Quill is healed by the bard, and stays down waiting for a chance to stand up. He tries to defend himself.
With a mighty smite, Teraldan charges. He fails to connect with the troglodyte he is after.
ORDER OF ACTION
Round 2
trogs
Denlim
Aviara
Arya
Quill
Teraldan
Ni-Cu
And Ni-Cu's flurry fails to connect.
The trogs attack with another feral flurry. Two claws connect bringing the monk and rogue back unconscious. Even on the defensive, Quill can't stop a claw to the neck. It appears the troglodytes are outnumbered, but continue to enjoy some success and are still fighting on.
ORDER OF ACTION
ROUND 3
trogs
Party
Denlin cuts down another trog with a single mighty blow. Teraldan continues to smite the evil trog and leaves him hurt badly. The last troglodyte is reconsidering his situation and looks ready to bolt if you let him.
Arya takes a 5 foot step back and resumes playing her drums.
Ooh that had to hurt. Nice on Denlin.
Aviari glances from Denlin with his second fallen lizard, and then she looks to her fallen allies, "One more, then aid the fallen".
With the empowering rhythm of Arya's drumming guiding her movements, she begins gathering her lightning.
Aviari takes another five foot step toward Tarn, "this time hold still, yeh slippery reptile," she mutters under her breath.
Holding up her hand as more lighting crackles about her fingers, she fires another lightning arc at the remaining trog.
+ 1 from Arya's drumming, - 4 for shooting into melee.
+ 1 from Arya's performance?
"Oh dear - I couldn't just kill it! " the young mage says. Instead he moves a little closer to his allies to cover as many as he can.
He will check on any downed party members if he can reach them...
-Posted with Wayfinder
The lightning misses the injured troglodyte.
[whilst lying on ground bleeding]
"Splplllplbbbblp. *Koff koff*. Gaaaah. [drool blood] Bllllllllllurgh. Splpplplpgbp."
Full Round Action: Lie on ground bleeding. DC 10 Con to stabilize.
[+1 Con, -2 neg. HP]
And the last enemy flees leaving a trail of blood and a sleeping companion.
"I would rather we wouldn't simply execute a downed and defenseless foe" - Teraldan pipes in - "They have been cowed and are no longer a threat, so I say relieve the creature of any weaponry, and set it loose"
"I say we tie our captive to a tree and allow Nature to decide its fate. It's an evil creature, but if it is meant to live, it will survive, somehow. That is the way of fate, and so no longer for us to decide."
Aviari kneels down beside Ni Cu and checks her vitals.
As she works, she continues deliberating with the others, "Whatever we do, however, we should probably take cover in the woods while we tend to our wounded companions. If those lizards were with Elwyn, his orcs may be hunting us soon."
What we do with the troglodyte is little of importance to me. but we should make up our minds quickly and move into the forest and set up camp. Like Aviara said we need to tend to the wounded and we can have orcs upon us any moment.
Ni-Cu lies on the ground, her unconscious state leaving her unable to contribute to the conversation.
Maldor just nods as the conversation goes around him - he was used to not being allowed to make decisions and had become rather comfortable in his anonymity. He was, however, intersted in collecting a sample of the dead troglodyte's blood and skin. A good mage never passes up potential magical components, after all!
After completing his examination he will help to find and set up a camp for the party. Maldor will take over the task of cooking for the group, since eating was one of his favorite occupations!
"She lives, and she seems stable," Aviari confirms. After checking Ni Cu's vitals, Aviari places a gentle hand on Ni Cu's fore head for a moment and whispers a quiet prayer. The half-elf then moves on to Quill to check his condition as well.
|
Denlin lets out a large sigh, then wearily strides over and boots the sleeping troglodyte off of Malthor. "Get out of here, run away and don't come back unless you want what your fellows got!"
After he watches the trog scurry away, Denlin turns to the others, "I agree, let's see if we can find a secluded place to lick our wounds and maybe do some more scouting. Can someone help Malthor? We need to get everyone back on their feet and get moving. Knew I shoulda bought some potions instead of that ale!"
After Aviari finishes treating Quill, she stands to see the trogdolyte running off. She puts her hands on her hips and arches a brow.
"So we have judged the lizard deserving of escape. We are likely to face that one again in the future," she contends. She sighs lightly, shrugging her shoulders. "Though I am not the one in charge," she then concedes.
Aviari moves on to check Malthor's vitals.
Aviari looks up from her work with Malthor, worry writ on her face. "I-I'm not able to tell whether he is breathing! I am unused to treating dwarves... could someone help me?"
