Cormyr - The Tearing of the Wave

[Ouroborosi]

Quill wispers to his familiar "Follow the big guy and keep us dated about Muscles his wereabout"

With that the gnome takes a deep breath and stumples toward the gate. falling face prone into the mud hoping it would hide in facial expressions somewhat
"You passed the gate my friend" the gnome mumbles a bit soulless toward the vine.

Trying to avoid direct eye contact quill speaks toward the gate

"Where here now we must wait for instruction" the gnome mumbles as he looks into the sky and back and the map. as he scratches his head.

ooc: if people disagree feel free to pull quill back before he makes al these attemtps

[razorback]

"Now what?" Savin whispers to the elf.
"We can either rush them, even though they haven't done anything to use yet, we can retreat but they could send out warriors, or we could try to act the part of lost travelers and try to get and hold the gate until the others are here. I say the last because we might not have another opportunity like this and they will likely be on alert after this."

[achinca]

Quill and Maesyn deliberate what to do next, with the idea of pretending to be dominated to be the agreed upon solution.

Rayen indicates that the time for talking is getting close to end and some action is needed.

Axara whispers “Forgive me Mystra. You are my Goddess ” as she takes her holy symbol and put inside her armor.

Ryxikor and Savin discuss their next move, agreeing that pretending to be lost adventurers looking for the keep to be the best approach as it is as close to the truth as possible. Savin knows that they have one shot at it because after that the guards will be on alert.

Before they can implement they plan, they see Quill come out of the hiding place and addressing them. Axara follows him. He also addresses the guards.

A rough male voice coming from the arrow slits says “Why have you come so soon after the last group? Who are you supposed to be seeing here?.

A weasel can be seen going towards the location of Ryxikor and Savin.

The “torch” has still not reappeared.

[Ouroborosi]

Quill looks a bit confused as he stairs to the distance...
"Now that you mentioned it.. the clerics where a bit in a hurry to let us go just a few days after me and my friends passed the sacred trust." the accounted shakes his head in disapproval "One of the unworthy had made a scene and purple dragons would be visiting that day. As a whole horde of purple dragons would have delayed our holy mission they send us this way."

Quill looks down in shame "We don't know who we are supposed to be seeing the man that escorted us died when we fought of lizard folk who attempted to capture us. We couldn't back down from our holy mission, so we took this map of his body and followed these directions."

The gnome takes a bow "I am so excited to discover what magical wonders ly hidden here"

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bluff (1d20+1)[16]

[Jeraoa]

Rayen sucks in her breath when Quill starts walking towards the gate. She quickly changes her aura to hopefully help the little man.

As he moves forward, talking to the sky, Rayen moves close to Axara. "I am going to stay out of sight. If they see me, I am going to pretend to be unstable because of the dominating thing." She winks at the cleric and moves backwards into the shadows a bit more. After a sudden thought, she pulls a small flask from her belt and drinks it.

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Aura: Presence +1 to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate
Drink Elixir of Hiding +10 for 1 hour
Hide: (1d20+14)[32]

[puffmagicdragon]

Ryxikor pulls his makeshift mask down off his face, and whispers back to Savin, "I think travelers would suffice. But I think someone is outside the wall, carrying that torch." the rogue says as he turns and looks over his shoulder again for the moving torchlight. The elf looks at one of his new adventuring companions and a mischevious smile plays along his lips. Just as he is about to leap out from his cover, to his horror, Ryxikor witnesses the accountant stumble out of the trees, "Prepare to fight, we may have to defend the gnome." he tells Savin, "Quill, just burst out and started mumbling something." Ryx stops moving and talking to see what he can hear, now not knowing who it was the guards saw and yelled at.

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listen: (1d20+3)[22]
hide: (1d20+10)[20] with Quill coming out, I thought they might focus on him and give us another roll

[LtPowers]

Maesyn follows the lead of Axara and Quill. "Please, we just want to fulfill our holy promise," he offers.

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Aid another (Bluff): (1d20+4)[17]

Maesyn Silverhair

[razorback]

Savin nods to the elf, knowing that the gnome is creating a distraction but putting himself in danger. Reaching back silently into his pack, he wills one of the Shadowslain javelins into his hand and prepares to throw if there is any hostile movement against the rest of the party.

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Readied action to throw the javelin if there is a target who takes a hostile action against the rest of the party.

