CH. 11: The Show Must Go On

[Haahque]

The arrival of the creature sends Haahqae into a bit of a state of shock, where he just continues juggling the same pattern over and over again not talking and just staring at the creature as he tries to figure out what to do.

Haahqae’s fought giants and draconians and seen wizards and mages do amazing things before, but such a thing has never happened unexpectedly during a performance before. What in the nine hells is that thing? (Or were there more than nine? Haahqae never got so far as try to count them.) It looks something like a fire elemental, but he’s never fought such a being before and he can’t quite remember how to deal with such a thing. During a performance…

Oh right, he’s still performing. He should probably do something about that, like move on to the next act of his performance, he has so many interesting tricks to show off. Or maybe he should turn and run, giant fire creatures aren’t always friendly when last he checked. It hasn’t said anything and its intentions are not very clear. Maybe it showed up to see his amazing juggling too? It would have to pay for a seat but it’s just as welcome as anyone else if it wants to. Or maybe it’s hear bent on death and destruction. Haahqae doesn’t know much about rapidly-appearing giant fire creatures, but he’s typically suspicious of such things.
Well, something that BIG is sure to be important somehow, so he might as well address the thing directly.

“Hey mister fire creature thing. Are you here to see the performance as well? I’m afraid we don’t have any chairs for you, but if you don’t mind standing you’re in time to see some of the most amazing juggling tricks ever seen in haven.”

Maybe Haahqae could get it to light a couple of his torches to juggle later?

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra's eyes widen upon seeing the fire ogre, and her mouth drops open a little bit. She never expected that the prefect would be right about this! Unlike Haahqae who decided the fire creature was nothing more than another guest to his performance, she pulls out her twin long swords and rushes out towards the creature. "Get the people out of here!" she yells over her shoulder to Gobax and Tulbas.

[BishGada]

"Right." Tulbas answers, giving amazed look at the elemental, and then at Haaque, trying to figure out if he had anything to do with its appearance. He quickly returns to his senses and starts with Camilla, "Go find a safe place, be careful not to be swept by the crowd." He looks for a fairly vacant area and direct her there. Then he turns to see if there are other humans who doesn't already take care of themselves. Seeing some shocked or helpless people, either old, crippled or children, he quickly approaches them and helps as best as he can. When he is done he looks back at the Elemental and Kendra and closes the distance, giving himself 30' from the creature, so he could help her.

[TristenC]

How the hell do you think you're going to fight something like that? Grubnick asks, heading to warn off the innocent civilians watching. Once done with. That he moves to where the soldiers are, carefully taking out a jar of lamp oil and keeping out of sight.

[djhyland]

"I would have let all the refugees in," Arulia agrees, "And I'd have provided them with as much shelter and food as I could manage. There wouldn't have been enough to go around, but there wasn't enough even when the Seekers kept them out. People would have starved in Haven, and would have died, just like they did when the refugees were kept out. But maybe some of those that died outside the gates wouldn't have died inside."

Setting aside her work for a moment, Arulia turns to fully face Bear. "You think that I'm a foolish girl that doesn't know how the world works. Maybe I am. I know that letting in the refugees wouldn't have saved everyone, and I know that it'd have brought other problems than the ones we had when we kept them out. But I also know that we shouldn't have given up on those people just because it was easier to do so."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Kendra, Tulbas and Gobax (Grand Market)
Confusion spreads among the baaz when Haahqae addresses someone behind them, and then Kendra yells out. Local residents begin screaming and running away, as well. When the baaz look behind them to see what is causing all of this ruckus, they are all quite surprised to see the hulking elemental.

"What in the Abyss is that?!" one demands. The elemental makes its intentions known by slamming its flaming fist into one of the surprised baaz. The soldier is hit with such ferocity that he instantly turns to stone before breaking into multiple pieces, scattering among the feet of his brethren.

"Kill it, kill it, whatever it is!" shouts another baaz. The soldiers draw their blades. The two security guards fire their crossbows at the thing's head, but the bolts pass through the flame harmlessly. "Someone get the priestesses...or one of the dragons, quick!" cries one.

Kendra draws her blades and hurries over to the elemental, but makes no attack just yet. Camilla seems awe-struck by the sight of the creature, but Tulbas manages to snap her out of it and she bolts toward the cobbler's place. The other residents nearby all run away, as well. Tulbas comes up behind Kendra, keeping thirty feet away from the elemental. He had heard of such things in his studies, but had never seen one. And summoning one would be far beyond his own ability!

