Just because there's a war on, doesn't mean that time stands still. Indeed, lots of things are constantly happening outside the war, and the Guild of Explorers has many addgendas not related to providing mercenaries for the war effort. There's a posting up, the mayor of a village back in Alexandros is requesting aid, due to dissapearances around town. His suspicion is that there is some kind of monster taking and eating people, though his theory is unfounded. Either way, the contract is for a party of six, and posted in just about every Inn, Guildhall and Market from here to Charn.

Aurala nods a little and makes her way to the guild, someone spoke of work and she has been a little bored with just doing errands around the camp, not much major going on at the moment other than some escorts and some patrols.

Disappearances and people being eaten!? How unsafe! Riluna is not lugging boxes or being transmogrified for once. The sneaky sneak has however, noticed the ad and wandered towards the Guild for once. She hums, her longbow slung over her shoulder safely.

Ellarian walks thru the town with T'lor on his shoulder, having to leave his warhorse behind for now. He spots Aurala and rush's to catch up to the large woman. "Hey there, you wouldn't be here looing into the disappearance thing would you?" he asks her.

In one of his rare recent bouts of sobriety, Jareth has also managed to catch wind of some work available outside of the mercenary work for the war effort. Having taken one of the posts regarding this contract, he makes his way to the explorers' guildhall. Hey, he's even managed to clean himself up some in his time away from the front lines. A bath, a shave and some more high end booze can have a restorative effect on anyone.

Arianwen seems to be looking for an excuse to go that direction as the siege wears on; any particular posting is less interesting to her than whatever else she seems to be up to. Adventuring: the only way to travel. She nods at those she recognizes as she arrives at the guildhall, her eyes lingering upon Jareth with open concern.

Valadhiel frowns a bit, taking a bit of a break from the war effort it seems as she reads the notice. Then she shrugs and looks around, seeking out who else is in the guildhall. She grins a bit, recognizing Arianwen at least, giving the woman a nod.

A smile at those around her. Riluna's left ear tip twitches. She's finding people! "Anyone else hear about those missing people?" She asks quietly. "Sounds really awful," The rogue frowns and sets a hand on her tools.

Aurala nods, "That is what I think brought me here." says Aurala as she wanders in, having finally made it, if we are the ones to go and that is the work I was told of."

 

        One way or another, the group eventually get together at the guild hall. Receiving the contract is a simple matter, free of fanfare. And the group head out. It's a day's travel by land... but they are lucky enough to travel by Airship... in the cargo hold, at any rate, which makes the journey a mere two hours thanks to avoiding the scenery. Enough time to get to knoe one another, no doubt.

 

        Arianwen returns Valadhiel's nod, and spends the trip deep in contemplation, after briefly greeting everyone else. Her ears twitch regularly, as though they're listening to something distant. Upon disembarking, she takes a moment, stock-still, upon the ground, before suggesting the group go find the mayor. She starts to head that direction, if it is an obvious one.

In the cargo hold of an airship. That's exactly where Jareth wants to be on a hangover. His head hangs down with his wrists resting on his upraised knees as he leans against one of the walls of the hull. A single groan emerges from him as the ship starts to make its descent, "I swear to all that is holy, it is not right to travel by air like this. It's simply unnatural."

Riluna is taking a journey, woot! Safety elf travels safely, of course. With pointy implements safely sheathed, potions stocked and - well, in an airship. She winces, as Jareth groans. "I guess it could be worse. At least they stopped using trebuchets to get people from town to town," She offers.

Valadhiel paces a bit, not looking annoyed at the airship travel. Rather, she seems rather annoyed at the fact she's stuck in the hold below decks! "Oh, but casting magic spells and works of artifice are perfectly natural, right?" She looks wryly at Jareth, "I just wish I was up there on the main deck."

Ellarian rides on the airship if but a bit leeryly, as it goes against nature and so when the ship lands and he's able to disembark he's so much happier. He waits for Aurala and then wakls with her as he looks around to see this new region.

 

Aurala travels along and shrugs a bit, not liking to be in the air but can handle it. She glances around a bit much better with feet on ground as well.

 

        And so the troupe arrive! The mayor, rather predictably, is a rosy cheeked man of portly proportions, in finery suitable for the village he presides over- that is to say, it's better than peasents garb, but a noble would sneer at it. He's waiting for the group when they disembark via Ladder, and then looks to Arianwen, hopefully. "Ah, you're the ones the guild of explorers sent?" he asks.

Arianwen pages: I am going to see if the mayor is evil. I don't believe I have to say anything, or do anything, to turn on the Detect-o-vision. ;) Aria trusts the Myrrish, but she won't work for just anyone.

You paged Arianwen with 'He's not evil.'

