Caitlin, Keliantharas, Kora, Moonflute, Talrand, and Tavion were riding on a woodland road west of Flotsam, even beyond Micah. They had all decided to take the light war horses that Lord Toede had given them for various jobs they had done for him out for a ride for the first time.

As it was wintertime, there were no leaves on the trees, nor any leafy vegetation on the ground, nor any flowers. And the woods were quiet, other than the noises from the group and their horses. Most of the time, the horses's hoves stepped on the hard-packed dirt, but sometimes the road they were following went over rocks and added a metal-on-rock sound to their travels when horseshoes and rock collided as the horses walked over them.

The area smelled mostly of the horses they were riding



[OOC: As I started the First Quest in media res and players wanted time to get to know each other before the action started, we're taking a slow, uneventful ride in the woods so that you can do that this time.

Each of you has been given a light warhorse with a military saddle, saddlebags, and bit and bridle. You can add that to your character sheet. This also means that you will have to pay 5 sp each per day so that your horse can stay in a stable while you are in town.]

[OOC: With Keliantharas's current situation, I decided I'd start the IC thread so that everyone can start getting to know each other. And he and I will get to the feedback I need from him when we get to it.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:28, Mon 09 Oct 2023.

The first thing that struck the eye, looking at the woman, was not her long black hair, which she keept braided while out and about, it wasn't the green eyes nor the gentle smile that played around her lips, it was the silvery breastplate, greaves and gauntlets she wore. Elaborately crafted from a rare metal, and accompanied by a masterfully fashioned spear; her gear showed signs of wear and tear, despite being well maintained, telling everyone it wasn't for decoration. The raven-haired mercenary carried herself with an air of confidence and determination but was in no way unapproachable.

As she rode her new steed through the woods for the first time, a large horned owl perched herself between Caitlin and the horse's thick neck. In times when the mercenary expected trouble, Athena took to the air filling the role of the eye in the sky, warning her mistress with hoots or through the emotional bond between a familiar and sorceress. Caitlin rode near the front taking in the forest they passed through, showing only few signs of life where some cold-resistant plants fought silently for survival. Dutifully her mount, which she had not named yet, stopped as the mercenary pulled on the reigns. White plumes of condensed water puffed from their mouths as they two exhaled almost in unison. She didn't like the winter, the lands were drab and grey, save for the times when snow covered the ugliness in a blanket of pristine white.

"Athena," she said, causing the bird to turn her head 180° to watch her two-legged friend, "Find yourself some nice lunch... if there's anything left." the mercenary told her feathered companion. Athena hooted a few times, which caused Caitlin to nod in an affirmative fashion, before taking off hunting some hapless rodent searching for food itself. For a moment the sorceress sat in silence, staring off into the distance.

As he rides unsteadily, one would feel sorry for Kora's mount. Not only is the animal carrying Kora's bulk (7'4", 425 lbs), but a full set of platemail, a large steel shield, a few other weapons, and a fully stuffed backpack with miner's tools strapped beneath it. Kora can be heard muttering "poor thing, maybe I ought to carry you sometime. Please don't throw me off...." The minotaur rides like he's never ridden a horse before.... which is likely. He has a Medallion of Faith around his thick neck depicting a horned deity and carries a healer's kit on his hip. The longsword in its sheathe has exceptional filigree inlaid in the pommel and looks well cared for.
 He works hard at not being imposing, being quiet and reserved while they ride. The only cracks in his demeanor occur when someone starts cracking jokes, or worse, puns. Then he does his best to join in, laughing uproariously at particularly bad puns. He breaks the silence eventually. "I encountered the oddest thing last week. A cookie golem. Fully baked, gave off heat. But it was driven mad by imp poison. Very strange."

Caitlin quirked an eyebrow at the minotaur's claim, then smirked "So, how did you solve the problem - pray for a shower of milk?" she asked, wondering what the priest was up to.

Kora shakes his shaggy head. "No. Tried reasoning while grappling it. It did not respond. Tried to negate the poison. The spell slid off. Finally had to use my sword on it. Nothing fancy, just a cookie cutter solution...." he drops a pause, then a rumbling of laughter emerges as a belly laugh. "True story!" he gasps out.

"I guess that's how the cookie crumbles." Caitlin remarked, grinning. She wasn't sure if she could believe him but wasn't going to question his story. "Is that how you gained your fame, slaying cookie monsters?" the sorceress asked, with no ill intent.

Tavion's demeanor was that of someone comfortable on the road: he was calm, relaxed, and constantly scanning for any potential threats. A copper medallion of faith which displayed the single rose of Majere hung prominently from his neck, catching any stray gleams from the sun.

Slung across his back was a longbow and quiver. The craftsmanship of the bow was exquisite, suggesting archery was not just a hobby. His clean robe and well-organized possessions pointed towards him being a very disciplined man. He let out a soft chuckle at the conversation and continued to listen as he warily watched for any threats.

"And sick bakers toss thy cookies," the quiet foxman added as he uncomfortably slid from his horse.  If Kora was big and uncomfortable, the much smaller Talrand seemed as greatly uncomfortable, and even less graceful, despite delicate form to Kora's power and size.  As Talrand had ridden, he had done so with an expression of... guilt?

Silver-white furred hands removed a pair of saddlebags that he hadn't touched on the trip, nor loaded with anything - not too dissimilar from the lack of needing to use the fine quality composite shortbow or its quiver of arrows.

"If thy mount is over-burdened, Kora, please, share onto mine.  This fine fellow deserves more than to be troubled by mine attempts at the riding."  He set the traces loosely around a tree limb that permitted the equine to tuck into more rich grasses while he brushed away marks of the day's travel, then stowed the sundaries.

Soft, careful steps brought him to join the others around the fire, adjusting his dark leathers as he tucked his cloak beneath his bottom for cushion to sit upon the rocks.  Firelight caught his deep, forest green eyes as he attempted to settle without finding a suitable position.

Moonflute appears reasonably relaxed while riding despite the additions of saddle and other oddities. She spends the bulk of her time taking in the scenery despite the apparent blandness of the season, and listens for any sign of wildlife that are active.

Moonflute is an athletically-built Kagonesti elf with long, brown hair and hazel eyes. Around her neck is a Medallion of Habbakuk. She wears a suit of plain, leather armour as her only visible protection, and carries a gnarly old club on her hip. She has a shortbow slung over her shoulder, and a quiver of arrows. Moonflute has dozens of red sigils and marks on her body, either tattooed or in red paints and clays. Some are in primitive shape of birds, others undecipherable. On her forehead, she wears a circlet with a centre stone that shines a deep red.

The elf listens passively to the conversation and banter but keeps to herself for the most part.

Kora turns in his saddle to Talrand "I think not. All I carry is a few days of feed along with my normal kit. Given that these are bred to carry knights and their own barding, I may be a lighter load than it normally has. As for you, Caitlin, know that I ofttimes face the most dread of undead, but what fame I may lay claim to is due to my skill in the healing arts."

The frank talk between folk, being straight in sharing abilities, openly carrying their faith and bearing symbols of faith - Habbakuk, Majere, the horn of Kiri-Jolith - and a sorceress open about her different path of Art riding beside an elven white robe... that honesty bespoke much of the group.

"Mine path follows the natural world, guided by instinct of the earth in mighty Chislev, and heeding this wisdom of words and wind granted in understanding by his consort Zivilyn," the foxman spoke in his light, but serious, carefully-controlled speech.  He gave up on finding a comfortable position, and rose, stepping over his fallen log seat, and giving himself a bit more distance from the fire.

His back arched, and his silvery-white fur darkened to midnight black as he reached upwards toward the night sky...

... And doubled, quadrupled in size, shifting from a moderately-sized arctic foxkin into a towering equine body, over six feet high at the withers of Percheron-styled body – very solid and broad, but refined and sculpted muscle that spoke of fine breeding and powerful work –with a swarthy human torso extending another three feet to something just short of ten feet tall.  The face of the "man" portion was dark, bearded, but still sporting the rainbow hues of scarf that the foxkin form had sported.

With his true form released, it seemed mirth was the default expression, and his deep forest-green irises measured the world, absorbing what it had to share.  The centaur’s equine body was thick and broad, with solid legs to carry his weight, although he did not move with the restriction of one bound by muscle - rather fluid and graceful as water around rocks in the stream.  His hair and tail were dark black, fading into his equine body, although, as noted, currently in scarves of bright colour from the day.  The centaur likely massed close to a couple thousand pounds.

The shortbow and quiver of arrows still girded his back, tho now were saddlebags atop a harness over his equine back provided carriage.  A simple wooden lance sported a colourful pennant, but lacking any form of symbol - simply colour.  None of his clothing or equipment appeared exceptional value, simply serviceable.

"Ah, but that freeth the soul as well as the hooves," the powerful voice boomed down.  He reached around to pull forth a very old-looking tome, and tilted the fallen log up to serve as a reading table.  He held up a powerful hand, palm out, and continued in apology.  "It is so confining to be as thou art normally - but please taketh not offence.  When one is used to racing the wind upon one's own hooves, the limits of two feet are significant.  But mine honesty permits - they are much in preference for traversing towns and low lintels, ho ho!"

As the arctic fox spoke Caitlin listened, however, when the creature changed its form she immediately became suspicious, lowering her spear in a defensive stance the mercenary was ready to strike if whatever it was to become, proved hostile. Fortunately that did not happen and Talrand explained himself. With a deep frown Caitlin accepted his explanation, her mouth slightly open in surprise. She hated surprises. For a while she was at a loss for words. Eventually she turned to her horse, which was peacefully drinking from a puddle, "I hope you are not turning into a dragon when I'm not looking." she told her mount, patting it on the neck.

https://i.ibb.co/nnLXZJZ/Caitlin-Forest01.jpg
This message was last edited by the player at 11:49, Sun 15 Oct 2023.

Kora rumbles "that's a surprise. Someone once tried to tell me of an outer planes humanoid with multiple limbs called a githyanki, I think it was. As I recall, we were amid a storm at the time, and it was hard to hear. She tried to warn me about looking a gith horse in the mouth. Do centaurs have notoriously bad breath?"

"Oh ho! Most a-moo-sing, mine friend," the centaur chuckled back in his booming manner.  "Mine answers perhaps only when we eat minotaurs in our attempts to seek more cowbell?"  Talrand chuckled at his own jest, his green eyes twinkling at the fireside mirth.

His hooves shifted position in an absent-minded habit as he carefully turned pages -no flipping here- into the start of his tome. Although a fairly large book, his great size seemed to recenter and balance perspective... if one did not think overly about it.  One thumb slowly rotated an onyx-black ring upon the middle finger of its hand, but there bore little else in finery upon the equine-human.

