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Travels through the Wild West: Book IV
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 161320" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>It’s Friday, the work day is <u>almost</u> over, and it’s time for a pre-weekend update! </p><p></p><p>This time I didn’t start with a synopsis or a poll, but just went right into the story. For new readers, I recommend the short overview that I posted at the beginning of Book III (see the link in my sig below). The adventurers have just returned to Faerûn after finding themselves thrown into an alternative prime material plane (and the Isle of Dread) by a still-unidentified adversary. The adventurers have made many enemies in their short time together, and as their power grows, so too will the attention of others who monitor the balance of power in Faerûn…</p><p></p><p>Anyway, we’ll get to that! For now, the adventurers need to deal with the lamia and her allies…</p><p></p><p>The Characters:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><br /> <strong>Lok</strong>: Earth Genasi/Half-Dwarf Fighter 6. The group’s front-line fighter, a virtual combat machine. <br /> <br /> <strong>Balander Calloran (“Cal”)</strong>: Rock Gnome Bard 2/Illusionist 4. The group’s informal leader, small in stature but large in bravery. Died at the end of Book I, but was brought back to life through the sacrifice of his companions. <br /> <br /> <strong>Benzan</strong>: Tiefling Fighter 2/Rogue 3/Conjurer 1. The Jack-of-all-trades, warrior, thief, magic-user, smart-ass. Winner (narrowly edging out Lok) of the “Favorite Character in TttWW Poll” I held on the Book III thread. <br /> <br /> <strong>Delem</strong>: Human Sorcerer 5/Cleric 2 (Kossuth). A young fire-mage whose power greatly exceeds his maturity, Delem is haunted by the sins of his past and the potential of his future.<br /> <br /> <strong>Lady Dana Ilgarten</strong>: Human Cleric 3 (Selûne)/Monk 2/Mystic Wanderer 1. Joined the companions in Book II, and is caught in between a romantic rivalry between Benzan and Delem. <br /> <br /> <strong>Elewhyn (Elly)</strong>: Human Commoner 2/Warrior 2. The sole surviving member of the crew of the <em>Raindancer</em>, other than three sailors who chose to stay behind on the Isle of Dread. A stalwart companion, who has lost much in recent months. </li> </ul><p></p><p>The character stats and progressions are listed on my <a href="http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=658" target="_blank">Rogues’ Gallery</a> thread.</p><p></p><p>* * * * * </p><p></p><p>Book IV, Part 1 </p><p></p><p>“Oh, I don’t like the looks of this,” Benzan said, as he and the others began their return to Faerûn by facing a confrontational lamia. </p><p></p><p>Cal stepped forward, his left hand outstretched in a placating gesture while the second remained near the hilt of his sword and the pockets that contained his wands. “Look,” he said, “I think there’s been some mistake here. We’re not from the outer planes, and we don’t serve anybody. Why don’t you just back off a little, and we’ll see if we can work this out without any… trouble.”</p><p></p><p>S’reth was feeling anger now, anger that grew as it became increasingly likely that her long awaited plans of revenge were not coming to fruition. But she was not going to be denied that easily, not when the chance to show T’roth and the others their error in driving her out was still within her grasp. </p><p></p><p>“<strong>I</strong> brought you here!” she screamed at them. “You <strong>will</strong> serve me! Kneel, and obey!”</p><p></p><p>The command was accompanied by a release of magical power, a legacy that was part of the magical heritage of S’reth’s kin. It rippled through the room, causing streaks of green light to flash through the air as the lamia’s magic interfaced with the residual tendrils of power latent within the summoning chamber. </p><p></p><p>“Damn…” Benzan said, as the echoes of the command filled his mind, forcing him reluctantly to obey. He was dimly aware of himself falling to his knees as the magic of the lamia dragged him into its sway. Behind him, Elly had also succumbed to the suggestion, all but collapsing to the hard floor. But Lok and Cal, hardened by experience, resisted the tug of the lamia’s spell, and