There was a massive summons in the land for all capable adventurers to come to a banquet held by the King. While the purpose of the banquet is not stated, each adventurer was told where to go and to present their invitations.

It wasn't until the adventurers got there that they realized their individual groups were not the only ones invited (not like the invitation said "haha I'm inviting everyone").

So the King's banquet hall is FILLED with adventurers from far and wide...

Among those present is a blonde angel wearing a brown coat over worn-out looking armor.

https://i.imgur.com/ZzypS1B.png

Strapped to his back is a steel shield and shortbow.  On his belt is a longsword.  He looks to be relaxed and in a good mood.

"This many people, I get the feeling they're not planning on serving any of the good stuff."

  "Has anything hinted at such generosity even if the crowd was smaller?"  He was a man, a dragon man, you know rest of the song.

  Rhagr is as unsurprised at there being an Angel here as he is at them wondering where the booze is at.  This has as much to do with a frequently stoic mindest as anything.

A guard blows a horn. "Announcing her majesty! Princess Adrie Araylianna!"

And in the room steps Adrie. She walks to the head of the table and says, "My father sends his regards and thanks you all for coming. While he regrets to inform you that he could not make it to the banquet, he has entrusted you all to me. Please enjoy yourselves and eat! There is enough for everyone! And then we will get to business."

"Only implied," Nathan answers Rhagar.

He bows to the princess, figuring saying "Thank you" out loud over so many people would be pointless at best.  Then he sits to dig in.

"Royal banquets are known for having fine drink."

Glug.

"Well how 'bout that.  Good stuff!"

  Rhagar was more curious what business would involve so many, but the service quality is a pleasant surprise.

  "One less thing I may regret about this trip, then.  A lack of specifics makes me uneasy."

Enjoy the wine. For it shall be your last! ....j/k

As the angel and d-born look around at the massive crowd, they so MOSTLY the main races (human, elf, dwarf, halfling and so on), but there are a few non-standard also. Examples include some anthropomorphics, some monster races, and an unrecognizable race here or there.

Sitting to Rhagar's left is Nathaniel. Sitting to Rhagar's right is a giggling female gnoll wearing black leather and a black cloak. Sitting to Nathaniel's left is a blue-furred anthro dog wearing armor that has pulsing, glowing runes on it.

Across the way from the group is May.

The blue dog addresses Nathaniel, "Can't complain about the food or drink, but wish I knew why I was called here. Name's Hazel. And you are?"

Meanwhile, the giggling gnoll can't seem to stop herself from giggling and glances at Rhagar, pauses, than busts out laughing.

"We can rule out 'princess kidnapped by a dragon' at least," Nathan says with a wry smile.

He offers a handshake to the puppy.  "Nathaniel.  Paladin of light.  Nice to meet you too, Hazel."

He looks confused at the gnoll's outburst.  That's random even for a gnoll.  But on second thought, he can think of a reason or two to laugh at the seating arrangement.  So he just smiles at her.

"Nice to see we're having such a good time already."

He raises his glass to her and takes another drink.

  If May is here, then the world as good as saved clearly.

  "There are many princesses, so it remains to be seen."  Hazel reminds Rhagar about that whole introductions thing.  "Rhagar."  He appears unconcerned about the giggling Gnoll, being laughed at was less disruptive than being screamed at, for starters.

Hazel raises his glass as well and gives the gnoll a confused look.

Gnara catches her breath and says, "I jih... I jih-pffffheehehehe..." she slaps herself with a resounding slap and says, "Phew... OK. So... heehee... I was just thinking about how this WHOLE crowd is like one of those jokes: A cleric, a rogue, and a wizard walk into a bar..." she offers a hand. "My name is Gnara." she giggles some more.

The May accross the Way says, "I'm May! And I'm here to save the day! Because clearly, that is why we were all called here, right?"

Hazel shrugs. "Dunno. Could be. Could be this is a trap and we are all about to be arrested for trumped up charges."

To Rhagar's good point, Nathan answers, "Good point."

He has another sip with a half-lidded smile for Hazel.

"Most pleasant arrest I've ever seen if so."

He looks over at the May.

"Glad to hear you'll save the day, May.  You're probably right about your guess on why we were called here."

He chuckles a little and nods to Gnara.  He wiggles a wing a little.

"I was thinking, 'birds of a feather flock together,' too, but yeah.  The bar joke did present itself with this group."

  A baby seal walks into a club, ouch.

  "It must have been a particularly good joke then."  More giggles than an example we are too tired to think of.

