Ubdall listened to Lambrac and Jibril with his arms folded over his huge belly and a wry smile on his lips. He laughed haughtily at Jibril's words, gesturing at the priest's own garb with a fat hand. "You are not one to talk about 'gaudiness' friend. And do you really think a mere acolyte will be missed at the temple?" He arched his brow as if waiting for an answer that would never come. "I doubt those wrinkled Azuthians will even send out a search."

He then turned to Lambrac, smiling at the young rogue's words. "Well aren't you a well-spoken young garab! Lantan you say? I have a nice little slave girl from Lantan - Gond certainly forged your women some nice backsides I'll say that much!" He laughed again and the tyres of fat around his waist leapt up and down with each roaring guffaw. "Unfortunately there will be no such negotiations. In truth, I could never have let you leave here - the Professor will not be allowed aid for this expedition."

"I shall leave you in the hands of my Drensiir assassins - I assure you they are most 'capable' hosts."

Smiling, Ubdall waved a hand and stepped backward, disappearing through a shimmering blue portal that sparked into nothingness as soon as he went through. The five 'Drensiirs' began to advance in his place, drawing curved scimitars and kukris.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:35, Sun 26 July 2009.

       a   b   c   d   e
     |www|   |   |   |www|1
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|2
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|ASS|   |ASS|www|3
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |ddd|4
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|5
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|6
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |ABB|   |www|7
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|LAM|LIN|JIB|www|8
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |FAR|   |www|9
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|10
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|11
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|12
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |ASS|   |www|13
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|ASS|   |ASS|www|14
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|15

Key:
ASS - Assassin - AC/T/FF: 14/12/12
FAR - Fareeda
JIB - Jibril
LIN - Linni
LAM - Lambrac
ABB - Abbas
www - Wall
ddd - Door

Roll initiative and post your first round action as described in the 'Posting Etiquette' thread. RP the action first then put the complexities in orange at the end. Example:

Korgan rushed forward and swung his axe at the nearest goblin, missing by inches.

Initiative: 18
Move: G7
Standard: Attack AC14 - Miss (13)

AC/T/FF: 18/13/15

Effects: Bless

Dice rolls in < small >

I'll NPC Fareeda and Linni tommorow, too tired now, though Fareeda may be rejoining us.

Lambrac stared after the vanishing Ubdall. "Hey! We can talk about this!" he protested. "This is terribly uncivilised behaviour!"

Too late, the fat man had gone, and Lambrac was left staring at the advancing assassins. "Ah, perhaps you may be more agreeable?"


Initiative: 3

AC/T/FF: 15/13/12

_{08:55, Today: Lambrac rolled 3 using 1d20+1. init.}
This message was last edited by the player at 01:02, Mon 27 July 2009.

Jibril ground his teeth while watching Ubdall disappear. "I'm going to kill that fat bastard next time I see him," he cursed solemnly to Lambrac.  "But now, let's rid ourselves of this problem."  Jibril studied the 5 assassins to determine who was the most likely leader amongst them. He searched for the burliest and most commanding one of them. When satisfied, he whirled his had in a looping fashion around his face, turning it into a horrible visage as he glared at the rogue.

Initiative: 2
Cast Cause Fear on leader, DC 15.
AC/T/FF: 14/10/10
Effects: Mage Armor


04:55, Today: Jibril rolled 8 using 1d20+4. Spellcraft. Attempting to identify blue shimmering portal that Ubdall escaped in.

14:43, Yesterday: Secret Roll: Jibril rolled 2 using 1d20-6. Jibril Initiative.

Linni scowled as the fat wizard disappeared. As was usually the way in this city, the rich would let their minions do the work for them.

Stepping over to the nearest wall, she muttered an incantation and hurled a glowing orb of liquid flame, about two inches in diametere, at one of the assassins. The flaming ball hit its target, bursting into flame on his shozuku.

Initiative: 7
Free: 5 ft step to D7
Standard: Lesser orb of fire at D3 assassin - hit AC22 for 4 fire damage.
AC/T/FF: 13/13/11

13:50, Today: Linni rolled 4 using 1d8. damage.
13:46, Today: Linni rolled 22 using 1d20+2. ranged touch attack.
13:46, Today: Linni rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Initiative.