 

        "Yes," Arianwen says helpfully, but very briefly, her voice emenating spookily from the shadows beneath her hood. There's an awkward beat, that lengthens into an unpleasant silence. Someone else should probably ask the inevitable questions.

"Yes sir," Riluna smiles at the mayor. She's polite, and bobs her head. Although, given she has the flare and grace of a greased hippo on ice in conversation - so she goes quiet after a greeting, peering at the others.

Jareth gets down from the ladder and takes a few steps away, bracing himself against a stack of crates as he doubles over and takes a few deep breaths before waving a hand at the mayor, "We're...we're from..the guild. Yes. What..wh..what's the problem here? Sorry, not used to air travel."

Aurala nods and lets the others do the talking, she is more along for muscle, not talking or being polite to people in charge.

Arianwen pages: Yeah, that's what Detect Evil does. Personally I've always thought Detect Good would be more useful. X) Not Good, in a way, says a lot more about a person than Not Evil.

 

        The awkward silence continues for just a moment, before the mayor breaks it, though no elss awkwardly, "Right... well, anyway. People have been dissapearing! It's the damn lizard-people in the caves." he declares. The contract didn't mention lizard people! Has Darshan been eating babies?

"We are here to look into that sir," Riluna finally manages. She's a friendly, charming - if clumsy sort in conversation. "We're still recovering from the airship ride. Was definitely different," She admits, "But... Wait, lizard people?" She peers at him. Riluna is the slow horse, that takes off like 2 minutes after the others.

"How many people, when did it start, and how long have the sith'makar dwelled in nearby caves?" asks Arianwen in a sudden rapid-fire barrage of quiet questioning.

Valadhiel frowns, "Are you sure it's the lizard people doing this?" She pauses, and looks at Arianwen, "Might not be Sith-Makar, you realize." She hrms a bit, looking thoughtful.

 

        "Five, so far. And- wait, Sith'makar? Nono, I meant the Kobolds, lass." The mayor explains. "Kobolds have always lived in the caves around here. They're usually not a big problem- occasionally steal food from the outlaying farms. But lately they've been coming into the village and taking people. They seem a lot more organized than they used to be. It started about two months ago."

 

Ellarian stand beside Aurala as public speaking isn't really his strong suit either. He does makes sure his equipment is in full working order and that the new wand he purchased made the trip successfully.

 

Jareth eyes the mayor, "Kobolds? Now, I'm no expert, but I've seen Kobolds. It would take a fair amount of Kobolds to drag off a single full-grown man or woman."

"Unless they caught them in a trap or by surprise, and if they're organized- they might be going in units," Riluna points out. A frown, "I wonder why they would do that."

 

        Arianwen nods at the mayor, and Valadhiel. "Questions clarify," she says to the other elf, and nothing more; she turns back to the mayor. "Show us to the caves?"

Aurala listens and nods a bit now and again as she listens.

 

        "Ah, no. I'm afraid I'm not as hearty as I was in my youth- I won't be making the journey with you myself, though I wish I could. Here." he produces a roleld up scroll, "This is a map of the local area. The caves are marked on there. Please, my daughter was taken just a fortnight ago... we're not a rich village, but we've got together what we can. And you're free to take whatever you can find from the caves."

Valadhiel nods, "Very well... we'll get to the bottom of this for you. It might be that the kobolds have a leader or someone else organizing them now." She hrms a bit, "They can be quite clever, particularly with trapmaking."

Jareth walks over to look at the offered map, "Mayor, what sort of land are we going to be crossing to get to these caves? Dense woods? Light growth? Grasslands?"

"Very well." Arianwen accepts the scroll, opening it up for the group to see. She looks for a legend, to have some idea of the distances involved.

 

        "It's just grassy hills and shrubbery." The mayor offers. The caves look to be less than an hour's walk from the village. 30 minutes at a hustle.

"Fair enough," Riluna will happily follow the others, once they go. She's one of the horde of Elves. Dun dun duna dun! "I'm ready to go when you guys are I think... But I am sorry to hear about all the people," SHe frowns. There's sympathy, if in a clumsy way.

Jareth nods to the man and then looks to the others, "Arianwen and I will take point. She'll find our way there. I'll stand up in case anything surprises us. Aurala? Can you take rear guard? Ellarian, Riluna and Valadhiel will be the core."

Aurala nods, "Got it." she says and moves to be ready to slide into position, slipping her maul from her back and taking it in her hands.

<OOC> Arianwen says, "Alrighty, I think we're ready to go. On my way there, I'm going to look for tracks -- of kobolds, or anything else suspicious. Get a little evidence. :)"

<OOC> Riluna will help look. Safety elf has no Kobold Meter but we can try to help.