After all stabilizing, and vitals checking is resolved, Aviari would say the following.
"We should be careful in moving the wounded. I suggest one or two people should help with each person. Malthor is probably too heavy for me. I can try to carry Ni Cu or Quill."
The freed troglodyte returns after a while and has a few bags packed for travel. He hands you a map with an X on it.
"Treasure map!" The creature says.
He points to the fortress. He hands you a potion labeled 'healing' in Traldaran.
"Agreed" - Teraldan pipes in at the suggestions from his companions to find a secluded place to rest - "We were hit hard by these creatures, and we need to recover and re-think our approach" - the halfling adds.
As the troglodyte returns shortly after, the paladin's hand instinctively goes for his weapon, but a smile opens up when he realizes his intentions - "Thank you" - he offers, taking the potion, and passing it to Aviari - "You will know best on who to use this my friend", and keeping the 'treasure map' for later study.
"Amazing" - he adds simply, staring as the creature moves off, then turns to his companions - "Ok Denlin, help me with Malthor. Aviari, do you think you can find us a place to rest? Maldor and Arya, will you assist in transporting Ni-Cu?" - he urges his companions, retrieving his bow, and moving to Malthor.
Stopping short, he turns back to Aviari - "Or do you think we should try to administer the potion to one of them right away? Even more important, how can we be sure it is indeed a draught imbued with magical healing?"
Aviari looks baffled by the entire turn of events. Receiving the potion offered by Teraldan, she looks at it confused for a moment.
She then muses aloud in a lyrical tongue.
If the trog remains with the party, Aviari motions with a toss of her head to Teraldan to step aside to speak. If the trog runs off again, she speaks her mind freely.
"So this says 'healing'? I'm sorry, I do not read Traldaran, only Elvish and Thyatian." She thinks for a moment on Teraldan's question.
"We are not able to trust that the potion is what it says. If one of us has knowledge in alchemy or magic, perhaps we could study it to see what it does. If that is not possible, we probably shouldn't use it. We would be naive to trust the troglodyte purely on good faith."
Aviari then looks at the fallen Malthor. "Though... dwarves are said to have bodies of iron and stone. If this is truly poison, Malthor, even in his condition could probably resist the effects, and if we could revive him, he could offer us additional healing."
She looks to Teraldan again. "I shall trust in your judgement, firend. You were made the leader of our group, and I believe for good reason. In the meantime, I shall gladly search out a place for us to camp."
|
|
Denlin helps Teraldan move Malthor, and stares in surprise when the troglodyte shows back up with the potion and the map.
"Now that's a story I bet my Aunt Molly never even heard of! We've seen some crazy stuff already, I can't wait to find out what's next!"
He listens to the conversation between Aviari and Teraldan and is left confused. "Now I don't know much about magic, but why would a critter like that come all the way back here to give us a bad potion? I bet the wizard can figure it out. Once you all get that figured out and we get loaded up, mind if I go with whoever is scouting out a campsite? An extra pair of eyes never hurt."
"
Aviari laughs for a breath at Denlin's comment about crazy stuff. "You do make a good point Denlin! However, I'm not ready to let go of the memory of the creature trying to kill us a moment ago."
Aviari takes a moment to examine the potion. "Perhaps I can at least see whether or not there is in poison in it." She pops open the bottle, and takes a sniff of the liquid. She then tastes a small sample of the potion.
Is the potion poisonous in any way?
Aviari also tries to tell what kind of potion it is as well, if that is possible with Nature, EDIT: or Perception.
The troglodyte is obviously offended after observing Aviari. It is definitely a healing potion. He begins to speak in Taladaran: "We attacked the dwarf first because we thought he could heal. I would like to learn from you."
The reptile points to Denlin and speaks to him now.
"Stay in my 'scratch' and rest until better. Do not want to go in big metal square hurt."
Maldor happily used his arcane training on the potion to determine its qualities. Using detect magic and his knowledge of spellcraft, he easily identifies it.
While the party is deciding whether or not the potion is poison or not Arya moves over to Maldor and casts Cure Light Wounds and help Maldor up to his feet.
We can figure out what to do with that potion later, for now lets get everyone up on their feet and find a camp.
|
|
Denlin is taken aback at the offer by the troglodyte. He looks at the others. "You are offering a place to stay? I..." he pauses, looks at Teraldan and shakes his head. "We'll need a place to stay. If you want to learn from the halfling that's up to him, but I'll take a place to hole up and lick our wounds. What is your name?" he asks the troglodyte.
Aviari looks warily on the trogdolyte.
