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Wren steps back and fires an arrow at the direbat. The arrow clips right through the membrane of the bats wing.
Umlo and Jorgan continue their assault on the giant.
Their combined efforts are just enough to bring it down, leaving Pappy all by himself.
The manticore turns it's attention to the dire bat as it leaps out and bites at it.
Leaping up the manticore's sharp fangs clamp around the bats dangling legs, nearly dragging it to the ground.
Pappy begins to cast another spell near Kraygan
The coruscating ray seems to go right past Kraygan's armor as it saps his strength. Kraygan instantly begins to feel weaker and more tired than usual. Pappy continues to rub the sand into his eyes.
Haste
Wren (36/37)
Kraygan (R)(56/56; -4 Str)
Torgan (Y) (30/58)
Umlo (49/60)
Manticore (39/39)
Jorgan (B)(39/57)
-----------------------------------
Ogres (Red- 12 hp; 3 images; glitterdust blind 4 rounds)(Green -40)
Dire Bat (-17 hp)
-----------------------------------
Vanderhoff (G)(45/45)
Van continues his giant bashing.
"Gah! I feel weak... dammed giant, is this another curse? I really starting to HATE curses!!"
Stepping up to the spellcasting ogre, Kraygan lays into him with Gorum's Thorn.
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Round 4, Init 22
Wren takes aim at the circling bat, this time remembering the haste that he himself cast not more than a few rounds ago.
Nice magicking, idiot. Ever think to benefit from your own tricks?!
to hit; (PBS,haste)
damage.
Haste Attack:
to hit; (PBS,haste)
damage.
HP: 36/37
AC: 18 (+4 w/mage armor)
Effects: mage armor
Right: bow
Left:
Acid 0/6 used
[ dice]1d20+8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+1[/dice] damage.
Torgan yells out to his still-bearded yak as the fat ogres drop and only leave the largest left standing. "Malt! He can't see ye! CHARGE!" the dwarf yells as the pair moves into a flanking position.
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Regarding the str damage spell, I'm assuming that's Ray if Enfeeblement? I think there is a Fort save for 1/2. I'll roll one just in case (which would add +1 to hit damage if applicable).
Stepping up Van swings his mighty hammer at the Ogre mage.
Van's hammer passes harmlessly through the Ogre as it dissipates into a thin mist and disappears.
Spinning around once again Wren fires another arrow at the Bat. Seeing an opening as Wren draws his bowstring the large bat bites at the elf.
The bat misses as Wren's arrow releases right into it's open maw. The bat lurches back and falls to the ground in a heap as it begins to return to it's realm.
Through Kraygan's fury only one of his blows even comes close to making it's mark.
Kraygan's greatsword strikes the correct Ogre as it slashes through it's flailing arm. Each of the images immediately gains a matching wound.
With the giant momentarily blinded Torgan and Hops dash into flanking positions around it.
Their well planned strikes prove futile as their powerful blows wipe more images out of existence leaving the blind ogre to stand by himself.
Joining the rest of the dwarves Umlo rushes into the fray.
Umlo's warhammer smashes into the unsuspecting giant's bare foot. Crushing the bones underneath.
I hear you round me now. I will strip the flesh from yer bearded faces fer dinner tonight!
Seeing little room near the giant the manticore sits down and begins to lick at the dried blood from its fur.
Haste
Wren (36/37)
Kraygan (R)(56/56; -4 Str)
Torgan (Y) (30/58)
Umlo (49/60)
Manticore (39/39)
Jorgan (B)(39/57)
-----------------------------------
Ogres (Red- 37 hp; glitterdust blind 4 rounds)
-----------------------------------
Vanderhoff (G)(45/45)
Jorgan joins his brother in charging the last ogre. "For HOPS!!!"
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Jorgan charges into the blind ogre and misses as he slips in the loose sand, utterly destroying the intricate arcane symbols drawn within.
Pappy arches his back and lets out a guttural scream. The hair, or what is left of it, on the dwarves begins to stand completely on end as a large charge of electricity begins to form around Pappy. Within an instant the charge bursts in a small explosion.
Just as the wave of electricity releases Pappy begins to grow long jagged claws on both of his hands. He blindly begins to claw and tear at the dwarves around him.
Swiping nothing but the air around him Pappy once again claws at his eyes.
