[Game Thread] Part I Chapter I: The Caravan Ride

[PIG]

Blight uses his Stealth: 25invisibility to his best advantage and Hit 17 | Dmg 15fires his crossbow at the retreating drider, aiming for his drow head. He blinks back into view but still uses darkness as his cloak.

-----------------------------

Right Hand: Crossbow
Left Hand: Empty

 

Put Down: Nothing


Quiver of Bolts: 26
In the Crossbow: 0
Shot this Round: 1

Darts: 20
In the Blowgun: 0
Shot this Round: 0

Bombs Left Today: 4 of 4

Continuous or Instantaneous Inherited Powers (Racial, Class, Etc)
1) Darkvision: Half-orcs see in the dark up to 60 feet.
2) Orc Blood: count as both humans/orcs
3) Evasion: Reflex Save for 1/2 Dmg is reduced to no damage
4) Uncanny Dodge: Can not be caught flat-footed. No AC penalty from invisible attacks.

Continuous or Instantaneous Equipment Powers (Worn Magical Items, Etc)
1) Belt of Tumbling: The belt's wearer gains a +4 competence bonus on Acrobatics checks made to move through a threatened square or through an enemy's space.

Duration Powers (Potion Effects, Spell Durations, Penalties, Power Buffs, Etc)
1) nil

[Yuul]

At the sound of the approaching and newly arrived air elemental, Virtak spared the time for a fleeting glimpse at the clearing night skies, and resigned himself that true escape to recover was not presently an option, not any longer at least. He might have been graced by magic to allow him flight, but he had no chance at outrunning something that was the sky and wind given form and life. The best he could do was delay, at least until the howling elemental was near enough to him to see. Well, delay, and strike one last blow to give Blight the ability to the hunt the enlarged tauric arachnid without interference, from say the two little ants running about with a chest they seemed to be fixated on. This spell had played to the necromancer's favor once before, so why not again? He would not have much time to watch however, as the want as well as need to be a bit higher grasped at him. The drider may be blind, but Virtak had no wish to chance enduring another tongue of lightning.

 

Standard: Cast 'Spiked Pit' at the squares of m7, m8, n7, and n8. DC 21 reflex save to avoid or take forty feet worth of falling damage(4d6) as well as 2d6 piercing damage from the spikes. Squares adjacent to the pit are sloped, including the square of l9 occupied by the other bandit, and occupants must also make the save or slide into the pit, though they get a +2 bonus on their save. Virtak's range with this spell given his level is 180ft, so he is certainly in range.

Move: Fly 20ft(20ft movement cost) to square i16 while ascending another 20ft along the way(40ft movement cost). As this is a 45 degree angle, Virtak does need to make a fly check for exceeding it, as he does not. New altitude 120ft at i16

Active Effects:
-Fly: Round 7 of 80
-Shield: Round 9 of 80

[MrD]

Dragging the chest between them was slow going. They'd nearly made it to the edge of the clearing when suddenly the ground beneath their feet evaporated into thin air. "YArrrrrghhhhhghhhh!" With a yell the lead bandit disappeared into the yawning chasm but his cry was cut short with a dull thump and a gurgling sigh. The other man almost followed the first. He nearly lost his balance as the edges of the pit tipped downward. His colleagues swift departure meant he was the only one left holding the chest. He tried not to let it fall. Leaning back against the weight he heaved with all his might but it was just too heavy and the chest threatened to pull him in too. His feet slid to the edge of the pit dirt and stones dislodged from the very brink clattered into the darkness. It was him or the chest. "Nghhh!" With a grunt he let the chest go and watched it tumble away into the darkness. Arms flailing, the bandit steadied himself and stepped back from the brink moving a step further onto level ground. He stood shocked. The chest hit the bottom with a crash.

Meanwhile the Elemental summoned by Hissk chased after the Necromancer as he whirled away. The Mage flew well for an earth born creature and as the elemental slammed into him he was able to roll with the impact, dissipating the energy that would otherwise have caused him some harm.

