is it ok to have used the danger ward (fort) before we entered combat? I mentioned it earlier for that, just want to make sure it's ok. It is a standard action, so it would affect my first round decision either way.[/smaller]
As the Pahtfinders move in, they see the dretch in the background grab a handful of crusader hair and drag the man to a flat stone. He begins to position the crusader's head on the stone, preparing for an inevitable execution.
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"Friend Delzden-of-Quaint-Small-Town-of-Roudenbrash!" calls Xûll as he moves around and behind the demon, cold-iron hammer drawn, "Be coming here and providing me with a bashing buddy! Pooka, perhaps you are best to be attacking dretch and saving crusaders. Arthrax, be getting here when you are to be able. Now, let's KILL SOME DEMONS!!!"
Xûll pulls back on his hammer and launches it forwards with reckless speed and abandon. Pink-tinged foam splashes from his grinning mouth as the battle-lust takes him over.
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"You shall be the filth that I trod under my foot, Dretch! I will return you to the dust from whence you came!" Pooka shouts across the battlefield.
"Unhand the helpless man, and come face your doom!"
"Yaa!" Pooka leans forward in his saddle to absorb the momentum shift beneath him as Luna's muscles flex for a moment, then stretch as she rockets forward. The banner bearing the crest of the Liberty's Edge faction snaps and waves in the rush of wind as the two speed forward towards the crowd of captured crusaders and the wicked dretch that means to execute them.
The distance is too great to reach the demon on the initial charge, so Pooka gently guides his speeding mount around the cliff-face, coming around the other side of a large rock. He lowers his lance in preparation for a charge.
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"Penagarria izaki! Sentitzen sentitu ahal izango duzu inoiz Hona etortzeko!" Delzden screams as he runs along the barren ground, swinging his meteor hammer high up in the air, charging towards the closest demon. A safe distance away, he makes a sudden stop, drops his meteor hammer right above the ground, and flings the heavy spiked ball at the demon's feet.
Delzden maneuvers his hammer in a fancy pattern, attempting to trip Savash. The fighter only manages to hit the bottom of a hoof, causing sparks to flare out. Xull, trying to take advantage of Delzden's attack, misses wildly as the brimorak dances around the meteor hammer.
Savash takes a small towards the man who just tried to trip him. As he draws his longsword, the swings on one fluid motion at Delzden's head, grinning all the while.
To add insult to injury, Savash then tries to stomp on Delzden's foot, but misses.
[dice=Hoof attack]1d20[/dice
Arthrax's ax bites deeply into the demon, hitting vital organs. As he withdraws the aw, a stream of hot blood sprays from the gaping wound. Savash bellows in rage, and turns his gaze to Arthrax.
Behind the Pathfinders' battle with the demon, the grotesque dretch completes his killing blow, decapitating the helpless crusader. Both demons howl in laughter. The dretch then grabs another crusader, trying to kill as many as he can before the thundering halfling reaches him.
Xull thoughts stray to Sir Ilivian.
As the Pathfinders battle for their lives, and the lives of the crusaders they were sent to rescue, Sir Ilivan is also locked in a mortal battle against insurmountable odds. His lance crashes into another demon, piercing it’s shoulder, and emerging out it’s back. He once again tips the pommel down to release the dying demon, but the awkward angle in which he struck the demon, and some unfortunate rock outcroppings wedge the demon between the ground, and the fiercely riding Sir Ilivan and Hannah. The lance bows to an incredible curve, before bursting into half, wooden splinters raining all around them. Sir Ilivan rips his sword from it’s scabbard, and chops down onto the skull of a charging demon, while Hannah bites the hand of one trying to flank them.
Experienced warriors they may be, but the horde contained more demons than he thought. From behind, one misshapen blob of flesh thrusts a spear into his kidney, while another swung a hook into his shoulder, spinning him in his saddle. If not for his war mount understanding tactics, and his sturdy saddle, he would have been ripped from Hannah’s back. As it was, he barely managed to pivot enough to remain firmly in his saddle.
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"Unhand them foul beast!"
Pooka grits his teeth, seeing his challenge failed to attract the attention of the demon away from his helpless captives.
If words won't work, then perhaps the tip of my spear will...
Coming around the rocky outcropping, Pooka does his best to try to maintain Luna's momentum, but inevitably she must shift her body to square up the demon.
