The group makes quick work of the roused orcs and goblins, and Jaana finds the lock on the next set of double doors easy enough to foil.
When the doors open, a man rises from a table with rapier in hand. No, not a man. A cambion. The sight brings back memories of Iuz's invasion of the Shield Lands. The strongest and most foul of the Old One's lieutenants were cambions and tieflings. Many of the demon-blooded had fallen to Wilem's blade before they lost Admunfort and Wilem found himself fleeing over the Nyr Dyv. And now another stood before the group.
This is proof of Ludolph's claim that a legion of calamity was threatening Greyhawk.
Wilem hunkers into a battle stance, ready to charge in. He glances down to the back of his shield. The front bears the coat of arms of the Shield Lands, but on the back, where only Wilem can see, is a mural of the Flaeness. It depicts the Shield Lands buffering the civilized nations from the wild savage lands to the north, and when the warrior who wields the shield requires it, the sight of his duty and obligation lends him resolve and strength of mind. Wilem will need it if the cambion tries to ensorcell him.
Unsure How This Going To Unfold So Here My Responses Battlefront Shift(WRL Feature) (1)Show
No Action Martial. Close burst 3 Trigger: Rolling initiative Target: One Ally maybe Breeze Herself. Will Ask How On The OOC Thread Effect: The target shifts half his or her speed.
At the first sign of aggrression starting an combat encounter by an enemy's trigger: Standard:Readied Action -Blur (WIZ10) (1)Show
You cloak yourself with a shimmering aura, making your outline almost impossible to discern. Daily Arcane, Illusion Minor Action Personal Effect: Until the end of the encounter, you gain a +2 power bonus to all defenses, and you are invisible to enemies 5 squares or more away from you
Breeze looking around the chambers was initially unsure what to make of the array of items laying about the room (DC 13 Religion and DC 18 Arcana) and was more intrigued by the courtesy of the tiefling host. The sharp woman answered first while returning matching confidence obscured by a deliberate friendly smile, "Well, met! A kind greeting. Thank you sir, You does sounds as you are reasonable, which is refreshing good meet from that chair you sitting in in this place. Yet before, we offer you an apology for our intrusion, can you explained why you are present here at the Temple of Oerth the Bringer of Darkness or have my rudeness exceeded beyond our more appropiate rudeness we showing because your name is Nerull?" (DC 26 Diplomacy)
BASIC ATTACKS: Widow’s Knife: +13 vs. AC; 1d4+4. Ranged, 5/10 +8 vs. AC; 1d4+1. Fighting Shield: +14 vs. AC; 1d6+5 (Crit. +1d6) Bastard Sword: +14 vs. AC; 1d10+5(Crit. +1d6). Guardian Staff: +17 vs. AC; 1d8+7. (Crit. +1d6) Magic Missile:- Staff: 13 force damage. (Crit. w/Staff=+1d8.) (Special: This power used with the staff doesn't provoke opportunity attacks. {feat bonus.}) Magic Missile: - Tome: 11 damage (Crit. +1d8 cold damage .) Properties: Guardian StaffShow
Critical: +1d8 damage per plus Properties: Energized (force) (When you use an attack power through an energized implement, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls if the power has the keyword that matches the implement’s damage type.). Shielding (Whenever you hit at least one target with an attack power using a shielding implement, you gain a +1 shield bonus to AC and Reflex until the start of your next turn.)
Echo of the North Wind Tome Imbued/Joined With An Athesian Spellshard PropertiesShow
Group: Tome (Most tomes contain one or more wizard spells, often supplemented by information on improving the spells’ effectiveness. You can’t make melee attacks with a tome. If you are a member of a class that can wield a tome as an implement, you can add the tome’s enhancement bonus to the attack rolls and the damage rolls of implement powers from that class that you use through the tome, and you can use its properties and powers. Members of other classes gain no benefit from wielding a tome.).
