"Yeah, I hate it when that happens" Talnin quips in response to Uldran's comment on getting ambushed, as he lets Uldran step in front of him.
"So Uldran," Talnin says, feeling a bit chatty after their flight and in such drab surroundings, "just how many of those things do you have in your coat? That's gotta weigh a ton."
Eavath was not opposed to Uldran taking front. As he stepped into the cave, the world suddenly went really dar, and then it faded into slight visibility. He said aloud, "I'll be back here to make sure nothing decides to sneak up on us." he kept himself alert of any sounds or any sign of movement, ocassionally glancing over his shoulder to keep an eye behind them.
The tunnel continues to slope downwards, widening slightly as it does so.
Eventually, it comes to an end as it opens up into a cavern. Nothing inside the cavern can be heard right now.
Talnin doesn't find Uldran's joke particularly funny, but he recognises the intent in Uldran's tone and offers a charity laugh.
"Well, we haven't come across any torches, or signs that anyone's home," Talnin sighs, "...if we don't come across something soon, let's head back, as there must be a grazillion caves in these mountains, and we can't spend all morning checking one out...or whatever time of day it is here. The sky was a weird colour."
OOC:
What about visibility - is it too dark for even Uldran to see anything? Can we make out how large the cavern is?
"I agree, but we need to make sure that we don't abandon this cave and leave something important behind. Pushing forward at this point still seems like the best course of action." Uldran is determined to make sure the cave is completely clear before they leave.
Then, with a twinge of amazement and frustration, "Also, you two are white mages, no? How about making some light for us?" Uldran doesn't actually know if this is possible, he is just assuming that white mages can create light.
Eavath nodded and said, "I agree with Uldran, I think we should check this cave out a little bit more, we might find something we could use..."
Eavath chuckled and shook his head, "I'm a blue mage, so I'm not able to make anything with light." He then stepped farther into the cavern slowly, hoping to see if he could catch something.
"You'd think I'd know some simple light spells," Talnin shrugs, "but I actually never really did practice, 'sides trying to copy what I used to see the head cleric do now and again...and he never did it all that often - our village was pretty well-lit."
"Besides," Talnin says quieter this time, "even if I could, I don't think I want to take the chance here...that rider said that there are gobbos in these mountains - they may not be in this particular cave, but I'd rather not attempt a light show if they're around..."
Talnin follows Eavath into the cavern, staying behind him and Uldran.
"Apologies Eavath, I shouldn't just assume things. And, not making a light show for the goblins is a good point. Sorry for my hasty thinking." Uldran replies in what he realizes, a minute later, was a moment of compassion for his allies that seeped through.
Moving forward some more, he eyes intently the cavern around him, while questioning the Sengir in him.
As Eavath and Uldran step into the cavern, Talnin sees movement at the edge of his vision. As he turns to look at it, the movement turns into hump-backed goblinoid figures ambushing the three mages.
The cavern is both very large and very empty. The smoldering embers of a small fire can be seen. The fire looks as though it was hurriedly put out.
Talnin gets one turn before to prepare, and is also the only one who can retaliate with his weapon this turn.
To clarify: Talnin gets one free turn before you're attacked, and can take a normal turn after the opening attack. Rest of you just get to take damage before you get your turns.
Talnin was so sure that Eavath or Uldran would be the first to spot something that he barely catches the goblins in time. His eyes fly wide open, and no longer with reason to be stealthy, he exclaims loudly: "guys, we've got company!"
Come on mana, come on mana- Talnin wishes to himself as he begins to extract mana from the bonds he has.
With barely a few seconds to prepare, Talnin can only afford to cast a simple spell of protection on himself as he draws his dagger and braces for the attack.
As the goblins close in on him, the defensive spell does its work, causing the creatures' attacks to harmlessly graze Talnin. In response, Talnin thrusts his dagger at the goblin who was the most exposed at the moment, killing it.
I hope you guys can throw up something fast, thinks Talnin, as he attempts to back closer to Uldran and Eavath.
OOC:
Talnin Preparation Turn
Plays:
x1 Plains
Goblin Attack Turn:
Life: 20
Plays:
x1 Mending Hands (on self)
Dagger on x1 Akki Avalancers (killing the Blizzard-herder might be more tactically sound, but Talnin wouldn't know that. I rolled a die to determine which goblin he attacked first)
Uldran just has time to get the thought out before the first akki slams into him, with the second one taking him down to the ground. The three goblins get a few good shots in before Uldran can spin around and get a few feet away.
