Action 2
There was something about the scene that drew Vi towards it. Almost against her will, she jumped from the cart and approached. There was no stench, no buzzing insects. It almost looked like a faked tableau, like the soldiers were actors in a play, covered in paint, rather than blood.
The changeling kneeled beside the woman that Palisade had investigated. Her eyes stared at the twilight sky, unblinking. Not sure why she did it, Vi pushed her blond hair from her face, closed her eyes gently with the palm of her hand.
As she straightened the dead woman's hair, she noticed something glint at her throat. She discovered a necklace, a locket. Removing it from the woman's throat, Vi turned it over to see an inscription engraved in the silver locket. For my love, Nalla. Forever, Will.
Vi fastened the locket around her throat. Almost without thinking about it, Vi's form changed yet again, taking the aspect of the dead soldier. She used the Sleeves to make her clothes look like a Brelish uniform, minus all the blood.
She was about to take her notebook out to sketch the woman, when movement caught their eyes.
Action 3
Horrified at the sight of the approaching creatures, Vi knelt, frozen, beside the corpse she had mimicked.
No problem; I'll put her on the map next turn recap.
Game on!
As soon as she saw the dagger, Bronwyn reached out to take it. Vi liked daggers and could probably use one so shiny.
The wizard whirled around as the skeletonized wolf appeared. The silent howl was chilling to say the least. As soon as the other creatures appeared, Bronwyn activated her dragonmark. She had been mauled too many times in the past to leave anything to chance.
OOC: weapon design alert. :)
OK, I have a weapon that is pretty nice if someone were a Valenar elf but since we have none (you guys should look into them for your next Eberron PC), I am going to modify the weapon to fit one of our group.
Or rather one of you are going to design a weapon and I need a volunteer. If more than one person would like to take on this task, please let me know and I'll roll to see who gets it.
The 'winner' will get to design their weapon with the following parameters: a +1 enhancement with a 1st level spell usable 3/day or a 2nd level spell usable 1/day.
But I'll also want at least one paragraph for the description and one paragraph for the history of the weapon.
I'll probably make this weapon a legendary weapon, meaning it will get new powers as the PC gains levels so make it good! :)
Any volunteers?
Squeak nodded in approval at Bronwyn's pragmatism. "Understood. That should have the best effort to effect ratio. Let's strip the bodies first, so we don't get everything more covered in blood."
Squeak stepped in front of Bronwyn, and drew his new injector. The blue fluid within bubbled and steamed in contact with the air as a single drop ran down the steel shaft. Quickly he plunged the nozzle into his new abdominal port. "I am prepared" he announced to Bronwyn, as the plates of his armour emitted wisps of mist.
Spotting the skeletal wolves, Palisade quickly drew its magical Warhammer, gripping the weapon two-handed as it realized it wouldn’t have time to prepare its shield in time. Instead, the ‘forged stepped forward, closing the distance with the closest foe and hopefully interposing itself in the path of at least the second closest enemy. The undead beast raised its head as Palisade swung down, catching the heavy chop right between its empty eye-sockets. Bits and pieces of bone and dry sinew flew as enchanted steel connected with bone with a dry crunching sound.
Not within melee distance unless you can move close to them and strike.
Er... what did you do? remember to help out your 'slow' GM with an explicit OOC comment. :)
[ooc]Vi would be happy to have a magic dagger, but she's only in melee half the time. I'm quite happy for Squeak or Palisade to take it. Bub is cool, but he doesn't really DO anything. Yet. I think a cool weapon might get more use from our meat shields.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, hit
, miss
, miss
, miss
, miss
--------
, no
[ooc]Vi would be happy to have a magic dagger, but she's only in melee half the time. I'm quite happy for Squeak or Palisade to take it. Bub is cool, but he doesn't really DO anything. Yet. I think a cool weapon might get more use from our meat shields.
It doesn't have to be a weapon; it could be something that could be of use to a wizard or an alchemist as well or a rogue that's not a weapon.
I just want something with great flavor and Eberron history.
Someone...?
