Dust billowed up into the night air as the hooves of the horses pounded through the dirt of Borderton’s streets, and the heavy, iron-shod wheels of the wagon they drew bounced along the uneven surfaces.  The ranger Aine, seated on the wagon’s buckboard with her legs braced and the reins of the horse team firmly in her hands, wore a grim and determined expression on her face.  The monk Asher stood easily in the bed of the wagaon, poised and balanced on the balls of his feet, with one hand resting on the pedestal upon which was mounted the magical flask.  The priest Dominique knelt upon one knee in the wagon bed, likewise holding onto the wooden side of the wagon with a single hand while his other fingered the silver Mithran Circle around his neck.

“Oi!  Girl-driver!  ”At’s ’ow y’ do it, then!  I TOLD y’ ye’d be fine wi’ th’ ’orses, eh?  But watch ’at corner ’ere, then, right?  Steady, then, an’ GO!”

“Oi!  Foreign-guy!  Wot’s next, then, eh?  We’re gonna be ’EROES ’fore th’ night’s out!  No worries, though…I’ll share th’ reward wi’ ye, foreign-guy…on account that yer foreign, an’ all, eh?”

The two lads who originally accompanied the fire wagon continue to dangle precariously from the rear of the wagon, utilizing the most dubious of handholds and continuing their seemingly ceaseless stream of chatter.  The wagon careens around a corner of a dimly-glimpsed inn, skirting a large tree, and thunders down what can only be called, charitably, a broad alley.  Emerging into a somewhat open area, the older boy says, ”Oi!  ’Ere’s our stables!  ’Ow’d ye know, girl-driver?  But wot’s ’at bloke doin’, then?”

The ”bloke” in question appears to be a man with a bow, standing at the open doors of the firewagon stables, attempting to light a fire-arrow.

OOC:  Please roll Spot checks and initiatives, and see the new map ”Fire stables map” on the web site.

Totmacher and Villhalas set out for the north end of town.  Villhalas is convinced that he and his half-brother had targeted the wrong structure—at least for the time being.  Villhalas reflects…he doesn’t really know the lay of the town, so to speak.  His only real clue is the hypothesis concerning the pentagrammatic arrangement of the arsons.  Villhalas elects to assume that the putative arson pattern is a real one, and attempts to direct Totmacher in the direction of the next presumed arson spot.  The two make their way along the dark streets of Borderton, jostling townsfolk and others who are either participating in fully extinguishing the fires at the inn and warehouse, or are merely watching the activity.  Soon, the half-elf and half-orc draw near to the large livestock pens of Borderton.  The odor of the stock animals is almost overwhelming--the smells of manure, horses, cattle, and feed all combine to present an almost palpable wave of olfactory force.

OOC:  Please give me Listen and Spot checks.

Asher rolled a 20 for spot (13+7) and a 19 for initiative (16+3).

OOC: sorry about the mislable on the dice roller; I'm late for a meeting and trying to post too fast. The mods are correct at 7 for spot and 3 for initiative.

Vil rolled a 23 listen and an 8 spot (blah).

Villhalas the Daredevil

For listen check:
18:53, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 7 using 1d20+4. Listen (w/mods).

And for spot:
18:54, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 11 using 1d20+4. Spot (w/mods).

Tot bethinks he will be changing his name to Deif Douche the wondrous blind, deaf, mute, that can't feel anything.

OOC: Kev, I'll be out for the rest of the day and have a crazy weekend. So, since it looks like Asher is the only PC in the initiative order, I'm hoping you'll take this move now and work it into the order when you wrap up the round.

Asher brings both hands to rest on the flask and in a clear, composed tone utters a single word:

"Torrens"

As he does so, Asher turns the flask slightly to miss Aine on the buckboard and aims for the arrow lighting stranger.

Asher rolled a 21 (16+5) "to hit" with the flask as a ranged weapon
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 14:36, Fri 06 Aug 2004.

