Round 2
RRR: 9/11
HP 43/43
Odie screams in rage at missing the creature and tries again!
"HOLD STILL!"
round 2?
HP 28/28
Ood strikes out at the southeast troodon with his fists
"Mud what can you tell us about these parrot dinosaurs?"
Round 2 | HP 30/30
If Odie misses, Alset will attack. If Odie hits, Alset will move back to help protect Mud. He scans the area to the south looking for more dinosaurs that he may need to head off before they reach Mud and the dwarves.
Alset attacks the Troodon swinging his longsword.
"Oh, Montana! These creatures are hard to hit. They're jumpy. And,
those teeth, they look really sharp!"
"These troodons smart. Train easy. Many have serve Song'o over years. Help track, hunt, carry water. Not normal see attack." Mud shifts beside Stonewall and points to the far west troodon that bit him. "Get that one!" he says. He then raises his arms in fear.
The troodons keen and chirp, communicating with each other in high pitched noises. They bite and claw at whoever is nearest to them, startlingly hungry looking. You notice their rib cages are quite visible. Perhaps the recent storm disrupted the natural order farther into the delta than previously thought.
One troodon jumps around Alset's armor and tilts it head sideways, saying, "Montana?"
The northern troodon nips through Stonewall's under-armored defenses.
The SW grabs two meaty chunks off of Ood and stuffs the ragged flesh into its mouth.
Round 3; AC 14; HP 13
Round 3 | AC 19 | HP 29/30 | LoH 2/2 | Smite Evil 1/1
Alset sees a deep scratch and swings his sword at the East Troondon, again.
Alset draws blood. Lots of blood.
"Odie, help the others. I've got this one."
Round 2 or 3?
HP 24/28
AC 17
Stonewall swings his axe at the north most dinosaur in a vicious arch down at the scrawny thing.
”Get behind us Mud!”
Round 3
RRR: 8/11
HP 43/43
Filled with rage, Odie either does not hear Alet or is ignoring him, but continues to swing at the same creature.
"YOU DON"T LOOK VERY SCARY! MORE LIKE A SIX-FOOT TURKEY!"
Round 3
HP: 24/28
Ood strikes the same dinosaur again calmly and with care.
"could these be some of the trained ones? I think the one back there was calling Alset 'Montana.'"
Round 3
Alset and Odie kill one troodon, while Ood knocks one out with his first blow and damages another.
Round 4; AC 14 HP 13
Mud moves behind Stonewall's shield, positioning himself between the dwarves. The troodons continue their attack.
Stonewall takes 2 hits from the troodons.
Round 4
HP 17/28
AC 17
Stonewall staggers back from the attacks but swings at the west troodon to keep his attention.
Round 4
RRR: 7/11
HP 43/43
Odie having killed the one in front of him, starts to walk back to the camp, only to realize there are more! Odie runs up the one next to Stonewall, putting himself between them and Mud.
"THERE ARE MORE OF YOU? DID YOU THINK YOU WERE BEING A CLEVER GIRL?!"
Round 4 | AC 19 | HP 29/30 | LoH 2/2 | Smite Evil 1/1
Alset runs back to the others and prepares to attack.
Round 4
The southern troodon rips into Ood in a frenzy, clawing and biting in a deep hunger.
Mud defends himself again and asks, "I thought you good at killing reptiles. Is your name not Reptile Slayers?"
Round 5; AC 13; HP 13: N -4 W -9 S -6 nonlethal
Round 4
HP 24/28
Ood strikes out with his right fist and follows with a blow from his elbow at the southern Troodon.
Round 5
HP 17/28
Ood strikes again with the left fist and elbow
Round 5
HP 17/28
AC 17
Stonewall growls his frustration with the agile troodons and swings his axe at the west one again.
Round 5: AC 19 | HP 29/30 | LoH 2/2 | Smite Evil 1/1 | Wand CLW 34/50
Alset seeing that Ood has killed the South troodon, attacks the West troodon and finishs it off.
"perhaps the Song'os will find the living troodons useful."
Ood knocks the southern troodon unconscious before moving to the western one and knocking it out soon after.