Uldran snickers, "Payback time!", as he throws his right hand down, corrupting the land beneath it. He then brings his hand up, and essence of night rises up. Bringing the black mana in front of him, he calls up an ally. One with a particularly bad smell.
Eavath heard the shout of warning a second too late. He stumbled slightly from the attack and whirled to face his attackers. It was a group of small goblins. He rolled his right sleeve up past his wrist to show a small bracelet with round, plain clear gems all around it. He clasped his hand in a reverent gesture and one gem started to glow a bright blue and took on a teardrop shape. He then concentrated and the blue gem turned dark. A small sprite then appeared, floatin a few feet off the ground at his shoulder, staring intently at the goblins in front of it. He then thought to himself I won't be able to block for a while, but I'll be able to go offensive.
You are able to cross-block if you wish, and all of you can use your weapons now.
On another note, when you're able to attack, you may attack the goblins as though they were players.
Talnin let out a low whistle, even as his allies recover from the initial Akki assault.
These guys look like can take can take care of themselves.
As one of the goblins peels off from Talnin to charge Uldran, Talnin begins drawing additional mana to him. Sorry to call you back so soon, but I could use a hand right now.
As motes of white mana swirl from Talnin's outstretched hands, they coalesce into one of the griffins that are native to his home. The creature cocks its head and gives a slight squawk of curiosity, but then hunches down determinedly.
Seeing Uldran suddenly beset by five goblins, Talnin urges his griffin to go defend him.
I think I can handle TWO goblins... Talnin lets the thought trail off as his griffin bounds off to Uldran. The goblins manage to graze Talnin, but even as they do so, Talnin knows it's nothing serious - he's had worse. In its zeal, one goblin's wild attack left it easily exposed for thrust from Talnin's dagger, dispatching the creature.
As Talnin strikes down the second goblin, a strange sensation causes him to feel momentarily giddy - the mental tether to a plains he knew snapped like an overstretched cord, and Talnin gave a slight grunt of bewilderment before exclaiming: "Hey guys, watch out for the ones with the staves! They're..." Talnin spent a second thinking of what to say next, "...not exactly fun to take down."
Eavath grumbled as the goblins charged again. "Gah, I can't block yet..." he braced himself as the goblins closed in on him. He was able to smack one as it hit him, taking care of it. Another gem on his bracelet started glowing a bright blue, but then they both suddenly dimmed back down. He held an open hand at a different goblin, sending it off somewhere else. He then glanced at his Sprite and pointed at another. She nodded to him and flew towards it, attempting to take it down.
"Haha yes! Some fun is to be had!" Uldran yells, which given caves echo potentially alerting more akki might not have been his best idea. Not that he cares, of course.
"YOU! Take care of him, and his little friend too!" Uldran directs his ally to two of the goblins. Turning his attention to the other two goblins, Uldran dispatches the first one with relative ease. However, this left him quite open, and the goblin with the staff didn't hesitate to get a good hit across the chest, the other smashing into his side, before the essence of death overcomes the latter akki.
Creating a second black pool, Uldran brings both of his hands up, summoning two more rather disgusting allies by his side. Becoming stoic, nearly smug, Uldran stiffens up, "Let's see you come at me once more. Just try it.", crossing his arms.
Uldran Turn 3
Life: 14 (after combat)
Combat: Festering Goblin blocks Akki Rockspeaker
Uldran takes Akki Avalanchers down with his weapon. -1
Uldran takes two from the two unblocked akki. -3
Post-damage, Festering Goblins trigger kills Akki Avalanchers
z00t, you'll have to take another action. The goblins are attacking before your turn 2, and will attack after that, during which you can take the action you were planning.
He winced and looked down at his bracelet. One of the glowing blue gems on it had lost its glow and was now back to being clear. He shook his head and concentrated. It began glowing blue once more. "Don't let them get away!" He lifted his hand and faced his open palm at one of the retreating goblins. A small wormhole opened in its path. As soon as it went into it, the hole and goblin disappeared instantly. He glanced at his two companions knowing they would be able to take care of the other two remaining.
Talnin winces as Uldran's yells echo in the cavern, and he quickly looks around to make sure that it hadn't alerted any more Akki. Fortunately, at that moment, the remaining goblins turned to flee.