  At the further trap suggestions, he adds "Likely the most difficult one as well, unless it was simply accepted."

The princess addresses the crowd. "And now to explain why you all are here. My father's researchers have discovered an artifact from a legend thought to be mere myth. This artifact, a crystal, is said to resonate with those who were born to defend our world from an invading outside force. I have brought the artifact here and observed its reaction... the crystal resonates with you. I am sorry to report, but most if not all of you in this room are destined to see an invasion the likes of which have only been heard in legend."

Nathan looses his smile and guzzles down his drink.  He turns a glance at the exit but stays put, looking defeated.  Then pours another drink.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:37, Tue 07 Apr 2015.

  "Hmm, somewhat more stabbing than usual will be required if this is true."  He decides not to comment on Nathanial's longing for doorways.

Gnara giggles. "Somewhat more? SOMEwhat more?! Looks like you have a sense of humor after all!" she laughs.

Hazel blinks. Then looks at the runes on his armor and seems to be mouthing words to himself.

May grins. "We can DO it, everyone! THINK about it!" she stands on the table, raising her carrikal high, "If LEGEND tells of this crystal and then this crystal tells of US, what does that say?! We are legends among legends!"

"That's uh...  Nice, May."

Nathan can't bring himself to say what he's thinking.  He looks over to the princess for indication that she's annoyed with a guest jumping onto the table.

  "Of course I do, Gnara.  If it is a good one or not remains in question."

  Rhagar would assume something about how how war is horribly unfun and quite lame compared to the after the fact victory stories about it.

After Adrie's announcement, the room filled with conversation. But after May's demonstration, the noise levels increased and someone even shouts, "Shut your mouth, filthy kobold!"

Some of the adventurers are trying to leave, but are being prevented from doing so.

Adrie nods to a decorated elf who takes in a deep breath and yells, "SILENCE!" and the whole room quakes from the sound. Those who were not seated are knocked prone (including May).

"The princess has more to say!" the elf concludes.

Adrie says, "Considering what is at stake, you will forgive the reluctance to let anyone leave just yet. But everyone here is to touch the crystal. One at a time and in the order I have chosen."

And with that, Adrie begins calling on adventurers to go and touch the crystal, which is sitting on a pedestal.

Nathaniel adjusts his jaw to try and clear is ears.

"Destiny is one of those things you can't avoid anyway," Nathan says with a sigh, "So there's no point in leaving.  All it will mean is when the invasion happens you'll die alone and be remembered as a coward who tried to avoid his destiny."

He empties his glass and looks over to the kobold.  "While I'm sure you're used to mistreatment, it bears mentioning that though adventurers tend to encounter a lot of bad kobolds, it doesn't justify treating you poorly."

  Sounds about right for an Angel, all smiles and sunshine until you disobey them.  Of course, Rhagar well knows you can't live by racial stereotypes (And clearly, the same goes for Nathaniel).

  "If such a disaster is inevitable, then they would not resort to conscription.  Destiny is irrefutable, until the point it becomes inconvenient for those who proclaim it so."

  He finishes off his drink.  "Although, conscription normally involves forcing those too weak to escape their service as fodder for those giving orders.  This could get messy."

Hazel says, "Pff. The disaster will come regardless of our actions or any conscription. The conscription is just to make sure we survive it. See, people tend to only band together when there is someone uniting them. Until then, they usually think only of their own safety; which is natural."

Gnara laughs some more. "Heehee... forced to live because of the tyrannical heel of the military trying to ensure mutual survival. Don't have the choice to run off and die alone. Heeehee..... And so the life cycle continues because those who are labeled as tyrants have done what needs to be done."

May wobbles as she gets back into her chair. "Woo! How about that guy's voice, eh? I wanna know how he got that so I can! Heh. I'd just LOVE to tell my enemies to shut up in the middle of a fight; RIGHT as they are in the middle of saying something about themselves, so they will hate me too much to go after my allies!"

She then looks at Nathaniel and says, "Thanks! Yeah... kobolds certainly have a rep."

Nathan shrugs.  "Believe what you will."

He considers, "Though considering the audience, there is likely a better way to go about getting people to get with the program..."

He raises a hand. "I have a question for the princess."

May and Gnara have him raising an eyebrow.

  "Choices based on logic and survival are not always found to be acceptable by the masses, I have found.  Regardless of the benefit or justifications."

  Rhagar is at least going to see where this leads before making decisions on this matter.  For all they know Adrie requires a mass blood sacrifice of strong souls to do what she wants for the good of the world that isn't in this room.

Nathaniel is told to wait his turn and hold his thought.

