IC II

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"This bodes ill, friends! Hey - doesn't one of you have a magical throwing spear?

"It saddens me to propose this, but maybe we could send my mule Jepeto into that mass of lost souls to see what sort of damage they can do. Perhaps they can't even reach into our world, but are apparitions only. And if they drain Jepeto's lifeforce or rend him to pieces, at least he'll have died in the service of restoring this road to the people of Alice, Draea and Kimrid."

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"Wait a bit before you waste a perfectly good donkey on a hunch. Let me and Notai try something." He looks to Notai. "I'm going up and hitting one on the right. You're quick enough, do your quick strike and move back. Let's save that spear trick for something that may not want to come out and greet us."

Gardo will move up to allow his sword to make a strike but hopefully not allow a retaliation. Notai moves quickly to stab one shade and move back.

[thirdkingdom]

Gardo

"Wait a bit before you waste a perfectly good donkey on a hunch. Let me and Notai try something." He looks to Notai. "I'm going up and hitting one on the right. You're quick enough, do your quick strike and move back. Let's save that spear trick for something that may not want to come out and greet us."

Gardo will move up to allow his sword to make a strike but hopefully not allow a retaliation. Notai moves quickly to stab one shade and move back.

Can you clarify your intention here?

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"Wait a bit before you waste a perfectly good donkey on a hunch. Let me and Notai try something." He looks to Notai. "I'm going up and hitting one on the right. You're quick enough, do your quick strike and move back. Let's save that spear trick for something that may not want to come out and greet us."

Gardo will move up to allow his sword to make a strike but hopefully not allow a retaliation. Notai moves quickly to stab one shade and move back.

Can you clarify your intention here?

Trying to make an attack where the creature is towards the edge of my swing and they would not be able to, or easily able to, hit back.

[thirdkingdom]

Trying to make an attack where the creature is towards the edge of my swing and they would not be able to, or easily able to, hit back.

Round One

Gardo leans forward, hoping that the creatures literally cannot cross the threshold separating the village from the outside world, and swipes with his blade. Notai leaps forward, stabbing with her spear, then just as quickly leaps backwards before the creatures can react. Both weapons tear into the insubstantial fabric of the creatures, tearing wisps of tenebrous mist from their near-incorporeal forms! It looks as though magical weapons are able to pierce whatever reality they hae been torn from.

Ah, I got you. So, I'm going to go ahead and say that you can do that -- basically, trying to get as close as possible and hoping they really can't cross the lines of the village -- but with disadvantage (rolling twice and taking the lower of the two rolls.Initiative, PCs first:: 2#1d6 6 6 Inititiative is tied. Good thing Notai gets that bonus!

https://orokos.com/roll/802048: 2#1d20+8 18 12 1d8+5 12 1d20+4 14 1d6+4 5Hit points for the two shadows:: 2#2d8+2 13 9 13-12, 9-5

[beniliusbob]

Is it possible to cheese this out by magic spearing these things to death? Or are they able to counter-attack?

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus
Feargus fishes an oil flask out of his pack and throws it at the ground at the shadow's feet. "Mardan! Do not throw at the shadows, throw the oil at their feet! Goshawk! Get a torch lit and toss it into the oil!"

Mardan Cy had the oil out and ready...Goshawk needs to fish the torch out of his pack and light it before throwing it.

[thirdkingdom]

Is it possible to cheese this out by magic spearing these things to death? Or are they able to counter-attack?

You can certainly try!

[shaidar]

Newton

"If Feargus's test of the oil is successful then we have an effective distance weapon, I have a number of vials on my horse along with those of my henchfolk. If not I fear we will have to fight them such as Gardo did. If that is the case then I have a spell of faerie fire to make that an easier task"

Ribar approaches the those at the entrance

"It looks like these creatures are immune to the power of the gods when it comes to turning. But if you plan to fight them today then I have a holy chant that will bring you the favour of Manifest while you do, although I must remain nearby and unaccosted for it to work...and if I am not fighting then it would make sense for one of those that is to use the enchanted shield that the group has placed in my possession"

Holy Chant as a 30' range, so Ribar should able to place himself safely behind the fighting line but still have the spell reach those fighting

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"We still don't know what kind of harm those things can do. That worries me. I think we should see if Notai and Gardo can kill those two they've already wounded and see what fire does, then wait until tomorrow when we can have two more arms to strike them."

