Gorax |
Gorax lies back, his eyes close at the discussion of magical words and things. He dreams of his mother and siblings playing happily in a well maintained log cabin, blue skies and "Zzzzzzzz". The man is content to relax in the countryside breathing in the clear pure air, the only scent that of his sweat.
Feel free to kick Gorax back into life when you are ready.
DM_Kudos |
With dinner complete the crew sets down for the night. The sun sets in the distance casting a peaceful glow across the land stretching shadows far until it finally disappears.
As night time comes, the clear sky gives way to a star-filled night. Gazing up at it, you can pick out the multitude of constellations and wonder if the gods are watching down tonight.
Bedrolls are undone and the first watch takes his post.
Who is up first. Anwel is last I can see
Gorax |
As the light of the new day washes over the land, evaporating the purple fragrance of night, Gorax eyes over his sleeping companions. He watches the rays of light brighten the plains, as he thinks time for those litle critters to wake too, time for a hunt. He retrieves his shortbow and keeping one eye on the camp he scouts around waiting for a rabbit or other small mammal to present easy prey.
Perception 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17
Survival 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
DM_Kudos |
Udoeak and Stellan find a comfortable spot on the ground to keep post. The land is rather open and the clear night time sky keeps it nicely illuminated. Still, vigilance is needed to make sure nothing occurs.
You tap Stellan on the shoulder to point out in the direction to the creature approaching. It is greater than 700 yards out and doesn't seem to be increasing in pace.
Stellan Volkov |
Stellan sets to the watch with Udo, paying most attention to the nearer areas, and feeding the small pit-fire that is shielded from casting light out or shadows, indeed it's mostly kept at a very low flame with mostly heat provided by red-glowing embers that allows Stellan to keep his vision keen in the darkness.
Suddenly Stellan feels a tap on his shoulder from Udo and sees him pointing to an approaching figure in the dark about 700 paces out. Stellan reaches for Vinur and whispers into his ear,
Turning to Udo, Stellan says quietly, "Alert the camp when and if you think appropriate. I'll take point down there." Grasping his spear, Stellan points with it a place about a dozen yards down from the camp, sneaks there, and settles in to watch the approaching figure.
Stealth 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 +1 if on hill. Stellan moves to point. -5 for moving.
Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 What does he see?
Vinur Stellan's Friend |
Vinur hears Stellan's whisper wagging his tail at Hide and seek but going very still at stranger. He licks Stellan face then turns toward the stranger and slowly make his way toward him, sneaking from cover to cover, and not approaching closer than 100 yards. He snout goes into the air from time to time sniffing with tongue hanging out.
Stealth 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29 -5 for movement
Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Survival (Track by scent) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Kudos |
Udoeak and Stellan continue their vigil watching the creature come closer to the party. It appears to be humanoid in size and shape and it is walking closer and closer to the party. Judging the path of it's travel it is heading right for the party. It is not far off from the group when Udoeak notices it is crossing the 300 yard threshold.
Pardon my avatar. I'm seemingly unable to change who I post as at the time of writing this.
Anwel Lossio |
Pardon my avatar. I'm seemingly unable to change who I post as at the time of writing this.
Actually, I prefer this avatar.
<"Thank you,"> Anwel whispers in Elven. He fights every instinct he has in order to remain still in his upright, cross-legged trancing pose. Who would visit them out in the wilderness, so late at night? If it was who Anwel feared, could he and his companions stand up to them? Anwel can feel his heart beginning to race, and works to calm himself by immersing his mind in Udoeak's command.
How ready was he? His mind still thrummed with unspent power from the day before, and under the stars would even be a little stronger. In kind it was varied, with at least one spell for every mortal weakness Anwel knew. That might not be much help against the ones he feared, who would likely know his repertoire and would have prepared against it. He had, however, two tactics at his disposal they did not know about...best not to think about them too hard, in case the stranger could hear. They were close at hand and on his belt. He could use them if the time came.
