The party eventually agrees to lend their services to Lord Mayor Kazmerak's plea for assistance, in exchange for 500 gold pieces and a sizable plot of good land located on Windham's southern outskirts. After concluding their business in the small town, the group sets out, now a few days after their resounding defeat of the Dread Ogre slavers.

The town's Sergeant-at-Arms, Belden, leads the party to the ford that is frequently used by the Dread Ogres to raid across the river. There, the party crosses the river and heads into the Forlorn Hills, with Inas leading the way. It does not take long for the ranger to pick up signs of a trail, which shows signs of heavy use, leading away to west. After studying the tracks left behind, Inas concludes this is the trail used by the Dread Ogres, and the ranger leads the party further into the hilly country.

Save for the occasional antelope or bird, the party moves along with little incident, and Inas finds the trail quite easy to follow. After several hours' journey, the tracks lead over a rocky rise and the groups spots a broad grassy valley, where a ruined stone keep rises from a low hill in the center of the valley. A score or so sheep clamber about the hill's edges, idly munching on the grass and sedge, oblivious to their surroundings, while a flock of large gray birds glide in circles around the keep's perimeter.

The keep is about 100 feet wide and perhaps just as deep. Its exterior appears mostly intact, though its upper workings have large sections which have fallen inward, leaving some question as to the structural integrity of its interior. A broad gatehouse is located on the keep's south face, the only obvious surface entrance into the keep.

The ogre tracks most certainly lead to the keep, though no ogres are presently seen.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:07, Tue 02 Sept 2014.

Norion wipes the sweat off his face, realizing, with some joy, that his burnt off beard was returning in glorious fashion in record time.

He takes a deep drink of his water.

"We need ta' know what the inside looks like, are they camped in the open, or down in a hole beneath tha' ruins.  If they are in a hole, we'll need ta' draw them out here, and far enough away it'll take 'em 20 or 30 minutes ta' get back home, ah have sum thoughts on thot but first we best know what's beyond those walls.  Hopefully, we can catch several of 'em lugging around those nice slaver chains they like so much, let 'em share a good dose of lightning..."

Inas tracked the ogres with relative ease. The big lumbering brutes made little effort to conceal their tracks, and following them through the soft earth was an easy enough task. What he couldn't quite gauge was numbers, as the paths were well used.

He nodded at Norion's suggestion that gaining further intelligence would be useful. He looked over at Ben, knowing that the rogue was adept at sneaking about in places that he shouldn't. "What say you, Ben? Fancy joining me in a bit of sneaking about?"

With a smile Ben nods. He examines the fort, looking for the side it seem most likely the Ogre's can't see out of. If they make it to the wall, he will try to climb it, and spy over the top.

Remnants of square towers exist in each of the keep's four corners and each of these towers possesses some semblance of either a window, or a gaping hole where a window might have once been located. From a distance, neither Ben nor Inas spots any ogres lurking behind a tower window, or outside the keep grounds for that matter.

The south approach is where the gatehouse is located, the keep's three other sides offering only a tall, thick flagstone wall ranging anywhere from 20 to 40 feet high. Perhaps the easiest wall to climb would be the east wall, where a fir tree has taken up root immediately adjacent to the ruined keep, offering a convenient ladder up most of way to the top. Not that Ben needs any help climbing sheer surfaces, but the tree is there if needed. The tree likely wasn't always there, but its presence near the keep potentially hints at how long the keep has been abandoned.

Well, not abandoned, for apparently Dread Ogres dwell within, if the tracks are any indication.

Speaking of which, amidst the numerous giant-sized tracks, Inas also notices several sets of smaller tracks in the area: small-sized humanoids wearing leather boots. Goblins perhaps?

Perhaps Dread Ogres are not the only denizens within the keep?

Whatever the case, Ben slinks his way to the pine tree on the keep's east side and climbs the wall nearest the tree, using the branches to conceal his movement when possible. The thief easily scales the stone wall and makes it to the top, some 40 feet above the ground, and looks over the edge.

The center of the keep consists of organized piles of rubble forming makeshift stone walls abutting up against the remnants of a stone building occupying the courtyard's western half. The rubble walls have thatch roofs, concealing what might be found underneath.Three of the keeps four towers appear to be structurally intact, though the southwest tower is most certainly not.

Ben then spots a squat humanoid emerge from one of the buildings below. The slope-headed, gray-skinned creature wears nothing but a fur loincloth and lumbers with a hunched gait toward the southeast tower.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:46, Wed 03 Sept 2014.

Using whatever points of reference are available, Ben attempts to gauge the size of the creature... Ogre size? Or less...

He also waits to see if the creature actually enters the south east tower or not.

Once he has this information he will climb down and share the discovered information with Inas.

"I think I would like to scale up the wall by that south-east tower and listen for anyone within it. If not, I could lower a rope to you if you wanted to scope it out."

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 6):

Inas listened to Ben's description of the humanoid, trying to ascertain what it might be. He had seen many strange creatures in his time, and heard tales of many more.

In a whispering voice he said, "You climb, I will cover you from here." He offered the rogue his newly acquired rope, 50 feet of stout hemp, should Ben need it. As they moved into position he continued to scan around, bow in hand, watching for new threats.

He glanced over to where the others were hidden and made a simple gesture to show that Ben was going to climb the tower. Whether his unseen companions saw or understood the gesture was another matter.

11:54, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 19 using 1d20 with rolls of 19. Siege check to identify humanoid.

Saliq stood back with the main group, thinking up ways to use his magic. "I agree my friend, it seems a good plan. I can think of a few distractions to keep them occupied."

He paused thoughtfully. "On the other hand if they do have slaves held captive perhaps we best find a way to communicate with them first. Send in an invisible spy?"

Taking the gift of rope as a sign, Ben attempts to scale the south eastern tower...

NOTE: My initial goal is to stop just short of the openings, where I will listen.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:23, Wed 03 Sept 2014.

For his part, Rath remains with the group, vigilant against dangers and setting the henchmen as guards, as well, so that there are eyes in all directions. "Wonder if those ogres we drove away came back here to warn their kin?" Rath mutters and shrugs. "Old king One-Horn might have his guard up, and not so easily tricked."

The short, gray humanoid crosses the littered courtyard and disappears inside the southeast tower. Ben occasionally hears the sound of movement or light conversation in a strange tongue from beneath the thatched roof, but does not see anyone while perched atop the wall. The human thief scales the wall and relays some information to Inas, but does not spot the creature again. From what Ben was able to see of the creature, from 40 feet above, the creature is about four feet tall, stocky, gray-skinned and walked with a loping gait. That description is not enough to call to Inas' mind any particular race of creature: just not enough information to draw any meaningful conclusions.

Later, Ben scales up the southeast tower and stops just outside two windows and listens for sounds of activity within. Inside, Ben hears noisy slurping punctuated by what sounds like two creatures speaking in a tongue that sounds very similar to that spoken by the Gutterblin's in the Dark Gaping Maw. Of course this means nothing to Ben, because he doesn't speak the goblin tongue, but at least it helps him narrow down a broad linguistic family.

The two humanoids continue to noisily devour whatever food is before them, while occasionally conversing back and forth in what sounds like friendly banter. Perhaps at some point Ben braves a quick peek inside, to get a better look, and discovers two goblin-like humanoids seated in the middle of what looks like the last intact floor within the tower, the higher floors having been destroyed long ago.

The rubble of the higher floors has been cleared from the floor and the two loin-skin clad gray humanoids are picking at the grilled meat from an animal's rack. Each of the humanoids has a spiked club within reach, but no other weapons are seen. Neither of the creatures is wearing any armor, their upper torsos completely unclothed.

A wooden ladder leans against the interior of the tower wall, offering someone within the tower to peek out, but of course both creatures seem to be preoccupied with stuffing their face. There is a single stone staircase leading out of the room, presumably winding down to the keep's ground level.

After the scouts leave, Norion tucks in behind the nearest large outcrop of stone, sits against it, and as is his habit, cleans, sharpens, inventories, and tucks away his items.  His ears, not great as elves are, listens for a hint of needing action, otherwise, he just stays unseen and waits, and trust his more stealthy compainions to bring a new plan.

Working his way down the wall, Ben shares what he has learned from his foray up the wall with Inas.

"Shall we chance tackling these two, or return back to our friends?"

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 14):

"Hmmmm, not sure. I am certain we can take them down quickly, but can we do it quietly enough to ensure that any nearby ears don't hear our actions."

He thought for a second. "Maybe we should rejoin the others and share our intelligence before making a decision."

In reply to Inas Eoinsson (msg # 15):

Eagle waits patiently, enjoying identifying the local flora and fauna.

Ben and Inas stalk silently back to the location where the party has patiently been waiting for their return, the humanoid sentinels all the while, unaware.

Once rejoined, the party has a decision to make...
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:47, Sat 13 Sept 2014.

"It doesn't seem the ogres have any prisoners we have to worry about. That's good."

The illusionist looked thoughtful. "They're too strong to take in a direct assault but perhaps if we used our skills we can sneak in and assassinate Horned One. If we're clever we can make it look like one of the other ogres did it, get them to fight each other, but even if not they'll be leaderless."

Sneaky is always good with Ben, he nods his agreement with that thought.

"Killing One Horn will naught end the threat ta the villages, they will choose a new leader an' continue their evil ways, we need to kill all ov them, or at least enough to make them flee these lands."

"Suppose One Horn thought a rival Ogre leader was moving in on 'is territory, thot might draw him an' his fighters out.  An illusion of a group of Ogres nearby, during a storm, we might draw them inta the open fer a fight.  I still 'ave the horn from the others, blowin' thot ah few times in challenge might get them interested.."

Impressed, Ben nods his head at Norion's suggestion as well...

"We might even be able to create some physical traps in the area we lure them to as well. Pits, spikes, maybe seven something with oil?"

Rath grimaces and kicks at the rocky ground, about to object, before remembering that Eagle can dig pits with ease. Once he knows he won't have to do the work himself, Rath fully supports Ben's plan.

"Well I guess that decides us. I assume everyone wants to wait for dark? Eagle you're the man with the best wilderness skills, maybe you could scout out a good location to lure the enemy to?"

As the others add to Norion's plan, he stands and stares again at the ruined fortress. First scratching his head, then his nose, finally his beard.

"Darn, something is nagging at meh, now ah know wot it is, folly to my plan, ah dunna speak ogre, if ah can't insult them in their own tongue, they'll ne're believe the illusion..."

Inas shrugged. "I speak neither tongue so cannot assist. I would counsel against fighting in the dark. Their eyes are probably more accustomed to the gloom than us humans, so we would be at a disadvantage. Maybe an assault at dawn would be advisable."

"Well several ogres were slain in our last battle... perhaps the sight of their bodies as the  Undead will draw them out?" Saliq suggested. The illusionist's handsome, aristocratic face looked uncharacteristically sinister.

"Think of... bloated, rotting ogre corpses drawn back to their stronghold, following the path of the comrades who deserted them as the wail of their horns sounds out and they march into the cold light of dawn."

"We should put the sun behind us, if we can. Any advantage, no matter how small, might make a difference..."

While the party is discussing a plan of attack a short distance away from the ruined keep and presumed abode of The Horned One, the party spots what looks like a Dread Ogre emerge from the gatehouse tunnel, in tow are three smaller ogres, perhaps children?

The first ogre is perhaps seven feet tall, not quite as large as those encountered near Demonstone, and judging by her healthy bosom which swings freely as she strides out of the keep, obviously a female. The three smaller ogres, these about as tall as a goblin, amble just behind the ogre-wife, with two more emerging from the tunnel a few moments later.

The ogre-wife leads the children along the hillside, away to the left, and they follow gleefully, frolicking in the grasses and weeds that have grown up all around the keep. The female ogre then plops down to the ground some distance away from the children. There, she sternly watches over their activities, occasionally barking out praise or reprimands.

OOC: The ogre-wife and five ogre-whelps are about 100 yards distant from the PCs.

"To my side - quick!" Saliq hisses at the others. As soon as the words have left his mouth he starts chanting in a strage tone, drawing arcane symbols in the air.

---

OOC: Saliq casts Invisibility, 10 ft on himself (and presumably the others!)

Jaw dropped, Ben moves over to Saliq's side... it had never occurred to him that Ogre's had children! Would they have to kill them too? That seemed... not right.

Rath grabs Monvo and Bruno and scrambles to join Saliq. He's quiet, intently watching the family, with dark thoughts unspoken. Rath had his bow ready, but he has not drawn it to aim a shot. After a moment, he glances at Norion, wondering what the dwarf will do.

Inas had been busying himself preparing sharpened stakes with his axe and hunting knife when word came up that a female ogre and her younglings had emerged from the tower. He quickly ceased the task and scooped up his bow.

At Saliq's instruction he moved closer to the conjuror, allowing himself to once again fall inside his magical circle of invisibility.

"Those are... those are babies, by the hand of the seventh lord of Laundry Lists.... they ain't as tall as me even. We ain't gonna kill babies are we Saliq? I don't wanna be no baby-killer..."

A few moments after Saliq cloaks his fellow adventurers under an invisible veil, three more ogre-wives emerge from the ruined keep. They too plop down near the other matron, as the ogre children wrestle on the hill.

In total, the group now spots three ogre-wives and five ogre children. Ben does not see any sign of the squat, knobby-skinned humanoids he observed in the shell of the southeast tower.

"Ben we aren't going to kill children, even ogre children." Saliq said very firmly. "We'll need to use more trickey than force here, to scare them away or somehow persuade them to leave."

The illusionist was silent a moment, watching and thinking. "If only I spoke orcish, I could use my magic to take on the form of an ogre girl and get inside that place. Unless...I suppose I could pose as a former slave who was taken by evil humans as a child and only now escaped."

Eagle moves close to Saliq, and watches and listens impassively.

He raises his eyebrow archly at this friends squeamishness, wondering what they thought was going to happen when they marched out to take on a camp full of Ogres in order to take their land, but he says nothing.

Norion watches but also moves into the cover of the magic.

"All things are born, Ben, orcs, dragons, spiders, but we may not have to kill these families to accomplish what we are set to do.  If we draw out their warriors, and kill enough of the men, they may flee these lands, thus clearing the threat from the cities we've promised to help.  If they all fight, they all die though.  As we are not under any deadline to complete our mission.  I propose that Inas tracks his way to where we killed the other Ogres, he and Morvo, and Bruno and bring back to us the chains that we left behind when we freed the slaves.  The rest of us shall take turns watching the comings, goings, the routines of this keep, part time scouting, the rest setting traps under Ben's leadership. Beyond the ankle breaking hazards, we will create a zone where the chains can be laid about in a pattern, so any walking into that area will be standing on one and have them all crossed.  The first lightning strike will damage all within that trap."

While the party discusses this new plot development in hushed whispers, the ogres continue their activities, for the moment, completely unaware of the presence of nearby invisible intruders. The ogre-wives seem content to allow their children to frolic on the hillside, while they watch from near the keep's exterior wall. After several minutes, a male Dread Ogre appears, its towering frame taking up the majority of the gatehouse tunnel entrance leading inside the keep.

The ogre grunts something unintelligible to the ogre-wives, which stirs what sound like a chorus of insults back the other way. The male ogre belts another verbal barrage at the wome, to which they cheerfully return the favor. This continues for some time, before the male Dread Ogre eventually retreats back inside the keep.

A few moments later, the ogre-wives call the ogre children to them and then also make their way back into keep. Curiously, the ogre-wives appear nervous now, each glancing worriedly into some point on the distant horizon, as though expecting an arrival.

What could cause them to appear so anxious?

The heroes can only guess, for none are capable of reading minds.

"Is that the direction the ones we killed would have come from?" Ben asks the others...

Monvo vigorously nods his head in the affirmative and replies, "Yes. That flyspeck of a village we got roped into helping is back that way."

"I could take to the wing to find out more if it's helpful?" Eagle offers.

"Seemed to me they were more upset about what wasn't there than what was..."

The sight of the females and younglings had thrown Inas. Although it was logical that ogres would have families, to actually see them in the flesh made it seem more real. Suddenly the thought of slaying them came into his head, and that made him uncomfortable. He turned to his companions and spoke quietly. "This complicates matters. I'm not comfortable with the thought of murdering younglings and unarmed females, even if they represent a race of beings that cause mayhem and destruction. I think we need a new plan, one where we can drive them away rather than kill and maim."

"For now I suggest we camp for the night and see what develops. It may be they will send out a scouting party we can fall on. At the very least we night something of their routine. If putting together an ambush is beyond our ability to coordinate, I think I can get us up into one of those towers, with a little bit of luck."

"You suggesting we make camp right here, within a stone's throw of the ogres' lair?" Monvo scolds in apparent disbelief.

"Yeah," he says while tossing a pine cone to the side, "that's sounds like a dandy of an idea!"

"They haven't noticed us all day. Hard to see that it would change now. Nothing says we can't hide first though..."

"I wonder what will happen once the sun sets, if the ogres will be as content to lounge around all evening after resting for most of the day?" he asks with through a cocky smile.

"Probably be too pooped to do much of anything..."

"Look, you little shit-head for hire, you wanna have a cocky smile, head back to the back alleys of Stormhaven and put your knee pads back on. You've had nothing useful to say all god-damned day, but now you think you have the right to complain? You want ogres to fight, fine, you stupid sack of shit, I'll go get you some..."

Ben turns and heads towards the tower, calling out the ogres 'come out and play!!!'

Eagle watches the discussion between Ben and Monvo with the same growing irritation that the young thief is feeling. He's slightly taken aback though when his rash friend breaks cover and heads for the tower, but then shrugs - they're only here to destroy the ogres in any case and bring balance back to the valley, 'in for a copper, in for a platinum' he mutters ruefully.

