Chapter 10: Eye of the Storm

[Ken]

Team B

Adamant and Shorak should be out by now, thinks Belarin with concern. He takes a split-second glance at the first-floor entrance and windows and sees no movement. The third floor, from which he had jumped, must nearly be covered in flame now, and he can see that the flames and smoke are finally attracting glances from passers-by ... at least those people who aren't either gawking at his current situation or wisely fleeing the area altogether.

Still enveloped in the shadows, he raises the wand and focuses his ire on the approaching archer. "Pathetic your aim, feeble your bow / Your vision's weak, your mind's my dough!" He unleashes a wave of stinging fey energy at the man's face and then heads back toward the building's entrance.

Finally, concerned that more of these bizarre cultists may be on the way, he wraps himself even further in the cold shadows, attempting to disappear from sight entirely, just as he did back on the Patriot.

______________________________________________
Standard: Attack the archer with eyebite vs. Will (Prime Shot applies): 1d20+8=25.
Damage: 1d6+5=9, plus 1d6=6 for warlock's curse = total 15 psychic damage, and Belarin is invisible to the archer until the start of his next turn.
Move: Move 6 squares (if necessary) back to the building's entrance.
Minor: Use shrouding gloom and the current shadowy concealment to make a Stealth check and fade from the view of anyone else who's watching: Stealth check (1d20+11=25)

[Dave W.]

Team B

"Die! Die!" it shrieks angrily.

"Look," Adamant replies spinning to face the imp, "if you wish me to die, you will have to work for it." Adamant's words strengthen his own resolve.

"Let's finish this; stand and fight me or return to your hell!"

Adamant slides in blade flashing. Immediately, he marshals the energy to follow with a second.

------------ 

At Beginning of Round: 
• no one Challenged
• Adamant is bloodied.

Minor Action:  Warforged Resolve 
Adamant gains 9 temp hp and because he's bloddied 9 real hp.

Move Action: Divine Challenge on imp

Standard Action: Holy Strike vs. AC (1d20+12=15) probably a miss.

======= Action Point! ========
Try again: Holy Strike vs. AC (1d20+12=28)
Radiant Damage (1d8+6+3=10)
hopefully the little bugger is vulnerable to radiant damage??

At End of Round: 
• imp  Challenged 

[Dave B.]

Team B

Leaving the door open for Adamant, Shorak rushes into the apartment, heading towards a window that looks out onto the street. He is careful to take a look at the window and outside before opening it and climbing out.

Assuming nothing gets in the way of Shorak escaping, he should be able to boomerang the archer next round, assisting Belarin.

[Jeff]

Team B

Round 8

25 = Belarin
17 = Shorak
17 = Adamant
16 = imp
5 = mystery men

_______________________________

Twenty feet from the archer, Belarin blasts him with another spell...and this time the man goes down. Without waiting to see if he's dead, Belarin hastens around the corner and toward the front door, nearly reaching it. The shadows formed by the building seem to beckon to him, falling over and concealing him.

Shorak opens the window and climbs easily out, touching down on the cobbles just outside. Facing west (with the giant's head to his immediate north), he's around the corner from the entrance. He also sees the street crowd hurrying along, just starting to take notice of the fire. And Shorak also sees the crumpled form of another cloaked stranger. He sees no sign of Belarin.

Adamant steadies himself, then takes another swing at the imp, but he misses. But he swings again, fast and hard, and slices into the little devil with a flare of holy light. The creature shrieks and curses.

Instead of retaliating, it vanishes from sight again.

• Belarin takes 1 point of necrotic damage.
• Belarin's eldritch blast hits the archer, defeating or slaying him.
• Adamant uses warforged resolve and gains 9 temporary hit points and heals 9 hit points.
• Adamant's attack misses the imp.
• Adamant spends an action points. His second attack hits the imp, dealing 10 radiant damage.
• Fire deals 9 damage -5 (disk) = 4 fire damage to Adamant.
• The imp turns invisible.

