"Doesn't matter for me. I can see very well in the dark. Only thing I need is my one hour to replenish my spells. I'll take the first watch then. Baer?"
Tural grabs his flint and steel and lights the fire.
Quorthos snaps out of his funk and takes charge. "Fine, I'll make the decision, then. Tural first, then me, Baer, Mavor, and Denario. 2 hour shifts, should give us plenty of time for everyone to get rest. OK?" He then busies himself with making food.
Quorthos wanders over to Tural as the camp is being set up. 'Keep an eye on our friend, as well... she took off on us once, so I don't completely trust her to stick around now."
Funny how the Boy took charge. Mavor was disinterested. Tural too 'green' to make the call. Denario? He was helping me get firewood.
Baer nods at her shift, waking up Mavor when her two hours are up. She keeps herself awake by quietly chatting with Majenko, whom she assumes would be happy to keep her company whether he wants to or not.
Majenko merrily tags along with Baer and helps her collect dry wood, though he's only capable of carrying a few twigs.
"I still think your theory about the whiskey's best, Baer. It makes much more sense, because you ingest whiskey. I once ate an imp that I hadn't properly burned and it made me sick. It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't eaten it."
Trinia sets up her tent and helps to gather some wood near the field. About one hour later all your tents are up, and you've got a campfire burning in the middle. Those who looked for threats weren't able to find any.
After an uneventful night you study the map some more. Trinia studies the map with you, meanwhile eating a trail ration and drinking some water from her waterskin. "Looks like the nearest village is Galdent, about halfway to Harse. It will probably take two more days to get there, depending on how fast we move? I see nothing but road till Galdent."
"I remember Vencarlo telling me there are a couple of farms along the road to Harse, and people there may be willing to part with a horse. But the map doesn't show the farms."
During his uneventful watch, Mavor chews on a hard tack ration and sips from his waterskin, patrolling now and then around the camp and sitting down again to take another sip and eventually chip away a little at a large piece of wood.
The resulting craftwork, doesn't resemble anything in particular and Denario wouldn't find it remarkable as Mavor seemingly only chipped away in it without thought.
The next morning he strides around, stretching his legs until people bring up the map.
"Galdent eh? Small village most likely, if it was bigger, people wouldn't need a map to point it out."
Mavor knows little about Galdent, save that it's a small town and the townsfolk dislike most kinds of magic.
"I believe Galdent is like most small villages along the road, simple folk living there, who know each other well. I've heard shady traders tell it they don't much like displays of magic."
He looks around at the others, then bursts out laughing.
"Well that means I'm the only one who can't screw up on that. But seriously, don't pull off any fancy tricks, you never know how they might take it."
He glares at Denario for a few seconds then looks around, ready to get on the road again.
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Baer eats some of the trail rations she purchased. She does not enjoy them especially, but they are better than nothing. Eating nothing is not satisfying, Baer has learned. In order to stop being hungry, eat. Such is the very deep wisdom of Baer the Wise. She drinks from her waterskin, because that is where she keeps her water.
"I still think your theory about the whiskey's best, Baer. It makes much more sense, because you ingest whiskey. I once ate an imp that I hadn't properly burned and it made me sick. It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't eaten it."
I know, right!? If you were going to quickly poison an entire city AND lay low to much of the constabulary, the best place to strike would be through drink. It's so clear and obvious.
"For some reason everything ends with us fighting something or someone. So I wouldn't be surprised if we had to do some fancy magic to impress the local."
Tural says with a grin as he pulls a bit of jerky from his pack and starts munching on it. He washes it down with some water created by his create water spell. His small scorpion crawls from his pouch and shares the meal with Tural. For some time Tural looks completely gone as he is staring at the scorpion.
He glares at Denario for a few seconds then looks around, ready to get on the road again.
Denario looks back.
"What? I'm no street magician, tossing my tricks around.
Relax."
Tural recalls a story he once heard in the Three Rings tavern, during one of the nights after he'd just arrived in Korvosa. He overheard a man tell that, many years ago, there lived a woman in Galdent who gave birth to a half-elf girl. The townsfolk weren't too keen on the girl, especially because the father wasn't known, but tolerated her because the mother was the local herbalist and helped many people in town. One day the girl, just a toddler, pointed out a bird on a lantern post and electrocuted it with magic from her finger. Both the woman and the girl were chased out of Galdent for witchcraft and their house was burned.
Now Tural remembers the story, it doesn't take him long to recall what Allyph said before she parted with the others: "I was born in a town not far from Harse, and I don't want to go near there... They chased my mother and me off, because of my magic and my... well, race..."
