GM Mawgrim's Rise of the Runelords

Game Master GM Shady

Serolt continues the hunt, doing the best he can with what he has to track down the nefarious body-snatchers.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Sorry for the delay in posting. GM Mawgrim, please feel free to roll my survival checks. I'll always try twice for each area before 'giving up' and discussing options with the party.

Shaedeen manages to get through the hour-long delay when Serolt first loses the trail temporarily, but gets fidgety when the trail again grows faint on the harder ground. Although she appreciates the skill Serolt's shown during the pursuit, the impatient and impulsive girl begins pacing restlessly.

Turning to Ratimir, she says softly, "This hero-adventurer business...it's kind of boring at times, isn't it?"

Heh. One of the perks of playing an impatient character is that I can nudge things along and blame her for being in-character. ;)

Haelvor is mystified by what's going on, having no tracking skill. Occasionally, he nervously pats at the weapon on his belt to check that he still has his morningstar, lest, when it gets to a point where he finally understands what's going on, it's too late to react.

Serolt manages to pick up the trail of the three goblins, scratch marks in the stones indicating that they traveled the farm road and headed east away from the town. Almost a mile down the road, the tracks begin to lead slightly away from the farm road and into the forest.

As Serolt attempts to pick up the goblins' trail nice again, Regin suddenly tenses up next to Serolt and rears back on his haunches, giving a low growl. He seems to be growling at something in the distance towards the east.

Something is burning... into the forest

Vanea points the general direction of the smell

Haelvor unsheathes the morningstar.

"And there was a scream, I think"

He looks at the others, desperately waiting for one of them to give him a lead.

Something is burning... into the forest

"Regin quite agrees with you." Serolt smiles

"And there was a scream, I think"

He looks at the others, desperately waiting for one of them to give him a lead.

Serolt's head pops up and he draws his bow. "A scream? Could be the goblins, but they might have a prisoner. We'd better move fast."

Serolt doesn't take the time to be stealthy, but rather moves quickly in the direction of Vanea's outstretched hand, commanding Regin to heel.

Shaedeen's boredom vanishes the instant her perky nose detects smoke and the cry of pain reaches her ears. She leaves informing the others to Vanea and Haelvor; like Serolt, she rushes toward the scream, crossbow at the ready, eager to take the fight to their enemies.

"An yet, at times, it's a bit thrilling, isn't it?" Ratimir says to Shae as the group pushes forward.

Shaedeen turns her head and gives Ratimir a big grin and a nod of her head. She looks forward just in time to see and narrowly avoid a solid-looking pine tree.

Let's go. We shouldn't leave someone between goblin's hands.

Haelvor frowns and rushes after the others.

At last! Burnburnburn! Let us through! shout the voices.

The five hustle forwards in the direction of the smell of smoke and the cry of pain, dodging trees, stumps, and low-hanging branches. After approximately two hundred feet, the group reaches the edge of a clearing where they can see the ruins of a tower with smoke seeping out of the missing roof.

In the clearing before the tower is a thin elf woman taking part in a one-sided battle for her life against a group of goblins. She appears to have taken out several of their number already, but now her right arm hangs limp at her side, and she frantically stabs at the goblins with a shortsword in her left hand. A large hairy bugbear wielding a heavy flail advances across the clearing, while four goblins harry the woman from all sides.

As the group takes stock of the situation occurring in the clearing, two of the goblins manage to trip the elven woman over and she cries out in pain once more as she lands awkwardly on her injured arm. The bugbear smiles with a murderous glee and raises the heavy flail above his head to deliver a fatal blow to the injured woman.

None of the goblins have noticed you approach, fixated as they are on the skirmish in front of them. As such, you can have a surprise round (comprising of a single standard or a single move action) to act in before I roll initiative properly. As always, I will process your actions as per post order, and Roll20 is now updated for your viewing pleasure.

Vanea lose no time and, as soon as she is near enough, cast a spell on the bugbear to save the elf's life.

Cast Daze, DC 13 Will

Shaedeen winced mentally when she saw the the elf woman was not only surrounded but was positioned in front of the bugbear who was about to brain her. It would take a miracle shot to hit the hulking goblinoid.

