Meanwhile, Eagle, Rath, Galadel, and Inas spend their time investigating the Black Tower, which lies in the extreme northwest corner of Oldhaven, wedged between row after row of tenement housing and small family workshops. This is a poor neighborhood, though not filled with scheming thieves and cutthroats, like the Narrows, rather the city's working poor. It is a close-knit neighborhood and the party's presence definitely catches the attention of its denizens. This is not an area typically frequented by any but those whom dwell here, a forgotten corner of the city.

The dark tower rises above the tenements like an ashy finger extended heavenward, her upper reaches ringed by a crown of winged demonic statues, gargoyles, who leer down upon the surrounding neighborhood. A rusted wrought-iron fence surrounds the cramped yard from which the tower rises, the yard given over almost entirely to leafless, twisted briar. The gate entrance is held fast by a massive chain fitted with a heavy iron lock. A painted placard hangs listlessly by a single bolt. The sign reads: "No Trespassing, by Order of Lord Harvan Talas!"

Beyond the closed gate and through the briar, the party can barely make out what looks like a single stone door leading into the tower. Two leering gargoyles flank either side of the door, their dull, stony eyes staring directly down the path, their mouths cast in a permanent menacing sneer.

Glancing around at the surrounding buildings, the party notices that most in the immediate area seem to be vacant, with inhabited dwellings being a good 50 feet distant from the iron fence.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:43, Mon 09 Mar 2015.

The young looking man with white hair and piercing blue eyes who introduced himself as Galadel has traveled along quietly on the trek to the dark spire tower. He seemed to know who you were you were, needing no introduction.   Inas, Rath and even Eagle have caught him occasionally staring at them, quickly averting his gaze when noticed.  Well appointed and well dressed, he definately sticks out as they move into the working poors neighborhood.   When they arrive at the tower, he looks at the tower doors, the sign, and the briars, the rundown state of the place. He runs a hand through his long hair.

"So, what is your interest in this place again?".  As he talks he walks right near the gate and staring in, speaks a few soft words in a strange tongue, and examines the gate, lock, and as much of the courtyard and stone entry door as he can make out.

ooc: detect magic

Galadel detects magic auras in the courtyard and the very tower itself, but not on the gate or the lock.

Inas regarded the tower. It had all the signs of somewhere that you really didn't want to go into. But they had decided to investigate, so go in they would.

He listened as the newcomer announced that the gate and lock weren't magically protected. Slowly he drew his heavy sword and prodded the gate to see if it would open on it's own. If it didn't he would then smash the iron lock with his magic blade.

The lock does not easily break with a forceful prodding. The ranger then proceeds to hack at the heavy lock with his sword.

OOC: Inas, please roll a d20

Inas hacks the sturdy iron lock with his magic sword, sending sparks flying as the keen edge strikes hard metal. A lesser blade would have certainly been horribly chipped in the process, but the sword remains intact through the impact and the lock and chain falls away. The heavy iron gate may now be pushed inward to gain access to the overgrown courtyard.

While Inas is hacking off the lock, Eagle will be casing the courtyard, looking for anything in the way of resident plant or animal life.

Rath shrugs, scratching his neck, and peering up at the leering gargoyles. Ben would hate those things, he thinks. He turns to the new companion and answers flatly, realizing the answer sounds a bit crazy. "Rumors on the street say the bloodsucking murderers of city bureaucrats roost up there. Ben figured there was a connection with the Talas family." He glances at the tower sign -- No Trespassing, by Order of Lord Harvan Talas! - and smirks unhappily. "Gods help me, I'm learning to trust his judgment."

In reply to DM Storm (msg # 33):

Job finished, Inas sheathed his sword. He looked over at Rath and gestured towards the tower. "After you."

Galadel takes a closer look at first the courtyard and then the tower, is the magic aura eminating from anything in particular or just over the whole area.  For example, are the briars themselves touched by the aura, or the ground, or just over the whole area, and with the tower, is the tower walls, the stone door, or both.

The entire courtyard is filled with a tangle of thorny briar-weed on either side, all the way to the tower's front door. The courtyard looks like it has not seen any semblance of maintenance or upkeep in a very long time and is completely given over to weeds, with a few stubborn shoots of grass and wildflowers fighting for life beneath the thorny vines that sprawl everywhere, even up the side of the dark, ash-colored tower itself

Initially, Eagle does not see evidence of any animal life within the courtyard, but then notices what looks like the rotting carcass of an orange tabby-cat near the stalk of a large weed just a few feet off the cobblestone path leading to the tower's front door.

The entire courtyard radiates magic, with no specific area casting any stronger fields than the other.

Galadel looks at the broken lock and chain hanging loose, and pulls the hood of his cloak up to cover his head.  His white hair is uncommon in a man his age and too easily identifiable, if they were going to be noticed breaking in, he'd prefer not to make it easy on any witnesses.  He considers going invisible, but that has some drawbacks as well.

"The entire courtyard radiates magic, I'm not an expert, but I'm guessing if we walk in there, its going to hurt..." Closing his eyes for a moment, he says a prayer to Ioun, raises a hand to the courtyard and then looks again.

ooc: Dispel Magic on the courtyard.

The magic fields emanating over the courtyard, whatever they might be, are much too powerful for Galadel to dispel and remain in place even after his spell is cast.

In reply to DM Storm (msg # 40):

Eagle nods to his companions and starts to chant, before turning his focus onto the briars. To the others it looks like he is in communion with the plants.

OOC: eagle will cast speak with plants and ask them politely if the tower is in use recently, and if so who has been accessing it. He will also ask what happened to the cat.

Eagle attunes himself to the life force of the surrounding vegetation and begins to detect subtle variations in the air as they release faint pulses of vibration and scent to respond to his query.

"Longshadow, we call it, is the abode of It Who Stalks the Night. The Hiss-Animal nourished the soil. And good it was. The soil is needy of such things."

None but Eagle are attuned to the plants and therefore do not notice anything different as the vegetation responds to Eagle.

Inas held back as the newcomer Galadel weaved his magicks. Eagle also seemed to be in some kind of trance, so Inas figured he might be using his own powers. For now he stayed ready, and gestured silently to Rath to keep a vigil front and rear.

His recent experience had left him a bit touchy about strange towers, but he was determined to carry on and overcome those fears.

Galadel takes a deep breath, looks again and then at Eagle and back at the courtyard and then takes a few steps away.

"I tried to identify the magic in there, its everywhere, and its been there for decades, its very strong.  I tried to remove it and I didn't make a ripple.  I can see Eagle's magic, he's cast something over the plantlife but I can't tell beyond that.  My opinion, unless he finds something out, is we leave this alone.  If this magic has held for decades, its dangerous, or someone has been, reinforcing it.  If you really want inside, I'd recommend not going through the front door, all towers have sewers, and wells, the town probably doesn't care out here, since its empty, I doubt they maintain it anymore, but I bet the theive's guild has a map of tunnels in this area....if you know anyone in the guild?"

The party remains waiting just outside the now opened front gate, peering into the overgrown courtyard that surrounds the abandoned tower known to locals as either Dark Tower or Longshadows. The tower itself is perhaps 50 feet tall, an shattered glass clock face occupying its apex. The gargoyle statues ringing the upper-most ledge remain inert and the sound of buzzing flies mix with the distant calls of Oldhaven's residents.

Time to go in, I suppose.

Inas cautiously advanced, his eyes flicking between the tower and the path in front if him. He checked for any signs of disturbance, either footprints or traps.

Feeling out of place, Rath casts long glances around him, outside the tower wall, to spot anyone who may be giving the group undue and unwelcome attention. Ever his eyes wander up, though, watching for movement of the gargoyles on the upper reaches of Longshadow.

[From The Rusted Nail]

At that moment Saliq and Ben arrived, having tracked down their companions.

"My friends are you seeking to enter this tower?"

Glancing around at the surrounding, Ben finally begins to feel at home. Rubbing his thumb across his fingertips as if preparing for work, he smiled and waited to hear the answer to Saliq's question.

Eagle is still lost in his silent communion with the plants.

[Private to GM: Sorry not updated sooner, but if possible Eagle will ask the plants for more detail on who, or what, it who stalks the night is. He will also try to clarify whether It is currently in residence, and also suggest he ( Eagle) wants a word with It, and try to find out what will happen once they enter the courtyard - will the plants attack, or is it some other magic? ]

Inas smiled at Saliq. "We are. The whole area is bathed in old magic, but we know not if this will cause us ill or just stay dormant. We are currently looking for potential ways in, other than the obvious." He turned to face Ben and raised his eyebrows, this being the diminutive rogue's area of expertise.

Ben gives the tower a once over... are there any windows or ledges above? Does he see anything that might indicate the best place to start checking for secret or concealed entrances? (He'd always been a bit confused as to the difference between the two, so he figured he would look for both.)

Inas heads up the walkway leading toward the tower's front door in hopes of finding some sort of evidence which might suggest what types of creatures may have frequented the area. The ranger notices some animal tracks, feral cats most likely and perhaps an opossum or two, but otherwise does not see any sign of humanoid passage through the area.

Ben sees three windows on the side of the tower facing the front entrance. The first window is about 20 feet above the entrance way. The glass panes of this window appear to be mostly broken, though a few shards remain. Vines have taken up residence on the decorative railing along the outside of the window ledge. Further up the tower, Ben looks at a second window, just below the broken clock face. This window appears to be broken as well, though the window has been boarded up with wooden slats. Above the clock face, Ben looks at the third window. This is not really a window, rather an observation point, completely open to the elements. Ben sees a group of raucous grackles chattering among one another, or perhaps they are chattering at the sight of the adventurers below?

In any case, it would be possible to gain entrance through either window, the observation tower, or the main entrance, should the adventurers so desire.

Meanwhile, Eagle continues his silent communion with the surrounding vegetation. Pressing for more information. The plants do not seem to fully understand Eagle's questions and has some difficulty relaying a coherent answer. It Who Stalks the Night soon becomes, It Who Takes to the Wind, It Who Nourishes the Soil, or It Who Lives in the Tower, depending on the moment. The plants suggest they cannot speak for It and tell Eagle to approach the tower if he wants to have a word.

Inas stoops down to investigate what looks like a booted foot protruding pile of dead leaves beneath a tangle of briar about 5 feet off the cobblestonbe path, halfway between the front gate and the tower door. This definitely belongs to a humanoid of some sort, though the body is presently obscured by vegetation.

"I'll go take a look," Ben says, then attempts to scale the wall up to the first window, carefully peeking in only after he had found a reasonable purchase.

Inas paused, looking down at the boot. "Got a body here," he said to anyone listening. Cautiously he prodded at it with the tip of his bow. He wasn't sure how long it had lain there and was concerned about what state it might be in. He began to flick some of the leaves away, trying to see what was beneath.

Ben advances past Inas and proceeds to the tower, where he begins looking for a suitable line of approach to scale the structure.

Meanwhile, Inas prods the body with the tip of his composite longbow and a moment later a light green tendril covered in numerous slender, inch-long thorns lashes out from the tangled briar, straight at the ranger!



Bloodthorn
AC: 4, Size: Large
HP: x/x; one tendril destroyed [Private to GM: (31/31)]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   17/17   3   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8   Init +1
Inas     2   60/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   48/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2


Galadel cast Chant (Round 1), +1 to hit, damage, and saves for our allies, -1 to hit, damage and saves for enemies

OOC: Roll for Initiative! Anyone beating a 4 may post actions.

Please check the numbers on the chart above to make sure they look right. Galadel's HP looks low, but that's what it says on the character sheet.

Round 1
Stage 1: Inas, Rath, Saliq
Stage 2: Bloodthorn (4)
Stage 3:
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:52, Tue 24 Mar 2015.

OOC 02:08, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 6 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 4. Initiative.

Ben immediately begins to climb until he is about ten feet up, hoping that is enough to be out of the demon-grass's range. Once there he will cling to the wall and watch the battle. If any of the tendrils even appears to be trying to grow in his direction he will climb higher...

"Look out!" Inas shouted as he leapt backwards from the flailing tendril. He immediately took a few more paces backwards to keep away from the monstrous plant, then fired a volley of arrows towards what appeared to be a central stem. One clipped a tendril while another struck with a solid-sounding thud. The third arrow flew harmlessly by.

09:43, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 11 using 1d6+10 with rolls of 1. Damage from 2 hits, inc. a CRIT.
09:42, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 21,20,3 using 1d20+1,1d20+1,1d20+1 with rolls of 20,19,2. Volley of 3 arrows, tgt 12.
09:39, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4. Initiative.

Shane, note I am not currently using my shield so please adjust AC accordingly

Cursing Saliq was forced to defend himself with a simple dagger - his subtle magics would be of little use against an unthinking plant.

---

OOC: 23:05, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 11 using 1d20 with rolls of 11. Attack.
17:32, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 6 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 4. Initiative.

The boot tells him of danger. Having been wary, Rath is quick to respond to the new threat. He follows Inas' lead and keeps a distance, loathe to step near the creepy thorned tendril, and sends a quick volley of arrows into the tangle of brambles. He can barely see if his missile's hit home, and he scans the ground for more vines.

"Get behind me," he says calmly to anyone who is looking for a defense against this thing.


Init = 6, one hit for 2 damage.
07:54, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2. arrow damage.
07:53, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 18 using 2d20 with rolls of 6,12. two attacks with bow.
07:36, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 6 using 1d6 with rolls of 6. initiative. 

20:11, Yesterday: Galadel rolled 5 using 1d6 with rolls of 5.

Galadel isn't surprised the plants were dangerous, but to attack friends of a very high druid, that seemed really bad manners for a plant.  He has no doubt they will come to realize that.  Having not yet entered the gates, he concentrates instead on those inside the courtyard and begins to chant to himself, and his lord.

ooc: Cast Chant,  +1 to hit, damage, and saves for our team, -1 to hit, damage and saves for them others


ooc 2 to GM:  Adjust G's hps to 17,  still pretty low but I realized I gave him 0 pts for one level increase, sadly, the cleric side which should give him the most pts, he rolled 1,2,2,2...but even taking half and rounding down, he can't get a 0 increase.

