The protective spells are cast, people are reduced, and Rage teleports you...
...and you suddenly materialise in the middle of a rag-tag hobgoblin camp in the middle of a gale. The wind is hurricane force, and Rage is immediately blown sprawling to the ground, landing beside the hobgoblin with the flame tongue. The miniaturised party members - all weighing on the order of 5lbs +/- - are knocked flying...and sent tumbling away by the wind.
All about you are hobgoblins, taking whatever shelter they can find from the wind and the rain. You see them hiding behind trees, behind rocks and under the lee of a bank. You see several ogres as well. Nearby is a river, swelling its banks. Little Sasha is rolling dangerously close to it, now, unable to stop...
While you are all invisible, the hobgoblin with the flame tongue must have heard something when Rage landed beside him, for he looks about wildly and draws the shortsword, while giving a cry of alarm. As to whether anyone but the mage hears the alarm is moot, for others near him see his actions and start drawing their weapons, too.
Kadlian draws his swords quietly and tries to move close to Rage. The wind catches him and throws him against an exposed rock, for 4 hit points of damage.
Zanax, as soon as he gets a decent footing, dispels the reducing spell with his holy avenger. Zanax becomes full grown and visible. You cannot tell if any of the cleric's protective magics were dispelled as well. Zanax simply reactivates his invisibility after sheathing his holy avenger. He then goes after Sasha, using his frost brand's detect good to locate her as she tumbles toward the river.
However, in the moment that he is visible, he is seen by the hobgoblins. Several try to go after him, only to be sent sprawling by the wind and rain.
Jerry intones, "Silvanus, please dispel the magic that is afflicting us at this moment," as he casts dispel magic on a leaf.
Kadlian tries to say something, but the wind drowns out his voice. Hlarn thinks something at him, but Jerrold does not catch that, either. The druid completes his spell.
Zanax becomes visible again, as do Jerrold, Kadlian, Agulhas, Sian and Sasha. Jerrold, Sian, Sasha and Agulhas grow to their normal size.
Jerry transforms into a black bear.
As Rage starts to cancel the reduction spells that she cast on the various party members, the hobgoblin beside her lashes out blindly with the flame tongue and lands a lucky hit for 13 hit points of damage.
Sian draws swords and quickly tries to get into a good attacking position. However, he is knocked to the ground for 2 hit points, landing up against a hobgoblin. Fortunately for the ranger, the wind and rain keep the humanoid from decapitating him on the spot.
Kailar ends the reduce spells of the people he reduced, and everyone is full-sized again.
Sasha is clutching a rock by the edge of the river bank, unable to do anything else at the moment.
Right now, Zanax, Jerrold, Kadlian, Agulhas, Sian and Sasha are visible. Rage, Hlarn and Kailar are not. The enemy have noticed the visible ones at least, but fortunately for you the wind prevents them from doing much as well.
Zanax draws his frost brand and turns invisible. One of the hobgoblins near him makes it to his feet and swings his word wildly, coming nowhere near the paladin. The other hobgoblin does likewise.
Kailar casts a phantasmal killer on the hobgoblin with the flame tongue.
The hobgoblin seems to be unaffected by the gnome's magic.
Kailar turns invisible again.
Kadlian strikes out at any opponent close to him. There is one, and the ranger kills it handily. He then makes his way towards the hobgoblin with the flame tongue. Once again, the wind knocks him down.
Jerry roars in his black bear form and tries to start swatting as many hobgoblins as possible. However, a strong gust of wind strikes him and lands the bear flat on his back for 5 hit points of damage. Two hobgoblins are on the bear instantly, hacking him for a further 16 hit points.
Sian will tries to kill the hob in front of him. He does this easily. He then works his way to a rock to protect him from the wind and rain. Once there, he surveys what is about.
He yells something over to Hlarn, but the wind drowns out his voice.
