The Hacking Cough

[Benji]

Same again for Drini...

Attack;Damage (x2) (1d20+4=5, 1d6+4=10, 1d20+4=15, 1d6+4=10)

[DrizztFan24]

“We are trying not to fight it, seeing as one of us got our butt seriosuly kicked by it and in rather short order.”

Collin can't think of much to do at this point. The other two seems to finally cause some damage to the animated cookware, but he still doesn't feel like punching it would cause any damage, other than to his knuckles.

EDIT @ apwhite:

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Where? Only way I could become a viable target would be to trap myself inside the hut with the cauldron.

[apwhite]

“We are trying not to fight it, seeing as one of us got our butt seriosuly kicked by it and in rather short order.”

Collin can't think of much to do at this point. The other two seems to finally cause some damage to the animated cookware, but he still doesn't feel like punching it would cause any damage, other than to his knuckles.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    You can effectively fight defensively and help to spare the others who are laying it all on the line. Having an extra target in the fray can really help.

[marine7312000]

And Delastian roars out “Once more unto the breech my friends, once more!” as he attacks again in the same manner.

[Duniagdra]

What happened here? I'm waiting on Illixial, Locutus, Ryiad. I will be posting tomorrow, actions or no action. This is unacceptable.

[tdsprouse]

Ryiad waits while the others beat on the metal pot. He was pretty inefectual, Now all he can do is hope that no one gets eaten by the thing.

[apwhite]

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Sorry Duni. I thought I had posted. My bad.

Locutus will continue to guard the medicinal root and cast Guidance in Delastian to help the poor fella out.

[Duniagdra]

Round 4

• Initiative:
  1. Illixian
  2. Collin
  3. Locutus
  4. Ryiad
  5. Cauldron
  6. Mid-round Validation
  7. Drini Polson
  8. Delastian
  9. End-round Validation
• Current Damage:
  • Ryiad -11
  • Collin -8
  • Cauldron -25
• Current Effects:
• None

Seeing that his previous attempt failed, Illixian tries something different, “ Cauldron, Halt! ”, but this too does not seem to have an effect on it.

“We are trying not to fight it, seeing as one of us got our butt seriously kicked by it and in rather short order.”

Collin can't think of much to do at this point. The other two seems to finally cause some damage to the animated cookware, but he still doesn't feel like punching it would cause any damage, other than to his knuckles.

EDIT @ apwhite:

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Where? Only way I could become a viable target would be to trap myself inside the hut with the cauldron.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Sorry Duni. I thought I had posted. My bad.

Locutus will continue to guard the medicinal root and cast Guidance in Delastian to help the poor fella out.

Ryiad waits while the others beat on the metal pot. He was pretty ineffectual, Now all he can do is hope that no one gets eaten by the thing.

The Cauldron attacks Drini and Drini begins to see the might behind it.

Spoiler: show

Cauldron Attak/Damage/Grapple vs Drini (1d20+2=20, 1d8+1=5, 1d20+2=21)

The Cauldron gets a bite in on Drini's hip and doesn't let go. (Drini -5hp)

Same again for Drini...

Attack;Damage (x2) (1d20+4=5, 1d6+4=10, 1d20+4=15, 1d6+4=10)

Drini tries to break the grapple the Cauldron has him in.

Spoiler: show

Drini Grapple Breakout (1d20+5=20)

Drini finds a place to gain leverage and forces the cauldron from him, escaping it's hold. Having freed himself of the Cauldron, Drini chops at it, with one axr skipping of the lip, his other finding a previous gouge he made and rending the thing non-functional. Once his axr bit in, a crack spread out from the existing gouge, splintering out and undoing the cauldron's integrity. The construct breaks apart and become harmless iron. Enough of the cauldron breaks away that you're able to see inside it and can see that there is a body, skeletal, in there. Nothing useful remains in possessions, but you find a small polished brown stone near the remains.

• Current Damage:
  • Ryiad -11
  • Collin -8
  • Drini -5
• Current Effects:
  • None

[Benji]

Drini turns to the others, grinning. “Now THAT was fun!” He bends down to look at the skeleton and stone. “Anyone have any idea what these things are?”

[tdsprouse]

Ryiad limps back toward the Cauldron.

“Nice work guys, that thing was mean!

