Roth nearly stumbles as the pillar begins shouting, but soon begins to crane his neck to try and see what seems to be hiding on top of it.  "But what about the Knight?" he asks those about him, not really able to find a target for his crossbow.  For now, he was happy to let Ilsa make the threats at something else--and take the attention she drew.

“Vloeke na jou Snake Tong!” the voice answers Ilsa.  “Jy is die uitdagings hou geen gesag hier! Jy sal betaal vir jou verraad!”
The raven Stan summons races toward the top of the pillar.  Once at the top, it flutters around cawing.  It dives once or twice before finally disappearing.

"Well, I'm out of ideas. Let me know when you need something lit on fire."

Ilsa held her greatsword in her left hand. She couldn't swing it this way, but it freed her right to grab the throwing axe off her belt. "Den coom dun hier an fight, jou fhangtok fhangtok!*" She then waited until she had a clear target to throw her axe.


She threw it anyway.
16:10, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 8,10 using 1d20+6,1d6+5. Throwing Axe Attack, Damage.

Ilsa’s thrown axe doesn’t make it very far.  Certainly tossing an axe, even as small and balanced as the one thrown by the barbarian, the distance and at the angle required—not to mention the fact that her target has yet to reveal itself—is quite nearly an impossible feat.  Her efforts are solid, and all around agree that if she were able to see the owner of the booming voice, the owner would now find Ilsa’s axe in his chest.  But instead, her edged missile collides with the side of the stone pillar and falls harmlessly into the pool of fetid water.
The booming voice returns, but this time as ailing laughter.  Suddenly, a globe of darkness forms just over the lip of the column.  A spear bursts from the darkness, its trajectory directly in line with Ilsa!  The barbarian proves slightly quicker and steps just clear of the deadly projectile; it shatters as it slams into the rough cavern floor.
This somewhat unnerves the M’dok and his fighters.  "What we do?" he asks Porto, ready to charge up the narrow path to engage the demon—that is, if the halfling and his friends will back them.

Well M'dok...uh...Roth, Stan...Ilsa? Should we charge, I mean what other options have we. We can't just stand in the open as this demon throws spears at us. Porto says nervously. This was definately not his area.

"If the coward doesn't come down from the tree, you don't climb the tree. You cut it down." Unfortunately, Ilsa was in no condition to knock over or climb up the pillar. The barbarian was having trouble just standing up straight without swaying. If she was at full health, she would have already climbed up to face the demon.

Unfortunately we cant cut it down. But we can climb up. It shouldn't be too steep a climb for a strong orc such as yourself. Roth, Stan, care to make any suggestions?

Neya growled loudly as she took a few steps forward, her eyes still fixed upon the top of the tower. She was fast, she was strong. She could get up there and rip the enemy down before he could strike her. Maybe.

She glanced briefly back at the others, looking for some sort of confirmation before moving.

"It's not the climb. It's the spears in the flesh while you do it that're the problem," Ilsa hacked, not taking her eyes off the ledge. "And that goes for you too, Neya." The half-orc turned to the halfling and said, "I could muster enough strength to throw you up there, if you're game." She smiled her bloody smile.

Well maybe this will help Porto says as he gets out his rope. You all watch as it starts to spin slowly at first, then it picks up spinning faster and faster until it is a tight spiral that resembles that of a shield. It's not much but a rope shield is better than no shield. Porto says as the rope hovers in front of him providing cover.

OOC:Is the pillar straight up and down? Because I thought that there was an incline to it, like a plateau.

"Abbathor's Codpiece," Roth mutters in the harsh dwarven tongue at the situation.  The elf looks over his shoulder to Stan and asks, "What do you have left for artillery?," but before hearing the answer, hands off his heavy crossbow to the mage.  He pops his neck and approaches the edge of the pool nearest where the winding path meets water.  "I'll be bait.  Fan out, and if he tries to take a shot, let him have it."  After taking another look into the water before him, Roth hops to the pillar and slowly edges his way up the path.

