Dien's Entombed with the Pharaohs (Inactive)

Game Master dien

Swagger still in place, milady. :P

Blood stains the sand around the gnoll... all of it his. His body is rent a dozen times over - still Shaggar stands. Frothy blood bubbles from his muzzle, a sure sign of a punctured lung. He spits his life-blood clear of his mouth and growls, "Desert fowl for breakfast. Hatyah - KILL!" Then he wades into the fray. Pulling his axe in a two-handed grip, the gnoll whips the blade sideways slashing the damned sphinx blocking the entrance and then pushing the blade towards its half-hidden friend. For good measure, he shows the closer sphinx what a real bite can do, savaging its clawed limb with his own fangs.

MOVE: Pull Axe
STAND: Axe + Cleave + (Secondary) Bite (blue sphinx then red)

STAND: Greataxe: (crit: 19+/3x) & Bite (crit: 20/2x):
MODS: Magic, PA, Furious Focus, Cleave
Axe HIT: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30 Blue Sphinx
Axe DAM: 1d12 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 6 = 16

CLEAVE
Axe HIT: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20 Red Sphinx
Axe DAM: 1d12 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 6 = 25

Bite HIT: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 2 = 25 Blue Sphinx, crit?
Confirm: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 2 = 25 Yes
Bite DAM: 1d4 + 2 + 2 + 1d4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 + (2) + 2 + 2 = 11

Hatyah casts her red eyes heavenward as if looking to a semi-benevolent God...

Oh, sure, remember the camels' init but not Hatyah's. :D

Dien, I am on my phone right now - how far is Shaggar from Heldar? Also Shaggar should take 5 less points of damage from the life link with Heldar. And I'm just getting started :D

Second question for Dien - how will you be handling Misfortune? Cause I was evilly pondering using it for one of those crits :D I've seen it banned in PbP before, exactly because of stuff like this - let me know your thoughts on it.

So many questions! And things.

Shaggar:
-So I'll be the first to admit I'm a little fuzzy on natural attacks, which is part of why I was slow yesterday, I was double-checking that I was doing those right. Here's the relevant text:

Creatures with natural attacks and attacks made with weapons can use both as part of a full attack action...

So, I think if you had to take a move to get out your axe, which is what you're running with, you wouldn't get a bite. Correct me if I am wrong!

-As for Hatyah: I assume that animal companions, etc, go on their master's initiative! Sorry if I didn't make that clear. You're welcome to stick in a Hatyah action if you'd like. :P

-As for 5-foot steps, you can draw a weapon as your move, and still take a 5-foot step, because the 'move' action you did contained no actual... moving on the map. It's a wonky rule, but you're good, you can 5-foot back into the cave. The square in question is a little tight, but since Javi is small, I'll say you're not exactly squeezing, you're kinda spilling over into Javi's space. :P

Heldar:
If you take a five-foot step into Hatyah's square, you are adjacent to Shaggar, after his move. (Also, Hatyah may do something, if Shaggar wants her to.) Either way, you could still be in her square, just in one version you'd be squeezing and in one version you would not.

Regarding Misfortune.... (I always think of the Witch's Misfortune Hex). So, it's a broken ability at a tabletop, but in PBP I think you may be screwing yourself, because here's the wording:

Misfortune (Ex): At 1st level, as an immediate action, you can force a creature within 30 feet to reroll any one d20 roll that it has just made before the results of the roll are revealed.

Due to the nature of PBP, you're never going to get the chance to interject the immediate action 'before the results are revealed', because... I'm posting the results (damage, etc) with my posts.

I don't want you to have an ability you can never use, but I'm also hesitant to give carte blanche with Misfortune because, yeah, it is kinda broken. It basically translates to you getting a reroll of one critical hit, per enemy, in every single melee fight... as a first level ability. Dat's crazy.

--oh, also, you can't use it in this instance because you were flat-footed when Shaggar got critted, and you can't use immediate actions when you're flat-footed, and Misfortune is an immediate action.

