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Morti looks up, having cuaght his breath a little, Trap it, p'raps, but was clear we'd be doing folk no favors by burnin' down the barn.
Scanning across the village, his eyes stop on another building, What about that Baca's hut, there? Man took 'is family and left, seemed clear 'e had no more use for this place. Can we nail up a new path leadin' the Hollow Man in there, then bar th' door?
Looking off into the wood.
"Maybe we'll be lucky and see some sign of them. Until then we'll just have to keep moving. I can move ahead a bit as long as we don't loose each other."
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"The plants In this part of the woods seem to draw a portion of any blessing into them. It didn't happen on the path Cyanne and I took into the woods, but it does here. If we manage to get ahead of that monster, I might be able to use it in order to obscure the original path as we make a new one."
Kakao looks in the direction the group is headed.
"I fear we missed the others. I just hope we can get ahead of the monster enough to create the false trail."
Mikka, you and Zephyr have been leading Kakao and co with Okrin back to the village Levoca.
Anna's Barn is the only Barn around. However, it's attached to her house.
There was a big open shed full of stuff by Kaerl's house.
Baca's dugout house is empty (or should be). He moved away.
"Alvight Ve Vake dem. You see."
And then the two men light the torches they carry. The thin man's belt sinks down over his waist. They are dressed in the same humble farming clothes as you've become used to in this backwater berg.
The two guards start walking around the houses knocking on the doors and yelling. You see some of the womenfolk and children gathering up blankets and heading toward Anna's house.
The men waking the village light the torches outside the doors to each house. However, the slim one seems hesitant as he does so.
Morti looks up, having cuaght his breath a little, Trap it, p'raps, but was clear we'd be doing folk no favors by burnin' down the barn.
Scanning across the village, his eyes stop on another building, What about that Baca's hut, there? Man took 'is family and left, seemed clear 'e had no more use for this place. Can we nail up a new path leadin' the Hollow Man in there, then bar th' door?
"That is a great idea Morti, but is he even following the nails..? We can try, but if it doesn't work, we need to be ready to draw him with more aggressive tactics, and also to set the house on fire with the Hollow Man in it" - Caramir nods, somber.
Karl notes the slim man who is hesitant. Morti, Caramir, see that fellow. A little reluctant. Keep an eye on him. Karl tells them in a soft voice.
Reluctant? Probably just anxious? Morti gives the man a once-over before turning to Caramir.
Don't suppose you held onto any of the critters? I'd nail one up over Baca's door, try t' lure 'im in? If 'e doesn't seem to go for it, well, maybe you can draw 'im in that direction, and I'll do m' best to push 'im through the door from b'hind. The dwarf glances back, into the woods, trying to remember how far back they'd dropped the last corpses, in case Caramir doesn't ahve one ready to hand.
If we could disarm it, the rope it in, we could drag it to the house.
"Very well then" - Caramir nods at the suggestions, taking one of the dead critters he was still holding - "Karl, find some rope. Morti, try to find some sort of old wagon that can serve as a wagon? I'll try to lure the monster to the abandoned house - it is probably locked though, and I may need help to break in"
The elf does stare at the hesitant man for a moment - "We may need to remember to talk to that one, if we survive the night" - he adds - "Lets go!"
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Morti nails up a dead varmint above the door to the Baca house.
There is one wagon beside Kaerl's house. It appears to be in great condition. However, there don't appear to be any animals in town capable of pulling such a thing.
The door to Baca's house is unlocked, the door is open. Outside, a torch is lit atop a pole.
All of you in Levoca notice a number of white moths beginning to gather around the flames of the torches.
The village men gather in a number of small groups around the edges of the forest clearing. You see a few go up the mound to the top of the Kiln with torches.
Karl looks for some rope
Th' moths are new--think they're with th' Hollow Man, or am I jumpin' at shadows? murmurs Morti to Caramir. An'--what's this lot doing at the kiln? Thought we figured it was out of commission?
"I don't know Morti - I thought it was completely useless, unless we put in at least a week of work..?" - the elf retorts, opening the door to Baca's house - "Anyone in here?"
He then turns to the people moving to the kiln - "Folks! Why move to the kiln!?" - he shouts.
Karl also looks for oil and the like. Once that is done he lights his torch, and casts light over the entrance of the house. He then quickly makes a lasso out of the rope.
Morti we need to disarm this thing, and then throw it into the house. Then we burn it up. I think you are the strongest, so we will go on your lead. Once it is grappled we lasso it and drag it in there.
He thinks for a moment. Wait. could we through it into the kiln? Is it big enough. It doesn't have to work as a kiln, just burn it.
