The Missing Smithson Part 2
As the hyena growls and, undoubtedly begins to cackle in that laugh hyenas make when threatening creatures, it becomes clear that there is more than just a zombie there. The zombie does turn to look, another rising up next to it, but off to the side there's a low crouched creature. Spines running down its back and its jaws covered in gore - its eyes black and soulless. The creature opens its mouth, the jaw opening so wide it looks like it can unhinge like a snake's and lets out a yelled noise that would shake any normal person, broken and high-pitched.
Almost immediately after that yell you hear it. From the far side of the gorge there's pounding now against a door that has a collapsed scaffolding against it. Pounding and shouts, though it's too far away to make out.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bolide has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Bolide to instruct you further.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
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GAME: You roll initiative: 11 + 4 = 15
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 16.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
<OOC> Xasany says, "Well, I do not think I can do anything to them at a range of 45-ish feet. May I hold my action until they get closer?"
<OOC> Bolide says, "You surely can!"
<OOC> Walery says, "Yep ACtivate TA, fire fiery death ray and porcupine monster."
Walery activates his titan armor.
Set.
GAME: Walery activates his Titan Armor, gaining: +4 Dex
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 15.
It is now Walery's turn! Undead is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed ended.
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+8: (19)+8: 27
<OOC> Bolide says, "That's a hit! :D"
GAME: Walery rolls 2d6+4: (7)+4: 11
<OOC> Bolide says, "It looks badly hurt after that blast."
Xasany glances out at the zombie as it turns around. She swallows as a second one stands up, and then the screaming yell from the creature that can unhinge its jaw. She looks to her companions. "I certainly do not want to run up to meet them. I can catch one on fire if it gets close enough."
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 14.
It is now Undead's turn! Urso is next!
Walery knows just what to. His tactics are simple and straightforward: He slaps the button on his belt, and his Titan Armor activates. Not so technical as some, but useful. A targeting reticle snaps down from his headgear, and he shoulders his death ray. At that range, it's a simple shot, and cncentrated fire leaps from his death ray to scorch the porcupine monster.
GAME: Xasany casts Burning Hands. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
GAME: Xasany rolls 2d4: (6): 6
GAME: Bolide rolls 3: (13)+3: 16
<OOC> Bolide says, "It makes it's save. D:"
<OOC> Bolide says, "Walery, make a reflex save if you will?"
Xasany blinks at the sudden speed the spiny creature is capable, and she's barely done blurting out the words before the fire that springs from her fingertips catches the creature full on. "What is it!?", she wonders rather loudly.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 13.
It is now Urso's turn! Mal'Thael is next!
<OOC> Bolide says, "Urso, you see two zombies. We'll handle the spiney one when Walery gets back. :D"
GAME: Walery rolls reflex: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Bolide says, "Oookay and a fort save if you please?"
GAME: Walery rolls fort: (5)+5: 10
GAME: You spend TWO uses of DEATH RAY. (0 remaining)
As it gets closer the creature looks all the more insidious with claws and a hate in its eyes born only of an unlife. The skin blackens and starts crackling and peeling back as it makes it's final leap toward Walery with its maw wide and almost unhinging as it lets out a shriek, the flames engulfing the creature and the light fades from its eyes. Its re-lifeless corpse slams into Walery, knocking him off his feet and with the final sound of its shriek fading from its lungs it dies... and smells really, really bad.
The two zombies stumble after it like lost puppies now at about fifteen-ish feet and looking at the adventurers as they continue onward in their deathless state.
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 11.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Xasany is next!
=============== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 ===============
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
16 Xasany 1
15 Walery 1 Titan Armor (2 rnd active)
14 Undead 1
13 Urso 1
>> 11 Mal'Thael 1 <<
==================================================================
GAME: Mal'Thael casts Flaming Sphere. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 3d6: (12): 12
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d20: (2): 2
<OOC> Bolide says, "You incinerate a zombie."
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14
The large bearded human in the white cloak stands erect and moves forward in a slight, double-stepping charge. As he does he calls out, "By the light of the Rising One!" his deep voice ringing out its rallying cry across the small depression where the bodies lay strewn like so much rickrack after a parade. He swings as he approaches one of the zombies, but an oak root hidden beneath some leaves catches the toe of his boot and he stumbles and almost falls - causing him to miss the swing that otherwise would have decapitated his foe.
<Urso claims>
<OOC> Bolide says, "Chuckle pup hits!"
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d8+3: (6)+3: 9
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15
<OOC> Mal'Thael says, "trip."
<OOC> Bolide says, "And that barely bases! BUT IT DOES!"
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 16.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
<OOC> Xasany says, "Xasany is going to go assist Walery in standing up, since only one other thing is active now."
Mal keeps back, at least for now. Xasany can see what he's doing when a sphere of flame appears behind the zombie and sets it ablaze. "Go, Trakker..." Mal'thael says and the Hyena takes off after the other zombie. As urso misses with his axe, the Hyena leaps and grabs the zombie, biting deep into it's rotting flesh, and YANKS it to the ground in between them....barking and 'chuckling'.
<OOC> Bolide says, "Okay! Gimme a strength check, +4 for mechanical advantage."
GAME: Xasany rolls Strength+4: (8)+0+4: 12
<OOC> Bolide says, "You heave like mad and it rolls off."
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 15.
It is now Walery's turn! Undead is next!
