Rest and Refuge

[Jozan Dumarr]

[OOC: Since the school is abandoned and half in ruins, I think it's safe to assume that most doors are unlocked, or can be easily forced open by strength or magic.]

*Jozan springs off the bed and grabs his shield and sword. Every fibre of his being is telling him to rush to the girl's rescue before it's too late... nearly every fibre. The sounds he is hearing are hard to mistake, but he cannot trust his ears alone. His other senses are telling him nothing: nothing to be seen, and nothing to be smelt. Surely the odour of all those eager goblins would have reached his nostrils?

Ignoring a cry for help, especially a child's, could be the greatest dishonour of Jozan Dumarr's life; but being duped by the strange forces of this realm would bring him no honour either.

Jozan is in the female dormitory. Putting on his armour, he moves to the wall where the doorway is, and positions himself so he has a view across the Nettle-Rose common room to the top of the staircase. If something is coming, he will see it before it sees him.*

[Addis Hellfire]

[OOC: And that's what I get for trying to be sneaky and not saying what I casted. Major Image, "This spell functions like silent image, except that sound, smell, and thermal illusions are included in the spell effect. While concentrating, you can move the image within the range. The image disappears when struck by an opponent unless you cause the illusion to react appropriately" (PHB ph 252)..and yes, I have the book open lol. So, the spell does have smell, sound, and heat effects. As for Addis' location...he has Open/Close (0 level spell), so he could have easily opened and closed it when he entered.]

[IC]

A door could be heard opening and slamming, as if the little girl ran frantically in the door. About a few seconds later, the door was broken open and the girl is being dragged, kicking and screaming, through the halls to the others. The girl manages to shout out a desperate prayer to Paladine, which seems to not do her any good. Judging by the sounds of the wicked laughing, the girl will be butchered soon.

[Jozan Dumarr]

[OOC: As we know from an earlier thread, Addis' spells aren't always 100% effective, since they are from a different realm. So perhaps that could explain what's happened here with Major Image.]

*It pains Jozan to hear these sounds.

*Thinks* Even if the noises aren't real, it could be that they are being fabricated to get my attention, by an adversary. And if he is this sinister and determined, then he is an adversary that sooner or later I will surely have to face.

I am a Knight of Solamnia. Let me face this danger by my choice, on my terms, and not his.

*Jozan creeps across the common room, reaching the top of the staircase. He peers out - not too far, else he'll be spotted - but can see nothing down below. For one thing, it is too shadowy. He is about to call out, but then he thinks of a way to reveal his presence without revealing his location. Picking up a small piece of stone (dislodged from the wall by whatever disaster has left the school in ruins), he flings it down the stairs. As Jozan darts away from the staircase and out of sight, the stone hits the floor of the entrance hall, sending out a sharp echo. It's highly likely that this will be heard; but unless anyone saw the stone on its way down, it will be impossible to know exactly where it originated.*

[Addis Hellfire]

[OOC: That makes sence...Darn lol.]

*Addis hears the stone's bounce, and gives a toothy grin. Indeed, he is still here.*

The little girl hears the stone and manages to shout out "Somebody, help me!! Please!!" before being grabbed pressed, hard, against the floor. Apparently the Hobgoblins and Goblins heard the noise too, for there was some sounds and gutteral voices of surprise. The sound of a few Goblins and a Hobgoblin can be heard seperating from the group and split into search parties.

*Addis realizes a mistake and moves from his hiding place, still under the effects of his Improved Invisibility. He walks to a location where he can keep an eye on all of his search parties. Still concentrating, he summons a few shadows and mentally commands them to step into the "shadows" of the creatures.*

[OOC: 4 search parties, all exactly alike (They look alike to Addis...for he despises Goblinkind): 1 Hobgoblin and 3 Goblins. 1 shadow for each group (4 shadows total), each hiding in the Hobgoblins' shadows.]

