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Ameena listens to the conversation between Westian and the newcomers, and glances around as Falkor starts talking in what sonuds like the same language Haynuus and the troll-cratures had used. Then he eaks again, in a language she doesn't recognise at all. Finally, he speaks in what she recognises as the Halfling language, one which she's not exactly fluent in, but can understand if it's spoken slowly and clearly enough. She manages to get the gist of what he's saying - start fighting these people and run away through the blue thing to carry on fighting them.
Ameena can see several things wrong with this suggestion - firstly, that surely means starting a fight with people who haven't yet tried to harm them. Secondly, it means starting a fight with people who might have any number of extra troops around the corner and who might well be skilled. Thirdly, it means starting a fight with people who are wearing armour, and who currently are more or less surrounding them, since technically Drommal and the others are behind them, albeit through the blue haze thing. Lastly, it means starting a fight.
"You...want to attack them?" she asks slowly, in Halfling, trying to use the right words as she speaks. "What do you plan to do them? They aren't very nice, but that doesn't mean they want to kill us..."

Haynuus was nervous again. Falkor had not only made his intentions of bloodshed clear but was concentrating on producing some kind of arcane magick that would surely provoke a battle. The half-orc made a quick reality check.

<the swirling of mists mixed with memories part>
His mind cast back to the plains where he lived. All manner of beings passed through there under the 'protection' of the local warlord. Death cultists and other groups of unmentionables were free to go as they pleased - they paid their passage well. Haynuus recalled once when the orcs would stop and watch in fear as a caravan of cultists passed under the shadow of the great citadel. They carried at the front a huge banner with pinnacles of unholy symbols, a skeleton dangling in the center and two bleached giant skulls hanging off each end. It took 5 of those wretched cultists to carry it, and it shed fear where they travelled. It made his stomach churn watching the shambling walk of some of the hooded followers, patently undead and with an aura of evil that was impossible to hide from under their cloaks. From that day on the symbol of skulls and those who followed them unnerved the half-orc.

"Feck-tards" Haynuus hissed, feeling the animosity and fear of his friends. "Careful Haynuus" one of his siblings retorted, "you're no Paladin."
<the swirling of mists return>

A battle was perhaps inevitable, then. The odds looked a little dire unless a miracle happened... And he didn't know that the new soldier AND his prisoner could well be potential allies. It wasn't the soldiers in the room that worried Haynuus though, it was those that were soon to enter! He HAD to stand in the way of the blue teleporter and prevent the odds from tipping in their enemies favour, he HAD to be ready for when a potential three more soldiers would zooooom into the battlefield. If only there was a way to prevent that third missing soldier from entering the room...

Whispering in orc to Falkor "If you're going to be heroic then afterwards stand in front of the haze for a few seconds will you?". Falkor would take the lead in this mess, and Haynuus was ready stand with him.

Falkor heared the replies, but before he responded (he hoped he could explain to Ameena afterwards) he took a deep breath, muttered a few words beneath his breath and cast a fireball straight in the direction of Arbrut. The fireball lept across the room, lighting the way as it went... Falkor took a step backwards and yelled at the top of his voice "For all that is good... let your gods defend you" and prepared for his next attack..

OOC: Initiation Roll (1d20 = 9), 0-level effect fireball please (do i need to roll for this?)

Update: Damage (2d6+3 → [2,5,3] = (10))

Out of the very palms of Falkor's hands was launched a miniature burning sun of heat and pain. It was beautiful as it was terrifying. For the briefest of moments Haynuus with his mouth open was transfixed with the continually morphing surface, swirling and awash with orange, yellow and red. He'd never seen one before, but now he could also feel the heat-wave of pass away leaving but a wisp of smoke. He now understood why the wizards were always treated with such deference.

When confronted with a heavily armoured foe a sage intellect was required. Haynuus however possessed none. What he brought to the table however was his half-orc resolve to finish what Falkor had started. So he had a choice of either charging in and attempting to slay an enemy before reinforcements arrived or stand back (E6) and cover the entrance to the teleporter. Even with the help of the fireball he doubted the Arbrut or anyone else would go down so he resorted to stepping back and intimidating (+3 (5)) the anonymous Soldier (1d20=10) into action and gave him his best war cry "Heyyaaahhh!".

