By the time you return to Mistledale winter has truly arrived. Temperatures are rarely above freezing as you walk between Ashabenford and Glen. A storm passes through, leaving several inches of snow covering the plains. Fortunately, the people of Glen have already shoveled the road down into the town by the time you get there, and it's been liberally coated with dirt as well. It's not much worse walking down than it was the first time you arrived.

With winter comes the end of caravan season and a drastic decrease in travelers. The Dark Door's proprietor is happy to see you, and assures you that he has rooms available for as long as you care to stay. With its plentiful warm stoves and blankets you're able to chase the chill from your bones, and after a hearty meal of roast venison you gather to plan your return to Myth Drannor.

((ooc: I'm going to open the main thread and pause the action here, to give everyone a chance to discuss plans for the city. In particular, I'd like to know what route you're planning to take. Re-tracing your steps as closely as possible, or some other route? Anything you wish to do in Glen before you leave?))

OOC: Are you hand-waving the cost of staying in Glen?  It seems to me that 3 months staying at an inn would be expensive as hell.

Dorian sipped at some tea "We should discuss the dangers we think we will face.  One of my great concerns is that we've seen Gargoyles and Demons already.  I am no expert on such things, but I have heard that it requires magical weapons to harm them.  I am primarily an archer and though there is a strong enchantment on my bow I have no such ammunition."

"I suggest that we return by the same route.  I'm fairly certain that I can get back there and return to Glen, but for those of you who lack woodcraft it is probably wisest to keep to a trail with familiar landmarks in case you need to leave the ruins without guidance."

((ooc: Are you staying in Glen for three months? If you're going to search for Syndra, you should probably leave sooner rather than later. Also, waiting out winter would be more like four or five months. I haven't worked out the exact date yet, since I don't know how long you're in Deepingdale, but it's only mid or late November.))

I assume we're wintering in Myth Drannor, actually--since we're hunting for Syndra.

My thought is that we go back in the way we came out--minimally we're familiar with that, and if we repeat it a few times, perhaps even non-rangers will learn the way.

The way I envision it, we're going to find a defensible, solid building to explore first.  Once probing its mysteries we'll secure it as a base camp and work the surrounding area from there. Trips between base camp at an exploration site ought to be governed by Stealth.  I have 3 second level spells to keep invisibility around on several folks.  I also know a way of cycling those spells so that I can do six in a day's time.

Sirenya, can you help with that?

We do need to find out what kinds of weapons we need to hit these guys.  I'd assume +1.

((ooc: Well, Glen does happen to have a resident sage...))

((Maybe the Sage could even hook us up with a useful spell or two?))

That's a few reasons to see the Sage then--that's where I'll be heading. Do I need to do that IC?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Fri 24 May 2019.

((ooc: Yes, definitely.))

Corym walked with Kora down the switchbacks that drew neat lines in the cliff faces of Glen. He sighed pensively. Somehow the rock cliffs and elevations of this odd town felt more like home to him than the verdant forests of Bristar and Myth Drannor. Humans believed that all elves lived in forests, but his upbringing in the misty hills of Evereska. The fact that these cliffs were waterfront property made them all the dearer in his eyes. The exploration of Myth Drannor was a life’s work—he could build a life for himself here.  Neldor had.

He felt invigorated ever since he had found himself in the ruin.  He was suffused with purpose.  Not someone else’s mission.  Not the Knaves, or Elorfindar’s father.  This was his.  This was remarkably close to his father’s missions.  There was something more romantic about it than the work he did for the Knaves.

He’d sensed a change in his companions too.  Kora had always irrepressible, but ever since he’d begun her arcane apprenticeship she’d seemed—happier?  More excited?

He regarded his apprentice as he walked.

She’d always possessed raw talents of physicality and intelligence. In truth she was a rare find.  Her martial training had revealed the potential he had merely intuited before.  She’d always walked with confidence, but now it was confidence that had been earned.  Under a human’s apprenticeship what had been gained would have been lost in the transition to arcane training.  He’d been training her hard to make sure that there was no backsliding.

She’d only ever really tolerated him before.  Was their relationship changing?

In a sense he’d always regarded her like a block of stone.  An asset with exceptional potential, and a desire to see it developed.

Whether her regard for him had changed or not, he was a little surprised to discover this his regard for her had evolved.

He could see Neldor’s establishment in the distance, accurately described to him by Dorian. He’d nearly passed the entire time in silence.

“Kora, let me give you some context for this meeting. This Sage is likely to have information, equipment, and spells that will aid our cause.  We have some currency, but likely not enough to acquire what we would.  I have in my possession three rare spells that are worth many times the currency we possess.  In particular, I possess one which should be of exceptional interest to a sage, and in fact I have not yet cast it, though I have intended to many times.  But Neldor is also an elf living in proximity to Myth Drannor but isolated from his people save for his daughter.  I may yet hope that our cause will be in common cause with him, and that it might adjust his bargaining in our favor.  Unfortunately I have little presence when it comes to affecting the hearts of men and women.  I’ve only ever been able to acquire favor by the soundness of my words or the positive outcome of my actions.”

Coming to Neldor’s door, Corym smoothed his coat and tapped on the door lightly, as was polite in elf-lands.  Elves did not require the blunt banging of humans on their doors to hear the presence of guests arrived.

"If he's an elf and a student of history, wouldn't he want to help you?" Kora asked. "You could recover lost things. And he wouldn't want more elves to die in the city, would he?"

“Not all people study history with the same ends in mind. Perhaps he’s like Nym and would see humanity brought low to make room for our reconstitution. Perhaps he thinks that Myth Drannor should live on pristine and undefiled as a testament to a previous age and a warning for those that would tempt those heights. Perhaps he is like a Tomb Guardian of my native land, set as sentry to mark those that seek antiquities riches and annihilate them when before they succeed—or else despoil them after they succeed but are still weakened from the perils faced. There are many possibilities.”

"I... I suppose." Kora looks a little abashed. "You know, there aren't very many elves in Hill's Edge. We mostly knew your people from bard's tales, or the stories my family brought out of Cormyr of the Elven Court. It's a little disconcerting to learn you're all just people, like us."

I don't know.  As a new player I don't know how you handle winter.  Does this part of the world get snowed in?

((ooc: This is the first winter we've had. So it's new for everyone. Fortunately, Elminster's Ecologies has a nice table on weather in Cormanthor, and apparently it doesn't get below freezing very much inside the forest. So the dales, especially the northern dales, get snow, but it shouldn't be too bad under the trees. As you're a ranger and had a chance to chat with barge folks who have been to Shadowdale, it's not a stretch for you to have learned all of this.))

It had been a while since the Guardian Priest had seen snow, for so long, he had been on duty under the mountain, he remembered it would be cold though, thank the Bronze Mask for his magical clasp of dryness, getting wet when it was cold wouldn't be a good thing when the winds got stronger.

With these temperatures dropping, I will ask the Vigilant Host for access to divine magic that allows us to endure these cold temperatures, I won't be able to help everyone though, can others of you ask your Divine Patrons for similar?


He had only used the Endure Cold spell a couple of times on the journey with the company but knew of it's effectiveness.  My Lords gifts will last whilst we travel in the day, so we'll have to watch out for how long we travel in the open for.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 14:25, Sun 26 May 2019.

"I'm not familiar with the local weather patterns, but I know that in Myth Drannor one of the most obvious effects of the Mythal is a moderation of the weather.  Whatever heavy clothing we may need to get there, none will be needed within."

Corym smirked wryly and began, "On behalf of the fables..."

Just then the door opened and Neldor greeted and invited them in.

"My companion, Dorian, stopped by a while ago and made your acquaintance.  He told you of our hopes to return to Myth Drannor for further exploration and investigation into the circumstances of our assembly. The creatures that currently inhabit Myth Drannor are fearsome, and I wanted to consult with you regarding their natures, how best to defend ourselves from them, and how best to injure them.  Two of the things we saw were from the Abyss and the Nine-Hells respectively.  What can you tell me of these beings?"

Then the spells will be just what we need.  No need to take extra clothing.  Oh, will we be taking tents or is there a spell that will provide shelter for us and help keep us warm?

“No offense, friends, but relying on magic in place of mundane preparation can lead to catastrophe.  Especially in a place known for chaotic magics.” Reasoned Dorian “we can certainly use the convenience of magic, but I must insist that we gear up as if we had no such aid.”
This message was last edited by the player at 01:49, Tue 28 May 2019.

"In a sense, Dorian restates the position of Incanthus the Elder regarding the Fall of Myth Drannor--'an over-reliance on magical luxury corrupted the strength and resilience of the people until they became enfeebled and were easily brushed aside by the Army of Darkness and Trio Nefarious though their forebears may have more easily resisted their assault.'  We would do well to heed their advice.  There is little to be suffered by doing so, and much suffering may come if we disregard it."

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 20):

In that case, we need a mount to carry gear then, like a couple of tents and to put the cold weather stuff once we get back into the warmer areas that Corym mentioned.

I am not knowledgeable in the ways of this Mythral you keep talking about, what else does it do?

Maybe it has something useful about it other than stopping us getting cold, thought Krackor.

Corym

Neldor is perusing a book set on the counter. The strong smell of alchemy Dorian described is less pronounced, though from the way his black hair is frizzing, it's probably just because he's working with less caustic materials today. Sitting beside him on the counter is a green elven adolescent. She's somewhere in her eighties, you would guess. Despite the cold outside she's dressed in a sleeveless tunic that shows off her her muscled arms, and is swinging one leg idly as she chats with Neldor.

As you introduce yourself, Neldor smiles and gives you a short bow. "I remember Dorian. You must be more of the people who found themselves in Myth Drannor without so much as a by-your-leave. Such a wonderful mystery."

He closes the book and sets it aside. "So you're headed back to the ruins. I can't say I advise it, but then I've never been one for fighting. And the gods know we should have done something about Myth Drannor centuries ago. I don't know anything about the city's current conditions, but I may be able to help with knowledge about the fiends. But before I do, I am afraid I need to ask about payment. I am in favor of the People reclaiming what can be had from the city, but I have a family of my own to support." He spreads his hands and glances briefly as the girl beside him.

"Not all of its powers are known today.  I can tell you that it was raised in order to help protect the indigenous Elven population against the feared depredations of other races after the Opening.  Presumably some of its powers only work for elves and are defensive or protective in nature.  Some are passive--they always work whether you want them to or not--and others are active, you must know *how* to activate them.  I seem to recall that at the raising of the Mythal each mage that participated in the ritual imbued the Mythal with a power, but that the designer of the Mythal swore each of them to secrecy so that the citizens would have to explore the Mythal in order to unlock its secrets.  Sirenya, Kora, and I will work on investigating it from our base camp once we establish it, though the going will be slow since Sirenya and I are also accomplished scouts that can help case the next site."

"I note that you say 'current' condition of the city. If you could give us some rough estimates of where some notable buildings were, that'd be immensely helpful."

Corym consults the party's account books.  "We have some coin, depending on how precious you think your knowledge is.  If it exceeds our finances, there are a number of items our company possesses that we could barter with.  There's also the likelihood that whatever we find in Myth Drannor is likely to be brought back here, whether that's material wealth or knowledge.  We could give you the right of first refusal on items we're looking to part way with or allow you to interview us after each expedition.  Or both. We could even talk about giving you a percentage of each find in exchange for regular services rendered."

"It's likely that you're wondering whether we'll make it back or not?  A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, after all.  To that, I'll say only this:  We already have once, and then in the worst possible conditions--no preparations, no field intelligence, unacquainted with either our companions or their capabilities. If we can survive and return under those circumstances, how much more likely after you help us prepare?  Knowledge given costs little, but in this case can return much."

Neldor smiles. "Ah, but the first time you identified where you were and made the intelligent move to leave immediately. Staying and exploring is a significant increase in the level of peril." His smile widens. "Not to mention increasing the doubts in your sanity."

He shrugged. "I don't have a map of the city. My family never lived there. But I can at least describe its districts. And help a bit with information on fiends.

"As for price..." He thinks for a moment. "Let's say a hundred gold up front, then right of first refusal to buy anything you bring out of the ruins, at a slight discount, plus an interview. Were you planning on basing yourselves out of Glen, or did you have another dale in mind?"

In reply to DM (msg # 25):

"Hmmm..." Corym records the offer in the journal.  "We'll keep that in mind.  We're planning on establishing a camouflaged base camp in Myth Drannor and working several areas nearby.  As I understand it, you're a fellow practitioner of magic.  Is it possible that you might have spells that would assist with this endeavor? Similarly, do you possess any spells that might be especially useful with the fiends?"

"Ambitious," Neldor says. "Most adventuring bands I've heard of try to dash into the ruins and then dash out again as quickly as possible. Like a Sembian who just ran over someone in the street and is eager to get around the corner before someone notices. Although not all fiends are as vicious as Sembians out for a little justice.

"I don't have many battle spells." He shrugs. "Never been a battle mage, nor wanted to be. But I have a decent library. What were you thinking of, and what do you have to trade?"

"Our key to getting out of the city alive was our ability to remain stealthy.  Barring wild magic, I'm relatively convinced of our ability to maintain operational security between our base and the site--thus minimizing our exposure to danger except for that we're intentionally seeking."

"I'm not much of a battle wizard either, you see. I was thinking of spells like Vacancy, Guards and Wards, Invisibility 10', Hallucinatory Terrain--those are the ones that come to mind immediately.  If there's something that had some subtle effect just deflected attention, or encouraged folk to go elsewhere, that would be welcome as well.  Protection from Evil, or the Protection from Evil 10' would both be nice as well. Again, our success inflates your profits."

"In terms of what I could offer--I have two quite rare spells that I think are of especial use for fellow-non-Battle Mages, though I think the rarity might skew the exchange too far in our favor--Past Life, and Alamir's Fundamental Breakdown."

While Neldor considers what he has to trade, Corym remarks.  "I'm an Elf-Nationalist on principle and want to help our people whenever I can by reclaiming their lost art and heritage, but I'm personally a bit of a cosmopolitan. Two generations back, my family did live in Myth Drannor, so I come by it honestly, I suppose.  The idea of living in a Dwarven community is stimulating to me.  I have a great love of craft and craftsmanship, and by profession I'm a stone mason, engineer, and architect.  Glen appeals to me on many levels, and I sincerely hope to make Glen a home."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:56, Mon 27 May 2019.

"Ah! You have fundamental breakdown as well?" Neldor's entire face lights up. "Isn't it the most marvelous spell? A bit hard on what you're analyzing, but I get so many strange things that sometimes that's the only way to ensure that the knowledge to create it isn't lost forever."

The elven girl laughs. "And remodel the kitchen."

