PBEM - Episode 456. Every Undead Miniature

FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY SIX

(I/C)

Clapping Brendon on the back, Wyn motioned to the hallway door and ran off across the room, cursing, “Merde. That’s a lot of undead!”

His own body held rigid in an effort to stem the tide, Abraxas cajoled the others to shove the door closed. "Push amigos, push them back!”

“I knew it!” Lyra spat, “Maybe not ghouls but I knew I smelled SOMETHING. Wyn!” she called out to the charging elf.

“Señora Lykstra, we could usar some Annie hoy, no mañana, pero ahora.”

“Oui!” Wyn slammed his body into the door as Lyra slid aside to the right. “I help hold de door! Priestess, bring Aine’s fury!”

Moving to the gap, the undead bodies shoving and making their way through the gap, hands reaching for her, Lyra held her symbol up and called out, “Keep holding the door, I’m going to try to turn a bunch!” 

“Wyn?!” Kovid asked, looking to the side, “Don’t we have to open the door so they have somewhere to go?”

“Nah, de Priestesse turns dem…turns dem into dust!”

Watching the struggle across the room, Brendon was holding his sword nervously, ear against the hallway door, free hand on the handle. “First it was a bugbear with two gnomes,” he muttered to Lannis, “THEN it was an Owlbear and mate, now it’s a fuckton of undead. I can wait to see what’s next!”

"This sucks,” the Magic User groused, a spell dancing at his fingertips, “Whose stupid idea was it to open this thing? Can we use that other Resurrection scroll on Mirabellis so that we can kill her again?"

“Aine! I need a big one here,” Lyra chanted, her skin glowing white as an unseen breeze blew from behind her, her hair dancing wildly about. “So let’s get it done! Aine! Goddess of Summer! TURN!!!” And a crack of lightning spat from her outstretched holy symbol, joined by a rippling wave of pulsing light. It struck through the doorway at the undead already through and those behind (2d6 hit dice: White 1 + 2 = 3 hit dice (ugh! Shitty roll) – 3 skeletons!) but something happened and the light cut out a bit early, after blasting three of the undead to ragged bones and dust. But! It did relieve the pressure on the door briefly.

Which is what Abraxas was waiting for. The Fighter kicked and scabbled at the floor, boots digging into the sand as he , Kovid, and Wyn all shoved the door closed, “Push amigos!” They all strained and the door closed until just limbs, arms, and legs were sticking through, the undead on the other side hoping to mass up again and try and force the door open. “Vamonos amigos. Andale!" (Will need 2 successful attacks next round AND 1 person still pushing to hack off enough limbs to get the door to close – if fail, there will be another combative str check to open the door on their end….but…)

It was at that instant that the door to the Butcher’s private room was pulled open and another mass of undead, the reek of their decaying bodies billowing out, heralded their entrance to the main chamber. “FUCK!” Lannis howled, the spell he was readying fired off reflexively (Pause was announced as the spell he had ready – good for you!) and hit the lead undead salamander with a crackling burst of pink energy, “PAUSE!” (<Save vs spells, Black 4) and it stopped just inside the door frame, wobbling back and forth, long enough to cause a log jam of undead bodies right behind it, and briefly stopping the tide (10 seconds and then it’ll be knocked down and walked over).

Time now is Day 10, 3:36 PM

(OOC)

Ok – 2 different hordes. The Freezer horde is stymied right now at the door but there are limbs and legs and arms sticking out – 2 successful attacks vs AC: 11 (damage is irrelevant) will be enough to sever them AND someone will still need to be shoving at the door during this time. This horde cannot be a target of a turn anymore.

The private room smaller horde (relatively) is open to a turning, but turning is an entire round thing and you have a 10 second window as Lannis’ Pause spell has stopped up the hole. A round is 1 minute, your guys part of it is 30 seconds, enemy is the other 30 seconds – roughly how it breaks down. So, if you want to commit to shutting the freezer, the undead will get out of the north door. If Lyra commits to a turn on them at this time, the undead will get out of the north door. Lannis and Brendon are there. Which means, where do you two want to go in the 10 seconds allotted to you? Open the hall door and run, run back to the rest of the party? Stand ground and attack? Arrows and Rod attack go quick, casting a spell is the entire round and not enough time.

Think it out and good luck!

PBEM - Episode 455. Every Undead Miniature

Here. They. Come. Run! Flee you fools!

Follows:

FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE

(I/C)

The elf shut the door, looking behind it carefully, but finding nothing of interest. Meanwhile Lannis had backed up slowly to the west side of the room, arms folded across his chest and pointed with his off hand at the Freezer door. "We gotta go in right? We have to know what's in there. If anyone who voted for locust city says we shouldn't you will die a hypocrite."

“Relax, Big Brain. We’re looking,” Kovid turned to the far end of the room and asked, “One of you check the bedroom door before I pop open the freezer.”

Abraxas raised a finger to his lips and mouthed, ”Shush!” He then waved to Brendon and pointed to the north door leading to the Butcher’s living area. The Scout nodded and went over to listen, ear pressed to the portal (<Hear Noise, 15% bonus, Red 27) and waited. “Raising the temperature in the freezer is a good idea,” he muttered. Standing up he said, “I don’t hear anything inside…”(=Wis check, +4 bonus, Red 13), he did wrinkle his nose, “But it does smell a bit. Something we killed in there has been rotting.”

“This entire place is rotting,” Lannis frowned as Abraxas stood by Kovid and nodded to the dwarf.

Stepping up to the dwarf’s other side, Lyra made sure her holy symbol was out, and took a fresh grip of her Flail. “Watch,” she muttered with ill grace, “there’s a ghoul in there. It’s going to be a ghoul. It’s now a ghoul freezer.”

From the other side of the room, Lannis shook his head and replied, "Calm down Wonderboy, there's no ghouls in that freezer. If there are just deal with it, you can’t be terrible at everything, right?"

“No whammies, no whammies,” Kovid stepped up to the door, Hammer in his left hand, and grabbed the handle of the ajar door, pulling it towards him.

(Lyra, Goddess warning =Wis check, -4 penalty, White 12). The Cleric felt a sick headache rising suddenly in the back of her head as her holy symbol let out a crack of static electricity to her chest. “Oh! Gods! Wait!” she tried to say but at that moment, the door bulged out and Kovid suddenly had the pressure of pushing forces shoving the door open. “Don’t let it open!” She howled out and ran forward to help, Abraxas doing the same.

“Fucking Hell! Don’t let me die!” Lannis cried out, slapping one hand over his right nipple, the other hand fumbling with the Ishtari Rod! “Save me!!”

(Combative Str Check: Kovid Yellow 10 (under 6) vs Undead Horde Red/Black 10 (under 3) PLUS 2 help, Plus 2 help, Plus 2 help Revised Under 9 – Undead win).

“Thor’s Damn it!” Kovid braced his foot hard, body leaning into the frame, and felt himself failing as rotting cold bony arms and hands and faces reached around the side of the door, hoping to boil into the chamber. “Ugh!” he wailed, feeling himself lose control.

“Amigo!” Abraxas slammed forward, hitting the door with Kovid, hoping to help the dwarf stem the tide, the Fighter’s thews flexing as he cracked out and churned his feet (Plus 2 help – revised Under 8 – still losing, losing by 1). It slowed the opening portal but the undead were going to get in. He glanced around the edge of the door and in the blue light of the freezer he could see…dozen of bodies. Orcs, hobgoblins, goblins, salamanders. Some without one foot. Some without one hand. But there had to be thirty at least, shoving their way up the stairs, loose flesh hanging off their skeletons as dark bale fire lit their eyes with malevolent sickly greenish glow. “Esto es Horrible!” he cried out, neck straining, the two men losing their fight against the horde.

“Aiii! Aine!!” Lyra hit the door next, the Cleric taking up the last possible position, back braced hard on the surface, feet set, legs quivering. “Don’t let them…Out! I can feel…Ugh! Aine help me! I can feel this is really bad!!” (Plus 2 help – Revised Under 10 – winning by 1!) With her help, the door stopped opening, but the gap was easily over 2 and a half feet wide and unless something changed real fast, the undead menagerie was going to make it into the Butchery.

Time now is Day 10, 3:35 PM

(OOC)

Hooray! I mean, Oh my god! Ok, there is a fuck ton of undead in there and the three heroes have the door stopped for now. For now. Assume it’s the start of the round – what is the plan? Stay and fight? Run for your lives, Mix of the two? Something else? Please look at the pic for placement. Big XP situation here. Good luck!

PBEM - Episode 454. Back to the Butchers

FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY FOUR

(I/C)

“We going in, right?” Wyn asked.

“Aye, that’s the plan,” Kovid said. He rubbed his hands together and wiped at the base of his beard. “Why do I have the feeling I’m going to get Travis’ed again.” 

“We just checking this place or are we planning to stay the night?” Lyra asked, hoisting her Flail high in anticipation of swinging.

"You're tired already?” Lannis scoffed at her. “I thought horses only slept like three hours a day."

“I liked it better when you were a useless cloud of gas…or when you were dead,” she retorted.

“Neigh. Bad mare. No carrot.” He looked up and down the hall and then squared his shoulders. "I'll go in but if it still smells like midget, wet dog, and sex I'm going to complain about it.”

“Ha ha,” Brendon snorted.

“Also,” he continued, “We could raise the temperature in the freezer so they can't use it maybe?"

Holding the Morrigaan Scythe high, Abraxas gave Kovid the go ahead. "Vamonos Amigos. Let's go in."