He waits a moment to see what his companions do, but assuming they're now on a track that will result in a coming together with the ogres he will start to prepare a call lightening spell.

OOC: Unless Ben is called back I'm assuming combat with ogres is in our near future: if so I'll cast call lightening now, but will take a turn to eventuate, so happy to try and dodge and weave a bit in the meantime! DM, with Eagle's knowledge of the natural world, is it likely that there are any animals or woodland beings in the locality that he could summon who might come in handy against ogres (like Woolly Mammoth/Hippopotamus type large mammals for example!)

Rath puts a hand on Monvo's shoulder, giving him a glance warning him against reacting to Ben's explosion. "Ben," Rath says calmly. "Wait. The magic circle. You're invisible unless you cross ... . You're not waiting, are you?"

Rath glances at Eagle. "Back to Plan A," he mutters. "Monvo, Bruno ... stay close. Ben's going to draw them out. Don't show yourselves. And wax your ears, boys!"

With any luck, Rath thinks, the Ogre leader will emerge, leaving the harem and the offspring safe in the bowels of the ruins.

Norion grins at Ben, not exactly a well thought out plan, but the man has spirit! Norion does a quick check of his gear, readying for battle.

"Ben?! Saliq gasped in disbelief as his friend started moving. The illusionist had been distracted thinking of way to magically gain access to the castle, so was  caught of guard by the sudden movement.

"Goddess help the rest of us keep our wits!" Saliq prayed to his patron Sehanine as he started running through his spells.

Inas rolled his eyes. A new plan seemed to have evolved, but not in the way he desired. "Damned fool," he muttered under his breath. As the rest of the band stirred into action he flexed his bowstring. It looked like they were about to get some action!

Several moments pass following Ben's outburst, when finally, the male Dread Ogre emerges from the gatehouse tunnel. The beast places his hand over his brow, so as to shield the sun, and peers int he direction of the stand of trees the party had been hiding behind. Ben is still within the range of Saliq's spell, and is therefore invisible, adding to the ogre's confusion.

The ogre spends a few moments looking out into the distance, before finally raising his hand above his head while clenching his fist, almost in greeting. But is the Dread Ogre waving hello to Ben?

No. Astute party members will notice three giant humanoid forms approaching from the south, rising over a low hill, in the general direction the ogre-wives had previously been looking before being ushered back into the keep.

These figures are much larger than ogres, standing what appears to be at least two to three feet taller: Hill giants!

Each of the giants is dragging a metal chain, attached to which are what look like the lifeless form of a handful of humans: the catch of the day!

None of the humans appears to be alive, not that this makes any difference to the giants. Meat is meat and besides, all this dragging over rocky ground just serves to tenderize that tasty man-flesh!

The giants are presently about 200 feet distant from the invisible party and headed toward the keep, which is about 300 feet distant from

The hill giant's present path will lead them very close to the party's current position.

Mouth open in surprise, Ben comes to a stop.

"What the hell? Hill giants?"

he wanders back to the others.

"I fear the gods are playing odds and evens with our fate, they just pulled hill giants out of their arse. I suspect if we were to fare well against them, a titan would be next. I say we leave Monvo here on guard duty, and head back to town. We can come back in a year or two to see if anything develops..."

Monvo stares incredulously at Ben before harshly whispering, "No thanks. I'd just as soon return to the back alleys, as you say. I didn't sign on with you anyhow, and I am damn sure not taking any orders from the likes of you!"

Having freely spoken his mind, Monvo returns his concentration to the approaching hill giants, which register as the greatest threat at the moment.

Ben considers terminating the little bastards contract with the point of his blade, but figures the others might object.

"Looks like they are planning a party. Maybe while they are basking in the aftermath, we should consider striking. If the tales I've heard are correct, these big boys drink big big drinks..."

Dark clouds begin forming in the skies above, a precursor to the coming storm that Eagle has summonsed.

With regards to local fauna that might be useful in a battle against the ogres and giants, Eagle knows the primary predator in these parts, aside from monsters, are wolves and to a lesser degree, mountain lions.

Woolly mammoth and hippopotami are not known to reside in these parts.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:35, Wed 08 Oct 2014.

Ben glances down at a large dirt clod, and wonders if it might be hippo poop. He kicks at it, and decides otherwise.

"Well, it looks light the lightning is on the way. The Eagle can bring it down without us taking credit for it, or we can choose to attack now. Preferences to any of you who aren't mute and aren't hirlings?"

Norion looks at the gathering clouds.

"Maybe if we slay these giants, the Ogres will fear us enough to leave this place behind, they may also be slaves themselves to these giants and be grateful we freed them, ha, ha, more likely, they will join them in battle against us.  If you are going to entangle them in your vegetation Eagle, try to catch them but leave some of the chains outside the spell, we can make sure they are tangled together when your lightning hits and maybe it will get all three"

Saliq begins murmuring strange words and making eerie gestures.

In the distance a glimpse of azure wings can be seen darting in and out of the clouds - an approaching blue dragon. As yet she is too distant to be heard but it won't be long before she intercepts the giants...

---

OOC: Saliq casts Spectral Force.

The trio of hill giants take notice of the blue dragon as it emerges from the darkened skies, stopping them in their tracks as they cry out in alarm. A few moments later, one of the giants drops the chain it had been dragging and scoops up a large rock in its free hand. Shouting over its shoulder, it apparently commands its allies to do the same, for they follow his lead.

A moment later, each of the giant heaves the large through the sky in an attempt to strike down the blue dragon before it closes on them. The large rocks sail through the sky toward the blue dragon, but all three fly well off the mark, each landing to the ground with a heavy thud.

The giants are quite agitated now, each shouting in an attempt to either work up their own courage against a dangerous foe or perhaps to scare off the dragon. Hard to tell really, but they certainly have not broken ranks and fled at the sight of the blue dragon.

Now that they are closer, the party notices the hill giants are wearing a fur and hide toga and do not seem to be carrying any weapons of note...well unless one counts the wagon wheel sized boulders strewn about the ground which they throw with apparent ease.

OOC: The range of Saliq's spell is up to 120 yards (360 feet) distant, outdoors. The giants were about 200 feet distant from the PCs when the spell was cast.

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4
HP: ?/?, ?/?, ?/?


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   30/30   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   58/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   48/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2

NPCs
Bruno    5   20/20   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5   19/19   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 1
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Giants

OOC: PCs are up!

Initiative: 22:00, Wed 08 Oct 2014: Ben Scristos rolled 5 using 1d6+2 ((3))

The giants appearing well distracted, Ben moves wide to the left. Very wide. His hope is to come in behind the giants, but not for several rounds, as he will be doing all he can to remain hidden from their sight.

Monvo retrieves his newly purchased short bow and draws an arrow to the string. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Ben slink away from the party to set up for an opportunity to backstab a giant. The mercenary follows Ben's movement with his bow and arrow, a devious smile spreading across his face.

He keeps the thief in his sights for a few moments before finally turning his attention to the nearest hill giant. The mercenary is reluctant to fire his bow before anybody else attacks however, now being fully aware of how Saliq's magic functions.

"Say when, Boss-man," he whispers to Rath.

Bruno grabs for his javelin out of habit, before noticing Monvo and the short bow. The mute retainer follows Monvo's lead and retrieves his bow and an arrow. Unlike Monvo, Bruno does not put Ben into his cross-hairs.

Likewise, Bruno awaits the order to attack.

Inas flexed his bow but held fast. At this range it would be pot luck if any of them actually hit anything. "Hold your arrows," he murmured to the hirelings. "Wait until they present an easy target."

He tried not to let his eyes be drawn to the great winged beast in the sky. Even though he knew it was naught but smoke and mirrors it was still enough to make his heart beat just a little faster.

In reply to Inas Eoinsson (msg # 66):

'They're too far from me to use any of my magic effectively,' Eagle murmers as he stays close to the invisibility afforded by Saliq's presence.

OOC: I'm guessing they're not wearing or carrying any metal?

Norion continues to hold his position, ready to fight, but waiting.  Let the Giants waste their energy and use up the best boulders on a fake dragon, once they are closer, then it will be time.

Rath waits, arrow ready but without the bowstring drawn. He squints at the giants, secure -- well, not exactly secure, but not feeling in iminent danger -- with the protection afforded by Saliq's invisibility. He won't be quick to give that up to take an ineffectual pot shot at the enemy.

"Not yet," he advises.

Saliq frowned. "In that case I'll try and draw them closer. Or at least give them a reason to start moving."

The blue dragon circled lazily in the skies, then suddely sent a blast of lighting at the giants - seemingly 'just' missing them, though they could feel the sizzle of the heat and the crack of thunder.

After a second it became clear to everyone the illusionist was trying to shepard the giants their way, via 'near misses' from the illusionary dragon.

The blue dragon's antics keep the hill giants occupied and in the process they are drawn closer to the lurking heroes in the process. The giants close to within 100 feet of the group, now invisible, before throwing another round of large rocks at the circling dragon.

One of the projectiles strikes the dragon the hindquarters. The giant who threw the rock seems satisfied with himself and lets out a joyous shout. The other two giant's thrown rocks fail to hit the blue dragon, but neither of them appear to be demoralized by their lack of hurling prowess.

Meanwhile, one of the party members notices the male Dread Ogre reappear in front of the keep's gatehouse. The brute shouts and tries in vain to get the three hill giant's attention, but is unsuccessful. Nobody in the party understands what the ogre is shouting, but whatever it is, he is quite serious about it.

OOC: The ogres are now about 100 feet distant from the party and perhaps the same distance between the ogres and the blue dragon.

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4
HP: ?/?, ?/?, ?/?


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   30/30   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   58/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   48/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2

NPCs
Bruno    5   20/20   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5   19/19   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 2
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Giants

OOC: PCs are up!

Ben continues his movement thru the shadows, well clear of his eventual targets. His eyes catch the ogres at the edge of the ruins, but he is moving the other way, and is not much concerned by their presence. Yet.

Saliq was still concentrating on his spectral dragon. As the flung boulder struck her the blue dragon roared in anger and defiance and with a beat of her wings soared into the storm clouds, invisible for the moment.

"How is that lightning coming along Eagle?" Saliq hissed out of the corner of his mouth. "I what to give the girl a chance to show off..."

Bruno and Monvo each stand with their bow and arrow drawn, ready for the moment when they are called upon to fire. Neither is in any particular hurry to give up their advantage of invisibility however, especially when three hill giants are but a hop, skip and jump away.

As Saliq draws the giants toward the party -- ahead of schedule, from Rath's perspective -- Rath gets a sense of how big these brutes really are, and his trust in Saliq's and Eagle's abilities to even the odds with magic are a bit shaken. He takes a deep breath and covers his own intimidation with a derisive sneer -- which the giants can't see -- and, like the other archers, he bides his time.

Eagle glances at the sky. 'We've got a few minutes more before I can guide the gathering storm,' he murmers, obviously not liking the way the situation was developing. He spots the Ogre and his odd body language, and keeps a close eye on him, ready to react to any other surprises that might emerge.

OOC: DM not sure what your ruling on timing is - Eagle has 10 rounds to wait, and cast the spell once Ben made himself known. Don't know how many rounds there were between that and the hill giants emerging - must be at least one as Saliq must have cast his spell to attract the dragon in the meantime! Anyway, at worst I'm guessing no lightening until round 8? Or perhaps there was more milling around while the ogre came out and the hill giants approached? (He suggested in an oh so innocent way. . .)

Inas held still, bow in hand. He patiently watched as his prey hurled stones and insults at the illusory wyrm. Hopefully they would soon move into range and he could rain his own death down upon them.

Norion will continue to hold his position, calmly, he has taken the time to wax his ears, so he is using visual cues to watch his friends all poised to attack.

With no blue dragon soaring through the sky to hurl rocks at, the hill giants bark out a few words in their harsh, ugly tongue and then turn and sprint back toward the keep. They stride across the open land with ease, covering over half the distance to their ruined lair in a short period of time.

The ogre continues to shout out to the hill giants, but the party cannot hear (or understand) what he might be yelling about.

OOC: The hill giants are now about 160 feet distant from the keep and perhaps 60 feet from the party, and running toward the keep.

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4
HP: -5/?, -6/?, ?/?    [Private to GM: 38/43, 31/37, 31/31]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   30/30   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Invisible
Norion   3   58/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Invisible
Rath     3   48/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5   20/20   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5   19/19   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 3
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Giants

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:58, Sat 18 Oct 2014.

The unexpected movement of the giants allows Ben to cut his planned route short, and he cuts crosswise to try and end up behind the giants.

He is a bit confused at what is going on, there seemed no reason for things to be getting goofy already, at least none he was aware of...

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 80):

As the giants pass closer to the druid, Eagle murmers his stance druidic cant, and the ground below the giants explodes in a mass of writhing vines.

OOC casting entangle.

As the giants are beset by Eagle's vines Saliq's dragon suddenly emerges from the clouds, jaws agape. With a roar she sends a blast of lightning straight at the eyes of the nearest giant before swooping aloft!

The tall grasses near the retreating giants begin to violently writhe about as countless fibrous tendrils of vegetation coil around the hill giants' legs. The giants struggle against the encroaching flora, their forward progress becomes stunted, and eventually, the three giants are rooted in place!

All the while, the ogre near the castle continues yelling wildly. Two of the small humanoids briefly appear in the threshold, alongside the ogre, but they quickly turn on their heels and race back inside the keep. The ogre remains within the gatehouse tunnel, seemingly reluctant to step outside into the oncoming storm, the writhing grasses some 60 feet away, or to try his luck against the blue dragon. All three of these things he has seen before, and that was just a few days ago.

That can mean only one thing...but where?

OOC: The hill giants are entangled, about 60 feet distant from the invisible party members. That would be everyone, save for Ben, who left Saliq's area of effect. 

Seeking a large rock to hide behind, or a low point in the dirty soil, Ben sets himself about sixty feet behind the giants, kneeling down in the high grass. He spots and recognizes the living grass which has entangled the giants, and is glad he was wise enough this time not to bee close enough to be caught in it.

Taking out the horn, he lays the bottom curve into the soil, and cleans the mouthpiece...

OOC any chance Ben could get his mouth around mouthpiece of the horn when the time is right.

Inas bent his bow and took aim at the hill giants. "Just give me the word," he murmured, waiting for the signal to fire.

Rath nods with feigned confidence that Eagle's entanglement will hold. "Take down the one of the left." With that, he lets lose two shots. The first arrow catches uselessly in the giant's heavy skins. The second draws blood.

"Spread out. Move back," Rath advises. Being clustered together with Inas, Monvo, and Bruno makes him feel vulnerable, now that they're visible. "Saliq, stay with Ironaxe." With that, Rath starts to move, angling away from the group and putting a bit more distance between himself and the giants.




One miss, one hit vs. AC 2 for 5 damage.

08:04, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 5 using 1d6 with rolls of 5. arrow damage.

08:01, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 17 using 2d20 with rolls of 3,14. two archery attacks.

Monvo shrugs and lets an arrow fly. The arrow flies near one of the giants, but is deflected by a mass of writhing grass. He draws and fires another arrow, it too fails to connect.

"Dammit!" he curses. "So much for remaining unseen," he seethes under his breath.

Bruno quickly releases two arrows, one of which strikes a giant in the hip, the other landing harmlessly several yards beyond the giants.

OOC: Hit for 6 points of damage.

Norion, having no long distance weapons, leans in close to Saliq, "Ignore me if must maintain your dragon spell, but if you can do two things at once could you make me look like an orc?"

The hill giants struggle against the grasping vegetation coiling around their legs and torso and it looks like these binds might not keep them held in place for very long. The ogre and giants also yell back and forth at one another, though nobody in the party speaks their language and has no clue what they are yelling about.

None of the small humanoids are visible right now, those that had come out to see what the fuss was all about have fled back inside the keep.



Hill Giants, 3 (entangled during round 3)
AC: 4
HP: -7/?, -12/?, ?/?    [Private to GM: 36/43, 25/37, 31/31]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   30/30   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Invisible
Norion   3   58/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Invisible
Rath     3   48/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5   20/20   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5   19/19   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 4
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Giants

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:43, Sun 19 Oct 2014.

With his dragon now hidden by cloud cover Saliq allows that illusion to dissapate (let the giants think she was still up there...) The illusionist turned to Norion and begins chanting and waving his figers in strange, eyewatering gestures.

Within moments the proud dwarven warrior grows taller... and uglier, seemingly turning into a fearsome looking orc. "I hope you know what you're doing Norion..."

---

OOC: Saliq casts Improved Phantasmal Force

Inas took aim and loosed his arrow. Before it had landed another was in the air, followed by another. As all three shafts thudded into the writhing mass of plants, missing the giants. He cursed his poor marksmanship, and reached for another arrow.

06:05, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 7,9,4 using 1d20+1,1d20+1,1d20+1 with rolls of 6,8,3. Bow attack v unhurt giant, Target 12. Bollocks! What a load of rubbish!

Ben watches the arrows fly towards the giants, and silent cheers on his comrades. Ducking low, fearful that the blue dragon might see him (yes, Ben still doesn't quite get it) Ben watches the proceeding, but remains still and hidden.

Bruno and Monvo launch another volley of missiles, two of which strike one of the giants. Monvo lays claim to both hits, of course, but it's hard to really tell who was responsible for them.

The disapproving look on Bruno's face is pretty clear about that matter though.

OOC: 6 points of damage to one giant

Rath continues to attack the hill giant on the left. He wonders if the thing even feels the pinpricks of the arrows. Whatever Norion's got in mind better work, Rath thinks, or we may all be stomped to paste.

"Keep at it," he encourages the other archers (although he begins to wonder if the giants have some arcane protection against arrows).


