Caldera Saute, part 3
Log Info
- Title: Caldera Saute, part 3
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Shalethiste, Thurid, Merek
- Place: Caldera Saute - The SkyCurtain Mountains
- Time: Thursday, December 17, 2020, 2:22 PM
- Summary: Shalethiste is talking with the ancient dryad, Zanalilla when a shot rings out on the slope. Thurid goes to investigate what Zeg has encountered. Troops are advancing on the mountain side. Thurid rolls a boulder in their direction, causing them to take cover. Merek spots some others, as he attempts to cast the Sniper puts some arrows in him. Stoically, he finishes his black tentacles spell, delaying them. Shalethiste meanwhile, realizes that the pinecones won't be enough, she has to get sap. Even with Zanalilla's help this proves difficult, she can't get through the dryad's natural armour. Thurid deposits Zeg in the Airship and assists Shale, while Merek tries more spells and attracks more arrows, including a hobgoblin wielding double axes. Shale and Thurid manage to would Zanalilla enough she bleeds some sap, then they rush back to the airship. Both promise to return. On-board, Merek is being battered by the Hobgoblin, and Thurid calls for an immediate departure. Captain Infalia launchs the airship into the cauldera, and drives it to freedom. Shalethiste nearly falls off, the hobgoblin does, and the mission successfully escapes.
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Caldera Saute - Sky Curtain Mountains
It's night. Fat snowflakes drift down out of a dark grey sky. The skies, the stars, are obscured by the percipitation but there is light to see by. Brighter than moonlight, the side of the volcano is lit by the red glow of its cauldera. A glow that gives the snowflakes a fiery hue, as if the were cast sparks. Actual sparks mix in with them, thrown up by the boiling rock. Where the slope is wet, there is some glimmer of detail, but much of it is in shadow.
The Blar airship waits at the rim; ready to lift off in a moment's notice.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Shalethiste 4'6" 96 Lb Shadow Elf Female A copper maned elf maiden, hued in the night sky. Thurid 7'1" 249 Lb Giantborn Female Bright-eyed, muscular, blond Giantborn woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The Mul'niessa had been talking with the dryad of the tree. The Jotun and the Seer waited and watched a distance away. The conversation is progressing well, when...
- >>BANG<<
Zeg's dragonspitter fires in the dark distance.
Followed by the silence of falling snow.
"Zeg! What's going on?" Infalia shouts at the darkness.
Out on the slope comes the reply, "Bunch'a movement."
"Get back here Zeg!"
"Nah! I can hold 'em off."
"Yer not the One Thousand Zeg! And yer out of place. That's not the defensible spot." The hobgoblin captain bellows, surely thinking 'goblins!' "Gerr back! That's an order."
Silence.
Thurid glances down towards the slope and curses when she hears the gunshot, and the subsequent shouting. She shouts over towards Shale and the Tree Lady, "We need to go- right away. Get what you can!" she says, and then she sets off running to go support the headstrong goblin, and perhaps pick him up and drag him back to the airship if it is required.
The elven paladin is a momentarily scandalized by the suggestion by the ancient dryad to make poopies in front of everyone. Not so much the directive being that it needs to happen right then, so much as being said in front of everyone. She recovers quickly enough, she thinks, to begin to answer the question about Thurid and Merek, when the gunshot sounds.
Sky Dancer show us the way!
The Mul'niessa turns toward the sound of the shot, glancing to the captain, then up toward Zanalilla, "These are, but there are others coming who aren't. Have other squirrels been trying to hurt you?"
With Thurid's remark, she turns, "She's trapped here, alone." she says in a grim calm, "Here, take them, make sure at least one gets planted!"
Zanalilla looks off in the direction of the shot. She ruffles Shalethiste's head, then giggles, "Looks like another rough squirrel game. I'll be fine. Zee you next zummer Zharanvante."
The giant wooden woman stands, ready to step back into the trunk. Something in Shalethiste's voice makes her turn, crouch again. Her head close to the Paladin's, wooden face to shadowy one. She takes the loosened cloth wrap, blowing free in the night and reties it around the mul'niessa's throat like a scarf. "I'll be Ok sweetie. The mountain hasn't moved me, a bunch of squirrels won't. You should go. You have such short, short lives."