OOC - (Anyone to D6? and Haynuus is at E6) Initiative for this encounter is... (1d20=1) a critical failure. He must have been out of breath!

OOC: @Money/Falkor: Nice fireball, 5-15 damage

Aurek sees the half-ling talking to the orc, and thinks that a battle may soon follow... and the numbers are in his favour! Well, at least for now... he doesn't know what this group of "people" could do... one of them a half-ling, one an orc, one a elf and a creature that greatly resembled a metre-tall rat.

He turns to Farel, and says quietly "I don't know exactly what is going to happen here, but I think that these guys are about to jump those guards. I don't want blood to be shed, but that group may be a helpful bunch." and then signaled to Farel when the time was right.

He was about to strike the guard, when there was suddenly a fireball hurtling toward one of the guards, and the other people began to react to the initiation of combat.... (initiative roll 1d20 = 9)

Focused as he was on the prisoner and guard Westian was not prepared nor expecting the sudden onslaught. Spinning around at the sudden noise he just caught the sight of a fireball hurtling towards Arbut.

This is a quick update of Helm and Soldier 1 (called Brohur actually) because Brohur's actions will need a reaction roll from Ian, and I like getting people's reactions. Plus I'm semi-pinned down after getting back late from work, so guess I need to put up something!

OB, be good to get your next move since you are right beside Thinpas


As Falkor made his move, those alreayd warned acting as conscience demanded. Haynuus moved to defend the teleporter, while Helm stepped aside with shock at the sound, darting to the corner. The rope easily fell from the thief's hands, as he quickly withdrew the dagger Haynuus had gifted him. Or was it another? The man had many folds in his clothes...

"The halfling!" yelled the soldier to the sergeant as he saw the fireball leap from Falkor's hands and hit Arbrut squarely in his side. The sergeant reacted at once to the barked warning but it was too late. Even though he was acting purely on instinct, the gap was too small and Falkor too skillful a caster. The sergeant was staggered and yelled in pain, part of his armour on his arm blown open by the searing flame and the skin beneath cooked. However, he stayed standing and instantly turned to face the mage, an almost inhuman yell building in his chest.


Wow, Arbrut rolled a great reflexes save, which equalled the base fireball DC for half damage. Luckily, a certain player took a certain feat that added +1 to spell DCs, and so Arbrut takes full damage! Also, I messed up a little on the damage dice. It should be +1d3 not +3 for using a 0-level effect. However you should also do +2 impact damage with fireball. So I rolled the 1d3 and got three, so you've actually done 12 damage in total not just 10! Woohoo!


The normal soldier, called Bruhor, looked in shock at the attack but saw his sergeant standing. Apparently Bruhor had no wish to get between the mage and vengence. Either that, or he not only shared the stature of Arbrut but the dislike of Haynuus for whatever reason. Even as the half-orc stepped backwards the soldier drew his sword and charged* towards Haynuus. However, the man did not swing his weapon, instead he lowered his shoulder obviously planning on knocking the half-orc and himself clear through the teleporter.

However, when Haynuus quickly turned and challenged the man, he seemed to hesitate. Perhaps he realised that he did not have his sergeant to back him up against what would be a challenging foe?


Low intimidate check in response means your soldier has a -2 to his attack. And he needed all the bonus he could get with a 5 rolled for his bullrush attempt! Roll me a strength check, Ian, and if you can't beat a 5 once your strength bonus is added to it, you really deserve to get pushed through the teleporter!

I'm assuming ian will succeed, so will update the map accordingly. If Ian fails somehow, then Haynuus will be throughthe teleporter and the soldier in Haynuus's square!


Ok, so just to clarify what I've done, the above is just a brief update, not the main one. After OB posts (and I might just nudge him down a touch if he doesn't see this tonight) and probably by that time Ameena too then I'll resolve the two sergeant's actions.

