3 - 010: The Third Piece

[K Man]

Hero, Garor, Callian, Angelus, Newt, Krysta, Girud and Galdren - Delomme nods, continuing to shout across the fog, his voice muffled the further it echoes.



"If our parley is done, then I speak now of what action I will take. I care nothing for this shard, or who possesses it. If no arrangement can be made I will fire this shard into the deepest depths of the ocean and let all of you race to get it!!"[/b]

The leader huffs his chest out, possibly truly angry at having this brought to his city. He awaits a response as the torches extinguish and disappear into the cloudy mist.

For an eternity, the SlaughterFog seems dormant, truly a harmless thing that does little beyond float about in the glade. Then, one by one, torches are lit and held high for all to see.

[glow=white,2,300]TERMS?[/glow]

Delomme smiles and a few murmured cheers emanate from the walls atop the city.



"Three hours. Then I will fire the shard to a place where any party may squabble for it equally. In exchange for this, I demand that Cannon's Foot be exempt from any attack."[/i]

The torches again light and move around, forming new words.

[glow=white,2,300]BETRAYAL EQUALS ANNIHILATION.[/glow]

Delomme spins, looking to the group with a flacid smile.



"I think that means they accept...however, I must now deliver my end of the bet."

(See after Post for what Elven Mages have.)
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Caelith - Leaving Delomme to his duties, you slip from the wall and make your way behind a house to use your innate knowledge of 'Vein-Riding'. The ground rises up around you and you find yourself racing again through the heart of the earth. In less than an instant, the familar towering visage of Ravenshead castle looms above you, and the taste of dirt is in your mouth.

Slightly spitting, you hear a few carefully chosen words come from behind you.

"Drop your weapons assassin!"

Peering over your shoulder to meet the voice, you see it is a fully armored and armed knight, gleaming longsword leveled firmly at your head. He reiterates the command.



"Drop your weapons!"

Then, another voice resonates from the steps of the castle, a more familar and friendly voice. It is Sturmguard.



"Caelith! 'Faceless Knight, lower your weapon! This is a companion, ambassador of Ravenshead...and a friend."

The good-King nearly rushes down the steps, moving between you and 'The Faceless Knight', arms spread. The plated man lowers his blade, sheathing it almost instantly. He bows low.



"My apologies, Master Caelith. It is a manner of duty, one I hope can be easily over-looked."

Strumguard speaks again, his voice lowering to the more casual speech you know him for.



"Forgive him Caelith. He has recently arrived in the castle and has been appointed to handle matters here in Ravenshead. He goes simply by the name, 'The Faceless Knight' and has proven himself pure, good and kind. He is dutiful, I will give him that....almost overly so." The King quickly glances around. "The others? I pray you are not the only one to return home..."
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Romar and Yuri - Yuri takes a moment, throwing up a mental barrier. [Thought Shield = PR 13]

The Illithid uses its first natural defenses. Much like the Drow and Derrro encountered before, the air ripples with the effect of a blast originating from the center of the beasts head. [Psionic Resistance, Yuri. Will Save, Romar = 20] It does little and you can see the tentacles of the Illithid flare as it prepare to attack next round.

Romar removes a thorwing axe and hurls it while diving to the other side of the forge, taking cover behind the heavy steel door. [Attack Roll = 20, Damage Roll = 6] The blade grazes the arm of the Illithid, forcing a squeal from it.

{Initiative: Yuri, The Illithid, Romar}

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The Two Elven Wizards with Krysta's group -
Laucimust, male elf (high)
Wizard Spells Known (4/5/5/5/5/3/2/1): 0th -- Arcane Mark, Dancing Lights, Daze, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Disrupt Undead, Flare, Ghost Sound, Light, Mage Hand, Mending, Open/Close, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost, Read Magic, Resistance. 1st -- Change Self, Charm Person, Color Spray, Feather Fall, Grease, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Shield, Silent Image, Summon Monster I. 2nd -- Blindness/Deafness, Blur, Ghoul Touch, Mirror Image, See Invisibility, Summon Monster II, Web. 3rd -- Blink, Dispel Magic, Fireball, Fly, Haste, Hold Person, Invisibility Sphere, Leomund's Tiny Hut. 4th -- Dimension Door, Fire Shield, Fire Trap, Improved Invisibility, Polymorph Other, Polymorph Self, Summon Monster IV. 5th -- Animate Dead, Cloudkill, Cone of Cold, Hold Monster, Summon Monster V, Wall of Force, Wall of Iron. 6th -- Analyze Dweomer, Disintegrate, Eyebite, Flesh to Stone. 7th -- Delayed Blast Fireball, Summon Monster VII, Greater Teleport.

