Ducking under a bold, Stanis flings up his crossbow, loading a bolt with a darker metal in one fluid motion, leveling it towards the mite that almost hit him "I know your weakness, filthy little bug-lover!" he hisses and takes aim.
The Mites attack!
Mite 2 flings a dart at Mordecai, having watched the large man tear through his companion like so much cheese. His dart, however, goes comically wide, glancing off his armor to skittering into the brush.
Mite 3 Casts and Tam, you may make a Will Saving Throw DC 10.
Mite 4 flings a dart at Tam and it simply falls to the ground, finding no purchase.
Finally, Mite 5 flings a dart at James, but it falls from his tiny hands, limp and useless.
James, as that attack roll was successful, but you do no damage to the mite. It simply chuckles at your attempt.
Mordecai, your action please. Again, I need you to roll a Will Saving Throw DC 10.
will save
Mordecai, you and anyone else who fails this will save is and you take a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
Will save
Tam shakes off a tingling feeling and dahses up close to a Mite and throws his dagger at the small ugly Mite.
Attack Throw
Damage
Mordecai feels a growing doom grow about him that has nothing to do with his past but focuses his attention of another of the little cretins before him and swings his sword at it regardless.
Attack:
Damage:
All
Mite Status Report:
Mordecai, despite your condition, your sword finds purchase and you cut down a second mite, crushing its small body beneath your huge blade.
Tam, your aim is true, and strikes a mite directly in its chest. It staggers and glances down at your dagger stuck in its viscera, its eyes big and round, but it does not fall.
We now move to the top of the initiative. Stanis, there is one "free" mite remaining, one who appears "staggered" with Tam's dagger sticking out of its chest, and the final one is engaged in melee with James of the whip.
Stanis lets the bolt fly with a sharp exhale, favoring the healthy one, as Tam seems to be holding his ground well enough.
Attack:
Critical Confirmation:
Damage:
Surprised by his own accuracy as the bolt finds the bulging eye of a mite, his own grows wide as the foul creature drops like a sack of flour "Wh-what just happened?" he blinks and reaches for a new bolt when the shock abates, loading the crossbow and saying a silent thanks to his god, feeling particularly favored with his weapon of choice today.
The Mites - fin?
The mite with Tam's dagger sticking out of its chest attempts to flee, but gets no further than 20 feet before it pitches forward in the grass, and lays still.
Only one mite remains, that which is currently engaged with James. Having seen its companions slaughtered by the largest of you, and taken no damage from James's attacks simply withdraws, plunging into the darkness.
At this time, unless you tell me that you wish to pursue a stray mite, I will consider this the end of combat.
Tam walks over to the corpse with his knife hilt slightly propping it up and retrieves his dagger. He cleans it's blood on the tiny creatures on clothes and grimacing sheaths his dagger.
"What were those?"
Mordecai wipes clean his sword on the corpse of his tiny, sadly pathetic opponent, and then sheathes the weapon again in its worked, leather sheath. He then grimaces, and eyes the two darts sticking out of him. He touches one gingerly then without a second's hesitation, jerks it out of his arm.
The warrior grimaces slightly and gives a small colorful stream of swear words, then repeats the action with the second dart lodged in his belly. The scale-mail armor had done its job for the most part, if he hadn't been wearing it he would have had to deal with the dart's entire blade being lodged somewhere in his viscera. As it was, it had only pierced his flesh and gone in a few inches. The wound hurt, but it was far from mortal.
"Not a clue, Tam, but they smell something bad." he comments with a small grin beneath his heavy stubble, then looks down at the two he has felled. "You called them...Meetes...Stanis? They look like little blue goblins."
Stanis studies the corpse of the mite, his face contracted in a frown "Mites, yes. A lesser race of fey, perverse sadistic creatures that favor the company of poisonous insects rather than animals, and have some very rudimentary magic tricks and hexes. Like most fey, they are resilient to most physical trauma, but they are weak to cold iron. Normally too cowardly to pose much of a threat to human societies, they prefer to sneak up on small groups of travelers and kill them in their sleep. Heinous critters." he shudders, pulling his cloak tighter around himself and looking to Tam and James "When we return, we should ask Oleg to take in some cold iron daggers and bolts. Such pests rarely come in small numbers, like most of the bothersome insects they are able to befriend."
