Space Between

Game Master Eben al'Jol

"I don't recognize these sands. It may be your Sun's Anvil."

Priyya gratefully munches on the strip of meat. She hears the capital letters in his words. "I meant that metaphorically... sun's anvil - a desert - not as a proper place. I don't know any place called the Sun's Anvil."

She goes silent, chewing and thinking, while she idly leans against the massive Talvyra. She reaches up to scratch the cat behind an ear. "There is something very unnatural about this 'natural' place."

Priyya thinks on Mal's words about feeling her emotions... and other things. If he were some sort of foolish romantic, she'd dismiss the idea. But Mal wasn't a head-in-the-clouds sort and certainly wasn't a gushing wellspring of sappy emotions. She recalls their weary but pleasant tryst. There were moments when she felt she wasn't entirely in her own skin. She'd initially thought it was a statement on his horizontal skills and her passions... not anything more mystical. She re-considers the matter soberly. Maybe there was something more going on. She looks at the tall warrior.

It's been a day of strange events, perhaps this is just one more?

"Yeah, there were some moments there where I was... well, I felt more in your skin than in my own skin. You don't happen to have any spells in your head to determine if we are under any magical effects, do you?"

She puts her limited knowledge of magic to use, trying to suss out what might be happening.

Spellcraft 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

His face clouds a bit, "I should have thought of that." Again he mutters his primal words. His breath is hot on her face as he focuses intensely at the marks around her eye. After a few seconds he mutters, "It's definitely magical." His eyes drift back and forth across the side of her forehead. She's reminded of his mannerisms when he's tracking. "It's powerful, but subtle. And complicated." After a few more seconds he steps back, shaking his head, "Best guess I can make is that it's some sort of barrier or block. Abjuration magic. But it's got some sort of strange holes in the abjuration made up of positive conjuration… healing magic seems to act as some kind of bridge from you to me. There's more auras going on, but I can't sort them out." He shrugs, "Sorry. I'm no mage."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that an abjuration effect wouldn't allow them to feel each other, but Priyya's experience with spell craft does bring to mind something that does. The Status spell. :)

Priyya's brow crinkles with amusement at his self-deprecating tone. "Well, you are more of a mage than I am, Mal... but your description reminds me of a bit of clerical magic called Status. It allegedly enables the spellcaster to monitor the health of another person and even heal from a distance. When I've recovered from your inexhaustible sexual demands on my poor body, we should test it."

The Paladin turns her attention to the sky - the endless blue dome, unbroken by a single cloud, and the over-large, alien sun.

We've been here a couple of hours, more or less... Has the sun moved any?

Well, has it? :p

Mal gets a playfully skeptical look, "And how would you suggest we test it?"

He turns to look into the sky, shielding his eyes from the oddly-large sun which is past its zenith. The air is oppressively hot and - this close to the shore - surprisingly humid. Priyya knows from growing up in the desert that this will not be the case if they decide to travel inland. If there is no source of water in that ocean of sand, it will be as dry as a bone with soaring day-time temperatures that will plunge into the freezing past sun-down.

Mal must be sharing her thoughts because he looks at the last bite of dried meat in his hand, then back at the water, then at Priyya. "Today has been nice... if a bit mysterious. But unless you have some trail rations in your kit, I only have enough food to feed us for another five or six days - and that's being really careful. I don't know what to expect in terms of foraging or hunting here. We need a plan, and I'm not sure time is on our side."

Short version: Yes, the sun has moved. It's getting hella-hot. And you need to be thinking about long-term survival plans. :)

Mal gets a playfully skeptical look, "And how would you suggest we test it?"

Priyya's dark eyes sparkle. "That easy. After I'm rested, I beat the crap outta you. Then I try to heal you from a distance. If you're still bruised, well, we'll know I was wrong. And you get to keep some lumps as a painful reminder that you should think carefully before following such a hare-brained scheme."

Mal must be sharing her thoughts because he looks at the last bite of dried meat in his hand, then back at the water, then at Priyya. "Today has been nice... if a bit mysterious. But unless you have some trail rations in your kit, I only have enough food to feed us for another five or six days - and that's being really careful. I don't know what to expect in terms of foraging or hunting here. We need a plan, and I'm not sure time is on our side."

Priyya eyes their meager resources. She doesn't even have a backpack, just a wineskin full of water. "I don't have a kit, let alone rations, Mal. Foraging, even if possible, will slow us down. So the basic problems are food, water, and the temperature. If we cross that slice of Hell," She casts an eye on the endless rolling dunes, "We'll cook during the day and freeze at night. Yep... If we were regular folks, it'd be time to lay down and die."

She grins, "Fortunately, we aren't normal. Between the two of us, I'm quite certain we have enough magic to solve all of these issues. We just have to make it through dawn tomorrow. Sarenrae will provide what I need and I'm sure you'll get a bit of divine inspiration as well."

