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Message: <blockquote data-quote="shilsen" data-source="post: 3446352" data-attributes="member: 198">That's a little simplistic. You're simply comparing the benefits against situations when the PCs are totally buffed and not considering all the different contexts in which the above will kick in. The biggest advantage is that the PCs are pre-buffed all the time. Get jumped while buying a newspaper in Sharn? Get attacked while traveling? Have someone you trust try to betray you? Get jumped in the middle of the night or when breaking camp? You're pre-buffed. Situations like Nameless and Six getting mugged, being attacked by River Snake barbarians in the Shadow Marches, running into Fang Dragons in the Labyrinth, what happened to Gareth in the writeup below, etc. would all have gone very differently with even half the benefits I handed out.And while the boosts to AC would matter hugely in such situations, they still matter when PCs are buffed up. The PCs rarely use deflection bonuses and never as high as what you got. And while they get hit all the time, a lot of those are hits that succeed by a point or two, esp. on iterative attacks, and the boosts would be the difference between a hit and a miss and esp. between a confirmed critical and a non-confirmed one.Dammit, man - these are the kinds of things a 25 Int should be able to work out!As Solarious mentioned, I've started another thread <a href="http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=193143" target="_blank">here</a> to throw around some ideas for what the Angels are getting involved with next. And that being said, on to the next update. I'll try for another on the weekend.* * * * * * * * * *The next morning, the blind hag Sora Teraza meets the Angels before they leave. “There is little more I can do now,” she says, “But here are some things that should help you.” She opens a crude map and indicates their position and the route they should take. “Once you leave the city, head west until you reach the end of the hills, and then swing around them, passing through the edge of the Watching Woods, and head northwest until you reach these low hills around Mordain’s Hall.” Teraza hands over the map and also gives Nameless a ring with the seal of the Daughters of Sora Kell. “This will ensure you safe passage through the lands close to the city. Once you are further away,” she shrugs, “You will have to fend for yourselves. This is a land of clans and warlords, and while they owe us fealty, we control little of what they do in their lands.”“I wouldn’t worry about it,” says Nameless. “For anyone to interrupt our travel, they’ll have to be very fast. And a little suicidal.”Sora Teraza smiles. “I’m sure you’re correct. Nevertheless, be careful. These guards,” she indicates a small group of very well armed and armored ogres, “Will escort you through the city. And lastly, before you go, I shall send Mordain a message so he expects you. Nobody visits him, and he doesn’t care to be disturbed, I believe, so a little information is in order.” She casts a sending and says, “Sending you travelers with news of great import. Includes expert on daelkyr. Might be helpful to your work and they need information. Apologies for disturbance.” She remains silent for a few moments, and then finally says, “He replied. All he said was ‘all right.’ That will have to do.”Luna snorts. “Expert on the daelkyr? When Nameless came back from Xoriat he said it was purple! And that you need to be there. Expert, my ass!”The other Angels chuckle and Sora Teraza smiles again. “I thought I should mention it so that Mordain might be somewhat interested in you. Hopefully it will help.” Then she takes a step back and makes a short bow to the Angels. “It was a pleasure meeting you. Please stop here on your return from Mordain and let me know what he tells you and if I can help in some manner with this situation.” The Angels thank her in turn, and then leave, with the ogres taking up positions before and behind them.The group proceeds down from the court of the Daughters, which – as they had already surmised – is built out of the remnants of an ancient Dhakaani palace that was carved into the mountain, and descend into the city beneath. As they walk through it, they see that its inhabitants are the various types of creatures they saw in the hags’ court and a few others. There are a number of orcs and half-orcs here, especially around a large building they pass which flies the colors of House Tharashk. More giants are in evidence here too, though they are still relatively rare. At one point, the group finds themselves watched by a hooded figure, the soft hissing and writhing movement beneath whose cowl identifies the medusa. In a couple of places, they pass trolls armored and accoutered like the ones that accompanied Sora Maenya, which seem to enforce what order the city has, assisted by gnoll enforcers. Once they emerge into the outskirts of the city, the druids summon two phantom stags each and the Angels mount and gallop off, riding one each with Luna perched on Korm’s shoulder in the form of an eagle. With their enhanced powers, the stags travel four times as fast as the lightest of horses, and swiftly leave the city behind.As they travel for the next day and a half, the Angels find that Droaam consists almost purely of wilderness, interspersed with small camps and settlements, few of which