Damara is a scarcely populated northern kingdom of Faerûn. Its estimated 1,300,000 inhabitants, of human, dwarven, halfling and half-orc  blood, are ruled by King Gareth Dragonsbane. The main city of Damara is Heliogabalus, to the west of which lies Bloodstone Village on the border of Damara and Vaasa. While King Gareth and his court reside in Bloodstone Village, most inhabitants of Damara live in Heliogabalus.

The Dolvak Clan is a fictional clan of dwarves from the city of Iron Spur in Damara. The Dolvaks have long been known for their less than honorable business practices and extreme wealth. Strident followers of Vergadain (though "publicly" followers of Dumathoin or Moradin), the clan sends its emissaries to any and all areas within Faerûn to look for new investments, or usually, for new economies to exploit. The two most famous Dolvaks, Foilir and Dwin, were sent to the Land of Narfell where they have succeeded in becoming wildly rich and powerful.

http://knights-of-the-realms.w...tenRealms_Map_4e.jpg

Hoal finds himself on the long road between Helgabal and Jiyyd.  Appropriately named, "The Long Road."  Currently he is at least 100 miles east of Helgabal, so the terrain is very rocky and steep, and the road very windy.  Around one such bends, he comes upon a young human male.  Jake to be more specific.  He's alone and blinks in surprise at the sight of Hoal.

"I guess I may as well ask if you're a reasonable person before the inevitable attacking me," Jake says.

  Backstage, Blake chokes on his drink laughing at the exposition of Dwarves striking it rich in Narfell.  "What, did they open a horse powered space heater business? To sell to the Nomadic tribes?  Or maybe all the ancient Tiefling ruins to be looted, that too Blake.  Now shut up and let the actual cast of this thread work.

  Hoal makes no move for his sword, commenting "Do you feel deserving of attack?  If it were inevitable I attack, it could be for reasonable motives just as well as unreasonable I suppose.  I have no need to attack you either way that I know of yet."  The Voidsoul has dealt with more cynical people before, but not lately.

Jake relaxes a little as the expected BWAAAA!! response followed by a charge is not given.

"Wow.  Please excuse any rudeness, sir.  No offense intended.  Just I've never seen anyone like you before, and every story I've ever been told about meeting a stranger on a lonely road never ended well."

He gives a polite bow.

"My name is Jake.  It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.  What's your name?"

  "I am Hoal, there are many things that exist which we have never perceived.  You have changed your mindset readily enough, so no harm done.  Though may I ask, If you consider traveling alone so dangerous, why do you do so?"  Perhaps circumstances have forced this poor child out into the harsh outdoors alone.  Or perhaps it was something nowhere near as dramatic.

Jake is a little taken aback by the question, though he should have seen it coming from a mile away.  He glances aside with a blush and rubs behind his head looking like he's recalling a painful memory.

"Simple answer?" he says, "Because there was no one willing to go with me.  Would you happen to be willing?  I'm on my way to investigate a strange occurrence.  There was reported a tremor followed by some unusual bird flight patterns and a plume of strange looking smoke rising from the direction I'm headed.  Could be nothing, but I may as well take a look since I was wanting to try and find myself a home in Damara so I was headed that direction anyway."

  Hoal considers this, against his long and busy schedule... Oh, right. "I believe I shall accompany you then.  Do you have any thoughts to the cause or results of these events, or was there mere occurrence out of place enough to draw your attention?"

  If the boy was hoping to find a home there, it would be unfortunate for Jake if they were signs Damara were about to collapse into the earth.  Well, unfortunate for all involved really.

"Appreciate it, Hoal," Jake answered, "Here's hoping whatever trouble we may have met separately will not be more than we can handle together.  You should know that I'm a somewhat competent arcane healer and combatant.  Artificer to be more specific.  How about yourself?

"As for guesses on the cause of the disturbance, I'm thinking some small volcanic activity."

---

I'm gunna go with 1395 DR, about 10 years after the initial outbreak of the spellplague.

  "Greater challenges may be overcome in numbers, while greater challenges may seek us out for the very same reason.  I have some experience in the more basic forms of Swordmage technique.  It makes for a poor guardian, but those who strike you in my presence will suffer for it."

  None of that fancy 'emergency damage resistance to ally' here, Hoal just warps through spacetime to Revenge Stab a dude.

Jake blinks as the thinks on Hoal's insight.

"Huh...  More allies means more enemies.  You might be on to something there.  Thinking back on what little history I was able to get my hands on, what you say rings true.  I wonder why that is?  You would think that one-sided conflict would be the norm.  Maybe it is, but people don't deem such things worthy of note so they close calls wind up recorded.  Or perhaps they alter stories to make one sided victories sound like a close call to make the story more memorable.

"As for striking those who harm me, I suppose that's just as poor a guardian as those who heal their guardian only after they've been injured make for poor healers.  So thanks in advance for any payback you exact on my behalf."

He gives a regal bow.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:10, Sun 16 Oct 2011.

  "A guardian is expected to prevent loss of health, among other things.  While a healer can not apply their skill to one who has not suffered it.  Although the intent of your words is appreciated."

  Hoal looks off into the distances towards their destination.  "As for the truth of the matter regarding saftey and danger in numbers, we shall find where our personal answer lays soon enough."

Jake is a little uneasy with the ominous sound of Hoal's prediction.  "Indeed."

He travels a little way with his new guardian before speaking up again.  "So if it's not rude to ask...  What race are you?"

  Hoal comments "I do not believe that request to be a rude one, I am Genasi.  It feels as if there are as many appearances to us as there are Genasi, but no more than an Human or Elf looks distinct from another.  We just have a more visually striking difference between us."  On one side, Mr Hair Made Of Fire.  To our left, waterfall ponytail.  Art style wise, it could probably be hard to draw the difference between Hair made of smoke, and hair made of Darkness... No, seriously.  The official art of the Voidsoul Genasi lady you can't tell the difference there.

"Genasi," Jake echoes contemplatively, rubbing his chin, "Can't say that I've heard of Genasi before.  Unless there's something missing in the translation to Common.  Where are you from?  The Underdark?  Or should I say where is your kind from?"

  "You are just as likely to have never met a Gnome or Dwarf as to not meet any Genasi."   It's not that they are uncommon, more that other races tend to come to mind first for 'this place has X race in Y amount'.  "We are found across most of Faerun, for the most part our features having a similarity to where we were born, though this may change."   Oh hi, Immune To The Dark Sun Sunsouls.

  "Though, I have not spent much time among my own.  An upbringing in an Ioun monastery, I will leave it at that."

Jake looks surprised.  "Really.  Huh.  I wonder why no mention of your kind from my studies.  But then, my home town isn't exactly known for it's library.  Meaning it has none."

He'd like to ask about the Ioun monastery bit, but seems Hoal doesn't want to talk about that.

"So the place your ancestors came from must be rather dark I imagine.  Mind pulling back your hood so I can see your hair?"

  Possible answers for various other Elemental Manifestations would include 'I'm bald, asshole'  50/50 chance of that when it comes to the Abyssal Manifestations.  "If so, then more Genasi would be gifted with sight fitting of such places."  Then again, PC version Kobolds get stuck with normal vision. He could refuse, but in the long run his hood will not be up forever.

  He lowers his hood, revealing what many Emo's would only dream of possessing.  Hair made of darkness, though as insubstantial and merely decorative as a firesoul's burning hair.

Jake's eyes go wide at the sight, and his jaw drops.  So his manners aren't perfectly refined.

"Wow.  Never seen anything like that before either.  So interesting.  I thought I caught a glimpse of something strange earlier.  What is it made of?  Is it arcane?"

  Hoal pulls his hood back up, because he likes it there most of the time anyway.  Not because he's got a kid saying he has a strange head.  "It is an echo, not a physical presence.  Genasi manifest certain elements, not all have as visually obvious clues to one unfamiliar with us.  A Windsoul will be more recognized at a glance than an Earthsoul."

  He considers Jake for a moment, "While the general knowledge of humanity seems more common, I know nothing or you but your name and claimed profession.  I do not suppose there is anything of yourslf you would like to share?"

"Wow.  An echo.  So mysterious."

He hehs and laces his fingers behind his head.

"So I'm mysterious in my own way then?  Fair enough.  I'm 14.  I come from N'Jast.  I have no living relatives worth mentioning.  And I enjoy tinkering.  Other than the bit about being an artificer...  I can't think of anything of great note.  Well there's the rumor that my family might maybe somehow descendant from the royal family of the old empire.  Not that that matters a lick these days."

