It was my understanding that the game wouldn't really kick in until the 15th and we would have until then to get our first posts up. I've double booked myself with clients this week and won't be able get a post in until this weekend.

That being said I just want to confirm that as far as the orcs are concerned we only have time to react to them being there and can't actually do anything other than defend until the next round. Correct?

On both counts. You have time to get things posted.

I just happened to get things moving a bit better since I was visiting a friend with online access for my laptop.

Now I am elsewhere, but visiting friends who have a computer, so I am answering this morning.

Anyway, your character will initially react to the Orcs attack as it is somewhat of a surprise attack.

Initiative has been won by the defenders of the roadhouse, so you will be able to counter attack before the Orcs get another shot ... literally!

Enjoyed reading your post.

Just need Brianna and Dragon Mistress to get their opening posts and the info for the Bard too!

Looking forward to how things develop!

Brianna I am waiting on your opening post.

Dragon Mistress I received your PM with the character info.

Please post it in the Haunted Highlands game section.

You do realize that a couple orcs will be running up against you and you have bow and arrows drawn and no sword drawn to counter attack them?

Of course you can rely on the Sentries or Fighters to shoot them with their arrows and Loren can shoot arrows at the other advancing Orcs.

Okay Gang

Having searched the "Of Gods & Monsters" book by James M Ward published by Troll Lord Games [Little Rock, Arkansas] over the weekend, I have decided to assign the following Deity Avatars to each of the 5 PC Characters.

In the case of Nomad and his Human lineage Half Elf, the choices I had narrowed down for a possible Human connection just did not seem to fit his character for this particular adventure.

So I chose to assign an Elf Deity to Oriander to help stretch Nomad's role play while making his character more interesting and perhaps a bit more complex as he learns of his Elven ties in the wild territories of the Haunted Highlands.

As for Brianna, Dragon Mistress and Nimu, it seemed best to choose a diversity of Elven Deities and assign a different Elf Deity to each of your Elves to enhance the possibilities of role play and plot line development throughout the course of our adventure.

[Hammer] Having chosen a Gnome was quite limited in the Gnome Deity possibilities that could fit my character, so I reluctantly made the following choice to stretch the role play possibilities of my character after my initial disappointment regarding the Gnome Pantheon choices.

Now there is a bit more excited anticipation for what I can do with Nordrog and his Gnome Deity after waking up this morning and taking a fresh look at my choice.

All 5 choices are for the good of the game!

Gnomish Pantheon Gnomish deities are married pairs set up like the elves.

Instead of the males being generous and kind and the females being deadly and nasty, the gnome pairs are matched and live the perfect gnomish lifestyle.

Their gnomish tale of creation tells of the first gnomes a little bit differently than the elves version.

A creation legend for the elves tells of them coming from the skull of the great gold dragon in the ancient Mist Forest.

The dragon was many miles long, slept along the spines of the mountain, and actually lay from one mountaintop, through a heavily wooded ancient forest, with its tail resting on another mountaintop.

The dragon had been sleeping for five hundred years when its dreams and the magic of the dragon created the first pair of elves.

It's the same dragon on the same hillside for the gnomes, but all of its massive magical essence flows into its resting claws.

A huge arcane lightning storm passes over the area and massive bolts of lightning flow from the sky and hit the claws of the dragon.

From the right front claws came the male Gnomish deities and from the left front claws came the female Gnomish deities.

As male and female saw each other, they instantly knew they were destined to be together forever and they skipped down the mountainside and started making Gnomish babies right away in the surrounding forested hills.

ORNEN STEELTOE
Deity of Smithing and Hearty Drinking

GOD SYMBOLS: Anvil, Tongs, Tankard

Deity Province: Smithing, Drinking, Eating

Ceremony: All worshippers must drink themselves to unconsciousness at least once a year.

Taboo: Worshippers must finish what they put on their plate.

Granted Abilities: Worshippers know the exact value of smithed goods and can buy things for 10 per cent cheaper including magic items and gems.
Ornen's temples all have a nice smithy at the front and some type of brewery at the back. Often, inns are connected and help with the worshipping of fine food and drink.

Worshippers who wish to seek favor with Ornen must become cobblers and make excellent boots with steel toes. The best of the clerics are cobblers and smiths.

Artifact: Ornen's Tongs The tongs appear in the furnace of a gnome making weapons for other gnomes. The weapons take on a red color showing all those newly-made weapons are blessed by Ornen, giving them a magical +1.

Artifact: Ornen's Steam Cleaner While the cleaner is perfect for stripping dirt and charcoal fro metal, it's amazingly good at stripping flesh from bones as well.

It does 3d10 with its steam shooting out ten feet from the kettle.

The device never runs out of water or heat.