Stan gave Roth a mock salute and began to load the crossbow. The heavy winch was almost too much for his weak frame, but he managed to nock a bolt into place. The weapon was hefty, but at a time like this he didn't mind.

The wizard sighted along the top of the bow, trying to remember the last time he had fired one of these. In training the heavy crossbows would split a pumpkin into little orange mash. He imagined it would work the same way with the "demon."

"The one day I didn't prepare a light spell. Figures..."

He kept Roth covered, ready to shoot if the demon showed itself, but not unless Stan could be sure of his target's location.

OOC: Ready action as described above.

Neya's growling faded slightly, but after a moment she began to follow Roth up the pillar, moving slowly and well behind him. She couldn't get the thing up top without climbing the pillar, and something that stopped the elf might not stop her.

Again, another spear flies from the magical darkness!  And again, Ilsa easily avoids the missile.
"Lafaards!" the voice cries out, probably after seeing the spear miss.  But as Roth and Neya move closer to the raised plateau, jump the water onto the small island’s base, and begin their slow climb up, it calls out again, laughing as it does:  "Kom! Bied julle aan Gruumsh!"
Stan diligently keeps the crossbow trained on the globe of darkness atop the island plateau and watching Roth and Neya’s ascent.  Their progress is slow, but the path is easy enough to follow.  Again they jump over the small waterfall, avoiding the plague-water like… well, the plague.
The spears stop being thrown at Ilsa as the two climb and strange mutterings can be heard; prayers to the demon’s fell god.  Roth and Neya crest the top of the pillar and disappear into the darkness.

Initiatives & 1st Round actions
Deadline Tuesday April 6th @ 08:00 CST

Neya's growling stopped as she entered the darkness, her pace slowing as vision faded and became useless. Her nose sniffed the air gently, testing the odors and scents wafting through the darkness. That scent was her. That scent was the elf. And that scent...

Init:  Natural 1
Move action: Use Scent to determine enemy location.
Standard: If scent shows that enemy is close enough, five-foot step towards him and attack. Atk 29, dmg 10, trip 23.
Moving silently to try and stay hidden.

13:38, Today: Neya rolled 20 using 1d20+5. Move Silently.
13:42, Today: Neya rolled 29,10,23 using 1d20+10,1d8+9,1d20+10. Possible Atk/Dmg/Trip.
13:44, Today: Neya rolled 3 using 1d20+2. Init.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Mon 05 Apr 2010.

Stan recognized that the darkness was magical and remembered that that sort of dweomer was easily countered by a light spell. He again regretted not preparing such a cantrip this morning.

With his allies in the darkness even blind firing was no longer an option.

"It would be nice if one side or the other got out of the magical darkness, thank you!"


13:54, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 25 using 1d20+5. Inititative.

Still holding action.

Porto turns to his kobold companions and yells Let's go bag us a Demonnnnnn! With that Porto charges the path, hopefully with his kobold friends behind him, and casts a spell to illuminate the darkness. Normally Porto's bravery was about his height but he was tired of being sick, tired of not eating without throwing it back up, he was tired of no BACON!

Free Action:Talk
Move Action:Move towards impending doom
Standard Action:Cast Light on Rope(shield)

16:50, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 17 using 1d20+3. init.

Once at the top, Roth draws his rapier and listens carefully, trying to pinpoint the location of the demon-orc.

Move: Draw
Standard: Ready attack if demon comes near enough.

23:05, Today: Roth Daos rolled 24 using 1d20+4. Listen.
23:05, Today: Roth Daos rolled 13 using 1d20+3. Init.

13:00, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 10 using 1d20+2. Initiative.

Her sinuses packed with muck and her breathing labored, Ilsa moved less quickly than the others. Before she could even react to the accusation of being called a coward--which even she found ironic given that she had called the demon a coward and got not response--the elf and halfling were charging up the tower. She coughed and followed, greatsword at the ready.

Double move, pushing past Porto on the way up.

