We definetly have our evil tendincies but we tend to take them mostly out on our enemies. Of course the occasional missed spell or attack can provide amusement or our "joining" requirement or such.
"Missed spell or attack" no lie! How many in the party has Charaine "accidentally" killed so far? Three, four? And she's the only non-evil party member! Sheesh.
As far as Indarin is concerned, everyone in the party is a tool to attaining her own ends. You know, cannon fodder. She may not like some of the party (And there are a few whose afterlife she has already planned how to torment. Zombie/skeleton slaves are a hobby.) but they are all Useful.
Don't you guys wonder that you might be giving into your inner demons playing evil characters?
Of course we do... Speaking for myself, if I didn't have such a wonderful creative outlet amongst others of my kind, I'd probably be a white-collar criminal... LOL!
Comment, Topaz? ;-)
M
Don't you guys wonder that you might be giving into your inner demons playing evil characters?Of course we do... Speaking for myself, if I didn't have such a wonderful creative outlet amongst others of my kind, I'd probably be a white-collar criminal... LOL!
Comment, Topaz? ;-)
M
Ooh, you're actually asking me to comment on this? ;-)
Actually in some ways playing evil characters can be therapeutic... it gives you a chance to do things that you would never do in real life.
Case in point, IRL I am a happily married soon-to-be mom; in other words about as whitebread ordinary as you can get in most ways (D&D aside). However my current character, Topaz, is a Tiefling fighter progressing into half-fiend. What Marc's synopsi often leave out is that during party downtime (for leveling and other admin work) Topaz earns her gold as a *ahem* "Lady of the Night" specializing in S&M clientel. While most of this is not actually roll-played at the table... enough is covered for Topaz to have quite a reputation indeed. ;-)
Chris
What Marc's synopsi often leave out is that during party downtime (for leveling and other admin work) Topaz earns her gold as a *ahem* "Lady of the Night" specializing in S&M clientel. While most of this is not actually roll-played at the table... enough is covered for Topaz to have quite a reputation indeed. ;-)
...so you see, Jaegyr, if we were truly giving in to our inner demons, the role-playing would BE the game!
(...and I doubt there'd be any dice involved...)
M
5/5/04: Considering that 95% of the session was administrative, I'm fairly happy to have maintained some level of excitement throughout the session. This synopsis will be a summary of your activities throughout the last 4 weeks of winter.
"I Don't Do Straw..."
(or, "Zombie Spooge")
As we left off last session, the party had just finished off the final cultist - a Gnoll known as 'Tarkilar' (based on charred fragments of vellum recovered in the twisted wreckage of his chambers); having reached the pinnacle of his priesthood, he had attempted to transform himself into a lich and failed spectacularly.
Todok and Zuthara are rescued from the brink of death by Henry's last cure potions; the party rests in the cave for a full 24-hour day, searching through the debris with the assistance of several Detect Magic spells as the wounded heal well enough to make the journey back to the Malachite Fortress. Hauling sacks of swag, you march for almost two days back through the Underdark. Sizul and Rahl have apparently taken ill, so you all quicken your pace; upon returning, your first priority is to cure them both, which you do with some hastily purchased potions.
Arrangements are made for training; a mercenary ½Orc fighter is hired to provide in-house training for Sizul, Rahl and Topaz, a representative from the Assassin's Guild is hired to train Henry and Zuthara, Charaine studies at the cavernous Rauxes Academium Arcana, and Slain enjoys some time off in a secure location. Todok and Indarin hone their dark crafts in each of their own, defiled, unholy sanctums. All of this begins after a few days off to enjoy the decadence and debauchery of the Needfest, which marks the beginning of the calendar year in Aerdy. While Indarin rushes to establish a brothel in time to capitalize on the Festival rush of partygoers, Rahl earns some spending coins as a bodyguard and bouncer; meanwhile Slain reunites with a former compatriot, Daracon, who joins the party. Everyone else enjoys bountiful drink and revelry - except Topaz, who has slipped out of her armor and into her skimpy leather bodice, turning tricks to high-class nobles and landowners with dark sexual perversions and fetishes for tails...
Unfortunately for one, his fetish for asphyxiation results in an exotic climax and slow death - and the quick rifling of his clothes before a half-dressed Topaz exits from the window...
As luck would have it, everyone behaves long enough to focus on training through the rest of the winter, during the entire month of Needfest; the warriors are worked out daily and thoroughly for the entire duration, while the priests put their new insights to work and conjure even darker plans for the future. Well earned relaxation is enjoyed by the rest of the party; a well stocked, well defended and isolated fortress is a boon to those who are Evil.
During the break of the last weeks, Todok, Slain, Zuthara and Daracon journey to the nearby Gnoll settlement with his new Gnoll Acolytes, with the intent of bringing the rest of the tribe under their fold; unfortunately, the band's leader doesn't like the idea of Todok usurping the band from him - a minute later, the band is cowed into following Todok and the former leader is destined to walk behind his new chief, forever silent as a zombie.
With a profit share due to the Thieves' Guild in exchange for another month's supplies, there is little for the party to worry about right now...
...except the things they haven't planned for...
M
Marc,
This is a very entertaining thread and it would be a very cool campaign to play in. I've enjoyed reading it so far and hope you keep it going.
F2K
How many in the party has Charaine "accidentally" killed so far? Three, four? And she's the only non-evil party member! Sheesh.
So what alignment is Charaine, and how does she justify campaigning with a bunch of villians and fiends?
Actually in some ways playing evil characters can be therapeutic... it gives you a chance to do things that you would never do in real life.
Case in point, IRL I am a happily married soon-to-be mom; in other words about as whitebread ordinary as you can get in most ways (D&D aside). However my current character, Topaz, is a Tiefling fighter progressing into half-fiend. What Marc's synopsi often leave out is that during party downtime (for leveling and other admin work) Topaz earns her gold as a *ahem* "Lady of the Night" specializing in S&M clientel. While most of this is not actually roll-played at the...
So Chris, what you are telling me is that you aren't the littlest bit kinky in real-life, never venturing into anything remotely S&M in the real-world but that playing this character allows you to do things that you might want to do deep down?
Have you ever felt that playing this character, or simulating the things you do with this character, might somehow make you curious to do the things she does?
Just a thought...?
So what alignment is Charaine, and how does she justify campaigning with a bunch of villians and fiends?
She's Chaotic Neutral Wiz5/Wild Mage4; she finds the rest of the group good protection from whatever she's testing out new magics on..!
So...they get in the way once in a while...that's what the priest is for :-P
M
So Chris, what you are telling me is that you aren't the littlest bit kinky in real-life, never venturing into anything remotely S&M in the real-world but that playing this character allows you to do things that you might want to do deep down?
Have you ever felt that playing this character, or simulating the things you do with this character, might somehow make you curious to do the things she does?
Just a thought...?
OK, man...we all know what you're wishin.
Get in line.
*awaiting imminent smack*
:-P
M
OK, man...we all know what you're wishin.Get in line.
*awaiting imminent smack*
:-P
M
This suggests that such has been suggested before, and with amusing and semi-violent results. My kind of humor :)
So Chris, what you are telling me is that you aren't the littlest bit kinky in real-life, never venturing into anything remotely S&M in the real-world but that playing this character allows you to do things that you might want to do deep down?Have you ever felt that playing this character, or simulating the things you do with this character, might somehow make you curious...
My character is very much into the giving of pain.
I, however, am not into pain on either the giving or receiving end. I'm a total wimp in fact, can't even watch when I get shots at the doctor's office. But if it makes you happier to imagine otherwise, feel free. ;-) Better yet, add the horns and tail and imagine Topaz instead. She isn't 7 months pregnant.Chris
My character is very much into the giving of pain. I, however, am not into pain on either the giving or receiving end. I'm a total wimp in fact, can't even watch when I get shots at the doctor's office. But if it makes you happier to imagine otherwise, feel free. ;-) Better yet, add the horns and tail and imagine Topaz instead. She isn't 7 months pregnant.
Chris
Going into more detail...Topaz only has a Cha of like, 8, right Chris?
We've already adjudicated that she's beautiful (imagine horns and tail in lieu of pregnant tummy), but her attitude in general is soo bad that it cancels out!Then again, some guys like the abusive Dominatrix shtick...
M
5/11/04 – A Tuesday game:
As we left off last session, a Gnoll band has been taken into the Malachite Fortress, in addition to a couple of new henchmen - Slain and Daracon... Training has been completed for all of you, the Fortress has been supplied for another month, and spring is fast approaching…
"Hulk Smash"
(or, "...to get Snatch, you gotta be huge...")
The Malachite Fortress has been a training ground for Evil, as common Gnolls have begun a training regimen to advance them beyond their crude, tribal roots, and their leaders increase their unholy powers and gather others to their cause. An Evil cult is setting down roots and beginning to flourish under the streets of Rauxes, hidden underneath the lost Gnome enclave of Zhadirune...bolstered by a fearsome alliance of monstrous and skilles warriors, an assassin, and a rogue Mage.
One night, a scream interrupts the constant machinations echoing through the once-again lively halls of the
Malachite Fortress; Gnoll guards rush to summon the party... They find a pool of Green Slime - Indarin's Glyph has been triggered! Unfortunately, the victim was just a panicked maid from the brothel who was trying to summon help...who forgot about the password, until it was too late... The other maid, obviously terrified by witnessing her friend turn into goo, takes several minutes to calm... but then warns the party that the brothel is under attack by something...huge!
Travelling to the surface streets in the midst of night, the party finds chaos in the low quarter - city guards and mercenary bystanders are facing two Umber Hulks! They have already caused severe damage to several buildings (including the brothel), and as the party arrives, they face off against the crowd!
The battle is surprisingly short, as the party (mostly) avoids the monster's gaze attacks; however, those who don't are, at the least... entertaining... *"doi.....duh......doi"*
(*DM note: The Barbarian, Daracon, had been confused by the U.H. and spent the battle entertaining himself by doing a short song & dance number)
Todok, Slain and Charaine whittle the first monster down with their ranged spells, while Rahl cuts the other one down with a mighty (lucky) blow, with his new Halberd, 'Bugswatter'...
Afterwards, the party "volunteers" to 'dispose' of the corpses and takes them away in a hastily purchased wagon, looking like rock stars to the bystanders and denizens of the streets... The party has just finished off two Fiendish Umber Hulks and earned a growing, mixed reputation in the city for being both mysterious and beneficial to the populace at large.
Returning to the Fortress (leaving the wagon parked next to the safehouse), you drag the Umber Hulks below for your use; muscling them down the narrow stairwell is arduous work, but after that you manage to drag them into the Temple of Erythnul for "processing" and dispatch a contingent of Gnolls to clear out Zhadirune above.
You all have returned shortly after the Gnolls have departed; in fact, you can meet them on the way down and instruct them on where to start out and what you have cleared already, before leaving them and heading down to the Fortress.
Once there, you take a breather and have breakfast (it's now sunrise); then you all set to the beasts' carcasses and begin dividing them up for food, chitinous plating, etc. as some remaining Gnolls look on like gawking children, marveling at how you could have brought down such hideous, powerful beasts. But their sudden, shocked growls and howls catch all of your attention - someone is standing in the back of the temple, who was not there a moment ago -
*A shockingly beautiful human woman, wearing a flowing, revealing Garnet outfit with gold trim and a gold tiara, stands in the back of the room. She has a charming, serene expression on her face; in her left hand is a crystal wand... in her right, what appears to be a fine paper card. She addresses you all:
"Good morning..."
Going into more detail...Topaz only has a Cha of like, 8, right Chris?
We've already adjudicated that she's beautiful (imagine horns and tail in lieu of pregnant tummy), but her attitude in general is soo bad that it cancels out!Then again, some guys like the abusive Dominatrix shtick...
M
CHA 10 actually...
Chris
(Note to DM readers: Check out the cool variation of the "Cusp of Sunrise"...)
5/19/04: Last session, a beautiful, mysterious woman has appeared in the main temple among you all...with an invitation...
"...Are you sure you're not running away?"
(or, "Does your father still take it in the bum..?")
The woman introduces herself as 'Celeste'; she speaks to you all:
"I'd like to arrange a business dinner with you all for tomorrow, at midnight. You will find it profitable. Dress appropriately."
Indarin steps forward and accepts the card from Celeste; it is of the highest quality paper and bears fine calligraphy. Once the card is accepted, Celeste takes a step back, waves her wand and speaks a few short arcane words; she vanishes as quickly as she appeared. Indarin casts Detect Magic and studies the card; she can determine that there is a faint aura of Abjuration in the ink, but that is all. The card reads, "Cusp of Night / Obsidian Avenue Northeast".
You all look at each other... All you know about the 'Cusp of Night' is that it is a high-class gathering place located in the High Quarter of the City; it is rumored that nobles gather there, but the building has no windows and no clientele speak of it publicly. Zuthara and Henry have heard rumors through the underworld of it being a haven of Evil... but then again, nobles...evil...are they really that far apart..?
Most of you dress the part for the meeting that night: Charaine, Indarin, Slain and Topaz all upgrade their clothing and are quite presentable. Rahl has cleaned up rather impressively; Zuthara, Daracon and Henry are going with there standard, rugged look...and Todok and Sizul are intimidating as they are.
But wait - Sizul has returned to the group after being absent for most of the day, and has dramatically changed... He now stands taller than Rahl (or anyone else, for that matter) and has grown a tail and wings! There are approving nods from all... Todok grins...
(DM note: Sizul had himself permanently Enlarged by a hired wizard)
After the group polishes themselves off (relatively speaking), they split up for the journey uptown - to a place none of them have ever before tread; Those who can, travel by the streets; Zuthara escorts the others through the sewers, looking for signs of other passers that can lead them to the purported underground entranceway to the 'Cusp of Night'. Those who arrive first at the above-ground doorway notice that it is enchanted in some mysterious way; the bronze plaque mounted to the wall reads:
"C.o N. - Members Only"
Soft laughter and conversation can be heard echoing from within; as you enter, fine furnishing and works of art surround you... Todok begins to shake, as he fights the urge to destroy everything around him..! This could rank among the city's grandest social parties - except for the perversion of high-class society that you see around you... Vampires, half-demons and a variety of intelligent undead types openly sit in the Grand Library - a 100' wide circular room with a dome that rises a full 80' above a central fountain that appears to flow with blood... Bookshelves cover the entire wall, to a height of 20'; tables, upholstered armchairs, sofas and tables fill the room, where all manner of Evil creatures engage in conversation, casual gaming and idle banter amongst themselves in small groups. A harpsichord and a full size upright harp sit unused...a human kneels, head bowed, into the lap of a robed person in a cushioned seat - the unfortunate soul would've preferred fellatio to having their brain devoured by the Illithid that currently has their head wrapped in its tentacles... A trio of Vampires laughs as they casually dip their goblets in the fountain... and sages who appear far too old to be alive silently peruse dusty tomes from the shelves...
Celeste appears, dressed even more regal than before...and offers you fine cuisine and libation; Todok has already taken advantage of the service and has been brought a delicacy - the fresh heart of a 13 year old virgin girl, which he shares with Sizul. Rahl is savoring the fine wines by the bottle, as Daracon empties several pitchers of ale; they are both oblivious to the cost...
Eventually, Celeste escorts you all upstairs and into a meeting room; there are comfortable chairs for all (sofas for Sizul and Rahl) that face a single, padded armchair - Behind it to the right, stands a male human Vampire...Celeste takes her place to the left. In the chair sits a man so old and emaciated, he may just be undead...but you can't tell... his long beard is thin and every hair appears close to falling out, but his voice still carries authority that is due a position of power...
"If you were hired by Maavu to save his skin, I'd have heard of it. It seems that you've stepped into affairs quite by accident... but I have a way in mind for you to make things right...
Zenith Splintershield is the son of Dombred splintershield and the former master of the Malachite Fortress. He is a Dwarven Defender, like his father, and guarded the Underdark approaches to Rauxes; about a decade ago, he recruited a small army for a crusade to clear the Underdark's eastern reaches. He marched off into the darkness and never returned.
His father placed on me a curse...one that can only be undone by his touch, or that of his heir - Oh yes, he is alive... I've hired powerful mages and clerics to discover this; my wealth has been spent very well...
He is currently a prisoner of the Kuo-Toa, at a shrine known as Bhal-Hamatugn; bring him to me - broken, if you must, but alive. I'll pay you 3,000 gold pieces each, if you do... or, if you prefer, the equivalent in arcane or divine scrolls, or gems.
