Topic: Fireless: 5/5 (Read 9506 times)

TheLastDino · « **Reply #60 on:** March 09, 2019, 05:35:29 am »

Fifteen checks if there are any sets of armour left. If there aren't, he casts cloak on himself.

Dread · « **Reply #61 on:** March 09, 2019, 06:04:46 pm »

Dustan checks the inventory of the storeroom, staying close to the others to make use of their moss-lights. He sorts through stacks of spears and pikes to find nearly as many swords, bows, knives, shields, and almost every other weapon he can name. Extracting a bow, quiver, and sheathed dagger from the chest, he then peruses the selection of axes. Various types and sizes are represented, from large two-handed weapons nearly as long as a spear to smaller one-handed war axes and even smaller throwing hatchets.

Chisaiko looks around for large piles of dust to Mend, but her eyes catch instead on several bundles of cloth folded neatly on the bottom of the weapons chest. Cloaks, and fairly high-quality ones at that. Too large for her small frame, but then again, most are.

Aegis takes up a round shield of leather on wood and a flanged mace. She then picks out a spear - one of the shorter ones available, but stout and easier to carry on the back.

The Skald and Fifteen equip themselves with sets of boiled leather armour, and Fifteen with a scabbard for his sword.

Mirthful nods to himself, shoos the other away, and flexes his hands again. Then, standing up straight and tall, he begins.
Three words, three Cants, spoken quickly and fluidly, merge into a single spell. Though not understanding the intricacies of the words necessary to actually cast them, the hunters can understand the meaning: Break, Split, Push. Spoken together, the phrase is greater than the sum of its parts.

As Mirthful's voice thunders through the library, he thrusts forth his open palms. The air ripples like water disturbed by a great wind, and a shock wave crashes into the ancient seal of stone.

The sound of shattering stone echoes in their ears, and a cloud of rock dust is thrown up. Fortunately the others are far enough away to avoid inhaling the dust, but Mirthful and the seal are lost from view. The old warlock's spell sounds again, and another cloud of dust arises.

It takes almost two full minutes for the particulates to settle down. Mirthful is standing in the same spot, covered in dust and hunched over once again. He coughs several times and appears fatigued, but otherwise is unharmed.

The seal is gone, now little more than a thick scattering of dust on the ground. The tunnel it guarded stands open, dark and menacing.

"Well well, that worked almost as well as expected! Now, if you'd all mind leading the way. It could be dangerous down there, and I shall need you to defend me."

Mirthful pauses for a moment.

"I'm sure we'll be fine, of course. Just a precaution, you understand. Now, lead on."

Spoiler: The Skald (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Dustan (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Fifteen (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Aegis (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Chisaiko (click to show/hide)

Dustan Hache · « **Reply #62 on:** March 09, 2019, 06:30:23 pm »

Dustan picks a decently sized Dane axe with a long handle to wield two-handedly, serving as his main melee weapon if something got close. the dagger was for situations where he winded up grappling, and the bow would do nicely for anything that didn’t blatantly charge at them.
With his choice of weapons selected, Dustan would charge into the breach made by the old warlock, eager to explore and possibly engage in glorious combat.

TheLastDino · « **Reply #63 on:** March 10, 2019, 08:11:19 pm »

Fifteen casts Cloak on himself before cautiously entering the tunnel, allowing Dustan to take the lead.

Dread · « **Reply #64 on:** March 11, 2019, 06:19:54 pm »

Dustan slings his bow over his shoulder and picks up a large, two-handed axe as his first weapon of choice. Then, heedless of the others, he charges into the tunnel.

Fifteen mutters a Cant, magically camouflaging himself. Watching gazes drift away from his form that, though looking exactly the same as before, does not immediately register as a human silhouette. Fifteen follows Dustan into the tunnel, leaving everyone else to enter at their own pace.

Without light of his own, Dustan is soon forced to slow to Fifteen's speed. The tunnel through which they travel is rather unremarkable, bare stone devoid even of dust. Though strangely bright, it is not long and the pair soon step out into a larger cavern.

This room takes the shape of a half-sphere with a diameter of some thirty feet. The center is occupied by a raised section of floor atop which sits a cylindrical pedestal, the top of which seems to bear a network of delicate carvings. Opposite the entrance, a sturdy wooden door is reinforced with iron bands and barred with a length of thick oak.

At the center of the roof, a short iron chain is anchored. A large, orange crystal hangs from it, ten feet off the ground and casting a warm glow that illuminates the entire area.

