Chapter 4: Shadows and Piercing Light

[Rukellian]

Rand continues to inch closer towards the man on the pedestal, still needing about another round before he can get into a backstabbing position.

Deceidon and Sunshine both fire their own respective missiles. The arrow from Deceidon's bow misses, but Sunshine's treated dart hits a cultist square in the neck, the poison on its tip very potent and dropping the man instantly.

The man on the pedestal speaks up in the background, a direct response to the group's missile attack. "Maintain your incantation! The summoning is almost complete!" As the man says this, the four remaining cultists start to chant even louder and with renewed energy.

Flynn, Whitsell and the others wait near the entrance to the room, prepared to charge once Rand is in position.

Actions and Initiative please.

[Grognardsw]

Flynn, fighter

Being the element of surprise is gone now, Flynn motions for everyone to charge. He charges one of the chanting cultists, sword swinging.

Charge normally gets automatic initiative and +2 to hit. Flynn doesn't get his Dex. bonus on AC though.
Flynn charge (+2) [1d20+5] = 9+5 = 14, damage [1d8+3] = 2+3 = 5
Group initiative: [1d6] = 2

[Zhym]

Elethil is confused. The plan was to attack simultaneously with the backstab, or to use the backstab as the cue to attack. Why did Deceidon and Sunshine—and only those two—attack early?

No matter, he thinks. The attack is on; he might as well join it. He too charges a chanting cultist.

Long sword (THAC0 16): [1d20+7] = 13+7 = 20, Dmg: [1d8+9] = 2+9 = 11 (S/M) [1d12+9] = 6+9 = 15 (L)

[onlyme]

Whitsell attacks with his sword.

long sword attack [1d20+4] = 7+4 = 11 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 5+4 = 9

[Rukellian]

All I need now to continue are Deceidon's and Sunshine's actions/rolls. I have everyone else via public posts and pms.

[Grognardsw]

From the shadows Deceidon continues to fire arrows at the chanting cultists. He moves away from his location by 20' along the wall after firing, hoping to avoid any magics.

Bow Attack Arrow #2: To Hit [1d20] = 19, Damage [1d6] = 2

Bow Attack Arrow #1: To Hit [1d20] = 7, Damage [1d6] = 4

Don't know if any pluses from shadows.

[Rukellian]

The group wins initiative, barely

Sunshine switches to his 'Dungeon Master' and lets it feed. The whistle and twang of a bow string, an arrow flies forth and strikes a cultist square in the chest! Deceidon follows up Sunshine's attack with an arrow of his own, sending the wounded cultist to the ground. The archer guard in the back, frequently ignored but not forgotten, shoots a successful arrow strike as well, sending another cultist staggering backwards. After the initial missile volley, three stalwart fighters charge the remaining cultists.

Flynn, leading the charge, slices at the staggered cultist, finishing him off. Both Elithil and Whitsell successfully take down the remaining two cultists with ease. It is from the center of the ritual area that the brave heroes notice the wicked smile of the ritual master. He stands with his arms raised, his hands glowing a red glow. He gets ready to say something when his breath cuts short and gasps. Turning to look behind him, the group can see Rand with his dagger wrenched into the ritual master's back. (I rolled for you and you actually managed to get full backstab damage on it.)

The Ritual Master screams in rage as he shoves Rand off of him. He staggers backwards and heads towards the ritual area center, towards the three fighters. "You all acted swiftly and ruthlessly, and for that I thank you. You see...." He coughs up some blood laughing an evil laugh, "the ritual required the sacrifice of the summoners, and now that my loyal followers are all dead, there is just one more loose end." Deceidon and Sunshine does not want the ritual master to finish. In an attempt to stop him, they both fire a second arrow at him, but alas, both miss. Captain Hal shouts in the background as the group finishes their attack, "WATCH OUT! HE'S DOING SOMETHING!" It is at this time that the ritual master pulls out a jagged dagger and holds it to his stomach.

Actions!

[Zhym]

Elethil Noldorin, strongest of the elves, launches himself at the ritual master in hopes of holding him down and preventing him from using that dagger.

In game mechanics, this is an attempt to grapple.

[Grognardsw]

Flynn the fighter will kick the cultist in the head.

Flynn kick [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22

Deceidon holds off firing into the crowded melee. He watches the unfolding action from the perimeter at the moment. His hand is near his bag with the potions he grabbed back in the wizard's room, ready to throw them, to fight magic with magic if need be.

[MonkeyWrench]

Rand takes several steps back, crouched low. Whatever may happen he does not want to be next to that circle.

[onlyme]

The group wins initiative, barely
The Ritual Master screams in rage as he shoves Rand off of him. He staggers backwards and heads towards the ritual area center, towards the three fighters. "You all acted swiftly and ruthlessly, and for that I thank you. You see...." He coughs up some blood laughing an evil laugh, "the ritual required the sacrifice of the summoners, and now that my loyal followers are all dead, there is just one more loose end." Deceidon and Sunshine does not want the ritual master to finish. In an attempt to stop him, they both fire a second arrow at him, but alas, both miss. Captain Hal shouts in the background as the group finishes their attack, "WATCH OUT! HE'S DOING SOMETHING!" It is at this time that the ritual master pulls out a jagged dagger and holds it to his stomach.

Actions!

