It's Written in the STARS pt7
Blink Blink
But I was safe." She says.
And she was.
Until you got here.
Because just outside the cave, there's a big old roar.
"That doesn't sound like a dragon." muses Vala.
At some point Lysos's face was covered by her hand. There was probably a sound to mark it. Now, it's slowly being dragged down her face as she looks back towards the cave entrance. "I really want to say I'm surprised," she notes, almost casually.
Bina, who was chatting along with the other to the young woman, pauses as she hears the roar and lets out a long sigh. "Me too, Lysos. I truely think she's blessed buy Tarien if not all the gods. Such luck is out of the ordinary to say the least. But she has it. What's outside.. shall we see?" She shoos Emp off her should and sends him for a hiding place as she moves to cautiously look outside.
Elena manages to catch up to the others. At some point. Like right now! Basically, right before that roar comes. "Sorry," she apologizes. "I think the merchant sold me the wrong kind of mushroom on my salad. It felt like I was walking for we--" And then, naturally, the roar comes. Turning over her shoulder, she asks, "Please tell me that I'm the only one that heard that?" But the girl's response doesn't do much to lift her spirits.
GAME: Burai casts Barkskin. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15
Burai chants in the secret language of the druids. There's a sound of wood bending and creaking. His skin darkens and grows rough and craggy for a moment before the effect fades for the most part, leaving his skin only a little different than normal. He also pulls the large sword off of his back, though he keeps it lowered. "We heard it," he replies. He glances at Vala and then with an expression that says 'I can't believe I'm doing this' moves to stand between her and the entrance to the cave.
Looking outside reveals probably the worst thing imaginable: it's a troll!
...yay.
A troll.
So there you are, inside a cave, with a troll standing on the other side of it. He seems to be dropping into a crouch, long tongue out of his mouth and his long arms braced out in front of ihm like he's getting ready to spring towards the cave mouth. His nostrils flare.
Ah, yes. Food smells good, right?
"Gyeaaah!" A very repulsed Lysos stumbles back a step, putting an arm over her nose as she gags a little bit. "Stars above, what is that?"
Bina seems more then startled. "You've been in this cave long enough to make a fire and eat and now that we get here it comes?" She asks Vala but keeps her eyes on the monster. "Hoping you won't need to learn how to run for your life.. but it could happen." She pulls out her holy symbol and prays fast and hard. "Tarien. Please lord I ask for your blessings." A silvery light flares out over the party.
GAME: Sabina casts Bless. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14
GAME: Elena casts Divine Favor. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
Elena, meanwhile, unhooks that strange-looking mace from her belt, whispering a brief prayer. "And when threatened with darkness, her light shone upon the faithful, and her presence was with them..."
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Whirlpool has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Whirlpool to instruct you further. You may earn RPP by logging a scene for a GM.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
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GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 20.
It is now Elena's turn! Hunger Troll is next!
GAME: Elena rolls 1d20+4+1+1: (12)+4+1+1: 18
GAME: Elena rolls 1d6+1+1: (2)+1+1: 4
GAME: Elena spends ONE use of HAND OF THE ACOLYTE.
Elena narrows her eyes at the troll, extending her hand forward -- and the mace disappears in a flash of light, the blur speeding toward the troll's face where the thing smashes into it with a heavy thud, appearing seconds later in Elena's hand again. "Definitely not the mushrooms."
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 18.
It is now Hunger Troll's turn! Sabina is next!
The troll is thwocked in the face by the mace with a satisfying thud. It jerks back from the impact, but the bruising and damage left in its wake is already healing, rapidly.
It hisses, licks its chip, and proceeds to dart inside the cave, climbing along the ceiling with its claws. Indeed, it's on the roof of the cave, staring down at you, it's eyes flicking here and ther as it seems to be picking which oine of you is going to get eaten first.
Vala screams, of courwse. "YOU BROUGHT A TROLL WITH YOU?!"
Because, of course, it's TOTALLY your fault and not her's in any way and GOSH.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 16.
It is now Sabina's turn! Lysos is next!