for Dana and Delem, their will each fortified by the disparate powers of their callings, the suggestion slid off their minds like water flowing over stone. </p><p></p><p>“Have it your way, bitch,” Cal said, and he fired a color spray into the lamia’s face. The creature shrieked as the colors surrounded her, but it was a shriek of frustration rather than of pain, for the magical creature easily shrugged off the blinding effects of Cal’s magic. </p><p></p><p>Lok started forward immediately, his axe already rising to strike, but he suddenly and abruptly halted, as if he’d hit an invisible wall. The genasi looked around in confusion, and his gaze finally fell to his feet, and the silver lines that marked the edge of the circle. </p><p></p><p>Cal noticed it too. “It’s a summoning circle—with Lok’s planetouched origins, it won’t let him pass!” The gnome realized that it would keep Benzan at bay as well, although at the moment the tiefling seemed fully under the effects of the lamia’s spell. </p><p></p><p>And apparently, the barrier offered no hindrance to the lamia’s attacks on them, as the success of her suggestion indicated. </p><p></p><p>Delem and Dana, however, leapt quickly to join in the attack, their movements unhindered by the magical barrier. Delem launched a pair of magic missiles that blazed across the room and slammed into the lamia’s torso. Dana followed on the trailing edge of the attack and launched into a spinning kick that connected with the creature’s thick body, drawing a hiss of pain from the lamia that was followed by a hateful stare as it focused on Dana. </p><p></p><p>From S’reth’s perspective, however, her grandiose plans were rapidly collapsing around her. From all she’d learned, outer-planar creatures summoned into a magic circle weren’t supposed to be able to escape and attack their summoner, and yet the painful injuries she suffered—not to mention the human woman continuing to twist and punch at her—were impossible to deny. She hadn’t survived her long exile by being careless, however, and she knew when it was time to run from a situation. </p><p></p><p>She shouted a cry of alarm that she hoped would carry to her ogre guards in the ruins above, and followed that immediately with another magic spell. In response to her innate power a cascade of magical images of her sprung into being around her, shifting and fading and masking her true location. She didn’t hesitate, and instead of preparing another attack she immediately turned for the exit, her leonine body carrying her away from these enemies with great speed. </p><p></p><p>Dana started after her, but she’d barely reached the archway when she realized that her companions were still in need behind her. She took on a wary stance, but edged back to where Cal and Delem were attending to their ensorcelled friends. </p><p></p><p>“Are they all right?” Dana asked, keeping one eye on the corridor in case the lamia returned. The beast had called for help, she’d noticed, and she knew that more trouble might be shortly forthcoming. </p><p></p><p>“I think they will be,” Cal said, as Lok helped Benzan rise awkwardly to his feet. The tiefling’s legs seemed to resist his commands, but eventually he was able to stand unassisted. Delem was helping Elly, who was continuing to have trouble. </p><p></p><p>“Fortunately the suggestion was rather unfocused,” Cal told them. “If properly worded and specific enough, the effects of such a spell can linger for hours.”</p><p></p><p>“Felt focused enough to me,” Benzan said, still a little unsteady as he tried a few tentative steps. </p><p></p><p>“Is it still up there, do you think?” Delem asked.</p><p></p><p>“Maybe,” Cal said. “But for now, we’ve got a more immediate problem.” He looked toward Lok, who had turned once again to the edge of the magic circle. </p><p></p><p>“It’s like an invisible wall,” the genasi said, running one hand along the barrier. </p><p></p><p>“What do you—oof!” Benzan said, as he stumbled into the barrier, his still-uncertain legs not holding him as he fell hard onto his backside. </p><p></p><p>“Better be careful there,” Dana said dryly from the other side of the circle. “How can we get them out of there?” she asked Cal, more seriously. </p><p></p><p>“We need to break the circle,” Cal replied. He walked out of the barrier and turned to face Lok. “It can’t be done from inside, however.”