2: One, Two...Five!

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> "We don't have any barons here," the spirit chirps. "Unless somebody invited one? They don't tell me things like that."
<Eliaphas> "Duke," Eliaphas corrects tersely.
<El-Cideon> "Oh, him! I know him." The arm of flame retreats to the furnace (or tries to, if it's allowed to do so) as it talks. "Or I knew him. I haven't seen him in a long time. He must be really busy."
<Madeline> "This is his castle, is it not? Wherein does he dwell?"
* Eliaphas pointedly levels his crossbow at the spirit as it attempts to retreat.
<El-Cideon> It sulks, insomuch as such a being can sulk. A rudimentary face forms--simple bullet eyes, downturned semicircle slash of a mouth. "Wellll, I can't leave this room, so I only hear about things secondhand. I only hear about stuff like who we're making weapons for, or fixing weapons for, and where they're going. I kind of have to put things together myself. Nobody ever gave me the grand tour or anything, okay?"
<Corben> "This spirit is useless," Corben declares, shifting his grip on his falcion.
<El-Cideon> "YOU'RE useless!" it counters. "I work for a living every day, I don't go tromping through people's homes and stabbing their pets."
<Madeline> "Elementals do not need food nor air. You work for a living because you are compelled," replies Madeline, with frost tingling around the edge of your bow. "Tell me what you have deduced about the castle's purpose as of late. If you know who weapons are forged for, you should be aware of this."
<Corben> "Work for our enemies," Corben notes darkly, hardly needing more than that to pass on judgement.
<Eliaphas> "All who dwell here are guilty of that and far more, whether directly or by association," Eliaphas growls in retort. "Your weapons have ended the lives of more innocents than any man can know. If you are useless to us, we will ensure you remain useless to the enemies of the Lord as well." With that he aims his crossbow and prepares to fire.
<El-Cideon> "Well, okay, but it's also fun," it mumbles. "Alright, so if somebody breaks something, it usually winds up here. If somebody needs something new made it comes from here. We tend to make a lot of the same kinds of things, so there must be large groups out there who all do the same thing, right? Master Vorela doesn't go out of his way to tell me all about them, but he might mention stuff in passing. Like--" it waves to the table full of items to be worked, "--the axes and the swords, I know those are for the guards Master Vorela orders around because every now and then one will drop by to tell him something while he's working. Those daggers and the big, long knives, those are for the cleaning and cooking staff it sounds like. There are some other people he mentions by name from time to time, but I think he doesn't like most of them." This last added in the stage whisper of gossipers everywhere. "And there's somebody else does all the magicking of the weapons--we just make 'em and fix 'em here, Master Vorela doesn't know magic himself."
<Madeline> "I see. At this stage, I am forced to concur with my compatriots."
<Corben> With agreement being so apparent, Corben brings his falcion down on the spirit's fiery arm!
<El-Cideon> OOC: I think it was your turn when we broke init anyway. May as well make a full attack, as it can't do much.
<Corben> roll 1d20+19
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+19 and gets 34."12 [1d20=15]
<Corben> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+14 and gets 27."12 [1d20=13]
<Corben> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+9 and gets 10."12 [1d20=1]
<Corben> roll 1d20+19 crit?
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+19 crit? and gets 38."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> OOC: elementals are crit immune. First two hit.
<Corben> roll 2d4+10
<Corben> roll 2d4+10
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+10 and gets 13."12 [2d4=1, 2]
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+10 and gets 13."12 [2d4=2, 1]
<El-Cideon> Another couple slashes reduce the spirit's length further. "Ow! I hope someday someone breaks into your house and breaks all your things and laughs at you!" it cries. (OOC: it's still alive, though it's flickering and guttering. Madeline?)
<Madeline> As she fires arrows into the guttering creature, Madeline considers that part of the elemental's curse has probably happened to her already, since she's guilty of grand theft and possibly treason against the elvish state.
