-No stats below 10 and above 16 prior to racial modifiers
HP: Max 1st level. 1/2+1+con mod for the remainder
-Starting wealth is average or roll and keep whatever you roll based on class.
-No third party
-No Evil of any kind, (this is a good campaign)
-Teamwork is key, and the party comes into play knowing and respecting each other.
-Two traits, no drawbacks
-Certain races are frowned upon as being mostly "evil", I do not care so long as you accept the general public NPC's might not start off liking you.That said, any non third party race is allowed.
-Drow Nobles are not an option
-No Chosen child/Rich Parents
-Leadership is allowed just do not get too carried away.
-No hero point system
-Automatic Bonus progression
-Mythic is a thing, you'll get it when you get it.
-Diversity is recommended as you will each be utilizing one another's skills in both battle and survival.
-There will be all different forms of enemies, especially undead for all you favored enemy classes.
-I will not always be able to post everyday, but I will try to at least post once if not more when able
-If you don't post within so much time I may or may not either post for you, or replace you.
-This a home-brewed campaign with home-brewed items in it as well
-Rp to your hearts content
-GM has final say
*Please be mindful that rules are subject to change under certain circumstances*
Also please put the following in your Classes/Levels section of your alias and adjust for your stats and class. For Ex.
Enlightened Paladin 2 (HP 23/23) | AC:18 | T:16 | FF:14 | CMD 18 | Fort +11 | Ref +10 | Will +11 | Init +4 | Perc: +2 | Speed 40ft)
Real-time Over-world
The sun rays filter down from the heavens, as the clouds streak across the sky. A breeze billows softly and across the fields plant life bend gently to its will. The sound of wildlife sing throughout forests and such, giving an overall peaceful outlook to the world. Each of you traveling together having gained each others' friendship along your journey. Due north towards what you believe to be a new beginning for each of you. Along your recent travels however, you have heard rumors... Rumors that bring back the legends of old, and makes to question if they actually had happened. Sitting down or resting in some form for a few moments before proceeding you look about the scenery before you... If true, the rumors you had heard would possibly bring destruction to this place and many other beauties of the world as well. The world has changed a lot in the last thousand years, many of the earth's scare have since become areas of beauty while others barren. In the recent town two days back, rumors had been about the great statues referred to as the "Rift Guardians", to have begun falling. Old lore addicts praise them as true protectors claiming that the fall of them meant for many evils to be closer to becoming unleashed upon the world once more.
Random Old Man Preaches to anyone "The world is forever changing, and while we were not there to see it with our own eyes, we must pass on the memories of those whom died shielding us from seeing such truths. It is very likely the world may need to call on a new generation of heroes to stand where others cannot once more. Should our history have it right, it has been a thousand years since the last great war. The prophecies speak of the apocalypse coming again at the fall of the great statues...
First the statues will begin to crumble one by one,
Second, the earth will shudder
Third, the gates will open to all...
Should that happen, many will be doomed"
...His worlds still echo in your minds even days later as you sit by the lakeside...
Over-world Outline
The world is changing, with the rift guardians falling, new beings are being sighted by the day. The world is in need of new heroes as it's peace plunges into utter turmoil the more the prophecies go on unnoticed. The time has come for the world to both call on it's new heroes, and to learn their names as they are forevermore carved into it's history. The apocalypse could very well be on it's way...
While some choose to inflict pain and misery, others can become persuaded to become great allies by being redeemed.
The fates of retribution call upon those due to compensate for their sins. Beings of unknown origin and quantity begin invading our planet as the rift guardians fall. The pressure of holding the fate the world rests on the shoulders of many. Ready to call forth and forever be engrave the names of these brave souls in it's history, There lay before each of you a choice that will both challenge and influence you. Should you take on the mantle of adventurer, which path will you take?
The world is calling... Who are they chanting for?
Historia
The world as you know it, has seen peace for roughly a thousand years since the first great war of "Four Flames". Though the world had suffered wars prior, it was the great wars that forever left it's scars on the world. It was in these wars that heroes were born and remembered throughout history... at least, most of them...