Stonewall misses, but Alset moves in and brings the last troodon to crippled and bleeding.
Mud stands up from behind Stonewall and hurls a stone at the last dinosaur.
The last troodon dies.
Two unconscious troodons lay on the jungle floor.
Alset pants, "I feel like all I did was sprint back and forth. Glad that's over. . . Mud? Did you say that these troodon's are trainable? These seemed rather aggressive and untrainable. I wonder what could have caused the change? Are these two worth taking to your tribe to train? "
Stonewall searches the troodons to look for signs of training (collars or what have you).
Odie comes out of his rage fatigued and a bit confused.
"Hey! I'm not all beat up! Not a scratch on me! What made this one different? Did I get hit on the head?"
Alset reaches over and lays a hand on Odie's shoulder. "This should make you feel better. I'm trying out a new mercy I've been working on. How do you feel?"
"That could have been bad, good wake-up call Odie. Anyone have rope or something to restrain the troodons if they awaken?
Mud says to Alset, "No hurt to try. We ask cousin Klayzaga in Cahsil."
Stonewall and Ood see no collars, brands, or markings of any kind of training. These troodons were wild from birth. They show signs of hunger but nothing else.
Mud nods at Ood's sentiment. "Good watch. We need finish rest before go to Cahshil."
Mud helps whoever has rope to tie the troodons up.
For the rest of the night the dinosaurs do not waken, and the party's sleep is not interrupted. The morning sun clear much of the mist away, but the jungle is still thick and humid. Mud leads the group eastward along a stream's edge, the waters soon widening into a proper river. The troodons are easily cowed once awake and follow whoever holds their ropes without much anger. If left unfed they begin to nip at the nearest party member, but gratefully gobble up any raw meat given to them. They refuse any meat from fellow troodons, however.
Walking along the river, you see many animals going for a drink, from howler monkeys to tapirs and other large beasts, not to mention the countless scurrying critters that dash out of sight when they hear your loud footsteps. None of the animals are threatening, and even the mosquitoes seem to relent the closer you get to Cahshil.
At a bend in the river, a small cluster of thatch huts with mud walls rise from the wetlands. The score of huts are all raised on bamboo stilts, far above the still waters below them in the middle of the river. The town at first seems abandoned, but three halflings come forward from a clump of reeds not ten feet before you.
The center halfling is old, her graying hair in dreadlocks and eyes darting between the newcomers. The two halfling on the side carry large clubs and bulging muscles (for a halfling).
The old halfling leans on a withered staff and says in Polyglot, "Oozaakhu welcomes you home, Mud."
Mud places his hand on his chest and bows slightly to the woman. "I am grateful to return to the place of my birth," he says in what is obviously a ritual phrase.
Oozaakhu points her staff at the Muddy Marines and says in Common, "Why are you strangers here? To bother my people needlessly?"
"We are here to return your fallen. Mud here was kind enough to show us the way."
"Oozaakhu, we have witnessed the courage and bravery of Muhdzuzi in the defeat of enemies of both Pridon's Hearth and Cahshil. He is a valiant foe and guide. We have the bodies of two of your people killed by lizardfolk. We first thought that Mud here was fighting for the lizard folk, but we misunderstood the situation. Muhdzuzi can fill you in on the details." Mud explains the events of the past few weeks to Oozaakhu with regular interjections by the Muddy Marines to clarify points of detail. When the story is complete, Alset offers the services of the Muddy Marines. "We're here to help you defeat the evil that arises in these unholy storms. What can we do to aid you in this fight?"
Stonewall adds that the lizard folk seemed to be trying to drive a wedge between Cahshil and Pridon’s Hearth. ”Do you know of any Lizardfolk settlements?” Stonewall says in Polyglot.
Oozaakhu's face grows sad as she sees the ashes of her fallen comrades. She signals to one of the men beside her and he carries the ashes reverently to the village. She and the guards listen to Mud's retelling of the story. You see halfling heads peep out from the trees around the village as you retell your story, listening to this new development in their small village.
