Solvistania motions for Felina to track the arrows down and recover them. Once that is done, she turns her attention to the Danistil Elf who 'rescued' them. "So, Elf, do you have a name?' After Chops rejoins her, she remembers her manners and continues, "Thank you for your assistance, it was most valuable for us"
Gilian calls for Pebble who emerges from the nearest rock
"Well now, where did you go? You could have helped, you know ?"
"Is it always the same with the softpeople? This is very dangerous. grandfather did not say I could get hurt. I am not sure I want to stay here."
"Welcome to our world, little one. That's what help you learn quickly. If you do not, you may get injured. Speaking of injuries, who needs help?"
She surveys the battle ground looking for injured people. As she spots Kiron, she moves towards him to heal his lighting wound.
"Who else?, she adds and stops in her tracks at Solvistania comment.
"Yes, who are you. and what was that talk about elves and demons?", she says in a suspicious voice.
Anang crouches down to retrieve his gore splattered Sepi and wipe them clean on a handful of fallen leaves. Satisfied with the state of the blades, he returns them to his belt and stands to face Solvistania.
"I am called Anang and it is I who should be thanking you. If I had faced that demon unaided I would be dead or worse."
He glances at Gilian and pauses for a second, considering how to answer her question.
"As for who I am, my kin would call me a demon hunter." Anang purposefully ignores the second part of Gilian's question, looking around for the first time at rest of the group, noting the strangeness of the band and in particular the presence of the huge Orc.
Kiron glances around after striking down the bear and looks for another, as he finds they have all fallen a smile blooms upon his face. He was going to strike again but with nothing but the new blood to strike at he simply stands defensively and nearby the elf in case he is the unpredictable sort.
He spares a glance and a soft "thank you." to Gillian as she presses her flesh mending abilities into his Orcish skin. His brow furrows a bit at catching on to Gillian's suspicious tone. He had to remind himself that Orcs weren't the only one that has had their blood muddled by the shadow. If you can't tell Anang, this group is fairly open minded, speak freely and you might find trust with your honesty."
He rests howler over his shoulder careful to insure that the blunt side is down. His eyes flick to Ilona, with an obvious 'can we keep him' expression.
"Dude. Your hair is awesome! I am totally doing that when mine grows back." Chops runs his large hand over his shorn scalp, a look of regret in his eyes. "I'm Chops, by the way. Not my real name, and not cuz I like hitting creatures with hatchets! Welcome, " Chops smiles his huge grin, his large fangs and teeth prominent. Then he says, still cheerily, "But you would be wise to answer Gillians question. We saved your life; and we are hunters in our own rights. Hunters of Shadow, Demon-hunter."
Felina sprints to her mistress, carrying two steel crafted arrows in her mouth. She drops them down at Solvistania's feet and looks at Solvistania, her cat eyes gleaming. After a second it turns to look at you, and you hear in your mind,
Anang
Taken aback by Chops' spontaneous friendliness and Kiron's advice Anang completely blanks on any reply. Instead he closes his eyes and stands very still for a few seconds. Years alone in the lands controlled by the shadow had given Anang time to accept some of the 'gifts' his demonic taint had bestowed. One of these gifts was particularly useful when deciding if someone was trustworthy or not. In the moment of stillness Anang allows the seed of demonic power inside of him to flow outward and brush against the aura of each of the people surrounding him, tasting their soul as it were.
Finding no taint of shadow in any of his sudden new companions Anang relaxes slightly. Accepting that he could now possibly trust the group he finally finds his voice.
"Good to to meet you Chops. Uh, glad you like the hair? Never thought about it one way or the other myself."
Self consciously brushing a bleached dreadlock that had fallen across his face Anang considers how to answer the more weighty question of why the demon called him brother.
"Okay and that thing the demon said about demons in fleshy elf cages? That would be about me. I got possessed a while back and by the time I kicked the demon back out of my body I and it had partially merged. Usually, you get rid of the demon and everything goes back to normal. I wasn't quite that lucky."
Solvistania stares at the Danistil elf for a long moment, her eyes burning with curiosity, and a little fear. She stands protectively under Chops arm, and replies to Anang, "So, you say there is the demon taint in you, that you cannot rid yourself of. I do not judge you on this fact, however, trust is hard to earn, as the Shadow would dearly love to destroy their foes. Assisting us in driving off a foe who calls you 'brother' is but a small step in that process."
Chops whispers into Solvistania's ear:
He gives her a reassuring smile.
Solvistania looks at Chops smile, and gives a sigh, I really am being put to shame by my companions. "Forgive me, I have not introduced myself, my name is Solvistania."