GAME: Arianwen rolls Survival: (8)+10: 18

GAME: Riluna rolls Search: (15)+10: 25

You paged Arianwen with 'Clear tracks litter the path, most too old to recognize. The most recent ones, though, seem to indicate at least half a dozen kobolds, maybe more. They were clearly moving stealthily, and in marching order. Definitely well organized. On the way back, there are signs of something being dragged- broken branches, flattened grass, warped shrubbery.'

You paged Riluna with 'Looks to be six sets of tracks, leading along the path, and signs of a struggle. You find a bit of torn clothing in a shrub.'

As they travel (Without minstrels), Riluna points out. "Look!" She points to about six sets of tracks leading along the path, "I think someone struggled here," The rogue tiptiptip toes over, and pulls a tiny bit of cloth from a shrub, "And I think this was maybe some clothes..." She points out the signs of the struggle quietly. Fortunately, Riluna brings up the rear through most of the journey (Bravely brings up the rear).

Ellarian nods "Sure figgured Id be in the middle. " he says with good humor. "Best way for me to get to anyone and heal them should they require it. "

Arianwen comes to where Riluna's found the first of the tracks, and kneels, studying them with every sense but hearing. "The mayor's story is corroborated here," she says simply, before continuing on. She gets off the beaten path as they begin to approach the caves -- her idea of Jareth's 'point' is scouting ahead sneakily, evidently.

Valadhiel stays in the middle of the formation, because she knows enough of her (lack of) tracking skill to stay out of the way of everyone else. And shooting her bow from a great distance, preferably.

Jareth keeps a ready grip on both his shield and his longsword while following after the elven ranger. Nonetheless, he keeps a wary eye on their surroundings in case of any ambush.

Riluna is content to let the ranger track and lead, once Safety Elf has spotted the evidence. A frown, as she peers at the cloth and gets back to looking around.

 

        And so the group eventually reach the mouth of the cave- it's rather... well, it's a cave. A big rocky bit sticks out of the otherwise grassy hill, and it has a hole in it. The ceiling is low enough that the particularly tall members of the group will have to stoop a bit, but from the looks of thigns it readily widens out once you're inside. Oh, and, there are torches inside, sitting in crude wooden free-standing braziers. There don't appear to be any kobolds within view, but the cave takes a sharp turn at the edge of what's visible from the mouth.

Aurala cocks her head to the side as she moves along behind the others, keeping her eyes open in case they get jumped or something.

 

        Arianwen seems about to start sneaking into the cave, when she has a Wise Thought, pauses, and rousts out the Safety Elf from the middle of the pack. "Traps," she suggests with the smallest of smiles.

Ellarian holds his spear at the ready, concidering in such closed quarters that his bow would be neigh well useless unless they had plenty of room to fire it.

Jareth was about to step into the cave as well until he hears Arianwen call forth Riluna. That's enough to make him come to a dead stop until she gives the all clear.

Safety elf to the rescue! Riluna's left ear tip wiggles and she nods, "Oh yeah. What kind of sadist leaves those things around anyway..." Muttermutter. The shortest elf hunkers down and narrows her eyes, now in search mode. She's careful, slinking, touching and peering.

GAME: Riluna rolls Search: (5)+10: 15

You paged Riluna with 'Surprisingly, no traps! However, it turns out that just around the corner is a pit, with a rope that leads down.'

"Hmm... Around the corner, I see a pit with a rope that leads down," Riluna's left ear tip twitches. "Don't see any booby traps just yet," She comments quietly, her voice soft and low. She points at said corner and pit.

GAME: Arianwen rolls Hide: (10)+8: 18

GAME: Arianwen rolls Move Silently: (15)+8: 23

GAME: Riluna rolls Hide: (6)+11: 17

GAME: You secretly roll 1d20+6:8

GAME: Riluna rolls Move Silently: (9)+11: 20

GAME: You secretly roll 1d20+6:14

GAME: You secretly roll 1d20+6:24

GAME: You secretly roll 1d20+6:11

GAME: You secretly roll 1d20+6:7

GAME: You secretly roll 1d20+6:18

GAME: You secretly roll 1d20: 20

GAME: You secretly roll 1d20: 14

GAME: Valadhiel rolls Hide: (19)+4: 23

GAME: Arianwen rolls Spot: (2)+9: 11

GAME: Valadhiel rolls Move Silently: (20)+4: 24

GAME: Valadhiel rolls Spot: (8)+2: 10

<OOC> Arianwen says, "I dunno, what piano?"

GAME: Riluna rolls Spot: (4)+7: 11

You paged (Arianwen, Riluna) with 'You spot 2 kobolds, with crossbows. They spot you, too.'

You paged Valadhiel with 'You spot a single kobold with a crossbow. He seems to spot Ari and Riluna, but not you.'