Do we have an agreement..?"
After some exchanged glances, Sizul is the first to speak. "I can use three thousand pieces of gold..." Everyone nods. The Vampire hands the party a scroll case that contains a map, to a sink hole four days walk to the northwest of Rauxes; it is near the abode of a hermit known as 'Crazy Jared' and is an entrance into the Underdark. The party is escorted to the exit by Celeste, and you all travel the sewers together back to the Fortress, to prepare.
Following some preparations the next morning, supplies are gathered and loaded onto the wagon; Rahl will work in shifts with Sizul to pull it... Orders are given to the Gnoll band and zombies to guard the Fortress, and the party leaves Rauxes on its first cross-country expedition above ground; they are not afraid to travel during daylight - most people and creatures they encounter would flee upon seeing this monstrous band, but they travel cross-country, taking a direct route and avoiding roads. Their travel is quiet, save for the occasional farmer or hunter who cowers away...telling a grand tale for those who will listen.
Todok has been training Sizul on how to use his new wings; within a couple of days, Sizul is surpassing Todok in flying skill (not a sizeable task, considering Todok's build) and the two of them fly cover for the rest of the party. On the third day, there is a river to cross; Sizul flies the wagon across after everyone unloads it, then ferries everyone over along with Todok. The process takes a couple of hours (including time for Todok and Sizul to rest), but is more convenient that looking for a ford, bridge or ferry.
On the fourth day out, Henry, Todok and sizul spot something move on a ridge several hundred feet to your left; you all begin to alert and organize an advance on the ridge - but then you see three Hill Giants appear on the ridge! They all are carrying rocks in their hands...
*The battle has been joined - but for purpose of continuity, the battle in its entirety will be presented in full (with no commercial interruption) in next week's synopsis.*
Hey Jaegyr,
I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in as well. One thing that may not have been said yet as far as party cohesion, is that when we started the campaign, Marc explained that most of the original party members were childhood friends, so that helped them work together though they were still evil. So that's another part of why the characters didn't just kill each other off in the beginning. There are few original characters left of that group now, so now it's more due to the reasons listed by the others here.
As far as playing an evil character goes, it's fun because it's different. Sure, I like playing hero characters and all that, but sometimes you just get tired of playing the heroes. So as Topaz said, you get to do stuff in an evil game that you would never do in real life. Sizul *LOVES* to rip enemies apart and be awash in their blood...oh, and uh, collect their teeth. :-) But _I_ on the other hand, have no such urges in real life, I'm a lot more peaceful. :-)
I'm glad to see others enjoying the accounts of our game! Marc seems to have a knack for keeping it interesting, he's certainly done a great job with all the game synopses, and I've never had another DM write up such entertaining accounts before. Keep up the great work, Marc!
Sizul shall now go dream of roast Paladins in a lemon-pepper sauce (Rahl's cooking rubbed off on him a bit), with some Giant jerky on the side...mmmmmmmmmmmm...(smack, drool)
5/26/04: As we had full attendance last session, this synopsis will just be a summary of the battle with the three Hill giants, the passing of Slain and Darkarius, your arrival at Crazy Jared's Hut and the appearance of the Dragon...
"Jethro, Bubba, and Cletus "
(or, "Man, that's wider than I thought...")
As the three Giants begin bombarding the party with volleys of rocks, the party scatters to engage them - some sprint directly up the ridge, some take longer routes:
- Zuthara runs to close the range, then begins to fire her bow;
- Slain casts Invisibility then runs to engage the giants at close range;
- Topaz casts Bless then runs in to melee;
- Todok flies to the right, landing near the giants to melee;
- Henry runs a circuitous route to the right to flank the giants;
- Darakon sprints directly into melee with the center giant;
- Indarin slowly and defensively moves forward, avoiding thrown rocks, and casts Shield of Faith;
- Rahl unharnesses himself from the wagon and then runs in to battle;
- Sizul flies alongside Todok but engages the giants from the air;
- Charaine casts a pair of Fireballs to soften the group of giants, then follows up with volleys of Magic Missiles from her wand...
Meanwhile, the giants have peppered the party with thrown rocks; Daracon is hit the most, taking two hits from five stones while everyone else is hit either once or not at all.
Having been hit by two of Charaine's Fireballs and one of Zuthara's arrows, two of the three giants are weakened, but they still pack much punch as they pick up their great clubs to meet the first warriors to arrive; as Slain casts Shocking Grasp on the center giant, he realizes that getting away from the brute might be more difficult when visible...
The giant golf-swings Slain, his crushed body landing almost twenty feet from where it stood a moment ago - he doesn't get up... Daracon returns the blow on the giant, but can't finish him off.
Changing from bow to sword, Zuthara runs to engage; Topaz, meanwhile, crits with her rapier, driving it deep into a giant's thigh... Todok, having just landed, casts Flesh Ripper on the right giant; he screams in agony - causing him to miss his swing. But the other two each hit Daracon and Zuthara, injuring both severely. Henry, who has flanked the battle, scores a crit on the right giant and drives a hand crossbow bolt deep into the base of his neck! Daracon is trading blows with the center giant but still can't finish him; Indarin casts Searing Light on another target for little effect, but Rahl arrives in the melee and lands a huge blow with his halberd! But the killing blow comes from Sizul as he flies by the giant, slashing him fiercely as he does...the beast falls, narrowly missing the fallen Slain - who feebly rolls over, then moves no more...
The center giant seems to have either skill or luck, as Zuthara, Topaz, Henry, Rahl and Daracon all miss him in the next moment - but Todok again casts Flesh Ripper and elicits the same screams as before. But, after hitting Zuthara, the giant takes a mighty swing on the injured Daracon that scatters his torso across the grassy slope and leaves his twitching legs swaying in the breeze...then falling to the ground in separate directions... he is not only dead, but destroyed, by the blow...
Meanwhile, Indarin has cast Hold Person in the hopes of affecting the giant (it doesn't) and Charaine has cast a third volley of Magic Missiles...But again, Sizul flies in to finish the brute - he decapitates the giant cleanly.
The tide of battle has changed in the party's favor...Zuthara, Rahl and Henry hit the last giant and Indarin casts Spiritual Weapon, which hits also; but the giant swings on the injured Topaz before she can move away to mend her wounds - his swing is weak but still sends her sprawling to the grass; she moans and blacks out (not in a good way, either).
But again, continuing his flight of bloody terror, Sizul lands the killing blow for the third time in as many consecutive rounds - he has landed the last blow on all three giants! The hulking corpse lands dangerously close to Topaz, but she is spared.
Not feeling the least bit sentimental, Indarin animates the corpse of Slain; the beautiful Elf seems even more attractive to her now, with the added allure of being undead... After resting the night, her and Todok heal up the group, then animate the giants as well - two as skeletons and the last as a zombie; Rahl is please to be replaced as the beasts of burden that will pull the wagon.
Later that day, in heavy rain, the party reaches the hut of Crazy Jared - it is a crude hut surrounded by "walls" of thatch and wood; emerging from within, Crazy Jared appears to think himself the ruler of a kingdom of his own imagining. With him is a traveler...a wanderer who Jared seems to be treating as an exotic ambassador of some sort... But before Jared can continue his "court" for much longer, Zuthara and Henry spy a hulking shadow rising from the shadowy bog that lies in the center of this bowl-like valley; the rain conceals details and shapes, but there is no doubt of the size of this monstrosity as it rises higher and approaches... A full sixty feet from wingtip to wingtip, the shape gains shape and detail as it flies closer - its reptilian torso and long tail are distinctive, and as the party gains sight of the horns that frame the skull-like head on the end of the long neck, the full realization sets in - this is a Black Dragon!
At that moment, the fear (both real and magic-induced) freezes everyone where they stand; Indarin, Todok and Charaine cast defensive spells and Henry drinks a potion of Hiding, but everyone else tries to position themselves to the approaching terror... Sizul grazes an arrow off of its tough scales, but Zuthara actually scores a good hit! Roaring in anger and annoyance more than pain, the beast rears its head back as it turns to face the party head-on...and spits a thick fountain of acid through the center of the group - hitting Indarin, Todok, Topaz and all of the animated giants! The animated corpse of Slain dissolves away into a steaming mess, but the larger undead steam and bubble without being fully destroyed. But those who are burned by the acid are left reeling...
*To be Contiunued...*
Did they somehow know for sure that the dragon was hostile? Not that black dragons are known for their hospitality, but were I an evil character I'd be looking for a chance to negotiate with the dragon before picking a fight with it (unless my character believed he could take the dragon out, either due to honest ability or maybe massive ego - the ego thing has resulted in less than fortunate [for me] mano-a-draco incidents in the past). Then again it could have simply decided that they look funny, or that it was hungry and they looked tasty, in which case a proactive defense might be wise (unless it's a really badass dragon, then a speedy retreat would be wiser).
As far as playing an evil character goes, it's fun because it's different. Sure, I like playing hero characters and all that, but sometimes you just get tired of playing the heroes. So as Topaz said, you get to do stuff in an evil game that you would never do in real life. Sizul *LOVES* to rip enemies apart and be awash in their blood...oh, and uh, collect their teeth. :-) But _I_ on the other hand, have no such urges in real life, I'm a lot more peaceful. :-)
So you claim...but Ted Bundy seemed like a pretty peaceful dude. I wonder what character old Ted would have played...?
So you claim...but Ted Bundy seemed like a pretty peaceful dude. I wonder what character old Ted would have played...?
Having a B.A. in Psychology, I'd venture to say that Ted Bundy would've played Good characters...because that's exactly what he would've felt he needed to project to others.
People will have a tendency to either play characters in type with their own personality (for ease of roleplay), or opposite (for a change) - the real challenge for a player is being able to play ANY alignment (or class) convincingly...which I've only seen done by a couple of people over the years.
M
Did they somehow know for sure that the dragon was hostile? Not that black dragons are known for their hospitality, but were I an evil character I'd be looking for a chance to negotiate with the dragon before picking a fight with it (unless my character believed he could take the dragon out, either due to honest ability or maybe massive ego - the ego thing has resulted in less than fortunate [for me] mano-a-draco incidents in the past). Then again it could have simply decided that they look funny, or that it was hungry and they looked tasty, in which case a proactive defense might be wise (unless it's a really badass dragon, then a speedy retreat would be wiser).
The dragon clearly was the aggressor in this encounter; it had smelled, spied on and then attacked the party based on the presence of a half-Red-Dragon in the party (Sizul), not to mention the addition of a second one who arrived during the fight (Savarius)...
M
6/3/04 – A Thursday game: The battle with the Black Dragon at the "castle" of Crazy Jared continues, as Indarin readies a plan out of desperation and two new saviors join the group...
" Airborne Assaults "
(or, " Who's gonna be the Biotch..? ")
As the fighter's of the party position themselves in preparation for the great beast landing, everyone is shocked to see the dragon launch a second blast of acid along the exact same path it hit a moment ago! Todok and Indarin are hit by acid again, as are the animated giants...but Topaz had the foresight to dodge underneath the flying monstrosity and avoided being hit again.
As the party scrambles in preparation (or is it chaos..?), the dragon dips its head and cleanly bites off the head of the skeleton giant that is lashed to the wagon as it flies over...the bones crash onto the bubbling, smoldering wreckage of the wagon. As Todok and Indarin begin healing themselves (desperately...) and Topaz drinks a potion of healing, Zuthara is bravely firing arrows at the great beast, hitting about every other shot on average - while everyone else is running (or flying) into an optimal position for when the dragon eventually lands, staying clear of it and trying to gauge where it will finally come down.
Omni begins to fire his own bow, scoring a hit on his first shot; but after missing the second, he decides to engage it directly. Topaz moves behind the wreckage of the wagon and gets out her own bow, Sizul is performing an aerial ballet in pursuit of the dragon, and - flying in from above...appears to be a larger, more massive clone of Sizul! He carries the largest greatsword any of you have ever seen and is diving in on the dragon from behind... Charaine's opening Fireball had no effect on the dragon (spell resistance), but she then gets out her wand of Magic Missiles and begins to pepper the dragon with successive salvos - two out of three salvos will get through.
While circling around the back of Crazy Jared's hut, the dragon passes Rahl, who is by himself behind the hut; it dives at him - Rahl takes the first, mighty swing... the dragon lowers its head and opens its wide jaws... both of them miss each other with fumbles! A section of thatched wall is destroyed by both of them as the dragon flies by and Rahl removes his halberd from timbers of wood...
Sizul has finally maneuvered into position - he breathes! The dragon roars as its wings are seared by the flames; it is forced to land - and does so in the midst of the party! Topaz hits the dragon in the flank with her first arrow and the party rushes to close in to melee... But the dragon breathes again as it lands - finally destroying the giant skeleton and zombie as they shield Todok and Indarin for a final time; they both are damaged again after healing up from the previous damage.
As Topaz continues to fire arrows into the side of the dragon, everyone closes as fast as they can to fight - although the shaken state of the party prevents anyone from moving too quickly. As Todok closes to melee, he bears the full fury of the dragon's first attacks - a bite, two claws, two wings, all strike Todok...and he is sent sprawling to the ground without landing a blow... Zuthara is hit by its tail but is still standing.
As everyone closes to fight, they all suffer poor luck as everyone misses with their first attacks... To make matters worse, the dragon deftly steps forward and engages everyone on all sides; between its five attacks, it drops both Indarin and Omni! But, coming in from above is the new half-dragon who you will all come to know as 'Savarius' - who slows to a hover over Todok's body and breathes a cone of fire into the face of the dragon, who howls in pain and rage! Now deeply entrenched in a close brawl, the dragon adds to the number of bodies - it hits Zuthara and Topaz (who has drawn her rapier and rushed in to melee) with all five attacks, but downs neither of them... Charaine successfully placed a second fireball just high enough off of the ground to scorch the dragon but avoid hitting anyone else, and has resumed casting Magic Missiles our of her wand; but...no one has hit the beast in melee yet... Savarius takes his first, mighty swing with his huge greatsword, as he hovers over Topaz...the dragon rears its long neck back and Savarious' downward cleave misses - slashing right down across Topaz's back!!
She screams in agony and drops in the grass where she stood...
The dragon is wounded, but gaining the upper hand; all five attacks slash Rahl (who has just arrived from running back from behind the hut all this time) and Sizul, who weather the assault... Charaine casts a Lightning Bolt, but it is resisted by the dragon.
Sizul swings his glaive and scores the first significant melee damage on the dragon - a mighty cleave into the beast's side! Henry follows with his first crossbow hit in five attempts - a critical hit in the neck! The dragon's luck has shifted - it is now fighting in desperation for the first time...
The Black Dragon gathers its strength and breathes once again... hitting Savarius just after he misses his second attempt at a huge swing; he survives but must now land. Charaine casts another volley of Magic Missiles, and they get through the dragon's spell resistance - it falls!
Immediately, the survivors rush to aid the fallen (Omni, Topaz, Todok and Indarin); fortunately, they have all survived... Rahl, Henry and Topaz all volunteer healing potions to bring the fallen back to consciousness; once the priests are well enough, Indarin uses the wand of Cure Moderate Wounds to bring everyone back to 50% hit points.
While Sizul begins to extract a few teeth, Todok begins collecting blood from the dragon's corpse, Omni and Savarius introduce themselves to Zuthara and Rahl and ask to accompany you, Indarin begins to fantasize about dragon skeletons, Topaz regards Savarius suspiciously, and Henry starts wondering aloud about where its lair might be...
...and Charaine, holding her depleted, warm wand, looks over the charred corpse...smugly.
M
So you claim...but Ted Bundy seemed like a pretty peaceful dude. I wonder what character old Ted would have played...?
As far as playing an evil character goes, it's fun because it's different. Sure, I like playing hero characters and all that, but sometimes you just get tired of playing the heroes. So as Topaz said, you get to do stuff in an evil game that you would never do in real life. Sizul *LOVES* to rip enemies apart and be awash in their blood...oh, and uh, collect their teeth. :-) But _I_ on the other hand, have no such urges in real life, I'm a lot more peaceful. :-)
Hmm, well, sorry to disappoint, Jaegyr, but I'm afraid this one falls under the category of "enjoying playing an evil character purely because it's different from all the good characters I normally play". Come to think of it, Sizul is the first evil character I've ever played in a D&D game. It's fun because it's different and because Sizul is, for most intents & purposes, a monster. Low & behold, it can sometimes be fun playing a monster character!
