Book the Second, Chapter the Eighth: A Brace of Conundrums

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Whilst William continues to enjoy, if one may use that word, Miss Ravenscroft's extensive lecture, the others find their way towards the Manor Home blocked by a number of panicked horses, foaming at the mouth and running back and forth, their hooves stamping the ground.

Spoiler:

book says 1-20 appear; let's make it a little less than the maximum but higher than the minimum and says 2d6[dice]0[/dice]You got lucky.

All but two of the steeds run off in various directions and are soon lost to sight. A pair of them, perhaps more frenzied than their fellows, run directly at the adventurers, madness in their eyes.

Spoiler:

horse one and two targets: 1 = Lepus, 2 = Henry, 3 = Ivan[dice]1[/dice] dex = 15 for each[dice]2[/dice]

One might think that Fate wishes to toy with Doctor North, as both beasts rush at him, seemingly intent on revenge for all the injustices done by mankind to those of the equine tribe. As luck would have it, one of them passes by while snapping at the empty air with its large, flat teeth, but the other kicks out with a hoof, striking that gentleman.

Spoiler:

damage = 1d6[dice]3[/dice]

The injury is not very serious, but painful.

[Mr. Handy]

"Ivan, protect me!" calls Henry. He raises his Force Projector and blasts the horse that had kicked him. This particular horse may not have much of a brain, but it still has one.

[jp1885]

Trusting in the Russian to protect his master, Lepus dodges the horses and calls out once again to the monster, stating that the urn can be his.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

The horse has 3d6 of hit points[dice]0[/dice]and automatically takes 1d6 of damage[dice]1[/dice]

Severely injured by the preternatural workings of the Projector, the steed runs off, shrieking like a damned soul. Its fellow beast, witnessing the mighty Russian approaching to block his master from its wrath, pauses to consider, in the slow workings of its brain, this new threat.

Spoiler:

attempts to tame/frighten/etc. an animal are based on its CHA. Horse CHA = 5[dice]2[/dice]

The beast, used to seeing Man as Master, becomes subdued, although still nickering in a nervous manner, as if it retains memory of a recent encounter that gave it much fright.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Trusting in the Russian to protect his master, Lepus dodges the horses and calls out once again to the monster, stating that the urn can be his.

In a loud, booming voice, of much greater volume than his normal way of speaking, the creature makes reply.

"Come to the Carriage House, then, and bring it with you. Come alone and unarmed. I shall be watching."

It is a matter of common knowledge that the Carriage House, a structure of no great size, lies close by the western side of the manor home, and admits entry through one wide opening only, that being the manner in which the vehicles stored therein enter and leave.

[jp1885]

Hands raised to show he is weaponless, Lepus approaches the carriage house (assumng that is from whence the voice booms, otherwise the wanderer will head in the direction of the sound).

"Nay oh mighty one; I have sworn never to touch the accursed thing again. Yet hold thy anger, for I know where 'tis buried. I and I alone shall show thee."

[Mr. Handy]

After quickly binding his wounds, Henry goes with Ivan to fetch William, and from there to head to the place he knows the urn is buried.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Hands raised to show he is weaponless, Lepus approaches the carriage house (assumng that is from whence the voice booms, otherwise the wanderer will head in the direction of the sound).

"Nay oh mighty one; I have sworn never to touch the accursed thing again. Yet hold thy anger, for I know where 'tis buried. I and I alone shall show thee."

"Lead on, then," replies the stentorian voice, which can be overheard by the other adventurers, at no little distance.

Once arrived at the Carriage House, the creature is located, its fine clothing much besmirched with gore.

"No trickery, little man, or your life be worth naught."

Miss Ravenscroft, alerted to the presence of the creature, directs the adventurers to subdue him, that he may be rendered lifeless as previously discussed. This is, as they say, easier suggested than performed.

To add to the chaos of this scene, the moaning and shrieks of the female creature may be heard echoing through the wind-torn wilderness of the moors.

[jp1885]

If Lepus can stay the hand of the others, he will direct the monster to Tamsin's Close before the trap is struck, hoping that the creatures therein can partially subdue the unnatural fiend.

Regardless, once the others spring into action, he will summon his invisible servant to tackle the monster's legs, hoping to at least bring him to the ground. He will then make ready with an explosive sphere.

[SunlessNick]

Lord Dunwich's projector has proven the most effective weapon at harming the creature - therefore William (before entering the creature's earshot) proposes that His Lordship initiate the attack. William will fire both of his pistols into the creature's head once it has been weakened.

[Mr. Handy]

"A sound strategy," says Henry. "I'm confident I have at least one charge left, and after the Force Projector is out of charges I can use my pistol. Ivan can block for us, intercepting the creature before it can reach us and engaging it with his sword cane."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

It would appear that the adventurers are in agreement that fortune favors the bold, and choose to engage the creature in direct battle rather than make use of subterfuge.