Arianwen rolls initiative: Roll: 11 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 15

Ellarian rolls initiative: Roll: 15 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 16

You roll initiative for Kob1: Roll: 17 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 19

You roll initiative for Kob2: Roll: 3 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 5

You roll initiative for Kob3: Roll: 11 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 13

You roll initiative for Kob4: Roll: 13 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 15

You roll initiative for Kob5: Roll: 12 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 14

You roll initiative for Kob6: Roll: 10 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 12

Riluna rolls initiative: Roll: 4 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 8

Valadhiel rolls initiative: Roll: 6 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 10

Jareth rolls initiative: Roll: 7 + Bonus: 6 = Total: 13

Aurala rolls initiative: Roll: 1 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 3

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Which means it's Kobold 4. he fires at Aurala."

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (6)+5: 11

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Misses. Kob 5 fires at Aurala too!"

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Also misses. Kob 3 fires at Riluna."

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (2)+5: 7

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Misses"

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Kob 6 fires at Aria"

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (5)+5: 10

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Misses"

<OOC> Chiddle says, "So... uh... I'll pose that total failure, and then we can go to the not surprise round >.>"

"AAIIIIIII KILL THE WARMBLOODS!" One of the Kobolds yells, as they all hop out of their hidng places in nooks and shadowry crannies. Almost simultaniously they open fire on the group, and... not one bolt lands home. The Kobolds, also simultanioously, get this expression of: Oh, Shit.

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Kobold 1's turn. He fires at Arianwen"

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (9)+5: 14

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6: (5): 5

One of the goblins that Arianwen and Riluna failed to sneak up on takes his shot, a little slower than his allies, it seems. He fires it at the She-Elf and scores a hit, penetrating her armor and leaving the bolt standing in her. This seems oto give his allies a little confidence.

===== Current Initiative Order =========

----------------------------------------                     

 19                  Kob1

----------------------------------------  

 16                  Ellarian

----------------------------------------

 15                  Arianwen

----------------------------------------

 15                  Kob4

----------------------------------------

 14                  Kob5

----------------------------------------

 13                  Jareth

----------------------------------------

 13                  Kob3

----------------------------------------

 12                  Kob6

---------------------------------------- 

 10                  Valadhiel

---------------------------------------- 

 8                   Riluna

----------------------------------------  

 5                   Kob2

---------------------------------------- 

 3                   Aurala

----------------------------------------            

========================================

GAME: Ellarian rolls 1d20+2: (13)+2: 15

Ellarian moves to the group at there side and stabs down at the kobold as his spear hits the kobolds leather and skitters off to the side.

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d20+9: (6)+9: 15

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Kobolds 4 and 5 reload, and attempt to hit Aurala again."

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (10)+5: 15

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (15)+5: 20

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6: (4): 4

<OOC> Chiddle says, "K5 succeeds."

The kobolds, after a moment of sheer terror when they realize they just completely failed to hit even one of the adventurers, pull it together. A pair of them reload their crossbows, and then take aim. Once more, one of them misses, but the other manages to plant a bolt right in Aurala's backside. Yowch!

Eyes narrowing to shining green slits, Arianwen grunts at the bolt sticking out of her shoulder, snapping off the end. Then she wanders forward, almost casually removing swords from their sheathes, twirling them experimentally in the marksman's general direction.

<OOC> Jareth will bull-rush one of the kobolds by the pit to fall down.

GAME: Jareth rolls 1d20+3: (20)+3: 23

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20-2: (14)+-2: 12

GAME: Jareth rolls Reflex: (19)+3: 22

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6: (5): 5

Bracing his shield before him, Jareth runs forth and barrels his way into one of the two kobolds closest to the edge of the pit. Using his greater strength and mass, he keeps moving forward and hurls the creature down over the edge of the pit before planting his feet firmly into the ground to halt himself.

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (5)+5: 10

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (6)+5: 11

Two of the Kobolds reload their weapons and fire again, one for poor Riluna, a bolt whizzes past her ear, and another for Jareth, managing to bounce off his armor for no damage.

GAME: Valadhiel rolls 2d4+2: (5)+2: 7

GAME: Valadhiel casts magic missile.

Valadhiel seems to just appear out of the shadows, using her magic to wicked effect as she gestures at one of the kobolds. Twin darts fly from her fingers, the eldritch bolts slamming into the dragon wannabe and knocking it lifelessly to the ground.

GAME: Riluna rolls 1d20+5: (3)+5: 8

GAME: Aurala rolls 1d20+13: (12)+13: 25

Eek! Riluna ducks as a bolt goes by her ear. She twangs off an arrow of her own, but the kobold may be the One and manages to ... not get hit.