After that, everyone basically gets to post. Either because you all are posting your round 1 actions, or because you are lucky-mcvie Westian and have such a good initiative you can post for your actions in round 2

My next update will resolve the end of round 1, and the start of round 2 including the soldiers next actions. Let's not look much beyond that for now, ok?


*DM disclaimer: this is only a narrative charge not a mechanical one. Any similarity to a mechanical charge, or +2 bonuses applied to any attack attempts, are purely co-incidental and are not actionable under Zork law.

Map: End of surprise round (no Ameena move yet):
Deleted as map over-written by map below

OOC - Roll me a strength check (1d20=15)

Haynuus couldn't tell if Bruhor's physical body slam was intended to push him through the teleporter or for the soldier to escape. No matter, he'd seen the abhorrent mummy try it before and this time the half-orcs body mass plus all the crap he was carrying in his backpack meant that he was moving nowhere. He did get a smear of nasal mucus on his breastplate though.

It was just then that Haynuus thought... Hold on. When those other soldiers come whizzing out of the teleporter will they be deposited on top of me? The technical word Haynuus was grasping for was telefragged.

Ameena isn't sure what she's expecting, but of all the possible things that could happen, one thing she certainly doesn't expect is for a big ball of fire to come flying out of Falkor's hands! It slams into Arbrut, despite a warning yelled by the nearby soldier, and she can immediately detect the smell of burnt flesh.
Unfortunately, the combination of all these things (Falkor's apparently unprovoked attack and its effect, coupled with the obvious preparations for combat by Haynuus and others) doesn't do much good for the murafu. Had she known Falkor was capable of this kind of thing, that might have lessened the impact somewhat, but not only does his hurling of fire come as a complete surprise, the effect it has on Arbrut adds an additional shock. It doesn't matter that he has so far been rather unpleasant toward the group - she sees that as no reason to attack him, especially in such a way.
As such, the murafu stands there frozen in shock for long enough to see the start of the fight, then instinct kicks in and she dashes back the way she came. In this case, this means going back through the big blue cloud thing, and, not being able to see what's in front of her until she's passed through it, almost immediately smacks headfirst into a pair of booted feet.


OOC - Obviously, if for some reason Drommal and co. aren't standing in line for her to do that last thing, let me know and I can change it. As with any of the rest of the post, I suppose. This could be interesting...

Ok, I'm going to update for Drommal and co if Ameena is going to slam into them. And to let everyone update I'll sorta push OB's first turn back one initiative position and let Thinpas and Arbrut go. Westian will basically get two updates however, one for this round, and another for the start of next round when he gets back to his first place in the queue

Drommal had been saying something to one of the soldiers, and was shocked - as were the soldiers - when Ameena re-appeared just a few moments after she entered. The Captain raised his weapon but did not make any other aggressive moves.

"What's going on, rodent. Speak!"

"Arbrut," muttered one soldier darkly behind his Captain.

Meanwhile, in the main other room Thinpas realised something was wrong a moment before it happened, although he was turned to face Westian rather than either his comrade or Aurek. There was an explosion and he span on his heel. Seeing Arbrut attacked but still standing, and hearing the soldier Brohur's words, Thinpas took a step back and unsheathed his sword.

"Alive Arbrut! Take the halfling alive!" he yelled over his shoulder, and then brandished his weapon at those before him. "Something is not right here," he said, "Soldier, who is your commander? Who is your prisoner? Where is your chain? Priest, say no more words or I will kill you where you stand!"

Thinpas was going to attempt an intimidate check on you all, however his position means only Westian might be affected. OB, roll a d20+3 and if you get 5 or less, you will be shaken for one round (-2 to all further rolls for your first set of actions)

Sergeant Arbrut did not act as if he had heard his fellow sergeant, nor infact that he cared about anything other than slaying the mage who had dared strike him. Before Falkor could muster another attack, Arbrut had already closed the distance with determined strides. He swung his sword wildly from its sheathe to a strike in one haphazard movement, trying to behead Falkor. However his swing was too high and hurried. "I'm out of practice killing things you size!" he said, half choking on his words then gurgling a laugh. The man was obviously in severe pain, but all the more dangerous for it.