Oh, and see, Flushmaster? That black dragon was NOT a badass dragon. Sizul deemed him too weak to try to ally with. :-) Sizul also collected a pair of black dragon horns that time, in addition to those teeth. He grafted the horns onto his helmet. :-)
I've played a female bard character that was a promiscuous stripper. This most certainly doesn't mean I secretly dream of hooking up with random men (namely because I'm male and quite straight). Though I have had job offers (yes, plural) to become a stripper. Actually, that character was originally thought up as a joke about some of my current girlfriend's coworkers (yes, she was a stripper) and everybody thought it would be cool so I made the character.
I try to have each character I make be at least a little bit different in attitude and/or alignment than any other character I've played. I still almost exclusively play spellcasters, but I like magic. My most noteworthy characters are a crazy evoker/paladin (the paladin part was a bit coerced), the flighty stripper bard, a warmage with military discipline who gets irritated by ineffeciency, and a neurotic and twitchy kobold warlock. I enjoy the variety.
But I digress from the thread. Speaking of which, I like that idea of putting the dragon's horns onto a helmet. One of my most recent characters made a pair of underwear out of the skin from a dragon's face as a personal gloat for beating it. My group looked at me like they didn't already expect me to do weird things...
My most noteworthy characters are a crazy evoker/paladin (the paladin part was a bit coerced), the flighty stripper bard, a warmage with military discipline who gets irritated by ineffeciency, and a neurotic and twitchy kobold warlock. I enjoy the variety.
But I digress from the thread. Speaking of which, I like that idea of putting the dragon's horns onto a helmet. One of my most recent characters made a pair of underwear out of the skin from a dragon's face as a personal gloat for beating it. My group looked at me like they didn't already expect me to do weird things...
Haha, your characters DO sound pretty fun! :-)
Thanks for the compliment on the placement of the dragon horns! It's kinda funny, I think--a red half-dragon who in silhouette or from a distance, looks like a black half-dragon. Not to give anything away, but um...well, nowadays Sizul has two pairs of horns on his helmet. And some black dragon skin over the chestplate of his armor. Nope, it doesn't give a bit of acid resistance, but it looks cool to him, and it's part of the whole trophy thing that he's into. Those teeth that you read about Sizul collecting all go on a necklace.
Your character's trophy sounds hilarious, but Sizul thinks too much of dragons to go that far with a trophy! :-) Although he could always use another creature for that... Heh, the characters in our party certainly have no lack of quirks!
6/9/04: Last session, you all had just felled the Black Dragon and were in the process of dissecting it in the hopes of future dissemination for profit...
"The Pit of Nine Jaws...um, make that Ten..."
(or, " Is that like Strudel? ")
After the great clash with the Black dragon, the tired and injured group decides to make the best of the "royal" hospitality of Crazy Jared, "King of the fine realm of Anduria"; while everyone grumbles and jokes about a tormenting, slow death for your 'liege', Jared actually proves a fair host (if a long-winded one) and his hut provides shelter from the rainy season's downpours (excluding Savarius, Sizul and Rahl). He considers you all "exotic emissaries of your respective tribes and kingdoms" and treats you all as dignitaries of his royal court.
As Omni and Savarius share their respective stories on how they arrived here, another wanderer arrives; a lone lizard folk traveler, who goes by the common-tongue name of 'Phil', asks to join your loose federation of fringe-dwelling half breeds. After some intimidation and the payment of a first installation on what Todok considers a "life assurance" fee of 3,000 gps, Phil is part of your band of mercenaries.
With the next sunrise, you all armor-down and relax as the priests do their healing (they do a lot of healing for Evil priests, don't they...); you all spend the day relaxing on the front porch of the wide hut that Jared is convinced is the wide veranda of a grand palace - which he surrounds with lush gardens with a wave of his wand whenever he's around there...
Near midday, you get down to the business of extracting information from the butchered corpse of the dragon; Indarin casts Speak with Dead, in an attempt to shackle the dragon's roaming spirit and force it to tell of where it came from and where its hoard is. But the priest cannot overcome the dragon's will - it curses you all before moving on to the outer planes... But Indarin has a backup plan; casting Absorb Mind, she eats a portion of the dragon's brain in order to glean what she can from the very tissues. She recalls knowledge of how far away its home is, but little else of practical use to the group. Todok, making the most of what's left, casts Desecrate, followed by Animate Dead; he creates an animated dragon skeleton for himself and names it "George"... He rigs the creature's rib cage as a cargo bay and climbs astride the back proudly.
The party relaxes the remainder of that day and sets out the next morning for the 'pit of nine jaws' using a map drawn by Jared; the clearing and the pit at the center is a 24-hour journey into the edge of a large forest. Sizul and Savarius are flying cover for the party above the canopy of the forest and they do a scouting flyby of the pit as the rest of the party approaches, following Todok - who rides his new skeletal mount. Seeing nothing alarming, the two half-dragons circle as the group leaves the dragon skeleton behind and begins to descend the spiraling metal staircase down the walls of this 50' wide by 80' deep pit. The group descends in an orderly assault, as Henry leads those on the narrow stairs, Todok walks straight down one wall using his slippers of spider climbing, and Savarius hovers slowly downward, keeping pace with the others; at the bottom of the pit, a rift appears in the darkness - and then, something appears from within...
A reptilian head on a long neck stretches out from the blackness...then a second. ...and a third... and so on, until all nine heads sway forth from the mouth of the opening! The group jumps into action...
Omni has his longbow in hand and is releasing an arrow before anyone else takes their first step; he fires twice, hitting the huge beast twice in the body. Sizul, who is flying cover above the pit (because he can't hover), prepares arrows for his next pass over the opening; meanwhile, Zuthara begins to sprint past Henry as she prepares to fire her own arrows. As Phil casts Invisibility on his new (and so far only) friend, Omni, Savarius hovers down to the Hydra and swings his huge greatsword - cleanly severing one of its heads! But the huge beast, larger than even the dragon you vanquished not three days ago, lunges forward, enveloping Savarius in a flurry of biting attacks; in a confluence of luck and flying skill, he is bitten only twice! Indarin attempts a spell, but the creature successfully saves against it; meanwhile, while Henry moves to a good vantage point and hides, Todok casts Flesh Ripper and rends the hydra. Rahl, on the top of the pit, readies his bow while Charaine casts Mage Armor on herself; Topaz fires her bow, hitting on the first shot.
After hitting with two arrows, Omni sprints down the stairs while putting the bow away; Sizul, flying above, misses with a bow shot as he passes over the top of the pit. Zuthara's first arrow hits, Phil casts Magic Missile and Indarin casts Spiritual Weapon, while everyone else begins running down the stairs in pursuit of the now retreating hydra as it moves back into the dark tunnel that it came from... Savarius has landed and is pursuing the beast down the tunnel as it retreats - he lands another huge blow, gashing the torso of the hydra deeply...but then, the beast grows back not only a head to replace the severed stump where the ninth head was, but a tenth head! The reinvigorated beast lunges, surrounding Darkarius with necks, heads, and teeth... The party hears hissing, primal roars and the slashing sounds of metal on scales as they all rush to the tunnel mouth...
Then...they hear just hissing...
No one noticed it, but an invisible Omni had rushed into the tunnel behind Darkarius and witnessed the defeat of the draconic barbarian at the many jaws of the hydra; he boldly slashes the great monster deeply across the torso, appearing all alone underneath all ten heads... As Todok casts a second Flesh Ripper spell, Topaz misses with a second arrow and everyone else continues to run down the stairs and into the tunnel; Sizul has now descended into the pit and landed - Rahl is sprinting down the stairs from the surface. The hydra splits its attacks, as five heads attack Omni, hitting once, and the remaining five heads breathe fire that fills the tunnel! Phil is left reeling, Henry narrowly avoids the flames by dodging into a small crevasse along the right wall of the tunnel and Todok is narrowly missed (not that it would've mattered much). Indarin directs her Spiritual Weapon to attack, Phil casts Magic Missile and Charaine catches five heads with a Lightning Bolt, killing one and scarring the other four.
The hydra tries to rush the party, bull rushing Omni; but a valiant stand against the huge monster holds its advance to a mere five feet, where it cannot reach the bulk of the group with its breath attacks...all five bites at Omni miss, as the breath attacks barely damage Zuthara (who took cover behind Darkarius' fire-immune body), Todok (whose resistance to each attack muted all damage) and Rahl (who just arrived into combat and was mostly untouched). Todok casts Dark Bolt, searing the hydra in a cold energy, while Indarin casts Prayer and urges the warriors in to back up a gradually weakening Omni; Charaine and Topaz kill off injured heads with Magic Missiles and an arrow - and the epiphany strikes the party -attacks at the heads are harming it much faster than attacks at the body!
As everyone changes their attack strategy to target the heads only, Omni slashes one off, Sizul enters combat and slashes another off, Phil finishes off another injured one with another Magic Missile, Henry spears one in the eye with his hand crossbow, and Rahl cuts off two..! As Zuthara drinks a potion of healing, Todok casts Heartache, which stuns the remaining three heads for the moment. Omni and Sizul make quick work of the remaining, defenseless heads, as Zuthara moves back in to plant a killing blow into the beast's body before any heads can regrow.
The monster flays about for a moment, spewing blood and ichor all over the party...and then settles into a heap in the center of the tunnel. Chaos settles into quiet rustling, as people move to Darkarius and look for vital signs...
He is alive.
Victory again is yours... but this time, there is no celebration; camp is made, and the priests have work to do for the rest of the day.
...and a wide, dark tunnel slopes downward, into the Underdark.
|
I've just got to say to Marc and 'the crew', that this is one of the most enjoyable campaign journals that I've ever read. The mature way you approach your evil characters is wonderful and especially big props to Sizul...You are the first really character driven half-dragon character I think I've seen. Every other one seems like a naked power-grab, but you put some real style to it.
This is a great read, Marc. Thank you!
I've just got to say to Marc and 'the crew', that this is one of the most enjoyable campaign journals that I've ever read. The mature way you approach your evil characters is wonderful and especially big props to Sizul...You are the first really character driven half-dragon character I think I've seen. Every other one seems like a naked power-grab, but you put some real style to it.
This is a great read, Marc. Thank you!
Again, thanks for the kind words, to both you and Rob B. (Sizul).
I've been lucky to enjoy a wide range of personalities in my game, ranging from the uber-geek to the biker strip-club bouncer...some of the most interesting groups are a mix of both!
Going into a profile of each of a dozen people would be going off-thread; maybe I'll talk them all into writing a short bio for an adjacent one...
M
I've just got to say to Marc and 'the crew', that this is one of the most enjoyable campaign journals that I've ever read. The mature way you approach your evil characters is wonderful and especially big props to Sizul...You are the first really character driven half-dragon character I think I've seen. Every other one seems like a naked power-grab, but you put some real style to it.
This is a great read, Marc. Thank you!
Well, thanks, Gavgoyle, that's a really nice compliment! Especially since I sure don't consider myself anything close to being one of the best roleplayers in our group. Sizul is one of those few characters for me where something just clicked, I got an idea of his background and got a plan for what direction I wanted to take him. Don't get me wrong, though, Sizul definitely likes power! ;-)
Thanks again!
And Marc, you're welcome, you deserve those kudos for doing a great job!
Your character's trophy sounds hilarious, but Sizul thinks too much of dragons to go that far with a trophy!
This was personal. My character had nearly died in an attempt to go "mano-a-draco" when then rest of the party refused to fight the really big red dragon. A level twelve warmage isn't really a match for an adult red dragon, as I discovered (shouting smacktalk at him in draconic probably didn't help either). After a near fatal first attempt, I managed to convince the others to go back with me, and took the trophy there.
The quirks are what make things fun!
6/16/04: To lighten the fearful tension, the group pulls a classic barracks prank - when Savarius awakens following the application of curative magics, he finds himself lying on his stomach with his pants around his ankles...a jar of Keoghtom's Ointment in his hand. A pink, +2 Tutu of berserking has been wrapped around his massive waist.
Savarius feels the urge to prance...
"Swinging Sacs"
(or, "I don't prance! ")Victory again is yours... but this time, there is no celebration...camp is made, and the priests have much healing to do for the rest of the day...and a wide, dark tunnel slopes downward, into the Underdark. Henry takes the lead in searching for a lair, but he is soon followed by the rest of the party...they don't forget easily what he could've made off with the last time they fought a spider...
Todok and Indarin scan the cavern with Detect Magic; they pick out several enchanted items, but decide that it would be best if the group moved on quickly rather than search the refuse further - they are in the Underdark now... and danger lurks everywhere.
Proceeding out of the back of the hydra's lair, the party proceeds down a natural tunnel that slopes gently downward; Todok estimates that you all eventually reach a depth of some several hundred feet underground. You pass several intersecting tunnels, but most of them appear to be little used - aside from being far too small for Rahl, Savarius and Sizul to comfortably traverse. Savarius has taken point, using darkvision ahead of the rest of the group as they keep their torches and the lantern to the rear of the double-line.
Savarius sees something ahead - or, more like he sees nothing ahead...except a curtain of total blackness that prevents him from scouting any further. The party debates what to do about this obstacle...but Omni is growing impatient - as Sizul and Todok prepare to scout the darkness to its opposite side and Henry slips into the edge of the shadowy field for cover, he darts past the all of them and into the dark...Zuthara, who had also grown impatient with the slow progress underground, also runs ahead and after Omni...
...And right at that moment, you all hear whispers among the cacophony of your group...
Sensing a fight coming in his barbarian instinct, Savarius digs out a healing elixir and drinks it; similarly, Charaine casts Shield to augment the Mage Armor she still has up from several hours ago when facing the hydra. Indarin casts Bane on the unseen foe as Rahl begins to rage in preparation for a fight. A spell discharges - a wave of energy is felt washing over the area where you stand...Henry and Sizul find themselves Slowed! As Omni and Zuthara exit the field of darkness some distance beyond where it started, they are greeted by a squad of monstrous spiders that wait on the ceiling of the cavern beyond - they each are attacked by webs thrown by a pair of spiders and Omni is caught twice, but Zuthara is only caught once. Omni spends the next moment escaping the webs; Zuthara cuts hers away and gets her bow ready - Phil casts Invisibility on Rahl to assist him and Indarin casts Shield of Faith... but Henry and Todok find themselves tangled in webs that were dangling in the dark area of the tunnel..! Henry is stuck for the moment, but Todok violently frees himself with his claws.
Savarius has now run through the darkness to help Omni and Zuthara; when he emerges from the field, he sees the spiders above and unleashes his breath of fire on them - all but one fall off of the cavern ceiling in flames, hitting the ground all around Omni and Zuthara as scorched chunks of burnt flesh and ichor. Todok, after freeing himself, exited the darkness and saw the spider's leader: a Drider! He flies up in pursuit, but the drider makes the first strike, burying his two short swords deep into Todok! At the same moment, two larger spiders have ambushed the rest of the party that was left on the near side of the darkness - Phil and Topaz are both bitten, but Charaine hits both spiders with Magic Missiles in return; Topaz spins around and finishes her wounded spider off with a flourish, and Rahl steps behind Phil to not just cleave the other one, but to splatter it all over the ground in several wet pieces!
Omni has now freed himself and begins firing arrows at the Drider that Todok is fighting; he hits with one of two arrows... While Zuthara and Sizul move around to corner the creature, Todok attacks with his horrible weapon (no, not the BO), hitting the Drider hard; Savarius attacks from underneath Todok and also hits for big damage - it begins to think 'retreat'...but as it begins to flee, Todok and Savarius both crush it against the wall; the body falls to the ground in front of Savarius. The last spider has fled down the tunnel, but Sizul hasn't forgotten; he begins to stalk the vermin as Zuthara and the others begin to fall in rank behind.
Back where you all started, Phil scouts down the tunnel where you came from as Topaz, Charaine and Rahl wait for other attackers - there are none; they all eventually run through the darkness to join the front of the group, who has begun moving slowly down the tunnel in pursuit of the last spider.
Suddenly, several people begin to glow - Omni, Savarius, Phil, Charaine and Indarin all are emanating a bright, lavender glow that is otherwise harmless. As they look at each other in amazement and alarm, Rahl is hit in the back by a dark beam of energy - already catching his breath from the rage he was in before, he slumps over...weakened... Charaine and Phil saw where the beam came from - a drow poked his head from the darkness behind them and cast the spell! They return fire by casting Magic Missiles before the enemy mage can retreat into the darkness; while Omni, Henry and Topaz prepare their bows and everyone else waits for a target to attack, Sizul moves into position to attack, Todok puts on his slippers of spider climbing and Indarin casts Dispel Magic in the hopes of removing the darkness...she fails.
