(IC) Aaaahhh!!!! The Slaves Got Magic!!! (IC)

[Beschoren]

The bird is unable to give off much more information. There are some few slaves and slavers coming and going in the main camp, doing their daily tasks. Most guards in the edges are stationary. All tents look the same, wihtout any marking or difference in materials do indicate status. a big pile of wood funcions partly as a storage point and partly as a wall covering part of the camp.

The middle of the camp has a few tables with seats and some circle filled with sand and with a lot of fresh and old bloodstains on it. a thick pole is stuck in the middle of the ring. You could bet they use this for beating up more unruly slaves (and slavers) in front of everyone.

[Crafty Cultist]

Korin will keep watching the camp, paying special attention to any guards carrying goods in and out of tents or any groups heading away from camp.

[esorscher]

With all the preparations from the rest of the group, Elkal flies over the camp, briefly surveying it all as he does so, invisible. Then he lands in the southeast corner of the group of wagons, away from the guards, and activates the Vanishing enchantment on his armor. He then inspects the wagons, suspecting them to be where the food is held. If it is, he will sprinkle the tainted blood in as many containers as possible. If not, he will do something else.

[Beschoren]

Elkal lands silently and invisible, the guards totallly oblivious to him.

The wagons are mostly empty. by the traces of leaves and bark on it, you could say they should be there to carry the wood away. There are no dragging animals, but perhaps they only arrive when a caravan comes to pick up the chopped wood.

[esorscher]

Elkal searches the tents for the food/ water stores. If necessary he will recast Invisibility.

[Beschoren]

Elkal starts moving closer to the tents... At first he is very carefull not to make a sound, but the vanishing effect proves to be so potent. He passes really close to a guard and he dosen't make any sign of interaction with Elkal's sublte presence. does not even blink or look elsewere. Then elkal decides he better make good use of such magic and moves more quickly.

He checks the first tent, peeking carefully not to touch the tent's entrance. Inside he only finds a few bedrolls, some personal itens on a shelf and dirt. this patter repeats itself on several tents. some of them are more filled up with stuff, others have someone sleeping. Some had a number of tools and equipments, other had construction materials and workshop itens. some had a number of people gambling and a few had someone reading. Almost none of the tents are guarded, and most had a smell nearly as foul as the forgotten tower before you cleaned it up.

seeing there is no food were there are no guards, Elkal dashes to the L20 tent, that had 2 statinary guards on it's front. Inside he finds many sacks of flour, grains, dry meat and fruits, as well as some kegs and barrels. There's another guards inside and some people are making themselves busy workin on what appears to be the kitchen.

[esorscher]

Using the vanishing effect Elkal will sneak into the tent, and administer the tainted blood to the food supply in the following order: kegs, barrels, grains, dry meat.

[Beschoren]

Elkal starts moving closer to the foods stocks.

Those workers in the kitchen, however - paparently female slaves - are pretty busy moving arround with their heads low and avoiding the gaze of the guard. The move from tables to benches to the oven and to the food stocks...

Elkal must make a ref save DC 15 to avoid bumping in the slaves for every food source he tries to contaminate. ("bumping" won't break off the invisibility or vanishing effect)

The Kegs are closed and sealed, and smell of ale. To contaminate them, you would have to open them from the top (by force) or perfurate them to insert the ravage.

The barrels seems to be filled with water, as the ground near them is a bit wet. Unfortunately, they are all close until some worker comes to take some of it to a pan, and then closes it again. You would have to take off the cover of the barrel (it seems loose) to apply the ravage, or wait for someone to open it and then discharge the vemnous fluid. You could also damage the barrel just enought to create a small opening.

[esorscher]

Elkal will wait for someone to open the water barrels but will try and drill a hole in the keg tops through which to apply the poison.

[Beschoren]

Elkal avoids bumpbing with the busy workers, and puts himself right next to the barrels. He waits for the precise moment to put down the vicious ichor on the water.

Tense and attentive as he was, Elkal was the only one that saw what was about to happen. The guard that was next to the oven suddenly raises his arm and trows something at Elkal's direction - Damm it, has the Vanishment vanishied? - he can't avoid thinking to himself. To his relif, however the trown object was not a poisoned dagger, not was Elkal the target. a few feet away from him a woman was dragging a sack of gain, and got hit in the head by the quickly moving object

"FILL IT, W**RE" the guard screams in redish anger. Elkal realizes the object was just a metal cup, now rolling in circles on the ground. The woman quietly but quickly picks up the cup and heads for the barrel to serve the water. She opens the barrel lid and then pushes it farther away, filling the cup with water. Elkal can see she was grasping the cup with the strenght only anger can give you and, she curses something under her breath (listen DC 20). A moment later the cup is filled but she sighs for a moment with it away from her before covering the barrel again and spiting in the cup.