The hobgoblin swings his flame tongue again at Rage, but this time the blade - flickering erratically - merely cuts through thin air.
Kadlian crawls towards the hobgoblin with the flame tongue.
Even on all fours, the ranger makes but slow progress towards Rage's last observed position.
Zanax attacks the nearest hobgoblin with his frost brand, becoming visible. The frost blade, out in the rain, is quickly covered in a layer of ice. Losing its balance, the weapon strikes only a glancing blow on a hobgoblin, showering it in ice. The worst is yet to come, though, as Zanax loses his grip on the frost brand when it bounces off of the hob's shoulder, and the sword goes sailing into the river.
Hlarn shakes his head about doing anything about the weather, and moves to protect Rage as best he can so that she can work her magics. However, when he gets to where she was, all that is there is an angry hobgoblin with a slightly flickering flame tongue. The hobgoblin is standing - barely - but fans badly with the weapon. Hlarn swings his axe and lops a hobgoblin arm off. He swings again and misses.
Jerry's form shimmers as he transforms to an eagle and takes to the air. The howling wind takes the bird and sends it smashing head first into the trunk of a nearby tree. The eagle's neck is broken instantly and Jerrold dies.
Noticing the eagle getting whipped about in the air, Sian raises an eyebrow. He then moves towards the nearest hob keeping to the trees and rocks. He finds little cover, though, and is sent reeling into a tree for 4 hit points.
From his new location he tries to get Zanax's attention. Doing so, he points to his head.
Kailar casts a shadow monsters spell and causes the illusion of one rust monster to appear. He then sends it after the hobgoblins.
Suddenly Rage becomes visible some 50' away from her previous location and atop a low bank, as she unloads some magic missiles. She kills 8 hobgoblins with four spells.
From not very far away, you hear the crack of splintering wood, and a large old tree crashes to the ground.
Kadlian continues to crawl towards the hobgoblin with the flame tongue.
Hlarn again moves over as best he can to Rage's position, whacking any hobs that are in his way and making motions with his hands to indicate a boom (ala fireball).
As soon as he turns away from the one-armed hobgoblin, the monster bounces his flame tongue off of the dwarf's back. A gust of wind sends him sprawling, and he lands under Kadlian's oft-broken nose. The elf raises his sword to smite the enemy but a stronger gust strikes him, and instead he is knocked down again, to land atop the hobgoblin, killing him.
Kadlian triumphantly regains his flame tongue.
Rage casts a fireball from her staff centered on the highest concentration of hobs. She has her globe up, so any backlash should protect her.
The fireball erupts, but what with the rain and wind, it is one of the sorriest fireballs you have ever seen. Still, it is sufficient to knock off another score of hobgoblins, and singe an ogre.
Kailar casts a spectral force of a water elemental coming out of the river and have it start attacking hobgoblins.
The battle - such as it is - continues for the rest of the morning. The hobgoblins - their leader slain - would rather run than fight under such conditions, and you spend the time chasing them down. By the time you are done, you have each suffered the following additional damage from falls, melee, crashing trees and limbs, etc:
The river has overflowed its banks, and the forest is alive with the sounds of falling trees. The storm appears to be strengthening.
Of the enemy, the party of hobgoblins and ogres seemed to be smaller than the one hundred or so that you originally expected to meet. Perhaps the group had split up before you arrived. Whatever the case, you turn up no signs of Kadlian's other magical accutrements.
Kadlian sighs. "Rage, get us out of here. Someone grab whatever is left of Jerry."
However, Jerrold's bird-body has been kicked into the river at some point and is lost for good.
Rage looks at the sky and sighs, "First let's lash you all together so that hen you are reduced, you don't get blown away.
"Did we lose Zanax's sword?"
Zanax lays on hands himself for 18 hps of healing. After a pause, he then turns invisible and heads downstream looking for a 10' globe of ice! He's hoping it washed up over the riverbank not too far away.
He is soon out of your sight.