GAME: Aurala rolls 2d6+10: (8)+10: 18

GAME: Aurala rolls 1d20+11: (10)+11: 21

GAME: Aurala rolls 2d6+10: (6)+10: 16

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Kobolds 4 and 5 are now a greenish smear on the cave wall."

Aurala might have been caught by suprise by the attack like the others and took a bit to recover but she more than makes up for it. She took a bolt in the back and howls in pure fury and rage calling on the hidden strength within and her muscles bulge and ripple as she clinches her maul in her hands and then charges forward, her eyes aiming for those that were shooting her. She brings her maul down on the one that shot her first, guts and gore flying everywhere as it pounds into his flesh, she still has the maul moving with momentum, and brings it around to splatter the other kobold, gripped still in the fury of her rage.

GAME: Ellarian rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18

GAME: Ellarian rolls 1d8+1: (1)+1: 2

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Arianwen is AFK, she's given me permission to roll for her. She full attacks Kob3"

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+7: (13)+7: 20

Ellarian watches as Aurala's swing turns his kobold into paste so he turns and rushs the one he can see and grazes it with his spear wounding it but thats about all.

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+7: (13)+7: 20

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6+2: (1)+2: 3

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6+2: (4)+2: 6

GAME: Jareth rolls Weapon1: (14)+8: 22

GAME: Jareth rolls 1d8+3: (5)+3: 8

As one of the kobolds' bolts skitters off his mailed shoulder, Jareth strides forward, closing the gap between him and the druid engaged with another one of the yipping little bastards. A quick, brutal swing is all it takes to bury his sword deep into the kobold's collar bone.

Aurala is still breathing heavily as she looks around and then raises a brow, and lets her rage fade.

Riluna's jaw kind of drops. "Well, uh..."

Valadhiel glances around, "How is everyone?" She looks at the others, "Anyone badly hurt?" Currently, she has her bow out, but keeps her other hand free to gesture for spells, in case more kobolds are lurking.

        The group has jsut finished dispatching a group of Kobolds on the main level, surrounding a pit. Upon descending, they discover that there are two branches, and decide to split up. Arianwen, Aurala and Valadhiel take the left branch, while the others take the right.

GAME: Arianwen rolls Hide: (20)+7: 27

GAME: Arianwen rolls Move Silently: (20)+7: 27

GAME: Arianwen rolls Search: (19)+5: 24

GAME: Arianwen rolls Spot: (11)+9: 20

GAME: Valadhiel rolls Spot: (3)+2: 5

GAME: Aurala rolls spot: (6)+1: 7

Arianwen pages: AC's 19, now, by the way. And 28 hp. ;)

Long distance to Arianwen: Chiddle nods.

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Remind me of your levels, please. Need to adjust the encounter since there's oonly three of you."

Arianwen is one with the shadows of the subterranean system. She shivers a little with the cold, but even the rustling of her cloak is damped by silence so profound as to be almost magical. Here and there she pauses, fingers splayed back, gesturing for the others to stop while she checks a dark spot on a wall, notes a bit of rope dangling from the ceiling.

Aurala follows along with her maul behind the others. She is a smasher, she is not really good at noticing things really.

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (10)+5: 15

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (11)+5: 16

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+5: (20)+5: 25

Valadhiel follows with Aurala, having her bow held in her hand, though no arrow is nocked. Preferring, it seems, to be ready to cast spells instead.

Riluna is peeking around. Her left ear twitches, walking along towards the front. Now, to spy with her eyes...

GAME: Riluna rolls Spot: (11)+7: 18

You paged (Arianwen, Riluna) with 'You spot a Kobold, apparently having heard you coming. He's hiding behind an altar. Oh, and, there's a young woman on the altar, naked from the waist up, apparently unconscious (or dead) with a rather ornate knife laying on the ground. The Kobold seems aware of the group, but shows no signs of having seen you.'

You paged (Arianwen, Riluna) with 'Oh, and, the Kobold looks /strange/ knowledge/the planes if you want to know more.'

GAME: Arianwen rolls Knowledge/the planes: (1)+2: 3

To (Chiddle, Riluna), Arianwen pages: I know nuzzink.

The group doesn't travel long in this passageway before they approach a kind of room. Inside, a woman is tied to a very crude altar, naked from the waist up and apparently unconscious. Most of you don't spot anything other than her, though (Where are you staring, anyways!? Sheesh.)

Arianwen rolls initiative: Roll: 12 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 16

Aurala rolls initiative: Roll: 12 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 14

Riluna rolls initiative: Roll: 11 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 15

Valadhiel rolls initiative: Roll: 13 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 17

You roll initiative for ???: Roll: 15 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 16

===== Current Initiative Order =========

----------------------------------------                      

 17                  Valadhiel

----------------------------------------

 16                  Arianwen

----------------------------------------

 16                  ???

