Secret Lair

[BlueWizard]

Invisible Vogel is just happy Tylo made it out. "Didn't want you to join me before your time. I wasn't ready to do the 'walk' with you yet." {Only Tylo hears this.}

Ady will remember that James had a magical cutlass... if one were to brave the brush and tangle where his body fell.

[AngelOmnipotent]

"Damn those spirits to the hells." Lorryn spits with disgust, still feeling their lingering touch over his body. "And damn that James, why did he have to be the brave git I told him not to be. Damn him!"

He walks away from the camp a little crouches down, pulling out a Wand from his belt and using it to refresh himself (Lesser Vigor, Eternal Wand) and makes sure his back is turned from the rest of the group while he sits in thought. He'd failed everyone. The first time he'd ever taken charge of anything and he'd failed.

However, being the person he was, he was never going to give up - he would get James back whatever it took.

"We prepare tonight for another venture into the woods. Now we know what we're facing, we can be ready this time. I'm not leaving James behind." He turns to the group and smirks. "I'll go myself if I have to. No undead will get the better of me. Ever."

[Steward]

Ibis turns to Ady. "I have a potion that will grant the power of flight. I had hoped that one of us could take flight from the canopy and set the wraith's forest afire from above."

He listens to Lorryn, agreeing with what he said about the spirits.

"You want to go at night?" Ibis says incredulously when he turns. "Please consider waiting till the morrow. At night, the wraiths will be at their strongest."

[AngelOmnipotent]

"Sorry, I mean we prepare tonight to go tomorrow. I guess I'm just a little stressed out and missing my words."

[BlueWizard]

Sellas might have a problem with burning the forest. He already did his fair share of damage with his fire sphere to save Rolo's body.

[Ezeze]

"I... Can't do fire." Carla chews on her lower lip. "Never been able to..."

[Parlity]

"Lorryn, I think we would be better off if we rest as long as it takes for Ibis to cure the aging on Carla and Tylo. I remember James had a magic cutlass, if I could get my hands on that, I could do some damage to those wraiths if we want to destroy them instead of clearing a trail past them." Ady says thoughtfully.

At Ibis' suggestion, Ady looks at Sellas carrying Rolo in his arms and shakes her head. "It's a good idea, but I have a feeling that Sellas will be against that, unless we can do it without his finding out about it. Uprooting the trees by the trail or pruning off the overhead branches might do less damage to the forest. Carla, you mentioned removing the trees by hand earlier, what did you have in mind?"

[Ezeze]

"Making someone bigger and stronger I can do. But they would probably have to already be pretty strong to be able to uproot a tree..."

[Parlity]

Ady shakes her head, "I'm not that strong. Would we be better off to attack the wraiths?"

"We could cast any spells we can before we go in and clear the path as we go, then we can all attack the wraiths. Perhaps one of us with a spell of expeditious retreat could lure the wraiths, while the rest of us wait close to that clearing. What do you think?"

[AngelOmnipotent]

"I could do that." Lorryn speaks up and smiles. "I was lucky enough last time not to be affected by their touch so best not to waste the luck while I have it. I also have a few tricks up my sleeve to bolster my defenses, although if I could get something to make me even more dexterous that would help. However I don't know how far I'll be able to lure them out - as soon as they sense the sunlight they'll just go back in again."

[Steward]

"That's why I want to draw them out into the light by destroying their shade. We must grant these fiends no quarter," Ibis insisted. "Lorryn's idea may work as well. If you can lure them out, into the open where they cannot hide from sunlight, we might be able to destroy them." On the morrow, of course, he will ask for new spells. A blessing for Lorryn, perhaps, to grant him luck? And some new spells to bolster the strength of my comrades. Thoth knows we shall need it.

[pheonixace7]

Sellas finally looks up from the dead dog laying in his arms. He has a cold expression of determination on his face. "There's still a way"

He gently sets the dog down and stands to face the group. "I apologize for having to leave in this situation, but I cannot rest while there may still be a chance to save Rolo. I can shift into a bird and assist you in scouting the area give you all the healing I have available to me, but after that I must leave. I am quickly losing time to save my friend. I'm sorry I could not help you more."

Sellas gracefully shifts into a hawk and scouts the area. He then heals anyones wounds who still needs it. He will cast Bears Strength on one person of the parties choice (thats all I have prepared). He will then carry Rolo back towards the nearest village by the safest means possible.

[dariathalon]

Tylo sat near the edge of the group, not really listening to them at first. He is muttering to Vogel instead. "It's good to know you'll be with me when the time comes. Not that I'm ready for that any time soon, even though it feels like I'm halfway there." He pauses for a moment deep in thought, then continues, "So, do you know what happened to James? I mean, I barely knew him, but he seemed like a nice enough guy... He didn't deserve what he got."

---(When Tylo's conversation with Vogel is done, he rejoins the conversation.)---

Tylo stands, stretches and takes a few steps closer to the group. "I don't think that burning down the forest, just to spite the undead is a good idea. It wouldn't be right to cause that much more death and destruction. Setting up an ambush seems like a better idea. We should find a place near the sunlight, so that we can retreat into it when if necessary."