"We will give Zanax five more minutes. He said he would contact me."
You wait five minutes. Still nothing from the paladin. The storm continues unabated.
"Just a second folks, let me see if I can reach him." Kadlian tries to send a message to Zanax.
Hlarn looks at the elf. "How are you contacting him?"
"Telepathically. He contacted me before he left to find his sword and told me to leave him if the storm got worse. While it is not, it is not getting any better, either. We can wait a few more minutes, but there is not much to be gained. He could be within twenty feet of here and we might not know it."
Hlarn nods. "Remember that his telepathy only works when he wills it. You can't initiate contact with him unless he is in constant contact with you already."
"Yes, I know. I thought we had agreed that he would stay in contact with me, but if he has lost consciousness, then he would be unavailable."
The dwarf moves toward the water and casts locate object (frost blade) working on the assumption that it would sink before getting a coating of any sort of ice.
He senses nothing within spell range.
Kadlian looks around and sighs. "Get us out of here, Rage."
The shrinking spells are cast, and you teleport back to the secret room.
When the sword retreival party returns to the secret room, they find Furgh and Gnarsh there. Both of them look rather beaten up...but the treasure pile has grown considerably.
"Hey," says Gnarsh to Sasha. "Heal me."
Sasha snaps out of her reverie and quickly goes to Gnarsh's side, laying hands on him gently and praying to Isis for healing ...
"Heyas," Furgh adds with a grin. "Find the Boss's toys?"
"Gents you have been busy," Rage says as she moves to the crystal ball. She will try to find Zanax, the frost brand and the holy avenger each in turn.
"Nothin' the alleged Castallen of Borderland Keep, a metalic ozone gun totin' Desperado, and one with the strength of 6 elves, couldn't handle," Furgh replies.
He grins slightly. "Though those damn walls are hard, donchaknow."
He moves slightly to relieve pressure on his side, and winces a bit.
"Have to remember to check the weather next time. and come up with a better plan," Rage mutters as she looks in the crystal ball.
"That don't sound promisin'," Furgh says. "What'd ya do with His Holiness and the hormone druid?"
"We landed in the middle of gale force winds and his druidness tried to turn into an Eagle. Not smart, broke his neck. His paladiness is looking for his frostbrand, when we lost contact with him," replies Rage as she seeks with the crystal ball.
The elf frowns unhappily, at news of Jerry's demise.
"Indeed. And then his body got washed away."
"There's still a wish in the ring, neh?" he offers.
"I hate to say this, but let us wait until we have recovered Zanax before going that avenue. We might need the wish to get back Jerry and Zanax the way things have been going."
"Zanax lost his sword too?" he adds, amazed.
He shakes his head slightly. "Probably the holy blade tired a playin' Second fiddle."
He chuckles.
"Well, he tried to wield his frostblade in a hurricane and lost his grip. We all had a tough time staying on our feet. And we only got back my flametongue. We never did find my frostbrand."
The elf shakes his head. "God this place has the worst weather," he says. "Spring was just like that too."
"Strange weather and strange happenings. So what did you and Gnarsh spar with that left you both so battered?"
Furgh rubs one bruised shoulder ruefully.
"Not sure what it was. Some kinda guardian I'd guess. Was hard ta see, 'til I put up the detection spell. Sorta looked like a great big tornado."
Sasha looks up from healing Gnarsh momentarily, muttering, "Geez ... you are worse off than I first thought. I think you will need a stronger healing spell my friend," she says to him.
She invokes another spell, stronger healing magics this time and waits to see her results before turning her attention to Furgh.
He chuckles suddenly. "Guess we all had are bad weather ta deal with, neh?"
"Was tossin' us around like rag dolls..." He pauses, then grins at the half-orc. "Well, tossin' me around, anyway... the big guy managed ta keep his feet. Whatever it was... Gnarsh layed inta it with his sword, and ol' B-9 gave it a few good zaps, while I distracted it by lettin' it throw me about the room... And eventually it went away."
