"Checking outside first could give us clues to what we will find near the buildings, so the farm area seems a good place to look next."
You progress towards the gardens, making note of the complete silence and stillness to the settlement of Talmandor's Bounty. The undisturbed garden seems completely neglected, and has taken some damage from the ravages of time. The other garden plots near it, in addition to having grown wild, looks as if it has been turned over. It shows exposed roots in some places, and mounds of dirt dot the garden in random places.
Hobbling along with the group, Posh spots a few raised regions of dirt. "Hmm...looks like something has been burrowing through this garden. Perhaps moles or groundhogs looking for a free meal?"
Pointing down the rows, he cautions "Why don't one of you youngsters creep through there and see if something pops out. Careful, no telling how big these things are."
"I think theses mounds were certainly left by something small like that, Posh. Well i guess there's only one way to find out..." says Vashina as she pulls out her sickle and moves slowly forwards.
The elf blinks in surprise, looking down at the shirt. "Ah. Very well then."
-----
Kalathiel rubs his chin. "It wouldn't hurt to make sure it's nothing more than just moles or groundhogs. If that's all it is, though, perhaps we'll have to root the pests out later," he comments, tapping his rapier idly against his leg. "Let's get to it."
As soon as Vashina moves into the first row, one of the mounds swells and bursts, and clacking mandibles come out, followed by a six-legged buglike body. The creature, about the size of a small dog, drools some nasty looking green fluid from its mouth as it springs towards Vashina.
Two more of the little creatures come out of their burrows, perhaps having been able to sense the steps of the two-legs as they approached. The bugs, sensing danger to their new source of food and shelter, attack!
Special Attacks?
Special Defenses?
"Oh, I've read about these things. They're called Ankhegs, I believe." exclaims the small man. Scratching his beard, he mumbles "Now...let me think a moment..."
I’ll take your word for it good gnome. Now the real question is what are their behaviors and tactics, strengths, weaknesses that sort of thing?
Jader readies his scorpion whip and shield, attempting to keep the creatures at bay.
"You know more than I, posh. I'm impressed." says Vashina as she moves up to the nearest Ankheg and tries to slice it with her sickle.
Tessamine moves up to the closest Ankheg and tries to attack it with her trident.
"Glad we can put a name to the things. Now let's take them down!"
"Hmm, Ankhegs. Surprising to see such small specimens. Watch out, they spit, and it burns pretty bad."
Kalathiel moves around to the other side of Vashina, jabbing at the Ankheg there with his rapier.
Vashina take a slight step forward and swipes at one of the little creatures, but the little creature skitters forward more quickly than she thinks, and her sickle thuds into the dirt just behind the little beast.
"Quite right, Kalathiel. You want to watch out for that." adds Post, as he slowly moves around the edge of the garden.
Squinting his eyes closed, Posh begins rubbing his upper arms as if cold. A translucent energy begins to spread from the contact and envelope the small man. Snapping his eyes open, his broad grin reappears. "I think it's time for a celebration!"
"You guys ever hear the tail of Smaug? Real viscous dragon caused a peck of trouble for a dwarven tribe back in the day. Well...Smaug! Come to us now, you pansy! Do my bidding!" he calls out. With a point of his finger, a shimmering red dragon appears and begins to fly around the garden. Swooping up and down, back and forth, before finally roaring down on one of the small beasts.
Posh's spell impacts with quite the bang, sending cascading lights and Sparks out from it's center. The pyrotechnics singe the carapace of one of the little creatures, but it seems to dull it's external senses enough so as not to be impacted by the flash.
Kalathiel moves to Vashina's side, and skewers the bug before her. It squirms, and darts back from it's attacker, but not before suffering a terrible gash.
Tessamine's trident thuds into the ground, missing her darting for with it's times.
Crazed and driven into a frenzy by the threat to their new homes, the Ankhegs charge forward to bite at their invaders' legs - one at Kalathiel, one at Vashina's, and the last at Tessamine.
Vashina's and Tessamine are able to kick away the bugs, but Kalathiel is not so lucky. One Ankheg launches itself at him and bites deeply into his thigh. It's acidic saliva begins to sizzle it's way through Kalathiel's clothing, and the little creatures latches on tightly.
Kar has been keeping watch on the surrounding area and as such is caught by surprise when the creatures burst forward behind him to attack. See the others move forward on the offensive, he moves himself to attack the one that is grappling on Kalathiel, hoping to knock it lose from his leg.
And he misses completely.
Jader tries to position himself to strike at the creature that has ahold of Kalathiel. If this is not possible he’ll attack the nearest one attempting to stay ten ft away and striking with his scorpion whip.
Vashina takes full advantage of Kar distracting the creature in front of her and tries again to slice it with her sickle.
Another shimmering dragon appears before Posh. It looks from one foe to another, before turning back to the elder gnome. Eyeing the battlefield, Posh points to the nearest one, confident the other two are in good hands at the moment.