"For now, I think we should dig a communal pit in the sand a bit closer to the water. We can set up a lean-to using my robe and sword, to stave off the sun. That will keep us cooler til sunset. When it gets cold, the pit will keep in our heat and we can snuggle through the night. I got dibs on being in the middle. Between Tal - that furry furnace - and you, I should be quite comfortable. Tomorrow, we can figure out what course to set. Can you take the shape of bird? It would be great if we could get a bird's eye view of the surroundings - might help us pick a course. Barring that, I say we stick to the coast and hope."

We can figure out how to divvy up the spells. If Mal wants to keep most of his current mix of spells, I can retask some of Priyya's lot. Mal has the Create Water orison which will produce 20 gallons of water - should be more than enough for us for a day. I could trick Priyya out with Endure Elements, Communal which will give the three of us 8 hours of comfort. I can take it twice to give us 16 hour protection. If you'd be willing to take that spell as well, we'd be comfortable 24 hours a day. The only thing Priyya can't do is create food. You'll have to use a spell slot for that.

I think that pretty much solves the 'survival' issues... unless this world has some very different rules. After that, it's a matter of figuring out where we want to go. I can't help there - spell-wise. But Mal could take Commune with Nature to get a feel for the terrain within 10 miles and/or take Eagle Eye to get a very high level view of the world.

I was looking through your thoughts and suggestions, and I can't see a spell on the druid's list that will get them food. Create Food and Water is a cleric-only spell and Heroe's Feast is both too high level and Cleric/Bard only. I even tried to get created and looked through the summoning spells to see if he could summon up some rabbits to stew, but summoned creatures return to their original location/plane once they die or the spell ends. Did you have something else specific in mind?

Oof! Let me take a look. We may have to ration food but go to town on water.

Mal and Priyya spend a couple of minutes hashing out their survival plans. Suggesting and discarding a number of options before coming up with a plan that hopefully gives them the best chance at not only survival, but preparedness against whatever unknown dangers this dead desert may hold.

So as of the following morning, Mal will switch up his spells a bit, taking Grove of Respite in a 4th level spot. Regarding Endure Elements vs. Communal Endure Elements, I'd suggest we both prepare one casting of each of those. Mal will use his to put on Talvyra. Then Mal and Priyya can split Priyya's casting of communal. That will give 12 hours to both of them and 24 hours of protection to the cat who can't shed her fur when she gets too hot. :)

With half a day gone and no real idea what is around then, Mal agrees that an aerial scouting run would be best, but only after they test Priyya's idea on their marks' capabilities. Priyya, being out of healing power for the day, is left being the heal-ee.

As she draws Sarenrae's razor-sharp blade across her forearm, sending a wave of crimson blood running down her dark skin onto the white sand, she can't help but shoot a blank-faced look at Mal. She struggles between feeling proud and injured that he was so okay with her cutting herself. Just because I'm no sea-addled dimwit doesn't mean a little concern wouldn't be welcome.

Meanwhile, Mal - making his way to a spot about thirty steps down the beach - feels the most complex set of emotions he's ever encountered as he focuses on the small lump of Darkmane in the back of his mind. He turns and looks at her with a quizzical look, Surely that's not all coming from her…
that many emotions would drive me insane. Maybe it's some trick of the connection.

"Ready?" he asks.

"Ready." responds Priyya.

Yaaawwwwwn, responds Talvyra from her spot between them.

Despite this test being her idea, the experience is something altogether unexpected. From the lump in the back of her mind that she'd come to recognize as Mal, there came a rush of warmth. It built for a second before rushing to cover the pain on her forearm. Mal gives a smile when he sees the blood stop flowing, and he raises one clawed finger as an idea strikes him. From his belt he pulls his short healing wand, once again taking on his mask of concentration.

After a few seconds of nothing, nothing happens. Can't send wand healing through the connection. :(

When the time comes, Mal suits up, collecting, organizing, and stowing all of his combat and survival gear except for the rations and two waterskins. Those he leaves with Priyya, "If something happens, I can create water for myself. You and Talvyra will need every possible advantage. Little Sister gets cranky when she doesn't get to eat." He only barely dodges Talvyra's rebuttal.

He trudges up the sliding face of the sand dune and gives one more look around. Three great running strides carry him to the lip of the dune, where he jumps out toward the desert and out of view. It's a few seconds before a great black eagle breaks the above the wall of the dunes. His great black wings beat hard against the hot air with a rhythmic WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH as he moves back towards the waterline… looking for ocean breezes or updrafts to ease his ascent. He circles twice as he rises, the whole time his eagle eyes looking down on Priyya and Talvyra. Finding his altitude, he breaks north, following the shoreline. Priyya has come to know the many forms of Mal, and even in aerial form, she can see the fatigue in every flap of his wings.

It'll be a while before I can get the next post up. sorry for the delay.

Priyya watches the Mal-Eagle take flight, wondering what it feels like to be a bird. Tangentially, it strikes her that she doesn't know the range of this odd Status ability. Within her mind, she reaches out to the strange foreign Mal-fragment, trying to feel when the connection is lost as she watches him fly away.

