"The same rules apply to you, Greypelt. We've cleared out this place of it's vermin. Any false moves and there will be dire consequences for you as well. Make no mistake about that. Now sit back and watch."
Zirren was nearing his limit with the Warg and spoke in a blunt tone.
It would certainly be easier to just do things Caine's way...
Nathaniel will speak softly and slowly as he removes the guard on his halberd with great care and reverence
Thank you, Sir Greypelt. Please allow me to say that I appreciate your sincerity. I have tried to treat with you as honestly and directly as I can, but make no mistake. I will brook no treachery. I am thankful for the opportunity to examine those mushrooms, and if it pleases you collect a few as a reward for doing as you requested. But, should you have a change of heart, and attack me, or my associates, you, will, not, live to regret it.
When the others have backed off, I approach the mushrooms, do I identify them as they type we need?
Caine was flabbergasted, and furious again. Again they were just dancing along to the Warg's tune. He looked around at the group like they were all possessed. Every part of him wanted to throw up his hands and just leave, but he couldn't leave an ally in a room with a monster.
Then Boote got back, there was going to be hell to pay.
Ruhk had his own suspicions about what was going to happen, as he meets Caine's gaze he nods softly as if to say "This isn't going to end well is it?"
At the same time, he really, REALLY hoped to be wrong, there were so man of them and only one of Greypelt, might he not see sense just this once?
Sometimes, pigs do fly, don't they? Magic after all.
As Nathaniel approached the mushrooms, he kept his eyes on Greypelt.
He tried to clear his mind of doubts, and fear, and yet Caine’s words kept coming back to him over and over again. Caine’s insistence on treating this intelligent animal as a being of evil seemed so wrong headed, so judgmental. How did he know Greypelt was evil anyway? And who, by what power, can call something evil?
Nathaniel knew these questions were complicated, and he reached out with his heart and his mind to the only thing he knew might help him.
The Lady of Mittonwir
He asked for her strength, for her guidance in this matter. He asked her, wherever she might be, to watch over him and give him some sign that he was doing the right thing. He asked her to show him the strength she had and the courage she showed in the face of adversity.
He asked her to give him sight that would reassure him, guide him toward the truth.
As Nathaniel approaches the mushrooms, he will, without knowing he is doing it consciously, attempt to Detect Evil on Greypelt. What he sees I will leave up to the GM
Zirren's and Nathaniel's threat seems to have an effect upon Greypelt as he appears a bit unnerved by their words; however, the worg stands his ground next to the mushrooms. As Nathaniel approaches he absolutely knows they are the ironbloom mushrooms which they seek. Six in total, enough to complete the antidote they were sent after! During his approach, Nathaniel beseeches his patron, The Lady of Mittonwir for strength and guidance and what he sees gives him pause... Greypelt seems to shift in his vision, changing from a simple black wolf into something all together evil. A red halo seems to circle around Greypelt's head and his ears perk straight upward, almost like horns. His eyes shift to an angry red, like the color of thick, fresh blood. And his muzzle twists into a knowing smirk with blood oozing from beneath his stained teeth...
Do you continue forward to the mushrooms?
Nathaniel is somewhat shaken, disturbed by what he now sees, but certain that it was not a trick of the eyes or some deception.
Is this the way Caine sees the world?
He asks himself.
How many people can see these traits? I need to find out how this is possible. But who can I ask?
Giving Greypelt a knowing, and respectful nod, Nathaiel approaches the mushrooms and will take one knee, keeping his weapon in one hand, and begin to collect the mushrooms with his other hand, if he can.
This is it, he is within biting distance now, if something is going to happen, it will happen now.
The tension in the air is palpable, and Ruhk himself is as tightly wound as a steel spring, ready to leap into action at any moment, but also very close to breaking if even one unexpected thing happens.
Surprise Round!
Greypelt continues to watch Nathaniel until he takes a knee, then with blinding and terrifying speed he lashes out! Nathaniel's only warning is the foul-smelling breath he detects before Greypelt's teeth close around his neck with brutally crushing power! Only his chainshirt keeps the worg from ripping out his throat as Greypelt then immediately yanks the little halfling to the ground!
Round 1, Group 1 Actions
Nathaniel cries out as he is thrown to the ground.
My Lady, bring me your strength so that I might lay low this villain
Nathaniel calls out for help from the one thing he truly believes with all his heart is right and true
"Mr. Artegal!!" cries Belladonna as she witnesses the warg's betrayal. She races to the far corner, where she hunkers down and fires at the creature.
Caine launched forward like a sprinter, a litany of curses going through his mind.
He reached out and snatched Boote right out of the Warg's jaws and dragged him out of harm's way, shielding the Halfling's body with his own.
