaigns/TheTortureChamberEverquestRPGPBP/gameplay&pa ge=46#2284
"“Fironia Vie, my niece, was taken almost 3 years ago. It is now open warn between the Iksar and the Koada’Dal. We have information that she still draws breath, and know her approximate location, but all efforts to free her from the foul lizard's clutches have failed. Through you we might expunge the iksar race from the surface of Norrath, and rescue their valuable hostage. Many lives will be lost in the diversion, but she must be freed.”"

Yes, sorry, common, since he doesn't know if Firiona speaks Iksar...

Clarity lands on the dusty brain of your ancient DM.

An answer appears as if from no where.

Markus' efforts in summoning food takes the pressure off of Kspress' foraging, providing sufficient plants to provide libations, and bread for victuals, to relax in dry comfort within the branches of the tree, with injuries healed, it is a total upgrade from the months they had spent in chains.

Widget spends his time stripping the bark from one of the branches of the tree. You smell wafts of wood smoke emanating from his back as his inner fire devours the strange sustenance.

The ingenious Firiona draws a sharpened piece of metal, a shiv, and cuts strips off of his clothing to make foot wraps. It shouldn't be a shock, since this princess is reputed to be one of the finest fighters on the planet. Much of Markus' healing had worked to repair damage to her feet, while walking through the swamp.

It really is amazing that "softskins" have flourished as well as they have.

"Widget was tinkered together by 7 gnomish merchants, as a means of killing rats in confined spaces, but something went awry, and I found him living among them. Somehow he is far more than a simple construct, and he learns as fast as a person. I know not how he came to be in my possession, he must have clambered into my travel pack when I went on patrol." Firiona glances about, "I need to either connect with a patrol, or return to the city of my namesake: Firiona Vie."

The princess shakes her head and admits that she has no clue who the other group is, and is surprised as any that she would have support within the iksar community.

What language is Kspress speaking in? Your last post suggests that you've switched from the forked tongue we've been using to this point, or you switched to common without saying something.

Either that, or I missed you saying it.

The quickened spell, is not a silenced spell, and while it is short ejaculation of sound, it is audible to all in the prison proper, except that the disguised Kwen had screamed at the same time.

Revery lands near Bast, hidden in the ruins, and is 100% positive that the foot will reattach if placed against the stump (critical failure). While his studies tell him one story, another story is discerned by time itself (will recover 1 hit point per 6 minutes, the first 6 minutes will halt the bleeding), and he will see no evidence that the foot is reattaching.

The enchanter needs treated bandages, salves, and so on, from a Healer's Kit, to treat his wounds (bind wound skill), but without them his skills are for naught. Each attempt at binding takes 10 minutes anyway, so it will possibly be outpaced by his natural healing factor.

Woozy is an understatement for Revery. He has lost so much blood, and realizes that the only reason he is still alive is the fast recovery innate to all iksar. The enchanter becomes a dagger and Bast spends an inordinate amount of time sniffing it in confusion.

Guards rush in and draw the injured Sajeek and Kwen out, and sweep their arms to rid the room of the poison, so they can enter en masse to destroy the interlopers that have attacked twice in as many minutes.

The duo are forgotten as they move to the back of the throng, providing them an opportunity to scoop up Revery's backpack, and head for the exit. A few eyes follow them for a moment, more as gawkers to any hideous wounds they might have received, than any hint of compassion, but the moment they pass backwards to make room, they are forgotten.

Kwen and Sajeek, aided by the rogue's acting skills, are able to make it up the stairs without being accosted until they find themselves face to face with a necromancer of obvious power.

She hisses, "Update soldier!", as her giant pet gazes at you with cold dead eyes. There is noise of more undead approaching, suggestive that this is an encounter to talk through, rather than fight through.

(please insert a wonderful bluff roll here that somehow explains why you look as a broodling, and carry the gear of a much higher trooper)

Behind her you can see the exit, but considering its militaristic demeanour, and intense fortifications, this is not the city one wants to embark in a foot race to escape.

