Valley of the Dead: Chapter 1 "A gathering of heroes"

[Theroc]

Alevyth removed his helmet and sat it in a free space on the table as he took in the environs. It was a rather active place, being full of patrons. However, it was warm and sheltered from the rain, and with all of the commotion, even provided a modicum of privacy with which Alevyth could speak his mind.

"Lady Adelaide, I must ask. Thus far I have seen you be nothing but polite even when I was your captive, yet... you seemed so harsh on Mister Seemer. I am curious as to why..."

However, Adelaide would not have a chance to speak as three new patrons entered, and he heard a man cry orc and heard the drawing of weapons. Alevyth stood, unsheathing his own weapon before he bellowed.

"STOP OR IN THE NAME OF HELM AND ILMATER I SHALL STRIKE YOU DEAD! LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS!" His tone took an authorititative tone as he strode to intercept the dwarves, so that any attempt to disobey could be met with force. With his face unarmored, anyone in the tavern could see the determination and seriousness on his face, longsword and shield in hand. Should the dwarves acquiesce and the accused orc remains calm, Alevyth will resheath his weapon and apologize to the innkeeper and patrons for any undue concern he caused.

[sblock=OOC]
M&L, should I use a diplomacy or intimidation check here? If so, feel free to roll for me, though I can't recall Alevyth's modifiers atm.[/sblock]

 

[Dragonwriter]

Herriman curses quietly to himself in his native language as he hides behind the barrel. Did that big one see me?!? A curse upon this storm, the halfling thinks, nearly slapping himself on the forehead for his own carelessness.

The little man listens carefully and decides to act like a fallen, miserable beggar if either of the two should approach him. His clothes are dirty enough... If he hears the footsteps receding, though, he'll wait for a moment and then step out to follow the pair again. Even if he did lose the trail, he would likely be able to pick it up at some point again, as that young wizard seemed to have quite an ego and would doubtless be unable to resist showing off at some point in the future.

 

[jager0727]

Sensalar sighs and smirkingly remarks to Adelaide "Such, uhmmm, zeal is surely to be appreciated anytime, but moreso when you haven't already pledged yourself as his comrade. Would you be so kind as to politely explain the benfits of giving all of nature's creatures the benefit of the doubt on my behalf? I'd not like anyone to mistake the minor inconvenience I may cause in a moment for an attack." before closing his eyes in focus and muttering quietly as he makes deliberate gestures beneath the table.
[sblock] Casting Impeding Stones beneath the dwarves:

IMPEDING STONES
Transmutation
Level: Druid 1, ranger 1
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area: Brick, stone, or earthen surface
in a 40-ft.-radius spread
Duration: 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: Refl ex partial; see
text
Spell Resistance: No
At your command, the cobblestones of
the street shudder and crack, sending
your foes staggering about.
Stones, bricks, hard dirt, or any
similar surface cracks and shifts in
its foundations, rendering footing
treacherous and potentially tripping
anyone in the area. Any creature
who fails its Refl ex save is knocked
prone. Those who remain standing
can move at only half normal speed.
Each round on your turn, standing
creatures must make either a new
Refl ex save or a Balance check (their
choice) to remain upright.
Because the stones continuously
shift, any attempt at spellcasting
requires a Concentration check
(DC 15 + spell level), and any attacks
made from within the area take a –2
penalty; this does not stack with the
penalty for attacking while prone if​

the attacker failed his save. [/sblock]

 

[Voda Vosa]

Thok enjoyied the rain during the trip to the city, he removed his blanket and walked freely having the water in the face.
As the group reaches the Inn and enters, Thok looks around, in awe. Suddenly, something made him came back from his thoughts. A dwarf was menacing him, insulting his lineage, and drawing weapons at him. Thok needed nothing more. The dewarf's hjead would be rolling in the floor now, but the half human had learned something from Kye and Merry, and tried words before blades.
He puffed his chest and widen his nosetrils, as his lef hand reached for his trusty blade.