GAME: Thurid rolls perception: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Thurid casts Enlarge Person. Caster Level: 4 DC: 14
Thurid nods, "We'll look after her pinecones, don't you worry!" she calls back, and begins to lope over towards where the gunshot went off. She clutches her Icon in her hand as she does, and begins to expand in size as she picks up speed, until she towers above, fourteen feet of Jotun muscle. As she moves, she breathes in deeply, and then booms in her native tongue:
Thurid says "Little people from below! Go... BACK!" <Jotun>
There are little people from below, relative to the Jotun that is. The occasional helmet or weapon catches the glow of the caulder, enough to reveal the owner for a moment. They move like one animal, in a coordinated advance keeping low and using the terrain for cover.
There's another flash, no sound this time. It's very quiet as Thurid comes up on Zeg's position. She can see the goblin rapidly reloading, and shouting. No sounds at all. It's surreal, and peaceful, with the snow drifting down. Even her footsteps are silenced.
The enemy looks to be two hundred feet from Thurid's position, advancing slowly. The Sniper she fought earlier doesn't seem to be with them.
Shalethiste stares up into the giant's eyes, an old soul gazing into ancient.
The path is clearly lit, and it is a path that forks, and the way things must be.
A compartively tiny hand lifts to gently curl about the massive wrist, "I will see some of your daughters planted in rich soil and be certain they grow to know your name, Zanalilla, and I will return in the summer. On the soul of my mother, Veryielle, I, Shalethiste, swear it. By Eluna's grace, and every star that shines, I swear it." A rueful smile, a bitter parting for the uncertainty of the kindly old soul's fate as the Jotun starts to handle affairs in her own, inspired manner, "Be safe, gentle one." and she turns to the captain, "Take this, get the ship ready to launch." As the situation is uncertain, likely unpleasant, her free hand twists at the hilt of her long blade and pulls the midnight steel free.
Infalia takes the basket, cautiously approaching to do so, gazing up at the giant dryad. She still hangs back a little, offering space, until she takes the burden from Shalethiste. Grim Hobgoblin eyes meet the Mul'niessa's after eternity stared, pulling her to an immediate now. "We're ready ta go soon as yer aboard." There's a look, emphasis, "You, an' I need you aboard, all y'all. We're short hands."
Zanalilla watches with another strange expression. Something friendly for squirrels, she hopes. She withdraws slightly as the blade is cleared. Metal, the accursed cousin of the mountain. A thought become surprise, "Oh! For the sap. Hmmm..."
She ponders herself, sliding her hands along her thighs and staring at her trunk. "Oh, you'll never get through me with that. Here, right here." She extends her leg, planting her foot in front of Shalethiste and pulling up her dress to bare her shin.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Okay, the group advances. they also look intimidating" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18
The hobgoblin soldiers advance in the darkness. There's something in the way they move that causes a sense of impending doom. They're still a good distance away.
Time to go get-!
Wait, what?
The Mul'niessa turns back and looks up in some confusion at the giant dryad, "Zanalilla? What do you mean, the pinecones won't cure the fungus?" Back toward the potential confrontation, she curls her free hand near her mouth and hollars, "THURID! BRING OUR CREW BACK, NOW!"
"They might. They should. I don't know. I was soo scatterbrained after I was a pinecone. You might have to teach them. You'll need my sap for that. I'm waiiiiting." Zanalilla rocks her leg back and forth in front of Shalethiste. A gesture more playful than seductive, and overall very odd. There's that weird leer-grin-smile again.
"Why are you waiting Zharanvante', you've done this before."
It's silent around Zeg.
GAME: Thurid rolls perception: (17)+5: 22 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "also, a to-hit for the boulder." <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Well. Yes. I'm considering it a CR5 Falling Block trap" GAME: Thurid rolls melee: (20)+5: 25 (THREAT) GAME: Thurid rolls melee: (5)+5: 10 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "there is a free re-roll if you wish" GAME: Thurid rolls melee: (2)+5: 7 GAME: Thurid rolls 6d6: (19): 19 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "their reflex save is a DC20" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (19)+5: 24 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "however, roll intimidate +10" GAME: Thurid rolls intimidate+10: (13)+2+10: 25
Thurid doesn't slow as the advances towards the goblin lookout's position, and she crouches low slamming her shoulder into a large hunk of volcanic rock half buried in the ground- likely a chunk ejected from a long past eruption of the caldera below. She wrap's both arms around the enormous hunk of stone, and begins to shove, feet scraping against the ground as she tries to find purchase. Her face reddents, the muscles of her trunk-like arms and thighs bulging and swelling, veins throbbing.