OOC: DM roll of 6 on behalf of Eagle for initiative, which means he has an action coming to him prior to the bloodthorn's actions. Update this post accordingly.
This message was last updated by the GM at 07:49, Tue 24 Mar 2015.

Inas and Rath's volley of arrows into the thick, thorn-covered shrubbery renders one of the groping tendrils inert, though three more are quickly snaking through the brush toward the party!

In reply to DM Storm (msg # 36):

Breaking off what seemed to be a pretty fruitless conversation, Eagle channels more of the spirit of the earth, and throws both arms at the blood thorn, before standing stock still with arms outstretched, as if trying to hold the plant between his hands.

OOC: cast hold plant on the bloodthorn.

Out of the corner of his eye, Inas saw Eagle's gesture and guess that he was using his special magicks. Inas paused for a moment, bowstring taut, waiting to see what happened.

Eagle weaves a spell of powerful druidic magic and calls upon the inherent power of nature to tame the carnivorous bloodthorn vine. The surrounding area is filled with a crackling energy as wavering fields of primal mana coalesce around the grasping briar. A moment later, the thorn-covered vine complies with Eagle's will, and falls into an inert state for the moment.

Three thorny tentrils now lie harmlessly within a few feet of Inas and Rath, their threat vanquished.

Inas kept his bow aimed at the strange plant. Turning his mouth sideways he murmured to Eagle, "is it dead?"

Ben drops down to ground, pulls the magic dagger from his belt and starts slashing and slicing the weeds to bits.

Ben ceases his attempt to climb then wall and wades into the brush and hacks at the thorny green tendrils in an effort to render the carnivorous plant not only held, but dead. Several minutes later, with presumably his companions' aid, the bloodthorn is destroyed.

"It would not have done us much good against a plant but I can weave an invisibility spell on us." Saliq said, eyeing the dead bloodthorn. "Or at least on one of us."

Ever dextrous, Ben flips the dagger around his flicks it up in the air and catches it with the fingers on the sides of the stick blade. Holding out the handle, he hands it to Saliq.

"Here you go, thanks for the loan. It's a lovely weapon, take good care of it."

Assuming no other business comes to hand, Ben returns to climbing the wall up to a place next to the first window, from which he will carefully peek in.

Inas retrieved his arrows, scanning the gardens for similar looking plants. Nature could be a cruel mistress sometimes.

Rath joins Inas in standing guard. He's still considering those gargoyles a threat, but now of course every plant in the courtyard is suspect as well. He throws a few suspect glances at the dead foot in the boot, as well.

Saliq gratefully accepted his dagger, slipping it into his belt. With that he walked over to Galadel and offered his hand.

"I don't believe we have met but I am Saliq Musfara, a pleasure to fight by your side. You follow the noble art of wizardy?"

Ben climbs up the stone tower and peers into the window, located about 20 feet above the ground. Rats scurry away from the window in response, streaming into whatever darkness they can find to avoid prying eyes.

Ambient light spills through the broken panes. The panes themselves are covered in what looks like black soot on the interior. Beyond the window, Ben sees what looks like a narrow walkway around a large, open central area, likely open to the ground floor below and perhaps above as well. Dusty cobwebs span between the columns, a few bead birds caught in their grasp.

A dilapidated banister runs the length of the walkway, several portions of which have completely fallen away.

Four massive stone columns rise from the center of the open area. Moving to either side of the window, Ben sees what looks like a door along the right and left side of the tower, one of which (the left) appears to be slightly ajar. The other looks to be closed, though it is hard to tell at any angle Ben can take while still clinging to the tower's exterior.

The entire far half of the tower is cloaked in darkness, daylight light not quite spilling beyond that point to illuminate the rest of the tower's interior.

The air smells thick with mold and the interior seems colder inside the tower than the surrounding, city air. Ben hears what sounds like creaking wood, like an old rocking chair perhaps. Other the steady creaking of wood, Ben does not hear anything else within the tower.

OOC: Map update shortly.

Climbing carefully back down, Ben describes to the others what he has seen.

"Should I try for the higher window too?"

Galadel is watching Ben climb the tower, and nods to Saliq shaking his hand. "Saliq, you are known to me, as all of you are, there are many tales of your heroic deeds spoken of in town, if even a handful of them are accurate, you are indeed heroic.  I am Galadel Alanis, blessings to your family,  and yes, I study the arts.  I have come along because this old tower is intriguing to me.  Rumored to once belong to a powerful wizard but has been long abandoned.  It would please me if the library within were still intact"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:17, Wed 01 Apr 2015.

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 49):

Inas looked up and nodded.

The illusionist smiled ruefully. A wizardly library might hold many fell secrets but it was of limited use to one who spun spells from moonlight and shadows. All magic was not of a kind sadly.

Saliq looks at Galadel and Eagle. "Have either of you checked for the presence of the arcane? I can cast a spell to detect strange and unknown magic if not. Otherwise I suggest we take another look at that body..."

Rath agrees that Ben should climb higher, but he cautions against the gargoyles at the upper tier. He stands near Saliq, ready to defend against any danger.

Nodding at Aldo's warning, Ben scales up to the second window and listen at that opening for a moment, before peeking in if it seems safe.

Galadel responds,  "Saliq, I checked and magic permeates the entire courtyard and even the walls of the tower itself, I could not determine its purpose and I even tried to dispel it, but it is far older and more powerful than my own magic."

Ben scales the tower and makes it to the second window. This window is about five feet wide and tall and completely boarded up on the inside with wooden timbers. The timbers themselves are riddled with rot, a black mold almost completely soaking through the wood. Listening outside the window, Ben can faintly hear what sounds like periodic metallic clinks on the other side, like perhaps a chain swaying back and forth. Higher up still, near the tower's observation point, Ben spies the gargoyle statues, their stony eyes peering down menacingly as the thief lurks outside the window below.

The flock of grackles that loiter atop the observation point are now chattering noisily among one another, seemingly curious about Ben's doings.

Meanwhile, down below, the rest of the group is swarmed by zealous, biting flies that seem to be overly interested in the adventurers.

Not wishing to tangle with the boarded up window, or the gargolyes that seem safe enough to him but he was warned against messing with them, Ben opts to slide down to the first window opening, where he will, if all still seems safe, enter the room and try to find something secure enough to attach a rope to before lowering it down.

Saliq who had been examining the body in the (now dead) bloodthorn twiched uncomfortably and waited for Ben to hurry with that rope!

Ben slips through the broken window and comes to rest on the floor, rope in hand. There are two large stone pillars near the banister, about 10 feet distant from the window. This appears to be the best source to secure a rope, so Ben proceeds to do so.

While securing the rope, Ben hears muted shuffling noises coming from somewhere in the darkness on the opposite side of the tower. Interestingly, the creaking wood noise is no longer evident.

Once the rope is secure, Ben will climb the wall above the door, securing himself in position between the roof and wall, broadsword in hand.

Seeing the thief disappear into the window, Galadel realizes they are actually going to enter this tower, one way or another.  Taking off his backpack, he pulls out a small knife, and cuts a small strap off the side of his pack and returns to the gate.  He spends a few moments pulling the chain and sign back into place and then tying the chain together with the bit cloth strap.  He will try to hide the broken bit behind the sign so anyone walking by will think it looks pretty much like it always did.

Swatting flies, Rath glares. Once the rope appears, he urges the others on. "I'm last," he explains to Galadel, and he trades bow for trident ready to poke anything that tries anything while the others are clambering up to the window.

Inas nodded at Rath, then approached the rope. He intended to go up first and make sure it was clear before the spell weavers joined them. He gave the rope a quick tug to make sure it was secure then began to ascend.

Inas climbs to the broken window, his shadow just visible through the remaining broken shards of glass, when Ben spies a tall, lumbering humanoid emerge from the darkness across the decrepit tower. The humanoid is perhaps 7 or maybe 8 feet tall, its awkward gait strangely silent as it shifts closer to Ben, whom is presently perched above the window near the roof.

The humanoid is approaching from the northwest and is about 25 feet distant from Ben and the window. It stalks silently along the catwalk and seems to be coming directly toward the window. As it emerges from the shadow, Ben gets a better glimpse of the thing.

It appears like a greenish-gray skinned human, it nearly naked and heavily scarred form covered only in a soiled, ripped tunic. The thing has a clean-shaven head on one side, though a tangled mop extends from the other. Its dull, amber eyes cast about the room, seemingly investigating its surroundings.

In reply to DM Storm (msg # 64):

Swatting away the flies, Eagle studies them using his druid's knowledge to see if they are dangerous. In any case he will shinny up the rope behind Inas when he gets the chance.

Saliq waited impatiently to ascend once Eagle had done so.

Spying movement, Inas moved quietly to the shadows and kept still. He placed his hand on his sword hilt but kept it sheathed for now. He wanted to observe rather than antagonise whatever this strange being was.

Galadel nods to the one they called Rath, and waited his turn following Saliq up the rope.  He looked a little nervous.

Ben is actually above the door, not above the window.

When the creature enters the room, he remains still and quiet.

Ben is perched above the lintel of the south-east doorway, while Inas has crawled through the broken window just in time to see the huliking humanoid limber along the catwalk toward the ranger. Elsewhere, Inas is about half-way up the rope, with the rest of the group awaiting their opportunity to ascend the rope.

The large creature with mottled gray flesh emits a low moan and quicken its step as it seemingly becomes aware of the ranger kneeling on the floor, shards of daylight illuminating his hunched over form.

OOC: The humanoid creature is 25 feet distant from Inas and about 30 feet distant from Ben.

Hulking Humanoid
AC: 9
HP: x/?


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   60/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   48/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


OOC: Roll for Initiative...anyone beating or tying a 3 may post actions.

Round 1
Stage 1:
Stage 2: Enemy (3)
Stage 3:

Quietly lowering himself to the ground, Ben approaches the creatures, broadsword in hand, in hopes of successfully landing the first (finger cross) back-stab (knock on wood) of his short and less than illustrious career. (rubs four leaf clover.)

OOC let me know if I can attack this round.

Inas' efforts to hide in the gloom failed miserably as the hulking brute appeared to spot him and advanced towards him with apparent murderous intent. With a loud roar he drew his sword, adjusted the grip on his shield and charged into battle, emitting the noise as much to gird his loins as to alert his companions below to the danger he faced.

Surging forward he feinted a blow to the left before dancing right, slashing his heavy sword against the creature's flank and cutting deep into the pallid flesh. He then ducked back to the left and stabbed forward, catching the creature in the thigh.

06:15, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 12,13 using 1d12+11,1d12+11 with rolls of 1,2. 2x damage. *
06:14, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 16,8 using 1d20+3,1d20+3 with rolls of 13,5. 2x 1H attack, tgt 7.
06:12, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 3 using 1d6 with rolls of 3. Initiative.

* Total 25hp damage - I have assumed that the creature is large and that the Ranger damage bonus against humanoids applies. If not I will happily reroll my crappy dice rolls! :)

In reply to Inas Eoinsson (msg # 72):

Hearing Inas roar, Eagle scurries up the rope into the tower.

OOC: presuming I can't attack as well? I rolls a 6 for initiative.

Saliq waited irritably for Eagle to finish, moving up the rope as soon as the slow poke druid reached the top.

Inas closes the distance between himself and the monster, a golem stitched together with humanoid flesh of various types, and strikes the dumb brute with a solid blow. The ranger's sword slashes across the thing's torso, but it is not enough to take it down.

The flesh golem reacts to the attack by becoming quite agitated and immediately pummels the human ranger with its meaty fists. One. Two. Pow!

It packs quite a punch indeed. Inas feels woozy from the impact, but still conscious.

Meanwhile, Ben skirts along the banister looking for an opportunity to get in a sneaky attack. As Inas and the monster engage in battle, just such an opportunity presents itself!

Elsewhere, Eagle climbs the rope and makes it through the window, while Salig begins his ascent.

OOC: Inas takes 24 points of damage.

Flesh Golem
AC: 9
HP: -38/?


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   36/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   48/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


OOC: PCs are up!
Round 2
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Golem

This message was last edited by the GM at 13:52, Sat 02 May 2015.

Inas staggered backwards from the sustained attack. This thing was certainly capable of looking after itself, it would make a fortune in the bare-knuckle pits downtown!

Spying Ben moving behind it he knew he needed to keep it focused on himself to allow the rogue to get a clean strike. He taunted it, unsure what difference it would make. "Ha! Is that all you've got, you big sack of foetid meat!"

He feinted to the left then danced right, slashing hard with his heavy sword. This time he found a decent opening and cut the creature deep across the belly.

09:41, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 16 using 1d12+5 with rolls of 11. Damage.
09:40, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 22 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 19. Attack v golem tgt 7.

May the Raven Queen bless my strike! Ben clinches his teeth and, wonder of wonders, strikes true!


OOC
02:05, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 25 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 20. Backstab attempt.
Ben is pleased with the direction his new religion seems to be taking him!

Max damage X3 = 27!!!

Saliq continued to climb upwards...

In reply to Saliq Musfara (msg # 78):

Eagle gets his bearings, and sees Inas and Ben land mighty blows. If the golem still stands, Eagle will throw his staff to the floor and command it to slither.

Rath awaits his opportunity to climb up the rope, anxious to enjoin battle.

Galadel awaits just behind Rath, eagerly watching Saliq climb.

Inas closes the distance between himself and the monster, a golem stitched together with humanoid flesh of various types, and strikes the dumb brute with a solid blow. The ranger's sword slashes across the thing's torso, but it is not enough to take it down.

The flesh golem reacts to the attack by becoming quite agitated and immediately pummels the human ranger with its meaty fists. One. Two. Pow!

It packs quite a punch indeed. Inas feels woozy from the impact, but still conscious.

