Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Jon Potter said:
So is it a template or an actual race in it? If its a race I'm going to guess; a grendle, a morlock, or a watcher.
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The Realms of Enlightenment: The Grey Companions
- Thread starter Jon Potter
- Start date
So is it a template or an actual race in it? If its a race I'm going to guess; a grendle, a morlock, or a watcher.
Jon Potter
First Post
Hairy Minotaur said:
Template, actually. And given the place they just left it's not too hard to guess which one.
Oddly, you managed to pick out my favorite race from that book: Grendel. Did I mention that before? Or am I just that easy to figure out?
Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Jon Potter said:
So will you be using the "monster" that's statted for that template? The 1/2 hill giant 1/2 YKW.
I love the Grendle too, I like the Wendigo as well.
Jon Potter
First Post
Hairy Minotaur said:So will you be using the "monster" that's statted for that template? The 1/2 hill giant 1/2 YKW.
Yep. I'm all about "easy" when I can. And there's nothing easier than using the statted-out beastie in the book.
Yeah. It's tough to find a bad race in there. Greenfolk, Watcher, Wendigo, Wretch...
Well, maybe the burrower, Spring Child and Woodwose I could do without, but other than that, it's all good.
Jon Potter
First Post
[Realms #408] At World's Edge
"A bridge... I remember the days that they were so very important to me," Ayremac mused and, smirking, flexed his wings enough to make plain the point of his joke.
"So you could fly across," Anania observed. "But what of us? Can you ferry us across as well?" Ayremac looked suddenly embarrassed.
"I... um... Some of you, I can," he stammered. "I was just thinking that if there is only one bridge, it seems a great place for an ambush."
"There are several bridges across the World's Edge," the elf maiden told him. "This just happens to be the closest."
"I suppose if Ixin and I flew across - and I could possibly carry Morier over as well - we could scout the other side and make sure the bridge is safe," the holy warrior suggested.
"What are you so afraid of, fly boy?" Huzair scoffed. "Do not worry. I will cross the bridge first if that will make you feel better." The wizard glanced sidelong at Anania to see how she was responding to his bravado.
"It isn't a question of being afraid, Huzair," Ayremac retorted. "It's a question of tactics!"
"Ayremac's right. It wouldn't be a bad idea for the folks with wings to scout out the situation from above when we get there and cover each other's backs while they're in the air," Morier said and began using a stick to scratch out a rough diagram of his proposal in the dirt. "For the crossing we should split into two groups with a flier and a Ring of Communication in each. We'll have one group always covering one end of the bridge so those crossing have a means of escape if needed. I don't like the idea of fighting on the bridge, so if we can avoid it, let's." Karak looked at the sketch and harrumphed.
"Let's get to the obstacle before deciding how to tackle it," he grumbled and indicated to Anania that they were ready to move out.
"I don't get why we need a bridge," Ixin protested as the group began filing off after the scout. "Can't we just use Huzair's magic dust to float across?" The wizard looked at her and smirked.
"When you have known Morier as long as I have, you will learn that he always likes to do things the hardest way possible," he consoled her. "There is little point in trying to talk him out of it."
It was perhaps an hour until dusk when the group caught up with Anania again. She was waiting for them in a bower with a pair of white-furred rabbits on a length of rope. She'd expertly removed the feet, guts and head and suspended the carcasses from a low-hanging branch to drain.
"The bridge is this way," she said as she gathered up the rabbits. "We can follow this road directly there and reach it before nightfall." Looking down it became apparent with some scrutiny that the remains of ancient flagstones were buried beneath eons of encroaching vegetation. A road that predated anything any of the Order had ever seen lay forgotten under foot and stretched off eastward toward the bridge and westward into the unknown depths of Spiny Wood.
True to her word, the elf maid had them at the bridge before the last light of Orin's Shield had faded from the sky. It was a marvel to behold, composed of time-worn stone and spanning a gap of unknowable depth. Four sets of arched stone supports maintained the surface which was in startlingly good shape given its obvious age. Only Karak had seen similar marvels, and even he was impressed with the apparent craftsmanship. The near side of the span had been sealed by a gate at one time, but it had rusted into ruin long ago. A lone tower stood vigil on the opposite side; its uppermost walls and roof had collapsed in leaving the top of the tower broken and jagged. Creepers and moss had done their best to obscure both tower and bridge.