Fareeda, recoiled at the sight of three assassins advancing on her. She wanted to run away but a glance behind revealed the sight of a further two blocking any escape route. Sucking deep at the air to calm her nerves, she took her lute from her back and began to play.

The song was a thunderous melody, resonating back to the many battles and victories of Calimshan's past. The others around her could not help but be inspired by her rhythmical strumming and felt the strength in their arms and in their hearts begin to grow almost supernaturally.

Initiative: 12
MEA: Draw lute
Standard: Bardic music - Inspire courage (+1 on saves vs charm/fear, +1 on all attack/damage rolls)

AC: 14/12/12

13:58, Today: Fareeda rolled 12 using 1d20+2. Initiative.

Abbas' readiness proved itself as the elf launched into action.  His keen eyes had marked the two groups of trouble-makers, and the disappearance of the mage was all the flame needed to light the candle of his action.
Leaping back, past his allies, Abbas spun out his burnoose and pivoted to dart forward to engage the group of three assassins.  "Clear a path free first, then support withdrawl or rout these vermin," he suggested to the others as he danced past.

Two thick-bladed shortswords emerged with a flourish from beneath the golden burnoose as Abbas attacked.  At the last moment, he checked his swing, parrying off a blow and merely thumping the lead assassin in the chest in warning, choosing to instead keep a better defensive position against the 3:1 numbers instead of overcommitting.


OOC: AC/F/T: 24/13/21
Combat Expertise at 1, of course :)
Mv to C12 and whiff

<sub>17:31, Today: Abbas rolled 23 using 1d20+5. init.

17:40, Today: Abbas rolled 8 using 1d20+6. attack.</sub>


This message was last edited by the player at 01:03, Tue 28 July 2009.

Lambrac shifted the chest to under his left arm, then drew his rapier. The Lantanna stepped into the space vacated by Abbas, standing valiantly to shield the women from the assassins.


Initiative: 3

AC/T/FF: 15/13/12

Move: Draw Rapier
Move: Move to C7

_{08:55, Today: Lambrac rolled 3 using 1d20+1. init.}

And so came the first real test for this unlikely group of 'expeditionists'. With masked assassins closing from both sides, things seemed grim.

The graceful and self-proclaimed protector of the group, Abbas, surged back through his comrades to meet the greater threat of three Drensiirs, his broad bladed shortswords flashing in the gloom. He lashed out at their apparent leader, a tall man armed with a sweeping falchion, yet his nimble stab could not pierce the man's leather undercoat.

The three assassins facing the elf snarled and surged forward to meet his challenge. They swarmed around him, their curved blades slashing and hacking - yet they could not penetrate his defence. Abbas moved like a dancer, dodging and weaving between the wild swings, his blades deflecting and parrying with ease.

The other two assassins stepped forward and hurled silver-edged throwing stars into the main group. One sailed over the head of Linni, curving into the wall where it shattered a window pane. The other swerved round in a wide arc, biting into Lambrac's shoulder.

Fareeda began to play her song, each note humming eerily along with the clashes of steel and grunts of anguish, yet they seemed to inspire a certain flame in the blood, urging those around her on into the fight.

Suddenly, in the midst of the battle, a strange feeling of resilience began to resound through the group. Perhaps it was Fareeda's tune that has affected them so, yet the source seemed to emanate from elsewhere.

Linni took a step to one side and hurled a globe of fire at the assassin who had attacked her. The tiny ball of flame exploded as it struck the man, drenching him in liquid flame that quickly consumed his shozuku. He thrashed and thumped at the flames, screaming as he dropped to the dusty floor.

Lambrac stepped forward and drew his rapier, summoning his courage to face the remaining assassin to the north.