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 and gets 40."12 [1d20=19]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+16
<Madeline> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+16 and gets 29."12 [1d20=13]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+11 and gets 12."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: 2x hit
<Madeline> roll 3d8+4d6+12
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 3d8+4d6+12 and gets 48."12 [3d8=6, 7, 8][4d6=4, 4, 5, 2]
<Madeline> roll 2d6+6 this too, I am dumb
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 2d6+6 this too, I am dumb and gets 10."12 [2d6=3, 1]
<El-Cideon> With a final wail, the elemental spirit dissipates into a cloud of sparks and is gone.
<Madeline> "Enemies may have moved into position back in the foyer by now," notes Madeline, scanning the room one last time to see if there is anything of interest. "Shall I move ahead to check?"
<Eliaphas> "I sealed the door behind us, so don't even try opening it up if you get that far without seeing enemies," Eliaphas suggests, spending a moment himself on tossing any completed metalwork back into the forge.
<Corben> If it is a choice between the two, Corben prefers helping Eliaphas break swords and armor.
<Madeline> "Ah- um, those were interesting weapons you just threw in there..." mumbles Madeline, backing towards the exit. "Well.. never mind." She slips out of the forge to ensure the way ahead is clear.
<Madeline> roll 1d20+33 I will sneak!
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+33 I will sneak! and gets 43."12 [1d20=10]
<Eliaphas> They can't carry an armoury on their backs, so better to deny the chance of resupply to their enemies!
<El-Cideon> The way ahead is assuredly not clear--when Madeline pokes her head out of the trapdoor (somehow not being seen in the process) it turns out the armory's been stocked full of enemies while you were busy downstairs: a pair of guards with crossbows crouch behind tables along the west and north walls, each with an undead hound at its side. Equidistant between the two, a guard in bronze-hued armor, armed with a sword, is flanked by a pair of archers. They're obviously arrayed with expectation of ambushing someone emerging from the smithy.
<Madeline> Madeline ducks back beneath the trapdoor a moment later! "Seven enemies are awaiting our return," she notes. "Mobile armors and corpsehounds."
<Corben> "No one to interrogate, then?"
<Eliaphas> "The Lord can shield me from their sight long enough to get away from the trapdoor. This blessing can be shared if necessary," Eliaphas offers, looking up the stairs.
<Madeline> "None such. It will be difficult for us to exit without being fired upon. I will render you invisible so that you may close with the archers without being shot."
<Madeline> "It is good to see I can think alike with a man of the cloth."
<Eliaphas> "He that dies for the Lord does not die in vain, but the Lord's teachings speak above all for us to live," Eliaphas nods grimly. "Turn Corben invisible so he can assault the guards before we emerge and provide cover fire of our own?"
<Madeline> "Quite. You have thirty seconds," replies Madeline, briefly touching the hulking barbarian on the shoulder in order to remove him from her sight.
* Eliaphas prays for the Lord to cloak him in shadows, then waits a few seconds for the invisible barbarian to take the lead before skulking up the stairs himself.
<Corben> Not wasting any time, Corben follows Madeline's previous actions and opens the trapdoor to sneak a look outside. The largest concentration of archers will be his target!
<El-Cideon> There are two bowmen next to a gleaming bronze guard about thirty feet to the southeast of the door. Crossbowmen crouch behind tables at the walls, about the same distance away, each with a dog escort.
<Corben> Those surrounding the gleaming bronze guard it is! With a furious lunge, Corben seeks to strike the one to his right down!
* Eliaphas silently creeps past the bronze guard, getting to the opposite corner of the room so none of the archers will enjoy cover against him and all foes can be caught in a crossfire with him and Madeline. If he has any cover in that area to employ himself, so much the better! He also bolsters himself with the Lord's judgement.
<Eliaphas> OOC: Justice and Protection Judgements go
<El-Cideon> OOC: take a surprise round? There's really no way these guys can roll perception high enough to beat your stealth score with a +20 bonus from invis.
<Corben> roll 1d20+14 (10pa, rage)
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+14 (10pa, rage) and gets 15."12 [1d20=1]
<Madeline> Madeline pops up from behind the trapdoor a moment later, ready to unleash a hail of arrows open her unfortunate opponents!
<Eliaphas> Flickering into sight, Eliaphas unleashes a barrage of bolts upon the crossbowman at the West wall!
