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"It's boring in Halgrim, so I took ship south. Didn't like ships that much, and so I kinda wandered from place to place, mostly cities like Magnamar and Korvosa. Gave a bit of aid to someone, and they told me about the Pathfinders in return. So I showed up here. It's not much of a story, eh?"
It doesn't seem like Gunther is glossing over his journeys, but that maybe he doesn't regard them as all that remarkable (as compared to other Ulfen tales).
"And what of you, eh?"
Gunther gathers up a fair pile of wood for the fire to last the night, and helps Esmerelda set up her twine and bell perimeter.
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At home, far to the West, I was tahunga, or what you would call a priest. It was my job to give tribute to Tangaroa, the god of storms, and life. The ariki, or Chief, had taken ill, and it had seemed that Tangaroa had taken offense, sending storms to buffet the island. The elder tahunga and I were to take a sailing canoe out into the raging ocean to bring offerings, Haku stops, it becomes evident that there is something paining him about his story, but he steels himself and continues, Tangaroa took our offerings of food, but it wasn't enough. A bolt of his anger struck down our mast, and it knocked me unconscious. It wasn't until I awoke in warm sunlight and calm seas that I realized that the offering that he took was the elder.
Haku takes a deep breath as a calm, serene smile finds itself on his face, I don't know how long I was drifting. I managed to jury rig a sail and eventually found myself within sight of what I would come to know as Absalom. The rest is history, I needed work, and a Pathfinder took me in and after working with him a couple of times, he offered me a field commission.
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I due time, Gunther. Experience grows a person like the rain forest, even after the volcano covers all with lava, seedlings emerge to renew all with life. Tangaroa is all of the primal force of nature, so while he takes away life, he also gives life. All we can do is respect it, revere it, and learn from it. Haku smiles. You will find your place soon enough, my friend. The way you hold that spear, it is evident that you know how to use it.
[ooc]If you guys want to continue your discussion, please by all means do so - I really enjoy this stuff! I am going to post a bit more about the night in camp, though, so you can move on whenever you are ready.[ooc]
Gunther and Haku pass a pleasant but uneventful watch. Then Esme and Malfeas take over for the second watch. The night passes slowly, but no creatures disturb the camp.
You set off again for Escadar in the morning, continuing on through the thick forest. You able to traverse only a few miles befroe the sun again begins to sink below the horizon, but in the near distance you see the foothills of the Kortos Mountains.
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Esme eats her good berry for dinner when she wakes up for her watch, and carefully packs all her gear so they will be able to set off as quickly as possible in the morning. She does wait until all others have woken up before respooling her twine and bells.
Esme spends an hour or so harmonizing with nature, then casts Guidance on Haku as he looks for a berry bush, then begins helping him search in earnest.
Esme looks back, at the crippled man "He is still gimping along! Seriously though, you are going to break your sword if you keep leaning on it like that. When we get to camp tonight, I will help you with that bum leg. Maybe you need a prosthesis! Fake legs are better anyhow. I bet you can hide a lot more swords in a fake leg than you can in that little bitty cane."
Nester replies:
"I knew that you were a good choice for this assignment. I brought the sword cane along as a test to see how perceptive you were. You passed! I do need to rest very soon, though. Haku, this site looks as good as any we've seen."
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While the group treks through the forest on the second day, Malfeas keeps a watchful eye out, and eventually, he sees a pheasant waddling along to take flight. Catching it mid-hop with an arrow, pinning it to the ground, he cracks it’s neck and brings it back to the group. ”We will have a bit of fresh meat to go with our berries and rations tonight.” he says. And hopefully our feline friend cannot resist the smell of roasted bird he thinks grimly.
At their new campsite, Malfeas shaves down a nearby branch to use as a roasting skewer, and sets about cooking his prize. He leaves it slightly undercooked, so it remains juicy and tempting.
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Excellent, Haku smiles a little lost about the sword comments of his two companions, slowly realizing the nature of the older man's cane, I'll gather some firewood.
After gathering firewood, Haku sets up the firepit. Picking up a branch, he runs a finger along its length, then begins blowing on it. In a few seconds, fire erupts from the branch. The island native crouches and places the flaming branch into the firepit...
As the fire grows, Haku nods and sets up his hammock between two nearby trees, humming as he works.
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Arriving at camp, Esme keeps her promise to the mysterious Nestereez, and examines his leg (Guidance on Self). .
