PBEM - Episode 274. Wandering Heroes

TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR

(I/C)

“So, Scriptorium or Butcher’s now?” Wyn asked.

Brendon held up his worn towel. “I’d like to clean this if that’s ok, first.”

“And I wouldn’t mind warming up,” Kovid added.

“I agree, that pool was cold and yucky,” the Scout added. “Let me just wash out my towel for a minute, I can hang it to dry wherever we decide to sleep. THEN, we can go off to the Scriptorium.”

The dwarf continued, “We know it’s pretty quiet down here, other than the woman that ran away.... Think she’s bringing reinforcements? Otherwise we can continue the search for Big Brain Lannis. Maybe he went to The Butcher’s after all.”

Abraxas crossed his arms. “We should find our missing chiquita antes we warm ourselves.”

“Let’s keep searching,” Lyra sighed, giving a little shiver. “We should check both the Butchers and the Scriptorium. I’m fine with drying often after we find him. There’s that... changing room in that area too. He might be hiding in there or something.”

“Eh, it makes more sense to check el Carcinera's.” Abraxas smirked, “After all, there is a bed there que Señor Le'snake can hide under. Plus hay es un puerto with a lock on it. Also comida. Makes the most sense for anyone of us to go to. Scriptamemorium y el Classroom have no real value as Hidey holes, do they?”

“You got a point,” Kovid grunted, “Maybe he went to The Butcher’s after all.”

“Si! It’s estupido to not go there and go to the Scarabinostrum. No food, no obvious place to hide, no locks on the door. Seems a bad place to hide to me. Wouldn't having a Cerebro Grande mean he would know the best place to hide? Seems like El Carcinera's would be that place. I agree con Señor Koalavid."

Wyn nodded, “Put away your towel, Monsiuer Du Lac, for now, and we’ll go look for de wizarding wonder. We have to walk passed the Scriptorium to get to the Butchers’ room. We can cover both in de next 20 minutes. Scriptorium first. Allons-y.”

Leaving the area around the Ishtari Baths behind, the party continued walking through the Catacombs and past the long dead ape and stirges who had gotten rather rank and rotting. “Remember when Big Brain hid in the closet,” Kovid chuckled, “Damn, that feels like 7 months ago.”

“Try 6 days,” Brendon scoffed. “Has anyone noticed how relaxing it is now. Even though we’re being hunted it’s still peaceful. There’s no.... annoying...”

“I hear dat,” Wyn agreed. “But we still gotta find him.”

“If we can’t, can we burn his hat?”

“I’ll bring the marshmallows,” Lyra suggested.

The group walked on in silence to the stairs going up where Kovid sighed, “Big Brain would have had a fat joke after that comment, Lass.”

“I know,” the Cleric frowned, “I noticed that. I miss the scrawny pervert in some way, you know?”

“Let’s go find him and make sure he is bueno!”

The door at the top of the stairs was closed and after the Scout checked it out (no roll needed), he led the party through and then the group continued on their way up the Barracks’ Hallway, the second stairs, and eventually the corner. Listening and peering around with care (WMC: Red/Black 5 – no), Brendon assured the group the coast was clear and the party continued on their way down the Main Hall.

The “T” where the Orcs had been working earlier and ran off was still unmanned, the brutes still gone. They continued on passing the open door to the Classroom and peering in as they made their way to the next North Hall. The room had been hit with a firebomb, everything was burned and smashed, and the opposite door running north was also ajar. (Lannis: >Hear Noise, Pink 11 – no) Not wanting to tarry, the party stayed silent and continued on.

As the next hall they checked it out (no roll needed) and Brendon led the group to the Scriptorium, pushing the door the rest of the way open. Like the Classroom, the chamber had been burned and burned horribly. In addition, the long dormant trap had been sprung in the oil fire blast and the far eastern end of the room about 5’ out from the wall was sitting at a 30 degree angle towards the blasted wall. The room stunk to hell of burnt oil and it was obvious from all the soot coating everything that Lannis was not in here.

But, Kovid and Brendon did note that there was half a horse statue, relatively clean and broken along the mid section of its body, tossed in the center of the chamber. “What the hell is that doing there?” Kovid muttered.

And the group almost jumped when Lannis’ head covered in patchy soot and filth floated up from the open gulf on the far end of the room and the Magic User asked, “Do you have my hat?”

“Thor’s Drunken Fuckfest!” Kovid swore, stepping in with Brendon. “You scared us Big Brain!”

“Eet is good to see you, Monsieur!” Wyn said, following the other two into the room but staying on the safe side of the chamber. “Dat is very disconcerting.”

“Senor, how are you floating there?”

Lannis reached out and grabbed the end of the floor, pulling himself closer and then levitating out of the oil pit. “Spell. I was desperate.”

“So, you figured you’d hide in the middle of a burned out oil pit,” Lyra asked condescendingly.

"If it means anything to you, I was hiding from Hoots and some kind of patrol, and I wasn't exactly going to go wandering off alone looking for you guys."

The party had the chance to look him over. He was filthy with smeared soot and oily greasy residue from his hair down to his feet. His face had a massive welt on the side of his head and had left a bloody crusty trail down to his chin. He seemed tired and his eyes were red and bloodshot, and there was a weariness about him that wasn’t there earlier.

“So why’d you run,” Brendon asked, making sure the door was closed behind us while Wyn and Kovid had the wizard finally standing upright on the safe section of the Scriptorium. “Could have used you. Li’l Man almost died.” He pointed to Lyra. “And she swallowed enough water to float a small schooner.”

"It was a fear spell,” he replied, tilting his waterskin back and taking a long swallow.

“I suspected dat had happened,” Wyn nodded.

Lannis shrugged, “It’s not like I had a choice, not like you guys probably didn’t just assume the worst of me."

“No, we did,” Kovid replied. “So where’s the Owlbear. And here is where you ended up? No place closer or safer?”

"You wouldn't believe me anyway, just go ahead thinking I just ran off to hide in a corner somewhere, that's what Lannis would do.” He crossed his arms and pouted, “Jerks."

“Glad to see he’s back to his normal self,” Brendon shook his head. “Seriously. Hoots? We heard him earlier. Is he close? Where is safe to hide. What can you tell us?”

Throwing his hands up, he barked, “Fine! The spell made me run and I fell down some stairs.”

“Looks like it,” Lyra commented.

“Thankfully I don't think I got a uh...uhm...got aaaaaa. Whatever. I knocked myself out, don’t know how longCONCUSSION!” He exclaimed, looking pleased with himself. “When I came to, I heard a patrol coming up behind me, and when I ran I found Hoots. Used Hoots to drive away the patrol and hid in the pit. There I waited for you and given how long I floated there like a demented balloon, I'm not convinced you actually went looking for me right away.”

“Of course we did, Big Brain!” Kovid assured him. “But this was the third place we looked at.”

“And I have some coins for you, Monsieur,” Wyn remembered, handing Lannis 11 silver and 5 copper. “Your share of de monies we found.”

“Ah! Great! I can retire and leave this glamorous life then,” He took the 16 coins and pocketed them. “So, where are we heading off to because I am the filthier than the underside of Kovid’s beard right now.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at Lyra, “And Horse. Heal me,” he ordered, pointing at his bruised and bloodied face.

Time now is Day 7, 5:02 PM

(OOC)

Kovid, lantern is almost empty. Lannis you have 55 Levitating Minutes left if there is something you want to check out. Party is standing in the Scriptorium, door closed. What’s the plan?

PBEM - Episode 273. Wandering Heroes

TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE

(I/C)

“We shouldn’t let whoever that was get away,” Kovid said, jogging forward.

Brendon checked the nock of his arrow, stepping in time with the dwarf. “Let’s step it up kids, we don’t need Corfard getting a report about us. Who knows with the shield down it might be allies.”

As the party was running in pursuit, Wyn hissed, “Wait! Let’s hide de lantern, just to check for infravision to make sure we aren’t running into nudder ambush.”

“Good idea, Elf-friend.” Kovid stopped by an outcropping of stone and covered the lantern there, muting its light while Wyn stepped ahead a few paces, his infravision flaring to light.

He studied the corridor, seeing one set of heat tracks, spaced pretty far apart for the stride, moving south and nothing hiding nearby. Abraxas leaned towards Lyra and whispered loudly, "Was that Señor La'hanukkahs?”

“Don’t think so,” she replied much softer. “Was a woman I was told.”

“So? It could still be him.” He gave a firm nod. “We should find him.”

“We’re working on it, Abraxas,” she reassured him. “This is no place for someone with a mouth as big as his to be wandering around alone.”

Wyn waved the group forward and they jogged down the hall, weapons out and eyes peeled. At the top of the stairs he motioned for the dwarf to hang back again and once more, used his infravsion to see if the flee-er detoured to the baths or not. It seemed that whoever it was made the turn and ran on through the catacombs and to the west. In the silence, Brendon was faintly (=Hear Noise +15%, Red 35) able to make out the sound of a door opening and then closing far ahead of them.

“Whoever dis mystery woman was, she ran off to de west.”

“I think she got away,” the Scout lamented.

“How you know, Du Lac? We can still run after her.”

“There is a door at the other end of the Catacombs and up the stairs, right?”

“Oui.”

“Whoever it was ran out and through it. She’s back in the Castle proper and who knows where .”

“Well that’s just great,” Lyra pouted. “And still no Lannis.”

“We can check the baths,” Kovid shrugged. “I mean we are here.”