Money, Falkor will provoke an attack of opportunity if he doesn't move to C6 or D6 next go. You lucked out on a low attack roll this time! Make the most of it!


Ok then, all of you get to make your moves! As I said before, this might be very chaotic, so expect to have an opponent fells or fall foul of something. I'll make sure the soldiers make the same slips, worry not!

Currently the order or play is Westian, Drommal, Aurek, Falkor, Helm, Farel, Ameena, Soldier 2 & 3, Haynuus then Westian again for the start of round 2.

What's actually going to happen is that OB should post two moves for round 1 and 2, and the rest of you post your moves for round 1.

I'll then update for the consequences of your moves, and also a) Drommal's delayed reaction to Ameena, b) the two soldiers' reactions to the outcome of that, c) slot in Helm and Farel's moves in the right place, and d) post Soldier 3, Arbrut and Thinpas's actions for round 2.

Depending on how it works out, I might keep updating in that way, or I might need to split the updates into two sets. We'll see!

Sounds complicated, isn't really, just post some combat actions and try not to die :p

Map (start of round 1, player's turn):

There were two options, either retreat through the haze, and hope that Haynuus or the others stopped Arbrut through here (odds of fighting 4 in the other room with a frightened Rat were not good), or cast another fireball and hope that it would land before Arburt landed - so to speak!

Falkor didn't take long making his decision, he quickly raised his hands and unleashed a fireball towards the fast approaching Arbrut...

OOC: I'm using an Um level spell,
Update: 1d3 = 3

The sound of Arbut’s scream was not pleasant to Westian’s ears. It turned out that fighting humans had a very different feel to fighting undead or Trolins. Maybe it was the increased empathy of seeing a creature so similar to you in pain. Whatever it was it made Westian sick in his stomach. Still, his friends were in danger and it was clear that one side was facing certain death. Better them than us.

Seeing Falkor completely exposed he instinctively moved back to cover him. He swiftly but carefully stepped away from Thinpus and moved beside Arbut, swinging his club in one fluid motion.

OOC: Save vs intimidation 3 + 3 = 6...just about!
First attack roll on Arbut: 13 + 4 = 17

Damage roll, 5 + 2 = 7. Nice, if it hits! Second attack will not hit (rolled dice already, got a 4). Will post that roll IC, when do I go again??

Arbrut's charge at Falkor made his tragectory predicatable, and also made him oblivious. Westian took a step forward and swung his club with unexpected accuracy. Arbrut barely had time to register his miss against Falkor then he was brought down to his knee by the force of the cleric's blow.

Blood was visibly dripping from the eye hole and neck joint of the sergeant's helmet. Falkor took his chance to cast another spell at the weakened soldier before he could get up.

However, the sergeant did not register exactly where the blow came from, and was apparently concentrating even now on venting his further rage at the halfling. The moment Falkor started mumbling words, Arbrut's unsteady sword shot out with the force of training and experience in the direction of the sound. A perfect thrust in and out, and Arbrut had been lowered to Falkor's height now.

A red stain growed surprisingly swiftly around Falkor's stomach. It was easy to see shock stopped the blow from truly being
registered by Falkor's body, beyond the rag-doll like sway backwards and forwards as Falkor had been effectively run through.


And this part of the update is awaiting money's response as to what he does in reaction. Continue his action even though it might kill him, or stop and await fortune's outcome. What a tense moment!

Aurek concentrated on the people before him, sensing if those who wore such disturbing garb and imprisoned without question were truly evil or merely following orders. However, a faint aura of evil indeed washed over Aurek the moment he opened himself up to it. Dare he hesitate longer to strike without question later, or was inaction a greater evil?

It was then that the halfling was struck down.

Farel saw the blow and was spurred to action. "I will buy you time, friend!" he said to Aurek, apparently remembering the man's skills both with a weapon and healing and did not question both would be used to aid the fallen Falkor.

Farel swung his torch around in a loop as if a sword, obviously attempting a classical fencing move to remove his opponent's sword. Thinpas seemed taken aback but was able to recover due to the nature of the torch - a flick of the heavier sword used as a rebuke ahgainst the feeble wooden impliment.