Woodland hued travel clothing peeked out from Keliantharas's white overgarments like a forest shrugging off the snows.  Silver and ivory beads hung mixed in with Keliantharas's tidy if mismatched braids bound together with a simple tie to keep them out of his face.  A single string of amber had escaped knot, and Keliantharas had casually tucked it behind one ear.  Silver braces gleamed on his wrists, catching the light on finely worked edgework and worked runes with each slight movement of the elf's arms.  With but his staff and a small crystalline knife, the wizard looked woefully unprepared for a night in the wilderness, let alone in the inclement weather.  That is, until one realized that wizards tended to finger-wave such problems away.

While not especially trained for horseback, the wizard had spent his fair share of time riding and managed to roll his weight gracefully along with the beast's lumbering stride.  With his natural grace, Keliantharas even had the gall to make it look easy.  Hands casually entwined with the reins were far more involved with steading Keliantharas's reading material than instructing the horse.  The elf didn't seem particularly engrossed in ride, chatter, or reading material, his expression serene on the side of bored across the pun-heavy banter.  He would dutifully throw out a thoughtful sound, a 'I suppose some wizards go for that sort of thing,' and then slide his book closed and exchange it for a different tome.  Based on the cover alone, Keliantharas might have been somehow carrying dozens of tomes, or just two.  Even when the day's ride came to a close, Keliantharas seemed to have more reading to brush up on.

The only act that gave the wizard pause was the fox-folk's sudden and drastic transformation.  The tome slid shit as the wizard's stormy gaze passed over Talrand, a slight rise in one of the elf's eyebrows.  With that peak of interest, alert vigor seemed to spread through the silvanesti.

"I suppose the fox form is far more practical within the confines of town."  Keliantharas mused aloud, his own voice more the hollow sound of a chorus of disturbed spirits.  Spirits for whom the common tongue was still foreign and new.  "Why a foxkin, specifically?"

Kora is confused. "What is a cowbell? I thought it a type of flower?"

"Thy question beith a fair one, friend," the centaur's deep tones rolled out thoughtfully.  "The form needed to be smaller than mine own, and of two legs to manage the many steps and doorways of town.  Shape-changing is not mine naturally, so options were limited by the magics granted me.  The... the forms I can manage are only so far from mine true form.  The foxkin folk I met were kindly, and a stronger natural world bond than most two-legs... that connection was sufficient for me to ... reach their form through the granted magic.  Humans and elves...even most minotaur forms - they are simply a step too far away from what natural world I can reach presently.  Perhaps such will change in the future, or perhaps it is the limits of magic available to me.

"Either way, it is not a subject of complaints, but appreciations in having a more mannerly path through the storms of the world.  The last few years would have indeed been of greatest adversity without the ability to transmorph myself into a form able to more easily pass within human towns."

Caitlin was still a bit shocked from witnessing Talrand's transformation. Not that she had never seen a shapechanger, but the feeling of having been deceived lingered in the back of her mind. Rather than commenting further on the situation, the sorceress busied herself checking the straps of saddle and made sure bit and bridle were fitting well to avoid unnecessary discomfort to her steed. The mercenary reached into the saddlebags her horse was carrying and pulled out an apple, red and ripe looking. Deftly she split it in two and fed one half to the animal "There you go." she cooed, attempting to convince him to trust her. For a heartbeat she considered reaching out to the centaur, offering him the other half but she figured that would feel awkward. Instead Caitlin leaned against her horse, biting into the apple and continued being amused about the two monstrous humanoids' banter.

As they were talking, they heard a tree falling in the opposite direction. As their eyes were drawn to the noise, they were also drawn to the ruins beyond the trees.


[OOC: In the game map, I have photo of what you see. Or at least sort of what you see, as this is winter and the photo was taken in spring/summer.]

The elf gave a thoughtful chuckled.  "I can appreciate the sentiment.  The first non-elves I encountered will always have a special place in my heart.  Though funny how one becomes so clumsy with one's belongings when traveling with kender.  Perhaps you will allow me sometime to observe your transformation under more isolated circumstances."  The last statement came out with an intonation that may or may not have made it a question.

The sound of destruction caused Keliantharas to turn, his staff moving from casual grip to fighting ready.  At least, what wizards thought of as a fighting staff with a weapon - the elf kept one hand free and poised to fling a spell.  Or, to those who knew him better, several at once.

"We should investigate."  He announced, when no foe immediately presented itself.  However, he made no move towards the noise until at least one other of the party did so.

Caitlin looked quite relaxed while she munched on the fruit and listened to Kel making an offer to the centaur. She frowned when she heard the noise and noticed the ruins that had escaped their notice earlier. Quickly she gave a sharp whistle, letting her feathered companion know that she should come back as quickly as possible. "Guess that means we are going to take a look." the mercenary stated in a matter of fact manner, then offered the remainder of the apple to her horse, which gobbled it up greedily. The sorceress was quick to get back into the saddle "Are you coming?" she asked the others as if she was daring them to object.

Talrand looked to the sound, then the others, taking their measure visually as Caitlin had verbally.  "Perhaps so, companion Keliatharas, and agreed.  Hmm.  Are thine eyes able to see the temple lying in same direction?  Investigation indeed seems prudent."

A long centaur arm reached down to gather a leaf, putting it as page marker within his tome before he closed and returned it to the satchel upon his back... which must have been near empty, for it did not noticeably expand.  The turned-over section of fallen tree was likewise returned down to its previous position, and Talrand's hooves carried him casually across the clearing as the others roused.

The centaur's mighty size was silently remarkable again as his equine portion showed a good couple feet higher at the withers than the party horses, and his human torso raised above that.

"It is unseemly thou wouldst ride unaccompanied.  In courtesy, I will moderate mine speed to maintain with thee."  The latter comment was perhaps a jest?, for his draft horse-sized frame would be unlikely to match swiftness of fast riding horses, but the tone did sound supported by intent to be courteous, and he did not simply dart into the woods towards or away from the loud sound.

Tavion sat comfortably atop his horse, enjoying the journey after being in Flotsam for so long. The camaraderie was a fun change of pace as well, and though Tavion remained mostly silent, his keen eyes and perceptive nature took it all in.

As the distant thud of a falling tree reverberated through the air, Tavion visibly tensed, his grip tightening on the reins. He opened to mouth to suggest they investigate, but was too slow, so he simply followed the others.

Kora starts, then observes "the chances of a tree simply falling when we pass by is extremely low. But something getting spooked by us and knocking it down is more likely. Shall we take a look?" He inexpertly turns his horse towards the ruins and starts in that direction, senses alert.



12:42, Today: Kora rolled 21 using 1d20+16.  Perception.


This message was last edited by the player at 19:42, Fri 20 Oct 2023.

Moonflute nods and heads with the others to inspect first the fallen tree.

Tavion tightened his grip on the reins, his eyes scanning for any potential threats. "Kora, not many beings—aside from one as formidably built as you—could fell a tree so effortlessly," he said cautiously.

Because of the vegetation, they couldn't go straight to the ruins past the fallen tree, so they rode around and came to the ruin from a different direction.

[OOC: You enter the photographed area from the left, between the two walls. And the part of the ruins that you saw before is behind the camera.]

Soft-falling hoofbeats tracked Caitlin and her mount alongside Talrand's entry; the crisping vegetation was a comforting sound in the blanket of stillness.  He looked about, listening, feeling the air.

He made no motion to draw bow or spear or other weapons, instead proceeding with a relaxed, attentive manner, and testing footing(hoofing?) as the others gathered.

"A goodly age.  Any of thee have sight of tracks or aught explanation of the cause of the tree falling or actor?"

---

OOC: explore ahead, keeping pace with the others
DM, are we snow/clear ground/leaves/etc?

[No snow or leaves on the ground.]

Tavion dismounted and knelt down, his eyes scanning the ground for tracks, or anything else which might have disturbed the area.


21:03, Today: Tavion rolled 24 using 1d20+13.  survival check for tracks. (22 for anything that's not tracks)
This message was last edited by the player at 12:46, Mon 23 Oct 2023.

The sorceress frowned briefly, wondering if they wanted to encounter anything that would be able to fell a tree in what seemed to be one blow, but then again it was odd that they could not see such a creature immediately.

She saw Tavion getting off his horse and checking for tracks, hoping that the frozen ground would not make the task impossible. Checking this way and that she was holding out for possible threats.

There were a number of former rooms or buildings around them. As well as some taller walls and  archways.







[OOC: Unfortunately the new image is from the wrong direction. You see the walls from the other side, but I didn't have any photos from that side. And I had to crop this image more than I wanted to and use GIF-format to get the size of the image down to less than 1MB so that I could use it here.

For reference, the previous photo was taken from the balcony up those stairs.]

Tavion spoke in a measured tone. "Whoever was here had roughly twice as many horses as we have. It appears they halted here; someone dismounted, walked through that doorway in the ruins and returned to their horse. They then continued on, heading towards the gateway on the right." He points to a gateway that is in the general direction of the fallen tree, although the tree is quite some distance beyond it.

Kora says "perhaps one of us should look through yon door to see what inspired the dismount. Those steps, though aged, should hold my weight." Kora moves to dismount and climb the stairs.

Moonflute follows close behind, keeping her keen eyes peeled for anything of interest.

Kora and Moonflute went down the short distance to the doorway and inside the small dark room made of stone. The only light inside came from the doorway. There was some water on the floor and more slowly dripping from the ceiling. There was no furniture in the room.

Following the others of the group inside, Caitlin stopped briefly and pulled the magical torch from her backpack. Installing it in a couple of loops on the backpack's side, the sorceress looked around, wondering what this room had been used for.

Once the others had shown a stronger willingness to lead into danger, Keliantharas had followed.  The mage paused long enough to gingerly draw a stream of flames from his sleeve, then wrap and bind it to the head of his staff.  It might denote him a target, but determined his companions might appreciate the light when dusk approached.  He nodded approvingly to the sorceress who seemed to have a similar idea.

He followed the others, his posture more relaxed now that the others were more alert.  His spare hand periodically drifted to the crystal dagger at his hip.  He glanced up at the ceiling, staff raised high to illuminate, and tried to determine the source and nature of the rip.  All too many conceivable monsters hung from dank ceilings and drooled.

They illuminated the room, but there didn't seem to be any more to see.

Talrand's form blurred down into his foxkin, who proceeded to tap the walls and floor for sounds, to see if anything sounded less solid.

He then returned outside, resuming his true form, and examining the size outside versus internal.

"If thou art going to be here for time in examination, perhaps I shall take myself an examination of the path and the fallen tree.  I can follow by ground much swifter than normal horses can travel... or through the skies if the terrain wouldst express preference of path.  A large group of such gathering cannot be difficult to maintain within sight.

"Have aught of the company find themselves graced with great quickness, or the freedom of flight?  Or perhaps to share words with the wind - one of mine companions old couldst such do - most convenient in reporting."

GM passing a message.

Talrand's head poked back around the corner, reporting on his assessments.  "The outside appeareth proximate to the internal, so if there are secreted passages or compartments, then the floor perhaps?

"If something was removed from here - art thou able to determine any disturbance of dust upon the floor, or auras of magic?

