Sylas says to Maja Hey do you think we could make some traps around our camp to include that water filled pit and could you do that in the next few hours?
Maja (BOTTED)
Maja turns around and looks at the area for a few moments seems to ponder the question for a few more moments. "Sylas, I am no trap maker...but I have some knowledge of engineering...and my knowledge of survival I might be able to put together a few traps. The sinkhole is a barrier in itself but we could jam some stakes in it and around it to deter these animals. My concern would be the open area to the east...I found tracks over there and my guess is they will come from that area. But it is a wide open area we would need to funnel them into a smaller space. The streamside to the west we could put up some barriers but this will all take some time as the space is big on both sides. Maybe it would be better to put some barriers in place around the camp and use the cabin as the fallback. Not that I am thrilled to run into a plague-infested house but if it is that or being torn apart by plague-infested wolves I will pick the house."
"Yep, I said it. I'm ready to go into the plague house if it comes down to it! In the meantime, let's fortify the camp as best we can, yeah?"
Sylas will use summon monster to bring help and speed the process casting it several times and giving commands bases on Majas recommendations
The Farmhouse
Early Evening
5th Day of Readying (Early Spring) of 570cy(Day 3)
Farmer's Cabin Map
Round (Surprise): NONE
Enemy Description: NONE
Area Description: Sparse wooded area around cabin with normal ground around cabin. Any ground under trees is considered sparse undergrowth.
Lighting Conditions: Daylight; Normal Light
Additional Complications: Anything under trees is considered sparse undergrowth. Undergrowth provides concealment, perception checks under trees goes to 70ft.
The group discusses their plan to defend themselves if the dogs do attack. As their discussion becomes lengthy late afternoon rolls into early evening. The sun is now falling to the west and although there are several more hours of daylight before the skies start to turn dark the work will consume much of it.
BynothBotted
Bynoth turns and surveys the area and inspects the ground and the many places the dogs can come from. "Mistress Hobniz, I am no expert on animals, survival, or engineering. What I can offer is a military opinion on our situation... It is at best a poor one; we have three maybe four sword arms that are at full strength. The ground is not in our favor as we have too many lanes of approach and not enough arms to defend them and have any sort of reserve. If the dog's numbers overwhelm us and they coordinate any sort of real attack we will be doomed quickly. Especially if they are infected as we assume they are...Thanim can only tend to so many of us if we do make it out of this alive. My suggestion is we build wooden barricades the sort with branches lashed together in an X and a long pole down four to six of them to make a sort of fence line. They will need to sit a little lower than normal to account for a dog or wolve. Those will be simple to make with the rope we have on hand and cutting branches and sharpening them will be rather easy. I also suggest we set up fire pits in the gaps. Animals tend to not like fire so between the two we should be able to funnel them to the front rather easily. I would suggest we fortify the few windows and the door to the house as well and possibly have a way to get to the roof from the inside." Bynoth draws an example of a barricade he is thinking of on the ground. He also does a quick sketch of the cabin and surrounding area..it is a very tactical map as you would expect of Bynoth. He then points out spots for the barricades around the cabin and fire pits to also fortify their position.
Sylas listens to the plans and says a combination of effects along with light and fire placed in strategic locations sounds like an excellent plan. Let us make this happen!
The Farmhouse
Early Evening
5th Day of Readying (Early Spring) of 570cy(Day 3)
Farmer's Cabin Map
Maja and Bynoth go to work gather up long branches thick enough to make the wooden barricades that Bynoth described. Sylas offers assistance as well and the three them spend time gathering the branches, sharpening the ends and finding rope and lashing that will allow them to make all the barricades. As they start to make the barricades it is clear that Maja is far more proficient at making them so she gives both Bynoth and Sylas some suggestions and they pair up and begin making them as well.
Maja manages to make fifteen of them in just over an hour. While Sylas an Bynoth end up having to redo many of them ones they make only come away with five. Maja's handywork is impressive to say the least. The three of you figure you can get six fire pits dug and have enough wood to keep them burning throughout the night. That doesn't include the campfire you are currently by (total of seven fires).
The Farmhouse
Early Evening
5th Day of Readying (Early Spring) of 570cy(Day 3)
Farmer's Cabin Map
Thanim wakes up to the sound of chopping and the sound of work. Unsure of what is going on he cracks open the door and looks out to the camp and can see two large piles of sharpened poles. Some long (four to six feet long) and a lot of short ones (two to three feet long at most). You see Maja start to put them short poles together with the long poles and in less then ten minutes she erected two stout barricades about three feet high. It appears they are planning to defend the cabin from something.
