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Wulf's Collected Story Hour -- FINAL UPDATE 12/25
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<blockquote data-quote="Wulf Ratbane" data-source="post: 1256" data-attributes="member: 94"><p><strong>DEEP HORIZON Part I</strong></p><p></p><p>The Old Man had barely opened the door to his study before Wulf pushed his way in. Keldas, Dorn, and Shorty swept in behind him, cramping the already small cloister even further. Wulf paced like a caged animal.</p><p></p><p>"I'm goin' crazy here. Yer got anything else needs killin'?"</p><p></p><p>"Well, while you lot were off playing with vampires, we have had a few problems of our own. From what you mentioned about the drow that escaped from here when you first assaulted the Forge, we gathered that there were more tunnels below. We've been working to clear them, making slow progress, until recently. An earthquake of some kind opened up a wide highway into the underdeeps."</p><p></p><p>"Yer send some patrols?"</p><p></p><p>"Naturally. We sent a sizable patrol of dwarves, though only two survivors returned. They encountered a sizeable force of lizardmen, trolls-- even a beholder-- but managed to bring back this scroll and map."</p><p></p><p>Keldas could see the drow writing slithering across the surface of the letter, and took hold of it like it was a dead fish. "Orders for the trolls to report to the drow city, Chael Rendaar."</p><p></p><p>Wulf thumped his finger down on the map. "There's the city, but these here runes say the whole city was wiped out."</p><p></p><p>Keldas frowned at Wulf. "What's tough enough to take out an entire city of drow?"</p><p></p><p>"Present company excluded?"</p><p></p><p>Dorn nodded. "Aye! What are we waiting for?"</p><p></p><p>The Old Man nodded. "Given that we've suffered more earthquakes since then, at lessening intervals, there's certainly something going on down there, and the sooner you put a stop to it, the better."</p><p></p><p>"We'll make our preparations and head out as soon as possible," said Keldas. "I still have a few items to craft to aid us on our way."</p><p></p><p>Shorty didn't look as confident, whispering to Dorn as they headed out. "I have a bad feeling about this..."</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>Once they were prepared, they headed down into the underdark behind a small force of dwarves, including the two survivors from the last patrol. Eventually the dwarves reached their limit. They pointed off down the wide tunnel into the darkness. "This is as far as we go, but the city is just ahead, a few miles at most. May the blessin's of Moradin go with you!"</p><p></p><p>Wulf scowled. "Like I need <em>that</em> right now. Damn well keep his eyes off me... the less attention I get the better." Still, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face. Already he was aglow with the thought of skewering a drow or three from behind. He waited until the patrol had moved out of sight before turning to the group. "Yer ready or what?"</p><p></p><p>"Well," said Keldas. "You're the scout. Get scouting." He feebly waved his hand forward in a dismissive gesture.</p><p></p><p>Wulf saluted and skipped ahead with mock-halfling glee. "Keep about a hunn'erd feet back, right?"</p><p></p><p>Wulf led them forward a mile or so, ever downward, keeping his eyes and ears sharp, before finally sensing that something was wrong. High above him, voices muttered in Undercommon. The group was moving through a narrow cleft about 20 feet wide, but higher than they could see. Wulf waited for the group to rejoin him then pointed upwards, indicating that he'd check it out. He crept forward into the passage and spread wide his <em>Wings of Flying</em>.</p><p></p><p>Wulf rose slowly through the cavern, twenty feet, forty feet, eighty feet before he could see the ledge above him. The walls pulled away from the main cavern on both sides, leaving a shelf on either side. Wulf guessed the drow would be waiting there. He prepared for one mighty flap of wings that would propel him up and over the ledge, but before he could act, the enemy struck.</p><p></p><p>It wasn't drow. </p><p></p><p>In fact wasn't anything Wulf had ever seen or heard of before. It was a group of large, bat-like humanoids. They walked upright on short legs, their bodies were covered in thick fur, and their arms were crooked, but strong. Vestigal wing-flaps ran down the underside of their arms. Wulf had only a moment to take it all in before they began shooting at him with huge, wicked bows. Whatever they were, they had the sense to craft mighty bows, and they were powerful-- and accurate. Wulf took a couple of arrows before his instincts kicked into high gear. He shouted the alarm and launched a salvo of daggers at the nearest creature.