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"I think that is a bad idea. I'm certain our enemies have had time to seed the path I took with fresh dangers, but there is at least a chance that we won't encounter any trouble until we get to the lodge. That chance seems smaller on a path that has not been previously cleared. While I do think we need to learn what we can, I also think that the true source of the trouble is beyond the lodge, not along the way," Ylosani says, plainly troubled as he looks down the un-trodden path.
Newmark kicks at the snow already over shin deep on his squat frame. He huffs impatiently while the strange woodsman and the mystical elf hash it out. Finally he's had enough and engages, Alright..alright..I see this is hard for you Ylosani....but, you called us to battle remember? So what's all the indecision about? I think you need to decide here and now if you're going to lead us or not? Otherwise step aside and let the woodsman take the lead. Newmark is almost sympathetic in his overture....almost..
Leaders step up and make tough choices ...that's the nature of things. Newmark looks down the left Path then the right. You lost your entire company to some evil out there yes? Newmark waits only a moment for Ylosani's nod. Don't let their loss paralyze your thoughts...it will just lead to more deaths...as for which Path to choose?...does it mater? They both could hold danger and they both lead to danger..We've obviously stumbled on something bigger than ourselves here. Newmark turns and looks at the others expecting some of the others to agree with his reasoning.
My opinion is that we follow the clues to the greater mystery..wherever that may lead us. If we take the left Path...we tread ground already traveled by you and your companions Newmark raises an eyebrow more as a challenge, than a question. If we take the right we leave no stone un-turned.....So... Newmark pauses for more than two breathes; Which Path do you choose our leader?...The day grows long...
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Ylosani realizes the rest of the group are looking to him for a decision. His teaching tells him that it only makes sense for there to be a single leader in a situation like this, but he was uncertain if these men would follow his guidance.
It seems they will which is both daunting and reassuring. Despite his first instinct of going down the path he already knows, an intelligent leader listens to the people he's leading.
Finally, he nods. "You're right, we should find out all we can. Perhaps there will be something important on the road not taken. Let's go to the right," he says.
Eladorn nods, and with a glance at Shael, the pair begin treading down the right-hand path, eyes peeled for danger.
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And it starts happening again. It seems they are destined to be ambushed at every step of their journey.
Ylosani refuses to lose another group.
He steps forward and launches an arrow at the closest one.
"If they're using bows get close to them," he says, knowing all to well the ways to counter an archer.
Thorn startles as he realises that thy are under attack! He had being so absorbed in agreeing on who's the party leader to lead their small company that he had more or less zoned out.
With wary glances as he keeps himself as small as possible, he atttempts to figure out who or what is attacking them. Arrows hurt and he'd like not to get hurt.
It figures that with all that's going on, THEY would happen to miss out on telling him that things were going to happen..
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Eladorn, Newmark, and thorn can recognize this creature as a cold touch sprite, has a Cold Iron Dr, immune to cold, weak to fire and when they hit they can stagger with their weapons
Ylosani is fires an arrow at red and hits
Though maraxus swings and misses
~~Round 1~~
Bold to Act
Thorn
Maraxus
Eladorn
Ylosani
Red
Blue - RA
Green - RA
Newmark
Mustafa
Tyrael
Eladorn whirls around when he's hit by the arrow, his gaze following those of the others who have already picked the little sprite out of the foliage. He nods at Shael, indicating for the elk to also attack the creature, but Shael seems to not notice or understand. He draws his bow, reaching for a cold iron arrow, and knocks it up in a smooth motion, releasing it swiftly.
"You! Why are you attacking us!" calls out Thorn in Sylvan.
He does take up a defensive position having realised he has no suitable weapon for this.
