"Well, we certainly couldn't have guessed he might turn on us," Mahdi says, using Perform: Sarcasm.
"Fire has a hard time being told to burn gently, Aldebert, but I would be very surprised if he died from this--"
And fire lances out from between his hands, in a straight line that jets between his allies and washes over Haidar.
***
His attempt at being merciful causes Aldebert to slightly misjudge his attack, and the guisarme's blade swishes past the Falcon Emir rather than hitting him.
***
Unable to fully control Yeenoghu, Amiamble's quick thinking and covering of the cat's eyes offers Pent some protection, as the cat's jaws snap out blindly in the gnome's general direction.
While the jaws find the right direction, Amiamble's covering hands distract Yeenoghu enough for them to miss.
***
Haidar is unable to fling himself from the fire's path, and not only being scorched by the flames, he even catches on fire. He howls in pain, and, strangely, his body begins to shift and veer in some kind of transformation.
***
Pent's eyes widen to saucers, as he's narrowly missed by feline teeth Wait, do cats have canines?? It's a convention, based on humans, since humans have canine teeth, right? So if humans, then cats. As for gnomes, I'll just keep calling them my 'chewers'.
Pent looks straight at Ami's aperture. "Remind me to thank you later for the bite that never came to be. I'll remind you that your purpose here and now is to prevent any of that from happening to any of us, unless you want to move closer to Emir, and figure out a way for those jaws to subdue, instead of fondue."
Round 1, Init 15
Kul looks apologetic as he takes up his Falchion in both hands, spins it 90 degrees, steps into a flank with Adiable (), and attacks with the flat of his blade:
Kul finds his blade far less accurate when employing such merciful tactics, and like Aldebert is unable to hit the crazed man before him.
Still aflame, Haidar's transformation continues. His fingers and toes form into claws, his mouth grows elongated canines, his eyes turn into those of a large cat, and his torso and neck grow pale yellow fur with black spots, like those of a leopard. Meanwhile, his entire frame also grows in size, until he stands almost 10 ft tall, his appearance like a bipedal leopard, although he still clutches the dagger in one hand-paw.
***
Round: 2, Initiative: 18, Location: E9
Weapon Equipped = Guisarme
Conditions = Endure Elements
Smite Evil = 0/1 (+2 attack, +3 damage, +2 AC)
Lay on Hands = 3/3 (1d6 healing +1d6 if not fatigued)
Aldebert watches the transformation - fixed for a moment in time. This can’t be good.
Wondering if, in fact, it’s evil, Aldebert smites it (swift action smite evil), though with his first blow he still attempts to do nonlethal.
(+2 attack and +3 damage, bypass DR, etc. if it is in fact evil)
(+2 attack and +3 damage, bypass DR, etc. if it is in fact evil)
”Be careful! I know not what this is!”
"What in the name of..."
Mahdi's jaw drops slightly, then he quickly stirs himself again. His mind races through dull bestiaries that his master insisted he study, trying to identify the creature before them.
While he waits for his brain to kick into gear, Mahdi launches another blast of fire from his fingertip, since he's down to that and crossbow bolts. And the first fire had seemed effective.
Round 2, Init 19
AC = 13
HP = 20/24
Weapon Equipped = Morningstar
Condition(s) = Divine Favor(1/10)
Before Pent grasps the direness of the situation, he steps over and claps the beast on the back, with his morningstar, forgetting to hold back the damage.
Round 2, Init 15
Kul's eyes open wide in disbelief at the transformation. He spins the Falchion in his hands, bringing the blade to bear.
Looking upward, he begins praying, "Sarenrae, brightest of bright, strengthen my arm and help me bring down this abomination!"
Round 2, Init 12
Sensing some calm in Yeenoghu (but understanding of his frustration with the gnome), Ami looks for a place to move where he won't be a threat to anyone but himself.
They back themselves into a corner, I10.
"Look out, Mahdi! Yeen has had too much happyfungas!" Ami cries to his friend while snapping off a stone from his sling.
to hit;
damage.
Pent starts to hyperventilate.
You recognize this transformation as the hybrid form of a werecreature, a human (or other humanoid) infected with the curse of lycanthropy. Someone so affected takes on aspects of some type of animal, as well as the ability to shift between human form, animal form, and the hybrid form amalgamating both. In this particular case, the animal in question seems to be a Katapeshi leopard, which is a particularly large and vicious variation of leopards.
A person can either be born with this curse (known as a "natural" lycanthrope), or become cursed after birth, usually through being bitten by another werecreature (known as an "afflicted" lycanthrope). Those born with it have far greater control over their transformations, while those afflicted later in life initially only transform involuntarily, and may not even be aware that a transformation has occurred. Once afflicted lycanthropes become aware of their condition, they can later assume hybrid or animal form voluntarily.