Ivelliian, male elf (high)
Wizard Spells Known (4/5/5/5/5/3/2/1): 0th -- Arcane Mark, Dancing Lights, Daze, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Disrupt Undead, Flare, Ghost Sound, Light, Mage Hand, Mending, Open/Close, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost, Read Magic, Resistance. 1st -- Charm Person, Detect Undead, Endure Elements, Identify, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Shield, Shocking Grasp, Silent Image, Sleep. 2nd -- Alter Self, Blindness/Deafness, Blur, Invisibility, Knock, Levitate, Melf's Acid Arrow, Mirror Image, Shatter, Summon Monster II, Web. 3rd -- Flame Arrow, Haste, Invisibility Sphere, Lightning Bolt, Magic Circle against Law, Slow, Summon Monster III. 4th -- Bestow Curse, Charm Monster, Improved Invisibility, Polymorph Other, Summon Monster IV. 5th -- Bigby's Interposing Hand, Cloudkill, Cone of Cold, Dominate Person, Hold Monster, Permanency, Summon Monster V, Teleport. 6th -- Analyze Dweomer, Chain Lightning, Summon Monster VI, True Seeing. 7th -- Delayed Blast Fireball, Summon Monster VII, Greater Teleport.

{I used a generator, so they may be wrong. }

[TheUdjat]

Caelith is somewhat caught off guard by the Faceless Knight, but he quickly recovers in favor of quickly dealing with the circumstances at hand. He bows his head to the knight, "No worries, Faceless One. All is understood." And then he whirls to face Sturmguard, the more pressing matter at hand taking all his attention. "I happily report that I am not the only one - All are fine, and currently in Cannon's foot with the Shard. In fact, we have crossed paths with a small number that we thought were lost at Boon's Freehold, apparently rescued by the elves." His face twists into an inscrutable expression. He is not sure what he thinks of that yet. "We have, in fact, been given information about yet another Shard which we will attempt to collect on our way back. However, there is a more pressing dilemma..."

"Cannon's Foot is under siege as we speak. A mysterious fog bearing magical beasts circles the town, threatening to decimate all within if not given the crystal. We are attempting to figure out a means out of this situation, but we are worried things might come to battle. I very humbly request access to magical scrolls, if they are available, that might provide a means to drive off the fog concealing our enemies and even the battlefield, so to speak. Time, I must reiterate, is of the essence."

[Japic]

Well, it would appear that the slaughter fog is holding its position. For now there may not be else to do but wait. I would advise that everyone be ready for any surprise attack by this force.

Aside from that, I guess the crystal has somewhere to be.

[VemuKhaham]

All the mental attacks are turning Romar crazy; his mind has been troubled enough without them. He waits for the illithid to finish his next attack, hopefully out of reach from him now that he is out of sight, and then he takes his swords and at the same time leaps out of the forge, heading straight towards his foe. He knows not what these 'squiddies', as the dwarves called them, can manifest, but right now there is not the time to think of that, and already his blade is thrusted towards his foe.

Also, can Romar hear anything outside of the room?

---

MW Longsword (+10, 1d8+3, 19-20/x2, S), Will +4, AC 20, listen +11

[Artemis]

Angelus watches and decides to speak to the elven mages. He moves to them and speaks in Elven with his head bowed down. "Greetings Master Mages. I am a simple and humble mage. I would like to ask you a boon. Would you allow me to learn a spell or two from your vast knowledge?"

[Merovingian]

With the decision made Newt will head to the glade and check what is in the area. Once their try to find a high vantage point but something that may also provide cover, like in a tree on a hill, or maybe just on a hilltop. At that point set up cover and hide looking for others moving into the area. Move silent +15 Hide +19

[Wizard]

Artemis said:

Angelus watches and decides to speak to the elven mages. He moves to them and speaks in Elven with his head bowed down. "Greetings Master Mages. I am a simple and (not) humble mage. I would like to ask you a boon. Would you allow me to learn a spell or two from your vast knowledge?"

((OOC: Not now! It takes at least two days!))

Callian speaks quietly to Hero, and melts into the ground.

[GeneralMHB]

Yuri will return the psionic power back to the Illithid in the form of an Energy Missile.

(OOC: Electricity, DC 18, 3d6 Damage)

[Jevva]

OOC: Always the ruleslawyer, Dan...

Hearing the result of the parley, Galdren relaxes his grip on his weapons and walks up to the walls where he can sit and stare into the Slaughterfog.

[BluSpecs]

Garor continues to help with the huge weapon as best as he can

[Fangor the Fierce]

Krysta looks around, somewhat thrown off by the acceptance of the agreement by the slaughterfog.

"Then we shall have the time to send this crystal to its destination. We must prepare for the worst, just in case."

She moves toward Delomme, and the wall. Surveying the scene before her, she stares at the fog, trying to see anything in its mist. "In what way would you have us help?" she asks him.

[Hero]

Quietly, only to Angelus:

"Now is not an opportune moment to beg spells Requiem; please check your conduct as your actions here have dire consequences."

Hero gets ready to defend the city or vein ride to the shard, whichever comes first. She waits for Callian's report also....