</p><p></p><p>Lok nodded, and hefted his axe, holding it by the blade and offering the haft to Cal. The weapon was almost as big as he was. The gnome nodded, but said, “I think perhaps one of the others might have more luck,” he said, gesturing for Delem to take the weapon. </p><p></p><p>The sorcerer took the weapon, holding it awkwardly. Following Lok’s direction, he hefted the axe in both hands, looking to the genasi once for approval before slamming it down hard on the silver-etched stone. </p><p></p><p>“Ouch!” Delem said, as the force of the impact shot up his arms into his body. “I don’t see how you manage this, Lok,” he added. “Maybe my fire…”</p><p></p><p>“I doubt your magic would have any effect on this,” Cal said. “Try it again.”</p><p></p><p>Delem did so, and after three more strokes he finally cut a tiny break in the silver lines that surrounded the stone circle. Almost immediately, Lok stepped forward, crossing the circle without resistance. </p><p></p><p>“Well, that’s one problem solved, at least,” Cal said. </p><p></p><p>“But where are we?” Elly said, as she walked out of the circle, holding onto Dana’s shoulder for support as she, like Benzan, continued to shrug off the aftereffects of the lamia’s magic. “This doesn’t look like Baldur’s Gate, that’s for sure.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, we’ll have to go outside to find out, I suppose,” Cal replied. “But I imagine that the presence of the lamia means you’re probably right.”</p><p></p><p>“At least we’re back in Faerûn,” Delem said. “That… thing… spoke to us in common, and I can feel my link to Kossuth again, without that sense of distance we felt back at the Isle of Dread.”</p><p></p><p>Dana looked up in surprise, and her brow furrowed for a moment in concentration. “He’s right!” she exclaimed. “I can feel the full connection to Selûne again, as well! I don’t know why I didn’t notice it sooner!”</p><p></p><p>They were interrupted by a loud noise of stone grating on stone that originated from beyond the archway that marked the chamber’s sole exit. “What’s that?” Delem asked. </p><p></p><p>“I imagine it’s the lamia and her friends trying to seal us in,” Cal said. “I’d say we’d better investigate, don’t you?” He looked at Benzan and Elly. “Are you all right?” </p><p></p><p>Benzan stepped forward, only a little unsteady, and Elly moved away from Dana’s supporting shoulder. “We’re ready,” the tiefling said. “I say we teach that thing what it means to spoil our homecoming.”</p><p></p><p>With Lok in the lead, the companions started down the corridor.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 161320, member: 143"] It’s Friday, the work day is [U]almost[/U] over, and it’s time for a pre-weekend update! This time I didn’t start with a synopsis or a poll, but just went right into the story. For new readers, I recommend the short overview that I posted at the beginning of Book III (see the link in my sig below). The adventurers have just returned to Faerûn after finding themselves thrown into an alternative prime material plane (and the Isle of Dread) by a still-unidentified adversary. The adventurers have made many enemies in their short time together, and as their power grows, so too will the attention of others who monitor the balance of power in Faerûn… Anyway, we’ll get to that! For now, the adventurers need to deal with the lamia and her allies… The Characters: [list] [B]Lok[/B]: Earth Genasi/Half-Dwarf Fighter 6. The group’s front-line fighter, a virtual combat machine. [B]Balander Calloran (“Cal”)[/B]: Rock Gnome Bard 2/Illusionist 4. The group’s informal leader, small in stature but large in bravery. Died at the end of Book I, but was brought back to life through the sacrifice of his companions. [B]Benzan[/B]: Tiefling Fighter 2/Rogue 3/Conjurer 1. The Jack-of-all-trades, warrior, thief, magic-user, smart-ass. Winner (narrowly edging out Lok) of the “Favorite Character in TttWW Poll” I held on the Book III thread. [B]Delem[/B]: Human Sorcerer 5/Cleric 2 (Kossuth). A young fire-mage whose power greatly exceeds his maturity, Delem is haunted by the sins of his past and the potential of his future. [B]Lady Dana Ilgarten[/B]: Human Cleric 3 (Selûne)/Monk 2/Mystic Wanderer 1. Joined the companions in Book II, and