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Red being hit twice seems pretty miffed though flies around and aims a blast of color right in the Direction of Mustafa, Newmark, and Maraxus
Blue not being seen moves forward and repeats what red manages though at Ylosani, Tyrael, Thorn, Shael, and newmark
Green also unseen moves behind Eladorn and fires a burst of colors at Eladorn, Tyrael, Thorn and Ylosani
fail
pass
pass
pass
pass
fail
pass
fail
fail
pass
pass
as the colors die down, the sprites feel a bit proud seeing, Thorn, Maraxus, Eladorn, and Newmark fall over on to the ground unconcious
~~Round 1~~
Bold to Act
Thorn U-4, B-6, S-7
Maraxus U-4, B-6, S-7
Eladorn U-4, B-6, S-7
Ylosani
Red -5
Blue
Green
Newmark U-3, B-5, S-6
Mustafa
Tyrael
When Eladorn slowly loses consciousness and slumps to the ground, Shael acts instinctively to defend her master. She moves over to Eladorn, standing over the hunter, and attempts to gore the sprite in the green doublet.
A burst of color!
Then Darkness....
Thorn comes across his patrons waiting for him.
Now see here. This is how it happens so far........." He begins..........
".....and then this burst of color and here I am. That's all there is to this....Wait. Am I dead?" Thorn questions after finishing his report upon realising this.
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Ylosani has not yet been pinned in by his foes and a step back leaves him with a target that is not yet tangling directly with any of his fellows. It will be time to use magic soon enough. For now, a bow will do.
He takes a quick assessment of the battle as he draws a new arrow. Almost half his men are down and the enemy has only lost a third, but that third is down for good and his men are uninjured.
He launches his arrow at Blue.
Thorn looks up at his cards as he eyes his fellow players.
"You know....somehow this isn't really fair....I mean yo're all divine...."
"Never you mind, got any fours?" booms a voice, interrupting him.
"..............."
"Fine give me a Perception check to look for the goblin trail."
Shael makes another attempt at sticking the thing on his antlers.
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Seeing the faerie withdraw, Newmark stops casting his spell before it completes and summons an ally. He pads over to his Unconscious companions to consider what spell might have hit them.
Shaking his head he announces to the others still standing, It's a variation of a color spray spell. They'll be out for a few more moments. After that, they won't be good for much for a minute or so as they'll likely be blinded and unable to move right away. Newmark spits as he un-slings his crossbow and begins to load it. Leave um' where they lay for now. Best we can do is form a perimeter, in case those sprites come back. Newmark pulls back the string on his crossbow cocking it. They'll be up in a minute or two....In the mean time, let's be ready Newmark says as much to himself, as the others.
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"well ill be thankful to apsu today that are companions will be ok and that strange creatcher flew off. Ylosani have you run into such things out here before? Or is this new evan to you. If it is im ok with going back and taking the other path to get to the cabin if this path is going to lead off somewhere else. "
Tyrael will keep his earthbreaker at the ready and keep watch for anything else that might want to come atk the group as they wait for there companions to get up.
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Ylosani nods at Newmark's explanation. He was going to check for pulses, but the other man's explanation was even better.
He sets up a point equidistant from the others, looking out and scanning his portion of the perimeter for trouble. He has an arrow at the ready.
As people start to revive, he does not look back at them but starts to give out commands.
"We need to move as quickly as you can," he says to the people as they awaken. "I do not want to be here in case the one that got away was just going to get reinforcements."
He glances back over his shoulder at them, then.
"If someone can detect magic and search the bodies, we can find out if they have anything of interest or use to us."
"Thankfully, it was just a bit of a nap. No damage that I can find." Eladorn still pats himself up and down to be sure he is as whole as he was when he began this day.
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"well then off we go."
Tyrael seeing that everyone is ok rests his hammer on his shoulder and starts trudging through the snow. Trying to keep an eye out for anything else that wants to make them dinner.
" damn this blasted snow why couldnt this place be besset by something not so cold like floods or cursed into being swamp land or something."
Turael ponders on this a moment then a cold breeze knocks him out of that teain of thought and back to the reality of the cold and snow.