"Distracted it ... by letting it throw you around the room. That is a rather unique approach." Sasha smiles. "Will you need me as well or can you manage?" she asks.
"Th' more th' merrier," says Gnarsh.
"Hey, ya do what we can for the team," he replies with a wince. "I think my entire right side is already startin' ta turn inta one big bruise from where I hit the wall. Kinda pretty... in a painful sorta way. "
He grins. "Would appear we elves don't bounce as well as one might like."
"Gonna be hell come mornin'," he adds ruefully.
"Another air elemental of some sort?"
Furgh shrugs. "Didn't look like the last one. Somethin' different, I'd hazard, but related most likely."
Kadlian nods. "Best be careful next time you go down there. It may, too, have gone to nurse its wounds."
The elf looks thoughtful. "Figured it was sent back to whatever plane it came from... but I s'pose ya might be right... coulda just went ta lick its wounds."
"Have you two been mapping the areas you have explored?"
Gnarsh shrugs, then winces.
Sasha urges Gnarsh to settle down while the healing takes effect.
"Just been pokin' around," he says. "All them cleric's bedrooms has good stuff in 'em."
Sasha raises a brow, "Indeed? Perhaps I should accompany you next time and see what there is to see. It's not fair that you guys are having all the fun ... I have to admit, I could think of better things to do than cling to a rock in a raging river during a storm ... "
"More the merrier." Furgh says with a grin. "Though I dunno 'bout that ragin' river thing... I heard people pay good money ta do that sorta thing in some places."
He chuckles. "Granted, usually they get a boat first."
"Sasha, please also see to Furgh's wounds. And then you and Hlarn can see to the rest of us. With Kal and Equinox off in the storm and Jerry visiting his God, you two are the only healers left."
Kadlian uses his two cure light wound spells on Gnarsh.
"'Tanks," says Gnarsh. "I needs t'train."
"Well, Sir, when you assume your position, you can have your men at arms teach you for free. Or somewhat free. You will already be paying their salaries, after all. Of course, if you wish to wander down to Sandas, I am sure we could get the Baron to pay for it."
Gnarsh looks thoughtful, upon hearing Kadlian's words.
Furgh nods. "No need ta map out nothin' new yet, all been on the map we got. We've just been scopin' out the areas we hadn't gone to yet."
He will point out the places they've been checking out on the map Sasha recopied from Zanax's backside. "Seem ta be mostly livin' quarters, and that sort a thing."
"Good idea. No signs of any prisoners?"
Furgh shakes his head. "Not yet, but I'm keepin' a careful eye out. Tonight, I'm gonna try and scribe this ESP spell into my book, so tomorrow I can maybe pick up a thought or two if there's any outside a where we're lookin'. Maybe zero in one someone in need, so ta speak."
He grins. "But I'm takin' the lack of prisoners as a good thing for the nonce."
"I agree."
He pauses, then glances over at Gnarsh. "'Less you was lookin' ta take a break tomorrow?"
Gnarsh shrugs.
"Depends on how well we is by then."
"And how have you been finding all this treasure? Blind luck or is B-9 capable of detecting it?"
"Well... Ya see a door. Ya ponder what's on the other side. Ya get yer big half-orc ta kick 'er down. Ya see a big chest. Ya wonder what might be in 'er. Ya get yer nimble elf ta open 'er up. Ya see treasure. Ya get yer big metal robot ta help carry it."
"Voila." He grins spreading his hands. "We elves are notoriously good at this treasure huntin' stuff. All a matter a delegatin' tasks to the one most suited."
Kadlian grins. "Then I would say I have done an admirable job leaving it your three hands."
"Better then traipsin' around in hurricanes, I'd wager," Furgh grins back.
Kadlian chuckles. "No argument from me. Believe me, getting slammed into rocks and tress while trying to swing a sword is not my idea of a good time."
