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Post by yoggemothi on Mar 6, 2010 5:30:30 GMT -5
Summary: The party has arrived at Tempest Gorge and met with the village's two leaders, the brother Grimson. The party now plans their next actions as dusk settles over Bald Mountain, the darkness concealing a mysterious threat.
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Post by Japic on Mar 8, 2010 1:12:07 GMT -5
Unaware of the results of Brim's Detect Evil spell, Coppertop watches him follow the hunter out to set traps.
"Tell me, what preparations will the townfolk make? How do they plan to either best or avoid this dragon?" Secretly Coppertop is beginning to wonder whether they are fighting a dragon at all. For what kind of beast with superior air maneuverability, would entirely forget it to battle on the ground. Surely the weather can't be so bad that the dragon is unable to skim the ground and snatch his victims away...
However this was a theory that would have to wait until he could speak in private with his companions.
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Post by TheUdjat on Mar 8, 2010 8:44:17 GMT -5
Though initially surprised to find a man concerned with the town's well-being to crack his radar, Brim takes the time to work the thought through. Even vile folk have family and homes. Of course, he may also be lying, conspiring with the creature, or ought else. More investigation is required. Now, more than ever, he must watch this man's actions.
Brim also does his best to commit the other evil villagers to mind. They don't appear involved in anything currently afoot, but under ordinary circumstances, these would be people that Divinity would demand be dealt with. There isn't time for that just now, but circumstances will change when the dragon is dealt with.
So when Alexei mentions the setting of traps, Brim merely nods. He'll help out--for the village. He'll also be sure to take special care with analyzing the man's answers to his questions.
Speaking of, when they are on their way to go about work, the Tiefling speaks. "Tell me about your traps. Do you truly mean to hamper the creature?" It seemed a strange boast back at the tavern. Traps are for animals and adventurers, not monsters.1.9.0.11
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Post by at on Mar 9, 2010 5:29:27 GMT -5
As the inn cleared out Tyvek had second thoughts about it's value as shelter. A table, chair, and glass of good wine near the door would do well enough.
Looking upwards he tried to assess how high above them the magical storm raged, and the safe height of operation. "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Corvx Gurga'tempestâs wgah'nagl fhtagn"
The shadows around Tyvek shudder and coalesce, winged forms break free of the darkness and float upwards with rows of lidless eyes staring into the storm.
(Tyvek casts Summon Monster I - 1d3 psuedonatural crows)
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Post by yoggemothi on Mar 9, 2010 15:11:25 GMT -5
"Honestly," Nikolai whispers into Coppertop's ear, "We don't stand a chance against this thing." The man looks down in shame, "We make plans, hide the women and children, and pray. Inevitably, our plans fail, we lose more men, and we mourn the next morning." Nikolai's features betray him, revealing a man lost in depression and a feeling that he's failed his village.
Meanwhile, the crow-like aliens fly upwards, as commanded. Alexei notices the spell being cast and the summoned creatures flying towards the clouds. He grins deviously. "Ready to hear the funniest sound?" he asks Brim.
As the pseudonatural birds ascend, their feathers begin standing on end and they hear a low humming noise. About 120ft into the air, a single bolt of lightning streaks across the sky, ripping through all three birds and making a rather hilarious "Pop-Caw!" sound as the crows burst into a rain of charred feathers. The thunder rumbles the structures in the village. The villagers pause for only a second, obviously use to this kind of event.
Alexei laughs aloud at the act of raw, destructive, elemental power. Wiping a tear from his eye, he addresses Brim again. "Never gets old, you know? As you've probably noticed, there's no birds around here." The two continue towards the edge of the village, climbing a ridge to the north of town. "The traps I set are top-notch. Whirling blades, spiked battering rams, and the best poison I can get my hands on." The hunter reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black flower petal, "Do you recognize this little beauty here?"
Before Brim can answer, the two reach the top of the ridge. The view is awe-inspiring, a cacaphony of elemental power the likes of which Brim has never seen. Lightning bolts litter the sky as a great glacier caps the peak of Bald Mountain. Glowing yellow and illuminating the whole mountain, a river of lava extrudes from about halfway up the slopes. It courses through the mountain valleys, making its way towards the village before gently curving the east and coming into contact with a roaring river of icemelt water. A great plume of steam rises from where they interact, then swirls up and around the mountain due to the constant winds. The scene is almost surreal. It doesn't seem natural for the Material Plane.
