"Distress or is somebody working with the bird?"
Brother Larvendi gives his head a quick shake. "Hard to tell, but if I had to guess... We should plan for further battle."
The group moves out of the chapel, following the sounds. As you grow closer, the bird lets out a screech of pain, and you here the clang of metal, glancing off something hard.
The sound seems to be coming from somewhere North of the dormitories. Once into the nave again, you find a doorway leading to the east, towards an unexplored portion of the monastery. Ahead you see starlight pouring in from another doorway. You come to a stop there at the edge of a large open air courtyard. The bird, the Geier is there near the western side, and it is moving on a target. The prey appears to be a man, and he is desperately swinging a scimitar to keep the massive bird at bay.
Just as you arrive, a few smaller birds, smaller than the adult, but still the size of war dogs, hop up onto the edge of a huge nest that lies in the overgrown foliage.
"We must help him!"
Xanyon prepares to fire unless his companions stop him.
Muqaq will run up and attempt to daze the larger bird.
"Naam, kwamba ni kikubwa kubwa kuliko kuku, lakini Mimi kuthubutu kusema itakuwa ladha kuchoma nzuri tu sawa!"
As Tarin's bow is back in the chapel, the devotee of the Drunken God rushes forward with a great overhand chop at the bird.
The area features a grassed area, allowed to grow by a break in the tiles. However, it has not been tended in many years. The grass is is brown, but rises to waist height, and while some of the shrubs still appear to live, the two big trees appear dead. Moving through the space will be difficult.
Xanyon prepares his shot and takes aim, though a shrub in front of his partially screens his view. Muqaq steps forward, wielding a spell now familiar to all. However, as Muqaq casts the magic, it finds no familiar target to affect, and he feels the spell pass harmlessly over the unfamiliar animal mind. (Daze). Seif runs forward, skirting around the edge of the overgrown garden. Tarin moves into the shrubs and overgrown grass, crashing through them to reach the rear of the giant bird.
The Geier having until only moments ago being only aware of its catch and future meal, is startled by the influx of moving creatures, as well as by the force of the meal's stinging blow. Now, surrounded by them and injured, it moves to better get a look at its foes. Its wings reach out and blast down, allowing the bird to take a tremendous leap. It takes flight briefly from where it stands and alights just a stones throw away on the edge of its nest.
Kalb startles as two men rush into the brush from the wall to his left and more shadows crowd around in the darkness beyond. Still somewhat dazed from the ordeal, he in uncertain if the cry for assistance that came beyond the wall is meant for him or the bird. Accordingly, he shifts his stance to place his back against the wall and watches the newcomers warily . Then, the closest of them starts jabbering at the bird in some bizzare dialect and the bird stretches out its wings and jumps back to the nest.
"Sarenrae's radiant tits," Kalb curses and points his sword at the turbaned beastmaster. "I'm not going to go down without a fight. I cut your bird up pretty good, but I'll do worse to you if you don't back the hell up right now." His voice quavers a bit from exhaustion and dehydration, but the sword point is solid as stone - it doesn't waver a bit.
Kalb shifts his gaze to the other man and notices his sword is bloody. Fresh blood, and more splattered on him from the geier. He shakes his head to clear it and asks...
Who *are* you people?
The figure in front of you is of middling height, and is swathed in the flowing white desert garments, including a full hood and veil, common in this land. His clothing, however, is both slashed and badly burnt, ragged in many places, revealing pale skin shot through with pink scar tissue. He appears to be bleeding gently from a few minor wounds.
Shifting his stance so that his blade still points at the great bird, he looks at Kalb for a moment, then rasps, "We seek to cleanse this once holy place. Who are you, sir, and what do you here?" His voice is neither kind nor threatening, though the harsh sound of his voice is not comforting.
"We have more pressing issues. Giant bird first, introductions later!"
Xanyon moves up to clear his view of the bird and prepares to fire if it swoops back in.
The massive bird spreads his wings and leans forward to let out a deafening shriek.
"Pull back to the entrance and take it down with ranged fire." Muqaq says to his team. "Stranger, get inside quick, we'll cover you." he says to Kalb.
Seif-al-Din eyes the stranger warily.
"Tuna maana wewe hakuna madhara, lakini kama vyombo vya habari suala hilo, sisi kujilinda."
Shaking his head in disgust at the thick vegetation, Seif-al-Din sheathes his blade, and draws his sling.
