2: Intermezzo

[julie]

Dahlia gestures for them to be quiet, to calm down. "I need to know how you got into the pit. I don’t see a rope or ladder." Surely, they weren’t dropped in from where Dahlia now stands. Instead of closing her eyes, she looks to Dog, to determine from his posture what he sees at the wall of roots.

[vladtaltos]

Panicked, frightened for their lives from their abductor, and not knowing what to expect from you, the children scream at once, making it impossible to understand exactly what any one of them is saying. You do see a couple of them pointing toward the shallow pool of water in which they stand.

You turn and look toward Dog. Staring at the wall, his ears have now perked. His relaxed posture from just a moment ago has tensed into a defensive stance.

[julie]

It didn’t seem the children were in any immediate danger. They were pointing toward the floor of the pit, beyond the pool of water at their feet. If there was an entryway there, who or what would come through it?

Dahlia decided to turn her attention to Dog’s immediate concern. She again closed her eyes, to see through his eyes.

[vladtaltos]

Through the eyes of Dog you see the wall of roots blur and waver, like a distant image in some hazy desert. A mirage? Illusion? Large, rolling waves move up and down its length. A massive bubble forms in the middle of the wall, ready to burst at any moment.

When it does, roots untangle, the wall collapses without a sound. Leaves kick up, curved dead leaves skittering this way and that at the force of the falling wall.

The leaves and roots spin in the air, forming the outline of a strange Man-like entity that marches toward Dog. It stands slightly over seven feet tall, and with each step toward the retriever, becomes less supernatural, less composed of tree roots, leaves, grass and dirt, and more of flesh and bone. In its right hand a weapon forms, an unusual rod-like device with a colorful tip of red and green.

Dog barks, backpedals, turns his head to flee. The next thing you see is yourself, through Dog’s eyes. He’s running toward you.

[julie]

A deranged mage or druid, a spell caster of some sort. That was the man responsible for abducting the children of Florence, and perhaps elsewhere, bringing them here for their final agonizing moments.

Dahlia could feel a rage quite unlike any she’d felt before roiling inside of her. Cool-headedness never accompanied her kills. She had to look upon her quarry with contempt, hatred. Without it, she couldn’t do the grim task asked of her. Sometimes it was difficult finding that rage.

Not this time.

She opened her eyes, nocked a silver arrow in her bow, and with quick strides closed the gap toward the approaching Golden Retriever. She looked for the Man she’d just seen through Dog’s eyes, took aim, and shot for the arm that held the rod.

OOC: The next post will contain the dice roll, rolled after stating my intention of disarming my opponent.

[julie]

10:01, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,2,6.

[vladtaltos]

The silver arrow sings through the air on a straight line, striking your target on his right forearm. There’s a flash of red, a spurt of blood. He winces in pain, dropping his strange weapon. The form of this being had just solidified into that resembling a human man, but now it disappears, vanishing into the ground under his feet.

Beside you, Dog growls and snaps off a few piercing barks. When the retriever spins, turning around, you follow suit. You see him behind you, approaching you with long nails outstretched, madness clearly in his eyes....














<Roll for damage for the arrow striking his arm d6+2, then roll for init, and make your attack/damage rolls. You have a free action to draw whatever weapon you choose, but you’re too close for the bow.>

[julie]

With little time to react, Dahlia dropped her bow, and snatched the rapier free from the catch at her waist. She took two steps back, then lunged forward, slashing at the madman’s face.

* * *

10:29, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 5 using d6+2 with rolls of 3. ...Arrow shot, previous round.

10:29, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 3, 5, 4. Attack
10:32, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4. Damage

Dahlia will attempt to draw her dagger before her next attack.


edit: Missing Init. roll...

10:43, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 3 using 1d6 with rolls of 3. Initiative roll.

[vladtaltos]

The madman’s hand flashes across your face. Before you can step backward his nails, as long and sharp as knives, slice through the soft flesh of your right cheek.

You stumble back, then lunge forward in a counterattack, your rapier piercing his chest. He groans in pain, but the demented smile remains on his face, and the spot on his chest where your sword struck becomes a hardened piece of bark. With your free hand, you withdraw your dagger and prepare for your next action.

09:44, Today: GM rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4. Initiative

09:44, Today: GM rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,4,2. Attack

09:44, Today: GM rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4. Damage

_______________

You’ve suffered 2 points of damage. Your ST is now 5.

[julie]

Dahlia felt herself weakening. She was still feeling the pain from the bomb she used to destroy the bone spiders, and now this murderer’s rake of nails across her face had brought more blood. She fell back, but still kept her sword and dagger ready.

Bypassing initiative.

[vladtaltos]

He senses your weakening, and comes at you in a mad rush. You notice bark continues to form over his skin, a patchwork of natural armor consuming his chest and neck.

10:24, Today: GM rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,5,4. Attack 

[julie]

Dahlia takes her chances and counterstrikes.

10:37, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 5 using 3d6 with rolls of 2, 2, 1. --Attack
10:38, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 3 using 1d6 with rolls of 3. --Damage

[vladtaltos]

Nails whistle past your eyes, but fail to connect. You riposte, your rapier thudding into the madman’s abdomen. The thud, you recognize, is your blade meeting solid wood, doing little damage.

He laughs and spins at an incredible speed, corkscrewing himself into the ground. The wind rustles through the leaves, tree branches rattle high above...

Roll 3d6 to notice in time.

[julie]

Dahlia spun around, looking behind her and up above, at the trees.

11:06, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 13 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,5,4.

[vladtaltos]

It comes slithering out of the bole of a tree, just over your head. The same twisted smile you saw on the face of the madman graces the visage of this unholy terror. Two barbs at either side of its face strike forward, deadly venom oozing from the tips.




10:22, Today: GM rolled 9 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,2,2. ---Attack