“And if Senor Lincoln is not here,” Abraxas asked. “I hope we go on to look for him and not have a siesta.”

Kovid placed one hand on his chest and opened his mouth in shock.  “I would NEVER think of it

Time was passing slowly for the Magic User in his dark hole, floating just above the sooty floor of the pit. As his heart rate came down, he felt unsure of his situation, worried. "At least I can take solace in knowing they're looking for me, they wouldn't let themselves get side tracked," he thought.

The minutes ticked by and he was contemplating maybe floating up to the side of the Scriptorium (time: 2d6: 4+4 = 8 min) when he heard the Owlbear returning from the passage north. It was rambling along, no long seemingly in a rage, and hooting quietly to itself as it made its way back to the Classroom. Once there, it gave a desultory sniff in the room, sneezed in complaint (Sense -6 penalty, Teal 15), and then kept going, shoving its bulk back into the main hall and gave a faint “Grhoo-haa” as it waddled off somewhere else, wandering away.

Time now is Day 7, 4:42 PM

(OOC)

75 minutes of levitate next – Hoots wandering away. Patrol still out there somewhere, and running woman ran away. Party is outside Ishtari Baths, what’s the plan? Quick look within and move on, or something else?

PBEM - Episode 272. Wandering Heroes

TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO

(I/C)

In the Barracks, Brendon stretched, groaning as his many wounds popped and ached. Turning to Lyra he said, “I’d like to hold onto my potion for when the mast snaps in two during a storm. Lass could you call upon Aine to heal me a little?”

Lyra nodded coming forward to check the Scout over. “You’ve had a rough day,” she murmured, laying her hand on his shoulder. “Lady Aine…”

“The sun will come, manana…,” Abraxas sung softly.

“Ahem, Lady Aine. Heal my friend of his wounds please.” (CLW 1d6+1, White 6! – Heal 7, Nice) And most of the aches faded away, the bruises turning yellow and the cuts closed up. “How’s that?”

“Right as rain on a summer’s day,” Brendon smiled. “Thanks lass.”

“It’s all good.” She took a wavering breath and continued, “And Goddess, the same again for please.” (CLW 1d6+1, White 5 – Heal 6 Lyra!) She looked stronger and the last of the water in her lungs gurgled away, her color turning healthy pink once again. “That was needed.” She looked around. “So, we should let the jockey know we were here. Does anyone have chalk? We can go back and write where we found his hat maybe a clue to where we are. Something that no one else would really get. Maybe something like. ‘where Abraxas got snatch’ if we’re going to the Butchers.”

Wyn nodded, “De Butcha’s room seems like de next best place. It be on our Offop List Of Assumed Destinations from before, en we cen listen to de scriptorium door en check dat place out on de way.” He looked at the walls and shrugged. “As for de chalk, I cen not tink of a sign to show Offop a message, unless we write sometin obvious on the wall. But he doesn’t have light, so dat wouldn’t matter anyway.”

Brendon rummaged into his bag and pulled out a piece and a half of thick chalk. “I have chalk if you want me to leave a clue.” He chuckled. “Something with a big head would be my guess.” Addressing the elf, “I would think our next step to find the coward would be downstairs at the Goddess room.”

"Donde es Señor de Majik?” Abraxas asked, shoulders rising and falling. “Hoots esta en el West, so what's in the opposite direction? We should probably go that way. Wherever Hoots es, Señor Lannees most likely no es. Or, el es muerto. Muy muerto. Like the MOST muerto."

“I agree, it sounds like we might run into Hoots that way,” Kovid thrust out his chin, his beard bristling from it. “The Ishtari baths might be able to warm us up, yeah? Maybe we’ll get lucky and find Lannis hiding there.”

There was some back and forth on which was the best course of action to take (Combative CHA checks, swaying the opinion, Abraxas Blue 4 (under 9), Brendon Red 4 (under 9), Wyn Orange 15 (over 4), Kovid Yellow 11 (over 1)) but after some talking, it made the most sense to look at the Grotto area with the Goddesses below. “It’s closer, easier for us to at least take off the list, and honestly, far enough away from where we heard Hoots that we could search without too much of an issue or problem. Once we eliminate it, then the western choices make the most sense.”

The group gathered together as Brendon listened to the door out of the Upper Barracks (no roll needed), assuring the group the way was clear. The stone cabinet the group had put there earlier in the week had been shoved far aside when Corfard’s forces had been searching for the party the other day so there was no longer a reason to go back to the Lower Barracks. The hall was clear and Brendon led the party north to the corner.

Echoing down the hall west of here we could hear the Owlbear roaring as it moved about. There was the occasional smashing sound and maybe the resounding blow of a door being flung open, but the Owlbear was focusing its attention that way. “Kill a Robert for us, Hoots,” Abraxas whispered.

After making sure the door was not disturbed or trapped, the Scout opened it up and we proceeded down the long steps to the Grotto of the Goddesses below. The stonework became cruder the lower the party went until they finally made it to the floor and Brendon led us carefully to the larger chamber.

(WMC: Red/Black 1. What? White 2. Morale: 6+5 – Run)

We distinctly heard, “Shit!” whispered in the room and then the sound of soft running feet racing away to the south.

“Who’s there?” Brendon asked, sniffing. “That wasn’t Lannis, was it?”

Kovid shook his head. “Not unless he had his balls cut off. That was a woman’s voice.”

Wyn pulled out an arrow. “We give chase or not or somtin’ else?”

Meanwhile Lannis was floating sadly in the pit. He felt around his backpack until he came up the wooden horse carving within. Floating toward the wall, he felt around until he found an area with a sharp enough edge and smashed the horse statue against it a few times until it broke in two. Concentrating, he floated up to the top and threw one end into the Classroom pretty far, and the other end into the Scriptorium past the tilted floor. He could hear the Owlbear in the distance, still roaring and howling and it made him shudder. "They are looking for me right? What if they're all dead? Maybe Corfard is looking for another mage."

He settled back down towards the bottom of the pit (Owlbear tracking: <Green 5) when from outside he could hear something heavy coming up at a fast run and them SMASH the classroom door open. “HRRROOOOOO-HAAAA!!!” it roared, shaking the walls and making Lannis hold his hands over his ears. Hoots stomped into the room, sniffing about and then proceeded to sneeze and howl and stomp its feet, the crazed ursine choking on the foul stink of the burnt chamber.

Meanwhile Lannis made it his business to say NOTHING, holding his hands over his robe, held over his mouth and nose, muffling and quelling any sound he might make. Hoots stormed into the hall and Lannis could hear it pacing and growling. And then it CHARGED back in, slamming the door open with a mighty reverberation (Owlbear tracking in chamber (-6 penalty), Teal 17), gave another ear splitting, “HROOOOO-HAAAAA!” screech and then HIT the north door of the chamber, scrabbling at the knob and handle until it opened and he FLUNG it into the wall and stalked down the hall at a loping jog, roaring in glee as it continued its search further north in the Castle.

Lannis, feeling faint, flush, and anxious, closed his eyes in the dark and tried to control his racing heart. “I hate, hate, hate the fuck out of this place,” the thought, blood racing through his veins and heart beating wildly.

Time now is Day 7, 4:32 PM

(OOC)

Ok! Hoots is running north, sort of tracked your smell to here but then lost you, so is guessing you went that way. Rest of the group is at the north end of the Grotto, and whatever you heard running , ran south. Never saw anything and only caught the brief curse and sound of rapid steps going away. What’s the deal?

PBEM - Episode 271. Wandering Heroes

I had to actually call the player running Lannis when I rolled the wandering monster again - and got the Owlbear. So a patrol of Hobgoblins walking behind him and Hoots ahead of him - he had to figure out a way to thread the needle and get the hell out of dodge.

Follows:

TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE

(I/C)

Picking up one of the healing potions and the potion of invisibility, Brendon made sure the group was ok with his choices before putting them in his pouch. “Wyn,” he asked, “If the orcs could detect our heat signature on the floor could you or Lil man do the same for the coward?”

Wyn shrugged, taking the three arrows and getting a nod from the Scout. “Monsieur du Lac, by dis time, after all de searchin, Offop's trail might have literally gone cold.”

“Damn. Alright, we should still go and see where he ran off to and why. I’m sure his excuse will be something like it’s our fault or his nipples were in danger.”

Kovid chuckled, rubbing his arms for warmth. “Well, if infravision is out, and I agree, Wyn, how about you and Brendon, do you think you can track Lannis? We need to get the party back together and then find someplace to warm up.”

Lyra picked up one of the potions and handed it to the dwarf. “Should give one of those potions to Kovid - he gave his to me.” 

“Thanks lass.”

“Any time,” she frowned. “It’s been at least 10 minutes since anyone made a wise crack horse comment or the like.” She took a wavering breath and shuddered. “I know my proposition of resting was denied earlier? How about now? After we find that little snob, of course.”

Abraxas picked up a potion for himself and then a second one, holding it up for the party. "Amigos, gracias por pass out the potions, pero save uno por Señor Lankiss. No sabemos que made him run as he did. Maybe something mucho peligroso chased him. Perhaps he kept Hoots from attacking us from behind. Tenemos a assume he did it con intent bueno. So I say, save him a potion.”

There was some nods and grumbling as the group was about ready to go. Abraxas smile dropped to a more sinister grin as he added, “And if he proves to just be a coward who willingly abandoned us, we can make him choke on it.” He reached down for the silver holy symbol. “I can carry the little dragon, if weight is an issue. Are we all splitting the coins now or when we find Señor Lansteis?”

