I've got a little bit of healing sense. Dunno if it'll help
If they approach the wagon Felix would check the wound.
Tatsuo grimaces as Miya points out yet another hidden person. While under the wagon could be an excuse, up a tree seemed far less reasonable. Sora expressed her companion's distaste by growling softly. As he waits for a response to Miya's question, he softly addresses the rest of the group. "Didn't we fight some dog-faced people a while back? On the island? I want to say they were gnolls."
Tatsuo grimaces as Miya points out yet another hidden person. While under the wagon could be an excuse, up a tree seemed far less reasonable. Sora expressed her companion's distaste by growling softly. As he waits for a response to Miya's question, he softly addresses the rest of the group. "Didn't we fight some dog-faced people a while back? On the island? I want to say they were gnolls."
Miyaro watches the tree where she thought she saw the hidden man, but nods at Tatsuo's comment. "Yes, I believe that is the term. And Daresh has some in her employ, correct?"
The man behind the wagon has a very nasty gash across his mid section. it does not appear to be healing.
the wound seems to be tainted with some sort of curse or poison. You would need either another heal check DC 15 or knowledge religion check DC 20.
The woman with what seems to be her husband looks to the trees and waves her hand.
looking to the group, our lookout is in the trees. he is our son, Antonio. This is my husband Stefan and I am Nadya.
Nadya looks like she is a bout to say more but Stefan raises his hand to try and keep her quiet. (not striking her or being violent)
The younger man from the trees, Antonio, makes his way to the group.
no more dog men in the area papa.
Felix crouches next to the man and examines the wound That's not a normal wound. There's something very wrong with it keeping it from closing up.
He shrugs. I think you need a professional healer friend. I'm only an amateur. Unless someone else here has an idea?
"I am no professional, but I have been told I have a knack. May I have a look?"
"Would you object if I attempted a curative blessing? I do not wish to offend your beliefs. How did you come to have this wound? Who struck you?"
The wound is also infected with some kind of poison, but nothing you have ever seen before. almost as though the very essence of negative energy were eating away at his flesh.
will need a knowledge religion check DC 20
The wounded man (Serge) drops his crossbow when approached. his condition seems to indicate he probably was struggling to just hold it, let alone shoot anyone.
the wich that was leading the dog-men. she formed a weapon of black magic. it tore through me and no healing has been able to stop the wound from spreading.
is very rare yet deadly spell known only as "Vile Lance" There are probably only a handful of wizards that even heard of the spell and fewer that can even use it.
Looking thoughtful, the girl says, "I think there is some sort of negative energy effect in play here. It must be offsetting the positive energy of the healing that's been attempted, like a poison, but worse. The spell you describe does not sound familiar to me, however."
Seeing everybody else approach, Tatsuo hesitantly does likewise. He shrugs at the description of the sword. "Never heard of it either."
Sora growls softly as she continues to look around for more hidden people. Still more concerned with an ambush than the potential bait, Tatsuo soon joins his friend in watching their surroundings for more attackers.
"Negative energy in a wound? I've heard something about that I think"
The wound is a vile energy wound. healing magic does work but only if cast on holy ground.
"A particularly nasty spell. Certainly not appropriate to use against a random group of strangers unless the caster is particularly cruel."
She looks at the wounded man. "How well do you know the area? We need to find holy ground before the healing will take full effect."
Tatsuo grimaced. He did not want to meet this woman. But, knowing their luck, they'd probably run right in to her. And unfortunately this dense forest meant they probably wouldn't see her until she was practically on top of them. Distractedly, he adds, "Unless you know that spell to consecrate the earth, I doubt it will work. Trying will likely only use up resources that we may need later should we run in to the witch."
This happen just now? How far ahead do you think she is? Felix says She's bad news. Why'd she attack you guys anyway? Just to get you out of the way? I don't know anything about this area or where you'd find blessed ground sadly.
She nods, a little excited that the sorcerer seemed to agree with her, "Yes, a consecrated place is what you need to find, perhaps a shrine or a church. Not just a place where people gather, but one genuinely blessed to remove even the transient taint of evil."
Delkaneth's curiosity is intrigued by the rare and unusual spell, despite its obvious evil nature. At Felix's remark about the timing of the attack the young explorer moves a short distance down the trail to act as a lookout between the witch's group and the wagon.
To answer the questions the group has posed either to each other or to the travelers. they do offer what answers that they can.
We would rather not say why we were out here, but we do know of an old shrine just off the main road up ahead. its long abandoned and most likely overgrown with weeds, but it may work
the group seems to be hiding their real purpose on the road and will not talk of it in front the Paladin.
you are keeping an eye up ahead as well as all around you don't see anything unusual but you think you can hear something approaching from up ahead.
Felix nods and says If that's your only chance then I guess we might as well try he then whispers to the group.
They seem to be spooked by Conner. No idea why. Maybe we can try and speak to them when you're not around paladin.
