Craft(weapon - make net):
--> While not pretty, Kzrira manages to make what appears to be a usable net.
As the gnoll leader flies away Karethas sighs and mutters, "That is not the last we will see of him, I am sure of that. I should have put the animals behind us." He shakes his head and trudges slowly over to Antar's body. He looks at it solemnly, "The gnolls got him anyways. At least we bought him some time I guess.
Karethas sits and spends some time considering their situation. After everyone has settled down and Kzrira is constructing her net. Karethas clears his throat, "Well, using the animals for cover was a poor plan, and I am sorry for that. We are in quite a poor spot now, since we cannot get Garavel's goods to Fort Longjaw. Garavel, how long will it take us to get there on foot?"
The rest of you stay here. Faelar, keep your eyes pealed for the gnolls if any return.
Kzrira then turns to Auri. Lets go and find the camel and mules I released. They probably did not go far.
She then turns to the others: Unless someone else wishes to gather the steeds.
After getting to the surface Amir will look over the corpse of Antar solemnly. I think if we have the resources we should burn him and take his ashes with us. We do not have the magic to sustain his corpse and in our current state we dare not dare to carry his body.
At the offer to follow what animals are left Amir waves Kzrira on, obviously still shaken by the loss of a companion. Amir will look about to see if there is what he needs to offer Antar a final rest or, barring that, resources to wrap and transport him (though that is not his obvious choice0
Kzrira immediately rummages through the gear that fills Faelar's wagon and upon securing some rope begins pulling apart the strands for her net though it will likely take a few days of labor to craft a battle ready net .
Amir joins her at the wagon as he scavenges for oil and fabric. Garavel remains stoic as he observes, "Antar was a faithful follower of Abadar. He was on his way back to the Immaculate Repository in Katapesh to report on the recovery of the temple in Kelmarane. I am not a religious man, but I believe he would have preferred to be interred though I agree with Kzrira that his grave would only be defiled by the raiders should we bury him here."
Garavel's tone is philosophical as he answers Karathas. "It will be two and half days by foot. The merchandise only serves to slow us. Abandoning it may buy us the time we need to reach the fort. I do not know if this desert raider seeks only our wealth or to slow us until a larger band arrives. He seems to be testing us and each raid grows more costly."
Garavel scratches his wide jaw as Kzrra and the little dragon turn to search for the lost animals. "Be careful. The raiders may still be watching from the darkness. They have the advantage at night."
Survival(tracking):
Auri can provide light and also watch for any gnolls as he has 120' darksight I believe.
Amir nods at Garavel about Antar, I suspected as much and interred there he will be, I will harvest his ashes and see that he is stored in an urn that reflects his value to our Master. Though I am sure to place his body would be ideal, I simply fear we do not have the resources to see his body returned in a honorable state. I think this is our best option.
Karethas rubs his chin thoughtfully, "Perhaps we are thinking of this wrong. Perhaps it can be an opportunity. We could make it seem we have fled and then ambush the gnoll when he brings the others to loot our belongings." He shrugs and looks at the others.
I look down at the body of Antar, horrified and speechless. It is only when Kzrira starts rummaging through my wagon that I realise what everyone is talking about, but I can't think of anything to add to the topic, everyone has said all that can be said.
Faelar is speechless as Amir pulls out the stores of fabric and poles to build a pyre for Antar. Garavel says nothing more, but considers Karethas' plan.
Kzrira finds that the panicked path of the camel is not difficult to follow even under a moonless night after Auri illuminates a pebble for Kzira to use while he keeps a watch slightly overhead. They track some time before the spell fades on the rock. The mini-dragon hovers in the air a minute before swooping onto Kzrira's shoulder. His voice is in her mind, I saw fire up ahead. Flashes of flame as if balls of tar were being tossed through the air.
Kzrira looks at Auri: Lets continue on that way. Is that the direction where the camel went? I will head that direction. You scout from above and let me know who, or what is there.
The dying bellows of a camel come from ahead as Aurichalcum refreshes the light spell and flies toward the flame. Kzrira runs after him over the grassland and arrives moments later at the scorched body of the lost camel.