is caught in between a romantic rivalry between Benzan and Delem. [B]Elewhyn (Elly)[/B]: Human Commoner 2/Warrior 2. The sole surviving member of the crew of the [I]Raindancer[/I], other than three sailors who chose to stay behind on the Isle of Dread. A stalwart companion, who has lost much in recent months. [/list] The character stats and progressions are listed on my [url=http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=658]Rogues’ Gallery[/url] thread. * * * * * Book IV, Part 1 “Oh, I don’t like the looks of this,” Benzan said, as he and the others began their return to Faerûn by facing a confrontational lamia. Cal stepped forward, his left hand outstretched in a placating gesture while the second remained near the hilt of his sword and the pockets that contained his wands. “Look,” he said, “I think there’s been some mistake here. We’re not from the outer planes, and we don’t serve anybody. Why don’t you just back off a little, and we’ll see if we can work this out without any… trouble.” S’reth was feeling anger now, anger that grew as it became increasingly likely that her long awaited plans of revenge were not coming to fruition. But she was not going to be denied that easily, not when the chance to show T’roth and the others their error in driving her out was still within her grasp. “[B]I[/B] brought you here!” she screamed at them. “You [B]will[/B] serve me! Kneel, and obey!” The command was accompanied by a release of magical power, a legacy that was part of the magical heritage of S’reth’s kin. It rippled through the room, causing streaks of green light to flash through the air as the lamia’s magic interfaced with the residual tendrils of power latent within the summoning chamber. “Damn…” Benzan said, as the echoes of the command filled his mind, forcing him reluctantly to obey. He was dimly aware of himself falling to his knees as the magic of the lamia dragged him into its sway. Behind him, Elly had also succumbed to the suggestion, all but collapsing to the hard floor. But Lok and Cal, hardened by experience, resisted the tug of the lamia’s spell, and for Dana and Delem, their will each fortified by the disparate powers of their callings, the suggestion slid off their minds like water flowing over stone. “Have it your way, bitch,” Cal said, and he fired a color spray into the lamia’s face. The creature shrieked as the colors surrounded her, but it was a shriek of frustration rather than of pain, for the magical creature easily shrugged off the blinding effects of Cal’s magic. Lok started forward immediately, his axe already rising to strike, but he suddenly and abruptly halted, as if he’d hit an invisible wall. The genasi looked around in confusion, and his gaze finally fell to his feet, and the silver lines that marked the edge of the circle. Cal noticed it too. “It’s a summoning circle—with Lok’s planetouched origins, it won’t let him pass!” The gnome realized that it would keep Benzan at bay as well, although at the moment the tiefling seemed fully under the effects of the lamia’s spell. And apparently, the barrier offered no hindrance to the lamia’s attacks on them, as the success of her suggestion indicated. Delem and Dana, however, leapt quickly to join in the attack, their movements unhindered by the magical barrier. Delem launched a pair of magic missiles that blazed across the room and slammed into the lamia’s torso. Dana followed on the trailing edge of the attack and launched into a spinning kick that connected with the creature’s thick body, drawing a hiss of pain from the lamia that was followed by a hateful stare as it focused on Dana. From S’reth’s perspective, however, her grandiose plans were rapidly collapsing around her. From all she’d learned, outer-planar creatures summoned into a magic circle weren’t supposed to be able to escape and attack their summoner, and yet the painful injuries she suffered—not to mention the human woman continuing to twist and punch at her—were impossible to deny. She hadn’t survived her long exile by being careless, however, and she knew when it was time to run from a situation. She shouted a cry of alarm that she hoped would carry to her ogre guards in the ruins above, and followed that immediately with another magic spell. In response to her innate power a cascade of magical