As the creature breaks into the open, Valeska looses a bolt!
Valeska manages to get the bear with a crossbow bolt, but it bounces off the creature's hide without inflicting considerable damage.
ROUND 2
Valeska drops her crossbow and reaches for her blade as she rushes and roars. Move old man, before you get yourself killed!
Teyran hated to retreat, but he couldn't help but notice where the creature had slipped under his armor and sliced at his stomach. He now seemed to be bleeding rather freely. He retreated backward as quickly as he could, knowing he should just drop the sword to grab the bow, but not able to bring himself to. If the bear didn't follow him, he would sheath his sword and draw the bow.
Grendolynn will draw her sword and run towards the bear.
Antha steps forward a few feet to release a ray of shimmering, bright light aimed directly at the bear...
... shining right into its eyes, Dazzle-ing it.
hp 6
AC 13
Conditions: none
Blinding Ray Used: 1/7
Spells Used: none
Leaning against the crumbling pillar, Morley swears to himself as he reloads. He tries to push the image of Teyran being mauled out of mind, and focuses on his training.
Grendolynn moves with haste to close the gap between her and the savaging beast that has engaged her companions while Teyran carefully manages his withdrawal as not to get caught by the beast as he retreats. Antha hits the beast with a ray of shimmering, bright lights right in the eyes which makes it rear back and is obviously having problems seeing clearly. Morley hurriedly works to reload his musket for another shot while his companions engage the monster in closer combat.
Thadeuzs and Valeska rush forward to fill in the gap left by Teyran so the bear can't pursue him. Thadeuzs fists slam the bear several times and each hit is accompanied with some crunching bones and sickening thuds. Valeska expertly wields the aldori dueling blade as she slices the bear deeply.
Arasmes moves forward double time to offer some healing to Teyran. Erostil begins a inspiring song that rallies the heart of his companions into fighting stronger. Akiros raises his crossbow and tries to line up a shot, but unsatisfied with the it the man throws the crossbow down and makes a sprint for the temple going around the pool on the opposite side of the pool.
The bear enraged by the deep slash delivered by Valeska turns on her with a pair of claw swipes and a vicious bite attempting to rend offending flesh from her.
With his nerves calmed by Erostil's performance, Morley coolly closes the distance to get a better shot, then fires.
Bolstered by the unnatural bard's stirring performance, Tad's fist slams once more into the Bear's side.
Noticing Valeska's collapse as his own blow struck, Tad calls out. "God's-man, make yeself useful! Get over here as I try & draw this great hairy beastie awa!"
When Teyran had put enough distance between himself and the bear, he turned, and was about to reach for the bow he'd taken off of Happ's body when he saw Valeska go down. At the moment keenly aware of how valuable he would be as an archer, he dropped the bow and rushed back. He grabbed Valeska by the arms and pulled her away from the bear, in worry that it would continue to attack her. He dragged her prone form back to where he'd been moments ago.
Grendolynn will charge the rest of the way forward shouting, "Over here you great vile beastie!"
Round 3
Unsure of how long her spell would last, Antha tries to hinder the bear's abilities a second time...
releasing a second ray of light into the bear's face.
Morley pulls a bead on the bear and fires a shoot that rips into it. Thadeuzs uses his training against the bear as he slams his hands into the bear with enough force to do internal damage, but it still rises up to maul him. The tip of Grendolynn's suddenly appears from the creature's abdomen as she attacks with great force. The massive creatures lurches to the side as tears itself from the spear as it falls.
You stand in triumph for a moment as the beast is felled then a breeze brushes by your cheeks. Leaves begin to come off the trees in great numbers as they are blown into the air by the wind. Visibility decreases as you can barely make out the others in the leaves as they fill the area.
In an instant the wind stops and the leaves fall to the ground. The entire shrine seems to be more vibrant and colorful; though leaves fill it now the water in the pool is crystal clear; and the beast is now a man. He lays on the ground bleeding from half a dozen wounds that you inflicted on the beast, but otherwise no marks or hair mar his body. He could be considered charismatic had it not been for the fact that a moment ago he was a vicious animal attempting to rend your flesh.
A shadow passes cross the around which draws your eyes up. A large stag is standing on top of the cliff that makes up the temple looking down upon the party. He gives a slight bow of his head then turns away to vanish from sight.
Akiros shields his eyes and head as the leaves blow in. He remains guarded until after they drop. He turns back to the party as if he is going to approach them but stops a moment. He lifts his hands as if to stare at them in surprise. He flexes his fingers a bit and his eyes widen slightly...
"I can feel it again. His presence..."
As the Bear falls, becoming a man, Tad kneels to check his wounds.
Morley watches the transformation in stunned silence. He then hears Akiros and asks, "You alright there?" on his way to check on the wounded. Once he takes a look at the injuries beyond his ability in first aid he asks, "Should we get started on setting camp? I'm guessin we'll be staying here for a while, eh?"
The man is dying, but you are unable to stop the bleeding with first aid.
"'e's not dead yet. God's-man, get over 'ere & heal them."
"Cool." Grendolynn says, seeing the sign of the stag as a message from Erastil, her patron. "Seems the old man in the sky approves of our actions. Akiros, how do you feel about becoming the guardian of this temple? Someone needs to make sure it doesn't become corrupted again."
"I..." Akiros shakes his head as if clearing the cobwebs. "I suppose I could do that. Allow me to tend to my companion and your priest can save his healing. Does anyone have a spare cloak?" Akiros asks as he moves closer. His hands begin to take on a white glow as he kneels by the man that was the Stag Lord, cursed, and now stands at death's door.
Teyran checked over Valeska over, but wasn't able to determine anything. "She will need to be tended to by someone more skilled than I," He said.