Gobax moves closer to the soldiers while the dwarf starts to move away, disappearing into the fleeing crowd.

Fire Elemental swings its fist at Baaz 51 [TN 9] (1d20): 20, critical hit! for (6d8): 3,8,8,4,3,8 = 34 damage. Baaz 51 turns to stone.

Haahqae's Performance 02.jpg (68.35 KiB) Viewed 4549 times

Arulia Seroth (Thoron's Blacksmithy)
"Easier? Nobody said anything about it being easier. Making those kinds of decisions are never easy," the man says. "But aye, I do think you're foolish if you would have let in all of the refugees. You'd have wound up killing the whole town. Sometimes you gotta place priorities. If your own family just barely has enough food to survive, would you still give it away to those with none? Then your own family starves instead. Well, I hope you're never in a position where you have to make choices like that. But this is a dark and harsh world, so one day you probably will, if you haven't already."

He is about to say more, when he stops and tilts his head, as if hearing something. Arulia hears something to. There's some kind of ruckus going on outside. People are yelling and running past the shop. "Huh. What the Abyss is that all about?" he murmurs, heading toward the window.

Felran, Ne-Chanz and Shima (North Haven Sewers)
"Too dangerous to leave!" the man with the crown claims. "Only safe place here. No trust evil looking men!" As a wayfinder, Shima has never got along with other dwarves. They always see him as shady or distrustful. This evidently extends to gully dwarves, as well. Hence why they don't seem to trust or believe him when he says he can take them somewhere safe.

[Chris1234]

"Ne-Chanz, over to you," says Shima, shield and spear readied.

[Haahque]

Well turns out it’s hostile. In hindsight, not too surprising, but seeing a baaz destroyed with one punch is enough to leave Haahqae standing there dumbfounded for a few seconds, the torches forgotten clattering to the stage. “In all my years…”

Haahqae has thought bigger things. Or rather, one bigger thing once. The giant wasn’t on fire, and he was entirely sure his bow, sling and spells would have effect on it. This creature is beyond his ken and decided to attack him, not vice versa. Running would be a wise course of action.

However, running can wait. There’s a little voice in Haahqae about showing off Haahqae the hero, whose sling stone toppled the goliath of a fire creature that threatened the town. He would be lauded through the generations. A sling might be all he has right now, but that’s better than nothing.

Rushing around the stage, Haahqae gathers the discarded torches and places them into his pack, withdrawing the sling and sling stones from said same bag. (If possible to do all this and still attack, Haahqae will release a single stone at the fire elemental).

[TristenC]

Grubnick walked among the soldiers in awe of the magnificent being of pure fire. Mighty Sirrion, how great is your wrath... dazed he walked towards it through the crowd of baaz, the lamp oil flask slipping from his grip once he was far into the press. Jostled by bodies as they moved to 'kill it' he drew out the fire trapped one. He knew there was the possibility he'd be trampled a little, but they'd trample the flasks as well. Once he is much closer and in the thick of it he drops the fire trapped flask as well and moves North through the crowded soldiers, staying about 15 or 20 feet from the thing.

[HorizonsDream]

Once close enough, Kendra finally attacks the fire elemental. Though, she isn't exactly sure how well that is going to work considering other attacks seem to have no effect on it.

[BishGada]

Tulbas looks in awe at the sight of the sigle huge creature in the middle of so many draconians, and the ease it smashes them. It doesn't escape him it is a good opportunity to land a blow on the dragon army. Just stand from the side and watch at the soldiers being butchered, what a glorious day. But then he sees Kendra rushing towards it. Damn... "What the hell are you doing Kendra?!?" Tulbas shouts. "Come back here! It seems normal weapons have no effect on it. Keep safe. I'll call Magnus!" he says, considering if he have time to call his master.

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(OOC: How long will it take to call Magnus?)

[spyguy1503]

Ne-Chanz draws his sword. "Anyone who wants to leave, can. Where you go is not our problem. Anyone who wishes to fight for your right to stay, arm yourselves." He tosses the club in that general direction.

[djhyland]

Arulia's reply to the man's questions fall from her lips as Bear looks out the window, his attention obviously on something else. "What...what is happening?" she asks.

