Post:
As I witnessed the battle below me, I saw my need to keep the party together.  I knew from experience that too often the enemy is underestimated, opening yourself up for an attack in the final blow.  I shouted from atop my steed as I circled around for another pass.  The creature will fall, but we must not lose discipline in the final moments.  Rallying the party I shouted directions from above.

"Stay with it everyone!  What we are doing appears to be working, but do not lose focus!  Our enemy may yet have something prepared in its death!  I have heard tales of hellspawn like Balors striking in their death!  Do not underestimate our enemy, keep it trapped, and keep fighting!

Streleka!  Nurrick!  Ziv!  Ready your bows and attack!  Do not stop shooting until it lies dead!  Fire as much as you can!  Send your flaming arrows into its heart!
Stranger! {Gorthunder} Now is your chance!  Strike the enemy with all you have!
Alacor, keep the enemy busy with another creature, we must keep him confined until we know he is finished,  fire may be needed to kill him if this is just a shell we see, like stone skin!  Command your archon to watch over the stranger and those up front!
Andriel, heal Ziv and take cover!  Keep him hemmed in with skeletons!"

{Sit Rep:
REMEMBER HASTE GIVES YOU AN EXTRA ATTACK AT FULL BASE ATTACK!  DO NOT FORGET THIS!
Current Bonus is at least: +1 bless, +2 recitation, +1 haste... plus cats grace? your BA, other modifiers, like +1 AR (morale bonus) from AID! (Ziv and Gorthunder!)...
The Enemy's AC appears to be 23 std and 21 for touch.  Likely between 350 and 240 hp remaining
Nurrick, full attack the creature with your fiery bow!  Make sure no living ally is between you and L20, the square of creature to aim for (you need to pick one on large creatures to determine cover) - Alacor can answer further questions on this.  Maybe 5ft closer for point-blank shot bonus later.

Ziv, take the dagger from Andriel, (free action), 5ft to S20 (Andriel need to go behind you) and throw both daggers (at full BA! from your NE corner (avoiding cover from allies) too bad you don't have a 3rd...  Don't forget point-blank shot bonus.
-do not forget your temp hp took some of the damage of the last hit (10)

Gorthunder, 5ft to M19 and Full Attack!  Need to check your bonus to see how much BA you want to add, it will apply to all 3 attacks remember (the bonus and the minus).
-do not forget your temp hp took some of the damage of the last hit (5)

Alacor,
- 5ft archon to N19 for cover and cast Aid on Gorthunder.
- summon a creature, I recommend a dire wolf, since the trip could help Gorthunder and myself, and might take up an action for the enemy?  or a group of spiders, since it is in the flowers.  I would say in 21/20-J/K.  It will be in flowers, but will both flank and keep enemy trapped.  Or summon spiders or centipedes all around for flank and because they are in flowers.
- might want your bat to fly back to you as well, now that he is unthreatened.
}

Actions:
(swift action) Ordained Champion smite, +3 AR and +5 DMG
(full round action) Charge the hunter, from 17/18-L/M(I believe, after the Archon 5ft steps (so no cover between us, but he would below my feet so I do not think it would take effect against me anyway)), and travelling straight to 19/20-S/T (or 1 square away if that is in the trees, I did not think so but can be hard to tell).  Charge in a straight line so I do not enter his square, but get close enough to hit.
(part of the attack) use 9 power attack

AR: +1 haste, +1 bless, +2 recitation, +2 bulls str, +1 weapon, +2 str, +1 high ground, +1 weapon focus lance, +9 BA, +2 charge, +5 law devotion, +3 smite evil = +30 -9 for power attack = +21
DMG: x3(9 PWR ATK + 1d8 lance + 1 bonus on lance + 4 str + 4 fire + 5 smite evil) = 3d8+57+12 fire
DC 18 ref or catch on fire, taking more damage (1d4 fire until put out)
note: if I am attacked I use my mount to take cover (DC 15 ride)

Rolls:
{01:30, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 40 using 1d20+21 (19).  AR, on the hunter, with all buffs listed (9 PWR_ATK); tDI. +2 for flanking! lol = 42
01:38, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 73 using 3d8+57 ((7,1,8)).  DMG, for charge against hunter; tDI.}
This message was last edited by the player at 05:48, Sun 08 Apr 2018.

Post:
As Andriel moves up to Ziv, she sees her presence on this side of the battlefield was providential, her healing skills were once again needed.  She was both glad that it was later in this battle than she would have expected but also glad she could be useful even if it meant someone was hurt because of it.  It was a strange dichotomy, like one of her most sacred duties was centered around her friends having been hurt, not that she wanted that, but that it was part of her purpose to correct it, implying that her purpose was, in part, useless if they never slipped and were hurt.  Perhaps some sort of manifestation of yin and yang?  She was not an expert on that though, and she pulled her philosophy-ing mind back to the immediate task.

"Ziv!  Take my dagger!  You can throw it a lot better than I could, let me heal your wounds as I am behind you!  We will take this beast down yet!"  She spoke as she moved unnaturally fast toward her, benefited from Alacor's haste spell, reaching her hand forward for the exchange.

Andriel then moved around her friend and lifted her hand to be a conduit for a new miracle.  She always wished she could see the wounds she heals better, but her hands had to be placed as such in her discipline that she was rarely able to witness the torn muscle reknit or the skin sow itself together.  She lifted her hand to cover the side of Ziv, where blood was still dripping from.  As she did she saw the muscle fibres and connective tissue move out of unison of the subcutaneous adipose tissue as was sometimes typical with this sort of wound.  Better correct it.  The blood felt warm and sticky as she put her hand on her side.

"May the weave of time once again be stretched and moved over this weave of flesh.  May the fibres knit together and skin join, such as to put right what was in disarray.  Heal the side of this warrior of light.  Curabitur!"  {casts cure serious wounds}

Actions:
(move action) Moves to T20
(free action) Hands Ziv her drawn dagger
(std action) Casts Cure Serious Wounds on Ziv (26)!


She orders her skeletons to move as follows:
Ashe-
-stays with Alacor, 5ft stepping to provide cover, but not getting in his way.

1-
-move to Q10
-and pick up the dagger from P10, don't forget bonus to ac from haste

2-
-holds position, providing Archon with cover
-(full) attacks hunter! with the flank
+2 from flank, +1 from bless, +3 from recitation, +2/-2 for sword and claw = +8/+4

Rolls:
{01:12, Today: Andriel rolled 26 using 3d8+8.  Cure Serious Wounds, HP; tDI.
Skeleton 2:
01:46, Today: Andriel rolled 13 using 1d20+8 ((5)).  AR, Skeleton 2 Longsword vs Hunter; tDI.
01:48, Today: Andriel rolled 12 using 1d20+4 ((8)).  AR, Skeleton 2 Claw vs Hunter; tDI.}

Comments on likely order of player actions:
Nurrick Full attacks
Streleka Full attacks
Ziv 5ft steps, takes dagger ...
Andriel moves, heals Ziv, gives dagger
...Ziv Full attacks
Alacor 5ft Archon, Summons Creature, Creature attacks, tripping hunter?
I attack
Skeleton 2 attacks
Gorthunder 5fts and Full Attacks
Archon casts Aid on Gorthunder
This message was last edited by the player at 05:49, Sun 08 Apr 2018.

