3 - 008: The Third Piece

[K Man]

{Vemu, I saw a bit of news about your country today. I hope all is well with you over there. School in 'The Hague' is bombed.}

OOC: Hmm, this situation seems strangely familiar... a small group of heroes with some NPC's trapped in a town by hoards of evils.

- Just wait until you're high enough level...wait till you see what the 'hoardes' are then. Should I change the campaign name to "Fending off the hoarde"?
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Hero, Garor, Callian, Angelus, Caelith, Newt, Krysta, Girud and Galdren - Delomme smiles for the first time since your arrival. He motions with a broad sweep of his hand to the rooftops around you, littered with ranged weaponry.



"Cannon's Foot DOES pride itself on not being helpless Krysta. Ever since we were cut off by the queen, we have devoted nearly every waking hour to the increase of defense...to almost the point of offense."

The man then snaps his fingers, speaking something to the Elves flanking him. You can hear Delomme's commands to get 'Fortress-Breaker' aligned at 'The Glade'. Delomme drops his hands, sighing.

"But an army of trolls? Cloaked in fog? How are we to combat this?"

"In such thick fog, even at arms-length... a crossbow is useless. We must find another way. Your help and promise to defend is valian...foolish but valiant."

You nod, knowing Delomme speaks the truth. You cannot even pierce the fog with vision, let alone with weaponry. The only way you were able to deduce the Fog's composition was through the tracks it left behind.

Perhaps a parley with the SlaughterFog...or some other delay is best.

Three hours is all you need...who'd have thought you could measure the amount of time you have left to live?
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Romar and Yuri - [Took Sehanine's game off this for now.]

Quickly tying a knot in the fine silk, Romar has a way down. [Climb Check, Romar = 16] The ranger manages to slip into the tube and begin his descent with decent footing. Yuri slips in behind him, sticking to the wall much like a spider or fly would.

Neither or you make much noise, slipping down the tube slowly and quietly. Soot and grime coats the walls of this little-used forge, in turn making your clothes, faces and hands black as night.

You reach the end of the tunnel and it open beneath you - opening into the belly of a forge. Four bars of thin light stretch across the soot covered floor, the vents of the forge. You can see the outline of a four foot wide door to your right where the vent is.

[Listen Checks, Romar and Yuri] Through the vent, you can hear the distant sounds of battle, the Dwarves making their way to this room with force. Just outside the door, something shuffles about, sifting through papers and making a 'clinking' noise on stone. Slipping to the vent, you peer out cautiously, unsure of what you will find.

To your surprise, you only see one figure near the forge that you now hide in. It is a tall figure, currently hunched over a collection of books and stacks of parchment. Dangling from the center of its face is a series of loathsome tentacles, each flapping about wildly like a worm on a hook.

An Illithid...

The 'Squiddy' that King Grandil referred to. What the Dwarves suspect is heading the insurgent rebellion that nearly killed them all.

Your target...

The Illithid goes about its business, oblivious to you presence. It frantically tosses parchments and scrolls about, searching for...something.

Now would be your time to end this battle...

[You are both inside of a forge, behind the door where they toss the coal into it. There is one door out of here, currently closed and latched from the outside. You could use a rope loop or something to pull the handle, but it could be spotted by the Illithid...what do you want to do?]
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[Japic]

Thinking forward to the defense of this city Giurd tries thinking of ways to get rid of the fog.

"Anytime there is a lingering fog, does the sun not burn it away? Perhaps we could burn it off as the sun would."

I am proposing that we either use daylight or some sort of fire to burn the fog away. Even if the dayight doesn't harm the fog, it will atleast illuminate the creatures within making ranged attacks possible.

If nothing else hundreds of arrows into the fog would certainly hit something.

[Merovingian]

I don't think I am much use here so unless someone says other wise I will go to the plain where we think the crystal will land and scout out the area. Hide +19 Search +11 Spot +9

[Wizard]

(OOC: Both tactics ought to wait until we're about to run out of time...no point in provoking them early.)

"Delomme...a parley would buy time, but who has the authority to speak on behalf of the fortress?"

[Hero]

"How does one parley with a pack of trolls? I'm all for firing a thousand flaming arrows into the fog; we're bound to do some damage and perhaps lift the fog. Can any of the wizards here produce a great flame in the midst of the fog to burn it off or a mighty wind to blow it away?"

[Wizard]

"Madame Czelur, I would point out that they seem to be quite willing to parley for the Shard...I think they will give us a say, at least."

[Fangor the Fierce]

Krysta turns to the others. Hearing the warriors idea of burning the fog away, she thinks on it.

