Clearing the Path
Part I
The Desolation is enormous.
At its heart lays the Everstrorm where Kulthus itself is said to've dwelled and you can see the evidence of the storm in the sky above you, in the sense that pink lightning sure as hell doesn't make a lot of sense. While it looks like it lives up to its name as you descend down into it, there are certainly the signs of life. Shrubberies, for example! And grassland and sparse wildlife. Birds can be heard chirping, for example.
So far, so good right?
Following your maps isn't too hard. Conferring with each other, you're able to at least be reasonably sure you've set off in the right direction and some of you do indeed notice the signs left by the scouting party, a mark on a tree here for example, that says they came this way.
"Well....at least we're finding marks left by the scouting party." Felicia says calmly. "Anyone seeing the direction they went in? I'm not much of a tacker...."
"I never was much of a navigator here, unfortunately," Besra begins. Checking her compass periodically might be the only thing preventing her from wandering off into the wastes. "Judging by what the map says, the scouts headed toward Skald. I'm not sure why they'd go there or exactly what we'll find, but . . . " Her eyes trace toward Kore. "You might have your work cut out for you, Chord, if the rumors I've heard of that place are true."
"More than, I suspect," the Chord replies quietly. Kore has been examining one of the markings. She's proven herself a competent tracker in the last few hours. After a moment, the Monk glances at Besra and then takes a deep breath. "Something must have happened otherwise it would be rather foolish of them. But there's not much more to say. I'm glad you're here with me." Besra gets a brief smile and then Kore starts forward.
Felicia says, "Well....They weren't on an airship, were they?" She says as she looks for more clues. "it's the best I can think of.""
Malik seems to snap out of whatever trance he's been in for most of the journey, riding up behind the others. "Cheerful place," he says, offering the brightest smile he can, given the conditions. His cloak is already clinging to him from the rain. "Wild magic, lawless expanses, blasted scenery. Hell," he quips. "Feels like home." Other people are better at navigation than he is. He's happy to follow their lead, and not speculate for the moment about who might have been going where for what.
Razen has been trailing near Wilros, and is possibly the only person who is enjoying the weather. It drips down his face, and he never bothers to wipe it out of his face. Instead he occasionally shakes his head like a wet dog and when Malik speaks he flashes the man a grin. "My home is nothing like this." He gestures expansively toward the landscape. The flashes of colorful light and the rolling hills.
GAME: Besra rolls fortitude: (1)+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Felicia rolls fortitude: (13)+7: 20 GAME: Razen rolls fortitude: (12)+6: 18 GAME: Kore rolls fortitude: (7)+8: 15 GAME: Wilros rolls fortitude: (15)+2: 17 GAME: Malik rolls Fortitude: (20)+2: 22 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) GAME: Granit rolls fort: (11)+6: 17
"So the markings mean something has happened?" Wilros studies one, having not the faintest idea what it means. "Something like what?" He glances up at the flashy sky. "Where exactly are you from, Malik?"
The markings are simply mercenary notes: we passed this way. They look fresh. You recognize them simply from being affiliated with mercs in Alexandria.
Following them is not super difficult, in this case. These scouts are clearly professionals, leaving little else in the way of a trail, but at least you've got the general area of the first camp indicated on your map.
Here's the thing, though: their first camp is their first camp, so you're walking for a while. A long while, actually. It's draining, and by the time you're getting closer to the indicated area on your map in these rugged, blasted lands, the rain and the cold are getting to you. You're already soaked, barring magical protection, and the mug is in your boots.
Up ahead, you can see the remains of a dug-out fire pit set against a small rise in the ground that serves to offer some shelter.
GAME: Felicia rolls perception: (13)+3: 16 GAME: Sora rolls perception: (16)+6: 22 GAME: Sora rolls fort: (19)+5: 24 GAME: Razen rolls perception: (5)+5: 10 GAME: Wilros rolls perception: (14)+1: 15 GAME: Granit rolls perception: (2)+18: 20 GAME: Kore rolls perception+2: (11)+14+2: 27 GAME: Besra rolls perception: (11)+0: 11 GAME: Malik rolls Perception: (6)+5: 11
Granit leans on his pole weapon, as he stoops to examine the signs around the camp. He's wrapped in his cloak, and is dripping. At least the outer layer is pretty soaked by now.
"At least it's not a mountain." Felicia says as she tries to catch her breath near a tree....looking over the campsite. "ugh. Almost forgot it was a desert....."
"Our home is perhaps too much like this," Besra says quietly. The "our" presumably refers to herself and Malik, the two of them sharing a Tsuran heritage to those who can spot such things. "Though I much prefer the weather in the Vast." Besra does something here that she does often enough, what seems like a nervous tick of hers. Her hand absentmindedly rises to rub her eye patch, as if scratching some itch beneath. That gives way to something else. The sell-sword staggers, suddenly looking exhausted and drained. Tired? Has she always had this frail of a constitution? She seemed quite hearty on all of her past missions.
"Not now," she mutters ruefully, momentarily taking a knee. And then she does that other thing that she does perhaps too often. She starts to pray, quietly, audible only to those specifically listening in. "O' Dread Lady upon the Basalt Throne, O' Queen of the Final Kingdom, O' Guiding Star's Love. Grant me strength enough to rescue the lost souls charged to us from an untimely end, and to ward my fellows against the unjustly unresting dead of this land."
And that . . . works? Somehow? She stands, finding her feet again. "Worry not," she says to her party members, the color returning to her face. "I think I'm fine now." She smiles back at Kore. "Forgive my show of weakness. This place has never been friendly to me."
Malik looks over at Wilros, nodding to Besra as she fills Wilros in for the both of them. "At least it's just water. I've seen stranger things fall from the sky. Let's just hope that it stays water." He doesn't look tired in the least. Perhaps this type of land just doesn't affect him that much.
Sora has been mostly quiet as she moves along with the others.
Razen frowns at the woman a bit. "Perhaps we should rest for a bit. You are not the only one feeling... Tired." He tries not to glance at the other winded woman but fails.
"There's nothing to forgive," Kore responds quickly.She moves up beside Besra to offer her a waterskin. The others get a brief glance in turn. "I feel tired as well, to be honest.". She grimaces. "I suspect it might be our surroundings if you feel faint again let me help you. Please?"
Kore is tiny but she's proven to be strong enough. She looks up at Besra for a moment, staying near her left side for now. "We'd best be on our way regardless."
Felicia takes a deep breath and continues. "if anyone needs water, let me know......"