Round 1, Group 1 Recap
From his vulnerable position on the ground, Nathaniel adopts a defensive posture to protect himself from any further assault by Greypelt! Belladonna rushes into the small room and fires off a quick crossbow bolt that nicks Greypelt's back!
Round 1, Group 2 Actions!
Caine bursts into the room and yanks Nathaniel away from the slavering worg. Greypelt grins wickedly at him, blood trickling from his fangs onto stone floor, leaving spatter marks upon Caine's boots.
Nathaniel - 5/12, Prone
"Now we do this, you are just to STUPID to be allowed to live!"
Wanting to make sure his attack would strike flesh, Ruhk casts a spell to ensure that before moving in.
As he moves, he also awakens Bethany to the bloody work to be done.
Round 1, Group 2 Recap
Caine moves into position and repositions Boote out of the way of the worg. Ruhk casts a spell to ensure that his next attack will strike true to the heart of Greypelt, imbues Bethany with some of his power, and then moves up to engage the treacherous worg!
Meanwhile Greypelt, turns his attention towards the meddlesome human that seemed so intent on messing with his plans... "How does it feel, human, to have such foolishness be the end of you?" He snaps at Caine, but in his eagerness to tear Caine's leg off he slips in the blood beneath his feet.
Round 1, Group 3 Actions!
Zirren angrily stomped the ground. "You were foolish to betray us. All you had to do was sit quietly by and let us go!" he then summoned a pony, his anger feeding into the casting that appeared within a reddish hued cloud of smoke.
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"You didn't think your cunning plan all the way through, did you, fleabag? Suppose you killed Nat, what then? We still outnumber you! Now we've got a perfect excuse to kill you, skin you, turn your pelt into a cloak and mount your head on the wall of the Lucky Duck!"
She steps into the room, draws her whip, and casts Vanish on Bella.
Round 1, Group 3 Recap
Zirren summons a fiendish pony that attacks Greypelt from around the corner of the half-wall. The first hoof connects, but the second attack is unable to quite get around the wall! Zilka moves into the room and casts a simple spell upon Belladonna and causes her to vanish from sight!
Round 2, Group 1 Actions!
Nathaniel - 5/12, Prone
Nathaniel will stand, step next to Caine, and attack
Using the invisibility as her cover, Belladonna dropped her crossbow and dashed forwards, drawing her sword.
Round 2, Group 1 Recap
Nathaniel scrambles to his feet and moves to rejoin the feet against Greypelt, but his attack is off and the halberd misses the worg. Whereas Belladonna sneaks up to Greypelt undetected and jabs her large blade into his flank! The worg lets out a yelp of pain before turning to growl at her.
Round 2, Group 2 Actions
Nathaniel - 5/12
"Oh no you don't! Jeez, you just keep proving your stupidity don't you?"
Ruhk knows that his insults might make him the next target, but that gives Bella a chance to get away again.
I'd try to trip him, but..he's got four legs...But with my magic I can at least make it harder for him to hit me!
Caine shuffled left to flank with Bella and slammed his boot up into the Warg's underside. He didn't say anything, but in his head his string of expletives was still running strong.
Round 2, Group 2 Recap
Ruhk shoots in and cuts a large gash along Greypelt's haunches and slices off a thick hunk of flesh, just as Caine slides into a flanking position with Belladonna. Caine then delivers a brutal kick to Greypelt's torso, breaking several ribs in the process. The worg gives into his animal instincts and lashes out at the last creature to attack him, and coincidentally the first, and he bites down hard upon Caine's thigh. He rips out muscle with his teeth and he yanks the man's feet out from underneath him! Caine falls to the ground hard and immediately goes unconscious from his head smashing into the hard stones and the trauma to his body!
Round 2, Group 3 Actions!
Nathaniel - 5/12
Caine - -1/10, Dying, Prone
"Caine!"Zirren called as the older man fell. He had always been so smart, even when he was little he'd been able to think of a way to help in some way, but in that moment he felt almost powerless. Zirren felt for his reserves of power hoping to draw upon some remaining power but it was empty. His magic was completely drained save for the simplest of spells but he knew they would be of mo use here.
The fiendishly empowered pony however struck out at the Worg still.
Zirren then remembered the remainder of the berries they had been given and dug them out of his pack while moving closer to Caine.
Round 2, Group 3 Recap
Zilka and Zirren both move forward to engage Greypelt. Zilka's whip echoes with a resounding crack and snaps the worg right across the nose. Zirren's pony one again attacks from around the corner, striking one solid hit on Greypelt's rear leg, snapping the bone!
Round 3, Group 1 Actions!
