4 - 014: The Fourth Piece

[K Man]

I vote we keep the ring. I don't think the party should be penalized for people dropping out of the campaign. But then again, it's up to KMAN.

- Oh...I'm totally down with penalizing you guys. In fact, not only did they drop out, but they stole all your shit before they went. Yeah! And they gave you penalties to your CON scores too!!

Not really. I think it's only fair to have anything found by the party remain in the party, this ring included. However, anything purchased or given solely to a now-gone PC remains theirs and is also now gone. Sound fair?

- Also, I was addressed a question in a PM, but I'll post the answer here.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Krysta -

The Knights of the Purest Star are not hard to find for - even in these dark times - a group of well trained knights stand out from the typical refugee warriors of lands around. Adolpho is quickly spotted, near a fire relaying a series of knightly sermons to his men, holding their attention fast. He speaks of honor, justice and all things chivalrous as though his every breath were these ideals...and in fact, they are.

He notes your approach and dismisses his men to go about their duties.



"Good to see you again Krysta." He extends a hand for a firm greeting. "What can the knights do for you now?"

You relay your stories in succession. the treachery of the Elves of Astoria. Their cocky prince and the scheming Queen with her wicked plans. The destruction of an entire city, thanks mostly in part to the Elves actions but most notably due to the desperation of the town leader, Delomme, and his desire to save his people.

You speak volumes about Emirikol the Chaotic, his ship the Demonwing and the trip to Stygia - the freezing layer of hell. Your eyes fill with tears when you speaks of the sacrifice of Hero in the halls of the demonic ship, and her noble death to save the others.

You speak of the ghost Karn, the paladin's soul that held back an entire plane of hell...simply to save a few dozen innocent souls. The other paladins you met in hell - Brother Jannoch, Vorren and the others. How they, and Allessia Storm-Maiden - the powerful druid once overseeing the entire Glade - helped return the crystal from hell to the steps of Ravenshead.

Most of all, you speak of your devotion to the cause. Your undying conviction to see this war ended for good...and with good still-standing. You vow that 'The Master' will not rip the heart from the land and leave it an ashen husk...and you promise your last dying breath to see it kept true.

Adolpho listens to all this with a warm face. He smiles briefly when you're done and speaks in soft tones - like a father.



"We all feel the way you do Krysta...it is our way. The sacrifice we make is minimal when sided with the rewards for others."

"I know now, above all else, that your soul is assured a place in the halls of good. Everything you have done, the courage and determination you have shown is matched by none, not even by own men."

"I'm proud of you..."

You go to ask him about the legend. About the young knight that believed there was a key to defeating 'The Master'. A single object that must be dealt with before the general of hell's armies could be destroyed for good.

Adolpho shakes his head.



"I am sorry Krysta. Most of us think of this legend as grandeur, as a trifle thing. We do not put much stock in its truth. We have devoted little time or effort to understanding it or following it...."

You press him for advice on the seige, telling him what has happened so far.

"You've done well, again sacrificing for the greater populace by letting this Garor into single combat with their champion. It is what any of us would have done."

"However, it saddens me that this army can think of nothing more important in these times than an assault on another kingdom. Don't they understand? The dead walk the earth and their numbers only grow with each passing battle."

"Surely there must be a way to make them see the foolishness of this course, where it can lead to nothing but more violence and pain...They must understand that what happened to their true King was an accident, one not even caused by those they seek."

Aldopho rubs his chin, taking a seat on a nearby log by the fire.

"It is my experience with leaders that, though usually wise and just, they must still rely on information fed to them by others. They must then formulate opinions and judgements based on that information and rule with it."

"It is also my experience that poor leadership, when it occurs, is rarely the fault of the leader, but rather a corruption at a lower level."

You look to the lead Knight of the Purest Star, but his smile has already beaten you to it.



"It sounds to me like this King is the victim of a grave misunderstanding...like someone fed him this corrupt information." He looks into your eyes.

"I would start with that..."


You hear the call of the challenge being issued and notice your companions readying to exit the castle...

{Krysta, in addition, the priests are willing to cast Tongues on you.}
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone -

With the challenge accepted, Garor is issued forth from the castle with everyone following. King Sturmguard is there to see him off, as is King Grandil of Bazarkrak. Both simply nod, understanding the sacrifice he has made for them all. The hopes of an entire kingdom go over the walls with the Dwarf, to meet his fate.