Still sporting his shield, the elf moved back from the front of the pack, positioning himself on the opposite wall, sword held low. “Wyn will stay out ‘ere for a second to keep an ear out fer tings. Just in case. I come in bout 2 minutes after ye all go in.”

“Hold on to your butts,” Kovid muttered and turned the knob, pushing the door in.

The most glaring thing that was different in here were the numerous drag marks and ruts that made their way from the door in and across the sand to the freezer door. Like, many many, drag indents, driven down at least 4 or 5 inches. “What the fuck were they moving in there?” Lannis asked. “A piano? A pool table? Sperm whale?”

“Hehe, Sperm,” Brendon snickered.

“Well, that fills me with terrible dread and a desire to not know more.” Lyra inched in behind Kovid, the dwarf shining the lantern about. The door to the freezer looked to be about a foot ajar, and cold mist was wafting out. The door on the north side of the chamber leading to the Buther’s Private room was closed. All the knives and cutting boards that had been in here were missing, leaving just indentations in the sand where they once were, or clean spaces on the wall.

The party crossed about half way to the Freezer, the Scout motioning the party to stop and be silent. He tilted his head and listened, (no roll), not hearing anything. “I don’t know,” he said, “It’s up to you guys.”

From the front door, Wyn had walked in and as looking around as well, “Merde, dey moved a bunch o stuff troo here.”

Time now is Day 10, 3:30 PM

(OOC)

You guys let me know if you want to check out the Freezer or not.

PBEM - Episode 453. Back to the Butchers

I have been waiting for this for some time. There have been hints about it regarding the dead bodies piled up here and there, but no one has cottoned to it yet. But this opportunity is waiting for them to be adventurers and just poke the bear.

Follows:

FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY THREE

(I/C)

“Stow it, Big Brain,” Kovid said. He went to the baths and took a tentative drink from the water. He spat it out to the side, and did it again. Satisfied, he lowered his empty waterskin to the surface and allowed it to fill. “Are we going on the hunt?” he asked. “Sitting around waiting for a patrol sounds time consuming. Where should we go?”

"Si amigos, agua por todos. Let's get algun agua y move out. Maybe algun comida survived Hoots?” Abraxas wondered. The Fighter did the same, filling his skin as the rest of the group stepped up as well. Lannis took out his Ishtari Rod as he did so. Abraxas continued, “Maybe miramos en el room mas frio? Pero yo no se que hacemos mas que ese. Maybe una trap a los stairs, similar a como los Roberts made por us? No se."

Brendon was waiting for the rest of the group to get their fill first. “Should we patrol around down here in hopes we can lower their numbers?” he asked.

Turning to give the Scout withering look, Lannis crossed his eyes and huffed. "Duh! Considering that's literally the reason we came down here, yes, I do."

“Chill Loser,” Lyra muttered, smacking her backpack against the wall, aiming for the pocket where the Artificer doll of Lannis was located. She looked over at its head sticking out, smiling on seeing it’s face was blooded and purpled. She looked past the wizard to the other party member and said, “That’s a point. I doubt the hobgoblins are patrolling in one single posse. We could always wait downstairs until we hear a small party coming. We take them out, wait for another small team to investigate where the last one went.”

“Hey, Beardboy,” the magic user nudged Kovid. “Let me see that ‘map’, would ya?” As the dwarf was taking it out, Lannis looked around at the party and stomped one foot. "Yes, let's fill OUR water skins now, since it’s MY idea and I thought of it first.”

Wyn sighed deeply, running the crease between his eyebrows. “Wyn be pretty certain he suggested dis place, Offop.” Tapping his temple he asked sarcastically, “Maybe dat head wound still be affecting’ you. Still ‘ear dat ringing?”

“Nope, nothing in my head except genius.” He tapped the map, indicating a circuitous route. “Now listen up, you Screwheads. I've laid out a route we could take,” he pointed to Brendon who was finally filling his skin, “at the very least Namor should listen at every door and we should check the big ones. There, two genius ideas back to back, you don't deserve me."

Looking at the route, Wyn rubbed his chin and gave a small smile and nod. “Let’s head to de store room south of de dinin’ room first. Haven’t checked in dere fer a while.” He traced his finger along, “Den we go to de hallway nord of de dining room en listen down to de nord toward de spy room de hall ta see iffin we hear de Hobs.” He then shifted over to the northwest section of the map, “An finally we den continue ova to de Butcher’s old room.”

“Wow,” Lannis let his jaw fall open, eyes bugging out, “I literally just pointed all that out, Wyn. Did you hit YOUR head? Are your ears ringing?”

“Your genius ideas are just infecting everyone,” Brendon snorted. “Let’s go kids.”

The elf turned to the wizard and smirked, capping his skin, “Oui. Shall we?” (Everyone fill your water back to 4 days)

Before they left, Lannis held the rod tightly and concentrated on lowering the effect of the steam, feeling something happening within. “Hang on,” he said, stepping into the mosaic room, “Just want to check something.”

“Come on,” Kovid grunted, “Have no time to look at barely disguised tile pictures of sex acts, Big Brain.”

“We don’t?” Abraxas asked surprised. “Too bad!”

Lannis was indeed happy to see the amount of steam coming out of the vent was barely a trickle. “Neat,” he muttered, heading back. “Ok, ok. We’re good to go.”

“’Bout time,” Lyra replied with poor grace, purposely hurting the Artificer doll again and smiling on seeing Lannis absently rubbing his arm in the same location. “Let’s do this.”

Back in the Catacombs again, the reek of the rotting ape assaulted us as we stepped around the dead primate, keeping clear of the cloud of flies. We crossed the rough floor to the western side of the area and then proceeded to climb the stairs. Brendon was moving at a steady and slow clip, stopping to listen often, eyes wide and watching. At the hall before the Lower Barracks, we came to the door on the west wall and then lead us through and up the flight of stairs to the Main North Hall.

“We ok?” Kovid asked quietly (WMC: Red/Black 6), getting a nod of approval from the Scout.

We made our way through and once in the hall, turned north, walking slowly along until we arrived at the storeroom. A look inside showed that maybe two of the barrels were missing based upon out last assumptive count, but there was nothing else in there to raise suspicion. We moved on past the kitchen and eventually the Dining Room, stopping at the “T” intersection before heading west on Brendon’s say so (no roll needed).

We paused at the “T” leading north to the stairs and the other half of the lower floor, but heard and saw nothing so continued on. We passed the Classroom and then moved on beyond that to the hall outside the Scriptorium, turning north and heading that way. The door to the Scriptorium had been blown off when the oil stores had gone up and the entire area still smelled grimy and foul even after4 days or so later. “What a waste,” Brendon noted and then we moved on.

At the Dressmaker’s room we stopped to listen and heard nothing, making our way along the hall with slow care. We wound west and then northward, our footsteps echoing ahead of us down the long hall. Eventually we came upon the door to the Butcher’s, closed as we had left it, and Brendon listened (>Hear Noise, +15 bonus, red 72), eventually giving the party a thumbs up.

“We going in?” Kovid asked, hand on the knob, “Or still taking a Big Brain inspired tour?”

Time now is Day 10, 3:25 PM

(OOC)

All skins filled, good job. So far no issues, you are around by the Butcher’s room. In or onward?

PBEM - Episode 452. Labs and Downstairs

FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY TWO

(I/C)

Kovid as running his fingers across the note, pensive as he mulled it over “I wouldn’t trust this Orc as far as I could throw him,” he said at long last. “Even if his goals are separate from Corfuck, is it really worth the risk of meeting? We’d essentially be turning ourselves in.”

Lannis nodded vigorously. "I think I'm with Wicket on this one.”

The dwarf continued. “I say we keep making our rounds and pick them off when we can.” He sighed, “Abraxas was right, we should have finished off the hobs in the hall when we had the chance. We should treat the orcs the same. We’re starting to get the upper hand and they know it.”

Lyra shook her head no. “I agree with you, Kovid about everything… except the hobgoblins. We weren’t prepared for that fight. If we want to take them out we need to rest.”

“Our biggest advantage right now is that they don't know we are and I don't know if I want to give that up willingly,” Lannis walked away from the note, heading back to the door. “Especially since we have no way of knowing if Groomsbride is on the level.”

Brendon joined the Magic User at the doorway and looked down the hall with concern. “We come with a few sets of skills, they don’t know us but they know their end is near.”

“Captain Stubing is right,” the wizard clapped the Scout on the back and smiled. “What else do we have to do down here? Bandages and water, right?”

Scowling, Brendon shrugged off Lannis’ hand and grunted. “Ugh. Just ignore the note and let’s find that water.”

The Cleric nodded, giving the tossed Barracks one last look before heading to the door. “As for the orcs... I don’t know. I don’t trust them either. If…and it’s a strong if…Maybe we can use the baths as a place for negotiation... but the minute we leave that room they can jump us.”

"Si we can dicemos Grintoof a walk away, maybe it es worth it?” Abraxas asked.

Wyn snapped his fingers, flicking the note, “Fuck dat Grimtoot le connard… hm… well we need ta deal wit de hobs first.”

“Idk amigos, una enemy menos, es una enemy menos. Menos luchas equal menos bruises, wounds, and pains. Pero, I will back el decision de el equipo. Especially Señor Wyxnia.”

“Merci, mon ami. And I still tink, fuck dat guy.”

Tapping his belt, Abraxas added, “Grundooth had cabezas de los Elves en sus belt. Asi, comprende si tu no gusta a hablamos com Gronterf y sus goons.”

