As Wes was walking along he suddenly couldn't take the awkward silence anymore. "Come on lads! All this rain and mist has me in the mood for a song! Does anyone know a good shanty?" Quietly he starts singing to himself his favorite sea shanty 'Down to Trinidad to see Sally Brown boys...'
"I commend your soul into the hands of the god, poor creature," I murmur over the bat-thing's corpse, "and we ask your forgiveness for this thing we have done."
"We must proceed," I continue. "In honour of those whose lives have been lost in pursuit of this endeavour, and for those it will protect from evil."
I shudder, softly. It's so, so tempting to believe that the ends justify the means. Yet it truly does not seem as if we could've acted otherwise...
"Unfortunately we couldn't risk someone getting rabies or the like, since we're apparently racing to save the world from flying ape cities. Some hungry creature will no doubt be thankful for this ones sacrifice." Kest pulls the deep hood of his cloak up and leads the party on the mountain path, keeping an eye out for obstacles on the trail.
The mist is not natural and the weather is going to get much worse. Wes provides a form of amusement as he sings. Soon the night air get chilly and you all are wet from the rain. It was slow ride up the mountain, but you appear to be on platue. There is cave and statue of some something as you approach. Everyone can tell that on one has been here in sometime. It looks like a good place to spend the night. Eveyone is exhauested from the ride up. The horses need rest. The mist appears to be a bay but you all feel very tired.
[feel free to explore or rp [/ooc]
"We need a good, hot fire tonight," I surmise. "The horses need water and we, a meal - and we should try and learn something about where we are," I nod my head towards the statue, studying it.
Knowledge (religion)
[b]"...that's all I have," I continue , as I explain what I can. "Can any of you offer a historical perspective?" I ask. "I'll accompany my niece, whether its to work outside, or to check the depths of the cave are clear."
Not sure on the statue, as the others take a look, Kayla hears Aodhiel talk of exploring the cave.
My lord, I will check the cave for safety, it is why I am here
Kayla quickly vanishes, disappearing into the darkness of the cave checking things out.
Kayla remains alert and keeps one hand on her sword just in case.
Indeed Rest is what we really need but none the less we should be vigilant in the night hours. I can see perfectly in darkness for future references says arwen getting ready
With others set to scout the cave Kest takes a few minutes to unsaddle and brush down the loaned horses. "I'll hunt with you, but we need to hurry. This rain is going to get worse before it gets better." He leaves most of his equipment in the cave out of the rain, taking his bow and a few arrows in case any game presented itself. "Whenever you're ready, my lady."
Wes grabs Arwen by the arm, "Come on mate! I've gotta have some to keep company! Otherwise me bloody heads gonna explode!"
and Arwen will indeed stay with Wes to keep him safe
"Excellent, now to start a fire!" After a moments pause he says, "I don't suppose you know how to start one do you?"
Kest wasn't really one for small talk. He looks overat Desidera while he cleans the rabbits. "Yes, I've been all over Varisia." He notices her odd skin and eyes. "You're, what, an angel or something? I didn't know angels did farm work."
Hunting Party
As each of you look around for food you notice there is path leading away from the path you took. It appears to be well traveled..
Cave Party
As you enter the cave you notice that seems to be warm. There is some sign of foot traffic. It appears to be animal like an ape.
Campfire
You can see the statue start to glow little and the mist starts to get thicker.
arwen will slowly continue forward inside the cave
"Well, I wouldn't know anything about that. It's an odd world we live in." Kest finishes up with the rabbits and looks around the area as best he can in the fog. [b]"Looks like this place is a little more popular than I originally thought. There's a trail over this way.
Inside the cave the tracks lead deeper in. There is some noise comming from the down the way. Kest and Dee find another path back up the cave entrance. The statue outside glows then becomes arch with a pool water going in between it.
"Animal tracks?" I murmur, considering the ground. They're pretty obvious if even I've seen them. "We should turn back," I say. "Assaulting some innocent creature in its home is an ungodly thing."
Wes gives up starting the fire and begins to stare at the statue. "Somethings fishy here mate, I don't like what it's doing to the mist. " he says to Arwen. The he calls out-which is probably a bad idea in retrospect-"Oi! Everyone should be getting to the cave very quickly! Something strange is afoot! "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Kayla looks up to her mentor, I will scout it out my lord, it is possible that the cave was abandoned.
with that kayla disappears into the darkness of the cave.
Kayla moves deeply into the cave as she does. She hears all too familiar voice.
We got here just in time. Our spies on Sandpoint mentioned that the Bard was traveling with the Tome had just left portal outside of Sandpoint. Now all I have to do is take from you.Ntanga says. There is huzzahs coming from what appears to be 4 white apes.