Then Shae heard Vanea start a chant and she remembered that all the other party members knew magic of one sort or another. Trusting them and their arcane abilities to save the elf in distress, Shaedeen instead took a clear shot at what appeared to be a goblin leader of some sort (the commando on the map), hoping to eliminate him from the battle quickly.

light crossbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 for piercing damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1
sneak attack precision damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

4 points total piercing damage.

Round: surprise

Serolt’s bow already out, he takes a shot at the commando, hoping to finish what Shae started.
Bow: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 - 4 = 20 (cover) damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4
Bow, crit threat: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 - 4 = 13 (cover) damage: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12

He then commands Regin into the fight. He sprints ahead, charging (?)* warrior one.
Regin Bite: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 = 13 (charge) damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Free Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

@Serolt: Charge is a full round action and I think we're in a surprise round?

Haelvor lets the voices forward, his eyes brightening with the oncoming flame.

Cast burning disarm on the goblin north west of the elf woman. DC14 Reflex save, save success = drops weapon no damage; save fail = 1d4 damage, + burning magic, 1hp for 1d4 rounds, unless fire is put out (DC14 reflex save, one chance per turn)

Haelvor - If you are able to take only a standard action on your turn, you can still charge, but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of up to double your speed) and you cannot draw a weapon unless you possess the Quick Draw feat. You can't use this option unless you are restricted to taking only a standard action on your turn. From the PRD (link).

Also, as an aside, Vanea cannot move and cast daze in the surprise round as daze is a close range spell and she is currently 40 feet away from the bugbear right now (if she moves closer, that becomes her entire action for this round and cannot cast anything on the bugbear unless she lucks out and gets a higher initiative than he does).

So there's not much she could do.. let think, quickly

With utmost confidence, Vanea shouts at the bugbear

Hey, you, the big bugbear. Let this woman alone, unless you want to face the wrath of Mighty Ravers, Champions of Sandpoint, Destroyers of Kalisha the Vampire Lord, Vanquisher of Dart'tramae the Black Scourge-and yes, it was a black dragon.

Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 If Intimidate would be better, lower the result by 4 to 22 (haven't that skill)

Haelvor - If you are able to take only a standard action on your turn, you can still charge, but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of up to double your speed) and you cannot draw a weapon unless you possess the Quick Draw feat. You can't use this option unless you are restricted to taking only a standard action on your turn. From the PRD (link).

Ah, OK, sorry.

I will wait a few more hours to give Ratimir a chance to post his surprise round, and will treat Ratimir as having delayed his action should there be no post :)

Ratimir draws a card from his harrow deck, seeking the blessing of its patrons.

Using Harrowed feat.
1d54 ⇒ 24 => The Mountain Man
+2 to any one roll modified by Constitution

The goblin with the horsechopper falls quickly under the combined shots from Serolt and Shaedeen, crumpling to the floor without so much as a squeal. Regin runs into the fray, but does not build up enough momentum to charge properly as he darts around Vanea to reach one of the goblin warriors.

Haelvor takes a step forward out of the thinning tree line, his blazing eyes firmly affixed on one of the goblins just in reach of his magic. As occurred within the skirmishes in the town square the previous night, the handle of the crude dogslicer in the goblins hand glows white hot and causes the goblin to catch alight.

Haelvor, damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Haelvor, burning magic duration: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Then Vanea steps forward and, with as much bravado and bluster as she can bring forth, attempts to convince the marauding goblinoids that they had best turn around lest death await them.

Initiative - Round 1
20 - Bugbear
20 - Goblin warriors
19 - Vanea
14 - Shaedeen
11 - Elf woman (prone, injured)
8 - Ratimir
7 - Haelvor
3 - Serolt
3 - Regin

At the appearance of the adventurers in the clearing and Vanea's brazen announcement, the bugbear looks at the corpse of the goblin commando and snarls. He speaks to the remaining goblins in a language filled with harsh guttural syllables, before backing away from the skirmish and giving the elf woman a tooth-filled sneer as he does.