Soon, Hazel is called to touch the crystal. Then Nathaniel. Then Rhagar. Then Gnara...

Upon touching the crystal, each of them feels warmth all through them, the crystal glows brightly, and then it dims again. Then they are allowed to go back to their seats.

Of course, once Nathaniel is touching the crystal, he is told he may ask his question. The princess is right in front of him, after all.

Gnara can't seem to stop giggling the whole time, even when touching the crystal. Actually, that just made her giggle more.

Once everyone in the room has touched the crystal, Adrie says, "Thank you for your cooperation. Anyone who wishes to leave may now leave. Anyone who wishes to stay may stay."

In a room filled to the brim with adventurers, many leaving still leaves many who stay.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:04, Tue 07 Apr 2015.

Nathan nods and addresses the princess.  "I'm guessing that once this is all over, those who die in defense of the realm will be honoredb and those who survive will be rewarded as well as honored.  If that is so, why not let these adventurers know what glory and treasure awaits them?  After all, glory and loot tend to be what motivates most of 'em."

It was mostly a rhetorical question, so he doesn't really expect an answer.  He returns to his seat, looking annoyed with the crystal for marking him.

  Rhagar's perc check doesn't manage to eavesdrop, so he can't ask Nathaniel if an Angel goes anywhere but right back home when they die.

  "I wonder how many planes this unspecified problem will be a concern for?"  The draconian is not leaving at the moment, for whatever that is worth.

The princess simply nodded to Nathaniel in 'answer' to his question. Once those who are leaving leave, Adrie addresses those who remained. "Those who stayed, thank you for staying. You all have felt the crystal interact with you when you touched it. It has become your home point. Now any of you can teleport to the crystal's location." Stealing the crystal is now also pointless because any and all of those who attuned to it can teleport to the thief. "For some of you, the crystal glowed. It did not glow for everyone. Those who it glowed for are the ones specifically chosen for the task of finding the other crystals, which will make our battle much more likely to go favorably. Many of you brought up the topic of reward: For now, the only promise of reward is payment equal to that of a royal guard, glory that goes with being a world-wide hero, and your life. The whole world is in danger and that includes yourselves. There is no king's ransom reward if any of you were expecting such; That king's ransom is already being used to help ensure victory. Should anyone have questions, now is the time to ask here before everyone."

A procedure is worked out for people to ask their questions.

Nathan asks, "How much lore is known about this invasion?  Could it all be explained in a manner of minutes or are there whole books on it?"

He'll let someone else ask the questions about, "Well how do I go about teleporting, then?  Just will it?"

He looks to the others near him.  "I noticed that those chosen for the special task coincidentally happened to be seated next to each other."

  "That is how teleportation generally how it works, yes.  Though artifacts and rituals do tend to have their own specifics.  As for that task, it is a large room, and even those who left it were 'chosen'.   The crystal was not a selection process, they are merely taking everyone they can get their hands on."

  He considers the crystal across the room.  "Such a thing will be convenient, but their importance in a full scale war will be quite limited if only people can be moved."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:57, Tue 07 Apr 2015.

Adrie answers Nathaniel, "Matter of minutes." and so she takes that moment to explain the lore.

According to the lore, the invasion will involve a whole world coming to this world and trying to take it for their own.

Hazel smiles at Nathaniel. "Seeking out artifacts is what I do anyway. So nice to be chosen, payed, and given backup for a task I would normally be doing on my own."

Gnara giggles, "I wonder what the choosing factors were: So long as those chosen can compose a good joke in future legends about the heroes."

Someone does ask about the teleporting and soon, everyone in the room is familiar with how to teleport to the crystal (which also means everyone eventually has to walk back to their seat). Well... everyone unless Nathan and Rhagar don't feel like trying it out.

So while only a few were chosen to find crystals, it appears anyone can teleport to it once touched.

Nathan would likely try more than once.  If only to nail down exactly how to not accidentally activate it.

Ugh!  Dog breath!  I'd rather I weren't heerrre...OOPS!  Whisked away back to the banquet hall!

"Whatever the factors, the choosers sure made a mistake in choosing me."

  How vague.  "What is known about your enemies beyond their apparent goal?  What makes them the threat of such scale?  Do they require very specific means to slay, possesses means of easily killing their targets?  Normally I am given something more to work with than 'they are bad'"  If only because people like to be more specific when they want someone in particular dead.

  Rhagar skips the frivolous usage of the return command.  At Nathaniel's misgivings, Rhagar asks, "A question of capability, or desire?  You have already said the latter had no merit."  He was going to say competence, but sometimes filtering statements through a thesaurus makes them more socially acceptable.