With Squeak's all clear, Bronwyn took a step to her right and lined up her hands so that she could catch two of the skeletons in her fire. As she finished the arcane incantation, flames leapt from her hands and engulfed the area in fire.
Vi screamed as the undead wolf silently savaged her arm. With a mighty tug, she was able to break free from the skeleton's fangs. Knowing that her daggers and rapier would be next to useless against such a creature, she prepared herself to run for it. Just as she was about to spring to her feet, she saw a bloodied morningstar next to Nalla's dead hand. It was as if the Brelish soldier had been keeping it ready for Vi, for just this occasion.
Grabbing the weapon, Vi leapt to her feet and swung it, two-handed, at the wolf's face.
The spiked head of the morningstar smashed into the skeletal maw of the wolf, knocking teeth out and cracking the empty eye socket. Vi screamed again, this time a wordless challenge, and readied herself for the next attack.
Squeak's backplate glowed cherry red under the onslaught of flame - but his new upgrades worked. The plate might be hot as a stove, but the more delicate components underneath were protected as the heat was channelled to the boiler. Steam started to wisp from the outlet port on Squeak's head.
Seeing Vi cop a biting, Squeak helplessly looked for a way to assist. Heedless of danger, he turned his red-hot backplate towards his foe, and prepared and threw a vial at the monstrosity savaging Vi.
Satisfied by the fact that its armor seemed sturdy enough to repel the claws of the undead beasts, Palisade decided to sacrifice defense for the sake of offense in an effort to finish the enemies quickly. The ‘forged dodged one swipe of a claw, then blocked a bite from the other wolf by kicking its armored foot into the open mouth and stepping down heavily, forcing the enemy’s head down.
Down came the hammer, landing on top of the immobilized foe’s head. The undead wolf’s skull practically exploded, sending a cloud of sharp bone shards flying in every direction. With the dead foe’s detached jaw still clamped around its boot, Palisade took a step towards his companions, dragging its enchanted hammer along the ground and up into a swing that hit the other wolf by it in the temple, snapping the beast’s head to a side and almost breaking its neck.
Rokko sat in the cart and looked out at the dead arrayed before him. He shook his head at the folly of war and closed his eyes to offer a prayer to their souls, and those of the others killed on the Day of Mourning.
His eyes snapped open at the sound of combat. As the skeletal wolves closed on his companions he jumped from the wagon and closed the gap with Vi and Bronwyn.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, pass
, pass
, yes
Also, Squeak totally provoked when he threw that vial.
I managed to 5' step for both Squeak and the wolf so no AoO on either of them.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
If Squeak's face had the ability to express guilt, it would have been wrought upon his face or all to see. Desperately he fished for a vial, throwing it upon the churning mess on the ground.
"I'm so sorry! I was distracted saving Vi! It won't happen again!"
The vial burst into a devastating conflagration, and to Squeak's horror Bronwyn's outer clothes started to ignite. ""
Vi's battle shout had turned into a scream of surprise when her foe suddenly burst into flame. It took her a moment to figure out what had happened. By then, most of the beasts were dead. But the last one had Bronwyn on the ground, and there was a lot of blood.
"B!" She ran to her friend, and swung her new morningstar down at the creature.
However, she slipped slightly on some of Bronwyn's blood, and missed damaging the skeletal wolf.
"I'm so sorry! I was distracted saving Vi! It won't happen again!"
The vial burst into a devastating conflagration, and to Squeak's horror Bronwyn's outer clothes started to ignite. "SO SORRY"
"Hey!" Vi protested. "You're allowed to save me, if I need saving." She patted the flames from Bronwyn's clothes - the wizard wasn't even singed.
Helping her up, Vi and Bronwyn compared injuries. "Are we sure magical healing won't help here?" Vi asked. "Maybe we could try, just in case."
Action 1:
Bronwyn shrieked in pain as she was mauled yet again. When she found herself prone on the ground, she curled into the fetal position and protected her face with her hands.
Action 2:
As Vi helped her get to her feet, she gave Squeak a weak smile. "It's ok, Squeak. You didn't know that was going to happen and Vi did need your help." She winced as she moved and pain shot up her arm. Her clothes had seen better days. "On the bright side, it looks like I'll have to abandon my mercenary uniform for my dress."
