Elfquest #15

[GM Mad]

Elfquest #15

Nymph Medallion:

The search for the three water related medallions has become complicated. The Narwhale Medallion was stolen from the Narwhale entrusted with it by the water spirit who was entrusted with the Nymph Medallion. The hydra believed to possess the Hydra Medallion has been slain. In turn, the water spirit says that its medallion was stolen by the narwhale! The question of what is really been going on is up in the air.

The water spirit has requested that Lia and Valena return to Narwhale and tell it that the spirit will meet it out in the ocean to discuss matters. The girls agree and the water spirit departs.

The walk back passes peacefully enough. Aerie flies overhead, keeping an eye on things overhead. Valena unerringly leads the pair back to the barge where they report their findings to Sherwood and Talen.


Griffon Medallion:

Further to the west and south, the rest of the group contemplates how to proceed next. The Griffons nearly took them into an enemy fort where they believe the Griffon Medallion to currently be. Backing off, the elves are now on the nearby inactive volcano observing the fort. Ideas are being passed about, but no definite plan has yet been reached.


GM Notes:

There is now a combat map for the fort in the private area in the Map’s section. It’s the very first link on the page.

If the spell Laucian is referring to is Stalk, then he can cast it from his Ring of Ehlonna, along with two other specialty spells from the Lady of the Forests. Any of the three spells can be cast once per day.

Now what?

[Valena Feador]

Valena:

"Aye, Do you think we should tell the narwhale of the Hydra?" she asks curiously "It may prove important to both."

“Yes, I think we should.” Valena answers. “It is a troubling thought since if the Hydra was the cause of all of this if it was the skeleton we found, then most likely two medallions were taken from it, not just one. Our quest might have just become even harder.”


Once back at the barge, Valena will relate all that transpired to Sherwood.

[Sherwood]

Sherwood:

Finally the girls return from their meeting with the Water Spirit. “So what was it? What did it say?”

The girls relate that the Water Spirit blames the Narwhale for the theft of its medallion, much like the Narwhale blamed the Water Spirit. It is suspected that the third party was actually responsible and that his third party was the Hydra.

“This complicates things. At the moment we have little choice but to pass on the Water Spirit’s message to the Narwhale. We may still get a medallion out of this, but prospects are looking slim for the others.”

Once everyone is ready, Sherwood will pilot the barge back to the small island where we found the Narwhale.

[Lilia]

Lilia:

Lilia listens as Laucian reveals his findings from observing the enemy camp.

"Orcs, huh? That's going to make this difficult. As far as I recall, orcs can see in the dark. Thus, night won't provide much cover. Plus, those hellhounds are going to be very hard to sneak past as their senses are no doubt very keen. Magical invisibility or other spells would be our best hope to get past them, I think."

“Yes, it would be better to engage orcs during the daylight as they dislike the light. But that would put us at a disadvantage against the other enemies. Presumably, they can see as well as we can in the dark. As noted the Hellhounds are going to be a problem. While invisibility conceals one, it does not hide your scent. Invisibility would be worthless against those devil dogs.”

"That is one blessing that Ehlonna does not grant." he says evenly. Kneeling down in the grass Laucian takes small sticks and begins to form a square, pointing to various places. "From what I saw, there are probably 60-80 orcs, the wyvern riders appear to be human. What vexes me greatly is the Fire Giant and his hellhounds..."

“That is too bad,” Lilia notes. “Now we cannot be sure if we need to raid this fort or not. Unfortunately, I think that we must as we cannot take the chance that the medallion is really here.”

"It is a shame we could not remove the outbound Wyverns from the field, then double back and bombard the rest while they recover, effectively removing the Wyverns and their riders from the field."

“Presumably these wyvern riders are skilled at mounted aerial combat. Something that none of us here can claim. It is my opinion that we’re better off not engaging them in the sky. If it were me, I’d fireball their stables while the beasts are inside.”

Another thought enters Nariya's head. "Can you shapechange into one of them?" she asks Lilia, having seen her and Sherwood change their shapes many times during the trek. "You could always just stroll on in there, especially if we observe their mannerisms and guard changes, and look around without fear of being discovered."

“While distasteful as that thought is, yes I can take on the appearance of an orc. However, I do not know the magic also grants me the scent of an orc as well. The spell may not fool the Hellhounds however. I may still smell like an elf. Whatever our course of action, this will not be an easy task. But at least this fort has plenty of areas that are off the ground, thus bypassing the hounds. Our first task in any endeavor we make against his place would be the remove the guards in the towers. From there we’d be able to move about with more freedom. While I find the notion repugnant, if we took out some of the guards and wore their clothes over our own, we might take enough of the orc scent with us to mask our own.”

