Play by Post D&D: The New Begining

[Glitch Girl]

Orloid is having words with Whisper, Starbuck is singing his li'l heart out, what are the rest of you doing?

[BentonGrey]

I suppose Dakkon will join the bard in song, and if he can notice that Whisper slips away, he'll try and keep a special eye out for trouble.

[Panther_Gunn]

Og continues on in the same general direction.  He's sure that if there's a problem, someone would tell him.  :D

[Glitch Girl]

Whisper, Dakkon
[spoiler] Now that you're aware that something's up (and I changed dice servers), you do see a shape lurking in the overgrowth not far from where you are.  It appears human, or at least humanoid.

Dakkon, you do notice Whisper letting everyone go past him and then sort of fade into the woods around you.[/spoiler]

The rest of you:
Starbuck's song is nice and cheery.  All in all, this is looking to be a nice day.  Almost like nothing could go wrong.

When Starbuck finishes, Nathan applauds him (it'd be called a "golf clap" if golf existed in this universe)  and even Daniel remarks it was nice.

BTW: Whisper seems to have vanished sometime during the seranade.

[BlueBard]

GM:
[spoiler]I wait to see if the figure approaches and if it becomes identifiable.  I also look to see if the figure is alone or if there are others nearby.  While I'm waiting, I quietly and with no sudden movements draw an arrow from my quiver and ready my bow.[/spoiler]

[Glitch Girl]

Orloid:
[spoiler]That figure is paralleling the group's path moving very quietly.[/spoiler]

Whisper
[spoiler]You can make out a lone figure paralleling the party's course.  From your vantage point you also spot a few more people moving some distance off but coming your way quietly, though not as quietly as the first one you spotted[/spoiler]

The rest of you:

Whisper seems to have left you guys for some reason, and you don't think it's Starbuck's singing.

Suddenly you notice Daniel get very tense and look away from the woods quickly.  He starts whispering to the rest of you without looking like he's whispering to you,  "Ohdamnohdamnohdamnsomeonesfollowingus..."

[Viking]

Without missing a beat, Starbuck strikes up another tune.  This one is bright, cheerful, and catchy.

"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail.
"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle -- will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you, won't you join the dance?"

GM:
[spoiler]Starbuck is casting a Haste spell on the party.[/spoiler]

[Uncle Yuan]

Suddenly you notice Daniel get very tense and look away from the woods quickly.  He starts whispering to the rest of you without looking like he's whispering to you,  "Ohdamnohdamnohdamnsomeonesfollowingus..."

Orloid reverses facing and walks backwards a few paces.  He'll try to catch Daniel's eye, given him a wink and a smile (and a reassuring wave of his now unwrapped and strung bow) if/when he does.  I'll try to meet others' eyes, too.   We're all very nonchalant, aren't we . . . .

[BentonGrey]

Dakkon focuses his hearing, trying to drown out the sound of the bard's song, and concentrating on detecting evidence of their pursuers.  He will try and be as alert as possible, while trying to look relaxed.

[Panther_Gunn]

Suddenly you notice Daniel get very tense and look away from the woods quickly.  He starts whispering to the rest of you without looking like he's whispering to you,  "Ohdamnohdamnohdamnsomeonesfollowingus..."

Leaning over a bit towards Daniel as he's walking, "Hurt man talk funny.  Hurt man make magic talk?  Bird-man noises sound better.....maybe hurt man learn talk like that."

[Lord Elcorion]

annia will loose her mace from it's thong, keeping it under her cloak, moveing to free up her other hand to be able to snap off an eldritch blast in a moments notice.

[Glitch Girl]

"Hurt man talk funny.  Hurt man make magic talk?  Bird-man noises sound better.....maybe hurt man learn talk like that."

Daniel gives Og a look of utter disbelief, then it looks like an idea dawns on him.

"Hey Og," he whispers, "there's someone over there, who... uh, wants to steal your breakfast.  In the woods there."

"What are you talking about?" Nathan asks.  Daniel flashes him a quick glare that says "stop talking".

Everyone, you feel an odd warm tingle through your bodies.  It's not unplesant, in fact it feels a little bit like that feeling you get if you eat too much sugar.  The world seems to move just a hair slower around you now.