It was in the world's first great war that the evil being 'Beatrice' enacted her treachery upon the world, attempting to bring it into damnation by the very souls whom guarded it. These were known as the monks of the four fires. Brave souls born into the world as prodigies specifically to fight and cleanse the world of it's evils. In some ways they were the martyrs for which the world was able to rest easy in peace for centuries... The world has since been protected from other planes via the rift guardians. Placed by what most believe to be 'the gods', they are one of a kind constructs whom demand respect. Made of various rare metals and stones they have stood watch for these last thousand years. Though they seem as ordinary statues resembling great virtues or honorable warriors, the legends have since been looked at as folk tales by the lesser believers as the years passed. Forever dormant to those of this day in age, they still stand strong throughout the world.
The day goes on as the group travels along a beaten trail through a forest. It's path soon opens up after about an hour's worth of traveling to reveal a large open area roughly a mile in diameter. An island is seen in the middle with a land bridge leading straight through from one side to the other, connecting only to the island along the way. what is assumed was a great crater at one time has since been worked and filled in from rain and runoff thus becoming a great lake.
Upon making it towards the edge of the waters you each take in the serene beauty across the crystal clear waters. able to see to the bottom for about 100 feet out before it becomes too dark you may assume that the water is indeed deep. The breeze soon begins to change as the moments go on, a chill in the air as the pressure significantly drops as well. The wind is still coming at you backs and with the tree line blocking your view you cannot visibly see a storm coming, but you can feel it.
A few more moments pass and deciding it to be a better idea to travel across the lake before the storm hits becomes priority for now. As you take your first step the ground begins to shake just enough so that you almost loose your balance. Regaining your footing (if your standing) the ground shakes more and more violently for roughly 5 mins before once again each of you deem it safe to cross. Once you get a ways away from the shore and treeline, you're able to see more of the clouds in the distance, roughly half an hour away.
Avdol looks about the road as they walk. Noticing a beetle on the road he raises his head. "I have learned the best way to kill a bettle, is to... Burn it."
The beetle then pops as a thin red ray of heat from Avdol's finger hits it.
"The rain might make that difficult, Avdol. I don't like the idea of being on this land bridge when the storm hits. Hopefully there is some form of shelter on the island looking section. Otherwise we might have to run to the other side."
Lysanthir looks to see if there are trees or ruins on the island.
" No complaints here I'm used to long trips in the woods. Those quakes are concerning though. That old man's prediction is a bit too accurate, one quake coincidence, a second greatly reduces that possibility.
"I usually don't see this much rain, where I'm from its mostly sand and droughts. But to the topic at hand. Foreboding old men do make me uneasy,"
Lys scoffs as quietly as possible at Gabriel. I sometimes forget about Gabriel's fatalistic side. Good man regardless, just to quick to make leaps of faith for me.
"Let's not jump too conclusions. There are a hundred explanations for a crazy old man knowing about some earthquakes that don't involve the end of the world and if it does we'll figure it out when we get to it. For now lets focus on more urgent matters like shelter from the storm."
Lys scans the crater and forest for a good spot to hide from the storm besides the forest itself.
Akari spoke as they trailed along, uneasy feelings manifesting in his tight fisted hands and wandering eyes.
"So the old man's ravings prove at least half true. And what of the rumors of late? Weird stories have been told lately, the kind that I used to huddle around the campfire away from the cold dark while the adults scared us into our beds. This would be quite the coincidence, don't you think?"
Avdol looks about the land with most keen eyes.
Unfortunately other than the forest itself providing cover there are no huts, or structures within sight. The breezes pick up over the course of the last few minutes and feintly in the distance you hear a low grumble. The skies grow ever darker in the distance. The trees in the area vary between oaks, pine, maples and hickory trees, though in the distance off into the forest a ways you can make out bulkier variations of trees mixed in with the previously stated.
The forest that lines the shores surrounding the lake, including both sides of the road, are thick enough to provide decent enough cover. That is when you both notice a difference in the trees farther off in the distance through the forest. Some of the bigger trees appear almost exotic with the sizable difference, looming over the other surrounding trees and providing them seemingly with no sunlight.
The ground of the road traveled is hard but Lysanthir notices and points out to Gabriel some tracks of some sort. They appear humanoid in shape and lead directly off the road to the right. They enter to woodline ten feet from where you both stand.