"If not, we might continue on with swiftness to catch up the gatherers, or examine from afar with magics if thou hast, or above?"  The centaur appeared perfectly content with either plans, but from how his front hooves unconsciously dug at the ground, it appeared a characteristic of being swift into action might not be unwarranted an appelation.

At Talrand's words, Kora looks to see if any pattern to the construction looks disconnected somehow, which might suggest a hidden doorway or portal. His sharp senses sweep through and he uses his Scent ability to determine if someone or aomething else passed this way recently.



06:27, Today: Kora rolled 13 using 1d20+6.  Knowledge Architecture and Engineering.

06:27, Today: Kora rolled 35 using 1d20+18.  Perception.

GM passing a message.

Caitlin left the room, unsure what to make of it. Tavion had mentioned one of the riders had gone inside then out again. Was this someone asking the gods for their blessing? "Could this have been a holy site before it was abandoned?" she asked the more educated of the team.

Hearing a slight noise she looked up to find Athena perched on a crumbling wall. "Ah, you're back." she said, sending the emotion of happiness through their bond. The sorceress noticed the tail of some small rodent hanging from the owl's beak, which the nocturnal hunter swallowed quickly. The mercenary chuckled "I see you found yourself a snack, good for you." she told her familiar. "We need your help find a group of twice as many people as us, on horses. Can you go look?" the Caitlin asked hopefully.

Athena hooted a few times, something that only the sorceress seemed to understand, and without further ado the night-time bird of prey took off...

ooc: Sending Athena to find the people who came before us.

Caitlin sent her owl Athena to look for whomever had made the tracks. She sent it in the direction Tavion had told them the riders had gone. Not long thereafter, all of them could see her circling in the sky just a little distance ahead.

The sorceress turned towards her traveling companions "I believe Athena found the people who passed by before. Let's go and find out who they are." Caitlin said enthusiastically. Quickly she was back in the saddle and moving on, whether or not anyone was following her.

"I will follow - ah, a quick bit of distance only.  Mine wings shall convey to keep -Athena, did I hear thee call her earlier?- the good owl in company."

The centaur charged ahead with great swiftness, leaping skyward to clear a stone wall.  His large size blurred, collapsing unnaturally smoothly.  His bulk became delicate and graceful as his dark hair thinned and dulled grey into feathers that disappeared against the sky.  He still stood a fair bit taller than the rest of the humanfolk, and his head and torso remained humanesque in similarity to his centaur shape, but his very thin frame now extended from black-grey feathers to strong taloned feet, wings flaring to soar him into the sky.

---

Shapechange to Kyrie, discretely move to join Athena, reporting back to party if opportunity permits

Kora returns to his horse and carefully climbs back into the saddle.

Tavion jumped into his saddle and followed the others.

Talrand took to the skies in the third shape the others had seen him in. And the others followed on horseback. He flew towards where Athena was circling.

Talrand's shapeshifting peaked the elf's interest as much as any other unbridled show of magical talent.  However, Kelitantharas was beginning to wonder if perhaps the centaur's 'talent' was his own magic or some enchanted device.  He casually turned his attention back to the ruins, flaming staff illuminated the ancient stones and highlighting their cut.

OOC
Keliantharas Warden rolled 28 using 1d20+12.  Architecture.
Keliantharas Warden rolled 17 using 1d20+12.  History.
Keliantharas Warden rolled 19 using 1d20+8.  Religion.
(

GM passing a message.

Talrand's feathered form circled away from Athena's monitoring spot, so as to not alert any sharp-eyed spotters by giving a path back to the party, but quickly enough was banking alongside the party.  The winged hawkman blurred back into Talrand's bulky equine form as the centaur comfortably paced the party's riding horses.

"Numbers are a touch uncertain, for those ahead were moving about in great activity," he updated in his deep rumble.  "But numbers of potential combatants are closer to ours - the majority of their mounts are clad with pack saddles, not riding.  They may have scouts hidden, but the rest of their number were focused on impatiently removing another slab of stone to presumably loot another place of import.  I did not wish to move myself closer for detail lest our presence be given away.

"What beith the play or plan of the group?"

"Adventurers like us? What matter if they have something to seek among these ruins? We are no different."

They continued on horseback towards the other riders beyond the taller ruined walls. Making more noise as horseshoes stepped on stone then when they stepped on grass. And as they came up to the very tall archway ahead of them, they could see smaller archways to the left. And more grass beyond the archway ahead of them.

[The photo in Group 1 shows the “road” you are riding as you move towards the camera. It connects to the photo in the main map behind the pillar in the center of the photo.

The others are still some distance behind the camera.]

"Are we planning to ask them what business they had with the ruins? I don't think we should startle them," Tavion said as they rode.

"As is their right, assuming they leave us in peace as well."  Keliantharas remarked, rocking easily with the horse's stride.  "Though be ready should they decide otherwise.  I would prefer someone else ride ahead of me, in case the riders' intention is less than honorable.  Naturally I will ensure any possible battle runs strongly in our favor."

Kora says "I am willing, though mine might not be the friendliest face. Still, how many minotaurs ride horses? The uniqueness might give them pause."

"Oi! - Yuhu!" Caitlin called out to those who were leaving before them. "Please stop! Can we talk? Just a minute?" the sorceress yelled, hoping to bring the group before them to a halt.

ooc:
23:29, Today: Caitlin Merrywick rolled 24 using 1d20+19.  Persuasion.

As they continued forward, Caitlin called out to the people ahead.

If she had waited until they had ridden around the pillar, they would have seen the group already dismounted and breaking into a tomb at the far end of the ruined area with nothing but grass and trees behind them.

The room they were in had walls on three sides, the ones to the left and right were taller than the one behind the graverobbers.

Instead, they now saw a group mostly facing them. Mostly with drawn weapons.


[OOC: To make the file small enough, I had to crop it more than I wanted to. There should be a similar wall on the right side too. The "room" is about twice as wide as the slab is long. And the room is at least twice that long. And there are some stone slabs visible on the ground in the room, but most of the ground is grass.]

Kenliantharas squinted slightly and peered over the distance at the graverobbers.  With keen eyes peeled, he tried to discern the makeup of the other group, from the shapes of their ears to the general gear of each.

Keliantharas Warden rolled 34 using 1d20+14.  Perception. Trying to determine race and gear of the graverobbers, hopefully with a clue as to the class composition of the other party.

GM passing a message.

"Well.  One human and one half-human who may be wizards based on the lack of armor and weapons; a goblin with a bow; three humans with swords and one with a spear; and an ogre with a sword."  Keliantharas listed as his sharp eyes picked over the nine members of the approaching party.  "And they do not look to be overly inviting.  I shall ready some measures to even the odds."

Moonflute hurries along to keep up with Caitlin.

"Hey, um... you seem to know your way around here. Can you tell us what this ruin once was?" she asked curiously. "We were minding our own business and a sudden noise lead us here to investigate. - What brought you here?" she asked in a friendly tone.

"It doesn't matter what it used to be," one of them told her. "It only matters what it is now. Ours. We were here first. So I would suggest that you leave."

Kora rides up to join Caitlin. "That spear you carry. Have you any idea of its historical value?"

Tavion glared at the grave robbers as he joined Kora and Caitlin.

The mercenary was about to reply when Kora brought up the matter of her uncle's spear. She closed her mouth and turned to the minotaur "Um... you really want to discuss this now?" Caitlin commented, her eyes darting towards the strangers, not expecting an answer. Turning back to the grave robbers "Oh by all means, dig on. I don't want to be near when you disturb a wraith or ghost." the woman said, her leather saddle creaking as she turned back to face Moonflute "You remember what happened last time, Moonflute? I am not looking for an encore." she shuddered.

Caitlin turned her horse around "Let's move, we should put as much distance between us and the restless dead when these grave robbers open the wrong crypt." the sorceress said, loud enough that every one of the other group could understand her.

ooc:
19:54, Today: Caitlin Merrywick rolled 33 using 1d20+19.  Persuasion check.

The centaur cleared his throat unconcernedly at the snarkly reply to Caitlin's question.  "A succinct reply, if rudeness to her friendship words," opined the centaur's voice as he set his longish spear point-down... though still within reach.

Talrand twisted around to pull a pair of clay mugs from his backpack, resting them upon small hooks of seasoned wooden keg upon his equine back.  One hand turned a dark metal spigot, pouring a small amount of golden-green beverage into each of the clay mugs; the freshness of fruit and warm, rich wood mingled in the fall-winter air as he sipped of one mug, and held out the other towards the speaker of the opposite group.

"Thy work is taxing, conversation little less so; beith it not mannerly that we might share with thee libation to smooth words and startled feelings, hmmt?  Mine peoples share good drink in toasts to the world about us."  The centaur took another sip and chuckled loudly, nonplussed about the tension.

"Hast thou custom of thy people in the sharing of names, or are such hidden in secrecy?
 Lead you this herd of folk disparate?"

Moonflute simply nods to Caitlin referencing ghosts, and again when she suggests they put some distance between themselves and the robbers.

"We have been in many tombs before without encountering any wraiths or ghosts."

"But perhaps there will be some here," another said.

"I mean," a third added. "We've never run into a ruined temple before. There has to be a reason why this place was abandoned. Right?"

The group talked amongst themselves and then rounded up around Talrand now back in his centaur form to share in the drink that he was offering.

"Why don't you tell me what you think you know of my weapon's history," the spear wielder said to Kora.

Kora says "I would need to examine the filigree near the head to be certain, but it appears to be a weapon from the First Age. A Dragonlance. "

There was no flash to it, no calling forth of arcane incantations or intricate finger work.  The elf simply sidled up to the centaur and gently brushed a finger over Talrand's equine spine.  Despite the apparent rapport Talrand seemed to have found, Keliantharas was still keenly aware that the grave robbers were close enough to eliminate the advantage of distance the smaller group had once possessed, nor how they had initially been so hostile.

"It is indeed a Dragonlance, though it would require closer examination to determine exactly the pedigree of such.  Have any of you attempted to wield it thus far?"  Keliantharas asked, coming into view but keeping the now-warded centaur between himself and the uneducated horde.

OOC: Casting Quickened Silent Mage Armor on the horse-man.

Caitlin's eyes flitted over the other group and how her words had sown second thoughts about robbing the graves in the ruins. She had a slight smirk on her lips when she saw them accepting Talrand's drinks. "Whoa, stop it, will you?" she told her overly friendly companions. "Mercenary, remember?" she said, gesturing at herself, "Usually I don't even get out of bed without being paid, alright?" the sorceress reminded the group and turned her attention back at the grave robbers.. "So, warning you about the potential threat in this ruin was a one-time only freebee. And my friends telling you about that dragonlance is already allowing you to ask a higher price from the person you are going to sell it to, isn't that so?" she pointed out the obvious. "If you want to know more about that lance, you will have to purchase that knowledge from my well educated companions here. They studied long and hard to expand their knowledge, now it is time to pay up. - Keep in mind: The more you know about that weapon, the higher your asking price can be!" Caitlin added, implying that the benefit of knowing the weapon's background would be well worth the coin invested in obtaining that knowledge.

ooc: Convincing the grave robbers to pay for knowledge.