Considering we're their only hope of saving their family member they're being oddly stubborn. We're well within our rights to just not help them if they're not being forthcoming. That might loosen their tongues
Tatsuo snorts at the exchange, whispering to match Felix. "How ironic that they're mistrustful of one of the ones who seems the most inclined to help them. I personally feel no obligation to help those who may, for all we know, intend to lead us in to a trap. Unless we think this shrine is what we seek, I would say we should just move along."
Well let's try being blunt
Felix looks at the family. Look, you need our help and we'd like to help save your family member from dying but we know you're hiding something and that makes us real nervous. So if you want us to help you get to this old shrine then it'd be really great if you could just start being honest. Yeah?
Delkaneth looks around and quickly finds some brush to duck behind. Then with a few whispered arcane words he points back toward his companions at the wagon, specifically calling Felix and Conner to mind. "Something's coming from up the road. Be ready..."
Felix raises his musket making sure it's loaded.
We'll worry about this later I guess. Something comes
The sorceress has quietly been listening, but at the gunman's warning, she readies her bow and casts a spell on her quiver.
Well let's try being blunt
Felix looks at the family. Look, you need our help and we'd like to help save your family member from dying but we know you're hiding something and that makes us real nervous. So if you want us to help you get to this old shrine then it'd be really great if you could just start being honest. Yeah?
They look at each other a little worried, but they see that they may have little choice.
Look, we are actually only here to take what we can from unsuspecting merchants. we are worried that you would find out and help us only to guide us to our execution.
The injured man looks to your group, just help us please, and we will move on, please
You manage to make out 3 gnolls heading your way. they appear to be carrying a small chest and one has what appears to be a bottle.
they appear drunk.
Tatsuo is distracted by Felix announcing the arrival of "something". Confused he look around, seeing nothing. He's about to ask when he changes his mind and simply shrugs, instead looking for a place to hide with Sora. Assuming the wagon had been an ambush, he had no further spells to cast in preparation that hadn't already been done.
Once reasonably hidden, his eyes swivel back and forth to the two ends of the road, uncertain as to which direction "something" is approaching from.
"I see 3 of our old dog-faced buddies coming this way. Good news, they're carrying a chest. Better news, they've been drinking...."
The "bandits" looks to Conner, then to the group.
They head off toward some brush to hide, carrying their injured comrade with them.
meanwhile the gnolls approach closer to the group.
one of them hollars out
hey, you guys better have more of that wine, or its yer blood we will be drinking.
They young woman lines up her shot with the crossbow carefully to avoid harming her friends as they close to fight the creatures. She squeezes off her shot when the opening presents itself.
Tatsuo and Sora take advantage of their hidden positions to dash forward. Tatsuo begins to mutter under his breath as the tattoos on his arms begin to swirl and roil into their own, oddly silent thunderstorm. There's a sudden CRACKK as he places his hands together to unleash a torrent of energy at the creatures.
No sooner is that gone when Sora dashes in front, quickly putting herself between her friend and the enemy as her head dashes out to bite the most injured looking gnoll, taking a large chunk out of him.
Felix takes advantage of the surprise to move into range that will allow him to hit any gnoll in range of his musket and he fires at one that seems like it was hurt by the others but isn't done yet.
Of course his gun has to misfire.
Trying to keep the advantage of his hidden position Delkaneth uses the cover to move forward, drawing two axes without taking his eyes off the gnolls.
Delkaneth jumps out and strikes at one of the gnolls in the back row. In his excitement his axes fail to bite that deeply....
AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+2 armor, +1 natural, +2 shield, +1 dodge)
Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +0
CMB +3; CMD 13
these gnolls are -1 to attack and +1 to damage
#1 18 damage
#2 8 damage
#3 15 damage
= 9 damage
= 4 damage
= 4 damage
The group moves quickly taking advantage of the drunk gnoll's lack of observation.
Tat fries all of them but one much worse than the other two as they seem to manage to weave (drunkenly) out of some of the harm's way.
however that little blast semi-victory is short lived as Sora rips the gnoll that failed to dodge the electricity blast apart with a savage bite.
Del leaps from hiding and whacks another gnoll, though the axe hits the damage is a little less than expected and he still stands.
though the combined damage of Del and Tat do take their toll and the gnoll does not have much life left in him.
a crossbow bolt wizzes through the combat hitting noone. and there is a click of a gun but no blast as the weapon jams
Conner advances and slices gnoll number 3 practically in half.
with two down and the last barely standing, he drops his weapon, falling to his knees.
mercy, please he manages to say in broken common
Sora growls as her head snakes out to snap at the man. Tatsuo gives her a warning word and her jaws snap shut just inches from his throat. Eyes narrowing, she instead grasps his dropped weapon in her mouth and withdraws, bringing the weapon out of reach. Nodding, Tatsuo stalks around the last gnoll, kicking his companions' weapons further out of reach to make sure he has nothing he can threaten them with.