A curl curved the corner of Ziv's lip. She stepped (into s20) and glanced at the warrior approaching her quickly. Taking the dagger from Andriel's palm, she flung with all her strength the two daggers at the hunter. First the dagger of returning, and then Andriel's dagger. "Thank you for the heal," she said quickly between her throws. (Note: I'm choosing my NW corner to the enemy's square of 21M for determining cover.)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:50, Sun 08 Apr 2018.

Adrenaline pulses through my body as the warm blood seeps from my wound. Tossing aside the notion of striking his weapon, only one thought enters my mind, to strike the foe with all my might. Encouraged by the calls of my new allies, I move to strike!

Actions:
5 ft Step to M19

Full attack on hunter.
Attack Bonus with Dwarven Waraxe: +7/+2, +3 Str, +2 Recitation, +1 Weapon, +1 Attack Bonus (from Alacor), -1 for power attack to add +2 to damage roll = +13 first attack, +8 second attack


Rolls
00:48, Today: Gorthunder rolled 22 using 1d20+13.  First Attack against Hunter.
00:50, Today: Gorthunder rolled 17 using 1d20+8.  Second Attack against hunter.

(Are there any other bonuses to attack roll that I may be missing?)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:57, Sun 08 Apr 2018.

The wizard watched as the hunter cut down both of the centipedes and planted his feet firmly in the ground to get ready to summon another creature. He gripped Steve in his hand and pulled out yet another candle from his bag. Mysteriously the wax of the candle began to melt while in the wizard's hand. The wick suddenly lit and Alacor threw it into the air and it landed next to the hunter with a splash black smoke that obscured the ground. He then muttered some words to himself and retrieved a tiny bag. Alacor stuck his hand into the tiny bag and looked to be grabbing a hold of something inside. He slowly pulled his hand out and as he did a dire wolf began to rise out of the smoke next to the hunter. {Alacor casts Summon Monster IV; summoning a fiendish dire wolf at J20, J21, K20, K21} Biting at the air and growling, the dire wold immediately goes into action and attacks the hunter, biting and trying to trip the hunter off of its feet. {Dire wolf attacks and attempts to trip the hunter}


01:02, Today: Alacor rolled 28 using 1d20+11.  Dire wolf bite attack.
01:02, Today: Alacor rolled 25 using 1d20+11.  Dire wolf; attempt to trip.
01:02, Today: Alacor rolled 11 using 1d8+10.  Dire wolf bite attack damage.

The white haired man then looked towards the dwarf and commanded the archon to fly in the space behind him and continue to aid him. {Archon moves to M18 and casts aid}.

01:11, Today: Alacor rolled 9 using 1d8+3.  Archon temp hit points.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:21, Sun 08 Apr 2018.

Nurick quickly moves to H13, hears Johannes and aims for center mass and shoots at the Hunter 4 times using rapid shot! Trying to do as much damage as possible!


01:22, Today: Nurick rolled 21 using 1d20+13.  Shoot the hunter.
01:46, Today: Nurick rolled 14 using 1d8+8.  Damage to hunter.
01:48, Today: Nurick rolled 2 using 1d6.  Fire Damage to Hunter.

01:21, Today: Nurick rolled 26 using 1d20+18.  Shoot the hunter.
01:46, Today: Nurick rolled 10 using 1d8+8.  Damage to hunter.
01:48, Today: Nurick rolled 2 using 1d6.  Fire Damage to Hunter.

01:20, Today: Nurick rolled 27 using 1d20+18.  Shoot the hunter.
01:46, Today: Nurick rolled 9 using 1d8+8.  Damage to hunter.
01:48, Today: Nurick rolled 1 using 1d6.  Fire Damage to Hunter.

01:20, Today: Nurick rolled 23 using 1d20+18.  Shoot the hunter.
01:46, Today: Nurick rolled 15 using 1d8+8.  Damage to hunter.
01:48, Today: Nurick rolled 6 using 1d6.  Fire Damage to Hunter.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:35, Sun 08 Apr 2018.

A drop of perspiration traveled down the edge of Nurick's brow, carving a pathway through the dirt that had accumulated there. Slowly, he raised his flaming bow. The lit string did not burn his fingers as he pulled it back to his cheek, though he felt a simmering heat on his face. The arrow cradled in the bow caught aflame, and his fingers began to tremble.

He released.

One after the other, he fired four shots at the Hunter, reloading before the string had ceased to vibrate from the last. Most hit their target, the burning arrows protruding from the Hunter like lanterns in the dark {Nurick dealt 27, 11, and 14 damage to the Hunter; his fourth arrow missed}.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Streleka doing the same, shooting with the same determination and fear. Her pale eyes were a reminder that nobody went home if they were not victorious, assuming victory was possible. Both of Streleka's arrows thudded into the Hunter {Streleka dealt 10 and 6 damage to the Hunter}.

Ziv caught her magical dagger of returning, flying back to her hand like a boomerang. But she hardly held it for a second before she stepped forward and threw it once again. Ziv took yet another dagger from Andriel as the young priestess took shelter behind her, and threw that blade as well. She grinned as both blades found their mark {Ziv dealt 12 and 8 damage to the Hunter}.

“Yes!” she exclaimed, pumping her fist. “Ouch.” She winced, the movement having triggered a deadly pain.

Andriel gasped as she saw Ziv's back, not realizing the extent of the warrior's injury until now. The open wound spanned nearly from her heart to her waist. “Oh my god,” exclaimed the priestess. “How do you still stand?” Quickly, she began to cast a healing spell.

Ziv straightened up, suppressing her weakness with a fierce inner strength. “Now's not the time to lie down and die. I still have things to do, something I need to understand. . . And someone I need to meet.”

Andriel finished her incantation, and the wound nearly vanished. “Please, don't push yourself too hard.”

Ziv glanced back at her and smirked. “The horizon moves only for those willing to go forward.”

On the other side of the battlefield, Alacor cast a spell of his own, and a massive wolf appeared from a cloud of black smoke beside the Hunter. Almost immediately, flowers curled up the legs of the dire wolf and ensnared it in place. But following the wishes of its master, the wolf ignored the vegetation and snapped at the Hunter's thigh. Its teeth scraped away some of the bark-like skin, but it lacked the force to do anything further {Dire Wolf dealt 11 damage to the Hunter; the Hunter resisted its trip attempt. Dire Wolf failed its Reflex Save but succeeded its Fortitude Save; it is now entangled}.

Johannes saw his opportunity. Reering his horse in the air, he charged for another jousting attack and struck the Hunter again with his radiantly blazing lance; the creature staggered in place {Johannes dealt 97 damage to the Hunter; the Hunter resisted catching on fire}.