9 Pharast
You all remain awake so long as it takes to loot your kill and assist Mordecai in disposing of the mite corpses, dragging them away from your camp so as not to draw any carrion eaters upon you. Those of you who are not currently on watch find it somewhat difficult to sleep, thinking on what else may lay in wait in the darkness. The slightest whine of your horses makes you very aware that you are not alone in the night, and wasn't it fortuitous that the mites attacked you and not your manner of conveyance? You have little to look forward to in the morning but the sunshine, as ahead of you lies the daunting task of entering the wood, which will slow your progress considerably.
...
The trail rations you replaced at Oleg's are far more appealing this morning. As you sit round the remains of your campfire, you discuss the pitfalls and dangers inherent in surveying the woods and decide that it is best if you send a member ahead a ways to scout so that you might avoid the greatest dangers. James, you are volunteered for this task, as your Elven senses are greater than most in the party, as is your ability to track. James's horse is tethered to Stanis's as he brings up the rear, and he travels ahead of you on foot.
James Perception
James Survival
James
James, as you are ranging, your keen elven senses uncover a very upsetting scene, several trees in a row gored to as if by tusks. You check the ground about, and discover sign and smell of several boars ahead. When you stop to listen, you can hear them 120 feet ahead, grunting and thrashing through the growth.
Your belly growls somewhat, thinking of bacon and meat for supper, but you have heard of the legendary beast Tuskgutter, as well. What shall you do?
James considers for a moment, before heading back into the forest toward his companions. "Marks and sign up ahead. Looks like a boar, but large. Very large. Has any one else here heard of Tuskgutter? Wonder if we might have stumbled upon his lair." James will straighten his hat and jacket, picking leaves from both. "What do you think gents? Shall we try our hand at hunting boar? Or simply head around?"
Stanis winces with a grimace, contemplating the beast for a second "I have prepared a spell of sleep, and beasts are rarely strong willed. Keep him occupied while I chant the spell, and I believe it shall be a manageable task... if the spell bites." he pats his crossbow and gives a somewhat sheepish chuckle "Otherwise, my contribution depends on me having the same luck as I did earlier."
"Um well..." Tam looks down at his tiny knives and thinks on how big boars he had heard of getting.
"Maybe thats a good plan Stannis. heh"
Mordecai blinks at James' news and he eyes the sword at his hip for a moment then shrugs and looks over to Stanis at his battle plan. "That's a good plan Ser Stanislaw, I don't imagine boars would be able to resist any kind of befuddling magic. They aren't that smart as I recall. Then again, when was the last time I actually fought a boar?"
He scratches his head then shrugs again and draws his sword. "Let's give it a try then, I'll be on hand with my blade should the boar somehow manage to shrug off the spell."
James Perception
Stanis Perception
Tam Perception
Mordecai Perception
Boar Perception
Stanis Stealth
James Stealth
Tam Stealth
Mordecai stealth
James, you lead the party through the gored wood to where you last heard the boars rustling. To your elven senses, James and your sensibilities, Stanis the smell is abominable. As you creep around the corner intent to overcome your opponents with the practical application of magic, you see the cause for the violence that James reported and you noted on the way in, a boar already slain by another. Its tusks and snout are caked in blood and gore, but it appears to be winded. It hears Mordecai stomping through the wood, and its eyes focus in your direction.
Initiative!
Mordecai
Tam
Stanis
James
Boar
Since you have, essentially, only just entered the wood and it is not particularly dense here, it is not difficult terrain. You are currently 120 feet from the boar, as you were setting up to cast on the creature before it noticed you.
Mordecai you act first!
Mordeai readies his sword and eyes the animal at a distance, waiting for Stanis to finish his spell before doing anything but remaining vigilant should the boar decide to chagr ebefore the spell is completed.
Stanis starts casting Sleep, which will not trigger until his next turn, and hopefully, the boar will be at least 10 feet closer so it is in range then too...
Tam slowly slides a dagger out its its sheath and then carefully moves to get behind a nearby tree. BIG BIG BIG Boar! he thinks to himself.
The boar snorts and grunts and advances on the party quickly, closing to within 40 feet of you in a single round. This much closer, you can easily smell the scent of fresh blood and fouler fluids on him. He is easily bigger than Mordecai, with large, snarled tusks and jagged powerful teeth sticking up out of a powerful set of jaws. He snorts and snarls at you, and stamps his hooves as though challenging you to meet him.
