Act II: Ill Fortunes

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius does his best to relay Adam's message and the parties intent, "We bring no evil here or anywhere else.  We ride from Barovia, having just cleaned the undead infestation there, on our way to the Vistani to gain a greater clarity about it's source.  If you wish to help rid this world and the forest of evil we gladly welcome you at our side, if not we graciously ask that you let us pass and continue on our journey," Marius did his best to remember the elven words and spoke them with the most respect and kindness he could locate in his voice.

[Ikoma]

The elf rolls his eyes at Marius' attempts at Elven.  "Fool.  I speak the Common tongue as well."  He fairly spits out the word 'Common' and you can hear the accent of the elvish tongue in his words.

"These woods do not need cleansing.  They are ours!  And if you are here to remove us... you will find much, much more than you bargained for.  As to the Vistani," he actual does spit here, "they are interlopers.  Only the support of the Devil in the Castle prevents us from destroying them completely."

((It is absolutely imperative that each of you send two unmodified d20 rolls in your next post.  I will add the correct modifiers to them and included the results in my next post.))

[unkabear]

Hassid winces at the elf's words.  Even though the others were putting away their weapons Hassid continued to rest his sword on the saddle.  He kept StarDancer steady as he sat and watched.



D20 1 = 13
D20 2 = 6

[Marius Ionescu]

Fairly insulted Marius turns to Adam and the rest of the party, "well so much for being civilized, the pointy eared brat is a little aggressive," he whispers.  Marius lowered his hands back down to his bow and looked at the elf, "do you always twist the words of everyone who speaks to you?"

d20=6
d20=14

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

1d20=7
1d20=4

Ioan nods at the elf, smiling knowingly.

"Yeah, Vistani interlope pretty much everywhere. If you'd like us to talk to them for you, we will. But I'm pretty sure they're not friends with the Devil in the castle."

Diplomacy (1d20+5=24)

[Adam Godson]

Adam stared at the elf trying to determine his intent.  It was evident that he wasn't friendly and appeared to be itching for a fight.  This was something the party wanted to avoid as who knows how many arrows were pointed in their direction. 

Adam begins speaking to the lone bowman. 

"I'm glad to hear that you know the coarser Common tongue.  Perhaps we can then communicate and avoid any armed conflict.  We are not here to cleanse your woods as you and your hidden companions are very capable of defending and cleansing on your own.  I have no doubts of your martial abilities." 

Looking up to where the castle would appear if the trees weren't blocking the view Adam continues.  "We may share a common dislike for the Devil in castle.  I heard a wise saying once, "The enemy of an enemy is a friend."  All we ask is safe passage through the forest." 

Unmodified rolls (1d20=17, 1d20=2)
Diplomacy roll (1d20+8=20)

OOC- Adam will also attempt to use his Detect Evil paladin ability on the lone bowman. 

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius' pride got the better of him, he takes a deep breath, "please, let no blood be spilled here today, our intent is information to better help those in need.  And I can assure you, no one here is a friend of the devil.  Let us continue on our journey."

Diplomacy=22

[Yemam Silverman]

Yemam stay quiet through the encounter.  He doesn't know much about elves and this one seems hostile.  The grip on his axe doesn't loosen, but his eyes dart around checking for the elves friends.

Random Roll 1 = 18
Random Roll 2 = 13
Spot = 22

[allornothing]

Lorelei had no idea what the elf had said, and when Marius translated she too was a bit surprised. Never would've guessed him to be the kind that spoke Elven. Huh. You learn something new every day. A singular brow arched, and a smirk (against her better judgement) formed on her lips as the elf's response. Lore never put down her spear, using it as much as a walking stick as she did a weapon. When Adam offered the old saying, another came to mind. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Perhaps - if the Elf didn't wish to be diplomatic, they could try the venue.

1d20=18, 1d20=11

[Ikoma]

((I find myself away from my books tonight so I will have to postpone my response.  Great posts everyone.  I should have the post up early tomorrow morning.  Sorry!  Or did I do it on purpose just to let the tension grow?  Hmmm.  No, actually, I had my first night conducting a Cub Scout Pack Meeting as the new CubMaster and forgot to take my books home with me when I left work.))

