(9)
With a quick burst of speed and an agile leap over the gaping pit in the cavern floor, Asher is in front of the orcish shaman.  A hard, straight jab from the monk catches the orc squarely on the chin, rocking the creature's head back.  A glazed look replaces the evil gleam in the orc's eyes, and a small vial of liquid drops from his hands to shatter on the cavern's stone floor.

(6)
The ogre and automaton act next.  The automaton spins about with a whirring sound, then charges toward Asher.  One of the whirling, drill-like forelimbs of the thing is brought to bear on the monk, just barely catching the Narvilian but tearing into his torso when it does.

The ogre, using its club as a battering ram, slams the end into Totmacher's chest, two-handed.  Totmacher feels his ribs breaking as he loses consciousness.

OOC:  23:32, Today: DM rolled 8 using 1d6+5. Automaton damage vs. Asher.
23:29, Today: DM rolled 19 using 1d20+7. Automaton attack vs. Asher.
23:24, Today: DM rolled 15 using 2d8+7. Damage vs. Tot.
23:23, Today: DM rolled 27 using 1d20+8. Ogre attack vs. Tot.

Gilrak is up on 4.  The shaman is severely wounded and stunned for this round (losing his action).  Tot is at -6 hp, and Asher is at 12 hp.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:03, Fri 28 Apr 2006.

Gilrak, seeing Totmacher fall from the Ogre's blow, takes a step towards the Giant and swings fiercely with his Urgrosh...

___________________________

5' move to J8
06:57, Today: Gilrak Kilring rolled 17 using 1d20+6. Critical Miss Check.
06:56, Today: Gilrak Kilring rolled 15 using 1d20+6. Ogre Attack 2.
06:56, Today: Gilrak Kilring rolled 7 using 1d20+6. Ogre Attack 1.

OOC: Damn, not much help here Tot.  Blasted Die Roller
This message was last edited by the player at 13:15, Fri 28 Apr 2006.

(4)
Gilrak's attempt to engage the ogre is successful, but the dwarf's use of the difficult-to-master urgosh are clumsy and ill-timed.  The dwarven ranger avoids a serious mishandling of his weapon, but his sweeping blows are wide of their target.

(25)
Caylin, still suffering from his poorly executed attempt to use his bow, is only able to shift his position a bit and fire a single arrow--rather than his customary two arrows.  Nonetheless, the little halfliing archer's shot is very well-placed, and the arrow buries itself to its fletches in the ogre--eliciting a roar of pain from the monster.

(19)
Perrato is up next.

OOC:  13:09, Today: Caylin Direbrook rolled 9 using 1d6+3. Damage w/in 30'.
13:09, Today: Caylin Direbrook rolled 25 using 1d20+13. Single arrow shot, w/in 30' & MW arrow.
Our wayward cleric is up next...PLEASE post, Tom, as this weekend represents an ideal time to wind some of this up.  Very slightly modified map is up on the website.

Aware of the predicament his half-orc friend finds himself in, Perrato elects to reload his crossbow and move into the chamber at Caylin's side. Once there, he readies himself to take aim at the threatening ogre.

[OOC: Perrato reloads and moves to G,8.]

Garryn leans heavily against the wall and makes a futile attempt at treating his injuries.

Garryn the Grey rolled 9 using 1d20. Untrained First Aid Check.

(10)
Realizing that things were looking a bit grim, Aidrin moves into the cavern, pulling the wand of suggestion from his robes as he does so.  The wizard points the intricately carved sliver of wood at the ogre, and mutters a fluid-sounding series of syllable.  In a clear voice, the Phanarian commands the ogre in Paldorian.  "Stop!  Smash the metal thing, not us!"  Aidrin winces a bit at the simplicity of his order, but reasons that the language must be accordingly crafted for the recipient.

An instant change of feature overtakes the ogre, and it looks to the automaton, tensing its muscles to leap towards the construct.

13:28, Today: DM rolled 13 using 1d20+1. Ogre will save, DC 15.  Asher is up on segment 9.

Asher makes two attempts at pummeling the Shaman... with dubious results.

OOC: Kev, will the 18 do the trick?
16:01, Today: Asher Willbourne rolled 4 using 1d8+2. Unarmed Damage?.
16:00, Today: Asher Willbourne rolled 14 using 1d20+5. stunning fist vs shaman (attk 2).
15:59, Today: Asher Willbourne rolled 18 using 1d20+5. Unarmed attack 1 vs Shaman.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:20, Mon 01 May 2006.

(9)
The shaman, stunned by Asher's previous blow, collapses as the monk follows through with a solid punch to the orc's jaw.  The monk's fist rocks the orc's head backwards, and the creature collapses heavily to the ground.

(6)
Acting on Aidrin's magically-produced suggestion, the sole remaining ogre leaps at the automaton, wielding its club visciously.  The big, iron-studded timber crashes into the construct, crumpling it and sending it crashing across the cavern floor.