Elkal sucessfully poisons the water. Hopefully that guard will be the first victim.

Posoning the dry meat and grains is easy, considering the huge advantages of the Vanishing effect and Elkal's nimbleness to subtly avoid the workers. Most of the food already seem sore, half-rotten or half-eaten by bugs and worms. A little enchanted harpoon spider blood should go unnoticed among such ravaged food, and perhaps even enhance the taste of some old moity bread Elkal found. Even if they find the blood odd, the food is more likely to be stolen or given to an enemy in the camp rather then trown away. And even if trown away, someone would eat it anyhow. The ravage will spread.

Elkal finds himself sucessfully poisoning the water, the grains and the fruits. The closed kegs should have ale or wine on it, something that surely is kept away from the slaves and reserved to the higher officers in the camp. Yet time might be about to run out, and he still need a plan to poison the kegs.

(what will ekal do? attemp to poison the kegs? how? or will he leave?)

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On the other side of the camp, the groups waits for Elkal's return, well hidden with Xilef's magic. But just how hidden and attentive would they be?

(Korin, Nova, Xilef and Uidon must roll spot and listen checks)

[Crafty Cultist]

From their hiding spot, Korin keeps a firm grip on his axe. The spirit of the seeker is good for espionage, but means less energy devoted to combat. Keeping the bird linked to his senses circling their position, he keeps an eye out for trouble. He tries to keep himself invisible when possible

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Spot(1d20)[2]
Listen(1d20)[6]

[Duncfoo]

Uidon sat with his eyes closed, keeping still waiting for Elkal's return. He was still not man comfortable for the woods and he played scenarios out in his head of the coming battle. In each scenario he weighed advantages, thrusts, feints and charges. In reality he sat his back against the tree in still ragged pants and shirt, a shining sword in his lap.

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I can claim Uidon is myopic and deaf from his time at the forge. =P
Listen: (1d20-1)[18]
Spot: (1d20-1)[11]

[Chimaera]

Nova stand with the rest of the party waiting for Elkal's return with sword in hand and put his trained ear in good use.

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Spot: (1d20+2)[10]
Listen: (1d20+9)[25]

[zagan]

Xilef carrefully watch her surrounding, anxiously waiting for Elkal return.

OOC:
Spot: (1d20+6)[22]
Listen: (1d20+6)[20]

esorscher: I think you can stop there, no need to risk compromising yourself.

[Beschoren]

The party stands motionless as they wait for elkal, but then XIlef and Nova notice the sound of footsteps. All 14 of you duck down in the jungle (taking 10 on hide).

shortly thereafter, Xilef can see someone walking in the forest and looking at the suroundings.... maybe a slaver patrol, to make sure no slave tried to hide in the woods to escape. He's being stealthy enought to bypass most communers, and attetive to find hidden slaves hoping to escape their rightfull places...

then, he looks straight at your position (spot (1d20+8)[11](DC 24)). He seems not to notice anything, and continu to walk in the woods. He's about 30 feet away from you and should go away if left unmolested.

[esorscher]

Elkal will try and poison the keg by surreptitiously drilling a hole in the top with an arrow. If that fails he will try to gently lift the lid off so he can add the poison.

[Duncfoo]

Uidon stares where the slaver walks by tense but motionless. He quickly sees all the tactical options; Kidnap the slaver, kill him silently, let him go and return to camp unaware.

Only the last option guarentees the current mission's success. Uidon puts his fingers to his lips to making a motion to keep silent and still for the moment and hopes for Elkal to return safely.

[zagan]

Xilef slowly nod at Uidon gesture. She dearly want to use this opportunity to eliminate him and make it one less foe to fight later but it would compromise their plan.

[Crafty Cultist]

Korin remains invisible, keeping still until the guard has past. He keeps a hand on his axe, though, in case a fight ensues.

[Beschoren]

Elkal uses an arrow to dig a hole in a keg. The wood does not give in, however, and he realizes he'll have to spend too much time and will end up leaving a suspicious mess. He tries to remove the lid from the kegs but it is nailed down. It seems that he won't be able to poison teh kegs this way. While he works on the kegs, he hears that guard that demanded water saying something "have you done something to my water!?"