[/color]Outside, a few scattered shouts of "fire!" start up, though Belarin notes that no one looks like they're about to come get involved. Not yet, anyway. Then he sees two more figures emerge from the hurrying crowd. Both are cloaked in drab gray and brown, just like the others, though from the height and girth of one, Belarin is fairly sure he's got orcish blood in him. The skinnier of the two has no obvious weapons, but fire lights from both his hands. A mage of some kind. The other just has a spiked club, like the larger human up in the hallway outside Shorak's apartment. They are speaking to one another in clipped tones, and not in Common.

Belarin thinks they maybe don't see him yet, standing in the shadows by the door. They're 30 feet away and closing slowly on him, moving cautiously toward the front door, scanning the windows above.

___________________

So yeah, Belarin and Shorak are both outside but they're just around the corner from each other (Shorak on the west face, Belarin on the south).

[Jeff]

Team K

"You be careful...Condign," Rinti says to the tiefling. "You're going to Crow Rock, aren't you? To find Fire Eyes, right? I don't think that's a good idea. She might be big trouble you don't want. The tieflings in this city...they're not many, but they keep to themselves. My guess is...they'll either recruit you, or you won't walk away at all. I think they have their own gang...they're probably not part of the Bilge Rats."

She shakes her head and looks to Kal.

_____________________

Reminder/disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed by NPCs are the opinions of denizens within the game and do not reflect the opinions or views of the DM. You take your chances. I am impartial.

[Ken]

Team B

As the two foes approach, Belarin doesn't even risk breathing. But his concern for his two friends grows. He trusts that they'll be able to get out, but will either one be in any condition to take on two fresh opponents? He realizes that he has an opportunity to lead these new fools on a merry dance and give Shorak and Adamant a chance to catch their breath. Don't drow reportedly summon darkness?

He aims an invisible attack against the mind of the mage, and then -- employing his best impersonation of Shorak and attempting to hide his features in the shadows -- he sprints away from the building and boldly calls out, "'Slave in dark and light flesh,' hey? To catch me you'll have to pray!" He feels fey energy dancing on his tongue, ready to mislead, baffle, or frighten his foes.

As he moves, shadows trailing behind him, Belarin hopes he can end this quickly. Though the black candle is helpful at the moment, he can feel it slowly draining his life.

__________________________________
Standard: Attack the mage guy with eyebite vs. Will. Prime Shot applies. Adding +2 for combat advantage (invisibility): 1d20+10=30. Crit!
Damage: 11 psychic damage plus 1d6=3 crit damage from the wand = total 14 psychic damage, and Belarin is invisible to the mage until the start of his next turn.
Minor: Use beguiling tongue to get a +5 bonus to Belarin's next Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate check. It might come in handy in the next round. Belarin wants them to think he's Shorak. (Yes, the mage won't see "Shorak," but the orcish guy will, and he’ll hopefully be less discriminating. Ack! I’m guilty of racial profiling!)
Move: Move 6 squares due east or west, whichever is farther away from the mystery men. This could bring Belarin right past Shorak, but he has no way of knowing that. He retains concealment from Shadow Walk.

[Brian]

Rinti's words ring in Condign's ears as he walks toward the Harbor and Crow Rock. Join or die? He'd be foolish not to take her warnings seriously. That means he'll have to control the meeting place as much as possible. Difficult, given he doesn't know the city well. But with great adversity comes great honor. Maybe enough to earn back what is rightfully his.

He looks around to get his bearings. The walk shouldn't take him long.

[Dave W.]

Team B
Adamant's sword digs into the imp and then the evil creature disappears again. "My but you are in infuriating dance partner! Fine. Meet me outside."

Adamant moves down the stairs again, as fast as possible while still being watchful for the imp's next backstab.

------------

At Beginning of Round:
• imp Challenged

Minor Action:

Move Action: Double Move 10 sq down the stairs and to the door. Though if he notices the window he would probably go that way. What's the odds of him just noticing?

Standard Action: See above

At End of Round:
• no one Challenged

[Joe]

Mar 27, 2012 15:57:29 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Team K

Reminder/disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed by NPCs are the opinions of denizens within the game and do not reflect the opinions or views of the DM. You take your chances. I am impartial.

