The Lands of Sanetch - Alpha

[iop]

"I thought it was obvious which is the main path and which is the secret path. But since you're a nice guy, I'll explain it to you. The main path is the one that follows the river, and that is easy to travel. It won't lead to the fortress. The secret path is leading into the forest, and you have to know exactly where it is or you'll miss it. The treasures - if there were any in the first place - are still in the fortress. We do not enter that place out of respect, and aside from us rangers, no one gets out of this forest alive. The spiders and their lords are very skilled at eliminating even very strong foes. Don't think you'll find the fortress, by the way. I am leading you to the entrance of a tunnel that used to lead there, but the tunnel has caved a few miles ahead. It is still a good place to hide from the spiders, though."

[Job]

Hector

“All well and good” Hector nods appreciatively at the information given. “Oh that’s right! I remember you telling us that story at Dravia’s inn about you meeting some spiders; compelling story wasn’t it?”

[iop]

"Well, of course it was a compelling story. After all, it was I who told it. And now you do believe that it was the truth, don't you?"

There is hardly any underbrush anymore. There is just not enough sunlight passing through the dense canopy of the pine trees for anything other than the odd circle of mushrooms to grow on the pine-needle covered ground. There is not much to see in terms of a path. However, someone has spent time removing branches from the trees, that otherwise create a dangerous mesh of horizontal spikes.

[Zweanslord]

Marius Thanador

"Hm, typical environment here. Did you remove the branches, or somebody else? Also, how much further is it?" Marius asks in a friendly manner towards Ruudi. "And thanks for explaining." And with that, Marius continues to walk along, following Ruudi more than trying to walk on the path, since such is difficult to see.

[Job]

Hector

As Marius gives his reply, Hector charges past frantically approaching Ruudi. The Flail formerly at his side begins its deadly arc.

“Lady take you imposter!” Hector screams. His voice carries another, almost feminine, but somehow stronger and far more intense.

The flail head burst into red light as it sails directly at Ruudi’s midsection.

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

HP:42
AC:18 (16 after charge)

Full round action: Charge, Smite(assuming evil target), Divine Might, Power attack -1
Attack:(1d20+15)[23]
Damage:(1d10+16)[19]+(1d6)[5] sub.

Hector will place himself between Ruudi and Marius if at all possible.

[Zweanslord]

Marius Thanador

"Hector! What has gotten into you? Why are you doing that?" Asks Marius, obviously surprised and startled. He takes a step back from the two, wondering what he missed and why this is happening. With a look of shock on his face, he sees the fight unfold before him and he does not know what to do now.

[Job]

Through the melee Hector calls back to his companion: “He’s an imposter Marius; I sense his malice, and the real Ruudi never told us a story about spiders."

[Zweanslord]

Marius Thanador
Hp 47/47, AC 16

Still quite baffled, Marius looks towards Ruudi with a wondering look in his face, to see what the reaction of Ruudi is. To be on the safe side, Marius moves his hand back and flings his spear from the position of his back. Sighing slightly, Marius takes a deep breath and looks at the two in front of him. What he would have to do would unfold soon enough.

Edit

Spoiler

Show

Meaning that Marius does nothing in the first turn, except for grabbing his spear.

[iop]

"Wha...AAAAH!" Ruudi's surprised shout ends in a scream of pain. "YOU WILL DIE FOR THIS SO SLOWLY THAT YOU WILL STILL BE DYING A YEAR FROM NOW!"

Spoiler

Show

Here's the map

Spoiler

Show

And the initiative order
Hector
Lócë
Marius
Ruudi (can't believe I rolled so low)
Raël

Please post your actions. I will not wait for Kai-Palin at the moment, but I hope Skjaldbakka is able to play. I assume that the exchange between Hector and Marius happen right after "Ruudi's" reaction.

[Skjaldbakka]

Loce:

Loce advances, and with a few arcane words and a flick of his wrist his hand is wreathed in golden lightning. He lashes out at the false elf, discharging the energy into him.

20 to touch, 23 damage

[Job]

Hector

Hector follows Lócë strike against the stunned imposter. This time it is a guarded swing; not knowing his opponent’s true capabilities Hector wishes to be prepared for a counter attack.