<OOC> Bolide says, "Walery, you're up, best way I can describe this is... every place where the creature was on you feels... almost painful, with the noxious scent of it in your nose."
Xasany glances at the zombies, and seems satisfied that they are contained. She runs over to the fallen Walery. "Are you alright?", she asks of him. Her nose wrinkles at the smell. "Try not to touch it...", she intones as she uses her quarter staff to roll the body off of him. "Are you wounded?"
<OOC> Bolide says, "Okay! Shoot it and a fort save please!"
GAME: Walery rolls fort: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+9: (16)+9: 25
GAME: Walery rolls 2d6+5: (7)+5: 12
Walery snorts at not touching it, and he says, "I haven't got much choice in that, have I?" He rolls over onto his belly and takes aim with the death ray, tripping off a shot at the nearby zombie. A burst of concentrated fire strikes it, and a moment later, the zombie crumples, largely consumed by the flame. Then he breathes out and winces in reaction to the pain. "Augh!"
Urso moves over to where Walery lays on the ground. "Are you alright, brother?" he plants the head of his axe on the ground and squats, holding onto the haft. He looks at the creature that attacked the man with the deathray and peers at it as if trying to figure out what it is.
GAME: Urso rolls Knowledge/religion: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Xasany casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
<OOC> Xasany says, "That's for Walery."
Xasany grins brightly at Walery as he zaps the last Zombie. "I did mean don't touch it any more than you have to. I can help with the pain, a bit." She mutters several words under her breath, and her left palm begins to glow. She presses that carefully against one of Walery's wounds.
<OOC> Bolide says, "Urso, you think it's totally a mutated zombie."
GAME: Xasany rolls 1d8+2: (6)+2: 8
<OOC> Bolide says, "Incidentally, Walery didn't suffer any HP loss, but what you did was very smart. :D"
Urso glances at Xasany as she steps over to help Wallery, "Thank ye ma'am." he finally stands from his hunker, offering Wallery a hand to stand up and says, "I think it's some sort of undead creature. Perhaps a zombie that has been changed or remade somehow with the aid of magics."
<OOC> Bolide says, "K/religion?"
Walery says to Xasany, "Thanks. That was ... something weird. So are we gonna get the people out from the thing?" he wonders.
<OOC> Mal'Thael says, "+breadth of experience."
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+2: (14)+2: 16
<OOC> Mal'Thael says, "add 2 to that. duh"
<OOC> Mal'Thael says, "erp. 1."
<OOC> Bolide says, "The people are indeed some 90-ish feet away and trapped behind a door that's forced shut by scaffolding."
Mal'Thael waves his hand and makes the sphere roll over to where the undead attacking Walyer is and makes it burn. The hyena walks back over to Mal's side as he looks over the burning undead. "Festrog. Make sure you keep away from it. It has boils on it's skin that pop and infect others with a disease that is rather painful." he then looks to Walery. "keep an eye on him. that disease doesn't onset for one day though."
Urso nods to Walery and, standing grabs his axe. Keeping the axe to hand, he moves carefully toward the scaffolding that is blocking the door. As he moves he studies the bodies that he nears to see if they show any sign of reanimating. Pausing for a moment he begins moving his lips in a silent prayer.
<OOC> Urso says, "Detect Evil"
<OOC> Walery says, "Can we just yank it free? Or is it a complicated pile?"
<OOC> Bolide says, "You definitely can just yank it free. Just a stregnth check."
Xasany nods to Walery. "You're most welcome." When Mal'Thael explains what the creature was, the Gnome nods solemnly. "I can check for you, then, to see if you have contracted the disease. I may have some herbs in my pack that may help." She nods again to Walery. "I think we should help them." When Urso begins moving towards where the scaffolding has collapsed, she follows along behind.
GAME: Walery rolls strength: (1)+0: 1 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Bolide says, "OW! Your lumbago!"
<OOC> Xasany uses her staff again?
<OOC> Bolide says, "Sure! This time it's only a +2"
GAME: Xasany rolls Strength+2: (17)+0+2: 19
After the large man pauses, concentrating for a moment, he begins moving once more. "This whole area is covered in a miasma of death and evil. Those abominations were most likely created due to the ferocity and quickness of their deaths." he looks around and says, "I don't sense any other sources of evil nearby though." Urso rehooks his axe and reaches up to help shift the scaffolding.
GAME: Urso rolls strength: (13)+3: 16
<OOC> Bolide says, "Also, Xasany, gimme a intelligence check"
GAME: Xasany rolls Intelligence: (16)+4: 20
<OOC> Bolide says, "Urso, you start heaving beams off like it's going out of fashion."
Walery nods about checking for disease after having the thing fall on him. "Thanks, yeah. That was pretty horrible." He reaches out to the scaffolding to yank it out of place, and yelps as he grabs onto a sharp metal shard that cuts the palm of his hand. He snatches the hand back so quickly that a bit on top of the scaffolding falls loose and clocks him on the head with a thump, which he also yelps at. "Owwwww," he complains.
Xasany moves to the opposite side of Urso, and using her trusty quarterstaff, begins levering some of the scaffolding away. "Lift with your legs, Urso. You're going to throw your back out like that."
Mal'Thael spends all of this time using water to clean out the mouth of the hyena. Then, when all that's done....he gives him some jerky.