PRICELESS!!!!

[Jeff]

Team K

On the way of Silverwall, Kal and Streko, with Rinti and Tangat, see a thin plume of black smoke rising up somewhere from the residential part of the Locksmith Square half of the district. It's not close enough to see anything, but dramatic enough to suggest danger. But it's not close enough to endanger you.

Rinti shrugs. "Fires happen sometimes," she murmurs sadly.

Again, Rinti leads you around the district of Respite. Seems like she'd save some time cutting through it, but it just might be that the maze of fallen columns and high stone walls of the ancient giant city make it hard to do that.

Some time later, back in the district of Forgelight, you find yourself standing once again before the Temple of the Sovereign Host. Large, but not colossal, made of some very old-looking stone, but built strong. Again you note the unusual, draconic architecture. Stone steps lead up to the front doors, which lies just behind a heavy, raised gate. And above the gate is carved Octogram shape, symbol of the Sovereign Host.

Rinti crouches down on the front steps. "I'd like to stay outside," she says to Kal. She points to Tangat. "He can stay with me? I'll keep an eye on him." She reaches out and pets him, and Tangat seems to like it. Kal knows it's more likely Tangat will keep an eye on her.

[Jeff]

"Team" C

It takes Condign quite a wall to get his bearings. He wanders out of the district of Forgelight easy enough, but without a guide he heads off into an unfamiliar corner of the Harbor and is forced to double back and try again. At this point, he feels he could navigate the Labyrinth of Fah'lrg better. Although he can't seem locate the same place where he last spied the tiefling woman, he does find a decent vantage point overlooking the docks. He sees the outcropping of rock that rises steadily up and away from some of the more recent wooden buildings. It's that outcropping that juts out over the wharf...

And just beyond that, accessed via a rope ladder blowing in the wind, is the floating block of stone that the tiefling woman indicated. A large cube partially cracked, rounded on one side, with a wooden shack of some kind bolted and lashed with thick ropes to its underside.

It looks like it'll be a bit of a climb to get up to the outcropping. But not terribly hard. And Condign can also see that he'll be visible to many people just getting up there. There are bushes and weedy plants sprouting from the rock at various places which will grant some cover, but he'll definitely be exposed.

______________________________

I've added both Crow Rock (the floating block of stone Condign's going to) and the Temple of the Sovereign Host to the map. Refresh it!

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak moves carefully towards the front of the building, keeping an eye out for Belarin and any other cloaked figures. Seeing the crumpled form, he mutters to himself. "Someone has been busy." He does not call out to Nerrin/Belarin, just in case he has other foes pressing in against him. He keeps his boomerang ready in case a target presents itself.

If Shorak notices the two new foes he'll attack the magic user first if he still has a standard action to use after his move. Otherwise, next round.

[Brian]

Looking out at the rope ladder and the floating rock, feels a twinge of uncertainty. His desire to control the meeting place seems moot now. He could see no way to draw the tiefling woman out; who would give up the advantage of higher ground? So it is either go back, or go up.

With a rueful shake of his head, he slowly makes his way to the rope ladder. Once there, he starts to climb.

[Jeff]

Condign

Condign works his way steadily up the rocky incline, all too conscious of how his red-skinned, armored frame might be standing out from those looking up. But no one seems to follow him.

He nears the edge of the outcropping and sees it's a precipice jutting out over the water far below. Probably a good one hundred foot drop.

The floating cube of rock just hangs there, twenty feet above the lip of the rock, as if it were still connected solidly to the earth somehow. This isn't the only floating piece of ruin in the district, but it seems to be the only one in this little corner of the Harbor.

The view is...not unpleasant. Stormreach sprawls behind him with its massive proportions and the harbor is an expanse of blue and choppy, white waves. The constant smack of surf against the rocks sounds from far below. The tang of saltwater is strong.

And he feels so very exposed. He feels like eyes are on him.

The rope ladder sways constantly in the wind, which is considerably stronger up here. If there weren't wind, it would be risky jumping out to the rope; it's a good five to ten feet out to it. But the wind blows it almost within arm's reach. Still a bit of a jump is required. And Condign is keenly aware of the heaviness of his armor. And shield. Unwieldy things for jumping out over precipices.