Anania took it all in with a glance. "No apparent enemies," she announced, but Shamalin was unconvinced.
"Even so. Stand ready," the priestess said. "Let us watch the area for a bit before crossing."
"It will be night soon," the elf observed, looking briefly skyward.
"We should observe the area first," Shamalin reiterated and the elf nodded deferentially.
"As you say," she told the cleric and stepped backward.
"Ayremac," Morier said, gesturing to the bridge. Ayremac nodded, spread his wings and took to the air.
He flew up and over the World's Edge Gorge, taking one loop down and under the bridge. It seemed to be what Anania said it was: an old bridge and nothing more. He saw no apparent signs of life around the tower or in the encroaching forest. At ground level, one side of the tower had crumbled around what was probably the entrance, but it was otherwise intact, pierced only by narrow windows at various points around it.
He landed on the far side and signaled for the second group to cross. Seeing her cue Shamalin invoked the power of Flor and cast Wind Walk on herself and Ixin. The two began to grow insubstantial, transforming over the next thirty seconds into creatures of mist. While they did that, Ayremac approached the ruined tower, calling on his own goddess-granted power to Detect the presence of Evil. He scrutinized the tower but saw nothing.
He was about to turn away to inspect the area of forest to the right of the tower when he sensed something vile moving in the hole broken in the structure's side. That was all the more he had time for before three brightly colored rays of light stabbed from the interior striking him in the head and right arm. All three knifed through his spell resistance, but he shrugged off the power of the first without effect.[1] He felt his muscles harden briefly as the second washed over him, but his fortitude was such that he shrugged off the attempt to transmute his Flesh to Stone. The third struck his head and he felt his world reel briefly.
He staggered, and when he'd righted himself he saw a giant squeezing itself out of the opening in the side of the tower. It was at least 18 feet tall - or it would have been if it weren't extricating itself from the tower - lanky and muscular with skin the color of sand or wax. Here and there plates of leathery hide protected its naked form. One enormous hand gripped a greatclub that looked like it was made from the trunk of an entire tree. But the most shocking thing was the fact that its head looked like nothing so much as a smaller version of Lord Hofralix himself. A crown of eyestalks ringed the top of the skull, a central malignant eye stared at the Officer of Umba, and a toothsome maw slavered below. It was as if someone had somehow grafted a beholder onto a giant's torso.
No, Ayremac decided, that wasn't the most shocking thing. What was more surprising to him was the fact that he knew at once this creature was his friend. At least as good a friend as any of those he'd been traveling with.
"Hi," he said, smiling and raising a hand to wave.
-------------------------
[1] That first ray was Charm Person, but the spell only effects Humanoids and as Ayremac is not technically a Humanoid but rather an Outsider, it had no effect on him. Fortunately the giant also has Charm Monster, which is much more useful against Outsiders.
"A bridge... I remember the days that they were so very important to me," Ayremac mused and, smirking, flexed his wings enough to make plain the point of his joke.
"So you could fly across," Anania observed. "But what of us? Can you ferry us across as well?" Ayremac looked suddenly embarrassed.
"I... um... Some of you, I can," he stammered. "I was just thinking that if there is only one bridge, it seems a great place for an ambush."
"There are several bridges across the World's Edge," the elf maiden told him. "This just happens to be the closest."
"I suppose if Ixin and I flew across - and I could possibly carry Morier over as well - we could scout the other side and make sure the bridge is safe," the holy warrior suggested.
"What are you so afraid of, fly boy?" Huzair scoffed. "Do not worry. I will cross the bridge first if that will make you feel better." The wizard glanced sidelong at Anania to see how she was responding to his bravado.
"It isn't a question of being afraid, Huzair," Ayremac retorted. "It's a question of tactics!"