The poor wench that spit on his cup is terrified as the guard looks at her - "YOU'VE SPIT ON IT HAVEN'T YOU!?!?I CAN FREAKING TASTE YOU STUPID DROLL!!" . She tries to mutter something on her defense but then the guard gets up and grabs her by the neck. the other 2 guards outside peek inside and start laughting, while to other servants make way for the guard and keep their heads down. The woman finally says "I hav-" only to be silenced by the guard's closed fist. He punches the woman 3 or 4 times and drags her toward the oven, while she screams "NOOO!!! NOOO!!! RAFF, PLEASE NOOO!!"

once he reaches the oven, the guard bashes her head over the hot metal plate some 4 or 5 times until her screams turn only into cries of agony and pain. He kicks the woman and he falls on the ground, takes the water cup he was drinking on and spill on her. He seems about to leave the tent with a hasty anger, but then stops, returns and grabs the woman by the hair, shouting at her ear - "I GOT A NEW NAME FOR YOU - SCARFACE" and then rises her up and holds her head on the red hot metal plate of the oven for cruel 10 seconds or so.

Finally he leaves the tent, laughting to the other guards. The other workers then grab the wounded woman and try to clean her wounds and calm her down. One of them drag her outside after a few moments, likely to get a bandagge or any kind of treatment she might get.

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The patroll slaver is left unharmed, and resumes his hike, getting away from you. You certain he didn't see you.

[Chimaera]

Nova will keep hiding, "We'll take you later" he thinks, but say nothing.

[esorscher]

While everyone in the kitchen is distract with the injured woman, Elkal slips the arrow under the side of the lid and uses it as a crowbar to quickly and carefully work each nail out in turn with one hand while using the small magnet he carries to apply pulling force from above. Then he applies the poison to the keg. If successful he will aport up 800' and fly back to the group at that height, repeatedly casting Fly and Invisibility if necessary.

[Beschoren]

Elkal cleaverly uses the vile and vicious commotion to make his little mess using heavier tools. Even tought Elkal was not used to such horrific scenes of a slavers life he used it on the benefit of the cause without letting anger, fear or pitty getting in the way.

Finally he gets away from the tent using more magic and returns to the group. all the poison that was harvested was applied fresh. The ravage will surely spread at a fast rate. Korin sees trught his bird that Elkal's mission was undetected, as no special number of guards seem to investigate the food tent.

After Elakl meets again with the group, you all fall back to the safety of your tower, taking care not to leave any clues of your presence. You should let now let a few days go by so the ravage will spread and damage your enemies...

In the meantime, your followers are eager to hunt off the last harpoon spiders in that den, or even track down new creatures to serve as a last live action exercise before the battle with the slavers

[Beschoren]

You take the end of the day to rest and prepare for a round of hunting - to both clear dangerous creatures near your tower and ti give some final exercise before your followers stand face-to-face to the real enemy.

Night inside the tower is absolutelty safe, as allways. you set your spells and skills for the hunt and head out to the harpoon spider den.

The den look like little more than a big hole in the ground. markings on nearby trees and rocks show you that many spiked creatures were moving in and out of this place. some bones and a little bit of spider web are scaterred some 40 feet form the entrance. The den seems unguarded from the outside, but you can't really tell how big it may be...

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You're 40 feet from the entrance, battle-ready. The "hole" is a steep slope corridor going down to inside a slight hill, about 10 or 15 feet wide.

any last minute preparations before you go in?

[Crafty Cultist]

Korin uses his magic to strengthen himself, Xilef, and Uidon.

"Be wary of ambushes and traps. We are on the creature's home turf now."

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casting animalistic power on the three of us(+2 str, dex and con)

[zagan]

Xilef grumble of little when the other insit to go chase these spider monster, but she follow allong.

Just before the entrance she use her magic to enhance herself as to be better prepared. And she also crudelly create a necklace out of grass, leaves and a single stone.

OOC: Casting the following spells:
Light: on the stone at the end of my makeshift necklace (that way I can hide it under my clothes)
Horrible taste (Spc p116): Any creature that bite me must make a Fort save (DC 15) or be nauseated until the end of it's next turn. And if it's Int is 2 or lower it will refuse to bite me again.
Spider climb: with extend rods.
Freedom of Movement
Linked perception: with extend rods.