Only silver weapons fully affect a lycanthrope, although afflicted lycanthropes are less protected than natural ones.
In hybrid form, a lycanthrope has the abilities and attacks of both its humanoid form and its animal form. For Katapeshi leopards, this means the hybrid form can pounce, rake, and grab with both bite and claw.
***
This time, Mahdi's fire is far less effective, dealing moderate amounts of damage and not setting Haidar's body aflame.
Aldebert hits with precision, and his attack seems more damaging than could be expected, as the Haidar-leopard almost recoils from its touch.
Amiamble's stone completely misses the target, while Pent's and Kul's attacks both deflect off the creature's tough skin.
***
His transformation complete, Haidar grins savagely, then brings dagger, claw, and bite to bear on Kul.
Luckily, all three attacks miss.
***
Round: 3, Initiative: 18, Location: E9
Weapon Equipped = Guisarme
Conditions = Endure Elements, smiting evil on Haidar (AC: 19 (F18/T14))
Smite Evil = 0/1 (+2 attack, +3 damage, +2 AC)
Lay on Hands = 3/3 (1d6 healing +1d6 if not fatigued)
”I think he’s evil! I’ve wounded him - now let’s press him!”
Aldebert winds up and tries a straight shot - no longer attacking to do nonlethal.
(smite) (smite)
Round 3, Initiative 15
Kul takes another swing at the beast:
Round 3, Init 19
AC = 13
HP = 20/24
Weapon Equipped = Morningstar
Condition(s) = Divine Favor(1/10)
Pent concentrates hard, paying attention to whether he does any good against the creature, aside from distraction. That's as hard as I hit!!
If the creature's hide turns the gnome's morningstar away unhurt, Pent looks ready to abandon his stance against the monstrosity.
Round 3, Init 12
Ami loads and snaps off a stone from his sling.
to hit;
damage.
Ami looks down at the moaning cat as his mount throws off his aim.
Round 3: Init 19
"Oh, hell-- were-leopard," Mahdi yells shortly, even as he glowers over the fire having almost no result... and Pent being in his way now.
"If you've silver weapons, use them! And don't let those claws grab you!"
Mahdi murmurs the words of a cantrip-- he doubts it'll be effective, but he needs to try something else, lest he roast the gnome.
Mahdi draws his crossbow, brows beetled in a frown.
***
Aldebert and Amiamble both miss, although the Haidar-leopard is only barely able to twist its body enough to avoid Aldebert's guisarme.
Kul and Pent, on the other hand, both hit. In both cases, the resulting injuries seem less than the force of the attack would entail against any normal creature, but wounds do appear even from Pent's morningstar.
Mahdi's spell has no effect, its magics being simply too weak against the creature.
***
Were-Haidar tries once more to savage Kul with a flurry of attacks.
This time the dagger punches through Kul's defenses, dealing 18 damage, while injuring himself further as well. The many injuries from flame and metal are beginning to take their toll, but there's more work to be done before the creature succumbs to its injuries.
***
Round: 4, Initiative: 18, Location: E9
Weapon Equipped = Guisarme
Conditions = Endure Elements, smiting evil on Haidar (AC: 19 (F18/T14))
Smite Evil = 0/1 (+2 attack, +3 damage, +2 AC)
Lay on Hands = 3/3 (1d6 healing +1d6 if not fatigued)
Aldebert sucks on his tongue as his swing misses, if only by a shade. He worries about Kul - heavily wounded in battle as he is and tries harder to knock his opponent.
(smite) (smite)
"Leave my man Kul alone you foul beast - leave him be!"
Round 4, Init 12
Feeling lucky with Yeenoghu feeling normal, Ami tries another tack because he's not going to hit the beast with the gnome in the way.
He draws an alchemist's fire and lobs it at the beast.
touch to hit;
fire damage.
Round 4, Initiative 15
Blood streams from Kul's side and his face winces in pain. "Augh! That dagger burns with foul magic!"
He continues to hack away at the were-leopard:
Round 4, Delay Init 19--->Init 14
AC = 13
HP = 20/24
Weapon Equipped = Morningstar
Condition(s) = Divine Favor(2/10)
Pent doubletakes as the dagger does its dirty deed, and dismisses any decision to dig in. He delays, for Kul to deal with the deadly dreamer, then determines his destination, with the decency to deal a little dose of heeling to the daggered.
***
Between Aldebert's smiting guisarme, Amiamble's successful lobbing of fire, and Kul's power-attacking falchion, the beast is finally felled, dropping to the ground in a motionless heap.
Mahdi prepares to maneuver into a more advantageous positiiioooooon oh never mind.