(OOC: Arulia is likely foolish enough to go out and see the elemental herself when she finds out about it. How is the smelting going? If she leaves now, will she put Bear's iron at risk, or worse, the smithy?)

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Kendra, Tulbas and Gobax (Grand Market)
Tulbas considers how long it would take him to reach the mageware shop and inform Magnus of what is happening. He's not particularly athletic, so it may take awhile depending on how fast he moves.

Gobax slips through the baaz casually. They are all focused on the elemental, so nobody pays him any mind. After dropping the flasks, he manages to elbow his way through the crowd and come out on the other side.

Meanwhile, everyone is discovering that this elemental seems impervious. The baaz all hack at it with their swords, but to no avail. Haahqae slings a stone at it, but has no better luck. Finally, Kendra slashes at it with her swords. The masterwork sword she received from the army just passes through the creature harmlessly, just like any other weapon. But her magical, elven blade hums a bit as it cuts through and the elemental suddenly roars in pain. It was currently beating on one of the baaz, but at feeling the bite of that elven blade, the elemental turns toward Kendra to focus all of its attention on her instead.

Suddenly, there's a small explosion in the middle of the crowd of baaz. Multiple draconians are caught in it and turn to stone immediately. This only adds to the chaos and confusion as many baaz look around in all directions, trying to determine where that attack came from.

Initiative
Haahqae (1d10+6): 2+6 = 8
Kendra (1d10+5): 10+5 = 7
Tulbas (N/A)
Gobax (1d10): 4
Baaz (1d10+5): 10+5 = 15
Elemental (1d10+6): 5+6 = 11

Round 1!

Tulbas calls out to Kendra.
Gobax moves 50 feet southward, dropping a flask of lamp oil and a fire-trapped flask of lamp oil.
Kendra moves 5 feet southward and slashes at the elemental with her masterwork (+1 hit/dmg) long sword with great skill (+1 hit/+2 dmg) [TN 15] (1d20+2): 19+2 = 21, hit for no damage. She then slashes at the elemental with her elven (+2 hit/dmg) long sword with great skill (+1 hit/+2 dmg) [TN 15] (1d20+3): 16+3 = 19, hit for (1d12+5): 2+5 = 7 damage. The elemental is now moderately damaged.
Haahqae picks up his torches and then slings a stone at the fire elemental with excellent aim (+2 hit) [TN 17] (1d20+2): 5+2 = 7, miss.
Elemental swings its fist at Baaz 52 [TN 9] (1d20): 10, hit for (3d8): 2,1,1 = 4 damage. Baaz 52 is now seriously wounded.
Baaz move to attack the elemental. Their weapons have no effect. The oil lamps are trampled and shattered. Fire trap spell goes off, dealing (1d4+4): 1+4 = 5 damage, then lights the oil inside, dealing another (1d6): 6 damage. Baaz 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 35, 36 and 37 all turn to stone.

Haahqae's Performance 03.jpg (68.37 KiB) Viewed 4512 times

(OOC: The mageware shop is a little over a mile from his current position. So it would take Tulbas about 15 minutes to walk there. He could jog there in 7 minutes. If he can pass some STR checks, he can also try running. Five minutes at x3 speed, four minutes at x4 and three minutes at x5 speed.)

Arulia Seroth (Thoron's Blacksmithy)
"Not sure," the man responds. He opens the door to reveal people running past in a panic. "Hey, what's happening?" he demands, but nobody stops to give him a report. Suddenly, they hear a small explosion go off. It sounded like it came from the grand market.

"Are we under attack?" the man wonders. "Damn, and I don't have my axe!"

(OOC: Arulia could leave the smelter for a brief period. It'd probably be a good idea to have someone stay and look after it though. If she's gone too long, she could wind up ruining the ore or even burning the smithy to the ground.)

Felran, Ne-Chanz and Shima (North Haven Sewers)
The gully dwarves neither leave nor prepare to fight. Instead, they wail, whine, cry, sob, plead, beg and otherwise make a pretty pathetic showing.

[TristenC]

Damn! She might actually be able to stop that thing! Playing a hunch, Gobax pulls out another flask of lamp oil and rushes to just north of the elemental. C'mon! It's wounded now! Time to press the advantage! He cries out, throwing the flask so it hits the ground just north of the elemental and splashes into the creature; hopefully healing it.