And eventually the enormous lump of rock begins to move, in eerie silence. As it is dislodged from its ancient home, she almsot stumbles over it and it brings with it a cascade of smaller rocks which begin to tumble down the slope towards the advancing troop. Picking up momentum, and more and more debris as it rolls into a landslide kicking up dust and stones as it goes. While the bulk of the landslide follows the countour of the slope, some of the larger more solid chunks bounce and skip around. And the huge boulder that started it all bounces high into the air after hitting a particularly shaped chunk of the hillside.
It comes cashing down again into the group of advancing soldiers, and Thurid yells noiseless at them in Jotun, pounding one hand against her chest and pointing back the way they came, blond hair caught in the volcanic draft and plastered to her face with sweat of effort.
Captain Infalia carefully moves towards her airship, carrying the basket. "C'mon Zeg!" She calls out to her gobbo.
Zeg can't hear. He's in a zone of silence and isn't sure why. His dragonspitter is reloaded, but the advancing troops have shaken him. He stands there, paralyzed, staring as a rocks roll towards them. He doesn't even notice Thurid at first, she was so silent when she was near him.
Back on board, Infalia is giving orders, take these below, strap everything down, get ready at the levers.
As the say, if you won't come to the mountain, the mountain comes to you. The troops might believe they were, but it does come down on them anyway. They scatter as the boulder rolls through their midst. It delays them, momentarily.
The affirmation that she's 'done this before' tells Shalethiste's feels that, should the worst happen and she ends up in Taara's realm, she really should give great grammy a rather vigorous little something she likes to call 'The Talk'.
With whatever's close to hand.
"How much sap will it take to cure a squirrel my size. My larger friend's size, and the smaller?" The rational part of her asks of the dryad as she pulls and empties her waterskin to have something to keep the sap in. She twists, calling, "THURID! -WE-ARE-LEAVING!" before she looks up to her donor and brings up her sword, "I'm sorry, Zanalilla, this will hurt as little as I can manage."
"Oh, hmm." Zanalilla looks into the distance, looking over the 'giant squirrel' that is Thurid, "Hmmm."
The great dryad wiggles her leg back and forth, "I don't know. A drop should do it, maybe two. Whatever you can put in it will be fine. It's going to flow slowly and I don't have much, so give a good wack."
GAME: Thurid rolls perception: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)
Thurid then scans the area, quickly, and she hefts her hammer into two hands, and she brings it down on the ground, hard, near the goblin lookout. After that, she shouts... something at him, and a look of confusion passes over her features as she still can't hear her own voice. Since she is still not able to yell at the goblin, she starts making haphazard gestures in his general direction, trying inexpertly to make herself understood.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+2: (12)+2: 14
Zeg does know handspeech, and quickly asks Thurid several questions before he realizes she doesn't understand. He switches to simplified gestures, mostly pointing. At the airship, a question mark, then at the troops down the hill, and another question mark.
Her presence seems to reassure him. He jumps up and down, also yelling silently at the advancing group and firing his dragonspitter again.
A weapon that simply doesn't have the range. It makes a nice, attention getting flash though.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10 (Intimidate check)
The Bludgini troops get themselves organized again, advancing closer. They'll be almost in range of Zeg's gun, and possibly in range themselves.
GAME: Shalethiste rolls weapon3: (14)+7: 21
Common parliance considers her chosen path to be called a 'paladin'.
Right now, she feels more like a 'barbarian'.
Shelly nods, "As you say, then." and for extra 'good whack', the Mul'niessa clutches the wineskin between her teeth to get both hands around the hilt of her family blade, a weapon that's cut on both halves on the divide between good and evil and she strikes!
- ... Only for the enchanted blade to skate right off from Zanalilla's Cedar veneer with some small chipping.