As you scale down and enter the fields beyond, you notice that the seige army has stood down. The giant empty crabs are devoid of driver, the tridents placed back in their racks for later use. The tents flap in the breeze, devoid of occupants and the fires smolder unattended.

It's pretty clear where the army is when you cross the next hill. Surrounding a low lying valley, the army has gathered and formed a circle around the lowest part, forming a pit where you are to fight. In the center of this pit stands the chieftain, dressed in ceremonial armor and holding a giant spiked club...nearly twice the size of Garor.

The army has left a clear trail to the center for the Dwarf to walk down, and do not stop anyone from following with him. They close in behind you as you walk forth, sealing the arena of death. Murmurs begin to rumble, coming to a dull roar, their bizarre language like the sounds of waterfalls.

When you reach the edge of the circle, the chieftain holds his hands outward.

{In Kuo-Toan for those that can understand it.}

"Silence!"

The crowded army goes dead silent.

"These are the rules for the challenge. If I win, they will hand over those responsible for our true King's death!"

"If they win, I have granted their life for one year while we mourn and a new leader is chosen."

Silently, the army nods in understanding. The Cheiftain looks to a smaller Kuo-Toan by his side, like an advisor of sorts, dressed in bizarre garb. The Small Kuo-Toan shuffles forward and begins to assist the Chieftain in doning some armor that looks crafted from a giant lobster shell. The advisor whispers in his ear and the Chieftain looks Garor dead in the eyes, speaking in a guttural common tongue.



"Prepare yourself!"[/color]

{Essentially the Cheiftain is giving you five rounds of prep that he himself will take advantage of. He's casting, in order;

Barkskin
Bull's Strength
Bear's Endurance
Cat's Grace
StoneSkin

Do what you need to prepare and let me know who is out there with him.}
__________________________________________________________________________________________

[Japic]

Girud is there with him, fully armed. He cannot offer any more than moral support in this endeavor.

{On second thought, if you want to borrow my boots of striding and springing you can borrow them. Since your in heavy armor you might need the movement, your call.}

On a serious note about this duel... it would be great if we could have an antimagic field on Garor. Make it one on one, not magibeef vs magibeef. It could mean the difference between life and death. If he can't have that... Haste might do him some good though.

[BluSpecs]

Nah thanks anyway japic my kung-fu magic is strong (I'd take a haste if anyone has it and those boots though)

Garor will cast:

Extended bull strength
Bull’s Strength
Transmutation
Level: Clr 2, Drd 2, Pal 2, Sor/Wiz 2, Strength 2
Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw:Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
The subject becomes stronger. The spell grants a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength, adding the usual benefits to melee attack rolls, melee damage rolls, and other uses of the Strength modifier.
Arcane Material Component: A few hairs, or a pinch of dung, from a bull.

Extended Sheild of faith
Shield of Faith
Abjuration
Level: Clr 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
This spell creates a shimmering, magical field around the touched creature that averts attacks. The spell grants the subject a +2 deflection bonus to AC, with an additional +1 to the bonus for every six levels you have (maximum +5 deflection bonus at 18th level).
Material Component: A small parchment with a bit of holy text written upon it.



Divine Power
Evocation
Level: Clr 4, War 4
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level
Calling upon the divine power of your patron, you imbue yourself with strength and skill in combat. Your base attack bonus becomes equal to your character level (which may give you additional attacks), you gain a +6 enhancement bonus to Strength, and you gain 1 temporary hit point per caster level.

Rightous might
Righteous Might
Transmutation
Level: Clr 5, Strength 5
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Your height immediately doubles, and your weight increases by a factor of eight. This increase changes your size category to the next larger one, and you gain a +8 size bonus to Strength and a +4 size bonus to Constitution. You gain a +4 enhancement bonus to your natural armor. You gain damage reduction 5/evil (if you normally channel positive energy) or damage reduction 5/good (if you normally channel negative energy). At 12th level this damage reduction becomes 10/evil or 10/good, and at 15th level it becomes 15/evil or 15/good (the maximum). Your size modifier for AC and attacks changes as appropriate to your new size category. This spell doesn’t change your speed. Determine space and reach as appropriate to your new size.
If insufficient room is available for the desired growth, you attain the maximum possible size and may make a Strength check (using your increased Strength) to burst any enclosures in the process. If you fail, you are constrained without harm by the materials enclosing you— the spell cannot crush you by increasing your size.
All equipment you wear or carry is similarly enlarged by the spell. Melee and projectile weapons deal more damage. Other magical properties are not affected by this spell. Any enlarged item that leaves your possession (including a projectile or thrown weapon) instantly returns to its normal size. This means that thrown weapons deal their normal damage (projectiles deal damage based on the size of the weapon that fired them).
Multiple magical effects that increase size do not stack.


