OOC:
Init = 8

OOC: so correct me here, do we act again since that was suprise round? Or we now go in order correct?

My init roll in case its needed :)

13:12, Today: Talrylil rolled 24 using 1d20+4. inti.

wish that was an attack roll !

   No, your action during the surprise round was to step up and hit the closest man. Your initiative roll of 8, posted in the closed ooc thread, stands as your roll for the rest of the combat, barring any refocus action or other aids during the course of the fight.

   William stands out slightly in the pale night, a slightly moving figure in the otherwise still orchard. The near sniper in the tree fires at the ranger, but misses. Cursing softly, the crossbowman reloads quickly.
   Lyssander is equally fortunate, as a second bolt buries itself in the trunk of the tree beside him. He glances around, certain it came from his front, but unable to clearly make out the firer.

---

ooc: remember that the 'squares' making up your individual icons are 5' squares. It should be easy enough to extrapolate with the textures of the map how far things are from each other. :)

William quickly drew and fired once more at the supposed leader, the closest target to him. His aim was good this time, and the arrow did a better job than before. He again moved a bit, getting living wood between he and the sniper to his left.
--------------------
OOC:
Attack = 20
Damage = 7
Cover roll 37 (on a d100)

Still trying to maintain his 10 foot reach the elf steps back a bit to make sure he uses his reach to his advantage. He continues to hit the man that was up, whipping his chain in an expert twist he hits yet again. Drawing blood, the elfs eyes were on fire, he relished the time he could put his deadly chain into action.

OOC:
09:53, Today: Talrylil rolled 8 using 2d4+3. damage.
09:48, Today: Talrylil rolled 27 using 1d20+8. attack
[Private to GM: I am sure it is a lot of work for you but I have combat reflexes and deft opptunists. Gives me a +4 on my AoO,s which is a 12 total to hit if they come with in reach. So thats 4 AoOs each round +12 each attack. I can make some rolls if you like but just letting you know if others try to get within reach or run away. Thank you kindly sir. ]

As the priest-militant surges forth from his wooded cover, it is clear that he has been concealing some strange energy from his comrades.  His swiftness is preternatural as he flanks the two ground-based enemy combatants around their left side, and melds into the copse behind them, opposite from the chain-wielding Elf.  Sure as a striking serpent, his spear lashes out, catching the leader - already bleeding from Tal's whirling spikes - behind the shoulder, biting deeply.

Adjusting his position, the Sealer surrounds himself with the sturdy trunks of the copse's trees, placing living wood and dark foliage between himself and the crossbowmen.

OOC:
22:48, Today: Lyssander the Pale rolled 25 using 1d20+6. Attack.
[Tal, I'm flanking you.  I assume you took a step northwest.  Lyssander ends his turn 2 squares southeast of the target, but he attacked from one square north of there.]
22:49, Today: Lyssander the Pale rolled 7 using 1d8+3. Damage.
22:56, Today: Lyssander the Pale rolled 19 using 1d20+2. Hide behind trees.

   True to his role as a quick dispenser of death, Lyssander's movement brings him around to the flank of the leaders on the ground, and his spear strikes home. Penville, dropping his own 'disguise' of the boy moves in on Tal's other side, threatening the subleader on the left, who steps up to engage him just in time to miss - and intercept William's arrow, meant for the leader. The protruding missile seems not to faze the man, who only smiles more wickedly at having foiled the ranger's attempt to slay his superior.
   The kidnapper-chief, meanwhile, sidesteps behind his cohort, mostly to get away from the sudden pain he's experienced in his shoulder from the spear, but also to avoid the lashing attacks that would surely impair his spellcasting. As before in the street, the man utters a few choice syllables of arcanery, avoiding Tal's attempt to disrupt him. Nothing appears to happen, though, and the fight continues.
   Tal, expecting to have to backpedal in order to maintain his reach-weapon's advantage, finds himself unable to re-engage the leader, now that Penville is on his right and the subleader is directly in front of him [still sporting the arrow from his side]. Changing the arc of his chain, he instead connects solidly with the grinning cultists, and is rewarded by the immediate change from smile to frown on the man's face.
   Garik, ever the opportunist, finds a way to break free from his bonds, and takes from behind his back a shortsword that was apparently concealed there! The fortuitous event is overshadowed by his next act, which is to rush at the semi-concealed Lyssander and swing the blade at his head! A swift duck is all that turns a decapitating chop into a clip on the ear, and the priest is forced to defend himself from the very man he's come to rescue!
   The snipers reload; the first fires again at William, but the shot is deflected by the intervening tree branches. The second is not so hampered and sinks his bolt into the meaty part of Penville's thigh....

