Surprise Round
Rapunzel spots the snakes as they emerge from the bush, and casts ill omen on the giant cobra!
The baby cobras emerge from their nest and spread their hoods menacingly at the elephant.
The giant cobra slithers forward towards Nick and the porters.
Round 1
Adeah swings her musket into her hands, aims at the cobra, and fires, but her gun jams.
Lymwin takes a step back, takes out her crossbow and loads a bolt.
Rapunzel moves forward and unleashes her hair, which seems to move with ah life of its own, lashing out trying to bind the snake in the golden mass of hair! The hair strikes the snake like a whip, but doesn't manage to wrap around it.
Nick withdraws from combat.
Grigori speaks archaic words of enchantment, With a hypnotic gaze and hand gesturing that beckons the larger cobra. The spell seems to have no effect.
Roland leaps over the stone to attack the nearest snake, but its tiny size makes it a difficult target, and he misses.
Two of the baby cobras slither into Roland's square to attack, but Roland is able to counterattack as they do so, skewering both of them.
The third baby cobra attacks the elephant, who is too panicked to manage to stomp on the snake. The snake's strike does no damage, but the elephant is terrified, rearing up on its hind legs. The driver is thrown to the ground, and the Count and Baron hang on for dear life!
The giant cobra bites Rapunzel! Luckily she manages to avoid the effects of the poison dripping from the cobra's fangs, but the huge teeth inflicts a grievous wound nonetheless.
plus poison
And using his spring attack ability moves toward the large cobra.
You need to move at least 10' before the attack to use spring attack...[/ooc]
Round 2
In one fluid motion, Adeah ejects the useless cartridge, loads another, and fires again at the cobra, striking in in the neck.
Lymwin shoots her bolt at the small snake next to the elephant, badly wounding it.
Rapunzel shifts to a different position on the giant cobra and lunges in with both hands, grabbing the serpent and holding it fast.
Grigori repeats his arcane suggestion to the smaller cobra.
Roland steps in and finishes off the wounded cobra, then springs away towards the larger serpent.
The giant cobra bites Rapunzel as she grapples it.
plus poison
The grievous wound is compounded by the snake's venom which saps Rapunzel's strength! Between the blood loss and the venom, Rapunzel is staggered!
End of Round 2 - everyone is up for round 3!
Round 3
Adeah reloads and fires, hitting the massive serpent but still not bringing it down.
Lymwin shoots another bolt and grazes the snake as well.
Rapunzelmanages to pin the snake, but the exertion is too great for her, and she slips into unconsciousness.
Grigori moves up to heal Rapunzel, wakening her.
Roland runs the snake through with his rapier, but the giant serpent continues to fight!
The giant cobra strikes at Roland!
plus poison
- saved
- saved, 1/2 consecutive saves made
Rapunzel begins to fight off the poison, but it continues to saps her strength.
The elephant's foot tangles in the roots of a tree in its panic, and it falls over backwards, crushing the howda! The two men are trapped in the wreckage.
The snake is badly wounded bit still fighting.
End of Round 3 - everyone is up for round 4!
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"Mat' vsekh dush!" Grigori exclaims in his native tongue as the elephant goes down. With another touch of his wand upon the fallen warrioress of his dreams, the priest makes haste to help rescue the baron and the count from the howda. "Count! Baron! I am coming!"
Roland's riposte skewers the snake again, and Lymwin's bolt finishes it off. The huge snake falls to the jungle floor, lifeless.
Grigori and the porters help the Baron and Count out of the wreckage of the howda, while the driver and two other porters calm the elephant.
"Well, that was a spot of bad luck," mutters the Baron, rubbing his bruised ribs and eyeing the destroyed howda. "I don't fancy having to walk the rest of the way. There's a lodge about a day ahead. We'll make for there and get the howda repaired."
He pulls out a metal flask and downs the contents, and appears visibly healthier.
The Count is definitely shaken by the near-death (in his eyes) experience, but he puts a brave face on things. "Yes, Bomande, let's head to the Lodge to recover."
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The priest gives the sharpshooter a wink and a smile at her nickname for him as he heads to help the nobles. Assisting them to their feet, he agrees to the baron's plan.
Calling the wounded to gather around him once more, the Fr. Yefimovich channels his goddess' healing power as he holds up his silver spiral symbol to the heavens. He further fusses over Rapunzel and Adeah, making sure they are fully recovered from their wounds... and helping anyone else of course, if they ask.
And when he's certain the baron isn't looking, Fr. Yefimovich gives the count a knowing nod and a pat on the shoulder with his healing wand.
After a short rest and the distribution of gear among the porters, the party continues on foot along the trail. Another three hours brings you to a small stream crossing the path, and the Baron orders a halt.
"This is the stream we were following when the tiger ambushed us... we'll break off from the trail and go in to find his hunting territory. Everyone should bring food and water for three days - we'll be going on foot. The rest of the party will continue to the Lodge with the elephant."
