PART VI - BATTLE AGAINST THE EVIL ONES
Without hesitation or warning, I charged the Drow lady, and at that moment called forth the light of Pelor blazing like the sun itself. I knew that she was most likely of all of them to have magics to allow the escape of these fiends. It was clear they must be destroyed. Upon reaching the magic circle, I called upon Lord Pelor to protect me as I triggered whatever magical defenses would be up. They were indeed, and I was covered in icy cold, as if from the very void. Praise be that Pelor had guided me to protect myself against such elemental attacks. I called upon Lord Pelor to smite this vile doer of evil, and his power flowed through me to strike her down in a single blow, holy power shining forth from my blade.
The remaining Drow were for a moment stunned by the sudden onslaught of my attack and the brilliant sunlight burning into their eyes. The Drow lord recovered most quickly of them, and for a moment he reached for an amulet at his breast, then seemed to think better of it and instead waved his hands, producing a cloud of deepest darkness around all of us. In that dark, I heard the sound of the Drow and his guards advancing quickly. Another strange sound, like a sword or dagger being drawn from something wet and slimy, came from where I'd last seen the other Drow woman.
Fortunately, I am blessed and honored to be a Paladin of Pelor. I called forth his light and drove away the darkness. I flanked to the left and quickly struck down one of the Drow guards. This put me on the far side from the Drow servitor woman. She, however, had disappeared. Meanwhile, the Drow lord and the other guard quickly turned to face me. The guard charged me as the lord prepared to cast another spell. I darted past the guard, dodging the opportunistic attack he made. I then charged the lord and, again calling forth the power of Pelor, smote him such a blow that he was for a moment blinded. Using this chance, I ran him through. Thinking that the amulet he wore might be their means of escape, I snatched it from him.
Suddenly, I felt a stabbing pain.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
From the Journal of Hrogar
So, while we were back in Sigil getting some supplies we need if we are to have a chance against our current target, I finally caught up with Keniroh (or more specifically, he finally caught up with me). After updating him on current matters and the important details since last we saw each other, he believes he can help the group in my absence.
This means I can finally move on to try to raise an army that can challenge the Aboleths in their primary city. I'm heading back to the material plane, and once there will travel to some of the places I visited before with Keniroh and also some other kingdoms that may be sympathetic to our cause. I'll have to be careful, though. It sounds like Tupper was captured and turned to the allegiance of the Aboleths. I must make sure to travel in a hidden manner so as not to be captured myself.
Hopefully, I will be able to raise a strong enough force to seriously threaten the master Aboleth in its fortified city. And hopefully the others will be able to take care of the other Aboleths while I accomplish this task. May the gods be with us.
This means I can finally move on to try to raise an army that can challenge the Aboleths in their primary city. I'm heading back to the material plane, and once there will travel to some of the places I visited before with Keniroh and also some other kingdoms that may be sympathetic to our cause. I'll have to be careful, though. It sounds like Tupper was captured and turned to the allegiance of the Aboleths. I must make sure to travel in a hidden manner so as not to be captured myself.
Hopefully, I will be able to raise a strong enough force to seriously threaten the master Aboleth in its fortified city. And hopefully the others will be able to take care of the other Aboleths while I accomplish this task. May the gods be with us.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Journal of Arcadius
Joining the Cause
We are still in Sigil. We have commissioned a magic item that will aid Ragnarr in calling upon Lord Pelor while in the pocket dimension of the Aboleth. The work is, naturally, taking some time, and we are waiting. Ragnarr himself is drinking so heavily that I am becoming concerned about him. We've had to retrieve him from alleys, gutters, and sundry foul places. I pray thee Lord Pelor to put light in his mind and peace in his heart!
Hrogar, meanwhile, has decided to at last answer his calling of raising an army against the Aboleth. Assuredly, he has a gift of persuasion, and this should serve him well. It seems he has been long in touch with someone else, a powerful wizard, who now wishes to help us in his stead. Having lost two wizards of our group to duties and distractions in Sigil, it is ironic yet good to have one join us here.
He, this wizard, is named Canary or something similar, perhaps in honor of the famous musical bird, and in fact his robes are of a yellowish hue, though more saffron than the bright yellow of his namesake. He goes by Can or Cen for short. He is from a land of the east called Tir-Narnia, a name of at best faint legend to me. From childhood I seem to recall tales of either immortal Fay living underground, or Witch-Queens and talking lions. Whatever the truth of them, the association of his land with powerful arcane magic is apparently true.
Thanks and gratitude to him for joining us at this crucial time! May he be prepared for the severe dangers ahead - he has time, hopefully he will use it well.