She shakes off the strange set of dual-emotions. The small Paladin pulls her bow and knocks an arrow in a motion more fluid than any of her teachers'. She follows the eagle, providing cover for as long as she can.

This place seems lifeless... but I'd rather not risk finding out about another aerial predator in an explosion of eagle feathers.

Just testing the limits of the connection over distance.

Priyya watches Mal dwindle into a spec on the horizon, keeping her arrow trained on him until what she judges is nearly a half-mile. She'd surprised more than one foe and bystander with her ability to strike at great range. By the time she lets the bow down, her arms had the shakes. The exhaustion and heat were taking its toll.

Finally she looks over to Talvyra. Her great green-eyed hunt-sister sat watching her, baking in the heat. Not one to waste time, Priyya spends a half-hour hand-shoveling out a shallow pit, using her own clothes and the longspear Mal had left to create an impromptu shade. She and Talvyra settle in to wait, keeping quiet vigil together over the sand and water.

The roar of the surf is soothing in a metronome sort of way. Combined with the slow march of the large sun across the clear sky, it's hard to determine how long they wait in their sun shelter. Talvyra doesn't seem to mind the wait, sprawled out, her head and chest in the shade as Priyya pats and scratches her. While Talvyra does look to the north time and again, Priyya is able to comfort her. Mal is fine. Through the link - which has gotten slightly more faint - she can trace his path into the distance to the north and then in a slow circle to the west, then south, then back east again so he was directly south and headed their way. At any moment she could have pointed straight at him, though the connection is faint enough that she's certain she couldn't send any healing through.

Finally she sees the black dot, which grows into Eagle-Mal, taking a descending path towards herself and Talvyra. With a last minute flurry, Mal pulls up short a few paces away from them, his great wings beating against the air to stall his momentum. When he finally seems to slow to a halt - three feet off the ground and surely about to plummet - his body begins to shift and stretch. By the time he hits the sand, it's with booted feet instead of talons, clawed hands instead of feathers, and his usual stone face instead of a beak. A face currently flushed with heat and sweat.

"Damn it's hot."

He gives a quick debrief on his scouting. "I think I visually covered about twenty-five or thirty miles north and south of here and about the same to the west." He shakes his head as he reaches for one of the water skins, "There is nothing out there, Darkmane. Nothing in the sky but me. Nothing on the ground but sand. I didn't even see any fish in the water… at all. Well, that's not true. I saw something far to the north-west, but it looked like a shadow in the sky. A haze. It's hard to tell distances on these dunes, but it looked to be a good deal beyond what I could see accurately. Maybe a storm-cloud? Or a dust-storm of some sort? I guess it could be smoke or something from a town, but who would live out here?"

He comes out of debrief mode, going back to his usual few-words-as-possible self. He points at your shade with a shrug, Can I sit?

The sun sits far lower in the sky and to the west. Sun-down was fast approaching. The shadows from the dunes are reaching towards the water, but the heat hasn't slackened one bit.

Anything you wanna do/discuss before moving into the next day? I don't want to miss opportunities for interplay, but I also don't want to bore y'all with a plodding pace.

With a last minute flurry, Mal pulls up short a few paces away from them, his great wings beating against the air to stall his momentum. When he finally seems to slow to a halt - three feet off the ground and surely about to plummet - his body begins to shift and stretch. By the time he hits the sand, it's with booted feet instead of talons, clawed hands instead of feathers, and his usual stone face instead of a beak. A face currently flushed with heat and sweat.

"Damn, it's hot."

Priyya watches, with a touch of envy, the flawless landing and seamless transition from bird to man. She rests her hands on her hips and gives Mal the sourest expression she can manage though she doesn't stop grinning. "Showoff!"

She tosses him the wineskin and waits until he's seated in the shade before saying anything. Being able to track the Druid's progress over such a long distance gives her a curious sense of security. She isn't nearly as anxious as she would have been otherwise waiting for hours to hear word, even if his report is not encouraging.

"I don't believe it. No life? How is that possible? Life exists everywhere... even in the bowels of Hell. It is practically a multiplanar constant. Wherever we are, it can't be a natural world or we are wrapped in an illusion or something." The Paladin frowns, clearly trying to puzzle this strangeness out. "So, were there any bends in the coastline? Did it look natural? Could we maybe follow the coast and still head towards that stormcloud or whatever it was?"

I'm a little unclear on the geography. Is the only way to get to the stormcloud area by going overland or does the coastline wrap that way?

Priyya reflexively smooths her robe as she stews on their choices. "I'd like to know what that stormcloud is. Maybe we should just rest up tonight. Tomorrow, if you're willing to do another scouting run, you can see if it has moved any. If it hasn't drifted or vanished - it probably isn't a storm, at least not a natural one."

We can FF or chat more, which ever you think is best.

I'm a little unclear on the geography. Is the only way to get to the stormcloud area by going overland or does the coastline wrap that way?

