|
|
Post by homeskillet on May 8, 2007 19:20:19 GMT -5
" I don't care miscreant," Stone answers," You are a terrible little man and unless you turn yourself in peacefully, I will be forced to take you in myself." Stone goes into the traditional Earthmaster stance.
|
|
|
|
Post by sfliegel on May 8, 2007 20:10:40 GMT -5
The itch of curiousity had begun to tickle the back of Firebug's mind. He meant the magical pager, he had to mean the magical paper. What else could he mean? Firebug had Fox flanked and asking now would ruin any chance of surprise plus draw unwelcome attention. But he had to know, it made no sense that the girl should have this but seemed to make little more sense that Fox should have it either. He suddenly found himself feeling like a child with a secret and felt like he would burst if he didn't speak soon.
Sweat began to form on Firebug's forehead from the strain of holding in this question. Like a weight too heavy to bear any longer he finally released in nearly a scream, "Tell him about the paper Fox, go ahead, just tell him!"
Firebug's eyes were now the size of saucers as he realized what he had just done and the volume at which he had done it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Game Master on May 9, 2007 3:11:54 GMT -5
The little mans eyes went wild. "So YOU have it! I tore that house apart when Nilla confessed to steeling it for Moonhaven! Give it to me! You can't unlock its secrets! Give it here or I'll KILL HER RIGHT NOW!" The mad hobbit kicked at the dirt and revealed a section of rope buried just beneath the surface. He raised his axe to shoulder height ready to bring it down.
Firebug followed the ropes path with his eyes to the right. Aiko to the left. A quick glance and Firebug realized it must be a trap. The Earth Master however was able to confirm what Fire Bug only guessed at. He could feel the stone slab high over Nilla's head being held in place by a counter weight attached by a system of ropes and pulleys. Cutting that rope would be the death of the little girl Aiko had come here to save. They had to act now.
|
|
|
|
Post by sfliegel on May 9, 2007 10:20:00 GMT -5
"Wait! Wait! Just a moment Fox!" Firebug takes the pouch with paper in it from his belt and holds it up. "If you want it, it's yous. But I have to tell you, I've had a look at it, and I have to tell you that it'll do you little good."
(Stone, it's me, as soon as he takes the bait, make your move)
|
|
|
|
Post by Game Master on May 9, 2007 13:59:44 GMT -5
"You know nothing! You still think its just paper! You can't see it for what it truly is! If you knew you would never have brought it to me! I'll take it from your corpse."
Fox tenses and swings his axe.
|
|
|
|
Post by Game Master on May 10, 2007 2:25:25 GMT -5
Hearing Firebug's voice in his head, Stone springs into action. Step-double step-step-THRUST-twist-PULL. In a blink of an eye the Earth Master strikes with text book precision. The long bladed Naginata Polearm yanks the axe out of Foxes hand. Unable to chop the rope and unwilling to take the time to saw at it with his knife the kidnapper dives at Stone attempting to get under his gaurd while pulling a small dagger from his belt.
|
|
|
|
Post by sfliegel on May 10, 2007 8:14:09 GMT -5
Seeing that Stone now has Fox's full attention, Firebug hurried over to Nilla. He decides to move her out of harms way. He checks carefully to see if Fox maybe set a booby trap for anyone who might try to save Nilla. He looks up and sees the trap that he had only imagined.
"You must be Nilla?" He managed a smile, "I've heard a great deal about you. How about if we get you home? What say you?" Firebug removed the gag from her mouth first.
|
|
|
|
Post by Game Master on May 11, 2007 1:27:26 GMT -5
The girl can only manage to cry and leech onto Firebug as he unties her.
Meanwhile once again finding an opponent within his polearms defensive distance Stone is unable to block the wicked blades. The diving trapper slashes at Aiko with his dagger and knife. The small dagger only manages to slice a gash in his leathers (6 to hit, 3 SDC) while the skinning knife stabs deep into the meat of his left leg (19 to hit, 6+3=9 HP, Speed reduced by 1/2, -2 dodge for 6 days unless magically healed). The knife makes a ripping sound as the serrated teeth tear flesh upon being pulled out.
Grunting in pain Stone limps backward as Fox regains his feet from the dive/lunge attack. Shifting his weight to his right leg he whips the Naginata around for an overhead strike. Coming in high and from the rear Fox doesn't see it coming (1 to parry) and the Eastern Polearm hits hard. (16 to hit)
|
|
|
|
Post by sfliegel on May 11, 2007 8:55:46 GMT -5
"Nilla I need your help. I need you more toward the door of this cave. Stay under one of the support beams. Master Stone and I need to deal with Fox before he can hurt anyone else. Do you understand?" Firebug spoke softly and sweetly to her and waited for her nod.
