Saersha once again cast a spell and sent another glob of acid at the same troll she had attacked before.
As the powerful blow hammers home, Ryn adjusts her tactics, matching her opponent's viciousness with her own, to draw blood, further countering it's healing, while simultaneously shoring up her defenses with her shield to better survive the type of blow she'd just witnessed Ulfr fall to.
she shouts across the water, seeing the armored attacker climbing onto the boat.
Embyr takes a shot with her hand crossbow.
Unfortunately for her, in her haste she fires too soon and the bolt bounces cleanly off the armor of the large figure climbing onto the boat.
Ryn hammers the troll while Trendon keeps Ulfr from a sad fate, and Saersha keeps the acid pressure up.
Azura hums and runs her fingers lightly over her choker, then down across her low-cut collar. She reaches out to the armored figure...
"Isn't that armor... hot?"
The armored foe halts, then throws down his sword and starts removing his armor. He discards his helm first, revealing a strangely bloated, long-nosed, green-skinned face with unruly black hair—a half-troll.
The troll that has taken several hits wobbles on its feet and then, with its companion, turns to unleash its fearless fury on Ryn.
A frenzy of claws and gnashing teeth tear at Ryn, slamming into her shield and her armor and keeping her busy ducking out of the way of killing blows.
Ryn grits her teeth from the pain of the two vicious claws that manage to make it past her shield, as she retaliates with a vicious shied bash to the heavily wounded troll. Having to defend against two opponents at once while trying to keep and eye on everyone else takes it's toll however, with her follow up punch, and a kick to fend off the other troll being less than effective to cause harm.
Azura does a twirl and leap and dives into the river, just barely going under a wild swing from the half-troll.
She comes up out of the water next to Ulfr but is unfortunately unable to avoid the talons of the nearby trolls and has to duck and weave, ruining her healing spell, as she tries to get Ulfr back on his feet.
Ryn smashes one of the trolls hard and, in combination with Saersha's acid magic, fells the enemy and crushes its head with a hard bash of the edge of her shield.
Azura makes it near Ulfr but is unable to successfully complete a healing spell on him.
Embyr reloads her crossbow and fires at the half-troll.
She manages to sink a tiny bolt across the side of the half-troll's neck, though she misses any large arteries.
He watched the troll fall and smirked. The flames growing in his highlighting the flames wafting about him he moved closer to the upright troll... and stood on the felled one just in case. The flames erupting from him should be enough to make sure it stayed dead. Then with a wink to the two ladies still upright he unleashed a fan of searing flame over them.... only instead of burning they felt their wounds close and vitality flow into them.
The troll lets out a weird growl-shriek as it keeps flailing at Ryn. Trolls are, after all, largely fearless, even in the face of fire, and usually fight to the death.
The troll manages to batter Ryn's shield again, though her defenses keep up for now.
Trendon's magic brings Ulfr to consciousness and the warrior finds that Azura is crouched over him, trying to heal him. "Stay down," she whispers, "the troll's right over you but I'll try to get you out of here."
The half-troll unbuckles his belt and lets his baldric drop to the deck of the ship, unable to stop himself as Azura's enchantment continues its influence. With a snarl he steps over the fallen baldric and sword-hanger and lashes out with his blade at Embyr, since she shot him.
Embyr stumbles back against the railing, barely avoiding a killing blow from his heavy-handed swipe.
Azura drags Ulfr slightly to the south, out of the reach of the troll's claws.
Ulfr comes back to the word in an entire world's worth of pain. He somehow resists grunting and groaning as, again somehow, Azura manages to drag his bulky frame out of harm's way. Once he's not in danger of getting swiped immediately he staggers to his feet and makes a point of placing himself between the Big Ugly and Azura. BooRaRooom, come my friends. The Adventurers go to war! He bellows and the warm tingle of his magic washes over the party again just as the previous dose was beginning to subside!
With a wild battle-cry, Ryn unleashes a devastating combination on the troll, her opening uppercut strike to the troll's jaw flowing beautifully into a spinning back kick that rings out with the sound of cracking ribs, her momentum continuing forward as she lands, feet planted to drive the full surface of her shield slamming forward with her full weight behind it.