Without the slightest acknowledgment, the red dragon zooms around the garden in a chaotic path before landing with a *KaBOOM* near Tessamine.
2nd Snapdragon Firework - path marked in red - slamming into square of foe outlined in Green
Although Tess is unharmed by the dragon zooming by and the resulting blast, she's still startled.
"Posh, you're SURE those things aren't going to hit us?"
Tess attempts another attack at the Ankheg, however, hoping for a more successful blow this time.
Kar and Jader launch into their attacks against the little creatures, but they prove too agile for their first strikes, and both hit only air. Vashina cuts into the little creature before her, slashing through its carapace and nicking the flesh underneath. The little creature wriggles and squeals in pain.
Posh's fireworks once again burst on an Ankheg, singing flesh and dazzling it with flashing brilliance. The little creature seems to have trouble focusing on its next target, even as Tessamine misses the creature with her own strike.
Kalathiel cries out in pain as the creature bites into his leg, refusing to let go. He stabs down desperately at it with his blade.
Kalathiel misses the little creature attached to his body, as he desperately tries to stab it and pull it away. The creature attempts to hold on and continue to chew on Kalathiel's lower body.
The creature near Kar skitters forward and bites at the man's shins. It lands a wicked bite, but Kar is able to kick it off before it grabs enough flesh to hold on.
The third rushes over the small mound and charges at Tessamine, its mandibles dripping with green fluid. Tessamine lowers her guard and is able to defend herself from its jaws.
As a third dragon pops into existence, Posh calls out "Oh, don't worry about my dragons. They're well trained. It seems Kal could use some help though."
The shimmering red light takes a lazy flight in big circles around the area before slamming into the one near Tessa again.
Satisfied with the explosion, he hobbles across the garden and nods to Kar. His quarterstaff at the ready. "Drop this one, before it eats me."
Jader sees Kalathiel fall unconscious. He barely knows the pretty elf man but something causes his to scream ”Die you foul scum from the abyss” in Orcish
Jader drops his shield and whip and attacks vehemently with “JADER” his falchion
Tess looks at the ankheg in front of her, then at the chaos happening behind her, quite unsure what to do.
"By the Depths, this had better be a good idea..." she mumbles to herself, and makes a mad dash to the ankheg assaulting Kalathiel, completely ignoring the ankheg in front of her.
She quickly shouts, "Sorry for leaving you open like this, Posh!", then makes a desperate attack at the ankheg still latched onto Kalathiel.
Kar attempts a flurry of blows, summoning Lightning to his fists in an attempt to even the odds. He starts attacking the one in flanking with Vishina.
"NO!" yells Vashara as one of her allies falls down bleeding.
She strikes out at the creature in front of her trying to remove the threat before it hurts someone else.
The ankheg near Tessamine takes a bite at her retreating feet. The fleet-footed half elf dodges the pincers, however, as she springs into action.
The ankheg that had been chewing on Kalathiel suddenly sees itself surrounded by quite large and frightening threats. It releases the now stable target and lashes out, this time at Vashina.
The ankheg that had been hoping to make a meal of Tessamine follows after its target; however it finds a smaller and perhaps less dangerous target in the form of Posh, and it leaps in to bite at the gnome's waist.
The remaining creature attempts to trade blows with Kar.
The creature hit by Posh's attack, though dazed, still manages to find Posh and strike a very telling blow.
"POSH!!"
Tessamine, hearing the sounds of the ankheg feasting behind her, turns around and instinctively jams the trident into it.
Jader frustrated by his failures in previous attacks attempts an attack against the ankkeg that released Kalathiel.
He slashes hard and fast at the creature for what looks to be a solid blow
Though concerned with his fallen companion, the gnome smiles. Confidence unbecoming a bookworm fills his heart. "Team! We've got this! Just hang in...."
Suddenly a sharp pain stabs into the small man, causing him to lose his thought mid sentence. The man stiffens up, his walking stick clattering to the dirt beside him. Eye's wide, he slinks to his knees. A soft "Owwiee" slips from his lips as he lands on his side, motionless. A bubble of red fluid leaks out of his wound.
Kar goes down at -1 HP. Unconscious and frustrated by it.
Well, there are worse times to finally stop rolling like garbage.....
Vashina sees her allies fall around her as the bug thing has her by the leg. Despair starts to set in but she still swings her sickle again hoping to finally land a telling blow.
Jader moves to flank the beast and try to catch it off guard with a sudden blow
Kar falls under the attack of the ankheg, even as Jader springs into action. Jader's strike hits the oversized bug directly in the middle of its body. His falchion cracks through the carapace and mostly severs the little creature into two equal pairs. A narrow segment of body connects the two parts, but the creature shakes in the throes of death as its guts spill out.
Vashina, now released from the hold of said bug, moves forward to lash out at the beast attacking Kar. Alas, the remains of the first bug tug down at her waist, throwing off her balance. Her strike hits only air.
