4 - 066: The Fourth Piece

[K Man]

Kman - what kind of material is the wagon with the shard made out of? Some kind of pottery to hold the lake? And if so, how breakable does it appear to be?

The cart is wooden and holds a huge adobe bowl, more or less. The pottery bowl itself is reinforced with wood and bits of hard rubble, so think of it as more like concrete--very hard. (HP 150, Hardness 10)

Also a question to Kman: can I assume I hear Caelith saying to Telena he thinks he might be able to save the shard?

He does say "quietly", so I would assume he's trying to be relatively clandestine. I will leave the choice up to Udjat.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Romar, Irris and Tineniel -

Romar runs around to the front of the cart, joining the line of guards. He looks to Telena, clearly the combat leader in this fateful battle.

"What is your command? Do we charge?"

Telena shakes her head.



"No. The shard is priority. Remain close, form ranks and protect the wagon!"

Romar takes a moment to cast a spell upon himself and joins the ranks. [Santuary]

Telena moves ever closer, keeping her blade held firm and moves to the front of the line, directing the guards. She leans in close when Tineniel speaks.

"We can still save the shard - even if we must run. I have a way. Will you aid us if the moment arises?"

The Half-Giant surveys the landscape, a long thin row of arros lit and aimed directly at her less-than-fortified encampment of poor refugees. She nods.



"Right now, I'm willing to listen to anything."

{You can't see it, but Prince Irinys Readies an action.}

The Elves on the horizon remain calm and motionless, but you can clearly make out that they have raised their bows once again, preparing to fire. [Readied action]

The guard, following Telena's commands, moves to form protective ranks and withdraws all weapons, clasping the end of handles of their shields tightly. They form tight ranks in front of the cart, ready to withstand any onslaugt...

{And here's what the Readied Actions on the Elves parts were for...}

Just as the last guard shifts into rank, another volley of arrows from the attackers is loosed. The arrows arc high and far, seemingly not aimed at anything in particular. The fiery bolts land with 'pfft's in the sand all around you, but still about fifteen feet or so short of your position.

Not near enough to do damage. It's almost as if their trying not to hit you, but instead light up the area...

You've thought it out just as you see it happen.

From the ranks of the Elves come two small beads of fire, shooting at incredible velocity. These two beads race across the dunes and slam into two unsuspecting guards. {See diagram below for Fireball impact and radius}

Map;

.......................................................................w.
.........................................................................
...C.C.C...G...........................................................w.
...E.o.C................................................................w
.......C...G............................................................w.
........................................................................w
.......................................................................w.
..............***..............o........................................w
.......................................................................w.
........................................................................w
..................G..GG................................................w.
....................GG..................................................w
.................[].GR.T...............................................P.
...............I.[].GGI........o.......................................w.
...................GGG...................................................
................****GG.................................................w.
...................GGG..................................................w
...........o...........................................................w.
*......................................................................w
.......................................................................w.
........................................................................w
.......................................................................w.
.....o...................................................................
.......................................................................w.

[/pre]

{Yellow is where the Fireballs Impact, Orange is the spread.}

The blasts are almost simultaneous, lighting up the night sky with a blaze of orange and red.

{Some are affected by two Fireballs, so I'll roll both results. Don't worry, the DCs are low (16)}
[Ref Saves. Telena = Success X2, Tineniel = Success X2, Romar = Success X2, Guards affect once = Success, Guards affect twice = One Success, one failure (on 2nd fireball)]

[Damage Rolls = 23 (1st), 19 (2nd)]

Once the smoke clears, it's unsure just how many casualties there are...but one thing is certain, a few of the guards are not moving...