----------------------------------------

 15                  Riluna

----------------------------------------

 14                  Aurala

----------------------------------------                       

========================================

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d20+10: (5)+10: 15

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d6+2: (5)+2: 7

Arianwen rushes forward swiftly and silently, vaulting around the side of the altar to stab the hidden kobold right in the kisser. This probably alerts her friends to its existence. There is sizzling and burning, which the elf finds frankly surprising, given that her weapons are especially pointy, but not known to inject acid. . o O ( I wonder if Chiddle did some modifications on them while I wasn't looking... )

GAME: Valadhiel rolls knowledge/the planes: (20)+5: 25

You paged Valadhiel with 'It looks like it's made a pact with some evil outsider- which grants it special abilities like resistance to nonmagical weapons, fire and cold.'

GAME: Valadhiel casts magic missile.

GAME: Valadhiel rolls 2d4+2: (5)+2: 7

Valadhiel hrms, looking at the kobold in question, "This... thing, made some sort of pact with a fiend. It probably will resist nonmagical weapons, and fire and cold will have lessened effectiveness." She frowns, "Pity, incinerating it would be the best solution, so instead..." She says a few arcane words, and a pair of mystic bolts fly from her fingers to pepper into the body of the beast.

<OOC> Arianwen says, "I will full attack, and 5' step diagonally so that my positioning is something like 'Arianwen | Kobold | Back of Altar' making it difficult for him to 5' out of range to cast spells, since Valad's flagged him as a potential spellcaster, fiends and all."

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d20+8: (5)+8: 13

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d20+8: (6)+8: 14

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d6+2: (4)+2: 6

Arianwen doesn't make her usual offer of surrender, once Valadhiel's made her announcement. Instead she moves to corner him against the very fiendish altar he sought to hide behind, and, like some terrible bird of prey, slashes once just to make him flinch, while her off-hand adds some pain. 'Twist the knife' isn't QUITE appropriate, but, her eyes like chips of ice, she does score another nasty blow.

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+12: (19)+12: 31

The Kobold puts his back against the altar, and ducks nimbly away from any attacks Arianwen makes, while simultaniously bringing up a shimmering wall of force around himself. He says, in Draconic, "FOOLS! Kze'lera'benza'goroch the Blooddrinker will have your souls!"

GAME: Riluna rolls 1d20+2: (17)+2: 19

GAME: Riluna rolls 1d6: (6): 6

That altar is not a safe place for the keeping of topless women. Only buildings specifically designated as 'adult' are allowed! Sensitive eyes! Won't someone think of the children and topless women? Riluna frowns at the comment about resistant to nonmagical things. A sigh. Gotta save her money. No more tasty pastry benders. Riluna moves fast though, a look of determination on her face. Public nudity or not, no one deserves to go out this way. A slender hand pulls her short sword, and she holds the rope tight. Cutting like a lawn, or really depressed internet users, the knife slices the rope easily. As an afterthough, Riluna's hand darts for the ritual knife.

Aurala just moves forward trying to get closer and does but not close enough to strike, or be struck for that matter.

GAME: Valadhiel rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27

GAME: Valadhiel rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23

GAME: Valadhiel rolls 3d8+9: (15)+9: 24

Valadhiel frowns, "Resistant to fire... let's do this the old fashioned way, then." She nocks an arrow, and takes careful aim, studying the flickering of the shield spell with practiced ease. Then she lets the arrow go, and it sails true, skewering the fiendish kobold in the neck. It gurgles, then falls over, killed by the shot to the throat.

As he is killed, his blood trickles down, slowly filling grooves in the floor. It's not until they are completed that anyone notices... that these grooves create evil symbols on the ground. The woman they saved, quite suddenly wakes up, screaming. Her eyes, and her mouth emmenating strange red light. Her skin seems to bubble and boil away. Anyone who tries to touch her will feel their fingertips burn. It's a grisly process, but it seems like this woman's body was used as a portal to call forth some creature from the depths, her flesh twisted into a disgusting, pale-skinned creature.

You roll initiative for !?: Roll: 9 + Bonus: 0 = Total: 9

Arianwen rolls initiative: Roll: 14 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 18

You roll initiative for !?: Roll: 16 + Bonus: 0 = Total: 16

Riluna rolls initiative: Roll: 15 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 19

<OOC> Chiddle says, "Hrm. Sure, I'll permit one move or standard action while it happens."

<OOC> Chiddle says, "and KNowledge/the planes to identify it"

GAME: Arianwen rolls Knowledge/the planes: (8)+2: 10

Valadhiel rolls initiative: Roll: 9 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 13

You paged Arianwen with '+Cast class=spell'

GAME: Arianwen refreshes spells.