Hissk, head cocked, tracked the passage of the flying storm. Listening, waiting, waiting, and then it came! The sound he'd been waiting for. The impact between man and beast. his arms came up in a flash and electric blue fire arced up through the sky. Had he hit him? Had he finished the troublesome Mage? He had no way to tell.

[Kurokuwashu]

Thematic Music Unseen and unheard, the masked half-orc marked well the movements of the drider as it made its way through the darkness, tracking it down the length of the crossbow's shaft. Blight was a master marksman with the magically enhanced, cold infused weapon. When he pulled the trigger, the bolt raced across the clearing at incredible speed and struck the drider square in the back. A shiver of cold ran along its spine and Hissk cursed his assailant in his native tongue Blight had been aiming for the drider's head, but a small incline of the topography unintentionally saved the drider from a more severe wound. The bandits, who had only moments ago seemed so confident of their victory, were now in full retreat. They began to scatter like a flock of quail, frightened by a hound during a hunt. When two of the men grabbed the chest in an attempt to abscond with it, Virtak put a sudden and life ending stop to one of the men's escape plans. The other, having the physical agility to jump clear of the hazard, was so stunned by his good fortune that he just stood where is was, looking down into the black abyss of the pit. The pursuing elemental quickly caught up to Virtak, slamming its body into the flying wizard. Aside from the tremendous jostling, Virtak protective warding prevented the elemental from causing him any harm. Hearing the engagement between Virtak and the elemental, Hissk let loose with another bolt of electric energy. This time however, the spell was well short of the two combatants and arced harmlessly away. As if on cue, the clouds shrouding the moon dissipated, illuminating the entire clearing in pale white moonlight.

[Yuul]

He heard the howling of the elemental long before it caught up to him, attempting to forcibly slam into the necromancer and likely knock the airborne Virtak from the skies. Fortunately his magical warding proved enough to shunt the blow aside and it did little more than whip his robes about from the force of air it presented. For a long moment, or perhaps it just felt long, Virtak stared into the eyes of the being in who's element he was intruding before he began the controlled casting that had been needed all too often tonight. Maintaining concentration for a spell of the tier he was casting was child's play, only cantrips could be easier, finishing with a cry he shoved his hand forward and four little missiles shot forth. For a moment, Virtak considered the possibility that he would no longer be so harassed but it proved too good to be true, as the elemental, though obviously hurt by as much as one can judge an elemental's injuries, was still fighting. Virtak's eyes narrowed as he reached for an item from his pack...

 

Standard: Defensively Cast Magic Missile, 10 force damage to the elemental.

Move Action: Retrieve Pearl of Power(1st) from Handy Haversack. As per the Haversack's power, this action does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

[PIG]

Blight, snarling, expertly loads another bolt after the drider is gashed. 'Almost a kill, that one.' He thinks as he pulls the latch and draws the spring with a loud winding sound. He just knows that the evil drider can hear him load the crossbow, trying to keep track of the battle, but he does it anyways. His black and white dark vision makes the blood look dark black as it pumps from the warped drow's wound. He aims for the head, at the drider's left eye socket in fact, and Hit 32 | Dmg 17squeezes the trigger once again. "Die... die... die..."

-----------------------------

Round 12
Move Action: Load Crossbow
Standard Action: Ranged Attack

Right Hand: Crossbow
Left Hand: Empty

 

Put Down: Nothing


Quiver of Bolts: 25
In the Crossbow: 0
Shot this Round: 1

Darts: 20
In the Blowgun: 0
Shot this Round: 0

Bombs Left Today: 4 of 4

Continuous or Instantaneous Inherited Powers (Racial, Class, Etc)
1) Darkvision: Half-orcs see in the dark up to 60 feet.
2) Orc Blood: count as both humans/orcs
3) Evasion: Reflex Save for 1/2 Dmg is reduced to no damage
4) Uncanny Dodge: Can not be caught flat-footed. No AC penalty from invisible attacks.

Continuous or Instantaneous Equipment Powers (Worn Magical Items, Etc)
1) Belt of Tumbling: The belt's wearer gains a +4 competence bonus on Acrobatics checks made to move through a threatened square or through an enemy's space.

