.
.
.
vs Daze (FAILED! )
The gnoll in front of Beckett intent upon eviscerating him, begins swinging wildly as rays of dazzling sunlight blast his eyesight! He begins yipping and growling, unable to act!
|
Phedron marshals Haleef, rearing the horse up to tramp the gnoll. Surprised at his own action, his mind reaches back to times spent with the Carpenden boundry riders. As a matter of course, confrontation was uncommon but with a family of horsemen, such tactics were considered rudimentary.
Returning to the now, he brings his sword down finishing the onslaught as his gifted steed's hooves find earth again.
.
♞ Phedron | Karl ♜
☀ Beckett | Drogan ♬
☦ Nosatrub | Lavios ♆
___________________________________
...
Drivers
- Hammond (dwarf | male)
- Thromi Sulfison (dwarf | male)
- Ukhlal “Uk” (dwarf | male)
- Khatelch (dwarf | male)
- Horne Bolvison (dwarf cook | male)
- Bali (dwarf | male) - dead
- Bosek (human | male)
Scouts
- Veko (human | male)
- Bora (human | female) - Dead
- Nifa (human | female)
- Ghakut (half-elf | male)
Skirmishers / Fighters
- Jabral Rockjaw (dwarf ranger | male)
- Iago Rockjaw (dwarf fighter | male)
- Auran (human fighter | male)
-----------------------------------------------------
Round 3 - Rolls
G1 Dead
G2 - Sleepy
HP - Full
G3 Dead
Bora
Yes
HP - Full
G5 Dazed
HP - Full
G6 Dead
Beckett | miss
HP - full
G7 Dead
Lavios | miss
HP - 6
Nosa | miss
HP - Dead
Karl's Horse | miss
HP
(G5)
hyenadon
Karl is able to recover thanks to some good riding and the proper placement of a healing draught! His wounds knit together and he grips the reigns with vigor once more.
The hyenadon, seeking the blood of the erstwhile knight finds that it's massive jaws are no match for man's steel cocoon!
But Nosatrub seizes the moment as the behemoth recoil from the attack to ravage its throat by the edge of his sword. The hyenadon collapses dead to the hard ground!
---------
Drogans ax cuts vicious swath into the gnoll opposite him, sending it to meet whatever maker placed it in to this world.
---------
Beckett summons up his divine magicks and dazes his opponent, brilliant rays of sunlight shining into its eyes.
The hyena that had been holding back previously lunges forward in hopes of a quick bite but only succeeds in gnashing at the air!
---------
Lavios thrusts into his opponent from the security of the wagon, but misses narrowly!
His opponent attempts a counter, but it's spear falls short of the mark!
----------
Phedron rears his mount and between its smashing hooves and bite and the half-elf's blade, the gnoll is plowed under!
But another gnoll, waiting in the wings, lunges forward with an uncanny accuracy to strike down Bora the scout. She falls from her saddle, blood and bone impacting upon the ground!
-----------
Agidor looses another bow shot, targeting the dazzled gnoll alongside Beckett and hits it with a meaty think!
------------
Looking about the field, the party can tell that the battle is coming to a close. The other members of the caravan are driving of their respective enemies! The ambush had turned against the attackers.
♗ ♗ ♗ ♗ ♗ ♗
➢ Karl (HP 10/20)
➢ Drogan (HP 9/14)
➢ Lavios (HP 23/23)
➢ Beckett (HP 8/17)
➢ Phedron (HP 11/18)
Regaining himself in the saddle, Karl makes a charge at the gnoll opposite Lavios taking advantage of the flanking opportunity.
|
|
Heart still pounding from his adventurous maneuver, the thud of Bora's body hitting the ground alarms him. Spinning the horse, he makes a harsh sound with his mouth, face contorted in anger. Pointing his index finger of his off hand, reigns still clutched, a cold beam arcs from his fingertip to the snarling beastman.
Drogan rears back, battle crazed. Seeing Karl back on his feet and on the beast assaulting Lavios, he turned - blood from the last kill splattered across his face.
