Jorn circled the skeleton, looking for an opening and edging closer to the action. The bone-warrior followed the dwarf, raised its rusty sword to strike - then toppled into a heap of old bones and bits of metal. Silently, the remains of both skeletons crumbled into dust and faded away.

[Duration is up!]

***

Viijan rushed up on Mora, ready to strike with a vengeance. But the girl turned around, and fixed him with her dull dark eyes, and he was hit by the same cold force as before. Something chilling gnawed at his animal subconscious, and Viijan found that he could not, dared not strike this witch. His pick, pulled back, fell well short. [You failed a save and were Shaken. It's gone now.]

Mora smiled, and her fingers began to twitch. Too fast for Viijan to strike her, she'd flicked a pinch of dirt at his body. The steppe-warrior, already sickened and fearful, couldn't dodge in time, and neither could he resist the spell's insidious effects.

Viijan's lungs felt sore. Then he began to cough, soft at first but rapidly increasing until he couldn't stop. Wracking pains stabbed into his chest as he gasped for air and could get none. Muscles spasmed with the effort. Finally he collapsed to the puddled cobblestones, clutching at his throat. Puffs of green and brown smoke drifted out of his mouth, piling into clouds around the fallen warrior.

The witch-girl blew a kiss, then skipped off after Dreen and Tal.

[She successfully cast defensively. You failed a fort save, and are now Paralyzed for 6 rounds. Anyone approaching Viijan's Sickening Cloud must make a DC 16 Fort save or be Sickened.]

***

Back in the alley, Tulin Fairweather clutched at his throat, turning green with the demon's stench. Desperate to flee the fiend, the merchant stumbled away. The demon turned to strike his prey, but Slove swung his sword over its head, catching its attention. The merchant got away unharmed.

Slove had endured worse sickness in the past, and still did, so at first the sickening cloud affected him little. And so he remained in the fight, to slay the demon.

The demon turned to face its attacker, and lashed out with claws and fangs. Three bloody streaks opened up on Slove's belly, and the fiend chomped on his arm. [7 damage to Slove]

[Slove's attack missed. Slove made both saves against the Stinking Cloud.]

Round 6:

 ABCDEFGHIJ
       oooo
      @@oVoo__   M
    |@  |
1   |   |
2   |   |
3   | F |
4   |  S|
5   |@  |
6___|C@@|__
7
8     J  T
9
0----------

C: Coby Koensson
J: Jorn Brightcaller
S: Slove
V: Viijan

T: Tal, Thug 1, severely wounded, withdrew off map
D: Dreen, Weedy Mage, badly wounded, withdrew off map
F: Fiend
M: Mora, Goth Girl Mage

T: Tulin Fairweather

@: Edge of Stinking Cloud
o: Sickening Cloud

Initiative:
23 - Viijan
22 - Slove
11 - Coby
11 - Jorn
1  - Thug 1, Weedy Mage, Goth Girl, Skeleton, Fiend

Spells & Effects:
Rain: -4 ranged weapon attacks
Viijan, Paralyzed: may not move
Slove: -3 Strength penalty
Stinking Cloud: Marked on map '@', Nausea effect, Fort DC 13 each round inside cloud, lasts as long as you inside and for 1d4+1 rounds after
Sickening Cloud: around Viijan, marked on map 'o', Sickening effect, Fort DC 16 or be Sickened
Coby, Tulin: Nauseated
Sickened: -2 attack, damage, saves, skills, abilities
Nauseated: Unable to attack, cast, or concentrate. 1 move action per turn only.

Coby leans against the wall, waiting for his nausea to pass.  "By the gods," he chokes out.

Jorn stood and chanted out the words of his spell.  A moment later, a glowing beetle, about 6' long, appeared next to Slove and tried to chomp the fiend.

OOC: Summon Monster II, Celestial giant bombardier beetle, two rounds remaining.

21:57, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Celestial beetle bite.