"Leave your shield," a voice calls out from above him. A woman's voice. "You will not need your defenses up here."

Condign looks up sees a few dark windows in the wooden shack lashed to the underside of the floating rock.

[Brian]

Upon hearing the voice, Condign looks up. He cannot see the speaker, but the voice sounded like it came from the building.

"And risk having it stolen?" He shouts back. "I do not think so. Give me another choice, or I am going to bring it with me."

[Jeff]

Condign

"There is no one else up here," the voice answers. "Leave it there. It's not going anywhere."

_______________________

Brian, if Condign's taking the rope ladder, he'll have to make a minor jump attempt, an Athletics check, to succeed. It's not a hard role, but there is a small chance of failure. His armor already gives him a -1 penalty on Athletics. Holding onto the shield would give him a -2.

[Brian]

Condign glares up at the voice. As distasteful as it is to leave any part of his armor behind, he can see that climbing the rope ladder with the shield in his hand would be difficult.

"It better be here when I get back," he mutters, setting his shield in a spot where the weeds will hopefully hide it. "Or I am going to be kicking some serious butt."

With that done, he gauges the distance to the ladder, jumps and snags the rope. He then begins to climb.

_____________________________

Athletics Check: (1d20+5=15)

[Darren]

Kal smiles at Rinti, then looks at Tangat and says, "Look after my friend, then. I trust you." He smiles again, then looks back at Rinti and winks. He leans down next to the wolfdog and begins to speak in Halfling. "If you spot any trouble, or you notice anyone paying too much attention to the two of you, you pull her inside immediately and find me." Kalarian holds up a stern finger in front of Tangat's nose. "Understand?"

Kal gives the dog a quick scratch on the head, knowing through their bond that Tangat will keep a sharp eye out.

"Okay, Rinti, remain here. Remember you are a representative of House Deneith now. Conduct yourself accordingly. We won't be long." Kal turns and strides into the temple, hoping to finally find some answers to a riddle that has plagued his mind since the party's encounter with the fey.

[Jeff]

Condign

With little trouble, Condign works his way up the rope ladder. It sways madly and creaks under his weight and the momentum of his jump, but it feels strong enough. He tries not to think about the open space below or the fact that he's hanging from a rock anchored only by unknown magic.

When he reaches the top, where an opening leads into the shadows of the shack, the tiefling woman appears, stopping him from pulling himself up. She presses the flat of a blade—one of her long, curving knives—against his fingers where they cling to the rope. The implied threat is obvious. Displays of power are part of the tieflings culture.

"You're earlier than I expected," she says matter-of-factly—in the Supernal tongue, which he hasn't heard spoken so fluently in a long time  Her voice is low, but lilting in the sibilant style of his birth language.

She holds his gaze for a moment, the vivid red of her eyes captivating him for a moment. There is a challenge in her burning stare, a familiar, predatory aspect in the culture of his people. And it sure as hell has been a long, long time since he's looked upon a female of his race. There were no other tielfings among the Ghaash'kala.

"But I am glad you have come. Allies are in short supply."

She lifts her blade away and extends a hand. "Come inside. There is no danger here, unless you bring it with you."

[Jeff]

Team B

Round 9

25 = Belarin
17 = Shorak
17 = Adamant
16 = imp
5 = mystery men

_______________________________

Belarin lashes out with a spell, and the smaller of the two cloaked men clutches at his head and cries out. The man turns his head this way and that, searching for his attacker, and only looks puzzled when he glances in Belarin's actual direction; perhaps the patch of thick shadows stands out a little bit. The larger man, however, eventually looks right at him. The moment Belarin starts running—east, where the crowds in the street are thicker—he starts to bolt after him decisively.

And it's then when Shorak comes round the corner. He sees, in order, the two men standing thirty feet from the front door—the only two bystanders standing still. Then he sees one of them, the larger, club-wielding one, take off in pursuit of...a strange moving patch of shadow? With, oh yes, Belarin inside. Of course.

