The party sets on their way given the directions they were provided. Throughout the afternoon, there has been a growing feeling of unease. The birds and beasts of the woods have been unusually noisy. The Pathfinders can't help thinking that the ritual is the cause, but the ultimate evidence comes when Lukaas doubles over, a bestial growl escaping his throat. Laying on the ground he begins to shake as his body begins to go through a wild transformation. Hiding his head between his hands on the ground, the party watches as fingers begin to shift into sharp pointed claws. After a minute he stops shaking and raises his head. His face has grown thick coats of hair, his teeth become pointed, while his back hunches and his eyes grow yellow.
Before the party can react both Briallen and White Eagle follow in Lukaas's dilemma and collapse to the ground shaking, eventually standing back up to look the same with the claws, hair, teeth and eyes.
You are afflicted with a type of curse. Gain +1 Natural Armor, +2 Con, a bite attack dealing 1d4 damage, 2 claw attacks dealing 1d3 damage, but suffer 2 Intelligence and 2 Charisma damage.
You're still yourself and you can talk . Feel free to RP it as you wish.
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Briallen looks at Lukaas and White Eagle, then down at her hands, "What just happened?" She flexes a bit, annoyed by the hard claws that now cap her fingers. That was unpleasant. I hope it doesn't affect my ability to shoot. She looks to Gaeldrung as he readies his ax, "easy there fella."
She looks around the area to see if there's any obvious demarcation before retrieving the sword they found at Falbins. She holds it gingerly, "here goes nothing," before gripping the blade tightly with one hand.
Perception on anything that might have triggered the change.
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As she runs the sword across her palm, Briallen jumps and cries out, "AHHHH." She lifts her hand quickly to her mouth and licks her palm, "gods be damned that hurt."
Briallen looks around at the rest of the group, "uhh maybe that was a stupid idea, I'm just going to walk over here for a few minutes." She walks about 15 feet back the way they came, talking softly to herself.
"What were you thinking Bria? This isn't a fairy tale, you're not a werewolf, scared of silver. She looks skyward, is it even a full moon tonight? She shakes her head, annoyed, And what if it HAD worked? You might have killed yourself. We need to be more careful.
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White Eagle takes a bit longer to recover. [i]It was as was warned about. the power of our enemy grows.[/b]
He calls down Elangomat, hoping that his animal guide and spirit will still be of use to him.
easy friend, the land has been scarred and the balance of the spirits is off. this evil must be stopped, soon.
He begins to move on Hurry, we have little time we must end this.
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"Why does it, all of a sudden, smell like... wet dog?" Baru looks around him as his fellow pathfinders go through their sudden metamorphoses, and shakes his head. "While I've always wanted a pet, THIS is ridiculous. I guess this will make it a little more personal, the clock is ticking! On the bright side, this means we are definately heading in the right direction!"
The group resumes its march down the indicated path. No further "transformation" seems to occur during for the remainder of the day. The sun is low in the sky by the time the Pathfinders reach the logging camp Falbin told you about. The path runs through a small collection of buildings deep in the forest. This place appears to be a successful lumber camp — nearly a small village—but seems abandoned. A few open doors bang softly in the wind, hanging askew on their hinges.
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white Eagle looks to Baru, interesting point. perhaps it best that those of us that affected by this transformation magic remain out of sight. if there are people here in hiding, our presence my do more harm than good.
Elangomat will keep an eye on you for us, should you need help he will relay that information to us.
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"Indeed it is strange to find a place like this completely abandoned. Baru is likely right, keep your eyes out for anything suspicious."
-Posted with Wayfinder
White Eagle with Elangomat and Gaeldrung spot three forms hiding in the shadows scattered around the town. From where you are standing it appears that they are the loggers you were told about.
White Eagle relates the approximate location of the three loggers who are waiting for them. Once their surprise edge has been dismissed, the loggers all being to run towards the party. As the loggers get closer it appears that whatever happened to Lukaas, Briallen and White Eagle has affected these men as well -- except worse. They seem to be further affected by the curse and have grown more animalistic features. They do not carry weapons other that sharp fangs and claws.