Hits AC4 once for 2 damage.
06:49, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2. damage.

06:49, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 17 using 2d20 with rolls of 12,5. another volley.

A minutes passed... Ben crouched low and waited.

Norion chuckles at Saliq, "Well, there is a first time for everything....I need to wait here a few more moments, if this is going to work, and its a long shot, I need it to happen just a little before the lightning strikes...."

In reply to Norion Ironaxe (msg # 97):

Eagle waits alongside saliq and Notion wondering what happens next.

The three hill giants continue to fight against the grasping vegetation all around them, yet every time they rip free of of one coil, another quickly entwines around the body part that had previously been caught. It seems to be a losing battle for the giants, but they rage on nonetheless.

Beyond the giants, just outside the keep's gatehouse, one of the small humanoids rushes back out and looks out in the distance, beyond the giants. A moment later, a terrifying chorus of primal repeating vulture-like shrieks echoes out from somewhere within the keep followed by an roaring hiss ending in a rousing trill.

What manner of beast might that be?

The giants cease struggling against the entangling roots an snap their attention back toward the keep, as though expecting something to burst forth from the stone walls at any moment.

After a few moments, the giants continue their efforts to break free.



Hill Giants, 3 (entangled during round 3)
AC: 4
HP: -12/?, -12/?, -8/?    [Private to GM: 31/43, 25/37, 23/31]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   30/30   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Invisible
Norion   3   58/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Invisible
Rath     3   48/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5   20/20   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5   19/19   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 5
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Giants

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:38, Sat 25 Oct 2014.

Well this hasn't gotten exciting yet Ben muses, though he does wonder that that noise might be coming from the keep.

Inas adjusted his aim at the as yet uninjured giant. He loosed an arrow which struck home, then fired another which whistled past the creatures head. He spoke quickly to those around him. "Keep shooting, we need to take those giants down before those in the keep realise where we are."

07:15, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 8 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 6. Damage.
07:14, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 14,9 using 1d20+1,1d20+1 with rolls of 13,8. Bow attack v unhurt giant, Target 12.

Bruno and Monvo continue to fire arrows into the entangled hill giants, none to any significant effect.

If only we had built those pit traps... if the weight of an ogre would break an ankle, imagine a giant stepping into one of those!!!

If wishes were horses though, beggars would ride.

Ben continued to wait to see if there would ever be a point where he could help, or if his skills would end up being required in rescuing the survivors from the keep.

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 103):

'I'd concentrate my fire on one or the other,' Eagle whispers to the archers. 'Once the storm brews my lightening should be able to take one of them down.'

He waits, watching for events to develop.

Saliq was still busy maintaining his Norcian illusion so could do little else for the moment.

"The one on the left," Rath hisses, encouraging his comrades to concentrate fire, and as if to demonstrate sends two arrows into the target. Rath looks around, wary of the strange sounds and ominous behavior of the giants and the little humanoids. What is coming?



Hits twice for 5 damage.
06:40, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 35 using 2d20 with rolls of 19,16. another volley.

06:41, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 5 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,3. damage damage.

Norion will move over very near Saliq, and begin whispering to the illusionist, hoping it won't distract him from the illusion.

"So, 'ere is mah plan, if you know it beforehand, you'll know what ta expect me ta do, and maybe even add a few more Orcs to join me in showing tha giants a way to escape their trap ov vines.  Ah speak orc, and they likely understand it as well so ah describe it to them, but the basics are this. Three are stronger than one.  If they lock arms, the two on the side push the other one forward allowing him to take a giant step, still linked, then the one who just moved, pulls the middle one, the back one pushes, allowing the middle one to move, then the two who just moved, pull forward the third, with the combined strengths, they should make steady progress till they are free of the moving vines.  While they are trying that, whether it works or not, lightning strikes one ov them, killing all...."

Norion creeps alongside Saliq, both of whom are still invisible, and relays his plan. Ben is crouching behind a shrub, not too distant from where the three hill giants are presently trapped, biding his time for the moment. Meanwhile, Inas, Rath, Bruno and Monvo continue to fire volley after volley of arrows at the entangled hill giants.

The giants continue to struggle against their bonds, unable to break free, cursing their fate in their strange tongue.

The horrific shrieks continue, emanating from somewhere within the keep. A moment later, the heroes see three dark formless shapes take to the sky above the keep, the shrieks becoming louder and more pronounced now. These dark masses blot out all available light and encompass an area perhaps 100 feet wide as they alight into the sky, eventually coming to rest atop the southwest and southeast towers and the central gatehouse.

The hill giants cease their struggles and shouts and whip around in the direction of the dark shapes. Whatever is now perched atop the keep seems to have caught the giant's attention.

Some fell creature resides within that darkness, though none in the group can name what it might be, for such monsters are usually only witnessed in the abyssal depths of a terrible nightmare, their name stricken from the memory of all but the wisest.

The three masses of impenetrable darkness become quiet, still, as each seemingly surveys the battlefield...

In unison, all three formless masses cackle-shriek in freakish delight. Dinner is afoot...

OOC: And now the other shoe drops...No Ben, not titans...



Dark, Formless Abyssal Masses, 3
AC: 0 (-4), Size: Large
HP: XX/??, XX/??, XX/?? [Private to GM: 40/40, 42/42, 28/28]
(All three are effectively concealed due to the shroud of darkness that surrounds each creature, -4 AC)
~160 feet from party

Hill Giants, 3 (entangled during round 3)
AC: 4
HP: -22/?, -12/?, -8/?    [Private to GM: 21/43, 25/37, 23/31]
~60 feet from party

PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   30/30   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   58/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Invisible
Rath     3   48/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5   20/20   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5   19/19   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 6
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:38, Wed 29 Oct 2014.

By the sixteen virgin daughters of the beast-goddess of all whores, what the hell are those, and are they about to eat my friends, or the giants?

Ben did his best to squeeze his body into the shadows that surround him, and kissed the ball of his left his thumb in gratitude to whatever twist of fate had guided him away from the others.

And he wet himself a little.

"It might be time to leave now," Monvo says in a nervous tone while fumbling to retrieve another arrow from its quiver.

The mercenary looks in Rath's direction for any sign the fighter is thinking along the same lines.
This message was last updated by the player at 07:14, Tue 28 Oct 2014.

Bruno also appears visibly rattled by this latest development, his next two shots falling well of the mark of the closest giant.

The mute may have just moaned something unintelligible as well, but it's hard to tell really. Most everyone's attention is likely on the dark forms atop the keep.

Inas loosed another volley of arrows at the giants. The first found a mark, striking its target flush in the throat. He was not so accurate with the others though, and missed his targets by some margin.

07:55, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 21,11,4 using 1d20+1,1d20+1,1d20+1 with rolls of 20,10,3. Bow attack, 1 v each giant, tgt 12. CRIT for 8hp on 1st giant, others are a miss.

Saliq had been nodding along silently to Norion's plan (while keeping up the illusion of orciness) when those dark things appeared. "Merciful Goddess! I think we need a new plan! I suggest we retreat under invisibility until we know what those cloud beasts are."

Rattled by the eldritch darkness, Rath sends two arrows into the dirt at the giant's feet. He mutters something profane about Pelor's light and moves toward the spot he last saw Saliq. "Invisibility would be good right about now!" he calls, with an angry tone that masks the quivering fear that's moving around in his belly -- not that he's convinced that invisibility will do any good against those things.

Best hope is that the giants make a better meal for the dark creatures than the smaller adventurers.



Miss, miss. 20:31, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 10 using 2d20 with rolls of 6,4. attack  .

In reply to Aldo Rathmus (msg # 114):

Eagle gulps and takes a subconscious step backwards, searching his mind for a plan or spell. Under the circumstances it is no surprise that he comes up blank. Muttering something in his druidic cant he reaches down and touches a tussock of grass on the ground - as if asking Melora for salvation - between him and the shadows, and then backs a further couple of paces away, not knowing what else to do.

OOC: casting trip on something in a vain hope of protection.

PM

[Private to GM: Norion knows a bit about Ogres and that their leaders are often skilled Magi, perhaps ole One Horn is fighting fire with fire, so shadow dragons to battle a blue, both born of ghost magic.  Norion actively disbelieves what he is seeing]

The three impenetrably dark clouds cast a fell gloom over the keep's upper walls. There is a moment of silence as even the trapped hill giants look back to see what will happen next, but that moment is shattered as soon as a crescendo of raspy, drawn-out hissing sounds and grunts are heard coming from the general direction of the formless dark shadows. A few seconds later, two of the shadows take to the sky and quickly dive down toward the group, whom are presently gathered near the stand of trees south of the keep. The third dark shape also takes to the sky, but this one swoops toward the hill giants and then begin circling over them.

The two dark shapes draw closer and blot out all surrounding light. Total, absolute darkness engulfs the party and a few seconds later, the heroes hear the terrible raspy hissing and grunting again, mixed with the sound and feel of flapping wings, tearing flesh, scaly splattered blood, anguished unintelligible moan-screams, and whatever sounds of terror Eagle emits as he is clawed, gouged, and bitten by whatever large creature is wrapped up in the all-encompassing darkness.

Both Bruno and Eagle are badly wounded in the ensuing attacks that come on fast and furious, like a tornado on the open plain.

Save for Norion (on account of his darkvision), and Ben (who is watching from a safe distance, some 40 feet away), none of the heroes can see anything, for the entire area is sheathed in total darkness. Still, despite the lack of vision, it is quite obvious two very large, scaly, feathered, hissing, grunting beasts of unknown origin are in the midst of the party.

Despite all his effort to push such thoughts aside as mere illusion, Norion cannot disbelieve the sheer terror that has just descended on the party. Standing perhaps eight feet tall, Norion sees two vaguely humanoid, four-legged beasts with the head, claws, and wings of giant vulture tearing into Eagle and Bruno.

The vulture-demons attack with a ferocity unlike any creature Norion has ever encountered, oblivious to anything save for felling their prey.

Ben, standing 40 feet distant and outside the darkness, does not see any of this. All he sees is darkness, but the sounds of terror...those are very real!

OOC: Both Eagle and Bruno take 19 points of damage! Yikes!



Large Humanoid Vulture-Beasts Cloaked in Shadow, 3
AC: 0 (-4), Size: Large
HP: XX/??, XX/??, XX/?? [Private to GM: 40/40, 42/42, 28/28]
(All three are effectively concealed due to the shroud of darkness that surrounds each creature, -4 AC, except for Norion, who can see them AC:0)
~two are in melee range of the party, the third is circling over the hill giants, near where Ben in presently located.

Hill Giants, 3 (entangled during round 3)
AC: 4
HP: -22/?, -12/?, -8/?    [Private to GM: 21/43, 25/37, 23/31]
~60 feet from party

PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   11/30   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   58/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Invisible
Rath     3   48/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5    1/20   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5   19/19   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 7
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:34, Fri 31 Oct 2014.

Unable to see anything around him, Monvo shouts out in panic and begins fleeing away from the two beasts tearing into Bruno and Eagle. The cowardly fighter runs as fast as his legs can carry him. Eventually, Ben, standing outside the darkness, sees Monvo fleeing away to the east.

Monvo looks back once he has cleared the darkness, but does not show any sign of circling back to aid his companions.

Bruno moans out in agony as he is set upon by the horrific monster and moves to draw his sword in an attempt to ward off the frenetic beast. The mercenary's sword emits a low amber nimbus as it is removed from its sheath, providing very faint light within the darkness. Bruno brandishes the sword and swings at the monster.

The light provided by Bruno's enchanted sword provides enough illumination for anyone within the darkness to see what Norion has already seen. Unfortunately, the vulture-demon bats away the mercenary's attack, though Bruno manages to barely hold on to his sword as his arm is almost ripped out of its socket.

The vulture-demon hisses in defiance, flickers its disc-shaped vermilion eyes and whips its scaly tail around in another attempt to wrench the sword out of Bruno's hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:51, Fri 31 Oct 2014.

"Gods preserve us!" hissed Inas as the foul creatures descended. He dropped his bow to the ground and quickly drew his enchanted blade. With no time to retrieve the shield slung over his back he gripped his sword two-handed and swung with all his might. But his assault was in vain, again and again he found naught but darkness, his weapon failing to connect with anything of substance.

08:51, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 17 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 14. Attack 2, 2H bastard sword attack v vulture 1, tgt 20.
08:50, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 7 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 4. 2H bastard sword attack v vulture 1, tgt 20.

Intercourse the penguin Ben shouts to himself within his mind (but not out loud, no sir, quiet as a field mouse Ben is) Going over the resources he has at hand once, twice and a third time, Ben fails to come up with anything he can do to help.

"Dammit, best laid plans an' all that, sorry Saliq, won't need yer spell afterall..." Norion, leaps out swinging his great axe at the nearest shadow vulture with his great axe.

In reply to Norion Ironaxe (msg # 122):

Presuming he can, Eagle mutters a spell and casts dispel magic, hoping to clear away what he assumes is the magical darkness. As he does so he also tries to maneuver himself in such a way that if the demon vulture is now on the ground it might trip on the enchanted tussock of grass.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:23, Fri 31 Oct 2014.

Saliq was so astonished by Norion leaping to the attack that for a few seconds he was struck speechless. Recovering, he began chanting a rapid eerie mantra.

From out of the clouds there came a roar and the blue dragon emerged in a flash of brilliant blue. Her red eyes narrowed and she dived, claws and jaws agape on the monster attacking Bruno.

---

OOC: Saliq casts Spectral Force

Rath starts to back away -- the spray of blood and gristle is a bit much -- but seeing Monvo run brings resolve to Rath's heart, and he drops his bow in favor of the trident.

He leaps to Bruno's defense. His boot slips in bloody mud -- or perhaps his resolve weakens -- and he thrusts with his weapon before getting close enough to be a real threat.

OOC: Big ol' MISS.

None of the vulture-demons seem to pay any heed to Saliq's illusory blue dragon emerging from the darkened skies. All remain focused in their bloodlust.

The vulture-demon circling over the entangled hill giants makes a bee-line for Monvo as he flees. A dark cloud streaks across the sky and descends upon the Stormhavian mercenary and a moment later the party hears panicked screaming and cries of agony followed by wet, hacking noices akin to what one might hear in a butcher's shop as meat is rendered from bone. Then, raspy grunts of wicked delight ring out from the darkness.

Elsewhere, Eagle dispels the magical darkness which had cloaked the monsters' approach and now all can easily behold the terrible creatures, which must surely originate from the depths of the Abyss. Covered in scales and blade-like feathers, the vulture-like demons seem un-phased by the change in lighting and continue to tear through the party ranks.

Their assaults are frenetic and vicious. One continues to attack Eagle and the other turns its attention away from Bruno and on to Norion.

Eagle and Norion defend themselves admirably, but the attacks, claw and fang, come so quickly that warding off all of them is seemingly impossible. Eagle emerges from the assaults badly wounded, while Norion is just now feeling the demons' wrath.

OOC: Monvo is slain! Eagle takes 8 points of damage. Norion takes 16.

Call Lightning is now available for Eagle.



Large Humanoid Vulture-Demons Cloaked in Shadow, 3
AC: 0 (-4), Size: Large
HP: -59/??, XX/??, XX/?? [Private to GM: 6/40, 42/42, 28/28]
(All three are effectively concealed due to the shroud of darkness that surrounds each creature, -4 AC, except for Norion, who can see them AC:0)
~two are in melee range of the party, the third is devouring Monvo, about 60 feet distant from the rest of the group.

Hill Giants, 3 (entangled during round 3)
AC: 4
HP: -22/?, -12/?, -8/?    [Private to GM: 21/43, 25/37, 23/31]
~60 feet from party

PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6    3/30   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   42/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   48/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5    1/20   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5    DEAD   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 8
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:06, Sun 02 Nov 2014.

Crouched in terror, Ben imagines a million scenarios where he dashes to help the others... they all end up with him shredded to pieces however, so he remains in place.

Despite his grave condition, Bruno bravely wields his sword against the vulture-demon that has turned its attention to Norion. Sadly, his enchanted blade does not find purchase against the demon's thick, scaly hide.

If he could speak, he would surely curse aloud. Seeing that he cannot, all he can do is moan in frustration and growing despair.

At least Bruno is still alive, for the same cannot be said for his longtime blustering, brow-beating companion, Monvo. In truth, there would probably be few tears shed for that loss to the world.

Desperately weakened by the assault of the foul beast, Eagle staggers backwards as he attempts to fend off the demons attacks - away from the enchanted tussock of grass that he has been trying to put between him and the eight foot creature since it attacked him. Knowing that Melora awaits his spirit, he seizes the initiative to try to suddenly take a stride and a dive away, hoping between his movement - and perhaps the help of the magical trip hazard - he can put three metres between himself and the vulture. As he does so, his arm sweeps down and a jagged bolt of lightning crashes out of the sky. Perhaps it slows down the demon momentarily, and perhaps there is enough distance between him and it for Eagle to escape the effects. Or perhaps not.

OOC: 0:58, Today: Eagle rolled 50 using 9d8 with rolls of 7,8,5,5,1,8,7,8,1. call lightning take two with correct hit dice.

A lightning bolt crashes crashes down from the sky and strikes the demon that Eagle managed to withdraw from. A crackle of blue light instantly courses through and over monster's scaly hide and all in the immediate vicinity can feel the raw power of nature unleashed. But none more than the vulture-demon. It cries out in a throaty growl and though smoke rises from its hide, the beast remains standing!

Saliq stands torn with indecision. He lacks the power to weave another invisibility cloak around the party, but he can hardly abandon his comrades.

Chanting more words he gesttures towards Monvo's corpse... which appears to knit itself together and stand up, and unearthly glow in his eyes as he attacks his slayer!

