Ashivla moves around her allies and plunges her kukri into the neck of the fallen predator, ending it with an efficient twist. Then she nods toward the plant "Let's deal with that."
Lo'Laan swings at the nasty plant while Serenity moves into position to help out.
The vine slams into Lo'Laan (9 damage) and wraps around him, dragging him into its tendrils.
He who is calm in the storm,
is the most dangerous of all.
With the century old words of wisdom in his mind, Amari takes aim at the giant mess of plant that tries to eat the half ork alive.
... although the pain from his throbbing chest causes him great difficulties in pulling the strong bow string and his hands tremble.
The plant doesn't seem to mind Zaza's flames at all and doesn't attempt to avoid them. Somehow, the plant is inured to extreme heats.
Ashivla drops her kukri and spins around, firing her bow into the vines. Lo'laan struggles to escape the vines while Serenity moves up to the attack.
Lo'laan fails to escape but Serenity bites and slashes hard into the vines. They barely hold together enough to strangle the breath out of Lo'laan. He falls and the predator plant begins dragging him into the center of its vines.
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Swearing under his breathe as the sun beats down on his robes.
Seem to be catching up the them though really hope the contact back at Hashbaz didn't mislead him in the direction the party was traveling.
Agaban was about to stop to take another swallow out of the waterskin when he heard the cackle of a desert jackal followed by a faint melody that brings back both fond memories and a few nightmares.
That doesn't sound good seems they have run into some trouble...hope the sound isn't misleading me
Hurrying forward towards the sound he arrives just after Zaza shoots a fan of flames from her hands.
Why did that not work...damn...damn guess sun metal isn't going to help here.
Instead Agaban points towards the center of the plant and whispers a quick word.
Pharasma guide this spell and lets keep any more Shadows from falling today.
Amari tries to calm his aim as he pulls the next arrow from his arrow...
... as his third arrow misses as well, he takes a deep breath before firing the next one....
... and finally: a hit!
In the back of his consciousness, a nagging feeling makes him turn around and see a new person arriving ... and shooting a tiny shard of ice at the plant-thing.
Blinded by the low sun, he cannot discern who he (or she) is, but he is probably on their side, so first things first...
Amari lands a shaft in the middle of the vines. They rise up in their last death throes to strike Lo'Laan again when a burst of ice destroys the center of the plant. The rest crumples to the ground.
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Looking the group over after the plant stops moving; Agaban seems to pause slightly when his eyes meet Zaza's and his face seems to lighten briefly from the swarthy look to an almost brilliant green before darkening quickly to his original colors. He also pauses again as he observes the fallen half-orc though his face maintains his darker coloration.
Zaza is with them and they seem to match the description of the group...but better to follow protocols and use the code phrase instead of assuming things.
With his eyes landing on the archer Since he is the only one that could attack him without attempting to climb the slight walls of the ravine.
Agaban speaks out in slightly broken Kelish.
Hello Travelers...care to hide weapons...could provide care for injured
Tapping himself on his chest briefly
Cleric of Pharamsa...pilgrim...healer need?
Assuming the group gives the go ahead he starts to ease his way down the wall of the ravine and approaches before gesturing and casting Stabilize at Lo. Before turning back and addressing Zaza.
Once the plant finally dies, Amari hurries to the half-orcs side, bringing out a small bundle of tools and bandages he carries in his small backpack.
He sign Zatinya in a hurry: <You deal with the newcomer, I check on Lo.>
The talk of the stranger does not reach him fully as he starts his work on the badly wounded green fellow.
Amari is able to quickly stop the bleeding with a bandage from his assembly.
Lo'Laan is stable and will come to in a bit, unless he receives magical healing.
After having cared for the Half-Orks deadly wounds, Amari carefully lays down the head of Lo'Laan, pads Serenity on the head and returns to his other companion who is talking to the stranger in a fiery language he does not understand.
<Lo will survive.
Who is he?>
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Approaching the fallen member Agaban speaks out in a more confident manner after Zaza confirms the status of the group as fellow Shadows and that his race to catch them was fulfilled.
