Elarya stands up and moves between the mob and Corvina.
"Afore ye toss a poor woman from her home, I want to know how someone who let a stranger that showed up covered in blood one night can go along with this madness."
Her eyes lock with Wallace's with a flicker of the cold ice white fire that had shown itself yesterday.
"An' are ye gonna throw me out too?"
She turns her gaze from Sansa and looks to Amara cocking her head slightly to the side, looking the girl up and down, seemingly sizing her up.
"We will see soon enough, I suppose."
The blood continues to roll out of her mouth in a thin line and it is apparent to all present that she has bitten off the very tip of her tongue.
She digs her feet deeply into the clay and wrings her fingers together, quietly muttering to herself.
The townsfolk were bearing down upon them fast and it seemed that Corvina had bitten off the tip of her tongue. Sansa was slightly repulsed and fascinated by the thin line of blood. For what purpose do you do this, Corvina?
Sansa can hear Corvina's muttering and wonders if the strange woman is casting a spell.
The four of them made a strange union: Corvina, herself, Elarya and Amara. Strange indeed that the young females stand together, united, against the Elders..., especially when they (the girls) were all so very different.
Sansa casts her eye out on the crowd and sees Dante standing with Erec to the side. That is for the best, not wanting either to be hurt if it came to a battle.
Sansa slowly removes her gloves from her hands, pocketing them with ease and practice and listens as Elarya's voice cuts through the thrum of the large group now standing before Corvina's hut. She stretches her long fingers and inspects her nails for a moment.
Lifting her eyes back to the townsfolk, Sansa keeps her eyes on the crowd in case someone does something foolish or reckless to injure her or any of them defending Corvina. She tries to discern Jerem in the crowd for he is the one she distrusts most.
The crowd is too thick and she wonders why he is not up front with the Councilmen.
Amara looks at the council, they seem so distant from the people she has known from a baby. Her mind screams that something is not right and is darting every which way in an attempt to find a way to diffuse the situation.
"Corvina, I believe the council is under some sort of enchantment, can you break it and stop this before more action is necessary?" she hisses under her breath to the strange girl.
The air is thick with tension, as the motley group of adventures watch the events unfold before them.
The council stands before them, almost as if in a firing line, with Everett Snow standing at the head, a grimace beginning to appear on his stoic face, and clutching at the hilt of his sword. Abram and Samel stand close by, with similar expressions, and a single tear can be seen by those in front of them creep down his cheek.
The crowd behind them is hushed, and as the light cold rain continues, a soft breeze rolls through them all past the great Black Tree and down the cliffside to the lapping waves below.
Wallace Stone stares intently at Elarya, his lip trembling and sweat beginning to drip from his brow. His face contorts, and all at once there is a pleading look in his eyes...one that seems to beg for mercy. One that shows great pain.
the man finally yells, breaking the silence, and sending all but the most stouthearted of the crowd into chills.
Then, like dominoes tipped by and angry child, each of the council members falls to his knees with a collective sigh, as if a whole generation of folk breathed out simultaniously.
In the very back of the crowd, Jerem Cor stops his mumbling and figiting with his medallion and curses.
"Blast. Its always the children..." he says lightly.
Then in a swift motion, he pulls a short horn of twisted bone from his cloak and sounds it into the air, the sound heavy and mournful, scattering the several score of crows that have been circling overhead.
The councilmen, still to weak to pull themselves to their feet only let out soft moans, and grasp at the earth in confusion.
A shudder seems to go through the area like a wave of invisible fire, or an immaterial earthquake, felt in the pit of the stomach and it lingers for seconds.
Havak would like to disarm/steal the medallion from Jerem. If that isn't a valid action (such as he is clutching it tightly rather than it just hanging on his neck), then i will do the below standard action instead.
Havak manifests minor metamorphosis to gain thick, burrowing claws
"Jerem was compelling them! Take him down!"
Elarya steps back in surprise, but her eyes narrow as she hears Jerem's curse. Her teeth grit together as she sets her feet to take off after the man, but the horn causes her pause.
Then the horde what looks like the dead crest the cliff. Fear threatens her again. Her heart freezes in her chest and her breath catches in her throat. She wants to run, to hide, but something flares to life inside of her. A simple phase from an ancient oath.
"En skjold for dem som ikke har noe ..."
Courage flowed in her heart and drove the fear that had held her for so long out like a torrential flood. The guilt and memories of her failures still stung in her heart, but the fear that caused them was no more.