He asks himself, "Better to send them running or send them to the 7 hells?" His wicked grin creeps across his face again. Only one answer to that.
He points out the hyena occupied with Beckett. "You beasties aren't even worth the meat we'll scrape from yer bones. Best te wipe yer stink from the world!
The ax cracks down across the back of the hyena, causing it to howl in agony.
.
♞ Phedron | Karl ♜
☀ Beckett | Drogan ♬
☦ Nosatrub | Lavios ♆
___________________________________
...
Caravan Boss - Climber (dwarf | male)
Drivers
- Hammond (dwarf | male)
- Thromi Sulfison (dwarf | male)
- Ukhlal “Uk” (dwarf | male)
- Khatelch (dwarf | male)
- Horne Bolvison (dwarf cook | male)
-
Bali (dwarf | male)
- Bosek (human | male)
Scouts
- Veko (human | male)
-
Bora (human | female)
- Nifa (human | female)
- Ghakut (half-elf | male)
Skirmishers / Fighters
- Jabral Rockjaw (dwarf ranger | male)
- Iago Rockjaw (dwarf fighter | male)
- Auran (human fighter | male)
-----------------------------------------------------
Round 4 - Rolls
G1 Dead
G2 - Sleepy
HP - Full
G3 Dead
G4 Enfeebled! | Withdrawing
HP - Full
G5 Withdrawing
HP - Full
G6 Dead
H1 Withdrawing
HP - 5
G7 Dead
G8 Dead
Hyenadon Dead
H2 Withdrawing
Karl charges forward on his horse and carves a wicked river if red across the back of the gnoll facing Inquisitor of Gozreh! Lavios follows with a vicious stab of his trident!
Between the two of them, their target falls dead.
---------
Drogan's swiftly changes targets and swings his ax down hard on the hyena harassing Beckett. Blood poors from the wound and the hyena yelps in pain!
---------
Beckett, emboldened by his spells success strikes forth with his hammer, but the
---------
Phedron, unleashes an enfeeblement ray, causing his target to slump in weakness and no small amount of fear.
-----------
The weakened gnoll howls and barks commands and the remaining attackers respond in kind. Their advantage turned against them, the gnoll bandits turn and run, withdrawing from the battlefield! Of those that attacked the caravan, only 8 remain with most of them wounded. They sprint towards the low, craggy hold to the north of the road.
But the caravan has suffered losses and their share of wounds as well. Both the Dwarven driver, Bali and the human scout, Bora lay dead.
And of the party, only Lavios, Nosatrub and Agidor have emerged unscathed.
➢ Karl (HP 10/20)
➢ Drogan (HP 9/14)
➢ Lavios (HP 23/23)
➢ Beckett (HP 8/17)
➢ Phedron (HP 11/18)
|
|
Feeling the hot wetness of his blood drenched jacket, Phedron chooses to ignore it for the meantime. Though his arm burns from the scimitar wound, the thrill of victory soothes it. Knowing the limit of the arcane slumber the gnoll is under he quickly calls for the creature to be bound.
"Quickly, bring rope or shackles! We have a prisoner. Leave him breathing for the meantime" He has little sympathy for the raider. Murder and banditry is enough to see it hanged.
Once that is underway, he first confirms that Bora is truly dead. "She fell in combat. Does she have any life still in her?" If she is only wounded, he offers one of his own healing potions. If she is dead, he moves quickly to find the condition of the rest of the party.
Drogan's breaths are harsh and growling. As the mongrels run to their holes, there is a part of him that pleads for the chance to give chase and end them all. However, on this day, he is reminded that he is not some battle-raging savage. He is a dwarf of Highhelm. An archivist. Standing in the blood of his enemies, he feels there has been enough death today.
He looks to the soldier, whose wounds look deep. "Karl, look at yerself? An' this is AFTER ye drank yer potion? How 'bout next time ye try a little harder te dodge outta the way, huh?" He gives him a wink. Pulling a small piece of wool from his spool, he rubs it between his palms, whispering the words to himself, an his hands begin to glow.