The wind begins picking up causing the clouds to roll in faster. They reach across the lake like monstrous hands. The shadows cast by the storm clouds approach the center of the lake now. Though it is still light enough to see perfectly it does leave a distinguishable shade to the scenery. Yet despite the overcast Lysanthir and Gabreil both notice a phenomenon before the others with their keen eyes. Just barely noticeable from this distance, there appears to be light beaming down at an impossible angle on the island which was roughly half a mile from the edge of the lake where the party stood. This phenomenon gets your attention immediately as you also notice the sun had been blotted out only seconds before in the surrounding areas.
Overcast stretches for a few miles to either direction, only getting darker and stronger from the south. Only 5 minutes have passed, and judging by the increase in winds the clouds seem to roll in even faster.
"Look here there are footprints heading into the forest. There is also something very odd happening on the island. Anyone else see that light? The island is now also covered over by clouds, but there still seems to be sun light. But not from the sun... it's at the wrong angle to be from where the sun was just moments ago. So two options unnatural sunlight area or potential enemy humanoids. Votes?"
This lake is a perfect circle, from one shore directly across to the other shore is one mile and a bridging that is created by land itself, almost like a hill of dirt only it drops off at a steep tapir on both sides into the depths of the lake. In the center of the lake is a tiny island also an almost perfect circle. On it there are no trees, but surrounding the shoreline of the overall lake there are.
It can be assumed that this was once a crater, but without the history checks you assume it was some phenomenon. The land bridge is there just to allow passage across safely and would appear to have been man made as it is kept up.
The island like land mass in the middle of the lake would be equivilent to a circular infield on a base ball
As for the interpretation of the odd sunlight, yes, you are spot on. :)
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"Lys, do you know that feeling as if someone is watching you? I... I don't know how to explain it to you, but I can feel it. He points to another set of tracks near the first
"Definitely humanoids."
When they finally see the odd light Gabriel stops completely, amazed and terrified at the same time, muttering to himself "For the Lord of Light... where are we?..."
________
"I don't know what will we find where the light shine upon, but I vote to go. Look, the old man scared us more than we are decided to admit and the quakes didn't improve that... but this island, this island doesn't feel threatening. This is no simple island, and that light is a good omen, I can feel it in my bones. So I say we go there and discover where are we and what makes this island different.
"Tracks huh well if they are fresh we should probably follow them, for they too may have been trying to seek shelter earlier than us from this storm. I rather not get caught out in the elements, especially on a completely flat surface in the middle of the lake." Avdol nods his head toward the land bridge and small island as the rumbling of the storm grows closer.
"I can have my Familiar do a quick aerial sweep of the forest in the direction of the tracks if you think that will help?"
Akari looks above to the black curtain of clouds rolling in, then to the singular beam of sunlight shining down on the island. It all seemed too surreal. Fear and awe mingling with an odd sense of peace as his emotions roiled inside. "Something big happened here." He muttered, his voice trailing off as he took in the sights.
He found himself reliving his own past in his mind, as his physical eyes scanned the scene. The good and the bad rushed before his inner eye, moments of happiness with the old man and his small victories in the ring to the destruction of his home as he lost everything he had ever had, and the revelation that followed. The visions had struck heavy like a hammer, but rung smooth as the tone of a bell. It was everything he could manage to not let a single tear fall from the inertion.
After moments of awed silence, Akari steps forward. "I will go with you, if no one else will. If only to satisfy this... curiosity, but we shouldn't stay long and we should hurry." Nonetheless, he would remember this place. If circumstances allowed, perhaps he would return. When and if he should ever reach his full potential, whatever that may be so that he could see this place and understand it on a whole new level.
"No I do not have feel like someone is wathcing us. But If you do perhaps the owners of the foot prints are watching us. Do the sweep Avdol. However, against my best logic I'm leaning towards going to the island. This could be what that old man wanted us to see or a trap, thoughts Akari?"
Akari, whom had already began to run along the natural bridge turned his head as he caught the tail end of what Lys was saying. "Lots of trouble to lay a trap such as this, don't you think? I would think, if there was one it would be in the forest where the tracks lead." He called back.
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He is right this is very elaborate for a trap, but I've seen bandits come close to this. Well with the help of my brain.
"Decision is made then. Off we go"
Lys takes one last glace back at the woods before turning to catch up to Akri and Gabriel. As the two get close to the island (presumable a decent amount of time before Lys) She calls to them.