Duration Powers (Potion Effects, Spell Durations, Penalties, Power Buffs, Etc)
1) nil

[MrD]

AAARRRRRRRROooooOoOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!! The elemental storm raged furiously as magical missiles, flung from the tips of outstretched fingers, ripped through it's being sending tendrils of cloud spiralling away... ...But... ...Even as the holes began to close the air beast was moving. Coiling itself up into a mighty roiling storm fist it hammered into the airborne 2 damageinterloper. OoOOOOOOOWWWOOoWWWWWW Wind whirled and buffeted the necromancer whipping up his cloak and tugging at his wildly flapping hood...

Far below In his own personal darkness Hissk listened, head cocked. The Elemental still raged. The Mage still lived. Damn that Mage...Damn him..Take my eyeeeees..Damn him...Suck him dry....Damn him...HSSsssssssss. He balled his blue black hands into fists and shook them at the night.... They might think I'm done but I'll.... EEEEeeEEEEEEEEEEESSSSssssssssss.s.s...eeeeeeee An explosion of bright pain erupted in Hissk's left eye. With a scream his hands found the wet pulpy socket where moments before his eye had been. Protruding from the black bloody mess was six inches of pure, steel tipped, hatred. The driders finges moved tentatively along the shaft. It's eyelid flapped uselessly squeezing out a river of gore. The scream died in his throat but the hurt wasn't over just yet. The magic in the bolt began to run it's course. Ice crystals zigzagged in crackling fractals out from the socket and spread like a frosted web across the left side of his face The scream became a long plaintive moan. Whooo..o.ooo..oooo? The drider bared it's fangs in realization and hissed, low and menacing. "Soooooooo.......MRrrrrrr Stickeeeeeeeeee............you see me.........." It bent fumbling on the floor and picked something up from the leaf litter.. "Kiiiiiilllll MR STickeeeee!....Kiillll Hiiiiiiiiim!" All across the glade the remaining Bandits sprung into action suddenly aware of the masters plight. With shouts and yells they heeded his call... As his men obeyed his command a darkness as black as night flowed from the hands of the spider thing. It spread and grew sucking what little light there was out of the very air. Turning away from the battle that raged Hissk began to move slipping away into the dark... "Vinny! to me!....Hsshh..hh.h.s...hs..s.ssssss..s....!"

At his masters call Vinny sprinted across the open ground. The bandit which had survived the necromancers deadly pit fumbled at his belt taking a familiar string bound bag in hand. With a curse he ran towards the floating assassin easily covering the ground in the semi darkness. As he skidded to a halt he brought back his arm and hurled the parcel into the air. Maybe it was the wind, maybe it was the near death experience. Whatever it was his aim faltered and the bag of stick and glue sailed harmlessly by his flying foe. Two more men approached from the west with their bows in hand. They too skidded to a halt drew back their strings and let their arrows fly. Once more the luck was with their quarry and the arrows sailed wide. All three, now with bows in hand, reached to their quivers...

[Kurokuwashu]

Thematic Music Flying high above the treeline and the battle ensuing below, tendrils of magical force snaked from Virtak's hands. The elemental he faced was caught from nearly half a dozen different angles. There was absolutely nothing the creature could have done to escape the barrage. And so, as missile after missile struck, more and more of the creature's life energy drained away. Blight's second shot was an archer's wet dream. Hitting a bullseye on a moving target, that is bathed in shadow, when it's running through a forest, all while levitating fifteen feet off the ground was a feat few, if any, could boast. The drider's screams of agony and call for assistance were all the accolades the half-orc would need. Hearing Hissk's cry of pain shook Vinny to his very core. In all the long years he had been in the drider's service, never had they faced an encounter that required Hissk to come down from his hidden perch among the trees, let alone cause him any harm. If Hissk was injured and needed his assistance, Vinny knew that they had finally bitten off more than they could chew.

