”We never did kill any of the cat things....Vulnerable? I dunno. All we have are picks, shovels, hammers, and the like. Mining gear. None of it worked well…” he looks down.
”Tried to bunk up in the village, but the Cyphermages were already there so we setup here at the pier. The first day we tried cutting cross country to the landing site but it was very slow going. We made it to the fringes only to find no Noqual - but a pack of those cat beasts so we fell back and they've been harassing us ever since off and on - mostly at night.”
Kaylayne nods, getting a better understanding of the dangers the minors faced.
"Hmm...so it wasn't you that let off those fireworks, huh? Must have been the Cyphers. Has there been many booms and explosions coming from the village? Do you know if they still live?" Kaylayne presses for a few more scraps of information.
* * *
When the dwarves and boat are gone (and pick up times established), Kaylayne looks to the village.
"Suppose we check out the village first? Identify a place to rally in case things get bad?" Kaylayne asks Garridan and Ederin. She hefts her backpack onto her shoulders, counts out the three magic stones in her hands and is ready to go. The weight of her armor and backpack slows down her steps some, but she's as fast as the average dwarf.
"Suppose we check out the village first? Identify a place to rally in case things get bad?" Kaylayne asks Garridan and Ederin. She hefts her backpack onto her shoulders, counts out the three magic stones in her hands and is ready to go. The weight of her armor and backpack slows down her steps some, but she's as fast as the average dwarf.
Garridan quickly agrees with Layne's suggestion, "Deffinately the village first. I'll keep my eyes open for a fall back position. Regardless, we should try to stay together."
Visibly concerned by the sound of the cat beasts, the bard sheathes his rapier and prepares to go to the village.
Speaking to no one in particular he asks, "The Cyphermages will have some answers, right?"
Although not rats, the bard held a special respect for the undead, anything that you had to kill twice was a bad thing. He signals Desna's butterfly's wings over his heart and steels himself for what lies ahead.
Ederin nods his agreement with everyone else.
"Right, like I said, the Cyphermages, Gravin said they were holed up in the village, looks like we all agree where to go."
Before moving on he attempts to find any tracks or other signs of these cat like creatures, following that he takes in the lay of the land, trying to discern the best route to the village from what he can see.
or
Lief chambers a poison bolt, readying to travel the island.
"Now if you don’t mind, I need to attend my crew, what’s left of ‘em, and get off this accursed island."
"Oh, if you don't mind telling us, are you self-employed, or were you hired out of Riddleport, and, if so, by whom? Should we make it back to Riddleport ourselves, we can bear witness to our encounter here."
...
Lief presses on with the others, expecting difficulty along the way.
"Hmm...so it wasn't you that let off those fireworks, huh? Must have been the Cyphers. Has there been many booms and explosions coming from the village? Do you know if they still live?" Kaylayne presses for a few more scraps of information.
”I assume it’s the Cyphermages, but it’s the first I’ve heard from them since we met on the first day.”
"Oh, if you don't mind telling us, are you self-employed, or were you hired out of Riddleport, and, if so, by whom? Should we make it back to Riddleport ourselves, we can bear witness to our encounter here."
”The overlord himself hired us - and poorly too in his haste. He should have sent Gendarmes first for all the good we’ve done here.”
…with that the dwarf climbs onboard and the ship and they cast off.
- - -
Situated in the only safe harbor on the island’s shore, the few buildings and three piers here once served as warehouses and homes for guards and laborers, but they are now long abandoned and partially collapsed due to the falling star - little remains of the buildings but heaps of rubble and a few leaning walls.
Likewise, the piers themselves are falling into disrepair, with many planks missing from their lengths, especially at the ends where only a few leaning pilings protrude from the surf. There’s nothing unusual or particularly interesting in the ruined buildings, with the exception of several bright red, foot-long centipedes that scurry for cover as soon as anyone approaches.
You see the burn pile of bodies, mostly dwarven with a few human. Some of them are missing their jaws, but the burning has eliminated any other useful information. You also see the scenes of a few combats - lots of blood.
A trail leads off into the woods, dark and foreboding, to the southwest.
- - -
As you travel along the path, the forest makes all manner of noise, birds, insects, the usual. The path rises gradually and must have been a nice road once, but the intervening years have resulted in nature gaining the upper hand and portions of the trail must be clambered over as fallen trees and other debris get in the way.