Around the battlefield, Andriel's skeletal minions began to act, one going to the eastern edge of the battlefield to pick up a dagger from the dead grass, and another swinging with axe and claw at the Hunter's body, though the latter was almost a fruitless gesture as the blows bounced harmlessly off it {S2 missed with both attacks}.

Gorthunder stepped forward to try and make more headway. “Like chopping down a tree,” muttered the dwarf as he swung his waraxe. But like the skeleton, his axe also bounced off the creature's skin. Gorthunder cursed heavily under his breath. “That's one tough tree.” But rather than be discouraged, he felt his resolve increase dramatically, for there was nothing more dangerous nor persistent than a dwarf with grudge {Gorthunder missed with both attacks}.

The Hunter lifted its left hand and stared at the forearm, where several burning arrows and a couple daggers stuck into it. Suddenly, pieces began to fall off, large black flakes in the shape of leaves peeling and falling to the ground. More began to follow, peeling from all over its body.

No.


The beast's eyes flared a blinding bright red, as though a raging fire had been kindled within them. The air around the Hunter became electric, raw power tearing through the void. Gorthunder felt every hair on his body stand on end.

The Hunter hunched and shivered violently, endlessly. More black flakes began to fall like rain. For the first time, its energy felt tangible. And then they realized that the Hunter was floating nearly a foot off the ground.

The end hath come. Grow. Rise. CONSUME. Like all life before thee, thou shalt become soil.

It raised its arms, and everything – absolutely everything – began to writhe. The plants, the trees, even the sky.

Panicked, all those around the Hunter struck at it with everything they had. The dire wolf clamped onto its leg trying to pull it back to the ground, but the Hunter didn't even budge, as though it was suspended in the air by a limitless power {AoO: Dire Wolf dealt 11 damage to the Hunter: the Hunter now immune to Trip}; Andriel's skeleton chopped into its leg, breaking through for the first time {S2 dealt 5 damage to the Hunter}; and Gorthunder delivered a mighty blow, one of the most powerful in his whole life, obliterating a chuck of leg which combusted into black flakes {Gorthunder dealt 34 damage to the Hunter ~CRITICAL HIT}.

The Hunter appeared to be in a devastated state, but it was still alive. And the magic did not stop.

The blood-red flowers everywhere began to grow in all directions, coming in like a flood from the field and trees, growing even beneath the feet of many adventurers. Flowers coiled around the legs of Andriel, Ziv, and Gorthunder, binding them in place; they also grew beneath the feet of Nurick, but the dextrous archer avoided their grasp. All resisted the plant's enervating curse {Andriel, Ziv, and Gothunder failed their Reflex Saves, but Nurick succeeded. All succeeded their Fortitude Saves}.

Even the branches of the trees began to writhe and move on their own; they were coming to life! A dense mass of branches swung out and caught Johannes by surprise, the wood closing around him and his horse in the air like a great hand. The branches tightened their grasp, entwining around each of Johannes' limbs and neck, beginning to crush him alive well above the ground {Johannes takes 8 damage, and Fury takes 5 damage; Johannes and Fury failed their Grapple Checks and are in a Grapple}.

But the worst had yet to come. Upon the great tree in the center of the clearing, the vines shifted, and the skeletons that adorned the tree began to fall to the ground. However, they did not fall into piles of loose bones. They fell upon their feet, and stood. And en masse, they began to march out from the base of the tree, moving through the flowers unimpeded.

Indeed, the end had come.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
If you are entangled, you may escape by using a Standard Action to make a DC 20 Strength or Escape Artist Check. You may move through flowers at Half-speed.

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 13:56, Mon 09 Apr 2018.

Ziv glanced up at the tangled mess on the flying horse above her, to Andriel, and back to the Hunter within a few seconds. Tossing her first dagger, she fumbled for a moment. But being handed a second dagger from a skeleton, she fiercely tossed it, hoping to land her mark.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:26, Sun 22 Apr 2018.

Action:
Full Attack on Hunter with Dwarven Waraxe
+12 first attack
+7 Second attack
(If I am still getting the +1 bonus from Alacor.)

Rolls:
First attack: 19+12=31
Second attack: Natural 1 (RIP)

Damage Roll
5+(1.5 x 3 str)+1 weapon = 10 dmg from dwarven waraxe
 (am I doing this right?)
This message was last edited by the player at 03:32, Sun 29 Apr 2018.

In Character Chat:
NONE

Notes:
1. Andriel did cast Hide from undead on the party, however, I realized that if the hunter is considered undead that spell could be broken from attacking him, however, if he is not undead like he is an outsider, then the spell would still be in effect on the party.
2. A reminder that the Archon provides protection from evil to all within a 10ft radius of him, thus Gorthunder and S2.
3. For the players: Entangled means -4 Dex and -2 AR, so be aware.  However, if you succeeded your reflex save, you are not entangled, just move at half speed.
4. If you failed your save, remember, you would have to use up a std action to escape, so no attack, often that is not worth it. 

Post Conflict Corrections or Clarifications:
5. Assumably, Alacor centered the web (std web, no sudden widen) at the tree in the way that would best catch all the skeletons there, but not Nurrick (in case that was not obvious).  This is likely L-M/10-9...
6. Alacor forgot to mention this, but the Archon readies an action to cast aid on Gorthunder if he is hit (so cast it after when it will apply again but before any other hit)...
7. This goes the same for the Wolf, the dire wolf also full attacks the hunter.
8. Also the spellcraft for the hunter's spell last round.
I mention these because he and I discussed that, but I noticed he forgot to add it.
9. I believe Ziv did not realize she could not move without a std action, but she defaults to the attack over the movement.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:55, Sun 22 Apr 2018.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." He said upon seeing all the flowers grow out of the ground, a bead of sweat rolls down the wizard's forehead. Alacor looked at Steve and saw a drop of sweat on the staff. How in Tel'Gia does a staff sweat. Then a second dropped splashed onto Steve as he realized it was his own, of course it was his own.

"Would you stop leaning over me like that. You're getting sweat on me!" Steve growled, rather he did the closest thing a magical talking staff could to a growl. Without giving Steve the satisfaction of a response, Alacor simply wiped the head of the staff clean as he took a step farther away from the hunter {5Ft step to D13}.

"You're not scared of spiders are you?" He asked the Staff, but continued before getting a response. "What am I thinking, there must have been hundreds around you in that tomb"

"Well actually..." Steve began to protest before he was cutoff.

"Yeah that's what I thought." The white haired man said to himself. He then fixed his gaze to the tree with an intensity growing in his eyes. "We need to end this now!" He shouted to no one in particular. "I'll try to hold back these creatures!" The wizard then reached into his bag and when he pulled his hand back out it was covered in spider web. He thought he felt Steve shudder for a moment... no couldn't be. The wizard then made a sign with his hands, somehow contorting his fingers into the shape of a web as he spoke "Come forth my creatures of shadows and imprison my enemies.". A tiny spider scurried across his and down Steve. It reached the ground and disappeared in the cracks of the earth. The bark near the base of the tree splintered and burst apart! Thousands of spiders no bigger than the size of a copper piece poured out of the tree and covered the ground around it, leaving trails of webs over the ground. The spiders crawled over the creatures in the area covering them in webs as well, trying to imprison them in place. {Alacor casts Web, centered at the tree as a spread.}
This message was last edited by the player at 05:36, Sun 22 Apr 2018.

