Third Time's the Charm

[Magnus]

ROUND 11

The party collects itself and gathers near the site of the defeated Hill Giant Chief. The new members of the party are greeted and introduce themselves. The "legacy" party members recognize Lorath from the rescue (or from the tale thereof) and Tybalt is known by reputation to the well-traveled Vorsyin, as well as Ethan, who may have faced him a time or two in various tournaments over the years. In any event, the party can only be pleased to have a knight of such renown and honor, as well as a powerful Valylerian Spellsword, among their number.

Antheris, still in eagle form, soars above the Steading. He does not see anything unusual, in particular, it does not appear that any foes are circling the courtyard.

Gaerys searches Nosra and, apart from his weapons (with which the party is already very familiar), he finds a sack containing a large healing mushroom, which could be broken into three pieces, a vial of a solution that, while not a potion, smells at once acidic and herbal, and a black velvet bag with a ~1'x1'x1' cube inside of it. Through the bag, it feels smooth and wooden.

Marcus looks at the hornfoot leader quizzically, wondering how to take him prisoner when he is covered with ants.

Hollis applies much needed healing to Ethan.

HP adjusted below

The party debates their next course of action -- Ethan and Vorsyin (always a reliable, if conservative, voting block) opt for retreat, Gaerys, often the source of the party's best - and worst - ideas suggests that the party at least utilize magic to at least see the state of the Steading given the damage done to its leadership.

*************************************

Shield - 46 rounds
Summon Insects - 1 round
PfE - 18 Rounds
XXXXXX

**************************
Antheris: 39/48
Vorsyin: 48/48
Gaerys: 23/60
Hollis: 27/50

Ethan: 19/71
Marcus: 35/35
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No map.

The group is centered around where Nosra fell, except that Marcus is a couple squares SW of the HFL.

[Zhym]

Gaerys holds on to the velvet bag for now. He offers the healing mushroom to Ethan. When Antheris returns to human form, Gaerys will offer him the herbal solution, hoping a druid might be better able to determine the function of the nature-based concoction. Until then, Gaerys holds on to that, too.

He'll then try to disarm the hornfoot leader if he can. If he can't, he'll stand at the leader's back with Giantsbane at its spine. "Do we have no means left to immobilize this thing?" he asks the others. If the answer is no, Gaerys is inclined to kill the hornfoot leader. It is unlikely to be informative anyway, as it must surely know that it will die whether it talks or not. But if the party insists on letting the insects disperse and demanding that the leader yield, Gaerys is ready to drive Giantsbane through the leader's back if it gives the answer Gaerys expects.

When the deed is done, Gaerys will search the remaining bodies. He will then ask Vorsyin if he would be willing to use his magical abilities to take a wizardly look downstairs. "I agree that recovery is wise, but we should investigate the state of this place before we leave it, as long as we can do so safely." he says.

If Gaerys has time and it seems safe, he'll take the cube out of its bag and examine it.

[NJWilliam]

Antheris

Antheris returns to human form. Looking at the hornfoot leader, in a much more dour manner than usual for the druid, he says simply, "Kill it."

Taking out a leather flask from his haversack, he moves to the ashes of Blue. Chanting words of the old tongue that seem at once to be the essence of sorrow and pride, he moves the ashes into the flask. He solemnly collects what remains of the noble bear's armor and places it in his haversack, and tucks the flask of ashes behind his wide belt, the old tongue continuing to spill forth from him, seemingly of its own accord. He gathers Mingan's ashes in a similar fashion.

The druid's chant changes just slightly as he takes another flask and moves to the ashes of Kjelti, repeating the small ritual with her ashes. This time he takes the items left with the ashes, the banded armor, claymore, longbow, cloak, amulet, circlet and arrows, and arranges them neatly as if the warrior maiden had put them down for the night. Picking up the amulet he turns and looks at the companions, words of the old tongue seeming to continue though he is clearly not speaking them himself.

"If you would put it to use in her fight, take something of the Shield Maidens.
"Don't speak to me of this day.
"Choices like these cannot be made again.
"We cannot do our foes' job for them."

How much can Antheris carry in flight as a giant bird?

[Zhym]

"If you would put it to use in her fight, take something of the Shield Maidens.