It's given to any cleric who asks for it in a timely manner and has a weapon blessed by Ornen on their person.

ORNEN'S AVATAR Ornen's avatar is attracted to experimental cooks who are trying out new recipes and they don't have to be gnomish cooks if their new efforts are tasty.

Ornen's Avatar (chaotic good) 10th level fighter, HP 100, AC 15, MV 50 ft.
Primary attributes: strength 21, dexterity 21, charisma 21.

He battles with a gnomish throwing hammer and a +4 adamantine shield.

Elven Pantheon A creation legend for the elves tells of them coming from the skull of the great gold dragon in the ancient Mist Forest.

The dragon was many miles long, slept along the spine of the mountain, and actually lay from one mountaintop, through a heavily wooded ancient forest, with its tail resting on another mountaintop.

The dragon had been sleeping for five hundred years when its dreams and the magic of the dragon created the first pair of elves.

They and other elven deities walked out of the dragon's dreams and into the nearby forests to father the race of elves.

The elven deities are vastly powerful and said to exist in a spirit forest of massive magic that rests beside the real forests of the land.

While they are elves, they are capable of taking worship from other races and the rangers and other characters classes that are human or part of the other races are allowed to present acrifices to the groves that serve as temples for the deities.

Each elf deity demands a different style of temple, and his or her clerics act very differently from deity to deity.

While each pair of elves are mated and have produced thousands and thousands of elves over the centuries, the ways of the males are far different from the ways of the females.

Often times, the pairs would combat each other for centuries only to join again as the need to mate grew stronger and stronger.

They are forced by fate to love only each other.

No matter how they disagree with the deeds of the other, they come together and live for hundreds of years producing Elf babies.

The young elf males go to live with their fathers and the females go to live with their mothers.

Oercus, Master of the Forest and Solamum-nigrum, Goddess of Magic bore gray elf children, but also normal elves as well.

Cedrus, Lord of Light, and Agapanthus, Goddess of the Moon bore wild elf and normal elf children as well.

Betula, Divine Ruler of Combat, and Laurus, Mistress of the Night bore normal elf children and drow elves as well.

Acer, Deity of Making and Digitalis, Deity of Unmaking bore wood elf and normal elf children.

Fraxinus, The Star Archer and Nephthytis, the Divine Poisoner bore normal and drow elf children.

Page 68 "Of Gods & Monsters" by James M Ward

Nomad
OERCUS
Master of the Forest

GOD SYMBOLS: Bow, Leaves, Unicorn, White Topaz

Deity Province: Forests, Hunting, Elf Homes

Ceremony: At the solstice, sacrifices in emeralds or lives are given to Oercus

Taboo: Fires cannot be used to harm a living forest.

Granted Abilities: Worsippers of all races have a +2 in bow use and a +2 in sword use.
Oercus loves the forest and forest ways and lends his power to clerics and rangers who guard the forest.

Of all the elven deities, he dislikes the other races the most and presents many reasons to fight them and keep them away from the forest.

He doesn't appreciate the destructive ways of his wife and often works with his clerics to heal what she has done.

Clerics use white topaz gems planted in the heart of the powerful Elf bows to increase the accuracy and damage done by the bow.

The same is done to the pommel of the long swords the elves favor.

Often, Oercus creates a strawberry thorn grove with an altar to him in the middle of the grove.

Artifact: Bow of Oercus The bow is given to a ranger about to enter the fight of his life.

It suddenly appears in the hands of the character as he is about to encounter a powerful foe.

The bow has a will of 23, with speech and telepathy.

It's lesser powers include: bless to allies 3/day, cure light wounds 3/day, detect magic at will, and deflect normal missiles at will.

It's greater powers include: globe of invulnerability 3/day, quench 3/day, light as bright as daylight 5/day, and wall of thorns 5/day.
The bow's purpose is to defeat evil wherever it is found.

However, it can never be used to harm a female elf.

Artifact: Singing Scythe of Oercus Once the weapon attacks, it begins singing a suggestion spell that never stops and orders foes to run for their lives.

The +4 silver-coated scythe does 3d10+4 and double that versus undead.

The weapon speaks to its wielder and never lets him be surprised.

The scythe has appeared in the hands of warrior elves fighting powerful undead or the war leaders of orc, goblin, and ogre armies.

OERCUS AVATAR Once in the life of every cleric to Oercus, he or she can summon the deity to help them in some endeavor.

The god happily appears and does his best to help his summoner.

Oercus Avatar (lawful good), 20th level monk, HP 170, AC 30, MV 80 ft.

Primary Attributes: intelligence 25, wisdom 25, dexterity 25.

At the 20th level, Oercus has all monk abilities: mind over body, stunning attack, unarmed attack, unarmored defense, deflect missiles, fast movement, ki strike, slow fall, purity of body, still body, fast healing, still mind, and quivering palm.