Farel nodded, dropping the torch to the ground and withdrawing his own battle blade from its scabbard, tipping the point to
his forehead in ancient salute. Oddly, Thinpas nodded in return.

The other stranger to the party, Helm, still clung to the corner of the room. His dagger was out, but shaking. He was looking
to the doorway beyond the soldier battling Haynuus, and also looked back to see what the half-orc was doing. After all, the orc might be scary but it had given him a dagger at risk!


Will round 1 never end????

Still awaiting Ameena's movements to discover what's happening on that side, and money's final action to see how badly things are going for him! Oh, and Ian's movements aswell to close of the round!

LB, if you want to attack with a non-letha lattack instead of using sense evil, yell and I'll change the above.

OB, next update I'll include the results of you attacking Arbrut/Thinpas.

Map (which will make everything clear, as I have let you see my yellow marks I use to cross out people who have acted. Arbrut's hp total....oddly missing )

Ameena stands still for a few moments, rubbing her head with a forepaw and shaking it a bit. Ouch...
She becomes aware that, once again, a sword is being pointed down at her. She edges back a bit, though not far enough so as to accidentally step back into the blue thing again (and making sure her tail doesn't accidentally sweep back into it somehow too), and stands upright, craning her head right back so as to try and see Drommal's face. She belatedly recalls that he just called her a "rodent" again, and wonders why such individuals seem to have a need for trying to belittle other races by referring to them by their species name, or a variant thereof. She wouldn't mind being referred to as a rodent, of course, since it's what a murafu is, but since the way he says it makes it sound like he's deliberately trying to imply that being a rodent is a bad thing, she just feels the usual faint surge of unhappiness at creatures who think in that way.
Meanwhile, it seems he wants to know what's going on.
"Umm..." she begins, not quite sure where to go from there.
She knows that Drommal will be stepping through the blue thing soon anyway, so will discover the fight. She also knows that she could speak to him about it now, and imply that it was Arbrut who started it - it seems as though these people have been half-expecting such a thing to occur from the way he's been acting.
But doing so wouldn't sit right with her. If Falkor had cast a spell to...to remove Arbrut's weapon, or something, or make him fall asleep, she would have been much happier about the whole thing. Yes, it is clear that these people seem to have a somewhat unpleasant agenda, and certainly most of them seem to have a rather needlessly negative attitude toward the group, but she doesn't see that as any reason to try and kill them. He threw fire, of all things!
So, what should she do, then? What should she say?
Then she has an idea. Maybe not a good idea. Maybe it's too late anyway. But she can try, at least.
"What happens if people are fighting?" she asks him. "Do you kill people? Can you make them stop fighting without hurting anyone?"
She knows that the answer will probably be a negative one, but without waiting, she darts back through the blue thing again and desperately yells to anyone who might bother to listen.
"Stop it! Don't kill each other! What will that achieve? I thought..."
These last two words are aimed at Falkor, and said in a much quieter, saddened tone as her ears and whiskers droop in a show of her feelings. I thought you weren't like that... she thinks at him.


OOC - Speaking is a free action and the move through the portal was a step of one square so can be taken as a Shift (five-foot step thingy) and so won't provoke an AoO. Now standing in square D6 and probably about to be stepped on by Drommal and co. as they come charging through, swords drawn, in order to massacre everyone (except Falkor, whom they seem to want alive for some unknown yet probably unpleasant reason) .

Haynuus is taken aback twice now, this time from the carnage caused by Arbrut sword to Falkor's diminuitive body. Ignoring, more or less, Bruhor's physical presence Haynuus takes an angry swing at Arbrut (1d20=8), with a hope at trying out his as yet unused cleaving skill! Alas, it was probably too little, too late.

Aurek says "Thank you" to Farel, and continues to open his mind even further to the evil aura that seems to be eminating from somewhere in the room, he focuses more and more, and, with all his will power, attempts to ignore the battle the was going on in front of him... (sense motive, 1d20 = 14)

OOC: Forgot the first round... (sense motive, 1d20 = 18)

Feeling the sharp pain of the blade entering Falkor felt faint, loosing consiousness - before he went he murmered his last words and the fireball lept from his hands straight at Arbrut...

