3 - 028: The Third Piece

[K Man]

Callian - Delomme bows low before you leave, the thankfulness of his tone very evident.



"Then it the vow that the deeds of Blackwing's ambassadors will never be forgotten...as long as this Elf lives."

"We will make haste for the mountain range and seek shelter, I await your return."

Delomme whistles, getting his people into action. They rouse, hobbling into a semi-straight line and begin the slow forced march towards the range in the waning twilight hours.

You melt into the ground, ripping through Earth and root, bound for home - the steps of Ravenshead Castle.

***

The journey is swift and taste of dirt in your mouth seems to lessen, that our you're getting used to it. Immediately taking note, looking past the startled guards, you see that darkness is a little further from ebracing the land in night here. The guards nod when they see who you are, relaxing a bit and lowering their polearms.

Almost immediately, you spot Sturmguard, or rather the sheen of his brilliant family jewel about his neck speaking with an armored knight of some decoration. They stand at the top of the steps to the castle, a few short paces away. They seem ignorant of your approach, but you do overhear pieces of their converastion.



"Do you expect an attack?"



"Yes my liege, they fly ever closer each night although my men have them kept them at bay thus far. I fear they seek the crystal and feel it would be prudent to hide them for the moment, perhaps in the castle itself?"



"Excellent idea 'Faceless Knight'...
you have done better than I expected."

The Knight notices your approach as does Sturmguard, and both spin to meet you. Sturmguard nods, a wry smile gracing his face.

"Ahh Callian! I will have to get used to this method of travel." Sturmguard points to the fully armored man before him. "This is the 'Faceless Knight'. A proven trust worthy and emphatic protector of good, also my newest commander of the troops here at Ravenshead. Expect to see more of him."

"What news do you bring of the front?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hero, Caelith, Garor, Newt, Krysta, Girud and Galdren - The battle becomes frenzied with the newest arrivals.

Girud steps back from his current target and moves to aid his Samurai companion. [AoO = 15] The swipe misses and he positions himself to strike the captain causing so much trouble. [Attack Roll = 27, Damage Roll = 18] The Captain groans, his wounds becoming great.

Elite a is severly wounded. (Down 32)

Galdren acts next, moving back out of threat and drinking a potion to cure his wounds. [Cure Moderate Wounds = 16]

Mordrock does as he's told, dropping his bow and tumbling behind the nearest Elf, stabbing for a vital organ. [Attack Roll = 12] The stab unfortunately misses and Mordrock tries to remain suave with a slight kick to the Elfs shin.

Caelith delays, asking his companion to handle a pesky intruder.

That one is in my way - I would be thankful if you eliminated him."

[Delay action]

The Elite act, taking their attacks. The Captain turns his sights on Girud, slashing out. [2 Attacks = Nat. 1, DEX check success, 14] Both attacks thankfully miss, the Captain cursing under his breath for missing such a large target.

Warriors c, g, b and h also move to close around the giant, striking as best as they can. [Attack Rolls = 22, 12, 10, 7] One attack lands, drawing blood from the right leg. [Damage Roll = 5]

Warriors e and f slice at Krysta, ignorant of the Goblin. [Attack Rolls = 23, 7] One attack lands. [Damage Roll = 11] The blow is great, drawing a large slice of flesh from her arm.

Warrior d closes on Galdren, rushing him after drinking the potion. [Attack Roll = 11] The blow is a miss, striking only dirt at the samurai's feet.

Garor acts next, casting a spell that benefits all. [Prayer Everyone remember +1 to attacks!]

Newt tumbles next, moving to Krysta and Mordrock. He draws his blade and stabs. [Attack Roll = Nat. 20, Crit Confirm, Success] The blade finds a soft section of armor, right near the center of the back. [Damage Roll = 15] The Elf cries out, falling to one knee and panting from the pain.

Elite f is near death.

Krysta attacks the Elite kneeling, hoping to finish him off. [Attack Roll = Nat. 19, Crit. Confirm, Fail.] The flaming blade strikes. [Damage Roll = 9] The Elf dies, falling to the ground in a spray of ash.