*A*
We are still in Sigil. We have commissioned a magic item that will aid Ragnarr in calling upon Lord Pelor while in the pocket dimension of the Aboleth. The work is, naturally, taking some time, and we are waiting. Ragnarr himself is drinking so heavily that I am becoming concerned about him. We've had to retrieve him from alleys, gutters, and sundry foul places. I pray thee Lord Pelor to put light in his mind and peace in his heart!
Hrogar, meanwhile, has decided to at last answer his calling of raising an army against the Aboleth. Assuredly, he has a gift of persuasion, and this should serve him well. It seems he has been long in touch with someone else, a powerful wizard, who now wishes to help us in his stead. Having lost two wizards of our group to duties and distractions in Sigil, it is ironic yet good to have one join us here.
He, this wizard, is named Canary or something similar, perhaps in honor of the famous musical bird, and in fact his robes are of a yellowish hue, though more saffron than the bright yellow of his namesake. He goes by Can or Cen for short. He is from a land of the east called Tir-Narnia, a name of at best faint legend to me. From childhood I seem to recall tales of either immortal Fay living underground, or Witch-Queens and talking lions. Whatever the truth of them, the association of his land with powerful arcane magic is apparently true.
Thanks and gratitude to him for joining us at this crucial time! May he be prepared for the severe dangers ahead - he has time, hopefully he will use it well.
*A*
From the Journal of Hrogar
So, another battle that I was effectively taken out of the fight for. This time, I was constantly under attack by a giant lizard, so at least there was some novelty. And one could argue I was keeping the giant lizard from attacking anyone else while the others attacked the smaller giant lizards (although it was also keeping Ragnarr busy keeping me alive, so the trade was not so good).
It kept me from summoning my mount, which I should have had ready ahead of time. And when I finally did get a chance to summon my mount, the damn lizard turned it to stone! Gods damn it, not a good way to start a long battle.
In general, I'm doing terrible at preparing properly for these things. Our enemies are making less and less mistakes. This is amature crap, and I certainly shouldn't be making so many mistakes. Forgive me Halmyr.
To further worsen matters, Ragnarr is having problems casting his own spells. Seems this plane does not have many, if any, connections to the Celestial Relams. So after we found both he and I were going to be effectively useless (or at least a lot less useful), we decided to head back to Sigil and get these issues dealt with (my mount un-petrified, and a magic item to get Ragnarr back in healing form).
I just hope I can find Keniroh before we go back in. The group could use a wizard, and I need to get on with my quest to rally up an army to take on the final Aboleth or at least distract it in the final battle.
It kept me from summoning my mount, which I should have had ready ahead of time. And when I finally did get a chance to summon my mount, the damn lizard turned it to stone! Gods damn it, not a good way to start a long battle.
In general, I'm doing terrible at preparing properly for these things. Our enemies are making less and less mistakes. This is amature crap, and I certainly shouldn't be making so many mistakes. Forgive me Halmyr.
To further worsen matters, Ragnarr is having problems casting his own spells. Seems this plane does not have many, if any, connections to the Celestial Relams. So after we found both he and I were going to be effectively useless (or at least a lot less useful), we decided to head back to Sigil and get these issues dealt with (my mount un-petrified, and a magic item to get Ragnarr back in healing form).
I just hope I can find Keniroh before we go back in. The group could use a wizard, and I need to get on with my quest to rally up an army to take on the final Aboleth or at least distract it in the final battle.
Journal of Arcadius
Preparation, and lack thereof
We made a key error in our plan of assault on the Aboleth Seer - an assumption that we would have time to prepare once we arrived. In fact, we were promptly met by three immensely powerful Basilisks, strengthened even further with armor and magic. The leader of them wore adamantine barding armor, and had a powerful aura of evil - detectable even above the general universal evil of the Aboleth's plane.
The Seer on the other hand was quite prepared for us, and even watched us through some minion or familiar in the form of a cat. We fought at a disadvantage from the beginning, and paid a heavy price for our lack of foresight. All of us on the front line were heavily wounded in the battle, and some even fell - though Ragnarr's magic revived them. Indeed, we would have all perished if not for his immense powers of healing. However, as he noted to us, even those were unreliable on this plane.
We retreated, and are now regrouping in Sigil. May we learn from this lesson, and may the Gods give us strength.
*A*
We made a key error in our plan of assault on the Aboleth Seer - an assumption that we would have time to prepare once we arrived. In fact, we were promptly met by three immensely powerful Basilisks, strengthened even further with armor and magic. The leader of them wore adamantine barding armor, and had a powerful aura of evil - detectable even above the general universal evil of the Aboleth's plane.
