Rhianni lets out a gasp at the thought of treachery by one of their own Black Arrows.
"No, but we can try," Praxim snarls, grabbing his bow and making for the sickroom.
"Which way did he go?" he barks at the others.
"Bloody rune, if that bastard's got anything to do with this..." Kellen swears and immediately makes his way outside - looking for any sign of the man's escape.
Lym strides over to the nearest window, throwing it wide open, and holds out an arm. "Go," she commands, "find him if you can!" -- and the bat named Limmerick shoots out of her sleeve and into the darkening sky.
"I am low on magic, still," she says, turning to the others. "But if Kaven is still anywhere nearby, my familiar will find him. Can any of you find any tracks, perhaps...?'
"Aye. I can." Thordak immediately moves to see if he can locate the man's tracks.
"Stay with your father." Tomaru tells Shalelu. "He needs you now. We will retrieve Windstrike and return him to face justice."
Tomaru goes with the others. He'll use Bit of Luck to increase Thordak's chance at tracking.
The other Arrows are unconscious, in the blissful deep sleep of healing. Praxim finds the window in the room slightly ajar, a small puddle of water on the floor where the rain runs in through the opening.
Limerick turns to look at Lym as if to say, "YOU go out in that!" But dutifully flies out into the storm.
Thordak's search begins under the window, guided by Praxim's news. He quickly finds tracks that lead away north along the Skull River.
After a short while, the tracks end at the docks along the river.
'Return,' Lym sends out into the night once the group has reached the docks. She lets the soaked bat clamber into her hood, although she winces at the feeling of cold water running down her neck. 'Anything?' she 'asks'.
Kellen follows in the direction Thordak points, not slowing until he can spot some sign of the man.
'Return,' Lym sends out into the night once the group has reached the docks. She lets the soaked bat clamber into her hood, although she winces at the feeling of cold water running down her neck. 'Anything?' she 'asks'.
Nothing.
Wind driving the rain into your eyes, your search brings nothing. It's as if he reached the docks, and simply...disappeared.
"Limmerick could not find him," Lym reports, her voice grim. "Unless any of you have a way to continue the chase, he's gotten away."
"I think we can guess where he's headed, and I think we also have a good idea what happened to the snake woman. I don't see that guy working with the ogres."
Kellen looks down at the water, guessing at Praxim's thought. "You think he went down to that barge? Anyone have a water-breathing spell? I'll chase him to bottom if I have to hold my breath." His words come harsh and angry.
"We would be at too much of a disadvantage down there. Don't worry about him. Kaven Windstrike's luck has just ran out." Tomaru's words are said as a curse or as part of a prophetic vision. He then turns and leaves.
Praxim shakes his head. "Not the barge...the fort! He betrayed the fort to someone and knows we're heading there, so he's gone to warn someone, probably the snake woman, since I think he'd wet himself at working with ogres."
"He can't of swum out of sight. If he's headed to the fort, he can't swim there either. He's here somewhere." Kellen shakes his head to imply he won't let him go.
"Or he had a boat." Praxim looks where a boat might be moored and searches for fresh rope fibers.
"My thoughts exactly. He's taken a boat is what he's done." He looks along the water a moment before, "And what Snake woman for crying out loud?!"
Perception:
[dice=Perception]1d20+11-4
There are several boats: a handful of rowboats, decked out as fishing vessels; A larger barque, single masted; and two flat-bottomed river barges.
There are no signs of Kaven other than the tracks ending at the dock.
Kellen starts stripping off his chain shirt and stares at the wreck site. "No boat; no splashing - unless he can fly or turn invisible, he can't have gone far. I'm going out there."
Hoping it might work, he decides to yell out as well: Windstrike! If you are out there, get back here and you'll get some mercy. If I have to hunt you down, you'll think the ogres were gentle when I get done with you!"
"Let's leave him be for now. We have other, more immediate concerns and we can prepare for the next time we see him." Tomaru turns to leave a second time.
