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Omens and Portents


ADM Kim - New Humble's Sword Acres site map 
Tuesday October 31st, 2017 8:44:02 PM

Yesterday
Though for many the day was relaxing, Murphy decides to survey the scene - underground. He lets people know what he is doing. He relies heavily upon the use of the find north cantrip as he travels, 20' per round (though he could move 25 - he is going in a slightly leisurely, take it in mode). Starting 20' outside the edge of the property, he takes 50' square areas at a time, and explores first at a depth of 10', then at 20', 30', and finally 40' below the ground. He looks to discern changes in terrain, presence of large rocks, metal if any, pockets of water, gems or minerals, and so forth. He pops to the surface at the end of each level circuit to report in, in brief, what he finds. He figures it would be good for George to be aware of what is beneath.

If he finds something of particular concern or interest, he lets others know. He may summon some earth elementals to help him understand better what he is coming across.

It will take about 4 hours to get the information together for a general map to a depth of 40' around the property and near periphery. He spends a few hours sketching out level maps. This sort of thing probably sounds very boring to some of his friends. He is fine with being boring for now. He then sketches some possible layouts for the surface - placement of buildings. He shows his friends, and gets their desires and opinions included.

Today
[Coming after Halloween festivities]

DM Ken 
Tuesday October 31st, 2017 11:23:05 PM

Pressi and Bliss wake, and shake off the heavy dreams with typical halfling fortitude. It seems as if the small race could go through life with never a care, if such things were not forced upon them.

Murphy does some scouting, Bliss does some shopping and ritual work, and Pressi works on recruiting to her coven, while Hobie opens up a little more to his allies.

-------------------

It doesn't take long at all for Murphy to happen across a thing, small but strange. Humbles Ford has long been known for being part of the larger Crescent Valley, which had a reputation for it's extremely fertile soil. In his explorations, he finds a large number of dry rocks, many which seem to be out of place in the valley. Why they are there, he isn't sure, but they are all the same. It's a rare find, and by and large the majority of the soil seems soft and rich.

------------------

Sometime between second breakfast and first lunch, Roscoe comes running, barging in on Pressi and Hobie - with a few tagalong deputies trailing behind him. He stops and holds up a hand, while panting, then quickly takes a large bite of honeyed bread - to help him catch his breath.

"Monsters! Well, yea, monsters in the town! They're all over the place! They're everywhere! I can't even.. I mean! They aren't even.. *chomp* mmrrfmrm!"

Washing the bite down with a bit of water in a canteen on his hip, he starts over.

"We need you lot quick! There's monsters all over the town! They just showed up today, out of nowhere! People are sitting around just watching them like they are some kinda carnival or something, but I think it could be dangerous! Most of them are near Pirnooks General Store, and THAT's a fight because that old codger is trying to charge people to stand around and gawk! Please hurry! "

Pirnooks is no more than a 10 minute trip on foot from the Dancing Pig, where Roscoe found both Hobie and Pressi. Looking up the road, they can see a crowd has gathered already, but more concerning might be the large front of pitch black clouds moving in...bringing darkness in the middle of the day.



Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Tuesday October 31st, 2017 11:59:00 PM
"Monsters? Really? In the middle of town?" Lance makes the 'alcoholic' gesture with his hands. "Alright, let's go take a look."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Wednesday November 1st, 2017 12:55:46 AM
Hobie will respond immediately to any request from Roscoe, particularly one with such possibility for danger.
"We must go at once! Pressi can you alert the others!?"

Without even waiting for a response Hobie takes off headed for Pirnook's General Store

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 20, HP 83, CMD 20; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23 
Wednesday November 1st, 2017 11:41:48 AM
Pressi stared as Roscoe began eating the honeyed bread. "No, please, I insist you help yourself. It's mainly for the new recruits but they can snack later."

The last recruit meeting had not gone as well as she hoped....

---------------

(OOC: If Bliss wants, she can have both Chicory and Joy, and I will fill up all four of my spots on my own.)

"I have to say, I don't get Chicory's concerns," Pressi said while looking up from her file for Filiu Wyarr LaRue. "Top of your class. Worked at your mother's store for three years. Casting cantrips when you were four. Honestly, if there's an area of concern, I simply don't see..."

Pressi finally looked up at the table. A ventriloquist's dummy stared back. A clown doll that spoke in an accent, it would insist on doing most of the talking for the rest of the conversation.

"... moving on. Tell me more about what kind of work you did."

------------------

In response to Roscoe's story about monsters, Pressi expresses skepticism. "Are they small? Fast? Carrying these huge snacks and begging for candy in high pitch voices?"

Nevertheless, Hobie left it to her to contact the others, and she supposed she had to do so. Casting her Flying Broom spell, she took off to look upon the area and try to find Bliss.

Along the way, she attempts to activate her permanent message with Murphy (added to my list of the catacombs - he should add his request too) and tells him to stop playing with rocks. (Also, because I know he will ask if I don't spell it out, she tells him what Roscoe said including where to go.)

Meanwhile, Harper began to run through the town at a fantastic pace, finally finding her way to Kezzem. She began to tug on his sleeves, whining and growling until he follows.

ADM Kim - New Humble's Sword Acres site map  d20+25=40 ;
Wednesday November 1st, 2017 10:51:15 PM

Good Domesticity
Murphy had stayed overnight at his family's burrow, spending time catching his folks, and siblings, and Uncle Orby, on what has been going on lately, and learning how things are going with his family.

His father has a developed a new game involving something like a large funnel. One person drops a coin - a copper, electrum, silver, or gold - on one side, as another drops a similar coin from the other. They roll opposite directions, usually passing very close to each other, and sometimes one strikes the other, sending it off in a different orbit, more elliptical, perhaps, or causing it to drop straight to the bottom hole. Watching the coins can be mesmerizing - the motion, and the sound of metal on smooth wood, frequencies changing with the speed and level of the circling coins. There's no real 'winner' in this game - unless someone wants to add their own rules. He plays with his younger siblings, providing them the coins, and letting them collect from the plate underneath. The colors of the wood are beautiful, the funnel having been carved from a large burl from an ancient apple tree which was cut down as its productive fruit-producing years had finally come to an end.

"I wonder whether I could fashion a tree to create a good burl?" he remarks to his folks. His mother adventured as a druid for a few years in her youth. His father was a bard and a rogue in the same group as she. Now he heads up the family business, making musical instruments and toys, mainly, his workshop next to the burrow, and their main outlet in Angel Springs, though some are sold here in Humble's Ford, and Hovel.

"I'm trying to work out a few spells for growing things. Not so general as plant growth - more specific. Perhaps for a single tree, or a small crop. Trying to get, in the case of a tree, years of growth with a single casting. As well as trying to shape the growth, reflecting the hardiness of a tree grown in an area of low moisture and steady winds, perhaps, or - say, did you know that trees thrive on stress? Not so much as to uproot it, but, winds, and storms, and periods of dryness, can strengthen roots, even deepen them."

Uncle Orby, noted for his agricultural prowess, laughs. "I told you that years ago, boy." He shakes his head. "Still, you've made it your own. I needn't claim ownership. I learned it from another, myself."

"Ah, son, if you perfect that, I may have a commission or two for you," his father says. His mother brings more tea. "I worry about you, sometimes, Murphy. I hear you are not always... careful." As she wipes the table, she says, "I heard there was a falling out with you and Shel. And the girl who came with little Bliss, Alleah."

"Uh, Ma, did you mean to word it that way?"

"Bring your friends around more, Murphy," she says, cupping his chin in the palm of her hand for a moment.

Message Received
Just then, he gets the message from Pressi. He takes a last sip of tea, almost scalding his lips in his haste. "Hot, hot - but good, ma. Something's up at Pirnook's store. Monsters, Roscoe says. Gotta run!" He dashes from the table, jumps over the floor rocker cradle holding Spotsy, his currently slumbering youngest niece, grabs and slings over his shoulder the haversack off the coat rack, pushes open the door, messages to Pressi, "Coming!" - casts [link href="http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/spells/longstrider.html#longstrider"]longstrider[/link,]and runs (speed 175) to the store, taking the back way over the grass and skirting the gardens of his neighbors.

As he approaches, he is listening and looking around.
============
Perception: 40

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Wednesday November 1st, 2017 10:51:38 PM

Good Domesticity
Murphy had stayed overnight at his family's burrow, spending time catching his folks, and siblings, and Uncle Orby, on what has been going on lately, and learning how things are going with his family.

His father has a developed a new game involving something like a large funnel. One person drops a coin - a copper, electrum, silver, or gold - on one side, as another drops a similar coin from the other. They roll opposite directions, usually passing very close to each other, and sometimes one strikes the other, sending it off in a different orbit, more elliptical, perhaps, or causing it to drop straight to the bottom hole. Watching the coins can be mesmerizing - the motion, and the sound of metal on smooth wood, frequencies changing with the speed and level of the circling coins. There's no real 'winner' in this game - unless someone wants to add their own rules. He plays with his younger siblings, providing them the coins, and letting them collect from the plate underneath. The colors of the wood are beautiful, the funnel having been carved from a large burl from an ancient apple tree which was cut down as its productive fruit-producing years had finally come to an end.

"I wonder whether I could fashion a tree to create a good burl?" he remarks to his folks. His mother adventured as a druid for a few years in her youth. His father was a bard and a rogue in the same group as she. Now he heads up the family business, making musical instruments and toys, mainly, his workshop next to the burrow, and their main outlet in Angel Springs, though some are sold here in Humble's Ford, and Hovel.

"I'm trying to work out a few spells for growing things. Not so general as plant growth - more specific. Perhaps for a single tree, or a small crop. Trying to get, in the case of a tree, years of growth with a single casting. As well as trying to shape the growth, reflecting the hardiness of a tree grown in an area of low moisture and steady winds, perhaps, or - say, did you know that trees thrive on stress? Not so much as to uproot it, but, winds, and storms, and periods of dryness, can strengthen roots, even deepen them."

Uncle Orby, noted for his agricultural prowess, laughs. "I told you that years ago, boy." He shakes his head. "Still, you've made it your own. I needn't claim ownership. I learned it from another, myself."

"Ah, son, if you perfect that, I may have a commission or two for you," his father says. His mother brings more tea. "I worry about you, sometimes, Murphy. I hear you are not always... careful." As she wipes the table, she says, "I heard there was a falling out with you and Shel. And the girl who came with little Bliss, Alleah."

"Uh, Ma, did you mean to word it that way?"

"Bring your friends around more, Murphy," she says, cupping his chin in the palm of her hand for a moment.

Message Received
Just then, he gets the message from Pressi. He takes a last sip of tea, almost scalding his lips in his haste. "Hot, hot - but good, ma. Something's up at Pirnook's store. Monsters, Roscoe says. Gotta run!" He dashes from the table, jumps over the floor rocker cradle holding Spotsy, his currently slumbering youngest niece, grabs and slings over his shoulder the haversack off the coat rack, pushes open the door, messages to Pressi, "Coming!" - casts [link href="http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/spells/longstrider.html#longstrider"]longstrider[/link,]and runs (speed 175) to the store, taking the back way over the grass and skirting the gardens of his neighbors.

As he approaches, he is listening and looking around.
============
Perception: 40

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle)  d20+15=32 ;
Wednesday November 1st, 2017 10:53:04 PM

Bliss quickly casts a Barkskin spell on himself. Then, since he is faster as a cat, Bliss changes and then dashes off, catching up to his friends and then leading them on to town. He keeps his eyes, ears, and nose open as he runs.

Perception, with scent: 32

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Wednesday November 1st, 2017 11:29:09 PM
ooc: check

DM Ken 
Wednesday November 1st, 2017 11:41:09 PM

Arriving in various groups and at different times, the Sword group together quickly, then start trying to pick their way through the crowd. For a group of people supposedly observing monsters, the situation is awfully lively.

Large groups of Halflings gather in large circles, as if watching a fight happening in public. There are "ooooh" and "aaaah!" and screams and shouts, but nothing of the typical panic and fleet footed retreat that the Halfling commoner populace is known for.

Pirnook stands shouting at the crowd, literally from on top of his store's roof.

"Ya darned free-loaders! I'm tellin ya if you wanna loiter about outside of my store, ya gotta pay me for it! You're keeping all my customers out!"

No one pays him any mind, as almost everyone is transfixed on the fighters encircled by the townsfolk. One circle contains a five headed monster, gnashing it's teeth at a pair of human sized creatures with tight, leather skin and a single horn on each of their heads. Another circle contains a pack of at least 12 small fire elementals locked in combat with a single large animal with an eagles claws, a wolfs head, razor sharp antlers, and a body resembling a winged stag.

All the creatures are translucent, meaning you can see through them in a general sense, but they diffuse enough light that they aren't exactly as see through as a window. They seem to have form and substance one moment, then all their color leaves them be, and blue shimmering outlines anchor them to the material plane for a flicker of time before they solidify again.

The creatures do not seem to be cognizant of their surroundings at all, focused only on their battles with one another.

Overhead, a number of tiny demons flock through the sky, phasing through Pirnook himself, who cries out, loses his balance, and begins to tumble off the roof...

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+13=16 ; d20+15=21 ;
Thursday November 2nd, 2017 1:42:54 AM
Seeing Pirnook falling, Hobie will shove his way through the crowd and stretch his arms out in an attempt to catch the grumpy shopkeeper as he tumbles off the roof. If necessary Hobie will dive forward to break his fall.

Melee Touch Attack: 16
Acrobatics: 21

(Using the rules for catching a character in the Climb rules section I'm assuming it's a Melee touch attack, for which Pirnook can choose to negate his dexterity bonus. Let me know if I'm not correct here. I also included an acrobatics check incase you want one for any part of the action.)

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 20, HP 83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23  d20+19=20 ; d20+8=25 ; d20+11=19 ;
Thursday November 2nd, 2017 10:53:56 AM
Pressi swoops in to assist Hobie by trying to stabilize Pirnook before he falls. (Not sure if this would be an aid another, a separate easier/equal check, a grapple or a fly check. Also not sure if this risks my broom flying too. Leaving it up to the DM to roll.) "No problem, just grant us whatever discount you think your life is worth." To Hobie, "I feel five percent coming my way."

Pressi focuses upon the figures moving in and out as she flies by, but the focus alludes her (Perception 20, nat 1). Struggling, she tries to determine what magic and creatures she is looking at (Know Arcana 25), but already suspects an answer. It wasn't so long ago that she was translucent herself, blinking in and out of the ethereal plane.

She continues to fly towards the demons herself, trying to determine if they are aware of her. If possible, she attempts to grab one (Touch attack 19, Lore Keeper 27).

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+16=31 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+10=28 ; d20+10=12 ; d3+2=4 ; d3+2=3 ; d3+1=4 ; d3+1=4 ;
Thursday November 2nd, 2017 11:28:21 AM
Kezzem throws his dagger at the "demons", each throw targeting a different one.

OOC: Two-Weapon Fighting

Attack #1 (+1 returning dagger): 31.
Damage: 4.

Attack #2 (+1 returning dagger): 20.
Damage: 3.

Attack #3 (dagger): 28.
Damage: 4.

Attack #4 (dagger): 12.
Damage: 4.

----

Lay on Hands 7/day
Smite Evil 4/day

Spells Prepared:
1st: cure light wounds (x2), lesser restoration
2nd: sheild other (x)
3rd: cure moderate wounds

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Thursday November 2nd, 2017 11:28:53 AM
"Hey boss, what do we do here? This magic stuff is above my pay grade."

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+25=45 ;
Thursday November 2nd, 2017 4:22:41 PM

Murphy casts soften earth and stone on the area of the ground where it looks to be the landing spot for Pirnook, should Pressi's help not work.

"Let's figure it out together, Kez - you're a paladin, and have powerful abilities against evil. I'd gauge those fellas up there are evil."

Murphy looks around to see the direction things are going, and works to determine where the threats to people are - and whether the fighting critters might become more substantial. He especially checks to see if it appears anyone is controlling the action.
=========
Perception: 45 (nat. 20)

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle)  d20+22=34 ;
Thursday November 2nd, 2017 10:20:03 PM

Bliss sits and watches, swishing his tail. Is this an illusion? A show?

Spellcraft 34

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Thursday November 2nd, 2017 11:03:41 PM
"Yeah, Kez. What does your evil-dar say?" Lance gives the spectral creatures a wary eye.

DM Ken  d100=88 ;
Thursday November 2nd, 2017 11:19:36 PM

Hobie moves with great reflex, and catches Pirnook with the help of Pressi, and together all three tumble into the softened earth created by Murphy. Pressi manages to keep her hand on the broom, so it's effect is not dispelled.

Kezzem, a halfling of action, responds to the threat without delay, sending daggers flying into the creatures - which promptly sail right through them. The non returning daggers bury themselves into the ground at the feet of halflings on the other side of the circle, which elicits cries of shock and anger!

The creatures, for their part, don't even seem to notice, and continue their own personal combats. None of them seem to stay anchored for long, only brief flashes of fighting, before being replaced with another phantasm altogether.

Bliss considers whether or not what he is seeing is an illusion, but he isn't exactly certain that what he's seeing is a spell effect already in place.

Pressi touches one of the creatures, one of the humanoids with the tight skin. Her domain powers activate, and she becomes aware of the strengths and weaknesses of a Babau, a demon typically known for it's role as an assassin among it's kind, preying on rising heroes or enemies of the demon realms. The babau doesn't seem to notice her as it continues it's fight against the multi headed creature.

Pirnook dusts himself off, and shakes a fist at the flock of flying creatures, which are no longer even visible.

"What are you lot made of? Rocks? I had things perfectly under control!" The old halfling rubs his hips for a moment, then wades into the crowds, swinging his walking stick every which way. "If you ain't payin' a spectator fee, scoot!"

As before, no one seems to bother listening, and halflings run this way and that way, cheering for their favorite battles. Throughout Humbles Ford, screams and shouts, or cheers and jeers, begin to pick up throughout the entire community.

Pressi, able to easily scout the situation from the air, estimates dozens, if not hundreds, of these creatures. Not all are fighting, some are simply wandering through houses, grazing on phantasmal grasses, or resting in the sun. Only when the creatures come within eyesight of each other, do they forget what they are doing, and throw themselves into combat.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 20, HP 83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23 
Friday November 3rd, 2017 2:33:24 PM
Unsure of what to do next, Pressi tries to attract the attention of a demon by yelling, and then via Ghost Sound: Mariachi Band.

She figures that she could try to get contact by blinking, but isn't fully sure they are on the ethereal plane, or that getting a demon's attention would be a good thing.

"We need to get the rest of the town out of here. We can't be sure that their inattention to us won't suddenly stop. Maybe get them to the temple."

Harper grabs Pirnook and rides him through the crowd.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+1=9 ; d20+14=34 ;
Friday November 3rd, 2017 2:46:09 PM
Kezzem activates detect evil and looks around the crowd, seeing if anyone pings his Gargul-sense or otherwise looks out-of-place or suspicious. He makes retrieves his daggers as well.

Perception: 9.
Sense Motive: 34.

----

Lay on Hands 7/day
Smite Evil 4/day

Spells:
1st Level: Cure Light Wounds x2, Lesser Restoration
2nd Level: Shield Other x2
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+25=34 ;
Friday November 3rd, 2017 8:28:35 PM

Murphy approaches the proprietor of the General Store.

"Sir. Mister DeepPockets, sir. You are asking people to pay rent to stand outside your store. Rather than yelling and screaming at them for rent - which you have no real right to demand, why not instead really make money? Mark items from your store with the words, 'Monster Day Special'. Sell them at a mark up over your usual price - maybe 10% more, say. Offer them as commemorative items, so people will not forget the day the funny monsters showed up." He hands him a pouch. "Here are 50 gold pieces to pay the so-called 'rent' you are demanding of these people. That is pure profit for you.

"One more thing," he adds, making sure he has direct eye contact with the owner. In a close, intense whisper, ensuring that Pirnook hears, but trying not to make it easy for others to pick up on what he says, Murphy tells him, "You'd best thank Hobie and Pressi - and me - for saving your life right now. You may not have noticed in your scramble for every last copper - but you likely would have broken your neck or back, or cracked your skull, Pirnook," using his first name, "if the three of us had not just saved your skinflint self-absorbed hide."

He turns his back on the fellow and looks to see what else is going on.
=========
Perception: 34

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Friday November 3rd, 2017 10:29:44 PM
"Guys I don't have a clue what is happening right now. Maybe I'll go ask one of the ones who isn't fighting."

Hobie will walk over to one of the creatures resting in the sun and crouch down to chat.

"Excuse me. Can you see or hear me? I'm a bit confused about what's happening right now. You guys seem to be here, but not quite here, and a lot of these guys are fighting, and it's causing quite the ruckus for our people. Do you have any idea what's happening?"

DM Ken 
Saturday November 4th, 2017 1:13:59 AM

Several of the Sword break into smaller plans of action.

Murphy firmly chastises Pirnook, who stares back wild-eyed but doesn't actually say anything. If anything, he seems too frightened to speak. Bully's are usually quiet when someone stronger comes around.

Hobie tries to talk with a creature, but the attempt is fruitless. If anything, it confirms that the creatures seem completely unaware of those in the village.

Pressi tries a few different ways, including Ghostly Mariachi, to get the demons attention. Not only do they not respond, but they eventually phase out, and are replaced with an altogether different set of creatures.

Pressi: Intelligence check, DC 15. Add +2 for having the knowledge domain.

Kezzem detects evil, and scans the crowd. Here or there, in the crowd of a hundred halflings or so, he thinks there might be the presence of "evil", but concentrating on that area produces no auras of even faint power.

At most, he thinks he might be detecting various persons with some criminal intent, pick-pocketing perhaps, or scam artists making a coin or two in a crowd of onlookers.

Notably though, even the demons that fall into his scope of vision, show no evil aura. But Pressi's touching them also proves they are not illusions.

Pressi's earlier Knowledge Arcana check, which her DM missed, tells her for certain that this is not the effect of a spell in place.



ADM Kim - New Humble's Sword Acres site map 
Saturday November 4th, 2017 6:14:52 AM

Friends: Click on the link shown below to catch up on proposed design features of the new property just given to our adventuring troupe. Feel free to make changes - or, click on the little down arrow to the right of 'Everyone Play Map' then select 'Duplicate' - then rename the 'Copy of...' map to your name, and go to town on it! I have a protected version with my own name - 'Kim Play Map' - which you can see, but not modify.

Humble's Sword Acres

Maybe over the weekend you can play around with it, make comments, add, erase, suggest, whatever. I've tried to include things people asked for, and came up with some of my own.

This is a work in progress. Help it progress! -ADM Kim

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Saturday November 4th, 2017 6:14:22 PM
Kezzem attempts to narrow in on the evil aura(s) detected. He thinks he finally understands what is going on, the old Kezzem would have caught on a lot quicker. Filled with self-doubt in his new role, and new nothing about demons beyond that you should stab them, he had been so focused on seeing that as the problem, when in reality, it was something he knew a lot better. This wasn't a demon attack, this was a distraction for a con job.

"It's a trick," he tells the other. "A distraction, to focus our attention away from where we should be focusing. Look to where the monsters aren't, and there we shall find the miscreants behind this."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+15=22 ;
Saturday November 4th, 2017 9:57:28 PM
"Kezzem that's brilliant! In my burglar days, when we were pulling a big job, we always had guys whose jobs were to cause a distraction. I think you're right. It's all misdirection."

Hobie scans the crowd for important figures, anyone who might have left something important unguarded when they came to look at the monsters. Perception- 22

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 20, HP 83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23  d20+6=17 ; d20+19=23 ;
Saturday November 4th, 2017 11:13:55 PM
(Pressi makes her intelligence check.)

If Pressi can somehow hear Kezzem or Hobie, she remarks "I don't know of any thieves pulling this kind of magic - and they aren't illusions whatever they are - as a mere distraction. Maybe next time I go thieving, I'll use mass murder to cover my parking tickets. Although, they aren't effects of a spell in place, either. Precursor to a mass invasion, maybe?"

In either case, Pressi begins to fly around the perimeter, seeing if anyone is coming into the city, seeing if anyone is doing major casting, etc. (Perception 23). She hopes that Bliss has the detect magic covered as she fires her domain spell: detect thoughts.

-------------------------

L2: 1
L4: 1


Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Sunday November 5th, 2017 11:48:08 PM
"Hmm... We cannot touch them, and they cannot touch us. We cannot hurt them, and they cannot hurt us. We can see them, but they do not seem to even notice we are here. As long as they aren't hurting anyone... let's go back to sleep?"

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+15=17 ; d20+3=10 ; d20+5=21 ; d20+25=37 ;
Monday November 6th, 2017 1:20:31 AM

Murphy approaches a few of the fighting creatures, and passes his hands through them, to test Lance's notion, and what Pressi had to say. He is fine with others looking to see if there is someone who seems to be in control - or taking advantage of the situation. He focuses for now on learning what he can about the creatures.
=========
Knowledge: Nature: 17
Knowledge: The Planes: 10
Knowledge: Arcana: 21
Perception: 37

DM Ken 
Monday November 6th, 2017 11:19:32 AM

Kezzem posits that they may be being actively deceived. Focusing in on his detect evil, he realizes that while evil is present, there's no aura around the individuals he finds, suggesting they are not powerful threats in the least.

First he notices ol' Bill Gundy, a miserable cheat at cards and rumored to occasionally steal from those who leave their belongings unchecked. Next he notices Maddie Garble, a reclusive halfling who has gone through several husbands, and has been investigated twice for crimes of passion. The few leads he finds go cold quickly, as he can account for the local rumors of each.

Every town everywhere has it's share of bad people, and those these folks might have technically pinged evil, it's highly unlikely any of them have anything to do with whats happening.

Hobie helps Kezzem scan the area, and looks for discarded bits of information. He finds nothing suspicious, but it does seem someone dropped their allowance, containing a veritable fortune of 2 silver and 8 coppers.

Pressi notes an interesting factoid, a bit of inspiration from her knowledge domain at work. All of the creatures that have been seen so far are either chaotic in nature, or some entropic variant of a creature with the fire subtype. (Entropic variants per the monster manual are creatures that come from a place where chaotic natures override their regular temperments.)

Pressi finds no spell casters or obvious culprits. Detect thoughts reveals a myriad of surface thoughts, from fear to apprehension to amusement or joy at the goings on in the crowd. Nothing sinister or suspicious, as far as she can tell right now.

Lance suggests that the creatures aren't really harmful as they are, and it would seem the halflings of the Ford agree. Murphy sticks his hand through one of the creatures, and pulls it back. It gives no more resistance than the surface tension of a bowl of water. It also seems completely unaware of him, and it snuffles along the ground, in this case, eating phantasmal rocks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An hour passes while Kezzem investigates his evil pings, and Pressi detects multiple thoughts from multiple angles. Please list any actions you'd like to take or things you'd like to investigate. In this timeframe, many monsters come and go, some humanoid, some demonic, and some chaotic or fiery natured. In any case, each creature shares one of two traits, they are chaotic or contain the fire subtype, and in many cases, have warped to reflect both.



Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+8=26 ; d20+8=28 ; d20+8=13 ; d20+8=17 ; d20+8=20 ; d20+8=23 ; d20+8=16 ; d20+8=13 ; d20+8=18 ; d20+8=12 ; d20+8=20 ; d20+8=28 ; d20+8=20 ; d20+8=25 ; d20+8=25 ; d20+8=18 ; d20+8=20 ; d20+8=26 ; d20+8=20 ; d20+8=17 ; d20+25=42 ;
Monday November 6th, 2017 11:33:34 AM

During this time, Murphy pulls out paper and ink, and begins making quick sketches of the creatures he sees. Figure about 3 minutes per critter, he sketches - some well to very well, some not as nicely (see Profession: Artist rolls above 1d20+8), about 20 of them.
========
General Perception: 42

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle)  d20+22=32 ;
Monday November 6th, 2017 12:28:18 PM

Bliss thinks that this is just too weird. Add in his odd witchy gut feeling ... and he is not sure what to make of it. He thinks that maybe a divination spell would be a good idea, but he has already cast his 4th level spell for the day. In halfling shape, he mentions it to Miss Pressi in case she has a 4th level slot open.

And as she suggests, Bliss casts Detect Magic and Detect Poison. Spellcraft check if needed: 32

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 20, HP 83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23 
Monday November 6th, 2017 2:08:09 PM
Pressi continues to detect thoughts for some time. Having decided that she won't detect anyone causing this or coming towards them, she turns her attention to the creatures themselves, figuring that she might get some creature doing it from their "plane" or at least a better idea of what they are and what they want. (If they even exist, though they aren't illusions.)

She is a little loathe to admit it, but she is slowly beginning to agree with Lance. Though she can't discount the possibility of something changing - of the chaotic beings suddenly able to see them and attack - she also can't say for sure what they would do in such an event. And they clearly aren't picking up better information.

Dropping down, she continues to discuss with Bliss and Murphy about what is going on, mentioning the detection of a Babau and other chaotic/entropic creatures. "It really is like we have a bunch of windows into the "bad place" plane, but I don't know what's causing it."

On Bliss' suggestion, she makes her way towards the city temple to cast her divinations (using domain slot) to the Crones of the South (CL 8), and to ask if they know what is going on or have any relevant books. (Knowing that she has to be specific, she focuses less on what the creatures are than on what's allowing the group to see them and if they will be a threat.)

-------------

L2: 0+1/4+1
L4: 1+1/3+1

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Monday November 6th, 2017 9:41:17 PM

Of the 20 sketches, let's say that 3 (DC 10-14) are very rough sketches; 5 (15-19) are passable and recognizable; 6 (20-24) are fairly decent; and 6 (25-28) are good, even artistic. Going through the process, though the paper representation only approximates, helps Murphy cement in his mind the critters he is observing, so that he may research them further, ask others who have greater knowledge of them than he for additional information, and to find out what they are called. The druid also observes how they move. A sketch is static - these are fluid.

He also soaks up what some of his fellow citizens look like as they observe the ephemeral creatures, planning to sketch them from memory at a later time.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Monday November 6th, 2017 10:51:37 PM
"Koshy Maru? I guess these things could be from there. But unless we have some way of affecting them, there isn't much to do right now."

Lance stands and watches the efforts of the others. There is no spell he can cast that has not already been cast.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Tuesday November 7th, 2017 8:43:48 AM
Hobie is completely at a loss for what is going on. He will defer to the magic users to figure out what this could be, and for the time being he will merely stand and watch the proceedings.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Tuesday November 7th, 2017 10:59:32 AM
"Man, I really thought I was on to something there," says Kezzem after his idea didn't pan out. "Windows into other realms, huh? So what do we with that?"

DM Ken 
Tuesday November 7th, 2017 12:54:04 PM
What indeed?

With a pant and a groan, Roscoe finally catches back up to you all.

"See what I mean? They are everywhere! They aren't hurting anyone right now, but what do we do if they start?"

He turns and looks back at the crowd, worry on his chubby face. They are enjoying the moment still, but the spectacle seems to be dying down. Crowds are thinning, and others are just starting to accept that something weird is happening, but there's nothing they can do about it.

Roscoe looks over at Pressi and Bliss, gripping his cap in his hands.

"Uh, no disrespect Miss Pressi and Mr. Bliss, but this wouldn't have anything to do with any witchy stuff, would it?"

Replacing his cap, he looks at Hobie and Kezzem.

"I'm worried that no one seems scared. If something happens and these things start hurting people, there will be a lot of casualties. Maybe you two could create some kind of plan while the magically inclined investigate?"

Roscoe ducks as a peal of thunder and a flash of lightning split the sky. Halflings cry in alarm and start scattering for their homes as flashes of lightning hammer into Humbles Ford.

Some run straight for home, and others begin lighting torches on sconces to get light in their small town once more. Over the last hour, the dark clouds in the sky have moved in full force, but something doesn't seem quite right...and unfortunately for the regular sighted halflings, it might as well be night time, for the purposes of their vision.

The phantasms, despite their prior ignorance of their surroundings, all pause and stand deathly still. As one, they crane their necks and look up at the sky.

Knowledge Nature: DC 20 or Perception: DC 25
or Survival: DC 20

Highlight to display spoiler: {The stormclouds above don't quite seem right. There's no rain accompanying the lightning and thunder, and the clouds seem to be made of violently swirling ash, as opposed to water and dust.}

Pressi's detect magic spells fail to even register the creatures, as well as detect poison. For all intents and purposes, other than seeing them, is certain they aren't even really there. There's an important distinction in the fact that they are -not- illusions. What she is seeing is a phenomenon outside of regular magic and nature, to be certain.

Making her way to her temple about the time to lightning begins to strike, Pressi finds she is not the only religiously inclined person on this day. Many frightened halflings are praying, and several children are quietly sitting amongst the pews while their parents speak with their priests. Several of those priests silence the conversations, and watch Pressi in earnest.

Pressi lights her candles and starts her divinations. Immediately, she feels her soul being tugged in a million directions. Just when it feels as if she cannot take it anymore, a new strength grips her, and rips her essence from the others.

Conscious of a dark room with a single burning candle, Pressi kneels alone on the floor. In front of her, an old woman with a metal hand grips a sword of long, shining steel, covered in a dripping red fluid. She has no left ear, and her mouth stays closed even as her words ring in Pressi's mind.

"The Wold creaks and groans, blood witch. You may seek my answers, but a price will be paid."

Pressi is aware of a anvil materializing in front of her. She is instinctively aware of a process, as visions of knowledge in exchange for pain flow through her mind. She has the opportunity to ask whatever she wishes, limited only by her own stamina and tolerance for pain.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+15=35 ;
Tuesday November 7th, 2017 2:59:53 PM
Hobie will turn the crowds and try to push them back. If he can find a nearby pony he will mount it and ride so that he is higher than the crowds and visible to all. He will light a torch from his pack and wave it excitedly in the air.

"GO HOME!" Hobie shouts. "Go Home!! These are no ordinary clouds, this is no ordinary storm! You need to leave this place and you need to go home! We will take care of the danger, but we need you to return home IMMEDIATELY!!"



Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Tuesday November 7th, 2017 11:54:02 PM
"I could--" Lance looks over at Roscoe. "I could motivate them to go home. It would probably hurt some feelings, but it would work." Lightning dances around his hands.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+15=33 ; d20+25=30 ; d20+12=14 ;
Wednesday November 8th, 2017 1:48:48 AM

"The clouds above are not of water, but are ashen," Notes Murphy. "This is an elemental storm."

To Roscoe, he says, "I think this is something beyond 'witchy,' sir. Wish we could fathom more. We're working on it. Pressi's gone off to make some inquiries.

Murphy looks about at how many have fled, and others are lighting street lamps. "I think for the most part, they feel motivated already, Lance. But if there are a few who need convincing, well, be gentle." He smiles at the handsome sorcerer.
============
Knowledge, nature: 33
Perception: 30
Survival: 14

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 20, HP 83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23  d20+19=25 ;
Wednesday November 8th, 2017 9:49:33 AM
"It occurs to me, Bliss," Pressi began. "It occurs to me that these strange things might be tied to our earlier transformations, where I not only became magic but somehow your twisted mistress of the dark. Which can mean only that I can leave questions I don't wish to answer to others in my coven."

WIth that, Pressi moved Bliss towards Roscoe to answer his question about witchy stuff and began to move away. "Go get him, tiger. We believe in you!"

Pressi made her way through the town (Perception 25), the ash clouds swirling above her. While others on her team moved to get halflings to their homes, she marched forwards towards the temple, steadily and with purpose.

Divinations this time did not go as planned, and she expressed her confusion as to the anvil and the new room. "How, what is... I don't understand. How do I even ask or pay the price?"

She can still hear the storm in her mind, however. "The price will be paid. I do not feel fear." She makes sure Kezzem's shield other ring is off. She assumes that healing in between would be a bit of an insult so does not do so.

(OOC: I'm not sure if I can ask more than one question per post. I also am not sure if I am supposed to do something with the anvil or if you'll post what she does with it.)

She asks the following questions, in order, until the list is completed or she is unconscious or dying:

1. Is the town in danger from an imminent threat, and from what?
2. Where are these creatures and how can we see them?
3. Why can't they see or reach us and will that change?
4. What is the storm above us?
5. What should we be doing in the next couple of days?
6. (After a pause) If you were in my shoes, what one thing would you like to know?


Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+16=34 ;
Wednesday November 8th, 2017 10:55:12 AM
Diplomacy: 34.

"Everyone please return to your homes, or otherwise remain in doors. Nothing to see here, no demon invasions, but it's best to make sure everyone remains safe while we investigate."

DM Ken  d20=7 ; d20=13 ; d20=18 ; d20=1 ; d20=2 ; d20=3 ; d20=13 ; d10=10 ; d10=8 ;
Wednesday November 8th, 2017 2:47:44 PM

Hobie takes a quick look and finds a pony. He leaps upon it and makes his own ride through the town, warning the halflings about the unusual storm above.

"Okay!", shout some. "Alright!", shout others. "Not yet, there's no rain!", shout a few. "Give me back my pony!", shouts one in particular.

------

Kezzem takes a far more diplomatic approach. It takes some time, (about 10 minutes), explaining to people why they should be leaving, but few are able to argue. Most of the stragglers begin to disband.

Lance has his own brand of motivation, and ponders the idea of shocking people with electricity to teach them to be afraid of a lightning storm. The only feedback he receives is someone telling him to make sure he electrocutes people as gently as possible.

-----------

Pressi considers the sacrifice required. She doesn't know how the anvil is going to be used, but without fear, she plunges forward into her questions. The first question leaves her lips, and she is aware of her hands bound, chained to the anvil, with the tip of Justice's sword digging uncomfortably into to top of her hand.

"Is the town in danger from an imminent threat, and from what?", Pressi asks. No sooner is the question finished then a burning pain sears her hand, and spreads up through her wrist. Justice has lowered her sword, perhaps an inch. The tip of the blade draws blood in a steady flow.

"Yes, the Doom of the Wold hangs over all, but Humble's Ford faces a trial all it's own. With the Mountain comes chaos and fire to claim the souls of the small. With the Sleeper comes the doom of all."

After a moment, Justices voice picks up again. "That was two questions, blood witch."

Pressi starts again, with her next question.

"Where are these creatures and how can we see them?"

The sword drops further, and with a metallic grind it's blade passes completely through Pressi's hands and into the base of the anvil. Flames from the sword heat the block of iron, and it begins to get uncomfortably warm.

"They are the followers of chaos and fire, they are the stalkers of the Mountains crags. The Doom of the Wold has scared the Mountain, and he casts the shadows of his kingdom into yours.

The scrape of metal dies down, the sound slowly escaping the black room. Once more, Justices voice carries. "Two questions, again."

Gritting her teeth, but still unafraid, Pressi continues. "Why can't they see or reach us and will that change?"

The sword flares again, and Pressi cries out as the flames wash over her. At the same time, the sword is buried to it's hilt in the anvil, which begins to hum quietly.

"The Mountain has yet to manifest. The answer to your second question is uncertain."

The fire roars around her still, but the sudden flash of pain becomes more bearable. Bracing herself, Pressi asks, "What is this storm above us?"

The heat from the flames waxes again, completely engulfing Pressi and burning her skin, hair, and clothes. Breath is hard to find.

"The air of the Mountain is ash. The breath from his lips is soot. The skin of his body is the crust of the earth. These things manifest, so that the Mountain may manifest."

Pressi considers her remaining questions. She was determined to ask what she needed to know until she passed out or could no longer continue. She wasn't sure when that would come. "What should we be doing in the next couple of days?"

Pressi braces herself, but rather than more of the same searing pain, she wilts under the clear disapproval of the Crone. The scrutiny splits her mind with headaches and pressure, until it finally relents.

"The mountain hides his plans from the other Powers. His success or failure will have unknown repercussions when the Doom of the Wold is made real. Act upon your own initiative. The Crones trade in knowledge, not advice."

Pressi pauses, then finally asks her final question. "If you were in my shoes, what one thing would you like to know?"

There is more of the same head-crushing pressure. This line of questioning has clearly displeased the Crone.

"Why I bothered wasting the time of a power with such a foolish question. Pressi is Pressi and Justice is Justice. I cannot know your mind, and you cannot fathom mine."

The anvil suddenly cracks, then crumbles, and those crumbles fall haphazardly into the inky blackness surrounding her. Dismissed from Justices presence, Pressi feels herself falling, until she lands with a very hard thump, thrown clear across the church, into the far wall of the temple. Other priests quickly run to her side.

"You're covered in bruises!", shouts one small chubby woman.

Pressi indeed is wounded, badly. Pressi has taken 75 damage. Her hands are burnt, bruised and gouged, and her head is pounding.

-------

Outside, a priest comes running to gather up Murphy and the others.

"Pressi's been hurt!", he yells loudly. "She's in the temple!"

Of course, Murphy might already know this, should Pressi choose to communicate it through their newly formed telepathic bond.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle)  d20+26=32 ;
Wednesday November 8th, 2017 5:26:15 PM

Bliss drops his cauldron as he changes into a cat, and then dashes under the pot to hide.

Stealth 32

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  2d8+10=18 ;
Wednesday November 8th, 2017 6:32:46 PM
Kezzem rushes to Pressi's side and casts cure moderate wounds.

Healing: 18.

----

OOC: Are we in "rounds", or can Kezzem do more healing now?

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Wednesday November 8th, 2017 7:07:14 PM
After hearing the priest, Hobie will shout "YA!" and kick his heels into the horse, riding it as fast as possible to the temple.

To the townsperson who asked for his pony back, Hobie will shout, "You'll find it at the temple!!"

When he gets to the temple he will quickly tie up the pony and run in to Pressi's side.

He's no healer, but he'll shout to the others helping her, "How can I help!?"

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 20, HP 83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23 
Wednesday November 8th, 2017 9:56:52 PM
"Never did I think I would miss the wisdom and mercy of Maab," she muttered. "Honestly, Lady Justice seemed so loose at orientation. 'Ooh, I cannot fathom your mind.' If I guess how many cats live with you, will you answer my question then? Is it more than 30?"