“Let’s just leave the note there like we never even saw it"

“So we’re leaving here?” Lannis asked. “Getting water? Do we need to clean the bandages too?”

“Yes,” Lyra said.

“No,” Wyn corrected her. “I know dis is a  long day, but we cleaned dem already dis morning.”

“Wow! It HAS been a long day!”

“Pushing for eleven!” Lannis smiled. He looked about, “So moving on then? Maybe we should find a less predictable spot to wait?"

Hand to his chin, Wyn was musing aloud, “I guess we cen travel ova to de water first. De watering hole had dead bodies in it, en it be a dead end I don’t want to get caught in.”

“Stupid idea,” Kovid grunted.

“Let’s head to de baths. Dat water be magically cleaned… en Offop’s lightning rod cen maybe give us an advantage in de steam room iffin we fight de Hobs ova dere.”

“Yep! I can make it steamy and moderately cloying due to the humidity. Magic baby!”

“Vayamos a agua, si? El Baño? Es muy bueno en hay."

Heading out of the Upper Barracks, we shut the door behind us and made our way south. Along the way, Wyn lined up a few loose stones on the steps, a sort of warning if anyone was walking along and might knock them down. We proceeded south along the way until we arrived at the next steps and took them down to the lower catacombs.

The smell of rotting ape was cloyingly sweet and sickly in the air, and we made our way along, eventually scattering some rodents who were chewing on the decaying corpse, a cloud of flies buzzed about, angry at our interruption. The ape looked…terrible.

At the Ishtari baths, we listened to the door (no roll needed), happy to hear nothing within. We then stepped inside and closed the door behind, leaving the reek in the hall. Surprisingly, the air in the baths did not smell and there was still a humid warmth to the chamber. “Ok,” Lannis said looking around. “Bathtub is there. My cabinet friend is here, Hello Cabinet! Man, the good times we had, huh?” He put his hand on his hip and leaned into it. “I could have used you when the Horse woman left me to die.”

Time now is Day 10, 2:50 PM

(OOC)

Made it to the Baths! In the dressing room, baths is the next door to the south. What is the party’s plan?

PBEM - Episode 451. Labs and Downstairs

The player running Lannis SERIOUSLY hates the password and wants the group to spend time to figure out how to change it. No one is willing to bother with it, and instead look for opportunities to torture him with it.

Follows:

FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY ONE

(I/C)

The party watched the Statue work on the massive potion set up for a few minutes, it movements slow and exacting. During that time, both Brendon and Wyn kept a weather ear out through the doors for the distant hobgoblins. “So we wait 10 minutes?” Wyn suggested.

“Works for me,” Kovid muttered.

“Mebbe we’ll see where dey go. Den go downstairs en wait for them in a room.”

“They are on high alert up here,” Brendon observed. “I think we need some space between us. I agree, we head downstairs and take in smaller groups.” 

“If we wind up followin’ dem,” the elf said grimly, “we hunt dem down. And if’n we go down dere before de Hobs, we make our way to de barracks en try ta ambush dem dere.”

The party waited 10 minutes and then on the advice of the two listeners, another 10 minutes until the sounds of the hobgoblins faded quite a bit. Lyra was still getting positive reinforcement and feedback from the statue as it performed its tasks. Finally the party made their way to the north door and then on Brendon’s say so, they all cycled through and to the east, heading up the stairs towards the Scimitar hall and the Watchtower beyond. He locked to door behind us and we all moved.

At the top of the stairs, Wyn nudged Lannis in the shoulder and chuckled, “Everyone ready fer de password?”

“Lannis Sucks,” Kovid said with a smile, opening the door and then looking in, the three scimitar appearing as decoration on the ceiling. On seeing the wizard’s pout, he did offer, “Don’t take it personally, Big Brain.”

Arms folded across his chest, Lannis scowled, replying, "I feel like I should, it feels personal. Someone clearly meant it personally, and I feel like you guys are enjoying it a little too much.”

“Lannis Sucks,” Lyra said, stepping into the hall right after the Scout and Dwarf, almost giggling as she did so.

“See?” He complained. “SJP over here said it and she didn't even have to."

 “Say what? Lannis sucks?” Lyra glanced back and smugly shrugged. “Goddess, I don’t enjoying saying Lannis sucks. Lannis sucks is such a terrible password. Sheesh... Lannis sucks.”

As they were going through, even Abraxas tried to make light of it, “Señor Leanfest, just try it uno tiempo. Dices loud y muy proud. Con Fuerza! 'Lanquest Chupa!' It es mas refreshing. Pienso que tu will gusta it muy mucho."

“I am being unfairly attacked by beings we’ve killed and are known for eating their own excrement.”

We made it through and then at the Upper Watchtower, looked out at Acreage, a bit dismayed to see the arrivals from earlier had set up an encampment outside the Rainbow Ward, not leaving as of yet. We then went down to the lower Watchtower and from there down the steps eventually to the former Troglodyte guard room. As before, the lever to activate the trap was NOT here, and the trap was still in the “off” position, referring to the guillotine blade at the landing of the next steps.

We continued on down from here, the chirping sound of the locusts greeting us once again, their echoing cadence sounding from the northwest corridor. From there it was slow walking through the caverns to the Jailer’s area and then eventually the long hall by the Barracks and Beekeeper (WMC: Red/Black 4).

It was odd, 10 days in and the halls were quiet, just our footsteps sounding and echoing back. Eventually we turned south and after some walking made our way beyond Travis’ chamber and hidey hole, up the steps and then past the midsection of the Castle where the rituals to weaken the Shield had taken place. The reek of corruption was pretty rank as the dead bodies we had either left behind of the orcs, goblins, and hobgoblins had policed into various rooms continued their slow decay and rot.

“Yeah, we really improved the place,” Lannis chuckled.

At the “T” intersection, Brendon gave the all clear and we travelled east, coming to the end of the hall and at the door leading down to the Grotto of the Elven Goddesses, we instead turned south and made our way down the hall and eventually came to the Upper Barracks. The doors had been forced some time ago, and the stone cabinet we had placed behind it had been pushed aside.

A quick listen let us know the place was ok to enter, and the party made their way in. As they looked around, there was a splash of red color on the wall that had not been there before, in which a note had been stapled in place with a length of wire. They approached closely and read the page with care before turning to one another with brows furrowed.

“Now what?”

“Fuck de orc,” Wyn said without a backward glance.

Time now is Day 10, 2:35 PM

(OOC)

In the Upper Barracks.

PBEM - Episode 450. Labs and Downstairs

FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY

(I/C)

Lyra flashed Lannis the friendship finger as she strode up to the iron statue, managem in her hand. Wyn had put away his weapon and motioned Brendon to the north door, the elf positioning himself at the south one, ready to listen. “We be looking to make healing potions, right? Or do we want to go downstairs now?”

“Let me see if I can get him up and running first, ok?” Lyra said.

"Si amigos, mas potions es un idea bueno.” Abraxas put his scythe away and was watching Lyra carefully. Brendon locked the door with the Alchemy Lab key by Wyn, and then crossed the room and did the same to the north door.

“Pero necessitamos usar cuidado y silencio asi los Roberts no can mess con our potions,” Abraxas advised.

Also, before we leave Du Lac should lock the lab doors behind us,” the elf also added. “Perhaps we should set something up to let us know if someone came inta de room while we are gone. If they did come into de room, den we may not want to use doze potions.”

Lannis rubbed his chin in thought. "If we could gather some ash or something similar to put inside the door we would see their footprints,” he looked around at the shelves of powders and whatnot. “Or there's bound to be something in the lab we could use I'm sure. Like the ink thing. Or rip a page out of a book and stick in the door? Either way let's get Voltron working."

Abraxas was nodding , looking around as well. “Tenemos string o wire? We could put it on el puerto y see si someone breaks it cuando they come en. Perhaps algun de Señor Langish's pelo? Maybe el pelo de Señor Kobidity's Beard? Something muy obvioso a us, pero no es obvioso a los Roberts, o Greemtoonth."

Approaching, manastone in her hand, Lyra’s hand drew closer and closer to the slot in the shield until at an inch or two away, there was a crackling of energy and the stone flew from her fingertips and embedded itself in the socket. There was  crackling of energy and a purple pulse flared out as the iron statue twitched…and then came to life.

It looked around the room slowly, eyes settling on everyone, light in the visor was white, until it turned at last to the Cleric and there was a change over to a warm purple. Its posture relaxed and it stood at casual attention in front of Lyra. “Hey buddy, good morning sunshine,” she greeted it with a broad smile and the statue seemed to radiate…contentment? Lyra could feel (<Half Wis, White 3) a comforting connection in her mind with the statue as it settled on her approach. “Hey guys, I think we’re in business.”

“Well, it does makes horse sense that it would respond to you,” Lannis offered.

Ignoring the mage, Lyra turned back to the statue and led it towards the table full of alchemical breakers, alembics, and field of glass. “I’m going to need you to do me a solid today,” she said, getting another purple flash. “We need you to start making healing potions again. I hear you’re super at that. You can make potions, right? Like you did for the little goblin guy?”

She could feel a measured sense of contentment from the statue and it gave a nod, slowly, and then moved to the table. It then stood there, not doing anything, and Lyra got the sense that it was looking for some direction. “Shit. Thought this might be the case,” she turned to the group. “I need steps to give it.”

