Chapter 4: Quenching the Burning Plague, Pt.1

The centaur looks up at the ceiling, trying to gauge if there is sufficient height to jump across. He also looks down into the pit, and relaxes a bit knowing that it is not lined with sharp pointy objects. At least none that he could see right now. A missed jump would only be a hard impact. Hard enough to be lethal, but nonetheless less lethal than one filled with sharp pointy objects.

Squin looks at the others again seeing if they have other ideas or suggestions. Meanwhile, he continues to ponder how difficult it would be to jump across with someone on his back. That would add a lot of weight ... which means not able to jump as high ... which means less distance covered. The centaur keeps glancing at the elf the halfling pointed at, and attempts to estimate the odds of jumping across the pit with the elf on his back.

Philo has quietly tagged along with Tex in tow. She quickly sizes up Nikoli: given that there seems to be no obvious reason for him to be a threat, what harm could it do to let him follow along? Besides, he could turn out to be useful. As they made their way down the narrowing passage, Philo pondered on potential ways to end the interminable Entangle spell. Nothing much was coming to mind, though, and when Alterith sprung the trap door, it ripped her from her thoughts and startled Tex in the process. The link between them was strong and sudden swings in emotion tended to affect the other. She listened closely to the ideas being thrown about - some good, some bad. If there had been a better plan suggested, she would have considered it, but it was time she spoke up. Raising her voice quickly got the attention of the others who were not used to the half-elf asserting herself.

"I can take care of this. Stand back and we'll be across in no time."

Philo steps towards the edge and bends forward as if to dive into the abyss. She mumbles a few quiet words and a soft green glow emanates from her entire body. The glow quickly subsides and in its place her skin begins to twist and harden. Her arms and torso begin to grow, spanning the gap as her feet dig deep into the stone floor, taking firm hold. After a short time her skin begins to darken, at first to a pale-tan but then to darker shades of brown. Small growths shoot out as she grows across the pit, and finally buds grow and turn to leaves and acorns. The old bent-backed oak tree standing before the group presented an easy bridge to reach the other side.

A much deeper voice sounds from a small knot in the trunk of the tree. "Well? Don't just stand there with your mouths hanging open. Let's go!"

Cast Spell: Tree Shape

Alterith stares at the image before him for another few seconds, then decides if she doesn't mind him walking on her he isn't going to object. Carefully shouldering his axe so as not to accidentally sever a branch...finger...whatever...Alterith resolutely crosses the pit.

Well now, that could be a very convenient ability to have around. Fortunate she found them when she did. Perhaps this other newcomer would prove to be as useful when the time came...though so far he was just another person tagging along.

Nikoli stood open mouthed as he stared at the tree. A few moments passed before he rushed forward and began examining every branch and twig. "Just how did you do that? I've never seen anyone use magic without a power source or channeling device before!"

RaSa gives a quick glance to Nikoli and smirks. Where did this little critter come from? He's never seen magic before? RaSa almost casts Fairy Fire on the critter just to see his reaction, but then decides he could probably use it for a more beneficial use later. He turns and continues forward searching for traps.


search: 11 + 12 = 23
Spot: 15 + 10 = 25
Listen: 5 + 10 = 15

Krytox stands there, mouth agape, staring in wonder. He had seen the blue-hands magic that had healed various wounds, but the current spell solidified a new type of magic for him.

"Green-hands..." he whispers with eyes wide. The plants growing and ensaring the kobolds and goblins in the previous battle had glowed green and now this. Soon I'll know all the kinds of magic. The shamans would be proud he thinks, deluding himself.

Philo's manly voice breaks his trance. As Alterith hurries across, Krytox looks a little downtrodden at losing the chance to toss the halfling. His race has the letters f-l-i-n-g in it after all... He sighs and follows the others to join Rasa, but only after tying a rope around the trunk of the tree. It would be stupid to have everyone but Philo across the gap after she turned back to herself.

After the group finishes crossing the pit, Philo changes back and the rest of the group assist the elf with crossing. Satisfied that they have dealt with that challenge in a most efficient manner, they continue down the rest of the corridor. Rasa finds no other traps, and the corridor opens up twenty feet later into a wide open area.

wrote:

This enormous cavern extends upward for at least 100 feet, climbing high into the bowels of the
mountain. Glowing blue-green lichens creep across the rough walls and man-sized stalagmites
protruding from the ground in this area, their faint light growing and then diminishing again
every few seconds. The illumination occasionally highlights small flecks of silver, which glitter in
the face of the great western wall of the cave. Several cables hang down from the edge of a wide
hollow within that wall. The hollow penetrates deep into the west face of the cavern and begins
about 20 feet above where you stand. The air here feels cool and damp.

