"My guards looked everywhere within our walls... I don't know... if you have able trackers, perhaps start outside our walls? if there is a trail, and the gods are with us, perhaps the wind has not filled his footsteps with sand yet..."
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Garr eagerly accepts the challenge of putting his tracking skills to the test, his normal quarry usually being the beasts of the wild. Tracking down a human should be leagues easier, especially one of the Noble kind. Garr proceeds to explore the area outside the house, sweeping the perimeter for any clues to where the young man's trail picks up next
Garr easily finds the boy's tracks in the sand once you are at the back of the estate; the trail begins at a gap under the wall. Kokina finds a piece of bright fabric sticking out of the sand right where the trail begins.
Aayef ’s trail leads three miles east to the sand blasted ruins of a circular building. Chunks of wall and broken pillars stand as the last testament to what was once a shrine to Sarenrae. Rubble covers some areas (highlighted in red), creating difficult terrain. The dais (area C2) is not covered in rubble.
Keandre, next to you:
A chunk of twisted deadwood rests atop a pile of ashes in the lee of a fallen stone column. Cinders surrounding the driftwood suggest a recent fire.
Further ahead, you see steps ascending the wreckage to a smooth stone dais. A cracked stone shrine stands before the eastern wall. Bones and other detritus litter the floor around the altar.
More importantly, you also see a giant scorpion which seems to have surprised the young Aayef as he began exploring the site. The beast proved more than a match for the young noble and is about to finish him off when you approach.
Round 1: (bold may go)
Aayef
Perrine
Keandre
Naruda
GIANT SCORPION
Kinshasa
Magdalyn
Garr
The boy attempts to plunge the shining sword into the monster's side with a Qadiran battle cry!
for dmg. [MISS!]
The mindless creature hisses at the boy moves to him, pincers raised, and attempts to clamp into him!
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Naruda moves forward shouting "Aayef, we're hear to help!"
Naruda casts bless on the party. "Gozreh, give us courage and strengthen our arms!
Range 50 ft.
Area The caster and all allies within a 50-ft. burst, centered on the caster
Duration 1 min./level
Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.
The mindless creature hisses at Perrine's challenge and abandon the boy for his newest quarry. He moves to Perrine, pincers raised, and attempts to clamp into her!
for dmg and for additional constrict dmg. [HITS, grappled, constricted, then released as a free action]
The giant scorpion nearly severs Perrine in half. It releases her dying, bleeding form on the ground...
Round 1: (bold may go)
Aayef [severely wounded]
Perrine [negative 1 hp, dying]
Keandre
Naruda
GIANT SCORPION [wounded]
Kinshasa
Magdalyn
Garr
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Magdalyn follows along with the group, failing to notice any of the details that might be along the way. I pray that the whelp is still alive...
After arriving in the ruined temple, Magdalyn takes a brief moment to admire the shrine to Sarenrae. While she did not follow the Dawnflower, she had respect for the goddess nonetheless.
The moment of admiration is short lived however when she sees the boy locked in combat with a giant beast!
Magdalyn springs into the fray, darkness twisting into her hands as she moves. With a piercing whistle it forms in her hands a massive crystalline crossbow held in both arms. As she readies her shot she watches in horror as her Gnome ally get nearly severed in half. With a snarl on her face she pulls the "trigger," launching a blast of physical force out from the weapon and into the raging scorpion.
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Garr notices a small burlap bag buried in the sand "There's a burlap sack buried in the sand by the campfire! If anyone is near perhaps there's something in it of use to us." When Garr looks upon the landscape he sees the young noble engaged with a scorpion. One of the size of a horse no less!
The vermin may be some type of guardian dedicated to this holy site of Sarenrae, judging by the altar.
Garr looks on as suddenly the gigantic insect is upon them, the wounded creature grabbing Perrine in a pincered embrace and nearly sawing the halfling in two.
"By the gods! Your going to pay for that you overgrown stinger with legs, I shall beat my drum while feasting upon a delicious scorpion steak this night!"
Garr moves forward and casts Cure Light Wounds on Perrine, washing the dying gnome with divine healing. Using his healing power spontaneously this way causes Garr to forget one of his other memorized spells. His recollection of Divine Favor he had prepared is forgotten.
The scorpion hisses in pain at whatever dark energy just lances past its chitinous armor!!
Seeing Garr approach with its myriad of scorpion eyes, the large scorpion attempts to snuff the life out of him as well before he can tend to Perrine!
for dmg and for additional constrict dmg. [HITS, grappled, constricted, dying, then released as a free action]
...the giant scorpion deposits the second dying warpriest next to the first one, and proceeds to defend its (now large) meal against incoming intruders!
Round 1: (bold may go)
Aayef [severely wounded]
Perrine [negative 1 hp, dying]
Keandre
Naruda
GIANT SCORPION [severely wounded]
Magdalyn
Garr [negative 1 hp, dying]
Kinshasa/Kokina
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Oh no! It's really strong and going after me next! I need to kill it if I can.
Naruda begins reaching for the trident on her back.
Naruda slays the giant scorpion and puts a foot on its back triumphantly, like a blue-skinned goddess!
COMBAT OVER!
More to come today..
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Seeing the Scorpion drop Magdalyn rushes in to attack before it can recover, then realizes the beast is dead. Relaxing her posture she gives the Samsaran a smile. "Well done Naruda, a masterful kill." She gives the body of the scorpion a quick kick while she looks at her wounded allies.
"I don't have a healer's touch, will you be able to tend to them? I'll go see how Aayef is holding up." Magdalyn gives the remaining party a nod, and walks over to the boy, kneeling next to him and checking on him.
If there's no healer I'll need stabilize rolls for Perrine and Garr.
Keandre stabilized Perrine, but Garr is still dying. Anyone?
Kinshasa won't try a heal check. Will anyone else try or shall I fast forward to the next quest with one dead party member?
As long as you're both stable I don't mind moving things forward, but given that he's lying on the hot sand and bleeding out, I need to hear the rest of the party members on how this is going to go down.
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"What a ferocious beast! The wonders and horros of nature never cease to amaze me."
Naruda turns to Aeyef and scolds him: "You naughty, naughty boy! Your mother is worried half to death about you. If we arrived any later we would be bringing your corpse back to her!
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As Garr gets up, the look on his orcish face is one of surprise, he looks over to Perrine to see if the Gnomish warpriest is also okay
"Seems my battle spirit really wants to go see Gorum! My eagerness for combat is going to be the death of me. Good thing im tough as dragonhide or this orc would be no more." Garr claps Perrine on the shoulder and walks over to the scorpions carapace. Kicking it for good measure and puffing out his chest
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With the rest of the group looking as though they'll make it, Magdalyn goes to accomplish what they came for.
"Aayef, you're coming back home with us. Let this be an example that it takes more than heart to survive, it takes skill and instinct." Her eyes move to the sword. "It was irresponsible of you to take something so valuable to use for your own glory. Come, let us return to your mother."
To Naruda and Magdalyn, the boy says, "I just felt like exploring... Mother can be a tad overprotective at times, but I see the wisdom of her ways now. Still, she should have involved me an an earlier age in the ways of the warrior. She did the best she could without Father, however..."
Before you have time to reply and before Aayef adds more details, the jeweled sword in the boy's hand loudly hails you all with a deep voice and says, “Brave adventurers! I am Soldier’s Glory, servant of the noble bastions of the Last Azlanti. Identify yourselves!”