Sorry, here's the short version. The shore seems to run directly north/south, and while there is some slight variation, it seems to be more-or-less on a straight line. Mal didn't see that changing in his scouting, so (unless something changes as they make their way farther north) there's no way they could follow the coast and get to the smoke stuff.

Priyya watches, with a touch of envy, the flawless landing and seamless transition from bird to man. She rests her hands on her hips and gives Mal the sourest expression she can manage though she doesn't stop grinning. "Showoff!"

Mal smiles around a mouthful of water. Wiping his mouth, he can't help but shake his head, "I actually know some magic that can turn you into an eagle or falcon. Unfortunately, I don't know how to reverse it." His smile is a little wicked, "It'd be permanent."

His face sobering, he looks out over the water as he answers the rest, "I agree about this place being unnatural, but I don't have a clue what that could mean. The coastline continues straight north and south of here as far as I could see. If we want to check out the dark cloud thing, we're going to have to head across the sand at some point." He rests back on his elbows, hot sand burning his skin even through his clothes. "I like your plan, though. I'm curious about that cloud thing. When I scout in the morning I'll try to save us some time by heading straight in that direction. Should be only an hour or so… at least to figure out if it's moved."

"So, we tuck in for the night? Unless the weather is as unnatural as everything else, it'll probably get cold tonight. We should dig in a little better." He can't help but smile over at Talvyra, "Did Little Sister give you any problems?"

Priyya pats the big cat affectionately and defends her furry sister. "She gave me far less problems than you do on a daily basis. And I'll pass on your generous offer to give me feathers permanently... I'm sure that is a prelude to scoring yourself a chicken dinner."

Cool. Hit FF when you are ready!

The evening falls on Mal recovering from Priyya's response to a comment that may or may not have included the words 'chicken legs'.

A bruised shoulder is a small price to pay, he thinks as he grins at her again.

They tuck in for the night after digging the sleeping pit a bit larger. It turns out to be every bit as cold as predicted, and even the sentry stays in their little warmth huddle. Mal spends the night in his great cat form to create more heat. Priyya finds the experience of sleeping between two huge kittens not altogether unpleasant, though she does spend a considerable amount of time in the morning trying to get a snoozing Talvyra off her pinned legs.

Mal's great green eyes look over at her with amusement as she struggles, and he melts back into his natural form. The sun is just peeking over the waves. Every once in a while a wave rises above the rest, the perfect blue-green water becoming a back-lit rolling window before crashing down onto the sand. The first wave of morning warmth from the risen sun crashes across their sleeping hut with it.

Mal shifts as if he's going to help her un-Talvyra her legs, then stops and rubs his shoulder. His mouth splits into a wide grin in the early light, fangs flashing. "I think you can handle this, chicken-legs," he whispers as he steps out onto the beach, tossing the last of yesterday's rations to Priyya.

After a quick circuit of their beach-camp, Mal gets a running start before jumping into the air, rapidly gaining altitude after shifting into his aviary form. Amusement is the dominant emotion through their connection for the first twenty minutes of his scout.

He arrives back over an hour later. Priyya was able to track his movement through their bond, so his words come as no surprise.

"No change in the dark cloud. It's not moving. i say we head north along the beach today. Moving along this beach sand will be way easier than on those dunes. I can scout again tonight or tomorrow morning, and we can cut across the desert when we think we're even with the cloud."

He waits for her response as he helps her finish prepare for their travels.

Tiny Retcon

Priyya watches Eagle-Mal fly off as the words Chicken Legs finally registers.

Death...

The Kelesh Archer finds her bow in hand, an arrow knocked, and the black eagle in her sights.
Let's see how he likes it when I replace some of his eagle feathers with goose fletching! 'Chicken Legs' my ass!

Priyya considers the shot for a moment then puts down her bow. She regards the big cat, "Do me a favor... give him a fur-ball or something when he gets back."

End Tiny Retcon

After Mal returns and voices his suggestion, Priyya nods in assent. "I think that's a good plan. There's no hurry to reach that whatever it is. Let's stay by the cooler water and firmer sand as long as we can."

Death...

Lol. Nice.

The trio spend a few minutes gathering and packing their gear -- as well as wrapping a few choice spells around themselves for the long day ahead -- before setting out in a northern route along the waterline. Surprisingly enough, it's the great cats Mal and Tal who set the pace. Darkmane's long, tireless legs allow her to range ahead and wide of the cats as they move steadily north.

Go ahead and do any long-buffs you want, I'm assuming the 8-hour Endure Elements is the plan for all three? Remind me which spells (if any) you have running all day, I'll update Mal/Tal's accordingly as well.

Sun's anvil, indeed. Despite their arcane protection, Priyya's nickname for the white sands is immediately appropriate. As the large sun moves inexorably across the sky, the horizon seems to shift and dance as the heat dissipates up into the clear blue sky.

For hours they travel, Priyya and the two great cats, stopping only a few times for a brief rest and a quick bite. As the large sun reaches its zenith and begins its steady march towards the horizon once more, something behind them catches Priyya's attention. She turns, shading her eyes from the glare of the sun to get a better look.