"The way our luck has been going, I am seriously considering throwing my lot in with you three."
Furgh grins.
"Lots a swords around," He agrees. "If that's yer main motivation."
Kadlian chuckles and draws the shortsword to look at it again. "Just this one. I have a special distaste for undead and this sword is a bane to them. The frostbrand, much as I will miss its heft, can be replaced by another longsword. Although I did like the fire and ice combination."
"Thought the two were counteractin' each other?" Furgh says. "At least you could never get that sword to flame up, while ya were holdin' the other, right?"
He shrugs. "Maybe they weren't meant ta be used in tandem."
"Well, the frostbrand chills everything in a certain radius which is why I could not ignite the flametongue. But, its magical properties were still active. It still has a taste for undead creatures."
"Ya but you were losin' all the intimidation value of bearin' down on some poor sod with blade blazin'." He grins. "I'd know I'd think twice if I saw someone like that comin' at me, donchaknow."
Kadlian grins. "True. I had not really considered the intimidation factor."
Sasha chuckles softly, shaking her head. "Indeed? Intimidation is a wonderful tool at times ... quite powerful if done correctly."
"Any luck?" Furgh peeks over Rage's shoulder at the crystal ball.
Zanax is cowering behind a rock, seeking shelter from the storm. He has his avenger.
You see a sphere of ice, nearly submerged in the flooding river, jammed against a tree that has fallen into the water.
It is almost dark.
Hlarn nods. "Well, while it wasn't a total loss, we should have taken a little more time to view the surroundings before teleporting in. We won't be so careless next time."
Hlarn looks at Rage and the other spell casters. "Same procedure tomorrow. We'll go after Zanax and his frost brand, then finally go for the last frost brand and then finish up the Black Keep, if Gnarsh and Furgh leave anything to do there."
Rage shakes her head, "No. Wrong. We will make a decision based on the situation."
The mage looks to Kailar, "Will Sir teleport Zanax back tonight for us? He will freeze out there without help. And quickly."
"What do we have to offer him? I don't think he likes Zanax too much, so it might be harder bargaining."
"We have nothing here that I know of. But, when we get to Sandas, he can live on fish for a week if that is what he wishes. I will personally take him to the market to pick the ones he wants."
"I'm not sure what he would like? Fish, treasure, a night of kitty pleasure?" Rage says. "See what it will cost, and I will pay."
"I'll give it a try."
"Try hard, please Kailar." Rage says, her voice unexpectedly soft. "I know what it is like to be cold and alone."
As Kailar turns to his cat, it suddenly disappears.
"I can only hope that meant that Sir agreed to go find Zanax and bring him back."
Kailar sighs. "I don't think so. We'd better be prepared to fetch Zanax ourselves."
"The cat ain't been out there, has he?" Furgh asks. "So he probably couldn't fetch His Holiness, even if he'd wanted to. Assumin' he has ta see a place ta go to 'er... like Rage does."
Sasha looks up, having expended her healing for today on Gnarsh and Furgh and whomever else needed it ...
"I will be sure to be ready to heal Zanax should we be sucessful in getting him back in the morning ... I only hope it isn't too late for him," she says softly.
Sasha and Kadlian have healed Gnarsh and Furgh for 16 hit points and 15, respectively.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," Furgh says, optomistically. "I got stuck on a mountain peek in ten feet of snow for almost a day once, in less then I'm wearing now."
He shakes his head slightly at the memory. "Might be outta commission for a while from the exposure... but shouldn't kill him. You priestly types should be able ta fix him right up with a bit a time."
He smiles encouragingly.
"Has he tried contactin' anyone with that brain power a his?"
"No."
"Rage, settle down and get some sleep. If Zanax does survive the night, he is going to need you tomorrow."
"Kailar, why do you believe that Sir did not go after Zanax?"
"I will go at first light," says the mage. "It will be an in and out trip for me."
Kadlian nods.