Of Light, Life and Liches

[MountainKing]

Spoiler

Show

Hiding? Ha! Orrum's standing on the same wall Absalom is sir; the only coward in the group is Radley.

Oh AP, why did we both bring "charm specialists" to an undead game?

[Kaiser Omnik]

Spoiler

Show

I was talking about Radley. Orrum has fighter levels, he doesn't count as a full spellcaster

[Another_Poet]

Spoiler

Show

Hiding? Ha! Orrum's standing on the same wall Absalom is sir; the only coward in the group is Radley.

Oh AP, why did we both bring "charm specialists" to an undead game?

Because we're freakin' awesome!

[Jade_Tarem]

Spoiler

Show

Because we're freakin' awesome!

Spoiler

Show

Yep. It's the same reason I brought a crossbow to fight a bunch of skeletons and zombies.

Of course, if we ever meet a vampire or a werewolf, things will get... messy.

[borninbones]

As you stare at the piles of bones and surveying destruction, all involved having managed to duck behind something (some better then others) as the dragon exploded, Saint Siristi stands tall. Behind the Saint are the villagers praying to him. The wall of force protected both him and them (thank you very much). He takes of his helm as you prepare to battle him. Around his head is a series of yellow sigils floating around his head. "I have not long. I am not here, attack me and this will only make our conversation short. The Gods have frowned upon the destruction that has been wrought upon this city." He looks over at Radley, "many of them were great followers and now nothing more then walking corpses." He turns back and addresses the group, "I have been sent to assist you in the only way that I can. I offer you my sword, my armor, my helm, my shield and my circlet. I wish i could stay longer and bring down the dead but my time is past and I can only hope that you bring glory to my name and the sigils that you will carry with you." With that, the skeleton dissappears and items clatter to the ground. The wind brings but a whisper. "Good luck my friends."

[Another_Poet]

Egan Radley

Great followers, Radley thinks to himself. "A contradiction in terms," he murmurs out loud. Still an atheist, that one.

Still, the plane-hopping saint's gift interests him. To his fellow mage he calls out,

"Is there a reason to keep this wall up, or shall we go see what he's left us?"

((Are there any undead left?))

[MountainKing]

Orrum

Orrum lowered his shield; the stalwart wizard (whom only has ONE level of fighter, thank you) surveyed the field, listening to Siristi with only passing interest. He had conjured the wall of force incessantly it seemed, something that somewhat annoyed him... though outwardly, he made no sign of it.

"Indeed; if their use is not immediately apparent, I can divine their purpose tomorrow morning," Orrum asserted, his stony countenance making his words grind and rumble slightly as he spoke. He moved down the wall, to come closer to Siristi and the woodsman, though he did not introduce himself immediately; if the woodsman wished his name, he would ask for it.

Spoiler

Show

Just to be clear, Orrum is NOT lowering the wall of force. Siristi can leave his gifts on the wall and dissipate if he chooses, but frankly, I don't trust him.

[borninbones]

The equipment clatters to the ground.

There are no undead around, not that it matters as you cant get down until you do dispel it. (dm hint pick up the stuff and divy it out - end of chapter time).

Radley only

Spoiler

Show

You see a small skeleton, barely the size of a mouse, it whispers to you.

You helped us once, now we will help you. Leave this place and never return and we will spare you. The miniskeleton falls to pieces after delivering the message.

Astronomically high listen check and maybe you heard it too. dc 35

If the wall is dropped... and you pick up the stuff you instantly know all there is to know about it and you know you can only use/wear one piece at a time:

The armor

Spoiler

Show

The Armor of Pelor made of cold iron with a golden holy symbol on the front. This powerful armor carried through the ages by clerics and holy followers of the God of the Sun has brought many a swift death.
In the hands of a normy:
Deathward full plate +2
In the hands of a character that can turn undead:
Deathward Full Plate +5
In the hands of a follower of Pelor that can turn undead:
Deathward Full Plate +5 and can use a turn undead attempt to instead cast Searing Light as a supernatural ability

The circlet (not a crown, sorry)

