THE GILDED THRONE: IC Thread

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:19 pm

The hippogriffs overhead range from around 300 to 400 feet away.

flare22 · Post by **flare22** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 12:00 am

"scratch that out of range"

Whatever · Post by **Whatever** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 1:56 am

"Both times, they came after us. If we get to a nice, nonflammable location, we should be able to lure them down and take them out. Going after the nests should do it. Just wait until we're off the quarry." Reve says, leading the group away from the camouflaged trellis roof.

"I could probably get them from here, if I had a good longbow." Felf says, with a note of disappointment in her voice.

flare22 · Post by **flare22** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 3:48 am

yellow tags along behind felf on the way back to the nests

"longbow? you should have kept the crossbow we found under the grinding gear or better yet i could teach you the fine art of gun-slinging"

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 4:27 am

Porf follows the party off the roof and onto stabler terrain clear of anything particularly dry. Then he takes sightings on the cliff one more time. "Nice. I haven't burned anything for days. Let's fix that."

He mutters an incantation, then hurls a bead of light that zips up to the highest nest and explodes in a burst of flame. He follows it up with another aimed lower, and this fireball engulfs most of the remaining nests. The hippogriffs are taken completely by surprise. There are just flashes of light and screams of pain, most quickly cut off. Only a handful of monsters survive to flap away in utter panic.

The dry nests ignite, sending plumes of black smoke into the air as charred bodies either fall to the ground or serve as additional fuel. The rickety watchtower burns as well. There is grass and underbrush near the base of the rocks, and several patches are beginning to smolder.

Terrified by a third slaughter in a very short span, the hippogriffs in the air mostly dart off as rapidly as they can. A few swoop down toward their nests, but level off as the smoke overwhelms them and then follow the others. Two lock gazes on the party and dive, claws grasping ferociously once again.

Porf curses in Infernal, eyes darting between the growing cliffside blaze and attacking hippogriffs. "My buddies only have javelins. I can either put out the fire before it spreads or kill those pests. Can you guys handle one of those?"

flare22 · Post by **flare22** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 5:25 am

"Yeah I got it just make sure you don't set off any of my gunpowder with all your fire"

Yellow lifts his musket to his soulder and fires a single flare round at one if it hits it does 1/2 1d12+5 but the creature is blinded for one round dc 15 fort to reduce that to dazzled and any creature within 20 ft also gets dazled

If he can get a second shot off before they close to mellee just tell me

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 5:29 am

The creature shrieks as the burning projectile hits it in the face and explodes into luminescence. Careening to the side, it smashes into a tree and is still.

Porf begins a chant that summons magical rain over the spreading fires, extinguishing them before they get out of control.

One hippogriff remains, and Yellow will not have time to shoot it before it attacks. It blinks at the light from the flare, but does not seem significantly impeded.

Whatever · Post by **Whatever** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 4:35 pm

Felf steps in front of Porf and Yellow, shield raised. "Stay behind me!"

(Given an opening, she'll slice the attacking grif with her sword, but her main priority is protecting the others, using her bodyguarding abilities as necessary to ensure that no one else gets hurt.)

Whipstitch · Post by **Whipstitch** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 10:36 pm

Nesha will Fortune hex Valdym and he'll draw his crossbow and fire, taking the better of two rolls.

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 11:01 pm

Valdym's crossbow bolt sinks solidly into the hippogriff's shoulder, but it keeps on diving. Its talons slash at Porf's face, but then Felf intercepts the monster's momentum with her shield, and it slides to the ground. Grounded, the already-wounded hippogriff quickly falls to the swords and axes of the templars.

Porf mutters a few words, and the magical rain ceases. The fires at the base of the cliff are extinguished, but the nests continue to burn intensely.

"Excellent work everyone. Unfortunately, I think we just lit the world's biggest signal fire. Maybe I shouldn't've been so enthusiastic about finally getting the chance to throw out evocations.

Fortunately, the airship should technically be able to fly now. The balloon's finished, and at least half the propellers work. You Megasharks can have seats on the Majestic's inaugeral flight if you like. Maybe together we can spin this unfortunate series of mistakes into something that doesn't upset the boss, eh?"

flare22 · Post by **flare22** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 11:17 pm

yellow stares at the fire then gives porf a sympathetic look

"yeah sorry porf we got to head on to the next job so we wont be able to report with you the work of a mercenary is never done you know but im sure it will be fine the supervisor is your brother after all"

yellow looks to the party

"I strongly suggest we head to the nearest lizard people village before the regent finds out about this something tells me being with them will still be safer the being here well come back when he calms down and we have completed a successful mission for him."

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 11:24 pm

Porf nods.
"Alright, fine with me. The other soldiers did seem awfully worked up about something to do with scalyskins, so it might be for the best. And the boss ain't been the same since picking up that Thassilonian sword. On a shorter fuse, for sure. Good luck, then! Maybe I'll see ya when we make it back to town."

Whatever · Post by **Whatever** » Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:35 pm

"I'd like to see the ship lift off, at least." Reve says. "And maybe they could give us a ride, drop us off nearer to the lizardfolk. From a safe altitude, of course."

It's not hard to tell that the mention of a Thassilonian sword, especially one that enhances one of the key emotions, caught Reve's attention. But at the prospect of jumping out of an airship, Felf's face is the one that lights us "Ooh, that would be even better than cliff jumping! Oh, can we? It's ever so much fun!"

flare22 · Post by **flare22** » Mon Aug 26, 2013 11:31 pm

Yellow raises an eyebrow at felf

"I'm not sure its ready to fly yet and even if they say it is I'm not going to risk falling to my death in the maiden voyage of some crazy gnomish flying machine let some one else test it."