As you study the surroundings, you're able to count five distinct sets of footprints in the area, the scouts no doubt, so you're on the right path. You're also able to see that this is a relatively secure camp, if a little exposed to the rain. The wind, at least, will be less a problem. No other sign of them beyond that, though. It looks like they packed up and left without difficulty the next morning, so it should be safe to use their campsite if you're so inclined!
"Are you sure you want to go on?" Razen shakes his head and sends droplets everywhere. "If they went far we will have to camp sometime."
"Should we take a moment to rest or continue following those footprints?" Wilros asks of the rest of the party. "Not gonna lie, I am kind of sick of walking. My vote is take a break."
Malik moves over next to Besra, looking at the rest of the party. "We should probably stop here. At least for a little while," he tells her. "You know how much worse this can get ahead, and you're already tired. Even if we don't sleep, we should catch our breath at least. We've been relatively lucky so far."
"Very well," Besra says in agreement to Kore's request, accepting the water-skin and taking a small drink. She has a water-skin of her own, but she nonetheless graciously accepts the offer. "We can make camp here," Besra states. "I don't think we have enough daylight left to be sure we'll find our charges before nightfall, and it will get much harder to track them when it's dark." That's true for some people than others, of course. "And finding them at the point of exhaustion is likely to result in us falling to whatever challenge stymied them. I don't wish to leave them out there another night, but one of the unfortunate realities of mercenary work in the field is pacing yourself to ensure the highest chance of success, even when you want to go on."
"Short break. They would camped for a full night, we should cut a couple hours and hurry up to catch them up ahead." Kore speaks quietly and decisively as she makes her way through the camp. She stops as her left foot sinks into the mud, letting the rain pour over her. "I don't need to sleep as long as the rest of you so I will go out early and scout ahead to be sure we're not as likely to fall behind, then report back. Does that sound good?"
Kore kneels down into the mud now, frowning as she sifts through it carefully. She lifts something white and deep red from the dirt. "They were injured," she calls as the object is lofted overhead.
It's a bloodied bandage.
Razen tries to catch the bandage, eventually he manages to catch it out of the mix-matched air currents and sniffs the bloodied bandage. He let's out a snort of air and tucks it away. "I will come with you. None of us should walk alone."
"I'd rather our best tracker doesn't leave alone," Besra states flatly. "It might be hard for us to find you if you get lost, especially in this terrain." She looks around. "I suppose we have others of similar competence, though." She sighs. "And risks must be taken in the field. I think your suggested course of action is probably best. A short rest, then, with Kore scouting ahead? Are we all agreed?"
She looks back at the monk. "Make sure to leave a trail behind you, both to help you navigate back, and to help us find you if things go awry. What shall your sign be?"
Malik sits down with his back against a rock, pulling his hood over his face and getting comfortable. As comfortable as can be, anyway, though he doesn't seem to be sleeping. Instead, he glances between the other members occasionally, seeming to take their measure somehow.
"Just sleep," Besra mutters, head disappearing under her cloak. "Being able to sleep at a time like this can end up being a skill that saves your life."
Felicia chuckles and actually makes her way to sleep as well. "Just....let me sleep. Sadly I need to rest longer than the rest of you...."
Wilros throws down his pack and uses it as a pillow, curling up. Not long before snort snoring can be heard.
With a warm fire going, a watch set, and a lot of the early camp work already done, it is not a terribly difficult evening. The rain is bothersome, but at least you have SOME shelter from it in th4e wind. Not much, but enough.
Eventually, Granit, Kore, and Razen set out on their won from the campsite to scout ahead, leaving a trail for the rest of you to follow when you come to.
GAME: Kore rolls perception: (3)+14: 17 GAME: Kore rolls survival+2: (17)+9+2: 28 GAME: Razen rolls perception: (14)+5: 19 GAME: Razen rolls survival: (20)+7: 27 GAME: Granit rolls perception: (7)+18: 25 GAME: Granit rolls survival: (4)+11: 15
A few hours pass. Somehow, Besra is one of the least tired people in the party. Maybe that minor miracle of hers helped. The Tsuran woman rises, not sure who else might already be up. She dons her breastplate once more before waking up those who are still slumbering. "Come. It's time we move on. Make sure you have all of your gear."
Sora gets up with the others. At least her mithral breastplate is easy to get on and off. She gets that and her sword back on hanging on her back, "Ready." she says and then looks at them and nods, "Trail easy to follow?"
Malik sleeps at some point, though he wakes up at around the same time as Besra, moving to pack up his stuff quietly as the others sleep. That is, until his compatriot issues the general wake up call. He offers her a grin, though he moves over to toe Wilros gently. "Wake up, sleeping beauty," he tells the man. "Unless you're planning to read and walk at the same time." Though he does give Besra a glance, saying, "We might want to eat first. And do a little prep. So mmmmaaaybe take a little bit of extra time."
It takes a while for Felicia to rest. Having to strip off her armor, sleep in her bedroll...then wait up and put her armor back on. if that wasn't bad enough....THEN she has her prayers to do. it's a pain in the ass waiting for Felicia to conduct her full morning ritual (*GROAN*) before she allows herself to go along with the rest of the party. She also collects her campfire bead.
To (Kore, Razen, Granit), Whirlpool pages: You head out early and begin following the trail left by them. Thankfully, they've even pretty good about leaving regular marks. The point of this operation is to chart a safe path for something, after all, it seems. You walk, you walk, two hours out now, and then the marks... /stop/. Searching around, it seems like their tracks just... /vanished/ after a point. Entirely. You search more. And more. And more. And it seems like you're at a dead end at first. No sign fo them at all, anywhere. But then, slowly, a picture begins to emerge. You realize that the tracks have been /covered/ up, destroyed, deliberately. The act of counter-tracking creates a path in and of itself if you know what to look for and once you've identified it, you can see that they were taken north more than likely by a larger group (given scale) than they themselves are.
Wilros sits up, bleary-eyed but awake. "Food." He nods like that's happening no matter what. And the lad is searching through his pack for just that.
"Very well," says Besra quietly. She sits and waits, inspecting her weapons, adjusting the tension on her bow, and performing other sundry tasks.
GAME: Kore rolls Stealth: (13)+12: 25 GAME: Razen rolls perception: (3)+5: 8
After a long while of trudging aimlessly through the mud Kore finds herself stepping off to the side of the path. "This is..." The woman clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she looks up to survey the skyline. "The tracks just end... Here." For a second she works her jaw as she moves about the clearing they've found. "It's so clean, though. This isn't normal..." She looks up. "They've been captured. Someone didn't want to leave tracks." Kore takes a deep breath. "I want you to head back. We need to let the rest of the party know to hurry." She takes a deep breath. "With luck we can catch up soon."