He saw the half troll.... or troll troll... well whatever the creature was climbing on the boat almost gut the pretty little thief secretary... lover girl. He couldnt get back over there in time with the boat out that way... So he moved a little closer and focused... the flames surrounding died out as he screemed out torwards the creature.
"STOP!"
The word itself wasnt important.. the magical force of the ear peircing scream however was.
Ryn slams her shield into her troll foe multiple times, staggering the giant and then smashing into it with her full body weight and sending the troll sprawling backward. The troll staggers into a tree and slumps to one knee, even as its bruises and broken bones knit with disturbing cracking noises.
Trendon shouts at the half-troll with a commanding imperative, but the half-troll shakes its head briefly and continues its inexorable advance on Embyr.
The half-troll is still armored, though he's slowly working on that problem. He pauses to remove his gauntlets with a frustrated grunt, then grabs his sword back from under his arm and continues to threaten Embyr with it. Embyr ducks and rolls to one side, and the sword comes down on the edge of a crate, deflecting off without hitting her.
"Mistress... ?" says Embyr, looking to Saersha for a charm or fear or other spell that will drive this one back.
The half-troll grunts and says, "Your warriors are worthy foes! You should do battle in our arena to prove their great strength to everyone!"
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Ulfr continues to cover Azura in full appreciation of the fact that just about any hit from this beast will put him right back down in the dirt. His wounds are also closing, but at a much slower rate than the trolls.
Azura places a hand gently on Ulfr's shoulder (which requires reaching up a bit) and hums a soothing sound as she leans in close to his back, the melody drifting up into his ears.
Looking over he shoulder and seeing Azura healing Ulfr, as he stands guard over her, Ryn can;t help the smile that flickers across her lips. Sparing a quick glance at the heavily wounded and still bleeding troll, she calls out to Trendon.
"Trendon! Finish this one off with fire or acid, I'm going to help the girls!" she yells before turning to launch herself in a jump across the river, landing nimbly for a second on a large rock, before vaulting herself into the air twisting as she sails across the distance, and converting her spin into a powerful descending throw as she lands on the foredeck, her shield hurtling toward the partially armored half-troll, to smash his feet out from under him, dropping him had to the deck, before ricocheting back to the gladiatrix.
.
The half-troll is caught by surprise from behind and knocked forward and face-down onto the deck.
"Right."
He sighs and shakes his head Once more focusing on the prone troll.
"F+&# you!"
He screamed at the prone half-troll one more time before he turned away to hurry over to the fallen troll. As he moved torwards its once more a bright fiery large bird like flame erupted from him for a moment spreading its wings out wide before it collapsed back into him, leaving the half drunk and clearly annoyed former noble literally standing on the trolls chest awaiting the fiery aura to take effect.
Saersha saw the half-troll clamber up on deck and do his best to kill Embyr and felt a wash of terror and rage roll through her body. She watched as Ryn's shield slammed into it and knocked it down just before Trendon screamed at it. Saersha's eyes narrowed in hate at the half-troll and she chanted a few words before she said, "Grovel before me right now until I forgive you for trying to harm my Embyr!"
Trendon's fiery aura scorches and slays the troll that Ryn had brutally beaten, while Saersha's spell takes effect and the half-troll, just pushing himself up onto his hands, tosses his sword back down and puts his hands behind his head.
"It's true!" he says in a guttural voice. "You are the maker!"
Ulfr sighs as the healing washes over him. He keeps the song up for a few seconds, partly to heal just a little more (just in case), partly to see what Saersha's next move was.
Catching her shield as it bounces back to her, Ryn strides down the deck, the image of retribution as she comes to stand over the groveling half troll, sparing a glance at Saersha, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Saersha thought that Ryn was trying to tell her something but she didn't quite get what so instead started focusing on her supplicant. Her eyes narrowed and she asked him imperiously, "Why did you attack us worm? Did you know we would be coming through here?"
"No, mistress," says the half-troll. "We know only that boats come this way from time to time, and from them we sometimes capture goods, or people."
The half-troll continues to grovel, still deeply compelled by the enchantment magics, as he removes the bracers of his armor.
"My tribe has lived for time imm– imm— for a long time in the forests here, in the trees, in the ruins. Long ago we were tasked by the servant of the maker to remain here and remain strong, and we have done so as told. Sometimes we take captives to eat, or to do battle in our arena, to remain strong. Always we do battle to remain strong."