Meanwhile, Ben skirts along the banister looking for an opportunity to get in a sneaky attack. As Inas and the monster engage in battle, just such an opportunity presents itself!

Elsewhere, Eagle climbs the rope and makes it through the window, while Salig begins his ascent.
The golem rages in strained protest against Ben's sneak attack, but seems undeterred from its task of pummeling Inas...which it does, again. This time, a solid punch to the throat, momentarily knocking the wind out of the human ranger.

Eagle throws his oaken staff to the ground and recites an ancient word of power, causing the wooden device to magically mutate into a coiling serpent that quickly expands to an enormous size of 25 feet long! The catwalk is quickly swallowed up by the massive constrictor snake and the party and golem alike encounters great difficulty finding stable footing among Eagle's summonsed companion.

Saliq finally makes it up the rope, allowing Rath to begins his ascent.

As the battle continues atop the narrow catwalk, the party hears what sounds like creaking floorboards somewhere above, as dust and debris falls down around them. Something stirs above, but what?


OOC: Inas takes 10 points of damage.

Flesh Golem
AC: 9
HP: -38/?


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   26/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   48/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


Constrictor
AC3
HP 49

OOC: PCs are up!
Round 3
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Golem

Inas staggered backwards. This brute was trying to rip his head off with its bare hands! He bobbed and weaved, trying to manoeuvre out of the way of it's reaching fists. He ducked inside it's guard and slashed hard across it's thigh, then followed up with a lunging stab and drove his blade into it's torso.

By now he was breathing hard, not sure how much more punishment he could take. He wanted to cry for help but was too busy trying to keep his head on top of his shoulders.

16:08, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 14,10 using 1d12+5,1d12+5 with rolls of 9,5. Damage.
16:08, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 17,20 using 1d20+3,1d20+3 with rolls of 14,17. 2x 1H attack, tgt 7.

Total 24hp damage

Saliq took a moment to gain his bearings, then took a long look at the golem and began whispering strange and spidery words. As he gestured at the monstrosity a shimmering pair of golden scissors were conjured into a view, scissors such as a tailor might use. The scissors hovered lazily a few feet in front of the golem, making sure it was visible, then dipped below aiming for one of his legs.

Snip. The scissors reached one of the stiches binding the moster's limb together, and delicately (yet loudly) began it's work.

Snip.
Snip.
Snip.
Snip...

---

OOC: Saliq casts Improved Phantasmal Force.

Rath stows his weapon, swats a black fly, and throws a glance at the half-elf Galadel. "Watch my back. And watch them." He waves vaguely, indicating the gargoyles atop the tower. Rath spits on his hands and starts up the rope in case he's needed.

In reply to Aldo Rathmus (msg # 85):

Eagle commands the snake to start crushing the flesh golem.

Spectral shears dance around the flesh golem, but the construct does not seem to be phased in the least by this illusory effect. No, this is a thing that only understands brute force, which thankfully, is a language well-spoken by Inas, the Ranger.

The ranger executes another vicious thrust, this time impaling the creature through the torso. The lumbering monstrosity falls forward, though Inas steps aside, allowing the golem to fall to the ground with a loud thud.

The large constrictor now awaits Eagle's command. Though at present there are no enemies visible for it to take action against.

The sound of creaking floorboards grows more intense now, and then the characteristic sound of footsteps shuffling quickly down a flight of stairs somewhere in the darkness ahead. The party hears guttural, slavering growls as a group of some unknown creatures approaches rather quickly from either side of the catwalk.


OOC: The approaching growls are coming from the area shrouded in darkness, on either side. There sounds to be many of these creatures, whatever they might be.

Flesh Golem
AC: 9
HP: DEAD

[Private to GM: Wights
AC: 5
HP: 17,24,26,29,27, 25,17,31,17,20, 20]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   26/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   48/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


Constrictor
AC3
HP 49

OOC: PCs are up!
Round 4
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Golem

This message was last edited by the GM at 04:26, Sun 10 May 2015.

Panting hard, Inas leant back against a nearby wall to catch his breath. That had been a hard fight, and he had received some heavy punishment from the golem's mighty fists. He flicked the blade of his sword, and in but a moment the magical blade was clean again.

As the others appeared he spoke between breaths. "Something's coming... down the stairs... don't know how many." He gestured vaguely into the darkness beyond.

What had been the rear of the conflict seemed to be about to turn into the front it, a place Ben was not comfortable being.

 With a grin of satisfaction at Inas and the others, Ben hurries towards the window to offer aid to any who might need help coming up.

If all have arrived, Ben will take his place behind number-one-meat-sh, er, Rath the Mighty, yes, that guy.

Dismayed his illusion had no effect Saliq looked around braced himself for the oncoming creatures, a spell ready on his lips.

Rath steps forward to give Scristos the cover he needs, and he raises his trident. Rath drops a smirk at the dead golem, which somehow conveys his appreciation for his teammates' prowess.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:45, Sat 16 May 2015.

Galadel is last to climb through the window, looking around before fully climbing through, he sees the action has ended.   He pulls the rope up behind him, coiling it before turning back to the scene.

"Hmmmmm, a flesh golem?  I suppose the story of this being once the home of a wizard was true, and a fairly adept, if not slightly mad one, it takes a lot of high level spells to create one of those grotesque guardians".

In reply to Galadel (msg # 92):

Inas couldn't help but grin. "And it takes good steel to kill it."

Galadel and Inas' conversation is cut short when the party sees a half dozen or so weird and twisted humanoids emerge from the darkness on either side of the catwalk that encircles the tower. These creatures appear to be humans, or at least they once were, but now are little more than hollow shells of their former self.

Stories of such creatures circulate wildly among would-be graverobbers: wights!

Dressed in tattered rags, their hair wild and unkempt, they briefly stop upon recognizing the life forms ahead of them. Seemingly in unison, they begin growling louder, before charging at the adventurers.

OOC: Five wights are located in the darkness along the left catwalk. Six wights are located on the right catwalk. They are about 20 feet distant.

Flesh Golem
AC: 9
HP: DEAD

Wights
AC: 5
HP: 17 (Turned), 0/23 (Dead), 26, 29, 27, 25, 17 (Turned), 31, 17 (Turned), 0/20 Dead, 20


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   26/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   48/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


Constrictor
AC3
HP 49

OOC: PCs are up!
Round 5
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Golem

This message was last edited by the GM at 06:52, Thu 21 May 2015.

Sensing that the current situation calls for the skills of his comrades more than himself, Ben decides to act as watch on the windows, and the rear area in particular.

Inas glanced at Eagle and Galadel. "Your healing magic might come in useful about now!" he called out before setting his shield and preparing to attack the group on the left.

He let the creatures come forth before swinging his mighty blade back and forth. He caught the first with a solid blow, then narrowly missed with his follow up strike.

07:47, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 10 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 7. Attack 2 v Wight, tgt11.
07:46, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 11 using 1d8+5 with rolls of 6. Damage.
07:46, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 15 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 12. Attack1 v Wight, tgt11.

Beads of sweat clung to Saliq's brow as retained his concentration. Ahead of him the dancing golden scissors circled in the air, then plunged into the back of the golem.

There was a fraction of a second pause then the bemoth seemingly shuddered to life, turned and lumbered towards the nearest wight.

Galadel sees the wights in the shadows, and quickly grabs his silver holy symbol that is crafted with a eye in the center, holding it up.

"Stay to the light, these are creatures possessed of negative energy magic, there very touch can drain your life force, but they will be hesitant to enter the sunlight".

Galadels symbol seems to affect the wights at the front of the pack somewhat, hopefully creating some confusion in narrow catwalk.

Rath snarls at the sight of the wights and he stiffens himself against a shudder that runs up his spine. As Inas turns left, Rath turns right. He barely steps forward, heeding Galadel's warning and accepting the protection of the light -- if indeed it has power of these things -- and he meets the charge. Rath thrusts the tines of the fork deep into the cold flesh of the enemy, jerks them free, and deftly plunges the weapon again into its gut.



Hits twice for 19 total damage. (There is additional damage from Devilsbane if the wights are Lawful Evil, but I didn't add that in.)

21:08, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 10 using 1d6+5 with rolls of 5. damage attack #2.
21:07, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 9 using 1d6+5 with rolls of 4. damage attack #1.
21:06, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 19 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 17. attack #2.
21:06, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 18 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 16. attack #1.
 

Heeding the words of Galadel, Ben glances out the window to see if there might be some ray of sunlight that he might bend to his service using a mirror.

Unless of course it's night time. Sorry, guess I should know the answer to that...

Eagle commands the massive python to begin coiling around the wight previously injured by Inas, and the reptile readily complies with the druid's wish. A moment later, one of the wights is overcome by summoned serpent. The wight howls out in protest as the snake coils around its lower body. The wight struggles for a few moments and then collapses to the floor

OOC: Python hits for 9 points of damage and kills the foe!
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:53, Thu 21 May 2015.

Shards of daylight filter in through the broken glass window behind the adventurers as the battle atop the narrow catwalk rages on. Already, two wights have been defeated, though the melee turns quite chaotic as screaming wights rush in from either side of the catwalk, some running along the right side to come in behind the adventurers. The room becomes quite chilly as the wights close for melee, though this chill is not like a cold winter's day, rather it is a freeze borne from a deficit of life force!

Two wights descend upon the large python and begin tearing at the serpent, while others swarm in to engage other foes. Inas and Rath form a defensive perimeter around the party as best they are able, and manage to keep two at bay. Galadel and Saliq slide in behind the two, effectively put himself out of their grasp, for the moment, while Ben remains hidden just outside of the fray.

Eagle remains just behind Inas, steadily commanding the python to his bidding.

OOC: 3 Wights are turned and have fled back to the darkness. Two lie dead. The others are located on either side of the adventurers

The python is hit for 4 points of damage and has lost 1 level. Right now, only Inas, Rath and the Python are effectively engaged by wights. Two other wights are waiting to claw at Rath, but cannot get past the wight standing in front of them. Will update the map.

Flesh Golem
AC: 9
HP: DEAD

Wights
AC: 5
HP: 17 (Turned), 17 (Turned), 17 (Turned), 0/23 (Dead), 0/20 (Dead), 19/26 (Inas), 25/29 (Python), 20 (Python), 15/27 (Rath), 25, 31


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   39/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   48/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


Constrictor
AC3
HP 37 (-1 level)

OOC: PCs are up!
Round 6
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Golem

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:23, Tue 26 May 2015.

As the snake did for his original opponent, Inas turned to face another foe. After blocking it's attack with his shield he pushed it back further, trying to keep it away from himself as much as possible as he heeded Galadel's warning.

Spying an opening he stabbed forward with his magic sword, catching the creature in what passed for a torso. His blade bit and the creature howled in agony.

08:35, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 7 using 1d8+5 with rolls of 2. Damage.
08:35, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 18 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 15. Attack v Wight tgt 11.

Ben tries to angle and adjust sunlight towards the wights, using the edge of his broadsword, as he has no mirror on him, a mistake he hopes to live long enough to correct.

His efforts are guided by where the sunlight seems most willing to go, rather that at a specific wight, in other words, there is no wrong wight...

With a ghastly liquid tearing sound the flesh golem ponderously swung towards the nearest wight battling the serpent, a look of dead eyed determination on it's face as it swung fists like hammers.

A thin dribble of sweat trickled off Saliq's forehead and soaked into his robes.

Rath, disquieted by the supernatural chill, falters, and the trident slips in his sweaty grip. He makes a wall of himself, to keep back the wights, but his off-kilter thrusts are ineffective offensively.


11:22, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 3 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 1. attack wight.

In reply to Aldo Rathmus (msg # 106):

Content to let his snake continue attacking for now, Eagle calls to Melora to give succour to his injured companion Inas.

OOC:1:46, Today: Eagle rolled 13 using 2d8 with rolls of 6,7. CSW

THe massive python begins coiling around an adjacent wight, despite the undead's struggles to remain free of its grasp.

OOC: Wight takes 4 points of damage.

Galadel is glancing from one catwalk to the other and at the platform they are standing on, for a few seconds he seems frozen in indecision but finally speaks a few words and waves towards the undead fighting Rath, three streaks of flashing energy fly out and strike the closest, sizzling into the fetid flesh of the beast.

ooc: 10:12, Today: Galadel rolled 12 using 3d4+3 with rolls of 2,4,3.  Magic Missle damage.

One wight struggles to free itself from the python's clutches, sinking its filthy claws into the snake's smooth skin, while the other grabs at the reptile's head. The summoned companion is weakened from the attacks, but still alive.

Inas, whom is now hemmed in between the wall and the python, thwarts another wights repeated attempts to grab hold of him, but Rath is not so fortunate and finds himself pressed on by another. The wight clutches to the fighter's shield arm, a nauseating feeling welling up within.

OOC: 3 Wights are turned and have fled back to the darkness. Two lie dead. The others are located on either side of the adventurers

The python is hit for 5 points of damage and has lost 2 levels. Rath is hit for 1 point of damage and has lost 1 level. Right now, only Inas, Rath and the Python are effectively engaged by wights. Two other wights are waiting to claw at Rath, but cannot get past the wight standing in front of them. Will update the map.

Flesh Golem
AC: 9
HP: DEAD

Wights
AC: 5
HP: 17 (Turned), 17 (Turned), 17 (Turned), 0/23 (Dead), 0/20 (Dead), 19/26 (Inas), 25/29 (Python), 20 (Python), 15/27 (Rath), 25, 31


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   39/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   47/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   -1 Level drain
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


Constrictor
AC3
HP 16 (-3 levels, i.e., 24 hit points)

OOC: PCs are up!
Round 7
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Golem

Ben continues to use his broadsword to reflect sunlight toward the wights, to some effect now. The wight nearest Rath recoils from the light, giving Rath an opportunity to strike while its guard is down. The two wights behind it also recoil backward a bit, giving the fighter some space between himself and the three wights eager to drain his life away.
This message was last updated by the GM at 08:08, Wed 27 May 2015.

