AC 16/14/13 (-2 with rage,+1 with Bracers of armor)
Saves F+6 R+4 W+5
HP 30 base Barb Hp: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13Total 43 (53)
HP left 16/41
Rage! 3/11
Poison DC 15 Fort frequency 1/round for 10 rounds; effect 1d2 Dex; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution based.
One skeletal claw rends the ettercap's flesh, and Katara's blade hits the creature too. Mary's assault its soul more than its body, and the moves of the creature become clumsier. In a frenzy, it tries to bite and claws Katara again, and a viscious claw hits her face, sending blood all around
[ooc]Round 2
Init
Meurasold (21) done
Aralu (18) done
Mary (16) done
Katara (15) done
Creature (13) done
Zurka (9)
Walter (5)
Zurka continues his assault upon the ettercap, seeking to drive it to the ground.
The poison still in her system seemed to take hold as she gritted her teeth and continued to hack at the creature.
Walter moves sideways, trying to find a decent place for his to shoot and even once he finds a satisfying one, he shoots so poorly that can't hold himself. "Perhaps I should give up entirely of this tool... I'm terrible at this!"
Zurka and Walter both miss their target
When her turn comes around, and if the thing is not down yet, Mary casts a slumber hex on it.
Meurasod's frustration with the creature continued to grew as his axe continued to miss the mark. He tried hard to keep his anger in check. He wanted a level head while the stranger was in their midst. He swung his axe low this time, hoping to take out the creature's legs.
AC 16/14/13 (-2 with rage,+1 with Bracers of armor)
Saves F+6 R+4 W+5
HP 30 base Barb Hp: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 Total 43 (53)
HP left 4/41
Rage! 3/11
Poison DC 15 Fort frequency 1/round for 10 rounds; effect 1d2 Dex; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution based.
This time, Meurasold's axe hits, and deeply. Ichor and blood flies on your faces, and the beast got a knee down..
Aralu reloads her crosbow, holding it ready should the creature atempt to flee, while her minions slightly change their positions and continue their attack, trying to rip the ethercap to pieces with their bare claws.
The Bone Krew assault is more than the creature can withstand..It falls down, before Mary can unleash her supernatural powers or Katara can strike.
Zurka drives his blade into the base of the ettercap's neck, ending its pitiful life. "I hope you enjoyed that." He says in a cutting tone.
Wiping the blood from his blade, he sheaths it and looks over the body while casting a cantrip as well.
Mary seems somewhat surprised, that the skeleton took the kill.
"Your puppets did well, Aralu. We should try keeping them walking as long as possible."
In case there was magic loot...
Mary asks Meurasod to chop off the head.
After (if) he does, she wipes off the neck's excessive blood on the creature.
"It can prove useful for my studies."
Suppose i put a rank in craft alchemy, could i use the head to craft a few doses of ettercap poison?
If so, how many?
This is only considered, if i can craft it outside of the city, as the hellknights would likely prosecute me for it.
Detect magic:
there' magic near the ettercap's wrists. He's wearing a pair of old and dirty leather bands
Meurasod nods and sets his shield down. He grabs his axe with two hands and brings it down on the ettercap's neck, separating it's head from his body. With his work done he turns to address Walter.
"There was just one of those things?"
"they have proven to be surprisingly useful for simple skeletons. I plan on keeping them around for as long as they last. Do you know the hellknight's policy concerning the undead? Or they can do the classic and hide underground.
Walter shrugs. "As far as I know, yes... it is actually quite difficult to be sure when you are running for your life. I think I saw a couple giant spiders and bodies trapped in web along the way... I'd strongly suggest to not going there to check."
Walter looks around, trying to figure out what to do next. "Ok... I think I never got the chance to introduce myself... I'm Walter Dorbalk, a pathfinder from Absalon... you may call me Mr. Dorbalk, Unlucky Walter as my fellow companions, or simply Walter." He then bows to all of them before offering his hand to all of them.
Zurka stares at the tiefling for a long moment, before slowly taking the man's hand in return. "I am Zurka." He replies in a voice devoid of warmth.
Mary's thrush pops up to inspect the newcomer.
(Diminitive eyes inspection)
It whispers in her ear..."He looks like a sheep, just missing the wool."
"Hush little one, no need to be rude."
"I'm Mary.", she nods as she extends her hand in response, still cautious of the newcomer.
Did i pass with my spellcraft check, on the bracers?
The dwarf listened intently as Walter answered his question. He nodded, more to himself than to anything. "Fair point. We should all get some rest, but it would probably be a good idea to double up on the watches. We'll continue on back to town in the morning. Walter, you can decide what to do then. If you happen to know your way around locks and such, we could probably offer you a job, or at least a fair split."
"I'm Aralu Darkstone, you can call me Aralu."
Mary goes over the bracers carefully.
"Hmm, this resembles......
then this, aha."
She looks at the others with a smile.
"These bracers are enchanted to provide additional protection."
After shaking hands, Walter smiles. "It is a pleasure to meet you all, especially now that we've passed our first impressions and I'm not being chased by something or being threated by your well deserved wariness. It looks my luck is finally changing!"
He then changes his attention to Aralu. "I'm sorry but I'm oblivious about any law regarding undead inside the fort but I'm also pretty sure there should be one... there are always laws amid the Hellknights... I could ask them before you show up with your skinny friends."