James, your action, please.
"By the Yellow Lady that thing is huge." James whispers as he notices it, shaking his whip from his belt loops. "Don't let it charge you, probably not something you want." James heeds his own advice and moves behind a nearby tree, keeping it between him and the boar while keeping the beast in sight.
On Stanis's initiative, the boar, previously eyeing each of you with the intent of making you every bit as dead as his former competition, slumps forward. His massive front legs simply bend and deposit his gore decorated snout on the ground, pushing forward some rotted foliage with an inappropriately soft whimper of sound.
Stanis, it is your initiative. Will you borrow Moredai's sword and coup de grace the boar?
"That feels.... anticlimactic." James comments, coming away fromt he tree. "Perhaps I can cut it a few times, just to make it seem like a fight" He jokes with a big smile, obviously elated, regardless of the methods.
Mordecai blinks and starts to laugh heartily then quiets himself with a hand over his mouth. He then realizes this is stupid, magical sleep is not so easily broken he would assume at least.
He strides over to the sleeping gigantic animal, and places his sword just above where the skull meets the spine. Suddenly he raises his sword up and plunges the sword blade down mightily.
9 Pharast, Continued
James Survival
Stanis Kn. Geography
Mordecai's blade miraculously finds the exact spot to completely disable the helpless boar, and after a few shuddering breath, it lays still. It has been two hours to get to this place in the wood, and James and Stanis estimate that it will take you at least another two hours to complete your sweep of the wood in this hex, baring any other encounters. You have about an hour of free time if you wish to try to butcher this animal and its friend, barring any other encounters, at which point you could either ride back to Oleg's and have a warm meal tonight, or continue traveling into the wood to the west to complete your pattern.
Or something completely different, the decision is yours, gentlemen.
Relieved that the spell worked, the wizard steels himself and looks as Mordecai's blade ends the beast's life, demanding of himself that he does not shy away from bloodshed that is on his hands. "Let us take whatever meat is usable from it. We are in a fey-ridden forest, and many of the forest sprites do not take kindly to people who seemingly kill for sport. But all but the most man-hating understands the circle of life, and that people need to eat."
Beyond that, Stanis votes to finish the hex and keep up the pattern. Just as well that we get used to camping out sooner than later.
Tam looks at the now dead boar slightly saddened, when men died it was usually some strife they themselves had created, animals...animals lived with the wilds and that was all their life. Turning his head away he looks to his companions.
"Well maybe we should head back to Oleg's he would want to know that a brute like this one has been slain. Then on the morrow we can head out once more on our path." he suggests.
James is puzzled by Tam and Stanis's looks at the death. I suppose they're unused to blood. Not that I've been in battles galore, but I know they always end in blood. James shrugs. "First I'd like some bacon from this beast. Who knows? Maybe we just felled the mighty Tuskgutter, and Oleg will reward us handsomely." Gauging the size and girth of the beast James puts up his hands as a frame. "I think it'd look good on his mantlepiece within the inn regardless, and I hate to travel on an empty stomach." James looks to the others hopefully, pulling his knife from his sleeve.
Mordecai glances back at the overly large boar and makes a note of its overly gristled appearance and size. "It could be indeed that we have found the famous Tuskgutter, but he seems a bit...well...not to say smaller than I assumed he'd be, to be honest that's the biggest dam boar I've ever seen in my life, but I suppose all legends are made to be larger-than-life." he shrugs then bends down to investigate its tracks.
"Hmmm...before we camp for the night, we should follow this thing's tracks back to its den. Maybe we'll find something useful there." he shrugs again at his companions' looks. "I believe I can follow it if you all wish to return to its home."
The sharp acrid smell of blood assails Ali's senses as he moves through the forest following the little sprite. Tig suddens gets restless. "Here you go, biggenses like i promised. she says in her high voice before her shape blurs and is gone.
But,....thank you Ali says as the small Fey creature disappears.
