Something Wicked this way Comes...

[GiedalCaine]

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sorry for the double post, wanted to make sure the pact was successful before posting the rest

Doilin exits the tent shading his eyes from the sun. His teeth and tongue feel worse for the experience though they suffer no real harm.

Taking a moment to concentrate, a dove suddenly appears on his shoulder. Directing his attention to the horizon the way the approaching allies should be coming from the bird lifts off and begins soaring higher and higher. Hopefully this feathered friend will find something that can be reported to the general sooner then any of his scouts could return.

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The bird acts on its own and requires only mental control, no concentration to maintain the effect. Doilin is always aware of what the bird sees and hears. Unlike familiars or other types of 3rd person reporting, doilin doesn't just sense the creatures impression of what it sees, he actually sees through its eyes so the information shouldn't be subject to interpretation errors. The bird must make it's own spot checks (using the base creature of raven for those checks) and listen checks but this would only be to counter things not readily apparent to a birds eye view, such as someone hiding, not necessarily an army marching.

[LordDice]

"So what are you thinkin you wily ol' rockthumper ?

"We need to get word back to Clay soon, he seemed like he's a little antsy what with our missing allies and all."

[Mr. X]

For Doilin:

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Got it. Carry on, it will be a little while before the bird finds anything.

Also, which army are you going to look for? Timaril should have approached down the road to the West, While Great Gate should have cut across the fields to the SouthWest, passed Clearwater.

[GiedalCaine]

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I don't really have a preference for either. When the bird has gone suffiently far enough that he should have at least found something in one direction, I'll use a round to dismiss him and summon another to send in the other direction. I'll continue this process in different directions til I have something to report. Guess it just depends on how fast the bird moves for how useful this technique will be.

[Mr. X]

It will take several hours to get the rituals to form a land bridge between the Dwarven host and The 'Spire's, and you take some time to help get everything going, before heading back across the field.

About midway across, Doilin suddenly stops, his eyes unfocusing as he shifts his attention to the sights seen by his dove...

For Doilin:

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As your dove takes off, it sees a great deal, but very little of interest... The thick, evergreen, forests of the sloping foothills opening out into the southern plains, the two divided by the highway running between Stone Watch and Holy Beluvah.

Stone Watch is a mess... The twins might have mentioned the state of the city in passing during your recent travels, but seeing is another matter...

A great percentage of the Beluvian refugees came here, and the city is all but besieged by the unwashed rabble... Thousands upon thousands of them...

A dove's eyes are not a hawk's, but still you can see the evidence of recent violence, where riots have risen and been quelled...

... The city gates are closed, and whatever hope the refugee's had for finding shelter here is clearly being denied...

Flying further, the scenery again becomes passive and expected, until, nearly upon reaching Ork Watch, you come upon a sight that, even back in your physical body, stops you dead in your tracks...

... There has been a battle... A great battle...

Tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands lie dead over the fields... All around, you see the broken banners and gore stained shimmering cloaks of the Kights of the Golden Mantle, intermixed with less famous Timarillian soldiering troops, along with the bodies and banners of the foe they fought...

Mixed in with the fallen knights and soldiers are countless orks, goblins, and barbaric men...

... These were not the blighted goblins of Beluvah, these were the northern hordes that smashed Citadel, and, reputadely, came to liberate the Holy City...

Soaring about the battlefield, you can see that a few survivors still wander and muddle about, detattched from their tribes, and looting the dead... Here a goblin gnaws a ring off the finger of a fallen soldier, there the massive hulk of a troll crawls on its arms, searching for its severed legs...

... The dove shys from flying too close, as the area is thick with carrion crows and vultures, but even at a distance, it is apparent how the tides of the battle went...

... The barbarians won, but at devestating cost...

... Timaril's force is doubtless broken, and has retreated back to the city. The barbarian's suffered terrible losses, likely including whatever person or force was holding together such a great host...

... In all likelyhood, whatever remained of the barbarian horde has fractured, and the pieces gone their own ways... Certainly you didn't see them marching in the road to Beluvah.

[LordDice]

Turning to look at Dolin, oddly paused all the sudden "What's going on...yer little birdy see something interesting ?"

[GiedalCaine]

Bad news I'm 'fraid. Let's get on to tha king and I'll fill you in.

Doilin pauses for another few moments to dismiss his faithful dove and summon him anew, directing him toward the other missing army.

[Mr. X]

Again your dove takes wing, this time fluttering Southward towards Clearwater and beyond...

...

Star Spire's camp has progressively taken shape. Now barricades of sharpened stakes line the outskirts, dotted with short watchtowers manned by archers. So too are the greater engines of war beginning to be assembled. Here and there ballistae and great wheeled catapults are being pieces together, and there, one large siege tower looms over all else.

You are again met by riders as you approach, and escorted directly to the king.

You find him much as you left him, still working away at the situation with his council.

He nods a welcome to you as you enter but gestures you to wait while he finishes issuing is present list of orders, most pertaining to the maintanance of the camp.