Elite f is dead. (-2)

Using the synergy, she spins on the next Elite. [Cleave Attack Roll = Nat. 1, Dex Success. Normal Attacks = Nat. 19, Crit. Confirm, Success/8, 16] Almost losing her sword, Krysta earns even more respect from Mordrock as she flips it around and brings it down in a reverse strike. [Damage Roll = 15]

Elite e is greatly wounded. (Down 33)

The Scouts turn to the new comers, firing at the nearest. (Hero) They unleash their arrows with deadly accuracy. [Attack Rolls = 25, 21] Only one lightning arrow lands, burying in her arm. [Damage Roll = 13]

Hero moves behind the Elite surrounding Girud, brining her blade down in a deadly arc. [Attack Roll = 21] The sword runs across the Elves' back. [Damage Roll = 14]
The Elite screams.

Elite b is greatly wounded. (Down 27)

Lastly, no longer needing to delay, Caelith moves to a position to make his magic most effective. He weaves and sends a bolt of energy towards the rock wall with most of the Elves in its path. [Lightning Bolt Ref Saves = Elite h and g fail. Damage Roll = 22] The each howl in turn, and the Scouts pivot to target Caelith, having spotted the spellcaster in the group.

[Initiative: Girud and Galdren, Mordrock, Caelith, The Elite, Garor and Newt, Krysta, The Scouts, Hero.]

~~~~~~~~~~~~
----------------|
-C--------N-----|
-G-------KxM-----|
----------e------|
-------2d--------|
----Hb1c--------|
C----gha--------|
--SS-------------|
~~~~~~~~~~~~

K = Krysta
H = Hero
C = Caelith
N = Newt
G = Garor
M = Mordrock
1 = Girud
2 = Galdren
S = Scout
a-h = Elven Elite
x = Dead Elite
~ or | = Rock cliff face

Current Damage Totals -
Elite A (Captain) - 43
Elite b - 27
Elite c -
Elite d -
Elite e - 33
Elite f - (-2)
Elite g - 22
Elite h - 22
Scout 1 - 15
Scout 2 - 11
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Romar and Yuri - Making the choice to go to Rocroost, you spur your iron mounts on. As the deadly msits of the swamp behind you fade away, you can swear you almost hear laughter emanating from the fog.

The journey is much shorter than you imagined, probably due to your body adjusting to the new mounts and their incredible speed and pace. However, it does little to stop the coming dawn.

Daylight comes, luckily just as you approach the well covered confines of Drakil Forest.

With a vampire companion, one must be wary of the daylight. Perhaps it would be a good idea to rest and recharge the mounts, taking refuge in the Drakil Forest confines while the sun makes its arc through the day sky...
__________________________________________________________________________________________

[GeneralMHB]

[glow=green,2,300]Daylight, I can recharge.[/glow]

And I have to hide.

Yuri stops his horse under the shadiest tree he can find, to avoid the burning light of the sun. While double checking his black garments, Yuri gives Romar some advice.

I think we should camp here and wait for nightfall. I cannot travel further with the sun risen. This will give us time to recharge our mounts and to rest. I am also in need of that deer and its blood. What do you think?

Yuri drinks the last drop of cold blood from the ale bottles and awaits Romar's answer.

[Japic]

Girud presses tha attack on teh elven leader (a).

+9 to hit (PA for 4), 2d6+14 damage, 19-20x2

Once he's dead he will cleave into elite g (same mods), if he falls then cleave into h, then b, then c.

{Great Cleave don't fail me now. This is exactly why I need a feat of this nature}

[VemuKhaham]

A good idea indeed, and Romar will set out to hunt as he isn't very appreciative of delays, so he'll make it worth their while. After he has catched a good meal, he will warm it on a fire after letting Yuri draining the blood from it.

While they 'enjoy' their meal, Romar starts to work on a little something he has had on his mind since he received the arrow of slaying from the dwarves. "Yuri, may I ask a small sheet of paper from you, and a pen if it isn't too much to ask?" If he gets it, he will write a message on the paper and attaches it on the arrow, making sure it is well readable for someone who just suffered a hit from a magically enchanted arrow. After he is done writing he stows the arrow with the paper attached on it away in his quiver, and utters some words to himself:

"If 'for some reason' the Enemy will not be aware of me before the arrow of his death has struck, then this note will make sure he knows who had the hand in his destruction. All I want to see is his face at the time he realises that..."

He grins, but he doesn't yet reveal the content of the note to Yuri, even if he asks for it.

As soon as the sun is gone, he will head on to Rocroost Bay, if Yuri agrees with all that of course.

---

Survival +11 for the hunt, if necessary
EDIT: oh, and I also rest, as in: rest to heal. Just for clarity; don't know if it was assumed already.