"Are we sure magical healing won't help here?" Vi asked. "Maybe we could try, just in case."
Bronwyn shook her head. "I really think it would be a waste of resources to try. Just bandage me up and I'll hope that nothing else tries to kill me."
Squeak looked carefully at Bronwyn. "You're leaking all over your clothes!" he stated, horror in his voice. "Bandages won't stop that, your skin won't heal. Perhaps I could... glue the tears shut?"
"Bandages won't stop that, your skin won't heal. Perhaps I could... glue the tears shut?"
”Suggestion. This one shall make the attempt regardless,” Palisade said as it lowered itself to one knee in frost of Bronwyn and reached out to touch her hands while invoking the blessing of the Creator-Goddess. But just as it had feared, the greyish-purple aura that flared around its hands flickered and died instead of fusing with Bronwyn’s lifeforce as it was supposed to. Shaking its head to signify its failure, the ‘forged looked up.
”Query. Did anyone bring a healer’s kit with them? Or, failing that, a needle and some thread? This one would suture the wound to stop the bleeding.”
"I have a healer's kit."
OOC: this is Eberron (3.5 D&D) and the setting said that 'cure' spells did not work but they specifically said that paladin's lay on hands DID work.
Cleric's could not channel energy in 3.5 so that was never addressed.
So let's say that cure spells (potions, wand, etc.) do not work but positive energy (including channels and fervor) does work but only at 50% strength so any positive energy result is halved.
Fair?
Either way works for me. I'll eventually share it with everyone so if it's 'ready' then post it. If you're still working on it and want some input then share it privately and we'll post it when completed.
Game on!
"Bandages won't stop that, your skin won't heal. Perhaps I could... glue the tears shut?"
”Suggestion. This one shall make the attempt regardless,” Palisade said as it lowered itself to one knee in frost of Bronwyn and reached out to touch her hands while invoking the blessing of the Creator-Goddess. Against its own assumption the power held true, although the 'forged felt it had to fight to maintain its hold on the power it channeled, as some outside influence strove to warp and corrupt it somehow. In the end, the glow faded and the wound had closed, although Palisade felt confident much of the healing power had been wasted as it tried to hold the blessing from falling apart halfway.
"Analysis. This form of healing seems to work, but at greatly limited capacity. Suggestion. Avoid further injury during our stay here."
"You're leaking all over your clothes!" he stated, horror in his voice. "Bandages won't stop that, your skin won't heal. Perhaps I could... glue the tears shut?"
The wizard gives a weak laugh, "Good thing it's just the mercenary uniform. A little leakage on these clothes won't matter much. Especially since they're almost all burned away anyways. No harm, no foul."
She looks concerned as Squeak mentioned glue. "I don't think that's what glue was really designed to do. Human tissue doesn't always bond properly."
”Suggestion. Avoid further injury during our stay here.
Bronwyn smiles her thanks at Palisade as she stops leaking. "Even if it isn't as effective as usual, I'll take it." She then whispers to the large 'forged, "You may want to do the same for Vi."
Then feeling more like herself, she rolled her eyes at Palisade's last comment and said, "Thanks for the suggestion. I thought I was supposed to dodge into the teeth of the thing trying to bite me. Next time I'll know to avoid it as well as further injury."
Vi lingered a little over Nalla's body. When the others came to decapitate it, she turned away, tears in her eyes. She wasn't sure what it was about this soldier that touched her so.
"Squeak, what is the best way to carry a morningstar? Does it get a holster of some sort, or does it just hang?"
tag
Making her way over to Rokko, she held up her bloodied arm. "This looks worse than it is - I don't think it's worth using magic to heal it, not here. But if you wouldn't mind bandaging it, I'd appreciate it."
tag
Once Bronwyn's wound was closed she took in Vi's new face. In a surprised voice she asked, "What was wrong with Val?" Then she got a clear look at the face of the long-dead soldier on the ground. "Really? That's the face you choose? Seems a little morbid to me but who am I to judge. So does this new face have a new name or do I still call you Vi?"
