Demons What P 11
When last we left our heroes, they had stumbled across an old gnomish village. There were statues of rather frightened looking gnomes in it. It is quite ominous looking.
Lucy peers at one of the statues. "They must have been turned into statues." She hefts her shortspear and turns to look this way and that for any sign of who could have done it. "I really was hoping it would be giants down here," she says in a small voice.
Felicia runs her finger on one of the statues. "Mmmmmm....I'd rather not have anything here at the moment. Especially if something did this...."
Celeste is keeping her shield strapped to her arm and her sword drawn. "Well, this is promising," she observes. "Alright; let's all keep our voices down and try to get through this area as quickly as possible. I'd rather not leave some of you behind as statues." Because of course, Celeste won't be turned into a statue. Right? She's way too tough. Right?
Serraphine looks about, then looks toward Felicia as shr shrugs, "It wasn't my call to go this way. All I know is that they would make great ornamentation for a lawn." A nod, "Maybe we can mark this place and come back at a later time." She turns to look back around her, then to Celeste, "Sure. Quiet. Right." A pause, a stare, then a look back about at everyone. She doesn't have a good feeling about that.
Lucy looks startled. "Wait. You mean we're -- we're leaving? We're not going to stay and help them?" She stops near a statue of a gnome almost her own height. "We play cat and mouse with a horde of demons, we bring the surviviors of an airship crash halfway through a mountain, but here we can't even try?"
Felicia says, "Lucy....I like this even less than you do. We have wounded here, and unless you want to stay in the village while they heal, and wait for the demons to move on, or our food to run out, we need to keep going. Plus, I don't know what sort of blessing would remove this curse.....yet....""
"What you want us ta do?" Baz rumbles up as he looks up from one Gnomecicle towards Lucy. His left index finger currently poking it, the gnome, in the eye.
"Dis is magic moah powerful den any I gotz. I suppose we could always make some marks on the ground and line dem all up and play dat one game wit the Kingz and Knightz and stuff. Or we could paint'em. Dis one here I'd do up in blue right? Hah. I'll call him Tarz da wee bluey."
"This is the wrong place to rest but some of the men are really dragging," says One-Eye, glancing amongst you.
"Any chance we could secure one of those buildings?"
"Last time I checked, getting turned into stone meant you were dead." Celeste shrugs her shoulders. "I've love to help them, but I don't know how to help anyone who's been turned to stone. I mostly just hurt people real bad for a living, I don't know anything about this." Celeste gestures with her sword towards the villagers, who seem to have undergone mandatory fossilization. "If you know how to help them, by all means; but like they said, we have wounded and not much food. I don't think we can help everyone and there's people we *can* save if we keep moving." The half-orc gladiatrix pauses, and perks an eyebrow upwards at One-Eye. "...Fine," seh grumbles. "And if Lucy wants to scout around while they're resting, I'll go with her, but we move *as soon as we're ready*.
Serraphine stares at Lucy, stares for a long moment then frowns. She crosses her arms, "No. You're right. We can at least look around and try to figure out what happened here. Maybe we can fix it - if not though - then that I said we should come back. With help. Those who can heal stone to flesh, since I don't have that ability."
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls perception: (20)+3: 23
GAME: Felicia rolls perception: (20)+3: 23
GAME: Malorn rolls perception: (18)+13: 31
GAME: Serraphine rolls Perception: (5)+4: 9
It doesn't take long for Malorn, Baz and Felicia to find a potentially good location in the gnomish village. There's a couple of buildigns close enough together that the two can be used for shelter and more easily guarded. Some old wagons can be moved in front of them once you're in to barricade yourselves, to boot. it takes a bit of time, but before long, you have a fairly defensible position, just one without a whole lot of ways out if you were to get in serious trouble. Like, say, an army of demons were to come rampaging down the tunnels. Unlikely, but it could happenmM!
Felicia does help with barricading the houses so the others can sleep and rest. They've been on the run for a while now.....and while theyhave plenty of water, Felicia is more worried about food. there's a settlement here, so food must be nearby.