Thanim hears something behind him and he turns his head and for a moment he thought he saw a dark shadow moving away from Cerilis but he looks again and doesn't see anything. A trick of the eye maybe...
None of his companions seem to be stirring for the time...the fires are low.
A noise and some apparent movement startle Thanim, but when he quickly checks it out, he finds nothing. "There is something unnatural here. This disease is far beyond what I have ever experienced." Since he is up, he checks on his patients and is happy that the ill are seemingly sleeping well.
Now that his charges are taken care of, Thanim takes the opportunity to step out into the sun. The sun is there, but so is a flurry of activity. Maja, Bynoth, and Sylas are heavily engaged in steady work, with Maja running the show. Thanim sits on the steps for a minute, both to clear his head and to chuckle at Maja giving orders and showing the others how to properly build some pointy barricades. He stands and approaches the others, "What have you going on here? This is for the dogs? Have we seen more of them? I'm not too handy, but I'll help out with whatever I can. Perhaps reinforcing the cabin?"
A noise and some apparent movement startle Thanim, but when he quickly checks it out, he finds nothing. "There is something unnatural here. This disease is far beyond what I have ever experienced." Since he is up, he checks on his patients and is happy that the ill are seemingly sleeping well.
Now that his charges are taken care of, Thanim takes the opportunity to step out into the sun. The sun is there, but so is a flurry of activity. Maja, Bynoth, and Sylas are heavily engaged in steady work, with Maja running the show. Thanim sits on the steps for a minute, both to clear his head and to chuckle at Maja giving orders and showing the others how to properly build some pointy barricades. He stands and approaches the others, "What have you going on here? This is for the dogs? Have we seen more of them? I'm not too handy, but I'll help out with whatever I can. Perhaps reinforcing the cabin?"
Thanim, looking around finds a ladder. "Hey! Putting this ladder up for easy access to the roof, if need be." He picks it up and positions it for roof access from the western front of the house. He checks on his patients once more, seeing to their needs.
Sylas will move to the roof himself saying I can cast and shoot arrows best if unhindered by animals chewing me
The Farmhouse
Early Evening
5th Day of Readying (Early Spring) of 570cy(Day 3)
Farmer's Cabin Map
Thanim's day spent tending to his three friends has left him open to this sickness as well.
He starts to cough as he turns to help his friends outside. He can tell he has a slight fever as well. However, his companions inside are doing well physically. Their fever and body signs seem to be holding steady or in some cases diminishing. He realizes he will need to be careful about interacting with his healthy friends to isolate this illness.
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The Farmhouse
Early Evening
5th Day of Readying (Early Spring) of 570cy(Day 3)
Farmer's Cabin Map
Harry awakens his muscles cramped and the room is cold. At first, the half-dwarf pulls his travel blanket over his head having no desire to deal with the waking world. His dreams were odd...flashes of his youth and days gone by but some of them were scenes of the past and others had odd anomalies in them. There was always a dark figure...a shadow looming at the edge of his vision. He feels a cool breeze but it smells odd to him... He lifts his head and looks around. Perri and Cerilis appear to be sleeping as they are still and he can see their chests rise and fall in a rhythmic pattern of sleeping. That is when he feels a weird feeling wash over him and his chest becomes tight as if someone put him in a vice.
HaRry...gIvE uS! lEt us HaVE! wE wANTS yOU HARRY! GIVE IN TO US HARRY! LET US HAVE YOU! wE are coming...we will have you.
The vice-like grip on his chest goes away and he bends over as a feeling of sickness washes over him...it goes away after a moment. He stands up and looks around as he finds a place to put his hand to steady himself.
Harry looks around realizing this was no dream...his dreams were not his. Something was in his head something was in his dreams.
He takes a seat at the table and after a moment Perri and Cerilis start to awaken. They seem rested and they don't seem out of sorts.
Thanim feels the urge to cough and quickly turns his head before it bursts forth. He wipes his mouth and feels his forehead. "This is not good. Soon, I will be needing treatment. Oh my... Pelor, merciful Pelor, grant me strength that I may continue to help my friends."
He backs away from those outside the cabin. "I am not myself. I believe I am coming down with the plague. Soon, I fear I will be in need of a bed myself, but not yet. Remain out here if possible. If I succumb, message the temple in Burle. They may be able to help."
Thanim retreats to the cabin and continues the care of his charges while he is able. He begins to plan for his own fight with this mysterious plague, "Soon I shall understand the fight these valiant men now fight. Bless them and bless me, O Pelor."
Harry glances about him and sees his companions are awake. Rising slowly to his feat careful not to tax his strength here he sees the preparations taking place outside. "Aye they are comin' fer me...fer US all!" He intones somberly.
