Shinking briefly back down to normal size, Jamison mentally focuses on his crops back home, how they start from seeds and grow into maturity every year before retreating back into the soil to begin the process anew the next year. He again grows in size to match the behemoth before him.
He then takes a mighty swing at the creature he faces.
Round Five (concluded):
Euron wheels Tunica around and urges the elk to charge the blinded and stunned giant revealed by Eseldra on the wooded hillside on the eastern side of the camp. The elk's antlers manage to pierce the creature's tumorous shoulder.
As Jamison begins to shrink back down to normal size, he calls upon the blessings of Erastil to again grow to match the creature's size. With a mighty swing of his axe the enlarged priest cuts a wide slash across the creature's abdomen, causing its entrails to tumble out onto the forest floor as the malformed creature crashes to the ground.
Begin Round Six:
Hiram: 19
Eseldra: 14
Karthas: 13
Creature: 9 - still blinded and stunned this round
Jamison: 7+
Tyr: 7
Euron: 6
Cinders: 5
Round 6:
Karthas drops out of rage, and moves toward the remaining creature...
Eseldra will instead throw a bolt of acid at the thing.
Touch attack: (there's a square of the creature that is more than 10 feet away from a melee combatant, so no penalty)
Damage (just in case):
Round Six:
Eseldra unleashes an acid dart at the remaining creature, which strikes it squarely in the face.
With his immediate opponent defeated, Karthas drops out of his enraged state and wearily rushes across the campsite toward the final antagonist.
Tyr continues to don his chainmail with Vianne's help.
Hiram: 19
Eseldra: 14 - acted
Karthas: 13 - acted
Creature: 9 - still blinded and stunned this round
Jamison: 7+
Tyr: 7 - acted
Euron: 6
Cinders: 5
Finally recognizing the giant-kin as incapacitated - at least temporarily - Euron hesitates for a moment.
"I suppose we should finish this creature off," he adds, looking at the maimed corpse of a former prisoner.
Jamison moves and channels energy to heal himself and any wounded companions.
Round Six (continued):
With his foe defeated, Jamison shrinks down to normal side and staggers toward the remaining battle. As he does so, he channels the blessing of Erastil to partially assuage the wounds suffered by Karthas and himself.
Euron again urges Tunica to attack the giant, the elk's antlers manageing to gore the creature in its side. The brave druid attempts to strike the creature with his ranseur as well, but due to the dim light his polearm fails to connect with its target.
Round 7:
"Someone bring a light over here...I doubt this thing is willing to change its ways, and I doubt even more that it has any useful information."
The Kellid says, moving around behind the creature , securing a flank with Euron and Tunica.
Attack: (fatigued, power attack, bless, flank)
Damage: (fatigued, power attack, sneak attack, dirty fighter)
Jamison moves to provide light.
Ugly buggers, n' that's fer sure.
Cinders moves to join the remaining battle.
Eseldra launches another bolt at the creature.
; damage
"Let's try this'un again!"
Hiram lets out a long slow breath, and cries out as he releases his arrow,
"Fly straight an' true!"
"That's better." the druid grunts as Jamison brings the light over.
Tunica Gore (Bless,Magic Fang)
Tunica Gore Damage (Magic Fang):
Tunica Hoof #1 (Bless,Magic Fang):
Tunica Hoof #1 Damage (Magic Fang):
Tunica Hoof #2 (Bless,Magic Fang):
Tunica Hoof #2 Damage (Magic Fang):
Euron Ranseur Attack (Bless, Reach):
Euron Damage:
Tyr mumbles "Late again..." As he continues to struggle into his armor.
Round Six (concluded):
Hiram shoots an arrow at the stunned giant, but the shaft flies wide of its mark.
With her immediate foe defeated, Cinders hustles to join the battle against the final assailant.
Round Seven:
Eseldra unleashes another mystical dart of acid at the creature, striking it again in its hideous face.
Jamison moves closer to the battle, and his enspelled greataxe illuminates the deformed giant for all to see.
Once his foe is clearly revealed, Karthas moves behind the creature to secure a flanking position with Euron and Tunica. With a mighty swing of his greatsword, the Kellid slices through the giant's lower spine. At the same moment, Euron's ranseur pierces the creature's heart, ending its miserable existence.
Their foes defeated, the companions catch their breaths before working to calm the frightened horses, prisoners, and Hardesty twins.
