CH. 15: There and Back Again

[Nuke]

As pissed as she is, Val decides retreat with Mist is the better option. She uses her knees to direct Mist toward shore.

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn looks up at Ozap for a moment before she turns attention to Brock. "Where did that axe come from?" she asks. "You didn't have that before, right?"

[Chris1234]

Naras Stonebreaker (Ruined City, Market Square)
Naras launches into a prolonged response, “Only slightly. I have to say that you are enigmatic; perhaps by deliberation. You have repeatedly pointed out that I am totally outclassed by you and yet you deliberately ensure to include me in your plan. I believe I know why.

"You have said that you could easily conquer Narin and yet you deliberately manoeuvre to make this harder. I think I know why.

"The book you seek will help you – but you have previously said that your certainty to be able to dominate Narin is unrivalled so therefore that leads to another conclusion, admittedly one that I am far more unsure about.

"But your enigmatism is, perhaps unwittingly, which would be amusing in itself, in the paradox that you demonstrate, perhaps a paradox of divine intent.

"Now, my turn: to stand a chance of preserving Narin, of defeating your intent, exactly what actions do I have to perform? The number is not important to me, and I’m not really asking for it, but if you want to flash your prowess again, you could tell me the probability of this too.”

[Breila]

Satisfied, Ouragana decides she can now plan for the next day(s). She goes to see if Thaddeus has already finished speaking with Sierra. When she finds him, she asks: "So we will be at sea the next few days? Does the Captain know a good spot to try out the cannon?"

[spyguy1503]

"Yes... then you disappeared. So, she's lying?" Gallath asks.

[chese780]

Drav turns to Baeros, "Thanks."

Whether he is being sarcastic or not is up to Baeros to find out.

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn Blaine (The Seleya, Outside the Captain's Cabin)
"The ranger gave it to me," Brock says. "He was a real ass about it, too. But that's normal for him. Still, makes me wonder if it's cursed or something. I don't see his angle here. Looks like a nice axe, though." He gives it a couple of test swings.

Ouragana Stormbride (Aboard the Bullring)
Thaddeus nods. "I spoke with her. She said she knew of a place, and it wasn't too far out of our way. But she was a bit vague on where it was. Anyway, yes, Draska is around 300 miles from here, so it should take us a few days to get there. Maybe add an extra day or two, depending on where we're going to test the cannon at."

Val Urgan (Ocean, 200 yards from shore)
Val directs Mist to swim toward the surface. The two remaining sahuagin give chase, but are not as fast as the orca. She quickly outswims them. The two surface, about 200 yards from the shoreline.

==========

Initiative
Val and Mist (1d10+9): 1+9 = 10
Sahuagin 01 (N/A)
Sahuagin 02 (N/A)
Sahuagin 05 (1d10+7): 2+7 = 9
Sahuagin 06 (1d10+7): 5+7 = 12

Round 7!

Sahuagin 01 is stuck in a net.
Sahuagin 02 is stuck in a net.
Sahuagin 05 stabs its trident at Val [TN 13] (1d20): 12, miss.
Val directs Mist toward the surface.
Sahuagin 06 gives chase.

Baeros and Drav (Ruined City, Southeast)
When the group reaches the first crossroad, they head eastward. They pass a building that may have once been an inn or tavern. There's a charred sign still hanging over the door. It might have been a tankard, but it's hard to say. The windows have been smashed and then boarded up (or perhaps it was the other way around) and the roof has caved in. The whole city reeks of burned wood and burned flesh. It's also eerily quiet. One expects a lot of hustle and bustle in a city, but the only noise any of them hear are whatever sounds they are making--footsteps, the creaking of leather, and the two dogs sniffing around.

Gallath (Ruined City, Southwest)
"Demons always lie," Penta says. "Stand aside and let me finish my job."

"Don't listen to her!" Naishe insists. "Yes, I left the ship after that. I've been here in Deimos since then, trying to help these people. Does that sound like something a demon would do? She's completely barmy. But if we work together, we can drive her off."

It seems Gallath will have to make a choice, one way or another.

Naras Stonebreaker (Ruined City, Market Square)
The Son of Crizza laughs derisively. "Don't be absurd, dwarf. If you had any chance of thwarting my plans, even 1%, you would not be standing here now. I would have struck you dead the moment I saw you."

The paralyzed slaad makes a soft, low groan. The tips of its claws move ever so slightly.