OOC:  10:49, Today: DM rolled 22 using 2d8+7. Ogre damage vs. automaton.
10:47, Today: DM rolled 21 using 1d20+8. Ogre attack vs. automaton.

This message was deleted by the player at 20:58, Tue 02 May 2006.

OOC: Posting for Jason who is traveling this week

Gilrak slips up behind the obedient Ogre, and swings his Urgosh in a fierce arc.

OOC: 16:14, Today: Asher Willbourne rolled 17 using 1d20+7. rolling for Gilrak - correct mod.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Wed 03 May 2006.

(4)
Gilrak sidles up to the ogre, who views the dwarf's approach with a snarl--but the lingering effect of Aidrin's suggestion causes the monster to hesitate to attack.  This changes instantly as Gilrak employs his urgosh, cutting a deep slash across the ogre's thigh and causing the creature to roar out in pain.

New round
(25)
Caylin, awaiting his chance, sends two arrows thudding home into the ogre, toppling the beast as the missiles bury themselves in the creature's chest.  The cavern lies empty of conscious foes.

OOC:  06:54, Today: DM, on behalf of Gilrak Kilring rolled 7 using 1d8+4. Damage to ogre.
14:14, Yesterday: Asher Willbourne rolled 17 using 1d20+7. rolling for Gilrak - correct mod.
10:57, Yesterday: Caylin Direbrook rolled 6 using 1d6+3. Arrow damage 2 w/in 30'.
10:57, Yesterday: Caylin Direbrook rolled 8 using 1d6+3. Arrow 1 damage w/in 30'.
10:56, Yesterday: Caylin Direbrook rolled 24 using 1d20+11. Arrow shot 2, MW, w/in 30'.
10:56, Yesterday: Caylin Direbrook rolled 24 using 1d20+11. Arrow shot 1, MW, w/in 30'.

Perrato rushes toward Totmacher and after a cursory examination of the barbarian's wounds performs whatever emergency healing arts seem appropriate. "¿Por qué tienes tan prisa para encontrar la muerte, Señor Orque?" mutters the priest as sets himself to his task.

[OOC: 17:10, Today: Perrato Viatomagne rolled 26 using 1d20+12. Heal Totmacher.]

Perrato, employing his expertise as a healer and apothecary, is able to staunch the flow of blood from Totmacher's wounds, bringing a measure of stability to the half-orc's admittedly critical condition.

OOC:  Tot stabilized at -7 hp.

OOC: Posting for Jason, again. Let's have some fun.

Gilrak gleams with self-congratulatory praise over the fact that the two height-challanged party members felled the long-limbed foe.

Out of morbid curiosity he wanders over to see how the less fortunate half-Orc fares. As he approaches, his nose wrinkles in disgust. "What is that smell? That is not the normal stench of Orc I sense. Priest, are you sure he is not dead? Something wreaks of morbid decay." The dwarf contines sniffing the air around the half-orc until he nears the sack slung over the barbarians back. Urgosh still in hand, the stout rogue slices the strap and removes the sack. As he peers into the bag the dwarf begins to wretch, "For the love of... (wretch) What is... (wretch)"

Unable to finish his declaration of disgust, Gilrak lobs the sack containing the head of Vilhallas into the nearby pit.

"What, in the name of Thorin, was that?"

OOC: There, that will be enough of that. <grin>
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:03, Fri 05 May 2006.

Gilrak neatly divests the wounded and unconscious Totmacher of the half-orc's bizarre necklace.  Peering into the bag at the decaying and maggot-ridden head, the dwarf disgustedly tosses the head and bag both into the nearby pit.

A low, barely audible moan emanates from the pit as he does so.

Perrato feels that, without additional healing, moving Totmacher would be a bad idea.

Intrigued by Gilrak's irreverent display (and the resulting low moan), Asher weaves through the carnage of metal scraps to stand at the edge of the pit. He draws a sunrod from his sash, stikes it and drops the glowing stick into the depths of the pit just to see the result of the bag hitting the bottom.

ooc:  ...uh oh...

The sunrod falls to the bottom of the pit, some 30 feet below the floor of the cavern.  A man lies at the bottom, ragged, bloody, and savagely beaten--but still living, though only semi-conscious and lying in filth.  Aidrin, joining the monk at the lip of the pit, exclaims softly, "Gwydion's teeth!  That's one of the merchants from the caravan I was with."

Meanwhile, Garryn and Caylin begin a search of the fallen ogres and orcish shaman.  The ogres carry crudely-stitched leather satchels, and amid the trash of bones, rocks, sticks, and shards of pottery are numerous pieces of gold--all of it minted in Rimsedge, it seems.  There are a total of approximately 200 of the gold coins.

In addition to his ragged robe and hobnailed boots, the shaman possesses stained leather armor, a curved black dagger, a silver ring, and a pendant of leather with a small leather bag depending from it.  A pouch of cured skin holds a black iron key and several semi-precious gemstones--8 in all.