<El-Cideon> But Corben finds his feet tripped up by a stray halberd along the way and his swing goes wild, knocking aside a weapon display with a great clatter! (OOC: and that's init)
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+9 init
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+9 init and gets 12."12 [1d20=3]
<Corben> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+12 and gets 25."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 dogs
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 dogs and gets 8."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 X-bowmen
<Madeline> roll 1d20+9 init
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 X-bowmen and gets 10."12 [1d20=8]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+9 init and gets 28."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 longbowmen
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 longbowmen and gets 13."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 sergeant
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 sergeant and gets 26."12 [1d20=18]
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 109/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > sergeant > Corben > longbow guards > Eliaphas > crossbow guards > dogs'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Madeline
<Madeline> A cursory inspection of the battlefield has Madeline determine that it is clearly the leading enemy who must fall, and a barrage of coruscating arrows spirals forth from her relentless bow, curving impossibly about Corben en-route to their destination!
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21 rapidshot
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21 rapidshot
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 rapidshot and gets 34."12 [1d20=13]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 rapidshot and gets 25."12 [1d20=4]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+16
<Madeline> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+16 and gets 23."12 [1d20=7]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+11 and gets 27."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> OOC: 3 hits
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock and gets 22."12 [1d8=4][1d6=4][1d6=3][1d6=5]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock and gets 21."12 [1d8=3][1d6=5][1d6=2][1d6=5]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock and gets 16."12 [1d8=1][1d6=4][1d6=1][1d6=4]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock and gets 24."12 [1d8=7][1d6=5][1d6=5][1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> The bronze guard reels as impacts rattle its body, but it stands fast, yelling to the others with a dull, metallic echo: "To arms, men! The enemy is among us!" It draws its sword and lays into the barbarian before it!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+20-2 pa
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+20-2 pa and gets 26."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15-2 pa
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+15-2 pa and gets 21."12 [1d20=8]
<Corben> OOC: AC24
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+12+1d6 cold (also note 1 point bleed damage, Corben)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+12+1d6 cold (also note 1 point bleed damage, Corben) and gets 16."12 [1d8=3][1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> An icy chill sweeps over Corben as the blade cuts in, leaving a suppurating wound in its wake! (OOC: C's up)
<Corben> "Hah! It would take more than that to defeat me!" Corben boasts, switching targets to the apparent leader.
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 95/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > sergeant > Corben > longbow guards > Eliaphas > crossbow guards > dogs'
* Madeline changes topic to '6Corben: 95/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > sergeant > Corben > longbow guards > Eliaphas > crossbow guards > dogs'
<Corben> roll 1d20+20 4pa
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+20 4pa and gets 22."12 [1d20=2]
<Corben> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+15 and gets 35."12 [1d20=20]
<Corben> roll 1d20+19 surprise accuracy
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+19 surprise accuracy and gets 22."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: second one hits
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 94/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > sergeant > Corben > longbow guards > Eliaphas > crossbow guards > dogs'
<Corben> roll 2d4+16+8
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16+8 and gets 29."12 [2d4=4, 1]
<El-Cideon> A crippling strike knocks the leader to pieces across the armory floor! The bowmen each draw back a few feet, nock their bows and loose arrows at Corben in a storm of vengeance!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 A
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 A and gets 30."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 A
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 A and gets 25."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 B
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 B and gets 22."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 B
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 B and gets 19."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+1 and gets 9."12 [1d8=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+1 and gets 5."12 [1d8=4]
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 94/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > Corben > longbow guards > Eliaphas > crossbow guards > dogs'
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 82/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > Corben > longbow guards > Eliaphas > crossbow guards > dogs'
<El-Cideon> Two arrows thunk into Corben's tough hide, two more going wild.
<El-Cideon> OOC: E
<Eliaphas> Flickering into view, Eliaphas opens fire on one of the crossbow wielding abominations, transferring his aim to the nearby fell hound should his first target fall.