The great Ork sniffs a couple of jugs he finds, then asks Kor to fill the with water for the troops. Setting down the full containers her turns about and begins poklng his nose into the variosu buildings. Looking around for food, loot or something to fight. Deciding to opt not for his huge curved blade, but the axe and shield in these closer quarters.
GAME: Malorn rolls survival: (17)+3: 20
GAME: Malorn rolls perception: (4)+13: 17
Malorn lets the others work on the barricades as he starts to wander around to find more edible cave mushrooms, but not enough for everyone. He gathers what he can before he brings it back. "I was able to find some food, but it's not a lot."
GAME: Celeste rolls perception: (7)+7: 14
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls perception: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
Celeste perks an eyebrow, and nods to Malorn. "Give it to the people who need it." She shrugs her shoulders lightly. "I will be fine without food for a day or two. I've gone for longer without anything to eat than this before." With the barricades finished, she straps her shield to her arm once more, just in case. "So. Are we having a look around?"
GAME: NeverSleepin rolls 1d4: (2): 2
Having spent the last few minutes lost in the corner of the same room as everyone else. Baz finally recovers his senses enough to wander near and reply to Celeste. "Oy, yes. While dese airshipmen rest, I wants ta stretch me legs. Get a look around 'ere and see if deres anything interest'n. 'sides I feel like I'm gonna break dese Gnome houses." The big Ork's armored form more like a house itself amidst the racially sized buildings.
Time passes.
It's easy to lose track of time uinderground, to be honest. There's, after all, no day or night cycle. But you rest and it's about halkway through that rest that Malorn and Serraphine, since nobody is going to be on watch alone in this situation, are called to the sound of a sudden and faint screech.
Like something was close enough to be heard, but far enough away that it's not an immediate threat. In the village, towards the entrance you came from.,
Malorn handed out the food before he takes his rest so he can be up for his watch. He is called towards the sound and he heads towards the entrance that they came from. He looks over towards Serraphine, "I'll go check it out if you want to get the others." He says as he starts to sneak forward.
GAME: Malorn rolls stealth: (7)+3: 10
GAME: Serraphine rolls Perception: (9)+4: 13
Some time is spent in the earlier day searching the village. Not a whole lot to be seen. There are some defensive signs, of course, as if they knew they were in trouble, and more statues of gnomes in buildings trying to hide. Looks like they were sniffed out. The whole village definitely is statuary at this point.
It looks like whatver happened, happened fast. Unfortuanteyl, there's not a whole lot of tracks to contend with.
Then there is resting. And screeching.
GAME: Malorn rolls knowledge/religion: (17)+9: 26
Malorn comes upon a demon statue that wasn't here before. He goes up to inspect it and he hmms as he starts to look around. He looks down the tunnel where it came from and then he starts to back away from it. He keeps his guard up as he moves back to wait for the others.
Once Malorn has roused everyone, you're able to head to the statue!
There it is.
A single statue of a dretch. It looks like it hasn't been there long. In fact, it's fairly obvious since this is the way you came in and you'd have all remembered that.
It's not exactly a great omen for a whole host of reasons.
Felicia makes a bit of a face. "Great. Which means we need to get out of here....."
Malorn looks to Felicia, "I've all ready been out there it looks as if something has turned it into a statue, but I've see no evidence of anything else, be it glyph or trap."
"Right, so whatz worse? What did all dis is running around here, or we got demons follow'n us dis close?" Baz scratches his chin after leaning his axe against his leg on the ground. "I fink we need ta hunt down this thing now and kills it afore it gets on the crew. It's got ta know we're 'ere. Too much noise, too much change from." He motions around at all the stone statues. "Dat."
Celeste has, of course, accompanied the group; the half-orc furrows her brow and growls softly. Her sword emerges from scabbard, and she taps the blade against her shield. "Well. We have two options, if we want to fight it; go looking for it, or simply make a loud noise and see if it comes to us."
Serraphine looks to the demon, scratches her chin, "It's just one demon. My guess would be that it was a scout and it happened upon the cave and continued on to find us - see if we're here - when it ran into whatever got it. I doubt that we'll see more demons soon, and all we probably have to do is wait for a bit for the creature to find us. It did - after all - systematically hunt down everyone else."