"Ayremac's right. It wouldn't be a bad idea for the folks with wings to scout out the situation from above when we get there and cover each other's backs while they're in the air," Morier said and began using a stick to scratch out a rough diagram of his proposal in the dirt. "For the crossing we should split into two groups with a flier and a Ring of Communication in each. We'll have one group always covering one end of the bridge so those crossing have a means of escape if needed. I don't like the idea of fighting on the bridge, so if we can avoid it, let's." Karak looked at the sketch and harrumphed.
"Let's get to the obstacle before deciding how to tackle it," he grumbled and indicated to Anania that they were ready to move out.
"I don't get why we need a bridge," Ixin protested as the group began filing off after the scout. "Can't we just use Huzair's magic dust to float across?" The wizard looked at her and smirked.
"When you have known Morier as long as I have, you will learn that he always likes to do things the hardest way possible," he consoled her. "There is little point in trying to talk him out of it."
It was perhaps an hour until dusk when the group caught up with Anania again. She was waiting for them in a bower with a pair of white-furred rabbits on a length of rope. She'd expertly removed the feet, guts and head and suspended the carcasses from a low-hanging branch to drain.
"The bridge is this way," she said as she gathered up the rabbits. "We can follow this road directly there and reach it before nightfall." Looking down it became apparent with some scrutiny that the remains of ancient flagstones were buried beneath eons of encroaching vegetation. A road that predated anything any of the Order had ever seen lay forgotten under foot and stretched off eastward toward the bridge and westward into the unknown depths of Spiny Wood.
True to her word, the elf maid had them at the bridge before the last light of Orin's Shield had faded from the sky. It was a marvel to behold, composed of time-worn stone and spanning a gap of unknowable depth. Four sets of arched stone supports maintained the surface which was in startlingly good shape given its obvious age. Only Karak had seen similar marvels, and even he was impressed with the apparent craftsmanship. The near side of the span had been sealed by a gate at one time, but it had rusted into ruin long ago. A lone tower stood vigil on the opposite side; its uppermost walls and roof had collapsed in leaving the top of the tower broken and jagged. Creepers and moss had done their best to obscure both tower and bridge.
Anania took it all in with a glance. "No apparent enemies," she announced, but Shamalin was unconvinced.
"Even so. Stand ready," the priestess said. "Let us watch the area for a bit before crossing."
"It will be night soon," the elf observed, looking briefly skyward.
"We should observe the area first," Shamalin reiterated and the elf nodded deferentially.
"As you say," she told the cleric and stepped backward.
"Ayremac," Morier said, gesturing to the bridge. Ayremac nodded, spread his wings and took to the air.
He flew up and over the World's Edge Gorge, taking one loop down and under the bridge. It seemed to be what Anania said it was: an old bridge and nothing more. He saw no apparent signs of life around the tower or in the encroaching forest. At ground level, one side of the tower had crumbled around what was probably the entrance, but it was otherwise intact, pierced only by narrow windows at various points around it.
He landed on the far side and signaled for the second group to cross. Seeing her cue Shamalin invoked the power of Flor and cast Wind Walk on herself and Ixin. The two began to grow insubstantial, transforming over the next thirty seconds into creatures of mist. While they did that, Ayremac approached the ruined tower, calling on his own goddess-granted power to Detect the presence of Evil. He scrutinized the tower but saw nothing.
He was about to turn away to inspect the area of forest to the right of the tower when he sensed something vile moving in the hole broken in the structure's side. That was all the more he had time for before three brightly colored rays of light stabbed from the interior striking him in the head and right arm. All three knifed through his spell resistance, but he shrugged off the power of the first without effect.[1] He felt his muscles harden briefly as the second washed over him, but his fortitude was such that he shrugged off the attempt to transmute his Flesh to Stone. The third struck his head and he felt his world reel briefly.
