Rhun's Greyhawk OMEGA Campaign (ToEE) - Continued - Page 9

Voadam · 29th July 2008, 03:53 PM

"They are massed in force but seem unwilling to come into the forest. They will not split up to track us, we will not be able to engage a small number and we would not gain a prisoner from attacking that band. It would be a mass melee to the death.

"The Prophet's divine magic requires a new dawning to be renewed, and Ciaran has used much of his magics this day as well.

"We slew five ogres this day and escaped their massed forces. We have the wand for minor healing, but the temple forces are strong and it would be better to enter at fuller magical strength.

"We either head down into the mage tunnel now and risk facing him without our own magics, or we enter in the morning in force.

"Ciaran, do you have enough magic left in you to continue or do you need to restore your magics as well?"

Dire Lemming · 29th July 2008, 06:16 PM

Shoon looks through the trees back towards the temple, obvious desperation in his eyes. "How many more times will we fail before we are killed? How many more days can they afford to wait for rescue?" Turning back to the others he shakes his head. "We have tries again and again, and each time we have only succeeded in angering them. It seems that before they had not considered us a serious threat, but unless they are completely mad they will now put significant effort into locking down all their entrances. To attack again with our usual strength would be useless at best, and at worst suicidal. We need help. Could we not send for allies from the town? We have proof now that this is no mere group of bandits but a large and organized force. Surely this presents a threat to Hommlett they could not ignore."

Dog Moon · 29th July 2008, 10:52 PM

Deren drops to the ground. "Ooooh, my poor short little legs," he mutters as he takes in deep breaths of air. "Haven't had to run like that in a long time."

Listening to the others, he nods his agreement with Shoon, but stops as he realizes no one can see it since he's lying on the ground. "I agree. However, I forget, what exactly was our original purpose here? Were we trying to determine if this was greater than a simple group of bandits or were we trying to root them all out? If the former, we may be able to get help. If the latter, then we're on our own and something is going to have to change if we don't want to keep getting forced out here over and over again."

Dire Lemming · 29th July 2008, 11:14 PM

Shoon balks at the little rogue. "What? You... We are trying to rescue your abducted friend! You forgot that?!" The monk palms his face and sighs. "Uhhh... We should return to Nulb at least. I had met an informant there. Maybe they have learned something new. Come on Deren, if you are too tired to walk I can carry you."

Rhun · 29th July 2008, 11:44 PM

OOC: The original mission was to seek out the truth to the rumors of evil returning to the area, and if such rumors proved to be true, you were to inflict as much damage upon the infrastructure of the foe as possible.

Voadam · 30th July 2008, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dire Lemming

Shoon balks at the little rogue. "What? You... We are trying to rescue your abducted friend! You forgot that?!" The monk palms his face and sighs. "Uhhh... We should return to Nulb at least. I had met an informant there. Maybe they have learned something new. Come on Deren, if you are too tired to walk I can carry you."

"That is not all we are trying to do. Lord Krane was part of our mission. He was captured by cultists and taken to the temple. He may be a prisoner or he may be dead. We originally came to find out if the reports of banditry and massing humanoid sightings meant evil had returned to this overthrown lair of demon cultists. And then root them out if they had. They are here and massing forces. Our purpose now is to root them out and disrupt them as much as we can. Five ogres killed is a good day's work. Striking, penetrating their stronghold and inflicting death upon them forces them to focus on us, it throws them into disarray and spreads rumors and fear among their ranks of converts. They are numerous and strong but we are cutting more down with each strike into the Temple. We must continue. Each strike also gives us the chance of winning a prisoner who can lead us to the Temple's prisoners and we can then penetrate in to rescue them.

It is important to persevere and not flinch from our duty despite the danger of alerted cultists. This is a temple with many entrances, not a walled fortress. They feared following us into the woods, we can continue to strike."

Dire Lemming · 30th July 2008, 05:56 AM

"So... what do you suggest?" Shoon asks hesitantly. "Do you know of any more entrances that we have not used yet?"

Rhun · 31st July 2008, 08:15 PM

Back to Nulb? Or something else?

Dire Lemming · 31st July 2008, 10:14 PM

Shoon wants to get his wagon and get back to Nulb to see if Redhand learned anything new.

Strahd_Von_Zarovich · 1st August 2008, 11:13 AM

I think we can rest on a spirit in the local tavern. we need to refill our water skins and pack new rations.
Zirat suggest
Indeed, five Ogres is quite damage ... but we need to find a hideout within the temple's walls. Maybe we can disguise to look like as one of the veil humans that lurk inside?