[Kylie]

Kylie:

"That is one blessing that Ehlonna does not grant." he says evenly. "

"That is unfortunate," Kylie replies. "I also don't believe that a Locate Object spell would be of any use, as none of us have actually seen the medallion. Clairvoyance might be of use, if we could place the viewpoint inside the fire giant's quarters. However, I've never actually tried that, so I don't know how well it would work. It would also require waiting until tomorrow to memorize the spell."

“That is too bad,” Lilia notes. “Now we cannot be sure if we need to raid this fort or not. Unfortunately, I think that we must as we cannot take the chance that the medallion is really here.”

Kylie nods. "I have to agree with Lilia; we cannot risk it being here and not going after it."

"There are some ways around that, though at the present I am ill prepared for such a feat. There is a spell that can cover both your tracks and your scent for a time(7 turns by my math) It could get you in, but getting you out it may faulter."

Another thought enters Nariya's head. "Can you shapechange into one of them?" she asks Lilia, having seen her and Sherwood change their shapes many times during the trek. "You could always just stroll on in there, especially if we observe their mannerisms and guard changes, and look around without fear of being discovered."

“While distasteful as that thought is, yes I can take on the appearance of an orc. However, I do not know the magic also grants me the scent of an orc as well. The spell may not fool the Hellhounds however. I may still smell like an elf. Whatever our course of action, this will not be an easy task. But at least this fort has plenty of areas that are off the ground, thus bypassing the hounds. Our first task in any endeavor we make against his place would be the remove the guards in the towers. From there we’d be able to move about with more freedom. While I find the notion repugnant, if we took out some of the guards and wore their clothes over our own, we might take enough of the orc scent with us to mask our own.”

"I have Alter Self and could use that in the same manner. Between that and Lilia's suggestion of wearing their clothing, I may be able to pass as one of them for at least a little while. Getting out should not be a problem - at least not for me - using Wraithform and Fly."

Kylie considers for a moment. "If the medallion is there, it seems most likely that it is in the fire giant's quarters. Thus, that should be our primary goal. If we can pick a time when the giant and his pets are not inside, that may help us in bypassing the hellhounds' scrutiny."
____________________________________________________
Mad, Any chance of an area / terrain map around the wyvern base?

[GM Mad]

Mad, Any chance of an area / terrain map around the wyvern base?

The fort is on the top of a small hill surrounded by plains. No significant cover to be had, at least in the day time. Was there anything specific you were looking for?

[fanchergw]

The fort is on the top of a small hill surrounded by plains. No significant cover to be had, at least in the day time. Was there anything specific you were looking for?

I guess not. I had assumed there would be some kind of terrain, but apparently not.

[Laucian]

Laucian

As the conversation continues of the fort and what actions to take and what spells to use Laucian puts forth his own.

“I could probably cast Stalk or Pass without a trace to cover your scent. Though, I am unsure just how smart hellhounds are, If they see you and you carry no scent…” leaving it at that for a moment. “I also can hold the hellhounds possibly with Hold Animal though with unknown success.”

“As for the guards a well placed arrow can remove them.” Thinking to himself for a moment he looked up and said, “If we need to get you out fast a diversion maybe best suited. With the arrows we just recovered a fire arrow could cause an inferno in no time, drawing most if not all their attention, even if a lantern or torch were to fall.”

[Lia]

Lia

“Yes, I think we should.” Valena answers. “It is a troubling thought since if the Hydra was the cause of all of this if it was the skeleton we found, then most likely two medallions were taken from it, not just one. Our quest might have just become even harder.”

“I wonder. Mother spoke briefly of weak minded creatures. If memory serves me correctly they can be manipulated at times. Perhaps this is what happened?” she said evenly.

As they began to walk back to the barge Lia begins to take note of Valena’s armor and the ease in which she moves, not so hindered as in her own. With her curiosity peaked Lia asks, “Your armor is not much different then mine, Though how is it that you move more freely then myself?”

Sherwood wrote

The girls relate that the Water Spirit blames the Narwhale for the theft of its medallion, much like the Narwhale blamed the Water Spirit. It is suspected that the third party was actually responsible and that his third party was the Hydra.

“This complicates things. At the moment we have little choice but to pass on the Water Spirit’s message to the Narwhale. We may still get a medallion out of this, but prospects are looking slim for the others.”

Lia listens to her Uncle as he begins to sound doubtful, “Have faith Uncle, and there is yet to be some good in this. Their friendship maybe mended and with it their thanks. While this may be a small consolation to holding the medallions in hand, It may help to have them upon our side.

