Big Trouble in Little Redford
It's a bright, clear, crisp autumn morning when the three of you gather at the Adventurer's Guild to answer a bill that had been posted. One Kippli Brightsummit, owner of the Bright Summit Geology and Mining Concern, is one of many whose livelihood has been sorely impacted by the recent wight invasion. The mining town his company operates, Redford, had once been a rich source of high quality iron ore. But the wight attack forced the miners and their families to flee to the safety of Alexandria.
Kippli paces back and forth, hands clasped behind his back and his face a mask of worry. His finely-made clothes are rumpled as though he's slept in them, and his majestic gray beard is a mussy tangle for want of grooming. His eyes are sunken into deep pits beneath the shade of his bushy brows. "We should have heard -summat- from the lads a week ago," he says. "Last word we had, it was all clear tae head back home an' start minin' again. My boy Kit's the best foreman anyone could ask for, an' he's -never- missed a progress report!" He turns to look up at the trio of you. "I cannae go up an' check meself--me poor wife is still recoverin' from that bastard wight that jumped on 'er. Please, good heroes, I need ye tae go up the mountain an' see what's happened tae me folk."
Skielstregar, a towering, hulking silverscaled Sith-Makar, thumps his chest twice. His medal of valor rattles from the motion. "Thisss one hasss dealt with minesss before with the wightsss. They will gladly check it out."
His dead gaze lingers back to the couple, them much smarter about these kinds of things, as he was looking for their insight.
Despite the days getting shorter and the time before his own matrimony rapidly closing, Telamon isn't stressed at all. Maybe he's just good at managing stress. In any case, stepping into the Guild with his lady love by his side, Tel presents an image of confidence -- dun-colored adventuring tunic over riding trousers and boots, with a sleeveless over-mantle in deep blue trimmed in silver.
Listening to Kippli's tale of worry, the sorcerer nods with a surprisingly gentle expression. "Not a problem, sir. There's a lot of work to be done to sort out the mess and try to get people back on their feet. We'll check in on your boy and make sure all is well. In the meantime, go home to your wife, and get some rest -- you look like you've been fighting the wights yourself."
Cor'lana is dressed in similar adventuring attire to her very soon-to-be husband, her arm around his at the elbow in a very comfortable and natural manner. She nods to Telamon's sentiment. "Yes, go home," she says, a small smile finding its way to her face. "We'll handle things from here, and I also have experience with mines thanks to being on the same expedition as Skielstregar."
Pothy is on Cor'lana's shoulder, as well, and he looks disinterested in the whole thing. Unless it's mining for snacks, then there's nothing to entice his interest.
It's autumn, which means that the oppressive heat of the summer has finally broken, and that Lysa is feeling less like a can of steamed meat her plate armor. But sure, she is ready, willing, and happy to help those in need. Any time, any day. Wights are nasty business, and as a Sunblade of Daeus, she makes the undead a particular concern for her.
Her armor polished to a high shine, and her hair tied back so as not to interfere with her helmet, she listened to the briefing attentively.
And into the mountains, where it is even more comfortable. As an Aesir, Lysa prefers the cold weather to the hot. She plans to remove her armor for the trip, as full plate is fine for battle, but less so for travel or resting. It is a good thing she has winter clothing as well. That and more in her haversack. But with a sword on her back, and a heavy flail hanging from her hip, she seems ready and willing. "We should being departing as soon as possible." she intones.
Kippli all but melts with relief. He lumbers over to each of you, giving a hearty handshake with both hands. "Oh, Reos bless ye, kind folk! Thank ye so much!" He reaches into a satchel on the table and brings out a map of Redford and its environs. "This is our most recent geological survey. I'm sorry tae say, it's a couple months old at this point. I cannae tell ye if aught has changed since the attack, but hopefully it should give ye a good idea o' where things are." After a most grateful farewell, the weary old dwarf departs, leaving the three of you to your own devices. Redford is a couple hours ride from Alexandria, and up until the wight attack, the road was well-kept and easily traversed. All that's left is to make your preparations and set out for adventure!
Skielstregar tilts his head at the armored woman before his large hand is being shook. He blinks, him trying to reciprocate, but he's still flat footed. The map is taken with the other hand, and he gives a weak smile. "A-Ah, yes, of course. Thank you. Ressst well, we will deal with thisss posssst hassste."
He watches the dwarf go before he rolls his shoulders. "Right. Let'sss get going? That doesssn't sssound like a long walk!" Says the muscle man.
Telamon gets his hand shook soundly, but is able to avoid wincing, putting on a reassuring face for the old dwarf. "Everything will be all right." Unspoken is the added, 'I hope', but that's not very helpful to stick on there. As soon as Kippli leaves, Tel winces, flexing his hand. "That khazad's got a grip like a vice," he comments with a grin. "Alright. Anyone need anything before we set out? Remember to use the privy if you need to." A pause. "Lana, you did bring snacks for Pothy, right?"
Cor'lana laughs, and she takes Telamon's 'injured' hand to kiss it. "There, all better," she teases him, her violet eyes dancing with amusement. "And yes, I brought snacks for him. Otherwise he'd have my head."
The sorceress turns to Skielstregar with a raised brow. "I imagine we're hitching a ride on a wagon. ...That being said, you could probably keep pace with a wagon rather well, all things considered."