Lets get it on!

[Japic]

{Are you taking the ring too Garor? It'll grant you more HP. He's got that DR 10 for a while, so you'd prolly want as much as you can get your hands on.}


Oh, p.s. For clarification Alton did NOT come along, since he can't vein ride or any other such thing. If things go poorly here it would make sense to be able to disappear in a heartbeat, not have to fight our way through the army.

[BluSpecs]

I'll take the ring if it's available. Is it? The K-meister was not clear. The ring was technicly Caleths and since he's gone.....

[GeneralMHB]

Yuri accompanies Garor as well, serving merely as translator to all present who cannot speek the language. He translates the terms of the fight for Garor and Girud.

He speeks in Common to Garor.

There is nothing I can do to help you in this fight. May your diety guide your weapon well.

[Japic]

bluspecs said:

I'll take the ring if it's available. Is it? The K-meister was not clear. The ring was technicly Caleths and since he's gone.....

He said we COULD have it, since its a party item. Anything that was his specifically is gone with him.

Wear it pallyboy, you need the HP to keep up. and ernjoy the boots for now.

[BluSpecs]

Okey-dokey

Slip on the ring

[Jevva]

Well, the ring negates the deflection bonus you get from casting shield of faith, right? So there's no point in casting that spell, since it won't do anything.

[Fangor the Fierce]

yeah, as I have another spell for you to use.... Adelia will cast Bear's Endurance on you, granting you some Temp HP as well. If you want o cast it on yourself, it would last longer, possibly, as she is lower level.... unless she uses Divine Spell Power...

[Fangor the Fierce]

Krysta heeds the call of the battle, and walks with the group to the battlefield. Although this time, she is not quiet anymore. Her mind reels with options and planning. She had asked Adelia to also think of some tactics to aid in this battle. It might be a long or even a short battle. Only one way to tell....

"You must all know that there is something wrong with this whole scenario. Their leader seems to be intent on punishing those responsible, but knows only names. Someone has told him those names, and is inciting this whole incident. As with new leaders, they are vulnerable to heed words of treachery and revenge. Someone has put those words into this leaders mind, narrowing his vision. If we could find that culprit and reveal the truth of what happened at Cannon's Foot, then this whole thing would take a much better turn for the war against the Master."

She continues the walk, turning to Adelia. "Have you prepared yourself for what is about to happen? I hope that your patron has answered your plea."

Turning to Krysta, she casts a spell on Krysta. The spell is quick, and when done, Krysta now can hear the thoughts of Adelia in her mind, relaying her plan. It sounds like one that might prove worth trying, so Krysta agrees.

Lesser Telepathic Bond (Complete Divine)
Standard Action, Range 30 ft, Target of you and one other willing creature, 10 min / level, telepathically speak to one target, regardless of range after spell is cast.

Adelia then moves to Garor, casting a spell on him while walking. "Wear this ring, as it will help you in this battle. It is not magical itself, but is linked to me. You should survive this fight, if I have anything to do about it..."

(Adelia casts Shield Other on Garor, then will cast Vigor and hold the charge until later use on herself....)

Shield Other
Abjuration
Level: Clr 2, Pal 2, Protection 2
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 hour/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
This spell wards the subject and creates a mystic connection between you and the subject so that some of its wounds are transferred to you. The subject gains a +1 deflection bonus to AC and a +1 resistance bonus on saves. Additionally, the subject takes only half damage from all wounds and attacks (including that dealt by special abilities) that deal hit point damage. The amount of damage not taken by the warded creature is taken by you. Forms of harm that do not involve hit points, such as charm effects, temporary ability damage, level draining, and death effects, are not affected. If the subject suffers a reduction of hit points from a lowered Constitution score, the reduction is not split with you because it is not hit point damage. When the spell ends, subsequent damage is no longer divided between the subject and you, but damage already split is not reassigned to the subject.
If you and the subject of the spell move out of range of each other, the spell ends.
Focus: A pair of platinum rings (worth at least 50 gp each) worn by both you and the warded creature.


