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Post by monstermike on Jun 6, 2011 9:29:06 GMT -5
Even with the additional light, Bitsa is unable to find any mechanical means of opening the door - no keyholes or secret switches or buttons can he find in the rough rock face. Frustrated, he attempts the opening spell. The doorway glows more brightly for a moment, but remains closed.
While he works, Ozenda thinks back over her confinement as Salazar's prisoner. Usually, his visits were of an impersonal and carnal nature. But one time, she remembers him beginning to monologue after their encounter. He spoke of an item he had procured that would render its wearer practically invulnerable to damage by magic. In his strange lisp, he spoke of it being guarded by a powerful daemon that he discovered and tamed in the coal-pits. "Ath long ath the lantewnth thtay lit, he wemainth twapped within that woom, guawding my tweathuwe. But the only way to open the doow ith to put out the lantewnth."
[Bookkeeping: Bitsa gains 2 AP WIZ, Ozenda gets 14 AP LUK]
Game time 4/4 20:18
Please post your next move by noon Wednsday, Jun 8.
[GM comment: I'm holding off on the next round of battle in the decline shaft until after noon, in case Tenkar wants to post something special]
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Post by monstermike on Jun 8, 2011 9:51:27 GMT -5
The great battle in the decline shaft rages on. Tenkar and Skullsplitter continue to exchange blows and parries without being able to harm one another. Skullsplitter snarls, "You're a feisty little cuss, ain't ya?" as he blocks another furious axe blow from the snarling Tenkar. (Tenkar rolls 41 with no spite, Skullsplitter rolls 34 with no spite. Skullsplitter's armor absorbs the excess damage.)
Around them, the miners continue to use their advantage in numbers as the guards begin to tire. Several of the goblin guards are beginning to look quite bloodied, but the dwarves continue to press their attack. (Miners rolls 649 with 28 spite, Guards rolled 526 with 8 spite. Their collective armor still absorbs the difference.)
Game time 4/4 20:18
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Post by ProfGremlin on Jun 8, 2011 11:42:50 GMT -5
"Ah, hoolies! That's never failed me before!" Bitsa exclaims as the rock face gazes impassively at his perturbed expression. "No mechanical means of opening the door and it's not even trapped! What's he do - teleport into the blasted chamber?!" Just as the little thief is getting up a full head of steam to berate the nefarious wizard in absentia Ozenda lays a hand on his shoulder.
"Peace my friend. This is no ordinary portal you deal with to be passed through at your whim. I seem to recall..." her eyes unfocus as a hazy memory becomes clear, "Yes," she breathes, the world little more than a sigh, "Light is the key -"
"We've got that," Bitsa snaps, "and plenty of it with the other lanterns you collected!" he waves a hand at the three lanterns resting, oblivious to his outburst, on the tunnel floor.
"That may very well be the problem," Ozenda asserts, unruffled at Bitsa's annoyance, "Salazar boasted once that as long as the lanterns stay lit the door would remain locked. It would appear that he was telling the truth. As long as the light from these lanterns falls upon that door it will remain closed."
Bitsa's mind begins whirling with this revelation. "Ok, we know that Salazar's forces kept the creature at bay with fire and that light from these lanterns kept the door locked." The hobb taps his lip with a finger as he thinks the problem through. "Why don't we try something here? Let's take three lanterns each and place one set just around the corner to the north. The other set let's place just on the other side of tunnel four where we came into the mines. If the creature escapes perhaps the fire will herd it towards the darkness of the caves we came in through."
As Bitsa continues thinking about the issue, Ozenda takes the three lanterns down from the wall and places them in a row on the floor around the corner to the north blocking the corridor. When she returns Bitsa is holding a flask of oil stoppered with what look to be rags. A glance at the thief reveals his trousers are now raggedly hemmed. At Ozenda's quirked eyebrow he replies, "If you can't freeze or blast the creature when it escapes perhaps the extra fire will help."
They bend down and retrieve the lanterns from the floor, Ozenda carrying two and Bitsa carrying one and his flask of oil. They hasten, carefully, back around the southern corner and to the far side of the tunnel the delvers first entered the mines by. "Hope that bear doesn't mind a visitor..." Bitsa mutters as he crouches on the floor next to the lanterns. Ozenda stills her mind ready to cast one of a couple of spells.
The sounds of their companions battling the guards provides an uncomfortable reminder of the ticking clock.