Vianne rushes over to Karthas, her expression switching from relieved gratitude to shock as she sees the wounds that he suffered at the claws of the deformed giants.
Ol' Nell snorts fitfully in her sleep before continuing to snore peacefully.
Vianne rushes over to Karthas, her expression switching from relieved gratitude to shock as she sees the wounds that he suffered at the claws of the deformed giants.
Seeing the young woman's concern for his wounds...
"Nothing to worry about, just a couple of more scars to add to the collection. Besides, most of the blood you see isn't mine."
[b]"Is everyone else alight?"
"I'm fine," Cinders says. "They were far less a threat than they seemed at first."
"Tell that to this guy," Eseldra says, casually wiping dead prisoner off her boots. Then her head snaps up as she glares malevolently at one of the prisoners.
"Hey, stop that! The things are dead. No more escaping! Give me that dagger right this instant or we'll wake up one of those things and feed you to it!!"
Out of combat Tyr finishes struggling into his armor and sighs deeply, his shoulders slumping slightly at his uselessness.
He walks over and helps Eseldra calm the prisoners.
Jamison walks up behind Tyr, placing a hand on the man's shoulder.
Ah wouldn't worry about it much, Tyr. We got it handled. Nobody here's doubtin' yer bravery or yer prowess in battle. Caught us unawares, they did - but they paid fer 't, dinnt they?
The big man laughs, a low rumbling sound that carries through the campsite. He moves in toward the frightened civilians.
Folks, don't fear, none. As yeh can see, this situation's well in hand. These good folk aim t' bring the lawlessness in these parts to an end, and they're plenty capable o' doin' so. Ah'd go so far as t' say that while you're with them - us, I s'pose ah sh'd say - ye've got naught t' fear from things that go bump 'n the night. Now, ah'm not fer 'vangelizin, but I cast my lot with 'ol Deadeye, and Ah'm gona thank 'im fer our well bein'. Anyone wants teh join me, yer welcome to.
Jamison takes a knee.
Lord O' the Land, hear me, if yeh will. Tonight ah thank you fer yer watchfulness and yer blessin' in keepin' all these fine folk livin' tuh see another day. Ah'd pray that yeh keep on with blessin' us, and help these good people t' get home t' their families n' whatever other business they might have. Thanks, like.
He goes to rise, but then quickly thinks better of himself and bends his knee again.
Oh, 'n if yeh would, please help yer servant Hiram 't start shootin' like 'is daddy taught 'im, 'n stop tryin' t' skewer the small woodland creatures in th' background of th' fights. Amen.
Jamison winks at Hiram as he makes his way to the center of the camp, exhausting his supply of positive energy channelling before setting his alarm spell along one of the outskirts of camp and heading to sleep.
Tyr nods and does give a slight smile at Jamison's words, though the tension in Try's shoulders does not go away immediately.
Cinders watches the prayer session quietly, but does not join in. She stifles a smirk at the mention of Hiram's shooting.
Unable to contain his amusement, Karthas lets out a loud laugh when he hears Jamison's comment about Hiram's bow-work...
"Jamison, thank you for the healing....Hiram, sorry about that, it was just too damned funny not to laugh at...Let's try and get some rest, we still have fair bit to go before we make it to Oleg's."
From atop the elk, Euron glares downward at the fallen giant-kin and mutters to himself something about mud.
Kicking Tunica into a gallop he does a quick circuit, making sure each of the monstrosities is truly dead, punctuating his route with a stab of his ranseur into each one's throat. He finally comes full stop at the west side of the camp, dismounts and picks up his glowing sling bullet. Walking the elk back to the other mounts, he issues a stay command, and then proceeds to brush the creature down and calm the horses.
"Good job tonight" he whispers, with the sincerity of a proud parent.
As he rejoins the others, he comments, "Seems to me, a bit odd that three o'these fellas would jump at attacking such a large armed group as ours. Wonder if they were ordered t'do so, or just plain stupid."
"They were so ordered," Eseldra says, relaying what she overheard the creatures saying.
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Thawns, also known as 'mud giants,' find the appearance of themselves and others of their kind so revolting that they wear heavy cloaks or otherwise obscure their countenances. Any thawns near an uncloaked thawn become sickened at the sight of the uncloaked creature's revolting appearance. This repulsion is all the more severe when a thawn is confronted by its own hideous reflection.
