You wait out in the jungle you wait for the violence to subside. You wait hours before the sounds of battle have past. It is early the next morning when the Saurians finally leave. You make your way back to the village to find it completely destroyed. No smoke pillows, just wreckage,
As you walk about the devastation you are horrified to see no person was left untouched. You do not find any full bodies. Instead you find pieces of meat all over the place. Not a single body was left whole. All items have been taken and nothing is left
You do notice other survivors. There are five of you who remain. You have the jungle to the north, northwest, and west is a massive jungle. To the east is ocean. To the south is swamp and Saurians.
You are now without a home or a safe settlement to stay. You are in the middle of a prehistoric land with extremely dangerous land filled with dinosaurs. The protection the village normally provided against the wildlife is gone.
Get acquainted with one another and then decide your course of action.
Thanqoul simply slumps at the sheer destruction of the village, and begins to mutter to himself.
"They will pay. They, and all of their people will pay. I will not stop until I have made them all feel this loss. Every Last One Of Them."
Shilara walks up beside Thanquol and puts a hand on his shoulder. "I share your thirst for the blood of the scum that has taken all of our safety, comfort, and loved ones.But, my friend, we must avenge them, but we must be smart about it." She kneels by him, looking into his eyes. "We WILL get these monsters. And there is nothing that will stop us." she pats him on the shoulder, her eyes close to overflowing with tears.
She tries to blink them away, but there is no stopping them from cascading down her tan cheeks. She lets out a cry so full of sorrow, the pain she is feeling resonates in every tree and stone that surrounds the wreckage.
Felixian gazes in horror at the devastation around him. He puts a hand over Nyx's eyes and tries to turn her away from the sight. "Back in the trees, sis. You don't need to see this." His voice rings hollowly. "Why would they do this? All we wanted was to be left in peace. Never did anything to harm nobody. Senseless..." His voice hardens as he blinks back tears. "Tribute, I was fine with. If they wanted to build a garrison, I could live with that. But this? This is war. And war is what we'll give them...."
Rishkarri watches, silently, as the other survivors let out their grief. Unlike them, she feels no sentiment towards the village - the jungle is her only home, and try as they might, the Saurians will never destroy that. But she waits, and says nothing, as the other survivors grieve.
Razorclaw sniffs at a hunk of meat lying nearby. He moves to take a bite, but Rishkarri growls deep in her throat and he backs away. Apparently this meat was not meant to be eaten, then.
Walking back into the village I am humming and in a jolly mood, until I see the walls have been ripped down and no-one walking around. The next thing I see if darkness, as Felixian places his hand over my eyes. "What's wrong brother, whats happened?" I don't try to remove his hand, he has always protected me and this must be another time, "I want to see it, what happened?"
As he turns me and pushes me back to the tree's I run straight for the largest tree and begin to climb up it.
It doesn't take me long to get to the next branch that is sturdy enough to hold me, I sit on the branch looking out to the woods fighting the urge to look back into the village. "Curiosity killed the cat and I don't want to be killed for looking."
Shilara pats Thanquol on the shoulder one last time and gets up to walk over to Felixian. "Have you ever seen this much destruction before? I just don't understand... Why now? They haven't done anything to us for so long... Why start now? Where have you sent your sister off to?" Where has she gone? She couldn't have gone far...
Shilara thinks she can make out a tail the color of Nyx's. "Is she okay? Is she safe up there? Should someone be with her? We need to protect ourselves. We're the only survivors!" She took a deep breath to calm herself and stroked her bow thoughtfully, pondering and trying to keep it together.
Thanqoul quietly stood up and looked at the remains of the town around him. I remember each and every stone as it had once been. It had been a beautiful village.
Thanqoul walks past the destroyed town towards the group of people near the trees. On his way there he tries to remember where the nearest village was, and its allegiance.
"We need to get out of here. This smell will soon attract predators to this area. We should head towards the nearest village and try to regroup."
Thanqoul burns with anger as he has to tell the others that vengeance will have to wait, but he knows the value of strategy.