Fog...that is what they are using to their advantage. It conceals them, and lets them move about unknowingly. We must find a way to either get rid of this fog.....or....use it to our advantage.

"How are you others able to travel from place to place? Can you use that ability to put yourselves behind enemy lines? Perhaps we can turn the tide... As I see it now, we have but a few options. We can get the others to travel outside the fog's reach, and light a torch. If you each can do this simultaneously, it would seem to the Trolls outside that they are actually currounded instead. Hopefully their minds are not as cunning as ours are. We could then call out to them to buy some time. We only need a few hours to get the machine in place.

If they stall, as I think they would, then we can buy a little time, as they patrol the torches or lights that we send out on their flanks. They would not know where they came from, and the seed of doubt would be planted in their minds. Perhaps they would call out to us for a parley. If not, then we should. We can stall with a bold statement. One that may prove worthy even to Trolls.

If they accept, I would tell them to send out their best warrior to the gates. We will do the same, sending our most abled warrior as well. Let the combat decide the fate of the crystal. That would buy us another hour, to prepare for the combat. This is the questionable part. That one warrior, who would battle their leader if need be, would have to but as much time as possible. I would step forward, as the warrior, if there is no other that would dare to. I am sure that with the help of everyone here, we can ensure that I would have a good chance to win. If I do, then they will see how single warrior can beat their best warrior, thereby letting that one seed of doubt grow. We may be able to then rain arrows of fire on the fog, hoping to provide a wall of fire that would keep them at bay for a little while longer.

But if I were to fall in battle, then you may still win this war. With my fall, Hero can call out to the Slaughter Fog and say that the crystal will be sent out as soon as I am buried. That should then buy whatever time you would need to get the machine ready and aimed.

It is a risky plan, but we need not fight them all if we can help it. If one life must be forfeit to save the rest, then it will be done. But you must promise one thing. To work together to rid the world of this Master."

"Hero, we could shoot into them, but if that stems the charge on their side, then we would lose the chance to have time to aim the machine and shoot the crystal out...There must be another way...."

[Fangor the Fierce]

Krysta then pours out the contents of her bag. The contents spill forth, but nothing damaged. She fumbles through a few items and gathers the rest into the bag again.

"With your help, we can make sure that I will win. I have a longsword that can be engulfed in flames at my command. The armour of the knight might be needed as well, but I will keep my own if need be. The bracers, if you would decide they would benifit would be greatly appreciated. I also have this Elixir of Firebreath. It should prove useful, should the time come to use it. Is there anything else that may help me?" She looks out to the others faces, knowing that there is a chance for her to fail and die, but also the hope that it may work.

[Wizard]

Callian's brow furrows. He had actually considered what Krysta suggests for himself. But to let her go out alone...he understands the sacrifice she is attempting to make, but still...can he hang back while another buys time for him with her life? And the Master is not one to fight honorably, nor are his minions...a hundred archers could aim at the combatant's heart from the fog, and none would know it until too late.

"Krysta...I don't think the fog can be used to our advantage. I doubt the Master would use fog if it hurt his troops as much as ours---I think they must have some way to see through it.

As to magical light, what good will sorcerous light do to that fog when we have the light of day itself above us?

"Finally, my conscience would not be clear unless I stepped forward and offered to take your place in single combat. But let us not speak of it. We must hope it does not come to that."

[VemuKhaham]

{Vemu, I saw a bit of news about your country today. I hope all is well with you over there. School in 'The Hague' is bombed.}

I know, it's truly bad, and the murder on Theo van Gogh has been the talk of the day here ever since; such things don't happen oftenly here. Just to give you a comparison: the assasination took place on the same day the American elections took place, and this sudden happening almost totally removed the elections from the news. I had to watch CNN to still be able to follow them. If you've read the entire article, you'll find that it has a long background to start with; but I won't clutter up this thread with that; if anyone wants to know more, pm me. I'll gladly explain.

Now on to the next assasination...

---

Romar doesn't really know what to do with the situation. He doesn't want any bodyguards to be alarmed, and yet he knows that he must hurry. He looks around to see if that large door is the only one out of the room. If it is, he'd like to know if he can reach it without coming within view of the illithid, and jam it somehow to block any reinforcements or flee attempts. What kind of lock does the door have?

But first, he'll have to get out of the forge itself, the most difficult part. Hopefully Yuri has some ideas... If not, he'll present the following idea, but all through gesturing, as good as he can, for any sound might now betray them easily:

OOC: I'm not really sure if I get the forge description. If we can see the illithid, can't we then go into the room outside of the forge somehow? Or is it that way too narrow? If needed if possible, escape artist +3. If not possible, then try and open the door unnoticed. Move s./Hide +7. Bluff -1 for gesturing, if I may use that skill for it.