[GeneralMHB]

Yuri does hand Romar the sheet of paper and ink pen requested and yes, he does ask what it is for. Getting the empty response, he can only speculate. He does not care at this point, he's starving for some fresh, warm blood and drinks down the deer hungarily, saving the rest for later.

[glow=green,2,300]You may want to clean those bottles.[/glow]

Good idea

He cleans the bottles out as best he can before making use of them to store some deer blood for later. He too makes best his time by writing in his journal.

(OOC: I'll post that later)

[BluSpecs]

Prayer ( +1 to hit, Dmg, and saves for us and -1 for all the even schmucks)

Garor moves in on the elven elite (letter C) and swings his enormous maul in a devestating arc

(+13 to hit 2d8+9 Dmg)

[Hero]

Hero attacks "b" again.

bonuses for Prayer and flanking

Full attack +2 Keen Longsword +16/+11 (1d8+7 17-20/x2)

if he drops I will make second attack on any enemy I can reach ("g")

[Merovingian]

Seeing the battle move away from him Newt will vein ride into position behind the two elite in front of him (behind d&e). With the hopes of helping Galdren attack the elf between them (d). Flanked 4+2+1 Prayer = +7 to hit, dmg 1d4 + 3d6 19-20x2

[Jevva]

Galdren brings his full fury to bear on the elven elite who had the gall to attack him.

+9, +4, d10 +5 katana, 19-20 x2
+9, d6+3 wakizashi, 19-20 x2
AC 20

[TheUdjat]

Well, Caelith thinks to himself. There isn't much more complication to this strategy, now, is there? He lines up the most elves he can for another lightning bolt, taking a 5' step away if he needs to, to be clear of opponents [I'm guessing they might choose to attack Caelith. 5d6 lightning bolt, Reflex save at DC 17 for half]

If Caelith cannot catch more than two of the Elite in a lightning bolt, he will instead pick the most wounded nearby and attempt to catch them in a Shocking Grasp. [+11 Concentration to cast on the defensive, +7 touch attack, 5d6 damage, no save]

[Wizard]

"The news? Nearly all bad, my Lord. Cannon's Foot is fallen, its marvelous weapon broken into pieces. Worse, the shard we managed to retrieve from the nearby area was stolen by Astoril, and I saw several of our party fleeing the area with them.

"However, I said nearly, my Lord, not completely. The SlaughterFog was destroyed when we...detonated Cannon's Foot's weapon, the Fortress-Breaker. The designer, however, survived, along with the most essential blueprints. It is possible that with the resources, he could build another. Most of the citizenry survived by taking shelter in the shells of the weapon themselves. Even now, they are preparing to take refuge in the mountains."

Callian takes a deep breath before continuing.

"However...they had no more permanent location to flee to...and so I told them that Ravenshead would accept them."

Callian bends on one knee and looks at his liege.

"Have I done wrong, my Lord?"

[Fangor the Fierce]

Krysta watches as the battle continues. Mordrock had a chance to deal a lethal blow to the elf, but failed. Well, he has other skills taht should come in handy.

Seeing her former companions aiding them now, she notes that there is a chance to succeed in this attack on the elves now. trying her best to reach the larger of her fellow warriors, she takes another 5 step move, now threatening both e and d. She calls out to those listening, "Take out their captain," pointing to the Elite A. She then makes another full attack on the elves, Hoping to kill Elite e and continue to Cleave into d. She hesitates, looking at Mordrock and getting a nice idea, (in goblin) Flank this one, aim for his kidney while I attack him as well!"(Mordrock should now go on Krysta's Initiative, to make it easier to flow)

Mordrock:
Shot Sword MW +7 (+3BAB+1STR+1MW+2Flank), 1d4+1dmg+1 Prayer+2d6 SneakAttack, 19-20/x2

Krysta:
Keen Flaming Longsword +10(+6BAB+3STR+1MagicWpn+2Flank+2TwoWpnFighting)/+5(+6BAB+3STR+1MagicWpn+2Flank+2Aid-2TwoWpnFighting-5 OffHandWpn), 1d8+4dmg+1Prayer +1d6dmg (fire) CRIT 17-20/x2

Short Sword MW +10(+6BAB+3STR+1MagicWpn+2Flank-2 TwoWpnFighting), 1d6+1dmg+1Prayer, 19-20/x2

Note: If not attacking Elite E, I don't get the +2 for flanking. Cleave and Great Cleave into Elite d.

Seeing Girud surrounded, she calls out, "Withdraw and ready yourself Girud, we will win this fight!"