Nathaniel - 5/12
Caine - -1/10, Dying, Prone
Seeing Caine go down filled Nathaniel with a flood of conflicting emotions, anger, concern, and most of all remorse. Remorse for being so wrong, so very wrong.
All Caine had been trying to do was warn Nathaniel. Maybe he was quick, too quick for Nathaniel's liking, to call for the creature's death, but still he was only trying to warn Nathaniel.
Greypelt's treachery seethed at every fiber of his being. Nathaniel wasn't sure he would ever forgive himself for not listening to Caine, but as his anger at his own stupidity grew, Nathaniel was certain of one thing.
Greypelt must be stopped. This host of evil must end, here, and now.
With a shout of defiance, Nathaniel called out as he stepped to the side standing over the fallen ally
May the Lady of Mittonwir guide my strength. Let this be the end of you, villain. Let the evil you foster in this world cease, now, and forever!
And with that, raising his weapon high above his head, Nathaniel smote down his righteous anger on the beast.
Round 3, Group 1 Recap
Nathaniel steps protectively over Caine's unconscious form and, with a shout of defiance in the face of evil, he slams his halberd down upon Greypelt's head! There is a golden flash behind the worg's eyes as Artegal's holy powers rush into the vessel of evil and Greypelt collapses to the ground without a sound... The room suddenly becomes deathly quiet and you all realize that the worg is still breathing, albeit very shallowly.
Combat over!
"Well, you won't hurt anyone again..."
Ruhk Grabs Greypelts head and lifts it up, exposing the neck, readying Bethany for a strike.
He does however hesitate briefly, in case someone has anything to say.
"See to Caine while I end this once and for all."
Caine snapped his eyes open, still in an adrenaline rush from combat, then grimaced as the pain of his leg hit him.
"Ow."
He grabbed Zilka's hand and let her help him to his feet.
Bethany swings down in a wicked arc, ending the life of the big bad worg once and for all.
"Not a bad trophy that, but I think this one should be stuffed and mounted on a wall, unlike the wyrm skull, which I aim to make a helmet out of."
"So, is there enough 'shrooms here? And does he have anything else we should take before we head back?"
Trophy? What do you mean? A Prize? I'll never understand the world. I'm doomed. First I want to believe that life, every creature's life is worth protecting, and then I must learn how wrong I am and that I never really understood that there is evil in the world, and now we are to make a trophy out of this, this, creature of evil. I ca, I can't do that. Do what you must, but leave me out of it. There is no trophy for me.
Nathaniel will then collect the mushrooms, while occasionally looking to see if Caine recovers. When Caine does recover, Nathaniel will turn away, avoiding the man's gaze wherever it might fall.
Caine shook his head as he watched Boote unravel. There was nothing harder to endure than a shattered belief. If Boote wanted help, he'd ask for it. Until then, preaching wouldn't do any good.
He limped toward the stairs. "How many more do we need?"
With the six collected from this room you now have more than enough mushrooms for the remedy. Do you want to check the rest of the room? Head down the stairs? Explore the unexplored areas up top? Or simply head back to Falcon's Hollow?
"Time to go. If we want, we can come poke around this place again when people aren't dying back home." Caine was tired, wounded, sore everywhere, and hadn't had a drink in two days. He still stood like a rock, but it was clear he was nearing the end of his endurance.
Zirren eyed Ruhk with something resembling disdain for the man's actions.
Killing is warranted here, but taking a "trophy"... simply barbaric.
"Art!" he called, coming over to him "Listen, don't worry about what Ruhk says. Lot's of people have... hardened views on what to do to their foes." he said trying to counsel the disheartened Halfling.
Would I have turned out like that if I'd stayed here in the Vale? he let himself wonder for a moment.
He spoke softly. "What you did there, when you struck down Greypelt, that was something I've never seen before. That was... I don't know. As far as I knew you showed no signs of magical talent. But that was clearly some form of magic you used."
"I'd take the whole thing if he wasn't so big.
We killed it, it's a shame to waste it.
The fur could make blankets, cloaks or what not.
My father was a hunter, he taught me not to waste, but there is no time to skin it, and I'm not carrying it."
Ruhk shrugged, not really seeing the problem, taking trophies was a common thing amongst hunters, warriors and not to mention Ulfen.
"Mind you, I'd never suggest eating it, trust me, you don't want to eat anything that could ask you not to, too many stories about how that never ends well."
Ruhk actually pauses and shudders noticeably as he recall some of those stories, stories he is of no mind to share either.
Zirren stepped back, letting Art have time to reach his own conclusions.
More words could just make things take longer for him. he sighed quietly to himself.
"Caine's right. he said aloud. Though I'd like to stay longer. "We have what we came for, anything else is unnecessary at this point. If nothing else, we've bought the people back in town more time. If we need more ingredients, we can return here later."