The handshake is returned with appropriate strength. "We will be being learning what has been being happening." she tells the dwarf before she turns to the others and adds, "I am being wagering that you all are being having your own methods of survival. But know that if you are being needing it, I am being having enchanted mead with curative magics."
That said in her own unique dialect of common, she heads for the stables to mount up and get on the road.
It doesn't take long for you to track down a cart. In fact, it's your ol' pal Dirk, who's just set up for a day of hawking his leathers in the marketplace. "Aww, sure, ye can take me cart! Just bring 'er back in one piece, eh?" the old woodsman says with an indulgent smile. "Thistle's as sure-footed a lad as they come, he can handle those twisty mountain trails, nae problem! Isn't that right, Thistle?" The shaggy highland pony gives a shake of his golden mane and whickers. Seems he agrees with his master's estimation.
And so after a few hearty handshakes (poor Telamon), you all saddle up in the sturdy dwarf-built cart and head out. The ride out to the track leading up to Redford is pleasantly serene. This close to the city, the recovery efforts have been going along swimmingly. Fields and orchards have been healed from the worst of the damage, and the farms are a bustle of activity as harvest time draws ever closer. It's well into mid-morning when you turn off the main road and start heading up the track leading to Redford. But something... feels off. It's a feeling that grows as you draw closer to the mining village. It's eerily quiet. By all reports, Redford is busy and prosperous. You'd think that many happy dwarves cheerfully hewing away in their mines would be making -some- sort of racket...?
<OOC> Dirk says, "Let's have some Perception rolls!" GAME: Skielstregar rolls perception: (13)+13: 26 GAME: Telamon rolls perception: (10)+12: 22 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Perception+2: (12)+4+2: 18 GAME: Lysa rolls perception: (9)+9: 18
Telamon spent the ride chatting with the others, and then happily humming a khazadi children's tune. When asked, he comments, "Oh, this is one the khazad children sing in their schools. The refrain translates as 'I am a dwarf and I'm digging a hole'. Seemed appropriate..."
But as the party approaches the Redford mining town, Tel's brows come together, and his eyes flick back and forth. "What the hells..." He points to the paving stones ahead. "That almost looks like someone tore those up and tossed them around. And they haven't been repaired -- no dwarf's going to just -leave- things like that."
Skielstregar shrugs. "It'sss not that long of a walk. Buuut if you all insssist on wagon, thisss one will tag along on it," he chuckles, giving a playful roll of the eyes before setting off. "Thiss one callsss crossbow!"
After giving his thanks to the woodsman, Skiel pops onto the wagon, and rests with a quiet little hum as his tail flicks from side to side. As they go, his head tilts to the side. "... the ground isss... odd," he murmurs, Telamon beating him to the punch pointing out the messed up road.
He thinks about it. Then dismounts, keeping pace with the wagon on talon-foot.
"I'm never getting that song out of my head now," Cor'lana grumbles, and as revenge, she takes a catnap on Telamon's shoulder. Sore shoulders are a minor deterrent to spellcasting. ...But it's just more likely that carriage rides just lull Cor'lana to sleep.
Until, of course, the commentary is made about the mining town, and Cor'lana's woken up by Telamon and Skielstregar's discussion. "Mnn, sounds suspicious," she concurs as she follows him out of the wagon. "We'll have to be careful."
"Unless they are being too scared to be being going out of their homes." says Lysa idly as she reaches a hand up to make sure the sword hilt over her shoulder is loosened. She steps down onto the ground and takes a moment to study the lay of the land up ahead.
Then she closes her eyes for a long moment, summoning a blessing of Daeus before opening her eyes and seeking the auras of anything evil in the area.
That chill going down her spine, like something just walked over her grave, Lysa shakes her head slowly and says, "I cannot locate it, but there is being something dark in the area." she states. Then she starts to slowly walk forward, looking to try to -locate- this evil presence
Eventually, you round a bend, and see Redford laid out before you. It's a humble little village, built into stepped terraces within the mountain's comforting embrace. The lower half-circle holds homes and markets, then the next step up has the facilities for processing and refining raw ores into useful metal. From the second step, a series of rail lines that lead up to the mines themselves. But it's as Lysa says. There's not a soul out and about. But as your cart rolls into the square, several shuttered windows open, and numerous eyes peek out fearfully from behind them.
A door opens, and a harried dwarf with a strong resemblance to Kippli comes trundling out. He waves one hand frantically, while holding a finger to his bearded lips with the other. "Shh! Quiet! They'll -hear- ye!" he whispers frantically as he approaches you all. He flicks a terrified gaze up the rail lines, to the mines.
Skielstregar blinks as he realizes who he's in the presence of. He stands up a bit straighter, as does his halberd. The pair seem sharper focused. "Of course, Sunblade," he affirms, staying vigilant as they make their way around the bend.
The town gets an appreative sound from him, but the quick hushing makes him cease his rumble of approval. Skiel crouches, armored tail out and balancing. As if that would make him quieter. He bobs his head once, waving them back into their house.
Telamon stares around at the town which should be bustling but is now, apparently, deserted. It's almost a relief when Kit -- it has to be Kit, Kippli's son -- pokes his head out and gestures to them. To Tel's credit, he doesn't start talking loudly or anything... instead swiftly sliding off the wagon and moving closer to the dwarf. "Kit Brightsummit?" he murmurs softly. "Your father sent us. What's going on here?"
