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<blockquote data-quote="Delemental" data-source="post: 2109380" data-attributes="member: 5203">Where Elves WalkToday, a double update.&nbsp; This is part one.This installment was for another game that I was unable to attend.&nbsp; Thus it was written by another player, Neil.&nbsp; Unlike the last time, however, this time he was alert and took better notes.&nbsp; <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />--------------------------------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It was the second day of the party's stay at Arrie and Autumn's ancestral home. Much to Arrie's irritation, her mother proved to be just as obstinate as she feared. Notably, her attitude eased slightly as Tolly used all of the charm learned in dealing with wealthy and noble parishioners (whose donation was less than Ardara would prefer). It went from deathly chill to just mildly arctic when she was in the room. At one point, Osborn wandered over after the older woman left, and Tolly was visibly relaxing.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;So, you do know some diplomacy.&quot; Tolly shot a look at the Hin.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Of course. All priests need to be able to draw out confessions and donations from their parishioners, and an agile tongue is needed for such.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;So, what happened back at the Temple of Estrane?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tolly's expression darkened. &quot;He irritated me, much as a certain Hin is doing.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Osbron glanced at Tolly's belt, and then at his back. &quot;Well, let's see, no armor, no hammer, no mace--have any lightning spells or some such today?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;No, I tend to ask for healing and such in safer locations. Why?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Then I don't have to worry much, do I?&quot; The Hin suddenly pointed at the entrance to the gardens. &quot;Isn't that Autumn and the Prince?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tolly's eyes widened. &quot;Oh, my. This could be unfortunate. Brother Osborn, let us wander towards the garden, and perhaps sit just outside after greeting our colleague.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The diminutive rogue peered up at the tall cleric. &quot;Um, sure.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tolly muttered an incantation under his breath as they walked over to where the Sentinel was glaring at the Elfin Prince. &quot;Sweet morning Autumn.&quot; As she looked over at him, not having noticed him due to her intense attention on Herion, and returned his greeting, he leaned in close and whispered into her ear. &quot;Don't kill him. It would be rude.&quot; He clasped her shoulder, and moved past.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Let us go sit over there, Osborn, and you can make certain I am not disturbed as I meditate.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;And this would be my job why?...oh, hey, you did that eye spell, didn't you?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;You are indeed sharp, my friend of shortened stature...&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Oh my.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;What does that mean?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;She tried to punch the prince.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Oh my.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Exactly my point.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Well?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;His guards didn't kill her.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;That is good news. Did she get him?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;No, and I am not sure if that is good or bad.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Uh-oh. They're on their way. And a guard just came in and told them they are needed in the hall. Let's go.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Okay, but you have to fill me in later.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Of course.&quot;---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tolly and Osborn came into the great Hall just as Xu and Kavan entered from another side. The adventurers advanced in unison to the table where Arrie's father sat, and where Arri, Autumn, Lanara, and Herion already stood, waiting as a bloodied caravan guard spat out his story. Tolly and Kavan moved as one to heal the poor man, Tolly stepping back, and making way before the Eritan with a bow. Zanich looked at the group, and addressed them.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;This man just managed to escape an ambush--one of our major caravans of fleece and mutton was hit by a large band of goblins. Is this not the sort of thing you... adventurers... train for? Will you assist us?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Arrie looked at the party, and then back at her father. &quot;Of course we will, Father.