The Seer on the other hand was quite prepared for us, and even watched us through some minion or familiar in the form of a cat. We fought at a disadvantage from the beginning, and paid a heavy price for our lack of foresight. All of us on the front line were heavily wounded in the battle, and some even fell - though Ragnarr's magic revived them. Indeed, we would have all perished if not for his immense powers of healing. However, as he noted to us, even those were unreliable on this plane.
We retreated, and are now regrouping in Sigil. May we learn from this lesson, and may the Gods give us strength.
*A*
Journal of Crunch, Day 290c to… later on.
-day290-C:
We eventually agreed to assault the remaining pirate forces, however, we came across a note in their leader's operations room. In this communication, he threatened the safety of the coastal regions of the Land of 5 Rivers should we continue our assault on the facility. He also offered to assist us in locating a key artifact should we retreat. Given the circumstances, we have opted to retreat and inform the naval authorities of the Land of 5 Rivers. We have also confiscated the pirate leader's desk. I'm not certain why.
Conclusions: When Lives Are Involved, Prioritization Of Objectives Is Important.
-day291:
We have returned to Arkadesh's homeland to inform the relevant authorities. Ragnarr and Hrogar have been engaged in rituals at the local Temple of Pelor to locate the lair of the Seer aboleth. They have discerned that it is stationed inside its own pocket plane, and will require extraplanar transport to access.
Conclusions: iT iS sUrprisingly rEfreshing tO bE tRansported fRom uNderwater to a dRy cLimate.
-day292:
We have returned to Sigil for supplies and transit. Ragnarr recommended a series of diagnostics for us, due to our experiences after the death of the Telepath aboleth. To that end, we have visited the same psionic engineer that repaired the elven organic; Arkadesh, Azan, andt I have been diagnosed with a psionic affliction. If left unmended, this affliction will override the standard personality traits to that of the Telepath aboleth. A purge of this condition will be required.
Conclusions: siGil feEls leSs alIve in coMparison to suBplane 3. thE abOleth do noT emPloy a stAndardized deAth evAsion meThodology.
-day292 + Sigil day1:
Armor upgrades are under way. Armor suit is being reinforced against mental invasion, and polished. Claimed a tower shield from the confiscated weaponry of the pirate facility, will reinforce it against negative energy fields and emblazon with my newfound symbol of faith. Psionic affliction purging was completed. Arkadesh, Azan, and I are now fully combat ready.
Conclusions: Psionicists do not take well to being called psionic engineers.
-day292 + Sigil day2:
Operational funds currently allow for secondary equipment. Have obtained new gauntlets and footwear. We also have located a supplier who will provide us with superior aquatic combat goods, and are equipping accordingly. Endured a number of "killer robot" jokes from shop clerks.
Conclusions: Do not shop at Maniacal Edward's House of Adventure.
-day292 + Sigil day3:
Continued equipment acquirement. Visited the site of my former shop afterwards, it has been rented to a married couple selling timepieces. Did not acquire one, though the shop is significantly livelier than before. There is even a new door in place.
Conclusions: Improvements to skills at artistic wood ornamentation will be required.
-day292 + Sigil day4:
A quiet day. Obtained an interesting book about the planes from Bglz's Discount Flattened-Inky-Pulp Hive. It does not have a map or listing of the plane we are visiting soon, but it was nice to read in a park and served as a welcome refresher on non-Material planes. Returned to learn that Sztuczka has found employment at the Civic Festhall in the Clerk's Ward, involving the Aria of Tupper and Mona. She will no longer be travelling with us for the duration of this activity. She was a valued member of the unit, and I wish her luck.
Conclusions: In the service of Emotion, no calling can be ignored for long.
-day292 + Sigil day5:
Escorted Ragnarr and Chris on a tavern patrol. Chris and Lief are doing alright, and it has not been long here since we left for Subplane 3. Arkadesh has received word from his commanding officers that Tupper, the Champion of Herakles, has been captured by the forces of Izmir. It's been presumed he has been broken. No new orders.
Conclusions: Pending.
-day292 + Sigil day6:
All armament upgrades complete. We are prepared to embark to the Plane of the Seer Aboleth. Given the probable circumstances of our capture or deactivation, the person reading this is likely in the employ of the Seer aboleth. To that end, YOUR TIME SHALL COME, FOUL FISH. IF NOT BY OUR HANDS THEN SOON.
-day292 + Sigil day6-B:
Combat with initial forces has proven to be more difficult than expected. Ragnarr's deific connections do not function as required while on the Plane of the Seer Aboleth. We are regrouping at Sigil and considering our options.
We eventually agreed to assault the remaining pirate forces, however, we came across a note in their leader's operations room. In this communication, he threatened the safety of the coastal regions of the Land of 5 Rivers should we continue our assault on the facility. He also offered to assist us in locating a key artifact should we retreat. Given the circumstances, we have opted to retreat and inform the naval authorities of the Land of 5 Rivers. We have also confiscated the pirate leader's desk. I'm not certain why.
