Hardish nods. "I agree with Lucas. This hill is much too exposed to be safe. "
"A magical item, how interesting do you still have it?" He asks in response to the answer given by Hardish.
He responds to Daniel's question with trepidation, "I can't really explain how I have survived. By luck or happenstance I have creatures that look out for me, I can't say they are allies or even sentient. They make sure I am safe from threats and seem to guide me to where I need to go to. They are feline and seem to keep to the shadows, or at least that is what my previous fellow travelers have said. I recently met some new folks, but they may have left me behind. I don't have much in the terms of wealth so perhaps they left after seeing that."
Even being up on a hill, this area is heavily forested. Very little sounds can be heard coming from nature.
Lucas simply slips the item into his bag.
"Somebody went Southwest recently. We might as well follow them to see if they know the way to Sandpoint."
Lucas nods to his companions and they get ready to start traveling southwest.
Hardish counts himself among Lucas' companions and checks that his pack is properly secured and weighted for the walk toward Sandpoint. He stashes his dagger amongst his clothes and sheathes his rapier, drawing his bow in case he should need it. Fatima looks to Hardish who rustles her hair. He speaks briefly to her in their private language. "Nous trouvons plusieurs des nouveaux amis ce soir."
Brock sets Jetta off down the path, following with Kayla and Ryada in tow.
Cedric sighs. I can't just leave the man.. Even if his... Friends sound daemonic I don't think he knows it.
my blind sir, come with us if you would. I have lost much of my power from the... Event. And cannot heal your blindness, however, perhaps there is someone who can.
Daniel will lead the man along with them as they walk if allowed. Keeping his sword drawn, weary of the undead or cultists.. Or worse.
The girls follow along with their protectors, more silence after another strange event.
As the group sets off Jetta comes back periodically showing that she has not found any threats... Yet.
Stealth check for everyone if you are trying to be stealthy. You can move in several different ways, stealthy (move at half speed), walk (move action per round), hustle (double move action per round, pretty loud and con checks after about a dozen minutes), and run. Please state how you want to travel.
He looks around and does not notice anything weird about where they are presently, glad to not be surrounded anymore.
He silently checks his gear and then circles the group making sure there are no threats nearby. He then goes to the blue skinned woman, he says in a low gravelly voice as if he has not spoken in a while, "Be well and friendly, perhaps we will be able to help you." He helps her to her feet and checks her wound. He quickly applies a bandage, then looks to the others and shakes his head.
He stays in the back of the group with his compound bow out ready to shoot at anything that follows.
Later he approaches Brock, "Sir, your weapon... The ammo that came from it is still in her, we will need to extract it later..." He says mournfully as if he knows what that means for their future.
The blue woman is nearly in shock and lets Troas take care of her and accepts the help of the other females as they travel.
I accept your offer but would prefer to find the trail again rather than staying in the wilderness, it would make the journey faster. It should be to the North by about a hundred yards. He says simply and takes Daniel's arm. He goes with your group.
Hardish suggests that the group move slowly and silently. [b]"Without the sunlight, we are at a disadvantage against the un-living hoarde.
At haedish's suggestion Daniel looks down to him armor, his shield, then towards the blind man stumbling behind.
sure, that's true, but uh... I left my rags of cloth back at the other place.., not that they ever helped with the sneaking much.
No worries... Daniel you said your name was... I can help you with your armor being loud... The blind man slowly says then with a few magical words, Daniel's armor makes no more noise. He says weakly but with a smile, I have picked up a few tricks being in this new world, after all I was from the modern world and now am an elf.
Even being blind Matthew seems to sense low hanging branches or lifted roots that Daniel likely gets tangled on. He goes at whatever pace the group wants.
He asks the group more directly, So do we stay in the woods or move toward the trail?
Yes the moon is out like the time of the blood harvest. There is likely another 8 hours before morning light approaches.
"I vote for the trail. More maneuverability and a better chance for us to see anyone approaching. "
" I agree. Let's take the trail. With the moon and the smoother path, we can move at normal speed and not make too much noise. I also like having more time to react to potential threats."
Brock had acknowledged Troas' comment, but he was not skilled in surgery. He could attempt some first aid later, but as for removing the bullet - that was beyond his ability...
"Trail it is then. We should move slowly since it is still night."
Lucas moves towards the trail while making sure to move slowly so that he could maybe surprise any enemies.
Very wellnthen, but be warned... I'm not good at being quiet ..
Hardish listens in to Daniel's complaint, and then his near complete disappearance as they head onto the trail. He thinks to himself. "Something familiar about that voice." Fatima follows along with the group, keeping quiet and finding her still place as she travels.
The group heads North. To quickly get on the trail. In less than an hour the group stealthily has been heading eastward on the trail for a bit now. No undead or travelers can be seen.
The next hour fumbles may find unexpected surprises stumbling upon the group.
Hardish leads the group by about 60 feet, keeping an eye out for any movements in the woods or further down the road. He signals occasionally to them if he thinks that he hears something, then waves the group forward.
Brock moves along quietly, keeping his eyes and ears open to any threats. Jetta lopes along easily, often disappearing into the night to return 20 or 30 minutes later. Kayla trudges along, tired but smart enough to know she has to keep moving...
Lucas continues to try and hide himself as they travel.
While hiding he keeps an eye out for trouble.
Daniel attempts to stay as quiet as possible. Attempting to follow the others lead. But this pesky leaves and twigs just have other ideas.
With Hardish out in front to scout out any threats, the group continues to slowly sneak down the trail for another two hours. Luckily Daniel is with the group and makes not much noise when he gets tripped on a loose stone on the trail.
