Chapter 2: Rites of Passage

[Darren]

Kalarian searches for another, non-enchanted piece of rope to throw to Pel. As he does so, he shouts to Ralsor, "Can you move that storm so it covers the gondola, as well?"

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Kal is looking for more rope. If he finds it, he'll throw it to Pel.

[Joe]

Streko notices Kal searching for something and shrugs. He races over to him, reaching into his backpack once more.

He removes a 50' coil of silk rope. He offers the rope to Kal.

"Will this help, my friend?" he says with a wry grin.

[Darren]

Kal takes the offered rope, feeling sheepish but not showing it at the rememberance that he, too, is carrying a coil of rope in his pack. Moving to the railing, he attempts to throw the rope to Pel.

[Josh]

Grafth looks out across the space between the ship and the dock, a look of concentration on his face. He moves closer to the edge, ready to help Pel across. The shifter stands near Goran but not so close as to abstruct his aim.

[Jeremy]

Goran looks as if making a pained decision. He looks at the armed guards nearing them. He tries to make them out...

"Are they enemies?" he yells out to the others.

If so, he will swivel his aim at the oncoming guards and prepare for combat (Rapid Fire if and when possible, but only if he's sure they're a threat).

[Jeff]

ROUND 2

18 = Kal / Tangat
16 = Grafth
15 = gnome
10 = Ralsor / Mist
9 = Nobleman/ scholar / Pel
7 = Goran
6 = Streko
5 = Amal
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Kal takes the proferred silk rope from Streko and casts it out. It spans the thirty feet and some of the coiled slack lands in front of Pel. Kal knows he'll need more than himself bracing with the rope to support Pel's weight should she jump from the dock with it. Fortunately, there are various protusions along the rail of the ship to tie rigging to.

Grafth remains on hand to help with the rope, if needed.

Ralsor looks to Kal. "No! I can't. It's going to be there for a few moments. But those guards are my kinsman, and I wouldn't turn the Mark of Storm on them! They know it for what it is, and I'm already going to be in trouble for throwing a storm on the dock."

At Goran's dilemma, he points at the ranger. "Do not harm them! I'll try and get closer so we can get out of here!" He turns and runs back toward the wheelhouse.

Mist takes aim within the swirling sleet storm, ready to loose a bolt.

Pel steps forward nervously, taking up the rope in her hands, seeming reluctant to move.

Just behind her, the Aundiarian nobleman steps cautiously from the sleet, a grimace of annoyance upon his surly face. He looks over to the commander-that-is-Pel. "What are you doing? What is this? And who are—?"

A loud click sounds from the heavy crossbow in Mist's hands.

The thick bolt slices past the nobleman's arm, tearing his clothes and drawing a line of blood. He hisses from the pain, then gestures with one hand...sending two glowing missiles surging from his fingertips...which slam into Mist. She stumbles back, dropping the crossbow, as smoke rises from her black-enameled chest. She's looking a good deal frailer.

Amal pulls the trigger of his own crossbow, and the bolt sinks into the nobleman's leg. He yells out in pain and rage. "You will all die! He will—"

A high-pitched bird's cry rents the air. You look up and eastward and just make out a large winged shape closing fast...

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• Kal's ranged throw = 19 + 3 = 22
  
• Mist's attack: 19 (3 damage to the nobleman)
  
• Aundairian nobleman's magic missile = 6 damage to Mist
  
• Amal's attack: 15 (7 damage to the nobleman)

Jeremy: I realize Goran's been ready to shoot someone for a few rounds now. But I didn't want to make the judgement call for Goran to attack the nobleman (now that he's targetable again) without your consent. So tell me what Goran would have done here...I'll give you a free shot before the next round begins if that's what he wants.

[Darren]

"There's our target!" Kalarian yells to Ralsor as he spots the approaching dragonhawk. "Grafth, help me get Pel on board! Amal, Goran...cover us! Ralsor, if that rider makes a run for it, we follow."