Suddenly, it grows silent as all of nature seems to hold it’s breath. Something’s coming…
Suddenly, it grows silent as all of nature seems to hold it’s breath. Something’s coming…
Dimitrio holds his breath for a moment along with the entire forest. Trusting more on the animals' instincts, the bard expects trouble and steels himself and his companions by reciting encouraging words.
His epic poem was the one they'd heard last night, about daring captains who braved both nature and foes in search of elusive treasure but this time it touched them deeper; the sense of wellness was palpable.
As he travels along the path Garridan notices something is wrong as the forest goes silent and Dimitrio starts reciting encouraging words. Quickly he offers, "May the drunken god watch over us and protect us."
Round of Surprise
If it's been less than 30 minutes since Kaylayne last magic'd her stones, she will begin to climb a nearby tree. If not, she will re-juice her stones and slide 5' closer to a tree.
Ederin draws his bow as the forest silences around them.
"Didn't take long to find trouble, did it?"
Surprise Round
Lief raises his hand crossbow, and readies a shot at anything hostile that comes within range.
Ederin draws his bow and gets ready. Garridan prepares by casting bless on the party. Dimitrio begins a bardic performance. Kaylayne quickly gets 10’ or so up a nearby tree (it’s been ~15minutes). Lief takes a shot at the first inbound cat - and he hits, and does damage, though he does not slow the creature.
Out of the silent forest leap three silent catlike creatures - as the dwarf described. This bizarre creature (image) has the shape of a lion, but its hairless body shimmers a shade of oily blue. Where a noble mane should be instead quiver and twitch dozens of thick tentacles, probing and lashing out at the air around a fierce, many-fanged maw. Behind the beast, connected to the hindquarters of a predatory body of strange musculature and proportions, whips a pair of long tentacular tails. The creature itself is swift and sure in its movements, yet is also unnervingly silent.
And yes, they are taking advantage of cover as they close, always trying to keep trees and shrubs between your bows and rocks and their incoming forms.
Dimitrio
Ederin +2 in urban terrain
Garridan
Kaylayne
Lief
Good Guys
"Here's the welcoming committee!"
Whispering arcane words to his new blade, the bard steps up and attacks the cat-thing on his left flank.
Dimitrio continued to inspire his comrades and tried to stay away from the creature's maw.
Round 1 - Initiative 20
HP:
AC: 18 (Touch and FF: 14)
Equipped Weapons:
Conditions:
Relevant Data: 9 cold iron arrows (blanch)/Blunt arrows (6 silvered, 15 silver blanch, 5 regular)
Feats: -2 attack for rapid shot, +1 attack/dmg point blank
"Anyone know what these things are?" Ederin shouts as he takes a step and fires two arrows at one of the creatures
Round 1, Init. 24
AC: 22 (f20/t12)
HP: 31/31
Weapon Equipped = Rapier
Conditions = bless, inspire courage
Rapier Attack Mods: BAB +3, Str +4, Weapon Focus +1, +1 bless, +1 insp. Cour.
Rapier Damage Mods: Str+4
Spells (caster level 4, concentration +4)
Level 0 (DC 12) Create Water (1/1)
Level 1 (DC 13) Bless, Divine Favor, Divine Favor, Bane
Fervor: 4/4
Blessings:5/5
Garridan charges at the bizarre creatures pulling his rapier out as he moves. He strikes the creature with a resounding over hand chop.
<red creature>
Round 1, Init 11
AC = 15
HP = 23/23
Weapon Equipped = +1 Hand Crossbow
Condition(s) = Bless, Inspired
Lief is quite at a loss for words, as he takes in the cat-like creatures firsthand. "If they are anything like what Gravin describes, we best put them down quickly. They don't seem at all fazed by the drow poison. That's a shame."
He chambers another bolt, and fires at the creature free of melee engagement.
Round 1, Init 7+
Kaylayne climbs down, her first instincts to climb feeling foolish. She moves to where she can throw a stone at blue and does so.
"Hmm...the dwarf spoke true. These are strange little cats."
to hit;
magic damage.
[ dice]1d20+6+1+1[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6+1+1[/dice] damage.