For the remainder of this fight, we'll rule in your favor on it, so you can use it as normally (even though I'm already 'revealing' the dice roll results) if you see rolls you want to make me re-roll. But I'll think about how I might handle it for the rest of the campaign.

Oh, and fly checks~

Blue Sphinx: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Red Sphinx: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Both sphinxes are still flying, 5 feet off the ground.

(I am pretty sure Shaggar doesn't get the bite because you've gotta full attack to use it.)

(Oh yeah, and technically Heldar could use Misfortune on us! Rolled a 1? BAM! 20 for you! ... Well that's not really unfortunate, but you know.)

Yeah, that aspect of Misfortune is even more broken and cheesy. Such a badly written ability.

Yup, Yup. My mistake. I couldn't tell you the last time I played a character with a natural attack... so there you have it. Ignore the bite. Also, apologies if I forgot Hatyah acts on my init, I could have sworn you rolled it before but I may have been smoking crack. :)

Fearless Hatyah leaps to the defense of her wounded packleader (the lower space between Shaggar and Blue) and lunges at the sphinx, fangs flashing.

MOVE: Forward!
STAND: Bite

STAND: Bite (crit: 20/2x):
MODS: PA
HIT: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 6 - 2 = 22 Blue Sphinx
DAM: 1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 6 = 16

I am not sure where Hatyah is currently, after the 'MOVE: Forward!' part, but it becomes a BIG difference if Heldar can simply 5' step - I'm gonna assume he can do so, and shift to where I placed him (Hatyah is probably in front of Shaggar or Javi?)

As for misfortune... And if I am "never going to get the chance to interject the immediate action 'before the results are revealed'", I may think of taking another revelation like Combat Healer or Fortune - I don't want to break the game, but also don't want to gimp myself :D We'll take care of it afterwords Dien.

Heldar's face wears a serious frown as he notices the tremendous onslaught towards Shaggar. It is with a smile of satisfaction that he shares some of his companions wounds, but he realizes this is not enough.

Moving forward, he places his hand at Shaggar's back, and focuses himself on his life essence, as well as on the forces surrounding every living being, mending his companion's wounds.

Casting Cure Serious Wounds.

CSW: 3d8 + 7 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) + 7 = 18

As the last wisps of healing energy fill Shaggar's body, Heldar's mind doesn't even skip a beat, and closing his eyes, the man shoots forth a burst of healing energy that encompasses all creatures around him, except for the foes attacking them.

Selective Quick Channeling - using 2 channels for the day, leaving the sphinxes out.

Channel heal: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 1, 6) = 17

"You will not fall friend Shaggar" - his words sound calmly at the gnoll's back.

So... Summing up:
- Shaggar takes 5 less damage due to Life link. Instead of 61, he takes 56, leaving him at 13hp;
- Heldar casts cure serious on him, bringing him back up to 31hp;
- Heldar uses quick channel to heal everyone around him except the sphinxes - think it even reaches Rosalia, though she hasn't been hit yet. It brings Shaggar's hp to 48hp;
- It also heals Heldar for 25hp of damage, which brings him back to maximum;
- Someone check my math to see if it adds up :D

I think your heal numbers are correct, Heldar, and thanks! You should be able to get to your position with a 5' move. The horizontal positions should be Shaggar->Hatyah->MOBS (Mean Old Blue Sphinx).

Moved figures appropriately on the map.

Fly, after Hatyah's damage: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 By one! Alas.

Hatyah's snarling attack actually manages to ground one of the bird-lion beasts, her powerful jaws latching around a paw and dragging the creature down to earth.

Blue Sphinx: 32, grounded
Red Sphinx: 25

Meanwhile, Heldar's powerful conduit to the divine does its work-- sparing Shaggar some of the pain, and quickly healing him in two floods of invigorating warmth. The savage cuts and tears in Shaggar's flesh seal shut in a matter of seconds, skin and sinew knitting back together.

