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Round 2, Initiative 11, Location: J11->K8
Weapon Equipped = Staff
Conditions = none
Judgements = 1/1
Spells
Cantrips DC 13: Create Water, Detect Magic, Guidance, Stabilize
First Level DC 14 (3/3): Command, Cure Light Wounds
Damvorak hesitates trying to decide whether to put fires out or take the perpetrators out. He leans in to the staff for guidance and decides to swing. He moves along the fence before stepping diagonally into the field to leave a path open for other to attack. He then tries to knock down the opponent by the house.
for
Sad Rock mournfully extinguishes another fire, while Damvorak's staff beats some sense into the previously uninjured thug taunting Harrol.
Benjamin's second warning shot continues to be unheeded by the men despite the severity of the expression he bore when it was fired.
Round 2
24 Benjamin : Moves to G10, fires another warning shot
15 Harrol : (delays)
11 Damvorak : Moves to K8, hits H3 for 7HP
10 Ramli : TBD
8 Sad Rock : Moves to O10, douses Q11
8 Moblyd : TBD
4 Hunter #1 (-12HP):
4 Hunter #2 :
4 Hunter #3 (-7HP):
Still Up: Ramli, Moblyd and the enemies.
You can identify that the specific plants that the thugs took torches to are belladonna plants, which are useful when dealing with lycanthropes.
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Round 2, Init 8 {N07}
"Wha, yer tae much a lilly-livered coward ta face Moblyd Hydedottir? Right ye are t' flee."
Cook gear and pack looming over her shoulders, Mobled moves in pursuit of her initial target, crashing through the garden as she goes. She attempts to evade one of the hunter's attacks as she moves past him.
She then sends the dorn dergar hurtling after the fleeing man.
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AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10
Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +2
CMD: 13
HP: 8/8
Effects: 1 ray of fire; 1 1st-level spell
"There you go, Rock, good work! Nothing to be sad about there, but keep it up!" Ramli calls out in encouragement.
"Now for you," he mutters, casting quickly. As the last words of arcane power leaves his mouth, a small fiery dragon rushes from his fingers toward the injured thug in the garden, exploding in a burst of sparks as it arrives.
Standard action: Cast snapdragon fireworks (Once per round, as a move action, you may designate a target 5-foot-square within range and launch a pyrotechnic in that direction. The pyrotechnic takes a zigzag path from you to that square, always missing creatures and objects in its path, and detonates in that square with a bang and a colorful burst of fire and light. Creatures in the target square take 1d4 points of fire damage and are dazzled for 1 round (Reflex half, a successful save negates the dazzled condition). Normally when this spell is used as part of a festival, the chosen target is high in the sky to increase visibility and protect observers.
Move action: Send firework toward O-5
for
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for
for
Round 2 Continued
As Mobled crashes past one of the men, he stabs ineffectually at her .
Despite missing the injured man, she does manage to destroy most of the herbs and vegetables growing in her path.
With a screech and ominous sizzle, miniature fiery dragons scream out from Ramli's outstretched hand.
The wounded man in the garden's sighs with relief as his hands finally clutch around a small flask. Struggling to remove the tightened cork, he looks up just in time to see the tiny fiery dragons crash into his chest. With a brief scream, he doubles over backwards flailing.
Sad Rock watches sadly as the flames spread from this burning man within the interior garden. Luckily, they are brief and fizzle out after mere seconds.
The fires continue to spread quickly (like wildfire!) through the gnome's garden, yet Sad Rock's day seems to be relatively lucky as they stop just short of engulfing the oread.
The thug harassing Harrol instead turns his attention to Damvorak and slices at the half-orc twice with his shortswords, leaving a long gash on the inquisitor's shoulder.
"You want some too, half-orc? I'm not afraid of your kind!"
Unfortunately, he continues to stand as an obstacle in Harrol's main approach to the unconscious gnome.
