IC II

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

Zellar will stay near the gates, ready to follow her friends into the danger zone if the need for healing should arise.

[PresGas]

Gotcha. What form does her attack cantrip take?

Oooh! I get to make it up!! So Sumer will be within 20 feet of the border and her cantrip will take the form of 1-4 butcherbirds (depending on damage) of grey shimmer.

[shaidar]

Gardo

He shakes his head. "Sorry Newton, but you are not the person for this job. Notai is much swifter than you and has that nice spear. She's got a nice advantage over you in this little battle. She and I will go with.... our latest mage."

"Still, I think we could have saved ourselves some time and just burned the whole place to the ground. But, someone would probably object to wasting good resting spots along this path to Kimred and such. Also don't know if that would solve all the problems but it would have been a start."

Newton shrugs "You have a point about Notai. You're right, things were much simpler when the plan was for Telemachus to fireball the place. I will stay back and keep alert for danger while the Sumer investigates the shadow folk"

Newton will drop back from the village slightly and kept alert for danger from the wilderness.

[thirdkingdom]

Sumer approaches the opening, flanked by Notai and Gardo. Composing herself, she mutters some quick arcane words and, and instant later, a trio of birds composed of magic and her will spring forth from her hands, diving towards the shade that had spoken and pecking away at the nearly insubstantial flesh. The birds pull away wisps of shadow in the beak, but then soon fade. The wizardess does this again, with the same result, but before too long the throng of shadows retreats from the gate, out of range of her spell, and ghost back towards the buildings from whence they came.

Bottom line, the cantrips do damage them, but they're not going to stand around to get pecked to death.

[beniliusbob]

So, call it a day and prepare for a raid on the morrow?

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

Feargus gives a slow clap. "I mean this with all due respect, Sumer...especially since your fowl have done more harm to the shadows than my trusty mace. I do hope you have something a bit more potent for us though...So tonight we prepare. Let us array our camp some distance away from the village as we do not know if the barriers hold at night and return in the morning, full of powers holy and arcane."

He looks at Mardan Cy and whispers with a sly grin, "How was that turn of phrase?" The boy gives a half smile and shakes his head. Feargus frowns, "Well you didn't say anything better."

[PresGas]

Sumer

Seeming to ignore the banter of the new party, Sumer seems deep in thought as the shadow beings retreat. "Well, now we at least know that it will take more than a couple of dagger stabs to take them out, and since they do have numbers this could get interesting."

She thinks a bit more:

"I have flames that could work and a way to speed up those that have enchanted weapons. Maybe something else to use, but I need to think a bit this evening on this."

I can study two burning hands (for personal attack/defense) and two haste spells (to prep). Also, how many doses of the potions do I have, TK?

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

Zellar spends the evening meditating and praying, preparing herself the trying day ahead.

In the morning, she prays for the following spells:

cure light wounds, detect evil, shillelagh;
bless, detect magic;
striking;
protection from evil 10’ radius

[beniliusbob]

Alwen Nar

The veteran warrior, feeling anxious and eager to test his mettle, volunteers for double watch duty.

Sigmari An

Once the camp is arranged, Sigmari An explores the local area looking for any natural ingredients that could be of use in the crafting of poisons or other alchemical products applicable to skullduggery.

[shaidar]

Newton spends the evening showing Wilter and Toma some wilderness survival basics and some basic kit maintenance.

In the morning he spends a few minutes communing with nature (but doesn't change his spells: faerie fire, detect magic, cure light wounds)

Ribar also spends time in prayer to Manifest. He decides to keep his spells as well (clw x2 and holy chant)

[thirdkingdom]

Sumer

Seeming to ignore the banter of the new party, Sumer seems deep in thought as the shadow beings retreat. "Well, now we at least know that it will take more than a couple of dagger stabs to take them out, and since they do have numbers this could get interesting."

She thinks a bit more:

"I have flames that could work and a way to speed up those that have enchanted weapons. Maybe something else to use, but I need to think a bit this evening on this."

I can study two burning hands (for personal attack/defense) and two haste spells (to prep). Also, how many doses of the potions do I have, TK?

One dose of each potion, unless otherwise noted.

[thirdkingdom]

Alwen Nar

The veteran warrior, feeling anxious and eager to test his mettle, volunteers for double watch duty.

Sigmari An

Once the camp is arranged, Sigmari An explores the local area looking for any natural ingredients that could be of use in the crafting of poisons or other alchemical products applicable to skullduggery.

https://orokos.com/roll/803890: 1d20 17

Sigmari looks, and while she searches long and hard, she doesn't find anything that could potentially be of use. She does find a handful of early blueberries, though, small and tart.