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Post by monstermike on Jun 8, 2011 12:05:30 GMT -5
Bitsa and Ozenda disappear around the corner with the lanterns, leaving the western end of the coal-pits in complete darkness. There is a brief spell of silence then they hear a grating sound as of rock rasping against rock. The smell of coal becomes much stronger. Both Bitsa and Ozenda feel a cold sense of pure evil coming from around the corner.
A basso voice that sounds like rocks grinding together at the bottom of a deep well says, "Who dares to summon me?" They hear the sound of something large moving slowly away from them, then more quickly toward them. From around the corner comes darkness itself. Two red glowing eyes about can be seen in the middle of a cloud of coal dust. The eyes are almost eight feet above the floor of the cave, but nothing can be seen of the body supporting it. The coal dust chokes Bitsa and Ozenda.
When the creature spots the two delvers behind the lanterns, it speaks again. "Who are you, to dare summon me! I shall DESTROY you!!"
Game time 4/4 20:20
Please post your next move by noon Friday, Jun 8.
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Post by ProfGremlin on Jun 8, 2011 20:53:16 GMT -5
Bitsa feels the prickle of sweat break out all over. His scalp itches and a drop traces it's way down his back between his shoulder blades. Fear slides down to sit in his belly like a lead ingot. Only habit born of long practice holds the thief steady and motionless in his crouch next to the lanterns, oil flask ready to be lit.
Ozenda steps forward, careful not to pass the line of lanterns. She lifts her chin and levels an imperious gaze upon the creature before her. "I am Ozenda Twice Born, wizard of the Clockwork Fractal. Through my agency you have been released from your imprisonment by Salazar. As one who has recently achieved her own release from such heinous confines I offer you this: Allow myself and my companions - Bitsa, Tenkar, Owynn, Herman, Pan, the wizard Aonghasan and all the dwarves - to travel unmolested while within this demesne and we shall stand aside and raise no hand against you while you exact just retribution against Salazar and his minions." Ozenda's grey eyes meet the crimson gaze of the creature with a calm, level appraisal.
Bitsa looks up, his jaw dropping, eyes wide. Remind me not to get on her bad side...
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Post by monstermike on Jun 9, 2011 9:36:26 GMT -5
[Interstitial]
The red eyes flicker eerily from the blackness surrounding them. "Bound I remain, despite your words Ozenda Twice Born. I am bound to Salazar's will to protect his treasure and destroy all who would dare approach it!" The daemon lunges toward Bitsa and Ozenda but stops at the barrier created by the lanterns. With a snarl, the blackness moves quickly into tunnel four and seconds later the great bronze gong comes hurtling at the two of them like an enormous thrown frisbee.
[L2 DEX SR's to dodge this if you wish]
Game time 4/4 20:22
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Post by monstermike on Jun 9, 2011 11:50:50 GMT -5
Tenkar rushes at Skullsplitter with his spike shield, driving the spike into the orc captain's thigh. He gets hit hard with the pommel of the sabre. (Tenkar rolls 54 with 2 spite, Skullsplitter gets 38 with 1 spite. Skullsplitter takes 4 damage, Tenkar takes 1)
[GM Comment: Meanwhile, the miners battling around Tenkar and Skullsplitter remember that they are DWARVES with an average strength of 20. This gives them 4 adds (as citizens) rather than the 2 adds I had been giving them. With 54 dwarves fighting, this is a lot of extra adds.]
Feeling the tide of battle turning in their favor, the miners press their attack with renewed strength while the guards continue to weaken. Some of the miners begin to land some truly vicious blows and in some places the guards begin to fall back. (Miners roll 824 with 36(!) spite, Guards roll 526 with 11 spite. Guards take 115 damage after armor + 36 spite damage. Miners take the 11 spite damage.)
Game time 4/4 20:20
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Post by monstermike on Jun 9, 2011 12:09:19 GMT -5
In desperation, Skullsplitter tries his patented move, swinging his sabre high over his head to crack Tenkar's skull in two. The blow is deflected in time by Tenkar's shield but still hits hard on his shoulder. Tenkar counterattacks with an axe blow to Skullsplitter's extended arm. (Tenkar rolls 48 with 1 spite, Skullsplitter gets 46 with 3 spite. Tenkar takes 3 hits, Skullsplitter takes 1 hit.)
