Studies inopportune

[Attilius]

Dec 15, 2023 5:41:25 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

Attilius takes the best high ground that he can, but in this specific area it isn't much.

You figure you have a couple short minutes to react before wiggly ground zero. You are not far from the library.

If the gladiator spots any kids playing "kick the rock" games or grannies crossing the street with their shopping carts, he'll snatch them up and carry them away from the oncoming line of earth movement.

If not, he'll look for a good place to launch a death from above gouge attack when the final small ones pass

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- "If you move away with everyone, I can try to hinder the movement of such worms! I'll try to win you some time so you can all get rid of that thing" - in reference to the book - "It'll take me a few moments to get ready for the 'welcoming', so be quick!" - looking at Quila and moving herself to a distance of like 60 yards in angle from the traced line the worms take, avoiding to be on their way, but still from a visible position of the area.
Skrye starts to focus and mutters words that will take her a few rounds to be fully effective

[OOC: Whirlpool of Doom (4th level Earth from E,A,F&W, p. 87), 5rnds to cast, Range 80yds, AoE 40ft/r, Duration 8rnds]

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila speaks to seemingly no-one at the bottom of the stairs of the Library, walking back in again, "I wasn't spacing. Got a viewpoint up in the sky looking for incoming and was mindlinked with Akos. We need to get the grimoire of Mak Thuum Ngatha out of the city at great haste and to some safe location BEHIND the lines of the worms now making course for the city center, possibly reversing their course. I count three huge 10 feet wide worm tracks and behind those at least fifty smaller worm signs. I fear we've just detected what the curse of that book is, or the dangers of it being detectable again. Have you got anything in your repertoire that can make things non-detectable or plain vanish? Otherwise all I can think of is using the Way to teleport out of here with the book. Open to suggestions as to destinations. Oh and by the way, Aman is scrying from the Buried City, probably having a boner right now for all the havoc he has allowed to be caused."

Having gone back into the Library, Quila darts for the place where the grimoire is kept under tab, calling out for Gruv or those she knows are keeping a watchful eye over it. "Out of the way, that grimoire is attracting huge worms to the city right now. We are under attack. That grimoire needs to be removed from the city, Akos gave the go on that."

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"This also gives us a bigger problem with Aman. The city's security is compromised. People know where we are now. Going to take a lot of graves to fill that hole."

[DM Bob]

Skrye calls upon the very earth to defend her and the city. A large mass of dirt, vegetation & rubble begins to swirl whirlpool-like towards the forward-center of the worm furrows as the stone spirits obey.

Quila and whoever follows into the library will discover a wide-eyed Gruv clutching one of Myron's journals as the room shakes. Scrolls have begun to fall from the racks.

"Out of the way, that grimoire is attracting huge worms to the city right now. We are under attack. That grimoire needs to be removed from the city, Akos gave the go on that." She commands.

The head librarian nods and states, "Follow me, hold this." He shoves the journal into her hands as he grabs for a star shaped pendant from about his thick dwarven neck. Motioning to follow, he leads her to the rear of the library. Pushing a table out of the way, he fits the pendant into a hidden recess and twists. A passage opens from the floor; steps are seen going down. It is lit.

"Follow me and touch nothing."

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila follows Gruv and does as told, respecting her dwarf friend way too much to cause grief. She does keep her eyes open though, scanning intently what she sees as she expects to see quite some ‘forbidden knowledge’ and hidden away items.

[AthasianLaborer]

‘Muiko follows but lags behind once down the stairs to cast (without pretense) both Misdirection and Nondetection on himself. He will not touch anything but is definitely making a mental picture of the secret library cache. He will catch up quickly and stay close to Quila.

<Ping Quila “I'm staying quiet so I don't disturb the grumpy old fucker, he isn't happy with me, at least he wasn't earlier”>

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Once Coden spots Quila moving with purpose, he gestures for Attilius to come along and moves into position to follow her, figuring that she knows what she's doing.

[Attilius]

Dec 15, 2023 13:29:12 GMT -12 Coden Rokos (Jesse H.) said:

Once Coden spots Quila moving with purpose, he gestures for Attilius to come along and moves into position to follow her, figuring that she knows what she's doing.

he nods and sprints towards them

[Niachi]

An appreciative whistle sounds behind the tari and her mighty earthstorm.  Niachi sees the tactical redirection, and calls out:

"Scrye's whipping up some earthstorm! I'll gather team and follow"

Over the din of the magical creation he shouts:

"Impressive! Scrye, join us on with Quila? You need to control that mud maelstrom?"

