Rhun's Greyhawk OMEGA Campaign (ToEE) - Continued

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Zirat sigh and takes a sit on a pile of hay.
What are we going to do now, the upper portion of the temple is well guarded by now and the wicked denizens are probably took ambush positions. The only option is the tower and the secret door.

[Dire Lemming]

Shoon considers pointing out that the denizens of the temple never thought to guard the entrance after their other attacks, so their doing so now would be odd, but considering how many times he's been wrong about these mad men he decides against it.

[Voadam]

"Going through the lower entrance means preparing our tactics for the wizard. He had protections against weapons so grappling him would be a priority, he will be no match for any of us if we can pit our strength against his. Fire flasks would be useful as well, we should purchase a few then head in."

[InVinoVeritas]

Ciaran thinks about this a moment and speaks.

"He can turn invisible, as well. If we are to combat him, we will need to be able to see him. My sparks can make him plain for all, but if we cannot find him first, he will still surprise us. I do not yet know it, but there is a spell for seeing the invisible that I could research and prepare. I would cast it, then when I notice him, shower him with sparks so that he is seen by all. He will then launch his spell protection, so I will be unable to cast spells directly on him further. However, this will give Shoon the opportunity to grapple him and hold him down as we pummel him into unconsciousness.

If we take this path, I would like to first research the spell in Hommlet. It will take days, but will also give us the chance to combat him effectively."

Ciaran turns to Shoon. "We will not let you fall a second time."

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

What about turning one of us invisible?
The Gladiator suggest
Maybe we can even fool the mage buy illusion tricks and let him dispose his arsenal on false intruders

[Dire Lemming]

Shoon gives Ciaran a look that does not exactly imply a great deal of trust. "I do not have days. Every day that passes puts me farther from Anemone. I do not wish to abandon you, but I will not abandon her." He shakes his head firmly. "That wizard is beyond us all. He nearly killed every one of us instantly, and my attempts to fight him proved completely ineffective... Then again, I suppose you did manage to get me out of his grasp alive after I fell so perhaps he is not infallible... How did you do that anyhow?"

[Voadam]

Originally Posted by InVinoVeritas

Ciaran thinks about this a moment and speaks.

"He can turn invisible, as well. If we are to combat him, we will need to be able to see him. My sparks can make him plain for all, but if we cannot find him first, he will still surprise us. I do not yet know it, but there is a spell for seeing the invisible that I could research and prepare. I would cast it, then when I notice him, shower him with sparks so that he is seen by all. He will then launch his spell protection, so I will be unable to cast spells directly on him further. However, this will give Shoon the opportunity to grapple him and hold him down as we pummel him into unconsciousness.

If we take this path, I would like to first research the spell in Hommlet. It will take days, but will also give us the chance to combat him effectively."

Ciaran turns to Shoon. "We will not let you fall a second time."

"No, we should press our attack now that we are recuperated. Remember there is another slaver in Nulb who has been sending prisoners to the Temple as well as their bandit parties. While we attack them they must keep forces back to defend the Temple instead of sending them out to raid the countryside. We must strike and kill the cultists, eliminate the threats they represent, and rescue those they hold. The wizard protects himself from blade and spell so we burn him as the demonologist he is. Fire flasks are something we can acquire that will bypass his known defenses." The knight turns to Shoon "You are the swiftest, should you spot the villain spring upon him and grab him by the throat. Treat him as a venomous serpent in your grasp and keep your hold so he cannot strike. Do not let him even utter a syllable."

[InVinoVeritas]

Originally Posted by Dire Lemming

Shoon gives Ciaran a look that does not exactly imply a great deal of trust. "I do not have days. Every day that passes puts me farther from Anemone. I do not wish to abandon you, but I will not abandon her." He shakes his head firmly. "That wizard is beyond us all. He nearly killed every one of us instantly, and my attempts to fight him proved completely ineffective... Then again, I suppose you did manage to get me out of his grasp alive after I fell so perhaps he is not infallible... How did you do that anyhow?"

Ciaran grimaces and turns away, pacing about. "We ran. We risked whatever was above the trapdoor than face him. There was nothing, but we were not skilled, only lucky. Only once we had a chance to stop could I piece together the facts about his eldritch might, and determine that he was virtually exhausted of offensive capability. We ran back to find you, and he had left. Either I was right in my estimation of his capabilities--or he was merely toying with us. In either case, he did not bother to determine if you were alive or dead, and fortunately, you lived. We pulled you to safety from there."

He continues his pacing as his eyes glaze over in thought. "If we can catch him while his defenses are down, we can defeat him. He cannot be cut or ensorcelled, but fire and acid still work... and he still needs to breathe..."

Ciaran grins. "A bonfire. We need firewood. A large bonfire releasing a lot of thick smoke into the cramped quarters of the hallways. Give him flames or smoke him out!"