Spoiler

Show

This allows spells that normally do not affect undead to affect them. Any mind affecting spell cast by the wearer will work as normal albeit the undead creature gets a +4 to its save
Grants circumstance bonus to ac +1

The Helmet

Spoiler

Show

This nifty helmet is actually a modified Hat of Disguise.
The user can use the following spells at cl 11th or their caster level whichever is higher
1/day shield of faith
1/day heal
3/day hide from undead

The Shield

Spoiler

Show

This +3 heavy steel shield bearing the mark of Pelor can be used as a holy symbol. It gives its user the ability to light it up as the spell daylight but only in the very dark. It also can be animated and unlike normal shields can also be made to shield bash while animated with at a +3 bonus. This shield can also resize to a small steel shield or to a tower shield but grants the same bonuses.

The dwarf comes up, looking none the worse for wear. He nods to the group.

You also gain 10,000 xp.

This is the end of the chapter.
You have saved the villagers from eminent death. You decide to leave the dam up because it makes a decent wall. You have brought a little serenity to an insane place. The villagers thank you. The water has receded and you now see a necropolis with a very angry necromancer waiting for vengence.

OOC- This is the end of chapter one. If you want to change your characters now, this is the time to do it.

Chapter 2 the Lost and the Damned

[Jade_Tarem]

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

I seem to remember receiving some xp when you came back, bornin, but I can't find the post and MythWeavers auto-corrected the xp back to minimum level ten (deleting the spare change) when they changed their site. Since we just received 10,000 and need only 12,000 to advance from level 10 to level 11, there's a chance that we leveled.

Which I suppose is a really roundabout way of asking: How much xp did we gain before the most recent installment?

If it's enough to level, I have another question. Waaaaaaaaay back at character creation you said that if we entered a prestige class, we had to see it through to the end right away. Is that still the case, or did anything change when you came back? Either way is fine with me, but if that rule no longer applies I'd probably take another level of Ranger before finishing Master Thrower.

[Kobold-Bard]

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

I can live without any of the equipment, but if no one else wants it I'll take the helmet. Also.....levelling up, it's unheard of in a pbp game. Could it really be true?

[Kaiser Omnik]

Spoiler

Show

Bornin already gave us each 3500 xp.

[MountainKing]

Orrum

The Dwarf lifts the helm in silence, examining it. He followed no god, though he gave respect to Moradin, and believed it well to do so. In continued silence, he doffed his own helm, and replaced it with the saint's. In a mere moment, he had changed the helm's appearance to that of his old helm, and he returned to facing the group.

"Where did the saint's sword go?"

Spoiler

Show

I'll take the helm; I'd say Radley should definitely take the circlet. Doesn't Harin have cleric levels? If so, he definitely ought to take the full plate, though if the saint was supposed to leave a sword, that's another good option.

[Kaiser Omnik]

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

Also, if no one wants the shield, I can resize it and use it without any penalty.

[Another_Poet]

Radley

Radley suddenly seems very nervous.

"Let's pack up quickly," he says as he approaches the heap of new equipment. "We're done here."

He catches sight of the dwarf. "Good work Mr. Groban. It will be remembered, as per our agreement."

Looking at his own fellow party members, he makes his case. "Look, that lich obviously has tremendous resources at his disposal. We've the survivors to think of now - we weren't expecting to find them here and they're only safe temporarily."

He looks at the frightened commoners pressing around them, some still praying like fools. "Please, my friends, let us form into a column and begin the march of evacuation. If we take out food the worgs will help... we can go to another kingdom and deliver them safely, alter our neighbours to the lich's activities, and tell them what we know of the king. It would be better on all counts."

He picks up the circlet and passes it from hand to hand as he talks.

[Jade_Tarem]

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

So... if Bornin gave us 3500 already, then everyone levels, bar penalties for odd reasons. Awesome.

Also, any unused equipment should go to Matthias, to be used as ammunition.

...

Don't look at me like that. I have "throw anything," and by thunder I'm going to use it!

Just kidding, of course.