"Garrett! Help me get these people to safety!"
i am putting this here in case you cannot read the message i sent you regarding the message you sent me:
sorry but it appears i cannot read your message, every time i click on it it just reopens my mailbox with your message being unread still. paizo site has had some troubles lately, could you perhaps put it in a spoiler in the game or something? or maybe message to Tenro vice Havak? im not sure what is going on with this site lately.
** spoiler omitted **
In the very back of the crowd, Jerem Cor stops his mumbling and figiting with his medallion and curses.
"Blast. Its always the children..." he says lightly.Then in a swift motion, he pulls a short horn of twisted bone from his cloak and sounds it into the air, the sound heavy and mournful, scattering the several score of crows that have been circling overhead.
The councilmen, still to weak to pull themselves to their feet only let out soft moans, and grasp at the earth in confusion.
A shudder seems to go through the area like a wave of invisible fire, or an immaterial earthquake, felt in the pit of the stomach and it lingers for seconds.
...
Sansa looks to Jerem and then toward the robed figures approaching from the distance. She tries to recollect any magic which could do this, especially what Jerem could have conjured by the hand of his One god.
Turning to , "Can you stop these robed figures? We need your aid!" Sansa's voice is a hiss, the light rain falling and glistening in her dark unruly hair.
Her own magic was still simple yet and she wondered at the force and power of the tattered robed ones. She looks hard upon them to determine their strengths and weapons etc. in order to aid her companions.
Sansa hears Elarya (whom she does not understand) and then Garrett. She calls out to Dante and Erec, "Run to safety! I would see you both far away from this threat. I will find you once it is done", if I am still alive, she muses privately.
Amara's relief at the council's obvious victory over the enchantment is short-lived as she hears Jerem's words and sees the approaching horde.
Mother help us! she whispers to herself.
She looks quickly for Jerem to see if she can get off a clean shot in the confusion that has ensued.
The din of weapons and sound of screams of surprise and terror fill the area as the cool rain continues to fall, time seems to slow as the strange figures bound and crawl over the ledge of the cliff. Their robes are tattered and worn, caked in fresh earth with holes in places, and in their hands they wield jagged and broken blades, some of them merely long bits of metal wrapped in leather. As they spread out, the townsfolk of Solace begin to run. One of the fisherman, Bartleby is the first to fall, a blade cutting across his back, while the humanoid creature stoops over him and delivers two more wet blows to the now still man.
shakes his head in disbelief, but despite his great resolve, it seems that the grim events before him are indeed happening. He first counts a dozen creatures, then more. There are too many! Looking down to his father, whom he had always looked to for direction, he finds none, as the once powerful man struggles to find his footing, apparently still confused. He can see his brother nearby beginning to rush to their father's side.
Corvina turns to the side at 's question/plead and seems to acknowledge the smaller girl for a second, but continues chanting under her breath, and begins to shake more violently as blood continues to pour from her mouth. The mismatched eyes of the girl scan about and notice Dante pull his dirty mask over his face and a dagger from his belt. She cannot find Celeste in the chaos.
In the back of the group, and closest to Jerem, can see the mass of strange robed creatures spread across the area, chaotically chasing after anyone who moves. Johnas, who had been at the back as well, merely falls to his arse in confusion. Jerem folds his arms behind his back, still holding the twisted horn.
drops easily into her stance, no longer afraid. She is battle-ready now, and the blood pumps into her arms and face. She notices Wallace laid low before her, moaning in confusion, clutching at the wet earth. Her eyes focus on a small detail as she can see the smallest of stones and rocks at her feet, particularly around Corvina shift and rise about a quarter inch off the ground.
Searching for a clear shot at Jerem, does indeed see an opening, although all around her there is screaming and the sounds of feet hitting hard on the earth as both attacker and attacked scramble for position. She can see one of her brothers running with her mother, stumbling for a moment before finding his feet and screaming something incomprehensible over his shoulder.
Elarya: 22
Sansa: 21
Garrett: 19
Amara: 6
Havak: 5
Elarya sees he strangeness happening around Corvina and figures the woman is casting a spell. She looks at Jerem, then the advancing horde, then Wallace.
"Thank you. For everything."
She rushes to the front of the crowd. Each step brings more strength to her arms. Each breath makes her tougher. With a snarl she barreled into one of the hoard trying to let her momentum knock its weapon loose.
"Jeg er deres skjold."
Disarm (Provokes AoO): 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 4 = 7
Round 1
Ancient Ones protect Mother Celeste, is Sansa's silent prayer for the safety of her foster mother, whom she could not see in the chaos of anxious townsfolk and the advancing horde.
Sansa shouts to Rook in hopes he will convey the message to Havak, "We must take Jerem's twisted horn!"