Viijan felt the cold,night rain smattering his face and heard it keeping a steady rhythm against his shield as his body lay in the filthy street,the necromancer's magic leaving him in a heap and billowing gas like a chimney.Viijan feared magic,it was not bound to the natural laws that governed the body and the sword.Yet he did not despair though he knew not what would come of this devilry,for he was single minded in dogged determination as a beast at war,yes the half breed knew fear but it was conquered by will and fury.Viijan would have grinned could he as the witch dissapeared with a parting and mocking kiss.

I'll return that soon enough,Mora,grace that pretty young flesh of yours.

OOC:Actions

Take a tactical nap!
Man Mora is a trixy vixen,but I swear upon all that is text and turn based I'll have her head!

Slove hacked at the foul demon, he scored a hit but it slid off the fiend's slick leathery hide. In response, the demon lashed out again with claw and fang, slashing across the elf's belly. Then the noxious fumes got to the warrior elf, and he between the pain and the sickness, he could barely hold his sword.

[7 damage to Slove; knocked to 0 hp; Nauseated]

Round 7:

 ABCDEFGHIJ
       oooo
      @@oVoo__
    |@  |
1   |   |
2   |   |
3   | F |
4   | BS|
5   |@  |
6___|C@@|__
7
8     J  T
9
0----------

C: Coby Koensson
J: Jorn Brightcaller
S: Slove
V: Viijan

T: Tal, Thug 1, severely wounded, withdrew off map
D: Dreen, Weedy Mage, badly wounded, withdrew off map
F: Fiend
M: Mora, Goth Girl Mage, withdrew off map

B: Jorn's Summoned Beetle

T: Tulin Fairweather

@: Edge of Stinking Cloud
o: Sickening Cloud

Initiative:
23 - Viijan
22 - Slove
11 - Coby
11 - Jorn
1  - Thug 1, Weedy Mage, Goth Girl, Skeleton, Fiend

Spells & Effects:
Rain: -4 ranged weapon attacks
Viijan, Paralyzed: may not move
Slove: -3 Strength penalty
Stinking Cloud: Marked on map '@', Nausea effect, Fort DC 13 each round inside cloud, lasts as long as you inside and for 1d4+1 rounds after
Sickening Cloud: around Viijan, marked on map 'o', Sickening effect, Fort DC 16 or be Sickened
Coby, Tulin: Nauseated
Sickened: -2 attack, damage, saves, skills, abilities
Nauseated: Unable to attack, cast, or concentrate. 1 move action per turn only.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:00, Sun 27 Jan 2008.

Coby stumbles away from the cloud, still retching, to stand gasping near Jorn and Tulin.  "Are you," he manages to gasp between retches, "all right?"

He turns to Jorn.  "Let's get him somewhere safe."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:36, Sun 27 Jan 2008.

Jorn answered, "I've got to help Slove!  Sucking in his breath, he jerked his axe loose from its harness and charged.

17:25, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 8 using 1d10+1. axe damage.
17:24, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 22 using 1d20+6. Axe attack (charge).
17:20, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 13 using 1d20+2. Celestial beetle bite.
17:19, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 14 using 1d20+7. Fort save.

"Help him come to his senses," Coby suggests, retching again.  "There's nothing more to be gained here - we've saved Tulin, the villains are fighting amongst themselves.  The summoned fiend will dissipate soon enough."

Coby moved out to offer what little aid he could to the helpless merchant, while Jorn took his turn in the toxic cloud.

Jorn slammed his axe hard into the demon, but its tough hide protected it from the worst of the damage. The dwarf opened a small cut that bled a stinking black fluid. [DR resisted most of that damage.]

Beside him, the beetle latched on to the demon's arm with its mandibles, but couldn't get a firm grip to begin chewing.

Bleeding and retching, Slove staggered out of the cloud, safe now that Jorn and the beetle could keep the fiend at bay.

The demon slashed its claws, one slipped across the beetle's shell with a horrible screeching sound, the other cut across Jorn's arm. [2 damage to Jorn]

Then it lunged out with its jaws towards Jorn's head - then reared back, wailing.  The demon seemed to bubble and boil and fade away as it was sucked back to the Lower Planes. Finally it was gone. Shortly after, the green smog also faded, dispersed on the winds and in the rain.

Leaving an empty alley, and three adventurers, one merchant and an ex-thug all bleeding or retching. And a lot of rain.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:38, Tue 29 Jan 2008.

