Berrin attempts to slide off Bessie but has trouble getting his foot free of the stirup. Finally getting his foot free he dismounts carefully.
"This will be interesting. Does anyone understand what they said? It sounded like words." he says as he steps toward them, straping his shield to his arm as he goes.
Jemini rides Wildflower away a short bit, whispering calmly "Don't worry little girl, keep nice and calm - there's a good girl," to reduce the chance of it startling and getting panicked. Then she climbs of the horse; her weapon and shield to hand and ready. "Does anybody know what they are - they look like the very rock had a sudden desire for speed."
With a loud rumble, the three elementals charge towards the expedition. They seem to glide over the ground, fragments of rocks falling off and joining onto their earthern forms.
The first of the elementals drives its body towards Zander, slamming into the archer at top speed before he can dodge it. It feels like getting hit with a hammer, driving him backwards and knocking the very breath from his lungs. If his ribs aren't shattered, they are definitely bruised from the impact.
The second elemental follows suit and tries to hammer into Taisper. The young inquisitor brings his shield to bear, holding the elemental back from hitting him. His shield arm strains against the impact, barely capable of holding the elemental's extraordinary strength back.
The third glides towards Jemini, ready to slam against her in the same fashion.
Stumbling backward from the force of the blow, Zander quickly fires off another two arrows at the rocky canine, but the pain in his ribs is too much for him to aim carefully and the first arrow lands in the dirt between the creature's legs while the second glances off its stony hindquarters.
'Damn it! Have to focus...'
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"Berrin get around the other side of it! I think Tandlara did something to it, we need to hit it while its weakened and take it down!" Verik calls, rushing forward past Tandlara to take up the spot just vacated by Zander. "Let's show this clod what we can do!"
If Berrin seems to agree, the young cleric holds his attack until the big warrior arrives on the rock beast other side and then brings his morningstar powering down even as he rams his shield into the creatures jaws. Stones and earth spray forth as the cudgel impacts, and Verik grunts feeling the shock of the reverberate up his arms making his teeth snap together.
Taisper takes a short step back, trying to keep the elemental's attention on him as he does so. He is speaking with precise diction and clarity in celestial, causing a wash of protective gold energy to flow over him. His defenses strengthened and his gold eyes shining flatly, Taisper stays ready in a defensive position while calmly scanning the enemy for any weak points. He fingers the hilt of his morningstar, getting ready to bring the weapon to bear.
Tandlara turns her attention to another elemental (#3) and curses it in turn.
vs. DC 14 Will
It resists the curse however.
Berrin stops for a second to assess the battlefield, his trained soldiers mind running through his options quickly.
Taispar is bathed in holy light so Berrin assumes he is well protected.
Verik puts himself between the stone dog and Tandlara and Zander, 'Good move.' he thinks aprovingly.
Jemini stands alone tending her horse, her sword not even drawn and another stone dog fast approching.
Berrin is quick to make up his mind. "You've got that one Verik." he aswers to Verik as he rushes forward and pulling his sword. Reaching the stone dog he swings at it, , and hits it right on the neck. Although a solid blow that would have severed the head of a normal animal he mearly chips the creatures neck, taking out a large chuck but not putting it down.
"Blast! I chiped my sword!" he curses as he pulls his blade back for another swing.
Jemini catches Berrin's movement as he starts bouldering forward; sensing opportunity she times herself - then suddenly rushes forward slightly to the left. The creature's head drawn by the motion it fails to see Berrin's weapon in time and his attack scores a telling blow against the creature. As it twists its head to snarl at Berrin, Jemini slashes out quickly and accurately - her sword severing the canine head from the body.
Berrin and Jemini beat the elemntal down, its body crumbling into inanimate rock on them.
The elementals have little subtlety in their attacks, simply slamming themselves against their foes. The elemental nearest Verik bounces off his shield, the force of the impact nearly numbing his arm.
