Anklebiter the Insane |
Well, at least two unknown Elves gave us something useful. They gave us a Kelendra and a Calla! ^^
DM Bigrin |
One of Eviana's councilors said, "We can provide a few quivers of cold iron arrows, and perhaps daggers for each of you, but the majority of our weaponry is simple steel. I'll have someone deliver those to you later this evening."
Eviana spoke again. "Would you care to accept this mission, to attack the library and hold it against drow reinforcements until the rest of the army arrives? I realize that we have not told you all that you wish to know. For now, trust is everything."
Kelendra Shae |
"We do accept the mission. Please, let us end this battle quickly." Kel turns to her companions, "I can provide light as often as our foes can summon darkness and each touched object will glow for a full hour. Perhaps stealth is not our best option against this foe?"
Anklebiter the Insane |
"I'm with them," Anklebiter says, stoutly, and he folds his thin arms in front of his toastrack chest, nodding firmly.
Calumny "Calla" Tas'vere |
"We'll be ready," Calla replies, ready to leave the tent.
So, what's the plan? Invisibilize Kel and Lefrik so we can get close? Doesn't seem like we'll have access to anything but cold arrows; which Calla will happily take.
Anklebiter the Insane |
Anklebiter has no need for cold iron bolts without a crossbow... But if the Elves have any toxic vermin on offer, he'll be glad to take a bagful. ;) He could finally see some use for his Goblin Toss-Glove!
DM Bigrin |
Any other preparation you want to do can be done in flex time.But, I do need to know how you are approaching the library. Your options (that I know of) are: from the north along the Path of Fallen Shadows, directly from the west, along a well-trodden path, or from the south, though the forest. Or, if you have other ideas, I am all ears...not unlike the elves.
Anklebiter the Insane |
I vote for the forest. The well-trodden path just screams 'archer ambush' to me. At least among the trees, our enemies should be hampered as much as we will be... Unless the green dragon is there. ^^;
Bruendor Cavescouter |
Make that three votes for the southern route. I suspect the Path of Fallen Shadows isn't guarded by the drow, but I doubt we're kitted out to fight multiple incorporeal undead, whatever they might be. Based on the description, the player is guessing allips, but Bruendor has no real clue, other than little interest in fighting them.
Calumny "Calla" Tas'vere |
Southern route it is, then. Invisibility spells for Lefrik and Kelendra? Also, I'm adding 20 cold iron arrows to Calla's gear; she plans to wear two sets of quivers. One with 20 regular arrows, the other with 16 cold iron arrows and 4 elfbane arrows. The rest are in her backpack, but will take time to fish out.
DM Bigrin |
At dawn the next day, Shalelu came to you with two quivers full of cold iron arrows and a handful of cold iron daggers. "This was all I could scrounge. We haven't had to face the demons too often, and massed arrow flights do the job. But, should you need it, these might help. Also, you'll need this."
She handed a smooth stone to Anklebiter. It was roughly the size of his palm, and cool to the touch.
"This is a signal stone. When it heats up, you have a half hour to take the library before the main army moves in. We have the initial assault planned for noon. That gives you nearly four and a half hours to get in position to launch your attack. Fortunately, the library is only a half hour away. So, that should give you plenty of time to get there no matter the route you choose."
"One more thing. The enemy may have spies, physical or otherwise, in our camp. That is one of the reasons for our secrecy, and why no more information is shared than needs be. I apologize for keeping you 'in the dark' so to speak, but rest assured I think it necessary."
Anklebiter the Insane |
Anklebiter accepts the stone, and tucks it in a pocket.
The Goblin frowns at the mention of spies in the camp.
"What kind of Elf would tattle to the Drow...?" he wonders out loud.
But the next moment, he shakes his ears. "We'll have to find out later. Let's go, let's go!"
Did Anklebiter ever have that chat with the other Mages so they could copy his summoning spell? ^^
Anklebiter the Insane |
Hey, I know not every Mage has every spell! ^^; I was honestly trying to be helpful.
Kelendra Shae |
Kel gladly accepts the cold iron weapons, careful to conceal her shaking hands. "May Desna bless us all against these foes." Though she tries to speak with strength, the slight waver in her voice betrays the fear.