The distant sphinx, the one that Heldar and Javi had seen to begin everything, lets out a shrill, piercing scream that carries over the desert, and beats its wings harder, speeding up its approach to join its pack-mates in the savagery taking place.

Colorless Sphinx: 480 feet away

The sphinx that has felt the bite of Shaggar's axe and Hatyah's teeth stumbles backwards in the sand, screeching in pain and hatred. None of you speak the language being screamed at you, but if you imagine a parrot amplified by a thousand, you have some idea of the sheer magnitude of the raucous, discordant noises emerging from the falcon-like head. The camels, by the way, are flipping out.

Errybody gets a save!
Heldar, Fort DC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Rosalia: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Rook: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Lyrian: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Hatyah: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Javi: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Shaggar: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Holy cow, I'm surprised I got that many of you. Rosalia, Rook, Hatyah, Javi, and Shaggar are all temporarily deafened, for...

2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 rounds.

The other sphinx, apparently deciding it doesn't want to take the same sort of pain its fellow did, swoops out in a low arc over the sand and then up, wings pumping to regain altitude. Blue Sphinx on the ground. Red Sphinx is 40 feet up.

Rosalia
Shaggar
Heldar
Sphinxes
>>...Lyrian
>>...Javi

Lyrian and Javi, you're up!

Heck, deaf would have been BAD for Heldar. Phew :D

You got the last of my good dice luck, it seems!

Working his jaw to clear the sudden ringing in his ears, Javi darts forward, his blade clearing its scabbard as he watches for Rosalia’s attack… readying to strike in tandem with the bladeswoman.

Move forward to set up an Outflank for Rosalia, drawing his scimitar (map updated)
Ready an action to attack the blue sphinx when Rosalia appears in flanking position. Readied strike will include Outflank, Power Attack, Risky Strike, and Sneak Attack.

Rosalia: if that readied action triggers, Outflank activates and (with my threatened critical), you get an AoO. >:D

Lyrian draws his blade and as it clears the scabbard, intones words of power that liven the nerves and make the blood sing with raw speed!

[Cast haste on the party.]

Rosalia clamps her hands over her ears just a little too late to save her from the raucous parrot-screams of the sphinx; it's only because she bites her lip to the point of bleeding that she doesn't cry out in pain, revealing herself to the monstrous bird-like creatures around her. With her ears ringing the magus desperately attempts to recite the arcane words she'd read earlier that day... words she's read and spoken a thousand times before, but she can hear herself think then, at least!

It's with some measure of joy that Rosalia sees her blade wreathe with cold energy, chilling down until the metal itself seems to be made from steel blue metal rather than its brighter, silvery self. She grins, aligning herself up behind the sphinx before revealing herself as she stabs it in the back four times. Four, ah ah ah...

Spell Failure (20+ is good): 1d100 ⇒ 75

Swift: Activate Arcane Strike
Free: 5-foot step
Full: Full attack w/ spellstrike, piranha strike, and spell combat, casting frigid touch via spell combat

Spellstrike Attack (Arcane Pool, Outflank, Haste, Piranha Strike, Spell Combat): 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 4 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 1 + 4 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 21 This attack is vs. flat-footed AC as I am invisible!
Damage (Arcane Pool, Arcane Strike, Piranha Strike, Frigid Touch): 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 + 4d6 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 + (1, 5, 4, 1) = 29 And he's staggered for 1 round. If he's not dead.

I'm visible now, so the rest are versus normal AC, and also Javi's ready attack goes off.

Normal Attack (Arcane Pool, Outflank, Haste, Piranha Strike, Spell Combat): 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 4 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 1 + 4 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 21
Damage (Arcane Pool, Arcane Strike, Piranha Strike: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 15

Haste Attack (Arcane Pool, Outflank, Haste, Piranha Strike, Spell Combat): 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 4 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 1 + 4 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 23
Damage (Arcane Pool, Arcane Strike, Piranha Strike: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 14

Attack of Opportunity (Arcane Pool, Outflank, Haste, Piranha Strike, Spell Combat): 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 4 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 1 + 4 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 29
Damage (Arcane Pool, Arcane Strike, Piranha Strike: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 17

Total of 75 if all that hits. :P

Rosalia appears out of nowhere, her blade sinking deeply into the bird-lion creature with blistering chill wreathing it. For a second, a sheet of ice rimes the sphinx, coating its limbs with a cold sheen, and a second later, Javi's scimitar slices one of the front paws entirely off, spurting a copious amount of blood out into the sandy soil.

