Barek aims at eh glittering thing and shoots again, trying to stop it calling another monster to join it but finds the creature far too nimble to easily hit.
Johund moves forward trying to stab the creature.
”It is summoning a monster.” Eluvias said, matter of factly, as he charged forward.
Amadeen sees the strands of fate about the creature, distorted as they are by its alien nature. Her laughter peals.
Thanks to Eluvias the creature loses control of the spell and scroll crumples to dust... it turns it's fury towards him now in a more precise and physical manner. It begins digging it's claws into the elf's flesh. Soon it grabs him and begins severing tendons with frightening speed and focus cutting the fleshy strings of his body in quick order....
Take
Barek
Johund
Eluvias Fortune
Amadeen
The Visitant -13HP, -2 AC and to Saves
Eluvias grimaced as the class tore into him. He noted, with some interest, that he was bleeding profusely. ”This did not go exactly as I envisioned it.” he quipped.
The one benefit of having a personality being slowly drained was the ability to think clearly in times of great stress. He thrust his blade into the creature’s stomach. The sword burst into flames as it did so. Face to face, he glared at it.
Oh *now* it's time for sabotage!
Amadeen does her best to sever the strands of fate of the creature, laughing as she does.
Barek curses as Eluvis is captured, blood running from him. Stepping up behind the Elf Barek casts a healing spell on him.
Barek curses as Eluvis is captured, blood running from him. Stepping up behind the Elf Barek casts a healing spell on him.
Johund does his best to get through the defences of the creature.
Eluvias grimaced as the class tore into him. He noted, with some interest, that he was bleeding profusely. ”This did not go exactly as I envisioned it.” he quipped.
The one benefit of having a personality being slowly drained was the ability to think clearly in times of great stress. He thrust his blade into the creature’s stomach. The sword burst into flames as it did so. Face to face, he glared at it.
Oh *now* it's time for sabotage!
Amadeen does her best to sever the strands of fate of the creature, laughing as she does.
The strange creature changes it's approach. Two of it's appendages pin Eluvias to the ground while the other two start to dissect him, tearing into it's abdomen doing horrific damage, slicing out sections of his intestines and tossing them aside onto the floor.
Barek
Johund
Eluvias Fortune
Amadeen
The Visitant -49HP, -2 AC and to Saves, Misfortune
Thanks to the hexes upon him, Eluvias managed to stay conscious. He struggled valiantly to break free.
Seeing the gruesome display, Amadeen thinks quickly:
Think! Find a way to defeat it! Sod it, let's try putting it to sleep.
Amadeen stares at the creature. Whether it looks back or not will not determine its fate. Her chuckling is easily heard.
Effect: A witch can cause a creature within 30 feet to fall into a deep, magical sleep, as per the spell sleep. The creature receives a Will save to negate the effect. If the save fails, the creature falls asleep for a number of rounds equal to the witch’s level.
This hex can affect a creature of any HD. The creature will not wake due to noise or light, but others can rouse it with a standard action. This hex ends immediately if the creature takes damage. Whether or not the save is successful, a creature cannot be the target of this hex again for 1 day.
"I hope Johund can do something about it before Eluvias is finished!" Barek thought grimly, continuing to try and keep the Elf alive.
"I hope Johund can do something about it before Eluvias is finished!" Barek thought grimly, continuing to try and keep the Elf alive.
Johund manages to land another blow.
[
Thanks to the hexes upon him, Eluvias managed to stay conscious. He struggled vainly to break free.
Seeing the gruesome display, Amadeen thinks quickly:
Think! Find a way to defeat it! Sod it, let's try putting it to sleep.
Amadeen stares at the creature. Whether it looks back or not will not determine its fate. Her chuckling is easily heard.
Seeing the gruesome display, Amadeen thinks quickly:
Think! Find a way to defeat it! Sod it, let's try putting it to sleep.
Amadeen stares at the creature. Whether it looks back or not will not determine its fate. Her chuckling is easily heard.
The strange creature changes tactics again slashing at tendons with starting speed and percision. A scroll flutters to the floor as it is untethered, the creature taking the rope to tie Eluvias up. The Visitant looks up to turn it's attention to the rest of the meddling humanoids.... taking your group alives is definitely something it would be interesting in.
Barek
Johund
Eluvias Fortune
Amadeen
The Visitant -59HP, -2 AC and to Saves, Misfortune
The bloody thing didn't even flinch!