Smiling wickedly at the group around him. He is finally able to see clearly as the glitterdust is completely gone.
Haste
Wren (36/37)
Kraygan (R)(51/56; -2 Str)
Torgan (Y) (25/58)(Malt 28/33)
Umlo (46/60)
Manticore (39/39)
Jorgan (B)(34/57)
-----------------------------------
Ogres (Red- 40 hp)
-----------------------------------
Vanderhoff (G)(45/45)
Van returns the ogres wicked grin as he swings twice at the brute.
Kraygan flinches away from the shock and ducks a claw, then swings Gorum's Thorn back and forth at the giant.
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The combined attacks by Wren, Kraygan and Vanderhoff are enough to bring the giant down. Wren's arrow catches the giant in the throat ending any future spell casting as Kraygan dives in underneath claw and brings his axe home into the Ogre's chest. Vanderhoff follows up by slamming his hammer into the back of Kraygan's axe, driving the blade in further.
As Pappy falls to the ground he drags Kraygan down with him as his axe is stuck deep within the bone. After several minutes of futile effort Kraygan sets his foot deep on the Ogre's face for a little more leverage and yanks his axe free.
Wren (36/37)
Kraygan (R)(51/56; -2 Str)
Torgan (Y) (25/58)(Malt 28/33)
Umlo (46/60)
Manticore (39/39)
Jorgan (B)(34/57)
Vanderhoff (G)(45/45)
Torgan stands proudly over the fallen ogre. "Well he clearly meant to harm you lot." he says, pointing to Van and Kraygan. "Jorgan and I have no more beards!" he says triumphantly as he looks over the weapons and armor of the ogres and investigates the rest of the room.
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"Well, that was a good scrap. You guys are finally getting the hang of things," Wren says, putting one more arrow into Pappy's skull, just to be sure.
Wren looks for bones, occasionally glancing to the be-bearded and wondering when they will learn.
Perception w/Detect Magic (especially around Pappy)
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The group finds little on the pregnant female Ogres though between Wren's magic and Torgan's keen eyes they dig through every crevice of skin and find:
- Javelin that sparks with electricity.
DC 20 Spellcraft:Javelin of Lightning.
- Scroll of Mirror Image
- Scroll of Speak with Dead (2) (If you want o speak with Hops again)
- Wand of Summon Monster III (9 charges)
- Javelins (2)
- Quarterstaff
- Attractive silver headband decorated with small red and orange gemstones
DC 23 Spellcraft:Headband of Alluring Charisma +2
- Unholy symbol emblazoned with a crimson re fanged skull
DC 10 Knowledge Religion:This unholy symbol identifies with that of Zura the Vampire Queen, Demon Lord of Blood and Cannibalism
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Scroll of Speak with Yak (2) (If you want o speak with Hops again)
Spellcraft - Javelin
Spellcraft - Headband
Know (Religion)
Wren drops the (un)holy symbol as soon as he realizes what it is.
"Ah piddlespot. I'm sure glad we removed this entire bloodline. There was nothing good to come out of here. Ever. Wow."
Wren gives the symbol stinkface for a few more moments before nodding to Torgan to Agrimmosh it good.
"Now, that javelin is pretty nice if you have muscles and decent aim. That headband will make a yak seem like good company. This wand? This wand I'll hold unless one of you wants it."
"Those scrolls might come in handy if we need them. Not sure though. And the scroll...we can sell that." I don't need those false magics. Give me the magic of realism.
Wren looks around for the bones that they need.
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Wren finally notes something he had missed before...in the center of the room, a headless skeleton lies within the middle of a large oval sandpit, surrounded by several arcane symbols and strange, jagged runes etched into the sand.
"I think this might be it! I totally found it!" Wren beams at his dwarven companions, finding what they sought. "No doubt you all had missed it, but it's right there."
Wren keeps watch while he waits for the yakkenhorde to be-cauldron the bones for return to the chapel.
Catching his breath after suffering from the ogre's spell and tapping into his hangover reserves, Kraygan lets Wren loot the place for a minute. "A mag'cal javelin? I'm pretty good with 'em."
Standing with his back to the portrait of Tamand varias, Kraygan investigates the skeleton in the pit. "I ain't sure, but I'm thinkin yer right elf. This headless skeleton is a good bet for the one we're lookin for."