images of her sprung into being around her, shifting and fading and masking her true location. She didn’t hesitate, and instead of preparing another attack she immediately turned for the exit, her leonine body carrying her away from these enemies with great speed. Dana started after her, but she’d barely reached the archway when she realized that her companions were still in need behind her. She took on a wary stance, but edged back to where Cal and Delem were attending to their ensorcelled friends. “Are they all right?” Dana asked, keeping one eye on the corridor in case the lamia returned. The beast had called for help, she’d noticed, and she knew that more trouble might be shortly forthcoming. “I think they will be,” Cal said, as Lok helped Benzan rise awkwardly to his feet. The tiefling’s legs seemed to resist his commands, but eventually he was able to stand unassisted. Delem was helping Elly, who was continuing to have trouble. “Fortunately the suggestion was rather unfocused,” Cal told them. “If properly worded and specific enough, the effects of such a spell can linger for hours.” “Felt focused enough to me,” Benzan said, still a little unsteady as he tried a few tentative steps. “Is it still up there, do you think?” Delem asked. “Maybe,” Cal said. “But for now, we’ve got a more immediate problem.” He looked toward Lok, who had turned once again to the edge of the magic circle. “It’s like an invisible wall,” the genasi said, running one hand along the barrier. “What do you—oof!” Benzan said, as he stumbled into the barrier, his still-uncertain legs not holding him as he fell hard onto his backside. “Better be careful there,” Dana said dryly from the other side of the circle. “How can we get them out of there?” she asked Cal, more seriously. “We need to break the circle,” Cal replied. He walked out of the barrier and turned to face Lok. “It can’t be done from inside, however.” Lok nodded, and hefted his axe, holding it by the blade and offering the haft to Cal. The weapon was almost as big as he was. The gnome nodded, but said, “I think perhaps one of the others might have more luck,” he said, gesturing for Delem to take the weapon. The sorcerer took the weapon, holding it awkwardly. Following Lok’s direction, he hefted the axe in both hands, looking to the genasi once for approval before slamming it down hard on the silver-etched stone. “Ouch!” Delem said, as the force of the impact shot up his arms into his body. “I don’t see how you manage this, Lok,” he added. “Maybe my fire…” “I doubt your magic would have any effect on this,” Cal said. “Try it again.” Delem did so, and after three more strokes he finally cut a tiny break in the silver lines that surrounded the stone circle. Almost immediately, Lok stepped forward, crossing the circle without resistance. “Well, that’s one problem solved, at least,” Cal said. “But where are we?” Elly said, as she walked out of the circle, holding onto Dana’s shoulder for support as she, like Benzan, continued to shrug off the aftereffects of the lamia’s magic. “This doesn’t look like Baldur’s Gate, that’s for sure.” “Well, we’ll have to go outside to find out, I suppose,” Cal replied. “But I imagine that the presence of the lamia means you’re probably right.” “At least we’re back in Faerûn,” Delem said. “That… thing… spoke to us in common, and I can feel my link to Kossuth again, without that sense of distance we felt back at the Isle of Dread.” Dana looked up in surprise, and her brow furrowed for a moment in concentration. “He’s right!” she exclaimed. “I can feel the full connection to Selûne again, as well! I don’t know why I didn’t notice it sooner!” They were interrupted by a loud noise of stone grating on stone that originated from beyond the archway that marked the chamber’s sole exit. “What’s that?” Delem asked. “I imagine it’s the lamia and her friends trying to seal us in,” Cal said. “I’d say we’d better investigate, don’t you?” He looked at Benzan and Elly. “Are you all right?” Benzan stepped forward, only a little unsteady, and Elly moved away from Dana’s supporting shoulder. “We’re ready,” the tiefling said. “I say we teach that thing what it means to spoil our homecoming.” With Lok in the lead, the companions started down the corridor. [/QUOTE]
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