Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Chapter 3 - The Imperials)

[Nephtys]

"Damn," Barok curses quietly to himself (but loud enough to be heard by the others) "I'd hate to have to face the one who did this in fair combat, but maybe we can kill him in his sleep. The fairies have obviously been spying on him for some time, maybe they know more about his habits, or any guards he might have?"

 

[GlassEye]

Silas seems preoccupied every since setting out from the Dwarven stronghold. Now, staring up at the ancient temple he finally starts to regain some of his old animation. "Ah! If you discount those hideous statues this temple is clearly in the classical style of the third..." He coughs with a bit of embarrassment as he cuts himself off saying, "It's fairly old."

He looks over at Barok, hoping that he hasn't offended the man with his interuption. "The fey may know more about this Morduk but getting them to speak in anything other than circles may be difficult. '...her heart will be familiar to you...'?" He shakes his head then absent-mindedly reaches back to readjust the Python rod that he has wedged behind his pack.

 

[Kobold Stew]

"For Dornithia..." Danica offers, as the party stops. She begins to walk forward, crossbow in hand, ready for anything, to within 40' of the open gate.

 

[Fenris]

"For Dornithia..." Danica offers

"For Dorinthia!" affirms Dartis giving Danica a grin in either acknowledgement or agreement.

His eyes focused on Danica a little longer. Dartis still marveled at the transformation she had undergone. More and more she was truely a Daughter of Dorinthia.

Dartis brought his attention back to the temple.

"Silas, we make it through this, and I'll listen to what ever lecture you want. Barok, do you want point or shall I? Whoever doesn't can pair up with Ventus in the second row. So far your tale is true Ventus, I can release you now, your oath fulfilled, if you do not wish to venture into the temple" offers Dartis as he pulls out his bow and nocks an arrow.

 

[Nephtys]

"Oh, what the hell... I'll go first." Bloody heroes setting a bad example... he smiles as if to some inward joke. "You stay thirty feet behind me."
He passes Danica, giving her an admiring glance, What a woman, and walks quietly into the gate, passing from shadow to shadow.

ooc:
Hide (Dex)............ 10 (6+4)
Listen (Wis)........... 6
Move Silently (Dex)... 10 (6+4)
Search (Int)........... 6
Spot (Wis)............. 6

 

[GlassEye]

Silas smiles his thanks at Dartis. "For Dorinthia!" he echoes, a moment too late and perhaps a tad too loud, as Danica, then Barok move forward. Quickly he casts his Extended Mage Armor spell then with an awkward tug pulls the recently adjusted staff out to hold in his right hand.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

As you approach the temple, you hear a gutteral growl emenate from the darkness of the open portals. Four hairy and horned bow-wielding humanoids walk out, each with the lower body of a goat. They each nock an arrow and watch your approach with unease as a voice bellows from behind them. "I smell... humans..."

Heavy footsteps are heard approaching the temple doors. "First she sends her pets, then she curses me so that I may not use the greatest of my magics, and now she sends human assassins." The gutteral growl is heard again and grows angrier.

"I will slay her assassins, and I will wear their bones as jewelry." Footprints appear in the grime of the temple steps, although the walker is not visible to the eye. "Then, I will go to her glade, and take her other daughters like I have taken away her eldest then give them to my servants to do as they wish. I will burn down her ancient oak and spread its ashes across the rivers of this place and make this wood my own."

The four minions of the creature snicker, becoming more confident in their master's invisible presence. "I will do this with ease, for I am Morduk, third son of Krill the Binder, slayer of Ghul Dat, and enslaver of the dryad Trieste. Turn away, mortals, else look upon your death." So saying this, Morduk releases his invisibility and appears in the middle of his four archers. It's an ogre, but one wielding a greatsword and with a surprising amount of intelligence shining behind his eyes.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Barok
[sblock]
As you pass from brush to brush, getting closer to the temple along the way, you see that the five humanoids haven't seemed to notice your presence and are fixated upon the rest of the party. You easily make it to their flank, and are about 30 feet from the closest of the archers.
[/sblock]

 

[Nephtys]

Fee, fye, foe, fum, we're screwed up the... Barok thinks to himself as he tries to maneuver himself behind the ogre.

 

[hafrogman]

Ventus pauses for a moment as the others march forth with their battle cry. Dartis's offer of freedom gives him pause for a moment, but although his duty to his captors may be lifted, he still wishes to free the man who released him from Trieste's song. He pulls forth his shield from his back and draws his blade. His own battle cry catches in his throat as old habits die hard. He follows the others silently for a moment before whispering to himself.

"For justice."

He pushes himself past Danica, Silas and Dartis, shaking his head to himself.

"Mages, archers and skirmishers, what kind of front line is that? Stand behind me."

At the appearance of the ogre, Ventus begins to regret his decision to accompany the Dorinthians, and more so to stand at the forefront. But he still has a duty to discharge. The taunting words of Morduk stir his ire, and he gazes into the eyes of his foe. Free of his obligations, he is his own man to act as he sees fit. He takes a single step forward, eyeing the humanoids warily.

"Your nose does you justice, Morduk, son of Krill. Humans we are indeed, but I am no assassin to skulk in the night for money. However, we have come to demand that you release the heart of the dryad to us."