"Leo, did she say a child?"
"Yes, perhaps an introduction is in order, this milady is Snaggletooth a valiant defender from Spellgard Tower who helped us thwart the machinations of Shar against the white lady Saharel herself!" Leo nods as he introduces Snaggletooth.
"After he helped us drive out Shar's followers he decided to join us on our quest of which escorting the good lady here is just the first step," Leo explains.
Mother Bartha certainly looks a little surprised by the revelation that Snaggletooth is a kobold, but Leo's assurance and his explanation do much to quell and qualms she may have.
"You are escorting a pilgrim. Will you not also join us paladin? The reburial of Margant is surely of interest to you."
Sister Cherra rides forward and dismounts, bowing politely to Mother Bartha.
"I am Sister Cherra, attendant at the Monastery of the Peak at Spellgard and can vouch for the worthy deeds of these people, if any such reassurance were needed. They have escorted me here, as you see. I am a historian before a worshipper, I freely admit, but the Wodewood and the sad tale of Margant and his foe has long fascinated me."
Bartha merely smiles. "No doubt the ways of Kelemvor will bring you to see his light, is that not so, Paladin?" she says, with an air of patronage. Cherra's shoulders stiffen slightly.
"We must move forward. The reburial must occur within the next two days," Mother Bartha continues briskly.
Having traveled thus far in self-absorbed contemplation, Mirth watches the proceedings with Mother Bertha's pilgrims in silence, her staff laid crosswise on her knees.
She makes no effort to conceal the marks of her infernal birthright, and simply shrugs amenably when the matter of accompanying the group is put to her, idly toying with the delicate flute she has often had to hand the last several days.
Mother Bartha certainly looks a little surprised by the revelation that Snaggletooth is a kobold, but Leo's assurance and his explanation do much to quell and qualms she may have.
"You are escorting a pilgrim. Will you not also join us paladin? The reburial of Margant is surely of interest to you."
"I would certainly be interested in learning more about the pilgrimage," Leo nods in agreement.
[quote=]Sister Cherra rides forward and dismounts, bowing politely to Mother Bartha.
"I am Sister Cherra, attendant at the Monastery of the Peak at Spellgard and can vouch for the worthy deeds of these people, if any such reassurance were needed. They have escorted me here, as you see. I am a historian before a worshipper, I freely admit, but the Wodewood and the sad tale of Margant and his foe has long fascinated me."
Bartha merely smiles. "No doubt the ways of Kelemvor will bring you to see his light, is that not so, Paladin?" she says, with an air of patronage. Cherra's shoulders stiffen slightly.
"We must move forward. The reburial must occur within the next two days," Mother Bartha continues briskly.
"So Sister Cherra would you care to elaborate on what you know of Margant and his foe?" Leo asks riding alongside her trying to cheer her up.
Cherra smiles gratefully to Leo for his distraction as the group move off once more. With one eye on Mother Bartha, as if to confirm her story, she explains.
"You know a battle was fought here, at Wodewood. Well, the opposing forces were lead by a paladin of Kelemvor called Margant. You may have heard of him, Leo. He was a mighty warrior in your faith."
"Yes indeed," Mother Bartha nods and takes over the tale, her loud, rather droning tones drowning out Cherra.
"Kelemvor moved Margant to suggest an honourable duel to his foe, a horned beast known as the Dreamer for his visions of conquest. They vowed that the loser would disperse his army and leave the field. It happened that the leaders killed each other and so the battle ended. Naturally, the bones of such a hero as Margant were gathered and brought to proper burial where they might be reverenced. At the behest of an exarch of mighty Kelemvor, it was ordained that should the bones be removed for any reason, they must be re-interred within a year and a day or great disaster might befall."
As Mother Bartha speaks, the flaps covering the end wagon open and a little girl looks out. A small child of about ten with white eyes, she is accompanied by three ancient women. She looks sightlessly at the sky and raises her arm. As if on cue, a flock of crows rise from the Wodewood, and spiral cawing raucously into the air.
Mirth has long since ceased listening to the ecclesiast's prattling, content to follow Caine and Snaggletooth, but now her thoughtful gaze travels from the ravens to the young girl, before halting on Mother Bartha.
I had thought "Mother" to be but an honorary title for thee; churches so loving ceremony, regalia and tradition. Does the blind girl belong to thee, then?"
"She was found by our augers and is a child of the church, just as I am the mother of our community," explains Mother Barthus a little stiffly. It's clear she's not that comfortable around Mirth.
With an unsubtle crash, the undergrowth and surrounding trees erupt as weapon wielding figures emerge on all sides. Berserkers attempt to cut off the road to the front and back of the procession, while three tieflings stalk the edges. From the forest, the sound of arcane muttering indicates the presence of more foes, mages by guess.