[Valena Feador]

Valena:

“I wonder. Mother spoke briefly of weak-minded creatures. If memory serves me correctly they can be manipulated at times. Perhaps this is what happened?” she said evenly.

“Perhaps, but we really have no way of knowing. From the way the Water Spirit spoke, it seems that there was past animosity with the hydra.”

As they began to walk back to the barge Lia begins to take note of Valena’s armor and the ease in which she moves, not so hindered as in her own. With her curiosity peaked Lia asks, “Your armor is not much different then mine, though how is it that you move more freely then myself?”

“Mine armor is Elfin Chainmail,” Valena explains. “It is much lighter allows a greater range of movement then human or dwarven made chainmail. It’s not much different than wearing regular clothes. I still have a spare suit of Elfin Chainmail as Kylie did not wish it. Would you like to try it?”

[Sherwood]

Sherwood:

Lia listens to her Uncle as he begins to sound doubtful, “Have faith Uncle, and there is yet to be some good in this. Their friendship maybe mended and with it their thanks. While this may be a small consolation to holding the medallions in hand, it may help to have them upon our side.

“I can assure you that my faith is fine, Lia, although I tend to deal with facts. We may gain allies this day if not medallions. Both the unicorn and the treant did mention gaining allies, so it is progress. I’d rather have medallions in hand, but this is the second best outcome.”

[Lilia]

Lilia:

"That is unfortunate," Kylie replies. "I also don't believe that a Locate Object spell would be of any use, as none of us have actually seen the medallion. Clairvoyance might be of use, if we could place the viewpoint inside the fire giant's quarters. However, I've never actually tried that, so I don't know how well it would work. It would also require waiting until tomorrow to memorize the spell."

“Probably not,” Lilia agrees. “Otherwise they would have been recovered long ago.”

"I have Alter Self and could use that in the same manner. Between that and Lilia's suggestion of wearing their clothing, I may be able to pass as one of them for at least a little while. Getting out should not be a problem - at least not for me - using Wraithform and Fly."

Kylie considers for a moment. "If the medallion is there, it seems most likely that it is in the fire giant's quarters. Thus, that should be our primary goal. If we can pick a time when the giant and his pets are not inside, that may help us in bypassing the hellhounds' scrutiny."

“I could probably cast Stalk or Pass without a trace to cover your scent. Though, I am unsure just how smart hellhounds are, If they see you and you carry no scent…” leaving it at that for a moment. “I also can hold the hellhounds possibly with Hold Animal though with unknown success.”

“As for the guards a well placed arrow can remove them.” Thinking to himself for a moment he looked up and said, “If we need to get you out fast a diversion maybe best suited. With the arrows we just recovered a fire arrow could cause an inferno in no time, drawing most if not all their attention, even if a lantern or torch were to fall.”

“It seems to me that we have the makings of a plan here. I agree that the fire giant is the most likely one to hold the medallion and as Kylie noted, if we can learn him away then his quarters could be searched. Kylie seems the best suited to search the Fire Giants rooms as she can use magic to be concealed and to grant her flight.“

“Therefore, the rest of us need to cause a diversion. Kylie can fly in and land on the roof of the fire giants chambers. The rest of us will eliminate the guards in the far towers, the ones near the Wyvern stables. Then we can start a fire to draw everyone else’s attention. During the confusion, the Fire Giant should come forth with his dogs. Then Kylie can enter his rooms and search. The rest of us will just keep the orcs busy with our bows giving Kylie the time she needs.”

“What do the rest of you think?”

[Nariya]

Nariya:

“It seems to me that we have the makings of a plan here. I agree that the fire giant is the most likely one to hold the medallion and as Kylie noted, if we can learn him away then his quarters could be searched. Kylie seems the best suited to search the Fire Giants rooms as she can use magic to be concealed and to grant her flight.“

"That seems to make the most sense," Nariya agrees about the Fire Giant. "I can't see any of the others having possession of it unless they weren't aware of what they had."

“Therefore, the rest of us need to cause a diversion. Kylie can fly in and land on the roof of the fire giants chambers. The rest of us will eliminate the guards in the far towers, the ones near the Wyvern stables. Then we can start a fire to draw everyone else’s attention. During the confusion, the Fire Giant should come forth with his dogs. Then Kylie can enter his rooms and search. The rest of us will just keep the orcs busy with our bows giving Kylie the time she needs.”

“What do the rest of you think?”

"Sounds like it will work," Nariya says, looking at Kylie. Magic is what Kylie and Lilia prefer, so it makes the most sense one of them go into the enemies' den.