.
.
.
The Dwarven Rockjaw brothers head over I bind up the gnoll and gag him, Jabral grunts an approval Phedron's way.
As Phedron examines the Bora's wounds' he sees that the broad cut along her back is deep enough to expose the spine and ribs. It alone would have killed her. But the fall from the horse proves to have been equally perilous, her keck bent at an unnatural angle.
Veko, the leader of the scouts rides his horse over and dismount in a fluid movement. He says nothing as he inspects the body. After a few moments he rests her aside and looks up to Pedro a single nod of affirmation. "See to your wounds, boy. Well fought." He looks at the two dwarves, and unspoken question in his eyes.
Iago Rockjaw shrugs and shakes his head. "Ne'er seen its like. Mud-humpin' gnolls havin' a go at travelers in daylight."
Veko just glances back to Bora's body and exhales heavily. He stoops down and collects her and whistles three sharp notes. Bora's horse trots over, bobbing its nose and huffing in response to his master's lifeless form.
Grunting in frustration at having to give up the chase, Karl launches arrows at the retreating foes until they have gone out of bowshot.
"Aw ...Blast it!"
He slumps a little in his saddle working his joints before looking at the dwarf whom had just healed him. There is a slight sadness, but also the sense of a father's pride in Karl's eyes.
"I am getting to old for this Drogan. You won't know what its like for another hundred or so years---long after I'm dust in the wind or a century old worm dropping."
"Did you see them though Drogan? Did you? These boys becoming men before our eyes. That is the second time Nosa has felled that which has put me down. Now I owe him my life."
"My own children would be about their ages . . ."
Karl looks over to where he had dropped his man gauche in order to remain in the saddle.
"It seems I can hardly sit atop a horse. I have so much more to do, but my sands are running thin. I am being eclipsed."
"Bugger that. I may be there te sing a dirge at yer passin', but you've got a lot more fire in yer furnace before ye haff te worry about that sort of talk if I have anythin' te say about it." The dwarf looks out across the caravan, watching everything but seeing nothing. His thoughts running away to a place where nothing else can be taken away from him before their time.
"But I will agree with ye about the younglings. They've got strong arms and a mountain bear's spirit. Even that fop," he says, gesturing towards Phedron, "gave one hell of a performance."
"You've lost one family, Drogan. Do not hold this one a trifle. The road is long and hard traveling. Freedom does not mean isolation. What is good food and fine drink if there's no one to share them with?"
Drogan shakes himself back into consciousness. "Well, enough lolly-gaggin' around. I think our boy Nosa has earned 'imself a drink."
|
|
Phedron shakes his head at the confirmation of Bora's death. He moves over to the others.
"Everyone alright? We've got a captive. Not sure we can pry any answers from him, but we may. You going to be ok Marsh?"
He sits down and begins taking garments off to get at the wound.
"Drogan, could you take a look see? I think it's a clean wound, but with those beasts, who knows how well they kept their blades."
"I'll be just fine son. I drank a potion and got healed up by Drogan here. Assuming we get a good nights rest and I'll be as good as new."
"Let's get you seen to though."
"You did great today. Maybe more importantly you looked good on that horse. Heh heh, it suits you."
.
.
.
The gnoll whimpers at the impact of the hammer so close to its head, fangs baring out of instinct. When it responds to Beckett, its voice is guttural and thick with fear. "Ninduk, not know why roadmen no fall like others. You swing the sword and hammer like not the East." It snarls again, eyes narrow slots of hatred. "Ninduk need feed, no food, no slaves. Skullbiters dying."
Drogan looks at Phedron's wound. The cut looked like any other. Deep and clean, but it should heal fine ... he thinks. But what would be the fun in just saying that?
"Ooo, a'm not sure. Ye know, I knew a lad once that got a wound just like that. Thought 'e was fine, then the next day 'is arm bloated up so big they 'ad te carry it in a wheelbarrow te the physicians before they took the arm. The screamin' tha' came from that room ...." his tongue clicked in his shaking head. It took everything in him to maintain his composure. He slapped him on the shoulder and said, "But I'm sure yoo'll be fine."