"Guys wait up! We don't know what this island is. We should enter together and be prepared for anything."
Lys takes out her bow and knocks an arrow as she catches up to them.
Avdol opens his robes to expose his chest. What looks like a brand of a falcon can be seen upon it. Suddenly with a lurching motion, a fleshy looking falcon pulls its way out of Avdol's torso. Perching itself on Avdol's shoulder, Avdol leans in to it and speaks. "Sadrazar, zandz reasx iy trix azr xep trix terz."
With that the falcon lightly cries and begins to fly about the lakes edge.
"I'll be right behind you Lys."
As Gabriel begins to briskly walk, he also soon realizes that Akari has full out darted towards the island. Grumbling of the incoming storm only grew nearer and louder each minute. Akari, having ran gets there first in just over two minutes. Eventually the rest of you get there as well.
Surely enough now more than before you can clearly see there is indeed a mystical phenomenon taking place here. Above head the dark clouds blot out any sun and starting from roughly thirty feet upward, a faded effect the light slowly comes into being and at an angle as if spotlighting a gravestone made of some green metallic stone. An eerie chill shoots up your spine though niether of you feel threatened or scared, but something about this sight sends your mind into a more cautious state. The gravestone is in good condition, however dead leaves, and tall grass litter around it. Entangled in each other it prevents you from reading the bottom half. It is a standard shape, some visible carvings are that of twin swords crossed to either side of the writings and dead center above these same words is a sigil engraved into the stone. It is what appears to be a sun-like mane with a face centered in it.
Resting here bathed forever in his light, may his grace follow you from this life into the next....
From there on out you can't make out the chiseled lettering without clearing the tall overgrowth of grass away.
Now from a ways out from the forest all of you, (should you look back even if momentarily), can see that the storm only gets darker the farther back it goes. Way off in the distance about two miles south you see a flash of light, as a crack in the air rings out across the skies.
Akari's eyes go skyward at the flash of lightning and the crack of thunder that followed. The beam of light coming seemingly from no source had him lost for words.
When he reached the stone, he knelt in the grass reading what he could of the inscription before starting to tear away what had grown around it, as the inscription seemed incomplete as it was. He cleaned what he could so that the whole of the stone could be seen and read the remainder of the inscription, repeating it in its entirety out loud for the others to hear once they'd joined him.
"So it appears whoever this tombstone belongs to worshiped a sun god of some kind. Must be his sacrifice took meaning to the deity. So he is recognized forevermore, must be a true honor, for him anyway."
Avdol's eyes shift about and he casts detect magic about the area.
Lys looks around taking in the whole scene. She settles on the shaft of sunlight.
"Well it is quite the...demonstration. Godly or otherwise."
Lys looks to see if there is any signs of recent activity, suspecting the previously seen footprints to be the real source of the sun beam.
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When Gabriel arrives to the grave tears come to his eyes. He takes off his helmet and kneels with respect, a hand touching the stone. He doesn't know why, but he feels peace.
He starts whispering a prayer to the Shining Lord "Praise be the Sun, for he warms us and lights the path." he closes his eyes and kisses the symbol once.
He feels strengthened and puts his helmet again when he stands up and speaks to Akari "This is a good omen. A part of the Shining Lord still lives here... He isn't dead... my grandfather was right." talking to the rest "We should take refuge, the storm will catch to us soon, but even if darkness cover us there's light at the end!"
" The Shining Lord? What are you talking about Gabriel, wait... I'll be interested in this once we are sheltered from the storm and I doubt this island will be sufficient for that."
Akari tears the tall grass away from and clears the gravestone to better read the remainder of the words inscribed. You notice his date of birth and death are missing.
...for he watches over all his children. Jonathan Lightmantle,
"Pelor’s gift,which I carry into darkness—a sun that never sets."
Gabriel, as you begin whispering a prayer your mind goes into a religious state so much so, that you hear your own heart beat in your ears. The stone is cool to the touch, and yet also seems to be fairly new, though no signs of it having been recently placed here are apparent. A warm feeling brushes over you like that of a ray of sun. It brings excitement to you as you feel a step closer towards your goal. That aside you also make notice that this very well might be another dead end however when you stare at the crest emblazoned into the stone. On Akari reading aloud what is written here, you make note that this might actually have been a quote from Pelor himself. It sounds like it would anyway.