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

HP: 42
AC: 20

Standard action: Attack, Combat Expertise -2
Attack:(1d20+8)[20]
Damage:(1d10+4)[5]+(1d6)[2]

Move action: Ready move
Move next to fake Ruudi after he moves, that should put Hector in threatening range should he try to run and cast a spell, or 5ft step and cast etc.

[iop]

When the sparks of lightning from Lócë's hand envelop Ruudi, only Ruudi's face betrays the pain since the shock has clamped his mouth shut. Ruudi bends and twists as his muscles contract, which at least takes some of the force out of Hector's swing, so that this attack does a bit less damage.

There is fear in Ruudi's eyes as he regains control of himself again.
"I will no' forge' dish", Ruudi says as he takes careful steps backward. Apparently, he has bit his tongue. "YOU WILL PAY!"

Ruudi turns to run into the forest. While he is moving, expertly dodging the tree branches, he seems to change his shape, while at the same time shedding his gear, until he has turned into a giant spider that quickly climbs one of the larger trees.

As Hector wants to step forward to intercept, something humid, no, sticky slaps his face. He finds himself immobilized by another net. Looking around, he notices that Lócë has managed to sidestep the attack, while Marius and Raël have been caught as well. The latter is already hacking away at the sticky silk.
Fortunately, unlike last time, there are no spiders jumping down on you. At least not yet.

Spoiler

Show

Since no one mentioned exactly where to move to, I assumed that Lócë is now on AE107, while Hector is on AD105. Ruudi went to AC107, and from there on straight east into the forest.
@Job: To my knowledge, it is not possible to take a 5-foot step and a move action in the same round. Since it didn't make a difference (and since it made sense story-wise) I made an exception this time.

[Zweanslord]

Marius Thanador

This looked familiar. Sighing, Marius started to wriggle or burst out, or whatever seemed most successful on the spur of the moment. Trying to keep the baby from not sticking to the web, Marius took care in his movements. For a moment, he glances up towards the way fake Ruudi went. He wonders how that all could have happened for a moment, but then refocuses on the web he is entangled in.

Spoiler

Show

Escaping Check: (1d20)[9]

[Job]

Hector

The shock of the webs striking his faceplate causes Hector to recoil. He flails ineffectually for a few seconds before he regains his balance and takes stock of the situation. Within a few moments he identifies the offending auras and prepares a counter attack, one not restricted by the webs.

“Four more spiders in the canopy friends, um… retreating” he calls meekly, a certain amount of uncertainty labors on his last word.

His eyes close as he takes a deep breath.

Go now! There! Hector commands, folding his consciousness through the surrounding space. His shadow distorts, arching across the ground and ascending the tree, in clear disregard for the normal constrains of light and dark. It is then made manifest striking out at the imposter.

Spoiler

Show

Rebuke Check: (1d20+6)[16]
Damage: (2d6+10)[13]

Shadow charges Ruudi (just using MM one)
Attack: (1d20+5)[18] incorporeal touch
Damage: (1d6)[6] strength damage

[Skjaldbakka]

Silquë'mahtar'urulócë

Lócë pauses for a moment to try and hear the sounds of other hidden creatures scurrying about (15 Listen). He then speaks a few words and gestures, sending a cascade of gold and white sparks flying out to burst on the other side of the tree, engulfing Ruudi (who must make a DC 18 Will save or be blinded for 6 rnds).

[iop]

There is a shout of surprise as the shadow strikes, but when Lócë's spell hits, all you hear is laughter - nothing more. Not even the spiders Hector has warned about seem to make any noise. There is nothing but laughter cutting through the silence of a forbidding forest.
"Ith dith all?", 'Ruudi' taunts.

You see the glowing outline of a large spider momentarily moving out from behind the cover of the tree, and if anyone was paying attention, you would see a faint glow moving further up the trunk of the pine tree.

However, the attention of everyone but Hector is focused elsewhere, and Hector doesn't pay attention to his immediate surroundings. An icy draft has come from nowhere, ghastly ghostly creatures - orcs - seem to be raising from the ground. They stretch their arms and shake their massive clubs and falchions as if they were waking up from a long rest. Then they set their gaze on the closest enemy. One orc ghost is even standing right in front of Lócë, staring right into the elf's eyes. Lócë can almost feel the orc's foul breath.