A single human figure who had been previously unseen within the crowd of pilgrims emerges from their ranks.
Clothed in scarlet reds and dark purples, he also wears a shining set of scale armor. His glossy auburn hair spills out from underneath his helm and a matching well-groomed beard adorns his handsome chin.
Gripped in one hand is a small shield and in the other is a very slender longsword that seems more ornate than sturdy by the way it bends, almost like a foil.
He puts a golden trumpet to his lips with his shield hand and blares a few notes of some rousing battle charge before moving closer to the combatants on the west side (?) of the road and allowing the trumpet to rest at his side again.
He takes a sidelong look at Caine and Snaggletooth as they engage in combat "At last the battle is joined. I've been waiting many days for you all to arrive. Now let us rapidly route these repulsive rapscallions!"
He then turns to S1. "You there, cur. Your fight is with us," says the newcomer. As he does so the words appear to be inscribed on his slender longsword. He then makes a slashing motion in the direction of the advancing shadowblade and the inscription slides off the blade and flings towards the shadowblade like knives that cause the shadowblade to stumble a bit.
Move Action: Move to I4
Standard Action: Cutting Words vs. S1; 18 vs. WILL for 7 psychic damage and S1 is pulled 2 squares to H6.
Casting a disdainful glance at the suspicious Mother Bartha, Mirth speaks over her shoulder as she dismounts.
"Had I wished thee dead, woman, I would have done it before thee started pontificating."
She slaps her horse on the rump and takes a step towards the relative safety of the wagons before gesturing with her tall staff at the closest foe.
Mirth's tail twitches with annoyance as her attempt to find a vulnerable spot in the nearest berserker's mind is foiled.
The berserkers shout gleefully and hurl themselves into battle.
B1 shows the rudiments of tactical sense and pushes past the screaming pilgrims and swings his greataxe at Leo, dealing a substantial blow.
B1 v Leo (1d20 9=27, 1d12 4=10).
B2 flings a handaxe at Mother Bartha. The woman screams, once and looks in disbelief at the blood seeping over her robes.
B2 v Mother Bartha (1d20 5=14, 1d6 3=9)
B3 heads towards Mirth, howling his warcry.
B3 v Mirth (1d20 9=23, 1d12 4=11).
B4 trys to attack Snaggletooth and just fails. The kobold grins evilly in response and returns the blow with interest.
B4 v Snaggletooth (1d20 9=19, 1d12 4=16).
B5 and B6 converge on Commander Caine. Neither blow makes the smallest impact on the warlord.
B5 and B6 v Commander Caine (1d20 9=13, 1d12 4=16, 1d20 9=10, 1d12 4=15)
Caine hums happily as he casually parries both blows and uses the momentum to strike on his own behalf.
The shadowblades move swiftly to join their comrades. S1 focuses on the newly arrived bard, scimitar flickering easily past his defenses.
S1 v Erik (1d20 13=31, 1d8 4=10).
S2 targets Brujo and realises almost at once he's met a foe worthy of his steel as the swordmage easily deflects the attack.
S2 v Brujo (1d20 11=21, 1d8 4=12)
S3 nods in acceptance of Leo's challenge and swings his scimitar. Kelemvor and Leo's own ability send the blow hissing through the air.
S3 v Leo (1d20 13=16, 1d8 4=9)
From the woods, the crackle of a magic missile setting fire to fallen leaves is heard on one side, echoed almost at once by equal failure on the other.
Magic Missile (Ref) v Perigia (1d20 5=8, 2d4 4=10)
Magic Missile (Ref) v Perigia (1d20 5=11, 2d4 4=7)
As the Berserker swings at Snaggletooth, he quickly counters with his prepared strike.
He sees Caine fending off two of the berserkers and sees an opportunity. While one of the berserkers is focusing on Caine, Snaggletooth manuvears around to flank him. Deeply sinks his dagger into the berserker and Snaggletooth alertly settles back into a counterstrike stance, ready to strike back if he turns his attention on Snaggle.
Managing to stay on his mount Leo strikes back at the berserker who has just hit him.
"Feel Kelemvor's wrath, villain!" Leo hisses at his attacker.
Maneuvering his mount alongside his attacker Leo focuses on the berserker.
"Second time is always the charm!" he spits at the berserker noting his proximity to Sister Cherra hoping to draw the berserker's attention.
"Bad move," Leo tells his opponent,"You should have run when you had the chance!"
Opening Shove Attack vs. B6 (Ref) 1d20+12=21
Caine shouts at the newcomer (Erik), "You! Strike him! He's wide open!"
Basic Melee Attack vs. B6 (AC) 1d20+12=22, Damage 1d8+6=12
"All together now!"