13:11, Today: Caitlin Merrywick rolled 23 using 1d20+19.  Persuasion (haggle).

"I would like a look as well," Tavion said as he peered at the spear.

21:37, Today: Tavion rolled 19 using 1d20+15 ((4)).

Moonflute keeps to herself as the others discuss artifacts and weapons.

Keliantharas hid and cast a spell on Talrand.

The graverobbers no longer interested in conversation, started moving about. Most of them drawing their weapons.

The ogre swung his greatsword at Caitlin for a perfect hit.

One human started playing the lute.

The human with the dragonlance went for Kora, but the tip just slid off his armor.

The goblin withdrew and fired his bow against Moonflute, but missed.

The bugbear with the rapier went for Talrand and skewered him.

Both humans with rapiers went for Tavion and using their tactical advantage, one of them got a perfect hit, while the other missed.

The human without weapons cast a spell and two energy darts shot forth from his hand and slammed into Kora.

The half-elf went for Talrand, but the centaur avoided him his blow.



[OOC: Talrand now has +4 to AC for 8 hours.

Caitlin lost 54hp. She has 18hp remaining. Unfortunately, he made a critical hit.
Talrand lost 16hp. He has 62hp remaining.
Tavion lost 8hp. He has 58hp remaining. Another critical hit.
Kora lost 5hp. He has 67hp remaining.
]

[What do you do?

As far as where everyone is, Moonflute and the goblin are both on their own. While everyone else is easily within movement, but movement would also give two of them a chance for attacks of opportunity.
]

"Kel, you moron!" Caitlin shouted which turned into a scream of agony.

ooc: I really need a map to determine her action.

Kora tries to get the warhorse to attack the moron with the lance while he rides to Caitlin's side. He reaches out a hand and cool energies release, binding cuts and reknitting muscles.



11:48, Today: Kora rolled 23 using 4d8+8.  Cure critical wounds on Caitlin.



OOC Not sure the stats but Warhorses ARE trained to fight.

With Kora healing her wounds Caitlin drew a ragged breath and glared at the ogre "Big mistake!" she informed the brute and bent and twisted her fingers before finishing the spell with an archaic syllable that caused a big ball of fire to blossom in the other group's midst...

ooc: I have no idea where everyone is positioned, but Caitlin will put the fireball so that it catches most of the enemies, preferably the ogre, and none of the friendlies.
Should be like the image indicates.

Std.: Cast [defensively] 'Fireball', maximized, empowered for 69pts of fire damage. Refl. DC17 for half.

21:43, Today: Caitlin Merrywick rolled 34 using 1d20+15.  Casting defensively DC18.
https://i.ibb.co/gwN3ykB/Dragonlance-Ruins.jpg
This message was last edited by the player at 14:40, Wed 29 Nov 2023.

"Echo divine, strike with clarity," Tavion intoned, his fingers clasping the medallion of Majere at his chest. Through a sequence of deliberate, ritualistic gestures, he invoked his deity's might, and with the final motion, a thunderous crack erupted, resounding through the air.

He stepped next to Talrand.


Cast Sound Burst on the ogre and the person standing to it.

12:09, Today: Tavion rolled 7 using 1d8.  sound burst.

Save 16 to avoid being stunned for one round.

This message was last edited by the player at 06:35, Tue 07 Nov 2023.

Moonflute casts a spell, then moves a little further away from the rampaging ogre.

Standard: Cast Call Lightning
Move: NW W as shown.

The centaur nodded appeciatively for the half-elven mage's courteous warding... a keen anticipation, for the treacherous blade into his torso drew an angry roar from Talrand, even as the rest of the party was rocked by powerful blows.

Until the party casters then hammered the field with fire, light, and lightning blasts that set the hairs to dancing from the charged hot air.

Rather than pulling weapon to engage -or picking up the smoking steel of the blade momentarily piercing his side- Talrand simply reached out to grab the head of the next nearest threat, striving to drive him to his knees into a human version of a digging stake.

"Treachers!  And to think mine good spirits were shared with thee!"  Sharp hooves of crushing keratin and steel rained down, until Talrand knocked aside the arms in his face to move onto the second warrior.

---

OOC:
Talrand will target in priority of still up/in reach: humanoid/bloodhunter/Fighter by Tavion/barbarian (w/5’ step to engage him) (the updated map now shows the first 2 down, but in abundance of caution :) )
Melee touch attack, grapple check, dmg.
  Once grappled, secondary attacks doing their automatic damage.
If foe still up, iterative attacks doing damage until foe down.
If foe dn, move onto next target to commence with melee tch attack to secure new grapple, then dmg similarly.

~
12:39, Today: Talrand rolled 26,32,14 using 1D20+10,d20+22,d8+9.  Melee Tch Attk/Grapple/Dmg .
Attk1: TAC: 26, grapple32, dmg14

 12:40, Today: Talrand rolled 14,13 using 1D20+5,2d6+5.  Melee Attk/Dmg .
 Sec1: dmg13
 12:40, Today: Talrand rolled 23,12 using 1D20+5,2d6+5.
 Sec2: dmg12

12:40, Today: Talrand rolled 15,27,10 using 1D20+10,d20+22,d8+9.
Attk2: (TAC15/Gr27) dmg10

12:40, Today: Talrand rolled 30,39,15 using 1D20+10,d20+22,d8+9.
Attk3: (TAC30/Gr39) dmg15

12:40, Today: Talrand rolled 13,30,10 using 1D20+10,d20+22,d8+9.
Attk4: (TAC13/Gr30) dmg10

Caitlin berated Keliantharas and carefully moved away while casting a spell. The fireball exploded and engulfed more than half of the graverobbers. And when the flames dissipated, only the bugbear remained on his feet. And he seemed to be unharmed.

As Kora moved away from the wielder of the dragonlance, he tried to hit him again, but didn't fare any better this time. Kora stopped next to Caitlin, said a prayer while touching her, and infused her with healing energy.

Tavion stepped closer to Talrand and cast a spell that exploded nearby, shaking the ground. One of the humans with a rapier dropped it on the ground.

Moonflute cast a spell, and a lightning bolt struck their spellcaster from above.

Talrand grabbed the bugbear's head, squeezed, and started trampling him. He was able to avoid the first hoof. He continued grappling him again and again, until his head exploded like an overripe melon! He then continued to the human next to him, but he was able to avoid being grappled.

The spellcaster moved closer to the remaining graverobbers and cast a spell that caused a gray cloud to billow out from him and envelope his companions until they were completely obscured from sight. They then moved away from the mercenaries.







[
OOC:

The snow circle on the map covers the area in which you cannot see.

Talrand now has +4 to AC for 8 hours.

As the two individuals targeted by Tavion already were down, I moved the spell to the two people to the upper left of the map.

Caitlin gained 23hp. She has 41hp remaining.
Talrand has 62hp remaining.
Tavion has 58hp remaining.
Kora has 67hp remaining.
]

Kora uses his other senses to follow the graverobbers and track them down.
He dismounts and casts Divine Power.


15:43, Today: Kora rolled 26 using 1d20+10.  Tracking/Scent.

15:33, Today: Kora rolled 17 using 1d20+16.  Perception/Scent.

This message was last edited by the player at 05:05, Wed 08 Nov 2023.

Moonflute waits for a target to show itself outside of the cloud.

OOC: My 1st round damage was 13hp. Doesn't appear to be any targets at the moment?

10:48, Today: Moonflute rolled 13 using 3d6.  damage for 1st round lightning bolt.

With nobody to confront, Caitlin decided to improve her protections.

ooc: Activate Arcane Aegis, new AC22.

Talrand's bloody fist arced a spray of crimson life as he released the form of the fallen opponent.  "SURRENDER OR PERISH!" he roared, hammering his bare chest, and leaving a smear of opponent across his chest.  The centaur blitzed to the far side of the fog, darting over and around stones and trees in a blur of speed to cut off escape, for the blood was roused within him, and his eyes fiery.  Blood disappeared as the centaur blurred back down into his foxkin form, who, like Kora, sniffed the air and listened to the forest sounds, trying to locate the opponents via non-visual means.

As he smiled vulpinely, he began to blur back into his vengeful centaur form...

---

Mv to far side of circle to cut off potential escape
Std to shapechange
21:30, Today: Talrand rolled 26 using 1d20+14.  Perception/Scent.
See if sense baddies
(intending to resume to centaur next rnd)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Wed 08 Nov 2023.

Moonflute sizes up the cloud that is obscuring the enemy, then casts a spell that conjures up a violent wind to try and dissipate it or blow it out of the area.

Standard: Casting Gust Of Wind in the direction of the obscuring cloud, hoping that it will get rid of it.

Tavion galloped toward where he saw the person drop their rapier, and as their form appeared in the mist, he grabbed his medallion and prayed, "Majere, bind them in your just gaze." He pressed onward, riding hard to safety before circling back to assess the situation.



I did not realize I can't shoot longbows while mounted.

Cast Hold Person.

Shortly after warding the centaur, Keliantharas noted the growing aggression in the grave robbers.  While it remained unclear how definite their course of violence, he took a moment to weave a ward around himself as well.

When the fighting began in earnest, Keliantharas felt the compulsion to unleash destruction on the graverobbers.  When he decided to unleash his power, the first spell practically leapt from his fingertips as he withdrew from the immediate battle.

OOC: After casting Mage Armor, casting Shield on himself.

In combat casting a Quickened Silent Maximized Fireball at the same spot as the first (not hitting the horse-man) 48 damage DC 22.

Then moving up out of the way of the paranoid villain people (map locks me out every time I restart).

When Kora attempted to pick the scent of the graverobbers up, he could not find them.

Caitlin focuses on her magic.

Talrand galloped through the cloud, stopped as he exited on the other side, and changed from the majestically large six-limbed centaur into the medium-sized arctic foxkin. And as he tried to pick up their scent, he couldn't find them.

Moonflute cast a spell and the magical cloud dispersed.

None of the graverobbers that had been in the cloud remained.

Tavion could see the rapier on the ground where one of the graverobbers had dropped it.

[OOC: As Moonflute's attack was adjudicated last round, I already rolled damage for it.]

[Talrand now has +4 to AC for 8 hours.
Caitlin improves her AC to 22.
I put the invisible marker on Tavion as you don't know where he is and I left him at his starting location for the same reason. So as far as you know, he is somewhere in the cloud, but none of you knows wear.
]

[OOC: Keliantharas, I didn't adjudicate your round as there are no one to cast a fireball on. I did not adjudicate the other spells you wanted to cast either, so that way you don't waste any spell slots. Let me know if you want to cast them considering your current situation.]

