The Front Line
Your mission today was explained to you buy a member of the forest who looked particularly harried. As in still sporting scorch marks on his armor and soot in his hair. "We've had people coming in and attacking the forest all day! There's been no relief! Thank goodness you're here." His explanation is hurried and it's clear he wants you out in the field as quickly as possible. There's been people burning the forest down all along the most northern border, people chopping down the trees; and none of them listening to reason. The forest patrol has managed to deal with the lesser threats, but there doesn't seem to be any stop to the people. Which is where you come in. You're the relief.
You're sent to the northern border, and the devastation is clear the moment you arrive. There's the scent of smoke in the air, trees chopped down, bushes trampled. It's as though a line of people came through destroying everything in their path. For the moment you see no one, but the scent of fresh fire is still in the air.
Charlotte says, "I'm going to guess this is about the black water stuff that's been going around." She says as she rides up on the horse. Hey...they wanted her to hurry. So she did. "So everyone's in a panic."
Nadara, the scarlet haired gobber girl with a gun, is here.
She seems ready to follow the others leads, eyeing the trees and the smoke and letting out a sigh.
"Lovely," she says.
Darius narrows his eyes and says, "It better not be, I'm tired of dealing with that particular problem, I've been in the sewers and back corners of the city and in the Felwoods." He absently scratches at the back of his neck where bending, the scar of a recent tattoo can sort of be seen underneath his armor.
"Black water?" says Nadara. /She/ is not familiar, herself, it would appear.
Valadhiel scowls darkly at the sight of the destruction, "Well, whatever the cause is, we'll need to put a stop to this." She shakes her head a bit, then glances over at Nadara, looking at Charlotte with an arched brow at the mention of black water.
Charlotte says, "I only know a little. Nobility talking and all that. Haven't talked to anyone who's actually seen the blasted things though."
Darius sighs and says to Nadara, "It's a pool of black magical water that can change animals into their more aggressive dire versions, can suck up magical attacks to make it stronger and can't be attacked with slashing weapons. It's an extreme pain to deal with and very dangerous, I really hope that's not what this is about."
GAME: Darius rolls perception: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Valadhiel rolls perception: (7)+13: 20 GAME: Charlotte rolls perception: (19)+11: 30 GAME: Nadara rolls Perception: (14)+7: 21
It doesn't take long to spot the nearest group of people attacking the forest. It's a group of five heavily armored men with axes and torches. They work together like a team, cutting down the trees and setting fire to them. There's a blaze in front of them, trees burning even as they're cut down to make easy fodder. The men hardly seem to care the danger they're in so close to the fire.
"OI," says Nadara.
She's making herself loud, visible, and obnoxiously shrill.
"Why don't you stop what you're doing and we can have a word, eh?"
Charlotte stays by Nadara. Why? Cuz she's like that.
The men do not respond to Nadara at all, not even suggesting that they have heard her clearly audible call.
"Maybe their armor is getting in the way. Let's make it work FOR us." Charlotte says as she picks up a rock and FLINGS it at one of the armored guys. it hits one of their heads and makes a 'BONG' sound with the impact. "HEY! Can you hear us now!?"
Together, in creepy unison the men turn toward you. They heft their axes and march toward you with deadly purpose in their steps.
Charlotte STEPS IN FRONT OF NADARA! "yup.....they hear us."
GAME: Valadhiel casts Slow. Caster Level: 5 DC: 19
So, Nadara claps her hands together. And then... water. So much water.
On all of them. Nadara seems interested in their reaction to gallons of water being dumped on them.
Valadhiel gestures as the group approaches, murmuring some arcane words as she sees the water not having any effect... and decides that using her magic to incapacitate them somewhat would be the best course.
The men move forward; slowed by Valadhiel's spell and seemingly unaffected by the tons of water released upon their heads. They stand only a few inches from you now…
GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1: (6)+14: 20
Charlotte actually lunges at them, but her rapier skitters off it's armor. "They've got some really tough armor here."