Lannis (<Int check, -4 penalty, Pink 1 – aced it!) smiled broadly and took out the 2 alchemy books he had been carrying around. “Hang on, I think I saw a recipe in here,” He thumbed the pages and then stabbed his index finger down at one page in particular. “Got it.” He looked it over and made to step forward but a glance from the statue at him and a flash of red from its helm stopped him in his tracks. “Ah…yes.” He looked around the walls and noted all the recipes on the walls that had been written there, right about chest height for the statue. “Sneaky, sneaky. I figured out the system here.”

“What we got?” Lyra asked. “I can tell he wants to do something, but needs a starting point and list of directions.”

“Look on the wall, do you see a recipe that starts with anything along the lines of 8 measures of aloe?”

“Hang on,” Lyra quickly looked over the walls and muttered, “No..no..not this one…Ah! Got it! 8 M of Aloe.”

“Great! I’m going to read off the recipe and you make sure the steps and reagents are there along with the time to do it.”

“Will do.”

“Then you will TELL the statue exactly what to do and refer to the list on the wall for each line, and make sure it understands.”

Lyra and Lannis made sure the breakdown on the wall matched the recipe book and once finished, she did indeed give the statue the instructions, pointing to each line. After each iteration, she could feel the statue was taking the directions to heart and seemed to have no issue with it. As soon as she was done, the statue went to the shelf in question and drew down the bin with the aloe in it, taking it over to the alchemy station and proceeded to process it.

“We are good,” she said. Tapping the statue on the shoulder, she drew its attention away from the start of its task and she said, “We also need you to protect the potions. Under no circumstances is anyone but us to take them or mess with them.” She leaned closer to impress the gravity of the situation on the statue and added, “If they are corrupt or tainted, you need to let us know.” Once more she could feel the sense of agreement and the statue went on with its job.

Wyn, still listening, whispered, “I don't think dey 'ave anyone to pick locks now dat Duchess is dead... dough Grimtooth might be capable.” He looked about, “Just puttin dat out dere fer everyone ta think about.”

“Nah, we need to know that just in case.”

“How long till this is done, Lyra?” Brendon asked, indicating the statue doing its task.

“Lannis?” She turned to the magic user and volleyed the question.

“Twelve to fourteen hours,” he said.

“So by 4 AM tomorrow morning?” Kovid asked. On getting a shrug, the dwarf lifted his water skin and shook it with a frown. “Well, now that we got Ol’ Ironfist awake and working, what’s the plan, downstairs? My water flask is running dry so we can refill, unless someone can share for the time being.”

(Brendon <Hear Noise, +15 bonus, Red 07…Wyn <Hear Noise +2 bonus, Orange 1)

Both the elf and scout each shook their heads. “I don’t know. I can hear hobgoblin voices echoing down from the west halls.”

“Oui! As do I. Dey are talkin but I cannot hear wot dey are saying.”

“I don’t think they are close enough to hear us if we were to leave and leave quietly, but maybe I’d suggest we wait another 10 minutes or so?”

Wyn nodded. “Oui. It sounds like dey are all talkin’ ‘bout sometin regarding where dey are gonna go. A few petite minutes and we should be ok.”

Time now is Day 10, 1:50 PM

(OOC)

Statue is working. Hobs are somewhere west of us, and quite a bit of them. What is the plan? Wait ten? And then where do you want to go?

PBEM - Episode 449. Labs and Downstairs

The group wanted to set the Iron Statue up to brew some potions and then go back downstairs. There were 3 known groups up here - Grimtooth and the Orcs, the 5 ghouls, and Rampant Zealotry and his Hobs. And they just didn't feel comfortable taking any of them on straight ahead. So some downstairs roaming was decided upon

Follows:

FOUR HUNDRED FORTY NINE

(I/C)

“Wow, Big Brain can’t do something?” Kovid asked with a smirk

“Wait! I got it!” Lannis turned to Lyra and pointed at her with both hands, “Up to the lab, pop a stone in the statue. That’s a Phase Three part of a plan if I ever heard one.”

“Oui, Priestess,” Wyn nodded. “Let's make our way to de lab. We cen maybe set up de golem to start up some potions.”

“So were activating our old friend?” Lyra took out her manastone and stared at it thoughtfully. “Some more potions would be nice.”

Taking of his hat and fixing the brim, Lannis turned to the north and frowned slightly. "So the north end of that room,” he pointed at the north door that lead to the hall and Mirabellis’ chamber, “was recently made of fire and may be impassible, so west? Listen around, at the garden, yadda yadda.”

Taking out his shield and sword, Wyn gave the blade a short practice swing and replied, “Makes sense ta me. Trough de hallway den.” He lifted his chin to Brendon and added, “Keep en ear open en 'ead nord to de lab.”

“On it,” Brendon gave Kovid a gesture to approach. “Little Man, you want to join me as we head up?”

“The lab again huh?” The dwarf spun him Theystran Hammer once and then settled the head into his off hand. Stepping up to the front, he hoisted the lantern and said, “Let’s get to it.”

"H'okay amigos, porque are we still aqui?” Abraxas asked, fist pumping up and down. “ Vamonos. Let's get those Roberts!"

The party picked their way out of the Chapel, closing the door behind them. From there it was to the North door of the Sanctuary and after making sure weapons were up and ready, Kovid opened the door. The hall beyond was as we expected, although there was the smell of smoke heavy on the air. We ignored the north door to Mirabellis’ chamber and moved west to the end of the hall. Brendon listened there (no roll needed) and after a few moments, gave a thumbs up to the dwarf.

Kovid turned the knob and peered into the long hall, north and south. “Invisible dudes,” Lannis warned.

“Thor’s Anus,” he swore, “These hobs are full of tricks.” He sniffed and waited, but felt confident that the hall was clear. “Smells of smoke out here too.”

Brendon and Kovid led the group north, Abraxas closing the door behind them. The party was deeply worried as they made their way further and further north until they arrived at what had been the Hobgoblin’s defensive position earlier. The Scout inched closer (<Move Silently, Red 28) and peered around, but smiled when he saw it was clear. He waved the party up and they went with care to the left.

From there it was a dozen paces to the next corner and once again, Brendon snuck forward and looked around, also happy to report back that it was too clear. “Five by five,” he said, placing once foot ahead of the other, picking his way down the hall.

At the intersection to the east, he stopped and listened north while Kovid led the party down the hall. The reek of smoke was strong here and the first and second doors on the south side of the hall showed fire damage on both of them. Once at the Alchemist’s Lab, Kovid was testing the knob when Brendon came back to the party (<Hear Noise, +15% alone, Red 13). “It’s real faint, like very. But I would guess that there are some distant echoing voices of hobgoblins coming down the hall that leads to the gardens…and the goddess archways.”

“Dey did indicate dey was gonna go back to de home base.”

“That gives us a small window of not being fucked with.” Lannis pointed to Kovid. “Come on Roadblock, get that door open and get us in, alright? Before Rampant Z and his Discount A Team come up with another quasi-military operation that has us pitying the fools we are.”

“I do like when a plan comes together,” Brendon said.

We filed into the Lab and were pleased to see it appeared to be the same as we had left it. Pointing to the statue standing by itself, Lannis snapped in Lyra’s face twice and said, “Flicka get your metal buddy going. Chop chop you slackers, time is not on our side."

Time now is Day 10, 1:40 PM

(OOC)

Made it to the Labs. Good job.

PBEM - Episode 448. Hideout and Regroup

FOUR HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT

(I/C)

“Relax,” Wyn said, hand on Lannis’ shoulder. “H’okay. Time ta check what needs checkin’.”

“You know it,” the wizard agreed. “Time for phase two of Operation Prairie Dog. We are the prairie dogs…except Lyra,” he glanced her way, “who is still a horse.”

“Still not funny,” she muttered.

He continued, “This is the part where we stick our heads out and look for danger.”

Brendon stood up and straightened his sword belt. He leaned against the secret door one more time and then placed a foot on the release mechanism. He looked back at the group and said, “It’s always safer to travel in pairs.”

“Du Lac, do you want me to go wit’ you to lissen to de sanctuary doors?” the elf asked. “We can see iffin we cen hear anytin in de halls?”

“Aye. Let’s do it.”

Lyra readied her flail, gripping the handle tight as Brendon went to unlock to portal. “Just be quiet. I like the idea of not dying by Hobgoblin today.”

"Amigos, necessitamos tener mucho cuidado.” Abraxas was frowning as he looked around the chamber. Raising a finger to his lips, he added, “Necessitamos estar muy silencio. Be vewy-vewy quiet, si? Vamonos."

The Scout released the lock and the secret door opened. It revealed the Chapel empty, the door to the Sanctuary was closed. The Sextant and the Astrolab that had been on the table had been smashed in a pique of rage, and the tome had been swept off the table and was lying on the ground, face down, surface pages disturbed and bent.

Looking around his personage, Wyn took out his vial of oil and shook it. “Should we oil one of the western door hinges in case we need to come back into dis room trough dem later?”

“Aye,” Brendon agreed, listening to the door leading to the Sanctuary, voice pitched very low. “I was going to try and do that at least 2 hours ago.” He chuckled softly. “Man, this has been one hell of a day.”

Watching Brendon with care, Lannis leaned over to Wyn and offered some advice. “Oiling one of the doors makes sense, just be sure to use oil, not bog water, okay Swamp Dog? Boat Dog can listen, I'll be ready to react with Chipotle Dog and Short dog. Horse Dog, do whatever you want I guess.” He smiled broadly and tapped himself on the temple, “I'm Ghost Dog."

