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"I am not familiar with your situation, and am an outsider. But I hear you have a sacred duty, a ritual you have been entrusted with. A duty that if you do not complete, darkness will gain ground in our realm, and there is no one else worthy of such a task." It is less a question as it is a statement meant to remind them of what they know, though Torrel only knows a part of it.
"My council is to stay and fight for what is yours. Some of us have no home, but the road. Many of us have no people, and so do not know the meaning, the importance of these things. But, that does not mean they do not hold value, . . . a value that can only be measured once they are gone."
"Perhaps a time will come when staying shall mean death, and perhaps that time is now. I know not what you face, nor if you are motivated by fear, logic, or . . . something else, but I would not consider leaving all behind lightly when perhaps another means" motioning to us, "may exist."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Torrel leads the pathfinders opening with speech of values, that enforces the elders to reflect upon themselves. Although, he does not make any head way into influencing them to make their decision, his remarks open the hearts and allows you to see what possible touches them, and what values they hold true upon themselves.
Medda reacts to the manner in which Torrel performs his speech, and to the word death. Suggesting that religion plays a strong influence in her heart.
Kragr seems to not move (emotionally) in any way when Torrel speaks, he instead keeps a steadfast head. Strong willed and strong minded perhaps, suggesting maybe you speak to him man on man, not heart to heart.
Jala reacts to the values in which Torrel speak of, and strongly to home. And to some extend you believe she values discipline, and honour to uphold these values.
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"You're pretty good at making those arrows!" Hangust says to Jala as he walks a little closer to the older woman. "You must know something about hunting right? How even the smallest creatures will not be moved from their homes without a fight? Like a cornered Raccoon, who stands his ground, or a skunk who lifts his tail defiantly."
Hangust shrugs. "I've never really had a home, but the creatures of woods have shown me that, when I do, I should protect it, no matter what. Running just means the archer has a chance to shoot you in the back, standing your ground might let you live another day."
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"Are you KIDDING me!!!". Seren throws her arms up into the air and let's out a very loud groan. She stomps over towards Kragr as loudly as she can manage, stares way up at the head of a man and starts jabbing him in the stomach with a finger. "I mean are you really kidding? Your dumb tribe makes my bosses send me here, I have to walk for ages, dance with orcs, sleep in the mud and fight a mountain of monsters and now you're just going to run?"
She puffs up her chest, tilts her head, and puts her hand on her hand on her hip as she talks to the air. [/b]"Yeah, I know he's a coward! I'll tell him, geese!"[/b] She turns her attention back to Kragr. "Doran and Katsu say you're a smelly sissy. You're going to leave a little girl to fight your stupid dead for you? Like hell, man up and stop embarrassing yourself! I didn't come all the way here just to walk back again and to get nothing for it."
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Varuna starts out by approaching Medda first. "Ivorra faught, didn't give up. Twinhorns legacy, hmmph, Would be disgrace to walk away. Hmmph, all for nothing. Ivorra bound to you. Anok too. Gods will it, hmphh."
Next, the wayang approaches Kragr, just in time to hear Seren's tirade. "Hmmph, she's right. Home here, must fight for it. Don't fear defeat, hmmph. Show strength. Stronger that orcs. Make Twinhorns proud."
Finally, he goes over to chat with the reserved Jala. "Trees bend in wind, don't break. Symbol of resilience, hmph. Follow their lead. Stay, fight. Else others died in vain."
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Kitajo directs his first two rounds of influence at Medda
Do not your gods implore you to die valiantly in battle. Will you join us?
And his third round is directed at Jala.
And you Jala the Patient. Your gods defend command you to defend your honor, and theirs. Join us and let us defend the honor of all.
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Kragr doesn't react well to Seren, his large physique looks somewhat intimidating to Seren's smaller frame. Seren speaks well, but something that Seren said causes a spark in his attitude. He reacts violently to being insinuated that he is a coward of sorts. "We are not cowards! It is better to run and not die, than to fight and die." Varuna attempts to smoothen things out soon after. "Hmm." He nods, but still doesn't look convinced in any sense.
The conversation with Medda goes extremely well, as she stands in contemplation, Varuna and Kitajo both ignite a spiritual fire within her heart. "Yes, the gods have not abandon us, why should we abandon them? My heart knows the right thing to do is stay.."
Jala keeps a cool head as the rest of the group try to reason with her, Varuna again speaks the right notes, as she nods understandingly in his direction. Kitajo attempts to play a little bit on her emotional side, this does not seem to bode very well as it may look like she feels slightly taken back. Luckily, Medda intervenes and adds to Kitajo's plea, "They mean us well, they have traversed far and gone through so much to get here, and proven that they have heart and strength. We must show our own resilient." Jala looks like she is in some sort of a deep existential crisis, but agrees with Medda with the rest eventually.
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I'm not scared of this guy, I grew up with my dad and he is bigger than him!