Matthias

Matthias gives Radley an arch look as he finishes climbing down from the barricade and stalks over to Radley, speaking quietly. "Uahh... Unless 'the march of evacuation' is a festival dance, then we probably don't want to do that. It's a long way to the kingdom borders, and the undead will be hunting them the whole way. Possibly the worgs, too, if food runs low. Truth be told, going outside this sheltered little area here is the only thing I can think of more dangerous than remaining within it. If they can stick it out here until we nail the lich, then most of the undead between here and safety will collapse. They'd have to - I've never seen this many undead summoned, and never seen undead in anything close to these numbers that weren't being propped up by the sheer power of their creator."

Radley reloads his crossbow as he continues. "And there are already people streaming toward the borders in every direction. Trust me, if they - the people who started fleeing days ago - didn't make it to the other kingdoms alive and full of warnings and alarms, then this crowd definitely won't."

[MountainKing]

Orrum

"You would so quickly abandon the pursuit of regaining the old law? Is balance and peace so quickly discarded?" Orrum frowned at the sorcerer, "What good would leaving now, making ourselves vulnerable by spreading our vigilance over a large group, and exposing ourselves to further danger do for these people, let alone ourselves? Would it not be better to press on, and strike at the heart of this?" Orrum rested his right hand on his warhammer, thrust through his belt as it was.

"If we strike now, it will be no different than if we leave and return later; these people will still be in danger," Orrum's eyes turned to the distant necropolis, "However, if we strike now, the lich will have less time to prepare himself. We cannot so easily say we should leave and return, when doing so would give him time to further fortify himself, and increase his sphere of influence."

[Kobold-Bard]

Harin

Claiming the Saint's armour Harin listens to the others opinions.

"I am afraid that I must agree with Orrum. While I would like nothing more than to take these people to safety, it will take over a week to reach Calamdan again, never mind the border. And who's to say that we would be allowed passage should we arrive; to their minds any of us could potentially be afflicted in some way."

Lifting his greatsword he thought for a moment before speaking again.

"The wisdom of Kord is to strike at one's foe whenever an opportunity arises. If we leave now we may never get another chance to get this close again. Moving forward is the greater good in this situation, and I refuse to flee from this abomination again." At this last part he lashed his blade through the air, the clear light from within it flashing briefly.

With nothing more to say he knelt down and began to don the new armour, adjusting the plates to allow his wings to pass through it without hampering him, or damaging it.

[Another_Poet]

Radley

Radley shakes his head.

"If we strike the lich now, it's exactly what he's expecting. Do you see the resources he has here? Haven't you learned something about strategy in your years as a warrior? This whole city is built for this. It's one big trap waiting to close on us. And I was alright with that when it was just us, but these people need to be evacuated."

He points back toward the gate they entered through. "We've already scouted the way toward Durk, and Edgil is only a bit south of there. If these people could survive in the heart of the maelstrom, the defenders at Edgil surely held their walled fort. We can feed the worgs long enough for a one day march.

"Once we reach Edgil, we'll either find more survivors, with a safe haven to shelter these people, or we'll find a battle that's far easier to win and we can re-establish the fort away from the eyes of the lich."

He speaks with renewed passion, as if he's actually starting to care about these folks. "Do you think I like walking all the way here just to turn and leave? It's not for nothing I say this. It's the right thing to do."

He pauses as he says that last part, as if surprised at himself. But then he nods confidently, apparently taking comfort that he has the right motivation for once.

[Jade_Tarem]

Matthias

Matthias shakes his head as Forge might, as though trying to shake loose his thoughts. "I get the feeling that the people here were left as an afterthought. Do you really think that dragon couldn't have destroyed them?"

The ranger begins to pace restlessly. "There's a reason I worked largely alone or in small groups when hunting the dead. If we move all of the people together, we won't be gliding along on angel wings - we'll be moving at the speed of the wounded. The old. The tired. The undead that will almost certainly come after us will be much faster - and can move through the day and the night, never resting or slowing down."

He stops. "And think, for a moment, about what happens if we succeed. You talked about the resources he has here, but I can see all of the resources that he *will* have if we leave now - every body in the streets, all the disease in the sewers, and the skeleton of every being that's died in and around Calamdan since its founding. All available options for dealing with the lich may be cut off, should we leave. He'll have that much longer to raise troops - he's not even close to raising every corpse in the city, and even if he is, he can go graverobbing to his heart's content. And, lest we forget, the lich is a soulless abomination because his immortal, regenerating soul is kept hidden and protected. We may return to find that Darvis is completely unassailable. Invincible."