Unslinging the flail from her belt, Lysa hefts it in her hands... the head swinging slowly as she prepares to use that momentum in combat. She spies the dwarf whisper-yelling at them, and her eyes narrow. Then she focuses on him for a moment before turning her attention out and about.
She backs towards the dwarf, trying to pan her senses back and forth in case something is looming closer.
Cor'lana maintains a close vigil to Telamon. She's letting him doing the talking this time.
Kit hurriedly bustles the lot of you back into his house. Which, normally, would likely be quite comfortable and cozy (although the ceiling is, understandably, lower than comfort might otherwise dictate). But all the furniture has been piled up in front of the door and windows to form a makeshift barricade. There's an apple-cheeked dwarven matron with her thick gold braids all askew, cradling a terrified little lad who's yet to see his first chin-fluff.
Just as you all get indoors, there's a thunderous blaring from up in the mines. It's -like- a horn, in a way, but decidedly not. "OY! YOU STUNTIES MAKIN' A RACKET AGAIN?!" bellows a booming voice. "YOU WANT ME AN' BLORT TO COME DOWN THERE AN' KICK YER ARSES AGAIN?!" Kit winces away from the windows at the bellowing. "-Giants-," he whispers tightly. "A pair o' gods-damned giants moved intae our mines! An' they've got some sort o'... -beastie- with 'em!"
<OOC> Dirk says, "Anyone who'd like to roll Knowledge/Nature, feel free!" GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Knowledge/Nature: (3)+16: 19 GAME: Telamon rolls knowledge/nature+4: (13)+11+4: 28 GAME: Skielstregar rolls knowledge/nature: (4)+2: 6
Telamon is hustled inside, though he doesn't protest. At the bellowing voice, and the strange sound, he starts. "What the... how did they get an elephant inside the damned mine? For that matter, where did they even get one in the first place?" His voice is still pitched low, but his expression is torn between anger at the giants, and something best described as 'what the hell are we dealing with this time?!'. Hunched over a little, he looks to Kit. "Does the beastie have a long nose, and what look like tusks?" He makes a curving gesture from his face.
Skiel hurries inside as he's ushered, him having to walk on his knees to not clonk his head against the ceiling. He gives a little wave to the two scared folk, but he flinches from the yelling. "..... a giant and a pet? Huh. Interesting. Thisss one can deal with it," he intones confidently, trying to keep up appearances. The last time he fought a big guy, he nearly got cut in half.
A pause. "What isss an elephant?" he inquires.
Cor'lana's eyes widen as she looks at Telamon, perturbed as can be. "It sounded like an elephant to me, too," she says, her arm curling around his again.
She looks to Skielstregar and says, "It's a very large creature with tusks, a very long snout, and walks on four massive legs. Stomps around, very noisy. Or... so I've read from books. I've never actually seen one before."
The last one to be ushered indoors, Lysa makes sure she is peering out until the door is shut. "Giants." she mutters after the door is closed. "The bigger they are being, the harder they are being hitting." she mutters with a shake of her head. "So, we should be being planning tactically."
Kit nods his head at Telamon, pointing at the half-elf frantically. "Aye, that's it! Big as a bloody house! All covered over in shaggy fur, an' great, yuge tusks!" He makes long, curling motions away from his face. "We've been trapped here ever since those bastards spied us! Any time we try tae get away back tae Alex, they start chuckin' rocks at us! Poor Donal got clocked right in the head, he -still- hasn't woke up from it!" The little dwarven tyke sniffles and looks up. "Are they heroes mummy? Are they goin' tae chase the bad giants away?" he pipes up. The dwarven lady cradles her son close, looking hopefully up at the three of you. "I hope so, dearie. Gods, I hope so."
Telamon looks thoughtful. "We need to get them out of the mine. As much fun as collapsing it on them might be, we can't risk them digging their way back out." He rubs his chin. "Still, baiting them out's going to be the easy part. I can probably break them up -- separate them, so that we can deal with them individually. I don't think we should try to fight all three at once, not if we don't have to."
Skielstregar looks to the small boy, him dipping his head to hide some of his more scary features. But he holds onto his Dragonfather amulet. "By the Dragonfather's light, we'll ssset thisss right."
He turns to look at Telamon, slowly nodding his head. "Right. Thisss one can engage one and be their sssize with magicsss. We may net even need to win through death, jussst break their resssolve."
"If we can be being separating them, then we can be being defeating them in detail." offers Lysa. And then she looks to Skielstregar and lifts a brow, "Can you be being enlarging others?" she asks.
Skiel bobs his head. "Thisss one hasssn't tried it, but they could do that, Sunblade."
"I agree," Cor'lana adds onto Telamon's assessment. "Telamon and I can cast quickening magic on all of you, and we can keep the giants occupied and blinded. And, you know, maybe add on a fireball or a lightning bolt or two."
She looks to the little dwarven boy and smiles. "We will, don't you worry," Cor'lana says. "And then you can play with Pothy afterwards. I bet you've never seen a bird like him before."
Pothy looks a tad uncomfortable as he's offered up as a playmate. But then he looks at the dwarven child and... he nods. "Snacks," he says. It appears that's the condition he's imposing on being a dwarf child playmate.
The assurances that you all are resolved to deal with the giant problem and their trumpeting pet has the dwarf lady dissolving into sobs. "Oh, thank Reos! We're saved!" Kit goes to comfort his wife, his own eyes large and liquid as he looks up at you all. "Thank ye, brave heroes, oh -thank- ye! I thought we were lost fer certain!" The little dwarven boy looks up at his parents as they cling together, and slips out from his mother's apron strings. He steps forward timidly, reaching up with a crust of bread, offering it up to Pothy. "Snacks?"
