Cassandra greatly enjoyed the meal provided by Baired and between that and the meal last night it almost all but made up for the money she had lost in the knife game, it was quite strange to be apart of a group after so long, the overwhelming majority of her work in recent years had been alone, the few times when it happened that Cassandra did some work with others generally they were the sort that kept to themselves and split off to handle there own aspects of a mission. But this group at least for the time being appeared to be far more group oriented while certainly a strange departure it was actually a bit of a nice concept to be at least temporarily back in a group. Ideally things would turn out better this time.
They cleared out of the bar not long after everyone had there fill with Khazad leading them, Cassandra had all but immediately hopped onto Harley, the bike roared to life, not two seconds after she had her helmet on Cassandra took off down the road giving the appearance of all but abandoning the group for the few moments her departure lasted before she circled back to join them once again "Sorry 'bout that but that's pretty much the best way short of a bit of strong coffee to get me really 'awake'" Cassandra said flipping up her helmet slightly as she rode near the group.
"So going with Wayfarers idea of assuming we're gonna have bandit issue how do we want to handle it when it becomes a problem? We're a pretty solidly sized crew and we've got a bear, so if we only end up attracting the average sort of bandits we might be able to just 'convince' them that it would be better for them to just roll on rather than needing to waste time and energy on a fight."
"But if there a bit more organized, like apart of an actual gang if we might have a harder time of it depending on how strong there actual crew is, I'm still up for riding ahead to scout a bit if that's what we want to do. I can keep Harley quiet for that bit and if it comes to it I'll just fire her up and make a bit of noise on my way back to you guys."
Oxana doesn't really ask before she hops up behind the catfolk on the Harley. She gives the others a look before kicking her feet. "I'll slow you tallboys down if I hoof it, being my stride a bit smaller than the rest of you. So I'll just hitch a ride with the tiger. Thanks!"
Leaning forward, she whispers a little to Cassandra. "So, don't worry, if we get into trouble, I'll just hop off - I'm better shooting in place anyways."
Cassandra's "Harley" was truly a magnificent contraption to say the least. Baird had encountered a number of unusual vehicles since leaving his tribal homeland, but never had he seen something that appeared to be in such fine condition, let alone made noise and moved. He was quite the runner,able to keep pace with Stryke during a charge, but he felt as if the cat-woman's vehicle could triple his pace and then some.
"Any bandits that try to stand in our way will feel my axe, rest assured!" Thugs were pretty common out in the urban wilderness. They prey on those that cannot find their way, merchants that cannot afford protection, or even townspeople that were unfortunate enough to step out of town at the wrong time. Their opportunistic behavior was appalling to Baird. Men should watch each other's backs in the dangerous outdoors, not take advantage of it! "Just cover Stryke and I until we get close, and then we can handle the rest!"
Four hours wasn't such a long time, but it still offered an opportunity to get to know his travelling companions. Baird also felt that it would be helpful knowing where their combat strengths were so that they could plan accordingly should a conflict arise. "So what are the four of you capable of on the battlefield? As you can probably tell by now, I like to close in and fight hand-to-hand."
Once outside the inn, Wayfarer took a deep breath of the early morning air. It is a warm, confident sun that blesses us, tearing away the clinging shadows of doubt, he muses.
He watched his companions as they gradually spilled out of the inn, their moods thawing in the brightness of the new day. Most of them seemed excited by Cassandra's 'Harley', and he had to admit it was a remarkable-looking vehicle.
He stuck his fingers in his mouth and let out a sharp, high-pitched whistle, repeating it a few times over the next few minutes until answered by a howling sound from just over the ridge. A moment later, a golden shape burst out of the underbrush, dashing across the ruined, rocky terrain of the parking lot that encircled the inn.
"Good morning, my friend," Wayfarer says, as the wolf bounded up to him, its eyes bright. "Are you in the mood for a special treat this morning, Chann?"
The odd-looking wolf, fur gleaming like molten gold, chuffed excitedly, dipping its head to nip at the edge of Wayfarer's coat. The elf laughed, then pulled a faded blue and white cardboard box from his pack. "We're almost out of these, you know. But don't worry--I'll keep an eye out for more." From the box, Wayfarer removed a small, yellow, sponge-like cake, stripping off the crinkly clear plastic it was wrapped in.