---

   ooc: Lyssander's turn again, and he took a mere 2 damage from the [apparently charmed] Garik. I hope my descriptions were enough to give a good mental picture of the current scene. I'll try to log in tomorrow night again, but given that it is a hoiliday it might have to wait till i get home tuesday night.

If the Sealer is dismayed by Garik's conversion to the opposing force, his expression does not show it, even as he ducks from the man's sword.  After a quick re-evaluation of the situation, he takes a long-legged step back, deeper into the sheltering trees.  Removing his left hand for a moment from his spear, Lyssander raises it with two fingers outstretched, as though stabbing at an imaginary enemy's eyes.  "Kha-SEH-ni b'KHO-shekh!" he calls, and the night itself responds, as the area around him fades into impenetrable darkness, leaving Garik just outside the featureless black zone.

OOC: 5' step back, cast No Light around the copse.  I can no longer see Garik's description but assume he is not of a race that has darkvision.

Tal does not hesitate at all, his long use of his chain whip is appearent as he brings it across his body with ease. He flicked his wrist while ducking his head, half turning he puts his weight into the attack. The chain connects again drawing blood. Tal smirks once again as he loves the fight, craves it and laughs a bit. "Surrender now and we walk away....but continue and you will die this day.

OOC:
13:02, Today: Talrylil rolled 8 using 2d4+3. dam.
13:02, Today: Talrylil rolled 18 using 1d20+8. attk.

PM
[Private to DM Lobo: I began this post and realized, too late, too late, that William still had some time before he acted. So here is the post, I'll make it not private when Wiliam's initiative comes around.

William once more sighted down an arrow's shaft, gut cutting into the pads of the fingers on his right hand. He let go as he exhaled all so softly, the projectile once more finding a home. The leader was in for a hard time if William kept this up. Only so many men would jump to block the flight of an arrow meant for someone else.
-------------------------------
OOC:
Attack 23, concealment roll 73, damage 4]

   William's aim was, fortunately, true enough even in the murky light of evening to fell the nearest of the snipers; Tal's own ministrations with his chain-weapon made short work of the lieutenant before him. Lyssander's defensive tactics against the ensorcelled Garik gave Rennan enough time to steal close enough to place their former ally in an enchanted slumber, freeing the deadite priest to focus more wholly upon the real threat of the cultists they faced.
   The remaining snipers redoubled their efforts at the shouted commands of the leader, connecting with a pair of painful shots, burying their bolts deeply in the flesh of the elven warrior whirling his deadly weapon. Their confidence was short-lived, though, as a cantrip from Penville made the pair of crossbowmen glow as if lit from within by fireflies. Easy targets now for William's counterattacks, one was felled and the other fled, over the wall and out into the darkness of the city streets.
   The cult leader, meanwhile, managed to get off a spell, which again seemed to have no outward effect - though Tal [through gritted teeth at his own suffered wounds] could have sworn he heard mention of "the orchard's guardians" from the evil spellcaster before him. Still, with all the remaining cultists dead or fleeing, the leader was quickly surrounded by the party. Oddly enough, he didn't try to bargain or fight, but rather simply stood still, as if waiting for something to happen.
   Soon enough it did: the summoning spell he had cast moments earlier produced the desired results, and a swarm of giant bees imploded upon the scene, almost without warning. Lyssander managed to plant a quick heal upon Talrylil, and just in time as he and William seemed the primary focus of the insects' attacks. A faint personal warding by Rennan upon herself allowed her and Penville to roughly drape Garik across the back of the halfling's war-dog and escape the area through the western entrance.
   Not surprisingly, the cultist leader chose the same tactic while the swarm blocked his own escape, using a flash of magic to stun the nearest of the heroes into inaction while he fled through the darkened footpaths of the orchard, heading northward towards the far exit.
   A mysterious cloud of smoke enveloped the scene almost immediately following the man's escape, forcing the buzzing attackers off the party and dispersing them back into the night, where they quickly disappeared as their calling spell expired.

   As silence settles in over the most recent site of two pitched battles, the trio of men pant quietly in the still evening air and look at each other with grim smiles on their bloody faces.

---

OOC: This is almost exactly the sequence of events you would have seen happen had we played it out, so I'll stop it here and let you folks pick up with the roleplaying and dialouge from this point. It is still only early evening, perhaps 8:30 or so. Current health levels are -
Tal...7 hp
Lyssander...9 hp
William...14 hp
Garik, Penville, Rennan....indeterminate wounds but nothing life-threatening.