(OOC: Knowledge (Nature) +11: are there any branches from trees or shrubs that release a lot of smoke when they burn in the area?)

[Rhun]

Ciaran knows that green wood makes for the smokiest fires, if the fire can be kept burning. Several trees grow in the region which are good for making a smokey bonfires; however, to carry enough wood into the Temple to smoke someone out may be prohibitive.

[Voadam]

Originally Posted by InVinoVeritas

He continues his pacing as his eyes glaze over in thought. "If we can catch him while his defenses are down, we can defeat him. He cannot be cut or ensorcelled, but fire and acid still work... and he still needs to breathe..."

Ciaran grins. "A bonfire. We need firewood. A large bonfire releasing a lot of thick smoke into the cramped quarters of the hallways. Give him flames or smoke him out!"

"Burning him at the stake is appropriate but a bit impractical unless we capture him first. The demon illusion alerted him to our presence before so we should be prepared not to trip it. Swift strikes, killing foes, rescuing prisoners and getting out are what we should aim to do. Fire flasks to burn the wizard on the spot should we come spy him or moving to immediately overbear him with grappling is our best option." The knight turns to Deren. "I particularly want you outfitted with flung fire. Where javelins and thrown blades bounce, pitch fire will catch and burn." He tosses Deren a big sack of coins. "You and the Champion go and obtain sufficient for our sorite, we will prepare and be ready to move out when you return."

[Dog Moon]

Deren looks at the pouch of gold. "If he's any resistant to fire, they aren't going to do any good," he says, "But we'll see if they have any flasks of acid as well."

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

We should consider the option that other denizens should be smoked out as well, much sinister then the trick wielder. I guess the demon is some kind of magical gong, alerting the mage of our presence. The question is, if we have any chance avoiding it?

[InVinoVeritas]

Originally Posted by Strahd_Von_Zarovich

We should consider the option that other denizens should be smoked out as well, much sinister then the trick wielder. I guess the demon is some kind of magical gong, alerting the mage of our presence. The question is, if we have any chance avoiding it?

"I'm not sure that it was a magical trigger, myself. The wizard may have been there invisible the entire time, orchestrating the illusion. Where would he have come from, otherwise?"

[Rhun]

You soon discover that the same large warehouse that the Boatman's Tavern is built into is also Nulb's Market and General Store. Unfortunately, the supplies available there are only the most basic. Neither acid nor alchemist's fire are available. Ciyius, the proprieter, a short potbellied man with a mane of curly white hair, looks up from his countbook with brown slitted eyes at your request. "Such things are not in demand here, unfortunately. The best I can offer you is some lamp oil. I've a few gallons in the back. You might check with Mother Screng, though. She's the local herbalist. Its possible she might have somethin' that may serve." He shrugs and turns his attention back to the journal in which he appears to be tracking inventory. Then, he looks back up at you. "You might speak with Feav, the brewer, as well. Seems I recall he has a distillery out back of his brewery...some of his spirits may prove quite flammable."

[Voadam]

"Hellfire, balked again. Very well then. Screng and Feav. Good day goodman."

[InVinoVeritas]

Following Lord Merrick, Ciaran observes, "I'll speak with Screng."

[Dichotomy]

"I will accompany you to see the herbalist," Aeron says to Ciaran. In a low voice, to not attract attention, the cleric adds to the others, "I don't think it wise for any of us to travel alone in this town after what happened last night."

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Agreed
The champion nods.
It will be unwise to split

[Rhun]

You catch the scent of powerful herbs well before you reach Mother Screng's...the auroma of garlic, clove, peppers, witch hazel, and others all seem to permeate the area. Soon enough, though, the dilapidated wooden cottage comes into view. You enter the shop through a creaking wood door, and a small bell chimes as you enter.

You find yourselves inside a cluttered shop; counters and shelves are filled with jars, flasks, bottles, boxes and other containers. All of these are stuffed with herbs and the like, and various infusions and concoctions that might be made from such ingredients. Bunches of vegetation of various sorts hang from the rafters, or are stacked about in dry piles. The aroma inside is nearly overpowering, and the smell alone clears your sinuses completely.

Mother Screng and her daughter Hruda stand behind the counter, twittering away at one another. Mother Screng is old and bent, with scraggly gray locks sticking out from beneath the aged shawl she wears. Her daughter appears quite old herself, so Mother Screng must be venerable. They stop their chatter as you enter, turning to look you over. "And what can we do for you, travellers?" asks the crone, in a dry, hi-pitched voice.

[Dog Moon]

Deren coughs slightly and scratches his nose a little bit, trying to get rid of the smell, but powerless to do so without actually leaving. "Good day, Mother Screng. We had been looking for some Alchemists Fire or Acid and was told that you probably had the closest thing we're looking for that could meet our needs." Deren feels that there is no need to lie and that they would get to the point more easily if he simply told the truth.