Amadeen, cackling, strengthens the strands of fate around Johund.
It would take too long for me to get Eluvias free!
A flash of white flame ignites Johund's blades. Grunting, he drives both into the strange arachnid.
Drawing his dagger Barek starts cutting the ropes on Eluvias as quickly, but safely as possible.
Drawing his dagger Barek starts cutting the ropes on Eluvias as quickly, but safely as possible.
A flash of white flame ignites Johund's blades. Grunting, he drives both into the strange arachnid one blade is turned aside by it's hide but the other finds it's mark.
Shaking Eluvias channel electricity into his blade but finds the damage wrought by the creature throws off his aim.
The bloody thing didn't even flinch!
Amadeen, cackling, strengthens the strands of fate around Johund.
It would take too long for me to get Eluvias free!
Hampered by Amadeen's hexes the creature barely manages to his Eluvias, the fiendish elf still stands but he is shaking as he holds his blade blood dripping from several points.
Barek
Johund Fortune
Eluvias Fortune Eluvias 5HP. Dex 15
Amadeen
The Visitant -69HP, -2 AC and to Saves, Misfortune
Amadeen glares at the creature with growing frustration and worry.
Stop hurting him! she thinks, her laughter taking a manic undertone.
"Cayden on a cracker.." Johund mutters warily as he watches Eluvias struggle. "Let'em go!" His daggers spark again as he imbues them with divine accuracy and attacks again.
Eluvias had to agree with Johund, though achieving that was a different matter. He continued to struggle as best he could.
Finally free, Eluvias staggered to his feet. If it was not for his allies he would have been dead. Gripping his sword, he lunged forward unsteadily. Hoping their continual attacks would bring it down before it turned it’s attention back towards him.
Barek backs up and fires a well placed arrow into the creature.
"Cayden on a cracker.." Johund mutters warily as he watches Eluvias struggle. "Let'em go!" His daggers spark again as he imbues them with divine accuracy and attacks again.
Finally free, Eluvias staggered to his feet. If it was not for his allies he would have been dead. Gripping his sword, he lunged forward unsteadily. Hoping their continual attacks would bring it down before it turned it’s attention back towards him.
Amadeen glares at the creature with growing frustration and worry.
Stop hurting him! she thinks, her laughter taking a manic undertone.
Any way to flee bared from it the creatures backs up against the wall before releasing a wave of negative energy.
Barek
Johund Fortune
Eluvias Fortune Eluvias 5HP. Dex 15
Amadeen
The Visitant -104HP, -2 to attacks, -2 AC and to Saves, Misfortune
Wounded as he was, there was no way Eluvias was going to stand against the creature’s power. He fell to the ground, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth.
Johund winces as the pain washes over him, but grits his teeth and keeps stabbing.
Worthless spawn of an infernal anus!" Barek curses angrily as Eluvias falls. Shooting again, hoping to end the thing in time to heal the Elf.
Amadeen shudders at the wave of dark energies. Seeing Eluvias fall, she launches a wand into her hand, and taps him with it, laughing.
The creature collapses from blades and arrows as Eluvias is stabilised.
The four cages built into the alcoves are magical in nature but do not seem to be functional.
Scroll of summon monster III
Wand of charm monster (10 charges)
Wand of invisibility (14 charges)
Wand of sound burst (15 charges)
Assorted treasure worth 2,500gp
Goggles of minute seeing
Fire elemental gem
Extensive notes strewn about a bloody workbench in a strange language that you can not decipher.
Eluvias lay ontbe ground, and stared at the ceiling.
”I think.” He said slowly. ”That we should call it a day, and focus on getting this lucre back to our town.”
"Sounds like a plan to me." Barek agrees, giving Eluvias some more healing.
"I'm nearly out of spells as it is."
"Ha!" Johund pulls Eluvias roughly to his feet, delivering a dose of healing magic along the way.
"Not bad fer a bookworm! This were a right good dungeon delvin'!" He helps collect the assorted wizardly gear. "Amadeen? Any notion what ter feller were up't?"
Amadeen tries to work out what language the scrawl might be in, even if she cannot decipher it.
"I know that I don't know how to read this. The academy and museum can gawk over it. And yeah, it's been a good run and it's time to go."
"Oh and Eluvias? You made us work hard to keep you breathing. Your round!" , she winks.