[OOC: As I read your posts, I discovered that I had misread the rules. This meant that the graverobbers should have acted completely differently this turn. So for convenience, I let the cloud disperse immediately. More about this in the OOC thread.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:10, Wed 08 Nov 2023.

"They've vanished!" Tavion's voice pierced through the thinning mist as it drifted away from him. He swung down from his horse to retrieve then rapier, then raised his voice once more, proclaiming, "And it seems they've gifted us the dragonlance!"

Kora says "someone out to wield it, or at least carry it. Meanwhile, we might as well see what else these deceased graverobbers carried. And possibly check out where they were prepared to dig." Kora casts Detect Magic and looks over the dead for any telltale auras.


Casts Detect Magic

Search robbers.



00:20, Today: Kora rolled 18 using 1d20+16.  Perception.

This message was last edited by the player at 08:21, Thu 09 Nov 2023.

Caitlin let her eyes wander over the battlefield, a little surprised the bandits had gone so quickly. They shouldn't have tried to kill the group, but still she felt that Keliantharas' actions had provoked them into attacking. The sorceress sighed, the opportunity to draw information from the men had been lost. "I can carry the lance." she proclaimed and rode over to where the weapon had been dropped then dismounted. Picking it up she had a good look at it but her thoughts were somewhere else "You are aware we have made some enemies, aren't you?" Caitlin asked, looking over to the elf. "What were you thinking, Kel?"

The elf mage pursed his lips with disgust.  So much death over a misunderstanding.  His keen eyes watched the woods after the retreating graverobbers, and then shook his head.  "Ironic that the fight they weren't prepared for is the one they picked."  He remarked, and sighed again.

He glanced at the sorceress with a raised eyebrow.  "Me?"  He replied, already starting to sound defensive.  "I hardly started this conflict.  I have spells to protect us in our sleep which I will be employing, and if the grave robbers are foolish enough to return they are hardly a match for either of us, let alone all of us."

"They will not be back," Moonflute says with conviction as she carefully scans their surroundings for any sign of trouble.

"They may have been prepared for a fight, but WE cast the first spell. - If it had been me, I'd have tried to take out the opponent before they can launch their first attack too." Caitlin replied to the white robe's claim he hadn't started the fight. "You may not have had the intention to start a fight, yet casting a spell in the presence of a bunch of strangers is a provocation. I'm sure you see that now." the sorceress countered, sharing the view of a mercenary.

Turning to Moonflute she nodded "If they know what's good for them, they won't return." Caitlin concurred. Getting back in the saddle, leather creaking as the armed and armored woman pulled herself back up, she added "But I believe we should take every precaution available anyway."

"They made an enemy of me when they committed their first act of grave robbery; such disrespect for the dead is abhorrent," Tavion remarked as he assisted in searching the deceased. "In my view, invoking a defensive spell in such a scenario could only be perceived as an act of provocation to those already inclined towards violence. It is natural to protect oneself, or one's friends, when meeting strangers, especially robbers."

"Carry it?  Thou art strangeness," the centaur chuckled as he trotted back to the party, reclaiming his wooden lance along the way.  "Although with the might of thy magicks, mine understanding of thy disinclination to use beith more understandable.

"I have no manner of making great flames and blasts upon our foes... but when it comes to long spears and lances for use horseback - mine thoughts grant me rather large advantage in such, ho ho!"  Talrand chuckled deeply from his equine body, and drove his lance into the ground tip first to secure the point in rather physical anchor to his verbal words.

He efficiently gathered the foes over to one area to be searched, then disposed.

"Such a greatspear should be used, not languish or hidden away.  There are times and thoughts that suggest symbols of hope must be like the wind, and seen about to carry their words, not trapped within dark caves.

"On the practical, I suspect none of you can match my speed to bring a lance to bear upon target, and I have ability to conceal the lance within towns along our way."  The more attentive party might reflect back upon their memories to confirm they had not seen the centaur's lance until he transformed from foxkin to centaur, and nor had they seen his lance when transformed into flight.

"We announced ourselves unnecessarily, shared drink and words of knowledge, and cast no offensive magics - there lieth no fault upon our members, save perhaps too much in restraint.  Tavion's words beith on point, for the robbers were quick to bristle offensively, and betrayed their intent despite our good graces.

"Keliantharas -  mine thanks on thy defensive magic - it turned a blade aside, and nearly the second.  Well cast and honoured."

"You want the dragonlance? - Fine, take it!" she answered the new guy and tossed him the weapon with a grunt. "I nearly get reduced to a lifeless corpse and what do I get for my troubles?" the sorceress muttered under her breath, clearly unhappy with the claim of the centaur. "But you did seem to do fine with your bare hands and hooves." she added, nodding at the body with the squashed head.

"Besides, there was only one with the skill to use magic; more than likely the others had no education on what kind of spell is offensive or defensive. So from their perspective it could have been a spell to improve your strength and thus the ability to smash their heads. - No, big fella, casting a spell - regardless of intent - is a potential attack. Even a defensive spell improves your chances of survival in a fight, no matter who started it." the mercenary argued then looked over at Tavion rifling through the possessions of the dead "And technically you are disrespecting the dead now, too. At this point we can't even tell if they were evil criminals or just unfortunate men trying to make ends meet." the sorceress pointed out.

Caitlin frowned, clearly miffed, she would have to clean her own blood from clothes and equipment, make sure the remaining wounds were healed and had eliminated a big deal of the enemy without getting paid. What a great mercenary she was. "Next time you handle the introductions and I get the treasure after you do the work." she muttered under her breath.

The group argued about who or what had started the fight and Caitlin dismounted on Kora's suggestion and picked up the dragonlance. As she touched it, a soft blue glow started radiating as a slowly expanding nimbus.

Talrand spoke eloquently about why he should wield it and how he could keep it safe.

The spectral image of a beautiful elven female walked out of that nimbus, her serene face was bright with a small smile. "Finally you have released us from darkness. They will come look for it and keeping it safe will be important. But another will wield it with greater effectiveness." And she looked at Kora. "Come heroes, take up the lance, and embrace your destinies."

She then turned around and walked back into the nimbus. And the light diminished until it was gone and the day was back to normal. However normal the days of a group of mercenaries like them could be.

[Edit: As I was writing my post at the same time as Caitlin wrote her latest post, I have not referenced it in my post.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:18, Thu 09 Nov 2023.

Kora points out the sapphire, the heart shaped device, the staff, the bracer, and the dragonlance. "All magical, though I am not skilled at magic crafting and thus unable to determine their properties. If the elven spirit is correct, then perhaps I should carry the lance. Although I should like to learn how to wield it properly, good centaur, if I may rely on your instruction?"


OOC I rather doubt it is a Simple Weapon, so Kora does not have Proficiency with a Dragonlance

Moonflute casts Detect Magic herself and looks over the haul.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:57, Thu 09 Nov 2023.

Moonflute cast a spell.

"I can read the magical properties of these items," Tavion offered. He sat down and began examining each one.


Is Identify the only way to do this? If so he will use all of his level 1 spell slots.

Keliantharas thoughtfully closed his mouth and let the others debate the virtues and sins of his cast spell, as well as that of the vanquished grave robbers.  While the others already began weaving their spells of knowledge, the elf slipped in to examine the recovered relics, though did not feel the need to touch any save the sapphire and the staff and only once the spirit had departed.

"Inevitably, it would seem that the combat had its virtues, and these implements of light were in need of rescue - first from their tomb, and then their 'saviors.'"  He remarked, searching for historical clues that might indicate the usage of the objects in question rather than purely a magical assessment.  "I would also be curious to track the robber's steps and seek any further, as of yet undiscovered antiquities equally eager to see the light of day as the spear."

Tavion spent the rest of the day with one magic item after another in his hands to determine what they did.


Keliantharas started examining the magical items too.


[OOC: As Tavion's process takes five hours, the rest of you might want to prepare some food and set up camp for the night.]

Did not realize it was an hour long cast time, sorry if I ruined plans. Will it be an hour long on the items that are artifacts and cannot be identified?

After dedicating five exhaustive hours to meticulously studying the collection of items, Tavion finally rose and stretched. "I must admit the complexities of three items here—the dragonlance, the staff, and the sapphire— elude my expertise," he conceded with a hint of reluctance in his tone.

His focus then shifted to the remaining artifacts. Gesturing towards one, he explained, "This bracer is known as the 'Hellfire Lash'. When activated, it conjures a fiery whip that can ensnare a target, allowing the user to either pull themselves towards their victim or vice versa."

Turning his attention to the heart-shaped device, Tavion continued, "As for this, it's designed to replace the user's heart. Not only does it enhance one's speed, but it also channels their rage, akin to a barbarian's fury. Additionally, it acclimates its bearer to extreme heat, making even scorching environments bearable."


* The bracer is called Hellfire Lash. When activated it either functions as a +1 flaming burst whip of speed, but does damage as a spiked chain. Or it can grapple a target 15 feet away using the normal rules for grappling. If the grapple is successful, you can choose to pull the target to you as a Swift Action. If the target is lighter than you, it will land in the square next to you. If it is heavier than you, you will be pulled to it and you will land in the square next to it.
* If activated, the heart-shaped device increases your speed by 10 feet, allows you to Rage as a level 1 Barbarian, cuts all received fire damage in half, and you suffer no ill effects from being in a hot environment (as if affected by Endure Elements). It must replace your heart to activate!

While Tavion set down to his rituals, Keliantharas picked up the slightly burnt tome and perused it.  He hummed a tune as he read, unaware of doing so.  The tune was familiar from his music box.

He didn't look up as Tavion shared the results of his auguries.  "Base spells would not reveal the like of Huma's Lance, nor of Mishakal's Tear.  The staff is clearly a lesser known object, and probably best served in Caitlin's hands.  I do not hold with death magic personally.  That heart may also be served as a power source for a golem with ease."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:00, Mon 13 Nov 2023.

While identification was being attempted, Kora took the time to backtrack the bandits for the areas they had explored, as well as the area they were set to open. He will then take an hour to meditate and pray.



01:23, Today: Kora rolled 28 using 1d20+16.  Perception.

01:23, Today: Kora rolled 14 using 1d20+12.  Survival/Tracking.


This message was last edited by the player at 09:27, Mon 13 Nov 2023.

The mercenary eyed the items as Tavion began inspecting them, thinking some were looking truly horrible. She looked at the staff, crafted from the spine from some kind of creature and a shudder ran down her own spine. Trying to distract herself, Caitlin began collecting wood for a fire, setting up a fireplace where people could sit together and there was no risk of anything catching on fire.

It took a while and once she felt there was enough wood, the mercenary put it together in a simple pile and set it alight.

"If anyone can sense Evil with their magic, they should run their eye over the staff. It may be a great boon for us, if it is not cursed or of dark magics," Moonflute says.

Keliantharas flipped through the burnt book.

Kora left and walked around the ruins.