Jorn shook his head to clear the worst of the fumes, then knelt and poured a potion from the pouch on his belt down Slove's throat.

19:04, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 5 using 1d8+1. potion of CLW to Slove.

"Sir," Coby asks Tulin, "do you have a place we can escort you back to?  These streets aren't safe, and we're all a little banged up."

Slove accepted Jorn's potion, grateful he no longer had to try to hold his guts in.

The merchant, green-faced and queasy, coughed and gagged for a few moments before replying to Coby "My warehouse... but those ruffians may - head for there and... try to ambush us..."

Tulin waited until he could speak more properly, and added "I saw one attack the others - I think he fell over there..." The merchant pointed down the alley, where from around the corner someone's arm could be seen flopping and twitching on the puddled ground like a stranded fish. Greenish fumes wafted about the alley's end.

"Don't get too excited," Coby explains.  "They were probably fighting over who would get to keep what percent of the take.  Scum like that double-cross one another all the time.

Lets just leave him for the guard to collect - I wouldn't feel right slitting his throat while he was helpless."

Jorn looked at Tulin. "If your warehouse is guarded well, maybe we should go back to the pub for a while.  If they stand in this rain for long waiting to ambush us, they'll either get tired and go away, or be cold and sore by the time we do go.  In the meantime, maybe you can tell us what you needed help with."

"That's sound," Coby agrees, "but if they're after something in the warehouse they'll just take it.  Is that a concern Tulin?"

Slove throws up.  The evil spells cast on him slowly being cleared by his body.
"Seems I will not die in this street today."
He nods to Jorn.  This is Slove usual way saying thanks.  Once he has moment has start casting his own spell and touches himself.

After casting the spell he looks at stat of other members of party to see if they need his aid as well.

OOC:
10:16, Today: Slove rolled 6 using 1d8+1. CLW spell.

Used to dealing with Slove, Jorn just nodded back.

The dwarf bore a few scratches, but nothing serious.

Tulin shook his head, spattering extra rain drops off his floppy hat. "No, no, it's not there. I've already lost it." He grimaced at the memory, then explained what had transpired.

"I was hired to transport a certain objet d'art to Glarondar, but I lost it in the Yuirwood. These ruffians demanded to know where. I - I'm afraid I told them..."

He sighed and added "I can't imagine why there were so interested. It's a hideous thing of no particularly great value - a drinking vessel made from the horn of a black dragon..."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:19, Sun 03 Feb 2008.

Coby swears.  "Sir, I'll be honest with you.  That vessel is a cursed artifact, bringing ill fortune to whomever holds it.  It's dangerous as well - my contacts believe that the Cult of the Dragon seek it for use in their hideous ceremonies - perhaps in the creation in a new Dracolich.  I have to recover it before it's too late."

He looks at Slove and Jorn.  "Will you two aid me in opposing this foul magic?  For the good of all Faerun?"

A big wicked smile covers Slove face.  Something in what Coby said seem to be funny to the elf.
"Foul Magic you said.  Well you know what think of Arcane magic Coby.  So if want my help you got it.  As for going into Yuirwood.  Now will be great fun."
He turns to Tulin.
"How much information did you give the others on where you lost it.  Also how did you lose the item.  It may help us find it first if know how you lost it."

Jorn shrugged. "I'm with Slove.  I'll be glad to help out. Maybe there'll be something I can learn out there too."

"Excellent.  We're in a race, now, against those criminals.  I suggest we depart as soon as possible."

Tulin blanched. "Cult of the Dragon? Oh dear..."

He composed himself, then pointed down the alley at the unconscious figure. "In that case, perhaps you ought to apprehend that man..."

Jorn shrugged. "I suppose we could, if the watch here is the sort that would take your word for what happened here, Saer Fairweather.  I'm new here, I don't know what they're like."

"For myself, it looks to me like his fellows turned on him.  Maybe that'll give him reason to rethink his own path.  I'd say leave him here.  It looks like he's out, but not in danger of dying... unless he drowns in the rain."

Leaving the talking to the dwarf Slove casts another healing spell on himself.