Oozaakhu says, "Thank you for your assistance to my fellow Song'o. Mud, what reward did you offer them?"
Mud dashes off to a hut and brings back a headband of inspired wisdom +2 and four potions of remove fear.
To Stonewall, she says, "The Mireborn live north of here. Go check there." Then Oozaakhu turns back to the party and says. "We do not trust outsiders, lizardfolk or otherwise. I have heard many bargains and promises from outsiders for decades. They invariably work terribly for us halflings. Your words mean nothing."
She is being very cautious and close-mouthed about any information. You can see old hurts and past experience coloring her attitude toward you, even with the assistance you gave Mud and the ashes of the Song'o. When she says words mean nothing, you can tell she means it.
Ood stands placidly listening to the exchange.
"Then may our actions reflect our intent. How far to the north do you think the lizardfolks may be?"
No wonder they aren't trusting, and we hardly had good news for them.
Oozaakhu shrugs. "Across the river, or by your accounts, much closer." she says tersely.
Mud gives her a pleading look and says, "Eldest Oozaakhu, they save my life and bring news at great risk to themselves."
Oozaakhu turns to the Muddy Marines, her look unchanging. "Mudzhuzi is an honest great-grand-nephew, but I need to know personally that you are good, trustworthy people. Are you willing to help us in a concrete way? I will not tell you what I speak of until you agree. It does not concern the Mireborn. You may discuss amongst yourselves."
"No need, we're up for pretty much anything that's helpful."
Alset voices his acceptance to his companions, "I'm all in. After we complete the task, we'll need to find the Mireborn and deal with them appropriately."
Considering the many possibilities of a new task and the Mireborn, Alset knows he needs to improve his ranged attacks. He says to Mud, "The halflings seem to be very adept at ranged weapons. Do you have a highly skilled archer that could teach me the finer points of shooting ranged weapons? As you have seen, I can't seem to hit the side of a mountain with my crossbow. I'm considering a bow. Perhaps, there is one I could acquire from your people?"
Oozaakhu smiles and nods. "We shall see if you complete it. North of here to the edge of the Korir River is a known nesting ground for an allosaurus. She will have laid her eggs in early summer. I want you to go and recover 3 of her eggs and bring them back here. Do not kill the beast. Having a large carnivore nearby keeps other unsavory creatures from getting too close."
Mud begins to sweat and interjects, "Elder, you not send friends there! She will leap from far away and land with sharp claws and sharp bite. They will die."
Oozaakhu gives Mud the side-eye. "Perhaps they need a halfling to guide and protect them from being eaten alive."
Mud turns to the group and says, "Allosaurus very dangerous. She smell you before you even know she near. Do not fight her. Get eggs, get out. If you need help, Mud gladly come."
After the conversation (and any additional questions you want to ask Oozaakhu), Mud takes you to his hut.
"We not have archer in Cahshil," Mud says to Alset on the way. "So you can have bow we find. It too big for halfling anyway."
Inside Mud's hut is more of his namesake underfoot, despite the raised floors. You bang your head on the doorframe, and then again on the rafters as you try to stand up to your full height. Even the dwarves have to crouch. The single door you came in is the only source of light, but you can see a hammock stretched across the center pole to the far end of the room and various knick-knacks of Mud's: a dirty rug, banana fiber baskets, clay pots and cups, even a stuffed hippo's head on the wall. "Father first kill," he says proudly. Next to it on the wall is a parrot's beak. "Mine first kill," he says, half-ashamed.
Beside a twisted vine growing out of the floor and halfway up the wall is a row of begs with various slings hanging from them, and a long, too-tall bow. Muhdzuzi hands the composite bow to Alset. [oooc]This is the Composite Longbow +2, I believe it was.[/ooc]
"Shall I join you? And any other questions for Oozaakhu?"
Stonewall glances at the parrot beak, sure doesn't seem like much but he somehow manages to be helpful in battle. "We would be happy to have you Mud. How far is this Allosaurus? How about a meal before we go?"
"Food does sound good! Otherwise, ready to go."