Athasian Spellshard Properties: You can store wizard daily and utility spells, rituals, and ritual effects that mimic scrolls in this shard. Each item is stored as mental information rather than written words. A spellshard is equivalent to a spellbook or a ritual book for the purpose of holding such information. The cost of storing rituals and scrolls is unchanged, and using the stored information otherwise functions normally. Athasian spellshard can be enchanted as if it were a magic tome.
Echo/North Wind's Properties: Critical: +1d8 cold damage per plus Distant (The range of your area and ranged attack powers increases by 2 when they’re used through a distant implement.). Unerring (You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls against Reflex when attacking with an unerring implement.). Property: When you use a wizard cold power through this tome, and the target of the power is slowed, that target takes damage equal to your Constitution modifier if it moves while slowed. This tome contains two wizard daily cold powers. Both powers must be of a level equal to or lower than that of the tome. Choose these powers when you acquire the tome; they cannot be changed later. You can add these powers to your spellbook.
ENCOUNTER POWERS Powerful Warning(1) Icy Rays(1) Winter Wrath/Readiness -Repelling Sphere/Mage’s Weapon - Powerful Warning(1) Mage’s Weapon Power activates as a Minor Action - Readiness Power is a Free Action Reminiscent Assault(1) Moonstride/Shield(1) Aid The Injured(1)
DAILY POWERS Assault Action Point(0) Wizard’s Fury/Freezing Cloud(1) Stand The Fallen(1) Blur(1) Twinning Ploy(1) Sustaining Cloak Item Power (1) Demonbound (Boon)(1) Repulsion Cloth Item(1) Tome of Transposition/Force Of Fellowship/Bigby's Icy Grasp (0)Show
You must spend a minor action thru the Mnemonic Staff to prepare Force Of Fellowship power. Glitterdust (WIZ5) Arcane Whirlwind(WIZ5) Shield (WIZ2)
@MTG Forums. Contestant: A Contest Like No Other hosted by Fakeartist. An Angelic Aspect In The Wild, Wild World Of The Mata Hari's Agency.
@DnD Forums. Digital Artist In Training: What Do YOU Think MY Character Looks Like's Thread - @4e Character Development forum. Player (Osborn) - Bounty Hunter (Fighter DnDNext): DnD presents The Walking Dead @Play By Post Forum. Player (Shana Zorus) - Professional Bodyguard/Adventurer (Hybrid Warden/Paladin 4e): The Unhallowed Gate @Play By Post Haven Forum (DM by ffShadow) Player (Krist Breeze) - Twiceborn War Mage/Imbuer (Hybrid Warlord/Wizard 4e): Castle Greyhawk - @Real Adventures (DM by Icanus) Player (Blyne Munro) - Happy-Go-Lucky Scout/Explorer (Warlock 4e) Domain of Shadows-Darkness Falls - Play By Post Haven (DM by WhisperMagellan) Player (Ansmril) - Vistani Blessed Psalmist (Bard/Shaman 4e) The Dragon Below Can't Have It This Good - (And I'm The DM) DM - The Young Mercenaries/Ps'V-GoodShip Drow Diplomacy. DM - The Unlikely Diplomats/Ps'V- GoodShip Drow Diplomacy. DM - The Dragon Below Can't Have It This Good/Ps'V GoodShip Diplomacy. Referee - People Of Oz @Dorothy's Kansas Games(inactive). Oz League: The Ardent Lord w/People Of Oz @Dorothy's Kansas Games(inactive). Ps'V = The Players' Vault Forum Group In Which I'm The Owner Of.
Jadeth narrows her eyes, pushing her glasses up on her nose to get a better look at the ring Jaana recovered. She has seen its match somewhere, or at least that geometric pattern, and seen it recently. It wasn’t with the Wardens. No, it was someone in Grayhawk. She can picture the hand, old and wrinkled, and she would almost swear it was on old Acton Kathenor’s hand.