“Someone should have neutered you,” Brendon whispered back, “Or drowned you in a sack.” He stood up. “No one in the Sanctuary.”

Kovid gave a single nod. “Perhaps we gave them the slip as they say?”

“Perhaps.”

Standing at the door, Kovid opened it and shone the lantern into the Sanctuary, revealing nothing new or different from what we had seen before. Brendon and Wyn entered and crossed their way through the gloom to the north door where they both listened to the hallway beyond, ears pressed, bodies tense. As they were there, Lyra leaned forward and asked, “After this…where to? We trying to head back downstairs maybe? Alchemy lab?”

“Don’t know,” the dwarf replied. “I think we need to make sure the local area is open to us before we can make the next call.”

The elf and man then moved to the two western double doors where they listened to the northern one, and then the southern one in turn. At that one, Wyn made sure to liberally grease up the hinges while Brendon used the back end of a sack to catch any viscous drips as well as use his dagger to poke at the hinge gaps, dislodging any grit or crud there that would make opening them later difficult, or prevent any oil from flowing properly into it now (Wyn, reduce vial or oil to 1/2 ).

Once finished the two returned to the group satisfied. “No noise outside any of the doors and we took care of the southern double one if we ever need to come in here from the hall.”

“Excellente,” Abraxas replied with a grin. “Now what?”

“Phase three of course!” Said Lannis with a broad smile, hands rubbing together.

“Which is?” Lyra asked.

“Fucked if I know.”

Time now is Day 10, 1:25 PM

(OOC)

Ok – no rolls needed, halls are clear in the local vicinity. What is the next step?

PBEM - Episode 447. Hideout and Regroup

FOUR HUNDRED FORTY SEVEN

(I/C)

Putting his Crystal Ball away, Lannis curled one arm behind his head and proceeded to eat. "I officially declare it lunch time. If you go over the allotted time your pay will be docked accordingly. After lunch we will take a field trip and listen about and decide on our next move, Brendon, that's you buddy."

“I’m a-tingle with excitement, Big Brain,” Brendon replied.

Sniffing his own food, Wyn took a bite and looked around. “Aye time fer lunch en a wait, I tink. Let’s give it an hour en see what ‘append wit de Hobs.”

"Are we waiting until Señor Lansync's cerebo es bueno?” Abraxas asked, taking a huge bite of his food, crumbs raining into his lap. Swallowing noisily, he continued, “Como mucho tiempo? Quien tienes el vino?"

“Let’s not get too drunk,” Kovid suggested.

“Just a buzz,” the Scout assured the group, “Enough to heighten your senses, not dull your wits.”

Lannis clamped a hand over his mouth and sighed. “Don’t toss me such easy pitches, Two Eyed B. You know I have no impulse control.”

The group took some time to eat, savoring their lunch. “Opefully dey don’t get Grimtoot ta try en track us down,” Wyn shrugged. “Dough I tink de fire will likely mess em up real good.”

“Bfire is always muchos bueno!”

Finishing her meal, Lyra leaned back and closed her eyes, trying to rest a bit while everyone else finished eating. “Wake me up if we’re about to get killed.” 

"I tried that once,” the wizard commented, “You didn't listen."

“Someone else then.”

About twenty minutes later, we could hear movement beyond the secret door back to the Chapel and Brendon motioned for silence. The group gathered near and strained to hear.

“Well?”

“They did come this way.”

“Well where did they go?”

“I would guess they left. Circled around.”

“But you don’t know, do you?”

“No, Captain.”

*sound of something smashing, then followed by another smashing sound*

“How in Blessed Corfard’s name do they KEEP eluding us?!”

“Captain. I do not know.”

“Inform the Green heretic that they have escaped us again.”

“Yes, Captain.”

*sound of people leaving*

“Captain?”

“Yes Optio?”

“Captain. I know you don’t want to hear this. But maybe, maybe it’s time for us to withdraw?”

“Withdraw, Joe Fury? Withdraw to where? Tell me, where in BLESSED CORFARD’S name is safe? Huh?”

“Can we get beyond the rainbow ward?”

“No. No we cannot. Optio, we are running out of options.”

“What about the 3 goblins?”

“They hid in the fucking baths. They have as little idea as the rest of us.”

*sound of something heavy being kicked*

“Let’s go. I want a weapon’s check, armor check, and I want to get a picket set up. Spikes, barriers, everything and anything.”

“I’m on it personally, Captain.”

“Come on. We have work to do. And infidels to find and slaughter.”

“Room by room?”

“Yep. Tell the troops I want Home Base up and fortified in half a glass, then enact No Stone with the entire squad. If anyone wants to get some fucking sleep tonight, it’ll be after we find these infidel fucks.”

The sound of a few figures left followed by the door closing. Brendon was sure (no roll needed) after 10 minutes that there was no one anymore in the Chapel.

After about an hour (maybe 30 minutes after the last sound of Rampant Zealotry and his troops was heard), the group was discussing if they were leaving, “And if we are?” Lannis said with a stern whisper, “We go quietly, and listen with all fuck all to the north and west doors of the damned Chapel.”

“Sanctuary,” Lyra corrected him.

“Holy fuck. Who cares?! The big room with the statue on the floor where Sneezy over there can make his hammer do its fucking thing. Christ on a Crumpet, it’s a fucking religious room. Sheesh!”

Time now is Day 10, 1:10 PM

(OOC)

Ok. That’s an hour. Talk to me.

PBEM - Episode 446. Hideout and Regroup

FOUR HUNDRED FORTY SIX

(I/C)

Lannis snapped his fingers twice and pointed at the open secret door on the west wall. "Somebody pop that door, time is of the essence, and loading a menagerie into a room takes a while."

Frowning, Abraxas looking into the secret area and then back at Lannis. "El puerto es popp'ed, Señor Lancyst. Señor Koffa sat en el chair.”

“Putz,” Brendon grumbled invisibly from the table area.

“Do I need to open de secret door?” Wyn asked.

“Um…,” Abraxas walked right up to the secret door and stuck his hand through the opening, waving it around, and then turned to the elf. “El Puerto…it is open.”

“Oh…Oh!” Wyn looked up, scratching his head. “Got it. Ok... time to ‘ide out fer a bit. Offop’s got ‘is own bit of scoutin’ to do.”

“Si, en vamonos y tu Scry. En, en vamonos amigos."

The Magic User held up a hand, walking into the secret area confidently, head thrown back. "I want to give it a minute, so they have time to figure out what they're doing before I take a peak. Yo wait-o petito tiempo pregnenta looky looky in el majik testecles."

Abraxas make a mocking action with his free hand, opening and closing it again and again like a gibbering mouth while looking at the wizard. "...Hay es gab-bells-deed-gooks, Señor Lanskanks. No es palabras real."

“Stop having a broken jibberish war you two,” Lyra admonished them. “Just get on with the scry. This room is too small to be crammed into with all of you for much longer.” 

“Yeah,” Kovid added, “Do your thing Big Brain.”

There was a shimmer as Brendon appeared at long last, the Scout being the last one into the secret area. Wyn shut the door and depressed the lock, sliding the bolt in place. “Let’s go.”

“Five minutes, people,” Lannis implored, setting up the crystal ball. “Let’s just make sure we’re not wasting our time.”

The party settled down, everyone taking out a bit of rations to gnaw upon for the time being as it was already lunch time. Finally Lannis placed his fingers on the crystal ball and was staring at it. Waiting.

The interior of the crystal seemed to swirl and move a bit, before (<Pink 15) it started to clear. “Ugh,” he moaned. “That reminds me, I STILL need to rest some 4 hours or so, my head is swimming after that gaseous form fiasco I went on for all you people.”

“What do you mean, you people?” Lyra asked back.

“Shh,” he waved his hands, “It’s clearing….and Ok! I can see you, Rampant Zealotry. They are in…Yep! They are in Mirabellis’ room, looking around. I can see…4 of them with him. The door to the south is open…and I can see smoke and the door to the north… is open too.”

“Does he look pissed?”

“Hmmm. I’d say they are looking. He isn’t pissed or not. I’d say, he looks grim. Like I don’t know, maybe wondering how the fuck we gave him and his people the slip.”

“What else?”

“He’s talking loud, animated like. I can’t hear anything of course. Looks like orders. Salutes from the others. Hobs coming and going, all reporting to him.” He squinted. “Ok, two bows for sure.”

“We knew that.”

“Yep…But, hmmm.. Ok! That’s a net. Fucker’s have a net. With weights on the end.”

“Terrible weapon,” Wyn noted.

“True. But they have it. And what is that?” He looked closer. “One of them has what seems to be an 8’ long spear, but it has a big “C” on the end, with spikes on the inside of the “C”, and the ends of the “C” have what look like metal wings on it.”

Abraxas rubbed his chin (Fighter, no roll needed). “That is a Man Catcher.”

“Racist.”

“No, amigos. It’s used to catch someone, keep them from running.” He looked around. “And then once you are in “C”, they can drag you about or force you to the ground. And get hurt the entire time.”

“Sounds like something used for controlling horses, not men.” He looked more. “Fading here. He is walking into the hall north of the Sanctuary…and they are walking down the hall to the game case. He’s in the main hall now, more hobs here…And done.” He stood up and rubbed his eyes. “Ok, that answers that.”

“So they are near by,” Kovid mused. “Trying to find us, and wondering how we gave them the slip.”