</p><p></p><p>The group on the ground moved into action. Shorty levitated just above Loyal, who strained his eyes up into the darkness to pick out a target. Karak unfurled his own wings and launched himself onto the western ledge, opposite Wulf-- where four more of the creatures waited. If Karak hadn't moved so quickly, Wulf would have found himself in an extremely unpleasant crossfire.</p><p></p><p>By the dim glow of the paladin's sword, Loyal could now spot a target. He enchanted an arrow with <em>Light</em> before letting it fly. Now the rest of the group could see their targets and it wasn't long before Shorty and Dorn were bringing down spellfire on the ledge. It was, perhaps, too little too late. All four of the creatures turned towards the paladin and let out a host of sonic shrieks that nearly tore him apart. He staggered to his knees and called upon divine healing before rising once again to do battle. </p><p></p><p>Keldas' <em>earring of darkvision</em> served him well. He cast <em>haste</em> and <em>fly</em> and zipped up to where he could see the group on the eastern ledge where Wulf was battling. Keldas was the first to notice that one of the creatures was bound up in the corner. <em>So, they fight amongst their own kind? They must be civilized, then. </em> Keldas summoned an enormous celestial lion directly onto the ledge. Wulf took advantage of the opportunity to close his wings and step lightly onto the ledge, in perfect flanking position. <em>Taranak</em> burst into flame as he hacked into the bat creature's unprotected flanks. </p><p></p><p>Before long Wulf and the lion had ripped down two of the four creatures on the shelf. Wulf pointed across the chasm to the shelf on the other side, where the paladin was having no luck trying to hold his own against the bat-creatures. "Keldas! I got these! Have him leap across to help the assmar!" Wulf gestured to the bound creature that struggled next to the lion. "Yer move, yer dead!" Wulf turned to face the two opponents remaining on the east side.</p><p></p><p>The mighty celestial lion-- fifteen feet long and six feet high at the shoulder-- gathered its haunches and prepared to nimbly make the twenty foot leap across the chasm. The lion's mighty jump carried it all of FIVE FEET out into the chasm where it hung for a moment before plummetting the entire 90 feet or so to the ground. Apparently gravity worked a little differently on the prime than it did on Mt. Celestia. If it was possible for a lion to express a look of shock and embarassment, that was it.</p><p></p><p>Unfortunately Wulf missed it. The bat-creatures weren't remotely out of the fight. They dropped their bows and came at him with huge hooked staffs, not to mention their enormous fangs. They towered over him, their maws full of teeth, and the wounds caused by their vicious bites bled profusely. Worse still, Wulf could tell from their fighting style that they were skilled warriors. They were able to strike him two or three times each, despite his best defenses. Fortunately, with Keldas providing additional firepower, he dropped another of his foes. Wulf was breathing heavily and bleeding profusely, and took a moment to sneak a peek at the western ledge. </p><p></p><p>Despite the best efforts of Dorn, Shorty, and the paladin, they'd only dropped one. The remaining three bat-creatures had their bows drawn, arrows trained on Wulf. He cursed his charismatic presence and impressive fighting prowess and exchanged a look with Keldas. <em>I'll never survive this. So long.</em></p><p></p><p>Three arrows struck home with incredible force, one even striking a vital spot.</p><p></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>DM: Three hits. One crit.</strong></p><p><strong>Wulf: This is bad, guys. Real bad. </strong></p><p><strong>Dorn: How many hp's you have left?</strong></p><p><strong>Wulf: It's bad. Not many. [37]</strong></p><p><strong>DM: [roll, roll, roll... roll, roll... adding... adding...] THIRTY SIX!</strong></p><p><strong>Wulf: tee hee!