Caitlin gathered wood in the nearby forest and started a campfire.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:26, Thu 16 Nov 2023.

"If thou art tending to meals and examining the items, then I will perhaps circle around the area.  There were at least a couple of the folk that fled, and could return, and it would be good to keep a patrol in case Kora or others see trouble.

"If aught see sign of peril, or require aid, call out or send a marker to the sky if thy abilities lie therein,"  The centaur trotted off after seeing if others had concerns or words, then went to patrol, making the best of the enhanced protection provided to him, that he might share the protection.

After moving away from the party in more temperate measure, so as to not startle the folk working on delicate magics - far beyond his measure - Talrand let his legs stretch, blurring into a much faster pace to cover distance and take initial measure of the area, and he could drop back into a more relaxed measure later at time as needed, or if trying to move stealthily... but there was something satisfying about feeling the wind in one's face, have one's mane and tale fly in the air.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Tue 14 Nov 2023.

Talrand left the others.

After the fire was going and once Tavion had finished the examination of the items, Caitlin moved to the cleric and bowed her head "Thank you, for healing my wounds earlier. Would you be able to heal the remaining bruises?" she asked politely.

A staccato of hoofbeats alerted of Talrand's return.  As before, he slowed before approaching the came in courtesy of others' sensibilities and mental efforts.  The centaur appeared to not be bearing any new injuries save the one deep cut from the battle.

"The woods are quiet, and the remainder of the ruins deserted," Talrand updated simply, reporting in his non-news, but clearly of the mindset that knowing they had a bit of peaceful area was worthwhile.  "No signs of the two that disappeared, so likely magical art used."

Turning to the fire, he helped bring over some larger deadfall for later burning, and settled near a larger rock wall to serve as his reading platform while keeping hands free for any trouble, despite his words.

"A fine fire to celebrate a fine resolution of a good fight to rouse the blood," he chuckled, and brought out his fruity-golden brandy to share clay mugs with those partaking.

He listened to Tavion's update on the magical items and what-nots, and helped gather the mundane recovered supplies, while setting the horses to feed where resource permitted.

"Such a fascinating ability to perceive the abilities and powers and history of items simply by gazing in depth upon them.  Truly of great usage and skill."

In reply to Caitlin Merrywick (msg # 121):

"Certes, milady. Would that I had spent as much time on the healing arts as I did on Warcraft, this would not be necessary." He reaches out a hairy hand and lets out a pair of spells to close the still moderate wounds.



12:11, Today: Kora rolled 17 using 2d8+8.  Cure Moderate wounds.

12:11, Today: Kora rolled 16 using 2d8+8.  Cure Moderate wounds.


Another 33 HP restored
This message was last edited by the player at 20:12, Thu 16 Nov 2023.

"Thank you, Kora, I feel much better!" the sorceress said, giving the minotaur a smile and a nod of gratitude. "Don't worry about it, next time they will not get the drop on me." she added with a wink.

The mercenary looked over to the centaur as he returned to the camp, frowning as he spoke of a good fight to 'rouse the blood'. She was tempted to answer but thought better of it, since nothing good would come of it.

"Good, we did not need any enemies coming at us. But I am with Moonflute: If anyone has the possibility to detect evil, we should probably check the items... and of course if there is any evil roaming the ruins." Caitlin said, looking at the clerics expectantly.

Kora healed Caitlin fully.



[Talrand has +4 to AC for 8 hours.


Talrand has 62hp remaining out 78hp.
Tavion has 58hp remaining out of 66hp.
Kora has 67hp remaining out of 72hp.
]

Tavion closed his eyes as he clutched medallion and prayed, "Let no evil elude your gaze."

He reopened his eyes attuned to any subtle auras of evil. He focused on each of the items.

Tavion cast a spel and turned around in a circle on the spot, stopping every so often to stare into the distance for a few seconds. Soon enough he had completed his circle.


[Talrand has +4 to AC for 8 hours.
Tavion can Detect Evil for the next 70 minutes.


Talrand has 62hp remaining out 78hp.
Tavion has 58hp remaining out of 66hp.
Kora has 67hp remaining out of 72hp.
]

"I detect nothing evil about any of these, even this particularly grotesque piece," Tavion said as he motioned towards the staff.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 06:39, Fri 17 Nov 2023.

Moonflute looks more hopefully at the staff once Tavion gives it the all clear. "We will need to have it identified, it might still be a holder of bad magic," she says.

Kora asks "Talrand, if you could instruct me in the use of this martial weapon I would be most appreciative."

Kora takes the time to CLW on Tavion and himself, then Cure Moderate wounds on Talrand.


23:52, Today: Kora rolled 9 using 1d8+5.  Cure Light Wounds. Cure Tavion.

23:52, Today: Kora rolled 6 using 1d8+5.  Cure Light Wounds. Cure himself.

23:52, Today: Kora rolled 15 using 2d8+8.  Cure Moderate wounds. Cure Talrand.


Tavion gets back 9 HP
Kora gets back 6 HP
Talrand gets back 15 hp

Kora cast a few spells as he touched Tavion and Talrand. And one without touching anyone. He healed himself and Tavion completely.

[Talrand has +4 to AC for 8 hours.
Tavion can Detect Evil for the next 70 minutes.

Talrand has 77hp remaining out 78hp.

]
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:36, Fri 17 Nov 2023.

"Of course, friend Kora," the centaur replied immediately, having likewise noted the spiritual connection betwixt Kora and the lance spirit.  "Ahh... that feels much better upon mine ribs - a fortunate strike in their ambush, but fortunately not fatal.

"Mine honesty forbids suggestion of reknowned skill with any weapon, for much of mine skill-at-arms comes with the might of sinew more than martial prowess." The rather large arms of Talrand spread deprecatingly to acknowledge his size.  "But thou art much larger than most of the two-foot, so there is much hope for thee!  Ho ho!"

---

OOC: ah, tyk for the healing too!
Seems like a shame not to pick another fight while Kel's mage armour is up, but, c'est la vie.

With everyone else busying themselves with various tasks, Caitlin sits down near the fire and starts counting the coins the grave robbers didn't need anymore. Engrossed in her work she starts to hum, then sing a little song her mother used to sing for her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GppkDnYbvo

Once the coins were counted, the sorceress divided it evenly and proclaimed "There you go, 266 steel and 6 silver coins for each of us." handing out the money to the people.

Moonflute takes her coin from Caitlin, then sits down and pulls out her ocarina to accompany her.

Kora accepts the coins from Caitlin with a smile. After pouring them into his pack, he takes up the Lance and begins to get a feel for its weight and balance as he goes through a sword kata with the new weapon.

Tavion thanked Kora for the healing and Caitlin for the coins.

Caitlin looked at the four remaining silver pieces "Anyone opposed to donating the remaining four silver pieces to the orphanage?" she asked her traveling companions. "I'll add my six silver coins to make it one steel." the mercenary added, remembering that there were many children left without parents after the attacks of the last year or two.

Kora nods his acceptance. A notion comes across his mien, and Kora casts a Detect Good spell. He then sweeps the area of the ruins, maintaining concentration. If the Lance came from here, then that meant the legendary warrior Huma was buried here as well.

Tavion softly threw a steel over to Caitlin. "I'll donate to that noble cause as well."

Kora cast a spell and started turning around in a circle, much like Tavion had done earlier, but Kora took significantly more time to complete the circle.




[Talrand has +4 to AC for 8 hours.
Tavion can Detect Evil for the next 70 minutes.
Kora can Detect Good for the next 80 minutes.

Talrand has 77hp remaining out 78hp.

]

Kora muses "how very interesting. I decided to Detect Good, hoping to find Huma's Tomb. But I discern a strong Aura of Good in the Dragonlance and the crystal blade held by Kel. In addition, something that Moonflute carries also has a strong feeling of Good."

"I carry a Tear of Mishakal," Moonflute says.

Caitlin pocketed the coins, including Tavion's donation, and made a mental note to surprise the kids at the orphanage with some candy, giving the rest to the orphanage director for building maintenance or new shoes for the younglings.

"So, what's the plan?" the sorceress asked her traveling companions, "Are we going grave robbing, ride on til nightfall or should we head back and get the items identified in town?" she asked, looking up at the sky, trying to determine how long there would be light.

ooc: What time of day is it? After the fight Tavion took 5 hours on the items, it might be close to sunset. How far did we ride from Flotsam, you mentioned further than Micah, which was more than one day, right?

"Do you have reason to believe this is Huma's tomb?" Tavion asked Kora.

Kora shrugs. "Huma's Lance. I'd think it would be buried with Huma."

"Is there evidence that this was Huma's?" Tavion said and assessed the Dragonlance again.

Tavion studied the dragonlance as Moonflute picked up the bloodied sapphire.

"Indeed, it must be the first dragonlance," Tavion said after examining it for some time.

In reply to Kora (msg # 142):

The wizard looked back up from the book he was reading - the slightly signed one the grave robbers had been carrying.  Now that he had gleamed the useful information from it, he was rereading it more at leisure.  "Yes; I am aware of the properties of the dagger I safeguard, as well as those of the tear.  The second one must needs be cleansed, but should mirror and even improve upon the powers of its mate when so purified and used in unison."

Kora asks "and what is the cleansing process? Or is that something we must discover on our own?"

Moonflute tries to put the sapphire down.

Moonflute put the bloodied, tear-shaped sapphire down.

Caitlin shot Keliantharas a glare that would have killed an ordinary mortal, and wondered if the elf was just annoying or intentionally obnoxious. Unable to come to a conclusion the sorceress focused her attention back on the fire, adding some wood as fuel. "We should stay here for the night." she said to nobody in particular.

Talrand quirked a brow at some clear tensions in the group, and some of the challenges seemingly tied to some of the powerful items they held, and the restrictions or requirements on their use.

As he laced up the crimson dragonskin edged with ebony bracer upon one powerful arm, the centaur tested the triggering keyword relayed to him; a swirl of flaming shadow emerged to coil about the leather bracer.  Closer look revealed the shadow to be simply pitch-black leather, but burred with discrete hooks extending just past the braid leather of the whip.

He snapped his hand forward, fingers in a gripping throat motion, then jerked his elbow back.  The flaming whip snapped nearly twenty feet to curl around a heavy portion of fallen tree.  Even as the bark smoldered, it flew back towards the sizeable equine, only to be smashed into fragments by Talrand's fist.

"Kindling for the fire in that case," Talrand noted, rotating his arm back and forth, noting no damage to the magical items from the flaming whip.  "Yes, this will suit nicely.  Fortunate thy fire decimated the foes, Caitlin, before they could bring to bear their magical items."

Talrand put on the bracer on his lower left arm and played with the Hellfire Lash. And when he activated the whip, it was wreathed in flame. He traveled away from the others and searched for a bit. Having found a small tree on the ground, he used the Hellfire Lash to envelope it and pull it to him.