OOC: Concentration Check = 1d20=17 (+3) 20

Still on the verge of an instinct-driven panicky dash for coverm it takes a few seconds for Ameena to register what's happened during her brief absence. Too much, it seems.
Arbrut, clearly, is done for. If she was worried about coming too close to fire here before, she more or less downright fears it now. The smouldering, blackened remains, still in their armour, slump to floor as Arbrut's spirit departs and leave for whatever afterlife he'd believed in whilst he was alive. Ameena barely has time to register the death before she notices why Falkor hasn't reacted much to her arrival so close to him. Rather, she first notices the sword. Arbrut's sword. And the blood. Blood on the sword, the ground, Falkor's clothing...
No...
Ameena sees him falling, and reaches out to try and stop it. She manages to sort of roll Falkor onto his side, then drops too all fours and first sniffs at the gaping wound in his stomach before sniffing at his face.
"Oh...what did you do..." she whispers.
She knows she can't do anything for him - she is no healer. He's not yet dead, but she's sure he soon will be if he doesn't get some kind of help. It's too late for Arbrut, but maybe something can be done...
Wait...clerics heal, don't they? With their magic. Better magic than throwing fire at things. Magic that's less likely to kill people.
"Westian!"
Ameena raises her head, casting about for the half-elf.
"Come help! Can you heal? Quick - it might not be too late!"
Any concerns she might have about Falkor's aggression have faded away in the face of his possible demise. Her innate murafu nature has seen to that, at least for now. Likewise, she barely registers the fighting still going on, or the activities of anyone else.

Arbrut grabbed for his helm with his offhand, and in pained and awkward tugs wrenched it off of his head. His head displayed a severe river of blood flowing from a split, but he brushed aside the blood gumming up one eye to leer at the fallen halfling...

...who was still speaking.

Arbrut's wicked sparkling eyes had one moment to register doubt and freeze with realisation before his body was blown backwards by the explosion of the fireball. Small as the sphere of fire was, it still blew up with enough force to crack the already damaged side and throw him backwards. There was asickening smell in the air. The sergeant's body did not get back up again.

However, it was a pyrrhic victory, for Falkor already began falling down to the floor, blood weeping from his wound, aggrevated beyond his small frame's endurance by channeling the powers of mana. The mage was dying.

Thinpas and Brohur had barely a moment to register the events before there was a discharge of energy. First Ameena returned to the room to make her gruesome set of discoveries. Then there wasa crowded moment as three soldiers suddenly appeared in the midst of the chaos.

Captain Drommal stepped away from Ameena and Falkor both underfoot to stand beside the body of his sergeant. He raised the back of one hand to his helmed head as if to ward off the stench, and yet his other hand held the greatsword he carried steadily enough as he levelled it towards Westian.

"What is this, priest?" he snapped, "Surrender or die! Fix the mage!"

"It was a trap! We've been led into a trap!" yelled Thinpas, gesturing to Aurek even while squaring off against the knight before him. Farel, for his part, muttered an oath as he saw the sudden appearance of the new soldiers, especially the impressive form of Captain Drommal.

The two new soldiers drew their blades quickly, unsure of where to turn.

Meanwhile Aurek felt the odd shift in his senses. He had not discovered any particular sources of evil yet. However, was that point moot? The moment the three soldiers had appeared, his senses felt the evil was stronger.


Ok, Ian and OB you have a chance to change your actions in light of the new arrivals. Please tell me who you will be attacking, though I'm afraid with your previous rolls unless you decide to gang up on Ameena you won't hit anything. And Westain can't even manage the murafu!

Of course, if you want to temporarily stop....even if it's jsut to start it again in a moment... you might have your chance...

Anyway, everyone get their breath back, I'm not sure if we said we'd continue over the weekend, but it might be an idea to at least have a day to let it all sink in. Map will be up at some point soon to see the results!