One of the elementals closes the distance with Taisper, delivering what would be a crushing blow to him. The inquisitor's golden light flares as the earthen creature slams into him, protecting him from harm.
Stepping to his right, Zander winces as the pain from his cracked ribs hits him palpably. His vision blurs for a moment as he tries to aim and fires off another two shots at the Elemental attacking Verik, both arrows glancing off the creature's back as it shifts position quickly.
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Ducking as arrows whiz past him Verik, steps to the side bringing his morningstar up in a vicious arc. But as he lunges the earth hound's fangs snap closed all too close to his face and he flinches back his blow jerking to pound nothing but grass.
"Keys and cogs! We need to hurry up and finish these things, if the dent in my shield is any indication they hit hard!"
Tandlara grins wildly at Verik coming to her aid, then glaring at the earth elemental attacking him she dismounts to the far side of her horse from the attacking earth elemental and graps her bow from the saddlebags.
'Did these come from the defiled place from our visions to you think?' she yells over the sound of fighting and frightened horses.
Being perhaps a little too aware by now of the small elemental's surprising strength, Taisper is careful to just lunge quickly in with a swing of his morningstar. Unfortunately he rushes the attack and just manages to get in a surface shot that does no damage. Gonna have to focus more if you want to be worthy of what the gods give you, Taisper buddy, don't let a vision go to your head, now, you know better than that. Focus. Look how easy Berrin and Jemini make it look, c'mon and do your part. Taisper's face is a mask of utter calm as he again hunkers down behind his shield, preparing for the next swing.
Flinching in surprise as Jemini drops the dog Berrin nods in aproval before turning around and heading in by the horses. Coming from behind Taispar's horse Berrin sees the elemental attacking him still unscathed.
Adopting a defencive stance he moves up next to Taisper with his sheild held before him, his sword poised to strike. "Hei buddy. Need a hand there?"
"Berrin! Law's Hammer yeah, that would be great!" Taisper grins at the superior swordsman. "I don't know how you and Jemini do it, how you damage 'em so easy. These are tough little guys."
"And they hit hard!" adds Zander, gritting his teeth as he draws his next arrow.
"Heh. Also true." Taisper ruefully agrees.
Jemini laughs at the notion of mud puppies, then shouts back to Verik: "Gems as eyes. And dogs. They are both man and woman's best friends!"
The bemusement on Jemini's lips quickly passes as the urgency of the situation hammers reality back to the forefront. She propels herself forward, her legs eating the ground underneath her with big steps and her sword lifted high as she brings it down in a thunderous attack on top of the elementals back. The weapon leaves a visible and satisfying crack along the creature's skin.
-->Damage
The creature slams into Verik's shield again, the pain of the strike ringing up the cleric's arm. A few more hits like that and his shield will be nothing more than a dented-up piece of metal.
-->Damage
As Jemini brings her weapon down on the earth elemental, it turns around and throws itself at her. Caught off-guard, she is unable to dodge as it barrels into her midsection. Such a blow would kill a commoner, but Jemini of House Lebeda is not one to fall so easily.
Jemini groans from the impact, her abdominals cramping up in response to the slam. "AAARHhh! ...little runt has a big bite."
Every move Zander makes sends sharp pains shooting through his body from his damaged ribs. He tries to focus on the nearby elemental that Verik is just barely holding back, but despite his best efforts to fight through the pain, he cannot aim at what he cannot see and his next two arrows miss their mark entirely.
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Ducking at the swoosh of Zander's arrows Verik lashes out again, his morningstar hitting home, but simply bouncing off his earthen enemies rocky hide.
"Damn you, just die you muddy mutt!"
Ah, I should have healed my companions, Verik you vain glorious boob! If she goes down. Woman doesn't even try to defend herself. Taisper will take care of it.
"Taisper get yourself in its face! Don't let it hit Jemini again!" He roars as he glances back and steps between the creature and Zander.