The goblin attacking Regin cannot seem to land a hit on the lithe firepelt, missing with the flailng swings. The burning goblin locks eyes on Haelvor and charges at the oracle, dogslicer held high, but Haelvor manages to duck out of the way just in time from the blow.

Regin AoO: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Regin Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Miss
Regin Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 Miss

The remaining goblin chooses to rush at Vanea, oblivious to Regin's position. As the green-skinned creature moves past the firepelt, Regin leaps out to attack but the cat's jaws find only clear air. Vanea is caught unaware of the assault and cannot jump back quickly enough to cause the goblin to miss. As a result, the goblin's sword takes a deep bite of the bard's leg.

Vanea's Intimidate appears to work against the bugbear. The Bugbear withdraws, moving into the forest (gaining cover). Warrior 1 misses Regin. Warrior 2 misses Haelvor. Regin misses with his AoO against Warrior 3, who then hits Vanea for 4 damage.

Initiative - Round 1
20 - Bugbear
20 - Goblin warriors
19 - Vanea
14 - Shaedeen
11 - Elf woman (prone, injured)
8 - Ratimir
7 - Haelvor
3 - Serolt
3 - Regin

The elf woman is still alive thanks to your efforts, but the fight is far from over. The elf woman will act at whichever point I get in before anyone in the turn.

@GM Mawgrin - Ratimir's action in the surprise round was a move action to use the Harrowed Feat.

Ratimir crosses the battlefield in a hurry to check on the goblin's victim. Upon reaching her, he offers his hand to help her get on her feet. "How hurt are you?", he asks, observing her wounds and trying to assess her condition.

Action: Double move

Apologies, I did notice that, but forgot to remove the initial comment from my word document when I was working on the post. Removed now for posterity.

Shaedeen considers reloading and taking another crossbow shot from a safe distance at one of the remaining goblins, but when Ratimir races unarmored into the middle of the battlefield the girl reconsiders. She drops her crossbow (free action), draws her rapier (move), and takes a roundabout route to position herself in flanking position opposite Vanea and between a couple of the goblins and the fearless and/or chivalrous Ratimir (move).

My move resolves after Vanea. My plan is to take a 5 foot step to acquire flanking, but if Vanea moves that won't work. I'll wait for Vanea before posting, just in case she moves in the interim. Note this will put me between the goblin in question and Serolt, who resolves after me. Calling out to coordinate my intent with Vanea ...

Haelvor calls to Vanea. "Madam Vanea, perhaps if you remain the other side of this scoundrel we can confuse him?"

Round: 1, Initiative: 3

Serolt examines the scene and immediately calls on his animal focus (swift) calling for the tiger to aid him, improving his dexterity by two.

He then takes a couple shots, starting with Warrior two, and shifting to Warrior three if it falls (if I can hit at all...).
Bow: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 - 2 = 11 (point blank, in melee, focus) damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 (point blank)
Bow: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 - 2 = 8 (point blank, in melee, focus) damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 (point blank)

Meanwhile, Regin does his best to ravage Warrior one.
Regin Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Free Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Regin Claw: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 damage: 1d2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Regin Claw: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 damage: 1d2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Vanea takes her own sword, and defends herself

Full defense

Oh, come on little goblin... You think you can beat one of us? that's brave...or stupid.

Haelvor skips to his left (5ft step, providing flanking) and swings his morningstar at the nearest goblin (warrior 2).

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 2 = 25
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Crit Damage, if applicable: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

While Serolt's arrows fly wide of their target, Regin manages to bring down his own opponent. The goblin barely manages to get out a high-pitched squeal of fear before the firepelt bites out its throat. With Vanea shifting into a more defensive stance, Haelvor steps across and likewise drops his burning opponent, braining the goblin with the satisfying crunch of bone being crushed.

The elf woman, now free from being surrounded by goblins, raises her good arm towards Ratimir and shifts the grip on the shortsword so as not to stab her would-be saviour. She looks at her clearly broken arm hanging limply at her side and winces in pain, the tears of shock from the initial blow still fresh on highly angled cheekbones. "Nothing that a cleric won't be able to help with," she says. The woman, vaguely familiar*, turns her gaze to the dying goblins to see where she can aid, moving to try and cut off the beasts escape into the forest to the north.