“There aren’t many places we could have hidden in,” Brendon muttered. “And that room beyond the secret door is one of them.” He settled down and ate some more lunch, his back to the secret door, head leaning back against it to hear through. “I’d say stay here for a while and let them come in and reassure them that we aren’t in here.”

“So…stay?”

Time now is Day 10, 12:10 PM

(OOC)

Final use of the Crystal Ball. Let me know, and what you guys want to do next? Ritual to skip time? Stay here?

PBEM - Episode 445. Tactics and South again

FOUR HUNDRED FORTY FIVE

(I/C)

Glancing behind into the fire lit gloom, Abraxas gave the party a quick shove. "Andale amigos. Sanctuary y beyond!"

“Relax there, Mistakes Ranger,” Lannis cautioned. “Inviso Hobs and other shit, ok?”

Wyn nodded, glancing into the room. “No one in dere.” He pointed to the Sanctuary. “H'okay... we need ta hide. Confuse dem ta think we got away. To de secret room, eh?”

"We're only gonna get one chance to make them think we got away,” Lannis looped his thumbs into the lapel of his robe and tried to look heroic. “No messing around, let's get into that room and get quiet. Alright ladies, let's go."

“Wipe your tears,” Lyra commented, following Kovid into the room. “Let’s move on.”

Rubbing his face on the sleeve of his robe, Lannis complained, “I wasn’t crying.”

“Whatever,” she replied.

“Abraxas, take dem in. We need ta let dem tink we left, too.”

“Si! Senor Blowfeld, stay here with the lantern so we can see.”

With Kovid at the entrance of the Sanctuary, shining his lantern down the hall and into the chamber, Wyn ran to the far door and dragged the game case out of the way. “I go in ta de sanctuary afta de dwarf. In case dere be anytin hidden. I shoot it. Oui?”

“Just hurry, Elffriend.”

Wyn ran back, bow still out, and realized his spell had come to an end. “Dats dat. Let’s go. Allons-y”

The party entered the Sanctuary and crossed the chamber to the south door, past the broken statue. Brendon was already there and had hissed to the party to be silent. We waited until he assured us (no roll needed) there was no sound within and the door was not wedged. The party entered and found ourselves in the Chapel once again. From the 3 goblinoid bodies still here and nothing else out of place, the feeling was that no one had been here since we were.

Giving a look around, Kovid pointed to the chair at the table and then sat in it. He rocked back and pressed the release, and the secret door along the west wall clicked open. Leaning forward, the dwarf then stood up and wiped his beard clean. “Okay, Big Brain, you can cry magic or whatever it’s called.”

Looking into the secret chamber, Lannis scowled and said, “For the last time…I wasn't crying."

“Whatever, Sissy Mary,” Lyra smirked.

Time now is Day 10, 11:54 AM

(OOC)

Invisible Brendon – 1 mins

Ok! You’re here. You made it this far. All in and shut the door? Right now the Hobs do not know exactly where you guys are and there are more fires lit than they expected there to be. Ritual? Scry? What is the end plan here?

PBEM - Episode 444. Tactics and South again

FOUR HUNDRED FORTY FOUR

(I/C)

Joggin up, Wyn could see the fire spreading through the Goblin Warren chamber and just threw his hands up with a smirk, “Oh, ‘ow nice of de Hobs to help us along.” He looked at the bed placed at the north door and added, “I see no reason to change de plan. Continue as discussed, oui?”

Pointing south, Brendon said, “Less talking, more fire and moving!”

“Monsieur Salazar an’ Dwarffriend, want to get de Duchess’ bed in front o dat door? I tink more o de blaze is wot is needed!”

“Si! Let’s go!” Abraxas and Kovid ran to the next chamber and charged to the corner where the former thief’s bed was, and started dragging that one as well.

Meanwhile, Lannis was pouring his flask of oil all over the bed here, almost dancing with glee as he did it. "I have never felt closer to all of you. We should do this more. I just...I love this, I love you. Please, let me

do the honors." He bowed low, spread his fingers, and incanted, “IN BET FLAM!” and a spray of Sparks flew out, hit the oil and bed, and ignited it! Black smoke began billowing up as the fire spread and the Magic User was dancing as he ran back with the party for the next room.

Lyra was looking around, watching as the Fighter and Dwarf shoved the bed down the hall and into the base of the western door. “Honestly, I’dd be okay if we just burned the entire castle to the ground. What we’re we even here for again? Let’s just collect our gold and let this bitch burn.”

“Hang on!” Lannis said, he ran up to the burning bed, grabbed the corner of one of the pillows on fire, and ran it back down the room and tossed it onto the next bed…starting that one up (although much slower without an accelerant).

Pushing the party south across the Mirabellis’ chamber, Kovid gave the last bed a glance and Wyn shook his head. “Should I open one of these doors or something?” He asked. “We just going?"

“Aye!” Brendon said right behind the dwarf, looking behind and

ears perked (Hobgoblin actions: Black 18), feeling uncomfortable. “Take us through.”

“Open them,” Lyra motioned to the dwarf. “I’ll be right behind you guys in case there’s a problem waiting.”

“Thanks Lass.”

Kovid grabbed the handle and opened, leading the group into the hall. We listened down to the end where the game shelf was situated, but heard nothing. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door to the Sanctuary and the party looked in beyond, breathing a sigh of relief that the room was empty.

“Well? We going in and hiding out?” Lannis asked, “Or am I going to fuck with that ritual that play leapfrog in time?”

Time now is Day 10, 11:44 AM

(OOC)

Invisible Brendon – 11 mins

Det invis Wyn –1 mins

Alright! You made it! What is the next part of the plan?

PBEM - Episode 443. Tactics and South again

Group decided in a pique of inspiration to fight fire with fire. If the hobs are lighting a fire - then damn it, we're doing that too! And then run away again. Had me laughing, best plans are those that I can't plan for!

Follows:

FOUR HUNDRED FORTY THREE

(I/C)

Lannis looked around, the overripe reek of the former goblins’ an assault on his senses. "I say we prep this area for a fire, pop open at least one door then fire it up and hide. Let them make of it what they will.” He pointed south. “We can scry or whatever at our leisure after from the secret room. I've got oil and fire"

"Fuego? Plan B? H'Okay amigos. No hace sense, pero hacemos anyway." Abraxas smiled

“Wait, it’s plan B time? Fire?” Lyra rubbed her hands together with glee. “Alright. Time to play with fire. Wish I had a resist fire left but I don’t, so watch your hair and fingers.” 

Wyn held up a hand for caution. “Whoa. Whoa. I good wit dis idea... but before we do it, we should check de door to de chapel…”

“Sanctuary,” Lyra corrected.

“Oui. Sanctuary. To make sure it cen open. Don’t want to Plan B wit out a way out, oui?”

Brendon leaned over to Abraxas and whispered, “Does plan B always to consist of fire? Isn’t B for blue or biological?”

The fighter shrugged, shaking his head and replied in a stage whisper, "B is for Bfire."

“Ah. Thanks Doc. That actually makes some sense.”

“So we check de door south, den prep de beds,” Wyn suggested.

“I’ll watch your back as you go check out the door,” the Scout offered.

“Fire time. Got it.” Kovid looked around the room, “I agree with elf-friend, we should make sure we have a way out.”

Wyn pointed to the large bed on the south wall. “I tink we cen move de goblin bed to de nord door. Den de Duchess bed to de Duchess door at de west entrance. I also tink we leave Mira’s bed where it be.”

“There are zombified sex hands under the bed,” Lannis said with a shudder. “So I agree. Leave it alone unless you want to get a bad case of crotch rot.”

“Ew!” Lyra grimaced. “And I don’t have a way to cure that disease yet.”

“Go check the door,” Abraxas suggested. “I’ll move the bed here.”

Nodding thanks, Wyn ran off to the south, Brendon following through the south door and stopping just within daylight and lantern light range at the arch between Mirabellis’ and Duchess’ chamber. The elf continued on south, his infravision kicking in as he ran through and to the south door. He listened briefly and hearing nothing, opened it up and stepped into the hall.

Meanwhile Abraxas and Kovid were lifting and dragging the bed across the room, placing it in front of the north door to the hall by the Alchemy Lab. Lannis had taken out a flask of oil and Lyra was looking around, ears alert and eyes open.

Wyn crossed the short hall to the Sanctuary Door and slowly turned the knob, pushing the door briefly, sighing with relief that it opened up. A quick look through the crack showed no heat sources within. Satisfied he closed it behind him, breathed a sigh of relief, and headed back north, closing the door from the hall to Mirabellis’ room next.

“We good?” he heard Brendon call to him, his Detect Invisibility easily picking out the Scout standing in the archway.

“Oui! We good!”

As this was going on, Lyra looked at Lannis and frowned. “Did you just hear that?”

“What? Lyra! What do your Horse-Ears hear?”

“Shh!”She admonished him, looking around the room. “I thought I heard a door open?”

From the western door leading to the Goblin Warren in that direction, the smell of smoke and burning cloth grew thick and rank, followed by smoke as something lit the contents of that room on fire, and it spread south and towards the direction of the goblin room!

“Aw! Fuck this SHIT!” Lannis cursed! “How many of OUR great ideas are they going to do!?!”

“Bfire!” Abraxas called out, looking around. “Bruno! Bfire!”

Time now is Day 10, 11:34 AM

(OOC)

Invisible Brendon – 21 mins

Det invis Wyn – 11 mins

AHhahahahaha! Snort! Hahahahahah! Western Warrens were set on fire. What are you going to do?

PBEM - Episode 442. Plans and Contact.

