The Necromancer's Pact VIII: The Rising Tide

[Diarmuid]

Tryntha

Returning the bow to the captain, Tryntha offers words of gratitude and then returns to the group, carefully moving past the wolf once more.

"These proud warriors of Rasheman will escort us to Immilmar, where I hope to facilitate your meeting with the Iron Lord to apprise him of these threats to these lands. Please do not take offense if the men are not exactly...friendly. We have dealt with the harsh machinations of the lands on our borders for long enough that we have become quite suspicious of outsiders."

The healer waits to field any questions or comments from the survivors before preparing for the final push to Immilmar with her countrymen.

[Koji]

Khazrael

Khazrael's pale blue eyes search the Rashemi axemen, trying to analyze their intent.

Who are these guys? Are we supposed to trust them? They could be robbers for all we know.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

Tiriel keeps a close eye on Grynde, making sure that he doesn't spoil anything with another outburst. A feeling of relief washes over her when she hears that the they will be allowed to pass, more than that, that they will be escorted. For once things seem to be working out.

It's a nice change, but she still has mixed feelings about many in the group. Her thoughts turn to the mask that she and Katrine have been hauling around for months now. We could show it to them and it might back up our story, or it could land us in trouble if these men arn't who they say they are.
Falling back Tiriel joins Katrine and asks her what she thinks about her idea.

(ooc I know blackfox said she'd be out of town.)

[elliott20]

Olfacht

Olfacht has been silent the entire time, somewhat uncomfortable with Grynde's reaction. After all, he's in the business of staying alive. And he likes it when business is good. Business would not be so good, however, if the group were to piss off every stranger they come across.

However, he does understand Grynde's concern. After all, a healthy dosage of paranoia does help keep people alive.

[Kevka Palazzo]

Faluil

The ranger breathes a sigh of relief when Tanner relates the good news to them and Tryntha confirms it.

He eyes the Rashemi suspiciously nevertheless. The wolf wasn't hostile to them-indeed, it seemed to be their ally-but that didn't mean that they were particularly accepting about his band. But he smiled and said,

"Then I thank them for their assistance. Thank you for facilitating a mutual understanding, Tryntha."

With a short bow to Tryntha and the Rashemi leader, he begins to relax.

Spoiler

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At this point, I'd imagine everyone is on edge and alert, possibly even listening for anything wrong. So this is a listen check to hear Grynde's little complaint.

Listen - (1d20+10)[28]

[barawn]

Damian

Damian's eyebrows remain furrowed, slightly unsettled by the sudden armed Rashemi guard. He looks over to Adalmar and whispers quietly, "How far are we from Immilmar? We didn't seem to be that close, although this godforsaken snow may be playing tricks on me. And a guard this far out from the city seems strange... unless they're worried about something."

[Dr._Bob]

Without speaking further, the Rashemi captain leads the way westward, the wolf loping at his side. With a small hand movement, he signals for two of this men to move forward ahead of your group. They raise their hoods and advance until they are lost from sight.

The remainder of the Rashemi scatter to the sides and rear of your party, disappearing from view.

Tryntha converses briefly with the captain before falling back to the main group. She has learned that these men are members of the Wolf berserker lodge and have been on a routine scouting mission. Immilmar lies ahead two days journey on foot.

Tiriel and Katrin converse quietly together. Katrin keeps a hand on her pack protectively as they whisper to each other.

Grynde sulks at the rear of the group. His eyes glaring out from beneath his lowered brow.

...

Late in the day, the more sharp-eared of you hear a series of bird calls. The Rashemi captain raises his hand, stopping in his tracks. He kneels and motions for the rest of you to do the same. The wolf crouches, his nose sniffing the wind.

[namo]

Adalmar

In an unusual surge of pride, he had been about to reply to the "harsh machinations of the lands on our borders"... but he bit it back instead. An end to strife was what he longed for.

To Damian, he replied, obviously surprised that one could doubt the Rashemi : "Immilmar should be at most three days away. But really, I don't think it's strange. We... They are a careful people."

...

Adalmar drops into a crouch, one hand already reaching towards his quiver. If a surprise awaits them, he doesn't expect it to be good - not after the trolls, vampires and aboleths.

[Koji]

Khazrael

Khazrael sinks into a low crouch and allows his pent-up magical energy to bristle outward. His mind dances over the spells he knows as he readies himself for any coming danger.

[Darius]

Tanner Gondsman

Tanner remains quiet for much of the trek. When danger approaches, the Gondsman instinctively reaches for the wheel-cog holy symbol around his neck as he says a prayer to his god and extends it to those around him - locking it to them with positive energy.

Spoiler

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cast prayer and make it persistent. All allies (even Grynde )within 40' of Tanner gains a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a –1 penalty on such rolls.