He pings Kaw-Rawk while running (finally! Running!)

<FIND Chat'Cho our Kreen druid! LEAD her to me, I follow them!>

(pointing at the two warriors running after Quila.)

And he's jamming full speed to catch up on Coden's trail. Once he gets to the library he skids to a halt and casts Footsteps of the Quarry, naming Quila. He bounds over to the closest window facing the burrowing threat to get a bird's eye view, waiting invisibly, trying to be silent and avoiding anyone still remaining in the library.

Footsteps of the Quarry: clear dark footprints resembling Quila's fine footwear appear in the path she took. They mark her path along solid ground, even when crossing silt. Should the quarry leave the ground by levitating or flying, the trail is lost and the spell ends.  

Since the prints fade as he crosses them, he does not get near them. Duration: 8 hours. 

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Turning to the elf, in tense voice due the concentration in the spell but clearly - "Niachi, I need a few moments to take it to the point where the fury of earth will be able to keep ongoing on its own to hinder or drag any creature in its vicinity, then I'll be able to go with you"

- A couple of seconds of concentration before continuing - "Tell me where will you go if you rather prefer to leave now, it's all good" - her eyes still focused in the area of the spell as her paws raise from around her waistline upwards, drawing circles in the air in front of her, repeating the movement for another few rounds, as the swirl of earth, rocks and dirt grows wider in intensity and size, like if the height of 4 HurKs could fit from the center of the swirl to its outer ridge, set all one after another

[OOC: Bob, let me know when the 5 rounds from the starting casting time are due, as until then I won't break concentration in the spell]

[Niachi]

Scrye said:

"Tell me where will you go if you rather prefer to leave now, it's all good"

"Library! follow the footprints!"

He barks over his shoulder as he jams. 

[DM Bob]

[2nd round in timing wise since whirlpool was cast.]

Niachi's familiar seems to be fighting some urge as it hesitantly flutters out to look for Chat'cho.

Skrye focuses her concentration on the earthen spindrift. The tari notices even smaller worms rising from the nearby earth, maggot-sized to whatever these larger ones were. She catches a glimpse of one of the larger ones, it has a dark coloration and a round toothed maw as it flows into the whirling earth. If she had to guess, it is about 8 feet wide at mouth and at least 50 feet long.

There are smaller ones that look similar and are also slightly lighter in hue. It looks like some might be able to reach her soon (think next round).

The tremors continue and rise in strength. This is when Attilius enters the library, to notice shelves on the brink of falling. Scrolls litter the ground and...

The passage his friends have wandered into is much to tight for him to fit, unlike the nicely sized tomb of Myron. Coden needs to bend his head slightly to advance.

Quila is surprised to not see much as they progress some fifty feet down the clean corridor, although runes are scattered about the walls and ceiling. Gruv stops at a spot with a similar niche to the one he opened here, there's been a few as you've progressed, scattered about rune-work and sigils. A small sandstone alcove opens revealing the tome you've been seeking. It is currently uncovered and subtly glows a pale green (kinda like uranium glass).

[Attilius]

Dec 16, 2023 14:21:22 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

The tremors continue and rise in strength. This is when Attilius enters the library, to notice shelves on the brink of falling. Scrolls litter the ground and...

The passage his friends have wandered into is much to tight for him to fit, unlike the nicely sized tomb of Myron. Coden needs to bend his head slightly to advance.

"Uh guys? I can't fit that way. Can anyone turn me into a bird or somethin'?"

[Niachi]

(OOC Bob: My intent was to get to a window with a view of the worm's path and Scrye)

As the two fighters reach the library, Niachi is unseen, trying to brace himself and shield his noggin from falling things. He shouts a reply to the half-giant  from near a window (if any windows)

Atillius said:

"Uh guys? I can't fit that way. Can anyone turn me into a bird or somethin'?"

"No can do. I made Quila's footprints clear at least.."


If he has a bow shot to the worms:

He will end Invisibility to fire 2 steel arrows from a window this round at the closest worm to Scrye, and if not Scrye, any Kurn citizen in danger) 

modified Thac0: 9
steel sheaf arrow #1 hits AC 3, damage 5.
steel sheaf arrow #2 hits AC 1, damage 8.

If he does not have a firing vantage point:

"I'll stay up here -(he gives a quick hungry look at that Secret Passage to the Elven Ruins Under Kurn)  -I sent my minion to find Chat! (ducking a falling scrollcase)  I'll back you both up whatever the plan! But don't wanna leave the others down there!

If he sees any particularly fragile library items on the floor near him, he'll try to pick one of them up as careful as he can to shield it from damage.