Would Whitsell be able to subtly cast a command spell during this commotion?
If so, he would command the ritual master to "Surrender"

[Rukellian]

The group wins initiative, barely
The Ritual Master screams in rage as he shoves Rand off of him. He staggers backwards and heads towards the ritual area center, towards the three fighters. "You all acted swiftly and ruthlessly, and for that I thank you. You see...." He coughs up some blood laughing an evil laugh, "the ritual required the sacrifice of the summoners, and now that my loyal followers are all dead, there is just one more loose end." Deceidon and Sunshine does not want the ritual master to finish. In an attempt to stop him, they both fire a second arrow at him, but alas, both miss. Captain Hal shouts in the background as the group finishes their attack, "WATCH OUT! HE'S DOING SOMETHING!" It is at this time that the ritual master pulls out a jagged dagger and holds it to his stomach.

Actions!

Would Whitsell be able to subtly cast a command spell during this commotion?
If so, he would command the ritual master to "Surrender"

An excellent application of the spell; however, because the mage has an intelligence higher than 13, he was given a saving throw, and he passed it. This is how everything plays out....

The ritual master means to take his own life to complete the ritual! Without wasting a single second the fighters take action and disarms the mage with a well-placed grapple and kick to the head. A few teeth fly as well as a jagged dagger, but still he smiles. I assume that by grappling him, Elithil would have grabbed and held the mage by the arms, yes? Now on his knees, pinned to the ground by the mighty elf, the ritual master's head slumps down as he stares at the ground. Whitsell, shouts at the mage, ordering him to 'Surrender'. The ritual master cackles and spits some blood out as he looks up at Whitsell and says simply "No."

With his head facing the ground once again, the ritual master starts to drone out some words under his breath, the summoning circle underneath them flashing red every now and then. You can tell that the mage is on the verge of collapsing, his health greatly drained from the beating and stabbing, and you get the feeling that he wouldn't mind dying either...

Captain Hal and the others wait in the shadows, watching the whole scene in the center of the ritual room. Deceidon remains cautious of the mage's magics, keeping his distance to help avoid any potential spells. Sunshine does the same, keeping his 'Dungeon Master' aimed at the mage at all times. He whispers towards Deceidon in a strange mix of words, a code perhaps? Only Deceidon can seem to understand what the elf is saying.

"The Order would want to see this mage's head on a pike, but surely killing him would spring some sort of trap or finish the ritual... experience in hunting these vermin has taught me that much. What do you suppose we do?"

Thrown back by the mage after having been stabbed, Rand retreats into the back of the room and finds that he bumps into soemthing along the way. Standing behind him, is some sort of object on a pedestal, with a heavy dark cloth draped over it, this much he can tell just by feel alone. The thief remains out of sight for the time being, but he can tell that the commotion is still on and that things have come to strange standstill. Raised voices and cackling.

Actions?

[Grognardsw]

Flynn, fighter

"Knock him out!" barks Flynn, kicking again, hoping if the mage is out but not dead the ritual won't climax.

Flynn kick [1d20+2] = 8+2 = 10

Deceidon, fighter-thief

Seeing the mage surrounded, Deciedon lights a torch and peers about the room for the orb, which remains the group's mission. He investigates the pedestal.

[MonkeyWrench]

Rand remains back, keeping away from the ritual circle.

[onlyme]

Whitsell waits defensively, not sure whether to attack or flee.

[Zhym]

Elethil knocks the dagger away from the mage. Using the pommel of his sword, the elf attempts to knock out the mage.

Attack roll, if needed:
Long sword (THAC0 16): [1d20+7] = 2+7 = 9, Dmg: [1d8+9] = 8+9 = 17 (S/M) [1d12+9] = 9+9 = 18 (L)

Hopefully hitting a grappled opponent is automatic, or at least gets a +4 attack bonus?

[Rukellian]

I rolled initiative for both sides and the results were both 3... in a case where timing was crucial, you guys just barely made it.

The ritual master finishes his drone of words and a gust of wind blasts everyone in the face. The room grows a little darker as this happens and the torches look like they are about to flicker out. Flynn and Elithil are quick to knock the mage out before anything else happens, a swift kick to the head of a grappled opponent would do that; however, right before the kick to the head knocks the mage out, he laughs and looks up, at what you have no idea. Whatever it is that happened, you know one thing, the ritual was probably disrupted, but that easily? You wonder what the ritual master did in his final moments.

Rand, after having found something in the back of the room, makes his way back to the group near the entrance. As he approaches in the darkness, he is met by Deceidon carrying a torch. The two are now in the middle of the room to the farthest wall on the left of the map. Upon approaching Rand, Deceidon notices that he has something spherical and covered in cloth underneath his one arm.

Actions! (and maybe roll for suprise/initiative, maybe... )

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon

"We have the orb!" yells Deceidon to alert the others. "Rand, that is the purpose of our mission. Let me have it."

Flynn

The swashbuckler is satisfied the evil sorcerer is knocked out. He hears Deceidon's words and approaches Rand from behind.

[MonkeyWrench]

Rand, is about to hand over the orb, his arms beginning to stretch out until he sees the flanking maneuver by the swashbuckler. Rand cautiously sidesteps so that he can face everyone in the room. He hesitates on giving the orb to the rogue, giving the man a distrustful glare, "And what mission is this? Am I helping stop one tyrant only to be crushed by another?"

[onlyme]

Whitsell interrupts.

We only know the orb is important. We like you, are not sure the answer to that question. I would feel more comfortable if I was given custody of this thing. I humbly believe that I have earned some trust from all parties over the past few days.