Session Start: Sat Sep 01 16:28:13 2007 Session Ident: #castlevania * Logging #castlevania to 'logs\070901.Sandwich.Net.txt' [The intrepid party stands around the flickering campfire, discussing their options after the maimed would-be ambusher scrambled off into the night.] Do we want to attack tomorrow night, or during the day? Hard to say.... Good question. I'd say night for the element of surprise, but they might be expecting us anyway. Night would be sneakier. But... yeah. Well, as long as there are some fires within the camp, night would be best for me. Unfortunately, I cannot see very well in the dark. Also, I can't really see so well at night. I don't know about them, though If they've got ways of getting around it while we don't, then a night attack would be to our disadvantage. * Nyyx nods. "You'd rather attack during the day, then? That's fine." Very well. First things first, though. We need to find the camp and scout it out. Preferably without being seen. I leave that to you and Charlotte, Skip. * Charlotte nods. Sounds good. We've already got an okay idea of where it is Theodore, you can handle communications with the scouts again? I think we're still able to communicate. * Charlotte nods. Alright, so the two of us forge on ahead and report that way? * Skip stands up and slowly brings out his two handaxes. "Ready when you are." Yes, please. * Charlotte readiers her bow. "Same here." * Roland heads back into his tent to do some peaceful meditation. * Nyyx returns to rest for now. * Skip motions to Charlotte. "Come on, let's search around our camp while they rest up." Sounds good to me. I don't like sitting still so much outside church anyway * Skip nods, "Let's scout around, then I'll get a little more rest before daybreak." [The party settles in for more rest after brief scouting and prepares to break camp once the sun rises. The morning is chilly beyond the influence of the climate-controlling spheres.] * Nyyx gets up at dawn and packs up camp. Are we ready to go? Absolutely. * Nyyx mounts up. "Good. Then let's get there quickly and take care of those bandits." * Charlotte gets ready to go * Skip hops on Swiftsilver and prepares to set out. * Roland packs up his oasis, mounts Hotbun, and gets ready to go. Charlotte, we're up front. The rest of you should have no problem following the trail. Right. * Nyyx nods. "Let us know if you find any trouble." Hm... how should we let you know? Just yell real loud? Last night's communication spell was useful. Would you be able to do that again, Theodore? * Theodore casts message Thanks! [Charlotte and Skip ride ahead and scout the terrain for the other adventurers. Everyone else follows behind.] * Skip scouts until he comes upon something. * Charlotte does similarly [The party rides for several hours, slowly working through forest and brush as the flat terrain gives way to foothills and larger hills. Tracks become apparent near the base of the first true hills leading into the largest mountain range on the continent.] * Skip brings Swiftsilver to a halt and examines the tracks and surroundings. "We'll have to notify the group. I think we're getting close." * Skip rides, with Charlotte in tow, back along the trail to the main group. * Nyyx rides up to meet Skip and Charlotte. "Trouble?" Nope. But we're really cloes * Skip shakes his head, "Tracks. They can't be too far away now." * Nyyx nods. "I suppose it'd be best to scout out the camp before attacking. Are you up for that?" Yeah. I'd juts feel better about it with support close by Of course. We just wanted to let everyone know to be on their guard. I can check on the danger inherent in their scouting attempt, Lady Natalia. If you so desire. If it's not too much trouble, Roland. * Roland withdraws the deck of cards from its holster on his belt and begins shuffling * Charlotte wtaches * Nyyx watches also, glancing up occasionally at the direction of the bandit camp. * Roland stops and flips the top card, revealing The Troll. He flips it back over, holsters the deck, and says slowly, "You should be careful. There is something out there, but if we work together, we can get through it easily. Stay within communication distance of Theodore. * Nyyx nods. "Thank you." Easily, if we work together. So we juts gotta work together, then. That shouldn't be a problem. All right. We'll be right behind you a short distance. We'll only stay about sixty feet ahead of everyone. If you hear my whistle, come running. * Skip and Charlotte head out again. Scouts ftw! * Charlotte advances careflly and tries to remain hidden. But cheerfully. ^^ * Nyyx follows 60' behind the scouts. * Skip scouts ahead, moving silently and looking for anything unusual. [Charlotte and Skip advance a quarter mile up the hillside. The trees continue up the hills for some miles to come, and the tracks converge at a cave entrance further up the slope.] ... hm. A cave. This'll be tricky. * Skip motions for Charlotte to follow. "We need to go back to the group." Yeah. * Charlotte heads back What did you find? A cave. Is that where the bandits are camped? Pretty good chance of it. We may have to abandon stealth. Sound will probably carry a lot in there It could be a passage to the other side of the mountain. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway; I'm not a big fan of caves. * Skip takes point and guides the group to the cave entrance. * Nyyx follows along on horseback for the time being. We should leave the horses a fair distance away from the cave entrance. Yeah We don't want them to get eaten. * Nyyx nods. We won't be able to take them with us, most likely. If we leave them in the woods, they can at least defend themselves. I agree. ... hm. Looks like some people might have left for the forest lately. If we go in the cave, there's a chance they could come in while we're there and cut off any escape route Can you track the ones who left? I could give it a try... but then we couldn't watch the cave. That fine? Yes. I guess so. Are the ones who left for the forest the ones who ambushed us earlier? Or are these fresher tracks? Theodore, would your cat be willing to watch the cave? I doubt he can see it as he is in the inn. I see. Then, if there are no objections, I will stay and watch the cave. Need any help getting nice and hidden? Will you be safe? safe enough. I could use some help preparing a hiding place, though. * Nyyx nods. "We'll return as quickly as possible." No prob * Roland sets about getting a nice hiding place where he can just see the cave mouth, but isn't likely on the path back to it. * Charlotte looks for a good spot * Roland finds a good spot and settles in, letting Charlotte build up some nice camoflage * Charlotte finds a nice spot for Roland. She gives him advice on an ideal pose and things to avoid All settled? Very. Good. Let's see where those bandits were headed. Skip, Charlotte, please lead the way. Sure thing * Charlotte goes * Skip allows Charlotte to take point. "This is your show, Charlotte. I'm not familiar with the animals of this jungle." No problem. [The tracks lead off along the slope from the cave entrance.] * Skip follows Charlotte as he leads us along the trail. * Nyyx follows along also. [The party follows the tracks into the woods. After about an eighth of a mile, you spot figures in the brush at about the same time that they spot you.] ! [There appear to be at least one half dozen figures in the brush scattered about 40' from the party.] * Skip readies himself for possible conflict, "Hold your ground. We aren't looking for trouble." [Nyyx also readies herself for battle, but holds her ground, "We want to talk." "Let me get this straight. You wander up on our camp with fire magic and you just want to talk. Right." [The figure glides through the shadows until he is directly in front of the group.] [This figure, slightly smaller than the last, moves up to point blank range as well. Its longsword gleams in the faint moonlight.] * Theodore casts haste on the party * Skip narrows his eyes, "All right, have it your way." * Skip darts forward, axes gleaming, at the shorter opponent. In a matter of seconds, four swift swipes move toward his foe, three of them finding their targets. [Nyyx follows right behind, her bastard sword dancing in wide arcs. With an upward slash, she cuts into the short creatures left arm; a spinning slice tears at its torso.] [Two more of the figures advance, drawing blades and sprinting through the brush to point blank range.] * Charlotte darts across the forest to the side. SHe finds a good firing position, and fires at one of the enemy * Charlotte strikes one of them with an arrow [The figure that Charlotte struck with the arrow advances resolutely.] [Charlotte hears the figure in the back whisper something.] [The last figure in the distance rolls through the brush at Charlotte and strikes out once with his bare hand, smacking the dirt and dislocating a finger.] [Two of the fighters unleash furious strikes on Skip, flailing about and like totally wrecking the air over his head. Bandit ranger camp never taught them to fight halflings apparently.] * Theodore casts net of shadow at the monk, who succeeds on a will save, negating the effect of the spell. * Skip springs into the air, over the head of his taller attacker, and lands a devastating slash along the man's armorless neckline. Two more figures lash out at Skip. * Nyyx tears into the same target with a series of swift strikes, and as the third slices through its collapsing body, she cuts into his friend's as well. * Charlotte darts away from the monk defensively. Thanks to the spell, she moves quite a distance towards the group. She points her bow back at the monk and fires. Two times in rapid succession * Charlotte misses * Charlotte is incorrect. Charlotte hits with one of them! [But the monk catches the arrow an inch from his heart.] Two of