"You insult Thok? Draw weapons at Mighty Thok? Be you brave or Drunk, Thok no cares! Think twice before Thok spills your guts and cuts you in halfs! Thok warns you, if Thok has to stain Merry's second house with your blood, you be in troubles, puny dwarf." demanded the Halforc agresively

Intimidate 11

 

[HolyMan]

Yasaderian comes swiftly to the Helmite's hand. He eyes the dwarves then gives a scoff, "Hrmph! Truly thy wish to try thy hand against the Fist of the Vigilant One and Thok the Mighty, Defeater of The White Lady? Ye have brought thy own doom upon thee."

[sblock=OOC] Let's see I tried aid another Intimidate and failed

So good luck to us.

And on Kye and Paladins that is two much metal rubbed brains in one room, I was going to say something but couldn't think of something before we moved on. Sorry I've been busy ML, both here and RL but will work harder.

And thanks for the THY post OOC I have it copied and to hand when a longwinded posts is in the works. [/sblock]

 

[Scott DeWar]

[sblock=jager0727] She is right, the spell is not in the spell compendium. It should be about page 120, but it is not in mine. What oter book should it be in? Complete divine maybe?

edit: never mind, it is not in the complete divine either.[/sblock]

 

[ethandrew]

Keht speaks one low, guttural word, and it stops Latham in the rain. The wizard looks back to the area the monk indicates with his bandaged hand, seeing nothing. Latham wasn't entirely sure why Keht bothered trying to point things out to him, but he trusted the warning all the same. Not wanting to be followed any further than it was apparent he had been, the enchanter reaches out a hand and grasps the large, cowled monk's shoulder, and in a moment the two were gone.

[sblock=OOC]First off, sorry for the disappearance. I damaged my eardrum and came down with some nasty vertigo from it. Much better now.

Secondly, Latham will use his Alacritous Cogitation to Dimension Door back to the Temple Square.[/sblock]

 

[Myth and Legend]

Chaos ensues in an instant - the patrons scatter, and the inkeepr pulls the golden haired Paladin female on the side, and subsequently her two male escorts follow. Merry shrieks but has no time for explanations, and simply storms off towards the innkeeper as well. In a few short seconds only Thok and Kye are left facing the band of Dwarves. For some reason however, the short men do not attack, but rather laugh and hail each other.

Suddenly, what appears to be the leader dwarfs jumps up, spilling his tankard of amber coloured ale across the littered table. He screams at the top of his lungs, his face growing red with rage, as he pulls out a viscous looking single-edged greataxe, and leaps across the table, stomping several plates and tankards in the process.

The other Dwarves laugh and start beating their fists on the table, *pound* *pound* *pound* noises overcoming the patrons and the screams of the innkeeper, while the Dwarves begin singing with loud voices, raspy and sluggish after all the ale and wine they have had.

"GLORY AND FAME,
BLOOD IS OUR NAME,
SOULS FULL OF THUNDER,
HEARTS OF STEEL!"

*pound* *pound* *pound*

"KILLERS OF MEN,
OF WARRIORS FRIEND -
SWORN TO AVENGE OUR FALLEN BROTHERS,
'TILL THE END!"

The song sounds awe inspiring as the raging dwarf growls with inhuman ferocity and grins wickedly, bashing his massive fist against his forehead in a primitive taunt, while holding the menacing axe in his left hand and pointing towards Thok with it. However, the Half-Orc had already reacted to the movement, and is not ought off-guard, but rather is faster than the dwarf seemed to expect. Kye is distracted for only a fraction of a moment, as Merry scuttles away behind him, but that still loses him the edge on the enemy.

[sblock]It's Thok and Kye vs. Bolgrim Bloodaxe. Good luck

Thok's Initiative: 1d20+3=23 - he is just a beast!
Bolgrim's Initiative: 1d20+1=19
Kye's Intiative: 1d20+1=19

Initative modifiers for both Kye and Bolgrim are +1, so i rolled a 10d10 tiebreaker. Bolgrim came on top.

Thok can act first, they are around 20 feet apart, distance is not clear enough for a charge on either side (people in the middle). Bolgrim has Uncanny Dodge so he is not flatfooted. For this round only (Thok's initial one), his AC is 16. I am giving you this just so you know when you hit or miss and post accordingly.