To help calm things down, Lysa lets her sensory magics fade. She opens her over-the-shoulder-haversack and pulls out a wineskin. "Here." she says to Kit as she holds it out. "This is being godsmead I brew for the temple and taverns." While it does not taste much different from other forms of mead, it -looks- like liquid molten gold. "Perhaps it can be being helping to be being having a drink." she suggests before she looks to the others.
Skielstregar, once they filter out of the house, gets to his feet and rolls his shoulders. "Right. Um. Thissss one... apologizesss if it feelsss... ssstrange. Ahem." He inhales deeply, both hands starting to drip with a black ichor. A familiar looking crimson glints from his eyes, but he steels himself from snarling.
"Come... on... make usss... aha!" he growls before both hands raise, and then both fling towards self and Lysa. Inky globs hit them both, then cover them as their forms enlarge to double in all dimension.
The chilly, cold miasma vanishes with a comical >pop!<
"Now let'sss give them a tasste of their own medicine..." he growls a full two octaves deeper.
GAME: Skielstregar casts Enlarge Person. Caster Level: 9 DC: 13 GAME: Skielstregar casts Enlarge Person. Caster Level: 9 DC: 13 <OOC> Lysa shall shield other on RT GAME: Lysa casts Shield Other. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16 GAME: Telamon rolls intimidate: (9)+20: 29 <OOC> Lysa will also activate divine bond on bastard sword beforehand. It also lasts 1 min / level <OOC> Lysa says, "to make sword go from +1 to +2"
Telamon clears his throat a bit, and looks at Cor'lana a bit apologetically. "Going to get a little mouthy here, darling." Then he takes a deep breath, and starts shouting. "Oy! OY! Are those giants I hear? Are those giants I SMELL? Nothing stinks like giant asses! You can tell 'em a mile away! Get out here! I bet you're ogres! Or trolls! Nasty, stinking trolls! We're here to send you on your way, and we're not picky about how you go! Personally, I want your skulls for soup bowls, but my friend here wants to turn you into rugs!"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "... Will also join in on the insult action, come to think of it." GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Intimidate: (3)+16: 19 <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "But is a smol 5 ft girl and will reflect that. XD"
Cor'lana simply... nods. She watches her beloved's performance, but there's something about it that she seems to deem is a little lacking, judging by her expression. She cups her hands around her mouth and bellows, "Yeah! We're gonna knock you around! Smash you to bits! No one will even remember that you ever were here!"
She's trying, but isn't quite carrying the same bit of intimidation that Telamon manages to carry. It's like watching a kitten hissing at a much larger dog.
You head up the broad pathway, following the rail lines towards the mines, pausing only for Skiel to work his peculiar magic to embiggen himself and Lysa. The mountain's walls have been neatly hewn, forming shelves of stone, with ramps leading up and down to various levels. The wood hand-rails the dwarves had built to prevent falls have been torn up and smashed into kindling, leaving the peril of sharp falls to lower levels. But the canyon-like surrounds magnify Telamon and Cor'lana's voices nicely, making their insults ring throughout the mines.
And they're answered. Heavy, thudding footfalls comes from one of the mine tunnels. A great, slope-browed lummox of a giant, wearing filthy furs and squnting through his mop of greasy black hair. He carries a rough-hewn club over one shoulder, and a drumstick of some sort of roast beast in the other. He munches a bite, heedless of the grease matting his beard as he stares at you all, before idly tossing the drumstick over his shoulder.
"Oy, Blort!" he hollers, noisily sucking grease from his fingers. "De stunties sent some 'eroes!" There's another sound of lumbering as a second giant emerges from the neighboring tunnel. He slaps his club against his palm with a hideous, snaggle-toothed grin. "Dibs on the scaly one, Durp! 'el'll make some nice boots, 'e will!"
Durp hawks and spits. "Quit yer yammerin' an' call Precious! Knock 'em off the mountain! Hurr hurr hurr!" Blort answers with a grin. "Yeah! Knock 'em off!" He pulls a crudely carved horn off his belt and winds it. There's an answering blare, and the ground shakes underfoot as tromping hooves approach.
The beast that comes rampaging out of the tunnel across the yard -resembles- an elephant. Only bearing massive whorling tusks, and a shaggy hide. "Get 'em Precious! Get 'em!" hoot the giants as the great mastodon fixates upon the party. Battle is joined!
<OOC> Dirk says, "https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=ms7xhtmksax" <OOC> Dirk says, "The light brown walls represent hewn rock walls. There's about 20' of elevation between levels. The 'stairs' are areas in the rock where there's a ramp you can use to change elevation. Brown spots are boulders and/or rubble that block line of sight!"
With a rearing of hooves and another furious trumpet, Precious trundles forward towards the party! The ground quakes under your feet as the massive mastodon mobilizes most meanacingly!
GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+6: (18)+6: 24 GAME: Dirk rolls 1d8+10: (6)+10: 16 <OOC> Skielstregar says, "DR 1/-"
Blort sneers as he steps forward, reaching down to scoop up a pumpkin-sized boulder. "OY! SCALY! CATCH!" he roars, hurling the rock with all his might. The missile whistles through the air and slams straight into Skiel's torso! THUD! That's a solid hit!
