Broccli_Head
Explorer
Yes! Split the party!
Rel's Faded Glory II (Thanks Old One) Final Update 7/14
- Thread starter Rel
- Start date
Speaks With Stone
First Post
As if we aren't usually divided. 
I've noticed that teamwork is nigh unto a dirty word among our group. Whenver a fight happens, we are generally in three distinct areas. Scar charges forward, Raven stands still (casting spells until the enemy closes), and I tend to soar above the fight.
We have talked about using tactics on occasion and I believe we all agree that tactics are good, but none of us seem to use any when the fight closes. We are currently trying to make our plans based on character personalities. Scar is guaranteed to charge at the biggest guy on the field no matter how many times it isolates him from the two healers in the party (and he often mutters about how little healing he receives, hmmmm). Raven is guaranteed to use his spells creatively, but rarely for healing. I am guaranteed to maximize safety and survival (and I also rarely use my spells for healing to be fair).
What has seemed to work best is I try to shape the battle field with entangles, briar webs, spikes, etc and fly around to fill in where needed. Scar attacks the big guy (what else could we do with him?). Raven does his spell work and slowly catches up to Scar. It's not perfect (or even very good), but it's as close to teamwork as we seem capable of.
Indoors we can work a little better, because I'm forced to stand back to back with Raven, but that generally means that we are even less likely to catch up to Scar. It's amazing how that half-orc stays conscious (and alive). Perhaps we should shorten his ration of healing to make him a bit more dependent on us. Nah. I doubt it would work and it might piss him off.
I've noticed that teamwork is nigh unto a dirty word among our group. Whenver a fight happens, we are generally in three distinct areas. Scar charges forward, Raven stands still (casting spells until the enemy closes), and I tend to soar above the fight.
We have talked about using tactics on occasion and I believe we all agree that tactics are good, but none of us seem to use any when the fight closes. We are currently trying to make our plans based on character personalities. Scar is guaranteed to charge at the biggest guy on the field no matter how many times it isolates him from the two healers in the party (and he often mutters about how little healing he receives, hmmmm). Raven is guaranteed to use his spells creatively, but rarely for healing. I am guaranteed to maximize safety and survival (and I also rarely use my spells for healing to be fair).
What has seemed to work best is I try to shape the battle field with entangles, briar webs, spikes, etc and fly around to fill in where needed. Scar attacks the big guy (what else could we do with him?). Raven does his spell work and slowly catches up to Scar. It's not perfect (or even very good), but it's as close to teamwork as we seem capable of.
Indoors we can work a little better, because I'm forced to stand back to back with Raven, but that generally means that we are even less likely to catch up to Scar. It's amazing how that half-orc stays conscious (and alive). Perhaps we should shorten his ration of healing to make him a bit more dependent on us. Nah. I doubt it would work and it might piss him off.
Rel
Liquid Awesome
The Overlord
Scar paused for only a moment before he swung his hammer at the wall of ice that separated him from his companions. Chips of ice flew from the wall and Scar sensed that, with some effort, he could bash his way through the wall fairly quickly. He began hammering at the wall more fervently.
For Raven, there was good news and bad news. The good news was that the wall of ice that had appeared on the balcony had cut off any further skeletons from accosting him. The bad news was that there were still several of the bony adversaries left for him to deal with from the last batch. With his jaw set in grim determination, he hefted his hammer and continued to smite evil with all his might.
Speaks was in perhaps the most precarious situation. He was cut off from both his companions but was not cut off from the groups of skeletons who seemed to be marching forth from the bone pit with alarming regularity. An escape route was open to him by way of the hall opposite the one they had entered through. But if the other hallway was any indication, this one was also likely to be heavily trapped. He was starting to run out of magic and few of his spells would be of much help against the hordes of skeletons. He maneuvered himself such that he could not be easily flanked and settled into battle with his shillelagh, buying time until a better plan could suggest itself.
Scar smashed through the wall of ice that divided him from his allies. He clambered through the hole he created and discovered to his shock and dismay that while the ice was indeed gone, the intense cold of the wall still caused him pain. He growled in frustration.
His frustration doubled when a moment later another wall of ice blocked his path to his friends. It quickly became obvious that he was going to wind up stuck in a prison of ice if he didn't do something quickly. At that moment, he gave up the idea of trying to rejoin his friends. Whoever was conjuring these walls of ice was his new target.