Meanwhile, Totmacher is breathing shallowly and remains unconscious and badly wounded, but stable.

Moves?  Activities?  Ideas?  RPoL is back, and the weekend offers me some time to move us along.

Asher removes the rope from his pack and hands it to Aidrin. Then, utilizing a skill he picked up in Borderton, Asher steps from the edge of the pit, lightly tapping and kicking the wall as he drops 30' at an unnaturally slow rate.

OOC: Asher uses the feat "slow fall" for 20' and "jump down" for the last (or first) 10'
13:48, Today: Asher Willbourne rolled 37 using 1d20+23. Jump down reduce damage DC 15 ; ).
This message was last edited by the player at 23:10, Fri 19 May 2006.

Perrato divests himself of his armor as quickly as he can and asks Aidrin and Gilrak to hold one end of a rope for him as he uses it to make his descent into the pit. The object is to provide whatever healing arts he has remaining to the injured merchant.

Upon reaching the bottom of the thirty foot pit, the servant of Vagrani tends to the wounds and ailments of the unfortunate traveler.

[OOC: Well, look who didn't fall flat on his face.
 03:06, Today: Perrato Viatomagne rolled 19 using 1d20+1. Climb check...cross your fingers.
 03:08, Today: Perrato Viatomagne rolled 31 using 1d20+12. Heal check, merchant.
 Yezzah...]

Gilrak offers a grunt of agreement to Perrato's plan.   Grabbing the standing end of the rope, the Dwarf passes it behind his back and back around to his chest - forming a natural belay for the Cleric.  He then takes a seat next to the pit - and braces his feet agains the rock ledge -

"Ready when you are Cleric..."


________________

08:38, Today: Gilrak Kilring rolled 9 using 1d20+3. Strength Chk - Hold Perrato.
08:37, Today: Gilrak Kilring rolled 23 using 1d20+4. Belay Perrato.

Both Asher and Perrato descend into the noisome pit, Perrato by the more conventional means of a rope, Asher using only his extraordinary skills as a monk to slow his fall--kicking off from the wall and landing lightly in a three-point stance.  Perrato's descent is a bit more awkward, as Gilrak's hold on the rope and his footing are a bit tenuous.  Nevertheless, the Palonish priest's climbing is sure and steady, and he soon reaches the floor of the pit.

Perrato employs his healing skills, and renders the semi-conscious human stable enough to be moved.  Soon, Asher and Perrato have rigged a harness for the man, and Gilrak and Garryn have hauled the man out of the pit.

"I believe his name is Arkexis--he was one of the senior teamsters in charge of the caravan," says Aidrin.  "He was in a position of some authority over the drovers."

The human moans a bit as Perrato arranges him on the cavern floor--pillowing his head and generally making him comfortable.  The man's eyes flutter open, and he weakly attempts to pull away from the priest's ministrations.  Perrato simply puts a hand to the man's forehead, saying, "You have been grievously wounded, but are as safe as you can be for now.  Please, be still."

The man's eyes clear somewhat, and he nods his understanding to the Palonish man.  Weakly, he begins to speak...
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:12, Wed 24 May 2006.

"I...we...the caravan..." Arkexis trails off exhaustedly, and then resumes.  "It was a slaughter.  Orcs, ogres, and a band of humans ambushed us.  The orcs and ogres provided the muscle, but it was the sorcery of the humans that proved our undoing...wizards out of the darkness of Thrail."

"But who are you, and where am I?  The last clear memory I have is of fires and screaming horses.  What has happened?"
This message was last updated by the player at 17:46, Tue 23 May 2006.

While Perrato, Asher, and Gilrak work to remove Arkexis from the pit and offer some aid, Garryn and Caylin begin a very cautious search of the lower level.  The dwarven outpost is just that--an outpost, and not a very large one.  Off to the northwest, the corridor terminates in a large room that probably previously served as a storage area or workshop.  The orcs and ogres used it as a common room, and the evidence of dirty blankets and lice-ridden rags gathered as sleeping pallets abounds.  A fire, banked, smolders in the middle of the room, and a number of sacks, crates, and barrels line the northern wall--all containing dried foodstuffs such as jerked meat, hardtack, and salted fish.  Broken tables and benches litter the room.  A well--a simple shaft bored down to the level of the lake--occurs in the southeast corner of the room.

A door leads off of the main commons area and into a smaller chamber.  Clearly, this was the shaman's room.  An actual rickety cot is found in the southeast corner, with a small, locked chest at its foot.  A couple of open, empty barrels are set on end in the northwest corner of the room, and a broken chair and larger, closed barrel serve as an ersatz desk set in the northeast corner.

The corridor to the east of the shaman's room leads back into the cavern to the south, and opens onto the cliff face to the north--allowing a panoramic view across the lake.  The corridor continues to the south, where it apparently dead-ends in a structural collapse.

OOC:  A new and updated 'Obelisk interior' map is up on the website, also conveniently linked HERE.  Moves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:14, Wed 24 May 2006.