Listen
(1d20+5)[10](15)
Spot
(1d20+6)[20](26)

[achinca]

Quill goes into a long explanation why they are here and why he does not know who the group is supposed to meet.

Maesyn steps in acting as if dominated.

Axara steps in. “We have going through the ritual and earned Mystra’s sacred trust. Priest Fembrys told us to follow our leader who got the map for the blonde man. Everything was following Mystra’s wishes until the lizardfolks attacked us. We are because Priest Fembrys told us to come here. ”

Rayen stays hidden in the swamp. She is impossible to see.

Ryxikor and Savin get ready to intervene. They can hear the conversation as all the teams members are speaking to ensure whoever is behind the walls can hear them. They also have blended with their environment and are very heard if not impossible to see.

The female voice says “I told you these damned lizardfolks are a pest. Sending the dead ones after them is a waste of time. They would be better off sending the shadar-kai to get rid of these nuisances. We have lost too many pilgrims this way.” .

The males voice “Agreed.” To the group “Don’t move and we will open the door and take you to Bestra for the next stage of the ritual. ”

Listen DC 15

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A laugh can be heard following that comments

The second portcullis open and a man wearing a MV studded leather, a short bow, a quiver and a dagger appears. He opens the first portcullis and says. “Follow me and be silent.

The “torch” reappears. It is actually not a torch but a glowing sphere of light.

Arcana check

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DC 15

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This floating, glowing orb is actually a creature called a will-o'-wisp. This result reveals all aberration traits and the air subtype.

DC20

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Will-o'-wisps can fly with remarkable agility. They are completely immune to most spells or spell-like effects, and they attack by inflicting powerful electrical shocks.

DC25

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When startled or frightened, a will-o'-wisp can extinguish its glow, effectively turning it invisible. Although immune to most spells or spell-like effects, they are affected by magic missile and [/i]maze[/i].

Axara whispers to Quill and Maesyn “This light is an aberration called a will-o’-wisp. They are immune to most spells, feed on fear and can inflicts damaging electrical shocks

[Ouroborosi]

"They also turn invisible" quill wispers.

As the gnome follows he messages toward his familiar
"Pairs, Charms and I are going in. Follow Muscles and keep me posted"

[Jeraoa]

Rayen watches the gate open and the man beckon the others inside. She chews her lip for a moment before deciding that it is best she stay out of sight for now. If she suddenly appeared, they might get suspicious. She quickly moves off to the side and looks for the climbing vine that the other two went up. Once up on the wall, she move quietly up behind them, whispering her presence once she gets close so she does not startle them. "What is the plan?" she whispers.

Spoiler

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Climb: (1d20-1)[19]
Move silently: (1d20-1)[5]
Hide: (1d20+14)[27]

[puffmagicdragon]

Ryxikor looks back at Savin and whispers, "We have to make a decision, do we take the cue from the others and act dominated, or do we use stealth to our advantage?"

The elf looks back to the portcullis, and continues, "They're ushering Quill, Maesyn, and Axara inside. I don't see Rayen anywhere. Wanting to hurry and get a plan in place, Ryx quickly continues, "If we act dominated, easy we just follow the others in, but it may look suspicious, us being way over here. If we use stealth, do we try and sneak in behind Axara and the others, or do we climb this wall and come in behind our enemy?"

[puffmagicdragon]

Thinking of what Savin said earlier, the elven mercenary adds, "It's time for us to get in the heat of things. The guards are already on alert, I think our best option is to climb this wall, then backtrack back to the gate." Ryxikor pulls out a worn brown leather pouch, "However, if we do climb, I would like to borrow your nice ring, if that's ok. You can climb up, drop the ring into the pouch, then drop it down to me, then I'll climb" the sly sinister smile returning, Ryx waits for a reply.

[achinca]

Quill’s familiar tells him that Muscles and Silks are using the current distraction to go up the wall, using the vine.

Rayen starts moving towards the climbing vine but she is much too loud to go unnoticed. The guard yells “Who goes there? ” as the will-O’-Wisp turns invisible.

Axara, sensing the danger and wanting to continue the charades, steps in. “Rayen, this way. You seen totally disoriented. Night and the swamp and the lizardfolks have put us on the edge. Come toward the door. This way. ”

Ryxikor and Savin climb the wall without much difficulty. Once on top they look to the other side, they see that they will jump in a courtyard with a door on a south wall and one on the north wall.

They can see the roof of the entire building including the tower as well as a watch guard toward. There is also a non working fountain in another courtyard.