Urso smirks at Xasany's words, but he does straighten his back in lieu of giving himself a rupture. He reaches down and grabs a particularly large beam and strains to shift it to the side. He finally gets it to move with a forced grunt and then he stands, wiping his hands on his breeches. "There, and a little bit more and we'll be through."
GAME: Urso rolls strength: (7)+3: 10
Walery wraps up his hand in a bit of scrap cloth as all this is going on, but if they're still clearing when he's done, he'll lend a much more careful hand this time.
GAME: Walery rolls strength: (6)+0: 6
GAME: Xasany rolls Strength+2: (12)+0+2: 14
Urso says, "You know, I saw an orc-fella that would be useful in this right now. He was almost a head taller than me." he grunts as he gets his fingers under a particularly pernicious beam and strains. The cloak he wears hides the muscles popping underneath, but the strain is evident on his forehead which is beaded with sweat and dust."
GAME: Urso rolls strength: (15)+3: 18
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls strength: (9)+3: 12
GAME: Walery rolls Knowledge/Engineering: (5)+10: 15
Xasany continues to use her staff as a lever, until she notices something. "Ewh! There's some of this ick left over." She wanders away after shoving the last pieces aside. "Let me just clean this off..."
Walery points to that last bit that's being cleared out. "Yes, if you grab that, it should be all clear," he says, perhaps less than helpfully.
Urso stands for a moment, catching his breath. Finally after about a minute he unhooks his axe and says, "Brother, if you'll train that destructive device of yours on yon portal in case we're faced with more abominations, I'll open it." he moves to stand beside the door, axe in one hand, door-handle in the other, waiting for the signal from Walery.
Walery nods to Urso, and he'll ready his death ray. "The door is safe, at least," he says, "Though as to what's behind it ... I'm guessing the people from the town, but we can't be too careful, can we? Open it up," he says.
With Walery's information, Urso and Mal'Thael grab the large door leading into the side of the cliff and start yanking on it - pulling it near off the hinges as they strain with the stuck door. On the other side they can hear the pained cries of people, hitting against it and making weak calls for help. They start to push against it too and - with a burst - the door finally opens. The wood splintered in several areas from the strain put on it. Inside two rank smelling people, both starved and dehydrated. They collapse to their knees and start crawling toward the party barely able to make noises they're so close to death.
On the inside, they can see the bodies of at least four others, all dead with the look of emaciation and dehydration proclaiming their fate.
Xasany returns just in time to see the door opened, her staff freshly scrubbed clean. Her nose wrinkles at the smell, but she moves forward. "Lord Smithson, I presume?", she quips, pulling her waterskin from her pack. "Anyone else have water?", she asks, offering hers to the first one who she reaches. She holds for them, and pours the water as carefully as possible into their mouth. "You'll be okay!"
Walery will stow his death ray and deactivate his Titan Armor as we find out what's behind door number one. "Ugh," he grimaces, and says to the people, "You're all right now," which may not be entirely true, as we're some way from the fort.
The nearest one to Xasany looks up at her, confusion and staring with a sort of mixed expression. A shaky hand reaches out, grabbing the water and drinking it greedily... and then throwing it right back up.
Urso moves from beside the door where he lets his half of the door fall, broken, to the ground. He drops a pack on the ground and unstraps a waterskin from it, along with a small cloth full of dried foods. He takes a piece of cheese and hands it to each of the men. He says, "Slowly. Drink first, sips. When you can hold that down, nibble on the cheese brothers. You are safe now...we are with the Guild and have come to rescue any left after," he pauses and glances around the strewn dead, "Well, after whatever happened here." his voice is deep and mellow with a kind note carried on it.
Xasany will yank the skin away as the dehydrated man vomits the water up. "Oh dear, slow down. Sips, as this gentleman has said." She gestures to Urso. "Try again. Slowly. Sips."
They do, taking it slow and drinking and eating. It takes a few minutes before one of them starts to croak out, "He's not here." They look between eachother for a moment and then the other speaks up.
"We saw him though at one point." The man coughs and nibbles a bit more on the dried foods.
"Don't know where he went exactly but we do know after he left the gobbers went nuts. They kidnapped a number of them, marched them off into the hills." And the man points off further away from civilization, "Maybe he went out that way too, riled them up."
Urso says, "Easy brother, easy. You're in no condition to travel right now." he looks up at the others and says, "What say we get a mile on down the road and then make camp for the evening? These two fellows won't make it back to the fortification without at least two good meals and some supplies, and they can't go with us in this shape. I don't want their blood on my hands.""
One of the two waves a hand weakly, "No.. No. We can get back, if you give us enough food and water for a couple days, we can get back."
As it happens, it's only just passed dawn too.
Xasany nods to the two, and rubs at her cheeks. "We should at least sit with them for a bit, before letting them go off. I'm willing to give up food and water to help them."
Walery notes, "It'll probaby be OK once they get some food in them and get their strength back." He'll get into his pack and parcel out some rations also.
Urso glances up at Xasany as she speaks. He was silently pondering the mine shaft set before them. He turns back to study the ground in front of the mineshaft as well as the ground and walls of the shaft itself. He stands and brushing his hands on the seat of his breeches, he bends and moves into the shaft a short ways, studying as much as he can in the early morning light.
GAME: Urso rolls perception: (12)+2: 14
Urso has disconnected.
<OOC> Bolide says, "Since you traveled by night, I assuemd you rested before setting out meaning that you're still "good"."
