[Ooc]One day is good[/ooc
Sigmund attends to Jin's funeral and arranges to have his worldly posessions sent according to his will (to his next of kin or donated to an orphanage I'm guessing). This brush with death has tempered some of his anger and he pens a letter to his father, telling him of his adventures and apologizing for the theft.
Then he takes his cut of the rewards to stock up on some supplies.
Jin's body is interred by the priests of Iomedae in the catacombs under the fort. Many of the crusaders never make it back from the wastes. The ones who do, even dead, are treated with honor. Sir Brensen is quite happy with the trophies you've brought him, and pays out a large amount of gold for them.
As Sir Brensen counts out the last of the groups coin a tall slenderly muscular Kellid with red hair and hard eyes approaches the Knight. He offers an inclination of his head in greeting, before speaking in halting common,
"These crusaders you say of Knight Brensen?" He asks, looking the group over with a bleak expression as the fingers of his left hand beat rhythmically against a small demon skull, which hangs about his neck in the midst of a Zoic fetish. His voice is deep and rasping.
"I make, no, am desire to killing of demons. Called Hallf, called The Scaled. Make bad speaking this tongue, but Hallf is strong, I would travel with you. I am, ah, starvish nakk torran gark, you would say beast changer perhaps? Please. I am need to slay, Hallf has promised them death. I can best show you power?"
As silence greets his halting words Hallf growls in frustration and heads for the door beckoning, "Look, come, show you."
Moving out into the courtyard he pulls free a small stone figurine and sets it on the ground calling, "Yarra!"
Then the stone explodes outwards expanding into a great scaled beast standing some fifteen feet tall with rows of dagger sized fangs. It wears a suit of glistening silver mail and a crude, but comfortable looking hide saddle with various embroidered images of hunters in action around its rim. The creature snorts regarding the onlookers and then looks to Hallf who arches his back and then changes.
Where the Kellid stood before stands a much larger dinosaur that is obviously the same species as Yarra though nearly twice her height and bulk. The creature growls and weaves its small front limbs and Hallf's voice comes from its mouth, despite an obvious lack of jaw motion,
"Beast changer, you see? We are strong, can fight, can call beasts. But not strong enough alone, want bring death, not find. You take us, we are strong."
Peitry, like he is wont, clutches the bag of gold tightly when they are approached by the barbarian. 'Wow.' he thinks, blinking his eyes at the enthusiastic would-be-crusader, 'Are they factory manufacturing us? There seems to be no end of people willing to go die in the wastes.' he thinks, stunned into silence.
Following him outside hesitantly, still not saying a word, he takes and involuntary step back as he watches the man perform his magics.
Blinking at the dinosaur a grin creeps over his face and he barks a laugh. "Beautiful!" he exclaims, "Just beautiful! You want to join in the wastes? Well, I'm certainly impressed, you'll definitely get to put those teeth to use out there!"
Peitry grins eagerly at the rest of the group watching the show, nodding enthusiastically.
Crissor lets out a whistle through his teeth. "Now that's impressive, we can use those two on our side." He then grins. "Excuse me while I go do some...horse trading." He then goes to spend his gold.
The large tyrannosaur nods soberly,
"I have found it so. Demons taste like hell. But better biter than bitten. I make come more scaled ones when there is trouble, then fight. But even with all Wound is too much alone. Need allies to kill properly," it says each word coming out a singular entity and frustration evident in their tone.
"Kashtak amnarg, grath tralik? Maratha mundra, kakakald vertin Taldane chagos. Ungamore gerthrik geshikt."
Sigmund has returned from the arrangements to find Peitry menaced by a towering dinosaur. He loosens his sword in its scabbard and makes sure he has room to move before he speaks up. When he does, his tone is curt and bitter.
The tyrannosaur eyes Sigmund emitting a huffing growl,
"Hallf is of Sarkoris. From beyond your stones. Killed, fled, hidden, from demons. They kill my tribe. Come here go with crusaders, we kill much, then they all die. Hallf calls mists and hides inside body of fallen comrade for three days to escape - much to be repaid," the great beast visibly shudders at the memory, "Fierce not enough, clever and luck to is need. Travel alone is, how say, death seeking of self? Hallf only get back by fly, sneak, and call aide."