Tarin, bereft of his bow, pulls back to the cover of the entrance.
Hearing Muqaq's order Xanyon complies.
HP = 13/13
AC = 18/14/14
Weapon Equipped = Pistol
Grit = 1/2
Orc Ferocity = 1/1
Bullets = 34/50
Black Powder = 34/50
Alchemical cartridge (paper) = 18/20
Speed = 30'
Status Effects = None
Kalb replies to the firey figure in the doorway, "Not without my spear. I must have dropped it in the nest, and I'll be buried in Nex before I let some overgrown vulture keep my gnoll-sticker. And also, I can't let something get away with trying to eat me. It would ruin my reputation."
Still not able to understand a word the closer man said, and thinking him either pesh-addled or div-possessed, he casts a hasty glance at him and readies his shield.
Then, he cautiously moves forward, holding it between him and the geier. He steps carefully in the thick weeds and stops his advance near the edge of the nest, not quite even with the other swordsman. He looks around for his spear, hoping he dropped it in the nest and not out in the dunes.
"I don't let other people fight my battles for me," he says, with a nod to the hooded warrior.
Tarin nods as the man steps up beside him. "Bravery is the key to freedom," he states simply. "But I will be beside you."
Eyes returning to the bird , Brother Larvendi rasps at the warrior, "You didn't answer my questions. Perhaps after the battle we can resume the discussion."
Sati closes her eyes in concentration for a moment, and then summons another dog, this one right within the nest. It appears and attacks the Geier.
Tarin nods as the man steps up beside him. "Bravery is the key to freedom," he states simply. "But I will be beside you."
Eyes returning to the bird, Brother Larvendi rasps at the warrior, "You didn't answer my questions. Perhaps after the battle we can resume the discussion."
"Do you not recognize me? I am Kalb al-Solku. You are not dressed as a foreigner, despite your accent. Surely you must have heard of me, for my prowess is legendary across Katapesh. Gnolls speak my name in huddled whispers as they cower around their fires, fearful of the future. Indeed, it took a sandstorm to best me where gnolls could not. I sought shelter here, in this cave. The vultures were a surprise. I do not remember them being here as I rested."
Round: Whatever
Muqaq barks an order for the attack and follows his own advice with a flame bolt. It hits with a sizzle as feathers in that spot shrink and burn.
Seif sheathes his blade and draws forth his sling.
Xanyon moves to where he can get a better view of the creature and fires with his pistol. The bullet strikes true, evoking a squawk from the beast.
The stranger, Kalb, readies his shield and advances into the overgrown grass and shrubs, fighting his way forward.
Tarin readies his blade, holding it high in case the bird comes close enough to strike.
Sati summons a dog and it attacks, but the strike is wild and does not touch the large creature.
The two smaller birds on the edge of the nest, apparently younglings of the larger bird, hop forward to attack the person at the edge of their nest. Tarin is ready for an opponent and swings at one of them with his blade. . His attack misses the agile bird, and in position, they both attack. . Both peck at the half-elf, but he is able to ward their beaks away.
Three more small birds, less mature looking than the first two, and still covered with more down than feathers, poke their heads up from the nest, and squawk aggressively. One hops up onto the edge of the nest with the other two and attacks Tarin like its older kin. . Again it comes close, but Tarin is able to easily keep the beak out of range with a quick bobbing movement.
The Geier sweeps it's gaze around, appraising it's foes. Then with its long neck it jabs forward at Tarin . , . The beak strikes him in the chest and penetrates deeply. The thing's beak comes back bloody, with a gobbet of flesh in its mouth, which it quickly swallows down. Blood gushes out from the wound in Tarin's chest, and he stumbles for a second, before the injury and loss of blood catch up with him, and he folds to the ground.
The youngest two birds, still under the form of the giant mother, lash out with beaks at the dog. . The attack tears out the dog's throat, causing it to vanish.
Kalb grimaces as his ill-timed boasting distracts the other warrior, letting the vulture strike. He moves forward to stand over the fallen warrior and holds his shield cautiously, striking at the smaller vultures before they can do further damage to his new ally.
"One of you drag him back. Damn my spear. It can wait! A little vulture sh*t won't hurt it."
Seif-al-Din tosses a sling stone at the big bird!
Muqaq mutters to himself angrily, "I said fall back for a reason. Damn!" while lining up another flame ray.
Round 2
Kalb stands cautiously, and lashes out with his blade at one of the smaller birds. Unfortunately, his fear of a strike from the large bird keeps his eyes from his target, and the blow sails clear.
