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Topic: Forgotten Realms: The Unsung Heroes
Subject: Talus the fearful
Talus watched as Xaris broke for Bolikar, charging headlong at the towering ogrillion, and tried desperately to force his senses to quickly hone in on the giant, find the piece of equipment he could use as the focus for another assault. Alas, things of this nature can not be rushed and the warlock could only watch helplessly as Xaris and the brute exchanged blows.Then Xaris was on the ground. Nothing ever lasted long going blow for blow with Xaris, and Talus was sure Bolikar would be missing an appendage soon, the way the gnome had been screaming as he charged, but in only seconds Xaris was down. Only two, maybe three hits and Xaris had dropped, his body contorted weirdly at the waist. No one should have been able to do that to the gnome, especially not that quickly.
Panic froze Talus in place. A dull ache had formed at the base of his neck where he imagined Bolikar would strike with Skull Cleaver, driving down to the opposite hip and ending the warlock's life by removing a third of his torso. He wanted to unleash his fury on Bolikar and his foul army, sending them back into the pits they crawled from. He wanted to sweep Xaris away and deny the giant this small victory. He wanted to turn and run away, but he couldn't look away from the scene of Xaris' death unfolding before him.
The warlock's trance was broken as one of soldiers they had been fighting to reach burst through the goblin line, charging down on Bolikar. He flew straight into the ogrillion unseating himself from his horse, but knocking the monster over as well.
Talus saw his way out and started edging his way toward the open gate. Almost as if she knew what the warlock planned, Linnix cried out, "Talus! We need to bring down that orc!" and began firing arrows at the prone creature.
He regarded Linnix for a moment, nocking another arrow and refusing to give in. Aelistae was stumbling toward Xaris, relying heavily on Dylan's guidance, and Artanis was recovering from that electric explosion from her shield, readying herself for more battle.
"We're all going to die here... I'm going to die." Talus whispered to himself as he took a step toward Linnix and, against his better judgment, targeted the fallen ogrillion with an eldritch blast.
Posted on 2008-12-07 at 23:15:26.
Edited on 2008-12-07 at 23:21:46 by Deucalion
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: Woot
My weekly game is on hiatus this week, so this timing is perfect.
The world paused at a high stress moment and I'm very looking forward to finishing Bolikar off.
Posted on 2008-11-30 at 20:03:33.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: unlikely
with the way their forces looked before combat started it's probably closer to 3.5 or 5.0% of them that we've killed.
Posted on 2008-11-14 at 11:24:42.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: The Unsung Heroes
Subject: Talus
The first salvo, with the help of a fireball launched from an unknown third party, was more of a success than Talus had thought it would be. Not only had they visibly injured Bolikar, but know the giant was down from his rooftop where he could bolster his troops.
Spewing curses, the huge man slowly lifted himself back to his feet and drew the largest axe Talus had ever laid eyes on. It was a massive double-headed monstrosity and Bolikar was waving it back and forth with relative ease.
Talus didn't want to let their offensive momentum slow so quickly but he also didn't want to single himself out to Bolikar any more than he already had, especially now that that axe had entered the picture. Taking another approach, the warlock forced his vision to attune to the subtle emanations produced whenever the Weave was called on or manipulated. He focused his ability to Detect Magic on Bolikar, looking for anything the enormous brute was wearing that did not show signs of being magical. He knew, even before invoking the power, that the axe mostly likely had been enchanted, but he started his sweep there anyway before moving on to more likely objects.
Posted on 2008-11-14 at 09:54:15.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: Sorry Ginafae
Talus is a little naive.
I wanted to blast the priestess. I started the post planning on shooting her...
I'm glad you've got Linnix helping out, 'cause I have no idea what Talus is doing now.
Posted on 2008-11-10 at 08:54:21.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: The Unsung Heroes
Subject: Talus
Talus forced his way through the last line in the goblin ring surrounding Artanis, Xaris and Intella, and turned to pull Bart through behind him. The farmer had received a painful blow to the side of the head following Talus' plan and the warlock was going to make sure that he didn't get any more punishment along the way.