Kalarian motions for Pel to grab the rope. Your cover is blown. Let's get out of here.

[Josh]

Grafth holds onto the the rope, behind Kal, at the ready. At the shrill avian cry, a look of concern crosses the shifter's face. "One thing at a time," he mutters to himself.

[Jeremy]

Jeff, I appreciate your judgement in the matter, thanks. Absolutely the right call under the circumstances.

---

However, Goran will now proceed to kick some serious ass. Let the bow SING!

---

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Since it's the Eldeen New Year, at least it is around here...

[Joe]

Streko reaches into his haversack and pulls out one of his healing kits and rushes to the warforged's aid. He will do what he can to assist her, stabilize her and then return to Goran's side.
________________________________________________

Yes! HAPPY NEW YEAR to one and all!

[Jeff]

ROUND 3

18 = Kal / Tangat
16 = Grafth
10 = Ralsor / Mist
9 = Nobleman/ scholar / Pel
7 = Goran
6 = Streko
5 = Amal
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Goran lets fly his first arrow...and it sinks into the meat of the Aundairian's thigh. He cries out from the pain, nearly stumbling on the slick surface of the dock.

"Ralsor, if that rider makes a run for it, we follow!"

"Sure!" the pilot calls back as he dashes up the stairs into the wheelhouse, "If you hack off one of its wings first!" *

Kal and Grafth ready the rope from their end, but they need Pel to make the first move...

The ground pitches beneath your feet as the airship pivots downward...Ralsor seems to be trying to move the ship into a better and closer position. The ring of elemental air sends ripples of wind into the sleet storm.

Mist holds out her hand toward Streko when she sees him moving toward her. "No," she says, "I will live. Your bandages will do nothing for me." Even as she says this, Streko realizes she's right. He's never had to treat a warforged before, and confronted with their artificial physiology, he's not entirely sure what he could do. Perhaps it's something to learn more about when there's sufficient time to do so.

Pel begins to wrap the rope around one arm, her changeling face blurring slightly from anxiety; you don't think she's ever been in such a dangerous position before, sixty feet high off the ground with a sleet storm raging behind her and bolts and arrows flying past. She spares a glance at the Aundairian beside her, then looks up into the dark night, uncertain, unwilling...

The Aundairian snarls in pain and rage. "Help us, damn it!" he screams into the air, then gestures wildly with one hand to where Kal and Grafth stand, bracing the silken rope. A sudden blaze of bizarre, shifting colors swirl into being around Grafth, Tangat, Goran, and Streko—the mage's clumsy aim excludes Kal. The maddening patterns, while not obscuring their sight, distracts each of them. Streko, with a single moment's fight, throws off the effects of the spell with ease. However, Grafth, Tangat, and Goran find their attention fully dominated by the shifting colors. They cannot do any more at the moment than stand where they are. Streko, however, recognizes the spell and knows that his allies can be shaken free from the effects the spell (though it takes precious seconds to shake even one person free).

Goran, affected by the spell, cannot loose any more arrows at the moment.

Amal presses the crossbow to the ground and loads another bolt with the winch.

A large black avian shape flies into view, speeding toward Pel. There is a cloaked and hooded figure on its back.

___________________

• Goran's attack = 19 + 6 = 25 (damage is 4 to nobleman)
  
• Will saves against the nobleman's spell: Goran (6, failure), Grafth (12, failure), Tangat (12, failure), Streko (27, success).
  
• Spellcraft checks = Kal (9, failure), Streko (22, success).

* The average speed of an airship is 20 mph. While they're an endless source of power and flight, they can never match the speed of most winged creatures.

Joe: Streko didn't get a real action yet because of the way events unfolded. He can pick one ally to "shake free" of the spell's effects...for this round. Then he can do more the next round, if needs be. Who'll it be first? Grafth, Tangat, or Goran.

[Joe]

"It'll take more than pretty lights to stop me!" Unfortunately, Streko notices his friends struggling, except for Kal, who seems oddly uneffected.