[Yuul]

Despite his hopes, one spell had not been enough to finish off his elemental foe. It was indeed fortunate then that he had taken the time to craft what he had a few days prior. Holding the pearl like item in one hand Virtak proceeded to give the subject of his annoyance a hopefully painful case of deja vu as after another moment of careful casting missiles of force once more spread in their target's direction. Certain, or at least mostly so, that this volley would finish the first one's job, Virtak stored the pearl back into the enchanted pack, and prepared to reach for something else entirely.

 

Standard: Defensively cast Magic Missile via Pearl of Power for 13 Force damage.

Move: Return Pearl to pack to free up a hand.

[PIG]

The half-orc is satisfied when he hears the drider's high pitched screams, after his last freezing bolt helped carve the monster a new face. But the drider is going to get away if he doesn't pursue! Well aware of the earth elemental and the humans below, Blight slips out a potion from his pack and Critical Miss!fires at the drider, but his strap gets in the way as he's pulling out the potion and the bolt goes very wide, arching over the trees. He rushed his self and wasted valuable time! Damn. Calm your self Blight. A few more potions and carefully places bolts is all that's needed for the spider to die now.

-----------------------------

Round 13
Move Action: Retrieve a stored item (Potion of Sanctuary)
Free Action: Load Crossbow
Standard Action: Ranged Attack (Crossbow vs Drider)

Right Hand: Crossbow
Left Hand: Empty

 

Put Down: Nothing

Quiver of Bolts: 24
In the Crossbow: 0
Shot this Round: 1

Darts: 20
In the Blowgun: 0
Shot this Round: 0

Bombs Left Today: 4 of 4

Continuous or Instantaneous Inherited Powers (Racial, Class, Etc)
1) Darkvision: Half-orcs see in the dark up to 60 feet.
2) Orc Blood: count as both humans/orcs
3) Evasion: Reflex Save for 1/2 Dmg is reduced to no damage
4) Uncanny Dodge: Can not be caught flat-footed. No AC penalty from invisible attacks.

Continuous or Instantaneous Equipment Powers (Worn Magical Items, Etc)
1) Belt of Tumbling: The belt's wearer gains a +4 competence bonus on Acrobatics checks made to move through a threatened square or through an enemy's space.

Duration Powers (Potion Effects, Spell Durations, Penalties, Power Buffs, Etc)
1) nil

[MrD]

More missiles of magical energy darted from the necromancers finger tips but this time they proved too much for the howling storm creature. Overcome by the daring wizards magical mastery the creature tore itself to shreds with a wailing scream. Tendrils of cloud swirled out from the dying beast and spiralled away into nothingness.

Far below the bandits continued to press their attack on the troublesome assassin. Arrows tipped with dripping black poison and bags of sticky goo. All flew wide To the North Vinny slipped into the darkness and disappeared...

[Kurokuwashu]

Thematic Music The pearl, a smooth, rounded bead formed within the shells of certain mollusks and composed of the mineral aragonite, deposited in concentric layers as a protective coating around an irritating foreign object is valued as a gem when it is lustrous and finely colored. When painstakingly selected and then transmuted with magical essence, the otherwise normal gem becomes a pearl of power; a highly prized possession to all trained spellcasters. The pearl imparted the wielder with the ability to recall any spell they had previously cast that day without having to go through the sometimes lenghtly preparation process all over again. With the elemental vanquished and the bandits far below unable to strike him with their poisoned arrows, Virtak hovered in the distance, free to unleashed his own rain of destruction. As Vinny slipped beneath the veil of darkness, he had the sinking suspicion that he might not be up being the one to have to deal with Hissk. Fitch had always been the one who spoke with Hissk, Vinny and the other hardly ever saw the drider. Every now and again, Hissk would make a sudden and unexpected appearance, just to remind his followers that he was still around and in charge. It was during these appearances that Vinny was glad he wasn't the one to Hissk sought out. Vinny wanted nothing more than to get the hell out of the forest and leave this sorry business behind him, but he was constantly reminded of what happened to Shagold when he tried to dessert the gang eight months ago. One day Shagold was gone and three months later they found him bound in a tight cocoon of webbing with only his face revealed. The next morning he had been completely drained of all his life fluids. Vinny didn't want to die, but he would rather face ten wizards and ten assassins than have to deal with Hissk once he recovered. So, Vinny steeled his nerves and let the darkness slip over him.