Jibril, seemingly unaware for some time that there was even a threat of violence, was the last to act. Already irritated at having to walk without a rug through the streets of Calimport, his anger was only enhanced by the advancing assassins. He lifted his staff to point at the group Abbas had begun to fight and muttered a brief prayer. Nothing happened at first, and the elf's three assailants pressed their attack, trying to find a gap in Abbas' guard. However, after a few seconds the two assassins flanking the leader hesitated in their assault, as if suddenly unsure of their chances to defeat him. They continued to swing their weapons but appeared afraid, almost shaken.

       a   b   c   d   e
     |www|   |   |   |www|1
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|2
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|3
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|ASS|   |ASS|ddd|4
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|5
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|6
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |LAM|LIN|www|7
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |JIB|www|8
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |FAR|   |www|9
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|10
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|11
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |ABB|   |www|12
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|ASS|ASS|ASS|www|13
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|14
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|15

Key:
ASS - Assassin - AC/T/FF: 14/12/12
FAR - Fareeda
JIB - Jibril
LIN - Linni
LAM - Lambrac
ABB - Abbas
www - Wall
ddd - Door

This message was last edited by the GM at 13:27, Mon 10 Oct 2011.

Lambrac cursed in melodious Lantanese as the shuriken whipped into his shoulder. Damn it all, he liked that shirt. Added to the earlier dart wound and exhaustion in the service of Jala, he was really not in the mood for this.

He glanced ahead and behind, trying to decide which to attend to first. Three assassin in front, two one behind. It had been quite a clever trap, he decided, and he had to compliment Ubdall Kareed on it, if nothing else, when or if they next met. Now, if he moved to support Abbas against the three assassins, who was certainly out-numbered, that would leave the one behind free to attack the weaker spellcasters. Ah, but Linni could hurl fire and claimed to a potent magical force. Fair enough then.

He wandered over to stand beside Abbas, still with the chest tucked under one arm. "Need a hand?" he asked the elf.


AC/T/FF: 15/13/12

Double Move: B12 D11
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Fri 31 July 2009.

"If the way behind is clear, a colleague's assistance is always appreciated," Abbas replied deflecting a pair of strike and managing another riposte into the leader's chest to remind him of distance, then taking a 5' step back to force the assassins to keep moving towards him.

"Not further, friend; let them come to us," he requested as Lambac showed inclination to move up and engage the three.


OOC: 5' back.
whiff on attack
 - diceroller doesn't like me
_{08:25, Today: Abbas rolled 12 using 1d20+7. attack.}

"Oh crap." Flustered and like a fool, Jibril moved to challenge the lone assassin behind him, whirling his elegant quarterstaff like a baton.  The weapon made a pretty purple blur, but otherwise, he missed his target by a long-shot.

Effects: Mage Armor
AC/T/FF: 14/10/10

_{08:01, Today: Jibril rolled 3 using 1d20+1. Quarterstaff attack.}
This message was last edited by the player at 13:15, Thu 30 July 2009.

Linni, happy with her attack on the first assassin, switched her attention to the next. She spoke again, her tiny high-pitched voice sounding comical in draconic, and hurled another bolt of fire. The orb struck true once more, bursting alight across the man's chest.

Standard: Cast lesser orb of fire at B4 assassin, hits AC17 for 5 damage.
AC/T/FF: 13/13/11

14:00, Today: Linni rolled 5 using 1d8. damage.
14:00, Today: Linni rolled 17 using 1d20+2. ranged touch.

Fareeda, unsure what more she can do to aid the group, stood to one side, hoping the others would be able to see off the threat.

AC: 14/12/12
This message was last edited by the player at 14:43, Fri 31 July 2009.

Abbas continued to fend off the three assassins to the south single handedly, but as yet could not land any blows of his own. Another stabbing counter attack pulled harmlessly off the leader's chest armour.

The assassin's replied with their own barrage of blows yet could not come close to penetrating the elf's defence. Jibril's spell seemed to have had a real effect on two of the assassins and it seemed almost as if they had no will to carry on the fight. To the north, the last remaining assassin moved forward and swung a heavy falchion at Lambrac, missing him by inches.

From the tavern door by the still-burning corpse of the first assassin, sounds of another combat began to mingle with the one on the street. One of the gloomy window panes shattered outwards, revealing sounds of stell clashing on steel, wood shattered and the general shouts and curses one would expect to hear in a bar brawl. Were there more assassins inside?

Ignoring the comotion, Linni hurled another orb at the Drensiir now engaged with lambrac, yet in her attempts to avoid the Lantan rogue, missed the assassin as well.