+6 base +1 bard +1 magic +1 bless +1 PBS
1d6 + 1 bard + 1 magic +1 PBS
Pearl of Power 1: 0/1 used
Scroll of Water Breathing
Wand of CLW: 22 charges left
Wand of Magic Stone: 40 charges left
Garridan charges red and injures him. Ederin, through cover, manages to hit twice - dropping red and wounding blue. Dimitrio moves up to engage, and misses. Lief shoots his crossbow (into cover) and manages to hit it as well, dropping another. Kaylayne isn’t so lucky as her stone falls wide.
The lone cat takes the measure of the party, lashes out at Dimitrio once, and scampers into the brush (Dimitrio gets an AoO).
DC 12 Fort save (disease)
…and we’re out of combat.
Kaylayne throws a stone at the retreating cat, hoping to wound it enough that it doesn't hunt them while they are here.
to hit;
magic damage.
After it is gone, Kaylayne pauses a moment to examine both of the corpses, seeing what she can figure out about the scavengers. She pays special attention to their feet and what tracks they might leave as they moved. She also notes if any parts of them might be edible.
Perception
Survival
Dimitrio curses his clumsy swing and involuntarily clenches his teeth as the cat-thing bites his arm before trying to get away.
The bard lunges with his rapier again at the retreating cat-monster.
He then inspects his wound. Thoughts of things coming out of his face cloud his vision.
He's quick to work a spell to mend his torn shirt and asks for the healing wand, "Who's got the healing stick, Garridan?"
Lief doesn't like the idea of another creature out there, with their scent likely. He takes his own shot, for peace of mind if nothing else. Then he joins Kaylayne in studying the dead creatures.
Ederin chooses to preserve his arrows as the cat beast makes its escape, but looks to see if his companions hit their marks. Once he's sure it's gone he eyes the corpses but won't get near them.
"If these things can bring those workers back from the dead, you think they might rise back up too?" He stands with his bow still ready.
Kaylayne jumps back from the beasts at the words from Ederin.
"Wait!! WHAT!?!" Kaylayne stares at Ederin. "THESE are the creatures that are creating the undead?! Are you sure? Who said that?"
Kaylayne looks at the creature again as if it might rise from the dead too.
"Sound like what we were told to look out for. Said his men 'at got hurt got some kinda sickness in 'em, grew them tongue things out o' their faces after they died o' it." Ederin's response trails off as he sees that Dimitrio has a fresh wound.
"OOOHHHH...." Kaylayne mutters, no longer considering them to be potential foods. "Where I grew up, we didn't have things like this. We had normal creatures, like deer, beavers, and owlbears. Nothing weird like this."
Kaylayne takes her cold iron mace out and crushes the skulls of the beasts, not wanting them to return from the dead.
Garridan carefully moves over to the bard. Ed's comments are fresh in his mind about the cat creatures causing people to become undead. He watches Dimitrio for any signs of sickness as he uses his wand on him. "How are you feeling," he tries to ask casually.
Garridan carefully moves over to the bard. Ed's comments are fresh in his mind about the cat creatures causing people to become undead. He watches Dimitrio for any signs of sickness as he uses his wand on him. "How are you feeling," he tries to ask casually.
Dimitrio casually inspects his wound, now closed with only a red welt where the cat-thing bit into him.
He flexes his hand a few times and shrugs, "I feel fine. How do I look? I mean... anything weird going on in my face or something?"
He then leans over to inspect the creatures, "Anything weird about them? What about those tentacle things; are they like catfish feelers or more like octopus tentacles?"
The remaining creature stumbles at the last shot (all three attacks hit), but it does not drop as it limps away into the forest.
Kaylayne examines the beasts closely, and they certainly are odd. Unlike anything she's seen before. They are extraordinarily heavy for one thing. Very dense. Their skin has a rubbery feel to it as well - no hair. They have no ears of any kind, so it's possible they cannot hear.
Examining their paws, then the surrounding countryside, she sees evidence of more of them in the wood.
Dimitrio feels... OK, but a little uneasy as his wound closes.
The party, presumably, continues up the path toward what's left of the village. You see another of these creatures off in the trees watching you - or maybe it's the same one you wounded - it's hard to tell. It keeps it's distance and makes sure there is plenty of cover between you, before darting off into the darkness of the wood as you make the last climb to Witchlight.