GAME: Nadara casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 9 DC: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (14)+10: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (9)+10: 19 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (2)+10: 12 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (6)+10: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (8)+10: 18 GAME: Valadhiel casts Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 5 DC: 19
"Take care," says Nadara.
"I don't think they're here by their own will." She casts another bit of magic, this time bringing a circle of protection about them, a shimmering in the aiur that indicates its boundary. She's moved close enough to cause them to look briefly discombobulated. "Just as I thought," shrills the gobber girl.
Valadhiel doesn't focus yet on defense, which might be a mistake... but instead follows Nadara's lead, unweaving the magic enscrolling another one of the men. She then passes a glance towards the gobber, "Don't suppose you have any dispels prepared too? Because that's my only one." Her nose wrinkles a bit as she regards the other three approaching.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (11)+14: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (7)+14: 21 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (8)+14: 22 GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1: (8)+14: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+10: (13)+10: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+10: (16)+10: 26
The men attack like they're going to bring you down in the same way that they brought the forest down. Through sheer power and mindless determination. However two of the men are backing off in confusion. "Where am I?" Asks one of them while the other rubs his head as if it pains him.
Duncan and his digger burst out of the treeline a dozen paces to the side, then wheel around to orient themselves on the men. Glancing at the two who seem to have come to their senses, he pulls out his hammer and points it at one of the others. "Surrender!" he calls out. "It's not too late to leave this forest in peace. And in one piece!!"
GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1: (14)+14: 28 GAME: Charlotte rolls 1d6+5+2+12+1: (2)+5+2+12+1: 22 GAME: Nadara rolls 5d6: (19): 19
Charlotte winces as while she's able to dodge ONE attack, she's nailed by the other...and nailed hard. Her left arm is nearly useless as she plunges her blade into the plate armor of the enemy that hit her.
"Don't kill them! Use the flats of your blade. They're under mind control," says Nadara, shaking her head as Duncan moves in. The smell of brine and the feeling of the sea becomes present in the area.
GAME: Valadhiel casts Mirror Image. Caster Level: 5 DC: 18 GAME: Valadhiel rolls 1d4+1: (1)+1: 2
Valadhiel draws her longsword, passing a sidelong glance at Nadara, "Asking a wizard to not strike with lethality in spells isn't the /easiest/ thing you realize..." She murmurs a few arcane words, and suddenly a pair of duplicate Valadhiels appear, one on either side of the original, though they seem to be refracting and shifting in place so it's soon impossible to tell which is the real one.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (12)+14: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (6)+14: 20 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (13)+14: 27 GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1: (15)+14: 29 (THREAT) GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1: (20)+14: 34 (THREAT) GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1: (3)+14: 17 GAME: Charlotte rolls 1d6+5+2+1: (2)+5+2+1: 10 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d3: (2): 2
The three men attack again but one of them takes a nasty hit for his efforts while a second destroys Valadhiel's figment rather than hitting her. The two men freed from the spell are still backing up, frowning at the fight. "What's happening here?"
GAME: Duncan rolls 20: (15)+20: 35 GAME: Duncan rolls 11: (17)+11: 28 GAME: Duncan rolls 1d8+9+9+5+2+2+2d6: (2)+9+9+5+2+2+(10): 39 GAME: Duncan rolls 2d6+9+6+1d6: (6)+9+6+(6): 27 GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1+2: (15)+14+2: 31 (THREAT) GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1+4: (19)+14+4: 37 (THREAT)
Duncan's mount surges into motion, covering the distance to the men in a blur. He holds his hammer in both hands, but at the last moment reverses his grip and slams the end of the handle into one of the men's head. His Digger similarly lowers its snout and smashes into the target's chest, knocking him off of his feet. "You were warned!" he bellows, then whips his head around to look for the next one.
GAME: Charlotte rolls 2d6+10+12+4+2: (8)+10+12+4+2: 36
Even after she parries and slices the man's gut open, Charlotte is still gritting her teeth as her left arm hangs limply at her side. She doesn't even hesitate to put the rapier through the man's chest, and pushes him off her sword with her foot. "Ow." She grumbles and looks towards Valadhiel to go and help.