Round 2
24 Benjamin : Moves to G10, fires another warning shot
15 Harrol : (delays)
11 Damvorak : Moves to K8, hits H3 for 7HP
10 Ramli : Spandragon fireworks finish off H1
8 Sad Rock : Moves to O10, douses Q11
7 Hunter #2 : (readied action) Misses Moblyd
6 Moblyd : Moves to N7, misses
4 Hunter #1 (DEAD): --
4 Hunter #3 (-7HP): Hits Damvorak for 6HP
Round 3
24 Benjamin : TBD
15 Harrol : TBD
11 Damvorak : TBD
10 Ramli : TBD
8 Sad Rock : TBD
4 Hunter #2 : TBD
8 Moblyd : TBD
4 Hunter #3 : TBD
Now Up: Everyone except Moblyd (since the thug who readied now acts before her)
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Round 3, Initiative 11, Location: J11->K8
Weapon Equipped = Staff
Conditions = none
Judgements = 1/1
Spells
Cantrips DC 13: Create Water, Detect Magic, Guidance, Stabilize
First Level DC 14 (3/3): Command, Cure Light Wounds
Damvorak tries to push through the grievous injury done to his midsection and attacks with both ends of his quarterstaff.
"It's you or me in this fight - and I think I'll be the one standing when it is through!"
for
for
He fails to ignore the pain and it causes him to swing wide...
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Round 3, Init 8
Sad Rock finally realizes yet another failure and gives up, completely certain of his latest failure.
Sad moves to take his anger out on the jerky jerks who started the fires and moves to K9, drawing his club as he goes.
"Fire bad!" Sad says angrily while swinging his club in two hands at the jerk in J8
to hit;
damage.
AC=16 (no shield yet)
HP=19/19
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AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10
Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +2
CMD: 13
HP: 8/8
Effects: 2 rays of fire; 1 1st-level spell
"Blast it, this is getting out of hand! Rock, get away from the fire! Moblyd, go get the gnome!" Ramli yells out as he gestures toward the dwarf's enemy and sends another stream of fire racing toward him.
Damvorak's swings miss, and Ramli is unable to land his fiery ray as the thugs dance about in melee .
Sad Rock gives up on his dream of saving the gnome's garden, and a single swipe with his club is enough to crush the injured bandit harassing Harrol to the ground.
The third, uninjured bandit holds up his hands and offers his surrender.
"Ain't worth it! You all have us outnumbered! I surrender!"
Harrol quickly crosses the garden and discovers Falbin is alive but unconscious .
The fires continue to crackle and burn through his garden. It's clear if they are not stopped, they will spread to the gnome's home soon.
Round 3
24 Benjamin : Puts away bow, draws pick
15 Harrol : Moves to Falbyn, provokes an AoO
11 Damvorak : Misses twice
10 Ramli : Narrowly misses thug
8 Sad Rock : Crushes thug
7 Hunter #2 : Offers surrender
6 Moblyd : TBD
Round 4
24 Benjamin : TBD
15 Harrol : TBD
11 Damvorak : TBD
10 Ramli : TBD
8 Sad Rock : TBD
7 Hunter #2 : TBD
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Sad Rock, now having a breather, gives a glare at Ramli and raises is rocky fist, shaking it at the giant man.
"Fire bad!" Sad points to the smoldering opponent on the ground.
Sad Rock assumes his warning is heeded and moves to Create more Water.
Sad Rock will douse the nearest spots with water.
Sad will yell and point to the ground near the house.
"Dig plants away!"
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Round 4, Initiative 11, Location: K8
Weapon Equipped = Staff
Conditions = none
Judgements = 1/1
Spells
Cantrips DC 13: Create Water, Detect Magic, Guidance, Stabilize
First Level DC 14 (3/3): Command, Cure Light Wounds
Damvorak follows the Sad Rock's lead and casts Create Water targeting the nearest hotspot.
At first, the bandit gives Moblyd a look, but when he remembers his friend's brain decorates her demolition ball, he grudgingly sets to work by grabbing a spade from the gnome's home and digging and tossing earth onto the encroaching flames.
The air is thick with the smell of burnt vegetation.
Falbin continues to remain unconscious, but has been safely dragged from danger back to his home.
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Sad Rock hands Ramli a few carrots and a handful of burnt onions before rising and walking over to Falbin.
Sighing, he takes out a wand from this front pouch and shakes it furiously.
You better work.
Sad commands the wand to action.
"Bree-GAN" and taps the gnome.
healing
"Bree-GAN" and taps the gnome.
healing
Satisfied with his wand and his work, Sad returns to his impromptu picnic with Ramli, eager to finish the cauliflower before it gets soggy.
As Falbin stirs, he regards the motley collection of you and comes to the only logical conclusion at why a Garundia, a half-orc, a halfling, two dwarves, and an oread are looking down at him smiling.
"At last! The Pathfinders!"
As he tries to sit up, Harrol wisely urges him to continue laying as he dabs the gnome's lumpy brow with a wet cloth .