Nurick sees the Hunter is badly wounded. He doesn't hesitate and racks another arrow, and begins to shoot it again with rapid shot! With each shot hoping to see the creature collapse to the ground!!!


00:57, Today: Nurick rolled 20 using 1d20+13.  Shoot the Hunter.
01:01, Today: Nurick rolled 14 using 1d8+8.  Damage to Hunter.
01:04, Today: Nurick rolled 6 using 1d6.  Fire Damage to Hunter.

00:59, Today: Nurick rolled 27 using 1d20+18.  Shoot the Hunter.
01:01, Today: Nurick rolled 15 using 1d8+8.  Damage to Hunter.
01:04, Today: Nurick rolled 5 using 1d6.  Fire Damage to Hunter.

00:59, Today: Nurick rolled 24 using 1d20+18.  Shoot the Hunter.
01:01, Today: Nurick rolled 12 using 1d8+8.  Damage to Hunter.
01:04, Today: Nurick rolled 1 using 1d6.  Fire Damage to Hunter.

00:59, Today: Nurick rolled 24 using 1d20+18.  Shoot the Hunter.
01:01, Today: Nurick rolled 11 using 1d8+8.  Damage to Hunter.
01:04, Today: Nurick rolled 5 using 1d6.  Fire Damage to Hunter.

Post:
Andriel looks above her to see Herr Johannes trapped, and Ziv entangled as well.  It seemed she was able to resist the poison this time, but got tangled in the process, what a bother.  She looks over to see the tree now shedding skeletons like leaves.  "I thought those would probably try to attack us," she says to herself, "hmph, well, I have something for them."  However, as she goes to reach for her holy symbol, she almost immediately (affected by haste as she was) sees her own skeleton running toward her with the dagger she had asked for, for Ziv.  "Oh no... "How would this affect them?  She wonders to herself.  She looks at her holy symbol a moment, wondering what this means now... she never considered there would be a conflict like this?  With no more time to think about it, she drops the holy symbol to hang back around her neck again.

"What else do I have left?  Just healing spells?  Hmm..."  She then sees the scrap of leather on her belt, she decides to draw the weapon she thought she would never have to use... her sling.  "I always thought Herr Johannes was way over the top asking me to bring this scrap of leather and twine with me." she complains to herself as she slings her shield. "'But Herr, with spells as we have, why would we ever need this?'" She replies out loud, as she begins to draw her sling, reciting the words of her master in an overblown Vaterlandic accent "'Yove got to be prepared, a good soldier trains with the weapons of his trade.  There are times when even your spells will be exhausted and you will have to find something else.  You do not want to be caught on the field without it...' and here I am, pulling this thing out.  Well, time to use that mandatory training.
Wait, on second thought, you do the throwing Ziv, take this dagger!"

Actions:
(move action) Slings shield
(move action) Draws sling or takes dagger from skeleton and hands to Ziv.
5ft steps if possible, but I assume it is not...

She orders her skeletons to move as follows:
Ashe-
-stays with Alacor, to provide cover, but not getting in his way.
-(moves to E13, while drawing his crude greatclub, ready's an action to attack any enemy that gets in range)

1-
-withdraw action (allowing a double move)
-double move: East to V10 (7 squares), North to V19 (16 squares)
-hands dagger to Ziv, if possible, or gets closer if possible...
-if not possible, hands to Andriel, then Andriel to Ziv.
-don't forget bonus to ac and move from haste

2-
-holds position, providing Dire Wolf with flank
-(full) attacks hunter! with the flank
+2 from flank, +1 from bless, +3 from recitation, +2/-2 for sword and claw = +8/+4. -1 from crude sword = +7/+4

Rolls:
{02:20, Today: Andriel rolled 13 using 1d20+8.  Spellcraft, on the hunter's spell last round; tDI.
02:52, Today: Andriel rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  AR, Skeleton 2 Claw vs Hunter; tDI.
02:52, Today: Andriel rolled 16 using 1d20+7.  AR, Skeleton 2 Longsword vs Hunter; tDI.}
This message was last edited by the player at 07:59, Sun 22 Apr 2018.

Post:
The branches took me by complete surprise, I could barely believe it.  I am engulfed in flame, like a human torch, yet now being entangled by a group of branches wrapped around my waist.  "UG, AWAY FROM ME YOU SNAKES!"  It was hard to tell at first what they were that was grabbing me, they were around my chest, trying to squeeze the life out of me.  I then remembered my grappling training.  When you are getting choked, you begin to feel frantic.  Few other times in the martial arts match it.  A great concern floods your mind, pressing you to panic.  I knew I had to focus and do what I was taught, as well as I could with the opponent just being vines.  I turned my head to the side and tried to fit my hand in around my throat.  'First thing is always get air!' I heard my instructor telling the class.  I then threw my arm back, elbowing the vines away as I bent over to draw the vines over my head.  This was a bit different on the back of a horse, but still similar with only minor adjustment.  Most did not realize how much you really stand in the saddle of a horse.  They seem to think you just sit there, not the case at all.
I goaded fury with my heels, "come on boy, we got this" I squeezed out as I lead him to move away after he resisted.

Actions:
I attempt to escape the grapple, I use all attacks I have available to me, and the same for Fury.  How this works for Fury I am not sure completely, since his full attack is 3 attacks, 2 hooves, and a bite. I would assume that means 3 attacks, plus 1 from haste.
I have 2 at max and a 3rd 5pts lower, however, this is only assuming we did not succeed on the first roll.

My AR: +1 haste, +1 bless, +2 recitation, +2 bulls str, +2 str, +9 BA, +5 law devotion = +22
Fury AR: +1 haste, +1 bless, +2 recitation, +4 str, +4 BA, +4 size = +16
does +2 bulls str apply from share spells?

Fire Domain Question: Does my grapple check to escape count as an attack, thus catching the vines on fire?
Law Domain Question: Does it apply to my mount also?

note: if I am attacked, if possible, I use my mount to take cover (DC 15 ride)
from the PHB "If you escapev[the grapple], you finish the action by moving into any space adjacent to your opponent(s)."

After I escape the grapple, I move out of reach of the branches to R-S/18-17 and sling my shield as I move.

Rolls:
{03:37, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 39 using 1d20+22.  Grapple, to escape the grapple; tDI.
03:38, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 33 using 1d20+16.  Grapple, to escape the grapple (Fury); tDI .
hmm, natural 17 on both, the number of victory in Hebrew}

notes: Just to be sure, Fury did not already escape last round, after the bonus 4, because he would not have to take the minus 9 like I did?  Also, is there any provision for ride taking the place of grapple for a mount?