* Corben changes topic to '6Corben: 84/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > Corben > longbow guards > Eliaphas > crossbow guards > dogs'
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+20 rapid shot, invis
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+20 rapid shot, invis and gets 21."12 [1d20=1]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+18 rapid shot
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+18 rapid shot and gets 32."12 [1d20=14]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+13 and gets 17."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: second hits
<Eliaphas> roll 1d10+3+1d6+1d6+4d6 fire/shock/bane
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d10+3+1d6+1d6+4d6 fire/shock/bane and gets 32."12 [1d10=8][1d6=2][1d6=6][4d6=3, 4, 3, 3]
<El-Cideon> The bowman reels in surprise, but quickly recovers and trains his bow on his priestly assailant! At a command for assistance, his fellow crossbowman and the dogs follow suit!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14  and gets 27."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14  and gets 27."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 charging dog
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 charging dog and gets 27."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 charging dog mk 2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 charging dog mk 2 and gets 34."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 charging dog mk 2 critical bite?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 charging dog mk 2 critical bite? and gets 31."12 [1d20=17]
<Eliaphas> OOC: AC 28, thank you protection judgement. Shame about the crit
<El-Cideon> OOC: haha
<Eliaphas> OOC: wait... damn, AC 31 vs crit threats
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+14 also roll fort
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+14 also roll fort and gets 21."12 [2d6=1, 6]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+11 and gets 21."12 [1d20=10]
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 84/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 81/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > Corben > longbow guards > Eliaphas > crossbow guards > dogs'
<El-Cideon> Bolts embed themselves in the brickwork around, but find no flesh! The teeth of one tenacious hound tear a horrible gash, though!
<El-Cideon> OOC: M
<Madeline> It would be difficult for a fellow archer to perform optimally when under melee assault by multiple opponents, and so Madeline finds herself forced to fire at the nearest undead beast that plague Eliaphas so!
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21 rshotmshot
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 rshotmshot and gets 33."12 [1d20=12]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21 rshot
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 rshot and gets 32."12 [1d20=11]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+16
<Madeline> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+16 and gets 27."12 [1d20=11]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+11 and gets 28."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> OOC: all hit
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock and gets 23."12 [1d8=4][1d6=5][1d6=5][1d6=3]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock and gets 19."12 [1d8=1][1d6=6][1d6=4][1d6=2]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock and gets 16."12 [1d8=3][1d6=1][1d6=1][1d6=5]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock and gets 24."12 [1d8=3][1d6=5][1d6=5][1d6=5]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock and gets 15."12 [1d8=5][1d6=1][1d6=1][1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> One of the beasts collapses from the assault, the other standing firm with a single arrow jutting from its shoulder.
<El-Cideon> OOC: C
<Corben> "Away with you!" Corben snarls, laying into the nearest bow-wielding suit of armor with a terrible rage!
<Corben> roll 1d20+20 sunder, pa5
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+20 sunder, pa5 and gets 40."12 [1d20=20]
<Corben> roll 1d20+15 sunder, pa5
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+15 sunder, pa5 and gets 32."12 [1d20=17]
<Corben> roll 1d20+10 sunder, pa5
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+10 sunder, pa5 and gets 14."12 [1d20=4]
<Corben> roll 2d4+16+10+6
<Corben> roll 2d4+16+10+6
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16+10+6 and gets 40."12 [2d4=4, 4]
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16+10+6 and gets 37."12 [2d4=2, 3]
<El-Cideon> Corben's savage fury tears the suit of armor in two easily, metal clattering to the floor all around! The remaining bowmen backs away another step and looses another pair of arrows.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 and gets 28."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 27."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+2 (forgot PBS last time)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+2 (forgot PBS last time) and gets 9."12 [1d8=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+2 and gets 5."12 [1d8=3]
* Corben changes topic to '6Corben: 73/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 81/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > Corben > longbow guards > Eliaphas > crossbow guards > dogs'
<El-Cideon> OOC: E
<Eliaphas> With the hound assailing him at close quarters, Eliaphas demonstrates that the bayonet affixed to his crossbow isn't just for show!