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Post by at on Mar 10, 2010 5:20:37 GMT -5
It doesn't seem natural for the Material Plane. [/b][/quote] Tyvek and Glyphe watch the skies as the crows ascend, seeking any sign of a magical trigger or planar schism. The mage had expected their flight to be shorter, perhaps the dragon did not know it was safe to fly here. The sudden flashes of light from the mountain caused him to turn and for a moment he was transfixed. Gathering his wits quickly he instructed Glyphe to stand watch for the dragon lest the creature use the display to hide it's approach. Looking towards the mountain he could not help but think of the great gate beneath Firestorm peak... (Arcane sight on the storm above, Tyvek will stay within range of the spell as the Crows fly up. Spellcraft +26, Know arcana/planes +24 - with Glyphe's bonus added in. Same checks again on the mountain storm, but it's out of range of the Arcane sight spell)
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Post by TheUdjat on Mar 10, 2010 8:53:02 GMT -5
Brim must miss the joke when it comes to the crows getting annihilated. He lifts an eyebrow. "Hysterical," he says in a near-deadpan.
He continues to follow and listen, wondering about the wisdom of these traps and prepared to comment on them when the spectacle of elemental wrath comes into view. Brimstone is suitably impressed. He's been to monster-laden dungeons less dangerous than this place, and this is where they decided to settle a whole village? Madness.
He shakes his head a little. "What warlock keeps your people tethered to this place, Alexei?" He hopes the man understands the real question beneath his statement.
He also looks over the flower, but he notices nothing about it that rings of familiarity. But then, poisons were never his thing, even in his rather turbulent youth. "Are your traps for beasts or the dragon? They seem too brutal for common prey, and too ineffectual for the draconic."1.9.0.11
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Post by yoggemothi on Mar 10, 2010 19:21:46 GMT -5
Tyvek: The forces at work on Bald Mountain are not caused by mortal spell effects. No, this is a supernatural phenomenon. It is as though the chaotic plane of Limbo has manifested itself on the Material Plane, or perhaps the individual Elemental Planes have a unique connection to this place. Either way, Bald Mountain represents a unique nexus of elemental energies.
Alexei laughs at Brim's first question, "Our insanity's sufficient to keep us here I suppose. Surviving in a place like this makes one feel superior. We seek to tame a land that others would deem untamable. To succeed is an accomplishment well worth the effort." The hunter inspects a nearby trap, "Trust me, if one of these hit the Chernabog, even he would give pause. The petal, by the way, is that of a black lotus. Black lotus extract is one of the most potent poisons known. Potent enough to slay a dragon, from what I've learned about it."
Brim begins to understand Alexei's intentions. The hunter sees this village as his possession, and thus seeks to protect it. He probably cares little for the villagers themselves, but sees them as an investment of his time and effort. Brim doubts Alexei would risk his life for the village, but he certainly seems willing to try to defeat this beast to preserve what he perceives as his.
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Post by at on Mar 15, 2010 10:19:25 GMT -5
It seems as if the mountain would be worthy of his time after all.
Tyvek heads towards the inn, knowing he would not be able to study the place in peace until the local dragon had been slain. And perhaps the barkeeper might know something of note regarding this place's past.
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Post by TheUdjat on Mar 17, 2010 14:51:56 GMT -5
[Seriously? Only at in the last week? I don't feel so bad about my hiatus...]
Still distrusting the man and not overly fond of him, Brim at least understands that he isn't a danger to the village as a whole. As long as he continues to believe it is 'his' and this status isn't threatened, he is a problem that can be dealt with later. The tiefling nods at his methods and traps. "I see. Let us hope the dragon is so easily dealt with." And, hey, that'd speed things up for them.
Brim continues to help the man with his traps until it is due time to get back to the others and share what little they've learned. Before taking off, he slips in a few more general questions about the dragon, just to better understand the picture. "Chernabog?" he asks first, wanting to know what the man meant. Was he naming the dragon? "Does the creature have any habits you can pass on? I assume it has been clever enough to avoid your traps so far, but perhaps it has a preferred tactic." Direction of origin, descriptions of spells it casts, and other such details could all be helpful.
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Post by yoggemothi on Mar 18, 2010 11:25:25 GMT -5
(Yeah, we haven't heard from Curt and Eresh in over two weeks. I guess they're just enjoying the village.)
(This'll be my last post for a little while. Please see my post in the Out of Town section.)
Tyvek: The bartender is wiping off some mugs. "What can I do for you?"
Brim: "Chernabog," Alexei repeats, "It means 'Dark God' in the giants' tongue. I felt it was an appropriate name." Alexei's eyes glisten in the torchlight as he stares off into the distance. "Black as the abyss and stronger than a demon. Yeah, Chernabog seems right."
Alexei starts walking back to the village with Brim. "Well," he ponders, "Already told you guys it breathes acid and rips people apart like cloth." The hunter stops, really concentrating on his past experiences with the creature. "It seems to come from the cave structures where the lava meets the river. Those caves run deep, though. No telling how far up the mountain the creature's lair is."