Adrie answers, "Normally, you are given facts from eyewitness accounts. These are prophecies from people who were warned about a people who may not have even been born back when the prophecy was given. So no. The information given is all we have about them. We know there is a whole world of them. We know their whole world's worth of people are coming here. We know they will attack us with intent to destroy all we know. We know nothing more. We do not even know what they will look like or how they will arrive."

Hazel glances at Nathaniel. "Oh? Like Rahagar over there asked; why are you the wrong guy for the job?"

Gnara giggles and grins. "Well everyone has to put someone down; either someone else or themselves. It's a law of this world! Tearing down is just too much fun for anyone, from humble to proud, to resist! So the humble tear themselves down while the proud tear down everyone else."

"I'm guessing the idea is to get the other crystals before the invasion anyway."

More drinking.

"Well the reason I'm not in the astral sea is because I was kicked out.  Flunked out of angel school you could say."

  "Perhaps that was an incentive for them to choose you instead.  Though you must not have disappointed that much, considering where we got Devils from."  Okay, so at the table picked for special finding stuff job you got a Draconian, a Gnoll, a flunked Angel and...  Seemingly average Longtooth.

  "I do not suppose you have had some philosophical disagreements when seeking artifacts in the past, Hazel?"

  At Gnaras latest social commentary, he asks "Does this leave room for those who put down both?"

Gnara answers, "Absolutely!" with such excitement, it was as though Rhagar was asking if he could play in her reindeer games and she wanted to be the first to welcome him.

Hazel answers, "Oh definitely have had philosophical disagreements. What I do is taboo to most religions. I collect the words of creation, which gives me the power of the gods directly... without the gods granting it. And that usually sparks everything from "nuh-uh! The gods grant you those finds!" to "Blasphemy! How dare you treat sacred words like common house tools" to "Arrogant muppet! You really think the gods would be so sloppy as to leave their power around for the likes of you to pick up and use? When were you born? Yesterday?" and other kinds of arguments against what I do."

Gnara says, "An angel flunky is still better than most mortals, you know. I'll bet you could equal or better most of the people in this room.... why did you flunk, anyway?"

"Yeah, 'failure' is somewhat less of a sin than 'traitor.'  Hence my still being alive."

You try and turn devilish in angel school where the vice principal is 15 levels higher than you.

Wine sip.  Shrug.  "Well now you have the dubious distinction of not being condemned by a failed angel for your chosen profession."

To Gnara's question he sighs.  "Slacked off.  Disobeyed orders.  Teacher wound up dead pulling my sorry butt out of the mess I made.  Anything else you want to know?"

  Yup, they were team affront to gods and dragons.  Hmm, maybe Rhagar would ask Hazel his thoughts on Mithral dragons later, They get so worked up about teleport 2.  "That happens more often than such sorts like to admit, it seems. Not just for the divine sort."

  Off in benched characters land, Blake closes his book of stolen dark secrets for dummies and puts on his red Kyle wig.  His player has typed the wrong name for the wrong person often enough when talking about them at the same time, after all.

  "I shall leave further prying to others Nathaniel.  Outside of really, where do angels go when they die if not right back where they started?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:57, Wed 08 Apr 2015.

Gnara giggles. "There goes that word "Somewhat" being thrown around where "a lot" should be used again. Lemme try! Gnolls have a somewhat worse reputation than dwarves. Heehee..."

She then looks at Nathaniel and says, "Well it's like you said: Running means you die alone. And if we don't try, we're all dead. So no amount of screwing up will make matters worse, you know. Orrr... it is because you know lack of discipline gets people killed that the crystal chose you. But what's "somewhat" more funny is that you don't question the crystal choosing a gnoll. Guess hating yourself makes you refuse to believe there is anything worse, heehee."

Hazel says, "We all likely have a different perspective on life that most don't. My perspective likely has me less hesitant to dive into the sacred. Nathaniel's has him less likely to let someone down again. Gnara clearly has a... dark... perspective, from what I'm gathering. And Rhagar, I dunno yet."

Nathan is stumped by Rhagar's question.  "I'm not sure in my case.  But for a normal angel, they usually go to oblivion."

He chooses not to comment on Gnara's exposition and focuses on his drink.

  "Hopefully you do not have a chance to discover one way or the other soon, Nathaniel." My Rhagar, how encouraging.

  Rhagar was successfully vague and mysterious, whoo.  Or perhaps just vague, which many try to pass off as mysterious.