NOTE: Tal and Lyssander have earned enough XP to level up! I've adjusted all three of your sheets for XP to date; Tal and Lys need to roll their new HP and add them to current totals, spend skill points, and purchase a feat each. Lyssander you get new spell slots but can only use new domain spells until a full rest perdiod is taken. :)

The Sealer's features settle into a faint smile as he surveys the scene - a wolf's smile, conveying a harsh, predatory satisfaction rather than any real pleasure.  Taking a step toward the bloodied companion next to him, he reaches out and, with a whispered prayer, allows a surge of healing to flow toward his fellow.
[OOC: Tal or William - whoever of you is more gravely hurt can add +13 hp.]

"We should not tarry here."  Suiting actions to words, the priest mutters a swift orison that sets his eyes glowing, and efficiently makes a circuit of the battlefield, kneeling beside each of the fallen for a few moments.  His purpose is practical, as well as devotional - in addition to calling Kelemvor to witness each man's passage, he examines each with his enchanted sight.  Any items that give off a magical aura, or that otherwise seem valuable or of potential use in identifying the cult or the cultists, he collects for further study.

It is not long before he is done, rising from the deceased lieutenant's side and looking to see if the others are ready to depart the orchard.

[OOC: Detect Magic.]

"Tend to Tal before me, it seems he is hurt the worse." William took a position that allowed him to view the area around, as if expecting the approach of others bent on their destruction. To Tal he muttered "Successful, yes?" A grin split his beard then, white in the night. "we should return as soon as possible." He wondered about the younger dragon and his father. How would that resolve?

The elf breathes a sigh of relief, the plan was not great. Heck anyone could have done somethign better, but it worked. He looked over everyone and then back at Garik. He nods his head towards the man and then looks at everyone else. He takes an arrow out of his side grunting with the effort. He smiles again grimply as he looks at the scene around him, "Well that could have gone better...but at least we all live. Tal stated in a low voice.

The elf turns his head to William , Success...yes indeed. Tal then waits for the healer to do his work, thanking him in the process. The blood stops and already the elf feels better. Tal then looks a bit concerned, Lys is right, lets get out of here. Too much blood and we do not want to answer any questions right now. Back to the boy?"

Tal waits for the cleric to finish his work then starts to walk out, heading back to a safe heaven. Fingers ready just in case they ambush us yet again.

   Tal's words ring true - though there had been no other casual strollers in the orchard this evening to catch a glimps of the battle that most recently raged, there was, at this very moment, a light going on in the main house of the owner, to the north, and a hue and cry for the watch on the other side of the wall in that general direction.
   With no small amount of haste, the party moves to the western entrance, waiting somewhat impatiently for the priest of Kelemvor to catch up with them. He approaches them at a trot, stops, and nods with a pat of his hip to indicate he had found at least one item of interest in his search. The group moves off together - with Garik securely bound & gagged and tossed over the strong shoulder of a now [almost] unhurt Talrylil.

---

ooc: Indicate if you are going back to the temple, to the mayor, to the inn, etc. as well as what you will be doing with/about Garik, who is in obvious need of a dispelling magick.
   Also note that with the leaving of Lia Essmoor from the group, he will be exiting too, so if you manage to interrogate him, or dispel his charm and then interview him, regardless he will leave when you are done with him. Maybe even before that. :P

Lyssander rejoins the group, moving still with the eerie speed that he had shown during the fight.  "Yes - back to the temple," he agrees with Tal.  Slowing down, matching his steps to those of the others, the priest takes point and begins to lead the group toward the House of Waukeen.  Surely someone there could lift the arcane affliction from Garik's mind.

As he walks, the priest reverses his prior change of appearance; unpinned, his sleeves once more hide his chainmail sleeves and the heavy bracers, and Lyssander's more martial aspect is again concealed.

Tal nods his head towards Lyssander, "Yup you are right, lets head to the temple. Maybe someone there can help us with Garik here...keep an eye out though.

Tal then switches Garik over to his right shoulder, then continues to walk and grunt. Keeping his head on a swivel he makes sure no one tries to ambush them yet again.

   The group doesn't attract *too* much outward attention from passers-by; after all, there is a call for the watch which is forcing many merchants and their entourages to scurry off the roads and out of the way for mounted guards to ride past. Only once does a guard pause to consider the ramifications of Garik being carried over the shoulder of Talrylil, but something seems to make him ignore the party after only a moment's hesitation, and he rides on down the road.
   Still, the look in his eye as he turns gives both William and Lyssander enough justification to quicken their steps and take paths that, though they add minutes to their route, seem less likely to garner such attention again.