She waved off the concerned priest. "You should see the other one. After meeting me, she doesn't even have an ear."

Murphy Highlight to display spoiler: { can feel through the link the pain and fear she refuses to admit out loud, how close she is to tears.}

After a quick CSW blast of her own, she takes some time to gather her thoughts. While no answer proved particularly informative to the situation at hand (except as a reminder that she won't be getting any referrals any time soon), she explained to the others that a couple of things stand out.

"First, I don't think the creatures and the storm pose a threat, save as symptoms to a larger problem yet to manifest. Second, I don't think 'Doom of the Wold' is a metaphor. We're looking for him and someone or something called 'The Sleeper' or some sort of manifesting mountain I supposedly know about... wait, isn't there a fire and chaos mountain as an immortal power? But he isn't really known for creating shadows and he's pretty well manifested." She takes some time to jot down the precise wordings as best as she can remember.

She asks the priest if there's a library about immortal powers or demon mountains in the area. (Pressi makes a Know Religion check via 1d4 hours of research. She'll take the fatigue penalty come next morning.) She tells Hobie that he can carry her divinations back to Roscoe and to the Dinner Club.


Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Wednesday November 8th, 2017 11:51:07 PM
Lance casts fly and rises 60 feet in the air. He cackles madly. "THE STORM! THE STORM HAS AWOKEN ME! FLEE BEFORE ME, MORTALS!" He casts his elemental ray (10/day) and aims at the ground near lingering townsfolk. He continues to cackle as he zooms around the area, blasting dirt and grass.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d8+5=9 ; d20+16=31 ; d20+16=18 ; d20+15=20 ;
Thursday November 9th, 2017 4:44:07 AM

In the midst of Pressi's investigation, Murphy's face looks pained. "Guys, Pressi is hurting. I'm going there - over to the temple." As he is about to take off, he notes that Bliss has decided to hide under his cauldron. He lifts up the corner of the cauldron. "Bliss kitty. Pressi needs us. C'mon - we're safer together." He props a rock under the corner of the cauldron, then hastens toward the temple, wincing once or twice along the way. By the time he arrives, the ordeal is over, and she has been healed in part.

He takes her hand, and casts cure light wounds (9hp).

Murphy listens to her describe, and writes down notes, and quotes. He thinks to himself he needs to get some more paper, what with all the writing and sketching he has been doing. And ink.

He will join her, if allowed, in perusing the library, but he focuses more on the geographical and nature aspects in his searching, skimming and reading (Knowledge, geography: 31; Knowledge, nature: 20), to see if he might find the locus of the Mountain, the Mountain's crags, the Doom of the Wold, etc.

"My Lord Eberyon was a 'sleeper' for eons, due to Lady Maab's actions, and was awakened some, what was it, maybe a dozen years past? And now another 'sleeper' is coming awake."
=======
Ignore 2nd d20+16 - was an accidental click

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23 
Thursday November 9th, 2017 9:50:33 AM
(OOC: Header Update)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Thursday November 9th, 2017 11:24:01 AM
"If you're going to library, I'm gonna tag along," says Kezzem. "I need to learn more about paladin-ing."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+4=20 ; d20+4=12 ;
Thursday November 9th, 2017 3:12:22 PM
"You've got it Pressi! I'll take it at once!" Hobie shouts, with the voice of a man confused by his circumstances and just trying to do any small thing that he can in the chaos. He stuffs Pressi's writing in his breast pocket and sprints out the door.

(Ride Check = 20, Fast Mount DC = 20)
Hobie runs outside, unties the pony from it's post and hops on as quickly as he can. He snaps the reins and yell's "YAH, YAH!" and rides swiftly toward Roscoe.

If he passes the pony's owner again on his way back he will shout as he rides by "I'm terribly sorry! Look in the saddle bag when you find him!" and as he rides Hobie will slip 5 gold pieces into one of the saddle bags.

(Ride Check = 12. Fast Dismount DC = 20)
Upon reaching Roscoe, Hobie attempts to leap quickly from the saddle but gets his foot caught in the stirrup and dismounts rather awkwardly.

"Cousin! Cousin!" He shouts as he waves Pressi's paper in Roscoe's face, "Read this! This is what Pressi saw! I'm not sure what it all means, but it's very important! Make sure you show this to the Dinner Club and see if you can figure out what it all might mean!"

At this point he will rest his hands on his knees and catch his breath. As he does so he looks at the "borrowed" pony and thinks that he might like to buy a pony for himself after things calm down a bit.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Thursday November 9th, 2017 7:59:22 PM
With Pressi hearing voices, Lance cackling like a suprrvillain, and Hobbie being way to excited to deli er a message, Kezzem turns to Murphey.

"When did we become the normal ones in this group?"

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday November 9th, 2017 8:41:37 PM

At Kezzem's question, Murphy laughs uproariously!

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Thursday November 9th, 2017 11:27:57 PM
ooc: haha! After submitting my last post, I read back over other people's posts and thought "I think maybe this was WAAAAAAAY less urgent than I felt it was when writing that post." Oh well. Hobie is just very eager to help I guess.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Thursday November 9th, 2017 11:45:09 PM
ooc: check

DM Ken 
Friday November 10th, 2017 12:05:07 AM
A few stragglers break and run, dodging his blasts and heading for safety. Words of his actions spread like wildfire, and while some people attest them to the strange weather and phantoms, others are more critical of Lance, the Lightning Lunatic and Humbles Sword.

For the duration of this module, Lance's actions have resulted in a -2 penalty for all skill checks that interact with the people of humbles ford while Lance is present.

Magical healing is poured into Pressi. Her headache lessens, then goes away, but the physical wounds remain. (Heal 18 of the 75 damage) It seems that the Crones warning that pain would be the price of the knowledge was sincere.

(This particular wound pool will only heal via natural healing.)

Pressi and Murphy spend some time in research, while Kezzem finds a book, "Detect Evil and You: The Strengths and Limitations of a Useful Power."

Putting their heads together, Pressi and Murphy discover a few parallels to Pressi's information.

- In the mysterious southern continent, there is a power named Vé-Eldfjöll. The power is a fiery mountain, and his strengths are bound in fire and chaos. It seems likely this is the "Mountain" being referenced.

- The creatures that inhabit Vé-Eldfjöll's domain are typically of the fire subtype, or chaotic in nature.

- Pressi recalls that she was warned that Vé-Eldfjöll is attempting to flee from the Doom of the Wold, and that it needs to make the land to which it is fleeing suitable for it's habitation.

- She and Bliss both know that Powers gain strength through worship, like any other deity. Justice warned her that the Mountain sought the souls of the halflings, whatever that meant.

-Pressi is fairly certain that the Doom and the Sleeper were a title used interchangeably.

So DOES any of that prove fruitful to them at current? It tells them some things, and might help connect a few dots. Or perhaps it won't, and the Sword needs to choose whether to accept the current state of affairs, use the information they have to prepare as things inevitably shift in Vé-Eldfjöll's favor, or take some otherwise unconsidered actions, or research some as of yet unanswered question.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Friday November 10th, 2017 4:08:56 AM

Murphy takes careful notes, and prepares a summary, as well as recording at greater length thoughts, speculations and ponderings on what they have been able to gather so far. He is glad that Kezzem has found a helpful volume touching on his goals, too.

As they work together, Murphy takes time gently to comfort Pressi - and consider her wounds which will not immediately heal. "You gave up quite a lot, Press, to gain this precious knowledge. If I could, I would share it with you, take it from you." He stares off for a moment, breathes in and out, then brings this up: "My grandmother Eglantine once said, 'Through great suffering can come great gains, if the one who suffers meets the occasion with gumption and grit. Now, try a small slice of my rumberry pie.'" He gently tweaks Pressi's nose. "I'll ask if she can bake you a rumberry pie, my dear one. Not certain exactly how it ties in with suffering, but, there you have it, that's what my grandmother did. Right after I skinned my knee raw."

The towhead druid communicates along with Pressi to the Sword what they learned. He asks if any others have picked up anything. He mentions, "In Angel Springs there is a fellow named Mungo, he has an extensive library covering vast numbers of topics. I'd be surprised if he didn't have something more about what we learned. There may be other resources there in the city to help us better to understand. The elves just outside of town may also have long memories, and be able to help. There is also a considerable library up in Lawni's Lens."

"I wonder if there is anyone, or anything, that presently opposes this 'Vé-Eldfjöll' power? If so, maybe we can ally with him, or her, or it. Also, I'm most concerned that our own kin and friends here in the Valley may be targets of this, this volcano creature? What might we do to fortify them against any enticements to serve or worship it?"

Pony borrowing, or giving
"Say, Hobie - if you'd like a pony - I have several," Murphy offers. "Pippa is a very good pony - I've ridden her a fair bit. I had to chase her down after a goblin sorcerer threw a fireball our direction. She has combat training, too, so is unlikely to let you down. Say the word, and she's yours - with saddle, saddlebags, bit, bridle, blanket, and a bit of feed. I have a pack saddle she's fine with, too - but, if you want to ride, then I'd recommend the normal saddle."

"Also, likely you already have done so - but you may want to apologize to the fellow whose mount you borrowed. And maybe invite him for a cup at the Dancing Pig, with a toast for him and his pony."

Lance-aroonie
Once word gets back about what Lance did - Murphy was unaware that he actually mock attacked straggling citizens - he is floored. "You - you actually cast in their direction? When I said, 'be gentle' - I thought you were joking! Lance!" He shakes his head. "We are here to protect, to guard the people. Not to make them think we are wild ... - ah, I won't use that word of you," he says, clearly stopping himself short of a more robust rebuke. "You actually said, 'Flee before me, mortals?'"

"Look. Listen, everyone. Since this group first got together, I have been keeping a journal - everyone who was part of Humble's Sword. All the adventures we enjoyed. How we went about doing things. Never have we deliberately set out to frighten our fellow citizens - though we have had to tell them some things that were frightening, if not dealt with. I've made multiple copies of the journal - one is with the WLA - I just gave them an update to what they have when I went for training there a few days ago. One is with me. One is with my family. And they made another copy for my brother in another city. Any of you who would like to read the history of the group, just ask, and it's here for you to go through.** You'll see we don't set out to frighten our own people. You want them to trust us? Lance, there is so much about you to like. I am very glad you have joined up with us, starting back with the giants. But please. Avoid ... ill considered things. We are to be heroes. And - show humility."

Murphy then takes a step back, figuratively. "Maybe I've misjudged, or misunderstood. Lance, is there anything you'd like to say, to do, or to propose to deal with the repercussions?" He waits to learn more about the sorcerer's mettle in how he chooses to respond.
=========
** If you want to read Murphy's 'Journal of Humble's Sword' - well, just read back through this board, from the beginning - or dip in wherever you'd like. I would recommend at least going through the Games as the group came together.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Friday November 10th, 2017 11:57:30 AM
Once the message is delivered Hobie will leave the borrowed pony with Roscoe, asking him to return it to it's rightful owner.

Catching up with the group at the library, Hobie listens to Murphy's offer: "Are you sure? Pippa would be mine? A pony of my own? Thank You! I've long wanted one, but spending most of my time in cities, it hasn't been much of a pressing need, and what with stabling fees and such I just never got one of my own. But now that I'm joining you all and your adventures, it might be helpful to have my own pony. Thank You!!! I promise to take care of her and keep her safe!"

When Murphy is chiding Lance for his lightning attacks on civilians, Hobie will nod in agreement with his words, and simply add, "Yeah, that really wasn't cool Lance."

While still at the library Hobie will spend some time reading about husbandry, and caring for ponies.

Over the next days, (unless the group decides we need to leave town immediately) Hobie will spend time riding and becoming acquainted with Pippa, especially taking time to practice firing his bow while riding. He also will find the owner of the borrowed pony and invite them out riding with Hobie and Pippa, apologizing for his previous actions.



Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Friday November 10th, 2017 12:21:56 PM
Kezzem looks up from his reading. "I read a book once that had a guy called a Mountain. He wasn't an actual mountain though, just a tall guy...until he got turned into a taxizombie or something. He was mean to his brother too."



Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 35/83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23  d20+8=10 ; d20+8=15 ;
Friday November 10th, 2017 2:46:11 PM
"Yeah, Lance, going around shouting "Flee before me, mortals" was a really bad idea," Pressi grumped. "How dare you blatantly steal from my family crest like that."

Pressi listened as everyone kept piling on. "Ok, in our friend's defense, we needed him to get everyone inside ASAP so it's really about how he doesn't understand there's a line on how much disdain we can show. Honestly, how much worse was that than what we typically show to the T-Shirt Brigade or to certain falling shopkeepers. Maybe we all could stand to be a little better to our fellow halflings, even though they clearly deserve to get zapped once in a while.

"Though Murphy is right that we do not set out to frighten our own people. That's just a happy accident. Speaking of...." Pressi flipped to the part of the journal where Alleah took off her skin. "There's your answer, Kezzem, right there."

-------------------

Pressi sighed at the realization that her scars and wounds will remain. "I just got it, and someone goes out and dents it. I'm not even sure its paid off, yet."

Realizing that Kezzem's healing only helps a little (it's 18+9 from Murphy), she forgoes casting healing magic instead of use from a healer's kit. (Not great, she rolls a 10 on heal skill.)

She's quiet for a moment before responding to Murphy. "I could never ask you to share the pain from my own god. This is the path that I have to walk, apparently. I do appreciate pie as much as the next halfling, however...."

----------------

Pressi shakes her head at the avalanche of facts that fell before them. They have a better idea of what befell the town but not how to stop it or even what possible options they might have. They can't go to Ve-El; Lady Justice said he hasn't even manifested yet. And while there are protections against fire and chaos, they could never protect the town from such an onslaught as was promised.

Pressi vaguely tried to recall what she knew about opponents of Ve-El (15 - that should be enough to remember Burfell) and more importantly about who followed Ve-El. Maybe they do need to go to the followers of Ve-El or Burfell. And by getting followers, did the decision have to be voluntary? Did they have to be alive?

Pressi shook her head. "We can go to another library, but I don't even know what to ask, or what to do.... The elves, however, might have not only knowledge but followers and casters to aid us. The second dinner club and town leadership must be informed, even if they can provide no assistance or leads. I don't know who else we could even reach out to, but we clearly can't make our stand here."

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+11=17 ;
Friday November 10th, 2017 3:54:46 PM

"Ah, even I was not able to keep her completely safe, but, yes, Hobie, she is fully yours," Murphy says of Pippa. "A good mount. She likes to lick honey off the hand, by the way."

Murphy shakes his head at his love's sense of humor - and in appreciation for her ability to diffuse a situation.

He lends his hand to see if use of his own healer's kit may help Pressi a tiny bit more. (Healing: 17)

Murphy swings by his family home, and asks his mother if she can have someone get word to Grandma Eglantine. A half dozen Rumberry pies would be welcome. He gives his mother 25 gold pieces. "Get her something nice, Mama. It's been too long since I talked with her."

======

When he gets back with the group, he says, "I have a proposal. We don't need to act on it immediately. But it is this - a pledge, given by members of our group. Something like this:
We are Humble's Sword. We serve our community, our people, our land, and, where we can, the good people of the Wold. We strive to excel - yet not with self-important pride, rather with humility of heart.

We oppose oppressors, deceivers, perverters, enslavers. We offer our strength to shield those in need, and if need be, will sacrifice our own selves, that others may be free.
"Also, a motto, such as 'Humble's Sword - Halflings in Humble Service' - or maybe '... Heros in Humble Service.'

"Think about it. Improve it. Simplify. Whatever."

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle)  d20+20=40 ;
Friday November 10th, 2017 11:03:37 PM
After things calm down a bit, Cat-Bliss pokes his head out and looks around. He too suffers a -2 when he thinks about Lance.

He does not know what to make of this talk of Powers.

The young tomcat walks around in cat-shape, looking for interesting things. Mice, demigods, stuff like that.

Perception 40

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Saturday November 11th, 2017 4:19:41 PM

After mentioning a pledge, Murphy senses something from Pressi (along with a 'not now' look), and says, "Like I said, it's not something we need to do now. Later, when we are not trying to overcome the next looming crisis."

"So, for now: Shall we notify the local authorities, then set off in haste to Angel Springs for more research? What can we do to fortify the local population to help them resist the Volcano Power?"

ADM Kim 
Sunday November 12th, 2017 3:58:34 AM
DM Ken emailed us:
You've got till Monday to reply, brainstorm, etc. Feel free to take up to one weeks worth of actions, but note that you cannot go more than 100 miles away from Humbles Ford. I'll explain that part on Monday in the post.
So, friends, go for it - between now and sometime Monday (morning?) you can let all know what your character will be up to for the next 7 days. This is not necessarily the best occasion for a one line post.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle) 
Sunday November 12th, 2017 7:25:12 PM
Bliss is content to spend a week hunting birds and mice. He is careful to only use his bite, with the tear of mercy, so that he can catch and release without killing anything.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Sunday November 12th, 2017 8:41:44 PM
Over the next days, Hobie will spend time riding and becoming acquainted with Pippa, especially taking time to practice firing his bow while riding. He also will find the owner of the borrowed pony and invite them out riding with Hobie and Pippa, apologizing for his previous actions.

He will continue to spend his evenings staying with his cousin Roscoe, catching up on what the Humble's Sword has done, as well as sharing stories from childhood, all while drinking ale and playing cards.

Hobie will do a little bit of shopping during the week for some mundane items. While he is there shopping, he notices a lute on the shelf, and his eyes light up. He has never played an instrument before, but he is excited to learn!

During the days when Hobie is out riding with Pippa, he will take some time each day to sit under the shade of a tree and play his new lute while Pippa grazes.

(ooc: for nonmagical items like the ones here, is it okay to post them here or do I need to post in the catacombs?)
He will buy:
MW Manacles: 50 gold
Superior Lock: 150 gold
Chain: 30 gold
Crowbar: 2gp
2 Sunrods: 4gp
50 ft of silk rope:10 gp
2 bottles of wine:20 gp
Military Saddle: 20 gp
Lute: 5gp

Total: 291 gold



Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Sunday November 12th, 2017 10:53:19 PM
After the remaining townsfolk have been herded to their homes, Lance descends to the ground to join the rest of the party. He gets an earful! He crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow. "I was gentle. It was all sound and fury. No one has so much as a scrape on their skin, and they are all safely home. They may have some hurt feelings -- you know, like I said might happen? -- but they are out of harm's way. Maybe next time they will move a little faster when their guardians tell them to get to safety. I would rather have them alive and offended than dead." He lifts back into the sky. "I can make amends and send a few summer sausage gift baskets when things die down. In the meantime, I'm going camping."

He lifts into the sky, gives a lazy salute to the party, and flies north. He will try to find a nice tree to sleep for the night, and spend the next week practicing his aim by blowing up trees with lightning bolts.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Monday November 13th, 2017 3:50:07 AM
DAY 1
"If you plan to leave for a while, then, Lance," Murphy says with care, "if people ask, I will let them know that you have gone off to consider your actions, and to make amends when you return. And that your intention was to harm no one, but to strongly motivate them to get out of the streets. No one was harmed, though many were upset. I will offer my personal apology, and ask for forebearance on their part. The summer sausages would be a nice touch when you can get to it. Enjoy the camping. Wish you could stay and help this week - we've a lot to do, but, see you when you return." As opportunities present themselves, Murphy does as he says.

Take information learned from people's research, distill, disseminate to local authorities (religious, civil, magic, militia). Ask them to have someone get info to Hovel. We will get it to Angel Springs - but it would be nice to have a note from each of the local authorities (at least those willing) to request assistance from those in Angel Springs to help us gather further info. Can't hurt to have official support. Also touches base with friends/former adventurers in Humble's Sword Burrow near river.
To HS: "Team, in the morning I plan to fly to Angel Springs to do further investigations there. Anyone who cares to come along may join me. I will wild shape into a dire bat, and can carry up to three of you - maybe more if some of you are reduced in size."

Murphy has written up what Pressi learned, as well as additional information gathered from various party members' areas of knowledge, and library perusal. Based upon info, compose a brief flyer warning people of Crescent Valley of possible coming dangers. Have copies made for distribution around the valley. Notify in Humble's Ford about some things we have learned. Frame in a way to warn of the looming power's desire to force or seduce people to worship it - and its specific designs on Crescent Valley and its desire to 'claim the souls of the small' for such a purpose. "Do not succumb to the temptation to worship the mountain that makes ash. It will enslave you with false promises and fear, and harm the people of the valley."

Local: Mayor BumbleLuck; Constable Roscoe; Second Dinner Club; Local Priests; then townspeople in general. And bards.
Regional: Get some people quickly trained up to communicate this message throughout the valley - some to Hovel, some to Angel Springs, and some to the rural areas.

Humble's Sword Acres
Let's have Foreman George move ahead with the building as shown in the shared map of the 3 acre square. Master 10ft View, and Detailed 2.5ft View. If you want a personalized spot, use the Everyone Play Map sheet - then find a space and put it in (such as Lance's tree, Hobie's target range, Pressi's rock tower, Bliss's fountain). Note at the bottom of the maps is a suggested order of construction. The first few buildings would be the Workshop (to give workers a place to get things started and make stuff); Worker's Housing; Wells; Guest House (will initially house Humble's Sword until more ambitious part of the central stone edifice can be built); equipment sheds; Rituals building. See sheet for more detail. Would someone like to have their character take charge of the project?

Bliss - "Would you like me to try to bring Mookie back in some form or another? I am willing to cast reincarnation, if you want me to do so. I can go to a place where ravens gather, with Mookie's remains - I have a feather from when he perished. If you wish, I shall do so. But, if he wants to return, it may be as a crow, or as something else. I cannot guarantee in what form he will come back. I miss him. Many of us do. Tell me what you decide. It must be done not later than three days from this day - preferably tomorrow in the morning." If Bliss says yes, Murphy will do that in an area where crows gather. [If cast, will ask the DM to determine (rolls, or whatever) the results of the spell.] If Bliss brings up Gargul's dislike for reincarnation, he replies, "My Lord Eberyon was reincarnated, and several members of my family were there to witness it. So there."
DAY 2
Reincarnate Mookie if Bliss requested.
Then fly with whichever party members wish to travel to Angel Springs. Figure about 6 to 8 hours flying (DM may correct this estimate). Can fly at 90+5 (+5 from Fleet feat), at least according to Druid wild shape level, and can 'run' (move x 5). Dire bat can carry 3 medium / small with special saddle. If someone else wants to/can fly along - Murphy will go at speed of slowest, and stop for potty breaks.
Once in Angel Springs, begin queries on current rising situation: Elves; druids; Mungo and his library (he has staff to handle things when he is gone); officials; sage(s)?; WLA; ask siblings at WinWood Music & Toys (Nalfein & Leska) to check with local folks; gov't officials (Mayor, Baron/Burgomeister), et al.
DAY 3
Continue research in Angel Springs
DAY 4
Pick up any more info in morning, then fly back to Humble's Ford. Share info with leaders as before. Arrange for info transfer to Hovel (Mayor, & Marigold, et al).
DAY 5
Check on Foreman George and his initial work on Humble's Sword Acres. Help oak tree grow taller. Share Grandma Eglantine's six Rumberry Pies with party members (including a pie or two for George and his crew - save a couple of pieces for Lance for when he returns).
DAY 6
Help out George at Humble's Sword Acres. Summon many earth elementals to get going on the central stone / earth building. Do a lot of the work himself as a large earth elemental.
DAY 7
Attend worship services. Touch base with family. Spend time with Humble's Sword - and maybe a few hours at the Dancing Pig.
DAY 8 - Today... What now?


Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23 
Monday November 13th, 2017 10:38:13 AM
(OOC: This is a heavy work day and take care of kids day, so I may be posting in pieces.)

With Bliss

Harper chooses to spend the week hunting and playing with Bliss, though hardly as mercifully with her prey. She continues to Mama Cat Bliss.

Pressi does get involved somewhat in reincarnation but already knows that Bliss moved on to some degree (OOC: True story, I was originally going to reincarnate Mookie on my sheet as a giant hawk familiar, but Cayzle seemed disinterested and I felt Harper fit better.)

Traveling to Angel Springs

Pressi does her best to keep up with the druid's speed. (Flying broom easily lasts 8 hrs but she can only go 60. Beast shape 3 or 4 allows for 90, but it only lasts 8 minutes.) She's also a little poky as she attempts to continue to natural heal (I assume all HP damage, if not physical damage, is gone by this point.)

At Angel Springs, she does check in at the WLA and at Leska and Naftali's (who did raise her for a while) but generally leaves dealing with officials to Murphy. Instead, she remains focused on attempting to determine an opening move by continuing to research for the following:

1) Any indication of Ve'el's current location or where it might manifest.
2) Any lists of followers or researchers of Ve'el or Burfell, looking specifically for guides.

Helping the Town

Pressi doesn't really have any suggestions for facing storms and mountains - any protection against raining fire that she can think of would end after a few minutes or so and wouldn't protect an entire town - but she figures that she can at least help the town against demons.

Holy water and holy, good and cold iron weapons are a must, while elemental attacks (and poisons are to be avoided). The pit traps and avoidance tactics prepared against the giants should work for any invading outsiders. Range and reach attacks are a good idea. Remembering that they seem scary but (most of them) don't wear armor or have strong weapons (though each type might have a particular attack or ability).

Unfortunately, there isn't a good way to defend against such an invading force except to retreat into fortifications or out of town. So it will be up to them to try to stop such an invasion at the source. She makes sure to tell the rest of her teammates this so that they may take the time to prepare their gear and tactics accordingly. (If you need to buy something, swap spells, or consider what to do if your primary attack is shut down, now's the time. Remember that Pressi can read all an attacker's strengths and weaknesses with a touch attack.)

DM Ken 
Monday November 13th, 2017 11:33:26 AM
Murphy's extra research in Angel Springs really doesn't turn up much new information. He learns that Vé-Eldfjöll has a rival, Burfell, but that other sentient mountian, whose influence is both law and earth, has never been referred to as the Doom of the Wold.

While the two mountains seem opposed on every axis, they are also just becoming aware of one another, as each lies just barely outside of their 100 mile range of influence. It seems unlikely that the other mountain is what sparked Vé-Eldfjöll's flight.

Murphy's research also leads him to Vé-Eldfjöll's location, the Southern Continent. The mysterious southern continent is known for it's migrations of landmass. So it isn't inconvievable that the Power might have figured out a way to relocate itself wholesale over a large distance.
---------------------------

Lance spends time camping. He blows up a lot of trees in the span of a week, and finds that for some reason, all the lady squirrels are watching him in earnest.

----------------------------

Hobie goes shopping for wine, saddles, silk ropes and handcuffs. Pirnook isn't sure if Hobie is training a horse or preparing for a weekend with an open minded lady friend.

----------------------------

Pressi passes on some good advice, concerning dealing with demons at least. She also passes on some other info she finds useful, which she got at the WLA. She realizes that every creature they've seen as a phantasm has either been an outsider from a chaotic or fiery plane, or a regular creature affected by Ve-Eid to the point it possesses either the Fire or Entropic templates.

----------------------------

Humbles Ford more or less fends for itself in your absence. While they are isolated stories of lightning strikes, they become more frequent as the week passes. Haflings understand the need to stay indoors, but life can't just come to a stop despite the environmental changes.

Despite the warnings, most of the Halflings seem to either ignore or enjoy the phantasms, which still show no sign of leaving. Some folks from time to time swear that the phantasms have noticed them, while others call it hogwash.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rumors in general seem to be limited to three leads.

One Halfling in particular swears up and down that he can make the creatures notice him.

Farmers are complaining that the soil is drying up, and becoming more and more rocky and dry.

A human merchant, who had come to sell wares, is complaining that the halflings have conspired to trap him here with some strange magic, and demands to be set free.

------------------------------------------------------

Adventurers: Pressi has imparted some knowledge to you all. Consider yourself familiar with the following templates despite your knowledge skills. The same goes for demons, you are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of any demon CR 13 or less.

Fire Creatures

Entropic (chaos) Creatures



Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle) 
Monday November 13th, 2017 2:11:23 PM

When Murphy asks Bliss about bringing back Mookie, Bliss answers, "Meow," pushes his head against his friend's knee, and bats at his shoelace.

As Bliss prowls around the village and environs -- playing with Harper as often as not -- he looks for people who like cats and are kindly folk. He focuses first on anybody who has been a fan of the party, especially those white-shirt folks ... they need to be taken under wing, he thinks. Then he looks for people who pet him or give him treats or milk. If he meets any, he changes into his halfling form and invites them to join his coven.

Before a morning ritual, Bliss asks Pressi if she thinks that it would be better to swap out Shield of Faith for Resist Fire -- especially since Bliss is CL7, so that's 20 hp of resistance per spell.

In fact, either way, Bliss decides he can help all his friends against fire. He spends the time in halfling form with his magic cauldron to make Resist Energy (Fire) potions. The cost, as a cauldron-witch, is 25*2*7 = 350 per potion. Each potion is CL7 so it grants fire resistance 20 for 70 minutes. Bliss makes one per day ... so how many does he have time to make?

[OOC to DM and Pressi: I'm hoping to bring Bliss's witchy followers to max (four IIRC). Also, how free are we to pick skill ranks and feats? It might be nice to have one or two with a rank in Heal, and that could help in natural healing.]

DM Ken: Unless you give me a reason to rule otherwise, you have control of the skills, feats, ability scores, and spells known of your adepts and cohort.

Bliss has time to make 7 potions.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Monday November 13th, 2017 9:13:08 PM
"Great, I wish you had known all of this a week ago. I just bought a flame enchantment for Prowler. It's gonna be worthless in this next fight."

Hobie would love a few of those potions Bliss is making and would happily pay the cost for them.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Tuesday November 14th, 2017 12:11:44 AM
Lance takes a tour of the forest one last time before returning to town, keeping an eye out for any dead limbs in need of pruning. He contemplates writing an autobiography.

Tree Husbandry with Lightning: A Memoir

He arrives in time for Pressi to teach them all about demons, fiery demons, and fiery chaotic demons. it is fascinating. Lance makes certain to ask which types of demon are resistant to immune to electricity. Those are pesky little things.

Lance visits the local butcher, and inquires into the price of gift baskets. Perhaps a tasteful charcuterie selection..

ooc: The closest thing I could find on d20pfsrd was Halfling Trail Rations. It includes, sweetened dried fruit, aged sausage, hard sharp cheese, honey cakes, and a mixture of roasted grains, nuts, and molasses.

DM Ken: Dude, that sounds amazing. I want some!

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Tuesday November 14th, 2017 9:54:46 AM

"So, I take it that you're grateful for the offer, but that we should let Mookie rest in peace." Murphy scratches CatBliss's ears, and lays to rest the notion of bringing Mookie back. The druid soon after finds a private place, and sheds a few more tears for the wisecracking raven - and closes his moment of mourning with laughter as he recalls some of the clever bon mots delivered by the bird, and sighs as he recalls how the bird mentored the naive, sweet halfling, his friend, Bliss.

Murphy passes on to the Sword, officials, et al, what additional information he was able to gather, and arranges for it to be sent as well to Hovel.

Murphy goes to the Crescent River which flows along the edge of town. He summons a few water elementals, and tells them in their own tongue: "Vé-Eldfjöll is a mountain, a volcano, from the south, and is a living power which is trying to move here. He is drying the land. He will bring ash, and fire, and lightning. Tell the other elementals of Vé-Eldfjöll's evil plans. Consult those among you who are wise. Our land needs water, for crops, for life. Tell me if there is something we can do for you. I will summon you again tomorrow, and we will talk. Tell me then if there is something you can do for us - to oppose Vé-Eldfjöll, to not let the land go dry. Water is life. We are grateful to you. Let us work together." The next day, he summons the elementals again, to learn what, if anything, their kind has discussed.

He does likewise with earth elementals. He emphasizes the power and strength of the earth, and how precious it is to the halflings of the valley. He tells of Vé-Eldfjöll's encroachment. "What things can we do for you? And, please, return to your people, and discuss with those who are wise among you. Are there things you can do to oppose Vé-Eldfjöll? If you know of Burfell, another thinking mountain, you know that he loves earth, and elementals of earth. Burfell opposes Vé-Eldfjöll. Will you join us in opposing this wicked power? I shall ask you to return this time tomorrow. I will again call for you. Please, at that time, let me know if we can work together, and in what ways.

"And before you go: One thing I know - my people need shelter from attacks from above from allies of Vé-Eldfjöll. Can we work together to make tunnels and areas beneath the earth to which my people, the halflings, can flee for safety?" Murphy tells of some areas beneath the nearby woods behind the Mayor's burrow which could be a good area of safety for deep tunnels, trying to avoid the roots of trees, and with sloping descents that his people may get in and out.

He summons air elementals, and communicates in like manner. He ponders whether or not to summon fire elementals. He decides to do so, wild shaping into one before the summons. He asks that those nearby will help, rather than harm the halflings. Again, concluding with, "How may we help you? How might you help us?" And asking to meet the following day.

As he meets with the elementals, Murphy alerts Pressi, and lets her listen in to his communications with them, so she may know, too. Later, he tells the whole party - or as many members of the Sword as he is able to find.

Murphy spends hours going through town, asking people to bring all the vessels the might, and he fills them with water. He waters gardens. He also asks his Uncle Orby, who has a decanter of endless water (he has had it for years), to use it to help the crops - which his uncle is likely already doing.

In discussing things with his friends, he considers what additional items might be useful in the coming conflict, puts together a few lists. [Do not have time to show right now, will try to get to later today, if possible.]

He offers to help dig additional tunnels, escape tunnels, as it were, beneath people's burrows, letting them know he might do so by wild shaping into a large earth elemental. He will help up to five people today with that.

First seeking permission from the Mayor, he prepares many long ditches and periodic pools for water in different places in the woods. Should there be fires there, perhaps water elementals can be summoned to help extinguish flames, that the woods be preserved. He spends hours filling them with life-giving liquid. He talks to the trees, warning them of Vé-Eldfjöll's plans, and that they may come under attack, and that their roots should take on as much water as the can bear to help defend through moisture in their bodies.
========
OOC: Batman Lance. I like it. And, I am so going to stock up on Halfling Trail Rations - should be able to buy from Pirnook at the General Store
[gotta run]

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Tuesday November 14th, 2017 10:27:36 AM
Kezzem spends his time learning what he can about demons, and how to smite them.



Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday November 14th, 2017 11:27:23 AM

Bliss hands out a potion of fire resistance (70 minutes, FR20) to Murphy, Lance, Kezzem, and Hobie. He gives two to Pressi ("For Harper") and keeps one for himself. He thanks anyone who wants to help defer the cost, but Bliss insists. "It's a present!" he says.

[OOC: Wold House Crafting Rules require the crafter to incur and track all costs. Sheet updated.]

OOC to DM: Unless Pressi objects, Bliss will be sharing an extended Fire Resistance spell instead of his usual Shield of Faith for his Intermediate Ritual. Let me know when I should make the rolls for Bliss's witch spell prep and ritual enaction?]

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23 
Tuesday November 14th, 2017 1:00:11 PM
(OOC: To answer Lance's question and others, here are some of the things to watch out for.)

Outsider Domain: good HP and BAB, usually low fort, good other saves, good bluff, sense motive and stealth, darkvision, usually wears some armor and fights with melee or natural weapons

demon subdomain (since this is what Pressi tagged, it's what she focuses on): immune to electricity and poison, resist 10 other elements, expect summons, natural weapons and creature specific defenses (like acid skin). I noticed that some have particular immunities, i.e. to cold iron.

fire type: generally immune fire and weak cold, in addition to other protections. May face elementals (immune to sneak/crits, certain effects) or incorporeal beings (limits to melee attacks, can bypass some AC with theirs).

entropic subtype: big thing is that they do chaotic damage and might have DR/lawful

---------------

The bottom line is that this module is going to throw a lot of different types at us. Scouting, discretion and versatility are going to be key. If your spell list is mostly electric and fire attacks, or SoS on humanoids, it's time to stock up on weapons and scrolls. Above all, make sure that you have a couple of moves no matter what DR, immunity or creature type they throw at us. (Really, we should have learned that after the constructs.) Even if it's just a halfling sling or an entangle spell.

Bliss - the resist fire is a great idea (particularly since it sounds like some lava environments coming our way) but don't discount shield. Pressi will probably return the favor with greater magic weapon - are Catbliss' attacks considered natural?

DM Ken 
Tuesday November 14th, 2017 1:29:53 PM

Bliss uses Pressi's information and makes a batch of potions to help out his teamsters in the face of the looming conflict with Vé-Eldfjöll's minions. He changes his shared Shield of Faith spell to a Fire Resistance spell instead.

(Bliss, roll the ritual for today please)

-----------------------
For a short while, Hobie laments the fact that he JUST purchased a flaming enchantment for his bow, until he shares the story with Roscoe.

"Ya know, there's a Venturer in the town right now. Not an adventurer, mind you, but one of the traveling merchant priests of F'floy who call themselves, well, Venturers. I was going to ask one of you to go kindly ask him to stop his hollering about us holding him captive here, but maybe he can help you switch out that enchantment?"

Roscoe stands and peeks out of his small home, and cringes when another lightning flash lights up the otherwise dark afternoon. Just as soon as his nerves seem to settle, a phantasm of a 4 legged creature with a long probiscus nose walks through his hovel, and the poor deputy shouts with fright.

"Strange times, kiddo. Strange times."

------------------------

Kezzem learns a number of things about demons. He learns that almost all of them are immune to electricity and poison, and all of them are both evil and chaotic, which is a important distinction from their lawful enemies, the devils. He learns most of them can summon other demons, and that they tend to have spell like and special abilities.

He researches one demon he has seen in particular, several times, the Babau Demon, which is noted for it's protective slime that can destroy weapons. It might not hurt to have a backup or two just in case this guy ever shows up.

As he muses through his studies, he is approached by a younger hobbit, who looks like a child about to confess a crime to a parent.

"Mr. Paladin sir, can I talk to you? I think I did something bad."

-------------------------------------------------

Lance considers memoirs and books on husbandry, and is very much aware thanks to Pressi that every known demon is immune to electricity. While this might limit his option vs the demons, he has seen many other types of phantasms, and is positive that his attacks can make them go negative, and that thought makes him pretty charged.

He also packs some incredibly tasty sounding gift baskets.

----------------------------------------------------

Murphy decides to try and list the aid of the elementals living in and around Humbles Ford.

First he visits the water elementals, who seem somewhat apathetic about the whole thing. When he returns to speak to their elder, it says.

"Nothing lasts forever Druid. You need water for crops, we need no such thing. This river will flow here until it cannot, then it will branch to another place. Water flows along the channels given, it fills the lakes where the recesses lie. Be fluid, and adapt. If we fight and die, then we are no more."

It thinks for a moment.

"However. You once treated a small elemental with much care. You concern for our summoned kin fills us with compassion. Dig us a new lake, stock it with water-born life, and promise not to allow your kind to fish or hunt there. Do this, and I can promise that your settlement will have a pool of water from which to draw clean vitae from throughout your trial."

--

The earth elementals are much more gruff.

"We know of Burfell. We know of Vé-Eldfjöll. They hold sway in their lands, but not with us. If a mountain comes, then come it will. The change of earth is inconsequential. The removal of mortals is a benefit. His approach does not concern us."

It is silent for a long time, then adds.

"You are a respectable druid, and while many summon us to do their bidding as if we were servants, you treat us as allies, which is a solid foundation for friendship. If you can promise to dig us a cave, and stock it with minerals and gemstone, of all kinds, we can in exchange help create tunnels to hide your kin."

-------------

The air elementals seem amused by Murphy's earnest request, and tease him with gusts of wind while he speaks. Smaller elementals whoosh around him as he talks. Their elder waves them away, and replies.

"The concerns of those on the ground are not shared with us. We can move on, as does the wind, wherever we please. However, Humbles Ford and Crescent Valley carry clean, sweeping currents, and the halflings are amusing to watch. We could be persuaded to help you. Vow to build me a tower, tall and strong and gleaming white. Vow that none but the air may live there. It need not be fancy, but it must be tall. Do this, and we will gladly bring pain and misery to the lumbering earth-bound minions of Vé-Eldfjöll."

-----------

Murphy then summons the fire elementals, who hiss and crackle at him. Their fires pop and change hues. He makes his plea, and the elder elemental roars with vigor.

"Mortal druid, you have lived in harmony with the earth for much of your life. In this, you are wise. You assume the intentions of Vé-Eldfjöll are evil. In this, you are foolish. Is the frightened stampede that tramples the rodent evil, as it flees from the lion? Remember that your tiny spark of life is no more than that to the ageless, and even less to a Power. "

The fire dies down and the elders voice carries again.

"My offer to you is this. Convert at least fifty of your people to the worship of Vé-Eldfjöll. Build him a shrine, and light it with fires that burn forever. Do this, and the Fires native to Crescent Valley will step aside, and observe the battle rather than partake.

Vé-Eldfjöll is a power, and powers seek souls to worship them. His emissaries come for you soon, I am certain. The landscape will change, but those who follow the flame will have their weakness seared away. Those who do not survive will be fuel for the flame that burns on strong for many of your generations."

It pauses, then adds.

"If you do not, then do not expect peace between the lion and the herd, when the volcano arrives. In reward for your reverence of nature, I will also give you this knowledge. I would not rely on summoning the flame, when the battles begin."

------------------------------------------------------

Each of the Elemental Elders dismissed Murphy, and bid him to return the next day with the answer to their requests. Each Elder gives the druid the same meeting place, a small cliff that overlooks many of the farms in Humbles Ford.



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Tuesday November 14th, 2017 2:09:07 PM
"Really Roscoe? Do you think he could? I'll go talk to him at once!"

Hobie will ride Pippa over to where this traveling merchant is being held "hostage."