The dwarf Gorthunder could feel his heart pounding, like a drum in the depths of a mountain. The Hunter, the most powerful creature he had ever faced, loomed above him suspended in the air, its black bark-skin raining down like the ashes of a raging volcano. He felt as though the creature's power itself was pushing him back, he was convinced that if it weren't for the accursed flowers that curled around his legs and ensnared him in place, that he would have already been swept away. He gazed up at the Hunter and mustered whatever courage and strength he had left, and he lifted his axe and swung. His first strike hit true, biting away at the hard flesh, but he could not rouse the strength in his arms to hit with another {Gorthunder dealt 9 damage to the Hunter; his second attack missed}.

From afar, a dagger flew across the field and cut through the Hunter, leaving a deep scar in its wake. Gorthunder looked over his shoulder and saw Ziv, still fighting on even as the situation grew dire; she then struggled to move and escape from the flowers that grew rapidly about her, but the grip they had on her was fierce, and she was forcefully rooted in place {Ziv dealt 11 damage to the Hunter}.

The power emanating from the Hunter intensified and could be felt at every corner of the field; the plants and trees kept on growing, and the branches arched over the field, soon to encase this entire place in a prison of natural design. And all while skeletons dropped from the corrupted tree in the field's center and began to form an undefeatable horde.

The wizard Alacor saw all this and was forced into a difficult choice. He shouted to across the field, hoping his voice would reached the priestess Andriel. “Andriel! Get your skeleton away from the tree!”

To his relief, she seemed to hear him, as well as comprehension his intention; her servant ran from the tree and took a place at her side. Alacor spared no time.

He raised his staff, and something began to happen. Small spiders poured forth from the tree, everywhere, crawling across the ground, falling from the branches, all leaving webs in their wake, until the entire lower part of the tree and all the area around it was shrouded in an immense cobweb. The small spiders then crawled back into the crevices of the tree and beneath the roots and returned to whatever domain they were summoned from.

And thus the skeleton horde was trapped, their boney arms and legs caught in the countless webs like flies. They flailed their arms and clawed forward, still relentlessly trying to reach the living beyond their grasp; but they were utterly imprisoned, and their movements resembled nothing more than puppets on strings.

Johannes watched this transpire beneath him. “I cannot leave my friends to face the perils below alone. I must escape this vile tree! AARGH!”

He struggled against the branches, and with the pure vigor of his will, broke through a branch as thick as his own arm. With the main stem shattered he found the other branches weak, and he could move once again. But below him, Fury, his steed, remained ensnared.
“Come on, Fury, my loyal friend. We must break free. Fight!”

Fury pushed and pushed, and after perilous effort the horse burst through the branches and flew freely into the air, Johannes with it. Johannes shouted in triumph and brought horse to a hover, where he loosened the straps on his shield {Johannes succeeded his grapple check; Fury failed his first grapple check but succeeded on his second}.

And finally there was Nurick, who stood mere feet from the great tree. He looked over his right shoulder at the skeleton mob, and they in turn were looking at him, reaching out toward him ravenously with bony claws. But their reach was held back by the webs that Alacor had summoned, and their fingers but only grazed the surface of Nurick shoulder. Still, the archer felt a terrible chill at their touch, the touch of those who are dead.

With willpower beyond reckoning, he faced away from the skeletal mob and pushed them from his concentration; he faced the Hunter. “This will all end with him. And it must end now. Or we shall die here.”

He raised his fiery bow and shot an arrow at the Hunter, and it pierced the beast in the chest; a massive black fragment felt away and disintegrated into a thousand flakes before ever touching the ground. He fired again at the same spot, and the Hunter began to quake more violently than he had. The plants everywhere writhed vigorously and tightened and crushed those who were in their grasp, and all could feel their fury.

Nurick rallied himself, for he knew he could not stop. He fired again, and again shot into the same spot; the sky darkened. And finally he fired his fourth shot, splitting the previous arrow as it flew into the chest of the Hunter {Nurick dealt 26, 25, 14, and 21 damage to the Hunter!}.

The Hunter roared, a blood curdling roar that seemed to reach over the whole forest and, gently, it floated back down to the ground. There, it uncurled its previously hunched back and stood up perfectly straight, and it planted the end of its spear into the earth. The furious red glow in its eyes receded and vanished as it gazed over the clearing, seeming to see all of the adventurers in turn, though not with hate. The black flakes ceased falling, and the Hunter looked much the same as it once did but perhaps more wane.

It spoke; not with a voice as most creatures do, but with words that arose in the mind of the adventurers like thoughts that were not their own.

A princess made,
A sin thus cast,
A king must fall,
Or all shall last.

The words brought a powerful sense of melancholy, a deep sadness in the minds of the adventurers, and then a sensation of calm.

Suddenly, color itself drained away from the Hunter: The whiteness of its skull, the crimson of its leafy hair, and even the blackness of its skin, all seemed to drain and fade and leave all parts of it the color of charcoal gray. And the Hunter ceased to move.


A similar fate fell upon the flowers and trees around the field, for they also ceased to move, settling down to calm and quiet stillness. The crimson color of the flowers drained away and left their petals, not gray, but a pure and delicate white, making them appear all at once different than they had before.

Of the adventurers who were ensnared, the vines and flowers fell to their feet, leaving them completely free; and the horde of skeletons hung limp and still among the webs. Alacor dismissed the magic responsible for the webs and caused them to disappear, and the skeletons collapsed into heaps and piles of loose bones, most of which were hidden beneath the flowers of the field.

But most surprising of all, there appeared sprouts of grass – true, green grass – which rose from the soil at the Hunter's feet and climbed up its legs and spread a little ways from it, before coming to a quiet stop. The adventurers marveled at the grass, for it was the first truly green plant that the party had yet seen on the island, and it seemed to shine like something holy among the bleak and gray world they had come to know.

Then, the sun broke over the horizon, being the hour of dawn, and poured through the trees of the forest. A golden light washed over them, bringing with it a sense of renewal and warmth. And all was peaceful.

The battle was over.


Gorthunder peered at the now still Hunter standing before him, which looked as though it were made of stone and no longer showed any sign of life. “It's looks like the beast's become a statue or something.”

The other adventurers walked over to the dwarven stranger, and all stood in the light of dawn. Johannes guided his horse onto the ground and joined them, trotting up to their side. They, too, observed the Hunter.

“So, um, what should we do next?” asked Ziv, whose sight at the statue-like Hunter made her meaning obvious.

“We should destroy it,” declared Johannes. “Make way.” He backed up and lifted his lance.

“Wait!” cried Streleka, stepping in between Johannes and the Hunter.

Johannes lowered his weapon. “Streleka, why do you stop me? We don't want this creature rising up again to plague us. We should use this opportunity to destroy it while we can, once and for all.”