Meanwhile, the miners continue to press the guards. Weakened by their wounds, the stamina of several of the goblin guards fails. Three exhausted goblins can no longer maintain a proper guard with their swords and are struck down by the miners. The remaining goblins and several of the orcs look like they at the edge of their reserves as well. (Miners roll 788 plus 23 spite, Guards roll 456 with 13 spite. Miners take 13 spite damage, guards take 149 damage after armor plus 23 spite damage.)
Game time 4/4 20:22
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Post by monstermike on Jun 9, 2011 12:46:33 GMT -5
Feeling Skullsplitter's will beginning to flag, Tenkar presses his attack, striking hard with both spike shield and broad axe. Skullsplitter begins to step back under the onslaught. (Tenkar rolls 51 with 1 spite, Skullsplitter gets 33 with no spite. Skullsplitter takes 6 damage after armor plus 1 spite)
Meanwhile, the miners begin to rout the guards completely. The remaining goblins go down, and more and more miners begin to gang up on the orcs. Soon only four of the orc guards are left standing - all severely wounded. Skullsplitter looks around him as he fends off Tenkar's axe blows and sees his troops fall like wheat under a scythe. Realizing his situation is hopeless, he throws down his sabre with a growl of disgust.
"Guards! Avast fighting! I surrender to you, dwarf. But know this: The wrath and fury of Salazar will fall on you and these miners like the very demons of hell!"
[Bookkeeping: Ozenda takes 19 AP for counting coup on an orc guard. Tenkar gets 48 AP for defeating Skullsplitter on his own. I'm going to split the remaining AP between Bitsa and Tenkar. Bitsa gets 310 AP for getting the additional dwarves that turned the tide of battle, and Tenkar gets 311 AP for his leadership and good example during the battle. Adding it all up: Ozenda - 19 AP, Bitsa - 310 AP, Tenkar - 359 AP.]
Game time 4/4 20:24
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Post by ProfGremlin on Jun 9, 2011 20:25:04 GMT -5
In an impressive display of speed and agility Bitsa rolls out of the path of the giant discus, somehow snagging all three lanterns from destruction and replacing them back in their barrier position. Ozenda merely leans to the side allowing the hurled object to pass disdainfully. The wind of it's passage briefly stirs her eggplant colored hair. From a crouch Bitsa opens a lantern ready to light the oil-soaked makeshift wick of his oil flask.
The gong crashes and bounces in the hallway behind them. Bitsa risks a quick glance behind them to ascertain their escape is clear. Not that I think I could outrun this creature. What am I doing here...?!
"Halt!" Ozenda's voice cracks with the power of one who has come to accept obedience as her due. She stands with her left side facing the creature, left hand up, palm out on a plane with the lanterns at her feet. "We are not done you and I," she narrows her grey eyes and points at the swirling cloud of coal dust before her, "You have stated you are bound to destroy anyone who approaches Salazar's treasure. It may interest you to note that we have not approached it. We are not even in the same hallway as the entrance to your prison. I once again offer you your freedom." She draws a deep breath and lowers her hand. Turning, she clasps both hands before her and faces the creature head on, still carefully behind the line of lanterns on the floor. The wizard draws a deep, shuddering breath, "I know what imprisonment is. Salazar ripped my soul from my body and secluded it elsewhere. For nights uncounted he exhausted himself in my bed. His soul-snatching had left me with just enough wits to revile the horror of what he did," Ozenda's voice grows thick with anguish, hatred, "and no ability to stop it. I lost count of the nights I screamed myself to senselessness trapped inside my own body." Tears trace twin paths down her cheeks, unnoticed save for the thief at her feet. The wizards fingers grow white knuckled as they twist in remembered powerlessness. "He even bragged about you and how he had you trapped." Her head bows for a moment and she considers. She looks back at the creature swirling before her sorrow in her expression, "I came here hoping to achieve the treasure trapped with you and use it against Salazar but that no longer matters. Tell me, how do I free you? It no longer matters whether the treasure you have been forced to vouchsafe would erase the pestilence of Salazar from this world or not. You have been trapped against your will to serve the purposes of a sick and twisted mind. I fain would not have that last any longer. Please, how may I release you from your bondage?" There is nothing but the ring of truth and sincerity in Ozenda's words.
Crouched at her feet Bitsa has no idea how to react to Ozenda's revelations and offer. By Autolycus I hope I live through this. There has to be a pint or two in this story...!