"Good sir, I hear you are quite unhappy these days, that you feel as though you are being held hostage. I'm terribly sorry about the present circumstances. We at Humble's Ford did not conjure up these phantasms as they are being called, but the Sword is trying their best to figure out what's going on with them, and to get rid of them as quickly as possible. We have a few leads, as they all seem to be fire creatures, and we are soon to embark on a journey to defeat what we think is causing it.

In the meantime, we'd be glad to help you feel as comfortable as possible, is there anything specific that you are needing that I could possibly obtain for you?

Also, I'll be honest with you, as a merchant, there is a lot of money to be made here right now. The people are going crazy over the phantasms, and you could sell your wares as souvenirs. The local shopkeep, Mr. Pirnook, isn't used to competition and has been hiking his prices up, you could probably make some nice coin by undercutting his prices, making your time spent in Humble's Ford worth your while. "

After talking for a bit, and letting the merchant know that Hobie has heard his complaints, Hobie will ask him "Sir, speaking of our quest to eliminate the cause of these fire creature phantasms, I have a small request. At the end of our last adventure, I spent my share having my trusty bow enchanted with Flame. It hasn't even seen one battle yet, and it appears I was hasty with that decision, as we're about to run headlong to fight a volcano. Would it be within your abilities to switch that flame enchantment out for a Frost enchantment? "

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23  d20+9=19 ; d20+8=12 ;
Tuesday November 14th, 2017 3:04:12 PM
(OOC: Wow, I am so behind on everything. Let me finish up.)

cohorts

"I completely understand the concern of the Justicars," Pressi spoke to the aide that visited them, a dwarf villager from Plateau City named Dolgrin Agite. A rather frail figure for a dwarf, she had fought with him for some time in regards to her attitude and... pathway towards the Justicar calling.

Granted, she knew that she wasn't going to be an average Justicar. An arcane based roguelike who already had to change religions under their objections, she wasn't going to get far under the less jokey Pantheon divines that populated Justicar leadership. But for her time as a Monk, they might never have given her the time of day at all.

"Instead of giving you more worries, let me give you an opportunity as my fourth member. That way, you can pipe up if I stray from Justicar norms, and I can ignore you."

(I will take and stat Chicory, giving Joy to Bliss. I will have my followers stats later - just thought I was giving personalities and traits.)

Rest of the Prior Week

Outside of research, Pressi did not find herself with much to do. Dinners with Murphy and his family on occasion, but he was busy with the building. Natural resting took a lot of her time, but there wasn't much to do and the team had mostly gone their separate ways.

She made one more last minute trip to the catacombs, in an attempt to get a cold iron weapon under the wire. (She couldn't use a cold iron weapon under the fey domain.) But if she couldn't, she couldn't.

Lance

"I just wanted to clarify that I completely understood why you did what you did," she tells him when he comes back. "Heck, I am hardly above using fear myself, as long as you are smart about it.

"But here's the thing. If you think you are going to take the label of Batman from this acrobat detective creature of the night, you'd better be ready to take it."

Three Leads

Knowing that Murphy is following the second lead (by asking the elementals to the rocky soil), she proceeds to track down the others, starting with the merchant that claims to be trapped.

She starts with basic diplomatic overtures, trying to get an idea of who he is and why he would make such a claim (Diplo 19+2 from WLA). She also chooses to humor him, looking for any holding magic (Detect Magic, Know Arcana 12). She also looks at her symbol to see if he lies about anything (Sense Motive d20+19).

While there, Hobie joins her to listen in and ask if he has any supplies, and she chooses to ask about how much holy water he has.

She also makes her way towards the young halfling, now talking to Kezzem. (If he leaves beforehand, she just asks Kezzem to fill her in.)

Finally, she makes her way to Murphy, to ask him what he has learned.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle)  d20+10=28 ;
Tuesday November 14th, 2017 8:49:39 PM
Bloodwitch rolls for the day:

To prepare spells ...
Concentrate Check (1d20+7CL+3int) vs DC14 ... rolled a 28, no problem.

Ritual of the Grimalkin DC20 Handle Animal check ... Bliss has a +17 base, +1 cauldron +4 followers +2 Harper and Pressi +4 Pressi's followers = no chance of failure.

Ritual of Sharing DC30 Spellcraft check ... Bliss has a +22 base, +1 cauldron +4 followers +2 Harper and Pressi +4 Pressi's followers = no chance of failure.

Shared Extended Resist Fire at CL7 gives Fire Resist 20 for 46 noncontinuous minutes each for Pressi, Harper, and Bliss.

"Easy Peasy," says Bliss.

If Pressi wants to do her own Basic Ritual -- ritual of warding is especially nice -- Bliss and his cauldron and followers will help, of course, even though Bliss cannot benefit from more than one Basic Ritual per day.

Bliss casts his Threefold Aspect spell as usual and sets it to the youngest form.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Tuesday November 14th, 2017 11:33:54 PM
Lance looks quizzically at Pressi. "What's a Batman?"

Later, at the butcher, Lance orders 100 charcuterie gift baskets for the community (per Halfling Rations). He plops down 25 gold pieces, and an extra 10 gold pieces for gift cards attached to each one. [b]"Please have them read; "Our apologies if you were singed. Lance was not really unhinged. Next time we say 'flee', pack up and get thee! Or your safety may be infringed."

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 2:39:04 AM

As mentioned, while talking with the various elementals, Murphy was also engaged in a full-on telepathic bond with Pressi, letting her know all he was experiencing and hearing during the meetings.

He considers the offers and boundaries of each elemental type, he finds three of them acceptible, and can conceive of how he might keep the requested pledges. He discusses this with Pressi, and with any other party members who wish to participate, and asks for a meeting with the local authorities (he's keeping them busy). The gist of it is this: He will agree to the request of Water. He wants to ensure that none will fish or hunt there, and asks for a law to be established to that effect. Halflings may swim, there, perhaps, but not to fish.

He asks if he may build a lake either on Humble Field (the Grange Battlefield), or to the west of that (just off the map on the lower half). He would have a canal between the Crescent River and the lake. Or, do the local authorities have a better site to propose? Additional alternatives include a spot to the south side of the river, or off the far right of the map, north of the river a little ways. Once it is determined where the lake will go, then he will tell Water that he agrees. "Due to lack of time, the lake will at the start be somewhat shallow, and not large. Later, I can work to deepen it and broaden it somewhat for your pleasure, and in accordance with your wishes."

For Earth, he agrees to build a cave, and to fill it as they request. He thinks it better that none, save himself and Pressi (for he can hide nothing from her) will know the location of the cave - but he intends to have it not too far off from Humble's Sword Acres. It will take him time to stock it. He mentions a general site, and asks the elementals if that will be suitable for what they have in mind.

For Air, he agrees to raise a tall white spire. "I cannot promise, though, that no birds will land there, or attempt to build their nests. You air elementals will have to enforce your desire where avians are concerned. I was thinking toward the top there could be some channels for you to dance through, some that might evoke beautiful sounds depending upon the direction and strength of the winds."

Fire, though, is another matter. Discussing with those in authority - including the religious authorities - Murphy expresses his concerns to them. "It sounds like they offer some powers to those who choose to serve Vé-Eldfjöll, yet threaten - even promise - to harm many others. And, I cannot compel others to worship - especially one such as this. The mountain wishes to alter our lands, our way of life. I must tell Fire that I cannot compel others to serve Vé-Eldfjöll. A shrine? Fires that burn forever? I must know more about Vé-Eldfjöll before I can agree to raise a shrine. Should enough halflings decide to bow the knee to him, they could be placed in charge of providing fuel for an everlasting flame.

He tells his friends, "I think to say something like this:"
I have no desire to oppose fire - for I have benefitted from its warmth my whole life. Yet, should flames come to harm my people, and our lands, that I cannot ignore. Should your kind not attack, we will remain at peace with you. Should your kind attempt to consume or harm mine, then shall I oppose your efforts.

Fire is a great power. It energizes. It helps us in so many ways. Without it, how should we live so well as we do? However, unchecked - when it threatens to consume our children, then it must be bounded. So far as we can, let us be at worst neutral toward each other. If we can cooperate, and it not harm my people, then let us do so.
"Would that properly answer them? Those words may simply, uh, inflame them against me, against us. But I will not promise to promote Vé-Eldfjöll. Unless I find out he is a jolly old fellow, quite worthy of adoration."

He listens for counsel in answering Fire - and will accept comments and wisdom regarding the other elements.

Murphy warmly thanks Bliss for the vial.

In the midst of all this activity, Murphy casts goodberry. His mother has berries of a few types in her garden.

Before going to meet with the elementals, he casts resist energy (fire), protection from energy (fire), and has quench memorized.
=============
[Thank you, DM Ken, for such a good and challenging response to Murphy's elemental diplomatic efforts. Really made me think how to respond, in many ways.]

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 2:42:20 AM

"Oh, one more thing. Vé-Eldfjöll seeks to move, it seems, out of fear of the Doom of the Wold. What, or who, is the Doom of the Wold?" Murphy queries.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; flying; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23  d20+12=22 ; d20+15=21 ;
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 10:18:10 AM
Bliss

(Sorry, forgot to make my rolls)

Wold Blood Roll = 1d20+8 CL +4 vs DC 14 = 22, easy pass.

Pressi, reminded by Bliss, returns the favor.

Bliss asks for the Ritual of Warding, which is 20 vs Base 4 + 11 followers (d20+15). She just barely passes (Bliss, Harper and Pressi get +1 to AC, saving throws.)

She's a tad iffy on trying Spiritual Healing (need 13 to pass), so she performs the shield of faith sharing spell. (Base 21+11=no chance of fail.) After considering a number of buffs, she simply casts shield of faith.

... And then she remembers that the coven (Pressi, Bliss and Harper) can only benefit from one of each type at a time. So she asks Bliss which to use. (She suggests to Bliss that he forego the cat thing since they might need to be doing things besides fighting. For the intermediate, she might also cast Rose temp control.)

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21 (22?), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper - AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 10:20:34 AM
Adding header

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21(22?), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 10:22:11 AM
Lets Try this

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 10:24:00 AM
Oh right, the beginning

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 10:45:44 AM
Bliss suggests the Cat ritual for Bliss and the Warding for Pressi and Harper. The rolls are OK with that.

Bliss suggests Sharing Ritual of Fire Resist for Bliss, Pressi, and Harper, but if Pressi prefers, it can be Shield of Faith for all three instead, and they can rely on potions and spells for Fire Resistance. Bliss lets Pressi decide.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 11:40:32 AM
Pressi picks the Fire Resist, holding back on Shield of Faith.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 2:07:38 PM
Kezzem turns detect evil on the kid. Assuming he's not evil, "Well, the important thing is that you feel bad about it and aren't likely to do it again. I can see that your aura is still clean. Do you want to talk about it?"

He sees Pressi approaching out the corner of his eye, and motions for her to hang back for now. Maybe the kid wants some privacy, particularly if this "bad thing" involves girl.

----
Later, Kezzem meets back up with the others. "Hey guys, I was reading about this bamboo demon guy, and he has like acid skin that can damage your weapons, so you may want to pickup some backup weapons to use on this guy. Also, cold iron weapons work best against demons, so I'm going to try and find some cold iron daggers for myself."

OOC: Can Kezzem find any cold iron daggers in town, or does he need to take a trip to the catacombs.

DM Ken: You can purchase them from the Venturer who happens to be here during a sandbox module while you might happen to need some special supplies!

DM Ken 
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 4:38:17 PM

Pressi and Hobie engage the merchant, Rando M'name, who is furiously pacing about outside of Pirnooks, a scroll clutched in his hands. He looks up at them, and once Hobie informs the human that they are folks that can actually do things, he starts paying attention.

"Hostage is a strong word perhaps, but I'm stuck here! Have you lot tried traveling out of Crescent Valley? The ash storms get so bad you can't see, the winds and the crags - which I certainly didn't notice when I traveled here - serve to keep you stuck in the same 100 mile ring!"

The man seems to want to be irate, but Hobie's words found the perfect hook, and the man relaxes a little.

"I suppose there is money here, as long as there's adventurers." He looks directly at Pressi. "How much holy water did you want? I've got a whole crate of the stuff. It's not actually holy water, but more like god sweat. I picked it up from a tribe of Vegepygmies near the Tree of Parting. They swear the tree is the manifestation of the Culverwood, and I traded them ten boxes of socks knitted from Ogre back hair, which is -also- considered sacred by the barbarians I got it from."

He takes a deep breath.

"But the god sweat works! I swear by it! I tested some on a dhampir that's always at the catacombs, and he swears as to it's effectiveness!"

He pushes aside a few gift baskets from his absurdly messy pull cart, and chuckles as he does. "Or your safety may be infringed. Ha!"

He points to a box.

"Lots of holy water there. How much do you want? Totally unrelated, but I typically make about 200 gold a day. I've made 50 so far, and have invested about 50 into these holy waters. So like, I'm just saying, if you buy at least 150 golds worth, I might be convinced to take the rest of the day off, which would leave me time to move your friends enchantment over from Fire to Frost, in exchange for his promise to owe me a favor and to end these annoying ash storms!"

--------------------------

Kezzem detects no evil in the boy, but senses a reluctance to come clean. After a moment or two of hesitation, the kid says to Kezzem, "Follow me please. It's easier to show you!"

The kid leads Kezzem a fair bit away, towards the largest cemetery in Humbles Ford. He points to an old stone mausoleum, with the shattered remains of a heavy stone slab where the sealed entrance should be. A peal of thunder and the crack of lightning flashes in the sky.

"I was playing "Bravery' with with some other kids. We took turns throwing our rocks through the blue ghosts here in the graveyard. When it was my turn, I threw it super hard. It went right through the ghosts head, like it always does."

The child shivers. "But then it turned and looked at us."

"That was scary. It didn't say nothin, just watched. We all started to run away, and we suddenly heard it scream, and it charged right at me! It hit the stone there when I ducked,and we all kept running. It might still be in there."

Almost in tears, the boy looks at Kezzem.

"I'm sorry my rock made the monster real! What if it comes back and hurts someone else? Please kill it!"

------------

Pressi and Bliss work on their rituals for a bit, before going their seperate ways. Pressi accompanies Hobie, while Bliss does what cats do, after handing out the fire resistance potions.

----------

Murphy considers the requests of the elementals, and goes back to meet them on the precipice. When he arrives, all four elders are present.

He gives his answers, and the elementals reply with silence. Finally, Air speaks.

"Druid, you approached us one after the other. If not for the tradition of our kind to treat with humans in this spot, where a druid from the past once honored a deal with us, we would not have known you sought to treat with us all."

The air around him whistles as he moves closer.

"We have long had a pact here, that no mortal can hold the allegiance of more than one elder. Please choose one alliance to forge, and it will be honored. We have each given you our terms, and promised the the type of aid to be given in return."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+16=18 ; d20+9=18 ; d20+1=20 ;
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 5:55:58 PM
Kezzem waves Pressi over. "He Press, go round up the others while I check this out."

"Now, kid, you did a stupid thing, not a bad thing. A bad thing would be if you were trying to hurt someone or some animal, like throwing rocks at a pony. That would be a bad thing because you were trying to hurt it. Since you didn't think the rocks would hit anything, it wasn't really a bad thing, see?

I am not sure the monster is real. It only looked at you and howled, it doesn't sound like it could touch anything and didn't hurt anyone, just gave you kiddos a fright. It may not even have been reacting to you, but something else that you couldn't see. In any case, I don't think the rock would have done it. I mean, it's just a piece of stone, right?"

As Kezzem turns to leave, he looks back. "Btw, kid, what's your name?"

Kezzem while investigate the monster, attempting to remain hidden (forgetting it's not as good at this as he used to be). He activates his detect evil radar to see if he can ping any monsters in the cemetery.

OOC:

Diplomacy (to calm the kid, give advise, etc).: 18.
Stealth: 18.
Perception: 20.

DM Ken: To confirm the post, the monster did destroy a giant stone slab, which means it interacted with the world around it.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday November 15th, 2017 9:32:56 PM

Bliss changes into a halfling in order to declare, "If these monsters are getting more real, we have to tell people to hide and get under cover!"

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Thursday November 16th, 2017 12:21:54 AM
ooc: Wednesday post! I let time get away.

Lance holds his hands up defensively. "Someone else may want to tell people to run and get cover. Someone trained in fuzzy-wuzzies and hugs and lollipops. Not this guy."

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday November 16th, 2017 2:01:38 AM

Murphy feels humbled by the assembled power, and wonders at who was the druid who earlier made a pact with the elementals. "As this is your tradition, then I shall honor it. Each of you has my gratitude for having made a generous offer." He looks around at them all, then down at the ground for a moment. He raises his eyes to Air. "Would this cliff be a suitable spot for building a white tower? It may take some time to find materials, and to build it strong and tall, but I give you my word to do so, as you keep your word to aid us in our coming trials."

As before, he telepathically includes Pressi in this convocation, that she may mentally see, hear and understand the import of what goes on.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Thursday November 16th, 2017 8:48:10 AM
OOC: Sorry, misread your post as saying "I hit the stone" (thinking the boy slipped and fell as he ran) not "It his the stone"

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 79/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+2=19 ;
Thursday November 16th, 2017 4:14:09 PM
"Good Master M'name, we will certainly be willing to spend 150 gold on Holy Water, and perhaps other equipment. I'll take three vials of Holy Water myself. I heard some of our group talk of needing Cold Iron Weapons, would you happen to have two quiversful of Cold Iron arrows, and maybe 5 or so Cold Iron daggers? Oh, and um, let's throw in that jar of honey to make it an even hundred. And if you are so kind as to exchange my enchantment, I can promise we will do our very best to end the ash storms, and help you with anything else you might need. I'll even play a song for you on my new lute as a thank you!"

Perform (Lute) check=19

Hobie smiles wide as he plays his lute, feeling confident in his practice. After the song and the exchange with the merchant, he leaves, promising to come back first thing in the morning to retrieve his bow.

Hobie heads back to where the group was gathered previously, and offers up some of the Cold Iron weapons he just bought. He keeps the holy water, honey, one dagger and 20 arrows for himself, and suggests that the rest of the group take the rest if they don't currently have Cold Iron weapons. Anything the group doesn't need he'll just put in his handy haversack for later.
4 CI Daggers
20 CI Arrows

3 vials of Holy Water= 75gp
5 CI Daggers= 20 gp
40 CI arrows = 4gp
1/2 pound of honey =1gp
Total=100gp (ooc: I'm assuming Pressi is also buying some things, but if not, I'll add two vials of Holy Water to get us to the 150.)

ooc: I'm assuming the Kezzem cemetery thing is happening at the same time as Hobie's visit to the merchant so he would have no way of knowing about it, but if Kezzem or anyone else lets Hobie know about whats going on, he will eagerly go help.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Thursday November 16th, 2017 4:28:30 PM
Since Pressi is not there as per thr emails, Kezzem will instead ask the kid to find Pressi or Murph and have them gather the others for backup.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle) 
Thursday November 16th, 2017 4:33:41 PM

Now that he realizes that these monsters may come real and actually hurt people, Bliss gets more serious. He goes through the town with his friends, trying to convince people to be ready to hide at a moment's notice. Somewhere small and underground, maybe.

Um, until recently, there were a bunch of dwarves training the local militia to repel goblins and giants. It seems to Bliss like it would be good to get the militia on alert. For example, get militia members to stand around town with bells or horns, and sound the alarm the moment the "ghost" monsters stop being so insubstantial.

Do the "ghost" monsters always stay in the same place, or do they wander around? Bliss wants to get a census going of how many there are, and to track them all. He will use his followers and dwarf pals from the militia to help if he can. [The dwarves like Bliss ever since he tried to win a drinking contest with them. Tried!]

If the monsters do stay still, maybe we can build a scaffolding around a few of them, with nets and holy water above, so that if they get substantial, the nets and holy water will drop on them. Does anybody have any ranks in trap-making?

Every day, Bliss casts his Plant Growth spell, either the Enrichment version to help counter the drying out that has hurt plants in the area, or, if there are any ghost monsters that tend to stay away from buildings and roads, then the Overgrowth version so that if/when they become material, they may be stuck in the overgrowth, giving time to sound alarms and take cover.

DM Ken: I missed, not ignored, the militia part. My apologies. The dwarves will be on notice, and don't mind setting up a phantasm alarm, so to speak.

Mark off a casting of plant growth for today, but since we have slowed down the pace a tad, were going to go with just one casting active at the moment.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Thursday November 16th, 2017 4:45:17 PM
Pressi nods at Hobie's purchases, and puts in a purchase for whatever is left of the holy water. (Let's say another three vials.)

She also asks if he has a cold iron spiked chain. Otherwise, she will take a cold iron rapier. She does not dare to hope for masterwork.

-----------------

As this is going on, Pressi is being clued in to the dealings between Murphy and the Elementals. While she is somewhat drawn towards the fire's proposition, she agrees with him to reject it. "A lion is not evil because it is incapable of controlling its hunger or understanding its actions. If Ve-el is similarly unequipped, then he is unworthy of our time, evil or not."

She does press against his choice for the air, preferring the tunnel options. Of course, she had been telling leadership to build such tunnels since she arrived three levels ago, when the threat was giants, so she didn't expect them to start picking up shovels with her. Eventually, however, she respects his decision.

(Baby is now up, so I will have to post the rest of this tonight.)

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday November 16th, 2017 5:42:16 PM

Following any response from / interaction with the gathered elementals (to which he'll respond as appropriate), Murphy returns to town, lets the powers that be know about the upcoming aid from the realm of air, then says he must get to work on digging a place of safety, deeper within the earth than the burrows typically afford. He asks for help in carrying out earth as he excavates, and will need many hands.

He asks the proprietor of the Dancing Pig if he can, while shaped as a large earth elemental, dig down from underneath that establishment to provide safe shelter for the populace should hot stones start raining from the skies. If they say no, he goes to the Belly Buster, and asks the same question.

He likewise asks the Primulas if he can dig a tunnel at or near their place. He begins at the first inn that allows it, or at Sling and Arrow if neither says yes, and digs down in a diagonal pathway, with enough room for a dwarf to pass through. When he gets to 40' beneath the surface, he levels it out, and begins to focus on setting up many interconnected chambers 10' to 15' wide, and 15' to 20' long, for people to rest in. He then digs a tunnel onward toward the next building, so that the entry places are linked underground. These passages he makes about seven feet wide, with occasional alcoves. He does as much over an eight to ten hour period as he is able. He charges those who are able to place timbers and supports along the way to help prevent cave ins. The tops of the chambers he curves to help in that wise, as well. Every so often, he digs a pit, about 5'x5'x5', to hold water, and also, away from these spots, with some narrow holes with soft earth nearby, for people to take care of their necessities.

His father, good at working with wood, he engages in helping to ensure the passages are well supported - and any dwarves who may be about, asks for their help, too.

Also, as his form as an earth elemental may seem frightful to some, he does what he can to allay their concerns. "It's just me, Murphy - using earth magic to change my form, to help us all out. Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."

=========
If someone gets word to him about Kezzem's request, Murphy explains that he has no great abilities versus ghosts, and must focus on places of safety for the community. "After my dig, today, if still needed, then may I help."

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+8=25 ;
Friday November 17th, 2017 10:01:12 AM
(My apologies if you were waiting for me to finish.)

In response to Murphy's affirmation, Pressi responds that they need to build the tower, get what tunnels they can, and find sources of clean water.

Pressi asks Hobie and Murphy to find Bliss and maybe Lance. The spellcasters have cantrips like "Create Water" and "Purify Water" that won't last forever but it can be bottled or placed in reservoirs for a time, particularly once things start getting harder. (Bliss and Pressi also have Rose Temp Control, which they can use to create cool zones when things get tougher.)

For the tower, there is a discussion as to whether to start from scratch or to use the broken tower. Plans also have to be made about whether and how to keep birds away. Pressi begins to think of things like scarecrows - or perhaps advanced versions like permanent ghost sound - but settles on an array of spikes at the top of the tower, making it difficult for anything to nest.

For the tunnels, Pressi sends a message to the Dancing Pig, calling on her contacts for help in agreeing with the situation (Diplomacy 25) but isn't really the type for helping to dig. (Harper does her best, but she's just one animal.) She also opens what was completed of the old and new guild halls for refugees.

Before stopping off at Murphy, she does make her way towards Lance and Bliss. This should open her up to being found by the boy.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Friday November 17th, 2017 1:50:07 PM

Murphy telepathically communicates to Pressi that they cannot use the giant tower for the air elementals. That tower, despite the recent sabotage, needs to be repaired and returned to its purpose.

If needed to help Kezzem, he will take a break from tunneling - the work he has started should keep folks busy for a while, and he figures - so long as he survives - he can return, perhaps, within the half hour. At least, that's the theory.

DM Ken 
Friday November 17th, 2017 2:12:05 PM

Kezzem detects for evil, and finds none. He is hidden for now, and though the mausoleum is small, he sees or hears nothing coming from within. It seems awfully dark inside though, even accounting for the black clouds hanging over all of Humbles Ford.

-----------------------------

Pressi and Hobie win over the Venturer, around the same time he finishes up Hobies enchantment swap and packaging your purchases, including the cold iron weapons, (including the mw quality cold iron spiked chain), a kid comes round to alert both Pressi and Hobie that Kezzem, who is about 5 minutes away, might be in some trouble.

-----------------------------

Murphy finishes his elementals bargain, choosing to side with air in this endeavor. Earth rumbles away with no comment, and water seems willing to go with the flow. Fire roars to life, then smolders a bit before parting with a warning.

"Your choice endangers you all, but fits a mortals logic. Only those who know they will die one day anyways are so willing to bring it's timetable closer."

With a flare of heat, he is gone. Murphy (in theory) recieves a mental alert from Pressi regarding Kezzem, and his DM assumes he will go to his aid.

DM Ken: This leaves Murphy no time to progress on the tunnels however. Of course, if he wishes to ignore the situation, as hinted that he might in your post, feel free to go ahead and make a start that would be equal to no more than an hours work.

The full week leading up to now was the time to make big sweeping changes to the environment =D

------------------------------------------------

Bliss, actively asking some questions, with a bored Lance in tow, finds that the descriptions of different phantasms are in the hundreds. They don't seem to have any particular pattern, and it's all rather chaotic.

A young kid comes running by, and lets them both know that Kezzem might need their help, and he dashes off towards Pirooks right after.

----------------------------



Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Friday November 17th, 2017 3:32:04 PM
Pressi frowns. "Looks like building is going to have to wait."

She signals Hobie to follow, and updates Murphy on the situation as she goes.

-----------------------

As she listens to Kezzem, she looks through the area around. "What about the rock itself? Was there anything unusual about it?" (She takes some time to look through about the area for it.)

She takes some time to detect magic on it.

-------------------

ritual of +1 to AC, saves
shared spell: fire resist

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Friday November 17th, 2017 3:51:29 PM
Hobie will quickly follow Pressi to Kezzem, echoing her questions. He defers to the magic users to look around for the source of what happened, and steels himself for battle if something should come.

ooc (just to clarify, you said that the merchant finished the enchantment swap before we left? I was thinking Hobie would need to get through til the morning sans bow, but I'm more than happy to have it with me)

DM Ken: Feel free to take it with. Apparently I failed to impress upon the group anything at all about there being a sense of danger or a particular theme among your upcoming enemies. We can just hand waive how fast he got it done.


Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP80) (Cayzle) 
Friday November 17th, 2017 5:28:45 PM

Bliss has a gut sense that this is the calm before the storm. He thinks that it would be better if the monsters materialized at night, when people were home and away from danger. He spends his time warning people to get under cover and hide.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Sunday November 19th, 2017 2:40:14 PM
"Looks clear for now," says Kezzem. "Whatever happened seems to have been temporary. I don't think there was anything special about the rock, but feel free to take a look. My magic daggers didn't have that kind of effect earlier, and they are magic!"

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Sunday November 19th, 2017 8:35:59 PM
FRIDAY POST

Lance follows with the party to go and investigate what is vexing Kezzem.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Monday November 20th, 2017 12:35:54 AM

Yesterday, after first speaking with the elemental, Murphy spend the balance of the day in the woods behind the Mayor's burrow, digging ditches to fill with water against the possibility of coming fires - and to provide some measure of shelter and safety for people of the village. Today, he met with the elemental elders, learned that he could enter into a covenant only with one of the four, and chose air - though he would have liked to also have joined with water and earth.

Now, after leaving the elemental convocation, Murphy has hastened to the center of town, quickly briefed a few officials on the nature of the offerings and warnings from the elements, and was about to start digging. He heard that Kezzem is in need of help. So, while adjacent the Dancing Pig, he goes to the back, warns people to stay some distance from him, and summons a small earth elemental.

In the Terran tongue, in a deeper voice than he speaks in common or halfling, Murphy says to the elemental this: "My people are in danger. Please, tell me if there is any cavern, cave, or tunnel beneath this place of dwellings of halflings. If there is something twenty feet deep or deeper down, where there is open space beneath the cover of earth, tell me where, and how deep, and how far from this point. We need a place to hide my people from coming fire in the sky."

He listens carefully to what the elemental reports, asks for clarification where needed, that, should there be an open space under the town, he might know of it. If there is such not too far from where they now stand, Murphy then asks the elemental to dig a narrow hole (~2 feet diameter) toward the cavern, tunnel, or whatever it may be, that he, Murphy, might later use the beginning of the tunnel to dig further when he is able. If the underground opening is too far from here, he asks the elemental to hustle with him to a place perhaps 60 feet away, to help triangulate the direction, and to clarify the approximate depth, and rough size of the open area.

If it is nearby... For the communication, perhaps 2-5 rounds may be needed. For the digging, the elemental then has 5-8 rounds to begin to dig a passageway. After that is done, and the earth elemental has fulfilled his summons, Murphy then ensures there is a covering for the opening to the narrow tunnel - if such was started, so that no one fall in. He asks that the area be covered, roped off, and all be forbidden to try to use, or mess with, the covered opening. "This may be a passage to survival, but will need more work. If someone careless of their child, or dog, allows it to be uncovered, it could be a passage to harm. Please protect it until I can return."

He then hastens to help Kezzem and his friends, communicating telepathically with Pressi as he approaches, that she know what he's been up to, and to gather what she knows about the situation he is approaching.

DM Ken BATTLE MAP  d4=3 ; d4=1 ; d4=4 ;
Monday November 20th, 2017 2:44:15 PM

Pressi is the first to arrive to Kezzems aid. She is curious if there was something special about the rock, but determines that probably not. There are lots of rocks in the area anyways, and it would be impossible to determine, since nothing is showing up on her detect magic, except her gear and Kezzems.

--

Hobie arrives next, and since Pressi's questions were his own, he finds the same answers she did. He is more ready for battle, and finds his eyes drawn to the darkness within the mausoleum.

---

Bliss, rather than follow the party to Kezzem, runs from place to place, warning people to stay indoors as much as possible. The dwarves he warned continue to draw up plans for patrols, which could be a big help, since their darkvision will be an asset most of the residents in Humbles Ford lack.

He looks up as Murphy comes by, and the more practical halfling whisks Bliss away towards Kezzem.

---

Kezzem doesn't rock the boat, indicating he thinks all the danger here has passed. He points out his magic daggers didn't trigger a response, so even if there were a magic rock, it wouldn't do anything either.

----

Murphy heads back to town first, and spends some time with a small earth elemental. It heads down, searches, and reports back that there's nothing really in this place. The Ford was such good farming land because of the stable, soft soil. It would take far more work than 1 summoning of a small elemental to get an acceptable hidey hole started.

Murphy heads back towards where Kezzem was reported to be, and arrives with the others. He starts to fill them in on what he's been up to and to ask questions, when the darkness explodes out of the mausoleum, showering the Halflings with ash, darkness, and heat.

---

????
Knowledge Check: Planes DC 19

Move Action: Emerge from Mausoleum
Standard Action: Blinding Flurry

Blinding Flurry: All creatures within 50 ft must make a Reflex vs DC 19 or be blinded for 3 rounds. They must also make another Reflex save (same DC) or choke on some of the ashes, suffering a -2 morale penalty to attack and damage rolls for 5 rounds as they choke out the noxious ashes.

Players Affected: Pressi, Murphy, Kezzem, Hobie, Lance, Bliss

Map effects: Being behind a tombstone gives partial cover. Humbles Ford has, at best, dim light.

Dm concessions: It makes sense that at least one or all of you would either have a light spell up, or a torch lit at the moment.

---------------------------------------------------------

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 24 CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+11=14 ; d20+11=18 ;
Monday November 20th, 2017 3:33:58 PM
Hobie was focusing so intently that when the creature acted, he was hit immediately with both the darkness and the ash.

Coughing and choking, Hobie does his best to cough out the word "Romita," and becomes invisible. He moves south to Square O13, choking and coughing along the way.

Remaining rounds Blinded: 2
Remaining rounds choking 4

Bliss / CatBliss (AC19, HP96) (Cayzle)  d20+8=18 ; d20+8=24 ;
Monday November 20th, 2017 4:11:49 PM

Bliss, confused, of course wants to help his friends, and thanks Mister Murphy for his guidance.

He rolls a reflex save of 18. He is blind.

He manages not to choke on the ash.

Blinded, Bliss backs up 10 ft (move action) to 1N. He casts a Barkskin spell on himself. He rubs at his eyes.



Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+4=6 ; d20+14=16 ; d20+14=33 ;
Monday November 20th, 2017 9:20:46 PM
Pressi fails hard at creature id.

Pressi manages to withstand the blindness but not the noxious fumes.

--------

-2 to attack, damage for five rounds.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+10=28 ; d20+10=23 ; d20+9=21 ;
Monday November 20th, 2017 10:27:19 PM
Harper manages both saves. She begins to move toward the creature, stalking (stealth 21), sniffing, keeping her distance.

Pressi decides she ought to help Bliss out, casting remove blindness. She moves closer to the creature, within 50 feet, keeping an eye locked.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16  d20+9=25 ; d20+9=25 ; d20+15=31 ;
Monday November 20th, 2017 11:52:28 PM
ooc: Reflex save 25, Reflex save 25, Knowledge (arcana) check 31

Lance manages to avoid the burst of light and the cloud of ash and smoke. He quickly steps behind a headstone and begins casting a spell.

ooc: 5-foot-step to G3, cast fly. Knowledge (arcana) check 31 to identify the creature.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Monday November 20th, 2017 11:53:29 PM
ooc2: Also, rise 30 feet up in the air as a move action.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+6=15 ; d20+6=15 ; d20+25=38 ;
Tuesday November 21st, 2017 3:20:25 AM

Murphy is taken by surprise, and suffers both effects. Though blinded, he had a good feel for his surroundings before the flurry began (perception 38), so he wild shapes into an earth elemental, and sinks into the earth. That stops the choking, as earth elementals do not breathe. His eyes now are gems
- will ask for a DM ruling as to whether his eyes are still affected by blindness. Under ground, he casts know direction, and moves toward the creature which burst on the scene, about 15'.

When he knows he is going to a possible encounter, Murphy usually casts longstrider in anticipation. If the DM would be so kind as to allow this - it will not affect his burrow speed (which otherwise is 25 (fleet feat)), but will affect movement above ground.

DM Ken: Longstrided. Still blinded, still taking the penalty for 5 rounds, even if you aren't breathing it anymore. It's listed specifically as a morale penalty. (Even if you cant breath, it's in your.. body? Was in your body? And I don't wanna try to dissect the physiology of an elemental.)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+13=24 ; d20+13=33 ;
Tuesday November 21st, 2017 12:26:45 PM
Monday Post:

SV Ref #1: 24. Made.
SV Ref #2: 33. Made.

"Not clear!" says Kezzem. "It's not clear!"

Kezzem moves 20 ft. towards the creature and attempts to detect evil on the creature.



Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Tuesday November 21st, 2017 12:55:00 PM

How much time passed from meeting with elementals to now? Murphy immediately left the meeting to hasten to town to look into digging tunnels, but then was summoned to help Kezzem et al, so was perhaps 5 minutes or so by the Dancing Pig, and then hurried over to where we are now. I ask because, as stated several posts above (Nov 15), immediately before the meeting with the elementals, the druid had cast resist energy (fire) (lasts 100 minutes) and protection from energy (fire) (likewise lasts 100 minutes). How many minutes to go?

DM Ken: Shoot the moon and say 45 minutes, to meet with the elementals. Reach an accord, come back home, head to the pig, do things there, and then come here.

DM Ken BATTLE MAP  d20+16=24 ; d4=4 ; d20+10=17 ; 2d8=9 ; d6=3 ; d6=2 ; d6=3 ; d4=1 ;
Tuesday November 21st, 2017 1:38:53 PM

Kezzem casts detect evil, and finds it does not ping on his radar. Like most elementals, this one is probably neutral. He feels the air around him heating up as he closes in on the creature. He has the feeling getting right next to it will only make things hotter..

-----------------

Murphy changes into an earth elemental, and goes underground with his earthglide ability. He casts know direction, and has a pretty clear idea on where the creature is at.

-----------------

Lance wants to fly straight up, but it requires a skill check to do so. His DM makes the roll for him, and he passes the DC 20. Lance is 30ft in the air. He tries to catalog the creature with his vast arcane lore, but as his DM pointed out earlier, this is a Knowledge Planes skill check.

---------------

Pressi removes Bliss's blindness, and she and Harper move forward. Pressi also feels intense heat coming from the creature. She recalls what she knows about the types of creatures that usually are in Vé-Eldfjöll's domain, and thinks this one might be one of the more fiery ones.

--------------

Bliss and Hobie each make some minor movements, and aid themselves with spells.

--------------

-------------

????
Knowledge Check: Planes DC 19

The creature roars, and ashes swirl around it as it does so. It seems to be making a decision on which enemy to engage. (evens/odds, creature picks Kezzem/Pressi. d4=4) It stomps between Pressi and Kezzem, and swings swirling tendril of hot ash at Kezzem.

Hits Touch AC 17 for 12 fire damage.

Kezzem and Pressi, both being within 10ft of the creature, must take 1d6 Fire damage. 2 for Pressi, 3 for Kezzem.

Kezzem must pass a reflex save, DC 16, or catch fire, and take d6 fire damage each turn for the next (d4=1) rounds.

Move Action: Move between Pressi and Kezzem.
Standard Action: Attack Kezzem.

Players Affected by blindess, 2 turns remain. Players affected by morale penalty, 4 turns remain.

Map effects: Being behind a tombstone gives partial cover. Humbles Ford has, at best, dim light.

-----------------------

Coming up the rounded path to the cliffside cemetary, another fiery roar echoes that of the first. Large footfalls stomp up the path, and a second elemental, easily double the size of the first, can be seen coming up the path.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 81/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d12=7 ; d8=2 ; d20+10=23 ; d6+2=3 ; d6=5 ; d20+11=18 ;
Tuesday November 21st, 2017 2:53:36 PM
Pressi swings her weapon at the creature. (Attack 23, damage 3, ice 5)(sneak 2d6 if Kezzem moves in flanking)

"Watch that step," she tells the creature as she activates the fire resist and retreats between two masuleoms (g9)(acro 18).

Harper maintains position.

DM Ken: Elementals are immune to critical hits.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC22, HP96) (Cayzle)  d20+26=29 ; d6+5=8 ;
Tuesday November 21st, 2017 4:17:59 PM
Bliss casts his Barkskin, then tumbles 30 ft (at -5 on his acrobatics roll) toward the biggest giantest elemental foe.

"I'LL SMUSH YOU, MONSTER!" the halfling shouts. He sprouts thick strong long thorns and starts to glow as he bounces evasively forward to Q7. [activates his Arcane Strike as a swift action and his bramble armor as a free action]

Acrobatics check to avoid provoking AoOs: 29.

If the monster strikes him, Bliss's thorns inflict 1d6+3+2 arcane strike = 8 damage to the thing.

No wait! Please let's NOT arcane strike this round! That's only 6 damage with thorns! Bliss uses his swift action this round to turn on his Fire Resistance 20!

DM Sanity Info:
Active Spells:
Fire Resistance 20, Shield of Faith, Barkskin, Threefold Aspect.
Grimalkin (not currently turned on)
Bramble Armor round 1 of 6.

DM Ken: Arcane strike adds to weapon damage, and the thorns are treated as magical damage, not attacks.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) (Invisible) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+6=19 ;
Tuesday November 21st, 2017 4:43:31 PM
Knowing the foolishness of shooting arrows toward his allies while blind, Hobie continues moving south, feeling in front of him with his hands so as not to trip on a gravestone, making his way to the large stone in P13-Q14.
(ooc: how large is that? I think I want Hobie to climb it)
If it's climbable Hobie is going to try to climb it, toward Q13, Climb check =19
If not really climbable, Hobie will take cover in P15 and rub his eyes

Remaining rounds Blinded: 1
Remaining rounds choking: 3

DM Ken: Hobie has more than enough movement left to climb up the stone.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) (Invisible) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Tuesday November 21st, 2017 10:39:41 PM
ooc: sweet, can you tell me how high up he is?


Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16  d20+10=16 ; d6+5=9 ;
Tuesday November 21st, 2017 11:47:35 PM
"It's an elemental, so let's start with something mild to see if lightning even works."

Lance floats forward a bit (G6) and aims an elemental ray.

ooc: Attack 16 vs touch AC, 9 electricity damage.


Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 94/109, CMD 24; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+13=18 ;
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 12:56:20 AM
SV Ref: 18.

"Yowzah, that's hot! Hot! Hot!"

He takes a step back and casts resist energy (fire)

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  3d6=3 ; 2d6=10 ;
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 10:22:44 AM

Murphy, underground, and blinded still, tries to 'see' what is going on via his link with Pressi. He discerns the elemental she battles, and catches that another one is coming up the path behind. He moves to n7, where he pops up his head, and casts ice storm, with great magical hailstones raining down upon the coming monster. The bludgeoning was exceedingly light this time (3 natural 1s on d6 for 3 hp), but the cold bit a little harder (10 hp cold damage, plus 50% bonus vs fire creature for 15 total cold damage). The spell is centered at the intersection of columns r&s, rows of 5&6, 20' radius. Inside the affected area, perception is at -4, and terrain is difficult.