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;I will join you.&quot; Herion stood up suddenly. &quot;Perhaps then I can understand better this adventuring you deem necessary.&quot; Arrie looked as though she would object, but sighed, and let it go.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Anyone know where Kyle is?&quot; Autumn questioned.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Went to the town--he can catch up later. We can't afford to wait,&quot; Tolly ordered. &quot;There is usually a timeline associated with dwarven trade, and if you are late, they refuse to pay more than half the value. We must go quickly, or Arrie's father stands to lose much more than his caravan crew.&quot; He stood.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Let us teach some of our lesser greenskinned brethren the folly of their ways.&quot;-----------------------------------------------------------&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; After some hard riding, they found themselves at the ambush site. They quickly scanned the area, finding the rather obvious trail, and began to follow it when Herion stopped them.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Anyone else notice that a large group of humans could not manage to kill even one goblin here?&quot; He glanced at his bodyguards. &quot;Stay here, and make sure we aren't caught from behind. I am sure that these folk are adequate for protection.&quot; Both Tolly and Autumn looked irritated at being called merely adequate, but looked at each other and shrugged. A look from one of the guards at Arrie said much about what would happen should Herion be injured in their company, but she just smiled it away.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; They followed the trail up into the hills, finding themselves looking up at a cave, and 3 goblins at its mouth arguing. With experienced motions and looks the party sent Xu and Osborn up ahead to deal with the watchful goblins. Herion watched as the group barely spoke, yet laid out a plan to deal with the sentries.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Is it always like this?&quot; He asked Kavan. The Elfin cleric looked at him askance, and placed one finger across his lips. The group moved up to a corner before they would be in view of the cave, and the rogue disappeared along with the monk. The party waited tensely, and then a squeal erupted from above them.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;By Ardara, are we never to have any luck?&quot; Tolly cursed and launched into the ascent.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The 3 goblins died soon thereafter, but more could be heard coming from passages within the cave. Tolly quickly spent his strength spells on Osborn and Xu, as Kavan put up protections based in her faith in Erito, and the form of the Cansin bard became indistinct. Autumn asked for the favor of her gods as well, and the group moved into the right fork of the cave, to find goblins awaiting them behind tables. Herion reached for Arrie's shoulder, and muttered arcane syllables. She suddenly started fidgeting and moving more quickly, as Lanara burst into song.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Arrie and Autumn rushed in, followed by Osborn, Xu, and Kavan. Tolly hung back to cover the bard, and make certain they were not ambushed. The fight went quickly, the only glitch being Kavan's errant knife spray, which caught Herion and Arrie.&nbsp; As they searched the room for secrets, the chanting of Tolly was heard, and the distinctive hiss of one of his acid bursts erupted. As they moved back up the hall, they quickly surrounded and wiped out the few which had come forth. Osborn pointed out after the comeback something that had been lurking in the back of his head.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Anyone else notice that these guys share wounds?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Yes,&quot; started Herion. &quot; It seems to be a sharing magic, probably divine...&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Arrie cut him off. &quot;That's fine--just means more than one die at a time. Let's go.&quot; She rushed forward, followed closely by Herion, Osborn, and Autumn. Tolly paused long enough to envelope his hammer in the flames of the forge, and lend the strength of the earth to his arm. They moved into a large room, and stopped in dismay at the size of the large beast in the far corner. Greenskinned, and almost undulating, the giantish creature snorted laboriously, and hawked directly at the 2 elves, striking Herion. Immediately, his robes began smoking and hissing, as the spittle ate through. As if that was the signal they were awaiting, the almost unnoticed horde of goblins around him charged, and a pair of lizardlike beasts came out from behind him.