Then he sees a shrine to Desna. Though there seems to be movement around it, the slow shambling type. Hardish merely scouts it from a distance and comes back to inform the group of the situation.
The blue skinned lady seems to be even worse than before and she has begun to moan lightly from the pain.
As Hardish comes back and motions for the group to get off the road, he is thankful for the quick rest. It will be good for the blue-skinned woman and perhaps this will be the time to test his skills once again.
"Hold her still ladies, I need to check the wound and we need her quiet." He says seriously. Then asks hoping he will not be the only one knowing what to do, "Anyone else know what they are doing when it comes to stitching up the wounded?"
Hardish stares in disbelief at Troas' butcher-like management of the wound. "I don't, but I know that's not what you're supposed to do." He then points back to the temple ahead. "I saw about a dozen of the horde by the shrine to Desna up ahead. It looks empty of living and could be a place to hold up for the night if we draw them away or get rid of them. Fatima and I are pretty good at drawing them away if you can set up a barricade for once we're inside."
Lucas notices the storm approaching and the fact that a walker is approaching as well. Looking at his companions Lucas points at the creature.
"Someone deal with that walker while I treat the ladies wound, and watch out for anything suspicious in its belt."
Lucas walks forward and begins looking at the blue ladies wound.
"I can deal with something like this."
I think we should simply slay them. We will have to deal with them at some point, and if they are left to moan and wine they will only draw more to us. That aside it would be safer, and easier for us, to simply be rid of them, especially if there is only a dozen, and no larger beasts. I for one do not wish to let a holy site remained defiled if it is in my power to cleanse it. Daniel draws his blade as punctuation to his statement.
Brock also notices the walker approaching and draws his morningstar to help dispatch it quietly...
Surprise Round
Maldor draws his morning star, Daniel begins to detect evil, Lucas goes to the blue skinned woman to help with her wound, Hardish hears much of what is going on behind him waiting to act until the last moment, Matthew sticks to the back of the group well away from the undead walker, as the girls remain beside the blue woman's side.
Round 1
17 Matthew*
16 Shadow Cat
15 Walker
14 Maldor
14 Lucas
11 Daniel
8 Troas
7 Hardish
1 Followers.
Matthew takes a few steps back then stumbles and cringes in pain. Then a feline or canine creature of some kind comes out of nowhere as if out of the shadows. The creature lands on the other side of the walker and pounces upon it. The walker has its legs cut from underneath it and the cat finishes the walker with a ferocious blow to the neck.
The creature is as big as a mastiff or leopard but its face seems to be covered in shadows. It grows and looks like it could attack any of you, as it is very aggressive.
Surprise Round Hardish comes up to the group and explains the situation, unaware of the approaching walker behind him. Likewise, the group is unaware at first of the shadowy predator behind them. Both Fatima and Hardish point frightened fingers at the perceived threats and shout simultaneously "Behind you!" in their respective languages. Hardish then draws his rapier and begins moving toward the trees.
Round 1
Hardish speaks to the group in a hushed tone, keeping a wary eye on the new creature. "Quickly, to the temple. We'll seal ourselves in and let this beast take care of the walkers. Our guardian for the night, if you will." He then ducks off of the road and begins circling around the beast.
Daniel will star at the beast for a moment.then finally move towards the temple, great sword in hand. very well, let us slay as many as we may on the way, less to deal with later. Come Matthew.
Make sure to make account of any weapons or items that were or are in your hands.
After licking its chomps the shadow cat, if it can be called that, leaps away into the darkness as if the surrounding shadows swallow it up just as easily as it appeared.
No threat can be seen now. Lucas tends to the blue skinned girl and is about ready to tell the group what he needs.
The map is up and ready for you to act on the area/encounter.
Hardish double moves up toward the temple, looking for the entryway. He holds between a large rock and a tree and peers into the darkness.
Fatima breathes softly and intentionally, walking slowly forward behind Hardish, leaning against the rock behind Daniel at the end of the turn.
Brock and Kayla move slowly to the tree with Daniel and Hardish. He holsters the pistol and grabs the morningstar again...with the number of undead he could see it would be better to be quiet. At least at first.
Kayla sticks close to her protector, ready to run or fight as needed...
Lucas shakes his head as people begin to leave, and looks at Daniel.
"Don't leave yet your healing will be required."
Lucas then nods to Sister Lucia who pulls out her healer's kit and she smiles at the blue skinned woman before murmuring a few words of prayer while she begins to heal the woman. Lucas tries as best he can to assist her as she works.
After Sister Lucia is done she backs away and nods to Daniel.
"If you would not mind healing her now ser knight?"
Troas waits with the back group keeping a look out for any threats coming their way. Since the others quickly move to take his spot as healer.
very well
Daniel rests his hands on the woman and they glow with a faint light.
now, let us go and reclaim this temple, even if it only for a night.
he moves towards the temple.
There is a door at the front of the temple. The door faces the road and is ajar. The undead have not perceived you yet and continue to roam about. Some are merely standing and there are corpses about on the ground, there is no telling if they are undead yet. There are a few windows on the backside of the structure. There is a dome ontop of the temple which rises above everything around it.
As Daniel heals the girl the others set back and get ready to advance into the temple grounds.
Daniel, Troas, blue skinned girl, nun, Ryada, and the alchemist are 80 feet away from the edge of the map. Moving silently means showing up in 3 rounds.
Round 2
maia, go in and see what you can see. Stay high up and take care.
The raven cocks its head on his shoulders.
hah, these lumbering oafs couldnt catch me if they were runners! she flies off to check the temple with a closer look.
Brock will lead Kayla and move silently to the temple door...
Daniel will wait for maia to return and caution others to do the same.