Shorak stops running and lets fly his drow-made boomerang! The crescent-shaped blade slashes across the man's back, exposing skin and blood through the cloak. He cries out again and swivels his head to fix on Shorak. "The drow!"

Adamant keeps moving down the stairs, the fire having already spread below him and around him. Host, it's getting toasty in here. If the imp is still about, it's not attacking. Adamant thinks he may have reminded of its own mortality. Well, perhaps not; he'd heard it said by priests of the Hosts that devils, demons, and all manner of unearthly fiends are immortal in spirit. But that they can be "slain" for temporary periods of time. He doesn't think the imp has been "killed," but certainly gravely injured.

Setting foot in the 1st floor corridor, Adamant sees the front door is still closed, but he sees no sign of Shorak. One of the apartment doors hangs open, though.

• Belarin's attack hits George, dealing 14 psychic damage and Belarin is invisible to the man until the start of his next turn.
• Belarin uses beguiling tongue.
• Shorak's attack (sly flourish) vs. George's AC: Basic ranged attack (1d20+10=24) (hit) / damage (1d6+7=9)
damage to George
• Adamant double moves.
• Fire deals 6 damage -5 (disk) = 1 fire damage to Adamant.

[/color]With the real Shorak in sight and approaching (now only twenty feet away), the two cloaked men out front turn their attention on him. The thinner man with fire around his hands throws them out...and the fire slings out like two fiery bolts. Shorak sees it coming and turns his body, allowing the fire to swish harmlessly past him. The other man, the brutish thug with the spiked club, turns from his intended target (Belarin) and thunders over to Shorak instead. The spikes whistle past his cheek but Shorak manages to dodge....just barely!

And then, out of seemingly nowhere, a pair of fiery arrows rain down from above! Both slash into Shorak, but neither sinks into him. Looking up, both Shorak and Belarin can see two more drably-cloaked figures standing on the roof of Shorak's tenement building, these with shortbows in hand! As it's connected on one side to the next building over, the roof seems easily accessed.

• George's attack vs. Shorak's Reflex: 12 (miss)
• Lenny's attack vs. Shorak's AC: 19 (miss)
• Snipers' attacks vs. Shorak's AC: 21 (hit), 27 (hit) / Shorak takes 1 damage plus 2 fire (3 total) and 2 damage plus 2 fire (4). 7 total damage to Shorak.

[/color]
You're pretty sure that conflict of this sort won't be tolerated by the Stormreach Guard for too long, nor will setting fires to buildings, but you're not surprised at this point that the response time is disappointing. There is still no sign of anyone helping or stopping these men.

[Ken]

Team B

Belarin is relieved to see that Shorak is all right, relatively speaking, yet also disappointed that his impromptu diversionary tactic has fallen apart. He felt it would've been entertaining. Still, there's a chance to "play"...

He calls out loudly in Nerrin's voice, "Look out! They seek the map!" With all these spectators, it would be pointless to let the opportunity go to waste, he reasons.

The attacks by the archers on the roof, however, put him in a deadly serious mood once again. And where in Khyber is Adamant? If he melted, I'll kill him! He darts around Shorak and the orcblood, trying to get in a position to strike both of the new attackers. He glares venomously at the mage in particular as he speaks, "You fools who seek to scorch and maim / By hate and spell be set aflame!" Brilliant, fiery bolts of crimson lightning sear the area in front of him.

________________________________________
Move: Belarin will move (even Run if necessary) to get to a spot where he can target both foes in a blast 3 attack without hitting Shorak. If he can do so while also getting closer to the fallen archer, all the better. Belarin maintains concealment from Shadow Walk.
Minor: Place warlock's curse on George.
Standard: Attack George and Lenny ("Tell me about the rabbits, George!"), respectively, with crackling fire vs. Reflex: 1d20+7=25 (George), 1d20+7=17 (Lenny)
Damage: 2d8+5=19, plus 1d6=1 for warlock's curse (George) = total 20 fire & lightning damage to George and 19 fire & lightning damage to Lenny, and they gain vulnerable 5 fire and vulnerable 5 lightning (save ends). Wonder how that'll work with George's flaming hands?
Miss: Half damage.