"My... my... garden. They were taking a torch to it! Is it safe? What happened with those thieves who stole my herbs!?"
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"...and here I was hoping for a hot meal." he chuckles, as the chaos dies down and Falbin stirs. "You're lucky that we got here in time." he says, rubbing the back of his neck with an apologetic look on his face. He shrugs. "To save you, if not your garden. Oh, chin up! It'll grow back. You only have to..."
He continues at some length on how best to salvage his garden, before stoping himself short. "... hold on. You said they were stealing herbs? What for?" he says, turning to Moblyd and the captured hunter. "Ask him what they were stealing the herbs for!"
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"The little priest is right. Based on how this carrot tastes, even half-cooked, you're a good enough farmer that you'll have this plot back the way it should look faster than a cheap john runs from a Calistrian priestess, eh?" the big man says through a mouthful of carrot, holding out a hand to help Falbin up. "Don't coddle him now," he says to Harrol before turning back to Falbin. "Up you go, back on your feet, friend."
Falbin gives the captured thief a glare, as he recounts events that transpired prior the scene upon which you all arrived.
"Those men. They claimed to be merchants and wanted to buy all of my belladonna. Next thing I knew, as I was showing them the wares, my head..."
The gnome rubs a lumpy spot on the back of his skull and looks to the captive.
As Moblyd spews her intimidating threats at him, the man looks to others with an earnest, pleading expression.
"What did he, err- she say, again?"
Realizing her threats are likely truthful, once her inquiry is translated, he fesses up to the intentions of the men.
"We're just hunters. Lycanthrope hunters. We heard this gnome had a ton of belladonna here, so we came for it. We knew if we burned things down, it's stunt our competitors something fierce."
It takes all of Harrol's effort in restraining Falbin to prevent the wounded gnome from leaping to his feat and poking the thief in his chest.
"You almost burned down my whole livelihood! I almost burned alive! All for what? Extra gold? Pah!"
Falbin waves his hands dismissively at the man.
"Get him out of here. Turn him over to the Wispil guards when they arrive."
Once the room is cleared, Falbin manages to prop himself up on a makeshift pillow made out of several folded blankets.
"Now... Brackett sent you all? How can I help? It's the least I can do - you saved my life, and my home."
At Ramli's urging, Falbin works his way into his larder. With assistance, he drags several items from the shelves and sets them about a small oaken table in his home before once again flopping himself onto a small but comfortable chair.
"There's mead, ale and whiskey. Help yourselves. I put out some dried venison I purchased at the market a week ago. It's a bit gamey but it's well seasoned."
Once Falbin tilts back some whiskey of his own, he responds to Benjamin's questions.
"Rumors of lycanthrope activity often stirs up bounty hunters a-plenty, anxious to kill for coin. The rumors of animal-men south of Wispil has brought several such groups to the region already. Most simply trade of belladonna, but these men were the worse of the sort, figuring they could take it all without paying."
A trio of Wispil guards, all gnomes, finally do make their way to Falbin's house and after a report confirmed by several of you, shackle and lead away the men to face justice nearer to heart of town.
Once things calm down again, Falbin continues, his speech slightly slurry as he takes down a second shot of whiskey.
"I initially thought lycanthropesh were in the area, but I wash wrong. Jush like the huntersh are wrong."
"The rumorsh shpring from animal-men shighted near Briar Henge, where the druidsh ritual has the shtrongest prolonged effect."
"The animal men are dangeroush and beshtial, but aren't true lycanthropesh - they can't change shapesh, and don't have any particular weaknessesh like belladonna or shilver."
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Harrol accepts the offered food, but not before a chorus of oh no no's and don't be silly, no need for that. Sitting down, the halfling tears into the venison and the last of his Almas-baked bread, washing it down with half a mug of mead.
He shakes his head into his cups at the talk of the lycanthrope hunters. "Monster hunters? They claim to be protecting the villagers, with nary a care for anything but their coinpurses. I hear the Lady of Bones has a special place for men like them..." he says, downing the last of his drink with a scowl.
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"Thank you Young Harrol, that is very generous." Damvorak stretches out and heads inside with the others. He helps himself to a little venison and a flagon of ale.
"So they're not true lycantrhopes? Excellent. Too bad about your garden though. It will take some time to recover I expect."
Maybe he should plant less belladonna - especially if it's not needed.
Falbin shrugs at Benjamin's inquiry.
"They stole plenty. I figure the burning was to prevent competitors from getting any that they didn't feel like carrying off."
