The night passes without incident, though there is a moment when Lukaas has a hard time steering clear of a certain scent that he is sure is coming from Briallen.
Dawn arrives and the party makes preparations to continue their journey to Briar Henge. When the come together there are a few subtle differences in the party.
White Eagle, Briallen and Lukaas all suffers continued effects from the curse. Lukaas's face is now completely covered in hair and is starting to resemble what looks like a bear. White Eagle's face has elongated, nose flattened and inflated and teeth have begun to jut out at strange angles. He is beginning to resemble a boar it would appear. Briallen's entire upper body seems to have patches of thick fur and her facial features have shifted to take on the outline of a wolf.
In addition Gaeldrung has awoken this morning affected by the curse, suffering from the same effects as the three other party members. Eldak and Baru are seemingly still unaffected.
You're still yourself and you can talk (for now). Feel free to RP it as you wish.
After discussing your newfound features, the party sets off on their way. Your journey is uneventuful for the reminder of this cold morning, until you reach a new obstacle in your path: a deep, placid river interrupts the path to Briar Henge. A few large logs have been placed across the river, providing a crude bridge to access the other side. Sunlight dapples the surface of the murky water, the result of branches crisscrossing the river high overhead.
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White eagle keeps to himself in the morning, the new features seems to disturb him. he spends some time in prayers before heading out, worried that he has offended the earth spirits.
Elangomat keeps a distance up in the trees, he is fearful of his masters changing appearance but he does not abandon him.
Once the river is reached, White Eagle starts sniffing about. trying assure himself that the way is clear.
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Briallen begins to shake as they approach the river, "not again, not again, not again" she begins to mumble. She moves off to the side to look down the river, anxiety contorting her lupine features. Finally noticing the water is still, she regains a bit of her composure, but she continues to talk to herself quickly, "Ican'tfallagain. WhatifIdie? Ishouldn'tevenbehere. MaybeI'mabetterjumpernow. Ican'tfallagain. Norope?! Ican'tflyIcan'tswimI'mgoingtodie!"
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Sensing Briallen get tense over a river, Lukaas tries to soothe her with words, taking and patting her hand as gently as possible
Come on, Briallen, I'm sure it's not the first time a pretty young woman like you encounter some morning wood... Nothing to be afraid of. Nothing un-bear-able, if I may say so...
Even his sense of humor is coarser than before, it seems.
Do you want someone to check these fallen logs, and see if we can use them as a bridge? Although I'm sure it would be the perfect point for some ambush, don't you think, Gaeldrung?
The party observes that logs are thick and sturdy and will provide a safe passage across the river . The water is murky and without measuring it would be difficult to tell exactly how deep it is.
Looking around the area they observe no signs of any immediate threats. Elangomat flies high above and reports no threats can be seen nearby.
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Lukaas will wait until Gaeldrung has crossed the river and will follow him.
Do you want a hand here, Briallen? I can help you to cross the river maybe... It's not difficult and without any risks.
Lukaas will sing a soft tune to soothe the gun-wielding girl and ease her fears, offering her his hand to help
Gaeldrung makes his way across the log bridge. About halfway the expected inevitable ambush materializes as an arrow whistles in from somewhere to the south and embeds itself at Gaeldrungs feet. The archer was apparently well hidden with cover in a blind in a tree and a female shouts loudly,
A small alligator emerges from the water next to Gaeldrung and opens its jaws and snaps at the feet of half-orc, but misses.
"Jumblegrin! More lycanthropes, attack the clawed ones!"
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What a pleasant, totally unexpected surprise...We're not lycanthropes! Or we're as much lycanthropes as your crocodile is a kind of tree floating down the river! So please pestering us with arrows. We're suffering a kind of curse set by some sect of druids, and of course we want to put an end on it!
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Briallen, glad for the distraction, bristles at the implications they're the ones to be attacked. She steps forward, readying her pistol and leveling it at the alligator.
"We are nothing of the sort, this is a temporary condition brought on by the hunt for the real lycanthropes! Stand down or I will shoot your friend here!"
Baru moves across the bridge to the other bank. (provoke AoO as he passes Gaeldrung?) Then snaps his wand at the alligator. (wand of chill touch + spellstrike)
DC 11 fort, fail = -1 str
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.
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White eagle stooped to the ground by the water's edge sniffing around as though a part of him was lost to animal instincts.
looking toward the combat with the alligator (or croc) he mutters something almost incomprehensible but the very water seems to heed his call as a mist of water catches the rays of the sun just right sending a dazzling array of colors into the creature's eyes.
In response to your diplomatic cues all you receive is a grunt. As Baru tries to pass the water creature it reaches out and snaps at him, but misses again.
White Eagle stares down the gator and attempts to daze it, but the creature is surprisingly strong willed and resists.
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"It doesn't appear they want to listen," Eldak says as he aims at the creature's head with his staff.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Eldak and Gaeldrung both take a swipe at the water creature but are unable to strike it as more arrows fire from the cover of the trees.
A well placed arrow zips from the trees and strikes Baru in the chest. The arrow shot is followed by a shout from the tree archer, "Ha! Down you disgusting creatures, I will put you all down!"
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Upon seeing the arrows fired (last round), Briallen shoots at the alligator, focusing on damaging it no matter what. She scores a nice hit but is annoyed when it still stands. She reloads and fires again, hitting it in the leg. She yells to the man in the woods, "I warned you I'd shoot your little friend here. Now I'm going to make him in to a new holster!"
Readied Attack with Up Close & Personal.
-1 Grit. 2 remain.
for plus
for
Briallen blasts the gator twice with her pistol, inflicting moderate damage but not taking the creature down.
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Lukaas, realising all hopes for a peaceful discussion is lost, clumsily puts a bolt on his crossbow, his claws hindering his precision. Then he tries to locate the bowman who's pestering them with arrows. His bolt flies...
That was a warning shot! Call back your crocodile, before it dies, and stop sending us arrows: they are of no use to me, I got a crossbow!
Baru's claw strike comes up short of its target.
The archer cries out as Lukaas's arrow hits the mark, but she says nothing about surrendering.
The gator reaches out and chomps on Gaeldrung's leg with it's jagged teeth.
Gaeldrung swings his axe down once more and comes dangerously close to striking it, but misses by a hair.
After being struck by the bolt from the crossbow the female archer yells out, She takes careful aim at Lukaas and lets the arrow fly.
The elven archer's aim is exceptional as the arrow slams into Lukaas's neck and pierces his jugular. He collapses to the ground with the arrow protruding from his neck, a tremendous amount of blood quickly pooling around his body.
She shouts out, She takes