On the left side of the room a set of shelves bears a dozen scrolls, five of which are particularly ornate and trimmed with gold. On the right side, a locked display case holds a number of objects. Though they cannot be made out from this angle, the display case emanates several weak magic fields.

"Oh, yes! Finally!"

Mirthful enters the room, paying no heed to Fifteen or Dustan. He moves quickly to the pedestal, leaning over the stone and examining the carvings with a furious intensity. Whipping out a blank scroll and charcoal, the old warlock begins to scribble out notes and diagrams.

The others filter one by one into the room, but even with six people the large space does not even begin to feel crowded.

The faint sound of a rock falling in the distance can be heard from the tunnel through which they entered. Mirthful peers into the tunnel for a moment before returning to his work.

Spoiler: The Skald (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Dustan (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Fifteen (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Aegis (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Chisaiko (click to show/hide)

TheLastDino · « **Reply #65 on:** March 11, 2019, 06:22:11 pm »

Fifteen walks over to the scrolls and examines them.

WyrdByrd · « **Reply #66 on:** March 11, 2019, 06:27:49 pm »

The Skald takes care to examine the least adorned scrolls.

Coolrune206 · « **Reply #67 on:** March 11, 2019, 07:13:35 pm »

Aegis peers back into the tunnel from which they came. If she sees nothing concerning, she heads over to examine the display case.

Dustan Hache · « **Reply #68 on:** March 12, 2019, 09:27:43 am »

attempt to pull the crystal down from the ceiling and use it as a personal lantern, bit of chain and all!
if it’s out of reach, use my bow to shoot it down!

Dread · « **Reply #69 on:** March 13, 2019, 09:06:04 pm »

The Skald and Fifteen walk over to the left side of the room and examine the scrolls shelved there. Fifteen examines the five gilded ones, while The Skald takes the other, less ornate manuscripts.

Fifteen quickly identifies his to be Cant scrolls, each containing the necessary knowledge and enchantments to teach a single person the corresponding Cant. The spells pertaining to each scroll are as follows: Lash, Hard, Glint, Push, Lift.

Most of the plainer scrolls are written in an unknown language, but three are of more interest: Each bears, sandwiched in between lines of foreign glyphs, a crude map. The first map shows a mountainous region, with a red 'X' marked at the base of a small foothill in between three peaks. The second map depicts a forest, with an X located on the inside of a sharp bend in a mighty river. Finally, the third map shows a ridge with some sort of large structure atop it - a castle or keep, perhaps?. The X here is placed at the base of the southern wall.

Though the maps are fairly clear and one could easily find their way to the marked locations if in the area, none show more than a few square miles of terrain and are useless without context to tell where the shown areas actually are.

Dustan reaches up to try and grab the crystal, but it is situated well out of his reach. Perhaps he could grab it if he stood on the pedestal, but Mirthful gives him a dirty look when he gets near.

Dustan(Marksmanship): 8 + 3

Falling back to plan B, Dustan nocks an arrow and shoots it at the iron hook mounted in the ceiling. His shot flies true, striking the chain at the exact point it meets the hook. The force of the arrow shifts the chain just enough that it slips from the hook, and down falls the crystal.

It hits the ground and cracks in two. Though each half still emits warm orange light, the room darkens by several degrees. The look Mirthful gave him earlier is nothing compared to his death glare now, and the old warlock snatches up one of the halves by which to continue his work. Dustan takes the other half - about as large as his closed fist, and still attached to the chain - and hangs it from his belt.

Aegis(Perception): 9 + 1

Aegis stares back into the tunnel through which they entered, trying to make out any shapes in the darkness. There is nothing there.
As she turns around to inspect the display case, however, something catches her ear.

Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap. Tap tap tap. Tap tap tap...tap tap tap tap.

The faint noise of...something, lightly striking the stone floor. Several somethings. There is a pattern, but that pattern is repeatedly broken as if caused by something alive. From the coordination of the taps and the fact that they never overlap, Aegis suspects that the source is only one being. With seven legs. She can't think of any creatures with seven legs.

No one else has heard anything. The old warlock still leans over his carvings. The taps are quiet, light, but they sound as if they are emanating from the archives where Mirthful broke the seal.
And they're coming closer.