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+19
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+19 and gets 21."12 [1d20=2]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+14 and gets 19."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first hits
<El-Cideon> OOC: actually both do, they don't have AC really
<Eliaphas> roll 1d6+4+4d6
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d6+4+4d6 and gets 16."12 [1d6=4][4d6=1, 3, 2, 2]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d6+4+4d6
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d6+4+4d6 and gets 22."12 [1d6=4][4d6=4, 5, 2, 3]
<El-Cideon> Eliaphas shears off a leg and a good chunk of the beast's face, but it maintains a wobbly stance nonetheless, biting at him viciously as the crossbowmen reload and fire again!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 and gets 34."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 crithappy bot?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 crithappy bot? and gets 29."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 second X-bowman
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 second X-bowman and gets 26."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12 sad dog lacks charge bonus this time
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12 sad dog lacks charge bonus this time and gets 22."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> OOC: just the first gets through as a normal hit?
<Eliaphas> OOC: still AC 28, 31 vs crits
<Eliaphas> OOC: yes
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+2 and gets 6."12 [1d8=4]
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 73/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 75/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > Corben > longbow guards > Eliaphas > crossbow guards > dogs'
<El-Cideon> OOC: M
<Madeline> Madeline fires another vicious volley towards Eliaphas' assaliants, with her arm blurring at an impossible speed to draw another five arrows from her quiver!
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21 mr
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21 r
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 mr and gets 32."12 [1d20=11]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 r and gets 39."12 [1d20=18]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+16 and gets 32."12 [1d20=16]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+11 and gets 26."12 [1d20=15]
<Madeline> OOC: dog->xbow->longbow is the priority
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock and gets 26."12 [1d8=8][1d6=6][1d6=1][1d6=5]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock and gets 20."12 [1d8=2][1d6=5][1d6=1][1d6=6]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock and gets 21."12 [1d8=3][1d6=2][1d6=6][1d6=4]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock and gets 26."12 [1d8=8][1d6=4][1d6=2][1d6=6]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock and gets 21."12 [1d8=6][1d6=2][1d6=3][1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> The dog goes down with an arrow in its head, one crossbowman falls to pieces and another staggers beneath a pair of arrows!
<El-Cideon> OOC: C
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 73/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 75/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > Corben > longbow guard > Eliaphas > crossbow guard'
* Corben corners the remaining bow-wielding armor, striking at it with all he's worth!
<Corben> roll 1d20+25 strength surge, sunder, 12pa!
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+25 strength surge, sunder, 12pa! and gets 38."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> OOC: so very hit
<Corben> roll 2d4+16+24+6
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16+24+6 and gets 48."12 [2d4=1, 1]
<El-Cideon> Another falls to Corben's mighty sword arm, leaving one battered foe left for the others!
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 73/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 75/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > Corben > Eliaphas > crossbow guard'
<El-Cideon> OOC: E
* Corben changes topic to '6Corben: 72/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 75/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > Corben > Eliaphas > crossbow guard'
* Eliaphas turns and puts the last two bolts of his current clip into the remaining foe!
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+23
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+23 and gets 26."12 [1d20=3]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+18 and gets 25."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> OOC: both hit
<Eliaphas> roll 1d10+4+1d6+1d6+4d6
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d10+4+1d6+1d6+4d6 and gets 31."12 [1d10=7][1d6=6][1d6=2][4d6=3, 3, 4, 2]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d10+4+1d6+1d6+4d6
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d10+4+1d6+1d6+4d6 and gets 32."12 [1d10=3][1d6=3][1d6=5][4d6=3, 4, 6, 4]
<El-Cideon> A final pair of bolts nail the helmet to the wall, leaving the rest of the armor to tumble about on the floor! OOC: free act
<Corben> With the enemies thus vanquished, Corben can't think of a better time for a potion of healing!
<Eliaphas> Straightening up, Eliaphas nods in recognition of Madeline's efforts on his behalf, performing a purification ritual to heal himself with the Lord's blessings
<Eliaphas> roll 2d8+10 2x cure light wounds
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 2d8+10 2x cure light wounds and gets 17."12 [2d8=2, 5]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d8+5 one more
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d8+5 one more and gets 12."12 [1d8=7]
<Corben> roll 1d8+1
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d8+1 and gets 7."12 [1d8=6]
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 79/137(Bleed 1), Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > Corben > Eliaphas > crossbow guard'
<El-Cideon> OOC: healing negates the bleed, note
<Madeline> "You are both hurt," observes Madeline, glancing from man to man. "The mobile armors would be the equals to many good soldiers. Are you able to carry on?"
