The Liberation of Tenh (updated April 24)

[Morte]

I was waiting for that. I just knew it was going to be something special. And I wasn't disappointed.

So, did the players look nervous when he cast Timestop?

 

[(contact)]

So, did the players look nervous when he cast Timestop?

A little. They had the numbers, so I think they felt pretty confident--it's awfully hard to kill Heydricus with spells. It wasn't this fight that really scared 'em though, it was the one after the next that really scared 'em. See, if you want to kill Heydricus, you need an undead

Spoiler

, a

Spoiler

with adamantine gear, and 15th-level sword-fodder.

 

[Barastrondo]

“You’re right,” Heydricus admits. “I’ve got a holy spear that needs a wizard-skin sheath.

IYKWIM, AITYD.

Tremendously fun update. You know how the best gaming stories hinge on being able to take a specific moment of greatness at the table and translate it such that your audience didn't actually have to be there to get it, but in fact they feel as if they were there laughing alongside your players at the time?

There are more of those perfectly translated moments in a Liberators post than in five years' worth of conversation at your FLGS.

 

[Lazybones]

A little. They had the numbers, so I think they felt pretty confident--it's awfully hard to kill Heydricus with spells. It wasn't this fight that really scared 'em though, it was the one after the next that really scared 'em. See, if you want to kill Heydricus, you need an undead

Spoiler

, a

Spoiler

with adamantine gear, and 15th-level sword-fodder.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Bah, you tease, you. I'm heading out of town for a mini-vacation over the long weekend, and I fully expect to see an update as nice as the last one waiting on my return!





(*aside to other readers* See, you just can't let these story hour authors think they're in charge, even if the story is as great as this one!)

P.S. I agree with the others, great one-liners.

 

[Joshua Randall]

As his bolt streaks toward the throat of the mage, Piscean’s contingency activates, and a pair of spell effects take place; a cloud of tangible freezing mist rises up around him, foiling Lucius’ deadly bolt, and searing the skin of the Liberators and nearest High Lords with an intense cold. [...]

“Fools!” Piscean yells, pantomiming wildly, clearly unaffected by his spell. “You cannot harm me with your ice magics—I am the elementalist of flame!”

I am confused. If Piscean is the elementalist of flame, why did his contingency activate a cold-substituted acid fog?

 

[Capellan]

I am confused. If Piscean is the elementalist of flame, why did his contingency activate a cold-substituted acid fog?

If you're prepping to attack an elementalist of flame, what's the last thing you'd bother to protect yourself from?

 

[Sejs]

As his bolt streaks toward the throat of the mage, Piscean’s contingency activates, and a pair of spell effects take place; a cloud of tangible freezing mist rises up around him, foiling Lucius’ deadly bolt, and searing the skin of the Liberators and nearest High Lords with an intense cold. [...]

“Fools!” Piscean yells, pantomiming wildly, clearly unaffected by his spell. “You cannot harm me with your ice magics—I am the elementalist of flame!”
~~~~~~~~

I am confused. If Piscean is the elementalist of flame, why did his contingency activate a cold-substituted acid fog?

Because Piscean is a big fat liar? Lucius' bolt triggers the wizard's contingency...or chain contingency, as it brings up more than one spell - Cold Fog and Repulsion. Then Piscean starts crowing about how the Liberator's cold spells can't harm him, etc etc. The cold fog was Piscean's - when he was hollering, he wasn't talking to the PCs, he was talking to the assembled lords.

Trying to make it look as if the spell that he was immune to (because he's a badass), that was killing the nearest lords (because the PCs are traitors to the throne) and harming the Liberators (because they're -inept- traitors to the throne) - was cast by Heydricus and crew. Not the wizard with element-identification issues, Piscean.


Edit/Additional: Personal hunch - either that's not Piscean...it's just someone pretending to be him, or he is colossally forward thinking to have that kind of spell setup already in place for just this kind of occurance. The fact that the Fire Elemental Wizard of the Four even -has- Elemental Substitution (Cold) really strikes me as strange, though. Not to mention the whole Icy Realm pocket plane, and the ice critter summons. Sumpin' just ain't right, here.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Piscean frowns, his pale and wrinkled countenance turning down until he resembles a fierce and aggravated prune. “So be it . . . dead guy.”

A Liberators update is good. But a Liberators update with a clever Star Wars reference is GREAT!

-z

 

[DM2]

Hey, I'm usually pretty patient, but, well...

I think I speak for many when I say we're dying to find out how and if Heydricus kicks the bucket!

DM2

 

[(contact)]

The cold fog was Piscean's - when he was hollering, he wasn't talking to the PCs, he was talking to the assembled lords.

Completely correct. I didn't add any text describing his mannerisms, but Piscean was never looking at the PCs at any time-- he kept his eyes on his audience, save for expressions intended for dramatic effect.

he is colossally forward thinking to have that kind of spell setup already in place for just this kind of occurance.

Well, it doesn't require a genius to realize that Heydricus will probably try to kill you at least once before he comes around to your way of thinking. But ascribing his chain contingency spell-effects to the Liberators was purely spin-control!

The combination of acid fog and repulsion was Piscean's day-to-day standard, triggered on the contingency, "if I am attacked."

He was surprised (as was I!) when the Liberators teleported in. But hey, Gwen limited wished to be next to Heydricus' portable hole . . .

A showman to the core, Ol' Piscean couldn't help but cackle at the opportunity to Defend the Honor of the Realm in front of the most influential men and women in the North. Win or lose, he would come out of this smelling like a rose.

The fact that the Fire Elemental Wizard of the Four even -has- Elemental Substitution (Cold) really strikes me as strange, though. Not to mention the whole Icy Realm pocket plane, and the ice critter summons. Sumpin' just ain't right, here.

Yeah, huh?