"A little bit harder Zharanvante, I'll be okay." Zanalilla says, a sappy sweetness to her voice. She even hums a bit, glancing around at the falling snow while she holds her dress up to the knee. "You didn't bring a spinny thing this time? Your metal stick will be ok."
Thurid continues gesturing and then lets out a noiseless sigh as she doesn't understand him, and can't make herself understood. She just reaches down with one of her giant hands, grabs him by the scruff of his uniform, and then begins running back up the hill towards the Airship. When the sudden rush of noise comes back to her, she says, "Help them make ready to leave. I'll get Shalethiste!" to the goblin, skidding to a stop once she reaches the airship to set him down near the ramp, before turning back towards the tree. "They'll be on us soon!" she shouts towards Shale.
Zeg is yanked off his feet, mid reload. This isn't something he can accomplish as he's dangling from a Jotun's grasp. There is silenced complaining. The border of the silence spell is established as his voice suddenly turns 'on', "..hit them from here. Let me shoot!"
The eight Budguni continue their advance, picking their way up the mountain. The way they move as a single unit is almost unnatural. They are well trained.
The troops are one hundred forty feet from the the airship and Merek. Merek is also thirty feet from the airship. They are one hundred seventy feet from Shalethiste and the tree, who is also thirty feet from the airship. For range. The arrangement is diagonal with some right angle distances involved.
GAME: Shalethiste rolls weapon3+4: (3)+7+4: 14
Shalethiste mumbles a somewhat exasperated Sildanyari, "Nhr mhu ffhrffnn hnninng bhe?" around the wineskin as... yeah, that just happened.
She looks up at Zanalilla, brows almost crocheting, though she twists on the sound of Thurid's call, a hand parts from the hilt to give a thumbs up her way, then, a sigh and she turns back to give it another go, "Hmm phrrhee."
The windup...
- annnnnd-
- the Ping!
"Nhr mhu ffhrffnn hnninng bhe?"
"Maybe we should try the other leg?" Zanalilla asks, letting her leaf-like dress drop. She switches feet, then does a quick switch-switch again, a fast cha-cha dance. Long wooden fingers peel her covering up to expose her leg, shin extended, ready for another swipe.
GAME: Thurid rolls weapon12: (6)+6: 12 (Aid Another)
Thurid abandons Decorum now that it's come down to the wire like this, and once she skids to a stop and has dropped off her goblin Passenger, and then she begins running back over towards the paladin is attempting to draw Sap from the dryad. "Set your point, I'll drive your blade in like a nail!" she shouts as she approaches, and she grips her earthbreaker in two hands once more and brings it back, ready to drive Shalethiste's sword into the stubborn bark as she approaches. "My apologies, tree-giant!" she hastily adds.
Captain Infalia watches as Thurid drags the gun goblin aboard, "Zeg! Get to your station. Now." She has an anxious and pissed expression. Her captain's hat is dented. She very likely bumped her head again going below. She stands at the ship controls, ready.
The ship is also ready, humming loud enough to drown out the sounds of the volcano. The Mana-Engine is spinning, throwing off a bright light. She's got it at cruising speed, thrust-clutch disengaged, it's not going anywhere. The levitators are inverted and glowing white. Poised to move.
Zeg runs off to a levitator control.
GAME: Merek rolls perception: (14)+25: 39
There's another squad of troops on the hill, also moving towards Merek. They are on a different vector and one hundred and ten feet away. The scout from before, is at two hundred feet. He has an arrow knocked and he's watching the Seer carefully.
GAME: Merek rolls intelligence: (19)+4: 23
These are trained military troops. One has engaged the group before and reported back. As such, they have an idea of the party's capabilities. They have ranged weapons, that would be in range now, but they haven't shot. They either can't for some reason or are waiting for something. This may have to do with their mission objectives, whatever those are.
<OOC> Merek says, "I shall cast a Black Tentacles in front of them, but not on them, to prevent further advancement." <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Sniper had a readied action to full attack you if you cast." GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+13: (8)+13: 21 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (1)+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d8+2: (8)+2: 10 GAME: Sniper damaged Merek for 10 points. 79 HP remaining. <OOC> Merek says, "DC 24" GAME: Merek rolls 1d20+11+5: (13)+11+5: 29 GAME: Merek casts Black Tentacles. Caster Level: 11 DC: 19
Merek looks to the troops while he nods a bit, then he begins to cast a spell. Even while he does, that arrow begins to slide along right into him, the tentacles lifting up from the ground while they begin to keep troops from maneuvering forward.