Talnin gives an almost indiscernible 'harumph' at Eavath's flashy spell, and he finds himself wishing for a moment that he had been raised somewhere that had people practicing a wider variety of magics.
Not quite willing to run after the fleeing goblins in an undignified fashion, Talnin contents himself with turning to his summoned griffin and quickly saying: "Hey boy, see that Goblin over there? Go get it!"
"And don't eat it!" Talnin adds, just as the griffin bounds off after its quarry.
Talnin is no stranger to bravado, but Uldran's enthusiasm given the situation was a little much, even for Talnin, and he keeps an eye out for any potential reinforcements the goblins could be trying to regroup with.
Uldran smiled as we watched the griffin tear through the remaining goblins. There was almost something...majestic about how it killed. Uldran was in a bit of awe, not that he would ever admit to it.
"Speaking of eating..." Uldran muttered to himself as he made his way to a couple of the corpses. Using nearly surgical precision with his dagger, Uldran draws out some of the remaining blood to fill his vials that he has consumed. This prospect didn't thrill him however, goblin blood was a bit of an acquired taste, and he wasn't entirely comfortable with it yet. Some blood was better than no blood though, and he couldn't afford to go hungry in a place like this.
"So, where do we go from here?" Uldran asks the group collectively.
"So Uldran," Talnin says, feeling a bit chatty after their flight and in such drab surroundings, "just how many of those things do you have in your coat? That's gotta weigh a ton."
Trades
Thanks to Xenoninja for the Avatar & Sig, from Heroes of the Plane Studios
Legacy:
XUArtifact UX
BGWMycoloth/Saproling Beatdown WGB
RRSuicide RedRR
EDH:
GOmnath, Locus of ManaG
BAnowon, the Vampire TribalB
UGMomir Vig, Simic VisionaryGU
WRJor Kadeen, VoltronRW
BRGKresh the BloodbraidedGRB
BGWDoran, the Siege TowerWGB
BGWGhave, Guru of tokensWGB
WUBRGScion of the Ur-DragonGRBUW
WUBRGKarona, False GodGRBUW
"A bit, but the thick cloak distributes the weight quite well. Also, vampires are inherently stronger than humans remember."
Remembering the situation they are in, Uldran snaps his head forward again, staring down the tunnel for anything that might jump out at them.
Thinking it was his turn for a joke, Uldran says loudly enough that Eavath hears him, "I hope I can trust you back there!"
Unsurprisingly, it wasn't particularly funny.
Eventually, it comes to an end as it opens up into a cavern. Nothing inside the cavern can be heard right now.
"Well, we haven't come across any torches, or signs that anyone's home," Talnin sighs, "...if we don't come across something soon, let's head back, as there must be a grazillion caves in these mountains, and we can't spend all morning checking one out...or whatever time of day it is here. The sky was a weird colour."
OOC:
Then, with a twinge of amazement and frustration, "Also, you two are white mages, no? How about making some light for us?" Uldran doesn't actually know if this is possible, he is just assuming that white mages can create light.
Eavath chuckled and shook his head, "I'm a blue mage, so I'm not able to make anything with light." He then stepped farther into the cavern slowly, hoping to see if he could catch something.
Trades
Thanks to Xenoninja for the Avatar & Sig, from Heroes of the Plane Studios
Legacy:
XUArtifact UX
BGWMycoloth/Saproling Beatdown WGB
RRSuicide RedRR
EDH:
GOmnath, Locus of ManaG
BAnowon, the Vampire TribalB
UGMomir Vig, Simic VisionaryGU
WRJor Kadeen, VoltronRW
BRGKresh the BloodbraidedGRB
BGWDoran, the Siege TowerWGB
BGWGhave, Guru of tokensWGB
WUBRGScion of the Ur-DragonGRBUW
WUBRGKarona, False GodGRBUW
"Besides," Talnin says quieter this time, "even if I could, I don't think I want to take the chance here...that rider said that there are gobbos in these mountains - they may not be in this particular cave, but I'd rather not attempt a light show if they're around..."
Talnin follows Eavath into the cavern, staying behind him and Uldran.
Moving forward some more, he eyes intently the cavern around him, while questioning the Sengir in him.
The cavern is both very large and very empty. The smoldering embers of a small fire can be seen. The fire looks as though it was hurriedly put out.
Akki Blizzard-Herders x3 :symtap:, 1 attacking each
Akki Rockspeaker x2
Talnin gets one turn before to prepare, and is also the only one who can retaliate with his weapon this turn.