Bimbur Longstrike |
Bimbur comes awake quickly. Instinctively he reaches for his bow. The two arrows placed in the ground by his feet a reminder he can quickly loose his arrows.
He looks for the figure with his darkvision.
Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Andrei Avotrus |
"What my watch already" Andrei says a little too loudly before seeing Udoeak's caution. Picking up his scabbard he stands and buckles it on then bends down to pick up his shield.
Peering into the moon light darkness, Not a safe place to travel alone. He is foolish, confident or desperate. Either of the last too have good possibilities to be helpful to me, certainly worth making contact. Andrei now speaking more quietly "Just one person? Unlikely to be bandits I guess. I'm happy go out and offer a hand of friendship particularly if you are all standing up here armed to the teeth." He looks around to check for consent.
Kudos |
The dwarf stares intently towards the approaching stranger...
Anwel Lossio |
This is bad. If he says nothing and Andrei meets someone looking for Anwel, Anwel's secret is out long before he had planned it to be. If, on the other hand, he objects to Andrei's plan, whether or not the visitor is who Anwel fears, Andrei's suspicions will be even more aroused than they are. Still, in his inward-looking state, it doesn't take Anwel long to come up with a passable plan.
"If you go to him alone," he whispers, switching back to Taldane, "It might be hard to find you again if he's hostile. We should go to him, or leave him behind, together." Anwel hopes the others decide to back off, but lacks the courage to suggest cowardice.
Bimbur Longstrike |
Bimbur squints his eyes and comments to his companions, "A lone human dressed in furs, most likely a lost hunter."
Bimbur motions for Andrei to go out to him, "He is that way. I would probably make him uneasy, but you should probably guide him to our camp." Bimbur points his finger in the direction of the human and continues to vector Andrei toward the traveler if necessary with voice commands.
Andrei Avotrus |
Smiling at Anwel "I can stand my ground for a while atleast, long enough for you to knock him out with your magics. I think that it would threatening if we all go out to greet him but I think two is probably fine if you want to come as well?
Turning to Bimbur and nods "If you stoke up the fire a little I'll invite him back to warm up a bit."
Anwel Lossio |
"Very well," says Anwel, standing up and slinging his bow over his shoulder. He walks slowly towards, then past Andrei as if still in a trance, leaving Andrei plenty of time to catch up or pull ahead if he wants. His steps are measured in the dark, keeping his head level with respect to the ground. With the fire at his back, Anwel's face recedes into the depths of his hood and the gray and wine-red of his sash and tabard deepen and almost disappear into blackness.
As he passes Andrei, Anwel smirks "If that's what it takes to keep you alive, fearless leader." The remark is flippant and sarcastic, like all Anwel's remarks that aren't animated by plain terror, but anyone listening can tell he means it. After all the fuss Anwel made before about leadership, Andrei's willingness to walk, alone, in front of a man whose alliegance and potential power Anwel fears...and then to invite him along, has convinced him that if the human wants his loyalty, he can have it. As they walk, he wonders if his mistress can tell.
Andrei Avotrus |
As Anwel passes he smiles at his never ending sarcasm and checking over the over for objections turn and with a couple of quick steps catches up with Anwel.
Sense motive 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 on Anwel to detect something is wrong
Quietly once they are beyond the hearing of the others "Are you alright?"
Anwel Lossio |
The macro's at work, eh?
Andrei knows Anwel's frightened of this nightime visitor in much the same way as he was of scrying.
"For now," murmurs Anwel. With the slightest possible twitch of the head towards their visitor he continues "For the future? I guess we'll see." Something tells Anwel he shouldn't be the one to open the conversation. His fears already dominate his thoughts, and if he is wrong, he doesn't want to make things worse for everyone by poisoning the meeting.
Gorax |
Gorax ribs his eyes and looks into the darkness , before looking to the skies and seeing the stars twinkle in the heavens above. Slowly he seems to come to, groaning he says "What....Oh time to get up .... Where's the fire? .... I could do with some light you know, can't see a damn thing...." he ends up whispering at Anwell's insistence he be quiet.
