Shadow War campaign In-Game: Chapter 66- White Grove

[Navarre]

The Shadow War

Chapter 66
White Grove

The Nexus shift is generally as sudden as a blink. Most of you are used to it by now.

But something is wrong. You feel a wrenching at your stomach, as if someone is turning you inside out through your navel.

Before your mind can absorb the feeling you find yourself in the cool night air. Above you, the blood-red sky is covered with dark clouds but you see the silver moon, Lunra, and the green moon, Panrori, above you. A quick glance to the south confirms Bronwyn's obsidian moon hovers on the horizon.

It appears you have reached your destination. You stand in what must be a Gnomish burrow-town.

As the Grey Mountains rise high all around you, capped with snow, you see a village that is lush and green. Hot springs emit small columns of steam from large scattered pools.

The ground is covered in short, blue-green grass carpeting numerous small hills that rise to only four to five feet in height. Many are topped with great coniferous trees and even a few diciduous trees can be seen among them.

All of the hills have large round doors made of pine. They are covered in heavy dried sap that looks to have been mixed with perhaps berries to alter the color.

The doors that greet you are red and green and bright yellow and sky blue; looking like shiny gemstones nestled into the hills. Thin wisps of smoke exude from the roots of the trees that top them, at first seeming to be steam from the hot springs but now clearly from the fireplaces within the burrows.

Dozens of gnomes can be seen, happily going about their business. Any time of the day or night is a good time to work for a gnome and the sounds from the village suggest it is never quiet here.

Gnomes wearing goggles that make their eyes appear as large as apples work over benches filled with a dizzying array of mechanical cogs, springs, and things you've never seen. Other gnomes are bustling through the town with large wheelbarrows full of nuts and the occasional fruit.

The wheel barrows are far too large for a gnome to push yet they seem to be rolling of their own accord. The gnomes tending them only have to guide them from behind with one finger to get them to roll where they wish.

The clothing of the gnomes is much brighter than anything Faerun has ever worn. Long skirts and high hats of a hundred hues can be seen, with many of the males wearing suspenders that match the trousers they support.

Near on of the hot springs is a black bear. Perhaps the gnomes keep such an animal as a guardian.

But this bear is barded in a thick hide armor. You recognize the look of the hide as matching that of Armor, Bedlor's fallen rhino companion. The bear raises its head and looks at you.

The gnomes all come to a dead halt as you appear, however. They stare at you with shock, which one might expect of a group such as yours appearing from nowhere.

You stand at the edge of the village. Likely Faerun hoped to lessen the fear a bit.

A bright burst of silvery light pops next to Inoke, making her jump. Then another burst sizzles from nowhere next to Baron Undreguart. He stumbles back a half-step, his mouth opening to question this.

Before he can, the entire area around you explodes into a cascade of pink and silver sparks. The effect is the same as you have seen at the Temple of Dalophor and, more recently, when Tren Moonstride appeared in Aracil's cave.

The effect seems to be centered around your group but lances of energy jet from the epicenter in random directions. Jets of silver and pink dozens of feet long strike trees, hills, and the ground.

One of the gnomes, a plump little woman of middle age wearing a bright red hat, is struck by one of the lances. She disappears instantly, without a single sound or lingering after-effect.

The gnomes yell in terror and begin running for their burrows. Two more, disappearing as the first, are struck as the energy level escalates around your group.

As the waves continue to bombard the area, things begin to appear where some of the energy lances terminate.

Three creatures appear near each other. They are somewhat like spiders yet fleshy with a head more like the dragons you've seen. Each ten to fifteen feet long, they hover menacingly on spindly legs tipped with sharp claws.

Not far away, another bizzare creature appears. It looks somewhat like a great spotted cat as large as Chaser. A ridge of either fur or spikes (you cannot tell which) extends from between its pointed ears, running a foot high down its spine.

Both this cat creature and the spider creatures look about, seemingly as bewildered as everyone else. But then they set eyes on you and the gnomes and pounce at them.

A separate wave brings another creature shimmering into existence. It is an arachnid but demonic in appearance. It looks like a misshapen spider with a mottled body. Its forelegs and long fangs drip with poison.