{One of the oldest tricks in the book. Fire a warning to sprk panic, wait for the enemy to form, and then blast them! }

{Initiative: Romar, Telena and Tineniel, Prince Irinys, Irris, The Elven Warriors, The Guard, The Citizens}

Map;

.......................................................................w.
.........................................................................
...C.C.C...G...........................................................w.
...E.o.C................................................................w
.......C...G............................................................w.
........................................................................w
.......................................................................w.
..............***..............o........................................w
.......................................................................w.
........................................................................w
..................G..GG................................................w.
....................GG..................................................w
.................[].xR.T...............................................P.
...............I.[].xxI........o.......................................w.
...................GGG...................................................
................****GG.................................................w.
...................GGG..................................................w
...........o...........................................................w.
*......................................................................w
.......................................................................w.
........................................................................w
.......................................................................w.
.....o...................................................................
.......................................................................w.

[/pre]

...LEGEND...
o = Campfire
.... = Sand
[]
[] = Cart with Shard in it
G = Guard
* = Citizen of the Dune Palace
E = Erid
T = Telena
C = Nameless Council Member
R = Romar
I = Irris
T = Tineniel
w = Elven Warrior
P = Prince Irinys
x = Dead Guard

{Realistically, there are hundreds more citizens and guards, but an equal number of Elves to match. Let's focus on this portion of the battle for now.}

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Those in the Fortress - {I'm sorry, but for story purposes here, I must take Mordrock from you Fangor. ]

As most of you have made your way across, the few remaining slowly working towards the pillar with the rope/boots process, Mordrock begins to look around with excitement.



"Wow! Mordrock can't wait to tell other Goblins what inside this place!"

He pauses, that usual slow stupid grin spreading across his face when he realizes what is wrong about his statement.

"If they still alive...and well, not evil.."

You shake your head, 'typical Mordrock' and go back to helping across your companions, ever-mindful of that hole above you where you know 'The Master' waits. More than once, Mordrock offers help, getting his grubby hands on the rope and pulling someone, or just offering useless advice.



"This going to be good fight huh? I can't wait to see YAHHHH!!!!"

Through some clumsy footwork that has normally never been that big of a problem, Mordrock slips backwards off the small pedestal. Flailing his arms, the small Goblin goes head over heels into the darkness below, screaming the whole time. Try as you might, you cannot grasp him before he can no longer be seen and you can only listen to his screams as he falls.

A few seconds later, or about fourty feet down or so, you hear him hit something solid.



"YEEAAAAAHHHH!! OOMMMP!......ugggghhhh..."

Calling out to Modrock, he appears to be alright, a little banged up from the fall, but otherwise OK. Just as you pull the last member across and quickly unravel the rope to lower to Mordrock, the pillar beneath you begins to move upwards.

Once all aboard the pillar, you're suddenly sent into a panic as it begins to slowly rise. Like some elevator taking you straight to your doom, the pillar rises to meet the small hole above it. You're forced to squeeze together to even fit in the hole as the pillar shows no signs of slowing down. You could toss a rope down to Mordrock, but there is no way you could pull him up in time.

As the pillar nears the hole, sealing off the level below, you can hear Mordrock call out.



"Ummm...is anyone help Mordrock?"

You call out, easing his mind, but you know there is nothing you can do...once you're all up and into the room, with a heavy thud, the stone pillar locks into place.

Immediately your mind begins to race, taking inventory of what is in this room. Tapestries, braziers, no exits, huge throne...Still sitting, calm as ever in this room is the skeletal form of the man in armor, its head tilted to one side in a relaxed manner.

Clearly 'The Master' does not fear you...

You begin preparation, immediately pulling out swords, whispering magic, readying wands and scrolls...but something is wrong. That sword isn't as light, the wand doesn't surge with energy, your magical words fall mute from your lips.

Something is surpressing your magic!

'The Master' breaks into a maniacal laughter.



"Ha!....HA! Muhahaaaha ha!"

"Fools! Did you really think I would not be ready for you?"

The skeletal figure stands upright on the throne, jabbing a gauntleted, bony finger at you. The armor about his wrist dangles freely, far too large for his skeletal frame. It gleams in the torchlight a dark, unscratched ebony, never used.