  He looks to Hazel in mild confusion at his comments regarding Gnara.  "She does?  I hadn't noticed.  I thought Gnara just liked stating the obvious."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Wed 08 Apr 2015.

Hazel says, "Well for one, I disagree with her that everyone has to put someone down. There are people who try to lift everyone up including themselves. And there are people who don't mind anyone, good or evil, and find all ideals equally intriguing."

May interjects, "Well guys! Since you all are "chosen" and so am I, I guess I'll see you guys some day when me and my group have found a crystal or two! Good luck!"

Gnara says, "You were chosen too?"

May hops off her chair. "Yup! See ya!" and trots off.

Gnara blinks. Then grins. "So we WILL have competition after all... heeee... heee..."

"Thanks Rhagar.  I can't think of anything else to say to that.

"You'd think coordination between the groups would be more efficient.  But where's the fun in that?"

Glug.

  "Goodbye then." Quite a heavily armed Kobold, she couldn't possible use all those weapons with only two arms right?

  He looks to Gnara and Nathaniel, "I think our groups we will be sent to look for separate artifacts, so unless the pay changes based on who finds what first, not much in the way of competition or cooperation."

Hazel looks over to Nathaniel and says, "By the way; sorry about your teacher." he decides not to get Nathaniel's hopes up, but he secretly figures maybe there is a way to resurrect even angels... using the words of creation.

Gnara says, "Well we've been chosen. Let's not let that go to waste."

And with that, Gnara gets to her feet.

Apparently, most of the people present have asked what they are going to ask and have been trickling out of the palace to go find the crystals. M.R.A. time!

Nathan just nodded in reply to Hazel and finished his zillionth glass.  If he weren't tipsy, he might have asked if anyone has any clue where to begin looking.  But he's too fuzzy headed to think of anything useful.  So he just peels himself out of his chair and follows Gnara's lead.

  Rhagar thinks they may be going with the 'stumble upon it' method of plot progression.

  He does not comment on the Angel's inability to hold his booze considering his own existence as a class with neither a reason to boost CON or ability to train Endurance.  Drunk is not a status effect that prevents flanking either, so they should still be useful.

  "I do hope this does not simply end with the enemy using the crystals themselves to transport directly past all defenses."

  OOC: If you have your heart set on Deva Chris, can just bolt on Draconian style "Must land by end of your turn or not allowed to fly in first place" wings in exchange for a useful Deva trait (like the radiant/necro resist).  Since Sandbox is there to test builds for people who want to test builds, I'm not gonna go 100% ZE RULES if you are just along for the ride with us mechanics testers.

  Mostly I just want to avoid "Gimme BETTER flight than is actually available because I want full flight. suck it, people testing their rules following characters".  Pixie style wings are super limited too, particularly for a melee dude unless you are using one handers.  Altitude limit 1 (crash if you are higher than 1 tile up at end of your turn) on a small creature.

Either way, Draconian and Pixie style flight can be a real letdown if you are expecting anything like proper flight.  Neither is capable of hovering past melee range due to fine print. Pixies are small which sucks for melee types beyond 1 hand weapons.  Draconians are not allowed to fly unless they land by end of their turn (Draconian rules are an eyecrossing set of paradoxes).

  Where the real benefit is to Pixie/Draconian flight, is that you can still ignore difficult terrain forever, and you can shift via flight. Possessing a Fly speed of 6 means you can absorb up to 6 tiles of fall distance. So it's still super useful.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:54, Thu 09 Apr 2015.

  Yup, that was a magical crystal all right.  While he expected more hidden nearby, even accounting for that this is less potential enemies than he thought would be involved.  He readies his sling, but hesitates.  While he was pretty sure none he was traveling with would care if he killed them in such an event, there was the slight chance the Orcs were not activly hostile.  So perhaps the moral thing would be to-

  Oh dear, Rhagar's musings and aim are interrupted by an axe to the chest.  "Trying to posses a conscience can be a cause of some difficulty, as usual."

"Well apparently they have none, and I'm going to make sure to be of great difficulty to them for it!"

Zoom up the stairs with powerful flap of the wings and STAB!  Nathan wounds the nearest Raider.

"Take a look at our team, fool!  You're no match!  SURRENDER!"

Seriously.  It's like a bad monster flick.  Wolfman meets wolfgirl, dragon man, and angel boy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:32, Thu 09 Apr 2015.

Nathan sees a stone go flying past him as an orc seems to appear from behind one of the ruin walls.