Bart was safe, for now, and the group was reunited, so Talus turned his focus back to the snarling throng around them and began to seek out any sources of leadership. His search was cut short by a sharp cry from above. Looking up and saw Aelistae flutter back from the other drow. Something was not right. If it was possible for a flying creature to stumble, that's what he saw the Priestess of Eilistraee doing.
That other drow had done something horrible to Aelistae, and needed to be put down. It was evil just like all the stories and rumors had said...
******
Good and Evil do not truly exist. At a fundamental level, there is no good or evil in the universe; everything just... is. It is perception that frames reality and Good and Evil are based on that perception. Therefore if you perceive something as good, then to *you* it is good. If you perceive something as evil, then to *you* it is evil. We can choose our own frame of reality or we can choose to follow the frame set by another and conform to his potentially flawed perception of good and evil.
To consider something better than or worse than, good or evil, is a judgment. Evil, if it exists, is simply something of inferior quality when compared to something better; a lesser good is considered evil when compared to a greater good. When there is no judgment, there is no consideration of something being better or worse than another thing. Everything is accepted equally, as it is.
Don't judge me, my son. See what I do, what your mother does, simply as it is: we are expanding the power of the Mukesh line and ensuring its longevity. One day you will be able to throw off the frame of reality imposed upon you by the fearful, those who would pretend to be your friends. They call this evil because they do not have the courage to take the power it can lead to for themselves and would deny you the chance to claim it for yourself.
Until that day, when you can judge for yourself, do not try to pass another's judgment as your own.
******
... but if she's like the drow in all the stories, then shouldn't she have Bolikar working for her instead of vice versa? She wouldn't have shown herself... she doesn't fit the framework.
Maybe Bolikar has her under some sort of enchantment. If we can destroy him and free her maybe she can become an ally for Aelistae, another example of drow breaking free from the perceptions of their race.
Talus raised a hand toward the giant form standing on the rooftop above them and released a blast of arcane energy, hoping that he could fell the Master before the Servant was forced to bring more harm to his friends.
Posted on 2008-11-10 at 08:46:50.
Edited on 2008-11-10 at 08:49:38 by Deucalion
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: Metagame
I've got a couple options that I've been considering but I can't decide which one most greatly helps our side. As long as we're opening up the metagame can-o-worms...
A) The drow priestess is within range of Talus' eldritch blast, so I could throw 3d6 her direction, but that would probably only work once since she could just levitate/fly up a bit and be out of harm's way... although she may not know she's hovering right at the edge of the spell's effective range
B) If Bolikar looks like he's going to throw any more rocks I could shatter them just after he hurls them down at us... the catch here is that it'll only work if the stone weighs 60lb or less and if it fails I've wasted a ready-action for nothing
C) Ignore the big bads, and just keep down what I'm doing to keep the minions at bay.
Does anyone have anything we can use to capitalize on the light-sensitivity of the drow and the orcs?
EDIT:
Kaelyn, If you're not a fan of the combat strategizing OOC, lemme know and I'll gut this post and refrain from adding more.
Posted on 2008-11-05 at 10:08:03.
Edited on 2008-11-05 at 10:09:51 by Deucalion
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: Tactics: Moving Around in Squares
How big of a boulder was it? 50-60lb range, or much, much bigger?
The drow is 60' up. Is she almost directly above our current position, or is she floating off to the side a bit?
I'm curious to see how much of a thorn Talus can be in the side of the BBEGs, or if he's stuck roasting the minions.
Posted on 2008-11-03 at 21:29:30.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: Proverb
Should be an interesting few rounds.
I just hope it's not the "May you live in interesting times." kind of interesting.
Posted on 2008-11-02 at 20:20:32.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: DA's back!
Yay! Welcome back.
Good Timing.