Rath throws the clutching wight from his shield arm, as unnatural cold slips like steel deep into him and his body cringes and his spirit withers. There is some comfort from the shafts of sunlight from behind -- Rath is unaware that Ben is responsible -- but it is a distant comfort. There is fear, too, but it is distant. Rath narrows his eyes and smirks coldly, thrusting with his trident while the wights recoil.

He stands his ground to face the enemy and destroy them. Or, perhaps, in the end, to become them. Nothing he hasn't done before.


Miss and miss.
06:20, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 9,8 using 1d20+2,1d20+2 with rolls of 7,6. two attacks with trident.

At Saliq's command the flesh golem ponderously moved into battle, it's mighty fists taking swings at the nearest wights.

---

OOC: I'm not entirely sure where the nearest wight is but Saliq will send the illusionary golem to aid Rath or the python if he can.

Inas swings his sword wildly, hoping to cut down the wight nearest him. Unfortunately, his powerful blow fails to find purchase.

A moment later three more flashes of energy streak into the nearest wight close to Rath.



11:34, Today: Galadel rolled 9 using 3d4+3 with rolls of 1,3,2.

In reply to Galadel (msg # 115):

"Stop slithering", Eagle mutters to transform his Python back into a staff and give Inas room to move. He then mutters in his druidic cant, and as he finishes, each of the wights is illuminated by a bright glowing aura.

OOC: cast faerie fire. I'm assuming i can transform the staff and cast a spell, but if not, the spell takes precedence. Leave it with you DM as to what effect the light might have on them, but if nothing else they'll be easier to hit!

Eagle dismisses the python and then conjures a faint green aura, which grows to completely cover each of the six remaining wights. The wights do not seem bothered by the aura, but it certainly makes it easier to see them within the darkened tower.

Ben continues to use his sword to direct rays of sunlight at the wights, causing two of the wights near Rath to retreat backward, affording the warrior a buffer of about 10 feet between himself and the wights.

The dismissal of the python causes problems for Inas however, as those two wights file in behind the third, who is eagerly trying to steal the ranger's life essence. But, Inas defends himself admirably and keeps the wight at bay.

OOC: Inas is in contact with one wight. Two others are waiting for the opportunity to get at the ranger, but the narrow catwalk does not allow for more than one foe at a time. Rath has about a 10 foot buffer between himself and the wights right now, who seem reluctant to draw closer now that Ben is directing sunlight into that space.

Flesh Golem
AC: 9
HP: DEAD

Wights
AC: 5
HP: 17 (Turned), 17 (Turned), 17 (Turned), 0/23 (Dead), 0/20 (Dead), 0/26 (Dead/swarmed by centipedes until round 15), 25/29, 20 (engaged against golem), 0/27 (Dead), 14/25 (Rath), 31

All unturned wights are illuminated by faerie fire, therefore attacks are made at +2 to-hit.
Centipede swarm deals 2 hp/round and lasts until Round 15.


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   39/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   47/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   -1 Level drain
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


Constrictor
AC3
HP 16 (-3 levels, i.e., 24 hit points)

OOC: PCs are up!
Round 8
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Golem

This message was last edited by the GM at 09:30, Sat 13 June 2015.

Glad to see his efforts appear to be useful, Ben continues his efforts.

With narrow eyes and a cold smirk, Rath steps forward and lunges. The eerie lights flickering across the surface of the wights make them easy targets, and Rath takes his advantages where he can. Keeping his long trident extended to prevent, as well as possible, the wights from advancing, he takes down an enemy and puts holes in another.

"Pelor grant you rest," Rath mutters, but he says it like a curse.




Two hits for 8 and 11. That should kill the wight with 6 hit points and damage a second.

06:07, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 8,11 using 1d6+5,1d6+5 with rolls of 3,6. damage.

06:04, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 22,22 using 1d20+4,1d20+4 with rolls of 18,18. to hit.

In reply to Aldo Rathmus (msg # 119):

Realising he has left Inas in trouble, Eagle calls on Melora for more aid. A swarm of insects appears and hones in on one of the wights attacking Inas.

OOC: eagle casts summon insects

A swarm of centipedes squirms through a crevice in the stone wall near one of the wights and begins overwhelming the undead creature, fully occupying its attention and diverting it from further attacks against Inas.

Meanwhile, Rath slays a wight and injures a second, this one already recoiling from Ben's reflected daylight.

Finally, Saliq's controlled illusion rages against one of the wights located behind the centipede swarmed wight. The wight faces off against the golem, but has thus far been unable to land a blow against the mental construct.

Sweat dripped off Saliq's brow as he concentrated on making the golem's movements seem real. Better to have the illusionary construct ponderously miss the wight but keep him engage than to move with excess agility. He did try to block off escape however, forcing the undead monster to keep fighting rather than aid it's foul brother against the swarm.

Inas recognizes the advantage gained by Eagle's summoned centipede swarm and presses his attack against the occupied wight. The ranger savagely hacks away at the flailing wight, scoring two vicious slashes that cut the wight down in a brutal display of strength and precision. Beyond, two more wights remain, though both are presently pressing their attack against an illusory flesh golem, courtesy of the very cunning nobleman from the Shining Sands.
This message was last updated by the GM at 09:29, Sat 13 June 2015.

Galadel looks to either side of the catwalk, scanning which of the two warriors, Inas or Rath seems to require the most assistance. Both seem to be faring reasonably well, so he remains in place, ready to assist where necessary.

OOC: DM post to keep game moving. Galadel has not posted in two weeks, but has logged on a few times since then. Not sure what is going on, but don't want to keep the game held up.

The nest of centipedes continues to scamper over the slain wight, while another wight steps away from the illusory flesh golem to take up the fight against Inas. The wight steps over the slain wight and grasps at the ranger, but Inas is able to rebuff its attempt with a solid parrying blow.

A few few beyond, the other wight clutches the golem with its life-stealing hands. Yet, there is no life essence to steal and it screeches its displeasure aloud. It searches around, its dull, dark eyes seeking something of substance nearby...

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battle, Rath has pushed forward to press his attack against the cowering wights, who have been pushed to darkness by Ben's ingenuity. There, they have sought solace from the blinding rays of daylight, one of which is able to square off against Rath.

Rath dodges aside just as the creature leaps at him and the two momentarily struggle along the banister.


OOC: Inas is in contact with one wight. Another wight is about 5 feet distant, lurking in shadow. The flesh golem was struck by one of the wights on the other side of the catwalk. Inas is battling a fourth wight.

Flesh Golem
AC: 9
HP: DEAD

Wights
AC: 5
HP: 17 (Turned), 17 (Turned), 17 (Turned), 0/23 (Dead), 0/20 (Dead), 0/26 (Dead), 12/29 (Inas), 20 (engaged against golem), 0/27 (Dead), Dead , 29/31 (lurking in shadow, behind the wight battling Rath, swarmed by centipedes)

All unturned wights are illuminated by faerie fire, therefore attacks are made at +2 to-hit.
Centipede swarm deals 2 hp/round and lasts until Round 15.


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   39/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   47/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   -1 Level drain
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


Constrictor
AC 3
HP 16 (-3 levels, i.e., 24 hit points)

OOC: PCs are up!
Round 9
Stage 1: PCs
Stage 2: Golem

This message was last edited by the GM at 04:54, Tue 16 June 2015.

Ben silently cheers for their progress, but paranoia has him concerned that there are yet more monsters on their way. Doing what little he can to help, he continues to focus the light of the sun on whichever Wight the sunlight seems most willing to be aimed at, trying for the eyes if he can.

Inas pushes the wight off him with the blunt of his bastard sword and then follows it up with a precise slash to its thigh and mid-section.

OOC: Damaged wight for 13.

Galadel again calls on his arcane weavings and three sparks of light fly into the wight fighting Rath with bright little flashes of fiery damage.




09:41, Today: Galadel rolled 15 using 3d4+3 with rolls of 4,4,4.

In reply to Galadel (msg # 128):

Eagle directs the centipede swarm to immobilise the wight in the shadows.

Rath follows up on Galadel's magic missiles with a deep and finishing thrust accompanied by a vicious smirk. He steps back, still quite on guard against the remaining wights.


Hit for 10 damage. That should finish it off.

17:47, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 21 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 17. attack with trident.
17:47, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 10 using 1d6+5 with rolls of 5. damage.

The tide of battle swings firmly in the heroes favor. Rath steps forward and puts down one wight. Eagle neutralizes another. One injured wight remains engaged with Inas, while a second grasps at illusory figments of another.

OOC: Saliq is up!

Saliq was already whispering strained words under his breath. From his hand three sparks of light - identical to those cast by Galadel moments ago - flash towards the wight that had 'defeated' the phantasmal golem.

---

OOC: Saliq casts Phantasmal Force.

The wounded wight struggles while attempting to grapple with Inas, the two dancing precariously near the banister, at one point causing part of the railing to collapse, the wight grasping hold of a section before falling over the edge. Inas moves in and delivers a finishing blow, first lopping off the creature's hideous head, right at the neck, and then hacking away the arm holding to the broken banister. The wight plunges into darkness below and lands with a squishy splat.

Meanwhile, a few few beyond, Saliq's bolts of energy make impact with the wight, sending the creature tumbling backwards, onto its back. A few moments later, one of the party members rushes forward and delivers the death strike. The wight expires in a grating scream.

All that remains now is the swarmed wight, which continues its fruitless effort to rid itself of the stinging nuisance. It is all but over for the wights, for a few efficient strikes later, Rath does in the last remaining wight.

The others have of course, fled into darkness, unable to bring themselves to battle against Galadel's will.

It seems the heroes are victorious, a hard fought victory, but a win none the less.

OOC: Rath lost 1 level during the battle. The constrictor lost 3. Otherwise, the party fared reasonably well.

Flesh Golem
AC: 9
HP: DEAD

Wights
AC: 5
HP: 17 (Turned), 17 (Turned), 17 (Turned), 0/23 (Dead), 0/20 (Dead), 0/26 (Dead), 0/29 (Dead), 0/20 (Dead), 0/27 (Dead), 0/22 (Dead) , 0/31 (Dead)

All unturned wights are illuminated by faerie fire, therefore attacks are made at +2 to-hit.
Centipede swarm deals 2 hp/round and lasts until Round 15.


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   39/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   47/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   -1 Level drain
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


Constrictor
AC 3
HP 16 (-3 levels, i.e., 24 hit points)

Saliq looked tired but oddly invigorated. He grins at the others. "Great thinking with the lights Ben, I don't know what we'd have done without that!"

His smile fades as he notices Rath's weariness. "My friend, are you alright to carry on? There would be no shame if we withdrew now after such a contest."

Where the sunlight filters in the through the window, Rath stands half in dark shadow, half in light, which glints from the burnished plates of his armor and reflects redly from one eye. He leans heavily against his trident, squints, and gives Saliq a half-lit smile.

"Shame is the least of my worries," Rath answers. "But, thanks, no, I'm fine. Let's keep on."

Leaving the others to their chatter, Ben begins a slow, very cautious recon of the area...

Presumably, somebody lights a torch or lamp to better see what lies in the darkened, far side of the tower. Moving from the slain wights and flesh golem, the party finds a similarly sized room in each of the tower's four corners. The doors on southeast, southwest and northeast rooms are partially opened, however the northwest door is closed. Between each north and south room pairs is a small, open parlor. A spiral staircase dominates the tower's central north end, with stairs winding both up and down.

Glancing into each opened door, the party sees the following:

Behind the southwest door is a small, irregularly shaped room that looks like it might have once been a study or library. Broken furniture is scattered throughout the windowless room, most notably a huge bookcase, beneath which scores of moldering tomes spill out onto the small room's floor. This room smells heavily of mold.

Behind the southeast door is another small room, shaped exactly like the first, yet this room is filled with row upon row of overturned clothes racks. Piles of clothing lie on the floor, but otherwise nothing of immediate interest captures the eye.

Behind the northeast door, the party sees what looks like a bedchamber, if the large four-post, canopied brass bed is any indication. The bedding is in quite a state of disarray, but is of exquisite quality, though perhaps a few pieces remain salvageable? A decaying corpse lies in the bed, decked out in a silken, pearly gown, her empty eye sockets seemingly staring at the adventurers as they peer into her chamber.

The northwest door is closed, its wooden frame swollen shut. It can probably be forced open given a little determination.

The spiral staircase leads both up and down. The turned wights probably fled this way, but there is no telling whether they went up or down.

Unless someone else is in a hurry, Ben starts tossing the clothing out the front window. With a good wash they will go to his charity helping to cloth the poor and homeless.

"Saliq, you want to check out the books?"

Saliq nodded and walked towards the bookcase, muttering strange and spidery words under his breath. His hazel eyes glided across the tomes.

---

OOC: Saliq casts Detect Magic.

Saliq enters the ransacked study and closes in on the overturned wooden bookshelf in an effort to discern whether any magical auras emanate from this room. The illusionist mumbles a few words and focuses his mind on the task.

Sadly, any magical tomes or scrolls that might have once been contained in the room are long gone. No magical auras are detected.

A quick surface perusal of the moldering tomes lying on the reveals the collection to be largely historical in nature, though much of their contents are obscured behind dark mold. Digging through the pile might turn up a few salvageable books, but doing so would require a determined effort, for the heavy wooden bookcase covers the vast majority of the collection.

"If anyone wants to help me dump these clothes out the window, it'll speed things up."

Do they seem salvageable?

Ben wonders if there is any magic to salvage damaged book...

The clothing in the bedchamber was of good quality, though now very dusty and covered in rat droppings. Most articles are also moth-ridden, though certainly some of the fabric could be redeemed and would find willing new owners in the city's numerous slum quarters. A few articles might even command a decent bit of coin in the Bazaar, especially the pearl-colored silken gown presently worn by the corpse lying in repose on the bed.

Though, that would be a grim undertaking indeed.

Rath avoids the chores of looting by keeping a vigilant watch against other tower occupants -- not forgetting that the sights are likely to return.