@Shilara: "She's waiting back in the trees. I want her last sight of this place to have been a good one. This much death and destruction...our friends...Nathan...I don't want her to have to see this."
@Thanquol: "I agree. Vengeance will come later. For now, we just need to survive. Let's move back into the trees and go through our assets. We don't want to be caught out here in the open if anything comes to investigate."
You hear from the otherside of some rubble the sounds of scarfing and shuffling and growling. To investigate you need to make a stealth check.
"We're not alone. Probably something big and hungry. I'd suggest we head back inside the treeline."
I hear the noises coming from the village but don't turn around, "Ah, so there are people here still. That's good ... but why would they be growling?" I stand up and get ready to jump down if needed to flee.
@ Felixian: "Do you think we should go get her? I like the idea of getting out of the clearing, its smart. Lets just get out of here, especially if you think something hungry is across the way. We will need to get back with Nyx, now. Safety in numbers."
She unslings her bow and gets ready, just in case. She keeps quiet and heads towards Nyx's last known location. I hope I dont have to climb too far up there... I dont like the idea of leaving people behind on the ground, or being cornered in a tree. She motions to the others to follow and wispers "Lets go."
Thanqoul nods and follows the others without a word.
[Dice=Perception] 1d20+8
@ Felixian: "Do you think we should go get her? I like the idea of getting out of the clearing, its smart. Lets just get out of here, especially if you think something hungry is across the way. We will need to get back with Nyx, now. Safety in numbers."
She unslings her bow and gets ready, just in case. She keeps quiet and heads towards Nyx's last known location. I hope I dont have to climb too far up there... I dont like the idea of leaving people behind on the ground, or being cornered in a tree. She motions to the others to follow and wispers "Lets go."
Dinosaurs are animals
I notice everyone gathering under my tree, including my brother, "Time to come down then? Unless you're all coming up?" I giggle a little as I wait for the response.
Shilara looks up at Nyx. "Time to come down, little one. We need to get going." She nods her head at Felixian. If he does not want to upset her with this yet, it is not my place to tell her. Perhaps it will be best to wait until we have gone too far to turn back..
I look down to the woman speaking up, "Okay, be right down." With that I jump off the branch and land safely on my feet.
"Right, shall we get going then ... Where are we going?"
"Shilara's right, sis, it's time to come down. We're going to go visit one of the other villages. It'll be a while before we can come back here." When Nyx isn't looking, he turns to Shilara and mouths, "thank you".
Shilara nods at Felixian. "So which way, companions? We shouldn't be idle long. There are besties in these woods...
Thanqoul looks at the others and motions towards the northwest. "There is a town 3 days northwest of here. It is well guarded and would be a good place to visit. It would be the best place to go in my opinion."
Shilara nods. Sounds like a good plan. I'm in. She looks at the remaining party members.
Rishkarri moves to join the other survivors, Razorclaw at her heel, not sure if any of them recognize her. She nods in agreement at the plan of moving northwest.
I nod at the plan to move Northwest, "Wherever brother goes, so do I. We shall come with you, lead the way."
Felixian nods. "I agree."
Not sure where we are going exactly I let Thanquol take the lead and follow behind him, keeping an eye out for whatever was making the rustling noise.
Yup moving on now.
You all begin the journey into the thick Janggamar jungle, knowing this to be the only way to safety. Because of the self sufficiency of most of the settlements in the land and the lack of any ruler, there were no actual roads leading from town to town. You would have to take trails carved out by the few who even dared to travel and hope these trails will lead you to your destination.
For much of the day you head in the right direction. After two hours though, you suddenly feel as though you are being followed. Before you can even decide what to do about it, emerging from the brush is a single Saurian warrior.
This is the common foot soldier in the Saurian army. These make up the bulk of their attack force. A seven foot tall bipedal reptilian humanoid. This monster is made up of heavy muscle, hard scales, and plenty of natural attacks. It carries a heavy serpent scale shield serrated with teeth and a long spear in it main hand.
It growls and snarls at you snapping it's teeth. It seems ready for battle.