...her head snaps up as she glares malevolently at one of the prisoners.
"Hey, stop that! The things are dead. No more escaping! Give me that dagger right this instant or we'll wake up one of those things and feed you to it!!"
The frightened prisoner gives a shrill "squeak!" as he drops the dagger that he was using to begin cutting the bonds of one of his compatriots. With trembling hands he picks up the dagger and offers it to Eseldra hilt-first, nearly slicing his fingers in the process.
Jamison moves in toward the frightened civilians.
Folks, don't fear, none. As yeh can see, this situation's well in hand. These good folk aim t' bring the lawlessness in these parts to an end, and they're plenty capable o' doin' so. Ah'd go so far as t' say that while you're with them - us, I s'pose ah sh'd say - ye've got naught t' fear from things that go bump 'n the night. Now, ah'm not fer 'vangelizin, but I cast my lot with 'ol Deadeye, and Ah'm gona thank 'im fer our well bein'. Anyone wants teh join me, yer welcome to.
The Hardesty girls join Jamison in giving thanks to Erastil, although the prayer is punctuated by Ol' Nells snores The companions are surprised to see that the surviving bandit prisoners also join in the prayer, the hardened criminals looking at their defenders with a newfound respect.
Euron calms the horses and brushes down Tunica. Soon the camp returns to a wary yet peaceful state. The rest of the night passes uneventfully.
Looking at the fallen opposition a bit closer, Karthas comments...
"I remember hearing stories about creatures that are thought to look like these things...I believe they are thawns, or mud giants. If the stories are to be believed, the thawn are ogre-like in stature and dimwitted, bearing fold upon fold of sagging, excess flesh, draping them in wrinkled, poxriddled hides. Seens odd for them to be working together though, all the stories have thawns not even wanting to be around each other because of their apperance."
"If you wouldn't mind, would you sleep near my family and me for the rest of the night? I... I'd feel safer with you nearby."
"If it would make you feel safer, I will gladly do so..."
"They were so ordered," Eseldra says, relaying what she overheard the creatures saying.
For the sake of convenience, here's a recap of
About a half-hour into her watch, Eseldra heard a gruff voice in the trees to the north loudly whisper in Giant, ”I knows Tartuk said ta just watch ‘em, but we’s ain’t eaten in a whole day! I says we bust in an’ skeer ‘em real good whiles Padunk snatches one o’ dem horses or a couple o' dem ones that’s all trussed up fer carryin’. They’s jes puny lil’ humans...”
Eseldra stepped forward towards the whispers from the bushes and shouted out in a loud voice in Giant. "We hear your pathetic ramblings, and you should be grateful we have, or you would have just made a most serious error in judgement. We are not just 'puny little humans'; we merely adopt this disguise when travelling through these lands." She raised her hands above her head and caused colourful illusory sparks to start swirling about her with a cantrip. "I am Vash-Ti, queen of the Valknori, and these are our prisoners." She cast a silent image to create the vision of a 60-foot tall humanoid with thick muscles, skin of magenta scales glinting in the fire light, and eyes of vibrant red. The image rose up from her position to its full height, holding a massive 4-pronged trident in one hand, and a flanged mace in the other. "Your one chance at salvation - come out from those bushes you cower in, kneel at my feet and worship me! Give me your allegiance here and now or my minions will feast upon your flesh while I fill you with unholy fires so hot your meat will sere and your bones crack!"
"Oh waily waily waily! It's th' Queen o' th' Valknori! She's gonna burn us up an' eat us!" one of the voices cried.
"Oh no! What'll we do?" another voice wailed.
"Now jes hold on here a minute," a third voice said a bit calmer in a loud whisper. "Ain't heard o' no 'Valknori' afore. Tartuk ain't said nuthin' 'bout no Valknori. If she's so big an' bad, why ain't she rulin' these here parts?"
"What're you, crazy! She's gonna eat us alive!" the first one loudly whispered in protest.
"Yeah! We're goners fer sure if'n we don' do what she says!" added the second one.
"Oh yeah? They's jes one o' her. Let's see what she can really do," the calmer voice said. "Padunk, you go that a'way. Kachunk, you go that a'way. 'Member, like Tartuk said..."