The journey back to your lands is blessedly quiet. With each passing day Eluvias' health slowly recovers both of mind and body feeling well again by the time you reach your capital.
Now that you have returned a there are some matters that are brought to your concern.
A few days ago, some livestock were brutally slaughtered in their pens at an outlying farm; then two people were killed as well—a maid named Saki, who never made it home afer her shif at an inn, and a shepherd boy named Beven, who (along with his flock) was attacked on his way back to town. No one has been able to put a stop to this so far. Now that the heroes and founders have returned home people want the matter resolved
A ruddy, friendly, and energetic man named Loy Rezbin and his wife Latricia already have plans for a village deep in the Narlmarches at a ford on the Skunk River where a pair of Tatzylwyrms dwelt previously. They seek the permission and patronage to begin work on this settlement.
Amadeen listens to the concerns of the people - her people - and does her best to put on a stoic face.
Time to go on a fun hunt!
She calls for her council.
*******
"Whatever - or whomever - done in Saki and Beven is about to regret it. Is there anything else we know, aside from public knowledge? In case it needs saying, us heroes are going to hunt them down."
"As for Loy and Latricia Rezbin, I'm all for another village in the kingdom. We've done great work expanding and building, and aren't going to stop!"
The other members of the council provide what is already known.
Both were killed outside of the town, Saki two nights ago while she was apparently gathering berries for breakfast, and Beven the next night as he returned his sheep to town. A half dozen of his sheep were slain as well, with the remaining ten sheep scattered throughout the surrounding area.
Jhod has had the bodies put aside in case you wanted to examine them before full funerals are held.
”Let us examine the bodies then. See if Beast or man did the killings. It will narrow down our hunt and allow us to turn our attention towards more important matters.”
Johund visits the temple of Hanspur. There he kneels before a raised basin of water engraved with a holy symbol: a rat standing on water. He dips his head beneath the surface, holding his breath as long as he can stand it. Sucking in the sweet air, he's reminded that life is fleeting, that each day is on loan from his god, and that he'd best get to making the most of those he has left.
__________________________
He turns his crested ring around his finger, grinning mischievously as he listens to the report of murders. "Aye, time t'hunt ter hunter."
"Well, let's have a look over the bodies then. They might tell us something.", she says with not a little black humour.
You can tell that they were killed by a large, man-sized animal—likely a wolf or worg. All of the bodies seem to have been partially eaten.
"So, any ideas?"
”Well I’m not trained in this, but the bodies look like they’ve been eaten. By what kind of animal, do you think?”
"Wolf or Worg by the looks of the bites." Barek states after going over the corpses carefully. "Same animal both times too!"
He straightens up and calls Mong to him. "I'll go check the kill sites."
He ask to be taken to where the victims were found.
"That makes sense. Lead the way Marshal!"
Ye discovers the presence of tracks that appear to be those of a large wolf leading from each site. The tracks lead into a nearby copse of trees, from which they do not emerge. Further investigation reveals a set of bare human footprints leading out of the trees and toward town; unfortunately, the tracks become obscured by traffic upon entering town.
"Shape shifter of some kind, or most likely a Werewolf." Barek sighs. "Can't be anything easy can it?"
"Likely someone new to town as well, since we haven't had anyone killed and half eaten before."
Amadeen thinks about what she's heard on shifters and were beasts.
"Good thinking Barek. Its time for a few questions in town."
Amadeen plans her investigation. Starting with the inn.
There's always travellers and new settlers showing up as well as farmers and merchants showing up from other areas in your territory... the list is a little too long to be of use right now. The barmaid and shepherd boy were killed on consecutive nights. Neither person seems to have had any enemies. A few locals ominously add that wolves were heard howling on both nights, and the word werewolf is muttered under the speaker’s breath at least once.
"There are already mutterings about werewolves but no bloody names! We'll have to come up with another tack in town, or else take a walk in the woods now. Wait a second. What was the moon like on those nights?"
As ye consider the question ye realize the first night of the full moon occurred the night before Saki’s death—the night the livestock at the outlying farm were slaughtered. Tonight is the last night of the full
moon for the month.
"Methinks a late night stroll is in order for us all."
”We will need silver to harm them. I will buy some silver blanch for my blade. I would recommend everyone else do so as well.”
"That makes sense. Let's find some blanch before said stroll.", she winks.