GAME: Arianwen casts Bless Weapon.

GAME: Valadhiel rolls knowledge/the planes: (17)+5: 22

You paged Valadhiel with 'It's a Dretch, a pitiful creature from the lower realms. This one looks a bit bigger and meaner than they usually do, though.'

Arianwen may not have an encyclopedic knowledge of horrors from the planes of evil, but she does have a brain. Holding her left-hand blade to the sky, invisible above the cavern walls, she is momentarily bathed in a shaft of blinding moonlight, which then focuses on the sword, which seems to absorb it, becoming one with the silvery illumination.

You paged Valadhiel with 'Cold Iron weapons can bypass their damage resistance, and they are resistant to fire, cold and acid'

Aurala rolls initiative: Roll: 16 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 18

Valadhiel casts a defensive spell, as she shouts, "A Dretch! I hope someone has cold iron handy... plenty of resistances as well." She frowns, "Larger than what you normally expect." Her eyes narrow, as a flickering translucent shield forms about her.

GAME: Valadhiel casts shield.

The tretch dusts itself off, and glances about. It's mouth hangs open, but it speaks using telepathy. "Fucking Kobold thinks he fucking owns me. I'll show that little piece of shit. Summoning me to this wretched realm." And then he seems to notice that the Kobold is dead, and laughs. It's not a pleasent sound, "Oh, Adventurers? I guess it's time to get down to business."

===== Current Initiative Order =========

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 19                  Riluna

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 18                  Arianwen

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 18                  Aurala

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 16                  !?

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 13                  Valadhiel

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========================================

GAME: Riluna rolls 1d20+2: (12)+2: 14

<OOC> Arianwen says, "Alrighty. I'll draw a mace as a freebie as I move to Riluna, then hand her the mace as my second move."

Riluna frowns, eyeing the knife. That's likely not going to cut it. She slinks over, unlike a slinky - which is not very stealthy and prepares the BACK STAB. Rogues come from ... an angle which provides flanking and, ok, she stabs things at whatever angle doesn't get her stabbed/set on fire/punched back. "Also, I worry about your distinctly dysfunctional relationship with that Kobold. It's really not healthy."

Arianwen bows her head in understanding when Valadhiel shares her wisdom. "Thank you," she murmurs -- to the elf, to the goddess who just infused her favorite sword with killin' power, whatever. She and it seem to shimmer, moving as one, yet... they do not attack; instead, a spot of darkness entering the light, she draws a mace from where it hangs across her shoulder, and walks calmly, steadily over to Riluna, pressing it into the rogue's hand. "Try this," she suggests with a wickedly raised eyebrow.

GAME: Aurala rolls 1d20+9+2: (14)+9+2: 25

GAME: Aurala rolls 2d6+7: (9)+7: 16

Aurala moves forward, not enough room to really charge but circles around and gets on the side opposite of Riluna and then whips her maul around and brings it down against the Dretch. She smacks it good, but it seems to resit some of it.

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+8: (12)+8: 20

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+6: (6)+6: 12

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6+1: (4)+1: 5

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6+1: (6)+1: 7

The hideous creature lets out a howl of pain as the hammer hits it right in the back. it spins around, and lashes out with sharp claws, tearing deep into aurala's chest and drawing a rather alarming amount of blood. "Fucking Adventurers." The creature complains.

GAME: Valadhiel rolls 1d20+7: (13)+7: 20

Valadhiel nocks an arrow, muttering under her breath, as she then lets the arrow fly. It sails towards the dretch, looking like it might be a vicious wound normally, but the unholy hide of the beast resists the attack to some degree, causing it to be little more than a scratch.

GAME: Riluna rolls 1d20+2: (15)+2: 17

GAME: Riluna rolls 1d6: (4): 4

GAME: Riluna rolls 1d6+: (4)+: 4

"Thank you," Riluna smiles at Arianwen. She's got manners at least. She may or may not even read Ask Miss Manners (For Elves). "You also have a really foul mouth!" Riluna can't abide by that. Some profanity, oh sure, but this guy is like a barrel of sailors having a REALLY bad day. To that end she shuffles and brings the mace back. WHUMP! It's not a pretty noise. Nor is the burning and sizzling that ensues. "Whoa." That's not something she's seen before.

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d20+15: (5)+15: 20

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d6+8: (3)+8: 11

Arianwen's hand flickers, and a twin mace to the one she's lent Riluna appears in her free hand. Then she lunges forward, taking advantage of the demon's distraction, and with a beautiful stop-thrust impales the demon between the ribs with the sword, which seems to hum just above the hearing threshhold with sheer power, as its light gets brighter, brighter, and then seems to detonate inside of him. "Return to the Abyss," she suggests, in icy tones that do not brook argument.