Matthias sits down on an overturned barrel. "Is Darvis expecting us? Maybe, although I kind of doubt it. But it doesn't matter. The longer he has to prepare, the harder he'll be to destroy. And sooner or later, he'll simply be too strong to stop. A trick? Perhaps, but I get the feeling he sees it more as a training and production grounds than a great big bear trap. Maybe it's all as you've said. It doesn't change a thing. We have to hit him, now. We can't return to fight another day. There won't *be* another day."

He calls Forge over to him, and begins looking him over. "Besides, if what that... tree... showed us was at all true, the people of Durk are all dead. Edgil probably fell to the same force. It's us or nothing, Radley."

[Another_Poet]

Radley

"Durk was already dead when we left it. Edgil has walls! Even if it has fallen, it can't have a thirtieth the undead that this city has, and without direct leadership! One wall of fire in the centre of the courtyard would clear half of them immediately.

"No doubt the lich will continue to build his numbers, but the farther we are from the centre the more those masses have to spread thin to pursue us. And although they are restless, they are slow.

"It would only take two days to drop these people off at the fort - even if we have to reclaim it when we get there. Two days for all these lives. If we are pursued I can serve as rearguard with the wall spell, and then fly after you. They won't catch us."

[MountainKing]

Orrum

"The woodsman is right," Orrum intoned, "We cannot afford the lich any more time to build his forces. The city was taken over a week ago; you cannot possibly believe that giving the lich nearly another week is beneficial. If you wish to turn and flee, human, then heed our words. You will do so alone, and you will perish at the hands of the undead. I bear you no ill feelings for your difference of opinion; just know that I think it is incorrect."

Orrum took a few steps toward the woodsman, before turning his gaze upon Radley once more.

"In your own words, human. "If you're looking to be a hero, I'm sure there will be plenty more chances.""

Spoiler

Show

Just to nitpick a little, Orrum hasn't actually introduced himself to anyone.

[Another_Poet]

((Just to clarify))

"It would only take two days to drop these people off at the fort..."

((I.e. a slow 24 hour march there, rest briefly, race back here at top speed))

Spoiler

Show

At least that's my impression. Bornin, your original campaign setting info way back in the day said that Edgil is "just a little south" of Durk. As I recall both places are east of the capitol, so pretty much equidistant from here?

It took us only about 24 hours to walk here when we didn't know the lay of the land and were waylaid by a crazy tree lady and our semi-lucid king. And that was with trying (unsuccessfully) to sleep twice.

So if we're maintaining consistency with the earlier chapters it would be a 48 hour round trip and we'd be right back here.

Bornin, if you're retconning that's fine but let me know and I will adjust Radley's arguments.

Radley

The merchant-mage looks at the (dwarf?) and shakes his head. "I'm not sure who you are, but you don't know geography very well. And your ignorant statements will only panic the people. We have an aerial scout, abundant magic, knowledge of the route and many wild beasts willing to escort us. We will easily protect the citizens on the one-day march."

Despite his strong words, his voice seems almost more weary than condescending.

[MountainKing]

Spoiler

Show

Now, that's an awfully low blow, declaring ignorance before I can edit my post! When you said "Two days to drop them off", my line of thought was "Okay, two days out, two days back", not "Okay 24 hours out, then rest, then rush back."

EDIT: Okay, I've confirmed by reading that it was in fact a stated seven days walk from Calamdan to Durk. I would contest just how long it took us to get to Calamdan originally, given that from the outset, Amos was moving us along faster than normal travel by removing fatigue/exhaustion via his bardic music.

However, relatively new arrival to the scene Orrum may be, but I *think* 22 Intellect is enough for him to have spoken with a refuge, find out how long ago this whole mess started, and then draw a connection between that, and Egan&Company's arrival today. Given that, I believe my statement can stand at where it is.

Orrum

The armored Dwarf's eyes showed no flicker of emotion, his expression static and calm, despite the sorcerer's insult.