Reaching Witchlight requires a difficult slog up a steep, overgrown trail that winds up the mountainous island. Witchlight itself is located atop the island’s highest peak, affording a peerless view of the Varisian Gulf. On particularly clear days, the distant haze of Riddleport can even be seen to the northeast - maybe from the tower.
Currently, Witchlight is the site of a massacre. Turkey vultures wheel in the sky above and as you close, you see signs of recent battles. A few of these creatures lie dead on the ground, but there is more blood than that. Much more.
From the looks of it, most of the village was made of wood, but there is a central area of stone buildings that attracts your attention. It's very quiet. It's late afternoon when you arrive, and it's been more than an hour since your last fight.
New map. You can certainly feel free to start further away if you wish, but the forest goes right up to the stone buildings these days, though they are younger trees of course (just a few decades old).
Still unnerved by the encounter of something new, Dimitrio trudges along to the overgrown trail, finally reaching the set of buildings. It was one thing to hear the terrified dwarf's description but quite another to get bit by something no one knew anything about. He touched his previously wounded arm making sure it was OK and there wasn't anything incubating in there.
The fact that he knew he was being watched was no comfort. "So can we say that these are animals with a pack mentality? How big is their pack? Can anyone tell from the footprints we've seen?"
The bard is quick to cast a small cantrip to relieve the stench from the place but there was no hiding the bodies.
With rapier in hand, he suggests a course of action, "I say we inspect each building. You know me, I hate to get caught from behind but if you want to go straight for the tower, I'm fine with that as well."
Ederin creeps closer, grimacing at the sight of all the corpses and blood, but for the most part it's nothing he hasn't seen before. He casually talks to Dimitrio as he inspects the scene, scanning the bodies looking for any signs of who they might be.
"Don't know how big the pack is, but if they're anythin' like most pack animals, they'll attack when they think we're weakest, it's a bit like gangs in Riddleport really."
He nears the closest building and crouches near the entrance looking for tracks and listening for anything that may be moving.
If there are any fresh humanoid tracks he'll pick out the freshest and start to follow them if he can.
"I don't disagree 'bout watching our backs, but if there are any survivors they should be priority one, eh? Might know what the hell is goin' on here, more 'an that dwarf anyway."
"What the piddlespot?" Kaylayne looks over the battlefield, nose wrinkled. She turns her face away, taking off her backpack. Kneeling she reaches within until she finds one of her longer bar towels. Wetting it with water, she ties it around her nose and face.
"I've never seen anything like this...how many have died? Are they all...what? What died here?"
Perception
Heal - how did they die?
She looks around the battlefield, occasionally kneeling or poking at something with her dagger.
"Should we call out before we get any closer? We might want to announce ourselves if the Cyphers still live."
Kaylayne regrets not establishing a safe hold in the village before coming this way. They might need a place to retreat from here.
Lief keeps up, sure that they'll learn more when they come across the cyphermages based here. He keeps an eye out for the wolfish animals, injured or otherwise.
"Priority one is finding out more of the devastation, I thought. We need to understand why the Star was Plucked, and what is coming, now that they've succeeded. Survivors here, save for the cyphermages, are likely opportunists, and deserve whatever fate has in store for them. There are no ships to which we can send them, and we can't babysit more expeditions while we move about the island."
Lief waits to move onwards, hoping to gain an audience with the expedition sent by the Order.
"I think that is an excellent idea," Garridan replies to Layne's suggestion about calling out to see if any Cypher Mages are about.
"I think that is an excellent idea," Garridan replies to Layne's suggestion about calling out to see if any Cypher Mages are about.
Dimitrio looked about, "That is also a good way to make sure any enemies are aware of our presence. But I guess it's not easy to sneak up on anyone these days."
Perhaps out of nervous habit, he quips with Ederin, "Shorty, keep that arrow nocked and tell me which way the cat-pack is coming."
Ederin does find some human tracks, and some dwarven, mixed in among the cat tracks. There are maybe a half dozen cat bodies, but no human ones. Kaylayne doesn’t learn much from their injuries, but they look like blade and crossbow injuries primarily.
