Alizar removes the piece of parchment, finding its purpose. When he sees Anwyllia do the same, he moves over to her. He looks at her piece, if able.
The mayor nods and hands the old lantern to Drosk. It's a thing of fine craftsmanship still evident despite being used for this ritual for over two hundred years. It's a strange blending of two styles that work well together to form a stable and beautiful frame with red lacquered wood paneling.
Drosk reverently accepts the ancient lantern from Mayor Uptal, and carefully stores it within the pack placed before him. Then he shoulders his pack, waves farewell to his aunt and uncle, and follows his companions as they set out on their quest.
"Drosk, what'd you get?"
Drosk examines the contents of his pack, and chuckles as he pulls out a small bottle. He removes the bottle's stopper and takes a whiff, then looks at the bottle appreciatively. "Well, if'n I miss me guess, I'd say that this is some of Trelvar's finest brandy! A bit of a prize for all of us to share after we find the Everflame!"
"Oh, and I've got one of those scraps of parchment, too." The dwarf priest holds out his torn piece of parchment for the others to examine.
To Drosk:
"I've become accustomed to Trevlar's particular brand of alcohol, acquired a taste even. When you open it, I would like a cup."
To Drosk:
"I've become accustomed to Trevlar's particular brand of alcohol, acquired a taste even. When you open it, I would like a cup."
"Of course!" Drosk replies to Alizar.
"That is...IF WE SURVIVE!" the dwarf adds mock-ominously as he glances toward Tymothy from the corner of his eye.
Tymothy somehow manages to look even more miserable.
"I don't know, it can be quite scary down there. We may be the first group to not return."
Sylvan
"Mister Swallwood, shall we combine the parchment pieces, all those we have, to determine what they are and how they affect our journey?"
Anwyllia gives her piece of parchment to Tymothy
"Aye, from what I hear Tymothy here is a real smart one," Drosk says sincerely, all joking aside as he hands his piece of parchment to the young wizard. "If anyone can figure this out, it's him."
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Lianth has gotten tired of the taunting, remembering too well her own outcast childhood,
"Gentlemen. Mister Smallwood may or may not be able to cause a building to topple over when he's anxious. Let's not provoke him into demonstrating what happened to the tower, shall we?"
"Actually, that very ability might be perfect for this mission. Timmay! I'll do my best to keep harm from occurring to your person, m'kay," Senmont says to Tymothy as he hands over his piece of parchment.
It doesn't take long to combine the various pieces of parchment to form a cohesive map. It's fairly simple indicating the paths one should take in order to make their way to serpent gorge and thus to the Crypt of the Everflame.
"Looks like we make our way to the Broken Glade, then head south to the Gray Lake and on to Serpent Gorge." Drosk states the obvious as the group studies the pieced-together map.
"Well, Elf, Lasses, think ye can guide us there?"
"I know the general way, I could do so if not distracted. Yes, we definitely take the Broken Glade south to the Gray Lake to Serpent Gorge, I concur."
"Gray Lake is nice, serene, different, not a horrible place."
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Lianth examines the map, and then shades her eyes as she looks at the treeline outside of town.
"Leaving town this way should be easiest to get us started." she says confidently, pointing into the woodline. "Do you agree Anwyllia?"
She hoists her pack and stows her shield away, taking up her longbow in hand, and begins moving in that direction, pausing only to make sure that everyone else is following.
Knowledge Geography
Survival
Anwyllia just nods at Lianth's question . She is busy rearranging her pack with the new items she has be given .
Survival
As Alizar travels, he makes note of unique aspects of the trail, occasionally marking trees with Sylvan characters.
You head out south of Kassen and into the wilderness starting your quest with practicality that is seen as a virtue amongst the townsfolk you check your equipment and head south. The day is fairly pleasant though the thick forest canopy keeps the full beauty of the sun from shining down it does create allow for the occasional sunbeam to add to natures beauty. The trail you follow merely a game trail, large enough for you to travel single file and widening only when the underbrush permits.
Two hours out of Kassen you find yourself making good time. The canopy is a touch thicker in the region and the underbrush a little more sparse causing the trail to widen while being a little more difficult to follow as it blends in with the surrounding terrain. With the skilled foresters in the group as well as the map, however, you're more than capable of staying on the path.
You come to a large log that had fallen over the path some years ago, before you can approach to closely three figures leap over the obstacle and face you with weapons at the ready. They have green-gray skin and stringy black hair with tusks jutting from their lower jaws and adding to their ferocious demeanors. They shout vulgar challenges to you in a rough tongue as they ready their greataxes to attack.
Initiative
Initiative:
Drosk's face reddens at the orcs' vulgar challenges. "WH-WH-WHAT!! WELL NOW HAVE AT YE!!" the dwarf priest yells as he charges at the orcs, swinging his warhammer as he advances.