Tandlara runs around Avansatra, nocking an arrow into her bow as she goes, when she gets clear shot she tries to remember cneturies old training and prays to do a better job than the two men attempting to destroy the stone dog.
She curses softly in Elven when her arrow narrowly misses the elemental.
Moving unsteadily, Jemini clutches at her stomach as she tries to mark the elemental creature. Her vision is hazy, but clears long enough to make out the form of the rocky beast before her. Trance-like she lifts her weapon Iomedae, guide this blade - for I have not the strength for it and faith, or drills from years of instruction, carry the rest of the motion - down comes the blade and shatters part of the creature. Jemini sags down, her heat spent as she rasps for air.
"Jemini!" Shocked at the creatures swift reflexes as it retaliates so viciously to Jemini Berrin chops his sword, , catching the creature squarely on the back his blow glances off its stone hide with hardly a scratch.
Taisper's eyes widen as he watches the elemental crush Jemini's midsection. He steals a look back at the badly hurt Zander as well, and then focuses on the elemental. His eyes burn as he stares at the creature and if the gold light surrounding him suddenly gets brighter, no one says anything. not two of them no not two of the Community this will not stand I JUDGE you I CLAIM you your life is FORFEIT I will send you ON Though his breathing is a little more labored from the effort of fighting off living rock, Taisper's face is still a mask of calm as he steps up and hammers the small elemental across its head, knocking several stones loose. He then moves over closer to Jemini, hoping to step between her and the elemental. He calls back over to Verik. "I hear you, cousin, but Jemini, I don't think she's exactly one to back down. Just a guess, you know." He tries to smile at the injured paladin but she is too focused on the task at hand.
Taisper then turns and hassles the elemental, taunting it with the bright metal of his shield. "You fight me, you understand? You understand that? You fight me. You're mine. The Keeper's got a spot for those gemstone eyes of yours and I intend to deliver."
Between Jemini and Taisper, the last two elementals crumble into earthern clods and rocks. The gemstones fade and lose their luster as the creatures lose their integrity. It is quiet as the rumbling stops.
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"That's all of them Taisper." Verik says smiling as he beckons for Zander to follow and hurries over to Jemini. "Right if you are injured stay close to me." So saying he clutches his holy symbol tightly in his fist and holds it aloft, calling forth the power of Abadar and sending a wave of soft golden energy rushing from the wooden key to engulf those nearby.
Wave after wave of golden light flows forth eating away at wounds and leaving healthy flesh in their place, until finally both jemini and Zander are fully healed.
Verik mops his brow and sighs, "Well whatever they were they weren't natural. Or perhaps they were too natural? But in either case I find it hard to credit their presence would have nothing to do with the temple we are seeking. They had voices, even if we did not understand their words, maybe theirs were some of the voices from the dream Erastil sent us?"
As he speaks he gathers up Virtues reins and coos reassuringly to the horse, "Don't worry no nasty monsters would want to eat a stinker like you. Would they? No they wouldn't. No, no, no."
Taisper bends down and sifts through the elemental's remains until he finds its now-worthless eyes. Wordlessly, he picks them up and looks at them. After a moment or two, he slides them in his pocket.
After joining the others to bask in Verik's healing energy, Zander says sullenly, "Yes, good work guys," while thinking, 'I can't believe I blew it so horribly back there... I need to practice some more...'
Tandlara roots around in the second elemental and finds its gemstone eyes. She looks at them quizically for a time, before muttering the words of a lesser cantrip.
App:
Spl:
She gains no real insight into them however.
'I think these are worth nearly a thousand gold pieces each back in that city. Maybe even more.'
As the waves of positive energy wash over Jemini she feels the powerful beckoning of Abadar restore her weary limbs. Broken flesh mends and a rosy color flushes her body as she returns from the brink of collapse. Still a little hoarse, she whispers, "Thank you Verik. I'm doing much better. It's like you always say, the blood of my ancestors runs through me - and they got were they were because they didn't stop hitting things." Even quieter, "...besides, I couldn't stop myself if I wanted to when I need to protect everybody else."