[Kylie]

Kylie:

Kylie listens as the discussion swirls around her. Eventually, Lilia proposes a plan where Kylie flies in and searches while the others create a diversion. While she's a little nervous about going in by herself, the plan actually makes pretty good sense. In truth, she's also probably the best qualified, as she has both magical and theiving skills.

"I agree that this is probably the best way to approach this. It would probably be a good idea for me to Alter myself to look like an orc. That way, if by chance I'm spotted on the roof, it will draw less attention.

"Oh, and Laucian? One of those spells to suppress my scent would be a good idea as well. Optimally, it would be nice if they never knew we were here. Of course, that would mean that the best diversion would look like something that might happen naturally."

[Laucian]

Laucian

"Oh, and Laucian? One of those spells to suppress my scent would be a good idea as well. Optimally, it would be nice if they never knew we were here. Of course, that would mean that the best diversion would look like something that might happen naturally."

“It will be so.” When the time comes Laucian will cast Stalk upon Kylie so that she has the most ample time to use it. “I am curious though... With the Wyrvens patrols bunked for the night, Is there anyway that you could use a fireball to ignite within the stables, say through a window or open door?” he asks curiously. “Even if we escape without being seen, surely they will send the riders out to search, With less wyrvens at their disposal they wont be able to cover as much ground.”

[Lia]

Lia

“Mine armor is Elfin Chainmail,” Valena explains. “It is much lighter allows a greater range of movement then human or dwarven made chainmail. It’s not much different than wearing regular clothes. I still have a spare suit of Elfin Chainmail as Kylie did not wish it. Would you like to try it?”

“Aye, that would be wonderful! I didn’t realize that Elfin manufacturing was so well constructed. I wonder though does it offer the same protection as well?”

“I can assure you that my faith is fine, Lia, although I tend to deal with facts. We may gain allies this day if not medallions. Both the unicorn and the treant did mention gaining allies, so it is progress. I’d rather have medallions in hand, but this is the second best outcome.”

‘As would I”

[Kylie]

Kylie:

“It will be so.” When the time comes Laucian will cast Stalk upon Kylie so that she has the most ample time to use it. “I am curious though... With the Wyrvens patrols bunked for the night, Is there anyway that you could use a fireball to ignite within the stables, say through a window or open door?” he asks curiously. “Even if we escape without being seen, surely they will send the riders out to search, With less wyrvens at their disposal they wont be able to cover as much ground.”

"Thank you," Kylie replies when Laucian agrees to use his spell to cover her scent.

"Unfortunately, I don't currently have Fireball in my spell inventory; perhaps Lilia might. However, I'm hopeful that we can get away without anyone being the wiser. A fireball would make that a moot point. My suggestion would be to hold off on doing that unless it becomes necessary."

[Valena Feador]

Valena:

“Aye, that would be wonderful! I didn’t realize that elfin manufacturing was so well constructed. I wonder though does it offer the same protection as well?”

“It is even better,” Valena assures Lia. “This is something that you need to know about your elfin heritage, Lia. Elfin craftsmanship combines not only practicality but beauty as well. Do you recall our visit to the palace of the elfin king? While it could have been built using straight lines, but those elfin craftsmen used curves instead to give it a elegant beauty. There is a natural beauty to such things. Such as those dwellings constructed among the treetops. At times it is difficult to tell where the tree ends and the building begins. Perhaps our works will not stand the test of time like dwarves with there love of stone, but ours will always have a beauty to them. And if an elf appreciates anything, it is beauty.”

Stopping, Valena opens up her pack and produces her old suit of elfin chainmail. “Here you go. Try it on and you’ll see what I mean.”

[Lilia]

Lilia:

"That seems to make the most sense," Nariya agrees about the Fire Giant. "I can't see any of the others having possession of it unless they weren't aware of what they had."

“It’s a simple process of elimination,” Lilia adds. “Eliminate the most obvious suspect and then move on to the next if necessary.”

"Sounds like it will work," Nariya says, looking at Kylie. Magic is what Kylie and Lilia prefer, so it makes the most sense one of them go into the enemies' den.

“She has the necessary skills for this, thanks to her training from that halfling friend of hers.”

"I agree that this is probably the best way to approach this. It would probably be a good idea for me to Alter myself to look like an orc. That way, if by chance I'm spotted on the roof, it will draw less attention.

“Or cast Invisibility on yourself,” Lilia suggests. ‘I have Invisibility 10’ Radius in memory if you do not have an invisibility spell in memory. As long as it is placed after you cast your last spell and you make no aggressive moves, then it should conceal you for the duration of this mission.”