Gaerys would take Kjelti's circlet, if it survived the wall of fire, wearing it as a reminder to keep his head about him and not let his guard down again.

If the amulet still exists, Gaerys asks the druid, "Antheris, would you wear Kjelti's amulet, as a memento?"

[Magnus]

Antheris, in looking over Kjelti's body, sees that the only items to survive the valkerie's immolation is her claymore, shield and armor. The armor is, of course, sized for a female.

Just wanted to make sure the party did not waste lots of time dividing non-existent loot. Waiting for Monday (or all party members to chime in) to move the round ahead.

[Computer +1]

I can extend my vision to see what is around us but after that I am leaving back to camp Vorsyin agrees. He looks over to see the bag the Gaerys is holding. Do not trifle with that cube, brother. Let us determine its function and any magical properties under safe conditions.

[saalaria]

Are both held Ogres dead?
"I agree some form of scrying into the lower steading would be wise. I also agree a retreat to recover our strength and my healing is essential. We pushed our luck too far this day.""

[Eulalios]

"Although our High Council sent me directly here, with an eye toward expedient action, I must agree. In our original mission, we got overconfident, disregarded risks, had a nice breakfast, and I woke up in the cell whence you saved me. Let's not repeat that mistake."

[Computer +1]

Let us move closer to where you wish me to look. Once we begin keep a sharp eye to our surroundings lest we be taken unaware again.

[Zhym]

I'm not sure how many rounds of action we've already posted. I've got Gaerys killing the hornfoot leader, searching bodies, looking at the cube (enough to see if it's a device or a box, if not to start fiddling with it), offering the not-potion to Antheris (after he spends a round turning back to human, presumably). If there's room to do anything else (or if I'm not able to log on for the next round), we could go to the stairs we used before and send the Wizard Eye down there. Gaerys would want to scout ahead before the entire party follows.

[Todd Spengo]

Tybalt remounts his horse. "Do we know if and how the enemy might be reinforced?"

He takes position behind the party to act as a rearguard.

[Magnus]

I'm not sure how many rounds of action we've already posted. I've got Gaerys killing the hornfoot leader, searching bodies, looking at the cube (enough to see if it's a device or a box, if not to start fiddling with it), offering the not-potion to Antheris (after he spends a round turning back to human, presumably). If there's room to do anything else (or if I'm not able to log on for the next round), we could go to the stairs we used before and send the Wizard Eye down there. Gaerys would want to scout ahead before the entire party follows.

Things are at 6s and 7s because some people are posting snippets of conversation, while others are posting almost a turn of action at once. When we are moving by rounds, players are strongly encouraged to post their action for a round or two at the most.

The GM's posts control what has happened (and what has not). While I try to capture everyone's intent, there are often things happening (in or behind the scenes) that cause things to move along more deliberately or prior actions not make sense, so some actions may get "left behind" as incremental updates get posted. It is the players' job to make sure that their intentions get effected in-game.

[Magnus]

ROUND 12

The party continues to gather themselves and discuss their next steps. The group consensus seems to be exiting the Steading.

Antheris reverts to human form and begins to gather the ashes of his departed animal companions. Glancing over the battlefield, he sees that only Kjelti's shield, sword and armor remain intact.

After a very brief debate, Gaerys puts the hornfoot leader to a final rest with Antheris's urging. Time will tell whether killing a leader amongst the monsters without opportunity for questioning is a smart decision. Gaerys searches its body and finds nothing of interest except a necklace set with a nice piece of amber and the hornfoot's axe.

Vorsyin offers to utilize a wizard eye but refrains from casting it, perhaps due to his contemplation as to where to send it and realization that it takes 10 minutes to cast...quite a long time to be standing around in the Courtyard, as the party has learned.

Please note that Wizard Eye has a 1 turn casting time...do you still want to cast it?

Tybalt takes a firm defensive position, watching the party's northern flank.

*************************************

Shield - 45 rounds
PfE - 17 Rounds
XXXXXXX

**************************
Antheris: 39/48
Vorsyin: 48/48
Gaerys: 23/60
Hollis: 27/50

Ethan: 19/71
Marcus: 35/35
**************************

No map.

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin takes a look at the wounded members of the party and then over at the remains of the warrior woman. I am done for today. Let us move back to safety while we can.