He staggered, and when he'd righted himself he saw a giant squeezing itself out of the opening in the side of the tower. It was at least 18 feet tall - or it would have been if it weren't extricating itself from the tower - lanky and muscular with skin the color of sand or wax. Here and there plates of leathery hide protected its naked form. One enormous hand gripped a greatclub that looked like it was made from the trunk of an entire tree. But the most shocking thing was the fact that its head looked like nothing so much as a smaller version of Lord Hofralix himself. A crown of eyestalks ringed the top of the skull, a central malignant eye stared at the Officer of Umba, and a toothsome maw slavered below. It was as if someone had somehow grafted a beholder onto a giant's torso.
No, Ayremac decided, that wasn't the most shocking thing. What was more surprising to him was the fact that he knew at once this creature was his friend. At least as good a friend as any of those he'd been traveling with.
"Hi," he said, smiling and raising a hand to wave.
-------------------------
[1] That first ray was Charm Person, but the spell only effects Humanoids and as Ayremac is not technically a Humanoid but rather an Outsider, it had no effect on him. Fortunately the giant also has Charm Monster, which is much more useful against Outsiders.
Burningspear
First Post
UUpsie!
Jon Potter
First Post
[Realms #409] Eyebeams for Everyone!
It gets better! At least briefly so...
---------------------------------------------
The beholder-headed-giant looked down at the smiling Ayremac with something akin to confusion on his alien vissage.
"Giant, it is a great pleasure to see you!" the holy warrior grinned back. "I have been traveling many days with a group of... well, heroes, if I may say it plainly."
"Heroes," the giant rumbled, licking his lips. "I like heroes."
"And I'm quite certain that they'll like you," Ayremac told his old friend. "Let me tell them it is safe to pass." He raised the Ring of Communication to his mouth and began speaking into it.
"Holy crap!" Huzair gasped, his eyes wide with surprise as he stared at the giant. "Look at that!"
Karak shaded his own eyes and squinted across to the other side. "I can nae tell fo' sure, but it seems that Flyboy is makin' nice with the giant! Hrmf, that be interestin'," the dwarf said. "Well he be no match for a beholder wearin' giant that be fo' sure. I mean I just be teachin' him how to fight and we had not gotten to methods o' fightin' monstrous creatures yet. Well my path seems clear."
"Me too," Huzair said and he muttered a few magic words as he hurled a ball of bat guano and sulfur at the giant. The tiny ball had just left the wizard's fingers, streaking away toward its explosive conclusion, when Ayremac's voice spoke from the Ring of Communication that the mage wore.
"Huzair, Good news! The bridge is clear... you may pass straight away," the Officer of Umba said cheerily. "I have actually bumped into a good friend here... Come quickly!"
"Oops!" Huzair said.
The tiny bead that the wizard had thrown glowed with magic as it streaked across the gorge, struck the side of the tower behind the giant and exploded, engulfing the huge figure in an enormous Fireball. The giant roared, staggering forward with smoke and flames rising from his blackened hide.
The edge of the Fireball licked the air a few inches from Ayremac's shoulder, but left the holy warrior unhurt.
Morier drew Stoneblade and darted forward, a look of grim determination on his face. Huzair called after him, "Hey Morier! Buff now, unless of course you want to wait until you are in hand-to-hand combat with cyclops over there." Scowling, Morier skidded to a stop after 30 feet and empowered his muscles with a Bull's Strength.
"Morier has got the plan! Go with it!" Karak shouted into the wind as he began hustling after the albino. "I'll be a distraction!"
Shamalin, meanwhile, had drifted insubstantially across the gorge, and once she and Ixin were across the gap the cleric dismissed the Wind Walk spell, returning the two to their corporeal forms. Ixin was prepared and she inhaled deeply and then breathed on the giant. A cone of dragonfire enveloped the creature, but after being hit with Huzair's magic he seemed better prepared and was able to twist away, avoiding the full brunt of the attack as he did so.
He could not avoid the arrow that Anania sent into his left thigh just above the knee. The shaft buried itself in his flesh up to the fletchings, staggering the giant and ripping another shriek of pain from his unnatural maw.
Ayremac was stunned. Why were his allies attacking his friend? "Stop shooting!" he cried into the Ring of Communication. "For Lisori's sake! Stop shooting!" Then he called on Umba's Sacred Healing, hoping to ease his friend's suffering if he could.