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Post by monstermike on Jun 10, 2011 8:42:51 GMT -5
[Interstitial]
The daemon ceases his rampage at Ozenda's command. His eyes flicker dully during her speech as the meaning of Ozenda's words penetrate the madness clouding his mind. "I know not how to break this bond, Ozenda Twice Born. But if break it you can, I will leave this place never to return and offer no harm to you or your companions. This is my word and my bond. So be it."
Game time 4/4 20:24
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Post by ProfGremlin on Jun 10, 2011 21:43:59 GMT -5
Ozenda nods and relaxes her white knuckled grip. Wiping away the tears with one hand she states simply, "Agreed." Turning to Bitsa she holds out the control box. "Take this. The spell is still active and should release the rest of the dwarves. If it fails before they are all free find the school of the Clockwork Fractal. My assistant should be able to teach you the spell. I would teach you myself but we are short of time." Ozenda's words draw Bitsa's attention to the ominous quiet that now fills the space the sounds of battle had occupied. Wordlessly, the hobb places the oil flask on the ground and stands. Taking the the control box he nods and offers a small smile.
Ozenda flashes the thief a sad smile and turns back to the creature. With a deep breath she steps across the lanterns light and into an acrid cloud of swirling shadow and stinging pain. Bitsa reaches a hand out in protest, "Wait- !" She doesn't expect to live... Fear nestles back in the pit of his stomach.
Coal dust fills Ozenda's senses. The acrid taste sits bitter on her tongue. The burning scent fills her nose while it's grit covers her from head to toe quickly abrading everywhere. She keeps her eyes closed both to protect them from the cutting edges of the dust and to enhance her Wizards Sight. Ozenda opens her inner eye and gazes upon the creature's essence. What little she can make out of the earth elemental is obscured by the thick bands of sickly glowing purple-black bands of force wrapped about it's core. The wizard steps forward and grasps the nearest band.
Rooting her core to the center of the earth, as her first instructor taught her all those years ago, Ozenda narrows her focus until only the purple-black band remains in front of her. Gone is the coal dust and it's acrid taste and scent, it's stinging caress. Gone is the thief and his erstwhile companions. Gone are the dwarves and their goblin overseers. Gone is Salazar and his lackeys. All that exists is the glowing band in front of her and her need to shatter it. She studies the band, seeking understanding of it's warp and weft, it's structure, it's very nature. She searches with the unique perspective of the Clockwork Fractal, a school that understands both the realm of magic and the mundane devices of man. More, they understand how to meld the two. Ozenda finds a flaw in the construction of the band. Honing her attention on that one minute irregularity the wizard exerts her will. With a gem cutters precision she strikes.
Standing in the tunnel, forgotten, Bitsa waits, control box held in his hands. Torn, he glances back down the hall past the now resting bronze gong to where he had left Tenkar and his Titans. No, there's nothing I could do to change the balance there. Here, Ozenda may need help when this is over. The hobb seats himself on the floor near the lanterns, control box placed on the floor next to him. On the other side of the three lanterns swirls a cloud of stygian dust.
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Post by ProfGremlin on Jun 11, 2011 15:12:06 GMT -5
With a gem cutters precision she strikes.
The eldritch band emits a soundless ring akin to a cracked bell. Peripherally, Ozenda is aware of the creature flinching in discomfort. She runs her fingers over the minute flaw and probes it with a nail. The wizard narrows her focus further, placing her attention upon and into the flaw itself. She shapes her intent into that of a chisel and strikes it with her will. Again. Again. Each time the structure of the band shudders with her blows but remains in place. Ozenda wiggles the chisel back and forth trying to widen the irregularity slightly and seat the tool in a stronger position. She hefts the hammer of her will and strikes again... and again... and again. The dull clunks radiating through the sickly glowing band from Ozenda's strikes fall flat and quickly dissipate. She dimly feels the creatures distress.
Gagh...! Why does this fetter resist me so?! The chisel and hammer fade away as Ozenda runs sensitized fingers over the would-be-breach. I wonder... Dare I...? The flaw had been ever so slightly widened, or perhaps it is simply that her awareness, focused as it was, had increased her understanding of the underlying structure of the spell. Mac warned against casting a spell untrained... but there is no other viable option... She heaves a sigh and accepts. To truly heal one must accept death as a resolution. At least the soul is free to begin again...