Without hesistating, Streko rushes to Goran's side and shakes him free of the mesmerizing light show, knowing his arrows are the only things that can help Pel (and them) right now...or hoping so!

[Darren]

"Do your best," Kalarian yells to Ralsor. "Block him any way you can. He's our target!"

Kal again motions for Pel to grab the rope, bracing himself against the edge of the ship. Seeing the plight of his friends, he yells out, "Streko, see what you can do for them! Mist, help me with this rope! Amal, choose your target with care," he adds, noting both the nobleman and the rider, as well as the dragonhawk itself. Kalarian grits his teeth as the flesh of his right arm begins to heat up under his shirt. Although unseen, his dragonmark begins to glow.

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Kal is activating his dragonmark. He is still ready to help pull Pel onto the ship, which I assume will consume his actions for the round.

[Jeremy]

Shaking himself free of the dazzling lightshow, Goran takes an extra moment to settle his mind...then draws again on the spellcaster, aiming to kill.

[Jeff]

ROUND 4

18 = Kal / Tangat
16 = Grafth
14 = dragonhawk & rider
10 = Ralsor / Mist
9 = Nobleman/ scholar / Pel
6 = Streko / Goran
5 = Amal
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His dragonmark glowing, Kal feels the invisible barrier manifest around him. Tangat and Grafth stand listless, however, fully dazzled by the shifting lights.

Some of you have seen a dragonhawk before—majestic, powerful animals with dark brown feathers as mighty as a griffon—but this one's different. The beak is heavy and sharply pointed, its head tufted with long, pointed feathers. Its eyes are bright red—not yellow, like most—with irregularly-shaped pupils. A single long curved feather juts up above the four nostrils at the base of its beak. The wings are patterned in shades of gray and black, and a large claw juts from the point of each wing.

Immediately, the animal slows its descent and beats the air savagely with its wings to stay aloft in a "hovering" position. Thick, scaled bird talons close over Pel's shoulders, holding her in place. The changeling cries out from the pain, the sound of her voice a bit too feminine despite herself. The rider on the dragonhawk's back wears an ash-gray cloak and you can just glimpse a sickly, pallid. "Where is the book, Captain?" the figure demands. His voice sounds pained.

Pel struggles to maintain the Emerald Claw commander's form. But she cannot hide the panic in her face. "I...have it, Lord..." she gasps. "But...the rites are not complete. Your servants have betrayed you..." She tries to point to the Aundairian noble and the scholar, who struggles to stand within the swirling sleet.

Ralsor brings the ship closer still to the dock...but the shifting patterns of the Aundairian's spell remain fixed in space, so Grafth, Tangat, and Goran suddenly stand clear of it. Yet the effects will linger a moment or two longer...and Grafth and Tangat remain unable to do anything more.

Mist pushes past Kal and Grafth and half climbs the railing of the ship, slashing at the beating wings of the dragonhawk. She scores one hit with her scimitar, sending several dark feathers swirling into the wind. The animal squawks loudly and turns malevolent eyes upon the warforged.

"Malov!" the Aundiarian mage cries out into the wind. "He lies! This is not Captain Raumok! This was a ruse! They must have your book!" He points toward the ship, and launches another pair of glowing darts. This time the magic missiles launch into the air and slam into Goran, jerking his body backward a couple of paces. And it hurts like hell, even as Goran stands trying to shake off the spell's effects.

Streko is immediately upon him, and he delivers a painful kick to Goran's shins to help snap the ranger out of it. And it does...Goran's senses return in sudden and sharp focus. He slips an arrow free from its quiver, loads, and looses it upon the source of his pain: the Aundairian noble.

His first arrow misses, but while his second only skims the man's arm, it spins him completely around. He looses his footing and drops to the icy ground. His body slides toward the edge of the dock..scrambling to keep hold...

Amal finds the Aundairian's floundering form an easy target. A thick crossbow bolt thuds into the man's shoulder. He screams, gradually losing his grip on the icy dock.