Wyn gestured to the fighter. “Monsieur Salazar, I agree dat we should save a potion fer de Mouth. But Priestess, Yerself en du Lac look like ye got between a gator wit a toothache en a rabid polecat... mayhaps Priestess cen cast Aine's blessin' upon some of ye en odders should use a potion? Don't wanna run inta Hoots or any odder Hobs in yer shape.”

“As soon as we figure out what and where we are going, I’ll help take care of the healing,” Lyra assured the party.

“Muchos gracias, Lady Lyuria, por your healing touch, I'd be grateful.”

Wyn quickly doled out the silver and copper coins (everyone add 12 silver and 6 copper except Brendon who  takes 5 copper. There is 11 silver and 5 copper for Lannis if/when we find him) “Also, we cen split the coin we found now. I'll hold onto Offop's share till we find em.”

The group back together and ready to move on, Abraxas spun his scythe once and then pointed to the passage out of here. “Vamonos amigos, let's find that Usaro de Majik!"

The party headed off through the silent zone once again until they left the Aquifer and at the stairs were able to hear once more. Brendon led the party up the steps and down the long corridor, the party had their eyes wide and senses sharp. At the second larger set of steps they took them slowly and with care, stopping near the top to see Lannis’ conical wizard’s hat discarded on the floor. Hand up, Brendon stopped to listen (>Hear Noise +15 bonus, Red 79) but shook his head after a moment. “Nothing nearby.” He poked the hat with his sword and then picked it up, looking both north and east from the corner but seeing no other signs or clues.

“Alright. That’s a bit disturbing,” Lyra noted.

“Yeah,” the dwarf grunted, “And when it’s not on his head, makes you wonder how he can get his big brain in such a small hat.”

Wyn frowned, “I don't tink he'd have left his hat if he had his wits about him. He loves that hat almost as much as his mom."

“Whoa,” Brendon held up one hand. “Let’s not make crazy comments like that.”

“I’m sure the gulf between his hat and is mom is a bit larger than you are giving him credit for,” the Cleric chuckled.

The elf was thinking. “Dere were trois adepts, oui?”

“Yep.”

He pointed to the Scout, “We know one tried to blind ye with light and dere is de silence spell, which means de odder salamander probably cast sometin too... now Offop is a frightful little ting, but usually it has to involve himself getting stabbed.”

“What you thinking, Wyn?”

The elf tapped his chin twice and then shrugged with a smile. “Never mind. I got nothing.”

Abraxas sighed. “When I was blinded, I heard the grande pollo, Corfard in my capeza talking. Mayhap that’s what happened to Senor Longitude, make him run and go loco.” He looked around, “Señor Wyngus, which way, you think?

Wyn held up 4 fingers. "Ok, so we got 4 choices for a place he would tink is "safe". Two on where we stayed holed up in de past... De butcher room, de barracks... en two places dat his irrational love for books would make him run to... de hidden room where we found de dwarf's hammer en de scriptorium.”

“Makes sense to me,” the dwarf nodded. “Butcher, Barracks, Grotto, Scriptorium.” He arched one eyebrow. “What’s your gut tell you?”

(Random d4: Orange 2 – Barracks!) “I would say de Barracks would be de most likely place ta go.”

“Why?”

(<Cha check, “making the case”, Orange 3! Boo yah) “It’s not part of the main circle o’ de castle lower floor. We ‘ave de long corridor an de north south run. You can make a case dat dey know about de Butcher an most likely found out we was dere recently so dat would be no go. We ‘eard de explosion o de oil room so dat don’t seem like a good choice ta go at least nearly at first. An de grotto is a good choice to go an look at but we know dat de hobs don’t like dat room an avoid it. But if dey were to go trew dere, dere is no place for Lannis to hide as it’s a big chamber.”

The party mulled it over but decided the Barracks was a good first choice. So they headed east, Brendon asking in a whisper, “What about Hoots? Didn’t he go this way?”

From the back of the party the Fighter nodded, “Si. But that was at lease 20 minute, 30 minutes ago.”

“Should be ok,” Kovid offered. As they came upon the entrance room with the sofa, the dwarf was giving the floor a serious once over (>Half Wisdom, stone tracking issue?, Yellow 19 – no) before announcing, “No signs of scuffing or marks. We should be good to go.”

The party moved on to the north and east passage and took it to the long end where they looked north (WMC: Red/Black 3) and were relieved to see no lights, candles, patrols, or anything else. They walked with care to the mid point of the long hall and gave the western door a once over, before opening it and heading down the short flight to the lower door. After another tense listening they opened it up, saw the corridor was clear north and south, and headed to the Lower Barracks. From somewhere else in the Castle far to the west, they could hear the furious angry bellow of the Owlbear “Hrrroooohaaaa!” which made the group shudder. “Thank Aine we decided to go this way. Not ready to face the Owlbear.” The party nodded in agreement and then moved to the Barracks and looked around.

The room had been ransacked earlier and the elven bodies disturbed. But it didn’t seem like anything else had gone on since. Once inside, Abraxas shut the door behind the party as they crossed the room and the Scout led them up the short stairs there and to the closed door at the Upper Barracks. He opened it and peered within, seeing nothing yet.

The group entered and looked around, seeing no sign of their erstwhile wizard or that he might have been here recently. “Zoot alors!” Wyn pouted.

Meanwhile Lannis opened the door and slipped through, shutting it 95% of the way closed behind him and then took out a torch. “Ohcrapohcrapohcrapohcrapohcrapohcrap,” he thought as he concentrated on one of his cantrips and a Spark blossomed out, igniting the brand in his hand. Able to see finally, he shivered from the cold and turned to the stairs, climbing up them swiftly, head feeling strange without his hat. He glanced to his left at the former kobold warren chamber.

The bottom of the door had been scarred and eaten by the green slime and hung poorly. “If I hide here, no where to run to not a good choice. Move on Lannis,” he admonished himself and stepped into Grilljax’ chamber, faintly hearing the sound of marching feet somewhere far behind him. A look around the ransacked chamber let him know this was not going to work so he went on to the Statue Room with the 2 doors on the eastern wall.

(WMC: White 1 – I fucking laughed at this. What? Red/Black 3 – OWLBEAR! Literally could not stop laughing. Called Dean and discussed what was about to happen – so here we go! Distance: 2d6x10’ = 1+3=40’ away.)

And Lannis could hear “Wrrrhooooo….haaa” coming from what sounded like just on the other side of the northern door. “No, no, no, no, fucking hell what did I ever do to deserve this NO!” he thought with barely controlled panic. He went to turn around to maybe run off to the warren chamber after all when he heard the door at the bottom of the stairs open and goblinoid voices in the distance chatting.

Turning back to the 2 doors, he cracked his knuckles, readied his torch, and opened…the Northernmost door with the Owlbear behind it.

For half a second the two figures stared at each other, the 1,500 lb ursine monstrosity ambling down the hall its fur and feathers covered in gore and blood, and the 150 lb wounded weary and harried mulleted magic user with a single lone torch in his hand. (Owlbear Reaction roll (-2 penalty): 1+2 -2 = 1 Hatred and attack!

“HRROOOOO-HAAAAA!” Hoots roared in anger and CHARGED at Lannis who ran to the south door, tore it open and ran through, turning around and walking backwards as he chanted (BX Baby, backwards walking rapid casting of spell -2, Pink 6 – yeah!) as fast as he could, “IN ARACHNE REIF!!” and the corridor was filled with scores of criss crossing strands of thick sticky webbing.

He had barely three heartbeats to admire his results before the door was torn open and the horror of the rampaging Owlbear shrieked in fury as it tried to force itself through the webs by sheer grit, will, and power. Hearing another scream and then realizing it was coming from himself, Lannis turned and ran into the darkness, his torch trailing sparks behind him as Hoots tried to get through the web and slaughter the fleeing mage.

Lannis couldn’t see it, but the Hobgoblin and Goblin patrol tore up the stairs at the scream of the Owlbear and on seeing the beast ripping and tearing the hell out of the southern corridor for some reason (Reaction check: 6+6 = fuck no!) all stopped, backed up slowly, and shut the door, heading back the way they came, the lead hobgoblin muttering, “I’d say it’s safe to assume the infidels were not in this direction.” The goblins all agreed with him and the group of 13 headed back to the kobold warrens to wait the situation out.

The Magic User had run to the end of the hall and then turned north, seeing the door to the classroom ahead of him. After making sure the hall was clear, he entered the chamber and shut the door behind him. The room was destroyed. Every desk had been consumed by flames, the blackboard was gone, the door on the opposite of the room and this one, the back sides were black and charred. The room smelled horribly of burnt oil. Looking through the pit area, he could see the scriptorium as the bottom 4’ of the opposite room had been blown open, the long dormant and unfired trap had been sprung finally.

Looking into the pit he saw nothing, it was pitch black. Not trusting what time he had left, Lannis flipped open his spellbook and cast a spell from the pages within. The book shuddered and the paper turned to fire and burned away but when it was done, Lannis was floating half an inch from the ground the levitation spell took immediate effect. “Gotta go,” he muttered, hearing Hoots still roaring in the hall. “At least I know they are looking for me,” he sighed, extinguishing his torch and plunging the room to darkness again.

He then pulled himself through the hole and let himself sink down to the floor where the ground was sooty and cruddy. He took some of the soot and did his best to obscure the lighter patches of his clothing and skin until there was no chance anyone even trying to look would see him hovering a foot off the ground and 10’ below them in the foul smelling dark.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “No one is going to believe the day I’ve been having.” He sighed. “Hope they come soon. I think…I think I don’t want to be alone for too long.”