Attack (Charging): (includes +2 for charging)
Damage:
Init
I hold my action
Initiative: Round 1
- Lianth 19
- Alizar 18
- Orcs 17
- Anwyllia 7
- Drosk 6
- Senmont 5
Lianth and Roarke act with lightening precision, the Druids bow is ready and an arrow flies as Roarke rushes forward to leap at the orc his companion was aiming at. The orc ducks the arrow and is in the middle of shouting something that was no doubt vulgar at Lianth it's interrupted as the wolf's jaws clamp down on it's throat. It's cry dies in a gurgle as it falls to the ground. Roarke continues shaking and tearing but after a moment looks up and paws at the corpse as though confused.
The orcs don't seem too thrilled with one of their number being taken out so quickly and while one moves to attack the wolf the other rushes towards Lianth. They both connect and Roark almost seems surprised when the orc strikes the wolf letting out a yelp of pain and anger. Meanwhile the other orc strikes Lianth it's axe biting into her flesh almost dropping her where she stood.
Seeing the orcs react to Lianth's defeat of the orc, Alizar moves into a flanking position, if possible, or does a double move allowing him to be flanking.
If flanking,
Tumble to avoid Atk of opp
seeing Lianth under attack , Anwyllia let fly two arrows toward this orc (rapide shot , point blank shot)
.
Anwyllia's arrow flies true piercing the orc through the shoulder though the brutish thing doesn't seem to do much more then wince in pain. Alizar moves to flank Lianths foe nimbly tumbling behind him, unfortunately, coming to his feet a little too fast he's unable to get a solid hit in. Drosk, now promptly ignored by the orc who insulted his parentage as it attacks Roark, charges forward swinging his axe savagely at the thing. The attack, however, is far too wide and the dwarf far too loud, enabling the foe to notice him in time to sidestep what would have been a devastating hit. This leaves Senmont who rushes forward and attacks the orc on Lianth connecting for
End of Round 1
Initiative: Round 2
- Lianth 19
- Alizar 16
- Orcs 17
- Anwyllia 7
- Drosk 6
- Senmont 5
"Illusions you say, I must see this for myself"
Attack the orc flanked
After he misses, "next time."
"Why not just throw dust or something to carpet the area, if possible. It'll pass through the illusions, as you say, and maybe find someone hiding nearby, tracks, something."
Will save
Not getting it , anwyllia shoots at the orcs again (after they act of course)
"Here now!" Drosk exclaims as he observes the true nature of the orcs. The dwarf approaches the figments slowly, passing his hand through their translucent forms. "This be but foul trickery! Where's the true miscreant?"
The dwarven priest peers about carefully, looking for any sign of a true threat.
Lianth backs up still feeling the pain of the wound caused by her foe. The orc grunts and spins around swinging it's blade at the elf pestering him from behind while grunting something that was surely uncouth in it's foul tongue. Alizar feels the axe connect and is unable to wrap his mind around Lianths claims to the thing being false as the pain he feels seems quite real.
The other orc turns and takes a swing at the dwarf to little effect, the axe seeming to clang off of his shield most of the others. Anwyllia, unable to make sense of her companions words, let's fly two arrows but is unable to get a good shot in with everyone fighting as they are. The dwarf promptly ignores his foe and looks about for the caster of the alleged illusion as Lianth does but to no success for either. Senmont makes a couple of attacks that seem to have little effect though as he hears Lianths claim he focuses his will and pierces the illusion.
Focusing your will you pierce the illusions, their image wavers to a shimmering outline that is harmless when you touch it.
You see the orcs as orcs, you won't see their weapons pass through but see their attacks miss or get deflected by a shield. Drosk's reaching out to touch his results in his stepping back away from the dwarf.
End of Round 2
Initiative: Round 3
- Lianth 19
- Alizar 16
- Orcs 17
- Anwyllia 7
- Drosk 6
- Senmont 5
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Round 3
With a 'sst' sound hissed between tongue and tooth, Lianth gets Roarke's attention, and points towards the woodline. "Track!" she says, stepping through the Orc threatening her as if it was made of smoke.
When she arrives at Roarke's position, hoping that his keen senses will assist her him in tracking the source of these phantasms, working under the assumption that the deceiver stood in this spot to determine the best position to view the party, perhaps quite recently...
will save vs illusion
Will save total 19 (15+4)
Focusing on the orc as he attempts to hit, the orc appears odd for a moment but stays solid and real. "I'm not seeing anything unusual here.....wait a second, it's an outline, not real, neat."
Soon it becomes clear that the battle is over. As Lianth calls out for Roark to begin tracking the wolf heads to the trees and the underbrush with his nose to the ground. It doesn't take long for the orcs to freeze in their place and then fade away along with any wounds they had caused. There's a rustle in the bushes not too terribly distant that grabs the wolfs attention and with a bark he rushes toward it. By the time everyone else arrives, should they follow, Roark is barking and staring up at the foliage above.
After a moment Tymothy slips out from where he had been cowering behind a tree and gives an embarassed laugh as he approaches the spot. He pauses for a moment and seems confused before he starts sniffing the air.
Combat is effectively over
You catch a whiff of pipesmoke in the area and looking at the ground you can spy a small bit of ash.
Perception