"Kragr, you are right to have concern for the lives of your warriors. More so, it is tactically sound to cut your losses and fight another day. No chieftain wants to be remembered as the one who wasted lives without a cause. However, this conflict is a test of your tribe's determination and mettle. As their leader you must do your best to make sure each warrior struck down served a purpose, their death had meaning. Give those who have fallen purpose and those who have lived inspiration by digging in your heels and standing your ground, upholding the oath that your ancestors built your tribe upon!"
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Seren snorts loudly and tries to grab the front of Kragr's clothes and yank him down to her eye level. It's likely rather unsuccessful, but she'll still talk down to him like she has the height advantage, giving him her best disbelieving look. "Then you'd run from every fight you ever got in and just give everything up! You gonna run from the orcs as you scuttle away, huh? Let them cut down a few of your's, but the rest won't die cause you ran. If you can't even handle a few floppy armed zombies, you won't handle anything else."
She lets go of his clothes and stomps over to the map, kicking over a few of the markers there. "I got this big long speech about how honorable and traditional you whatever-you-are is from Mr. Red over there and his buddy. Sure don't seem like it." She whirls back on the big man. "I have to spend every day letting ghosts possess me just so they can make my life hard, and waste my time chasing whatever business they have? You think I like that, either? Heck no! I certainly don't like letting them put my life on the line, especially when the guys I'm getting bit by monsters for just want to pack up and go. But do you see me dumping it all and running away?" She hitches up her belt with both hands. "Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. Now go be a man before I kick your butt and make you do it!"
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"Having something to fight for is important!" Hangust says, joining in with the others as they argue Kragr down. "I-I remember when I used to try and convince the other slaves to fight!" He says as pain flashes across his usually smiling face. "We dreamed of homes, and purpose and family that we wanted to protect. Your warriors believe in their purpose here! That's really important. They might be demoralized if you leave their home, and all of their ancestral oaths. What good are warriors that don't believe in the fight? Let them take a stand here, and the ones that live will be stronger than ever!" His smile is back by the end of his little speech and he flexes his tiny halfling arms to show strength.
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Kragr listens to Liliana's words with Kitajo by their side. Something stirs inside of him, but he clearly does not budge yet in his decision. "What is the point of giving the dead purpose. They clearly have nothing to live for if they have died, but those living still do have purpose. My aim is to survive."
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"Yes, clearly they have nothing to live for, but you do it for the living! If people see becoming a warrior and sacrificing their life for the tribe is meaningless, who will answer the call? When the tribe needs warrior to be numerous and confident in their purpose, your people won't risk it if they know it is for nothing. Giving the dead purpose motivates the living to do their best, because if it isn't good enough, they have still achieved a manner of success among their people. Do this for them Kragr, they need to have a cause to rally behind. They can do this!"
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The gang continues to appeal to Kragr, hoping to persuade him for the better. From his facial expression, it becomes clear that he has started questioning his stance, and is one step closer towards making the leap of faith to stay. You know you are close to convincing him. But alas, something within him still hesitates to make that final jump. He looks at the group of three with an awkward silence.
"..."
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Seren throws up her arms and marches around behind Kragr where she just puts her hands against his back with everything she has and starts trying to push him towards the door. It's a comically display that's unlikely to move him an inch. "Come on, big guy! Go punch something and roar and stuff like a warrior or something! Be a... a symbol or something like Lilianna is saying. Impress me." She continues to shove him in futility.
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"Look, what better time is there to take a risk than when you have the help of another tribe? We may not be a tribe in the same sense as you and your people, but the Pathfinder Society is here to help. Ask any of your warriors, we are both willing and able to pull our own weight and then some. Whatever reservations you have concerning the longevity of your warriors will be minimized by our presence, yet the glory, honor, and confidence they earn shall be untarnished. What do you say Kragr?"
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Kragr weighs Liliana's words, "All that is left is a vote then," says Kragr with a very heavy heart, but all that heart to heart talk made a lasting impact in the end as he speaksm "I vote to stay and fight, you have convince me my friends our traditions and this place matter and it is our responsibility. Now let's not waste anymore time discussing this." He looks to Medda and Jala.
Medda nods in agreement, "Aye!"
Jala closes the talks, "It is decided, we fight!"
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Almost like clockwork, as soon as the votes end, you hear screaming coming from outside the tents. More creatures have seem to have broken through the front lines and entered into the settlement.
As good people, you hurry to investigate the situation. In the distance you seek a small black dragonlike creature that has charcoal-colored scales and shadowy wings causing a ruckus chasing down the Khellids and attempting to eat their children.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
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The drake's hover slightly above the ground and over every obstacle to get directly to the pathfinders as the rest of the Khellid's flee for their own safety. They completely ignore Varuna and head straight for the main pack, unleashing their cold bad black breath attack. Two balls of liquid mist fall right in the middle of Seren, Torrel, and Kitajo.
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Hangust rushes passed his friends, weapon raised high as he moves toward one of the drakes and he leaps, high into the air to bring his Kukri within striking distance.
Unfortunately his feet barely leave the ground and in truth he flounders his weapon above his head in a desperate attempt to attack.