  Unless it were a bloodline noble in standards and not formality, many are those who can truthfully claim to be the children of Kings to no benefit.  Those royalty types, they can really get around.  Of course, even if such things proved true, there would be no point in voicing such thoughts to Jake.  "Let us hope that should your life become noteworthy, it is in a manner you do not find disagreeable."

Jake blink-blinks as he wonders how Hoal's well wishes wound up sounding so dark and ominous.

"Thanks...." he says.

He glances around at the terrain surrounding them.

"I heard stories of goblin ambushes along this road.  Sure looks ideal for it."

  "I have always found it interesting that being prepared for an ambush often does little to prevent them.  Perhaps the time lost laying in wait is time attackers want to justify, even when the attempt is doomed."

  Hoal steps ahead of Jake, adding "Unless we choose to walk enough out of the path's way for a better view, we have no reason to stop.  As there is no apparent rush, we should do so unless we find reason not to."  Such as a cliff face that conveniently turns up, the PC are not allowed to climb, while enemies are somehow on top of the time.

  But then, that was still the most pathetic failure of a module predestined ambush ever.

"Perhaps any would-be ambushers would be less inclined to risk life and limb if we readied our weapons and complained frequently about how broke we are," Jake wonders aloud as he takes out one of his daggers, "I will defer to your greater wisdom if you decide that it is worthwhile to go off-road, but I'll admit a reluctance to try it.  Even if I could keep up with you, progress would likely be four times as slow and it's unlikely I'd be in any condition to back you up effectively if we wound up attacked."

The road is windy and steep, but passable.  The surrounding terrain is steeper and riddled with loose rock and thorn bushes, but also still passable.

---

((In game terms, think level appropriate Endurance and Athletics skill challenge where success means 1/2 the chance of random encounter in exchange for 1/2 overland speed.  Failure = lose healing surge and 1/3 overland speed or some such.  Meta tip: Ambush not inevitable, but possible.  Arrival time at destination will matter.))

  While certain artificers would laugh in the face of endurance checks, Jake apparently is not one of them.  Not to mention Hoal is on the 'Strong but Scrawny' side of statistics.  "Considering your desire to investigate things, our taking enough time to travel without strain through such areas does not seem to be an option."   Not to mention, Half the encounter rate at half the speed results as the same encounter rate as before.  With the added risk of healing surge loss as added insult.

  ICly, definite reason to give it second thought.  OOCly, the players would have to hate themselves to try now.

  "Very few bandits have cared in the past if you are lacking in coin, but perhaps we shall learn not to make such assumptions."

"I saw something!" Jake says, stopping in his tracks and pointing his dagger in the direction of what he saw, "We're being watched."

---

Started rolling stealth for the enemy, and the first one failed to get past Jake's passive perk, so didn't bother with the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:40, Mon 24 Oct 2011.

  These guys can't hike, and they can't make high Perc/Insight rolls, what a tea-wait, Jake made it? Score.

  "Fortunate of you to notice.  While making the first strike is often to one's advantage, it still remains to be seen if that is necessary."  Hoal knew this guy, where the only time's they ever managed their Perception and initiatives high enough to attack before his stalkers, only happened when it was uppity 'you are in the wrong to attack us even though we're being all sneaky and stuff' types.

  They later got eaten by a bear.  Indoors.

There's a couple moments of silent tension before Jake calls out.

"Uh... we know you're there."

Nothing.

"We're armed with weapons and magic."

Still nothing.

"And we're broke."

Now snickers can be heard.  Sounds goblin for anyone who's ever heard what goblin snickering sounds like.

  Hoal refrains from Heavy Sigh.  "I will not claim to know the exact reason they do not take you seriously."  After all, even as a child Jake is as tall or taller than a Goblin.  "Though I am certain why I can not take them seriously."

  Hoal calmly approaches the likely hiding spot, then stops a comfortable (for Goblins) distance away drawing his longsword.  "Even outnumbering us, they still hide."  He tosses his sword a few dozen feet down the road, and draws a dagger.  "Perhaps now, they will feel safe attacking a lone man and child, if they will not allow us to continue on peacefully."

OOC Style: getting Initiative out of the way.  16, not bad for a guy with +0 Mod.

Various angry murmurs and whispers can be heard, and eventually fall silent for a moment.

"Wreckless!" a voice calls out, "You want us to kill you!  Well we won't!  Even if you showed us gold!  Go find someone else to kill you!"

More silence.  Jake lowers his blade and exhales.

"I can hear them retreating," he says, "Three of them.  From the sound of it, one of them has a quiver of javelins, one has a staff, and one a sword.  Probably goblins.  Wow.  How'd you know reverse psychology would work on them?"

This message was last edited by the player at 05:40, Mon 24 Oct 2011.

  Kyle and Fletch elsethread hiss and burn like Dracula in sunlight at seeing a Crossbow wielding Artificer without Crossbow caster.

 Hoal waits for the whole 'retreat' thing to get more distance.  "I knew no such thing, I merely spoke the truth from a certain point of view." Obligatory Jedi reference now that his player has realized they kind of are one.  He sheaths his sword.  You know, the one he had just thrown off into the distance.

  "They would feel safer attacking while I held a dagger.  This does not mean I would use it.  A simple trick for a Swordmage, reason enough not to announce your art to enemies. Though a trick I do not use often, for reasons more instinctual than logical."

  He turns to Jake, and asks "Shall we continue?", Hoal will do so if the boy is agreeable.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:29, Sun 23 Oct 2011.

"Interesting," Jake says, fascinated with the demonstration of the swordbond, "Yes, yes!  Continue."

He resumes travel with Hoal.

"So recovering your sword is an arcane ability.  Simple for a swordmage.  I wonder if an artificer could pick up on the technique.  Earlier I was considering carrying a huge intimidating weapon to discourage ambushes, but now I wonder if yours is a better tactic.  So how do you do that if I may ask?"

  "A simple end result, but a time consuming one.  We can not just do so with any weapon we pick up, we must first attune ourselves to a blade."   Fortunately, any weapon you pick up off the ground functions for the implement requirement.  "An artificer would seem to be the most likely to pick up that skill, of other Arcane practitioners.  Some hold the capability, others do not.  If you seek to pursue it, we shall discover where that places you."

  Kyle and Fletch, could totally pick up the Swordmage Implement+Swordbond MC... Jake, not so much.  That one's Int 13+Con 13.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Tue 25 Oct 2011.

"Interesting," Jake says, "I suppose learning can be had in the attempt, so may as well try."

He fills the travel time with questions about swordmage features and spells, pausing occasionally to listen for ambushes.  About an hour later, the two come upon an elf man laying unconscious on the side of the road.  He looks beaten, stabbed, and arrowed, but the bleeding has apparently stopped.  Jake uses his healing infusion and the elf wakes up as the arrows fall out.

"Thank you," he says slowy.

"What happened?" Jake asks.

"Goblin ambush.  Took everything but my pants from the look of it."

  "Unless these were particularly violent Goblins, I assume you attempted to defend yourself?  No condemnations implied, I would likely have attempted the same had I met three goblins alone.  That they left you alive out of mercy or laziness remains to be seen."

  Perhaps 'your money or your life' has a hard line, literal edge to it for some bandits?  'Ah man, we killed them!  now we can't loot the body!'

"Attempted, yes," the Elf answers, "Only got one shot off before they overwhelmed me.  And I'm certain there were four.  Two armed with swords, the other two with bows.  Probably left me alive on purpose.  'Bring more gold next time,' they said, 'Or there won't be a third.'"

"Must be a different group from the one Hoal and I encountered earlier," Jake concludes, "So watch out if you're headed back that way."

He points back the way the and Hoal came.

"My name is is Jake.  Is there anything else we can do for you?  Food?  Water?"

He offers a canteen and some rations.  The Elf accepts the offer and takes a sip.

"Thanks again.  I'm afraid I don't have anything to offer in return other than to strongly encourage you to turn back.  As dangerous as this road has turned out to be, your destination is more so.  A small army of Dwarves that attack anything that gets too close is back that way.  I was fortunate they didn't notice me."

