[IC]Secrets of the Fire Swamp

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 1:04 am

Can do, Archimedes replies.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:46 am

As Archimedes wings his way past the three-armed giants, walls of dirt rise on either side, completely blocking them from view, and the copper-masked figure collapses as though a sudden sinkhole had opened beneath them; giant swords blindly strike through the walls of earth, but do little more than scrape the half-minotaur's hide - Malagos and the rat being completely unharmed. Behind them, the sound of screeching metal gets suddenly closer.

As they fly free of the figures, there is a sudden audibly crunching sound, and the usual telepathic "buzz" from Orr suddenly ceases. The rat looks backwards, where the road gives way from raised mud to ancient stone once more. "I think we just lost one."

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 4:05 pm

You sure? Archimedes asks telepathically. Too useful to ditch unless we know he's dead, at which point the necromancer might be able to do something with his body anyways. Almost as oddly put together as I am, that one. Not sure how we'd fish him out though.

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 8:02 pm

"Fucking baator! Ethereal stone, ethereal solid cloud, ethereal lizardmen, and now ethereal metal," Orr thinks as he flinches. "Still, this stuff could be valuable. We need to come back here some time when we don't have an eldritch horror chasing us."

Orr will fly straight up to the surface while staying in the ethereal plane (move action) and peek, taking stock of the current situation before doing anything else.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Jan 29, 2016 10:53 am

The giants are fighting the bizarre iron beast. They seem to be at least holding their own. The copper-mask is nowhere to be seen.

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Fri Jan 29, 2016 11:50 am

Orr will briefly resume blinking. To the copper-mask, "Sorry about that, but you were in the way. We couldn't even dent this thing, but your giants are doing okay at the moment. I've seen its mind and want to see it dead though, so if you need a hand to get above ground, I'll help."

CapnTthePirateG · Post by **CapnTthePirateG** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 7:14 am

I am uncertain that we could get our friend out of there with the resources we currently possess

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 2:42 pm

True., Archimedes admits. Perhaps we should try coming back for him later? Worst case scenario, he's dead, but he'll be of use if he lives.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:08 pm

radthemad4 wrote:Orr will briefly resume blinking. To the copper-mask, "Sorry about that, but you were in the way. We couldn't even dent this thing, but your giants are doing okay at the moment. I've seen its mind and want to see it dead though, so if you need a hand to get above ground, I'll help."

Orr's only answer is a sudden burst of flame from the ground. It doesn't seem to harm the giant iron beastie or the three-handed giants any.

The rat clutches Archimedes' ear. "Must go faster."

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:24 pm

Pretty sure I'm going as fast as I can, but I'll try, Archimedes responds. With that he bursts into full running while flying (if he wasn't already.)

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 8:15 pm

To the copper mask, "That did nothing. Well, good luck with this then."

Orr will look for his dog and send a blast of air into the sky (gain earth token)

To Quinn while looking for him, in case he's in telepathy range at any point "Come on, let's get outta here."

If dog is found, Orr will reactivate Blink and ride his dog towards the others (40 ft speed, 160 ft run) while meditating on his tokens (in two rounds if possible: refreshing pool takes three consecutive full round actions two rounds, full round action+standard action+next turn's standard action+full round action)). If he gets time, he'll also drink some healing spring water from his waterskin.

If dog is found and it seems like the beast is headed towards him and the dog Orr will keep a gust of wind pointed behind him, and if it seems about to catch up, go 10 ft underground with dog.

If dog is not found, fly back towards the others, at some point, expending a fire token to boost speed and using a run + move action (206.25 ft) and spending the following turns channeling water for fire tokens (standard) and using augmented run actions (165 ft)

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Mon Feb 01, 2016 2:43 am

The dog is just visible, some distance ahead of Archimedes, and moving smartly down the road.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Tue Feb 02, 2016 9:42 pm

Fire and fury are at your backs, and recede into the distance as you fly over a road you once walked upon, back towards the entrance of the Zone. The swamp seems oddly quiet, almost expectant. Time itself seems to slow down, and there is only the steady beat of Archimedes' wings, the strange sibilant woosh-poosh of Orr swimming through the air, and even the rat stomps its chant, nose raised to the wind to catch the coming scents.

And behind you, the strange song of screaming metal, the clack of blades, the crackle of flame, growing ever fainter.

After a terse half an hour or more, even Archimedes can feel his heart thump in his chest, his iron wing-muscles tire. But the markers are in sight. Beyond them, at the healing pool, the fuzzy shape of the dog lapping at the water.

Seated beside the dog, at the edge of the pool, is a hooded figure in a long brown robe, which shimmers slightly with designs of coiling dragons picked out in gold thread. They do not look up as you approach the markers, the the rat thrashes his tail.

"Remember what I said about the third. Do not trust your eyes. There is a price that may be paid, besides your lives."

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Wed Feb 03, 2016 3:33 am

Archimedes carefully sniffs the air before doing anything else.

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Wed Feb 03, 2016 3:47 am

Orr will drink some (or all) of the spring water in his water skin, and see if there's anything significant he can see in the ethereal plane. He'll activate blink and refresh his tokens.

CapnTthePirateG · Post by **CapnTthePirateG** » Wed Feb 03, 2016 6:26 am

Malagos wracks his brain, seeing if his knowledge can be useful here.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Wed Feb 03, 2016 8:39 pm

Archimedes carefully sniffs the air before doing anything else.

The smells of the swamp have been drowned out by smoke and soot from the fires, but as the wind shifts momentarily north and west - i.e. from the river towards Archimedes - he catches a vague reptilian odor.

Orr will drink some (or all) of the spring water in his water skin, and see if there's anything significant he can see in the ethereal plane. He'll activate blink and refresh his tokens.

Draining the last of the water, Orrs wounds close...mostly. [Heals 8hp] On the ethereal, the strange stony gazes of the taboo markers stare back at him. The figure in the robe does not appear on the ethereal at all.

Malagos wracks his brain, seeing if his knowledge can be useful here.

Malagos has seen similar robes, who belong to the Yellow Druids of the Darkwood.

CapnTthePirateG · Post by **CapnTthePirateG** » Thu Feb 04, 2016 3:24 am

Looks like one of the Yellow Druids of the Darkwood. Though considering our rat friend's warning, I would be careful about assigning an identity just yet.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Feb 05, 2016 3:38 am

Well it smells like the reptiles, Archimedes replies telepathically. Do the Scaly Ones have any connection to the Yellow Druids of the Darkwood? he asks the rat.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Feb 05, 2016 10:04 am

"Not when I knew them. The Yellow Druids, of course, are an ancient sect, famed for their skill at herbalism...and biological warfare."

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Fri Feb 05, 2016 6:31 pm

Orr will close his eyes and try to telepathically contact his dog.

"Are you currently drinking spring water? Any creatures or plants near you? What do you know about them if so?"

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Feb 05, 2016 8:26 pm

Orr's only response is a slight mental backwash of bliss; the psychic equivalent of a heartfelt tail-wag.

radthemad4 · Post by **radthemad4** » Sat Feb 06, 2016 11:13 pm

To dog, "Uh okay, come over here for a bit."

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 12:31 am

The dog wags its tail and rolls over on its belly. It's legs paw at the air a bit, and it gives off strange, muffled wuffs.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 2:15 am

Anyone got a plan? Archimedes asks telepathically. I'm stumped.