The Misadventures of the Missed Adventurers

[Jack Simth]

Jack "Sorry Narp, that stuff is inimical to magic; the best I could do with it is put some glue on it to hold the dust in place, but I don't have any glue with me. Besides, I'd have to keep leaving it behind every time we teleport or burn the dust out. By the way, Arthur, your robes should be clear of the dust now, it was burned out in the teleport."

Jack "However, I could enchant it to dismantle incoming spells and store the energy to power something. It would even eat dispels. However, I'd set it to ignore my spells, so I could pop it around with us. I could even seal it between the wood backing and the steel coating so it would be safe from dust. However, that would take a few hours, and we don't have the time quite yet. Meanwhile, consider what spell you would like me to put in."

Jack "As for the bug and psi, we may as well leave them here. They're harmless as long as I continue to maintain all three spells. If we bring them, someone could dust them, breaking the holding spells."

ooc:[Of course, someone might come along in the cave, break the binding as well, and then gate them over. We didn't confirm that first mage's death, and it is his cave.]

[ August 11, 2003, 05:52: Message edited by: Jack Simth ]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Narp "well, i was thinking you could manipulate the metal to absorb the dust, but sucking up spells..."

starts muttering to himself about various enchanted shields...

Arther finishes his scrying spell..."There's about a hundred life forms approaching the castle. there's still only thirty there and the baron's turned around. Seems to have broken the psi's control."

ooc:[well, i didn't see that i had much to do. the only things left: mind read psi. can't do. check castle: can't do. teleport to castle: can't do. defend castle: can do. squeek like a mouse: can do. and if he's gonna take a few hours to think...]

[ August 12, 2003, 08:02: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

[Krsqk]

Arthur "Okay, I think we should leave for the manor house. The hundred presumed bandits are about 4 minutes out, while the baron and his men are closer to 20 or even 30. Jack, how about taking us back? Not to the workroom, either; I don't want to deal with the dust anytime soon."

John "The dining hall should be fine, as it's usually deserted around this time of night. We eventually need to head for the courtyard, but I don't want to risk appearing there in the midst of any guards that are left. Most the castle has heard rumors now that three ghosts are visiting the baron." He shakes his head. "The problem with most of these peasant folk is that they're so superstitious. Seeing magic in action does more to increase their superstition rather than lessen it. They just don't understand that magic is an orderly art, not a haphazard jumbling of mystical reagents and mumblings."

Three seconds later, the party is back in the dining hall, which is dark and deserted.

[ August 14, 2003, 04:47: Message edited by: Krsqk ]

[Jack Simth]

Jack retrieves Narp's shield with his spacewarp, while D lights his staff again.

Jack (as he hands Narp his shield) "While I could possibly manipulate the metal, I wouldn't be able to manipulate it where it's needed - touching the dust. If the dust were removed, I altered the metal, and then the dust were reapplied, I couldn't re-seal the metal without ruining the dust. This is one of those applications where it's actually much simpler to use a normal method. However, it should still stop a spell or two as is."

Under the light from D's staff, the dining room comes into view. Everything has been cleaned up and put away, although there is a slight lingering scent of the Last meal: roast duck. The red velvet chairs at the Baron's table have all been neatly tucked in under the tablecloth, which has a detailed scene depicting a silver knight, clad head to toe in shining plate, doing battle with with a large green dragon, wings spread and belching flame. The benches at the rough-hewn servants' table, worn smooth from years of use, have been slid under the table, without ceremony, and fresh straw has been lain on the floor.

Jack "Narp, how do we go about organizing a defense?"

[ August 14, 2003, 07:18: Message edited by: Jack Simth ]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

ooc:[i'm assuming the manor has a central turret which is the highest and then a lower wizard's tower and that the walls have lower tower's.]

Narp "mumble mumble. mumble. general mumble high ground mumble. defensive mumble mumble."

"Ok, Jack, John, Arther, D. D, you make all of us invisible, then we go up to the top of the center tower. two of you face the woods on the right, two of you face the woods on the left. If the bandits have any kind of leader, and we can't assume they don't, they'll attack all along the wall, then concentrat some of there forces on the weak points. Their greatest advantage is suprise, so Jack, you send a golem at the bandits. make sure no-one in the manor knows where it comes from, since we don't know their attitude towards us. we don't need it to do much damage, just reveal their presence. Since they'll have flour to, it probably won't anyway. Then, when the bandits are fully engaged, you all start bLasting at their rear ranks so there's no friendly fire. At that point, it won't matter so much when we reveal ourselves. I know the towers are in the way, but work around them. I'll give suggestions as nessasary."

ooc:[feel free to stick strategetic type words in Narp's mouth.]

[ August 14, 2003, 08:24: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

[Jack Simth]

Jack teleports everyone to the roof of the central tower, and then retrieves Narp's shield via spacewarp. The view from the tower would be splendid, if only it was light out. Jack teleports in a bunch of sand for the golem.

Jack "Let's see...."

Jack creates a golem from the sand he teleported in, but this isn't quite a standard golem; its left arm is thin and jagged, with no hand. It looks suspiciously like a saw blade.

Jack "There - that should get them noticed."

Jack (to golem) "Cut tree limbs off of the trees in that forest and drop those tree limbs on the bandit army in that forest from high above. Dodge anything sent your way. Do not enter any clouds of dust."

Hearing its command, the golem starts to fly off to the forest, but Jack intervens and teleports it to just above the tree line. The golem ducks into the trees, and a few moments later, low thuds and faint screams can be heard from that direction.

Jack brings in more sand and starts repeating the procedure....

Jack "That arm can't bend much - I had to reenforce it to make it hard enough to saw wood. But then again, it doesn't need to bend much."

[ August 16, 2003, 06:34: Message edited by: Jack Simth ]

[Krsqk]

The forest did not come up to the castle walls--such a state would allow enemies to approach unnoticed. It did, however, come close enough that Jack's golems could harass the bandits until they were within two and a half bowshots from the castle. Those closest to the leader were staying fairly close together with shields held above their heads; several on the edges were dragging; and a few had thrown down their weapons and were in flight, cursing the "haunted" woods. All told, there were still eighty-five or ninety fighting men, several with slight wounds. Most were armed with swords, although eight or ten sergeants carried halberds.

The bandits had gladly left the cover of the wood and its assault of branches, finding it was still dark enough not to be seen. They had slowly advanced up the hill toward the manor house, stopping about a bowshot away for some brief instructions from their lieutenant, right around the time the party teleported to the central tower.

As the bandits resume their approach, several explosions occur behind them. When they turn around, a force wall sweeps through the group a foot from the ground, knocking dozens off their feet. A few try to run, but are stopped by a gruff word from their commander. They form ranks and head for the wall double-time, silently preparing for the attack.

[ August 17, 2003, 01:45: Message edited by: Krsqk ]