[elliott20]

Olfacht

Instinctively, Olfacht charges up his magical energy, ready to react upon a moments notice and... cast a cover for himself so he can be safe from danger.

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Olfacht is holding his action, but if something vicious looking pops up, he's casting invisibility on himself

[Diarmuid]

Tryntha

Pleased with the development of the crossing of the two groups' paths Tryntha tried to remain close to the captain to act as an intermediary if further necessary.

She halted immediately at the signal and took to watching the wolf, trusting it's keen senses would find any danger before anyone else.

[barawn]

Damian

Damian quickly drops to his knees, setting his daggers on the ground. With a crude thrust forward of his hands, and a single arcane word, his dull eyes flare for a brief moment, before returning grey. Those nearby him feel a gentle woosh of air, as though an invisible force had suddenly emanated from him. His eyes quickly scan the skies, his arms reaching back to draw his crossbow.

Spoiler

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Casting shield. Those with Spellcraft who recognize the spell would note that both the words of power and the gestures Damian uses are remarkably primitive - so much so that you're half surprised they worked.

[Naleh]

Retay, human barbarian

After learning their identity, Retay looks at the men with even more respect. He had much looked forward to meeting the 'great warriors of Rashemen' in Immilmar.

...

Retay drops into a crouch, retrieving his bow again. He stares all around him, looking and listening for any danger.

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I guess this might be a good time for some checks...
Spot - (1d20+3)[20](23)
Listen - (1d20+4)[10](14)

[Dr._Bob]

The Rashemi captain drops even lower, lying prone in the snow. The wolf similarly lies flat.

Two hundred feet ahead, a group of six large creatures moves out of a copse of evergreens and shambles out onto the road, heading northward.

The wind blows in your faces. The creatures appear to be unaware of your presence.

At first the creatures appear to be a sleuth of large bears, their coats shaggy and snow covered. Strangely, however, the animals ambulate on their hind legs, and when one turns its head, the sunlight glints off of a sharp beak set in the middle of its face ...

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

Tiriel looks around in some confusion as first their escort and then her travling companions go on alert. She knows something is wrong but since no one had clued her in as to what exactly was happening, she just follows suite and drops to the snow next to Katrine.

When the large shaggy shapes emerge she decides to stick with the age old moto and be "safe rather than sorry," and prepares to draw her sword. Then she looks to the Rashemi captian for direction, waiting to see if he plans to engage the animals or wait them out.

[Darius]

Tanner Gondsman

Tanner gets low to the ground like the others. Unfortunately, his breastplate prevents him from getting as low as the others. He keeps his head up so he can watch to see if the creatures approach.

Spoiler

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Hide - (1d20+1)[2]

Also, just to remind you all, we get +1 on skill checks.

Edit: Ouch - I guess the sunlight glints off of his breastplate.

[barawn]

Damian

As the Rashemi guard drop to the ground, Damian follows their lead, pulling his crossbow free and slinking quietly out of sight, sliding under a cover of free snow and shuffling to distribute it over himself.

Spoiler

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Hide - (1d20+14)[31]

As he slips into his hiding spot, he notices Tanner's poor attempt to conceal himself, needing almost to squint to keep from being blinded off of the metal gleam. He smirks confidently. Amateur.

[Matticus]

Grynde.

For a brief moment, he considers standing up and yelling, but he isn't that stupid. Instead he flattens himself onto the cold ground, trying to hide from the lumbering beasts.

Spoiler

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"Hide Check" - (1d20+9)[12](21)
That better've worked.

[Koji]

Khazrael

With no sound or movement signalling a spell being cast, the shadows in the immediate area lengthen and twist, making things palpably darker.

Khazrael makes no real motion of his own, perhaps assuming his hiding place is good enough already.

((OOC: Using my darkness spell-like, which as described has no verbal or somatic components.
Hide: 1d20+3=8 ))

[Dr._Bob]

Although several members of the party are able to hide as well as the Rashemi clansmen, some of the others are not quite so stealthy, and there is no easy way to hide Faluil's horse.

One of the half-owl, half-bear creatures turns its head, and locks its eyes onto the horse. With a sharp bark, it alerts the others, who freeze in place, turning their heads to look toward the party.

The expressions of the owl-bears is almost comical - surprised big round eyes and an incongruously-placed beaks where snouts should be.

[Darius]

Tanner Gondsman

The horse! By the furnace, those things are going to come over here and feast on that horse, Tanner thinks to himself. I am not going to let that happen.

Tanner then watches and waits. He whispers to the captain first in Rashemi then in common so the party will know of Tanner's plan, "Where are your men? I do not want to singe them with my wall of fire."