Spoiler: The Skald (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Dustan (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Fifteen (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Aegis (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Chisaiko (click to show/hide)

TheLastDino · « **Reply #70 on:** March 13, 2019, 09:15:47 pm »

~~Fifteen puts the five Cant scrolls into his bag. He then goes and examines the display case.~~

Fifteen readies his weapon and takes cover on the other side of the tunnel from Aegis. He makes sure that his Cloak cant is still active.

Coolrune206 · « **Reply #71 on:** March 13, 2019, 09:30:55 pm »

"We have company. Seven legs, even footfalls. Behind us."

Aegis enters cover by the side of the tunnel, ready to ambush whatever comes through. She beckons for her allies to do the same. She also readies her spear with both hands, hooking her mace and shield to her armour.

Dustan Hache · « **Reply #72 on:** March 14, 2019, 01:14:45 pm »

i was hoping to catch it before it hit the ground, but whatever.
with my new crystal half-lantern nicely attached to by belt, I turn to face the direction Aegis designated as the source of company and nock an arrow, ready to shoot as soon as something charges or otherise approaches in hostile manner out of the archives at us.

WyrdByrd · « **Reply #73 on:** March 14, 2019, 05:31:10 pm »

The Skald draws his spear, and positions himself in front of Dustan, preparing to cast a Cant at any moment.

Dread · « **Reply #74 on:** March 17, 2019, 02:27:02 am »

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The party takes their positions as company approaches: Fifteen and Aegis flanking the corridor, The Skald in between and a few paces back, and Dustan behind him. The Skald and Aegis ready their spears, Fifteen draws his sword, and Dustan nocks an arrow to his bow.

The tapping sounds steadily increase in volume. Drawing closer.

Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP

It bursts out of the darkness and into the light: A creature larger than a horse, covered in lumpy gray flesh. Seven spindly legs taper into blade-like protrusions of bone that tap against the stone floor: Three on each side, and one in place of a tail. It has two 'arms', both of which also end in bony spikes. No head crests its long, snake-like neck: only one large round eye, black as coal. A profound, almost palpable sensation of wrongness surrounds this abominable creature, this affront to nature.

The hunters waste no time in considering the thing's ugliness. The Skald wets his lips and draws a breath, preparing to recite a Cant. Aegis and Fifteen step forward into lunging thrusts, and Dustan looses an arrow from his bow.

Fifteen: 10
Damage(1d4 + 2[Critical]): 6

Fifteen's strike is a good one: The tip of his sword pierces deeply into the chest of the fiend, ripping through flesh and whatever organs it crosses paths with. Even more damage is done as he pulls the blade out, and the victim comes to an abrupt stop with seven spurs of bone skittering against the ground.

Dustan: 6 + 3
Damage(1d3): 3

Dustan lands an arrow in the seven-legged beast's neck, where it lodges itself. Pale white fluid seeps from the wound - not a lethal wound, but doubtlessly an irritating one.

Aegis: 4 + 3

Aegis thrusts into the fiend with her spear, but the angle is too shallow and her weapon is deflected harmlessly off its ashen flank.

Lesser Fiend of Swords: 3 + 3
(Damage, 1d6): 2
Lesser Fiend of Swords: 2 + 3

The creature retaliates, lashing out simultaneously at Fifteen and Aegis with its pointed arms. Fifteen parries the blow, knocking it away from his vital organs, but fails to sap the spike of enough momentum to prevent it drawing blood from his thigh. Aegis meanwhile pivots, allowing the fiend's arm to bounce off the shield she's hooked to her back.

A look of abject horror crosses Mirthful's face as he turns to look at the commotion. "No, no, no, no, no! He's found us!"
The warlock's movements become quick and hasty as he copies details from the pedestal into a series of scrolls he's laid out. "Time! I need more time! Buy me time, hold them off for as long as you can!"

From the dark corridor, tapping. More fiends. Farther away, but slowly nearing.

Spoiler: The Skald (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Dustan (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Fifteen (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Aegis (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Chisaiko (click to show/hide)

Lesser Fiend of Swords:
HP: 11/20
Defence: 8

Strength: 3
Agility: 6
Will: 0
Resilience: 5

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Author Topic: Fireless: 5/5 (Read 9506 times)

TheLastDino

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Dread

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Dustan Hache

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TheLastDino

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Dread

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TheLastDino

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WyrdByrd

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Coolrune206

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Dustan Hache

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Dread

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TheLastDino

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Coolrune206

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Dustan Hache

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WyrdByrd

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Dread

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