When they succeed in opening the forge door, Romar would make his way through the large door and jam it somehow. Perhaps he can use his throwing axe to barricade it, but this all depends on the type of door.

In this idea, he would gesture to Yuri to go sneak up behind the illithid and surprise him as best as he can. As soon as the illithid becomes aware of their presence, Romar draws his bow to start shooting or his swords to start slashing, depending on the current distance from the illithid.

---

Sorry for being a bit vague.

[K Man]

{Imagine the forge like this Vemu: You ever see a wood-fire stove? Small black thing about 3-4 feet in height with a door on the front, a few vented slats cut into it. A pipe extends from the top to let the smoke out. You're inside one of those that's about ten feet high and eight feet across. You're looking out the vented slats to see the illithid. They are only about an inch or two across...and there's only four of them.}



{Kind of like that, but imagine the slats in the door up top, where the handle is. You can slide a rope loop through the slat to pull up on the handle, to get outside the forge, but almost anyone can spot a rope coming out. Hope that helps and I'm sorry for being vague... }

[VemuKhaham]

That clears up a lot: an image says more then a thousand words.

, but almost anyone can spot a rope coming out.

Well, that depends on the direction the mind flayer is looking at...

---

So, if that is the case, Romar will keep his current plans, but now he also opens the door with a little piece of the rope he slices off from the silk rope he used to get down here, using his dagger, but only when the illithid looks the other way, so possible he'll have to wait. However, maybe Yuri has better abilities to solve such matters, like his psionic powers. Romar looks at Yuri, obviously asking for help.

Also, Romar reluctantly covers his hands, face and as much of his body as he can with the black sooth from the forge, if he's able to. The idea might not seem very charming, but the camouflage it could provide might prove invaluable.

[GeneralMHB]

Yuri shakes his head:

I am an offensive psion and do not possess telekinetic powers. I can, however, open it for you. Observe...

Yuri takes the appearance of a gaseous form and floats out of the doorway through the cracks. Upon arrival of the other side, he opens the door gently not to avert any noise to the Illithid. He will then sneek up behind the Illithid and try to grapple it, paying close attention to the tentacles and attempting to satisfy his blood lust from the creature.

[Fangor the Fierce]

Turning to Callian, she simply waits as he speaks. When he finishes, she thinks silently for a second, before speaking again.

"You are noble indeed Callian. You are a good man, but I must object. If one of us is to duel, then I believe one of us warriors would be better at this type of combat. The recent events have hardened our bodies as well, granting us the ability to take almost as much damage as we can deal. We also have a few surprises in close combat that may prove useful to whatever leader or warrior they should send to duel with us."

She takes the flasks out, and lines them up. "If you others are able to travel to the outskirts of this fog, then I would ask that you do so, and plant a torch at various spots. That would alarm the enemy to think that they are being surrounded as well, and would look for enemies both in front and behind them. Splitting their forces attention would prove useful if the time came to defend ourselves. I see no other way to delay this onslaught. Girud, Galdren, will you support my decision? True, the Master troops may not be moralistic, but they will be dealt with. If...no...WHEN I win this duel, you will have the time needed to redirect the machine. I will stall as much as I can, just make sure you get that crystal away from here."

She then begins making preperations. She unsheathes her sword, and traces the blade, making sure it is to a fine edge. She commands it to engulf itself in flames, to test its power, and then dismisses the flame. The cloak is tugged on, to make sure it is snug and not loose. Her Short Sword is also removed and checked for weight and sharpness.

This will be a tough battle, but I am sure that the others will prove their loyalty by backing me up on this. This will work. I will not let another town fall needlessly to the Master if I can avert the enemy.

[Wizard]

(OOC: Well, I have a colossal "Oh." for the group. We leveled! I sort of missed that part. I was wondering why I was getting condescending speech from Krysta, and then I checked her character sheet. 6th level! I thought it might just be that our party had gotten shafted, but then I checked Garor and Newt's sheets, and THEY were 6th level too! So I checked back through the posts and saw the 9K xp we earned. Sort of missed that first time around. Oh, and I think Caelith and Hero missed the leveling too.

You are noble indeed Callian. You are a good man,

Well, duh.

but I must object. If one of us is to duel, then I believe one of us warriors would be better at this type of combat.

Not really true anymore, now that I've gotten my act together and leveled. Hard to beat smite evil and lay on hands when your feats are focused on mass combat (Cleave, Great Cleave, various 2wf stuff)

The recent events have hardened our bodies as well, granting us the ability to take almost as much damage as we can deal.