Raël manages to cut himself free. "Be careful, blade brother. This doesn't look good!" he calls out to Lócë. Then he turns to Marius, who hasn't managed to wiggle out of the net. "Stand still. I will get you out."

Hector seems to be unaware of the ghost of an orc chieftain right in front of him. His face is relaxed in meditation, as he is one with his shadow.
The tree is alive. Very alive. The Ruudi-spider is moving. It is weakening. It flees. But not fast enough. There are four spiders close to it. They are moving to shield the Ruudi-spider. Their life-force is connected to the Ruudi-spider.

Spoiler

Show

Here's the map. Please use the grid coordinates to tell me where you move, in case you do. Grey circles with (X) designate the orc ghosts.

Spoiler

Show

[Zweanslord]

Marius Thanador

Gawking for a moment at the orcish ghosts, Marius momentarily shrugs the sight off of him and focuses on the matter at hand. Looking at Raël, Marius says: "Alright, alright, I'll stand still." And with that, he stands still, but he uses the time to gather his undead knowledge related to these monsters..

Spoiler

Show

Knowledge(religion): (1d20+10)[16]

[iop]

Marius is all too familiar with spells that raise the dead. However, all these spells take much more than a simple flick of a spider's leg. Since it was unlikely that "Ruudi" was an insanely powerful necromancer, the words of Marius' first teacher of magic must apply: "If something can't be, it's probably an illusion. But don't you ever forget, a well-crafted illusory rock will kill you just like a real one."

While Marius is much less versed in illusions than in spells that actually raise the dead, he does remember the tales surrounding the Dragonwars that talk about how orcs had come flooding over the mountains, even destroying the city of Malager, how the people of Sanetch had driven them back, and how they had built the legendary fortress of Orcbane. Such tales always have a core of truth to them, and it is thus possible that this spell creates a reflection of the creatures that have died in the area. Or maybe it just summons their murderous intent.

[Skjaldbakka]

Silquë'mahtar'urulócë

Lócë turns to face the spectral orcs before him, slashing at them frantically with his mithral rapier.

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

Attack Roll (1d20+7)[25]
Damage Roll (1d8)[6]
Miss Chance (if incorporeal) (1d100)[41] 1-50 is a miss
Will Save (if illusion) (1d20+5)[10]

Let me know if I got a Will save, so I can remove Resistance from my active spells, and Rael, don't forget you have a Protection from Evil from me (from before the lull).

[Zweanslord]

Marius Thanador

"If that was a spell which summoned them, it seems unlikely they are indeed undead. Perhaps illusions or another effect that summons reflections of the ancient spirits lying dormant here.." The words trail off a bit as it is obvious that Marius is looking at the spirits with vigour. He tries to see if he can recognise what can of spell this is or what it was that Ruudi casted.

Spoiler

Show

Spellcraft: (1d20+7)[15] 15, thus assuming it is not a cantrip Ruudi casted..

Then, Marius shakes his head. "I'm afraid I can't tell the true nature of this occurrence, whether it be a spell or something else."

[Job]

Hector

Oblivious to the situation developing around him Hector continues to focus on the Ruudi-spider, urging another attack.

Spoiler

Show

HP: 42
AC: ?

Standard action: Attack
Attack:(1d20+3)[17] incorporeal touch
Damage:(1d6)[2] strength damage

[iop]

Lócë's blade slices through the air - and nothing happens. The ghostly warriors keep staring at him menacingly, but that's all.

Raël strikes the net, though his blade gets stuck. "Next time will go better", he promises after freeing the blade.

Hector's shadow has no problem getting past the spiders, and it drinks some more of 'Ruudi''s strength.

"WHAT IS THIS?! MAKE IT STOP! TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT, BUT MAKE IT STOP!" you hear 'Ruudi' scream.

[Skjaldbakka]

Silquë'mahtar'urulócë

Turning from the non-threatening, if somewhat disturbing, specters around him, Lócë attempts to assist Rael in freeing his ally from the net.