When he finishes, he stands and greets you.

"Please, sit and be welcome." He says, gesturing to the now vacant seats at his table. "What has General Ironjaw decided?"

[Barthac]

The Great General Ironjaw will make the crossing to your camp. We've come up with a way to safely cross the entire army. As for our expected party guests... well I'll let Dolin tell you what he saw

[GiedalCaine]

Grim news mi'lord. I've 'ad opportunity to do some lookin' on my own and it seems the barbarian 'orde was not content to sit twiddlin' thar thumbs and they waged battle against one of the missing armies. Our ally looked to 'ave retreated knockin' tha 'ead off the 'orde, so ta speak, but it seems apparent they do not mean to join us nor would they necessarily have a force worth much good to join us with if they did.

[LordDice]

"Gah, Blasted Barbarians, would that we could have held them at Citadel...what a nightmare that was"

[Barthac]

If that horde wasn't broken by the hosts of Timaril I don't imagine Citadel ever really stood a chance.

[Mr. X]

The Boy King clenches his fist, sitting slowly back into his throne.

"... Fools... I told them that if the horde was expected to march through their lands, they should have at least been put to use..."

Leaning over the map, he takes the piece representing the host of Timaril and places it back on the central city.

"... But all is not yet lost. If Great Gate arrives, we will still have the edge, having Timaril as well simply would have made us undefeatable."

He takes a deep breath.

"We shall continue to hold our ground, and give them every benefit of the doubt.

Now, unless there is anything else, you must excuse me. This camp will not organize itself, and it requires my attention."

With a nod, he dismisses you.

[LordDice]

Heading out quickly with the others in tow "I'm sure the general would like to hear of your little birdies scouting as well, we'd best get back to him"

[Mr. X]

Traveling back and forth between the hosts, and confering with each, has taken most of the day. As you leave the Boy King's command tent, it is to the sight of the setting sun, and the gathering dusk.

Far off, you can see the growing land bridge that the earth shapers magics are creating, as well as the thick mass of the re-mobilized Dwarven host, already marching to your position.

You feel a minor tremor beneath your feet, as another great mass of land warps and rises up to piece itself onto the end of the lengthening bridge...

The Ironjaw will be here on his own a few hours.

Still, the fields remain devoid of threats, and the men of Star Spire appear to be preparing to settle in for the night.

As such, you are directed to the area staked out to hold the Dwarven host, and provided with tents and a meal, if you so desire it.

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It takes another hour or so to survey the grounds, and eat (potato stew and herbed beef), and it is well after full dark by the time you finish.

You are just about to head out to meet the Dwarven host, when a high pitched shriek wafts out from the empty planes...

... It comes again a moment later, heard clearer, now that you're listening for it... A woman's voice, wailing softer this time, and broken by intermitent, pain filled, sobs...

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Your move.

[LordDice]

Burping up a bit o' stew as they hear the wailing across the plains "What in the Uncharted Depths is going on out there....Dolin, can ya get one of yer birdies over there and see what's happening ?"

[GiedalCaine]

Doilin takes a moment to focus his sight onto his existing scout.

I can, but I'm not sure my present one's seen all he can. What's more 'mportant pres'ntly? Finding the missing troops or this woman? I'll leave it up to your call.

[LordDice]

"Lets just go take a wee look over there then...we should be fine this close to the camps"

[Barthac]

Wailing in the darkness on a battlefield that will soon see its share of death... I aint got no other place to be.

[Mr. X]

Another pain filled shriek wells up from the darkness,

"HHEEEELLLLPP!! MEEEEEEE!!!"

There is a distant, animal, growling and snarling that can now faintly be heard as well...

Several men are rallying around, gathering torches and weapons, to form a foray out into the darkness... Whoever that woman is, she hasn't got long...

[LordDice]

Pulling out his axe and taking a quick jog towards the screaming "Well lets not dally, we don't want to miss any of the excitement"

[Mr. X]

Slower to take action than them men around you, who eagerly leap to the aid of a potential survivor, you bring up the rear. Passing through the, now erected, spiked barricades, you venture forth from the safty of the camp, and out into the darkness of the open field...

Ahead the darkness shrouds heavy over the torches of the men, and even with the aiding lights, you can see well passed the point where they clearly become blind...

And so it is that you see what lies ahead well before they do...

... A long line of the afflicted goblins hides invisible in the dark... You watch as one of them arches its head to the sky, its throat moving in mimicry of some passed victim, as it lets out another pitifully agonized scream...

"PLEEEEEASSSS!!! HEEELLLLP!! MMEEEEEE!!!"

... Even as you pull up, the torchlight falls upon the goblin line and the tide surges forth...

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Please roll initiative.

To give you a better picture, there are probably about fifty men with you, and at a glance, well over a thousand goblins.

[LordDice]

Seeing the horde falling on them quickly he shouts to the humans out there as well as they may not have seen yet "GOBLINS!...FALL BACK

Starting to run back yourself with a quick turn and a short prayer the earth erupts between you and the goblins as Earth Elementals charge into the nearest to slow them down.

