The Demon's weregild: chapter 1

[agentaaa]

First topic message reminder :

T-H-E D-E-M-O-N-S W-E-R-E-G-I-L-D



Chapter one:
The Jewel thief

Steve Frankenson and Angus Magec walk to the doors of the bright city of Ashta, grateful for the rest from their wandering, likely. As they come near the city, the gigantic metal gates of the walled fortress in front of them open, without any guards nearby. The gate didn't appear to be in possession of an automatic unlocking system, and whatever suspicion you might have had of it's condition is soon cut short as the door falls off it's hinges, and the smell of blood rushes into your nostrils.
Walking into the city, all you find is dead guards, townsfolk, animals, killed in spectacular amounts of butchery. What could do all this damage? The guards seem well armed and armored, and this town had resisted attacks from orcs, wizards, trolls, ogres, and even dragons in the past. there seemed not to be a threat the city couldn't handle, and even the drow had concluded it impossible to take the town after many attempts. Surely an army had come, and destroyed this city....
"Just give the ruby to me, you stupid woman, before I get angry." A man's voice could be heard shouting.
"You killed them, you bastard! They were the first to accept me! I'll kill you!" A woman's voice could be heard, as you round the corner. "Die, you heartless-" The woman, a dark haired beauty in a red dress, created a red fireball in her outstretched hands...
only for it to be dissipated with a snap of the man in front of her's fingers. The man had a long, brown beard, and wore violet robes filled with arcane energy. The staff he carried was long and black, the top appearing to be carved in the shape of a demon, but like none any mortal had ever seen. "hehehehahaha! Oh, you little fool! Your power truly is nothing next to mine.
as you hear the man say this, however, you hear a sickening crunching sound. Looking all around you, you see the remains of the dead piled around you move through the air, creating a barrier around you, leaving only one path open - right to the mage - for mage the man must be - and the woman.
"Right on time, Angus Magec, Steve Frankenson." The man remarks, regarding them with a smirk. "I can't use my own magic to steal this ruby, so I might as well take it from your corpses. I don't doubt you'll attempt to fight, of course - heroes always do, particularly when a little bit of power has managed to inflate their little heads - but, well, I'm prepared for you, and you must surely realize, by now.
I am the creature that destroyed this town."
Raising his staff, he readies himself for battle. Perhaps you should do the same.

[Nut_Column]

"Good Idea," Steve says turning toward the mountain, "But watch the potty mouth. There's a woman present. Plus I only hear a beep whenever you swear and it's pretty annoying"

[agentaaa]

coming down on the island, you at first only notice a moderately sized black tower, a windowless tower with it's tip at a fine point. landing on it would likely only result in damage to your carpet, but there is an entrance at it's base.
elsewhere, you see a troll encampment, with some dwarves that appear to be held captive there, under weighted nets.

[Angusm3]

"What's going on down there guys?!" Angus shouts at the people below.

[agentaaa]

The trolls throw rocks and spears at you, all of which you manage to dodge.
Both Steve and angus also note one of the trolls, with a blackened face, chanting in the middle of the camp.

[Nut_Column]

"Ohh you IDIOT!" Shouts Steve. "Why don't you USE That 22 Intellegience score for once!?" As he veers out of range of the missiles. Steve then tries to figure out what the chanting troll is doing.

[Angusm3]

"Why don't YOU try using your 23 dexterity score to dodge disasters like that from happening?!"

Angus warps away until later when he is done respec-ing his character

[agentaaa]

the trolls try to hit steve, but he is out of range of their strikes, and they all fall flat.
"Agh Kel'ah!" One of them yells, pointing at Angus's carpet. "Bon! Mazagh'ch Tal'kraa!" and the skull faced troll looks, as a dark aura appears around it.

[Nut_Column]

Searching in vain for Angus' apparently warped-away body, Steve decides to... wait an amount of time appropriate to Angus' reappearance, but not so long that the trolls have enough time to do anything. They don't even blink in the amount of time I wait for Angus.