I've got to learn how to hold that momentum through the turn...
The thought is quick and fleeting, a ripple in the backdrop of the cavalier's mind as he focuses on bringing his lance to bear against the dretch in front of him.
With a quick tug on the reins, Pooka stands in his stirrups, to absorb the acceleration of his mount. Luna's muscles strain, and she rockets forward again, this time expecting her master to make impact with the target.
for
Pooka, riding Luna hard, manages to impale the dretch much like Sir Ilivian did. He tips the lance pommel downwards, and the dretch slides off his lance and lands in a pile, dead and unmoving.
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Xûll steps up to the point at which his flanking with Delzden once more, prepared to show the demon what he's truly made of this time.
"Well done Pooka!" Xûll cries out to the halfling as he takes aim with his cold iron hammer, "We must make haste, friends. Sir Ilivan is in dire need of our aid!"
That thought spurs his attack on as Xûll brings his hammer down upon the demon he faces.
The large Shoanti connects with his cold iron hammer, breaking the demon's breastbone. Warm blood drains down his chest in rivulets, scorching the rock below. Amazingly, the demon still stands, though quite wobbly on his feet.
He begins to look at routes of escape.
Delzden, once again deftly wielding his meteor hammer, scores the killing blow on the evil demon Savash.
The Pathfinders quickly secure the area, tending to the crusaders as best they can.
Xull looks to see how Sir Ilivan is doing. He can see the crusader, and Hannah, bleeding from a score of wounds. Sir Ilivan swinging both left and right, felling as many demons as hits he has taken.
He wheels Hannah around to a natural bottle-neck rock formation. Panting for breath, he turns her so that they are blocking as much of the opening as he can. The demons once more press forward. This time the numbers are too great. Two demons slip under the metal hooves of Hannah, and slice into her hamstrings, felling the great warhorse. She falls first on her haunch, then her side. Sir Ilivan, totally focused gets pinned between the horse and ground. Gritting his teeth, the holds his sword in front of his face to muster what defense a defenseless man can. Fighting to the last, the demons quickly overwhelm him.
The Pathfinders, with the crusaders assembled as best they can, move with all haste towards Fort Portolmaeus. The enter the fort and deliver the men before being brought before Commander Wardroxan.
"I cannot thank you men enough for rescuing those crusaders. Where is Sir Ilivan?"
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When Commander Wardroxan asks the group about Sir Ilivan, Xûll's thoughts drift back to one of the last conversations he had with the man...
"Me is knowing that this being slightly unorthodox request," Xûll continues, "But please allow me to be assuring of you that a relationship with my faction's leadership is only being good thing. There is much to be made by way of mutual benefits. All me is to be asking for is names and, if you are to be feeling charitable, references."
Xûll snaps out of his reverie and realizes that the Commander is still awaiting an answer. "Sir Ilivan was to have been making of the ultimate sacrifice, Commander," Xûll says sadly, "He was to be allowing us time to be saving of crusaders by holding off demonic legions single-handedly... well, hand and hoof. Hannah was giving of great fight also. Sir Ilivan was dying as he was to have been living: with bravery and self-sacrifice. It was being great honor to have been serving with him."
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Pooka begins to speak up, but finds the words caught behind the lump in his throat. He is grateful as Xull takes the initiative.
After a few minutes to collect his thoughts, Pooka adds, "Sir Ilivan is the bravest man I have ever met. I will be recommending to my captain that he be considered for post-humous induction into the Paw's Legions. It is the Order of the Paw's highest honor for a non-halfling, and given to those who exemplify the true meaning of what our order stands for. The Crusaders that you see before you are not alive because of what Xull, Delzdan, Arthrax and Pooka did, but because Sir Ilivan held back an overwhelming horde of demons to allow us the time necessary to rescue them."
Pooka turns and faces the bedraggled men directly, trying to discreetly wipe the moisture from his eyes. "We rescuers and rescued alike would not be alive, if not for Sir Ilivan's sacrifice."
"Why is it so damn dusty out here... *cough*"
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Arthrax listens to the words of the others, then nods gravely. "Indeed. Sir Ilivan's final moments were the bravest I have seen, sacrificing himself to stave off the demons whilst we rescued these men and made our way here. Your armies have lost a good man in him, but hopefully some of these we rescued will come to take his place."
