Welcome to this weeks section of Kanton's wild mutterings... Sorry, I won't really be able to do this in character but it should hopefully provide some ammusment. Amy, congrats. The good news, Cor has not been injured and even successful landed a stunning blow and is generally kicking ass. On the not so good news front we're currently in the castle tower with enemies above and below us... But I should really start from the begining... ;)So we rested up, read the magic goodies (fireball, displacement, and shocking grasp x2), and started watches during the day, resting up for the coming night. Kanton also healed Barg up to 15 hp.
First Watch... Kanton spies Senet heading back to the castle, allowing us to feel safe enough to go to the forest edge, find his tracks to see that he does in fact make them, and gather some vines for trip wires. Meanwhile, Cedar talks with Siarrah a little (I'll wrap up everything we learned from her in a little bit).
Second watch goes by with nothing happening.
Third watch comes and the spellcasting prisoner wakes up. We interogate him and learn all sorts of goodies.
First off, they are definately a scouting mission for an invasion force (confirming Valen). They are a hands many (meaning roughly 20). ie. there are more of them than we have seen. The castle is their hideout and they have two healers and one (or two) dream "mages". They want Siarrah because they think she can change into a dragon. Apparently she did, because they know what happened to her in the clearing. as Senet came back and told him that things did not go "by plan". No shit. They seem to have been hoping that they could convince her to help them. She still doesn't remember being a dragon and we can't therefor assume that the dragon remembers being Siarrah (or maybe it will, it's a gamble). We get a little more info and then kill both prisoners (Cedar and I do with permission of the party). I'm hoping those people taking notes can fill in the rest of what he said.
Back to Siarrah. We confront her with the fact that they are after her, and eventually tell her that they believe that she can change into a dragon. At this point she also learns that she is adopted, after which she goes running away with Lucan following (she doesn't get far).
At this point we see a party of 8 leave the keep and head into the woods. We assume they are taking a round about way through the forest to come after us. We prop up the 2 bodies to look like a watch, light our camp fire, and leave the camp and Brighty behind. We also bid farewell to our guide and tell him to make for town with all haste to tell them what we know. (the trip wires were set up but obviously won't be used).
So, we figured Senet was with the group of eight and therefor decided to attack the castle to take out the healers and dreamers. The watch did not see us approach. Apparently due to incompetence or since we were coming up his side of the valley, we were not eaasy to pick out. (ie Scott let this slip ;)
We made it to the outerwall, and on the guards rotation made it next to the base of the tower. We slipped around the base, bypassing the monkey lair, and came in the rear of the tower over a makeshift plank acting as a drawbridge. We snuck inside, checked the first floor and didn't find anyone. We headed upstairs, and by "we" I mean Cor with us following, and snuck up on a cleric praying. Cor and Lucan surprise the cleric from behind, Cor landing a Stunning blow, and quickly take him out. Hearing something, 2 more enemies move our way. We're ready for them and Cor and Lucan take out their man, while Kanton and Barg take turns creating a breeze in front of the dream "mage" (in quotes because he's carrying a sword and javalin and seems to be making no attempt to cast). They come out unhurt as Cedar keeps the dreamer dazed until the dreamer retreats.
The dreamer and another dude who was behind him retreat into another room. Closely followed by the party (from 2 directions, you'll see on the map). We're a little curious why this guy just keeps holding this javelin without throwing it. Eventually, we do take him down. Unfortunately, the other guy picks up the javelin. When then find out what it does. He throws it and it instantly fans out into a large lighting bolt catching Barg, Lucan, and Cedar in the blast (who all make their reflex saves).
Kanton, sees this, says enough is enough, and takes a swing with his new magic staff (from the morning battle in the woods). He connects with it REALLY well and criticals on the guy, at which point it lets out a thunderous sound. The guy is toast. Cor is standing on the next flight of stairs up, hears a guy coming and lands a blow (and ducks the counterblow) on him as he comes around.
The session ends as we learn Tracheal is suddenly freaked out (he's outside) by something. Presumably guys are coming from the other tower. So when we start the next session, the situation is this...