Posted on 2008-10-27 at 19:31:27.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: Patron-izing
I'm mostly just worried about Bart. Linnix has tumble checks to avoid the dreaded AoO, Dylan's got his new puppy to take them for him, and I've got DR 3/cold iron so I'll be alright until somebody crits. But with the number of attacks they're making in a round, a crit isn't too far away and I'm afraid it's going to hit Bart. There goes the NPC quest-giver.
What happens if the sponsor bites the dust... can his team still finish the mission and collect in his name?
Posted on 2008-10-25 at 09:18:38.
Edited on 2008-10-25 at 09:32:13 by Deucalion
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: tactically sound?
All the squishies and Linnix are going try to force their way through the goblinoid ranks...
I'm not sure if this is going to be a comedy or a tragedy.
Posted on 2008-10-25 at 09:03:09.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: The Unsung Heroes
Subject: Talus
"Well, this is... not ideal." Talus mumbled as he scanned the snarling goblins cutting him off from the others who had fought their way toward the center of the enemy ranks. He couldn't see any way to get through the three-deep line forming between him and the more proficient fighters. The crude weapons the goblins and orcs were using hadn't been able to inflict any serious wounds yet, but Talus knew that one of the dozens of spears and clubs would eventually strike true. Unless someone did something soon the battle, or at least this corner of it, would be over.
Thankfully, before he could let himself consider fleeing, Dylan finished his spell. A ring, inscribed with unknown sigils, flashed on the ground briefly next to him and golden hued wolf appeared in a swell of bright sparks. Immediately after the summons completed the creature leaped out to attack with Dylan right beside it. They hit the goblinoid wall side-by-side, inciting just the frenzy Talus was hoping for.
"Come on, Bart, can't stay here... we've got to move. We won't last long away from the others. Linnix, you coming?"
The warlock clapped his new patron on the back and turned to follow Dylan and the bard's new friend, taking a hoping step to pull the dagger from his boot. He wasn't very good with the blade, but he had to admit sometimes it did the job a lot faster than conjuring up his arcane powers.
He moved up in line behind Dylan and let fly an eldritch blast over the bard's shoulder.
Arcane powers can have their place, too.
((Talus will try to down the goblin in the 2nd row behind Dylan's target, unless Dylan isn't having any luck at all, in which case he'll help the bard with the first row bugger.))
Posted on 2008-10-23 at 21:58:33.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: yay
Glad he sounds interesting. I wasn't sure at first how to describe being able to cast spells at will. No studying, no meditation, no prep at all... they just can.
Warlocks have fascinated me since Complete Arcane first came out. They'll have, by 20th level, access to only 12 spells. They could take feats to expand that number by 1/feat, but they still don't have anywhere near the selection of any other class. Any they can only trade powers at 6th, 11th, and 16th levels so whatever invocations they pick, they're probably staying with for along time.
Lots of planning involved in the creation of a warlock, and for me, planning is almost as fun as playing. I've got easily a half dozen characters made up that will never see use and most of the ones I do play with have alternate "What If" versions when I couldn't decide about feat or spell selection.
...
< /end_tangent>
I'm pleased that the choice is entertaining.
Posted on 2008-10-14 at 02:46:03.
Edited on 2008-10-14 at 02:47:11 by Deucalion
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Topic: Kaelyn's Possible Down Time
Subject: yeh
..and hopefully not a forced retirement due to stress.
Posted on 2008-10-14 at 02:18:09.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: Appendix A
I had to go look a lot of this crunchy stuff up, so most of the following is for my own benefit for later (when i forget again)...
The Will save for Talus' Baleful Utterance should be 14*. If it fails the object shatters and the creature holding it is dazed for 1 round and deafened for 10. If it succeeds, nothing happens and I'll need to change the last two paragraphs of my last post.
Range is 35 (25+5/2levels)
*10 + 2(spell level equivalent) + 2(charisma)
Posted on 2008-10-13 at 10:00:24.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: The Unsung Heroes
Subject: Talus
Talus drew near to Linnix and Aelistae and caught the priestess' hissed warning of snipers. He scanned the treeline but his magic-enhanced vision didn't extend that far and he couldn't make out anything distinct in the shadows. He wouldn't be able do anything about the archers from here and, without knowing how many hid in the trees, running back across the open ground to deal with them could very well be suicide.