[agentaaa]

(Tell me when you're done respeccing, dangit!)

[Angusm3]

(It's taking a while dangit I'm doing it properly this time, I've got a spellbook and everything)

[Nut_Column]

(He does. It's very nice.)

[Angusm3]

Angus warps back into existence, using his comprehend language ritual to understand what the creatures below are saying

[agentaaa]

(update the site character page, kthxbai) You start the ritual, as the creatures begin throwing rocks, spears, arrows, and a whole tree at you. oh, and also you're set on fire, not being able to dodge due to the ritual you're waiting for(That ritual takes a while to do, ya know) by the troll's chanting, which you now realize might have been some sort of spell, as black flames lick at your clothing(5 damage)
(Also Arik, if you don't post in Ex Nihilo soon, I'm going to do something to you that's so horrible I won't say it on the forum)

[Nut_Column]

I start firing my Core X Spike Launcher at them.

[Angusm3]

I use mettle to negate any area or missed magic attacks that got fired at me

then I begin to chant the incantations needed for dimension door, followed by a quick tug on the front of my carpet, causing me to fall through the door and land with a tuck and roll (I make a sneak check here due to dimension door being silent) behind the trolls, I also make a silence check (I have 18 stealth 13+training) and I use spell focus to give my enemies a -2 to saving throws against my spells. Then I cast resistance (+22AC to divine attacks)
those were both daily spells
now for my attack spells: I cast frostburn (encounter 3d6+int) and dispel magic (daily) simultaneously using dual spell at the one that casted spells at me

[agentaaa]

angus, maybe scale back that down to one turn of actions, since I count four spells, a move action, and a stealth check there.

[Angusm3]

okay, I just do everything but the attack spells

[agentaaa]

ok, you pass the stealth check. everything happens exactly according to your plan

[Angusm3]

Okay, instead of attacking, I continue to sneak (Is there anything to hide behind?) and using the minor at will "light" cantrip
I put a light on the eyes of the troll shaman. Then using mage hand, I try to gently remove the necklace from around his neck and try to place it onto another troll

OOC: Where's Fred?

[agentaaa]

(just waiting on him to post)

[Nut_Column]

*Ahem* I Was Firing at them with my Core X Spike Launcher, but whatever. Now that Angus is on the ground, I bring my carpet down behind some rocks (I would assume there's rocks) and hide, using Chameleon if need be.

[agentaaa]

did I say it missed? It did, but I now realize I didn't note this fact.
there is one rock, and you somehow pass your stealth check so well your carpet fits behind this pretty tiny rock, bending the laws of physics.(Friggin natural 20's)
You put the light in the troll;s face, blinding him, and take the necklace off of him, narrowly dodging dark lightning arcing towards you as a result. The Troll turns towards you, and, after making a perception check, sees your hiding place, and points it out to the other trolls, who all notice as well, except for one very confused troll in the corner.

[Angusm3]

did the necklace make it onto another troll?

I cast spectral ram at the shaman and using dual spell feat: I cast resistance on myself for ranged attacks

and where's our guide?

[Nut_Column]

I use Shadowstride to move right beside Mr Shaman Troll Guy. I then spend an Action Point to use Hide in Plain Sight.

[agentaaa]

Angus pushes the troll priest back, and he falls in a mass of troll bodies behind him, but is pushed out of the way as warriors of every type move from behind him, wielding spears, axes and even the occasional sword. a small group of eight troll warriors charge Angus, Angus only narrowly dodging a cut from one of their tusks, and another four warriors move quickly to reinforce. "Ya man, we got tirty' more trolls comin, morsel. Pretty soon, we be eatin' elf flesh for the first time in a while."
you are unable to see your guide, the confusion is making it quite unclear on where she is. you do smell a clue, however, in the form of the smell of charred troll flesh.

[Sponsored content]