12 enemies are dead, including 2 by the dragon in the clearing, 6 from the morning fight, and 4 more in the tower. Cor and Siarrah are untouched. Lucan and Kanton are hurting. Barg and Cedar better not get hit. The guys from the other tower don't know what is going on in this one. They might have seen a flash of light followed by thunder followed by louder thunder and that's it. Unless someone in our tower has signaled them. There is one guy above us in combat with you. Possibly another on the roof and who knows how many more elsewhere. There is a possible way out by lowering ourselves with ropes out the side of a large opening (which looks like a cave for something...). We don't know how many are coming from the other tower and when the 8 who are out looking for us will come back.
--Pete
Appendix from Josh...
On the plus side:
Ambushed at dawn (note: Barg, Kanton not best watch partnering). Six four-arms with swords, staffs. Despite surprise, rose to occasion - felt like a real party of warriors. Divvied out neatly - Ceder stopped one in his tracks, Barg chopped his down, Lucan and Kanton felled their opponents, and I kicked the ass of a magicky bastard narfing around in Shiarra's head. And Takea mauled one thoroughly. Think I may be a cat person after all.They were all down in just a few minutes, although combat time. Body time - seconds slow down to minutes and feel every muscle, count every step. Like meditating, live in every breath. They say it's like that for the Masters all the time. My father told me to live in stone time - fifty years is nothing to a stone, so it's nothing to a dwarf, right? Rather suspect they're all a few coins short of a hoard.
Anyways: efficient, effective takedown. Then *he* steps out of nowhere. Senet. "Sneaky bastard" falls short, and misses the mark: the way he *moved*. Haven't seen moves like that since the practice grounds, and never "for real".
And didn't face him. Bolted down there, but Cedar's muddled-man woke up and could have gone after Shiarra, and Senet just flashed out the hits and then vanished. Really vanished. They say the Masters can step into nothing - I've never seen it, but you never knew with the old guys. They wouldn't make one unneccessary move, and running around nowhere is hardly a party trick. Wouldn't have ever seen the efting *ki* strike if they didn't occasionally get the urge to show off. Er, pass down their wisdom. But could Senet really be a true Master? On him those silly spare arms looked like part of a perfect fighting machine. Made me wonder why we all didn't have them. But if he leads these spies, his mind is on schemes of invasion - what use would a master of the Body have for that? And - he fled. We may finally be acting like fighters, but I've seen really good and it's not us.
But getting smarter. Shiarra was freaked, so grabbed the ones still breathing and sat right out in open grass. Exposed as hell but at least we could see them coming. The halfling puzzled out those scrolls - nasty freaky things. Lucan all for wandering off alone to look for tracks (featherbrained elf), but turns out Senet does move with his feet on the ground like anybody else. Questioned the spellcaster. Some stupid talk about capturing and questioning *Senet* - seems pretty clear he's the head to cut off of this particular (aberrant) chicken. Plus which, glorious opportunity to face a fighter like that in battle - his proper defeat a triumph. Not cheaply killing him tied up like one of these whiny underlings. Plus which not two weeks ago we couldn't tie up a *goblin* and *I* haven't seen anyone practicing with a rope. Plus which a true master can will his wounds to close. Have to strike like a smith.
But getting smarter. Shiarra was freaked, so grabbed the ones still breathing and sat right out in open grass. Exposed as hell but at least we could see them coming. The halfling puzzled out those scrolls - nasty freaky things. Lucan all for wandering off alone to look for tracks (featherbrained elf), but turns out Senet does move with his feet on the ground like anybody else. Questioned the spellcaster. Some stupid talk about capturing and questioning *Senet* - seems pretty clear he's the head to cut off of this particular (aberrant) chicken. Plus which, glorious opportunity to face a fighter like that in battle - his proper defeat a triumph. Not cheaply killing him tied up like one of these whiny underlings. Plus which not two weeks ago we couldn't tie up a *goblin* and *I* haven't seen anyone practicing with a rope. Plus which a true master can will his wounds to close. Have to strike like a smith.
Talked to Shiarra. Didn't go so well. Ambush:the Sequel heads out from the keep, so we fool up a campsite. Sent Palin off with our last words just in case. But someone figured Senet was with them... so we decided to attack the castle. Figures. Surprised it wasn't raining.
Actually made it in with no greater incident than Kanton babbling about monkeys. And then of course it's send good old Cor to sneak ahead [1]. But caught a priesty guy praying and hit him hard - not sure certain other people would have done that. Got him good, too. Finally got that Stunning Blow to work. Think it's all in the stance...
