Karethas mutters quiet curses as he notices the trailing birds. He begins the spell to summon aid to defeat these creatures.
Kzrira doesn't push her horse toward the forest so that she can get a shot at the roc. The arrow hits though it is likely no more than a sting to the great raptor. The following flock closes on her and she is engulfed in a cloud of crows. The black birds nip at her flesh focused on her face and eyes.
Amir and Faelar reach the cover of the pines as Karethas, unseen begins a summoning spell. His conjured mount bolts randomly attracting the attention of the roc as it turns back toward the party.
Just for clarification, the swarm moved more than 100'? My mount should have double moved and has a speed of 50'. Pushing the mount would have increased the speed to 60', but I was not trying that. I was moving toward the forest and figured that I could fire while the horse was moving, which is a DC10 Ride check I believe.
If necessary:
Fort:
Reflex:
Apparently I am sitting on a fast moving horse blindly going somewhere.
Kzrira whispers to her trusty steed:
All speed to the woods.
Ride: <-- don't know if there are any modifiers for being temporarily blinded.
--> Apparently my horse and the dicebot hates me. My last 5 rolls - 4, 4, 2, 2, 1
Move: 250' - running, has the Run feat
No one can see Karethas' invisible smile as he notices the roc following his summoned mount. He finishes his spell with an unseen flourish and four howling clouds appear between Karethas and the swarm of hawks.
N Small outsider (air, elemental, extraplanar)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4
Defense
AC 17, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +3 natural, +1 size)
hp 13 (2d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +0
Defensive Abilities air mastery; Immune elemental traits
Offense
Speed fly 100 ft. (perfect)
Melee slam +6 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks whirlwind (DC 12)
Statistics
Str 12, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 15
Feats Flyby Attack, Improved InitiativeB, Weapon FinesseB
Skills Acrobatics +7, Escape Artist +7, Fly +17, Knowledge (planes) +1, Perception +4, Stealth +11
Seeing Kzrira flee for the treeline I begint o recite some incantations and perform some complex hand gestures, then between the large bird and Kzrira I appear out of a flock of ravens.
Seeing the chaos erupt in the open, with elementals, illusions and what not Amir is content to hold his action to see if everyone get to cover.
All is confusion on the pass as Kzrira's mount rears amid the swirling tempest of crows, Kzrira stays in the saddle as the mount bolts forward running for its life toward Behrouz in the forest. Though it is covered in scratches, its eyes have been spared and it glides across the rock and alpine plants outdistancing the carrion crows.
A strange image of Falear appears from the crows, but they are not fooled and sweep through the illusion after the retreating horsewoman just as another swarm of misty howling creatures condense form the air and smack into the flock. The first one knocks a score of the blackbirds from the air and the second elemental blows through knocking another dozen from the air. The wily crows spread out a bit and the next two elementals breeze in without injuring the crows as they regroup and turn on the extra-planar intruders.
Amir calls to the blinded Kzrira as she leans close to her mount wildly batting away at crows that no longer follow with her free arm. As she reaches the edge of the pines, she reigns back on her mount at Amir's warning.
The great roc dives upon Karethas' loose mount as it charges across the open. A giant claw closes on the panicked beast and.. the horse pops like a bubble disappearing as it dies and is instantly returned to wherever it came. The roc lands and gazes about shrieking in consternation.
I wait until someone asks for healing, otherwise I just maintain the illusion to try and distract them a little bit.
Karethas finally begins to head for the trees, holding his robes up above his knees with one hand and keeping his hat on with the other. His white legs flashing in the sun would be humorous if anyone could see them. "Kzrira, I have taken care of the birds. Keep your horse moving!"
Kzrira calls to Karethas, wherever he is:
I cannot see, those things got stuff in my eyes.
She then calls out to Faelar and Amir.
I cannot see, where are you so I can direct my mount. <-- which I need to name at some point
Although not her forte, Kzrira attempts to figure out how to clear her vision.
Heal:
Kzrira attempts to direct her trusty steed in the direction of Amir or Faelar's voice if they call out. Otherwise, she will trust that the horse will head to the safety of the woods.
Ride: <-- if necessary
The whirling elementals pummel the flock of crows until they disperse in various direction leaving the ground carpeted in crow casualties. The roc glances about for any other decently sized prey, but with the remaining horses retreated into the tall pines, it spreads its wings which seem to reach halfway to the mountain tops flanking the pass and launches upward and southward away from Pale Mountain.
After Karethas has rejoined the others under the needled canopy, Faelar offers healing which may help with the scratches and pecks Kzrira has suffered, but not fully restore her sight. At least she has retained her eyes from the cruel birds, but they are scratched and bruised and she determines that it will be a couple days before her vision is fully restored.
Amir looks over the party and the crow bodies, A terrifying interlude I had not expected. Kzrira can ride with me, we will not push Behrouz. I would rather this than leading a horse that might scare and take our blind friend with it.
Amir frowns as he looks out at the plain which so suddenly had become a battlefield he then simply lifts his hands as though to say "what is to be done" and rejoins the group to prepare for moving on.
Kzrira looks at the shadowy forms of her companions:
I can see, but very little, not much more than shadows. I will be useless in battle until my eyes clear up, but this may take several days based upon my analysis.
With that she pats her steed: Ok girl, you need to guide me for a few days.
Looking to where she thinks the others are:
We can continue to travel, but I will be slow and should we meet anything dangerous, such as gigantic birds, I will probably not be able to assist you all.