Sigmund gives the beast a puzzled glare.
You can talk, lizard, but how do you fly? And how did you hide in the bodies? Were you travelling with giants? A loyal pet? Oh wait - you're one of those Sarkosis beast shamans aren't you? Forgive my questions. This place puts me in a foul mood. Come, let me buy you a drink. Inheritor knows I need one. You too, Pietry. The damn quartermaster is a copper-pinching thug. I'm going to have to sell off my metamagic rod to buy a weapon to destroy the undead, but I really don't want to. I did buy a sack of powdered silver, though. We'll get a safehold in the fort with it.
The bigger trex shudders and its tiny arms explode outwards into great leathery wings some fifty feet across even as its body narrows and its snout lengthens and tapers into a point. In seconds instead of the mighty tyrannosaur a somewhat ungainly creature that looks to be a mix of avian and reptilian traits stands before the group, the height of a giraffe.
"Many shapes, of scale."
The massive pterosaur then dwindles down to a tiny lizard, which quickly reverts to the savage form of Hallf the Scaled,
"Is limit, but each can last long. In Wound stay shaped."
Sirhan walks with his new blade towards his companions just in time to witness the changing man talking to Sigmund, Crissor and Peitry. "Now that might be a useful skill to have in the wastes. Sirhan eyes the man up and down impressed with his shapechanging skills.
Hallf frowns nodding to Sirhan,
"Yes, it is good, but needs bettering, no, get better? Can, uhgh, make change to thing of need."
Then the Kellid strides over to Sigmund extending a callused hand, "What is rod? Looking for, how is it, make spells longer rod? The Knight given these coin that has value," he is clearly not impressed by said value.
"Pay the same as merchant charges, you use to break undead, merchant not," Hallf says producing a scaled leather pouch, opening it out to reveal a large number of gleaming platinum coins.
"Namakara, lanshatak jaretayu nakra. Untaru nestrashk maragi, nueataj ulmay. Gurun tahg, lansha nakra dess velu, naturakka marda. Exor yahahsardt, kaerery tagst meru, velorinakk Hallit."
Crissor grins as he returns on a new horse and slings his new quiver and packs of arrows onto his back. "Hey found a horse that won't run at moments notice of trouble, now I just need to name him."
He then looks over to Hallf and nods his acceptance.
Traveling back through cleared land, the group has a couple of uneventful days.
08/29/4712 11:00
Crissor:
Peitry:
Sirhan:
Sigmund:
Kenan:
Hallf:
Yarra:
Crissor:
Peitry:
Sirhan:
Sigmund:
Kenan:
Hallf:
Lions:
Initiative
Kenan 21
Sigmund 20
Peitry 17
Sirhan 16
Crissor 11
Lions 9
Hallf 8
Midmorning of their third day back on the trail the group is traversing a plain, a small clump of the thorny monstrosities that pass for trees out here is nearby, and there is the occasional bit of crumbling sandstone poking up through the long grass. Everything is quiet when Hallf and Sigmund catch a brief flicker of movement in the tall grass. Lions! Big, huge, black-as-sin lions, with eyes that drink the light!
Begin Surprise Round
1st: Calm Animals(D), *Longstrider, *Longstrider, Endure Elements, Endure Elements, Cure Light Wounds
2nd: Feather Fall(D), Bull's Strength, Bull's Strength, Barkskin, Barkskin, Carry Companion
3rd: Fly(D), Spike Growth, *Greater Magic Fang, *Greater Magic Fang
4th: *Summon Nature's Ally IV(D), Freedom of Movement, Strong Jaw
Init +0; Senses low-light vision; Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 10, flat-footed 13 (+7 natural, –2 size)
hp 34 + 7 temp hp (3d8+14) temp hp from totem summons ability.