Dakkon
[spoiler]The shape has stopped moving.  You get a bad feeling about this.[/spoiler]


Whisper
[spoiler]You don't think the figure hasn't noticed you've broken off from the group.  You can see them a bit better now - they're dressed in dull green and brown to blend in better, and you can make out a crossbow.  It looks like it's being carefully aimed at the rest of the group[/spoiler]

[BlueBard]

GM:
[spoiler]Well, an aimed crossbow is enough evidence of ill will that I feel no compunction to hold back.  My arrow is ready, all that is required is to loose it.  I shoot an arrow at the crossbow wielder.  The first shot will be a general intent to hit and spoil his aim.  My next act will be a called shot to the archer's heart.  After that, I'll be readying a Web spell to take care of any pursuit from his companions.[/spoiler]

[BentonGrey]

OOC:  If at all possible, I want this action to take place AFTER BB's, since I imagine Dakkon can hear the twang of a bow string when he's straining.

"Enough of this," roared the sea elf, turning upon the shadowy pursuers with azure eyes blazing.  "I have had enough of running, it is time that my blade dealt with those who would stand in my way!"  Matching deed to word, his sword leapt into his hand, and with an unearthly, undulating cry like the thunder of a waterfall, he dashed towards the nearest opponent.

OOC:  If there are only a few of them, and if they don't seem to be set on killing the party right away, Dakkon will attempt to disarm his opponent, if not, he'll go straight for the kill and then look for any archers or magic users.  They will be his second target, with mages taking highest priority.

[Uncle Yuan]

GM:

[spoiler]Do I recognize the spell cast against us?  I know Arcana is probably a poor choice of skills, but it's all I've got.[/spoiler]

[Glitch Girl]

OOC Clarification: The spell you guys felt cast on yourselves was from Starbuck and is a haste spell.  This is a good thing.  As a result, do NOT try to beat Starbuck to a pulp, even if you are a music critic.  Or you can later, but not for that reason.  I was just trying to do a little flavor text.  Sorry should have added a little bit of Player knowelge in there in case you didn't happen to peek at Starbuck's spoiler.

Anyway moving on...  This is what happens next.

You all hear a a sharp yelp of pain from the woods a split second before a crowbow bolt slams into a tree a few inches from Daniel's head.   All of you (even Og) see someone moving in the woods nearby.  This person is no longer trying to be stealthy and appears to be running away from you.  You also hear the stranger give a short but piercing whistle.

Daniel immediately hits the dirt before a second shot can be fired.  He yells "Get DOWN" and grabs Nathan's arm (who's looking somewhat suprised by the crossbow shot) and yanks him to the forest floor.

"Enough of this," yells Dakkon in dramatic fashion, "I have had enough of running, it is time that my blade dealt with those who would stand in my way!"  and with an ululation that would make Xena warrior princess go "Whoah!" charges into the woods after the shooter.

Whisper
[spoiler]You first shot winged whoever it was pretty bad.  Your target, a woman, staggers and starts to dive for cover.  Your second shot misses as she ducks between some of the trees.  You hear her give the sharp whistle, and those other people you spotted are heading your way.  Can't tell numbers yet, but it's at least more than 5. 

Oh yeah, and Dakkon just charged in after her making a whole lotta noise.[/spoiler]

Dakkon
[spoiler]You're moving much faster than you normally do.  It's pretty cool.  There's someone not far away, looks like a woman dressed in brown and green to blend in with the surrounding forest.  She's got a crossbow, and it looks like an arrow is sticking out off her right arm.  You can probably close this round and attack.  One thing though: you think you see more movement just past her headed your way.  LOTS of movement.[/spoiler]

[BentonGrey]

OOC:  Does Dakkon think it's possible to incapacitate her (I.E., blunt end of the sword to the face)?  If so, he'll do that and move, much more cautiously, to engage the oncoming foes.  If he can spot BB, he'll try and give him a clear line of fire.  If he CAN'T incapacitate her, then he'll get over his compunctions and take her out before doing the same.

[Panther_Gunn]

"Hey Og," he whispers, "there's someone over there, who... uh, wants to steal your breakfast.  In the woods there."