Razen frowns a bit, agreeing with her sentiment entirely. He can see it, the effort made to destroy the tracks. It makes a cold shiver run down his spine. "I do not like the looks of this. It reminds me of ill tidings. But we should not split up. Who will watch your back?" Granit nods to Kore. "We can track the absence." He glances towards Razen and then to Kore. "Do you want me to watch your back, Kore?"
Having already worked to complete the tear-down of the party's camp, Besra sits staring at the now cold and wet fire pit before her. What's she thinking of? I mean, she's probably brooding, right? That's her shtick? Maybe she's thinking of her time in the Desolation years ago. Or in the land which neighbors it. Something super dark and dramatic, for sure.
She drools. Just a bit. Yes. Right now, she's imagining eating a pot pie.
"I need to stay out of sight. ...If you can follow me you're welcome. Otherwise head back. Too many people will get us caught." Then Kore takes a step backward into the md. She looks up, rain streaming down her face. A deep breath follows, she twists slightly and slides out of view - and when the two men look for her she is gone.
Granit follows Kore, as quietly as he can. ... and that's when the rest of you, about four and a half or five hours later, do wind up finding Razen and Granit. Kore is apparently absent.
Where'd Kore go? Who knows? Maybe Granit and Razen can tell you the skore.
Razen is pacing back and forth but there's no sign of Kore! Nothing. "Magic!" He mutters the word loudly and emphatically more than once. In the dim lighting, with anger brewing beneath his brows his eyes look almost black. Finally he notices the group approaching and stands straight up. "We need to hurry up! She ran off after the crew who was captured." He doesn't seem up to explaining in detail, his whole body bristling with the urge to get on with it.
Malik sighs, rubbing his eyebrows. "That woman is all faith," he tells the others, picking up the pace a little bit as he follows their messenger to wherever the other forward party was last seen.
Felicia walks up to the grumbling Malik and just gives him a look. "you'll change your tune when you maniacs start fighting....and I'm the only thing keeping you from a fairly grisly death." She has a smirk on her face though. She probably sensed the annoyance from them waiting.
Sora moves along still with the others. She is keeping quiet though not really speaking much at the moment.
Granit trots along in front, not following the not-signs, but rather Kore. He holds his polearm low to the ground as he goes.
Razen like Granit is moving as fast as he can without losing everyone behind. It's clear that he cares about little else.
The trail is there! It is easy enough to follow, though you're more or less on the cusp of 24 hours spent here with most of that time spent oin the move. This isn't really a bad thing, of course, but the Desolation is stormy, awful, and a bit dreary. This great scar does have its charms, though, like the lightning and thunder!
You are lead towards an area dotted with sparse trees and it isn't long before you fianlly catch up with Kore, who appears to've stopped dead after a point, staring deeper into rocky, craggy, slightly vegetated landscape...
"...It's..." Kore continues to stare, azure eyes wide as she simply considers the craggy land ahead of her. She is poised with one foot half lifted, completely unmoving. The tiny woman waits for the rest of the party to be behind her before she speaks in a quiet, clear voice. It carries well despite the volume, making her readily understood. "I used to pretend I had one of these when I was a child... Made out of a blanket and a chair." She pauses for a second and sucks in a deep breath through her nose before adding, "It's an invisible fortress."
Malik comes up on the woman, standing there and staring off into the distance, listening to her words when the others catch up. "Invisible fortress," he repeats, looking up at whatever she's looking at, though his tone seems to trust her word for it. "Ok. So. Injured scouting party and an invisible fortress." Looking over to Wilros, he says, "Two choices -- either it was a regular fortress at one point, and the general weirdness of this place changed it enough -before- the crazy and or nasty things moved in. Or," he ponders, "someone crazy decided to come out to the middle of the desolation and build a fortress. And then make it invisible. Because this place sees a lot of traffic." Giving the other wizard a second to think about those possibilities, he adds, "Ten gold says it's 'crazy built theirself an invisible castle in the middle of someplace awful'. You want in on that action?"
Granit squats down, getting low. "Where, exactly?" He considers the view, looking for evidence of such. He exhales. "It would explain the aggressive hiding of their tracks."
Razen stops back a ways, approaching slowly as if the sight of it might bite him. He licks his lips, looking at Kore carefully as if to make sure she's safe, but also so that there's a few more seconds before he has to look at it. "I... I do not know much about... magic. I assume... one of you does?" He makes a soft uncomfortable noise, trying to see what manner of people had taken the scouts. "What would you have to do to do... all of that?"
+++
Part II
When last we left our heroes, they had stopped dead in a small, somewhat wooded area in which, of all things, some sort of invisible building was within.
This is where the trail of the missing scouts died off at. They're probably inside the invisible structure.
Yes.
Really.
Sora never put her greatsword away so holds it in her hands at the moment. She is a little out of her element here, invisible buildings?
At any rate, the fortress remains... fortressy.
The longer you stand here, the more it begins to feel like you're not looking at some kind of tower. More like some kind of...
... of invisible tree fort, really.
Felicia says, "Odd look for a fort. I wonder if this is where the party ended up missin'."
Sora shrugs "no clue. Give me something to hit. I am good, this is out of my experience."
Razen seems discomforted by the whole thing, but with effort pulls his attention from the fort and looks at Kore. "Can you see any way to sneak down there?"
Felicia says, "sneaking isn't exactly my forte. Plate armor tends to clank.""
"I'll see what I can find. We might have a fight on our hands fairly quickly." So saying Kore starts toward the fort, keeping low to the ground as she travels. She's unafraid of the distinct possibility of people raining buckets of arrows down on her, apparently.
"Wait!" Razen grabs her by the shoulder to forstall her. Then, draws the bearskin he wears around his shoulder and offers it to her. "At least if they see you in this, they may mistake you for an animal." He offers her a hopeful smile.
Felicia says, "Yeah, they might mistake her for an animal and shoot her quicker."
"I... Would but that is five times my size," Kore replies slowly. "I'd be swimming in it. And I- ah... Don't wear animal hides. But thank you. Truly." She twists to pull away from Razen and continue on her way.
GAME: Kore rolls stealth: (13)+13: 26
Kore lifts a hand and signals to the group. She is coming close to the shimmering... Something up ahead. Kore slows as she gets closer and twists slightly. It's a brief dash to reach the base of the tree(?) and start to feel around. The groping about does have the advantage of revealing the outline of the invisible shape to anyone watching. Then she pauses and frowns. The Monk straightens to her full height and climbs a few meters up. Then she knocks on the side. Kore frowns, tilting her head.
Razen throws the bear pelt back into place while watching Kore intensely. Waiting for something to go wrong. Hoping that nothing does. He realizes that he's holding his breath and lets it out slow, as if his anticipation can make her job any easier.
