RPGWW

by **Kelne** » Tue May 04, 2010 9:05 am

"It sort of reminds me of Filiatierre, in a way. You know, what with the whole possession thing. Only you can't pull it off the person's neck and have them go back to normal. I wonder how bright it is?" Asp pondered, "Was the bear acting like an average bear or something different?" He prodded at the heart-substitute with the remaining half of that oversized knife of his. He had a feeling it might not be quite dead yet, and it probably wasn't a good idea to give it a clear shot at a new host. Assuming it could take someone over without a helping hand.

"Were there any big scars on it before you cut it open?" he asked thoughtfully, surveying the somewhat mangled hide.

by **Idran1701** » Tue May 04, 2010 11:44 pm

Plane of Ice - Village
Clockwork Platoon

Shawn's cyclone descends upon one of the clockwork creatures; it clings to the ice with the sudden suction, but it simply isn't strong or agile enough to avoid her. She slams it back down into the ice, chipping away slightly at its form; it still moves, but indeed it looks to have damaged it some. The remaining five creatures form a tight circle around Shawn, extending their awl-shaped limbs in unison towards her. The tips of the weapons spark with energy, and though she manages to avoid two of the strikes, three of them manage to hit. The energy arcs through her gaseous form in a flash of blue light, and her senses are saturated with the scent of ozone. The weapons and gems both of those three dims, however - it seems they only each have the power to do such a strike once, for whatever good that is to know.

The sudden flash more than draws the attention of Kongunvir and Florence as the two rush to catch up with her, Florence picking up a good deal of speed as she spies the attack.

Open Fields

Before Thirteen or Magpie can respond to Asp's question - though no, neither saw any sort of scars of that nature - a flash of light draws their attention in the distance. There, they all can just see Shawn facing the six creatures past the meeting hall.

Shawn inflicts 5 damage on the clockwork beast. The remaining five all attack her; two miss, and three hit for 18 damage, bringing her to 1 hp.

Kongunvir and Florence are still a little about half a minute (6 rounds) away at top running speed, the rest of the party about 2 minutes. Luckily, the creatures seem not to have any ranged attacks - even the electric blast looked to be melee only.

by **Shinigori V2** » Wed May 05, 2010 12:16 am

Shawn screamed at being electricuted, something she was not expecting, especially as air. She began floating up, quickly losing much of her stature and mass- In fact, shrinking down much smaller than she even was before. She floated up, just trying to get away now.

----

Thirteen looked over in the direction of the flash, before turning that way, fully. "We will have to discuss it later. I believe we're needed. I have already triangulated the position. Allow me."

In front of her, a small, whirling purple vortex appears, and she calmly reaches into it, and begins digging around.

----

By the machines, a small, purple vortex opens up, before a bulky, sky blue hand appears and begins feeling around. After a moment, it seems to catch hold of the damaged machines leg, and gives it a sharp tug back towards the vortex.

----

Thirteen yanks her hand out of the portal, with something in hand- A piece of a machine. Parts fall off and scatter slightly, as she drops the leg entirely, and the vortex opens enough to allow passage for a whole person. "I will be right behind you."

by **Idran1701** » Wed May 05, 2010 12:25 am

(Just posting to confirm that one of the robots is dead now, and the ones out in the field can catch up immediately now. A bit much for Thirteen, but I allowed it since it was awesome; everyone else should keep in mind that I'll usually do that for awesome stuff that bends the rules harmlessly if you check with me first. :D)

by **Kelne** » Wed May 05, 2010 1:51 am

Asp, naturally, stepped right through the portal and, taking a look at the tightly packed constructs, lobbed a fireball at them.

by **ChristianC** » Wed May 05, 2010 3:32 am

Magpie already had her sword drawn, and her eyes flared up as she heard Shawn's scream of pain. Without a second thought, she passed through the portal, all six and a half feet of wood and platinum, and felt a strange sucking sensation as her... well, what could pass for innards, shifted inside her.

The construct wasn't affected.

Once she came through, the green blade of her two-handed sword seemed to glint slightly as she raised it, striking at one of the machines with utter precision as she spoke a word that seemed mostly to be a drawn out series of vowels.

Creator's Tongue:

Spoiler:

She presumed they would not understand, but if there was even the remotest chance they could understand, she wanted to give it a shot. What would pass for a feeling of regret went through her as she swung her blade, she didn't much like killing other constructs.

by **Jak Snide** » Wed May 05, 2010 4:48 pm

Kongunvir was running full-pelt when the others began to emerge from the portal and strike down the constructs. He didn't know if they'd planned it or not but it was a masterful ambush and one that might save Shawn. A grim battle was about to become a slaughter and grinning in anticipation of the fight, he put all of his strength into powering him forward. It was at that point he tripped.