Once you've gathered your belongings you continue your journey. Half a day later you exit the forest and the landscape changes to grassy hills.
"I've never been this far out of Korvosa," Trinia tells you. "Are you all from Korvosa, or did you grow up somewhere else? Any places you'd like to visit some day?"
"I heard there's this place called the Worldwound, where there are all kinds of different imps to eat. It's like some kind of heaven for my kin!"
Trinia's eyes grow two sizes when she hears Majenko's voice inside her head for the very first time, but she simply nods. "Aha, I see."
Once camp is set up, Quorthos eats some of his rations, chewing thoughtfully. He appears uninterested in the small talk, but joins in when the conversation turns back to Korvosa. "Maybe you're right, Baer... maybe some of us should head back and test your theory. I don't think we all need to escort Trinia, but our city does need us, and time is of the essence."
"Are you all from Korvosa, or did you grow up somewhere else? Any places you'd like to visit some day?"
Baer nods, she sharing a similar experience to Trinia.
"Nope. Korvosa born and raised. I haven't seen much of the outside world."
"Maybe you're right, Baer... maybe some of us should head back and test your theory. I don't think we all need to escort Trinia, but our city does need us, and time is of the essence."
Baer looks at Quorthos.
"I'm sure I'm right. And I'll be right when we get back...together." Baer emphasizes.
"I'm from a village close to here actually. It's in the forest we just passed. There is a path leading to the village from the other road we could have taken actually."
Tural replies to Trinia.
"I do think we should all go together though."
"I'm born and raised in Korvosa.
I haven't ventured outside of the city, whatever i know of outside is what i hear the merchants and the tavern goers say."
"You should've mentioned that earlier, Tural. We could've stopped by."
Trinia shrugs. "Well maybe you can visit your family on your way back to Korvosa?"
"Hey this may be a bit random, but would you mind telling me about some of your previous missions? If they're not classified, of course. I love stories and am curious what agents of the guard actually do."
"Not much to tell. We went after a crime boss, a personal for us all mission, for starters. After that, not much of interest."
Denario doesn't deem it worth telling everything, as a good poker player never reveals his hand.
Quorthos jumps up and points to the east, interrupting Denario. "There! Something is moving!" He gestures towards a fin-like plate sticking out of the ground about 100 feet away.
If there is time, Quorthos will cast shield on himself.
Baer, about to launch into a more detailed description of their adventures, stops speaking when Quorthos sounds the alarm. She joins him in casting a quick Shield spell.
"Damnit! What is that? Get behind me!" Baer shouts, taking point with her quarterstaff already spinning.
"Not much to tell I'm afraid. Grew up in Korvosa in an orphanage, joined a gang, got beat up, took revenge later on in life. That's how I met these guys. Even before any missions for Marshall Kroft."
"That looks dangerous, whatever that thing is. Trinia, not sure how good you are in combat, but try to stay away from that thing. Quorthos, Baer, let us be ready to face that thing head on."
Tural quickly turns around and looks confused at the approaching danger.
"Damn it! The wards!"
He says as he remembers not applying the battle wards in the morning.
If he deems there is still time to cast a spell he actives his battle spirit. Tural seems to grow in stature, becoming taller and more muscular, with a grimace of rage stretching across his face.
Battle Spirit (Su): A shaman surrounds herself with the spirit of battle. Allies within 30 feet of the shaman (including the shaman) receive a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and weapon damage rolls. At 8th level and 16th level, these bonuses increase by 1. The shaman can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.
Quorthos immediately recognizes the fin-like dorsal plate that plows the earth, moving toward the party at an alarming rate. What's heading your way is a bulette.
The creation of some unknown arcanist in millennia past, the bulette has bred true to become one of the fiercest predators of the hills. Burrowing rapidly through the earth just beneath the surface, sometimes with its armored fin cutting a distinctive wake behind it, the bulette launches itself free of stone and soil to tear into its prey without remorse, giving rise to the common appellation “landshark.”
Bulettes are notoriously foul-tempered, attacking far larger creatures with no regard for personal safety. Solitary beasts except for the occasional mated pair, they spend most of their time patrolling the perimeters of territories that can stretch up to 30 square miles, hunting game and punishing interlopers with a fury that shakes the hillsides.