Downrange, the Sniper reloads. He's angry that there are witnesses and his arrows keep missing. The good news, he can swear all he wants, the one he dropped is in the shale somewhere, silencing him as well.
The Bludguni soldiers advance. Most of them.
The first group, which Zeg spotted, get closer to the Airship. They move in a coordinated checker-pattern, taking cover where they can. Their final burst seems different from the last, they're taking up good firing positions.
The second group, unseen until the black tentacles spell indicates that something is there, halt, and start moving around. Their advancement is slowed.
Except for one, who isn't carrying a bow. He looks a little larger than the average soldier, and then he quaffs a potion and shoots up in the air in what seems to be a tremendous leap. He flies over the tentacles, covering ground faster than the others have, towards Merek and wielding a deadly looking double axe.
GAME: Shalethiste rolls weapon3+2+4: (12)+7+2+4: 25 GAME: Shalethiste rolls 1d10+3: (6)+3: 9 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay. That does not get through her Damage Reduction" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "She is a very tough tree"
Shalethiste nods up to Thurid as she takes up the position to drive the nail. She adjusts her grip sets the point in what she assumes is a good angle for the drive, aaaaaannnnnnd..... the blade bends, skating off the dryad's flesh without biting, and nearly springs out of her hands. She looks bleakly at the weapon, pulling the skin from her teeth, "I can't get through, I'm not strong enough!"
"It's okay sweetie. Your teeth are so small. Here, I'll help." Zanalilla takes the tip of the bastard sword. She flinches as she does, reflexively, as if expecting it to burn her. The enchanted steel doesn't. She drags the tip around on her shin, bent over and holding her shirt to her knee with the other hand.
"Here should work." Her crouch places her head level with Thurid's, "Oh you're a big squirrel. The ground was fertile where you were planted? Is she your pinecone Zharanvante?"
GAME: Thurid rolls weapon12: (5)+6: 11
"I need you all on board before we can leave." Captain Infalia shouts, and just to complicate things adds, "We can hold, get whatever you're getting."
"I can hit them from here." Zeg shouts.
"Hold your station Zeg. We don't have enough for the defenses. We have to go."
Thurid's hammer bounces away as the enchanted metal flexes and she winces, adjusting her footing to control the recoil of the hammer. "T'was fertile! And full of love to boot!" she says, as she twists her grip on the haft of her hammer, and brings it back, ready to try again. "When I come back, I'll bring some fertile soil. And water for you!" she insists to the tree as she grits her teeth, "Brace!" she huffs through gritted teeth, as she swings the hammer down once more to try and drive the bastard sword in and extract the life giving sap.
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "Heal Check, DC10 GAME: Merek rolls heal: (3)+20: 23 (Pull out Arrow)
Merek looks to that arrow in thought, then he shifts a gloved hand along it, while he begins to pull it free with skill in a way that would be safe. With that, he then begins to work along to board up into the ship.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+17+20: (17)+17+20: 54
The Sniper ducks down and vanishes from sight.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 4d8: (14): 14
The Bludguni troops fire on the airship. Arrows arc high, illuminated briefly before they drop down and strike the bag. A full volley, and a few alight on the deck as well. Gobbo crew duck into cover at their stations. The bag itself is protected from fire by netting.
"Ha! It'll take more than a few arrows to puncture that!" Captain Infalia shouts at the enemies in the dark. Immediately followed by a hail at the party, "Ahoy! They're going to shoot a lot more arrows. Hurry!"
The second group re-orients as Merek moves, advancing towards him and the airship now. Avoiding the black tentacles is slowing them down, but not by much.
And the flying hobgoblin, he does also, getting a lot closer than the group he's left behind.
GAME: Shalethiste rolls weapon3+2+2+4: (11)+7+2+2+4: 26 GAME: Shalethiste rolls 1d10+3+1+5: (4)+3+1+5: 13 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "damages! You get 3hp worth of sap. She is really tough."
This is certainly a sobering, and humbling experience.