You flinch, suddenly feeling very vulnerable in this situation. Standing here, at the feet of the very soul-less general of hell's armies that has ravaged the land...and now without any magical support.

At least you're still got the steel...You turn and face 'The Master', but as you do, the tip of your blade bumps into something. It is invisible and seemingly hard as steel.

Some kind of barrier?

Rather non-chalantly, 'The Master' approaches to within a few feet of your very position and holds up a bony hand. He taps on the invisible wall and runs his fingers in both directions, finding no end to it. You imagine, that if he had lips, they would be twisted into a wry smile right about now...the leopard that knows it has its prey trapped.



"If I had to guess of all thing you were prepared for, this would not be among them would it?"

__________________________________________________________________________________________

{To those in the Fortress. You're in a stone room, roughly the same size as the one below (200X200) and you're trapped behind a Wall of Force that consequently has an Anti-Magic Field butted up to within an inch of that. The Anti-Magic Field is made permanent, as is the Wall of Force, they had contingency triggers placed on them (Someone entering this chamber that had a heartbeat). The Wall of Force is actually several, making a cage surrounding the Anti-Magic Field in the center.

I have a diagram of this, if it's truly too hard to imagine.}

[VemuKhaham]

Of all things I was invulnerable to, they shoot to me an area spell... That's 20 damage to me.

---

The blast overwhelmed Romar, who had not anticipated on this. Sure, elves were known for their magic, but he thought he had protected himself with his spell. Turning to Telena:

"We must do something! If we remain here those blasts of fire won't be the last of their cowardly tricks they'll employ against us. We should either surrender, retreat, or charge into their ranks! I for one would choose the latter!"

Romar, like the other guards, takes up a defensive position for now, despite his lack of a shield, but remains ready to charge like a madman over the fields of war to greet Irinys in battle.

---

Full defense

[K Man]

{I know Irris is absent, but I saw no mention of him moving. I think it entirely feasible that he would move with Tineniel, but that's up to the player controlling him. If you want him to move with you last round, his saves are both successes and you'll need to update damage accordingly. If not, keep him around.}

[Fangor the Fierce]

"So you ARE afraid of us, otherwise you would fight us in battle. Figures, for you to go and hide behind your wall, afraid as usual. What a coward!"

OOC - I was under the assumption that Anti-Magic Field had an Area effect of 'entered upon the Caster'. Hence, it would be no the Master, if anything. If so, then wouldn't they have an initiative to move away from him to gain the use of their magic items and spells? Or am I missing something?

[K Man]

fangor77 said:

OOC - I was under the assumption that Anti-Magic Field had an Area effect of 'entered upon the Caster'. Hence, it would be no the Master, if anything. If so, then wouldn't they have an initiative to move away from him to gain the use of their magic items and spells? Or am I missing something?

{No, you're right. The spell Anti-Magic Field is indeed centered upon the caster. However, for this 'trap' to work, it is more like a spell-like effect of a trap--not necissarily the actual spell itself. Excellent question Fangor and hopefully I've answered it well.}

[Wizard]

(I moved w/Tineniel, and therefore received my flaming lumps like the rest of 'em. :I)

[TheUdjat]

((Realistically, Irris would have moved to the front as well. So he'll take the damage.))

And he does, in fact, see the strategy a moment before it happens. Then the beads of fire - so familiar - and they erupt in flame. He staggers, briefly patting himself down to ensure that nothing caught, but he is surprisingly unworried about the flames. He is simply too awestruck at the memories flooding back to him.

The tactics catch up a moment later. "To charge would be utter suicide. Romar! I need a diversion - Do anything you can to hold their attention! Irris," He glances back to check on his comrade, "In the wagon, like we planned! Telena, get your guards to spread out - but have two ready to run the wagon off with those lizards, as fast as they can - on my signal! The rest of us... we must hold them off as best we can, then when I give the order, scatter and let them pursue the wagon."