Lambrac retreats from the assassin's attack, moving up to support Abbas. As he moves, the Drensiir facing him surges forward, sensing a weakness and his falchion slices into the rogue's turning hip.

Jibril turned to meet the lone assassin Lambrac had fled from, his quarterstaff prodding ineffectually at the man's guard.

       a   b   c   d   e
     |www|   |   |   |www|1
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|2
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|3
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |ASS|ddd|4
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|5
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|ASS|   |   |www|6
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |JIB|LIN|www|7
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|8
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |FAR|   |www|9
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|10
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |LAM|www|11
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |ABB|   |www|12
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|ASS|ASS|ASS|www|13
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|14
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|15

Key:
ASS - Assassin - AC/T/FF: 14/12/12
FAR - Fareeda
JIB - Jibril
LIN - Linni
LAM - Lambrac
ABB - Abbas
www - Wall
ddd - Door

This message was last edited by the GM at 15:04, Fri 31 July 2009.

Twisting aside from a strike that would have torn a delightful hole through his abdomen, Abbas used his thick blades to parry blows from both assassins seeking to flank the elf.  His grace, however, is evident, and he danced back into position, refusing to allow the threesome opportunity to attack Fareeda and Linni.

In a somewhat obscure method of taunting the leader, Abbas struck for the third time in the exact same spot on the assassin leader, the probing strike confirming yet again that the armour was proof enough to turn back elven steel.

Point made, the party's defender again disengaged and stepped back to balk efforts by the rogues to push past.


_{14:07, Today: Abbas rolled 12 using 1d20+7. attack.}
This message was last edited by the player at 17:31, Fri 31 July 2009.

Breaking a sweat, Jibril continued to swing futilely at the assassin in front of him.  His clothes were getting dirtier by the moment, frustrating him even further.


Effects: Mage Armor
AC/T/FF: 14/10/10

_{13:26, Today: Jibril rolled 6 using 1d20+2. Quarterstaff attack. I hate these dice.}

The assassins attacking Abbas pressed on, desperate to find an opening amongst the elf's dancing parries and feints. The Drusiir leader managed to bat the elf's blades away with his scimitar to land a vicious slash across Abbas' upper arm with the kukri in his off hand.

The remaining assassin to the north snarled as Jibril confronted him and he lunged forward to attack the new threat - however his falchion sailed harmlessly over Jibril's head.

The falchion bit deeply into his hip, and Lambrac grounded his teeth against the pain. He cursed his ill-luck that saw him out here, on the streetm, encumbered by chest and tools, and both exits covered. He just couldn't run away.

He dropped the chest to his feet, hoping to Gond that there was nothing too fragile inside, and stood protectively over it. He waved the rapier ineffectually at the assassin. "It seems we're long past the point of diplomacy." he spat.

AC/T/FF: 15/13/12

Free: Drop chest
Standard: Attack

_{10:08, Today: Lambrac rolled 8 using 1d20+3. attack.}

EDIT: Should be a 9 with bard song
This message was last edited by the player at 02:26, Mon 03 Aug 2009.

Jibril was feeling that this whole fighting thing was much overrated. Nonetheless, his adrenaline was pumping, and he could not help but laugh at the assassin as his weapon went sailing over his head.  He bit his lip, as his quarterstaff when flailing hopelessly past his attacker again.

Effects: Mage Armor
AC/T/FF: 14/10/10

_{09:06, Today: Jibril rolled 8 using 1d20+2. Quarterstaff attack.}

Linni stepped north, trying to get a better angle on the assassin fighting Jibril. She speaks again and throws another orb of fire at the masked attacker but it goes well wide, leaving another scorch mark on the wall behind him.

Free: 5ft step to d6
Standard: Lesser orb of fire - miss AC7

10:40, Today: Linni rolled 7 using 1d20+2. ranged touch attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:42, Mon 03 Aug 2009.

Things were getting desperate. With Abbas and Lambrac being overwhelmed at one end of the street and an assassin marauding through the spellcasters at the other, it seemed Ubdall's ambush might well end this adventure before it had even begun.

Abbas continued to battle valiantly against his three assailants, dodging and weaving through their attacks. However despite his blades' efficiency in deflecting attacks, they still could not find a mark of their own.