Rosalia's blade plunges several more times into the beast, but it is well past feeling anything-- the corpse flumps to the ground sending up a small cloud of sand.

The circling sphinx screams in rage, or fear, or both.

--ack, I forgot the camels. Um, technically they would have gone before Rosalia, but I'll stick them after for purposes of... not messing up the current order or something.

As mentioned: the camels are freaking out! They are trying their best to run the opposite direction, pulling at their loose halter ropes in wild panic.

Camel 1, strength check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Camel 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Camel 3: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Two of the ropes hold to the rock that Shaggar lashed them to, tightening, but the third one yanks free and starts running, long legs stretching over the sand.

One camel takes standard to break rope, move action to run. That camel is now 50 feet away and off the visible map. I will assume that Lyrian did not include the camels in his haste spell. :P

Rosalia
Javi
Camels
...>Shaggar
...>Heldar
...Sphinxes
...Lyrian

Shaggar and Heldar, you're up! And moving awfully fast at the moment, courtesy Lyrian's spell!

Shaggar enjoys the loss of pain that accompanies his rapidly knitting flesh for a moment and gives Heldar a furry thumb's up even as he bats at a cotton-filled ear. The gnoll barks an order at the hyena but it goes unheard. He slaps Hatyah on the haunches and points at the escaping camel.

Our survival depends on those animals almost as much as water.

Shaggar sprints to catch up with the retreating camel, anticipating it might draw the sphinxes to him.

MOVE: 60' south
If that puts me in range of the camel, then Grab it by the tether or neck.
If not, then do a second move to get in front of it and try to command it to stop.

GRAB CMB: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 1 = 29
Handle Animal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Hatyah races along with her packmate, trying to catch the camel.

MOVE: 80' south
She will attempt to Grab the camel by the tether.
GRAB CMB: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

I think we still got a sphinx incoming right?

Heldar smiles at Shaggar's signal, and falls again into incantation.

Casting Bless - hoping to catch Shaggar and Hatyah before they dash away?

Also, we're still hasted, correct?

We are definitely still hasted. Enjoy!

I think that, since Shaggar is deafened, I'm going to rule you can't get him in the Bless as it stands-- like, under normal circumstances, you could easily yell 'wait a moment!' and Shaggar could delay for the spell, but his deafness means he wouldn't hear that, which makes it hard to communicate group tactics like that. That said: there is nothing at all stopping you from running out the cave to be within 50 feet of Shaggar/Hatyah, and then casting Bless. The drawback is merely that you would be outside the cave, of course. :P

Moving to where the two visible camels are would grant you the ability to throw a bless and get all your allies. Or you can stay in the cave, and get everyone but Shaggar and Hatyah. I will let you decide which it is you are doing before the sphinx overhead gets its action.

The distant sphinx comes closer, beelining for the group. 360 feet away. The nearer sphinx hisses curses, staring down deciding who is the easiest prey... or if it's still worth it at all. The claws of these little morsels bite hard!

Shaggar: you are probably right about my past handling of initiative. I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CONTRADICT MYSELF

Shaggar races after the camel, preternaturally fleet, and gets one brawny, furry hand into the tether. YANK. Annnnd stop. The camel gets mild whiplash. Hatyah helpfully adds her jaws to the end of the strap.

Heldar will stay inside, and Bless all but Shaggar and Hatyah - sorry Shaggar :D

What's this I hear about initiative handling? *peeks*

Heldar calls down the blessing of life on some of his allies! And meanwhile, the bird-creature's eyes scan the ground below, flicking between Rosalia and the smaller creature that should be easy prey....