Notes: Jeff, I must be honest and say that Belarin should have taken 1 point of necrotic damage that round. And if a cursed target dies this round, Belarin will teleport to stay out of range of Lenny.

[Brian]

Condign

Condign accepts the woman's hand and lifts himself up onto the stone. He takes a moment to gather himself. The height is considerable, though the view is spectacular. Stormreach is vast, complex. Though he does see a thin spire of black smoke rising from one part of the city. Somebody is having a bad day.

He turns to the tiefling woman. In Supernal, he replies, "Early, am I? Well, I like to keep people guessing. And you name me ally already. Bold, since you do not know who I am." He extends his hand. "I am called Condign. And the next time you pull a blade on me, you had better be ready to use it."

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak takes a step closer to the building, trying to make himself a harder target for the archers on the roof. He let's fly with his boomerang. It shoots out at the two assailants, spinning wildly, seeming to be searching for their eyes. Cuts appear on their faces, blood pours freely around and into their eyes. "You could at least tell me why you are targeting me. What have I done to incur your ire?"

Minor action: Shift 1 square towards the wall of the building and away from his foes.
Standard action: Blinding Barrage (close blast)
(1d20+10=11) Vs. spellcaster's AC
(1d20+10=22) Vs. brute's AC
Damage (1d6+7=13) + 1d6=3
Total damage is 16 and blinded until end of Shorak's next turn if a hit or 8 and not blinded if a miss.

Sorry about rolling the d6 separately, but I didn't want to give up the first d6 roll before I modified. I also took the roll for the Deft strike and made it the second roll for the Blinding Barrage. Action point still in tact. Hopefully, he won't need to use it. Thanks again Ken for noticing my mistakes. I've been posting while half asleep this week.

[Jeff]

Team K

Streko and Kal find themselves inside the small cathedral, which is still larger than most town-based churches of the Host. It's hushed, heavy with stone columns and arches, and smells more of herbs and alchemy than of incense. It's also remarkably dark for a temple. There's a few wall-mounted torches, creating a dungeon-like effect. Only a few thin shafts of green, red, blue, and purple light pierce through the small cluster of stained glass windows. Up above, a black dome—black or gray glass?—serves as a centerpiece of the vaulted ceiling. But within the gloom, you can see tiny pinpoints of light. Stars. No moons.

There are no pews, just a few benches and altars and a fair amount of open space in the center of the worship hall. What really stands out are the shrines arrayed around it, each one sequesters only by ornate arches.

The Sovereign gods are each depicted as dragons. This is not unheard of, but usually as an alternate aspect, secondary to the more humanoid depictions. Not here. Each god is carved lovingly with different types of stone over their respective altars: Olladra appears as a sleek black dragon carved in onyx, curled sinuously around a tall iron tree stump, her horns angled forward, her mouth open as if ready to spew acid. Dol Arrah, meanwhile, is carved of lustrous red rock veined with gold and orange, perched imperiously on a cloud made of white marble. And so on. They ate stunning to look upon. Donation coffers are fixed into the altars.

The whole effect is that this temple speaks of great wealth. It's not really gaudy, just very extravagant.

There a few people in here right now, supplicants paying respects to one shrine or another. You do see one who is probably a priest, a pale blue-robed elf speaking quietly with a woman by a shrine to Kol Korran. The latter is depicted as a white dragon.

[Jeff]

Condign

The space inside the shack is shaded, cool, and more than a little drafy, but no unpleasant. There are four tiny rooms all centered around a slender metal column which appears to have been bolted into the rock above.

Condign:

"...And you name me ally already. Bold, since you do not know who I am." He extends his hand. "I am called Condign. And the next time you pull a blade on me, you had better be ready to use it."

"I'm always ready to use it," she answers smoothly.

The tiefling woman then takes his hand and shakes it. "And that name doesn't tell me too much, Condign. Except that you have something to hide?" She gestures to a small table and two chairs in one of the rooms. The outer wall of this room hangs open, hinged, forming one big window open to the sky and commanding a view of the docks.