"We didn't fall because we are backed by higher powers. So in short, your tribe was attacking us for food and thralls correct?"
"As the boy says, Tell us what you know about whats happening out here."
.
.
.
NinduI tilts his head, black eyes going from Phedron to Marsh and back to the Lucerne hammer in Beckett's hands. He growls low at the word 'thralls' and responds, "We Skullbiters, tribe from Three Jaws, sent here many moons past. But this place...this land..."
"...this land cursed. Good food leave, bad food stay. Poison food. We eat slaves, need more food. Soon Skullbiters leave, go south away from green dawn."
Ninduk lowers his maw and licks his forearm, a gesture seeming to give himself comfort in the face of his enemies. On his forearm, ritual scarification reveals the carved symbol of a jackal head with three eyes . He looks up at his interrogators, baring his teeth then panting. "You release Ninduk, he tells you warning, make road safe. Skullbiters attack, need food. You swing hammers and cutters, prove stronger. You let Ninduk go, friends eh? Share secrets with friends?"
He licks at his forearm again, whimpering and snarling by turns.
Gnolls are notorious scavengers much like their animal cousins. For Ninduk to say their normal prey/carrion is "bad", speaks volumes.
The symbols adorning Ninduk's armor and scarred into his skin represent Lamashtu, Mother of Monsters and madness. She's the primary deity worshipped by Gnolls who see her dread symbol as their own face and not of a jackal. Lamashtu is the mother and patroness of many misshapen and malformed creatures that crawl, slither, or flap on, above, or below the surface of Golarion. Pictures of Lamashtu portray her as a jackal-headed woman, with a third vertical eye in the center of her forehead, heavily pregnant, with feathered wings (like a raven's), a snake's tail, and taloned feet (like a vulture's).
Drogan snorts. "I don't like it, but tha' doesn't mean iss a bad idea. The fleabag might juss keep us out of trouble down the road. Might even talk peace if 'is kin get hungry again. I say we let the bugger go."
"Like the animals they keep, gnoll will eat about anything that used to be alive no matter how rotten or rancid. If they can't eat the carrion you know it's bad. It would have to be purposefully tainted for them not to eat it."
"We'll think about it, but for now we captured you so you are our slave . . . Letting you go to make the tribe leave might actually be an option, but first more questions."
"Have you seen any strange, possibly fearless seeming humans wandering about the desert lately?"
"Describe this poisoned food."
"And, why do you keep licking your arm there?"
.
.
.
Ninduk growls, deep and threatening, and cradles his arm and the symbol scarred into it. "Mother protects, Ninduk. She see him live. She see him feed again. But not here." He shakes his head and his ears flick anxiously. "Meat bad here. Dedicated to Other, not to great Mother. We no eat what come from East, two legs or four. But we eat you," Ninduk sniffs at the air and the rumbling of his stomach is audible to all. "...you not from East, your meat free of Other. So we attack."
He whimpers softly, looking in the direction where his packmates had departed. Then he looks back to the party, specifically Phedron. "Green dawn. It comes from East, touch the land and the meat and the slaves. But not Skullbiters. Great Mother protects. Two legs do come from East, they given to Other, they drink Green Dawn. They go out from land, down and through, east and west." His black eyes turn back to Marsh. "They are given to Other, they no wander, they know where they go. Hunters and speak-speaks and pack leaders. They no wander."
|
|
Drink Green Dawn? Phedron thinks curiously. "Ninduk, patience with our questions and freedom will be more certain." Phedron goes to his pack and retrieves a day's ration from it. Though he detests the gnoll, he feels bound to at least treat it humanely. He doesn't get within claws reach, but underhands the foodstuffs carefully to the creature from just outside of its reach. "Here. Eat. It's clean. Though you were intent on murder, make amends and try your best to equip us for what we meet further on. Helping to preserve our lives will help you earn back your own. Now, you say they drink the Green Dawn. Is this a substance? Where is it found? Have any of your people drank the Green Dawn, even in desperation?" He says this aloud, calmly for others to hear. He has no doubt that most in the caravan will not want to let it live. Phedron tries to carry them along on his logic in the midst without having a fight at the end.