“I understand why you think this, for I feared and fought it just the same as you did,” said Streleka. “But all the same, I ask you not to destroy it.” She turned and gazed upon the statue, and then her eyes wandered into things once remembered, and once forgotten. “This spirit is called the Hunter in the common tongue, but in the Estraen-elvish, it is called Isiltyr, which means both Hunter and Protector. Before the fall of Estraeus, before the great corruption, this spirit and its grove was held sacred and revered by my people. It was a benevolent spirit. Fierce to those whose threatened the wood, and helper to those who showed it respect. But like everything else, it was corrupted by the evil that came to this land and was bound by it. Right now, I believe the spirit has been, in a sense, slain. But hopefully. . .” She looked into the empty eyes of the still and silent Hunter. “But maybe, someday, it will return when the evil has passed, return to serve this place once more. And for this reason, I don't want to see it banished forever.”

Johannes did not respond right away, but he entered a deep contemplation on the matter. While he did so, Andriel called out from near the center tree. “Hey everyone, there's loot all over the place here! These skeletons must have been the remains of past adventurers, for they are all covered with items. Also, Crispina and Cabrakan are waking up!”

The party then hastened over to Andriel, at whose feet was Crispina. Crispina turned and shifted, struggling out from a deep sleep, and her eyes slowly pried open. “Hm? What happened?” she said dreamily, seeing her companions standing over her, though they were still blurry to her eyes.

“Welcome back,” said Nurick.

The party felt a surge of joy at seeing her alive and, by all appearances, okay. But then they were startled out of their wits by a sudden shout that nearly split their ears.

“AAAGH, GET ME DOWN! GET ME DOWN!”

The adventurers swiftly looked up and saw Cabrakan, their priest, who at that moment was caught in a clump of vines twenty-feet up in the tree, dangling upside-down by his right foot. Alacor started laughing, for the large priest looked ridiculous in his predicament. Seeing this put the adventurers at ease, for, even though he was in a bit of a situation, he also seemed okay. And the party laughed together.

The nightmare had ended.





This message was last edited by the GM at 11:54, Mon 23 Apr 2018.

The wizard and staff both let out a very large sigh of relief. His shoulders relax after such a long night and the man runs his fingers through his messy hair, moving it out of his face. "That was... AMAZING!" Steve shouted. "You have no idea what it's been like stuck in that box for so long. And then YOU all come along and the first night out THIS all happens?! Yeah I think I'll stick with you guys for a while." Alacor looked down at Steve for a long moment with a serious face, then bellowed out a laugh in response. "Hah, oh that was quite something." Out of habit he started to try to give Steve a high-five, but half way through remember he was just a staff. He awkwardly turned his open hand into a fist and sort of bumped Steve with it *knock* "Um.." Steven murmured. "Shut up."

He returned a few items back to his pack and walked over to the tree. The wizard looked around for a stick roughly in the shape of a staff. There is was, laying on the ground near the base of the tree, hidden under a patch of flowers. He picked it up and secured it to his back.

Alacor then joined the others in searching through the enemies looking for anything useful. They could use anything to help them in a place like this. "AHH" Steve cried. Looking down the wizard almost barreled straight into a dwarf, and he surely would have if Steve didn't cry out. A dwarf? He tried to sort out the last few minutes, everything happened so quickly, but there was no dwarf when they set out. He turned to him, "Ah pardon me, but I don't believe we've had an introduction. I suppose we were a tad bit preoccupied." Grinning as he spoke and reaching out a hand, "Thank you for the assistance. My name is Alacor and this here is Steve. He's a staff, long story."

{23:23, Today: Alacor rolled 10 using 1d20+6. Search check.}
This message was last edited by the player at 03:23, Sun 29 Apr 2018.

Gorthunder let out a deep sigh. He felt heavy breathing within his lungs. As his breathing calmed and his heart settled a feeling of triumph swelled within him. He looked at the now motionless Hunter and then to the rest of the party. After a moment a broad smile broke out from within his tangled beard and he let out a boisterous laugh. He looked to the wizard with his outstretched hand "Well met Alacor and erm..." he gave the staff a quizzical look "Steve?". He nodded and graciously shook Alacor's hand. "The name is Gorthunder!" He addressed the entire gathering. "That was a powerful display of teamwork and courage! For a moment or two I thought I was in a bit of trouble, and I probably was!" He let out another booming laugh. He let his axe and shield rest against a near stump and sat on a downed log. Putting one hand on his knee and stroking his long braided beard with the other the dwarf leaned forward."What brings you to these parts travelers? There is an outpost not two hours from here. If you are willing, it would provide food, drink, and a place of rest. Any help for you fine folk, I will happily provide." He nodded happily. Looking enthusiastically to each of the party members.

Ziv searched about the area for items and gold alike. It seemed get teammates found value in the things they found. Since no one took a huge interest at first in their findings, she simply took duty of what to look for.

She nodded at the newcomer, but shrugged at introductions. They'll get to introducing--there's quite a few people. Might as well let everyone else go first.

In Character Chat:
Alacor:
21:08, Mon 23 Apr: Alacor rolled 23 using 1d20+21.  Spellcraft check; Hunter's spell when summoning the flowers.

Andriel
Can you tell anything about the spell the hunter cast Alacor?

Alacor
No I can't. I've never seen this kind of magic before.

Johannes:
(to Streleka @Phra Ryan Ṭhiṭisampanno Persha) Is this actually the hunter?  This stone statue?  Is it finished?  Or does it only sleep until the night falls again, like some kind of Gargoyle?

Andriel:
Hmm, I could tell little about it as well.  Being this is a sacred grove, or was, perhaps could now be again... I would think that druid we met could be of help.  I would think it is some sort of druidic natural magic.

Alacor
You're guess is as good as mine, but that would make sense to me.

Johannes
Have you taken a look at the items on that tree @Alacor?  Sounds like there is a lot of gear up there?

Soldier Dwarf!  My name is Herr Johannes and this is my party.  What brought you to fight by our side?

And this is my apprentice, Andriel, worker of the divine, she can assist with your wounds.  I noticed you took a few hits while fighting on our side.

Gorthunder
My name is Gorthunder! I came looking for some allies of mine and nearly was discovered by this beast.
Luckily you all arrived or I might have been in a spot.
I have a hunch they met an ill fate to his hands...
Healing would be much appreciated. It is a pleasure to meet all of you!

Johannes:
Well met!

Hopefully not, but perhaps some of this equipment here could tell you?  We're they dwarves like yourself?

Ziv
@Cabrakan would you mind healing me up a bit? This kinda stings.

Johannes:
What brought you this far out into the zone Gorthunder?

Also, could someone explain to @Crispina and Cabrakan what happened?

Gorthunder
They were two humans. We just established an outpost about 2 hours west-southwest from here in an old fortress. The two had left ahead to scout the area and after not returning by the agreed time I came out here to search for them.

Johannes:
Hmm, did you know them from before, or met on the Isle?

For that matter, I would like to hear what happened to Crispina and Cabrakan to end them up like this?