Yellow turns to reve

"You have the map right? can you plot us a course to the village were looking for preferably on foot?"

Whipstitch · Post by **Whipstitch** » Tue Aug 27, 2013 3:31 am

Valdym speaks up, looking somewhat embarrassed: "You know, if one of us took the flight we could at least compare the map to the bird's eye view available. And, well, I don't really fall or burn so it'd be pretty safe, I think..."

flare22 · Post by **flare22** » Tue Aug 27, 2013 4:50 am

"that wont help you if it explodes but i wont stop you I can always use that time to work out some way to better incubate the eggs.... oh wait! porf your a mage who loves turning up the heat do you have a spell that will keeps these eggs at a temperature that's the same as the nests were? oh i mean the temperature before you fire balled them just so were clear"

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Tue Aug 27, 2013 7:20 am

Porf looks a little sheepish. "Well, see, I'm not a real wizard. Don't got that kind of versatility without a backpack full of scrolls... wait. I can cast Endure Elements. It won't keep you warm, but it'll keep you from getting hurt by the cold if you aren't buried in ice or something. Normally I'd charge, but you've all been pretty helpful and it's not like I'll end up using all my spells today. Could still hurl another 2 fireballs if I had to.

So yeah, if your main problem is keeping functionally warm some eggs you pillaged from those pests, I can probably help. You've got 4 castings of Endure Elements, gratis. No more, though. I need to hold a little in reserve in case something weird happens with the ship."

flare22 · Post by **flare22** » Wed Aug 28, 2013 12:27 am

yellow smiles "great endure elements sounds perfect if u could cast it once on each egg today and again when the spell wears off that would be great"

Whatever · Post by **Whatever** » Wed Aug 28, 2013 6:08 pm

"I can get us there, assuming the map is good, but the airship would be faster. And perfectly safe. I mean, we're going to jump out if thing go according to plan, so if something unexpected happens, we can always just...jump out anyway." Reve says, getting out the map case from her pack. "It might not even be too far out of there way. Say, where are you headed? Back to Artume?"

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Wed Aug 28, 2013 6:29 pm

"We're headed back to Artume, but a detour isn't out of the question. I'll clear it with the others, and we'll drop you just out of sight of your destination. If we stay out of lightning bolt range, there shouldn't be any real risk to the ship."

flare22 · Post by **flare22** » Wed Aug 28, 2013 7:25 pm

"ok you convinced me i guess it cant be any deadly to ride this thing then it is to face some of the things you find in the woods so lets all ride this thing. so do we just head back into the cave to get on board?"

Whatever · Post by **Whatever** » Thu Aug 29, 2013 5:10 pm

"Sweet! Let's go!" Felf says, but Reve takes a minute to fill the rest of her first level spell slots with Feather Fall before they board.

Whipstitch · Post by **Whipstitch** » Thu Aug 29, 2013 7:54 pm

"Sounds good."

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Thu Aug 29, 2013 9:48 pm

Porf leads the party down into the cluttered workplace inside the quarry and offers them access to the mess hall and mundane supply depot while the launch is readied.

As the party makes their preparations, more and more soldiers and gnome workers congregate on the surface, cutting and dragging away the overgrown screen at the same time the scaffolding around the partially-finished airship is taken down. In about 10 minutes, everything is clear and the vehicle has loaded all necessary cargo.

The biggest part of the airship is of course the armored, segmented balloon. Larger than 2 houses bolted together, it bulges with heated air as it ponderously rises up out of the quarry. On each side, a massive painted image of Bransen Waike's face looks down smugly. Actual passengers have to climb into a several-story underslung structure using rope ladders. Gnomes cheerfully chatter about the design of the vessel as they make preparations, making multiple references to the unfinished cargo loader and windows. In addition to the main undercarriage, 6 smaller structures dangle farther ahead and on the sides. Each has a large propeller sticking out the front.

A single templar follows the party up the ladder when they are ready to go. Apparently, Porf is seeing to the heating system within the off-limits upper cabins, and they should address Acting Commander Greta if they have any special concerns. The half-orc is at the prow of the ship on the second floor, where it is easiest to communicate with other areas and monitor the ship's position.

The escort shows the party the way to a passenger room. It's a little cramped, but there are tables and seats built into the walls and floor, and a short but wide rectangular window they can look out of to see the receding forests and river below. As they gain altitude, it gets noticeably colder. Wind passes through the empty window space to brush at papers and other lightweight unattended objects.

A few of the soldiers and gnomes sharing the room look kind of unsettled by the way the airship rocks in the breeze. It's a little different from a ship at sea. But even so, many people crowd about the window, excited at the thought of actually flying.

flare22 · Post by **flare22** » Fri Aug 30, 2013 1:16 am

Yellow seems nervous as the ship lifts off and he sticks to the area farthest from the edge once he gets his air legs he takes a quick look around

knowledge architecture/engineering what this things most flammable area yellow could conceivably hit when attacking it in the air from the ground

also are their any weapons? and if so what kind

yellow also makes a perception check to start looking for hidden compartments or secret weapons he basses his search on his experience on a pirate ship witch had retractable weapons and kept its most valuable loot stored in hidden compartments