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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 7:51 pm
by Bob the Hamster
Rob frowns as he stares at the rushing river. Then he asks,
"Voulton, how long do you think it would take to make a raft big enough for the whole wagon?"
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 12:21 am
by Gizmog
Voulton shrugs. "Building a raft involves more than just wood-working.. Some trial and error, maybe I could do it. But it'd take time, and it wouldn't exactly be subtle."
He pulls out his map and takes a look. "There's a place called.. Moulins? Mollins? can't quite read this script.. North-Westish of here. Maybe there's a crossing there? We could all take turns using the sword, too."
He lifts up his visor and points to his noggin. "Strategize. Don't have to tell me twice."
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 1:22 am
by BMR
"Here. I have a feather town that transforms into a swan boat. We can use it to head north, but I'm not sure how close that will take us to Vyones, or if the bridges in the way are tall enough to let us pass."
"Whatever we do, we'd best do it fast. On the way here, I was attacked by an Inquisitor who managed to track and spot me. That, and he was just a day away from the hideout when I managed to escape from him."
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 1:50 am
by Gizmog
"Agreed. Crossing by sword one at a time would take time. And we'd have to leave Stumpy and the wagon. The swanboat would be good too, because it'd let us cross without going to a known crossing: Good if the heat's still on us. I'm not opposed to going to Moulins, except I can't tell how many days it'd take to get there, being this near the river might lead us to be attacked and the map isn't clear what kind of place it might be. If we burn that swanboat though, we might not be able to get back across. That's all that worries me."
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 1:57 am
by Bob the Hamster
"Your feather token makes a boat? Let's just use that. We can cross and continue north."
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 2:48 am
by BMR
Kalar fishes into one of his belt pouch for the feather token. He activates it, causing the swan boat to appear on the riverbank.
"Right everyone, let's get on board. Are we just crossing the river and then heading for Malinbois? Or going north to Moulins first, and then cutting east?"
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 4:05 am
by Spoonweaver
The party gathered on to Kalar's big magical boat and sailed off. Unlike the clunky wagon, the boat sped ahead to the north. The Bloodhulks made perfect oar's men. The never grew tired and their strength took the boat to speeds it could never otherwise see. The party looked at the map as they sailed. They figured, at the speed the boat was going, they could reach Nathaire's assumed lair, Ylourgne by this time tomorrow.
Hours pass as the party travels. Rob spends time singing, songs about being on a boat. Rachelle thinking about her new body and how well it would likely swim. She doesn't get in the water however, as the boat would easily leave her behind. The rest of the party sepnds the time looking at the landscaoe as it passes by. The party spots what they think might be bears in the forest, but it could have been any other woodland animal as well. The boat is moving too fast to get a good look at anything skulking in the forest. This point becomes very clear to Kalar as the zip past what looks like it could have been a shadow. When he looks back with plans to possibly turn the boat around for a couple minutes, the shadow is gone. The boat continues on. By nightfall, the party arrives at a fishing town. Some fishing boats are out on the water still but most of them seem to be docked. The town looks peaceful. Large areas of farm land surround the town and none of the buildings are taller than two stories. The party assumed this might act as a good place to restock their food supplies and possibly rest, but they know they don't have the time if they are going to fully use the magical boat. They slow down for a while near the town. At the very least, sleeping arrangements would need to be set up.
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 4:09 am
by BMR
"I have no need of sleep, so I can keep watch through the night. If we stop too long here, we might not make it to Ylourgne by the time the boat fades away. However, if you really want to stop and get provisions, best to make it quick. Keep in mind though, I can magically create food at any time if any of you so desire."
Kalar turns to the horses, thinking for a while.
"Speaking of which, these horses require a great deal of food. I can turn them into skeletons if the rest of you so desire. That will at least eliminate the need to feed them."
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 4:27 am
by Gizmog
"What? Leave those horses alone. Feed is cheap and abundant. Skeletons are scary." Voulton is so tired he isn't even sure he's following the conversation correctly. "I don't know about you guys, but I got enough jerky to tide me over"
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 5:21 am
by BMR
"Very well, just a suggestion. Now, are we stopping here? Or heading onwards? If we're going, I suggest everyone with a pulse get some rest. Hrulgin and I will keep watch through the night. Incidentally, Lynda, might I have 225 gold pieces? Might be a good idea to make another boat while we're traveling. We just might need it on the return trip."
Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 6:31 am
by Spoonweaver
The night came as swiftly as the party's boat seemed to fly through the water. Their urge to explore the new city the had just passed by was overshadowed by the need to fully use this magical boat to reach their goal. The inviting forest turned to a shadowy mystery as the boat sailed down the river in the deep of night. Strange hoots and howls gave little information to the party other than the fact that something was out there.
Kalar worked through the night making yet another boat, presumably for the ride back. Though he had vowed to keep a watchful eye out while the party slept, few of the party slept on the cramped boat uninterrupted
Daybreak came, revealing a range of mountains around the river. It seemed like no time at all before the clear signs of the ruins of Ylourgne came into view. Three large crumpling towers sat in a small valley in the mountains. As the party got closer they could see that Most of the area was full of crumpling rock. A large water fall sat behind the ruins feeding the river. Above the waterfall, the party could see the wall of mist. It was only a few miles away. It's size dwarfed the surrounding mountains, a grim reminder of the awesome strength of the curse that held them captive.
The river ran right up to the ruins. However, the party could see the many undead in the area at more than 500ft out. They all began to move as the boat grew closer. The bloodhulks were ordered to stop rowing as the party planned their next move. There seemed to be two dozen skeletons, a dozen zombies, six or seven bloodhulks and a few ghouls scattered around. They seemed hostile.
Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:34 am
by BMR
"Right..."
Kalar turns to the rest and says,
"This looks like it could be complicated. I can hide all of you like I did when we were fighting the colossus, same rules apply, don't attack and don't even touch any undead, and you should be hidden from them. I can hide all of you, and it will last for an hour and some.
"I propose this. Once we hit the shore, I will hide all of you and the horses. Hide the wagon, make your way to the central tower, and get inside. There, you'd be better able to hold things off by fighting from a doorway, and if there are any undead there, hallways are easier to bottleneck than open fields are.
"As for me, I will stay here and deal with that lot out there. Like them, I'm undead, so there's that advantage. If I survive, which I have every intention of doing, then I will rendezvous with you. However, chances are I will not be able to detect any of you if the spell is still active. So, to signal that for you to open the doors and that it's really me, I will give a code phrase. It will be the names of the first three of our group to die, something others probably wouldn't know. Lynda and Rachelle, you were both with us that long, so you should be able to confirm what I say.
"I know it's a bit reckless, but it should potentially keep all of you safe from being swarmed by that lot out there with only myself and Hrulgin being in the greatest danger. So, what say you?"
Kalar leaves out that he intends to bring as many of the undead in the field under his control as possible. That, and this act should serve well to allay any doubts any of them might still have about him becoming undead and covered in silver.
Only 2 more HD left for created, and 1 HD for commanded, but still have 15 slots for level 1 followers and 1 slot for a level 2 follower. Definitely not enough for all of the undead, but might be possible to take some of them.
Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 7:07 pm
by Bob the Hamster
"That sounds like a good plan." says Rob.
"We will sneak up to the door under cover of Kalar's spell, and wait for him just inside."
"And if we are caught, we can stay close together and fight."
Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2015 10:22 pm
by Spoonweaver
A problem occurred when the party went to begin their plan. They couldn't see a main door to the ruin. The main structure had long ago crumbled. Any door it might have had had been replaced by large piles of rumble, downed walls, and missing ceilings. Any sort of entrance to an intact part of the structure would have to be found. The three intact towers that sat slightly away from the rest of the ruins might each be a good place to start. The party could also investigate the main ruins for something less open to the elements.
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 2:00 am
by Gizmog
"Oh, this is suicide, this is crazy. Which of the towers looks like a manticore could've flown into it? Let's pick that one... and how do we know there's not more of them inside? Strategize, strategize! Don't forget what the Sword of Sylaire does to undead!" Voulton is beginning to worry about this plan and wishes he had that axe.