[NJWilliam]

Antheris

Antheris nods, "Our losses here today are grievous, but we cannot rest long, lest we lose the advantage we just paid for.
"I wager what remains below, at least the Fire Giants, expect Nosra to return victorious.
"Can we use that to our advantage for a quick additional strike?
"Our new companions are fresh for battle, no?"

I will, at the least, destroy what I can of this place on our way out. With a few words and a clap that smashes the mistletoe in his hands, a flame appears in Antheris's palm (casts Produce Flame). He then commences throwing the flame at combustible objects in the Steading.

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin shakes his head in disagreement. I have little to offer and most of us are close to exhaustion already. We have no idea how many giants and other creatures are left below. What if you alert more then you can handle? What if the smoke tentacles reappear? He looks at the others, We have killed Nosra and weakened the giants, let us come back stronger before we venture further along.

[drpete]

Ethan sighs, and sits down.

"I recognize that I cannot infljence the course we take, and I will not leave the group again. Do what you wish. I will wait, and give my blood. As you wish."

Ethan will watch, and should we get into combat, he'll eat the mushroom.

[Zhym]

Gaerys will take the axe and necklace and track where the ogre went.

[drpete]

Ethan perks up, having decided a course of action.

"Fire Giants, ogres, the smoke monster, Crowseye's window into hell, pestilence and unlife... Feeding on the dead... The steading is not deserted, and we are not at half strength. Sound like good odds. Who needs our archmage or our healer? There is really no benefit to a scouting mission if we aren't going to follow it with an assault. So let's set up order of battle. Which of us is going to fight the smoke monster? Which of us is going to fight the fire giants? Let's get organized, if this is or plan. I guess I'll take the fire giants... There are only two that we've seen. That leaves the rest of you to take on the smoke monster... We shouldn't have too much trouble there, as long as the undead Crowseye mentioned were small... After all, everything else here has been easy. I am preparing myself now to assert my authority. Which of you wishes to fight me over this? I am happy to toss a few of you in and lock the door, but no, we are not probing them for sport while our companion's body still smoulders."

Though gravely wounded from the fight, Ethan raises his sword Frostfell, and levels it at his companions.

[NJWilliam]

Antheris

Antheris slowly spins at the word "authority" from Ethan, his eyes blazing as much as the eldritch flames in his palms.

"Authority? Authority over who?
"You think you have authority over a brother of the Night Watch?
"Or a ranger, perhaps you have authority over a ranger of the Night Watch?
"Is it over a Knight of Braavos that you have authority?
"I know that it cannot be a Valyrian mystic whose rescue you fled from that you have authority over, can it?
"So I suppose it must be me - whose order even your Lord would think twice before even making the simplest request of - over whom you have authority?
"I know that is not so. Did you have authority over Mingan, a dire wolf North of the wall? Or Blue, a noble bear of the North?
"Or do you claim authority over Kjelti, a wild warrior of the North?

"Or is it your actions that you believe give you authority, 'Lord' Ethan - is that the title you fancy?
"Rather than fight to rescue prisoners, you fled to preserve your own skin and cared not for our hides.
"Rather than help a ranger with a heartfelt task, believing there was danger nearby, you fled again.
"Perhaps there are cowards here over whom you have authority as their king?
"No, I see no others.

"You need not raise that sword that you acquired when you fled the first time
" - it is a symbol of your flight and a badge of your dishonor -
"We all know that your preferred choice is flight, you have shown us time and time again,
"Little wonder that you wear the boots you have.

"If Crowseye did not take the interest in you that I sense, I would have nothing to do with you.
"Twice now a woman, a bear, and a wolf have shown more courage and loyalty than you, and paid a price you obviously are unwilling to pay.
"And so now, you choose to threaten to fight us one by one, rather than join us together.

"I pray to the Old Ones and Nature itself that that child that you now lead does not follow your actions.
"For that is the only one here that I see you having authority over, and you won it not by deeds or action, but in a game of cards.

"Master Ethan, you have authority over nothing here, and I won't continue to entertain your delusions about it.

"Perhaps three deaths have taught you something and that is why you returned,
"Perhaps the devil you have angered has taught you that your preferred method of safety by flight is no longer an answer,
"For my part, Crowseye's interest is all that allows me to stomach your presence.

"You are North of the Wall and Winter is coming."