FOUR HUNDRED FORTY TWO

(I/C)

Pulling out his sword and shield, Wyn stepped up to the middle of the pack and nodded at the door to Mirabellis’ room. “Let’s try to head nord, trough de gobs’ room en right. Get to de nord hallway. We cen listen to doors on de way dere.”

“That’s a lot of doors,” Kovid muttered.

“Dere is a lot o’ Roberts, Dwarffreind.”

 "Yo no se about ese plan amigos,” Abraxas readied his Scythe, “Pero soy con tu todos el way. Vamonos amigos! Let's hacemos los Roberts muerte!"

“I’m inspired,” Lannis shrugged, flexing his fingers in readiness to cast a spell. “You heard the man.” He pointed to Brendon. “Number Two…Engage.”

“Ugh,” The Scout turned the knob and readied to open the door. “Why am I number two? Because you’re number one?”

“Nope, because you’re a shit. Now do something useful and open that door. Diagon Alley.”

“I swear I have so little idea what you’re saying.” Brendon still invisible opened the door and Kovid held the lantern up, Hammer ready. Mirabellis’ room appeared pretty much as it did before. The wizardess had been tossed to the corner, most of her soft facila tissue had been gnawed away. And some of her belongings looked like they had been gone through. But nothing else was obvious.

“Priestess,” Wyn whispered, “ye may want to have yer holy symbol out in case dere be sometin undead in dere.”

“Ya think?” Lannis hissed.

Lyra did indeed have her symbol out, along with her Flail and shield, as the group followed the dwarf and scout into the room. They crossed it slowly to the other side and from there, gave a peer into Duchess’ former chamber. From what we could tell at an idle glance, nothing was going on in here as well. Brendon went to the north door and listened (no roll needed), checking it quickly (also no roll needed). “Seems ok,” he whispered back, “And it’s not wedged.”

Frowning, the Cleric muttered, “These guys definitely have some trap set up somewhere.”

“I expect it at some point,” Kovid agreed.

She nodded once, continuing, “If it really is a ballista, they’re going to get us the minute we step out from one of the three north goblin room doors.”

Giving her a full on once over from head to toe, Lannis tried to keep the disdain off his face before telling her, enunciating with care, “Holy crap! A Ballista. Is Not. An Anti-Per-Son-Nel. Weapon. Say it again for the people in the cheap seats. A Ballista is not an antipersonnel weapon."

“I know, I know. But you, know…stuff?” she trailed off.

“I’d tell you to just sit there and look pretty, but that ship never even pulled up to the dock, Slutcruteriat.”

“Enough,” Brendon scolded the Magic User. “Really.” He turned the knob of the door and led the party into the open bedroom. The two doors on the east and west walls leading to the goblin warrens were open, and there were a few bits of cloth and bedding that had spilled into the main chamber. The north door was closed, and Kovid and Brendon led the party to the eastern door and into the Warren, Abraxas closing the doors behind us.

Lannis frowned as the air in front of him shimmered and faded away. “Shield spell’s done. So I’ll probably get with the fucking ballista now.”

(Hobgoblin’s actions: Black 19)

Brendon bent his ear to the door at the north end of the Warren and listened (>Hear Noise, Red 94) but after a minute of two gave a thumbs up. “I don’t hear anything and this door isn’t wedged either.”

“We going?” Wyn asked.

Time now is Day 10, 11:29 AM

(OOC)

Invisible Brendon – 26 mins

Det invis Wyn – 16 mins

Party is at the north door of the east goblin warren area. You’ve made it this far! Good luck!!!

PBEM - Episode 441. Plans and Contact.

Hobgoblins are smart and militarized - and the group was not feeling their luck on hoping to out think them while they were on their ground and had it prepared. They felt boxed in and were looking for a hole to attack from.

Follows:

FOUR HUNDRED FORTY ONE

(I/C)

Dragging the gamecase behind him into the hall, Kovid kicked the door closed and said, “Wyn, want to hocus pocus this door locked? If not I could use the shelves here, or what’s left of them.”

“Oui, Dwarfriend,” Wyn said, stepping up to the shut portal.

Looking around the hall, Lyra asked, “Should we be locking every door we walk out of to prevent them from flanking us?”

Interrupting the Cleric, Wyn called back to the Scout, “Du Lac, cen you listen to de door to de nord into Mira’s room en check it fer traps?”

"I thought horses could count?” Lannis said sneeringly, glancing at the Cleric. “This would be his last one.”

“Will do,” Brendon said, stepping up to the portal and muttering in goblin, “Lannis sucks does have a catchy beat to it.”

“I say we move north to the lab,” Kovid said, watching Wyn lay his hand on the door and making a lock appear. “We get out of here where they have us pinned to this corner of the castle.”

Looking around, holding his Scythe higher, Abraxas inquired, "Que es el plan Amigos? Norte? South? Donde? Tu lead, yo miro our backs. No ambushes hoy."

Satisfied it was locked, the elf looked around at the party and asked, hand waving at the door Brendon was listening at, “Do we just bust that one down en keep movin into de goblin rooms? Wyn be good with any option.”

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” said Lyra. “But let’s be smart about this. Kicking in doors is going to attract some attention as well as surprise the enemy, but it’ll also make fleeing from where we came harder.” 

Shrugging, Lannis suggested, “Crazy idea, we just turn around and charge em right through that door,” he said pointing at the door Wyn locked a moment earlier. “They'll never see it coming.”

“Sigh…Non Monsieur Offop. Just Non.”

“Fine, more rational plan? We go north and kick some Robert nipples in."

“I don’t hear anything in Lannis’ Girlfriends’ chamber,” (No roll needed) Brendon said with a smirk. “And I don’t think the door is trapped, we’ve been through it a bunch and that will just take too long to check. I CAN tell you that it isn’t wedged, I can feel it moving slightly.”

“Hokay den. Nord? An if so? How far are we looking to go in a fell swoop?”

“Tick tock,” Lannis said. “Spells are wasting.”

(Hobgoblins did stuff – we can’t hear or tell.)

Time now is Day 10, 11:14 AM

(OOC)

Invisible Brendon – 41 mins

Det invis Wyn – 31 mins

Shield Lannis – 11 mins

In the hall – door to main hall is locked and has a game rack placed against it and the inside wall, making opening it from the outside a bitch. North to Mirabellis’ room or elsewhere? And if north, let me know what the end goal is to reach and how far.

PBEM - Episode 440. Plans and Contact.

FOUR HUNDRED FORTY

(I/C)

“So...,” Lyra observed, “anyone else feel like they’re not just running away? 5 crowns on it being a ballista.”

“Maybe someone cen ready dat gnomish fire flash to throw down de hall to keep doze hobholes at bay while we get through here?” the elf asked. “What do ye all tink?

Unseen, Brendon asked, “I’ll carry the gnomish fire under my cloak down the hall. They won’t see the fireball until it’s too late.”

Holding it out, Kovid waited for the invisible Brendon to take it from the dwarf and drape it under his cloak. “Hold tight, Brendon. I don’t think going forward is in the plan.”

“Oui! Dat Garden door is a bad place. And dey tink we are jammed up here.” He looked east at the door Brenedon could not open before. “Dey can't get behind us iffin we don't let dem... maybe we cen dislodge dis door to de east? Give me a second.”

Feeling exposed, Lannis groused, "This sucks, it's not fair when the bad guys do this stuff. Hey Kleo the misfit Cleric, go tell them to stop being dickweeds and fight fair."

“Hey Lannis, the shittier version of Professor Umbridge, why don’t you!?” Lyra fired back.

"Donde amigos? Left o Derecho? Donde son los Roberts? Forward o No?" 

Wyn shook his head. “I agree wit Dwarffriend. Going forward is a mal idea.” He crouched low. “We cent get anything under dis door... Dis may be a spike... we don’t have de proper tools fer dis. Time to bash it down I tink. Wyn trying kicking one. If day not work, Salazar, cen ye try?”

Handing the game shelf to Kovid, Abraxas joined Wyn at the door. “No time for fucking around. Let’s do it together.”

Nodding firmly, Wyn steadied himself, ready to charge at the door. “Ready den? Uno. Dos. Très!” and the elf and fighter charged the door (<Open door -2 wedged, +1 Wyn, +3 Abraxas, Blue 1 – yes!). It slammed open about a foot and a half before stopping short. Forcing the two men to hit it a second time, making the opening wide enough for Wyn to slip inside and kick the wide wooden wedge out of the way. “Let’s go!”

The hall was lit up as the group filed in, Kovid holding the hallway last, one hand on each game shelf, dragging them backwards to the hall between the Sanctuary and Mirabellis’ room. “Do I bring these or not?” he asked.

There was more distant noise from down the hall but one Hobgoblin did come around the corner and took aim, firing his bow and sending another arrow (<+2 to hit, Black 13) out where it smashed into one of the shelves (1d6 Damage: red 5), splitting part of the backing and driving about halfway through. “Damn, these shelves are only good for 3 or so hits each.”

“It’s for stacking Agricola on and those pewter chess sets in the shape of the Lord of the Ring characters, not to be used to repel attackers,” Lannis replied snidely.

Another hob ran forward a few steps and snatched the light coin and lanyard off the floor, running back behind the corner with it, and plunging the end of the hall into darkness.

“Thor’s Balls. That’s our cue.”