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Spines erupted from the backs of the lizards, standing straight out from their bodies. One tore into Kavan, grasping with both claws, and striking with the tail as well. The second jumped Herion, who avoided the claws, but not the tail. The goblins unleashed a veritable forest of spears, only to find that the reflexes and thick armor of the party was too much. Xu slapped one aside almost idly, and found that 3 of them had identical handprints on their faces. Lenara began anew her song, filling the party with righteous anger. Arrie struck with her spiked chain, the deadly loops tearing into the lizard chasing her husband.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tolly stepped around the corner, and his eyes lit on Kavan's peril. &quot;By Ardara! Such cannot be tolerated!&quot; The young cleric charged across the room, eyes filled with holy outrage at the desecration of his friend. Ardara was certainly watching in approval as his hammer drove home into the head of the beast, crushing it utterly and sending bursts of holy flame into its body, filling the air with the smell of roasted flesh. Its mate looked over at Tolly and roared a challenge.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Herion took advantage of the pause to grasp the back of the beast's neck, angry red lines striating across its body as he pulled energy from its lifeforce, dropping it to the floor. Kavan healed himself, nodding in gratitude to Tolly. Autumn rushed past them, focused on the large humanoid on the dais. The abomination blocked her first swing, and responded by slamming a fist into her breastplate, expelling her breath and shattering ribs. Her pain was matched by horror as she realized that the arm appeared to have goblins contained within it, under the skin. It drew back and laughed daemonically, before bellowing as a sling bullet suddenly became the size of a catapult's shot and plowed into its side.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; On the other side of the room, Osborn sent more sling bullets zinging into the creature's body, as Xu defended him, wading into the goblins. As she assaulted the right, Arrie's spiked chain was devastating their numbers on the left. Her training was paying off as nary a goblin could move near her without the chain tearing through throats and snapping necks, not even to flee.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Back on the dais, Tolly moved up to the beast and laid his hand on Autumn, knitting her ribs with Ardara's grace.&nbsp; Kavan and Herion joined magical forces and hit the beast with a stream of energy swords as well as a lightning bolt. The beast struck at Autumn once more as she moved closer, his horny claws striking sparks and slivers of metal from her sword. She returned the strike, but with more success as she opened a wound across his stomach, only to find herself open to his wide jaws. They clamped upon her shoulder, lifting her and shaking her about as he reached out with both claws at Herion, with one finding purchase in his arm.The beast's divided attention was beginning to cost it the battle as Tolly plummetted his hammer into its kidneys. He screamed out after the hit.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;It heals itself! Use acid and fire!&quot; He stepped away momentarily, and covered its back with an acid burst. Herion lunged forward and buried his sword in the beast's forehead. Its eyes crossed, and it fell backwards. Even so the wounds began closing, but Tolly would have none of it.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;By Ardara, this abomination ends here.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The flaming hammer struck twice more, incinerating the beast's skin, and it finally ruptured, expelling the bodies of many goblins, all with vestigial limbs and strange umbilicals stringing back to the center of the beast. Tolly turned to see that Xu and Arrie had finished all of the goblins.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Osborn walked up to the dais, and looked down at the remains of the goblin leader.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Wow, what a stink. Want some bacon?&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Delemental, post: 2109380, member: 5203"] [b]Where Elves Walk[/b] Today, a double update. This is part one. This installment was for another game that I was unable to attend. Thus it was written by another player, Neil. Unlike the last time, however, this time he was alert and took better notes. :) -------------------------------------------- It was the second day of the party's stay at Arrie and Autumn's ancestral home. Much to Arrie's irritation, her mother proved to be just as obstinate as she feared. Notably, her attitude eased slightly as Tolly used all of the charm learned in dealing with wealthy and noble parishioners (whose donation was less than Ardara would prefer). It went from deathly chill to just mildly arctic when she was in the room. At one point, Osborn wandered over after the older woman left, and Tolly was visibly relaxing. "So, you do know some diplomacy." Tolly shot a look at the Hin. "Of course. All priests need to be able to draw out confessions and donations from their parishioners, and an agile tongue is needed for such." "So, what happened back