You all hear a a sharp yelp of pain from the woods a split second before a crowbow bolt slams into a tree a few inches from Daniel's head.   All of you (even Og) see someone moving in the woods nearby.  This person is no longer trying to be stealthy and appears to be running away from you.  You also hear the stranger give a short but piercing whistle.

"Someone want take Og food, *&* shoot at hurt man?  Og not like at all!  :angry: :angry:"  Completely oblivious as to what Dakkon is doing, because he's a little wrapped up in his own concerns for now, Og runs after the obviously guilty party running away, intent on smashing.  If they look to be kinda frail, he'll use just his bare fist, but anything that looks like it needs to be dispatched quickly (spellcaster) or would need a severe beating to go down (lotsa hit points or heavily armored) gets the hammer!

OOC:  I'm not sure what a half-ogre's base movement is, so there's the chance that he could get to the fleeing target before Dakkon does.....which I'm sure won't make the target any happier.

[Viking]

Dakkon's war whoop puts Starbuck in mind of the ballad of a certain warrior princess...  It seems a suitable choice for a morale-boosting battle song:

(OOC: This song boosts party morale, letting them hit more easily and to do more damage.)

GM:
[spoiler]I'm throwing in an Inspirational Boost spell as well, to give that Bardic song that extra kick.[/spoiler]

    She is the very model of a heroine barbarian;
    Through Herculean efforts, she's become humanitarian.
    She rides throughout the hinterland -- at least that's what they call it in
    Those sissy towns like Athens (She, herself, is Amphipolitan).
    She travels with a poet who is perky and parthenian[2]
    And scribbles her hexameters in Linear Mycenian[3]
    (And many have attempted, by a host of methods mystical,
    To tell if their relationship's sororal or sapphistical).

        To tell if their relationship's sororal or sapphistical!
        To tell if their relationship's sororal or sapphistical!
        To tell if their relationship's sororal or sapphisti-phistical!

    Her armory is brazen, but her weapons are ironical;
    Her sword is rather phallic, but her chakram's rather yonical[4]
    (To find out what that means, you'll have to study Indo-Aryan[5]).
    She is the very model of a heroine barbarian!

        To find out what that means, you'll have to study Indo-Aryan --
        She is the very model of a heroine barbarian!

    She wakes up every morning, ere the dawn is rhododactylous[6]
    (Who needs to wait for daylight? She just works by sensus tactilis[7].)
    And rides into the sunrise to protect some local villagers
    From mythologic monsters or from all-too-human pillagers.
    She hurtles towards each villain with a recklessness ebullient
    And cows him with her swordwork and her alalaes ululient[8];
    He's frightened for his head, because he knows she's gonna whack it -- he's
    Aware that his opponent is the Basileia Makhetes!

[The music crashes to a halt, as the combatants stare at Starbuck in utter confusion. He sighs.]

    It's Greek. It means "Warrior Princess"!

[Light dawns on the battle, and the music resumes.]

    Sheesh ...

        He knows that his opponent is the Basileia Makhetes!
        He knows that his opponent is the Basileia Makhetes!
        He knows that his opponent is the Basileia Makhe-makhetes,

    Because she's got her armor, which is really rather silly, on
    (It's cut so low she feels like she's the topless tow'rs of Ilion,
    And isn't any use against attackers sagittarian[9]).
    She is the very model of a heroine barbarian!

        It isn't any use against attackers sagittarian --
        She is the very model of a heroine barbarian!

    In short, when she can tell you how she breaks the laws of gravity,
    And why her togs expose her intermammary concavity,
    And why her comrade changed her dress from one that fit more comfily
    To one that shows her omphalos[10] (as cute as that of Omphale[11]),
    And why the tale of Spartacus appears in Homer's versicon[12],
    And where they found examples of the genus Lycopersicon[13],
    And why this Grecian scenery looks more like the Antipodes,
    You'll say she's twice the heroine of any in Euripides!

        You'll say she's twice the heroine of any in Euripides!
        You'll say she's twice the heroine of any in Euripides!
        You'll say she's twice the heroine of any in Euripi-ripides!

