Take Two...

[Zhym]

It looks like Lorath took it before Marcus left:

viewtopic.php?f=87&t=2591&p=96176#p96176

[Magnus]

Ah, you are right.

[Zhym]

Gaerys, looking for something useful to do, follows Vorsyin's lead. He relieves the unconscious Lorath of Marcus's spear and brings it to the paladin.

I'm assuming this will take the full round, so Arqos would be able to attack with the spear next round.

Question for the group: Do you see any point in Arqos trying to (1) turn the Messenger or (2) bring forth a 10-round sphere of sunlight? We haven't seen any sign yet that light harms this shadowy thing in any way, but maybe the light hasn't been bright enough yet.

[OGRE MAGE]

It looks like we can damage it with weapons so.....that's good!
Not sure if we should keep casting spells or whatever at it or not. I'd say wait and see what happens with the fighters first.

Feeling safe for the moment Flambeau will cast one more CLW on the unconscious Lorath.
We need to get this man to his feet!

[drpete]

Steadying his feet, Ethan presses his assault on the Messenger:

To Hit with Frostfell (s/m) (ThAC0 11) [1d20+6] = 12+6 = 18 damage [1d8+6] = 4+6 = 10
To Hit with Frostfell (s/m) (ThAC0 11) [1d20+6] = 17+6 = 23 damage [1d8+6] = 8+6 = 14

Sure that these blows were expertly struck, Ethan attempts to take the measure of his foe. Does his attack wound the shadow?

[chap126]

Olaf, Fighter

Olaf continues attacking. He felt uncomfortable when the paladin touched him like that, but he enjoyed it.

[saalaria]

(for chp!)

Hollis returns to the rock pile to try to watch all passages for other enemies.

[Zhym]

Arqos swings his sword in a wide arc above his head, bringing the light of the sun. "Shadow is ruled by light," he recites. "Light creates shadow. Light removes shadow!"

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin, with his wand back in his possession, keeps a sharp eye out for any dangers coming from the other directions. Should the Giant Cleric manage to drop the Wall of Fire he wants to attack immediately.

[Magnus]

Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 10
Time: 12:40.10
Weather: 53 degrees
Location: Steading Dungeon - Rockpile/SE Hallway

************************
Magic in Effect: Lorath - Levitate
Prayer - cast round 5 (60' radius'+1/-1 to rolls)
PfE 10' from Arqos
Wall of Fire - Cast Round 7
Arqos - potion of super heroism
**********************************

The Messenger takes a narrow initiative -- the intelligent, wicked being undoubtedly sensing its precarious position.

It first turns towards Ethan, keeping its back towards the eastern wall. Its eyes flash loudly as a deep voice bellows out from deep within...FLEE! The command resonates throughout the hall...drawing some concern it could draw other denizens of the dungeon.

ETHAN - Save versus spells and d% roll, please. Will resolve your attacks after those rolls.

Demonstrating an otherworldly ability to use at least some magic at will, the Messenger again swings its flail heavily at Olaf...delivering a crushing blow across his chest. Olaf spits out blood and waivers as his vision blurs. He does not have much left...

OLAF 16 damage!

Olaf responds with a pair of heavy swings one again cleaves through the Messenger's armor, drawing another shriek. Shadow smoke begins leaking from the armor like sand leaking from a cracked hourglass. The Carl's second swing is a complete miss [with a roll <5].

Arqos begins swinging his sword, as if to call forth the light to wipe away the shadow. The effect begins to manifest, but it has no effect on the Messenger, at least not yet... Gaerys thoughtfully offers to pass the spear - formerly a personal weapon of Chief Nosra - to the paladin. Azor's son will have to drop the sun effect from his blade, take a step back to let Gaerys attack, or do something else to avail himself of the chance to strike from the second rank. The paladin's neck BURNS with the will of his Lord -- he knows that he should be in the fight with a being that is so clearly a servant of the OTHER.

Flambeau persistently applies healing to Lorath, bringing him to his feet. The mage remains bruised and bloodied...but has enough now to at least cast his final fireball at the party's foes.

Nice work Flambeau!!!

Hollis and Vorsyin keep watch...and they are lucky they do...In the far WEST end of the hallway, the eerie green light the party had bypassed in raiding the Armory begins to shine brighter, enveloping large parts of the western section of the dungeon. As they peer into the light...are those figures they see moving forward towards them?

DECLARE ACTIONS!!!

****************************
HP:
Vorsyin: 18/49 [-1 level...let's sort out the XP afterwards]
Gaerys: 33/69 (!)
Hollis: 24/52
Lorath: 3/40 (!!!)
Ethan: 71/71
Olaf: 6/75 (!!!)
Arqos: 112/114
Flambeau: 41/75

[Zhym]

"Pull back!" calls Arqos to Olaf. The paladin moves to take the Carl's place at the front of the battle.

Sunfire vs. evil (THAC0 12): [1d20+4] = 16+4 = 20 Dmg [1d8+4] = 2+4 = 6 (S/M) [1d12+4] = 5+4 = 9 (L)
Note: THAC0 is actually 9 while the potion of super-heroism is still in effect (i.e., Arqos hits AC -11).