Gorax fumbles around his bed, before his hand grasp the shield, which he attaches to his muscular forearm, before his fingers grasp at the hilt of his longsword lying next to his bedroll. He rises, but in the darkness, the unarmored man takes a step a way from his bed, looking around frantically and listening to the sounds of the night, his friends conversations and for anything that might require hitting. "Where's the threat?"
Stellan Volkov |
Before leaving Stellan replies to Udo, "Of course."
Few people wander at night, double so for dangerous frontiers but maybe it's innocuous, people can be late to camp. Best to keep an open mind.
Stelllan settles in his spot watching the approaching creature. He feels the warm, comforting link to Vinur and can tell that he is not really afraid or surprised by the humanoid figure so that it's likely that it is a human or something similar. Stellan keeps eyes and ears open while the camp slowly wakes, a grimace passing over his face as a couple of the party wake less quietly than he'd prefer. He sees Andrei and Anwel start down the hill to greet the stranger. He prepares to support if they need it but does not break cover.
Andrei Avotrus |
sorry this is a bit slow couldn't get on all day
When they get within about 100ft of the stranger he will stop and call out "Greetings stranger, my companions and I were wandering if you you would like to warm yourself by the fire on a cold night and perhaps exchange a few stories to keep warm?"
Kudos |
Lumbering onward the stranger makes his way towards the group. He makes no haste in his movements and seems rather sluggish. Coming closer to group the nighttime lights start to show that he seems to be dressed in leathers and furs. He could possibly be a hunter of these lands.
Andrei sends the stranger a warm welcome. He is approximately 100 feet away from him out in the open lands with only the light of the stary night shining down on him. But upon hearing the words, the man stops walking. Not aburptly but rather a slow down in pace until he stands in place.
His head focused on the ground he stands still. He makes no remark back, but stands there. Silence is his answer.
With a lack of response, Andrei calls out again to see if the man would like some shelter or a safe place to sleep for the night. With another silent return, he squints his eyes to see if anything becomes more clearer.
Andrei Avotrus |
Turning to Anwel all traces of his normal smile gone. "I think you might be right, this doesn't feel right. What can you see?"
Andrei raises his hand and motions his companions at the tree forward then his hand falls to his sword.
In a less friendly voice he calls out "Fiend identify yourself and come warm up at our fire."
Assuming he gets no response again, Andrei bends down and picks up a small rock. Saying "Be a light in dark places" the rock starts to glow. Light spell
Having checked that his companions are moving forward he throws the rock to light up the stranger.
Do you require a roll, all I need to do is miss him and land it with in 20ft.
Anwel Lossio |
"I see a man acting like a machine," says Anwel, in answer to Andrei's question. He squints a little at the sudden light, but he can't fail to take notice of Andrei's unorthodox method. It was interesting, like the mystery of Udo's origins, but there were more important things to worry about.
What worries Anwel now is the stranger. He watches the lighted rock bounce off the ground near his feet, not for the rock, but to gauge the man's reaction. A servant of his mistress wouldn't like it, but could tolerate it. Arcil's servants? Who knew? With this new light source, Anwel's costume is revealed. If this stranger was looking for him he would know him by the clothes, so Anwel decides he might as well reveal his face too. He lets down his hood and tucks his hair behind his ears.
Behind him Anwel hears the faint rustlings of preparations being made. To buy his companions time for what they want to do he decides to help Andrei try and make contact. He chooses his words carefully. "What?" he says, mock-offended. "Has someone taken your tongue? Or have our good looks taken your words?" He winks at the stranger lasciviously, remembering the words of the pirates. They'd give him some deniability if his suspicions about the stranger were unfounded.
Andrei Avotrus |
@ Andrei - You are ok. If you want to throw a rock to his general area then "it is done"
The stone bounces to land in the grass near the stranger, light shines up illuminating him with the long shadows of the grass making him look all the more sinister.
As Bimbur start to move past Anwel and Andrei, he will call out "Stay back, keep as much range as you can."