Placing her hands flat against the creatures bond Ozenda begins to seek the structure of the spell, it's energetic and mana signatures, it's vibrational frequencies. Fractal shapes swim in her minds eye as a chorus of unholy tuning forks rise and fall. The wizard begins to draw upon the source of mana within herself and slowly infiltrates it into the architecture of the hex before her. Ozenda's counter is much like ivy on an old building. Each tendril sends roots into imperceptible cracks and ever so slightly expands them. Over all, the effect of the series of vines crumbles the mortar and the bricks themselves fall apart.
As she nears the end of her enchantment Ozenda realizes, horrifically, that her well of mana has run dry. No! Not when I am so close...! This must have been what Mac warned against... I cannot stop now! I will not succumb to defeat! Reaching deeper into the processes that keep the body alive Ozenda draws mana from the very fiber of her being. Feeding the new source of strength into her enchantment she continues to build her counter.
The last of the mana necessary to finish the structure trickles into the spell. Her enchantment complete, it flashes once and crystallizes. Ozenda grasps hold of the fulcrum and, with a deep breath tasting faintly of coal dust, the muscles of her shoulders flex and begin to force the architecture of the hex apart. Shrieks and screeches rip across Ozenda as her spell slowly forces the fractals out of shape and folds the vibrations back upon themselves.
With a soundless implosion the shackle vanishes leaving behind a vibration felt clear through to the bone.
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Post by monstermike on Jun 11, 2011 17:23:01 GMT -5
A thunderous CRACK!!! echoes through the tunnels of the coal pits. Blinding white light illuminates the blackness surrounding the coal pit demon, radiating outward and casting stark shadows in the corridor. Ozenda hears in her mind more than in her deafened ears, "I am forever thankful to you for my freedom, Ozenda Twice Born. Please accept this token of my gratitude."
In the blinding light, Ozenda clearly sees the powerful black form of the demon. He gathers his energy and the cloud of coal dust begins to swirl around him funneling inward to a vortex between his hands. She sees his powerful shoulders and arms flex and a reddish glow begins to form within his cupped palms. He increases his exertion with a wordless roar and the glow turns orange, yellow, and finally white.
Then like a great black rocket leaving a vapor trail of coal dust behind him, the demon vanishes into the darkness of tunnel four. At Ozenda's feet is a rough diamond nearly the size of a softball.
[Bookkeeping: Ozenda takes 150 AP for the coal-pit demon encounter. I'm going to add an extra 50 AP to use for either Bitsa or Ozenda for meritorious RP.]
Game time 4/4 20:30
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Post by monstermike on Jun 12, 2011 9:33:07 GMT -5
[NPCing Tenkar]
Tenkar ponders Captain Skullsplitter, hoping for inspiration to strike. Several thoughts run through his mind;
I bet with a good swing, I could lop his head off and land it in one of them ore-carts.
Then...
I don't want ta deal with no more prisoners. Skizzerf an' his commander are dead on the floor there, so prisoners is what got us inta this pickle. But at the same time, I just can't bear the thought o' killin' fellers what has surrendered ta me.
And finally...
Where is that halfling when you need him? I'm no good at this thinkin' stuff.
He looks around him. He sees his Titans, all smiling at him. Though many of the smiling faces sport black eyes or broken noses or missing teeth. "We'm won, sir. We'm beat 'em! Three cheers for General Tenkar! Hip hip Huzzah! Hip hip Huzzah! Hip hip Huzzah!"
"Awright, awright lads! That's enuff. We beat 'em, but we ain't out of the soup yet."
Suddenly, inspiration strikes.
Tenkar addresses Skullsplitter and his remaining guards. "Er, I accept yer surrender. Now, 'ere's what yer gonna do. Yer gonna lay down yer arms an' yer gonna walk outta here with yer lives, but under my conditions, see? Yer gonna git as far away from Rag Mountain as ya can an' promise to never return, and never serve Salazar again. An' that's it."
Skullsplitter and the guards nod eagerly. "If we can leave with our lives, we so promise," Skullsplitter responds for the group.
Tenkar continues, "Right, then. I want some of yas from the coal pits ta escort these gentlemen ta tunnel four. They're gonna leave the way we got in. Yer gonna have ta climb down a rock wall a ways, then cross a chasm. There's still a rope strung across it. Then just head straight west and ye'll be out. When yas get out, start runnin' and don't ever come back!"
Skullsplitter and the four orc guards head back to the coal-pits, accompanied by a squad of coal miners. Once they're gone, another thought strikes Tenkar.
I clean forgot ta tell 'em about th' bear! Oh well..."
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