His "friend", however, wasn't interested in the easing of any suffering. He was interested in inflicting some and Ayremac was struck broadside by a two-handed blow from the giant's greatclub. The impact stove in the side of the holy warrior's helmet and filled his vision with exploding stars. Rubber-legged, Ayremac dropped first to his knees and then to his side as darkness threatened from all sides. Instinctivally, he raised his shield as the club came around again and he managed to deflect the blow, sending it ineffectually into the dirt beside him.
His shield was no defense against the ray that stabbed at him, and he was so shaken by the bludgeoning that he could not resist the power of the eyebeam and he felt the world speed up around him as his own actions were Slowed.
Another ray struck Ixin, and although she tried to muster her willpower to resist, she felt an undeniable wave of force slam into her, knocking her down and onto her back.
Another pair of rays struck Shamalin, and she was able to overcome the power of the Fear spell that washed over her, but could do nothing to resist the flesh rending Inflict Wounds spell that cut a bloody swathe across her cheek. She cried out in pain.
"Ouch!" Huzair winced on the opposite side of the bridge. "Targeting the cleric? That's dirty pool!" He cast Pyrotechnics on the tiny fires that continued to burn on the giant's back and shoulders and grinned as the fire exploded in flashes of dazzling light. It was the kind of spell that would have ended the fight right then and there... if it had worked. The giant was clearly annoyed by the flash of light, but not otherwise inconvenienced.
The pair of red-tailed Magic Missiles that Ixin sent into its side irritated it, however. And the arrow that Anania planted in its neck made it roar in frustration and pain. Of course, the Holy Smite Ayremac directed at it thereafter made it forget all about those minor injuries. Umba's power washed over the creature bringing pain with it and leaving only darkness in its wake.
Blinded, the giant stepped back, firing its eyebeams without direction and without effect. It bellowed in frustration, but that only lasted a moment before, Huzair dropped a Snowball Swarm on it. It retained its feet for a few seconds before Morier charged up and buried Stoneblade up to the fuller in its exposed belly. Lightning exploded from the impact point, arcing momentarily between victim and attacker before the giant stiffened and collapsed backward awkwardly against the tower foundation.
Burningspear said:
It gets better! At least briefly so...
---------------------------------------------
The beholder-headed-giant looked down at the smiling Ayremac with something akin to confusion on his alien vissage.
"Giant, it is a great pleasure to see you!" the holy warrior grinned back. "I have been traveling many days with a group of... well, heroes, if I may say it plainly."
"Heroes," the giant rumbled, licking his lips. "I like heroes."
"And I'm quite certain that they'll like you," Ayremac told his old friend. "Let me tell them it is safe to pass." He raised the Ring of Communication to his mouth and began speaking into it.
"Holy crap!" Huzair gasped, his eyes wide with surprise as he stared at the giant. "Look at that!"
Karak shaded his own eyes and squinted across to the other side. "I can nae tell fo' sure, but it seems that Flyboy is makin' nice with the giant! Hrmf, that be interestin'," the dwarf said. "Well he be no match for a beholder wearin' giant that be fo' sure. I mean I just be teachin' him how to fight and we had not gotten to methods o' fightin' monstrous creatures yet. Well my path seems clear."
"Me too," Huzair said and he muttered a few magic words as he hurled a ball of bat guano and sulfur at the giant. The tiny ball had just left the wizard's fingers, streaking away toward its explosive conclusion, when Ayremac's voice spoke from the Ring of Communication that the mage wore.
"Huzair, Good news! The bridge is clear... you may pass straight away," the Officer of Umba said cheerily. "I have actually bumped into a good friend here... Come quickly!"
"Oops!" Huzair said.
The tiny bead that the wizard had thrown glowed with magic as it streaked across the gorge, struck the side of the tower behind the giant and exploded, engulfing the huge figure in an enormous Fireball. The giant roared, staggering forward with smoke and flames rising from his blackened hide.
The edge of the Fireball licked the air a few inches from Ayremac's shoulder, but left the holy warrior unhurt.