She would then look to the other clerics in the town, thanking them for their aid in this matter. Walking out with the others, she grabs her wand and a potion. Turning to the one holding the Bag of Holding, she asks to be put into it until they reach the battlefield. Once there, she will enact her second part of the plan.

Telepathically speaking with Krysta, she follows them out, continually speaking with Krysta.

(Adelia would like to Divine Spell power the Shield Other spell, as it would help with distance. D20 roll please, and I will amend on next round as to how far she can be from Garor. She will also need another Divine Spell Power roll for the Vigor Spell to see how long it lasts.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once out on the battlefield, Krysta spies the 'advisor' and his seemingly incisive whispering to the leader. Turning to Yuri, she says, "I would think that the little guy is the problem here. Perhaps his forked tongue is what is leading their new leader into the battle. If only we could expose him for what he actually might be..."

Krysta stands aside, weapons not drawn, but watching with intense anxiousness about the battle yet to unfold. The leader is using magic to buff him up. That is not a true fight, but then again, neither are their tactics. She watches as Garor prepares his spells and buffs as well, and then glances at the platinum ring on his finger. It is a deadly gamble, yet one with a chance at this succeeding in their favor. The words of Adolpho ring in her ear. 'The sacrifice of one...'

She turns to Mordrock, and kneels beside him. IN GOBLIN "Be sure to be loud in this fight, as Adelia is needing the distraction to use her wand. Also, what do you know about these things? Has the Master used them before?"

Krysta then turns to the larger companion, asking him for the bag. She then moves the bag closer to the ground, and turns it inside out. Nothing comes out. She grins, and hands the bag back to Girud. “That is all that would be needed.”

Turning to Garor, she motions him over. “This will be a tough battle.” She speaks aloud, as if wanting all to hear her. “Your resolve will be tested, along with your compassion. Remember that we admire your courage in this battle, and I am sure any of us would gladly take your place.” Garor then feels a small tingle, as something touches his arm. Krysta winks, as Adelia relays her thanks telepathically.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

KMAN - Might as well spell out the plan for everyone... Adelia just cast Shield Other, and will then take half of the Damage Garor does, giving him a small break in this battle of magic buffs. She doesn't have a lot of HP, but she can always step out of the range of the spell, before she drops. For now, she will stay in there as much as she can, and heal herself with the wand when she is injured.

The charged spell of Vigor, which is going to be imbued with Divine Spell Power for longer lasting effects, will then be used on Garor when he is speaking to Krysta before the battle begins. (small tingle) It grants him Fast Healing +2 per round, for minimum 16 rounds, plus mod for Divine Spell Power.

Obviously, Adelia would drink the potion when the bag begins to open, giving her invisibility. When she is left there, she simple stays still. As Krysta speaks, she brushes Garor’s arm, releasing the spell she had stored. If she is thinking that the invisibility potion will wear off, she will down another one, and continue. It should last minimum of three minutes or thirty rounds from beginning to end. Mordrock will be shouting as well as the whole KuoToan army, so she should be able to heal herself with the wand easily.

She would also like to ask the clerics in Ravenshead for help in this matter. They are likely to have spells to aid her in this tough battle of life and death. She will tell them that the duel outside will decide the fate of this whole city. One single duel. All must be done to ensure that this duel is finished and that they win. Since it's only a Lvl 2 spell, she would like the clerics to see if they would be willing to cast it on her as well, thereby only causing her to lose 1/4 the HP, and the second cleric loses 1/4 hp from any successful attacks on Garor. This would be a sound plan, as the same tactic could be used again, with wands, potions etc... like a chain of Garor, Adelia, then one more Cleric. Yes, cheesy, but actually a VERY viable plan. Besides, we need to win this fight, to save the city and our only threat against the Masters troops.

CHA +2 if needed... but I think they might give in, as they are already friendly, and this is a pinnacle decision on whether or not they live without having to fight for their lives against the army outside.

Lastly, a wand of Cure Moderate wounds would be better for her, so if Garor isn't going to use it, can she use it?

[BluSpecs]

Thanks!

Yup take the wand.

Garor readys himself for the battle moving to the duel area

[VemuKhaham]

I may not be there as Romar, but since I'm still reading all of this, I just wanted to say that that's a very solid plan, I like it. Though indeed it feels a bit "unfair".

[K Man]

{Guys, I'm sorry I couldn't get to this today. I've been SUUUPER busy ast work today. (I know, a first;)). I will update first thing in the AM or tonight if I get the chance. Sorry.}