Turn 127 - Healing in the Mournland
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, so 2 hitpoints healed
Action 4:
Bronwyn stood almost transfixed by the ball of rainbow colors. It was so pretty, much like a glamourweave garment.
Action 3
Vi was quiet a moment, then she finally said, "I don't know why I did it. Just seemed right. There are so many dead out here, imagine, a whole country. Her name was Nalla. But I'm still Vi." She reached up to touch the locket at her neck. Aren't I?
Action 4
"Um, B? What is that? Should we, you know, avoid it?"
Hopping into the cart, she said, "Yeah, Failin, let's get going."
This is something other than the legendary weapon; let's just make it a 'regular' +1 adamantine dagger, which is special enough.
Hopping into the cart, she said, "Yeah, Failin, let's get going."
Palisade stared at the approaching phenomenon with deep suspicion but surprisingly little interest. The arcane marvel of spell given purpose and prolonged existence mattered little to the 'forged. The thing was a potential threat, as it doubted everything encountered in this wasteland would be. It was to be either avoided or killed, and if the thing was what it suspected it might, killing it might prove troublesome.
"This one concurs," the 'forged stated, picked up its things and moved to gently herd Bronwyn towards the chariot, recognizing her avid interest even though it was unable to share or understand her excitement. "This way, please, Lady d'Deneith," it said. "This one shall continue your treatment as we proceed towards our destination."
Bronwyn allowed herself to be pulled by Palisade towards the land chariot but she continued to watch the swirling colours with great interest.
When Bronwyn produced the dagger she'd picked up, Vi's eyes lit up. "Is that what I think it is? Adamantine?" She tested the blade on her thumb and immediately cut it. Laughing ruefully, she sucked on the small wound and said, "This is a great find. Thank you. This will really come in handy."
She took her right-hand dagger from it's sheath, and stowed it away in her bag. Lovingly, she put the new dagger in its place, looking forward to the day she needed to use it. Hmmm...perhaps wearing Nalla's Face isn't such a good idea. She seemed to be picking up some of a soldier's bloodlust.
Rokko pulled needle and thread from his pack. "That's a nasty cut," he said, "It'll need stitching."
Rokko worked quickly and efficiently, ignoring the occasional whimper from his patient. He then covered the wound up with a clean bandage. "There you go, as good as new."
"The soldier is dead, Vi. Everyone in Cyre is. It seems a little, I don't know, disrespectful to impersonate her. Maybe you have your reasons, but it is a little disturbing." Rokko looks about the scene of horror. "I don't know, we can't bury them. But we should leave them in peace, and not walk about in their shapes."
"Doluhrr! What's that?"
Squeak wandered over to 'dispose' of the corpse as Rokko talked to the others. "Are you two doing this one, or shall I do it?"
"Palisade. I'll take rear. Move the others to safety." Squeak kept himself between the orb and the others, hopeful he would have a chance to make up for his earlier mistake.
Once they were all back in the landcart, Bronwyn poked her head out to take another look at the first living spell she had ever seen. Although a definite threat, there was no denying that it was beautiful. With a smile and a look of wonder on her face, she said, "That, everyone, was what the spell color spray would look like if it was alive. Good thing to be avoided unless you want to be blinded and stunned but very pretty from a distance."
When they came upon the battle scene, both ancient and recent, Bronwyn looked at the others. "I wonder why the elves and halflings are here. Why would they have come to the Mournland?"
"I'd be happy to help you make a holster. Traditionally they're stowed with a head covering to protect the spikes from dulling on armour for long distance travel. When on alert most people have it slung horizontally across the back. This makes it easy to reach, but also means that a fall is less likely to have you impale yourself. If you are expecting active combat, just wave it around." he paused as he remembered an illustrative but huiliating event, then contrinued more softly "Remember when you draw it to swing it away. When we first started training I tried to draw one like a sword. The spikes scraped all the way up my backplate, and I dulled the spikes. They took me out of weapon training not long after that."
Squeak looked down. "Vi. Is your thumb bleeding?"