Time now is Day 7, 4:17 PM

(OOC)

Lannis Add 75 xp

Ok! Everyone is at the same time stamp. What now? Lannis – 100 minutes to go on levitate.

PBEM - Episode 270. Wandering Heroes

At this point the groups were not together, Lannis was lost in the halls, and although we were all in Discord and email together, I didn't want them to just bee-line to the Magic User and pick him up. So they had to come up with a valid plan and allow some randomness to figure in to it. And Lannis had to stay away and alive and yet still try to find the party.

Follows:

TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY

(I/C)

Holding one hand to his ear as if trying to understand what the Salamander was saying, Wyn gave an inquisitive look at Brendon who was digging through his pack for the manacles he had picked up. Not getting an immediate answer, he smiled down at the Adept and then ran his sword forward (>+2 to hit, +2 prone, Orange 18) straight through the amphibian and to the stone floor below (1d8+1 damage, Orange 4 – 5 Damage and killed!). He watched as it squirmed and grasped at his legs, clawing at his pants before gasping silently and then dying.

Seeing Brendon staring at him, he looked back and forth from the dead Adept and them burst out in silent laughter, wondering why the Scout looked disgusted and walked away, dropping the chains to the floor. Still chuckling, Wyn began searching the closest Adept’s clothes and belongings.

Brendon looked into the pool at the dead Adept down there, uncoiled his rope and held one end, looking to attach the other somewhere when he noticed Abraxas had washed most of the hobgoblin’s blood off his face from his skin. When the fighter went to bend down and fill it again from the spoiled pool, Brendon stepped up and waved he hands about, shaking his head, “NO!” Abraxas looked at him and made a mad face, pointing at his skin when the Scout pointed at the dead salamander in the pool and mimed drinking, then bending over choking and spitting. Abraxas furrowed his brow and then nodded, giving the thumbs up.

The scout handed him the free end of the rope, held the other end, and then dived once again into the cold water, swimming down with powerful strokes to the sunken Adept. Once there he wrapped the rope around it once and then swam back up, salamander in his arms as he surfaced again, motioning the fighter to help him drag the body out, before rolling up to the stone ledge again and shaking the worst of the water off his body.

Everyone continued to look around the 2 hobgoblins and three adepts, Lyra and Kovid sharing a towel as dried their faces and arms, but the 3 party members were pretty cold and Lyra’s movements were lethargic and spastic at best. At the end of it all, when they were searching the last adept furthest north, the group was satisfied to find the edge of the spell as Abraxas’ voice rang out VERY loud, ¿Donde Señor Lamppiss?!” Surprised at that, he motioned the group up to where he was standing and they all gathered up there along with everything they had found so far.

“Thor’s Balls, we need to find a place to get warm,” Kovid exclaimed. “Maybe the frog-man has some suggestions?”

Wyn laughed, “He’s not so adept anymore, mon ami.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It means he stabbed him,” Brendon offered with a small frown. “I had manacles in my hands and everything.”

“True, true,” the elf said, “and I had a sword in my ‘and an’ ever’ting as well. So it’s all good. Besides, ‘e was a Corfard zealot an dat worm dunt need to know bout where we are or what we doin’ yet. So I solved de problem.”

“Whatever. We got hosed on this ambush,” Lyra sighed, still looking pale and poorly. “Where’s Lannis? Did he just ditch us? What a piece of shit.”

“He ran north at the start of the battle,” Abraxas shrugged. “Was screaming como una nina.”

“Yeah, wasn’t very cool,” Brendon shook his head frowning. “I tried to grab for him but he lifted his skirt and ran.”

The Cleric shook her head. “Great. Damned coward. Did he bring a light?” The fighter and scout shook their head and shrugged. She gave an exasperated scowl and suggested, “Maybe a few of us should go peek down the hall and see if he’s outside dead somewhere.”

“Oui. Dat is a good idea,” Wyn pointed to the gathered goods. “We did manage to do pretty well. Dere was 71 silver, 34 copper, dis silver holy symbol dat looks like a dragon, 4 healing potions…”

“They ended up drinking 2 of them, otherwise there’d be six. And that trinket could fetch 75 gold crowns back in Specularum when we get there.” Brendon noted.

“Oui. Dere was also a potion of invisibility and according to Monsieur Du Lac, we managed to save Trois Arrows.” He looked around. “Let’s divide up de stuff and I know de trios of you are cold and tired, but we should find Monsieur Offop afore de putain Roberts or worse do.”

Meanwhile, Lannis rolled to his side and groaned, opening his eyes and looking around, seeing nothing but darkness all about, the air cold, his forehead tight and blood trickling down his face. “What was I hearing,” he muttered, pushing himself upright. There were ghostly voices in his head, sounding like himself and yet not. He pushed himself against the wall and stood on shaking legs until the feeling of vertigo faded. “Now,” he muttered, “Where the fuck am I?”

As he was looking about, trying to make sense of where he was in relation to where the group might be (WMC: Red/Black 2 – Patrol.), he picked up the sound of marching feet coming from (1-3 north, 4-6 south: White 4 – South) up the stairs, and approaching with a measured cadence of rigid militarized walking. “Fuck,” he cursed, “Hobgoblins.” (2d6+2x10 feet away: 100’)

Taking no time to think about it, he pushed himself away from the wall and run off to the north, hands outstretched until he encountered the opposite wall. He felt around quick and realized he had no option but to go to his left, so he turned and ran off (Move silently, Pink 16 – no), feet slapping at the floor, grunting each time he stumbled, and cursing as he dinged the walls again and again. He jogged in the pitch black for some time until he came upon something wood closed and barring his way. He fumbled around trying to find the knob, gripping finally as he picked up the echoing sounds far behind him of over a dozen booted feet marching down the distant stairs behind him.

“If I get out of this bullshit,” he thought to himself, struggling to open the door, “I’m going to pay more attention to how Brendon walks so damned fucking quietly all the fucking time.”

Time now is Day 7, 3:57 PM 

(OOC)

XP: Monsters: Adepts 3 @ 85 per divided.

Hobgoblin Elite Warriors 2 @ 120 per divided.

Treasure xp: 82 xp divided

Kovid – add 125

Lyra – add 135

Abraxas – add 145

Wyn and Brendon – add 155

Ok, who is taking what, and what is the plan? Lannis, what’s your end goal to try to reach?

PBEM - Episode 269. Ambush

TWO HUNDRED SIXTY NINE

(I/C)

Wyn skittered to his feet, drew his broad sword and with his off hand, slid his shield down his arm as he ran to the pool’s edge just at the Adept was lifting himself free and THRUST (>+2 to hit, Orange 2), forcing the Adept to dodge to the side, but the reptilian was too fast and kept away from the elf and his waving blade.

Brendon refused to move, holding the space in front of the door, eyes dancing back and forth across the battlefield. Lyra, unable to get to her pack and weapons at this time, did let her sling drop off her wrist to her hand, loaded up a stone, and let it soar at the orange haired hobgoblin struggling with the Fighter (<+3 to hit, -1 cold, White 7), the stone bouncing off at a poor angle and dropping into the water.

Abraxas, running off his own high with his protracted battle with the Hobgoblin, was spitting and cursing silently as he thrust around and around, finding the odd weak spot in the brute’s armor and sinking the stone weapon in again and again in various places (=+5 to hit, Blue 10), drawing blood and making his foe shake from the impacts (1d4+2 Damage: Blue 1 – 3 Damage!) but he still refused to die! Finally Kovid, exhausted and freezing, drew his own dagger, pushed himself to his feet, staggered over, and raised is high (>+4 to hit, -1 cold, Yellow 17) and plunged it down at the base of the Hobgoblin’s skull just under the helmet (1d4+1 Damage: Yellow 3 – 4 Damage and killed!!) and ended his life with an abrupt finality.

The Adept, hoping to get past the elf, ducked down under the water and then shot up a few feet to the side, hit the landing, and tried to make a run for the door (Combative Dex check: Wyn Orange 9 (Under 8) vs Adept White 8 (under 2)) but was blocked by the elf and his sword and shield. Silently snarling, he pulled his arm back, talons showing, and SLASHED as hard as he could for the elf’s face (<+0 to hit, -2 too many things in a round, White 1 – Fumble! Higher is worse: d6: White 6 – poor bastard). But he was blocked by Wyn’s sword, and pierced his own hand for his efforts (take 1 pt damage), and while he drew back, the elf face slammed him with his shield, stunning him (stunned 1 round) and then a trip had him on his face on the floor at Brendon and Wyn’s feet.

(Morale check: 6+4=10, Failed). Seeing the futility of it all, the Adept drew a ragged breath and let it out slowly, raising its hands up in a gesture of surrender.

Time now is Day 7, 3:47 PM

(OOC)

Lannis 8 minutes to go. I’ll do XP next post assuming you guys check over the bodies and go back in the water for the dead Adept down there. For those suffering from the cold – you will need 1 hour of WARMTH rest or 8 hours of sleep to get rid of the -1. Lyra, you have -4 on everything for the next 27 minutes from almost drowning and THEN you have the -1 with the same rules as above. Silence spell is still on for the next 113 minutes! Haha, holy shit.