are any larger than a hamlet. Each of them, whether it is a small village or a few tents pitched beside a hill, has fortifications of some kind around it. A few creatures do try to intercept the travelers, but with their speed, and the magical stags being unaffected by low undergrowth and able to air walk for a few seconds at a time, the Angels are able to avoid them easily. Despite traveling through the dreaded ‘nation of monsters,’ the journey is remarkably boring by the Angels’ standards. But only to them…* * * * *The aged gnoll shifted uncomfortably and eyed some of the playing pups grumpily. He had resigned himself to being too old to be a warrior, but being relegated to watching the children was truly an insult. Not only that, these brats were loud and irritating and cared nothing for the exploits of one whose deeds the bards had howled once upon a …“…tell us, grandfather!”The gnoll growled, but his eyes softened slightly. Well, some of them cared. “But you’ve heard the story of the Flying Riders of Doom so many times, Hrortak,” he said, looking at the tallest of the three pups curled up near his paws.“Yes, but I wanna hear it again. And they haven’t!” The two younger pups nodded vigorously.The old gnoll sighed. At least it would while away the time. “Very well,” he said, before mock-growling, “And no interruptions.” He looked up at the moons slowly emerging in the early evening sky, and began.“It was an evening like this one, years ago. The pack was much bigger then, with over a hundred hunters. Many feared the Red Slayers. I was leading a large warband back from a raid when our scouts said they saw four riders, who came on steeds that ran faster than the eagles fly. I scoffed, but then they showed me. From across the plains they came, rushing across them like the wrath of the Shadow, faster than a horse can run or the falcon fly.”“Still, we were the Red Slayers, and they were few. I could see they would have to pass through the woods nearby, so I set an ambush. I, and the fiercest warriors, hid ourselves among the bushes and trees, weapons in hand. Behind us, I had others wait, with ropes stretched across the path, ready to pull them up and knock the riders down. And we waited.”“In minutes they neared us, and then I saw they rode not horses, but giant stags, larger than ones we had ever seen even in the Dark Wood, with eyes of flame and hooves of fire, that scorched the earth below them. Still, I did not fear. Nearer and nearer they came, and I gripped my axe, ready to leap up and slay them.”“And then they saw us. I don’t know how, since we were hidden well, where nothing natural – especially at that speed – would know we were there. The rider in the lead was a huge orc, large almost as an ogre, with horns growing from his head, and he bore a demon-bird on his shoulder, with black scales and a lizard’s tail. It was the demon that screamed its warning first, I think. Still, I was ready, and I shouted our warcry and leapt up. So did the warriors with me. Those behind pulled the ropes taut.”“And then the stags leapt, and the Riders of Doom simply rose into the air, above our axes and over our ropes. Flames flew from their hooves and burned the air as they rose through it like it was solid ground. I could do nothing but stand and watch. And as we did, I saw each of the Riders. I shall never forget them.”“First came the horned orc and his demon. Behind him was a human, or what I thought was one. But as he rode above us he raised a hand in mockery, and it was not a hand! It was a tentacle, green and yellow, dripping slime that withered the plants where it fell. And when he turned his face, there was none, only a dark hole where his face should be. Third was a metal man, one of those the humans call warforged, but he was not like they normally are. He had no arms either, instead having streams of metal chains, that clanked and clattered as he rode, and whose spikes cut the sides of the stag he rode, but he cared not. And last of all rode an armored creature, who was human below the neck, but who was wolf above, like those of the Dark Pack, but larger and more fierce, with silver fur, and silver fire spewing from his mouth.” “But, grandfather,” interrupted Hrortak, “You never told me of the wolf-headed man before and …”“Silence!” growled the old gnoll. “Let me tell the story! And the Riders rose into the air, and the demon-bird screamed at us and flapped its wings, and when it did, the forest rose around us, bushes wrapping around us, and trees rising forth to attack us. And the stags and their riders rose into the sky and disappeared. That was the day we saw the Riders of Doom and knew that the moons had turned against the Red Slayers.”* * * * *“Stop!” says Nameless urgently, causing the others to command their stags, which stop instantly. The alienist points at the barren land that lies before them and the single, squat and wide dark building that crouches ominously three miles away. “There’s a magical wall a hundred feet away. With lots of auras.” He rides closer slowly and his glowing blue eyes scan the invisible barrier for a few seconds. “It goes up eighty feet and then runs horizontally, so it’s like a roof too. Mostly moderate dweomers – abjuration, divination, conjuration, evocation, transmutation, and multiple ones of some – and one strong evocation.”“Is it physical?” asks Six.