She takes a seat and gestures to the other for him. She lays one of her curved blades down on the table between them, a gesture of openness. She has a short sword hanging from one hip and a second curvy knife strapped to her other boot, but nothing in hand.

"My name—my actual name—is Ajdalarr. And no, I've never known you before, but that doesn't mean I don't already know some things about you." She looks Condign up and down, then continues speaking in Supernal. "I know you're from Fah'hlrg, yet you haven't been there for months now, maybe years. You're a warrior through and through, and were raised to trained in the arts of war itself, not just battle. But you're tired of fighting for reasons other than your own. You travel with no others of your kin, choosing the company of humans and halflings and warforged—castoffs of the Five Nations. You're searching for something, but haven't found it."

Ajdalarr's tone is friendly, not condescending. "Am I near the mark?"

[Darren]

Team K

Kal walks slowly around the temple, looking with wonder at each of the statues. The wonder is somewhat feigned, but he hopes it will catch the attention of the priests. He finally stops in front of the statue of Olladra and kneels down in front of it, clasping his hands together like any good supplicant. He bows his head, eyes closed, and though his lips move, his prayer to the goddess is silent.

[Dave W.]

Team B
Adamant feels a sense of relief on reaching the foyer. 
Almost out. This heat is becoming difficult... And I should get out before the imp shows himself.

Moving quickly to the door, he sees it's sealed. By the Host these people are annoyingly dedicated. All of this... The magics used, the thugs paid, the destruction caused... For one drow? Is he a prince of something? We will have to talk. But first, the door...

The warforged steps back a few paces, runs and throws his considerable mass at the front door.
------------ 

Sorry to be holding things up... Moderately busy week

At Beginning of Round: 
• no one Challenged

Minor Action:  N/a

Move Action: move to the front door.

Standard Action: It's door busting' time!!! 
Pg 262 in the PHB talks about DCs to break things and pg 26 talks about ability checks. So I made a STR check here. If this isn't how to run it let me know what you need me to do.
STR Check (1d20+6=21)

At End of Round: 
• no one  Challenged 

[Brian]

Condign

Ajdalaar:

"My name—my actual name—is Ajdalarr. And no, I've never known you before, but that doesn't mean I don't already know some things about you." She looks Condign up and down, then continues speaking in Supernal. "I know you're from Fah'hlrg, yet you haven't been there for months now, maybe years. You're a warrior through and through, and were raised to trained in the arts of war itself, not just battle. But you're tired of fighting for reasons other than your own. You travel with no others of your kin, choosing the company of humans and halflings and warforged—castoffs of the Five Nations. You're searching for something, but haven't found it."

Removing his dagger, Condign sits and places it on the table next to Ajdalaar's blade. He then crosses his arms and listens to her speak.

"Well met, Ajdalaar," he says after she finishes. He follows her lead, speaking in Supernal, finding it oddly comforting to converse in his native tongue. "Yes, I am from Fah'hrlg, as I assume you are. And the fact that I am a warrior should also be evident. But tired of fighting? Tell that to the ettin I killed earlier today." He allows a puzzled frown to slide across his face. "I did come ashore with a human and a halfing, And a dog, if truth be told. But a warforged? I am afraid you have been misinformed. I knew one at one time, back in Sharn, but he did not accompany me into Stormreach." His frown melts into a friendly grin. "Now it is my turn."

"You have been in Stormreach for some time, and you have made a name for yourself. Fire Eyes, I believe you are called. A woman of authority, you are accustomed to being listened to. When events are happening here, you are at the center of the storm. Intelligence and fighting are your strengths, and you will wield either skilfully to achieve your ends. And like most of us"--he gives her a nod--"you are also looking for something. Something dangerous. Something that you cannot achieve alone. You are truly a woman to contend with."

Condign arches an eyebrow. "And how did I do?"

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If it's allowed, I'd like to use a Diplomacy Check. Maybe it would influence how willingly Adjalaar would believe Condign's patter.

If it is allowed, then Diplomacy Check: (1d20+11=17)

Not a stellar roll, I must say.