Shalethiste looks up at the dryad as she guides the point to a better spot, "Thank you..." she says softly. There's a glance to Thurid, "A friend. For a long time, I hope." She sets into position, focusing on the task as so many other things in the distance bear down on them. As other attackers close in with ill intent for them, and probably for Zanalilla as well. She grits her teeth and cues the drive once more to feel the weapon bite, not particularly deep, and she nearly sprains her wrist fighitng the springback of the blade, but she sees the trickle, "There's a little!" With that, she tries to get the wineskin into position to catch what is there, though the blade tip lingers in it's new home, "Zanalilla, how are you doing?"
"Ouch!" Zanalilla says suddenly, scowling. "Why are you biting me?"
The scowl becomes that unsettling smile, "Oh right! You need the sap. I'm ok. Try again."
She is an old tree that's been through a lot. There's a will in her that might not be equalled anywhere else. She's holding back a mountain, she won't yield to it, and her skin and bark barely yield to anything else. Even keeping the point buried, her wood-flesh is closing against it, forcing the bladepoint out. The trickle of sap was caught, but the wound seems almost healed over.
GAME: Thurid rolls weapon12: (19)+6: 25
Thurid sets her heels in as the hammer bounces back again, once more controlling the recoil as the two magic weapons collide. As she turns to readjust her grip once more her attention back towards the volley of arrows, and sees its destination- watches them hurtle towards the bag and the deck of the ship. "We're out of time..." she utters then. "One more try, then we need to leave..." she says, as she grits her teeth and brings the hammer back again. "Zanallila! You truly are a champion! I will plant a hundred cedars in your honor!" she bellows, and then she brings the hammer down to strike the pommel once more.
"Whar about the ballista?" A goblin, a different one this time, asks the captain.
"We're belly down on the ballista, Jubik." Captain Infalia shouts back, "Shootin' nothin' but rock with that, an' it's not popped."
"No, the other ballista."
"Oh, uh, oh. It's folded! Stay at yer station. This'n not a fight we can win."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+13: (19)+13: 32 (THREAT) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+13: (13)+13: 26 (Confirmed) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 3d8+12: (17)+12: 29 GAME: Sniper damaged Merek for 29 points. 50 HP remaining. <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "so the concentration dc is 39+ empowered fireball is what? 5th level or 4th?" GAME: Merek rolls 1d20+11+5: (18)+11+5: 34
Merek takes another arrow while he tries to lift up both hands to begin to cast a spell. Then he takes a moment to look at his side and abdomen where it seems to have swung in deep. The man looks to the airship crew, then he begins to sign to them, "Get us above the place."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15+2: (20)+15+2: 37
Arrows came out of the darkness, their source quickly ducks back into hiding.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d8: (6): 6
More arrows rain down on the airship, sticking in the gasbag, hitting the deck. The squad that's firing keeps up the volley.
The second squad is approaching, leap-frogging in their advance like the first. Closer.
And there's a sole, very angry sounding hobgoblin flying through the air with a purple face and a loud scream that cuts off as he hits the edge of the silenced zone around the Seer.
GAME: Shalethiste rolls 1d10+3+1+5: (9)+3+1+5: 18
Time is pressing in with a vengeance and the paladin looks up at the quick chiding from Zana and she sighs, "Sorry, great one, just a little more." She steadies the blade, glancing about at the steadily worsening situation and she says, "Do it!" To drive the blade further, to much more significant, painful effect.
With guilt in her heart, she starts to collect the sap, even as she replease, "I'm sorry, Zanalilla, I think this will do it, I'm sorry it hurt so much. I'll heal you in a second."
"AHH!" The great Dryad cries, as the embedded blade cuts deep with a loud crack. Her shin splints, and a large dollop of amber sap leaks out. Her creepy expressions have become very angry, unpleasant ones. She has an arm pulled back, ready to strike at Shalethiste's throat. It seems she's forgotten what the plan was.
Flurries drift down, her head turns to watch one fall to the ground and melt. Her expression softens and she looks down on the Mul'niessa and the Jotun. She smiles again, "You should go, those other squirrels look mean."
"There is a spell, to make the fingers come back. I don't have time to teach you Zharanvante. Other pinecones might figure it out, or you could use another spell."