"I am Orrum, son of Garrum. I left my homeland after a period of service to my clan, seeking a peaceful time amongst some of my kin, who dwelt here. I arrived, to find the city in chaos. Law has been destroyed, balance dissolved. I *will* restore them to their rightful place." Orrum's voice is even, his inflection calm and steady. He walked the Iron Path, living and breathing stone and metal. He would persevere.

"If it would help you, human, were we able to find the materials, I could prepare a scroll that could potentially take you to this "Durk"... but I do not know the lay of this land, being a stranger to it. You seem perhaps tired; would this solution be feasible to you?" Suddenly, the sorcerer could see in Orrum's eyes a shift; an intentional flash of knowing and emotion, that could only be saying "I have forgiven you your words once. Do not press me to do so again."

[Another_Poet]

Spoiler

Show

Sorry MK, I didn't mean it as a low blow. Actually the "ignorant" part was directed at your claim that the undead would kill all the civilians on the way, hence my subsequent listing of all our military assets.

Given what you found out about the supposed 7-day walk to Durk/Edgil, I think I'm going to have to wait for a ruling from Bornin. The question is, which one is canon? The 7 day figure in the original recruiting thread, or the 20-30 hours it actually took us in the IC thread?

Bornin, your thoughts?

[Jade_Tarem]

Matthias Raker

Matthias's eyes look out the gate and down the road. "I still think it's a bad idea. Killing the lich would solve everyone's problems at once!" Forge growls and shakes his head, baffled by the argument.

[Another_Poet]

"It wouldn't solve the problems of those who die in the process. We can't protect these peoplein this place."

Radley shakes his wand for emphasis as he talks. "Everyone seems so worried that the lich will suddenly shore up his defences here. But he won't. It's been what, a week since the coup? And he didn't even have defenders on the wall! He's not fortifying this place. He let us walk in once, he'll do it again next time. He doesn't want to deter us from whatever trap he's set for us."

[DMfromTheAbyss]

As the party debates and the desperate survivors wait to see what they should do, the still morning is interupted by a thunderous noise and a shock seems to run through the ground, knocking down a few of the survivors, and making everyone stumble for a brief moment.

The survivors seem frightened and start to immeadiatly chatter among themeselves. "What was that? Did you see anything? What could make such a noise? Have the gods abandoned us? What next?"

One boy claims to have seen an unnatural blue light from the center of the city an instant before the noise.

The people seem on the verge of panic and despair. (again..) They look to the group of you...

[Jade_Tarem]

Matthias

Forge turns to growl at the center of town while Matthias throws his arms out to keep his balance.

"On second thought... an evacuation might be better."

[Another_Poet]

Egan Radley

Hearing the noise, Radley concedes the debate.

"This is it," Radley says quietly to his companions, new and old (he includes Groban in this, treating him now like one of the adventurers). "Make your choice where we're taking them, but we need to move quickly." He doesn't remind anyone he has a walled villa somewhere in town; he has spoken of it often enough during their walk to the city.

Turning away from his companions, he begins to line up the civilians. He orders them into a column. He makes sure to line them up on a side street, so that they are neither facing the gate out of town nor the main road that leads deeper into the city. That way there's no chance for the citizens to notice that the adventurers still havent' deicded where to go. No need to appear weak.

"EVERYONE LISTEN!" He hollers over the crowd. "You have two minutes to form up! Grab whatever you're taking! Line up on this lane, facing me! Every two able-bodied should help one who is lame or sickly! We're taking you to safety! Form up now or be left behind - 90 SECONDS LEFT, MOVE!!"

((If he sees the NPC wizard, he'll tell him to come up to the front with him and ask if he knows combat spells.))

[Kaiser Omnik]

Absalom

Absalom has a look of concern; not for himself, but for the citizen. However, he quickly changes his expression and turns to the men, women and children as they are being ordered by Radely. He wields the Saint's shield with pride.

"Do not despair. The gods are with us. Pelor has chosen us to lead the fight and we will rid Calamdan of this lich! But as my companion said, your safety is our primary concern. We will not let harm come to you; I promise."