Scroll of Speak with Yak (2) (If you want o speak with Hops again)
Jorgan takes the wand from Wren and looks it over for a minute. "Nah, I can't use this! Is that some kind a joke? Take it back, you use it."
"Agreed. Now we need to get these bones back to the chapel, right? Let's do it quick and hope the others snap out of their obsessions."
Torgan grabs the ogre's headrag and ties it like a collar around Malt. "Puke yella is Malt's favorite color. He spent too much time wit' Kraygan during 'is dark times. Grew t' love th' constant color in th' stables. "
Malt's coarse hairs gain some luster and the grain looks a bit more lush.
---
After the ogre's loot is divided, Torgan takes the bones and smashes them in the chapel.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Van looks down at the sandpit in theidle of the room seeing the bones for the first time. "Sharp eyes, elf. Let us finish this once and for ever."
When Torgan scoops up the bones and dashes off to the chapel, Van calls out. "Remember what happened last time!"
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Without a second thought Torgan grabs the skeleton out of the sand and slowly begins to drag it back to the chapel. Fabian appears as Torgan enters.
Yes, Yes, that must be it. I can feel his evil from here..... The ghost seems to almost sneer as it hovers near the altar.
Quickly, place him up here.
With Wren's assistance Torgan gets all of the bones onto the altar. Raising his hammer high above his head and brings it crashing down onto the bones. The bones quickly turn to dust as a gentle breeze escapes through the Chapel, gently blowing the dwarven beards like whispers in the wind.
The candles all extinguish as Fabian seems to almost glow. A smile creases his face as he hovers to Torgan. I cannot thank you enouh for what you have done here today. Turning his head in Vanderhoff's direction. Look over my great-great granddaughter for me. Make sure she stays safe. A beam of light begins to tear through Fabian's side.
My time left here is short. He floats over towards the statue of Iomedae. Placing his hand within the statue causes a small compartment to open within her neck. Inside lies a small medallion of a miniature sword emblazoned with a sunburst. This is a Glory Medallion. It will allow your healing to be more effective and will always shine brightly in the darkest night..... Fabian is cut off as bright beams begin to tear all through his body. In a matter of seconds his form dissipates and the Chapel is once again quiet.
positive energy, the bearer can
treat one die roll of a 1 as a 6 when
determining the amount of damage
healed by living creatures or dealt to
undead creatures. In addition, once
per day, the bearer can expend uses
of his channel energy ability to dispel
a darkness spell of lower than 9th level
within a 30-foot-radius burst. One use of
channel energy is consumed for every
level of darkness spell dispelled this way. If
the bearer doesn’t have enough uses of channel energy
to match the level of the spell, the spell is not dispelled.
"Well, are you all feeling better now?" Jorgan asks as he looks around at the others. He picks up the medallion and turns it over in his hands a few times. He asks Wren what it does and then simply shrugs. "It was the thought that counts, isn't that always right?"
Jorgan looks about the chapel. "There's still some rooms to the east we haven't turned over yet. Everyone up for cleaning them out before we get outta this place?"
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"Make sure she stays safe."
Wren nods, easily agreeing.
"We are going that way anyway. She will be told what happened here in the past...and of our recent actions as well. Her knighthood, might even come to reclaim this fort as well. It might be needed to serve again."
* * *
"Well, are you all feeling better now?"
Wren surveys Jorgan.
"What do you mean, dwarf? Do you think I have forgotten the holy vision? Do you think that I exaggerate the bearded threat to Truanu?" Wren's eyes darken angrily. "I am not one to suffer flights of fancy or delusions well...and certainly not from myself. And I do not agree with Torgan on much: His flights of fancy and libations abuse are too much for me, but I speak the truth: bearded death comes to Trunau."
"If he and I both agree, then you should heed our warning."
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Kraygan is distracted as the group returns to the chapel and destroys the last of the cursed bones. He chuckled like everyone else at Wren and Torgan's jokes about the ogre's headband, but he can't ignore the effect it has on an ugly yak like Malt. Kraygan's never been called handsome, not even by his mother. Stout, burly, bristly, but never handsome.
"Ain't gonna be outshined by a yak." He grumbles, pulling the headband off Malt and tying it around his own. Almost instantly he notices an unpleasant smell. "Balls! Is that comin from me?"