Now, going back in the opposite direction, the party faces another threat from the darkness; Zuthara gets out a torch and lights it, Indarin casts Wave of Grief into the dark area and everyone else positions themselves to assault the area where they had crossed over a few minutes ago.
Then, a voice is heard; an accented male voice, light but sinister, speaks to someone in the group - you don't know who, but the statement brings with it the prickle of the magical energy that it carries...
"...You don't want to fight me..."
*To be continued...*
6/23/04:
"Not in the sac..!"
(or, "..He goes limp before he goes down...")
Todok shakes his head as the words in Undercommon ring in his head, reverberating; the effect subsides and he regains control. He knows he is the closest party member to the darkness field, so he casts a curative spell on himself in preparation. Everyone else has gotten into position and is awaiting their foe to emerge so they can unleash their attacks - except for Rahl (who is unburdening himself of his load of equipment), Sizul (who is slowly searching for the last spider) and Zuthara (who is following Sizul).
Something moves...
The party tenses as Todok and Indarin indicate that they hear movement on the ceiling of the tunnel, near Todok; he turns toward the group and swings blindly but hits nothing but air - Indarin points to where she believes the sound is emanating from... There are more words - whispered in a tongue that is not Undercommon; suddenly, Topaz, and Rahl are slowed! Savarius and Todok see the drider appear behind the group, on the ceiling - but everyone else is caught looking intently into the darkness. Spinning around, Omni sees the drider close by and fires his great bow, hitting once; Henry hears the commotion and reflexively hides behind some stalactites to re-position himself. Savarius leaps into the air, flying to the drider and hitting it with his greatsword; Phil hits it with three Magic Missiles, Todok runs toward it on the ceiling and everyone else is still trying to locate the enemy.
Meanwhile, as Sizul searches further down the tunnel, Zuthara has spotted a crevice that they had passed a few seconds ago; she moves to it and slides in to search it. Sizul sees her do this, does a final check down the tunnel, sees nothing, and turns to follow.
Facing a great threat, the drider hits Savarius with the same beam that sapped strength from Rahl; he groans, but is still attacking fearlessly. The drider is fully defensive now and is attacked on all sides by Savarius, Omni, Henry (from the shadows), Topaz, Sizul (who has now seen the fight behind him and moved to engage, since he's too large to follow Zuthara) and a charging Todok; luck is on the drider's side for the moment, as everyone misses their attack. Indarin blindly fails to see what everyone is crowding around, but Phil easily weaves three more Magic Missiles in between everyone and hits the drider again; unfortunately, the missiles dissipate harmlessly as they hit.
Again, the drider casts slow - openly this time, hoping to blunt the brutal assault; he affects Sizul and Indarin.
With the crowding around the opponent, Omni and Henry again miss with their missile attacks, but Sizul successfully grapples the drider in an attempt to drag it to the ground; Charaine hits it with three more Magic Missiles and they get through the driders innate resistance - it screams curses in Undercommon as it wrestles a physically superior Sizul, maneuvering to bite him... but Todok steps up to the fracas, taking a mighty backswing...and bats the drider across the back of the head, spraying the rest of the party in grey matter, bone fragments, blood and white hair...
Meanwhile, Zuthara has found the last spider high up the crevice wall and reached for her bow; it sprays her with webs and blocks off the passage as it tangles her. As she struggles to free herself, it charges; it manages to bite her three times before the rest of the group hears her and rushes to assist. Phil, who was the first to hear and respond, squeezes himself into the narrow crevice and casts his final Magic Missile around the webs and into the spider, killing it instantly; he proudly turns to the group and proclaims the spider dead... as Zuthara wriggles in the webs inside the passage - still entangled...
It is decided that the group will camp here so that the spellcasters can rest; in the meantime, the drider's lair is searched and plundered. After a "night" of rest, you all move on after Indarin animates the drider as a zombie.
As you continue on, you discover that your tunnel merges further on with a smaller tunnel, forming a single, wide tunnel that varies between 30' and 60' wide and from 20' to 50' tall. Several smaller crevices and cracks exit this tunnel, but in the center there remains a clear path.
Several miles later, the tunnel opens up into a huge underground cavern; over a hundred feet below, you can see that the bottom of the cavern is covered in water and that there is a fish-shaped structure in the center of the cavern - the path you follow snakes down the steep slope of the wet rock. Savarius carries Charaine and Indarin down to where the path ends at the edge of the water while Todok and Sizul fly cover; the rest of the group walks.
You are all met by a canoe that contains a single Kuo-Toa, who greets you and ushers passengers into the canoe. As Todok, Savarius (carrying Indarin & Charaine) and Sizul fly across and Phil swims, Topaz, Henry and Omni ride with the eccentric-looking Kuo-Toa across the water to the temple. Rahl and Zuthara wait for the next trip, along side the drider zombie that Indarin instructs to await her return. As everyone gathers on the shore in front of the fish temple, the canoe makes a second trip for Rahl and Zuthara - but while returning, the canoe flips! While everyone gathers what happened, Zuthara is attacked underwater by the Kuo-Toa; she stabs him, but he punches her back. Savarius, hovering over the water stabs downward, hoping that one of the two dark shapes below is the proper target of his massive attack... it is. Rahl swims over but misses; Phil jumps into the water and begins swimming out to the fight, while Omni assesses the building ahead - it seems that there are more Kuo-Toa in the eye holes of the temple!
As Charaine casts Shield and Indarin casts Shield of Faith, hand-crossbow bolts begin to rain down on those who are on the shore; Charaine and Topaz are each hit once. Todok and Sizul are flying in to support the group, but in the water, Zuthara and Rahl both miss their target; the Kuo-Toa punches Zuthara a second time, but she resists being stunned. As Phil reaches the fight, Zuthara stabs it a second time, killing it - it goes limp and begins to slowly sink.
Charaine blasts the right eye-socket with her Staff of Fire - a Fireball engulfs the room and the four Kuo-Toa that are there; Indarin casts Spiritual Weapon at those who are in the left eye and misses.
The party is now assaulting the temple in earnest; Omni sprints up the stairs and right into the building, searching for stairs up to the eye socket rooms...Sizul lands on the stairtop entrance to follow, Henry hides at the bottom of the stairs, Topaz provides cover fire with her bow (but misses twice), Todok and Savarius fly in to follow Sizul and Rahl swims using the canoe as cover while Zuthara and Phil surface to follow him. Charaine and Topaz each are hit a second time by bolts; the Kuo-Toa in the right eye are still firing...
The fish-shaped temple gapes wide before you, silently.
M
Once again I'm reminded of what I'm missing by not currently being in a D&D group...I really must remedy that. In the meantime, keep these coming Marc, this is the closest thing I have to a surrogate for now!
Once again I'm reminded of what I'm missing by not currently being in a D&D group...I really must remedy that. In the meantime, keep these coming Marc, this is the closest thing I have to a surrogate for now!
A long time friend of mine who currently lives in D.C. and wrote the original module in which my first submission to 'Dungeon' is based, is missing the game as well; you and he are sharing my game through the same outlet - I say, enjoy.
M
6/30/04: It's time for the assault on Bal Hamatugn, the Kuo-Toa temple...
"Give me Bone, or Go Home"
(or, "He's not a flaming Acrobat..!")
Having rushed into the dark temple with only his torch, Omni sees a great chamber with three exits: a huge set of stone double doors ahead, a curtained hall to the left and a portcullised hall to the right; he chooses to go left and beyond the curtain. He interrupts the preparations of eight more Kuo-Toa warriors!
Meanwhile, while Zuthara, Phil and Rahl swim for shore, Charaine, Sizul, Henry and Indarin are all moving into the temple entrance - some run, some cautiously, and Indarin very carefully. Todok casts Shield of Faith as he flies up to the right eye to engage them, Savarius flies up to the left eye and misses a big swing at the balcony, but Indarin's Spiritual Weapon stabs one of them. All of the archers continue to fire, hitting Indarin and Henry once each.
Springing into action, Omni drops his torch and cuts into the nearest Kuo-Toa; Sizul lands and runs into the chamber looking for where Omni went - he finds him, but is suddenly surrounded by a gang of Kuo-Toa, just like Omni is! Phil, having reached shore, begins sprinting for the temple entrance, but Zuthara and Rahl are still swimming... Charaine follows Sizul at a discreet distance, as does Henry, but Indarin stops to continue attacking with her Spiritual Weapon, which hits again. Savarius continues to hover and swing on the balcony, but he misses again; Todok is closing on the other side, with Topaz supporting Savarius with her bow.
Focusing on escaping his multiple foes, Omni channels his Ki and cleanly decapitates one of his opponents as Sizul rather messily (but just as efficiently) achieves the same goal on one of his; most of their opponents miss, but one scores a deep thrust on Sizul in return. Phil sees the predicament that Sizul and Omni are in and helps by casting Acid Touch on a Kuo-Toa on his side; Henry follows up with a well placed bolt to the neck! Charaine, meanwhile, keeps the opposite hallway clear with a Fireball that hits the portcullis. Outside, Savarius, Todok and Topaz all miss while keeping the balconies pinned down and Indarin makes her final attack with her Spiritual Weapon, which misses - she runs for the stairs inside; Zuthara reaches shore, but Rahl is still hanging onto the canoe and using it for cover. Savarius is hit by a single bolt by his opponents.
Continuing their martial display, Omni and Sizul are carving a path through their numerous foes as they each drop their second Kuo-Toa in as many rounds (but Omni is nicked in a return attack); Phil drops his own opponent with a claw attack, while Charaine and Henry cover the advance of Zuthara, Indarin and Topaz into the chamber from outside. Another Kuo-Toa moves up next to Indarin, who takes out a wand and fires a Scorching ray - but she misses. Todok smashes the skull of one of the charred archers, but another manages to grapple him on the balcony railing! Savarius' opponents have retreated away from his massive attacks, so he lands on the roof above the balcony, hoping for an ambush.
Again continuing their frenzy, Omni and Sizul drop another foe each...but Omni is deeply stabbed by one of the last attackers remaining. Phil misses all his attacks on a second foe that moves up; Charaine helps out Phil with three Magic Missiles on his attacker, as does Zuthara and Topaz (who both miss) - and when Henry moves around to flank, he is stabbed by the Kuo-Tos that Phil had dropped a moment ago! Indarin turns around and hits it with a Scorching Ray at point blank range, frying him completely - but is wounded by a second attacker which has moved up to take the fallen one's place. Outside, Todok tries to break the grapple he's in and fails, but Savarius flies over and assists by running through the Kuo-Toa who is grappling him; the others flee down the hall... Rahl has now reached shore finally, and he gathers his weapons and equipment before running inside.
Omni efficiently kills a fourth Kuo-Toa, but Sizul misses all of his attacks, as does Phil - Charaine finishes one off, however, and Zuthara and Henry are working on another...which Topaz finishes off... As Indarin retreats against a wall to protect herself, Todok and Savarius are flying down into the chamber to rejoin the group, joining Rahl, who is sprinting up the stairs to meet them.
Omni has been rushed by a second group of Kuo-Toa, but avoids getting hit; his initial rush is beginning to falter, and he misses...Sizul hits one once, but he still stands; Phil moves to another one and bites him, but Zuthara misses. Charaine drinks a potion and disappears as Henry makes certain that the fallen Kuo-Toas in the area are certainly dead - Todok runs to join the battle that remains, but Savarius and Topaz have begun to investigate the other exit with the portcullis...he opens it by a lever and the gate loudly squeals and clanks as it rises. Rahl, frenzied to get involved in a fight, rushes in and finds two of the prison cells beyond occupied - he begins trying to tear the door off of one of the occupied cells as the human within wonders if he is trying to rescue him or eat him!
Fatigue is beginning to set in for Sizul, Phil and Omni - all miss their attacks, as does Todok, who is just off to a poor start...but Zuthara kills one; however, Omni is again deeply stabbed by a lucky shot. On the other side of the temple, Savarius investigates the far end of the prison hall while Topaz and Henry inspect the other occupied cell and its Halfling occupant and Indarin walks over to see what's going on.
The two prisoners each beg to be released, while claiming that the other an agent of the Kuo is -Toans...Topaz and Henry tell them that they are actually safer if they remain where they are, given Rahls current state (as he tries again to rip the door off its hinges).
Sizul gets a second wind and kills another attacker, but Omni does not; Phil still supports them but also misses, as does Todok as he charges another opponent across the room in a frenzy...Zuthara kills a Kuo-Toa and moves to back up Omni and Charaine invisibly moves to back up the fighters if necessary. Savarius, Topaz and Indarin continue to scout the prison cells, as Henry sizes up the locks, should he need to pick one. Rahl finally gives a last grunt on the cell door he's been at and gives up, spent and frustrated.
Omni is getting tired now, as he misses again...but Sizul and Zuthara finish off the last pair of Kuo-Toa...much to Todok's frustration. But he claims the field of battle for Erythnul, and begins to make a sacrifice of the victims...and gather unholy power to himself... While some of you search the corpses and continue to search the general area of the prison cells, Todok is chanting and smashing dead skulls... A minute passes as you gather together loot, cast heal spells, drink curative potions and assess the wreckage around you - all under the throaty growl and frenzied wail of Todok's appeals to his dark God...
*POOF*
A beautiful human-like woman stands before Todok...she is naked, save for the bat wings that protrude from her back and the pair of horns on her head; her hair is dark and curly, with coiled locks that extend down to just barely touch her nipples... She speaks to Todok, ignoring everyone else in the area...
"Aren't you a little short to be a Demon..?"
7/7/04: This week, we welcome Patrick and Lisa to the group for a one-session cameo, as well as inclusion in future synopses; here's hoping they can rejoin the group later!
"Mummy Crotch Rot"
(or, "...careful, Henry, don't start th--*boom*")
Todok grins at the fortune that Erythnul has granted him, as the Succubus slides up to his side and mischieviously "poing's" the wiry hairs of Todok's beard with one hand as she casually gropes his crotch with the other.
"You've got that look in your eye...the thirst for power - I like that. It turns me on. I think I'll let you live. I'll give you head over there (in that dark corner) unless you don't mind your friends watching us f_ck."
- As she nonchalantly sizes up the group, her eyes trail carelessly over everyone; she pauses momentarily on Indarin, Rahl, Sizul and Savarius - she smiles at Topaz...
"She can join us if you like...but only if you desire it. I am here for 24 hours, by the will of your master...to fulfill every dark lust in your black soul. Should you wish it, I will see it done. Should you desire flesh, mine is yours to have. Should you spurn me, your last, dying vision will be me, in ecstasy, upon your broken body. Your friends there can join us if you allow it, but they do so to please us.
I hope the big ones there are your vassals. That would be nice..." *winking at Sizul and Savarius*
Suddenly flush with power, Todok for a moment looks almost... giddy. But he recovers quickly and takes complete control of the situation.
"We are in a perilous place; when we are safe and our mission complete will we then enjoy the fruits you offer. I hope I can pursuade you to wait, should our task take more than a day. We must push forward and stain these wet halls red with the blood of these pagan beasts - their pools will cloud with their ichor and the prisoner we seek will wish he had been executed when they took him!"
Todok turns to rally the party onward, but notices that their attention has been drawn back toward the stairs where you all entered; they are watching Rahl, who had walked back outside to gather the rest of his equipment but stopped when he saw two drow elves standing over his stuff, leaning on Rahl's super-size great axe...curiously assessing the group as they gather on the top of the stairs, in the mouth of the fish-temple.
"You guys must have some serious huevos to be taking this place head on."
Rahl: "You best put that down, little guy; that's my backup weapon - and the one I'm holding reaches farther."
Todok: "Well, lookie here... Locals."
The two drow elves introduce themselves as 'Leo' and Diera - two Drow expatriates who have been in this area for quite a few weeks now, living off of the underground lake and some wayward denizens. They know a little bit about the temple and its surroundings; once some introductions are made, they will share with you their knowledge in exchange for your allowing them to scout the interior of this temple - which has intrigued them for some time since the arrival of a Dwarven brigade, the resulting battle and the capture of the dwarf survivors, including their leader...