Oercus spends a great deal of time on the plane helping worshiping elves.

. . . of which I know little to nothing.

I guess that could be about me or Oliander.

Is this a god that the character currently worships? So, Oliander sort of developed his understanding of the god with little to no guidance from clerics of that god? Or is it simply a god who looks out for him withwhom he has a special relationship, whether he realizes it or not?

I guess the question is (aside from which god? Edit: Ok, got that.) - how much does he know about this deity? Where would he have learned it? I would think given his background Oliander has a fairly big gap in his knowledge on this issue. Would he know to have the gem in his bow?

Anyway, I think you just posted so maybe another post is forthcoming to answer these questions without my need to ask. Let me know what you want. (God looks like a good choice.)

Just look it over and then you can get it incorporated into your storyline somewhere along the way.

Somewhere during the adventure you may encounter this deity or one of his servants.

We will see how things develop.

Nimu
CEDRUS
Lord of Light

GOD SYMBOLS: The Sun, Diamond, Blackthorn, Yellow-Orange Sunstone

Deity Province: Growth, Seeds

Ceremony: At high noon on the solstice, great sacrifices are given to Cedrus.

Taboo: Eating seeds of any type cannot be done by worshippers.

Granted Abilities: All worshippers of any character class can turn undead as if they were clerics of whatever level they are in their own class.
A god of growth and wealth, his temples are the only ones made of stone and wood.

Such construction rises on the tops of high hills in the woods and Cedrus' towers rise like trees over the forest.

Cedrus clerics promote growth and expansion and often act as unusually successful farmers, promoting the growth of foods in the forest and glades of the forest.


Cedrus clerics promote the growth of huge berry vines and fruit orchards grow in regular rows along side forest trails acting to hinder the snowdrifts in the winter.

This god has been adopted by other races of farmers living near the forests, and Cedrus is willing to give his blessing and sunlight to those wanting to grow food for all.

Cedrus Artifact: Sunstone Orb High-level clerics can summon the orb in times of need for their parts of the forest.

It can serve to heal the land.

Its light forces the most powerful of undead away.

For the allies of the orb wielder, it regenerates them two points a round while they bask in its light.

Humanoids who attack the wielder are -3 on their attacks as they are blinded by the orb's light.

Artifact: Sun Sword of Cedrus The weapon is a +5 mithril long sword with a featheredged blade that chops off a head on an 89-100 per cent roll.

The weapon deflects all ranged spells sent at the wielder.

It does 2d10+5 and double the damage versus evil dragons.

Buried in the heart of large trees, from time to time, the weapon has appeared to heroes.

They pull the weapon out and soon discover an awesome enemy that the weapon helps slay.

When that battle is over, the sword vanishes, but the warrior is left with an adamantine dagger with a huge topaz in the pommel as a sign that Cefrus favors the warrior.

CEDRUS AVATAR The Cedrus avatar appears often when goblins, orcs, and hobgoblins come to threaten the forest homes of the elves.

Cedrus Avatar (Chaotic Good), 20th level fighter, HP 140, AC 25, MV 40 ft.

Primary Attributes: strength 25, dexterity 25, intelligence 25.

He has all the normal abilities of an elf, wearing +2 elven chain mail, using a +2 shield, and he holds his sun sword for close-in work.

He uses a +3 sylvan long bow with +3 sylvan arrows for ranged combat.

When he leaves or dies, his equipment stays behind to help his people.

There are many sets of this equipment spread around the world and used by the elven heroes of every forest.

Brianna
BETULA
Divine Master of All Combat

GOD SYMBOLS: Long Sword, Elf Helm, Lightning Bolt, Green Tourmaline

Deity Province: Storms, War, Luck, and Combat

Ceremony: First Level worshippers of all types give all of their income to the deity until they reach second level.

Taboo: All worshippers mujst fight for their lives at least once a year.

Granted Abilities: Fear and paralysis magics have no effect on Betula worshippers.
Betula demands his worshippers practice their weapon skills.

He also encourages weapon specialization in the sword.

Temples to the deity are more like weapon's halls where the sound of fencing with sword, hammer, and axe goes on day and night.

Such temples are always at the edge of the forest along roads so that strangers can come in for aid and teach any weapon skills they might have to the students and clerics in the temple.

Even orcs, goblins, and the like have been allowed in and given a meal to instruct the faithful in the ways of their fighting styles.

First level clerics of the deity are skilled with shield and sword before they take up their duties for Betula.

Worshippers cannot rise above fifth level until they have joined an army group and fought the enemies of the elves.

This often sends elves out of the forests to look for armies to temporarily join.

Tenth level worshippers can't advance until they have fought orcs, oblins and hobgoblins.