GAME: Telamon casts Haste. Caster Level: 10 DC: 19 <OOC> Telamon says, "Actually, Tel moves to 5,18 first so he's adjacent to RT when he casts." <OOC> Telamon says, "Spell now has 11 round duration."
Telamon flinches a little as the rock strikes Skiel, half ducking behind the much larger bloodrager. "Alright, let's step this up a bit... didn't expect so much rubble out here." He moves over next to Cor'lana, smiling at her, and begins chanting, his magic linking up with hers. "Lukas sa i'iz!" A silver flash crackles around him, before leaping to Cor'lana, Lysa, and Skiel, quickening their limbs and movements.
<OOC> Lysa says, "right, no worries. I'll move 20ft forward to be behind it anyway, and ready to attack the first enemy that enters my reach" <OOC> Lysa says, "hopefully, I might get minor cover for it, half cover or whatnot" <OOC> Dirk says, "Up to 7,3?" <OOC> Lysa says, "put my top right corner in 8,13" <OOC> Dirk says, "Okay! Doing anything else?" <OOC> Lysa says, "readying to attack first enemy entering reach" <OOC> Dirk says, "Okay!"
Surging forward a bit, Lysa stops by a boulder. She looks left, then right, and then nods. A good defensible position this is. And then.. "Be being waiting. This is... a good position to be being defending from..." she adds half-heartedly as the large scaly one charges up ahead.
<OOC> Skielstregar going to cast mirror image <OOC> Skielstregar says, "top right corner on 12,7, threatening the man" GAME: Skielstregar casts Mirror Image. Caster Level: 9 DC: 14 GAME: Skielstregar rolls 1d4+3: (1)+3: 4 <OOC> Skielstregar says, "4 images, get mad" GAME: Skielstregar RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 18 temporary HP <OOC> Skielstregar says, "oh, swift action arcane strike"
The massive, literally towering silverscale's head snaps back from the boulder crashing into his body. His hands twist and curl, white knuckling the weapon in his grasp. "... thiss. One. MAKES. TERRIBLE. BOOTS!" he bellows, shaking rock and stone from the walls. His features explode into a fearsome display of undeath and fury, the ink sloughing off into puddles beside him "DAWN'S SHADE HIDE THIS ONE!"
He and his copies flash forward, sped up by alacrity magics. Each on vaulting or sliding around boulders as his gleaming halberds leak necromantic miasma.
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Okay. Casting Charm Monster on Precious and asking it to be nice to us. It gets a +5 on its Will save since we're threatening." GAME: Ravenstongue casts Charm Monster. Caster Level: 10 DC: 22 GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+12: (8)+12: 20
Cor'lana looks over at the... shaggy-furred elephant. A devious grin crosses her face as she looks at Telamon. "Watch this," she says.
She weaves the enchanting spell. Suddenly, she becomes the most interesting and most approachable person in the world to 'Precious'. "Hello! We're your friends! Please don't hurt us, cute elephant friend!" she calls out to it.
Pothy's feathers all puff up. "Excuse me!?" he says, offended.
<OOC> Dirk says, "Skiel, Durp is gonna move into your threat range and chuck a rock. You get an AoO on him!" <OOC> Skielstregar says, "power attack, furious focus!" GAME: Skielstregar uses an AoO! 0 remaining. GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon21: (5)+16: 21 GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage21+9+2: aliased to 2d8+12+9+2: (10)+12+9+2: 33 GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+6: (14)+6: 20 <OOC> Dirk says, "Lana does that hit you?" <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Yes it does." GAME: Dirk rolls 1d8+10: (3)+10: 13 <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "I have Shield Other active, however, as per Lysa." <OOC> Lysa says, "right, so she and I each take 6"
A quick flash of a ichor laden blade lances over the giant from half dead giant Skiel. "FOCUS ON YOUR BETTERS!"
Precious stops its blaring as Lana weaves her magicks. The giant beast snorts a breath through its trunk, gazing at the sorceress. "Hrrrummh?" It doesn't seem to notice Pothy's indignation in being replaced as Lana's new bestest friend. Durp, on the other hand, is positively infuriated. "OY! DEY BEWITCHIN' PRECIOUS!" he thunders. He stomps forward, bending down to scoop up a boulder. As he does, he opens himself up to a vicious attack by Skiel. "GRAAAGH!" He bellows in fury, hurling the rock straight at Lana, before turning to face Skiel. "YOU'RE NEXT, SCALY!" he roars, hefting his club in both hands.
<OOC> Dirk says, "Lana, since you didn't take a swift action on your turn, would you like to take one now to give Precious a command?" <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Sure. I'll tell Precious to come hang out with us and be our friends." <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Which will be accompanied with a 'come here' gesture and said in a voice that one would use in talking to a cat. Or dog."
Precious tosses his head and starts trundling over to where Lana and Telamon stand. He lifts his trunk and gives a happy-sounding blare, pawing at the stony ground with one hoof. Lana made a friend!
GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+14: (6)+14: 20 GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+9: (12)+9: 21 <OOC> Dirk says, "Either of those hit Skiel?" <OOC> Skielstregar says, "both do! roll a 1d5 !" GAME: Dirk rolls 1d5: (5): 5 <OOC> Skielstregar says, "1 is him!" GAME: Dirk rolls 1d5: (1): 1 <OOC> Skielstregar says, "one hit! 1 copy destroyed, 3 left!" <OOC> Dirk says, "Okay, so that knocks out one of your images and the other hits you!" GAME: Dirk rolls 2d8+10: (8)+10: 18 <OOC> Skielstregar says, "dr 1/-!"