Fifthmonth, Twentiethday
Outside the Abandoned Village

The adventurers rise in the morning after an untroubled night's sleep. Perhaps it is the presence of the haunted village, but they are no molested during the night.

[beniliusbob]

Sigmari An

Sigmari tucks the blueberries into her pouch, thinking she may find a use for them later - or at least enjoy a tasty treat.

Zellar

In the morning, after preparing her spells, Zellar searches for an appropriate piece of deadfall to enchant into a shillelagh.

When the party is ready to begin their cleansing of the village, she will first cast protection from evil, 10' radius, and then bless. She will wait to cast striking (on Feargus's mace) and shillelagh (on her improvised cudgel) the moment they catch sight of the shadows approaching.

"If we stay close, the magical protection will envelop all of us. I think we should begin our search by tearing the door off that house with the spider-things. They may be part of this village's curse, as well."

[shaidar]

Newton

"We should be cautious. There were a dozen of those things and I wouldn't want to be surrounded by them and have to take on the spider things as well. It might be more prudent to draw them to the gate where we can fight them in line with no danger of being surrounded and our friends safely behind us ready to assist. It may take a while to destroy that number of shadows, so we shouod be mindful of the limited duration of our magics. We might want to think about spreading them out, for example we save Ribar's chant for later once Zellar's blessing has worn off"

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"Wise words, Newton. Let us take that approach.

"If there is nothing else, then..." The dervish looks around at her companions and raises the icon of the Mnencir for all to see. "Destiny awaits."

Did Newton memorize shillelagh in order to give the axe to a henchman or some such? It would be good to have another arm in the line.

[PresGas]

Sumer

Sumer wakes up in the morning still not feeling like the party has enough answers; but seeing the confidence of the group decides to make a go of it. After talking with the party at camp she knows her weapons would not impact the creatures, but perhaps burning hand would give them a surprise. In preparation for the incursion, she mentions to the group:

"I have something that will allow us to attack faster and possibly keep them on their heels."

Assuming the players all agree, Sumer will cast Haste on the party just out of range of the creatures and before entering combat. It should catch everyone from my read in OSE.

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"Goshawk - you lend a hand as needed from outside of the barrier. If things go poorly, the remains of the party will look to you for leadership. Mardan Cy - why don't you climb a tree outside the barrier or something and keep watch. I'd like a new ballad composed by tomorrow morning of our exploits.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I think our time is at hand. Sumer - I will gladly take this magical speed you promise along with the enchantment on my mace. Unless a new hazard emerges, I recommend we stay together. Also keep your eyes on that house near the center of town..."

When he sees blank looks on the rest of the party he says, "...didn't you guys see the shadow indicate that building? Am I the only one? Anyway we have to clear the entire village anyway, I say we move to that one sooner than later in case there is some kind of a key to their shadowed immortality there."

He moves his way to the front rank, holding out his mace to Zellar.

[shaidar]

Newton

"Sumer, I will certainly be happy to accept this spell of speed. Once the shadows are almost upon us I will cast my spell of faerie fire to improve our aim. Ribar, look after Toms and Wilter, the three of you should be ready to help anyone who gets into trouble and needs to drop back from the line"

He draws his axe and joins Feargus.

[VonAlric]

Notai

Looking towards the indicated house, Notai sizes it up then speaks. "With this enchantment, there are few things that would be faster than I, the wind and a diving hawk. I can move quick around the building to look for an opening and be back to let you know as such. If that is what we are doing."

Gardo

Hardly hearing Notai, Gardo seems slightly giddy. "Haste? Oh yeah, let them come at me now! They thought I was a problem before, wait 'til they see me now." He turns to Wulfka. "Be close like Goshawk and watch us. Let us know if something tries to sneak up behind us. If Notai or I go down somehow, you rush in and grab our weapon and start making them pay for it. We really need to start getting you an enchanted weapon someday."

[thirdkingdom]

Fithmonth, Twentiethday
The Village of Shadows

Unlike the previous day, shadowed by clouds and mist, the morning is bright and clear as the adventurers breach the barrier once more. Once inside Zellar again feels a strange weight upon her chest, and she and the rest of the adventurers feel as though they have just stepped into the shade under a tree -- slightly darker and cooler than outside -- although that is clearly not the case.

No shades emerge immediately to accost the adventurers.