Society Call of Action Part 3
The sound. You all hear it now, the sort of musical tone, like some sort of ethereal pipe organ or... flute. It's so hard to really pin down what it is. It's quite nice whatever it is.
So nice that Mel finds themself slowly guiding the camel off in that direction. Off to the side of the path they've been taking, it's gradual at first, and that turns into more and more. Until Mel is heading off in the direction of the musical notes, the song calling to him.
It's not voices. It's something else. Something that sounds so familiar but not, if maybe he could get just a little closer.
"Master Mel? Mel!" Silmeria calls as the man's camel begins to head off. With a concerned frown, the robed blond draws her pistol and unlimbers her shield, taking up her reins and clucking for the garishly-colored beast to follow after her companion. "Come on, everybody," she calls, resignation in her voice. "Let's not give the Grey Lady more work than she needs!"
Mel rides toward the music. Not that he's a skilled rider. He's better at walking, by a fair amount. Bit he's riding just at the moment. Or trying to. And the music. The music is so intriguing. If he could just get closer. Then everything would be apparent.
Kira's lips purse. "What's the matter?" Noticing at least one camel veering off, she blinks. "I think we should stay together..." She turns her own course to try and follow, and thus keep everyone more together.
Charlotte goes along with Silmeria, not that she wants to, but someone seems to have fallen for the spell of that musical note she heard......
<OOC> Bolide grins, "Okay, so you all just follow after Mel?"
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Weapons in hand, I do. XD"
<OOC> Kira is following.
<OOC> Charlotte is following too.
<OOC> Bolide says, "OKAY! Perception checks all around. And you all still hear that music. Just... only Mel is compelled."
GAME: Silmeria rolls perception: (9)+19: 28
GAME: Kira rolls perception: (14)+18: 32
GAME: Mel rolls perception: (3)+12: 15
<OOC> Mel contemnplates his navel.
GAME: Charlotte rolls perception: (12)+10: 22
A bit down the road, Charlotte sniffs.....and her nose winkles as she sniffs again. "You smell that?" She says looking directly at Silmeria.
Mel shifts in his saddle and swears, "It wasn't me!"
Charlotte says, "I don't think your ass smells like death.....but I doubt it's sunshine and lollipops either."
<OOC> Charlotte XD
<OOC> Charlotte had to be said.
Mel insists sullenly, "It's the camel, not me."
Kira's nose wrinkles, but she doesn't say anything. At first. "I don't think that's your camel... unless it's making that buzzing sound." She leans forward to point to some pipe-like things sticking out of the sand, like ...dead limbless trees? or something? "What are those?"
"I'm not sure," Silmeria says, thumbing back the hammer on her pistol... which causes the filigree to glow a faint silver, with a ring of arcane-looking symbols revolving just over the end of the barrel. "But that smell is something dead and rotting, so it's likely that buzzing sound is a good many insects having a fine feast. Mel, you need to stop, *now.*"
Mel uhs, "Sure OK. I'll stop." That's what he says, but he continues riding.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bolide has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Bolide to instruct you further.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
<OOC> Charlotte says, "crap."
<OOC> Charlotte says, "+2 to my init. I forgot."
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 25.
It is now Kira's turn! Mel is next!
<OOC> Bolide says, "Mel, for now, you still have to skip. You're still enthralled. But next round you get to start making saving throws. :D"
<OOC> Kira says, "Ok. So, how close is Mel getting to the pipe thingies?"
<OOC> Bolide says, "He isn't stopping."
<OOC> Mel says, "NP"
<OOC> Kira isn't sure if she was riding (maybe everyone was),but ... can I hop off if I need to to run up to try and stop him? And/or the camel he rode in on?
<OOC> Bolide says, "Sorry! Yes, everyone is riding and you can try. It'll be a grapple check."
<OOC> Charlotte says, "test"
<OOC> Kira can try that!
<OOC> Kira thinks she'll have to go for the camel, then, too. "Don't want either of them getting hurt."
<OOC> Bolide says, "Okay! based on what you're doing... Start with an acrobatics check! :D"
GAME: Kira rolls acrobatics: (7)+13: 20
<OOC> Bolide says, "Okay, you sort of roll/jump free of the camel and then try to tackle Mel off of his to stop him. You're reasonably sure the camel will stop in place. Unfortunately your angle is a little off, that's a -4 to your CMB."