Once she started her walk toward the cave door Firebug prepared himself to cast a spell.
|
|
|
|
Post by Game Master on May 12, 2007 2:07:30 GMT -5
Aiko's skill with his Naginata drew a clean cut deep into Fox's shoulder. (18 HP, Cut shoulder, -3 PP and -2 Parry) The bloody wound made Foxes arm spasm and he dropped the small dagger.
Fox came at Aiko again this time aiming higher with his knife. (17 to hit).
|
|
|
|
Post by Game Master on May 13, 2007 2:03:54 GMT -5
Aiko tried desperately to block the hunting knife (16) and he did connect with his polearm. However the hobbits blade slid down the shaft slicing into Stones hand and wrist (3+3=6 HP, -1pp, -2 ps, cannot lift weight more than 10lbs. with right hand, -10% on all manual skills for 4 days) He is feeling faint from the loss of blood.
There are only two ways out of this cave. The hole in the ceiling or back into the tunnels. Brave little Nilla inches her way ever closer to the tunnel entrance, hugging the cavern wall while completely entranced by the battle taking place.
Now out of harms way, Firebug calls upon his mystical powers. A jet of green mage fire bursts from his hand and speeds toward the halfling. Fox is caught completely unawares and makes no move to get out of the way. He screams in pain as his body is wracked in fire.
|
|
|
|
Post by Game Master on May 14, 2007 1:05:19 GMT -5
Fox falls to the ground a charred and blistered mess (15 hp). Still breathing the horribly burned trapper will require immediate medical attention or perish by the looks of him. Firebug notices Aiko slump over unconscious as well with blood pouring from his wounds. Nilla stifles a scream and buries her head in her hands, crying. Firebug is alone with three victims to help.
|
|
|
|
Post by sfliegel on May 14, 2007 8:20:38 GMT -5
Firebug moves to Stone and makes a quick assesment of his injuries. Since he has no bandages, Firebug quickly pulls out a clean work shirt from his pack. He cuts it into long strip and applies a pressure bandage to Stone's leg and wrist wounds. He's no healer but he knows that he has to stop or at least slow the bleeding or Stone will never make it out of here. Once he has Stone somewhat under control, he moved over to Nilla and gave her a big hug.
"You have been such a brave girl, I'm so proud of you. Are you strong enough to do me a favor? I will give you a latern and I need you travel a short way back down the tunnel. There you will find Master Halfhelm the smith. Do you think you help him come back here so we can find a way out of here while I take care of Master Stone?"
After a few moments of encourage, Firebug lends her Stone's fancy lantern and points her back down the tunnel toward Halfhelm. Once Nilla is out of sight, Firebug turns his attention back to Fox.
He kneels beside Fox and whispers into his ear, "What is so special about the paper?" When no answer comes, he picks up Fox's hand closest to him and breaks his pinky at the big knuckle. "We have all day Fox. Once again, what is so special about the paper?" He breaks the ring finger next and waits for an answer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Game Master on May 14, 2007 13:45:06 GMT -5
"It's my fate......." The pain is to great. Fox slips unconscious and into a coma. He will surely die without assistance.
Not long afterwords Nilla returns with Master Halfhelm. He is walking slow and stiff but he appears well off compared to everyone else. "The passage is blocked lad. I hope we have rope." The dwarf looks at the hole. "Looks like we need about thirty feet of it." Halfhelm looks around at the carnage. "Is Stone alright?"
Firebug thinks about pinning the halfling with the stone slab but decides it would probably kill him. Fox looks worse off then he originally thought. Besides he wasn't going anywhere.
|
|
|
|
Post by sfliegel on May 14, 2007 16:28:28 GMT -5
"Master Halfhelm, Stone is bad off. I've tried to stem the bleeding but to little success. I have Fox the trapper here. He is the one that held Nilla and did that to Stone. We need to get Stone out of here immediately. Fox will be lucky to make it out of the cave let alone the trip back to town. What about you? Have you strength enough to help me?"
Firebug moved Fox along side Stone. Then followed the rope on the ground to its furthest point away from the trap, "I have a plan. Fox set up this trap to kill Nilla. I think we can use the pulley system to help lift us up." Once at the furthest end of the rope, Firebug pulled out his dagger and cut through the rope. The slab fell with a mighty thud that shook the cave.
"Master Halfhelm, Nilla, if you are able I will need your help reworking the pulleys to point toward the opening in the ceiling. Halfhelm, do you have any idea where we might be in relation to topside?"
|
|