The young wizard clears his throat and lowers his crossbow, then approaches the were-leopard's body.
"Now that can I talk at luxury without it ripping our heads off... not all who suffer lycanthropy are truly evil beings. It is a curse that strikes some whether they wish it or not. Kul, you seem to know more than any of us about this emir-- was he rumored to be some sort of atrocious bastard?
"And more to the point: is there any reason we ought spare his life?" he asks, crouching down by the singed and many-times-cut-and-slashed body, inspecting the wounds and checking for a pulse.
"Never mind, quite pointless," Mahdi says briskly.
Pent steps back up to the body, listening intently to Mahdi's explanations. "For all the stories I've heard, lycanthropy turns all of 'em into rabid, flesh-eating, mindless killing machines. I guess that's a rather uncharitable way of looking at these poor souls, if what you say is true, Maddie."
Pent reaches down, and puts his hand on the body, still warm.
"What if the lycanthropy just makes 'em act like ars-holes while they're all fur-covered? That would explain a lot of the stories."
Mahdi can see no signs of life, but as Pent lays his hands upon the furry body and channels healing into it, he can tell that the leopard-man is merely unconscious and not yet dead.
Aldebert nods at the ever-smart Mahdi. "Yes, if he's redeemable we should try to help him." He checks his pack and adds, "Does anyone have any rope, or a pair of manacles?"
He at least takes the dagger from the unconscious form and hands it to Mahdi.
Seeing Kul still injured, he adds his own healing to try and top him off. He lays his hand upon the injury and heals damage. "Better? Or do you require more healing good man?"
Ami stares at his friends while they heal the beastman.
He is wicked. Does he seek absolution or will we need to strike him down again?
Ami loads another stone into his halfling staffsling...and takes the time to lead his cat upstairs, before someone else gets bit.
"Thank you, Pent and Aldebert. I feel much better. I have rope we can try to use, but I'm uncertain it will work on such a shapeshifter.
Kul pulls a 50' length of knotted rope from his backpack, sits on the floor next to the Emir, unties the attached grappling hook, and begins untying the knots. As he works, he answers Mahdi's question:
"With regard to the Emir, he was a respected military advisor to the city leaders of Ipeq. He disappeared a while ago and his family was found the next morning torn apart by animals.
It would seem that he could have been responsible for their deaths (or perhaps the creature that cursed him). Breaking the curse would be a good idea if possible."
As Kul busies himself with tying down the mad cat, Pent takes full advantage of the situation.
He bounds over to the head of the fallen wereleopard. He sheathes his morningstar, freeing up both hands. He reaches down, and grabs the beast's jowels, shaking them madly. He then moves over to the lips, pulling back the meat to expose the teeth. The big, pointy teeth. "Would you look at those chops!! They're almost the size of my forearm!! Can you imagine getting bit by that?! I can, and it makes me want to stop trying to imagine getting bit, because you don't come back from that without the memories. Some memories are almost as bad as the initial event, don't you think? These teeth are memory makers!!" Pent lets go of the lips.
It looks like the gnome forgets about the others, as he moves to the beast's eye. He gently pulls the lids back, exposing the dilated yellow iris. "Even the eye changed!! It's cat, through and through, all golden, and you can even see how the light reflects so quickly off the back!!" Pent snaps his fingers, looking for a reaction. He lets go of the lids, and shrugs. He looks at Kul, and tilts his head.
"How do you propose we break a curse this furry?"
He looks at Kul, and tilts his head.
"How do you propose we break a curse this furry?"
Kul shrugs and smiles, "Don't ask me. Mahdi's the one who said it's a curse. Sounds like magic to me and I'm no expert on magic
Mahdi steeples his fingers before his face. The truthful answer would be 'I don't know how to break the curse', but since when does he admit to not knowing anything?
"Further study is required," he says at last, "and I would consult with our good father back at the monastery, ideally. Potent herbs may be required. And I stress this is only a possibility, not a promise that he may be redeemed."
Mahdi wriggles his fingers, and gingerly picks up the dagger that their foe had been using to great effect. "The immediate question is what we do now. I am nearly spent when it comes to magic for the day, but I also mislike resting in a place where so much remains unknown and unexplored..."
"Hrm. Mahdi raises a good point. We were going to rest for the night here, but now I think we should definitely take this man back to camp where he can be more carefully watched. I agree with Kul's worry about tying up a shapechanger - very tough."
"Let's carry him back now and rest the night in camp before returning to town tomorrow - and maybe taking the market at last."
Aldebert offers to carry Kul's pack and other gear to free him up to carry Haidar. If Haidar is still too large, he wonders, "Anyone see anything we can make a travois out of? Two long poles would do nicely and we can drag him through the desert with Kul's rope."
