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Seraph is the first to make it across the river followed by Fluff dragging Sunset, then Torod and Strawberry.
Thomas and Asta are still making their way across the river then the front three hear from a rocky gulch not far from the river, a woman's voice "Ahaaa Help me!"
charm effect.
Thomas would be delayed one round and Asta would be delayed until she or her horse makes a successful swim check.
Torod is about to warn Seraph of something when there's a cry for help.
+2 v enchantments, +2 v charm and compulsion.
Instead, he hurries off to see what the trouble is.
Perception
Stealth
Strawberry thinks it odd that Torod takes off just as they verify their prey, but she dutifully follows after him.
"We're being followed." Then he goes off after the scream.
”Torod? Torod!” Thomas calls after him before spurring his horse forward with a click.
Sunset hobbles Fluff then draws her small weapon and advances slowly along the river bank towards the call, eyes scanning for the danger.
Seraph had crossed ahead of the others with Torod when he said something and dashed off. Though the scream caught her by surprise she felt off somehow.
She waits for Asta to finish crossing before attempting to follow the others.
She urged Julius forward, drawing her sword and pursuing Torod as best she can. Her eyes peeled for their stalker Torod had mentioned before running off. She stays close to Asta as they ride after the others...
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No sooner does Torod give his warring when the scream for help is heard, he charges off into the rocky gulch followed by strawberry and Thomas after a moment.
Seraph wait for Asta before pursuing Torod.
The rocky gulch has step sides and a narrow path that turn sharply several times.
A large creature with stag's hooves, a lion's body, and a badger's head charges Torod with a shrill cry of evil delight bites into the hunter drawing blood.
to hit
Large magical beast:
Torod: 14 dam
strawberry:
Thomas: delayed 1 round
Sunset: pending Will save DC16 is delayed (saved) or with Torod (failed).
Seraph: delayed
Asta: delayed
Torod retaliates against the monster. Almost without thought, he draws Wyandare, his feybane scimitar, and strikes out with it.
Wyandare (Scimitar +2 feybane):
to hurt
As a swift action, Torod activates Animal Focus (Tiger) for himself and Strawberry and he shifts to set up a flank for Strawberry.
What is this creature?
Strawberry leaps to help defend her master. Moving to strike from an angle.
Bite: tiger aspect, flank
to hit to hurt trip
Sunset moves a little closer tyring to get some height from the edge/rim of the gully to gain some hieght to shoot down into the melee.
(^_^)
Asta's eyes go blank and she heels her horse forward, urging it to cross the river.
The Witch's mount turns out to be a strong swimmer, even if it does flip its ears back at the sound of screams coming from up ahead.
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Torod draws his scimitar and strikes at the creature just hitting. Torod believes the creature is a Leucrotta. A large magical beast that is intelligent, cruel and evil. It uses it magical mimicry voice to lure people to it for both sport and food.
Strawberry leaps to attack, but just misses the strange creature.
Sunset follows along trying to get some height for shooting.
Asta crosses the water and is also lured in by the voice.
Seraph does her best to keep up with Asta.
The Leucrotta bites at Torod and kicks twice at strawberry. The bite wounds the hunter deeply, but both kicks miss the cat.
to hit
to hit
to hit
Leucrotta: +8 dam
Torod: 14+11=25 dam
strawberry:
Thomas:
Sunset:
Seraph:
Asta:
Torod fights through the pain of the leucrotta's attacks, trying to put an end to the creature quickly.
Wyandare (Scimitar +2 feybane):
to hurt
Strawberry continues to maneuver and attack.
Bite: tiger aspect
to hit to hurt trip
Claw: tiger aspect
to hit to hurt
Claw: tiger aspect
to hit to hurt
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Torod strikes the creature back as they trade wounds. Then Strawberry connects with the bite and both claws leaving several new bloody gashes on the Leucrotta.
The leucrotta seems taken back at the ferocity of the attacks on it.
Leucrotta: 8+7+9+7+6=37 dam
Torod: 25 dam
strawberry:
Thomas:
Sunset:
Seraph:
Asta:
Thomas draws his blade as he rides up on his black warhorse. ”By the flames of Justice!” he calls out as he rides up and brings his weapon down overhanded at the beast!
__________
Asta draws a bead on the leucrotta, rises in the stirrups and opens her mouth as if to scream -- except no sound comes out. At least, no sound the others can hear. In the head of the leucrotta, an unholy wailing, shrieking chorus resounds!
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Thomas charges up on his horse to attack the magical beast striking true severely wounding it, but not before it whips around and bites him as he moves within range of her attacks. She gives nearly as much as she receives.
Asta using her magic to scream silently at the Leucrotta only a minor painful buzz as the beast shakes off most of the spells effects.
The evil beast is still standing, but looks severely injured.
to hit
Round 2: Bold may Act (Other PCs are out any delay and compulsion free to act.)
Leucrotta: 37+15+1=53 dam
Torod: 25 dam
strawberry:
Thomas: +14 dam
Sunset:
Seraph:
Asta:
Seeing Asta's strangeness she tries calling to her before arriving at the scene of a bloody struggle. One that fills her with a sudden need to make this creature bleed, that was before she saw Torod's bloodied clothes.