It took Raven a bit of time, but the outcome of his battle with the remaining skeletons was never in question. His hammer was the ideal weapon for turning the undead into just so many scattered bones. In a few moments, he was left alone and panting on his side of the ice wall.
Speaks was managing to hold his own against the skeletal horde that pressed in around him. But once in a while, one of their bony hands would penetrate his defenses and rake his flesh. It was obvious that if something didn't change, he would never again see the outside world that he loved so dearly. Momentarily ignoring the attacks of the skeletons, he reached within and called forth one of his last offensive spells. One of the Flaming Spheres that had served him so well in the past appeared before him and plowed under one of his undead foes.
Scar turned around and mentally prepared himself for pain. Then he dove back through the hole in the wall he had just come through. Again, the icy cold gripped him and his sweat stained clothes became crunchy with ice. The battle had taken more of a toll on him than he had thought and as he made his way toward the arched passage his hand reached down to a small bottle tucked in his belt.
Raven struck the wall again with his hammer and was pleased to be making progress. But he knew that things were likely not going well on the other side. The tide of skeletons seemed neverending and Speaks was the weakest warrior in the group.
Weak though he may have been as a warrior, Speaks had a certain cunning. Rather than continue to use the ball of fire he had conjured as a weapon, he rolled it into the ice wall that blocked off Raven and their escape route. The sphere sizzled as it hit the ice but it quickly began to melt a hole in the wall. Speaks meanwhile smashed down another skeleton with his club and prayed to that Raven would soon come to his aid.
Having drunk a healing draught, Scar felt somewhat better but knew that he was far from fully healthy. (I'm pretty sure that Scar's hit points were in single digits at this point. Going through the Ice Walls twice in quick succession could have put him unconscious if I hadn't rolled poorly.) He dashed into the arched hallway, hammer at the ready. He found that it made a quick turn to the left and ended in a staircase going up. Without a second thought, he began mounting the stairs three at a time.
Meanwhile, Speaks was still desperately trying to hold off the skeletons. There were still more than half a dozen of them pressing in on him, but it did seem that no new ones had appeared in the last few moments. He glanced at the ice wall long enough to notice that it seemed the ball of fire had melted its way through. He called to the flames and sent the ball careening into one of the skeletons at the back of the pack.
Raven saw the Flaming Sphere melt through the wall and when it turned and moved away, he seized the opportunity to scramble through the hole it had left. Once on the other side, he saw Speaks backed up against the wall by a pack of skeletons. Scar was nowhere in sight but Raven suspected that he was located behind some of the ice walls that were down in the pit of bone. Clearly, Scar was too far away for the Dwarf to help given how slow he was. Raven moved in at the rear of the pack and started turning more skeletons into shattered piles of bone.
Scar moved up the last few stairs a bit more quietly and found himself in a doorway. Across the room he saw a robed figure peering through a narrow hole in the wall. The figure seemed to be muttering to himself and watching something through the hole with great interest. A cruel grin came across Scar's face as he hefted his hammer and crossed the room in two great strides.
The thin robed figure didn't even turn as Scar brought his hammer down in a two handed grip that sent the hammer passing all the way through his body. In fact, the hammer didn't even slow down as it passed harmlessly through the image and crashed into the floor with a loud *clang*. Scar's mind reeled in confusion as a voice behind him spoke a single word: "Fool."
Scar had no time to react as he was struck from behind. As he toppled to the floor and slid into unconsciousness, he had a curious final thought. "I wonder why someone carved that intricate circle on the ceiling?" Then, the world went black.
NEXT: The Overlord (continued)
Scar paused for only a moment before he swung his hammer at the wall of ice that separated him from his companions. Chips of ice flew from the wall and Scar sensed that, with some effort, he could bash his way through the wall fairly quickly. He began hammering at the wall more fervently.
For Raven, there was good news and bad news. The good news was that the wall of ice that had appeared on the balcony had cut off any further skeletons from accosting him. The bad news was that there were still several of the bony adversaries left for him to deal with from the last batch. With his jaw set in grim determination, he hefted his hammer and continued to smite evil with all his might.
Speaks was in perhaps the most precarious situation. He was cut off from both his companions but was not cut off from the groups of skeletons who seemed to be marching forth from the bone pit with alarming regularity. An escape route was open to him by way of the hall opposite the one they had entered through. But if the other hallway was any indication, this one was also likely to be heavily trapped. He was starting to run out of magic and few of his spells would be of much help against the hordes of skeletons. He maneuvered himself such that he could not be easily flanked and settled into battle with his shillelagh, buying time until a better plan could suggest itself.