Kore smacks her head against something. Ow. Then she starts to climb. She hangs off of the climbing surface one handed and gestures for the rest of the team. Up she goes! She must have found the way in. Or a cunning dead end.
It's apparently some kind of ladder that Kore has located.
Either way, she's definitely made her way... /somewhere/.
Felicia nudges Sora. "Come on. We need to find that team." She says trying to move up... Razen doesn't wait, nor does he try to hide. It would be difficult for him to even try. The best he can do is rush forward as fast as he can to the bottom of the unseen tower-tree and try to find the ladder.
Sora slips her sword back into its hanger and looks for ladder with others to go up.
GAME: Kore rolls Perception+2: (7)+15+2: 24
Kore gropes around blindly as people are coming up behind her. The Monk has long since closed her eyes, letting her other senses compensate since her target is invisible. She reaches up and grasps something, then begins to grope around in the 'dark', exploring the surface in front of her. Finally she gives the handle she found a big tug.
It must look strange. The interior of this place is /not/ invisible, so there's a distortion in the air when the door opens and moves and then... what looks like an opening into a wooden panelled room with another door at the opposite end of it from where you can see now.
Kore climbs inside and makes for visible terrain, looking around as she goes. "It's a start at least," she half mutters to the people coming up behind her. She doesn't appear to trust what is visible at the moment so she is careful to investigate her surroundings as she moves forward. Felicia kinda....runs the tip of her flanged mace on the ground. "By the maiden this is creepy as shit." Thankfully, the tip is rounded off. "How the hell are we supposed to see?"
Razen isn't far behind Kore, climbing more heavily but with more nimbleness than his large frame would suggest. He glances around the room before entering it. "Well this room is not invisible, so perhaps only the outside is. If we can see we can make our way through." Razen heads for the door opposite the one that had led them into the room and jiggles the handle to see if it's locked.
Everyone piles inside the small room.
Naturally, as you begin working your way to the other door, the first one you came in through swings shut with a slam.
The room takes on an ominous red cast.
Felicia looks back to the door...then around the room as it seems to turn red. "Well then."
"Wait, you should probably let me-" Kore is cut off by the slam of doors and shuffle of feet. "...Check for a trap." She squints as the room turns red and then sighs, shaking her head. The tiny half-Mul undoes the band holding her hair up and wraps it around two fingers on her left hand. Then she begins to investigate the closed door.
Razen has the grace to look embarrassed. "Sorry. I did not think that just moving it would..." He glances around the strangely colored room. "What do you think it means?"
"More visitors, yes! More to play?"
The voice seems to be coming from the other side of the door.
"More! You come to join the festivities, do you not?" It sounds... small.
"...Festivities? We've, ah. Traveled a long way. Festivities sound lovely. Can you tell me about them?" Kore takes on her kindest, softest voice. She is already quite soft spoken, of course.
Felicia quiets herself, so she doesn't ruin Kore's chances.....
GAME: Razen rolls Strength: (6)+4: 10
Razen is far less helpful... to Kore at least. Hearing the voice from within the room he sets his shoulder low and slams it into the door as best he can without running the full length of the space they had inside. Lest he trample one of his companions in the effort. Felicia makes sure to keep out of the way of the effort.
"Ah! Playful ones, aren't you! We shall enjoy our game, you and I! Let me introduce you to the other players and together we shall see our way to victory! OR you will perish unmourned! Or something. I am never sure how it is your mortals end."
Oh good. He's calling you 'mortals'.
This is promising.
AS Kore sets to open the door more quietly after Razen's kick, there's a popping sound from it as it ... unlocks on its own.
"Come, come my way..."
Felicia says, "He's calling us mortals. Oh yeah. this is going to end well." She says looking at the others. "Who wants to go first?"" Razen frowns at the door and pushes his way through. "This is my fault so it might as well be me."
"I am willing," Kore relates quietly. "Since i've been scanning for traps. Would anyone else prefer the honor...?" Kore is already proceeding forward, however. "We're going to have to try this game..." And then Razen is pressing past her. "...Just be careful. Keep your head firmly intact, hm?"
"Self-sacrifice won't be of much use, fault or not. Self-blame might not even be appropriate, Razen. If they can see us, which it seems they can, all the stealth in the world might not have mattered. It's far more likely that we would have been entrapped in this manner regardless." Besra turns toward Kore. "I hate to place you in danger once more, but if you're the only one here with an eye for traps, it might be smarter if you take the lead, as you've suggested. Just take your time and look before you step, not that I need to tell you that. I'll be right behind you. Everyone else should trace the path laid out by her. I don't think we have any choice but to play along with our captor."
The door opens easily enough this time, it seems, now that its unlocked. There's a hallway! You can move down it, if you so choose, but the reddish cast to the room dissipates slowly as you move away and natural lighting returns. Indeed, it looks like the tunnel ahead of you opens out into... natural sunlight? That doesn't necessarily make a lot of sense, given the exterior.
"An illusion?" Besra asks, her tone still flat and analytical. "Clearly, our captor has some skill in the arts. Is it possible to hide such a massive structure in that way, though? Perhaps it's some sort of non-dimensional space, then, hidden inside the invisible structure? Or both? I somehow doubt we've been given access to open ground, that we might walk away."
"Captor!" Besra calls out. "We're agreeing to play your game, for now. Do not think our acquiescence unconditional, though. I want to hear your word that it is possible for us to make our way through your gauntlet with all of us alive."
Razen can't help but pause, mostly out of confusion from Besra's words than any real sense of caution. He looks around the room, a little irritation in his expression but shrugs. "It seems to me that whoever goes first is going to be in danger no matter what happens." He meets Besra's gaze. "And what's the point of talking to it? There's no way of knowing if they are lying or no?"
GAME: Kore rolls Sense Motive+2: (6)+20+2: 28
Besra turns back toward Razen, a wry smirk spreading across her skull-painted face. "Razen, we have but one source of information. Hearing something is better than hearing nothing. Even a lie, properly interpreted, can yield useful information. As for the question of actually distinguishing truth and lies . . . " Her eyes trace toward Kore for a brief moment before returning to the half-orch. "Well, we'll see what we can see, I suppose?"
There's no answer to Besra's call at the moment. You emerge out of the hallway into what appears to be some... kind... of stadium? Really?
It sure seems that way. The seats all around you in this impossibly located stadium with tall wooden walls, are filled with creatures of all manner small and tall, furred and spritely. They are all not human, even if they are humanoid in appearance. "THE CHALLENGERS ARRIVE," calls the voice you heard earlier, sitting in a box seat above you. He is smiling, of course. He looks a bit like a gnome, though his teeth are as pointed as the tips of his ears and his skin is covered in a thick array of knots and warts.