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7-4: (3)+16+7+-4: 22
<OOC> Bolide says, "Aaaaand..."
<OOC> Kira darns at her dice. :(
Kira hears the urgent warning of NOW from Silmeria and gets even more concerned. "Wait! Stop!" She springs off of her camel and dashes ahead across the sand for Mel and his mount. "Stop!" When he still doesn't, she has to help him. It's not the best angle, behind mostly behind, but she leaps up and... just clears the camel to tackle Mel from his saddle. Kira tries to roll over on the arc down, so he can at least land on her and she can break his fall some.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 24.
It is now Mel's turn! Stalkers is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d6: (2): 2
<OOC> Bolide says, "Will Save, Mel. :D That fall hurt, but it was enough to give you a chance to break free."
GAME: Mel rolls will: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Mel lol
<OOC> Bolide says, "Okay! You still try to get free and get toward the pipes. Pose it! :D"
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 21.
It is now Stalkers' turn! Buzzing is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 21.
It is now Buzzing's turn! Silmeria is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 14.
It is now Silmeria's turn! Charlotte is next!
Mel lands on his face, which luckily means nothing important is hurt. He grumbles at Kira and says, "I like you, too, but this is neither the time nor the place," and he'll continue walking towards what it is.
The buzzing grows louder, it seems to be coming from the side. The music from those pipes is very clear now, you're so close to them, it's musical and quite pleasing to the ears.
<OOC> Bolide says, "Silmeria?"
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Derp, sorry. XD Okay so."
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Swift action, activating Judgments of Judgment and Resiliency."
<OOC> Silmeria says, "*Justice"
<OOC> Bolide says, "Okay!"
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Free action, Knowledge/Nature check to identify the creatures the buzzing belongs to."
GAME: Silmeria rolls knowledge/nature: (10)+6: 16
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Standard action, cast Coordinated Effort to give Mel and Charlotte the Back to Back Teamwork feat (+2 AC when flanked and adjacent to ally)"
<OOC> Silmeria says, "(Who also has the feat)"
<OOC> Charlotte says, "Uh...."
<OOC> Charlotte doesn't think it works like that.
<OOC> Charlotte says, "lemme double check."
<OOC> Charlotte is also lagging like a bitch.
<OOC> Charlotte says, "of course that's one of the spells that's blacked out"
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Sec."
<OOC> Silmeria says, "(Choose a single teamwork feat that you possess. You forge a link with your allies, allowing them to gain the benefits of the chosen feat even if they do not have it themselves. You must be a part of the group qualifying for a given bonus for your allies to gain the benefits. For example, two of your allies flanking an orc would gain no benefit from your Outflank feat, but an ally flanking the orc with you would.)"
<OOC> Charlotte says, "yeah."
<OOC> Bolide says, "Cast it! :D"
<OOC> Silmeria says, "So if Charlotte and Mel are on either side of me and got flanked, they'd get the +2. :D"
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 9.
It is now Charlotte's turn! Kira is next!
GAME: Silmeria casts Coordinated Effort. Caster Level: 8 DC: 15
<OOC> Charlotte says, "ah okie."
"Master Mel!" Silmeria calls in a fruitless effort to pierce the veil of fascination the song has on him. Closing her eyes, she wheels her camel around -- such as one can -- and bows her head, holding her pistol to her chest. "Grey Lady give me resolve, keep my companions from deepening Your endless queue..."
The Inquisitor is limned in a bright, silvery radience, the tracing on her gun pulsing in time with the dispassionate words that echo from the barrel. " -- Threat analysis concluded. Recommend close formation, Speaker -- "
"So do I, Mori," the blond murmurs. "Mel! Charlotte! To me, and stay close! Sister Kira, don't let yourself get surrounded!" For a moment, the ghostly image of a chain lashes out from her shield hand, wrapping around Charlotte and Mel's left wrists; a reminder of the shared protection Silmeria is laying upon the two of them.
<OOC> Charlotte says, "no info, Sil?"
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Not without visual verification, yet. :3"
<OOC> Charlotte says, "crap. okay."