In a fury, Blort stomps forward, the air whooshing as he swings his greatclub in broad arcs. "YARRRRGH! ME GONNA SQUISH YOU GOOD, SCALIES!" he bellows. WHOOM! The first swing passes through one of Skiel's mirror images, making the illusion vanish in a ripple of dissipating light. But the backswing cracks into the sith-makar's jaw, landing a solid blow! "HAH! FOUND YOUS!"
<OOC> Telamon says, "Tel is... a little pissed now." <OOC> Telamon says, "Move Tel up to 9,14. He will target Durp with Suffocation." GAME: Telamon casts Suffocation. Caster Level: 10 DC: 21 <OOC> Telamon says, "Fort save." <OOC> Telamon says, "(He'll probably make it)" GAME: Dirk rolls 1d10+11: (6)+11: 17 <OOC> Lysa says, "hah!" <OOC> Telamon says, "...Or not." <OOC> Dirk says, "OR NOT" <OOC> Dirk says, "XD" <OOC> Telamon says, "Yeah, he goes unconscious on his turn. Posing."
Oh, that wasn't wise at ALL, Durp. Bad idea. As Telamon chuckles when Lana charms the hulking mammoth, the stone slamming into her cuts off his laughter. Fortunately she's only lightly injured, but his eyes turn to the giant that threw the stone. "You have erred. Grieviously."
Tel glides forward, stepping nimbly around Lysa, and he raises his hand. His eyes are two pits of empty void, as he begins to chant. "Pagta, zuh nam-kud, kilul." There's a hissing sound, and Durp clutches at his throat as his lungs are emptied of air.
<OOC> Lysa says, "since I be enbiggened, I assume I can just step over said boulder" <OOC> Lysa says, "okay, so +1 for haste, +2 for charge, +1 for divine bond..." GAME: Lysa rolls weapon12+4: (9)+10+2: 21 <OOC> Dirk says, "Technically the rubble counts as difficult terrain for an embiggened character, but I'll let you slide around it." GAME: Lysa rolls 4d8+14: (20)+14: 34
Okay. So we are rushing up ahead then. Lysa takes a breath and then steps out from behind the boulder. She sees Durp starting to gasp for breath as Telamon does his magic woo-joo. She surges forward and hefts her blade... moving faster than normal due to the acceleration magic.
Her blade is in a high stance as she runs, and then she stops before bringing it down... HARD. The blade rips through giant flesh and she glares at the giant... roughly equal in size. No words are spoken yet. Just... grrrr
<OOC> Skielstregar would like to intimidate blort into surrendering <OOC> Skielstregar attempt to, basically will demoralize <OOC> Skielstregar says, "yeah, five foot step north east once, standard action demorialize and hold weapon over durp" GAME: Skielstregar rolls intimidate+1: (18)+14+1: 33 <OOC> Dirk says, "Yar, he's shaken for 3 rounds!"
One of the copies explodes into a spray of miasma as Skiel takes his own hit across the shoulder. He drops his weapon. The makari steps up onto a boulder. "BY THE LIGHT OF DAWN! Surrender or flee. Or there WILL BE NoThInG lEfT!" he snarls in a growl.
His weapon reforms into his hands. Poised to end the suffocating one's life right then and there.
The rest of the copies hold Malefic poised to slay as well All watching.
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Moving up to 9,13 and casting Fireball (Persistent Metamagic) on Blort. Positioning it so Lysa doesn't get hit." GAME: Ravenstongue casts Fireball/Persistent. Caster Level: 10 DC: 21 <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Reflex save for half." <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "And if he succeeds, he has to roll again." GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+2-2: (8)+2+-2: 8 <OOC> Dirk says, "Crispy giant!" GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 10d6: (36): 36
Cor'lana's bleeding lightly from her cheek where the giant struck her. Watching Telamon suffocate the giant who attacked her makes her gasp in surprise, but then she looks back at Telamon and murmurs, "The giant would have done the same to me." Resolute in her desire to see the battle done, she runs forward and reunites with her fiance, turning her attention to the giant that stays standing.
She gathers fire magic in her hands in a gesture that's quite familiar now for both half-sil sorcerers, and she releases it with the last syllable of her incantation. The flaming ball of magic soars through the air and bursts behind the giant, singing him considerably while leaving the Sunblade he's fighting unharmed.
GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+11: (15)+11: 26 <OOC> Telamon says, "Durp remains unconscious, but does not slip to dying."
Struck down by Telamon's spell, Durp's greatclub clattered to the stone as he topples, scrabbling at his throat. His eyes bug out and his tongue flops out of his mouth as he writhes on the ground, trying to suck a breath. Soon enough, his eyes roll back in his head, his struggles turning to mere feeble twitches. He coughs and wheezes, managing to hold off the spell's deathly effects. For now.
Precious follows along where Cor'lana goes. He reaches out with his trunk to give her a fond little 'hug'. Fortunately, she managed to get her spell off first--wouldn't -that- have been a shock (or rather, a sick burn)?