Actions:

Bolgrim uses: Rage, Frenzy and then Intimidating Rage vs. Thok. DC 25 - Thok must succeed vs a demoralizing Intimidate check or become shaken until Bolgrim stops raging (this is for round 2 and onward though). These are all free actions used on his turn regardless. VV has to post Thok's action so i can do the rest.
[sblock=secret DM screen][sblock=Do not look please!]Bolgrim Bloodaxe
HP 192, dmg reduction 2/-, AC 16

Rage/Frenzy: HP: 216, dmg reduction 2/-, AC: 10, takes 2 points of NLDMG per round
Total full attack: +25/+20/+15
Damage: 1d12+15 (str) + 3 enchantment

Loot: Adamantine Breastplate, Greataxe +3, 1000 gp.
[/sblock][/sblock][/sblock]

***

For a moment it seems that the Halfling is alone, huddled against a barrel under the drenching cold rain, and all the dark and grey world around him is completely uncaring. It is then he hears a voice, overpowering the splashing of water and rain pools. "You can cease the beggar act dear."

The voice is smooth and alluring, and belongs to a female, who much to Herriman's surprise, is perched atop a two story building on his left, casually grabbing the edge of the roof with her hands between her widely spread legs and looking out towards him with her face hidden beneath a crimson hooded cloak. "It seems you have alerted our greedy Wizard friend. No matter, I can still track him. This town is dreadfully small." the last bit came out with a sigh which trailed off in to the noise of the rainy night.

***
​

Latham appears out of thin air in the middle of the temple square, and finds himself staring directly at the surprised face of a large carriage horse. The animal whinnies and attempts to rear, while the other horse turns around and looks at the mage and his companion with a calm apathy. The rain is thick, the night almost upon the city, and the square is thus completely void of people, save for a short chubby man in a white gown with muddied edges and a servant holding a piece of cloth over his head to protect him from the downpour.

The man is surprised and jumps back with a gasp, but quickly regains his composure and gestures towards Latham. "You there, Wizard! Perhaps you will provide service in exchange for coin? Come now, even if those fool Paladins won't budge I am sure you can make use of a few thousand gold? Right? RIGHT?" The man seems overly anxious and points Latham towards his carriage.

[sblock] LOL Latham just manages to attract every mercenary job there is in this town. I don't force encounters, but rather always know what the major NPCs are doing when. And this guy was at the square just now lol, good choice for your DD spell ethandrew![/sblock]

​

 

[Dragonwriter]

Herriman stands, ignoring the rain pouring on him from above. The Halfling looks up at the strange female, eyebrow raised in cautious curiosity. “You are tracking him as well? For what purpose? Though I doubt either of us would have much difficulty in that respect. His manner and his traveling companion make him stand out.”

The tiny man focuses on the strange woman. Even through the pouring rain, a slight, quick blue glow is discernible in his eyes as he grows more hazy and indistinct in the rain, a precaution against any action that may be taken…

[sblock=OOC]
Shifting essentia to put two points into the Embrace of Shadow class feature and one in Step of the Bodiless class feature (both UD). +2 on Balance, Climb, Jump and Tumble checks, 20% miss chance and Hide in Plain Sight, until I switch points again.

Yeah, Herriman is a little paranoid.

And glad to see an update!
[/sblock]

 

[Myth and Legend]

The female suddenly leans forward from the edge of the tiled roof, water running down her hand as he hangs casually from the support beams. With unnatural grace that would shame a cat, she climbs down the facade of the building, making it seem as if it requires no effort to grab hold the miniscule ledges of the wallstones, windows or the line of white marble that separates the second floor from the first one. In but a moment she stands on the street, still enveloped in her cloak, but now Herriman can see her face beneath the hood.

She has flowing hair, shiny and raven black, and crimson lips the colour of a ripened apple, that contrast with her milky pale skin. Her eyes are black, or maybe very dark red, but the Halfling can't see well enough in the dusky evening. There is something feral and predatorial about this woman's features, but Herriman can't seem to look away from her face. She is alluring and enchanting, not pretty like a comely village lass, but superbly gorgeous and otherworldly.

The woman smiles faintly and rubs her inderx finger across her full lips - she is one head taller than the small statured man. "I am tracking him for much the same reason you are I presume. Unless you want to steal his bag of gold in which case I have misjudged a simple thief for a smart opportunist." Her voice is deep and soothing, and the Halfling can smell the faint scent of perfume coming from the lady.