Gorthunder
We travelled together for a short while looking for work and took this job escorting a group out here. We weren't necessarily close but it disheartens me to think what might have become of them. Back at the outpost are merchants and mercenaries who might have information. Most are from Fort Zombiehead.

Johannes:
You mean further information on your companions?
What brought you to the Isle?

Gorthunder
Me personally? That is a question indeed... work perhaps. I have worked as a mercenary for most of my young life and it is all I know. The group I took part in escorting is attempting to set up shop closer to the center of the isle. Their coin is good and so here I am. What about yourselves?

{Andriel answered, see her post}
This message was last edited by the player at 04:29, Sun 29 Apr 2018.

Post:
As I see the hunter recede, I cannot help but give a shout!  "HUZZZAHHH!  WE DID IT!  We made it guys!  Victory is ours!  Hear that Fury?!  We did it, boy!  We did it!"  I elatedly pat my stallion with the realization of what happened now set in!  I observe at the Hunter a moment with respect to Streleka's words.  As opposed to other times, I do not look at him with aggression or hatred, but a tinge of sadness.  Somehow I knew, I knew before the end, that the hunter was not evil, not innately, but trapped in the shackles of evil.  Like its body was not under its control, that it could do nothing after the taint had taken hold of it.  This was perhaps the first of the creatures of the Isle to be released from the taint, even if only moved to a sort of dormant state, in the interim of its salvation.  I just pray it is in this state or a better one, rather than its past state until the taint is lifted, as opposed to just at night.  A tear comes to my eye, of joy for the battle, and for the state of this creature, forced against its will to terrorized what it loved.  At first glance though, the tear would be hard to

I was still left with many questions, but at least for the time being, I was so elated, I knew we needed a moment to rest, and the question and tasks did not have to be handled immediately.  A moment to enjoy our victory before another quest, another mission.  We needed the rest.

"Streleka, do you know, or at least have a supposition as to whether this stone appearance is just showing the hunter sleeps during the day, or until the isle is lifted from this curse?  I can respect your wishes about leaving it be, I feel I somehow know that you are right, that this creature was never one of evil.  I know a druid, an Estraean one at that, who could likely tell us more, especially if this was one of your sacred groves at one time.  She is back at the Fort, which we all severely need to go to before pressing further.  We need to resupply and recover.  In order to help you, we must resupply, but make no mistake, we will honor our agreement, which is why we all must return because I want your- our mission, to be a success.  Doubly, Crispina needs the escort to the tower, as I can tell by this battle heh, and her condition is urgent.

Excuse me a moment to help Cabrakan."

At this I fly my mount up to Cabrakan to help him down, allowing him to grab onto my mount firmly before cutting him free.

"What happened to you guy out there Cabrakan?!  How did this happen!  Tell me the story friend."

Actions:
Fly up to Cabrakan and help him down
Search the tree while I can fly for any loot hidden higher up in the tree
Examine the Skeletons that were in the hunter's control

Rolls:
{23:47, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 20 using 1d20.  Search, for items high in the tree; tDI. NATURAL 20 on SEARCH!

23:47, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  Knowledge (Religion), Hunter's skeletons; tDI.}

Post:
"We made it... Phew!" She thought to herself.  "That was serious, but we made it."  She still felt weakened by the flowers from earlier, and slightly trepidatious, but overwhelmed with pride, they did it.  They made it through the night.

As she walked up to the tree to check on Crispina, she noticed it was full of loot!  Which she excitedly communicated to the party and began to search after checking on Crispina.  "There is not much I can do to restore your strength at this time Crispina, only your wounds.  I know that might not seem to make sense, but it is all I have left after that battle." She began to feel the great weariness from the battle and being up all night set in.  She needed a rest so badly now.

She realized then also, what became of the spear the hunter was using?  Was it still in its hand, now made of stone?  She went over to check.

Around the time she finished examining the... statue?  Herr Johannes called her over.  "Ah yes, nice to meet you Mr. Dwarf!  You really helped us here on the ground, thank you!  Let me take a look at those wounds.  I am Andriel, Herr Johannes' apprentice."

She then concentrated hard to remember what she still had left in her.  Not much...

She reached out her hand and touched the dwarf, near his bleeding chest.  She prayed with both hands on his wounds, seeking the divine for aid once more.
"Once again we entreat the powers that bind the universe together, the forces of good in this and other planes.  Cure this soldier's wounds, he served for the sake of good, so let his actions be blessed, let his wounds that he sustained for the salvation of others not be overlooked.  Let the fabric of time acknowledge this." {Casts Cure light wounds 2x, total 26 HP restored}

Afterward, Andriel spoke to the Dwarf, "Does that help?  Are your wounds still in need of more?
I think we would be interested to take you up on your offer for the outpost Master Dwarf, but after we go back to our camp to check on our wounded, if it can wait to return to your camp I mean, like unless you think your friends might be there?  We all really need to rest, especially the spell casters here.  You see, in order to cast more spells, we spellcasters must be able to rest and pray, and we have been up all night seeking to find our friends.  These 2 in the tree are ours and were taken by this creature, baiting us to follow.  We knew it was a trap, but what else could we do for our friends?  So we came to fight for them.

OH! and I should mention, these skeletons are under my control, and provided rather effective shields for you all this battle, don't you think?"

Actions:
Searches the tree for loot.
Examine check on the Hunters's skeletons (remains).
Examine check on the tree, obvious loot.
Examine check on the Hunter now.
Casts cure light wounds, for detect undead, and for cure light wounds in her spell list; on Gorthunder.

Rolls:
{00:15, Today: Andriel rolled 11 using 1d8+9.  Cure Light Wounds, on Gorthunder; tDI.
00:15, Today: Andriel rolled 15 using 1d8+9.  Cure Light Wounds, on Gorthunder; tDI.
00:14, Today: Andriel rolled 20 using 1d20+1.  Knowledge (Religion), Hunter's skeletons; tDI.
00:14, Today: Andriel rolled 16 using 1d20-1.  Search, for items on the ground and low in the tree; tDI.}
This message was last edited by the player at 04:24, Sun 29 Apr 2018.

He graciously accepted the healing. "Thank you, and a pleasure to meet you. I already feel much better. At this point I am not sure where I might find my companions. I believe heading back to my outpost would prove futile on that end. How far is your camp? Perhaps the group I came with might have a way to help your wounded."

He stood up and groaned as stretched and rubbed his now healed wounds. Then giving his belly a big pat he said, "Good as new!" He thought that perhaps Johannes was right about finding clues to the whereabouts of his friends. He looked towards the skeletons, "They certainly played a critical role in the battle. Should one of those attacks landed on one of us instead of the skeletons I feel one of us would have been in quite the danger." He nodded again and smiled brightly at Andriel "Thank you again for the healing!"

He walked to the tree and began examining the corpses and remains lying beneath the tree, searching for any signs that might give him clues to the fate of his friends.

Rolls:


Gorthunder rolled 16 using 1d20+1.  Searching useful items and signs of my lost allies.