  "Either those Goblins are not able to count or this is not the first time these goblins have victimized you."   He considers the direction of their intended destination.  "While you may have avoided them, you are still aware of their actions.  Do you know their reason for attacking others?  Even a small army must have a significant reason for their presence."

Jake counts on his fingers.  First time, beat him for not having enough money.  Bring more money 2nd time, or else he won't survive to have a third encounter.  Makes sense to him.  But who is he to contradict his elders?

The Elf considers his answer for a few moments.  "I do know the reason.  But I wish not to tell you.  Because in telling you, I fear I may put you at risk."

"I intend to go find out myself anyway," Jake says, "So you may as well say."

The Elf shakes his head.

"I'm sorry you do not heed my warning, but at least my conscious is clear that I did the best I could to help you who helped me.  I suppose we part ways, now, then."

He stands and dusts himself off.

"Thanks again.  My people will hear of your kindness."

  Alas, wording.  'They left me alive, said there wont be a third time without money'. So, NOT left alive a second time then?  How could that not have been obvious.

  'It seems it is true they have nothing to offer us but encouragement to turn back then.  For his sake I hope they do not ever meet those offering nothing will offend more than the goblins.'

  Of course, saying such out loud to them would only make the elf claim 'These guys made fun of me after I was viciously assaulted when I didn't even tell about the dangers ahead! They were dicks! I did my best not telling them anything!'... Okay, so maybe the wouldn't use such self incriminating wording.

  "Many are the vague and nondescript warnings.  There are sayings claiming people fear the unknown, but it can be so much harder to fear it instead."

"If captured and questioned," the Elf answers, "You will be able to answer honestly that you don't know what they're up to.  Feel free to mention that I refused to tell you to add credibility to your story.  Where I'm going, they'll never find me even if they tried.  Fairwell, friends.  Be safe."

He begins to head east.  Jake looks up at Hoal.

"Wild guess, whatever caused the disturbance is what's got the Dwarves literally up in arms.  And while I'm thinking out loud, I'll be that whatever it is is very large and very valuable.  It's possible the elf is a scout for one of the many tribes of the Great Dale.  Likely the Dwarves don't want word getting out about their find.  If he continues his tight lipped policy, the Dwarves may get their wish.  Speaking of which... If I were them, I'd send a detachment to watch the road.  Unless...   Unless to avoid provoking a war response from the surrounding areas they decided to use the goblins as a cat's paw.  Or they simply don't have the spare men."

  "If you are correct in your assumptions, then it would likely be just our luck that what the Dwarves find worth safeguarding even the knowledge of with violence is the same disturbance you seek.  Some roadside scavengers is one thing, but an organized and funded effort is another entirely.  Do you still intend to seek this out?"

Jake grins and nods.  "Yup!  Sure do!  You?"

  Hoal Nods.

  ...

  ...Okay so we won't get into the 'shortest post' competition.  "My own curiosity in this matter has been raised as well.  I find myself wondering, should your accusations be true, if they know for a fact there is something of value they act for.  Or merely hoping it will be without understanding it's nature."

"Now wouldn't that be ironic," Jake chuckles.

After a while of more travel, the pair reaches the zenith of a hill that has a clear view of the land beyond.  The road winds through rugged, rocky foothills spotted with thorn bushes which gradually give way to acres upon acres of grasslands.  The occasional herd of grazers can be seen scattered across the landscape.

Several miles in the distance, an ancient forest has grown up along the banks of an equally ancient river - The Icelace.  But there is something missing.  Namely, a huge chunk of the forest about a mile wide along with the very earth that would have been below it is gone!  The river is cascading into the apparently bottomless pit, and the mist from the falls is creating a rainbow.

"Now there's something you don't see every day," Jake says, staring.

---

DC Hard Perc to spot dwarfs among the trees.

  "While I have the common supply of climbing gear, I suspect it will not be nearly enough without benevolent rock formations should what we seek be within.  Any attempt to hide something like this is an act of futility, such devastation would be visible from high ground for quite a ways beyond the troubles of local roadside criminals."

  OOC Style: 12 on the Perc check, so no go on Hard.

Jake shades his eyes and peers carefully at the landscape.

"Not a single Dwarf, much less an army.  Granted, there's lots of places they could hide.  That grass looks tall enough to hide an army for starters.  So it should be tall enough to hide us, especially if we stick to the road so we're not trampling the grass."

He continues to travel on.

---

Perc check: 11.

  When you don't have a Dex mod and your perc is generic, one must resign themselves to always being ambushed and always acting after the enemy even when not.  That or have a nervous breakdown.  Nevermind those Goblins.

  "Would you have stopped even if any were in clear view?  Or would a more direct confrontation of events been to your liking?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:27, Wed 09 Nov 2011.

"Yeah," Jake answers, "I woulda stopped to see if the Elf's story was exaggerated or accurate.  But apparently they're too far to spot, so I'll have to get closer to find out."

  Hoal nods, as he follows along.  "The reputation of Dwarves as skilled miners, even if true may not extend to depths flooded by a river's passage.  Any who intends to search the depths of this will need to act swiftly and carefully, if they wish to return with any knowledge of value."

"You said it," Jake agrees, "Though it makes me wonder what sorts of clever devices folks use to mine underwater effectively.  Already several ideas come to mind.  Would you happen to be able to breathe underwater?  Even if not, between my ideas and your talents, I'm thinking we have a chance at taking down Dwarven aggression should they mistake us as a threat."

  "While there are certain Genasi capable of such, my own particular manifestation is not one."   Of course in different threads, his sister can.  "As for aggression, I would expect the amount of it we are faced with would be the deciding factor."  Okay, what's the aggression value difference between five angry dwarves and three really angry dwarves?

Jake nods and falls silent, his eyes focused on the road ahead.  After a few moments he begins to detail his ideas on how to mine underwater and the inherent technical difficulties with each.  He falls silent again, watching and listening for signs of the Dwarves, then picks up where he left off.  Time passes, and the pair are approaching the tree line by nightfall.  The closest tree is still at least a 30 minute walk away.

"Still no sign of any Dwarf army," Jake says in a low tone, "I suppose we should set camp in the grass."

  The joys of non-metal armor as well as a high STR mean for once, level one spread includes a tent for himself.  "Perhaps if there is anyone stalking us, they intend to wait until we are asleep.  For once there is the luxury of taking watch at night.  Would you prefer to do so now or later?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:55, Wed 23 Nov 2011.

"I could really use the rest," Jake says, "So I'll go 2nd since you're offering."

Before long he's out like a light.  The night is uneventful save for the occasional sound of a nocturnal critter scurrying about.  Jake takes his turn or turns at the night watch depending on how the pair work things out.  At the first light of dawn the silence is broken by the sound of a military bugle call.

[DC 1 Perc check to notice the sound came from the direction of the giant hole.  DC moderate (no take 10 allowed) to know that the call probably came from at least a mile away.  DC hard to know it's just under 2 miles away, right at the mouth of the hole. ]

Jake sits upright and glances around.

"Guess that would be the Dwarf army," he whispers.

  "If you can not hide an army, then announcing it's presence in the wilds is not an unreasonable way to discourage approach.  Would this make us unreasonable people for doing so regardless I wonder?"

  Hoal sets about packing up for continued travel, after breakfast unless Jake's desire to reach their destination outweighs the desire for something other than cold rations.

OOC Style: Moderate Perc pulled off.

"Assuming discouraging approach was the intent of the bugle call, I guess," Jake answers with a shrug, "I figured it a wake-up call."

Breakfast is had without snag, and before long the sound of axes chopping down trees can be heard ringing out from the Dwarf camp.

"I suppose if any elfs live in the area they'll likely be upset... even if the forest is doomed to death from lack of water now that the hole is drinking up the river.  Or the hole fills up in time, and the forest downstream is in no natural danger.  I'm curious what they're up to, but I guess going around is the only safe option if that elf from earlier is to be believed about how aggressive these folks are."

  "There is a difference between a willingness to face adversity and needlessly seeking it out you appear to grasp.  I can only guess as to what immediate use the felled trees are for, though a way down for so many people will not make itself out of nothing."  Rituals and short duration utility powers aside.

  If the dwarvs are making a giant wooden horse and/or Rabbit though, Hoal may turn around and leave.

Jake nods.  "I usually don't think of Dwarves as being heavy in the usage of lumber, but you've got a point there."

About then a scream for help can be heard coming from the edge of the woods!  What appears to be a gnome is running for his life and is being chased by two armed humans!