Inas scrutinizes the floor near and in the northeastern chamber.  Given what he has seen, he is particularly interested in indications that the corpse lying therein has been . . . active.

Ben strips the pearl colored gown off the corpse, and looks thru the remnants of bedding for anything both serviceable and small. He tucks the gown into his pack, thinking it looked like it might fit his oldest sister, after she had that baby.

Inas finds numerous wight tracks within the bedchamber and all the other chambers for that matter, though it does not seem the lady in the bed has been among the undead walkers. She is quite dead and has been so, for some time.

While Inas is examining the floor for tracks, Ben creeps up to the bed to extract the pearly gown. The thief immediately notices the gown intricately embroidery is made all the more impressive by several small pearls which are woven into the gown itself!

Yes, this will be quite a dainty for some deserving young Scristos girl. Hopefully Ben can remember all their names!

OOC: Ben estimates the gown's worth to be about 600 gp.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:43, Sun 21 June 2015.

"Damn, this gown is fine. It might even make a nice core to a wedding gown!"

Once finished with his other tasks, Ben will head to the swollen door.

"Well, everyone ready to explore the next mystery?"

Ben waits for the others to gather round before proceeding.

If they do, he will drop to his needs and place an ear to the door.

If he hears nothing of interest, he reaches into his thieves tools and pulls out a small, three and a half inch awl with two holes thru one end.

Wetting the tip of a twelve inch piece of strong thread, he feeds it thru one hole, and twirls the device in his fingers until there is only about two inches left. The then threads another piece of twelve in thread thru the other hole. He place a small hexagonal piece of metal with tiny sharp claws on one end and gently taps the claws into the (presumably) soft wood of the swollen door.

Once it is in place he smiles at the others, blows on his fingers, then places the sharp end of the awl thru the hole on the center of the hexagonal brace, and slowly pulls the short string, slowly. As it unwinds, the second string gets wound up. Slowly at first, but faster one the sharp tool had gotten it's grip, the little thief alternates between strings, which slow should be drilling it's way thru the door.

If he succeeds in piercing the door with this ever so slow and silent method, he will place the awl back in his tool kit, use the tip of his dagger to pop the guide off the door, and glance thru the hole from a distance of about a foot at first, to get a sense of light or darkness beyond.

Saliq looks a bit shocked at Ben stripping the dead woman but bites his tongue for the moment. He'll suggest they rebury the poor woman with all graces later, when they are not quite so endangered.

Not hearing anything that causes concern, Ben retrieves his tools...

Ben works with the clean, skillful precision of a master of his craft and expediently accomplished his task.

Ben glances through the hole and sees a ray of natural light illuminating the center of what looks like another bedchamber, this one filled with two beds, one occupied by what looks like a woman and the other, two small children. All appear to be in a similar state as the previous room.

Peering through the hole also allows Ben to hear what sounds like a rhythmic low buzzing sound interspersed with high-pitched barely perceptible chittering, somewhere above the room, outside of perception.

The room smells metallic, yet Ben can find no evidence of any large deposits of ore. The bedframes in this room appear to be constructed of a dark wood, perhaps mahogany?

It is also unclear where the shard of light may come from, for there does not appear to be any windows inside the room.

"Well that seems dangerous. Hate to do this, but I think it's warranted."

Reaching into his pouch, Ben pulled out a small handful of ceramic tubes, each sealed with wax. He glanced at the labels and finally picked the one he wanted, replacing the rest.

"Buzzing in there, undefined light source, dead mother and two kids from what it looks like, so far."

Slicing the top of the wax seal with his dagger, Ben closed his eyes and swallowed down the contents with a wince, then a surprised and pleased look on his face.

He smacked his lips.

"Yum."

He closed his eyes then opened them again, looking into the room threw the door without even using his newly made hole, looking up and down, side to side.

OOC - Potion of clairvoyance. The potion acts as the third level mages spell of the same name. It differs from the spell into unknown areas up to 3" distance can be seen. Duration is one turn.

Ben will try for a 360 sphere of knowledge, even to the floor below, the rest of this floor in case of secret areas, and up.

As Ben looked around Saliq was doing likewise, slowing turning in a circle to survey the room in case there was magic beyond the bookcase.

---

OOC: Assuming Ben holds the dress up Saliq will glance at it too as he scans the room.

OOC Ben does, but hopefully this is before the whole door thing.

Galadel looks a bit shocked by Ben's actions with the dress, but also holds his tongue.  He is more shocked by the sight of the library of ruined books.  A servant of knowledge, it deeply saddens him to see there condition.   As Ben begins working on the door, Galadel walks to the bed and arranges the lady corpse back into a proper position, covering her with either linens or some of the other clothing and holds a hand over the bed saying a quick prayer.

When he hears Ben's description, he is intrigued.

"All of these folks died in there beds, that seems unlikely.  And the undead did not disturb this fine lady despite having access to the room.  Her resting place must have been sanctified after her death.  Perhaps someone put them in their resting places after they died."

Realizing Ben is engaged in something that is intended to gather information, Inas stands by and waits.

He tries to focus on the buzzing sound, in case its pitch or volume changes.

With Ben engaged in whatever he is engaged in, anyone else can peek thru the hole.

The pearl-studded silken gown does not radiate magic. With the aid of the magic potion, Ben sees in his mind's eye, the interior of the room beyond the jammed door and discovers what very well is causing the strange noise emanating from within.

In the extreme northeast corner, a large almond-shaped structure is attached to the wall. But this is obviously no almond, rather, it looks like a huge congealed scab with several cone-shaped orifices speckling its exterior. The scabby structure extends from floor to the roof, where a hole, about eight feet high, is perhaps six feet at its widest, and possibly half as deep. Every so often, Ben notices the scab bulge here or there, as though it, or perhaps something within, is alive!

The source of daylight streaming into the room is also no longer a mystery: several holes in the ceiling rafters above permit daylight to enter this chamber.

Below this floor, Ben sees an entrance chamber, where a trio of wights mill about near the front door. Their presence does not seem to draw the attention of a pair of giant spiders who dwell in the northeast corner of what looks like a dining room. The ground floor is mostly barren, save for a depleted pantry, kitchen and servants' chambers located along the western edge and a dining room and parlor along the eastern edge.

The spiral stairs continue upward to the bell tower, where the noisy birds still roost.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:52, Mon 22 June 2015.

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 155):

Eagle peeks through the hole.

Rath too appears shocked by Ben undressing the corpse, but not for Saliq's reasons. "Watch for worms!" he hisses, remembering the hellish rot grubs that nearly killed a few party members -- just weeks ago? But his warning comes too late, and apparently it's unneeded, since Ben is not playing host to maggots.

Rath continues to keep guard while Ben works the door.

Without the aid of clairvoyance, Eagle sees the same scene that Ben noticed while first looking through the hole: another bedchamber, this one occupied by two beds instead of just one.

Meanwhile, Rath and Inas stand vigil, alert for anything that might attempt to sneak up on the party while the others are investigating. Looking over the banister, Inas and Rath can see the large open hall in the middle of the tower, the dining room, kitchen, servants' chambers, pantry and parlor occupying either side of the tower, obscured behind stone walls. The pair might also spot the wights huddling near the front door.

As Ben sees things he keeps up a running dialogue, pointing the direction of where he is looking.

"Some sort of nasty pustule on the wall, guessing that's where the humming is coming from. Might be a bee hive? Though I see no bees flying about. Icky... Wights are there, three of them, by the front door if my orientation is correct. Couple of giant spiders down there too."

He completes his three sixty on this floor and the one below before looking upwards.

"Only seems to be some noisy birds up there."

I am assuming Ben would have also mentioned anything of value he might have seen, meaning there is no obviously treasure.

Ben does not see any obvious signs of treasure in any of the tower's three floors. That is not say none exists, just that if it does, it is not out for all to plainly see upon casual inspection.

Ben continues to scan until the potion loses his potency.

"Damn, gonna need to get some more of those."

He runs his eyes as natural vision returns.

"Whew, don't know how you do it Saliq, magic is weird indeed. Anyway, do we want to try this room? If we're here to get loot, I think we can pass it by, but if we're here to clear the tower, we need to take it on eventually."

Ben eyes the tower thoughtfully, wondering if perhaps he could get the deed for it cheap...

"If those are insects, how do we combat them?  Conventional arms seem somewhat useless.  Perhaps we should prepare torches?  Of course -- who's to say that they are just ordinary insects?"


The ranger studies the pustule to determine if it is like anything he has experienced in nature.  After determining what he can, he turns to the party's resident nature expert:

"Eagle, what do you think that is?"

In reply to Inas Eoinsson (msg # 163):

'I'm not sure from Ben's description what it might be,' Eagle says thoughtfully, unsure whether to break down the door and get a closer look. He looks to his companions to guage the mood of the party.

"I feel we should deal with the downstairs threats first. The last thing we need is to be fighting that buzzing thing and have the Wights come up behind up."

"Inas and I could take them from here," Rath says quietly, tapping his bow to indicate his plan to shoot the wights. "Maybe even drop them before they get up the stairs."

"Aye, we can do that." 

Inas arranges three silver arrows -- enough for his first volley.  "Do you have silver or magical arrows, or do you need some of mine?"

Saliq laughs. "Practice my friend, practice. Though to be fair my magic usually conceals things rather than trying to see through them. Ah, what I was doing just now aside of course"

The illusionist takes one last look around the room before they go down.

In reply to Saliq Musfara (msg # 168):

Eagle nods at the fighters' plan to take out the wights with arrows, and stands back to let them do their work.

Rath looks down at the ranger's arrows. "Oh, we need those? That would have been embarrassing." He tucks away his own standard unenhanced wood-and-steel arrows, takes whatever Inas is offering, and gets ready to line up a shot.

"Together, then. Start with the one on the left?"

"Left to right it is."

Inas puts his quiver with silver arrows in a place that both he and Aldo can reach it for subsequent volleys.  He then readies an arrow and attempts to synchronize their attack so as to maximize opportunities for surprise.

"On three.  One . . . two . . . three . . ."


OOC: Stopping here for further instruction from DM; not sure if we can just fire or not.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:21, Tue 23 June 2015.

Ben stops Saliq from descending the stairs.

"Wait, wait, wait, the archer types are going to bring them up to us, which is good because it reduces the chance of the spiders getting involved."

Ben draws his broadsword, but he has enough faith in the archers to face away from them and into the rest of the house to make sure nothing is sneaking up on them from behind.

"We gonna buy this place? I hope so, it would be a great hall for us super friends to meet."

Hehehe...

The wights are within Inas and Rath's range, both of which have an arrow knocked, ready to release...

Wights
AC: 5
HP: 0/17 (Dead), 17, 17


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   39/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   47/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   -1 Level drain
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:18, Wed 24 June 2015.

Inas takes aim, and in a flurry fires off three arrows.  Two find their mark, causing grievous harm.


11:42, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 19,17 using d20+1,d20+2 with rolls of 18,15. Arrow 1: 11 to hit.

11:42, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 6 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 4. Redo of damage on Arrow 1. (used wrong die, darn it)

11:42, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 4,8 using d20+1,d6+2 with rolls of 3,6. Arrow 2: 11 to hit.

11:42, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 19,4 using d20+1,d6+2 with rolls of 18,2. Arrow 3: 11 to hit.

Total damage = 10.

NOTE: I don't know if we get bonuses for surprise (can one surprise a wight?) but unless we get 7 in bonuses my second arrow will not hit.

Galadel grabs his holy symbole and stands slightly behind the bowman.  He does not reveal it or attempt to call on his faith yet, instead waiting.  He will let the wights charge if they choose to and wait until they are within ten feet, just beyond their ability to attack and then attempt to turn them. He hopes this will give the bowman chances to attack them at a charge and at a retreat.

An educated guess allows Ben to surmise Galadel's plan. He nods in appreciation of the clever strategy, then returns his gaze to guarding their flanks.

With an air of carelessness, Rath quickly bends his bow and sends one silver arrow after another down at his target. He cannot match Inas Eoinsson in the speed of his draw, but he scores well enough, and he's got his third arrow in hand before he smirks in satisfaction.

Between the two of them, Rath and Inas have dropped one of the fiends.


OOC: Hit twice for 9 total damage.
21:24, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 11,3 using 1d20,1d6 with rolls of 11,3. attack and damage #2.

21:23, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 12,6 using 1d20,1d6 with rolls of 12,6. attack and damage #1.

A volley of well-aimed arrows impact the nearest wight, driving the foe to the ground in very short order. The other two wights, located just a few feet distant, hiss in alarm and begin craning their sinewy necks this way and that in an effort to sniff out the source of the attack.

OOC: Saliq and Eagle still have actions.

Saliq nodded thankfully at Ben for stopping him walking into an attack. The illusionist waited calmly, presuming arrow fire would do the job and conserving his magics for the perhaps greater threats to come.

In reply to Saliq Musfara (msg # 179):

Eagle watches and waits.

The two remaining wights jerk their necks this way and that, eventually settling their gaze upon Inas and Rath, whom are presently leaning over the second floor banister, reloading arrows for their next barrage.

The wights howl and lurch forward in a loping gait. After a few clumsy paces forward, the papair of wights pick up steam and begin racing toward the stairwell. Their screeching howls echo throughout the darkened hall as they streak across the hall. The wights quickly bound up the stairwell, their footfalls growing closer with each passing second, reach the top of the landing and then bolt along the catwalk toward Inas and Rath!

The wights draw within 10 feet of both archers, their grasping claws extended outward, their cold, lifeless eyes staring through the heroes.

They will be upon the party shortly...

Wights
AC: 5
HP: 0/17 (Dead), 17 (turned), 11/17

OOC: Wights are 10 feet distant


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   39/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   47/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   -1 Level drain
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


OOC: PCs are up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:31, Fri 26 June 2015.

Seeing the wights almost in striking distance Galadel again raises his holy symbol and with his faith in his lord sends fear into the advancing darkness of the undead.

10:58, Today: Galadel rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,2.