For Markus please update his mana current and total with each post that has anything to do with casting.

These troopers were chosen for their advanced training and skills (level 12 and 13) to deal with anyone that might try to get through the cell door and present a threat.

They did not expect an attack from behind for that matter as a plume of poison fills the air around their heads, and while veterans of many wars, they were caught completely unawares by the attack.

Trooper 1 (fort save vs. DC 38 Twisting Fugue) 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (9) + 20 = 29 (fail)
Trooper 2 (fort save vs. DC 38 Twisting Fugue) 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24 (fail)

Both troopers choke and fight for breath, providing the group a perfect opportunity to knock them unconscious, and don their clothing, weaponry and prepare for their escape.

(combat over)

Firiona looks at Widget as if seeking guidance in this unprecedented situation. Her rescuers had left her in the care of this trio based on what she had overheard as an agreement if they were lead to her cell. She respected that their word stood for something, but their judgement was something to question, both because they did not know the two iksars and human she had been left with, and also it left them in dire straits.

She could not know that the truth was in leaving Bast behind their hands were tied, and that it was not blind trust that guided their decision, but loyalty to a companions mixed with a liberal dose of pragmatism. There was no sense in risking Firiona any more than they had already by opening her cell and releasing her.

She rinses off in water of questionable cleanliness, but compared to being smeared with her own defecation it is an upgrade. Accepting the monk's robes, she alters them to fit herself as best as she can, and then follows the others.

Dry spots are relative, for the swamp has momentary reprieves, but for the most part consists of the group slogging through the quagmire, trying to avoid crocodiles and other hunters in the swamp.

An hour and more later they find a tree that branches out to provide a dry place to rest, and a central locale to hunt from and return with sustenance. Potable drink is difficult to find in the swamp, but there are rare plants that filter the water and make it safe to drink.

(please include rolls for wilderness lore in your next post, and/or how many of your rations you are using or spells you are casting)

Iksars glance into the room at times, but impossibly they fail to note the rogue iksar blending his heat signature with that of those in the doorway, and his fallen friend.

A decision is made to slam all cells shut, after ensuring that there are no obvious, mundane means of escaping the cells, they leave Revery locked in the princess' old cell, under the gaze of two iksar troopers who remain locked within the cell, and the rest remain in the hallway talking and attempting to make sense of what had transpired.

Revery's scaled eyes flutter, as he wonders where his gear has gone, and the closest iksar, noticing the movement, raises his foot to stomp the life out of him.

(initiative: group has sneak attack against flat-footed/unarmoured guards, no remaining effects from the gas grenade, as long as combat is kept quiet, and spells are quickened, and the guards are put down almost immediately, you will not be seen)

The room is awash in hot iksar blood, arterial spray lands on Revery's two invisible companions as well, as the enchanter's ankle is cleaved in the manner very reminiscent of what is done to froglok slaves. The transformed erudite glances down, sees his shorn off foot lying over a foot away from his ankle and simply passes out.

You hear the troopers coordinating their movements, and gain newly found respect for how efficient they deal with this unexpected outcome. They show no emotion as they process that they have lost the princess.

An ominous silence follows, followed by hard-eyed iksars scouring the area, moving into each and every cell to find those that are hiding, question everyone. Several iksar enter your cell, forcing the duo to keep silent, as they watch their friend bleeding out less than 2 paces from their current position. Those that can see in the invisible spectrum are among the searchers, but none do more than take a cursory glance in the room.

Percentile Change of Casual Detection (high rolls are better): 1d100 ⇒ 73 (successful hiding)

Invisibility Duration (Kwen): 1d4 ⇒ 1 (rounds)
Invisibility Duration (Sajeek): 1d4 ⇒ 3 (minutes)

Horrifically Kwen appears while the troopers are still milling about.

