Dark Flame Discussion Thread III (no spam)

[Bloodstalker]

I am in your debt T

[T'lainya]

On a serious note when i get time i'm going to try a different version of the map to see if it's more readable to everyone

[Yshania]

Originally posted by T'lainya

@ Than, i'd be happy to update the map whenever I can probably make it easier to read too

Thanks T' I will forward you the amended map

[Bloodstalker]

Pardon the Interruption

I don't usually post this kind of stuff, but as it deals with one of the DF members, I figured I might as well let her read it.



Dark, brooding
Secretly torn
The age'd hand of Calamity
Ripped asunder the veil;
dividing the union,
plunging into darkness
the light of her eyes,
casting misr'y in it's passing,
spectre's in her blood
of that which is no more

Bound in tragedy,
Hope returned,
a light shown forth
in the decadent void
of her pain;
then cruelly fate
dealt unjust blow,
Offering shad'wy glimpses
of past bliss,
only to deny her grasp,
slipping e're beyond her reach
the laughing mask of Fate
mocking her
Thrust her ever deeper
into the pits of Anguish

Where now shall she go
This Dragon Wench
To the vile myst of Corruption?
Borne on wraithly wings
through the Infernal gates
seeking her Union anew
in the black land of Death;
Or to persevere?
Forsaking Shadows
abandoning Sorrow to it's
own self consumation
Embracing form and substance,
Holding to Flesh
in stead of the Spectre,
Numb'ring herself with the Living
Willing her body onward?

Who can say?
Who can see
the pain, the torment
that burdens her;
Who can know
Dispair so intimately,
To have looked
into it's numbing Gaze
And have felt His wilting embrace;
It is her journey
None can march
In her stead.

[Yshania]

Wow! That is great!

[dragon wench]

BS.... that is an extroardinary piece of writing
Thank you... *hug*

[T'lainya]

@ BS Great writing Very beautifully done

[Bloodstalker]

@All Thanx, I am glad you liked it

[Ned Flanders]

Nice writing BS! fridge must be outta beer, eh?

[Bloodstalker]

*checks fridge in a panic*

Don't scare me like that

[Aegis]

BS drinks the beer/
Poet, phillosophe, jail bait/
Beer is gone, BS weeps/

Haiku

[Yshania]

I am...moved

*shouts* BS!!! erm...since when have you been jail bait?

Just kidding Nice contribution!

[Bloodstalker]

I don't think I am Ysh....you haven't had a warrant issued for you arrest yet, have you?

@Aegis....that last line....brought tears to my eyes

[Yshania]

Originally posted by Bloodstalker

I don't think I am Ysh....you haven't had a warrant issued for you arrest yet, have you?

Like lightning - though it took you a while That would indicate a level of interest, they could only comisserate after the rumours

[Bloodstalker]

*eyes grow wide as BS runs to look up the word "commiserate*

[dragon wench]

@Aegis...
*coughs* I am not sure I should ask why you are fantasizing about BS being jailbait.

j/k, nice poem

[Aegis]

T and cat tail whips/
Devilish, delicious, devious/
T is the mistress/

Haiku

[Scayde]

BS....That is so powerful..I have chill bumps.It is an awesome piece..so beautiful..

[thantor3]

Originally posted by T'lainya
@ Than, i'd be happy to update the map whenever I can probably make it easier to read too

Thanks, T'L. If you could do it soon, that would be helpful.

Originally posted by Yshania
As a for instance, Chanaks post speaks of the Pool cavern, are Thalimon, Nippy and BS to take on the drow archers and a second suicide squad? - are the drow archers actually in this tunnel? Just because I put them there in my crude effort, I am happy for you lot to suggest otherwise if it doesn't work for you

Will the other DFs push north to the spiders/orcs?, will the spell casters drop back to the tunnel of Shalimare? Will we face the drow clerics at the north tunnel or the south? (I thought that maybe the north, since DF spellcasters could push in this direction if the fighters are taking the south tunnel via the pool cavern and perhaps the suicide squad)

Sorry to have taken so long to give my input on this. To answer one of Ysh's questions, in my original post, my sense was that there would be two galleries of drow archers in the Abomination lair, hidden by moveable panels toward the ceiling. Once the DF entered the room, the walls/ceilings would slide back and reveal the archers, who would attack from above on both sides.

If I remember correctly, there was also an additional question from BS as to whether the battle would be more defensive or more offensive. My sense is that it would be more defensive at first. After all, they are facing a vastly superior force in a hostile environment suited to the enemy. Two major tactical issues the group faces at the beginning of the battle are the unprotected rear (southwest of the main chamber on the map), where the hidden door the DFs entered to get into this area is located and the Abomination lair. The impact of a massive frontal assault would be to effectively push the DFs into the Abomination lair or toward the hidden door, where a contingent of drow could be stationed. In the event that the DFs gained the upper hand and launched an offensive into the northern tunnels, a contingent of drow could still enter through the hidden door and launch an effective rearguard action. In both scenarios, they face the very real (and lethal) possibility of being attacked on two fronts.

My sense is that the strategy the DFs would adopt would be a 'collapsible front' followed by a ordered retreat into the cavern marked "Shalimere" on the map (on the new map, the northern tunnel leading into this area will be blocked, leaving only one way in or out). In other words, the DF would give the illusion of standing and fighting in the main chamber. However, this front line would 'collapse' as the first wave attacked, moving southeast toward the Shalimere chamber. As DW has already suggested, to buff up our numbers, we could have several summoned creatures in the main area to soak up damage and add to the illusion of having a front line in the main chamber. AC, being a rogue/thief, could have previously set up several traps around the hidden door and in southwestern portion of the main area, to slow down any attacks along this route. By continually falling back into the Shalimere chamber, the DF would create a field of obstacles (i.e. corpses) along the tunnel floor to slow the invaders, then hold a line within the Shalimere chamber itself. While it is true that they would be temporarily stuck in a dead end, this would be preferable to being attacked on two fronts.

I also think the use of Simulacrum and Project Image spells will be critical in this battle. For example, having a Projected Image lure a large number of enemies into the cul-de-sac that Viv disappeared in, then casting Meteor Swarm or Gate could be very effective. The Simulacrums could also lay down enough fire power to allow the DFs to make their way to the Shalimere tunnel intact. As an aside, I was wondering if there are any spells that we could conjure to change the features of the caves/tunnels (can Earth Elemental do this?).

What has always contributed to making the Dark Flames the legendary characters that they are is as much their intelligence and instinctual gifts as their battle prowess. I think there will be many opportunities in the battle to use craft, deception, and unexpected strategy to add to the enjoyment and depth of the story. I would welcome any thoughts or ideas any of you might have in this regard.

[Nippy]

Maybe we could have the summons up front, they collapse inwards and draw the enemies centrally into a cavern where Thalimong, BS, Farscape (?) and Nippy are... Can you say Matrix style? (Spybreak in the office building yada, yada, yada.)