Malorn continues to look around. "Yes there could be something that the gnomes had set out perhaps since none of us are demons it didn't affect us."
GAME: Serraphine rolls Diplomacy: (5)+7: 12
There's a slow nod from Baz. "Could work, I could just start banging me shield and singing until it comes ta find out what is going on. Rather be bringing it to us then letting it pick it's own time and place." The big Ork glances around for a good place that would offer cover for the others and a easy solid fighting area for himself. Preferably with less statuary to get in the way.
Lucy looks between statues and buildings. Now that the've seen more of the underground village she feels she can estimate how many Gnomes may have lived here. She makes counting motions with one finger as she tries to guess if any got away or if they've all been turned to stone.
Serraphine looks to Malorn, shakes her head, "I doubt that. My guess would be some sort of creature." She starts back toward where the people are. After all, this creature seemed to hunt them down, best to get back to protect them.
Malorn nods, "It could be some creature, but why would it attack a dretch and not the rest of us, I'm sure we must have made more noise coming in and setting up."
Celeste rolls her eyes. "Make a decision," she growls, "Let's either fight it or get on with leaving. I'm for fighting it, honestly; Baz and I can make plenty of noise to attract it to ourselves, and you lot should set up to bushwhack whatever comes for us. And we should do it *here*, away from the crew."
Reminded of the crew, Lucy is peering in the directions of the buildings they are in, a look full of worry. "That's a good point. But does anyone have any idea what could have done this?" She circles the petrified dretch, examining it from every angle. "And how to keep it from turning -us- into stone?"
Serraphine gives another stroke of her chin, thinking, "Well, if I was a creature, and I saw a large group of people who looked dangerous, I probably wouldn't attack them. Doesn't take humanoid level intellgence for that. I would probably go after the wou-... GODS! Go, let's get back /now/." Serraphine does start running off toward the refugees now.
"Oh we fight'n, I'm not hav'n dis ting sniff at our heels while we mov'n. We call it out here, now and get ta kill'n." Baz says to Celeste, then as Serraphine races off he blinks a few times and furrows his brow. "What she do'in? She 'ave ta go to the potty, now?" He shrugs and snorts. "Well, when ya gots ta. Might as well a'fore a fight, ya? I say we gets started on getting da monstah to come and get his face sliced off."
Malorn looks back, "She's going to help the men from the ship. She could be right this could have been just to draw us all out here." He says as he starts to run back as well.
...and that's when the cunning animal seems to've been caught out.
Oh, it's big. Big as a great big bull with a hide of interlocking plates. It's looking pretty interested in the blocked off buildings you've managed and it's exhaling clouds of green smoke.
This could be bad. Really bad.
Serraphine sees it and yells out "DEMON BULL!" Because... well, it looks a demon and a bull loved eachother, and when a demon and a bull love eachother they get together you see and if the bull really loves the demon, then sometimes... I mean...
GAME: Baz da Ork casts Bull's Strength. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
The demon bull, such as it's been called, turns lsowly and snorts, stomping its massive hoof on the ground. This is its territory. But it's not stupid. It turns and begins to dart off down the 'main street' of the village with the loud clatter of its hooves.
Animal cunning, animal intellect. It's been seen.
Celeste isn't about to let this go that easily. The gladiatrix bashed shield with sword and breaks into a run; there are no tactics here, no strategy. She's just going to run up to that monster and slaughter it, right in the face, and it's going to be glorious. And she's going to mount its horns on her helmet. As soon as she gets a helmet. RIGHT THEN.
Malorn moves along with the others and he starts to head to the side to try to move around it so they can surround this demon bull.
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls intimidate: (15)+7: 22
Baz is scary enough that it runs even faster.
It's a deadly animal but, again, it's not a /stupid/ one. Baz is scarier!
"WAAAGH!" Roars the big Ork as he sees the Goron, his blood curdling roar of violence echoing through the Gnomeish village. His armored form thumps after the creature as he waves his axe. In passing he points a finger at Celeste and intones deep in his chest. "Kor! Grant this warrior your strength to aidz her in kill'n dat cow!" As he feels the energy leap from his finger and infuse Celeste with power he laughs and roars louder. "WE GONNA EAT GOOD TONIGHT BOYZ! THERES CHOW ON THE HOOF OUT HERE!"