The skeleton might be the witch that is supposed to be here. Maybe her Cauldron got uppity and ate her.”

Staying where he is, but looking inside the Hut...
“Wonder if there is anything else waiting in there, or if it's safe to look around for a minute?”

[apwhite]

Locutus agrees. “You guys took quite a few hits there. I am yet unscathed. I will venture in and investigate. If that is indeed the witch, I doubt she will miss a few items to help the town.”
Locutus calls Ryker and the summoned Wolf and all three enter the hut. Once inside Locutus will carefully search the hut for anything of value.

Spoiler: show

Perception in the hut. (1d20+2=8)

Looking around at the mess the combat left, Locutus surrenders with “Ah man, I can't see a thing in here. What a mess. Might be worth tidying up a bit first, eh?”

[Duniagdra]

Having a much closer look at the skeleton, you note that the body was small. The head seems more doggish and it has a little tail. You begin to think that this is more likely matching the description of a kobold. The brown stone looks to be like it may be worth something.

Searching about the hut yields nothing, but with night setting in fast, you decide this will make for a good camp site. Even after clearing the hut so there's room to bed, you find nothing. Maybe whatever was killed by the cauldron before had found all there is to be found. Illixian calls all of you together and expends all of his channeling to bring everyone but Ryiad to full health. A good night's rest though should be enough for even Ryiad to wake at full health. You turn in for the night, leaving a warm fire just outside the hut opening. By morning you're all awake and refreshed. You spend your morning in prayer, meditation, sword practice, or whatever, and are soon ready to head off. It's now three days and you still have the Dwarf Monastery to reach. The sun's not even up yet when Locutus turns to you and points the way off. Gathering everything together, you all head in the direction he pointed.

Not even a half hour into your journey this morning, you hear a deep voice stammering. The voice sounds drunk.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Where be me ring! Not go home without ring! Dumb ogres think me no so smart. They no smart with brains missing are they now?

He's turning rocks over and shoving massive fallen trees away searching for something. “How I loose it. Ring, where you at? Eama not be happy if you not on me finder - finger.” He's big. As he gets into better view, you find yourselves looking at a drunk hill giant. He's about fifteen feet tall and clearly not something even all of you together should take on. You can see gore still fresh on his spiked club. Even in his current stupor, he's still a serious threat, if not more dangerous. But he apparently very much intent on finding this ring you hear him looking for, and he hasn't seen you yet. You're currently ducking behind a tree, but he's steadily approaching and will surely see you sooner than you'd like.

[BusyCowboy]

Upon hearing the voice, Illixian wanders over and stretches a bit. Startled by what he sees a bit he looks up at the giant “Did you lose something my dear giant? And what is this Eama you speak of? I am sure that me and my friends would be more than happy to help you if you could give more information.” as he points to the others. (Moved to S14)

[Duniagdra]

Having been surprised by the sudden appearance of this little human, the Giant stumbles over a large root that you would have had to climb over. Amazingly, he catches himself before falling over. A large belch rises from the depths of his gullet as he looks up and sees Illlixian standing there.
THINKING: Whas dis? Him taked me rings i bet. “Where you puts me ring little one! Tells me now and I not let you hurt when I eating you.” The giant lumbers forward to Illixian. Suddenly, the big lummox swings his tree/club over his shoulder and slams it to the ground right next to Illixian. You hear a high-pitched squeal emanate from behind him and are overwhelmed by something so foul that you think you might hurl on his feet.
“I wants that ring back little one,” he stammers to Illixian. “Eama not will know. But I will show her it be here.” He's now holding out his ring finger showing where a band of some sort had once been. that finger promptly pierces his left nostril and digs out a chunk of hard mucus. He's swaying to and fro.

[tdsprouse]

“Oh my gods, what is he doing... You gotta be kidding me...”

Ryiad, weary from yesterday's run-in with a little cauldron, is not jumping at the chance to go after a Hill Giant.

He waits to see what the others do...

[marine7312000]

Delastian will move to T15 to back up Illixian.

[tdsprouse]

Ryiad Stealthily moves through the tress to P17 - Stealth (1d20 8=27)

[Duniagdra]

“Oh my gods, what is he doing... You gotta be kidding me...”

Ryiad, weary from yesterday's run-in with a little cauldron, is not jumping at the chance to go after a Hill Giant.