At what she guesses is about 400 feet behind them (made difficult to judge by the flat beach and wavering heat-waves) two… somethings… jog their way along the beach towards them. They are generally mirroring the three sets of tracks left by the party, but where-as your own footprints tend to weave back and forth along the water-front, the two figures jog on stunted legs on an unnaturally straight course. A course directly towards you.

Other than the strange gait, there is little she can determine at this range about the two.

WOOT! Game on! I'll post something for Priyya when I have a chance. Spell-wise, IIRC, you have Tal covered with Endure Elements so that is 24 hour protection for her and Priyya has the Communal version of the spell to apply to herself and Mal - that's 12 hour protection for each of them. And you were going to take Grove of Respite which would keep us comfortable while sleeping, act as an early warning system, and feed our little troop. So I think we are good with all that. Priyya doesn't have anything else 'just operating'.

Cool. Thanks for the reminder. I remembered that we all had Endure up, but didn't remember the specifics. only other thing I have running for Mal/Tal is a Longstride for Tal -- keeping our group speed at 50 (Priyya being at her awesome 60). :)

Priyya rules! I should really petition Paizo to dump the iconic using this avatar and go with Priyya instead. :)

Priyya watches the figures for another long moment before calling out to her companions. "Mal! Looks like this beach isn't empty; company is coming. You ever seen creatures like that?" The Paladin tries to put a name to these strange stubby-legged creatures or hopes Mal can. She tests her bow's pull and strokes the knocked arrow's fletching absent-mindedly. She stands a bit apart from Mal and Tal, providing multiple targets just in case, and awaits the approach of the odd creatures.

Know: Planes 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

If she recognizes them as evil or overtly dangerous, she'll start firing. When they come within 60' (and assuming they haven't ID'd the creatures before that time) she will Detect Evil.

Priyya does a quick google search for any reference to these things… in heaven, hell, nor any space between can she find a clue. :)

Mal shakes his massive feline head, giving one of his strange animal shrugs as he watches the hobbling figures advance. He and Darkmane both notice as they close that there is an unnatural, almost mechanical rhythm to their gait.

As Priyya moves to find some room for possible maneuvering (any particular direction you want to move? Towards the water, away from the advancing creatures? towards the dunes? Though you do know that the closer to the dunes you get, the more likely to run into difficult terrain), she she could swear that the movements of one of the creatures alters ever-so-slightly to continue its path directly towards her. The path of its twin remains unchanged. They are still over 300 feet away and closing.

Do you have a range in mind for you to open fire? They're currently just over 300 feet away and moving steadily onward. Do you want to wait until you can ping it with Detect Evil before deciding? Or open fire regardless of any perceived intent at a certain range?

Priyya moves away from the waterline (towards the dunes) since mobility is her friend. She won't go into the deep sand yet but she'll keep that option open.

Priyya notes the one altering course and the odd mechanical movement. "It seems that fellow on the right likes me a whole lot. Let's see if I can get him to check his stride."

She rains arrows down in front of the creature - trying to drop them as close as possible without hitting it. Every arrow seems to take on a life of its own, landing in a loose grouping that Priyya considers embarrassingly sloppy. She gives her bow a stern look, like someone may have switched it out with a warped version while she slept.

FULL - FLURRY (SHORTBOW crit: 19+/3x ; Range 70' | -1/increment)
SPEC: Imp Crit, Wep Focus, Wep Spec, Holy (Evil takes +2d6 DAM)
MODS: Base + Magic, FOB, Range: -4

HIT: 1d20 + 17 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 17 - 2 - 4 = 14
DAM: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

HIT: 1d20 + 17 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 17 - 2 - 4 = 18
DAM: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

HIT: 1d20 + 17 - 2 - 5 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 17 - 2 - 5 - 4 = 13
DAM: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

HIT: 1d20 + 17 - 2 - 5 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 17 - 2 - 5 - 4 = 11
DAM: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

LOL! Wow! AWESOME rolls! She is a true terror! Did she even manage to hit the beach with those rolls?!?!

Eesh…. that ain't gonna cut it. Though you were trying to miss, so... good job?

The wave of arrows rains down into the sand. If either of the things notice the arrows, they don't give any indication as they continue past the 300 foot mark without a break in their rhythmic, stunted strides.

They're at roughly 240 ft, still closing.

A slight sand-shifting sound precedes Mal's voice, "I don't like this, Darkmane." He stands -- in elf form -- closer to the waterline than he did before, squinting at the creatures. "The other one seems to be following me."

After a few more seconds of nervous watching, the big elf gets an even more confused look, "If I'm seeing this right, it looks a lot like those things are made out of bones… giant fish bones."

Little Sister, reading the body language of her comrades, holds her position between Big Brother and her Hunt-Sister. The hair at the base of her neck rises in a ridge as a low rumble rolls from her throat.