Frowning a Jemini for causing such alarm Berrin scoffs at her words. "You can't do the protecting so much when you need protecting yourself woman. Maybee we should get you a better suit of armor? That flimsy parade dress your wearing wouldn't have done much against the bandits arrows or Kressel's axes either."
"Maybee we should work on some defencive manuvers? Your swings are well and good but you have all the grace of an oak when it comes to dodging. Luck is one thing for avoiding blows but a keen eye for not beeing in it's way will get you further."
Feeling himself going red in the face from rising anger Berrin stops himself from saying more. Huffing he goes to his horse and mounts up. "Stand still damnit! You know how this works you sow! Oi! Come back here!"
Finally mounted after some effort Berrin is ready to keep moving. "Zander. You have the map, where are we going?"
It's hard to stop instinct though. But they are just worried for me. Good people, I am thankful Sarenrae; you do bless my journey so much. Jemini smiles gratefully, both at Berrin and at thoughts inside her head, "I would like some defensive training. I've tried some better armors - hide, scale, breastplate, even fullplate. But they're so heavy, it's hard to move. Besides, they make me look fa-- they look unflattering."
"..They make you what..? Berrin squints at Jemini, unsure that he heard her right.
"Damn it woman! Would you rather be alive and comely or dead and gorgeous? This is serious. Not a parade or a training exercise with tutors paid by your daddys gold. Our enemies don't pull their punches like them. Their out for your blood and you need every advantage you can get. Your getting yourself killed will put us in danger as well, remember that..." Berrin stops himself short, realizing who he sounds like. His drill-instructors voice barks in his head and his rege contorted face pops to mind. "Ah, hells!"
"Just be carefull, allright?"
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Verik nods along with Berrin's words jaw clenched. And is privately forced to concede that perhaps he is not quite the egalitarian he imagined himself. Wounds somehow do not seem unnatural on the likes of Berrin, or men in general, but seeing Jemini skewered made his stomach wrench - and on reflection Tandlara might be even worse being so much frailer.
The young cleric shoots Jemini one last accusing look before tapping Virtue on the rump. "Forward blighted bringer of bottom blisters. Who is an evil equine, yes you are, yes you are!" For a few moments he tries to ride with both morningstar and shield out, in case of further danger, but he quickly concludes that he will not remain in the saddle long like that and slings his battered shield reluctantly.
The gems are hardly more than worthless pebbles now with no magic left in them. It seems that the magic that kept the elementals moving was what gave them their shine. The sun shines brightly overhead, but the cool air dries the sweat of the brief combat from the skin of the combatants.
"Do you guys want to explore some more? We're half-way done already, and after all that power that Verik thrust into me, I feel as refreshed as ever."
'Sounds good to me. I like this terrain, despite it attacking us,' Tandlara smiles her odd half-smile and mounts up onto Avansatra, ready to travel with her new friends once more she cares little in truth for the destination.
"I guess he's right," Jemini nods to Taisper, "Abadar more appropriately would bang. Like a hammer. Yes?"
Rolling his eyes at the lascivious Lebeda woman taunting poor Verik, Zander studies the map and says, "Well, we're currently about twelve miles southwest of the statue. I suggest we explore this area to look for the temple or anything we might find and then plan to head further southwest when we're done. I know our original course was to take us to the north by now, but I think we can all agree that finding this temple is of greater importance."
Taisper, who spent the last six years of his life sequestered in Hunting School or prowling the Mana Wastes training for same, doesn't really know what innuendo is and likely wouldn't have the emotional equipment necessary to respond to it even if he did. As such, he replies to Jemini's teasing with typical obliviousness; "Hammer? No…no I'm pretty sure you're thinking of the Lawgiver, there. He'd bang, if anyone would. And it's more a gavel, really, I suppose. It's just more satisfying to say 'hammer' you know?"