“It will be so.” When the time comes Laucian will cast Stalk upon Kylie so that she has the most ample time to use it. “I am curious though... With the Wyverns patrols bunked for the night, is there anyway that you could use a fireball to ignite within the stables, say through a window or open door?” he asks curiously. “Even if we escape without being seen, surely they will send the riders out to search, with less wyverns at their disposal they wont be able to cover as much ground.”

"Unfortunately, I don't currently have Fireball in my spell inventory; perhaps Lilia might. However, I'm hopeful that we can get away without anyone being the wiser. A fireball would make that a moot point. My suggestion would be to hold off on doing that unless it becomes necessary."

“I do have a single fireball available,” Lilia reports. “And yes, the spell only requires a small opening to be cast into the stables. It seems to me if our first step is to eliminate the orc guards up in the tower, then they will eventually deduce that some unknown party was responsible for what transpired. Orcs with their throats slit are not usually accidents. I have no problem with them learning that some unknown enemy was responsible for this, as long as they don’t discover it to be elves. As long as they don’t suspect elves, then they will look elsewhere for answers.”

“Our first step is to wait until after dark to make our move. Then we’ll ride the griffons close to the camp and close the rest of the distance on foot. Once we’re done we can backtrack to the griffons and fly off. I would suggest riding in low to avoid being noticed against the night sky and do the same upon withdrawing. I’ll have flight to help me get over the walls.”

Turning to Nariya and Laucian, “Do you have any thoughts on how you’ll eliminate the orc guards in the towers? Do you need assistance in getting over the walls?”

[Kylie]

Kylie:

“She has the necessary skills for this, thanks to her training from that halfling friend of hers.”

"Yes, Rat did teach me some useful skills..." Kylie says with a chuckle.

“Or cast Invisibility on yourself,” Lilia suggests. ‘I have Invisibility 10’ Radius in memory if you do not have an invisibility spell in memory. As long as it is placed after you cast your last spell and you make no aggressive moves, then it should conceal you for the duration of this mission.”

"I don't have Invisibility handy, unfortunately, which is why I suggested the Alter Self. However, if you do, that would work even better. Thank you."

“I do have a single fireball available,” Lilia reports. “And yes, the spell only requires a small opening to be cast into the stables. It seems to me if our first step is to eliminate the orc guards up in the tower, then they will eventually deduce that some unknown party was responsible for what transpired. Orcs with their throats slit are not usually accidents. I have no problem with them learning that some unknown enemy was responsible for this, as long as they don’t discover it to be elves. As long as they don’t suspect elves, then they will look elsewhere for answers.”

Kylie nods. "I was envisioning a somewhat more subtle distraction, but if attacking the guards seems like the best option, then that's fine."

Kylie listens as Lilia reviews the plan and nods her understanding. She doesn't really have anything to add at this point.

[Laucian]

Are there any breaches(lower areas) in the walls or where it may appear weaker then the residing area?

[GM Mad]

GM Notes:

Kylie nods. "I was envisioning a somewhat more subtle distraction, but if attacking the guards seems like the best option, then that's fine."

Lilia’s plan was to eliminate the guards up in the towers on the side of the camp away from the Fire Giants quarters, so that she, Laucian, and Nariya can move about without fear of discovery. Then they can cause whatever diversions you wish to attract get the Fire Giants attention.

Are there any breaches (lower areas) in the walls or where it may appear weaker then the residing area?

No, the fort’s elevated parts are 15’ above the ground. Ladders are the way the orcs reach the upper walkways and towers. The fort was designed to house the orcs and the wyvern riders. It was not built to handle a siege, so the walls are not meant be a highly defensive position.

Basically what I need to know is what method Nariya and Laucian are going to use to get over the walls. (Kylie or Lilia carries them, or toss down a rope for them to climb, or whatever other method you can think of.) Then a brief idea how you are going to eliminate the guards in the towers. Just want to know how you’re going to do what you’re going to do.

[fanchergw]

GM Notes:
No, the fort’s elevated parts are 15’ above the ground. Ladders are the way the orcs reach the upper walkways and towers. The fort was designed to house the orcs and the wyvern riders. It was not built to handle a siege, so the walls are not meant be a highly defensive position.

Basically what I need to know is what method Nariya and Laucian are going to use to get over the walls. (Kylie or Lilia carries them, or toss down a rope for them to climb, or whatever other method you can think of.) Then a brief idea how you are going to eliminate the guards in the towers. Just want to know how you’re going to do what you’re going to do.

Could they not take out the orcs on the walls / in the towers with their bows? I'm not sure they actually need to get over the walls.

Gordon

[GM Mad]

Could they not take out the orcs on the walls / in the towers with their bows? I'm not sure they actually need to get over the walls.