10:58, Today: Galadel rolled 11 using 1d20 with rolls of 11. turn attempt.

Remembering the plan, Inas fires at the left-most wight.

His first arrow wings the foul creature, causing minor damage.  The second misses by a wide margin -- at which point Inas mutters some most un-rangerlike words under his breath.




15:52, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 12,3 using d20+1,d6+2 with rolls of 11,1. Arrow #1, 11 to hit.


15:53, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 4,7 using d20+1,d6+2 with rolls of 3,5. Arrow #2, 11 to hit.

Rath snarls a curse in unison with Inas, and his composure falters. The howls, the echoes in the tower, the preternaturally quick loping gait ... "Gah!" Arrows fly. One finds its mark, more by luck than skill.



OOC: one hit for 3 damage.

17:35, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 12,3 using 1d20,1d6 with rolls of 12,3. attack and damage #2.

17:34, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 10,2 using 1d20,1d6 with rolls of 10,2. attack and damage #1.

Galadel turns one of the wights and Inas and Rath pepper the second with arrows. It is still racing forward however...

In reply to DM Storm (msg # 185):

Staying behind the archers Eagle flings his spear at the injured wight. It sticks in but doesn't have that much affect.

OOC:
16:28, Today: Eagle rolled 1 using 1d6 with rolls of 1.
16:28, Today: Eagle rolled 18 using 1d20 with rolls of 18.

Ben judges the approach of the wight and decides that the Wight will most likely reach the fighters before they can draw their weapons.

With a yelp of fear he intervenes hoping to give them to moment they need with his sword.

Bringing the bright (shining?) blade down hard, killing (I think?) the Wight with one blow.


OOC - if I need to attack...
09:06, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 6 using 2d4 with rolls of 2,4. damage.
+1 for the magic sword I guess, so seven damage.

Last count shows him with 11 hit points, Inas did 3 damage, Aldo 3 more, and one more from The Eagle?

09:06, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 20 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 19. swing.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:10, Fri 26 June 2015.

Rath stands dismayed for a moment by Ben's sudden and successful foray into face-to-face combat, until he realizes it must be another of Saliq's clever illusions. He smirks and draws back another arrow ....

Leaping into action from the shadows, Ben drives his magic sword firmly through the spot where the wight's heart would be, if it had one. The thief runs the undead through and it collapses to the floor, a few feet before Inas and Rath's feet. Dead.

All three wights have been defeated!

In reply to DM Storm (msg # 189):

Eagle takes a moment to process what has just happened, and then smiles at the young thief. "Good work Ben", he says with a nod. He recovers his own spear, and then looks at the third wight that is presumably fleeing.

"Can we kill that while it is turned?" he asks Galadel.

Shaken, Ben looks down at the dead wight, just a little confused.

"By she who is darkness, that went well."

At The Eagles comment, he nods. "Good idea, you guys do that. Careful about the spiders."

Sitting down on the top step, he attempts to collect himself.

Saliq claps a hand to Ben's back. "By Sehanine's silver light that was well played my friend."

He glanced at the others. "Once that last wight is dead I can weave a spell of invisibility about us before we go further. It use might be limited it there are more deathless things but it couldn't hurt."

Bun jumped at Saliq's hand, but the little thief reached up to squeeze it for strength just the same.

"Thanks old friend, I don't mind tell you, that scared me to no end."

getting to his feet, Ben wiped his blade off quickly on the body of the dead wight, and headed down the stairs.

"If we survive this cursed place, I shall have to invite you over for dinner. My mother's cooking, not mine, I want you to live, after all." A grin crossed his face, his nerves now steadied.

Unless some other sight caught his gaze, his focus would be in the direction where the spiders were spotted, careful to include the ceiling...

Having finished off the wights, Rath stows his bow and takes his trident in hand. The talk of spiders has made him wary. Before he considers moving down the stairs, he gives Ben one long appraising glance. "Was sure that was an illusion," he mutters, but he doesn't go so far as to poke Ben with his tines to verify his reality.

Rath waits for Saliq to throw down that invisibility cloak (if he's going to) before following Ben, a few paces back, down the tower stairs.

The party files down the staircase and arrives on the ground floor of Longshadows Tower. Six stone columns rise from the the center of the hall. Two doors hang slightly ajar along the west side of the tower. From Ben's previous scrying, he knows these to be where the servants' chamber, kitchen and pantry are located. These rooms were all ransacked. The servants' chamber consisted of little more than broken-down beds and torn bedding mixed with soiled garments. The kitchen featured a fireplace and cooking implements scattered about the floor. The pantry was similarly disheveled, with torn sacks of dried provisions and broken glass and pottery on the floor.

On the east side of the tower is a single doorway, this one leading into the dining hall and a private parlor beyond. A large table and several chairs are inside the dining room, its walls covered with hanging tapestries. The two spiders Ben observed were located just beyond the doorway into the hall. Just beyond the spiders' web, a doorway allows access into the private parlor. Inside the private parlor is a collection of overstuffed chairs placed around a octagonal table.

The party gathers near the center of the open hall and weighs its options.

Rath stands vigilant. Without looking at him, he asks Eagle, "You got anything to take out those spiders?" He considers a moment. "Or at least keep me from being poisoned?"

"I suggest we start by burning the webs, if we can. Save the invisibility Saliq, this doesn't seem the time for it."

Ben checked for any sign of the webbing from a distance.

"Should I light a torch, or can you start it ablaze from a distance Galadel?"

The door into the dining hall is slightly ajar, a two or three inch gap offering a glimpse inside. Unfortunately, the angle is not such that the spider web can be seen through the gap. The spiders are located behind the door, outside of the field of view.

Of course the door could be pushed open, if one wished to do so and put some effort toward the task.

In terms of flammable material inside the dining room, the table and chairs are all made of wood, so those might work to get a fire started.

As the party descends, Inas tried to recover as many of the spent silver arrows as possible.

"This might be a good time for one of your simpler illusion Saliq; two men walking thru the door?"

Galadel is a bit out of his depth here.  He's shocked at some of what he's seen, but these are hero's after all, so he should imagine they take things differently than normal folk. But still. As a priest of light, he knows what Rath has been dealt by the darkness, and he might have stopped it, or killed them all in the process.

"Ben, I could ignite the webs from just inside the door, but, I'm afraid it would be more than useful.  I, well..." he takes a deep breathe. "I feel I could have destroyed those wights much quicker, but it may have collapsed the tower around us, I've not spent much time...uh, doing, what you do. 

"Destroy the..." his face blanches at the thought of that much power.

"Damn G, I just mean a little fire, not enough to... damn, you can do that?"

"G?....oh, yeah, ok,  well, I don't know, I've learned most of my magic in school, but yes, the kind of lightning I can create can knock down and burn wood supports, shred catwalks,  and even destroy stone walls, depending who built them....and, its a little unpredictable how it will react, and how much flammable fuel is in the room...I'd rather be careful".

"Can't you make little fires too? Are you just a structures demolition expert of some sort?"

"Torches it is, then," Rath says firmly.

In reply to Aldo Rathmus (msg # 205):

Eagle listens to the too-and-fro with a smile. 'Of course, I can produce the flame you're after, if only you just asked.' He says with a tone of faux indignation.

'That said these spiders never hurt us, and we're in their house, so if you don't mind, I might thank them for having us.'

With that Eagle starts chanting, and then making a series of ever so subtle clicking noises.
[Private to GM: Eagle will speak with animals, and say hello to the spiders through the doors. he will explain they mean the spiders no harm but his friends are frightened and have torches. He will also explain that they are here to investigate the blood sucking birds, and any other evil, and if the spiders can help them they will gladly leave any carcasses for them. He also asks what is through the door to the private chambers. ]

A few moments after Eagle begins his strange clicking noises, his voice is joined by other clicks, from somewhere behind the closed door.

[Private to Eagle: "Greetings, stranger. We hope you come offering food. Our last feast was some time ago and we languish for life-giving sweet drink. We can go some time without, but the thirst is ever-present, especially with young to come very soon.

Why have you brought fire? We have done no trespass to you! That is very unkind of you!"

The spiders further relate that Master, That Which Comes Bearing Feast, passes through the doorway from time to time. He dwells somewhere beneath the tower, but the spiders do not know those parts. Should the party use fire, he will surely be alerted to their presence, and will not take kindly to trespass in his abode.]

Ben picks his jaw up off the floor...

Saliq unsuccessfully tried to hide how impressed he was. By the goddess, even his magic could not do this.

Galadel smiles at the druid.  He had considered doing the same and could cast the spell, but he really didn't know what to say to a spider.  The druid would be way better at knowing what to say and what not to saw to offend the creatures.  He would be sure to ask about it when they were safe somewhere, it made him immensely curious.  He almost cast his own spell just to listen in but that would be rude without permission.

In reply to Galadel (msg # 210):

Eagle turns to his companions. 'They're hungry, and afraid of fire, but other than that they're friendly enough. Is there anything with blood in we can offer? Not sure those wights or golem will suffice.'
He pauses for a moment.

'Interestingly there's something, or someone, who comes and goes from below this tower - it feeds the spiders too. Apparently our torches will alert it we're here, so we might want to go in blazing. We could investigate now, or maybe wait and watch somewhere to get more info?'

He then turns back to the door and starts clicking again.

[Private to GM: Eagle will try and find out if the spiders are interested in the wights or golem carcasses, and also press for more info on 'he who comes bearing feasts' - how often does he come, is he human, is he in right now. That type of thing!]
This message was last edited by the player at 11:39, Thu 02 July 2015.

"Damn. I left my barrel of blood back at the inn," Rath mutters. He's ambivalent about negotiating with spiders, but it beats getting bit. The fighter keeps alert, watching the shadows around him (and above). He doesn't want anything lurching out of the dark and taking the company by surprise.

"Out of curiosity, what does the 'thing from below' feed them?  Unless it's barrels of blood, it's dead carcasses, and I wonder what those dead things might be. "

In reply to Inas Eoinsson (msg # 213):

Eagle nods at Inas's comment, and adds a couple of clicks directed to the spiders as if he's passing the thought on.

Grabbing the closest Wight, Ben drags it towards the door, the shoves it in, ever so carefully and staying away from the door himself, to see if they want to nibble on it.

A flurry of vibrating clicks call out in response to Eagle's newest line of query.

[Private to Eagle: The spiders are not interested in wight of golems, as neither possess even a single drop of blood to suckle. In answer to your other questions: He who comes bearing feasts, comes at night, most nights. The most common gifts are cats and dogs, but there have been other gifts, on rare occasions. The spiders tell you the Master is similar to them: it craves blood. Both spiders think he is below the tower now.]

Eagle relays the spider's latest message:

The spiders are not interested in wight or golems, as neither possess blood.

He who comes bearing feasts, comes at night, most nights.

The most common gifts given to the spiders are cats and dogs, but there have been other gifts, on rare occasions.

The spiders also say their Master is similar to them: it craves blood.

Both spiders think he is below the tower now.

OOC: DM post, to keep game moving...

A shiver ran down Ben's spine at the description. "Vampire?" That would be a bad thing.

"I'm thinking we need to kill your spider buddies there Eagle, sorry."

Saliq hesitated. "I could start an illusion of a fire that might send scuttling off to safety; I'm guessing giant webs are as flammable as small ones."

He was not exactly fond of spiders, giant or otherwise, but Eagle did seem to have a rapport with them...

"The spiders don't seem interested in attacking us; if they were meant to guard, then they would have already attacked.  Still, it wouldn't do to tell them we plan to kill their food source."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Fri 10 July 2015.

Rath shakes his head. "Don't disturb the giant venomous spiders." He says it like it's a proverb. "Or the webs."

"Better to kill them now then when they are fighting at the side of whatever their friend might be. Seems really unlikely they would join with us against the source of their food. Plus when spiders lay eggs, there will be thousand more, and they will no doubt flood the city for more blood."

Rath shrugs, not looking for an argument. He'll leave it to Eagle or Saliq to object, if they so choose.

"Why not just ask if they'll let us pass?"

"Did you not hear what I just said?"

Ben shakes his head in disgust at the sudden softheartedness of his comrades.

"If you want to put this off for now, let's go back upstairs and deal with that oddity."

"Eagle, can they tell you if the one who feeds them, who is a blood-seeker, does he look like us, human?"


"If so, it well may be a vampire, and that is a very dangerous thing to be messing with.  We would need to find it while it rests, to face it in the night would be far beyond my skills"

Ben had suggested it was a Vampire only five minutes previously, but hopefully now that Galadel has thought the same thing people would take the situation more seriously.

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 227):

Eagle seems to stand in a daze for a while, and then with a start comes back into the conversation.

'So, i don't think these spiders are particular enemies, they're just, like, spiders really. I want no part in an unprovoked attack.

'More to the point I think there is a vampire down there, which we would disturb by attacking. As I see it, we might be best to wait, maybe invisibly, and see what this vampire does if and when it emerges. Who knows, it might be connected to wider intrigues in the city?'

Eagle will then speak to the spiders again, asking them if they would let the party pass through their lair under any circumstances, and he will also ask, conversationally, how many young they are expecting and where the babies will live (would Eagle know the range of giant spiders in any case?) He wants to judge if Ben's concerns about a city plague are reasonable or not!

OOC: I'll try and be more regular, but in the meantime DM if you can post the spiders response with the assumption Eagle is translating, it might speed things up!

Frustrated, Ben shakes his head.

"You aren't seeing the big picture. If we kill the vampire, the spiders will either starve, or have to attack the city for blood. Do you, Eagle, plan on feeding them for the rest of your natural born life? They, and their thousands of off-spring? Or do you see a way to move them out into the wilderness, where they will only suck the blood from deer, bears and random travelers?"

The spiders submit they are hungry: it has been a few days since their last feeding. If provided a sacrifice, they would be amenable to looking the other way should you wish to pass by their web, into the parlor.

The spiders say there are no eggs in their nest at the moment, but perhaps in time, Lloth-willing.

