Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

[Tassadar]

Spoiler

Rowynns Stats: HP = 185, PP = 172, EP = 175

It had been three days since she'd gotten to the edge of the demon infested town, and Rowynn had finally set up her smithy. It had taken her longer than usual, but she had manged to get a rough forge up and running just outside the town, right near a couriers house that was only about a half mile from Artmirst, along the Eastern road. Nothing except a few wolves had made any attempt to bother her while she'd set up shop, and a few of the Fey had passed by without incident. There had been a massive explosion somewhere within the town, but she hadn't been hit by it, so she figured that it was safe to ignore it. It was late, and the small ten by ten hut she'd built to cover her forge was hardly comfortable enough to sleep in, so she headed into the couriers hut to sleep for the night. There were often Fey or other adventurers within, so she figured that it was safe enough, especially considering the face that she was the only one that could use any of her truly valuable stuff anyway.

In the middle of the night, Rowynn was awoken by the sound of metal clanking against metal from nearby.......

 

[Alias]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

[I'm assuming she's in some sort of bedroom with one door, if not, correct me and I'll fix the post]

Rowynn's eyes burst open, and it took her a moment to get her bearings. That was one thing she'd never liked about herself; it took her far too long to wake up. She'd always been a heavy sleeper. Quietly rising from the bed and wincing slightly at the stiffness of her joints from sleeping in her armor, she placed a hand on her sword and crept to the door, her ensorcelled armor not making a sound as she stepped lightly across the floor, trying to perceive what it was that was making the noise.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

Spoiler

Rowynns Stats: HP = 185, PP = 172, EP = 175

(Yes. With a bunch of bunks instead of a bed though.)

The bunkhouse was empty, currently, so she had no risk of stepping on anyone lying on the floor. She skirted the edge of the fire pit, which was now nothing more than embers, and headed for the door, trying to figure out where the sounds had been coming from. As she headed for the door, she heard a loud crash, and she thought that it might be coming from her forge.

 

[Alias]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

She tried to stay silent as she tiptoed to the door, her tapered elven ears pricked even more than natural to pick up any sounds that might identify the intruder. Gingerly resting her hand on the deadbolt, she gave the lock a gentle turn, then moved her hand down to the handle. Glad that she'd remembered to run a rag with oil over the hinges before she'd gone to bed, she slowly pushed the door open with one hand, her sword held ready in the other as she crept out, quickly making her way to the makeshift forge, her bare feet just barely scuffing the ground.

As she approached, she could hear her sword begin to ring, its eagerness for combat thrumming through her blood. Luckily the anticipatory song was only in her mind, but she hastily quelled it anyway, lest it become audible to demon ears. Soon, she promised the eager blade as she peered around the sheet of metal she'd erected, trying to catch a glimpse of the intruder instead of simply wading in to attack. Soon, she mentally whispered again, you shall have what you seek.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

Spoiler

Rowynns Stats: HP = 185, PP = 172, EP = 175

More sounds could be heard from her forge as Rowynn silently padded toward it, her blade going silent as she'd demanded of it as she drew closer. After a few seconds, she was right up next to the door, and she could here movement coming form numerous places throughout her forge, suggesting that she had multiple intruders within her newly constructed shop.

 

[Alias]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

[/facepalm you're just not going to let me get a look at them so I can plan some sort of attack strategy, are you? -_- oh well... put all available to-hit to dodge if she gets attacked then]

Rowynn couldn't perceive who or what was rooting around in her makeshift forge, so she finally stepped out into the open, extending the sword toward the creatures and summoning its blazing light, a pinkish aura that threw light everywhere around her.

"Who's there?" she demanded of the intruders.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

Spoiler

Rowynns Stats: HP = 185, PP = 172, EP = 175

(Of course not.)