GAME: Sabina casts Spiritual Weapon. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+6: (12)+6: 18
GAME: Sabina rolls 1d8+1: (6)+1: 7
Sabina lifts up her holy symbol and prays to Tarien again. "Lord of tricks and funny ways. Help me teach this troll not to trap anyone ever again. Grant me your weapon again him." A silvery shortsword appears floating next to the troll and swings, bashing into the creature with magical force as Sabina quick times it next to Vala. Buckler up and at the ready.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 15.
It is now Lysos' turn! Edinaz is next!
GAME: Lysos casts Hydraulic Push. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+4+5: (20)+4+5: 29
Lysos looks a bit pale, almost sick... maybe because, as Vala accuses, she actually things she did bring the troll with the group. "Sorry, sorry!" she says, perhaps a little bit loudly. She dashes to one side, trying to get a it of an angle. "I'll try to get it down!" She raises a hand, palm up and fingers curled as though she were holding on to a rope, then spits out, "Soakus mostus!" A small orb of water appears, then turns into a forceful blast as it hits the troll square on. In fact, it hits the troll so hard not only does the creature lose its handholds, but it bounces off of the wall, crashes around a bit.. and then, while Lysos's eyes widen and she starts to say, "Oh no..." it lands upon her.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 14.
It is now Edinaz's turn! Burai is next!
GAME: Edinaz RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 10 temporary HP
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+13+2: (1)+13+2: 16 (EPIC FAIL)
Edinaz pulls out his sword and goes charging in at the troll. "Get off he--" Well, that's the problem with swords, stone and water mixiing. He goes skidding into the tangle of troll-and-Lysos, and flips over them. His sword strike ends up being not so much a strike as part of the rotation that takes him over and to one knee.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 12.
It is now Burai's turn! Elena is next!
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 20.
It is now Elena's turn! Hunger Troll is next!
GAME: Elena rolls 1d20+2+4+1+1+1: (7)+2+4+1+1+1: 16
GAME: Elena spends ONE use of HAND OF THE ACOLYTE.
GAME: Elena rolls 1d6+1+1: (1)+1+1: 3
Elena narrows her eyes again, repeating the focused attack from before. It doesn't land quite as well this time, given that the troll is on the ground, but she still manages to connect nonetheless. "I am in no mood for this today," she sighs, looking a little hung over.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 18.
It is now Hunger Troll's turn! Sabina is next!
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+13+1: (10)+13+1: 24
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d8+7: (4)+7: 11
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (4)+8: 12
"HURGH! GWARRRGH!" The hungry, hungry troll's wounds are still regenerating at a rapid clip and he's on his feet again, taking a chop from Edinaz in the process. He leans in and swiftly snaps his teeth at the warrior, but is unable to make contact.
Still, he's up and looming over Lysos now!
Edinaz recovers quickly enough, though -- maybe the glowing energy coming from his tattoos helps? Maybe? Whatever the case, he lashes out, striking the troll hard as it clambers to its feet -- the sword making a butcher-sound when it hits.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 16.
It is now Sabina's turn! Lysos is next!
GAME: Sabina casts Ear-Piercing Scream. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
GAME: Sabina rolls 1d6: (1): 1
GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+6: (18)+6: 24
GAME: Sabina rolls 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (7)+11: 18
The Tarienite priestess casts one of her wizarly spells, hand movements and then opening her mouth in a silent scream that ripples the air and strikes the great beast but with the same effect as a fly might. The silvery shord sword, however, comes over adn whackes the critter well, leaving a blur of light as it swings. "Stay behind me Vala. Please."
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 15.
It is now Lysos' turn! Edinaz is next!
GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+4+5: (20)+4+5: 29
GAME: Lysos casts Hydraulic Push. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+4+5: (19)+4+5: 28
"Get it off! Get it off!" Lysos is almost in panic mode as she scrambles, trying to keep from being stepped on. Or from becoming lunch. "Soakus mostus!" she almost screams, gesturing again and yet another blast of water is conjured forth, lifting the troll up off the ground and bouncing it off of the ceiling. She probably should have thought about her aim a little better as it almost lands on her all over again. This time, however, she manages to scramble out of the way.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 14.
It is now Edinaz's turn! Burai is next!
