Rayne removed the bronze and green pins, It was logical and other than using the simple red whit with the pink it was the only one she could think of unless it was totally random and then the number of possible combinations would be great. She looked at the pink pin remain and had another thought.

"Perhaps it should be no color choice."

Rayne removed the pink pin from the hole and just waited.

As the entirety of the party sat and pondered on the puzzle, for that is simply what it was. How could a bunch of colorful pegs and holes to put them in be so dangerous? Normally his brother Divot would be the catalyst to get things started with his innate impulsive nature, he just never sat back and examined anything first, but this time Rayne just strode forward with all the confidence in the world and grabbed a couple of pegs. Ulthok debated in his mind over whether or not to reach out and stop her, bit still too much thinking and not enough acting.

A bronze and green peg were added to the pink already in the wall with something of an effect to say the least. Little creatures popped out of the holes that appeared in the walls, short little boulder-like things that the halfing had never seen before, and he had seen quite a bit.

"Um, maybe that was not the best thing to have done, Rayne. I know nothing about these things and they could be quite dangerous indeed."

Rayne removed the two previous pegs, ""Perhaps it should be no color choice." And proceeded to move the pink peg as well.

I don't that is right either, Ulthok thought to himself and patiently waited to see what was to happen next.

OOC: Just throw the extra 3rd level spells into lightning bolts, can always use extra firepower.

Cynil looks around to see if any doors open. "Then again, what if red and white are the right choices, considering that other would assume that their choice was the simplest answer and of coutrse it could not be so simple."

If nothing happens after Rayne takes out the ping peg, she will then choose the red and white and then take the pik peg, put it back in and the set in the red and white.

Cor watched as teh pegs were placed and replaced. He said nothing even though the act was taken without asking for his ok. There was little else to do but try. The small creature peeked his interest. He, like Kenji, expected trouble so he readied his axe and waited.

With the first attempt to solve this riddle of colors a failure it was time to try something else, once again Rayne stepped forward.

Removing both bronze and green pegs she then proceeded to remove the pink peg, only to find it held firmly in place. A few moments of fruitless tugging finally convinced the Ranger Cleric that no amount of strength would be able to remove it.
Only it seemed the correct combination of colors.

As Rayne stood quietly thinking of what combination she would try as her next move Cynil had a very sensible thought

"Then again, what if red and white are the right choices, considering that others would assume that their choice was the simplest answer and of course it could not be so simple."
But with Rayne unable to remove the pink peg her plan was a bit delayed.

Kenji had been watching the many holes in the wall never taking his eyes from them since the small creature had appeared then disappeared.
Becoming a bit concerned he turned to the others to speak.

“I think it best we do something else to close those holes,” the Samurai said gripping the sheathed Katana’s tsuka tightly, ready to draw it forth in an instant. “I fear those things will return in greater numbers and if there are enough they could overwhelm us.”

Cor too felt uneasy and though he said nothing he too had a look of concern that he shared with the party and the Paladin Conall.
But it was the voice of Althena that brought forth a sense of fear.

“listen do you hear that, that sound what is it?”

All stopped, all ears turned to listen and all did hear it, a steady sound as if of rushing water, or perhaps the sound of a muted banshee crying. However as the sound came closer all did realize its true nature, as that of a thousand running feet coming closer each second.

Conall concentrating on detecting evil since the diminutive boulder creature had first appeared was suddenly hit with a massive wave of it, almost dropping him to his knees. His will strong he fought the urge to run and once again firmly stood, his sword now drawn, his shield ready.

“Stand ready everyone they come from all sides!!”

As if his words were the holy gospel the boulder type creatures emerged from every hole and screaming ran towards the party, now in the center of a living circle of evil.

Haila having headed Kenji’s warning had readied the spell of Web, her hand quickly raised she released the spell to her front, the south part of the room. At once the spell flew out to capture almost 20 of the small creatures and cover a half dozen holes, thus for the moment creating a gap in the circle of onrushing evil boulders.....

Next to act was Althena her twin daggers drawn quickly as this was clearly to be a combat of melee weapons she drew upon her Innate Psionic ability of contact to try and gain some idea of these strange enemies plan. To her horror she did not just gain the mind of 1 but of all as if each individual mind was linked to a bigger mind or a combination of larger minds.