<OOC> Charlotte will ready an action to attack if someone comes close.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 25.
It is now Kira's turn! Mel is next!
<OOC> Charlotte says, "and before you ask, when I init, I draw my sword."
<OOC> Bolide says, "Kira, you wanna let Mel go? Hee."
<OOC> Charlotte says, "free action."
<OOC> Charlotte afks to shower and get it over with.
<OOC> Kira says, "Sorry, but nope. Not if he's still trying to put himself in maybe harm's way."
As the threat draws near, Charlotte already has her sword drawn. "I won't go anywhere, silmeria, but hanging onto my arm is not a good decision, since I lunge and move quite freely.
<OOC> Bolide says, "Whatcha wanna do? :D"
<OOC> Kira would like to maintain the hold on him and, if successful, use it to move us both half my move back to the others.
<OOC> Bolide says, "Go for it. :D"
GAME: Kira rolls cmd+7: (7)+5+7: 19
<OOC> Kira says, "Erp. Wrong one."
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7: (18)+16+7: 41
<OOC> Bolide says, "Yep, that succeeds!"
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 24.
It is now Mel's turn! Stalkers is next!
<OOC> Bolide says, "Mel! Roll will. D:"
GAME: Mel rolls will: (6)+5: 11
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you go over there! It could be dangerous!" Kira apologizes, but doesn't let go. She even gets up and hooks her arm around Mel's chest and turns to move/guide/politely drag him away from the sounds and back towards the others.
<OOC> Bolide D: "Your roll is not being helpful! Okay, not quite yet! Keep struggling to get free."
Mel complains, "Hey, let go of me. I'm fine. There's something cool happening, and I just want to check it out for a bit before we move on. You guys go on ahead, and I'll catch up!"
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 21.
It is now Stalkers' turn! Buzzing is next!
<OOC> Bolide says, "Okay, Kira, Mel and Silmeria are getting attacked in that order."
GAME: Bolide rolls 9: (9)+9: 18
GAME: Bolide rolls 9: (14)+9: 23
GAME: Bolide rolls 9: (11)+9: 20
<OOC> Bolide says, "I'm pretty sure that Kira and Mel are considered flat-footed, right? Since Kira is pinning Mel?"
<OOC> Mel would be hit regardless.
<OOC> Bolide says, "Mel, Silmeria, fort. Mel, Will."
GAME: Mel rolls fort: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Mel rolls will: (14)+5: 19
<OOC> Charlotte says, "back"
GAME: Silmeria rolls fort: (12)+9: 21
<OOC> Bolide says, "OMG! OMG! MEL! You broke free!"
<OOC> Mel falls over in surprise.
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d8+6: (8)+6: 14
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d8+6: (7)+6: 13
<OOC> Kira says, "We're grappled."
<OOC> Bolide says, "Okay, so -4 to dex, so your AC would be 20. 18 < 20. So you're good!"
It's as Kira starts to pull Mel back that things suddenly change. The pipes shift, the music changes and three massive spiders burst free from under the sand and start changing toward the adventurers. One of them tries to bite Kira, missing. The next bites at Mel, forcing him to break free of the attraction to that song - only to find himself parlyzed. The last one lunges at Silmeria, its fangs sinking in and delivering the venom but thankfully she shrugs off the effects.
That noise of buzzing grows louder and you all can see it now, the swarm of insects coming in from downwind, two large swamrs of them heading in your direction.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 21.
It is now Buzzing's turn! Silmeria is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 14.
It is now Silmeria's turn! Charlotte is next!
<OOC> Charlotte says, "aw shit."
<OOC> Charlotte has nothing vs swarms.
<OOC> Silmeria look look look.
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Hmn. Are the 'pipes' metal or fleshy?"
<OOC> Bolide says, "They're bone."
<OOC> Bolide says, "They protrude from the spiders."
<OOC> Silmeria derps, missed that last scenepose. x.x
<OOC> Silmeria says, "So shooting the spider on me."
<OOC> Bolide says, "It's okay! I didn't specifically spell that out."
<OOC> Silmeria also notes, Judgment of Resiliency gives me DR 2/magic
GAME: Silmeria rolls ranged+1+2: (14)+9+1+2: 26
<OOC> Bolide says, "Hit!"