Slowly, cautiously and deliberately he moves out of the detritous lining the forest floor, trying not to catch the people unawares. 'Hopefully these aren't the killers that Tig told me about, but the fair folk are meant to be tricksy'
Out of the underbrush a dark figure walks it takes a moment to realise it is human, because of his bedraggled nature. Long obsidian tresses are pulled back into a long greasy tail stained with mud. The emaciated youth walks with a certain caution as he approaches his pale skin dappled with mud. Certainlly this young man cannot be more than a teen as he hails you with a high pitched but resonant voice.
"Hey Up, 'ows thee doing?"
A thick leather tabard covers most of his body only bare bony arms and legs sticking out, a relic of an ancient war it hasn't kept well. Moldy patches spot over the rotten leather, though its thickness hopefully should protect the occupant who seems unused to the heavy garment you judge from his movements.
As he approaches closer his face turns to look at you. The young man looks pretty and almost delicate, malnourishment bringing out his cheekbones and his face is caked in dirt from the forest. But what strikes you the hardest about his features is his eyes. White and cloudy; the iris is milky, although under you can see the palest blue as a Thrush's egg. He stares at you as if he may not be able to see you physical form but he can see into your heart.
A horse snickers and Ali suddenly looks a bit disturbed. "Beggin' you pardon Sirs, didn't realise there were out around these parts."
"Don't suppose you could spare a bit o' food? Jus' it's been a while since i last 'ad a good meal." he says as he moves towards you hands held out in a gesture of peace. He sniffs as he approaches. "Err are ye injured, i know a bit o' healing if yer are?"
Ali Disguise
The new arrival appears to be disguising himself as a boy. Make of that what you will, gentlemen.
James jumps as the newcomer emerges, hand going to his whip, then moving away to his chest as he realizes there is no immediate threat. "By The Sting, you scared me." The half-elf says, holding his hand over his heart as he calms his breathing. "What are you doing out here? The only settlement we know of for miles is Oleg's, and we'd know if you were from there." James looks carefully over the newcomer, noticing how he doesn't seem to look at them until James speaks. Blind? How could a blind child have survived so long out here?
Perception:
Mordecai jumps as well although his blade is a little slower to lower until he is sure the newcomer poses no threat. He takes a deep breath and calms himself then sheaths the blade with a simple practiced motion. "Indeed, what in Ragathiel's name are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?"
Perception
Tam grins behind his scarf noticing the slight feminine build on the new arrival. He had been surprised when the new arrival had just appeared from the surrounding forest. But to why someone would want to disguise themselves...well with bandits and the like around he wasn't too surprised. He had once run around with a crew of young people always intent on having a good time until one had turned out to be a young girl instead of a boy.
"Well guys good thing I slew this gigantic boar here cause looks like we have another mouth to feed." He winks over at the "boy" and tugs down his scarf to reveal his face.
Bluff
Mordecai blinks and looks down at Tam incredulously and opens his mouth to correct his brother's sentence, but gets no farther than "Wait...what?" before he closes his mouth and looks up at the sky in a silent prayer to Ragathiel for patience. It really did not matter who killed the giant pig, and he should be used to Tam's ever-jesting nature by now anyways. He suppresses a small chuckle but gives Tam a single look before eying the newcomer up and down.
The lad was small and rather scrawny to say the least, not to mention blind, which begged the question of how he had survived out here in the wilderness. Without a second thought, Mordecai takes off his waterskin and offers it to the young boy. "Here lad, drink up, it's water"
"I lived 'round these parts, sirs." Ali says to the questions looking a bit apprehensive at the group. "But, well like after Byron left, and me home burnt i got kinda lost."
A melancholy look crosses 'his' face as he thinks back to the only home he's known being destroyed. "So, i have just been a wandering. Looking for tha' Olegs you mentioned, tho' as for no reason other than a bitta company and grub. Afraid i ain't best woodsman despite wot i learned."
Ali hearing the water sloshing in the canteen moves over and greatly receives it. "Thank you,...oh you're a big bloke." Ali surprisedly says whilst carefully taking the canteen and cautiously scurryig back out of reach, reminiscent of a mouse.
Ali says a quick prayer over the canteen. And takes a quick sip of the water, finding it refreshing it's followed by a long draft of the clean water. "Thanks fo' the wa'a."
A large brown rat scurries from the oversized shoulder of the armour, around Ali's neck pulling on the pony tail. "Oh, here ya go, Mousey." says Ali suddenly focusing all his attension on the rat. Ali empties some water into a cupped palm, as the rat runs down his arm to drink.