As her light spread from her magical sword, Rowyyn found herself staring at what she could only describe as a vile monstrosity. A man in a black robe stood in the center of her forge, with what little skin she could see on him set in an unearthly pale white, more like what she'd see on a cadaver than a living man. A number of tentacles were spread out from under his robes and were tearing apart her forge, taking anything she knew to carry even the slightest enchantment back up under his robe, while the rest was simply cast aside, usually onto the floor. As her light started, the tentacles all stopped looting her new forge, and twisted so that all of them seemed to point toward her, writhing like snakes in the air. The mans head slowly looks down, as he'd been staring right up at the ceiling before now, and locked his eyes on her. He made no verbal reply, but she watched as all the tentacles began slowly moving toward her, writhing disturbingly.

 

[Alias]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

[Oh snap this is that merchant demon isn't it ^^ well let's see how long I last, put all hit to dodge again]

She knew she would be seeing strange things, this close to a portal, but she hadn't expected the splotchy countenance of this... thing. Especially not something with this unearthly control over multiple appendages; it seemed like each one was a separate arm that he controlled with the same ease that Rowynn would wiggle a finger with. She noticed that her amulet was trembling, vibrating with a great energy - she was in terrible danger. This was not a foe to be trifled with. Taking up a defensive stance, she let the sword begin to sing, a chillingly beautiful wail of lost souls, all in unison, all in perfect harmony. The light began to resonate with the wails, and Rowynn took a deep breath, centering her energy, ready to leap into spinning action and slice away each tentacle that came near her.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

Spoiler

Rowynns Stats: HP = 185, PP = 172, EP = 175

(Yep.)

To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.

Four of the tentacles lashed out at Rowynn as her sword began to sing with its power, but she dodged each of them in turn. Despite this, however, she was unable to strike at any of them as they darted away form her before she could swing at any of them. As she began drawing on the power of her magical weapons and armor, the mans head swiveled toward her, and she felt his eyes lock onto her dancing form. Then, suddenly, he let out an ear-splitting howl, and the tentacles coming out form under his robes began moving even faster than they had been before.

 

[Alias]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

Rowynn cried out in pain; it felt like her brain was splitting in half from the sheer piercing volume of the scream. She staggered backward, but didn't release a hand from her sword, showing a bit of her remarkable willpower. Shaking her head to drive away the stars that were speckling the edges of her gaze, she scowled fiercely, her eyes narrowing coldly. Her body began to flow with the forms of the sword that she had taught herself - Dragon Breathes Fire to River Speaking to Crouching Serpent and onward, slowly making her way forward and either slicing or naturally dodging each strike of the man, her enchanted arms and armor being the only thing that kept her any kind of safe, preternatural reflexes enabling her to duck and weave through the viciously willed whipgrass.

[all hit to dodge again, try to wade forward and make a strike against him]

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

Spoiler

Rowynns Stats: HP = 185, PP = 172, EP = 175

(All to-hit to dodge means that you can't make an attack. And even if you could, you wouldn't hit him.)

To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.

Once more, Rowynns prowess and powerful items allow her to easily avoid any of the tentacles reaching toward her, but they once more avoided any attempt she made to sever them from the mans body. It seemed that, no matter how quickly or deftly she moved, the tentacles are just a little bit faster, not touching her but not being touched either. She surges forward, still avoiding any attempt to hit her, until she is standing right next to the mans body, who still hasn't moved other than to track her with his blank, milk-white eyes.

 

[Alias]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

[Oh, I thought there was some sort of cap. put all to dodge except 30 points. How much to-hit do I need to hit him anyway?]

Her frustration growing, she attempted to make a more solid strike, weaving and ducking around the forest of appendages, her sword singing a wondrous siren's song. She could keep the tentacles at bay, but could she attack and defend at the same time?

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

Spoiler

Rowynns Stats: HP = 185, PP = 172, EP = 175

(It's one of the things I think I never said explicitly in the rules. And I can't tell you that! How would I have my fun? XD )

To-hit: Miss.

Despite her magical weapons and not-unimpressive skill in combat, Rowynns blade seemed to just barely miss striking against the mans flesh as she slashed at him. Her blade passed within inches of his black robe, before his tentacles began pushing her once more.

To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.