<OOC> Dirk says, "Lysa! What's your CMD?" <OOC> Lysa says, "currently.... um.... 24" <OOC> Dirk says, "And shaken affects combat maneuvers, does it not?" <OOC> Telamon says, "Yeah." <OOC> Lysa says, "and does whatever maneuver he is trying provoke?:)" GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+15-2: (19)+15+-2: 32 <OOC> Dirk says, "Yes it does!" <OOC> Lysa will take advantage of that GAME: Lysa rolls weapon12: (4)+10: 14 <OOC> Lysa says, "or not"
It's bad enough that his brother is choking to death before his very eyes. It's bad enough that his pet Precious has switched sides and is currently giving Great Affection to Cor'lana. Skiel's threat turns Blort's face to an ugly milky white, and his knees start trembling. Then there's Lysa up in his grill. And to top it all off, the mineshaft behind him has started breathing -fire- all over him-! "WAAAAAAUGH!" The giant lets out a panicked bleat and lurches into motion. He shoves his way past Lysa, bowling her over as he quite literally runs for his life. He leaps down the shelf to the level below, making as hasty a retreat as he can! "WAAAUUUGH! MAMMYYYYYY!!"
<OOC> Telamon says, "If I move north, can I get line of sight on Blort?" OOC> Telamon says, "Say, 11, 11?" <OOC> Telamon says, "Move me to 11,11. I'll cast Hideous Laughter at Blort, telling him a horrible secret of the universe. Or perhaps just a bad pun." GAME: Telamon casts Hideous Laughter. Caster Level: 10 DC: 18 GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+3-2: (17)+3+-2: 18
Telamon glides forward, eyes pitiless as he sees Blort making a break for it. "There is no escape," he says. Then his eyes glitter, and he spits out an incantation, which ends with, "Did you know the famous author Costin Meadows was once hit by a wagon? Just something to consider." The nonsensical remark fails to affect the fleeing giant, though, and Tel makes a disgusted sound.
<OOC> Lysa says, "get up, pursuit mode" <OOC> Lysa says, "so move action, stand, standard action, chase (50ft I think)" <OOC> Lysa says, "swift action, smite"
Balance shifted, Lysa topples like a large tree. But she is already moving, rolling over to do a push-up and then getting to her feet. Her blue eyes lock onto the fleeing giant. If she lets it get away, it could return and plague these miners again. So she is off like a sprinter. Her armor clatters as she runs, sword in one hand... and she jumps down the ledge to end up just behind the fleeing giant. Again, not a word spoken, deed is what is important to her.
GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon21-4: (8)+16+-4: 20 GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage21+2d8+9: aliased to 2d8+12+2d8+9: (8)+12+(8)+9: 37
The seething makaries (Makari? Makaris? Markarex?) are about to go for a the swipe on Blort as they barrel past him, but his weapon locks up in the air. Skiel struggles and writhes, him snarling. "Ugggh... what are you doing?? They are getting away-"
The weapon clonks him on the head, turns towards the suffocating one, then the flat turns to face it. Skiel growls lowly, this huffs a plume of frozen air. Dead, crimson eyes watch the Sunblade go for the fleeing one. "That's enough!" he snaps, batting the weapon sideways against the giant's head. "Thisss one offered surrender or flee, and they flee. We are done!"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Hmm. Demoralize the fleeing giant and let him know that if he ever comes back, he'll be killed." GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Intimidate: (6)+16: 22 <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Still suffering from small girl syndrome, though."
Cor'lana looks to Skielstregar... And she decides to follow his lead. She cups her hand around her mouth. "If you /ever/ come back! If you /ever/ harm any small people ever again... We'll come back here and we /will/ kill you!" she bellows. Not that she's an especially intimidating presence due to her small stature in the group, but she at least did better than last time.
<OOC> Telamon says, "Another Fort save from Durp." GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+11: (12)+11: 23 <OOC> Telamon says, "So, he is still extra unconscious."
Calling back over her shoulder, Lysa says, "He is being evil and a killer of miners. If we are being letting him flee, he -will- harm others here or elsewhere!" as she pursues.
Meanwhile, Durp continues to shudder on the ground, like a great, lumpen pudding. He barely even reacts to Skiel's thwack to his head, unconsciously sucking raspy, halting, choking breaths. Telamon's spell maintains its grip on his trachea, however!
Precious curls his trunk in Lana's hair, lifting it up and making it fall in a shimmering wave. This seems to amuse the prehistoric pachyderm, as it paws the ground with a hoof. He even -looks- like he's smiling. Never mind those tusks that are both longer than Dirk's sturdy cart!
GAME: Lysa rolls weapon12: (18)+10: 28 <OOC> Dirk says, "Blort is gonna continue running." <OOC> Dirk says, "That'll hit!" <OOC> Lysa says, "so damage... 2d8+ 13 + 7" GAME: Lysa rolls 2d8+20: (7)+20: 27
Pursuit is fast paced. And Lysa with her haste augmentation is right behind the giant. There is a moment when balances shift, momentum tweaks itself and Lysa swipes her blade as an opportunity presents itself.
The blade slices right up the giant's back, and the spine is visible for a moment before the blade even rips the bones open and lays out the giant on his chest, faceplanted into the ground as Lysa comes to a stop a step or two past him.
She turns to face the fallen creature with her blade presented in case he wasn't as -down- as he looked... but after a moment, she nods and lowers her weapon. "He is being no threat to anyone anymore."