And then things start to go to hell. More fighting. And one of them - throws this lightning. Out of a *javelin*. Never seen anything like that, never want to again. We could have all been toast. Kanton takes care of it, but someone's coming at me on the stairs, and Cedar says the bird is panicking... we cannot get out. We cannot get out. They are coming.[2]
[1] "Good old Doli." With whom Cor shares more than a bit of her personality. Although she'd smack anyone who called her "Fair Folk" into the middle of next week. (Give yourself ten kidlit points if you get this reference.)[2] Couldn't resist <grin>.
I'm not a killer by nature -- at least, I don't like to think so, despite the swords on my back. I'm a hunter, maybe, a protector, sure, an investigator, and I get myself into trouble and kill to get out of it, but cold blood? Thanks, no, let's leave the unconscious to be found and fixed by their friends, as long as I'm long gone and out of trouble by then.All of which only goes to show the sort of ridiculous position I'm in now: half-fried by some javelin-turned-lightning bolt (bloody magic weapons), getting myself dizzy running around this narrow tower, sunrod in my belt like a warning beacon to four-armed High Ones from Lands Beyond who are out to take over my continent, kidnap my companion, and make me as dead as possible. I knew it was bad as soon as Cor knocked out the cleric. I knew it.
First Siarran we encountered, we caught unawares. Cor and I in a tiny room, candlelit, four-armed bugger bowing before a rampant dragon. Cor stuns him, I cut him, Cor knocks him out, 1, 2, 3, we're done, let's go, who's next. But Cor looks at me and I look at Cor and suddenly it all comes into focus for the first time: this isn't recon, this is invasion. We're breaking and entering, we are taking over this tower, we are killing *everybody.* I run the cleric through. He didn't make a noise from the moment we walked in to the moment he died.
Moral panic aside, I'm now more worried about whether we're getting out of here at all. The claustrophobia is getting to me -- Ceder just yelled "Tracheal's freaking out about something at the door!" at about the same time I heard the unmistakable sound of Cor's hand hitting newfound Siarran flesh, so we're clearly in for a fun time. If Senet shows up we might just want to take our chances jumping off the roof.
Still, I'm happier to have Siarrah with us than I was before. Her secrets are on the table now. I tried to get the message across to her that for the moment it doesn't matter whether the Siarrans are right about her, the important thing is that they're after her and we're going to protect her. This tactic failed miserably, and I think she just got more freaked out (and more guilty about her family's troubles). But at least she knows a little more about why we're here and why she's here.
Not to mention why the Illendi are here. That's what we managed to get from our captured Siarran mage -- they're Illendi ("the High Ones" -- just great), from Illendor (big etymological surprise there). Illendor is apparently to the west, and there they are fighting a war against humans and elves (elves? hm) who have invaded their land, first by sea from the east, then by land from the west. Why this means they need to come invade Correlendor, I'm not sure. But that connects with the myths of multi-limbed gods from around here. Note to self: next time I'm in a decent library, do some serious research on the Correll myths.
What's really upsetting about these Siarrans/Illendi is their condescension when we question them (first Valen, now our unnamed mage). Okay, fine, they're so advanced that ancient Correll worshipped them as gods, and they've got six limbs, fine, we're inferior and our language is simplistic. It's that they've been cooperating so well with our questions. Mostly they've just told us anything we want to know; we've used pain to coerce them, but they seem bored, like they're giving us information not because they're being tortured but because they feel like giving us information. Makes me wonder if they're just that arrogant, or if there's something more planar going on here -- are these six-limbed bodies their only existence, or do they go elsewhere when they die, someplace physical but elsewhere, maybe?
Another stumper: if they're so advanced, if they're gods, why do most of them curl up and die when Barg puts an axe through their foreheads? Sure, they're powerful, but not so much that when they were in Correlendor long ago they shoudl have been worshipped as *gods*.
But I'm meandering. Right now the important question is what we do when we have emptied the tower. Do we try to secure it as our fortress against the rest of them? Do we abandon it and take to the valley or try to hide? We still can't face Senet as we are. There's soemthing to be said, though, for the party of eight returning from the woods to find no sign of us, but their healers and mages and fellow soldiers dead. Show them we're not to be trifled with. I hope we're not to be trifled with.
Other questions abound: Why are they called Siarrans[1]? Where are they from? Why are they at war with humans and elves? Where are these elves from? Why take over Correlendor? What's the significance of Tor's Cloud?
More importantly, will we get out of here alive?
May the path of the white sun lead to a new day,
Lucan