“I don’t think so.” Nameless dismounts, picks up a small stone, and tosses it through. The others simply see it arc through the air and hit the ground. “Hmm – there was a flare of multiple auras when it went through. Maybe I just knocked on his door.” The Angels wait for a few seconds, but there are no signs of them being noticed. Luna, having shifted back to her normal form, says, “Maybe I should fly over to the house and drop a message. Or to one of those. They’re probably guards.” She indicates two creatures that the Angels have noticed, each about a quarter of a mile away. Though they are too far away to decipher details, one is seemingly humanoid in shape, as tall as and probably wider than an ogre. The other is shorter and much longer, giving the impression of multiple limbs and an undulating body. Both of them are depicting an elliptical path that stretches a few hundred feet, traveling it over and over again, slowly and patiently but without pause. Nameless agrees and writes a short note, that Luna (having turned into an eagle) picks up in her talons and flies away with. As she leaves, Gareth says, “Maybe we should test the barrier as well, in case we have to travel through it.” Nameless nods, and then smiles. “Good idea. Go ahead. You’re always telling us about how the favor of the Flame protects you.” Gareth gives him a dirty look and then dismounts, explaining, “Just in case it dispels the stag.” He then leads the magical mount behind him and walks up to the barrier. Muttering a prayer, he steps through. Nameless sees another of the flares of magic, and the stag disappears as it tries to enter. Gareth is unaffected, and after offering silent thanks to the Flame, he continues inwards.Luna, meanwhile, has been soaring towards the humanoid creature. Nearing it, she realizes that it resembles a ten foot tall giant, with disproportionately massive arms. All four of them, that is, since two emerge from its sides. It is clearly constructed, with different parts of its form being of different colors and shapes, and clear seams and joins where they were put together into the composite whole. It is naked, but lacks any sexual characteristics to differentiate its gender. The four arms end in massive iron fists, more like mallets than actual hands. Luna, flying overhead, wonders whether it’s even capable of picking up the little note, but she swoops down nevertheless. Passing through the roof of the magical barrier has no effect that she can make out, and she drops the note from twenty feet above the creature’s head. The note bounces off its head, but the only response is for it to glare up with what Luna now sees are three large opaque eyes that make up the only real feature in a blank and featureless head, and then smash the four metal fists together overhead with a clang.Idiot! Even as she considers swooping down to pick up the note, Luna is distracted by frenzied motion back where she left her friends. Gareth has proceeded about three hundred feet or so from the edge of the barrier, when there is a momentary rumbling and the ground explodes beside him. Bursting through is a huge armor-plated creature with a roughly conical head ending in a gaping maw. Gareth recognizes it instantly as a bulette, but what really surprises him is the sight of its four thick, powerful legs. Each is evidently constructed of solid iron, with articulated joints, large metal claws, and what seem to be giant metal nails that attach them to the beast’s flesh. Arcane symbols are carved into each of the legs.Not that Gareth has time to wonder at or appreciate the craftsmanship of the creature looming above him, as its jaws snap shut on his shoulder and left arm, almost crushing the magical armor and flesh beneath. He screams in pain and hacks at it, and then finds to his further surprise that the Endless Blade only does limited damage to its thick hide. Even as he is striking at it, a flaming bead from Nameless, who has reacted as soon as the bulette appeared, streaks by and explodes into a fireball placed with pinpoint accuracy, blasting the creature with flame without threatening Gareth. In theory, that is. As the flames envelop the bulette, they cause no visible damage. Instead, the shallow wound inflicted by the sword closes and heals. “Get me out of here!” Gareth commands the Endless Blade, which responds promptly, flying Gareth swiftly back towards his companions, skimming the ground in an attempt to cover as much ground as possible. As they rush back, the Endless Blade grumbles, “What the hell are you running away for, you wuss? You’re just scratched!” Gareth ignores the sword and shouts, “Nameless! Your spell healed it! What kind of bulette is it?” Hearing a roar, Gareth looks back as the creature rushes after him with incredible speed. Reaching him, the bulette displays another strange ability, belching forth a cloud of green gas, which envelops Gareth and part of itself. Despite his divinely-aided fortitude, Gareth cannot fully resist the poisonous vapors, and coughs painfully as they further weaken his already weakened form.Outside the barrier, Nameless’ frowning brow clears as he sees the noxious cloud. “I’ve got it! It’s just like an iron golem – healed by fire and able to breath forth poison like a cloudkill. It’s a bulette melded with an iron golem. Fascinating!” Korm, standing close to the barrier, looks back and says, “Yeah, yeah – how do we affect it?”