A glob of acid hits the last priest hard! He cries aloud in pain!
Atlas can find handholds to climb the battlements, but it does take his entire round!
Round 3:
Naafih, Koani, Kahwen, Pai Gow
Cleric
Atlas, Malvic
Koani's arrow strikes the priest! He looks pale and bloodied!
Naafih's arrow goes wide, but Pai Gow finally hits the mark. The cleric hangs for a moment, speared by acid and arrow and falls forward, hitting the ground with a thud!
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It is difficult to tell with his inhuman appearance, but Kahwen's chagrin is fairly evident.
My apologies, Friends. I have been overzealous. I agree with Friend Koani. Let us push on here and lay claim to this part of the asteroid.
He limbers his bow and picks up his sword.
Joining Atlas, Blarg and Malvic at the pit, he eyes it closely.
I can get across, Friends. We've had success previously by me jumping across, and anchoring a rope then everyone else climbing down this side and up the other.
With Kahwen's aid, you are able to secure the way across the pit. As you enter beyond the gates, you spot a strange sight: a red-skinned human with a pistol on her hip and a male gnome covered with veils huddled in the shadows of the walls. They seem to have spotted you and are approaching cautiously. They both look thin and parched.
"Please! Please help us!" The gnome calls out to you in Common.
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Kahwen finds it difficult not to help people who are obviously in need but he also does not want to endanger his friends by falling into a trap. He's also of little help in social situations.
He keeps his sword drawn, hilt in hand, blade balanced on shoulder but is already fishing around in his pack for rations he can offer.
Do you think they were prisoners, Friends? Do prisoners get to have guns?
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Malvic eyes the approaching duo with extreme skepticism.
What were they doing past these battlements already if they are one of us...
I don't trust them. How would a group have pushed this far ahead long enough to get captured let alone long enough to be in that condition...
Malvic has a harshness to his voice as he maintains a fighting stance in case of trouble.
The gnome holds out his hands, showing them empty. "Please, we are adventurers, come to this forsaken place weeks ago. I'm from Riddlesport and my friend here is from Akiton. We both, separately, stepped through strange portals and ended up here. We found each other and managed to survive this long, but our food ran out three days ago and our water yesterday. We're hungry and thirsty and all we wish is to get out of here. Please, will you help us?"
The gnomes hands the waterskin to the red-skinned woman and lets her drink before taking it and drinking deeply. "Bless you! I'm learning a spell to create water the first chance I get. If you have any way off this accursed rock, that would be heavenly. Get it? 'Heavenly!'" He cackles at his own joke while the red-skinned woman sighs deeply. The woman begins speaking in an odd tongue that sounds familiar...
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If they are truly adventurers they can provide an opportunity to help themselves by helping us.
Malvic lowers his weapon and enters a deep thought contemplating the best solution to their situation. He takes a ration carefully from bag.
"I can spare a ration for you to split. Having been here weeks already you have the chance to return the favor with your assistance. Once our mission is completed we can return home."Malvic says in his typical analytical voice.
The gnome grimaces. "You have a way to get home? How? Where?"
The gnome and Akitonian take the rations gratefully and begin to eat. "Listen, we'd love to help you," the gnome says with a mouthful, "But honestly, I've seen enough of this rock. You're welcome to it. I just want to go home. And my red friend here is the same way. So far we've seen things that want to kill us, weather that wants to kill us and plants that want to kill us. You want my advice? If you've got a way outta here, LEAVE. Don't wait around until something kills you."
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"You have been given water and food. We have a gateway leading home but our mission comes first and we are falling behind so any help you provide will expedite us all returning including you, Pagbean, and your companion Lohad." Malvic says directly to the Pagbean.
It is disgusting to see someone just give up. To deny the opportunity to overcome their situation. Dealing with people is not my strength.
Malvic leans close to Naafih and whispers to him. "Naafih, maybe his companion is more apt to repay our kindness if you ask her?"
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"We are here on important Pathfinder business and turning around and running is not an option. You are welcome to follow us if you wish but we have to continue forward and do our part, we've already received news that other parties have explored and secured other sections of this asteroid." Naafih turns to the red-skinned woman. "You're welcome to follow along but we've wasted enough time." he turns back to the group, "Shall we continue onward?"
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Kahwen feels much the same as Malvic and speaks up as well.
"We cannot leave, I'm afraid. We have a duty to fulfill and we cannot turn away from it. You are welcome to join us and we would value your experience on this world, or you may wait for us to return but we cannot turn back.
That is about as close to diplomacy as Kahwen can get, but perhaps the food and water will add some weight to his words. He would prefer the strangers to come with them. They really can use the experience and both of them seem capable enough explorers.
The gnome's eyes widen. "Pathfinders? I know of you lot! Listen, you guys came here through a portal? Is it still there? If you can tell us where it is, we'll give you some supplies we salvaged here. Deal?"
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"I don't like the idea of just GIVING you the location of our portal. As I said earlier, you're welcome to follow us as we complete our mission but handing you the way to our exit is something I will advise against." Naafih suspiciously looks at the gnome again but turns back to Lohad. "If you want to leave you'll have to follow us until we're ready to head back. At least, that's my vote." he looks to the other Pathfinders to see what they want to do.
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Hmmm...we do have a dragon.
Malvic pulls the group to the side.
"I think we all agree on not trusting these strangers but we also agree more supplies are helpful. At worst they try to start trouble at the gateway but our defenders are more than capable of handling them. We can trade our information for their supplies and move forward with the mission. I will not go against our groups wishes though."
The gnome and Akitonian exchange words in the strange dialect of Azlanti that they share. The gunslinger shrugs and points toward the way you came down. "Thanks for the offer, but Lohad says she can follow your trail and we're not interested in sticking around here any longer. No offense, but Lohad came through with five comrades and she's seen them all die. If you wanna tackle this place, good luck, but we've served our time and we're done. Best of wishes, Pathfinders!" They hitch up their bags and head off toward the way you came.
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Kahwen sadly watches the strangers leave. He looks around at his companions quietly for a moment then proceeds down the path ahead of them.
He keeps his sword drawn, in case there is trouble and, unless the rest of the group follows closely, will move out ahead, moving quietly while watching for dangers.
As the others leave, Kahwen spots movement from around one of the buildings. Two small creatures that looks like a lumpy head with crab legs and a giant mouth filled with stone teeth are moving toward you. They spot the party at the same time as the party spots them!
Round 1:
Pai Gow, Atlas
Mouth Things
Koani, Kahwen, Malvic, Naafih
The mouth things charge!
for damage!
for damage!