Tessamine skewers the little beast making a meal of Posh, forcing its innards out in a concentrated stream to either side. The little beast squirm about as it dies, still stuck to the trident's tines.
The last creature, facing quite a few large, capable foes, skitters back and spits out a stream of green, sizzling fluid at Vashina.
Vashina (Downed from acid strike)
Kalathiel (Down, stabilized)
Posh (Down and dying)
Tess
Ankheg (1)
Kar (Down, stabilized)
Jader
"You're next, you coward!"
Without any hestitation she runs towards the final ankheg and slams the trident into it.
Jader seeing that Tess has the matter in hand with the last ankheg decides to tend to the wounded. He quickly makes a health evaluation and decides to aid Posh first, then moves to Vashana hoping that she may have healing magic as well. As he works his magic on Vashana he mutters a quiet apology to Kar Roden and Kalathiel that he doesn’t have enough healing magic
Jader slams down his blade on the creature, neatly cracking its carapace. Tess follows through in the exposed back flesh of the creature, pinning it down to the ground which it had previously called home.
"I'll admit i was getting a little worried that we were in trouble then. If there is a larger infestation of these things could they be why we can't find anyone?" says Vashina as she grabs a scroll from her pack.
"This thing was for emergency use, and i think this certainly counts." she says as she first heads to Kalathiel to see if the healing magic of the scroll can help him.
When he doesn't regain consciousness she decides to use the last spell from the scroll on him too.
Lets look for some safety to take Kar to then perhaps one or two of us can search to see if anything is available it this village to heal Kar. I’m willing to search or keep watch over the wounded either is fine with me. What do the rest of you think
After speaking Jader remembers the healing potions found earlier he takes the one he held onto and carefully pours it down the the throat of Kar Roden
Tess mulls over Vashina and Jader's words.
"If the ankheg are really to blame, I'd expect things to be a lot more messy around this area where they've burrowed. Half-eaten corpses around, and the like. Of course, maybe this was just a small group separated from the main pack... Though I dread to think what would happen if we meet more of them."
"As for Kar... You're right, Jader. The question is, where could we leave him safely for now? One of the tents, perhaps? I'll also volunteer to keep watch over the wounded, by the way. Jader, you seem more well-armored than I am, so I would suggest you keep searching."
Finally, she walks over to Posh with shame in her eyes.
"Posh, I owe you an apology. Had I not run off like I did, the ankheg wouldn't have attacked you. I made an error in judgment and you had to pay for it. I hope you can accept my sincerest apologies.
Kalathiel's eyes open, consciousness flooding back to him. With consciousness comes pain and the realization of what just happened to him. He struggles to sit up. He looks at Vashina, then his leg, then at the scene around him, then finally back at Vashina. "I must say, I don't recall ankhegs ever being that troublesome. I was certain I was going to end up their next meal," he says to her, his voice weak. "You have my thanks for preventing that. You all do."
Kalathiel's hand reaches into his coat to retrieve his journal. He shakily pens in a few notes on one of its pages (one of them simply says "Beware the ankhegs here "). Finished, he replaces it in his coat. The elf then tries to stand, a feat that takes a considerable amount of effort. His arms shake as he steadies himself in the dirt, and his balance is off once he gets up. Eventually he manages to right himself and retrieve his rapier, using it to steady himself. "I think I'll be able to walk. Slowly, at least." He is still very obviously hurt and barely able to do even that much.
Jader makes an executive decision for the group to move the wounded to the nearest tent at
Tessamine you watch over the wounded. I’m going to explore those sheds near by then I will explore the garden and trees I will try to stay visible. If you don’t see me for longer that a few seconds come see if I need help
Before hauling the wounded to the tent Jader picks up his scorpion whip and shield. Then after making the party as secure as he can he heads off towards the shed closest to
Jader will cast Message linking himself and Tessamine. The Spell only works to a range of 110 feet. So if you don’t hear or see me move closer until you do hear me
"Oye!" groans Posh and he clutches his leg. Seeing it's no longer bleeding, he blinks a few times and looks around before slowly sitting up.
"So...what'd I miss? Seems I had a sudden impromptu nap there..." Snagging the stick nearby, he slowly, laboriously climbs to his feet. A few cracks ring out as the short man straightens up. "Oh, that's a little better."
Surveying the group, he smiles. "Well, seems we all pulled through there at least. No worries Tessa. As you may have noticed, I'm a bit better with the arcane than the mundane. Ha!" he nods to the woman. "I'm ok to assist in further searching, as long as I keep my wits about me."
Taking a few ginger steps, he nearly falls over. "Well...perhaps I will rest a minute." offering a meager smile to Tessa, he snaps his fingers. "Come deary."
With a few ancient words, he reaches out and touches the lady. "There, now you are also tied to me. If for some reason, our scout here has a need to venture farther, you can act as a relay between him and us."