Frustrated that he could do nothing about the distant enemy threatening his friends, Talus turned his rage to the nearest goblin. He wanted to make the goblin simply disappear, take away any ability it had to inflict harm on others. He pointed his finger at the foul creature as it ran toward the invading dark elf, and prepared to blast the wretch into the Abyss.
Unaware it had been singled out by another opponent, the goblin took another step toward its drow enemy and began to swing it crude club wildly. That club drew Talus' attention at the same moment he intended to release a blast of eldritch power at the repulsive creature. Instead of the familiar twisting purple ray springing from his finger, a single foreign syllable forced itself from his lips, "Diri!"
((The following may need an edit, depending on saves, etc.))
The power contained within that sound coalesced in the goblin's club and the wood seemed unable to contain it for it simply broke apart into a hundred pieces, leaving the goblin staring dumbfounded at his empty hands.
Confident that the now unarmed goblin posed no further threat to Linnix and Aelistae, Talus turned his attention to the group trying to close the gates, raining his eldritch powers down upon them until they abandon their efforts to secure the gates.
((Cast Baleful Utterance at the goblin nearest Aelistae. If needed, cast defensively. Then eldritch blast and nearest thing trying to close the gates in the next round.))
Posted on 2008-10-13 at 09:46:45.
Edited on 2008-10-13 at 09:58:17 by Deucalion
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: a question of inches
when Aelistae points out the "enemy" snipers, what's the distance between us and them?
and how close is Talus to the mass of goblinoids?
Posted on 2008-10-10 at 10:32:43.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: archers
If any ranged defenders do show up on the walls, I plan to shatter their plans... literally. Baleful Utterance.
I couldn't resist the pun.
Posted on 2008-10-03 at 09:03:04.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: The Unsung Heroes
Subject: Talus - EDIT
The keep's northern gate erupted in a fiery explosion and chaos broke loose inside the fort. Goblins and orcs scattered and the glowing visage of Bolikar shouted down orders to his panicked troops. For some of the startled greenskins, fear of their warlord-deity overrode the fear of the attack and they began closing the gates, preparing for further attack.
A similar kind of panicked rush seemed to sweep through Bartholomew's group. Talus was just climbing down from Moon Dancer's saddle when the gate burst into flames and he paused, one foot still in a stirrup, to look in the direction of the explosion. By the time he returned enough of his attention back to the horse to rest his foot free, Aelistae, Intella, and Linnix were all running for the gate.
The warlock took a moment to tie his horse to a tree and jogged after them, keeping an eye on the tops of the walls in case enemy archers decided to make an appearance.
His hastily thought up plan was to get to the gate and see about sabotaging it so that it could not be easily closed and locked, allowing his new friends to have some way of escaping the death trap they most likely running into. "This is going to end badly." he mumbled to himself as he neared the gate.
((Double moving instead of running. I should get to the gate two rounds after Aelistae, assuming four moves to get to the gate and a standard to tie up the horse.))
Posted on 2008-10-02 at 23:18:55.
Edited on 2008-10-03 at 08:55:00 by Deucalion
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: No espeak-o ...um... drow-o. Or something.
Oh, and about the languages... Talus is smart enough to hold to more languages in his head, but because of his racist/elitist upbringing (his parents thought he should never waste the time to learn the language of any lesser creatures)the knowledge was never put there.
Once he's got some spare time and isn't busy, say, running from an army of goblinoids commanded by an intelligent orc, I'm sure he'd love to learn some languages from the other party members.
Posted on 2008-09-24 at 03:36:50.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: A post, a post, my kingdom for a post
Sorry it took me so long to get that durned post up. It was giving me trouble and then my desktop crashed....
(cue sad violin music in background)
... But it's up now. Kind of a back post thing to explain my character being put into someone pocket for the last bit.