The burly warrior claps Pooka's shoulder as he sees the halfling clamp up, then backs away, giving him some space. All in all, a successful mission, and a proud ending for Sir Ilivan.
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Delzden, being the only beat fellow in the party, nods in acknowledgement and lets out a slight laugh. "He was troubled, but came out triumphant. Victorious over his own demons in the mind, he overcame them and fought with such valor. As my comrades said, he held back an entire horde of blood-thirsty demons. He perished, but his sacrifice was not in vain. These crusaders, believed to be dead, were rescued. They can carry Sir Ilivan of Erages' memory and banner, and slay many more demons in his name."
Delzden then notices his happy demeanor doesn't rightly fit with the rest of the group, but he can't help it. He pats Arthrax and Xûll on the shoulders and gives a look at Pooka. "He was confident his way saved his own sole and redeemed his sins, we shouldn't mourn for him! He is the reason we were all saved, why these men were saved. He is a hero, he!"
Delzden is, understandably, eager to hold an honorary funeral in his name. Sir Ilivan should be revered as the hero with a troubled past, both as a lesson for young crusaders how valor prevails, and as a remainder how devious and deceptive the demons really are.
With a sharp laugh as the Pathfinders set out on their patrol, Sir Ilivan turns to Xull. "Ah yes, Xull, I was quite the rabble rouser before the army. Got myself into a fair bit of trouble in the past. A little still if you know what I mean. My superiors don't like it much, but men need things, and others to get them. We all have our place. Here is some information you might find useful, some good contacts in Mendev’s criminal underground." He slides Xull a paper. "Oh and I have it on good authority that Guaril Karela, who has begun expanding his business interests beyond Varisia and Absalom, had acquired a long list of enemies. Possibly even an assassination attempt."
After hearing the news, Commander Manaria Wardroxan's face drops. "He was a bit of a legend. When I met him, and he held such derision for my plans, well, I am not afraid to admit that I was a bit crest fallen. And if I remember quickly, it did not seem as if you were on the best of terms with him when you departed the fort. Nevertheless, his tale will be one told for a long time to come. Let us heal you and supply you for your trip back to Nerosyan."
The Pathfinders, newly equipped and healed, head out back to the River Road. They swap stories of the recent exploits and even stop in Bedis for a quick apple.
The remainder of their journey is uneventful until they reach Venture-Captain Jorsal.
"Ah you're back. How did it go?"
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Xûll twirls the paper around in his hands while sipping on some exceedingly fresh goat's milk. Should I, or should I not? was the question running through his mind. Guaril has been acquiring enemies faster than contacts, it would seem. Will the names and addresses on this list add to one list or the other? Or both? It was impossible to tell.
"Well, Betty, me is guessing that all me can be doing is informing the man," Xûll pats the goat by his side and stands up from his position sitting next to it, "Thank you for the milk. Let these oats provide you with fair trade."
With that, Xûll strides off to see his uncle Guaril.
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Saluting the Venture-Captain, Pooka pulls his helm off and tosses it on an open seat nearby. Luna takes a moment to scratch behind one of her ears before walking in a tight circle, then laying down with a flop on the ground, asleep before her chain shirt barding stopped clinking.
"The wardstone defenses are pressed, nearly to the breaking point. The men are ragged, tired, and worn out. They could use some extended R & R. Their minds are more fragile then their bodies." Pooka delivers, matter-of-factly.
"Sir Ilivan. He didn't make it." Pooka bows his head a little, out of respect and somberness both.
"We should move on to the next assignment the society has for us. Those demon's aren't going anywhere anytime soon."
Shaking off memories of his own anger, and regret for some of his words, Pooka finishes. "And there will be plenty to deal with, wherever we go."
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On the trip back to Nerosyan, Delzden has preoccupied himself with what pathfinders are mandated to do; do written reports of their exploits. Writing horseback, though, provides pretty crude handwriting but still readable, which still doesn't satisfy Delzden's scholastic tendencies.
"Yes, Pooka's words shall do for now. But here is the detailed report of our venture, including but not limited to demons encountered, areas explored, and crusaders rescued," Delzden adds, handing the small paper pile to Jorsal, "I will be ready to assist you and the nation of Mendev against the demon horde, if necessary. I await your next assignment, captain Jorsal."