Neldor winced. "That was one time. And it wasn't even this kitchen." Shaking his head, he turns back to you. "A cosmopolitan elven nationalist? The mind boggles. At least you're not one of those Eldreth lunatics. And anyone who can see that the Reatreat was a mistake is... well, they can see clearer than the Court, at least. Let me take a look at past life. I'm not familiar with it. If it looks useful, well, I might be able to exchange one of those spells you want for it."

"Ah." Corym watched as his bargaining position eroded. "How would you value a recipe for a famous Felbarran beer, not brewed since the fall of the Citadel.  Obtained by Fundamental Breakdown, of course.  Seems like there would be a good market for it around here.

Neldor laughed. "What do I need with dwarven beer? The People may have left Cormanthor, but I know where some of the best wine cellars were left. Though if you're looking to sell the recipe, I have an agent in town that could help you. A local dwarf, doesn't put peoples' backs up the way I do. I've used her help for years."

"Fair enough--I'll keep your agent in mind though.  We've been sitting on that recipe for awhile now.  Here is the abstract for Past Life."  Corym opens to the appropriate page of his second volume of spells.

Neldor reads through the spell. "Interesting. I can certainly see some use to this. And it's not necromancy, interesting. Very well. I'll trade you invisibility, ten foot radius for it." He smiles. "A bit of a power imbalance, but I did promise Dorian that I gave discounts for the People."

"Just the first trip back to Glen after we depart--not future trips?"

"Well, I'm certainly not going to come hunting you down," Neldor chuckles. "A lot of this depends on trust. Trust that you're not going to run north instead of south the second time, trust that you'll actually find anything, trust you'll survive. Trust you'll return even if you survive. So yes. One trip. Then afterward we can see where we stand with each other."

"Done."

"Excellent!" Neldor smiles. "Bring your spellbook and we can start the exchange. And what questions did you have about fiends?"

In reply to DM (msg # 37):

Strengths, weaknesses, common power sets, identifying characteristics.

Corym

"You don't ask for much, do you?" Neldor chuckled. He glances at his daughter. "You should stay for this. We haven't talked much about the planes; listening to me pontificate for a little while will be educational."

Turning back to you, he says, "First, tell me how much you already know about fiends in general, tanar'ri and baatezu in particular, and the planes of existence. No sense in my boring you with repeat knowledge."

Krackor

On the journey south to Deepingdale, Corym cast a spell over a flask of each of your Feldbarran ale. The ale itself was destroyed, but after a bit of mad scribbling, he handed you a complete list of ingredients and the recipe for making them. Some of the ingredients are rather obscure, but at least now you know them.

((ooc: Corym's new spell, Alamir's Fundamental Breakdown, gives a complete set of both ingredients and directions to make basically anything. It's normally used on potions or magical items; analyzing some beer is easy. Congrats; you now have the knowledge to start brewing the lost ales again.))

Krackor

Katarn nodded, "th' Finder will grant me the boon against cold ta spread around as well. I could use th' cold gear as a backup. I usually jus' use the power o' Marthammor, but if this mythal is something ta play havoc with spells, Dorian's got a good point."

"Corym, I'm sure ye noticed by now, but I kin go invisible at will thanks ta a trinket I found a few years back. Sure does come in handy wanderin' th' trails! So there's no need ta shroud me. I kin also, if we think trouble's a comin' bring silence in a 30 foot circle as well as ring us in a protective ward 'gainst Evil things."

In reply to Katarn (msg # 40):

Krackor thanks Corym for the ingredient list and directions.

Now we don't need anyone else to make the ale for us, I can make it myself once we get a more permanent base.

Katarn, this is good, if it's protection, the Lord of the Bronze Mask grants me access to it.

Now he had another angle to think about, what equipment would he need for making the brew.

We can look out for these strange ingredients too on our way to Deepingdale and back again, then on to Myth Drannor
This message was last edited by the player at 23:53, Wed 29 May 2019.

Dorian will spend a few days foraging and hunting in the nearby woods.  Anything he finds he will attempt to preserve as Iron Rations for the coming journey.

Dorian

You spend several days acclimating yourself to the forest of Cormanthor in the area around Glen. It's a large, complicated forest and you can feel magic laying across it like a morning mist held ever just before the moment it burns off. You would need years to approach it with the same familiarity as you would the Greycloak Hills or the woods of Sunset Vale. But you're not going to trip over your feet, either. You also manage to catch several rabbits, which will make a pleasant supplement to your rations.

"All the spirits of the world dance just outside our vision.  Our world is the place where their worlds meet.  Fire and earth, water and air come from places of purity but are filtered through the Spirit Realm and mingle in ours making endless combinations and variations.  The faeries come from there.  But through the night sky there are many other world like ours that can be reached through the Star Realm.  Just as there are those that dwell in Realms Below, there are those that dwell in Realms Above.  It is said that the progenitors of my mother's people fled by lifting their city on high until the sorcerers that pursued them could find them no longer.  Of course, neither can we!"

Corym's normally urbane tones start to shift to a different style of speaking subconsciously.  Undoubtedly this is the voice his mother used to teach him these things--the voice of a tribal elder passing on the long lore of her people through stories. "They only took the pure-blooded with them, and now the Yuir are all descended of the half-blooded.  Though there is no purer blood in the Yuir!  It is for this cause that my father's name was lowered--because he loved a Yuir maid and the Hill Elders believed he had degraded his family line.  The Ildroun's of old were from Myth Drannor--so I assume the cosmopolitan love came naturally to him.  But I depart from the path."

"Beyond the Star Realm and Spirit Realm lies the realms of the heart where every shade of mortal disposition rules supremely within its own realm, and the angels and demons in each reflect that heart by manifesting it physically and living it in reality.  Virtues become mountains, and Vices become pits. The deepest of the pits is the Abyss which descends without end. There in the Abyss where they know no order but strength, no tradition but violence, and no love but of self the demons roil in ceaseless conflict.  Neither their conflict nor their pit have an ending.  There the Spider Queen weaves her demon webs across the chasm of the pit to gather traitors to her black bosom, and Ityak-Ortheel devours those that prove no use to her."

"Beside their pit is one that is nine layers deep, with each layer the size of universe.  There the demons marshall themselves in a grand army, and every demon is the perpetual slave to some greater demon, and all to the greatest demon who wears the face of an angel and speaks with the voice of an oracle and who may turn the soul of a mortal with words without powers, and to whom men and women gladly surrender their souls in exchange for false promises."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Tue 04 June 2019.

Corym

"Poetic," Neldor says. "And mostly accurate. Though if you're going to be facing the planes, or their denizens, it's best to eschew poetry. And someone definitely needs to sit down with you and explain the Astral and Ethereal planes if you ever decide to leave this one."

He stops for a moment and gathers his thoughts. "I have spent centuries honing my Art and delving into its depths. I can weave cloth from a coward's fears and brew elixirs that contain the rage of giants. But the planes make even my brain hurt. Each one is infinite in its own right, yet they have borders and often interlocking layers. Travel there is fraught with danger, as even the normal rules of nature we live by sometimes change.

"But even if you don't go to them, their inhabitants can come to us. Yugoloths led the Army of Darkness, but in the ruins you're most likely to encounter baatezu and tanar'ri. Note the names; 'demon' is a human corruption of a planar word, and is considered an insult. Call them what they are. 'Fiend' is an acceptable generic term. Both are thoroughly evil, but the baatezu are thoroughly lawful, and the tanar'ri are just as thoroughly chaotic. They hate each other with a burning passion. Most tanar'ri are in it for the rush and the crunch. Baatezu like that as well, but they'll generally try to wrap you around their finger first.

"As creatures born in another plane and survivors of years of war, even the least of the fiends are dangerous. I don't know many specifics; I try to keep as far away from fiends as possible. Here's what I do know. All fiends are immune to normal weapons. You'll need enchanted weapons to hurt them. Silver weapons are also effective, and tanar'ri are vulnerable to iron weapons forged without heat.

"All of them are magical to at least some degree, with powers that they can use at will. The mythal is blocking some of those; I don't think they can teleport, and I know they can't gate in more fiends. They're resistant to most forms of elemental damage, though acid tends to work well. And like the drow, they have magic resistance. Though it's generally weaker than that of our dark brothers.

Otherwise..." He spreads his hands. "As I said, I try to avoid them. They're tough, resistant to magic, and most of them are smart. It's a bad combination. You have a group; work together. The first priority for both tanar'ri and baatezu is always themselves. They're always looking for ways of advancing their interests and position. And they always, always try to defeat the other. Maybe you can make use of that."

He pauses, then gives you a strained smile. "Oh, and you're wrong about the faeries. No one knows where they came from. Unlike the tanar'ri, they don't have a home plane."

((OOC: I have the feeling that I have asked this before at some point... Forgive me for forgetting if that is the case! Is there a way for Elorfindar to contact his father? Evereska is out of range for an animal messenger, and other spells are not available as far as I am aware...))

In reply to DM (msg # 45):

Corym thanks him for the knowledge.

"What of spells and effects?  Our people are immune to sleep, surely these fiends have their own spell immunities?  Or hopefully vulnerabilities?"

((ooc: Elorfindar, I don't think you have a magical way of getting in touch with your father, though maybe you can invent something creative. From a mundane perspective, Kora commissioned a rider to get a letter (eventually) to Hill's Edge, by way of Cormyr and Iraeibor. She's offered to ask her family to pass on any letters of yours to the Halway Inn outside Evereska. It'll take all winter if not a bit longer, but as long as the riders/caravans aren't destroyed, it'll get there.))

((OOC: Thanks! I came up with something creative, I think - whether it has any chance of working is a different matter... So here is my plan: get the components for Call Woodland Beings (a pine cone should be no problem at all, holly berries depend on the season but might be available dried?), cast it in 'Moderate/Sylvan' or, if possible, 'Dense/Virgin' woodlands and try to call a treant, sprites or a unicorn and ask it/them to look out for/ask other woodland beings about his old friend Mouse and, in the unlikely event Mouse is encountered in Cormanthor, tell him to seek out Elorfindar in the region.
This obviously depends, amongst other things, on understanding the spell as actually calling the creatures from the local region (that the spell does summon creatures from the Prime Material Plane is at least indicated in Encyclopedia Magic Vol. IV, page 1475) which might not be the case.
If that is completely unfeasible, Elorfindar will send a letter via Kora/Hill's Edge.))

((ooc: Elorfindar, you're able to summon several sprites. You explain that you're looking for an owl named Mouse who is a servant of Labelas. They fall over in the air laughing, then sadly inform you that they have not seen him.

You're able to send a letter with Kora's messenger without difficulty.))

OOC: Can I piggyback with Kora?  It was mentioned earlier.

((ooc: Yes. Kora is offering to allow anyone in the group piggyback with her courier.))

Elorfindar's letter to his father:

[dated; addressed to Wizened Edrym Brightsong, Evereska; written, of course, in Espruar script]

Powerful dweomer or divine hand - perhaps the Chameleon's - took us, but not K.!, and others to the city where cousin Myriil's mother was born. Will explore further. Send Mouse or contact via other means. The Lifegiver preserve you. E

((OOC: Hehe, thanks for that!))

Corym

"Well, they're fiends. Any spell that targets people like us, or animals, will fail outright. Trying to read their mind will drive you insane. I doubt poison will be of much use. As for weaknesses?" Neldor shrugs. "Not enough. Cold iron. Acid. Magic missiles. Holy water. And running away."

He tries to smile at his joke, but it's clear he isn't happy about anyone potentially facing fiends. "You're right that they have their own magic. Innate abilities, I should say. Thankfully, very few of them are actual wizards. But I don't know what they are. Darkness, pain, fear, I would expect. Fire. And they're probably different for each kind of fiend. Take lots of notes. If you survive, I can ensure that the information gets into good hands."

Group

After one last day of resting and preparation, you set out from Glen. As paying customers of the inn, you're able to take one of the lifts that raises and lowers the dwarves and their goods and not chance the icy incline out of the valley. It's an odd, not-particularly-pleasant experience, all of you on a platform about eight feet square, with a dwarf-high railing around the edges. It's suspended by thick ropes and both rope and wood creaks loudly as a team of mules turns a capstan and raises the platform.

The dwarf riding the platform with you is completely blase about the experience, and in its defense it gets you and your gear up to the surface faster than you could walk. And several dwarves are waiting at the top with a cart, ready to go down.

Outside, winter has settled on the Dalelands. There isn't any snow, but the air is cold and a brisk wind is slicing out of the northwest. You shoulder your packs, curl your cloaks around you, and head toward the forest. The first day is a cold one for all of you. The forest is slowly approaching from ahead and both sides, but the wind and weather don't seem to much care. Once you get underneath the trees on the second day, however, the temperature rises noticeably. It's still not pleasant, but it's above freezing and the worst of the wind is blocked.

You would think that since you've walked this trail once already, and you know where you're going, the forest would have lost a little of its mystique. In fact, the exact opposite seems to have happened. The further inside you go, the more you feel the weight of centuries settling about your shoulders.

The forest is quiet and dim. Little of the pale sunlight makes it through the trees, and that which does seems to dance with the shadows. Even the rustling of small forest creatures is muffled, as though the squirrels and chipmunks know that a sudden scurry might lead to death.

It takes you several days of walking to reach the Standing Stone. You encounter nothing and no one along the way, save for a few deer you startle out of hiding. The trail the band of humans made is still clearly visible to the north of the rune-carved stone. The forest is reclaiming it, but the process is slowed during winter. Barring a sudden snowfall, Dorian and Katarn would have no trouble following it.

You pause for a moment. The east-west road through the forest, and the southern road leading to Sembia, are all well-marked and if they aren't particular well-maintained are at least obvious markers of civilization. Once you leave, however, you'll be venturing beyond that perhaps-illusory line of safety. You'll be in wild Cormanthor again.

If you have any final preparations, now would be the time.

((ooc: I'm setting up the battle that has Corym so excited. Can I get a marching order? I assume either Dorian or Katarn is leading. Also, are the elves staying far enough ahead of the group to take advantage of the surprise bonus, or are you all traveling together?))

In reply to DM (msg # 56):

Having stopped, Krackor felt that a good hearty meal after not much in the southern forest and probably less ahead of them, wouldn't go a miss.

Corym, everyone, should we have one last good meal before we enter this forest proper.  My cooking pan can help us once we are in without need of a fire but to keep nice and warm before... nods towards the waiting forest path we go into there?

Group

You set off into the forest, leaving the road and the Standing Stone behind. For the first day everything is calm, the forest grows steadily thicker around you, and the few forest noises that had sung to you as you walked fall silent. Tension fills the dim air under the trees. It feels like a summer thunderstorm that's just waiting to burst. You don't know exactly what is going to happen, or when, but you can feel it grow steadily nearer.