On 19:
Asher is easily able to discern the man attempting to light the fire arrow, and Aine grates, "I see him, boy." before the lad can even complete his question regarding the identity of the "bloke".  Asher calmly levels the magical flagon, mounted upon its pedestal, at the man.  Upon uttering the word "torrens", a stream of water blasts forth from the flask and strikes the bow-wielding man, knocking him bodily off his feet and sending him caroming into one of the open fire stables doors.

The man is prone, soaked, but is attempting to get up this round

On 11:
Aine wraps the reins around the buckboard horn that rises from the central part of the foot rest, applying enough tension to the bits in the horses' mouths such that they remain where they are.  She then leaps from the wagon and crosses to the prone man, drawing her long sword as she does so.

(OOC:  ranged touch attack applies, opposed bull rush checks pertain.  Aine's wrapping the reins is a standard action, her move is...well, a move, and drawing a weapon during movement is a free action)

The intervening buildings make the task of establishing lines of sight difficult, and neither Totmacher nor Villhalas can see much beyond the nearby stockyard.  Villhalas, however, is able to discern the relatively faint sound of galloping hooves and iron-shod wheels...and then the unmistakable if still somewhat faint sound of water rushing from the magical flask aboard the fire wagon.  Clearly, someone operating the wagon is nearby...apparently, just to the northeast.  No sign of fire can be seen, however.

Totmacher is oblivious to either sight or sound of the wagon.  In fact, his attention has been drawn by several of the scantily clad women of the Silken Manacle just to the north and northeast.  They appear to be be having an impromptu outdoor party with a number of patrons from the Welcoming Arms and sundry others--all are watching the crowds and the fire brigades, drinking, and cheering on the activities of those around them.

Totmacher again reflects.  These human women--generally (though not always)appearing to have no goiters, facial deformities, or disfiguring diseases; a far cry from the females of his orcish tribe.  The big half-orc loses himself in a brief reverie...

(OOC: You're correct, Scott.  Those Listen and Spot rolls didn't do anything for Tot's attention.)

Having achieved his goal, Asher comands the flask back to a trickle, "Libas!"

As he hops from the wagon he feels that familiar feeling: the nervousness, excitement and thrill of a good fight. It sticks in his chest, his breath short, ears ringing, heart racing, eyes smiling.

He struggles to maintain his focus, reign in his bloodlust (a brief vision of Aine lashing the horses to the buckboard flashes through his mind)... He resists the urge to charge the stranger and maintains a steady stride as he crosses towards him. Asher tries to concentrate on the illusion at hand; was this man Zante? What was it the unwitting arsonist had said, "thin, disheveled, rumpled clothes, bearded". Or was this just another enchanted minion (OOC: sense motive here).

"Either way, Aine may need my help." Asher's hands reflexively curl into fists as he strides closer to the action.

OOC: Asher rolled an 8 (1+7) for the sense motive check (sense enchantment); guess that's what he gets for being distracted by bloodlust.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:07, Wed 11 Aug 2004.

Kumite at last eh Asher?  hehe

Kevin,

Vil will make an attempt at rousing Totmacher out of his mental masterbation long enough to make NE for the sounds of the firewagon.  will move out at a full run (which I believe is triple-time if I'm not mistaken)..

V

If Tot can shake off his wandering thoughts, he will run with Vil--

"Press on Bro"

(6)  The prone man levers himself up from his prone position, and retrieves the nearby, unlit fire arrow from the ground (executing a 5' move as well).  It appears he will attempt to set the arrow alight next round.

The man appears short and somewhat stocky, with a red handlebar mustache and a close-cut crop of red hair.  He is dressed in studded leather armor and wears a long sword at his side.  He holds a short bow in his hand (not dropped when Asher hit him with the water).

Dominique missed his spot roll, and does not act this round (he will roll initiative for next round).
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:18, Fri 13 Aug 2004.

Villhalas gives a yank to his hulking half-brother's elbow, and then dashes off in the direction of the sounds of the firewagon.  The big man gapes a bit, tears his eyes away from the women of the Silken Manacle, and then leaps after his half-elven sibling.  Together, the two manage to run into the square to the northeast.