Urso has connected.
GAME: Bolide makes Mittens roll Fortitude:(7)+2: 9
<OOC> Bolide says, "Fortitude checks all around! :D"
GAME: Urso rolls Fortitude: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Walery rolls fortitude: (17)+5: 22
GAME: Xasany rolls Fortitude: (17)+1: 18
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls fortitude: (14)+7: 21
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d4: (1): 1
GAME: Urso rolls 1d20: (15): 15
It's a six hour journey inland along the treacherous route of the wilds. The heat is far less oppressive this day with the jungle foliage saving you from much of the heat, but it still weighs heavily on you all. Urso and Mittens especially seem to be feeling it, with the sounds a never ending and the heat just beating you like a stick that never stops. It's not very fun for those unused to it.
Mal'Thael and his Hyena lead the way through the winding trails and up ahead there's an obvious break with the cast of blue sky greeting you instead of the green hues and vibrant colors. Stepping up near you you find the edge of an ancient valley nestled away - hidden and almost impossible to spot further back.
Ancient megalithic stones, most of which are toppled and partly buried, ring the border of this deep valley. Stones weathered by time and encased in thick vegetation cover the only sign that civilization once was here.
Urso breathes heavily and braces himself against a tree trunk. Sweat pours down his face and he looks haggard. "If we come against an enemy before we rest, we may be in dire straits indeed friends." he runs his hand across his eyes and flicks sweat to the ground. Straightening he looks out over the valley, studying the stones and vegetation in silence.
Xasany huffs and pants with the rest of the group, and is sure to drink enough water. She also waters her owl frequently, whispering softly to it whenever it complains. But she keeps up, and looks to Urso when he pauses. "Well, you're cooking yourself with your armor, certainly." She runs a hand through her own hair, happy that it is out of her face for the most part. "Phew. I think I prefered the dry heat."
Walery seems to be holding up OK, given that he got buried under the awful this morning. He's looking around, quite impressed by the architecture, but asks, "Can any of you track? Did the dwarf come this way?"
<OOC> Bolide says, "You're at the top of this valley, it looks like 300 some odd feet down."
<OOC> Bolide says, "It would also be nigh impossible for someone to track the dwarf after this long. At this point, it seems the best bet would be to go where the gobbers are as everyone says they were riled up not long after your Lord Smithson went out here."
Mal'Thael says, "It'd be impossible to track anyone gone this long, but I think we can safely assume he's here." he then pets the Hyena gently, who seems to be looking around as well."
<OOC> Bolide says, "Oh! And Urso had to step away, but he's still here."
Xasany moves towards one of the ancient stones, and turns her head sideways. "Hmm. Valley of the Boar's..." She pauses and carefully stretches out her quarterstaff to pry some lichen from the stone. "These have been here for some time for the lichen to have taken hold so..." Tap tap tap. "Valley of the Boar's Head." The Gnome woman hmmms. "Vilram is the name of this place, it seems... the buildings below." She gestures towards the ruins. "This is Khazdul I am reading, so this is a dwarven place. Didn't Smithson say in a missive that he'd found evidence that the Dwarves had lived around here in ancient times? Surely he'd have bene here?"
<OOC> Bolide says, "okay! You have a 300' drop in front of you down into the valley where you've been following this trail. Near as you can guess the gobbers are somewhere up ahead and the area is INDEED Khazad. It seems like the prime location to find Smithson."
Walery eyes his companions. "So, what shall we do? I am not -too- keen to encounter enraged goblins. On the other hand, do we have 300 feet of rope? Not that the hyena could climb..."
Mal'Thael says, "that would be a problem. Also, there has to be another way down. otherwise I don't think the goblins would've survived either." he says looking around."
Xasany squints and leans forward, getting her staff into a spot and scraping very hard. "Sorry, it's Valley of the Boar's Tusk. The words are very similar and this lichen is most irritating." She glances around at her companions and shrugs at Walery's words. She nods to Mal'Thael. "There may be a hidden way down. Or, and I fear that this could be the case... but perhaps they found a way in through the mines we encountered a ways back?" She looks into the jungle and hmms. "We do have plenty of plant materials... we could make a rope."
Mal'Thael has reconnected.
Mal'Thael says, "that would be a problem. Also, there has to be another way down. otherwise I don't think the goblins would've survived either." he says looking around."
GAME: Walery rolls knowledge/engineering: (4)+10: 14
Urso curses under his breath as he pants, mopping his face. "Back to the mines? The devil you say. I am not walking another six hours in this damned armor." he coughs, then composes himself. "Sorry...sorry ma'am. What I mean to say is, I believe that if I were forced to climb a rope or walk another six hours, I'm liable to encumber the party overmuch. I do not believe I am in condition to do much of either." he glances around and says, "Alas, I am apparently, not at my best today." At least he has the common decency to look a little ashamed.
Walery agrees about not six hours. "It'd be strange to have no local exit. I'm trying to see where a good place might be for one, but nothing jumps out. Are those stairs, there, on the other side of the valley?" He points.
GAME: Urso rolls perception: (9)+2: 11
GAME: Xasany rolls Perception: (20)+4: 24
Xasany squints to where Walery points, and she looks back, shrugging. "Hard to say." To Urso, she just smiles. "It's alright, we won't make you walk back in your armor." The Gnome looks once more across the way. "Walking over there to check it out is probably a lot less time than walking back to the mines. But uh, it's still quite a hike around the ridge of the valley. They... do look rather stair-like though."