"Never did I imagine in my wildest dreams that I would meet the maker."
Ryn's eyes widen as she processes the half-troll's words. It seemed like once again, long term agents of Sorshen were seeing Saersha as the Runelord herself. That could definitely be useful, though the thought of people being kidnapped and forced to fight in their arena made her jaw tighten with anger.
Saersha considered what the half-troll said and was more than a little shocked. This didn't seem like something Sorshen would have been involved in but she could be mistaken. It was possible the half-troll had no idea what their maker looked like but this could prove useful. Saersha looked down at the groveling being as he removed the bracers and she finally said, "Stay there for the now."
Saersha looked at their captain and said imperiously, to keep up the act of course, "Bring me a map of the area." She waited until someone produced one and spread it on the floor in front of the half-troll, "Show him where we are now...," Once that was done she then said to the half-troll, "where is your camp from here?"
Once she had the location, or as close as he could indicate, Saersha said, "Return to your camp, tell them the creator's enemies begin to move and they must remain hidden for now. Tell them your Creator will send for you when the time is right." Saersha put one foot against the half-troll's head and pushed at it, "Now go, fulfill your creator's command."
The half-troll, after he finishes removing some more pieces of his armor and then reasserts control over himself, points out a spot in the woods about two and a half miles from the river proper, next to a tributary stream.
"Ancient hollow, our people were brought there by the Sword of the Maker, the one who gave us the orders of battle. The Maker we know only through her image."
Azura tugs at her lip and then says, "I dunno, Sae- Sorshen, maybe this is a chance to, uh, 're-assert' control and stop these trolls from hurting any more people?"
"Tgat would be a big step, making this area safe from predation and kidnappings for their sport. It would definitely make this pert of the river safer for travel." Ryn agrees.
After a moment's thought Saersha shrugged and nodded at Ryn to kill the half-troll.
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Ryan reads Saersha's signal clearly. Considering the threat the half troll and his companions had posed to those she dearly cared about, and might still pose once Azura and Searsha's magic wore off, the decision was a clear one.
With sudden devastating finality, she steps forward, delivering a punch to the base of the skull that would be the talk of the arena for years, had she done so in her old life.
The crunch of a pair of vertebrae being smashed adds some finality to the moment, then the damp forest returns to the background noise of birds and wind through the trees.
Azura moves to the edge of the boat to help people back aboard as the halflings come out to clean up the mess and dump the body in the water.
"So what's next?" says Othlo. "We keep goin' up the river, or didja wanna look into this arena and troll-hole that the fellow was talking about?"
~~~~~~~~~~
The two trolls on the riverbank fought only with their claws and natural toughness, but the half-troll used Large-sized equipment. This isn't really useful to the party, but it can be sold in a large settlement (like Kaer Maga) for a good price:
Large-sized longsword (sells for 15 gp)
Large-sized half-plate (sells for 600 gp)
In addition, the half-troll wore an amulet of natural armor +1.
Once everyone is back on board, and the boat cleaned up, Ryn considers their options. "While the mission we're on is time sensitive, the idea of leaving things as they are with trolls being a constant threat in the area bothers me. If we can do something about it, I'd like to." she says to her companions. "Besides, we might find out more about Sorshen's pans, if what the half-troll says was true."
She shudders involuntarily at the thought of the half troll's most likely origin.
Azura says, ”I doubt they’re going anywhere. We could check on the way back from Kaer Maga.”
Ulfr rolls out his shoulder where a vicious claw gash had been just a few moments ago. Just because it was healed didn't mean he couldn't feel it.
I'm good either way. All I know is I won't be rushing in again. Those things hit hard!
"I suppose that makes sense. As bad as that might be it's less urgent than finding the next shard." Ryn concedes.
Azura signals to Othlo for the boat to get moving again once the team is all aboard and the loot from the chance encounter stowed.
The ship makes its way upriver to the gnome town of Whistledown on the edge of Lake Syrantula. This gives you a much-needed break, as the town is large enough to have facilities for travelers and isn't nearly the tiny shanty of your prior stop. Instead you have filling meals, warm beds, and even the opportunity to take in some local music and entertainment. The chance to spread your legs, interact with some new people, and to enjoy some local cuisine and activities is revitalizing, and the boat remains late into the next day.