Stan waits down by the shore, keeping the crossbow trained on the globe of darkness.  He readies himself to shoot the first unfamiliar thing he see once/if the darkness is lifted.

M’dok issues a great cry and leads his three warriors up the spiraling path to finally confront the demon!  The little creature’s legs pump as he sprints up the incline; but he is easily passed by the other, taller individuals.

Porto is next, following the charging kobold leader up the incline.  As he moves, Chubbs casts a simple evocation on the length of rope coiled around his left arm; the one spell Stan had been waiting patiently for.  Unfortunately, taking the time to cast the spell slows him down slightly, delaying the halfling from reaching the top ahead of the others.

Roth listens carefully, trying to pinpoint the location of the creature known as The Demon.  He is surprised to sense how close he is to the beast, and has little trouble identifying the other combatant’s loud armor and ragged breathing.  He thrusts with his rapier, but catches his target’s armor which effectively turns his blade.

The second kobold warrior follows M’dok up the slope, hollering curses to the demon.

Ilsa also rushes up the incline, barreling past everyone in her way.  With her great strides, she easily—even in her sickened state—makes it to the top of the small plateau.  She arrives to find the area still darkened by the Demon’s spell, but also the top of the plateau makes for very closed-quarter fighting.  The area is only ten feet squared, and now filled by the Demon, Roth, Neya, and now Ilsa—not to mention a small fire ring and some kind of wooden structure.

The first and third kobold warriors follow the others.

Following a vicious snarl, Roth’s left shoulder explodes in pain!  Something very sturdy has stabbed very deeply into his shoulder.

Neya sniffs out the Demon and lashes out violently!  She catches a mouthful of something incased in metal and bites down, thrashing about to trip up her catch.  A throaty grunt protests the trip attempt, and forces Neya’s neck to the side; but she proves the stronger, evident by the loud crash immediately following.  The force holding Roth’s shoulder also goes limp.  With a sickly pop, the elf feels warm blood pouring down his arm and left flank.

Please post 2nd Round actions—
Deadline: Wednesday April 7th @ 08:00 CST

Porto continues up keeping the lightened rope in front of him hoping to illuminate the dark. As he runs he begins to sing a delightful tune.

We crush the ones who don't agree
Whose lifestyles clash with you and me
And a little peace goes a long long way
It's peace we want, for peace we pray
A little peace goes a long long way
It's peace we want, for peace we pray
Ain't so crazy

_{-Elton John(modified)}

Move Action: Run up plateau
Standard Action:Inspire courage

"I here now." Ilsa said in human tongue, her breaths growing more rapid and haggard. "Now you die like coward in dark!" Ilsa screamed in orcish at the top of her lungs, lifting her sword high in air and bringing it down where she heard the crash of metal from Neya's attack.

Rage
20:54, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 17 using 1d20+9. Power Attack +/- 4.
20:55, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 21 using 2d6+16. Damage.

Neya snarled loudly as she ripped and tore at the bloody and foul metal filling her mouth, trying to rip aside or find a hole in the metal skin so she could get at the flesh beneath. Rapidly she moved to get over the enemy, trying to make sure he stayed on the ground; that way the pack could simply rip it apart.

Possible attack of opportunity when the demon stands. (Atk 13, dmg 13, 16 trip)
Neya attacks the demon. (Atk 17, 10 dmg, trip 26)

00:07, Today: Neya rolled 13,13,16 using 1d20+10,1d8+9,1d20+10. Possible AoO.
00:07, Today: Neya rolled 17,10,26 using 1d20+10,1d8+9,1d20+10. Atk/Dmg/Trip.

Feeling rather useless, Stan let down the crossbow. There would be no firing at the demon now that his allies were closed to combat with it. Stan didn't really want to shoot Ilsa by accident, even if others might not mind.

Crossbow now held at his hip, the wizard began cautiously advancing up the pillar. He kept well away from the melee and the charging kobolds.

Move: Move up pillar.

Sorry to not be doing much this fight. Suggestions are welcome in the OOC thread. :)