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Also arghstupid."
GAME: Silmeria rolls 1d8+1: (1)+1: 2
<OOC> Silmeria says, "So *next* turn I'll activate Bane (vermin) XD"
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 9.
It is now Charlotte's turn! Kira is next!
<OOC> Charlotte says, "I'm assuming Sil stepped back from the spider.."
<OOC> Silmeria says, "Suresure."
<OOC> Charlotte says, "so I 5' step in front of her and attack."
<OOC> Bolide says, "Roll it!"
GAME: Charlotte rolls weapon1: (5)+12: 17
<OOC> Bolide says, "Hit!"
The sudden emergence of the spiders catches SIlmeria's attention... doubly so, when one sinks its fangs into her arm. With a startled cry, she tilts her gun up and fires, bullet grazing its abdomen as she takes a hurried step back, shaking he<OOC> Bolide is paging you information. Pose a little. :3
<OOC> Bolide has pages, I should say.
<OOC> Bolide says, "We're just wrapping up."
Kira isn't a big fan of bugs, but doesn't hate them. Still, picking them off of herself isn't any fun. Making sure they don't race back onto her or anyone else after that means she's backpedaling around, leaving a trail of beetles as she goes.
Mel is more than willing to squish the bugs, once they're off his body. This is taking a lot of work with a dagger, though he'll heat up a small cookfire and head up the dagger, so maybe that will help.
<OOC> Bolide says, "Charlotte takes your support, Suk,"
GAME: Bolide makes Charlotte roll Survival:(8)+2: 10
<OOC> Silmeria nodnod.
<OOC> Bolide says, "Roll it Sil. :D"
GAME: Silmeria rolls survival: (11)+10: 21
<OOC> Charlotte says, "I rolled it earlier, Bolide"
<OOC> Bolide says, "Yus, but this is a new round of it. :3"
<OOC> Bolide says, "Okay, Mel, Kira, Charlotte. Kira still needs 2 more. Charlotte and Mel are down to 1."
GAME: Mel rolls survival: (20)+3: 23
GAME: Charlotte rolls survival: (6)+2: 8
<OOC> Charlotte XD
GAME: Silmeria rolls survival: (5)+10: 15
Mel pants tiredly as his frantic work finally gets all the bugs free. He will then help the others if they need.
<OOC> Bolide says, "Kira?"
GAME: Kira rolls survival: (8)+5: 13
GAME: Kira rolls survival: (13)+5: 18
<OOC> Kira says, "Sorry!"
Kira doesn't have a knife, much less a heated one. And she isn't trying to crush any of the beetles. This means she's pulling them off carefully, and they're latching on when she does. So they wind up taking alot of Kira in their pincers with them as they go.
Charlotte grumbles as the last beetle comes off. "Blasted bugs....." She squishes this one too.
And when the last of the bugs are cast aside, Silmeria draws in a deep breath. "Grey Lady, thank You for turning Your eye aside from us this day." And on her words, a gentle wash of light rolls away from her like a cool breath, soothing hurts and turning open wounds sluggish.
<OOC> Silmeria channels!
GAME: Silmeria rolls 1d6: (5): 5
<OOC> Bolide says, "Okay, gimme about 5 minutes, doing a final pose for this part."
The beetles finally yanked free you all get back on your camels and continue off toward the plateaus. It takes you the rest of the day to get there, but you do and you camp at the foot of them in relative safety. Talk about a long day.
With some measure of success you get a fire going, food, the guide even made sure that you all stopped at the nearest water supply for the evening. Sure, that might mean you have to contend with some bugs throughout the night, but water is there and - let's face it - at least they aren't those beetles.
Or so you think until Silmeria sees one land on her arm. Where it came from is anyone's guess. Do they live at this oasis or maybe it just stowed away for the camel ride?
It buzzes and turns about on her arm. Emerald green carapace shining in the firelight.
Silmeria lifts her arm, tilting her head to one side as she peers through her spectacles at the beetle on her arm. "...Hello, you? I'm going to hope very hard that you're not one of the beetles we had to contend with earlier today..."
Charlotte looks over at Silmeria.....and draws a dagger, before handing it to Silmeria. "If you need it."