They hurt hard, their blades and teeth sting deep... but the little one, he should be easy to snatch up in one bite...

The sphinx screams shrilly as it dives for Javi, deciding that Rosalia with her strange cold blade is too dangerous.

Charge, Pounce, Higher Ground, Bite: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 31
Charge, Pounce, Higher Ground, Claw 1: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 31
Charge, Pounce, Higher Ground, Claw 2: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 23

While not quite as brutal as the initial attacks that had laid into Shaggar, the beak and claws are still quite formidable, it seems!

Damage, bite: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage, claw: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Damage, claw: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Total 21 damage, Javi.

Rosalia
Javi
Camels
Shaggar
Heldar
Sphinxes
...Lyrian

Lyrian's up, then Rosalia and Javi again! And the sphinx is back to 5 feet off the ground.

Javi takes 5 less points of damage (16 in total) due to the life link with Heldar ;)

Lyrian sheathes his sword and draws his bow while he moves outside the cave.

Swift: Arcane Strike
Full: Full attack
Normal Attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 17

Haste Attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 31
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 19

Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 15

"They certainly aren't very intelligent, are they?" Rosalia quips idly as she moves up through the sands behind the returned sphinx. With two quick flicks of her wrist the bird-headed beast finds itself with a new pair of crimson stripes decorating its hindlegs. When she pulls back, the cold steel of her blade has returned to its normal colouring, although it still dances with magic.

edit: forgot my base Dex damage

Two stabbos! Snick-stick! And the beast drops heavily to the ground, slumping in mass of colorful feathers and tawny lion flesh and a lot of blood.

No moar red sphinx. The only remaining sphinx is 360 feet away. Javi?

Between Heldar’s aid and his own reflexes, the small thief rolls with the onslaught. ”SO YOU CAN GIVE IT BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE IT!? HA!” Javi doesn’t seem to realize that he’s shouting at the top of his lungs as he dodges past the still-setting carcass and out across the sands.

He rushes over to the still-tethered camels, standing between them and the on-rushing third aerial predator, his blade readied to strike.

Move to defend camels. Ready an attack should the final sphinx get near (will be modified by Bless, Haste, Power Attack, Risky Striker, and Combat Expertise).

Fortunately, Javi's defensive badassery is not needed. The last sphinx wheels in a large circle as the knowledge that two of its nest-mates, or pack, or whatever, already lie dead in the sands. Hieracosphinxes aren't very smart, but this one seems capable of doing the basic math of its odds of survival if it tries to attack you.

Screaming imprecations in Sphinx, the creature pumps its wings for more altitude, and veers off, flying hurriedly away from the small prey that turns out to be predators instead.

Combat is effectively over, unless you guys want to take potshots at something that is going to be moving away at 120 feet per round.

The two dead sphinxes lie flopped on the sands, their blood soaking into the dry earth. As a trivial point of interest, the feathers in the funerary mask are actually from these sorts of creatures, although, the ones in the mask's headdress are of much nicer quality than the ragged and bloody feathers currently on display.

Shaggar is able to calm the camel and drag it back to the group, where it stamps and shies from the sphinx corpses.

The camels soothed, Shaggar takes his axe to one of the sphinxes. He hacks free the avian fore-limb and throws it to Hatyah as a reward. Then he splits the chest as if deboning a bird for dinner. He pulls free the still warm heart of his enemy and takes a bite out of it - in symbolic victory.

Remembering his manners, the gnoll offers the bloody organ to Rosalia and Javi saying around a mouthful of left ventricle, "Would you like some?"

Hatyah stalks to the back of the cave with her 'prize', giving a wary glare at anyone who appears to eye her meal.

Rosalia is quite pleased to see the third sphinx get scared off in the face of their brutal efficiently, and she spins around towards the cave, of a mind to find some cloth with which she might clean the blood from her gladius.

