As you approach the tree, you see a female vanara and a male human fire arrows at the oncoming creatures emerging from the swamp. You can clearly see that their enemies are lizardmen. A male elf in bloodied and torn cleric's vestments lies against the tree, an arrow piercing his side. Over the elf stands a man that appears to be made of stone, administering healing to the wounded elf. In the tree, you see a demonic-looking woman slinging fire at the lizardmen, her sharp teeth glinting as she grins.
"Blast it, Sienna," the stone man says to the woman above him. "Those spells are not aiding my concentration!"
"Oh, get over it, Rusty," she counters. "I'm keeping you and Sath alive, aren't I?"
Cyna approaches with her bow drawn. "I recognize most of them, looks like we made it in time."
Drawing Oblivion, Sādhanā starts moving quickly. "Lets hit then before they realize that they face enemies at their back!"
Feeling fully rested, Alethiro continued on with the others. In preparation for the coming battle, the Elf pulled out the holy text once more. "Pharasma, protect your servant that he may do your will." A shimmering field of energy manifested around him as he pulled his mace and moved forward.
As you make your way to the tree, you see eight lizardfolk advancing on the small group.
Initiative:
Round 1: Arista, Gregario, Cyna, Laneka, Human Male, Sienna, Rusty, Alethiro, Lizardfolk
Not wanting to waste anytime, Arista draws her weapon and rushes one of the lizard men. She does not yell or cry out, preferring that her weapon does her talking for her. Though the look in her eyes is unmistakable as one of determination and anger.
Slipping in the soggy ground Arista loses her footing and slips, missing her target completely. I really dislike this swampy earth.
Drawing her bow back Cyna fires two arrows into the group of Lizardmen.
Sādhanā quickly casts a spell, a shimmering shield shaped plane of force materializing to orbit her body, before heading into the fray.
Cyna easily picks off a couple of the lizardfolk trailing in the back of the group. The vanaran woman lets off a couple of arrows as well at one of the lizardfolk closest to the group at the tree .
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The human male fires his crossbow at the same target as the vanara.
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The tiefling in the trees grunts in disgust and lets off three bolts of force at the wounded lizardfolk.
The stone man continues to attempt to stanch the elf's wound.
Round 1: Arista, Sādhanā, Gregario, Cyna, Laneka, Human Male, Sienna, Rusty, Alethiro, Lizardfolk
Given the previous encounters, Alethiro decided to render assistance a little differently. Moving as fast as he could, the Elf made his way to the fallen one. "Need... a... healing... hand?" He asked the stone man between breaths.
"As much as I can get," the stone man replies.
The remaining lizardfolk make their attack. The furthest ones hurl javelins at Sādhanā and Gregario.
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The other two in the middle of the group attack Arista.
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The final lizardfolk attacks the human.
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M hp: 16
Round 1: Arista, Sādhanā, Gregario, Cyna, Laneka, Human Male, Sienna, Rusty, Alethiro, Lizardfolk
Arista takes a step back and slashes at one of the creatures again.
Cyna continues the volley glad that she was having greater success than with the trolls the night before.
Breaking into a run Sādhanā brings Oblivion forward in a devastating strike, the ebon bladed sword morphing as she swings.
Confirmation
Three more lizardfolk fall to the group's attacks, but they seem too consumed by madness to even acknowledge Gregario's words.
The vanara lets loose another two arrows against the nearest lizardfolk.
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Her aim errs as she fires, a visible exhaustion over her. The human attacks again, trying to pick up the slack.
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The human has less luck, but the tiefling repeats the spells from her last attack.
The stone man holds the elf against the tree and looks to Alethiro. "Pull the arrow out."
Round 2: Arista, Sādhanā, Gregario, Cyna, Laneka, Human Male, Sienna, Rusty, Alethiro, Lizardfolk
Alethiro took a deep breath and hung his mace from his belt. Taking a firm grip on the arrow he said, "Av-'osto, odulen an edraith angin."
Alethiro manages to pull the arrow safely from the cleric, who looks rather pale from the ordeal. The remaining lizard folk attack Arista and the human.
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Round 3: Arista, Sādhanā, Gregario, Cyna, Laneka, Human Male, Sienna, Rusty, Alethiro, Lizardfolk
Arista looks deep in concentration as she takes another swing at one of the remaining lizard men.
Arista yells in frustration,"Hold still you bastard!"
Cyna takes aim at the only lizard not engaged in combat and fires another pair of arrows.
As her opponent drops, Sādhanā redirects herself, setting a lethal path towards the single unengaged lizardman, her charge culminating in a leaping thrust toward the creature's heart.
The last of the lizardfolk fall to the ground, your group victorious.
The tiefling hops down off of the tree she occupied and looks at the paladin with a grim stare. "Aye, what's left of us. Thanks for the help. It's been like this non-stop for a week or so now."
She pauses then looks to Cyna. "Cyna?! Cyna, is that you?"
She rushes up to the ranger and embraces her tightly before excitedly chatting up Cyna. "Oh gods, how long has it been? Five years? Six? Wow, you've grown up a bit. What are you doing here?"