For almost all of the second day you walk through that tension, Dorian leading you along the path trampled by the human adventurers. An arrow, heading straight for Myth Drannor.

As dusk begins to fall on the second day, Dorian holds up his hand from where he's been leading the group. He's just stepped out from behind a couple of thick trunks, and catches sight of a gigantic creature about a hundred and fifty feet to your right. Fully forty feet long, it's a massive, mult-legged reptilian creature with scales the color of blued steel. It has crouched down as much as it can in the underbrush. You realize two things in an instant: it's downwind of you, and it's coming your way.

((ooc: I have been trying to get image embedding in this post to work for the past hour. I've thrown up my hands. The battle map can be found here: https://postimg.cc/qtBHBN35. I'll zoom in a bit once the creature gets closer.

Everyone please roll initiative and declare your actions. No one is surprised, and the creature is clearly hostile. Everyone has or can get sufficient sight lines for ranged attacks or spell targeting. The creature is about 150 feet away.))


This message was last edited by the GM at 01:37, Thu 11 July 2019.

With no hesitation Dorian fires two arrows at the onrushing creature before falling back to the south west as far as he can.


Dorian
Fires arrows at Monster
Moves 30' south west (assuming that the top of the map is north?)


21:46, Today: Dorian rolled 28 using 1d20+8.  bow attack 1. Hits AC -13
21:47, Today: Dorian rolled 5 using 1d8+3.  damage 1.

21:46, Today: Dorian rolled 18 using 1d20+8.  bow attack 2. Hits AC -3
21:47, Today: Dorian rolled 7 using 1d8+3.  damage 2.

Not sure what size the creature is so I rolled standard damage.  I'll fix that, if needed.

((ooc: North  is the top of the map, yes.

The creature is Gargantuan.

Please also roll initiative and add your weapon speed.))

((ooc: Initiative 9 +2 (casting time)=11))

Cast blindness on the creature and take cover behind a tree. “Sirenya! If my spell works it will be blinded and we should coordinate our strikes!”
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:53, Fri 12 July 2019.

In reply to DM (msg # 59):

Gauge path the creature is taking and check the geound for large areas of stone. If seen any, cadts Stone Spikes at best range for the creature to take most damage (AoE would be length ways).

((ooc: Krackor, the ground is all leaf covered dirt. Spike stones won't work; it needs stone. You'd know this, so you can choose to do something else this round.))

ooc: That's what I was hoping you weren't going to say but knew you would.

Seeing that the ground didn't have any large area's of stone, Krackor decides on a more reliable use of his abilities and casts Bless, then readies his melee weapons, dropping his pack at the same time.  With the forest all around, he had already decided on Axe and Shield rather than Crossbow, but wanted freedom to move.

Initiative: Bless = 8 (7+1)
Can the pack be dropped whilst casting Bless or straight after as he isn't moving
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Fri 12 July 2019.

((ooc: Dropping the pack is easy. You can do that before you cast the spell.))

Elorfindar quickly swaps his quarterstaff for his staff-sling, dropping the former in the process, and flings a bullet at the strange monster.

((OOC: Initiative 8 + 11 = 19; attack roll 7))

I don't have access to weapon speeds right now.

I suppose that low initiative is better, then?  So my reaction modifier for Dex should be subtracted instead of added?  That 8 should be a 5?


11:13, Today: Dorian rolled 8 using 1d10+3.  initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:16, Sat 13 July 2019.

((ooc: Dex doesn't play a role in 2e initiative. It's just 1d10 + weapon speed, with lower being better. Long bows have a weapon speed of 8, but it's reduced to 6 because it's a +2 weapon. So your initiative is 5+6 = 11))

Round 1

The armored beast lunges forward, pushing its massive body around the trees in its eagerness to get to you. It manages to force its way through the underbrush most of the way to you, close enough that you're seeing the eagerness in its bright yellow eyes.

Sirenya chants quickly and disappears. Krackor calls on Gorm to protect and guide the party against this sudden foe.

Dorian looses a pair of arrows, his powerful bow slamming both of them through the creature's hide and deep into its flesh. Then he retreats to the southwest, putting a tree between him and the thing. Corym flicks his fingers towards the creatures eyes and they cloud over. The beast roars, shaking its head back and forth.

The roar, and the beast's unlikely speed, shakes Elorfindar's concentration. His staff swings around, only to send a bullet far off into the forest. Kora hesitates, her great sword out but uncertain whether she should use it or keep to her nascent training in the Art.

Katarn grasps his holy symbol and a glowing warhammer appears by the beast's head. Its initial swing misses completely.

((ooc: I'm DMPC'ing Katarn and Sirenya to keep the fight moving. A new battle map will be up shortly; the creature is about five feet from melee range of Elorfindar and Krackor. Actions and initiative for next round, please.))

Dorian pops out from behind his tree, fires off another pair of arrows and circles behind another tree farther to the south west.

21:01, Today: Dorian rolled 10 8 using 1d10+8.  initiative.

21:00, Today: Dorian rolled 18 using 1d20+8.  bow attack 1. Hits AC -3
21:00, Today: Dorian rolled 10 using 1d8+3.  damage 1.

21:00, Today: Dorian rolled 23 using 1d20+8.  bow attack 2. Hits AC -8
21:00, Today: Dorian rolled 8 using 1d8+3.  damage 2.

((ooc: Just so you know, you're likely going to be firing into melee starting this round. Which means I roll to see who of all those engaged in the melee is the actual target. The monster is gargantuan, so counts as 6 PC-sized people. So your odds are pretty good, but there's still a danger of you hitting your comrades. The roll is made for each arrow.))

OOC: Hmmm...ok.  It's hard to gauge things as it's last position is still not in melee and it is now blind (from the description).  I'd just as soon take the shot and put it up to a learning experience, even though we are high level characters.

Despite having been a bit hardened by his experiences in Undermountain, Elorfindar had to do his utmost to prevent himself from panicking in the face of this terrifying gigantic creature. He concentrated and tried to control the flow of time around the creature, resorting to one of the precious gifts granted by Labelas Enoreth to his most devout followers. Hoping to have succeeded, he then withdrew fifty feet or so away from the monster to have some space to use his staff-sling again.

((OOC: Slow spell-like ability, initiative 2 + 3 = 5))

Seeing the creature was about to get into striking range, Krackor strode forward, shield displaying the flaming eyes of his devine lord, battle axe in his main hand. With the Glory of Gorm upon him, the Guardian Priest swings but it seems the creature didn't like being blind so moved as the battle axe came down.
((ooc: [Strides forward and swings battle axe - hopefully being blind means lower AC]
Initiative: [1]
Weapon speed: [7]
Total: [8] using 1d10+7 ((1))
Modified THAC0: [16]
Attack: [6+1=7] AC 9 Barn Door
Damage: [5+1=6]))
This message was last edited by the player at 00:46, Mon 15 July 2019.

Backstab this Behir!

I’ll voluntarily go last in the round so I don’t get shot, and thus forego rolling initiative.

08:14, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 4 using 1d8.
08:09, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 8 using 1d20.  Backstab!

8 + 4 (blindness) + 4 (backstab) = 16

THAC0 14 means I hit AC -2?

Damage (4 x 3) + 1 = 13

Round 2

Elorfindar waves his hands, calling upon Labelas to slow the sands of time. The thrashing, blinded head of the monster begins to move as though it's gyrating under water. Every movement is ponderous and graceful, and seemingly only accentuates the power that lurks behind the massive jaws and many limbs.

Sirenya darts around the right flank. Her invisibility spell breaks as she stabs at its side, but its thrashing throws her aim off. Krackor advances, striking at the beast's flank. Even blind, it would have managed to evade his strike, but the magical slowness keeps it in line just long enough for the blow to land. It sinks through the scales, and dark blood pulses as he pulls it out. In the same moment, two arrows come streaking in from the southwest, slamming into the creature's neck.

The creature, its eyes milky, swings its head towards where it last saw Krackor. Its jaws unhinge unnaturally wide and with a roar it unleashes a bolt of lightning. The crackling thunder races over Krackor, Katarn, and Kora (who manages to twist somewhat out of its way). ((ooc: Krackor and Katarn, save vs. breath weapon, please. Success means you take 12 damage. Failure means you take 24.))

Katarn staggers under the lightning and stumbles forward, closing with the beast. He flails at the creature's legs and chest with his morning star, cracking the scales and drawing blood. His spectral warhammer swings at the beast's head, but glances off the scales harmlessly.

Picking herself up off the ground, Kora spits blood and draws her great sword. "Tempus take you," she growls, and stumbles towards it. Her shaking limbs can't bring her sword into line, however, and she throws up a big clod of dirt as the blade sinks into the ground.

Corym circles the opposite side of the creature as Sireyna. He takes his time to line up his strike, and when he stabs it's with effect. The beast shudders and roars as it throws its head up in agony.

Its roar is answered. You turn your heads to the north and see a second creature, its pale blue scales shimmering in the light, charging down the path towards you. Its mouth is open and its claws are churning in its haste.

((ooc: The first creature is looking really bad. The new one is about a hundred and sixty feet away from you. Dorian is behind the tree on the bottom left edge of the map. Actions and initiative for Round 3!))

Seeing the new threat Dorian switched targets without hesitation.  With little other warning than a slight buzz in the air his arrows streaked toward the new threat.

Assuming the sting of his arrows gets the new creature's attention Dorian stepped out of hiding to attract the new beasts ire away from the other combatants before slipping back behind the tree, he was not enamored of the idea of being blasted by its breath weapon.



Dorian

21:50, Today: Dorian rolled 11 using 1d10+6.  initiative.

21:49, Today: Dorian rolled 26 using 1d20+8.  bow attack 1. Hits AC -11 Bless hits AC -12
21:49, Today: Dorian rolled 6 using 1d8+3.  damage.

21:49, Today: Dorian rolled 14 using 1d20+8.  bow attack 2. Hits AC 1 Bless hits AC 0
21:49, Today: Dorian rolled 5 using 1d8+3.  damage 2.


Steps out of cover and then back behind a tree.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:02, Wed 17 July 2019.

08:49, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 4 using 1d8.  Backstab Damage!
08:48, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 18 using 1d20.  Backstab!
08:48, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 1 using 1d10.  Initiative.

(Posting from phone. Same damage, happens much earlier in the round though)

“Sirenya and I should have this one! Refocus your efforts on the mate!”

((ooc: It knows you're there now, so you're not going to get backstab damage this round. Sirenya would, since she didn't hit last round.))

That would be 5 points of damage then.

Seeing the creature turn its attention on him, crouching small behind his shield, Krackor braced himself against the creatures ire. The lightning striking his shield protected him as the the residual energy covered his whole being.

He returned to stand, this slowed him but he was prepared. Striking, he was glad the creature was blind.

(OOC) Saving throw = 17+1 = 18. Made by 11
Initiative = 16
1st attack = 10+4+1 = 11 (AC5 - better than last time)
1st damage = 4
2nd attack = 2+4+1 = 7 (AC9 - No chance this hit unless it is frozen in place)
* Don't forget the Bless effects, +1 Attack, +1 Damage, +1 Saves.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:52, Wed 17 July 2019.

Having seen the devastating effect of the creature's lightning breath, Elorfindar decided to attempt to halt its brethren's advance. He quickly pulled a thin piece of string onto which seven thorns were tied from one of his belt pouches and began casting.
Then, not knowing whether how intelligent the monsters were, he shouted first in Elven, then repeated in Dwarven: "Beware hidden spikes on the ground," pointing towards the area affected by his spell.

((OOC: Casts Spike Growth, the area of effect covering a 20-foot-wide, 40-feet-long 'corridor' about halfway between the two behirs, in the likely path of the second behir towards our group between the centre-left tree and the big tree trunk lying on the ground, of course being careful not to include Dorian (I hope this makes sense); initiative: 8+6=14.))

((ooc: Bless gives +1 to hit and +1 to saves vs. fear. But yes, everyone please remember to include the bonus to hit on your attacks.))

Katarn's head swung around when he heard the roar of the second creature, he knew this was a dire threat having a second creature on them, so he called on the Trailblazer once more to lend him some speed while he directed the Spiritual Hammer to keep up its barrage.

OOC: As a Trailblazer of Marthammor I'm immune to lighting and electricity damage which I only realized after I rolled my save vs. Breath
11:04, Today: Katarn rolled 18 using 1d20.  Save vs. Breathweapon.

Initiative [4] - 11:26, Today: Katarn rolled 4 using 1d10.  Initiative.
Casting Time [3]
Real Init = [7]
Cast Haste (self only, no age penalty from Trailblazer)

Spiritual Hammer attack
11:21, Today: Katarn rolled 17,4 using 1d20,1d4+1.  Spiritual Hammer attack.

Rolled 17+1 Bless +1 Spell = 19 (AC -3)
Damage: 1d4+1 spell = 4
This message was last edited by the player at 23:02, Wed 17 July 2019.

ooc: mixing Bless and Chant up.
Thanks DM. Please give 2 points of damage back to behir Krackor is fighting.

((ooc: That's okay. It's still very dead. :) ))

Round 3

Corym and Sirenya gang up on the severely injured reptile and cut it down. As it falls, Kora takes a look at the onrushing second monster and back us to the southwest, putting a tree between it and her.

It turns out to be a smart move. Roaring even louder than before, the newcomer charges forward, mouth gaping. It pulls up about fifteen feet from you and breaths crackling electricity over Katarn, Krackor, and Elorfindar. Katarn relaxes into the essence of his god; the other two jerk and singe. Elorfindar's spell fizzles as his teeth convulsively chatter, while Katarn feels Marthammor's wanderer's spirit settle about his shoulders and slow the world before his eyes. ((ooc: I did not purposefully design the first combat encounter to showcase one of Katarn's nicer kit perks, but there it is. Krackor and Elorfindar, saves vs. breath weapon, please. Success means 12 points of damage, failure means 24.))

Further to the southwest, Dorian takes aim at the new threat and shoots it twice more. The creature is huge and its hide not particularly hard; both arrows slam home.

((ooc: The first monster is very dead. The second is very eager to end your lives. Actions for Round 4))

Dorian slings his bow and draws his Elvish swords, their blades sparkle in the light of Lathander's Sun.  The Elf rushes toward the remaining beast.  In an effort to draw the creature's attention away from his singed friends Dorian taunted the thing "Your mate is dead, beast, prepare to join it in the Abyss!"

OOC: Not sure if I can reach it this round.

((OOC: Saving throw failed... Very basic question which occurs to me just now, having looked at the staff sling's range: is it really true that *any* range weapon 'fired' at medium range gets a -2 penalty on attack rolls? That would mean that my staff sling, which cannot be used at short range if I understand it correctly, always gets at least -2? Oh dear...))