What she faces instead is the visceral vision of Shaggar ripping one of the sphinxes to bits, feeding part of it to Hatyah, and then consuming its heart. Not a sight for the weak-minded. Or weak-stomached.

The young magus pales visibly, her mouth slack-jawed at the sight. "Uh... n-no. No... thank you." Choking back a mouthful of bile, Rosalia hurries off into the cave where she can try and burn the memories of Shaggar's blood-encrusted muzzle from her mind.

Wanting to restore his companions as best as possible, Heldar's first concern is to bid them move closer, then allowing the healing power to flow through him, encompassing his friends.

Channel Energy heal: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 2, 2) = 11

The camels soothed, Shaggar takes his axe to one of the sphinxes. He hacks free the avian fore-limb and throws it to Hatyah as a reward. Then he splits the chest as if deboning a bird for dinner. He pulls free the still warm heart of his enemy and takes a bite out of it - in symbolic victory.

Remembering his manners, the gnoll offers the bloody organ to Rosalia and Javi saying around a mouthful of left ventricle, "Would you like some?"

The half-elf is initially taken aback by Shaggar's actions, but then, after pondering for a second, and muttering to himself something about "Experiences...", moves closer to his gnoll companion - "I will try a small portion master Shaggar" - he offers with a smile, and an outstretched piece of cloth to receive the morsel.

The gnoll looks at Heldar's offered cloth quizzically, trying to determine if this is a northern ritual of some sort. After a moment, he slashes off a slice of the heart muscle itself (likely the most agreeable piece to Heldar's sensibilities) and places it gently on the cloth, nodding at the healer. "You are useful in a fight, sayyid, and have my thanks. Eat enough enemy hearts... and we'll make a proper gnoll of you." He pats the Oracle roughly on the shoulder with an unbloodied claw.

Rosalia turns around to say something to Heldar just in time to catch a glimpse of him consuming a slice of heart. Her mouth hangs slack-jawed before her stomach churns... and she promptly dashes out of the cave to purge what remained of last night's dinner around the back side of their shelter.

With the sphinxes slain, the camels calmed, and alliteration allocated accordingly, you are all eager to get back into the cool of the cave and out of the heat of the sun before you start feeling it again. Doing anything* with the several hundred pounds of bloody meat that are now directly in front of your cave entrance, before you get back to your beauty rests?

*aside from nibbling their tasty hearts and forelegs

Appraise: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Apart from voiding the contents of her stomach, no, Rosalia's heading right back to bed.

Apologies on the absence, guys. Me and my fam got the crud. On the mend, now, though.

Appraise: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

After helping resecure the camels, Javi walks back into a gruesome scene... Shaggar and Heldar are dining... Rosalia is purging... all in all, it's enough to make most halflings lose their lunch.

He waves away Shaggar's offer, "I'd heard your people did that." He says, trying (and failing) not to make a face at the eating of the heart. "Can't say I've ever actually seen it until now."

He distracts himself by kicking the fore-claw he sheared off of the first sphinx. "I hear northerners claim a rabbit's foot brings good luck. What do you think one of these would bring me?"

Other than bleeding off the adrenaline with jokes and camaraderie, Javi goes back to his sentry post by the cave opening.

Appraise 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

After finishing his repast, Shaggar says, "We don't want to draw the scavengers to us." He barks - drawing the hyena out of the cave. Together they drag the bodies far away. When they return, Shaggar is lugging the avian head of one of the sphinxes.

He cuts away at the base of the skull and removes the brain, eyes, and nearly all the meat, leaving only the feathers and skin on the top and back of the skull. While Hatyah enjoys the 'delicacies', Shaggar tries on his new 'helmet' and makes some adjustments for vision before setting the skull in a hard to see niche in the sun - to dry.

Lyrian takes watch, standing sentry over the entrance to the cave, just inside the cave from the direct sunlight where his eyes are best adjusted to watch for movement on the plain below.

"You're certainly welcome to join us," Javi says from his spot, "but there's still a few hours of sleep you can catch if you'd like."