Looking further down you see a throbbing aura beneath the feet of your comrades, you cant tell what kind of magic it is regardless of how much you try which seemingly intrigues you. As if this warrior was buried with something...small...
Your falcon flies over the waters covering more ground. You get visual updates of it gliding over the still almost still waters of the lake. Still it sees nothing unusual.
Lysanthir, you see nothing out of the ordinary, though the others seem to be looking in roughly the same spot from where you stand. Should Gabriel or Akari move, say something or you step closer to look you can see that it is a blue rose.
Off in the distance you see and hear another clack of lightning and the pressure drops ever more as the breeze carries it to you all.
"Hmm, there is an abundance of strange magics here. Auras of powerful beings that have stood here, how long ago I don't know. But magic auras of particularly powerful beings can last for weeks at a time.
There is more, the gravestone... it has strange magic as well. I can still see your hand print glowing upon it. The magic seemed to dissipate when you touched it, but came back right after. One last thing there is a weird powerful pulsing magic just below us. It is small, but very apparent. I have a hunch about it and it is about the quote on the gravestone, 'Pelor’s gift, which I carry into darkness—a sun that never sets.
It must be talking about what is buried here. Though, I doubt Gabriel would want us to defile a grave. Unless, of course, you think this is destiny that you have found this place. And 'ahem' your god of the Sun wished you to have it."
While Avdol is speaking Lys moves closer to the gravestone and notices the blue rose. As she sees it her eyes go wide and she gasps. She runs over to it and delicately runs her thumb over the petals and takes a small whiff of it. Suddenly, as if she just remembered the rest of you are there, she straightens up and returns to listening to Avdol around the time he mentions potentially digging the grave up and retrieving what is buried.
When Avdol finishes Lys says" I'll stay out of this debate. I think you could all make an educated guess about my opinion of grave robbing and the practicality of burying magical goods with the dead. Whatever you choose Gabriel do it fast that storm isn't going to wait." as eventoned and respectfully as possible.
With that Lys moves towards the uncrossed land bridge and settles at a spot where she can watch the grave, the storm, and the others. And ponders her outburst and if the rose is blue due to soil/conditions on the island or for lack of a better term genetically
umph...That little outburst is definitely going to be brought up the next time we are drunk at a tavern. How could I help it... its a naturally blue rose. Any alchemist or herbalist would react. I wonder if....
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When Avdol speaks of a gift from Pelor buried beneath his feet he is striken by mixed feelings This may be a clue, some help left by Pelor himself... but if we do this we shall do it with the utmost respect.
Standing back he looks to Avdol and Lys. "Pelor is the Shining Lord. A thousand years ago he was the God of Light, a powerful entity that guided humanity through the darkest nights. He is my Lord, my family has revered Him since those times, but he is almost forgotten now. He is visibly shaken, speaking of Pelor have proven dangerous in the past... but here he feels confident "Whatever you have seen buried carries a part of His essence and will and if I'm to discover where He went and how to bring Him back I feel in the deepest of my heart I'll need it. Johnathan Lightmantle surely was a chosen of Him, so we'll do this with the utmost respect and I will pray to him for his help and guidance." Gabriel leaves his helmet, shield and sword besides the stone and whispers to the buried before starting to dig. "Sir Lightmantle of Pelor, I ask you to help your Lord one more time. Please give me strength and pardon me for interrupting your well deserved sleep... May the Light be with you forever."
To dig this grave would take you a while even if you did have a spade to do the job. That said, you may feel free to attempt doing so iand/or coming back here at a later date in time to retrieve whatever it is should you choose to. All the while the storm is closing in, the skies grow darker as its natural curtains come to a close, a brisk wind carries the smell of moisture your direction now as you begin experiencing the calm before the storm. Raindrops begin splattering here and there randomly following no pattern, nor are enough to make you wet just yet. With a mighty roar from the heavens you all note that there is indeed need for cover soon. Realization hits that you will be caught out in this should you stay to dig too much longer.
