Knowledge Religion (If undead?)
"Kal. Just how evil is that thing"? Janku asks, realizing now why he changed his tactics. "Should we get the heck our of here while we can"?
Janku is not familiar with any sort of undead that are similar to this creature. It seems utterly alien...
round 2
Servayn repeats his invocation from the night at the bandit camp, Aethera Aquila! calling forth another otherworldly eagle right above the surviving spider, this time one with dazzling multicolored plumage and an oddly convoluted beak, like some fantastic growth of coral or shell. With an odd piping cry, like many discordant flutes in disharmony, it lashes out at the beleaugued spider with talons and beak.
Servayn then calls out, This haunt must feed on the spider's kills! We may not have the power to exorcise it... as he steps back an additional 25 ft.
if the spider is dead and the skull stays put then Ox will look for the voice that was calling for help.
perception
if the spider lives. Noir will attack it until it is dead and save the other attacks for the Weirdness. Ox will save his attack for the weirdness.
attacks as needed.
Ox's sword
Noir hoof
hoof
bite
"I fear this evil is to great for us at this time". "Let us withdraw, and live to fight another day". "We shall mark this are as 'dangerous - do not enter' on our map, and return with greater resources to remove it".
With that Janku begins a strategic withdrawal.
(27) After being shocked Corso leaps from the rock careful to avoid leaving any opening. He runs over to take his horse from Tuck who has been watching the giant spiders in terror. It takes him a moment to tug the reins from Tuck's grip.
(16) Ember prowls forward, wary of his man's spell taking a large tearing bite from the spider. Plates of chittin tear free in a spray of green ooze.
Servayn repeats his invocation from the night at the bandit camp, "Aethera Aquila!" Calling forth another otherworldly eagle right above the surviving spider, this time one with dazzling multicolored plumage and an oddly convoluted beak, like some fantastic growth of coral or shell. Servayn then calls out while falling back to the horses "This haunt must feed on the spider's kills! We may not have the power to exorcise it..."
With an odd piping cry, like many discordant flutes in disharmony, the eagle lashes out at the beleaugued spider with talons and beak. Only a single talon scores across its back.
Noir attacks the spider while Ox skillfuly maintains his seat. A hoof comes down solidly on the head of the spider, crushing several of it's eyes. While guiding Noir with his legs Ox swings against the evil creature floating above. His friends in danger proves a powerful motivation and the longsword cuts through a spongy mass. Chunks fall and disingetrates on the rock below.
The beings voice is otherworldly but does bear a reasemblence to the cries from before. It calls out again, "No fright in your heart, steel one. Taste defeat, let it chill you." The air tastes of ozone before another flash of acrid lightning strikes Ox.
????-?'-???? (shock);
Damage;
The power dances and plays over armor and flesh.
(11) All eight legs remain firmly planted on the ground as the spider tries turns to bite Ember.
Spider (Bite);
(9) "Fall Back! Get out of there away from that thing!" Garick shouts while sending another arrow at the burning orb. It darts out of the way long before the arrow nears.
(7) Kalsgrim calls to his allies, "I've never encountered anything this... malicious before. We should get out of here, learn more, and return when we can deal with it!"
(4) Janku jogs back to his horse acknowledging the retreat. "I fear this evil is to great for us at this time. Let us withdraw, and live to fight another day. We shall mark this area as 'dangerous - do not enter' on our map, and return with greater resources to remove it"
(3) Lukasz mounts, ready to ride with the group. No spells that could aide can come to mind.
West Spider - So dead. Kaldori spider Kabobs?
East Spider - Bit, oozing, and a lil' crushed.
Round 3! Hope rides alone. Or is it just Ox?
Round 3
Ember chooses to take one a final bite at the spider, loathe to leave it's target standing.
The otherworldly raptor attempts another flurry of attacks, brilliant red, green and blue plumage flying around in a dazzling display as it's multi-colored wings beat furiously.
If the spider falls during the final flurry of attacks from himself and the irritating too-colorful bird, Ember dashes 40 ft. back towards the retreating party members after his attack.
If it's still up, Ember still steps back 5 ft. after making his bite attempt, so that he can take a full move action next round without provoking a retaliatory attack.