He tossed the cake into the air, and the wolf lept to catch it, snatching it from the air with evident glee, causing the elf to laugh again.
Wayfarer turned back to his fellow travellers. "This is my dear friend and companion, Chann. We have traveled side-by-side for many years. In general, he is a greedy and cowardly creature, though he can be fierce when riled." Wayfarer scratched Chann behind the ears, and the wolf panted happily, looking for all the world as though it didn't have a single fierce bone in its body.
"So what are the four of you capable of on the battlefield? As you can probably tell by now, I like to close in and fight hand-to-hand."
"Although the art of battle is certainly a noble one," Wayfare answers, "Chann and I prefer to avoid fights--when possible. When conflict does become inevitable, I like to send Chann ahead to sweep our enemies from their feet, while I finish them off from a distance."
"In a group like this, I would likely engage our enemies from range, firing using my rifle or grenades for as long as my lines of fire were clear. After that, I would hang back and provide medical support as needed, while directing Chann to assist and defend my allies."
"Depends on the situation but in most cases of open battle I like to get behind distracted idiots and tear 'em a now one, these claws are about as tough as steel. But if I get the chance I like to slip around opponents, pick people off who look important and get what needs to be done done, If need be I can even ride Harley into a fight, she's tough enough to make a pretty solid impact on most anyone though fighting while controling a motorcycle isnt exactly the easiest thing."
Cassandra said with a laugh, it appeared Baird and Stryke were just as they appeared a physical duo, they would likely be the best ones to pair with in a conflict.
"If it comes down to it I'll probably stick on you or Stryke in a fight, you're big and tough so it might be enough to keep them off me for long enough for me to do my thing." She said with a smirk, between Oxana, Wayfarer and likely Khazad if that rifle was any indication they had a very solid back line for ranged attacks.
Wayfarers 'wolf'(Cass felt relatively confident that calling it that was likely true) was an interesting sort and the fact that the wolf was trained for combat and good at bringing down enemies was great, if people were flat on there asses then they were far less capable of defending themselves.
Sandman pulled his pale top hat down over his eyes as they went outside into the glare. He winced a little and looked down at his shadow.
"You ah no help either."
When the bear-wrangler asked about the group's fighting prowess, Saturday shrugged.
"I am more of a lovah den a fightah. If push comes to shove, I will just try to stay out of everyone's way."
Khazad seems to get along with the five wanderers surprisingly well, seemingly a well-meaning man. He takes well to Chann and can't hide being impressed by Cassandra's motorcycle. However you want to spin it, the four hour walk was actually relatively uneventful. You would have had to have been unlucky to get jumped by bandits in such a short walk, but many of you have known it to happen.
Nashville was finally in sight. As the group approached the city, the density of ruined cars on the interstate grew and the city, just as promised, looked like a ghost town. As the group walked down the exit ramp, finally crossing officially into the city, Khazad spoke seriously.
"Be ready, friends. And try not to make too much noise. I ain't sure what we gon' find in here. Maybe you should push that bike."
He unstrapped the rifle from his back and held it in front of him for whatever unexpected foe he might find.
Saturday's Shadow is going to scout. As they approach the city Saturday is going to surreptitiously manifest his shadow and cast Unfetter to send it off ahead. For the next ten minutes it will not have to stay close to him. It will be 110 feet ahead of the party.
Saturday's Shadow has a +13 stealth bonus and a +4 Perception bonus. The cantrip Message is going to allow it to communicate with Saturday over the distance and tell him what is coming.
Ill let you handle the rolls you think are necessary to see if the Shadow is spotted, or if anyone notices what Saturday is doing.
"You'd be surprised what Harley is capable of" Cassandra said with a wink directed at Khazad before flipping a swith the roar of the bike became more restrained becoming a humm far more like much smaller types of bikes "Like I said Harley can be quiet if the need arises, unless anyone objects I think I'll take a quick look ahead since I've got a bit of speed to work with, Oxana if you wanna stick with me then thats just fine shouldent slow us down any and if anything does go wrong having a bit of backup cant hurt." Cass said and unless objectsion were brought up she would ride out to do a quick scout of the immediet area before the town.
Wayfarer nods. "That sounds like an excellent plan, Cassandra. I suggest the rest of us follow at a normal pace, ready to head to your assistance if needed. Do either you or Oxana have something you could use as a signal, in the event of trouble?"