Ilona strides forward calmly her eyes meeting each grop memner in a congratulatory wink or smile, or in Ragnar's case, a smoldering gaze that indicates her adrenaline is still up.
"Welcome Anang. It's an honor to spill shadow blood alongside you, although if you were about to face that thing alone, you must be insane. As it happens that would mean you fit right in."
She smiles.
"Now as Kiron said, we are pretty open minded but if you betray us, well it'll prpbably be the most violent death you can imagine. I'm Ilona, welcome to our pack."
The smile she flashes the elf is absolutely scintillating.
Ilona gances at Kiron as if to say, 'yes it's easier than you got, think of it as you paving the way'
The giant Dorn merely watched from the back of the group, the corner of his mouth twitching ever so slightly at Ilona as she passes, barely seen beneath his hood. He stays well clear of the newcomer, his spear drifting back to him as he sheathes his sword. Two spirit-torches drift around him, and a large raven sits on his shoulder.
He says nothing, seeming content to let the others pass judgement.
The giant Dorn merely watched from the back of the group, the corner of his mouth twitching ever so slightly at Ilona as she passes, barely seen beneath his hood. He stays well clear of the newcomer, his spear drifting back to him as he sheathes his sword. Two spirit-torches drift around him, and a large raven sits on his shoulder.
He says nothing, seeming content to let the others pass judgement.
After retrieving Umbra, Sorok moves to return Ragnar's spear. As he gets closer the whispering always surrounding takes on a more menacing tone. Ghostly, bone chilling laughter and wailing mixed together to form a nightmarish sound. The ghostly figures became more solid, their eyes become dark and sunken, their bodies, emaciated forms that reached for him with sharpened nails and teeth. The wisps of light began to swirl wildly, and the air grew cold and seemed to sap the warmth from his body.
Will Save
This was not the first time he had seen the dead face to face however. Steeling himself Sorok clenched his jaw and pushes the growing dread down and holds the spear before him.
"Ragnar, your spear... Fightings over, call off your spirits." He looks from the giant Dorn turning his focus to the dark skinned Elf muttering to himself. By the Mother, this group attracts nothing but strange folk. He steps away from Ragnar leaving the spear in the ground. Anang, huh? Any help is good, name's Sorok.
Solvistania notices the exchange between Sorok and Ragnar. Her red eyes note the shadowy figures around the Dorn growing more menancing and the aura of dread radiating from them intensifying. On a hunch she approaches Ragnar , and allows the spirits to surround her. Their malevolent presence flows directly from the air into her bones, sapping what little fire was left in her frail body. As she feels their presence intensify, she notices her white bone buckle on her dress start to glow slightly, and a warmth starts spreading from it. Intrigued, she grasps it and the warmth engulfs her body, chasing the chill away. Indeed, the spirits seem to recoil from her now that she touched it.
"Interesting" is her only comment.
The spear jerks a few times and uproots itself to drift back to Ragnar's hand. "Thank you, little one." he says to the air before him, then looks to the Sorok as he walks away. "Children, leave the Dwarf alone." he says admonishingly.
It has all the effect that such things tend to have on unruly children.
He glances to Solvistania, and seems concerned for a moment as she fiddles with her buckle. He kneels and lifts a hand as if taking something and looking at it. "No, no. You are fine. She didn't mean to. I don't think it can hurt you."
He pauses as if listening.
"Well yes. Sometimes the world is a frightening place, and things are not always what they seem."
He pats the air at roughly the hight of a child's head. He sighs and shakes his head.
"Normally, I'd tell you it would get easier as you got older, but i'm afraid you are as old now as you are likely to get. Just try to be brave and remember that I am never far."
He looks up at the rest of the group and back to the newcomer. His eyes narrow. He blinks, shuts them for a moment and opens them again, as if expecting to see something different. When he doesn't he tilts his head in confusion and talks to someone near him.
"Hmm. Elf. Yes. Something else as well. Something...dark. Not a curse. Possession? No. Not quite. Strange.
Ilona looks over her shoulder at the interactions of her companions. Watching Ragnar speak to ghost children no one else can see fills her with both warmth and sadness, that is hard to describe.
As he speaks to another of his ghost companions, Eyvindir most likely, her eyes narrow as he speaks of what he sees only half to himself.
"Well, you definitely raise hackles, so know this, you're in, but there'll be eyes on you. Fair eyes, but with quick hands attached."
Having healed every one , Gilian looks up for Muni.
"Hey, up there, while we were talking, where did that demon flew to? We must catch it before he rests."
Having healed every one , Gilian looks up for Muni.