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Seren would like to debate the accusations that she's a good person, but doesn't have the opportunity. Everyone is marveling at the confusing naming and she simply chooses to yell out, "OH CRAP GUYS, DRAGONS! RUN FOR THE HILLS!"
And she attempts to do just that before they decide to vomit black... something all over them. She deftly ducks behind Kragr or the nearest other Khellid to avoid the worst of the assault. Her face turns to that of someone personally offended and she pulls her nightcap down firmly onto her head before whirling after Kitajo to attack the closer drake. Her spin quickly becomes a familiar dance, one of the blades coming down at the drake just as she arrives in the fray.
Spirit Aura: All allies within 30ft gain a +2 bonus on all non-spell damage rolls.
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Torrel staggers a little as he comes to his senses that the dragons are attacking. As such, he takes on quite a bit of damage from the breath attacks.
To nobody's surprise, Seren enters into another trance like state as she partakes into combat, whirling and twirling, dancing as she engages the drake with the blue eyes. Most creatures find her manner of movement confusing, and once again she manages to turn in style to allow a blade to cross the chest of the monster.
The party splits to engage, Varuna scurries across to assist Hangust, moving his little Wayang legs as fast as he can. He jumps a surprising height and follows through with a strong and powerful thrust, as if the spirits of the Khellids guide him as he landed his rapier into the side of the drake. The drake screams in pain.
Creatures of little intelligence react emotionally, thus they return the attack their attackers! With some fury, the engage with every part of their body they can, their teeth and their strong tails.
Seren manages to dance her way out of both the strikes, leaving everyone to wonder if they should consider picking up dancing.
Varuna keeps a high guard, and when you think that he is going to parry the attack away through true swordsmanship, the drake surpises him by using the tail as a distraction as he gets a bite into the wayang's shoulders.
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Torrel considers using more positive energy to test if the drakes are might be affected, but decides to hold off, as we may need that power soon to save lives.
Instead, he attempts to brush off the frost coating him to the best of his ability, and calls on a bit more of his dwindling powers to strengthen his focus while moving in towards the nearest enemy. He circles around widely to avoid being attacked as he approaches, and then at the last moment steps in to strike.
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Medda rides by, calling above the din of the raging battle, “The path is clear—we can reach the valley that holds the stone circle. Let us band together and stop the undead tide. I am concerned that some of the foul creatures had the name ‘Eshimka’ on their rotting lips. We must stand together and use all of our power to close this black portal before it’s too late!”
Fighting side-by-side, the Twinhorn following and Pathfinders have carved a path to the stone circle. This affords only a brief opening to stop the undead army, and the fighting will be difficult.
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An army of Khellids come behind Medda to reinforce the settlement, "Leave this drake to us! You have seemed to injured it already. Medda needs you in the front lines!"
The clearing on the riverbank features a circle of standing stones with a large stone altar at its center. A shadowy tear floats above the altar, so dark that what little light shines from the stars seems to become trapped inside. Eight large tendrils of inky darkness coil around the menhirs as if keeping the stones in a stranglehold. Other tendrils lick out from the shadowy rift as if tasting the air.
In the middle of the stones, you see a bunch of skeletons and a giant crawling hand emerge from the ground beneath, and wait for your arrival it seems.
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Lilianna looks on in wonder at the shadowy rift, but is quickly brought to reality when she notices the undead within. "More of those things? At this distance..." she says as she pulls our her ankh. she commands as she slings a conjured ball of light towards them and then heads down the path. The ball erupts in a brilliant explosion of holy light in the middle of the skeletons.
"TO BATTLE!" she calls back to her allies. More opportunities for Torrel and I to work our divinity are abound!
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I'll use Elysium's Call on Hangust and then Seren, because that giant rotting hand makes me a little nervous.
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An army of Khellids come behind Medda to reinforce the settlement, "Leave this drake to us! You have seemed to injured it already. Medda needs you in the front lines!" The scouts report of skeletons and a possible giant hand that lurk around a defiled area. Liliana recognize both these creatures as undead scum!
Prior to arriving on the front lines, Liliana calls forth the aid of the Dawnflower.
The clearing on the riverbank features a circle of standing stones with a large stone altar at its center. A shadowy tear floats above the altar, so dark that what little light shines from the stars seems to become trapped inside. Eight large tendrils of inky darkness coil around the menhirs as if keeping the stones in a stranglehold. Other tendrils lick out from the shadowy rift as if tasting the air.
Immediately upon arrival, the group hastily makes their down the crooked path towards the rift. They spend no time slacking seeing the unholy rift in fear of what possible immoral beings it could bring into the planes if not destroyed immediately. Nearing, Torrel slows himself down to cast Elysium's Call upon the dancing queen Seren. The dead patiently and eagerly wait for the coming of the Pathfinders, the skeletons bear the broken scimitar's high, ready to strike however nears them.
Liliana opens the combat by creating a burst of radiance. The blinding light infused with the holy power of the Dawnflower burns the skeletons bones to some degree. The skeleton with the yellow scimitar manages to avoid the blind as his scimitar was luckily in the way, the other skeletons have their eyes burning.