Hazel rushes over and even as he does, his armor unsheathes some spikes before he grabs at it and the spikes are revealed to be a spiked chain that unwraps from his armor! He swings it and rips some flesh off of the enemy orc from the bottom of the stairs!

The orc responds with "RAAAAWR!" and hacks a huge gash in Nathan with his greataxe, knocking him down and out!

The gnoll hurries forward, giggling and hurls her hand forward, a rope made completely of shadows going towards the orc. But the bloodraged orc dodges it seemingly with ease.

A couple more orcs appear at the tops of the other walls, having just climbed them.

  "Well, that is concerning." One less person not him to be attacked, and Nathaniel had the better AC and HP numbers as well.

  Still, as big and scary as the level 3 Raiders are to level 1 PCs, Rhagar accepts the reality of being the only one capable of reasonably attacking the nearby Drudges.   He manages a more successful shot with his sling this time, punching through their eye and being freed from the Drudge's skull as it splits open from crashing to the ground below.

One of the orcs jumps on Hazel, hacking him good with his axe!

Hazel growls, his fur standing on end. He puts a finger on his chest to turn the runic circle counter-clockwise and a "clink" along with some feint choir-sound can be heard before Nathan's wounds seem to close enough to no longer be bleeding and he wakes up!

Hazel then swings his chain and rips some more flesh off the orc that is in front of Nathan!

One of the drudges sneaks around and whacks Gnara in the shoulder with a rock! THUNK! Gnara yelps like a kicked puppy!

Then the near-dead orc rushes around Nathan and hacks Hazel into unconscious land.

Another rock, another ouch to Gnara!

But Gnara comes up and flanks the orc with Nathan and stabs him through the heart with her sword! "Heeehee"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:05, Thu 09 Apr 2015.

  Okay, make that very concerning.  One raider down, while both of the tough guys of their little team were down.  On the bright side, Rhagar is not yet the one getting rocks (successfully) thrown at him.  We're sure this has noooothing to do with the fact Gnara was between himself and said rocks.

  The draconian circles behind the still standing raider, slicing open an arm from wrist to shoulder with his rapier.  It's no fatal impalement, but it certainly beat his first turn.  Or getting taken out in one axe swing himself, that would have sucked.

  No pressure in finishing the job before the Raider's next turn, still standing guys. Really.

---

Move: duh.
Standard: Sly flourish. hits exactly thanks to CA. 28 total DMG.

Raider HP: 46-28= 18

Nathan hops up and glides down into position behind the orc.  SLASH!  A grave wound is delivered!  He reaches down and heals Hazel.

"You see?!  We're indestructible!"

Hazel hops to his feet, whips the orc with the spiked chain and rips more flesh off, causing the orc enough pain to finally go down. Hazel's flesh appears to be mending itself, true to the legends of werewolves... or the descendants of werewolves.

Hazel grins at Nathan and twirls the same rune circle clockwise. Nathaniel not only starts healing some more, but gains some blue shield around him.

One of the orcs on the walls throws another rock, but it bounces off Nathan's armor while missing Hazel by only 2 feet.

Gnara says, "I got this one, heehee..." and rushes over to the wall-orc to the north.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:19, Fri 10 Apr 2015.

  "I much prefer you two like this than bleeding to death." Rhagar comments, as he picks up one of the stones that has previously bounces off Gnara's skull, flaps up onto the platform, and violently returns it to sender.

"Likewise, Rhagar.  Guess today's not the day I find out what happens to me after I die."

He flies around and up the stairs to the west to the top and throws a javelin at the last orc.

"So why exactly are you people attacking us to the bitter end?  Spite?  No sense of self-worth?"

Hazel hurries over to the other side of the platform, still keeping behind cover.

The orc answers, "Why not?! You will kill me soon anyway! I may as well go down fighting!"

And with that, he gets one last hit on Gnara before the girl gnoll lassos him with shadow and yanks him off the wall, snapping his neck. "Heeheeheehee! What a wonderful sound! You should've heard it! Did you hear it?! It was all CRAAACK!HEHEHEHHEHEHEHEEEE!"

  "Closer to a keerack, Gnara.  Though the one on the southern wall was a craaack." Oh gods, he's serious.

  He looks over to Nathan and Hazel, "Are you two in any danger of losing consciousness?"

"No love lost over these jerks it seems," Nathan says, taking a seat to rest up and tend to his wounds.

"Thanks for the lifesaving, Hazel.  Now I'm bias in favor of your occupation."

Gnara says, "Heeheehee... you're wrong, Rhagar!" she then perfectly imitates the sickening snap as if she were a sound effects machine. "See, I learned to perfectly mimic any sound I hear... heeheehee..."