Once everyone feels sated, the boat makes its way back on the trip, crossing the placid lake, where you occasionally see groups of fish. Many small fishing boats dot the lake as well, with the fisherfolk waving as you pass by with the Lucky Jenny's relentless magical paddlewheel.
Once past the lake, you continue upriver, now a fresher, less swampy experience, until after several more days the boat reaches the Storval Rise.
Great waterfalls come rushing down the cataracts of Storval Rise. The cliff face is a thousand feet tall, with the craggy Storval Plateau above over the Varisian plains. Othlo brings the Lucky Jenny into port alongside other ships that have traveled the Yondabakari and bids you good journey as he and his crew set about unloading a small amount of cargo and dealing with the paperwork of coming into port.
The port has a path that leads to the base of the cliffs, and following that leads you to a massive set of bronze double doors embedded in the rock face. As you stare at the door it seems to twist and shift subtly, but when you look away and look back it is unchanged. Groups of merchants and travelers wait in small groups while heavily-armored guards keep order at the base of the cliff.
It takes only a few minutes for one of the guards to veer off and check with you. The fellow who arrives to check you in is a human man in his 30s, with a thick brown beard, hardened features, and the handsome confidence of a seasoned soldier. He gives your team the once over, then focuses his attention on Ryn and says, "You look like you know what you're doing. I have a group that's ready to head up the Halflight path soon, if you're ready to go. Otherwise, there are some places you can stay near the pier, for travelers who haven't gotten their business together or are waiting for others to join them."
He glances at Ulfr, then Saersha, then Trendon, then Azura, then looks back to Ryn. "Anyway, if you're ready to go immediately, I can set you up with the next group in a few minutes. Otherwise, seek me out when you're ready to go. I'm Abra, but if you decide to go later and I'm off-shift, you can check in with any of my fellow Duskwardens."
The few days it takes to continue their travel upriver serve to help unwind a bit after the troll ambush, allowing the group the opportunity to enjoy the experience of passing through different regions, complete with their own pace and culture. The waterfalls of Storval Rise are breathtaking, and Ryn takes a moment to truly enjoy the view, as they bid farewell to Othlo and his crew.
"We should be good to go, though I'll check with my crew to see if there's anything we need last minute. Well met Abra, I'm Ryn." she replies, extending a hand in a warrior's greeting.
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Abra takes Ryn's forearm in his hand and gives her a solid shake.
"All right. There is a small party that will be with this crew, a merchant and some entourage. It's best to stay together in groups, that way it's easier than trying to fight off ambushes individually. Hopefully that won't be a problem," says the Duskwarden.
Azura winces slightly and says, "Um... we can be a somewhat raucous group for strangers. We'll try to keep it in check."
Abra's eyebrows come up slightly and he says, "Just don't get so drunk that you bring down monsters on us from the noise, and everything should be fine."
Ryn grins as Azura warns Abra of their group's somewhat less than wholesome nature, nodding at the admonition. "I think we can manage that. Anyone need anything before we head up?" she asks her companions.
I'm good. Let's get this show on the road! Ulfr declares.
The former nobleman almost bard turned historian and pathfinder watched the interplay between Ryn and Abra for a moment and pauses and frowns when Ryn mentions needing anything before they left. He mentally went over his things...
"Should be all good. You mentioned a small party, then a merchant and entourage? Who's in the party? Who is the merchant?"
He asked giving his best winning smile.
Abra's attention snaps to Trendon, his eyes blinking once as if finally noticing him. "The merchant and company?" He nods at a portly man with full black muttonchops and a matching walrus moustache directing two tall, strong-looking young men with dark heads of hair in organizing a selection of crates on a hand-drawn cart.
"That'd be Bolgar Grumm--he's delivering a shipment of assorted odds and ends, and his two sons, Tuggus and Marl. Not very sharp lads, but their backs are strong and their arms stronger still. Here's hoping to Erastil they're smart enough to stay out of trouble, at least..." Abra sighs. "Where we're going, that cart of theirs is sure to slow us down."
"Here's hoping." Ryn echoes. "Well it looks like we're ready! Shall we go make introductions?"