You do in fact have the option to run but that will require survival and stealth checks from you all. Those who make too low a roll will be stuck fighting the monster.
Also, since it is a single foe, I am not going to bother putting up a map at the moment.
You are grouped together and you are all within 30 feet of it. You are in a clearing so no DT. Also, the warriors in the party have the capacity to charge if they desire.
The initiative is You guys first, Saurian second. GO!
As soon as Felixian moves up to attack the Saurian, I move alongside him and once I get within range I roll along the ground to end up on the other side of him, where I then swipe at the creatures back with my sharpened claws.
Felixian hisses in anger as he draws his bow and fires a quick shot at the Saurian - missing it completely in his haste. He then drops his bow and - claws bared - begins to move toward the Saurian.
I will assume Nyxalia will delay until a possible flanking buddy moves to attack it.
The Saurian is 25 feet from Felixian at the moment and the rest of you are 30 feet.
Shilara glares as her bow raises to meet the challanger. Alright, you big lizard. You want a fight, Ill give you a fight!"
Her shot flies over the shoulder of the monster. D***... That wasn't very intimidating...
Rishkarri begins growling and hissing at Razorclaw, pointing to the Saurian. The leopard rushes straight for the humanoid, biting at its legs and growling.
As the leopard savages the foe, Rishkarri draws her sling and send a bullet hurtling towards its face.
Thanqoul smiles at the creature and fires a green ray
fort dc 16 halfs
Round One Results
Both Archers miss their target.
Razorclaw rushes forward and strikes at the Saurian biting it's ankle.
Rishkarri manages to also score a hit with her sling.
Nyx races to the opposite side of the beast and scores a vital blow as well.
Thanquol aims and fires his ray of enfeeblement at the beast. Unfortunately due to the Saurian being in melee, Thanquol misses.
The Saurian, now surrounded, unleashes a volley of attacks on both Nyx and Razorclaw.
Saurian's Attacks
At Nyx
He snaps a bite at Nyx missing.
Swings his serrated shield at her and connects for 8 damage.
At Razorclaw
He slaps hard with his tail at Razorclaw and misses.
The Saurian then five foots to one side of Nyx putting him at ten feet from Razorclaw, he then finishes his full attack by thrusting his spear at Razorclaw scoring a hit for 11 damage.
Positions
Nyx is now between the beast and the rest of the party.
Razorclaw is ten feet feet from the monster.
Felixian is now 30 feet from the Saurian.
Everyone else is now 35 feet from the Saurian.
The Saurian is obviously hurting but still standing.
Round 2 Start! Your turns!
Felixian will move into melee range (preferably in position to give Nyx flanking). He'll take an AoO, then claw once when he gets a flanking buddy.
You can get beside him but it would require a 40 foot move to flank with him. Still, it gives Nyx the option to five foot to the other side and flank with you.
I will assume that by your wording you are readying your action to attack when Nyx does move into position.
Shilara whispers under her breath. If there are gods, may one of them smile upon me. May my arrow fly true. She takes a step forward, takes a deep breath and aims, then shoots.
Shilara sighs a sigh of relief as her arrow lands. Take that you ugly brute! Haha, the gods have smiled upon me this day. Perhaps there is a deity looking over me.
The leopard snarls as the spear jabs into his side, piercing his patchwork leather armour and drawing blood. His prey shifts away from him, but he follows, quickly stepping up to it again before attacking.
At the sight of Razorclaw's injury, Rishkarri snarls, sounding not unlike a cat herself. She drops her sling, draws her scimitar, and rushes toward her foe with anger in her eyes.
I whimper a little as the scaled shield connects with my arm and a tingling pain spread throughout the rest of it. I then hiss at the creature and take a step towards it so that I can get flanking again and this slash with both of my claws at the scaled demon.
The pain in my arm is obvious as the attack does little damage, but it still connects. I wince as it connects, causing the pain to throb again.
Thanqoul draws his crossbow and moves to a position so that he can clearly see the Saurian warrior.