Running slightly ahead to warn the others of the proximity of creature.
"It's closing in behind us. I hope you all have something in mind to slow it down."
"We need to make a decision" - Caramir turns at Karl's words - "Bacca's House, or the kiln?"
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Somewhat confused, Kakao runs into the village.
"Huh...I must have gotten mixed up in those trees. I thought we were trying for the curve in the path before the village."
In reply to Okrin's comment he looks back. "Did I miss it? I haven't seen the monster since our battle where we nearly ignited the whole forest."
Smiling as he sees Morti, Caramir and Karl he quickly adds "At least we found the others!"
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Karl, I was simply thinkin' of hitting 'im from behind, and trying to push 'im into the hut--seems like several ways it could go wrong, tryin' to disarm and wrestle him? Either way, you, me and Caramir will need to give me a hand, th' thing's pretty solid.
Karl looks for a axe, which will be more useful he thinks. Once that is done, he opens the door to the chosen house, and checks it out. (Bacca's house I believe?)
On seeing the others arrive
Good, you made it! Kakeo, we could use some healing. And we have a plan.
Karl explains the plan quickly, (grapple/force the hollowman into a house, then burn the house) finishing with This allows us to limit the fire damage by containing it. We were thinking of using the old kiln, but getting it in is probably too hard.
He looks at the woods.
we don't have much time I think.
Looking back toward the woods while listening to Karl.
"Let's hope this works. I can run back to lure the creature closer and hopefully into the building. Is there a way I can get out once I've lured the creature in?"
dive through a window?
Nodding.
"Better than getting caught by that creature I'd say. So it has windows then? Better make sure it's open."
Okrin looks around to see if one of the others is going to check the window.
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You all share a moment of calm as you are reunited. Karl grabs an axe from a nearby house. You think you might have time to prepare something in the vacant earthen home of Baca, but time is not your ally tonight.
On the edge of the lights of the village among the towering trees and the wired-together scare wards, a shadow takes form in the north east.
It is the Hollow Man, his infested and crooked form strides forward into the light silently.
By his side, the bone white scythe, dangling the corpses of his animal trophies.
Karl gathers wood, straw bales and other flammable stuff and throwing it into the house. He also explains the plan to the villagers.
Looking to the edge of the forest.
"Looks like we're about out of time."
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Morti, Caramir, and Karl are still fatigued, Mikka should be at 8HP
Karl gathers wood, straw bales and other flammable stuff and throwing it into the house. He also explains the plan to the villagers.
...
Morti adjusts his grip on his hammer, reflexively stepping in front of Karl as the magus gathers wood.
What say y' of the house, Okrin? Can you lead him in and get out a window, or will we have to rely on grabbin' and stuffin' him through the door?
"I don't think we will be able to simply drag him Morti" - Caramir chimes in - "We should draw him in. Ready?" - he asks, drawing his bow - "We hit and run. The villagers stay back, making sure we are the only targets to chase"
why not grab it? But whatever works
Looking into the distance.
"Let's hope it still has a taste for blood."
Kakao moves near the group and raises his holy symbol. "Bacchus, invigorate us!"
Morti nods to Karl, From our battle in the woods, I found 'im to be an incredibly stable creature. I'd want to get 'im as close to the door as possible before relyin' on brute force to haul 'im in!
"That" - Caramir nods in agreement to Morti.
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ORDER 1-Hollow 2-Party 3-NPC
THE HOLLOW MAN he walks among the trees south of 8.Levoca, leaving the trail. He heads due south, moaning now as he moves his crooked limbs in unholy animation.
With a glance you take it all in. The villagers stay back, most of them huddled together with shared torches and farm tools west of the kiln.
Meanwhile, a creaking noise comes, the sound of old wood straining against bonds. Like a house tearing loose from its founding stones, it carries to you off the trunks of trees. Looking into the dense growth outside the clearing you see movement all of a sudden. The wood wards, used to protect against bad spirits, break their wire bonds and begin moving. You count three of them following the Hollow Man.
You are all gathered south of the lime kiln, near Baca's Hut. What do you do?
oh s#@$! More of them?
Karl hefts his axe, nervously.
"Are those friends or foes?" - Caramir asks when he sees the wood wards animating.
"Move away from its path, we will draw him to Baca's house, and burn him in there!" - he shouts at the villagers - "Move away!"
He then fires a single shot, from as far away as he can, and starts moving towards Baca's hut.
Morti takes a few steps to the side, preparing for a running start to push the Hollow Man into the hut, but also watching warily in case it and the wood wards begin attacking villagers.
Okrin positions himself closer to the creature, but not too close.
"Are we ready?"