"We've got to get back, Run for it boys !"


A few words in Terran to Sid before focusing on breathing ...not used to running like this. "Sid stay safe underground and keep an eye out as we run"

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Using the Chronocharm to speed the casting of Summon Natures ally, Small Earth Elementals (1d3)[2] (lets hope for 3 !)

[GiedalCaine]

Ach! That's a grim trick they've pulled!

Doilin senses the need for concealment and before turning to flee with the others calls on Malphas' aid to become invisible briefly.

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Initiative:3 (from other thread's roll plus the +2 pact augmentation I forgot to add)
Invisibility lasts 1 round/effective binder level so six rounds, with a 5 round reuse timer once it wears off. He'll make a break for the camp with the others, but will veer slightly off of their trajectory. Should combat be forced he'll want to be able to use his surprise to get in a flank if possible.

[Mr. X]

Picking up their feet into a full retreat, the twins hear Doilin spit a curse before vanishing from sight...

At Karazi's command the earth boils and bumps, as the earthen spirits he's conjured work to slow the oncoming tide, and buying precious seconds for those retreating...

Even still, the air is soon torn by the screams of the front most soldiers as they are overtaken and cut down. But their lives serve to give warning, and ahead trumpets sound all across the hill ahead, rallying the army to the defense of the camp...

... But the camp is yet far off, and the goblins are fast...

... Finally gaining the base of the hill, your lead quickly diminishing, another horn blast is sounded from the camp, and a thunderous cry goes up as the tide of steel is unleashed...

The wall of armor and steel rushes down the hill towards you, smashing into the oncoming goblin horde, and plunging the field into the chaos of full battle...

The Map:

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Goblins and soldiers alike surge all around you, fighting and dying by the dozens... For simplicity's sake, I am only marking your characters, and the goblins who might take make it to them, on the map.

To indicate their presence, movement shall be treated as passing over 'Difficult Terrain': Your movement rates are halved(1/2), and Balance, Jump, and Tumble DCs are increased by 5.

However, due to the steepness of the hill, your attack and damage rolls shall receive a +2 circumstance bonus when made against opponents who are downhill of you... Attacks made against opponents who are uphill of you shall suffer a -2 penalty on the attack roll only.

Here's the Map:

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[LordDice]

A quick shout in Terran brings Sid to his side, as he takes a step back away from the nearby goblins... amidst the melee there isn't much room to move but he tries to make a little.

Putting his hand on Sid for a moment he concentrates on the feel of the stone, He'd been thinking on how to do this for awhile, trying small pieces of his body at first...but now there was no choice, they were in the thick of the enemy already.

Slowly at first he watches as his skin starts to develop a deep tone of dark obsidian, similar to Sid. Shards of the glasslike rock fill in around his hands and under spots of his armor. It's hard to tell by the end, but the rocky protection seems to encase him even under the armor quite well.

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So a 5ft step away, Calling Sid up adjacent for a little protection and using Stone form (woo, first time !) +5 natural armor for him.

[Mr. X]

For All:

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Nice!

Taalkar, it's your turn.

[Barthac]

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HP: 54/54
Readied Maneuvers: Steel Wind, Claw at the Moon, Mountain Hammer, Iron Heart Surge
Active Stance: Stonefoot Stance: +2 to Strength Checks, +2 AC vs. Larger Foes

Taalkar turns and grins wickedly at the goblins. It's choppin' time! he yells, hefting the long handle of axe and wading into the fray.

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Take a five foot step towards Goblin 5 and attacks with steel wind (attack two enemies) I will also use Power Attack 3 to convert my axe into a reach weapon. This should let me hit both G5 and G1

Attack on G1
ToHit:(1d20+8)[12]
Damage:(1D12+12)[24]

Attack on G5
ToHit:(1d20+8)[20]
Damage:(1D12+12)[24]

[Mr. X]

Taalkar lunges into the fray, his first cut gives the goblin a close shave as it ducks beneath his axe, but the second catches the next in the shoulder, and splits it nearly nape to waist...

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Doilin, it's your turn...

Even after Taalkars vicious blow, by some miracle, the goblin still stands... Spurting blood and shrieking in agony and fury, but standing none the less.

(He's got 2hp left.)

[GiedalCaine]

Tempting fate (and trying to avoid being surrounded, Doilin steps invisibly behind the rearmost goblin and prepares an unexpected strike!

Noting a lack of proficiency with the armaments gifted by his fellows, Doilin falls back on the wooden shiv he escaped slavery with feeling that being more accurate in a heated contest would be more beneficial then the stouter blade of the rapier on his hip.

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Attacking G6 from a position opposite his allies (behind it). Attacking from invisibility is against flat footed AC, and allows +2d6 extra damage from Malphas sudden strike ability.

Forgot to try and bind ipos to get rapier proficiency and other bonus' . oops!

To hit:(1d20+3)[12] base is +5 , -2 for uphill swing
Damage:(1d3+1)[3]
Sudden Strike: (2d6)[4]