Alethiro placed his hand on the wound and said, "By the grace of Pharasma, I guide you back from the brink."
Looking at the stone man, "That should bring him closer to consciousness."
"It's a long list believe me." Cyna replies stowing her bow away.
And yourself? How did you end up in this mess?
"Elder Sister sent us here. There are a lot of things the Green Circle left behind ages ago that she wanted us to discover," Sienna explains. "Unfortunately, there were also a lot of things we weren't expecting. We used to be able to talk and trade with the lizardfolk until about a week ago. There is a small fortress out in the swamp, about half a days travel if you've got a boat. We were staying out there until the lizardfolk drove us off, no explanation or anything. We lost a couple of people to that. Most of our numbers were taken or killed by Vencious, one of those 'necromancers'. Anyway, we've been struggling for about a week here, trying to regroup. The lizardfolk aren't that strong, but, with their decent numbers and giving us little time for sleep, we've been on the losing side of that fight. There's something in that fortress though and I aim to find out what, but...not now I guess."
Flicking the blood from Oblivion's surface, Sādhanā takes in the condition of the Circle members.
"How close to the fortress did you manage to get?"
"About a mile out," the tiefling says. "There's a hydra in the swamp."
"That would definitely complicate things." the magus says with a dry chuckle.
"Do you remember anything about this swamp or the fortress in it? It may tie in to another of the Necromancers"
"We've had similar problems with the inhabitants of this place. Seems like about half the people we meet want to kill us. Your group needs rest, do you know of anywhere close by that's safer than here?"
"Like I said, Cyna, we were staying in the fortress out in the swamp before we were driven off," Sienna explains. "All our supplies were there and the only other places I know of are the lighthouse by the shore and Vencious' stronghold. Yeah, we need rest, but I wouldn't know of a safe place."
The human male who had been standing away from the group walks toward Cyna and Sienna. "There was a village not a few hours from here, but gods only know what's there."
"When did you see this place, Marcus?" Sienna asks, a good deal of suspicion in her voice.
"Two weeks back. Before I joined you...or made me join you," the man replies sourly.
"Let's not get into that right now," Sienna says with a sigh.
"Fine by me," Marcus snaps, raising his hand in the air before turning away from the tiefling.
The elf comes to shortly after, groaning. "R-Rusty...What's going on?"
"The gods decided to favor us for a change," the stone man replies softly. "Are you okay, Sath?"
"As well as one can expect," Sathorn murmurs. "What's left of us?"
"Sienna, Laneka, Marcus, you and I," the oread sighs.
"Beth...she's gone, isn't she?"
The oread nods once. "Come, let's get you on your feet."
Once Sathorn is standing, the oread offers a hand to Alethiro. "My name is Korburn, stranger. My companions call me 'Rusty'. I invite you to do the same."
The vanara, Laneka, seems to take stock of their remaining gear before approaching Sienna. "Seems like you tieflings like to associate with motley groups of people. We're low on everything. We have enough food to make it through the day, but hunting is going to be a pain in the ass from here on out."
Sienna smiles at the first remark and scowls at the second. "Marcus says there's a village near here."
"Do you trust anything that sneak has to say?" the vanara asks with a hard stare at Sienna.
"What choice do we have? He hasn't let us down yet."
"He's probably trying to save his own hide. He needs us for that," Laneka says, hoisting her bow onto her shoulder. "Whatever then. Let's go."
Sienna turns back to Cyna. "Willing to put up with us for a while?"
With a nod Cyna says. "Agreed, let's get moving then."
Shaking the Oread's hand, the Elf replies, "Alethiro, nice to meet you." He then proceeds to help Sathorn get to his feet.
Arista stands quietly back from the rest of the group, angry at herself for not being of more assistance and letting a meager lizardman reduce her to vulgarity. She silently chastises herself before regaining her self composure. She makes sure that her blade is clean before sheathing it and joining the others. She quietly walks towards Alethiro and waits while he helps the other companion to his feet.
She nods at Cyna before helping to gather what few things they have scattered around and joins the rest of the group.
You depart from the swamp heading east. Marcus walks on ahead, keeping some distance between himself and the group. The ground becomes more solid as you progress and you enter into some sparse woods. Later, the few trees break away, the area becoming flat plains once more. Around late afternoon, you spy a large hill interrupting the flatness of the plains and, at the base of it, a village. You see people milling about, but you aren't quite close enough to discern what "kind" of people. A very large watchtower occupies the center of the hill.
"Well," Marcus says. "There it is."
"That could be anything. A simple village that somehow got left alone, a hive of undead, werewolves...we have no real way of knowing what we're walking into." Sādhanā says looking at the distant village.
Arista nods her head in agreement with her companions,"I agree, we stick together."
You approach the village and see that the front and sides of it are surrounded by a low fence more capable of preventing livestock from wandering off than repelling invaders. A large cave sits at the back of the village leading into the large hill. You see people milling about the area: humans, elves, dwarves, and other "normal" races. As you near the gate, you see two hardened warriors standing at the gate.
"Halt, travelers," one calls to your group. "What is your business here?"