It would seem that rumors that have traveled out of the temple (or been tortured out of local travelers by the drow brother/sister team) include several about a coven of Kuo-Toa fanatics who took over the leadership of the temple following the battle with the invading dwarf crusaders... Apparently, the dwarven leader, moments before he was to be the last survivor executed by the Kuo-Toa, began to rave and babble - in fluent Kuo-Toa... He spoke prophesies of the downfall of the temple and of the death of the high priest...intrigued, they spared his life; after the first of his prophesies came true (most notably, the death of the high priest), a clan of fanatical Kuo-Toa began to follow this dwarf who had been touched by their God and made into a prophet...
Leo and Diera know that this dwarf leads the fanatics and they want to know if the Kuo-Toa priests have suppressed these heretics or not; they note that their noble house was deposed and executed off following a similar schism and betrayal against their matriarch in their home city.
They ask for no share of treasure; what they value is the relative safety of a powerful band of warriors and information that may carry influence in the Underdark; they wish to rebuild their noble house in a new area. Should this mission prove mutually profitable, they offer to hire you on in the future should they require "muscle" in certain areas of the 'dark. You all return into the temple and continue onward, exiting the far side of the prison block and down a flight of stairs; the hallway is tall and arched, but only 10 feet wide - the group fills almost 70 feet of hallway, tightly spaced. Following a left turn, the hallway slopes gradually downward and into standing water some 40 feet beyond; as the hallway enters a large 40'x50' room, the water is waist deep on medium-sized party members. Todok and Henry don their soggy slippers of Spider Climbing and take to the ceiling, while everyone else wades slowly forward.
This room appears to be a torture chamber; a rusty, waterlogged rack sits in the far right side of the room, four sets of rusted manacles hang from the ceiling and walls in two pairs on the far left... Shelves of rusty and mildewed torture implements adorn all walls, a table barely reaches above the sloshing water you all push about, and a floating brazier on a wood raft illuminates the room with deep shadows; some kind of magical flame resides in the brazier, considering a lack of dry fuel in it. Omni pushes his everburning torch into the water; searching it, he sees something move, over by the rack, next to Rahl and Sizul...something moving...
A creature rises from the water - not large, but bipedal and covered in piles of wet rags; a wave of magic emanating from this creature makes everyone's hair prickle, as a low moan emanates from this monster... Everyone except for Leo, Omni, Zuthara, Indarin, Savarius and Sizul are frozen! The water hinders movement, but Leo is still trying and Omni is closest; Omni gets in the first swing on the mummy and hits, but it slams him back with tremendous force... Zuthara reaches it and hits also, but the wet rags are a soft barrier almost as effective as a steel breastplate. Indarin attempts to rebuke the mummy, but she fails; Sizul and Topaz were caught completely unaware and are just now struggling to realize why they're paralyzed in the first place!
Leo is almost there, now... Omni gets a second hit on the mummy, as does Zuthara; Savarius grabs a paralyzed Rahl and muscles him out of the way so he can reach the mummy, as Indarin curses it - it resists. Sizul now closes in from the other side of the room, as the mummy slams Savarius... Leo gets his first punch at the monster, but misses; Omni tries to somersault over it to make room for an advancing Zuthara, but the mummy grabs him from the air and slams him down hard onto the rack! As he groans in pain, Zuthara rolls him off the table and into the water... Indarin casts Prayer to support the fighters and Savarius gets his first hit on the mummy, as the rest of the party begins to shake off the paralysis - Charaine casts Magic Missile as Topaz begins to reach for her bow and Rahl moves to cover the room's exit.
The whole party is getting involved now, as they emerge from their magical paralysis...but in the corner of the room, only Savarius and Zuthara can attack the mummy - since they have it cornered; Leo activates an amulet he carries and Henry fires his hand crossbow from the ceiling as everyone else moves into a supporting position. Indarin tries again to rebuke the monster, but it's too powerful; Omni wades over to her and asks to be healed, but he is rebuffed by her... As the mummy slams Savarius again, Charaine summons a Flaming Sphere that falls on the mummy before falling into the water and disappearing in a puff of steam; Zuthara lands the final blow, sending the mummy back under the splashing water - to rot forever...
Beyond the torture room, the hallway gradually slopes up until there is nothing deeper than large puddles on the cold, slick stone; it makes a left turn ahead... Henry takes the lead in scouting as the party forms up behind (sometimes single file, in the case of the larger fighters); beyond the turn, the hallway is straight for another 90 feet, then it again turns left. After this second turn, the hall comes to an abrupt end after only 10 feet. Henry dons his glasses of minute seeing and begins to search the wall, as Zuthara takes up searching next to him. They both find a seam in the wall - a secret door! But, they also find that the seam is bordered by small runes that trail around the entire opening... The priests and mages all agree - this is likely a dangerous glyph. Indarin moves forward and casts Dispel Magic; the runes glow white for a moment, then fade - but they remain. Henry decides to tackle the risky task of disarming the glyph, but Diera notes some experience and skill in these matters... he diplomatically cedes her the task and offers to assist.
The group retreats a safe distance around the corner, with Zuthara standing in the far corner where she can see both groups; Henry and Diera approach the wall and begin to gently scrape at the runes...
Diera: "Now, usually you would just have to break the chain of runes to render the trigger inactive, without actually releasing any of the magic contained in them; but I've seen exceptions to this..."
Henry: "I haven't actually worked on a glyph before, but that seems to make sense; I guess if we just remove this one -"(*scrape*)
Diera: " Wait...don't start with th-*" *BOOM!*
*Tinkling of shattered stone ricocheting off of walls, shields, armor and scales*
Henry: "...It's disarmed now..."
The party is horrified to see Zuthara flinch and shield herself from a spray of sand and gravel as the blast blows around the corner and covers you all in a fine, sandy dust; you all are momentarily deafened, but this wears off quickly - much quicker than the echoing rumble that you hear moving throughout the temple. You all realize that you not only have lost any element of surprise in assaulting the temple head on, but now you've broadcast your exact location as well...
Miraculously, Henry and Diera are unharmed; as rogues do, they realized when they saw the runes flash that they had failed - and had dove to the floor in a heap, a fraction of a second before the blast...They are covered in dust and a bit shell-shocked, but they will recover in a moment. Compared to the experience they just went through, picking the lock on this door will be relatively easy... *click*
What lies beyond, will most certainly not be.
7/14/04:
"A Visit to 'Red Lobster'"
(or, "When you can't see, it's just like being blind...")
As Henry swings the secret door open, you all expect a phalanx of Kuo-Toa to be facing the doorway...instead you are met with relative silence. A constant murmur of croaking is all you hear coming from the room beyond; it may be some primitive chanting, or perhaps communication of some sort - but you can't really tell, other than it's coming from above.
A cavernous chamber lies before you; your doorway opens underneath some kind of mezzanine balcony that encircles the waist of a gargantuan, 75 foot tall statue of what appears (from what you can see from the waist down) to be a slender human female. The room beyond rises three floors above you, with two balconies 30 feet and 60 feet above the pool of water that surrounds the statue; they span along the opposite three walls of the chamber, with the top balcony being smaller and mostly on the far wall alone. There is an even, bright red glow that illuminates this room and casts sharp shadows among the columns and railings; it appears to originate from the eyes of the statue, far above and out of sight from where you currently are.
Covering the walls of the room on all levels are crude frescoes of Kuo-Toas carrying bloody, dismembered limbs of sacrifices toward the statue; they all face the back wall, where you are - it is the only wall that remains bare. The mildew and algae that covers the floor, balconies and walls glisten with moisture and gives the frescoes a slimy, lifelike sheen; the railings appear to be made of iron piping and are either severely rusted, algae-covered, or both. Between the ambient sounds and the heavy, cold humidity here, this place feels as if it could be underneath a swamp, save for the lack of warmth and vegetation.
Knowing that battle is near, you all begin to stream into the room and scatter among the 10 foot thick stone columns nearby, for cover; the only Kuo-Toa you find is one dressed in banded armor at the base of the stairs that lead to the central balcony above you...he is holding the hand of another Kuo-Tos next to him and pointing the other hand at the doorway - suddenly, a bolt lightning fires from his hands, through part of your group, and into the doorway! Several people are hit, but Henry and Diera manage to (again) dive out of the way; Charaine moves up to the doorway and casts a Fireball from her staff, which engulfs the Kuo-Toa and his unseen neighbors on the stairs.
Zuthara charges the first Kuo-Toa priest, but misses; everyone else is still moving into position or preparing - Indarin casts Shield of Faith and gets out her two wands, Todok casts Cure moderate wounds on himself before running up with Zuthara (as his new succubus friend morphs into a female dwarf and takes cover), Phil moves behind Omni and casts Invisibility, Diera boldly steps out into the open to fire her bow and Charaine follows up with Magic missiles on the second Kuo-Toa.
Zuthara misses her second swing - these priests are somehow protected by magics either on them or their banded armor; Topaz tries to even the odds by casting Darkness around Zuthara, Todok and their opponents...this tactic at first appears brash, or even risky for Zuthara and Todok - but it may have been an invertent saving grace in disguise... Meanwhile, Sizul boldly flies up to the center balcony to confront the Kuo-Toa, as Omni rushes the far right side of the room and bounds up a clear flight of stairs to the first balcony; they both see a horrifying sight... The slender human female statue's eyes are indeed the source of the red glow - but the head is that of a lobster, as there are also claws instead of hands!
The party continues to move between pillars, using them as cover, as Sizul and Omni face off for the first time against opponents; Indarin begins to defensively creep along the left wall, heading for the stairs, as Rahl and Charaine follow Omni's path to the right, Zuthara and Todok swing blindly at their opponent in the darkness with them, Henry and Phil hide tactically along the back of the room, Savarius and Leo boldly sprint to the left stairwell and Diera supports with bow fire. During this, however, they are all beginning to be peppered with hand crossbow fire, and while most are dodged or glance harmlessly off of their armor, there are the occasional hits - which gradually begin to add up, in time.
Before her opponent can retreat from the darkness, Zuthara scores a hit on it, as Omni (realizing that these Kou-Toa can somehow see him, even though he's invisible) rushes up and slashes another; Savarius takes a flying leap off of the balcony and swoops up to the third balcony, where he has spotted the archers - he cleaves one messily in half. Everyone else swings (or fires arrows) poorly, as Todok, Diera, Leo and Topaz all miss their attacks; but Sizul flies forward and breathes onto a second group of five Kuo-Toa on the center balcony, hitting four of them - but none fall. Henry, seeing the breakout of the party's full force on the temple acolytes, decides to sprint up the stairs to the top balcony...but once he reaches it, he regrets the decision; a Kuo-Toa emerges near him and stabs him with a rapier, as his two comrades fire their hand crossbows in sneak attacks! Overwhelmed, he decides to dive over the railing; he Feather Falls back down to ground level, using his ring. Meanwhile, Charaine searches the first balcony on the far right side (opposite of the center balcony from Leo, who has taken up a hidden position on the left to fire his own hand crossbow) and launches a Fireball for good measure, to clear the balcony before going up the stairs.
The party has hit the acolytes hard, but the ten of them are casting Lightning Bolts individually now...and the constant barrage of lightning and crossbow bolts is beginning to wear the group down in stages... Omni downs his opponent, but that is the only good news of the moment; Zuthara runs out of the darkness and to the double doors on the ground level - but before she can open them (to escape? We'll never know...), she is hit by a lightning bolt and is blown up against the doors, where she slumps to the floor. Savarius flies up to the top balcony and cleaves another Kuo-Toa, but is hit by lightning and several bolts, which forces him to retreat under the center balcony; Sizul has also been hit by lightning and he flies down into the darkness to get out healing potions. Rahl has run around the far side under the balcony and charges the stairs from the right, but stops in the edge of the darkness there, using it as partial cover; he too is hit by lightning and is weakened. Leo has been spotted by another acolyte and takes a single lightning bolt himself; after being weakened by a previous lightning bolt, he falls where he is hiding - no one sees him. Everyone else has been moving around the thick pillars under the center balcony, using them for cover and trying to pick off the Kuo-Toas on the top balcony.
Omni manages to open the doors on the second level and slips in, closing the door behind him; he lights an everburning torch and makes sure the wide hall is empty. While most of the group takes cover in the area of darkness (or underneath the center balcony) and drinks curative elixirs (Rahl, Sizul, Savarius, Topaz and Henry), Phil takes charge and rushes the stairs, engaging three acolytes with his bare hands, while Diera backs him up with arrow fire! However, both miss... Charaine follows up sizul's attack, though, hitting the same group with another Fireball, which drops one of them; Todok helps Phil by casting Flesh Ripper on one of his opponents, but he survives the damage.
During all of this action, Indarin (followed by her Driver zombie) has been creeping defensively along the left side of the room towards the left stairs to the balconies; seeing the tide battle now turning against the party and the carnage being suffered by those who ventured onto the balconies, she changed her mind and decided to return to where she was, creeping back to the center balcony following the same path taken before. She now arrives back at the secret door where you all entered and finds Savarius there, drinking a healing elixir.
While half of the party continues to regroup in the darkness, Phil is still holding off the three Kuo-Toa acolytes on the stairs (but not hitting, due to their enhanced protection); Diera, under heavy crossbow fire due to her location, moves into the darkness also to hide. Todok tries to maintain the offensive, dropping one of the acolytes with a Flesh Ripper spell, as does Charaine - who kills four of them with her fourth Fireball! The acolytes are reduced from ten to just two now - and both are fighting Phil as he now stands alone against them...
There appears to be a standoff brewing, as everyone still standing is now hiding in the darkness globe or using it for cover except for Savarius (who is hiding under the center stairs instead) and Indarin (who has just returned to the secret doorway with her zombie). Zuthara lies at the bottom set of double doors, unmoving...Leo lies in the corner of the room on the lower left balcony, unmoving...and Omni (as well as Todok's succubus/dwarf escort...) is missing, entirely...
Vials of healing elixir are beginning to run out, there are still seven of the original ten Kuo-Toa archers on the top balcony... (almost) all of you are in the center of a large temple, hiding in (or near) a field of darkness that will, eventually, disappear...leaving (almost) all of you in the open...
What would Erythnul think...?
Wow, that sounds like a rather large and chaotic battle. How long did it take you actually run the action in that last post? The largest scale battles I've ran were in the now famous "Evil Midget Campaign." The one with the most participants was at sea: a boarding action that included 5 PCs and one NPC ally against a total of nearly 20 midget marines. The MVP was the dwarven cleric, who picked off the enemy captain with a searing light spell and proceeded to squish no less than six midgets; this was before he acquired a Maul of the Titans, which proved to be an absolutely wonderful midget squishing weapon. The same cleric also masterfully sunk the PC's original ship with a well placed control water spell (after they had seized the enemy ship instead).
Wow, that sounds like a rather large and chaotic battle. How long did it take you actually run the action in that last post?
Keep in mind that each synopsis is a narrative summary of a single night's session, which usually run from 7:00-7:30 pm until 11:00-11:30 pm, or later on occasion (like big, set piece battles). We actually had a session go until 2 am once, on a weeknight, even, because we wanted to resolve a big fight.
Some battles have run over multiple sessions, with the record battle so far covering three full game sessions and close to 30 rounds of combat; remember, that with 12 players and potentially over a dozen opponents to track, decide actions/spells/tactics for and resolve rolls, a large battle can take hours per round!
I'm pretty sure that the last posted session ran over time...
M
7/21/04: The biggest battle to date, covering three full game sessions! The first one last week involved the Kuo-Toa Acolytes; this is the second, where the party mops up and must now deal with the summoned Eriynes...
"She's Coming..."
(or, "Those are my balls dropping...")
The party begins the next round, after a short reprieve; a new strategy is formed after Savarius tells those of you in the darkness that the remaining Kuo-Toa are on the top balcony. He has just drunk a vial of curative elixir - but he feels no better (at the same moment, Omni has realized the same thing)...their mummy-rot affliction is suppressing the potions! Todok casts Cure Moderate Wounds on himself and Henry drinks one of his last few potions as the rest of the party springs into action once more; while Phil keeps the last two priests on the stairs tied up in melee and Topaz covers with bow fire (and misses), Diera moves through the darkness toward the outside of the room, Rahl rushes the stairs behind Topaz and Sizul flies up to the first balcony under the bowmen above. Charaine, firing rather indiscriminately, launches her fifth Fireball of the battle on the final two priests, narrowly avoiding Topaz and Todok but inundating Phil, Savarius and Sizul as well as the two priests; of course, the two half-dragons are unfazed, but Phil is burned along with his opponents - all three remain standing afterward, but wobbly.