<OOC> Bolide says, "Everyone gimme intelligence checks. :D"
GAME: Walery rolls intelligence: (5)+4: 9
Urso looks to where Walery points and peers for several long moments. Finally blinking his eyes he shakes his head and says, "Na' brother, I can not see what you mean. It's all very green from this distance and I fear that I can't see any structure." he glances at Xasany and says, "I believe both of you have better eyes than I." He leans against the tree during this short break for speach. Finally he stands and says, "I will begin scouting for a way in to yon valley."
GAME: Urso rolls intelligence: (10)+1: 11
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls intelligence: (16)+1: 17
GAME: Xasany rolls Intelligence: (10)+4: 14
Mal'Thael says, "I don't think they'd have left those people at the mine entrance, if there was a way through to where they were going through the mine." He then ponders."
<OOC> Bolide says, "So you still got the cliff in front of you, you think there's stairs on the other side but that might be a total bust and just a waste of time."
<OOC> Bolide says, "And Mal pointed out that heading back to the mine might be a goose egg of a plan"
<OOC> Bolide says, "As was pointed out, if this is the way the gobbers take, they probably wouldn't be just free climbing down - not with hostages too."
<OOC> Xasany says, "Maybe the standing stones offer some clues?"
Urso catches what Mal says as he begins to move easily about the area, taking his time. He seems to be searching among the heavy foliage moving parallel to the edge of the precipice about thirty feet away. He takes a moment to use his axe to hack down a small sapling that he quickly de-limbs and shortens to the length of a walking stick. Poking the ground around him with the stick as he walks he begins to move around the rim of the valley. "We can keep an eye out for a way down, but we might as well forge on to yon stairs. If they are a figment of Walery's imagination, I suppose we'll be no worse off than we are now. Besides, perhaps there is a suitable space for a camp site over there."
<OOC> Bolide says, "Urso, Survival check."
GAME: Urso rolls survival: (7)+2: 9
Walery agrees about the stairs not being viable. "Lets keep searching this side, then, we could still find a way down."
GAME: Walery rolls survival: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Xasany rolls Perception: (19)+4: 23
Xasany nods and lets out a long breath. She starts poking around here and there, moving closer to the edge and glancing below. "This is the boring part that they all neglect to tell you about when people talk about working for the Guild, isn't it?" Content to investigate the stones, she soon reports back. "Everything I am reading leads me to believe that there should be a number of entraces or stairs all around the valley. But... I suppose so much time has passed since it was last inhabited that all of that has crumbled or become overgrown."
The large bearded man peers into a likely clutter of brush and calls back over his shoulder to Xasany in a low voice, "Think of it as a chance to stop cutting trail through the jungle and actually catch your breath." he takes a bite of dried meat from a pouch and takes a bite of it, then a sip of water from his canteen. "And stay watered." he arms sweat from his brow, then waves a cluster of gnats away from the top of his canteen before putting the stopper back in. Urso looks around and says, "I'll work my way around a bit more and see if I can find anything. I've found naught here."
GAME: Bolide makes Mal'Thael roll Survival:(19)+13: 32
Walery will continue to search, either for a path forward or a way down. Wary of goblins, he's got his death ray out just in case anything needs to be on fire.
Mal'Thael pokes his head into a couple bushes. Literally. Like shoves his head into them and then does a few circles with a grass headdress as his Hyena starts sniffing at the ground. After a bit of time, the Hyena makes a chuckling noise and dives right off the cliff. Mal'Thael runs over with a start only to find... "Hey! There's a switchback over here!" He waves the party over, still wearing his grass headdress as a badge of honor.
Urso hears them calling out about the switchback and abandons his search. He trudges through the jungle, leaning on the walking stick as he comes towards the group. "At least we don't have to make rope. Though that might not be a bad idea." he glances around at the others. "If this place has gone back to earth, we may find ourselves forced to rapel. I'd much rather take our time and make rope here where supplies are plentiful than have to try and make it underground with none but dirt."
Xasany comes running over to where Mal'Thael is, and peers down. "Oh. Indeed!" Her hair suddenly comes alive, and she jumps, her hair stretching out to wrap around features of the surrounding area, letting her descend quickly to one of the landings. "Looks pretty clear!", she calls up.
Walery is still lost and looking for stairs, but his allies seem to have something, so he'll go there and look.
Reaching the bottom was much easier that way, it's a good think Mal'Thael's hyena found it. The canopy is dense with tall jungle trees and the jungle floor is relatively clear of undergrowth except for sparse vegetation and massive root structures from the ancient trees. Moss-covered rocks dog the landscape with vines and leafy foliage encrusting toppled blocks of quarried stone. Tall grass grows up between paving stones and squat statues depicting dwarven in heavy armor stand crooked or fractured entirely.
Among the more notable features are exotic flowers, tall, pitched-shaped, golden blooms with seven petals, the interior a deep red. A soothing fragrance fills the valley and motes of pollen drift about lazily in the air.
Mal'Thael smiles a bit at everyone. "Sometimes companions are worthwhile." He says as they both get to the bottom. "So what now..."