He peers down the ruined highway, frowning. "The terrain does look rough--all those wrecked cars. Are you certain Harley can maneuver through there?"
Oxana gives the elf a funny look, before wagging her rifle in his face. "If you hear gunshots, that's the signal to come running, tallboy. Come on, let's not waste daylight. I didn't ruin my darkvision as a youth to travel by night."
"Just make sure that Stryke and I can get to them, and this battle will be over in no time!" The young grizzly bear roared in agreement.
Cassandra actually finds that the density of cars on the interstate is too much for her ability to maneuver reliably on the motorcycle. As a result, she is currently still with the main group.
Wayfarer jumps, clearly startled. He looks at Saturday with mingled surprise and fear. "What was tha-", he begins to say, then shakes his head. No. That...must have been my imagination. There's no way...
"Ah. ...nevermind. I thought I saw something, but it must have been a trick of the light," Wayfarer says, obviously somewhat embarrassed. "My apologies, friends."
Careful, Elénaril. These people will think twice about travelling with you if they realize you're afraid of shadows.
Cassandra tries her best to keep her frustration over the car density off ehr face, it was not of course the first time she'd encountered a road a bit too blocked up to ride easily but that didn't exactly make it less grating on the nerves. "Theres just too many cars around, I think it's best if I just stick with the rest of you, if there IS anything I don't wanna end up getting myself and Oxanna stuck while I try and maneuver through this damn maze of metal"
Cassandra raises an eyebrow at Wayfarer's reaction to whatever it was he saw not quite catching where his surprise was directed specifically "Well at least you've got your eyes open" she said giving him a grin If whatever you might have seen pops up again speak up, might end up being one of the monsters Khazad mentioned." Cassandra said with a shrug.
This Mr. Saturday possesses a gift as well? Perhaps by staying out of the way, he means to stay out of sight so that he may work wonders unnoticed. Baird was not about to speak up on the matter, as much as he would have liked to. He had not been taught to fear or hate these gifts. It disappointed him that such great powers were shunned, and that those that could do great things must do so at their own great peril. Many communities in this wasteland were without pure water, and one of his most basic gifts alone could ensure that they never ran out. And yet, the people were afraid of this and drove it out as if it were an invading beast! Baird thought it silly that such hatred could come so easily.
Cassandra seemed disappointed that she could not ride ahead on her bike. "Do not worry, my young friend, for even the mightiest of wolves hunt in packs. Your claws might be a valuable asset stalking whatever might lie in wait ahead, but they will be even more valuable here, ready to protect us should anything appear."
Wayfarer slowly looks up and down the ruined interstate. "Hmm. Upon further inspection, it appears some of those cars may have crashed into one another. Between that, and the scattered debris, this old road will be difficult enough to traverse on foot, much less on a motorcycle."
"On the bright side," Wayfarer says, trying to be positive, "the same terrain that hinders us could potentially be to our advantage. There's plenty of cover in the event of a firefight, for instance."
Saturday unsummons his Eidolon as a standard action.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have been spotted and are about to come under fire. Take cover. Saturday says calmly, ducking behind an abandoned car.
Casting Mage Armor and going defensive as a move action.
[dice=Slight of hand]1d20+8[/die]
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have been spotted and are about to come under fire. Take cover." Saturday says calmly, ducking behind an abandoned car.
I can waste time trying to figure out how he knows that, Elénaril thinks, watching as Saturday coolly and efficiently moves into cover, or I can trust him for now, and be ready for the worst.
Wayfarer conceals himself by kneeling next to the front wheel of a decaying vehicle, drawing his rifle from his back as he does so. He barks out a quick command to Chenn, in elvish, and the animal rushes to his side, whimpering nervously. "Shush," he says quietly, "be calm, Chenn."
He sets the rifle on his knees for a moment, drawing a tiny vial from the pouch at his belt. Mercury, hummingbird blood, and gasoline. This should work nicely.
The potion has a startling and near-instantaneous effect: Wayfaer's skin stretches over bones that begin to disturbingly creak, his eyes and face elongate inhumanly, and his knuckles pop and snap as he rapidly grows two additional sets of finger joints.
The transformation is clearly painful, judging by the intense grimace on his face. But he refuses to cry out, instead biting the side of his cheek hard enough that blood wells up and drips off his lip.