GAME: Nadara rolls 5d6: (18): 18
"Don't kill them! Your friends are under control of some kind, as you were. We weren't able to snap it on them, but we did you! Help us subdue them!"
Nadara brings in more of the soothing balm of the sea, restoring health to those that have fallen.
This may be a problem, but at least it keeps them from dying.
GAME: Valadhiel casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 5 DC: 18 GAME: Valadhiel rolls 1d20+10: (14)+10: 24 GAME: Valadhiel rolls 4d6: (16): 16
The Valadhiel twins back up, holding their swords in a guard position while their free hands gesture in arcane motions, magical words of power seeming to flow in stereo from their lips. Suddenly twin bolts of flame engulf the enscrolled man attacking them, burning him with their spell.
GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1: (8)+14: 22 GAME: Charlotte rolls 1d6+5+2+1: (1)+5+2+1: 9 GAME: Duncan rolls 15: (9)+15: 24 GAME: Duncan rolls 9: (10)+9: 19 GAME: Duncan rolls 1d8+9+9+2+2: (2)+9+9+2+2: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (8)+14: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (17)+14: 31 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d2: (1): 1 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+10: (15)+10: 25
The men rise to their feet from being attacked, but one of them is immediately put down once again by Duncan's hit. The other misses barely with his attack while the one that has been attacking Valadhiel finally manages to score a hit - a nearly lethal one.
GAME: Duncan rolls 15: (12)+15: 27 GAME: Duncan rolls 15: (3)+15: 18 GAME: Duncan rolls 1d8+9+9+2+2: (8)+9+9+2+2: 30 GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1+2+2: (19)+14+2+2: 37 (THREAT) GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1+4+2: (4)+14+4+2: 24 GAME: Charlotte rolls 2d6+10+4+2: (6)+10+4+2: 22
Duncan sees the men rising. He quickly raises his hammer and brings it down on the back of one's head, angling it just so that he strikes with broad end of the hammer - and mostly the handle - rather than the pulverizing face of the warhead. The man falls obligingly, but then the scores a vicious blow on Valadhiel. Duncan's face darkens. "You're making it hard not to slay you!" he warns. He swings again, this time a wide blow that clips the one of the men and nearly carries into the other. Without a word his Digger moves alongside Valadhiel, to give her some cover if needed.
Charlotte turns from the man that falls, and she runs to assist Valadhiel. Thankfully, the man's focus is on Valadhiel, so her blade slips right into the man's back. "Your real threat is over here, moron!" It's obvious the adrenaline is keeping her up.
GAME: Charlotte rolls intimidate: (3)+13: 16 GAME: Valadhiel used a Wand of Cure Light Wounds. GAME: Valadhiel rolls 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8
Both Valadhiel's clutch their stomach after getting impaled by the enscrolled deforester, but the blood spilling out definitely smells real enough as she backs up behind the Digger. Gasping in pain, the elves pull a wand out of their belt, whispering a quick command word as the wound stops bleeding quite so badly, though the elves look rather pale from the shock of the hit.
GAME: Nadara casts Augury. Caster Level: 9 DC: 17 GAME: Nadara rolls 2d8+8: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Darius rolls weapon7+2: (13)+13+2: 28 GAME: Darius rolls damage7+2: aliased to 2D6+10+2: (9)+10+2: 21
Darius narrows his eyes and says, "Go down, and stay down before I MAKE you stay down!" As he bonks him hard on the chin with the pommel of his greatsword.
Three men lay unconscious on the ground with a variance of wounds, and two remain standing; still clearly confused but staying out of it for the moment.
"Well, them," says Nadara, upon healing Valadhiel further with the sting of sea salt to her wounds, "...something was definitely in control of them but I've not the foggiest idea what."
It's only then that Charlotte falls to her knees, drops her sword and grabs onto her left arm, which isn't moving. "Damn that asshole hurt....." Despite being fully healed, she's still shaking like she's in pain...and her left arm isn't moving at all.