[Koji]

Khazrael

Damn it. Well, time for a little lightni--"Where are your men? I do not want to singe them with my wall of fire."

Khazrael sighs at Tanner's statement. An unseen man could just as easily be in the way of a lightning bolt. Instead he calmly begins casting some more simple, less destructive spells.

((OOC: Casting Jump and Expiditious Retreat on myself while the owlbears approach. The darkness effect is centered on myself, and extends 20 feet in every direction for the next 70 minutes. 20% miss chance on attacks made against people in the shade.
Initiative: 1d20+1=12))

[Diarmuid]

Tryntha

Having knelt near the captain, the healer hoped the creatures would pass by, but she had forgotten about the horse. Seeing their attention focused towards them, Tryntha began calling to the spirits of the land to come to her aid.

Initiative - (1d20)[3]

Spoiler

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Begin casting Summon Monster IV bringing into being a Celestial Lion.

[barawn]

Damian

Damian silently sizes up the oncoming creatures, his crossbow held ready as they grow nearer. The darkness clouding the area unnerves him slightly, and when his eyes fail to locate the source, he switches senses, his eyes shifting to a clear sky blue.

Spoiler

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Detect Magic, first time/day.

Noting the emanation from Khazrael, he relaxes slightly. He shoots a harsh but quiet whisper over. "A warning would've been nice."

After that, he silently waits for the creatures to come into range of his crossbow.

[Kevka Palazzo]

Faluil

Knowing his horse is so visible, Faluil gives it a sharp slap to send it running and mutters a short prayer to Oghma to protect him. For an instant, translucent blue armor covers his body and shimmers before going invisible.

I can only hope these creatures will pass us by peacefully. If not...well they are not natural-looking, that is for certain.

(OOC: Cast mage armor, Initiative = (1d20+3)[23], hope it goes well)

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

Well crap. That was a waste; we only lost the element of surprise. Tiriel thinks bitterly to herself. She's about to stand up when suddenly everything turns dim, not dark, but darker. She doubts that the owl-bear-things cast the spell so she ignores it.

The mention of a wall of fire does pique her interest though. She hisses at Tanner, "No! No wall of fire or whatever it is. At least not near us. We're surrounded by snow and ice, the last thing we need is a river to wade through.
"If you can cast it near the monsters, go ahead. It will slow them down, otherwise it's just a danger to us."

Tiriel hands her pack to Katrine. And after some hesitation, draws her sword realizing that she, the barbarian that downed the worm, and few others are equipped to take the front line. [hr]
ooc: the owlbears are 200 feet away, which is still out of bow shot for Tiriel by 90'. She could probably get 1-2 shots off before they close, but she's just going to draw her sword and get ready to charge them - hopefully putting some distance between the archers and the owlbears. Good idea? I hope some of the others join her....

[Naleh]

Retay, oxymoronic barbarian-who-doesn't-want-to-fight-close-up

Seeing their cover is blown, and the rest of the party preparing for a fight, Retay quickly lets off two shots, intending to wound the creatures a little before they have to fight.

"What are those things?" he wonders aloud. "And why are there so many things intent on killing us around here?"

Spoiler

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[roll0] - initiative
Full-round action to shoot at random owlbears:
[roll1] attack, including bless and range penalty
[roll2] damage, including bless
[roll3] attack, including bless and range penalty
[roll4] damage, including bless

OOC: I believe Retay can fire 141-210ft with a -4 penalty... and from that far away, he's not terribly concerned about being attacked. And, assuming we ever get to Immilmar, losing arrows isn't a problem in his mind. So front-liner or not, he likes to shoot until he's forced to charge. Sure, we want to keep them away from the softer members of the party, but that doesn't negate the strategy of wearing the opponent down first. (Of course, Retay doesn't know the rules about range, or about how many things you can do per round...)

EDIT: Dang it, I got a "You must wait 60 seconds between posts. Please wait 1 second" message, and it's ruined all my rolls.

[Naleh]

Spoiler

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Trying the rolls again.

Initiative - (1d20+2)[6](8)
Attack 1 - (1d20+7)[13](20)
Damage - (1d20+3)[13](16)
Attack 2 - (1d20+2)[17](19)
Damage - (1d20+3)[12](15)

[namo]

Adalmar

He gets up from his crouch in the snow, where he was hidden as well as anyone and promptly fires two arrows at the owlbears.

Spoiler

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He had taken 10 on Hide => 25.
Initiative - (1d20+4)[17]
Manyshot - (1d20+6)[19] (including prayer bonuses and range penalty)
(1d8+3)[4] (1d6)[5] (elec.)
(1d8+3)[11] (1d6)[4] (elec.)

edit: and of course I forgot the Favored Enemy damage : add +2 damage to each arrow.