"Bomande... I think it best that I go with the porters. To make sure everything is ready for your triumphant return!" The Count tries to sound upbeat, but you can see that the days' actvities have broken the man's spirit. The Baron gives a curt nod, and the Count retreats to take charge of the porters.
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"Food? You kiddin', we're surrounded by food. If you know where to look." To prove her point, as they move along she pauses now and then to pick edible morsels from around them-- a few berries here, a large insect there.
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Rapunzel follows the Count back toward the porters, her hair working itself back to two large, looping braids as she walks.
"I word if I may my lord," Rapunzel, even in her weakened state tries to care for the Count. Leading him away from the others she speaks to him in a low, but warm tone. "Things did not go as I had planned with that giant snake. I apologize that my actions were ineffectual in keeping yourself and the Baron from harm. That said, my team needs me. I cannot just slink off back to my Venture-Captain because of a minor setback. The Baron is unlikely to change his opinion of you if you take the porters back to the Lodge. All you will do is further cement that opinion in his mind. Of course, if that is acceptable to my lord then far be it from me to second guess your motives. However, I believe there is a warrior's heart in your chest and you would do well to show that to your father-in-law." Rapunzel bows and returns to the Baron.
"We should have the supplies split and ready to continue shortly, my lord." Rapunzel then begins tracking along the river in the vacinity Bomande indicated.
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Though he nearly succeeds at hiding his disgust at Adeah's insect meal suggestion, he congratulates her marksmanship, "You have saved the day, my dear, vwith your stunning accuracy. Almost as stunning as your beauty."
Grigori has the same thought as Rapunzel, but leaves it up to her to give what is an impressive case to the count. He gives supportive head nods should the count look to him for his advice as well, adding, "Dear Rapunzel speaks vwisely, my lord. Hang tight, and you vwill succeed at impressing the baron." The priest is also impressed with Rapunzel's hair, adding later, "My dear, it is as if the most beauteous and living golden vweave emanates from your head."
He then takes note of her remaining wounds, "But you surely must let me look at your condition! Please, lay down, breathe calmly and deeply, and let me have a look, for I am a highly skilled physician as vwell." The priest pulls out a case containing strange knives, a saw, needles, various herbal extracts and some small glass bottles containing liquids. If Rapunzel allows, he performs a physical examination of the suffering warrioress, including placing a weird device on his ears. He uses a tube-like apparatus attached to it to listen to her chest and back (it's a stethoscope). Though not too invasive, one might wonder if the priest's hands linger a bit too long at times.
The Count continues with his plan to head to the Lodge, although it's clear he appreciates your words of encouragement. He and most of the porters depart for the hunting lodge to await your return, while the Baron, three porters and the best guide lead you off the trail and deeper into the jungle.
Following the stream, you quickly find signs of wildlife. Antelope tracks are common, and you find monkey spoor everywhere.
After another hour's travel, the jungle opens up into a wide grassy clearing bisected by a shallow, burbling stream. In the center of the clearing lies the partially eaten carcass of a large bison. Its throat has been torn open, and the grass all around the corpse is covered in dried, sticky blood. Flies feast on the corpse, but something larger has been feeding here as well.
"Ahah! We're in its hunting grounds. Tigers are quite predictable. The kill is fresh, so it will be back alter to continue to feed. We'll set our trap for that stripy bastard and wait for it to walk right in!"
There are no tracks of a tiger or any large predator, so the baron selects three trees with a commanding view of the clearing. The porters unpack their burdens: collapsible platforms designed to be placed in the upper branches of large trees. Anchored about 20 feet above the ground, each platform can hold three medium creatures in a camouflaged hunter's blind.
As evening comes on, you eat a cold supper of trail rations; the Baron will permit no fires. The porters and guide climb into a tree and set up their own platform, and the hunters can arrange themselves in the platforms as they wish.
"Now, once darkness falls, we can't give ourselves away. No lights! And you'd best not come down from the tree in the dark, unless you want to come face to face with a tiger that's already killed a dozen hunters. Make sure you relieve yourself in advance, and bury anything that may leave a scent. Don't want to spook him!"
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After the serpent encounter, the priest reassures Rapunzel with a beguiling wink and a smile. "But of course, my dear."
...
When the baron gives his instructions, Grigori resists the temptation to dab on a little more cologne. He joins him and the golden-haired lovely and prepares his hand crossbow for some action... while fondly imagining the action he will get a bit later that evening.
He encourages the baron. "Tonight, you vwill get your revenge, my lord."
You take up your positions as darkness falls. As the daytime animals settle in for the night, the night birds and insects take over, the chorus slowly fading as the night envelops you. The clearing is still dimly lit, but the jungle surrounding you is completely black.
About an hour after it gets dark...