"Oh, ye can call me Ali Harper, by the by. Whats your names, good sirs if you don't mind us asking. And why would ye be out here?" Taking a step back. "Your not one of them hunter-killers that Tig warned me about? Though you seem like fine fellas."
As 'Mousey' finishes its drink and runs back into its' nest amongst Ali's clothing and possessions. Ali throws the remaining water from his hand into his face causing the dirt to streak down it. Cautiously Ali hands the canteen back to Mordecai, making sure to keep out of reach if he suddenly makes a grab.
"Ah, food. Yeah that'd be good, i've only got a bit of bread & cheese left. You killed that beast?" Ali says with an impressed expression tinged with fear.
Perception Stanis: . Notarius:
The golden thrush flutters slightly at the sight of the mouse "Oh, a fellow familiar? Hello, I am Notarius, it is nice to meet you."
Stanis chuckles and shakes his head "No, I am afraid the newcomer's companion is not of the magical variety." he explains to the talking bird and moves closer to the tomboyish youngster and offers a kind smile "Good evening, Ali, I am Stanislaw, but you may call me Stanis. I am not sure who this 'Tig' is, but the only things we have slain is a couple of marauding bandits, a large spider, some evil mites and this boar." he gestures to the dead beast "I doubt you count yourself among the ranks of bandits, so unless you are a malevolent fey in disguise, you have nothing to fear from us." he jests.
"And yes, we slew the beast. I brought it down with my sleep magic, and Mordecai dealt the blow that ended it. A swift and painless end, I assure you." he explains in a soft and reassuring voice.
Ali's mouth opens slightly in surprise at the litany of victories the scholar recounts. "oh..err...good, no i ain't a robber."
"Good ta hear that the beast death were painless, 'nowt worse than cruelty' the old man used ta say." Ali looks about at the group, wondering how much he should say. Before making a decisive resolution,"Well Tig is one of the Fair Folk that Ma told me about, part of the forest is its territory. And like any creature it defends it's territory. Well it seems there's been some bandits, or summat killing for pleasure' Ali says; the revulsion plain across his face, having never had to hide his emotions. 'but i think it might have dealt with 'em. As ya say your 'ighness, they are right tricksey clever like."
"So, wondering why you 'ere like? Ya the new sheriff, or them Knights like outta the books?"
Stanis muses "Sheriff? I guess we technically are. We have been given a mandate from the regent of Brevoy to map this area and stamp out any bandit activity that we come across. I do not think any of us have been knighted though?" he looks to Mordecai for confirmation, as he is the only one he can imagine being a knight among his companions.
Mordecai grins a little at Stanis' silent inquiry and he shakes his head, chuckling slightly then adopting a thick, mercenary brogue and squinting one eye, making himself sound like a brigand. "Ga-harr! Nay a knight am I, only a mercenary!"
He then drops the act laughing again. "Sorry Stanis, couldn't resist a small joke. No I'm not a knight, I would have been back in Restov but for recently. Problems arose and..." he cuts off a little too quickly then draws his sword and makes a show of inspecting his blade. "Damn boar's skull nicked my sword blade. That'll take some stroping to get rid off."
The big man flushes a little beneath his heavy stubble. He had come dangerously close to mentioning the murder. He needed to be more discreet. Out here he was just a mercenary, not a wealthy merchant's warrior son, not a murderer, just a mercenary. 'And I get onto TAM's case when he lets his tongue slip...'
Tam raises an eyebrow at Mordecai's close slip but moves over and begins help james pack up the meat. More like he watched and occationally handed james things but in his mind he was helping. "So Ali do you know Oleg by chance? he owns the trading piost not to far from here. If you come with us we can get you some new clothes or something least offer you a bed. I dont know much about fae but looks like you could do with a bath. Though i think Mordecai and James here might need it worse in a little while." he winks trying to put everyone at ease.
Ali draws a knife, well-used but obviously well cared for. The blade inverted the consequence of decades of use and sharpening. Moving over to the boar and starting the process of cutiing the beast with practised ease. "Oleg, nah i cannae say i do. But me old man did once; i do remember tho' that when i was a bairn bein' took to 'is place. There were dancers and everything, tha' was when me mam was still... alive." Ali continues skinning the beast for a few moments in silence.