He managed to land on his shield, sparing him the indignity of mashing his face into the ice. Before humiliation could take hold he noticed with a mixture of amusement and disbelief that he hadn't come to a stop. He'd landed square atop his shield, the exquisite gem-encrusted workdwarfship exposed as the cloth he'd bound it in was torn away, and was careening at ever increasing speeds across the ice and towards the melee. Not quite how he'd planned to enter the fight but he'd take what he could get.

(To steal Idran's words, dwarf curling time.)

by **Besyanteo** » Wed May 05, 2010 10:33 pm

Phelan had not taken part in talking about the ruined bear with the others, largely because he had spent the time struggling not to vomit. He was only dimly aware of what they were talking about, so when Thirteen opened a portal and Asp waltzed through, he wasted no time in bounding after.

On the other side, he found himself in the midst of a fight with the damnable things. He coughed, recovered, and leapt at the nearest one.

(Standard attack, any of the constructs that isn't already being attacked)

by **Idran1701** » Thu May 06, 2010 1:58 pm

Plane of Ice - Clockwork Platoon

Asp is the first to step through, and this time his efforts pay off, as a small spark shoots off from his outstretched hand. Flying into the center of the close-packed circle, it flares into a flaming orb 40 feet across, with a flash of light and heat, and a cloud of steam. Some of the creatures are quick enough to scatter, suffering only severe melting to half their forms, but two of them are entirely consumed in the flames.

Magpie calls out to them, but she receives no response nor even recognition. Her blade slices cleanly through one of the clockwork beings, upper-half shattering under the force of her slice, and what remains crashes to the ground. Nearly at the same moment, Kongunvir slides in on his shield, axe in hand, and in one solid blow from his axe, another being explodes into shards of ice. Phelan leaps at the final construct, crushing its frigid shell under his strong jaws. Ripping into the construct with his full lupine force, he rips one of its limbs from its body, and shatters its armor, leaving it twitching on the ground, unable to make the slightest motion.

And the threat now appears to be ended.

720 XP for all!

by **Jak Snide** » Thu May 06, 2010 8:28 pm

Kongunvir slowed himself to a stop, aware that the constructs had already been dispatched. His mind glossed over the indignity of his arrival, instead pushing himself to his feet with a grin on his face as he surveyed the destruction.

"Good work. I don't suppose you had that planned all along?"

by **Idran1701** » Fri May 07, 2010 1:53 am

Plane of Ice - Destroyed Platoon

As Kongunvir slows himself, Florence finally reaches the scene, stopping at the edge of the small, perfectly-round lake left by Asp's fireball. Staring up into the air, she looks for any sign of Shawn before turning to the rest of the party. "Do any of you have a...a healing potion, or wand, or...anything? Shawn was hurt pretty bad, it sounded like, she'll probably need something."

by **Kelne** » Fri May 07, 2010 8:58 am

"No, completely spur of the moment," Asp said, squatting down to examine the twitching construct. Having seen them in motion, he wondered if he could rebuild one. He had the odd impression they hadn't been shaped by humanoid hands. There was that touch of the alien about them. Perhaps these were constructs as modeled after some eldritch horror? Or pared down to the most efficient design by some particularly crazed - No, that wasn't right. 'Paring down' and 'efficiency' just weren't in the gnomish vocabulary.

"No potions, I'm afraid," he went on, "I'll have to remember to pack some next time."

by **ChristianC** » Sat May 08, 2010 3:02 pm

Magpie looked around, giving Florence an almost comically large frown as she sheathed her blade, glancing down at the broken constructs.

"I am sorry Florence, I do not carry such an object. Where is Shawn, is she with the villagers?"

by **Shinigori V2** » Sat May 08, 2010 10:07 pm

Thirteen frowned, and raised a finger into the air. Closing her eyes, she opened a vortex, and began to pull the air above the group into it.

A moment later, she reached in, and pulled out...A jar. Being extremely careful, she presents it to Florence. Inside is Shawn...At very greatly reduced dimensions. "This is the largest she can manifest herself physically." Thirteen says. "She is brash, and lucky to be alive. I have something I would like to ask of you, Florence." She continues, looking at the others. "In private."

In the jar, Shawn looks sleepy and weak, at best. Still in air form, she looks up at Florence, before lowering her head in either shame, embarrassment, or both.

by **Idran1701** » Sat May 08, 2010 10:16 pm

Plane of Ice - Destroyed Platoon

Florence takes the jar, sighing with relief at the fact that Shawn's at least still alive, if badly hurt. She nods absently to Thirteen, and turns to the rest. "I'll meet you all back at the hall, all right? Stay safe." She splits off from the others, heading off and away, where she can Thirteen can speak quietly.