Gordon

That is possible. The walls do provide some measure of cover, so its a harder shot. There is also the danger of not killing the target and having him alert the others that an attack is underway. It's up to you guys how you go about this.

[Laucian]

Laucian
{mmm Well if we are coming in with the griffons then walking, If Laucian can spot the guards, to see time of passage between sentries and perhaps if they are sleeping he will do so.

I doubt Lilia or Kylie could carry them without hindering themselves, ropes may be the best route.)

Laucian will turn to Nariya and say, "Do you speak orc?" he asks curiously. "If one of use lures the orc away while the other attacks from behind we could elimanate one tower sentry and keep an eye out from there. Wait..." he says thinking the plan over.

After several moments Laucian looks between his comrades, "Lilia remove one of the tower guards as quickly and quietly as you can, afterward lower a rope for Nariya and myself. At this point Nariya, and I will move off and remove the other guards using a stalk spell, slitting their throats from behind would be best. Kylie I'll cast pass without a trace upon you before you enter, The spell will last about an hour. If it fails be sure to stay downwind of those hellhounds. Lilia if you are able before we depart take out as much of the stable out with a fireball as you can. It is then we will make our escape, while they are fighting the flames."

Before theassualt Laucian will remove the Helm so his Ranger abilities are not hindered.(leave with the griffons.)

[Nariya]

Nariya:

That is possible. The walls do provide some measure of cover, so its a harder shot. There is also the danger of not killing the target and having him alert the others that an attack is underway. It's up to you guys how you go about this.

Nariya is confident she could make the shot, but there are other options being discussed.

Laucian will turn to Nariya and say, "Do you speak orc?" he asks curiously. "If one of use lures the orc away while the other attacks from behind we could elimanate one tower sentry and keep an eye out from there. Wait..." he says thinking the plan over.

"No, I don't speak such a horrid tongue," Nariya says. However, Laucian seems to be thinking of other things too.

After several moments Laucian looks between his comrades, "Lilia remove one of the tower guards as quickly and quietly as you can, afterward lower a rope for Nariya and myself. At this point Nariya, and I will move off and remove the other guards using a stalk spell, slitting their throats from behind would be best. Kylie I'll cast pass without a trace upon you before you enter, The spell will last about an hour. If it fails be sure to stay downwind of those hellhounds. Lilia if you are able before we depart take out as much of the stable out with a fireball as you can. It is then we will make our escape, while they are fighting the flames."

Nariya admires how ruthless Laucian seems to be at approaching this task. She can't help but smile and nod approvingly at the plan, although it seems magic is going to be involved as it always is.

"Sounds like a good plan," Nariya says. "They don't stand a chance."

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:

Nymph Medallion:

After meeting with the water spirit, Lia and Valena have returned to the barge and reported their findings. In response Sherwood has the barge take off once more and flies it back to the small island where you spoke to the Narwhale earlier. It is late in the day when you arrive back at the island. The Narwhale is not in sight.


Griffon Medallion:

The search for the Griffon Medallion has caused the elves to consider raiding an enemy fort! A plan of attack is reached and once night has fallen, the elves make their move. First they fly closer to the fort on their griffons and landing a short march away. Next the elves move overland towards the fort. Between the darkness and their elfin boots and cloaks, they approach silently and unnoticed.

Preparatory spells are cast to carry out this mission. Kylie casts Fly on herself first. Then Laucian casts Pass Without Trace on her and Lilia finishes things off with an Invisibility 10’ Radius spell. Virtually undetected, Kylie takes off and moves into position on the roof of the giants’ quarters.

Kylie notes a lone orc in each guard tower and none of them are paying much attention. A few orcs move moved down below on the ground. It is clear from their behavior that none of them are expecting to be attacked. Security is very lax.

Near the middle of the giants building, there is a large hole in the roof to allow smoke from a roaring fire below to escape. The heat from the fire can be felt up here. The hole is capped to keep rain out, but the young finder can slip squeeze through the sides of the cap, as they are not closed off. (The cap is elevated about a 1’ above the rooftop on legs.)

The hole also offers an excellent view inside the quarters. The fire giant is present and lying in the roaring fire below, using it as one would use a bed! A few hellhounds are present and napping. The furnishings of the hut are rather basic with the fire pit being the main attraction. Kylie does not a huge sack hanging from a hook embedded in the ceiling. It’s easy 12’ above the floor and would be hard for any normal-sized creature to reach.


Lilia casts Polymorph Self upon herself and changes into the form of an owl. In this form, she flies off on her mission, with Nariya and Laucian trailing behind.