Felicia facepalms at the ork. "and I thought we had a chance." She then moves to make sure everyone's okay in the houses.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
NeverSleepin has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for NeverSleepin to instruct you further.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
<OOC> Lucy says, "If there is time I'd like to cast speak with animals"
<OOC> NeverSleepin says, "Sure :)"
<OOC> NeverSleepin says, "Okay :D"
<OOC> NeverSleepin says, "Lucy! You're up first."
<OOC> NeverSleepin says, "Cast speak with animals, pose."
<OOC> Serraphine says, "BEEF! IT'S WHAT'S FOR DIN DIN!"
<OOC> Lucy says, "It's a feature if Gnome Magic, not sure if there is a command for it"
<OOC> Lucy says, "*of"
<OOC> NeverSleepin says, "Oh right."
<OOC> NeverSleepin says, "Okay!"
<OOC> NeverSleepin says, "Just pose it then"
<OOC> Serraphine says, "WE MEAN YOU NO BEEF!"
<OOC> Serraphine says, "DON'T HAVE A COW!"
<OOC> Serraphine says, "QUIT HOOFIN' IT!"
<OOC> Celeste applauds!
<OOC> Malorn says, "This was a moo-stake."
<OOC> Serraphine says, "We don't calf to fight!"
<OOC> Baz da Ork says, "I wish to speak with you oh cow monster! "LETZ EAT DIS COW!" Ignore him, he's not talking about. "THE GNOME IS TALKIN TA DA DINNER!" No, no, ignore him, lets negotate! "ASK DA STEAK IF IT WANTZ TA BE SAUCED OR BREADED!" Damnit."
<OOC> NeverSleepin Crai.
<OOC> Lucy says, "Also how far is it from us :D"
<OOC> Malorn says, "Baz don't have a cow man."
<OOC> Celeste says, "My ribs hurt."
<OOC> NeverSleepin DIES.
<OOC> Serraphine says, "NO BULL WE WON'T HURT YOU!"
<OOC> Serraphine says, "I'd steak my reputation on it!"
(New BB message (2/5) posted to 'General' by NeverSleepin: Baz...)
<OOC> Baz da Ork says, "Wait, we have a Paladin, it could make this it's mount right?"
<OOC> Malorn throws up hands..."This is all bull-sh*t."
<OOC> NeverSleepin says, "I hate you all xD"
<OOC> Malorn says, "I think it's time to put WP out to pasture."
<OOC> NeverSleepin says, "ANYWAY"
<OOC> NeverSleepin says, "LUCY POSE XD"
Lucy calls on her innate fey nature to let her speak with the creature. "--hey come back here!" She yells at it when she realizes just how far it's gotten in the seconds she spent working the magic. Then she chases after it, the enchantment of her boots activating and letting her run faster than a normal Gnome. "Tell us how to save these poor peeeopleeee..."
When Lucy speaks to it, actually speaks to it in some kind of mooing bull language to its ears, it turned and peeeeeeers at her curiously. It's an animal, after all.
It moos back at her.
Felicia just stays behind everyone as they go after the giant bull. She's already left orders for the rest of the crew to get moving as soon as they can. just in case.
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d20+9+2-1: (14)+9+2+-1: 24
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d8+5+2: (4)+5+2: 11
Barreling along the promenade Baz wooshes past those waiting for the bull to attack. His mouth wide open as he screams his war cries of "WAAAAGH!" and "GONNA EAT YA!" His spike covered shield shifting aside as he almost bounds like a puppy at the dangerous Gorgon. His huge battle axe flashing in the dim cavern light to bite deeply into the creature's hide as he laughs wildly. "Right in the tenderloin lunch! C'mon and get ready for me plate."
GAME: Celeste RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 8 temporary HP
GAME: Celeste rolls melee: (8)+11: 19
GAME: Celeste rolls 1d10+7: (6)+7: 13
GAME: Serraphine rolls weapon1-2: (11)+8+-2: 17
Celeste charges in along with Baz, the gladiatrix rushing headlong into battle with no heed to safety. It's just a bull, right? That turns people into stone? How bad could it be? "KILL YOU AND EAT YOU!!" she roars, brandishing sword before her as she runs, heading towards the opposite side to Baz; not that she'll get there just yet. She does get close enough to burry her blade into the beast's shoulder; of course, that puts her within chomping range, but who cares about that.