Sure enough, as details arise from the closing distance, they seem to be made from bleached white, clean bones. They stand about five feet tall each, their oddly-proportioned bodies an amalgamation of carved and compiled bones. Their proportions are all wrong for most humanoids, their head making up at least of their strange body-mass. Their mouths are huge, teeth-filled maws eternally set in the likeness of a disturbing grin. Their limbs are short for their size, but each ends in cruel-looking bone claws. On their foreheads are twin scrimshaws, and even at this distance you can see a faint red glow in the scrimshaw and in their eyes. (This next part isn't' in the image.) Both of their bodies are covered with swirly carvings, and odd bumps -- each bump complete with their own pits, bumps, orbs, and scrollwork -- rise out of their bodies, shoulders, and foreheads.

Image

The creatures are still at 240 and closing. :)

With a growing frown, Priyya watches the strange creatures keep coming, even bracketed by arrows. She takes a small step towards Mal and watches the creatures more closely, noting the bones and symbols. She plays with the fletching on her arrow and growls, "What the HELL are these things? Undead? Golems? Both? Let's stand together... they look mindless. They probably aren't spellcasters. Normally, I'd say live and let live but, in this case, I'm thinking live and let DIE! Light them up, Mal!"

Priyya unleashes a torrent of arrows at the Bone-Daddy rushing towards Mal, gauging the effectiveness of piercing arrows against the skeletal creatures.

5' Move
FREE - Know Check
SWIFT - Ki (Extra Attack)
FULL - Arrows, b*%@$es!

Know: Religion (Are they undead?) 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

The volley hisses through the air, three crashing home on Priyya's target. While the creature recoils from the holy energy of each missile, the arrows themselves shatter or sink semi-harmlessly into the unfeeling joints of the creature's bone parts.

Know: Religion (Are they undead?) 1d20+14

They IS undead of some form! (though some strange, unconventional form)

Without any discernible communication between the two creatures, they act as one. The target of Priyya's attacks stops where it now stands (still at 240ft), seemingly standing idle as the scrimshaw carvings on its forehead pulse with arcane power. Its twin, not missing a step, rushes to stand in front of Priyya's target, grinding to a halt and huddling defensively in on itself… providing cover for its twin.

P Spellcraft 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16.
M Spellcraft 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25.

Priyya's not sure what to make of the glowing scrimshaw for a few seconds, but then the creature begins to expand. Unnoticeably slow at first, then with increasing speed. The remains of Priyya's shattered arrows expand with their carrier.

Talvyra instinctively moves closer to her Hunt-sister, crouching into a defensive stance should the bone-things advance aggressively. Her cautioning growls continues to echo forth.

Tal closes with Priyya, going full defensive when she gets near her Hunt-sister.

As Mal begins to jog towards Priyya, his eyes never come off the two creatures. "That's an Enlarge spell," he growls (as if it weren't already somewhat obvious by its growth). "It'll take it a few more seconds to complete. We turtling up or taking the fight to them?" Without waiting for a response, his form shifts mid-stride, and once again the huge cat stands thirty feet to the east of his Little Sister.

Close 40 ft towards Priyya, then Wildshape into Great Cat form.

ROUND 2 - INITIATIVE
Priyya, Baddies, Tal, Mal

Since no one really had the drop on anyone else, we'll call that the end round 1. Both creatures are still at 240 feet, one is huddled defensively and still providing partial cover for its growing twin. Priyya is within 10 feet of the edge of the deeper sand, so she can retreat to difficult terrain with that much movement, though it will quickly become a steep incline the further west she goes). Talvyra is ten feet to her left (East) and 5 feet out in front of her (South), fully defensive. Mal is another 30 feet beyond Talvyra (towards the water), and at the same spot on the North/South axis.

Let me know if I didn't answer anything, left anything out, or positioning is unclear. Also, this may turn into a tactical type of fight, so if you'd prefer that I create a map, let me know.

Round 2: FIGHT!

She'll give Mal the fully skinny on the creature's abilities - I'm just underplaying it here.

Priyya sidesteps 5' closer to Mal and Tal. "These things are some strange form of undead, Mal. My arrows don't have as much bite as they should. Your claws may suffer the same way. I know you want to go and play with them, but let me see if I can drop one with this volley before you charge in."

The Paladin calls an anathema on the smaller bone-daddy shielding the growing one. Holy power infuses her limbs and glowing arrows fly from her bow towards the huddled creature.

FREE - 5' Move
SWIFT - SMITE (on the Croucher Bone-Daddy)
FULL - Arrows!

Ouch! 133 damage! BOOM, indeed. First two arrows hit, second were misses.

Priyya's second volley hisses towards the huddled bone-creature. Empowered by Sarenrae, they gain supernatural speed and a faint, angry golden glow as they arc downward, crashing home in an explosion of sand and bone chips. When the hot ocean wind blows the sand screen away, the huddled thing remains. Originally white, carved bone is now fractured, pitted, and altogether shattered, and there is a gaping hole in its lower left torso where strange black and red smoke lazily drifts forth. Despite the fine, spider-webbing cracks in its skull, Its malevolent red eyes are unchanged… still set on Mal with mindless determination. Its manic, bone grin made all the more creepy by the now-shattered and split teeth.