at the Temple of Estrane?" Tolly's expression darkened. "He irritated me, much as a certain Hin is doing." Osbron glanced at Tolly's belt, and then at his back. "Well, let's see, no armor, no hammer, no mace--have any lightning spells or some such today?" "No, I tend to ask for healing and such in safer locations. Why?" "Then I don't have to worry much, do I?" The Hin suddenly pointed at the entrance to the gardens. "Isn't that Autumn and the Prince?" Tolly's eyes widened. "Oh, my. This could be unfortunate. Brother Osborn, let us wander towards the garden, and perhaps sit just outside after greeting our colleague." The diminutive rogue peered up at the tall cleric. "Um, sure." Tolly muttered an incantation under his breath as they walked over to where the Sentinel was glaring at the Elfin Prince. "Sweet morning Autumn." As she looked over at him, not having noticed him due to her intense attention on Herion, and returned his greeting, he leaned in close and whispered into her ear. "Don't kill him. It would be rude." He clasped her shoulder, and moved past. "Let us go sit over there, Osborn, and you can make certain I am not disturbed as I meditate." "And this would be my job why?...oh, hey, you did that eye spell, didn't you?" "You are indeed sharp, my friend of shortened stature..." "Oh my." "What does that mean?" "She tried to punch the prince." "Oh my." "Exactly my point." "Well?" "His guards didn't kill her." "That is good news. Did she get him?" "No, and I am not sure if that is good or bad." "Uh-oh. They're on their way. And a guard just came in and told them they are needed in the hall. Let's go." "Okay, but you have to fill me in later." "Of course." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tolly and Osborn came into the great Hall just as Xu and Kavan entered from another side. The adventurers advanced in unison to the table where Arrie's father sat, and where Arri, Autumn, Lanara, and Herion already stood, waiting as a bloodied caravan guard spat out his story. Tolly and Kavan moved as one to heal the poor man, Tolly stepping back, and making way before the Eritan with a bow. Zanich looked at the group, and addressed them. "This man just managed to escape an ambush--one of our major caravans of fleece and mutton was hit by a large band of goblins. Is this not the sort of thing you... adventurers... train for? Will you assist us?" Arrie looked at the party, and then back at her father. "Of course we will, Father." "I will join you." Herion stood up suddenly. "Perhaps then I can understand better this adventuring you deem necessary." Arrie looked as though she would object, but sighed, and let it go. "Anyone know where Kyle is?" Autumn questioned. "Went to the town--he can catch up later. We can't afford to wait," Tolly ordered. "There is usually a timeline associated with dwarven trade, and if you are late, they refuse to pay more than half the value. We must go quickly, or Arrie's father stands to lose much more than his caravan crew." He stood. "Let us teach some of our lesser greenskinned brethren the folly of their ways." ----------------------------------------------------------- After some hard riding, they found themselves at the ambush site. They quickly scanned the area, finding the rather obvious trail, and began to follow it when Herion stopped them. "Anyone else notice that a large group of humans could not manage to kill even one goblin here?" He glanced at his bodyguards. "Stay here, and make sure we aren't caught from behind. I am sure that these folk are adequate for protection." Both Tolly and Autumn looked irritated at being called merely adequate, but looked at each other and shrugged. A look from one of the guards at Arrie said much about what would happen should Herion be injured in their company, but she just smiled it away. They followed the trail up into the hills, finding themselves looking up at a cave, and 3 goblins at its mouth arguing. With experienced motions and looks the party sent Xu and Osborn up ahead to deal with the watchful goblins. Herion watched as the group barely spoke, yet laid out a plan to deal with the sentries. "Is it always like this?" He asked Kavan. The Elfin cleric looked at him askance, and placed one finger across his lips. The group moved up to a corner before they would be in view of the cave, and the rogue disappeared along with the monk. The party waited tensely, and then a squeal erupted from above them. "By Ardara, are we never to have any luck?" Tolly cursed and launched into the ascent. The 3 goblins died soon thereafter, but more could be heard coming from passages within the cave. Tolly quickly spent his strength spells on Osborn and Xu, as Kavan put up protections based in her faith in Erito, and the form of the Cansin bard became indistinct. Autumn asked for the favor of her gods as well, and the group moved into the right fork of the cave, to find goblins awaiting them behind tables. Herion reached for Arrie's shoulder, and muttered arcane syllables. She suddenly started fidgeting and moving more quickly, as Lanara burst into song. Arrie and Autumn rushed in, followed by Osborn, Xu, and