With Meurasod offer, the thinks for a while before answering. "I could indeed use some coin and I'm also pretty good with locks and mechanical devices but I'm unsure about your purpose... are you looking for someone to break into a vault to steal something or someone to bypass some traps amid ruins?" Worried about having used the wrong words, he quickly continues. "Not that I have anything against a simple burglary but I'm more kin to delve into places and find lost treasures..."
Zurka nods in reply to Mary. "Then either you or Aralu should wear them. I have no need of such protection." Turning to the newcomer Walter he slowly nods, "Our previous trap finder did run afoul of a trap in the Spire and we could use a replacement. Tell me, have you any other talents?"
Katara remains quiet during all of this and simply cleans her blade. It isn't long before she settles back down into her sleeping bag and just listens to the conversations going on around her.
Meurasod continues to look at Walter. "Aye, as the man said. We have a contract to locate two missing mages last seen in the Emerald Spire. We already lost our...scout, to the perils of the Spire. We need a point man. Someone with keen eyes and quick fingers. Think about it. For now, rest up. You'll be safe enough in our camp. That goes for the lot of ya too. I'll stay up and keep Zurka company on the last watch. Hmm, come to think on it, he looks pretty bad. Some of those cuts look pretty deep. Anyone got any healing magic left?"
"In the morning we make for town. Probably be there a day or two to recover and resupply. You can go your own way from there, or join us if you're up for it."
"Unfortunately, my healing powers won't work for Zurka.
The powers granted to me, allow me one heal per day per person.
I can do so when we get up later, though."
"Naturally!" Walter exclaims to Zurka's inquiry. "I'm what could be considered a field scholar... I have a profound knowledge regarding an assortment of different topics, as well as a good understanding of magical subjects. Since many discoveries to be made are hidden behind dusty walls and such places are usually filled with traps, I also possess a cunning eye and quick fingers to deal with traps and unusual contraptions. My knowledge in actually casting spells are somewhat limited though but so far has served its purpose!" Used to explain his abilities and 'selling his fish', Walter has no problem to point his numerous talents.
To Meurasod the nods enthusiastically. "I think you found your 'point man', master dwarf! I forgot to mention but I'm also pretty good to move without being seen... well, except when I'm running for my life... nevertheless, I think I can take this job! I must warn you that I'm not really an accomplished combatant so if you see me running towards you after scouting a couple corridors ahead, you should not judge my honor and courage poorly... but praise my desire to live and tactical acumen."
The rest of the night, under watchful guards, see no more troubles.
You have a few hours walk to reach the Fort, and the last part of the trip is devoid of any ambush or treachery.
Finally, you see the Fort Inevitable, and a queue of merchants and people waiting to enter. The Hellknights guards are asking questions, and seem to seek something-or someone.
[Walter]........ <_< [Mary]
"By the way, what was the reason, for being out alone in the woods that late?"
...as Mary notices the queue and 'interviews'.
"Hey Aralu, will those things lie down if you tell them to? Maybe we just leave them laying on the ground in the woods while we're in town? Pick em back up on our way back to the Spire. If anyone happens upon them while we're in town, maybe they don't look too close at a pile of bones..."
At seeing the long line of people trying to get into town, Meurasod looked at Walter and lacking Mary's subtlety, simply asked "they looking for you?"
Walter turns to Mary with a smile. "Well, believe me or not, I was actually looking for you! Well, not you-you, but a group like yours! As a pathfinder it is my solemn duty to explore and chart unknown locations and, in this case, dungeons. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find suitable fellow pathfinders to come with me so a group like yours is exactly what I was looking for!" He laughs for a couple seconds before continuing. "If I wasn't aware that acknowledging luck is the clearest way to attract bad-luck, I would be inclined to say that mine own is improving! But I'm not acknowledging anything, just to be clear."
Zurka frowns, a look of confusion on his face. "What, exactly, is a 'Pathfinder'?"
"I can answer that.
They're glorified explorers, tomb raiders and covert agents, among other things. They work for one of several factions."
She strikes back some hair behind her ear.
"Drunks spill so much..."
Zurka shakes his head in disgust. "Thieves and fools then. Not to be trusted..." He shifts his gaze back to Walter. "And which...faction do you serve?"
Katara found herself amused by the interrogation and didn't feel a need to but into it.
Look ahead of the line she scanned it for anyone looking particularly nervous about the interviews.
She also scanned her own crew.
"Oh, come on!" Walter exclaims and exaggerates a clearly fake offended expression, laughing soon after. "We are a respected organization that seeks nothing more than to enlighten the minds our beloved citizens! You offend me with such suspicion, my friend."
He looks at Zurka and smiles. "Don't believe in any propaganda, my friend, not in favor not against the Pathfinder and trust them no more than you'd trust any other person... Generalization is a dangerous business! Men are men after all, and no insignia will change this... trust me no more than you think I should trust you."
Abandoning his more somber tone, Walter smiles once more. "Regarding the factions, I follow none of them... choosing one opens a couple doors but closes to many in return, not a mathematics that pleases me."
Zurka nods slowly, clearly unconvinced by the man's explanation. "Those are pretty words, to be sure, but still...just words to me. Actions will serve to convince me far more than words will."
Turning his attention back to the guards who are still performing their interrogation, he adds softly"You still have not answered the dwarf's question Walter."
"No? Oh yes... no. I mean, yes I forgot, but no, they aren't looking for me, at least I'm not aware of it. I also can't think about a good reason for them to be looking for me... such a bona fide pathfinder!" Walter smiles before shrugging.