* Corben kicks a helmet aside, scoffing. "Of course! This is nothing!"
<Eliaphas> Approaching the towering barbarian, Eliaphas looks him up and down. "You fought well, but our foes are not powerless. The Lord will provide, nonetheless," and performs a stronger blessing on Corben.
<Eliaphas> roll 4d8+12
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 4d8+12 and gets 31."12 [4d8=8, 8, 1, 2]
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 110/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96|  Madeline > Corben > Eliaphas > crossbow guard'
* Corben nods at Eliaphas in acknowledgement and thanks.
<El-Cideon> The hall echoes with rattles as the helmet bounces away, the room otherwise strikingly quiet now.
<Madeline> Madeline advances to the door, ready to open it a crack and peek through into the foyer.
<El-Cideon> OOC: which door? West is the training room, where you came from, others are east and south in the far corner.
<Eliaphas> Going to the Southeast corner, Eliaphas opens the door on the East wall.
<Madeline> OOC: I'll look in the foyer anyway
<Madeline> OOC: I think that's south
<El-Cideon> OOC: okay. That's south from training room, yes. Note E staked that door, you'd have to pull that out.
<Madeline> OOC: Oh! Ok, if the stake's still there, never mind
<El-Cideon> A gust of cold air breathes out at Eliaphas as he opens this door. A dark, narrow passageway is on the other side. It looks to open up into a larger room after a short walk.
<El-Cideon> OOC: stake is still there, yes.
<Eliaphas> Now he opens the South door to see if it has anything better.
<Madeline> Having checked that the way they came remains secure, Madeline moves to join Eliaphas, staying a few paces back to cover him against any unforeseen horrors.
<El-Cideon> This door opens up onto a cobbled courtyard. Mist drifts about outside. It looks long and open from what you can see here.
<Madeline> "A training yard," murmurs Madeline, squinting her eyes to try and pierce the mists.
<Eliaphas> "We would be better off avoiding open areas," Eliaphas suggests, graviating towards the cold passage.
<El-Cideon> Madeline can make out a number of things with a moment's glance: to the east a ramp, wide enough for a team of horses to ascend, switchbacks up the cliff face, flanked by spires of native rock. The bulk of the castle proper looms in the mist a hundred feet above. Entry back into the west wing includes doors to the north and south at the eastern edge of the courtyard. Additional doors are set into the cliff face just below the ramp's lowest level: three broad sets of doors and two narrow ones. A low fountain burbles quietly as well, set into the wall across from the foyer door, twinned dragon heads dribbling water into the basin.
<Madeline> "We can quickly access other parts of the castle from here," notes Madeline. "It is too much to hope that the count is in the outer wings. Do you wish to continue to explore this region?"
<Eliaphas> "Point," Eliaphas grunts, locking a new clip of bolts in place. "Lets hurry across before any fliers can accost us, then."
<Corben> Approving of this himself, Corben is quite ready to mount an assault on the castle-proper!
* Madeline seeks a path to the clearest entrance to the castle's bulk, hoping to find one that allows her to stick close to the walls and cover.
* Eliaphas follows Madeline, sticking close to the shadows himself.
<Madeline> roll 1d20+33 stealthing it up, of course
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+33 stealthing it up, of course and gets 41."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> The east wall of the courtyard, carved from the native rock of whatever formation the castle rests upon, is the same wall that the ramp ascends, so one could easily skirt it along the way.
<Corben> roll 1d20+17 I can try to stealth it up, too!
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+17 I can try to stealth it up, too! and gets 18."12 [1d20=1]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+22 all about the stealth
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+22 all about the stealth and gets 40."12 [1d20=18]
<Madeline> Madeline starts to head towards the ramp, moving carefully and quietly and keeping an eye on the sky.
<El-Cideon> OOC: as a general rule, feel free to roll perception anytime you're actively looking for stuff
<El-Cideon> Nothing accosts the group as they sidle along the wall...The ramp looks like an easy climb, not too steep a grade. It switchbacks several times on its way up, from what you can see here.
