Round 3
Attack: (flank, power attack)
Damage: (sneak attack, power attack, dirty fighter)
Round Three:
Emboldened by Tyr's impressive display of tenacity and combat prowess, Harther takes another stab at the crazed bear.
Attack:
Damage:
Once more, Rani's prayer causes the groups wounds to close. Tyr pulls back his sword, and with a roar drives it into the gaping maw of the grizzly. With a final choked roar, the beast slumps heavily to the ground while Tyr flicks blood from his blade.
No sooner than the beast falls, his features begin to melt like wax and reform into something different. A man in a loincloth with a peaceful look on his face lies where once was a mighty beast. After a few heartbeats, the man's corpse rapidly ages and dissolves to dust. Once the bizarre transformation is completed, The Chartered Six notices a marked change in the clearing. Colors become brighter, the rain slows and finally stops, birdsong fills the air as sparrows and other small birds flit from branch to branch, and the algae covered pool in the center of the open area in front of the temple instantly clears and is now filled with clear, clean water.
Rani, especially moved by the scene, says after a few moments, "My friends, I believe I have found my purpose. When you move on from this place, I will remain. Please send word to Jhod that we have found the temple, and that I am here making it what it once was. If ever you need my aid, you will find me here. It has been a rare honor to travel with you, and The Chartered Six will always hold a place in my heart."
Eseldra is sad to see Rani go as well. "I understand well what it means to have a purpose and am pleased that you were able to find and satisfy yours. I do wish you were not leaving me alone with all these men, however."
Eseldra is fine with exploring and returning to Oleg's.
Farewell priestess... Looks like the party will have to rely on my healing for a time... Cayden help them!
Berenkor uses his two remaining spells per day to finish healing Tyr's wounds.
Placing a hand on Rani's shoulder, "You shall be missed, but I'm sure our paths will cross again. Finding one's purpose is something we all should be so lucky to do."
The Chartered Six uses the now beautiful, if in desperate need of repair, temple as a makeshift campground. The night is spent uneventfully, with the group awakening at dawn feeling refreshed and re-energized.
Feeling the blessings of Erastil upon them, the group bids Rani farewell and proceeds to finish their exploration of the hex. Everything seems to go their way, with paths opening before them and no hardships presenting themselves. It is only midday when they finish exploring the region.
Still full of energy, and ready to make the return trip to Oleg's, the group sets off at a quick pace. It is an hour or so after sundown when they arrive, tired but happy, at the trading post.
The first sign that something is different presents itself when the group goes to stable their horses. In the outbuilding, along with the horses, is stabled a mighty elk. Shortly after The Chartered Six's arrival, Oleg steps from inside the house and greets the party warmly.
"You have some visitors, my friends," he rumbles. "One of which is...different. You'll see. Come inside! 'Lana has some roast boar left over." The group follows Oleg into the house, where two individuals are sitting at two different tables; one a dwarf, and one, which the party is surprised to see, is a kobold.
Greetings Earth-Brother! Berenkor exclaims with delight upon seeing the Druid. I am known as Berenkor, spokesman and orator for the Charted Six... Er... Well Chartered Five now...
Mikmek... Berenkor mutters in Draconic.What brings you here, envoy of the Sootscales?
"Greetings Mikmek!" Harther greets the kobold warmly.
"What brings you all the way here to Oleg's? I trust all is well with the Sootscales. Tartuk hasn't returned, has he?" the ranger asks with concern.
Euron could easily be mistaken for a dwarf, with his large, unkempt beard and stocky build. He was tall, even for a human, standing over six feet, so when he stood from the tables circling the fire at Oleg's, the Chartered Five could see he was either a human, or a strange breed of tall dwarf.
"I ain't one for many words. Folks and animals alike have been talking 'bout ye, and ye've caught me good eye."
The large man shifts, perhaps uncomfortable at any sort of negotiation.
"If ye all aim to continue cleaning up the Stolen Lands, perhaps takin' on the Stag-man and his goons, well me n' Niko aim to help."
With his gesture, you notice a grey-brown wolf lazily snoring by the fire. At hearing his name, the wolf suddenly snaps into an upright position and yawns, it's massive tongue rolling out between its brilliant canines. Standing, it stretches it's lithe form into a massive reverse arc, it's front paws clawings at the dirt, before padding over next to the druid. With a nod, it moves forward slightly, sniffing in the direction of the Chartered Five.
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Mikmek... Berenkor mutters in Draconic.What brings you here, envoy of the Sootscales?