Karl wished he could disbelieve what the beast said, but he was telling him exactly what he had been fearing. There were cells churning out cultists that were spreading world wide.
"Desna preserve us."
.
.
.
Ninduk is keen to leave. What he offers is simple truth to effect his release. When Phedron mentions such a thing as amends, the gnoll's demeanor says "Why make amends for needing food? Do you apologize to cows when you eat them after going hungry?"
Ninduk is in firm belief that this "great mother" has kept his tribe safe. But though more savage than the gnolls of Katapesh, Ninduk has enough sense to want to avoid the effects of this Green Dawn, no matter the power of his deity.
Ninduk sniffs at the offered ratons, and although his nose wrinkles at the dried food stuffs there in, his rumbling belly is not so discerning His bound hands dart forward to retrieve the rations, claws tearing apart the burlap satchel to get to the meal. In moments it disappears.
The gnoll licks his claws, breathing with satisfaction and response to Phedron by pointing to the Eastern horizon. "Green Dawn come from east, crawl into sky and under it. Light. It light no food or water. It come from hill to east. There den of pups on hill. City below. City afraid, but pups on hill learn."
Drogan fills his pipe and lightly puffs on it.
"Seems te me, I don't care what it is. Whoever or whatever's makin' this stuff needs te be put down before it crawls across the land. Even if we WEREN'T headed that way - seems we're gettin' called out East."
"No, not a waste at all Mr. Beckett. As you have observed, Master Phedron has gained invaluable information through diplomacy and civility."
"The enemy of our enemy is often times an ally."
Karl regards the Gnoll.
" . . . Yes, the younglings come to the school on the hill and are converted . . . corrupted. The citizens of the area must have gathered that something ill has been going on, but when you are in the desert one cannot simply move off."
"Have you seen this gree light yourself?"
The dwarf sidles up next to inquisitor, speaking softly so as to avoid sounding too forward among the mongrel in question,
"Ye ken kill a beast and be done with 'im, but there'll just be six more behind 'im in a hole somewhere givin' someone else trouble on the road the next day. However, ye let the cur lead ye back to 'is pack an' yoo ken be done with 'em for good and all."
He puts his hand on Beckett's shoulder.
"I've always like you, Inquisitor. I like yer style. But don't let yer zeal trade a minor satisfaction for a greater cause."
.
♞ Phedron | Karl ♜
☀ Beckett | Drogan ♬
☦ Nosatrub | Lavios ♆
___________________________________
...
Caravan Boss - Climber (dwarf | male)
Drivers
- Hammond (dwarf | male)
- Thromi Sulfison (dwarf | male)
- Ukhlal “Uk” (dwarf | male)
- Khatelch (dwarf | male)
- Horne Bolvison (dwarf cook | male)
-
Bali (dwarf | male)
- Bosek (human | male)
Scouts
- Veko (human | male)
-
Bora (human | female | KIA)
- Nifa (human | female)
- Ghakut (half-elf | male)
Skirmishers / Fighters
- Jabral Rockjaw (dwarf ranger | male)
- Iago Rockjaw (dwarf fighter | male)
- Auran (human fighter | male)
Ninduk licks his firearm once more then responds to Marsh. "Skullbiters see Green Dawn in morning. Like sun. You no see colors, human?. But we no listen. Skullbiters have strong will, we move, we survive, we find slaves and food away from Other." He sniffs the air and growls. "You hairless two-legs, you go to the den of pups?" Ninduk shakes his head and grumbles, long canines pronounced under his lip. "You survive Skullbiters, then become meal for Other. Waste of meat."