The group hears snarling and barking and hissing from the hollow. The sounds (and now, smells) are unmistakable - more kobolds and goblins!

ooc: Everyone roll Initiative.

Initiative: +4

Random number (1,20) :

20

Alterith hangs back in the passage looking at the stalagmites littering the cavern then over at the ledge where he can hear the kobolds barking. He motions the centaur forward, points at his bow then up the cave wall where the faint green glow shows shadowy movement. Alterith gives him a questioning look, then points to himself, the nearest stalagmite, then mimics weaving around them, crouching down and then mimics drawing back a bow and releasing. Then he looks at the centaur again waiting for an answer. He looks at the others to see if there are any other ranged weapons among them as he's sure the kobolds will have more crossbows with them.

The centaur gingerly moves forward, looks at Alterith then at the cave wall where the halfling was pointing. The centaur definitely smells more of the same creatures as those they fought earlier. Squinting up in the generally direction of the wall, he assumes that's where Alterith identified them as coming from.

Looking back at Alterith, Squin slowly nods his head once. Then he holds up 1 finger, points at Alterith, then mimics a running motion with two fingers followed by a weaving hand before ending by pointing out towards the stalagmites. Next, the centaur holds up 2 fingers, points at himself, then mimics drawing a bow and shooting up towards where the halfling had previously pointed. With a quizzical look on his face, the centaur holds out one hand clenched into a fist with the thumb pointed straight up into the air and the other hand resting on his bow.

Krytox holds up the crossbow he is still carrying in response to Alterith's question. He then holds up a single finger, as that is the number of bolts he has. He had throwing axes and the long spiked chain, but neither had nearly the range of a bow or crossbow. He shrugs and waits for the centaur and halfling to make their move toward the stalagmites.

Initiative: 7 + 3 = 10

RaSa loads his crossbow and prepares for yet another battle. With how loud everyone is in the group, it's obvious that the goblins and Kobalts heard them. all he could do is try to prepare for the best.

Being a little worried about the man sized stalagmites, RaSa announces to the group "careful, those stalagmites make excellent places to hide for more critters. Watch your backs!" as he begins creeping forward ready to end the lives of more unworthy souls.

Initiative: 10+4 = 14
Spot: looking for those hiding 18+10 = 28

Nikoli looks confused as he sees the rest of the group preparing for combat. "What're you guys so worried about?"

initiative = 7 + 3 = 10

Realizing the centaur has misunderstood his meaning, Alterith shakes his head. He points at the bow the centaur is holding, then points at himself, then points out into the stalagmites. He holds out his 2 daggers and then gestures at his axe, shrugging, then pointing up the wall. He waits patiently hoping the centaur can get the meaning. If not, he will shrug and dash out into the stalgmites attempting not to highlight himself against the softly glowing green moss to provide cover against anything that may be hiding in the rocks, then motions to those with the longer ranged weapons.

Attack (if I have the bow): +7

Random number (1,20) :

7

Damage:

Random number (1,8) :

6

Hide:

Random number (1,20) :

11

Spot:

Random number (1,20) :

20

ooc: sorry don't have my character with me at the moment, will update bonuses when I get home.

The centaur tilts his head to the side and looks confused for a few more moments. He then reaches back and takes off a quiver of arrows and pulls out the bow. Holding one in each hand, Squin holds his hands out in front of him towards the halfling.

OOC: Bow = Longbow, Composite MW +3 Str.

Alterith looks at the bow as it gets closer. Holding it long ways he realizes that there is almost no way for him to utilize the weapon. It looked much more reasonably sized in the hands of the centaur, but this would be entirely unwieldy for him. He considers it for a few moments then shrugs and hands it back to the centaur mouthing "SORRY". He then turns and leads the way into the stalagmites.

Nodding in reply, the centaur retracts his hands and holds the bow ready. He picks out a couple stalagmites to hide behind (in case the halfling runs behind one, he still has the other). With that, he waits for action.

Krytox follows the others, being as stealthy as his large body allows.

Hide: 15 + 3 = 18
Move Silently: 8 + 3 = 11
Attack (crossbow): 16 + 6 = 22
Damage: 5

ooc: Attack only if given the signal. If I fire this round, drop crossbow and draw spiked chains.