---

OOC: Saliq casts Improved Phantasmal Force.

Rath steadies himself. Running away is not an option -- Monvo's fate makes that clear. And with the darkness dispelled, he can at least see what he's up against. However horrible they are, at least he can see the damned things, and they don't look like the sort to accept a surrender.

With only one choice and a clear target, Rath smirks and trusts to the gods of light and luck, and, following Eagle's lightning strike, he strides forward. With all his strength, he plunges the forks of his weapon against the demon's flesh ... .



HIT for 9 Damage.

20:28, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 9 using 3d4+2 with rolls of 2,1,4. damage with trident.

20:24, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 19 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 18. attack with trident.

Inas did his best to strike the creature that was attacking Eagle, but his clumsy blow again found nothing but air.

08:26, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 14 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 11. 2h attack on vulture attacking Eagle, tgt20.

Norion swings his axe again, and again, misses.  Alas.

The vulture-demon that just killed Monvo had been preparing to rejoin the larger melee when it notices the undead warrior rise from the grave. It hisses and bristles its patchy spine-feathers as it circles Saliq's creation, seemingly sizing it up. A few moments later it springs forward and savages the illusory version of Monvo, subjecting it to a flurry of raking attacks.

The other two vulture-demons are caught in the larger melee that includes the majority of the group, except Ben, who is currently hiding behind a large shrub outside of the immediate battleground. One of the demons takes in the scent of approaching death and launches itself at the mercenary, taking the mute warrior down in an instant. Bruno lets out a final pained scream and then, screams no more. Hopefully the next life will be kinder than this had been.

The other turns on Rath and leaps at the fighter. It is all Rath can do to avoid being knocked over by the formidable demon. Rath manages to dodge mostly out of the way, but is seriously gouged several times as the demon rakes it steely claws through armor and flesh.

Further away, the hill giants remain trapped in magical vegetation. Should anyone be looking that way, further behind the giants, at the keep, a male ogre and a couple of ogre-wives watch the battle from the safety of the gatehouse tunnel.


OOC: Bruno is no more! Rath takes 11 points of damage. One of the demons just savaged the illusionary Monvo.



Large Humanoid Vulture-Demons Cloaked in Shadow, 3
AC: 0 (-4), Size: Large
HP: DEAD, #1: XX/?? (entangled), #2: XX/?? [Private to GM: 0/40, 42/42, 28/28]

~#1 is in melee range of the party, #2 is near Saliq's illusion, about 30 feet distant from the rest of the group.

Hill Giants, 3 (entangled during round 3)
AC: 4
HP: -22/?, -12/?, -8/?    [Private to GM: 21/43, 25/37, 23/31]
~60 feet from party

PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   11/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   42/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   37/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5    DEAD   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5    DEAD   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 9
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:00, Wed 05 Nov 2014.

Inas pressed, his blade whirring above his head like a daemon, but to no effect. He continued to slice the air but failed to connect with any of the foes.

10:14, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 13 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 10. 2h attack v vulture attacking Eagle, tgt 16.
10:14, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 6 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 3. 2h attack v vulture attacking Eagle, tgt 16.

The illusionary Monvo crumples to the ground in a bloody heap... but a moment later rises to it's feet, sword in hand, it's horrible wounds slowly closing. Face expressionless, it presses the attack against the vulture demon, sword cleaving across it's feather form!

Beads of sweat trickled down Saliq's forehead as he maintained the illusion. If he could keep this monster distracted just maybe the odds would work in his friend's favour.

Ben continues his fearful vigil.

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 138):

Eagle uses the opportunity of his lightning, and the demons attacks on his friends to further back away from the melee. As he does so he whispers the words of another spell, and the ground around the third demon explodes in an entanglement of grass and vines.

OOC: Don't know if a 1st level druid spell will help here, but thought I'd try! Casting entangle

Norion had a sinking feeling, but his dwarven blood pounded, he could see no way of winning this battle, the Ogre's alone would have been a challenge, adding three giants made it an act of shear bravery to fight, now with three demonspawn, well, it would be honorable death his ancestors would be proud of.

Focusing on the injured the demon, lets at least let them know they can be killed....he hoped.

Swinging his great axe again, this time, his aim is true.

13:56, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 11 using 2d8+2 with rolls of 4,5. damage.
13:56, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 3 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 2. attack 2 demon.
13:55, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 16 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 15. attck 1 demon.

Norion slashes the badly wounded demon with his axe and strikes deep, sending a spray of gore over the battlefield. The demon howls in pain before falling silently to the ground. Then, noxious fumes begin to rise from the demon's corpse as it lies there, motionless.

Meanwhile, Eagle captures a second demon inside a storm of swaying trees and grasping vines. The vulture-demon attempts to fly free of the vines, but just as it takes flight, a nearby branch grabs hold of the demon and draws it violently back down to the ground. The demon is caught!

OOC: Map updated. Waiting for Rath's post and then enemies will go.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:09, Thu 06 Nov 2014.

Rath strides forward, jabbing tentatively with his fork and interposing himself between the vulture-thing and Saliq.

OOC: Miss!

The demon engaged with Inas and Rath rears up and bares a row of razor-sharp fangs at the two adventurers before launching itself at Rath. Rath raises his shield in time to ward off most of the assault, but is grazed with a raking claw that penetrates through armor.

The demon nearest undead-Monvo is caught in grasping branches, grass, and vines and unable to work itself free. The same holds true of the three hill giants.

OOC: Rath takes 3 points of damage.



Large Humanoid Vulture-Demons, 3
AC: 0 (-4), Size: Large
HP: DEAD, #1: -2/?? (swarmed in Round 10), #2: XX/?? (entangled in round 9) [Private to GM: 0/40, 40/42, 28/28]

~#1 is in melee range of the party, #2 is near Saliq's illusion, about 30 feet distant from the rest of the group.

Hill Giants, 3 (entangled during round 3)
AC: 4
HP: -22/?, -12/?, -8/?    [Private to GM: 21/43, 25/37, 23/31]
~60 feet from party

PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   11/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   42/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   34/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5    DEAD   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5    DEAD   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 10
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:10, Fri 07 Nov 2014.

Inas swung his sword, but again missed as the creature bobbed and weaved in the air. He roared with anger, cursing the beast and all it's malodorous kind.

07:10, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 10 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 7. 2H attack v vulture 1, tgt16.

With the third demon seemingly inconvenienced for a moment, Eagle steps back away from the melee, and takes a breath. Unsure as to what to do next he mutters the words to another spell and gesticulates at the ground. As he does so a swarm of insects emerges, targeting the demon who is battling Rath, Inas and Norion.

OOC: going to try a summon insects and see if I can immobilise the pesky so and so

The undead Monvo, face still expressionless but eyes glowing advances on the demon facing Rath, it's sword still swinging.

Norion seeing one demon die feels slightly heartened, at least they die, score one for the good guys, turning he directs his next swing at another of the demons, but dang they are quick, his swing looked good till the last second when the creature didn't even seem to see it coming, it squirmed aside and he caught naught but air.

At first one or two yellowjackets are seen buzzing about the third demon, but with each passing second, the cloud grows in geometric proportions. Soon, the vulture-demon is covered in an insect swarm that renders it all but useless. The demon hisses and snarls, but this display has no effect on the insects.

OOC: Demon takes 2 points of damage.

As the insects grow into a cloud, Rath gathers himself, smirks viciously, and drives his fork into the distracted vulture-thing. He wishes Saliq would make Monvo's zombie disappear. The damned thing is somewhat disturbing.


Hit for 11 damage.
05:20, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 11 using 3d4+2 with rolls of 3,3,3. damage with trident. 05:19, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 18 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 17. attack with trident.

Still hiding.

The group of hill giants and now one vulture-demon are held fast by a snarling mass of vegetation and the other vulture-demon is being pestered by hundred, perhaps thousands of angry yellow-jackets. Meanwhile, back at the keep, if any among the party manage to sneak a peek, a male ogre and a group of female ogres and smaller humanoids are seen fleeing around the keep, away to the northwest. They slip from view, obstructed by the keep itself, shortly after departing.

OOC: Going to rule that the demon now swarmed with insects cannot be engaged in melee, unless with a reach or ranged weapon, due to the swarming yellow-jackets.


Large Humanoid Vulture-Demons, 3
AC: 0 (-4), Size: Large
HP: DEAD, #1: -23/?? (swarmed in Round 10), #2: XX/?? (entangled in round 9) [Private to GM: 0/40, 19/42, 28/28]

~#1 is in melee range of the party, #2 is near Saliq's illusion, about 30 feet distant from the rest of the group.

Hill Giants, 3 (entangled during round 3)
AC: 4
HP: -22/?, -12/?, -8/?    [Private to GM: 21/43, 25/37, 23/31]
~60 feet from party

PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   11/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   42/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   34/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5    DEAD   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5    DEAD   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 11
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:19, Mon 10 Nov 2014.

A silent cheer rises within the heart of the thief... the ogre's were fleeing! That had been their objective, and they appeared to have succeeded! Could they survive their success however?


The Eagle had been the backbone of the their offense, of that there was no doubt, but how much more did he have in him, Ben wondered?

Still, he felt better about things now then he had since the demon-vultures had appeared on the scene.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Ben began to creep to his left... he hadn't expected to be between the giants and the party to begin with, but circumstances seemed to have done so. Hopefully he could get back around the edge of things before the massive creatures got free from the grip of the very land itself...

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 152):
With his head spinning, Eagle takes no notice of the fleeing ogres, but sensing a moment of respite he tries to carry on attacking the demon that had been swarmed by thrusting his spear at it. It's a pretty weak effort to be fair, and he comes no where near hitting.

ooc 19:40, Today: Eagle rolled 3 using 1d20 with rolls of 3. spear attack.

Norion swings again at the blasted demon vulture but keeps slicing up the air.

As the swarm of buzzing bugs enveloped the creature, Inas was forced to retreat. He couldn't see well enough to take a swing, and didn't want to risk getting bitten by the insects. He stepped back and deftly sheathed his sword, scooping up his bow in one fluid motion. A moment later a volley of arrows was flying towards the creature. Two of the shafts struck home, but the third flew through the cloud of insects and thudded into the soft ground nearby.

08:07, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 10 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 5,1. Damage.
08:06, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 18,19,5 using 1d20+1,1d20+1,1d20+1 with rolls of 17,18,4. Bow attack v insect vulture, tgt 16.

Rath lunges, but this time the demon's hide resists the tines of his trident.

19:18, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 14 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 13. attack.

The undead Monvo turned it's head and began advancing remorselessly on the demon trapped by the swarm, seeminly completely unaware of the countless stings being inflicted on it. It began to methodically and expressionlessly hack away at the demon.

With three hill giants and a vulture-demon caught under a writhing canopy of vegetation and another demon occupied by a swarm of stinging yellow-jackets, to say nothing of the fleeing Dread Ogres, Melora's provenance seems to be shining upon the adventurers. Perhaps this is enough for them to feel good about prospects which until a few moments ago, seemed quite bleak.

And then, a stream of the diminutive gray-skinned humanoids Ben saw in the southeast tower and in the courtyard come streaming out the front gate, scattering quickly away down the grassy hill to the west, away from the keep and the adventurers. Something obviously has them spooked, but what?


OOC: The demon swarmed with insects cannot be engaged in melee, unless with a reach or ranged weapon, due to the swarming yellow-jackets.


Large Humanoid Vulture-Demons, 3
AC: 0 (-4), Size: Large
HP: DEAD, #1: DEAD, #2: XX/?? (entangled in round 9) [Private to GM: 0/40, 5/42, 28/28]

~#1 is in melee range of the party, #2 is near Saliq's illusion, about 30 feet distant from the rest of the group.

Hill Giants, 3 (entangled during round 3)
AC: 4
HP: -22/?, -12/?, -8/?    [Private to GM: 21/43, 25/37, 23/31]
~60 feet from party

PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   11/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   42/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   34/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5    DEAD   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5    DEAD   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 12
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:49, Fri 14 Nov 2014.

In reply to DM Storm (msg # 158):

Eagle waves his spear ineffectively again, distracted by the grey humanoids. 'Now what,' he mutters.

Norion also swings and though a better attempt this time, still manages not to pierce the demon.  "Ah'm getting tha' feeling thot the Horned One isn't just some big, extra smelly Ogre Mage...."

Rath nearly curses Saliq in the same breath he curses the demon. The zombie Monvo really is just too much, a reminder of Rath's failings and the limits of humanity in the face of abyssal darkness. "Twice-damned vultures, you killed my henchmen!" Rath growls, thrusting his trident as deeply as his strength allows into the bug-covered demon-flesh. "Go back to Hell!"



Critical hit for 14 damage.
21:21, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 21 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 20. poke.

Ben cheered to himself as Aldo's blade struck home forcefully. It hadn't occurred to him until now that the castles occupants might have been fleeing for any reason but themselves, could there be something even worse on the way? gah, perish the thought...
This message was last edited by the player at 13:36, Wed 12 Nov 2014.

Seeing little option, Inas kept filling the sky with arrows. He fired a brace at the creature surrounded by insects, hoping to finally bring it down. One of the arrows pierced through and struck home.

As he fired he called to his companions. "We need a new plan! I'm quickly running out of arrows!"

13:28, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 6 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 4. Damage.
13:27, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 17,3 using 1d20+1,1d20+1 with rolls of 16,2. Bow attack v insect vulture, tgt 16.

In reply to Inas Eoinsson (msg # 163):
'This thing will be tied up for another five minutes,' yells Eagle. 'Save your arrows for whatever's coming next.'

Inas delivers a well placed arrow to the vulture-demon's neck and a jet of dark blood spurts out in response. A moment later, the demon ceases struggling and falls to the ground, still swarmed by a throng of yellow-jackets.

The undead Monvo, ignoring the vulture demons now turned towards the giamnts. It's sword was still drawn, it's face struck in the rigours of death as it prepared to take it's first swing at the closest giant.

OOC: Insect Swarm cast in Round 10

Large Humanoid Vulture-Demons, 3
AC: 0 (-4 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: #1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: XX/?? (entangled in round 9) [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 28/28]

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4
HP: -22/?, -30/?, -8/?    [Private to GM: 21/43, 7/37, 23/31]
Fled back inside the keep

PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   11/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   42/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   34/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5    DEAD   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5    DEAD   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 13
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:20, Sun 23 Nov 2014.

Ben continues to creep south and west, getting out from between the giants and the party, and a tiny bit further away from the castle.

Inas glanced over at the remaining vulture-demon, but could see nothing but a mass of darkness and writing vines. Deciding he couldn't get a clear shot he switched targets, aiming back at the original giants. He concentrated on the middle one and began to fire. The first arrow went just a few inches high so he adjusted his aim and fired two more arrows. Both shots were true, punching the creature in the torso and piercing deep into flesh. Hopefully they wouldn't put up much more of a fight...

Fired at MIDDLE hill giant.

07:44, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 16 using 1d6+10 with rolls of 6. Damage, including one CRIT.
07:42, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 10,21,14 using 1d20+1,1d20+1,1d20+1 with rolls of 9,20,13. Bow attack v giants, tgt 12.

Grimly, Rath sets aside his trident in favor of his bow. Stepping at an angle away from the writhing mass of vegetation, he lets loose two quick shots at the giants ensnared there (choosing his target to concentrate the one in the middle, since Inas clearly has disregarded Rath's intention to concentrate on the one on the LEFT).

OOC: Hits once for 2 damage.

06:38, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2. damage.

06:38, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 23 using 2d20 with rolls of 9,14. attack giant with bow.

Saliq made a calculated decision. The illusion of undead Monvo seeming collapsed in a heap (quietly fading from view after a moment.)

Seconds later one of the dead vulture demons seemed to stir (the one not beset by hornets), lifting it's head towards its living brethren.As it climbed to it's feet the undead demon began moving towards the living...

---

OOC: Saliq casts Improved Phantasmal Force

In reply to Saliq Musfara (msg # 171):

Eagle pauses for a moment and breathes. He's not sure how long the giants will stay tied up. If it looks like the magic will fade in the next few moments he will cast the same entanglement spell immediately to buy some more time. If it looks like there is another precious minute of calm, he will instead focus on turning the insect swarm on the vulture demon lurking in the heart of darkness.

Norion looks around, there are no enemies in striking distance, those entangles are very useful but can hinder hand to hand combat.  Having no distance weapons, he will move over to see if any of the deceased warriors have working bows or arrows.

The hill giants finally extricate themselves from the writhing grasses and grasping brush, as the natural power of the earth relents. The trio of giants waste no time and immediately break into a heated sprint toward the stone keep. The giants quickly pass through the gatehouse and are out of sight a moment later.

Meanwhile, thrashing noises are still heard coming from somewhere within the keep, followed by a powerful roar, sounding completely different than anything produced by the vulture-demons.

Speaking of which, only one of these monsters remains and it is still trapped in vegetation, just east of the adventurers


OOC: Summon insects cast in round 10, redirected toward entangled vulture-demon

Vulture-Demons, 3
AC: 0 (-4 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: #1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: XX/?? (entangled in round 9) [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 28/28]

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4
HP: -22/?, -30/?, -8/?    [Private to GM: 21/43, 7/37, 23/31]
Fled back inside the keep

PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   11/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   42/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   34/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5    DEAD   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5    DEAD   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 14
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:17, Sun 23 Nov 2014.

With the giants on the run, Ben decides to scout things out, advancing in a loop wide to the left, heading towards the keep in a quick loping movement.

OOC - wide to the left, not in such a way that I will be between the keep and the party. If the keep is twelve on the clock and the party four, I want to be approaching it from eight.