Undoubtedly.

Anyway, I'm not about to stop your fall in a blaze of glory, but Callian is---that is, there's no way he (or I, for that matter) will believe that this isn't a battle he'd rock for. But Callian doesn't know about Krysta's player's goals, so he won't respect them. So he'll back off, but you'll have to give him a reason beyond "I can whoop Evil Horde Leader better than you can," 'cause he doesn't buy that...as evidenced by the following.)



Callian laughs, almost merrily. For one single, golden moment, the cares fall from his countenance, armies and fog forgotten.


"I too have been strengthened by recent events...I think we all have, thank the Light. Come, meet a friend I made last night."

Callian whistles in the direction of the stables. A joyful neigh echoes in return. And into the square where the would-be combatants now stand enters one of the most magificent beasts to grace the earth since the First Days...a horse, pure white, standing eighteen hands. Even the misty clouds above seem to thin a little at his presence.

"This...is Tinsinlaed. Truly a worthy foe to any with evil in his heart!"

"You may look upon me and see one untrained in some specifics of combat, and it is true that in large part I rely on the simplicity of sword and shield. Of course, I have my faith, and I have my prayers. But when push comes to shove, I've also got a little something extra."

There is a light in Callian's eyes that wasn't there before...something has happened.

"And so do not seek to protect me, dear Krysta. I have joy in my heart--there is good to be done! Events have conspired so that we, predestined for this juncture, are here to protect the innocent from Evil's hand!"

[Fangor the Fierce]

OOC - No worries, I thought it looked kinda weird on your character sheet. May the dice gods watch over your HP rolls....

[Jevva]

"I'm sorry Krysta, but I'm afraid I can't agree with your plan. If anybody, Girud or I should be the duelist, he for his incredible strength, and myself for my two weapon fighting style I mastered specifically to cut through to the commander and fight him one on one. I relish duels such as the one that you suggest. Therefore, I must respectfully ask you to step aside and let one of us battle."

[Wizard]

(OOC: Ack! Honorable warrior overload! Knew I should have played a bard...

But wtf are you talking about, Nick? TWF is always worse than THF or S&S in single combat---you, Girud, and Krysta are all built to be blenders(good at dispatching massive quantities of weak enemies), not Cutco(good at dispatching one large foe). TWF? Great Cleave? Combat reflexes? Sound like blenders to me.

*Ahem* Improved Disarm, Smite evil...*

But that only pertains to the builds. Each of you could probably do a better job than me for one simple reason---I haven't suffered a collision with an elven treasury.

And this is purely Wizard the rules lawyer talking, so don't pay attention to me.)

[Fangor the Fierce]

"You indeed are a worthy opponent Galdren. Girud indeed is a great warrior, and one that I would allow to take my place, if he indeed deems it so. I have also learned a similar technique for fighting with my two blades. If either of you two would step forward, even with my personal vengeance, I would stand aside. Even against my own personal agenda, as it would seem. Whomever takes this position, would have the Flaming Longsword at their disposal, as well as the Cloak of Resistance."

She begins removing the cloak and unsheathes the longsword. Also grabbing a vial, she places it with the other contents in her hand and says, "This Elixir should grant you a few breaths of fire, which should be enough to deal a mighty blow to whomever they send out. I am sure that if there is anything else this person who would duel would need, and if I have it, it will also be at their disposal."

Suddenly examining her contents of the belt, she grins. "This may not be honorable, but it would definately give us the edge." She pulls forth another vial, an examines it closely.

"It is the ability to be invisible. If we have a healer, then we can send him or her out as well, unseen by all. Their sole purpose would be to heal and aid the duelist. I must say, this should work to perfection, if all goes well."

OOC - Krysta simply wants to wait until the last minutes, and then speak to the hoard. As they parley about the duel and its meaning, the others should transport themselves behind enemy lines and plant the torches. When they return to Cannon's Foot, then whomever addresses the hoard can also start planting that doubt into the enemy, as they would then be told that they are not alone in the woods. Hopefully that will bring them to agree to the duel. The lone person who would step up to the challenge would have Fire Breath, 4d6 fire damage at 25 feet. The longsword also has an extra 1d6 fire damage for each successful hit. Fire is our friend....

[BluSpecs]

I think that for anyone to go out there alone is lunacy. Trolls are not known as creatures that will keep there word. besides we haven't even asked them if its an option....which I don't think it is.

Your looking at death in the eyes Krysta, I don't think this is a good idea but if you choose to go I won't stop you. At least let me bestow the strength of war upon you first