They also do not appear like they are up for a discussion or reasoning.
Init: Party, Loggers
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"Let the fun begin!"
As Baru moves up to attack red (and block him from getting to the ranged attack party members), a tail appears from behind him, which grabs a wand from Baru's belt and places it in his hand. Stopping adjacent to red logger, Baru flicks the wand and speaks a simple incantation.
"வாழ்க்கை, மரணம், நான் இல்லாமல் நான்!
Baru draws back the opposite hand preparing for an attack with his claws. As he finishes the last word of the incantation, the tip of the wand lets off a blue colored spark. Baru's claw lights up with a deep blue color and small icicles form from the tips of each nail on his claw.
School necromancy; Level sorcerer/wizard 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range touch
Targets creature or creatures touched (up to one/level)
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Fortitude partial or Will negates; see text; Spell Resistance yes
A touch from your hand, which glows with blue energy, disrupts the life force of living creatures. Each touch channels negative energy that deals 1d6 points of damage. The touched creature also takes 1 point of Strength damage unless it makes a successful Fortitude saving throw. You can use this melee touch attack up to one time per level.
An undead creature you touch takes no damage of either sort, but it must make a successful Will saving throw or flee as if panicked for 1d4 rounds + 1 round per caster level.
Baru grits his teeth and swipes at the red logger!
slashing, DC=12: Fort = 1 str damage
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White eagle feels the beast within attempting to gain control. but he fights it back.
bring these men down but do not kill, If there is a chance we must try and save them. he says
White Eagle stabs at the one he now faces with his spear but pulls back on the blow hoping to only incapacitate and not kill.
Briallen's "Up close and personal" attack is exactly that. White Eagle's words of trying not to kill them is lost in the blast as she one-shots the feral logger and drops him to the ground instantly.
Baru slashes at the logger beast before him with his chill touched hands and inflicts moderate damage. The beast seems to shrug off the effects of the chill however.
White Eagle, Eldak and Gaeldrung all fail to connect on their attacks.
The loggers immediately retaliate and attack the party. The beast in front of baru leans forward and bites Baru's arm and rips away a huge section of flesh. He follows that up with a slash across the chest with its claws. The feral logger yips with glee.
The logger nearby to Gaeldrung fails to find purchase with either its bite or its claws.
Gaeldrung fails to connect with his logger as does Lukaas. Baru however manages to put the finishing touches on one that howls in pain and drops to the ground unmoving.
White Eagle comes close to succeeding but barely misses. Eldak swings around south of Gaeldrung and connects with his quarterstaff to the shins of the logger.
The logger sees the crowd begin to surround him and he tries to attack all three foes nearby. He fails to connect on any of his attacks however as he is unable to focus properly.
Gaeldrung nearly finishes the logger by himself as he can see he can barely stand any longer.
As Baru moves up, the logger reaches over and viciously retaliates as a last ditch effort and tears a huge gaping wound in the neck of the Magus.
Baru manages to fight through the pain and put the logger down with his chill touch claw.
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Briallen's hand drops to her side, "glad I didn't need to use another gold, er bullet on him." She looks around at the square before walking over to sit on the edge of the fountain. "What's the plan now?" She looks down at the hair on her hands, "I'd really like to figure out what's going on sooner rather than later."
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White Eagle does a check on the loggers that may have a chance of surviving the encounter. looking to see if they can be saved.
He then turns his attention to the group looking over them to see if any are in dire straits.
He pulls out some leaves from his pouch and lights them. they quickly are consumed in a flame and turn to ash.
White Eagle then rubs the ash on Baru's wounds the Earth replenishes what it has lost, and so to shall the earth replenish you
Two of the three loggers are able to be saved. Unfortunately the one that met with Briallen's bullet to the brain was too far gone.
The party makes a thorough search of the lumber camp and they find it completely deserted. Of interest they find a pay box containing 55 gold pieces and uncover an accounting ledger hidden in an office. The incriminating ledger contains obvious accounting inaccuracies and notes regarding payments made to an unnamed criminal enterprise.