Kayla can see another figure on the ground but cannot see clearly because of Ntanga.
A weak female voices says The magic in this book it too much for you Ape. Its power is killing me from even carring it in the portal. How do you think I ended up here in this godsforsaken place.!
Before I send I you to your gods half elf tell me about he Tome.Ntanga says.
Kayla stays hidden to listen to what is going on. after a moment she tries to maneuver to get a better view of the situation.
The Tomb's magic does not come from this world silly Ape. That is how the Shory built their flying citites. The magic they used came from another place not ours. The wounded Bard says.
Kayla has moved in position to see that bard is badly wounded as if burned. She bleeding as well. She matches the description of the person you where sent to look for. Ntanga says to the bard If that is all you can tell me be at peace. He reaches down and snaps the Bard'
s neck.
Ntanga says Let us leave and he makes his way to the entrance.
Aodhiel is looking at the animal tracks, as you lift your head your realize Kayla has gone off. Aodhiel also hears someone at the start of the cave. From the footsteps it sounds like Arwen.
Meanwhile Wes is ?
Kes is still hunting along with Dee but then finished to make their way back to camp. They see the portal active.
Kayla quickly makes her way back to the others at the cave entrance.
as she hurriedly approaches, My Lord, quickly outside The courier is dead, the apes have the tome, they are heading this way. we must hide unless you wish to face them now.
Wes runs back to find Arwen after shouting out of the cave.
Kest draws his bow when he sees the glowing statue as they approach camp. "Well, that's interesting." Kest heads into the cave, assuming that was where the rest of his party lied. He is startled by Kayla's appearance and exclamation. The apes? How? Regardless, he exits the cave and takes up a position where he can enact an ambush on anyone leaving the cave. "We're not supposed to let them have to book. We don't have much of a choice."
I hurry after Kayla... and find a scene of disaster. Swiftly I kneel besides the courier, at the least sign of life, I'll channel the healing light of Ragathiel into their failing body.
"Repent, and you'll find forgiveness for even this gravest of sins," I tell Ntanga - "but I will not let you harm others."
As Kayla and Aod make their way to the entrance of the cave, they run into Wes, Kest, Arwen and Dee. After hearing the event in the cave, Kest goes to rock that provides him cover to shoot from. At this point the Apes do not know your there. You can set an ambush to retake the Tome or Parley with them or anything else the group decides. If you ambush them they will be surprised then I will roll for Int.
Ambush it is. Kayla says and she dashes into a hiding spot so that she can circle around and get behind the apes as they pass.
Stealth
Here is the scene. So you can make mental notes. From the Cave to the Portal is 150 Feet. Everyone in the Party will have a Surprise attack on the Apes. The Apes and Ntanga are in this formation. Apes 1 & 2 are rear guards about 10 feet from the Apes 3 & 4 who are forward. Ape 5 is about 5 feet ahead of the Formation. He is not paying attention. Ntanga is in the middle with the Tome. Everyone made the stealth check and Kayla is coming in from behind, I will assume that Kest is off to right with an arrow ready. And everyone else will just charge or cast from left or right sides. Also to speed things along from now on Crit rolls are Crit you do not need to confirm it. Just do the damage and move on.
Also since the group has done awesome in the roll play department. I will award Advantage. It is D&D 5E mechanic that allows you to roll two d20's and take the higher result.
[/ooc]
The Lead ape comes out of the cave and turns to Ntanga. He mumbles and the group moves forward. There is 20 feet from entrance of cave to the last rear guard (ape 1&2). Ntanga is the open. The portal being open does not surprise them.
Kest opens fire from cover, aiming at the ape with the book.
+1 if within 30 feet.
+1 if within 30 feet.
+3 if within 30 feet.
Once Ntanga passes by Kayla's position, and seeing the attack begin with Kest's arrow.
Kayla leaps at the leader ape. her Katana blade unsheathed with lightning speed.
Wes spots the lead ape and heads for it, sword drawn.
Ntanaga is walking when an arrow from the dark hits him in the right side. Then a young ninja manages to hit him in the back while racing across to the ape, she vanishes again. At that point the Wes comes running with his sword drawn and hits the ape. Stabbing him the chest, the ape life body drops to the ground as well the Tome. The apes are in panic.
I dash into the center of the group of apes, snatching up the precious book. As I do so, I summon Ragathiel's divine energy to myself, and the veiling mists that protect the righteous swirl up from nowhere... "Retreat, friends," I call, "let no more innocent blood be shed this day!"
The Mist rises ups covering the good Cleric as his niece runs to him. She bends down to reach for Ntanga's chocker. Finding the necklace easy to unlock. She scoops it up.