PBEM - Episode 268. Ambush

TWO HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT

(I/C)

Seeing the Salamander out of the corner of his eye swim across the pool, Brendon shook his head and (Combative Dex Check: Brendon -1 cold Red 13 (Under 2) vs Hobgoblin Green 17 (over 7)) rolled forward over the brute fighting with Abraxas, hit the ground on the other side and skipped/slid forward, hand snagging his bow as he ran. He nocked an arrow and fired (<+6 to hit, -4 cover, -1 cold, Red 10), the arrow missing the partially submerged Adept by a few inches. He stood there, lowering his bow and drawing his sword and dagger with numb and freezing hands, giving the salamander a feral grin.

Meanwhile Wyn muttered something silently and turned, tracing the Adept in the water and let his shaft fly (>+5 to hit, -4 cover, Orange 16) winging it as it tried to evade in the pool (1d6 Damage: Orange 2 – 2 Damage!). He then ran back and made the attempt to vault over the 2 fighters (>BX Baby -2 Dex, Orange18) but got tangled up and (Combative Dex check: Wyn White 15 (Under 2) vs Hobgoblin Black 6 (Under 4)) in the combat and found his ankle grabbed, dumping him on his ass for his efforts (no damage, just stopped @ the combat).

Kovid leaned forward and wrapped his shaking arms around the freezing Lyra, the cleric returning the embrace, the both of them PULLING and straining (Str check: Kovid -1 cold <Yellow 13..Lyra -1 cold <White 4 – both success – needed either one), the cleric rising out of the water and falling onto the hard stones next to the dwarf. Both of them had pale skin, blue tinged lips, and were unable to get warm. Kovid handed her his lone potion of Extra Healing and she drank it down greedily (Heal 2d6: 4+4 – Heal 8!), shuddering as her lungs squeezed the last of the water from deep within, rivulets running out of her nose and down her chin amidst silent sputtering.

Lastly Abraxas dropped his hilt, drew his last stone dagger and made sure that (Combative Str check: Abraxas Blue 8 (Under 8) vs Hobgoblin Green 12 (Under 1)) he controlled the grapple and command of the battle, not letting the brute the chance to break free as he made to shove the dagger into the hobgoblin’s kidneys (<+5 to hit, -4 Dam Defl, Blue 4), but managed to hit armor and chain instead of flesh.

(Initiative 6 vs 6, reroll. Party Steel 4 vs Enemy Red/Black 3)

Time now is Day 7, 3:46 PM

(OOC)

Luck on the Init! Brendon you are blocking the stairs about 8 or so feet away from the edge of the pool and the Adept, sword and dagger out. Wyn, you are at the combat but able to move on or shoot from there if you want. Lyra and Kovid you are both out finally. Abraxas, YEAHH!!! Lannis – you are out for 9 more minutes – Next WMC for you is coming… Top of the round, you go!

PBEM - Episode 267. Ambush

The last Adept was on the wrong side of the room and made a break for it, right after the Elf Jackie Channed over the melee to get close enough. Salamander can swim too. Lol

Follows:

TWO HUNDRED SIXTY SEVEN

(I/C)

Wanting to get to the last Adept, Wyn took aim across the chamber and fired at the distant Salamander (>+5 to hit, Orange 18 – you’ve been nailing pretty much every shot), another elven shaft hitting the Amphibian (1d6 Damage, Orange 6 – takes 6 damage) high in the chest, making it hiss and stagger back. Then seeing the party trying to get out of the pool and the tussling Abraxas and Hobgoblin taking up most of the available area, Wyn slung his bow across his back and (<Dex BX Baby -2 Legolas vaulting, Orange 5 – yes!) ran down the stone path, stepped briefly on the brute and threw himself forward and up (<Dex check, Orange 7), avoiding being grabbed and getting closer to the adept who was ripping the arrow out of its chest.

Abraxas though was getting furious with the Warrior on top of him. The two of them continued to grapple (Combative Str check: Abraxas Blue 2 (under 15) vs Hobgoblin Black 7 (under 6)) with the Fighter forcing the Hobgoblin CLOSER to his body by wrapping his legs around the bastard and pulling him tight to his chest, restricting the use of the hob’s left arm. With his other hand, he fumbled at his belt, drew out one of the stone tipped daggers and STABBED (>+5 to hit, Blue 20 – Critical! Max Damage 4+2= 6 Damage!) the hobgoblin deep in its side. It thrashed and twisted and tried to free itself, but Abraxas continued to stab at the hob, unaware that he had left 8” of stone blade inside the warrior’s flank (Critical or fumble with a stone weapon breaks it), but continued to beat the hell out of him with the stone hilt.

Brendon towed Kovid and Lyra to the wall and then (<Str check, +2 pirate, -1 cold: Red 1 – perfect) grabbed the shore, kicked once, and vaulted out of the water silently. He looked at Kovid and pointed to Lyra, the dwarf nodding wearily in recognition, and then readied his sword and stepped swiftly to Abraxas and the Hobgoblin.

The dwarf made sure Lyra had a grip on the stone and then pulled himself up (<Str check -1 cold, Yellow 7), rolling to his back and shivering and gasping for breath. The cleric though (>Str check, -4 drowning, White 15) just didn’t have the strength to pull herself out and feebly kicked at the water, her arms shaking with exhaustion and building numbness, still snotting and vomiting water from her tortured lungs.

The Scout through (<Hide, Red 05) stayed in the Hobgoblin’s blind spot and with the silence spell making his approach unnoticed, came right up to the fight and then while Abraxas was struggling with the brute, leapt on the Hobgoblin’s back and shoved his short sword (>+3 to hit, +4 surprise BS, -1 cold, Red 10) between the bastard’s shoulders and grabbed at its hair, yanking his head back as well (1d6 Damage: Red 5 x 2 = 10 Damage!). The hob was bleeding badly from its side and now blood was coursing down its back and spine as well.

Kovid was originally taking out a healing potion but seeing Lyra feebly kicking the water, changed his tactics and reached down to help drag her out of the pool (>Str check, -1 cold, -2 Lyra failed, Yellow 13) but couldn’t get her more than her head and one arm up on the shore, both of them struggling to get out but failing.

(Initiative: Party Steel 2 vs Enemy Red/Black 4)

The Adept, seeing Wyn getting closer and the darkness of the cave behind it with no way out, popped a potion from inside it’s robe pocket, drank it down (Healing Potion: 1d6: White 5 – heal 5), and then RAN…for the pool! It dove it and hit the water with a silent splash, swimming strongly through the pool faster than it could move on land, as Wyn watched cursing silently as it made its way to the south end of the pool and readied itself to pull free. And with a clear shot for the door and escape!

Meanwhile the Hobgoblin, grappled tight and unable to get to its own belt for a potion, fumbled about the floor trying to find anything it could use as a weapon (D6 – higher is better – Red/Black 5! – its own dropped short sword!), its fingers grabbing the hilt of his own weapon. Snarling and spitting, cursing silently as the Fighter and Hobgoblin struggled with each other and Brendon was on its back stabbing again and again, the Warrior lifted his arm high and to the side and then STABBED at the Fighter (>+3 to hit, Black 15), making Abraxas shudder from the impact of the Hobgoblin’s blade sinking through his armor and along the side of his ribs (1d6+1 Damage: Yellow 6 – 7 Damage. Damage Deflection: >Str check Blue/Purple 20 – failed! Take full 7 damage!! -4 to hit next attack).

Time is now Day 7, 3:45 PM

(OOC)

Lyra still in pool, Adept swam across pool to other side. Brendon, Hob, Abraxas all fighting. Lannis unconscious 10 more minutes. Also, because of the Silence spell, I have made NO WMC during this combat at this time – since there is no noise to attract anyone. Bottom of the round – what’s the plan?

PBEM - Episode 266. Ambush

TWO HUNDRED SIXTY SIX

(I/C)

Fighting in the eerie silence, Wyn Took out a regular arrow and fired it at the wounded Adept (>+5 to hit, Orange 13), the shaft blossoming in the salamander’s chest (1d6 Damage: Orange 5 and killed!) before pitching it backwards, buried deep, its arms and legs folding bonelessly beneath it. The last Salamander snarled at the Elf, sling held in its shaking hands.

Abraxas meanwhile shifted his legs beneath him and tried to (>Str check BX Baby -2, Blue 18 – no!) flip the brute on top of him over his head and into the pool! However the oil was too slick and his angle was poor (<To hit +5, -2 penalty slippery, Blue 5) and although he kneed the Hobgoblin in the shin, he did not have the angle to lift his attacker. He continued to scrabble about hoping to find some purchase as his head and one shoulder hung dangerously over the edge of the pool.

Meanwhile from below, their lungs burning and still fighting against the watery attacker, Lyra and Kovid changed their tactics, grabbing at the Adept to help hold it in place to make Brendon’s job easier to attack it. The Cleric (>+0 to hit grapple, White 16 – yes!) pulled herself hand over hand, wrapping her arms and legs around the salamander from behind. But the dwarf (<+4 to hit grapple, Yellow 3) had no such luck and instead the Adept had one hand wrapped around the dwarf’s beard, clawed fingers dancing near his throat!