Streleka gazed up at the statue of the Hunter and gently laid her finger-tips on its arm. It was warm to the touch but only slightly, like a tree that had long basked in the autumn sun.

"I don't know," she murmured, more to herself than anyone in particular. "There's nothing more I could tell you about the Hunter, nor of the mysteries he keeps." She looked over at Johannes, finally making it clear who she was talking to. "After growing up on the isle of Perdane in the shelter of cities and mansions, and away from all the horrors of my lost home, I'm beginning to realize. . ." She smiled, her emotion inscrutable. "In truth, I don't know anything at all."

Andriel walked beside her and touched the long spear which the Hunter held, apprehensive at first as though it would somehow react to her mortal fingers; but the spear remained silent. Her eyes scaled to the weapon to its peak, being nearly twice her height and aimed perfectly at the zenith of the sky. The spear was held with its end firmly planted in the ground, and after pushing for a few moments against it she knew that not even ten men could remove it from the Hunter's grip. Shaking her head she let it be and left to search the field of flowers with the others. . .




This message was last edited by the GM at 23:56, Thu 03 May 2018.

Nurick sees the Hunter fall and is immediately filled with relief. Finally, he gets to fix his hair which has been annoying him since the fight started. Puts his bow away and gets control of his hair and clean himself up. Then begins to make his way to the Hunter and starts looking for any salvageable arrows and anything of value.

22:05, Today: Nurick rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  Search check.

The wizard pulls out his notebook from his bag and flips to a section of blank pages and begins writing quickly. He records everything he just saw. "This was unlike anything I've ever seen before." He smirks while he continues to write. "This'll show all those professors. Trying to waste my time with books and studying, it's nothing like the real world. This is exactly what I need to get into The Order." Alacor speaks with his companions and tells them he must go for a short time. He reassures them it will only be for a hours and he will return very soon. Teleportation has its advantages. The wizard gathers his belongings and with Steve in hand, he's ready to leave. The wizard grips his staff in both hands out in front of him and speaks in draconic to cast the spell. "Bring us to the doors of black and white and leave the place of death and darkness behind." The others watched as Alacor almost instantly shrank into a single point and was gone.

Alacor appears in Herrod and arrives at the larger eastern island of the city. The small island is dominated by a tall square building. It is almost featureless with a few windows. The only thing that stands out is the double doors at the entrance; one is white and the other black. The wizard has Steve in hand and says to himself and Steve, "The House of Black and White, the home of the Arcane Order." "That's not very original" Steve murmurs. Alacor shoots him a sharp look, "When we're in there can you please keep your thoughts to yourself? They may want to keep you for study. I know you're the only talking staff I have come across." "Fine." The staff says reluctantly.

The wizard made his way down the stone path up to the double doors. He lifted his hand and grabbed the knocker on one of the doors. *THUD THUD THUD* Almost instantly there were sounds of latches and locks being released from the inside. Then the door slowly opened and a man stepped out. The cloak he was wearing looked as though it might have been white at one point but is now a mix between gray and brown. He wore his hood, shadowing most of his face. In a rough voice, the man spoke, "Who are you and what do you want?" The wizard straightened up and promptly replied, "I am Alacor. I'm a wizard and I would like to join the Order." The old man waited a long time before speaking. "We don't let just anyone in who claims to be a wizard. We don't even let any wizard in. Have a good day." He turns to go back inside. Alarmed, Alacor quickly replies, "I have some research that could be of use! I have been to the dead isle." The man stopped and turned back to face Alacor. "Now that is interesting. We haven't had someone of the order return from there. I will invite you inside and see what you have to offer our ranks but first, there is a test you must pass." He reached into one of his pockets and pulls out two cards. He places one in each face down with the symbol of the Arcane Order on the backs. The man holds them out to Alacor and says, "One of these cards has a sweet roll on its face. On the other is a scythe. Choose the sweet roll and you may come inside." Alacor looked at the cards in slight surprise. "I was expecting some kind of test, but not something as simple or random like this." He whispered to himself and Steve. "Don't be mistaken, we never leave something to mere chance." The man replied. Alacor was taken aback, not expecting to be heard. The wizard poured over the cards and thought about which one to choose. He thought about what the man said that it wasn't chance. Then he got it! Doing his best to not smile in realization, he reached for one of the cards. Alacor was very careful to pick it up so that the man could not see what was on it. He turned its face to himself. It was the scythe. Alacor moved his gaze from the card up to meet the man's eyes. "I have won, it is the sweet roll." Without expression, the man replied, "Give it here and let me see." Without a word, the wizard crushed the card in his hand, stuck it in his mouth, and ate it. After swallowing he said, "Sorry, the sweet roll just looked so good I couldn't help myself." Alacor then flipped over the other card in the man's hand, "Here is the scythe though." The man put the card back into his pocket and simply said, "Follow me."

The wizard shook his white hair out of his face and looked over to Steve and gave a wink before following the man inside. They went into a study and sat a desk. The place had books everywhere that a place could be found. Scrolls and other papers littered the desk they sat at, but the man made no move to clear the space. He looked to Alacor and said, "You have proven your cleverness to make it here. To join the arcane order we require two offerings. One of knowledge and the other to be a more personal gift or sacrifice. You said you recently traveled to the dead isle. If you have any research from your journey it would be most valuable." Alacor quickly reached into his bag and pulled out a handful of loose pages. "I took some notes on what we saw and encountered there. I've already made copies that you are welcome to keep here." He set down the pages in front of the man and waited while he skimmed through them. "This is good, very good. The dead isle has been a mystery ever since the war ended." "And I have this." Alacor took a deep breath and pulled his old staff off of his back. He gripped the ebony wood and laid it on the table in front of him. "This was my first staff. It was given to me by a teacher when I first started learning. It is time for it to serve another." The man clapped his hands together as he smiled and said, "This is perfect! Welcome to the Arcane Order Alacor. You are permitted to use the library and walk about as you please. I would suggest meeting some of the others of our order who are currently here. I am Thoros, one of the senior wizards here. The first order of business is for you to choose a focus. This will allow you to channel magic from the spell pool here. You may choose anything from the shelf over there." He pointed to the shelf on the wall behind himself. Alacor walked over and before he was all the way to the shelf he could already see the one that would be his. It was a silver medallion in the shape of a wolf's head. After picking it up Thoros continues, "Now let me tell you about our benefits package."

The two spent some time talking together. Thoros went over all of the details about the Arcane Order and everything that came with it. They talked about Alacor's findings on the dead isle. Alacor then spent some time walking around the building and introducing himself to some of those who were around. The wizard decided it was time to get back to his companions on the dead isle. Securing his new medallion around his neck he walked out of the house with Steve in hand and began to teleport to where he left the others. He spoke again to cast the spell. In an instant, the wizard completely disappeared. He only left behind a small disturbance in the dust and dirt from where he was standing. While the other party members are standing about, the suddenly appears next to them, startling those that were close by. "Hey guys, I'm back."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:11, Sat 24 Nov 2018.