Teyran saw the stag on the hill a little before he noticed the change in Akiros. [b]"It seems as though Old Deadeye is pleased with us, or was that a message for you, brother?" The pride in his voice as he addressed Akiros was unmistakable. It was odd, Teyran wouldn't have expected that the redemption of a paladin sworn to another god would mean so much to him. Perhaps it was how close he believed he'd come to falling that made the difference, or perhaps he was a better servant of the Dawnflower than he'd given himself credit for.
"I can at least use my healing to affect all, even your friend, Akiros," Arasmes says as he moves towards the fallen man keeping himself close to his companions as well as he mutters a small prayer to the Dawnflower bringing forth her power and causing healing energies to flow across the group.
Antha watches in silent awe as the temple is... cleansed, and the curse on the man lifted.
Valeska convulses, her back spasming and arching... After a coughing fit, she lays still on the ground.
Valeska convulses, her back spasming and arching... After a coughing fit, she lays still on the ground.
Seeing his compatriot respond so violently even after healing magics have been applied, Tad rushes to her side. Checking her mouth for signs of trauma & pulling her to her side he calls once more to Arasmes. "Quit showing off, you useless gelding & get here. I have no skill at healing but by the I'm beginning to think incompetence may do her more good than skill. "
Akiros stops with a nod to Arasmes as he allows the healer to channel positive energy in the entire area. The glow that had begun to surround his hands dims and vanishes. He does another check on the man, "He hasn't awakened, but he won't be dying any time soon. He just needs rest and he will recover on his own now. It does seem that Erastil has given us his favor... I will tend this shrine from this day forward. I know that I don't have any right to do so, but... I have a favor to ask of you."
"Speak."
Valeska stirs and slowly rise, checking her own injuries before remembering.
Is Teyran alright? Tad? She looks around, concerned.
Teyran offers a hand to help Valeska up, adding "We are fine. It will take more than a damned bear to do me in, an Tad seems to have beaten it into submission. I was rather worried about you though. How do you feel?"
Relieved that Valeska seemed to be fine after all, Antha joined Gren and Akiros.
I'm not certain that was a normal bear. And, you're part bear Teyran. Unfair comparison.
Accepting the other warrior's arm, Valeska springs up.
Thank you, kind Sir.
"Part dwarf, actually, same idea, different size. I'm just unusually tall, I credit grandaddy for that one, or however far up the line that was." When she was on her feet, he added, "For pulling you away, or helping you up? In either case, no gratitude is required."
As Valeska's spasming has stopped & she has begun to recover her composure, Tad turns to Arasmes. "Alright then. Seems I might 'ave been 'asty there...
Just, try an' do a bit better next time an' I'll do tha same."
Completing the turn before Arasmes has the opportunity to respond, Tad faces toward Akiros. "Yeah, what tha' 'obbo said, speak yer peace."
For... everything, except not using that bow.
“I feel with all of my being that this man can be a force of good, despite the things he has done since he was under the influence of that druid. I ask that you do not hand him over to the Brevic authorities yet. I am certain there is documentation in the keep about the authority originally invested in us, and I firmly believe the true villains are Dovan and that druid. We were just led astray, but the path can be found again. I will freely give my life over to this temple, or you can take it now. I will be your Stag Lord for the authorities..." Akiros pleads.
"Keep an eye on yer friend fer a wee will yer Akiros?" Tad answers as he heads back to the horses, nodding to the others by way of intimation he would like them to accompany him.
"Seems ta me a said 'is piece 'bout tha feller & fer one en't o' a mind ta say I knows better...
Leastwise not time."
"What say the rest o' yer?"
Akiros nods, and goes about gathering the things that he had abandoned here when his companion and him were last here. He sets a bedroll down and moves his companion to it.
"What do you mean?" Teyran said. Understanding the man was difficult in the best of circumstances, but with the adrenaline from the fight still rushing in his ears, he had no idea what Tad was saying.
Over With the Others
"I have no problem with letting him stay here to watch this place. Unlike the last people we were dealing with when the question of repentance came up, this one isn't unrepentant."
Nodding in acknowledgement of the Hobgoblin's words, Tad clarifies his words to the rest of you. "Oo decides if a body's repentant 'r Un? do...
It falls to us to enforce the Writ & it falls to discretion whether a man is repentant of his past deeds or no. I doubt me much that I can better read a man's repentance then a can."
"If it's good enough for hoary old Dead-eye, it's good enough for me."
"I'm no makin' tha final say howe'er..." Tad finishes, gazing back at Teyran.
Teyran nodded. "Indeed. If Erastil has found him worthy to use the abilities that he lost, and it seems clear to me that he is a paladin again, then who are we to say different? He couldn't help but smile at Grendolynn's understatement. Akiros wasn't repentant, he was redeemed; it was the difference between intention and action.
Valeska watches and considers. So, the difference between life and death comes down to... if there's an overgrown grazing-beast that bends its neck for some more cud? Good to know what will pass for justice with the lot of you.
Saves me the time of "debate". Wonder if he or his robbed, raped or killed anyone during his lapse of gallantry. Search this place or move on?
"Ye could always 'im."
"Searchin'd be tae tha good, I think. way, we know what belongs 'ere & if'n we come back & there's such as shouldn't be 'ere, we can string 'im up then!" Tad responds in kind to Valeska's attempt at sarcasm.
people get snippy when they've almost died I see...
"Remember where we are... "
Morley starts to feel anxious with this kind of talk when the gaze of a god is cast in their direction. He gestures for everyone to keep calm. "Stay here for the night, I say. We could use the rest - wounded in particular, and it'll give us some time to get a better feel of... what we got here, and ... however this unbeared fellow has been keepin busy. A god's golden seal of approval?... Goes pretty far in my book, but Iain't quite ready to say job well done."