Fort +10, Ref +4, Will +2
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., swim 30 ft.; sprint
Melee bite +8 (2d6+8 plus grab) and tail slap +3 (3d6+4)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks death roll (2d6+8 plus trip)
STATISTICS
Str 27, Dex 10, Con 25, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Base Atk +2; CMB +12 (+16 grapple); CMD 22 (26 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception, Stealth)
Skills Perception +8, Stealth +0 (+8 in water), Swim +16; Racial Modifiers +8 on Stealth in water
SQ hold breath
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Death Roll (Ex)
When grappling a foe of its size or smaller, a crocodile can perform a death roll upon making a successful grapple check. As it clings to its foe, it tucks in its legs and rolls rapidly, twisting and wrenching its victim. The crocodile inflicts its bite damage and knocks the creature prone. If successful, the crocodile maintains its grapple.
Hold Breath (Ex)
A crocodile can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 times its Constitution score before it risks drowning.
Sprint (Ex)
Once per minute a crocodile may sprint, increasing its land speed to 40 feet for 1 round.
Having assumed tyrannosaur form as soon as the group left the Wardstones Hallf snarls and gesticulates with his relatively tiny forelimbs, calling upon nature to send him its aid.
As the druid finishes gesturing the space between two of the midnight black lions is suddenly almost literally filled by an enormous mass of scale wrapped muscle as a primordial crocodile that dwarfs both lions beside it appears and launches itself at one of the lions!
The druid himself then steps up to loom over the lion before him, putting it within reach of his formidable jaws.
As the unnatural cat makes its move Hallf's jaws dart forward attempting to close around the perverted beast.
If Evil Outsider +2 to hit and + 10.
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Channel Energy 8/8
Touch of Glory 8/8
Touch of Good 8/8
Spells. CL 7. DC 15/16/17/18. Conc +12. * = cast.
0th: create water, detect magic, light, stabilize.
1st: (6+1) divine favor (D), bless, doom, sanctuary, weapons against evil x2
2nd: (4+1) bless weapon (D), shield other, spiritual weapon, resist energy, weapon of awe
3rd: (3+1) heroism (D), archon's aura, *chain of perdition, spear of purity
4th: (2+1) holy smite (D), dimensional anchor, summon monster IV
Seeing the ambush before getting mauled for the first time in the Waste, Sigmund wastes no time in unleashing a spell.
Casts Chain of Perdition , and a glowing silver chain capped with longswords appears. One sword slashes at the second lion, trying to blind it.
Surprise Round
Initiative 20
Sigmund calls up the silver chain, and the longsword slashes right across the lions eyes, blinding it.
Initiative 10
Reacting with preternatural swiftness, Hallf calls up a massive primitive looking crocodile from thin air. The crocodile bites the lion, and catching it by surprise gets a grip.
Initiative 9
The uninhibited lions spring into action, pouncing on the party.
One of them tears Tsonjin right out from under Kenan and Sirhan with a series of brutal blows. Kenan is so surprised that he tumbles out of the saddle, even as Sirhan manages to jump free of the falling mount.
The blinded lion roars in pain and frustration, sniffing the air, it moves slowly and carefully towards Sirhan, following its nose.
The third lion completely shreds Peitry's mount spell. As the summoned horse's blood splatters all over Peitry and Sigmund the spell fades and the mount disappears. Trying to leap off the animal's back is futile, and Sigmund and Peitry both end up in the dirt.
The fourth lion tries to charge Yarra, but is scooped off the ground in the massive jaws of Hallf, as the smaller t-rex also snaps at it.
The fifth lion struggles in the grasp of the crocodile.
It tears itself from the reptile's jaws, roaring.
The final lion steps forward and bites the crocodile in the spine.
End of Surprise Round
----------------------------
Begin Round 1
Initiative
Kenan 21
Sigmund 20
Peitry 17
Sirhan 16
Crissor 11
Lions 9
Hallf 8
Kenan stands up
and makes a step away from the lion N16
then he uses his braggard ability to intimidate Lions #1,2,3 and 5
Yarra also snaps out at the advancing dire lion, he honed reflexes allowing her to act instinctively before she even knows foes are at hand!