(Initiative 2 vs 2 – re roll. Party Steel 5 vs Enemy Red/Black 4)

Time now is Day 10, 11:12 AM

(OOC)

Invisible Brendon – 43 mins

Det invis Wyn – 33 mins

Shield Lannis – 13 mins

Party forced the door open and made it into the side hall – Kovid being at the door (currently still open) and has both barriers – one already about halfway done. What’s the plan?

PBEM - Episode 439. Plans and Contact.

FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY NINE

(I/C)

"Advance the phalanx!” Lannis cheered from behind, glancing down the hall and making a judgment on their speed and placing. “Wyn, I’ll spell. You shoot.”

“Oui!”

“Wyn, sling please?” Lyra asked, getting it back while Wyn readied his bow. “Thanks!” She loaded up a stone and spun it. “Been a few days since I’ve done this!” she commented.

“At least 200 turns,” The Magic User agreed.

“Whatever!” She let it rocket and it flew (>+4 to hit, White 20 – Critical! Max damage – 3 points) with a WHIZZING sound…and slapped the leftmost hobgoblin archer in the face! Teeth flew and it howled in pain at the impact. “Whoa!” She said. “I still got it!”

“Get a cream, get that cleared up. Otherwise you might get goblinitis when you touch one of them with your hooves.”

“Hob Goblins, it’s in the name,” Kovid snorted, him and Abraxas working side by side to advance down the hall, their barriers in place. “They may be organized but they’re still greenie shits that deserve to be under my boots.”

"Despues de ese plan, maybe llama me Señor Cerebo Grande. Keep moving amigos. We push on!"

Wrapping up his spell before the enemy could get another pair of shots out, the Magic User was looking at the shelfs and asked, “Were there any good games in there? Probably could have blocked a few shots with Merchants and Marauders considering how dense that thing is. ZU!!” A blast of pink tinges sparks scented like roses shot free and struck the wounded hobgoblin in the chest (4d4 hd: 1+4+3+2=10 hd!) where he collapsed to the ground, asleep. The same was to the one next to him and we could here others around the corner falling as well.

Cursing and complaining followed along with a number of slaps and snacks, verbal cajoling, and even some grunts that sounded like kicks. It was when one of them emerged from behind the corner to try and wake up one of the sleeping archers that Wyn who had been holding his weapon at the ready, let his arrow fly (>+8 to hit, Orange 18), the shaft slamming into the Hob (1d6 Damage, Orange 3!). He cried out in pain and snatched his hand back, the elf’s taunting of, “Dats for being shite!” chasing after it.

(Initiative: 2 vs 2 – tie, reroll. Party Steel 4 vs Hobs Red/Black 6)

Some more slapping and hitting followed, and two more hobs each with shields dared to step out behind the corner, grab the two hobs and their bows, and violently drag them back. The group was ready for an assault, an attack, anything.

But the hobs did NOT come around the corner and we could hear them at a distance down the hall and out of visible range. “What the hell are they doing?” Brendon asked.

“I dunno,” Lyra frowned.

“Ah still dunt see no invisible ones,” Wyn commented.

“Neither do we,” Lannis reminded him.

"You know wot I mean!”

Abraxas pointed to the Garden door a good 15’ still ahead of them. “Want to guess they might come out there?”

“I’ll lock it as soon as we get closer, mon ami!”

Time now is Day 10, 11:11 AM

(OOC)

Invisible Brendon – 44 mins

Det invis Wyn – 34 mins

Shield Lannis – 14 mins

Sleep worked, but they wasted (?) their round and the next dealing with it. No attack? Why? 35 feet from Abraxas and Kovid’s position to the end of the hall. 15’ to the Garden door. (Add 5’ for Lyra, 10’ for Wyn/Lannis, and 15’ for Brendon). Bottom of the round – you guys go!

PBEM - Episode 438. Plans and Contact.

FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY EIGHT

(I/C)

Clapping his hands together once to get everyone’s silence and attention, Abraxas waited a moment for everyone’s attention to focus on him before he said. “Frontal Assault.”

“Buh-whaat?” Lannis asked.

However, Abraxas was already sweeping games off the two tall shelves, pointing to Kovid to help him out. "Señor Koopa, grab que shelf de libros. We can carry these down el Hall towards los Roberts. It may be muy oscuro por ellos ojos a mirais el shelves until estamos much closer.”

“Shelf de what?” Kovid asked before snapping his fingers and jumping to help. “Oh! The GAME cases. You got it Big A!”

“Si!” He was sweeping out the bottom shelf and giving the piece of furniture a short lift to judge it weight. “Usamos los shelves de libros similar a shields y por cover. They can block arrows,” he frowned at the flimsy material it was made of and shrugged, “Maybe. Señor Wynymph o Señor Loinkiss can usar Sleep en los Roberts si they come at us. It will greatly limit their visibility y ability a lucha con us para afar.”

Giving the operation a regal wave, Lannis commented, "There's no problem that can’t be solved with the proper application of BFI I suppose. Carry on"

“Ah yes... good, de fighters block de way.” Wyn looked hopeful. “Hopefully it blocks dere vision of us as much as de arrows. Reminds Wyn of de mattress plan earlier dis week. Remember how buon dat went?”

Moving his shelf to the door, Abraxas continued, “Perhaps, Señor Wyndigo, si tienes mas Locks en to vestido, tu can Lock el Puerto a el Jardin on el way forward, so los Roberts no can loop back around through el Jardin, o get Decampush o La Guardias from there a come out. Yo creo ese will work. Muy bueno."

“Dwarfriend, cen I see dat map?” After moving his shelf to the door as well, Kovid unrolled it for the elf to look at. “Hm... h’okay, iffin we get to de door soud of Mira’s room, dat will invite a few arrows en confirm dey still be at de corner. Den Wyn slings de light coin to de end of de hall en Offop cen be ready to cast sleep as soon as one of de Hobs is visible.”

“What a waste of an invisibility potion,” Brendon groused. “I would have loved to shank another one of these guys.”

Smiling in the assumed direction of the invisible Scout, Wyn said, “Du Lac, I tink you will ‘ave yer chance to shank de hobs. Do not worry.” He held his hand out and asked, “Please give me yer light coin, du Lac... en Priestess, may I borrow dat sling?”

Handing it over, Lyra said, “One sling, you got it.” And Brendon removed his coin from around his neck and handed it over, the necklace and coin becoming visible.

“Merci. Once we get some of dem to sleep, we need to be fast to coup de grace as many as possible, so we push forward after de sleep, gamecases still up.”

“Can’t run with these shelves,” Kovid offered.

“Si. Also vera flimsy.”

“Unnerstood. Iffin Wyn detects an invisible Hob on de way, I switch to bow en shoot it en point out where it is. Maybe den one of de fighters cen smash it with a bookcase or bull rush it to knock it back.” He looked around and shrugged. “I can’t imagine dey plan fer bookcases... so let’s show dem some improv magic, oui?”

Picking his teeth with a dart, Lannis said, "You talk a lot man. IN SANCT EGO!" And a shield of shimmering force centered around him before fading from view (2 turns).

“Let’s go.”

Kovid and Abraxas were first, each with a gaming shelf unit held in front of them, the two fighters walking abreast, tilting their heads to look around the furniture as they walked, the dwarf’s lantern bouncing at his waist, light bobbling. Lyra was next, standing right behind them, shield up and looking over the rim, flail out and ready. Wyn and Lannis were next, Wyn with Lyra’s sling and Brendon’s coin loaded up, the Magic User fingers spread ready to cast sleep. Brendon was last, the Scout invisible but had his sword drawn and was waiting for the right opportunity to get an attack in.

They walked with care, moving slowly, the two fighters holding their cover up and then lowering it now and again as their arms grew tired before shifting their grips and moving on. They passed the double doors on the left, and then the 1st set on the right. As they were coming to the next set (Quick Initiative, prepared missile weapon people only: 1 Wyn w./sling vs 2 hobs with bows: Steel 3 vs Red/Black 4), Wyn muttered, “I tink I hear…”

(>+2 to hit, Black 20..<Black 11 – Can’t critical, Cover) Two arrows fired out , each one striking the two wooden barriers being carried for cover. Both struck deep, but one of the arrows (1-3 Kovids, 4-6 Abraxas: Yellow 1 – Kovid. 1d6 Damage: Red 2 – Take 2 Damage!) drove through deep enough to poke the dwarf in the back of his left hand, making him grunt in pain and pull his hand back, shifting his grip higher up. “Fuck, nicked me.”

“Kaptarn. Burani!” The hobgoblin’s voices sounded out clear down the hall.

At the same moment, Wyn let his sling spin and hurled the light coin (>+6 to hit, Orange 3) fly. His aim was too high and it rang off the ceiling, but the momentum was good and the coin bounced crazily down the hall before coming to a stop about 10 feet from the two hobs at the end (65’ away), each with a bow out, one glancing west down the passage, both seeking to load another arrow. There was a gulf of darkness between our group and theirs, but to Wyn’s vision, it was clear of potentially invisible foes.

(True initiative: Party Steel 4 vs Enemy Red/Black 1).

The group was about even with the northern pair of double doors that would lead to the Sanctuary and Lyra asked, “We shoving through here? Or are we going to run down this hall and hit them?”

Time now is Day 10, 11:10 AM

(OOC)

Invisible Brendon – 45 mins

Det invis Wyn – 35 mins

Shield Lannis – 15 mins

Alright team! Go time! Reminder – 65 feet from Abraxas and Kovid’s position to the end of the hall (60’ to the 2 hobs). Keep that in mind for movement. Lyra add 5’, Wyn and Lannis add 10’, and Brendon add 15’