(1d20-1)[0]

[Zweanslord]

Marius Thanador

With two failing to free him from the net, which is including himself, Marius sighs. Even Lócë's help does not seem to have much effect. He takes another glance at the strange ghosts and mutters: "Seems like they are illusions after all." But then remains standing still, to make sure that he, nor the baby, gets cut as the others work to get him free from the web. "And it seems like it is not Pelor's will to release me from these strains quickly.." is the last mutter from Marius before he waits until another strike from his allies, hopefully freeing him this time around.

[Job]

Hector

“You will do, exactly, as I say fiend” the shadow whispers back “deviate from my will for even a moment, and I cannot guarantee your safety”. It wraps its insubstantial form around the spider, much like a snake ready to constrict its victim. The spider can no doubt feel the chill of unlife stalking its every breath. “Now move back to the road, living sin, one errant gesture and I will unmake you!”

~~

Hector’s voice rings out, odd considering his comatose state not moments ago “Do not attack the spider, he is my charge now, respond only if he becomes violent”

Spoiler

Show

The shadow will move with the spider and readies to attack should that errant gesture happen. If the other spiders follow the shadow will command that they be left behind.

[iop]

'Ruudi' does not answer, but slowly climbs down the tree. The spiders do not follow down, instead, they maintain a position above 'Ruudi'. As soon as Hector complains, they fall back, however.

Meanwhile, Raël misunderstands Lócë's intentions - he believes Lócë is going to cut the net by himself, while Lócë tried to assist by stretching the net with his rapier. Thus, Marius is still caught.
The two elves look at each other apologetically, and easily manage to cut Marius out of the sticky web in their second attempt.

When Ruudi reaches the first of the ghosts, he stops. "Here I am. Now tell me what you want."

Spoiler

Show

[Job]

Hector

Startled by the sight of the apparitions Hector is momentarily unresponsive to the spider’s question. After seeing they do not move, he gives the command to advance further. “Lay down next to the elves, do not move.” Hector’s real voice informs his companions, simply “guard it”

[iop]

'Ruudi' stares at Hector emotionlessly through his eight eyes, then he slowly moves toward Lócë. At this instant, life seems to come into the ghostly figures, and those that are in reach start hacking at 'Ruudi'. Hector feels as if boiling oil is poured over his insides, as blows not only rain down on the aranea, but also on the shadow. Hector is nearly blind with pain as his shadow disintegrates.

Yellowish liquid is oozing out of several wounds on the aranea's body, as he looks up from his position next to Lócë. "May your forests burn!" 'Ruudi' says with a final insult as he is about to put something into his mouth.

Spoiler

Show

Hector's shadow takes 28 damage, I'm afraid.

Lócë gets an attack of opportunity (or an equivalent standard action) against the aranea, which is on AE 107

[Job]

Hector

Screaming in shock and agony Hector Falls to his knees, the psychic backlash of his spirit returning to his body unwittingly is too much for him to coup with. He teeters on the brink of unconsciousness as the ghost creatures deliver their final blows to spider, and instinctively reaches up to remove his faceplate only to the hampered by the webs the still cover him; unfortunate, considering the vomit that wells up into mouth and then the interior of his helmet.

Hector murmurs a few unintelligible syllables, but is otherwise still.

One thought keeps resonating in his mind; clear enough to bring doubt as to if it is his’.
Steward of The Lady’s gifts, Steward of The Lady’s gifts, Steward of The Lady’s gift’s…

[Zweanslord]

Marius Thanador

"Thank you." Is Marius' response when he is cut out, and he tries to dust some remnants of the web off of him. Marius then looks at what is unfolding before him. Not knowing how to deal with 'Ruudi', he is soon distracted and amazed to see the ghosts gain a semblence of life and start hacking away. It seems that it is more likely they are ghosts of old and Marius look at them warily. However, his attention quickly shifts from the ghosts to the ones they attack. 'Ruudi' and the shadow. The disintegration of the shadow causes Hector to feel great pains and Marius quickly tries to take a step closer and see what is harming Hector, moving down on one knee to support the kneeled down Hector. "What is wrong, Hector? How can I help?" He asks, while keeping an eye on the ghosts.