"Fair enough, Tomaru,"Kellen replies to priest aloud. But as quietly as he can, he slips into the water and starts searching under the docks - hoping the fugitive as hidden himself there to avoid detection and can catch him off guard. If he encounters any threatening sea life - he'll make for shore/back on the docks.
Hidden behind one of the dock posts is a man,. He has his back to you as he peers around the far side of the pilon observing the others. He shivers in the cold water.
Kellen sneaks up as close as he can to the man, and tries to knock him out with the butt of his dagger.
or
Kellen's blow staggers Kaven and forces a loud "Ouch...damn!' from the man. Seeing that he is discovered, he dives underwater and begins swimming out further into the lake, going deeper as he swims.
Kellen yells out to the others: "He's here and trying to escape!"
Then he also dives after the man, hoping to grab him and drag him back.
Thordak looks in the area of the commotion. "What the blazes?" He then moves to see what's going on. Seeing Kellen out in the water, "Is he daft? I ain't swimming out there. I think the lad out ta just let him go. The water'll take him if anythin'." He looks a moment longer before, "Maybe, I guess," he says with a shrug.
"I am trying to make a dramatic exit here." Cast Fly on Praxim.
"Wha-?" he asks as he starts to float, then smiles. He flies out over the water, knocks an arrow, and waits for Kaven to surface.
When he does, Praxim points the arrow, and says, "Swim back to the dock, or the next time you surface, you die."
"Wha-?" he asks as he starts to float, then smiles. He flies out over the water, knocks an arrow, and waits for Kaven to surface.
When he does, Praxim points the arrow, and says, "Swim back to the dock, or the next time you surface, you die."
Kaven is obviously an experienced swimmer, or has some aid, because he steadily pulls away from Kellen as he goes deeper. The dark gray surface of the lake makes it impossible to see him from above. Soon he and Kellen are just dark shadows in the water, and even sooner, they disappear from sight.
He doesn't see the dark shape looming up behind him.
A giant alligator gar, fourteen feet long, appears out of the deep gloom and seizes Kaven by the leg. With a powerful twist, it spins him around and drags him into the deeps of Claybottom Lake.
Praxim follows by sound as best he can.
Kellen frowns for a moment and makes for the surface and shore as quickly as he can. There is nothing more he can do for the man and he would rather not be something else's dinner.
Rhianni speaks some strange words and where she stood, an octopus flops into the water and starts to swim after the fugative.
Taking in the entire scene, "Okay, we've got a flying elf that...," he stops, noticing what's happening to Rhianni. "What in the blazes is happening to the lass?! I sure hope that's a bit of her magic and not another's!" He looks around for a possible enemy nearby just in case they've been ambushed. "Because I sure wouldn't want to be stuck being one of those forever."
Rhianni speaks some strange words and where she stood, an octopus flops into the water and starts to swim after the fugative.
Kellen breaks from underwater, waves to the others, and makes his way towards the dock. The look on his face is a grim one as tries to dry off a little.
"Bastard was going to outswim me and he knew it. Like chasing a otter. But this lake had other plans for him. Last I saw of him, a 14' alligator gar grabbed him and pulled him to the bottom out of my sight. Hope it enjoys the meal."
Rhianni shakes her wet clothes that cling to her slim body. She seems a little angry, "Damn, lost him to a creature of the water, before I could catch him. Damn 'gator, damn traitor. We'll not know what he knew of the ogres in the keep." She stamps her feet, as water oozes out from her boots.
"What next, ....., well once I'm dry."
Spells
Bard: 1st 3 of 3 spells left
Sorc: 3rd 4 of 5 spells left
Sorc: 2nd 8 of 8 spells left
Sorc: 1st 8 of 8 spells left
Daze: 3 of 3 spells left
Lullaby: 9 of 9 spells left
"We have earned a bit of rest, so let us do a dramatic exit and find some ale. Our troubles will still be there in the morning."
Kellen takes a moment to glance in the direction of the wet Varisian before nodding at Tomaru's suggestion of drink. "If our charges are alright, I certainly welcome some ale or cider to warm my soaked bones."