"COME, CHAMPIONS! WE SHALL TEST YOUR MIGHT!"
The crowd roars its approval. That door you came through? It's gone now. Just... gone.
And now coming through a door that /wasn't/ there are... the scouts?! They have to be. They fit the descriptions, armed to the teeth and wearing rugged armor. They look a bit... dazed.
"Well...that explains where they've gone." Felicia says before looking where the voice came from. "Why do I get the feeling Angoron has his hand in this."
Razen grins broadly from ear to ear and eagerly swells. "Angoron indeed! Look down on us!" There is no more hesitation in his steps as he steps toward the scouts, offering his hand to them in a friendly manner. "We come to rescue and aid you!" All thoughts of traps and any sense of wariness about magics seem to have fled the half-orc entirely.
"IF they are forced to fight us I am capable of disabling them without killing in a tense situation. What are your thoughts...?" Kore is speaking in a voice which is nearly a whisper, moving forward to get a better look at the people emerging. "Unless we have a solution in mind?" Then Kore calls, "Ah. Hell... o." She lets Razen do the talking for now.
"They seem to have been enchanted. Hard to tell," Besra says. "I'm not sure we'll be able to hold back and survive this, though. I would wager most of us aren't so well trained in subduing enemies without killing enemies. Do we have a healer among us? Assuming they don't simply kill us all, someone should be ready to stabilize them once they're down."
"Our previous champions defeated the Mighty Mighty Band Of Minotaurs! Now they're up against..."
A pause.
The warty gnome leans in and calls out, "Say, why don't you introduce yourselves?"
Felicia says, "I'm pretty sure they're enchanted, Razen." She says taking a better grip on her mace. "What do you mean by defeated?" She asks the gnome. She seems determined to stall...."
The scouts are busy staring at Razen. They /see/ him, but it's a bit like they aren't in their right mind at the moment.
Razen seems put out about this fact, looking from them to Felicia. "They are not going to fight *with* us then?"
Felicia says, "against us, probably....."
"We're... Um. The Rescuers?" Kore suggests helpfully to the gnome. To the others she adds, "I'll try to take down as many as I can while you look for a way to stop this, if you aren't sure you can avoid a kill. However works best. Just hurry to decide."
Two of the creatures in the stand, a pair of mice-like ones perhaps, look at each other and shrug as if that's not a terrible idea.
Razen brightens a little and points toward the little gnomish-looking person. "Can I kill him?"
"...very well, then! The Rescuers versus the Bold Minotaur Slayers! You will fight until only one team stands!"
He beams, then waves his hand.
Immediately, the other team is drawing their assemblage of blade and bow.
Felicia says, "I don't think we're going to be able to talk our way out of this one...."
"What happens to the losers?" Kore asks as she steps forward into the arena. She is looking around. More quietly she adds, "At least give him a good punch. Might help us out of this mess..."
Felicia says, "I don't want to find out."
Razen nods once walking away from the little group of companions and scouts that were gathered and toward the edge of the arena space. He takes just a moment to measure how much effort it's going to take and proceeds to try and make his way into the stands and thus toward the gnomeish man making the calls.
GAME: Razen rolls Athletics: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Razen rolls Fortitude: (6)+6: 12
Razen manages to reach the edge of the wall, but even as he starts to haul himself up there's a low electric noise as his body goes rigid and he falls back down into the arena.
Felicia says, "Well that's disconcerting. So answer me a question, master gnome."
"We... that was interesting! And no, questions LATER! For now... FIGHT!"
As one, the six scouts turn towards you. All dressed in light armor, each of them is differently armed or not armed at all. At least one of them is a mage, judging by the way he's taken a combat stance common amongst the arcane: hands out stretched and ready. One spontaneously armors up in some sort of titan armor. Another simply has his long sword out, eyes glassy. A bow in the hands of a half-elven open, and of course, shorty the Lucht seems to have a crossbow in his hands while another wields twin daggers.
With his daggers out, the daggerman advances on the form of Razen, aiming to stab him swiftly.
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+2: (20)+9+2: 31 (THREAT) GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+2: (11)+9+2: 22 GAME: Kore rolls 1d6+strength+1+2: (6)+2+1+2: 11 GAME: Kore rolls 2d6+4+2+4: (8)+4+2+4: 18 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+6: (11)+6: 17 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d4+1+2d6: (3)+1+(8): 12 GAME: TidePool damaged you for 12 points. 14 HP remaining. GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+6: (4)+6: 10 GAME: TidePool rolls 2d6: (4): 4
A single blast lashes out and strikes Felicia from the cannon of the armored artificer, energy crackling around him. Swiftly, the dagger-wielding human darts towards Razen's form and slips a knife in between the plates of his armor, finding flesh and bloodying him quite severely.
GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+6: (16)+6: 22 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Kore rolls Sense Motive+2: (18)+20+2: 40
Kore darts forward abruptly when the fight starts, moving almost before anyone else has had the chance to draw their weapons. She leaps through the air with a sudden shout, "IA!" It comes with a sharp exhalation of breath and a sudden heavy kick that nearly knocks the Wizard to the floor. She uses the momentum to spin, arrows and crossbow bolts clattering to the arena floor as they miss her by inches.
GAME: Razen RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 4 temporary HP GAME: Razen rolls melee: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
Razen forgets the not-gnome man. The weird crowd. His companions. He forgets everything but the burning pain in his side caused by the little man beside him. So with blinding quickness he draws his flail and whirls it so hard at the man that the flail itself leaves his hand and buries itself into the ground at the man's side. This only serves to infuriate Razen more however as he lets loose a furious roar in the dagger-wielding man who incited his rage.
GAME: Razen rolls intimidation: (1)+intimidation: 1 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+6: (17)+6: 23 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d6+2: (4)+2: 6
From the wizard's hands, after a step back, a single black ray lancing through Kore's form, leaving her...somewhat staggered for a moment.
GAME: Felicia refreshes spells. GAME: Felicia casts Deadly Juggernaut. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16 GAME: Besra rolls ranged+1+1-1-2: (16)+5+1+1+-1+-2: 20 GAME: Besra rolls ranged+1+1-1-2: (18)+5+1+1+-1+-2: 22
Seeing that someone's in her face, Felicia steps back to cast a spell upon herself. The effects are not....immediately apparent.