Morier drew Stoneblade and darted forward, a look of grim determination on his face. Huzair called after him, "Hey Morier! Buff now, unless of course you want to wait until you are in hand-to-hand combat with cyclops over there." Scowling, Morier skidded to a stop after 30 feet and empowered his muscles with a Bull's Strength.
"Morier has got the plan! Go with it!" Karak shouted into the wind as he began hustling after the albino. "I'll be a distraction!"
Shamalin, meanwhile, had drifted insubstantially across the gorge, and once she and Ixin were across the gap the cleric dismissed the Wind Walk spell, returning the two to their corporeal forms. Ixin was prepared and she inhaled deeply and then breathed on the giant. A cone of dragonfire enveloped the creature, but after being hit with Huzair's magic he seemed better prepared and was able to twist away, avoiding the full brunt of the attack as he did so.
He could not avoid the arrow that Anania sent into his left thigh just above the knee. The shaft buried itself in his flesh up to the fletchings, staggering the giant and ripping another shriek of pain from his unnatural maw.
Ayremac was stunned. Why were his allies attacking his friend? "Stop shooting!" he cried into the Ring of Communication. "For Lisori's sake! Stop shooting!" Then he called on Umba's Sacred Healing, hoping to ease his friend's suffering if he could.
His "friend", however, wasn't interested in the easing of any suffering. He was interested in inflicting some and Ayremac was struck broadside by a two-handed blow from the giant's greatclub. The impact stove in the side of the holy warrior's helmet and filled his vision with exploding stars. Rubber-legged, Ayremac dropped first to his knees and then to his side as darkness threatened from all sides. Instinctivally, he raised his shield as the club came around again and he managed to deflect the blow, sending it ineffectually into the dirt beside him.
His shield was no defense against the ray that stabbed at him, and he was so shaken by the bludgeoning that he could not resist the power of the eyebeam and he felt the world speed up around him as his own actions were Slowed.
Another ray struck Ixin, and although she tried to muster her willpower to resist, she felt an undeniable wave of force slam into her, knocking her down and onto her back.
Another pair of rays struck Shamalin, and she was able to overcome the power of the Fear spell that washed over her, but could do nothing to resist the flesh rending Inflict Wounds spell that cut a bloody swathe across her cheek. She cried out in pain.
"Ouch!" Huzair winced on the opposite side of the bridge. "Targeting the cleric? That's dirty pool!" He cast Pyrotechnics on the tiny fires that continued to burn on the giant's back and shoulders and grinned as the fire exploded in flashes of dazzling light. It was the kind of spell that would have ended the fight right then and there... if it had worked. The giant was clearly annoyed by the flash of light, but not otherwise inconvenienced.
The pair of red-tailed Magic Missiles that Ixin sent into its side irritated it, however. And the arrow that Anania planted in its neck made it roar in frustration and pain. Of course, the Holy Smite Ayremac directed at it thereafter made it forget all about those minor injuries. Umba's power washed over the creature bringing pain with it and leaving only darkness in its wake.
Blinded, the giant stepped back, firing its eyebeams without direction and without effect. It bellowed in frustration, but that only lasted a moment before, Huzair dropped a Snowball Swarm on it. It retained its feet for a few seconds before Morier charged up and buried Stoneblade up to the fuller in its exposed belly. Lightning exploded from the impact point, arcing momentarily between victim and attacker before the giant stiffened and collapsed backward awkwardly against the tower foundation.
Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
The group certainly flexed their collective might there, which begs the question; Does this put them on a roll or does it make them overconfident?
Jon Potter
First Post
Hairy Minotaur said:The group certainly flexed their collective might there, which begs the question; Does this put them on a roll or does it make them overconfident?
Are you kidding me? I could throw a bound and gagged kobold in an empty 10 x 10 room and they'd debate whether it was worth the risk to get involved.
Actually, with kobolds that might not be a bad thing.
Burningspear
First Post
Jon Potter said:
rofl ... very funny, though i wonder how a giant can make it nigh impossible for decently build chars to fail will saves, hmmz...
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