Seif looses a stone from his spinning sling, and it hits hard, making a hard whump when it hits its feathers.
Muqaq moves to Seif's side and unleashes fire. The blast hits the largest bird with a hiss of burning feathers, and brings a cry of pain from the beast.
Sati fire her crossbow but the bolt catches a branch of the tree and sticks quivering before it ever gets to the bird.
Xanyon reloads and fires again . The shot hits, bringing out another squawk of pain from the bird.
Two of the smaller birds, one feathered, the other downy, strike at Kalb, now almost seeming to want to keep a competitor away from their new food. . The strikes come in fast and deadly, first from one direction, and then from the other. One strikes a beak deep into the muscle of his thigh, causing his shield to drop on his left, and the other strikes for his neck. Blood erupts from both sites, and the dark skinned warrior wobbles and falls to the ground.
The third small bird on the edge of the nest hops down onto Tarin, and begins to feed. . It rips out a gobbet of the downed half elf's flesh and tilting its head back, swallows.
The large adult geier extends its wings to move towards its foes and force them away from the nest. It's wings and body appear bloody, and the thing seems severely injured. However, with its nest here, its young to defend, and food captured, it does not appear willing to be driven off. It flaps its wings down hard, again doing a short half flight, half hop through the air to land near its targets. It lands just south of Seif and Muqaq; close enough to reach out and attack them with its long neck, but far enough to stay out of the reach of its prey. It spreads its wings and shrieks at the two men with a long, deafening call. The sound is harsh, and loud enough to force your ears to stop registering the sound. When it ends the sound echoes through the small space and leaves your ears ringing.
Seif-al-Din casts a worried glance in Tarin's direction...
...however, given that the birds are already feeding, he fears the worst.
"Wewe na vifaranga yako kulipa kwa hilo!"
He then drops his sling, 5' steps in front of Muqaq, and in one swift motion, draws his blade, and takes a swing at the great bird, hoping to put it down, permanently!
Seif's blade connects with the giant bird's long flexible neck, slicing it open. The bird stumbles backwards, flapping awkwardly before tipping sidewise and beginning to thrash. It kicks out at nothing and flaps raggedly, but for all that it is still moving, in all likelihood it is already dead.
HP = 13/13
AC = 18/14/14
Weapon Equipped = Pistol
Grit = 1/2
Orc Ferocity = 1/1
Bullets = 32/50
Black Powder = 32/50
Alchemical cartridge (paper) = 18/20
Speed = 30'
Status Effects = None
Xanyon will fire at one of the smaller birds feasting on Tarin.
Sati will move in closer (-D16) and them summon another dog to defend the downed companions. The dog will appear standing over Kalb's body (since Tarin's space is occupied) and then attack the bird eating Tarin.
Muqaq raises his finger and tries to blast the carrion off of Brother Larvendi.
Round 3
After Seif steps forward and kills the mother Geier, Muqaq raises his hand to throw another bolt of fire at the birds, hopefully to stop one from eating the half-elf. The bolt strikes true, and the smell of burning feathers further fills the air. Xanyon follows up the flame attack with a shot from his pistol, also striking the bird. Sati summons a dog to destract the birds from their downed friends. It bites at the bird nipping at Tarin, but fails to connect with it.
The bird on Tarin flaps into the air under the number of assaults directed its way. . The dog snaps at its leg as it flies up, catching a foot in its mouth and preventing it from continuing up. The two remaining birds next to Kalb strike at the dog, , tearing it to bits before the thing disappears. One of the remaining hatchlings jumps down from the edge of the nest next to Tarin and pecks at his face. . Its beak comes away bloody with a hunk of skin in its mouth, and one of Tarin's eyes dangling from some stringy bit of viscera caught in its mouth. The last of the hatchlings hops flightlessly across the edge of the nest, and down onto the dark stranger's form.
Round 4
Round 4
HP = 13/13
AC = 18/14/14
Weapon Equipped = Pistol
Grit = 1/2
Orc Ferocity = 1/1
Bullets = 31/50
Black Powder = 31/50
Alchemical cartridge (paper) = 18/20
Speed = 30'
Status Effects = None
Wincing at what he sees happening to Tarin, but in no particular hurry to join him, Seif-al-Din sheathes his blade, and stoops to pick up his sling.
Sati concentrates again, bringing in another dog to defend the fallen men. (A17)