Stellan Volkov |
Stellan feels a stab of terror. Has my father's murderer found me? Or is it just a strange man unused to people? Stellan steels himself for any need that comes tightening his grip on his spear and locking his eye on the man ready to hex him if he gets close and is overtly dangerous. His anxiousness grows as he feels Vinur respond to his fear and starts coming closer fast.
Vinur Stellan's Friend |
Vinur feels Stellan's terror and panics. He abandons his stealth and streaks as fast as possible toward Stellan. The hill echoes with the surprisingly loud whine, not of a wolf, but the sinister call, signaling "danger - pack come to me", of the fear-causing wolves of winter.
Stellan is about 850 feet from Vinur and the cub is running flat out so that would be 160' per round so six rounds to reach Stellan, if Vinur is threatened Stellan will charge down the hill.
Kudos |
The stone lands next to the man. As it tumbles closer to him, the light shines upon his figure and reveals what the night time has covered. Looking at the man you can see that his flesh is pale and sickly. There are sores all over his exposed legs and arms and there are signs of decay. His hair is snarled and mangled, the cloths are tore and tattered. He carries weapons but they are clearly nothing he has used for some time now. The are covered in dirt and filth from the ground; rust covering what was a sword at some point.
The rocks rolls across the ground next to him and upon noticing the bright light, his head bolts up and quickly looks out. In front of him he sees Andrei standing there while Bimbur makes his advance towards him. The wolf dashes off towards his master frightened by the sight of what it saw.
After taking in the view of those in front it's head tilts to the side. The deathly image stares at the party well in front of him as his jaw slowly starts to drop. Small remnants of dirt, teeth, bugs, and what-not fall out and behind the garbage starts to come a loud howl. "Whaaagh!" bellows the undead creature as his right hand extends forward towards the group still on the hill. He makes no movement, only stands still in place with arm extended and hand open.
Hand extended and scream silent for now, he stands there ... like a statue ... and as quiet as the night.
Andrei Avotrus |
Once the others catch up to Anwel and Andreis forward position he will take his eyes off the creature for a quick look at the others "Get yourself ready, it isn't moving yet and so have a bit of time to prepare." Andrei say buckling up his shield and drawing his sword. "Gorax, I believe we are now in your able hands."
Udoeak Duskwalker |
Udoeak draws his sword as well, assumedly having quaffed the mutagen. His muscles ripple and bulge, spurred on by the alchemical reaction now going on in his body. Would you rather I pull out all the stops? he asks Andrei, shaking a small vial.
Stellan Volkov |
Stellan feels Vinur fright at the creature then sees a nightmare walking. Not seeing the need for maintaining his stealth, Stellan calls out, "What is that thing? Does anybody know?"
Stellan casts his icy spell of protection, speaking in a mix of magic and draconic, invoking an ancient power of the winter's protection. He glitters for a moment in the starlight as if covered in frost, then it fades into invisibility. Cast Mage Armor. If the thing gets within range he'll cast the hex of evil eye that will have no effect. If he finds out it's undead then he will switch to his healing hex.
Anwel Lossio |
"No, we're going to take the stupidest option available." Anwel sighs, and chews on his lower lip for a moment before stepping past the rest of the group. I'm assuming we've advanced with Bimbur to within thirty feet of the creature. This movement will take Anwel to within ten feet of it. Taking confidence from the presence of his companions, he raises his hands high over his head, and his sleeves fall down and bunch around his shoulders. His arms are covered in a delicate tracery of scars that wend their way up his arms in geometric webs. He speaks, his commanding tone belied by the soft sibilant sounds of the strange language he speaks.
A small, wooden disk about the size of, but thinner than, a good gold measure appears in Anwel's hand. Slowly it floats to the creature - no longer could Anwel think of such a thing as a stranger - and lands face-up in its outstretched hand. Prestidigitation
Should this thing fail to react to a proclamation as obvious as that, Anwel feels confident that he can help destroy it without repercussions.