"Hey, up there, while we were talking, where did that demon flew to? We must catch it before he rests."
"Yeah, I saw which way the coward ran. Quit yer yappin' and follow me and maybe we can finish the job!"
Muni circles impatiently overhead, waiting for the group to start moving.
Felina looks up questioningly at her mistress and when Solvistania nods at her, Felins darts off into the woods behind the rest of the group.
Solvistania says, "We have our rear guard tracker.
Having healed every one , Gilian looks up for Muni.
"Hey, up there, while we were talking, where did that demon flew to? We must catch it before he rests."
Muni follows the demon's flight and the rest of you try to follow the raven, but both the bird and oruk flying on shadowy wings soon become just the pecks in the sky...
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Muni follows the demon's flight and the rest of you try to follow the raven, but both the bird and oruk flying on shadowy wings soon become just the pecks in the sky...
1d20+5
1d20+13
1d20+10
The dark bird watches for a moment before wheeling back in the direction it came.
"Gotcha..."
Anang backs away a little from the sheer radiant beauty of Ilona's smile, the sheer power of it dazzling him.
"Don't think you have anything to worry about. You're hunting demons, I hunt demons. Enemy of my enemy and so on."
He watches with interest the scene unfolding behind Ilona, the dwarf seeming to have to really strain to approach the huge, ominous looking Dorn. When Sorok turns and looks at him his mouth splits into a grin at the dwarf's words and he nods in greating.
"Good to meet you Sorok, your 'pack' does seem a little on the odd side."
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Also, Anang is at 21/31hp.
Anang backs away a little from the sheer radiant beauty of Ilona's smile, the sheer power of it dazzling him.
"Don't think you have anything to worry about. You're hunting demons, I hunt demons. Enemy of my enemy and so on."
He watches with interest the scene unfolding behind Ilona, the dwarf seeming to have to really strain to approach the huge, ominous looking Dorn. When Sorok turns and looks at him his mouth splits into a grin at the dwarf's words and he nods in greating.
"Good to meet you Sorok, your 'pack' does seem a little on the odd side."
Sorry Sorok, I did not see you were still injured. I can fix that easily.
When the group gets on the move again to follow Muni and the demon, Gilian gets a better look at the strange elf, observing him for a moment before coming to him.
Stranger, you said you were called Anang? I am Gilian, a healer by trade. you fought with us and you are bleeding. So I offer my services, if you want them.
She listens to his reply and proceeds to heal him if her offer is accepted.
Gilian then motions Pebble forward. "And this one is Pebble, he is an earth elemental and wishes to learn about us."
She then lowers her tone and speaks with a concerned voice. "I've heard you talking about the demon. Are you sure you can keep it inside? And how will we know if it's taken the ascendant in you? My mother told me some of our kind had the power to banish demons and ghosts. I don't know yet if I can do it, but we could try to find a way to remove it. At least we should try."
Kiron looks to Gillian as she heals his other side." If you ever need anything, you must only let me know. I truly appreciate the flesh mending you do."
Kiron listens to the conversation and nods his approval at the admittance of his dark past, Knowing all to well what it is to be redeemed of a potentially wicked past and thirsting for its demise. Kiron watches Muni take off in flight and attempts to keep up all the while Keeping an eye out for distractions between them and the Raven.
Perception
"All right then, let's hustle, from the description of this thing, it's probably at its best at night so everybody keep on your toes, we face and finish this thing together."
Ilona speaks with absolute confidence leaving no option of failure.
The group will try to reach the cave before dark, trying to catch up with the monster before he has time to flee.
Rolls
As the group heads off in the general direction Muni had flown, the bird makes his persuit and returns. Spotting the group easily as they tromp through the woods, he lands in a nearby tree and squawks.
"Yer headed the right way. S'pretty much a straight shot from here. Demon's not very creative. There's a cave a ways out. If you hurry, you might be able to make it before dark. There's nothing in the way but trees. Pick up the pace and follow me!"
The group moves at a lope keeping a steady pace to arrive before sundown.
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While you run through the forest, hours pass and the sun slowly starts to descend towards west. The forest does not have heavy undergrowth. It seems that shadows of ancient oaks have stunted the growth of all but most stubborn shrubs. Suddenly, the earth beneath your feat trembles. It shakes. It quakes. Mighty tyrants of the forest, centuries old oaks, are uprooted all around you. Dirt showers you and blinds you and for an instant, you don't know what is happening...
Reflex
Reflex
The ground shakes around Chops, but he is a rock. Since he is in his customary rear-guard position, he will move forward to help stabilize/help to their feet the closest person that falls.
Reflex
Reflex