  "Well, this is somewhat unexpected, yet familiar."  After all, everyone has been going on about Dwarves, not Gnomes and Humans.  On the other hand, panicked victim fleeing from something is as standard as it gets.

  Of course, Hoal is impressed the Gnome has escaped for however long they had.  5 Speed vs 6 speed? (Of course, some bandits do tend towards the heavy stuff).  "Would it be futile to ask if these circumstance can be talked through?" he calls over.

OOC Style: oh my, Crit Initiative, 20.

"Help me pleeease!" the injured gnome screams, running for his life toward Hoal and Jake, "They'll kill me!"

"Stop that thief!" the humans holler!

"I take it that would be an affirmative," Jake surmises, reaching for his knife, "Important detail: The humans didn't deny they'd kill the little guy."

---

gnome init 12 + 8 = 20
bandit init 9 + 6 = 15
jake init 3

Gnome is using a double move at 5+2 speed, meaning he's granting CA.  The humans are running too, so also granting CA.  He will pass by Hoal who will have an opportunity to AoO the little guy if he chooses.

Gnome Skulk HP: 26 (Was hit earlier by human attack.)
2 Human Bandits Level 2 Skirmishers
Medium natural humanoid XP 125
Initiative +6 Senses Perception +1
HP 37; Bloodied 18
AC 16; Fortitude 12, Refl ex 14, Will 12
Speed 6
m Mace (standard; at-will) ✦ Weapon
+4 vs. AC; 1d8 + 1 damage, and the human bandit shifts 1
square.
rDagger (standard; at-will) ✦ Weapon
Ranged 5/10; +6 vs. AC; 1d4 + 3 damage.
M Dazing Strike (standard; encounter) ✦ Weapon
Requires mace; +4 vs. AC; 1d8 + 1 damage, the target is dazed
until the end of the human bandit’s next turn, and the human
bandit shifts 1 square.
Combat Advantage
The human bandit deals an extra 1d6 damage on melee and
ranged attacks against any target it has combat advantage
against.
Alignment Any Languages Common
Skills Stealth +9, Streetwise +7, Thievery +9
Str 12 (+2) Dex 17 (+4) Wis 11 (+1)
Con 13 (+2) Int 10 (+1) Cha 12 (+2)
Equipment leather armor, mace, 4 daggers

Gnome Skulk Level 2 Lurker
Small fey humanoid XP 125
Initiative +8 Senses Perception +2; low-light vision
HP 34; Bloodied 17
AC 16; Fortitude 14, Refl ex 14, Will 12
Speed 5
mWar Pick (standard; at-will) ✦ Weapon
+7 vs. AC; 1d8 + 3 damage (crit 1d8 + 11).
R Hand Crossbow (standard; at-will) ✦ Weapon
Ranged 10/20; +7 vs. AC; 1d6 + 3 damage.
Combat Advantage
The gnome skulk deals an extra 1d6 damage on melee and
ranged attacks against any target it has combat advantage
against.
Fade Away (immediate reaction, when the gnome skulk takes
damage; encounter) ✦ Illusion
The gnome skulk turns invisible until it attacks or until the end of
its next turn.
Reactive Stealth
If a gnome has cover or concealment when it makes an initiative
check at the start of an encounter, it can make a Stealth check to
escape notice.
Shadow Skulk
When a gnome skulk makes a melee or a ranged attack from
hiding and misses, it is still considered to be hiding.
Alignment Unaligned Languages Common, Elven
Skills Arcana +10, Stealth +11, Thievery +9
Str 8 (+0) Dex 17 (+4) Wis 12 (+2)
Con 16 (+4) Int 14 (+3) Cha 13 (+2)
Equipment leather armor, war pick, hand crossbow with 20 bolts
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:49, Fri 16 Dec 2011.

  "If you would be so kind as to ensure the Gnome does not go anywhere Jake, I shall attempt to make the others more open to reason."

  Hoal draws his sword, which ignites with Emerald fire.  "You shall have your wrongfully stolen property returned if the Gnome possesses such, but not from their corpse."

---

Minor: Draw sword.
Standard: Readied Action; Greenflame Blade, if Humans attack (within melee range). More crap rolls, rolled a 4 = 12. so would miss.

Hoal HP: 25/25 S 8/8 V 6

"Aw hells," one of the bandit says.

"Distract him, I'll get the gnome," the other says.

"Flaming sword?  No, YOU distract him, I'll get the gnome."

"Fine we get him together."

They charge Hoal and swing their maces.  One fails to do damage, but the other scores a glancing blow and uses the momentum to safely shift to be next to the gnome hiding behind the swordmage!

---

Both charge.  1 hits (free shift as part of BMA hit).  3 damage.

Hoal HP: 25-3=22

"In other words if you flee we can't protect you," Jake clarifies for the gnome, "And defending yourself combat wise may also improve your chances."

"Thank you so much!" the gnome says.

He steps back and fires a crossbow bolt at the one that was next to him, hitting him in the shoulder!

Jake points his dagger at Hole and the swordmage emits a sonic boom, giving him a little more magical protection!

---

Gnome deals 5 xbow damage.  Jake fail roll of 5.  But eh.  Thundering armor auto buff.

Bandit 2 HP: 34-5=29
Hoal AC: 19+1 = 20!

  Hoal was more referring to the fact the Gnome may be almost deserving of such anger, but kind words could be the better choice ensuring the Gnome did not flee.

  A longtime practice in calm expression and vagueness allow Hoal to merely look like he is preparing himself to deal with the closer to Gnome bandit if they try anything.  This is true, but it also glosses over the fact no explosion has occurred when he was expecting one.

---

Minor: Swordmage Mark the Bandit by Gnome.
Standard: Swordburst vs both bandits:  BS roll of another 4, and a 2 (which is what Peter rolled last).
I crit my initiative purely to waste my luck didn't I.

At least one of the Bandit's can't attack anyone else without (after their attack resolves) getting a melee basic for their troubles.

"What the hells did he just do to me?!"

"You mean that thunder thing?  You didn't look too hurt."

"No the other thing!  That compels me to attack him!"

"No idea what you're talking about.  But Isn't that what we were going to do anyway?  Just flank and don't miss."

The two shift to flank with each other against Hoal and attack in unison!  One of them get past Hoal's defenses and ring his bell quite soundly!

---

Dazing strike x2 v AC20.  One juuust hit with a roll of 14 and CA.
damage
1d8 +1d6 +1
2 + 3 + 1 = 6 wooow

Hoal HP: 22-6= 16 and dazed.

The skulk steps back and another crossbow bolt at the second bandit and hits!

"Dangit!  That little thief hurts more than this green flame sword guy!"

"Right.  Kill thief first."

"ACK!" the gnome screams, getting ready to run for it!

"Remember you're on your own if you run," Jake reminds, "And I'm a healer."

He points at Hoal and arcane runes fly about mending his wounds some.

A chill then surrounds the bandit but does nothing.

"Jeez, I didn't think I'd have to pull all the stops on this one..."

Jake does some gestures and an arcane portal opens... and out pops Robbie!

"WRA!" the robotwarforged yells, swinging it's arms at the now flanked bandit!  The attack connects!

---

Gnome BRA hits!  7 damage.  Jake drain speed encounter fail.  Minor to healing infusion, minor to daily summon Robbie.  ACTION POINT to attack.  Hits!  7 damage

Bandit 2 HP: 29-7-7=15
Hoal HP: 16+8=24
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Fri 16 Dec 2011.

  Some would curse, some would make an angry face, Hoal when faced with personal failure and unimpeded (if weak) attacks upon himself?  He sighs.

  Well that and a calm swing sword that seems to strike both bandits upside the head without the blade quite touching them.  "It seems we have similar luck in battle, perhaps it is a sign we should all stop this before we degrade to hurting ourselves in the process."  Note to self, thank Jake for the healing when less busy.

---

  Standard: Sword Burst, Hits both bandits.  Rolled a 1 on DMG <.<   Force 5 DMG


Bandit 1 HP: 37-5= 32/37
Bandit 2 HP: 15-5= 10/37

Hoal HP: 24/25 S 8/8 V 6

"I'm really starting to hurt a lot here," the one bandit complains.

"Well now the sword guy is starting to hurt too, so...  sword guy!"

"But... healer!"

"Dangit!"