Swamp has started to take over two corner of the old keep.

Spoiler

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Will post a map with the view of the keep from Ryxikor/Savin point of you. The rest of you please ignore it. Thank you.

[puffmagicdragon]

Two shadows, as quiet as the wind, deftly slip over the old crumbling stone wall, one of them, a lean, taut, agile elf, dressed in mostly in black and dark reds, who has spent many years of his long life as an adventurer, mercenary and bounty hunter, lives for excitement, like this, that causes his pure elven blood to flow much faster as he quickly surveys the layout of the keep from a much better vantage point. Not wasting time, not wanting his silhouette to be seen by some guard and be an easy target, Ryxikor quickly and quietly slips down, catching hold of the edge of the wall, hanging momentarily, before dropping the last ten feet to the ground below, silently, rolling and tumbling to a stop to absorb most of the impact. The lithe elf, his momentum carrying him to land effortlessly on his feet in perfect distribution, stands crouched in the shadows, against the wall, organripper suddenly in his hand as if he'd carried the deadly drow weapon the entire time, as he searches around the courtyard for any movement.

Spotting the doors in the inner walls of the courtyard, it's the door nearest the wall behind him that interests Ryx most, he thrusts his arm up, pointing to the door, "That way, that should get us closer to the others, we just need to move along this wall." he whispers to Savin, thinking it an easy solution, just before taking off as quietly as he can. The crafty rogue moves only in the darkest of shadows, quietly, but doesn't slow his step, as all he can think about is how the group has split with the masters of weapons here, and the masters of spells at the front gate. Once he gets to the door, he grabs at the handle to see if it's locked, not worried about traps, as he doesn't expect a courtyard door to be trapped. If it's locked, he drops to his knees and quickly get his tools out to pick the lock. If it's unlocked, he listens for any type of sounds, as he opens the door slowly to see what's on the other side.

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HP: 30/30
AC: 17

Move action: move 60' to doorway at AE28

Hide: (1d20+9)[27]
Move silent: (1d20+4)[17] includes-5 penalty for moving at full speed
Tumble: (1d20+11)[31]
Listen: (1d20+3)[13]
Pick lock (if needed): (1d20+11)[25]

Tumble (Dex; Trained Only; Armor Check Penalty)

You can’t use this skill if your speed has been reduced by armor, excess equipment, or loot.

Check

You can land softly when you fall or tumble past opponents. You can also tumble to entertain an audience (as though using the Perform skill). The DCs for various tasks involving the Tumble skill are given on the table below.

Tumble DC: 15
Task: Treat a fall as if it were 10 feet shorter than it really is when determining damage.

[razorback]

Savin looks over his shoulder before following his elf companion and nearly looses him. Impressed again with his abilities, Savin does his best to emulate him as he makes his way down and into the compound.
While not possessing the elven mercenaries skills, he is not without some skill himself and he follows the path set before him, knowing that Ryx has marked out the best way to use their surroundings for cover.
Keeping an eye out as Ryx tries the door, he turns silently and scans the area to make sure no guards have spotted them as he keeps his javelin low but ready to throw as needed.

Spoiler

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Hide
(1d20+9)[17](26)

Move Silently
(1d20+7)[1](8)

Tumble to reduce damage
(1d20+7)[18](25)

Spot
(1d20+6)[3](9)

Listen
(1d20+5)[1](6)

[Ouroborosi]

Quill closes his eyes in irritation "So she survived after all?" "Hurry up our mission can't wait for long"

[achinca]

With amazing grace, Ryxikor hangs from the walls and tumbles silently into the courtyard. Savin follows suit and although he tumbles gracefully, he does make some noise.

The large yard is a field of mud. Some rubble has fallen from the great hall and the enclosing wall, and some undergrowth seems to be spreading through a gateway at the north end of the yard.

The two heroes try to hide and wait to see if the noise is attracting attention. Nothing or no one seem to come to the court yard.

Savin and Ryxikor decide to go south towards the other member of the group. Ryxikor finds the door without a trap and unlocked.

He opens it they see a large open space between the gatehouse and the main building of the keep. Surrounded by crumbling walls, this courtyard looks as though it is on the verge of disappearing into the swamp. On the west side, a large pool of water spreads inward. Broad clusters of ferns and shrubs have sprung between the uneven flagstones. Mats of putrid yellow-green algae fill a bleached stone fountain near the center of the courtyard. Across the courtyard, the great hall with its closed double doors stands relatively intact though the walls at the west front corner are deteriorating.