The opportunity was enough for Brendon though to line up a solid thrust (=+3 to hit, -4 penalty underwater fighting, +2 pirate, +2 partial held by Lyra, Red 12) that slipped under the Salamander’s chest and plunged into its lungs (1d6 Damage, Red 6 and killed!) making it cease floundering about, the water staining red with its blood. With seconds left, Brendon placed his hands under both his companions feet and SHOVED them upward as hard as he could while the two of them scrambled to make it to the surface in time! Kovid (=Str check +4 bonus, -11 weight penalty, Yellow 8) broke the surface and took a massive spluttering gasp of air. But Lyra (>Str check +4 bonus, -2 weight penalty, White 14) did NOT surface quick enough and drew a lungful of water, her eyes wide with terror (>Save vs Death Ray: White 17 – NOT dead!) as she felt herself drowning, but at the last moment, broke enough of the water to get a partial amount of air (Lyra – saved so drops to 1 hp, not 0), weakly keeping her face above water long enough to vomit water and choke and cough from her near death experience (Lyra – all rolls checks @ -4 for 30 minutes, move half speed no running). Kovid grabbed her arm helping to keep her face up and then Brendon surfaced, looking worried at her condition.

Somewhere in the Ispan’s castle, Lannis continued his running but as he went, his feet failed to hit the ground, instead dropping almost 2 feet as he stumbled upon a set of stairs (>Dex check -4 penalty dark and running, Pink 14 – no!) and fell head over ass, rolling down the steps (1d4 damage: Pink 1 – Take 1 Damage!), banging his head repeatedly as he fell down. At one point his head cracked hard against the stone and he felt blood splash across his face (<Con check: Pink 10 – failed) just before he SLAMMED down hard, saw stars, and passed out unconscious and bleeding in the dark at the base of some steps lost in the Castle and alone (unconscious 6+d6 rounds: Pink 5 – 11 rounds!)

The last Salamander standing backed up a few paces, waved its hands over its head and let forth a spell blast of twinkling light at Wyn (>Save vs spells, Orange 17) who ducked just in time and a ball of light filled the air just behind his head. “Fucking fuckers and their Light spells!” he thought, still unable to hear anything.

As for Abraxas, the Hobgoblin on top of him was looking to slam an elbow into the Fighter’s chest and then shove the momentarily weakened warrior into the pool. However (>Str check BX Baby -2, Black 14) he was unable to get a decent grin against the floor with his boots and Abraxas was able to get a moment of handhold on the rocky floor so did not get shoved in, even though the two of them continued to fight and struggle. He did get a good armored elbow blow (>+3 to hit, Black 16) that hurt (1d3 Damage: Red/Black 6 – Take 3 Damage!) but he was in no danger of going in yet.

(Initiative: 4 vs 4 – reroll. Party Steel 3 vs Enemy Red/Black 4)

Seeing the 3 heads bobbing in the water as well as the elf with his withering bow, the lone Adept out of spells loaded a sling stone and hurled his rock at (1d4 random: Blue 1 – Wyn) at the elf again (<+1 to hit, Green 10) but Wyn dipped his shoulder and the stone hit an oblique angle and flew off into the dark doing no damage in its passing.

Realizing that it was running out of time, the Hobgoblin tried once more to force the Fighter into the water (>Str check BX Baby -4, Black 18) but could not get the purchase needed (no more BX baby attempts allowed). However he did land a solid punch at Abraxas’ throat (>+3 to hit, White 18), making the fighter silently gag from the impact (1d3 damage: Red/Black 3 – Take 2 damage!).

Time now is Day 7, 3:44 PM

(OOC)

1 Adept left at the wrong end of the cave taking stock of its recent poor life choices. 1 Hobgoblin who twice tried to drown the fighter and failed both times – the two of them still fighting on the ground. 1 Cleric at 1 hit point and good for nothing for the next half hour. 3 party members in clothes and armor and equipment in a 50-55 degree pool for 3-4 minutes, treading water and trying to get to the edge to get up. And 1 Magic User lost in the dark and unconscious at the bottom of a set of stairs all alone. And right now you have ONE fully vestible fighter – Wyn. Bottom of the round – your turn.

PBEM - Episode 265. Ambush

Two layers of combat, above ground and underwater made this a pretty damned cool posting turn.

Follows:

TWO HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE

(I/C)

Seeing the other Adept dive into the water, Brednon tapped Wyn, pointed down into the water as he dropped his bow and shrugged out of his pack, drew his sword and mimed stabbing. The elf nodded, giving a thumbs up and pointed to the two other Adepts on the opposite side of the chamber. He drew another of the doubleshot arrows, nocked it in place and fired at the distant Salamander as Brendon dove into the frigid water, sword first. As he released the arrow (<+5 to hit, Orange 5) he could tell it was already going to be too far to the left, so using his elven ability, he sure shotted and corrected the trajectory at the last instant (<+5 to hit, Orange 1 – FUMBLE!) but OVER corrected and realized his arrow might be streaking towards Abraxas! BUT!!! The Heartswood Bow exacted its OWN magic (third time’s the charm…>+5 to hit, Purple/Blue 17) and the arrow actually CURVED in the air as it streaked towards the Adept – and the enchanted arrow dragged another one from his quiver in a spray of silvery light! Both shaft slammed into the Adept (1d6 Damage: Orange 3 and Orange 4 – 7 Damage!), hurting it badly and making it stagger back grimacing in pain on its reptilian face.

Meanwhile under the water, Kovid struggled to keep his fading breath, fumbled at his waist with his right arm as Lyra shifted up to his shoulders, struggling to pull him away from the amphibian menace, and slashed hard (<+4 to hit, -4 underwater combat, Yellow 8), cutting water and robe, but little flesh of his attacker underneath.

The Adept instead held onto the dwarf’s left arm as Lyra had the right side, and both parties PULLED (Combative Str check: Lyra White 18 (over by 10) vs Salamander +2 at home in water bonus Green 6 (Under by 7)) with the dwarf ripped from the cleric’s hands! She tried to kick the beast in the eye (<+0 to hit, -4 underwater combat, White 9) but failed and left only a stream of bubbles rising to the surface. The dwarf was struggling with the superior swimmer, hoping to hold his air 10’ under the water, and the bastard was looking like it was going to strike the dwarf in the chest!

Meanwhile on the surface, seeing the slickery oil and the water to his left, Abraxas let his Scythe fall and made a sudden grab for the Hobgoblin’s weapon arm (>+5 to hit grapple weapon arm, Blue 13), gripping it tight and holding it straight. He then rolled, forcing the hobgoblin to roll over his shoulder, the two of them struggling as the hob released his weapon (Combative Strength check: Abraxas Blue 16 (under by 1) vs Hobgoblin Green 4 (Under by 10)). He did manage to roll the hob with him, but the warrior was stronger than he expected and the two of them were forced into a struggle of dominance, arms folded about each other, knees raised, feet kicking and scrabbling (2nd Combative Str check: Abraxas Blue 9 (Under by 8) vs Hobgoblin White 3 (Under by 11). And when it ended, it was Abraxas on his back, shoulders at the hard edge of the pool, head over the water beneath his hair by a foot, and the Hobgoblin ontop of him, trying to shove him into the pool! Abraxas was slapping the ground with his free hand trying to find purchase on the oily ground but couldn’t get a grip!

And under the water’s surface as Kovid was about to be struck, (Brendon Swim check +10 pirate, -2 weight penalty, Red 2) the Scout finished cutting through the water, arriving there in the nick of time and THRUST with his blade (=+3 to hit, -4 underwater penalty, +2 pirate, Red 14) at the salamander, hitting the beast in the fleshy left side and drawing a line of blood (1d6 Damage: Red 1). The beast was hurt but (1-2 let go, 3-6 don’t – Red 3) refused to let the dwarf go; Kovid’s eyes growing wide with alarm as his reserves of air were at their last minute!

(Initiative: Party Steel 4 vs Enemy Red/Black 2).

Meanwhile in the darkness above, Lannis was sobbing as he ran on, heading east and hoping to find someplace he could hide and ride out the terror he KNEW was chasing him. He bounced off wall to wall, (intersection: 1-4 north, 5-6 East: 3- North!) but when he hit the end of the “T”, he remembered that the Owlbear was in this direction and he did NOT want to stumble into it in the dark. He ran off to the north, hands spread in front of him, frantic to get someplace safe. (Intersection: 1-4 North, 5-6 West: 3- North!) When he felt some air to his left he ran on, ignoring the call in that direction, breath whistling, heart beating. (Intersection: 1-4 North, 5-6 West: 4- North!) He ignored the next passage on his left, cursing the dwarf internally for his mapping, only having a vague idea where he was and where he was going.

(WMC: Red/Black 6) – no!

Time now is Day 7, 3:43 PM

(OOC)

Exciting! 2 adepts left up top – 1 pretty damned wounded. Abraxas rolling on ground with Hob and currently not doing so well. Lannis lost in the dark. Sal under water and hurting but holding Kovid hoping to drown his ass. Lyra and Kovid this is your last minute – have to get to the surface or you both drop to zero hp at the end of your part of the round. Brendon, you have 3 minutes to go.

PBEM - Episode 264. Ambush

Corfard's forces are smart and fight with the appropriate intelligence and tactics. A situation that often irritates players.

Follows:

TWO HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR

(I/C)

With the entire area shrouded in silence, there was no chance for the group to put together tactics, relying instead on instinct. Wyn slapped one of his magic arrows to the string of his bow, drew back, and fired it at one of the two Hobgoblin warriors that just tossed Kovid into the pool. The enchanted arrow slashed out (>+5 to hit, Orange 15) streaking towards the armored humanoid, and an additional arrow from his quiver traced along behind it in a spray of yellow streamers. Both of them impacted the brute in the midsection (1d6 Damage: Orange 5 and Orange 2 – 7 Damage!), making it rock back and sneer at the elf.