The village's torches shine vigorously in the distance, desperately trying to fend off the darkness as it relentlessly presses down upon the tiny town. "The other night, it used some sort of special attack on my apprentices. A spell, I suppose. We were outmaneuvering it through the wooded crags north of town. It was too large to run or fly, so it stopped. It turned the stone beneath my men's feet to mush, instantaneously! They became stuck and ... well, there wasn't much left to it after that."
Knowledge (arcana) [fail]: Brim doesn't know what spell Alexei is describing.
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Post by at on Mar 18, 2010 12:36:40 GMT -5
Tyvek puts a gold coin down on the counter, Wine. And tell me about this place, the mountain and the storm... and the dragon.
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Post by yoggemothi on Mar 22, 2010 12:22:54 GMT -5
Tyvek: The bartender's eyes widen as he stares at the gold piece. "I've got a seven-year-old red in the back. Just a moment." He rushes to his back room and produces a dusty bottle of deep, dark, red liquid. He quickly pours Tyvek a full glass, pours himself one as well, and replaces the cork immediately.
"I'm afraid the Brothers Grimson can tell you more about the Chernabog, but I can definitely help you with the legends of this region." He raises the glass to his nose and smells the bouquet, "Mmm. Bald Mountain, seat of elemental power on this plane." He sips the wine, drawing breathe over his tongue to aerate the fluid. Closing his eyes, he savors the experience. Tyvek gets a sense this is a VERY good wine he's opened. "Air, Water, Earth, and Fire, all combined in equal parts. Legend holds that there is a point at Bald Mountain's peak where all four elements are in unity. While a maelstrom of energy swirls around it, at that one point there is peace; a complete calm."
He looks at Tyvek carefully, "You seem like a man who can appreciate the forces at work here."
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Post by Japic on Mar 23, 2010 22:30:11 GMT -5
(For the record I have nothing further to say to this brother. His depression is deepset and Coppertop wishes to give him no false hope. )
"Thanks you," he says simply and walks out of the Inn to see if his companions have found anything of interest. Largely he seeks the attention of Brim, who is likely some time to return.
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Post by at on Apr 1, 2010 3:30:18 GMT -5
(OOC - peers around. As with Coppertop, Tyvek is now waiting for his companions to complete their preparations and for the arrival of this dragon - given his current selection of spells there is little he can do but stand Glyphe on guard at the window and wait)
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Post by Rojito on Apr 17, 2010 21:22:27 GMT -5
(sorry about not being around lately, life has been..... beyond hectic.)
Curt comes back into the village from scouting around. He will meet up with everyone and await their next move.
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Post by at on Apr 18, 2010 17:04:33 GMT -5
(also still here)
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Post by yoggemothi on Apr 19, 2010 21:45:49 GMT -5
Everyone is working diligently when the breeze that normally washes over the village abruptly ceases for a moment. Although the constant winds are easily ignored, the lack thereof is eerily noticeable. A resounding boom echoes between the buildings; a tree has been downed somewhere in the darkness. The villagers panic and all head towards the center of town."Damn it!" Alexei shouts, "Not this soon!" He draws his bow and races towards the town square. "Come on, heroes," he calls to the group, "Let's see what you've got!" (Please describe what your characters have already done and plan to do to prepare for the battle. You have one round to act before the attack. The starting positions of your characters are up to you, but you must be on the grid. The map grid and initiative order will be posted shortly.) Battle Music: 2-on-2
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Post by Japic on Apr 19, 2010 22:39:31 GMT -5
(I'm not sure where the grid is, but Coppertop would be available to fight, though not as a frontliner. He would be on the side opposite the creature's approach.)
[Also as bookkeeping from before, Coppertop spends each morning two turn attempts to use his divine ward feat on the two melee combatants, Curt and Brim. Seven uses remain.]
Remembering that the villagers said he used acid to burn his victims Coppertop takes out a little additional insurance. Before the creature bursts into sight he grips the holy symbol about his neck and gestures precisely with his other hand while speaking the words of power; in response to his call a sigil is drawn hanging in the air. It expands and envelops the holy warrior in pale green light as the spell settles in over the host. [Cast protection from energy: acid]
Unknowing what they would face Coppertop waits patiently for his victim to arrive. He would see the beast and it would know fear before it departed this world.
[Init +2] [Resist 5 Acid, absorb 0/120 Acid]
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Post by at on Apr 20, 2010 10:41:38 GMT -5
Tyvek floats silently from his resting spot, both he and Glyphe vanishing from sight before reaching the door. Best not to give the creature an easy target, though it would soon have more immediate concerns.
A couple of feet above the roof of the inn, on the side away from the dragon's approach - a suitable vantage point and beyond any efforts of a dragon to battle those below. Glyphe watches at his side to ensure the dragon is not sneaking around from another angle.
[init +2] [Greater invisibility, Alter self (for AC), Endure elements, Phantom steed]
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