Fellow Shadow with orders for an Ashivla and been trying to catch up for a couple days now. Shortly, after returning from my excursion to aid in a small outbreak of zombies created by some unknown necromancer that lost us somewhere in the blasted Zho mountains.
After getting closer Agaban kneels next to Lo while speaking a quick blessing to Pharasma and then applying a brief touch to the half-orc's shoulder.
Converts Sun Metal to CLW.
After seeing his magic take hold he waits a few moments for Lo to regain awareness.
So the orders were for Ashivla to return for another assignment and I was to attempt to replace her since I have already worked with Zaza before on our initiation mission. Anyone want to update me briefly or does anyone want to look over the orders?
Turning back to Lo.
How do you feel...would prefer to wait till we are closer to stopping for the night before converting another spell though better safe if you are still hurting too much.
Ashivla glances down at the orders and her face turns pale. She turns to Amari and Lo'laan and embraces both, though the half-orc is just regaining consciousness. "I must leave immediately. The Dawnflower has given me the call I have wished for. The Shadows ask me to fulfill my dream and save my father in one blow. But I must go alone for a time." After finishing her farewells, she begins backtracking toward the river, glancing once over her shoulder and nodding solemnly to her comrades in arms.
Lo'Laan awakens with a jolt and quickly climbs to his feet. Sputtering the last of the sand from his mouth he answers. "Thank you, and worry not for I shall recover fully in time."
The desert wind whips up sand in handfuls and flings it at you as you stand over the destroyed bodies of your attackers in this harsh place.
Amari hugs the newly arrived ally after Zatinyas introduction and helps up the half-ork after the healing.
On Ashivlas farewell, Amari is quite touched and wishes her well and success on her new mission.
Then, he leads the way, hurrying after the tracks through the harsh place.
Amari manages to pick the trail back up. Again, he sees the occasional scat of a bird of prey, probably about 2 kg (the bird, not the scat).
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Listening intently to Zaza for any new information based his earlier briefing before leaving to catch up with the group.
No questions here really and will ask if any come up while we start trying to catch up with them.
Looking a little uncertain when Amari hugs him before putting an arm around him briefly, and whispering a quick prayer for safe travels for Ashivlas and a successful mission.
You can get about as much meat as you would want from the jackal.
You move along quickly through the sand, pushing yourselves past your normal limits.
Amari hurries ahead, controlling the tracks as he goes although you can tell from his heavy breathing that the walk starts to take a toll on him.
But he is not slowing ... yet.
Lo'Laan spends the time to gather and prepare the meat before they continue their journey.
The group plods along in the heat with extreme stubbornness, their shadows dancing along the sand effortlessly.
"Only time will tell." Lo'Laan answers as he continues his march unimpaired.
After another hour the black skinned man is covered in sweat from the beating sun and hurried travel and he asks the half-ork more frequently for water.
Every time they pass another left-over of the bird they follow, Amari will bow and poke it with the tip of an arrow, trying to judge how fresh it is.
Amari examines the scat carefully and determines that it was left by a hawk two days ago. Apparently, the spies haven't been rushing like you. Not even remotely as fast. From the tracks, you can tell they've been winding through ravines and dunes to stay covered while you have been pushing straight ahead.
<We are catching up.
No more than two days ahead!
Let's push on for another hour or two!>
But it he will soon discover that will alone does not suffice to keep you going endlessly...
Lo'Laan and Serenity seem to finally show some wear against the long march.
Even the well-trained legs of the Shadows begin giving out after mile upon mile over the yielding sand. You begin to envy the Taldanes who took their time crossing this expanse of dunes and sun.
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Even though he is able to push on through the heat in the sand seeing the rest of the group flagging a little he takes a moment to whisper a quick prayer and channel a little healing energy to the group.
Hmm just wondering do you think they will reach the fort tomorrow or will we have another day to close and maybe catch them at night...Definitely need to rest before we can fight them and think most of us can see in the dark so a night attack would be best.