Co-writer credit on that one goes to Kaelyn, Ginafae, and 'Sibby' since I pulled content from you three for the "I was there when this happened..." moments.
Posted on 2008-09-23 at 22:13:59.
Edited on 2008-09-24 at 03:34:24 by Deucalion
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: The Unsung Heroes
Subject: Talus (Backpost)
It was as if he had been moving through a dream. When Linnix shot the fleeing half-orc, it was one of his family's servant boys that fell dead and it had been his laughing father that landed the blow. "You should try this, son, the feeling of wielding this much power is incredible..."
Hasty introductions were given as the group and its new member retreated back to the horses. "I'm Talus." was all he could manage to say, since the warlocks mind was still replaying how he came to be in this new land among friends.
Who knows how long Talus would have stayed in that zombie-like state had not the music from a violin ripped through the night air, pulling the man back to the present.
He was on his horse, Moon Dancer, in the middle of the woods and he could only vaguely remember how he'd gotten here. On either side of the path torches were being extinguished and it was obvious, even in his discombobulated state, that attack was imminent.
Talus quickly went through the motions to imbue his eyes with the ability to see in utter darkness. A goblin-hurled javelin nearly caught him in the shoulder as he finished the invocation and the warlock returned fire with much more deadly results, nearly doubling the wretch over backwards with the force of the blast.
Suddenly, from the rooftop of the stronghold shot a multitude of lights that exploded into brilliant red hued flashes that lingered in the sky surrounding the keep, illuminating the area below in a crimson glow in every direction. Amidst the crackling explosions of the fireworks formed a massive face of a Orc. In a rumbling voice it bellowed across the land in a surprisingly intelligent, and understandable dialect of common. “Return to the Keep my Minions. Return to regroup, where we will then march out in force, and stomp these urchins which dare defy the will of Bolikar, the will of Gruumsh! The time for humans is nearing an end, and their hit and run tactics shall fall under the mighty foot of the united might of the six-clans! Return to the Keep, from where we shall surge forth like a wave and sweep aside those in the north, south, east and west for the insignificant insects they are. Bolikar see’s all, as Gruumsh wishes it. Bolikar crushes all who stand before him!”
Behind him, where Talus could not see, the drow priestess shook her head in disbelief, causing several strands of her silvery hair to fall across her face. “We should move away from here, and find out what is was that caused that first horn to be sounded,” she added to the others after rising to her feet. “If there is an enemy of the goblins and orcs there – even if it’s one of our rivals – we need to make common cause. I don’t think we can fight this Bolikar and his army alone.”
"I fully agree with you," Talus responded, "We are in no position to fight those kind of numbers from here. And if that display was an indication of the magics this Bolikar has at his disposal, we'll need a much more detailed and thought out plan than just 'guerrilla raids'.
"We need to get away from that keep. Intella? Do you know the land around here? Any cave systems or something equally defensible nearby?"
Posted on 2008-09-23 at 22:06:49.
Edited on 2008-09-23 at 22:11:02 by Deucalion
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: Heeerrre's Johnny!
As soon as I figure out who Johnny is I'm gonna start working on a post. I've got sporadic interwebs now and I'm working on catching up on all the stuff that's gone on since I left. should have a post up in a day or two.
And Tek, welcome to the group. I'm going to apologize now because I know at some point I'm going to misspell your character's name. In my head I keep reading his name as Ashram, and even picture him as the Black Knight from Record of Lodoss War. I know, he's (hopefully) the wrong alignment and outlook and everything, but that's the association my brain made, and it's being stubborn about letting go.
Posted on 2008-09-20 at 08:10:44.
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Topic: Forgotten Realms: the Unsung Heroes Q/A
Subject: Moving
I'm moving this weekend and will be without the interwebs until the 15th. I should be able to check the game tomorrow, and maybe post if there's an update, but after that I'm cut off.
Talus will be following along with either Aelistae or Artanis, supporting the group's decision about the boy, but offering no input of his own.
See you all again in a tenday.
Posted on 2008-09-05 at 21:52:27.
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