The spiders would like to eventually make a new home in the Undercity, where food can be readily found without relying in handouts.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:57, Fri 17 July 2015.

"Well, should we feed it, or deal with the oddity upstairs? It is more the decision of Saliq and Galadel in my mind, as Aldo's steel doesn't rust, and my keen mind is always sharp, while their abilities wax and wane with time and use." He gives a wry smile.

Turning to the Eagle, he inquires. "If we choose to get food for these new friends of yours, what do you suggest we feed them, puppies? A small deer perhaps?"

Saliq glanced at Eagle. "Your choice my friend. I probably could craft an illusion to frighten them into hiding while we go about our business. That or we go in fighting... Ben, I feel even your keen mind might struggle with that deer."

With a shrug, Ben drops onto to his behind and digs out a container of his mothers famous pickle and egg salad.

"Sure, we just made friends with the spiders, lets now lie and betray them, why not."

The little thief pulls out a skin of lightly fermented apple squeezings to help wash down his snack, then begins eating.

Saliq gave his friend a hurt look: "I spoke about illusions to get them out of way speciffically so we wouldn't have to hurt anyone!"

"Sorry Saliq, but they're hungry, and I'm guessing they wouldn't like my mothers cooking, another reason to think they're not good people." Ben chuckled at his joke. "Look, we can't leave them here, if we are going to try and move them int he Eagles guest bedroom later, feeding them now is a good idea." Using a finger he wiped some food that was trying to escape down his chin back into his mouth.

"I say we deal with that thing upstairs first, then go find the spiders some chow, that's my suggestion."

"I like Ben's suggestion.  And stray animals from the town might make good fodder.  But cleaning up the upstairs might be a good first step."

Inas considers, trying to remember if he'd even seen stray dogs or other mammals in the town.

"Anyone seen a request for help with an infestation of giant two foot long flys? They might enjoy that..."

In fact...a moment later, Ben remembers he knows all too well where one might find very large flies: in the fetid sewers of the City Below. The Ratcatchers' Guild has often bemoaned their presence. Actually quite deadly and not just a nuisance.

"Hey, I just remembered, there are Giant Flies in the sewers, nasty ones, I'm guessing we could finagle a few coin out of the RatCatchers Guild for the favor. Could turn into a long-term way to feed your new friends Eagle! Imagine that, I was making a joke, and it resulted in a real idea. My razor sharp mind works in interesting ways!"

Finishing off his snack, and taking another sip of the slightly fermented apple squeezings, Ben gets back to his feet and heads for the stairs.

"Tell your friends we'll have food for them soon Eagle, sounds like we're headed back upstairs... then we can some flies, with the Dark Ladies blessing, If we survive...." He smirks again.

Having deliberated the spider dilemma for an appreciable amount of time, the party decides to leave them be for the moment, instead opting for returning to the strange hive found in the room above.

The door is still closed, but the peephole Ben fashioned is as it was when the party lefts. The scene inside appears the same, with no change over the last hour or so.

Now, how to go about this next phase of the operation?

Ben attempts to ascertain if the door is trapped and/or locked.

He will not unlock it if it is locked just yet, but if trapped he will attempt to disarm it.

"Ben," Saliq whispers, "I'm going to cast an invisibility spell on you speciffically. No point casting it on the group as a whole if you move ahead and out of range."

Unless his friend objected Saliq started chanting eerie words and gesturing at the thief.

Ben stands really still, and a bit nervously, as if he were a child going under the leech at the local barber/doctors office.

"It goes away if I attack, right?" he says, as he attempts to remember any and all of the rules of being invisible.

Galadel follows along, his mind still swirling over the information about a possible vampire un-living beneath the tower, and that a pair of spiders had told them this.   More than that even was the actions and reactions of this group of heroes.  He had heard stories of their adventures and feats, one reason he was interested in joining up with them, that and his mother's recommendation to find the one called Inas and join his group.  Despite that, they seemed indecisive, even at odds with one another, he had expected a tight cohesive team with a clear leader.  Perhaps this was better given some of their successes but it befuddled him.  They were however fairly fearless, he'd expected that but seeing it was a bit disarming, he would need to brace himself if he expected to gain the respect of these men.

He looks to Saliq, interested in the answer to the question of invisibility, he knew the magicians version and could cast it but wondered if the illusionist version was the same.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Mon 27 July 2015.

Inas waits; his skills are not yet needed.

The door is unlocked and untrapped. All that remains is for some brave soul to push it open.

Sick of waiting around doing nothing, the now invisible Ben assumes his companions are ready and opens the door.

He does it slowly though, as if it were an errant wind, pushing it slowly open, first a little, then a bit more.

Once it is open, he moves swiftly out of the way, putting distance between him and the opening, so the others don't step on his invisible heels...

Ben slips silently and invisibly into the now barely open doorway. The room is very much as it last appeared in his mind's eye, courtesy of the potion of clairvoyance.

Light filters into the room from the holes in the ceiling rafters above.

The almond-shaped congealed sac structure is still attached to the northeast wall, extending from floor to roof, almost as though it were one with the wall itself. The sac is covered in small orifices, though its contents are not visible from a distance.

The buzzing sound becomes more agitated as Ben enters the room, now about 10 feet distant from the sac. The buzzing is coming from within the sac and every now and again, Ben sees the structure bulge here or there.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:48, Tue 28 July 2015.

Seeing that no one had followed behind him yet, Ben snuck back towards the others.

"Looks like a giant hornets nest or something. You got any spells to cover it up? If so, I say we cover all the holes then smash it with hammers and stuff till the buzzing stops," he whispered to the others.

"Perhaps ordinary torches would be sufficient to stave off the insects.  In the wild, smoke is often used to control bees and such."

OOC: Re-reading post 156 I am confused; are there stairs leading up in this room, or is the reference to stairs in that post referring to the main staircase?

"If we do attack you better stay back Ben," Saliq said to where he hoped Ben was standing. "We might need you to be invisible further in.For the hornet's nest - if such it is - torches and carefulness might be a good idea. I could conjure a phantasmal moster to keep them occupied."

His eyes gleamed at that possibility, before recalling Ben's question. "Yes aggressive action by you will end the invisibility spell."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:50, Tue 28 July 2015.

Inas looks about for some material that can be used to fashion a torch.  Some of the cloth from the bedroom wrapped around pieces of wood, perhaps?

Galadel closes his eyes and touches a hand to the symbol at his neck, saying a soft prayer.


[Private to DM Storm: Cast: Speak with Animals, he will listen to the buzzing to see if he can make anything out of out the sounds.]

In reply to Galadel (msg # 253):

'I could use Melora's grace to protect one of us from insects - if that is what they are. The magic will only work on one of us though. . .' he trails off.

Galadel attunes himself to the low buzzing sound emanating from within the strange hive and makes out what sounds like agitated bickering within the structure.

"Get out of my way!"

"No. You are in my way!"

"This is my spot. Back off!"

"Everyone quiet. Night will be soon!"

"You be quiet!"

And so on. The conversation, which is only heard and understood by Galadel, is nothing overly substantial, just back-and-forth bickering.

Meanwhile, Inas finds suitable fabric to make a torch.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:26, Thu 30 July 2015.

Galadel looks to the others who seem ready to attack,

"Should I try to speak with them first, I mean, we gave the spiders a chance, if we should that door, I'm not sure these guys are any danger to us, I'm guessing that hive is over a window so they have outside access to forage?"

"Go right ahead, but be prepared to defend yourself, they might not be in the mood to chat."

Does the hive seem big enough to house stirges?

"Well, Galadel -- what are they, at least?"

Based on Ben's memory of encountering stirge hatchlings at The Gaping Maw once upon a moon, at the very beginning of his adventuring career, this hive appears large enough to house stirges.

"Stirges, eh?  Filthy beasts.  I say burn them in their hive."  Inas looks about to gauge the risk of the fire engulfing beyond what they would like.

Galadel steps forward and begins to make buzzes and hums that seem inhuman and not possible to come from his small face.

[Private to DM Storm: He will address the hive and ask if he may speak with who even is in charge, he will introduce himself, and if he gets a non hostile response, will attempt to find out who they are, what they are, if they pose a threat to the area, and what, if anything they know about the tower and the prowler that sucks blood who lives beneath the tower, to keep from stalling the game to much, please post everything they say to the group, as Gal will quickly translate anything he learns]

The hive buzzes with activity as soon as Galadel begins openly conversing with its denizens. The occupants are somewhat confused by the question about who might be in charge: several suggest they are in charge but are quickly contradicted by others claiming the same feat. This of course turns into more squabbling, which makes conversation with the creatures quite difficult.

The creatures refer to themselves as the Longshadow Flock, but even this fact is contentious. As far as what they are, after several similarly frustrating answers, the creatures come to a consensus: they are indeed stirges.

As far as the tower's occupants, they are aware of the golem, wights, spider and a bloodless human, who comes and goes from time to time. This creature they refer to as Longshadows. The stirges came to this tower because it is good breeding grounds with ample food supply nearby.

The stirges grow more agitated as Galadel continues to question them, their responses becoming more contentious with each passing question.

Galadel looks to the others as he continues to stall the Stirges, now with less difficult questions, and somewhat slower to buy a bit of time.

Between his buzzing, he relates pertinent facts to the others in the party and slips in, "Quickly, burn them".

Happy to oblige, Inas darts to the back of the group, lights his makeshift torch, and then (assuming nothing or nobody stops him) applies it to the cocoon-like object.

As soon as Inas has lit the nest and is far enough away not to be caught in his spell, Galadel switches from humming to speaking in tongues.


ooc: cast affect normal fires causing it to grow into the size of a bonfire

In reply to Galadel (msg # 265):

Eagle watches Galadel conversing with the stirges, and is tempted to join the conversation, instead he waits patiently, and when the flame erupts into a bonfire he nods to Galadel; 'nicely done'.

As the fire takes, Eagle turns his attention back towards the downstairs, alert to the possibility that the fire might disturb the mysterious Long shadows. . .

Ben moves away from the party, but stays within the room. Once he has moved away, he drops to the floor, uncertain if his invisibility would block whatever senses the stirges had. They looked a lot like bats, who knew?

The hurled torch quickly expands to the size of a roaring bonfire that rises quickly, filling the entire east end of the chamber. High-pitched shrieks combine with the roaring fire.

A moment later, small winged creatures resembling a cross between a mosquito and a bat, begin flying out of the strange orifices, through the fire, in an attempt to get outside the roaring inferno.

Several of the creatures do not make it very far, falling to the ground in burning, smoking, shrieking heaps. But, perhaps a dozen or so do manage to fly free, quickly lifting off toward and through the gaping hole in the ceiling rafter above.

Ten burning stirges are now littered on the room's floor. An equal number, perhaps more (it all happens so quick), disappear through the hole in the ceiling. Where they fly off to, none in the group can be sure.

The room's east end is now roaring in fire as the stirge's nest provides ample fuel.

Well that's not good.

A disembodied voice cries out...

"Can you put out the fire as well?"

[Private to GM: Not sure how experienced the mage is, but one the assumption that she has more levels than rounds it took for this to happen, she can shrink it to the size of a match-light. FYI that is...]

His initial urge is to end the suffering of the dying stirges, nasty as they are he doesn't want to see them suffer, but he stops short of slitting the first throat out of concern that it would dispel Saliq's magic.

"Someone, please, slit the throats of the dying..."

The spell he used to enhance the flames is still weaving through him, Galadel changes his words slightly, calling now for the flames to subside to the size of candle flame, walking forward to be closer once they have reduced in intensity. He says a quick prayer and many gallons of water are created amongst the nest, hopefully dousing the last of the flames and wetting the material so it can't restart.

ooc: Create Water

Rath, as usual, has stood ready against danger. He doesn't share Ben's concern for the suffering vermin, and he definitely does not enter the chamber to put them out of their misery. With Eagle, he prepares for trouble from with the tower.

Saliq, touched by Ben's concern moves in to end the suffering of the dying stirges. His enchanted dagger makes it clean and quick.

Galadel extinguishes the flames while several other party members put the suffering stirges out of their agony by swiftly executing the scorched pests.

Thick inky smoke wafts through the room, some of it ascending heavenward, though not enough of it.

The stirges that managed to escape through the same hole do not seem intent on returning to exact revenge, at least for the moment.

The threat seems to have been neutralized, leaving just the parlor and bell tower unexplored.

"That was very effective, although I hope the stirges don't exact revenge on the townsfolk.  But as for us: bell tower before basement?"

Under Inas' counsel, the party decides to pay the bell tower a visit. The group exits the smoking chamber and ascends the spiral staircase.

Drafts of wind filter down the stairs as the party makes their way up the narrow, steep stairs, eventually coming to the very top of Longshadows tower. A wooden trapdoor stands between the party and the tower. Ben checks it for traps and finds none. Pushing it open sends a group of noisy birds to flight and the trapdoor swings up. The pesky birds alight and swoop down to the rooftops of a nearby tenement, where the land and squawk angrily at the party's intrusion.

Examining the bell, it appears to be functional, though it is heavily rusted and does not seem to have been used in quite some time. The ropes attached to it are frayed and weather-worn. The bell is etched with scenes of a ship, laden with cargo, out at sea, storm clouds on the horizon.

The bell tower itself commands an impressive view of Stormhaven Bay to the south, and the sprawling city in all directions. It is now late afternoon, a few hours before nightfall. In a few hours the city will be alive with glittering lights, but for now, its denizens are finishing up whatever business can only be accomplished during the day. Some of it honest, a lot of it, not so much. Such is the way of Stormhaven.

Perhaps Ben, more than any other, notices the visage of Talas Tower, rising above Oldhaven Wall, a stubborn finger rising in defiance before Storm Heights and the Stormhaven Keep. Could Lord Myron be in there now? What might he and his clan be up to?

Save for copious bird droppings, there is little else of interest atop the bell tower.

Ben takes a deep breath of the sea air, sucking it in, holding for a long moment, then letting it out.