Seeing Elarya rush forward without thought to her own safety, Sansa glides forward and lays her hand on the older girl's back, speaking the known ancient words. The blue light swells and then enters Elarya's body, filling her with magical energy to protect her from harm.
Sansa makes sure to stay behind Elarya (and Garrett) as she is not an adept fighter as some of the others. She has to remain upright and hale if she is to heal the injured and dying. My powers are limited still -- May their heads prevail in this battle!
Amara draws her ever present bow, nocks an arrow and attempts to remove Jerem from the fight.
on Havak's turn
Elarya throws herself fully into an attack, her blood pumping as she swings the sharp axe. Her rage causes her to be a bit to unsteady as she takes the first quick steps, and the enshrouded creature before her ducks under the powerful swing. The blade catches the top of its cowl however, tearing it free and reveals the horrible visage. It seems perhaps that it could have been human once, but it's skin is nearly transparent, the tissues and veins pumping visibly beneath. It hisses at Elarya with fanged mouth, and it's stringy hair, also colorless fails to 3 deep red eyes, the extra one set in it's forehead.
Sansa cast her spell and mutters a silent prayer and then calls out to Rook who caws back as if receiving her instructions.
Elarya: 22 (acted)
Sansa: 21 (acted)
Garrett: 19
Amara: 6
Havak: 5
Garrett's somewhat off balanced attack still manages to cut into one of the strange humanoids, and his weapon bites deep into its flesh, tearing the ratty shroud easily and the creature fall bloodied to the wet ground. With it's last breaths it seems to bark defiance at the young man, clawing at the air and then laying still. A quick glance around tells him there are a score of them, perhaps even more, with the chaos and increasing rain beginning to make things a bid less discern-able.
(Everett)
The horde spreads further out, picking targets seemingly at random, swiping at them with crude and crooked blades. An attack each approaches Amara, Elarya, Garrett and Sansa, but their zeal for bloodshed seems to make them waver, and the four young heroes manage to duck and block the blows. The townsfolk, however, are not so lucky, several of them are struck by the malevolent creatures, and an even 4 of them are brought low. Everett Snow himself is struck whilst struggling to his feet, slashed bloody across the back.
Jerem smiles wickedly and turns to face the blue goblin.
"Perhaps you were wise to stay back. Perhaps not", and with a an evil spark in his eye comands Havak to "drop!"
The townsfold are so scattered and afraid, they do little to defend themselves, but some do fight back,and with adrenaline pumping like mad, their wild swings actually manage to connect, but have little effect. Many of them flee like the wind back towards the safety of the town proper.
Elarya: 22 (acted)
Sansa: 21 (acted)
Garrett: 19 (acted)
(acted)
(acted)
(acted)
Amara: 6
Havak: 5
posting now, if the events before me change the actions I will repost
Amara draws her ever present bow, nocks an arrow and attempts to remove Jerem from the fight.
attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 1d6 ⇒ 2If and invader is a more immediate threat she will target that instead.
Wishing she could turn her bow upon Jerem, Amara realizes she needs to defend herself and instead steps back and fires upon the immediate foe.
Havak fails the will save and drops to the ground. "perhaps." he says as he struggles from the weight of the spell pushing him down. He manifests lesser metamorphosis and burrows under the ground.
Havak (still) fails the will save and
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Havak (still) fails the will save and
Havak pauses for only a moment as he feels the weight of the spell pass over him, compelling him. As the goblin realizes it is having no effect, Jerem also sees his error in speech and silently curses to himself as the smaller humanoid is upon him and snatches the amulet from his neck.
Meanwhile, Corvina's shaking and trancelike state only continues to intensify, her muttering becoming louder, now actual words (although they don't make much sense) escape her lips, the tone and pitch rising and falling oddly. Her eyes roll back in her head and were it not for the increasing rain, tears could seen falling down her pale cheeks.
The chaos continues all around, townsfolk running madly for safety, with the strange skinned invaders hounding them and nipping them with sharp blades at every step.
Elarya: 22 (acted)
Sansa: 21 (acted)
Garrett: 19 (acted)
17(acted)
14 (acted)
8 (acted)
Amara: 6 (acted)
Havak: 5 (acted)
4 (acted)
Elarya pauses for a moment, horrified at the sight before her, but the screams of another of the townsfolk drives her to strike again.
"And I am their sword!"
Round 2
Watching as Elarya attempts to strike at one of the horde again, Sansa begins to cast, the ancient words softly bursting from her pale lips, her right hand moving gracefully as if parting the veil between planes, silently calling out to her elected creature.