The gnome examines his cup and frowns.
"Well, enough about me and my troubles. You all have quite the challenge ahead of you, with barely two days left to make it to Briar Henge in time to stop the ritual."
"Of course!"
Falbin claps his hands and leans forward, regaining some measure of sobriety at the severity of the topic.
"The druids performing the ritual - it's all part of a plan to transform everyone around them into feral animal-men as some sort of perverse way to return them to 'nature'."
The gnome's face twists in distaste at the thought.
"The ritual is a slow but powerful one - they've been performing it for weeks, and it now seems to affect the area for miles around Briar Henge. Exactly how far out, I couldn't say."
Shrugging, Falbin continues.
"I've done a lot of research though, and have learned two important points."
He holds up his tiny hands and begins to count on his index finger.
"One, the effects of the ritual can be reversed only if the Atavistic Splinter is removed from Briar Henge before the entire ritual is completed - this would return any affected animal-men to normal."
Falbin then counts on his next finger.
"Two, the ritual will be complete in just under two days when the moon is full."
The gnome swallows, yet it is neither food nor drink but anxiety this time.
"And it's just about two days from Wispil to Briar Henge."
Frowning at you all, Falbin seems to realize for the first time how dire the situation has suddenly become.
"Affect you all?"
Falbin gazes at everyone.
"Um, no no - I don't think so. I'd think it would only affect someone if they were exposed for a considerable duration at close proximity to the site at Briar Henge."
Clearing his throat, he adds, ".. if you head straight there quickly, you shouldn't have anything serious to worry about."
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Moblyd takes one more long shot of the smokeless whiskey and grabs a shank of meat before ambling to the door. "Le's be off, friensh." She thinks to go back to the table and pick up some vegetables, and then into the gnome's larder to restock her tins full of baking ingredients. "Ye've a fine larder, gnome. Thank ye fer sharin'."
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"Generous?" the halfling asks, scratching his head. "'spose I never thought about it like that. But don't thank me, don't thank me... It's Iomedae that deems you worthy, not little old me. I'm just the messenger boy."
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Harrol grumbles at the news about the silver bullets. "Could have bought myself some nice Belisian honey on the way through..." he says, sullenly. "Ah well, can't be helped!"
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""
The halfling scurries to grab his walking stick, scrolls and holy texts, gathering them up into his arms and making for the door. "Thanksforthefoodusallthebestcleanthatwoundtwiceaweek" he says, bowing out of the room and making for the door, looking incredulously at Moblyd as she turns around. "Wha... what are you doing?" he says, jaw dropping as she helps herself to the gnome's larder. "You... You..."
"You should grab some of that smoked cheese. I don't mean to march two days on an empty stomach!" he says with a grin, as he places a silver coin on the shelf.
Falbin nearly falls off his chair as he watches his larder raided by hungry demi-humans.
"Hey! I'm not the Wispil grocer! What you folks take out my front door, you folks pay for!"
Shaking his head, Falbin realizes his outburst was a bit lacking in generosity given the circumstances in which he's been saved. The gnome shambles off to his garden and returns with a large pink flower that he holds delicately like a piece of fine Minkain dinnerware.
"Take this with you. I'm not sure if it'll come in handy with the druids or any animal-men you come across, but you never know..."
The litheria blossom is a rare but naturally occurring flower with large, pink petals. The pollen of the litheria blossom bridges the gap between life and death, functioning like an elixir, though inhaled rather than imbibed. A creature that inhales the pollen gains the benefit of the death ward and deathwatch spells. Both effects last for 10 minutes.
If plucked, the flower remains vibrant and alive until the pollen within the flower is inhaled, at which point the flower wilts and dies. The pollen remains potent only so long as it held within the flower or immediately thereafter. One round after the pollen is removed from the flower, both the pollen and the flower become nonmagical.
Falbin takes up a position near his front door, seeming to sense you are all ready to head out on your journey, and he adds the following advice.
"The trail's fairly good for the first day, and there's a small logging camp you can rest at. Good folks, those loggers. They're no friends of the druids, so you're likely to receive a warm welcome if you mention you're working against Briar Henge."
Despite his parting words, he maintains a keen eye trained on his larder.
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On the road, the lumbering Sad Rock will roll up next to Young Harrol.
"How you good at fixing hurts?" Sad asks the question as if he is unfamiliar with the Gods from this side of the world. He might know them by other names, or he might just be confused. "What that do?" Sad points to Harrols holy symbol.