"OK, everyone focus and protect each other's backs! Those critters will be back any second now!"
Antonio readies himself for the next wave of attackers to come within reach.
for a possible slashing and cold iron damage. . Yes, a wild miss.
Round 3
Varuk readies himself to attack the spirits again right before they attack.
Aya shoots an arrow at the closest creature.
Reiko pulls himself to his feet, and swings his massive katana again into the mist, in a diagonal slice through the one that dared attack him. The wildness is gone from his eyes, and he looks to be in full control of himself once again.
Last time *swing* We had to wait it out, it felt like, but today we seem to be doing a lot more damage to these... Things. Let's continue to do so!
Hearing no cries of pain coming from the group, Alyra channels again...
Back to your final rest, GO! Let the waters soothe your wretched souls!
...and with a silent scream in agony, they fade again...
Antonio readies himself for the next wave of attackers to come within reach.
for a possible slashing and cold iron damage.
Normal attack.
"I'll keep hitting them with positive energy until I no longer can!"
Will DC 14
Varuk also readies a mighty attack from his sword.
Reiko swings his katana into the wake of Varuk's blade, attempting to catch the next one off guard as it moves in.
for a possible slashing and cold iron damage.
Normal attack.
Aya looks around to verify that all of the fog and associated creatures are gone.
Alyra, Sister of the Sea. We are not heroes, just citizens who have accepted the challenge of this troubled time. May I ask what you meant when you said "set the link"? Also, you mentioned that you suspect that the fog and fog creatures were related to the monastery. Would you , please, tell us all you know or suspect about the creatures and the monastery?
I am so sorry. Here I am questioning you and I haven't even introduced myself. I am Aya Yalandlara. I live on a small farm near here. This group just formed yesterday when these troubling happenings started happening.
Oh...Aya...you are definitely the heroes...I can...sense it. The link...it's hard to explain...it...allows me to...heal those that need it most...with no effort...
...she never looks directly...at anybody...when she speaks.
...as to the monastery...let us...find somewhere...quieter...
Antonio wheels around wildly, torch streaming fire, looking for more enemies.
"Where did they... OK. Right then. Looks like we won. Anybody hurt?"
Varuk keeps his attention on the 'Sister of the Sea' as she claimed herself to be. Since his departure from his people's lands to hunt down the traitor Tola, life had gotten more interesting than any tales he could recall from the legendkeeper.
"Most often I prefer action to talk, but I would hear more. Perhaps we should humor her request."
Varuk would hear more indeed. And he would pay close attention to determine the true motives behind this arrival. It would not help anyone if she turned out to be a trickstress with the goal of baffling the 'heroes' attempt to rid the village of the ogres.
Aya looks over the group. I do not want to be rude and not meet with you all now, but I must take some time to relearn my spells for this day. After that, perhaps, we could regroup in the backroom of the Giant's Mug.
Antonio nods.
"Well, it doesn't look like anyone else needs help. Let's do Aya's plan and meet back at the Giant's Mug."
They all gone?
The sheriff is nursing some shallow wounds, twin swords in hand. He also looks at Alyra with suspicion...
Aya looks at the sheriff and Tania. This lady aided us in driving off the fog creatures that were attacking the village. If fact, she did more to drive them off than most of the rest of us.
She then turns and heads toward The Giant's Mug.
Varuk takes a moment to think about the events of the past day. So much had happened in so little time. This could not be a coincidence.
"Sheriff, I think it is now certain that a confluence of events such as these recent ones is not normal. Something serious is happening here, though we know not the cause. How often does a cult act out at the same time as a band of ogres descends from the mountains, as well as spirits emerging from the mists to plague a small town like this? Action is called for."
Yeah.
Sheriff Perton looks hard at Varuk, evaluating him carefully.
I'm guessin' this here is all past deputies' duties. Lots past.
The sheriff then turns and walks slowly toward the 'Mug, shoulders slumped.
Antonio frowned at Sakuro with disapproval, flicked his blade to remove nonexistent blood and sheathed it.
Coming up behind the sheriff, he threw his arm around him.
"Come on now Sheriff! This is what we're for! Heroes defending people!"
He looked around and lowered his voice.
"Anyway, come listen to this lady with us, she sounds like she knows something about what's actually going on..."
Alyra reaches for Antonio's arm, and follows along.
Aya walks to The Giant's Mug, enters, finds a quiet corner if possible, takes out her spell book, and starts memorizing her spells for the day.
Reiko stays outside, contemplating the memories that came back to him while he prepares his spells in the usual way, by performing his katas.
Even though she clings to Antonio, Alyra almost trips on the step onto the 'Mug's front porch...when she gets inside, and settles in, she finally speaks again:
I...am blind...when I concentrate, I can...feel my surroundings. Please bear with me. I will speak more when all have gathered here.
Antonio lets the sheriff go to help the lady to a chair inside.
"Here you go!"
He takes his own chair and leans on the table.
"I'm all ears!"
Aya, after preparing her spells for the day, enters the Mug, orders an ale, and joins Alyra and Antonio.
Alyra waits patiently until everyone gathers...meditating.
When father breathed life into me, he gave me the lake to watch over. For a time, I was jealous, for my other sisters were in the bay, or even the ocean, but father was wise. I have been called on several times now.
Alyra sits back, and loses herself in memory for a while...
Several times when the monastery was active, I was awakened for duty. I served the monastery's first heroes...and its last. I healed Fain Hulstead until we saw that he had fallen. After his time, I was not called upon for a very long time, then to stand behind Teor Umatha, when he drove the orc tribes from the valley.
Most of my memories of the monastery were of when it was a place of brightness and glory, but I did see its downfall...and, when awakened to heal Teor, in his time of glory, I did sense something of the cancer the monastery had become. There are many unquiet spirits there, but the ones that made it so were long gone.
Fain's fall happened over a time - perhaps years, but possibly just months. He was in contact with...something...from elsewhere. He slew the High Abbot, and called upon others who had fallen, and supernatural help as well - before long, all those still loyal were dead, or in chains. I barely escaped into the lake - the monastery was not sank, yet...but father laid his curse upon it, in hopes that the waters of the lake might purify it.
The evil has proved to be quite persistent.
Reiko pulls Aya to the side as they make their way into the inn at the same time.
Aya, listen. In my memories that I recovered yesterday there was a spell. It heals it's target quickly and efficiently. I have no doubt you can learn it when I show my spellbook, and it would be most efficient for us to have at our disposal in the coming days I think. The problem is, it's so very close to being blood magic that it reeks of evil. It requires a drop of devil's blood, even. If you don't want to stain your hands with it, I understand. I just think having a couple of scrolls of it may be useful.... Do you want to see it?
He eyes the newcomer, this Lady Alyra, and speaks again.
I have a feeling that some of our friends may disapprove of it, but I have found many times that spells don't always end up as what were when they began, no? This spell is evil, no doubt about it, but it heals just as good as a cleric, and no one is harmed in the process.
Answering Reiko, before joining the group: I believe there is a balance in this world with both good and evil, without one there cannot be the other. I tend to act on the side of good, but do as circumstances dictate. I would be happy to look at this spell you talk of. But must ask, Where do you get the devil's blood?
After talking to Reiko and joining the group Aya listens to Alyra's story with great interest.
Alyra, I have heard many stories about the monastery and am very interested in learning more about it and its history. I have felt there was a connection between it and the events of the past few day. I would like to explore it and maybe uncover more information about that connection. But first we must address the Ogre problem. Are you aware that are ogre's attacking travelers in the pass to Round Roc? If so, do you believe they are also related to these events?