Murphy blinks, trying to see again, but still maintaining the mental link to gain Pressi's perspective.

DM Ken BATTLE MAP  d20+7=27 ; d20+7=12 ; d20+7=15 ; 2d8=13 ; 2d8=5 ; d6=1 ; d3=1 ; d20+17=24 ; d10=2 ; d10=9 ; d10=8 ; d6=3 ; d100=12 ;
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 3:14:44 PM

Pressi hits the creature with her spiked chain, and finds that where the magical cold makes contact, it quickly blisters and saps the heat from the elemental. (Cold damage is resolved at x1.5) She successfully tumbles away.

----------------

Bliss successfully tumbles forward, his magical thorns activated.

----------------

Hobie climbs up on top of the 10ft tall grave marker.

----------------

Lance experiments, and zaps the strange elemental for 9 damage.

----------------

Kezzem backs out of reach and casts resist energy, fire. (whats his total energy resist? Please anotate it in your header.)

---------------

Murphy pokes his head and casts Ice Storm. (Please see the Rules Board. Note that Telepathic Bond ONLY provides communication, it does not allow sensory sharing, empathy, or any other benefit. I am allowing the tactic in this combat, but we will need to come to a consensus on what the spell can or cannot do later.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While Murphy and Pressi's attacks are inflicting hard, the giant ashen elementals seem to be able to withstand many more attacks of that caliber. Their wounds swirl and smolder, but their forms hold together.

The large sized elemental looms over Pressi, swingy it's ashy tendrils into her. The ashes swirl around her, and she feels part of it's body solidify and hold her in place. The ash swirls around her madly, and she feels it trying to force it's way into her lungs through her mouth and nose.

(Hit Touch AC 27 (nat 20), fail to confirm vs AC 12. Auto grapples on successful hit. Pressi resists all the fire damage, but is grappled and must pass a fortitude save vs DC 19 or take d6=1 physical and d3=1 point of constitution damage as the ashes fill up her lungs.)

----------------------------------------------------------------

The Huge elemental stomps up the slope, attacking Bliss with a giant tentril of ash. (Hits touch AC 24, but does not penetrate the fire resistance.) Bliss is also scooped up by the creature, and must pass a fortitude save DC 25 or take 8 physical damage, and 3 constitution damage as his lungs fill with ash.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Suddenly, over the roars of the elementals and the cracks of thunder and lightning, there is the sound of something screeching in a high, shrill pitch. The sound has almost a musical note to it, before it suddenly is replaced by the sound of shattering glass. The loud clamor is punctuated by column of furious light.

Standing in a small, smoking crater, are two mysterious figures. They are small, clearly of halfling heritage. The first, a male, quickly assumes a fighting stance. His manner seems powerful, almost as deadly as his pungent smell. The second, an unassuming female - not physically imposing, seems to quickly take in the situation, her eyes keen and aware.

Perception, DC 12: Highlight to display spoiler: {Both halflings are wearing rings with effigies of dragons.}
Know Local, DC 15: Highlight to display spoiler: {It is Garret Goodbarrel and Katinka Hushfoot, heroes of the Dragon Consortium, and two members of the Iron Dragons!}

Garret and Tink: Knowledge Planes, DC 19. (pass and I'll email you the details of creatures they are fighting)

----------------------------------------------------------------
Large Elemental: 20 Damage.
Huge Elemental: 18 Damage.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) (Invisible) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+4=6 ;
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 3:26:59 PM
ooc: I rolled Hobie's knowledge local = 6, but I forgot that he can't see these people at all right now since he's blind. I'll make Hobie's post tonight when I get off work at the restaurant, but if I don't for some reason, then he just takes total defense.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+19=26 ; d3+2=5 ;
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 4:32:43 PM
Kezzem moves to flank with Pressi and attacks once with his dagger.

Attack (including flanking bonus): 26.
Damage: 5.

"Yeah, there's more where that came from, Smokey!"

----

Lay on Hands 7/day
Smite Evil 4/day

Spells:
1st Level: Cure Light Wounds x2, Lesser Restoration
2nd Level: Resist Energy (cast), Shield Other
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds

Garret Goodbarrel (AC 39/35/32; +4 vs AOO HP: 167/167 Ki:18/18 CMD: 45 SR: 27) 
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 5:22:07 PM
The male Halfling, shirtless, wearing nothing but a worn and stained pair of pants with a belt made of rope, but with a cloak that looks shiny and new takes a bite out of a biscuit that he happened to have in his hand when he appeared. He quickly looks around while he shoves the biscuit in his mouth and says to his friend, "Mffgh meh." He tries to chew and swallow and says, "Tink, can you help me with some firey protection? Those folks look like they might need a bit o help here." He then touches a long, intricate tattoo that leads from below his ear and down over his shoulder and is glows blue briefly.

OOC:
Activating barkskin on the tattoo.

RobC - Katinka Hushfoot -- AC 29/23/21 (shieldless) -- CMD 26 -- HP 185 -- Spells -- Active Effects  d20+17=29 ;
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 7:04:21 PM
The female halfling slowly surveys the area with eyes that glow a pale blue. She has long ebony hair tied back in a pony tail, and though unarmored she does wear a black leather outfit. By her right shoulder-blade she has a small tattoo of a set of scales (representing 'justice'), and a holy symbol of Pantheon hangs around her neck. On her right arm she wears a small mithral buckler.

"I think we've arrived in Humble's Ford" she says with a nod to the other. "They do look like they need some help though. How about putting these fiery enemies where they can't fight back?"

"Hmmm... best put this away for now. Don't want to accidentally hurt any of these halflings" She unfastens the shield from her arm and lets it fall to the ground

A magical rod appears in her hand as she gives her companion a pat on the back "Go get 'em" before she turns her attention to the big one, looking to lift it into the air.

--------------------
Knowl Planes check to ID these things: 29
Free action: Retrieve Lesser Quicken Rod from Glove of Storing
Swift action: Cast Resist Fire on Garret granting Resist30
Move action: Remove shield from arm
Free action: Drop shield
Standard action: Cast Reverse Gravity to send the big one 40ft up in the air. No Save

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 81/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+9=29 ;
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 10:24:43 PM
Harper sprints at the fiery creature grappling Pressi with a roar, making a charge attack (bull rush).

Pressi activates her Lore Keeper ability, trying to determine what the creature is (attack roll nat 20).

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 81/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+11=24 ;
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 10:26:54 PM
Perception d20 plus 19, know local 24.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC22, HP96) (Cayzle)  d20+15=33 ; d20+14=32 ; d4=4 ; d6=5 ; d20+10=27 ; d4=1 ; d6=1 ; d6+3=9
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 11:44:24 PM

As the huge monster grabs him, Bliss focuses and concentrates on being a hero! [OOC: entering rage].

Do Bliss's thorns damage the creature at all? Do they inflict the full 6 hp? If so, Bliss keeps them active. If not, Bliss ends the effect. Xtra thorn damage this round if it works: 9 damage!

Bliss struggles not to breathe in the ash ... Fort Save 33 no problem! Bliss has taken no damage from the monster!

Bliss can take a full attack while grappled ... so he activates his wooden fist domain ability (free action) ... then he punches the monster twice in quick succession!

First attack (at +14 = base +7 +7 str +1 amulet +1 size -2 power att) hits AC32 for 1d2+1d6 mercy tear +7 str +4 power att +3 wood fist +1 amulet) = 2+5+15 = 22 nonlethal damage.

The second attack is the same but at -5 ... hits AC27 for 17 nonlethal damage.

[OOC: die roller does not have a d2; rolling d4, even = 2]

Bliss looks around ... is he falling up? What's happening? "Hey!" he shouts at the monster, "Turn me right side up!"

DM Sanity Info:
Active Spells:
Fire Resistance 20, Shield of Faith, Barkskin, Threefold Aspect.
Grimalkin (not currently turned on)
Bramble Armor round 2 of 6.
Wood Fist round 1 of 6.
Rage round 1 of 14.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16  d20+10=22 ; d20+10=17 ; 6d6=18 ; 6d6=26 ;
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 11:54:50 PM
Lance raises an eyebrow at the newcomers, but shrugs after a moment. "Meh. They're halflings. So probably 50/50 chance they are here to help." He makes a series of quick gestures and whispered arcane phrases. He makes two finger-guns at the elemental, "PEW PEW!", and twin bolts of lightning arc toward the creature.

ooc: Cast scorching ray. Attack 22 vs touch AC, 18 electrical damage. Attack 17 vs touch AC, 26 electrical damage. No saving throw.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) (Invisible) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Wednesday November 22nd, 2017 11:56:18 PM
Still coughing and choking, Hobie takes total defense as his eyesight begins to return to him. AC 25

Remaining rounds Blinded: 0
Remaining rounds choking: 2



Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 81/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+11=27 ;
Thursday November 23rd, 2017 7:11:30 AM
Almost forgot, made fort save.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+10=28 ; d20+25=29 ;
Thursday November 23rd, 2017 1:16:38 PM
Still blinded, yet recognizing their opponents seem mighty, Murphy casts owl's wisdom, that his upcoming spells might have a better chance to penetrate their defenses. He does use his hearing to gauge relative positions. Two new arrivals - halflings? The fellow calls the gal 'Tink.' He came across a Katinka - in a dreamstate at the Giggling Ghost. Iron Dragons? What is that smell?

Oh - Pressi is being squeezed.

He calls out in Ignan, the language of flame, "Na wai i ho'ouna ia'oe? No ke aha la'oe e ho'a'o nei e pepehi ia makou?" ['Who sent you? Why are you trying to kill us?']

He rises up to stand full upon the ground, sensing that his eyes will be clear again in a moment.
=======
Knowledge, local: 28
Perception: 29-4=25

DM Ken BATTLE MAP  d20=16 ; d6=4 ; d6=1 ; d4=2 ; d6=5 ; d6=5 ; d6=3 ; d20+7=13 ; d20+7=25 ; 2d8=8 ; 2d8=3 ; d6=2 ; d6=6 ; d6=1 ; d100=71 ; d100=77 ;
Thursday November 23rd, 2017 3:29:47 PM

Hobie maintains a defensive posture, but at least his eyesight is back, for now.

------------------------------

Kezzem's dagger, magical, seems to cut easily though the ashy creature. He doesn't flank it, because Pressi is grappled, but his own skill is more than enough.

------------------------------

Garret eats a biscuit, and doesn't look very concerned. Garret takes 1 point of carbohydrate damage.

------------------------------

Katinka touches down, and quickly not only assesses the situation, but imparts magical protection on her companion in a span with incredible ease. She targets the largest elemental, and casts a spell that reverses both it's gravity, and that of Bliss!

------------------------------

Harper charges with a snarl and slams into, and right through, the body of the ashy elemental! Harper takes 7 fire damage.

------------------------------

Pressi herself uses her Knowledge Domain powers to get an exact idea of what it is they are fighting. (See email to you and Katinka!)

----------------------------

Murphy casts Owl's Wisdom, and becomes somewhat aware of the sudden help. He asks the creature why it's attacking.

----------------------------

A number of smaller attacks come before Tink's reverse gravity spell slowly starts to lift the huge elemental into the sky. It drops Bliss, and becomes a giant swirl of ash, and flies through the field towards Katinka, its challenging roar shaking the dust from the surrounding tombs.

When Murphy calls out in Ignan, the elementals both pause, craning their large heads and necks to observe Murphy. The reply in Ignan, in unison.

"Ua'tiki bakang! Oo'e'ooahah! Ting'tang'uala uala bing'bang!" (You were warned! Worship the Mountain or become ash at it's feet!)

With a shriek, the huge elemental bursts into a huge flurry of ash, much like the smaller one had done before it! The heat is far more intense, and the ashes twice as thick!

Harper - Katinka - Garret - Lance - Murphy: Reflex Save DC 25 or be blinded for 2 rounds and take a -2 morale penalty to attacks and saves for the next 5 rounds.

Murphy: Save vs Blindness only.

Katinka, Lance, Garret, Murphy, Harper: Take 8 fire damage from the creatures burning aura.

Bliss: No AoO, as you are dancing in the sky.
----------------------------------------------------

The large elemental recoils from Lances strikes, and focuses on the sorcerer. It summons heat from within itself, and sends two blasts of fire streaking through the sky at the sorcerer. Hits touch AC 13 and 25 for 8 and 3 damage, respectively.

Pressi is dropped.

Lance must make a reflex save vs DC 19 or take 2 fire damage. Fire aura damage is inconsequential with all the resist fires around.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Large Elemental: 55 Damage.
Huge Elemental: 35 Damage.
----------------------------------------------------------------


Garret Goodbarrel (AC 39/35/32; +4 vs AOO HP: 167/167 Ki:18/18 CMD: 45 SR: 27)  d20+22=36 ; d20+29=33 ; 6d8+8=33 ;
Thursday November 23rd, 2017 9:03:58 PM
Garret watches the massive firey thing fly towards them. When it explodes, he quickly bobs and weaves around the flames and smoke. When the flames hit him, he smiles, then runs full speed at the creature, jumps in the air, and sends a high-flying kick towards the more solid parts of the flame.

OOC:
AC 41 against AOO. Charge attack hits AC 33, 33 Damage.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC22, HP96) (Cayzle) 
Thursday November 23rd, 2017 10:43:25 PM

Bliss yells, "HEY! LET ME DOWN! COME BACK HERE YOU COWARD!"

[OOC: Delaying action on the off chance someone turns off the antigrav. BTW, how high up is Bliss?]

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+13=14 ; d20+8=10 ;
Thursday November 23rd, 2017 10:53:37 PM
Now that he can finally see again, Hobie will quickdraw Prowler and take aim at the Huge elemental.
He notches two arrows at once, but coughs as he lets them fly. He tries to fire another arrow, but gags on the smoke still in his lungs, and fires wide once more. He appears suddenly visible to all, choking and coughing on top of the stone, bow in hand.

ooc: Natty 1 on first attack, Natty 2 on the second for total of 10.

Remaining rounds choking: 1

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 81/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 46/61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+10=22 ; d20+10=18 ;
Thursday November 23rd, 2017 11:08:28 PM
Harper, on fire, blinded and low morale, mews in pain and starts activating her own fire resist (Pressi ran last round and this). The great cat chooses to pose in total defense.

Pressi feeds the information to Murphy while trying to convey to her team that it's a cold elemental (ash) with fire template. "Will save spells, cold and magic attacks, people with low fort get back. And will someone please get these guys into the tombstones where they can't maneuver. You with the..."

She stared hard at the Pantheon symbol. "You, ghost of apocalypse future, get our friend down or get him a bag of peanuts."

Knowing that she probably has the elementals attention, she casts I'll omen and moves 5 ft away.

RobC - Katinka Hushfoot -- AC 29/23/21 (shieldless) -- CMD 26 -- HP 185 -- Spells -- Active Effects  d20+24=28 ; d20+33=39 ; d4+1=3 ; 13d6=41 ;
Friday November 24th, 2017 5:41:49 AM
Tink grins and speaks with Garret over the telepathic link "Ghost of apocalypse future. If only they knew what we'd seen in the past 24hours"

The grin is quickly wiped from her face when the elemental-thing ignores her reverse gravity spell and sprays ash all over her. The introductions would have to wait.

Tink looks to the side and spits a mouthful of ash onto the ground. She turns back to face the elemental, using her sleeve to wipe the spittle from the side of her mouth "It's going to be like that, is it? Fine. We'll do things the hard way"

The Justicar starts moving her hands around a seemingly invisible ball of power until ... *whoomp* .. things on the battle field are very different.
Spellcraft DC24 Highlight to display spoiler: {Time Stop}

Tink is standing on the other side of the medium elemental, the reverse gravity spell has gone, and there are two tall women in golden armor standing nearby. Each radiates a divine light and carries a greatsword that crackles with magical energy.

"Let's show these elementals how we do things in Hook City" Tink nods to the women who each target the huge elemental with a spell.

The first puts her hands together in prayer
Spellcraft DC19 Highlight to display spoiler: {Holy Smite}

The second holds her hands up, sending a lightning bolt directly at the ashen creature
Spellcraft DC21 Highlight to display spoiler: {Chain Lightning}

When done they each move about the cemetery. One moves to the west and one to the east. The party feel stronger simply being close to the women.

Lance, Harper, Pressi, Bliss, Hobie and Murphy(if above ground) all gain the benefit of a Holy Aura while within 20ft of one of the women.

-------------------
Highlight to display spoiler: {Ref Save vs DC25: 28 = Pass
Fire damage prevented with Resist Fire/30
Standard Action: Cast Time Stop defensively. Concentration check: 39 = Pass. Tink gets 1d4+1 = 3 rounds of rounds.
Extra Round 1: Cast Summon Monster IX: Summon Astral Deva
Extra Round 2: Cast Summon Monster IX: Summon Astral Deva
Extra Round 3: Standard Action: Dismiss Reverse Gravity spell
Extra Round 3: Move Action: Move south of Medium Elemental to I11
Free action: Direct the Azatas to Attack
Azata 1: Standard Action: Cast Banishment. Big Elemental to make a DC20 Will save or be dismissed
Azata 1: Move Action: Move to G6
Azata 2: Standard Action: Cast Chain Lightning. Big Elemental to make a DC19 Ref Save. Fail = 41pts electric damage. Save = 20pts.
Azata 2: Move Action: Move to N8}

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+6=22 ;
Friday November 24th, 2017 11:39:20 AM

Murphy casts call lightning storm.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+16=29 ; d20+16=32 ; d20+11=28 ; d20+11=12 ; d3+2=5 ; d3+2=4 ; d3+1=3 ; d3+1=3 ;
Friday November 24th, 2017 1:22:19 PM
With Pressi dropped, Kezzem focuses his daggers on the large elemental in hopes of dropping it.

OOC: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting.

Attack #1: 29.
Damage: 5

Attack #2: 32.
Damage: 3.

Attack #3: 28.
Damage: 4

Attack #4 12. Natural 1. Auto-miss.
Ignore last damage roll.

M Ken: Are all of these attacks with a magical weapon?

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle)  2d6=4 ; d6=3 ; d20+26=29 ; d20+14=16 ; d4=2 ; d6=6 ; d6+3=5
Friday November 24th, 2017 2:52:01 PM

Bliss starts the round 40 ft up and unhappy about it. He calls for help. And help arrives, if a drop from a 40 ft height can be called help!

Bliss uses his acrobatics to try to soften the fall ... he cannot fail a DC15 check, so he takes 2d6 lethal damage and 1d6 nonlethal. Rolling that out ... 4 lethal and 3 nonlethal.

Then he uses his acrobatics to charge the monster that ran away from him. "COME BACK HERE YOU BIG SCAREDY THING!"

Acrobatics to tumble at -5 to 2L: 29.

Bliss attacks with his wooden fist: hits AC16 for 23 nonlethal. Make that AC18 with the charge bonus.

If he is attacked, thorn damage is 5.

Rage R2 of 14
Fist R2 of 6
Thorns R3 of 6

DM Ken BATTLE MAP  d20+10=28 ; d100=62 ; d6=3 d3=1 d20+16=22 d20+12=16 d20+8=11
Friday November 24th, 2017 4:17:24 PM
(DM post fell off the world. Much truncated version, sorry!)

Garret jump kicks the huge elemental.

-------------------------------------

Hobie shoots twice, but misses both shots.

-------------------------------------

Pressi starts to casts her spell, but is still in range of the Ash Golems attacks of opportunity. It's ashy limbs do no damage, but she is scooped up and grappled by it's improved grab ability. Pressi needs a concentration check DC 25 to cast her ill omen spell.

-------------------------------------

Tink drops magic stronger than anything that Humbles Sword has seen so far. Two astral devas appear (where?). The huge ash elemental resists being removed from the material plane (d20=19+5) and takes some electricity damage from the others spell.

------------------------------------

Murphy knocks on the skies, and is answered with a deep and powerful rumble as his spell takes hold. (You will be doing d10's of damage, not d6's.) Murphy needed to make a reflex save to resist the blindness. His DM makes the roll for him, and it fails, because the ash effect save was required before Tink summoned her pals.

------------------------------------

Kezzem hacks away at the large elemental, knocking bits of ash and ember into the air.

--------------------------------------

Bliss calls out to be released, and he is, falling in a lump. He reduces some of the damage, but has to get up from prone after he falls. (Any creature that takes lethal damage from a fall lands prone.)

He gets up, and attacks the largest ash elemental, but fails to harm it. (AC 25, since Pressi passed along the information from her knowledge checks)

DM Ken: Just notice that Wooden Fists aren't actually magic weapons. I won't undo the previous damage, but they can't affect the incorporeal elementals unless bliss is putting a ghost touch tear on them. Unless an Eb's Tear makes your attacks magical? Or do they just add magical damage?

--Holding off Monster portion until Lance posts.----

---------------------------------------------
DM Ken: Got tired of waiting =D

The Large elemental uses a standard action to choke Pressi. She takes 3 damage and 1 con damage.

The Huge elemental tries to burn Garret to cinders, but the wily monks defenses confound the lumbering elemental.

-------------------
Large Elemental: 63 Damage.
Huge Elemental: 88 Damage.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 81/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 46/61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+12=14 ;
Friday November 24th, 2017 5:41:28 PM
Con check

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+8=20 ; d20+8=21 ; d20+3=13 ; d6+11=16 ; d6+11=16 ; d6+11=15 ; d6+11=17 ; d6=3 ; d6=3 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ;
Friday November 24th, 2017 6:38:31 PM
Hobie, still coughing and choking, does his best to keep attacking at the Huge elemental. He uses Deadly Aim to do as much damage as he can should at least one arrow hit.

1st attack: Manyshot AC 20
Piercing Damage 16
Cold Damage 4

Piercing Damage 16
Cold Damage 4

2nd attack: AC 21
Piercing Damage 15
Cold Damage 6

3rd Attack: AC 13
Piercing Damage 17
Cold Damage 6

Garret Goodbarrel (AC 39/35/32; +4 vs AOO HP: 167/167 Ki:18/18 CMD: 45 SR: 27)  d6+1=7 ; d20+27=31 ; d20+27=37 ; d20+22=42 ; d20+22=31 ; d20+17=25 ; d20+17=29 ; d20+12=31 ; d20+27=41 ; 6d8+8=39 ; 2d8+8=17 ; 2d8+8=19 ; 2d8+8=21 ; 2d8+8=18 ; 2d8+8=16 ; 2d8+8=17 ; 2d8+8=14 ;
Friday November 24th, 2017 8:10:15 PM
Garret laughs as the huge elemental tries to hit him. He easily dodges the creature and then calls out to Tink, "Watch this!" He turns into a spinning ball of fists and feet as he attacks the creature again and again.

OOC:
Flurry, attempt to stagger: Fort Save DC 25 or staggered 1d6+1 rounds (rolled a 7)
Hits AC/Damage (use ki for additional attack): 31/39 37/17 42/19 31/21 25/18 29/16 31/17 41/14
Attacks are magical, lawful, cold iron, silver, adamantine

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Friday November 24th, 2017 10:38:01 PM
ooc: those cold damage numbers are calculated with the 150%

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+16=20 ; d20+16=21 ; d20+11=21 ; d20+11=23 ; d3+2=5 ; d3+2=3 ; d3+1=4 ; d3+1=4 ;
Saturday November 25th, 2017 7:26:06 PM
"Hey, stop paying attention to Pressi, I'm stabbing you here!"

OOC: Full attack on the Large Elemental again.

Attack #1: 20.
Damage: 5

Attack #2: 21.
Damage: 4.

Attack #3: 21.
Damage: 3.

Attack #4: 23.
Damage 4.

RobC - Katinka Hushfoot -- AC 29/23/21 (shieldless) -- CMD 26 -- HP 185 -- Spells -- Active Effects  2d10=16 ; 2d10=11 ;
Sunday November 26th, 2017 12:07:08 AM
Tink stays on her toes, wary for the next threat. It looks like one of the halflings may have ventured too close though.

She throws an invisible ball of energy towards Pressi which explodes in a covering of grease.

The others look like they could use a boost too. Tink uses her Lesser Quicken Rod to cast haste Pressi, Kezzem and Harper gain the benefit of a Haste spell

The rest of these halflings look relatively unscathed.

The azatas each turn their gaze to one of the elementals. Their eyes pierce the cloud of smoke and ash, staring the elementals down.

--------------
Standard: Defensively cast Grease on Pressi. Pressi gets a +10 bonus to escape a grapple. Auto Pass conentration check.
Quicken: Defensively cast Haste on Press, Kezzem and Harper. Auto Pass conentration check.

Azata 1: Actively Gaze at Elemental 1. DC18 Will Save or be Shaken for 2d10=16 rounds
Azata 2: Actively Gaze at Elemental 2. DC18 Will Save or be Shaken for 2d10=11 rounds

Lance, Harper, Pressi, Bliss, Hobie and Murphy(if above ground) all gain the benefit of a Holy Aura while within 20ft of one of the women.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  5d10=35 ; d20+25=35 ;
Sunday November 26th, 2017 2:38:52 AM

Though he knows Pressi is in trouble, a few facts preclude him from taking action against the ash elemental harming her. He cannot see - though his hearing is still acute. It tells him there are others crowded near that one. There is only one he can discern near the huge elemental however, and he seems most puissant.

Murphy aims a lightning strike (call lightning storm) against the elemental with a vertical column of lightning at 2j, for (5d10) 35 hp electrical damage, Reflex save for half vs DC 21.
============
Owl's Wisdom 9.8 minutes +4 wisdom
Call lightning 9.9 minutes, 9 5d10 strikes remaining
Perception: 37
Longstrider
Protection from energy (fire) 44 minutes
Holy Aura
Resist energy (fire) 44 minutes

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle)  d100=18 ; d100=65 ; d20+9=19 ; d6=5 ;
Monday November 27th, 2017 10:43:39 AM

[OOC Map Note: I believe Bliss is at 2L already?]

Bliss punches twice, with a 50% miss chance. Miss on a 1-50 ... 18 and 65. Second swing has a chance.

Bliss attacks and hits AC19, a miss.

If Bliss is attacked, that's 8 damage with thorns maybe.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 81/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 46/61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+19=26 ; d20+11=31 ;
Monday November 27th, 2017 11:11:00 AM
"You know what, that's absolutely fair," Pressi chokes as the large ash elemental continues its hold on her.

Pressi takes the hint and tries an escape artist maneuver (std action 26 vs CMD). If she succeeds, she pulls back (acro roll nat 20) to e7 and pulls Harper with her. Otherwise, Harper continues total defense and they both continue their fire spells.

(If the creature dies before her turn, she instead runs to the Huge Elemental and strikes it once with her ice weapon at +12. (12-2 from effect + 2 from flanking, haste doesn't stack.))

(Will clean up and update header footer by tomorrow.)



DM Ken BATTLE MAP  d100=5 ; d100=16 ; d100=84 ; d100=59 ; d100=20 ; d100=18 ; d100=96 ; d100=16 ; d100=5 ; d20+2=11 ; d20+5=9 ; d100=74 ; d100=58 ; d20+15=16 ; d20+5=17 ; d20+14=30 ; d20+10=27 ; d20+6=20 ;
Monday November 27th, 2017 11:52:11 AM
Hobies hail of arrows all miss, there must have been some ash left in his eyes!

Garret calls out to Tink, and explodes in a ball of fists, knees, and elbows. Some of the blows pass right through the ash-cloud body, but several of them solidly connect - and send chunks of ash swirling into the sky.

Kezzems dagger has a hard time, and the one time is does find an opening in the swirls of ash, the blade passes harmlessly through.

Katinka shows Pressi some unexpected help in the form of a big nasty grease spell. Pressi can choose to save against the effect, if she wishes. (Reflex DC 18 I think?)

The ..*ahem*... Azatas each stare down an elemental, sending some seriously negative vibes their way. The elementals are both shaken.

Murphy, though blinded, is pretty sure he knows where his enemies are. The last foe, having not moved since Murphy was blinded, is indeed where he thought it was.

Attacking blinded has a 50% miss chance, which Murphy passes on a 74. The strike also manages to hit the creature despite it's being incorporeal. Otherwise occupied, the elemental is unable to dodge the lightning blast in time, and takes full damage.

Bliss, being the Hero that he is, continues to attack the biggest bully of the bunch. His attacks find no ground, unfortunately.

Lance seems to still be stupefied from his last blinding. He does nothing at all.

Pressi wiggles free, and retreats with Harper - dodging and diving as she does so. Harper is assumed to make a full withdrawl, and does not provoke either.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The large elemental, with no one left to grab, shoves it's mass towards Kezzem, specifically focusing it's heat on the halflings armor. It hits Kezzems touch ac of 17, even accounting for being shaken. Kezzem must make a Relfex Save DC 19 (because the item is attended, it can use his save), or the armor takes 24 damage and gains the broken condition. Broken armor halves it's armor bonus, and doubles it's armor penalties)

The huge elemental, in a panic, tries again to smash Garret, but cannot seem to get it's ashes on the wily halfling.

------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------
Large Elemental: 72 Damage. - Shaken
Huge Elemental: 160 Damage. - Shaken
----------------------------------------------------------------

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 68/83(73), CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 46/61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+15=27 ;
Monday November 27th, 2017 2:39:37 PM
(Updating headers and footers)

(Keeping the grease - needed it for escape artist boost. Made reflex save to move.)

--------------------

Boosts to Both Pressi and Harper:
Fire Resist 20 (from Bliss) - 40 non-consec mins
Ritual of Warding (+1 to AC, saves) - all day
Haste - 1/17 rounds

effects on Pressi
1 con damage (drops HP by 10, fort save by 1) - repairable by L restore
grease (+10 to escape, reflex DC 18 to move)
morale damage ended

spells used:
L1: 1/6+1
L2: 0/4+1
L3: 1/4+1
L4: 0/3+1
sprint attack

* Accidentally cast remove blindness, not on BW list. Used L3 spell slot.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+12=17 ; d20+7=19 ;
Monday November 27th, 2017 7:36:45 PM
Hobie again fires a volley of arrows and again misses with each. He is visibly irritated with himself.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  5d10=30 ; d20+27=45 ;
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 3:37:32 AM

Murphy's eyes clear. He sees the ash elementals, two striking tall winged women with swords, and a couple of halflings - he is sure he has seen one before - at least in his dreams. Katinka. The fellow who just joined them reminds him of their cousin, Podo, but far more advanced in his fighting art than his family's monkish relative. Pressi has broken free of the elemental. He would like to converse. First things first. He speaks loudly to the elementals in the Ignan tongue (aka Hawaaian):
E ha'i aku i kou haku ua kono maika'i'ia'o ia i kekahi wahi e pili ana he kanalima mile akau ma i loko o ka 'Red Hills'

Mai ho'a'o e pepehi i ko makou po'e kanaka. 'A'ole hiki ia'oe ke lanakila i ko makou mau na'au, i ka 'Crescent Valley.'

'A'ole makou e ha'awi ia'oe i kau makemake.
which translates as:
Tell your master that he is cordially invited to a place about fifty miles north in the Red Hills.

Stop trying to kill our people. You will not win our hearts here in Crescent Valley that way.

We will not give you what you want.
Murphy lets Pressi 'listen' in to his thoughts, so that she can catch the meaning of what he is saying.

He punctuates his final sentence with another lightning strike at the huge elemental, for 30 hp damage - Reflex save for half vs DC 21.
============
Perception: 45
Owl's Wisdom 9.7 minutes +4 wisdom
Call lightning storm 9.8 minutes, 9 5d10 strikes remaining
Longstrider
Protection from energy (fire) 43.5 minutes
Resist energy (fire) 43.4 minutes
Holy Aura

RobC - Katinka Hushfoot -- AC 29/23/21 (shieldless) -- CMD 26 -- HP 185 -- Spells -- Active Effects  d6+5=9 ; d20+21=24 ;
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 6:29:40 AM
Tink's a little confused by the words of one of these warriors. Not by the ignan - but by what he's saying. "Sounds like this might be some sort of turf war" she relays over the telepathic link to Garret.

She doesn't want to detract from their victory though. It's important for groups to work together, learn from each other, support each other. They win together and they lose together.

"Keep it up! You have the upper hand. Work together and finish this off"

Tink sends a ray at the huge elemental to weaken it rather than destroy it. It's borderline as to whether she actually hits it or not. The Azatas simply hold their positions to keep the party buffed.

Cast Ray of Enfeeblement. Hits Touch AC24. Huge Elemental to take a -9 penalty to Str. Fort Save vs DC20 for half)

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 68/83(73), CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 46/61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+8=19 ; d6+4=8 ;
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 9:56:25 AM
Pressi taps her cat's fur and sends it on its way. One could swear that her hand glowed as she did so. Highlight to display spoiler: {Share spell ability for touch spell delivery.}

As the cat began to gallop at the huge elemental (h5), Pressi stepped forward to the large one, her ice chain glowing. "You heard the nice man. Turn back now, before it's too late."

Harper strikes the huge elemental. Highlight to display spoiler: {Touch spell attack, AC 19 vs Huge Elemental's Touch AC of 14. No AoO (Harper didn't cast), no incorporeal (spell attack). Spell is Touch of Gracelessness, Dex damage 8, Fort DC 15 for half.}

Pressi smiled as her cat struck. "It's too late."

-------------

Boosts to Both Pressi and Harper:
Fire Resist 20 (from Bliss) - 40 non-consec mins
Ritual of Warding (+1 to AC, saves) - all day
Haste - 2/17 rounds
Holy Aura

effects on Pressi
1 con damage (drops HP by 10, fort save by 1) - repairable by L restore

spells used:
L1: 2/6+1
L2: 0/4+1
L3: 1/4+1
L4: 0/3+1

DM Ken: Incorporeal says: An incorporeal creature has no physical body. It can be harmed only by other incorporeal creatures, magic weapons or creatures that strike as magic weapons, and spells, spell-like abilities, or supernatural abilities. It is immune to all nonmagical attack forms. Even when hit by spells or magic weapons, it takes only half damage from a corporeal source (except for channel energy). Although it is not a magical attack, holy water can affect incorporeal undead. Corporeal spells and effects that do not cause damage only have a 50% chance of affecting an incorporeal creature. Force spells and effects, such as from a magic missile, affect an incorporeal creature normally.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 68/83(73), CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 46/61, CMD 23; Followers 
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 9:57:18 AM
(Pressi moves to F7)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+8=14 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+11=25 ; d20+11=23 ; d3+2=4 ; d3+2=4 ; d3+1=3 ; d3+1=4 ;
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 10:43:55 AM
SV Reflex: 14.

"Hey, that's stuff expensive!"

Kezzem, lacking any beter options, continues to attack with his daggers.

Attack #1: 20.
Damage: 4

Attack #2: 33.
Damage: 3.

Attack #3: 25.
Damage: 4

Attack #4: 23.
Damage: 4.



Garret Goodbarrel (AC 39/35/32; +4 vs AOO HP: 167/167 Ki:18/18 CMD: 45 SR: 27)  d20+27=33 ; d20+27=35 ; d20+22=23 ; d20+22=39 ; d20+17=31 ; d20+17=26 ; d20+12=23 ; d20+27=45 ; 6d8+8=31 ; 2d8+8=17 ; 2d8+8=18 ; 2d8+8=13 ; 2d8+8=19 ; 2d8+8=17 ; 2d8+8=11 ; 2d8+8=21 ;
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 11:27:37 AM
Garret quickly ducks under the waving firey arms of the creature and continues spinning and kicking, turning into a blur as he attempts to strike the flames again and again.

OOC:
Continue the flurry, whee!
Hit AC/Dam: 33/31 35/17 23/18 39/13 31/19 26/17 23/11 45/21

ADM Kim 
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 1:16:22 PM

Can whoever is playing Garret Goodbarrel put your (own name) in the header and, if possible, a link to the character next time? Thanks - and thanks big time for the big help!

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 1:20:39 PM
DM Ken: As it's a guest spot, it's not really necessary. It's Jeff O, however.

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 2:05:41 PM

(Waited for Tanner, but no luck)

DM post incoming.

Cayzle comments to DM: Highlight to display spoiler: {Oh snap!}

DM Ken BATTLE MAP  d20+15=26 ; d20+12=21 ; d20+12=29 ;
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 2:27:55 PM

Hobie continues to fill the ground around the Ash elemental with arrows. It takes a step back while fighting Garret and cuts its foot on one, and takes 1 damage. Hobie has contributed!

--------------------------------

Murphy sends another lightning bolt slamming down into the largest elemental, though it manages to swirl out of the way this time. Some of the damage still takes hold.

---------------------------------
Tinks ray crashes into the elemental, but as an incorporeal creature, it has no strength score to begin with!
---------------------------------
Harper and Pressi work together, and the elemental is affected by her agility sapping attacking! (It loses 2 dex. Fort save reduces 8 to 4, and incorporeal cuts spell damage in half, down to 2.) The Huge Elementals ranged attacks, AC, and Reflex saves are reduced by 1!
---------------------------------

Kezzem continues his dagger work, relentlessly jabbing the ash elemental. His first thrust feels like it may have hit something solid, so he focuses there, and his fourth attack rewards him with a shattering crash, and the ash elemental falls to soot all around him, with a cracked smoldering stone in the center of the pile.

---------------------------------

Garret too, finds the heart of the creature. After several precise strikes to the core, the stone shatters, and the ash elemental lets free a mournfowl howl as it crumbles to dust.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gain: 1,375 Xp!
Gain: Ashen cores, 1 large and 1 huge.
Gain: 1 Hero Point for Kezzem!
Gain: 1 Hero Point for Pressi!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As quickly as the emerged, the ash elementals are destroyed. It's uncertain whether or not the halfings of Humbles Sword could have solved the issue on their own, but regardless, there are two strangers in town gave much aid.

Perhaps now, they'll have the chance to introduce themselves formally?

---------------------------------------------------------------
Large Elemental: 78 Damage. - Dead
Huge Elemental: 168 Damage. - Dead
----------------------------------------------------------------



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d100=44 ; d100=51 ; d100=41 ; d100=49 ; d100=13 ; d100=70 ; d100=11 ; d100=21 ; d100=35 ; d100=26 ;
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 3:07:39 PM
Hobie's head hung low in embarrassment, he returns Prowler to his Efficient Quiver. He saunters over and picks up the two arrows he can find and sticks them also in the quiver. Next he makes his way to Pippa, grabs an apple from her saddle bag and feeds it to her, avoiding eye contact with any of his fellow party members. He pats her neck, and then climbs into the saddle. Casting a woeful look at the dead elementals that he couldn't manage to hit with a single arrow, he says softly under his breath, "Romita," and disappears.

Anyone who can see invisibility:
Highlight to display spoiler: {{Hobie sits on top of Pippa with his shoulders hung low and his eyes staring off into the distance. His face alternate between sadness and anger, Hobie himself doesn't seem to know exactly what emotion he's experiencing. He pulls Prowler back out and examines it, incredulous, searching for any answer as to why his shots were so off course. }}

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 9:37:25 PM

Bliss shouts as the elementals are destroyed, "YEAH! THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT FOR MESSING WITH HUMBLES FORD! TAKE THAT YOU BIG BULLIES!"

He looks around and realizes that with all his yelling, he did not even get in his last licks. Oh well.

He retracts his thorns, allows his fists to change back from wood to flesh, and calms down a bit.

Looking around the battlefield, he sees the two halfling heroes, Garret and Katinka, who stepped up to fight. "Well, you guys sure were helpful! Hi! I'm Bliss, and it is purely nice to meet you!" He holds out his hand to welcome them.

Bliss is a very young looking halfling boy who has no armor or shield and did not use any weapon in the fight but his fists. He has a tiny pot on his belt.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Tuesday November 28th, 2017 11:31:36 PM
Lance allows the electricity to wink out around his hands. "Excellent." He alights to the ground and looks over to where the elemental appeared. "See anything? There may be more."

RobC - Katinka Hushfoot -- AC 29/23/21 (shieldless) -- CMD 26 -- HP 185 -- Spells -- Active Effects 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 6:00:02 AM
Tink sees Hobie wander off on his own. She doesn't miss much and can tell he's upset by something. She directs her Azatas to heal the party while she spends some time with him. The Azatas can cast CLW at will, some CSW spells, lesser restoration, restoration, and heal spells and each have around 10rounds left to cast all this.

She makes her way over to Hobie - picking up her sheild on the way - and looks off into the distance rather than at his face. She speaks softly such that noone but Hobie can hear. "Would you think less of your friends if they messed up a spell or failed to connect with a sword? Don't be so hard on yourself. You have heart and your friends. Those are what truly matters. Trust me on that. Take a moment and then join them in the victory that you all achieved."

She's not sure if her words will have any impact or not but she speaks from experience. How many battles did it take fighting alongside the Iron Dragons for Tink to feel equal - to feel worthy of standing along side them? Self doubt can be hard to overcome.

Tink returns to the group and looks over herself and Garret. Ugh! Ash. She casts a Prestidigitation spell to clean both herself and Garret up. Tidying up the party though may be a bit presumptuous.

"Ah, much better. I suppose introductions are now in order. Katinka Hushfoot, Justicar of Pantheon, member of the Iron Dragons and Dragon Consortium. A pleasure" she gives a formal bow to the party "But please, call me Tink. Only my father calls me Katinka these days"

She looks at the halfling boy 'Bliss' "And it's nice to meet you too" She's a little concerned that someone has let this little boy wander around and get into fights. If it comes up she will be sure to have a word with his parents about this.

"I think I can see why we're here. The Dragon Consortium specifically requested Garret and myself come to Humble's Ford. It would seem these unusual events are spreading across the Wold. The Consortium currently doesn't have any knowledge as to the cause, and that's a little concerning."