</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p></p><p>Though literally hanging on by a hair's breadth, Wulf launched himself onto his last opponent with unbridled fury, while Keldas, Dorn, and Shorty unleashed holy hell on the western ledge. Just like that, their enemies were all slain, and the danger, it seemed, was past.</p><p></p><p>Wulf flew down to Dorn as fast as his wings could carry him. "Heal please!"</p><p></p><p>Dorn grabbed the <em>Wand of Cure Light Wounds</em> from his belt. Wulf gripped his arm. "No, no. <em>HEAL</em>, please!"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Wulf Ratbane, post: 1256, member: 94"] [b]DEEP HORIZON Part I[/b] The Old Man had barely opened the door to his study before Wulf pushed his way in. Keldas, Dorn, and Shorty swept in behind him, cramping the already small cloister even further. Wulf paced like a caged animal. "I'm goin' crazy here. Yer got anything else needs killin'?" "Well, while you lot were off playing with vampires, we have had a few problems of our own. From what you mentioned about the drow that escaped from here when you first assaulted the Forge, we gathered that there were more tunnels below. We've been working to clear them, making slow progress, until recently. An earthquake of some kind opened up a wide highway into the underdeeps." "Yer send some patrols?" "Naturally. We sent a sizable patrol of dwarves, though only two survivors returned. They encountered a sizeable force of lizardmen, trolls-- even a beholder-- but managed to bring back this scroll and map." Keldas could see the drow writing slithering across the surface of the letter, and took hold of it like it was a dead fish. "Orders for the trolls to report to the drow city, Chael Rendaar." Wulf thumped his finger down on the map. "There's the city, but these here runes say the whole city was wiped out." Keldas frowned at Wulf. "What's tough enough to take out an entire city of drow?" "Present company excluded?" Dorn nodded. "Aye! What are we waiting for?" The Old Man nodded. "Given that we've suffered more earthquakes since then, at lessening intervals, there's certainly something going on down there, and the sooner you put a stop to it, the better." "We'll make our preparations and head out as soon as possible," said Keldas. "I still have a few items to craft to aid us on our way." Shorty didn't look as confident, whispering to Dorn as they headed out. "I have a bad feeling about this..." ***** Once they were prepared, they headed down into the underdark behind a small force of dwarves, including the two survivors from the last patrol. Eventually the dwarves reached their limit. They pointed off down the wide tunnel into the darkness. "This is as far as we go, but the city is just ahead, a few miles at most. May the blessin's of Moradin go with you!" Wulf scowled. "Like I need [i]that[/i] right now. Damn well keep his eyes off me... the less attention I get the better." Still, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face. Already he was aglow with the thought of skewering a drow or three from behind. He waited until the patrol had moved out of sight before turning to the group. "Yer ready or what?" "Well," said Keldas. "You're the scout. Get scouting." He feebly waved his hand forward in a dismissive gesture. Wulf saluted and skipped ahead with mock-halfling glee. "Keep about a hunn'erd feet back, right?" Wulf led them forward a mile or so, ever downward, keeping his eyes and ears sharp, before finally sensing that something was wrong. High above him, voices muttered in Undercommon. The group was moving through a narrow cleft about 20 feet wide, but higher than they could see. Wulf waited for the group to rejoin him then pointed upwards, indicating that he'd check it out. He crept forward into the passage and spread wide his [i]Wings of Flying[/i]. Wulf rose slowly through the cavern, twenty feet, forty feet, eighty feet before he could see the ledge above him. The walls pulled away from the main cavern on both sides, leaving a shelf on either side. Wulf guessed the drow would be waiting there. He prepared for one mighty flap of wings that would propel him up and over the ledge, but before he could act, the enemy struck. It wasn't drow. In fact wasn't anything Wulf had ever seen or heard of before. It was a group of large, bat-like humanoids. They walked upright on short legs, their bodies were covered in thick fur, and their arms were crooked, but strong. Vestigal wing-flaps ran down the underside of their arms. Wulf had only a moment to take it all in before they began shooting at him with huge, wicked bows. Whatever they