GAME: Thurid casts Shield Other. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15 GAME: Thurid rolls 2d8+4: (7)+4: 11
Thurid winces as the blade is driven deep into the woody leg, and her own eyes are watery. She holds for a moment as Shale collects the sap, and she lets of the hammer with one hand, allowing it to rest head down on the gravely ground. "I'll heal her." She assures Shale, "You collect the sap." she says, as she places her now freed hand upon the wooden flesh and blinks away the stinging in her eyes. "Angoron, This soul has strength greater even than the mountain. Grant her succor, in gratitude for her noble sacrifice." she murmurs, and her palm pressed against the wood begins to glow, suffusing her with warm light to take away the pain and speed up the closing of the wound. "I will return!" Thurid assures the giant. "With as much water and fertile earth as an airship can bear!" she promises. She gives Shale a pat on the shoulder, and then hefts her hammer to begin running back to the airship.
The wound is already closing over and closing up as Angoron's succor aids in the healing. It's almost as if she was never injured at all. The old dryad smiles and pats Thurid on the head, "I like you."
"Ahhh! That guy is really big." One of the crew shouts.
GAME: Merek rolls heal: (17)+20: 37
Merek finds a place to begin to settle in while he takes a moment to begin removing that arrow from him. He takes a few things from the kit with him to do it.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 4d8: (13): 13
A lot of arrows fly from the first Bludguni squad, again concentrating on the airship and its bag. It's starting to resemble a pincushion. There's more than one layer to get through, and a sealing agent between them, plus the protective nets. It only does so much though. A few have poked holes. There are leaks.
The second group have moved up, in the same creeping checkerboard manner of the first squad. Just, a lot more efficent looking the way they do it. They crouch and knock arrows, preparing a volley.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (18)+19: 37 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d8+7: (2)+7: 9 GAME: Hob Double Axe damaged Merek for 9 points. 41 HP remaining.
The flying hobgoblin, screaming in silent rage, lands on the deck of the airship and follows the Seer around the armour to where he's taken cover. He swings a deadly double-axe, striking the man across the chest. As the silencing arrow falls away his roar becomes audible over the noise of the volcano.
GAME: Shalethiste spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS. GAME: Shalethiste spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS. GAME: Shalethiste spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS. GAME: Shalethiste spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS. GAME: Shalethiste rolls 1d6: (6): 6 <OOC> Shalethiste says, "heal zan for 6" <OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "Ok, that it totally healed.
Shalethiste looks up into the face of the angry dryad, understanding and guilt having a tug of war, but, as the giant's mood changes, she swallows and finishes her task. There is more, they could use more, but, no, they'd hurt her badly enough, and the enemy is about to swarm them. Thurid's touch assures her, though her inner turmoil obfuscates a deeper reassurance she seeks. She doesn't know if the Sky dancer is still with her on this, but, "We have all we have time for. Thank you, kind Zanalilla... I -will- return. I am not my great Grandmother, my word -will- hold!"
Her hand, once again infused with Eluna's light, touches the afflicted shin to try and stop what remains of the bleeding, "Be safe, great one... and I'll see you this summer" before, moist eyes, she turns to start scanning the battlefield, as this certainly is one now, on her way back toward the airship with her precious cargo and she advises the dryad, "Take cover!" Where did Merek go?
"I'll be here!" Zanalilla says cheerfully, giving Shalethiste an affectionate little tap on her head. "You squirrels, always after my pinecones. I'll have more next summer, see you then."
The ancient dryad takes a moment to adjust her dress and then she leaps into her tree. Gone. The tall cedar remains standing in vigil, unchanged.
GAME: Thurid rolls weapon12: (15)+6: 21 GAME: Thurid rolls damage12: aliased to 3d6+7: (13)+7: 20
Thurid hefts her oversized hammer up as she approaches Merek and the flying Hobgoblin, and swings it- hitting him solidly with the weighty head of it as she steps up onto the airship. A glance over a shoulder confirms that Shale is right behind her, and she yells, "Go! Go!" to Infalla, to Merek, "Sage! Can you do anything to shield the bag from arrows?" she bellows over the clamor of combat.
"We're going, Now!" Captain Infalia shouts. "HOLD ON!"