The news that Thanim has succumbed to the Plague produces a shake of his head. "'Tis ill omens around this place! We should neveah 'ave come here, neveah 'ave accepted that damned fool sage's offer!" The frustration in his voice barely masking the concern for his fellow here as he clenches his fists in frustration.
Finally he calms down enough to add, "I see ye have prepared well, and I am ready to lend me efforts 'ere. Where did ye want me?"
Bynoth halts from his fortification building and strategic planning to eye the retreating Thanim with a concerned frown.
His troubled gaze looks first to Sylas, then Maja;
"This bodes ill. We prepare for an attack from an enemy without, when our companions battle an enemy within... but that is not our battle..."
The priest of war returns his eyes to the bulwarks around him;
"You will remain unhindered Master Olv. The fetid hounds will be given my ire and steel to bite upon when the time comes. And have a mind that while I am no healer like Master Thanim, when it comes to combat and battle... my magicks have no equal."
Bynoth grits his teeth, in what could almost be a hardened grin;
"Hextor's prayers will ensure the hounds of pestilence will die all the easier... or we shall die all the harder. Such is war. Such is conflict. Such is the will of the Scourge!"
Thatched pitched roof
The Farmhouse
Evening
5th Day of Readying (Early Spring) of 570cy(Day 3)
Farmer's Cabin Map
The sun dips below the horizon and nightfall rolls in as companions finish preparations on defending themselves against whatever falls on them tonight. As the sky darkens in the distance the baying of dogs can be heard. The sound seems to come from all around them at first but the baying seems to subside and the night grows quiet...too quiet.
The firepits are lit and there is enough wood for them until the sky lights up in the morning. The surrounding glen fills with shadow and darkness covered with an eerie stillness. The only sound is the crackle and snaps of the fire.
Thanim dreads watching the sun set. The colors are beautiful as the rays of Sol spread across the sky, but the sight is not enough to lift his spirits. He knows this may be his last night of any comfort for a while and his patients' mysterious symptoms do not set him at ease. He places his crossbow for easy access and straps on the quivers of bolts. Should any commotion begin, he'll be ready. He's watched over these men and will not let a pack of wild dogs waste his efforts. They will be defended to the end, if necessary. "Wigger, Cwenchild, I remember you and the sacrifices you made for us. I, too, will do my part." He kneels and prays, almost in solemn mourning as the last rays disappear.
Perri
Perri awakens soaked in his own sweat. His sleep was deep and undisturbed and for some reason he feels much better. Not his body as he is still stiff, his arm pits, neck, and ears hurt tremendously but he feels refreshed as if he has broken some barrier in his spirit that was there as he fell into this horrible illness. It is no longer there like some sort of door had opened spilling forth light. His elders spoke of this when he was young...a curse of dark spirits that follow sickness. His hands are stiff and as he looks about he can see Harry standing in the room but his appearance is odd... He looks afraid as he walks to the door to speak to your companions in the camp outside.
Harry calls out to his three fellows outside "I see ye have prepared well, and I am ready to lend me efforts 'ere. Where did ye want me?"
Cerilis
Cerilis feels a chilling touch rake over his skin as he pushes himself up from his blanket. He is covered in sweat as his blanket and hair. Again he feels a cold chill wash over him and as he does he looks at Harry and he can see a black aura surrounding his friend. It is a swirl of black oily substance just over the Half-dwarf's skin floating in and out of his body. Cerilis blinks and shakes his head thinking it is simply the sleep in his eyes but as he looks up and he hears Harry talking he can hear his words but another voice lies beneath it...
Harry speaks "Aye they are comin' fer me...fer US all!" He intones somberly. But you hear a response... Yessss hArryy wEeeee comE fOR you aLL! eWE do.
Harry follows that up as he moves to the doorway "'Tis ill omens around this place! We should neveah 'ave come here, neveah 'ave accepted that damned fool sage's offer!" The frustration in his voice barely masking the concern for his fellow here as he clenches his fists in frustration.
Has Harry moves the swirl breaks and fades and comes back as it follows him...it is like lamp oil moving in the air. Foul and black. A hiss follows Haaaa...yOu aRe WeAk bAstaRd BLOOD! YOUR SOUL is weak as well...
Finally, Harry seems to calm down enough to add, "I see ye have prepared well, and I am ready to lend me efforts 'ere. Where did ye want me?"
As he approaches the doorway and the last bits of sunlight spill over him the oily cloud around Harry vanishes and the voice does as well. But just as quickly Cerilis feels that same chill wash over him and he looks at his hand and he can see that shimmer about his skin and something starts to leak out of his skin...it is the oily substance...it begins to cover the air around his skin and has he moves his arm the cloudy substance seems to break apart and form back together. It was the whisper in his ear just behind him that startled him as he jumped from his bedding.