With her large Bastard Sword drawn she storms the creature on foot calling on her faith in Arshea to gird her in protective divine armor!
In the head of the leucrotta, an unholy wailing, shrieking chorus resounds!
Sunset tries to draw a bead on the varmint. Though she holds her fire for fear of hitting Torod. She tries to get to the top/edge of the ravine to possibly shoot down at the beasty-badger.
Thomas touches his holy symbol as he eyes the retreating beast warily, and a pulse of reddish golden energy waves out and over the group, healing wounds as it passes over.
As the badger monster tries to break free Sunset takes a shot.
Torod sheaths Wyandare and gets his bow, letting an arrow fly.
Comp Longbow, mw mighty +2: tiger aspect
He changes Strawberry's Animal Focus to Monkey, giving her a bonus to Climb checks.
Climb
Strawberry runs right up the ravine and circles around to the front of the leucrotta to cut off its escape.
Seraph racks her brain for any idea as to What this creature is and its possible defenses, weaknesses until it leaps onto a higher ledge in a bid to escape. She couldn't let it flee, only to bait other poor passerby's to its tricks. She Drops her large blade, moving forward swiftly and drawing out her Longbow and lines up to fire at the beastly creature. "You're not getting away..." She whispers this as she draws back on her bow, calling on her goddess to help her smite this creature if the goddess so desired to aid her...
-
She lets the arrow fly just as Strawberry starts to harass it again...
If the leucrotta is still alive, Asta hits it with another soundless scream.
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Calling upon his Empyreal Lord, Thomas channels Ragathiel’s healing energy to the living causing most of his wounds and half of Torod’s to close up.
”BANG” Sunset’s shot misses a little to the left.
Sheathing his sword, Torod draws his bow and fires an arrow that misses.
Feeling part monkey, Strawberry races after the creature, but get’s slowed down when climbing the 15 foot gulch sides.
Dropping her blade and moving forward while drawing her bow, Seraph takes aim and drops the evil Leucrotta with a Smiting Thistle arrow.
Asta holds her spell seeing the Leucrotta fall.
The Leucrotta lays dying, and soon bleeds out without aid or healing.
The group feels their efforts in battle have cleansed this small patch of land of an evil creature making it safe for their fledgling kingdom’s future expansion.
-
In a narrow valley where the monster made it’s home. The leucrotta’s ill-gotten gains are stashed, consisting of a blue dragonhide breastplate, a matching blue dragonhide heavy shield, a magic feather token , an ivory comb (worth 50 gp), and 86 gp. The gold pieces are coated in a foul-smelling slime (the result of having passed through the leucrotta’s digestive system).
- [spoiler=test]123
[/spoiler]
Weather or not you find the lair, you can finish exploring the hex and return to camp without further issue.
Leucrotta: 53+10+1+1=65 Dying & Bleeding.
Torod: 25-11=14 dam
strawberry:
Thomas: 14-11=3 dam
Sunset:
Seraph:
Asta:
Torod can Take 10 and find the lair and the loot.
Her divine power pulses outward, expended the moment the Badgered-headed creature falls. She recovers her sword and Julius before pursuing the wounded Torod. "Hold still a moment Torod. You as well Thomas."
After she had handled the healing she looks for any others who were injured before following Torod cautiously.
Thomas nods a thanks to Seraph. He then follows alongside Torod as he guides them to the beast’s lair. He looks over the cast aside gear appreciatively, particularly the armor and shield.
”This beast was quite the danger, considering it managed to fell a warrior that wore armors such as these...”
Seraph gives Thomas a warm smile before following along, keeping her sword drawn and prepared to fight in case this creature wasn't alone. She descends with Torod into the beasts lair and nods at Thomas's words. "A pity... At least now its finished." She kneels down and pulls the Dragonscale armor from the muck...
She uses create water to wash away the muck, the torrent falling on the muck to reveal the armors colors more clearly. "Dragonscale." She uses more of her magic to try and wash away the muck further. "We need to get back to the horses. If there are any remains we bury them somewhere proper and this gear be put to better use." She picks up the shield, putting it on her back for now. Feeling the encumbrance slowing her down as well.
Sunset sighs. Seeming a tad miffed that her shot didn't amount to anything but still happy that the encounter ended with the badger monster dead.
As the party gather at the beasts lair, Sunset does smile at the loot found though she does little more than give Seraph a comraderly slap on the thigh before turning and walks back to where Fluff and the guards were waiting.
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Healing up and finding the lair of the Leucrotta, the heroes clean off the blue dragonhide armor and shield wondering who was the previous unlucky owner was, maybe some of his bones lay scattered with the other bones in the monsters narrow valley home.
At base camp the night is clear and warm with no disturbances, as is also the ride back to Staghart.
There were no disturbances at staghart for the last four days while the leaders were away. An official message did arrive via courier from Varnhold, but none from Fort Drelev yet.
Greetings to our sister nation of Greenheart and their leaders.