There, they see the firewagon--still manned by Dominique and the lads--and Aine and Asher moving towards a figure with a bow, and accoutred with studded leather armor and a long sword.

OOC:  Please roll your initiatives, as you'll be interjecting yourselves into the round by round dynamic.

New round:

On 24:
Dominique observes the situation with a harsh intake of breath.  The little Palonish priest gestures towards the armored man, and a soft chanting of liquid-sounding syllables spills from the little priest's lips.

On 19:
Asher utilizes the magical flask once again, calling out another command word to reduce the flask's output to a trickle.  The monk then leaps off of the firewagon and moves towards the red-haired bowman.

(OOC:  Using the flask is a standard action, coupled with a move action of 40' for the monk).

On 11:
Aine closes the short distance between her and the bow wielding man.  He does not move.  A swing of her sword dashes the fire arrow from the man's hand, and he still makes no move.  The ranger whips her blade back into an en guarde position...still no movement from the bowman.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:27, Fri 13 Aug 2004.

Whopping 11 for Vil's Initiative.  Intent will be to cast sleep on the man - w/o impacting any of my colleagues -- unless ofcourse Aine, Asher or someone else has already subdued him first..

V

Whahoo--finally a decent roll--he must of snapped...hard

21:33, Today: Totmacher of the Wilds rolled 21 using 1d20+3. Initiative.

If I'm tracking the inititives correctly, Asher is done this round. With all of the spells floating around and Aine seeming to have the upper hand on the stunned stranger, I'll wait for the outcomes before I post Ashers next move.

OOC:  New round...Tot's and Vil's initiative rolls apply to this new round, and everyone else had taken an action last round (except the red-haired guy).

On 24:
With a tremendous effort of will, the red-haired man in studded leather armor shakes off the paralysis that Dominique had magically imposed on him.  The Mithran priest notes this and calls out, "He is no longer held, my friends!"

OOC:  I need Tot's action on 21 (when you roll a high initiative, Scott...ya gotta be thinkin' about what you're gonna do); I have an idea as to what everyone else will be doing.

As soon as I hear back from Tot/Scott, I'll move this thread along.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:51, Fri 20 Aug 2004.

OOC, all:

Initiatives are as follows:
24 (unbelievably) is Dom--holding his action
21 is Tot--awaiting an action
19 is Asher--awaiting an action
11 is Aine--her action depends upon prior activity
6 is the red-haired guy--actions unknown

Asher will continue his stroll towards the stranger with the intention of taking the flanking position opposite Aine (possibly provoking an AoO-- wise man once say: "go ahead punk, make my day").

Asher again tries to determine whether or not the stranger is enchanted but is still too distracted by the potential for combat. (OOC: Asher rolled a 3 plus the skill mod of 7 for a 10 on the check).

OOC: I'll follow up with the second half of my move (standard action) once I see Tot's move and I know whether or not Asher provoked the AoO. BTW Kev, when you say "stocky" to describe the man, are we talking stocky like an oompa loompa or stocky like a NFL offensive guard? Can Asher glean anything of his race (specifically can he rule out "dwarven")? And do I need a spot check to do so?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Fri 20 Aug 2004.

Stocky like a well-fed longshoreman--muscular, carrying a few extra pounds, and not at all falling into the dwarven category.  No Spot check necessary for that info.

Not sure how close Tot is--if necessary Tot will bound ("run") through and attack the crimson chin with his Great Axe--

OOC:

I have moved Totmacher from his initial position, utilizing a 40' move (his normal rate as a barbarian).  This places him adjacent to the red-haired guy.  Scott, you indicated that Tot would attack "if necessary".  Not sure what that means, exactly--please clarify.  New map up on the web site, under "Combat map".

Cheers,
Kev

OOC(all):Disreguard my previous (1/2) move as a hulking beast has cut Asher's line to the flanking position. I'll be sure to post in intitive order next time.

I'll hold Asher's move untill I see if the truly blood-lusty Tot decapitates a potentially innocent man. Wise man once say, "What? That? It's just a flesh wound!"

Asher may choose to head the other direction in a hurry.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Mon 23 Aug 2004.