"I bet we could make you a super fancy leg with all sorts of bells and whistles. Wouldnt take long to carve. We could take the whole leg off right now, and by time we got to where we were going, you would be mostly healed I think. I could even pray for some healing magics in the morning to dull the pain. Wha'd you think?"
Ignoring the mans answer, Esme goes about setting up the same as the night before.
So who is on watch tonight? Nestorees likes me I think. Maybe we could watch together tonight? We would need someone else though. I am not sure he can move well enough to fight, especially if we end up cutting his leg off. . . "
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"Change keeps the bleaching at bay. Sticking with the constant knowns of the universe will lead to complacency, which leads to the bleaching. Ever seen someone succumb to that blasted condition? The loss of a leg is a small price to pay."
After reflecting on Gunther's words a while longer, Esme adds, "But I suppose you are probably attached to the bum leg, eh Nestor? Had it since you were a baby and all?" Stifling a laugh, Esme hands the crippled man a berry, then distributes the rest to anyone who might be hungry. Afterwards, she tears open one of her ration packs and eats something real.
"It doesn't matter much to me I suppose. Malfeas is kinda quiet and stoic. Not much fun to talk to, but I bet if I get attacked, I will be glad to have him with me."
Glancing around at the sky, Esme casts Guidance and then tries to discern the weather for the night, and next day.
+ 11 or +6. = 12 Survival or 17 Perception
Early in the second watch, soon after Haku and Gunther go to sleep, Esmerelda notices a huge shape in the woods, about to leap out!
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[Please ignore]Esmeralda kicks the strung up bells, and braces for a charge with her spear.[/please ignore]
Edit:
Quickly kicking the strung up bells, Esmeralda begins to cast "Entangle" centered as necessary to catch the beast, and miss as much of the camp as possible or at least herself and the cripple.
The gnome then shouts to the group, "I found the Kitty! I win!"
Initiative:
The big cat race up in front of Esmerelda and pulls the skin back from its face, revealing the muscle and bone beneath.
It then swipes at her with a claw.
Ok, Malfeas & Esme, you're up. Then we start round one:
cat, Malfeas, Haku, Esme, Gunther.
The claw strikes, but isn't quite powerful enough to tear through Esme's armor.
Malfeas shoots his bow, and an arrow pierces the cat in the side, causing it to howl in pain. Esmerelda casts Entangle, and a thick patch of undergrowth springs from the ground.
End of Surprise Round.
Round One:
The cat strikes at Esme with both claws, and a bite.
Both the beast's claws bit into Esme's skin. She is now badly hurt.
Next up: Malfeas, Haku, Esme, Gunther
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Surprise Round: Current hp 9/9
Haku flips out of his hammock (DC 5 Dex), shaking the cobwebs of sleep from his mind.
Round 1: Current hp 9/9
If possible to catch everyone, Haku casts bless, then moves up behind Esme's right side. Esme, withdraw, so that Gunther and I can draw some of this creature's ire!
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Esmeralda realizes she is already hit, so has a little time to make a decision. She waits until someone else moves to her aid.
1) If someone moves to flank with Esmeralda:
Esmeralda stabs wildly and dramatically to distract the beast for just a moment to make it easier for her ally to strike yelling "[b]Bad kitty! Down kitty!" She hisses at the cat as she yells, like an old woman scolding a stray house cat.
Esmeralda moves directly away from the beast and pops all her berries into her mouth and swallows.
Haku casts bless and moves up to Esme's side. Esme draws back a few paces, eating 4 berries which help hr regain some strength, Malfeas moves around the side of the beast, missing with both arrows but trying to draw its attention. Gunther repositions himself to protect Esme's side.
End of Round 1
Round 2:
The beast then turns its attention to Haku and rakes with both claws followed by a bite!
Both of the monster's claws miss their mark, but its jaws clamp down hard on Haku's leg, causing him to cry out and lose a little color in his face.
Next up - Haku, Esme, Malfeas, Gunther.
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Esmeralda holds her action so she can help her allies flank the beast. "Once you are in position, give me just a moment to move into position to be moderately helpful!
When an ally moves into place, Esme moves to flank, and lashes out at the cat.
If we position to flank, you should receive a +6 on your to hit, or +2 to hit, and +4 to AC, your choice. You have to pick before you roll though.
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Esmeralda is stunned that the creature is so resilient and difficult to strike. . If she is able to glean any information from her bizarre gnomish brain, she quickly recites the strengths, weaknesses, and anything of note.
"Working out what this thing is. . .Can't be too many cats that pull their skin away from the skull!"