The one shifts out of flanking from between Hoal and Robbie and the other shifts to flank with the one who just moved and the two attack the sword mage, but this time their maces fail to penetrate his defenses!

The gnome fires and misses.

"I think your logic is falling on deaf ears," Jake mentions.

He steps forward to be next to Hoal and stabs at the second bandit's groin with his dagger, but his blade is stopped by armor and he only does blunt force damage.  Which still hurts!

"OW!  I'll kill you for that!" the bandit threatens.

---

Magic weapon hits!  6 damage.  +1 to Hoal's to-hit, and +2 to damage.  I just realized that's the same bonus as the fighter daily villain's menace on a miss.  Not bad for an at-will.  No wonder Kyle and Fletch spam it.

Bandit 2 HP: 10-6=4

  Hoal makes a note that Jake follows the combat pragmatism outlook once they actually start swinging.  "Perhaps they will be more willing to listen to reason when unconscious.  If not able to reply, they can not argue either."

  That said, he takes a step back, and engulfs the bandits in swirling flames...  This whole Sword Mage thing, how much of it uses the actual sword? And this is considering the fact Hoal is Assault Aegis Mc 'uses Melee basic'.

  Regardless, that's one Bandit down.

---

  Move: Shift.
Standard: Flame Cyclone Vs both bandits, Clean hit, and Thanks to M-Weapon hit....
DMG, rolled ANOTHER 1... but M weapon pushes me up to 11 Fire DMG.
Minor: Swordmage Mark remaining bandit, in case that wasn't already marked bandit.

Bandit 1 HP: 32-11= 21/37
Bandit 2 HP: KO!

Hoal HP: 24/25 S 8/8 V 6

Kyle and Fletch spam M-Weapon, also because it has a LOT longer range than their Implement powers via crossbows.

"Bill!" the remaining bandit shouts, "Aw hells."

He smacks Hoal with a parting blow, and shifts back to run.  Just then a bugal call sounds an attack as several mounted dwarves charge toward the group from behind the trees!

"Take them alive!" the leader shouts.

"Well that's an encouraging order," Jake comments, dropping his dagger and raising his hands, "Innocent young bystander here!  Hooded guy's with me!  I should point out he's injured!"

"Oh no!" the gnome gasps as he dives for cover in the tall grass.

---

Hoal HP: 24-5=19 OOPS!  Forgot I took a feat that adds 2 to heal potency.

---

Hoal HP: 25-5=20
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:29, Fri 16 Dec 2011.

  Hoal is totally implicating the Gnome if they try to bail on them and these Dwarves can't notice them.

  "I was wondering if this would attract attention."  Really, he was more impressed none of the Army had been trailing the Gnome and Humans in the first place.  He sheaths his sword, that's almost as good as dropping it right?

"Psst," Jake whispers, "Raised hands.  Might help."

The bandit runs for it, but gets caught in a net.  The leader dwarf keeps an eye on Jake and Hoal.  The gnome takes quite a bit more to find amid the tall grass, but they eventually catch him.  The two who fled are tied up and slung over horseback as is the knocked out bandit.

"Surrender your weapons and come with us," the leader says.

Jake complies with a smile.  "Thanks for the help, sir."

The leader gives him a skeptical look.

  Hoal eyes Jake, considers their advice, but refrains from following it.  At least for some moments they have a legitimate reason for ignoring Jake.  One can hardly hand over their weapons if their hands are raised above their head.

  The Genasi reluctantly parts with his longsword.  His Dagger on the other hand, is handed over with a straight face.  If the dwarves want to hear sarcasm regarding the risk a small dagger holds, they can think of some themselves.

"No conversation till we get there," the leader says.

Jake shrugs and keeps quiet.

"Private Anvilring!  Ride ahead and inform the commander.  We will wait for him at outpost Charlie."

The group is taken to an outpost in the woods that overlooks the road.  A short wait later and an impressive looking dwarf decorated with a couple medals arrives.  The cavalry leader gives him a quick report from his perspective where he labels everyone as "intruder."

"We heard the gnome intruder's scream for help and investigated but there was no one there when we arrived, so we searched the area..." for example.

The commander grunts "Hmm," in reply then dismisses the cavalry officer.

"So what's your side of the story?" he asks Hoal.

  Hoal nods, "These two men with demands of 'stop thief' were in pursuit of the Gnome, with more broad request for help.  I did draw my weapon, but had hoped to sway all involved into a less violent resolution.  The gnomes innocence or guilt was still in question, and remains so.  To be certain if they possess no stolen goods upon them that these men would describe, if you can spare the men send one to examine where they hid until you discovered him."

  Hey, if Hoal had a straight minute before a chunk of Army located him, he'd take that minute to stash the goods too.  And he's not even a thievery related class.

"Mmm," the commander grunts.

He points to one of his soldiers.  "You.  Make it happen."

The soldier salutes and marches off.  The commander then looks at Jake.

"Anything to add?"

Jake nods all smiles and says something in Dwarven.

The commander snorts and slowly shakes his head.

---

Diplomacy: 9-1=8, heh.  +2 for speaking fluent, if a bit off-accent, Dwarven.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:32, Fri 16 Dec 2011.

  Alas, Hoal does not speak Dwarven as a second language.  Only knowing Elven... And Primordial, and Abyssal.  That's some bad math for what counts as 'second' Hoal.

  If it's anything worth sharing though, Hoal figures Jake might tell him when convenient.

  "Is there anything around here that would be a direct cause for concern?  I would not expect so many soldiers away from their usual parts if there was not something an Army was considered adequate force for." Well, idiocy in the chain of command aside.

  Hopefully it was not a Tarrasque riding a Lavos down through the atmosphere.

The commander grunts with a frown at Hoal's question.

"What's your business here?"

"Personal curiosity for myself," Jake chimes in, "I was headed for Helgabal anyway, and there was this earthquake and some smoke off in the distance in the direction I was going, so I had to investigate.  Met Hoal on the road and he volunteered to travel with me.  Safety in numbers and all that.

"When we heard the bugle call we figured the story we'd heard about some army killing everything in sight in the area might have a bit of truth to it, so we were going to go around when we heard a call for help.  You know the story from there."

"What's your business in Helgabal?"

"I left clan and family because because I got tired of their 'might makes right' philosophy with no room for using one's mind.  Or... I was exiled for learning magic.  Take your pick.  Either way, as I mentioned, I'm a healer and an engineer.  I heard folks there might have use for me.  My business was simply t find a job and make a living."

"Hmm."

The commander looks at Hoal waiting for his explanation.

  "Most of one's life spent in an Ioun affiliated monastery can lead to much knowledge.  But all knowledge found in such a manner is not tempered with experience.  The world can be a dangerous place, but a life all within the confines of those walls would be poorly spent."  Less dramatic than Jake, of course... Well, okay so even Haol can't escape melodrama in his backstory completely, but he got his out of the way much earlier.

  "At first Helgabal was merely just the path before me.  But when things fall from the sky and rend the earth, it can attract the attention of even the most oblivious.  It is no small assumption that many more you meet in the days to come, their business will be 'there is a giant hole, haven't you noticed'?"

"Hmm," the commander grunts, "Well any other curiosity seeker will be given the same answer: This is the sovereign territory of Damara.  This area is currently off limits to all unauthorized persons by order of the crown.  You well be escorted to the other side and asked to keep quiet about ever having been here.  That last bit will save you a great deal of hassle, believe me.  Good luck to you, and don't come back without a writ from the crown."

He handwaves and two guards stand at attention near Jake and Hoal.

"Take these two t..."

"SIR!  AN ARMY APPROACHES!" an excited soldier interrupts.

"Battle-stations, everyone!" the commander shouts before rushing off to the front lines.

"Uh...  what do we do with these two?" one guard asks.

"The man said battle stations," the other says, "We can't do that and escort them to the other side at the same time, can we?  So we take 'em to our post."

They indicate for Jake and Hoal to follow them.

  Now, see, if this were Eletor there would be no problem.  Multiple letters of Marque purchased at chargen have their uses...  Of course, most problems met at the Heroic Tier are not problems to Paragon characters anyways.

  Speaking of things Eletor is better at than Hoal, Perception.  You start to think you shouldn't have made a character without it jacked up when you miss the existence of a second army.  Of course, if it was an Elf army, they probably all have stealth training, even their wagons.