Urso moves through the jungle and begins fallowing the paving stones, "I imagine that whatever is going on, they'd want some cover from the elements," he smacks at something on his shoulder that dropped from a tree above, "And the damnable insects." he uses his walking stick more frequently now, prodding for depressions and ankle-breakers covered in the deep loam and mulch of the leaves covering the jungle floor.
Xasany's hair remains alive and wild for the journey down the switchback, the young witch occasionally taking hair-aided shortcuts until they reach the bottom. At the bottom, she looks to Mal'Thael and shrugs. "We go where gobbers would go. Time to put on your gobber caps, yes?" The Gnome woman mutters a few things in Goblin-Talk, and begins to look around at the statues and ruins.
Walery will follow the others, letting them do the trailblazing things. He's used to city streets and whatnot.
<OOC> Bolide says, "There looks like there's general paths that lead out "ahead" which have been traversed. It's not hard to see where it's been trampled and the stones are a bit cleaner, etc."
<OOC> Bolide says, "Following the gobbers probably won't be too difficult down here. They're leaving clear signs of travel through this area. :D"
<OOC> Bolide says, "Perception checks then!"
GAME: Xasany rolls Perception: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Walery rolls perception: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls perception: (12)+9: 21
GAME: Urso rolls perception: (8)+2: 10
Urso continues to follow the sunken pavers through the jungle, ocassionally swatting at flies or mosquitos. He seems to be more at ease down here, though still watchful. "Perhaps we'll find a spring where we can refresh ourselves." He glances at the others to gauge their current condition.
Xasany is following nearby, searching in nooks and crannies, and suddenly lets out a loud shriek, followed by her running into Urso's side.
Mal'Thael looks back up. "Well....I'm going to make you guys a lot more paranoid. There were skeletons in the underbrush....."
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d4: (3): 3
<OOC> Bolide says, "Xas, Wal, and Urso, make a will save!"
GAME: Walery rolls will: (11)+2: 13
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: Xasany rolls will: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Urso rolls will: (12)+8: 20
The four of you starts walking along when Walery and Xasany slow down and need to sit for a moment - they immediately fall to sleep. Even Urso feels it, the urge to drift off but with a shake of his head he resist the fatigue.
Walery zzzzzzzzz
Urso grunts when he finally looks around and realizes that Xasany and Walery have fallen to the wayside. He moves back to where they lay on the ground, going first to Xasany, seeing as she's closer. He calls out, "Walery! Xasany! Are you alright?" he visually checks them for darts or thorns, then begins to shake Xasany, lightly at first, then with increasing urgency.
The small form of the Gnome remains still for a few shakes, but then the woman gives a start and her eyes open. They're unfocused and she looks quite groggy. "Huh? Five more minutes mommy.", she mumbles, her eyes slowly shutting. She starts again and sits up a little. "What am I doing here on the ground?" That asked of Urso.
Mal walks over to Walery, shaking him with a hard jar to the shoulder, "Hey, not time to sleep quite yet." He straights the grass headdress on his head and looks around, "Something isn't right here..."
GAME: Bolide reverses the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 16.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
Walery is shaken, but not stirred. Eventually, though, he stirs, and yawns. "Man, I was so tired, I don't even remember setting up camp." We set up camp, right? He looks around, confused,
Xasany rubs at her face. "I feel woozy, Urso, why do I feel woozy?" She sits up a little more, looking around. "Did I fall over?"
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 15.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
Walery deactivates his titan armor.
GAME: Walery deactivates his Titan Armor.
GAME: Bolide removes the timestop.
Timestop by Bolide has left.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bolide has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Bolide to instruct you further.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
GAME: You roll initiative: 5 + 4 = 9
GAME: Bolide has changed your initiative total to 15.
Walery deactivates his titan armor.
GAME: Walery deactivates his Titan Armor.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 16.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 15.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed ended.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 13.
It is now Urso's turn! Plants is next!
Urso reaches down and helps Xasany to her feet. "I didn't hear you fall, nor do I see any wounds or darts on your body...I think it may be the pollen?" he shakes his head and glances over at Walery and Mal. He says, "We should probably pick up the pace if this place is enspelling us..."
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 11.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Plants is next!
<OOC> Mal'Thael says, "Knowledge/nature."
<OOC> Bolide says, "Roll it!"
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls knowledge/nature: (3)+9: 12
GAME: Xasany rolls Profession/Herbalist: (16)+6: 22
Xasany slowly stands and looks around. "Uh. Well this is not good." She rubs at her head and points to a section of very pretty flowers with large blossoms. "They call those heart-eaters. They are carnivorous plants. If we had stumbled into them, it would be bad."
Mal'Thael says, "Xtabays. Worse. I think we need to find another way out of here...or, at least, around them.""
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 10.
It is now Plants' turn! Xasany is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 3: (12)+3: 15
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d20: (3): 3
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d20: (19): 19
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d3-1: (3)+-1: 2
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d2: (1): 1
GAME: Bolide damaged you for 3 points. 22 HP remaining.
Even as the plants are pointed out, the Xtabay lashes out toward Walery. The stingers latching on and a bit of acid to add to injury because - hey - let's face it, sometimes a plants just gotta eat! The other Xtabay near by - on the other side of the column - seems quite content for some reason.
That was before this leaf shaped object just swung out of the trees though, whipping by Urso - missing him in its stinger.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 16.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Xasany rolls 1d20: (15): 15
GAME: Xasany rolls weapon1: (12)+0: 12
GAME: Xasany rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 15.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
Xasany blinks as things start to move, and she yells as she lashes out with her quarterstaff. She connects with a dull thwap.