"Of course Mud will go with us. Why wouldn't he? Besides, we couldn't bear to part with him. He is a part of our adventuring party, now. But, of course, that is up to him." To Mud, "Will you have us for another adventure, Mud?"
"Let's rest for the night, prepare for our next foe, and allow me a little time to practice with my new bow. Thank you for this magnificent gift. I hope to repay your kindness by using it to help defeat your enemies and mine."
Alset asks Oozaakhu and Mud, "Distracting this allosaurus will require a diversion. What would cause her to leave her eggs unguarded for a few minutes? Do they see well? I mean, can we replace the eggs with something else to temporarily fool her when she returns to her nest?"
The allosaurus is half a day away.
"I am proud to join group, uh, what was name? For now, let us eat," Mud says. There is a communal dinner served for you five guests in the center of the village, a whole hog on a spit complete with apple in its mouth as the main dish. During the meal Mud recounts in Polyglot the fate of his fellow hunters. Most of the halflings are saddened by the news. There are about 40 people in the village, from small children to ones even older than Oozaakhu.
At the dinner Mud shrugs at Alset's questions. "Allosaurus see, hear, smell very good. Know you're there before you know it there. She not leave unless in danger. Maybe one attack her, then from other side, another steal eggs, then all leave?"
"I have a few bags of caltrops. If they were effective against the allosaurus they would help us get away but I'm not sure if they would even hurt it. What do you think?"
"Let's see, I remember us having a tanglefoot bag, a thunderstone, sovereign glue, a bag of holding, and a bag of tricks. I wonder if one of these could help us?"
"I just can't remember what these things do. Any help would be appreciated."
Mud nods at Stonewall, picking up a handful of the dwarf's caltrops and letting them fall from between his fingers. "This very good. Keep allosaurus from running fast all over us."
"Throw tanglefoot, wrap up allosaurus so can't move. Thunderstone only deafen, so maybe not as good. Maybe bag of tricks to distract allosaurus with tiny animal?"
"Oozaakhu, we would also like to sell you these 2 Troodons if you are interested.'
Alset pulls Stonewall aside, "Stony, remember that armor I tried to give to Mud, but it was already sold. Well, he's now given me this very valuable +2 composite bow. What do you say to just giving the two troodons to Mud and letting him sell or domesticate them as he sees fit. It might also soften Oozaakhu, just a little. Or," he says, stroking the beard on his chin, "We could use the troodons as bait for the allosaurus. Hmmmmm. I wonder what they eat? Probably humans and dwarves."
Ood eats well is full any looks up to try to estimate the daylight left..
I never was any good at telling time...
"Ah, just give them the Troodon's. I gave the tanglefoot bag to the merchant in town that lost his bag, remember? Say how much daylight do we have anyway? If it's half a day trip out there we should probably start fresh in the morning.
Ood ponders the eggs...
"Say, Mud, what do you use these eggs for?"
Odie perks up and offers with a smile: "I have this bag of poop!"
Mud nods and graciously takes the troodons. "These very kind. I use to forage mushrooms and roots. As for eggs, i know not what Oozaakhu wants with eggs. I do know poop she not want. Thank you."
It is late afternoon. The party rests in the village, a few spare hammocks hung under Mud's hut. The next morning Mud is ready at sunrise to go north and lead the way.
"Have plan? Human bait? Dwarf bait?... halfling bait?" he asks.
Alset laughs at Mud's question about a plan and replies, "We're not much for elaborate plans. But, I think Odie should be the bait. He can run faster than the rest of us. If we can convince him to run away from rather that towards the danger. I can cover for him by shooting blunt arrows while the three height-challenged members of our party each grab an egg and head for the hills." After a few moments to see what Odie will say, Alset continues planning. "In reality we have a bag of tricks, we should try luring the allosaurus with something from the bag first. The creatures may be too small, but it is our safest bait choice. Still, we need to know the layout of the nesting area and all our escape and approach routes, just to be sure.
Also, I'm pretty sure Odie still has a tanglefoot bag. That would be a great way to trap the allosaurus without inflicting permanent damage and allow us to escape.
And, if we want to disguise our scent, that bag of dung would come in handy!"