  Hoal follows along for the moment, commenting "While I try to be more realistic than cynical, it would not be realistic to expect any army would leave us alone merely because we are not part of this one."  3/4 ramble 1/4 single spoken sentence.  Yeah, we've hit our usual quota.

"Sounds realistic enough to me," Jake agrees, " Any guesses as to what kinda army we'll be seeing?  Goblin seems kindof unlikely considering the ones we met were fleeing from a knife.  Speaking of, any chance our weapons will be returned to us?"

"Likely not till you're escorted to the other side," one soldier speculates, "About the only other large civilization for a long way's round would be Uthmere.  They're a new alliance of Humans, Elves, and savage races.  Or so I've heard.  Pretty weird if you ask me.  And if they're crazy enough to make such an impossible alliance, they're crazy enough to try and take on Damara."

"What if it's a Dwarf army?"

"They'd be approaching from the other direction."

But the soldier looks worried at the thought of a Dwarf army.

  "Well, apparently Dwarves were taken so Uthmere was left with what they could get in the area."  Even if Hoal stole a sword, there likely would not be time to process it for swordmage casting... Oh course, at level 1 you can swordmage passably with your bare hands if you did not mind the poor weapon dice and proficiency.

  Sure, Hoal could just have his sword at any given moment.  But he would rather not flaunt the fact he could not be permanently disarmed to a not entirely benevolent army.

Jake snorts and tires to stifle a laugh at Hoal's comment.  The soldiers frown at him and he puts on a nervous grin.  An officer on horseback stops by and says, "New orders, men!  The enemy approaches from the East, about half a day's march!  They carry the banner of Uthmere!  We are to have our palisades completed before that time!  Now hop to it!"

He rides off down the line to spread the news.

"Building palisades would explain the lumberjack sounds we heard earlier," Jake comments, "I've got a couple ideas for speeding along construction, but I get the feeling they won't trust me around their explosives if they brought any."

  "If they had enough explosives to significantly speed the wood felling and rock clearing process, then they would have enough to be not insignificant in combat uses.  Even if they trusted you, the difficulty would be in convincing them to use those resources in such a fashion."

  It would be like if someone told you 'Guys guys! We can use our vespene gas to make the SCVs/Probes/Drones gather crystal faster!'...  Actually that might be tempting if you were Terran?

OOC Style: By coincidence, my saved and numbered Sinkhole IC posts are equal to my saved and numbered Fletch IC posts.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:10, Wed 11 Jan 2012.

"Mmm good point," Jake concedes, "I would argue that only a tiny amount would be needed if they bore a hole into the trunk and put the charge inside, but it's unlikely they'll be willing to even try as you pointed out.  As for combat use...  I wonder if charges could be hidden in the woods then detonated when the enemy drew close.  But how to ensure proper timing and maximum damage?"

He continues nervously,

"Listen to me, assuming they're even hostile.  Maybe they're here to lend a hand defending this place.  I hadn't heard any news of there being any animosity between Damara and Uthmere."

  "While that would be the more pleasant outcome, I feel they would have sent a messenger ahead of themselves to declare such intentions.  Unless they somehow think an army would be a pleasant surprise to show up with."

  No, no.  Those aircraft carriers were a surprise!  It's cool.

"Maybe they don't know that the Dwarves got here first?" Jake speculates, "I dunno.  I guess I'm just hoping for a non-violent outcome.  Or at least... one that doesn't involve overwhelming violence toward me."

  "Not wishing to die a sudden and brutal death is a common hope, I would not be surprised if it were one shared by our hosts." Don't you have anything better to do than instill paranoia and worry in a dwarf army?... Oh, come to think of it you probably don't right now.

"Or by the enemy!" a soldier interjects, "And if they hope to avoid a sudden brutal death, they'll not provoke us into a fight!"

Just then a messenger rushes by, spreading news: "Our enemy is not flesh and blood!  Our scouts report that they're some kinda living construct.  Walking suits of armor stuffed with straw or something."

"Warforged?!" Jake gasps in excitement, now head-to-toe covered in goosebumps, "Someone must have recovered the long lost technique for their creation!  I gotta find him and ask him how he did it!  Or her.  I wonder if she's pretty.  And available.  And interested in younger guys.  Unlikely.  But I'd kick myself if I didn't try."

"Oh, so you tow are enemy sympathizers after all," a soldier concludes, "Well that simplifies things.  Time to put you in holding to await trial.  This way."

The soldier points the way.  Jake goes where indicated, apparently too lost in his thoughts to object.

  "Warforged fall in battle just like any other being, though an army of them is a surprise after all this time."  They got hitpoints like anything else, though as ever NPC versions can be tricky (Oh hello, Dragonborn NPCs with free wings and five different resist 30s).

  Any comment about Jake's hopeful ramblings is sidelined by the intelligence showcased by the dwarf accuser.  "I can not decide if I should hope you take the role of prosecutor personally, or hope against it."  If they were stupid enough to come to such conclusions, they may be stupid enough to be talked out of them... Or too stupid to register a logical counterargument at all.

  "Highly professional of you to remain escorting unarmed prisoners, now a longer process than ever instead of rushing to give your enemies a brutal death."

  Really, at this point Hoal suspects that they would be accused of being spies or worse had they said even something like 'I like Turtles'.  Or in Hoal's, case, saying nothing at all.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:10, Tue 24 Jan 2012.

"Hopefully I won't have to deal with you two at all after this," the soldier answers.

Hoal and Jake are put inside a make-shift prison fashioned out of vertical wooden poles hammered into the ground and re-enforced with cross-beams nailed into the poles.  The ceiling is made of planks of wood.  The soldier wraps a chain around the door's outer pole and the adjacent door jamb pole then secures it with a padlock and key.  He then gives the key to an elderly jailer and heads back to his unit.

"Looks like a pretty durable cage," Jake comments.

  Hoal considers their 'cage', "It does seem more than sufficient for the average requirements."

  Of course, /STR secondary despite being Genasi min/max rig was not the average Swordmage build for some reason.  Even if Hoal refrained from smashing his way out with his <Metal>bare hands</Metal>, there was a good likelyhood of simply being able to pull the cage out of the ground.  Of course, this would lead to the inevitable problem of an irate Dwarven army that would drop everything to pursue a thus far harmless prisoner instead of fighting the sudden war they had been faced with.

  "How long do you suppose it shall be until either disaster or hastily put together farce trial opens the door for us?"

"Count yourselves lucky to be alive," the jailer comments, "Most commanders would just kill ya on sight fer trespassin.  Even a 'farse trial' is more than most get."

"Trespassing?" Jake asks, "On a trade road?  Killing traveling merchants can't be good for business."

The jailer shrugs.  "Big hole full of gems takes higher priority I suppose.  Folks get paranoid about looters when there's huge piles of loot to be had.  I'd wager a month's pay that the army approaching is after the loot and won't care who's borders it's in."

Jake turns to Hoal. "On that note.  Half a day is my guess."

  "I see.  That form of rushed paranoia is quite common alas.  It is the sort where superior officers have been known to do... Irrational things to their subbordtinates when discovering they haves revealed things like 'big hole full of Gems' to those who did not even know of their existence."

  After a pause, Hoal adds "although if your commander is as rational as you say, you have no more to worry about then we do."

"Seriously?" the guard asks with a chuckle, "You didn't know?  Well I suppose I am in trouble for letting the 'big secret' out, heh.  You make a good point.  The penalty for letting out national secrets is pretty steep.  And my commander isn't as rational as the one you ran into.  I guess if my little slip-up ever comes up, I'll just have to cover my backside by claiming you tried to blackmail me into releasing you, but I, like the good patriotic soldier I am, refused."

"He wasn't blackmailing you!" Jake says.

"I know.  I also know you both knew about the treasure, so it was easy enough to figure out he was just teasing."

"Well we did run into some folks fighting over a bag of treasure...  But didn't assume that the hole was full of gems."

"I'm no judge, so no need to plead your case to me."

  "I have little doubt his commander will pay no heed to a single word we say unless it can be twisted against us at this rate.  If we are not imprisoned or executed on a whim it will likely be due to them wanting us to deal with something deemed beneath the direct attention of dwarves for them."

OOC Style:  Hoal's about to break character and Void Assumption out of imprisonment to pull this Dwarf's undergarments completely over their head next post.
 <Spock>If manners has no tangible effect, then logically misbehavior is no worse an option.</spock>
This message was last edited by the player at 08:02, Sat 04 Feb 2012.