"I think that is an excellent idea," Garridan replies to Layne's suggestion about calling out to see if any Cypher Mages are about.
From the top of the tower, a Cyphermage, or at least someone in their order, calls out, ”We’re in the tower! Come quickly - before they return!” You hear another shout from the same person, calling into the tower, ”M’lady, we’re saved! There’s another expedition!”
Dimitri thinks he saw a couple of the cats in the forest, eyeing the party. He's sure there was movement anyway...
From the top of the tower, a Cyphermage, or at least someone in their order, calls out, ”We’re in the tower! Come quickly - before they return!” You hear another shout from the same person, calling into the tower, ”M’lady, we’re saved! There’s another expedition!”
Dimitri thinks he saw a couple of the cats in the forest, eyeing the party. He's sure there was movement anyway...
Dimitrio continues to eye the surrounding area with concern. "Guys, I'm pretty sure we are being watched. I think the cat-things are around us and may be waiting for an opportunity to pounce on us again. I suggest we head for the tower but slowly so as to not rouse too much attention. These things may be like dogs; if you run, they'll give chase."
The bard then stopped for a moment and whispered some arcane words while looking into the forest area. The sound of people talking and walking through the forest was heard roughly 50' feet away from them and the tower. "Don't mind that; it's just me trying to divert their attention."
Lief looks about, hoping to spy the creatures again.
Failing to really secure a good vantage, he breaks out into a full run, angling for the tower from where the voices call. "Don't give them a chance to catch up, Dimitrio. They're smart, and are likely waiting for reinforcements even now."
Kaylayne nods at Dimitrio, agreeing. At his warning, she preps another 3 stones for combat.
"Let's keep cool. At least it sounds like we're wanted over here," Kaylayne says. "How are there so many of these strange cats here? There are lots and lots...and seemingly are very agressive."
Lief breaks for the tower before Ederin has a chance to agree with Dimitrio. Walking backwards towards the tower, he keeps his bow drawn, arrow at the ready to fire at anything that my attempt to harm his friends.
"Let's hope everyone trapped in the tower is less opportunistic than the kid expects."
Lief and Ederin both see additional cats in the trees, edging closer but staying under heavy cover for now. Their numbers seem to be increasing...
The entrance to the tower is through a squat stone structure at it's base. By the time you arrive there, the doors are opened from within, and a scrawny cyphermage beckons you within, holding a rapier in one hand and the door in the other. As you enter the tower, you note it is made from one solid block of stone - no seams.
You're hustled inside and into the base of the tower (which seems to lean a little to the south). Inside, you see Samritha!
She is obviously tired, and her gear is disheveled. "I wish I could give you a better welcome, but it is very good to see you all. Are you pursued by the akatas?" she asks, sensing your unease. She reaches for a rapier, but does not yet draw it, still trying to be the polite hostess.
The mage behind her closes the door firmly and says, "I saw nothing."
Kaylayne gives a sharp happy squeal when she sees Samaritha within.
"Oh my! What?! Sam, you're here!?!" Kaylayne runs over to give her friend a hug. "What are you doing here? How...? How long have you been here? What is going on...and what are akatas!?" Kaylayne asks questions as fast as she can hug, now worried for her friend.
"Well that explains why we couldn't find you yesterday. As far as whatever you call those things yeah, they're in the trees, lots of 'em. Looks like you've had to kill a few yourself. How long you been here?"
Ederin puts his bow to the side once in the tower and looks around. "And why? What to the Cyphermages think they can find here?"
Dimitrio nods to Sam but is more worried about their safety. He inspects the door and asks the mage that ushered them, "Will this door hold these things... these akatas? Have they tried to bash the door in before?"
The bard continues, "What about windows? These things have claws, right? And they can climb, yes? Have they tried climbing the tower before?"
He turns to Sam, "And how many have you seen at one time?"
Garridan decides not to overwhelm the mages with more questions and is content to listen to the answers to the questions his companions have answered. He finds an out of the way place to sit and thinks, I could use a drink.
Samaritha smiles with some ease as the all clear is voiced, ”We’ve been here just three days, but in that time I’ve been promoted, by death, to lead here.” she sighs and gets control of herself. ”Fenella lead us here, but she died in the first raid, before we learned they are resistant to our spells…” She takes a moment before continuing, ”There were eight in the first raid and near a dozen last night.”
