End Combat
Quickly, Gather the bodies and get back in the rope trick. Moving now would only cause more trouble in this fog. Heal what horses you can. I will remain on guard and warn if anything else comes. In the morning we face more challenges. Get your rest.
Jin does a quick search of the birds bodies.
passing whatever he finds to Peitry, We can examine these at length in the morning
then flies back to his vantage point and lays on his belly so as to not sillouette himself.
Peitry shifts back from beast shape and shambles up the rope to get his rest grumbling about not having access to his most powerful spell without a clean eight hour rest as he goes.
"I think we should call this trip to an end, I need too gather my streangth and prepare better if we're going to have any hope of surviving this hell." he grumbles to anyone who hears.
Just before he flies off. Jin hears Peitry.
Yes. If only to gather some funds from our kills and better prepare the right magical gear for the next trip. I agree, but we can discuss this in the morning. In a week you will come to know what a boon your new ring is.
I will stay with you, if you would like a second set of eyes to back yours up in this fog. Sirhan wipes down the blade of his sword caring to get off all the fiendish blood.
Only If you are sufficiently rested to regain your spells my friend.
I believe I am, if not I should have enough to last the day, the safety of the group comes first.
[b]"I'll take care of the wounded horse, and bring what body parts I can find to the rope trick space"[/d] Crissor speaks a prayer and raises his holy symbol up.
Mercifully (hopefully) with the passing of the rest of the night, Jin greets the morning sun with a warm heart and squinting eyes. Unlike most elves, he apparently had some drow somewhere in his bloodline. The light of day was uncomfortable for him, causing him to perpetually squint and he always wore the hood of his cloak up. Nighttime was FAR more comfortable for him. He could see perfectly and found moving on a clear night to be far safer on his long run from Cheliax. MOST predators slept at night so danger was lessened. Not so here. The Creatures of the Abyss would require no such rest.
Once Keenan awakes and readies his armor, Jin finds a spot in the shade of the rocks and assumes a cross legged pose as he scribes the spells he would use that day. They had lost more horses and so mounts were needed. After his new selection was prepared, he meditated and prayed to his patron, renewing his arcane pool and giving Ragathiel thanks for his hexes.
His spells prepared and his mind ready, Jin discusses their options.
We have lost horses. Anymore and it could be a long trip home.
I have prepared a MOUNT spell and I can recast it 3 more times.
That's 12 hours worth of riding if we double up. I am sorry to say, but should we perhaps return to the priests and glean what finances we can before heading back out.
Considering the dangers out here and the knowledge we have gained we could be better prepared for a longer trip next time
Sirhan wonders a moment "We can't keep heading back when we lose horses what if we find the fort those knights were talking about, clean it out and use it a place to stay and go on from there." looking at Jin "We might even be able to let the church take it over as a working outpost, just a thought and it would save us travel back to the city."
"I like your way of thinking Sirhan but as is I'm afraid Jin is right, we need to restock and prepare before we venture further into this hell. My vote is to return to the keep if for nothing else than to purchase a wand of endure elements. I'm not much use out here if I'm forced to spend a considerable amount of my power every day just to ward of the blasted heat."
Sirhan nod in agreement with Peitry, "If we have to restock then we go back. I still think that the fort might be a good idea on the long term, so we don't have to keep making that return trip to the Keep."
Agreed. If there are no other objections, we should get moving.
Pool our monies from the trophies when we return for the wand of endure elements and whatever else we deem prudent. Then we return. The fort does sound promising, provided we are up to the challenge.
Do you really wish to make constant return trips? Seizing and, holding a fort would have great strategetic and financial value for the church and provide us with a much closer platform to mount our assaults.
With no Apparent objections forthcoming, Jin casts his MOUNT spell and uses a pearl of power to summon a second.
Right. Kenan, you have you mount. The rest of us can double up. See how far we can get today. We have these two for six hours and I can make 2 more later.
08/20/4712 07:00
Rogarson looks grim this morning. He waits for everyone to get up and then says, "I'm sorry lads, but this is more than I reckoned fer. Once we's back ta the keep, I'm gonna call it quits. Thought it was only fair I told yehs now."
Everyone mounts up double except for Kenan on Tsonjin. The ride back towards Clydwell keep is uneventful. With no exploration being done, the journey is swift. By the time Jin's spell runs out most of the journey is complete. The group's not quite exhausted so they continue on on foot for a couple hours. Just as they are reaching the point of exhaustion, the staging area bristling with paladins and wizards can be seen in the distance.
08/22/4712 07:00
After making all their arrangements the group forms up and get ready to head out. As they head to the ferry, the Iomedean cleric at the desk waves them over. Whoever is carrying the contract from the last trip sees it flash with a bright white light, and the seal crumbles and falls off. "Hello there! Back so soon and with a new member I see. Will you be requiring a new contract?" The old man asks, looking up through his bushy eyebrows at the group.
"I think the old contract will be fine, let us have him look at it and see if he wants it changed." Sirhan sighs hoping this goes quickly, unlike last time.
We, the signatories of this document hereby pledge the following:
- To share all that is found in the Worldwound equally between all members of the party. If two signatories want the same object or land, they will bid for it and the price will be removed from the winner's share of liquid assets (ie. Coins or Gems).
- To do no deliberate harm to a fellow signatory.
- To always take action in the defense of the other signatories, within all reasonable expectation.
Reasonable expectation will be determined by Iomedae whose power enforces this document.
Signed this 22nd day of Arodus AR 4712,
The contract is simple and straightforward. I have no objection to it. I have endured magical geas before, so I shall sign this one in a manner most appropriate.