"Ah, the spell seems to be wearing off." He levitates another 30 feet upward, over the monster. "You probably have about a minute before it regains full use of its body. You could use that time to start running now. It's faster than you, but the time it spends implanting your colleagues there should be enough for you to get back to the harbor. Or you can stay and fight. It would provide me a moment's amusement, watching you be torn to shreds."

[HorizonsDream]

"He gave you an axe?" Jocelyn asks in confusion. "Uh, maybe he is trying to make peace with you, just in his Baeros type of way?" she offers as she leads them off the ship.

[Chris1234]

While they were talking Naras considered casting Dispel Magic to free the patrol, but realised at the last minute that if the genasai could cast Teleport w/o Error then it was indeed vastly more powerful than her {OOC: 8 levels} than her and a Dispel Magic versus the Hold Person spell would only have a tiny {OOC: 10% each, 66% of no affect whatsoever} chance of affecting each Held person.

Naras says, "Shoot the Slaad!" and, holding the spear in her shield hand, casts Protection from Evil on herself, "Gonto Protect Me from Evil".

The dwarf starts to take hold of the spear again to brace it against her instep, ready to receive a charge, but if it ignores her and charges at or attacks one of the patrol she will then try to attack it in return.

[spyguy1503]

"I don't know you." he says to the demon hunter. "If you come to the Bullring with me, I know a pastor I can trust. She'll sort this out."

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn Blaine (Deimos Harbor)
Brock shrugs. "Maybe, but he was a real ass about it, too. If he wants to make peace, though, guess we'll see if he keeps being an ass or not." He puts the axe away and limps after Jocelyn as she disembarks from the ship, onto the harbor.

Gallath (Ruined City, Southwest)
"No," Penta states. "If you bring her back among people, and she'll just use her powers to charm and control them. This needs to end now. Why are you hesitating on this? Did she already seize your mind? Are you one of her thralls? Or..." She looks away for a moment in thought, then looks back at Gallath with surprise. "Of course! You're one, too. I thought I was sensing demon blood from her, but I sense it in you, as well." She readies her sword. "Reveal your true form, demon! I've seen through your charade!"

Naras Stonebreaker (Ruined City, Market Square)
Pulling out a vial of holy water, Naras prays to Gonto for protection and sprinkles it upon herself.

The two sailors that are still mobile hesitate. They are clearly fear struck, but manage to pull out their crossbows, load them and fire at the slaad. Its thick hide prevents the bolts from going in two deep.

The Son of Crizza's spell ends, and the slaad moves again. It yanks the bolts from its body, and the wounds begin to heal on their own. Snarling, it turns its attention to them, readying its claws.

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

Naras casts Protection from Evil on herself for 18 rounds.
Sailor 05 fires his light crossbow at the slaad, automatically hitting for (1d6): 3 damage.
Sailor 06 fires her light crossbow at the slaad, automatically hitting for (1d6): 1 damage. Slaad is now lightly wounded (90% HP).
Slaad is no longer paralyzed. It regenerates 2 HP. It is no longer lightly wounded.

[BishGada]

Baeros looks at the ruined city and becomes glum. Well he is glum a lot of times, but now he is glum-er. Using his tracking skills he looks for both warning of Slaadi or other out of place tracks and anything that can lead to the survivors.

===============================================
(OOC: Out of curiosity:
1. if I get it right and the canon increases the power of spells, it means one need to cast fireball in order for the canon to fire (super) ball?
2. If the runes on the canon are similar to fireball does it mean it will enhance only fireball in the current state?
3. Is it possible to repair house with several Mending spells? totaling in the volume of the materials for the house? Will that be faster than actually rebuilding the house?)

[Chris1234]

Naras Stonebreaker (Ruined City, Market Square)
“Cast ‘Protection from Evil’ if you can,” says Naras, “else keep 40 yards from it, and then fire at it.”

Unless the Slaad charges her, Naras casts Dispel Magic on the Held patrol members, making sure she doesn’t negate her own Protection and trying to avoid the two mobile patrol members in case they've got their own Protections up. (If the Slaad charges her, Naras will try to set the spear ready to receive a charge.)

She tries to add, "Any more patrols due here soon?"

[Nuke]

Val directs Mist to the Bullring, even in the relative shallow water of the harbor.

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn looks around, then starts for the ruined city. "Honestly, I don't have a clue as to why he would give you an axe. I can ask him if you want."