Lilia flies over the fort and eyes the closest guard tower. The orc guard there isn’t paying much attention to what is going on around. Lilia glides in, changing forms as she starts to land. The elf-maiden lands in the form of an orc behind the orc guard. Her short sword is drawn and she slashes it across the guards’ throat with one hand, while she uses the other to cover his mount. The guard silently crumbles to the floor.

The deed goes unnoticed and Lilia secures one end of her rope before dropping the other over the side of the wall. Nariya and Laucian quickly scamper up the rope to the guard tower. None of the other orc guards are in range of your infravision, but you can vaguely make them out in the other towers. There is one guard in the tower opposite of yours on this side of the compound. A second orc has climbed the ladder near the far gate and is moving down the walk way towards the other guard tower.

[GM Mad]

GM Notes:

How do you want to proceed from here? Any other preparatory spells you want to cast before taking on this mission? This post will be the last chance to get any other spells in before hand. Laucian has only 1 Stalk spell available to him, so he cannot use it on both he and Nariya. It’s either one, but not both.

The map in the private section has been updated showing your positions and those of orcs you can see.

Now what?

[Kylie]

Kylie:

After several moments Laucian looks between his comrades, "Lilia remove one of the tower guards as quickly and quietly as you can, afterward lower a rope for Nariya and myself. At this point Nariya, and I will move off and remove the other guards using a stalk spell, slitting their throats from behind would be best. Kylie I'll cast pass without a trace upon you before you enter, The spell will last about an hour. If it fails be sure to stay downwind of those hellhounds. Lilia if you are able before we depart take out as much of the stable out with a fireball as you can. It is then we will make our escape, while they are fighting the flames."

Kylie listens to Laucian review details of the plan, grimacing at the description of slitting the orcs' throats.

They ride the griffins out to a point near the fort. Surprisingly to her, Kylie is actually starting to feel comfortable riding these large beasts. She certainly never envisioned herself doing anything like this with anything less than abject fear.

Once they land, they move closer on foot. Before the split up, the friends pause to cast their preparatory spells. Kylie makes certain to remove her Helm before casting any spells. First off, she casts Fly, then waits while Laucian casts his spell on her. Kylie considers casting Alter Self now just in case she has to do something that will dispel the invisibility from Lilia, but decides to wait due to the short duration of the spell. Instead, she just lets Lilia go ahead with her spell.

As soon as she is ready with all of her spells, Kylie takes off for the fort. It doesn't take long to get there, and Kylie comes in high to get a good overview of the grounds. That done, she settles onto the roof of the fire giant's quarters. Looking around, she finds a covered smoke hole in the middle of the roof. Moving closer, it becomes apparent that there is enough room for her to squeeze in underneath the cover.

For now, Kylie lies down next to the hole and surveys the room below. Lying with just her head over the hole, she notes that the building appears to contain just one room, despite the high roof. Of course, that makes sense considering how tall fire giants are.

Speaking of which, the fire giant is present, and appears to be taking a nap in the middle of the fire pit. Apparently they aren't called fire giants for nothing! What's more, some of his pets are with him.

Otherwise, the huge room appears to be quite starkly furnished. The only other item of interest in the room is a large sack hanging on a hook high above the floor. If the medallion is here, that would be the most likely place. It's a good thing that she's flying, or she'd never be able to reach it!

While she waits for the others to ready their distraction, Kylie tries to determine whether the bag will fit out the hole in the roof. She also tries to guess at its weight, wondering if she is likely to be able to lift it.

[Sherwood]

Sherwood:

We return to the narwhale island, but the creature does not seem to be around.

“I guess we wait then,” Sherwood says. “It’s bound to show up sooner or later. We’ll take turns keeping watch in the meantime.”

[Lilia]

Lilia:

Laucian will turn to Nariya and say, "Do you speak orc?" he asks curiously. "If one of use lures the orc away while the other attacks from behind we could eliminate one tower sentry and keep an eye out from there. Wait..." he says thinking the plan over.

"No, I don't speak such a horrid tongue," Nariya says. However, Laucian seems to be thinking of other things too.

“I can speak their vile tongue,” Lilia interrupts. “Such a thing might be useful in causing a diversion. I will eliminate the guard and then drop a rope down so you can join me on the wall.”

Laucian brings the planning session to an end and things are settled. Lilia relaxes for the most part during the remainder of the day, reading from a book she brought along with her. Night comes and its time to begin their assault. Lilia spends some time with the griffon she’s been riding, preparing him for what is to come. The flight is a short one and we land close to the fort, but not too close.

“Wait here until we return,” Lilia tells her griffon. “Hopefully this will not take too long.”