[Zhym]

Seeing Arqos step to the fore of the battle, Gaerys attacks with the spear himself, if Olaf can withdraw far enough to allow a second rank of attack.

Spear +2 (THAC0 12): Hit: [1d20+2] = 18+2 = 20, Dmg: [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8 (S/M) [1d8+2] = 3+2 = 5 (L)

If he can't get into range to attack the Messenger with the spear, Gaerys will fall back to the group at the rock pile to be ready for whatever is coming from the west.

[chap126]

Olaf, Fighter

Olaf will try a fighting retreat to swap positions with the paladin.

[saalaria]

"Vor do you have anything for that..."
The cleric gestures towards the green light.
"I can try to Turn it but I am not sure it is the undead."
He then shouts to the others:
"We have more enemies to the West - anyone able to help?"

[drpete]

Ethan's saves:

Save vs Spells (need 12): [1d20] = 12

[1d100] = 32

Assuming that this means he makes the save, Ethan will continue to attack.

To Hit with Frostfell (s/m) (ThAC0 11) [1d20+6] = 17+6 = 23 damage [1d8+6] = 7+6 = 13
To Hit with Frostfell (s/m) (ThAC0 11) [1d20+6] = 12+6 = 18 damage [1d8+6] = 3+6 = 9

[Magnus]

Ethan resists the command of the Messenger, and lands two vicious blows upon the party's dark adversary. Frostfell seems to sing as it carves its way through the evil creature. Smoke leaks out from the wounds, more heavily as the damage mounts.

The Messenger shrieks again -- whatever it is, it is clearly wounded!

Map:

dungeonassault (2).jpg (174.95 KiB) Viewed 2120 times

[Magnus]

PS - I am waiting for OM and CPU in order to resolve the next round.

[Computer +1]

Not sure is the next approaching group is friend or foe Vorsyin casts a second Wall of Fire to keep whatever is coming away from the group until the Messenger is dealt with.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sorry! I feel like there isn't much I can have Flam do this round.

Concerned with the glowing green light, Flambeau will help Lorath up and face him in that direction.

He has one healing prayer left. Knowing his importance to this mission, he will use it on himself.

Casts CSW:

CSW [2d8+1] = 12+1 = 13

[Magnus]

Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 10
Time: 12:40.11
Weather: 53 degrees
Location: Steading Dungeon - Rockpile/SE Hallway

************************
Magic in Effect:
Prayer - cast round 5 (60' radius'+1/-1 to rolls)
PfE 10' from Arqos
Wall of Fire - Cast Round 7
Wall of Fire (west) - Cast Round 11
Arqos - potion of super heroism - Drank Round [9]
Silence on MGC
**********************************

The Messenger sits in desperate straits between Ethan and the rest of the party's fighters. Ethan prepares to deliver a killing blow, while Arqos and Gaerys prepare to move in and Olaf to move out. However, before swords are raised and ranks are shuffled, the Messenger raises its arms high - causing a large billow of shadow and smoke to rise. The sand-like shadow rises high in the air, then collapses as it is seemingly sucked into the cracks under and around the strange bronze door adjacent to Ethan.

Messenger wins int 1 to 5; has time to cast spell to escape.

As the smoke clears, the armor and shield borne by the Messenger clang to the ground. Ethan recognizes the shield as the one taken from Gaerys what seems like so long ago. The armor also looks somehow familiar, but the armor -- like the bronze door before Ethan -- is covered in black soot and would take a moment to dust off and inspect.

At the end of the hallway, the Natural Caverns beckon. They are pitch black, but the natural illumination given by Arqos's blade reaches to end of the hall, and would certainly light the party's way. The light has undoubtedly alerted whatever - if anything - dwells in the cave to the party's presence. Whether the Caverns are clear, or their dwellers are in retreat or concealing an ambush remains to be seen.

The party has won this battle with the Messenger, but the next front of the War was left for them to determine.
_______________________________

Meanwhile, the remainder of the party completes their transition to a wholly defensive mode, taking positions to prepare to hold the rockpile.

Three skeletal creatures emerge from the light, drifting quickly towards the party -- floating a few inches above the dungeon floor. Their strange eyes shine with a flickering blue light. Every crevice of their yellowing, bony form is encrusted with mold, and the foul air around the reeks of wet fungus. Each is wrapped with a tattered cloak.

dusanu.jpg (24.33 KiB) Viewed 2096 times

Hollis calls to the other part of the group, making all aware of what is happening on each front. He shows that often the most critical moves in a battle involve common sense and not necessarily magic.

Flambeau heals himself, smartly realizing his own importance to the mission.

Lorath rises to his feet and coughs up more blood.

Vorsyin brings forth a great wall of flame, which prevents further foes from attacking from the rear. But the rot fiends stand at the base of the rockpile, ready to fall upon the party next round.

DECLARE ACTIONS!

MAP:

dungeonassault (2).jpg (178.38 KiB) Viewed 2096 times

****************************
HP:
Vorsyin: 18/49 [-1 level...let's sort out the XP afterwards]
Gaerys: 33/69 (!)
Hollis: 24/52 (!)
Lorath: 3/40 (!!!)
Ethan: 71/71
Olaf: 6/75 (!!!)
Arqos: 112/114
Flambeau: 54/75