Hazel sweatdrops. "Strikers", he thinks to himself. Then says, "You're welcome, Nathaniel. And thank you for not only your faith in me... but you healing me also. Let's rest..."

---

A staple gnoll ability, I couldn't resist taking that as my level 1 feat instead of some high-damage weapon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:15, Fri 10 Apr 2015.

  "Well, that seems quite useful."  We admit he deliberately avoided saying it SOUNDS useful.

  He nods to Hazel's suggestion.  "Yes, it is best for you to be more recovered before we start dealing with the crystal."  In case somebody left it set to 'next encounter' instead of more convenient settings.

"So that giggling thing.  I've been meaning to ask.  Is it anything like a human high on mushrooms?  Or is it more of a verbal tick that has nothing to do with being happy?"

This might be important later!  Rhagar's dead, Hehe!  He gets to work checking the crystal for traps or whatever.

Gnara giggles. "Yes? Heeheehee... I mean... It happens when I bree-heeheeth... but my giggling coincidentally tends to happen when something I think is funny is happening." She goes to lazily put an arm around Nathaniel, leaning over slightly with her head tilted so she can be eye-to-eye with him (Remember, gnolls are 7' tall minimum XD). "Heeheeheehey, buddy... you seem a bit less upset now that you got some combat in. Feeling alive?"

Hazel's feral look vanishes as he rests. He breaths a sigh of relief and leans against the steps with a relaxed smile as he gazes at the sky. He glances at Rhagar. "Sure was handy we had you along for all those long-distance enemies..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:58, Fri 10 Apr 2015.

Nathaniel isn't drunk.  So he's got no excuse when he reaches to scritch behind the gnoll's ear.

"Who's a cute giggle-puppy?  You are!"

Great way to lose an arm.  Even if you're not using the "what a cute baby!" tone of voice.  But his wry smile says he's not expecting Gnara to take offense.

"Hmm.  I dunno.  I guess?  Being angry enough to kill a man has a way of clearing away self-doubt.  At least for a little while.  Though I suppose today proved I'm still a weakling of a paladin.  Went down in one hit."

  Of course Nathan has an excuse, Gnara is fluffy.

  To Hazel he comments. "A poor option is better than none at all, yes."  To Nathan, "It would not have gone well for any of us, you at least could get back up.  Though I do not see why being angry should change how likely you are to kill."

Gnara gets a blush and a "huh?" expression with both eyebrows raised upon Nathan treating her puppy-like. Both eyes roll towards the scritches. She starts panting with a smile and slightly stomping a leg as Nathan can hear her giggle under her breath. Her tail involuntarily wags.

Hazel shoots smoke out his ears when he hears Rhagar's brain-breaking statement. "You... wha...what? Huh? Everyone in the world is more likely to kill when angry than when they are not."

Gnara says, "....yeah? Even people who kill all the time are still more likely to kill if angry. Heehee though some rare few are less likely to kill when angry because they no longer feel killing is enough and they want their victims alive enough to experience pain and torture!"

Nathan chuckles at the cute puppy antics of the gnoll.

"I think he was talking about how likely I am to be killed."

He considers.  "Yeah.  I guess an orc axe would have split most in two.  I feel somewhat less of a wimp now, knowing I can still be breathing after a hit.  Still, Hazel here didn't even pass out."

  "Is that how it is supposed to work?  How is anyone still alive, I wonder."  Rhagar is imagining this anger=violence thing in the extreme sense where people start decapitating eachother over things like talking during a play.

  Now it's his own turn to look mildly 'what?' at Gnara.  "That seems wasteful, I never understood the appeal."

Hazel says, "More likely to kill doesn't mean absolutely certain to kill." wondering why he is even having to explain this. He looks at Nathan. "I doubt I'm tougher than you so much as you were unlucky and I was lucky... so far as surviving one hit from an axe bigger than me is lucky."

Gnara giggles at Rhagar's comment. "Meheehee neither! But then, maybe you and I've just never been all that terribly angry before. But you know... some people like to eat orc meat, some like elf meat. Some like both. Still others don't like meat at all. It's the same with killing or torture; it's all about preference! Far as waste? It's rare to find non-waste... after all, do you eat everyone you kill, Rhagar? If not, that too is a waste... heehee."

Nathaniel sweatdrops and considers the orcs.

"That is a lot of meat, yes."

He nods at Hazel.  "Appreciate the vote of confidence."

He gets back to the crystal business.