He waits to see what the others do...

Delastian will move to T15 to back up Illixian.

Ryiad Stealthily moves through the tress to P17 - Stealth (1d20 8=27)

With the emergence of Delastian, The giant becomes confused. “Two?” He points to each of you, “One. Two.” His eyes close in a long blink and he sways a moment. “Where you come? You has me ring. Eama get mad and thump me. You take me ring so she do! give it back.” He lunges but instead take hold of the tree to his right and starts to shake it. He's mumbling something incoherent. “I eat you later!” he says to the tree. From the mark left on the tree, you know that had he grabbed you, your body would be laying on the ground now.
Suddenly he sees something at the base of the tree, “My ring!” But when he lifts it, you see it's just a root from that tree that had been exposed. Now the root is torn from the ground. He begins looking about the tree, searching, but not finding what he's looking for.

[apwhite]

Locutus takes a step closer to Drini and whispers “Even inebriated, he is considerably more than we can handle. Perhaps we can trick him into escorting us to the dwarven area.”

[tdsprouse]

“wow”

stealth to S17 while the Giant is distracted by the tree. Stealth (1d20 8=12)

Signal to Del and Illixian to come back.

[BusyCowboy]

Illixian holds up his hand to the others “Now now, we do not have this ring that you are talking about. If we had, we would have been more than glad to give it back to you.” as he sits up on a tree root. “Are you sure those ogres you were talking about didn't take your ring? Maybe you would like us to help you find it? What does it look like?”

[Benji]

Drini, trembling slightly, responds to Locutus. “I'd rather not put my trust in anything that can do THAT to a tree...” He then makes his way through the trees to 017. He stands ready in case something bad happens.

[Duniagdra]

Locutus takes a step closer to Drini and whispers “Even inebriated, he is considerably more than we can handle. Perhaps we can trick him into escorting us to the dwarven area.”

Locutus tries to formulate a plan that could use this inebriated lummox to their advantage.

“wow”

stealth to S17 while the Giant is distracted by the tree. Stealth (1d20 8=12)

Signal to Del and Illixian to come back.

The sound of of a snapping twig causes the giant to whirl around in Ryiad's direction and with unexpected speed, the giant is on him.

Spoiler: show

Grapple (1d20+20=31)

“What you sneak? You have my ring. Hand it over!” The giant starts to shake Ryiad as if this might free the ring from him. Illixian catches the attention of the giant before he's able to hurt Ryiad.

Illixian holds up his hand to the others “Now now, we do not have this ring that you are talking about. If we had, we would have been more than glad to give it back to you.” as he sits up on a tree root. “Are you sure those ogres you were talking about didn't take your ring? Maybe you would like us to help you find it? What does it look like?”

“You not have ring? Why this one sneak then! No, I look in ogres. They no have. That why they dead now. Ring was gone. They laugh. Call me names and make fun of Eama. Not help to find ring, so I tell them to give it. They laugh. I bump them on heads and open them, but not having ring. Eama be very mad if go home not with ring. Maybe you do help, maybe find. I not see well now. All blurry. It round, it hollow for finger go through. Is made of hands. I made myself, she has same. Mine be right hands, she have left.”

Drini, trembling slightly, responds to Locutus. “I'd rather not put my trust in anything that can do THAT to a tree...” He then makes his way through the trees to 017. He stands ready in case something bad happens.

Before Drini can get far, the giant sees him and reaches after him.

Spoiler: show

Grapple (1d20+20=29)

The giant lifts Drini to his face. “Where you go? Why so many you are. You keep coming out from trees, but you not fairies.” Drini and Ryiad look to each other feeling rather uncomfortable in his tight grasp. The giant then gets a look on his face and drops the both of you. He then leans his back to the tree and squats right there. The foulness fills the air forcing you all to back away as a pile grows beneath him. Once done, he strips a fistful of leaves from the tree and wipes. Then he tosses it to the ground. “So you help find ring? I not eat you if you do, though Eama might be more happy if I bring lunch. Might make up for not coming home last night.”

[tdsprouse]

Ryiad exhales at his 2nd near-death experience. Then tries to hold his breath, for a while... eyes watering... he backs up a step and covers his mouth and nose.

He gives Illixian a look that says... THINKING: you had better know what you're doing.


otherwise, Ryiad keeps his mouth shut, not wanting to mess up whatever Illixian has going.