After the ghost vanishes and Wren begins raving about beards again he takes a breath and tries to talk some sense into everyone. "Look 'ere now, while tis true dwarves grow the most magnif'cent beards, we ain't the only race that kin do it. Take a look at some o' the art Grendlshek has here and ye might notice some o' the giants got 'em too. And giants 'ave been behind the recent attacks on Trunau."
Crossing his arms, Kraygan adds, "Now let's clear out the rest of the fort so I kin take a bath... and maybe brush me teeth."
"Let's start with the inner buildings." Kraygan mounts up on Haggis and crosses the courtyard to enter the doors where Vanderhoff and Umlo fought an ogrekin the day before.
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Gathering the medallion and the rest of his herd, Kraygan heads back towards the inner building and tries the southern door leading to what used to be the kitchen.
Carcasses of various humanoids and animals lie in haphazard piles in this room. The fort's resident cook, a fat and nearly deaf hill giant named Mubs is busy with a large cleaver filleting meat from both a humanoid and an animal carcasses. Mubs hands are wrapped in filthy, bloody bandages. As he cleaves at the carcasses he gnaws on his left hand's fingers. Kraygan is able to see that the fat hill giant has chewed the once plump fingers right down to the bone itself!
Seeing the dwarves kick open the door Mubs pulls his ragged fingers from his slobber filled mouth and excitedly shouts More hands for my Horse! as he lunges with his cleaver.
Vanderhoff (G)(45/45)
Manticore (39/39)
Wren (36/37)
Kraygan (R)(51/56; -2 Str)
Umlo (46/60)
-----------------------------------
Mubs
----------------------------------
Torgan (Y) (25/58)(Malt 28/33)
Jorgan (B)(34/57)
Van lets out a roar and darts into the room, wedging himself in the corner as he swings his hammer at the giant!
"Ther's more!" Kraygan exclaims.
With just enough room to gain momentum, he kicks Haggis forward in a charge at the giant butcher.
"YAHH!!"
"They just never want t' talk. If he'd just 'ead back t' th' hills, then we'd be kosher, but he's gotta pull a cleaver." Torgan bemoans as he watches Van and Kraygan launch into action while piddly arrow flies past his head towards the crazed chef.
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Vanderhoff moves into the corner of the room and swings his long hammer down onto the giant's shoulder as Wren follows it up with a dash of acid.
Excited to kill the final remaining Giant of Fort Redlake Kraygan urges Haggis forward, jamming his lance into the giant's undercarriage, causing his jowls to jiggle in rage as he hunches over in pain.
The giant has little time to react as Umlo moves in and smashes the back of his head in with his hammer.
The giant falls to the ground as blood and acid add to the smell of rancid meat about the room.
The only possession on the giant being his large cleaver
Vanderhoff (G)(45/45)
Manticore (39/39)
Wren (36/37)
Kraygan (R)(51/56; -2 Str)
Umlo (46/60)
Torgan (Y) (25/58)(Malt 28/33)
Jorgan (B)(34/57)
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Wren declines to enter the kitchen, leaving the yakkenhorde to stomp around the place. The last straw was seeing the giant's self-gnawed fingers.
Wren vomits.
"For piddlespots sake! That giant looked to be eating his own fingers! This place is that of the damned. Let us leave here and never think of coming back. We can leave having done more than we said we would."
Wren spits out more bile, trying to get the taste from his tongue.
"C'mon, finish up in there and lets get gone."
"Leave?" Jorgan repeats. "That's the smartest thing you've said since we went to the chapel, elfie. I don't hear anything but ourselves now so there can't be anybody left. Let's just turn the place over and then get outta here. Somebody's gotta go tell whatserface we met her ghost-pa."
"Aye, let's shave off th' beards o' everyone else an' get back t' th' fort." Torgan surmises as he gathers the yaks and sets up a sort of dragging sled for Hops' body.
"I'm not shaving anything." Jorgan says as he helps Torgan prepare a sled by shaping some wood into a sled that can easily carry Hops' coffin and be pulled by the other yaks. "Let's get outta this place, I never want to see it again. Too many bad memories." He clutches the locket at his neck as he tramps out behind the yaks, walking beside the large wooden coffin.