GAME: Besra rolls 1d8+3: (7)+3: 10
Besra levels her bow as she nocks and draws back a single arrow, whispering a quiet, "forgive me," as she takes aim. She lets loose two arrows in rapid succession, both flying toward the wizard. The first bounces harmlessly off a shield of force, the other penetrating the barrier and burying itself into the man's leg.
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1: (7)+9+1: 17 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1: (19)+9+1: 29 GAME: Kore rolls 1d6-1+1+2: (2)+-1+1+2: 4 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+5: (3)+5: 8 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+5: (10)+5: 15 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+6: (3)+6: 9 GAME: Granit rolls 1d20+9: (11)+9: 20 GAME: Granit rolls 1d20+9: (7)+9: 16
Granit steps forwards and swings his hooked blade in a wide arc, his cut deflecting off of one of Kore's assailant's armour.
GAME: Razen rolls Melee: (20)+8: 28 (THREAT) GAME: Razen rolls Melee: (4)+8: 12 GAME: Razen rolls weapon5+6: (4)+8+6: 18 GAME: Razen rolls 1d10+6: (3)+6: 9 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+8: (8)+8: 16
The swordsman steps forward and swings his blade at Granit, trying t4o intercept him and prevent a flank on the wizard.
Bow shots hit the ground near Besra, while the short halfling moves away from Kore and reloads his crossbow. The dagger-man's daggers clink off of Razen's armor, this time, his eyes blank and glassy as he swings.
GAME: TidePool rolls 3d4+3: (7)+3: 10
Razen's anger was only beginning to rise as he pulls his weapon free of the dirt. Earth breaks apart as he pulls it free and slams the ball of the heavy flail into the man who had dared to attack him.
Three bolts of energy /slam/ into Kore in rapid succession. That looks like it hurt!
GAME: TidePool rolls 3d6: (12): 12 GAME: Besra rolls ranged+1+1-1-2: (6)+5+1+1+-1+-2: 10 GAME: Besra rolls ranged+1+1-1-2: (10)+5+1+1+-1+-2: 14 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+2+2: (6)+9+2+2: 19 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+2+2: (11)+9+2+2: 24 GAME: Kore rolls 1d6+2d6-1+1+2: (1)+(4)+-1+1+2: 7 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+6: (3)+6: 9 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+6: (2)+6: 8 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Granit rolls ref: (4)+9: 13 GAME: TidePool rolls 2d6+4: (6)+4: 10
A blast strikes Granit, containing some kind of agent which leaves him glued to the ground, enveloped in foamy substance!
Tanglefoot!
GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9
Another crossbow bolt goes whizzing by Kore's head.
GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (4)+7: 11 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d8+3: (8)+3: 11 GAME: Granit rolls 1d20+9-2+4: (3)+9+-2+4: 14 GAME: Razen rolls Melee: (20)+8: 28 (THREAT) GAME: Razen rolls Melee: (20)+8: 28 (THREAT) GAME: Razen rolls 1d10+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Razen rolls 1d10+8: (7)+8: 15 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+8: (12)+8: 20 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14 GAME: Felicia rolls Heal: (2)+11: 13 GAME: Besra rolls ranged+1+1-1-2: (13)+5+1+1+-1+-2: 17 GAME: Besra rolls ranged+1+1-1-2: (7)+5+1+1+-1+-2: 11
It is clear that the man who had stabbed Razen was dazed by his attack, and Razen took full advantage of this in order to grasp his weapon with both hands and bring it down on his dagger-weilding foe with all his might. There is a distinct cracking noise as the man's body goes limp and falls to the ground and then Razen roars again, teeth flashing and blood dripping from his flail.
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+2: (15)+9+2: 26 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+2: (16)+9+2: 27 GAME: Kore rolls 1d6+2d6-1+1+2: (3)+(10)+-1+1+2: 15 GAME: Kore rolls 1d6+2d6-1+1+2: (2)+(11)+-1+1+2: 15 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (4)+7: 11 GAME: TidePool rolls 2d6+4: (10)+4: 14 GAME: Kore rolls reflex: (2)+8: 10 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+5: (18)+5: 23 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+5: (15)+5: 20 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d8+3: (8)+3: 11 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d8+3: (2)+3: 5 GAME: Sora rolls finesse+3+2: (13)+11+3+2: 29 GAME: Sora rolls powdam: aliased to 2d6+3+2+1+1+6: (8)+3+2+1+1+6: 21 GAME: Granit rolls melee+1: (15)+8+1: 24 GAME: TidePool rolls 2d4+5: (6)+5: 11
Twin arrows strike Besra, burying themselves in her flesh while Kore is blasted,. leaving her entangled in a gooey mess of awfulness.
Sora has been out of the fight for some reason or other, but is in it now. With her greatsword held firmly in her hands, she surges forward at the ray-man. She dances with her greatsword, as she whips it around in a powerful strike, which cuts deep.
GAME: Razen rolls Ranged-6: (4)+4+-6: 2 GAME: Razen rolls Intimidate: (2)+8: 10 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10
Guisarme and longsword clash! Granit, despite his glued position, is able to defend himself adequately from the scout's blade. For now.
GAME: TidePool rolls 3d6: (10): 10
Razen easily picks up the dagger-weilding scout that had attacked him and throws him at the announcer. His anger gets the better of him however, and the heavily bleeding man crashes to the ground only a little bit in front of the half-orc. "YOU!" He is breathing heavy from pure anger and the heavy swings of his weapon. "Cease this or I will crush your skull next!"
GAME: Kore casts Flames of the Faithful. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+4: (19)+4: 23 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+4: (5)+4: 9 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d8+1: (3)+1: 4 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (6)+7: 13
Kore is entrapped in tanglefoot glue. She struggles against her new bonds for a moment and then pauses, taking a deep breath. A holy symbol is produced and the woman tenses, closing her eyes. She begins to gain a blue-black glow that wreaths her body like an unearthly flame.
GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16
The crossbowman fires again.
He can't even hit the broad side of an entrapped Kore, apparently.
GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+5: (19)+5: 24 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d8+3: (5)+3: 8 GAME: Sora rolls strike: aliased to finesse+3: (12)+11+3: 26 GAME: Sora rolls powdam: aliased to 2d6+3+2+1+1+6: (3)+3+2+1+1+6: 16 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+9: (11)+9: 20 GAME: TidePool rolls 2d4+5: (7)+5: 12
Sora continues to dance with her greatsword. Her blade slashes about her as she moves. Her agility allows her to avoid the ray coming at her even as her sword slashes again deep, leaving the rayman looking really hurt.