Scar smashed through the wall of ice that divided him from his allies. He clambered through the hole he created and discovered to his shock and dismay that while the ice was indeed gone, the intense cold of the wall still caused him pain. He growled in frustration.
His frustration doubled when a moment later another wall of ice blocked his path to his friends. It quickly became obvious that he was going to wind up stuck in a prison of ice if he didn't do something quickly. At that moment, he gave up the idea of trying to rejoin his friends. Whoever was conjuring these walls of ice was his new target.
It took Raven a bit of time, but the outcome of his battle with the remaining skeletons was never in question. His hammer was the ideal weapon for turning the undead into just so many scattered bones. In a few moments, he was left alone and panting on his side of the ice wall.
Speaks was managing to hold his own against the skeletal horde that pressed in around him. But once in a while, one of their bony hands would penetrate his defenses and rake his flesh. It was obvious that if something didn't change, he would never again see the outside world that he loved so dearly. Momentarily ignoring the attacks of the skeletons, he reached within and called forth one of his last offensive spells. One of the Flaming Spheres that had served him so well in the past appeared before him and plowed under one of his undead foes.
Scar turned around and mentally prepared himself for pain. Then he dove back through the hole in the wall he had just come through. Again, the icy cold gripped him and his sweat stained clothes became crunchy with ice. The battle had taken more of a toll on him than he had thought and as he made his way toward the arched passage his hand reached down to a small bottle tucked in his belt.
Raven struck the wall again with his hammer and was pleased to be making progress. But he knew that things were likely not going well on the other side. The tide of skeletons seemed neverending and Speaks was the weakest warrior in the group.
Weak though he may have been as a warrior, Speaks had a certain cunning. Rather than continue to use the ball of fire he had conjured as a weapon, he rolled it into the ice wall that blocked off Raven and their escape route. The sphere sizzled as it hit the ice but it quickly began to melt a hole in the wall. Speaks meanwhile smashed down another skeleton with his club and prayed to that Raven would soon come to his aid.
Having drunk a healing draught, Scar felt somewhat better but knew that he was far from fully healthy. (I'm pretty sure that Scar's hit points were in single digits at this point. Going through the Ice Walls twice in quick succession could have put him unconscious if I hadn't rolled poorly.) He dashed into the arched hallway, hammer at the ready. He found that it made a quick turn to the left and ended in a staircase going up. Without a second thought, he began mounting the stairs three at a time.
Meanwhile, Speaks was still desperately trying to hold off the skeletons. There were still more than half a dozen of them pressing in on him, but it did seem that no new ones had appeared in the last few moments. He glanced at the ice wall long enough to notice that it seemed the ball of fire had melted its way through. He called to the flames and sent the ball careening into one of the skeletons at the back of the pack.
Raven saw the Flaming Sphere melt through the wall and when it turned and moved away, he seized the opportunity to scramble through the hole it had left. Once on the other side, he saw Speaks backed up against the wall by a pack of skeletons. Scar was nowhere in sight but Raven suspected that he was located behind some of the ice walls that were down in the pit of bone. Clearly, Scar was too far away for the Dwarf to help given how slow he was. Raven moved in at the rear of the pack and started turning more skeletons into shattered piles of bone.
Scar moved up the last few stairs a bit more quietly and found himself in a doorway. Across the room he saw a robed figure peering through a narrow hole in the wall. The figure seemed to be muttering to himself and watching something through the hole with great interest. A cruel grin came across Scar's face as he hefted his hammer and crossed the room in two great strides.
The thin robed figure didn't even turn as Scar brought his hammer down in a two handed grip that sent the hammer passing all the way through his body. In fact, the hammer didn't even slow down as it passed harmlessly through the image and crashed into the floor with a loud *clang*. Scar's mind reeled in confusion as a voice behind him spoke a single word: "Fool."
Scar had no time to react as he was struck from behind. As he toppled to the floor and slid into unconsciousness, he had a curious final thought. "I wonder why someone carved that intricate circle on the ceiling?" Then, the world went black.
NEXT: The Overlord (continued)
Last edited:
Speaks With Stone
First Post
Ew. Ew. Pick me. Pick me. I know. I know. 