Mikmek perks up at hearing himself addressed in the Auld Tongue. Speaking in flawless Draconic couplets, the scaled creature responds:
"Sir, although our races habitual enemies are/
Know you that I have traveled far/
To beseech you, Sir, to let me join/
Your troop, when next you seek for coin,/
Or with sharp weapons, to put an end/
To rapacious beasts, with claws that rend./
In short, Sir, I beseech you/
-Ye Gods, let my prayers reach you! -/
I've had enough of petty Sootscale strife-/
Let me cleave to you, Sir, in your adventuring life!"
For the benefit of the other party members, Mikmek turns around and says in broken Common, with a big grin: "And me promise- Mikmek no stab you during you'ses sleepytimes! Swearsies!"
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At Harther's genuine warmth, Mikmek all but capers up to the big man. "Hello, brave hat man! How you are? You remember Mikmek?" (Here the kobold's face all but splits open with a big grin, at the idea of being remembered, apparently.) "Me come fight with you all-you!"
In response to Harther's question: "No, Tartuk, no return! He big scared of youses!"
After a moment, Mikmek looks around at the group, and apparently notices something that makes him quite uneasy. "Where no pretty, scary bigfeet elf-lady?"
Mikmek... Berenkor mutters in Draconic.What brings you here, envoy of the Sootscales?
Mikmek perks up at hearing himself addressed in the Auld Tongue. Speaking in flawless Draconic couplets, the scaled creature responds:
**Draconic**
For the benefit of the other party members, Mikmek turns around and says in broken Common, with a big grin: "And me promise- Mikmek no stab you during you'ses sleepytimes! Swearsies!"
Tyr shakes his head, trying to hide a rue-full grin, "Well then freind Mikmek, we'll also have to start teaching you better common." He moves closer and makes an offer to shake hands with the Kobold.
"You might find yourself coming afoul of the larger societies behavior id you can't understand folk."
Tyr nods to Euron Kelredis also by way of greeting.
"I am here and do not have big feet, unless you are prattling about Rani, in which case, she has left our group to tend the Temple of Erastil we located to the south of here."
Her eyes narrow at the kobold. "Of course, I am forced to wonder...why are you here?"
Her eyes narrow at the kobold. "Of course, I am forced to wonder...why are you here?"
"Eseldra, go easy on him...especially as fond of you he seemed." Karthas adds with a grin.
Turning his attention to gruff looking man that nearly matches Karthas's own stature...walking over, Karthas extends his hand in greeting,
"Greetings...the name's Karthas. Not that I pretend to speak for the rest of the group, but contining to explore these lands and put an end to the rampant banditry are what we are chartered to do."
Karthas reaches into his belt pouch and produces a bit of jerky...
"You mind if I share a bit of this with your friend?" Gesturing to the wolf.
The wolf suddenly sits upright and looks up at Karthas with eager eyes. Seeing the barbarian talking to his master, Niko pivots his head to the side and seems to decide that perhaps Karthas wants something else. Niko immediately snaps his rear around to the barbarian's left leg in a perfect heel.
Euron chuckles at the sight. "Yeah, I think he's earned it, best giv'em the meat before he's rolling around on his back or tries to play fetch-the-kobold."
The wolf suddenly sits upright and looks up at Karthas with eager eyes. Seeing the barbarian talking to his master, Niko pivots his head to the side and seems to decide that perhaps Karthas wants something else. Niko immediately snaps his rear around to the barbarian's left leg in a perfect heel.
Euron chuckles at the sight. "Yeah, I think he's earned it, best giv'em the meat before he's rolling around on his back or tries to play fetch-the-kobold."
"I believe he has." The barbarian says, giving the piece of jerky to the wolf.
Kathas then turns his attention back to the wolf's master,
"You say the animals have been talking about us...dare I ask what it is they are saying?"
Mikmek wishes to join us in our travels... He's asking my permission Berenkor translates with a chuckle.
I don't see why not. We can always use him as bait Berenkor says with a wicked grin. Plus, I will admit he sings a nice tune in his own tongue.
Then Berenkor says something else in a strange tongue...
You put a foot wrong though Mikmek, and it will be my longsword that takes you, in your sleep. Understand?
Turning his attention to the conversation-
I wish the animals would talk to us from time to time! I can converse with them, and i'm sure their knowledge will be helpful...
Berenkor then uses Speak with Animals to introduce himself to Niko.
At the sound of the gnome speaking directly to it, the wolf's focus breaks briefly from Karthas' hand.
It looks Berenkor in the eyes and with a rather guttural growl, followed by several low whines - the bard understands.
Well met, gnome. Tell this tall human his meat is tasty, if not a bit overcooked.
Padding over, it's nose nudges the gnome's hand into resting on it's forehead.
And I promise to fetch him a tasty rabbit for repayment.
Euron guffaws at the sight of the wolf getting along so well with the others.