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+13+1-2: (9)+13+1+-2: 21
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+11+1-2: (18)+11+1+-2: 28
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d8+7: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d6+7: (2)+7: 9
Edinaz takes advantage of the troll's slip-and-slide adventures, greeting it with sharp edges and stabbing points. Welcome!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 12.
It is now Burai's turn! Elena is next!
GAME: Burai rolls weapon3+2-1: (17)+8+2+-1: 26
GAME: Burai rolls 2d4+9: (4)+9: 13
Burai moves in towards the troll, but suddenly a jet of water pushes it across the cavern. Burai shifts his direction and follows Edinaz over. As he nears he raises his sword and then slices into the monster with a two-handed blow.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 20.
It is now Elena's turn! Hunger Troll is next!
GAME: Elena rolls 1d20+2+4+1+1: (10)+2+4+1+1: 18
GAME: Elena rolls 1d6+1+1: (6)+1+1: 8
Elena simply lines up her shot once more, a more difficult prospect than one might think with all the action currently happening, managing to hit the troll once more, this time about as solidly as the cleric can manage. CRACK! The weapon comes back to her hand covered in blood, causing her to grimace a bit. "Trolls."
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 18.
It is now Hunger Troll's turn! Sabina is next!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (17)+8: 25
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+13: (17)+13: 30
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+5: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d8+7: (6)+7: 13
The troll is not happy.
He had thought, you know, a safe meal, perhaps, could be had in this cave. SO many tasty looking humanoids! But then he's hit with swords and maces and energy weapons and...
water. So. Much. Water.
He rises back to his feet and lunges at Lysos because that is the LAST time he is getting sprayed horribly with water and he BITES into her, rending flesh with yellow teeth and fetid-breath in her face.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 16.
It is now Sabina's turn! Lysos is next!
GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20+6: (9)+6: 15
Sabina reaches into her bag and pulls out a vial, begining the process for it's activation as her devine weapon slashes down at the creature one last time. The blade misses before winking out of exhistance and she sighs. "I have a fire about ready to throw! Be aware!"
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 15.
It is now Lysos' turn! Edinaz is next!
GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+4+5: (8)+4+5: 17
GAME: Lysos casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17
GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+2+3: (4)+2+3: 9
Lysos screams as the monster bites her, and her arms flail as she tries to fend it off. She's clearly not dealing well with the pain, but then she fixates on one word of Sabina's. Fire. She grits her teeth... likely wishing it was a snarl, but it's more like a grimace holding back the pain. "Roflambo!" she yells, and a firey version of the ball of water appears... before flattening and narrowing into a beam as it slashes at the troll. It misses, schorching a mark into the rock ceiling above them.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 14.
It is now Edinaz's turn! Burai is next!
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+13+1+2-2: (15)+13+1+2+-2: 29
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d20+11+1+2-2: (18)+11+1+2+-2: 30
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d8+7: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Edinaz rolls 1d6+7: (6)+7: 13
Edinaz just keeps hitting the troll, probably in the vain hope that if he keeps hitting it, eventually it will stop biting his friends.
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 12.
It is now Burai's turn! Elena is next!
GAME: Burai rolls ranged-4: (19)+5+-4: 20
GAME: Burai rolls 1d6+2: (3)+2: 5
Burai takes a step after the ever-moving melee. But as the monster savages Lysos, Burai grimaces. One hand releases the handle of his sword. He raises his now-open palm and a bolt of fire burns across the cavern to strike the troll. "Over here!" he calls.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 20.
It is now Elena's turn! Hunger Troll is next!
GAME: Elena rolls 1d20+2+4+1+1+1: (15)+2+4+1+1+1: 24
GAME: Elena rolls 1d6+1+1: (2)+1+1: 4
GAME: Elena spends ONE use of HAND OF THE ACOLYTE.
Elena, once again, sends the mace flying, and once again makes a connection. "How much punishment can this thing take?!" The tired cleric is exasperated, it seems. "If the gods are on our side, this thing will get -bored- or tired of being hurt soon!"