    But though the kinked chronology, confusing and chimerical
    (It's often unhistorical, but rarely unhysterical),
    Would give a massive heart attack to any antiquarian,
    She is the very model of a heroine barbarian!

        'Twould give a massive heart attack to any antiquarian --
        She is the very model of a heroine barbarian!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Footnotes:

[1] Actually, "Mytilene" would properly be accented on the third syllable; Gabrielle always did have trouble with rhymes. (Mytilene, incidentally, is a city on the isle of Lesbos -- the hometown of the poet Sappho, as a matter of fact. It is not clear what, if anything, Gilbert is trying to imply here.)

[2] parthenian: virginal.

[3] Linear Mycenian: Mycenian is the ancient dialect of Greek which was written in Linear B (a form of Greek writing that predates the adoption of the alphabet). The implication is that Gabrielle does her writing in Linear B; if Xena takes place around the time of the Trojan war, this is chronologically reasonable.

[4] yonical: "Yonic" is the female counterpart to "phallic".

[5] Indo-Aryan: The language group consisting of Sanskrit and its close relatives. Both "chakram" and "yonic" are of Sanskrit derivation.

[6] rhododactylous: rosy-fingered. (Homer makes frequent reference to rhododaktulos eos -- "rosy-fingered dawn".)

[7] sensus tactilis: Latin for "the sense of touch".

[8] "Alalaes" are war-cries (the Greeks spelled a Xena-like war cry as alala or alale) and "ululient" is a coined term, apparently meaning "characterized by ululation".

[9] sagittarian: archer-like.

[10] omphalos: belly-button.

[11] Omphale: Legendary queen of Lydia. From context, we must assume that she had a cute belly-button; however, no known classical source seems to address this vital issue.

[12] versicon: a coined term, apparently meaning "collection of verse".

[13] Lycopersicon: the biological genus to which tomatoes are assigned. (The tomato is a New World plant, and was entirely unknown in the Old World in pre-Columbian times. Thus, having tomatoes in a Xenaish context is an even greater anachronism than having Homer tell the tale of Spartacus.)

[BlueBard]

GM:

[spoiler]Whisper is timing things as close as he can.  I want to use my Web spell to entangle as many of our attackers as possible, preferably hitting them before Dakkon can charge into their midst.  I will drop the bow and arrows to do so, if I think it is doable.  If that's not possible, I will continue to fire arrows at each attacker in turn, one after the other, until I'm forced to draw my sword.

When I get a better idea of their numbers, I want to shout a warning.  More than 5 but less than 10?  More than 10?[/spoiler]

[Glitch Girl]

OOC: [reads Starbuck's reponse]
Wow.

Just... wow.


Anyway...

Dakkon, the woman is trying to draw her sword with her left hand, which is proving awkward since she's a) obviously right handed and b) her right arm has got an arrow in it. 

At your speed, you quickly close in and thwack her soundly across the temple with the flat of your sword.  She reels, but is still up, trying to lurch away from you.

At that point you notice two things.

1) The bard is singing again.  It's a song about some warrior woman and uses a lot of words in common you haven't encountered since you began stay on the surface.  Even so, it makes you feel even more ready to fight.  Cool!

2) There are about eight armed and armored humans coming towards you. Most of them carry swords and axes, but one or two have bows, while behind you, you get the feeling that something large is thundering towards you.  That something is Og, and it looks like you and the woman are about to be the filling of a combat sandwich.

Just then, the woods ahead of you fills with gluey fibres that stretch between the ground, the trees and just about everything else in about a twenty foot radius.  Several of the humans find themselves stuck amid the strong and sticky strands, but two of them manage to duck out of the way of the expanding webbing (one of them, a man towards the back carrying a bow, the other, another man carrying a sword near the front).  The cursing from the entangled men can easily be heard by the rest of the group as they try to tear themselves free.

(I'll try to get a map together for the next post or so)

[BentonGrey]

OOC:  Oookay, this is getting chaotic! :D  So, Dakkon will try and decide if he's got time to whack her again before Og steamrolls over him.  If not, he'll make a bee-line for the fellow with the sword, trusting in BB to take out the archer.