   The temple courtyard is relatively barren when they arrive, and Garik's demeanor has only slightly changed during their journey. Whereas once he was infuriated at having been bested during the fight with his former comrades, he is now out of visual contact with his 'new friends', and as the party of heroes has little remaining in the way of visible damage upon their persons, Garik finds himself accepting their story of having fled each other at the arrival of the giant bees.
   "So long as you did no further harm to my company of friends, I am content to spend the evening with my former colleagues" concludes the warrior-mage with a lackluster smile. It is enough to cause Tal to lower the man to his own feet, though not quite enough to make them release his bonds, just yet.

   Inside the place, Lyssander and another priest lead them down the spiral stairs to the halls below, where they sit and ponder how best to proceed. Shortly, they are visited by a cloistered messenger who informs them that Jade will join them shortly, and that William's friend is almost fully recovered from his magical disease, and will also join them shortly.

The pale-skinned priest nods at the messenger, and returns to his work with a whetstone on the tip of his spear.  It would be good to have the counsel of the paladin and the orcish sergeant, as well.

..Wheeep..

No rush, now.  The deadline imposed by the cultists' ransom demand is no longer in effect.

..Wheeep..

Though, given their - and the Shadowmasters' - use of teleportation magic, it would be prudent to set up a watch, even inside the temple's sanctum.

..Wheeep..

William smiled at the messenger. "Thank the Gods," he muttered, after which he blew a rather relieved sigh. He turned his attention to the others. "I suspect that reporting to Kraansh is the primary option here. Get that ou of the way and proceed from there. He'd need to know anyway."

Penville stays close to the rescued Garik. They never said before that he was on the enemies side? Confusing? He sits with his legs flat our infront of him in a triangular shape and attempts to make conversation with this Garik.

"So they were your friends? I mean I thought they were hitting you and things? And err, can you give them this back?" he says handing back the arrow that had impaled itself in his thigh. "As if they are friends of yours I think there must have been a mistake to do with this whole situation?"

His face occasioanlly changed as if the dawning of the truth was within reach... and then gone again. He started playing with some fluff waiting for any response from Garik.



Bigby watches, apparently sighing at Penville.

Tal relaxes and takes the time to REALL relax. Once inside the temple he drops his chain, and starts to take off his armor. It has been a while and he figured now would be the best time to at least let down his guard. He Sighs again and begins to speak, to the others and to himself ,

"Well we at least did something right. THis whole mess has racked my brain to death. I for one know that with things happening like this I miss things...but alas the fight was successful even if it was not planned right. For a few minutes Talrylil begins to go over the course of the fight, wondering which move he should have made. Or wondering what they did wrong and what they did right. He was livid and like any fighter, trying to become better. After about 5 minutes he abruptly stops as he realizes not everyone was into a recap.

He smiles and shakes his head, "Sorry, I have to look back at how it went to improve. Anyways...what is our next step? Do we even consider taking Jade home to daddy? That would be the best route...no? Which reminds me...was the message sent to daddy?"

   Kraansh enters while they are all discussing their recent encounter, a stern but approving look on his face. He glances around and takes note that all have returned from the primary group.
   "It is good to see you were at least partially victorious this night." He walks over to Garik and stops before the man, then to the tethers that most recently bound him lying upon the table beside him. An arched eyebrow gives the group an opportunity to explain what has happened.
   "So...that would explain why he was so difficult to locate; he did not want to be located. We shall do our best to remove the effect, in time." The large orcish soldier moves among them, looking at their remaining visible wounds, finally stopping beside Lyssander.
   "The boy is still safe, but for how long? You say that the leader has again escaped justice. Given his apparent ability to raise a second set of associates since your first encounter following the fight at the jeweler's shop, it would seem that he has only been delayed by a half-day at best."
   "Less than that, if his plans against the Shadowmasters have borne any success today." Garik's interjection comes with a smile of his own, one that catches the group by surprise at his willingness to share such information. But then again, he is among friends at the moment...a sort of 'magic double agent'...for now.

---

ooc: further information will require either a bluff or a gather info check; please post your actual dialogue with the roll [don't just roll and post it] :P

"One can only hope the Shadowmasters will have been thrown off-balance by those plans," the Sealer says, quite sincerely.  The local criminals' guild had engaged in multiple murders, and it was no deception for Lyssander to speak of them as an enemy.  *But whether my enemy's enemy is my friend...  hard to say, in this thicket of plots and counterplots.*  "Their attacks on us have cost us all too grievously already.  What can you tell us of these plans, Garik?  We must try to anticipate the guild's next moves against us..."

OOC: 17:29, Today: Lyssander the Pale rolled 21. Gather Info (get info from Garik).