GAME: Razen rolls Ranged-2: (18)+4+-2: 20 GAME: Razen rolls 1d4+2: (2)+2: 4 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+8: (9)+8: 17 GAME: TidePool rolls 3d6: (11): 11 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)
Seeing that the announcer does not care, does not even seem to take *note* of him. Only serves to make Razen - if possible - more irate. How dare he? He pulls a dagger from the fallen scout's body and throws it at the announcer, managing to actually hit him. A totally unexpected blow to the one keeping them in this odd place.
Now that he's been struck -- as he did not have a comment about the body -- the announced howls with... indignity.
"You /dare/? " he asks.
"I must say that body was /humorous/ but you've made me bleed my own blood! THIS IS INCONCEIVABLE!"
GAME: Kore rolls escape artist: (17)+4: 21 GAME: Kore rolls weapon14+2+: (7)+8+2+: 17 GAME: Kore rolls 1d6+1d6+2d6+2-1+2: (1)+(6)+(4)+2+-1+2: 14 GAME: TidePool rolls 1d20+7: (11)+7: 18 GAME: TidePool rolls 2d6+4: (6)+4: 10 GAME: Sora rolls refle: (17)+7: 24
Kore tears a leg free, glowering at the gnome. Wreathed in black flame she draws a shuriken from her belt and throws it at the announce. It lodges in his arm, blood scorching as it runs down his skin. Like this Kore's blue eyes actually seem to glow.
"Augh!" yells the gnome. Now this is no laughing matter. His wounds glow brightly and start to mend.
"You will pay for that trespass as well. The sanctity of my arena demands your blood! UNLEASH THE CREATURE!"
He claps his hands, ducking down in his box for his own protection.
The ground rumbles. The arena... shakes…
+++
Part III
As the Little One, the 'gnome', calls his order, the scouts you have been sent to rescue stop moving. Entirely.
The ground shakes as a doorway into the arena seems to manifest itself and a great beast bursts through into it...!
It's an owl bear. Really. With the body of an bear and the head of an owl, it is a prime example of the notion that wizards really have no sense of right and wrong. It roars. loudly.
GAME: Razen RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 4 temporary HP GAME: Kore rolls weapon14+2: (10)+8+2: 20 GAME: Kore rolls weapon14+2: (5)+8+2: 15 GAME: Kore rolls 1d2+2d6+2+2: (1)+(9)+2+2: 14 GAME: Razen rolls intimidate: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Razen rolls weapon5: (8)+8: 16 GAME: Razen rolls 1d10+8: (9)+8: 17
Razen rushes forward, roaring incoherently. Rage had consumed him, and the challenging roar of the Owlbear sped him toward it. The bloodied heavy flail smashed into the creature's body with a heavy meaty sound that ached just to hear it. The blow only served to heighten his battlefury.
GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d20+9: (16)+9: 25 GAME: Floofystink rolls 2d4+5: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d20+9: (16)+9: 25 GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d20+9: (10)+9: 19 GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d6+rl4: (6)+rl4: 6 GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d6+4: (4)+4: 8 GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d20+14: (19)+14: 33
The creature is large. very large. And now it has Granit hooked into its pawed embrace with a step in his direction. Razen too is slashed once, claws leaving bloody, deep gashes in his flesh.
GAME: Felicia refreshes spells. GAME: Felicia casts Bless. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14
Felicia, possibly the slowest to react, watches as the battle is joined. However, rather than rush in herself, she places her hand upon her medallion and calls for a blessing from the Maiden of Battle....to aid her allies in defeating this thing.
GAME: Kore refreshes spells. GAME: Kore rolls weapon8+2+2: (16)+0+2+2: 20 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+2+2: (8)+9+2+2: 21 GAME: Kore rolls 1D8+2D6+2+1: (2)+(6)+2+1: 11 GAME: Floofystink advances the initiative order. GAME: Razen rolls weapon5: (3)+8: 11
Razen swung his flail a second time, but the creature's body was twisting and turning around the form of a man grasped in its arms. Thus the heavy blow met only air.
GAME: Granit rolls cmb: (2)+8: 10 GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d20+14: (16)+14: 30 GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d20+9: (18)+9: 27 GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d20+9: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Kore rolls sense motive+2: (6)+20+2: 28
The owlbear picks Granit up in its claws, sinking them deeper into him, and then swings him back down towards Kore with all its might! It's going straight for her...!
Kore watches as the Owlbear turns toward her and raises Granit. The dark-skinned ,blue-eyed half-Elf blanches visibly. "Oh dear." When the larger elf is swung at her Kore does a number of things at once. She raises an arm to push him aside slightly. The gesture is called a ribat, and it causes granit's trajectory to shift and leaves her bones aching even though it was a glancing strike. The second thing she does is dive forward. With a battle cry that might sound more like a yelp to the untrained ear Kore throws herself headlong at the owlbear, getting in past the incoming Granit so that he narrowly misses crashing into the floor behind her. She looks up to see the scowling, ridged skull of the owlbear glaring down at her.
Kore is trapped between a rock and a hard place.
GAME: Felicia casts Spiritual Weapon. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15 GAME: Felicia rolls BAB+3: (2)+3+3: 8
Up in the stands, the gnome is laughing.
This is awesome. His wound? Already mending.
"That's right," he yells, "Make 'em bleed their own blood instead! Good creature! Goooood!"
He looks upset that Kore got out of the way of Granit being used offensively like that. The crowd is also 'cheering'.
Felicia continues to hang back and summon a lance that attempts to poke the owlbear in the butt. Sadly, despite the distraction, the Lance misses the Owlbears butt by hitting between its back legs.
Kore shouts in alarm as she narrowly jumps aside from a lance that APPEARS OUT OF NOWHERE. Close quarters.
Felicia says, "It's only after the owlbear, not you Kore. It's not going to stab you in the butt. Your butt isn't big enough. Nor, apparently, is the owlbears."
Granit gives an undignified shriek. It's not fun being a weapon!
GAME: Kore rolls WEAPON0+2+2: (7)+9+2+2: 20 GAME: Kore rolls WEAPON0+2+2: (18)+9+2+2: 31 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+2d6+2+1: (2)+(7)+2+1: 12 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+2d6+2+1: (6)+(11)+2+1: 20 GAME: Razen rolls weapon5: (2)+8: 10
"It might not be after me but it nearly hit me by mistake," Kore calls back. She shakes her head and takes a deep breath, doing her best to block out the lance attacking in front of her. The owlbear is distracted now, surrounded by numerous combatants. The itnyMonk uses her unique position to hammer a couple heavy bls into one of the Owlbears knees and then pummel his lower abdomen. Needless to say, she's not going to be ignored there much longer.
Razen follows quickly with another strike, but between the wild swinging of the owlbears makeshift weapon-man and the owlbears own unpredictable evasions of the other numerous attacks against it... He finds himself missing it yet again.