[Yuul]

For a precious moment of time after the elemental dissipated into so many wisps of now lifeless air, Virtak took one deep breath, then two, before reaching into his pack and retrieving a small vial. It was one of several gifted to him by Blight a few days prior and would now prove its use in patching him back up, at least enough to where he could perhaps keep the remaining visible trio of bandits busy, snuffing them out so his friend could hunt the drider without interference. Frosty eyes glanced over the vial before he popped the cap and down the elixir in one go, and Virtak quickly felt the worst of his wounds knitting themselves back together. Not completely no, and his myriad of minor injuries remained untouched, but the worst had the edge taken off, and for now, that was enough.

 

Move: Retrieve Potion of Cure Light Wounds
Standard: Drink said potion, restoring 7hp as per house rules. Virtak is now at 12 as opposed to 5.

[PIG]

Blight knows what this is all about now. Kill the drider. They came here to find his mother, he even pulled Virtak into this mess because of his loyalty to his mother. She not only gave him life, in the darkest times of their life she was there for him. She risked his life for him, becoming the Venom Mistress on the streets by her reputation. Now he's on his way back to her, dying from some disease or poison or whatnot on some cot above an addict din. He can't let her die there. And now he's pulled his best friend into danger because he's trying to save her. He can't let it end this way. Blight downs his potion to protect him from the goons to kill the one that tried to bring him down, tried to bring his mother down, tried to bring the young Virak down. He has to pay so that not only they suffer, but so others don't suffer from the evil drow spider. The trusty levitation boots brings him back down to earth. Enough of these weak emotions! he tells his self. Time to do what's real, what matters: to kill. He waits to see if the goons around try to attack him, he'll take the pain. It's what he's good at.

-----------------------------

Round 14
Standard Action: Drink Potion (Lv1 Sanctuary)
Move Action: Move 20' down to the ground

Right Hand: Crossbow
Left Hand: Empty

 

Put Down: Nothing

Quiver of Bolts: 24
In the Crossbow: 0
Shot this Round: 1

Darts: 20
In the Blowgun: 0
Shot this Round: 0

Bombs Left Today: 4 of 4

Continuous or Instantaneous Inherited Powers (Racial, Class, Etc)
1) Darkvision: Half-orcs see in the dark up to 60 feet.
2) Orc Blood: count as both humans/orcs
3) Evasion: Reflex Save for 1/2 Dmg is reduced to no damage
4) Uncanny Dodge: Can not be caught flat-footed. No AC penalty from invisible attacks.

Continuous or Instantaneous Equipment Powers (Worn Magical Items, Etc)
1) Belt of Tumbling: The belt's wearer gains a +4 competence bonus on Acrobatics checks made to move through a threatened square or through an enemy's space.

Duration Powers (Potion Effects, Spell Durations, Penalties, Power Buffs, Etc)
1) nil

[MrD]

Even as the final traces of the elemental eddied away the leaves on the trees across the glade began to flutter and dance. The air began to coalesce writhing and churning in a now familiar pattern. A second creature from the plain of air had arrived. It scanned the sky searching for... ...it's brother. Could it tell? Did it know? Had it sensed it's sibling die? It was impossible to tell what the beast of cloud, air and darkness was thinking but it's dark swirling pit like eyes narrowed as they alighted on the mage. This one didn't scream. This one didn't roar. but boy did it move.. Accelerating like a hawk it barrelled through the sky towards the floating mage. His desecration of the air could not go unpunished. In moments it was on him but again the Wizard was able to roll with the currents of air dissipating it's attack... The storm began to swell

Far below the bandits continued to press their attack on the troublesome assassin. Three black arrows in three black bows, strings drawn, ready to fire when... Two of the bowmen suddenly lowered their weapons. A strange look came across their faces. A mix between confusion and fear. The third bandit glanced side ways at the other two uncertain as to what they were about but he loosed his arrow. The lack of concentration was enough to send the arrow wide. "Shooot im you dogs!" The first two began to back away. "Where you goin?"