"Padunk! Kachunk! Heed not your friend, for he's leading you into destruction. I do not rule these parts simply because I don't wish to. I am merciful, but there is only one hope to escape your destruction - sacrifice your misleading companion to me, and I will spare you. Kill him, or die yourselves!" Eseldra shouted.
"Did'ja hear that? SHE KNOWS OUR NAMES!" one of the voices wailed.
The wail was followed by a loud fleshy smack and a cry of pain. "Shaddap ya fool! Manunk's right! Ain't no such thing as Valknori! Tartuk woulda told us!" a second voice loudly whispered.
"S'right!" the third voice - presumably Manunk - added in a lower whisper. "Now stick t' th' plan. Most of 'em's skeered an' don' know where we're at yet..."
"Of course Tartuk didn't warn you about us. He has betrayed you and sent you to us as a sacrifice. I would accept his sacrifice, but I would rather eat him instead of you, and this Manunk who doubts me and my power. This is your last chance. Sacrifice Manunk to me and bow down, and I will spare your lives. Don't, and I will enjoy feasting on your flesh." Eseldra shouted, but her words elicited no further response.
As Jamison bows in prayer, Hiram kneels on one knee, breathing heavy, and bows his head.
As Jamison prays for him, he turns bright scarlet before murmuring a quiet...
"Amen."
He waves sheepishly at Karthas' comments. Embarrassed, he coughs once, and turns toward the animals.
"*ahem*I'll...just...*ahem*..."
He walks towards the line of animals, and stops, the chill in the air causing him to shiver...suddenly reminding him of his half-dressed state.
He rushes quickly to his tent. When he exits, he is now wearing a baggy leather tunic, and walks quickly to see to the animals. He falls in to work quietly next to Euron, and calms and brushes down all the horses and mules.
Despite the horrors of the early morning hours, the day dawns pleasantly enough for springtime in the Kamelands. While the air still carries a hint of winter’s chill, the heartier flowers are beginning to bloom and leaves are budding on the trees nestled in the twisting valleys between the rolling hills.
Ol’ Nell scarcely believes her granddaughters when told about the pitched battle against the mud giants in the wee hours of the morning. Seeing the bodies of the slain giant-kin convinces her of the reality, and she gratefully thanks the companions for once again saving her granddaughters and herself from a grisly fate. As a token of her appreciation, she directs the girls to prepare a hearty breakfast for their protectors. After eating their fill of the Hardesty girls’ excellent breakfast, the companions break camp in preparation of continuing northward toward Oleg’s trading post.
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The caravan bearing the intrepid explorers, rescued farmsteaders, and captured bandits continues moving northward thorugh the hills of the Kamelands. Shortly after midday, the wagon train passes a particularly rocky crag rising from the hills. Karthas, Eseldra, and Tyr subtly confirm to their companions that this location corresponds with the gold cave marked on the map.
"Careful," Cinders announces and nods towards the rocky crag. "It's possible we're being watched."
Tyr looks from the Raven to Cinder,
"Could it be some witch's pet?" He asks quietly.
"Where is this raven you speak of?"
Cinders nods towards the crag again. "Perched atop the crag," she says. "A raven, watching. Perhaps a familiar. Perhaps an animal messenger of some kind. Or perhaps just a normal bird that our paranoia is overreacting to."
Listening to the conversation, and eventually noticing the raven the other are pointing out...
"Paranoia or not, we should be proceed with caution."
Eseldra looks where Cinders is pointing and (hopefully) sees it. "We should always proceed with caution, but over-reaction or not, there's one simple solution perhaps," she says, readying her bow.
Tyr waves a hand to get Eseldra's attention.
"If it be some other spell users companion, since we don't know their intent should not caution, as Karthas suggested, be our option? Instead of definitely making an enemy of some unknown person?" He offers.
"Killing a Witch's pet would bring about their ire, instead of them just being curious of us, at the moment, no?" He points out, still speaking quietly, unsure of how good a Raven's ears are.
Eseldra shrugs and doesn't knock an arrow. She lowers her voice to a whisper. "Should we investigate, since we obviously don't want the prisoners or Ol' Nell finding out about what's in that cave?"
Jamison appears unconcerned, spitting chaw quietly into the grass.
If you want I sh'd go take a look, Miss 'Seldra, jus' say th' word.