It landed by his hooves and he kept trampling it with his hooves for a couple of minutes until he had reduced it to kindling. He then brought it to the fire Caitlin was making.

[OOC: With the hardness and hp a small tree has, it takes a while to reduce it to kindling.]

Caitlin watched the man-horse strapping the bracer around his muscular arm, quietly impressed with the way the enchanted item matched his size. Her eyes strayed over the well developed pects and nicely defined abs and a certain warmth flooded through her chest. Yet, when her gaze moved on and landed upon the equine portion of the centaur's body, she suddenly felt the cold, that had gripped the land and froze the ground solid. She shuddered unintentionally and watched him play with his new toy, obviously quite satisfied with the results. Sighing softly the woman tore her gaze away to stare at the flames licking up the firewood...

https://i.ibb.co/6vqp4fc/Caitlin-Ruins03.jpg
This message was last edited by the player at 23:54, Sat 25 Nov 2023.

Kora asks "does anybody have a still-living mentor who might be able to Analyze the dweomer on the tainted Tear to give us more information?"

"I just need the right collections of books and I may be able to devise a solution.  And possibly get a better idea of the staff and heart origins."  The elven mage suggested, carefully sliding the burnt tome shut and offering it out.  "In the meanwhile, would anyone else care to have a look at this?  There is a puzzle within that may lead to some other lost relic as well."

Kora digs into his pack and pulls out a wand. "I'm not much of a scholar, but I'm willing to give it a try."

Keliantharas handed the burnt book to Kora and the minotaur flipped through it.

Kora uses the Wand of Comprehend Languages as needed.

PM

"I would love to take a look as well," Tavion said. "Fjona Goldstone from the temple of Shinare might be willing to help us with the artifacts, although I suspect that will result in every merchant knowing about our find."

"Puzzles, to add to curiosities - this is indeed a path of interests.

"By all means, share the puzzle, that we might lend together minds and perspectives to thy task.  Even the simplest of minds as mine might bring a simple insight - or make those of greater intellect feeling supported in feeling of challenges, ho ho!"  The centaur did seem interested more than idly, but also did a poor result in concealing that while he was effortlessly stronger than all assembled... he also felt significantly limited in knowledge compared to the party and their magical powers and insight.

The group gathered around the burned book.

Most of the text was covered in soot and illegible. Parts of pages had been lost to fire. But it seemed to have been written by someone called Irren Bridgeguard. Excerpts from the book:

"My dreams told me of an object that once belonged in the Palace of Quinari in the Kingdom of Silvanesti. An object that now belongs in your hands, as the mystery beings."

It mentioned the city of Kalaman.

"The key that you hold is an ancient one, but not what you first believe. It opens a passage that is not one and leads to the bones of eve. It is something that you cannot hold, but you have to carry well. Paladine and Takhisis think they are something you cannot sell. The eye of lore must join as one to make the passage near. Was formal red, now wilder white and has the shadow dear."

Those three entries seem to be related. Other entries make it seem like a journal.

"Formal Red, then White. Could that be a reference to a particular wizard?" Kora asks.

"It does not sound like a physical object to me: 'It opens a passage that is not one', the key is 'not what you first believe', and 'cannot hold but must carry well', this sounds like a flowery way of talking about a virtue to me." Tavion said as he squinted at the journal.

GM passing a message.

Talrand chewed upon the words, considering, rolling them through his mouth for verbal flavour.

"Agreed.  It doesn't sound a physical object, but the reference within thine book of something found in lost elven city suggests tied to an object.

"Cannot hold but carry well.  Carry well?  _Must_ carry well.  thou could carry water in a bucket, and thou must be careful, or act with integrity, but then one doth beith such.  Must carry well.  Music?  Perhaps a music book?  Do you have any musical books, or musical instruments that you have found?  The elves are known well for the quality of their musical instruments, and beauty of their songs.

"Was this book upon the miscreants here, or previously within thy possession?"

Kora comment brought a nod of agreement from Talrand. "Thy words beareth the ring of verisimilitude.  Ho ho, perhaps a ring of bells!

"The eye of lore - what meaneth such?  Must join as one to open the passage-not-a-passage.  Was red, white, black - that definitely suggests the mage orders.  Must the three orders come together to do something?  Was there a time or place where such occurred?  Or the three moon-gods of magic?  Magical words of power?  No, no.. to do well, not to do a good job - musical instruments again?

"Music magic brought together opens to the bones of eve - bones of eve.  What keeps us tall?  Structure?  No, no.  Graveyards?  Death?  Eve, come before - the past?  Musical magic opening a passage to the past, or to the spirits world?  But why then bones?  That is solid, tied to the world.  Perhaps a passage back through history, or see something tied, lingering on, not fully released?  Was wilder, dear, formal at different times in the past.  Yes, yes, that flows the stream of thought.  Something of past.."  The centaur's hooves clipped and clopped as he wandered about in thought.  From his wandering rumination, there was a suggestion such contemplation was perhaps more common for him in periods of wandering or isolation.

"And Kalaman.  What beith it known?  Why or for what there?  Something there held?  Or something lost to be recovered?  The miscreants here were recovering items long ago lost in the past..."

Almost forgetting the party, Talrand pulled out his recent book purchase, after all the discussion of the past, and started perusing as he and the others talked out possibilities.

Kora asks "could it be a tune that is carried? Thus the Key is musical in nature? Like the key of C?"

"We did not get an instrument, only the music box we found in Micah" Caitlin said and nodded in Kel's direction, since he was carrying the item.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:32, Tue 28 Nov 2023.

Tavion absorbed Talrand's rapid thoughts, pausing for a moment to organize his response. "'Bones of eve' does suggest a graveyard, and I've read before that the Dragons' Graveyard is near Kalaman. The mention of Paladine and Takhisis, pivotal figures of good and evil in draconic lore, can't be mere coincidence," he mused thoughtfully.

He glanced over the text once more, then said, "The 'eye of lore' could be an old term for what's known today as the Night of the Eye, a celestial event. It takes place once every 18 months, when the moons align fully, they create an 'eye' formation with the wizards' colors—white, red, and black. This seems to align with the text's imagery. However, the descriptors 'formal red' and 'wilder white' puzzle me. 'Wilder' typically refers to rogue wizards, an unusual way to depict Solinari."

Looking up at the night sky, Tavion observed, "With Solinari in its waxing gibbous phase and Lunitari at first quarter, the next Night of the Eye should be about a week away."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:33, Tue 28 Nov 2023.

As the others continued guessing, Caitlin wondered about the significance of the book and the group of grave robbers. It appeared they were not just raiding tombs for profit but were gathering artifacts for something that could be a ritual in order to gain access to a place through a passage that was none. A magical gate perhaps. "Perhaps we can try to remove the dirt with a cleaning cantrip? Or undo the damage to the pages with a spell of mending?" the woman offered her thoughts. Maybe that would reveal some more hints at what the ritual could be for and if there were more items required to complete it.

The sorceress sighed, she had no formal education in the magic arts, so many clues escaped her. Packing away the skeleton staff and the other items that nobody laid claim to, she got back to her feet eventually and walked back to the chamber. Pulling out her magical torch Caitlin looked at the walls once again.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:02, Tue 28 Nov 2023.

GM passing a message.

Caitlin relaxed as the noise of the banter at the campfire became less disturbing, like the ever-present sounds in the forest. It allowed her to focus on the facts that she had read in the book and the assumptions her companions had spilled forth. Eventually she had had enough time to digest the information and figure out things for herself, and so she returned to the fire.

"I concur with Tavion on Kalamar and the draconic graveyard, although it is roughly 400 miles from here. Which means we would not be able to make it there before the Night of the Eye." the sorceress shared with her companions. "I'm assuming the music box, as it is of Elven make, could have been an item from the Palace of Quinari and it has a wind-up KEY." she added, stressing the last word. "But of course that is merely an assumption" Caitlin remarked, as they were all making educated guesses, but guesses nonetheless.

"Lastly, I would assume that the graverobbers, the spellcaster in particular, might know more about it all. Or he might know nothing, but honestly there are way too many coincidences for our presence to be purely coincidental." she said, shrugging.

The centaur nodded as party observations seemed to become increasingly on point, the shared knowledge and application weaving together tidbits of knowledge into a surprisingly clear insight about activity required.

"Ah, yes, yes - thy points hold great merit, methinks.  A key to an ancient elven music box plays a song that opens a magical gateway at the dragon graveyard.  To what?  For what purpose?  And why centered at a place of passage of such mighty and long-lived, powerful and knowledgeable creatures?  Oh... or is the graveyard at such a place for the very reason of the gateway?  Doth one bringeth the other?"

Talrand chewed mentally upon the deeper streams of meaning behind the nexus of two such imports.  Sensing the answer drifting, he changed strides, and returned to the issue of reaching it in time.

He stretched an arm across, into the dark, covering many future footsteps.
"For short distances, a couple miles' sprint would take but a minute or two.  Longer travel across country - my hooves have managed seventy miles a day... five-six days I have crossed such distance as 400 miles - though mine expectation is an insufficiency to carry all of thee and maintain such a pace.

"Haveth thou within thy masters magics of picking up folk and transporting them great distances?  Or ability to lighten weight?  Shrink size to mice or somesuch? Summon flying steeds as the great eagles of the high mountains?

"Ah... or to locate the spellcaster - we saw him here, so that bringeth something if familiarity?  That is important, is it not?  It is possible he might have such abilities... but if they rode and brought packmounts of supplies, it suggests perhaps the opposite, sadly.

"Or if not that caster, what of the Towers?  Are there aught that we could reach along path to speed us to Kalaman?  I have no understandings of their prices for such, though I suspect dear."

They discussed their current situation, the graverobbers, and the items they had discovered as they were setting up camp. They spent the night and Kora, Caitlin, and Talrand watched over them. The next morning they struck camp and prepared for the day.

Suddenly a Huge serpentine creature approached them on dozens of legs. It was a 40-feet-long blue-gray monstrosity with two large, curving, dangerous-looking horns.

[OOC: https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room...GD5laD/TheEightWords

Despite it being described as 40 feet long, it still only takes up 15 by 15 feet on the battle map and it doesn't look anything like the image I chose for it on Owlbear.

What do you do?]

Caitlin was thankful for the quiet night, giving her the time to calm her thoughts and sort them out. She was startled when the creature appeared and all she could do was engage her protective aura, still wondering if the monstrous centipede was a threat or not. Not wishing to drop her guard the battle sorceress readied her spear for an incoming charge...

ooc: Init 5. Activate Arcane Aegis, new AC22. Ready spear for a charge.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:46, Thu 07 Dec 2023.

Kora casts Divine Power and pulls out the Lance (at least the bonuses from the spell cancel the nonproficiency penalty).
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Fri 08 Dec 2023.

Moonflute takes a step back before calling down a pillar of flame upon the threat.