She looks over when Xikel-Dham declares they should strip the gold from the statue and carry it away with them. {Draconic}“I imagine we can grab it on the way out if we need too. You are right, such a large amount would fetch a king’s ransom, but we’d need to spend some time making sure the Curse doesn’t stop us; whatever this Curse may be. This statue seems to have some protective wards surrounding it and that’s never a good thing. It will take some time to dismantle the trap and we first need to stop the Darkness that is rising. Besides, we can always return later for it. Remember the way.”{/Draconic} It is always nice to have a contingency plan.
When the others give her a questioning look, she says, “Xikel-Dham believes we should seize the gold for ourselves. I’m more concerned about setting off the trap that killed that man.” She has no sorrow for the man lying long dead on the tiled floor. She is simply stating a fact. Dungeoneering is a dangerous lifestyle choice and often people die. She reaches up and scratches at her arm. Darn it, the rash looks like it has spread some more. Stupid trash compactor!
Breeze only confirms her suspicions and she passes along the woman’s cautions to Xikel as they turn and retrace their steps, heading into another end of the tower. The come to several rooms that turn out to be sleeping quarters. She throws the door to one open and Xikel leaps through, using his newfound weapon to bash in the skull of an orc peering blearily at them. The goblin sleeping in the second cot cowers on his bed, trying to appear frightened as he sneaks a hand down toward a big knife under the bed. Before his hand can touch a thing, fire erupts from his body and after a short scream, cut off as the oxygen is sucked from his lungs, the burnt husk of a body slumps back to the bed; leaving Xikel and Jadeth to continue following the others.
What they find are not more bloodthirsty orcs but a man pouring over ledgers and counting out profits. Jadeth pushes her glasses up on her nose and takes a look around the man’s office. If she had to guess, she would say this is the man behind the attacks against their convoy. She gives an irritated look at Breeze as the newcomer just tries to take over, but the woman did help Xikel-Dham and that counts for something. Ignoring the woman, Jadeth responds also. “Hello. You seem to have quite the operation down here. My apologies for our abrupt arrival but we were simply following your orcs, who decided to attack us and steal our goods.” Well, technically they weren’t her goods but that isn’t the point. “Some introductions might be in order. I’m Jadeth and these are my companions.” She hesitates, allowing her companions to give their names if they choose and also allowing him a chance to supply them with his name. So far she seems unthreatening, even though she has a sword in her hand. It is pointed away from his and toward the floor and is not even marked with blood, which should leave him feeling a bit safer.
init (1d20+6=14) Frain raises an eyebrow upon sighting the figure behind the desk. With his newfound gloves, he sternly grips his frosted hammer, ready to engage the fellow should the opportunity present itself.
The devil bares his yellowed teeth in a sinister grin, replying to Breeze, "You do me too much honor, madam. My name is not Nerull; I am known merely as Therrat, and humbly at your service." He rises from his chair and offers a courtly bow to the party before him, even though all of them grip their weapons, ready for a fight. Frain even edges closes over the threshhold. The tiefling refrains from drawing his own blade, however, but stands with muscles tensed, prepared to react if anyone should attack or approach too near.
Krana, Jadeth, Jaana, Wilem and Frain can all act next! But bear in mind that several interrupts and/or reactions might come into play, depending on what you guys do.
Effects & Conditions Breeze - Healing Surges 8/8 (17 hp); AP 0 -None Frain - Healing Surges 13/18 (37 hp); AP 0 -Stand Your Ground: Move 1 less square due to forced movement; can roll saving throw to avoid falling prone -Resist ranged attacks 5, resist area attacks 5, resist cold 5, resist fire 5 Jaana - Healing Surges 5/7 (19 hp); AP 0 -Body Control: Pushed, pulled, or slid one square less -Evasion: No damage from missed area or close attack Jadeth - Healing Surges 7/10 (23 hp); AP 1 -Group bonuses: All allies +1 Initiative, +1 Insight, +1 Diplomacy within 5 squares of Jadeth -Armor of dark majesty: +2 defenses vs. cursed enemies Krana - Healing Surges 10/10 (23 hp); AP 0 -None Wilem - Healing Surges 5/11 (26 hp); AP 0 -None
Xikel-Dham - Healing Surges 0/1 (25 hp); AP - -Troglodyte Stench: All living enemies within aura 1 take a -2 penalty to attack rolls
Krana scoffs at the statue, wanting the wealth, but recognizing that it isn't practical to lug a gold statue around, cursed or not. As they press on, she remarks, "Probably just gold plated, anyway."