"But end of the Wold events aside, how's everyone doing?"

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 9:17:54 AM
Kezzem checks out thw new arrivals.

Ooc: detect evil

"So who arr you people?"

After they reply, Kezzem says to Tink, "Have we met before? You seem familiar."

"So...does anyone know how to fix my armor?"

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+27=47 ;
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 10:59:47 AM

Murphy walks over to what appears to be the stony center of the huge elemental that the party - and the two newcomers - just took down. He touches it, gingerly at first, and if no harm comes, he hefts it, carrying it over to the other ashen heart.

"Your arrival - though I only at first heard you come here, as the creatures had blinded me - was most welcome, Katinka Hushfoot - Tink, and Garret, of the Iron Dragons," says the large earth elemental. "I am Murphy Leafwin Pipewood - though not in my usual body. We are Humble's Sword. And these opponents had some powers we were not accustomed to, compared to some of what we have faced in the past. Pardon me a moment."

Murphy transforms from earth elemental back into his own body, and walks over to Pressi, and gives her a hug. "I'd rather be the one to embrace you, than some ash monster. Good work, sweetie." He turns a bit, and says to the newcomers, "Pressi here can tell you all a bit about what she knows concerning the volcano who wants to move here. We would love to learn what you may know about the coming 'Doom.'"

He takes a step forward says, "Garret - I've never seen any who had quite the moves you just displayed. One of my cousins, Podo Danderfluff, is a monk, but I think you may have been at it a bit longer than he."

Looking over Kezzem's armor, Murphy says, "It might take me two hours to mend that for you, Kez."

"And, well done, all of you. I felt somewhat out of it, being blinded for a good part of the battle, but it's good to have so many friends who work to pitch in. Bliss, you are heroic, indeed. Lance, good to see you - I knew you were up there somewhere."

Addressing the two Azatas, Murphy says, "Thank you for coming to our aid. Your presence is a real comfort. How are you known, if I may ask?"

[With perception 47 - nat 20 - I think Murphy understands where Hobie is.] Shortly after Tink leaves his side, Murphy comes up to him. Not being able to see for most of the combat, he was not aware of the apparent lack of effect of his companion's arrows. "Hobie - you all right?" he asks.

Garret Goodbarrel (AC 39/35/32; +4 vs AOO HP: 167/167 Ki:18/18 CMD: 45 SR: 27) 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 11:34:52 AM
Garret stands in the remains of the ash elemental and looks around. When Tink prepares to clean him up, he shrugs, apparently oblivious to the mess he has made of himself. He walks over as the introductions are made. He says, "Indeed, I am Garret Goodbarrel of the Windbourne Hills. Tink and I are of the Iron Dragons, possibly named such because I have even ridden two different dragons myself!" He pauses for applause.

He looks around at the group and wonders why no one has any food out yet. He reaches into his belt pouch and pulls out a piece of soggy meat and takes a bite. He thanks Murphy and says, "Indeed, I was raised in a small monastery and I've been at this ever since, traveling all around the Wold. What are you folks doing here battling with elementals? Is that part of this whole 'The Wold is Broken' we're seeing?"

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 78/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 2:25:51 PM
"Yes, yes, welcome and good graces, ashante and all that, but you kind of walked right into our shot, so..."

Pressi eyes the azata warily but accepts the lesser restore spell for her con damage and the healing for her pet leapord, Harper. "I do suppose we owe some thanks for the assist, having been caught a tad underprepared."

Pressi returns Tink's bow and smiles wanly at Garret. "Pressi Silverglove, Crones of the South Justicar and herself a member of the Iron... actually, Southern Crone works there too. Rather unexpected of you to show up, especially since we've been cut off from the rest of the world. As for what we are doing battling elementals, well, you know how soccer games get out of hand...."

At Murphy's prodding, she explains to Garret and Tink about Vé-Eldfjöll, that immortal power of fighter opposed by crossword puzzle enthusiasts everywhere, and about her divinations regarding something called the Sleeper or also the Doom of the Wold. "Anyway, he's manifesting currently and would like a few followers, so here we are."

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 2:47:06 PM
Hobie sits silently and invisibly nodding as Tink gives him her encouraging words. He thinks on them and takes them to heart.

When Murphy approaches and asks how he's doing, he responds, "Its just that.... that you were all so welcoming to me, asking me to be a real part of Humble's Sword, and I let you down."

"This was my first fight as a part of your team, and I didn't do my job. I wanted to play my role and help the team, but I might as well have not been there. I stood blind on a rock, and then even once I could see, I didn't land a single arrow. I just wanted to prove myself valuable. And I couldn't"

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 11:15:14 PM
Bliss says to his friends, "Dragon Consortium! Wowsy! These guys are real heroes! Wow! It is super super neat to meet you!"

"Some day I want to be a hero like you guys are!"

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 11:30:51 PM
Lance floats over the conversation. "The Wold is broken? The entire Wold? Well, I don't know about the entire Wold, but I can tell you that our neck of the woods has been rather erratic lately. Unpleasantly erratic."

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday November 30th, 2017 3:00:45 AM

Be of good cheer
"Oh, Hobie. Others of us were blinded. I did not do as well as I could have hoped," Murphy answers. "Look, sometimes I am able to contribute a lot to an attack. Sometimes hardly anything at all, it seems. But I try, and don't give up. You kept trying, didn't you? Also, I've never fought an ash elemental before. How much damage will an arrow do against something as ephemeral as pieces of ash? Maybe you'd need something that can affect incorporeal things.

"The great thing about being part of a team, Hobe, is that each of us brings different skills and abilities. Maybe the next thing you loose arrows against will be very sorely damaged by them. And, we learned something. With this volcano thing coming, maybe we need to tool up, refine our equipment - which, I know you just did - and I think the cold thing will be very helpful against fire critters.

"But, most important, don't be discouraged. Let's see what we can learn, and be better prepared next time. For me, I'm wondering if there's something we can do to help to keep us from getting blinded so easily - or to get unblinded in a snap, at least.

"Anyway, Hobie Browncloak, buck up. Do you see anyone here who thinks you're a slackard? Because, I don't. I'll bet the time will come when, without your help, we would lose. So, don't even think about leaving us."

--------
Snacks and Chocolate
Noting Garret's hunger, Murphy reaches into his haversack. "I've got, let's see. A loaf of bread. A half round of good cheese. Some halfling trail rations - 4 sets. And a pound of chocolate. You look hungry after all that work." He spreads a small blanket, and places the food on it.

Murphy then takes out a bar of chocolate weighing a pound. He takes a dagger, and carefully cuts the rectangular sweet into... ten pieces. He offers one to each person here - including the Azatas, Tink, and Garret. "Try it."

----------
What news from the Dragon Consortium?
As people gather to eat - and perhaps offer some of their own food and drink, Murphy, with a small piece of bread, a thin slice of cheese, and his chocolate reserved for dessert, and asks, "So, the Dragon Consortium. You might know that people cannot leave Crescent Valley, and the volcano wants to move upon us. What is going on elsewhere in the Wold? What things are known? What sorts of rumors are floating about - and what weight do you give them?" After his first bite of bread and cheese, he nibbles on the rest, and listens.

Garret Goodbarrel (AC 39/35/32; +4 vs AOO HP: 167/167 Ki:18/18 CMD: 45 SR: 27) 
Thursday November 30th, 2017 11:53:55 AM
Garret listens to Pressi but is quickly distracted by the spread of food laid out. He quickly runs up and takes a seat. Somehow, even after Tink's cleaning, a slight...odor comes from him as he sits down shoves some food in his mouth. As soon as his mouth is full, he pauses and says, "Mffgh. You guys have plenty, right? We could bring you some more if you're low on food."

After he swallows he continues, "Indeed, there are strange happenings all over the Wold, and most of the rumors are probably true. Who would thought a volcano would be moving here? The Dragon Consortium sent us here to check things out and we're clearly going to have to report back that things aren't right here, either."

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+19=35 ;
Thursday November 30th, 2017 5:56:22 PM
Pressi takes out her own almost expired Mr Goodbarry and finishes her healing, offering it to others. "Yeah, I think food is the one area we should be all right in, thus far. And again, I'd avoid promising anything until you've actually tried getting out."

She sits and pokes at the ashen cores, looking for any more clues that might tell them what they are looking at (Perception 35), but not expecting anything to be found. They all seemed a bit drained, and she didn't think anyone in Humble's Sword felt all that happy about their performance.

To Hobie, she started with her usual speech about the need to shake it off, but he seemed unresponsive. "For my first outing with the team, back when I was just a monk, I spent half of it under a charm drink and the other half staring forlornly at flying pixies. Nobody's judging you for screwing up. It happens five percent of the time, at best."

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Thursday November 30th, 2017 7:11:54 PM

Garret and Katinka explain a little bit about what's happening in the Wold. In turn, Pressi explains their own situation as per her wicked divinations. Vé-Eldfjöll, a power associated with Chaos and Fire, was on the run, from well, something. It had chosen Humbles Ford and the Crescent Valley as the spot for it's relocation.

In turn, phantasms and creatures native to his realm showed up here, being phased into existence here as their natural habitat, Vé-Eldfjöll's area of influence, did the same.

No one, as Pressi explained, has been allowed to leave the 100 mile radius. Who knew why the Iron Dragons were able to break in?

------------------

Pressi examines the Ashen Cores. They appear to be some form of condensed, bonded minerals or metals. The strange mixture and the magic binding them all could possibly be valuable. Appraise: DC 15

------------------



Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16  d20+2=10 ;
Thursday November 30th, 2017 11:01:27 PM
ooc: Appraise 10

Lance examines the bonded minerals and rubs his chin in thought. "Hmm... I have no idea." He straightens and looks around. "Do we have any merchants, pray tell?"

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Thursday November 30th, 2017 11:40:56 PM
Bliss listens to everything with wide eyes.

"Well, now I get it," he declares. "This Vay-Elf-Jill is not just an invader. She's a ... a ... well, a refugee. Who wants a new home. Huh."

The little guy sits and thinks about that for a minute. "Well, I don't think it's nice to send lots of monsters around that might end up hurting people. But I kind of feel bad for her. Can we help her some how? A hero helps people in need. Is Vay-Elf-Jill a people? Can we find her a new home? Can we ask her not to put her monsters where they might hurt other people?"

RobC - Katinka Hushfoot -- AC 29/23/21 (shieldless) -- CMD 26 -- HP 185 -- Spells -- Active Effects 
Friday December 1st, 2017 2:56:03 AM
Tink looks at the crumbs piling on Garret's tunic once more. Is... is that smell coming from him? She doesn't join in on the food and drink, however she doesn't want to appear rude either. She takes the piece of chocolate offered to her by Murphy. "Thankyou. That's very kind of you"

She glances at the ashen cores. She's fairly sure she knows what they are but doesn't want to interfere with the group (Appraise check: 30). If the group struggle she'll put her 2 coppers in.

Tink grins at the question as to how she and Garret were able to arrive "You'd be surprised at the places the Dragon Consortium can go. Just a few days ago we were teleporting to places not even on the Wold" She's happy to brag a little, but of course won't go into the specifics of the adventure. Not until Gargul gave the go-ahead anyway.

"A volcano making a move is certainly unusual, however in a strange way it is not too strange given what else is happening across the Wold. People in Hook visiting alternate realities, the Tree of Parting animating, extremely wild weather surrounding Bonetown. These are certainly unusual times"

Tink pauses for a moment as if lost in thought and then nods to Garret.

"I'm sorry to have to cut this short. We've been called back to Hook" The Rings of the Dragon Consortium allow for telepathic communicataion any distance on the same plane.

Tink takes a small-sized silver dagger from her pack. The handle is covered in some kind of black leather and the blade is almost reflective, save for a small glowing rune (an arcane mark). The rune is the mark of the Iron Dragons. She admires it for a moment, and then holding the dagger by the tip hands it to Hobie

"I want you to have this. When I first travelled to Hook City I had this dagger by my side. It's been with me every day since. Through cursed artifacts, crazed monstrologers, teucri madness, fighting monsters in Jericho Space, and even by my side during the times we met with Gargul and Gimp.

I've taken comfort knowing it is with me and that I can always depend on it should the situation arise. Much like a friend"
(Silver Dagger removed from Tink's equipment list)

Tink stands and gives her neck a 'crack'. "I'm sorry we can't stay longer. I had kind of told Garret about the taverns in Humble's Ford. We may have to pop in again soon."

"As for your volcano problem, if the situation becomes dire or you ever need our help, please send word to Hook City. The people there know how to get in contact with us - day or night"

She waits to see if there are any final questions or thoughts from the group.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+4=16 ;
Friday December 1st, 2017 10:44:29 AM
(Appraise Untrained Roll 16 - pass) Pressi studies the ashen cores intently and begins to understand some of the items throughout. She does remind everyone of the traveling merchant trapped with them, and wonders if maybe they can take him with them.

In response to Bliss, she almost scoffs. "Mister Vee Jay is not some misunderstood innocent blundering through the fields. He is a piece of nature itself, incapable of balance or mercy. The tiger may be blameless but you don't invite it to tea."

In response to Harper's growl, "With certain exceptions, of course. My deepest apologies."

She doesn't really have final questions or thoughts besides the bristling of them just popping in and out without nary a thought, except....

"This may be one more piece of the puzzle. Bliss and I... we two now witches are the only ones who had strange nightmares. And, as I mentioned earlier, we both kind of changed form right before these events occurred. I first, through a soul gem, and then Bliss with visions of me making the changes. Animating spells, elemental attacks, opened portals, it's as if the Woldsblood itself is in flux and the immortal powers are at war."

She paused for a second. "We might need to visit Alleah, after all."

Garret Goodbarrel (AC 39/35/32; +4 vs AOO HP: 167/167 Ki:18/18 CMD: 45 SR: 27) 
Friday December 1st, 2017 11:03:21 AM
Garret continues to shove food in his mouth as the conversation continues. He stops when he realizes he is stuffing himself with food from an adventuring group and he pauses to ponder taverns in this area. A quick glance around and he remembers they're nowhere near taverns. As Tink mentioned, perhaps another time...

When Pressi mentions dreams, Garret's eyes roll back as he says, "Dream, oh man. Our entire city was plagued with bad dreams just the other day. Indeed, something is wrong with the entire Wold right now, and we're trying to figure out what it is. If we figure it out, we'll pop on in and tell you, but I'm betting when we figure it out, the entire Wold will know!"

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Friday December 1st, 2017 12:22:06 PM
"Thanks Murph, I appreciate it."

----

Kezzem snickers when Tink mentions Bonetown. "Sorry," he mutters afterwards.

"Alleah? Do we have to, Press? I still owe her money from the last time we played cards."



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+3=23 ;
Friday December 1st, 2017 1:18:53 PM
Hobie returns to visibility, and looks at Katinka with a look of deep admiration and appreciation. He takes the dagger and stares wide eyed at the mark of the Iron Dragons.

"Thank you so very much. Not merely for the dagger but especially for your words. I will cherish this dagger, and let it always remind me to stand strong and fight for my friends, no matter my luck. I wish that I had something that I could give you in return for your great gift, but I.... Oh!"

Hobie takes his common Cold Iron dagger from it's sheath and replaces it with Tink's silver dagger, puts the cold iron dagger in his handy haversack, and retrieves from his handy haversack the Lute that he purchased recently.

"I will give you this song, as my way of saying thank you."

Hobie plays this song for Katinka. Inspired by her words and her presence, he hits every note about as perfectly as he can, and is quite proud of himself.

(Perform check 23, with a Nat 20)

"I wish you could stay and tell us more of your adventures, but it seems we all have some work to do in the meantime. You Iron Dragons most of all."



Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+3=5 ; d20+7=24 ;
Friday December 1st, 2017 5:51:21 PM

Seeing that Tink and Garret are about to leave, Murphy asks, "Please, can't you tell us, briefly, what is happening elsewhere. It sounds like much, but you have not given us much that is solid. Also... Tink - did you know something more about the heart of these elementals?"

"Yes, Garret, the valley, I think, is fine for food - except that the soil seems to be drying out all over the place. We have rich soil, but also need moisture, and Mister Mountain is doing something to affect that."

RobC - Katinka Hushfoot -- AC 29/23/21 (shieldless) -- CMD 26 -- HP 185 -- Spells -- Active Effects 
Saturday December 2nd, 2017 5:53:20 AM
Tink passes on what she learnt from the appraise check.

She smiles warmly and then nods along, closing her eyes to truly enjoy Hobie's performance. The guy has talent.

Pressi said something interesting though "Nightmares you say? Interesting. Every single person in Hook City had a nightmare just last night. Every single person. It was when we woke up we found things were quite unusual"

She follows on with her explanation to answer Murphy's questions as well "Yes, when we woke up things were very unusual. There was a thick fog covering the city. We could see tall, slender, faceless beings walking amongst the fog. There were these weird glowing orbs too. Each one we touched transported us to an alternate timeline. In one case a land where Marteus had conquered the Gods of the Wold. Yes, not a nice place that one. Oh, and another where the alter-Garret wouldn't eat"

"Anyway, there are other things happening in the Wold that we are aware of. All of the Iron Dragons have been dispatched to different parts of the Wold. Restlin and Sesha were sent to the Tree of Parting. The Tree animated to protect the people there from treants and I think I heard tell of negative energy elementals. Restlin just checked in over the link to tell us that the Tree appears to be in a kind of slumber or hibernation now. He's gone to see an old friend of ours for aid.

Bosk and Zane just returned from an island off Bonetown. Some huge undead thing attacked two ships that had been tossed around by some unnnatural storm. There were a group of heroes there as well.

Sesha has been mulling over a theory. Were the Iron Dragons sent to make sure that important landmarks or artifacts are safe, or perhaps the Consortium are using us to make sure these sites are adequately guarded by heroes such as yourselves?"

Tink leaves the group with that puzzle.

"Oh and hey, what do you guys call yourselves? We have to report back to the Consortium on what we found here"

When answered Tink will give the party a nod and a wave.

"Best of luck to you all. Stay together and stay strong."

Tink will drag Garret away from the food if possible. If not, she simply grabs the collar of his vest. That's all it takes before the pair disappear from Humble's Ford (Teleport)

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Saturday December 2nd, 2017 1:15:48 PM

"Thank you, Tink," Murphy says following her detailed report. "It sounds as though whoever, whatever this coming Doom may be, Vé-Eldfjöll and his attendent demons and elementals make up Crescent Valley's local ramification. Here, take this extra bag of rations, Garret. We are called Humble's Sword."

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Saturday December 2nd, 2017 6:53:14 PM

Tink is a busy bee. She explains to Murphy that the Ashen Hearts are made up of many normally incompatible elements, bound by magic, and very very valuable. Her most educated guess puts the large one somewhere around 30,000 in value. The smaller one is worth less, nearly 5,000 in value.

She explains that the consortium rings are pretty powerful, and that is likely why she was able to break through Vé-Eldfjöll's barrier.

-------
Hobie and Murphy give parting gifts, and soon, Tink and Garret are both gone, leaving the Sword holding some valuable stones, a few cuts and bruises, and the disturbing realization that Vé-Eldfjöll's minions are finally starting to take shape.

Perhaps worse, what they are dealing with is just the local ramifications of some much larger problems. And if even the mighty Iron Dragons have yet to identify this coming Doom, it means that they might be forced to just accept the answer to that question isn't coming any time soon, and that the most they can do is put out the local fires and do their part as best as they can.

Things might be about to turn dangerous in Humbles Ford, but that's not necessarily new news for the heroes of Crescent Valley.

The immediate threat is vanquished, but hundreds of these phantasms have been seen over the last few weeks. Granted, this is a single sighting of such creatures taking a solid form. Surely, this is an isolated incident and the town itself isn't about to be under siege from dozens of apparitions. Right?

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Sunday December 3rd, 2017 11:33:34 PM
"Surely, this is an isolated incident and the town itself isn't about to be under siege from dozens of apparitions. Right?" Lance laughs sarcastically. "Just kidding. They're probably boned. Let's head back and try to keep them from all dying horribly."

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d4=3 ;
Monday December 4th, 2017 2:23:11 AM

"Nice playing, Hobie. Didn't know we had a lutist among us. My father is a luthier, among other things. Maybe some day when things settle back down, you can join in with my family, and some of our friends, and make some music with us."

[Did the Azatas respond when Murphy earlier asked what they are called / named? Did they take the chocolate offered, and, if so, did they eat it?]

He casts detect magic and spends a few rounds acquainting himself with the magical auras of the two stones, about which Katinka kindly filled them in further. After that, he says, "Let's return the stones to town. Perhaps the Second Dinner Club, or the town armorers, or, failing that, the Catacombs may be candidates to purchase the two items from us. Certainly we can use the funds to help us better prepare for whatever is coming next. Who will handle the chore of selling them? I will be busy with other things," Murphy says.

He does take a five minute break before they group heads back to town, in order to devote that time to a prayer to Eberyon.
Lord Eberyon, thank you for this Wold you help to keep verdant and rich. I know that ash can be useful for growing things. But as with some good things, too much of it may bring more harm than good. Help to fit me, I pray you, for the tasks that lie ahead. I am grateful for the elementals who have brought us much assistance as we face foes of the valley, and foes of our group. I want to use the powers you have granted to protect and heal the land, and the people, and also to make a strong showing against those who would harm us. Grant me, I pray you, insight in to how to respond to the incursion of Vé-Eldfjöll and those under his sway. He will bring much fire, and ash, and woe. I pray he not settle over any of our cities here in the valley. Guide me, and us, as we seek to protect the good halflings of this village. Bring to mind the ways I might best serve you, and my friends, my community, and land. I humbly ask for power to face what is ahead of us. And wisdom. If I have your ear, I thank you for hearing my prayer. Selah.
"Yes, Lance, I think you're correct. We need to head back to town and fill folks in on what happened - and these two manifestations are likely forerunners. Also, I want to see if I can't build a good place of safety a ways underground for the people of the town."

"Kezzem, I do wish to help you in the mending of your armor. I will spend ten minutes to get the process started," (during which it will regain 3 hp). "For more than that, I can think of three options. One, Alouryn, Hazel's wife - both are members of Humble's Sword, but are on inactive status, and they care for our burrow next to the river - she may be able to cast the mending spell. Two, Primula PipeLeaf, our town's ginger blacksmith, may be able to use her skills to repair your armor. Three, once I have gotten sufficient underground escape routes set up for the populace, and barring anything else popping up to divert us, I will take the time needed to get it back into proper shape for you. Four, you can ask Pressi and Bliss whether they or one of their new found witchly followers might have access to the mending spell, and spend the requisite time attending to the task. If my brother Kendry were in town, he could help - but last I heard his wife Airin is great with child, and they are expecting any day now. They are likely to travel to the Birthing Tree in the Culverwood before too many days pass, if they are able. It's a family tradition."

Murphy pauses, and adds, "I know, Kez, I probably just used too many words for your liking."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Monday December 4th, 2017 1:50:16 PM
Kezzem nods his head as Murphey is talking. "Yes, uh-huh, yep, etc."

"Wait, can't you cast mending Murph? I thought that was something druids could do. Or is it just something you cant do today."

"So any thoughts and what to do abiut these ohantom things? My skill set is limited to waiting for them to materialoze and then stab them."

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Monday December 4th, 2017 1:50:23 PM

With the consortium gone and the halflings left alone, Lance pushes the idea that maybe it's time for them all to head back to the town proper, because the odds of the town NOT being besieged by a horde of apparitions is pretty low, by his accounting.

Murphy figures it's time to sell the stones, but he's pretty certain the catacombs wont be buying them. The catacombs deals strictly in magical items and artifacts, and though these are magical in nature their value lies in the assortment of metals and minerals making up their core.

He takes a moment to pray, telling his thoughts to to his lord Eberyon, and then gets to his feet. He still has his chocolate, as the azatas were whisked away before they could eat any.
------------

Bliss wonders if a prayer or request straight to Vé-Eldfjöll might be enough to convince him to choose a new location, but the plan is shot down by Pressi. She's of the mind that Vé-Eldfjöll might not be considerate of the wants and rights of the populace he is meaning to absorb into his worship.

----------------

The trip back to town is uneventful. When Humbles Sword arrives, things are more or less how they left them. People are going about life, either ignoring or enjoying the spectacle of the apparitions.

There are the claimed items to sell, but who to sell them to?
Is it worth alarming the local populace of lemmingly halflings that the apparitions could turn violent at any moment?
How much fortification of Humbles Ford is possible with an unknown amount of time before the other apparitions manifest?
Should perhaps some sort of system be set in place to help with attacks? Perhaps the dwarves Bliss visited are ready to help?

There's a million different questions for Humbles Sword, and no wrong way to proceed.



Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Monday December 4th, 2017 3:00:32 PM
"I did have a thought," Pressi began. "We discuss the possibility of wondering where these apparitions might appear, but why continue to let the bad guys set the terms? Perhaps we should start trapping buildings Vee Jay can be convinced to attacking, like our quite oppositional temple. We could fill the area with create water spell after create water spell, get these guys to come, and Rose Control the building into one big icebox. We could even use the ashen cores, they're made of metal, arent they?

"Or if we can find a way to reach Vee Jay, we can challenge him to some form of contest. Him versus us, for all the marbles."

As for the claimed items, "We do have that merchant locked in with us, if Hobie would care to deal with him again."

Pressi is generally in favor of letting the populace know, but recognizes that they'd need somewhere to evacuate people to. They might be able to build some tunnels with help of the entire town, but its not long before she starts thinking of ways to trap monsters in them.

Pressi also begins to think in terms of mobility. She can fly for a number of hours and send signals or spell cast as needed, and she knew Bliss could do the same. But Lance and Murphy would be limited to a few minutes, and everyone else (including Harper) would be stuck on the ground.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80 
Monday December 4th, 2017 3:02:33 PM

Quick post (more later):

"Yes, Kezzem, I know the spell. I cast it and was able to take care of a small portion of the repairs (3 hp) during the ten minutes it takes to cast it one time. That ash critter really did a job on the metal, though, and many joints were damaged, and metal creased... it will take maybe 7 to 10 more castings - each lasting ten minutes - to get your armor fully repaired. See, remember the crease on the breastplate, along the right side? That's the only part I've fixed next door. Mending, even magically augmented, takes time."

He lets the group know, unless someone has a better plan, that he is going to work right away on an underground escape tunnel network for the populace. Among the dreams that people have had, at least one included rocks and fire falling from the sky. He figures a good tunnel system, with some larger caverns under ground, is among the best defenses he can think of.

For the stones - he's already given his suggestions.

[Murphy talked to the Azata several posts back - the morning of Nov 29 - not just in his last one - immediately after the combat ceased... did they answer him at all as he spoke with them, several posts back, when they were still described as being around? The chocolate offering was a few posts later, so that part makes sense.]

DM Ken: They were under Robs control. For the sake of ease, we will say they were particularly snooty, and only like Katinka Hushfoot. Speaking to a hairy-footed Pipewood is probably beneath their station as servants to an Iron Dragon.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle)  d20+10=16 ;
Monday December 4th, 2017 6:25:58 PM

Back in town, Bliss looks around the area at any "ghostish" monsters that are hanging around. He thinks about what if these monsters come alive, like the ones they just fought. He hates to feel pessimistic, but if these monsters are not appearing in Angel Springs or Hovel, maybe it would be better to evacuate people to one place or another.

He tries it ask around to find out if these apparitions ARE turning up all over the valley, or just here in Humbles Ford ... Diplomacy to Gather Info ... 16.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Monday December 4th, 2017 11:37:41 PM
"So... here's the thing." Lance knuckles his back and sighs. "We could talk all day about how to attract and trap the spooks, but at the end of the day we are probably not going to be able to catch all of them -- and then they will go crazy and start eating people like a fat kid at a half-price bakery. So rather than trying to corral a bunch of spooks we can't even touch, I suggest we corral all of our flesh and blood neighbors instead. Move them all to a holy place, set up a ward, and protect them all with a handful of spells.We have them hunker down until the danger passes. The biggest problem would be convincing them..."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 9:59:48 AM
"Two words, Lance," says Kezzem. "Free. Food. If we serve it, they will come."

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10 (Kim) HP 80/80  d3=1 ;
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 10:00:07 AM

"Great idea, Lance," Murphy affirms. "Against the 'spooks' - giving people shelter in a holy place would seem to be a sound approach. Already the temple of Flower and of Ffloy could meet that qualification, I think. Against things falling from the sky, though, I will go ahead with my plan to dig something which could provide shelter. Once I have done so, we also could consecrate that. I can dig today, and consecrate tomorrow. Or possibly get Lady Sarabella, high priestess of Flower, to do so."

As the group talks, Murphy goes ahead and spends a few more minutes on Kezzem's armor, but is only able this time to mend 1 hp of damage to the metal.

Then, unless any object, Murphy heads back to the Dancing Pig, to visit the spot started by the small earth elemental he summoned earlier. While there, he kneels and prays again, first to Eberyon, then also to Maab, Flower, Ffloy, Alemi, Domi, and other major deities. As he does so, any who may be watching him see the vestments he wears glow with red, brown, yellow, green and blue for a few moments. In the midst of his prayers, Murphy starts, then falls face down, where he remains for six or seven minutes. He then rouses, pushes himself back to a kneeling position. He wipes dirt from his cheek. He looks heavenward. "Thank you. Bless you. I will."

He stands to his feet. If any were watching him, he says with a grim smile, "We have work to do." He asks people to stand back. "I must wildshape to a good sized earth elemental, and call forth another elemental to help me." He transforms into a huge earth elemental. Then he summons a medium earth elemental. When it arrives, he requests in the terran tongue, "Teach me to dig a tunnel, to excavate the earth. I must do so to protect the people of this village from the stones and fire soon to fall from the sky."

He learns from the elemental, and goes to work to excavate an escape route near the inn. The earth and stone excavated can serve as a mound to create what looks like an adjacent burrow. He plans to work on this for several hours, unless called to do something else. He communicates to Pressi what is going on. To her, he says, "I believe Lord Eberyon has blessed me."

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 11:07:42 AM
Pressi isn't the best at handling her idea being shot down, but does accept it, preparing ideas to help fortify the temple and helping Kezzem with his armor.

Followers that can cast protect from evil: Chicory

Followers that can cast mending: Jamir

Feel free to peruse the follower list for other spells and skills so we can have some ideas.

(I will add equipment for my followers later.)

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 1:58:17 PM
"Yeah, I'll be happy to go talk to the guy, see if he'll buy these things. Anybody have an specific gear requests for me to pick up while I'm there?"

Hobie will take the cores and head back to the traveling merchant atop Pippa.

"Good sir! Good news and bad news! Good news: we killed a couple of those ghost things. Bad news: we killed them because they started attacking people. We thought maybe you would be interested in purchasing these metal things that came from the beasts. An Iron Dragon (that's a long story) told me that 35,000 would be a fair price for the pair if you are interested."

"We are still working to clear this problem and get you out of here and back home, but I'm afraid it's gonna get worse before it get's better. We're gonna have to fight a handful more of them, and they are tough buggers. I was wondering if you might have anything that could help us in this fight? I know it's a longshot, but maybe do you have a ghost touch weapon or two lying around that you'd loan out? Or anything else that could be useful against a fireghost?"



DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 3:56:26 PM

Pressi has an idea, that perhaps trapping the monsters is one avenue. Or maybe trying to gain Vé-Eldfjöll attention, and calling it out in battle or contest.

-------

Bliss does some digging, and finds the phantasms exist within their 100 mile entrapment, pretty much anywhere.

-------

Lance suggests that trapping the creatures is much harder than herding the halflings. Kezzem has ideas on how to make that happen.

-------

Murphy isn't entirely sure that hallowed ground is going to matter much. The phantasms are more like echoes, not ghosts, and Kezzem detected no evil. Precautions against undead will likely be meaningless.

Murphy works for several hours. There's more to it, than just digging of course. There's support, ladders, braces, and a manner of things to consider. The elemental is more than willing to help him dig and remove dirt however. Over a two hour span, he removes enough dirt, and supports with enough framework, short of magics like mud to stone, to sit 5 or so people comfortably on the bare earth 10 feet down. It's not much, but it's a start.

-----------------

Pressi's suggestion seems to be over-ruled, which is aggrivating. Still, a team player, she does what she can. (Feel free to cast mending spells for Kezzems armor.)

-----------------

Hobie takes Pressi's advice. The Venturer considers Hobie for a minute, and he eyes the stones for a long while. Finally, he makes an offer.

"I can sell this stuff, certainly. On the elemental plane of earth, there's an elder there that eats this stuff like candy."

He thinks for a minute.

"I can enchant your items as needed, as it's a skill of mine. I even have a Ishgara stylus to speed things up. You give me the stones, and I'll give each of you one thousand gold pieces worth of equipment. I've got quite the inventory, and access to the catacombs for anything else I need. Note, a cash offer isn't on the table."

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 10:38:46 PM

Bliss is just not sure what to do, but since Murphy is at least trying something, he lends a hand with making a refuge.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Tuesday December 5th, 2017 11:29:13 PM
"Yes. Yes, you are right, Kezzem! If there is one thing that no halfling can resist... it's a potluck! We can hire some boys to play herald for the day and announce it throughout town. Can anyone cast heroes feast or something? That would go a long way. Otherwise, we are going to have to commission every baker and cook in the village.... and then bill it to the town as a business expense, of course."

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 2:35:39 PM
Item Purchases

Feeling some need to prepare items for the group, Pressi asks the group if they have suggestions for wands or scrolls to buy. She also asks if she can chip in some of her own money to buy, say, 2,000 of stuff.

Lance

Pressi shook her head at Lance's throught. (Heroes feast is a 6 level spell - Iron Dragon territory.) While she can create water and purify/presti food, her magical abilities to create food are limited, and she suspects that it is the same for others.

And as she notes, that should be fine. Pressi gives her fellow halflings far more credit, knowing they aren't completely suicidal. If they explain the situation and give unambiguous directions, the members of the village should react fine.

Kezzem

Jamir begins to spam mending on Kezzem's armor.


Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 2:44:32 PM
"A thousand gold pieces each?! That's less than a quarter of their value! You are trapped here and you may well die with the rest of the town if we can't keep you alive. Now's no time for you to try and cheat us. We'll gladly take our payment in equipment rather than gold, but a thousand each is insulting."

Hobie gives the merchant an angered look and waits for his second offer.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 5:17:39 PM
As Murphy takes some time to continue digging, Pressi and her followers (besides Jamie, who is fixing Kezzem's armor, and Chicory, who is dealing with the Dancing Pig for room and food) head to the temple.

To use such a high target as a refuge, Pressi understood that the primary goal would be fortifications. Doors would get extra wood and iron plating, spikes would be strategically set to slow intruders, and the interior would be modified to allow for safe zones if the demons breached the doors.

If time permits, she will lay metal through the floor, hoping to create a heat sink.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 6:15:53 PM

This talk of food makes Bliss hungry. He takes out his magic elven lunch box and enjoys some waybread.

DM Ken BATTLE MAP  d20+10=20 ;
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 7:29:22 PM

The merchant scowls at Hobie.

"I have a family that might well starve at any more than 2000 each! All the time lost here is lost profits! I need to recoup somehow, and short of Pirnook, no one else in this hobbit hole has a dime to their name! Do you wish to ruin me, fair hero!? My wife shall have to sell her wedding ring just to feed us!"

Perform (Dat Market Hustle): 20!

Hobie or anyone with him: Perception or Sense Motive, DC 20

Highlight to display spoiler: { Rando M'name is not even wearing a wedding ring. Between his clothes, his jewelry and his fine mounts, you are fairly certain he is far from starving.}
------------

Pressi finds a use for her minions. Menial Labor! Kezzems armor is fully healed, after a whole day of the mending from Kamir.

Pressi looks around the church and tries to find ways she might be of use. In addition to neutral elementals, they HAVE seen demons, so the odds of evil being a thing are real.

It's hard to consider traps and partitions for creatures that walk through such things, but she starts to have some inklings of ideas. There aren't any large surpluses of metal laying around to sheet the floor, but maybe there's other options?

Pressi, Knowledge Engineering DC 12 or Knowledge Suvival DC 22.

-------------

Bliss eats lunch. He isn't really sure what to do anymore. Perhaps he might check in with his coven? Or he might perhaps check once more with his dwarven friends? Or maybe he could help Lance organize the citizen trap, complete with food and drink. Pirnooks might be a start.

---------------

Lance and Kezzems ideas are good ones. Eventually though, they'll need to spread the word.

----------------

Murphy is still busy with expanding his hole.



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2   d20+15=31 ; d20+17=30 ;
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 10:40:48 PM
Perception=31
"I guess she'll have to sell hers like you've already sold yours? Perhaps if you loved your (Hobie does air quotes with his fingers) 'wife' you might have sold some of this other jewelry before getting rid of your own?"

Hobie stares the man down.

"Look, 'Monsieur Thénardier', you are an opportunist, I get it. I was more or less in your shoes at one point. But we are literally the ones trying to save your hindquarters, so you should not be trying to take advantage of us."

Hobie displays some sort of trinket that he pulled from the merchant's pockets during the conversation.
Perception DC30 to notice Hobie taking it. (opposing my Sleight of Hand check)

"Besides. If you aren't gonna play fair, neither are we."
Hobie hands the trinket back to him.

"Our price is 35,000 for the both. We will be more than happy to turn most of that gold right back into your hands for your wares, should you be fair to us."



Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Wednesday December 6th, 2017 11:52:32 PM
Lance leans in and whispers, not very quietly, to Hobie. "Ask for the we-will-let-you-into-the-temple-and-not-die-horribly coupon. It should be good for, oh, about 5,000 gold pieces."

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+4=7 ; d20+4=24 ;
Thursday December 7th, 2017 2:02:22 PM
Pressi wonders how Hobie and Lance are faring, and telepathically checks in on Murphy to see how the tunnels are coming along. Her untrained knowledge of engineering falls flat, but she goes almost zen at the possibilites for reinforcement as she looks throughout the area. (Survival Natural 20 for 24). With a flurry of activity, she finishes turning the temple into a shelter.

When she finishes, she moves on to stop by the local government to advise them on the situation, and to raise, among other things, the need for an air elementals tower.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday December 7th, 2017 4:33:55 PM

Murphy takes a minute to talk with a few of his fellow citizens - he grew up here, he has some feel for who is trustworthy and not. "Please, a few of you - don't travel alone - go to the place that was just given to our group where the old communal house stood. Talk to George, the foreman of the work there. Ask him to bring his men and his tools, and help us with this tunnel. The town's safety is far more important than getting started on the work over there." To another, he says, "Go to my home. Ask one of my siblings to take the cart and two ponies over to the old communal house, to help carry the workers' tools and lumber back to here to work on the tunnel." He ensures that both groups clearly understand where to go, and what to say.

[Apologies, all - super busy this week. And particular apologies to Melvin, re Pressi. Totally missed her earlier post about setting a trap - we posted nearly simultaneously. -Kim]

Telepathically, Murphy brings Pressi up to date on his progress, asks her about what she is seeing and doing. "If you can figure out how to handle your entrapment plan, let me know. If it sounds doable, you've got my support. I'm kind of busy with this work at the moment - need to make a second entrance, so people don't get stuck in a place with only one escape path." He also, when a tower for the air elementals tower project is brought up, lets Pressi know that the cliff where he met with the elementals might be a good spot for it.

He gives words of encouragement and praise to those who are helping him. Asks someone to put together a list of those who are helping, as those who pitch in should be honored.

[One change, if allowed - Murphy sets up the first chamber so that the top of it is about 15' below the surface, rather than 10' - hope that's okay.]

He works on extending the tunnel beyond the small open area. His plan is to go from near the Dancing Pig to near the Sling and Arrow, and chart an upward path to the surface there. He takes care to pop up from time to time to verify direction, and also has a string stretched taut to ensure a straight trajectory. Here is a Map Humbles Ford Murphy's Tunnels with key Chamber A is in lower right corner, with the solid four-point star. He will tunnel to the 'B' chamber, and first plot an exit from there to the surface, negotiating with Hugo and Primula PipeLeaf as to the exact local of the tunnel exit. After the exit is established, he will work on expanding the chamber, about 30' below the surface.

He makes the tunnels ~7.5 feet wide. In the tunnels, about every 30 feet will be a 10 foot section that is 10' wide, to make it easier for people to pass, or to store things. The initial tunnel, though, as he makes the first pass, is 5' in diameter...

P.S.: Way to go, Hobie and Lance, on negotiations.
P.P.S.: Note: link to updated 'character surgery' sheet listed in header. Includes Legacy Item (druid vestments) and other mods

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday December 7th, 2017 4:43:20 PM

Oh, and Murphy thanks Bliss specifically for his help. He asks if he wants to with the group to talk with George the Foreman, to get him and his crew over to work on the tunnel.

AND, the druid plans to use expeditious excavation in a spot adjacent to chamber B (near Slings and Arrows) to allow for a water reservoir 5'x5'x5' along the floor. He asks if some bricks or well-fitted stones can be laid therein, so that the water will be kept reasonably clean. Whenever that is finished, he will fill it with water (via create water spells).

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle)  d20+10=25 ; d20+20=24 ;
Thursday December 7th, 2017 5:10:59 PM

Bliss continues to help Murphy, and also volunteers to help Lance's organization efforts. He tries to get his friends in the dwarf-trained militia to help. He also tries to keep alert.

Diplomacy: 25
Perception: 24

[OOC to our kindly DM: Highlight to display spoiler: {could we get a time check? I've kind of lost track of days and time of day.}]

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Thursday December 7th, 2017 7:07:02 PM

Hobie seems to have the Venturer on the ropes. Finally, he relents.

"Look, I'll give you 5,000 each in line of credit for gear. I really can't go lower than that, or else I make no margin on this thing. I have to buy some scrolls to shift planes, travel to the fat elemental that would eat this stuff, burn the potion to talk to him, then get back. There's always a chance he's going to eat me too, so there's gotta be something in it for me. F'floy would disown me if I paid you more than that."