And it seems that the gods -do- hear the prayers of the faithful, for as soon as the mace is back in her hand, the troll falls to the ground, its thrashing and screaming stopped as the smells of charred hair and troll fat start to fill the cave. Looking back over her shoulder, she looks to the girl, raising the mace in a classic don't-move-mom-look, then glances to the others. "Who was bitten?"
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 18.
It is now Hunger Troll's turn! Sabina is next!
GAME: Whirlpool advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 16.
It is now Sabina's turn! Lysos is next!
GAME: Sabina used a Alchemist's Fire.
GAME: Edinaz ends his rage.
GAME: Whirlpool removes the timestop.
Timestop by Whirlpool has left.
"...ahhhh....!!"
Vala is still screaming.
Has she been screaming the whole time? Maybe? IT's hard to tell.
Bina moves over towards the troll swiftly and from a close distance strikes the troll with her readied flask. The fire starts and stays lit for a goodly amount of time before cgoing out, adding even more stink of burnt troll to the cave.
The priestess looks at Vala and sighs. "It's over, Vala. You can stop now." and then goes to see about Lysos's wounds.
Edinaz diminishes, the light disappearing from his tattoos. He cleans his swords and sheaths them. "Please don't act like prey in the wild, young lady." I mean, he's got sharp, pointy teeth -- presumably he knows something of this.
Burai stares at the burning remains of the troll for a few moments, mesmerized. Then he gives a start. He moves over to stand next to Lysos and eyes her wounds. "That looks bad," he says loudly to Sabina. "If we don't do something she'll be lucky to recover." While he may not have the greatest bedside manner he does come prepared for such injuries. He reaches into a satchel at his waist and draws a wand of healing.
Lysos isn't screaming anymore... but her breathing is coming in short gasps and groans as she props herself up, pulling away her torn vest and blouse from her side to get at the wound underneath. "Oh Stars... I think.. " Her eyes widen even more as she actually looks at the shredded skin. Then her complexion goes positively green.
GAME: Sabina casts Hold Person. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Sabina rolls 2d8+3: (14)+3: 17
Bina kneels down beside Lysos and looks over her wounds and then smiles at her. "We'll have you right as rain in a moment. Hold on." She takes hold of her holy symbol and prays. "Tarien, grant me your blessing of healing energies to help heal this special one of yours." Her body is lined with silver light and then she reaches out and touches Lysos's shoulder and the energies pour over her and begin to close the sounds rapidly.
"...ahhhh!" yells Vala a moment later. "That wasn't a dragon! Where did that troll come from?!" A pause.
"...maybe I misconstrued what the fire-bits in the star-notes meant..."
A long pause.
'Oh well! Let's go home."
Elena, for her part, just stays quiet. At Vala's words, her jaw drops open a bit, and she looks like she might have a few choice things to say. But she holds her tongue, instead looking to Sabina. "Is the wound diseased, or just bleeding?"
Edinaz looks at Vala, then turns his back on her to look at Lysos. "How is she?"
Lysos visibly relaxes as the healing energy knits her wound back together... she pokes at it a few times after, wincing a bit at the tenderness, but assuring herself that it's not going to come back apart. "Thank you," she tells Sabina, then puts her head back against the cave wall. "I'm with the princess. Let's go home." She does get a bit concerned when Elena asks about disease, though she waves a hand at Edinaz. "She's going to live, don't worry!"
Burai puts his wand away and watches for a moment longer to make sure Lysos is healed. Then he turns to Vala. He has a dubious expression on his face. "Your astrology mistook a troll...for a dragon?"
Edinaz looks over, a little amused now, at Lysos. "She is, is she? Good." He looks back at Vala. "I hope you can climb."
"...glad everyone's okay," continues Vala, "I have a salve I can put on the wound but... it .. looks like you're already healing it! Wow!"
... it's going to be a long trip back to town with Vala, but it seems much easier than the one you took out here to find her. There are no kobold attacks, no ogres, no poison ivy, no trolls, no pits, no dire wolves.
All the way back to Alexandria, where she's gifted back to her father. Who is quite glad to see her and groudns her on the spot.
Meanwhile, back on the mountain.
"Huh. Who left this troll here? Oh well. Shame to let a good meal go to waste."
Gorylthyx the Red Dragon Hatchling is quite thankful for his meal.