As the time seems to stretch. "Good meat 'ere. Don't really eat too much meat though, Byron got a better price by selling it."
Thinking carefully as the best fillets of the beast are taken, by the expert thin fingers of this blind youth. Ali then asks "So, warra we gan to nah? To this Olegs, or you want to finish your mapping 'cos like if tha' King says to map then that must be the best course of action. And a bit of dirt never hurt anybody." he says wiping the bloody viscera covered fingers over the leather armour.
"A bath perhaps, would be incredibly nice." James looks down at his bloodspattered arms, thankful that he'd remembered to remove his jacket. "And it's the regent we work for. Brevoy hasn't a king anymore." The lanky half-elf swings his jacket back over his shoulders and pulls his hat back on. "I suppose heading back to Oleg's sounds like a decent idea. I think it may be time to go after those bandits, and put the fear they need into them."
Ali, bundles up some of the steaks that have been cut and offers them to Tam. "'Ere ya go for ya 'eroism." as i wry smile seems to cross Ali's face.
"So, if its alls writ with thee, i accompany ya to Olegs?"
Moving to the remains of the carcass, Ali cuts a chunk more flesh and puts it aside "For the Gods, or those that need it."
Ali carefully walks to join the group avoiding the detritous that litters the forest floor with remarkable ease for one without sight. "What's the difference twixt a King & a Regant, then? They both ride hosses, and tell ya what ta do."
At the mention of bandits, Ali's face blanches to an even paler shade neath the grime. 'I wonder what happened to my lord Byron?'
"Err, if ya need a Page of summat. I'm a dab hand at Woodcraft, and can do a bitta 'ealing in a pinch. Only if ya want, to repay ya kindness Sirs."
Grabbing his things Ali follows the group with slight trepidation. "Map, the area and then back to Olegs and then to the Bandit camp." the word causes his high voice to quaver further.
'Well, a scholar, a noble warrior, a prophet, a poet & a Blind Guide. I suppose they seem like they could help, the Goddess knows this land needs help. The poor suffer and the men think might is King.' Ali wanders following the others in silence.
Mordecai chuckles more as they get all of their things put up and he claps the young man about the shoulders at his ready-to-assist nature, giving him a smile before remembering he was blind.
"How about this lad? You watch my back, I'll watch yours." He then helps Ali up onto his horse, taking it upon himself to walk besides the horse to keep the blind lad from sliding out of the saddle.
9 Pharasma, Continued
James Survival
Stanis Kn. Nature
Stanis Craft (Caligraphy)
Kesten Perception
Kayla Perception
Having secured Ali, your intrepid, and now one member larger party continues with the survey of the wood in this hex. James, you manage to track the den of the beast, but upon further examination and some discussion with Stanis, you believe that this particular boar was not overlarge for its species, or incredibly fierce, as this Tuskgutter you have heard of is. Also, the presence of another boar in its wake suggests that they are not an uncommon sight in the wood.
You spend several more hours in this hex, ending very near where you entered, with enough time to cross into the next and arrive at Oleg's some time in the evening, if you push the horses slightly.
Kesten is on guard duty this evening, stalking the palisades as he did before, you note James, with Devin and the guard he identified as Markus watching from the blocks reserved for the catapaults. Ali, Kesten studies you in wonder for a time, then shrugs and offers James a friendly salute. A few moments after your arrival, a sleepy Matis appears from inside the guesthouse, shrugging into a clean coat, to handle your animals. Kayla appears as well, and studies Ali for a time. Ali, you see a very pretty young woman with dark hair and quick hazel eyes who wears a wooden symbol carved in an elaborate swirl dangling from her neck.
"You poor child," she says sweetly. "Have you suffered long? You must bathe straight away, and allow me to examine you thoroughly."
Fatigued from the exertion of the day, and not having gotten an exceeding amount of rest the previous night, you allow Kayla to cook your steaks for you while Ali bathes, and afterwards retire to the guesthouse to rest.
If there is no interaction you wish to have at this time, I will continue in a few hours.
As Kayla cooks he passes the time by by randomly throwing his dice about seeing how luck favored him chatting amiably with the pretty young girl speaking of nothing of importance until he couldn't resist.
"That boy is a girl Kayla.. did you notice? Thought you should know if you were thinking of what clothes could fit him...her I mean."