If Gardo or Notai takes a hit and it's nothing terribly significant, maybe we push through here. I understand from tk's combat description that we avoided their attacks by winning initiative only, and there are a dozen. If they drain something other than hp, we can't directly heal it.

If we wait until tomorrow, Feargus and Zellar can attack and I can also prepare barkskin and 10' PFE, in addition to Ribar's chant and even a bless if we really want to stack it.

But I definitely think we want someone - even just my mule - to get hit now. It would be a pleasant surprise if these things just do regular physical damage only.

[shaidar]

Ribar "You speak wisely, Holy Zellar. We should understand our enemy and maximise our preparedness"

Newton glances back down the trail "Yeah, you're right. I just hope the caravan is willing to wait, although it's not our problem if they're impatient"

[VonAlric]

Gardo

Seeing the form tear away, Gardo gains confidence. "If you have reach, you can hit these things with some magic. Notai and I can do this but it will be slow. Also, who knows if these things won't learn after we take down a few. Notai, let's keep at this."

[thirdkingdom]

Before the adventurers can continue, they become aware of a commotion behind them. Two riders are approaching from the south . . .

PresGas and aronbc, ya'll are up.

[PresGas]

Sumer

From the direction of where the party came, the one rider is a human female in riding breeches and leather armor. Her brown hair is well tended and braided off to one side, with a broad brim hat upon her crown. Her horse's saddle has fixed to it a short bow, quiver and spear. A larger pouch on the saddle likely has a book of spells by observers "in the know", but is semi concealed by the saddle blanket. Her fair skin shows she lived some time in comfort but her sword scabbard, well used, shows that luxurious time has passed. She gives a relieved breath and smiles at the party.

"We are glad to have found you at last! Trying to catch you from Alice, but we missed your leaving time. We heard your need for people schooled in spellwork and was hoping to lend a hand to your task. My name is Sumer Seskin." She then notices the scene ahead. "This does look interesting..."

[shaidar]

Newton turns to face the newcomers

"Welcome, Sumer Seskin, I am Newton Longville, also known as Drakesbane. You are well met, and your arrival is fortuitous." he gestures towards the village and its shadowy inhabitants "We are trying to clear this village of these shadow creatures before the caravan comes through, they seem impervious to mundane weapons, and Feargus here was just about to see if burning oil has any affect"

[thirdkingdom]

As the introductions commence the shadowy figures remain on their side of the line, grasping with insubstantial hands but unable to reach the companions.

[beniliusbob]

Zellar's retainers watch the arrival of Sumer Seskin from the treeline.

Alwen Nar

"In need of people schooled in spellwork, is that it? Well, my dear, now we really know where we stand with our employers! Just a couple of dumb hunks of meat!"

Sigmari An

"Hush, Alwen Nar. This latest arrival suggests a change in the balance of power among our patrons. It is in such situations that opportunity makes itself known."

Zellar

"The gods have heard us! Fate is kind. Well met, Sumer Seskin. As you can already see, our band is engaged in the eternal struggle against darkness and chaos, and the spawns of evil are sometimes best taught a lesson through arcane means and device. We are in dire need of someone trained in such arts.

"We were just about to continue our experiment to divine the strengths and weaknesses of these shadow-things. Perhaps you carry with you certain spells that can reach beyond the mundane and into the supernatural realm to send these lost souls back to their maker?"

[PresGas]

Sumer

She dismounts and briefly greets everyone, glad to be among what looks to be capable folk again. However she sees the creatures stopped at a line. "Now this is unusual. Perhaps we should find out why they aren't able to roam freely..." She carefully steps towards the line and looks at the gate and the area around it, but with sword in hand. While examining she asks, "Common weapons do them no harm?"

Let's go ahead and get started with some retrieval of Historical Knowledge or Magical Engineering.

[PresGas]

I thought I would clarify: Historical knowledge about the village or maybe the gate specifically and magical engineering about the gate.

[The_Wanderer]

TK...I think you missed this one...

Feargus
Feargus fishes an oil flask out of his pack and throws it at the ground at the shadow's feet. "Mardan! Do not throw at the shadows, throw the oil at their feet! Goshawk! Get a torch lit and toss it into the oil!"

Mardan Cy had the oil out and ready...Goshawk needs to fish the torch out of his pack and light it before throwing it.