A strange buzzing fills the air as a doxen giant bees appear as the energy waves begin to die out. Each bee is some five feet in length, flying after anything that moves as they become agitated with the many gnomes in their midst.

Tren, something takes you to your knees. It feels much like the jolt of nausea you felt during the shift...or perhaps it is the same sensation continuing, you can't be certain.

You feel a burning pain for only a moment in your arm and the crystal shard flares bright and bloody red before the light subsides. You recover almost instantly, feeling no other ill effect.

The party stands in White Grove, now the site of an unexpected and monstrous assault. You then hear Moira's voice as she gasps.

"Light! Where's Faerun!?!"

You look about to find no sign of your Gnomish friend. But his own people cry out as they are beset by horrors beyond their comprehension.

[Navarre]

{Grid and Initiatives for Round 1. No surprise round.}

[Navarre]

The foul mottled arachnid from the lower realms looks over the party beneath the light of the silver moon. Its mandibles clack together as its body inflates.

A rush of black webbing pours from its mouth, striking the area just behind Liv. They fly over your allies as they try to evade them.

{invisiblecastle.com temporarily down. Using wizards.com.}
{Skylight Archer Ref save, DC 23: Roll(1d20)+11: 10,+11 Total:21. Fail.}
{Aphra Ref save, DC 23: Roll(1d20)+5: 11,+5 Total:16. Fail.}
{Vinnrog Ref save, DC 23: Roll(1d20)+7: 20,+7 Total:27. Epic Success.}
{Erika Ref save, DC 23: Roll(1d20)+5: 4,+5 Total:9. Fail.}

Vinnrog, having faced his share of rapid dangers by now, jumps over the webbing with surprising grace for such a large man. Aphra, Erika, and one of the dwarven archers do not fare as well.

The creature makes a clicking sound you believe to be gloating and skitters on its jagged legs toward the rest of the party, perhaps preparing for another attack.

Demonic Arachnid moves N, N, N, NW, N (25ft) to AI4


{Bedlor, your turn.}

[Navarre]

{*sigh* No Modify link sucks. Hard. Anyway, still learning to post cones and circles on the grid software. Corrected grid below:}

Demonic Arachnid moves N, N, N, NW, N (25ft) to AI4


{Bedlor, still your turn.}

{Liv, I need a Reflex save, DC 23, to resist being caught in the webbing.}

[Gaumer]

"Oi, why can'ta we be showin' up in the middle o' a party, just fer one time?!?"

Bedlor moves W (5 foot step) to AD12


Bed jumps to his right with a five foot step before wailing into the bee in front of him. {5 foot step and attack on AD14; AE14 if he kills the other bee first and that's allowed.

Attack1 (Ranged)
Warsong
1d20+10+5+5-2[18]= 35
Damage (Ranged)
1d8+3+5[8]=9 +1d6=3= 12
Attack2 (Ranged)
Warsong
1d20+5+5+5-2[13]=32
Damage
1d8+3+5[8]=16 +1d6=3 = 19
Attack3 (Ranged)
Daez-Zhir
1d20+10+5+3-2[16]=25
Damage (Ranged)
1d4+3+1+1d4=8 +1d6=5 = 13}

[Gaumer]

Bedlor moves W (5 foot step) to AC12


Disregard last grid and 5 foot step. Bed moved with a Warsong shift. I need 10 feet for the Skirmish ability. Sorry.

[Navarre]

Bedlor, you shift using Warsong and unleash your attacks on the two closest bees.

The first hit causes the bee to shudder and fly into its mate while the second drops it entirely to the ground. By the time Warsong returns from the third throw of the volley, nothing remains of the two bees at all save pulp.

Warsong grumbles <T'Ning dies in battle against Canus the First and I am used to swat bees? Truly, Protector?>

Meanwhile, Aphra struggles against the demonic webbing.

{Strength check, DC 23: 1d20+4=11. Fail.}

She tears at it with her paws and teeth but it only binds her worse as she does so. The cursing that resounds in White Grove is unfit for description.