[Jozan Dumarr]

*Jozan waits, hoping that he has distracted and confused the goblins/hobgoblins - or the adversary behind this horrific sound spectacular. No noises to be heard on the Nettle-Rose staircase yet, but it's surely just a matter of time.*

[Addis Hellfire]

The search parties walk towards each of the exits, breaking down doors [OOC: The doors are really being broken down by the shadows], climbing staircases, and looking for whoever threw the stone.

[OOC: The shadows are 60% real, and can actually see, listen, and communicate.]

[Jozan Dumarr]

[OOC: I'm not entirely sure what 'shadows' are, but I think I'll soon find out!]

*Jozan listens, trying to determine how many creatures there are, and how close they are getting to his location. He can hear footsteps on stairs, but with all the echoing, they may be on a different staircase from the one that leads to him. If this is all an illusion, someone or something is going to a lot of trouble. And by crossing a Knight of Solamnia without just cause, a lot of trouble might well be what they'll get.*

[Addis Hellfire]

[OOC: Is Jozan near a window?]

Three of the four search parties find nothing on their search. One, however, finds a metal boot tip sticking out from around a corner. With feral cries of joy, the Goblins and Hobgoblin race around the corner, and the Hob swings its greatsword where it guesses Jozan Dumarr's head is.

[OOC: By "shadow" I mean a living shadow. I'm sure you've heard of shadows getting up and actually walking around and attacking, right? Well, this is one of those. This day just gets better and better.]

[Jozan Dumarr]

[OOC: Being near the top of the staircase, Jozan is currently well away from the common room's outer wall where the window would be.]

*Jozan, who'd been crouching round the corner at the top of the stairs, is ready. He throws his body backwards, an action which lowers his head below the swing of the sword; and at the same time, he brings his metal-tipped boot up hard between the attacker's legs.*

[Flaccus Hellfire]

[ModNote: Continued from Prelude to War.]

*Flaccus is flying outside the school, looking through windows he passes for any signs of the Knight or even his brother.*

[Addis Hellfire]

The Hobgoblin reacts as it should, doubling over and grunting in pain. The shadow, however, slips past Jozan and takes the shape of one of the Goblins. The Goblins attack, trying to stab at Jozan with their shortspears. Only one of the Goblins (The one with the Shadow) has a chance of actually hitting.

[Jozan Dumarr]

*Continuing his backwards movement, Jozan turns it into a somersault - though thanks to his armour, sword and shield, it's not a particularly nimble somersault. Still, it's enough to get him out of the way of the Shadow-Goblin's spear thrusts. Jozan springs to his feet.*

[Addis Hellfire]

The shadow continues its unrelentless assult, trying desperatly to spear Jozan in the leg.

*Addis heard the lour clang of the Knight's armor and began walking towards the sounds of combat. The other goblin partols were forgotten and disappeared, but the other shadows remained, for they are anything but an illusion. The Goblins still fighting Jozan still existed, just now they all had shadows with them. Addis begins to slowly climb the stairs.*

[Jozan Dumarr]

*Jozan is managing to dodge the goblins' attacks. He is reluctant to draw their blood (if indeed they are real enough to have any) unless he has to. He decides to attempt a new tactic: reasoning with them. This may prove to be futile, but it would be dishonourable not to try.*

I mean you creatures no harm, but if you do not cease your fighting, I will be forced to defend myself. I give you this chance to withdraw in peace.

[Addis Hellfire]

[OOC: Is there anything on the roof above us? I mean, a Chandellir (my spelling sucks lol), or banners, or anything like that?]

The Goblins pause for a moment, than laugh hysterically.

*Er...what the hell do Goblins sound like? I never pay attention to them....*

[Goblin] "You tink we be stuuupid? We no you hu-mans are no good. Attaack!!"

The goblins continue their attacks. One shadow slips away from the battle and crawls up the walls.

*Addis reaches the floor and sees the combat. Giving a feral smile (not that anybody can see it...), Addis cups his hands around his mouth and throws his voice accross the room, directly behind the struggling Knight.*

"Jozan Dumarr, the Dark Queen sends her regards."