Going to assume everyone's heading back there to rest until tomorrow, unless anyone speaks up otherwise.

by **ChristianC** » Mon May 10, 2010 3:40 pm

Magpie looked at the bottle with worry, before nodding to Florence.

"Of course. If there is anything that requires repair or mending, do not be afraid to ask. It is a task I am versed in."

And with that the construct joined the others in heading back.

by **Idran1701** » Mon May 10, 2010 10:04 pm

Plane of Ice - Village

The travelers return to the meeting hall to rest, with Florence obtaining healing potions from the village priest for Shawn's sake. Thirteen seems to have vanished for now; from what Florence says, she left through some sort of portal after speaking with her. Supplies are still short, but with the outsiders' devastating victory, two of the guards work up the courage to hunt down a wolf or two for the sake of the villagers - accepting any offered help, of course. Shocked at the state of the bear carcass, they, and in fact all in the village, seem completely clueless about this, with no clue whatsoever about whatever the clockwork creatures had done to the animal.

Hours upon hours pass, and the party sleeps the night in the crowded hall. By next morning, they're well-rested, with both a destination and a route to get there. The guards insist on staying here to protect one another, but the priest promises whatever aid he can offer upon their return.

Shawn's fully healed by next morning thanks to the priest's potions and spells, and Asp regains all his spells.

by **Kelne** » Tue May 11, 2010 9:17 pm

"Right then," Asp said, having bolted down some breakfast and memorised his spells, "To the remorhaz caves!" It was difficult to argue with a statement like that, particularly when the speaker promptly set off out the door towards said caves without waiting for a response.

by **Jak Snide** » Wed May 12, 2010 5:12 am

Kongunvir had inspected the bear's carcass with the villagers and was equally disturbed by the state of it, more so when he obtained the account of those that had found and killed it. There was no doubt in his mind where it had come, nor as to what had corrupted the creature. The prospects of the missing hunters were not looking good. He didn't sleep well that night, his agitation compounded by what seemed to be a newfound wariness of those around him. His shield never left his grasp, even as he slept.

"Is there any way of tracking where the bear came from?" he asked the others as he prepared himself for travel.

by **ChristianC** » Wed May 12, 2010 5:53 am

"It could be done," Magpie added, packing her weaponry as they made to leave. They were all razor-sharp and spot-clean, as always. "And an inspection should be done, but there is a very high probability that winds, falling snow and other factors unaccounted for may have disrupted the track. It is also impossible to discern how long ago this was done to the bear, and how far it has travelled since it happened. The caves would, I believe, be a more likely place to start looking."

by **Jak Snide** » Wed May 12, 2010 6:07 am

"I expect the trail to lead back there anyway." he said with a nod.

by **Shinigori V2** » Wed May 12, 2010 10:13 pm

Shawn sat up from eating her breakfast about that time, getting a quick cigarette down and munching a hand full of candy. "I don't know if the caves is such a good idea." she says. "If we know they're in there, why not just collapse them?"

by **Besyanteo** » Wed May 12, 2010 10:32 pm

Phelan looked up sharply at Shawn's words.

"Because my friend is probably down there with them."

by **ChristianC** » Thu May 13, 2010 2:39 pm

Magpie nodded. "Your suggestion is not without merit, Shawn, but consider the undertaking of collapsing these tunnels. They are supposed to be quite extensive, and we lack the proper equipment and manpower to ensure that there are not pockets in them where they could remain. Naturally, as Phelan points out, there might be survivors who would require rescue."

She thought for a little while and then nodded, "But if there is a possibility, and the source of these constructs cannot be found, or proves indestructible, I would suggest we follow Shawn's advice and attempt to at least isolate them from the rest of the world."

by **Shinigori V2** » Thu May 13, 2010 11:32 pm

"See? Magpie knows what's up."

by **Idran1701** » Fri May 14, 2010 12:29 am

Plane of Ice - Village

With quiet laughter, Florence nods to Shawn. "If we have to. I agree with you too, Magpie. If we have to, it's a tactic we should keep in mind."

Plane of Ice - Remorhaz Caves

Some hours later, the party reaches the plateau - a great edifice at least 40 feet tall and hundreds of feet around - and the tunnels that once marked the remorhaz's lair within it. In the ice wall before them is a circular passageway easily 8 feet across that quickly curves off to the right, the walls rippled with the sign of once-dripping water since frozen. Through the ice walls and ceilings can be glimpsed strange shapes in the distance, far too obscured to make out even their size, let alone what they are. However, familiar-looking scratch marks along the floor suggest that indeed, the clockwork beings have been here before.