"I wouldn't worry too much about it," the jailer answers,"The fact you're still alive is evidence that they have no proof that you're spies or thieves.  If anything, Commander Darthic will apologize for your being held in prison for so long.  Unless you do something crazy like use sarcasm at your hearing...

"'Not only am I a thief and a spy, but I also devour little Dwarf children in the name of Vecna.'  That's just askin' for trouble.

"Just stick to the truth.  Unless your guilty.  In which case, gods help ya.  'cause Darthic can smell a lie from a mile away."

Jake hrms, "Well we already talked to him and he was gunna have someone escort us to the other side to be sent on our way.  Now there's gunna be some kinda trial?"

The jailer looks skeptical.  "Wucha doin' in my prison if Darthic didn't find anything wrong with ya?"

Jake shrugs.  "Uh... timing?"

---

<Bones>So when your fire fighters can't put out a fire with water they switch to spraying fuel on the fire?  _{Crazy Vulcan logic.}</Bones>
This message was last edited by the player at 03:35, Wed 08 Feb 2012.

  "Jake wondered if whoever was responsible for the attacking forces was a cute girl.  While I myself said and did... absolutely nothing.  This apparently lead our accuser to assume we were both enemy sympathizers, and may have unfairly colored my views regarding the rest of this army."

OOC Style: Of course! If you make a fire into a giant explosion, then you get to the end results faster.  That and one explosion does less total damage than burning over many rounds, go figure.

The jailer stares blinking at Jake in bewilderment.

"How do you go from 'invading army of magical walking armor' to 'cute girl?'  Don't answer that.  The less you say, the better."

Jake blushes and glances bashfully at Hoal.

"Guess I owe you an apology for getting you into this mess.  Seems my views were unfairly favorable of the Dwarves."

  "If it is of any comfort, I do not hold you responsible for our current circumstances.  Even if I may not maintain that rational outlook regarding that through our stay."

  All these people are morons!  Clearly this is YOUR fault! Not the morons fault!  Yeah.

  "I do appreciate the sentiment of course."

Jake smiles up at Hoal.  "Thanks!"

Time passes and the Dwarves do their best to prepare for an inevitable attack.  Jake passes the time musing aloud about various ideas he has for large scale mining machines and siege works and so forth.  A hush washes over the camp and some shouting can be heard in the distance between the two commanders.  The details of the conversation is hard to hear from this distance, but it's easy enough to catch the gist:

"Get off our land!"

"More like you get off our land!"

"Where do you get off claiming it's yours?!  It's been ours since forever!"

"The Treaty of D.R. blablabla between so-and-so and such-and such."

"Never heard of it.  You're making that up!"

"Search your archives.  It'll be there!"

"Fine!  In the mean time, back off!"

"While you rob my kingdom of it's wealth?!  More like you back off!"

"One step closer and you'll feel the bite of our arrows!"

Back and forth it goes, getting increasingly hostile.  About then, Hoal notices shadows moving about inside the giant hole...  LOTS of them...  and approaching FAST!

---

DC 5 perc check to make out that the shadows are approaching shadows are winged creatures about the size of a cat each.  DC 10 is enough to be able to make out one of them to recognize it as a Stirge.  Can then attempt monster knowledge check DC 15 that doesn't tell you anything terribly useful that isn't common knowledge about Stirges.

DC 15: Stirges are pernicious predators that feast on the
blood of their victims. They make their nests in caves, hollow
tree trunks, or beneath building foundations—dark, dismal
places with easy access to the open air and prey.

http://images.wikia.com/forgot..._Lars_Grant-West.jpg
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Wed 22 Feb 2012.

  Hoal suspects the reasonable sounding idea of 'Nobody loots until legalities are confirmed, giant hole isn't going anywhere' would be considered highly unreasonable.

  To be fair, in hindsight Hoal is feeling foolish for not considering subterranean wildlife would have surfaced by now, as seemed to be the sudden case.  "Oh dear, that is quite a large number of Stirges."  He considers the bars of their makeshift cage in the passing chance they are close enough together to keep such creatures out and they can relax whole everyone else is needle beaked to oblivion.

  Probably not.

Actually, the cage was designed with preventing gnome or goblin sized prisoners from escaping, so there's a chance that the small sized stirges can't squeeze through the bars.  So long as non of the stirges are tiny, Hoal and Jake should be safe.  But that's a risky "if."  Chances are there's plenty of tiny ones in that swarm.

"I have an idea for dealing with that swarm," Jake says, "Take me to commander Darthic.  Don't want him angry that you let innocent prisoners get eaten alive, do you?  Prisoners that may be able to turn away the swarm."

"Us Dwarves have a saying," the jailer answers, detaching the key ring from his belt, "'I don't have to outrun the stirges, I only have to outrun you.'"

With that he tosses the key at Jake then runs for his life... which happens to be in the direction of the enemy army.  Jake takes the key and gets to work unlocking the padlock.

"The Dwarf army is faced with a choice," he thinks out loud, "Fight the Warforged first, fight the stirges first, or delay and maybe have to fight both at the same time.  Or maybe....  a temporary truce with the Warforged army to survive the stirge swarm.  The trick is persuading the two sides that their survival depends upon setting aside their differences.  We need to hurry.  Their decision could affect our own survival."

  "Fascinating, such a common saying yet always cited so specifically."  Hoal comments as the jailer flees.  He then calls out "Your armor means you will be slower."   5 speed vs 6 speed can add up.

  "Warforged have no blood.  While I have found in my travels that wildlife will still assault things that will not be a viable food source, the often tipped odds of things not going in one's favor suggest the Stirges will ignore them in this case.  Even if these constructs had any will of their own, they would have no reason to cease their attack."

  PC group of constructs.  Intelligent Cannibals will still try to eat you, Fact.  NPC construct army, mindless blood suckers will ignore them.  At least according to Hoal's expectations.  "Of course, ideas that may not work are certainly better than doing nothing due to cynical assumptions.  I do not suppose the Elves have hidden snipers lurking to watch the failed negotiations?  I'd place better odds on getting Elves and Dwarves to cooperate."

What are the odds that it was a Dwarven saying?  I need to point this out to my Sunday group.  Totally missed that tidbit when I ran this encounter for them.

"Yeah that lack of blood angle had occurred to me too, but if my guess is right, that fact could work in our favor," Jake answers, "I'm guessing a kingdom such as Uthmere wouldn't trust their protection to magical constructs unsupervised by flesh-and-blood commanders... who would be singled out by the stirges.  At least among the Dwarves, the stirges are likely to spread out rather than dogpile commanders specifically.

"If my guess is wrong...   hopefully the Warforged don't know that stirges prefer animal blood to whatever arcane life force keeps them alive..."

This said while rushing toward the front line.  No one bothers stopping the pair.  They're busy staring upward in fear as the cloud of stirges swarms over the tree tops.

---

I could find no game mechanics reason why stirges would not target PC Warforged or Shardmind, so I decided to have them attack both NPC armies equally.  This of course provoked a, "Zwhaaa?" from the players.  I explained.  They head-shaked and shrugged in resigned disapproval.  At least it wasn't brought up specifically when I asked for feedback.

  "While it is not as much as a problem for myself-" This comment made as the Swordmage replaces his sheath and blade (Good old Swordmage Recall), "What did you intend to put to use once we actually reached the combat line?"

  OOC Style:  You just need to remind them that Warforged and Shardmind PC's (and any Undead PCs if it applies) still get poisoned and still get diseases like any other PC race.  Because only NPCs get the default immunities -.-;

"I... I'll make myself as useful as I can without a weapon," Jake answers, "Unless one I can use becomes available."

The pair arrive at the front lines of the Dwarven army.  Darthic is standing at the front with his hand raised in a "hold your fire" pose.  Across the way, beyond the gap between the armies, is an armored commander in a similar pose.  It's clear now that the Dwarves have the advantage of cover among the trees.

---

DC hard to notice that the commander is flesh and blood as Jake predicted.
00:01, Today: Jake rolled 18 using 1d20+7. jake perc check.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:03, Sat 25 Feb 2012.

  Hoal glances about for any Dwarven fatalities or weapons dropped in hopes to run faster by being a few pounds lighter.  Of course, as they are within view of the commander such displays of death and cowardice have all likely been either removed or not attempted in the first place.

  "If you happen to be able to solve this situation without need of a weapon, that is more than good enough for any sane man."