He points at the halfling.

"Besides, -I- am the only one who can offload this stuff for you, right now, because the catacombs won't buy it and I don't think other than you lot there's 30,000 pieces in all of Humbles Ford. And I think you might need the help sooner rather than later."

He pulls a stick from his cart, and literally draws a line in the sand. Standing on his side, he offers his hand over it, waiting for the handshake to seal the bargain. 5,000 each seems to be about the limits of the deal, and Hobie is certain he's pushed it as far as he can. He might be able to get the full 35,000 in value elsewhere, but it would require some time to track down someone who had need of this particular oddity.
-----------------

Bliss volunteers to help Lance, who suddenly finds himself in charge of notifying and convincing a community of halflings that they might need to prepare to hide for awhile. Bliss and his dwarves are at his disposal.

----------------

Pressi realizes that with help, she could probably layer the church floor with the soil that is removed from Murphy's excavations. Further, adding the natural soil and stone gives Murphy several options with the Stone to Mud, Mud to Stone, and Stone Shape spells, for adding extra walls, murder holes, natural caltrops, ceiling traps, and all manner of bits, to be decided upon in detail by Murphy and Pressi, or whomever wishes to help them. She was certain that maybe some of the architectural elements could have been exploited too, if only she knew more about that kind of thing.

---------------------

After a few hours pass..

It is about 5 pm.

Murphy may complete either 1 star or 1 tunnel of work, every 2 days. He may attempt a knowledge engineering check, or a profession miner/engineer check DC 20 to reduce the time needed for each section to 1 day. Failure means that section takes 3 days.

Pressi, if we don't already have a map of the temple, please. This is the link to your Flower Temple, found by ADM Kim!

Temple of Flower (and now of Ffloy, too)

Once someone secures Pressi access to the pushed dirt, probably via Lance or Bliss community organizing, but any route will do, for each cast of mud to stone you may "place" 20 ten foot cubes of rock in the temple. For each cast of stone shape, you may fashion traps etc, the nature of which are up to you, and the DC's against which will be set by DM decision.

Lance, places to start when organizing a halfling community might be Inns, restaurants, wives clubs, or stores? Or some other method to spread the word.

Good luck!

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Thursday December 7th, 2017 11:11:54 PM
"Deal!" Hobie says as he reaches to shake the hand of the salesman.
He grips his hand hard, and pulls him close, showing the salesman that while he is small, he is still quite strong.
"Do not try to pull one over on us again. Our interests are aligned, there's no need for us to be enemies. I'll go find my friends and gather a shopping list, I'll be back shortly."

Hobie rides off to find to find each member of the group. He tells each that Rando has offered 5,000 worth of equipment each, and waits to get their shopping list.

He'll ask each for recommendations on what might be useful for him to spend his share on, especially to Pressi and Murphy who seem to know a lot more about these elementals than he does.

"I can't afford another enhancement for my bow, but I could afford to to enhance my longsword. Do you think we're going to be going up against a lot more incorporeal creatures? Should I get a Ghost Touch enhancement for my sword? Are there any other items or things that would help me contribute better to the team?"

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Thursday December 7th, 2017 11:57:53 PM
Okay, Bliss." Lance counts one finger. "Let's have those dwarves be our criers. We can give them a script to read and have them wander around town all day. "A special potluck will be held tomorrow at the Temple of Flower. All are invited to attend. Admission is one side dish per family." Or something like that. I don't have the gift of prose."

Two fingers. "I need you to visit the Dancing Pig, the Belly Buster, the Flower Temple, and the General Store. Talk with everyone you meet. Let them know that about the potluck, and that their local heroes will be shelling out money for the main course for the entire town."

Three fingers. "Murphy! I need you to turn into a bird. Fly around to local ranchers. We need to purchase one two-year steer, three yearling sheep, and about fifty chickens."

(ooc: Assuming halflings have large families (perhaps 4.5 children per family) that leaves us with 1 pound of beef, 0.5 pounds of mutton, and 0.25 pounds of chicken for every citizen. Also, our citizens are the size of children.)

Four fingers. "I'm going to visit our local lumberers. Do we have lumberers? I hope so, because we are going to need enough wood for the biggest cook-out this town has ever seen."

ooc: How's that?

DM Ken: Excellent!

ADM Kim 
Friday December 8th, 2017 2:29:24 AM
Earlier in the Humble's Ford game we had a map of the Temple of Flower. Of course, it was converted into the Temple of Ffloy (much to the consternation of several members of Humble's Sword, including Hazel, Alouryn (they're still in the game, as NPCs, who live in the Humble's Sword Burrow (next to the river, not yet on the map), one or two others, and Murphy himself. Now, we know that there was some remodeling and some add-ons. DM Ken gave us a map to use, if there was not one. I let him know of the existing map.

A proposal - subject fully to DM Ken's 'Yea' or 'Nay' - is to combine his proposal with the existing map. So, I took a few minutes, and stitched the top half of his map with the bottom half of the old Temple of Flower map. The result is this: Remodeled Temple of Flower and Ffloy

It does reflect some of the words (never translated into an updated map) of prior DMs, and gives the team a little more room to work with. Again, Ken has final say.
-ADM Kim
=======
Ken - I made this 'Post Private to DMs' - if THIS update is okay with you, you can either change the link I gave you earlier, or wipe out this below-the-double-line postscript, and uncheck the 'Post Private to DMs' thingee. Thanks again - Kim

-------

DM Ken approves!

ADM Kim  d20+10=29 ; d4+1=3 ; d20+13=16 ; d20+15=34 ; d20+13=27 ; d20+14=26 ;
Friday December 8th, 2017 5:30:25 AM
Too long a post
"Hobie, we may - hard to say for certain. It would be good for at least one in our group to have a ghost touch weapon," Murphy counsels. "Ask the others, though, too. I'd offer more advice, but am, uh, kind of busy," he says with a rocky grin. He asks only for 800 gp, and let the rest go to the others.

Murphy, who owns a few carts, offers one of them, and a couple of ponies, to haul dirt as desired over to the Temple. Some of his gear, including at least one shovel and a couple of picks, are in one of his carts. Surely Pirnook will be happy to sell shovels and wheelbarrows and buckets to his heart's content. If his heart can ever be content.

"My father cuts down a tree now and then, Lance, but does not harvest lots of lumber. Likely he knows who does. I'll ask him tonight (which he does). Or, you can ask our Mayor BumbleLuck. He knows lots about lots of people here and in our vicinity. Likely to include 'lumberers.'"

He is willing to do as Lance suggests in the morning, but not after spending the whole day digging. It's tiring work. "Let's set THE POTLUCK for day after tomorrow, all right? I know the folks at the Belly Buster pretty well. What if I stop by there and talk with the chef tonight after I wash up? They know where all the local cattle ranchers and chicken farmers and shepherds are. Let me check there. If that looks like it will pan out, great. They are really good at cooking, too. How about, 'Lamb, beefsteak, chicken and trout prepared courtesy of the Belly Buster,' [Diplomacy 16 with them - perhaps they don't like that he is starting the tunnel project over by the Pig] and 'Drinks, spuds, salted pork, roast piglet, and great snacks prepared courtesy of the Dancing Pig' [Diplomacy 34 with them, with Pressi's +2 help] both sponsored by Humble's Sword?" he suggests. Should that sound good, Murphy proposes the notion to both Inns. With the earlier perhaps so-so response from the Belly Buster, he returns with the enthusiastic agreement of their competition, and gives it one more try [Diplomacy 27]. He pays both Inns 75% in advance, with a promise of the balance upon satisfactory delivery.

If neither of those pans out, he agrees to transform into a medium-sized fast bird, carry a few pouches with funds, and get orders out to the surrounding farms early the next day for about an hour or so. After that, back to the tunnels. He rather hopes the two inns will instead step up to the plates, as it were, so he doesn't have to get a late start on the dig project.

Before doing those things, however, towards the end of his first day of digging, he summons three small earth elementals to initiate a narrow slanted tunnel to descend from the entrance spot chosen by Hugo and Primula PipeLeaf for the tunnel access near their establishment. That can be improved upon in the next day or two. The last thing he does, after changing into his own form, is to go an open space, make certain that no one is too close, and summon a large air elemental. He speaks of the two ash elementals who attacked earlier, and asks if the air elementals are aware of any changes in the area. He asks if the white spire might be built a little ways back from the top of the cliff where they gathered. He passes on his regard and respect to the elder elemental who offered aid to Humble's Ford.

Eventually, for all the downward tunnels, he plans to have 8' wide descents, with stairs 5' wide in the center, and 1-1/2' slopes on either side, to allow special wheeled carts to descend. There will be ropes along each side to hang on to. But, first things first. He'll run that idea by the PipeLeafs, and see if they have a better idea. They're both good at fashioning things. He also asks George. [Someone did go fetch George the Foreman & his crew, right? Bliss - did you help them?]

On his second day of labor, the focus is the tunnel towards where star B will be. If there is someone in town with decent engineering skills, and/or a dwarf with profession miner, and he can enlist his or her aid, he consults with them on his plans. He discusses the notion of tunneling to 8' diameter. "See, if I cast quench along the length of a tunnel, dampening the surrounding earth on all sides, then in the next round cast transmute mud to rock, then we will have a tunnel of stone. Granted, it will be a soft stone, like sandstone, but, a bit sturdier than packed earth in some regards. He asks his expert to poke holes in his idea, or to come up with potential improvements - or, ways to further treat the area after the two spells are cast for safety and strength. Maybe George might be the right person for this. "I figure I can fortify a tunnel about 200 feet in length through such a process." Another option would be to have some water elementals go down a tunnel and drench the surfaces of the tunnel. Or, he could cast create water down the tunnel - but that would take a long time. A quick dampening, a quick mud to rock seems safest.
Summary: Provide carts and ponies for earth moving. Speak with father about who has wood to burn - and Lance can speak with Mayor. Ask Belly Buster and Dancing Pig for help with potluck/feast. Hope to avoid changing into bird in the morning unless no help from inns. Mainly, work on tunnels.

He does let Pressi and through her everyone else know how things are going, what his plans are. He could divert a transmute mud to stone spell, perhaps a stone shape spell, to doing a bit of work on the temple should she desire. He asks others come up with a decent plan for the temple, and Murph will do his bit when called upon.
=======
Knowledge, Local: 29
Summon d4+1=3 small earth elementals for start of downward tunnel near PipeLeafs' place
Diplomacy: 16 (1st approach to Belly Buster about providing food - for pay)
Diplomacy: 34 (with Pressi's help to approach Dancing Pig about providing food - for pay)
Diplomacy: 27 (2nd approach to Belly Buster about providing food - with knowledge that their competition plans to show up, too)
Knowledge, engineering: 26 (or 28 with help from someone with engineering or mining skills) - for tunnel from Star A to (not yet built) Star B - done in a day!

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+16=27 ; d20+16=22 ; d20+16=32 ;
Friday December 8th, 2017 12:21:18 PM
OOC: My apologies for the slow posting this week. I've been busy with grading finals this week. In hindsight, I should have asked for someone to cover Kezzem the past few days.

"Let me come too, Murph, I'm good with people."

Kezzem assists Murph with his diplomacy checks.

Diplomacy (1st Belly Buster): 27.
Diplomacy (Dancing Pig): 22.
Diplomacy (2nd Belly Buster): 32.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Friday December 8th, 2017 2:59:03 PM
Hobie

"Look, you've seen my notes on the various types and subtypes. You know your build and strategies better than I do. And if you're not sure how to handle various creatures, you can always ask Google. You know, the strange librarian with more confidence than knowledge? A few things, though....

"First, the only reason the elementals had incorporeal natures was that fire template laid upon him. And even then, magic weapons worked 50% of the time. If you want to get a ghost touch weapon without bothering me or Bliss, that's up to you. But weapons that can affect almost anything might be a better way to go.

"Second, remember that the goal isn't going to be to defeat the creatures. It's going to be to save the citizens. Trapping and slowing these creatures works better, and if you have UMD it might be time to start buying scrolls. DR's going to be a tough one, too."

Temple

(I won't really have the time to fool with maps or planning this weekend, so if someone else would like to volunteer to do so, or if the DM can wait until tuesday or wednesday....)

Pressi considers a number of other factors in addition to those above, like the fact that they have to get an entire town in there without permanently trapping the town inside. She has a few ideas, assuming she can fit most people on the platform and in the back rooms.

1) Fill up the back row to create a barrier with narrow entry points where the aisles are. (Force large creatures to squeeze in.) Use gaps to allow arrows and slingstones.

2) Cover the aisles with sandstone or mud, mixed with water from create water spells. Cover that with cheap wood that can hold maybe 40 lb creatures.

3) The doors and windows clearly need caltrops and other defenses, but then how to get out? She wonders if they can turn the leftmost and rightmost aisles into thin and unassuming tunnels sealed off between the platform and the edge windows.

DM Ken BATTLE MAP 
Friday December 8th, 2017 8:45:29 PM

Hobie strikes his deal, and leans forward to let the Venturer his exact thoughts on the matter. A surprisingly strong grip holds him in return. Rando leans in and replies in whisper. "Do not assume to threaten me Master Browncloak. I adventured as a wizard long before I retired and settled in as a trader."

With a smile and a wave, he goes back to his cart and starts pulling out the things he thinks Humbles Sword will need.

---------------------

Lance establishes a plan, and sets it into motion! He calculates how much the families will be eating, and asks Bliss to go relay the message to the dwarves to serve as town criers. Then he asks Bliss to go meet with the Inn Owners.

--------------------

Murphy, as always, in extremely busy. He finished up work on his current section, and makes plans for tomorrow's work as well. He gets carts and such ready, and promises to try and help where he can.

His overtures with the Belly Buster are not well received. Perhaps Bliss will have better luck? (Retry rules for diplomacy are pretty specific.) They sure do find it more than a little insulting that they have to cook more actual food when they weren't chosen as the site of the hideouts!

His father has no issues pointing to a group of lumberjacks that sell wood to the smaller towns in the valley. He puts in a reminder to summon them tomorrow.

Regarding his inquiries on the tunnels, the consensus from all know it alls, looky loos, and elementals seems to be that a transmuted stone is indeed, stronger than dirt held up in frames.
------------------------------

Pressi reminds Hobie about what she divined, which is that enemies would mostly have the Fire or Chaos creature types, with liberal applications of the entropic and fire creature templates.

So gear that protects vs chaos and fire, or does extra damage to chaos or fire, might be what Hobie should consider.

Pressi makes a list of ideas, which her DM approves of, and sets them aside for later.


Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Sunday December 10th, 2017 9:37:28 AM

"That sounds great, Mister Lance," says Bliss.

Bliss gets his friends in the dwarf-trained militia to help spread the word. He gets his new followers to do the same. Bliss himself visits the establishments mentioned by Lance, making sure the news gets spread far and wide.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Sunday December 10th, 2017 11:49:34 PM
Lance heeds Murphy's advice and goes to find the Mayor about some wood to burn...

ADM Kim  d4+1=2 ; d3=3 ;
Monday December 11th, 2017 1:33:02 AM

Murphy digs the tunnel between A and B. Once he is confident it has the shape it needs, he makes sure the tunnel is clear of workers. Then, he casts quench to extend to either side of him, to the interior of chamber A on one side, and to where the tunnel extends where chamber B will later be dug out. Immediately after doing so, he earthglides a few feet in to the adjacent dirt to discover whether the quench spell has caused a degree of dampness within the ceiling, walls, floor of the tunnel. If so, he immediately casts transmit mud to rock along the same passageway.

If quench did not cause dampness within the passageway, he next summons two (2) water elementals (Summon nature's ally iv) along the shorter section, and three (3) more small water elementals (SNA iii) along the longer section to travel the length of the tunnels, drenching the surrounding earth to a depth of 1-1/2 feet or more. Once that is accomplished, again he quickly tests and, if enough moisture has been transmitted into the earth, he releases them from their summons, then casts transmit mud to rock along said A to B tunnel.

If the water elementals' drench ability fails adequately to prepare the surrounding earth for mude to rock, he asks them what else they might be able to do to prepare the earth for what he has in mind. If they have a good idea, he'll ask them to implement it. And, then... mud to rock. If nothing else works, he can do the create water thing - but is concerned about the time it will take, and that parts of the ceiling may start falling in if he does it that way. The earlier described methods have the advantage of quickly moistening, then quickly transforming the damp earth into rock, with little to no risk of collapsing walls or ceilings.

Afterwards, huge earth elemental Murphy earthglides under, and along the sides to inspect the work.

Meanwhile last night, or early in the morning (before today's tunneling project), he let Lance, et al, know about the lumberjacks his father is notifying to provide fuel for the barbecue - and also takes advantage of the information to get additional lumber for the tunnel / safety chambers project. He is happy to pay ~30% above the going rate for what wood they can provide, digging into the 1,000 he requested from Hobie, from the proceeds of the ash elemental sale.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Monday December 11th, 2017 1:11:32 PM
Kezzem "assists" Murphey in dampening the tunnel by sprinkling water from his waterskin, bugging the elementals to fill it up when he runs out.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Monday December 11th, 2017 2:22:20 PM
ooc: Murphy requested 1000gp from the sale of the elemental, but I think that the offer was for 5,000 each, but payment was in equipment, not in actual gold.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Monday December 11th, 2017 3:04:00 PM
Hobie tries consult with the group, especially those much more familiar with the looming elemental threat about what equipment, scrolls, etc. might be useful in protecting the town from the looming threat. More of a sneak and fighter than a bunker builder, his thoughts go to battle, especially his inability to hit anything in the last fight. He is leaning toward spending his 5,000 on some bracers of archery, unless he's presented with better options for the protection of the people.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Monday December 11th, 2017 3:17:23 PM
When he is done "helping" Murphey, Kezzem takes his adamantine short sword and carves 3-ft diamater circular trenches at the entrances to our keep and fills them with powdered silver in preparation for magic circle against chaos spells.

----

Lay on Hands 7/day
Smite Evil 4/day

Spells:
1st Level: Protection from Chaos (3)
2nd Level: Resist Energy, Shield Other
3rd Level: Magic Circle Against Chaos

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Monday December 11th, 2017 9:10:46 PM

Bliss chats with Hobie about things a sneaky archer might want. "I used to sneak around and fire my bah, which was pretty much fun," he says. "The trick is to shoot when they cannot see you. Invisibility is pretty good for that, or hiding behind things, You can get a wizard to make a permanent shrink item thing, like a wooden box, that you can shrink and expand with a command. You can even expand it just by dropping it. So you can drop your box, hide behind it with cover, and shoot from hiding."

[OOC: A permanent shrink item spell costs about 8,000 gp.]

"Course, nowadays I like to get right up in melee range, so you can always feel free to flank for those sneak attacks if I am a halfling. But in kitty shape I got no reach so I can't flank then."

As an Eldritch Knight, Bliss is in his element talking about battlefield magic.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Monday December 11th, 2017 9:45:17 PM
Pressi takes a break to brief the mayor and Roscoe about everything.

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Monday December 11th, 2017 10:37:24 PM
It's all good an well to go fight evil, but the heroes of Humble's Ford know their primary duty is the protection of the innocent. Kudos to them.

---

Murphy and Kezzem set about the task of turning a dangerous dirt tunnel into one that won't collapse and suffocate an entire village of halflings. Experiments with the quench spell show a distinct lack of moisture. Perhaps the spell works by denying a fire oxygen? It would be a simple matter to figure that out, but the volunteer may not enjoy it.

Working in tandem with water elementals is more productive, assuming Murphy can speak aquan.

OOC: Kim, link your sheet in your header, please.

It's not as smooth going as they would like. The water elementals are easily able to generate enough water to sufficiently moisten the dirt, but it is a careful balancing act making sure the dirt is muddy enough to be transmuted, but not so moist that it sloughs off the roof and walls. It takes time and patience, but the tunnels slowly start turning to stone. It will provide solid protection against aerial bombardment.

...unless an entire mountain comes crashing down on Humble's, of course.

---

That done, Kezzem gets to work preparing wards against chaos. Probably a good call.

---

Hobie and Bliss discuss the best use of their newfound funds. The subject of portable cover comes up, but no decision is made.

---

The mayor and head of the guard make time to listen to Lance and Pressi deliver news of the plan to lure Humble's to safety with free food. Roscoe nods along in approval as Lance outlines the plan. "I'll station men near the tunnel entrances to make sure they stay accessible." He looks towards the entrance. "Hopefully won't have to use them, though. Folks are gonna get trampled if they start to run away from ghosts down there."

The mayor seems more excited about the news. "Yes yes, Roscoe will take care of all that, but with all the goings on we could really use a good party. If we get to protect everyone too, all the better. There will be food though, right? You guys sure you've got that covered?" He waits expectantly for an answer.

For his part, the mayor is able to give Pressi a requisition ordering sufficient wood from a nearby lumberjack. Should just be a simple matter of delivering it and naming a date.

---

So far, the party has a venue, escape plan, and buy in from town leadership. They may want to pay attention to food if they expect anyone to show up...

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Monday December 11th, 2017 11:59:14 PM
Lance ensures the animals are bought, the lumber is stationed, and then sees to hiring some cooks.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+14=24 ;
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 3:09:53 AM

[Murphy speaks the languages of each of the four main elemental types. I use Google translate: Auran=Finnish; Aquan=Norwegian; Terran=Danish; Ignan=Hawaiian. And halfling? Welsh.]

"I've got pork products lined up from the Dancing Pig," Murphy says. "Maybe someone else can try to sweet talk the Belly Buster into helping on the Beef and Lamb side of the equation. They are upset I did not start the tunnel at their place - though I do plan to get the tunnel over there, too. Maybe I can focus on a bigger initial chamber - I'm starting to get the hang of this tunnel making... Anyone, someone besides me should approach them, figure out how to mollify them. I did offer 75% payment up front, and 25% on delivery of the good stuff. Plus a 10-20% bonus if they do a really good job - to be decided after people try it out. Someone want to ask around town as to who is good at cooking chicken? Get folks to participate, y'know?

"Maybe my mother can do up some fish - my Pa built a smoker years ago, and she breaks it out sometimes at big family gatherings. And, we have BIG family gatherings at least once a year. So, we need someone to catch the fish. Say... I might be able to help on that one - I did a good job fishing once in octopus form on the Peaseblossom river last year. Except, I'm pretty busy with the tunnels and chambers, so only if we're having trouble getting enough.

"I know the river has trout, and maybe some perch and catfish. Salmon once in a while. Maybe getting a bunch of boys to fish would be a good idea. There's often one or two any sunny day with a pole and line at some of the fishing holes along the way."

"There are plenty of farmers and gardeners around here - should not be any lack of vegetables, wheat, rye - ask the ladies of the town to bake some bread surprises. Y'know, bread outside, something fun, sweet or savory inside. My uncle Orbi has lots of nut trees, and good stores of nuts."

=========
Tunnel project, Day 3:

After working with the water elementals to properly prepare the soil for mud to rock (and a good tip of the hat to Kezzem and to the many consultants and lookie loos for their help), Murphy next works on Chamber B near Slings and Arrows. He wants to make this one more spacious, with room for about 20-25 people in the chamber itself. "A huge earth elemental is 32 feet long and weighs 48,000 pounds." As such, he ought to be able to move a good amount of earth up and out. Knowledge-engineering 24 (plus 2 for 26, as he consults with any dwarves who might care to help, and Foreman George, whom he has brought back to town with his workers to help with the fortifications - especially focusing on making good entrances to the tunnels).

If there is time, he also widens to 8' in diameter the slanting tunnel earlier started by the earth elementals up to the surface at the place Hugo and Primula want the entrance to be for this one. Once tunnel and chamber are ready, he summons a few water elementals, explains what he would like them to do to dampen the surroundings, and casts transmute mud to rock for the chamber and the upward tunnel. Assuming they do a good job, Murphy thanks them profusely in aquan, asks their names if they will give them, and promises to dedicate a large underground water pool to their honor. He digs a 5'x10' side chamber, uses two expeditious excavation spells for this purpose, and casts another mud to rock spell to give the pool a clean container, having the lip about 18 inches above the ground, so it is easy for halflings to use buckets to withdraw water from it.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 3:20:03 AM

Map Humbles Ford Tunnels and Chambers - At this point, chambers A, B, tunnel between. Stone ceiling, walls and floor in tunnel, Chamber B, and entrance above to chamber B. Chamber A still needs to have mud to stone - but he wants to expand that chamber somewhat before casting the spell - and Chamber A has a fair bit of shoring up at the moment by timber, as does the first tunnel down.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+16=29 ;
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 12:57:15 PM
Kezzem will make another attempt at the Belly Buster.

"Sorry, I know your a bit peeved at Murphy, but he has that affect on people...just ask Shel and Alleah! But it just won't be the same without you there, you know? The Belly Buster is a staple of Humble's Ford! And besides, you don't want the Dancing Pig to be there but not you. I wouldn't think that would be very good for business."

Diplomacy: 29.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 2:15:15 PM

Before the feast, Bliss makes one last round of his dwarfish / militia contacts to make sure that the word is getting out -- free food! and frank talk about the dangers posed by the volcano demigod and the ghost monsters people can see all around them.

Funny how challenging some dwarves to a drinking contest has gotten him some good friends! Bliss thinks he was the contest winner after all!

He also checks in on his new friends (aka followers), and makes sure that not only have they prepped for any coming disaster, but that they are coming to the feast -- and have spread the news.

Bliss also has a sit-down with that Venturer Fellow. "Thanks, Mister, for this deal. You are very kind. Could you please upgrade my bracers, please. That would sure be useful." [OOC: Bliss's Bracers of Armor +2 are worth 4,000 gp. Upgraded to +3, that's 9,000 gp, a 5K upgrade, which should get us there easy peasy, right?]

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 10:02:45 PM
Murphy seems to have a wealth of great ideas. Pity he's spending all his time digging tunnels. Between two days of digging and the help of appropriate elementals, he's able to complete a sizable section of tunnel. Still, even with magic it's unpleasant work. Anyone other than a druid may well find it unbearable.

---

Lance checks off his list, then sets his sight on cooks. The obvious solution to that is paying The Belly Buster and letting them do what they do best, but there's no shortage of skilled chefs in any large settlement of halflings. Humble's is no exception. Of course, expecting any of them to give up a town-wide party to slaughter a bunch of animals & pluck fifty chickens for nothing isn't going to fly.

(CRB has the cost/day for skilled labor at 3 silver/day, but with the amount of work needed you can probably expect to pay a premium...say 5 silver/day. Assume the price you're paying the taverns covers preparing the food/drink as well. You'll only need to hire extra chefs to prepare anything extra you feel like bringing i.e., fish or vegetables.)

---

Kezzem decides to have another go at getting The Belly Buster to provide food. "Well obviously it wouldn't be the same without us there. Kinda the point in saying no, eh? Besides, no Buster's gonna be caught dead at a gathering hosted by a bunch a stinking pits."

(ooc: I don't see anything in the wiki about who actually owns these taverns.)

Still, Kezzem's approach does seem more reasonable than Murphy's. "Alright look. You and yours do good work around here. You pay 90% up front and make that Murphy promise that tunnel's reaching The Buster as quickly as his little hands can dig, and we have a deal." He's not exactly friendly about it, but it's something.

---

Bliss checks in with his various cohorts. Turns out getting halfings excited about a bunch of free food and drinks (there will be drinks, right?) isn't difficult. Joy especially seems exuberant about making sure people show up. "You'll let me cook, right boss? I may not work down at the Buster, but I know my way around a kitchen."

Venture, meanwhile, accepts the bracers and looks them over. "Normally upgrading these wouldn't be much of an issue, but with the state of things I'd have trouble finding time to do it all in one setting." He hems & haws a bit. "I can do it, but it'll take at least a week and then some...six days ought to do it. I'll need to hold onto them, so you may find yourself without them in a fight if these apparitions decide to start doing some real damage."

(ooc: For those of you checking my math, The Woldian week is 5 days.)

---

These actions take up the remainder of day 3, but feel free to throw in anything you wanted to do in the evening (within reason). My next post will cover day 4. Is anyone keeping track of how much actual coin is being spent on this?

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Tuesday December 12th, 2017 11:04:38 PM
Lance is pleased to offer 50 gold pieces to the Belly Buster for all-inclusive catering services.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 12:42:34 AM
Hobie, feeling even more like an outsider than normal as his friends are all running around talking to local shopkeeps and restauranteurs that they seem to have known for years, feels like he's not quite sure how he can be helpful. He doesn't really know Humble's Ford, it's his cousin Roscoe's town, but it seems as though fate has made it Hobie's town as well, at least for now.

He enjoys his conversation with Bliss about battle and tactics, and decides that he will probably be of most use tagging along with Bliss and the dwarven militia.



Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+16=18 ; d20+16=26 ;
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 2:43:38 AM

On the fourth day of building the safety tunnels, Murphy concentrates on the link from Slings and Arrows over to the Belly Buster. However, along the way, he encounters some difficult underground terrain (Knowledge, engineering 18/20). He realizes the earth to be less stable in this section, and that he will have to take care lest he cause a sink hole in the ground above. He consults with George and a dwarf or two on the matter.

Finally, he decides he will need to reroute the tunnel. He manages only a short tunnel, and small opening J - a 10'x15' oval, rather than the originally planned link from B to C.

He begins to think of names for the chambers. The one below the Dancing Pig, A, he names Bacon. Chamber B is Quarterstaff. Chamber J is Bend. He plans to name Chamber C, by the Belly Buster, Truffles. When he does H, it will be Deep Burrow - as he intends to use the excavated earth to help serve for a burrow for whoever will be assigned to oversee the tunnel complex. Map Humbles Ford Murphy's Tunnels, Rev1, with Key

The truncated path and small chamber J fare well (Knowledge engineering 26), though Murphy had hoped to accomplish more this day. It's not a bad thing, though, that he learned his initial chosen path would not be wise to pursue. With elemental assistance, he casts transmute mud to rock for this section (B to J).

In the afternoon, Murphy takes a short break, and asks his friends if they would meet him at the Belly Buster this evening. After the day's excavation is done, he cleans up, puts on some nice clothes he left at his folks' place he has not worn in a while, and meets with Humble's Sword at the Buster. It's the inn that he grew up eating at most of the time - it's really only since the Sword formed, and most of his friends preferred the Dancing Pig, that he has become what locals refer to as a 'Pleaser' - a most unpleasing moniker.

Before the appointed dinner time, Murphy meets with the proprietor of the BB, and explains the tunnel reroute, meaning it will take possibly a few more days to safely build the connection. "I want to do it up right for you." He plans to have room for 20-25 halflings in the chamber below, plus another chamber not too far off, and the tunnel branching two directions from the Truffles chamber.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 6:21:31 AM

Bliss says to the magic merchant guy, "Well, what about that stylus you got? That speeds things up a heap, and if any fey pop in, just tell them it's for a Bloodwitch of Maab, and I'm sure they'll be cool with it. Worse comes to worst, I ... um ... absolve ya of any problems that come up."

[OOC: Did we get visited by the retcon fairy? I coulda SWORE he said he had an Ishgarran stylus (implying he has the Woldian Fast Forge Time feat for crafting swiftly). Now I cannot find it. Also, Bliss is in essence sayign that he'll take the gamble on adding a curse to his bracers, because hopefully the curse would not be too bad, and it would make the bracers more interesting!]

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 11:34:17 AM
The two DMs passed like ships in the night, hoping, unrealistically perhaps, that their passage would be without continuity issues. Alas, it was not to be...

---

"This thing?" Venture asks while producing an Ishgaran stylus. "Yes, I own one, but with all that's going on the fey are going to be reeaaaalll interested in me. It's all good and well to say the fey will be on board, but they're fey. I'll enter their cradle to speed this up for you, but it will still take me two or three days in there depending on how much I'm needed out here."

If Bliss wants Venture to go ahead, that's fine, but know I'm significantly increasing the chance of a fey taking notice.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 11:51:24 AM

"Thanks!" says Bliss enthusiastically and optimistically. "I bet some friend of the Queen will stop by for a blessing!"

The little guy pauses for a moment in thought. "Here," he says, digging in his satchel. "This is my Elfin Lunchbox! It's special. If you get visited by a fey, please give it to them and say thanks from me!" He hands the fate item over to the merchant/crafter.

[OOC: -- Box of Elven Sustenance (Fate Item, does not count against limit of five items) - Once per day, box creates Elven waybread to sustain one small to medium person for one day. This food will not last for more than a day once removed from the box. Value 1,500gp but does not count vs WBL. The box has an inscription of an elven family crest. " You will always be seen as a friend of my family with that box in your possession." (granted by DM Shawn, 29Apr17) ]

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 12:29:05 PM

Somehow or other Murphy divines that Hobie is open to providing him with 1,000 gp, while Hobie takes the 5k in credit to work with the Venturer. He accepts.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 12:56:11 PM
"You are a shrewd negotiator, my good man, and we will accept your terms," says Kezzem.

"Hey Murph, I got the Belly Buster down to 90% up front, and you need to finish your tunnel to them asap, but they are coming to the pot luck!"

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 5:48:12 PM
Pressi tries to decide what is left, and remembers the issue with the tower.

(To DM: We haven't really been tracking materials, labor issues, etc. It's just been assumed we've been working, that certain materials are plentiful, etc. It's my end of the year at work and I have the kid and family is visiting, so I've been a little fast and loose, and assuming the DM would just give me some ballpark lump sum rather than calculate every per hour.)

According to Murphy, air elemental help would arrive if the team built a tower for them. It had to be tall and house nothing except the air elementals, but there weren't any other requirements. So Pressi hired some villagers to move the remaining clay (from Murphy's excavations, also used to build fortifications in the temple), wood and water (from create water spells). With this, she directs and builds a simple tower: a thin obelisk with spikes extending from the top, not unlike a palm tree.

Pressi will leave to decide her items on the next day.

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 10:27:48 PM
The tunnel extends onward to The Belly Buster under Murphy's watchful eye. He's going to have to grow himself a beard and change his name to Urist at this rate. He does notice, however, that the water elementals are having to pump more and more water into the tunnel walls to make them muddy enough from his transmutation spell to work. The typically rich, fertile soil of the Ford seems dryer than it should be.

Finally having enough of the digging, he fancies himself up and gets word out to his companions to meet at the Buster tonight. He announces to management that he is indeed branching the tunnels towards them.

(Note: unless anyone says otherwise, I'm assuming you all gather at The Buster on the evening of the 4th day.)

---

Bliss and Mr. Venturer reach an agreement. "Truth be told, I was hoping to keep this to an exchange of goods, rather than labor. Still, not safe to travel just yet. At least I'll have something to do." He looks curiously at the box of wayfarer bread, but accepts it as a potential brib...gift. A potential gift.

---

Kezzem and Lance are in agreement regarding the arrangement with The Belly Buster. The spread for this shindig just got a whole lot better.

---

Hobie continues feeling like an outsider, unsure what to do other than tag along with Bliss and the dwarves. Humble's Ford may be Roscoe's town, but Roscoe's kind of a big deal. Surely the newcomer can find some common ground with the townsfolk.

---

Pressi decides to start building a tower to attract some air elementals. Thanks to Murphy there is an abundance of raw materials, but does Pressi know what he's doing?

OOC: Give me a knowledge, engineering roll, please, even if it's untrained. Also, how high/wide are you making this thing, and where on the map is it going?

---

It is evening on Day 4. Unless you've all decided to ignore Murphy's request to meet up, assume you've all arrived at The Buster. The scene inside the tavern is pretty unremarkable, with the exception of two goblin apparitions sleeping in the corner. They soundlessly snore away, unaware an entire tavern can see them.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+16=26 ;
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 10:42:08 PM

Day 5 Tunnel Project
Murphy focuses on the tunnel section (with a 90 degree left turn about halfway along) from J to C (passing through where chamber G will eventually be dug out). Knowledge, Engineering 26/20. Water elementals to help, and transmute mud to rock for the tunnels (Murphy casts from the corner where G will later be, sending the spell both left and rightward). He tells the water elementals that within the next six months, he plans to make a lake for them to enjoy - and much earlier than that, if he is able.

On day 6, the chamber below the Belly Buster... Will roll for that on the morrow.

Regarding the white spire - Murphy thanks Pressi for taking the lead on this. Depending upon the size of the spire she is able to fashion - if fairly good sized, he joins with her in offering it up. If somewhat diminutive, he asks her if they can offer it up as a prototype, and ask for their thoughts as to whether it has a form pleasing to the air elementals, and how much larger they might want it, or if the shape needs alteration. He tells her that, once formed, he can try the mud to stone transmutation.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Wednesday December 13th, 2017 11:58:31 PM
Lance ensures that the money is distributed to the cooks, the food is assembled, the fires lit, and all necessary preparations are made.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday December 14th, 2017 11:00:47 AM
At dinner, the fourth night, Murphy talks with his friends. He drew up a map of the tunnel complex - with the completed and proposed tunnels and chambers. "The earth continues to dry. For those who can do so, might I recommend a generous helping of create water spells to help out the folks around here with their gardens and fields? Last week I asked people to put out containers for water, and filled those they provided me. My uncle Orby has a flask of endless water, and I think he is helping out on some of the larger farms, and with local fruit and nut trees. We don't want to end up with a food shortage due to this moving-mountain created drought. I will do a little bit of that each day, but feel the need to focus on the tunnels for now.

"The reason I asked you to meet, though, is to ask: How go things for everyone? Work? Plans? Preparations? Negotiations with the fortuitously-located Venturer? Are there things all of us should know about? Sounds like the feast-idea is progressing well. Shall we hold that tomorrow? Day after tomorrow?"

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+4=16 ;
Thursday December 14th, 2017 2:29:03 PM
Know Engineering 16

While somewhat aware of what she is doing and able to give some direction to followers, she is aware that she won't be building a massive tower in a single day with a few followers and whomever she can bribe or entice. But she can at least build something, and the simple design and engineering means she can build it along the ground and then slowly lift it towards the sky, so she can get it fairly tall.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Thursday December 14th, 2017 3:12:09 PM
At dinner on the 4th night, Hobie will let the group know he's feeling a bit purposeless at the moment.

"I am more than happy to keep doing the shopping with Rando, but I'd really like to get a list of what things the group wants me to get. I've heard people tell me to 'get some scrolls,' but I'm no bloodwitch, I don't know what I should get. Give me some suggestions, and I'll be more than happy to go and do the shopping."

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Thursday December 14th, 2017 4:29:25 PM

Bliss invites his new friends (he does not think of his followers as "followers") to the feast preparations. He introduces Missy Joy to the gathered cooks since she is such a good one.

He even lets the cooks borrow his magic pot. At its largest size, it should be quite useful for feeding a lot of people!

He helps out wherever he can, helping to get things ready. When Hobie asks him what he should get scroll-wise, Bliss suggests a couple scrolls of Cure Serious Wounds, say, because they always come in handy. Cure Critical Wounds, even.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Thursday December 14th, 2017 5:13:36 PM
"Well, let me help you out," Pressi tells Hobie. "Here's my list of what I'm getting."

Wand of Bless Weapon (1)
Wand of Grease (1)
Scroll of Slow (4)
Scroll of Align Weapon (3)
scroll of remove blindness (3)
scroll of remove paralysis (3)

Total: 5025 (throwing in 25 of my own money to complete transaction)

"As for what to get, I think you need to calm down and stop thinking in terms of optimizing or showing up in every battle. Instead, think about your role and strategy and what you might do if you, say, can't do direct damage or if something comes after you. Think in terms of emergencies and of the fact that it can take a full turn to pull out and use a scroll. Buffs, heals, battle control, it's all good at range. Also, don't be afraid to have some style out there."

----------------

Pressi fills everyone in on what she has been up to, and introduces everyone to her own followers.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Thursday December 14th, 2017 10:35:10 PM

Enjoying not being a hulking elemental for the moment, Murphy takes delight in getting to know some of the new friends of Bliss and Pressi. Some he had light acquaintance with before now (e.g., Jamir Baddapple of that semi-notorious family, and Filiu Wyarr LaRue, whose house is right next to Murphy's family's burrow, and about whom Madame LaRue sometimes speaks). Besides the two mentioned, he also is pleased to have Mourning, Hesitation, Comfort and Joy, as well as Chicory and Dolgrin dining with them.

"Tanglefoot bags. Caltrops. Thunderstones. Acid." As Murphy names each item, he pulls it out of his haversack, and lays it on the table. "Rope. Alchemist's fire. Everburning torch. Antitoxin. Holy water. Smokesticks. Oil. There are many inexpensive things that can help out an adventurer. I heard that once Valdor Dragonstone - well, before he was called Dragonstone, had a tanglefoot bag used against him. It managed to slow him down.

"As Pressi indicated, having more than one option at your fingertips, Hobie, can help you get through any number of difficult situations. I once helped tame a two-headed giant with a couple of pieces of jerky. Never think, if one strategy is not working, that you're stuck with that strategy. Roll with the situation. Do something your opponent does not anticipate. My brother Kendry escaped from a necromancer who was bent on his destruction by emptying a small bag of caltrops."

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Thursday December 14th, 2017 11:16:21 PM
Friends, it turns out The Last Jedi is a really long movie, and I have a certification test in the morning & need sleep. I'll post first thing in the morning. Hopefully we can get our posts in tomorrow & pick back up tomorrow evening to get a full week.

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour  d100=89 ;
Friday December 15th, 2017 10:12:35 AM
Pressi is able to construct a passable prototype. An actual clay and dirt tower that stands high enough to entice air elementals and can withstand their play will take some thought. It's not a waste; a lot is learned about tolerances and techniques that can be applied to the construction of the tower proper.

OOC: +5 bonus to the engineering check to build the final tower, by whoever makes the roll.

---

The evening at the Buster is pleasant enough. The Ford's on edge with all the goings on, but they take some solace in the fact that a group of local adventurers are preparing for whatever's coming. It's enough to keep the mood upbeat as they dine.