[Gaumer]

"Not now, 'ammer!

Broomstick be fightin' 'is kin, an' blood be thicker than the water o' our struggle. I not be expectin' ye to understand, Dubya. It be a matter o' those o' flesh.

An' I recall ye gettin' a lick in on the wolf, Warsong. Sure'n the bees simply be leavin' a bad taste on yer 'ead after the wolf be makin' a run on us. Patience, 'ammer. We'll be seein' Canus an' 'is lot 'gain an' we'll bith be 'avin' our vengeance."

[Navarre]

<Never too soon for me. Canus is the hand of the one who has crushed the spirit of Man lo these many centuries. His end draws nigh and, if not at the monk's hands, then it shall be ours.>

[sab39]

Sensing from my link with Pan some of what is going on in the clearing - as if the sounds of screaming and general chaos weren't enough of a clue - I give a slow, deep sigh of resigned frustration.

"Oh, of course."

Anbar moves NE, NE, E (20ft) to N9

You all see a man stride out from behind one of the burrows near the bear. Human... well, you think he is human. But he stands significantly taller than Vinnrog and broader at the shoulders. {If you lived in a different universe, you might think his build resembled Shaq's.} He is dark-skinned and completely bald, with the look of the residents of the southern part of Vaadj. On his forehead there seems to be a small black disc bearing a symbol that you probably can't make out. He wears clothing that seems to be made of animal skins and fur, in colors of dark brown and black, along with armor that at first glance appears to be of the same kind as the rhino hide armor worn by the bear, which makes his already imposing form seem even more intimidatingly large. His gait is assertive and determined, and you get the impression that while he wasn't expecting anything like this, he is nevertheless completely unphased by it, although frustrated at yet another completely ridiculous annoyance to be dealt with.

{I'll see if my Intimidating appearance has any effect on of the intruders (humanoid or monstrous) before deciding on a standard action}

[sab39]

{Ooh, I forgot, not used to having knowledge ranks. Know Nat on each of the creatures I see, please?}

[Navarre]

The gnomes, in their panic, barely notice you. Those that do look to you with a bit of hope but are too frightened by the disappearance of their friends and the sudden entry of these intruders to even call out to you.

The three spider creatures see you as they almost seem to float in place. But they have not yet moved as they take stock of their prey. They seem too confused to back down as the mindless bees continue to swarm.

You see a very large and diverse party of people from disparate lands in front of you. A couple of dwarves in red shirts are drawing arrows as their eyes look toward the black bear behind you.

What could only be a dire bear, due to its size, looks to you as well. You instantly feel a surge of something between it and your ursine friend.

It is a sense of, not familiarity yet instinctual affection. If you didn't know better, you'd take the emotion to be that one would feel between a mother and her cub.

You try to get a sense of each of these creatures before you. Most in the large party are known to you; human and dwarf and half-orc.

You are not familiar with the red-furred hyena woman who is uttering words that would make even your dark skin blush as she wraps herself deeper into the webbing with each movement. She stands not far from what you are certain is an Elf but only because your people honor them as ancestors.

The bees are a threat. They are unintelligent but carry powerful poison that can quickly drain a man of his vitality. A sting to one of the gnomes could be lethal.

The spider creatures and the strange cat-like beast across the way are not anything of this world, whatever they are.

{Standard action open}

[Navarre]

{updated grid}

[Gaumer]

Bed looks sees the newcomer enter the field of battle, with a bear no less. He's unsure of its handler's intentions but his curiosity is noticeably piqued.

"Oi, now what do we be 'avin' 'ere?" he says, as he takes a closer look at that newcomer.

But still rallies his allies to battle

"I already be at two, mates!! Sure'n the World Spirit be guidin' our movements to those places where we be needed most."

[sab39]

I cast Lightning Bolt in a line directly eastwards from me as far as the spider creature. I briefly consider allowing the bolt to pass straight through the remaining strangers as well, but the connection of their bear with Panserbjørn and their leader's invocation of the World-Spirit give me pause.

"You are?", I demand of the dwarf who spoke. {Anbar's voice is deep, resonant and every bit as imposing as the rest of him}