The horse takes a parting blow at the spider and then heads north of the grease spot and gallops east toward Garick. (assuming up is north on the map)
Hoof(one attack so full bonus?)
Ox slides his free hand into his pouch and takes his cure light wounds that he bought from the wild brained hermit.
cure L(assuming the plus one, feel free to bump that up at your leisure. =P )
The otherworldly raptor attempts another flurry of attacks, brilliant red, green and blue plumage flying around in a dazzling display as its multi-colored wings beat furiously. It shreds through the spider leaving massive oozing gashes with talon and beak. The arachnid falls forward legs curling underneath it as it shudders and dies.
Its prey defeated Ember runs to catch up with Servayn and the others.
Ox finally realizes that everyone else is significantly clear. and more so, that something that can disappear can and reappear, and shoot lighting can probably make a voice to trick others. he hopes that no one is trapped back there, but he will be no good to them dead. "Savor your days, for they are numbered. Noir, Away."
The cavalier rides over to his brother who meets him and swings up onto the horse behind Ox.
A terrible laughter comes from the field of bones as the group flees. "Like children in a storm they quake and hide. Fear the sky, fear the flame, I'll be near to taste defeat." Anyone looking back sees the burning skull lift, swirling into the air before shimmering to invisibility.
Despite the growing dark the group rides hard for another hour. Whatever that was, it's best to put far behind.
Tuck builds up the campfire particularly large that night. He retrieves prepared stew ingredients provided by Svetlana to make a delicious dinner hoping to lift everyone's spirits a little. Especially after showing his reaction to the spiders.
Ox helps Tuck gather the wood for the fire for the same reason, or close enough any how, giant spiders, the devils who own them. Once the task is done and he has observed the man through out the whole process, Ox watches Tuck some more from around the fire, Ox sharpening his sword while Tuck is preparing the soup. Ox finally making up his mind calls over to Janku. Well Preist, as much as I hate to admit it, you did right by Tuck. He could've ran with most of our horses and didn't while we fought those things, he could of took off into the night while we were on our way back the first night, again taking all of our horses but didn't. I'm sure going to keep an eye on him still, but I trust him enough to not have manacles on. he puts his hands up before any arguments spring up. I'm telling you how to run your man, but I'm just saying where I stand on it.
He then starts stacking his armor up to do maintenance on it and giving his body some time to be free of it.
Around two in the morning Corso, the current member on watch, hears a shuffling and moaning noise. The sound comes from the direction the of the spider's nest. In the clear night air on the plain sounds drift so these soft noises can be heard even though they're likely a hundred feet away.
Just after this comes to his attention a flickering object illuminates a figure in the distance from behind. The snap-crack of a shock can be heard and the shadowed man cries out. He falls forward revealing a glowing skull which fades into the night.
"Thank you for the kind words Ox, but it is the Lord in Iron who gave him a chance at redemption". "In fact now is a good time to give out thanks to him". "Please all who are interested gather with me as we pay our homage to his might and wisdom".
Janku will lead another prayer to Gorum before dinner. Any who attend will feel his blessing.
Channel Positive Energy
Channel Positive Energy
Channel Positive Energy
And all those injured relive the pain of their injuries, but in reverse as the power of Gorum closes their wounds.
Servayn will pull Ember near for Janku's healing session, and both man and beast are refreshed by the channeling. Thank you, sir. Your faith sustains us to fight another day.
In the morning, he'll express surprise that the creature has pursued them, as Corso relates his tale. I know little of the undead, but do haunts not frequent a particular site? Did someone take an item, perhaps, from that place of bones, an item that might have once belonged to one of the fallen?
I have no idea what that thing was. I know it wasn't natural thats for sure. Garick sits checking fletchings on his arrows after tending the horses. He happily instructs Servayn in caring for the animals if he is interested. He watches tuck move around camp and listens to his brother speak with Janku.Got um all fooled don't ya Tucky! Hell even Ox is starting to buy into your act! Not me, no I'm watching you. You might be here by someone else's bidding, but I will not forget so easy. You just keep up the good work thinking everyone is at ease with ol Tucky. I will be there when you show your true intentions. Me and my bow. Garick lets a big grin slip onto his face as he gets lost in thought. He starts whistling one of his brothers tunes as he goes about tending his arrows.