Spoiler:

let's establish the creature's hit points, with six already gone from the previous use of the projector.[dice]0[/dice]so 16 left

Once more the unearthly force of Doctor North's strange weapon leaps forth, inflicting unseen injury to the creature.

Spoiler:

[dice]1[/dice]

Perhaps he has somehow learned to partially protect himself from its arcane action, as the result is of a lesser nature than previously. In any case, a sputtering sound from the projector indicates that it requires further infusion of galvanic fluid before it be rendered operable once more.

Spoiler:

William's two pistol shots. DEX of 17, counting Good Shot and Profession of Soldier in Danger.[dice]2[/dice]

One of Williams' pistols misfires, an evil to which all firearms are prone. The other strikes home.

Spoiler:

[dice]3[/dice]

The shot is a deadly one, striking the creature in the middle of its chest. Blood as black as ink, and as thick, oozes out from the wound.

Spoiler:

The Unseen Servant has normal human characteristics, so either DEX or STR = 9, in attempt to bring the creature to the ground, opposing the creature's DEX of 18 (a better chance than against its STR of 40!)[dice]4[/dice]

The invisible man-of-all-work conjured by Lepus obtains a strong grip upon the creature's legs, rendering it distracted long enough to delay its attack, but fails to bring it to its knees.

Ivan rushes forward, slashing at the creature with his blade.

Spoiler:

dex = 9[dice]5[/dice]

Perhaps because the Unseen Servant inadvertently blocks Ivan's attack, the sword-cane fails to strike its target.

Howling with inarticulate rage, the badly injured creature lashes out at his closest enemy.

Spoiler:

dex = 18[dice]6[/dice]damage[dice]7[/dice]

His massive fists strike a middling blow upon the loyal Russian's face, causing blood to flow from Ivan's large and bulbous nose.

[jp1885]

Unwilling to throw his globe, lest he hit Ivan, Lepus calls upon the creatures of the close to sally forth and confound the monster, directing them (amid much apologising) with a banish vermin spell if necessary.

[SunlessNick]

William draws his own sword and attempts to stab into the creature's neck.

[Mr. Handy]

With his Force Projector out of ammuniton, Henry draws his own pistol and shoots at the creature.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

I'll have to kind of wing it with the Banish Vermin effect. Let's say it causes them to rush from the close, and directly towards the creature, reducing his DEX by 3 to 15, due to the distracting effect of multiple creatures getting in his way.

Lepus is kept busy calling upon the arcane forces of Nature to summon forth all manner of creeping, crawling, and flying creatures of no great size, but large in number. Flies, mice, toads, and such small game draw a portion of the creature's attention, rendering it less agile in battle.

Spoiler:

William DEX = 12 + 1 for Soldier/Danger = 13[dice]0[/dice]damage: I forgot the + 1 damage bonus from last time, so we'll add 2 this time[dice]1[/dice]

William's blade slashes across the creature's face, rendering it even more hideous than before, as black blood oozes from a lightning-shaped wound running from forehead to cheek.

Spoiler:

Doctor North DEX = 11; by the way, the Projector does not earn the damage bonus, as it is a preternatural effect, not a physical attack.[dice]2[/dice]

Doctor North's shot flies wide of its target. The two adventurers currently bearing unloaded firearms, they face the dangerous choice of either engaging the creature in a more direct attack, or spending time reloading their weapons.

Spoiler:

Ivan again dex = 9[dice]3[/dice]

No doubt the intense, if not fatal, pain of a broken nose causes the mighty Russian to slash wildly with his sword, the blade coming nowhere near its target.

Spoiler:

Both William and Ivan in range of the creature's attack; 1 = w, 2 = i[dice]4[/dice]

Perhaps perceiving that the soldier is a more dangerous adversary than the servant, the creature strikes out at William, growling like one the great cats of the fabled Dark Continent.

Spoiler:

dex reduced to 15[dice]5[/dice]damage [dice]6[/dice]

The creature lands another middling blow, serious but not incapacitating, this time upon William's head, causing his scalp to bleed moderately. No doubt the bold man of arms will bear a lump upon his pate for some days after the battle is over.

[SunlessNick]

William makes another attack with his sword - in the moment that the creature is nearer to him than any other, he calls to Lepus, "Now!"

[jp1885]

Lepus hesitates, not wishing for his globe to accidentally kill any of the creatures whose help he has requested.

Instead, he calls for his unseen servant (if he is still active) to hang onto the monster’s fighting arm before, grinning a feral grin, drawing his dagger and leaping upon the distracted creature.

(Who knows? If the attack fails, then mayhap the wanderer’s unique odours will render the brute insensible!)

[Mr. Handy]

Henry rushes in with his cane, striking at the creature with the heavy gold head.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

William makes another attack with his sword - in the moment that the creature is nearer to him than any other, he calls to Lepus, "Now!"

Spoiler:

dex = 13[dice]0[/dice]

No doubt because he has been rendered somewhat light-headed due to the blow upon his pate, William's blade fails to strike the creature.