Rhun · 2nd August 2008, 11:56 PM

You spend the next couple of hours hiding out in the dark, twisted woods near the Temple compound, until you are sure that your pursuers have returned to their warren beneath the structure. Then, you return to the clearing in which you left Shoon's wagon and your mounts, and begin making your way back toward Nulb.

InVinoVeritas · 3rd August 2008, 06:42 PM

Finally resting on his horse, Ciaran begins to speak.

"Shoon, what are you willing to do to save Lord Krane?"

Dire Lemming · 3rd August 2008, 07:09 PM

The monk had been concentrating intently on the road ahead of him and seems surprised by Ciran's inquiry. "Er... What do you mean? I... Well, helping you find Lord Krane is not my only reason for being here you know. I would do anything in my power to save... er, well I suppose I haven't really told much about her have I?" At this, Shoon does not say anymore, though he looks as if he might with some prodding.

InVinoVeritas · 3rd August 2008, 07:45 PM

Ciaran thinks a moment, silent in his brooding way.

"It can be tough to commit to a course of action," he begins. "We risk death, but if we die before we find and free the others, then there may be little point to our sacrifice."

"But..." he considers, "I am concerned about what happened in the temple this time. We stayed in the bowels when we felt outclassed, because you wanted a prisoner. I cast a web, then my sparks, to slow and soften up some guards for the taking. Yet, once all was done... you, and we, ran. Sometimes, I wonder if you are trying to catch a guard to learn more about their prisoners, or if you simply expect it to be done for you."

"Nothing is certain, and we all risk death every time we enter the compound. Yet we do it again and again because we have decided it needs to be done. We could have abandoned you to that infernal wizard from before, but we returned to save you. We were lucky that he was just playing with us. But we did not rely on luck to make our decisions."

Ciaran sighs. "All I ask is next time, be willing to follow through with opportunity. If you want a prisoner, take one. You may die in the process, but that is the way with us all. Certainly, if we run every time, only to fight when we are safe, we will never find our quarry. We will never find... her."

Dire Lemming · 3rd August 2008, 08:44 PM

Shoon's mouth opens as if he is about to say something, but not a sound comes out. He looks at the mage like this for a moment, then a look as if he is about to jump up and snap Ciaran's neck passes across his face, but a moment later it is gone. He looks away, and returns to staring at the road ahead, now looking quite a bit more disgruntled than he did just a short while earlier.

Dichotomy · 5th August 2008, 12:53 AM

"Ciaran," Aeron calmly calls to the mage and steps next to Shoon. "Your words are unjust. While you may question Shoon's use of strategy, questioning his motives or intent is not warranted. He has given of himself, his time, his cart, and very nearly his life, in order to help us.

"But take heart," Aeron warms his expression and tone as he now approaches Ciaran. "We have surely had to fight denizens worse than I expected here. There is much more than simple banditry. But, even against the forces they have, we have made a dent. Be comforted in the knowledge that each time we have struck against them, we have made some measure of success."

The Last Prophet takes in the rest of the group. "Even in light of what just happened, I am more and more convinced that the Shining One has brought us here and lights our path. What he has put in place, no martal powers can undo."

He turns once more to Shoon. "Keep faith, my friend. All is not lost."

Dog Moon · 5th August 2008, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dichotomy

He turns once more to Shoon. "Keep faith, my friend. All is not lost."

"'Whereever there is life, there is hope,'" Deren quotes from some long-forgotten source. "We still live," he tells them. "Fewer of them do. For now, that's what we have to hold on to. Tomorrow, well, that's another day and we don't know what will come of it yet. I fear the Lady isn't done with me yet."

Dire Lemming · 5th August 2008, 02:03 AM

Shoon looks at Aeron and smiles, but sighs, saying; "That is not what bothers me." He give Ciaran a furtive glance, then goes back to watching the road.

Rhun · 5th August 2008, 04:17 AM

Soon enough, ramshackle cottages and hovels begin to appear alongside the rutted dirt track, and soon after that you are on what passes for the road that leads through the heart of Nulb. The sun is setting beyond the far off Lortmils as you make you way through the small village, exhausted from the days efforts.

Dire Lemming · 5th August 2008, 05:12 AM

Shoon steers his wagon towards the waterside hostel and parks it in the barn as usual, unhitching Beam and setting him up with some nice hay. "I assume that some of you will wish to stay in the barn again? You are welcome to use my wagon if you find it more comfortable than the hay." Once everyone else is ready he heads inside with them, and keeps an eye out for Redhand.