(Kwen: please include a hide roll in your next post to avoid detection)

Junior troopers are ordered to go fetch necromancers to interrogate all, including the first trooper on the scene, to get to the bottom of this plot.

Revery continues to stain the ground with volumes of his blood, but no one seems to care, since they'll simply raise him from the dead and talk to him again and again until he breaks.

How many spells did Revery manage to cast before the grenade?

2.

You made Sajeek and Kwen invisible.

All iksar belongings are as at home in the waters as they are on dry land for it is an amphibious culture. Only once the iksar start purchasing items of non-aquatic races will they have issues with carrying items ill-equipped to being submerged.

The group had been thrown to their knees, which brought the swamp water up to Firiona's mid-thigh, which will make it difficult for the monk to dive in without braining himself.

Adding his efforts to her search, she looks up with confusion played across her face that an iksar is helping her, emotions that are easily discerned by Markus, but a complete mystery to the two iksar.

Soon enough Widget is retrieved.

It is not safe to remain in the lands of the enemy of the brood of Cabilis.

Revery works to cast multiple spells, but he simply has not the time for his voice had carried (failed sneak) and a dozen heavily-armed troopers are at the door. Kwen had asked the enchanter to hie away, so the others could attempt to talk their way out of this mess, but the refusal weighs heavily on the erudite, as he reveals their position.

Through the slit grenades are tossed in, which Kwen smells the indescribably nauseating stench of Chocking Asmag. There is no time to warn the others before it sweeps through the room.

The door is simply unlocked by the jailer's readied key, a reflex forged by many years of toiling with the dregs of iksar society, and the thousands of slaves that keep Cabilis running.

(Please include a DC 20 Fort save in your next post to avoid being nauseated: experiencing stomach distress, nauseated creatures cannot attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring concentration, the only action such a creature can take is a single move action per round)

All hangs on three stealthy rolls. If one misses it, then I guess we shift to a 2 iksar + 1 human party.

I don't often hinge things on single rolls, but this situation is so volatile that I need to put the group's feet to the fire.

Here's hoping everyone rolls well, and no hard feelings if they do not : )

Kspress, Markus, Velkuriss, and Firiona disappear, as they are drawn into a hole in mid-air. Sucked in behind them is all of the smoke, leaving the room suddenly pitch black again.

Outside of the cells the ceiling rises up to the height of the stairwell. If the group can find the elusive prey called consensus, and avoids initial detection, the could possibly rise up far out of sight for a time, though that would require dropping invisibility to do cast the spell thrice.

Light has emanated from one cell, which is the direction of the door noise, and the words of the teleportation spell.

Avoiding more than a casual inspection of the room will rely on luck, and not drawing more attention than needs be. There are many among the guards that can see through invisibility, so your lives will depend on what happens in the next few seconds.

Detection DC: 1d20 ⇒ 15

(Revery, Sajeek, Kwen: please include a DC 15 stealth check, in your next post, to avoid a more intrusive inspection of the room and character generation)

Words are spoken in a clear voice, as is the expectation of magic, drawing more attention to the room, which is illuminated by Widget's meagre light source as if by candle.

Prismatic smoke flows forth from the stone, which melts away into nothingness in the process. Tendrils of polychromatic vapour wend their way around the arms of each of those that were in contact with it. A swirl of smoke rushes around their bodies of those involved, dragging them unerringly into the centre, their bodies warping as they are pulled along into the magical singularity.

Being transported by necromantic magics (levant) is as if someone yanked your bones out of your body, and then cruelly requested that your sinews, organs, and flesh catch up afterward. You each are thrown to your knees as you land in a swamp, immediately discerned as the heart of the Froglok kingdom, the mortal enemies to the iksar people: This is the Swamp of No Hope.

It is mid-day, and Markus can finally see something in the fetid gloom of the mist-laced, and humid swamps.

Firiona frantically sweeps her hand around in the water, which is now mid-thigh, searching for the dropped clockwork construct.