Preparations are complete and Lilia covers Kylie with Invisibility. Casting Polymorph Self upon her, Lilia changes into the form of an owl. This spell is much nicer and more versatile that the Alter Self spell she used to use.

Taking flight, Lilia closes in on the fort. The elf maiden is momentarily puzzled when she realizes that she can see much further the she is used to. At first she things that perhaps it is a function of the spell, but then realizes that the Star Crown she wears is said to increase the range of all of her senses. That must be it.

Flying over the fort, Lilia eyes her target; the back tower guard on the side Laucian and Nariya are approaching from. His back is to Lilia as she glides closer as an owl. As she comes in for a landing, Lilia changes forms into that of an orc in order to blend in better. At the same time, she draws her shortsword and uses it to bring down the orc. One hand moves the blade across his throat; the other covers his mouth stifling any screams.

The deed is done and a rope is secured and thrown over the wall.

“It’s me,” Lilia calls down in elfish as the climbers get near. “So far, so good. There’s a few orcs wandering down in the compound. There’s one in the other tower on our side, and a second orc is walking towards him.”

[Lia]

Lia

As they return to the barge, Lia holds onto Valena’s suit of chainmail, occasionally looking down on it. Once back on the barge, the decision is made to move to the Narwhale. During this time, Lia will change into the Elvin Chainmail and begin moving about in fluid motions trying to get used to freedom it provides.

“Who will take first watch?” she asks her uncle.

[Laucian]

Laucian

"No, I don't speak such a horrid tongue," Nariya says. However, Laucian seems to be thinking of other things too.

“I can speak their vile tongue,” Lilia interrupts. “Such a thing might be useful in causing a diversion. I will eliminate the guard and then drop a rope down so you can join me on the wall.”

“Very well. If there are no other matters to discuss, then relax until nightfall.” He says evenly.
During the wait Laucian will approach the griffon he is riding and stroke its flanks all the while speaking soothingly to it. After a while Laucian will lay out his arrows and sword checking their sharpness, then meticulously polish his bow. Pleased with the results he quivers his arrows and bow, then, sheaths his sword.

Moving toward the fort, Laucian eyes roam over the walls seeing vague figures move about causing his mouth to go dry as a flicker of movement catches his eye as a rope is dropped.
“It’s me,” Lilia calls down in elfish as the climbers get near. “So far, so good. There’s a few orcs wandering down in the compound. There’s one in the other tower on our side, and a second orc is walking towards him.”

Hearing the voice from above Laucian draws his dagger flicking it up into his hand ready to throw at the voice but hearing the elvish, he drops the dagger back into his boot. Checking this way and that he, “You first.” He says to Nariya. As he follows behind, Upon reaching the tower walls, Laucian squats down, “Nicely done. He chances a look up and over walls seeing the vague figures move in the darkness. “Very well.” He says considering the distance and wind. “One moment.” Laucian begins to cast Stalk on Nariya, as her skills are less then his own. “Lilia, Regardless if we can remove the guards quietly or not, Fireball the stable in a few moments time. Looking back at Nariya, “You will move quieter now. You go first and I will follow with my bow. Let’s go.” Drawing his bow and knocking Stunning arrow.

Laucian will give Nariya a few paces birth so he does not hinder her, though he will keep a trained eye on those below, taking up a position Laucian will keep his eyes on the farther of the two. If a clear shot presents itself Laucian will fire for the further orc of the two. If no shot presents itself or Both orcs go for Nariya, Laucian will take a clear shot at one, if none presents itself, stow his bow and draws his sword. And advance.

[Nariya]

Nariya:

Hearing the voice from above Laucian draws his dagger flicking it up into his hand ready to throw at the voice but hearing the elvish, he drops the dagger back into his boot. Checking this way and that he, “You first.” He says to Nariya.

Nariya's hands slide from the grips on her swords as she hears the elvish too. Laucian's movements caused her to jump more than the voice and rope. They were expecting Lilia to be up there anyway.

She climbs up the rope easily enough, crouching down once at the top, listening to where Lilia says the nearest orcs are. They're getting ready to move, but Laucian holds them up.

“One moment.” Laucian begins to cast Stalk on Nariya, as her skills are less then his own. “Lilia, Regardless if we can remove the guards quietly or not, Fireball the stable in a few moments time. Looking back at Nariya, “You will move quieter now. You go first and I will follow with my bow. Let’s go.” Drawing his bow and knocking Stunning arrow.

"I can move silently on my own," Nariya says, however she adds a sincere, "but, thank you."

Nariya readies a spear, the thrust of the weapon being better up on the walls, plus she can throw it if needed. Should she not down her foe, a spear will keep them at bay easier as well.

[GM Mad]

Post Closed