He raises his hands to scratch at his chin with claws meant for rending flesh. "Hairless two-legs think too much, put noses where they don't go and gnash teeth when something bites you. If you go to den of pups..." Ninduk opens his maw, yawning. Rows of razor sharp teeth gleam white in the sun. He works his lips and lives and shakes his head again. "...if you go, no think. Just do." His nearly black eyes go to Beckett as he turns to go. "Human with thumper, he knows of what Ninduk speaks."
Approaching footsteps draw attention as Climber and Veko join the group. They look expectantly at Marsh and the others, the dwarf caravan boss rests a hand on the head of a maulaxe at his hip.
☀
☀
☀
....
Stepping away from the group around Ninduk, Beckett seeks an open area facing East. To the side of the road is a cluster of sun-baked boulders rising 15 feet into the air. Standing atop them is the human you know as Auran. Normally he is clad in a combination of chain mail, flowing tunic (Auran (link)). But now, he is stripped to the waste, hair closely cropped, arms bent at the elbows with palms up as he faces the east. On his back are the tattooed images of a sunburst with crossed scimitars being it. It's an older depiction of Sarenrae, but a depiction nonetheless.
------------------
Nosa dismounts of off Trajen. He nuzzles the great horses muzzle in his hands, already acknowledging the bond between man and beast. Trajen returns the affection, knowing he has found his knight.
Nosa pats him gently and watches as he slips off to graze. He then turns and heads over to where his friends are questioning the gnoll.
He claps Beckett hard on the shoulder with his usual greeting. So my friend. What did I miss?
|
|
Phedron's mind burns with the beast's mention of slaves. Part of him would like to find this den of monsters right now. A more pressing evil stays his passion.
Turning to the others he says "He's answered more than I expected. I can think of nothing else to ask. I have no interest in an execution right now, nor a prisoner to drag along. I am inclined to release him. I would like to find these slaves though, but I doubt the rest of the caravan would. What is everyone else's thoughts?"
His black eyes turn back to Marsh."They are given to Other, they no wander, they know where they go. Hunters and speak-speaks and pack leaders. They no wander."
Karl crosses his arms.
"Gnolls don't exert themselves much without necessity. I think what he was implying was they have already eaten the slaves so now they are having to go through the effort---and substantial risk---of attacking armed carivans for food. We have proven that this will be disastrous for the tribe so they are going to move on."
To the gnoll:
"Tell us more about their pack structure. It is obvious you have observed them enough to separate them into three distinct castes in your mind. What designates them into Hunters, Speak-speaks and Pack Leaders to you? How do you tell them apart?"
.
.
.
Ninduk licks his lips and look at Marsh. "No no no. They Hunters and Speak-speaks before Other. Now they just be for Other."
"Perhaps he means that anyone can fall to the Other's and their Green Dawn. Afterwards they serve it." Agidor is looking towards the East, eyes squinting into the swaying horizon lines. "Much like our odd denizens of Dog's Teeth, eh?"
|
He claps Beckett hard on the shoulder with his usual greeting. So my friend. What did I miss?
Beckett snorts.
More of the same... Marsh pontificating. Drogan carousing.
The Inquisitor turns to look at Nosa.
What are we doing here? Chasing our tails and feeding gnolls? I feel like something important is afoot, but it always seems out of reach...
Beckett returns his gaze to the sky.
Sometimes I wonder if I have been measured and found wanting. Unfit for the true battles...
The wind whistles past them, carrying a hauntingly familiar tune.
The dwarf gruffly shakes his head. He hefts his waraxe over his shoulder - Huh, heavier than usual.
"Tha's all I need te know. Whoever or whatever it is ... I say we put it down teday.
|
|
Beckett falls into a sullen silence as Nosa gathers his thoughts.
The Paladin will be encouraging. That's what he does. If I were falling into madness, I could count on the Knight to do what must be done.
But...
If I were falling off the path, he would not act. He would encourage me... and support me... and allow me to sluff off onto the soft path of perdition...
I cannot count on Nosa to strengthen me against laxity or sloth.
The Inquisitor shakes his head silently.
The demons of my dreams leave me be... because I am no longer threatening them. If I destroy myself with these soft beds, rich foods... and ... friends...
I do their work for them...