The great reptile emits a booming croak of challenge and snaps at the lion that just broke free of its jaws, following up with a swing of its mighty tail.
Rising as quickly as he can, muttering and cursing under his breath, Peitry gets his feet under him waving his hands and his voice rising. Raising his hands up in a sweeping motion with his fingers wriggling...
...Peitry causes black rubbery tentacles to erupt from the dirt in a 20' spread that wreathe and grab at two of the lions.
,
Sirhan take advantage of his blind foe and strikes at lion 2
Attack Longsword
Damage Longsword
Bite Attack
Bite Damage
Channel Energy 8/8
Touch of Glory 8/8
Touch of Good 8/8
Spells. CL 7. DC 15/16/17/18. Conc +12. * = cast.
0th: create water, detect magic, light, stabilize.
1st: (6+1) *divine favor (D), bless, doom, sanctuary, weapons against evil x2
2nd: (4+1) bless weapon (D), shield other, spiritual weapon, resist energy, weapon of awe
3rd: (3+1) heroism (D), archon's aura, *chain of perdition, spear of purity
4th: (2+1) holy smite (D), dimensional anchor, summon monster IV
The siver chain continues to harry the same lion, reaching out and trying to trip it up.
Groaning from the impact with the ground - but grateful it was the mount and not himself that got shredded - Sigmund stands, and summons the divine favor of Iomedae.
Round 1
Initiative 21
Kenan scares three of the lions with his own roar.
Initiative 20
Sigmund's spell trips the blinded lion. The cleric himself stands up and casts a spell.
Initiative 17
Peitry stands and calls up a spell. The writhing black tentacles fail to get a grip on the lions, though they seem to be assisting the crocodile.
Initiative 16
Sirhan slashes and bites at the blinded, prone lion in front of him. He lands two blows, but has trouble hacking through the thing's tough hide.
Initiative 11
Crissor draws his bow and calling on the power of Erastil smites the lion nearest Peitry
Two of his arrows tear right through it, quickly leaving it the most wounded enemy on the battlefield.
Initiative 9
The first lion steps up and bites at Kenan.
The second lion stands up, provoking at attack from Sirhan.
It bites at him blindly, missing.
The third lion steps out of the tentacles to bite at Sigmund.
It gets a good grip on his shoulder with its massive slavering jaws.
The fourth lion struggles in Hallf's grip.
It manages to shake its way free, and step back.
The fifth lion, struggles in the crocodile's grip.
It also shakes free, despite the tentacles' interference. It steps back, but cant get very far.
The sixth lion launches an assault on the Croc.
Kenan makes a step between Tsonjin and the Tentacles (N17) to lure the Lion in the grip of them and fires 3 arrows at Crissors target (#3)
1st: Calm Animals(D), *Longstrider, *Longstrider, Endure Elements, Endure Elements, Cure Light Wounds
2nd: Feather Fall(D), Bull's Strength, Bull's Strength, Barkskin, Barkskin, Carry Companion
3rd: Fly(D), Spike Growth, *Greater Magic Fang, *Greater Magic Fang
4th: *Summon Nature's Ally IV(D), Freedom of Movement, Strong Jaw
Hallf steps back snaps at the black lion again, this time sacrificing accuracy for sheer brute strength! His fangs tare into the beast's tainted flesh as he snatches the creature up into the air.
Yarra lets out an excited noise, which would be called a mewl from something smaller, and attempts to emulate her master.
The crocodile vanishes under the torrent of claws and fangs.
In Hallf's case only if lion 4 is dead.
Yarra's second AOO, just in case it comes up.
Round 1
Initiative 8
Hallf picks up the lion again in his mouth, but finds himself holding a corpse once Yarra rips its rear legs off.
End of Round 1
---------------------
Begin Round 2
Initiative
Kenan 21
Sigmund 20
Peitry 17
Sirhan 16
Crissor 11
Lions 9
Hallf 8
Initiative 21
Kenan sinks three arrows into the lion gripping Sigmund, the are so closely grouped that from a distance it looks like one triple arrow. The wound they leave starts bleeding profusely.