GAME: Aurala rolls 1d20+9+2-3: (15)+9+2+-3: 23

GAME: Aurala rolls 2d6+13: (6)+13: 19

Aurala watches the others start to pound it pretty good and smiles, "You shouldn't swear." she says as she whips her maul around her head a few times and then sacrifices a bit of her accuracy as she throws even more strength into the swing and slams it down against the creature's chest. The blow really packed a whallop.

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+8: (7)+8: 15

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+8: (20)+8: 28

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+8: (17)+8: 25

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+6: (11)+6: 17

GAME: Chiddle rolls 2d6+2: (9)+2: 11

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d4: (1): 1

The creature lashes out at Aurala, "DIE ALREADY!" it screams at her, viciously clawing and biting and tearing chunks of flesh off the wound he already opened up, for not ignoring the wounds the others are delivering. Aurala is not looking well.

GAME: Valadhiel rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25

GAME: Valadhiel rolls 4d6+1: (16)+1: 17

GAME: Valadhiel casts scorching ray.

Valadhiel grits her teeth, then chants a rapid string of arcane syllables, pointing towards the dretch. Fire roars from her fingertip, engulfing the dretch, that actually screams in additional pain as it burns enough to break through its unnatural resistance to fire. Still, it stands, not destroyed yet.

GAME: Riluna rolls 1d20+2: (9)+2: 11

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d20+9: (11)+9: 20

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d20+8: (13)+8: 21

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d6+4: (1)+4: 5

GAME: Arianwen rolls 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8

Buttkicking for goodness! Or at least, trying. It's apparent Riluna could use a day in the gym or something, swinging the mace. Whoosh! Her eyes go cross. "H-hold still!" Flail!

Arianwen makes an effort to not viscerally enjoy what she does to the dretch, who was unwise enough to consider 'turning your back to the demon-hating paladin' a viable strategy. It does take an actual act of will, though, to not feel profound satisfaction as the holy blade tears diagonally through his side, bisecting him, while, with a hollow thwack, the cross-swing of her mace removes his head.

Aurala blinks and pants as the thing falls. Even though she was not raging she was in a battle furvor and only now realizes that she is barely standing. It is all she can do not to fall over, "Ouch."

And the slimy corpse becomes even more slimy, as it bubbles and melts away into viscous green ichor. The group will meet back up, the men having managed to retreive a total of two of the half-dozen villagers that had been kidnapped o captives who had been kept in a lidded pit, without guards, down the other tunnel. The group leaves, and heads back to the village. Upon arriving...

 

"You;'re back! ... I... ah... see that you weren't... I see that some of the others are still..." he starts to get a bit choked up. "And... my daughter- you didn't...?"

Valadhiel shakes her head, "Unfortunately, we were too late to save her. But we did save the others... and the kobolds were eliminated, as well as the hell-touched leader of them." She sounds a bit grim, at that, though sympathy is in her voice.

Valadhiel has disconnected.

Aurala makes it back with the others, "I wish we could have saved her." she says and she means it, if they had, she wouldn't have her chest ripped open, armor torn, cleavage almost popping out of the remains.

"I am sorry," Arianwen murmurs, shaking her head. "I promise you, she was avenged." Just like that, more words strung together for the mayor than ever before. She lends Aurala her cloak.

From afar, to (Chiddle, Riluna): Arianwen tears out eyes. x.x

Riluna does look rather remorseful. "Yeah..." Ears droop a little. "I'm sorry," Gloom. She is, for her part, mostly quiet. Sadface. She does however, remember to give the cold iron mace back later.

The mayor nods a bit, collapsing back to sit on a stump used as wood-cutting block. He pulls out a hanky and wipes his forehead. "I see... Well... It's good that you killed them and... not all was lost, at least." He doesn't sound like he's pleased. "You'll be paid, of course. I'll send the local preist... to.. ah... perform services." he murmurs.

Aurala accepts the cloak and uses it to protect her modesty. She nods, "I am truly sorry." she says again, wincing a little. She looks at the others, "Will need to rest a little before we go back. will need a healer."

"You can stay at the church, tonight. No charge, of course. Your airship will arrive tomorrow." he takes a breath, "I... I need to be alone, you understand. I'll have payment for you before you leave tomorrow." He says to the group, and then... wanders off.

 

        And so the group retire- Aurala's wounds are tended to by the preists, and the families of those they did manage to return thank them with a rather magnificent meal. The mayor is no-where to be seen until the next day. The mood as they leave is Somber, but hopeful for all but the Mayor, who seems thoroughly depressed - despite the brave face he puts on for his people, it is clear for the adventurers.