The gondola has reached the lower docking level now, and you can see the half-elves indeed carry bows. However, they make no attempt to attack anyone from there. Instead, they spill out into the waiting area on the other side of the ice wall. But through the sleet storm you cannot see their progress.

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• Dragonhawk's grapple attack: 27 (Pel is grabbed, 12 nonlethal damage).
  
• Mist's attack: 21 (7 damage to dragonhawk)
  
• Aundairian's magic missiles: 8 damage to Goran.
  
• Goran's attack: 3 + 6 -2 (Many Shot feat) = 7 (miss), 13 + 6 -2 (Many Shot feat) = 17 (hit) / 3 damage to Aundairian.
  
• Amal's attack: 22 (7 damage to Aundairian)

So, to be clear: Goran is now free from the spell, but Grafth and Tangat are not. They will be free from it in another round because they are no longer standing within the spell's area of effect, but if someone shakes them loose before their next action, they can be freed.

[Darren]

Knowing that Pel will be unable to grab the rope until she is freed from the grip of the dragonhawk, and desperate not to let Malov escape, Kalarian's thoughts turn to a desperate plan. Reaching into his pack, Kal pulls out the vial of liquid that was found earlier on the rogue that attacked them. Praying that it will have the same effect that the one that was used on him did, and hoping that it will not harm Pel, Kalarian takes a deep breath and launches the vial at the dragonhawk.

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Kal's goal is more to hit the dragonhawk than the rider. He will aim close to Malov in order to avoid hitting Pel, but Malov is not the main target.

[Jeff]

Waiting on Streko and Goran. Grafth can't do anything just yet.

[Josh]

A small amount of drool pools in the corner of Grafths mouth, but it goes unnoticed.

[Joe]

Streko moves between the shifter and wolfhound and shakes at both of them...hoping to get them back to thining clearly!

[Jeff]

Streko can only choose one "person" each round. So he needs to choose: Grafth or Tangat.

[Joe]

Streko, being a little over three feet tall, realizes there is now way on Eberron that he can clear both Grafth and Tangat of the effects of the spell. Thus, he chooses Grafth, who he believes will have the best chance at helping them save Pel and hoping that Tangat will be able to come out of it on his own quickly!

After doing that, Streko is going to grab the knives from his backpack and will move to use them against Malov, as the opportunity arises.
___________________________________________
Party Pooper!

[Jeremy]

Goran curses under his breath, and prepares to shoot again...at the same target.

[Jeff]

ROUND 5

18 = Kal / Tangat
16 = Grafth
14 = dragonhawk & rider
10 = Ralsor / Mist
9 = Nobleman/ scholar / Pel
6 = Streko / Goran
5 = Amal
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Kal throws the mysterious vial—and with it, caution—into the wind. His throw isn't particularly hard, but the dragonhawk is hard to miss. The moment the vial impacts the feathered beast, it ruptures, spilling blue liquid which immediately catches fire in the air.

The swirling sleet storm, the high elevation, the beating wings of the dragonhawk, and the air elemental ring of the airship send winds in all directions...almost inevitably, droplets of the potent liquid swirl backward onto the Thunderhead, starting a collection of very tiny blue fires on the deck. At the moment, they seem very small and no big threat...but it's impossible to say whether they can spread.

The dragonhawk screeches loudly, for it takes the brunt of the spillage. Some of the liquid falls away to the street level below, but some have started small fires on its feathers. The gray-cloaked rider grunts something and struggles to control the animal. You can make out only one word—"Neshjar!"—possibly the dragonhawk's name?

Reflexively—or perhaps purposely—the animal digs its claws deeper into Pel, who cries out from the pain. Even as you watch, her head lolls and her body falls limp. One of the animal's wings lashes out at Mist; it throws her back like a child's toy, where she sprawls motionless to the deck.

Droplets of the blue fire liquid have fallen upon Pel, scorching her clothing and burning holes in it, but they extinguish even as they burn, leaving Pel relatively unscathed. Nevertheless, the changeling's form continues to shift back into its original.