((ooc: Dorian, you can reach it this round, but you'll move too much too be able to attack. Let me know if you want to get all the way up to it, or stop part way so you're not in melee but can melee next round.

Elorfindar, yes, that's what that means. The staff sling trades distance for accuracy.))

Elorfindar, thoroughly shaken and singed, ran quite a distance away from the creature, then readied his staff sling again and let a bullet fly at the monster.

((OOC: Movement: as far away as possible, but max. 50 yards
Initiative 10+11 = 21; attack roll 12-2 = 10, THAC0 16))

Corym drops his sword, draws his bow, takes aim and looses two flight arrows at the second Behir. He then drops to take cover behind the fallen Behir.

Intiative: 2 + 7 (weapon speed) = 9

9 damage total

13:24, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 4 using 1d6.

13:20, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 5 using 1d6.

13:20, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 16 using 1d20.  Attack 2.

13:20, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 20 using 1d20.  Attack 1.

13:19, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 2 using 1d10.  Initiative.

OOC: OK, so I will draw my shield instead of my second sword and try to get between the creature and the others, but out of melee in case the others want to get a shot off.

OOC: Where is Dorian on the map? I don't see his icon.

Also - I had never actually planned for my electricity/lightning immunity to come into play, but it's fun :)

OOC: Hidden at the bottom left.

Good job hiding

OOC: It's really my thing =)

Katarn let the second one's breath weapon wash over him and he smiled through it. Thanks fer the protection Wanderer! he thought as he ran at the beast magically hastened.

His morningstar crashed down on the behir, two strokes in quick succession crunched into the beast. He called the hammer of force to combat the beast as well, but its stroke flew wide.

OOC:
Init: 2 on die - 2 haste +5 SF = 5
09:06, Today: Katarn rolled 2 using 1d10.  Init - Round 4.

Attack: 18 on die, Net THAC0 11 = AC -7
14:01, Today: Katarn rolled 18 using 1d20.  Attack 1.
Damage: 14 magical bludgeoning
14:02, Today: Katarn rolled 14 using 1d6+9.  Attack 1 Damage.

Hasted Attack: 15 on die, Net THAC0 11 = AC -4
14:02, Today: Katarn rolled 15 using 1d20.  Attack 2.
Damage: 11 magical bludgeoning
14:02, Today: Katarn rolled 11 using 1d6+9.  Attack 2 Damage.

Spiritual Hammer: 2 on die, Net THAC0 15 = AC +13! Miss...

Krackor was singed, was annoyed, was determined.

Being so close to the second beast, the Barakor moved closer, so close he could not possibly miss such a massive creature. He stared hard at it and let the Fire Eyes of Gorm cut through the beast like a hot knife through butter.

<red>Spell says if target is stationary, automatic success. With 1ft/level, would this constitute the same with it being so massive?
Save = 15, made by shed loads
Initiative = 16 (9+7 - Cast Fire Eyes of Gorm)
1st Ray Attack = 7 (AC9)
1st Ray Damage = 7 (2D8)
2nd Ray Attack = 13 (AC3)
2nd Ray Damage = 15 (2D8)
  * if auto hit, or bonus, please add

Round 4

His form blurring, Katarn rushes forward in a dervish of whaling and flailing. One of the behir's legs shatters under his assault, and when the creature swings its head towards him he knocks it away with a second mighty blow. He steps to the right, following the creature as it tries to avoid his blows, and Corym's two arrows flash through the air where he had just been and sink into the creature almost up to the fletching.

Dorian rushes forward, drawing his sword and pulling his shield onto his arm. He halts between the burned Kora, who is hiding in cover behind a tree, and the monster.

Krackor steps forward as Elorfindar retreats. Gorm's fury pools in Krackor's eyes and blasts outward in a pair of finely-focused beams of flame. The undulating behir manages to evade the first beam, but the second scorches a long weal along its flank. ((ooc: "Stationary" for Fireyes means something inanimate, like a door. The behir is very big, but it's also moving fast and not the least interested in being burned. :) )) Elorfindar's sling bullet flies past the entire combat, vanishing into the forest.

Beset on all sides, burned and smashed, the behir turns its fury on Katarn. It lunges at him, snaking its jaws past his shield and sinking them into his shoulder. It swings its long body at him, trying to wrap the priest up, but Katarn sets his shield and then rolls under the body. ((ooc: Katarn, take 5 damage.))

((ooc: My behir, my poor behir. What are you doing to my poor behir??? It's pretty badly hurt, but still coming at you. Actions for round 5.))

Seeing the Dwarves brave the fury of the wounded beast Dorian joined the melee.  The Elf warrior-poet circled to the West trying to force the creature to concentrate on multiple fronts.

Dorian
10:27, Today: Dorian rolled 5 using 1d10+3.  initiative.

10:22, Today: Dorian rolled 5 using 1d20+3.  attack 1. Hits AC 9 (with Bless)
10:23, Today: Dorian rolled 11 using 1d8+3.  damage 1.

10:22, Today: Dorian rolled 9 using 1d20+3.  attack 2. Hits AC 5 (with Bless)
10:23, Today: Dorian rolled 11 using 1d8+3.  damage 2.

The Rays of fire from his eyes still going, Krackor follows the creature.

The behir's movements putting it just outside the range of his burning eyes, Krackor continues to try and burn it.

ooc: initiative = 3 (no casting time) (is the creature now flanked? Probably still miss with a 7+2 (flanking) = 9 = AC9)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:47, Sun 21 July 2019.

Pick up short sword, stand up, and charge.

10:18, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 3 using 1d8.  Damage .
10:17, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 13 using 1d20.  Attack 1.
10:17, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 3 using 1d10.  Initiative.

With charge bonus should hit AC -1

4 damage

Being invisible, Sirenya drew the enchanted blade from her hip and advanced, thumb rubbing against the invisible steel of the handle.  Her boots scuffed the ground slightly as she advanced on the monstrous beast.  I hope this can even break its skin! she thought as she lined up a surgical strike with her sword.


12:58, Today: Sirenya rolled 6 7 using 1d10+2 3.  Dagger Short Sword Initiative.
12:58, Today: Sirenya rolled 19 using 1d20.  Thac0 1415 attack roll.
12:59, Today: Sirenya rolled 2 using 1d3.  Dagger damage.
00:44, Today: Sirenya rolled 8 using 3d6+2.  Backstab!

Edited due to starting out invisible per GM PM.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:48, Mon 22 July 2019.

Elorfindar was about to run to his discarded quarterstaff to join the melee, but stopped himself and thought it more prudent to first magically heal the worst blisters on his skin.

((OOC: Casts Cure Light Wounds, healing 5 points of damage, then moves to quarterstaff and, if possible, picks it up or at least stowes his staff sling. Initiative 5+2 = 7.))

Katarn smiled grimly as the creature bit down hard on his shoulder, but he was confident that it was on its last legs so to speak. "Yer gonna hafta do better'n that ya overgrown lizard! he said even as he swung his morningstar and spiritual hammer at the creature in quick succession.

His morningstar crashed down toward the behir, two more strokes in quick succession with the spiritual hammer. The creature's bite on him must have affected him more than he let on because the strikes this time around were not quite as accurate as they had been just a moment before.

OOC:
Init: [8] - 2 (haste) + 5 SF = [11]
16:05, Today: Katarn rolled 8 using 1d10.  Init Round 5.

Attack: 7 on the die, THAC0 11 = AC 4
16:05, Today: Katarn rolled 7 using 1d20.  Attack 1.
Damage: 15 magical bludgeoning
16:10, Today: Katarn rolled 15 using 1d6+9.  Attack 1 - Damage.

Hasted Attack: 5 on the die, THAC0 11 = AC 6
16:05, Today: Katarn rolled 5 using 1d20.  Attack 2 (hasted).
Damage: 10 magical bludgeoning (if that hit)
16:10, Today: Katarn rolled 10 using 1d6+9.  Attack 2 - Damage.

Spiritual Hammer: 11 on the die, THAC0 15 = AC 4
16:05, Today: Katarn rolled 11 using 1d20.  Spiritual Hammer.
Damage: 2 force?
16:11, Today: Katarn rolled 2 using 1d4+1.  Spiritual Hammer - Damage.

Battle Resolution

The behir lashes out, biting Katarn again and slamming him against a tree with its thrashing body. ((ooc: Katarn, take another 7 damage.)) Then the party hacks the creature down, cutting first its legs out from under it and then bashing its head in as it comes closer. With a choked roar it come crashing to the ground, and lies still.

Very quickly you're surrounded once more by the unnatural quiet of Cormanthor.

((ooc: You were about 10 hp off from killing the thing, but considering how slowly it attacks you're almost certain to put it down before it can attack again next round. I'm moving tomorrow, which means energy and internet will be spotty for the next couple of days. So I wanted to end this now, so that you can talk amongst yourselves instead of be waiting for me.

Experience thread will be updated shortly. Congratulations everyone on surviving your first battle!))

Katarn grunted in real pain even as he lashed out at the creature even as he bounced off the tree. As his blurred form crashed his morningstar into the creature over and over along with the blows of others the second of the two creatures dropped.

With uncanny speed, Katarn stowed his morningstar and called on Marthammor's aid once more. A soothing balm of pale green light shone between the dwarf's fingers as he touched his own shoulder where the creature had bit into him and a sigh of relief washed over his face.

He looked up to the others, "any of ye hurt? I've some more of Marthammor's grace left for yer hurts."

In reply to DM (msg # 108):

Krackor sees the creature crash to the floor and used the fire from his eyes to cut the creature in bit, how ever many bits he can before the divine gift ends (5rds total, so 2 I think).

OOC: The bits can be any size the DM feels appropriate, either way, we have seared meat for a while, or if told otherwise, components/stuff to sell.

When the beast fell Dorian sheathed his blades and pulled his bow "There is no telling what will be attracted by the noise of this battle.  I suggest we use caution for a bit."

The Elf melded into the nearby brush and kept watch.

“Unless I misestimate, you’re the only one that can properly process these carcasses, Dorian. I can take up the watch along with Krackor. Sirenya—you’ve an affinity for burrows and such, can you find us a place to store the scales, talons and horns until we return? Too valuable to leave, too bulky to bring.”

To Krackor, Corym says, a visible guardian dissuades rapine hands, but an invisible one captures them. I’m going invisible for this watch—do you care to join?”

Dorian nodded at Corym in understanding, but did not move.  Instead he held up two fingers to indicate two minutes and returned to his vigil.

Katarn shrugged when no one took him up on his offer of healing and set about cleaning his morningstar from the gore it had accumulated in their battle against the two behir.

He watched as Corym and Krackor to fade from view and he looked to Elorfindar and Sirenya. "I guess if Dorian is going to be butcherin' these lots, we ought to work on setting up a camp of sorts. No sense in standing around doin' nothing."

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 112):

I would rather face any just foe that comes along looking into it's eyes, however, prudence dictates unobstructed views. I accept your offer Corym.

Katarn, The Vigilant Host will grant me healing, best we both have magic remaining to heal should anything happen later this day.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Thu 25 July 2019.

Corym makes them both invisible and begins a wide patrol around the battle ground. “This will be an excellent opportunity to practice our audible signals!”

"I could use some healing," Kora says, coming out from behind the tree where she'd been taking cover. You can see she's been badly burned down her left side, and is wincing as she walks. "Tempus's balls, those things were big."

Corym delivers the audible signal for the start of the patrol.

Kora rolls her eyes. "Then you'll need to teach me some, first." But she's smiling through the pain.

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 118):

Whispering, What sound was that?  We didn't use sounds when we guarded as they attracted what we were defending against.  I see a reason for it when invisible though, even if I'm not sure if I can make the noises.  You'll hear me.

Krackor casts his first cure spell then ferrets around his pouch for his Ioun Stones, feels for the spindle and, focusing, lets it raise from his hand to start circling, he could see it but after a short time, felt the wounds he had taken start to close.

OOC:  Spindle (Regen 1hp/turn).  Cure Light Wounds heals 1d8 = 4.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Mon 29 July 2019.

Katarn nodded to Kora and walked over even as he chanted a prayer to the Finder of Trails before placing his hands on the burns over Kora's side. A soft green glow spread over her side as her burns were soothed and smoothed out, new pink skin forming in place of the blackened and cracked that was there.

OOC: Heal 10 points of damage for Kora

15:01, Today: Katarn rolled 10 using 2d8+1.  Cure Serious Wounds - Kora.

Kora sighed as her cracked and charred skin healed, the fiery red subsiding until it looks like a moderate sunburn. She smiles at Katarn. "Thank you."

First Dorian and then Corym and Katarn do a circuit of the forest. Nothing seems to have been attracted by the noise. If anything, creatures seem to have been moving slowly away from the conflict. Unlike most forests you've encountered, Cormanthor works by a different set of rules.

With some help from other members of the party as needed, Dorian is able to harvest both horns and many of the talons from each behir, as well as some of the nicer scales. Sirenya finds you what looks like an old badger den some distance from the corpses in which to hide the body parts, and then you all wash off in a nearby pool.

Just another day in the great forest of Cormanthor. You reconvene somewhat north of the battlefield, on the trail that the earlier party created. Ready to keep pushing forward.

((ooc: Anyone have anything else they want to do here?))

Stomach contents of the Behir

It's a long, gross excavation, hacking into the bellies of the massive creatures. In the end, you find a half-digested steer in one stomach, and a couple of bones from some manner of demihuman in the other. But nothing of value.

Ready to roll out

Sirenya surveyed the physical devestation before her.  Such massive beasts!  And so difficult to kill.  She was thankful to the others for being the ones to oppose it toe-to-toe.  Especially since her toes were so very small next to the monsters.

She quickly cleaned her daggers on the dark green fronds of a nearby plant, and put one away.  The talk about other beasts approaching because of their noise made her want to stay ready to engage, just in case.

With her free hand she manipulated her ring, and disappeared from sight again.  "I'll see what I can find!"  She announced to the group, and then slunk off to find a place to stow the gorey goods.  At first, she looked with just her eyes and instinct but after a few minutes she tried using the native wildlife: she called out to any burrowing creatures nearby, asking whether there was an unoccupied burrow about somewhere.

14:39, Today: Sirenya rolled 20 using 1d20.  Target 18 Alertness roll for burrow.

Dorian cleansed himself as best he could after rendering the monsters "Well that was unpleasant!  Give me a deer or elk to clean, not these abominations."

"Still, one cannot complain too much.  Better exotic trophies and components to sell than a lean pouch and an empty stomach!"

The Elf retrieved what arrows he could, but otherwise was ready to move on.

In reply to Dorian (msg # 128):

Having not seen nor heard anything around and still invisible (he had lost Corym a short time earlier but was aware of him through his sounds and the occasional bird chirp or whistle), Krackor went to his pack, took out his frying pan and, without a fire, started to fry some of the meat from the Behir.