Sigmund presses his palm gently to the paper. The raised scar tissue acts like a rubber stamp, and when he lifts his hand away, there is a perfectly formed symbol of Iomedae inked in blood.
By my oath I am bound. Let's go.
Jin looks at his new teammate with some sympathy. Such markings from a goodly church were not given out lightly must've been betrayed in a matter most heinous to be branded so.
Still he retained his spell casting. Imodae either knew his innocence or he had least atoned for his misdeeds.
Considering our intended target, I hope so
Peitry stares in open-eyed amazement when Sigmund stamps the contract in blood, he'd heard of contracts bound in blood used during summonings and such but never seen it's use so he was more than a little curious about it's effect in a contract between goodly creatures.
Signing himself with a practiced hand he summons his mount and fingers the pearl of power and looks too see if anybody else needs a mount.
"Everybody got a mount?"
Cantrips; 4 At will. Detect Magic, Detect Undead, Disrupt Undead (1d6+2), Ray of Frost* (1d3+2)
1st 5+1; Burning Hands* (5d4+2 DC 18), Magic Missile x2, Mount(*), Protection from Evil, Shield (7 rds).
2nd 5+1; False Life, Flaming Sphere*, Rope Trick, Scorching Ray* (2 rays, 4d6(+2to one)), See Invisibility, Shatter* (DC 18).
3rd 3+1; Dispel Magic, Fireball* (7d6+2, DC 19), Haste, Wind Wall* (80ft long, 35ft high, 8rnds, DC 19).
Sirhan mount his new Heavy Warhorse "All set for now" he pats the horse's neck "It's name is 'Bait' I thought it fitting after my last ones fate."
Jin Similarly mounts his new horse, A little pessimistic of you perhaps, but sadly it seems a very real risk.
The magus was keen to begin.
Sigmund swings up into the saddle of a dappled steed. He checks that both bags and his backpack are secure, and gives Owl a friendly pat on the neck.
I am prepared for anything this place can throw at us. If he's Bait, then certainly you're the sharp hook, Sirhan.
Peitry snikers at Sigmund's jibe and mutters "A very sharp hook made of cold-iron." and mounts up, ready to move.
Hands: Falcata & Shield
AC 20 T 10 FF 20
HP 45/45
Channel Energy 6/6
Touch of Glory 8/8
Touch of Good 8/8
Spells. CL 6. DC 15/16/17/18. Conc +11. * = cast.
0) create water, detect magic, light, stabilize
1) bless, divine favor (d), hide from undead, sanctuary, weapons against evil (x2)
2) bless weapon (d), consecrate, remove paralysis, spear of purity, spiritual weapon
3) archon's aura, searing light, heroism (d), magic circle versus evil
I'm ready. Let's measure ourself another time with these spawns of hell.
Kenan mounts Tsonjin and checks if all his gear is properly attached to the saddle.
Crissor waits by the gate humming as he checks his arrows, counting them just to pass the time. "I agree, I have plenty of arrows, that need new homes." The gnoll winks.
Cure Light Wounds
Create Water
08/22/4712 07:15
Everyone mounts up once across the ferry and waves goodbye to the paladins guarding the border. The terrain is now familiar to them, blisteringly hot and mostly devoid of anything except rocks and scrub. For the first few miles near the river it's more like a savanna with occasional thorny trees, but it soon becomes barren and rocky.
08/22/4712 14:05
Shortly after finishing its midday meal, the party is traveling through a shallow valley between two hills when...
...Three large bipedal reptiles come rushing out of the tall grass. Calling and chirping at each other as they charge forward. They are green and red in color, and have large sickle-like talons on their feet.
Sigmund's horse Owl, is torn to shreds in the assault, the cleric himself is not spared part of the onslaught. Sirhan's horse is likewise destroyed, and he himself is nearly torn to ribbons.
End Surprise Round
-------------------------
Begin Round 1
Dinos
Jin
Peitry
Sirhan
Kenan
Crissor
Sigmund
Dinos 29
Crissor 23
Sigmund 15
Jin 11
Peitry 8
Kenan 5+
Sirhan 5-
Initiative 29
The dinosaurs begin tearing into the corpses of the horses, gobbling down huge chunks of bloody meat.
Peitry struggles in his saddle, trying to get off it in a hurry but ends up taking his time as he nearly falls off instead.
Once his feet are on the ground Peitry evoces a protective aura around himself to ward against evil.
Stabilize Check
Sigmund has no time to react as the reptiles spring from concealment and savage them. He staggers backward as his horse collapses and the monsters devour it. Pulling his shield into place, he invokes a prayer.
Iomedae, shelter us from these beasts!
Hands: Empty & Shield
AC 22 T 12 FF 22 (+7 armor, +3 shield, +2 sacred)
HP 19/45
Channel Energy 5/6
Touch of Glory 8/8
Touch of Good 8/8
Spells. CL 6. DC 15/16/17/18. Conc +11. * = cast.
0) create water, detect magic, light, stabilize
1) bless, divine favor (d), hide from undead, sanctuary, weapons against evil (x2)
2) bless weapon (d), consecrate, remove paralysis, spear of purity, spiritual weapon
3) archon's aura, searing light, heroism (d), magic circle versus evil
Hands: Empty
AC 19 T 10 FF 19 (+7 armor, +2 sacred)
HP 45/45
Channel Energy 5/6
Touch of Glory 8/8
Touch of Good 8/8
Spells. CL 6. DC 15/16/17/18. Conc +11. * = cast.
0) create water, detect magic, light, stabilize
1) bless, divine favor (d), hide from undead, sanctuary, weapons against evil (x2)
2) bless weapon (d), consecrate, remove paralysis, spear of purity, spiritual weapon
3) archon's aura, searing light, heroism (d), magic circle versus evil