Valadhiel gives Nadara a wry look as she gets healed in full, color being restored to her features as she's not in shock anymore at least. "Just as a suggestion, maybe not heal the mind controlled people quite so well next time this happens?" A bit of a grin at that, as she then adds, "Thank you, by the way. But I think she needs your help." She nods over towards Charlotte, sliding the healing wand back into her belt.
Darius moves and starts to try and stamp out the fires that those guys were setting, while cutting down the trees and calls out, "A little help here? This could start a forest fire that could devastate miles of the land if it's not stopped."
"I was trying /not/ to heal them, but I've limits, you know," replies Nadara, shaking her head at Valadhiel. "And we're all none the worse for wear. Come on," And with that, she's on the way to help Darius.
Duncan turns his head to look at each fallen man one by one. He hops off of the Digger's back and then kneels next to one - the one that sports several deep yet precise stab wounds. Duncan shoots a quick look at Charlotte then rolls the man onto his side so he can breathe easier. "I think they'll live. All of them." He glances up now, to glower at the men who -didn't- fight. "Well? Do you have any idea what happened to your friends?"
"They're no friends of mine. I don't even know who they are." The first man offers his words with a shrug of apology. "The last thing I remember is glowing green eyes and then... suddenly I'm here."
"This isn't even my armor!" The second man starts stripping his armor off; clearly not knowing how to go about doing it.
GAME: Darius rolls perception: (17)+8: 25 GAME: Duncan rolls perception: (14)+13: 27 GAME: Charlotte rolls perception: (16)+11: 27
The man's reaction to the armor draws your attention to him, and as he pulls the padding over his head you notice a large complicated scar on his stomach in the shape of a beautiful snowflake.
Darius scratches the back of his neck, and then winces, "Aw... <EXCREMENT>..." He looks at that tattoo and then says, "That <EXPLETIVE>ING vampire..." He says, "I have one too, got it after I was saved..."
The man looks down and curses loudly, pulling up his shirt to show the intricate work. "WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?!?"
Charlotte says, "You know as much as I do." She says as she puts her sword away, but ends up carrying her arm with her other arm. "Ow....""
Duncan rises to his feet and stomps over to where the man is taking off the armor. "Calm down," he grunts. His hammer is still out, and although it's held at his side the Khazad shifts his grip slightly, until he's grasping it as he does when swinging it in battle. "Glowing green eyes, eh? Well it's not much to go on but we can look into it," he promises. "Tell us your name, and where you're from. If we have more questions we can find you."
Darius says to Duncan, "Don't worry about it, he won't remember anything, it's that damned vampire... he's been causing a lot of trouble lately, lives in a tower nearby, I was one of his victims although someone with white hair..." He frowns, "and blue eyes saved me before I ended up being nothing more than just a meal."
"I'm from Dragonier." He looks around, not that calm. He keeps looking at Darius and mouthing 'vampire'.
The other man is much calmer. "My home is in the Vast, near the border with Alexandria."
"I'm sorry. Did you say vampire?" Nadara has perked her huge ears up.
She is smiling now.
'Do we get to kill a vampire?"
Darius sighs, "If you can get him to stay in one place for more than a fraction of a second for an attack to actually hit him, maybe yeah, he's a slippery bastard... we had a whole Adventurer unit all taking him on the other night and it was only because I managed to trade myself for his victim that he went away. He dodged all our attacks as if they weren't even there."
Duncan does put his hammer away now, hooking it onto a clasp on his back in a practiced motion. "Dragonier? Well met. I'm from Dragonier as well. I'm a Knight of the Blue Rose." He hitches his belt slightly, so that it's easier to see the clasp that serves as a mark of his order. "Quite a few of us have found our way here, and there's a place for you as well." He tries to keep his voice friendly now, and soothing. "It may be that there's vampire plaguing the city, but there's a settlement nearby. Tref. It should be safe. Maybe you'll even find someone you know there..."
"Dragonier," says Nadara with a lengthy sigh on that front.
She shakes her head, seeming sad about it. "Well!"
-End-