were, they had the sense to craft mighty bows, and they were powerful-- and accurate. Wulf took a couple of arrows before his instincts kicked into high gear. He shouted the alarm and launched a salvo of daggers at the nearest creature. The group on the ground moved into action. Shorty levitated just above Loyal, who strained his eyes up into the darkness to pick out a target. Karak unfurled his own wings and launched himself onto the western ledge, opposite Wulf-- where four more of the creatures waited. If Karak hadn't moved so quickly, Wulf would have found himself in an extremely unpleasant crossfire. By the dim glow of the paladin's sword, Loyal could now spot a target. He enchanted an arrow with [i]Light[/i] before letting it fly. Now the rest of the group could see their targets and it wasn't long before Shorty and Dorn were bringing down spellfire on the ledge. It was, perhaps, too little too late. All four of the creatures turned towards the paladin and let out a host of sonic shrieks that nearly tore him apart. He staggered to his knees and called upon divine healing before rising once again to do battle. Keldas' [i]earring of darkvision[/i] served him well. He cast [i]haste[/i] and [i]fly[/i] and zipped up to where he could see the group on the eastern ledge where Wulf was battling. Keldas was the first to notice that one of the creatures was bound up in the corner. [i]So, they fight amongst their own kind? They must be civilized, then. [/i] Keldas summoned an enormous celestial lion directly onto the ledge. Wulf took advantage of the opportunity to close his wings and step lightly onto the ledge, in perfect flanking position. [i]Taranak[/i] burst into flame as he hacked into the bat creature's unprotected flanks. Before long Wulf and the lion had ripped down two of the four creatures on the shelf. Wulf pointed across the chasm to the shelf on the other side, where the paladin was having no luck trying to hold his own against the bat-creatures. "Keldas! I got these! Have him leap across to help the assmar!" Wulf gestured to the bound creature that struggled next to the lion. "Yer move, yer dead!" Wulf turned to face the two opponents remaining on the east side. The mighty celestial lion-- fifteen feet long and six feet high at the shoulder-- gathered its haunches and prepared to nimbly make the twenty foot leap across the chasm. The lion's mighty jump carried it all of FIVE FEET out into the chasm where it hung for a moment before plummetting the entire 90 feet or so to the ground. Apparently gravity worked a little differently on the prime than it did on Mt. Celestia. If it was possible for a lion to express a look of shock and embarassment, that was it. Unfortunately Wulf missed it. The bat-creatures weren't remotely out of the fight. They dropped their bows and came at him with huge hooked staffs, not to mention their enormous fangs. They towered over him, their maws full of teeth, and the wounds caused by their vicious bites bled profusely. Worse still, Wulf could tell from their fighting style that they were skilled warriors. They were able to strike him two or three times each, despite his best defenses. Fortunately, with Keldas providing additional firepower, he dropped another of his foes. Wulf was breathing heavily and bleeding profusely, and took a moment to sneak a peek at the western ledge. Despite the best efforts of Dorn, Shorty, and the paladin, they'd only dropped one. The remaining three bat-creatures had their bows drawn, arrows trained on Wulf. He cursed his charismatic presence and impressive fighting prowess and exchanged a look with Keldas. [i]I'll never survive this. So long.[/i] Three arrows struck home with incredible force, one even striking a vital spot. [b] DM: Three hits. One crit. Wulf: This is bad, guys. Real bad. Dorn: How many hp's you have left? Wulf: It's bad. Not many. [37] DM: [roll, roll, roll... roll, roll... adding... adding...] THIRTY SIX! Wulf: tee hee! [/b] Though literally hanging on by a hair's breadth, Wulf launched himself onto his last opponent with unbridled fury, while Keldas, Dorn, and Shorty unleashed holy hell on the western ledge. Just like that, their enemies were all slain, and the danger, it seemed, was past. Wulf flew down to Dorn as fast as his wings could carry him. "Heal please!" Dorn grabbed the [i]Wand of Cure Light Wounds[/i] from his belt. Wulf gripped his arm. "No, no. [i]HEAL[/i], please!" [/QUOTE]
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