"Now ye all know why I let the wolf handle me diplomacy... seems 'e trusts ya, which is 'nuff for me."
Rubbing his thick forearms, the druid ventures a question. "I understands ye been mappin' the region -- might'n I take a look and check ye progress?"
Berenkor absent-mindedly scratches the wolf gently behind the ears, seemingly deep in thought. He snaps out of it with a smile.
Niko says thankyou and that he promises you a rabbit Karthas.
As for the map, are you looking to join our group then? Perhaps we can take you along with usfor a day or two and then share our cartography once we get to know you better? It's Harther's call really though, this wilderness-mapping isn't really my forte.
"I understands ye been mappin' the region -- might'n I take a look and check ye progress?"
"Well met, Euron," Harther greets the druid respectfully. "And well met, Niko," the ranger says, nodding to the wolf.
"Yes, we have been mapping the region," Harther responds to Euron's question as he removes a well-worn parchment from his pack. "I'm afraid I'm not much of a cartographer, but here's what we've got so far."
"If ye all aim to continue cleaning up the Stolen Lands, perhaps takin' on the Stag-man and his goons, well me n' Niko aim to help."
"So you've heard of the Stag Lord?" Harther asks with evident interest. "Do you - or the animals - know where his lair is?"
Berenkor glances at Harther's notes on the dates of their deeds as he shows Euron the map.
Hey wait... We've been at this for about a month now! Time for a heavy night at Oleg's in celebration tonight methinks!
"Aye, I've heard o' this Stag-man. S'been a while'n since we've been n'the Greenbelt, but I bet we'd find him in the southern area hereabouts." The man's large forefinger thumps the map somewhere generally in the southern region.
The big man thoughtfully tugs his beard. "A temple to Erastil, eh? What a surprise..."
"Kobolds and mites, eh? I swear ye travel down to Pitax n'back and the whole region goes to hell." The wolf whines in acknowledgement.
Euron grins at Mikmek, "present company excluded, o'course."
I don't want to overstep what PCs should know, but I figured Euron's been about the wilds, just maybe its been a few years. Doesn't take a genius to deduce the Staglord is somewhere in the south, so it's not like I just gave any helpful information.
Was hoping to get lucky on some guesses and "prove useful" enough to the party to separate Euron as a PC from an NPC.
And yes, Euron will only refer to him as the Stagman, he's no Staglord to the druid.
Eseldra also votes for escorting supplies to Rani as soon as possible.
During the night's festivities, Harther speaks with Euron. "Master Euron, you seem pretty familiar with these lands and with the goings-on hereabouts," the ranger states. "I was wondering if you might have heard anything about a caravan that was raided about seven months ago. You see, my father was leading a trade caravan from Restov through the Stolen Lands to the River Kingdoms then. A couple of months ago I received word that a wandering priestess of Erastil had found a grievously-wounded survivor from my father's caravan; before the man died he stated that the caravan had been waylaid by bandits, and that my father had been captured by those bandits. I've been seeking any information I can find since taking on the Charter, but so far I've come up empty-handed."
Crossing his thick arms, he nods, a trace of empathy in his voice.
"Aye, the bandits be known to me, first-hand and by reputation -'fraid I can't say I know 'bout your father, but I wager an owlbear's beak that this road, like many others, leads to the Stag-man and his band."
During the night's festivities, Harther checks in with Mik and Gilbert to see how they are continuing to get along at Oleg's.
Harther also tells Jhod Kavken about the restored Temple of Erastil, and offers to escort the priest there when the group departs to take supplies to Rani.
Eseldra enjoys herself slightly during the festivities, permitting herself a second cup of wine. She spends much of the party moving from one bench to another as the kobold inevitably ends up sitting next to her.
Calls into the Abyss-
Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullyyyyyyyyyyyyy???
|
MSN between me and Sully- he wanted to let you all know he'll be back soon.
bandersnatch1110@yahoo.com says:
Hey, man! Please do me a favor and let everyone know in my games that I haven't forgotten about them! My PC is in the shop and I don't have access to the forums at work anymore. As soon as I can, I'll be back!
Alex- says:
Ok buddy will pass it on- any expected ETA for a return?
bandersnatch1110@yahoo.com says:
A week or so, tops.
MSN between me and Sully- he wanted to let you all know he'll be back soon.
bandersnatch1110@yahoo.com says:
Hey, man! Please do me a favor and let everyone know in my games that I haven't forgotten about them! My PC is in the shop and I don't have access to the forums at work anymore. As soon as I can, I'll be back!
Alex- says:
Ok buddy will pass it on- any expected ETA for a return?
bandersnatch1110@yahoo.com says:
A week or so, tops.