Broccli_Head
Explorer
Good guess...How about an Ice Devil? Although all those skeletons....hmmm...And a Gelugon would be overkill for the party, wouldn't it?
Rel
Liquid Awesome
The answer can be found within...
The Overlord (continued)
Thanks to their combined efforts, Speaks and Raven had destroyed most of the skeletons on the balcony area. Their thoughts were just starting to turn to how Scar was doing when a voice boomed from the far side of the Chamber of Bone:
"Come and fight me or your friend dies!"
Speaks' shillelaigh smashed the last of the skeletons to the ground and he summoned his sternest tone for his reply, "Why don't you quit hiding and come out to fight us face to face!" (a fairly unimpressive Intimidation check followed)
A sinister chuckle drifted out of the darkness, "Sorry, it doesn't work like that." A moment later, another cluster of skeletons rose up from the Bone Pit and started up the stairs.
Knowing that Scar was in trouble and that he and Raven would never be able to fight through the tide of skeletons in time, Speaks transformed into hawk form and soared into the air. His flight took him above the various Ice Walls that now divided the Bone Pit into sections. He dove down into the entrance to the arched passageway. He arrived at the stairway in short order but knew that it would be suicide to try and face the enemy in hawk form. He concentrated and resumed his human form.
Meanwhile, Raven was alone atop the balcony smashing away at the skeletons there. Although he would not have traded the protection his armor afforded for anything, he was often frustrated at the way it limited his mobility. For all he knew, Speaks and Scar were about to be butchered and there was nothing he could do about it. He took out his frustration on the skeletons.
Speaks crept up the stairs until his eyes were level with the floor of the room above. He saw Scar's prone but still breathing form lying on the floor. Across the room he saw a robed figure peering through a narrow hole in the wall. The figure seemed to be muttering to himself and watching something through the hole with great interest. (sound familiar?)
Speaks had almost no spells left. He reached into his pocket and his fingers found the familiar shape of a Pearl he had purchased from Tadius Silvanus back during the Winter War. Gripping it tightly, he felt the power of the Flaming Sphere spell he had cast earlier reform in his mind. Then, speaking the words to the spell as quickly and quietly as possible, he called the ball of fire back into being and sent it rolling into the back of the robed villain.
Raven continued to bring low the undead warriors he fought but not without receiving a few wounds himself. He didn't know how many of the skeletal warriors he had fought personally, but it had to be nearing a score. He was slowly being worn down and he hoped beyond hope that Speaks and Scar were putting an end to whoever was responsible for this unending tide of undeath.
Speaks didn't wait for the reaction of the figure but instead charged right after the Flaming Sphere to attack. But he noticed before he even got there that the ball of fire passed right through the legs of the robed image. A voice quietly whispered, "Pity about that." He whirled about trying to locate the actual villain and was greeted by a surprise attack.
A hideous monster appeared before him out of thin air. It stood some 8 feet tall and strongly resembled the skeletons they had been fighting. But a long, barbed tail loomed over the creature's head, supported on a tail of vertebrae. It struck without warning but Speaks' Barkskin kept the attack from being lethal. Speaks struck back and brought his shillelagh crashing into the creature's ribcage.
The demon staggered back and smiled. "Did I underestimate you? Perhaps you'll do the job after all." It flexed its claws and lunged to attack.
For Speaks, the world dissolved into a mindless flurry of battle. He brought the Flaming Sphere to bear on the creature but it seemed to ignore if not actually enjoy the flames. He did his best to stay away from the vicious tail of the creature. The times when it managed to strike him, he felt it pump poison into his body. But he trusted in his inner strength to combat that. He had to remain focused on his attacks. He ducked and dodged and launched swing after swing at the beast with his enchanted club.
Raven smashed the final skeleton from the balcony. He bled from a dozen wounds but he still stood. He prepared to go to the aid of his companions and started to descend into the Pit of Bone when suddenly a peal of maniacal laughter rang out from ahead of him.
Speaks heard the same laughter as he smote the creature back to oblivion. He smelled an acrid burning smell on the air. The Druid didn't know what damnable depth of hell he had sent the creature back to and hoped never to find out. He knelt to check on Scar.
The Half-Orc still lived. Speaks drew out his healing wand and began to apply it to both Scar and himself. Just as Scar's eyelids fluttered open, Raven appeared on the staircase. "Damned lot of skeletons, wasn't it?"