Seeing the giants fleeing back to the castle, Norion raises an eyebrow,luckily, it has grown back along with nearly half the length of his beard since the hellhounds burning it off, almost looking like a real dwarf again.

Taking the bow and arrows he recovered last round, he takes aim at the vulture demon. He's seen this used enough and tried them once and awhile but never got proficient at them.  Still, an entangled enemy, best to try to lob something at it.  Given his lack of experience, the arrows fired were not half bad, they didn't strike home, but were close.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Mon 24 Nov 2014.

In reply to Norion Ironaxe (msg # 176):

Setting the giants flee, Eagle curses softly, and then surveys the chaos around him. Ten minutes earlier he'd thought he was on his way to meet Melora, and now the field seemed to be clearing. He still felt weak though, and was worried about what was in the castle.

As he stood, feathers started to sprout from his shoulders and arms, and his face transformed. With a spring the now fully formed golden eagle soared into the air to see if he could get a better vantage on the castle court yard and surrounding areas.

OOC: shape shifting into an eagle. Will fly upwards and see what the keen bird eyes reveal from a height.

With ghoulish delight Saliq ordered his (illusionary) zombie vulture demon into combat with it's living kin. Jerking horribly the undead thing snapped and clawed at the living demon.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:46, Thu 27 Nov 2014.

Inas paused to take stock of the situation. Attacking the vulture-demon was pointless, he could barely see it through the smoke to strike it so it would he wasting arrows, and he couldn't get close enough to use his sword.

Instead he quickly checked Monvo and Bruno, confirming that both were dead. He salvaged the magic broadsword and as many arrows as he could find, both from their quivers and from the ground nearby.

He glanced around at his companions. "Do we stay and fight, or retreat to come back another day?"

Rath narrows his eyes and lowers his bow. He knows, as does Inas, that firing at the demon sheathed in the darkness would be waste of arrows. Then, he smirks and remembers Avandra, the goddess of luck, and trusts to Her, sending two more arrows against the enemy. There is no telling if they hit -- can't see a damned thing -- and he shrugs, taking no offense at the Goddess' capriciousness.

Rath remains near Saliq, watching the field of battle for new threats, trying to catch sight of Scristos and also keep track of Eagle's movements.

To Inas, he offers no answer, but he stands near Saliq, ready to fight or flee. He can't imagine what's coming up so noisily from the keep, but he's not sure the party could run successfully if if it tried.

Two misses. 07:50, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 17 using 2d20 with rolls of 10,7. bow and arrow.

The sound of angry growls, shrill shrieks and violent thrashes continues to cut through the air, all of it coming from within the stone keep. None of this is the voice of the hill giants, that much the adventurers are fairly certain of. Perhaps some small voice within might hint that these sounds of terror belonged to whatever beast had once been referred to as One Horn, but in fact, was more appropriately named, The Horned One.

Just at that moment, a large section of keep's stone wall erupts in a terrifying shower of broken masonry, wooden shards, and a massive cloud of gray dust. With the cloud, the adventurers spot a dark shape, nearly 15 feet tall and close to that in girth. Two massive horns rise from the enormous demon's head. The demon raises two of its pincer-clawed hands heavenward before thrusting both forward to clear out a section of the stone wall that still remains.

The stone blocks fly outward and land heavily on the grassy hill, before finally skidding to a stop some 30 feet away. The Horned One growls out a command of some sort and a few moments later, one of the three giants appears atop the ruined southeast tower. It breaks off a large section of wall and prepares to hurl it at the adventurers.



OOC: The giant and Horned One are about 120 feet from the main group of PCs. Ben is probably only about 60 feet or so from them.

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0 (-4 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: #1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: -2/?? (entangled ends round 19/summon insects ends round 17) [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 26/28]

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4
HP: -22/?, (fled inside the keep) -30/? (fled inside the keep), -11/? (southeast tower)    [Private to GM: 21/43, 7/37, 20/31]

The Horned One
AC: -4
HP: ?/?


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   11/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   42/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   34/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5    DEAD   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5    DEAD   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 15
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:31, Sun 30 Nov 2014.

Inas reeled in horror as the hideous beast appeared through the wall, exploding as if it had just broken free from the bowels of hell. He quickly composed himself as rocks started to land around them and drew a bead on the giant that appeared, bending his back to launch a trio of arrows towards it. One struck true, punching through the creatures unarmoured leg and into thick-skinned flesh.

06:08, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 4 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 2. Damage.
06:07, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 4,12,6 using 1d20-1,1d20-1,1d20-1 with rolls of 5,13,7. Bow attack v giant, tgt 12 (inc. -2 for range).

Stars and garters, this just keeps getting better, Ben thinks.

Continuing to move wide, he hopes to get closer to the castle, but well out of the peripheral vision of anything focused on the party.

In reply to Inas Eoinsson (msg # 182):

Soaring above the field eagle gulps and surveys the scene, he's looking to see if there is any helpful vegetation near the enemies, or if there is anywhere he can land and transform without being seen, but close enough to the action to effect spells.

OOC: when do I recover hit points? Is it everytime I transform?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:01, Sun 30 Nov 2014.

Rath, with wide eyes and sputtered profanities, scrambles, putting some distance between himself and his companions -- figuring it best for only one of them to get smashed by a boulder. As he serpentines across the landscape, he follows Inas' lead and sends a couple of arrows at the hill giant.



Hits once for 1 damage.
08:38, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 18 using 2d20 with rolls of 4,14. bow and arrow vs giant.
08:38, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 1 using 1d6 with rolls of 1. damage.


Now that I see the map, I intend Rath to be heading west, away from the entangled vulture-demon and the cluster of his companions.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:37, Mon 01 Dec 2014.

Soaring above, Eagle sees the Horned One standing in a pile of broken masonry near the gatehouse entrance. The demon has a ghastly looking appearance, with purplish wrinkled hide and a wolf-like broad head with massive goat horns rising above. The demon actually has four arms, two bulging claw-pincer arms and two humanoid arms which sprout out of the creature's chest. There is some tall grass near the Horned One and two large pine trees located about 20 feet to the left and right of the demon.

The tree to the Horned One's left is the same tree Ben climbed to gain access to the southeast tower, also where one of the hill giants is presently located.

Ben has now snuck his way to a trio of tall pine trees, about 60 feet west of the keep.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:44, Sun 30 Nov 2014.

ooc: assuming a hilly countryside, rising to a tower keep, there should be boulders, depressions, etc. to offer cover from the giants boulders.  IF so, here's me post.


Norion, drops the bow and arrows, and moving in the odd graceful way dwarves can do, begins to dash, cover spot to cover spot, slowly closing the gap towards the demon.  It was terrible and frightening, but an abomination to be walking upon the soil of his world.   Would his axe penetrate its flesh, even if weilding well, hard to tell.  Could it even be killed, hard to tell.  Would it go unchallenged in its fury, surely.

Assuming his from of a bird in the air hasn't attracted the attention of the demon, as he surveys, Eagle will fly towards the tree to the North and East of the keep (OOC D18 on the map), attempting to get behind the enemy without being seen.

Saliq decided the time had come to protect his own skin. The illusionist let his illusionary demon collapse in a broken heap and began moving fast after Norion.

The battlefield devolves into chaos as party members scatter in all directions...

Norion and Saliq have now raced up the hill, toward the Horned One, and have closed to within 60 feet of the demon lord. Ben has slunk around west of the ruined keep and is skulking in the protection of three pine trees, about 60 feet due west of the southwest tower. Eagle is circling above a tree northeast of the keep. Inas and Rath remain near the entangled, hornet-harassed vulture demon and continue to pepper the giant, about 110 feet distant, with volley after volley of arrows.

The giant atop the southeast tower narrows his eyes in cruel delight as he spots the dwarf and illusionist charging up the hill. The big oaf hurls a huge slab of stone at Norion and it crashes at the dwarf's feet, showering the warrior in stones.

A moment later, the Horned One flicks one of its humanoid arms in the dwarf's direction and clutches his fist in an exaggerated upward motion. Norion then feels himself steadily rising into the air, against his will, ascending to a height of about 20 feet!

With one of its other humanoid arms, the demon lord points at Saliq and then uses its finger to gesticulate a 'come hither' motion.

The Horned One intends on toying with its prey before killing it.


OOC: Norion is hit for 4 points of damage and is now suspended 20 feet above the ground.

Next Call Lightning available in Round 18.

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0 (-4 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: #1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: -4/?? (entangled ends round 19/summon insects ends round 17) [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 24/28]

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4
HP: -22/?, (fled inside the keep) -30/? (fled inside the keep), -18/? (southeast tower)    [Private to GM: 21/43, 7/37, 13/31]

The Horned One
AC: -4
HP: ?/?


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   19/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Eagle form
Inas     3   62/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   38/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   20 feet above ground
Rath     3   34/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, Invisible

NPCs
Bruno    5    DEAD   0   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   (R) Hum Ftr3
Monvo    5    DEAD   0   20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10   (R) Hum Ftr2


Round 16
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Thu 04 Dec 2014.

The time of decision had come for Ben... leave the field to the obvious victors, or move in and try to help his comrades.

He would hate to admit how close the decision really was, but in the end he began to move towards the keep, carefully, flitting from shadow to shadow, but ever closer.

He hadn't shown any skill in battle, nor had luck smiled upon him when he tried, but he had to try...

Hrrrmmmm, thots odd, never floated off the ground before.

Calling out in goblin, [Private to group Goblinoid:  "Giants, fight with us, free yourselves of this demon menace, then you can live in this place in peace, raise sheep and cattle to eat, and trade the skins with the locals for beer and wine, so long as the raids on the towns stop, this could be your home, our fight is with him, not you..."]

While he talks, he gathers his bow and arrows and fires at the demon.


[Private to DM Storm: Two things: one, I don't recall Norion being injured  prior to this latest round, I think he was at full strength,  unless I forgot something, and two, don't forget, giants take a -4 to hit dwarves]

In reply to Norion Ironaxe (msg # 192):

Eagle lands gracefully and transforms back into his human shape as he does.

OOC: have I got the chance to cast a spell in this round?

"Mama warned me I'd end up eaten by demons," Rath mutters to no one. "Just hoped it would be after I died." He can't say it's undeserved, but he had hoped for better. He glances to the darkened sky, waiting hopelessly for Eagle's lightning to save the day.

He takes two shots at the easy target -- the rock-tossing hill giant on the tower -- making no effort to hide himself. Perhaps Rath will be a distraction that gives the storm time to brew, or to buy Saliq and Norion another few breaths of life.

He smirks. This time luck is with him. For what it's worth.






Hits twice for 7 damage.

12:27, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,6. damage, damage.

12:27, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 33 using 2d20 with rolls of 16,17.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:31, Wed 03 Dec 2014.

Inas fires another two arrows at the stone-throwing hill giants, but unfortunately, both fly well off the mark.

22:26, Fri 05 Dec 2014: DM Storm, on behalf of Inas Eoinsson, rolled 5,0,4,7 using 1d20-1,1d20-1,d6+2,d6+2 ((6,1,2,5)).

Whispering a prayer to the goddess Sehanine, Saliq began chanting a new spell.

At the Horned One's feet the long grass began to grow, much like the druid's entagling spell. As it increased in size and strength it bagan to curl around the demon, slowly crushing him in an ever growing tangle.

---

OOC: Saliq casts Improved Phantasmal Force.

The hill giant atop the southeast tower breaks off another section of stone with its massive hands and launches it toward the two bow-armed combatants in the distance. The large section of wall flies through the air, bounces on the ground before Inas, and grazes him as it skids to a stop several feet behind Rath.

The Horned One grasps at the entangling grasses now creeping up its muscular legs in an effort to free himself from the illusory obstacle, but is unsuccessful. The Demon Lord howls in rage and begins thrashing about. In the process, he loses control of Norion, whom had been held aloft, and the armored dwarf comes falling out of the sky and lands hardly on the earth!

The two hill giants whom had previously fled inside the keep, come barreling back out the gatehouse, each armed with a massive stone. It seems they too will take to the rock-hurling, in an effort to defend their lair.

The vulture-demon, continues to shriek inside its hornet-filled entanglement, a caged bird eager to escape!


OOC: Norion takes 14 points of falling damage and Inas takes 8 points of damage.
Next Call Lightning available in Round 18.

[Private to GM: Inas will take 8 points of damage next round when vrock attacks]

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0 (-4 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: #1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: -6/?? (entangle ends round 19/summon insects ends round 17) [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 24/28]

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4
HP: -24/?, (near gatehouse/swarmed w/ insects. Ends Round 24) -32/? (near gatehouse), DEAD (southeast tower)    [Private to GM: 19/43, 5/37, 0/31]

The Horned One
AC: -4
HP: ?/? [Private to GM: 60/60]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   30/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   24/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   34/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Round 17
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:01, Mon 08 Dec 2014.

In reply to DM Storm (msg # 197):

Slightly taken aback that saliq seems to have mastered his spell, and cast it before him, Eagle changed his own plan and mumbles some different incantations, aiming to show down the giant with some insect help.

OOC: going to summon insects at the giant throwing boulders. BTW, looking at the map it seems like eagle is plum in the firing line of the giants. Of intended him to fly past the line of fly to the tree at D18 on the map so as to try and flank the demon.

Rath declines to give in to the hope that Saliq's successful entanglement spell brings to his spirit. He knows that it's an illusion.

He scurries west, putting distance between himself and Inas (and, not incidentally, the vulture-demon), and he continues firing as he goes. This time, he shifts targets, at the center-most of the emerging hill giants, the one most injured by previous volleys.



OOC: Hits once for 2 damage.
15:42, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2. damage.
15:41, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 14 using 2d20 with rolls of 13,1. two archery attacks.

Inas fires three more arrows at the hill giant perched atop the southeast tower, sinking two into the brute, the last of which strikes the giant in the neck. The giant slumps over the wall and tumbles to its death, some 30 feet below.

The ranger has now expended his entire quiver of normal arrows, fortunately he still has a quiver of silver arrows, should they be necessary.

OOC: Hit twice for 15 points of damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:00, Sun 07 Dec 2014.

Having no feedback to work with from my last action, I will assume that nothing has changed, and I will continue to do the same thing.

Said Ben to himself quietly.
This message was last updated by the GM at 05:49, Sun 07 Dec 2014.

The trip to the west wall of the keep had seemed long enough to expect to see the sun rise in the east... Ben had never willfully moved towards something even half as terrifying as the cadre of creatures within the confines of the ruined structure before him.

Hesitating at first to even touch the wall, Ben took a deep breath and steadied himself. He peeked.

Two giants, and the demon were nearly right in front of him. Attention focused on the others, thank the Wet and Wooly goddess of Fried eggs and powdered waffles.

He could just barely make out the third giant, who had scaled the keep wall, so it seemed like everyone was accounted for.

Fingers crossed.

That said, he moved left along the wall and looked for a good place to scale it, climbing to the top.

Ben sneaks up to the west wall and finds a suitable spot that will allow him to scale it with, hopefully, little difficulty.

OOC: Ben may attempt to climb the wall next round.

As he started to chant, Eagle realised that he was too far away for his magic to be effective, so he sprints forward towards the keep and the southeast tower. As he runs, the giant in that tower falls dead to a well placed arrow, and Eagle stops behind the body to complete his spell, aiming it at one of the other giants (the less injured one if he can discern that choice)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:29, Sun 07 Dec 2014.

A swarm of angry dark, orange-winged tarantula hawks coalesces around one of the loping hill giants. A moment later, he is heard to be howling in pain as the insects do Eagle's bidding.

Norion, back on the ground, tries his hand with the bow and arrows again, firing two of them at the giants, the first barely misses again.  Doing what any dwarf would do untrained in the bow, he pulls the string back even further for the second shot, unfortunately, it snaps and the arrow falls harmlessly at his feet.

"Curse it all..." he grumbles tossing the bow aside, and pulling out his large axe.  Time for some hand to hand....

Saliq moved closer to the keep, still concentrating on his magic.

The Horned One finds that individual strands of grass come apart very easily... but regrow rapidly and thicker. The coils as a whole are slowly but inevitably applying more pressure, building up to constrict and eventually crush their entraped victim...

One of the hill giants angrily hollers in a gruff, incomprehensible tongue as it swats at the tarantula hawks now buzzing all around him, while the other moves away from him and snatches a large rock while snatching a large rock. The brutish giant attempts to toss the rock at Norion, but accidentally drops the stone, whereby it lands on his right foot. In a comedy of errors, the hill giant doubles over, grabs its toe, and begins making the universally understood, "owie" sound. The giant rages in protest of his untimely foible.

The Horned One continues to rip away at the vegetation grabbing at its powerful, cloven hooves, using its lobster-like claws to cut the grasping grasses as they form and reform. The demon casts its fiendish eyes on Saliq and smiles to reveal a darkly stained maw. A second later, the illusionist notices another vertically-oriented maw form on the creature's muscular torso, this one even more terrible than the one on its face. The fanged maw opens and snaps shut repeatedly and then bellows out dark word of command that drives deep within one's soul, ferreting out any hidden weakness or vulnerability that might exist.

Meanwhile, back behind Inas, the vulture demon is now sheathed in darkness and remains entrapped in vegetation, though the angry hornets have now flown off elsewhere.

OOC: Norion and Saliq, please make a Saving Throw vs Rods, Staves or Wands. If Save fails, your character must turn and flee in fear, for 6 rounds.

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0 (-4 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 24/28]
#1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: -6/?? (sheathed in darkness, entangle ends round 19)

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/43, 0/37, 0/31]
#1: DEAD (near gatehouse), #2: DEAD (near gatehouse), #3: DEAD (southeast tower)

The Horned One
AC: -4, Size: Large
HP: -17/? (Entangled w/ Illusory vines)[Private to GM: 43/60]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   30/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   24/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   34/48   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Next Call Lightning available round 28

Round 18
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:26, Thu 11 Dec 2014.