Conclusions: When Lives Are Involved, Prioritization Of Objectives Is Important.
-day291:
We have returned to Arkadesh's homeland to inform the relevant authorities. Ragnarr and Hrogar have been engaged in rituals at the local Temple of Pelor to locate the lair of the Seer aboleth. They have discerned that it is stationed inside its own pocket plane, and will require extraplanar transport to access.
Conclusions: iT iS sUrprisingly rEfreshing tO bE tRansported fRom uNderwater to a dRy cLimate.
-day292:
We have returned to Sigil for supplies and transit. Ragnarr recommended a series of diagnostics for us, due to our experiences after the death of the Telepath aboleth. To that end, we have visited the same psionic engineer that repaired the elven organic; Arkadesh, Azan, and
Conclusions: siGil feEls leSs alIve in coMparison to suBplane 3. thE abOleth do noT emPloy a stAndardized deAth evAsion meThodology.
-day292 + Sigil day1:
Armor upgrades are under way. Armor suit is being reinforced against mental invasion, and polished. Claimed a tower shield from the confiscated weaponry of the pirate facility, will reinforce it against negative energy fields and emblazon with my newfound symbol of faith. Psionic affliction purging was completed. Arkadesh, Azan, and I are now fully combat ready.
Conclusions: Psionicists do not take well to being called psionic engineers.
-day292 + Sigil day2:
Operational funds currently allow for secondary equipment. Have obtained new gauntlets and footwear. We also have located a supplier who will provide us with superior aquatic combat goods, and are equipping accordingly. Endured a number of "killer robot" jokes from shop clerks.
Conclusions: Do not shop at Maniacal Edward's House of Adventure.
-day292 + Sigil day3:
Continued equipment acquirement. Visited the site of my former shop afterwards, it has been rented to a married couple selling timepieces. Did not acquire one, though the shop is significantly livelier than before. There is even a new door in place.
Conclusions: Improvements to skills at artistic wood ornamentation will be required.
-day292 + Sigil day4:
A quiet day. Obtained an interesting book about the planes from Bglz's Discount Flattened-Inky-Pulp Hive. It does not have a map or listing of the plane we are visiting soon, but it was nice to read in a park and served as a welcome refresher on non-Material planes. Returned to learn that Sztuczka has found employment at the Civic Festhall in the Clerk's Ward, involving the Aria of Tupper and Mona. She will no longer be travelling with us for the duration of this activity. She was a valued member of the unit, and I wish her luck.
Conclusions: In the service of Emotion, no calling can be ignored for long.
-day292 + Sigil day5:
Escorted Ragnarr and Chris on a tavern patrol. Chris and Lief are doing alright, and it has not been long here since we left for Subplane 3. Arkadesh has received word from his commanding officers that Tupper, the Champion of Herakles, has been captured by the forces of Izmir. It's been presumed he has been broken. No new orders.
Conclusions: Pending.
-day292 + Sigil day6:
All armament upgrades complete. We are prepared to embark to the Plane of the Seer Aboleth. Given the probable circumstances of our capture or deactivation, the person reading this is likely in the employ of the Seer aboleth. To that end, YOUR TIME SHALL COME, FOUL FISH. IF NOT BY OUR HANDS THEN SOON.
-day292 + Sigil day6-B:
Combat with initial forces has proven to be more difficult than expected. Ragnarr's deific connections do not function as required while on the Plane of the Seer Aboleth. We are regrouping at Sigil and considering our options.
Monday, December 13, 2010
A near loss can teach you many things.
We learned today what preparation can do for a fight. Sadly we were not the group that was prepared. We step through the portal to find 3 creatures ready to stop us. Thankfully Ragnar was with us, because the group hit hard. We had several people going down at various points. I was one of them. But we all tough fights you can take away great knowledge if you survive. I learned that as nice as a tower shield is, without a bard I have issues hitting things. This is why i decided to drop the shield so i could do more damage to the enemy.
After the battle we decided to head back to Sigel, because Ragnar had issues with being able to heal. So we decided we needed to re gear and we will try again soon. Going forward I am going to change my tactics. I find myself no longer needing to take as much damage I used to. I will therefore work on being more offensive. This well be interesting to change things, but is needed. These mobs we are fighting to die quicker.
After the battle we decided to head back to Sigel, because Ragnar had issues with being able to heal. So we decided we needed to re gear and we will try again soon. Going forward I am going to change my tactics. I find myself no longer needing to take as much damage I used to. I will therefore work on being more offensive. This well be interesting to change things, but is needed. These mobs we are fighting to die quicker.
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