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

((The elf speaks clearly, but I can't understand this gibberish. What is a 'cub' scout?)) ;-)

[Ikoma]

The elf doesn't seem inclined to listen.  In fact, something is his stance makes most of your more nervous (see results of the dice rolls below) but he maintains the conversation.

"I don't care who you are or what relationship you have with Strahd.  He is no concern of mine.  But travelers on this road are my concern!"

At the last second, Yemam spots movement out of his peripheral vision on his left side.  Something large and black is moving up on the group almost from behind, taking advantage of all the attention being paid on the elf.  If Yemam hadn't happened to have turned his head, it would also seem the wolf would have picked a moment when the group was looking elsewhere.

No one seems the wolf on the right.

The first warning most of you have is a surprised holler from Marius.  The other one leaps at Hassid.  Despite their best laid ambush... BOTH wolves miss!  (You guys are so lucky!     )

Without pause, the elf nocks his arrow, draws and fires in a swift, practiced motion that allows him to get two arrows off before anyone can react.  Both arrows speed at Adam... and clank off his full plate armor.

The horses you are on go absolutely crazy at the attack of the wolves, rearing back, jumping away from the threat and, in general, doing their best to toss you off their backs so they can get the hell out of dodge.

((Okay, gang, Init. rolls required.  Also, a Ride roll.  (A 5 means you do not fall out of the saddle (taking 1d6 HP damage in the fall).  A 20 means you can tell the mount to do something useful.  In between, it's pretty much a draw between you and the horse and you can't do much the next round.)  Since everyone but Yemam was caught off guard, if the elf or the wolves beat your Init., you will still be flat footed until you get to act.  Post your combat action as well.  Again, you are just a hair over 100' feet from the elf.  The wolves are mixing it up and anyone can get into position to hit them... but not flank them (they have some mojo).  I have never seen an ambush go so well right up to the attack... and then fail so abjectly.  They had you right where they wanted you and then wasted it!))

Code:

Sense Motive Spot
Hassid 13+10=23 6+2+5=13 surprised
Marius 6-1=5 14-1=13 surprised
Ioan 7+7=14 4+2+5=11 surprised
Adam 17+6=23 2+2+2=6 surprised
Yemam 18+3=21 13+2+11=26 spotted the one on the left
Lorelei 18+10=28 11+2+2=15 surprised

Elf   Bluff Check (1d20-1=7)  If you beat the Elf's Bluff, you got a +2 circumstance bonus to your Spot.

Werewolf Werewolves Hide (1d20+17=34, 1d20+17=20)

Marius & Hassid are attacked Adam = 1 Hassid = 2 Ioan = 3 Lorelei = 4 Marius = 5 Yemam = 6 (1d6=5, 1d6=2)

First wolf is Marius, second wolf is Hassid (1d20+6=9, 1d6+2=8, 1d20+6=7, 1d6+2=5)

Rapid Shot Elf (1d20+6=16, 1d8+1=9, 1d20+6=13, 1d8+1=5)

[Ikoma]

Yemam notices the wolf in the last moment possible and then notices the horse suddenly begin to toss him around.  "This isn't going to work."  Yemam controls his horse just long enough to be able to hop off himself.  He drops his axe and draws his rapier.  "This will strike true...Locke...thanks for watching."

Yemam moves up to the wolf that he spotted and attempts to drive his rapier into the beasts flesh, but the quickness of the beast makes the attack miss completely.

Marius knew elves and though he sensed something was amiss he could not spot the trap before it was too late, but perhaps a little knowledge was enough to give him the edge when his turn came.  As the werewolf's leaped Marius horse jerked it was all the could do to keep the frightened animal under control.  "Foul beast, you picked the wrong target ... I hate your wretched kind soon your blood will course with silver! Courtesy of Marius Ionescu"  Marius attempted to dismount the frightened animal but it was not easy his feet thumped the ground.  (You can absolutely get a Defense Mage Armor off.  Just make the Concentration roll and we'll assume it went off before the next round.)