“Use lightning-type magic. And your sword and Six’s chain should work fine.” “Good to know,” says Six. “Let’s see if I can get Gareth out.” He commands his stag to gallop forward, but as it hits the barrier, it disappears. Six tumbles forward, lands on his feet, and runs forward. Even as he does so, Gareth emerges from the cloud of vapor, again being propelled by the sword. Poisoned and wounded, he looks on the verge of collapse, something which even the Blade notices. “Okay, I take it back,” it says, hardly sounding apologetic to be doing so, “That thing f*cked you up!” Six skids to a stop, chuckling at the comment despite the situation, as Gareth and the sword shoot by him. As he turns to follow them, Gareth reaches the barrier. And smashes headlong into a wall of stone that pops into existence, between him and the barrier. As he tumbles to the ground and Six stops hurriedly, there is another roar behind them, as the bulette emerges from the cloud it created.Before it can reach them, the center of the wall glows green for a moment and then disappears, Nameless having disintegrated it. Six and Gareth rush through, only seconds before the bulette smashes into what remains, shattering it in its fury before rushing through the magical barrier after them. That is just enough time for Nameless again, and he quickly envelops it in an acid fog.By the time it emerges, Korm and Six are waiting for it. Gareth also emerges seconds later from the cocoon Korm has placed him in, and the three of them quickly cut the creature down, but not before all have been wounded, especially the unfortunate Gareth*. Luna, grumbling at the fact that the others slew the bulette before she had a chance to get involved, heals him again. “You really need to stop getting chewed up,” she says when he emerges from the next cocoon, causing the Blade to chortle, “Well, he did run away as quick as he could – or as quick as I could get his ass out of there. But, man oh man, his ass really got chewed!”Gareth scowls at the sword and says, “I did tell you I have an extradimensional space to put you in, didn’t I?”“Everyone back up!” interrupts Nameless suddenly, having been warned by the spell that he casts daily to anticipate teleportation, and indicates a nearby spot. “Something is teleporting in there. One creature. Small size.”The arriving creature is a three foot tall figure, resembling a miniature devil wreathed in flame, with a gleeful expression and its two hands clasped in front of its chest. The expression changes quickly to surprise, as it sees the five figures standing in a rough semi-circle waiting for it, and then fear. It quickly opens its hands, revealing a flaming bead. “Delayed blast fireball!” shouts Nameless, hurling a volley of magic missiles. His companions follow suit, blasting the mephit out of existence before it can scream. As it falls, the bead rolls out on the ground. Already having spread out, the Angels backpedal hurriedly, making it out of the blast radius before the bead explodes into a huge magical blast. “And an empowered delayed blast fireball at that!” confirms Nameless. The alienist then turns to face towards the distant building and shouts, hoping that there might be something which lets Mordain hear them. “Mordain! Sora Teraza sent us. We are not here to waste your time.”“What the hell?” ejaculates an irritated Luna, “Wasn’t this Mordain idiot told we were coming? What’s the problem?”“Who knows?” says Korm. “This guy is supposedly…”Nameless interrupts again. “Someone else is on the way. One creature again, but this time about our size.” “This is getting really old!” grumbles Luna, as the Angels again assume ready positions.The figure that appears is much more singular than his predecessor. He appears to be an ancient elf, completely hairless, with none on his head, not even eyebrows or eyelashes. The skin is pulled incredibly tight over his head and face, giving it a skull-like appearance, albeit one very different from the cosmetic and necromantic treatments of the Aereni elves. He wears a drab multi-pocketed sleeveless jacket over an equally drab short-sleeved shirt, and below it, incongruously, knee-length shorts of the same unprepossessing color and comfortable open-toed sandals. What especially attract the Angels’ attention are his two arms. The right arm is thin and bony, as befits his species and age, but multiple small, purple tentacles, each about a foot in length, extending from below the wrist in a fringe. His left arm is significantly and disproportionately thicker, rather befitting someone of Korm’s size, and the flesh on it is a combination of intermingled silver scales and green muscular skin.The figure’s eyes glow with the same blue light as Nameless’, and he glances around the group, with no indication of alarm at the raised weapons and hands raises in preparation for spellcasting. The alienist, noting the multiple auras, which wreathe the elf and his clothing in an arcane tapestry that dwarfs what the Angels bear or what Nameless had found on the hags, speaks quickly. “Mordain, I presume?”The skull-visage turns to gaze at him and then, slowly, the lips move. The flesh on the elf’s face doesn’t shift at all, giving it the impression of being a carved, mobile statue, with only the area around the lips moving. The voice that emerges is harsh and raspy, giving the impression of not just extreme age but that it is one which sees little use. “Yes. I am Mordain.”</blockquote>

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