Murphy discusses his progress with digging tunnels, and if your humble narrator can offer some praise, it's quite impressive. The subject of the drying earth is brought up with the beginning of some plans to address it. He mentions an uncle with a decanter of endless water. That could come in real handy in the event the town had to spend an extended time underground.

Lance, who has spent the day finalizing plans, is able to confirm that both The Buster and The Pig are on board with supplying food and drink, respectively. Both are adamant that they're both working with the party separately, not together. It's an uneasy situation. Lumber for warmth and cooking fires is being provided courtesy of Mayor Bingo. There's been talk of bringing in extra fish or vegetables, but nothing's finalized on either front. The priests and priestesses at the temple of Flower and Ffloy are of course ready to welcome the town at any moment.

Hobie admits to a lack of purpose. The rest of the is quick to act and strong in their convictions; it's understandable. He sets himself up as errand boy for obtaining what they need while everyone else is busy with preparations. It's a good use of his time, for sure. Murphy gives a short, but appropriate lecture about being prepared for several eventualities.

Bliss and Pressi's "friends" are introduced to the group at large, and Joy in particular is introduced to the kitchen staff at The Buster. There's some hemming and hawing from the staff before the head chef speaks up and addresses Joy. "Apologies, miss, but have you ever worked in a kitchen before? I'll take your word about being a decent cook, but a good chef also knows his way around a busy kitchen with a bunch of other decent cooks in your way." It's not an outright no; perhaps she can be useful on the prep line during the day. There's always a bunch of potatoes that need dicing.

Conversation ceases suddenly as the sleeping goblin apparitions in the corner are silently set upon by two 8' tall vulture-like creatures. The goblins don't stand a chance as they're mercilessly torn apart and consumed by the creatures.

Knowledge, planes DC 19, Highlight to display spoiler: {These creatures are vrocks.}

It's enough to put the Busters off their dinners, no small feat. One demon tears into the jugular of his goblin victim, sending a spray of blood arcing outwards. There is an audible gasp as the blood lands on a nearby diner. He runs a hand across his face where the goblin blood splattered, and it smears. The terrified halfling runs from The Buster as everyone else turns to face the apparitions, wondering if they'll be coming through next.

They don't. The scene soon disappears, though the blood does not. Things, it seems, are progressing. The remainder of the night is quiet, but new spreads like wildfire. The crowds that once watched the apparitions battle now run whenever they appear.

Morning on day 5 arrives without news of additional materializations. Murphy has plenty to do. The rest of our heroes have a whole day ahead of them.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Friday December 15th, 2017 12:30:13 PM
Kezzem gathers up the Sword save Murphey:

"Hey guys, Murphey's been working really hard on those tunnels. I think we should do something nice for him. Any ideas?"

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+16=35 ; d20+3=21 ; d20+16=26 ;
Friday December 15th, 2017 2:16:56 PM
Day Four Dinner
"Those are man-vultures - demonic vrocks!" Murphy exclaims as they rip into the slumbering goblins. "My cousin, Gregory, told me about them. They screech, and dance, and send out electrical damage covering a fair distance. Demonic, they are." (Knowledge planes 21)

Day Five
As mentioned before (post of Wednesday December 13th, 2017 10:42:08 PM), Murphy builds 'Truffles' chamber C: an oval, 30'x22' and almost 20' tall in the center of the chamber, the top of which which is 25' below the surface. The ground and surroundings are particularly well suited to that size chamber (Knowledge engineering 35). He also builds the tunnel to the surface in the place that the Belly Buster management wants it to be placed - whether at some place inside the establishment, or just outside the building. Once dug, he summons water elementals, casts two mud to rock spells (one for chamber, one for ascending tunnel).

Later, while next to the spire prototype made by Pressi and her helpers, he summons a small air elemental, showing the spire, and asks the air spirit to inquire of the elder elemental if that form would be suitable, in a larger size. As he inquired earlier, yet without reply, Murphy asks again if placing the spire near the top of the cliff where he met with the elementals might be a suitable locale. Finally - is there any news from the air dwellers as to what Vé-Eldfjöll and his minions are doing?

Day Six
Short tunnel section to I, and underground chamber, 15'x20 oval, 15' height at center, with initial stub of tunnel toward H (Knowledge engineeering 26), then make it stone with elemental assistance.

Will day six be the day of the feast?

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Friday December 15th, 2017 7:24:12 PM
Talking with the group at dinner on Night 4: "I think that perhaps I'll ask for 5 scrolls of Greater Invisibility, a wand of shield, and a wand of True Strike" Total 5,000
I also think I may have something to add to the festivities. No party is complete without music, and I've recently taken up the lute. Maybe I can put together a band to play. I'll hang some flyers tomorrow and see what I can do.

Day 5: Hobie will make a trip to Rando in the morning to get the wands and scrolls he's requested, and will go ahead and pick up anything the others ask him to grab while he's there.

After this he will hang flyers around Humble's Ford. The flyers say "Musicians needed. One night gig. 1 gold each. Experienced musicians only need apply. Meet Hobie Browncloak at the Belly Buster on the morning of (Day 6)"

Day 6: Hobie will show up early at the Belly Buster, hopeful to meet some talented musicians.


Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle)  d20+20=25 ;
Friday December 15th, 2017 8:15:25 PM

Bliss spends the next day as a cat, scouting around in disguise. He wants to make sure there are no intruders or funny business going on.

Perception 25

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Friday December 15th, 2017 11:38:38 PM
"Now that we have the trap.... err, the potluck set, how should we best protect these people? It's not my department. I blow things up."

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Saturday December 16th, 2017 4:06:42 PM
"Well, I've made some fortifications to the temple, but it could probably use some outside fencing to further slow creatures down, and I am hoping to station some air elementals inside.

"I'm not really sure what else to do, really."

(Or about what to do for Murphy either.)



DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour  d100=89 ; d100=44 ; d100=42 ; d8=4 ;
Monday December 18th, 2017 10:54:08 AM
Murphy is able to ID the creatures as vrocks. The day following the incident is tense. The entire Ford is on edge. No longer do the townsfolk stare and watch any apparitions that materialize (and they do indeed still come. They might even be doing so more frequently), but rather flee at the sight of them.

Despite the tension, day 5 is productive and basically free from distraction. Murphy continues work on the tunnels before tending to his deal with the elder air elemental. The young elemental he summons flits around the tower, rapidly twirling around and through the breezeways. The strong wind throws loose dirt from the tower, and the elemental stops before too much damage is done.

"Bigger. Harder." It points towards the top of the tower the elementals are to use as playgrounds. "Chimes. Acoustics...music. Ask elders. Will return."

The elemental flies away, quickly disappearing from view. It returns within 10 minutes with a response. "Cliff acceptable. Vé-Eldfjöll quiet, but fire brethren active. Mountain too unpredictable." The elemental stops swirling for a moment and hovers near Murphy's face. "You are in great danger."

The elemental has nothing more to add. "Release, please," is all it says, wishing to be released from its summons.

---

Kezzem suggests a gift for Murphy, seeing how he's worked so tirelessly lately. The idea isn't shot down, but it isn't really expanded on either.

---

Bliss cats around Humble's Ford for the day. His incognito form he's able to overhear the townsfolk talking. There's much worry about town, but there's also talk of the preparations our intrepid heroes are making.

Bliss only, Sense Motive DC 20 - Highlight to display spoiler: {You're probably preventing a full scale panic.}

---

Hobie takes Rando shopping for all the supplies the group's requested. He then hangs flyers looking for musicians. A handful do meet him in the evening. They look at each other for a bit, then tall, slender halfling woman speaks up. Her voice, even when speaking, is hypnotizing and melodic. Flower's symbol is featured predominantly on her cloak clasp. "I won't accept payment. Flower has provided for me, and gifted me with melody. It will be my honor to perform for the town in her temple." She smiles at Hobie before motioning with her eyes towards the rest of the musicians gathered. "The rest of these oafs need the money."

"Darn straight we do!" shouts a response from the gathered musicians, followed by laughter and agreement. She takes her leave, wrapping her arms around the shoulder of another of the musicians as they leave together. They don't seem to have taken any offense to being called oafs.

--- Consider entertainment covered ---

Pressi and Lance consider how to proceed. Things have basically fallen into place party-wise, but till now they've relied on the guard and Murphy's tunnels (and hopefully air elementals) to provide protection. Lance is content to handle any attackers personally upon their arrival. Pressi suggest something to slow down any attackers, but isn't sure how to proceed. Without knowing where an attack would come from, it will be tough. The river to the south provides some protection, but there's a lot of directions invaders could attack from.

---

Work around town slows as the sun sinks below the horizon. Citizens go to their homes, or their respective taverns. Then, the peaceful night is cut short with a shout.

"FIRE!" comes the call, followed by doors opening, loud murmurs and gasps. Indeed, there is a large fire rising from the east. It takes a few moments for it to become clear what's actually happening: the moon Wardd burns. It's nightly ascent casts flickering firelight across the entire Crimson Valley.

The light grows in intensity until it's punctuated with a large *foomp!*. The ground rumbles and a wave of hot air washes over the town. As eyes recover from the sudden dry blast, a towering wall of flame can be seen in every direction, completely circling Humble's Ford. The flames grow and grow, punctuated periodically with giant crags of glowing rock shoot up from the earth, causing many of the townsfolk to loose their footing.

OOC: Acrobatics DC 10 or fall prone

Eventually, the shaking stops. The firelight from Wardd shows the town encircled by rough, glowing stone. Huge plumes of steam erupt from the river where the wall cut through its path.

The flames on Wardd die down, but do not dissipate. In the dimmer light, only glowing edges of the wall can be seen. It's hard to tell, but they're about half a mile from the edge of town.

Recovering from the shock of what's happened, the towns folk start talking, then screaming. Some full on panic and run. They run home, they run to the temple...some just run.

---

It's evening on Day 5. Tomorrow (real life tomorrow, that is) is the last official post of the year.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (21 currently), HP 94/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Monday December 18th, 2017 12:51:53 PM
Kezzem greats Murphey after a hard days work in the tunnels,

"Have you heard of Murphey the druid,
He called many friends that were fluid,
Together the worked,
In mud and in dirt,
After which Murphey smelt quite putrid.


Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 81/81 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 24 Hero Points 2  
Monday December 18th, 2017 3:24:17 PM
Ooc: I’m gonna make my post late tonight, we are having family Christmas stuff today, but I was looking through my CRB while waiting on my wife, and came accross the Rod of Flame Extinguishing. Maybe it would be a good decision for us to use whatever portion of our store credit from the venturer to buy one of those for the party?

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Monday December 18th, 2017 4:45:57 PM
Pressi fills everyone in on a vrock, based on research.

(Not really sure what to tell you. High SR, DR and saves. High HP. Across the board decent resists (but the will is a little weak). Flight with range or reach attacks.... Bless Weapon plus Slow seems like the best bet.)

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Monday December 18th, 2017 4:58:55 PM
(OOC: Not going to have the time to post otherwise tonight. Can anyone post for me? Thanks.)


Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16 
Monday December 18th, 2017 11:42:38 PM
"Welp, we're boned." Lance looks around at the towering wall of glowing stone. "Hey, Murphy. Any chance you could fly up and see how high it goes?.... and if there is still a world beyond it."

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Monday December 18th, 2017 11:51:41 PM

Untrained and with a wisdom of 8, Bliss has no ability to sense motives! He was hunting a mouse at that crucial point.

Good news is he caught the mouse, and with his merciful tear, did no long-lasting harm. After snuggles, he lets it go.

When reunited, Bliss laughs and laughs at Kezzem's poem. "Who says Paladins are no fun, Sir Kezzem!"

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 27 Hero Points 2   d10=1 ; d10=8 ; d10=4 ; d10=6 ; d10=2 ; d6=1 ; d6=2 ; d6=3 ; d10=6 ; d10=8 ; d10=8 ;
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 12:36:49 AM
OOC: Guys, I talked to the DMs, and they are allowing me to change Hobie a little bit. His personality is pretty much the same, but rather than a Rogue Archer, he's an Arcane Archer now. When I joined up, y'all already had a Ranger Archer, so I didn't want to step on his toes by building an archer, so I made Hobie a Rogue switch hitter, but then when he stopped playing, I shifted Hobie more into a full time Archer, but he wasn't really built that way, so I messaged the GMs, and they let me shift Hobie into the character that I more want him to be. They were very gracious and since Hobie was still pretty new, they said it was cool.

So Hobie's new character sheet is in the link, hopefully it works, it's pretty much done, except for the spellbook needs to be tweaked a bit, and perhaps there are some errors I missed that will need to be fixed. You'll see he is now a Fighter 5 / Wizard 2 / Arcane Archer 3.

The DMs told me to roll for his new HP here so
lvl1= 10
lvl2= 8
lvl3=4
lvl4=6
lvl5=2
lvl 6=2
lvl7=3
lvl8=6
lvl9=8
lvl10=8

Funny enough, after Toughness, Con, Favored Class bonuses he ends up at 82HP, when he previously had 81.

This is actually the first magic using character I've ever played, so I will have lots of questions, and any tips y'all can provide would be great.

His identity is still (maybe even more so) wrapped up in being an Archer, but I hope the magic can allow him to be a bit more versatile.

Monday, December 18, 2017

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 27 Hero Points 2   d20+7=23 ;
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 12:50:34 AM
The ground shakes underneath Hobie but he manages to keep his footing (Acrobatics 23). He looks to the townsfolk running in all directions, and shouts at them "Move to cover! Get inside as quickly as you can!"

He looks around for his friends, pulls Prowler from his efficient quiver, and prepares to move toward the wall of fire.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 27 Hero Points 2  
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 1:03:10 AM
ooc: I forgot to mention in my last ooc post that since Hobie is no longer a Rogue, he is going to use his money from the venturer to buy some different scrolls instead of 5 Greater Invis scrolls.

2x Scroll: Haste 700
2x Scroll: Fly 700
2x scroll: Web 300
2x scroll: See Invisibility 300
2x scroll: Mirror Image 300
2x scroll: Knock 300
2x scroll: Spider Climb 300
2x scroll: Darkvision 300
2x scroll: Make Whole 300

Total 3500



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 27 Hero Points 2  
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 1:05:14 AM
ooc once more. I did that math wrong, should be 3600. The extra 100 will come from Hobie's cash

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+5=7 ; d20+25=38 ; d20+17=36 ;
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 3:56:36 AM

The wild shaped druid is pleased with the day's work, especially the chamber and tunnel to the surface adjacent to the Belly Buster.

He changed to his own halfling form before he summoned the small air elemental, and, if she was able, he asked Pressi to be there as well. He telepathically translates what he and the air elemental have to say to each other for her benefit. He takes in the requested augmentations and characteristics.

When the summoned emissary stops to warn him of the danger they are in, Murphy answers, when it appears the creature does not plan to elucidate - "Yes. Thank you for the warning. WIth greetings to your Elder, and blessings to you and your fellows, you are released."

As he has been going about his work, after the first couple of days, it has become somewhat routine. Murphy has been using the time to review several things in his mind. Some plant-helping spells. Some water- and cold-using spell formation, ideas for altering or tailoring other druidic effects use some of this thinking time.

Kezzem comes with a clever and funny limerick about his recent activities, and laughs after hearing it. He asks him to say it one more time, and quickly jots it down in his journal. "You know, I do give myself a shower with soap at the end of my excavations. Yet there may be some ripeness before then."

Trying to do so slightly before nightfall, Murph seeks out Constable Roscoe and/or Mayor Bumbleluck with the elemental's warning. Also he asks Roscoe to work with his men to help organize procedures to get people to the safety of the tunnels, or the sanctuary of the temple, when the time comes.

Staying, likely with most members of the Sword, at the group's Burrow adjacent the river, the call of 'Fire!' draws him to step outside. Wardd - maps of which he has studied - sends down fire to Crescent Valley? [Perception: 38 to discern what he might about the approaching light, and the results thereof]

For all his concentration, the local land rises just right to result in his landing on his keister. [Acrobatics: 7]

Responding to Lance, Murphy says, "I could. If anyone wants to join me, I'm good with that." He takes a moment to see if any want to join him in flight. "Think I'll go as an air elemental. Though a phoenix might be a good form, under the circumstances. Or, as a large bat, if a couple of you want to fly up with me - though we might be more conspicuous that way, in case someone is watching. I'll stay in touch with Pressi, so she can pass on to you what I am seeing."

He changes to a medium air elemental, in the shape of an eagle, and shoots off at a speed of 95x5=475 feet per round, with perfect flight [Fly 36, or 31]. If he discerns he needs it as he approaches the rocky perimeter, he will cast resist (fire) energy, and perhaps also protection from (fire) energy. If he can deal with the heat without resorting to either spell, then he does so. He goes for a fair amount of altitude, so as to get a broad overview. He telepathically keeps up a running commentary with Pressi.

Unless facing clear opposition, he flies in a full circle, deasil, above the perimeter of the surrounding raised stones, grateful to Wardd for the moonlit landscape, if not for the fiery attack apparently sourced therefrom. He takes in all that he can absorb.

After the broad circuit, he returns to his companions.

{Estimating the core of town is about 1,200 feet across, and adding 2600 feet out from there, the diameter of the fiery, rocky encirclement is perhaps 6,400 feet? If so, the circumference would be a touch over 20,000 feet, or about 3.8 miles. If he is able, along with a half-mile flight to the circling rocks, Murphy flies about five miles. At his speed, it would take ~5.5 minutes or so to complete the circuit, including the flight out to it.}

Upon returning, while still in elemental form, Murphy says, "Despite that the encircling flames indicate that our town is his anticipated landing site, I vow to do all I can to dissuade this power away from Humble's Ford. This is too precious a place to succumb to the will of an evil volcano. He can go somewhere else and land on the giants, or in the middle of an ocean."

========
OOC: Nick - great ideas for Hobie. And the notion of acquiring a rod of flame extinguishing is absolutely excellent, under the looming circumstances. You've got Murphy's approval.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 7:37:35 AM

[OOC to Hobie: It's old, but you may enjoy my three-part essay on arcane archers.]

When the ground shakes, Bliss has no trouble keeping his footing. [no reason to roll with my Acrobatics mod]

However, he worries about houses falling down and about the new tunnels collapsing. He hopes they are sturdy enough! Bliss goes around looking to see if anyone needs help.

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 10:19:42 AM
OOC: Of course Cayzle has a 3-part essay...

Nick, we still need Jerry's approval for your character surgery. We'll secure it during the slowdown, but for the moment you're still a rogue. Site rules, buddy.
---

Murphy takes to the skies. His new form allows him to traverse the perimeter of the town rapidly, where he learns the following:

The stone wall is jagged, but averages about 10' high.
The resist energy spell allows you to approach closer, but anyone climbing the wall unprotected will almost certainly succumb to the flames.
The air above the wall is also dangerously hot. He has to fly an additional 20' above the wall before it becomes safe. Hot, unpleasant, but safe.
The rest of the Wold does exist beyond it still.

The actions of the past few days has helped the town prepare for this eventuality. Folks stream quickly to the temple looking for safety. A few stubborn hold outs stay hunkered in their homes, and Roscoe's men end up having to subdue half a dozen or so panicked halflings. Anyone looking to help the townfolk have no problem finding opportunities (feel free to roleplay this yourselves).

The wall surrounding the town blocks any breeze. The stale air heats to a dry, distressing temperature. It's not enough to ignite thatched roofs, but it's hot enough to wear most down.

---

OOC: Above ground is considered severe heat. Per the CRB:

In severe heat (above 110° F), a character must make a Fortitude save once every 10 minutes (DC 15, +1 for each previous check) or take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage. Characters wearing heavy clothing or armor of any sort take a –4 penalty on their saves. A character with the Survival skill may receive a bonus on this saving throw and might be able to apply this bonus to other characters as well (see the Survival skill in Using Skills). Characters reduced to unconsciousness begin taking lethal damage (1d4 points per each 10-minute period).

A character who takes any nonlethal damage from heat exposure now suffers from heatstroke and is fatigued. These penalties end when the character recovers from the nonlethal damage she took from the heat.

---

A cursory investigation shows they're intact; reinforcing them with stone was a good idea. It's also significantly cooler underground (persons underground are safe from the heat).

Roscoe's men report to their posts. Mayor Bumbleluck and high-priestess Sarabella usher everyone into the temple as quickly as their able. The priests and priestesses of Flower & Ffloy tend to the heat-stricken. The town waits for the inevitable attack, but nothing comes.

There's just heat, stillness, and silence...

---

That's 2017, folks. I'll be popping in every few days to address any posts you guys make, but after today's post you're off the hook until January. Happy Holidays to you all.

Lance Foxwell (Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16  d20+16=19 ; d20+16=24 ; d20+16=34 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+16=29 ; d20+16=29 ; d20+16=28 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+16=32 ; d3=3 ; d20+16=22 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+16=17 ; d20+16=29 ; d20+16=30 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+16=18 ; d3=1 ; d20+16=25 ; d3=1 ; d20+16=21 ; d20+16=35 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+16=29 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+16=28 ; d3=2 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+16=18 ; d20+16=18 ; d20+16=24 ; d20+16=30 ;
Tuesday December 19th, 2017 11:55:44 PM
Lance casts fly, and joins Murphy in flying as high as he can (2.5 minutes).

ooc: Bunch of Fly checks. Also some d3 rolls, because the dice roller jumps around when the dice-roller text field gets too full.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 27 Hero Points 2  
Wednesday December 20th, 2017 12:57:42 AM
Ooc: okay, as I’m clearing up confusion about how wizardiness works, I’d like to retcon my venturer purchases to the two wands, and some scrolls to be named later, if that’s okay. Then once Jerry approves the character surgery and I figure out what Hobie’s spellbook looks like, I’ll decide the scrolls. Is that cool?

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+14=15 ; d20+16=34 ; d20+16=32 ; d20+16=25 ; d20+16=35 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+16=28 ; d20+16=21 ; d4=1 ;
Thursday December 21st, 2017 1:32:31 AM

Murph thanks Lance for joining in on some of the recon. Now, seeing that the whole town is walled off by the surrounding stone, Murphy quickly consults with the group. "I will see if I can open up two ways out of this wall. First, immediately, the road to Angel Springs. Second, perhaps tomorrow, the road to Hovel - it goes right by our new place where the communal house was. I'm flying back to the east side, and will try to break a hole at least 10' wide and open at the top, so that wagons can go in and out. Can someone come with me in case I need help? I have resistence to fire up, and, once I'm about to start the work in a couple of minutes, I'll also cast protection from fire, and go after the rock as a huge earth elemental" [note: 32 feet tall (or long as he burrows), 32,000 pounds].

"Can the rest of you, besides one or two who choose to come with me, see what you can do around town? Creating water for rooftops and the like would be good. I'm sure you'll find other ways to help, too."

That is what he attempts to do - open a way through the wall in one section, where the main road to Angel Springs passes. With his knowledge engineering of 15, he is able to identify dangerous construction (it's hot for the moment!) and the structure's style or age (it's brand new, in the Vulcan style), but doesn't have quite enough background as yet to determine the wall's weakness (need know eng 20 to do that).

Nonetheless, he begins to rip into the rock, trying to open a passage from one side to another, in as efficient a manner as he is able. He earthglides below, to ascertain how deep the fresh stone is buried, and across, to see how thick it is (though he would also know that from having flown above it).

Taking advantage of his other skills, he drops load after load of water, 20 gallons at a time (once every six seconds) along the sides once he has opened a passage way. If that causes fissures in the stone, he takes advantage of it to further widen the gap.

When he feels he has a good enough passageway (minimum 10' wide, and up to 20' wide if he can effect that), he lays off the work. Alternatively, if the work takes so long that his protection from (and resistance to) fire are about to end, he distances himself from the job, prepared to report back with the current status.

After that, he spends time watering trees, soaking roofs of houses and businesses, trees in his uncle's orchards, and for other people, refilling containers with water. It will be Gunga Murphy - watering, cooling. He includes himself in the showers frequently enough to keep himself cool (evaporative water on clothing and skin has a cooling effect which ought to help mitigate potential heat exhaustion). I think a +4 to fortitude saving throws reasonable if one is being doused with water every couple of minutes - subject to DM modification up or down.

He is able to get through 80 minutes (say averaging ~6x20=120 gallons per minute of water treatment, for almost 10,000 gallons (80,000 pounds) before taking 1 hp of temporary damage, and suffering heatstroke, and becoming fatigued. (It's about time that Murphy becomes fatigued!)

He retreats to the coolness of the tunnels, finds a nook, drinks water, and takes a 20-minute nap. When he awakens, he eats a goodberry (cure 1 hp). He comforts the people in the tunnel, takes off his leather armor, and returns to the surface to resume watering the roofs and plants, and helping people where he may.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Friday December 22nd, 2017 1:19:04 AM

Of a sudden, Murphy says, "The river! Come, friends." Any members of the Sword who are up and about he encourages to come with him to look at the river, and how the fresh wall of stone intersects it. Does it look like the flow is stopped, or does it continue? Is the river steaming at all, especially near the rocks?

If the flow is stopped, Murphy says, "In the morning, we must re-open the flow of the water. For tonight, for sure, I would need protection from the heat, which I now lack. On the morrow, I can cast the requisite spells. The water must flow, the fish must be able to pass. Both upstream and downstream need to be unblocked. It might be good, too, if at least small rowboats or canoes or rafts might be able to pass through. If we do not open a passage, the water will begin to overflow the banks on the upriver side."

He speaks skyward, "Lord Eberyon, thank you for what you have just allowed me to do. Watch over us, and I pray your protection from the volcanic power that wishes to usurp our fertile land."

Bliss / CatBliss (AC20, HP112of116, +3nonlethal) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday January 2nd, 2018 3:43:52 PM

Bliss finds that the oppressive heat makes him sleepy, and he dozes in the dimness of the underground refuge Murphy has so cleverly crafted.

[OOC: Happy New Year, friends!]

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 (shield off) CMD 27 Hero Points 2  
Tuesday January 2nd, 2018 4:03:30 PM
ooc: You guys said that you would get Jerry's approval for Hobie's character surgery during the slowdown, was that able to happen?

If so, then Hobie's wands and scrolls purchased from the venturer will officially be:
1 wand of True Strike 750
1 wand of Identify 750
1 wand of Shield 750
1 wand of Endure Elements 750
2 scrolls of Fly 750
2 scrolls of Heroism 750
1 scroll of Spider Climb 150
2 scroll of Mirror Image 300
2 scrolls of comprehend Languages 50

Total=5,000



DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Wednesday January 3rd, 2018 10:16:40 AM
Welcome back, everybody. I honestly did want to post over the break, but family just plain ol' made that impossible. It was a very hectic two weeks.

To recap, Vé-Eldfjöll and the fire elementals that serve it has begun to stir, and they're none too pleased with Humble's Ford for refusing to worship the power. The party spent days preparing underground shelter for the townsfolk, as well as securing food, drink, and entertainment to get them to show up willingly. Last night, the moon Wardd rose in the sky appearing to be on fire. A wall of hot, jagged rock erupted from the ground, enclosing the entire town & cutting off the flow of water from the river. The entire town was plunged into oppressive heat.

Murphy, being Murphy, sprung into action. He has discovered the walls are three to five feet thick (the wall is jagged and not uniform) and extend down as far as Murphy's able to earthglide. He has begun to make plans to investigate the river and try to break through the wall. Unfortunately, Vé-Eldfjöll and its minions have other plans...

OOC: I'm fine with Murphy planning out and posting several hours worth of actions, so long as you understand stuff may happen before you finish.

***

Murphy and Lance, flying around as they are, are the first to see the fire elementals breach the walls. Rather, phase through the walls. They are many, perhaps two dozen, and they come from many sides. They initially charge through, only to stop short in unison.

Anyone who speaks ignan or has knowledge, nature greater than 10 (ranks + int) can make a DC 15 sense motive roll.

Highlight to display spoiler: {The elementals appear confused. Perhaps they weren't expecting the town to be so...empty?}

Unfortunately, it's short lived and they begin their attack on any nearby halflings or buildings.

***

Here's your janky map. Red squares are fire elementals, gray are NPCs (Roscoe and the guards who were out gathering folks), blue squares are you fine heroes. Move yourselves where you want your initial starting places to be. Scale is obvjously way off, but it'll serve. Fire elementals are large.

Everyone earns 8000 XP for the previous scene, as well as a hero point for putting the townsfolk's safety as the top priority. The children & elderly in town would likely succumb quickly to the heat.

...speaking of which, don't forget the entire town is considered intense heat.

In severe heat (above 110° F), a character must make a Fortitude save once every 10 minutes (DC 15, +1 for each previous check) or take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage. Characters wearing heavy clothing or armor of any sort take a –4 penalty on their saves. A character with the Survival skill may receive a bonus on this saving throw and might be able to apply this bonus to other characters as well (see the Survival skill in Using Skills). Characters reduced to unconsciousness begin taking lethal damage (1d4 points per each 10-minute period).

A character who takes any nonlethal damage from heat exposure now suffers from heatstroke and is fatigued. These penalties end when the character recovers from the nonlethal damage she took from the heat. If you haven't done so, make your initial fort save now, please.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC26, HP96) (Cayzle)  d20+10=26 ;
Wednesday January 3rd, 2018 12:11:10 PM

Witchy Rolls for Bliss to Start the Day!

After waking up, Bliss concentrates on drawing drops of Woldsblood into the Wold. Most of that awesome power he sends onward to Mother Maab, per his pact with her. The rest he uses to power his own arcane spells. His DC14 Concentration check roll is a d20+10, and he rolls a 26 -- perfect!

After his spells for the day are set, he sees how hot it is and casts Rose's Temperature Control spell to relieve the heat. [OOC: I'm assuming that saves Bliss from all heat-related effects?] Bliss recalls stories Mookie told him about Rose when she travelled with his mom, and he blesses the clever arcanist, wherever she is these days.

Then he casts his only arcane 4th level spell, the Three-Fold Aspect magic that lets him be young, middle-aged, or elderly. That spell lasts all day. He changes into an old old version of Bliss (+4 enhancement bonus to Wisdom and Intelligence, but -2 penalty to Strength and Dexterity).

Then, when Miss Pressi is ready, he gathers his followers and hers, plus spirit companions, for the morning rituals. Bliss uses the Basic Ritual of the Grimalkin, the one that gives him the power to be a kitty -- no roll needed with all of Bliss's bonuses vs the DC20 check.

[Correct me if I am missing anybody, but I think we have three followers so far, with more to come? Joy, Chicory, and Jamir? With Pressi, Harper, and Bliss's Pot, that's +6 on ritual checks.]

Leading the whole coven, Bliss uses the Intermediate Ritual of Sharing to share an Extended Resist Fire spell with Pressi and Harper. His Spellcraft roll to accomplish the ritual is 1d20+23 +6 to reach a DC30 ... and it turns out that with help this ritual too cannot fail. At CL7, the Extended Resist Fire lasts 140 minutes, divided equally, gives 46 minutes each to Bliss, Pressi, and Harper. It can be turned on and off with a swift action.

=====

That's the first two hours of the day. Oh kindly DM Carl, what is the difference, heat-wise, for those who are taking shelter in the underground tunnels, and those who are out in the noonday sun?

=====

Just before leaving the sanctuary of the tunnels, Bliss casts an Extended Barkskin (duration 140 minutes). Then Bliss uses his Threefold Aspect to become very young, and he uses his Grimalkin Ritual to become a tiny housecat. Now ready for the day, Bliss heads out with his friends!

=====

Outside, Bliss sees these fire elementals and decides it is time to fight. He activates his Resist Fire (swift action), casts Shield of Faith (standard action), and moves up to fight (move action). If it has reach, it gets an AoO on Bliss as the kitty approaches. Bliss ends turn adjacent to the fire elemental, hissing at it.

[I've moved Bliss on the map.]

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3 (Fire Resistance 10)  d20+10=12 ; d20+17=20 ; d20+17=35 ; d20+12=14 ; d6+7=9 ; d6+7=9 ; d6=5 ; d6=2 ; d6+7=12 ; d6=4 ; d6+7=11 ; d6=1 ;
Wednesday January 3rd, 2018 2:00:07 PM
"The town waits for the inevitable attack, but nothing comes. There's just heat, stillness, and silence..."

During this time, Hobie pulls out his wand of Endure Elements and uses it on himself and his mount, Pippa. He also offers a use of it for anyone else (of the party, not all the townsfolk) who needs it. (Just post if you need it so I can count the charge as used. Duration is 24 hours.)

He also casts Resist Energy Fire on himself, with a duration of 40 minutes. (How long was the wait?)

He pulls out his bow and waits atop Pippa for danger to come.

=====

When the elementals arrive, Hobie shouts "YA PIP!" and kicks his heels into her side. He draws his first two arrows as he guides her with his knees. (DC 5, Ride Check 12)

He unleashes a full volley of arrows at the Elemental "L," moving to "J" if "L" falls.

First shot (Manyshot)
Atk: 20
Dmg: 9 Piercing, 9 Piercing, 7 Cold, 3 Cold

2nd Shot (Rapid Shot)
Atk: 35
Dmg: 12 Piercing, 6 Cold

3rd Shot (Iterative)
Atk 12
Dmg: 11 Piercing, 1 Cold

Spells Prepared:
Level 0 (4): Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Mage Hand

Level 1 (4+1): Grease, Grease, Obscuring Mist, Summon Monster 1, Feather Fall

Level 2 (3+1): Mirror Image, Resist Energy (Fire), Resist Energy (Fire), Spider Climb

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3 (Fire Resistance 10) 
Wednesday January 3rd, 2018 2:39:11 PM
ooc: what are the unmarked orange squares? Are those like houses and various buildings? Also, beware guys, #5 is missing. Probably invisible.


DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Wednesday January 3rd, 2018 4:56:16 PM
OOC: Those underground are safe from the heat. The orange squares are small buildings.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Thursday January 4th, 2018 12:32:56 AM
"Anybody bring marshmallows?" asks Kezzem as he casts resist energy on himself and moves towards the fire elementals.

Lay on Hands 7/day
Smite Evil 4/day

Spells:
1st Level: Cure Light Wounds x2, Lesser Restoration
2nd Level: Resist Energy (cast), Shield Other
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  d20+9=22 ; 10d6=40 ; d20+25=38 ; 3d6=7 ; 4d6=18 ;
Thursday January 4th, 2018 4:21:27 AM

Established over recent weeks:
Murphy has on more than one occasion set up pools of water around the town, and filled townspeople's containers, large and small, with large quantities of water. He has watered buildings, some fields in days before. Pressi has the create water spell, and has spoken of using it here and there. Some work was done in the wood adjacent the Mayor's burrow, with some pools of water.

Let's assume that Murphy was able to saturate the buildings in the area where he made the tunnels - ensuring the buildings at the entry and exit points of the tunnel, and those along the way, were well watered.

[The following is up to our DM to ratify or not] Uncle Orby had been moving throughout the past few days about the town with his jug of endless water (see decanter of endless water), mainly soaking burrows, Madame LaRue's place, the trees near the Mayor's burrow, and the the Mayor's burrow itself. He also soaked many gardens and orchards, and other crops as he was able. He doesn't want his tobacco fields to go up in the wrong kind of smoke.

Murphy left it to Pressi to saturate the Temple and the Center for Enlightenment with her create water spells. Perhaps one or more of the clerics would have been able to help on that, too. The Second Dinner Club is a stone tower - fairly resistant to fire.

It sounds as if the fire elementals showed up about the same time as the Lance / Murphy reconnaissance. So, he didn't head to the wall to dig a way through along the road to Angel Springs, and is still in medium air elemental form. His resistance to fire is still in effect. He has not yet cast protection from fire.

What to do?
Murphy calls out to the others where he sees the walking flames. He speaks ignan, and senses the initial confusion of the invaders. "Friends, the fire elementals are surprised not to see more people out and about. I think we need to spread out on this one. Do well! For Humble's Ford!" As he flies forward, in Auran he calls for air elemental support, as they promised. "Liekit hyökkäävät. Me taistelemme heitä vastaan. Tee, mitä voit tehdä! ('The flames are attacking. We fight against them. Do what you can to make them go!')

From AT7 Murphy casts ice storm in such as way as to include as many fire elementals as possible including C, B and F (not certain of map scale). They each suffer 3d6=7hp bludgeoning damage, and 4d6 cold damage=18hp (25 total) as their firey core feels the effects of the spell. With the moisture from the storm, the crops below may be damaged by the ice storm, but also will likely be highly fire resistant, especially as snow and hail will continue in the 40 foot diameter area of effect. Normally damage would not further accrue to those in the area of effect, but will leave it up to DM Carl as to whether the cold of snow and hail do cause further damage to any fire elementals remaining after this round (duration: 10 rounds / 1 minute).

===========
Sense Motive (the elementals are initially confused): 22vs DC15 - succeeds
[Ignore 10d6 - thought Murphy had quench memorized - he doesn't, sadly]
Perception: 38

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+12=22 ; d20+14=21 ;
Thursday January 4th, 2018 7:25:13 AM
(OOC Posting on tablet, limited moves)

Morning ritual completed. Ritual of warding succeeds.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Thursday January 4th, 2018 9:29:20 AM
Unless she gets request for any other spells, she casts broom of fly to monitor the area.

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour  d20+12=29 ; d8+2=10 ; d20+12=19 ; d20+12=20 ; d8+2=4 ; d8+2=10 ; d20+3=17 ; d20+12=29 ; d20+12=32 ; d20+12=26 ; d8+2=10 ; d8+2=5 ; d8+2=4 ; d20+3=8 ; d20+12=25 ; d20+12=20 ; d8+2=5 ; d8+2=9 ; d20+12=28 ; d20+12=20 ; d8+2=8 ; d20+12=26 ; d8+2=8 ; d8=6 ;
Thursday January 4th, 2018 12:45:44 PM
Bliss spends his morning on his typical rituals. He does find that his temperature control spell provides him protection enough from the heat when he's above ground. At least it's a dry heat.

When the elementals hit, Bliss goes on the offensive as a heavily warded, but still very small, cat. Someone who didn't know any better would be really curious about where he was going with this. The elemental does have reach, and slams a serpentine tendril at the poor thing. Hit AC 29 for 10 damage. Resist energy negates any possible burn damage, but the slams are bludgeoning.

If your followers are planning on joining the battle, feel free to control them.

Hobie uses a wand to cast Endure Elements on himself & his mount, then offers the same to any who need it.

The wait was a few hours, long enough for a Resist Energy spell to expire if you cast it immediately. In your head, when did you cast it?

Guiding Pippa with his knees (successfully), he unloads multiple arrows into the first handy elemental; the cold-infused arrows nearly slaying it. The elemental is barely a flicker.

Kezzem wisely takes a moment to protect himself from fire before moving into battle.

Murphy reviews in his head the preparations taken over the recent weeks regarding pre-soaking the Ford. While it's true a good deal of water has been spread throughout town, there's also the matter of hours of intense heat to contend with. The stone wall may block a breeze and trap in heat, but there's plenty of open sky for water to evaporate to. As such, the following are considered to be sufficiently pre-soaked as to make a difference:

Tunnel entrances
Madam LaRue's
Orby's tobacco fields
The Temple
Center for Enlightenment

It's unlikely the humble burrows would be able to hold on to any moisture long enough unless they were being constantly watered down.

On the bright side, he does correctly realize the elementals were expecting more confusion and easy targets. He recommends the party spread out, then calls down a storm of hail and ice on three of the elementals.

The ice storm extends off the map. That's why it looks squished. Spell description states the bludgeoning hail only falls the first round. We'll see how the elementals handle the cold...

He also calls for aide from the air elementals as was promised. Time will tell if the cry is heard.

Pressi takes to the skies to get a better view of the Ford.

Lance is too shocked for words and needs a moment to compose himself.

Roscoe whispers in the ear of the nearest guard, who then runs off in the direction of the nearest tunnel entrance and disappears. The remaining guards rush the nearest elementals, choosing to stick together when possible.

The elementals charge towards living targets when they're near, but the majority seem to be targeting structures. Elemental 4 injures one guard. 6 and 5 join forces and immolate an unfortunate guard. Poor guy never had a chance.

Several others attempt to alight buildings in the Ford. A small number of burrows are set ablaze, including the mayor's. The pre-soaking is protecting the Center for Enlightenment, but it's only a matter of time before they're successful.

Buildings on fire are marked as crimson

Roscoe, seeing his man cut down so soon, moves to assist.

Elemental K continues attacking this brazen cat. Bliss is hit once for 8 damage.

Elemental J rushes towards Hobie after seeing it's mate almost felled. Hobie is hit once for 8 damage. Reflex save vs 16 or start to burn for 6 damage. Disregard if resist energy is in effect.

The rest of the elementals are busy trashing the town.

***

The damage dice did not like you folks today. Next post tomorrow late morning.

Here's the map.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 74/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3 (Fire Resistance 10)  d20+8=24 ; d20+8=11 ;
Thursday January 4th, 2018 2:31:07 PM
ooc: So from what I understood, when the heat began and the wall came up, the characters seemed to think that the battle would come soon, and were surprised by the long wait, so Hobie would have cast Resist Energy right away and it would have worn off by now.

Hobie takes the 8 damage, but is able to avoid the burn damage (Ref 24). Needing to get away from the elemental to fire arrows, Hobie kicks Pippa and pulls her reigns to ride away(He'll provoke an AOO). After turning her away he'll guide her with his knees (Thats an auto success since my Ride is +10) and attempt to cast Resist Energy while riding away but he screws up the hand motions and loses the spell. (Concentration Check of 11 fails the DC of 12)

He rides Pippa for a double move which is 80 ft. (Are the squares roughly 10ft? I moved Hobie 8 squares. I'd like to get him as far away from the elementals as possible while remaining within the 100ft range of his bow.)