Omni, not willing to risk venturing too far from the group unseen and injured, returns to the doors leading into the great temple and cautiously looks outside to see if it's clear...he waits for a sign that it is safe. Diera has changed tactics...Realizing that she and Topaz are out-gunned, she gets out her sword and sprints for the stairs; Todok begins to fly up himself, as does Sizul, while Savarius flies up to the center platform to attack the priests...he misses. Topaz misses and decides to join Diera in rushing the platform; Henry boldly charges past the priests and gets behind them while Phil keeps them busy, but Charaine casts Magic Missile and drops them both! Frustrated at losing more targets just as he arrives to fight, Rahl turns around and sprints for the stairs; hopefully, he can get to some of those archers before the airborne fighters can...
Omni sees a sign that their luck is turning back in their favor, as the next few moments are taken up by most of the group running up the stairs toward the archers on the top balcony or flying up to meet them; he rushes out to join them, sprinting toward the stairs to his right. Meanwhile, Charaine searches above in the dim, red illumination, searching for targets to fire on while Henry begins to search the priests' corpses; Indarin has reached the secret door where you all originally entered from, and has been hiding behind her drider zombie with both her wands out - she waits for a sign of an approaching enemy...
While rushing up the stairs to the first balcony, Diera finds the crumpled body of Leo! She stoops over his body - and is pleasantly surprised to find that he is alive..! She performs first aid, as Topaz runs past. Running from the other side of the balcony, Omni gets to the second stairs ahead of Topaz and runs up to the top - but he is caught there by two Kuo-Toa, who fire their hand crossbows at him; one misses, but the other hits - he falls. Savarius has reached the center top balcony and swings his massive greatsword on the Kuo-Toa there; miraculously, it survives the blow...Sizul's opponent isn't so lucky... Seeing targets now, Charaine assists Topaz and the now-fallen Omni by hitting all three Kuo-Toas on that balcony with Magic missiles; Phil has retreated into the darkness field to tend to his wounds, while Henry continues to search priests' bodies and Indarin continues to wait for something to happen on the bottom floor.
Rahl reaches the top right balcony and finds a target there! In full rage, he slashes the Kuo-Toa - leaving it screaming and quite injured; Sizul then flies up from behind and promptly cleaves it down.
Rahl: "ARRRRRRGH!!"
Savarius also promptly finishes off his opponent as well... Diera is now running to catch up to Topaz, who arrives over Omni's crumpled body and stabs the Kuo-Toa she meets there - another hits her back with a crossbow bolt; Todok also gets a swing on one of them, hitting but not dropping it. Charaine sends in another volley of Magic Missiles in support of Topaz, but fails to drop any. Rahl, frustrated and still very much raging, charges the last Kuo-Toa on his balcony; he misses his swing, and worse - his halberd is stuck fast to the Kuo-Toa's shield! Furious with rage, he bull rushes his foe right over the railing of the balcony, but it hangs on - dangling from his shield, which is stuck to Rahl's weapon! On the other balcony, Diera joins Topaz against the last enemy archers; she hits one after being stabbed, but Topaz finishes it off. Savarius has taken out the second on that balcony, after flying over from the center; Todok and Sizul close in on the last one to the left.
Charaine has begun to scan the room for any new dangers and has begun to notice something different about the large statue that dominates the temple...aside from the glowing red eyes that illuminate the room, there is a third glow, emanating from a cloudy haze that hovers in front of the statue's torso; after a bit of observation, she surmises the type of magic that might produce such an effect... Suddenly horrified, she yells out a panicked warning to the party:
"THE STATUE IS SUMMONING SOMETHING!"
Rahl has no time to listen...While he met little resistance in pushing the Kuo-Toa over the railing of the top balcony, he was suddenly shocked by it's grabbing onto him, in an attempt to take him down also! Caught off guard by the Kuo-Toa's feint, Rahl had pushed too close to the railing himself - the Kuo-Toa, driven by fanaticism and a dire sense of fatalism, successfully grabs onto Rahl and pulls him over the railing with himself - they both fall 60 feet to the floor below! *crunch* While the Kuo-Toa's death was a foregone conclusion, Rahl survives the fall...barely; he groans and rolls over - and sees that they landed within a few feet of the water's edge.
Rahl: "....a r r r r r g h.." *groan*
As Savarius finishes off the last Kuo-Toa archer, Todok studies the statue and draws the same conclusion as Charaine...his brow furrows; Indarin, having heard the sounds of battle finally wane, emerges from her hiding place and joins Todok in studying the statue, as Rahl sits up painfully and drinks one of his last vials of healing potion. Charaine, sensing a great danger, casts Dispel Magic on the glowing field in the hopes of overcoming the magic...she succeeds! The statue goes dark, leaving only the everburning torches on opposite corners of the great room as the only sources of illumination.
Henry had put on his slippers of spider climbing and begun to climb the statue, but he reconsiders after the party begins to discuss other plans; he finds his way through the darkness, retrieves his lantern down at the secret door and returns to the center platform, where Todok is being hailed by the Succubus, who has emerged from hiding herself.
Succubus: "Darling - I'm soo glad you're safe. All this hostility is so crude and unsexy...such a waste of good energy... I couldn't help but notice what these creatures were telling each other as they fought, and I thought you should know - they were telling each other to hold you all off for just a few moments longer, for "she" will be here soon. I thought you might want to know."
Todok: "(Crap)." (edited for email content filters)
It would appear that Charaine has successfully dispelled the summoning magic...but after about half of a minute, the statue's eyes light up again and a new, faint glow appears in front of the statue again; Charaine only suppressed the statue's powers for a few moments, but she bought the group valuable time to heal up and catch their breaths... There was enough time for Topaz to feed Omni a healing potion (which didn't work) and stabilize his wounds while Indarin loaded him and Leo onto the drider zombie, while Phil cast Invisibility on himself; almost everyone rushed over to have Mage Armor cast on them by Charaine from her wand, before taking up positions throughout the room to await whatever appears from the glow. Todok casts Desecrate on the statue, hoping to break the unholy bonds to this place; he succeeds, but the statue appears unaffected...
The sudden change in ambient lighting draws your attention to the statue (if it wasn't there already), as the third glow disappears; in it's place is a woman...who looks not that much unlike the Succubus that currently accompanies Todok. The exceptions are that she isn't quite as obviously attractive, she wears clothing (not too different from Topaz's, actually), and her horns are a bit straighter and tail slightly shorter (but still longer than Topaz's) than the succubus'; she carries a red longbow that almost matches Omni's in size, a large quiver is on her back and a thin rope hangs from her belt. She takes a moment to gather her surroundings, and then speaks... Her voice is neither loud, nor thunderous...but the acoustics of the large room and supernatural influence make her easily heard, as if she were standing at your ear...
She says to Rahl...
"You. You don't have to be here; you're not one of them. You can go."
Rahl feels the words echo in his ears...but he is still frustrated, and he wants to kill. He shakes his head free of the echoing whispers...
"I think I'll just stay." (Todok: "Yeah! Hear that? Those are his balls dropping!")
Her reply... "So be it."
With unnatural speed, she fires her bow; two arrows hit the back wall, bursting into flames as they fly...two hit Rahl. He staggers back, screaming from the flames (not to mention the arrows); he still stands, but not by much. The rest of the party springs into action, against what Todok has realized is a devil.
As Rahl and Topaz dash to the stairs (as much to avoid further arrows as much as get to some tactically better location), Henry (who is just underneath the flying devil at one of the doors on the platform) hides to avoid being noticed as Diera and a freshly healed Zuthara get out their own bows to return fire - they both miss. Todok and Sizul both leap into the air and begin flying to intercept, but Savarius, with his superior speed, gets to her first and bats her to the side with a mighty swing that leaves her screaming in agony! Phil, weak as it is and with few spells remaining, remains invisible and hides, letting the warriors do their work; Indarin, who has returned to the secret door you all entered here through, is underneath the center platform and is oblivious to what has appeared above.
Growling at Savarius, the devil turns and speaks to the approaching Sizul:
"You will not meet the same fate as this one; leave here and never return."
Sizul obligingly turns, performing a graceful left bank as he flies a 180 degree turn back toward the double doors he started from.
She quickly turns back to Savarius and hurriedly fires four arrows at the swinging half-dragon/ogre. She misses all four times.
Sensing danger for the first time, she flies behind the statue and out to the other side through a narrow gap where Savarius cannot follow; instead, he flies around the front and meets her on the other side - he swings again. But something is wrong...he hits, but she neither screams nor moves from the blow.
She is an illusion!
As Todok continues to advance toward the statue, spitting curses and insults the whole time, Topaz fires at the devil, hitting it (unaware that it is not real), as does Henry, who is firing just to confirm his suspicions, and Zuthara, who misses twice and is unaware; as Charaine, Phil, Rahl and Henry search for where the devil may have gone to, Indarin casts Detect Magic (intuiting that the party needed such assistance, based on what she hears them saying) and begins to emerge from underneath the platform.
Seconds pass. Silence, for the first time in quite a few minutes, begins to settle into the defiled temple; everyone is searching the room for some sign that she's coming...
M
7/28/04:
"The Bigger They Are..."
(or, "Stop Going Down!")
Ten tense, silent seconds have passed; and then, as suddenly as the battle ended, it again starts. This time, it will be to the finish.
Savarius, wounded on the central platform, sees something high up on the second balcony - he starts to run forward, when suddenly, a flaming arrow flies from that spot to him before he can warn the group; he drops to his knees, pointing up, but the words can't break through the agonized groan of the hulking warrior...as he begins to speak, a second arrow hits him square in the forehead. Savarius falls backward, into a messy pile of wings, legs and arms; he lays still.
Henry had just opened the door and moved into a new room to investigate, so he didn't see the devil's return; instead, he is confronted by a Kuo-Toa, who is dressed in plate mail and brandishes a 3-pronged spear... He steps up to Henry and assertively runs him through with it; Henry, caught alone, screams and falls into the shallow water at his feet with a loud splash...blood begins to stain the water there...
Diera, Todok, Topaz, Zuthara and Charaine spring into action; some seek the devil and some rush to Henry's aid. Meanwhile, Rahl has decided on flanking the devil and he sprints out of the temple and into the complex, seeking alternate entryways - while Phil invisibly follows Sizul out of the complex, trying to convince him to stay.
After Indarin casts Cure Moderate Wounds on Zuthara, she then advances and hits the Kuo-Toa with one of two swings; Charaine spots the devil and casts Magic Missile, but it resists the magic and it fizzles. Defending the last Kuo-Toa priest, the devil fires at Zuthara, hitting her twice and missing twice; she falls for the second time this battle, on the stairs to the center platform. Diera and Topaz both miss with arrows, and they begin to realize that they are outgunned and need to rethink their strategy; Todok is flying up underneath the devil, to avoid arrow fire and to gain surprise, while Rahl reaches the eye-socket balconies as he seeks a way upstairs.
Charaine's second set of Magic Missiles gets through the devil's resistance; her scream of pain shrieks through the great hall; Todok rises to face the devil and hits her with his morning star - can the tide be turning? Diera and topaz have both charged up the side stairs to take up firing positions on either balcony, but Diera falls to a flaming arrow; Topaz is hit twice, but she still stands... She lies on the stairs, behind the balcony, to drink her last healing potion...
As Indarin moves up and casts another Cure Moderate Wounds on Zuthara to bring her back up to fighting condition (barely), the Kuo-Toa priest has emerged from the doorway where Henry fell and casts a Lightning Bolt toward the stairs, injuring Indarin and dropping Charaine. Far above them, the devil flings her rope at Todok, hoping to entangle him - she fails; however, his next swing on her misses. Topaz's next arrow misses the devil, after which she disappears...again. Indarin casts Scorching Ray at the Kuo-Toa priest but misses him with it; he moves around the statue's base, using it for cover and tries to draw her in closer. Meanwhile, Rahl has given up on finding an upper-floor entryway and has instead quickly ransacked the armory, while Phil continues to goad, insult and plead with Sizul, who has now gotten outside and is healing himself up with his last potion so he can fly away.
Zuthara, having risen up again to continue the fight, moves up onto the platform to close in on the last Kuo-Toa priest; Todok opens the doors on the top balcony in search of his elusive opponent, Topaz begins running back downstairs to deal with the priest, and Indarin slowly and carefully circles around the back of the statue behind Zuthara. Unfortunately, the priest has a longer weapon than Zuthara does, and he stabs her before she can reach him; she falls for the third time, leaving Indarin to face him alone.
Todok, returning to the main temple to seek the devil, finally locates her, but he does so too late - she fires multiple times, hitting him in the same manner that she dropped Savarius - one in the chest, then one in the head; Todok slumps to the balcony like a sack of potatoes. On the center balcony, Indarin has retreated back to the stairs as Topaz runs up to engage the Kuo-Toa priest, who stabs her but leaves her standing; Indarin, cursing herself for having to do so, casts Cure Moderate Wounds on Charaine and urges her on to engage the enemy. But, as she does so, they both come under fire from the devil on the balcony above, who hits each of them once with a flaming arrow!
Topaz closes on the priest and attacks with "Riposte", but misses; he returns fire with a second Lightning Bolt, which hits her in addition to hitting Indarin and Charaine behind her...
Topaz and Charaine fall; Indarin, now alone against the priest, flees.
The temple is now clear. The devil, her task almost complete, knows she has just a few more minutes to clear the complex; she would've flown before, but her injuries force her to walk or teleport to the most advantageous point to cover entries and exits.
She teleports to the main entrance, where she sees Sizul taking off to depart, and the wake of a still-invisible Phil, who is swimming after him, taunting the half-dragon into returning to fight; she also finds Rahl on the stairs right in front of her! Sensing a presence, he turns and finds her there, loading her bow again; he swings at her with his mighty reach, but misses - before he can bring his halberd back around again, she rapidly fires twice into his chest... He crumples to the stairs, sliding down the pole of his weapon, fighting to the end.
The devil senses only one more intruder in the complex; having no ability to fly, she selects an advantageous vantage point, hides in the shadows, and searches quietly as she waits.
When a fleeing Indarin appears from around a corner, she fires - she falls with a single shot; the drider zombie following her lasts long enough to take three before falling...
Sizul, having been annoyed enough by the lizard-man, has tried in vain to grab him out of the water to throttle him out of anger and frustration; after several tries, he has missed. But, having completed her task, the devil now returns to where she had been summoned from - and, in that moment, the enchantment on Sizul ends, leaving him realizing where he is and how he got there. Does he feel remorse for his actions?
Not really.
After telling a relieved Phil that he's back to his old self, he fishes him out of the water and drops him on the shore to attend to those in need of first aid; he then bravely flies into the complex to retrieve his comrades. The next few minutes are a harrowing flight of daring, as he rushes in and out of the temple complex knowing that it is most certainly not empty; fortunately, he encounters no hostile enemies, as they may have retreated to regroup themselves... With each trip, he instructs Phil to administer triage and tend to the wounded, then to move them away from the entrance, down the beach and out of sight of the eye-socket balconies.
He carries out Henry and Charaine, as Phil runs into the entry hall to drag out Indarin and the succubus emerges, carrying Todok and Diera...
He carries out Leo and Omni, while the succubus carries out Topaz and Zuthara...
He and the succubus drag Savarius out on foot, his tail thumping on the stairs as Sizul grunts and groans...
Finally, he drags an already tended to Rahl from the stairs...
Phil is no healer and neither is Sizul, but the diagnoses are rather simple: either they get breathing and a pulse, or they don't. Those that do will get a healing potion (following a quick ransacking of the party by Sizul), those that don't...well...
Things are grim:
- Indarin is looked to first by Sizul; she is stable, but unconscious and pierced by a single large arrow; she gets the first potion...and stirs.
- Todok, Zuthara, Topaz, Henry, Charaine and Diera are all barely alive; Sizul and Phil administer potions to all of them and they all sit up - Henry and Diera required two light curative vials each, but the others got one moderate cure each.
- Rahl is down with multiple arrow wounds; Phil administered first aid and Sizul fed him a strong potion - he stands up to cover the party.
- Savarius is dead; mercifully, the devil's critical hit with the arrow cut him down before the mummy rot did, so he will not turn into a mummy himself - which is VERY good for the party right now. (Player note: that last shot dropped him to -14 and he was never administered first aid, so...)
- Omni is dead; he was left laying in the devil's line of sight after she dropped the drider zombie and was coup-de-gras'ed lastly before she departed, again saving him from the mummy rot like she did with Savarius.