Ratimir moves to help the elf woman and Shaedeen moves to provide flanking. Serolt misses with both arrows, while Regin hits with both his bite and his claw attacks, dealing 10 damage to the goblin 1. Vanea moves into total defense (AC +4 for the round), and Haelvor crits, dealing 15 damage to the goblin 3.

The last goblin, quickly being surrounded by the adventurers, attacks the bard once more, swinging wildly at the woman. Frantically, it attempts to flee to the south toward the river, providing Shaedeen and the elf woman both an opportunity to skewer it.

Elf AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Elf Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Shae AoO: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 7
Shae Damage + Sneak attack: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (4) = 6

Goblin 2 misses Vanea and moves 30 feet to the south, triggering AoOs from the elf woman and Shaedeen (Vanea is in total defense and cannot make attacks of opportunity). Both Shaedeen and the elf woman miss (natural 1's for both rolls.. >.< ), and it gets to move to the edge of the clearing.

Initiative - Round 2
20 - Bugbear
20 - Goblin warriors
19 - Vanea
14 - Shaedeen
11 - Elf woman (prone, injured)
8 - Ratimir
7 - Haelvor
3 - Serolt
3 - Regin

Let me give you the blessing of Calistria, sister, so you can better avenge yourself.

Vanea gets close to the elf woman and kisses her deeply, leaving her lips yellow-colored and with the taste of honey

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Shaedeen doesn't seem surprised at Vanea's unusual healing method; in fact, she barely notices it. Annoyed at how poorly she thrust her rapier at the last goblin moments earlier, Shaedeen charges the fleeing creature, attempting to bring it down.

rapier (charge): 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 = 23 for piercing damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Haelvor stares, first at the remains of the dead goblin ...

Should maybe have used the spear, less messy.

Should have used FIRE! Cleans itself up!

... and then at the "healing incident" with the elf.

Note to self: save at least one healing spell for yourself, the better to avoid the blessings of Calistria.

Round: 2, Initiative: 3

Serolt, pleased at the near total-collapse of the opposition, chides himself a little for using his abilities so quickly. I must learn patience… he thinks, even as he moves to try to stop the last goblin.

He takes two poorly lined up shots at the fleeing goblin (3).
Bow: 1d20 + 2 - 7 ⇒ (2) + 2 - 7 = -3 (in melee, focus, cover) damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Bow: 1d20 + 2 - 7 ⇒ (16) + 2 - 7 = 11 (in melee, focus, cover) damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

He commands Regin carefully though shouting, ”Regin - Flank!” and points to the fleeing goblin. Regin lurches forward, bounding across the grass and ending behind the goblin flanking with Shaedeen. Regin can get into position through careful planning without provoking, but I believe he would close the distance more directly, being only of animal intelligence, and so provokes with his movement. Please take your AoO.

Regin Bite: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 = 29 (flank) damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Free Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Crit Threat Regin Bite: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 = 29 (flank) damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

WOW. Triple 20's for Regin!

The elven woman, her reflexes dulled by the pain in her arm, is startled briefly by the kiss before regaining her senses and pulling away from Vanea. Her expression betrays her confusion over the events and she shakes her head. "Focus on the threat at hand, and then we talk about recuperations," she states, turning her gaze toward the still living goblin.

Shaedeen rushes forwards towards the fleeing creature, managing to skewer the beastwith her rapier. Not a killing blow, but deadly enough that the goblin staggers forward a couple of steps and is pounced upon by Regin. The goblin shrieks, high pitched and pains, before the jaws of the firepelt clamp down hard on its throat, silencing it forever.

Combat is over. XP has been updated.

As the brief skirmish conclused, the wet smacking of Regin's lips as he cleans himself can be heard. Turning back to the blonde-haired elven woman, her wounds seem to be diminished except for the raised and angry bruising of her arm. She raises the arm gingerly and takes a sharp hissing breath in pain, lowering it quickly. "Broken, again. Abstalar will be happy to see me and my donation to the temple again," she says, mentioning Father Zantus by his first name.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Shaedeen emits a startled ”Eek!” as Regin pounces upon the fleeing goblin, striking like a flash of black lightning. ”Bad kitty, stealing Shaedeen’s kill!” she scolds the hunting cat as the firepelt eviscerates the goblin. Then she backs away slowly (just in case Regin has any more 20s with her name on them), deciding that she’ll leave the looting of what’s left of that particular goblin to Serolt.