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (7)+4: 11
Walery activates his titan armor.
GAME: Walery activates his Titan Armor, gaining: +4 Dex
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+9: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 13.
It is now Urso's turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 11.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Plants is next!
Urso fumbles his axe out of the holder its in, fatigue showing in his every move. He swings at the plant, but does no more than keep it at bay for the moment. He sets himself, settling his shoulders and preparing his stance. "Someone check that pod over there, it looks as if it has a meal already!" He dances back out of the way of the plant and then moves toward it once again, keeping its attention.
GAME: Mal'Thael casts Produce Flame. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14
<OOC> Mal'Thael says, "and The Hyena attacks."
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls melee: (20)+5: 25 (THREAT)
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls melee: (16)+5: 21
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 2d6+2: (9)+2: 11
Walery jumps clear of the things, and acks as he fumbles his deathray around to bring it to bear. Unfortunately, rather than pointing it at the enemy, it's pointed at his foot, or close to it, and he nearly scorches his boot, jumping up and down on his other foot as his panic gets the better of him.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d8+3: (5)+3: 8
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (16)+4: 20
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 10.
It is now Plants' turn! Xasany is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 3: (13)+3: 16
GAME: Bolide rolls 3: (12)+3: 15
Another one of the broadleaf shaped creatures whizzes down, both of them passing by Mal'Thael - the one very wounded and the other no so much, though they both miss.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 16.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Xasany rolls weapon1: (10)+0: 10
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 15.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
GAME: Note Fatigued ended.
Cupping his hand, Mal looks up and tosses a mini-fireball at the flying thing that attacked urso, hurting it bad. The Hyena rushes forward and tears the plant apart without a second thought, cackling as it looks to the other one.
Xasany raaaars and swings her staff at thing that goes flying by, and misses, her wiff spinning her about in place.
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+9: (16)+9: 25
GAME: Walery rolls 2d6+5: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 13.
It is now Urso's turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (7)+4: 11
Walery grunts as he collects himself and he takes aim at the wounded thing. He lets a breath out, inhales, holds it, and squeezes the trigger. There's the familiar ZORCH of the death ray's flaming blast spurting out, and the enemy falls in a smouldering heap.
GAME: Urso rolls axedmg: aliased to Damage1: (6)+(5+3): 14
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 11.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Plants is next!
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls ranged: (17)+4: 21
Urso's swing is not artistry, it is no blow that rends the heavens that bards will sing about in eons hence, but it is enough to sever the plant from the ground where it falls and flails, its threshing of the loam churning it up around it.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d6+1: (2)+1: 3
<OOC> Mal'Thael says, "now the hyena"
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 10.
It is now Plants' turn! Xasany is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 3: (5)+3: 8
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 16.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
Mal sees another flying critter pop up, and Mal toasts it as well, but doesn't kill it. The Hyena goes after the other nearby plant, but he overruns it.....
The last flying leaf whizzes by Mal'Thael again, trying to whip out of him with its stinger as it flies by in an attack and misses again. It makes sort of annoyed gestures with its stinger-tipped tail.
GAME: Xasany rolls weapon1: (17)+0: 17
When Urso manages to talk over the grunts and death thrashing of the plants falling to the ground he calls out, "There's a man being eaten in one of these plants! Over here!" he begins to move towards the plant indicated.
GAME: Xasany rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 15.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+9: (2)+9: 11
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 13.
It is now Urso's turn! Mal'Thael is next!
Xasany grunts in an unladylike fashion as she takes a swing at another aerial target. This time she manages to nick it as it goes by. "Gah these things are annoying!" She blinks at Urso and waves at him, "Go help him! We'll get this thing!"
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (2)+4: 6
Walery looks around for more enemies, and spotting the next, he aims and fires. But it's a small thing, and agile, and he misses his target, a bolt of fire shooting off into the trees.
GAME: You only have ZERO use of DEATH RAY remaining.
Mittens has connected.
GAME: Urso spends THREE uses of LAY ON HANDS.
GAME: Urso refreshes special ability pools.
GAME: Urso spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS.
GAME: Urso rolls 1d6: (3): 3
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 11.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Plants is next!
After some confusion, Urso cuts the plant away from the injured man, pulling the bigger bits off. Finally when he can see the wounds he kneels near the man and lays a hand on his chest. Lips moving in silent prayer, a glow flows along his arm and into the man's chest where it spreads over his body, closing the worst of the wounds. "Daeus be praised." He stands and looks around at the others, readying his axe for battle and swaying slightly on his feet.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls ranged: (16)+4: 20
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d6+1: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (5)+4: 9
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 10.
It is now Plants' turn! Xasany is next!
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (3)+4: 7
Mal tosses a mini fireball at the flying bug and knocks it back. Sadly it also takes it right out of the leap of the Hyena....which is still trying to chomp it.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 16.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Xasany rolls weapon1: (16)+0: 16
The plant whizzes over and then lands on the helpless person Urso is helping. Unfortunately Urso misses as it lands and then stings the target. The cat-fish like creature staring Urso down all like... what are you gonna do about it? before whizzing back off.