  "I have been lead to believe it is widely considered improper to eat people, regardless of potential nutritional value or opportunity."  As well as how bad an idea it would be for him to suggest he might look into it.  His awareness of social graces wildly varies.

  "I have been quite angry before.  It made no difference to who lived and died, or how." Even if he had certainly thought about it.

  He lets the Angel deal with the Crystal for now,considering it was another Angel that stuck them with this job.  Mostly because Nathaniel was already doing it all on his own though.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:47, Fri 10 Apr 2015.

Gnara helps Nathan. And soon, so does Hazel. Gnara giggles and replies to Rhagar. "But when you got very angry, did it make you think about killing? Were there times you got angry and as a direct result, you killed someone? If the answer to even one of those questions is yes, then you are more *likely* to kill when angry. Even if you don't actually kill more, the chances are still higher. But!! Even if the answer is 'no', that doe not negate that the answer is 'yes' for most people. Ask anyone and start keeping count."

The topic is clearly one she enjoys.

Hazel says, "Good thing we brought a wagon... I didn't think the crystal would be this big..."

"I'm sure Rhagar is plenty aware that rage killing is a thing.  All he said is that he never understood it.  Which is a good thing."

Nathan puts his strength to good use and helps load the big crystal up onto the cart.

"At least any thieves wanting to try and steal it will have a hard time sneaking it out."

  Interesting points from Gnara, but he's starting to remember that openly discussing 'so, what makes you feel like killing things?' can be an iffy subject for those not as enthusiastic as her.  Oh good, Nathaniel brings up an easy answer and subject change.  "We should cover it up once it is loaded, on that note.  I still expect roadside ambushes because those just happen anyway, but it would help to not show an obvious shining target."

Meanwhile, other heroes were finding a crystal. Noah has been stuck with an impatient elf (first he ever heard of such a thing), a gruff human who has a bugbear demeanor about him, and a draconian who has demonstrated a lack of understanding just about anything basic to being human. Welp!

On the bright side, Noah is probably one of the more patient humans of his age.

"Ohlookit'sthecrystal!" and with that, Keyleth charges into combat!

With speed unlike any the group has seen, Keyleth rushes up the stairs all the way to the orc and strikes at it! But the orc lucks out and manages to dodge just out of her strike!

He retaliates by swinging his greataxe! Despite the sheer size of the axe, Keyleth manages to dodge it just enough to only get scratched!

  Murphy's dice remain the bigger problem for level 1 characters than level 3 enemies, as Rhagar gets the dejavu of failing his first turn.  It remains to be seen if we get a repeat performance of thrown axe to chest.

  Rhagar's sling stone from the previous reality missed so hard it slipped into this dimension, and cracks off a tusk from the further north raider's mouth.

OOC: Move, duh.  Standard: Sling sly flourish misse Hits with 'enemy has not acted yet' Sneak DMG.  21 total.

Raider B HP: 46-21= 25/46
This message was last edited by the player at 04:48, Tue 14 Apr 2015.

"Surrender..." Toothix sighs, charging up the stairs and slicing one of the orcs.

"Yeah yeah I know.  'Like we'd surrender to an Elf.'  Whatever.  Didn't want you to surrender anyway.  Prisoners are a hassle."

Noah and some more orcs all approach the fight.

Meanwhile, Keyleth chops the orc in the neck with her hand, then rushes off, ducking under a swing of the axe. While the orc is swinging at Keyleth, Toothix hits the orc hard!

Keyleth almost seems to appear behind Noah.

The orc hits Toothix right back and hits hard!

  Rhagar flaps partway up the stairs, coming to a stop out of arms reach of the nearly fallen Raider.  He looks over to the approaching Drudges, and sprays a blast of freezing liquid from his mouth at their faces.  Side effects include tripping down stairs, and their skulls shattering like T1000.

  That over with, he flicks a dagger behind him without looking into the neck of the Raider facing Toothix.  Hey, it's called Sly flourish.

"Yeah didn't think so."

Hacky mchackerson ensues.

"Think the princess will complain if their precious gem is covered in blood?"

Noah smiles and Toothix feels a warm calm over him as his wounds just... vanish. Noah then stabs the orc raider, killing it. The remaining orc yells, "NEVER SURRENDER!" and whacks Noah, making him oof!

Keyleth then hops off the steps, rushes around behind the orc and does such a quick succession of punches, it sounded like maybe 5? ...inside of a second. The orc drops unconscious. Keyloth just bounces in place, dukes still up with a smile and she thumbs the blood off the corner of her mouth.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:40, Tue 14 Apr 2015.