Feeling foolish for even trying to help, when his comrades so obviously are more useful, powerful and probably better looking than he is, Ben struggles onward, climbing thru the shadows up the back wall of the keep.

[Private to GM: 02:43, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 75 using 1d100 with rolls of 75. climb walls 94%]

Saliq grins evilly at the Horned One and slowly shakes his head. 'Amusing demonling, but you are in my world now.'

The illusionist thrusts forward a palm, then slowly closes it into a fist. As the Horned One struggles the grass around it's legs and torso begin to squeeze ever tighter with the slow but inevitable force than can send a tree root through solid stone.

Tighter... tighter... tighter...

---

OOC: 10:55, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 16 using 1d20 with rolls of 16. Save vs. Wands vs. 9.

Feeling electricity crackle in the sky, Eagle sweeps his arm down, channelling the lightening towards the terrible demon. It probably won't kill it, but he hopes the bolt will at least slow it down.

OOC: 13:14, Today: Eagle rolled 34 using 9d8 with rolls of 4,1,7,1,2,8,5,4,2. call lightening.

Norion feels the wave of magic slide past him, he shakes it off and continues forward,  gruesome demon, he hopes the storm will give a bit of concern.

Charging up to the giant who was having about the same luck as himself with ranged weapons, he swings his great axe, and draws deeply, hand to hand, now thats more like a dwarven fight.

12:27, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 15 using 2d8+2 with rolls of 8,5. danage
12:27, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 17 using 1d20 with rolls of 17. attack. (+1 = 18)
12:22, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 18 using 1d20 with rolls of 18. save.

Rath lets fly two arrows, putting one at least deeply into the hill giant distracted by the smashed toe. He surveys the scene, taking a deep breath. The creature in the midst of the battle, the Horned One, brings an edge of panic to Rath. But he also catches sight of Saliq, challenging the thing, and Norion holding his ground against its foul hell magic. As Eagle's lightning crashes down -- effective or not, Rath does not know -- he doesn't even think about the options.

He strides forward at a steady run, moving toward Saliq and the monster from the Abyss. He can't muster a prayer or utter a blasphemy. He is grim and silent.

What he will do when he gets there -- well, he doesn't even think about it just yet.





OOC: Critical hit vs. giant with broken toe for 6 damage.

20:18, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 26 using 2d20 with rolls of 20,6. bow and arrow vs giant.

A lightning bolt tears down from the darkened sky and strikes the Horned One, cloaking the monster in a violent shower of sparks and blinding light. The demon lord howls in protest, but remains standing despite taking obvious damage as a result of the strike.

Then, Norion moves around the Horned One and strikes the hill giant with the stubbed toe, finishing off the brute.

All the while, Rath releases arrows and strikes the hornet-pestered hill giant.

Meanwhile, Ben scales up the keep's west wall and makes it all the way up to the top. Once there, he looks down on a keep in ruin and disarray. The makeshift timber and thatch awnings that had previously dominated the keep's courtyard are now a pile of snapped wood and loose straw. This destruction is probably directly correlated to all the commotion that was heard prior to the short gray humanoids' and Dread Ogres' departure and the subsequent arrival of the Horned One, but Ben wasn't able to actually see it transpire. He sees it now though. Destruction.

Otherwise, the keep appears very much as it had when Ben first scouted it out, before the hill giants returned from their hunting foray.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:38, Wed 10 Dec 2014.

Crouching deep in shadows, Ben searched for something, anything that might be of use in the combat. Had the wreckage brought any wall close to collapse? Close enough for Ben to even try to make it happen? Were there any happily loaded siege weapons pointed towards a giant, or even better, the demon? Was there anything?
Was there any way down into the hole the demon had come from, a hole which might hold a clue to it's origin, or how to get it back into the hole, or better yet, banish it to it's fiery home?

Inas draws and fires two more arrows, these ones silver-tipped and both aimed at the swarmed hill giant. Both arrows fly true and sink into the giant's flesh, causing enough damage to topple the over-sized brute.

The hill giants are no more!

20:22, Today: DM Storm, on behalf of Inas Eoinsson, rolled 15,13,7,4 using d20+1,d20+1,d6+2,d6+2 with rolls of 14,12,5,2. attacks vs giant.
This message was last updated by the GM at 06:24, Thu 11 Dec 2014.

All three giants have now been slain and all but one of the vulture-demons has been dispatched by the adventurers, and it is presently covered in entangling briar and grass. Of course, the Horned One is still very much alive, if not also somewhat impeded by Saliq's magic.

The Horned One thrashes against the tightening grass coiling around its powerful legs and then begins chanting in a coarse tongue neither Saliq nor Norion can understand, but judging by the sound of its syllables, whatever the demon lord is saying cannot be good.

The immediate area around the demon becomes cloaked in a swirling darkness that is ringed with searing flames. The flames grow taller in response to the Horned One's coarse chanting, rising higher with each passing moment, and then, total darkness around the demon. Still, from within the blackness, those horrible syllables.

OOC: Eagle is now at ~O15, Inas/Saliq ~L10/11, Rath ~J10, Norion ~H10, Ben ~G11, Horned One is at I10, Vrock at T19

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0 (-4 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 24/28]
#1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: -6/?? (sheathed in darkness, entangle ends round 29)

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/43, 0/37, 0/31]
#1: DEAD (near gatehouse), #2: DEAD (near gatehouse), #3: DEAD (southeast tower)

The Horned One
AC: -4 (-8 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: -35/? (Entangled w/ Illusory vines)[Private to GM: 25/60]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   30/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   24/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   34/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Next Call Lightning available round 28

Round 19
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:56, Fri 12 Dec 2014.

Satisfied that the hill giant menace was neutralised and the flying creature was contained, Inas quickly slung his bow across his back and retrieved his shield and magic sword. Focusing on the horned daemon he advanced up the hill, intent on bringing it's reign of terror to a swift end.

I assume I am too far away to attack this round. I will advance as quickly as I can, but not in a crazy charge!

Slightly disappointed that the lightening didn't do more to slow down the demon, Eagle suddenly realises that the other terrible abomination will be free any second. Running to close any distance he needs to, and chanting to Melora's grace he invokes the spirit of the earth to retain it's grip on the Vrock, so that perhaps his friends can deal steel to the larger demon.

OOC: Eagle will cast entangle on the vrock again, to keep it pinned down.

Norion actually takes a deep breathe, damn this is a hell of way to die, all puns intended, yet still, darkness and fear flow from this abomination, he has already dropped his great axe and switched to his sheild and hand axe even as the giant dropped dead next to him.  He loves that great axe, long has it served him, but a creature like this, he isn't sure it would even feel a mortal blade.  Who knows, maybe the druegar blade is powerful, a demon slayer, but at very least, its magic and also not of this plane, and he'll need every bit of armor his can use in that dark void....with just a momentary glance back at his friend, and wink, he flashes forward, swinging and dodging and thinking of his father.

He needs a 20 to hit, has a +1, and whatever his magic adds, these should hit....
22:27, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 4 using 1d4+3 with rolls of 1. dmgs 2.
22:27, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 6 using 1d4+3 with rolls of 3. dmg 1.
22:25, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 21 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 19. attack 2.
22:25, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 20 using 1d20 2with rolls of 18. attack 1.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:52, Fri 12 Dec 2014.

The magic silver hand axe feels graceful and elegant in Norion's hand and the dwarf fighter wields the weapon with ease, scoring two solid hits against the Horned One! The demon howls in anguish as Norion slashes it first across the right calf and then across its left thigh.

[Private to Norion Ironaxe: OOC: After this successful strike, Norion knows it is a +1 silver hand axe.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:16, Fri 12 Dec 2014.

Seeing that the others seem to have things well in hand, Ben sneaks down within the body of the keep and checks out the hole he thinks the Horned One might have come out of...

Without hope, Rath drops his bow and deftly snatches up his trident, Devilsbane, and although Rath has only the vaguest ideas of what distinguishes a devil from a demon, the difference is not completely lost on him. The demon cloaked in darkness, with his own weapon attuned to devils ... an impossible target. But Norion is in the fray, and, perhaps, Rath thinks, he can distract the beast to give Norion an edge before they both die in horrible ways.

Heading for the darkness, he offers no thanks to Pelor, whose light he is witnessing for the last time, and he offers no prayer to Avandra, who will cast his fortune as She wills.

He strides forward to his doom and plunges the trident almost casually directly into the darkness. He feels the resistance of demon-flesh, and he smirks. "Heh."


OOC:
Need 24 to hit AC -8. Rolled 19, +1 magic bonus, and added an action point to add 1d6 to attack roll, rolled a 6. I hit the damned thing for 8 points of damage.


06:39, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 8 using 3d4+2 with rolls of 2,3,1. damage with trident.
06:35, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 7 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 6. action point to add to attack .
06:33, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 20 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 19. attacking blindly with trident.

Inas strides up the grassy hill and comes alongside Saliq, about 30 feet distant from the Horned One. Rath likewise moves forward, but unlike Inas, the armored fighter charges in quickly, Devilsbane  held in position for a charge. He wades into the darkness and plunges the weapon into the demon!

Sensing the Vrocks imminent release back to the wild, Eagle jogs to a lone pine tree about 50 feet distant from the vile vulture-demon and weaves another spell of entanglement over the beast.

Ben is scaling down the wall in an effort to explore the ruined keep, while his companions battle the demons.

OOC: Eagle is now at ~O15, Inas/Saliq ~L10/11, Rath ~J10, Norion ~H10, Ben ~G11. Horned One is at I10, Vrock at T19

This message was last edited by the GM at 19:58, Fri 12 Dec 2014.

Saliq continued influencing his illusionary grass, keeping the movements simple - growth and entanglement. With the Horned One in darkness there was only so far he could go.

Eagle weaves another entangling spell over the Vrock, but this time the grasping grasses and weeds only seem to slow the demon down, judging by the sphere of darkness that now lumbers toward Eagle. The Vrock shrieks terribly as it closes in on Eagle, then, the Druid is swallowed in darkness, and the vulture-demon begins savaging with raking claws and piercing beak!

Norion and Rath press attacks on either side of the towering Horned One as it contorts its broad, muscular body in an effort to free itself from its binds. Its two clawed hands and two humanoid arms work feverishly to snap or pull away grass and vines, to no avail. Now raging, the Demon-Lord turns its wrath to the trident-armed human. With but a thought, Rath finds himself rising into the sky, just as Norion had before. A moment later, Rath is suspended 20 feet in the air. The Horned One snarls its muzzle of sharp teeth in delight as it toys with Rath.

Of course, only Norion sees this, for the Horned One is still cloaked in darkness.

Elsewhere, Ben climbs down into the ruined courtyard and peeks into a gaping hole leading inside the keep's western half. Inside, Ben sees what looks like used to be a grand reception hall, about 30 feet wide and 40 feet deep. Sweeping staircases are located on either side of the hall, each leading up to an ornate balcony, about 15 feet above the chamber's littered floor.

The hall now lies in utter ruin and is littered with the decaying remains of all manner of animals and humanoids, some of which hang from chains suspended from the ceiling above. The whole area reeks of death and sickness.

Save for the staircases on either side of the hall, there do not appear to be any other obvious entrances or exits to what certainly looks like a lair befitting a Demon Lord.


OOC: Eagle takes 15 points of damage and is now in total darkness with the Vrock. Rath is held 20 feet in the air.

Eagle is now at ~O15, Inas/Saliq ~L10/11, Rath ~J10, Norion ~H10, Ben ~G11, Horned One is at I10, Vrock at O15

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0 (-4 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 24/28]
#1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: -6/?? (Eagle) (sheathed in darkness, slowed until round 29)

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/43, 0/37, 0/31]
#1: DEAD (near gatehouse), #2: DEAD (near gatehouse), #3: DEAD (southeast tower)

The Horned One
AC: -4 (-8 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: -35/? (Entangled w/ Illusory vines)[Private to GM: 25/60]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   2   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   28/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   24/58   2   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   34/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Next Call Lightning available round 28

Round 20
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:25, Sat 13 Dec 2014.

Norion sees Rath rise into the shady darkness.  Stares at this demon, it is truly powerful and evil, an evil he's barely sensed before, yet pure so.  The dragon was maybe more dangerous, but it was a hunter, a destroyer, maybe a bit more than it needed, but this thing, cruelty for cruelty sake.  It stank of putridness.  Some slight click inside of Norion moves, a step closer to himself, to healing, to his clan.

"Rath, I can see you, and if I know combat, an' ah do, that weapon of yours does even more damage on a charge, or set agin' one.  Demonboy likes ta' drop you, it thinks thot hurts ah real warrior, 'an, it does sting ah bit, but set yer weapon, lancelike, an it'll skewer him like ah wild boar....ah can aim it fer ya' in the dark, a bit lower, little ta the left, bit more... yeh, right aboot there....Now Devil, dunna ya' run away back ta' hell, more lightning is coming an' our best warriors are just watching yet, you've been ferreted out into the light, yer reign ends today, but ah so want ta be the one kill yah."

Norion is irritating the beast, if it can't think well, maybe it will make mistakes, maybe,

"Rath, you have the will ov a dwarven king rushing inta this darkness, tis a mark of honor, if ah dunna make it out an you do, dunna let any weep fer me, this is the best day ov my life".

20:00, Yesterday: Norion Ironaxe rolled 15 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 13. Miss

[Private to group Dwarvish: Dwarvish axes, Blood upon stones, die demon, die!!"]
This message was last edited by the player at 16:25, Sat 13 Dec 2014.

Seeing his companion fly into the air, Inas accelerated and charged full length into the gloom. With his sword pointed forward like a lance he bellowed a war cry, inviting his sword to strike down the daemon. "Claíomh na Fírinne!"

As the light vanished from his eyes he tried to make out a figure in the darkness. At the last moment he spied what he thought was his quarry and diverted his sword towards it, but to no avail. He blade went just wide of the mark. He followed up with an arcing swing of his blade, but found nothing but air.

07:22, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 6 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 3. Normal attack v horned one, need nat 20!
07:20, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 22 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 17. CHARGE attack v horned one, tgt 24.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:31, Sat 13 Dec 2014.

Hanging in the air, dead giants and dead henchmen and dark spheres of abyssal darkness below him, seeing only Saliq of all his company -- although the voice of Norion rings up from below -- Rath imagines for a moment that he is being carried aloft by angels. No luck, though -- his breath is labored in his chest, his heart is pounding with fear, his recent wounds ache, and that spot on his neck is still itching. No doubt, his spirit is yet firmly fettered in flesh. He smirks, amused at this own folly, then twists in the air and gets his bearings.

At Norion's direction, he strains and turns the trident in the direction as given, trying to figure how to land without breaking bones and still stick the demon with the tines. He shrugs inwardly and pushes aside the instinct. The important thing is to stick the demon. Broken bones won't mean much in Hell.

"Ironaxe, if this is your best day," Raths calls out, bolstering himself with bluster, "I will weep for you!"

OOC: Rath aims his weapon as best he can to strike the Horned One when/if the demon drops him.

In reply to Aldo Rathmus (msg # 229):

Obviously the rest of the party has its own problems to contend with, but if any of them happened to glance towards the darkness behind them, they might notice a small dark blur accelerating away from it into the sky. And if any of them shared the love of nature of their druid friend, they might recognise the blur as a free-tailed bat, the fastest of all bats. But they're all too busy to notice.

OOC: Eagle will transform into a very nimble and fast bat, and disengage from the vrock at a rate of knots. If possible heading towards the castle.

Saliq decided the time had come to tech the Horned One the folly of dealing with the likes of him. With a gesture the grasses entagling the demon began to twist further, sprouting painful thorns. Individually only capable of causing a scratch, if that, but by the hundred...

Ben flips a mental coin and opts to dash into the underground area and search for something, anything that might be useful in understanding and hopefully stopping the demons rampage.

While the thought of winning the battle with one amazing back stab with his magic dagger is fine, he's learned his lesson, the god s of luck haven't found favor in his attempts at martial prowess.

Eagle's transformation into a bat leaves the Vrock without a viable target to savage, so it turns its attention to the adventurers harrying its master. There, it spies Saliq, Inas and Norion crowded around the Horned One. The vulture demon growls and darts forward to pounce on Saliq, shrieking as it lumbers forward to close on the illusionist, animated grasses grabbing at it all the way.

Despite the magical hindrances, the Vrock reaches the illusionist and Saliq is raked across the back several times, the force of which throws the illusionist to the ground. The vulture demon then clamps down on Saliq's leg with its powerful beak. Amazingly, Saliq wriggles free and gets back to his feet before the demon has a chance to finish him off. Badly shaken, but not out for the count. Yet.

The Horned One sees the Vrock's attack through the darkness and roars in celebratory laughter. But, the demon is now growing weary of struggling against the animated grasses and roots and is not particularly caring for its present predicament of being surrounded by three warriors who have been moderately successful in their efforts to injure it. So, the Horned One disappears!

At the same instant, Rath plummets and lands roughly on the ground.

Meanwhile, inside the crumbling keep, Ben cautiously enters the decaying, death-reeking hall in search for something. What, the thief is not exactly clear on, but he looks nonetheless. The thief begins walking through the corpse and bone-strewn first floor and notices most of the victims are humans, most likely villagers abducted from Windham, Newstead and Salt Flats. Several fresher corpses dangle from chains suspended from the ceiling, well above.

Then, Ben spies something interesting. A ray of sun streaks in through a gaping hole in the ceiling, providing just enough light to reveal the presence of an enormous pile of treasure near the hall's far end. Perhaps thousands of glittering gold coins are intermixed with the bones of the Horned One's past victims.