[Uncle Yuan]

What is observable from the "clearing?"  How many bad guys do there seem to be?  Orloid is going to take a second or two to observe before charging into the trees.

Although, the second second's observation is going to be along the shaft of an arrow . . .

[BlueBard]

"Surrender or die!" Whisper calls out in fair warning as he either a) retrieves his dropped bow if there's time or b) draws his longsword if there isn't.  I assume that if he's Hasted retrieving the bow before he's overrun is not a problem.

I'll wait to see the map before I declare any other actions.

PS. Hurrah for properly applied Web spells!

[Lord Elcorion]

annia will advance, and snap off an eldritch blast modified with brimstone essence at the web, intending to catch it on fire and burn the folks trapped within it, useing Eldritch spear to increase the range if nessacary.

[Glitch Girl]

Sorry so long on the response, but I got something better than ASCII this time :D

[spoiler]

Key:
Each square is roughly 5 ft.    Black text indicates coordiantes.

Brown circle large tree (there are small trees and other scrub throughout, but these are the only ones that offer a decent amount of cover and can't be easily pushed aside, jumped over, or whatever)
Blue crinkly circle web spell area of effect
Red numbers the enemy, yellow outline indicates which ones are trapped in the web spell for the moment.
Green letters Nathan and Daniel.
Blue Letters You guys.
O - Orloid
G - Og
D - Dakkon
W - Whisper
S - Starbuck
A - Annia

[/spoiler]

Foe #1 is looking in bad shape after getting both shot and thwacked with a sword.  All the others are unharmed so far.  They do not seem to want to take Whisper's suggestion of surrender.

Annia, can you give me a little more detail on your action now that we have some visual aid.

[Uncle Yuan]

OOC: Man, GG, that is one spiffy cool map.  Way cooler than the Paint stuff I was putting together for Luck of Heroes!!

Orloid is going to draw a bead on #3 and take his shot as he/she/it emerges from the webs.

[Lord Elcorion]

OOG sure thing GG

basicly annia is aiming for the section of web closest to her, ((grid square L-10 or L-11)) and useing brimstone essence to change the damge delt by her eldritch blast from force to fire, hopeing to cuase the web to ignite that way and damge everyone in the web. since she can use an essence and a blast shape, she's also useing Eldritch spear to increase the range of her blast as required from ((i think)) 30 feet to 120 feet ((again, i'm slightly hazy as to the actual amounts, but i know the increase to range from E.Spear is quite substantial.)) since her blasts are ranged touch attacks, annia is quite confidant she can hit her intended target with relative ease, particularly as there don't seem to be any major obstacles in her line of effect.

hope that's whaty you were looking for, if not, PM me and we'll work it out.

[BlueBard]

I am going to fire arrows at Bad Guy #1, taking full advantage of my cover, Haste, Point Blank and Rapid Shot.

GM:
[spoiler]Depends on how you interpret that combination, but here are the modifiers per the SRD:

Haste: +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. One extra attack at no penalty.

Point Blank: +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at ranges of up to 30 feet.

Rapid Shot: 1 extra ranged attack per round, -2 attack penalty for each attack.

If I wanted to interpret that liberally, I'd say I get three (or four) shots at no attack penalty (Haste and PB cancelling the penalty) and +1 damage.  Not counting any benefit from Starbuck's song.[/spoiler]

I'm really hoping for a pincushion.

[Glitch Girl]

OOC: Just checked with BB on target... here we go...

Dakkon takes another swing at his opponent (#1) who takes another stunning blow to the head before she can get her daggar free (having given up on the sword). You manage to knock her cold as Og continues to charge past.

Orloid, you manage to get two shots off at #3.  The first one grazes him and the second misses outright as he ducks behind the nearest tree.

Whisper, #2 has spotted you and starts to charge.  Before he can get to you, three of your arrows thud into his scalemail covered chest.  It breaks his charge, but he's not quite dead yet.

The rest of the attackers are busy trying to get free of the web.  It looks like a few of them have managed to cut themselves loose when Annia's flame hits the edge of the web, ignighting it. The flames begin to spread almost immediately, burning the web and starting to set fire to some of the longer dead patches of overgrowth, despite the dampness.

[spoiler=Updated Map][/spoiler]