Karethas looks thoughtful, "I'm not so sure we should travel on until Kzrira's sight is restored. We have cover here and can hide a bit. If we were to run into a gnoll patrol heading closer to the Carrion King's area, Kzrira's bow would be the mostly likely thing to keep them from reporting our presence. And if that roc returns, having a blind person on a horse makes it difficult to run for cover."
I look to Kzrira with a concerned expression on my face, not that she can see it, "Don't worry Kzrira, we will protect you until your vision returns to its normal quality."
Kzrira always wants to push forward, but I think that resting a day or two so that I regain my sight would not be a bad choice.
Karethas will bow to Amir's greater experience and wisdom on this matter, but he does want to stay among the trees at least for one night to give him a chance to replace his spent spells.
At Amir's goading, the party moves down the mountain side a moderate distance to a less exposed position and thicker tree cover. The ashy bulk of Pale Mountain disappears behind tree covered slopes as you descend. Kzrira's (unnamed) mount seems content to follow Behrouz's lead and the archer sits silently astride though her tension is palpable. As the sun is blocked by the narrowing canyon walls, you hear a river rushing ahead and find a sheltered area behind some fallen boulders to shelter the horses while Kzrira recovers. You retreat up Karethas' rope into a hidden refuge to spend the night.
The next morning, Kzrira removes her bandages to find that the blurry shapes in front of her are more distinct, but it will likely be another day before her complete vision recovers. A short investigation of the nearby river reveals it to be a frothing rapids of silty yellow water that marks it as the Pale River. You are not too far from your destination.
"Now that we are so close I am even more nervous about running into a patrol. One more night here to let Kzrira recover her sight?" If everyone agrees, then Karethas suggests that he and Faelar take turns on watch, prepared to use an illusion to cover the entrance to their sheltered area with more rocks.
Kzrira still wants to press forward, but is listening to the more reasoned logic of the wizard and agrees that one more day to recover her sight so that she can take down the hated gnolls from long distance would be a wise choice.
I nod at Karethas, "I agree, stay here until Kzrira is completely recovered, otherwise things will be too dangerous."
Amir keeps a lookout and Faelar has a spell ready to hide the party's resting place, but no gnolls are seen or anything else other than a few passing mountain birds. After another night in Karethas' shelter, Kzrira awakes to find her vision restored though her eyes remain a little sensitive.
When the party wakes up the next morning and it is clear that Kzrira can see Karethas turns to her with a half smile, "Well? You are our wilderness expert..."
Kzrira squints back at the shadowy form speaking with Karethas' voice. After a few moments, her vision clears and she sees that its indeed the robed magician. However, after several days of nothing more than dark and foggy shadows, the sudden infusion of bright light overwhelms her sight.
She immediately closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. However, when she again opens her eyes, the brightness continues to overwhelm her senses. Nonetheless, she steps out to the edge of the copse of trees and, after shading her eyes with her hand scans the surroundings.
We must be close. That yellowish river should be the Pale River and without a doubt, the Carrion King and his hideout must be close. I can travel, although the bright sun is giving me a bit of a headache. I cannot promise to be at 100% today, but I do not believe that I will slow us down any.
Kzrira then attempts to look around the ground in the area and the river to see whether there are any signs of gnolls in the area or other non-animal life.
Survival: <-- add +2 for gnolls, not sure if the dazzled affects this
Amir nods at the woman as she indicates improved vision, A blessing that your sight returns so quickly. Funny that we rarely think on how often we use your eyes until they are gone...
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Kzrira's inspection of the area finds no recent sign of gnolls anyway or really much else.
Yup - figured that I would find some sign of where to head. Ready to move on.
It doesn't take long before the party comes across a trail. Although it hasn't seen recent use it clearly leads in the direction of the looming Pale Mountain. The thick tree cover spares Kzrira's sensitive eyes and you make decent time though you are still obviously in something of a wilderness.
It is late in the day when a small figure dashes into the middle of the trail waving. Upon drawing closer, it looks to be a small dingy gnome, half starved with sparse ruddy hair.
Seeing the disheveled gnome appear, Kzrira nocks an arrow in her bow, but does not draw it or aim it at the gnome. Instead, she keeps an eye on the gnome while carefully watching either side of the trail for anyone else.
Perception: <-- +2 if gnolls
I see the Gnome and hold my hand up to wave to them, "Greetings friend, how can we be of assistance?"
Amir moves Behrouz to Faelar's flank lazily, making no undue motion to seem hostile. The thief waits to see how the gnome responds to the elf and watches him with interest.
Kzrira sees no one but the disheveled gnome. At Faelar's greeting, the gnome walks forward with a large grin on his face, "Ah, so good to see some faces that don't resemble dogs. Greetings! Greetings! Sorry I couldn't clean up a bit. I've just escaped those filthy beasts on Pale Mountain. Nasty, nasty curs!"
I dismount and pull out a ration from my bag, "Here you go friend, eat this, you look like you are in more need of it than I." I hand the food over to the small man. The way I am talking to him is as if he were 6 feet tall and not a person of short stature at all. I then look at the mountain and then turn my attention back towards the man, "Pale Mountain you say, we are actually heading that way ourselves to see if we can have an audience with the Carrion King." I look back to my companions and then spot Kzrira looking about for enemies, I then turn back to theman, "I hate to ask this, but my friends would love to know. Where about's did you come from in the mountains and would you happen to know the quantity of Gnolls and lay-out of the place you were?"
Kzrira turns to Amir and chuckles: Audience? He's funny.