Artifact: Betula's Singing and Dancing Sword Betula makes it known that he is watching and blessing his people when he sends his sword to be given to a young warrior to use in an upcoming battle.

Often the giving of the sword begins a great quest for that warrior and others.

The weapon has a will of 20, it speaks warnings to its wielder; it's a chaotic good good aligned artifact.

Its powers include faerie fire 3/day, deflect missiles at will, darkness 3/day, and mass heal 1/day.

The sword glows brightly within one hundred yards of goblins, orcs, and hobgoblins.

It begins singing when its wielder is outnumbered and the singing acts as a bless spell for all allies within fifty feet of the sword user.

The weapon does 3d8+3 in damage and double that versus green dragons.

Artifact: Betula's Dancing Long Spear The spear is only given to an alter of a temple that is about to be attacked by a great mass of goblins or orcs and this happens quite often.

It's a dancing weapon doing 3d10+5 in damage.

BETULA'S AVATAR His avatar rarely comes down to fight in battles unless there are enemy avatars fighting his worshippers and then Betula comes and fights.

Betula's Avatar (lawful good), 20th level paladin, HP 140, AC 29, MV 40 ft.

Primary Attributes: intelligence (25), wisdom (25), dexterity (20).

Betula wears +3 plate mail, and fights with his sword and spear.

When both his weapons are dancing, he casts 10d10 lightning bolts from his hands.
When Betula passes on, his avatar armor stays on the material plane.

Ther are several sets of this god armor being used by clerics and paladins of his order.

Betula has all the typical paladin powers at the 20th level: cure disease, detect evil, divine aura, divine health, lay on hands, turn undead, divine mount, aura of courage, smite evil and divine healing.

Betula's divine mount is a double sized unicorn stallion that comes to him whenever he appears on the material plane.

If killed, the creature burns and 24-hours later, out of the ashes, a new unicorn rises to serve Betula.

Dragon Mistress
FRAXINUS
The Star Archer

GOD SYMBOL: Elf Long Bow, Long Bow Arrow, Gold Star Sapphire

Deity Province: Hunting, The Bow, Ranged Warfare, Drinking to Excess

Ceremony: At the time of the solstice, a large deer is sacrificed to Fraxinus.

Taboo: Worshippers of Fraxinus must use a bow to hunt for their food.

Granted Abilities: All worshippers have an added +1 with their bow use and each arrow dedicated to Fraxinus has an added +2 to do damage.
Fraxinus temples are actually inns positioned at the edges of forests and welcome to all who come to eat and drink in peace.

Many nonelves worship Fraxinus in his guise as a drinker and lover of well-prepared foods.

Clerics of Fraxinus always hunt for their meals and bring back an unusually large amount of food for the inns where they serve as cooks and innkeepers.

Artifact: Bow of Fraxinus The bow often appears in the hands of young archers as they shoot at difficult targets or powerful foes.

Fraxinus wants his people to feel protected and he freely gives his bow for six months to many low-level elves out questing for the first time.

Worshippers gifted with the bow are expected to as soon as possible sacrifice a gold star sapphire on the tavern bar altars of the god.

The bow is a chaotic good weapon, +5, with a will of 20 and the ability to speak and help its wielder hit important targets.

The bow has the following powers: it is indestructible, can cast hold person 3/day, detect illusions 3/day, and prevents physical missile attacks from striking the user, as well as creating a wall of thorns 3/day.

Artifact: Arm Bracers of Fraxinus These bracers appear on the arms of low-level clerics who have gone out on their first quest.

They stay with the cleric until they ave defeated a great evil power like a dragon or vampire.

The bracers add a +4 to the striking ability of the wielder.

They prevent any spells of control or illusions to affect the wielder.

Once a day, they can totally heal the wielder.

They also make the armor class of the wearer a 20 without the use of other armor.

FRAXINUS AVATAR The deity appears at the opening of every new inn dedicated in his service.

He brings great quantities of wine and most of that is gone when he leaves several days later.

He also loves to hunt, and where there are powerful beasts plaguing his people, he can be counted on to appear and take his shots at the creatures.

Fraxinus Avatar (lawful good), 20th level ranger, HP 140, AC 20, MV 60 ft.

Primary Attributes: strength 25, wisdom 20, dexterity 22.

He has his artifact bow and quiver and for close work, he has an adamantine long sword (2d12+4) that stays to help his worshipers even after he has gone.

He has all the abilities of a 20th level ranger.

We need Dragon Mistress to post the info in the Game Section that she PMed me about her character.

Brianna needs to post an entry in the Game Section that leads up to the orcs surprise attack.

Meanwhile, I will work on the outcome of the surprise attack and hopefully get it posted either tonight or by tomorrow!

Then you can see what our characters are up against at the opening!