Lysanthir, after you say your bit, you manage to catch what Gabriel says just before you take back off to the uncharted side of the land bridge. The closer you get towards the other side the more you hear the storm gaining upon you all, though you do make it there first. When you get there you notice that the trees are bigger than they'd appeared, in fact it's as if they have more cover as well, definitely from being older. Just inside the forest you make note that it is thicker in the sense that both the canopy as well as the trees are closer together. So much so, that the road is even mostly shielded from the elements, though it does make it darker. A screech is heard from the falcon of your compatriot as it makes its way overehad from where you stand just inside the forest trail.
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Hearing the storm almost over there Gabriel stops "Maybe this was an error. This is a holy place and we were going to desecrate it without knowledge... getting caught in the storm as a punishment." He looks over Lys and the forest "We should take refuge in there and then continue our travel. When we know what is happening in our world we can make it back here." he kneels once again in front of the stone, perhaps for the last time perhaps for a long time, to speak with the Chosen. "Sir Lightmantle, forgive me for my lack of wisdom. I will come back when I know where the Shining Lord has gone and what happened. I swear by my honour that I will bring Him back. Rest in peace, brother."
Lys sees Gabriel begin to move away from the grave without digging. She lets disappointment flash across her face for a moment. She continues to wait at the edge of the forest looking within for a spot to set up camp.
Avdol can't believe that almost worked! Ra himself would have laughed at such a moment, but Avdol kept quiet. He would follow in Lys's footsteps and head to the forest on the other side of the land bridge. Noting the position of Sadrazar as he hustled along.
Akari stands after another moment of thought, his eyes on the blue rose and the inscription and follows the others as they depart, leaving the rose where it sits. There is no price that can be placed on such a memoir, and he would have nothing to do with its theft.
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The party makes it to Lysanthir within a minute of her reaching the opposite side of the lake from where they'd started. Again as time continued on the raindrops began growing in size and number as the winds continuously picked up. Lightning began breaking through the darkness that the clouds brought in, lighting up the surrounding areas momentarily. The storm was at your heels all of maybe a few minutes away from catching you all in its heart. The cover from the trees surprisingly redirected much of the rain keeping each of you dry for the moment. The sounding thunder causes an occassional dead spot, where you hear little to anything else unless speaking loudly. The frequency between strikes are becoming less and less as it grows in momentum, size and power.
Now more than before the light that shines on the island stands out, never swaying as it continues lighting the late soldiers grave
Avdol empatheticly sends out a message to Sadrazar to return to him. When the fleshy falcon does he will fuse with him, regaining the falcon brand on his chest.
Avdol keeps low inside the trees as he catches up to Lys. Then shushing Gabriel with a silent finger pressed against his lips when he arrives and points to the sound of the clashing with his other.
Lys ducks behind a tree on the edge of the forest. So she would be obscured from someone looking from the forest towards the lake, but visible of the rest of the party. She points to herself then her ear and then points to the metal tip of an arrow she pulls out. she then holds up two fingers and makes a marching motion with her arms. She then draws her bow and knocks an arrow while mouthing the words "more behind them" and makes a motion that the rest should do the same with their weapons.
Seeing Lys take cover, Akari will stop where he stands and attempt to listen for and hopefully spot whatever had made her cautious.
Regardless of whether or not he detects anything, he will trust in his companion's instincts and remove his own weapon from his shoulders and took cover behind his own tree, as close to Lys as he can get and waited for her que to move.
lys continues to listen to see if she can learn anymore about the approaching men or their potential pursuers.
You all hear a loud groan of pain as well as a weapon tearing into flesh makes itself heard. In that same moment two javelins fly through the trees, one planting into a tree just inside the tree line, the other planting itself into the roadway at your feet.
A roar erupts from a man which sound similar to the almost yelp heard from getting struck seconds before. You hear metal once again collide with wood and can picture another weapon being buried into a tree. One of the men seems to become collected long enough to incite what sounds like a spell as a flash of rainbow erupts from their direction. A single thud hits the ground and he curses the remaining pursuers, now also making his way closer to exiting the forest. The party still cannot see te individuals per say however they are getting nearer every second!
Lys rolls her eyes at Gabriel's battle call. Realizing that any cover they had was blown she pops out from behind her tree and moves towards the battle. Telling her companions that
There are two men and three creatures. The creatures are attacking the men."
Avdol looks to Gabriel after his battle cry, shakes his head and follows him towards the fight. Prepping his long spear as he goes.