The seemingly free-floating Frying Pan appeared to have a familiar disembodied voice coming from it.  Does anyone know if these are edible?  We'll find out soon enough.  Anyone for fried meat?  He tested the first piece himself, the meat floating from the pan as though held by a knife, then bits of it disappearing as though an unseen spirit was chomping at it.

Needs salt but it's ok.  Anyone?

"Perhaps when belts are tighter and the snows deeper, Krackor." said Dorian as he edged away from the preferred meat.

"I'm gratified by the offer.  Keep working on it, let me know when you've perfected your plat du jour so that I can appreciate your efforts at their heights."

Understanding none of the fancy Elven words Corym used, the impromptu cook smiles and says "Right you are, may be a few herbs will help with the taste!"  Krackor noted the taste and searched his pack for something, anything, to go with it, eventually finding some nuts, he crushes them and adds them to the juices from the meat, then puts that which is already cooked, back into the pan, making the 'sauce' meatier.

After a short time, he cuts a piece, eats it, shows his appreciation and offers Corym a taster. "Corym, Captain, surely you must try this now, it enhances the flavours"

OOC: Serves you right for encouraging him

Katarn gratefully accepted that which the elves turned their noses up to with Krackor's cooking. "Not th' usual fare, but fillin' none-the-less brother. Thanks to Fire Eyes for the blessin' of a cooked meal and to th' Finder of Trails for guiding us through that battle safely."

Once he had eaten his fill, he readied himself to head out with the rest. "Hopefully we kin make it through th' rest of th' day without more danger like this..."

"Not the usual fair, but variety is the spice of life!" Corym takes a couple of skewers to Sirenya and Kora.  "Ladies first, of course."

Kora eyes the skewers skeptically. "You are aware that dwarves can eat things that would make our stomachs leap out of our mouths, right?" She jerks her head towards Krackor. "Is he?"

"You're right.  Let's move on to something less dangerous than Dwarven cuisine, like demon infested ruins."

Group

The next four days pass in careful silence. The trail is easy to follow, though a light dusting of snow one morning causes a bit of confusion before Dorian and Katarn get everyone back on the correct route. You're able to take a deer later that evening, its hide thick and meat plump with fat to survive the winter. But other than a few birds and small ground creatures that you startle as you walk, you don't see any other creature as you walk.

A little before noon on the fourth day those of you at the front of the group see a bit of gray stone peeking out from between the winter-denuded branches ahead of you. It's not exactly where you left; the humans seem to have been aiming for the middle of the city instead of its western end. But that stonework is unmistakable.

You've returned to Myth Drannor. And so far, you don't seem to have been noticed. As much as you can tell, of course.

In reply to DM (msg # 137):

Moving forwards over towards Corym and Dorian. Not sure about you but if anything is around, seeing our foot prints is going to be a lot easier in the snow and wet ground than it is elsewhere.  It did get milder in the ruins didn't it?

Krackors concerns for the weather were less about getting wet than they were about being noticed, especially if that large band or denizens happen to have a decent tracker with them.

Do you think that the fiend may have dealt with that large group of denizens or that we may be lucky and find that some of that group of adventurers didn't get caught out!

"It should be more temperate in the ruins.  That's one of the publicly known properties of the Mythal."



"There was no sign or word of their return in Glen or Ashabenford, nor any sign that they left by the route they came.  I always thought that they would soon be dead, and my primary interest in following them was to pick up their leavings after they were torn apart.  I can't conceive of how such a group would long survive this place."

"We won't be able to fully cloak everyone for cross-city movement until this morning. We need to find a place where most of us can lie low under camouflage until then.  Dorian, Sirenya, and I should be able to do some scouting to find the lay of the land. According to the map that I pieced together from the different accounts, we're in the Kerradunath ward.  There should be a lake and a river somewhere off to the East of us.  I like the idea of knowing where the edge of the cityscape is so that we can beat a hasty retreat if we must."

Corym proceeded from their situation to the mission at hand.

"The Irithilium  is the name of the wizard school found in this ward, and if it is intact, it should be among the easiest to find--a grand tower, six stories tall, all stone with no tree dwellings.  Once we locate it, we should set up a base nearby and camouflage it thoroughly.  Rather than challenging that place immediately, there seemed to a ready supply of intact-ish buildings that we could try our skills on to build our familiarity with the layout of the buildings and the nature of the defenses.  The goal is to make our discoveries, acquire our treasures, and leave alive.  There's no glory in death here, and no honor in battles against demons and fiends. We fight when we must and avoid it when we can.  Agreed?"

Elorfindar nodded. "An excellent assessment to my mind, Corym. Your preparations have paid off, and I am very grateful for that. The elf slightly raises his voice, addressing the whole group. "Everyone, please note that by the grace of my Lord I have a spell of considerable power at my disposal that could provide divine insight into the evaluation of a particular problem or situation we find ourselves in. Since its casting consumes a gem of not negligible value, we can resort to it only a precious few times, though."

((OOC: The spell Elorfindar refers to is Genius from Tome of Magic.))

Dorian nodded to Krackor and began to attempt to counter-track as best as he could manage.
"I will do what I can to protect our back track, but that means another must take my place in the vanguard."

To Corym he says "You have thought this out well.  I am in favor of it."

Krackor understands the value of stealth even if he isn't, himself, stealthy. Scouting out the other buildingd near by could be fruitful too.

I agree Captain. If I may, should you find a second suitable location that could be a base, even if only a few buildings away, I suggest preparing that as a contingency in case we struggle to return to where we set up camp.

The Guardian Priest was nothing if not prepared when it came to protecting his charges.

ooc: DM, if the plan is to stay in a place for more than one night without heading out, Krackor would memorise the "Creaky Floor Boards" spell instead of a CLW spell, ready to cost on the building as defence, ensuring one egress is unaffected for the scouts to enter by. He would announce this.

“Okay, Dorian and I will go find a place nearby to deposit you all until we can locate the tower. Do you have your own Invisibility spell Dorian? If not I have one for you. We can proceed in tandem and use our audible code queues.”

OOC: DM, we’re going to
 1) find a temporary base nearby to deposit our non-stealthy people
2) Camouflage it;
3)Sirenya Dorian, and I will set out to find the Irithililium;
4) once there, locate a suitable Mission HQ in the area as well as two potential practice sites;
5) Return for the others and prepare to trek from the temporary base camp to our Mission HQ.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:54, Thu 08 Aug 2019.

"So don't cover our tracks?" asked Dorian.

"I have the ability, Corym, but lack the need to use it for myself.  I can be quite stealthy in a pinch." said the ELf.

OOC: Not sure if I can do both, counter-track and go scouting ahead.  I suppose it depends on how much time we allot to standing around?  I suggest Corym and Serenya scout while I cover our tracks.  If you are gone too long I'll come look for you.

I wasn't countermanding anything.  You can definitely do that while we're seeking and setting up our temporary shelter.  I was just trying to fill the queue of things that we're doing so that the DM had sufficient input to advance the game.

Together you slowly approach the city. The air is cool around you, and mist more than ten feet tall covers the ground. It's thick and roils slowly, dancing to unseen winds.

Though mostly blinded by the mist, you can feel the moment you enter the mythal's confines: the temperature abruptly rises significantly. The mist ends a few strides further forward, and you emerge into a large, grassy field. Some magic must still linger about the area, because no trees grow in a clearing about six hundred feet east and west, and another six hundred feet or so north to south. On the northern border of the meadow you see a couple of ruined buildings.

Fading back into the mist and the tree line, you make your way north and west, skirting the edge of the field. You can hear water burbling off to the west, though its source is hidden in the mist. Darting through the open field a few times, you come to one of the larger buildings on the field's northern edge. It once consisted of three towers linked by walls, now two of the towers, the walls, and most of the buildings that were inside the walls are broken and ruined. But the southern-most tower, looking out over the meadow, is still mostly intact.

Corym and Dorian scout ahead and find that the tower is empty. It was originally some manner of dwelling, as the walls aren't as thick as a fortress's would need to be and each room in the tower has a fireplace. Though no one's here at the moment, there are the remains of camp in the ground floor and the floor above it. Nothing recent; you'd guess by the leavings that they were humans and were here sometime before summer.

There's plenty of room for everyone; the tower is five stories. Its roof is even still half there. And it has a decent view to the south, though several large shadowdark trees are blocking the view to the north. It looks like you've found your first base.

((ooc: I've cropped the Myth Drannor map to show the building you're in and the immediate area. You're in the southern tower of the building in the center.

Anyone who is camouflaging the building: what are you trying to accomplish/make it look like?

Anyone who is heading out into the city, let me know how you're stealthing yourselves and make any required rolls. Where are you heading, and how do you propose to get there?))

In reply to DM (msg # 147):
Krackor takes in the structure and composition of the site, seeing how it can be defended and where any weal spots are.

Adressing Corym, Dorian and Sirenya: This is a good place you have found, it needs a few bits sorting out, I'll be able to tell better once checked it all out, including the upper levels.  Admiring the stone work but shaking his head at the thickness of the walls, he shrugs.  At least there is some protection lower down, there is plenty of rubble that may be put to good use.  What are the plans for hiding this place or making it look like it isn't being used?


Once inside the 'courtyard', Krackor checks out the way the sound travels, then repeats this a number of times through the day there and in the structures checking out how the sounds travel and potential creaking along with orientating himself to movements/sounds/general noises and if there is anything under the rocks that may be being missed.

OOC:  How far aware are the mists please DM?
DM, do you want me to roll some Sound Analysis checks or leave that with you?

((ooc: The mists are formed by the temperature differential between the warmer mythal interior and the colder winter air outside. They stick to the forests along the border. The forest that comes up against the building, that you see in the map, does not have mists. The mists start in the forest on the south side of the meadow, about six hundred feet away.

Sound Analysis is only particularly useful in caves, where you can listen to the echoes. Even with the silence that exists in the ruins there's too much noise for it to be particularly useful. What are you trying to learn about the place?))

The Protector, protector of what?  The group, the camp?  Right now he felt once again to be the Protector of a temple, their temple, the temple of hope and recovery for much that was lost, for his group, the group, the Company.

Once the routine of searching, securing and setting up had begun, Krackor looked for the most advantageous place for him to do his job, to protect, be the Guardian he has been so often that it had become second nature, as it should be for a Priest of the Vigilant Host.

Once it has been decided on what will not be used, we can set traps there, like the Glyphs and Wards spell some of us can access.  He was certain that any cooking would need to be done in an underfloor area so the smells didn't waft off too much, he was certain that the egress for the towers could be well secured, he was certain also that tonight, not everybody would sleep.

Everyone, please remember, I may be able to tell when you are in immediate danger with the Sacred Guardian spell, the spell gives me a mental image of the form, it does not however tell me where you are.  I shall cast the Alert Allies spell at night, this way I can awaken you should the need arise, as long as those taking advantage of this are willing.

Corym, how long will we be here?  I can utilise Iron Vigil so I have no need for sleep, food or water, it will last 15 days.  I will need to sleep to get spell power back but I can sleep as and when.

1) find a temporary base nearby to deposit our non-stealthy people
2) Camouflage it;
3)Sirenya Dorian, and I will set out to find the Irithililium;
4) once there, locate a suitable Mission HQ in the area as well as two potential practice sites;
5) Return for the others and prepare to trek from the temporary base camp to our Mission HQ.

"For now, we're going to stay right here in this tower.  I want to set up cover and camoflouge for the entrance on the ground level, each of the windows, and especially the hole in the roof, up top. I want us to be able to move around inside of this tower without being seen doing so from outside of it.  Until we know the locale better, we should maintain a cold camp--no cook fires.  On the third floor, near the window, I want a rope secured.  If terror comes from the sky, we can exit the tower by the ground floor--but if it comes from the ground floor?  The rope is an emergency exit.  Once this is done, we should clear the other towers in this building.  It'll be good practice, for one, but for another we'll all sleep better once we know there's no demons or devils abiding here with us."

We don't need a fire to cook, I have my magical frying pan, we can keep smells to a minimum.  This is also why I made sure we all had a good cooked meal after the Behir fight.

I do get that if creatures track by heat though, they may see the hot pan just as much as us, hence why I suggest seeing if this place has a cellar or something.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:22, Sun 11 Aug 2019.

"Depends on how long it takes us to find the Irithillium.  I wouldn't suspect terribly long though."



"I agree.  A cellar could contain as much danger as that which is outside these walls.  The distinction is that the danger outside of these walls is on the move and even on the wing.  Whatever might be beneath us, at minimum seems dormant.  And if we have to fight, I'd like to obscure that from those outside.  If they can hear it, they shouldn't be allowed to see it.  Thus the camouflage."

Sirenya listened as the group discussed plans for camouflage and clearing the building.  "I like the idea of doing as much exploring as much as possible, as soon as possible... but the concerns about starting a fight with something that could be seen outside and draw more somethings... I like that less.  Let's get on with the camouflagery! ... Did someone bring stuff to do that with or do we need to "

She was ready to put her hands to the work so they could move on, but didn't have anything to do at the moment.  Her magic was far too short-term for securing a base for days.

Dorian keeps a look out while plans are made.

It takes much of the afternoon, but together you're able to subtly alter the tower for your purposes. The windows have things pushed against them from the inside, blocking the view of anyone trying to peer in while still giving a limited amount of vision out. The entrance to the tower is modified to conceal the tracks of those coming and going. There isn't much you can do about the roof without repairs or modifications being fairly obvious, but you block off the stairs that lead up to the upper-most story so that no light or noise will escape in that direction.

There is a basement underneath the tower. Several raccoons have been using it as a burrow. Sirenya is able to calm them before they can flee or feel forced to attack. ((ooc: Sirenya, if you want to question or do something with the raccoons, feel free.))

As evening starts to creep about the ruins you finish cleaning up inside the tower. It's still obviously a ruin, but there are bare patches where you can spread your bedrolls without fear of rocks, and you've made a couple of crude tables by putting fallen wood over hunks of broken stonework. You eat a quick meal and then come together again, ready for whatever the next step might be.

Katarn had been silent for much of their arrival and clean up. He was unsettled by being back in the city again for some reason though he didn't voice his concerns to the others. After their fight with the behir he'd felt some triumph, but it was long gone now. Just the dread of this fabled city remained.

Once they'd finished doing what they could to hide and make this place a temporary base, he faded back to visibility.

"Well, that's done then," he said to the others. "I kin call up a continual flame down in th' basement if ye want ta have a place of light. Prob'ly best not ta do up here even with our work..."