To clarify: Talnin gets one free turn before you're attacked, and can take a normal turn after the opening attack. Rest of you just get to take damage before you get your turns.
Come on mana, come on mana- Talnin wishes to himself as he begins to extract mana from the bonds he has.
With barely a few seconds to prepare, Talnin can only afford to cast a simple spell of protection on himself as he draws his dagger and braces for the attack.
As the goblins close in on him, the defensive spell does its work, causing the creatures' attacks to harmlessly graze Talnin. In response, Talnin thrusts his dagger at the goblin who was the most exposed at the moment, killing it.
I hope you guys can throw up something fast, thinks Talnin, as he attempts to back closer to Uldran and Eavath.
OOC:
Talnin Preparation Turn
Plays:
x1 Plains
Goblin Attack Turn:
Life: 20
Plays:
x1 Mending Hands (on self)
Dagger on x1 Akki Avalancers (killing the Blizzard-herder might be more tactically sound, but Talnin wouldn't know that. I rolled a die to determine which goblin he attacked first)
Battlefield:
x1 Plains
Talnin Turn 1:
Life: 20
Plays:
x1 Plains,
Battlefield:
x2 Plains,
Also OOC:
I hope I'm doing this right :p.
Uldran just has time to get the thought out before the first akki slams into him, with the second one taking him down to the ground. The three goblins get a few good shots in before Uldran can spin around and get a few feet away.
Uldran snickers, "Payback time!", as he throws his right hand down, corrupting the land beneath it. He then brings his hand up, and essence of night rises up. Bringing the black mana in front of him, he calls up an ally. One with a particularly bad smell.
Uldran Turn 1
Life: 17
Plays:
Swamp x 1
Festering Goblin x 1
Battlefield:
Swamp x 1 T
Festering Goblin x 1 Q
Would also like to draw out my weapon, I think I can do that all in the same turn.
Eavath's 1st turn:
Life: 17
Plays: Island t, Cloud Sprite
Battlefield:
Island t, Cloud Sprite SS
Trades
Thanks to Xenoninja for the Avatar & Sig, from Heroes of the Plane Studios
Legacy:
XUArtifact UX
BGWMycoloth/Saproling Beatdown WGB
RRSuicide RedRR
EDH:
GOmnath, Locus of ManaG
BAnowon, the Vampire TribalB
UGMomir Vig, Simic VisionaryGU
WRJor Kadeen, VoltronRW
BRGKresh the BloodbraidedGRB
BGWDoran, the Siege TowerWGB
BGWGhave, Guru of tokensWGB
WUBRGScion of the Ur-DragonGRBUW
WUBRGKarona, False GodGRBUW
Akki Blizzard-Herders x3 :symtap:, 1 attacking each
Akki Rockspeaker x2 :symtap:, 2 attacking Uldran
You are able to cross-block if you wish, and all of you can use your weapons now.
On another note, when you're able to attack, you may attack the goblins as though they were players.
These guys look like can take can take care of themselves.
As one of the goblins peels off from Talnin to charge Uldran, Talnin begins drawing additional mana to him. Sorry to call you back so soon, but I could use a hand right now.
As motes of white mana swirl from Talnin's outstretched hands, they coalesce into one of the griffins that are native to his home. The creature cocks its head and gives a slight squawk of curiosity, but then hunches down determinedly.
Seeing Uldran suddenly beset by five goblins, Talnin urges his griffin to go defend him.
I think I can handle TWO goblins... Talnin lets the thought trail off as his griffin bounds off to Uldran. The goblins manage to graze Talnin, but even as they do so, Talnin knows it's nothing serious - he's had worse. In its zeal, one goblin's wild attack left it easily exposed for thrust from Talnin's dagger, dispatching the creature.
As Talnin strikes down the second goblin, a strange sensation causes him to feel momentarily giddy - the mental tether to a plains he knew snapped like an overstretched cord, and Talnin gave a slight grunt of bewilderment before exclaiming: "Hey guys, watch out for the ones with the staves! They're..." Talnin spent a second thinking of what to say next, "...not exactly fun to take down."