Noted to the other player: As long as you are within 20ft of Xilef you gain a +2 bonus to spot and listen check for each ally (beside you) within the same radius.

Effect:
Longstrider: 7 hours starting at the begining of the day
Heart of earth: 7 hours starting at the begining of the day or until discharged then 7 round
Heart of air: 7 hours starting at the begining of the day or until discharged then 7 round
Freedom of Movement: 70 minutes
Spider Climb: 140 minutes
Light: 70 minutes.
Linked Perception: 14 minutes
Horrible Tastes: 70 minutes.
Animalistic Power: 7 minutes

Stat:

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CN Medium Humanoid (Shapechanger)
Condition:
Amulet of natural weapon: +1 to att and dmg rolls with natural weapon
Longstrider: +10ft speed
Heart of Earth: +8 bonus against bull-rush, overrun and trip, +14 temp hp, as a swift action stoneskin for 7 rounds
Heart of air: +10 on jump check, +10 to fly speed (useless), feather fall once
With air and earth: light fortification
Contingent Energy Resistance: automatic energy resistance 10 (acid, cold, electricity, fire or sonic)
Haste: +1 att, AC and ref save, +30ft speed, +1 bonus attack
Shifting: +2 Str, 2 claw, bite
Frenzy: +4 Str, +2 AC, +2 Ref, +1 att/round
Prayer: +1 att, dmg, saves, skills (luck)
BoTWW: +2 Str, +4 dex, +4 Con, +4 nat arm, Blind-fight
Enhance shifting: +2 Str, +1 dmg with claw and bite, +1 round
Animalistic power: +2 Str, Dex, Con (ench)
Bite of the wererat: +6 dex, +2 con, +3 nat armor, weapon finesse (ench)
Thornskin: +1d6 unarmed dmg, 5 dmg to those that strike me with natural weapon
Mass convinction: +3 saves
Inspire courage: +3 att/dmg (moral)
HP: 97/97 (104/104) (4/14 temp hp) (7HD) AC: 19 Touch: 19 Flat: 16 (+3 dex, +6 defense bonus)
Reserver Point: 92 Massive Dmg Threshold 39
Speed: 40ft (50ft with longstrider)
Fort: +10 Ref: +9 Will: +7
BaB: +6/+1 Grapple: +9 (+12 shifting and whirling)
Resistance: Imp Uncanny dodge (dex to ac even if flat-footed or invisible attacker, cannot be flanked unless rogue 9+), Trap sense +1 (Ref save and AC against trap), Woodland Stride (move normal through natural undergrowth), Trackless Step (leave no trail), Reckless nature (+2 to Init and Ref save, -2 to Will save), Shifter ferocity (act normally while under 0hp), Shifter Healing (at end of shifting heal 6hp), Shifter Multiattack
Init: +5
Melee: Standard attack, Unarmed Strike +9 (1d3+3)
Melee: Shifting Standard attack, Claw +10 (1d6+5)
Melee: Shifting Standard attack, Bite +10 (1d6+5)
Melee: Whirling Frenzy Standard attack, Unarmed Strike +11 (1d3+5)
Melee: Whirling Frenzy and Shifting Standard attack, Bite or Claw +12 (1d6+7)
Melee: Full attack, Unarmed Strike +9/+4 (1d3+3)
Melee: Full attack, TWF Unarmed Strike +7/+7/+2 (1d3+3)
Melee: Shifting Full attack, Unarmed Strike +10/+5 (1d3+4) plus 2 Claws +8/+8 (1d6+3) plus Bite +8 (1d6+3)
Melee: Shifting Full attack, TWF Unarmed Strike +8/+8/+3 (1d3+4) plus 2 Claws +8/+8 (1d6+3) plus Bite +8 (1d6+3)
Melee: Whirling Frenzy Full attack, Unarmed Strike +11/+6 (1d3+5)
Melee: Whirling Frenzy Full attack (with bonus attack), Unarmed Strike +9/+9/+4 (1d3+5)
Melee: Whirling Frenzy Full attack (with bonus attack), TWF Unarmed Strike +7/+7/+7/+2 (1d3+5)
Melee: Whirling Frenzy and Shifting Full attack, Unarmed Strike +12/+7 (1d3+6) plus 2 Claws +10/+10 (1d6+4) plus Bite +10 (1d6+4)
Melee: Whirling Frenzy and Shifting Full attack (with bonus attack), Unarmed Strike +10/+10/+5 (1d3+6) plus 2 Claws +8/+8 (1d6+4) plus Bite +8 (1d6+4)
Melee: Whirling Frenzy and Shifting Full attack (with bonus attack), TWF Unarmed Strike +8/+8/+8/+3 (1d3+6) plus 2 Claws +8/+8 (1d6+4) plus Bite +8 (1d6+4)
Ability Score:
Str 16(+3), Dex 16 (+3), Con 16(+3), Int 8(-1), Wis 19(+4), Cha 6(-2)
Skill: Survival +18, Handle Animal +13, Jump +14, K (nature) +8, Listen +6, Spot +6, Balance +5, Climb +5, Ride +5
Special ability: Shifting: 5/6, 13 rounds, +2 Str, 2 claw, bite, low-ligh vision, Whirling Frenzy; 2/2, 6 rounds, +4 Str, +2 AC, +2 Ref, +1 att/round, Beast Spirit: Various + Reroll failed will save next round, move action to transfer spirit to summoned creature grant +4 Str, Dex or Con, Wild Empathy +12, Spellcasting