the figures attack Nyyx. The figures miss horribly and yell in frustration. The last figure runs at Charlotte and hits her bow, cracking the main shaft, but not destroying the masterpiece. Hey! [A woman carrying a lamp leads three grisled bears and six shambling corpses out of the entrance of the cave and past Roland's hiding place.] * Theodore launches 5 magic missiles at the monk [One of the figures finally connects and leaves Skip with a nasty gash.] * Skip disappears in a puff of black smoke and materializes on the other side of a stunned bandit. With plenty of openings, Skip goes to work his enemies back, dealing swift strikes to unprotected, critical parts. [The pieces of the shocked bandits make a horrible noise as they hit the ground.] * Nyyx 's bastard sword quarters the wounded bandit and cleaves into his buddy during the follow-through. [Two of the figures advance on Theodore and Charlotte, knocking the both of them to the ground.] Oof! * Charlotte grabs something from her pack on the way to the ground. She quickly pulls out a smokestick and flint, and lights it. She's almpost instantly surrounded with a a cloud of thick black smoke [One of the remaining figures swings at Nyyx cutting her along the arm.] X: "Keep them on the ground. I have a halfling and woman to kill." [The figure walks slowly around the felled adventurers and swings at Skip.] [Missing narrowly.] [The woman and the crowd of shambling horrors walks toward the sounds of combat in the distance. Roland casts Invisibility and prepares to fall in behind them.] * Theodore manages to cast net of shadow on C while rolling on the ground and without opening himself up to attack. C is now under the effect of the net of shadow * Skip disappears entirely, leaving a stunned monk in the dust as Skip rushes to the aid of Charlotte and Theodore. Unseen by a brutish bandit, Skip drives his axe deep into the man's torso. As Skip reappears, he yells for his comrade, "Nyyx, Charlotte and Theodore are down!" * Nyyx runs 10' through the difficult terrain when she hears Skip's yell, and she springs into a flying leap across forest and brush, landing right behind one of the bandits with a swift overhand chop that neatly slices him in two, despite the obscuring mist. She turns as she rises from her landing crouch, cutting deeply into the bandit beside her. [One of the surviving bandits raises his sword, screams and buries the blade in Theodore's bulk.] * Charlotte gets up and starts moving out of the smoke. Though trying to keep the smoke between her and the rest of the bandits. [The nearest bandit swings at her ineffectively as she passes.] [Another bandit attempts to impale Theodore and misses.] [X glides behind Skip and unleashes a flurry of blows.] [X's fists move too fast to follow, striking Skip over and over and knocking his weapons from the halflings trembling fingers.] [Roland breaks into a run, skirts the undead group and runs headlong toward the battle. The undead follow heedlessly.] * Theodore casts invisibility on himself, stands up, and withdraws from battle by 5 feet * Nyyx turns on the monk and rips into him with three savage swipes of her sword. [One of the figures sidesteps and cuts into Nyyx, scoring a shallow hit.] * Charlotte darts off to the side, and points her bow at an enemy. She blinks, and remembers something. She holds the bow out, pulls back an arrow, and launches it in a very specific sort of way that causes the head to turn to green splashy acid. Which goes flying and hits its target. Hard. With nasty sharp wood behind it. [One of the figures sidesteps and swings at Skip, nearly finishing the halfling.] [X flurries at Nyyx, stunning the dhamphir and cracking ribs.] [Roland races through the forest, robes tearing on thorns and brush.] [The undead procession advances apace.] * Theodore fires two scorching rays; one at C and one at E. each slams into their flanks and kills them instantly in a fiery death * Nyyx sways uselessly. [In the light of Theodore's spells and sparking metal, Charlotte can see that X's wounds are already starting to close.] * Skip crouches low, suddenly losing all color and substance. In a blink of an eye, Skip hops back, turns, and leaps to safety, drawing his weapons as he flies through the air. Once landed, he sneaks a potion from his belt. * Charlotte stands her ground and fires two arrows at the crazy monk guy * Charlotte snaps off another two shots. * Charlotte has one of her arrows caught by the monk, but the rest hit hard, with piercings and plentiful acid splashes [Charlotte's frenzy and drive to survive unlock previously untapped potential in the young acolyte.] [X stands stock still.] [The arrows in his chest sizzle with acid and burn his clothes and flesh. Slowly, they fall out as the wounds close.] "How long do you want to continue this game? Until I've killed your friend here? It's time to talk." END SESSION. Session Close: Sat Sep 01 23:53:45 2007