Crunch. Growl. Hiss.

Approaching the pile of treasure, Ben hears something, though in truth, he knows what it is: The Horned One.

Somehow, the Horned One appears on the balcony directly above Ben!

OOC: Saliq takes 9 points of damage. Rath takes 7 points of falling damage.

Eagle is now at ~O15, Inas/Saliq/Vrock ~L10/11, Rath ~J10, Norion ~H10, Ben/Horned One ~G11.

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0 (-4 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 12/28]
#1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: -16/?? (Saliq/Inas) (sheathed in darkness, slowed until round 29)

The Horned One
AC: -4 (-8 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: -35/? [Private to GM: 25/60]

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/43, 0/37, 0/31]
#1: DEAD (near gatehouse), #2: DEAD (near gatehouse), #3: DEAD (southeast tower)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   28/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   24/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   27/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   10/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Next Call Lightning available round 28

Round 21
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:33, Wed 17 Dec 2014.

Inas looked around. Where there had been a strange daemon cloaked in darkness was now just thin air. Was it invisible, or had it disappeared. He was about to swing at the air, just in case, when he heard Saliq cry out in pain. Turning he saw the flying vulture-like monster attacking his friend. He stepped sideways and swung his sword high and hard, trying to sever the beast's head from it's neck.

Unfortunately his aim was poor and his blade hissed harmlessly through the air.

06:51, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 9 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 6. Melee attack v vrock.

Well, this is good, and bad Ben thinks to himself, but probably more bad then good

Still, it seemed to Ben that the demons presence here might just mean he had taken the beastie off guard, and that something... (but what!) here could be the key to hurting it.

OOC - could I get a better sense of the lay out? Is there a direction I could dash that would take me out of the creatures line of sight? Into the treasure, towards the sacrifices, etc? Also, are any of the sacrifices still alive?

Ben looks up at the hanging gore and notices a few humans, with meat hooks sunk deep in their backs, who appear like they might be clinging precariously to their last thread of life, but most are already gone. None are in any way capable of effecting much resistance and are more likely than not, just waiting for the sweet release that death promises.

At the moment, the Horned One's back is to Ben, and the thief is not in direct line of sight to the demon.

Ben guages the distance between himself and the demon, if he feels he can close and attempt to stab him in the back with the magic dagger, he will do so.

Rath hits the ground and doesn't break his neck. He stumbles to his feet, the breath knocked out of him and everything bruised. In the unlikely event he's still alive tomorrow, that's going to hurt. Disoriented, he knows the Horned One is gone, which is little comfort, but has no idea where or why. Regardless, there's a danger, and with his weapon held in a weary, awkward grip, he advances with Inas on the vulture demon cloaked in darkness.



06:02, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 5 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 4. attack vrock with trident.

Ben, to all appearances, commit suicide.

06:13, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 6 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 1. backstab attempt (+4 b/s +1 dagger=+5).

06:14, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 12 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 7. re-roll action point used.

06:12, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 56 using 1d100 with rolls of 56. move silently 60% chance.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:15, Tue 16 Dec 2014.

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 239):

In bat form eagle flies over his companions engaging the vrock, and on into the castle to see what had become of the horned one and Ben. He will be careful to remain unseen of possible.

When the demon vanishes, Norion has a moment of hope that the demon has fled back to the Abyss, switching away from his sheild and small axe, he grabs up his trusty friend and surveys the scene.  Damn, the bird vulture demon is free and headed for Saliq.  He does know those things do a lot of damage in a hurry so he charges the beast calling out a battle cry to hopefully draw its ire, for he might not survive long against it but Saliq really isn't trained for such. Norion's charging strike is fierce and it seems for a second, it might miss but he digs down deep into his dwarvish soul, such that it is an adjusts midair in strike, hitting with tremendous force, so much so, he stumbles and nearly drops his weapon as he swings a second time.


10:36, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4. AP Charge.
13:04, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 5 using 1d12+2 with rolls of 3. damage v. charge attack.
10:32, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 2 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 1. attack birddemon 2.
10:32, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 12 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 11. attack birddemon 1 (+2 charge, +4 AP,  18 final, needs a 15 to hit)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:06, Wed 17 Dec 2014.

Saliq tried to control his rising panic and mutters a few more words of magic. At once his body seems to grow translucent, as if he is made of whisps of intangible fog, still in humanoid form but a being of mist that any physical attack would harmlesslessly pass through. In such a form he drifts away from the demon, seeming to pass a few inches above the grass and vegetation as he floats in the direction of Eagle.

---

OOC: Saliq casts Phantasmal Force.

The hulking Demon Lord swings around in rage following Ben's unsuccessful attempt to plunge his sword deep into the monster's back. The Horned One laughs while looming large over Ben, the darkness of the demon's shadow completely blotting out all but the white of the thief's eyes...

The Horned One proceeds to savage Ben, tossing him left and right with successive slams and raking claw attacks. The demon grabs hold of Ben's collar and pushes him up against the balcony's banister and leans in to close, affording the thief an unwelcome whiff of the demon's horrible stench.

"Prepare to die..." it growls menacingly in the common tongue.

Meanwhile, while flying over the keep, Eagle is unable to echolocate Ben along its remaining walls or atop tower or in the ruined courtyard. Either the thief has slipped inside the keep somewhere, or he has disappeared altogether.

Elsewhere, the vrock ceases its attack on Saliq and turns its attention to Norion, clawing the dwarf fighter across the face.

OOC: Ben takes 23 points of damage. Norion takes 2 points of damage.

Eagle is now circling above the keep, Inas/Saliq/Rath/Norion/Vrock ~L10/11, Ben/Horned One ~G11.

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0 (-4 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 12/28]
#1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: -16/?? (Saliq/Inas) (sheathed in darkness, slowed until round 29)

The Horned One
AC: -4, Size: Large
HP: -35/? [Private to GM: 25/60]

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/43, 0/37, 0/31]
#1: DEAD (near gatehouse), #2: DEAD (near gatehouse), #3: DEAD (southeast tower)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7    6/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   28/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   22/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   27/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   10/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Next Call Lightning available round 28

Round 22
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!

Rath interposes himself between the shrouded demon and the gaseous wizard, brandishing Devilsbane fruitlessly against the vrock.

Ooc: Miss.

Inas continued to wave his sword at the flying creature, his attacks proving as futile as Rath's. Hopefully it would buy Saliq some time to evade the situation. As he trusted, parried and moved his feet he called out to his companions, "Where did that beast go? And where are Ben and Eagle?" The battle had gotten very confusing.

06:50, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 8 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 5. Attack 2 on Vrock, tgt 20.
06:50, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 16 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 13. Attack 1 on Vrock, tgt 20.

His lifes blood running out onto the floor, and into the demons mouth, Ben grabs for his one, faint hope, whips it out and urina... err, blows the horn of terror with all the terror he has in him, which is a considerable amount right now.

>Toot!<

Ben's act of desperation seemingly amuses the Horned One. The demon lord  bows backwards and lets out a terrifying, uncontrolled belly laugh that causes Ben's entire body to tremble. The shadows darken around the demon and all Ben can see is its glowing eyes and twisted, fiendish grin.

When the Horned One manages to stop laughing, it grabs a nearby hanging chain and meat-hook and pronounces in an imperious tone, "On second thought, I might let you, hang around for a bit, to amuse me, Puppet-Boy!"

It laughs again, but this time, that laughter is different...

Incidentally, all this laughter was heard by the rest of the party, and even Eagle, in bat-form, felt the vibrations.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:00, Thu 18 Dec 2014.

In reply to DM Storm (msg # 247):

Following the vibrations Eagle will try to locate the source of the vibrations - hopefully he can identify the cavern/basement location without going too far in, and then return to a place outside on the battlements in the same round.

OOC: can't think of much that I can do for Ben other than locate him in bat form - hopefully Ben can delay him a bit more while being hung up so we can get closer to amother lightening bolt (obviously without getting killed Ben!)

Norion hears the horn and then the laughter of the demonlord, damn, there goes his hope the thing had run along back to the abyss.  Swinging at the birddemon, he curses under his breathe again, the thing was so fast it was hard as diamonds to get a clear hit on it.

13:11, Yesterday: Norion Ironaxe rolled 14 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 13. miss

Saliq abruptly reverses course and begins moving as fast as his pseudo-mist form can manage towards Ben's desperate horn. If he can get close enough to see Ben and the Horned One perhaps his magic could help.

Saliq pulls off the vrock and begins heading toward where he suspects Ben might have gotten off to. Passing by the slain giants, the illusionist passes through the abandoned gatehouse and enters the chaos and ruin of the dilapidated, ramshackle courtyard. Beyond the piles of split timbers and heaps of thatch, Saliq spots a gaping hole in the remnant of the keep's western wing. Laughter is echoing from within the hole. Glancing overhead, Saliq sees Eagle, in bat-form, circling over the entrance to the ruined keep. Ben must surely be inside, somewhere.

Yes. Ben is in there: one on one with the Horned One, in its lair!

The Horned One roughly grabs hold of Ben with one of its four arms, and in the others, plunges the chained meat-hook into the thief's suit of armor. A moment later, the Horned One is hoisting Ben up into the air. Not a good predicament for the scruffy thief of Stormhaven!

Despite being surrounded by three opponents, the vrock fights on. And fight it does! Norion is thrashed by the vulture-demon yet again. The dwarf is tough, but he certainly cannot take much more of this abuse without succumbing to his injuries.

OOC: Ben takes 3 points of damage and can make a saving throw (Breath Weapon) to attempt to wriggle free of the meat-hook and chain and escape. Norion takes 13 points of damage from the vrock.

Eagle is now circling above the Horned One's Lair, Saliq is outside the Horned One's Lair ~G11, Inas/Rath/Norion/Vrock ~L10/11, Ben is in the Horned One's Lair ~G11.

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0 (-4 in darkness), Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 6/28]
#1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: -22/?? (Saliq/Inas) (sheathed in darkness, slowed until round 29)

The Horned One
AC: -4, Size: Large
HP: -35/? [Private to GM: 25/60]

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/43, 0/37, 0/31]
#1: DEAD (near gatehouse), #2: DEAD (near gatehouse), #3: DEAD (southeast tower)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7    3/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   28/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3    9/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   27/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   10/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Next Call Lightning available round 28

Round 23
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:41, Fri 19 Dec 2014.

The last round of attacks in a blur from that monster rocked through the dwarf, his armor remains intact, but every seem and gap in it seem to leaking blood.  He takes several deep breathes, and for a moment it seems like he is far away in a trance, but swings a weak and ineffectual swing grimacing with the pain of the movement, but the pain flares also in his mind and spirit, and he swings again, this time much better,  "Doon ah my go, but naught without a bit ov yer blood on meh axe foul beast".


14:22, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 8 using 1d12+2 with rolls of 6. dmg.
14:21, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 19 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 18. at 2.
14:21, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 8 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 7. atck 1.

In reply to Norion Ironaxe (msg # 252):

Seeing saliq appear gives Eagle some hope, though in truth he fears the demonic opponents are too strong for them yet. Landing on the battlements with a view of both the courtyard and his friends battling the brick he transforms back into his human self, yelling down to Saliq 'be careful' as he does so.

Saliq gave a startled look upward, then nodded. Of course.

Drawing a deep breath he moved through the hole in the wall towards his embattled friend.

Rath ducks in and out of the darkness, thrusting at the monster within without success. The Horned One's distant laughter would sink his heart, if his heart weren't already at the bottom of swamp.

Maybe Ironaxe and Eoinsson can finish off the vulture-beast, but Rath isn't going to disengage and leave it to them.

OOC: Miss.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:19, Fri 19 Dec 2014.

01:49, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 13 using 1d20 with rolls of 13. save versus breath weapon = 15.

Unless there is a dex bonus for the save, I fail.

Inas thrusts and jabs his bastard sword at the vrock, but is unable to land a hit.
This message was last updated by the GM at 22:42, Sat 20 Dec 2014.

Norion, Rath and Inas continue to face off against the wounded Vrock at the threshold of the keep's gatehouse, the vulture-demon clawing wildly at anything in its path. Unfortunately, that happens to be Norion, whom continues to suffer the brunt of the demon's malice. The dwarf fight is raked across the face, knocking his helm off and causing it to fly across the battlefield and crash into the stone wall. Norion is knocked backward, but somehow manages to stay on his feet. The vrock races in again and grabs the dwarf's left arm in its powerful beak and bites down hard, snapping bone, causing Norion to lose consciousness. With a triumphant flick of its sinewy neck, the vrock tosses Norion into the air like a rag-doll. Norion comes to rest some 10 feet distant, landing with an indignant thud at the gates of Moradin's Hearth!

Saliq an Eagle have now gathered just outside the gaping hole leading into what remains of the keep's west wing. Glancing inside, they see the Horned One standing atop a grand balcony, leering over Ben, whom is suspended from a spiked chain that is attached to a ceiling beam. Ben seems to still be alive, albeit barely. The thief is covered in blood from head to toe. Satisfied that his quarry has been subdued, the Glabrezu demon turns on its heels and steps toward the balcony.

"Hang tight," it adds in cruel mockery, "I will bring the others so that you can all share in the torture, together!" The Horned One cackles and begins descending the stairs, headed toward Eagle and Saliq.

OOC: Norion takes 12 points of damage and is unconscious and dying! Ben takes 1 point of damage as the meat-hook slices through his armor and punctures his skin. The hook is now embedded in his flesh. He can still make a saving throw (Breath Weapon) to attempt to wriggle free of the meat-hook and chain and escape.

Eagle and Saliq are now just outside the Horned One's Lair ~G11, Inas/Rath/Norion/Vrock ~L10/11, Ben is in the Horned One's Lair ~G11.

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 6/28]
#1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: -22/?? (Rath, Inas, Norion) (Slowed until round 29)

The Horned One
AC: -4, Size: Large
HP: -35/? [Private to GM: 25/60]

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/43, 0/37, 0/31]
#1: DEAD (near gatehouse), #2: DEAD (near gatehouse), #3: DEAD (southeast tower)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7    2/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   28/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   -3/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Unconscious and Dying
Rath     3   27/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   10/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Next Call Lightning available round 28

Round 24
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:06, Sat 20 Dec 2014.

Inas watched in horror as his Dwarven companion flew through the air and hit the ground with a sickening thud. Unsure whether his friend was dead or knocked out, he knew there was naught he could do for him yet. He turned and bellowed a curse at the Vrock. "Damn you, daemon! Back to the circle of hells where you belong!" He redoubled his efforts, swinging his sword hard and slashing at the cloud of darkness. But to no avail. His efforts were clumsy and he failed to connect with anything of substance.

07:28, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8. Attack 2 v Vrock, tgt 20.
07:28, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8. Attack 1 v Vrock, tgt 20.

Rath steps between the vulture and the fallen dwarf. If the vrock intends to finish off Norion, it will have to go through Rath. Or over him. Or around.

He jabs his weapon forward, but blindly, through that infernal cloak of darkness.

"Eagle!" Rath shouts. "Get your feathered butt down here! Ironaxe is down!"

07:36, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 14 using 1d20 with rolls of 14. save versus breath weapon = 15.

Ben almost makes it off the end of the hook, but cannot quite succeed.

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 261):

Eagle blanches in fear at the site of the demon, and in panic he reaches for his satchel. 'We need it outside - but we need to slow it down too,' he yells at Saliq, hoping his companion might have something up his sleeve. 'Stand back,' he mutters as he spreads some oil on the threshold of the entrance to the lair. Eagle then runs back towards the gatehouse away from the demon, hoping he will be followed.

OOC: deploying the oil of slipperiness - no idea what it does, but I'm hoping it might stop him for moment.

Saliq raises his hands and begins chanting... and suddenly the chain Ben is on seems to come to life! Like a snake the cold steel wraps around the Horned One's muscular neck, constricts and begins to choke him.

The illusionist was nearly at the end of his bag of tricks and prayed the others would be able to do something with the chance he might have bought them.

---

OOC: Saliq casts Improved Phantasmal Force.

The vrock snarls and hisses at Inas and Rath. It has already scored one kill and demons are not sated so easily. It pounces on Rath, tearing at the fighter, who does his best to ward off the demon's attacks, but is wounded in the process.

Meanwhile, inside the keep, Saliq weaves another illusion against the Horned One, this time causing chains to wrap around the demon's neck. The monstrous demon appears unphased by this latest display, perhaps seeing through the trickster's ruses now and begins loping down the stairwell toward Eagle and Saliq. The demon narrows its eyelids and stares through Saliq, whom feels the demon's wickedness throughout his body, and a moment later, Saliq begins rising from the ground!

The demon reaches the bottom of the stairwell and strides forward, toward the exit...and slips!

In a moment of perhaps dark comedic relief, the hulking demon's feet go splaying left and right and not even four flailing arms can save it from falling. Right. On. Its. Demonic. Ass!

This causes the Horned One to lose concentration, and Saliq falls back to the ground. The illusionist twists an ankle, badly, but is still conscious!

The Horned One rages in anger as it struggles to regain its footing, its scream shaking the crumbling keep's stone walls.

OOC: Rath takes 12 points of damage. Norion takes 1 point of damage and is unconscious and dying. Saliq takes 6 points of falling damage. Ben is still hooked but can make a saving throw (Breath Weapon) to attempt to wriggle free of the meat-hook and chain and escape. If he fails his saving throw, he will take another point of damage and go unconscious...

Eagle and Saliq are now just outside the Horned One's Lair ~G11. Inas/Rath/Norion/Vrock are at ~L10/11, Ben is in the Horned One's Lair, hanging on a meat-hook ~G11.