Minds that though moving slowly were nonetheless coming closer. All the minds had one purpose and one purpose only, to harvest the food before them...............


(OOC: Ok round one is up, each of you gets 1 action before they close into melee range my next post/round… Choose well. Next post Next Saturday.)

“Stand ready everyone they come from all sides!!” Conall's words roared above the noise caused by the diminutive little creatures, but they weren't so small next to Ulthok.

"Oh, dear," the words came out as a sort of squeak as the boulders launched themselves in a number that was too many too count at the party.

Ulthok knew he wouldn't be very useful in this fight if it came down to who could hit harder, so he rifled through his brain for just the right spell. It was one that had gotten out of trouble before and would work here since these creatures didn't seem to have any sort of ranged weaponry.

Visualizing himself as being lighter than air, Ulthok began to chant the words to his flight spell. Well, here goes nothing.
(ooc: I prepare an arsenal of lightning bolts, but fireball would so be much better here, lol.)

Cor heard the oncoming sound and knew it was a portent of evil things to come. Moments later the small creatures poured from every hole. Breaking his axe into two parts he readied himself for battle. "Well Kenji my friend it seems your wish for battle has been granted." Looking around he yelled to the others, "Form a circle with the mages in the center. I want to keep them in front of us and not get lost in a free for all melee." He set himself and attacked any creature who dared come within reach of his blades.

“Stand ready everyone they come from all sides!!” Conall roared above the din of the avalanche of small boulder creatures.

“Form circle,” Kenji yelled as his Katana cleared its scabbard followed by his wakazashi short sword, “Keep magic casters in middle.” As he stepped near to guard Haila as he saw her cast a web from her hands which ensnared a group of the diminutive creatures.

“Well done, Haila!”

With Katana in right hand and wakazashi in his left; Kenji let out a Great ‘KIAI’ (Chi boost to STR) and attacked any of the creatures that came his way. Though there were an overwhelming number of the creatures, at least here was something he could battle. Flesh and blood beings rather than mind daunting riddles and puzzles. If he died here at least he would do so fighting.


“Someone…,” he continued to yell as he swung back and forth in sweeping arcs, “should.. try and close those … holes … or we.. may be.. overcome.”

Rayne sticks the in red peg on top and the white in the middle.

"Cynil, if that doesn't seem to work, switch the red and white, and if that does not work.....," she shrugs. "I am going to help fight."

"Cor, use you iron wall to keep some of them out especially where there is no web."

Rayne wheels around drawing her sword. Keeping the creatures away from the others and Cynil.

Cynil raises her staff and sets a wall of thorns across as many of the openings as she can before turning her attention to the pegs and following Rayne's advice.

She wonders how long she should wait to see it the red, white, and pink pegs are the correct keys to opening the escape door.

Cor looked around and chose the best spot for his wall. Using the power of his helm he created a wall of iron hoping to block as many of the holes as possible. He anchored the wall to the floor and tried to use the rocks themselves as anchor points as well.

With 2 choices wrong, a mass of boulder type creatures swarming towards them, the party shifted into a circle type formation and found themselves facing over 400 foes. Small these creature’s might be but by sheer numbers alone could they overcome and bring down the party.

Once again perhaps solving this test was the key to the parties survival..........

Haila had been quite successful with her spell of Web but now the party was engaged in melee with many of the creatures with others close behind. It was Rayne’s yell to Cor that gave her next action, acting fast she chanted the words and readied her Wall of Ice spell.

As Cynil cast her Wall of Thorns and Cor his Wall of Iron she positioned her Ice wall to match theirs and in seconds the party was surrounded to the North, East and West with walls and to the South with webbed over holes. With the party thus protected for the moment from any new boulder creatures entering the fight, it was now time to deal with the many enemies yet among them....

The first to do this was Kenji, both swords to hand he proceeded to attack and with his swings did easily kill 5 of the stone wearing critters all without taking a hit himself. Yet he still found himself surrounded by no less then 20 of the creatures all clamoring to the attack. The Samurai would have to act fast if he were to remain unharmed....

Rayne, her call to action having directed three of her teammates into the casting of Walls, now saw that she herself was under attack. Having just placed 2 new pegs, the Red and then the White, the Ranger/Cleric was unable to do anything other then defend this round, as no less the 17 boulders attacked. By some good fortune, and a few desperate dodges, she like Kenji before her took no hits. Yet in the end, as with the Samurai, she too faced many foes, 21 in all....