Spell (not yet) prepared:
0: Guidance*1, Resistance*2, Flare*1, Light*1/2
1: Horrible Taste*0, Instant of Power*1 Longstrider*0, Lesser Vigor*1
2: Heart of air*0, Bite of the wererat*1, Spider Climb*1, Linked Perception*1
3: Lion's charge*1, Thornskin*1, Enhance Shifting*1
4: Heart of earth*0, Freedom of Movement*0

[Duncfoo]

Uidon helps prepare the camp but seeks to quiet the blood lust of the ex slaves. "We must wait, sharpen our blades. Their blood defiles them now."
Uidon waves his hand and works the night in his workshop, getting his phantoms to their tasks... the next day was spider hunting.

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Uidon tries his best to follow Xilef in the woods, stepping in her tracks, crouching like she does. Every movement he makes seems to crack sticks and snag brush. He mumbles apologies through the day.

When he pauses outside he sidles up to Nova. "Evil Spiders. Strange." He takes a moment and rebuckles a few straps across everyone's armor, each time he leaves it the armor fits better and crackles with energy. Uidon looks at his hands, glowing slightly red, looking like bronze.. "Perhaps the forest will appreciate?" Uidon is quite again for a moment before saying, "Well. Practice for the loggers."

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This is a good test for buffing everyone for the Slave Camp Slaughter that is coming up. I'll edit it as people decide (or not decide) bonuses in the OOC.

Casting:
Armor Enhancement, Moderate: Xilef, Nova, Korin, Uidon (Displacement, Acidic, Styptic) +3 Enhancement Bonuses
Weapon Enhancement, Lesser: Korin, Elkal = +1 Weapon Enhancement Bonus
Personal Weapon Augmentation (x3): Uidon = Keen, Screaming + Stunning

Spells used: Level 1 - 3/4, Level 2 - 4/4, Level 3 - 2/2

Go go gadget Spells!

[Chimaera]

As soon as everybofdy get ready to enter the tcave, Nova will begin singing his vitality inspiring song, giving everybody 8 temporary hit points:

"Indestructible
Determination that is incorruptible
From the other side
A terror to behold
Annihilation will be unavoidable
Every broken enemy will know
That their opponent had to be invincible
Take a last look around while you're alive
I'm an indestructible master of war"

[Beschoren]

The hole is sliperly and dark... a clumsy and large creature would fall in easely. You will have to tread carefully not to crash yourselves and might have trouble if attempting a quick retreat.

many tiny, ordinary spiders move arround as you aproch. they flee if you get too close but otherwise don't harm you.

Seanon casts light in each of you and some followers. He also casts Mass Conviction on the party and Crown of might on Nova. He uses a decent amount of magical energy to protect all melle followers with a shield of faith, while casting mage armor and shield on himself

(what will be the formation? how many feet behind will the followers keep themselves at?)

[Duncfoo]

Uidon puts his head around the cave, peering into the inky darkness. He points to the various parties in order and jerks his head toward the cave. He draws his shield out and keeps his hand near his sword as he follows behind the Dreamers.

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How about Korin & Xilef @ the front, Uidon, Nova & Seanon in the middle (Staggered maybe?), Elkal @ the back, Followers behind 15'

Or move Elkal to the front with Xilef?