She helps dispatch the next group of orcs and goblins without much glee, as they don't have a chance to provide a good fight.
As the rest of the party meets Therrat, Krana's voice precedes her, "Ugh, this place is a letdown, you lot hear me? First there's the pillars, then me pigs leave, then there's treasure that's too much hassle to loot, foes that can't be bothered to put up a good fight..." She barges into the room, bloody swords still in her hands. She pushes past the rest and finally gets a look at Therrat. And sighs. "And now the first demon we see is a bookworm. Jadeth, you're his type. Talk books with him, or whatever you bookworms do instead of flirting."
Whirling Rend Pressing Strike []Whirling Frenzy []Whirling Step []Slash and Slash Again [] Unbound Assault []Shrug It Off []Reactive Surge []Action Point []Second Wind []Swift Panther Rage [x]Rage of the Crimson Hurricane []Oak Hammer Rage []Combat Surge
Seriously, though, you should check out the PbP Haven. You might also like Real Adventures, IF you're cool.
Knights of W.T.F.- Silver Spur Winner
4enclave, a place where 4e fans can talk 4e in peace.
Wilem is taken aback by the cavalier attitude his companions take toward the cambion, but he lets none of it show. He merely keeps his gaze intent on Therrat. The group had come looking for a darkness beneath Castle Greyhawk, and followed the orcs to this demon-touched. The course of action is clear to the knight, even if the others are fooled by Therrat's trappings and his scholarly array on the table.
Wilem will use his Standard Action to charge Therrat, ending his move as part of the charge on the table in J-29 (so he jumps on the table, assuming he makes it there).
I won't roll yet, because of the readied or immediate actions. But if he manages to make the attack, it is at +23 to hit AC, and deals 1d8+10 damage (charge+CA for attack, Light Blade Expertise for damage). And he'll Mark as well (again, assuming he doesn't get nuked ).
Jadeth raises an eyebrow as Therrat declares himself humbly at their service. From the look of the man he would not know what humble was if it snuck up behind him and bit him in the butt. Still, he does have manners and Jadeth can appreciate that. She gives him a return curtsy, keeping her sword still pointed harmlessly at the floor.
She gives Krana an irritated look when the woman calls what she is doing flirting. “My friend, you have no head for the subtleties in life. Remind me to never take you to Court. You would find it most boring with all the bowing and nodding properly to one another.” There is that small part of her that would love to do it just to see what the outcome would be. Likely, it would be something that would make the history books and that interests Jadeth very much. Of course, it could also lead to such things as beheadings or jail time and that doesn’t sound like as much fun.
She turns back to the demon. “While I would enjoy sitting down to discuss books and such with you, I imagine a few of my companions are more interested in discussing the issue of your orcs, among other things. Does your Superior know you gave them permission to roam the lands above before it is time?” The information her words reveal is enough to hopefully tease some real information out of him. She does not want to give away whatever slight advantage they may have but she also knows that sometimes you have to give a little to gain a lot. She is hoping to learn more from whatever it is Therrat has to say in response. Her violet colored eyes sparkle with intelligence behind her scholarly glasses.
Do NOT meddle in the affairs of dragons; for you are crunchy and go good with ketchup
Though Frain isn't terribly pleased to see the figure sitting behind the desk but he's even more suprised when Wilem rushes past, charging at the fiend. The dwarf lets out a sigh and rushes in after the knight wondering if he'll have to pull him out of trouble again....
).