The sun rises and the group awakes. There's a somber tone about the camp this morning. A body can be seen laying in the dirt where the raucous was last night.
Ox hefts his long sword and unties Noir from the lead rope they secured their horses to but doesn't mount the beast as of yet, just anticipating action if the horse needs its freedom. Ox will carefully and cuatiously move to investigate the body. I don't understand why someone was so close to us. are we being watched? Guess the flaming skull got you mate.
perception
Seeing that the body of Corso's mysterious passer in the night is indeed very real, and not so faerie trickery or glamer, Servayn is curious.
Was the man spying upon us by night? Or just terribly conveniently camped within a stone's throw of us, without anyone noticing?
Servayn scans the area, longspear readied, unwilling to approach too closely as he steps slowly towards the body.
Do you recognize this fellow, as fellow bandit or fellow servant to secret powers, Tuck?
The corpse is that of a man, his features are handsome but the final expression on his face is of terror and despair. Looking him over Ox is able to find several spider bites thick with venom. The final blow appears to be the large charred section along his back where the creature struck him last night.
Looking about the corpse it's easy to tell that he followed the trail of the horses from the spiders nest. Gripped in his hand is a piece of parchment. The paper itself shows an illustration of hills at the center of them is one bare of everything except a dead tree. An X is marked at base of this tree.
On the back of the map a final letter has been written;
Stephen, ran from the Stag Lord and tried to follow your map. I hope he doesn't kill you after all. I got attacked by spiders tonight and some other creature. Before they could finish me something happened and the skull thing left. I'm following some tracks now, I hope they lead to some friendly trackers and not more bandits. With this poison I don't know how long I'll last so I'm writing you this letter while I walk.
Such a senseless waste, Servayn says, clearly troubled by this event. Here we have a brave man, willing to part company with the Stag Lord of his own volition and venture forth alone into these dangerous lands, and he is felled by cruel forces, while those who cravenly stand by thugs like Kressle are afforded a chance to live another day.
Looking again at the note, If we can find this 'Stephen,' perhaps he is yet another who has turned away from banditry, and is leaving directions for others to escape that life?
He looks again at the man, and leans down to ease the signs of fear from his face, plying at the skin of his face to try and make him appear a bit more at ease. The gods have been unkind to you. Give them hell when you see them. he says in a low voice, so as not to provoke an argument with the men of faith he travels with.
He then begins digging a shallow grave, knowing that the others will likely be unwilling to spend much time on such an endeavor (and, truthfully, not being willing to devote too much effort on the task, as he'd rather save someone who yet lives than obsess over this senseless death), and attempting to capitalize on any natural depression in the surrounding terrain that can be covered over with loose stones.
While not normally inclined to physical labor, or even being helpful, Ember will assist in the digging, if the others don't offer up another solution (burning, throwing the body on a horse and carrying it away to bury elsewhere, etc.).
Garick will grab his shovel and help dig the mans grave willing to dig the grave a bit deeper to ensure this man doesn't get dug up by scavengers. He will also try and make a marker for him. scribing hopeful on it. He will give a simple prayer to Erastil to look over this mans resting place.
Do we wish to follow this map and explore to the southeast first?
sure there has to be something there, maybe a resistance this Stephen is building. Ox concurs as he takes his turn at the shovel. once Ox has finished up, he then gathers up the...loot and puts it on clip clop.
"hey tuck whats the significance of these?" he asks holding up the stag pendant.
Maybe there then to the NE and back past master Bokken if I find any of his Fangberries before we go back to Oleg's I guess it's up to Kal. He takes another turn digging before he finishes working on the marker he is making.
"Hrmm, that was Davvel. Stephen was a bandit who tried to keep some of the Stag Lord's loot for his own. The Lord found out and has been torturing him for some time, making an example. A week ago we heard that Davvel had run off. He was one of those bandits the Stag Lord put a price on for cowardice. I didn't realize the two where connected. Wonder if this leads to the missing goods." Tuck explains.