Eseldra shrugs and doesn't knock an arrow. She lowers her voice to a whisper. "Should we investigate, since we obviously don't want the prisoners or Ol' Nell finding out about what's in that cave?"
"I'm not so concerned about the Hardestys seeing what is in the cave as our other...'guests'. That being said, at least a few of us should investigate..."
"Hmm," Hiram listens to the others, and starts to draw his bow.
He looks from his bow, back up to Jamison, and shakes his head.
He checks his longsword, and pulls out his lasso, shaking the coils loose against his thigh.
"Beins y'all have a stake in this here situation, mayhaps we give it some eyes on it? Maybe we give them girls some chores to watch these bandits? I could tie 'em real tight so they don't be goin' nowheres."
He looks to the others for direction, but is clearly ready to act.
Eseldra approaches the prisoners, letting her tail slip out of her blouse. She looks at them all sternly.
"All right, you miserable wretches, we've just noticed a sign of some activity up ahead that we have to investigate. It's probably the fourth of those giant things that attacked us last night, living in a cave just past those trees. We can drag you up with us, leaving you at its mercy, tied up as you are, or we can secure you to some trees down here out of sight, with your former prisoners to watch over you. I think you'd rather the second choice, but if you try to escape or make any sort of noise, the beastie in the cave is going to hear you, come down, and make sauce out of you like your friend last night. Do we have an understanding?"
Intimidate:
Euron shrugs his broad shoulders at the mention of investigating the cave.
"Not sure if the rest o'you noticed," he says, walking over to some of the plant life and bending it's stalk for all to see. "But, see how this here is still moist...? he pauses, "... means whatever's here has been coming and going a lot and very recent-likes.
Hopping off Tunica, the druid grabs a handful of the damp soil and juggles it in his hands for a couple moments before emitting a pleased grunt.
He holds out an earthworm and coos at the raven, "C'mere you, let's have a closer look at you..."
Eseldra approaches the prisoners, letting her tail slip out of her blouse. She looks at them all sternly.
"All right, you miserable wretches, we've just noticed a sign of some activity up ahead that we have to investigate. It's probably the fourth of those giant things that attacked us last night, living in a cave just past those trees. We can drag you up with us, leaving you at its mercy, tied up as you are, or we can secure you to some trees down here out of sight, with your former prisoners to watch over you. I think you'd rather the second choice, but if you try to escape or make any sort of noise, the beastie in the cave is going to hear you, come down, and make sauce out of you like your friend last night. Do we have an understanding?"
"Beggin' yer pardon, Miss, but if it's all th' same to you I think th' boys 'n me'd all like t' make yer lives easier an' be tied up t' th' trees out o' sight over there," one of the bandits says respectfully. His companions all vigorously nod in agreement. "We won't give th' ladies no trouble, we promise!"
It is quite clear that the bandits are terrified of another encounter with thawns, and that they look to the companions to keep them safe.
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With the prisoners secured under the watchful eyes of the Hardesty women, the companions approach the rocky crag. The raven perched at the top of the crag continues to watch warily as they approach.
Hopping off Tunica, the druid grabs a handful of the damp soil and juggles it in his hands for a couple moments before emitting a pleased grunt.
He holds out an earthworm and coos at the raven, "C'mere you, let's have a closer look at you..."
Suddenly a loud shriek pierces the air as a winged figure explodes from the overgrown crack at the base of the crag and shoots into the air. The creature bristles with terrible spines and a crown of deadly horns. Hideous oily black scales sheathe its body, and huge dragon-like wings and a snaking, prehensile tail add to its intimidating appearance. A sickly green rune glows in the middle of the creature's forehead. The creature whirls in mid-air and hurls a large stone at Jamison.
Surprise Round:
- Jamison MISS
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Eseldra: 24
Euron: 21
Cinders: 16
Hiram: 15
Karthas: 10+
Creature: 10-
Tyr: 6
Jamison: 5
Knowledge Planes:
"It's an eidolon! There's a mage around these parts. Take him out and this beast will disappear!"
That being said, Eseldra attempts to climb up the crag enough to get the beast within 15' range for a colour spray (Will DC 15). If she can't get within range, she'll fire an acid blob at it.
Touch attack: ; damage
Critical confirm:
"Someone get down that hole! If the beast came from there, its master can't be to far away. I'll keep this thing busy..."
Attack: (Power Attack)
Damage: (Power Attack)