[Benji]

Drini musters the strength to speak to Ryiad.

“Jeez... Gimme cauldrons any day of the week...”

[apwhite]

For the time, Locutus will try to remain unseen and undetected. If need be, he will make a stealthy retreat about 15'. Just enough to remain in earshot of the conversation, and well out of reach of that behemoth.

Spoiler: show

Stealthy withdrawl (1d20+4=9)

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    OK, I do not have my sheet infront of me, I am pretty sure that I have a +4 on stealth, but with a roll like that. It is worth verifying. I will check my sheet in the morning (or Duni can check it tonight). I might need every point I can get.

Knowing that wolves and dogs like to roll around in the most foul of smelling ground delights. Locutus gives Ryker a stern look and a hand command to withdraw as well. He looks Ryker right in the eyes and mouths “Don't even think of rolling in that.”

If my crappy roll gives my position away, I will attempt to bluff the giant into believing that I just arrived on scene.

[marine7312000]

Delastian says “The ring is made of hands? Whose hands?” His voice is deadly serious, as if he is barely restraining himself. However, he seems to not be ready to attack.

[Duniagdra]

Ryiad exhales at his 2nd near-death experience. Then tries to hold his breath, for a while... eyes watering... he backs up a step and covers his mouth and nose.

He gives Illixian a look that says... THINKING: you had better know what you're doing.


otherwise, Ryiad keeps his mouth shut, not wanting to mess up whatever Illixian has going.

A sudden breeze blows through the area, heading northwest, and for a moment takes the foul stench away. Ryiad takes advantage of this by exhaling and taking in a deep full breath of fresh air.

Drini musters the strength to speak to Ryiad.

“Jeez... Gimme cauldrons any day of the week...”

Drini takes advantage of this moment by commenting to Ryiad, but before he has a chance to suck in a breath, the wind changes and he's smacked in the face with the full force of foulness that must be rotting in the bowls of the giant. “Oh! Good God, have mercy!” The giant whirls back to where he heard Driini, but the tree hides him from sight. “Where you go at? Where my Ring?”

For the time, Locutus will try to remain unseen and undetected. If need be, he will make a stealthy retreat about 15'. Just enough to remain in earshot of the conversation, and well out of reach of that behemoth.

Spoiler: show

Stealthy withdrawl (1d20+4=9)

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    OK, I do not have my sheet infront of me, I am pretty sure that I have a +4 on stealth, but with a roll like that. It is worth verifying. I will check my sheet in the morning (or Duni can check it tonight). I might need every point I can get.

Knowing that wolves and dogs like to roll around in the most foul of smelling ground delights. Locutus gives Ryker a stern look and a hand command to withdraw as well. He looks Ryker right in the eyes and mouths “Don't even think of rolling in that.”

If my crappy roll gives my position away, I will attempt to bluff the giant into believing that I just arrived on scene.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    You actually have a +6

The giant hears more motion to his east, but the trees prevent him from seeing the source. “How many here there be? Why you all hide?” The giant looks to Illixian. “I though you say you help, but you friends hide and sneak. I will crush anyone who try anything to me.” The giant, as if emphasizing the period at the end of a sentence, slams his club to the ground. A dent the size and shape of the end of his club remains, about a foot or two deep. “Like bug.”

Delastian says “The ring is made of hands? Whose hands?” His voice is deadly serious, as if he is barely restraining himself. However, he seems to not be ready to attack.

“Who? I not know. They try kill me, but I kill them. I take their hands and dries them. Then I makes them into rings like they shaking. I give one to Eama and one for me. If you say you help, then get looking or I start smash.”

[BusyCowboy]

Illixian thinks for a moment and looks up at the giant “A ring of hands, hmmm...what a very...nice gift. Say, do you think mayhaps you had left it at the place to where you drank? You could also lift me up and I can take a look around for you if you would like, after all, it is difficult to see such a .... wondrous item from way down here....”

He then looks at the giant again and then the others “You need not worry giant, there are several of us here that are WILLING to assist you finding your ring. In fact, they are looking for it now, that is why they are sneaking around”

[tdsprouse]

Ryiad goes through the motions of looking for the Ring, to look busy and avoid being crushed by the Giant's club.

Search the area for Ring (1d20 9=20)