The World in Revolt IC

[thereaper]

"You always seem to be smelling blood."

Wolfen looks around.

"That said, however, it might not be a bad idea. I'll be needing all of you in top form for the mission."

[NotScaryBats]

Viola widens her eyes and smiles guilelessly, "Just because my Elven nose is more delicate than yours, does not mean you should be rude. I am a noblewoman, and the scents of the battlefield are not something I have grown accustomed to yet."

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Bluff check (1d20+11)[22]

Returning to examine her new companions, Viola continues, "It is going to be wonderful working so closely with such strong men and women..."

[snake obsidian]

"No, no, I don´t think that will be neccesary. We were already on the move when you arrived. In fact, Melhved here had already found the way, right?"

Wilian turned quickly to face the warden, trying to pry her away from shyness and into showing the newcomers the road they were following without being too obvious.

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Stealth roll (1d20+6)[22]

"And working with you lady, should prove to be just as magnificent. The eternal youth of the fey is legendary, and yours too."

[WaffleLord]

Uh...yes. This way to...er...we think to the....ah....who's missing.....and uh.......I'm Melhved. It's a nice.... to uh.....good to have.......uh....hi." Mel says, sheepishly. She glances at each new member in turn with eyes lowered. She gestures to the direction she believes their adventure lies while looking at Wolfen.

[thereaper]

"Yes, well, then we'd better get going. And you really need to overcome that speech impediment."

And then, as an afterthought:

"My name is Wolfen Houndog, by the way."

[NotScaryBats]

"And working with you lady, should prove to be just as magnificent. The eternal youth of the fey is legendary, and yours too."

Viola seems quite impressed by Wilian's smooth talking. She laughs politely, blushing, and holds out her hand daintily. Where she comes from, a courtly man would kiss the lady's hand, but the act is more from habit than from any expectation on her part.

Yes, these new comrades were so full of life, Viola was going to get along with them quite well.

[snake obsidian]

Wilian kneeled on one leg and kissed the noblewoman´s hand. Then, he walked to Wolfen.

"Didn´t see you on the mayor´s meeting. Did the town send reinforcements?"

[MiketheMountain]

With a hearty laugh, Bugbear shakes his head. "Nonsense Wil, the mayor would never doubt us! I'm sure these two just saw us at the feast last night and decided to follow. Who would pass up the chance to battle alongside such brave and mighty warriors as us? Never mind the glory of rescuing the princess... or was it a duke? No, he was a blacksmith! Something about a giant snake too I think... Ah, we'll figure it out when we get there. Onward, friends; fame and triumph waits for no man!"

Bugbear starts marching off into the forest... in the wrong direction.

[NotScaryBats]

"My, how... Boisterous. As a matter of fact, we are here for similar purposes: a merchant who's name has completely slipped my mind -- though I would recognize his face anywhere -- hired us to find his son. So, you see? Compatible purposes. I would wager that the boys are even being held in the same area. That is, unless they've already been sacrificed...""

[thereaper]

"Grappler! That's the wrong way! Get with the program! And the rest of you, quit standing around! Move! Move! Move!"

Wolfen points in the direction Melhved indicated earlier and begins walking.

[snake obsidian]

"You are right, Wolfen. The more we dawdle here, the less chances we have on recovering the butcher´s son. Come, my lady. The swamp waits to be tamed once again. Bugbear! Are you running from adventure? The show is this way! Melhved, you hold the best chances of finding the hidden road. We´ll follow you." Wilian said, rallying the band forwards.

[NotScaryBats]

With a long suffering roll of the eyes at Wolfen's plebeian manners, Viola falls in step behind him. He can be obtuse, but she trusts him as a warrior and tactician.

[WaffleLord]

Using both the information the mayor gave her and her keen primal senses, Mel leads the rag-tag ruffians further into the swamp.

[MiketheMountain]

"*ahem* Yes. Of course. I knew that. Right behind you!"

Bugbear falls in line beside Wilian, following Melhved and Wolfen.