Anklebiter the Insane |
"Brigh, Gozreh and Nethys, too," Anklebiter says, making respectively the signs of the Turning Cog, the Wind and the Wave and the Shattered Mask with every semblance of sincerity.
"Hmm," he muses. "Maybe I should buy some holy symbols when we get back to Riddleport."
Anklebiter the Insane |
Anklebiter shrugs. "Some gods, showing you'll drop a coin in the plate to be allowed to carry their symbol also shows willingness to do something," he says. He scratches himself behind an ear. "Brigh's faith is not big," he says, confidentially.
Calumny "Calla" Tas'vere |
I think we're ready to move on, DM.
Kel and Lefrik, do you want to be invisible as we go up the south trail? I've got four uses total, so if the rest of us sneak, I can actually get you both twice if need be.
DM Bigrin |
The trail used to come up on Celwynvian from the east was in fairly good repair for the first quarter mile or so, then quickly degenerated. After some final directions from Shalelu, you split off into the woods, confident that you would have plenty of time to get into position for the raid before the stone in Anklebiter's hand grew warm to the touch. From the south, there were no trails, and you had to make your way through the forest's undergrowth. It took a good hour or more, but finally the top of the library was in sight.
It looked exactly as it had been described to you, and from the sketch on the map; a two story building that looked as if an egg had been fused to a sphere with a short hallway between.
Here is the map. You are at the edge of the woods, I just didn't have time to put the trees in.
Anklebiter the Insane |
"We have thirty minutes starting now," Anklebiter whispers to the others. "But we need to go carefully! Bruendor, will you please check for traps while Kelendra and I check for magic? Calla and Lefrik, you keep an eye out for beasties and boggles."
The Goblin mutters two spells in quick succession and takes a good look around...
Anklebiter casts Detect magic and Extended mage armour. Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14, Spellcraft 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Bruendor Cavescouter |
"I'll get us there, don't you worry," Bruendor said, silently sliding his rapier from its hilt. Bloodbane nearly flew into his hands, and he could feel the blade tremble with excitement as it sensed elf-blood nearby.
Am I right to assume the doors are in that middle bit? I assume the elves would have told us where the known entrances are. Anyways, sneaking forwards and looking for mundane stuff like ambushes and traps. Taking 10 on both gives me a 21 Stealth and a 20 Perception (22 vs. traps).
Calumny "Calla" Tas'vere |
Scowling as she shoots Anklebiter a glance, Calla looks around, before somewhat ostentatiously casting her own orison to detect magic.
Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
"As soon as the stone warms, I'll cast the invisibility spells on you," she warns Lefrik and Kelendra.
Kelendra Shae |
"I can create a mist that obscures vision", volunteers Kel. "It could get us to the wall, but it's certain to also generate attention. Maybe if it was preceded by an illusion of an improper lady demon well away from our location we could go unnoticed?"
Kelendra Shae |
"Let's sneak across to the wall and trust in our skill before we expend more resources. When do we sneak past their watch, will one of you signal our movement?" Trusting in both her ability to float above the surface and the blessing of invisibility, Kel readies to sneak across the open space.
sneak, without bonus for floating and invisible: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17
DM Bigrin |
From your initial scouting, you know that there are doors leading into the library from the east and the west. You are still in the trees about 30-40 feet from the building, on the south side. What are you doing?
The stone in Aklebiter's hand suddenly flashed from cool to very warm. It startled the goblin, and he tried desperately to hold onto it.
Anklebiter make me a DC10 Reflex save to hold on to the now-warm stone
Anklebiter the Insane |
Reflex save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Anklebiter yelps with sudden pain and, although he tries to juggle the signal stone, drops it.
"Hot!" he complains. "Must hurry! Time to move is now!"
Unless something untoward happens, the little Wizard tries to pick up the stone with a fold of his cloak and drop it back into his pocket.
Calumny "Calla" Tas'vere |
So you *don't* want any invisibility, Kelendra? How about you, Lefrik?
Calla will either cast invisibility on them or not, based on whatever the characters post in the next post. After that does or does not happen, she does the following...
Nodding at Anklebiter's words, she gathers herself, intoning a quick prayer to her patron: "Calistria, let me be the instrument of your wrath against these drow!" Cast wrath: +2 to hit/damage for 1 minute
Then, moving as silently as years of her childhood taught her, she ghosts through the woods toward the library.
Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33
Thank you, dice roller. That'll do.