She then moves back to Ratimir, leaving a respectful distance in case the Varisian wishes to sweet-talk the pretty elf like Vanea did. She does, however, quickly (if a bit rudely) blurt out, ”Do we go after that big hairy thing? It might have a dozen goblins with him next time we cross paths.”

If it comes back, I'll try to hear him first.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Looking at the elf more closely
Know Local: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Hey, aren't you Shalelu?

Knowledge (local: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

"Miss Andosana, if you're back after a month, perhaps you bring news about the goblins? I don't know if you heard, but they just raided Sandpoint. It seems the tribes are banding together." He looks at her broken arm, and admires the elf's resiliency to pain, for she does not demonstrate more than some discomfort at an obviously painful injury. "I trust your expertise to decide whether we should go after that big one or get you back to Father Zantus, so he can take a look at that arm."

Haelvor looks at the elf, then back at Ratimir and Vanea.

"I'm sorry, I don't think we've all met. You already seem to know Madam Vanea and Master Ratimir. I'm Haelvor, this is Shaedeen, that's Serolt and his rather frightening companion is called Regin. If you need healing here and now, I can if you wish provide a spell which is less, um, controversial."

Shaedeen gives a quick half-bow when Haelvor takes the time to introduce her. She doesn't say anything, though, being more interested in whether or not the group will be pursuing the lesser goblins' hulking leader. That triggers something in her memory.

"Oh, excuse me," she says before scampering off a short ways to the west to retrieve and reload her dropped crossbow. When she gets back to the group, she's ready for their answer.

Serolt nods as he's introduced, and then brings up another point, "I don't suppose you saw if these folk were carrying a body did you?"

"They're a bunch of filthy grave robbers unfortunately, which is how we've come to help you. We've been tracking them since town. Slowly I'm afraid..." he shrugs.

Seems like we've a lot of healing, but please remember that I too can aid in that department. Serolt won't keep track of your health for you though - he's not that observant of injury, so if you need healing, holler! :)

I'll try and respond to each of you, but if I miss something let me know.

Shalelu blinks and turns her gaze towards the direction that the bugbear fled in, shaking her head slightly before turning back to Shaedeen. Who, Bruthazmus? I doubt he will be back any time soon, the coward," she states as she begins to slowly move between corpse to corpse kneeling beside each and driving the point of her shortsword through their throats with a cold efficiency. Every time her right arm is moved she winces or hisses in pain, but no more loud calls come from her lips.

"He is not overly interested in anything that resembles a fair fight," she says as she conducts her grisly work on each of the either goblin corpses scattered around the clearing, "and I doubt he will have time enough to muster enough goblins to his side to form any force that he would consider to be fair from his perspective, so I think I would much like to get back to Sandpoint and hope my luck holds out with Abstalar before I speak with Belor."

The elf woman finishes executing the four goblins she had taken down herself, before looking at Vanea and nodding to her. "Clearly my reputation precedes me - yes, I am Shalelu. Shalelu Andosana." Shalelu appears to be about to ask who the group are when Haelvor steps up and offers introductions of the group. She smiles at the oracle when he offers a less controversial method of healing, giving a light chuckle.

"I must admit that it caught me off guard to the point where I forgot myself for a moment. Thank you for your goddesses blessing," she says, turning to the bard. "I would appreciate any healing you have to offer, though to mend my arm I am afraid it will take much stronger magic, and hopefully Abstalar has another one of those scrolls available, otherwise I will be stuck using my sword for a little while."

Finally she turns to Ratimir and nods. "I've been watching them for some time, making sure they do not cause too much trouble in the region, but they are tenacious and fecund little runts. Like weeds with teeth. Lately though, they seem to have set aside many of their intertribal squabbles and are working together. I would rather not say much more until I can talk with Belor and get his read on what happened, especially if you say that Sandpoint has already been raided. Would you all care to escort me back to the town, just in case the hairy coward is still nearby and decides that me being injured makes for a fair fight after all?"