- Leo is dead; he had been felled by a hand crossbow bolt out of sight of most of the party and he bled out.
Indarin suggests raising the dead as zombies, but she is quickly stared down by the others; the succubus playfully notes that you all live because she wishes it - Todok and Topaz are in her direct care, and she likes Sizul, so she's helping him with the others. She is obligated here for most of the remaining day, so she will assist how she can for now.
Diera indicates that she wishes to take her brother's body and intern it with those of their ancestors; she will depart. Phil, having had nothing but a harrowing experience with this group since joining it, has decided to accompany Diera in exchange for payment; she agrees.
The party's numbers have dropped by more than one third, from thirteen to eight.
Times are tough; the mettle of the group is being tested.
M
8/4/04: A mostly administrative session...
"A Long Needed Break"
(or, "You're not using your sack?")
Since we had full attendance and the session was 95% administrative, I'm going to summarize your activities during the month and ask for your input regarding your training, goals in the short term and the projects that you may have for the future.
The four-day journey back to Rauxes is uneventful, thanks in part to bad weather, but mostly due to the DM lacking a prepared encounter for that period... Rahl and Sizul have taken shifts pulling your wagon while you all walk around it; you return to the city as it was a week ago - still the simmering, sweaty cauldron of decay, back-alley dealing and death that you left behind. Entering the city at night, you park your wagon a discreet distance from the Thieve's guild safehouse and rouse the doorman as you enter the stairway; the room is unusually empty, as it is the end of the month and any remaining supplies are downstairs in the Fortress.
You all find the Fortress in comfortable disarray, as the Gnolls have pretty much trashed the place to their pleasing; smashed furniture in the barracks and garbage along walls have made the place more homey (to a Gnoll, anyways), and excrement in discreet corners in the rooms and halls have created a distinct "ambience" to the Fortress befitting a den of EVIL...
The statue of Zenith Splintershield in the entry hall has been thoroughly defaced and is smeared with excrement, blood and other dried residues that you don't dare try to identify; the only undisturbed rooms are your quarters, which are off-limits by previous threat and agreement - the only exception is that Indarin's door is left open, from when the zombie within emerged and went on a short rampage with Todok's gnoll zombie before being destroyed (they killed one Gnoll). Otherwise, the temple room and living quarters are actively avoided by the Gnolls.
You all have individual pursuits following training; I will attempt to address all of them here and ask that you communicate to me a summary of your activities, goals and projects before leaving the city again. Any side-dealings between characters may be done privately to save game time, as long as I am CC'ed into any email string. If you wish to keep a project confidential, your chance to notify me is NOW. Otherwise, I will discuss news, rumors, business dealings and purchases openly, assuming that the group will hear of it in passing, through Gnoll hearsay or casual conversation throughout the training month.
Todok: You are pleased to hear that six female Gnolls are pregnant; however, your overall loss of 11 Gnolls since taking leadership of the band means that your tribe is shrinking. Not that you care.
Your plans to create items require a timeline (outside of training) and a summary of costs and payment; you and all characters that wish to create an item, please "invoice" them to me so that the accounting for time and expense will all mesh with the groups' collective timeline and budget. (dang, the game seems like work, sometimes...)
Indarin: Your ceremony was successful; see item creation notes above and create "invoices" for item creation so that you all complete your tasks at the same time. Your brothel has rebuilt and earned a net profit of 98gp for the past month, subtracting reconstruction expenses. Your two Gnolls have been more housemaids than anything (and not exactly sociable, either), but they have had a couple of clients each - goblinoids and half-goblinoids.
Charaine: Training in your prestige class (as with everyone who has one) involves working with a different class of professional; in your case, you do not train at the Mage's Guild...but among colleagues in a breakaway sect devoted to Chaos. Your work, as with the others, is kept generally secret from the guild as a whole (due to the nature of your research) and you do not speak of it, lest you rouse the suspicions of competing wizards on the side of Law - who outnumber your group significantly.
Zuthara: You have one week of free time while awaiting the completion of training for the other fighters; if you wish to do anything specific during this time, please notify me.
Rahl: Considering that your training will occupy a full four weeks, you will only have 3 days to drink, carouse and recruit Charlie's werebear; that pretty much fills your month.
Sizul: Your month is filled up by training as well, but you have three days following to use: let me know if there is something specific that you wish to do with your time.
Topaz: Your month's activities have already been generated and played; you are building a reputation in the city as a mysterious, exotic professional 'woman of the night' that caters to exclusive and high end clients with kinky fetishes bordering on the dangerous and downright cruel. I assume that, for game purposes, you decline drug, profuse alcohol or spell use in favor of keeping to your task 'at hand' and 'professionalism'.
Needless to say, you've seen your share of alcohol-poisonings, drug overdoses, call girl murders-for-sport (and even survived an attempt on you), robberies, rapes and assaults during your sessions - but for adventuring purposes we're assuming that you either get out before things get too hot for you (prudent planning and escape) or you survive any fracas that breaks out due to your fighter levels and sheer hit points (relative to the fops, noblemen, peasants and low-lives you're surrounded by).
Henry: As with Charaine, your training is among an isolated and secretive cult, one even smaller than Charaine's and kept even more hidden than the temples of Indarin and Todok; it is common knowledge among the dozen or less of you that should one of you be caught by any authority or be compromised professionally, your life is forfeit. You are considered a poison apprentice under the city's current ranking poison alchemist, but as a "part-timer", you won't be learning as fast as a full-time assassin in the city. But, you will have access to one of the best poison labs in the city - yours.
Jason & Charlie (everyone, actually): Please email me all of your relevant stats that I track; that would be:
- Name, class(es) & levels, all melee (& weapon damage) stats, ranged (& weapon damage) stats, save modifiers, spot/listen/search modifiers and hit points.
Presumably, Rahl recruited you both out of the city's not-so-underground pit fighting circuit (you were both doing well in each of your 'classes') and brought you to the Fortress. Charlie - you came here seeking out those of your kind (so you can kill them) and figure that a group with underworld connections can be useful; Jason - you were making a living crushing weaklings and enjoying the destruction of undeserving peasants who sap society of strength and worth...you find this group of specialists quite capable of delivering you to a position of great prominence in time...which, of course, you find very appealing.
I would like to collect, consolidate and complete all administrative and individual plot advancement duties via email throughout the weekend and up to game time next week so that we can provision up and move on come Wednesday night; if you have wishes, tasks, etc. - email me. Even if you mentioned it in passing at game time, repeat yourself - I want a comprehensive record of what I need to track and compute for next time, so list EVERYTHING you might have going on besides actual adventuring.
M
That was one big and brutal battle. Am I correct in assuming that the devil was an Erinyes? What level is the party at? And how do remember all those details; do you take notes as you play or just have a good memory later when you wrote these summaries?
That was one big and brutal battle. Am I correct in assuming that the devil was an Erinyes?
Yes, it was - run as written in "Zenith Trajectory" and was the climactic fight of the module (as opposed to Zenith Splintershield himself, who unfortunately didn't last nearly as long).
What level is the party at?
I believe the party was around level 4 or 5 at that point in their careers, although I didn't archive their party stats sheet that far back.
Do any players lurking have better info on that?
And how do remember all those details; do you take notes as you play or just have a good memory later when you wrote these summaries?
I created an .xls spreadsheet around three or four posted synopses ago that tracks round-to-round actions for each player and monster (you noticed the improvement in detail, I take it...); it has two boxes per person per round - one for action, one for spells in effect on that person. The sheet accomodates 16 lines (usually the whole party and up to three opponents)and tracks up to 15 rounds (I've gone up to three sheets for a fight).
When initiative is rolled, I write the names in order top-town on the sheet, then call actions for each player, in order, per round, recording as I go. I then have from the next day after the session until the next week's session to do the write-up, based on what I remember and what's recorded on that sheet.
There - you have my secret now!
M
8/11/04: Boy isn't it great to be done with all the admin work and back out in the wilderness with all of these neat new powers and toys to try out...
"One More Time, With Feeling"
(or, "at least it's Atkin's Friendly")
Training has been completed, the Fortress has been provisioned for the month, the Gnoll 'Blood Howler' tribe has settled into a spacious new home, Indarin has begun sealing off her new temple/crypt/library - it's time to head back to the Underdark, hopefully for better returns this time around.
Your four-day journey back to the 'Pit-Formerly-Known-as-the-Pit-of-Jaws' is uneventful, allowing you to get acquainted with two new warriors that Rahl recruited in the city's 'ellicit' pit-fighting circuit; Boric, a hulking werebear who likes to get up close and personal, and Bust 'Yass, a human monk who doesn't say a whole lot, but when he does goes along with the party's "kill all who oppose us" philosophy.
Mercifully, your four days above ground is followed by two in the Underdark that are uneventful, save for an unfortunate, lone sheepherder and his flock that you all encounter on day three; who got it worse in the end (no pun) - the sheep or the herder, no one will ever know.
Navigating familiar tunnels, you easily find your way back to the large underground lake with its island temple; with fewer people to move and two canoes instead of one (and no pesky Kuo-Toa oarsman), crossing goes in only two trips while Sizul and Todok carry three across themselves. This time the party has a clear assault strategy in mind, with Rahl (of all people) leading the attack. The group splits, with one group going upstairs to access the third floor and the other going straight in through the second floor doors.
While the upper group reaches the eye socket balconies and searches the armory for secret doors that might lead to the temple, the lower group breaches the long hallway that leads directly into the main temple chamber; Henry triggers a glyph that he earlier had failed to locate, but he dodges the blast - Sizul and Topaz aren't so lucky, but they manage to avoid serious injury. They are soon rejoined by the upper floor group, who failed to find an access way on the higher floor to the temple. As a full group again, they open the massive stone double doors to the temple, with Rahl and Borek breaking a thick wooden beam to do so. As the great portal opens to you, the familiar, dimly lit chamber greets you with its two red, glowing points of light high above that illuminate the horrid statue of the Sea-Mother...the room is eerily silent.
But there is something different, also. The center of the chamber is dominated on the ground floor by a huge cloud of thick, opaque mist that rises up 30' almost to the level of your balcony; out of the top rises something long and dark that stretches just barely to floor level, but before you can identify what it is, it opens - and a steaming beam of goo splashes into the hallway, soaking Rahl and Borek and spraying into the ranks of Gnolls behind! Amid horrifying screams and howls of pain, you all watch as seven of the ten Gnolls who accompanied you on this trip are dissolved into messy, foaming piles of bloody flesh and bones; Rahl and Borek fall back behind the doors to take cover, sizzling painfully and madly grasping for newly-purchased healing potions.
The party springs into action!
As Indarin moves up behind Rahl and touches him with her brand-new wand of curing, Borek drinks a curative potion, Charaine casts a Fireball straight into the vaporous cloud and everyone else sprints into the temple under her cover, splitting up as they enter onto the balcony; the three surviving Gnolls (miraculously) rally and follow Todok into the temple. Getting into position, the group now sees that the Fireball has burned away a large section of the fog, revealing a black Dragon almost as large as the one you fought outside of the Pit of Jaws nary a month ago! Hidden along the railing to its left, Henry fires from the shadows, but misses; Todok casts Flesh Ripper, which makes the beast roar in agony as scales fly off of its hide. Topaz, opposite Henry, fires once and hits with one of her new magic arrows, while Indarin casts another cure spell onto Rahl; one of the Gnoll Barbarians, seeing the dragon, finally breaks and flees, but his disappointed leader catches him with his halberd as he passes and decapitates him. Zuthara, despite being shaken by the dragons fear aura, manages to hit with an arrow also, while a similarly shaken Sizul leaps from the balcony and begins a glide to the bottom floor. As 'Busta' runs to he nearest stairs to reach the lower level, Charaine fires a second Fireball directly onto the dragon - but Boric shocks everyone by making a running leap from the thirty-foot balcony directly onto the dragon below!
Boric lands on the dragon and the two of them fall hard to the floor, but Boric gains the upper hand from the collision, as he manages to grapple the beast despite its small advantage in strength and greater advantage in appendages! Everyone capitalizes on the werebear's tangling up with the dragon and uses the time to move downstairs... Todok tries to cast Flesh Ripper again, but the monster's resistance blocks the spell this time; Henry tries another sneak attack on the tied-up dragon, but misses again. While the two great beasts wrestle on the bottom floor, Boric claws and bites at the dragon, digging deep furrows with one claw!
The dragon regroups and manages to push Boric off, but by now it is already wounded and now the party is set up in positions, ready to attack...
To Be Continued...
M
Mercifully, your four days above ground is followed by two in the Underdark that are uneventful, save for an unfortunate, lone sheepherder and his flock that you all encounter on day three; who got it worse in the end (no pun) - the sheep or the herder, no one will ever know.
Dare I ask for details on the doubtlessly horrid fate(s) were met by this poor sap and his sheep?
Dare I ask for details on the doubtlessly horrid fate(s) were met by this poor sap and his sheep?
This particular session, Indarin was pouting over the lack of typical travelling fodder she could make undead legions out of (farmers, travelling serfs, local goblins, etc.), so I thew this poor sod in their path; I'm sure the sheep wound up as dinner...the shepherder was gang-raped, brutally and violently killed, then raised as a skeleton by Indarin for use as a personal servant.
That was WITHOUT the details.
M
8/18/04:Thank you, everyone for providing dinner last Wednesday night - it was a real treat to not cook; it was a nice change to spend an anniversary in a similar manner as our wedding evening (the early part, at least).
"Triple Threat: The D&D Musical"
(or, "Do You Wanna Get Poked Again, Little Man?)
Round 1: Black Dragon... *Ding*
Following the aggressive 'turnbuckle leap and grapple' maneuver by Boric, the dragon struggled but managed to free itself from the werebear's clutches; while Zuthara, Todok, Indarin, Busta and Rahl either encircle the beast or position themselves to cover the statue (and the familiar glowing fog in front of it), Henry and Topaz fire arrows at it.
Fortunately for the dragon, Topaz misses and Henry breaks his crossbow string; but, already wounded and desperate, the dragon sees its options dwindling quickly. As it tries to withdraw to a better position, it retreats toward the weakest point in the circle of opponents - that covered by Todok, who is all alone in front of the stairs to the central platform; however, the dragon underestimates the abilities in the short but stout half-demon dwarf...and it is smashed in the body by him as it tries to pass! It falls...
*Ding!*
Todok doesn't dwell on his victory for long - there is healing to do and another foe on the way; he casts Cure Moderate Wounds over the next four consecutive rounds on himself and others, as Indarin runs up, gets out her wand and casts Cure Serious Wounds, followed by Cure Moderate, before getting out her scroll of Dimensional Anchor and heading for the statue again to wait. Todok follows his heals with Magic Weapon and Align Weapon, in preparation for the devil that they all know is going to arrive soon...
...But, as they wait, Rahl, Busta, Henry and Boric decide to make sure that the Kuo-Toa high priest that almost killed Henry isn't where he was before...
Round 2: Kuo-Toa High Priest... *Ding*
After picking the lock, Henry backs off and allows Boric to go in first, followed by Rahl; Boric, not having been through this ordeal before (unlike Henry and the others), charges into the flooded room and finds the high priest waiting, just as he was for Henry a month ago - and he gets stabbed by him, in the same exact ambush. Fortunately for Boric, he's much larger and sturdier than Henry, and until now, not severely wounded; he turns and swings a broad paw at the priest, but his polearm equals his reach and he misses. Boric is stabbed a second time before he can score a hit...
Meanwhile, Henry has run to the other door on the platform in the hopes that it connects to the same room; he might be able to get a sneak attack on the priest if he can enter unseen, as well as allow Rahl and Busta a way around Boric, who fills the hall while he fights the priest on this side of the room. Picking the lock on the door, Henry allows Busta to enter ahead of him; when he does, Busta sees a Svirneblin huddled in fear in the neck-deep (to him, at least) water - he passes him by and takes aim with his crossbow from behind the Kuo-Toa priest across the room.
Boric has now found his stride with this new opponent, and hits twice with a claw and a bite; but, after seeing Rahl and Sizul move into the room behind an advancing Boric, the Kuo-Toa priest takes advantage of the tight formation of giants and casts a Lightning Bolt into the three of them! Fortunately, the priest was unaware that they were all protected by a Resist Energy spell cast earlier; Boric, Rahl and Sizul take minimal damage.