[Joe]

Mar 31, 2012 11:30:25 GMT -4 Darren said:

Team K

Kal walks slowly around the temple, looking with wonder at each of the statues. The wonder is somewhat feigned, but he hopes it will catch the attention of the priests. He finally stops in front of the statue of Olladra and kneels down in front of it, clasping his hands together like any good supplicant. He bows his head, eyes closed, and though his lips move, his prayer to the goddess is silent.

Streko watches his friend pay tribute to his Goddess and feels a sense of pride and joy. He kneels beside Kal and also offers prayers to Her.

Upon completion of his Devotions, he rises and waits for Kal to finish his prayers, after which he bows. He then goes to the Donation coffer of Olladra nad places a gold piece into the offering plate. He looks up into the black, serpentine form of his Goddess.

"You are beautiful, aren't you? I am honored to be your humble servant, My Goddess. I hope my service pleases you."

He returns to Kal's side.

"Thank you, my friend, for honoring Olladra and, by extension, me. It means a lot. By the way, did you not talk, once before, of your vision from the forest? And wasn't there a dragon involved in that vision? Also, it might be possible to gain information by speaking with that Elf by the shrine for Kol Korran."

[Jeff]

Team B

Round 10

25 = Belarin
17 = Shorak
17 = Adamant
16 = imp
5 = mystery men

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Red lightning scours both cloaked men as Belarin runs back toward them and lashes them with fey magic. (Belarin is now fifteen feet away from them.) Both throw out their hands to resist, but it hisses and crackles across their bodies, eliciting screams of surprise as much as pain.

The crowds thin even more as people run to get away from the battle. "Call the Guard!" one man cries out. "They're crazy!"

And then Shorak's boomerang sweeps out once, twice, and slashes out against both foes: the taller brute is left clutching at his eyes, struggling to see, while the smaller man is merely clutching at a wound on his arm.

Adamant surges down the 1st floor corridor, the fire already spread before him. He sees the door's been gummed up somehow but he throws his weight into the front door! There is a loud BANG—that even Shorak can hear from outside!—but it doesn't quite give. The gluey substance Adamant on the door has hardened to a stone-like consistency, and it starts to crack under the force of the warforged's strength.

• Belarin takes 1 point of necrotic damage (and 1 more from last round).
• Belarin's attack hits George and Lenny, dealing 20 fire/lightning damage to George and 8 fire/lightning damage to Lenny, and George gains vulnerable 5 fire and vulnerable 5 lightning (save ends).
• Shorak's attack (blinding barrage) misses Fire-Hands George and hits Club-Toting Lenny, dealing 8 damage to the George and 16 damage to Lenny and Lenny is blinded until the end of Shorak's next turn.
• Adamant's Strength check fails.
• Fire deals 5 damage -5 (disk) to Adamant.

Blinded and wounded, the two cloaked men on the street look like they were not prepared for a fight in the street; they look like they were assigned to wait outside and pick off anyone who tried to escape one of the windows. With a growl of anger, both men turn and retreat. The bigger man, blinded by Shorak's attack, stumbles into a passer-by, a middle-aged dwarf woman, and knocks her over. (Both men are roughly 50 feet away now, having double moved.)

The archers on the roof, however, do not stop attacking yet. Shorak has ducked out of their immediate range by moving close to the building, but Belarin, despite his cloak of shadows, remains their only target. Fiery arrows hiss down at him. Both strike him, one spearing into his upper back, the other slashing across his scalp. Both bleed badly and hurt like Khyber birthing another progenitor wyrm. He can taste the blood in his mouth and through the pain lancing through his body, wonders if something pierced a lung.

Shorak can see that Belarin is in trouble. The human's starting to wear down, and it looks like another arrow could do him in. The half-drow also can't help but feel the frustration that all of this may have been intended for him alone.

• Archer #1's attack vs. Belarin's AC: 30 (hit) / 13 damage to Belarin (10 regular and 3 fire damage.)
• Archer #1's attack vs. Belarin's AC: 30 (hit) / 11 damage to Belarin (9 regular and 2 fire damage.)
• Belarin is bloodied.

[/color]
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