"Men with those pendants are considered trusted by the Stag Lord. With so many bandits scattered over such a large area a strict chain of command is difficult. If someone with a pendant tells you the Stag Lord says to do something, then you generally follow those orders. There was a pass-phrase used with it too, 'By the Bloody Bones of St. Gilmorg, who wants to know?' was the last one."
Garick is happy to know the mans name, but stays with what he is carving into the marker. He does not want the grave desecrated by bandits looking for a reward.
So, we could boss the bandits around with this thing and saying by the bloody bones of st. gilmorg, who wants to know?" that sounds fun. "looks like this guys shouldn't of been too trust worthy, I guess thats what you get for running with bandits. er no offense.
Ox says pawwing at the back of his head bashfully and running his hand threw his shaggy hair.
He laughs a little, "Sort of, except you don't look anything like a group of bandits. If you tried it on someone else with a pendant the general rule is you work together or head to the Stag Lord's to see who's right." Tuck lends a hand with preparing the dead man. "If you're lucky you would just speak with Akiros his second in command. There is a misplaced soul if I've heard of one. It's said he used to be a paladin."
Having little inclination for physical work (Except for combat) Janku spends the morning (while they are digging) in deep contemplation, and meditation with his god. But is eager to leave when the time comes.
Having spend most of the time in camp in contemplation, Lukasz not only ponders what it was that seems be be leading the spiders but also his own role in this group of individuals he calls friends. He had been near to useless in their fight with the spiders and he would be damned if he was gonna allow his friends to fail in their mission due to his inability to contribute. you are no longer in the city Lukasz. The Greenbelt isn't the courts of the city and the manipulations of your House. One misstep could end in disaster and you can't allow yourself to make that misstep.
Lukasz helps when he can, but to those who know him, or who are observant, the sorcerer obviously seems to be distracted.
6th of Pharast
No encounter.
Following the burial Servayn leads the party to the southeast. The bandits map is fairly crude and the only specific detail is the bare hill with the tree. Today is spent traversing through valleys between crawling hills and riding along connecting ridges. Small clusters of trees make tiny forests on hilltop and in dales. Springs that bubble forth and go nowhere are common. Late afternoon Ember runs to the top of a steep hill the others are loathe to climb. From that point of view he spots the dead tree. It reaches thirty feet in the air, grey branches spreading like a clawed hand.
The wind whistles over the ridges but the branches stay still. This is certainly the tree. Most of it has been destroyed by lightning leaving enough to create the skeletal hand effect. The dirt around here is a little disturbed.
if anyone wants to aid it is welcome.
Ox looks around at the ground trying to remember everything he has seen and heard Garrick talk about tracks.
aid another?survival
but wait...how was he supposed to use the stars for direction if it was daytime?
Relying on his innate wisdom, Janku steps up beside the Ranger, as he views the area around the tree.
Survival to assist.
Searching around the base of the tree takes several minutes and Garick would have almost missed the signs of digging except for Janku. Digging up the cache takes 10 minutes and it's Corso who notices the edge of a cloak sticking from the side of the hole. The cache itself is wrapped in a heavy leather cloak and consists of a masterwork dagger, a wand of burning hands (CL 2nd, 4 charges), a silver ring , and a spellbook. Unfortunately, rain seeping down into the cache has damaged much of the spellbook, but five of the spells (identify, mage armor, reduce person, silent image, and unseen servant) remain intact.
Servayn's disappointment at the results of their search is obvious, even before he voices it, I hope to find bold men, and instead find just bandits stealing from other bandits.
He looks at the ring, to see if it bears the crest of any family that he might recognize (which, admittedly, is not likely), but otherwise ignores the trinkets.
So, is it to be Northeast or West? We have not explored in either direction, thus far.
Corso will lead the next expedition when you guys are ready. Unexplored options are NE, W, SW, and SE.
Ox stretches and starts whistling taking a break to put in his two copper.
I think we should skirt back around north east a couple of days, that'll finish up the edge of the green belt. might as well see if we can't find Bokken those berries, either way we can ride back threw and visit the old koot, warn him about that torch skull, maybe even see if he has an idea of what it could be. Then back to Olegs and regroup from there, tell them to stay the heck away from that direction in general. but that's just my opinion. anybody else have something else better to do?
a second or two he picks up the tune right where he left it off only stopping when other's speak.
preform whistle