As silent as then can be, the two heroes sneak their way to the guard tower.

Quill, staying in character, comments on Rayen, who slowly moves toward the group, acting as if under the influence.

Axara comments on the dragon shaman “Poor thing. She took Mystra Sacred Trust really. She has not been the same even since the ritual. Come Rayen, come.”

Turning her back to the guard and watching Maesyn and Quill, she puts her hand to her neck and then makes the gesture of cutting her own throat, while nodding her head toward the guard.

As Rayen joins the group, the will-O’-Wisp turns visible.

The guard yells in a nasty tone. “ Hurry up, I don’t have all day. Bestra will be waiting for you.” ”

Axara opens her eyes wide and whispers “Should we let the wolf lead the lambs to the lion?

Spoiler

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Group is still at the entrance. Ryxikor and Savin are by the guard house.

[Ouroborosi]

Hearing Axara the gnome wispers back "I think getting away from the wisp is a good action"
With that the wizards stumples toward to the guard ready to follow.

[Jeraoa]

Rayen is completely confused but she catches Axara's hints and stumbles towards the cleric. She leaves her arms slack at her sides and her eyes are droopy. She trips over something unseen and almost falls into the other woman. Hope you have a plan, she whispers to Axara before pulling herself up. One hand starts twirling her hair as she stares off into the night, not really focusing on anything.

[puffmagicdragon]

The pair, two shadows, moving swiftly and deadly, to a patch of darkness sitting beside the gatehouse, come to a stop to survey the grounds. Peering around the courtyard, eyes hidden away from moonlight and starlight alike, under the wide brim of his black hat the elf sits. Breathing, not labored, heart rate, barely above normal, but yet all senses are heightened, due to years of training and adventuring, and are invaded by the odors and sounds of the musky smelling, murky swamp, the elf carefully plans his next moves. The elven warrior takes heart in the fact that their movements had not even startled the crickets and frogs from their songs of the night. Ryx turns and a sly grin appears on his face, as he grasps Savin lightly but firmly on the arm, "Well done," he says, genuinely impressed, "You almost look as though you were gifted with grace from the elves." hesitating only for a second, he quickly adds, "...almost." But then his smile turns more cryptic, "But now it's time to get in to the heat of things. I was thinking, why don't you watch this area and that door," as he points around the corner, "...and keep anyone from coming out and sneaking up behind me. And I'll go see what's taking our friend's so long." Ryxikor pulls organripper out and is ready to leave but turns back, adding, "And for god's sake, watch your back, watch those doors." pointing with his dagger, across the courtyard to the double doors to the main building.

With that, the rogue flashes by the doorway and around the corner, looking to see who the owner is of the unknown guard's voice. As he looks around the last corner, Ryx sees a male guard and decides he could take his voice away. Gripping organripper even more tightly, the elven mercenary quietly sneaks up behind the guard, and as his friends have the guard's attention, Ryx reaches up and at the same time, pulls the man's head back, exposing his neck, then draws his deadly drow dagger across the guard's throat, silencing him and drowning him in his own blood, as Ryx whispers, "I heard Shar was just a whore."

If the guard hears Ryxikor

If the guard hears Ryxikor trying to sneak up behind him and turns, Ryx doesn't hesitate, and plunges his dagger into the man's belly.

Spoiler

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HP: 30/30
AC: 17

spot: (1d20+3)[17]
listen: (1d20+3)[22]
hide: (1d20+9)[25]
move silent: (1d20+9)[18]

move: move as far as to the guard
standard: attack guard from behind with organripper

attack: (1d20+10)[19] +2 for flanking
damage: (1d4+1)[3]
sneak attack damage: (3d6)[8]

[LtPowers]

While waiting for Rayen to arrive, Maesyn asks casually. "So who is Bestra? Another servant of Mystra? Someone in charge around here?"


Maesyn Silverhair

[razorback]

"Fair praise. I will do as you say but if I am spotted I will attack at once. If it looks like I will be overwhelmed even with your help, hold back as you may be the only thing that can save us. Fare you well." Savin whispers to his elven companion. Silently he takes out his chain and winds it about his arm to cut down the sound but keep it handy, then shifts his stance so he can keep a lookout as Ryx describes, javelin at the ready.