The next is a rush of memory and a feeling of relief. The spell comes surging out, and the sharp gestures and spidery words like riding a bike. "Hurry! Now!" he adds, when he has finished.

And he advances away from the group, towards Prince Irinys, flicking his rapier forth with a quick gesture and shouting across the sands. He acts, as much as he can manage, like some sort of leader. "You! Why do you attack the Gathered Nations?!" he is hoping to bluff. He likes his plan - it is a good plan, as circumstances are - but it needs time.

((Tineniel casts Rope Trick, centered inside the wagon. Then he moves 30' towards the enemy, Quick Draws his rapier, and does lots of talking.))

[Wizard]

I hope he knew what he was talking about...

Irris had wondered a bit when he heard Tineniel's plan. It seemed to him that perhaps it had all been too much---the memory loss, the pain from the spiral, and now this apparition of a man at the campfire. Perhaps solid Tineniel had finally lost his grip.

But Irris loved stories, and at night, when the cold desert winds blew across the land, chilling anyone outside and unprotected, there wasn't much else to do but tell and listen to stories.

Of all the stories he'd heard, there were a few that mentioned---just barely, just the name of a place, or perhaps a stranger with timely information---that mentioned the great mages, the Magi. Never quite predictable, but seemingly having predicted each and every event before its time. Wise in the ways of the world, perhaps, but wiser still in things out of it.

Farsight, the gift of the Magi.

Irris never mentioned it to him---he was never sure---but he knew that there was something different about Tineniel. He thought. He thought a lot. He'd spend hours a day with his books sometimes, even though he claimed to not understand a word of them. And while Irris could disarm Tineniel seven times out of ten when they sparred---well, occasionally it seemed to him like the elf had peeked into his mind and started reacting to Irris's strokes before they even started. Those were the other three out of ten.

Tineniel, he knew, was Magi.

Or had been, or would be.

And this was why he had listened to his friend, had obeyed his strange idea that relied on Tineniel doing amazing things Irris had never seen him do, had scrambled behind the cart, hair black and singed, and was just now climbing into the bowl.

And there he saw it. The source of all life, at least as far as he remembered. The Shard that the campfire-man had warned him about, sitting down in the bottom of the water.

He felt around in the water, not exactly sure what he was looking for. Hirtes, Tineniel had said, which, literally translated from Elven, meant "opening" or "window" ---but also "death."

He found it when his fingertip caught on the velvety edge. Looking carefully below the surface, he saw that his fingertips had disappeared. Frightened, he pulled his hand back, relieved to find it whole.

Here it goes, he thought.

And he took a deep breath.


The water was pleasantly cool, but he could barely see. Diving down, he got himself squarely wrapped around the shard, then pushed upward. It moved slowly---even buoyancy doesn't stop inertia---but it moved, and Irris could carry it. Underwater, anyway.

Just a few feet up...and it was in. He saw the water level falling as the shard went into the no-where space, and then he himself had climbed in, thrusting his head to the top of the dark, formless enclosure, taking big gulps of air.

And then he waited.

(Water is actually quite dense, creating a buoyant force on an object of (64.2 lbs/ft^3) multiplied by its volume. Since the shard was described as about the size of "a large humanoid," [see BOYD First Piece # 1] I figured its buoyancy would bring its effective weight down by about 500 lbs or so, though I think it actually might be brought down by a lot more.)

[Jevva]

Um...I'm totally at a lost as to do...

[Japic]

Because its in his nature and he's not interested in talking Girud instinctivley lashes out (innefectually) at the invisible walls. He was a fighter, not a mage; this was far more than he could handle any day of hte week.

Since he's got nothing he can do, he seethes, his large hands gripping and re-gripping on the hilt of his weapon. The Master obviously wanted something, otherwise they'd already be dead. Perhaps he was about to unveil all his evil plans like so many villans before him.