[Lemonus]

As you walk through the swamp, you begin to hear faint chanting. As you move forward, you see a lizardman with a staff. he is chanting, and a group of vines and planst around him are swaying. He appears not to notice you.

[NotScaryBats]

As we stop to survey the scene, Viola taps Wolfen to get his attention, and draws a finger across her neck in a 'should we kill this savage?' kind of gesture.

[snake obsidian]

Wilian instantly crouches at the sight of the lizardman. He whispers at his fellow adventurers.

"Everybody stay down, and don´t move. I don´t like the way those vines are swaying."

Wilian stares at the creature, and pays special attention at his chanting, trying to determine its purpose.

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Arcana roll: (1d20+11)[18]

[thereaper]

Wolfen puts up a finger to indicate that Viola should wait.

"Is it safe to spread out?" he whispers to Willian.

[Lemonus]

Wil:

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You recognize the chanting as some kind of animation spell.

[snake obsidian]

Wilian started to develop some kind of strategy, and he answered Wolfen´s question.

"He is animating all those plants in the area. I´d suggest we all try to move outside his line of influence. Very far from it, because if we have no option but to battle him, I´ll strip him away from his spell with an illusion, and then you will be able to attack him directly."

He then turned to Melhved.

"Can you see something else in the wilderness that can help us?"

[WaffleLord]

Gazing with great concentration, using both her understanding of the wild and her connection to the primal spirits, Mel studies the waving plants for anything that inform them.

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Nature - (1d20+11)[13]
Wa-wah.

Melhved in entranced and delighted to see plants moving of their own accord. "What a wonderful world this world be if the plants were given the same gifts of life that the animals were. A pine tree for a pet, a ficus for a friend, why, you could even....wait, what was I...oh yes. Lizardmen."

[MiketheMountain]

Whispering to the group, "If you can clear a path to the lizardman, or get him over to me, I can break his concentration. As for the rest of this," Bugbear waves his hands at the moving plants, "I have no idea."

"How do you body-slam a plant?" Bugbear thinks to himself.

[NotScaryBats]

Viola looks impatient. She whispers her response quickly, flexing her fingers and seeming antsy.

"Diplomacy worked so well for you last time, but should we not simply bypass or eliminate this threat and move on?"

[thereaper]

Wolfen decides it's time to take charge of the situation.

"All right, Viola, sneak around and get into a position where you can take him down, but don't do so unless things go bad. When you get into position, give us a thumbs-up. Bugbear, once she does that, walk out there and try to be friendly. Willian, get ready to disrupt that spell if you can. Melhved and I will come out if things get hairy."

Then he turns to Viola.

"Go."

[Lemonus]

The plants have begun to take a humanoid shapes. Some are made of purely vines and are taller and have longer arms, while other are just a mishmash of plants and appear to be bipedal mounds. They still seem to be a bit away from being able to do anything, however.

[NotScaryBats]

Viola quickly sneaks her way through the underbrush and shadows to striking distance. If she is successful in doing so unnoticed, she will give the crude signal to her companions.

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Stealth check (1d20+10)[16]
attempting to sneak within 6-8 squares of the lizardman, assuming no difficult terrain. I want to be able to get to him in one move.

[MiketheMountain]

Keeping a close eye on Viola, Bugbear crouches down in preparation. He's not used to being sneaky, but he thinks he understands what she's trying to do.

Bugbear's eyes go wide with excitement. The classic "Damsel In Distress" play, of course! Fair noblewoman gets attacked by the evil monster, and BUGBEAR TO THE RESCUE! The crowd goes wild! Always a big hit.

He's a bit confused about Wolfen's order though... why would Bugbear go out before Viola gets grabbed? Oh well, guess he's got a different twist in mind. Bugbear puts on a great show, but he was never one for coming up with the plot.

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Bugbear will ready a Charge attack (Knockdown Assault) against anything that attacks Viola.

[Lemonus]

The lizardman appears not to notice Viola, and continues chanting.

[NotScaryBats]

Viola gets into position and signals her teammates.

[thereaper]

Wolfen nudges Bugbear.

"Go try to prevent this from turning into a fight, okay?" he whispers.