The crit was successful, but there doesn't seem to be any discernible difference between regular and Injury damage on these bad boys.

Its twin simultaneously reaches full size, immediately stepping over its now-smaller counterpart and barreling towards Priyya. Its longer legs kick up handfuls of sand as it sprints pell-mell directly at the paladin. As it races past the 100 foot mark, previously indiscernible details begin to reveal themselves. What you at first took as strange bone growths on its shoulders reveal themselves to be miniaturized versions of the bone-men clinging to the original's shoulders. As it plows towards you, these two miniature bone-men stand up on the behemoth's shoulders, regard Priyya momentarily, then roll off the back. Their own fore-head runes, different than those of the original two bone-men, flash red, and the two halfling-sized bone-men disappear from sight before hitting the sand. As they roll backwards you just have time to register the fact that each of these two smaller bone-men has their own clinging baby bone-men on their backs, but where the originals had two on their shoulders, these seem to have four on their back. An additional -- and even smaller face (this one about the size of a small cat) -- is just discernible clinging to the top of the behemoth's head. It seems content to take a joy ride for the time being.

In the background, the scrimshaw runes on the half-wrecked creature's forehead flare to life, and he too begins to expand.

Sh!t just got real! :D

Talvyra struggles to make sense of everything that happens, but her simple mind holds tightly to a few inflexible truths. She WILL protect her Hunt-Sister. And unsee-able opponents are dangerous opponents.

Relying on Mal to intercept the huge bone-two-legs, Talvra stalks over towards her Hunt-sister, preparing a strike for the first of the little, unseeable bone-two-legs that she can find.

Move so she's adjacent to Priyya. Talvyra's North-west corner is touching Priyya's South-east corner.
Readied claw 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

--- Miss Chance 1d100 ⇒ 69.
--- damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13.

As she gets next to Hunt-sister, her nostrils flare, and she lashes out to her south-west, connecting with nothing.

Mal gets distracted as he watches Priyya work. She is a truly efficient hunter. He breathes in the silky steel of her scent as he watches her rain destruction down upon one of these… things. Were I a god, I'd choose her for my champion as well.

There is no time to dwell on the thought, however, as the big bone thing charges in. Big, fast, and threatening. The challenge sings in Mal's blood, and he roars his response even as he launches himself forward. The two come together like comets colliding. Sand and bone once again explode into the air to the mixed sounds of Mal's roar, the scrape of claw and tooth on bone, and the heavy shudder of nearly a half-ton of feline muscle slamming into the same amount of solid bone.

Rage > Charge > Pounce, ending in the north-east corner of the Behemoth bone-thing.
All attacks are using charge + power attack modifiers, and each attack has a Grab attempt on it. The first successful Grab attempt will reduce the rest of the attacks by 2, which is offset by the target's lowered defenses. :D

Mal slams into the charging behemoth, every mighty blow sending chunks of carved bone onto the sand. Now on his hind legs, Mal seems to have the thing's shoulder trapped in his own maw as he tries to contain its advance.

Priyya is frustrated to realize that -- despite the beach's soft surface -- she's unable to track the movements of the two invisible bone-things. Though if Talvyra's actions are any indicator, one of them was about 15 feet in front of Priyya a few seconds before. The bone-thing back down the beach is nearing the completion of its growth, Priyya doesn't have a clear shot because of the titanic struggle between Mal and the big one... though some lateral movement might clear a lane.

Still working on a map, if you'd like for me to have it up before you act, please let me know. It might take a bit (patience: I'm still learning), but it might simplify your actions for you. Until then…

ROUND 3 - Initiative
Priyya > Pack of Baddies > Tal > Mal

Sh!t just got real, indeed! Make'em pay, Darkmane!

And one tiny ret-con (not that it's actually come into play yet). I had said before that the mark didn't give access to ranged-healing on Talvyra... that's not the case. She's covered by the mark as well. :)

Can't have Little Sister feeling left out... she just pouts so much!

Priyya watches her sister swipe at the invisible creature. "Good girl, keep on that one! Let's get to your brother. We'll fight better together."

In the end, the choice of targets is easy. If we get overrun, we lose. We need to take them down one at a time. Until they swarm us... then I've got another surprise for them.

Priyya slowly advances towards Mal while unleashing a hail of arrows at the Bone-Daddy he is grappling.

FREE - 5' Move (towards Mal)
SWIFT - SMITE (Big Bone-Daddy)
FULL - Arrows!

>>> If she manages to finish off the first Bone-Daddy, shift her aim to the other wounded BD. The numbers should stay the same except for adding in the range penalty.

Just a note - Precise Shot eliminates any penalty I'd take for firing into combat.
Point Blank Master means I'm not subject to AoOs for using a bow in melee range.
And Reflexive Shot lets me use my bow to make AoOs. Have a nice day. :D

Yeah, that's right... Legolas is freakin' wussy!