The bottom of the passage here is slick and difficult to walk on, especially for the taller members of the party. Progress is slow as they move forward, and while light does filter in through the icy ceiling, everything inside is swathed in a blue glow. Sounds echo strangely within the tunnels, quickly giving the impression of being miles beneath the surface after barely five minutes' trek. Here and there can be seen signs of past occupants of these tunnels: Decades old rabbit bones gnawed clean. A sheet of leather with the burn marks of a past campfire. An old rusted suit of chainmail caked in frost.

Numerous splits mark the tunnels, but Phelan finds it fairly easy to track the scent he noted before, leading them along a path through the three-dimensional mazework. Overall, this route seems to slope downwards for the most part, bringing them down easily dozens of feet. After 20 minutes or so of Phelan's navigation, they emerge into a nearly-circular cavern at least 20 feet across and perhaps 15 feet wide, with a slightly rounded ceiling and floor. From the scale patterns even now still marking the ice, it seems this is where the remorhaz curled up to rest while it still lived. A second, perfectly-rectangular exit leads out, guarded by two clockwork beings nearly identical in appearance to the ones destroyed yesterday. At the sight of the party, they immediately step forward, weapons out.

Initiative

Kongunvir 21
Asp 20
Florence 13
Clockwork 11
Phelan 11
Shawn 8
Magpie 5

by **Jak Snide** » Fri May 14, 2010 7:38 am

Kongunvir held his position for the moment, expecting the sorcerous types with him to have some magic prepared. No sense in exposing himself to friendly fire.

(Delaying until after Florence's turn and then will charge into combat, provided that doesn't take him into some sort of hazardous terrain. He'll also take a second or two to check for any signs of ambush or traps while Asp and Florence are acting.)

by **Kelne** » Fri May 14, 2010 8:32 pm

Well, talking their way past probably wasn't going to work with such narrow-minded sentries. Today at least, Asp was saving his fireball spell for later on. Which didn't mean he couldn't contribute. Conjuring up a small air elemental, he sent it into battle against the constructs.

(Summon monster II)

by **Idran1701** » Fri May 14, 2010 10:51 pm

Plane of Ice - Remorhaz Tunnels
Clockwork - Round 1

Asp reaches out, pulling an elemental from the nearby plane of Air. A swirling column of light-grey wind just about his size manifests before him, like a miniature tornado. Two darkened spots in its form seem to peer out, and the elemental swiftly moves forward, battering at one of the two clockwork beings, chipping away slightly at its mass. As Florence moves past Phelan between the two constructs, Kongunvir steps up, swinging his axe, a blow the creature just manages to duck beneath. Meanwhile, Florence grips the same target, trying to toss it into the center of the room, but its slick surface renders her attempt useless. It strikes back at her in kind, slicing her arm and drawing a thin line of blood.

The two creatures respond in kind; the left sends its bladed arm through the elemental being, slightly dispersing its form some, while the right charges its electric arm, sending a strong shock through Kongunvir's body.

Forgot to put this together originally: Battle Mat

Kongunvir delays to Florence's turn
Asp casts Summon Monster II to summon a small air elemental.
Elemental attacks Clockwork 1, hits for 4 damage
Kongunvir moves to C4 and attacks Clockwork 2, misses
Florence moves to B3 and attempts to grapple Clockwork 2, fails
Clockwork 2 makes an AoO against Florence, hits for 1 damage
Clockwork 1 attacks the elemental, hits for 2 damage
Clockwork 2 attacks Kongunvir with its electric probe, hits for 8 damage

Asp: 20
Elemental: 20
Kongunvir: 13
Florence: 13
Clockwork 1: 11
Clockwork 2: 11
Phelan: 11
Shawn: 8
Magpie: 5

by **Besyanteo** » Fri May 14, 2010 11:01 pm

Phelan moved in quickly, hoping to succeed where Florence had failed... after a fashion. He moved quickly between Kongunvir and the Elemental, attempting the quickly grab the clockwork that had already expended it's lightning probe and, should that succeed, hurl it bodily at the clockwork who had yet to do so. With any luck, both would shatter. Without... well, it was still worth the attempt.

(Move to C3, and as we discussed via IM)

by **Idran1701** » Fri May 14, 2010 11:10 pm

Plane of Ice - Remorhaz Tunnels
Clockwork - Round 1

Phelan darts forward, gripping the clockwork in his mithril-capped jaws, but the being clings too tenaciously to the iced floor with its claws, and his twist does little more than dislodge a single of its legs. Meanwhile, Shawn shifts form in the tunnel, taking on her familiar tiger-like appearance in preparation to strike.