Bulettes are perfect eating machines, consuming bones, armor, and even magical items with their powerful jaws and churning stomach acid. Lacking other food, the bulette might gnaw on inanimate objects, yet for unknown reasons no bulette voluntarily consumes elf flesh—a peccadillo many point to as evidence that elven wizardry was involved in its creation. Dwarves are also rarely eaten by the beasts, though the bulette still slaughters members of either race on sight. Halflings, on the other hand, are among the beast's favorite meals, and no halfling with any sense ventures into bulette country casually.
The bulette is a cunning fighter, surprising foes with its impressive agility. One of its favorite tactics is to charge forward and launch itself into the air in order to drop on its prey with all four razor-sharp claws extended. Folklore claims that the flesh behind the beast's dorsal crest is particularly tender, and that those willing and able to wait until the fin is raised in the excitement of combat or mating can target it for a killing blow—yet most who have faced the landshark agree that the best way to win a fight with a bulette is to avoid it entirely.
Surprise round:
Baer (Cast shield)
Denario
Mavor
Quorthos (Cast shield)
Trinia
Tural (Activate Battle Spirit)
Mavor grunts and takes Total Defense to be hopefully prepared aginst the creature's attacks.
Denario lets a deck slide from his sleeve to draw a card.
Baer grunts and twirls her staff, ready to get it on.
"Land shark!" Quorthos calls out in alarm. After casting his spell, Quorthos triggers his wrist sheathes, and a wicked-looking dagger and a thin bone wand appear in his hands.
While you all prepare for what's to come, Trinia casts cat's grace on herself to increase her dexterity.
Some of you are fast enough to do some more before the land shark attacks.
Round 1:
Majenko
Quorthos
Denario
Baer
Bulette
Tural
Mavor
Trinia
Round 1, Init 16
Baer delays, waiting for the beast to show itself.
Majenko, not knowing what to expect, takes to the air.
"Just to be safe! I'm a bit more fragile than you guys!"
Quorthos readies his wand, preparing to blast the creature as soon as it becomes visible.
[*dice=Ranged touch]1d20+5[/dice]
[*dice=Strength damage]1d6[/dice][/ooc]
Baer delays till the opponent reveals itself.
The ground tears open and the fin's revealed to be a part of a huge animal with armor plates covering its entire body. It leaps into the air, toward you.
Denario throws his readied card at the bulette. He hits it and causes a minor wound.
As soon as the bulette's within reach Quorthos uses his wand to send a ray of enfeeblement at it, but the sight of the huge animal causes the boy to panic and miss.
The bulette lands on the ground next to you and goes into an attack frenzy. It attacks Trinia first, but she sidesteps its attack. The bulette aims for Quorthos next and rips through the tiefling's armor, wounding Quorthos badly. Mavor is targeted next, but he was prepared and dodges the bulette's claw. The bulette then attacks Baer and hits her head hard with one of its claws.
Round 1:
Majenko
Quorthos 12/26HP
Denario
Bulette -4HP
Baer 11/22HP
Tural
Mavor
Trinia
Round 2:
Majenko
Quorthos 12/26HP
Denario
Bulette -4HP
Baer 11/22HP
Tural
Mavor
Trinia
Round 1
Baer grunts as she is ninja-kicked by the jumping bullette. She grits her teeth and responds with a whirlwind of her own attacks.
to hit;
damage.
to hit;
damage.
Mavor takes a step east, grabs his greataxe tightly in two ahnds and swings down hard on the attacking beast.
Mavor is a bit disappointed by the force of his axe blow, but he grins nonetheless.
"One tough nut to crack, I'll say."
"EERRGH!" Quorthos staggers under the claws of the beast, an involuntary groan escaping his lips. He rolls to the right and dodges around the beast, then stabs it with his dagger when it is distracted by Mavor.
Tural looks at the wounded and at the creature.
Let's tame this beast, then healing.
He points at the creature and whispers something after which he starts his low voiced chant.
- Chant (Ex): A shaman can chant as a move action. Any creature that is within 30 feet that is under the effects of the shaman's charm, evil eye, fortune, fury, or misfortune hex has that effect's duration extended by 1 round. A shaman cannot select both this hex and the witch's cackle hex.
- Misfortune (Su): The shaman causes a creature within 30 feet to suffer grave misfortune for 1 round. Anytime the creature makes an ability check, attack roll, saving throw, or skill check, it must roll twice and take the worse result. A successful Will saving throw negates this hex. At 8th level and 16th level, the duration of this hex is extended by 1 round. This hex affects all rolls the target must make while it lasts. Whether or not the save is successful, the creature cannot be the target of this hex again for 24 hours.
DC 17
Denario steps 5ft back.
"Holy sh...that's one big beast."
He withdraws to a safer spot.