GAME: Granit rolls cmb: (7)+8: 15 GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d20+9: (10)+9: 19 GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d20+9: (18)+9: 27 GAME: Kore rolls sense motive+2: (1)+20+2: 23 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d6+4+6: (5)+4+6: 15
And it happens.
Granit is lifted high over the bloodied beast's head and then THROWN directly into Kore. The wild elf is dropped, but it leaves Kore and he prone, toppled one atop the other.
Ouch.
GAME: Felicia rolls 3d6: (12): 12 GAME: Felicia rolls bab+3: (6)+3+3: 12
Taking a moment to pray to her goddess, Felicia mends the wounds of her allies. Meanwhile....her force lance continues to miss the Owlbears backside....
GAME: Razen rolls CMB: (15)+6: 21
The flail in Razen's hand drops harshly to his belt, his gray-green eyes glowing with sparks of color amid the darkness they had become when he first fell into his rage. This weapon has failed him too many times, and he is too far gone into his passion for the fight to care. With another furious bellow he grasps the owlbear with both hands. Thick ropey muscles cord with effort as he grapples with the beast but holds it firm.
GAME: Granit rolls 1d20+9: (2)+9: 11
Granit flails wildly at the owlbear as he stands up, the blade whistling as it goes by everyone and everything at a safe distance.
GAME: Floofystink rolls 1d20+14: (9)+14: 23
As Kore assaults it from the ground, Granit is able to get back up and flail at it. Still standing, though battered and bleeding, the creature lifts Razen up into a ....owlbear-hug?
SQueeeeeze!
The gnome starts laughing loudly.
Obnoxiously.
GAME: Floofystink advances the initiative order. GAME: Felicia casts Magic Weapon. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14 GAME: Kore rolls WEAPON0+2+2-4+1: (10)+9+2+2+-4+1: 20 GAME: Kore rolls WEAPON0+2+2-4+1: (16)+9+2+2+-4+1: 26 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+2d6+1+2: (8)+(11)+1+2: 22 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+2d6+1+2: (5)+(3)+1+2: 11 GAME: Felicia rolls BAB+3: (20)+3+3: 26 GAME: Felicia rolls bab+3: (8)+3+3: 14 GAME: Felicia rolls 1d8+2: (5)+2: 7
Felicia sighs as the owlbear grapples another. "Right...." She says as she raises her Mace to the sky....for it begin to glow. Meanwhile, the lance FINALLY pokes the owlbear in the butt.
The owlbear might mistake Kore for being a Pain in the ass though.
GAME: Kore rolls WEAPON0+2+2-4+1: (15)+9+2+2+-4+1: 25 GAME: Kore rolls WEAPON0+2+2-4+1: (2)+9+2+2+-4+1: 12 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+2d6+1+2: (2)+(8)+1+2: 13 GAME: Razen rolls CMB: (6)+6: 12 GAME: Razen rolls 1d3+5: (2)+5: 7 GAME: Razen ends his rage.
In spite of the tight arms around his body, Razen grins fiercely and rears back his head. With all the force he can muster he bashes his own head into the owlbears. The sound is a resounding crack that makes Razen's gaze hazy for a moment. However the owlbear had already been on it's last legs and the damage to its senses knock it clean unconscious in his arms. It droops and succumbs there to the many blows which it has suffered.
Felicia walks her way over and smiles a bit. "Good work, Razen. Great way to use your head."
Once the creature is defeated, the gnome in the stands, furry though he is, lets out an outraged roar of dismay.
"You... you... IMPOSSIBLE!" He grinds his teeth together a moment and then leans forward.
"I /suppose/ you've been fair combatants," he adds.
The crowd cheers.
Granit raises his arms above his head. Cheer the weapon that lives to laugh.
Razen lets the body hit the floor, and turns his grim gaze on the gnome. "Does that mean that you will free us and those we came for?"
The furry gnome scratches his face.
"You could trade yourselves for them. You're the new champions," he offers.
Carefully.
Staring down at the lot of you.
GAME: Felicia rolls sense motive: (16)+3: 19 GAME: Razen rolls sense motive: (17)+0: 17 GAME: Granit rolls sense motive: (4)+5: 9 GAME: Kore rolls Sense Motive: (3)+20: 23
...he's keeping something from you. All of you, honestly. Most of you can tell, even. Even Razen, now that he's come down from the rage. It's just the way he says that. HE's picking his words carefully. Very. For /some/ reason.
Felicia says, "No. We came here for them." She says gesturing towards the group near them. "And we mean to leave with them.""
Granit just looks up at the gnome. When Felicia speaks, he closes his mouth.
Razen frowns. "As champions shouldn't we get some kind of reward?" He motions toward Felicia, and the way that she motioned toward the group of scouts. "Like them maybe?"
"...Yes," he says after a moment. "There /is/ that. Ah well. There will be others, yes? More will come, and I will simply take them instead, perhaps, to fight for my friends."
GAME: Granit rolls will: (12)+5: 17 GAME: Felicia rolls will: (7)+8: 15 GAME: Razen rolls will: (8)+0: 8
Felicia says, "No there won't. Not if we have anything to say about it." And she walks over to actually pick one of the scouts up."
Granit squints for a moment. "Wait -- your friends aren't real." He shakes his head. "They're illusionary."
Razen perks up a little at Granit's words, his eyes brightening considerably. "Really." He steps toward the little gnome and cracks his knuckles. "How about we have a different competition then... friend."
Felicia says, "You have no friends, Gnome. As he said....all of your so called friends are illusions..."
GAME: Razen rolls Intimidate: (12)+8: 20
The furred gnome wilts a bit under Razen's look.
HE touches the area where he was struck earlier by him.
"....I think, on second thought, it may be time to take the Games somewhere else. Yes. These desolate plains are nothing but trouble! I should be going! Quickly!"
A doorway reappears in the 'wall' of the arena.
"Take your friends! And go! Quickly, now! I can't hold the gate forever! Ha ha ha ha!"
Nervous laughter.
Granit gets ready to go. He is, in fact, eager to go.
For a long moment it seems like Razen will not go, that he intends to remain. His companions are ready to go however and so he offers the gnome one last lingering look that says what he is thinking without words. That if they ever meet again there will be a fight between them, and that he is eager for it. Then he turns aside and helps Felicia with the unconscious scout, lifting the man easily in his arms, and heads for the exit.
...and off you go!
As soon as you're out of the door, you find yourself out in the forest with the scouts.
They still seem fairly dazed and out of it, not to mention hurt.
Oh, and the invisible tree fort?
Gone. Just...
..gone.