Won't staying awake give you penalties the day after, Lyrian?

Yeah. He's only taking one watch, though, so he should still be able to get his beauty rest. Unless we're in a hurry?

By the time Shaggar finishes dragging the carcasses away and returns with his grisly trophy, it's probably a little past noon. The sun is directly overhead, bearing down. You guys aren't going anywhere for the next six hours, at least. Those of you who were sleeping managed a solid three hours' rest before the interruption.

Shaggar's skin-stripped skull sits in the hot sun, the remaining shreds of sinew and gooshy stuff withering in the blazing heat.

Lyrian helps keep watch for a few hours, but finds the daylight duty to be dull as it is for Javi and Heldar: a single, small, thoroughly mundane bird lands at about two in the afternoon, and pecks a shred of meat off the skull Shaggar laid out, then flies off again. There are distant specks in the sky that might be buzzards, over in the direction Shaggar dragged the corpses.

The sun makes a slow climb across the sky, finally sinking down down down to the western plain, painting the desert in crimson shades as the shadows lengthen.

The time is passed by more jokes, told quietly so as not to wake the sleepers, as well as tales both bawdy and heroic, or whatever else you crazy kids get up to. Strip Harrow?

Finally it's time to get the camels on their feet again, and your sleeping party members as well. Another day survived! Another night of travel to look forward to!

A yawning Javi once again climbs aboard the detested (but recently appreciated) camel behind Heldar... fully ready for his fitful saddled snoozing.

"Wake me for anything exciting," he says before falling to sleep with a distinct quickness.

Shaggar quickly readies the camels and himself for travel. After a brief inspection and a grunt of approval, he ties the sphinx helm to his saddle.

Let's hit it!

Dien, how far are we from the pyramid? One or two days of travel more?

The gnoll looks at Heldar's offered cloth quizzically, trying to determine if this is a northern ritual of some sort. After a moment, he slashes off a slice of the heart muscle itself (likely the most agreeable piece to Heldar's sensibilities) and places it gently on the cloth, nodding at the healer. "You are useful in a fight, sayyid, and have my thanks. Eat enough enemy hearts... and we'll make a proper gnoll of you." He pats the Oracle roughly on the shoulder with an unbloodied claw.

** spoiler omitted **

Heldar tastes sparsely from the piece offered - surprisingly enough he cannot say he does not like it, in spite of the aggressive taste - "Even if consumed raw, I would season it Master Shaggar" - he smiles - "Thank you for the compliment" - he bows - "I don't think I have ever witnessed a group combating so effectively as I did today" - he adds looking at the others, raising an eyebrow as Rosalia moves away to wretch, almost laughing out loud.

Looking back at Shaggar, he follows up - "As far as making a gnoll out of me... I don't think I will ever manage such a distinctive fur, mane, or ferocity. One can always try, of course" - he finishes, taking another small bite.

Bing Crosby rules BIG TIME ;)

The night travelling does not lend itself to much conversation, as Heldar feels he is disturbing the very majesty of the desert itself, but he does comment - "As we potentially move closer to our destination, I cannot help but wonder at what may await us. I think we may distinctively feel the change from our most 'natural' travel and its hazards so far, into something more dark..."

Raising his voice ever so slightly, he adds - "Lets make sure our spirit is not broken by whatever lies ahead friends - I would like us to all agree on that, as I am sure it will not be easy" - the man is not smiling this time, but his eyes gleam under the desert sky - "And make sure we all return to have a drink and laugh about it"

Javi starts awake at Heldar's slightly-raised voice, eyes darting with a stunned alarm before he realizes nothing is amiss. "Oh, yes, sure. I agree. I agree." He begins to settle back into the saddle and the warmth of Heldar's back, "Whatever it is you're saying, I'm sure I agree... just no more shouting. A halfling's gotta get his beauty sleep, ya know?"

You'd guess that despite his apparent lack of comprehension, the little thief caught the gist of your suggestion.