Outside the palisade, Jorgan finds a nice quiet spot near the edge of the treeline. He looks about and lets out a low, soft whistle into the trees. Soon, several badgers scamper forwards out of their setts.
"I just need ya to dig a bit," Jorgan whispers to them. "Just get it started." After the badgers have gone to work, Jorgan joins the work and sets about digging a wide hole, just deep enough for a yakkoffin. Likely it will take many hours but Jorgan doesn't seem concerned; he quietly puts his back to the labor and keeps digging alongside his ferocious animal friends.
When the work is done, Jorgan does speak up a bit. "You were a good yak, Hops. Always pulling more'n yer weight when the new brew was done. I'm gonna miss ya, that's fer sure. Won't be quite the same, but I'll never forget ya." He then starts pushing the dirt back into the hole, on top of the yakkoffin. His eyes stay dry through the process, but only just barely.
"We ain't gonna be making it to the fort tonight. We'd better rest here, I think." As the others are lighting the fire and setting up the tents, Jorgan again protects the site from unfriendly eyes.
That night, as he lies looking up at the stars, he prays silently. Gozreh, somethin' bad has happened and now I'm without my best friend. Ain't never gonna be another like him, but I need somebody who'll stand by me or I ain't gonna make it long. I can't be much of a stableboy if I don't have someone waiting in the stable for me....
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Wren can't do much for Hops, save ritualistically shaving its beard while it is dead. Wren does not do this gladly, but out of necessity to reject the symbol of doom that comes to Trunau.
While others build yakpits, Wren keeps watch, eager to give alarms should foes show themselves or more giants return to the fort.
"I wonder if the knights will return to this place. It could be theirs again."
"We should regroup an' find that cache o' treasure in th' mountains after returning t' th' castle." Torgan says, wondering what might lay in the Tomb.
Kraygan takes a little time to perform two tasks before leaving Redlake Fort. First, he visits the Trunau Yak and tries to refill his kegs from it. Standing in the courtyard with the big wooden creature inspires him to a second task.
Scavenging a plank of sturdy wood, then carves a few dwarven runes upon it and stakes it to the ground before it.
In dwarven:
R.I.P.
HOPS
A brave and noble yak.
May he never be forgotten.
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Vanderhoff follows the party out of the fort and stays near Jorgan, helping his cousin prepare the body for funeral rites, bathing the body, wiping Hops down in yak butter, placing mushroom caps over each eye, and an apple in his mouth. Once done, he leaves Jorg to his privacy and rejoins the group.
When Torgan mentions the cache of weapons, Vanderhoff nods. "Aye, it seems to me to be a good choice. Angradd knows we didn't find much to help in that last horde."
Van watches Kraygan work at the Trunau Yak and begins wondering whether placing Hops inside the effigy and burning it might be a proper funeral for the yak.
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Vanderhoff follows the party out of the fort and stays near Jorgan, helping his cousin prepare the body for funeral rites, bathing the body, wiping Hops down in yak butter, placing mushroom caps over each eye, and an apple in his mouth.
"Vanderhoff, have I mistaken the funerary rites here? Are we burying or cooking the yak? I call dibs on one of the shanks if we are roasting him." Wren goes to see if there are any other spices in the kitchen and brings them back to help Vanderhoff.
Van gives Wren a confused look as his stomach makes a loud rumbling sound.
"What ya talking about elf? Do you know anything about dwarf funerals?" He says with a slightly guilty tone.
Taking the proffered spices, he sniffs st them, nods, and begins rubbing them on the carcass of the dearly departed yak.
Tenderize him so he can fit in the yakkoffin better.....
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As Van applies the herbs and spices, he gets a philosophical look and begins to lecture the elf.
"You see, the yak butter is slippery, easing passage to the afterlife, and butter is made from milk, the life giving liquid of birth. It signifies the duality of existence. The mushroom is sacred to the dwarf and feeds off death, thus signifying from death comes rebirth. The apple....well Hops liked apples. Who doesn't?" Van stands, giving Wren a beneficent smile.
"And the herbs you found, they have meaning as well, as yaks are plant eaters, so they signify the life giving nutrition going to the hereafter with 'im! Nice job! We'll make a dwarf out of you yet!" He chuckles.
Jorgan nods along with Van. "Thank you, it was very thoughtful, the final rites and all that."