Spells Prepared:
Level 0 (4): Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Mage Hand

Level 1 (4+1): Grease, Grease, Obscuring Mist, Summon Monster 1, Feather Fall

Level 2 (3+1): Mirror Image, Resist Energy (Fire), Resist Energy (Fire), Spider Climb

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 74/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3  
Thursday January 4th, 2018 2:36:44 PM
ooc: Forgot to update my header to remove the Fire Resistance 10

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+11=15 ;
Thursday January 4th, 2018 3:35:24 PM
(Sorry about before. Work and child care have been chopping up my posting time and keeping me off anything more powerful than a cheap tablet.)

(This post is for some backup stuff, with a true post to be made later, hopefully.)

Fort Save against the heat (forgot to make it earlier) - just made it.

Harper - is in the temple for now. She will help lead halflings through the escape hatches if they need to evacuate.

Followers of Pressi - two are at the temple, two at the tunnels. They are instructed to fire at enemies that begin to converge on their location, then to escape with run and gun tactics to lead enemies away from the buildings and towards obvious damage points. In this case, since it's all fire elementals, that means towards the river.

Tower of Air - I never really explained where it should go (sorry, it was the end of the quarter and winter break) but the obvious answer is that field now being pelted by fire elementals and ice storms. I'll assume there was some work done but it was never fully completed.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+16=31 ; d20+16=29 ; d20+10=19 ; d20+10=19 ; d3+2=4 ; d3+2=5 ; d3+1=4 ; d3+1=4 ;
Thursday January 4th, 2018 7:27:40 PM
Kezzem, seeing Elemental J attacking Hobbie, steps towards it and throws his daggers at the fiery creature.

"Hey elemental guy!" says Kezzem, trying to get its attention. "Remember, only YOU can prevent Humble's Ford fires."

OCC: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Quick Draw

Attack #1: +1 Returning Dagger
Attack: 31.
Damage: 4.

Attack #2: +1 Returning Dagger
Attack: 29.
Damage: 5.

Attack #3: Dagger
Attack: 19.
Damage: 4.

Attack #4: Dagger
Attack: 19.
Damage: 4.

----------

Lay on Hands 7/day
Smite Evil 4/day

Spells:
1st Level: Cure Light Wounds x2, Lesser Restoration
2nd Level: Resist Energy, Shield Other
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Friday January 5th, 2018 7:55:22 AM
Pressi was also supposed to cast message before. If it's too late for that, she casts it now.

"There's too many of them. We need to isolate them and corral them, probably near the river."

Pressi casts obscure mist at her location via tatoo (and hero point if needed). She then flies to AY 16, staying out of Js reach.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC24, HP98of116) (Cayzle)  d6+3=6 ; d20+14=20 ; d3+11=12 ; d6=1 ; d20+14=28 ; d2+11=12 ; d20+14=20 ; d2+11=12 ;
Friday January 5th, 2018 8:40:05 AM

Cat-Bliss yowls as he takes 18 damage from a slamming fire elemental. That makes him mad, and he focuses fiercely on the enemy elemental [enters rage as a free action].

The cat bristles, literally! An array of spikey thorns erupt from the cat's fur -- if the elemental hits him again, he'll regret it! [activates plant domain bramble armor as a free action. enemy takes 1d6+3 each time it hits Bliss. Rolling this round: 6 damage per hit]

Then Cat-Bliss leaps at the elemental [five-ft step into its square because Bliss has no reach as a tiny cat.] He mauls it, red in tooth and claw!

Bliss's power-attacking, rage-enhanced BITE hits AC20 for 13 nonlethal damage.
Bliss's similarly boosted RIGHT CLAW hits AC28 for 12 damage.
Bliss's similarly boosted LEFT CLAW hits AC20 for 12 damage.

The cat's AC drops as his furious focus on attack causes him to neglect his defense.

Current buffs: Threefold Aspect, Cat form, Barkskin, Shield of Faith, Resist Fire 20, Bramble Armor (r1), Rage (r1)

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Friday January 5th, 2018 3:22:16 PM
Will post in 2.5 hours - slammed yesterday (2.25 shifts worked)

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Friday January 5th, 2018 7:18:41 PM
"To the west, Lance, to the west!" Murphy encourages the sorcerer to fly to aid those in that direction.

Murphy, which I forgot to mention in my last post, is at an altitude of 80 feet in the air. He begins to cast summon nature's ally IV.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80 
Saturday January 6th, 2018 12:32:05 PM

I meant 60 feet in the air.

What size are the fire elementals scattered about that Murphy has been able to perceive?

Lance (ADM Kim posting for Tanner)  d6=6 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=4 ; 5d6=14 ;
Sunday January 7th, 2018 11:16:15 PM
Tanner casts resist energy (fire) during his round of astonishment, then flies toward the spell that Murphy laid down with his ice storm. He descends about ten feet below the top of the falling snow, and shouts such that a 30' cone of sound envelopes those beneath him, deafening them for 7 rounds, and causing 26 hp of sonic damage (Fort save required vs DC21 to negate deafness and cut damage to 13).

[If Tanner posts before DM Carl, his post replaces this one - or modifies it, as he may wish.]

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour  d20+8=22 ; d20+8=27 ; d20+8=24 ; d6=5 ; d12=2 ; d20+12=22 ; d20+12=26 ; d20+12=23 ; d8+2=9 ; d20+6=18 ; d20+12=14 ; d20+12=27 ; d20+12=26 ; d8+2=6 ; d8+2=9 ; d20+3=16 ; d20+3=22 ;
Monday January 8th, 2018 11:07:48 AM
Hobie needs range, so he and Pippa ride away. The elemental giving chase lashes out as he retreats, striking him square in the shoulder. Hobie takes 7 damage. Reflex DC 16 or start burning & take 1 additional fire damage. Between the jostling and the blow, he loses his resist energy spell. Pity, that...

Kezzem tries to pull the elemental off Hobie so he can get the distance he needs. He unleashes a flurry of daggers, all of them hitting.

Pressi suggests corraling them towards the river. A good idea, if the group can figure out how to corral an enemy that outnumbers them 3-1. He lays down a smokescreen before dashing off.

Melvin, not sure where you were before you moved. Go ahead & mark on the map where you mist is.

Bliss is one unhappy cat. His fur bristles before he leaps at another elemental. All attacks connect and he starts tearing the thing apart.

Murphy urgest Lance to get a move on. From his position in the air, he begins to summon additional aid. From his vantage point, he's able to see a number of air elementals incoming. They should arrive within the next few seconds.

Elementals are large.

Lance gets his wits about him, flies towards the ice storm and shouts down at the very unhappy elementals caught in the sleet. They're made of stern stuff, and all manage to cover their "ears" in time. (All fort saves made. Die roller is not in ya'lls favor this combat.)

The elementals remaining in the ice storm do appear to be having a rough time with the cold. Their flames weaken slightly. They retreat from the cold, looking up at all these stupid flying halflings they can't reach.

Elemental J turns towards Kezzem, skirting around the paladin and staying out of his shorter range. It lashes out, but can't connect. (Hit AC 22 - miss)

If an elemental can looked shocked, K manages to pull it off. It desperately flails at the oddly strong cat currently trying to claw it to pieces, soundly smacking the small thing once. It howls with rage and pain as Bliss' thorns hit back. (Hit AC 26 for 9 damage. 2nd attack misses).

Roscoe and the remaining guards press their attack on the western front, but they're not really cut out to fight these things. One guard steps forward to attack, but the elemental shifts at the last moment, causing his attack to miss. The rest of the guards cautiously move forward, not wanting to give the elementals an opening. Roscoe squeezes shoulder to shoulder with his guards, forming a wall the elementals will have to fight their way through if they want to reach the temple. Other guards press forward towards the party, but one in the middle seems to cower behind the buster.

Unfortunately, the elementals are more than willing to do just that. Two of them land hits on the guards in front of them. The guards stay upright and manage to avoid being caught on fire.

The rest of the elementals continue their task to tear the town to pieces. They find the barrows difficult to burn from the outside, so they begin the task of breaking down the doors. They're sturdy, well made doors, but they'll give eventually.

The Center For Enlightenment's pre-soaking continues holding up, but there's a lot of steam coming off the place. It'll go up soon as well.

Murphy, Pressi, and Bliss *only*, Highlight to display spoiler: {You're overcome with a terrible sense of dread. Your connection to the Wold and the natural world screams out suddenly. There's no indication of what's going on, but you're certain something is happening somewhere.}

All characters, perception check DC 15. Highlight to display spoiler: {A quarrel flying overhead suddenly break their choreography. Individual members of the flock start squawking and flying in all directions, including into each other.}
***

Apologies for not posting over the weekend. This week should go off without a hitch.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 67/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3   d20+8=18 ; d20+14=33 ; d20+14=24 ; d20+9=28 ; d6+15=17 ; d6=6 ; d6+15=20 ; d6=4 ; d6+15=16 ; d6=6 ; d6+15=20 ; d6=1 ;
Monday January 8th, 2018 1:14:16 PM
Hobie takes the seven damage, but shakes off the burn.

While guiding Pippa with his knees, Hobie takes Deadly Aim and unleashes a volley of arrows on Elemental J (moving in order to elementals K and then L if any of them should fall)

1st attack (Many Shot)
Attack 33
Damage 17 Piercing, 9 Cold,
Damage 20 Piercing, 6 Cold

2nd Attack (Rapid Shot)
Attack 24
Damage 16 Piercing, 9 cold

3rd Attack (iterative)
Attack 28
Damage 20 piercing, 1 Cold



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 67/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3   d20+9=21 ;
Monday January 8th, 2018 1:20:02 PM
With a +15 Perception Mod, Hobie notices the birds are a bit crazy and unusual.
Knowledge Nature Roll of 21, does Hobie think anything of it? Or does he just assume this is a result of the onslaught of Fire Elementals?

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 67/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3   d20+9=13 ;
Monday January 8th, 2018 1:23:33 PM
Also, I keep forgetting about knowledge rolls now that I'm a smart character. Does a 13 Knowledge Planes roll tell me anything useful about these elementals?

Bliss / CatBliss (AC24, HP89of116) (Cayzle)  d20+14=22 ; d3+11=12 ; d6=3 ; d20+14=20 ; d2+11=13 ; d20+14=17 ; d2+11=12 ; d6+3=8 ;
Monday January 8th, 2018 1:40:33 PM
Cat-Bliss keeps on scratching and biting the flaming monster relentlessly!

Bliss's power-attacking, rage-enhanced BITE (at +14) hits AC22 for 16 nonlethal damage.
Bliss's similarly boosted RIGHT CLAW hits AC20 for 13 damage.
Bliss's similarly boosted LEFT CLAW hits AC17 for 12 damage.

If the monster lands a blow, bramble armor inflicts 8 damage per hit this round.

Perception Mod +20 means no roll needed. Bliss glances into the sky and takes in the events unfolding.

Current buffs: Threefold Aspect, Cat form, Barkskin, Shield of Faith, Resist Fire 20, Bramble Armor (r2), Rage (r2)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+1=15 ; d20+16=34 ; d20+16=36 ; d20+11=31 ; d20+11=14 ; d3+2=3 ; d3+2=3 ; d3+2=3 ; d3+2=5 ;
Monday January 8th, 2018 4:01:06 PM
Perception: 15

Kezzem moves up into Elemental J's face.

OCC: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting

Attack #1: +1 Returning Dagger
Attack: 34.
Damage: 3.

Attack #2: +1 Returning Dagger
Attack: 36. Natural 20 (Unfortunately, elementals are immune to crits).
Damage: 3.

Attack #3: +1 Returning Dagger
Attack: 31. Another natural 20 (groan).
Damage: 3.

Attack #4: +1 Returning Dagger
Attack: 14. Assuming that misses, but I'll give damage just in case.
Damage: 5.



Lance (ADM Kim posting for Tanner)  d3=2 ; 10d6=37 ; 10d6=34 ;
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 2:19:51 AM
Lance descends to a spot about 10 feet off the ground, and casts cone of cold. Fire elementals B, F, H, G, I, and L are enveloped, or, as in the case of L, largely inside the boundaries of a blast of cold air emanating from the sorcerer's right hand. Each takes 37+34 (that is, the cold damage is doubled) for 71 hp cold damage. Elemental C is barely missed.

He says to Elemental C, "Boo! Wanna help me make a snowman? Tell your boss to land his rocky hot carcass elsewhere. He'll get a cold shoulder here."

[Ignore d3]

Lance (ADM Kim posting for Tanner) 
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 2:21:30 AM

Oh, and that was Reflex save for half vs DC22 for the fire elementals.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) HP 80/80  2d4=3 ; d20+25=44 ;
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 2:55:00 AM

In the Auran tongue, Murphy commands the two small water elementals (that was the d3=2 roll in Lance's post) who just arrived (light blue #1 at AS9 and light blue #2 at AO9). "Drench the fires, and any flames they may cause, but stay alive."

Murphy flies with great haste toward the Center for Enlightenment, dropping off 20 gallons of cool, fresh water down upon fire elemental E (for maybe 2d4=3 hp damage?) near the Second Dinner club (fly by attack), and ending up in the air above the center, looking down upon the three large creatures of flame near the edge of the educational structure. He communicates telepathically with Pressi. "Air elementals are nearing to help us."

In the Ignan tongue, in his air elemental form, Murphy says, "I love fire - in moderation. You are no moderates. You shall flee back where you came from, or be destroyed here. Your choice."
==========
Perception: 44 - Murphy notices a LOT - including the disoriented starlings in the skies above, but simply tucks away that knowledge for later consideration

Lance (ADM Kim posting for Tanner) 
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 8:57:13 AM
Oops. Cone of cold damage would be 37+18=55. 1.5x damage due to cold vulnerability, rather than 2x.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 9:12:09 AM
(OOC: Running a tad late, but my post will be up by 11 AM, thanks.)

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers 
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 10:50:05 AM
(OOC: Can't remember precisely where I dropped the mist - this is why its good to have round by round maps and why I hoped someone else would do it for me - but I can use the current positions and movemet of Hobie, Kezzem, Lance and the river to make a fairly close guess. All the lowercase "m" are obscuring mist.)

With many of the building/Roscoe attackers out of range and Kezzem and Bliss seeming to do fine, Pressi fires one of her only muti-target spells, confusion, at elementals G, I and L (H maybe fits into the 15 foot blast, but I can't tell for sure). (8 rounds, DC 19).

With a swift action, she one rounds her fire resist in anticipation of retribution.

As she taps into the woldsblood, she can hear the screams throughout the earth. Something remains very wrong - well, wronger than the invasion force they now face. She considers moving or telling someone... that she has a bad feeling about something somewhere?

Murphy's summoned water elementals  d20+4=19 ; d20+4=14 ;
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 10:58:25 AM
Each water elemental drenches its adjacent fire elemental [19 vs C, 14 vs D].

Murphy's summoned water elementals 
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 11:45:41 AM

Sheesh. Murphy earlier spoke to the water elementals in Aquan, not in Auran.

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour  d20+11=22 ; d20+11=29 ; d20+11=15 ; d20+11=24 ; d20+4=11 ; d20+4=22 ; d20+4=10 ; d100=25 ; d100=74 ; d8+1=9 ; d20+12=20 ; d20+12=24 ; d8+2=6 ; d8+2=3 ; d20+2=20 ; d20+2=4 ; d6=4 ; d20+6=17 ; d20+6=16 ; d20+6=23 ; d6+1=3 ; d20+10=27 ; d20+10=26 ; d6+3=9 ; d6+3=7 ; d20+12=19 ; d20+12=30 ; d8+2=9 ; d8+2=6 ; d20+5=23 ; d20+5=23 ; d20+12=20 ; d8+2=5 ; d20+2=20 ; d6=2 ; d20+6=7 ; d20+6=25 ; d20+12=23 ; d20+12=28 ; d8+2=7 ; d8+2=6 ; d20+2=22 ; d20+2=8 ; d20+12=25 ; d20+12=28 ; d8+2=9 ; d8+2=9 ;
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 11:53:30 AM
Hobie, able to attack at range again, lets loose 4 arrows. One after one the arrows sink into the enflamed husks of the elementals, flames flaring briefly in pain before the cold snuffs them out. All three elementals he targeted fall.

Glad to see that surgery is working out for you.

He sees the birds break formation. He knows sparrows will scatter to evade predators, but they reform quickly and certainly don't slam into each other doing it. Whatever's happening, what he's seen isn't natural. His knowledge of the planes doesn't reveal anything special about the elementals, though.

Bliss and Kezzem prepare to continue tearing the elementals they targeted apart, but arrows from Hobie take them down & there's no one else in range to attack!

Feel free to make a double move & standard action this round.

Lance unleashes a cone of frost at the elementals. They're nimble creatures & almost all manage to avoid a majority of the blast, but it hardly matters. B and F are snuffed out. G takes the full brunt and is barely a flicker at this point.

Pressi attemps to throw the breaking ranks of fire elementals into confusion. She feels elemental I resist, but the suddenly wavering flames of G an I indicate success. She then provides herself some needed fire protection

Murphy finishes summoning water elementals, instructing each to help put out flames. That's something they can do...

He flies westward towards the Center for Enlightenment, drenching one of the elementals attempting to burn it down. It quenches the flames temporarily, but they return within seconds. The drenched elemental replies in Ignan, "This valley will serve Vé-Eldfjöll. We. Are. Legion."

The ground shakes as it punctuates each word before clouds of dirt and grass are thrown into the air. Two hulking shapes erupt from the earth gracefully, fists pounding the ground as they land. They are cracked, rocky monstrosities, with magma oozing from every crack. Just as suddenly, a third erupts from under one of the local burrows, blowing the roof off the entire dwelling. Magma slowly starts filling the crater left behind.

The elemental looks back at Murphy with a smug look upon its "face".

Elemental G, in its confused state, accidentally punches itself in the face. A fiery tendril shoots straight through the elemental's head & it falls over dead. H and I, finding themselves outnumbered, flee towards their brethren towards the western walls.

In response, a quartet of large air elementals swoop down. One of them happily waves at Murphy as it passes overhead. They take up a fighting stance in the southwestern corner of town, engaging the unmet forces there.

Elemental C and A almost make a dash towards the west. (Lance is flying, but take an AoO against C if you're still within reach.)

3, 2, and 1 finally manage to alight the Center of Enlightenment. It begins to smolder.

Elemental D lashes out at the nearby guard, striking twice and setting the unfortunate halfling on fire.

The guards protecting the Temple continue their attack. One of them manages to connect with elemental 5, but it's barely a scratch. They're pretty outclassed. Roscoe has better luck, striking elemental 4, but it's still not enough. The elemental strikes Roscoe back. He avoids the flames, but is still struck twice. Elementals 5 and 6 also both attack the guards opposite them. Both guards are struck fiercely; one drops to the ground, the other barely holding himself together. (Dark gray guard is downed.)

Two guards close to engage elemental D, but are struck as they approach and lit on fire. Both guards fighting elemental D drop to the ground to try and extinguish themselves. One of them is successful. (Orange guard is on fire.)

The barrows to the east are smoking, but don't appear like they'll go up. Their construction and the death of the elementals mean the flames will likely just putter out. Of course, there's a huge magma elemental right there now. Dirt may not burn well, but magma certainly can do some damage.

Map!

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 67/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3   d20+14=15 ; d20+14=32 ; d20+9=22 ; d6+15=16 ; d6=6 ; d6+15=16 ; d6=4 ; d6+15=20 ; d6=6 ; d6+15=17 ; d6=4 ;
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 12:44:14 PM
Hobie can hear his cousin struggling on other side of the map, and wants to go to his aid, but he's kind of in the middle of three Huge magma elementals. Roscoe will have to hold his ground a little longer.

He guides Pippa out of the obscuring mist, and takes aim at Huge Elemental 1. It's a pretty big target, so Hobie sacrifices aim for extra damage.

Attack 1 (Manyshot)
Attack 15
Damage 16 Piercing 9 cold
Damage 16 Piercing 6 Cold

Attack 2 (Rapid Shot)
Attack 32
Damage 20 Piercing 9 cold

Attack 3 (Iterative)
Attack 22
Damage 17 Piercing 6 Cold



Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 67/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3  
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 12:45:50 PM
I wasn't paying attention, the Manyshot was a Natural 1, so it misses no matter what the AC is.

Bliss / CatBliss (AC24, HP89of116) (Cayzle)  d20+33=40 ; d20+14=15 ; d20+14=32 ; d2+11=12 ; d20+14=28 ; d2+11=13 ; d6+3=7 ;
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 4:20:06 PM

Last Round: Cat-Bliss uses his acrobatics to move into Elemental 3's space without provoking attacks of opportunity, hopefully.

Acrobatics 40

The housecat spits and hisses at the flaming fiend. This Round: Bliss makes a full attack on Elemental 3.

Bliss's power-attacking, rage-enhanced BITE (at +14) hits AC15 with a natural 1, miss.
Bliss's similarly boosted RIGHT CLAW hits AC32 for 12 damage.
Bliss's similarly boosted LEFT CLAW hits AC28 for 13 damage.

If the monster lands a blow, Bliss's thorns inflict 7 damage per hit.

Current buffs: Threefold Aspect, Cat form, Barkskin, Shield of Faith, Resist Fire 20, Bramble Armor (r3), Rage (r3)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Tuesday January 9th, 2018 11:27:19 PM
"Hobbie, stop being so effective at killing this things," says Kezzem as he double moves towards Elemental I. "Er, wait, forget I said that."

OOC: double move

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Air Elemental HP 80/80 Resist fire  d20+25=32 ; d20+4=12 ; d20+4=16 ;
Wednesday January 10th, 2018 1:58:49 AM

Murphy waved a welcome at the incoming air elementals. Now he casts create water to dash 20 gallons of cooling liquid against the smouldering building. Though he wants to stay here, he also fears for Constable Roscoe and his stalwarts. So after the splash, he flies quickly over to join against the elementals which try to approach the temple. Once there, in the air, using a hero point to gain an extra standard action, Murphy scales up (wild shape) from a medium air elemental into a huge air elemental, at 30 (top at 62) feet in the air, looming above fire elemental #4 at the moment, and making whooshing noises.

Though concerned about what he sensed a moment ago, he does not know what he can do about it, other than to deal with the enemies at hand. Are the sparrows still disoriented?
=========
Perception: 32
=========

The small water elementals work on further drenching C (12) and D (16).

Lance Foxwell (Kim for Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16  10d6=36 ;
Wednesday January 10th, 2018 2:07:24 AM

Lance passes over where A and E are at the moment. He figures that the Second Dinner Club should be helping out in this battle, and they're in a stone castle. He whistles, and yells, "Wake up, wizards!" in the halfling tongue as he flies by their windows.

He then casts another cone of cold, catching fire elementals 1, 2, and 3, and the surface of the facing edge of the Center for Enlightenment. The elementals take 36+18=54 hp cold damage, unless they save for half that. The smouldering building should cool off a bit - with an icy sheen where the water from Murphy's spell dampened the wall.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+18=22 ;
Wednesday January 10th, 2018 10:41:05 AM
Pressi watched as creature upon creature appeared on both sides, and felt dizzy trying to keep track of them all. She had a sinking feeling, however, that they might not have the option of focusing on one side of the field any longer.

She had to hope that half the team could continue to handle things on their own. Sighing, she flies forward to AQ16 and asks the guard if he's all right. (She isn't sure of I's confusion state, but decides to risk it.)

(If needed, her acro skill is +11 and she gets an extra +4 to avoiding AoOs during movement (mobility feat). Her fly skill is +9.)

"Hey, can't you read?" she shouts at Magma Elemental 2. "If you want to get in the bar, you have to stop smoking first."

Pressi hits the magma elementals 1 and 2 with a scroll of slow (Rolled 22 vs DC 23, adding +4 from hero point. Will DC 17, 3 rounds.)

Pressi puts up her fire resist quickly. (Swift action)

DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour  d20+11=20 ; d20+11=22 ; d20+11=28 ; d20+18=26 ; d20+18=28 ; d20+18=31 ; 2d8+7=18 ; 2d8+7=17 ; d20+22=42 ; d20+18=32 ; 2d8+7=17 ; 2d8+7=16 ; d20+12=20 ; d20+12=18 ; d6+2=3 ; d20+3=10 ; d6=5 ; d20+3=9 ; d20+12=30 ; d20+12=27 ; d8+2=4 ; d8+2=9 ; d20+3=14 ; d20+12=20 ; d20+12=13 ; d20+12=32 ; d20+12=29 ; d8+2=6 ; d8+2=4 ; d6=6 ; d20+3=21 ; d20+6=15 ; d20+6=21 ; d6=5 ; d20+12=20 ; d20+12=28 ; d8+2=4 ; d100=47 ; d20+4=12 ; d20+4=21 ; d6=2 ; d6=2 ;
Wednesday January 10th, 2018 11:21:53 AM
Hobie hopes his cousin can hold out a little longer, as he's surrounded my magma elementals. Half his shots somehow miss the huge creature entirely, but two sink deep & spread a layer of frost across the thing's form.

Bliss, still a furious little ball of rage, scampers around elemental 3's attempts to slam him & leaps clawing and biting. His teeth sink in, but can't quite sink in far enough. He's able to use the hold to rake both claws through the thing.

Kezzem gets himself in a better position to continue his attack.

Murphy welcomes the assistance from the air elementals' court & soaks the Center for Enlightenment (I assume). He rushes to aid Roscoe, frantically forcing his form to be even larger.

Info on the birds is coming up...

Lance catches three of the elementals in his spell, badly injuring two of them. The fresh water Murphy dropped on the Center for Enlightenment freezes, providing extra protection against the elemental's flame.

He also wonders where the heck the Second Dinner Club's wizards are. It's likely they were at the gathering underground when the elementals attacked, and haven't made their way to the surface yet.

Pressi checks on the guard. He's upright, but clearly outmatched. She turns, lectures the elementals on the subject of smoking, and trys to slow two of them down. Magma elemental 2's actions immediately slow, but #1 shrugs it off w/o issue.

Magma elemental 3 backhands Bliss away, then slams it's giant fists down on him where he lands. Bliss' thorns break off small chunks of the elemental's outer shell, but it's not much compared to what he dished out. Bliss is hit twice - Hit AC 26 & 28 for 18 & 17 damage, respectively.

Magma elemental 1 is clearly unhappy with Hobie. The creature roars and charges towards him, lowering its arm to protect against any attacks of opportunity (Greater overrun). The beast's arm comes up and strikes Hobie and Pippa, knocking them both prone to the ground. It quickly turns and absolutely crushes the prone halfling.

Greater overrun cmb check: 31 vs 24 CMD - Hobie and Pippa are knocked prone (I factored in Pippa's 4 legs in the CMB check). Greater overrun gives the elemental an AoO - nat 20 (confirmed 32). Hobie takes 33 damage from the blow and is prone. Reflex save DC 18 or catch on fire & take 4 damage.

Magma elemental 2 turns and vomits a puddle of lava against the wall of the Pig, immediately beginning to melt/burn through the exterior. It begins to puddle at the base of the structure, but it's pretty viscous stuff & flows slowly.

Several elementals to the north are displeased with Lance, but with the sorcerer 30' in the air, there's not much they can do about it. 3, 2, and 1 decide to make a bee-line for the temple. A and E turn towards the Second Dinner Club & begin battering down the front entrance, where they are joined by 7.

The air and fire elementals in the SW corner of town continue holding their own against each other.

Elemental 4 continues its attacks on one of the town's guards. The guard dodges once, but is clipped on the elemental's follow-thru. Unfortunately, it's enough to catch his hair on fire; the guard is badly burned and in desperate shape. The guard tries to smother the flames, but is unsuccessful.

Elemental 6 lays out the guard opposite it entirely. The guard hits the ground hard, but somehow manages to not catch on fire.

Elemental 5 moves up to surround Roscoe, but keeps out of reach of him. It strikes once, but Roscoe's able to avoid the blow.

Elemental D attacks the inflamed guard, missing once, but viciously backhanding him immediately after. The guard takes the solid hit, as well as the continued fire damage. Luckily, he is able to extinguish the fire. Still, he's barely upright. His companion takes a 5' step, putting himself between D and his nearly dead friend. He presses the attack, but can't connect with the thing.

I and H, seeing their larger brethren have joined the fight, turn back to flank Kezzem. A nearby guard takes a swing at the approaching elemental and manages to connect! A chunk of the elemental's internal husk flies away. Elemental H ignores the weaker opponent, and both focus on strike Kezzem. H manages to connect, but just barely.

Kezzem takes 4 points of damage. His fire protection prevents any burning.

As the combat rages on, several small thumps can be heard hitting the ground. Anyone paying attention will see a number of sparrows hitting the ground, and several more are still in chaos overhead. Perception 20, Highlight to display spoiler: {They don't appear to be just falling out of the sky, they're just running into each other and falling.}

Pressi, Bliss, and Murphy, Highlight to display spoiler: {Your feelings of dread intensify. It's a very inconvenient time, and you obviously have more pressing matters at hand, but you know something big is coming.}

Bliss / CatBliss (AC27, HP54of116) (Cayzle)  d20+10=12 ; d20+10=14 ; d20+10=27 ; d2+11=13 ; d6+3=5 ;
Wednesday January 10th, 2018 12:25:36 PM

Considering these things are not that hard to hit, CatBliss grows a little more cautious as he fights the elemental. [OOC: Fighting Defensively with enough acrobatics ranks to give -4 to hit and +3 AC, dropping his attack to +10 and raising his AC to 27]

Bliss's power-attacking, rage-enhanced, defensive BITE (at +10) hits AC12, miss.
Bliss's similarly boosted RIGHT CLAW hits AC14, another miss.
Bliss's similarly boosted LEFT CLAW hits AC27 for 13 damage.

If the monster lands a blow, Bliss's thorns inflict 5 damage per hit.

Current buffs: Threefold Aspect, Cat form, Barkskin, Shield of Faith, Resist Fire 20, Bramble Armor (r4), Rage (r4)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 105/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+16=22 ; d20+16=35 ; d20+16=18 ; d20+11=18 ; d3+2=4 ; d3+2=3 ; d3+2=4 ; d3+2=3 ;
Wednesday January 10th, 2018 12:34:02 PM
"Your mama hits harder that that!" Kezzem taunts the elementals as he closes on Elemental I and unloads with his daggers.

OOC: Improved Two Weapon Fighting

Attack #1: +1 Returning Dagger
Attack: 22.
Damage: 4.

Attack #2: +1 Returning Dagger
Attack: 35.
Damage: 3.

Attack #3: +1 Returning Dagger
Attack: 18 - 5 = 13 (forgot to decrease Attack Bonus).
Damage: 4 (likely a miss but included just in case).

Attack #3: +1 Returning Dagger
Attack: 18.
Damage: 3.


Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 30/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3-- Currently Invisible, Currently On Fire  d20+15=19 ; d20+8=10 ; d20+8=17 ;
Wednesday January 10th, 2018 1:58:15 PM
Perception 19, Hobie doesn't notice whatever the thing was.

Reflex Save 10, Hobie catches fire.

He and Pippa are tossed by the Magma elemental, and lie prone. Hobie is on fire, and in rough shape. He senses he has a quick moment while the elemental is distracted (He used his AoO in the overrun and I'm assuming he doesn't have Combat Reflexes. If I'm wrong here's a concentration check=17) and casts Invisibility on himself, using Prowler, his bonded object.

If successfully invisible, he shouts at his pony, "Run Away Pip!! Get to safety!!"

Hobie stands up from prone, dusts himself off, and thinks about his next move.

Spells Prepared: Free Spell from Bonded Object
Level 0 (4): Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Mage Hand

Level 1 (4+1): Grease, Grease, Obscuring Mist, Summon Monster 1, Feather Fall

Level 2 (3+1): Mirror Image, Resist Energy (Fire), Resist Energy (Fire), Spider Climb

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 30/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3-- Currently Invisible, Currently On Fire 
Wednesday January 10th, 2018 2:07:54 PM
ooc: As I plot my next moves, could tell me, how tall is the Herbarium, and What is the tallest building in town?

ADM Kim 
Thursday January 11th, 2018 2:09:14 AM
Nick T (Hobie): It's up to DM Carl to tell you precisely how tall the Herbarium is - but likely 1 to 1-1/2 stories high, maybe two at the outside. The mages' Second Dinner Club tower is 4 to 5 stories high, made of stone, and some of it is underground. Three of the floors are reserved for the three (well, for now, two) members of the Second Dinner Club. -ADM Kim

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Air Elemental HP 80/80 Resist fire  2d8+7=16 ; 2d8+7=17 ; 2d8+7=15 ; 2d8+7=20 ; 2d8+7=11 ; 2d8+7=18 ; 2d8+7=17 ;
Thursday January 11th, 2018 3:13:48 AM
Murphy post 20180110

Murphy casts protection from energy (fire) +20. If needed, he again expends a hero point so as to be able to cast the spell, as well as do the following. As he forms into a whirlwind, 50 feet tall and 25 feet in diameter at the top, 5 feet in diameter at the bottom, he comes about 4 feet from the ground at the foot of elemental #4. The elemental will need a Reflex save DC 22 or take damage equal to a slam attack (2d8+7): 16 hp. It also must make a second save or be picked up bodily and held suspended in the powerful winds, automatically taking damage each round.

Murphy moves through the areas occupied by 6 (17hp) and 5 (15hp), potentially catching each of them up. He then continues in a roughly northeasterly path, skirting the temple, and covers (Refl vs DC22, twice each) fire elementals 3 (20hp), 2 (11hp), and 1 (18hp), and ends about halfway between the temple and the Center for Enlightment, ~25 feet in the air, with anywhere from zero to six swirling fire elementals flailing about within the windy vortex.

His large elemental lungs are not silent. In the halfling tongue, he roars, [b]"Send clerics outside to heal the guards, some to create water. Pray to Eberyon, Flower and Ffloy for their aid, for something comes against which mere mortals may not contend." He adds in a quieter voice. [i]"Eberyon, I offer myself more deeply in your service, if you will keep this little town safe against Vé-Eldfjöll."

Note: As he remains about 4-5 feet above the ground, until picking up his last passenger, he is unlikely to strike a halfling, and uses his perfect (precision?) flight to thread the path so as not to pick up any halflings. Only fire elementals in as much abundance as he might.

Lance Foxwell (Kim for Tanner) HP 97 -- AC 18/18/15 -- F+8 R+9 W+11 -- CMD 16 -- Fly +16  10d6=39 ;
Thursday January 11th, 2018 3:34:20 AM

Lance flies south for the winter, gaining slightly in elevation, then lays down once more a cone of cold, this time hitting E, A, and 7, as well as the top of the nearby burrow which suffered a bit from recent flames (AE11). Cold damage is 39+19=58 (or save for half damage). "Give it up, matchsticks!" he calls down to those who batter against the doors. "It's the Center for Enlightenment, not the Center for Lighting Up."

Murphy's two small water elementals  d20+4=8 ; d20+4=15 ;
Thursday January 11th, 2018 7:31:53 AM
Water elementals #1 and #2 politely carry out their summoner's wishes, continuously doing what they can to drench the flames of the adjacent fire elementals [8, 15].

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+11=21 ; d6+4=5 ;
Thursday January 11th, 2018 11:24:09 AM
(Perception cannot fail.)

Pressi tries to clear her head the best she can. Birds flying into each other. Mobile feelings of dread. Cats and dogs living in harmony.

She wondered if she had time to break off from the attack and see if she could divine what was coming. A mouthful of lava vomit and earful of screaming guards told her that maybe not.

"Hey, pay attention to me when I am taunting you," she shouts as she flies behind him. (move action)

Immediate Action: Focused Curse

Standard Action: Touch of Gracelessness (attack roll 21 v touch AC, Dex Damage 5, Fort DC 16 partial, 8 rounds).

Swift Action: Fire Resist

----------------

acive effects

Extended Resist Fire (46 mins each for Pressi, Harper) - Ritual of Sharing
Ritual of Warding - +1 to AC for the day
Flying Broom - number of hours, limited to one hand
message

Spells Used

L1: 1/6+1
L2: 4+1
L3: 4+1
L4: 2/3+1
L1 Tattoo: 1/3
Focused Curse: 1/1



DM Carl - Humble's Finest Hour 
Thursday January 11th, 2018 11:54:59 AM
Real talk, gentle readers:

Tomorrow starts a new module dictated by the PTB. As such, I'll be wrapping up this combat without rolling a bunch of dice. Know that I severely underestimated what you folks are capable of in combat, and know that it won't happen again.

***

Our heroes continue their defense of Humble's Ford. Bliss scratches and claws his way all over the slower, but tougher, magma elemental. Kezzem squares off in a two-on-one battle. Hobie recovers and sends his beloved Pippa away from the combat, and vanishes. Pity he's still on fire.

Murphy sucks a bunch of fire elementals off the Temple's guard, giving them a much needed respite. He calls for aid from the temple clerics, as well as Lord Eberyon, but knows in his heart that whatever's coming is coming too soon. Pressi continues rendering one of the magma elementals until a slow moving, clumsy oaf.

Lance continues being ridiculously effective against these elementals with his attack spells.

Murphy, Pressi, and Bliss all increasingly have a hard time ignoring the sense of dread that's overcome them. It rises to a fever pitch within their minds. Bliss and Pressi especially find it near impossible to ignore the feeling (Will save DC 15 or be shaken). The elementals also seem to be effected. A few of them break combat to look upward and around. In the resulting quiet, the frantic squawking of the sparrow quarrel gone crazy is audible. Several of them fly full speed into nearby buildings. A few fly straight down and crash into the earth. A creshendo of wolf howls echos from the surrounding wilderness.

Something is coming...

***

Everyone gets 4k XP from this combat.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 30/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3-- Currently Invisible  d20+12=20 ;
Thursday January 11th, 2018 3:12:23 PM
ooc: So is this combat over?

Hobie's first action is gonna be to stop drop and roll, trying to put his fire out. Ref Save 20, success.

Invisibility Rounds remaining, 38/40



Bliss / CatBliss (AC27, HP54of116) (Cayzle)  d20=5 ;
Thursday January 11th, 2018 10:49:30 PM

Bliss changes back into a halfling and runs away! "Something is bad!" he shouts. "HELP!"

He runs into the underground warren Mister Murphy made and continues to yell. "HELP! HELP! WATCH OUT! IT'S COMING!"

He changes back into a cat and hides under a chair.

Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (22), HP 83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21 (22), HP 61, CMD 23; Followers  d20+11=26 ; d8=2 ; d8=6 ; d8=4 ;
Friday January 12th, 2018 9:37:32 AM
(Not sure if we are out of combat rounds.)

Pressi has enough presence of mind to fly to Bliss and slap him around a bit. "Calm down! Why isn't a flying witch slapping you calming you down?"

Pressi takes some time to heal Bliss too, hitting him with a cure serious spell. (If there's a way to remove shaken conditions, I don't know it.) (heal for 20 pts.)

Assuming we get more than one round. If Hobie drops his invisibiliy, she hits him with a cure critical wounds. Regardless, she fires detect thoughts followed by detect magic in an attempt to track what is coming.

She also messages Murphy to make sure he is okay and to get an idea of what is happening on the other end of the field.

Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Air Elemental HP 80/80 Resist fire 
Friday January 12th, 2018 12:13:24 PM
Murphy flies with a load of fire elementals being battered about within the whirlwind's vortex. Each takes additional damage (unless reflex save vs DC22) of 2d8+7 - average of 16 due to the environmental conditions. He drops them off in the west side of the river, past the last dock, then, off to one side, sucks up a sizable quantity of water, and begins to head towards the Mayor's barrow. Mentally, he communicates with Pressi what is happening on the west side of town. He keeps open the telepathic link so that she can somewhat experience what he is doing on an ongoing basis.

[If more than one round of action is allowed:] Murphy drops all the water he carries in a manner so as to fully drench the roof of the manor - with likely some splashing down on the fire elemental adjacent to the building. He then makes the rounds to scoop up the five nearby fire elementals - 9, 8, N, M, O - and deposits them in the river waters. As he does so, he is speaking to his fellow air elementals in Auran."Kiitos, ihmiset, jotka elavat ilmassa, etta tulit auttamaan meita. Nimeni on Murphy. Tarvitsemme apuasi viela. Lupaan sinulle upea valkoinen torni. Pida vahtia." - which translates to 'Thank you, people of the air, that you came to help us. I am Murphy. We may need your help, still. I promise you a splendid white tower. Keep watch.'

He then encourages all the citizens to go within the temple, or back underground.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 105/109, CMD 24, Resist fire 20; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Friday January 12th, 2018 1:43:28 PM
Kezzem stands there confused as the elementals retreat.

"Hey, you forgot your daggers!" he calls after them.

He then looks around to recover his mundane daggers.

Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 30/82 AC 21 CMD 27 Hero Points 3-- Currently Invisible  d20+13=18 ; d20+13=28 ; d8+1=6 ; d20+13=16 ; d20+13=23 ; d8=6 ; d20+13=18 ; d20+13=19 ; d20+13=21 ; d8=6 ; d20+13=23 ; d8=7 ; d20+13=15 ; d20+13=32 ; d8=7 ; d20+13=28 ; d8=4 ; d20+13=14 ; d8+1=3 ; d8+1=5 ; d8+1=2 ; d8+1=3 ;
Friday January 12th, 2018 2:04:15 PM
Assuming there is multiple rounds worth of time, Hobie will take out his wand of CLW and heal himself up. He'll remain invisible for the duration of the spell
30+6+7+7+8+8+5=71

He manages to get himself up to 71 health before rolling a 1 and being unable to use the wand for the rest of the day

If enough time goes by that his invisibility lapses, he'll have a friend give him a few more taps from the wand
3+5+3

(leaving my HP in the header until GM confirms how much time there was)

Bliss / CatBliss (AC26, HP74of96) (Cayzle) 
Friday January 12th, 2018 2:40:32 PM

"OW! Miss Pressi! OW! Please stop hitting me! OW"

Bliss calms down some but he is still quaking with fear.

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