NEXT: The Oubliette
For bonus points, can you tell what just happened?
The Overlord (continued)
Thanks to their combined efforts, Speaks and Raven had destroyed most of the skeletons on the balcony area. Their thoughts were just starting to turn to how Scar was doing when a voice boomed from the far side of the Chamber of Bone:
"Come and fight me or your friend dies!"
Speaks' shillelaigh smashed the last of the skeletons to the ground and he summoned his sternest tone for his reply, "Why don't you quit hiding and come out to fight us face to face!" (a fairly unimpressive Intimidation check followed)
A sinister chuckle drifted out of the darkness, "Sorry, it doesn't work like that." A moment later, another cluster of skeletons rose up from the Bone Pit and started up the stairs.
Knowing that Scar was in trouble and that he and Raven would never be able to fight through the tide of skeletons in time, Speaks transformed into hawk form and soared into the air. His flight took him above the various Ice Walls that now divided the Bone Pit into sections. He dove down into the entrance to the arched passageway. He arrived at the stairway in short order but knew that it would be suicide to try and face the enemy in hawk form. He concentrated and resumed his human form.
Meanwhile, Raven was alone atop the balcony smashing away at the skeletons there. Although he would not have traded the protection his armor afforded for anything, he was often frustrated at the way it limited his mobility. For all he knew, Speaks and Scar were about to be butchered and there was nothing he could do about it. He took out his frustration on the skeletons.
Speaks crept up the stairs until his eyes were level with the floor of the room above. He saw Scar's prone but still breathing form lying on the floor. Across the room he saw a robed figure peering through a narrow hole in the wall. The figure seemed to be muttering to himself and watching something through the hole with great interest. (sound familiar?)
Speaks had almost no spells left. He reached into his pocket and his fingers found the familiar shape of a Pearl he had purchased from Tadius Silvanus back during the Winter War. Gripping it tightly, he felt the power of the Flaming Sphere spell he had cast earlier reform in his mind. Then, speaking the words to the spell as quickly and quietly as possible, he called the ball of fire back into being and sent it rolling into the back of the robed villain.
Raven continued to bring low the undead warriors he fought but not without receiving a few wounds himself. He didn't know how many of the skeletal warriors he had fought personally, but it had to be nearing a score. He was slowly being worn down and he hoped beyond hope that Speaks and Scar were putting an end to whoever was responsible for this unending tide of undeath.
Speaks didn't wait for the reaction of the figure but instead charged right after the Flaming Sphere to attack. But he noticed before he even got there that the ball of fire passed right through the legs of the robed image. A voice quietly whispered, "Pity about that." He whirled about trying to locate the actual villain and was greeted by a surprise attack.
A hideous monster appeared before him out of thin air. It stood some 8 feet tall and strongly resembled the skeletons they had been fighting. But a long, barbed tail loomed over the creature's head, supported on a tail of vertebrae. It struck without warning but Speaks' Barkskin kept the attack from being lethal. Speaks struck back and brought his shillelagh crashing into the creature's ribcage.
The demon staggered back and smiled. "Did I underestimate you? Perhaps you'll do the job after all." It flexed its claws and lunged to attack.
For Speaks, the world dissolved into a mindless flurry of battle. He brought the Flaming Sphere to bear on the creature but it seemed to ignore if not actually enjoy the flames. He did his best to stay away from the vicious tail of the creature. The times when it managed to strike him, he felt it pump poison into his body. But he trusted in his inner strength to combat that. He had to remain focused on his attacks. He ducked and dodged and launched swing after swing at the beast with his enchanted club.
Raven smashed the final skeleton from the balcony. He bled from a dozen wounds but he still stood. He prepared to go to the aid of his companions and started to descend into the Pit of Bone when suddenly a peal of maniacal laughter rang out from ahead of him.
Speaks heard the same laughter as he smote the creature back to oblivion. He smelled an acrid burning smell on the air. The Druid didn't know what damnable depth of hell he had sent the creature back to and hoped never to find out. He knelt to check on Scar.
The Half-Orc still lived. Speaks drew out his healing wand and began to apply it to both Scar and himself. Just as Scar's eyelids fluttered open, Raven appeared on the staircase. "Damned lot of skeletons, wasn't it?"
NEXT: The Oubliette
For bonus points, can you tell what just happened?
Similar Threads