There aren't any fallen soldiers just yet so Hoal isn't able to find any weapons laying around.  Any back line soldiers such as the jailer have joined the mass of front line types so they won't be singled out by the Stirges.

"Excuse me, brave commanders!" Jake shouts, rushing into the open no-man's land between the two armies, "I would like to point out that at present no blood has been shed on either side!  That a great deal of blood is about to be shed by a common foe!  That it's very likely that that common foe will single out the flesh-and-blood commanders of the Warforged army.  And that both sides best bet at survival is to call a temporary truce to unite against the blood-sucking abominations of the pit!

"Show that the well-being of your troops is worth showing the courage of stepping right up to your opponents!  Toe to toe and side by side we can survive this with minimal loss!"

The stirge swarm arcs high and circles above Jake's position, far out of bow range for now.  The two sides commanders seem to be consulting with their seconds to decide their next move.

---

(( 23:04, Today: Jake rolled 16 using 1d20-1. jake diplomacy.  Yay not fail completely! ))

  Hoal supposes that should Jake's hopeful plan go through, it will also mean the commanders of the Warforged will be singled out as targets more easily for after the stirges are dealt with.  Before this is over, Sword Burst is going to be an attack ingrained so well Hoal could perform it in his sleep... Figuratively, he's not a Blaster.

  'I shall be saddened, if not surprised if Jake gets himself killed in the near future.'

Darthic speaks up first.  "The Uthmere army has permission to stand with us for as long as the Stirges are a threat.  Doing so will go a long way toward improving relations between our nations.  They also are welcome to admit that they have no business on our land and run back home!"

The Uthmere commander replies, "We accept your offer to aid us in the defense of Uthmere's land!"

Jake face-palms.  "OK!  OK!  No one is admitting anything by taking the practical path of survival!  I'll be taking cover under the tree canopy.  I hope that if this is the best tactic, everyone else will do so too!"

He returns to Hoal.

"Forward, March!" The Uthmere commander shouts.

The Dwarf army looks even more uneasy at the approach of the opposing army.

"Hold your fire, men!" Darthic commands, "We keep our word!  I will not give the order to attack unless they attack us first!  And if I hear about anyone 'accidentally' attacking them, I'll have his hide!"

The Stirge swarm begins to decend on the Uthmere army!

  "If land claims mattered in this situation, then they would lay down their arms and surrender their lives to the beasts held within the property squabbled over."

  Yup, definitely opening with Daily attack.  He'll probably want the +4 Fire damage to every single other attack he makes from that point on.  Sucks to be whatever is the first bug to get near him or Jake.

  "One would have hoped our being uninteresting in claiming this land for ourselves would have kept us out of this.  Alas."

Jake snorts a chuckle at Hoal's first comment.

"Yeah.  And it looks like the original occupants are just as ready to be violent toward newcomers.  Alas indeed.  Well now that we are involved, let's give it our best shot.  For what it's worth, I'm glad I have your company now that we are."

---

Been putting off setting up combat map.  Effort!  *looks at schedule*  Uh...  maybe by the end of the month?

  "Facing such events with at least one person of intellect is vastly preferable to otherwise, yes."  Hoal somehow doubts his assault aegis will get much practical use with so many potential targets.  More so than usual.

  OOC Style: As much as I love watching you suffer map creation from the comfort of my levitating desk, where ride the saddle of the world...  We are fighting a bunch of BEEEEEES.  You don't need a map for wildly stabbing at a bunch of flying things that's location will be 'next to and/or above you' no matter where you turn.

  Well, unless the armies turn on eachother.  Then we might need some map space.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Fri 16 Mar 2012.

At long last... a map:

https://docs.google.com/spread...3bkluUjZKVWtBTk45OEE

The stirges attack!  The Warforged and Dwarves counter!  Jake and two dwarf marksmen are grabbed!

---

S1 thru 9 v their targets
1d20 +6 +1(chaarge)
W2: 3 + 7 = 10
W1: 1 + 7 = 8
W1: 9 + 7 = 16
D1: 2 + 7 = 9
D1: 15 + 7 = 22 hit!
Jake: 18 + 7 = 25 hit!
Hoal: 10 + 7 = 17
D2: 13 + 7 = 20 hit!
D2: 10 + 7 = 17 hit!

D1 HP: 46-2=44 grabbed (until escape) and takes ongoing 5 damage until it escapes
Jake: 23-1=22 grabbed (until escape) and takes ongoing 5 damage until it escapes
D2 HP: 46-2-4=40 grabbed (until escape) and takes ongoing 5 damage until it escapes
S1 HP: 22-8=14 (marked by W1)
S4 HP: 22-5=17
S8 HP: 22-9=13
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:52, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

"Urk!" Jake gasps when stabbed by giant mosquito, "Catch this one's attention, please, Hoal."

---

Delaying Jake.  Intend to use thundering armor after Hoal's turn.
Jake HP: 22-5=17

  Hoal could consider large bugs beneath his efforts, but that would be stupid and arrogant.  Although, it could still possibly be considered going slightly overboard to bust out an Actionpoint and Daily attack like Hoal opts to do.

  Still, hard to argue with the results (and lucky rolls) as Hoal carefully impales the Stirge clinging to jake and releases a carefully measured explosion inside of it.  Following up with a calm hand gesture as as wave of force and fire slams into the three stirges nearby, slaying and dislodging the one hassling Jake in the process.

  "Hmm, off to a good start.  It would be foolish to expect it all to go so well of course."

---

Action Point; Standard: Burning Blade Vs Stirge 6. 21 Vs AC. Hits. 15 Fire DMG.
Effect: +4 Fire DMG Until End Of Encounter.

Standard: Sword Burst vs Stirge 6 (hits 21 Reflex), 7 (Hits 13 Reflex, not Defense buffed no map), 8 (Hits 22 Ref).
9 Force+Fire DMG.

Minor: Aegis of Assault Mark Stirge 7 (teleport intentions if triggered would be to flank with Jake).

Stirge 6 HP: 22-15-9= -2
Stirge 7 HP: 22-9= 13/22
Stirge 8 HP: 22-9= 13/22

Hoal HP: 25/25 S 8/8 V 6 AP 1.

Jake steps back to be behind Hoal and says, "Wow nice!  Thanks!"

He then grants Hoal a frost aura that attacks Hoal's mark!

---

jake ethereal chill v S7
1d20 +5 >= 13
14 + 5 = 19 ... success

damage
1d8 +5
2 + 5 = 7

S7 HP: 13-7=6

Combat continues between the Dwarfs, Warforged, and the Stirges.  The Dwarf marksman nearest Hoal shoots the stirge latched to his neck point blank with his crossbow.

"Git offa me ya bloody blood sucker!"

One of the stirges next to Hoal flies to his left and tries to latch on, but fails to get through the sword mage's defenses.

---

Lost track of all that happened to NPCs, but it's all indicated in map.  I think.

Jake takes another step back and points at the Dwarf who shimmers with a force shield that blows the stirge that was sucking his blood to pieces!

---

Thundering armor does just enough damage to take out s9!

As expected, Hoal managed to finish off one Stirge while the other remained.  Unexpectedly, it was the near dead Stirge that survived while the more healthy one was reduced to bug bits.

The Swordmage sidestepped to place himself between Jake and the flying pests better.

---

Standard: Sword Burst Vs Stirges.  Vs Stirge 7 Miss (Rolled. A. Three).  Vs Stirge 8, Hit(18 AC). 14 Force/Fire DMG.
Move: Shift to Left.

Marks:  Stirge 7 still Aegis marked, that doesn't turn off until they die or I recast.

Stirge 8 HP: 13-14= -1

Hoal HP: 25/25 S 8/8 V 6

More combat ensues including one of the stirges taking a literal stab with it's rapier-like beak at Hoal, but failing to connect.  Jake makes a force shield appear around the Dwarf being chewed on, and once again a giant mosquito gets blown away!

"It's looking like we might survive this!" he cheers.

---

Miss, ACTION POINT!  CRIT!  s5 dead.

  Prolonging the embarrassing display of Genasi on Stirge violence, Hoal misses the heavily wounded stirge again.  At the very least, both sides are probably thankful one of their respective enemies are being held up.

OOC Swing Miss blah blah.  relisting my HP status on personal principle anyways.

Hoal HP: 25/25 S 8/8 V 6