Majenko circles in the air and sees Baer has some trouble aiming. He lands back on Baer's shoulder and uses his tail to stab at the bulette.
"I'll help you, Baer!"
"Yickes!"
Trinia withdraws to a spot at a safe distance from the bulette.
Baer grunts as she is ninja-kicked by the jumping bulette. She grits her teeth and responds with a whirlwind of her own attacks, but both attacks bounce off the bulette without harming it.
Mavor takes a step east, grabs his greataxe tightly in two hands and swings down hard on the attacking beast. The bulette lets out an angry roar when the greataxe cuts through its armor.
An involuntary groan escapes Quorthos's lips as he staggers under the bulette's claw. He rolls to the right and dodges around the beast, then stabs it with his dagger when it is distracted by Mavor. The dagger's unable to pierce the bulette's armor.
Tural points at the creature and whispers something after which he starts his low voiced chant, but the bulette appears to be unaffected by Tural's hex.
Denario and Trinia both freak out and withdraw to a safe distance.
Majenko circles in the air and sees Baer has some trouble aiming. He lands back on Baer's shoulder and uses his tail to stab at the bulette, creating an opening for Bear's next attack.
The bulette focuses entirely on the only one to harm it: Mavor. The mighty half-orc is able to dodge the beast's jaws, but is then hit by both of its huge claws.
Round 2:
Majenko
Quorthos 12/26HP
Denario
Bulette -15HP
Baer 18/29HP (+2 on next attack roll)
Tural
Mavor 10/36HP
Trinia
Round 3:
Majenko
Quorthos 12/26HP
Denario
Bulette -15HP
Baer 18/29HP (+2 on next attack roll)
Tural
Mavor 10/36HP
Trinia
Denario opens his palm and an orb of frost forms, which he then launches at the beast.
"Trinia, RUN!" Quorthos shouts. He reverses his dagger and stabs it into the creature's side. He then dodges backwards, avoiding the creature's repirisals.
"Come and get me, you big slug!" he yells, hoping to draw it away from the others.
Looking completely calm Tural observes the battlefield. He raises his voice and seems to be calling nature towards him with a calming chant. A glow slowly surrounds him and starts pulsing outwards.
He then reaches in his pack and grabs hold of his cure moderate wounds wand.
Round 2
Baer 5' steps south, setting up a flank with Mavor if he wants it. Baer spins her cracklin' staff again and again.
to hit;
damage.
to hit;
damage.
Mavor grunts and grimaces as both claws strike home through his armour into his chest.
He takes a step and looks the beast in the eye.
"I've had enough of you already. But I can't let my guard down with ye can I?"
After Baer's made her attacks, Majenko prepares to aid her again.
Trinia stays at a safe distance and starts singing a song.
"Children of the land do you hear
Echoes of truths that once rang clear
Two souls intertwined
One true love they did find
Bringing land and heavens near"
Trinia stays at a safe distance and starts singing a song, which inspires courage in each of you.
Denario opens his palm and an orb of frost forms, which he then launches at the beast. The orb hits the bulette hard, but doesn't have any secondary effects.
Quorthos reverses his dagger and stabs it into the creature's side. He then dodges backwards, avoiding the creature's reprisals, and hoping that he can lure it away from his allies.
A glow slowly surrounds Tural and starts pulsing outwards, healing everyone and everything within a 30-foot radius of him. Including the bulette. Tural then reaches in his pack and grabs hold of his cure moderate wounds wand.
Baer 5' steps south, setting up a flank with Mavor if he wants it. Baer spins her cracklin' staff again and again, but both of her attacks bounce of the bulette's natural armor.
Mavor takes a step and looks the beast in the eye. He swings his axe defensively, and misses.
Majenko sets up some aid for Baer's next attack.
The bulette gives Quorthos a quick glance, but seems more interested in attacking nearby targets that annoy it. It open its huge mouth and bites Baer with massive strength, completely ignoring her magic shield.
It then swings its claw at Majenko and hits the little dragon hard, nearly knocking him unconscious.
Mavor's the target of the bulette's second claw, but by fighting defensively Mavor is able to anticipate the attack and dodge it.
Round 3:
Majenko 2/15HP
Quorthos 23/26HP
Denario
Bulette -26HP
Baer 5/29HP (+2 on next attack roll)
Tural
Mavor 21/36HP
Trinia
Round 4:
Majenko 2/15HP
Quorthos 23/26HP
Denario
Bulette -26HP
Baer 5/29HP
Tural
Mavor 21/36HP
Trinia