His assailants had better luck, with the assassins' leader delivering a nasty slash across the elven warrior's upper arm. Elsewhere, the Drensiir attacking Jibril missed the priest with a heavy swing of his falchion.

Fareeda continued to stand around helplessly, though as the only member of the group not currently engaged with the enemy, she was free to watch the Sultan's Cape tavern where the sounds of a brawl inside seemed to be escalating.

All of a sudden the tavern door burst open and a large orc appeared in the doorway, stepping over the burning corpse of the downed assassin, a morning star held in one hand. A sort of controlled anger flashed in his eyes as he assessed the scene.

Linni hurled another bolt at Jibril's assailant but missed again, the fiery orb scorching the wall behind him.

Lambrac dropped the chest, which hit the floor with a loud thud. The assassins' attention moved away from Abbas for a second as they recognised their objective. The Lantanese rogue stepped forward to challenge one of the Drensiirs flanking the leader, his rapier flashing wide in a challenge.

Jibril continued to hold his opponent back with his quarterstaff, threatening to give him a very sore head should he drop his guard.

       a   b   c   d   e
     |www|   |   |   |www|1
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|2
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|3
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |ORC|ASS|ddd|4
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|5
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|ASS|   |LIN|www|6
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |JIB|   |www|7
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|8
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |FAR|   |www|9
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|10
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|11
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |ABB|LAM|www|12
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|ASS|ASS|ASS|www|13
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|14
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|15

Key:
ASS - Assassin - AC/T/FF: 14/12/12
FAR - Fareeda
JIB - Jibril
LIN - Linni
LAM - Lambrac
ABB - Abbas
ORC - Orc
www - Wall
ddd - Door

The large orc grinned like a happy child as he stepped over a burning body with nary a glance downward.   Striding quickly, the seemingly lightly armored orc braced his large shield for impact and moved to the Calishite by the fancy-lad with the long stick.
"A stick against a knife" he thought with a silent chuckle. "This one REALLY needs my help".

The orc, who seemed a bit cleaner and better groomed than most of his kind, swung his morningstar, not with a savage war-cry or a call to the savage gods of the orcs, but with a simple, grunted statement:

THIS is for your boss interrupting my drinking!


Free: 5 foot step
Standard:  Attack

AC/T/FF  18/12/16

Effects: Dragon Aura= Toughness (DR1/Magic)

06:11, Today: Krogan rolled 19 using 1d20+4. tohit with morningstar.
06:11, Today: Krogan rolled 12 using 1d8+4. morningstar damage.


EDIT:  If the bard song affects me, please add +1 to the rolls.



He then turned his large head to look at the colorful man with the long stick.

Good evening!  Nice day for a fight, eh?

The orc chuckled at his own joke, showing the cleric of The Patron of Mages a full set of remarkably clean orc teeth and tusks.

Lambrac jabbed his rapier at the assassin, though it proved to be pointless, both metaphorically and literally. He sighed; a stand-up fight really wasn't his forte. He shrugged off his backpack and let it fall beside the chest. Perhaps he could move a fair bit more gracefully now.


Standard: Attack 10
Move: Drop backpack, become unencumbered

AC/T/FF: 15/13/12

Effects: Inspire Courage

_{19:52, Today: Lambrac rolled 10 using 1d20+4. attack (+1).}

Forget about the scimitar; it's always the kukri that takes you in the end, Abbas reminded himself.  Still a last moment adjustment of position had meant the blow was only very serious instead of lethal, and though the bleeding wound hurt like hoolies, being alive to feel the pain was more than fair a trade off in the scales of sensation.

The assassin leader, however, flush with success, made the cardinal error of smirking and settling on his heels.  Abbas lunged forward, trapping both blades together inside his shortswords.  When the leader reflexively spread them wide to regain balance for fighting, Abbas' sword had already begun a strike between the anticipated opening and struck home!

Then, of course, Abbas carefully stepped back, blades and feet weaving defensively.


_{13:51, Today: Abbas rolled 15 using 1d20+7. attack.
13:52, Today: Abbas rolled 5 using 1d6. dmg.
Dmg: 6(+1 bardic song ftw)}