Cassandra raises an eyebrow at Saturday's unexpected warning, were the mans eyes simply that good? Her gaze darted around once more trying to spot what he had seen that she had not, regardless she trusted that Saturday would not make a false claim and as such slipped off of Harley leaving the bike active "Be back soon." Cassandra said with a wink to the rest of the group before weaving through the cars in an effort to find somewhere out of sight where she could lie in wait to spring an attack on an unsuspecting enemy.
From her hiding spot Cassandra's eyes widen as she witnesses Wayfarers transformation hoping very dearly that it was the intended effect of whatever it was that he put in that vial though the visual signs of intense pain did little to relieve her concerns, after this was done with that would certainly need to be something that was discussed as it was most certainly NOT among the skills that Wayfarer had mentioned having.
"How do you..." Baird was fairly confused. Was this a part of that spell that he had seen Mr. Saturday cast? Could he be trusted? Whatever the case may be, Baird could not just stand out in the open to wait and see. "Come Stryke, let us conceal ourselves. We gauge the enemy, and then we charge." He would occasionally glance over to keep an eye on Mr. Saturday. It wasn't beyond reason that he could have set up some sort of ambush and would attack them from behind once they were distracted.
Oxana's pragmatic - once Saturday's warning comes along, the dwarf heads over to the nearest car to use as cover, propping her rifle up over it and aiming down the highway. The magic use of Wayfarer is rather ignored for the time being - weird, yes, but not a priority to focus on if she was gonna survive a potential ambush.
As the party reaches their respective covers, a group of seven strange looking humanoids burst from one of the alleys. They seem emaciated to the point of almost looking skeletal and their skin hugs tightly to their bones. They are wearing what appears to be very old scraps of what was once clothing. As they run out from the alleyway, they begin looking around as if whatever they had been chasing was now gone. Instead, however, they spot the party and begin moving as quickly as they can toward them.
That was round 1, round 2 has the Wayfarer at the top of the round to act. Followed by the irradiated monsters, followed by everyone else.
Wayfarer sighs, almost with relief. The anticipation was the hardest part, he thinks, but now that the waiting is over, I find a certain calmness has settled over me.
"Sadly, my fellow expedition members, I don't believe these men are willing to listen to reason."
The bony men come clamouring over the cars in their desperate rush to reach the travelers. As one rises up atop a ruined and rusted monument to Detroit steel, Wayfarer calmly raises his rifle and takes aim.
Chenn bares his fangs and growls nervously. "Hold, Chenn. Not yet."
The strange humanoids continue their running assault into the party, but the elven man with the dart gun manages to strike one of them solidly in the chest, bloodying it. Despite the damage, though, the monster continues as if nothing had happened.
Only three of the creatures were able to get within range of the party. Viciously, they unleashed attacks using whatever bodypart they could slam against them.
Khazad lines up a shot with his rifle to shoot one of the creatures attacking Baird.
Blowing his brains out all over the car behind him.
Oxana likewise aims at one of the creatures attacking Cassandra, firing off her rifle before moving to reload.
Oxana's blast strikes true, but only catches the shoulder of the creature, bloodying it.
Cassandra hisses at the creature as it draws near, 'creature' was perhaps the best word she could use for what this thing was, it was 'technically' human but it was very clear that radiation had long since done away with everything that really made it 'human'. Cassandra's claws popped out and in an instant Cassandra was on the creature swiping at it as quickly as she could in an effort to put it down as quickly as possible both for her sake and for its own.
"Harley! Get'em!" Cassandra orders the bike hoping that perhaps the others would be unable to see or hear her due to the chaos of the fight, upon receiving the order Harley's engine revs for a moment before 'she' tears forward to defend Cassandra by slamming into her attackers.
A gold coin rolled out from under the car Saturday was hiding behind, winding across the uneven ground to fall face down in front of one of the ghoul-like men.
A weak hit connected with Baird, but a hit nonetheless. He had no idea what these creatures were, nor what their motivation for attacking his party was. He had encountered nothing like them in his travels, so there was no telling what they could be dealing with. Still, they had charged them without saying a word, and Baird could not take that lying down.
"So, you wish to do battle, fiend? Well then I welcome the challenge!" Oxana had injured the creature that was still standing, so Baird felt cheap for finishing it off. Still, it was all he could do if he wanted a little breathing room.