Blort gives a strangled cry as he's laid open like a turkey dinner. "GUGGH--!" His panicked flight comes to an end as he staggers forward a couple more steps. Like a great timber being felled, he drops to his knees, then lands face-first on the stone. He twitches a couple more times before he is still. Meanwhile, his brother gives a couple more feeble twitches, his labored breath rattling in his throat as Telamon's spell completes its deadly work. His face goes from white to sickly purple-blue as his eyes glaze over, and the giant lays still. All is quiet, save for the quiet rumbles of Precious pawing at the ground as he amuses himself with Cor'lana. The giants are slain, and the dwarves of Redford are saved!
Now, what exactly do you -feed- a giant mastodon...?
Cor'lana frowns a little as she looks at the dead giant that Lysa just made. "Skielstregar wanted to keep him alive," she says. "I wanted to honor that and not create friction..."
She looks around. "Everyone all right?" she calls out, followed by a glance at Precious, who's been absolutely adorable this whole time. "You are awfully sweet, Precious. You could probably be a really sweet playmate for someone, but, umm..."
She looks at Telamon in a panic. "Okay, we can't keep him. He wouldn't fit in the house, first off. Most of the things I charm don't exactly, umm, stick around this long? I don't think this has ever happened before..."
Skiel is drawing in another breath to bellow, but the blade falls. Tempered fury bleeding out into a vacant stare. Undeathly features fade with a wisp. Each image of him turning and walking away silently, fading into miasmic smoke.
His halberd dulls. "..." Gaze falls to his weapon. Daeus gave unto the blade to strike it down. It was right in His eyes to do so.
Was it wrong for him to offer conditions?
The gargling creature below him is expiring. Skiel drops to his knees, exhaustion pulling his features down as he tries to find some way. Some.. way. To...
By the time he figures out to pull their head back. They're gone.
He sits there. Frozen. Malefic holds no glimmer.
Telamon watches with icy eyes as Durp simply expires from lack of air. Then his shoulders slump wearily. "Well, they won't be bothering these dwarves any more." He finally looks at Cor'lana, a little ashamed despite everything. "Sorry you had to see that, love. That's a spell I... try to resist using. Except when he threw that stone at you I lost my temper."
He winces as Skiel seems rattled, and the half-elf approaches his old friend. "He wouldn't have given you the same consideration, you know," he says quietly. "If the places were swapped, he'd have happily made you into boots like his brother was talking about."
Shaking her blade partly clean, and then pulling out a cloth to finish the job, Lysa returns to the group. "These are being creatures which would be being preying upon the innocent wherever they were being going. Here, elsewhere.. they would be being doing the same. I cannot be being allowing them to simply be being going somewhere else and harming innocents there." she explains.
"I am being sorry if my actions conflicted with your words." she says to Skiel. "But I am being hoping you can understand."
Cor'lana quietly follows Telamon, her arm curling around his once she catches up to him. She looks to Skielstregar and frowns. Despite being an enchantress--for all of that charisma, sometimes there are no words. "I'm sorry, Skiel," she says, her voice gentle and compassionate to his plight. "I really am."
Skielstregar closes his eyes as words from the party reach his ears. "... of courssse. You all are right," he says through a taut throat. "Do not apologize for thisss one's error."
He stands, grabbing the ankle of the giant. Gaze set somewhere in front of him, but no where in particular. "Let usss get these out of here before the magicsss wear."
Sliding her sword back into its scabbard, Lysa does indeed go about helping clean up the place. "Is there being any way that we can be being leaving Precious there for the miners to be being making use of?" she asks as she works.
Telamon furrows his brow in thought. "Unless they have a really good animal trainer, I'm not sure it's a great idea. That charm won't last forever, Lysa, and the only person Precious is liable to listen to is Lana." He glances over at where Precious has ambled up next to Lana again. "Which I can totally understand," he says with a wry grin.
"Plus, he's gonna need food and water. A lot. Honestly, we might be better off using him to haul the giants' corpses, and then sending him back to the wild."
Cor'lana looks very sheepish as Telamon says his honeyed words. "I mean, umm... Jeez, way to make a girl blush..."
It's true. She is.
Her violet eyes lock onto Precious. "I guess we'll be friends for a tiny bit longer. Maybe if we ever cross paths again, you'll remember me. However unlikely that happens to be." She pats the furry elephant.
It doesn't take much urging for Precious to help you do away with the giants' stinking corpses. They'll provide plenty of sustenance for whatever carrion eaters will deign to eat their nasty flesh. Once the grisly task is done, Lana is able to gently urge Precious to return to the mountainous tundras of his birth, which he does with a joyful blare. You'll all be long gone by the time her enchantment runs its course, and he'll be none the wiser anyway. Pothy watches the pachyderm amble off with a flutter of wings. "Good riddance."
As you descend back into Redfor proper, you find Kit peeking out from behind his door. Seeing you returning, he opens the door wide and timidly shuffles out. "Is... is it done? Are they... -gone-...?" When he learns that the giants are no more, the dwarf gives a joyful whoop! "Praise Reos! WE'RE SAVED!" Doors open all up and down the row, and you're surrounded by a throng of cheering dwarves. You find yourselves hoisted up onto broad shoulders as you're paraded around the village square. They -would- throw you a feast, if they had the provisions to do so. As it stands, they'll have to send back to Alexandria for fresh supplies while they work on getting the mines cleaned up and working again.
But at least, they -can- get to work again. Soon enough, fine metals will start flowing back to Alexandria, and these good dwarves will be able to get their lives back to normal. All in a day's work for the brave heroes of the Adventurer's Guild!