Just to make sure we're on the same page, Precise Shot negates the penalty for firing into friendly melee, but not the cover provided by Mal… lucky for you Mal isn't really between you and the one down-range. :)

And more and more I'm realizing that Legolas WAS a Zen Archer monk.. just with a few key traits and feats.

As Priyya sights in her first arrow, the big bone creature opens its five-foot diameter mouth to bite back at Mal. The arrow flies true, slamming into the back of its throat and exploding out the back of its head. As the dark web of energies that hold the thing together begin to fail, Priyya has two realizations. First, the cat-sized bone-thing that had been clinging to its far-larger brother has hit the dirt, scrabbled to its feet, flared its own little forehead rune, and winked out of visibility. Spellcraft to ID little forehead spell 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8. Nope. Priyya doesn't have a clue what the spell was. Another invisibility?

Second, Priyya realizes her first shot left a gaping hole where a big-bone-head used to be. She smiles even as she sends a second, third, and fourth arrow past Mal's shoulder, through the smoking ruin of the thing's face, and down-range at its growing twin. Two arrows don't quite thread the needle, causing more of the big bone creature's failing body to explode backwards. One, however, hisses through the hole, speeds its way down the beach, and takes the still-growing bone thing... center-mass.

Concentration DC 47 - 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21. <-- Not. Even. Close.

The thing is rocked back, the glow of its scrimshaw runes winking out as bone chips once again explode away from it. It cocks its head quizzically to the side as it realizes its still only five feet tall, then mirrors its larger twin's former actions, rushing full-bore at Mal. As it closes the last ten feet, two shoulder bone-things stand up, watch Mal for a breaths-span, and roll off the back, growing to halfling size as they vanish and hit the sand.

All of this becomes secondary to Priyya, however, as both of the invisible bone-creatures -- now flanking her -- blink into existence as their slashing claws and snapping jaws attempt to close on her. Simultaneously, eight cat-sized bone-men launch themselves from each halfling-sized carriers and onto Priyya. Their tiny jaws are surprisingly strong, and one refuses to let go, clinging to her body like some horrible baby leech.

Altogether the vicious attack is nearly overwhelming, and Priyya fights to remain conscious despite the wave of pain that courses over her skin. The south-side halfling-size bone creature hangs onto Priyya with its jaws, and one of its smaller counterparts hangs from her arm. Seven hit the sand around her feet, scrambling for another attempt to latch on.

Well, damn, looks like Priyya is the flavor of the week! LOL.

Talvyra is only seconds behind the bone-daddy ambush, immediately lashing into and latching onto the one that has attached itself to Priyya. Another series of scraping sounds send bone bits to the sand as Talvyra begins to try to shake it like a rag-doll.

Full attack on the south-side halfling-sized bone-creature, attempting to grab it.
.
bite 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27. HIT
---> damage 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
---> Grab 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38 GRABBED
.
claw 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21 NOPE
---> damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
.
claw 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28 HIT
---> damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Spellcraft to ID little forehead spell 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26.

A near-overwhelming flame of sensation blooms in the little spot-that-is-Darkmane in the back of Mal's mind. SO. MUCH. PAIN. HOLD ON, DARKMANE!

Mal doesn't know fi thoughts can transfer through the connection, but he knows healing powers can. His current quarry forgotten, Mal jumps back a step. His roar carries a subtle under-current of his own rustic language, and Priyya feels a flood of… restorativeness rushing into her through the bond.

5' step back, drop rage and cast Cure Serious Wounds through the Mark.
Heals 3d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 7, 3) + 10 = 25.

Mal is now fatigued for 2 rounds.

Map!

ROUND 4 - Initiative
Priyya > Baddies > Tal > Mal

Let me know if anything on the map is unclear, or if there's anything I missed.
.... aaaaaaaaand GO!

Well, damn, looks like Priyya is the flavor of the week! LOL.

She does appear to be their particular brand of catnip.

Priyya staggers under the weight of what she can only imagine is the equivalent of being simultaneously bitten by a half dozen razor-toothed sharks.

Let's see if my bite is any better.

The Paladin summons the power of Sarenrae in two waves of light before healing herself with another touch.

STANDARD Action: CHANNEL - Lay on Hands (Healing/Destruction):
COST: 2 LoH
EFFECT: 5d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 3, 6, 1) = 16 Heal/Damage ; 30' radius
SAVE: Will Save DC:21 for 1/2 DAM

MOVE Action: QUICK CHANNEL - Lay on Hands (Healing/Destruction):
COST: 3 LoH
EFFECT: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 5, 3, 4) = 23 Heal/Damage ; 30' radius
SAVE: Will Save DC:21 for 1/2 DAM

SWIFT Action: Lay on Hands (Self-Heal):
COST: 1 LoH
EFFECT: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 1, 5) = 15 Heal - Statuses: Fatigued, Diseased, Poisoned

Priyya heals 16 + 23 + 15 = 54 DAM on herself.

*Spends butt-load of gold on a diamond*

*Begins casting Raise Thread spell...*