Hassid was admittedly surprised when the werewolf came out of nowhere to attack him, but Hassid knew deep in his soul that StarDancer moving just those few inches saved his hide and for that Hassid would be forever grateful.  Hassid leans in with his legs, giving a nudge then released his feet from the stirrups planting them upon the saddle and using them as a stage to push off from.  StarDancer knew the command and raised up to grab the attention of the other horses before bolting back the way they came.  She should move about 100 yards back and hold unless anyone but Hassid approached.  And if then she would make for the wilderness as her heart desired.  Hassid hoped that it would be him that returned to her.  This would make it more difficult to get over to the elf, but Hassid had StarDancers health to consider.  Before StarDancer had a chance to rear up Hassid had already leaped off of her saddle.  His movement to the creature that attacked him took him over the top of the creature in a twisting arc, one that allowed him to keep the creature before him the whole time as his sword cut across the werewolves face in its burning silver blade landing behind the creature in defensive stance.  "Make for the Archer" He calls out hoping that someone would look to the man who would otherwise turn them into pincushions, as Hassid did not want his friends to fall afoul these creatures.  In the beauty of the moment, it is easy to miss the wolf slumping to the group, it's neck severed from it's body by Hassid's blow.

As he tries in vain to rein in his mount, Ioan decides he's better off on the ground. The horse probably knows best. He rolls with its bucking, and 'dismounts' with a clumsy clatter.

Since his pair of arrows missed, the elf takes a fraction of second longer to aim, loosing another arrow at Adam.  Or trying, as the arrow snaps upon release and tumbles to ground in front of him.  He shouts something in elven.. a curse, if you had to guess... before swilling a potion from his belt.

The wolf facing Marius rips into him, catching him in a particularly... vulnerable... spot.  [-10 hp]  The wolf gets in Marius way, causing him to stumble.  (Need to make a 1d20+2 and beat a 6 to avoid being tripped and going down.  Also, give me a FORT save, DC 15.)

Wrapped up in the conversation that was unfolding, the warlock didn't even begin to sense that something was afoot. Not until Marius yelped did she hear the sounds of the snarling wolves. Her horse instantly bucks and tries to ditch her in the path, but nimble digits were quite entwined with the reins and somehow she remains mounted. Figuring the men could handle the wolves, Lore fires off a blast at the elf.  Catching the elf square in the chest, he stumbles back a step before catching himself.

Adam's mount's eyes rolled back as the werewolves ambushed the party.  There was no way he would be able to fight from its back.  Adam felt sorry for the beast as its nerve was broken due to multiple encounters with zombies and werewolves.  It needed time to rest and recover.  Maybe some time with Hassid would do the trick.  As the horse bucked and swayed Adam timed his dismount in an attempt to land nearest to the werewolf attacking Marius.  The horse wasn't going to make it easy.  Hitting the ground Adam barely manages to keep his feet.

[Ikoma]

Yemam sees Marius in trouble and instinctively moves to the remaining wolf and attempts to pierce its thick hide.  His rapier flashes and drives towards the beast.  The wolf howls in pain.

Marius stumbles for a mere second before the dropping thud of the wretched beast to the side brings his focus back.  The other wolf leaps and tears flesh, Marius screams out in pain, "Arrrggg, oh you are a tough one picking the the guy wearing nothing but a shirt."  Marius gathers his strength and hopes he can pull free of the things teeth.  He takes a step back and releases an arrow making sure the beast sees the silver tip gleam in the light.  He flashes a deadly smile as the arrow flies giving Hassid the moment he needs to a strike, "look behind you!"  The arrow finds it's target and the animal struggles to stand, blood leaking from its piercings.

Hassid was satisfied with the slumping Werewolf and decided to act and remove the threat of the other one.  Hassid steps quickly over the falling monster as he races to the other one drawing another line across the creatures hide.  His blow finishes the beast.

"Archer. RIGHT."  Ioan dashes towards the elf.  (Thanks to Ioan's armor, he can't quite get to the elf in a single round.)

The elf mutters something else before letting an arrow fly directly at Ioan.  Perhaps leading the charge on the archer by his lonesome wasn't a great idea.  [-8 hp]  Without a backward glance, the elf moves at a speed you would not have guessed, fading into the woods.

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius spits on the fallen beast and yells out in Elven, "That's right, run you coward!  Next time we meet you'll be wearing my arrows as a necklace!"  Marius takes a moment to print the image of the elf in his mind, then takes out his sword and takes a moment to separate the heads of the slain beasts, "for my father!"

Marius waits for Ioan to move back to the group, "my friend think you can spare a cure light? I know you gave imbued me with some healing spells, but I do not know how long they last?"

(ooc: darn, he looked like he had a cool bow  so close to leveling  )