Game: Great minds think alike (Part II)

Ian turns toward Blackthornes and yells. "Power be damned, Blackthornes! Can't you just..." when all of a sudden he seemed distracted. "Wait... Blackthornes, step away from the dog."

"There is something... off about this dog. As soon as you said that you didn't want a noisly little thing following you, it went quiet. It's one thing to become quiet when ordered to do so, that you can train. But having it understand a line of coversation and acting on it seems... suspicious. Especially for an innocent looking dog found, alone, in the middle of the Abyss. This dog is either smarter then its letting on, or something in disguise. Either way, it seems intent on staying with us, otherwise it wouldn't have shut up as quick as it did."

*Blackthornes looks to the masked gnoll*
"Sure, if the little fellow wants to, then he can."
*to Ian*
"I think Im gonna go with the MG's oppinion on this one. He is a ranger, after all. Maybe the dog is just a tad smarter than your average dog. Kinda like our big friend over there."
*Points to mg.*
"I dont know for sure shadowknife, but I'd say he's just a dog. Perhaps Ophelia or Mg himself could use some of their natural abilites to determine this? I would like to get this little fellows identity purified in your eyes, if you dont mind."
*Blackthornes will turn to Mg*
"hey masked gnoll, do you have any abilities that would allow you to speak to him, or determine whether or not he is as he appears?"

OOC: I forgot to mention this earlier, but I'll be away for two weeks. So I'll leave Saath in joybloods hands until then.

Ian thinks for a moment, then turns to Rex. "What is the circle made out of? Normally I wouldn't tinker with magic like this, but unless it was specifically warded against such an attack, the Masked Gnoll could probably break it."

"Or if that sounds like as bad an idea to everyone else as it does to me now that I've said it aloud, we have a second option. If the circle is anything to worry about at all, its probably a trap of some sort. A magical trap in all likelihood, but a trap still the same. Blackthornes and I can take a crack at disabling it in a less violent way then simply smashing it, however it may only disable it for a short time."

*Blackthornes looks down at the puppy and gives him a pat on the head, then looks up at Ian.*
"well, we could try to disable it, or we could simply walk around it. either way i am content. We need to keep a low profile here, regardless. I will do whatever the group decides."
*Blackthornes will then squat down and fromp the puppy until he is approached again or a dicision is made.*

Ian stares open-mouthed at the goat for a moment. "Okay, I could have accepted the existence of the dog, I guess. But unless one of you honestly thinks that some berk came out here with his pet goat and kicked the bucket, I think its time to assume that something is going on here."

"Well, I wouldn't think that normal, everyday animals would be natives to a layer of the abyss. And if they were they would probably be more... ravenous. They could either be from off plane, probably from a portal that happens to lead to some farm, or quite possibly the result of the most useless summoning spell I have ever heard of."

"Or, considerably less likely, and yet inversely proportional in regards to terror, the result of some sort of mean spirited polymorph. Either way, there must be a reason why they are not killed immediately by this layer's inhabitants."

[ooc: Yes. I know. I just tried to intimidate a goat. What is life if not absurd?]

"Ah, so you can talk. That makes this much much easier. Please, what can you tell us about how this happened to you?" Ian asks.

"I... see." Ian turns away from the goat. "That's enough of this. Vrocks, while annoying, I can deal with. But this Curser sounds like someone we should avoid at all costs. I say we avoid the circle and make a run through the alley, on rooftop if it comes to that. Either way, I want out of this plane as soon as able."

Ian turns back to the goat. "Is there anything else, anything at all, you can tell us about this Curser?"

Ian pauses, waiting for the goats response. "Could you please tell us what you know, then?"

The beefy gnoll speaks up after the goat asks for help...

"Your in luck...'cause I'm a masked vigilante who lives to help people in need. I'll get you where you need to go!"

MG then sticks his hand out as if to shake with the goat

"I'm The Masked Gnoll and I'm here to help........please don't leave me hanging...."

"Very well then, welcome aboard. Just tell us what else you know about the Curser, and your name if you would."

"Take cover!" Ian yells, taking a rapid look around. He begins to reach for his bow and arrows, before realizing that they are stored in his haversack.
Crap.
Ian reaches into a pouch at his belt, and pulls out a caltrop, which he then throws at the Beholder, aiming for the central eye if possible. After that, if he has time, he's going to make a break for the nearest cover possible, even if it it simply going around a corner.

OOC: attack roll: 8 + 12 = 20
damage in the very unlikely event that it hits: 4

occ again:opps i rolled twice...the bottom one is the real one...sorry about that

"What the....?" The Nabassu looks at the floating monster, "Odin's Eye ,what IS that thing?"

Seeing eveyone else dive for cover, 'Rex' steps to the side, turning invisible as he does so.

OOC: Initiative roll 13 + 9 = 21

OOC: I think my caltrop throw/dive for cover takes away my turn. Besides, unless I managed to flank this sucker long enough to access my stuff, Ian's participation in this battle will be limited to inventive uses of useless items