OOC:
Goblin Attack 2:
Life: 18
Dagger on x1 Akki Avalancher
Talnin Turn 2:
Life: 18
Plays:
x1 Plains
x1 Wild Griffin
Battlefield:
x3 Plains
x1 Wild Griffin (blocking an Akki Rockspeaker for Uldran)
Goblin Attack 3:
Life: 17
Dagger on x1 Akki Blizzard-Herder
Battlefield:
x2 Plains
x1 Wild Griffin (blocking an Akki Rockspeaker for Uldran)
Graveyard:
x1 Plains
Life: 14
Defend Akki Avalancher with 1/0 staff.
Plays:
Play Island
Boomerang on Akki Blizzard-Herder
Attack Akki Rockspeaker with Cloud Sprite
Field:
t2x Island
Trades
Thanks to Xenoninja for the Avatar & Sig, from Heroes of the Plane Studios
Legacy:
XUArtifact UX
BGWMycoloth/Saproling Beatdown WGB
RRSuicide RedRR
EDH:
GOmnath, Locus of ManaG
BAnowon, the Vampire TribalB
UGMomir Vig, Simic VisionaryGU
WRJor Kadeen, VoltronRW
BRGKresh the BloodbraidedGRB
BGWDoran, the Siege TowerWGB
BGWGhave, Guru of tokensWGB
WUBRGScion of the Ur-DragonGRBUW
WUBRGKarona, False GodGRBUW
"YOU! Take care of him, and his little friend too!" Uldran directs his ally to two of the goblins. Turning his attention to the other two goblins, Uldran dispatches the first one with relative ease. However, this left him quite open, and the goblin with the staff didn't hesitate to get a good hit across the chest, the other smashing into his side, before the essence of death overcomes the latter akki.
Creating a second black pool, Uldran brings both of his hands up, summoning two more rather disgusting allies by his side. Becoming stoic, nearly smug, Uldran stiffens up, "Let's see you come at me once more. Just try it.", crossing his arms.
Uldran Turn 3
Life: 14 (after combat)
Combat: Festering Goblin blocks Akki Rockspeaker
Uldran takes Akki Avalanchers down with his weapon. -1
Uldran takes two from the two unblocked akki. -3
Post-damage, Festering Goblins trigger kills Akki Avalanchers
Playing:
Festering Goblin X 2
Swamp X 1
Field:
Swamp X 2 T
Festering Goblin X 2 Q
Anaklusmos and Eavath take note! I just killed a Blizzard-Herder, so we each have to sacrifice a land, sorry guys :P.
Akki Blizzard-Herders x2 :symtap:, fleeing
Life: 14
Sacrifice Island to Blizzard-Herder
Plays:
Play Island
cast Boomerang at Akki Blizzard-Herder
Field:
2x t Island
Trades
Thanks to Xenoninja for the Avatar & Sig, from Heroes of the Plane Studios
Legacy:
XUArtifact UX
BGWMycoloth/Saproling Beatdown WGB
RRSuicide RedRR
EDH:
GOmnath, Locus of ManaG
BAnowon, the Vampire TribalB
UGMomir Vig, Simic VisionaryGU
WRJor Kadeen, VoltronRW
BRGKresh the BloodbraidedGRB
BGWDoran, the Siege TowerWGB
BGWGhave, Guru of tokensWGB
WUBRGScion of the Ur-DragonGRBUW
WUBRGKarona, False GodGRBUW
Talnin gives an almost indiscernible 'harumph' at Eavath's flashy spell, and he finds himself wishing for a moment that he had been raised somewhere that had people practicing a wider variety of magics.
Not quite willing to run after the fleeing goblins in an undignified fashion, Talnin contents himself with turning to his summoned griffin and quickly saying: "Hey boy, see that Goblin over there? Go get it!"
"And don't eat it!" Talnin adds, just as the griffin bounds off after its quarry.
Talnin is no stranger to bravado, but Uldran's enthusiasm given the situation was a little much, even for Talnin, and he keeps an eye out for any potential reinforcements the goblins could be trying to regroup with.
"Speaking of eating..." Uldran muttered to himself as he made his way to a couple of the corpses. Using nearly surgical precision with his dagger, Uldran draws out some of the remaining blood to fill his vials that he has consumed. This prospect didn't thrill him however, goblin blood was a bit of an acquired taste, and he wasn't entirely comfortable with it yet. Some blood was better than no blood though, and he couldn't afford to go hungry in a place like this.
"So, where do we go from here?" Uldran asks the group collectively.
The goblins look back, see the griffin chasing them, and split up, only letting the griffin catch one.