You find a pair of battered saddlebags, holding a total of 343 gp, a set of ceramic idols that have seen better days, a torn and bloodstained silk veil, and several pieces of ragged and soiled clothing.
Amiamble aids in tying up the wereleopard while keeping one eye on Yeenoghu...hopefully, the happyfungas will wear off soon.
When his brother suggests returning to camp, Ami nods vigorously.
"Tomorrow, we shall give the gnolls in the marketplace the whatfor!" Ami hisses, smashing his tiny fist into his tiny hand.
Amiamble will offer to walk if they can find a way to get the Emir tied securely onto Yeenoghu's saddle. Ami will walk with his cat to make sure everything is fine.
Pent stays out of the way of the ropers, and does search about in the mists, no longer worried at present that they'll overcome him.
He trots back out, carrying the saddlebags. "Likely his, and something that would have required returning for should we have returned ourselves with that new saddlebag you call Emir. Can't we get him to switch back to his smaller self? We're gonna move slow, and be pretty furrily obvious to scouts should we try and trot him all the way back to the monastery." Pent pats the saddlebags, a silent gesture of all the carrying he's set on doing.
Mahdi will, as is customary for him, cast a spell to detect magic on things looted from their foes, including Pent's discoveries.
Mahdi determines that both potions are potions of cure light wounds, while he's unable to identify the armor and weapon. During his examination, however, he notes that an embossed image of a ferocious Katapeshi leopard adorns the dagger's hilt, while strange shadowy patterns writhe across its blade.
***
Aldebert praises Pent for searching in the mists again and finding something worth selling. Maybe this trip will be worth it for more than just freedom and revenge. The merchant in him catalogues the goods.
Aldebert helps push or drag the lycanthrop back to camp. Once there, he stands guard while the others discover if he can be healed of his disease.
Mahdi looks thoughtfully at the bottles, and passes one off to Kul. "A potion to heal wounds, the next time you take them. Aldebert, do you wish to take the other, or will you trust to your god?"
For now, he hands off the chain shirt and the dagger to someone else to carry. "I must study these further at a later date, but I suggest they are worth keeping."
Mahdi brushes off his hands and decides to helpfully 'direct' the construction of the travois.
"The basic principles of weight distribution are quite simple..." he says while fishing out his ball of coarse twine from his pack. "As are the principles of multiplied strength. A single loop of string is not strong, but if I twine it multiple times around the joints that we wish to secure..."
He could be speaking of either constructing the travois, there, or of how to really successfully tie up somebody. Who knows. Anyway, he offers 'advice' on how to build the drag-sledge.
Mahdi looks thoughtfully at the bottles, and passes one off to Kul. "A potion to heal wounds, the next time you take them. Aldebert, do you wish to take the other, or will you trust to your god?"
Aldebert takes the potion, but hands it to his brother, "Amiamble should carry it. He can use it if he needs it, or he can pour it down my throat should I fall. That way more of us are ready to heal as needed. OK with you Mahdi?"
"...but I suggest they are worth keeping."
"Ah course they're worth keeping, because Emir is worth keeping, and what he'd keep, we should keep for him until he can keep up with us." By the look on the gnome, it's apparent that he's indignant that the party would consider looting the poor kitty.
Ami walks along side his brother, turning to him for advice.
"Brother, the Sun teaches us to slay the wicked but offer redemption to those we can when we can. This Emir was certainly evil, was he not. He felt the sting of your righteous anger, I know," Ami explains. "But if he chooses not to repent, should I burn him in a live pyre or behead him with the curved blade Sarenrae prefers?"
Ami eyes look to his brother from between the slits in his face scarf.
Which would make Sarenrae happier?
Ami walks along side his brother, turning to him for advice.
"Brother, the Sun teaches us to slay the wicked but offer redemption to those we can when we can. This Emir was certainly evil, was he not. He felt the sting of your righteous anger, I know," Ami explains. "But if he chooses not to repent, should I burn him in a live pyre or behead him with the curved blade Sarenrae prefers?"
Ami eyes look to his brother from between the slits in his face scarf.
Aldebert leans in and talks quietly with his brother, "I think the curved blade is best. Pyres are so, well, smelly - to be honest."
He continues quickly, stifling something, "He was certainly evil, and I would put him down, but others knew him and may find something of value in his life if we can save it. But keep your sword ready my brother. Between us, I think it shall be needed for this one."
Pent begins to eye the unconscious wereleopard. He walks over, and starts rubbing up and down, as if itching his back against the fur.
Pent is shearing the wereleopard.
"Uh, oooo, that's it. I never thought that would go away. All this heat, hard to reach places... Ahhhhh."