[achinca]

Quill moves closer to the guard while whispering to Axara to watch out of the wisp.

Rayen acts the parts and asks Axara about her plans. The cleric replies “Get rid of that Sharran guards and see what is next.

Maesyn approaches the guard and asks about Bestra. The guard opens his eyes wide. “You do not know who Bestra is? Well you are in for a surprise. He giggles before adding {b]Yes, she is a servant of Mystra.[/b]” His giggles turn into a full blown laugh.

Axara approaches the guard. “Tell me Sir, how did you get the will-O’-wisp to guard for you? I never thought these creatures could be turned into pet. And I am looking forward to learn for Bestra myself.”

The guard ignores the question from the cleric and says “Now that you are all in, let me put down the portcullis and follow me to Bestra without saying a word.

He pulls down the portcullis, separating the group from the wisp and as soon as he is done, a dagger slides around his throat. The last word he hears before dying is “Shar is a whore”.

At that moment the group move away from the portcullis as the wisp tries to touch the nearest hero. The creature makes some noise before turning invisible.

The door to the gatehouse opens and a shadow slain lizard folk appears. Savin is ready and unleashes his javelin. The weapon buries itself in the lizard folk but not enough to kill it.

Initiative: Savin, Rayen, Enemies, Axara, Quill, Maesyn, Ryxikor

[razorback]

Savin, prepared for combat as he hides in the dark, hears' the screams come out a moment before the door opens and he sees on of the Shadowslain. Without wasting a moment he launches the javelin and sees it bury itself deeply into the Lizardman but the thing is still standing.
As the creature reels from the onslaught, Savin unwraps his chain with a practiced whirl of his hand and catches the flying end in his open hand, as he leans back and then sends the chain flying like a bullfighter with a whip.

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--I'm guessing we didn't heal since last combat?--

Savin
AC ~16; Current ~ 16
HP ~ 46; Current ~42

Free action
None

Move action
Arm himself with his spiked chain.

Standard action
Attack L1
(1d20+9)[17](26)

Crit conf
(1d20+9)[1](10)

Damage
(2d4+5)[1][3](9)

Effects~
None (I think)

[puffmagicdragon]

Ryxikor just lets the guard's limp body crumble slowly to the ground, thinking they might have the 'drop' on any guards inside the gate house, the elf's hopes for an easy entry are dismissed as he hears the aberration make some kind of noise, possibly alerting others, "Quickly, keep moving around the corner to your right, Savin is there watching for others, he may need us." the elven warrioir says, as he pulls the still warm corpse deeper into the entrance and into the shadows, he then quickly turns and follows his companions to help the valiant Savin.

Once Ryx runs around the corner and see more lizardfolk coming out of the doorway, the elf drops the quiver and pulls free his rapier, waiting for a foe to come close.

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HP: 30/30
AC: 17, 19 vs whoever Ryx is focused on

move action: double move to AR? anywhere in the AR row, and unsheath rapier
free action: drop bow

[Ouroborosi]

Quill curses in his gnomish tong the wizard had hoped this commotion could have been avoided until they went inside the tower. Now the wisp remains a problem as he heads west he grabs his Glitterdust scroll out of one of his scroll cases. An other curse escapes his lips he was looking forward in scribing the spell into his spellbook.

With that he makes a sallom vow if he she survives this he will make darn sure Axara's superiors give him another one.

[Jeraoa]

Rayen pulls her weapon off of her belt and moves to follow the rogue to where the other man is waiting. As they move, she quickly changes her aura back to the damage buff.

[achinca]

Initiative: Savin, Rayen, Enemies, Axara, Quill, [action stopped here] Maesyn, Ryxikor

Savin, in full combat mode, releases his spike chain and finishes the job that his javelin had started.

Rayen makes a double move to join Savin. She changes her aura to help her friends make more damaging blows.

The shadowslain takes 5 steps and unleashes its javelin against Savin. The weapon pierces the warrior defense. The women in the studded leather armor place herself behind the shadowslain and unleashes an arrow. However, the arrow flies high. There is no sign of the wisp.

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Savin: -5HP – Currently at 37/46

Axara makes a double move to get closer to the action.

Quill pulls out a scroll and moves closer to the action.
Effects

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+1 to melee damages

[Ouroborosi]

semi ooc: Quill follows the group keeping an eye out for one of the wisps attack when he has a clear idea where the wisps is he uses his scroll.

ooc: not much to say the wizard has no clear view to interact with.