Sirenya was extremely excited to find the raccoons!  Once she calmed them out of their initial flight reaction, she dug in her pack for a few moments and offered them each a scrap of food.  "Still safe here.  No danger.  Well... less danger than there is outside.  Where do you get your food here? ... It can't be from our packs if you want to stay with us here.   The others might get mad if you ate all our food."

---

[ooc: I'll be keeping my post in 2 parts so we can keep going while I talk to the raccoons.]

Sirenya considered Katarn's proposal.  "Continual flame is fun.  But we might want it on something we can cover-up when we're not using it.  Wouldn't want an accident to send light flowing out of a crack and blow our cover."

Unfamiliar with the spell, Corym resolves to let Sirenya and Katarn resolve the matter between themselves.

“Dorian, I know that you have the ability to be stealthy, but please allow me to prepare a cloaking magic for you. It will fail in combat, and then you WILL have to rely on skill alone. But until that point, we can remove the possibility of visual detection.”

To Dorian and Sirenya:

We need to cover ground, but remain close enough to support each other. If we all head North parallel to one another separated by 1/4 to a half mile, we ought to remain within range of our audible queues and signals. It’s not just the Irithillium we’re looking for, it’s two test sites and any hazards like probable lairs. I recommend that Dorian lead the center so that he can anchor the fallback point for the flanks. By noon, we head back to our camp to make it before night fall.

To the base camp:

Be prayerful on our behalf, and rest. The only other needful things should be to observe the surrounding from concealment, and make an attempt to reduce the sound of your armor for when we travel. Elves accomplish this by lining the joint of plated armor with leather or cloth. Dorian and I can show you how it is done in the field for Elven heavy infantry.

Dorian cocked his head to one side and gave a half a smile to Corym "If it means so much to you, I will do as you prefer, Corym."

"However, I will caution you that Invisibility is not as much a cloak as you wish it to be in a place such as this.  I know little about Devils and Demons, but I would not be surprised if they can see right through such illusions."

"I would suggest that even Invisible everyone should still move quietly and stay under cover and in shadows and do not rely on magic for it can make you careless."




"A quarter to half a mile?  Those distances are vast.  If someone needs assistance quickly they will be on their own."

"I know precisely what you mean.  Only a great fool takes invisibility to be a panacea against observation.  Anyone that has anything worth hiding has to account for it, just as generals must account for fireballs in the field.  But I'm a great lover of redundancy because taking every precaution is the only sensible way of risking one's life insensibly.  The research I purchased on the denizens of these ruins says that they have no inherent immunity to illusions--but that doesn't mean that the research is right, or that they don't have gems of seeing.  Still, I'd rather us have it than not.






"It's been a long time since I've worked in tandem in the wilds with other scouts.  What do you recommend?"

Enjoying the work well done, Krackor was surprised to see Katarn come visible after so long just being a disembodied voice.

Mistress Lightbearer, Kora, is so called because she has a shuttered continual light torch, there hasn't really been much need to use it lately.

OOC: I'm sure Kora has used her torch a few times since this group got together, works if not too though.

If there is a place well hidden even from the stairs leading down, maybe there is a cubby in case we need sheltered heat too.

The Guardian Priest then considers the spells he has available I can cast a Blessed Watchfulness on one of you, it will give you similar abilities to avoid being surprised or put to sleep as I have, I know Elves has some of this ability anyway, what of Gnomes and you Katarn?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Mon 19 Aug 2019.

Katarn nodded to Sirenya, "aye, something we can shutter..." he started to reply when Krackor reminded them of Kora's lamp. He shook his head, "er we kin jus' use that then. Either way."

He shook his head, "I've a ring that kin renew me mind and body fer a span of seven days. I'll only need but 2 hours sleep in that time. Yer spell kin work fer others though. I've a mind ta learn ta make me armor less noisy an' join those on scoutin' duty."

"In a place like this I would assume a very tight formation.  It is doubtful any of us can handle much of what Myth Drannor now offers alone or, perhaps even in pairs." Dorian suggested.

"Father always said that fighting in a city meant going street by street and house by house," Kora puts in. "He said that's why he hated it. No room to charge and too many places for someone to run out and gut your horse."

((ooc: You can easily close off the basement so that no light escapes it, even if you're using fairly powerful light spells. You'll need to either live with or evict the raccoons, though.))

“Very well!  Let’s do it!”

Dorian, Sirenya, and Corym

The three of you, cloaked in invisibility, emerge from the tower into the interior courtyard of this ruined building. Dusk is settling over the ruins, turning the sky a deep, vibrant blue. You hear things starting to stir to the north. Nothing that you can pin point, but there's definitely a little more noise than you'd heard at noon.

You stand on a road that's in fairly good condition, its paving stones cracked and overgrown with grass, but still noticeably a road. It runs east and west. To your right, another road splits off your road going north. To your left, the road splits, going northeast and southeast. Looking down the road to your right (east), there's a lane of partially-ruined buildings. It seems fairly residential, a mix of large trees, the wreckage of ground buildings, and a few solo towers. You don't see any particularly grand buildings in any direction.

Where do you want to go?

((ooc: I need all three of you to make move silently, hide in shadows, and a general Intelligence check for observation, please.))

Sirenya would have gone to the towers, but they were looking for secondary bases, not things that were directly valuable right away.  Besides, they were already in a tower-like building and she didn't want their bases to look alike if they had to give one up.  So, she headed east toward the ruined ground buildings to see if any would serve properly.

OOC:
00:01, Today: Sirenya rolled 71 using 1d100.  Hide in Shadows (70%)*.
00:01, Today: Sirenya rolled 13 using 1d100.  Move Silently (90%)*.
00:03, Today: Sirenya rolled 2 using 1d20.  Int Check (17, 18 if alertness applies).
*If this counts as ruins and no longer urban, her ratings are 5% higher.

2:27, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 12 using 1d20.  Observation.
12:25, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 74 using 1d100.  Move Silently.
12:25, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 86 using 1d100.  Hide in Shadows.
23:03, Yesterday: Sirenya rolled 2 u

And this is why I have invisibility...

That’s:
Pass
Fail
Fail

Pass on all 3.  For what it's worth, Dorian has the Observation Prof.

13:37, Today: Dorian rolled 16 using 1d20.  Observation.
13:37, Today: Dorian rolled 93 using 1d100.  HS.
13:37, Today: Dorian rolled 48 using 1d100.  MS.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:40, Wed 21 Aug 2019.

You’ve got 93 HS?!?

I did mention that I didn't need Invisibility...

Ah, Iron Vigil, the Vigilant Host provides that for me also, I think we can cover this. The other spell makes it really hard for you to be put to sleep or surprised by anyone or anything. Here. Casts Blessed Watchfulness on Katarn.

((ooc: Cloak of elvenkind, man.

Though there's some debate on exactly what kind of terrain Myth Drannor is, per the tables. But it's more overgrown than a standard city, so I think a 93 will succeed.))

I do find it interesting that the party has at least 2 Rings of Invisibility and multiple spell slingers who can cast Invisibility, but somehow a very high Hide in Shadows is seen with incredulity?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:13, Thu 22 Aug 2019.

((ooc: It's historical, not mechanical. Corym takes stealth seriously. And personally. :) ))

Katarn accepted the casting from Krackor and nodded, "well lass Kora, I'd say we kin use yer lamp there at night fer a bit o' settlin' in light before sleep for those that need it. I'll keep an eye out here for things 'n such right now."

He went to set up a position to watch out and look for threats to their little hidey-hole. As he did so, he once more faded from visibility.

"Just you lot call out if ya need me," he said.

Stealthy Folk

You cross the street to the north and move your way slowly to the east. The building directly across the street from you used to be a long, squat building with a tower stuck onto its western edge. Now the walls of both building and tower have been broken, and stand pointing towards the sky like ragged teeth.

There's a lot of rubble on both sides of the street; clearly when the Army of Darkness swept through there was a great deal of fighting or looting. Or both. Trees and bushes now fight with marble and crystal for the sunlight.

A soft screech from ahead stops all of you. Crouching behind piles of rock or around the corners of buildings, you slowly make your way forward until you can see what's happening.

Beyond another ruined tower-and-outbuilding is a much larger structure. Even broken it is magnificent, with arching walls thirty feet in the air, a single tower at the northwest corner. Its main doorway faces the street, a ten foot tall, eight foot wide portal gaping open without any doors. Its walls are liberally festooned with windows, and while the northeastern face of the manor has been torn down and is crumbling, most of the rest is in decent condition. It's built of white marble that has been treated with something to make it glitter like a white opal in sunlight.

On the grounds, to the south of the main building, are four foul-looking creatures. In base form they look like eight foot tall vultures, but they have human arms in addition to wings and they are moving with both intelligence and confidence. They are digging through a grassy mound that you guess might have been some sort of out-building. If so, it's been completely flattened; the vulture-creatures are throwing great sprays of dirt every which way as they chatter to each other in a language that grates on your ears.

((ooc: You have made your way up the street until it starts to turn. The creatures are beside the largish building at the very top of the map (left side of the street). You are hiding around the small, L-shaped building across the street.))

Corym signals the other members of his squad:

Shrikes----------------enemy in sight (forward)----------point index finger at the enemy and thumb pointing down. All other fingers will be curled.
Vireos-----------------take cover------------------------extend the arm at a 45-degree angle from the side, above the horizontal, palm down, and then lower the arm to the side.

Normally Corym would have circumvented this group, but his was VERY close to the base camp. They needed to wait and see if they needed to help support the base from attack.

Dorian stopped and hunkered down at Corym's signals.

The Elf looked around to see if he could find a better position before whispering "We must be wary, I do not know what those creatures are, but Vultures can smell carrion from very far off.  We should stay well down wind of them."

Corym pauses for a moment to see if the Vulture-Man Demons made signs to indicate that they'd heard Dorian's words.

If no sign is detected...

Seeing no such sign, Corym matched Dorian's volume.

"I'm wracking my mind right now to see if the Sage of Glen included this in the lessons I paid for."

18:59, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 13 using 1d20. Remembering Demonology Lessons--assuming Intelligence is the appropriate score for that, that's a pass.  .

"I concur with your assessment, and yet they are so close to our base, I feel that we should linger awhile longer to see if they detect our base.  If they do, we can support the defense of our companions.  If not, we'll continue North. Sirenya? Thoughts?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:01, Sun 25 Aug 2019.

((ooc: Corym, you didn't get much into specifics, but Neldor did list a couple of the most common fiends and their overall impression. You recognize these from that description. They're vrocks: tanar'ri and tough. Neldor didn't know anything else about them.))

Sirenya quietly scurried over to the others.  "I'd advise watching and waiting, she whispered under her breath."  It didn't matter what the creatures were - engaging them could cause a single errant squawk, and they'd be in trouble.  But she didn't want to leave the outside of the hideout without eyes either.

((ooc: So are you waiting to see what the vrocks do? I'm not sure if I'm waiting for you, or you're waiting for me.))

Corym informs both Sirenya and Dorian, "The Sage called these, 'Vrocks.'   He said that they were notable among the demons of the Abyss."

YEs, we're waiting to see what they do.

Scouts

You spend a handfade watching the vrocks. They're tearing at the ground, seemingly at random. Their arms are skinny and pale, but they are monstrously strong, as they rip up great chunks of dirt and toss stones half their size with ease.

One of them gives a screeching shout and rattles off a long, sinister-sounding sentence. The other vrocks cluster around the first, and within moments they've disappeared into a hole in the ground.

((ooc: Everyone make an Int check at -5. If you have the Observation NWP, you're at -2.))

Sirenya squinted and tried to figure out what kind of curious thing was going on.  She suspected that in spite of their apparent burrowing tendencies, she would not be able to communicate with the monsters.


18:38, Today: Sirenya rolled 8 using 1d20.  Int/Observation -2 (15).

Can’t copy paste on my iPhone that well, but 10–I needed to roll under 12. Made it.

20:46, Today: Dorian rolled 3 using 1d20.  Observation.

Observation (17)

Scouts

Corym and Sirenya

As you keep watch over the environs, you notice movement at the top of the broken tower on the tower-and-outbuilding ruin directly to the south of where the vrocks were digging. It shifts again, and you get a sense of black scales, wings, and a horned head. Looks like another abishai is keeping watch on what happens.

Dorian

Your attention is drawn to the rubble of what looks like used to be a small residential neighborhood. Most of the buildings are rubble, but a few are in good enough condition for you to get a sense of what the area used to look like. Fairly small, single story, mix of stone and wood construction. Probably homes for single families. And inside one you see a bit of movement. Like someone slid into one of the broken windows for a moment to take a look, and then disappeared.

Corym reports his findings to his companions quietly.  Suggestions?  I think I’m going to start keeping audible flamed prepared ..

"I saw a shadow too.  In that old housing over yonder." whispered Dorian.

"The problem is a question of attrition.  Perhaps we can defeat the Vulture-things, but fighting draws attention and perhaps more fighting, then more fighting."

"Perhaps our best option is to leave them in peace and find another direction to explore?"

I think you’re right. A potentially four sided fight is a real problem. I just wish we could earn base before we move on. But we’ve got to go. Our efforts will be useless if we bring nothing back today.

Dorian smirked "We will have many days where we do not bring anything back.  Does it matter if it is the first day?  Or the 5th?"

"Come, let us circle far around these things."

((ooc: Are you going west, or east? And are you also continuing to go north?))

Sirenya strongly favored the idea of not starting a fight - over probably nothing, at that - against an unknownn number and type of foes.  She suggested turning west and not keeping toward the north, but ceratinly would go along with whatever the group decided.

Back at the base Krackor speaks with Katarn and Kora.

Do you know how long they will be?  I can set the Sentry of Gorm up on the entry level and get some sleep, I can then take night watch?  It would mean you can do your things on the lower level, maybe seeing how expansive it can be made, there may be, with hope, a passage leading to the other towers as that would make sense for the servants that would have worked here.

He was no engineer but he could see the benefits of the first levels or second levels below ground being linked, in fact, having any number of below surface levels would have been beneficial.

West then north

Objections?

Sounds good.

sounds fine to me

Scouts

You go south, crossing around behind your build and putting another cracked wall and roof between the building the watching fiend is on before you dart across the road. No one seems to notice as you duck back into cover between two buildings and push on further west.

Behind the buildings on the western side of the street is an overgrown grove of trees. It might have been a park or elaborate yard, but now the trees and bushes have taken it. The good news is that very quickly even if that fiend had been looking for you, it wouldn't be able to see you.

On the other hand, it cuts off your view of the sky and almost anything could be behind a bush.

You pass the burned-out hulks of a couple of buildings before the trees widen out and you reach another road running north and south. You move north a bit and come to an intersection, a rough trail splits off both east and west. Several small buildings, surprisingly well-preserved, stand at the intersection. Across the street to the west is a stone building little more than a shell, its sides still streaked with soot. To the south is a building made seemingly from a single crystal. It looks like the frozen sea in a storm, and tiny magical lights gleam and race along its edges.