Conall was a blur, having nothing else to do but attack, he did so carving his way to his love’s side having heard Rayne’s call for her to continue searching the pegs for answer to this test. The Paladin in doing so killing no less then 10 of the nasty little creatures, all without a hit taken himself. He passed a now flying Ulthok who had cast the spell of Fly and was even now reading an arsenal of Lighting Bolts. Reaching Cynil’s side he protected her from harm as the creatures seemed to rally towards him, giving the Elvin Druid the time she would need to continue where Rayne had left off, but giving her lover the count of 30 enemies before him....

Having cast Fly, the Halfling Thief now found himself above the fray and in a somewhat superior position as none of the boulder creatures were it seemed equipped with ranged weapons. As he readied his many spells of Lighting Bolts he could see from his airborne position right away the danger in using them in such newly tight quarters. The ricocheting factor made more dangerous with Cor’s Wall of Iron could only lead to injuries to his friends if cast and the Halfling knew he would need to think of something else quickly....

The last to act this round was the Lady Althena, having tried to contact the mind of these creatures and somewhat having failing she went for her 2 Daggers of Armor Piercing hoping they would be better against such small foes then her Vorpal sword, and she was right!!

The ability of the magic daggers cut through the boulder coverings of the creatures as if butter and she managed to quickly dispatch 6 of the creatures without breaking a sweat. However she alone of the party did take a few hits as a sudden blast of pain within her mind did cause her to misstep, thus causing 3 of the creatures to score. The pain lingering as if as a slight knot within her head she recovered and was able to fight normally again on this next upcoming round....

This round over and only 1 party member hurt the odds were looking good in the party’s favor..... But how long would that favor last................. Especially as the placing of the Red peg and then the White one had no effect upon the Pink peg or anything else within the room................


(OK there’s my weekly post for the main party, I will be posting an intro post for the other two players sometime in the next few days. Ok Next post for you guys Next Saturday so please post no excuses as you all wanted to keep the game going.)

An iron wall, really, do they not know how the mage works...rrrrr
The thought running through his head, Ulthok groaned in could only be an upset feeling as he smacked himself upside the head. Shoulda chose fire, dear boy.

Ulthok tried to think of something and the one thing that kept running through his read was the superior numbers of these little boulder things. What if he somehow evened up the numbers here? Running through his prepared spells, Ulthok brought forth his most powerful conjuration spell in an effort to even up the odds here. He just hoped whatever beastie he brought forth wouldn't turn on the party as well and would be of more than just a minute (spelling?) help.

(OOC: Alright Tann, since I don't have any references over here for spells, would you please count down the rounds that he has flying by round, and also tell me if Ulthok notices anything out of the ordinary up here that he would not be able to see while on the ground. Lastly, is there any area that has enough space open of allies with just the little critters for a cone of cold? Ulthok would surely know these things)

Choices.

With no ceasation of oncoming rock-people, Cynil snatches out the red and white pegs and replacing them in the bowl grabs up the black and green as a line of thought jelled in her mind. Bronze and Green had opened the door to the rock-people. Red and white pegs were not the answer either. What they wanted was an opposite of what had happened.

Opposites.

Black was the white and green was the opposite of red. Maybe they were the key to the escape door.

Cynil quickly pushed the pegs into the holes and prayed.

Rayne ducks, dodges and struck out with her sword again and again. Doing everything she could to protect Cynil who was quickly removing pegs and trying other combinations.

Her companions fought as they always had side by side using their peculiar talents to combat their opponents.

All for one and one for all. Cynil had to be given time to try out different combinations. They had to give her that time and help keep the creatures off themselves as well.

Kenji was a whirlwind. Haila used her magics and Cor put up an Iron Wall to try to keep the number of critters at bay. Althena used her dagger to swipe at the bolder clad beings. Ulthok was flying which was good for him to see things about him so he could use his magic to best effect.

OOC: using +2 Longsword of Agility (Grants the wielder the ability to 'Jump' as the spell twice per day/ Grants 2 rounds of Hasted action within a 24 hour period/ Makes wielder Immune to Hold, Slow and all Hypnotic spells)

Activating haste