”The door is solid, we’ve reinforced it so they’re unlikely to get through that way. They have, tentatively, climbed the tower, but not to any great degree. Still, it’s well fortified so we should be OK.” she says uncertainly looking at the upper windows.
”Did you see the dwarves? Was Rodric with them? He lead the expedition after Fenella - once we sort of learned we were trapped here. He left yesterday to try and reach the dwarves. He had invisibility, and the akata can’t hear anything so he figured he’d be fine.”
”Now that you’re here, we should make our way down to the docks, in strength, and set sail for Riddleport. I have wounded I would see tended to.”
Just like the Cypher Mages they think everyone is theirs to command. He feels his old resentment for Samaritha boil to the surface, "Not so fast lass I don't think we'll be going anywhere quite yet." He continues, "for starters this is a pretty good defensible position and furthermore our ship doesn't come back for a couple of days yet."
Kaylayne keeps her comforting hug on Samaritha, unless the woman does not wish it.
"It's true, Samaritha," Kaylayne says, trying to sound positive. "We have our task here. It's not so different from yours. Maybe we can work together on this. If we can help fortify this location, it might serve as a base for us."
Kaylayne lets go of Samaritha and looks to the others in the Cyphermage enclave.
"Do you have a healer? What can you tell us of the creatures? What works best against them and what doesn't? Is it true they cause the dead to rise?"
Kaylayne will look at any of the injured she sees.
Heal
Happy to know that their place seems secure, Dimitrio relaxes... a bit.
He listens patiently as others ask questions and then adds his own, "Yes, you said those... akatas resist magic; what else do you know about them? Weaknesses? Strengths? How to kill them?"
He scratches his chin, "And how do you know their name?"
He also waited to see what the Cyphermages reaction is to the fact that they were not their saviors and that there was no way to get off the island quickly. I guess it must suck when something is trying to eat you and your best offense is not effective.
He feels his old resentment for Samaritha boil to the surface, "Not so fast lass I don't think we'll be going anywhere quite yet." He continues, "for starters this is a pretty good defensible position and furthermore our ship doesn't come back for a couple of days yet."
Smaritha looks shocked a moment.
"It's true, Samaritha," Kaylayne says, trying to sound positive. "We have our task here. It's not so different from yours. Maybe we can work together on this. If we can help fortify this location, it might serve as a base for us.”
”Here? Here there is only death? They whittle away our numbers with each increasing raid.”
"Do you have a healer? What can you tell us of the creatures? What works best against them and what doesn't? Is it true they cause the dead to rise?”[/b]
She looks crestfallen, but tries to put a good face on it. ”If you’re bitten, it’s true, you sicken, die, and raise as a kind of zombie. We have a companion who suffers even now - upstairs.”
”You’re looking at what’s left of us. Derwyn on the roof, is injured, but holding his own and Owen here… and me. Everyone else is dead, including our healer.”
She takes you into the sick room where two mages lie. One is merely below 0, but the other also carries some sort of disease with her injuries.
"Yes, you said those... akatas resist magic; what else do you know about them? Weaknesses? Strengths? How to kill them?"
He scratches his chin, "And how do you know their name?"
”Rhisiart knew them before he was eaten by a pack of them. They resist magic, and many other elements, like cold and heat. They cannot hear anything, but that doesn’t seem to effect them much. They seem to see in the dark as well as the day. Oh, and they don’t breathe.”
”When does your ship return?”, she asks weakly.
Ederin runs a hand through his hair and stares at the ground for a moment, processing all the information they've been given. When he follows the group into the sick room he shakes his head, unable to come to terms with what the Akata's can do to their victims long after battle.
"I'm sorry you been livin' through this same. Has anyone survived a scratch or bite?" He glances quickly at Dimitrio. "And have you seen anythin' else while you were here. Maybe a few odd lookin' elves? Sorry to keep askin' questions love, I'm sure you understand how confused we are."
As he looks over the two mages he turns to Garridan and shrugs.
"Maybe we can help heal that one a bit, the more allies we have the better." "Did this healer of yours have anything that might help with disease? IF his body is out there, maybe we can recover any useful items he might've had."