((ooc: New map below. You're at the intersection. You don't see anything or anyone at the moment.))

Katarn chuckled and grunted, "elves 'n a gnome lad. They might be gone fer a decade 'n not know it. If yer want to do yer sentinel spell 'n sleep, I kin check out below with the Sirenya's raccoon friends 'n Kora. Not that I remember elves bein' about tunnels. Mayhap we're in a more dwarven area of th' city."

In reply to Katarn (msg # 205):

Smiling at the length of time the other Dwarven Priest mentions, then we are decided.

Krackor moves around the area, checking each stone, each portal, then finds the optimum spot and casts his spell.

ooc: Casts Sentry of Gorm
This message was last edited by the player at 17:46, Sat 04 July 2020.

"I suggest watching for a bit before moving on." whispered Dorian.

"Agreed."  Corym concurred, "This unbreached crystal building might be a good one for a trial run.  The others are too small and unremarkable to give much practice." 

To the degree possible, Corym tries to map their route and make markings along the way.

When complete, Corym whispers, "As soon as you're ready."

"Keeping quiet and watching for a while seems wise.  Let's see what happens over the next couple of hours.  Knock this pebble down when you're ready to go in."  Sirenya whispered, placing a tiny brown stone on another rock near where they were hiding.  She waited a moment and if there were no objections, she moved around to get a different view point on the place.

Corym is taken aback a bit by Sirenya’s time frame. “If we’re going to be here that long, I’d like to try to find a better vantage point. See if we can get perspective.”  Corym looks around for the tallest stable structure in the immediate area, describes it, and states his intention to scale it. “I’ll be listening for audible signals.”

Scouts

The building on the south side of the intersection is still in pretty good shape. It looks like it was made by dwarves or gnomes; its walls are entirely stone and they're at least a foot thick. It's been burned out, and its roof collapsed, but you're easily able to climb up to the top. Peering inside, you don't see anything except the rubble of a fallen slate roof. The walls are thick enough that you're able to find a space to stretch out and safely watch the crystal building.

And then, with you all in position, you settle down to wait.

((ooc: Everyone please roll another Observation or Int-3 check. Please also roll a Move Silently check.))

In reply to DM (msg # 211):


20:13, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 96 using 1d100.  Move Silently.

20:13, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 18 using 1d20.

Failed both... tbh--I'd have failed even with Elven Boots...

Dorian is an Owl-eyed Ghost!


22:38, Today: Dorian rolled 5 using 1d100.  MS.

22:38, Today: Dorian rolled 1 using 1d20.  Observation.

OOC: Funny, in a circumstance like this you celebrate low rolls, but if this were a fight I'd be groaning in despair.

Sometimes margin of success matters...  I hope this is not one of those times. :-P

23:40, Today: Sirenya rolled 82 using 1d100.  Move Silently (90%).
23:40, Today: Sirenya rolled 17 using 1d20.  Int/Observation (17).

Scouts

Evening starts to settle in as you wait and watch, a dark blue cloak slowly drawing itself across the ruins. The magical lights running across the surface of the crystal building seem to glow brighter as the ruins dim.

Nothing comes out of the building, and you don't see anything in the air around it. After about a bell and a half, there's a scuffling coming from the road to the east. Dorian and Sirenya shift themselves carefully, adjusting their hiding spots to get a better view of what's coming. Corym, on the other hand, is distracted by trying to find some kind of pattern in the building's lights and is completely surprised.

First come three trolls. Even by lanky troll standards these are thin and miserable looking. Almost emaciated, though you weren't certain that could happen to the Undying. Their skin is rough and patchy, and they're looking about with the quick, jerking head movements of an abused cat.

Behind them, floating in regal splendor several inches above the ground, in a mauve skinned monstrosity. Six feet tall, wrapped in a robe of deep blue, with four writhing tentacles that descend to nearly its belt, a mind flayer moves in the center of its slaves. The setting sun throws its dry, cracked skin into sharp relief. Two trolls flank it, and another four emaciated trolls bring up the rear.

Corym's surprise is so great that he accidentally moves too quickly and knocks a couple of stones loose from where he was hiding. All three of you freeze, holding your breaths, but the procession doesn't slow. They reach the intersection and turn north, and soon disappear around the bend in the road. Silence falls once again.

"Let's head back.  I want to re-evaluate my spells for tomorrow and see if we can make better time.  Minimally I think we can say that there's no lairing activity through this route."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:35, Wed 11 Sept 2019.

Sirenya agreed, and began planning in her head how she would relay the information and describe what they had seen.  She debated telling the story herself with broad gestures, but instead settled on making a scaled illusory version of everything they had seen.  That would make it easier for everyone back at the base to relate to when they were out in the city.

Scouts

You head south, moving in the street since there's less vegetation to betray your passage. You hear a bit of indistinct chittering coming from one of the buildings on the east side of the street, but it doesn't react to your passage and the rest of the city is quiet.

Your hideout looks exactly the same as it did when you left. Studying it from the outside, you notice with pleasure that there's no indication that your group has taken up inside it.

Calling out quietly to Krackor and Katarn to prevent any misunderstandings, you enter and close the door behind you. Your companions are around you, eager to hear how things went.

((ooc: The group is now together again. Scouts, are you dropping your invisibility spells?))

"Well, that was unpleasant." said Dorian "The rumors are true.  Creatures of fearsome power and reputation litter this place.  We saw Vulture-demos, draconic Demons, Squid-headed men with Troll slaves, all manner of foulness."

"I am unsure how to proceed from here, but I would suggest that we do so as a whole.  There is little chance of a scouting party overcoming any of these...things."

Katarn huffed up the stairs from the basement as the scouting party returned.

He listened to Dorian's tale and gave a waggle of his head, not a shake or a nod really. "Not sure a couple more of us kin do much against such threats either lad. Do ya reckon a fight'd draw other in, 'er send 'em scurryin' away?"

He raised his hands, "well, we kin only do what we kin do. If'n the Finder brought me here ta die at th' hands o' some fearsome demon, least I'll find me way ta his halls soon after."

“So I have a different perspective...”  Corym began.  “I think that our party—in strength—could have handled what we saw, though the first of the two was the worse of the two with the Abishai, the Vrocks, and the unseen observer. Four parties, one unquantified, in a battle would be categorically bad—but equally so for them as us.”

“However,” he continued, “even with a fairly imperfect performance, our scouts were able to evade engagement. It was a close thing, certainly, but if we had moved in force then combat would have been unavoidable, we would have expended finite strategic resources, possibly lost lives, and worst of all covered half as much ground. We would know less, have less, and potentially be fewer, making us less able to work toward our goal.”

“So my thought is to continue scouting. I already have some ideas about how I want to adjust my spells to help us go farther and learn more tomorrow. We also identified a site that might be a good site that might be good for a test run.  An intriguing tower made entirely of crystal that seems entirely intact."

"You could do a lot, actually.  Dorian, Sirenya, and I are all capable of dealing a lot of damage fast, but if they don't all die in the first volley it's difficult for us to endure the riposte.  My heavily armored companions, however, are doughty folk not easily put aside by bodily injury.  Moreover, if we take wounds in your absence we can easily die, but in the presence of they Faithful wounds may be healed and lives saved."

Sirenya remained invisible as the other spoke, though anyone could hear her casting a spell as Dorian began.  As he spoke, then Katarn, then Corym, their words were played out in miniature scale on the floor of the room.  One foot tall Vrocks dug in the ground kicking up illusory plumes of dust.  Towers - ruined and not the height of Corym appeared and shifted around to match the perspective of the tiny translucent party of scouts.  A crystal tower formed and the group took positions to observe it...  then miniature trolls walked seriously surrounding their tentacle-faced leader as Corym... for some reason, Sirenya was sure, kicked tiny stones at the monsters, which they plainly ignored.

Lastly, as Corym mentioned lives being saved that might have been lost, illusions of the party that had stayed at the base formed.  They were clearly tired and bored, eyes and faces sagging.  They continued sagging until the stretchiness of their faces was surreal and they keeled over dead... from boredom.

Krackor woke up with a start, wide awake, knowing that someone, something had breached the entry point and his spell had done it's job.

Grasping his crossbow, already aligned towards the entry, the Guardian raised it but saw nothing, the door was open, thatmuch have been what activated the Sentry. About to pull the trigger, Krackor hear a familiar sound. Using all his will, he raised the tip of the bolt and relaxed his finger from the trigger.

"Welcome back", the only words he spoke until the scouts finished speaking.

"I get it." Corym said putting his hand to his forehead. "Waiting to be shown the way isn't the most exciting bit.  But there's a way to do this where we keep everyone alive, and there's a way we do this where we risk lives.  What's better?"

Corym drops his hands to his lap.

"Maybe we could take a diversion and try the crystal tower first?  Just to break up the monotony?"

I'm going to preserve my Invis as long as I can.  I certainly can't trust my dice to protect me...

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 225):

Would that floating disk move fast enough? I can sit still and not make a noise, especially if we use that wadding Dorian was speaking of. Maybe trying not to be heard will make more noise than not trying, at least it will to us.

Dorian also remains invisible.

"The disk would be visible even if you aren't."  Corym lamented.  "I'm adjusting my spell selection in order to include some auditory illusions and an Unseen Servant.  I think those things might be able to divert a good bit of the attention we draw."

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 225):

Katarn chuckled at the elf's tone, "ah lad. She's jus' havin' a go at ya. We've all got ta go at some point, visible or else. 'n we'll take on wha' th' city throws at us. Havin' us invisible'll be better'n not though. Krackor kin be a clankin' ghost fer the demons ta puzzle out."

"I was jus' sayin' those things yer saw sound like tough ones. One at a time, I'm jus' worried a fight'll draw other fights."

Ever since Corym had mentioned that fascinating-sounding structure, Elorfindar tried to remember whether he had read about such a building. Intrigued, he watched Sirenya's illusion of the scouts' trials, and having now seen an image of the tower helped his memory check.

Regarding the current discussion about invisibility, he simply added drily: "After what I have just seen, I would not go anywhere near this tower without it."

((OOC: Elorfindar tries to remember whether he knows anything about crystal towers in Myth Drannor: Elorfindar Silveroak rolled 6 using 1d20. His Ancient History (Cormanthor) score is Int-1 = 13.))

10:11, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 3 using 1d20.

Architecture check to help Elorfindar think about that style of building

Hearing the full discussions going on about the next phase of the exploration, Krackor started to cast his Augury spell, to see if the Crystal Building was the most sensible location to move forward with.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:47, Sat 21 Sept 2019.

It's a bit of a weird evening, what with most of the group invisible and some of you tied to each other. But Myth Drannor isn't particularly a place where you want to carouse to the early bells. You get a quick eveningfeast and then everyone beds down. It's cool in the cellar, and silent with the door closed. Monsters might be prowling the city outside, but nothing disturbs your rest.

You awake with the dawn, and spend a bit of time fixing dawnfry and making sure the ropes to Kora are still securely tied. Then, carefully and quietly, you set out.

A low mist hangs over the ruins. It's thickest to the south, where a towering wall of mist blocks out the forest near the border of the mythal. But cool, milky tendrils snake throughout the ruins, and undulate back and forth along the streets as you walk.

You don't see or hear anything as you creep towards the crystal tower. The city is as still as a tomb, as unmoving as the fresh ogre corpse you find two intersections over.

The crystal building is unchanged from the day before. Glowing motes of magical light chase each other across its pale blue surface. Now that you're closer you can get a good view of the place. It's about a hundred and fifty feet long and a hundred feet wide at its largest extent, but it sort of bulges and recedes all along its facade. It's clearly not dwarven construction; aside from the narrow windows and the large, ironwood door, you don't see any right angles. Everything is either bent in one direction or another. A forty foot wide tower anchors the south eastern corner (the corner closest to the road and to your hideout to the south); the rest of the building has straight walls.

There is one door facing the road. It's almost ten feet wide, made entirely of a variety of wood that is at least as strong as iron. Corym recognizes it from his studies; the trees were magically cultivated thousands of years ago in Uvaeren, and have never been successfully grown outside of Cormanthor. The door is closed, and like the walls seems almost untouched by the sack and the centuries. All of the windows on the first floor are narrow slits that even an anorexic halfling wouldn't be able to fit through. The windows on the second floor are somewhat larger, but would still be a tight fit.

Dorian stopped and examined the Ogre corpse for a few moments before circling about to check for tracks.

Can how the Ogre died be discerned?

Are there any nearby tracks visible to help tell the tale?

22:12, Today: Dorian rolled 16 using 1d20.  Track.  Track (16)

22:12, Today: Dorian rolled 3 using 1d20.  Observation. Observation (17)

Dorian

Something clawed and enormously strong ripped up the ogre a bit and then tore its head clean off. And then munched on its flesh for a little while.

There are a number of tracks around the corpse, but it's very confused. It looks like there was a battle, or maybe just a lot of people running in different directions. Mostly larger-than-human sized; more ogres or something similar, but there are also several clawed foot prints. You can't make out anything more.

Sirenya looked at the giant building again and whispered, "I could fly up and in a second-story window, but I don't know if you all could fit in... Or I could make whoever's biggest able to fly and they could try squeezing in on their own.  Either way whoever gets in could tie off and drop a rope for everybody else."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Tue 24 Sept 2019.

"Or we kin go fer th' front door," Katarn added. "Not sure if'n I kin squeeze inta those windows up there either."

"Somethin' has kept that place whole through th centuries. Could be warded against fiends'n th' like and a better place to hole up mayhap.

Now that he saw the tower with his own eyes and from close up, he searched his memory again for any knowledge about such a structure.

((OOC: See my roll, supported by Corym, above.))

Elorfindar

Crystal was a fairly common building material in Eaerlann. It was more rarely used on this side of Anauroch, though you remember reading that there was a smaller city up on the Moonsea coast that used crystal or glass almost exclusively. In Myth Drannor a crystal building would be showy and ostentatious. It's probably either part of the holdings of a noble family (though not necessarily the house's seat), or the dwelling of one or more wizards.

Sirenya nodded her invisible little head, then skipped over to the door.  She carefully examined them, looking for traps.  If necessary she tried to remove any she found the tried to find a way to open the doors.



19:21, Today: Sirenya rolled 90 using 1d100.  open locks (85).
19:20, Today: Sirenya rolled 14 using 1d100.  Remove traps (75).
19:20, Today: Sirenya rolled 69 using 1d100.  find traps (75).

The door does not have a visible handle or lock. Though you can see differences in the grain where separate planks were put together to form the door, it also doesn't have any visible bolts or fasteners. The hinges are likewise set on the interior. You can't even tell whether it opens to the right, the left, or is supposed to slide into the wall or ground. There isn't any indication on the ground of it opening recently.