Thankfully, she still was able to avoid his attacks against her, but this time just barely, one nearly wrapping around her ankle before she pulled her foot out of the noose it had formed around her lower leg.

 

[Alias]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

Keeping her flowing, dancing form, remaining mostly on defense but also putting more effort on offense now that the creature was within striking distance, she made several swings for it, leaping and twisting wildly to avoid the forest of tentacles swarming around her.

[Keep all but 30 to dodge, and have her keep attacking until one of them hits]

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

Spoiler

Rowynns Stats: HP = 185, PP = 172, EP = 175

(I can tell you this much: On a +30, you won't hit even on a natural 20.)

To-hit: Miss.

Again, despite her skill, Rowynn is forced to conserve all of her efforts toward dodging as the tentacles continue trying to grab. Her singing blade hits nothing but air.

To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.
To-hit: Miss.

Her weapon at least keeps the tentacles away from her, however.

 

[Alias]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

[lol, fine. don't put anything to dodge.]

Rowynn was getting impatient with this game of cat and mouse; she decided to go on all-out offense, and grit her teeth as she made a powerful swipe against the attacking creature.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

Spoiler

Rowynns Stats: HP = 185, PP = 172, EP = 175, Grappled

To-hit: Hit.
Damage: 8 + 49 = 57 damage.

Finally abandoning her defense, Rowynss blade strikes home, singing its siren song even as it tears through the mans robes and flesh. As it came out the other side of him, a gout of thick black blood erupted form the wound she'd caused. If he noticed her attack at all, however, he didn't show it, still standing stock still with his lifeless eyes glued onto her while his tentacles attempted once more to entrap her.

To-hit: Hit.

And now, she wasn't prepared for, and so two tentacles wrapped around her ankles, while two more grabbed her under her arms. If she didn't react quickly, she would be pulled off her feet, and left at the strangers mercy.

 

[Alias]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

[I forget the rules, can you attack while grappled? If so, attack, if not, attempt to escape grapple.]

Rowynn gasped as her limbs were bound; she wrenched her sword-arm up and attempted to slash away the tentacles. There were just too many of them! She couldn't possibly slice them all away from the creature's body and make a successful attack against him. And even if she did, her previous strike didn't even seem to have made a dent in his health; he was still standing there and had showed zero reaction whatsoever to being impaled with the mighty sword.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

Spoiler

Rowynns Stats: HP = 185, PP = 172, EP = 175, Grappled, Submission Hold

(Only unarmed, though I think I haven't been consistent with that one. And at this point I'm doing coin tosses to see who wins, more or less.)

Grapple: Enemy wins.

Despite a valiant effort, Rowynn is unable to move her sword to hack at any of the tentacles binding her. Then, it tries once more to pull her wrists back behind her.

Grapple: Enemy wins.

Despite her fervent resistance, the elven smith is forced into a position in which she is utterly helpless, her arms behind her back while more tentacles wrap around her arms, legs, and body. One even wraps around her neck, but doesn't begin choking her, only lightly wrapping around it, the mushroom-head pressing against her cheek and smearing it with thick sticky slime.

 

[Alias]

Re: Just Ms. Smith (Alias)

[Now we're getting somewhere... finally]

Rowynn cried out in fear, her wondrous sword dropping from her nerveless fingers as her arms were held tightly behind her back and her entire body was lifted off of the ground. The pinkish glow of the sword continued to light the horrible situation, but as soon as the blade left her touch the song abruptly ceased, not even providing her with that small comfort. The thick appendages wrapped around her, more and more twisting and curling against her body as she struggled, even though she knew it was hopeless; there was no chance of escape with the number of appendages binding her tall frame. At the touch of the slime against her face she recoiled violently, sickened; she had heard of creatures like this and she had a very good idea of what was about to happen to her, especially if the appendages were already lubricated. Still, she wasn't yet panicked enough to not think of something she hadn't tried yet - perhaps the thing would respond to words, even though it had attacked her first. "What do you want?!" she cried desperately, struggling mightily to escape the compromised position she was in.