Taking advantage of that distraction, Lyra slid out of her backpack, dropped her shield and flail, and then rolled (<Dex check, White 1 – perfect!) around the stomping Hobgoblins and launched herself down into the frigid cold in an effort to try and save the dwarf struggling deep below.

Abraxas and Lannis were tangled up briefly until the Fighter managed to step around the Magic User who was making it his effort to run UP the stairs! Brendon who was about to fire his bow lunged for the Wizard (Combative Dex check: Pink 3 (under by 12) vs Red 11 (under by 5) – Lannis wins (sort of?!?)) but was too slow and instead saw the Magic User running up the stairs at full speed into the gloom. Silently cursing after him, his attention was drawn back to the battle and shook his head angrily, getting his arrow ready.

Kovid found himself at the floor of the pool. Coiling his legs, he pushed. Thrusting upward, he reached and tried to swim (>Str check -11, Yellow 20 – Critical failure!) but instead slipped and thrashed about, spinning in the water futilely (Lose 1 minute of air, take 1 point of damage), a mouthful of bubbles escaping up towards the surface as he tried to right himself. Lyra finally managed to swim down to the dwarf and looped an arm around his, trying to keep him from becoming more frantic.

Taking the spot where Lyra had once been, Abraxas ran in front of Wyn and met the two Hobgoblins there with his Morrigaan Scythe. He traded blows with the warrior who had already been wounded by a pair of Wyn’s arrows. Silver flashed. Blood spilt. The hobgoblin hit the wall. Snarling, they both tried to stab each other. But the Fighter managed to force his defense to the side and the enchanted weapon bit deep (>+6 to hit, Blue 16), scoring a deep wound in the brute’s flank (1d8+3 Damage, Blue 8 – 11 Damage!) and driving him briefly to his knees, face screwed up in pain.

Which allowed Abraxas to reverse his weapon’s path and bring it around for a second blow (>+6 to hit, Blue 13), hitting the Hobgoblin in the back of the head (1d8+3 Damage, Blue 5- 8 Damage and killed!!) and split it open, showering the floor with blood and brain matter.

Losing some time and unable to stop Lannis from fleeing, Brendon drew his own magic arrow from his quiver and took aim at the distant Adept that had hit him with the spell earlier. He fired (>+6 to hit, -2 tried for Lannis, Red 19) and the shaft flew towards the robed figure, drawing an additional arrow from his quiver as well, both of them hitting the Salamander hard (1d6 Damage: Red 6 and Red 5 – 11 Damage and killed!), dropping it to the ground.

Lannis ran, terror behind him. He hit the walls, bounced off, and picked himself up. He could hear high pitched keening, echoing around him in the darkness. Head low he charged hard, hoping to find safety. Somewhere? Anywhere? His ankles hit the far stairs, invisible in the blackness of the corridor. He cried out (>Save vs Death Ray: Pink 17) but caught himself with a lucky stumble and outthrust hand. His head struck the wall, lost his hat, and he kept going, making it to the top of the stairs in a breathless wheezing gasp of unnatural fear (1-3 North, 4-6 East: 6 – East). Holding on to the right wall to keep his balance, he ran on.

(Initiative: Party Steel 3 vs Enemy Red/Black 4)

One of the Adepts dropped to his knees, yanked both arrows out of the fallen one’s chest, and then upended a healing potion down its throat (Heal Potion: 1d6 – White 3), making it shake and then roll over. The one that had tended to it pointed down into the water where Lyra and Kovid could be seen (2 minutes left on both of them) ready to make their ascent to the surface. It smiled, let its robes fall free, and the humanoid amphibian sluiced into the water with serious ease of practice, diving down to intercept the other two.

The final one still had its sling free and dropped something heavy into the pouch, spun it three times and let it fly (>+1 to hit, green 13), where it hit the stone just before Abraxas’ feet and shattered, leaving a puddle of slippery oil on the ground from the Fighter to just in front of Wyn who looked troubled at the Adept. Who in turn grinned at the elf with evil cunning.

The remaining hobgoblin, seeing the oil on the floor, came at Abraxas, dropping his short sword to his left hand and hitting the fighter in the other side of his body (BX Baby: <Strength check -2, White 7), making sure that all his powerful blows were pushing the Fighter standing on oily ground TOWARDS the pool! (>+3 to hit, Black 18) Abraxas took a few punishing blows (1d6+1 Damage, Red/Black 5: 6 Damage. Damage Deflection: <Str Check, White 7 – Take 3 Damage! (-4 on next to hit) ) but the fighter was able to struggle through the worst of it. There was a time when his feet slipped on the treacherous footing (<Dex check +4 bonus, White 3 – ok!) but he was able to keep himself from either falling or being knocked into the pool.

Finally, the Salamander in the water had swum down to the other two who were horrified to see it come up to them effortlessly, and it made a lunging grab for (1-3 Kovid, 4-6 Lyra: Red/Black 1 – Kovid!) taking the dwarf’s other arm and making an effort to pull him away from the Cleric – and the safety of the surface above!

Time now is Day 7, 3:42 PM

(OOC)

Lyra and Kovid – 2 minutes left to get out, and there is a salamander (wounded) but at home in the water looking to keep the dwarf under long enough to drown, how do you want to handle THAT?!  Abraxas, floor is slippery, be careful. Lannis, running for 18 more minutes – as you get to an intersection, its random on which way to go, and you are running in total darkness for now. You will want to eventually get to a place to hide but you can’t “aim” for a place right now. If you run into another monster you would get another save to see if the new threat “scares” the fear right out of you. Bottom of the round!

PBEM - Episode 263. Ambush

TWO HUNDRED SIXTY THREE

(I/C)

Kovid looked over the elf with some concern, “Wyn, you ok elf-friend? Whatdya say we stop and fill our water skins at the aquifer, if they haven’t sabotaged it yet, then off to the Butcher’s? We really need to find another oil source too.”

Abraxas nodded vigorously, "Aqua-fryer is close to us ahora. Let us go there y "fill hair up"..."fill hear up"... fill... let’s get some aqua."

"Blood must get to your brain faster with less distance to cover, because that was actually a good idea,” Lannis folded his arms across his chest belligerently. “I notice you call Swamp Thing friend but not me, why is that?"

“Because you’re an asshole?” Brendon mused.

“Because you’re rude?” Lyra offered.

“Perhaps you pick on his maps quite a bit?” Wyn suggested between breaths.

“You’re my friend too, Big Brain.” Kovid stared back at the Wizard. “Is there anyone else in this party that has a brain as big as yours? No. That’s you, all you.”

“Well…alright then. Luckily I’m both magnanimous and gracious to lesser personages; in stature, skill, and intelligence.”

“Lucky us,” Kovid grumbled helping Wyn back to his feet and getting a thumbs up from the elf.

“Wyn, you need a heal or want to chance it?” Lyra asked. “I have another.”

"Priestesse... ,” Wyn finished up with a coughing wheeze, “I would greatly appreciate de heal. I taut an errant spear could take me out at dis point I tink... any help Aine could give Wyn would be glorious. But de effects o de Sulfur have faded and I’ll be ok for now.” (Wyn – you only have 2 points of damage)

Fingering a fresh arrow, Brendon joked, “Of all the people to get sick from the sulfur I would have guessed it would be the sissy boy that is fearful his nipples are in danger all the time.” Seeing Lannis give him a rude gesture, Brendon smiled at him and said, “And a double Friendship Finger back at you to, Mamma’s Little Boy.”

Wyn chuckled along with most of the party and the turned to address the dwarf next. "Dwarfriend, tank you for your courteous words. I tink we need ta get water now or tomorrow mornin'... hm... since we be on dis side of de castle and we mayhaps not be tomorrow mornin, it makes sense to fill up de skins now. Den ova to de Butchas ol' poundin, er um, stompin ground, I tink."

As the group began to move out, heading south towards the aquifer, Lyra voiced her concerns. “I don’t know about the Butcher’s. Did that place have a secondary exit? I don’t want to be trapped somewhere that’s a dead end at the moment - especially while they’re looking for us.”

“Only way to know is to go and look,” the Scout suggested, turning the party to the west and taking them down the long stairs on the way to furthest fresh water reaches of the Castle. “If I remember the conversation the orcs were talking about earlier they thought our noise could have been a Hobgoblin or goblin patrol, they said it was too but one third of a glass. Could they be using an hour glass to tell time? If we could figure out their patrol times it could serve us well.”

“Sounds good,” Kovid agreed, lantern held up as the group descended the long stairs. After that, there was a length of corridor and then another small stair and a crude cavern. The ceiling was a good 15 feet tall and domed in the center. The major attraction was the large deep natural aquifer of fresh water that the party seemed relieved to finally arrive at and see. “My skin is half empty and then some.”

“Ever’one take a good long drink now an den fill your skin. Dunno when we get a chance to come back ‘ere and get some more so it better to take now and fill up.”

(Hear Noise, Red 93)

The party filled the skins, drinking deep when they could, Abraxas taking position back at the base of the stairs to keep a weather ear and eye out for the possibility of Hoots coming this way. It was thankfully quiet here, only the sound of the party’s voices and the clank of their gear echoing back from the dark chamber (Lyra Half Wis check >White 13 – no).

(Surprise check -2 penalty, Red/Black 2 – failed).