You also don't find any traps. The motes of magical light in the crystal wall divert up and around the door without pause or stutter. They don't seem to react to your approaching the wall either.

"If it comes down to it I could wraithform my way into the upper rooms.  I'd actually like to take these doors with us eventually.  An item spell on the way out should suffice, and might make our entrance in a pinch."

Corym slides up to the door, making physical contact with Sirenya and guiding her to the side.

"My order is trained specifically to address magic wards.  Perahps I can succeed here."

Summoning the innate talent he was born with that marked him from birth as belonging to the Knaves, Corym closed then opened his eyes to awaken his senses to magic.  Examining the magical makeup of the tower he began to apply his specific skill set to the task.

"If this works the ward will only temporarily be interrupted.  Maybe for only as little as two minutes.  We need everyone prepared to move."

21:48, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 17 using 1d100.

Corym activates his mage sight and stares at the walls and door for a long moment. Everything radiates a faint glow of magic. Abjuration predominates, though there's a hint of alteration that comes and goes. It's all smoothed together into near-indistinguishability, like a wood grain that's been too heavily sanded.

The door has a different and somewhat stronger enchantment. Again mostly abjuration, but with flickers of alteration and divination thrown in as well. Nothing that looks like a trap, but nothing that he can identify as a trigger or lock. Taking his tools and marshaling his power, he steps up anyway, hoping to find some manner of access.

The moment he touches the door, the wood sinks down into the ground. It groans softly from disuse, but within two breaths it's come to rest flush with the ground. On the other side is an entry room, perhaps twenty feet deep. There's a smaller door across the room from you, a stairway going up to your right, and the disintegrated remains of boxes and barrels are around the room's edges.

Corym enters the room.  "I'm going in, I'll tap the door once I'm through.  Everyone else do so as well.  Stay near the door or the wall until Sirenya and I can check the room for traps."

While his mage sight is still up and active he takes the opportunity to scan the room quickly.

This room used to be a store room and cloak room, a place for people to take off muddy boots and for deliveries to be made. Everything has rotted away, aside from a couple of cloak pegs that are stubbornly solid as they stick out of the wall by the door. The stairs are granite, not crystal, and both bare and solid. You don't find any traps or hidden dangers.

Corym will begin searching through the debris--particularly for keys, ward stones, and scripts of paper that may contain passwords.

Dorian takes up a position by the door and acts as rear guard and lookout while the others investigate the area.  His gaze drifted over lost Cormanthor, it was plain to him now that no small expedition was ever going to cleanse the place; only a full scale invasion could reconquer the fallen city.  All was not lost, however, for perhaps if they could uncover enough artifacts they could convince others that retake and hold Myth Drannor.  That was something worth doing.

The eElf nodded to himself and settled into his watch.

OOC: As a side note, Dorian will default to guard duty in this fashion.

((ooc: Dorian, are you standing inside or outside the building?

Is everyone else going inside, or staying outside?))

"It looks like it's safe," Kora whispers. "Let's get off the street." She tugs on the ropes leading to Elorfindar and Krackor gently, to give you a feel for where she is, and then starts moving slowly towards the door.

Sireny gasped in surprise as the door opened and she only narrowly avoided breaking into song as she skipped into the crystalline building.  On her way in she tapped as requested, then she marveled at the construction.  What kind of people would have lived here?  Sure, probably elves - but which ones, and what had they done for a living?  What did they cook for dinner at night?

She quietly began searching that first room for traps, signs of danger, and curiositiesin that order.


12:21, Today: Sirenya rolled 86 using 1d100.  find traps (75).
12:22, Today: Sirenya rolled 2 using 1d20.  Observation (17).

Dorian goes inside, unless someone else remains outside, then he does too.

Katarn will trudge up, though everyone was still invisible so it was hard to get a bead on where people were currently. He stood on the inside of the doorway and took up a watch.

"I'll watch th' outside while yer lot snoop about right here." he said quietly. "How do we close th' doors, so things with eyes other'n us don't see a big open place all th' sudden?"

Krackor silently follows the rope attached to him, listening for any noises, the footsteps of his companions, the sliding door and the creaking or wood being searched.

Corym will try touching the door again, or otherwise shoeing people away from it to see if it retracts on its own.
.

Corym moves towards the door, but as Elorfindar, the last elf in the party, crosses the threshold, it groans slightly and slides closed. The entry hall is dark, though some sunlight comes down the staircase from the upper floor.

Once the door is closed, Corym resumes his previous activity. "Kora, now wouldn't be a bad time for light."

"Right." Kora pulls out the enchanted lightbringer Krackor had created and fiddled with the top. Bright white light, as strong as sunlight, flooded the room.

In reply to Kora Roustinghorn (msg # 258):

Although still invisible, like a proud father, Krackor's customary cheery look reappears on his face. He now knows exactly where Kora is, confirming his belief of her actual locatiin on front of him.
Corym, Dorian, was it me or did that door seem to wait for us all to come through to close again?

It seemed so.

"Seeing that the Tower appears intact and the group consists of, what most would consider, beneficent beings perhaps it recognized us as non-hostile?  Otherwise, you would expect the interior to be more thoroughly smashed and looted."

Dorian "I merely offer it as a working hypothesis and advise extreme caution.  I guess that there is a strong reason why Demons have not yet looted this place."

In reply to Dorian (msg # 261):

This also makes sense but we should not take that as a given, there may be other guards in here. It is hard to see if it has or hasn't been looted with all these this detritus. The proof will be in the finding of something not rotted away but movable.

"It closed up when we were all in here no doubt. Here's hopin' the rest o' th' tower'll be as accomodatin' as th' door."

Katarn stepped a bit farther into the building but kept his eye and self near to the door just in case something decided to try and break the door down after all these years.

Corym went to the closed small door and listened closely. (Hear Noise--14) "I'm at the small door.  I hear a sound like a distant thunderstorm, but no living sounds. I'm going to open the door now--be prepared."  (Find/Remove Traps--84)

Corym opens the door slowly and peers in.

On the other side of the door is a large receiving room. It's mostly empty, its floor bare marble. There are many doors leading off of it, all of them closed. Two statues flank the door on the opposite wall. They're completely black with what you think is soot.

In the center of the room, thirty feet from you, is the source of the thunder. Three lightning bolts continuously cascade within an enclosed space about twice your size. Each one is a slightly different shade of electric blue, and you can see them cross, merge, split, and curl back upon each other again and again.

It takes the lightning a few moments to notice that the door is open. Once it does, you are faced with the incongruous sight of lightning bolts turning their attention on you. They pull slightly closer together, their color shifts to a deeper blue, and with a triple roll of thunder they start moving towards you.

((ooc: Everyone please roll initiative and declare actions.))

Dorian cocked an unseen eyebrow "Well...that isn't something you see every day."

"Any suggestions?"

Yes, Close The Door Quick and move.
ooc: no initiative needed, Krackor is wearing plate mail under his magical vestments and carrying a medium shield in front of him, he is close to the door, he will take the blow if the doors don't shut quick enough, believing that Gorm will aid him.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:21, Sat 28 Sept 2019.

"Quick, shut the door," Elorfindar called.

((OOC: Initiative roll: 3))

Sirenya was considering sneaking into the room before the door closed to see what it held, as it obviously had not been looted by demons.  However, they could do that after they had mapped the place out.  Assuming, of course, that closing the door stopped it.



OOC:  Init also 3

The lightning surges forward, the three bolts crackling and curving, yet somehow never touching the floor or dispersing. Corym ducks back out of the way and Krackor moves forward, dragging Kora as he grabs for the door. He slams it shut. The thunder grows nearer, until it sounds like its on the other side of the door. But the door itself doesn't move.

((ooc: Krackor, you did need to roll initiative to close the door. Fortunately, I rolled lower for you than I did for the lightning.))

Corym rolled away from the door (initiative 3) and said, "It's like a creature made of lightning!  It's beyond my knowledge!"  Instinctively he wanted to look around and evaluate his party's condition--but they were all invisible.

"Status report?" he asked.

After hearing that none were harmed, he proceeds to business.  "We can go up the stairs and see what else waits for us, or come up with a plan for how to deal with this.  My first thought is to not leave danger lurking behind us when we're actively plunging ahead into unknown danger.  Secondly, if this is as it seems, and is a creature of pure lightning, Katarn seemed uniquely immune to such attacks, and the door seems to keep it separate from all of us.  It seems like we might be able to send him in alone to handle the matter."

"Objections? Alternative? Katarn, do you consent?"

"How does one fight lightning?  Throw water on it?  Stab it with a Church Steeple?" mused Dorian.

"You could say the same thing of killing the undead.  How does one kill something that is already dead.  Hitting it with things--especially magical things--seems to be a strong strategy.  Force-based spells might be particularly helpful, like Magic Missile or Spiritual Hammer."

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 271):

Releasing the door handle, Krackor seems to come out of a bit of a stuper after a few seconds as though his actions had been automatic, like his Lord had taken over his thought, closing the door to save everyone.

I believe the Vigilant One is watching over us here more so than outside. The Gods appear to have forsaken Cormanthor but we were sent here by them, we were meant to be in this place.

The lightning creature would serve to protect behind us, we should not kill it.

Unseen by anyway, Krackor grabs his holy symbol and quietly gives thanks to the Bronze Lord.

“Maybe if Katarn is immune to its attacks we can get him to communicate with it?”

“Kora? Sirenya? Dorian? Katarn? Elorfindar? What say you?”
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:49, Tue 01 Oct 2019.

"I was waiting to hear if Krackor is actually immune to it.  Or even likely to be.  Otherwise it would be kind of like asking 'Maybe if the raccoons we found are powerful outsiders, they'll show up here and take care of the thing for us.' ... neat idea but it doesn't mean anything."  She continued to look around the area as they talked.

Then her mind was completely side-tracked by the idea that the raccoons might actually *be* powerful outsiders.

Dorian motions toward Krackor "He already seems content that we should move on.  Having no experience with such a thing I am willing to trust that opinion, for now."

"I will say, having seen just a small sample of Myth Drannor I'm willing to believe every wild tale I'e ever heard about it now."

The Elven scout looks down at Sirenya "By the Gods I will not mock the proposal that the Raccoons may be Celestials in disguise if you say so, Sirenya."

"Krackor isn't immune to lightning," Kora grins. "He zaps and dances like the rest of us. That would be Katarn."

She gets a little more serious. "We only know two ways to go right now. Through the lightning, or upstairs. Do we want to leave that behind? It could block our escape."

"It might be worth asking about.  Seems suspicious for regular old raccoons to be living in a terrifying city like this, now that I think about it."  Sirenya replied to Dorian with an invisible wink.

"Sorry.  Krackor, Katarn, Kora, Corym.  I think maybe Dorian and I should change our names to Kirenya and Corian, just to fit in.  If Katarn's probably immune to their attacks, no reason for him to not try talking to them/it/whatever."  Sirenya clarified.

In reply to Sirenya (msg # 280):

If Katarn is willing, I see no reason why not to try and communicate with the lightning creature, assuming it is sentient and not mindless. As you say, another escape route!

The priest of Labelas Enoreth gestured towards the dwarf. "It all depends on whether you are willing to try it, Katarn. No one expects you to make an attempt."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:40, Tue 01 Oct 2019.

DMPC'ed

"Aye, I can try that. You want the door open or closed?"

Closed. But I’ll go in with you invisibly to watch your back.

DMPC'ed

"Sure ye want to do that? We're all invisible now; it came right at us."

I was assuming that it was tracking on to the opening of the door, but you may be right. We’ll wait out here. If you start shrieking in pain, we’ll open the door to let you out. Or else you can tell for us to come help you kill it. Whichever seems most appropriate.

"I'll try slipping in with him so he has some kind of back-up.  Even creatures that can see through invisibility normally shouldn't be able to see me.  I'm special."  She beamed broadly... and invisibly.  She didn't mention how incredibly much work she had had to put into being "special" ... nor that it wasn't 100% effective.  She'd cross that last bridge only if she had to.

Corym wondered at Sirenya gift. “Now that’s a trick indeed! In with Katarn then.”

I felt when you were in danger as it happened Corym, the spell is still active on Katarn. If he isn't in danger, I'll not feelthe spell calling me to him.

Krackor opens the door and first Katarn and then Sirenya slip through. The bolts of lightning have moved to the rear of the room and are bouncing and crackling over one of the statues. The charred remains of a fiend lie sprawled in a far corner; the body more ash than substance.

Sirenya darts to the left, hugging the wall, while Katarn advances on the lightning. His attempts at diplomacy don't go beyond the third word, as the lightning turns on him with what might be called eagerness. It charges across the room and slams into the dwarf, a physical impact followed instantly by a strong jolt of lightning. ((ooc: Katarn takes 3 damage and would have taken a lot more, except he's immune to lightning.))

Outside the room, Krackor's spell triggers.

((ooc: Anyone who's going to fight the lightning, give me initiative rolls and actions, please.))

Sirenya let out a tiny gasp of surprise as the apparently living lightning storm charged Katarn.  She held off on doing anything, waiting to see what he wanted to do, and preparing to back his play.  She didn't want to attack as that would make her a visible and vulnerable target, but she'd try to get a door open ahead of him if he started moving toward one, or  would carry news to those outside of what was going on.

In reply to DM (msg # 290):

It's attacked him, how long do we wait?

ooc: is there a keyhole?

((ooc: No, it's a solid door.))

Dorian shrugged invisibly "I do not know.  Perhaps we let Katarn decide if he is out of his depth?  The moment he calls for help we do so."

"Agreed.  If Katarn were down, Sirenya'd be screaming.  If he were up and wanted help, he'd be bellowing.  Give him a chance..."

DMPC'ed

Katarn tries one more time to talk with the lightning, shifting quickly through several languages and holding his hands out to his sides. All he gets is hit a second time. Again there's a tingle of lightning running across his body. "This thing ain't friendly!" he shouted, grabbing for his morningstar.

Hearing Katarn was still ok but facing 'unfriendly' attacks, Do you need our help? Shout when you do and I'll be right in.  Krackor had no intention of putting his companions in danger.

Katarn swing wildly at the lightning, but it curls out of the way. "If'n ye can help without getting zapped, that'd be nice!"

If you are close to the door, I can cast a spell to protect from evil or put a spiritual hammer in if the door can be opened and closed quick enough, I think I need to be able to see the thing though and when I cast the latter, it would be able to see me.

Sirenya stood relatively close to the door and prepared to open and close it without Katarn getting distracted.  "I don't know that the thing is evil,"  She whispered through the door.  "I'm ready to do your open-and-close for a spell, though."