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+21 perception to make sure I don't bump into anyone else that's skulking about here
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+21 perception to make sure I don't bump into anyone else that's skulking about here and gets 37."12 [1d20=16]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+18 seeing
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+18 seeing and gets 30."12 [1d20=12]
<Madeline> Madeline's methodology changes little upon reaching the ramp, unwilling as she is to put herself right out in the open.
<El-Cideon> Madeline and Eliaphas can both see a...thing...floating around about fifty feet up in the mists. A pale oblong shape about the size of a watermelon, with a stubby tail and one prominent eye being its only other distinguishing features. It hovers with no visible means of support, simply watching Corben.
<Madeline> Sighting the eye means Madeline can shoot the eye, which she does without any obvious change in expression.
<Madeline> roll 1d20+20 d-shot, assuming no full attack here?
* Corben proceeds towards the ramp without noticing anything amiss.
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+20 d-shot, assuming no full attack here? and gets 38."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hits
<Madeline> roll 1d8+12+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+12+1d6+1d6+1d6 firefrostshock and gets 30."12 [1d8=2][1d6=6][1d6=4][1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> Whatever the little creature is, it's not up to taking an arrow through the eye and living to talk about it! If it could talk. As it plops onto the ground in the courtyard, quite lifeless, you can see clearly it has no mouth or other organs.
* Eliaphas just shakes his head at the warped abominations against the Lord present here, continuing onwards to the ramp.
<Madeline> Certain that at any moment a horde of minions will descend upon them, Madeline hurries onwards to reach the dubiously more defensible castle walls.
<El-Cideon> The top of the ramp leads you to a broad ledge running north and south before a high stone wall. The only visible passage through this wall is an open archway, the stonework around it decorated with frescoes of armored Brislovian soldiers fighting foreign forces, dragons, and other beasts. The black stone spires that bookend the ramp terminate several dozen feet above you to the north and south. A narrow passage winds between each of them and the stone wall.
<El-Cideon> Additionally, one arm of the ledge juts out to the west to overlook the courtyard, and at the end of it a metal cage attached to a chain rests over the void. A winch is set into the ground nearby.
* Corben tries the archway, it being the only obvious passage across.
<Madeline> Madeline follows suit, as tempting as it was to try scaling the spires and using the higher entrance.
* Eliaphas goes closer so he can look in the metal cage and see if it contains anything while Corben takes the lead.
<El-Cideon> The archway opens into a corridor, ten feet wide and extending north and south nearly out of sight. You can catch sight of a branch to the north, a corner turned at the south end. The east wall of this corridor is windowed--arched, leaded glass panes from waist height up allowing free view of an open courtyard. Directly across from you is another archway. A flagstone walk beyond it proceeds with escorting canopy and colonnade. The craftsmanship here is altogether more refined than the brick and cobbles of the lower ward. Apart from the walkway, what you can see of the courtyard is a well-tended lawn, cut short and orderly.
<El-Cideon> Eliaphas sees nothing in particular inside the cage, if cage it be. It's wide enough for four to stand comfortably apart from each other, and easily accessed through a waist-high door. It doesn't look meant to imprison something, just transport.
<Eliaphas> Dismissing it for now, he proceeds onwards after Madeline and Corben.
<Madeline> "Better not to go back into the open," notes Madeline, opting to scuttle ahead to the south before peering around the corner.
<Madeline> roll 1d20+33 continuously stealthage
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+33 continuously stealthage and gets 41."12 [1d20=8]
* Corben certainly agrees with that, following.
<Corben> roll 1d20+17 maybe this time?
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+17 maybe this time? and gets 35."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> Madeline finds two things at the southern end of this corridor: at the corner itself a narrow stairway set into the wall winds upwards; and the corridor continues on to the east here, for what looks like a couple hundred feet, before turning again. You can make out a couple exits along the way: open archways to the north and south midway along, and a somewhat closer hallway branching to the south.
<Madeline> Upwards seems a sensible enough direction to take, and Madeline quickly hustles up the steps towards the next level.
<El-Cideon> ------------------