(1d6 Target: 2 – Lyra) And then without warning a blade pierced Lyra’s back (=+3 to hit, +4 invisible, White 10) stabbing expertly between her shoulder blades and dropping the Cleric to the ground with a gasping scream (1d6+1 Damage, White 4: 5 x 2 = 10 DAMAGE!) as a six and a half foot tall Chainmail wearing Hobgoblin armed with a short sword appeared with a smiling grin.

(1d6 Target: 6 – Kovid) And the situation repeated itself again and another 18 inch blade slammed into the dwarf’s flank near his kidneys (>+3 to hit, +4 invisible, Green 13), making Kovid stagger and try to draw breath at the same time (1d6+1 Damage, Red/Black 5: 6x2 = 12 DAMAGE!) and another Hobgoblin sparkled into appearance, naked sword soaked halfway up with the dwarf’s blood.

(1d6 Target: 5 – Brendon) From just near the north end of the aquifer, a sparkle of light appeared from nowhere and streaked out to slam into the Scout’s head (=Save vs spells, Red 12 (ring of protection helped), but he managed to turn his face at the last moment and the light spell blossomed just past him and not in his eyes. The robed and cowled figure with the salamander snout snarled out, “Blessed Corfard Damn it, Just missed.”

(1d6 Target: 1 – Lannis) “Told you they’d most likely come here for water, Brothers,” a voice said from nowhere followed by a spell that blew from that space and slammed into the Magic User with a crackling dark energy (<Save vs spells, Pink 6 – Failed). And suddenly Lannis was filled with an all encompassing need to RUN (Fear, want to run away as fast and as far as you can for the next 20 rounds). “Let’s neutralize these vermin and bring them in chains to Blessed Corfard.” And a second cowled and armored salamander Adept appeared.

“I agree, Brothers,” a third voice announced. “And let’s make sure their spells and efforts are silenced.” And then a third spell crackled out and shattered over the party as a third and final salamander adept appeared. It smiled a mouthful of teeth at the group as the spell finished up and the entire area around the party was plunged into unnatural and eerie all encompassing silence.

(Initiative: Party Steel 2 vs Enemy Red/Black 6)

(BX Baby, Hobgoblin on Dwarf - <Str -2 Teal 7, yes! <Str -2 Green 2, yes!) The two hobgoblins took advantage of the party’s momentary surprise to brace their feet and body slam the dwarf as hard as they could (>+3 to hit, +2 BX Baby success, Black 15) off the stone path around the deep pool and pitched him a good 5 feet out into the water! And clad in platemail, packs full, and sporting almost 120 lbs of gear – the dwarf quickly slipped under the water’s surface with a flailing of his arms.

Meanwhile the three adepts all targeted Brendon and swung their slings over their heads in strange silent unison. The weighted stones impacted the Scout (<+1 to hit, Steel 13 (Ring of Protection comes through again)… >+1 to hit, Steel 17…>+1 to hit, Yellow 20 – Critical max damage), making his twist and gyrate as he was buffeted by the soaring stones (1d3 Damage: Yellow 5, Take 3 Damage!...AND Critical hit – Automatic max – take ANOTHER 3 Damage!)

As for Kovid (Str check minus 1 per 100 coin weight…-11, >Yellow 9 – failed), he quickly found himself dropping under the cold cold water to the base of the aquifer about 10’ down, wavering light from above the only sign for where to go (1 + Con adj = 4 rounds or dead).

Time now is Day 7, 3:40 PM

(OOC)

Kovid, you can drop all your shit and swim for the surface if you wish (will take a round). Or you can try to swim again with what you have (also at -11). Or you can try to make it to the wall and CLIMB out if you want. Lannis, you are going to run away in terror – and Abraxas, you are the closest to stop that if you want, weapon, trip and step on him, or pitch him into the water, or whatever you all want.

Also it’s silent – so no spells or tactics relying on each other. Good luck!

PBEM - Episode 262. Rehashing Old Ground.

TWO HUNDRED SIXTY TWO

(I/C)

"Well...we found Hoots,” Lannis said with a frown. “Don't have to worry about him suddenly showing up somewhere.

"Si Hoots es on our tails... maybe me no gusta estar en the rear anymore.” Abraxas gave Lannis a gentle rebuff from behind, motioning up the stairs. “Let's "pick up the pace," shall we? Rapido, amigos."

Nodding from the front of the party, Brendon resumed climbing, eyes peeled as he continued south. “Hoots isn’t running towards us, so let’s stay focused and make our way to the Sulfur room”

“Yeah, lets just keep going there and maybe the smell will drive him away, unless someone has something that will do that sooner?” He was giving Kovid a pointed stare from behind, covering his nose and turning his head as if trying not to gag.

“I saw that Big Brain,” the dwarf replied, turning back long enough to give the Magic User a withering glance.

“Whatever. If we can’t rely on stale dwarven body odor and spoiled alee, maybe we can use the terrain to get behind him before he sees us.” He pointed at the map that Kovid was referring to. “Right here, see? It’s either a square set of hallways or a drunken scrawl, maybe we can use that."

At the top of the stairs they continued past the side corridor that had led to Grilljax’s food larder at one point, and made their way to the square passages that originally had a room that housed the stone barrel of green slime. Meanwhile, still hearing the odd hoots and noises echoing towards us from far behind, Wyn whispered, “Hm... Hoots sounds sad. Or angry. Or hungry? I need to try en remember size sounds.”

“I’d say all three,” Lyra guessed. “He sounds like he’s all three.”

“Tal vez he should eat una barra de Snickers,” Abraxas noted.

Wyn nodded, “De good ting is dat we shouldn’t need to worry about tings behind us while Hoots be dere... unless some wandering monster ignores Hoots for some reason?” He frowned. “Dat would be weird.” He shrugged and smiled. “Allons-y. Forward. Sulfur.”

As they made the hall outside the Sulfur chamber, Lyra wondered, “Does anyone have any bright light spells or anything that will make a lot of light?”

“Oui, why?”

“Owls are very sensitive to light - I’d assume it’d be the same for owlbears - of course that’s assuming he gets too close.”

“Let’s try not to Doctor Doolittle the rampaging murder bear, alright Princess?” Lannis scoffed.

“Whatever,” she replied voice heavy with scorn. “Don’t get your panties in a wad. I’m just saying he might actually do us some good by putting himself between us and following orcs or goblins.” 

“If I need advise on the best feedbag to put over my snout, I’ll ask you. Otherwise, leave the tactics and strategy to anyone not related to a quadruped.”

Kovid snapped his fingers, pointing at Lannis. “Enough. Keep going, keep quiet.” As the dwarf turned back around, the Magic user mimed Kovid talking with his flapping hand, making sneering faces as he did so. “Again, I saw that Big Brain,” Kovid said, voice both heavy and weary.

“Eyes front there, Gizmo.”

Lyra had donned her rawhide gloves and withdrew the bandages. “Ok, everyone, let’s go. The fumes get pretty heady so please, cover your mouths and stay away from the stairs. Normally it’d be just Kovid and I, but with the Owlbear wandering around, we all need to come down here and keep the light away from the stairs.”

“We are wit’ you, Priestesse,” Wyn answered, bow out and ready.

“Alright then, let’s go.” The party followed Lyra down the stairs to the rough cavern where the reek of sulfur was pretty strong as the grey pool bubbled and roiled near the back western wall. The very long dead remains of the elven looter was still here and the place appeared to be untouched and no different. Everyone getting far enough from the stairs and Kovid taking the light closest to the pool so no chance illumination would get to the stairs, most of the party took shallow breaths through the sleeves and hems of their cloaks, listening to the castle at the top of the stairs, while the dwarf watched the Cleric carefully as she laid the Sclepian Bandages out and began washing the first one in the grey boiling water.

Meanwhile, the Owlbear had eventually made its way to the top of the stairs and continued ambling south (Scent group, -6 penalty Sulfur, >Black 9 – no) where it paused, made a few low growls and then decided ultimately to head (1d4 Random: Blue 3 – East) south to the entrance room with the sofa and then continue east.

“He’s moving on,” Brendon whispered from the stairs (Hear Noise +20 bonus, =Red 55).

“Thank Aine,” Lyra muttered, already cleaned two and was working on the third. As for the fumes, the group was doing their best to tough it out (Save vs Poison: >Pink 15, +3 bonus >White 12, <Orange 11, >Blue 19, >Red 16, +2 bonus >Yellow 8) but Wyn began at first clearing his throat a few times in a row. Then it became a cough or two. And then it suddenly became racking heaving coughs as he tried to clear his lungs of the acrid fumes. (Wyn, take 1 damage)

“Get him out of here,” Lyra ordered, pulling the last bandage from the pool as it sparkled to pristine white. “All of you, let’s go.”

“Come on,” Brendon looped one of Wyn’s arms over his neck and held the gasping elf aloft as he dragged and led up up the stairs and away from the worst of the sulfurous smells. The rest of the party followed and Wyn took to wrapping his cloak against his face as he shook his eyes clear and choked into it again and again.

Looking him over (Wis>12, Cleric – no roll needed), Lyra patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine in a few minutes, just take it easy.”

“Ok,” Kovid looked around, satisfied that Wyn’s muffling of his coughs were not sending undue echoes down the halls. “As soon as Wyn is up to it, where are we going now? I do NOT recommend heading east unless you all want to face Hoots.”

Time now is Day 7, 3:25 PM

(OOC)

Bandages are good! For those interested: HP is currently: Wyn 6/11, Lyra 22/22, Wyn 13/15, Abraxas 25/29, Brendon 10/14, Kovid 37/37. Where to and how to get there?