Kavan. Tolly hung back to cover the bard, and make certain they were not ambushed. The fight went quickly, the only glitch being Kavan's errant knife spray, which caught Herion and Arrie. As they searched the room for secrets, the chanting of Tolly was heard, and the distinctive hiss of one of his acid bursts erupted. As they moved back up the hall, they quickly surrounded and wiped out the few which had come forth. Osborn pointed out after the comeback something that had been lurking in the back of his head. "Anyone else notice that these guys share wounds?" "Yes," started Herion. " It seems to be a sharing magic, probably divine..." Arrie cut him off. "That's fine--just means more than one die at a time. Let's go." She rushed forward, followed closely by Herion, Osborn, and Autumn. Tolly paused long enough to envelope his hammer in the flames of the forge, and lend the strength of the earth to his arm. They moved into a large room, and stopped in dismay at the size of the large beast in the far corner. Greenskinned, and almost undulating, the giantish creature snorted laboriously, and hawked directly at the 2 elves, striking Herion. Immediately, his robes began smoking and hissing, as the spittle ate through. As if that was the signal they were awaiting, the almost unnoticed horde of goblins around him charged, and a pair of lizardlike beasts came out from behind him. Spines erupted from the backs of the lizards, standing straight out from their bodies. One tore into Kavan, grasping with both claws, and striking with the tail as well. The second jumped Herion, who avoided the claws, but not the tail. The goblins unleashed a veritable forest of spears, only to find that the reflexes and thick armor of the party was too much. Xu slapped one aside almost idly, and found that 3 of them had identical handprints on their faces. Lenara began anew her song, filling the party with righteous anger. Arrie struck with her spiked chain, the deadly loops tearing into the lizard chasing her husband. Tolly stepped around the corner, and his eyes lit on Kavan's peril. "By Ardara! Such cannot be tolerated!" The young cleric charged across the room, eyes filled with holy outrage at the desecration of his friend. Ardara was certainly watching in approval as his hammer drove home into the head of the beast, crushing it utterly and sending bursts of holy flame into its body, filling the air with the smell of roasted flesh. Its mate looked over at Tolly and roared a challenge. Herion took advantage of the pause to grasp the back of the beast's neck, angry red lines striating across its body as he pulled energy from its lifeforce, dropping it to the floor. Kavan healed himself, nodding in gratitude to Tolly. Autumn rushed past them, focused on the large humanoid on the dais. The abomination blocked her first swing, and responded by slamming a fist into her breastplate, expelling her breath and shattering ribs. Her pain was matched by horror as she realized that the arm appeared to have goblins contained within it, under the skin. It drew back and laughed daemonically, before bellowing as a sling bullet suddenly became the size of a catapult's shot and plowed into its side. On the other side of the room, Osborn sent more sling bullets zinging into the creature's body, as Xu defended him, wading into the goblins. As she assaulted the right, Arrie's spiked chain was devastating their numbers on the left. Her training was paying off as nary a goblin could move near her without the chain tearing through throats and snapping necks, not even to flee. Back on the dais, Tolly moved up to the beast and laid his hand on Autumn, knitting her ribs with Ardara's grace. Kavan and Herion joined magical forces and hit the beast with a stream of energy swords as well as a lightning bolt. The beast struck at Autumn once more as she moved closer, his horny claws striking sparks and slivers of metal from her sword. She returned the strike, but with more success as she opened a wound across his stomach, only to find herself open to his wide jaws. They clamped upon her shoulder, lifting her and shaking her about as he reached out with both claws at Herion, with one finding purchase in his arm.The beast's divided attention was beginning to cost it the battle as Tolly plummetted his hammer into its kidneys. He screamed out after the hit. "It heals itself! Use acid and fire!" He stepped away momentarily, and covered its back with an acid burst. Herion lunged forward and buried his sword in the beast's forehead. Its eyes crossed, and it fell backwards. Even so the wounds began closing, but Tolly would have none of it. "By Ardara, this abomination ends here." The flaming hammer struck twice more, incinerating the beast's skin, and it finally ruptured, expelling the bodies of many goblins, all with vestigial limbs and strange umbilicals stringing back to the center of the beast. Tolly turned to see that Xu and Arrie had finished all of the goblins. Osborn walked up to the dais, and looked down at the remains of the goblin leader. "Wow, what a stink. Want some bacon?" [/QUOTE]

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