Auri swoops over the smoking corpse to Kzrira's shoulder again. The gnoll leader was here. He still has the form of an air elemental, but held a flame. I think he is hunting for the mules now. Look, there is the flame!
Kzrira sees a flame flying nearby as it scours the plain.
Again, Kzrira takes off in the direction of the flame and hopefully the mule.
To Auri: Lets get that bastard.
Auri
Kzrira
Gnoll
Auri jets toward the flame catching the air-formed gnoll before he can react.
Assuming I am close enough to see the druid with Auri's lighting assistance, Kzrira calls out:
Get the bastard Auri.
Kzrira then fires two arrows at the whirlwind hoping they strike home.
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot:
Damage:
Auri admires his handowork, and prepares for his next sortie against this persistent foe!
The tiny dragon swoops down and blasts the aero-druid with his fiery breath. The quick elemental dodges and tosses its flame back, but misses. With the flame gone, both are plunged back into darkness.
Kzrira takes off at a sprint toward the fight, bow in hand.
1500'? Didn't think that the little dragon would have gone that far that fast.
Run - 120'/round - toward the fight.
Kzrira yells as she runs toward the fight.
Light him up Auri.
I will run, unless I get natural 20s, it is a slim chance of hitting at that distance so I need to get closer.
Determined to set the thing alght, Auri maintains his deployment of fiery flashes at the creature...
Burning Hands DC14 Ref for half.
Burning Magic: Additional DC14 Reflex save or take 1 burning damage for rounds.
Aurichalcum ignites the druid with another blast of flames though the creature appears unhurt as it becomes a burning whirlwind that sweeps into the dragon attempting to catch up the tiny creature.
Auri attempts to swoop and move out of the way...
Ref
Ref
Not sure how far away I am, but I will run again.
Let me know when I am within 480'. I will probably try to start shooting at that point.
The dragonette darts safely away from the burning whirlwind as Kzrira continues running over the dark grassland.
Annoyed the thing is persisting, Auri maintains his fiery flashes...
Burning Hands DC14 Ref for half.
Burning Magic: Additional DC14 Reflex save or take 1 burning damage for rounds.
Aurichalcum continues blasting the whirlwind with fire which doesn't seem to affect it though it continues to burn. The whirlwind swoops at him again.
Kzrira continues to run as fast as she can toward to fiery battle.
Auri continues trying to evade...
Ref
Ref
As the penny drops that the creature he is fighting is really a spellcaster, it occurs to Auri that it may have cast a protection spell upon itself to limit the effectiveness of his attack... but as the 'aha!' moment occurs, Auri forgets to evade properly.
The dogfight continues as the gnoll-emental again swoops at the dodgy little dragon who dives out of the way.
I am still running.
Auri hisses and chirps, beginning his spell...
Unable to catch up the agile dragon in its whirling winds, the druid breaks away as it sees Aurichalcum summoning assistance.
-
The lone eagle flashes into view, and charges at the whirlwind...
Attack
Damage
Auri continues to follow the conflict, determined to keep tabs on this foe.
Somewhere in the night sky, the celestial eagle easily out speeds the retreating elemental shaped druid, but falls behind as it attempts to attack. No longer burning, the elemental continues flying through the night with the tiny dragon following and the archer lost in the darkness below.
Run run as fast as I can. You can't escape us you dirty sha-man.
I keep on this likely hopeless pursuit.
Yep - so, did the gnoll manage to kill all the mules and the camels?
Seeing Auri, presumably, return, Kzrira gives up her chase and begins to head back to the rest of the group to give them the bad news about the animals.
I could try to catch a wild camel and train it, but that supposedly takes 2 weeks for Heavy Labor which I assume is what pulling a wagon would be.
I still believe our choices are to abandon Garavel's goods, or to set another ambush for our gnoll friend. Did you note that he moves slowly in his elemental form? Perhaps I should just summon Air elementals to harass him. They are faster than he is in that form.
I can't see how we can afford to let this creature run free to harass us. I have no thirst for revenge but I doubt this druid will let us go until out lot is dead or he is...