"It's a shyte hole, Stormhaven is, full of the dregs of humanity, and scum like that bastard Myron. But it's my home, and gods be damned if I don't love it."

It might appear that he actually teared up a bit, for any who could see the invisible little thief.

"Anyway, the preamble is finished. We need to feed the Eagle's new friends, then look after the man in the basement. We need to hurry and do it before sunset, or in the morning, assuming the spiders don't sell us out and he hunts us in our sleep.
"I, for one, am glad I gave them a fake name and false address."

He chuckled.

"I wish we had been more careful and gotten all the stirges, the blood sucking bastiches, but hopefully we've weakened them enough that they can be finished off in bits and pieces. Anyone they attack tonight is on our heads. We had the advantage, and we still let a bunch get away.
"Your getting sloppy Saliq." Again he laughed.
The sound of a squirt of fluid and the sound of a contented gulp-gulp-guulp was heard, the scent of warm apple squeezings mixing gently with the salt sea air.

"If we survive this next encounter, we need to look into claiming this tower as our own. That view alone is worth the effort.
"Hey Saliq, any chance this invisibility will fool a vampire? I hear they're pretty savvy..."

Inas looks at the birds.

"I don't suppose there's any chance we can catch some of them and feed them to the spiders?"

Inas reflects on the thought, then shakes his head as if to dismiss his own idea.

"More trouble than it's worth, and unlikely to be very successful.  Well, gentlemen -- have we seen all that there is to see up here?  If so, I suggest we go downstairs and meet our host.  The task won't get any easier with waiting, unless you spellcasters need some time."

Galadel looks over the debris left from the stirge nest.

"Bloodthorns, wights, spiders, stirges, Mr Longshadows being a bloodsucker himself seems to have populated his entire tower with things he has a kinship for. He has some flair for an undead, perhaps even an ironic sense of humor.  Spiders might eat stirges, even slightly toasted ones, I would think."

Saliq laughed. "Perhaps, though it would be a brave thief who tried it. Know any brave thieves Ben?"

He did take a chance to study the view, so unlike his homeland beyond the sea yet not without its charms and exitements. Perhaps Ben had the right of it to establish themselves here, assuming they could. What must the stars look like from here? Or the moon, the symbol of his beloved goddess. "We'll have to it concecrated by priests to remove the stench of the undead but there may be a future here..."

"Plenty of brave thieves in the graveyard Saliq."

Those who had known Ben the longest could picture the smirk that accompanied that comment...

"You know, if we had the time, I would suggest setting up a series of mirrors to direct the sunlight down into the bowels of this place, but we need to get moving. Shall we?"

"Spiders eat . . . er, drink . . . blood, but there's no harm in trying I guess."

Inas gathers some dead stirges, focusing on those that look like they aren't completely . . . dehydrated.

Rath doesn't respond the the talk of establishing a home in the tower of shadows. None too happy at the thought of facing the creature lurking below, he does not voice his misgivings but resolutely leads the way back down to the chamber of spiders.

The party collects several burnt and crispy stirges from the floor before being led, by Rath, back down to the spiders' lair to attempt to sate their hunger with this meager offering. The group files just outside the doorway and listens for any activity on the other side: it is deathly quiet.

The magic that allowed Eagle to converse with the spiders has long since faded, likewise for Galadel and the stirges: not that this of any consequence now.

Inas deposits the stirges in a heap in the spider room.

Inas tosses the stirges into the dining room, to see whether the spiders jump on the offering. Unfortunately, they do not seem to be that interested in dead sacrifice. One of the spiders approaches the stirge, quickly becoming disinterested and then shuffling toward the slightly open doorway...

OOC: Roll for initiative!

Anyone rolling a 5 or better may post immediately.

Giant Spiders, 2
AC 4
HP: 26, 24



PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   39/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   47/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   -1 Level drain
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



This message was last edited by the GM at 22:42, Sun 09 Aug 2015.

Inas politelyn waits his turn.

17:57, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2. initiative vs. spiders.

"Dammit, stupid spiders."

Ben stepped well aside and kept an eye out to the flanks and rear, having no intention of getting involved in this combat.

19:17, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 3 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 1. init.

Rath keeps his trident lowered against the advancing spider. "Eagle? Call it off, please."





19:41, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 3 using 1d6 with rolls of 3. init.

Saliq, his mind still on Ben's suggestions for claiming the tower as their own was uncharacteristically slow to act. Blinking he looked at Eagle, assuming the druid could chat to his many limbed friends.

---

OOC: 00:52, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 3 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 1. Initiative.

Having previously been warned by Eagle that the druid's companions were amenable to attempting to burn the spiders out of a home, the giant spider pair in understandably concerned for their welfare when two scorched stirges are tossed into the room...presumably as a warning!

The small of the two spiders, the male, scuttles forward to investigate the offering, turns and then darts forward toward Inas, its mandibles snapping back and forth. The ranger aptly defends himself from the sudden attack.

One very large, scary-looking spider now occupies the doorframe, staunchly protecting his lair from the intruders. The other spider is outside of view, somewhere within the dining hall.

OOC:

Giant Spiders, 2
AC 4
HP: 26 (hidden), 24 (in doorway)



PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   39/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   47/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   -1 Level drain
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


Round 1: PCs are Up!

Inas waves his sword in the spider's general direction a couple of times, but that's about it.

OOC: 2 misses

Galadel is slightly glad the spiders have attacked, he didn't like the idea of being trapped between them and the vampire, or whatever sort of bloodsucker lived below the keep.

With a few words of the arcane, three flashes of hot light streak into the spiders body with force.

15:45, Today: Galadel rolled 12 using 3d4+3 with rolls of 3,3,3. MM.

Wary of venom, Rath strides forward and impales the spider, keeping the length of his trident between him and his foe.

Hit for 11 damage
17:05, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 21,11 using 1d20+2,3d4+4 with rolls of 19,3,3,1. attack and damage.

Ben continues to stay out of the way.

Not being inclined to enjoin the fray, Saliq steps back, alongside Ben, and considers his options.

OOC: DM post for player

Eagle stands just behind Inas and Rath, who are presently taking up arms against the giant spider occupying the doorway. The druid searches his repertoire of spells which might be useful in this situation, but takes little action for the moment.

He had hoped to bypass confrontation, but apparently that is no longer possible...

OOC: DM post for vacationing player.

The giant spider attacks through the doorway, using two of its powerful legs to try to trip up Inas so it can deliver a poisonous bite. Inas nimbly steps aside and remains on his feet, despite the spider's best attempts otherwise.

OOC:

Giant Spiders, 2
AC 4
HP: 26 (hidden), 1/24 (in doorway)



PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   39/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   47/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   -1 Level drain
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


Round 2: PCs are Up!


This message was last edited by the GM at 15:32, Thu 20 Aug 2015.

Ben continues to stay out of the way.

Inas continues his dazzling display of "sword ineffectiveness."

Saliq started muttering strange and spidery words, drawing sigils in the air.

Behind the spider in the room, the scorched stirges began to stir into a horrid semblance of life. Saliq momentarily glanced at Eagle before returning his attention to the room.

Time to start negotiating.

---

OOC: Saliq casts Improved Phantasmal Force.

Galadel watches the stirges awaken, and looks to Saliq to be certain the illusionist is having a hand in this new development.   Once the spell is started, Galadel watches the dead birds quite closely.   He takes his sling and bullet out but does not attack as yet, with the fighter in the doorway, there is not much room for error and he isn't the best shot with that sling.

Rath makes a few cautious thrusts, confident he can finish off the wounded spider in the doorway but not wanted to get bit. Perhaps he's distracted by Inas, or perhaps he is simply too cautious to land a telling blow.

OOC: Miss and miss.(The combat chart shows the spider in the doorway at 24 HP, but I think it's down to 1 after taking 12+11 damage from Galadel and Rath last round.)

Eagle stands back and allows his melee-inclined companions to do their work. A shame it came to this, but there was nothing to do about it now.

OOC: DM post

The badly wounded spider retreats into the abandoned dining hall, a trail of thick ichor staining the dusty stone floor.

The other spider remains mostly out of sight, hunkered in the room's far corner, behind the opened door.

OOC:

Giant Spiders, 2
AC 4
HP: 26 (hidden), 1/24 (in dining room)



PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7   29/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   43/43   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Galadel  4   16/16   2   18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8
Inas     2   39/60   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     2   47/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   -1 Level drain
Saliq    7   19/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2


Round 3: PCs are Up!

Ben continues to stay out of the way.

Saliq lets the undead and illusionary stirges take flight, trying to drive the spiders away. "For Sehanine's sake Eagle I don't want to kill the things. Talk to them!"

With no spider threatening, Inas takes a defensive position and waits.

Wary of entering the spider's lair, but not sharing his comrades concern about killing the creatures now that open battle has broken out, Rath sets aside his trident and deftly sends a javelin skittering across the dining hall floor, where it stops about ten feet away from its target.

Rath rolls his eyes angrily and prepares another missile.


06:49, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 1 using 1d20 with rolls of 1.  javelin.

In reply to Aldo Rathmus (msg # 308):

Eagle turns to Saliq, and opens his mouth thoughtfully, as if not sure how to respond to his friend's cry for help.

As he pauses, Aldo flings his javelin at the spider, and Eagle raises his eyebrow quizzically, and then sadly shakes his head. 'The time for talking is over I'm afraid Saliq, it's time to stick or twist I'm afraid.'

He shrugs, and stands back, taking no part in the fight, but making no effort to stop it.

"Perhaps they'll listen to reason now?  I mean, they have stopped attacking."

Inas gets his bow as he speaks, but while it's readied he does not yet use it.

Sitting down, Ben pulls out his deck of cards and shuffles it, experimenting with his ability to see the cards in his own hand while invisible, then playing solitaire, testing the rest of putting the deck down to reveal the cards if required, and picking it back up to see if it turns invisible again.

Galadel looks around the tower, and at the people around him.   He is struck again by the odd make up of this group of heroes. Its been the most fascinating and scary day of his life, no doubt about it.  But he figured a group already who had done all that this group had done, would be organized, a clear leader, every decision quickly come upon.  Surely Eagle was the leader, he was monsterous powerful, one of only a few druids of his stance.  Then again, the Musfara family was well known, and respected.  Inas was a Ranger, and his own mother asks him to find the man, so surely he was of some import.  He didn't know much about Ben, but his sister, well, she was greatly respectable, and, well, lovely.  Rath seemed a capable warrior, though he knew little of his past, perhaps they were testing him, he wondered that since the start.  He said a little a prayer for guidance and followed his heart.  If the son of Musfara felt a way, he'd follow that lead, out of respect.

"arr'traun, da'azzeh, ma-heh"

[Private to DM Storm; Saliq Musfara: I'll do my best my friend]

Gal suddnely begins to speak with odd clicks and scrapes, and walks forward into the room.

ooc: cast speak with animals

[Private to DM Storm: Eight legged ones, time for death, or alliance. You have seen what we can do with weapn and magic, we did not want to attack but felt you spurned our gift of blood filled birds, you forced the battle, we can finish this in blood but Eagle here has a great widereness he owns, you'd do far better living there, but there is cost, you must promise to not hurt any warm blooded human, you, the injured one, you will bleed to death but I will heal you enough to recover in time if you ally with us, never attack us, let us go and come, talk with Eagle and decide what is best, for now, we pass and I heal you enough, agree and I will make it so with these others]

Galadel courageously walks into the room, expecting to see the giant spiders huddled in the corner somewhere. Instead, he find a large hole in the ground of the far corner of the dining hall, below the spider's web.

A trail of spider goo leading into the hole, which consists of several broken or removed floorboards, leaves little doubt as to where the spiders have fled to: below the tower!
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 07:17, Sun 30 Aug 2015.

Despite his misgivings, Rath escorts Galadel through the door, scanning the room -- up, down, left and right -- but he quickly sees the obvious, and he snarls a heartfelt curse. Rath ducks down to grab his javelin and return it to the brace of short spears.

"They're down the hole," he says for the benefit of others not in line of sight. He advances slowly, not wanting to put his full weight on rotten or loose floorboards, and he keeps his trident level. He spares a glance behind him to Saliq and Eagle. "We going down after 'em?"

"Not down the hole I hope. Aren't there stairs or something?"

Rath jumps a little at Ben's disembodied voice and looks around for other points of entry to the lower levels.

The party does not see a stairwell in the ruined dining hall: just a large banquet table, a few chairs (some of them broken), a fireplace in the room's southeast corner, and the single door located along the north wall.

The loose floorboards, which had previously been obscured by web, is located in the dining hall's northeast corner, off to the side of the closed wooden door.

Ben previously gained a glimpse into the room beyond, via the potion of clairvoyance, and saw what looked like a furnished parlor. Unfortunately, Ben did not see anything resembling stairs in this room either, though that is not to say none exist. Just that none were clearly visible to his mind's eye.

No sound is heard within the hole, which seems to descend straight down, at least 20 feet or so. Interestingly, the hole is really more of a stone shaft, about four feet square. It is an unusual feature to be found beneath the dining hall floorboards, but there it is nonetheless.

In reply to DM Storm (msg # 317):

Eagle follows the party, but stops in the doorway and looks around uncertainly, looking up to the ceiling as well.

'The male was previous injured and has fled down the hole, but the other one might be waiting in ambush. Be careful.'

He will wait on the threshold for now, in case there are any nasty arachnid surprises waiting.

"Why not let them go?" Saliq argued. "They're not evil, just big animals and as I said before it feels wrong to kill something you've had a semi-civilised conversation with!"

"I also see little need to waste our resources.  Besides, if we stop the hostilities now, there may yet be an opportunity to repair the relationship.  Let us look for our true quarry."

Rath shows an unsettled smirk. "It's the quarry that worries me. I think Ben's right in guessing those bugs, conversational or not, are Longshadow's sentries. Them scurrying off down there ... Well, it's not good."

"I didn't see any other way down and if that Longshadows is supposed to be below, I guess we should follow the spiders down."