"I have seen many strange things in the Wilds, though no creature that attempted to shred me with tooth and claw has ever offered me friendship and hospitality afterwards. I am not against befriending a trogdolyte, but I am not in the habit of readily trusting someone who tries to kill me."
Aviari lets Maldor examine the potion, and hears his verdict, "On the other hand, the potion appears to be healing magic, as Maldor's magic also reveals. We could use to heal Malthor, or Ni, whoever needs it. Still, we should be wary if we decide to follow the trog to his camp."
If Malthor is brought to consciousness by Arya's cure light, then Aviari helps the dwarf stand as well. If he remains unconscious, then she helps administer the potion to the unconscious dwarf.
Assuming Arya cast cure light on me and not Maldor;
Malthor stands up, begins to thank Arya and seeing the troglodyte grabs the BFH and heads toward the trog. Being restrained by the others and the situation explained, Malthor says Fine. Gather all the wounded within thirty feet of me and I will channel to heal us all at once. I'm not sure how hurt anyone is
Once everyone is together:
Ni wakes up sore and confused. She is happy to be led to a place of safety and rest...
Who is still injured? I have one channel left for the day I can use, and can also cast two cure light wounds if needed. If we are resting for the night I'll be happy to use them. I am still hurt. Quill? Ni?
Aviari smiles, relieved to see her companions getting up, mostly recovered and still alive.
"Now that everyone seems mended, I shall work on cover the tracks we have left in the area until we our fearless leader decides whether we should follow scaly to his camp or not."
Before going off she holds up the potion, and looks around the group.
"Oh, and for the time being, I'll hold on to this, unless anyone else wishes to carry it," she puts the healing potion into her pack unless someone else wants to claim it.
After that, Aviari retraces the steps of the party down the path by 30 feet. She covers the party's tracks, and leads her mule to make a false trail going into the wilderness thirty feet prior to the encounter with the trogdolytes.
Aviari slightly narrows her blue-emerald eyes at Denlin.
"Of course I am one with Nature. That is who I am!" She cries indignantly.
"I am merely put out of sorts by our recent encounter. Although I know we took a dangerous mission, I did not expect to see half our party torn to pieces right in front of me so-"
She stops abruptly as she sees Denlin's broad grin and realizes he is merely jesting with her.
Her face turns a light scarlet as her eyes go wide for a moment. Recovering her composure, she chuckles at herself, mumbles,
"I am sorry Denlin. Thank you for your aid. I suppose I had traveled by myself for so long, I have learned to stay out of trouble. My survival instincts allowed me to endure any of my own few injuries. I never thought seeing the blood of others spilled so would affect me this way."
After that she continues working on covering tracks.
The troglodyte called 'Bogo' lead you to a shallow tunnel complex that is easy to defend with two narrow, concealed openings. It smells like rancid meat, but is a safe shelter. It seems prudent to rest as those injured are still hurt.
Bogo says: "No one should come at night."--but you place a watch anyway. The evening passes uneventfully.
That puts me at full. First two to post get the two CLW if no one posts they weren't needed.
Aviari refuses to sleep in a cave, especially one that smells like rancid meat.
She stays close, and participates in her part of the watch. She sleeps tied to a high, strong branch of a nearby tree.
“I am more of a tree-top girl,” she explains.
She offers a similar set up to any who ask for it.
In the morning, she meditates at the top of the highest tree she can find within sight of the cave.
She returns to the party feeling refreshed and is ready to take on the iron castle.
“Although he could use a lesson on house keeping and personal hygiene, Bogo has turned out to be more trustworthy than I ever would have imagined. Still, we have yet to get inside of the castle, face Elwyn or even find this supposed treasure. If his map turns out to be genuine, I shall consider his presence bearable.”
By her crooked smile and glint in her eye, it is clear that she is -partly- jesting.
Aviari awakes with the rest of the group. The party heads to the fortress.
Teraldan takes some time to set up the watches , and to exchange a few words with Bogo - "Why did you come back and help us?" - he questions with a grave tone, opening the map in front of them - "And what exactly is this map?"
Teraldan, why don't you set up a marching order as you're the leader, so that we have a better tactical set up. I think we had a few too many of us drop last time.
Maldor learned a good trick from his youth and rubbed the sap from a certain plant under his nose before fading off to sleep to reduce the trog stench. In the morning he wakes well rested, then spends some time preparing his spells again. Several of them he knew so well he didn't even have to study them! "Good morning, everyone! Are we ready to set off? Let's stick closer together so I can protect you better!"