At Serolt's query, she pauses thoughtfully and shakes her head. "No, these ones followed me from the farmlands to the south - I thought I had been covering my tracks well enough, but apparently not. There were no goblins here by the time I arrived but a few hours ago."

Oh, I can give you her blessings again, if you so do wish...Your lips tasted very good indeed

answers Vanea with a mischevious smile

Shaedeen purses her lips, feeling that the pretty wounded elf had just dismissed her words out of hand. Not really...but sort of. Shaedeen didn't know a Shalelu from a ukulele, so she wasn't going to just give in to the elf's decision without a bit of a fight.

"But if this Bruiseythump-guy doesn't like a fair fight...shouldn't we take the fight to him while we outnumber him 7-to-1? Sure, he may be big, but he's also dumb--he totally bought into Vanea's whole Raving...Undead...Dragonslayers thing. We should track this threat down and end it while we have this golden opportunity to do so. Plus, the goblins we were originally tracking are still out here somewhere...with their prize."

Shaedeen looks at the others with big emerald eyes, knowing in her heart those peepers likely stand no chance against Shalelu's bright elven ones.

Sheathing the shortsword, Shalelu takes a long look at Shaedeen before beginning to look around on the ground under a tree. She bends down and picks up a long straight stick. "If I know Bruthazmus - and he and I have been tangling for years, so I should know him well enough - is that even if he is not the shiniest coin in the fountain, he is cunning and he is crafty."

The elf walks over to Shaedeen and rests the stick against her leg, its tip on the ground. "Shaedeen, was it? I want to show you something very quickly, if you will." Grimacing, Shalelu uses her good hand to peel back a layer of cloak and armour from around her neck, revealing a mangled knotwork of scaring and discolouration, grey and purple tendrils of colour radiating from a one-inch line of scar tissue. "Do you see this? Last year, Bruthzamus got a very good shot on me - he was aiming for my throat I suspect, and had I not begun to moved when I did, he likely would have found his mark. Unfortunately for me, the head of the arrow was also coated in spider vine poison - very nasty, paralyzes you before it kills you. What the poison tells me is that even if he didn't kill me instantly with the shot, he had thought ahead enough to use something that would have finished me off anyway. Had it not been for the aid of a shaman I was traveling with that day, you and I would not be having this conversation."

Releasing her collar to cover the scar again, the elf woman continues, adjusting her cloak comfortably over her shoulder. "I have other scars from my altercations with the big lout, and he has just as many from me. But you do not gain the status of hero amongst the goblin tribes for being just big and dumb. I hope you understand what I am saying," Shalelu says with a well-meaning smile. She picks the stick back up and holds it out to Shaedeen. "Now, could you do me a favour please and break this in half for me? I'd like to use the sticks as a splint, and I am unable to do so for myself."

Shaedeen took the proffered stick, looking at the elf woman with distrust. She had a sneaky feeling this was some sort of test...that if she proved too weak to break the stick the elf would say something pithy and demeaning like, "You can't even break a stick in half yet you want to hunt the mighty Bruisey-Whatever-His-Name-Is, do you? Silly little girl!"

"Seems to me your wounds support my idea, that we should kill this monster now while we have the numbers advantage...before he can maim or kill someone else," the girl mumble-mutters under her breath. Shaedeen then tries to break the stick with her noodle-like arms.

Shaedeen Strength check (Take 10): 10 + 0 = 10

Then a light goes on in the back of Shae's mind. "Your feud with this beast.... It's personal, isn't it?"

Nasty wound indeed. Let me heal your arm a little more, Shalelu. That must hurt. I promise, no more kisses-unless you ask, no, unless you beg for them, of course

She winks playfully, and starts to sing.

A black and gold wasp rises from her mouth, and flies to Shalelu's arm. Its sting pierces her skin, but the sensation is one of unexpected pleasure.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Shae hops back with a gasp as Vanea displays her latest unusual healing technique. Although clearly disconcerted, the girl tries to make a nervous joke: "What did you eat for lunch, Vanea?"