Move: 5ft step as shown
Standard: Cast Flame Strike, just behind the centipede so it doesn't hit the others, (hits for 26hp, 13 of which is fire, 13 of which is divine power, no saving throw)

12:47, Today: Moonflute rolled 26 using 7d6.  Flame Strike damage

Seeing the casters starting to wind up and deliver powerful spells against the creature, Talrand pursed his lips.  He abandoned the plan of staying defensively as Caitlin had wisely anticipated attack...

The creature's horns suggested a powerful being that liked to smash through or trample beneath.  Now, if someone could hold its attention while the rest took it down safely...

Before his thoughts had finished, Talrand was rushing forward, snapping out the flaming whip to curl hungrily around the larger foe, with an eye to pull himself to close the distance.

---

OOC:
Mv: 40 towards beastie
Sw: use the whip
Std: melee touch/grapple/dmg
Free: move into beast's square if grapple successful, to maintain grapple
20:29, Today: Talrand rolled 26,29,13 using 1D20+11,d20+21,d8+9.  Melee Tch Attk/Grapple/Dmg .
Touch26, Grapple 29, dmg13.

Caitlin used her magic and readied her spear.

Kora cast a spell and readied the Dragonlance.

Moonflute moved and cast a spell and a pillar of sparkling fire engulfed the creature.

Talrand moved toward the creature, grappled it with the Hellfire Lash at quite a distance, and the Hellfire Lash pulled him next to the creature.

The creature bit Talrand and as the Hellfire Lash was grappling it, it now also grappled Talrand. Inflicting additional damage to the centaur.

[
Caitlin's AC is now 22.
Kora: Attack +2. Str +6. 8 temporary hp. Dragonlance -4 to attack because of non-proficiency.
Talrand lost 17+11hp. He has 50 hp remaining. He is grappled.

The creature is grappled.
]

[OOC: What do you do?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:16, Fri 08 Dec 2023.

Tavion closed his eyes, clasping the medallion of Majere at his chest. "Guide our steps in truth and light," he whispered, his voice imbued with quiet conviction.


Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.

With the centaur grappling the monstrous creature, Caitlin seized the opportunity and moved forward, aiming her spear at the intersections between the creature's armor plating. noticed she could not reach the creature and decided to stay put.

ooc: No action Move to engage creature. Attack 21, damage 13pts (Forgot +1 from bless, included here)
01:10, Today: Caitlin Merrywick rolled 13 using 1d8+5.  Damage.
01:10, Today: Caitlin Merrywick rolled 20 using 1d20+12.  Spear Attack .
This message was last edited by the player at 00:59, Mon 11 Dec 2023.

As the beast chomped down upon him, Talrand grimaced momentarily, then let out a joyful cry of engagement in the contest of might.  Blood surged through his muscles, and he grinned.  Elbowing the creature on the top of the head in effort to momentarily stun or distract it, he hammered at its head.  Blood running from his leg seemed to bother him little, save to drive adrenalin.  Driving one knee upwards, he shot an arm through the gap, while at the same time shifting weight to bring down the creature's head, trying to pin its head to prevent it from easily biting his allies while they brought him down.

---

OOC:
Talrand has continued the grapple, and will maintain.
He will try to pin the creature with his attacks until pinned, then dmg with remaining attacks once it is pinned.
18:17, Today: Talrand rolled 30,17 using d20+23,d8+9.  pin/Dmg .
18:17, Today: Talrand rolled 24,10 using d20+23,d8+9.
18:17, Today: Talrand rolled 34,16 using d20+23,d8+9.
18:17, Today: Talrand rolled 34,12 using d20+23,d8+9.
18:17, Today: Talrand rolled 36,13 using d20+23,d8+9.
18:17, Today: Talrand rolled 38,14 using d20+23,d8+9.
18:17, Today: Talrand rolled 43,12 using d20+23,d8+9.
Grapple/Pin 30
Pin 24 or dmg10
Pin 34 or dmg16
Pin 34 or dmg12
Pin 36 or dmg13
Pin 38 or dmg14
Pin 43 or dmg12

Kora lowers the Lance and charges the beast. The heavy lance strikes at the creature's side, impacting heavily.




23:54, Today: Kora rolled 20 using 1d20+15.  Dragonlance attack.

23:54, Today: Kora rolled 40 using 2d8+28.  Charging Lance damage.



Hits AC 20 for 40 damage, Reach 10'.

Current HP 80/80

Moonflute holds for now as the other charge in for the kill.

Tavion prayed.

Talrand attempted to pin the creature and was successful on his third attempt. Using that pin he tried to injure his opponent, but was only successful on his last attempt.

Kora charged with the dragonlance in both of his hands piercing the pinned monster.

While both Caitlin and Moonflute waited.

The monstrous centipede escaped the pin and attacked Talrand with several of its legs. Four of them injured him.


[
Each of you has +1 to attack and +1 on save vs. fear for the next 8 minutes.

Talrand lost a total of 23hp. He has 37 hp remaining. He is grappled.
Kora: Kora has AC -2 until the beginning of his next turn. Attack +2. Str +6. 8 temporary hp. Dragonlance -4 to attack because of non-proficiency.

The creature is grappled.
]

[OOC: What do you do?]

Although he was bleeding from a number of cuts, and certainly appeared to be taking a bigger beating than he was dealing, Talrand remained joyful.  The combat was exhilarating, his allies were protected, and they were managing some excellent strikes upon the great monstrosity while he held its attention.

He pulled two of the legs still stuck in his own, pushing them high to twist the segmented body around in leverage, and lunged for the large head again, driving to control it.  While creatures such as this possessed an incredible flexibility, and even the smallest pussycat could turn into a spineless dervish of claws, there was a strong maxim that controlling the head controlled the battle.

---

OOC:
As before, grapple until pin, then damage with remaining attacks
06:35, Today: Talrand rolled 31,10 using d20+23,d8+9.  pin/Dmg.
06:35, Today: Talrand rolled 31,11 using d20+23,d8+9.
06:35, Today: Talrand rolled 29,16 using d20+23,d8+9.
06:35, Today: Talrand rolled 33,14 using d20+23,d8+9.
06:35, Today: Talrand rolled 34,10 using d20+23,d8+9.
06:35, Today: Talrand rolled 35,13 using d20+23,d8+9.
06:35, Today: Talrand rolled 25,14 using d20+23,d8+10.

Pin31, dmg10
Pin31, dmg11
Pin29, dmg16
Pin33, dmg14
Pin34, dmg10
Pin35, dmg13
Pin25, dmg14

Charging and crowding the carapaced creature even more didn't appear to make sense to Caitlin and so she stayed put, sending in a handful of darts made of force that struck the creature unerringly.

ooc: Cast 'Magic Missile', maximized, empowered for 30pts of damage.

Moonflute moves closer but refrains from attacking as the combatants grapple with each other.

Kora tries to stab the monster with the lance, but it slips from his grasp. His eyes roll slightly as an exasperated huff escapes his snout.





17:49, Today: Kora rolled 14 using 1d20+13.  Heavy Lance attack. Fumble.

17:49, Today: Kora rolled 14 using 1d8+10.  Lance damage.

Rushing to Talrand's side, Tavion laid his hand softly upon his wounded friend. A warm, white light emanated from his palm, enveloping the injury before gradually fading away.


22:23, Today: Tavion rolled 14 using 2d8+8 ((1,5)).

Talrand continued to convert his grapple into a pin and this time he succeeded on his second attempt. The centipede was very good at grappling too, but this time he was able to inflict damage three times on it. Finally squeezing it into unconsciousness.

[
Each of you has +1 to attack and +1 on save vs. fear for the next 8 minutes.

Talrand lost a total of 23hp. He has 37 hp remaining. He is grappled.
Kora: Kora has AC -2 until the beginning of his next turn. Attack +2. Str +6. 8 temporary hp. Dragonlance -4 to attack because of non-proficiency.


]

[OOC: Combat is over. What do you do?]

With the foe vanquished, Moonflute moves in swiftly and lays a hand on Talrand, murmuring consecutive prayers.

Casting Cure Light Wounds twice on Talrand, restoring a total of 25hp

14:25, Today: Moonflute rolled 13 using 1d8+5.  Cure Light Wounds on Talrand.
14:25, Today: Moonflute rolled 12 using 1d8+5.  Cure Light Wounds on Talrand.

Moonflute prayed and healed Talrand.

[Talrand has 62hp out of 78hp.]

Talrand's flanks heaved, might bellows gathering his wind back as he held the grip a few moments longer to confirm the monstrosity was defeated.

He stretched out along the much longer foe, grinning unabashedly at the party.  "Tis good for breaking fast, but what hast thou for tea?"  He chortled, and gave his over-sized friend a solid thump.

"Good bite on these.  'Ware the fangs.  Anyone have particular use for parts of these, or should we give the stomach and innards a check for more halpless subjects?  I've heard tales that some of these creatures devour gemstones for gizzard work, or the odd adventurer.

"Magical items can survive stomach acids, cannot they?

"Also might be worthwhile to see if there's a lair around."

Tavion and Moonflute's healing quickly resolved the worst of his injuries, knitting together into solid flesh.  The centaur kipped up to his four hooves, and nodded deeply to the healers.  "Mine thanks for thy ministrations."

---

OOC: did we decide on action for blipping across, or if the party was adjusting size to travel at a faster Talrand pace?

Tavion arrived at Talrand, prayed, and healed him further.


[Talrand has 76hp out of 78hp.]

Kora moves to his horse and sheathed the Lance. He then pulled out his longsword and approached the belly of the immense insect. "Ware the smell" he says as he exposes the stomach contents with the sharp blade.

With his knowledge of magical beasts and survival, Kora sliced the creature open without damaging any internal organs, removed the guts, and then sliced them open. There was quite a stench.

Caitlin crossed her arms at Talrand claiming victory over the oversized vermin, sounding like this had been a training bout for him. For a moment she wondered if his brashness would be the centaur's downfall eventually. There was a saying: There are old mercenaries and brash mercenaries but no old and brash mercenaries.

When Kora opened the centipede-thing and its smell filled the cool winter air, the sorceress grimaced but didn't say a word. "If we're lucky the grave robbers are in there, then we won't have to chase after them." she wondered out loud.

They looked through the disgusting stomach contents.

Casting a spell to sense magical auras, Caitlin tries to determine if anything found was magical...


ooc: Cast 'Detect Magic'

Caitlin cast a spell.

"The scarab and whatever's in that tube seem to be magical." Caitlin informs her companions. "We should clean those first." the sorceress added, pinching her nose against the stench.

"Have we decided on where we are headed today? I would offer to inspect those, but I fear it will take some time." Tavion said, holding a sleeve over his nose.

"I have done some thinking and remembered something about High Sanction: A scroll of the stellar path can _make_ the moons align for the caster. One moon for the caster, to be precise just the respective moon of the caster. So... we could arrive late and Kel could cast the spell from a scroll which would make the moon align with the other two." the sorceress revealed, looking over to the Elven wizard hoping for him to acknowledge her statement.