Battle Mat

Phelan moves to C3 and attempts to grapple Clockwork 2, fails
Shawn changes to her tiger-girl form

Asp: 20
Elemental: 20
Kongunvir: 13
Florence: 13
Clockwork 1: 11
Clockwork 2: 11
Phelan: 11
Shawn: 8
Magpie: 5

by **ChristianC** » Sat May 15, 2010 3:38 am

Magpie's sword was brandished in an instant, but the construct had had her attention occupied by something else and before she could enter the fray, it was already underway. With typical effectiveness she stomped forward, quicker than you'd expect from her large and clumsy-looking body, and swung her green-shimmering blade towards one of the mechanical creatures.

[Moves to C1 and attacks the leftmost clockwork]

by **Idran1701** » Sat May 15, 2010 4:22 am

Plane of Ice - Remorhaz Tunnels
Clockwork - Round 1

Stepping forward, Magpie swings her green steel blade into the clockwork being, slamming it against the wall and sending shards of ice into the air. It twitches, some semblance of "life" still in its form, but it seems no threat now.

Battle Mat

Magpie moves to C1 and attacks Clockwork 1, hits for 12 damage

Asp: 20
Elemental: 20
Kongunvir: 13
Florence: 13
Clockwork 1: 11
Clockwork 2: 11
Phelan: 11
Shawn: 8
Magpie: 5

by **Kelne** » Sat May 15, 2010 7:53 am

Well, the others seemed to have the clockwork crabs pretty well surrounded, and would no doubt finish bludgeoning them down in short order. Not much room for him to help, really. Asp simply waited for the time being.

"You know," he confided to Shawn, "It's a shame we can't just disguise ourselves rather than hacking our way through however many of them there are."

by **ChristianC** » Sat May 15, 2010 10:46 am

Seeing her foe down, the construct stepped up to it and spoke something more in that strange language before attempting to deliver a coup-de-grace to her nearly-downed foe. There was a stern look on her face.

by **Jak Snide** » Sat May 15, 2010 12:39 pm

The machine was trapped now, cut off from the tunnel it was guarding, and leaving them the simple task of butchering it. It could doge all it wanted, but sooner or latter it'd fall to one of their blows.

(Standard Attack)

by **Idran1701** » Sat May 15, 2010 4:53 pm

Plane of Ice - Remorhaz Tunnels
Clockwork - Round 2

While Asp waits in back with Shawn, his elemental takes to the air, hovering over the construct and battering it from overhead to no avail. Florence takes a swing at the creature, but it steps back, right into a blow from Kongunvir's axe that shears off its probe. It strikes back, slashing at the dwarf, but its weapon strikes uselessly against his shield.

Battle Mat

Asp does nothing
Elemental hovers over Clockwork 2 and attacks, misses
Florence attacks Clockwork 2, misses
Kongunvir attacks Clockwork 2, hits for 8 damage (6/14)
Clockwork 2 attacks Kongunvir, misses

Asp: 20
Elemental: 20
Kongunvir: 13
Florence: 13
Clockwork 1: 11
Clockwork 2: 11
Phelan: 11
Shawn: 8
Magpie: 5

by **Besyanteo** » Sun May 16, 2010 12:15 pm

Phelan snaps at the remaining clockwork creature, content to simply try to destroy it now.

(Standard attack)

by **Idran1701** » Sun May 16, 2010 7:24 pm

Plane of Ice - Remorhaz Tunnels
Clockwork - Round 2

Snapping his jaws on the clockwork's body, Phelan crushes the upper form into shards of ice, ending the threat to the party here. With no more enemies to fight, the elemental drops back to the floor of the room, floating over to wait by Asp.

With the two creatures taken care of, Florence relaxes, glancing down the tunnel beyond. "Do you think they heard this? Wasn't anything especially loud.."

160 XP apiece

by **ChristianC** » Mon May 17, 2010 5:04 pm

Magpie shakes her head at Florence's question, carefully cleaning her blade with a small, embroidered cloth.

"We kept our voices low, so there is a high chance they did not. However, tunnels like this make for bad terrain to surprise your opponents in, sound can carry miles." she tucked the handkerchief back into a small pocket on her belt and nodded matter-of-factly.

"I believe we will soon discover if they heard us or not. These constructions seem to lack any true intelligence to speak of," She said this part with some bitterness in her voice, "I find it unlikely they will attempt to ambush us."

Who is online