Grafth blinks, his unconscious mind struggling to push his conscious mind back to the fore now that the spell's effects have been pushed away.

The Aundairian nobleman manages to climb back so that his body is fully back upon the dock...

Then Goran looses two arrows at him. The first snaps against the dock, missing. The second thuds into the Aundairian's back. He gives out a cry of pain, losing his grip....then he slides smoothly right off the dock....falling, screaming, down to the street below. In the swirling wind, you cannot hear the impact, but have no doubt it was fatal.

Streko takes a hold of Grafth's coat and shakes him hard. The shifter's consciousness leaps forward, and he finds himself looking down at the anxious halfling...and it takes him only a heartbeat or two to come fully to his senses again, where he looks around and sees how much further the chaos has unfolded. He can act again...

Streko draws a dagger, ready to throw or do what he must.

Amal winches up another bolt in the heavy crossbow, eyes fixed firmly upon the dragonhawk. "Damn it...."

Refresh your page!

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• Kal's throw = 9 + 3 = 12 (hit, dragonhawk takes 6 damage)
  
• Dragonhawk's attack: 24 (7 damage to Pel), 18 (6 damage to Mist).
  
• Goran's attack: 4 + 6 - 2 (Manyshot feat) = 8 (miss), 10 + 4 = 14 + 4 (target is prone) = 18 (6 damage to Aundairian)
  
• The Aundairian nobleman has very likely jellied up the sidewalk far below.

Jeremy: Goran is down to 10 arrows. Until he can secure more...use them well!

[Joe]

Streko is torn. Malov is the only connection he has to his missing sister. He struggles to remember if this is the man he saved from the guards what seems so long ago...if he's the one who brought him to his sister initially. Is this the man who introduced himself to Streko as Malov?

He turns to Kal. "Kalarian! Malov is the only connection we have to my sister and other events in this mystery! We can't allow him to escape or die. I...I don't know what to do!"

The twin daggers sit in his palms, waiting for action.
_____________________________________________

Indeed.

[Jeff]

What little Streko can see of the pallid man in the ash-gray cloak doesn't jibe with what he remembers of the red-haired young human with which he was briefly acquainted. It doesn't add up.

[Josh]

Grafth looks around in an attempt to take in the ensuing chaos. His look is a mix of anger and frustration— something about being mesmerized clearly did not sit well with him.

His eyes rest on the dragonhawk, then dart quickly around the area that surrounds it. He mutters something barely audible (having something to do with insanity, on might overhear) then quickly moves toward where Mist has landed, withdrawing his handaxe from his belt as he moves.

Sligthly behind and next to Mist, his strikes an odd stance, something of the sort that a runner might employ.

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[pink]Grafth intends to jump the divide in his next move, and has moved near the dashed line on the airship map in order to gain a running start. I'f things carry on in the vein I expect through this round, my next action will explain the details of what the shifter is up to.[/pink]

[Darren]

good plan, Josh. I was hoping to get someone to the dock, but didn't figure Kal could make it. I have plans, but I'm writing from my phone in Disney right now. I'll write more as soon as I can.

[Jeff]

When Darren and Jeremy have posted again, we'll move on.

[Jeremy]

Goran looks grimly pleased with his handiwork, then hearing Streko's confused plea, turns to the rest.

"What do you want me to do? How can I help? I'm not too sure what else is happening, so much attention have I been paying to my target."

[Joe]

"Pel is unconscious and the dragonhawk's rider does not look like the person who claimed to be Malov and who brought me to my sister!"

He reaches back into his haversack and retrieves a thunderstone. He hands it to Goran.

"How do animals usually react when frightened? They flee! Perhaps if a thunderstone were to go off near the dragonhawk and the rider..."

Streko turns back to Kal. "Would a tanglefoot bag do any good at keeping Pel in place while she is unable to move on her own?"

Too many things happening at once and Streko is unsure of what to do...he is, in fact, beginning to feel something akin to panic...