Crissor grins seeing the damage being done to the evil lions. He focuse on the bound between him and his bow, pulling the string back in his clawed fingers Eager to finish the monster off he fires again at the one he wounded.
Letting the gorey half lion carcass fall to the earth with a wet splat and roars a bestial challenge to the lion that just slew the giant crocodile, with Yarra taking up the call.
Channel Energy 8/8
Touch of Glory 8/8
Touch of Good 8/8
Spells. CL 7. DC 15/16/17/18. Conc +12. * = cast.
0th: create water, detect magic, light, stabilize.
1st: (6+1) *divine favor (D), bless, doom, sanctuary, weapons against evil x2
2nd: (4+1) bless weapon (D), shield other, spiritual weapon, resist energy, weapon of awe
3rd: (3+1) heroism (D), archon's aura, *chain of perdition, spear of purity
4th: (2+1) holy smite (D), dimensional anchor, summon monster IV
Trying to fend off the lion gnawing at him, Sigmund takes a swing at it with Beacon.
Meanwhile, the chain attempts to trip the same lion again.
After his attack, Sigmund tries to determine if the group's weapons are wounding the creatures effectively, or if the lions have special resistances.
Sirhan stay engaged with lion 2
Attack Longsword
Damage Longsword
Bite Attack
Bite Damage
,
Peitry hurries to put Crissor between himself and the free standing lions and waves and chants to cast a fireball at them but in his haste he snags his hand on his coat and looses concentration on his spell.
Round 2
Initiative 20
Sigmund mace strikes the lion a solid blow, but doesn't seem to do as much damage as it should. His trips the lion a second time. These creatures are likely fiendish, meaning their resistance to damage is overcome by good aligned weapons.
Initiative 17
Peitry runs back, hiding behind Crissor and losing his spell. His tentacles fail to grab the lion.
Initiative 16
Sirhan misses with his longsword, and fails to penetrate the creature's hide with his bite.
Initiative 11
Crissor drops the lion holding Sigmund with his first arrow, and fires the other two arrows into Sirhan's foe, damaging it badly.
Initiative 9
The first lion moves to assist its blinded tripped companion in taking down Sirhan.
The second lion stands, provoking an attack from Sirhan
It takes a blind bite at him in return.
The fifth lion moves up to Sigmund and bites at him.
It replaces its dead companion, this time locked onto the cleric's opposite shoulder
The sixth lion foolishly charges the giant t-rex that is Hallf. The druid again snatches the cat up in his giant jaws, crunching down on the feline mercilessly.
1st: Calm Animals(D), *Longstrider, *Longstrider, Endure Elements, Endure Elements, Cure Light Wounds
2nd: Feather Fall(D), Bull's Strength, Bull's Strength, Barkskin, Barkskin, Carry Companion
3rd: Fly(D), Spike Growth, *Greater Magic Fang, *Greater Magic Fang
4th: *Summon Nature's Ally IV(D), Freedom of Movement, Strong Jaw
Yarra eagerly moves forward to snap at the lion in Hallf's mighty maw.
Hallf snarls as he forces his jaws closed upon the beast, struggling against the felines desperate strength.
Kenan makes a step to N18 fires 3 arrows at Lion #1
Round 2
Initiative 8
Hallf and Yarra tear another lion into chunks.
End Round 2
------------------
Begin Round 3
Initiative
Kenan 21
Sigmund 20
Peitry 17
Sirhan 16
Crissor 11
Lions 9
Hallf 8
Initiative 21
Kenan puts another perfect little triangle of arrows into the lion closest to him. The feathered shafts jutting from its shoulder soak the black mane in red blood.
Not wanting to let up on the wounded one he strikes again at #2
Attack Longsword
Damage Longsword
Bite Attack
Bite Damage
Looking over the battlefield Peitry opts to focus in bringing down the number of enemies so he targets the one most wounded, chanting and weaving he sends four force missiles streaking and howling unerringly into it.
The chain continues to trip its lion.
Sigmund will attack with his falcata, same situation as before.