Varnhold is growing in size despite the Nomen centaurs strange culture. We did have a band of Kobolds pass through on their way east. They were being lead by a unusually sociable kobold fellow named Mikmek. He had only good things to say about Greenheart leaders. I've heard you have finally gotten the underhand in your dealing with the Mites. Unfortunate business and all that.
I would be happy to meet with the honorable Asta of Greenheart to discuss possible trade and alliance, currently we are highly involved in making sure the crops are being tended so that we will have enough for the winter.
Looking forward to future exchanges.
Lord Maegar Varn of Varnhold.
Thomas smiles at the reply, and takes it to Asta for her to read. ”My Lady, it would seem Lord Maegar Varn Of Varnhold has received my message and has responded amicably.”
Once she has a chance to read it, he adds ”I believe we should arrange a meeting, either hosted here or perhaps make a voyage to their holdings. I feel it would prove beneficial to know we have an ally on another of our flanks.”
"A good notion," Asta says, as she reads the message. "And we shall certainly accept the invitation to meet. It does raise a point, though. How fare our own food stores? We should perhaps see them receive stronger protection. Remember, Grigori and the Trolls are still out there, and we should expect a counterstrike soon or late. If our supplies are good, perhaps we should invite the lord of Varnhold over for dinner."
”A good show of courtesy as well as strength, My Lady. Inviting he and his court here shows we do not fear strangers seeing our defenses and progress, as well as a sign of confidence in our own position. Also, it reinforces our claim of a desire for peaceful interaction,” Thomas replies with a smile. ”Shall I draft a reply?”
"How says the rest of the Council?" Asta asks. "Yae or nay?"
Sunset shrugs, "We've got'a be sayin' 'Howdy' ta' tha' neighbors sooner or later. Best make it now, when we're all putterin' about doin' tha' same thing a settin' up shop."
At the Beasts lair, outside
Seraph lets out a Meep in surprise when Sunset slaps her on the leg. Having been deep in thought when the comradely sneak slap occurred. She smiled at Sunset and nodded to her. Having been brought out of her distracted state she poses the question to Torod[. "Should we take this and skin it? It would make quite the tale and I'd be willing to help out with the endeavor." She gestures to the corpse.
___________________________________________________________________________
Back at Base Camp
"Aye, lets invite them. I'd enjoy meeting some of our counterparts. Perhaps we can forge cooperation between our respective military forces and a mutual trade route between our kingdoms." She smiled at the thought of meeting new people, especially those like them trying to survive in the Stolen Lands.
"That sounds like a fine idea, my friend. It would make for a good tale indeed."
=========================================================================== =
"I would rather be out in the land exploring and helping people, but I understand the need to build alliances with our neighbors."
Seraph aids in skinning the strange creature that the had cough. Trying to salvage it's strange pelt to show others in the country. Another threat removed. That grim thought made her feel justified in defeating this creature.
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|
Back at Staghart, the leaders see to the affairs of state, prepairing the Leucrotta skin for display or taxidermy. Maybe display it in the library until a museum can be built.
While a meeting between Greenhart and Varnhold could be arranged the planing of such an event could take months.
There was talk about the second exploration trip to the west areas G7, G5, G3 & G1. The trip is estimated to take about 1 day each to explore each area and another two days to return through the forest.
Also, the month is nearly up an plans for the kingdom's next month will need to be made soon.
Thomas: hexes G5, H6, I7, I11, and I13.
Sunset: Clock/Timepieces shop
Seraph: order of hexe claims : F12 (silver mine), D6, H10, G7, H8, F8, H12, H14
Torod: Shrine, F12, full cathedral at the temple of the elk
Council Meeting for Kingdom Advancement
Claiming a Hex
Claim F12 - Sootscale Tribe Mine / Home -2 For Hills Hex
Terrain Improvements
Build Road in F12 -3 BP for Hills
Build Housing/Building
Treasury too low.
Total:
-5 BP
Do to our Low Treasury we will go for some minor expansion this month, hopefully we roll well and we get back to rolling in decent BP. But the war cost us a lot for sure.
This is my suggestion for the direction of the kingdom. Any other suggestions?
Council meeting for Kingdom Expansion
The low treasury made for a rather short meeting in Seraph's mind. The Watchtowers construction in D10 at the newly renovated mine was coming along and made her rather pleased. Knowing that the roads would be a little safer made her far happier.
"With our Treasury suffering from a low amount of funds I suggest we secure the home of the Sootscales and construct a road so we can lay the foundation of renovating the silver mine." She taps the map indicating the direction it would take them. "I would like to see a Shrine to Erastil erected in the city some time soon. But we will claim the Temple's location as part of the Kingdom regardless. Perhaps we could found a small settlement around the Temple itself."
Aside from that she had little else to add, nothing tactical or improvements to the city could be afforded this month. Not without great risk and inciting the peoples unrest further was folly. So she focused on a different avenue. "I suggest we make orders and sell items before our second expedition. We have a few items I can have shipped to Olegs to be sold when Master Oleg gets to shipping them out."