GAME: Xasany rolls 1d4: (3): 3
Urso swings at the nimble thing flying around when it comes near, but the fact that he is verging on exhaustion saps his strength and the blow goes wild. He roars out his rage and frustration at the creature, breathing heavily at this point.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 15.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (13)+4: 17
GAME: Urso rolls axedmg: aliased to Damage1: (1)+(2+3): 6
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+9: (9)+9: 18
GAME: Walery rolls 2d6+5: (10)+5: 15
Xasany is starting to tire a little, jumping back and forth trying to bring down the annoying flying thing. She takes another whack, and again only managed to get a piece of it.
GAME: Walery deactivates his Titan Armor.
GAME: Bolide removes the timestop.
Timestop by Bolide has left.
Walery deactivates his titan armor.
Walery takes another calming breath and manages to steady his nerves. He draws a bead, and pauses until he has a kinda steady target. Then he fires, and fire shoots out of his death ray, taking the thing out of the air with a fiery splat. It goes down, trailing smoke, and lands in a heap. Walery looks around. "Was that the last of them?"
Mal'Thael closes his hand to extinguish the flame. "I think so. We still need to find these people."
Urso falls to his knees next to the injured man, freshly stung by the flying creature. His breathing is in long ragged gasps and his hair hangs in dirty strings, mostly plastered down with plant vitae. He closes his eyes for a moment and bows his head in silent prayer. Then he looks over the man they saved - sort of - from being food for these denizens of the jungle lands.
GAME: Urso rolls heal: (6)+2: 8
GAME: Xasany rolls Heal: (13)+7: 20
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls heal: (5)+3: 8
That must have been pretty hairy. Whatever happened. Good thing Mittens slept through the entire thing! She wakes up in a pile of leaves, yawns and rubs her eyes before picking some twigs and other bits of stuff out of her hair. "Did we win?" She asks, unable to make out anyone quite yet through blurry sleep filled eyes she keeps blinking and rubbing. "Hello? Help. I think this flower is nibbling on me." She kicks and sits up, and kicks a few more times at the vegetation.
Xasany leans upon her quarterstaff, breathing heavily. "Yeah, I owe someone a good, solid smack on the behind. Their mission for the Guild sounded so easy. And despite my saying that there was an awful lot of luck involved, I went ahead and signed up to the Guild anyways." Straightening, she makes her way over to the stricken man, slipping out of her backpack and letting it to the ground with a thump.
"Oh. Well, this is interesting." The Gnome woman leans forward and reaches into the wound, fussing about. "Hold still a moment." She tugs and pulls free a kernel of some kind. A seed. "Nothing says bad day like a plant shoving its unborn children into you." The seed is dropped and smashed by the end of her quarterstaff. Xasany looks to Walery, "Still got some of your healing left? He could use one at least, to close the wound."
Walery looks down at the injured fellow, and he presses a hidden lever in his Titan Armor. From near his waist, a small ampule full of red liquid is deposited. He takes it and presses it to the fellow, and the red slowly drains from the ampule.
GAME: Walery casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
The plants were thwarted, but they probably will regrow. The miner you saved, and healed, slowly comes to. It takes a bit, but you manage to bandage her up nicely and Walery's contraption seals the wound cleanly. A sit up and she grabs her head, letting out a groan. I mean, it's obvious why you guys thought she was a man though... She's a Khazad and you know what they say about Khazad women! Right? RIGHT?!
It's a dwarf joke. Shut up.
Anyway, you heal her up nicely, the potion that was put on her works wonders. She slowly gets to her feet, "Thank you. Thank you so much. I'm - I'm gonna head up. Don't forget me, alright? I think the Gobbers are just a bit up ahead."
And with that she starts stumbling along, one hand on the walls that she can touch and then up the switchback you all took down to the bottom. Looking for a place to rest you continue forward a bit, cresting the short hill and leaving that sweet scent of flowers behind you find a chasm up ahead. An ancient and crumbling span of stone reinforced by haphazard wooden reinforcements. A pair of ancient dwarven statues flanks either side of the bridge, each barely standing. An ancient stone building is visible on the other side.
Maybe you can find a place to rest here.
Mal'Thael says, "we won't. We just need to rest ourselves." he says as they find the statues. he goes to rest near one of them."
A deep sigh can be heard emanating from Urso's chest as he contemplates the bridge of stone with the wooden patching. His only complaint is a tightening around the eyes and the mouth. He begins to make his slow way to the bridge, leaning heavily on his walking stick. "Perhaps we can hole up in yon stone building."
Xasany watches the woman stumble off, and she waves. "Take care and good luck!", she calls out, before turning to see what lies ahead. Glancing sideways at Urso, she nods. "I hope so. I'm going to fall over again, for real this time."
Walery ehs as the dwarf gets up and starts off, just like that. To Xasany, he says, "I think this one's been fairly typical, difficulty-wise. And we're not doing too badly." He says this having been burned and splatted and almost overrun. He'll look around for places to hole up for the day, though. It's been a long time since he slept.
Mittens picks up her hat and firmly pulls it down until the brim is level with her eyebrows. That's better. "Hello? I can hear people talking." She calls out, tentatively and that at least brings her pig around who nudges her with his snout a few times. "Piggy!" She grabs hold of his ears and levers herself up onto her feet and from there climbs up onto his back. "I think they all are.. up there somewhere." She points thataway, and the pig picks its way towards a path and away from the hungry flowers.