The rest of the party has been taking up positions during the fight with the Kuo-Toa priest, to ambush the devil upon her arrival; after casting Divine Favor, Todok runs up to and then climbs the statue using his slippers of Spider Climbing, where he will wait right behind where the devil appeared the last time... Zuthara takes a position on the central platform and drinks a potion of Bull's Strength before getting her bow ready, Charaine waits at the bottom of the central staircase, Topaz waits on the platform opposite Zuthara and Indarin readies her Dimensional Anchor spell in the center of the bottom floor; Sizul, abhorring the tight melee in the high priest's chamber, decides to let Boric handle this one and takes up a position underneath the front of the statue.
Boric is now wearing the priest down; he hits and grapples him as Busta's first crossbow shot misses and Henry moves into a sneak attack position, bent on revenge; as the werebear wrestles with him, he tears into him with claws and teeth, ripping apart his plate mail and leaving behind deep gashes on the flailing and howling Kuo-Toa. In a mad frenzy of panic, the priest manages to pull free of Boric just as Henry's backstab attempt misses - he flees for the door as Boric narrowly misses him; strangely, he stops in the doorway rather than runs through it. The priest suddenly turns and casts a second Lightning Bolt at Boric, Rahl and Henry; Henry ducks out of the way, but Rahl and Boric are hit - but they still resist the effects, leaving the gravely wounded Kuo-Toa cursing in an unknown tongue. Rahl now fills the hallway between the priest, Boric (who is drinking a healing potion to recover from the multiple stab wounds inflicted by the priest) and Henry (who is yelling at Rahl to get out of the way); he turns to Henry and scowls:
"Do you wanna get poked again, little man!?"
The Kuo-Toa barely has time to cast a spell before coming under fire from Topaz and Zuthara outside (who both miss), as well as Charaine, who casts three Magic Missiles (in multiple colors, no less!) into him, leaving him weaker than ever. As the Kuo-Toa high priest struggles to push the stone door closed, Rahl steps up to him in a rage, raises his great axe, and cleaves him down as Henry frowns at his lost revenge, then decides to claim the priest's cruel polearm as his trophy.
*Ding!*
On the other side of the room, Busta decides to exit the other door and meet the priest on the other side of the doorway... but to his surprise, he finds that the Svirneblin has shut the other stone door! Slapping aside the slave, he sprints for the opposite door as he and the others suddenly notice that the water in this room is rapidly rising! In a burst of monk-like speed, Busta sprints past Rahl, who moves through the door just behind him, picking up the Kuo-Toa priest's body and hurling it over the railing to the floor below in a howl of rage and frustration; but caught inside as the rising water begins to push the door closed is Boric and Henry, who has just picked up his triple-pronged bane. Boric manages to wedge an arm in the doorway as they both go under and the water reaches the ceiling...
Outside, the rest of the party has reached their final ambush positions and have been waiting several tense seconds for the glowing red fog in front of the statue to solidify; they are joined by Busta and Rahl, who move to try and help Boric push the stone door open against a fierce torrent of water flooding out of the doorway and onto the central platform. Busta jumps over the railing to the bottom floor amidst a heavy shower from above, as Boric manages to squeeze himself deeper into the doorway but no further; as he gasps for breaths under the rushing water, Henry swims behind him and tries to climb over his head through the narrow opening - he fails (the polearm he carries is too bulky). Deciding in favor of self preservation, Henry drops the polearm and tries again; this time, he succeeds, with Rahl grabbing him by the arm and pulling him through over a ducking Boric. He scrambles to his feet and moves behind the statue to drink a healing vial, as Rahl assists Boric, who is still tightly wedged in the flooded doorway.
As Rahl and Boric push on the stone door, a sudden darkening shift in the ambient reddish lighting in the temple triggers a sudden dread in Rahl and alarm in Boric, as the glowing fog blinks out in an instant, replaced by the figure of a flying female...
Round 3: Eriynes Devil... *Ding*
The party attacks as one, like the releasing of a great spring; while Busta is caught unawares underneath the platform, Charaine casts a Magic Missile - but it fails to penetrate the devil's magic resistance. Zuthara pulls on her bow just a bit farther the moment before release - but the devil's luck strikes her, and her bowstring breaks! Sizul leaps airborne from the platform, striking the devil as he flies upward beneath her as an arrow fired by Topaz hits just a moment later, causing her to scream more out of pain than surprise; Todok swings on her, standing on the statue behind where she appeared, and hits also...and, right on cue, Indarin casts Dimensional Anchor off of her scroll, to keep her from teleporting away.
Charaine tries to follow up her failed spell with Phantasmal Killer, but it also fizzles in the devil's presence; Busta moves into a firing position with his crossbow and fires, but misses, as Zuthara casts aside her sundered bow and draws her sword as she begins to run for the nearest staircase.
Sneering at the ambush, the devil immediately recognizes you all as her previous foes; with superhuman speed, she assesses your locations, finds a familiar friend, and speaks - in an amazingly sudden soft and charming tone:
"Why have you returned, friend? You risk too much for these fools; take your leave again and return home safe."
Obligingly, as before, Sizul turns and begins to fly for the exit.
Topaz hits a second time with her new, enchanted arrows given to her by Todok, but this hit elicits little more than a grunt from the devil, who is composing herself rapidly against the ambush. As Todok pursues the devil across the center of the room and higher near the ceiling, Henry joins Rahl in trying to free the trapped Boric; with a mighty groan, they succeed, leaving Boric sprawled on the puddled floor as the door slams shut and the water begins to drain from the platform.
Indarin casts Lahm's Finger Darts straight up, toward the flying devil, but the magic fails against the devil's resistance; two limp, bloody fingers fall back to the floor with a faint *splash*...
Charaine makes a third try, casting Lightning Bolt at the devil - but it also fails; Busta fares no better, missing both of his crossbow shots as Zuthara sprints up the stairs to the first balcony and Henry moves to a dark hiding place. As Sizul lands on the balcony and leaves the temple as before, the Eriynes pitches her enchanted rope at an advancing Todok, hitting him with it but failing to entangle him, also as before; Topaz hits with her third arrow, but the devil seems to be taking the hits in stride now, which worries her. Todok grapples at the devil in an attempt to wrap himself up with her to cause them both to fall to the ground, but she pushes him away with a sneer; on the platform below, Boric stands and assesses his situation as Rahl hands him a vial and commands him to drink it. Indarin casts Curse of Ill Fortune and successfully penetrates the devil's magic resistance, but she manages to fight off the spell's effect.
Growing frustrated, Charaine casts Melf's Acid Arrow at the devil; the spell doesn't falter, but her thrown dart misses! Again, Busta fails to hit the devil with either of his two crossbow shots, but Zuthara is reaching the top balcony now and Topaz hits again with her fourth arrow, which barely registers a grunt from the devil as she brings forth her flaming bow and loads, staring down Todok all the while... He dodges her first two shots, but she corrects her lead and hits with the following two shots; he advances and returns a hit of his own for modest damage. On the ground, Boric outruns even Rahl as they run toward the balconies to support Todok high above; Indarin summons a shadow and directs it to intervene in the melee at the ceiling.
The ambush has turned into a high flying combat between Todok and the Eriynes, with the rest of the party scrambling to do what they can from below. The last time, she divided and conquered; what will be the outcome the next time..?
*Ding!*
M
8/25/04:
"The Werebear Belly Flop/Todok Finds His Groove"
(or,"Elsa the Uber-Mistress Gets More S&M Than She Can Handle")
(...or, "Oooh - and it's still sticky!")
or...
As Todok performs a dangerous aerial dance with the Eriynes a full 80' above the back of the temple, Charaine pauses to consider her options against her resistant flying foe while Busta sprints toward the balcony stairs to gain a better line of fire; Zuthara is doing the same, but she has left her broken bow behind and is getting out rope in an attempt to lasso the devil. Sizul, as before, has left the building...
Firing at its greatest threat, the devil misses twice at Todok but also hits twice; he ignores the flames on each arrow but can't deny the pain of the deep wounds.
Topaz misses with her short bow for the first time, as Henry beats Zuthara to the idea and fashions his own lasso to use against the devil; Boric and Rahl are both quickly running to the top balcony to assist Todok, who is forced to land on the lower balcony due to his injuries. Indarin casts Spiritual Weapon to attack the devil, as the summoned shadow misses its second try at an attack.
Charaine try again to fire Magic Missiles at the devil - she fails, again... But, Busta gets into position on the top balcony stairs and hits with a bolt as Zuthara completes her lasso just in front of him; Topaz decides to join the others upstairs and follows Henry up to the first balcony, while Boric drinks a healing vial and Rahl gets out his dusty bow behind him on the opposite stairs. Todok casts Cure Moderate Wounds on himself after landing and Indarin casts Shield of Faith, while her Spiritual Weapon and summoned shadow both miss again.
Sensing the threat, the Eriynes turns and fires at Busta as he reloads his crossbow; the first shot he deflects... the second misses... the third, he catches out of midair two inches in front of his forehead! Cursing the monk, she fires her last shot at the shadow that's harassing her, missing also.
Charaine attempts a fourth Magic Missile spell; it fails, also. Busta repositions and fires again but misses, as does Zuthara with her lasso and a rusty Rahl with his massive longbow; Topaz and Henry continue to run upstairs, but Boric gets an idea and begins to run back downstairs to the first balcony, just inside the double doors and below the devil. Todok, having healed himself, flies up again to engage the devil once more as the shadow continues failing to hit it; Indarin's Spiritual Weapon finally hits, but the devil's resistance dispels it on contact!
Responding to Zuthara's lasso attempt, the Eriynes fires on her, hitting her twice on three shots - Zuthara is staggered by the two flaming arrows to the torso; the devil's last shot passes through the shadow, making it shudder from the flames as they pass through it. Unfortunately, her luck turns the next moment, as three of her next shots all miss - giving Zuthara time to reel in her rope and try again; her only hit is on the shadow, which still attacks but also still misses.
Charaine desperately tries her last Magic Missile...it fails. Busta scores a critical hit on the devil, rattling her for the first time, while Zuthara pulls in her lasso and resets for another throw; Topaz has reached a good firing spot, but she misses twice - Henry is still running to the top balcony. Boric moves out from the doorway and grabs onto one of the hanging rope bridges that dangle from the center top balcony (behind the devil), hoping to climb up within arm's reach of the Eriynes as Rahl's second bow shot hits (but to little effect). Todok, having flown up in an approach path, now charges the devil, hitting her with a mighty blow inspired by Erythnul himself; the Eriynes is thrown backwards from the blow and is forced to turn and descend to the center platform, with Todok in pursuit.
The party now sees their chance for victory - Busta and Zuthara both miss with crossbow and lasso, respectively, while Topaz begins the long run back downstairs and Boric jumps off of the hanging rope bridge down to the first balcony to follow; Charaine drinks a potion of Invisibility to avoid the nearby devil, while Henry takes a shortcut - jumping off of the top balcony and using his ring of feather fall to drift to the bottom floor. Indarin, seeing a wounded but furious Todok flying past her, manages to tap him with her wand of Cure Serious Wounds as he goes by; Rahl fires his bow before beginning the long run downstairs...he misses.
The Eriynes is beginning to grow desperate as she lands on the platform just to the right of the great statue of Blibdoolpoolp, for what she is beginning to realize is her final stand; as the red-eyed Todok closes on her, she raises a hand and speaks," We are not enemies...we are but kin." Todok, crazed with blood-lust, shakes off the magical energy and yells "I don't care!" as he charges in for a second huge blow that knocks her to her knees, her wings crumpling around her. Indarin moves up the center stairs behind Todok and casts Inflict Serious Wounds in preparation for her first melee combat in over a month, as the rest of the party continues to run downstairs to join them. Boric tries to take a short cut behind the devil by leaping from the balcony to the center platform; on most days, he can manage the 20' distance, but today, he comes up a few feet short - he falls 30' into shallow water below with a loud, *POOOSSSSSSSSH!*, as the water he sprays outward and comes rushing back in...and he didn't even win any beer for it...
Todok and Indarin are pushing the devil back against the railing now (with an invisible Charaine observing from nearby)... She fires desperately but still inhumanly fast, missing twice but hitting Todok once with a good shot to the torso; Todok returns an equal blow with his morning star, but Indarin's spell fails on contact with the devil. The rest of the party is beginning to arrive now and is forming a wide circle around the snarling devil, as she drops her smoking bow to the platform and clutches resolvedly at her longsword's hilt.
Emerging from nowhere, Charaine points her hand at the devil and releases her final Magic Missile spell - which fails on contact; Topaz runs around the back of the statue for a clear shot on the surrounded devil, but she misses also.
Feeling her impending doom close in a circle around her, the Eriynes tries a desperate gambit - she pleads to Boric as he advances on her, "Please, help me, friend...please, my life is in danger."
Boric blinks, and then obliges - he turns to the party...and they see a look in his eye that, until now, they've only see him give the black dragon. He attacks a shocked Zuthara, hitting her once with one claw. Henry has run up to one side of the devil, but now stands flabbergasted and indecisive at this sudden turn of events; as Rahl gets in position around the devil, he puts his bow away and gets out his halberd. Todok is still bent on killing the Eriynes, but that narrow vision costs him - as Boric intercepts him with his long arm and drags him in for a literal bear hug as he kicks and screams for blood! Indarin casts Dispel Magic to try and break the charm on Boric, but the devil's magic is too strong - it fails.
The devil is feeling the tide turn back in her favor...she tries to stand fully, but she still faces no less than five hostile opponents. Charaine, now mad with frustration, gets out her spellbook and tears out a page to cast directly at the devil - her Lightning Bolt fizzles inches from her fingers! Busta dodges around the tied-up Boric and Todok to reach the devil, but his punch misses her; Topaz, now against the railing a mere 20' from the devil, also misses, as her arrow deflects off her armor.
Zuthara, seeing Todok in danger of being torn limb from limb by Boric, dives into the fray and manages to pull him free from the werebear's clutches; Todok promptly casts Cure Moderate Wounds on himself to save his life.
However, the chaos that Boric has unleashed has given the devil time to regroup and think; using the massive Boric as cover, she reaches out from behind him and waves to the advancing Rahl; she speaks:
"Your friend needs your help; he is outnumbered - you must save him."
The barbarian acts on instinct - he has no time to consider strategy or meaning; he reacts almost instantly, turning and making a mighty downstroke on the nearest hostile foe...
...He misses Topaz by inches, digging a deep crevasse into the wet stone at her feet; she glares at him and hisses, "I'll deal with YOU, later!"
Boric also is still charmed and defending the devil; he attacks Zuthara, missing with his claws but biting her deeply and leaving her staggered and bleeding - he chooses to not grapple her in order to better defend the area around the devil.
Seeing the party's two larger warriors under the control of the Eriynes (and the third AWOL...) tells Charaine that things have turned rapidly against the group; desperation replaces frustration as the now visible mage rapidly pages through her spellbook, searching for something that might finish the wounded devil off before Rahl and Boric cleave the entire party to death! She finds a page and incants...
Everyone in the chamber pauses, as hail and cold wind immediately pummels everything and everyone on the platform! For a brief moment, all combat ceases while everyone except Charaine and Indarin (who are too far away) reflexively covers themselves against the barrage of ice, hail and sleet that pours down onto the wet stone; Zuthara, already weak from her wounds, collapses into the puddles that now fill with slush and melting ice - she no longer fends off the hailstones as they pound her limp body and pile up around her.
The first to recover and act is Busta... He advances past Boric again and reaches the devil, hitting her with an open palm to the face; she falls backwards and collapses to the slush-covered stone...
Immediately, Boris and Rahl pause, realizing that they were attacking the wrong people; just as immediately, Topaz takes three quick strides up to Rahl, lowers her bow and slaps the half-ogre across the face, hard, with her open hand. She says nothing as she spins around to walk away - but then, none are required...
Indarin rushes to Zuthara and quickly touches her wand of Cure Serious Wounds to her - but nothing happens.
Zuthara is dead.
Again, silence falls in the temple, save for the sounds of labored breathing, as the party looks at each other, if not for consolation, to ask, 'what now?' as they stand in a circle around Zuthara's pummeled corpse.
Without a word, Rahl kneels and begins to rifle through her belongings - not as much out of greed as a sense of urgent pragmatism...he seeks useful items before they move on...
DM note:
As you search the Eriyne's body, you find only the following:
- A damaged breastplate of blackened steel;
- An enchanted mighty composite longbow of red hardwood with small black runes all over it (it is very hot to the touch);
- 12 enchanted longbow arrows;
- An enchanted longsword;
- A normal 50' rope braided from mixed humanoid hair
M