I sMell You as well olf... your blood has the taint of those that fleed the GARDEN! We cOme FOR you As wELl... We come for all of you CERILIS but we will have you and HARRY and we will feast on your SOUL! You turn around sharply and nothing his there...you look down and the black cloudy substance is gone but the chill is still there...
Harry stares outside at the scene that lay before his eyes still feeling weak and groggy but, more crucially, afraid here. The fear felt like it was oozing from his veins.
Despite the fact the flames from the burning firepits causes the sweat to practically drip from his pores Harry stands at the doorway to the cabin responding to Maja, "Nay my friend. They will strike...strike when we are most weak, most tired. We must resist as best we can." His words sound hollow to his own ears.
Thanim listens to Harry and Maja speak. "Let us worry about those dogs." He puts his hand on Harry's shoulder, "Your job is finishing your recovery." Thanim checks the men for the status of the disease and is relieved to see signs of improvement. "Ahh, you're looking better. We'll beat this, yet." He's quiet as he considers his options, "Soon, I'll have to stay away from them. I'll not be able to give care without risking reinfection." He shakes his head and slaps them on the backs, "Pelor has blessed you. You'll be back at full strength in no time. For now, rest. Your recovery is not yet complete." Thanim provides the care he can, then prepares a bed for himself, a bed he'll need soon enough, whether he wants to or not.
Sylas gets a rope and ties himself to the center beam nice and neatly so he can sleep like in the trees back at home without falling through the roof and then he resta the first few hours, just the minimum an old needs to be rested and then he is up on watch the rest of the night.
Bynoth too stands stoic, his iron clad form illuminated by the guard pyres.
At Harry's fevered outburst he does not respond;
"Let them come. I for one will welcome a foe whose spine can be crushed, whose blood can be spilt... rather than the pestilence we have battled these last fell days."
:
Thanim is aghast at Maja's suggestion. He looks at Maja with an unwavering glare, interrupting the conversation before Harry has the chance to answer, "There is no need for tying folks, particularly patients, up. Harry might not yet be himself, but he is no danger." He takes Harry by the arm and shoulder, ushering him back into the cabin. "Finish your recovery. We'll take care of the dogs." He leads him to his bed, tucking him in. He returns to the door, shutting it completely after giving another look to those outside. Once back at Harry's side, he applies a damp, cool cloth to his forehead and in a soft, soothing voice says, "Rest. Rest. But when you have the energy, tell me what you have seen."
Harry allows himself to be guided back into his bed, albeit reluctantly. As he settles into get some more rest he gives Thanim a wan smile, "Aye that be a promise upon me mother's grave. Wake me th' instant ye needs me help, OK me friend?"
As Thanim escorts harry back to his bed, he sees Cerilis' weapon has been unsheathed and lies next to his bed. The olf seems to be in just as bad of a spot as harry. Wanting to help and do something meaningful but trapped in his bed with the plague.
His eyes show how haunted he is by the plague. It is hard for him to keep what is real and not real from merging into one big nightmare.
Still sitting in the corner, though now more from convenience than paranoia, Perri still has a blanket wrapped around him, but he isn't holding the bladed scarf as though waiting for an attack. He watches the others move about and hears the paranoia, wondering if he sounded the same, not realizing how quiet he's been.
The Farmhouse
Evening
5th Day of Readying (Early Spring) of 570cy(Day 3)
Farmer's Cabin Map
The sun has fallen behind the trees for several hours and Maja and Bynoth have feed the fires around them during that time. The seven fires burn brightly keeping the darkness back. As Maja turns to feed the nearby fires to the north she sees movement amongst the shadows on the northern hills...
Cerilis sees movement to the southwest just past the privy and on the hill. It is only a glimmer of movement in the bush and low shrubs but it was there.
Bynoth can hear movement out to the east but he is unsure where exactly it is coming from. He knows the enemy lies out there...it is only a matter of time before these creatures strike. It is weird that they hold their ground in such a manner and not call out.
As night sets in the priest of war hardened scowl becomes more affixed;
"They are out there... Yet do not come. Do not howl, nor whelp nor whimper like a pack of hunds would... Bale indeed these things are."
Harry lays in his bed, the blanket pulled tightly around his body. Try as he might sleep would not come to him. Every time he closed his eyes he could FEEL the shadows pressing all around him. Sighing softly to himself he decided to lay up starting at the ceiling, unwilling to break the silence that has engulfed the cabin inside.
Got movement coming in from the South west around the outhouse.
His voice is quick and clear but it took alot of effort, Cerilis grips his weapon and waits.