Her Airship goes. Now.
The hob captain slams the thrust clutch together and the propeller plates engage at high speed. The gobbos at the levitator controls haul them from down, through back, to up. The Airship scrapes along the ground. Grinding its keel. Bow pointed towards the bowl of the cauldera.
The ship is enveloped by hot air. It drops off the edge, falling. The heat builds incredibly. The levitators are aimed down, painfully white. The punctured bag is caught in the updraft.
It ruffles.
It does not burst. With an incredible lurch the Airship goes from falling to rising. It shoots upwards like a champaign cork.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Reflex saves, DC15, DC10" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "there's actually two, one to not take damage, the other only if you take damage, to not fall off the ship." GAME: Thurid rolls reflex: (2)+2: 4 GAME: Thurid rolls reflex: (10)+2: 12 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (5): 5 GAME: Falling damaged Thurid for 5 points. 31 HP remaining. GAME: Shalethiste rolls reflex: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Falling damaged Shalethiste for 2 points. 21 HP remaining. GAME: Shalethiste rolls reflex: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL) <OOC> Shalethiste says, "EEEEEEEeeeeeeeee" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "No.. and Shale used her Reroll right?" GAME: Shalethiste rolls reflex: (3)+8: 11 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, you just barely catch yourself on the railing and rigging, from the wrong side of it." <OOC> Thurid says, "God the dice really want you dead." GAME: Merek rolls reflex: (19)+11: 30 GAME: Merek rolls reflex: (14)+11: 25 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you don't lose your footing Merek"
Thurid was not prepared for the sudden jolt- and not accustomed to riding on airships to begin with to boot. She loses her footing, overbalanced after her swing and falls to the side, hard, slamming into the deck and sliding against the railing- luckily it holds, and doesn't give way to her massive form.
The hobgoblin with the double axe was focusing on the Seer. He's floating from his flying potion. He receives a good wack from the Jotun's warhammer, which he shrugs off even though it was a solid blow. In his rage, he's not really thinking, or listening.
He's not ready for the airship to move underneath him. It leaves him floating in the air as it dives into the cauldera, then rushes upwards past him with a whoosh as the hot air, gas bag and the elevation levitators engage.
He's left roaring his futile rage beside the roaring volcano.
The volcano wins that contest.
Shalethiste manages to get aboard before the ship starts to lurch it's way up, panting and still somewhat teary eyed. There is some reassurance that Eluna still stood with her, but, still, she feels ashamed at the doing of it. She regards the cargo a moment, stoppering the top when the ship bucks once more and it bounces a couple of paces against the ledge she trips and smacks her face on as she spills ass over teakettle into the open air.
"Woooaaaaah-Ughk!" comes the pronouncement of the Mul'niessans Newtonian demise... curtailed by the painful tangling of limbs and scabberd in the ship's trailing cargo netting. She stares straight down into the bellows of anger and vulcanism and she sighs.
She deserved this much at the very least....
"Is everyone still on? Y'all on?" Captain Infalia shouts, "sound off crew! Did the mule go over? I thought I saw her go over."
She's hauling back on the controls, fighting the ship and the atmosphere, turning to power out of the updraft. It's going to be bumpy.
It's not her first rodeo though, nor for everyone aboard. The enemy troops are left far behind, on the ground and out of range. The one that might pursue, tries, but Potions of Flying last only so long. It's possible to get safely inside until the flight settles.
Repairs will have to be made, and it's days back to Alexandria. The mission seems like it was a success.
Later, down below in the mess, a gobber can be overheard saying, "Lookit this round thing I found on the mountain."
And on the mountain, Zanalilla waits, and tolerates the heat and the unfriendly squirrels.
OOC Combatty stuff
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 4 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
19 Hobgoblins 1
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15 Shalethiste 1
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12 Thurid 1
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9 Airship Crew 1
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>> 9 Merek 1 <<
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9 Sniper
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
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|Merek |HUMAN |Clr/MTh/Sor| 89 | 89 |19/15/18 | 26 | 12 | 11 | 19 |
|Shalethist|SHADOW_ELF|Pal/Swb | 23 | 23 |18/15/13 | 18 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
|Thurid |GIANTBORN |Clr | 18 | 36 |18/17/11 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 7 |
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