Serraphine looks over and frown, "I thought we were going to try and talk to the demon bull!" A shrug and she charges in at it, yelling as she swings... and whiffs as it goes wide a mutter of annoyance.
GAME: Malorn rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25
GAME: Malorn rolls 1d8+3: (7)+3: 10
GAME: NeverSleepin rolls 1d20+14: (16)+14: 30
GAME: Serraphine rolls reflex: (9)+4: 13
GAME: NeverSleepin rolls 2d8+10: (11)+10: 21
Lucy is still running, as fast as her short stride can carry her. As she runs she does her best to...well, to carry on a conversation with the monstrous beast. "Your turf? YOUR turf?? Did you build this village and these houses? Does your herd consist of Gnomes?!" While the others have begun attacking it, Lucy instead runs behind, to try and head it off from getting farther away. Which may or may not be a good idea.
GAME: Celeste rolls reflex: (12)+4: 16
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 1d20+9: (10)+9: 19
GAME: Malorn rolls reflex: (7)+7: 14
Bursting through the line of adventurers attacking it and trample and kicking over their smaller form, the creature tries to break free of the assault. R ounding, it bolts down the opposite way it was going, trying to escape.
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls 2d6: (7): 7
GAME: NeverSleepin damaged you for -7 points. 44 HP remaining.
Taking a vain swing at the bull, Baz goes down under it's raging hooves and his armored form is bounced around like a pebble in a cup. Groaning as he stumbles back towards his feet and swinging his shield up he calls out to Kor to aid the unit in battle. The healing energy pulsing outwards from him, unfounately only providing light mending to those about.
Celeste is bleeding, rather heavily; not that it really bothers her, she's suffered far worse wounds in the past. This time, however, a teeny bit of logic enters her mind through the fog of rage, and discretion really does become the better part of valor. She pants heavily, resting one hand on her knee as she calms down. "Let it go," she grumbles, "Not worth wasting our strength on it. Let's father the crew and get out of here before it can come back."
GAME: Serraphine spends TWO uses of LAY ON HANDS.
GAME: Serraphine rolls 2d6: (7): 7
GAME: NeverSleepin damaged you for -7 points. 44 HP remaining.
GAME: Celeste ends her rage.
GAME: NeverSleepin removes the timestop.
The Arvek tries to get out of its way, but instead of bowls through her and the others. A grunt as she lays on the ground and Baz starts his own words, the healing beginning. Serraphine scowls as she shoves the sword back into the scabbard, looking up and murmuring a soft prayer of her own, the burst of light around her radiating out to the others in her party. A look to the left, a look to the right, then back toward where it's charging off. She gives a slow nod.
"We should rest." Serraphine says, "That creature, that demon bull, it's headed back where we came from. It should give us warning. If there's only one or two demons, it'll attack, if there's more... it'll probably charge back this way meaning we'll know if it's encountered a large group." She slaps her hands together, dusting them off and a look to Lucy, "We'll be back. I promise, on my honor as a Lancer, we'll work to help these people." A nod of her head and she starts to walk off toward the place they had barricaded. "Since Malorn and I just finished this watch, I'm getting some sleep."
Serraphine gives a pause, turns to look back at the group one last night, "If anyone says otherwise... I'll give them the horns." And she holds up her index fingers and puts them off to either side of her head, before turning and walking off.
Malorn ughs as he gets knocked off his feet and he gets back up. He nods in agreement with Serraphine, "I'm going to relax a bit and bind my wounds."
GAME: Malorn rolls 2d8+10: (7)+10: 17
"It said this is 'it's turf'," Lucy says miserably. "And that these statues belong to it now." She looks over what's left of the village. "There must have been a few dozen Gnomes here, at one time. Now nothing. Except for us." By the last few words she seems to have regained her spirit, looking forward to protecting those still flesh and blood rather than worrying about those turned to stone.