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 6/28]
#1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: -22/?? (Rath, Inas, Norion) (Slowed until round 29)

The Horned One
AC: -4, Size: Large
HP: -35/? [Private to GM: 25/60]

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/43, 0/37, 0/31]
#1: DEAD (near gatehouse), #2: DEAD (near gatehouse), #3: DEAD (southeast tower)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7    0/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2, Unconscious
Eagle    6   28/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   -4/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Unconscious and Dying
Rath     3   15/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7    4/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Next Call Lightning available round 28

Round 25
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:58, Tue 23 Dec 2014.

10:42, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 1 using 1d20 with rolls of 1. save.

Ben's awkward and inefficient struggles come to an end.

Seeing another friend badly wounded, Inas slashed hard. Despite the veil of shadow having dissipated his aim was still poor, and his arcing swing sailed wide of the mark.

19:04, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 12 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 9. Attack v Vrock, tgt 16.

Jeez, can't hit a damn thing at the moment!!!

In sheer desperation Saliq drew one of his throwing daggers and hurled it at the demon. It was unlikely to hit and even if it did unlikely to damage but he had to do something to keep the Horned One distracted until Eagle or one of the fighters could act.

---

OOC:

19:50, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 3 using 1d4 with rolls of 3. Damage.

19:50, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 7 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 4. Throwing Dagger.

I wasn't expecting much but still... :(

In reply to Saliq Musfara (msg # 267):

Eagle glances at the sky, but he knows in his heart it is too soon. Instead he hopes beyond hope that by Melora's grace they might find a couple of minutes more taway from the demon's crashing anger. Again Eagle invokes the vast power of the earth itself, and from the stairwell erupts a mess of tangling weeds.

OOC: going to try and entangle the blighter.

Roots and weeds begin twisting out from between cobblestones and the broken masonry and splintered timbers that litter the courtyard, completely ensnaring the Horned One in mass of vegetation.

For the moment, the demon appears not only caught in a field of unnatural slipperiness, but also entangled, yet again!

Oblivious to the larger demon's pratfall, perhaps because he's being ripped apart by the vrock, Rath staggers under the onslaught. He growls with fury and searing pain, trying desperately to keep the tines of his trident between him and the vulture-demon.

Miss.
21:56, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 15 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 14. desperate attack with trident vs vrock.

The vrock is bleeding profusely from many wounds now but it continues to battle on. Demons of this, the lowest sort, have very little preservation instinct. They are cold-blooded killers designed for one purpose only: inflicting as much pain, suffering and death as possible.

And that it does! A few minutes ago, it tossed aside Norion like a chew toy and now, so too is Rath savaged by the fell beast. The vrock pounces on the warrior and viciously tears into Rath, and he too joins Norion, cast aside in a broken, bleeding heap.

The vulture-demons turns and regards Inas with cruel, calculating eyes...

Meanwhile, a drama of another sort is occurring within the dilapidated courtyard. The Horned One is caught beneath a tangle of root and weed, unable to extricate itself from the mass. Eagle and Saliq await just on the periphery, hoping against hope for some way they can vanquish this powerful foe. A short distance away, Ben dangles in the air, unconscious, hooked like a slab of meat swaying in the butcher's slaughterhouse.

That's a better fate than Norion and Rath, who are now traveling the Great Wall, on the way to meet their Gods.

OOC: Rath takes 21 points of damage and in unconscious and dying. Likewise, Norion is unconscious and dying. Ben is unconscious and hanging from a meat-hook. Inas is faced off against the last Vrock. Eagle and Saliq are standing near the entangled Horned One.

Eagle and Saliq are now just outside the Horned One's Lair ~G11. Inas/Rath/Norion/Vrock are at ~L10/11, Ben is in the Horned One's Lair, hanging on a meat-hook ~G11.

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 0/28]
#1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: DEAD

The Horned One
AC: -4, Size: Large
HP: -35/? (Eagle/Saliq)[Private to GM: 25/60]

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/43, 0/37, 0/31]
#1: DEAD (near gatehouse), #2: DEAD (near gatehouse), #3: DEAD (southeast tower)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7    0/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2, Unconscious
Eagle    6   28/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   -5/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Unconscious and Dying
Rath     3   -5/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Unconscious and Dying
Saliq    7    4/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Next Call Lightning available round 28

Round 26
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:27, Wed 24 Dec 2014.

Inas looked on helplessly as another of his companions crumpled in a heap on the floor. Within minutes four of his companions had been brutally slain, and the other three has disappeared from sight. He was all alone.

He was faced with two options. Slay this beast and try to find his friends, or run and try to save his own skin. An Eoinsson doesn't run.

He stamped his foot on the ground, then stamped the other foot. He arched his back and held his head high. The teachings of Ka'alka'asta'a, an old Centaur he had spent time with several years hence, rushed forward. Stand your ground, never show fear, believe in yourself. He opened his mouth and out poured an ancient Centaurian curse. "A'atla'ha! Qa'sha'ka'araka'ta'a! Mu'ukt'a'a!"

He knew not it's direct translation into the human tongue, there being little in common between the two languages. And Ka'alka'asta'a had been reluctant to try to translate it for him. But he knew they were words of power, of ancient strength, used by the great centaur warriors of the past who knew they faced certain death but refused to pass meekly across the Great Ford into the Land of Ever Night. Hopefully some of their great spirit would guide his sword arm and help him win this day.

He swung hard but again missed his mark. But instead of swinging again he feinted to the right and lunged forward, driving Claíomh na Fírinne at the creature's black heart. Success! His blade met with yielding flesh and pierced deep into the beast's torso and punctured through the other side. He twisted and withdrew the blade, preparing to strike again.

07:55, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 14 using 1d12+5 with rolls of 9. Damage.
07:54, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 17 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 14. Attack 2 v Vrock tgt 16.
07:54, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 10 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 7. Attack 1 v Vrock, tgt 16.

Channeling the Centaurian Curse gives Inas the vigor needed to slay the Vrock, his ancient sword slices deep into the demon's torso and skewers its beating heart! A river of dark, smoking blood pours out of the angry wound as the demon expires on the ground.

The trio of Vrocks are no more!!!

Saliq hurled another dagger at the Horned One (to no affect) and wondered desperately when the party combatants would arrive; with the demon wise to his tricks and his magic practically spent in any case the illusionist had very little left to fight with.

---

OOC:

11:08, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 3 using 1d4 with rolls of 3. Damage.

11:08, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 16 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 13. Throwing Dagger

In reply to Saliq Musfara (msg # 274):

Hoping that the demon is slowed down enough for now, Eagle runs back out of the castle, fearful for his friends having heard a cry for his help earlier. As he arrives he witnesses Inas felling the beast, but spies his fallen comrades. Immediately he cries out to Melora's and lays his hands on Norion.

OOC:
12:07, Today: Eagle rolled 3 using 1d8 with rolls of 3. clw take 2.

Eagle flees from the Horned One, leaving Saliq all by himself with the powerful Demon Lord. In truth, Eagle is not fleeing though, rather, spurred on by a call for feathery butt, he is racing to the aid of his fallen companions who now lying in bloody heaps outside the keep.

Coming upon Norion first, the druid kneels down and channels Melora's magic to mend his wounds, which are quite grievous indeed. A moment later, Norion is silently led by an ancient dwarf lord down a stone corridor, back to the world of the living, given a second chance to claim glory!

Norion emerges from death's grip, bloody, bruised and permanently scarred from the ordeal. But, he will live to fight another day!

Meanwhile, Saliq need not worry too deeply about the Horned One because the demon is completely bound by entangling roots. If that were not enough, the entire ground near the exit of its lair is covered in slippery oil. The Glabrezu demon rages against its plight and struggles for a bit, before yet again, blinking out of sight. A moment later, Saliq sees the demon standing atop the balcony, back inside the keep's west wing.

OOC: Rath is unconscious and dying. Norion is conscious again, with 2 hit points. Ben is unconscious and hanging from a meat-hook. Inas is standing over the slain Vrock outside the keep's walls. Eagle is near Norion. Saliq is standing near the entangled area leading into the Horned One's lair.

Ben/Saliq ~G11. Eagle/Inas/Rath/Norion/Vrock ~L10/11.

The Horned One
AC: -4, Size: Large
HP: -46/? [Private to GM: (14)25/60]

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 0/28]
#1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: DEAD

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/43, 0/37, 0/31]
#1: DEAD (near gatehouse), #2: DEAD (near gatehouse), #3: DEAD (southeast tower)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7    0/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2, Unconscious
Eagle    6   28/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3    2/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3    8/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7    4/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Next Call Lightning available round 28

Round 27
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:49, Wed 24 Dec 2014.

Inas nodded silently at Eagle. There was no time to celebrate a hard fought victory against the vulture demon, nor to engage in idle chatter. He was confident that the Druid would tend to the wounded as needed, and his blade was needed elsewhere. He charged up the hill, following the path that Eagle had just come down. As he approached he caught sight of Saliq, the realised that the horned demon was ensnared by magicks, though whose magicks he wasn't sure. He quickly made a decision and sheathed his sword. He retired his bow and prepared to take aim at the struggling beast.

Assume I can't shoot until next round.

Rath's blood nourishes the unholy earth.

In reply to Aldo Rathmus (msg # 278):

Eagle wastes no time striding to the fallen fighter, and again invokes Melora's spirit as he lays his hands across the wounds. Again the very life force of the earth is channelled through the druid to good effect.

OOC:
22:09, Today: Eagle rolled 8 using 1d8 with rolls of 8. clw.

Eagle's magic healing successfully delivers Rath from the Gate of Death, back to the Mortal World, though the specter of death is omnipresent so long as the Horned One breathes.

Saliq ground his teeth in frustration but within moments began chanting a spell.

Seconds later there was a flash of light as as a lightning bolt hurtled from the sky to hit the horned one directly in the face.

---

OOC: Saliq casts Phantasmal Force.

The Horned One stumbles backward when the flash of lighting bursts in his face, sending showers of sparks flying in every direction. Oddly, no sound accompanied the lightning bolt, but the demon did not seem to notice that irregularity.

OOC: Hit for 11 points of "damage"

Norion is dragged by the power of magic back into the land of the living, before he opens his eyes, he gurgles out, "King Zorak, it was ahn' honor..." then he turns and coughs out blood.

Eyes open, he swallows, licks his lips and the pain that had nearly faded from his body comes crashing back, he twitches, catching his breathe, "Bless you Eagle, 'ah dunna know how yer still alive, but bless yeh.."

Pushing himself up, he assesses the scene, seeing Rath in a heap sends a chill down his spine, but he hopes the Druid can heal him as well as he did himself.  Quickly he realizes the last Vulture is down, and hears the demonlord belowing still.  He tries to leap to his feet, but it is more like crawl to his feet, his can barely breathe through broken ribs, his left arm is broken, and dislocated, it hangs limp, no need for his large axe, he cannot weild it with one arm.

As he moves towards the sound of the foe, he uses his good arm to unlatch his breastplate, it falls off and he breathe better and move faster on weak legs, he does the same with his sheild, there is little it will do him now.

Pulling out his new hand axe, he moves until he can see the demon, it is entangled, and seems clumbsier for some reason, not able to keep its feet.  Saliq is still there facing it, what an amazing magician to somehow still be tormenting this monster.   Since he cannot get too close due to the writhing plants, he will move close as he can, tucking back the magic handaxe for his older one, and when in range will throw it at the beast.

Reeling from its collective wounds, the Horned One is driven deeper into its blood-lust. Were the demon of keener intellect, it would surely flee, but such emotions are not in its nature.

Growling in delirious anticipation of ripping the few remaining mortals to shreds, the demon teleports back to the courtyard, a few yards distant the entangled, slippery threshold leading into its lair.

The Demon-Lord towers over the illusionist, dwarf and ranger and raises its four arms skyward while tilts its head upward and belting out a primal scream that shakes all three to the core.

Overheard, dark clouds swirl above the Horned One, bursts of light illuminating the heavy folds here or there as Melora's might crackles and rumbles.

Inas, Norion and Saliq are swallowed in the Horned One's shadow as the demon prepares to tear all three to shreds...


OOC: Ben is unconscious and hanging from a meat-hook. Eagle is near Rath. Inas/Norion/Saliq are standing near the entangled area leading into the Horned One's lair, with the Horned One getting ready to attack...

Call Lightning is available.

Ben/Inas/Norion/Saliq/Horned One ~G11. Eagle/Rath ~L10/11.

The Horned One
AC: -4, Size: Large
HP: DEAD [Private to GM: (0/60]

Vrocks, 3
AC: 0, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/40, 0/42, 0/28]
#1: DEAD, #2: DEAD, #3: DEAD

Hill Giants, 3
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: [Private to GM: 0/43, 0/37, 0/31]
#1: DEAD (near gatehouse), #2: DEAD (near gatehouse), #3: DEAD (southeast tower)


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7    8/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   28/38   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3    2/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3    8/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7    4/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Next Call Lightning available round 38

Round 28
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Enemies

OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:18, Mon 29 Dec 2014.

Rath gathers himself and staggers to his feet, using his trident as a staff. He knows the vrock did not leave him in one piece, and he's mildly surprised that his innards are back in his belly. He glances at Eagle, nods acknowledgement for what the druid has done for him, and turns his attention to the battlefield.

Rath's vision blurs. He wipes the blood from his eyes. Seeing Norion lurching into the fray, Rath momentarily thinks it's one of Musfara's zombie-illusions. In another moment of disorientation, Rath wonders if he himself is Saliq's illusion. Doesn't matter, he thinks. Doesn't change what needs done.

Rath takes a deep breath, to make sure he can still breathe, and trudges with increasing momentum toward the flashes of light and darkness marking the center of the battle.

Norion seeing the demon now right in front of him grabs his Magic axe with his good arm and Attucks, barely missing with the first but landing a decent blow with the second,  so weak though he nearly collapsed with the effort.



15:19, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4. Damage of 7
15:19, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 18 using 1d20 with rolls of 18., plus two 20
22:02, Yesterday: Norion Ironaxe rolled 16 using 1d20 with rolls of 16. Plus 2 18

In reply to Norion Ironaxe (msg # 286):

As soon as he had laid hands on Rath, Eagle had turned and sprinted back to the courtyard, arriving through the arch he sees the demon preparing to attack as the bloodied dwarf bravely attacks it.

'Stand back' he yells as he sweeps his arms down to channel the storm. There is an almighty crash as the thunder explodes overhead, and a blinding flash as lightening stabs down at the creature from the abyss.

OOC:
21:15, Today: Eagle rolled 45 using 9d8 with rolls of 4,6,3,4,6,6,7,5,4. lightening bolt.

Happy Christmas!

Saliq, feeling the hairs on the back of neck stand up with the electricity in the air retreats backwards, away from the lightning blast zone.

A monstrous thunder clap pierces the air as a bolt of lightning crashes down from the sky into The Horned One. The concussive force from the blast knocks Inas, Norion and Saliq a good ten feet backward, but this is nothing compared to the damage suffered by the Horned One.

The very instant the lightning strikes, the demon's innards are brought to a rapid boil while its scaly hide is consumed in a blinding white fire. The Horned One stumbles forward a few paces and opens its mouth to scream in agony, but does not even manage even that much, for a second later, the demon's body crumbles into little more than a pile of charred ash and beastly gristle.

Dark smokes rises from the ground where the Horned One once stood. The Demon Lord is no more!

Saliq painfully picks himself up and looks at the remains of the demon lord in astonishment. Thank you Melora and Sehanine, the illusionist thought piously. He blinks then calls out: "Ben!"

Saliq ran over to check on his friend, avoiding the charred circle of demonic remains.

Twisting gently in the air, Ben hung sagging from a metal hook which had pierced him thru the back, the tip protruding from the center of his chest.

Rath, too, is almost knocked off his feet by the blast. His vision fades and returns. He hears Saliq call out Ben's name. Rath does not allow himself the thought that the danger is gone. He doesn't dare yield yet to hope. But he trudges dutifully forward to join the others, keeping his trident ready and his shattered senses as focused as possible on unexpected threats from all quarters ... .

Saliq and Rath gaze through the gaping hole in the keep's wall leading into what remains of the west wing. A tangle of writhing vines completely blocks off entrance into the keep, beneath that a razor-thin sheen of slipperiness further impedes progress.

Still, through the tangled mass, they do spot Ben, unconscious and hanging from a meat-hook at the top of a grand balcony overlooking a dilapidated hall. Numerous other bodies hang from chains attached to the ceiling's remnant and the chamber reeks strangely of death, misery and suffering. A few rays of sun pierce through a section of the missing ceiling along the hall's northern section, affording perhaps an alternate entry point, should one attempt to climb the wall to reach their unconscious companion.

From what little can be seen from beyond the threshold, there does not seem to be any obvious threats lurking within the west wing.

Inas' head swam from the concussive blast. He looked up, seeing crisp white clouds in the sky and wasn't sure if he was alive or dead. Then the ache of his muscles reminded him that he was very much alive. He carefully got back to his feet and coughed up a lungful of dust.

Then he heard a voice. Saliq! The trickster was calling for their light-fingered companion. He staggered forward, blinking through the dust that hung in the air. Suddenly he saw him, hung like a side of beef in a butchers back room. His heart sank, but he didn't wish to give up on his companion so easily. "Eagle! We need your magicks again!"

He rushed forward and stood next to Ben. Carefully he wrapped his arms around the man's waist and lifted him upwards, trying not to tear his already brutalised flesh. If he could he would lift his off the hook and lay him gently on the floor.

Once Eagle arrived to use his skills on Ben, Inas would quickly check the other bodies hanging on hooks to see if any of them still lived. Eagle may well be very busy over the coming minutes.