[BlueWizard]

Out of the Castle's Woods, the group is now in hot sunlight as they are back in the plains.

Sellas will be able to scout the area, and can see that the forest has grown right up to the large castle. It wasn't a high castle, but the few windows he saw were all bricked up.

There looked to be a courtyard in the center of the castle, but it looked like a jungle now.

Sellas can make his report after returning from his high flight overhead. Then he will carry Rolo toward the last village he passed when he came here.

OOC- Bye Phoenix!

[Parlity]

"I don't like the sound of the bricked windows in the castle. Before we go to the castle, how about we take care of what's outside? We could start with the bandit's body and the grove that we avoided on the way."

[BlueWizard]

It is hot in the sunlight on the plains, and the shade of the spooky forest lures you back. Ady seems to have a good idea.

[Ezeze]

Carla absentmindedly runs a hand through her grayed hair. "Perhaps we should recover from the first attempt before we try a second?"

[Parlity]

Ady glances at Carla and casually moves over. "You're looking a little tired, would you like a bite of this rabbit meat?"

Ady talks to Carla in a low voice.

Spoiler

Show

"For that you'll have to talk to Ibis. That sycophant follows Lorryn and Lorryn is going in tomorrow. Stay next to me when we're marching, and I'll cover for you and ask Tylo to escort you back here. Just cast all your enhancement spells on me."

[dariathalon]

Tylo nods at Carla's statement. "Yeah, I don't know about you all, but I feel like I could use another day or week of rest before I try that again. I know we have a job to do, but it's not like we're on any sort of time table. What I'm most worried about right now is tonight. Whose to say that those shadow-things won't wander out to find us once the sun goes down." A chill runs down his back.

[BlueWizard]

In the distance farmers can be seen pulling with the wagons.

The group discusses what to do next on the ruined temple.

While out here in broad daylight with the hot sun high in the sky, Ady and Tylo will spot something glittering in the ruins of another stone structure.


Note: Some of the graying will fade once restorative magic comes into play, but those with gray won't be able to gain all the color back. It won't be that noticeable in a few days though.

[Parlity]

In a normal voice Ady says, "Carla, do you see something glittering in the ruins over there?"

She stands and points to the ruins of another stone structure, pausing a little distractedly as she sees the farmers with their wagons.

[BlueWizard]

The farmers are far away on the road, but will see the group on the ruined city, and even attempt friendly, half-hearted waves. The road is far from you all, and no-one comes toward this part of the plains or anywhere near the old ruined city.

[AngelOmnipotent]

Lorryn raises a curious eyebrow. "I really wasn't suggesting to go back in without resting up and restoring our strength first. I wouldn't ask anyone who is in danger of death to step back into the fray - give me some credit at least."

He looks over to the farmers with a curious squint, only just able to bear the sunlight and almost seethed over the protection it was giving him. "It still doesn't sit right with me. There are famers around this area and they don't seem to get attack by the Wraiths - only the bandits, which we saw no trace of whatsoever. Something isn't right."

[dariathalon]

Tylo stands up, looking in the same direction as Ady. "Yeah, I see it too. Maybe we should investigate that at some point. First, maybe Lorryn's right. Maybe something is up around here. Should we see if we can catch up to those farmers and see if they're able to give us more info than our employer did?"

[AngelOmnipotent]

"Sounds like a solid idea to me - although someone with more charm might want to go talk to them. Eh, Ady?"

[Parlity]

Ady turns away from Carla and responds, "Yeah, let's go."

She waves back to the waving, friendly farmers and starts jogging towards them.

[BlueWizard]

The imperial dirt road is a bit away, but Ady and others can catch up to one of the slow moving carts. A scruffy dark haired farmer, with black bushy brows and a beard, opens his eyes wide in surprise as the hobbit approaches. He is alone and sacks of grain are in the cart.
"Eh? Hello? Haven't seen one of you in 50 years. Hello hobbit."

[Parlity]

Ady grins, "I'm no hobbit, only a little on the overweight side. You're looking mighty young yerself if you've seen 50 years."

Diplomacy (1d20+12)[14]

"The name's Ady."

[dariathalon]

Tylo doesn't feel much like running yet, if it can be avoided. He sits down in the grass, watching Ady (and possibly others?) running off to catch up with the farmers. He absent-mindedly plucks a blade of grass and twists it between his fingertips as he waits for them to return.

[BlueWizard]

The old farmer chuckles as Ady speaks to him. "Not young for a human, I guarantee that little lady. Uhm... not to be paranoid, but I hope you aren't one of the bandits... you seem too nice... My wife didn't want me to make this run to the village, but... hey... all I got is grain." He sighs heavily. "You can take everything. Just let me take one of the old nags." He points to one of his scrawny horses.

The rest of you can watch this from a distance or go with her.