The Way of the Monstrous (Inactive)

Game Master Stalwart

Kane, was that said in Draconic?

Yes.

Jazzai continues in Draconic her blind eyes looking at the gnoll. "You are right but I wouldn't commit us to something until we have more information. Or at least talk to the rest of us about it. We are a team. You are not on your own anymore Sir Kane. Remember this. And you better not go running off on your own. As for the chief I would rather talk to him myself. Having a middle man do it bothers me and to me doesn't show good faith."

She shifts and sighs softly switching back to common.

"Why are you so interested in the fact he is a different stone wing?"

"You are right. Thank you for being clear headed while I was not."

Kane rewrote his note, adding in the part about parlay with the chief.

Naki writes notes furiously without being able to follow the conversation, but he is clearly trying to learn it quickly.

She shifts and sighs softly switching back to common.

"Why are you so interested in the fact he is a different stone wing?"

The captive watches the exchange, waiting with surprising patience. at Jazzai's question, he tilts his head. If he not mountain stonewing, then he not tell them to attack. No vengeance on Blood Tooths. Maybe chief not kill me.

"Maybe not, maybe he will. I do not know your chief. We did try to approach you peacefully and you attacked. If I had not interfered you would have been dead. I have another question for you. Do you know of an old keep nearby? I believe its a couple of days travel but I can't be for sure." Jazzai's voice is soft but it was clear she was listening to him carefully.

Reaching up she tucked her hair back without thinking about hiding her claws.

Jazzai can't see his eyes narrow as he turns his attention fully upon her, though the others can. Hrolghar then looks around again as if seeing the others for the first time. After shifting where he sits, he shrugs. Old castle in mountains. Lots of ruins there. That what you mean? Where stonewings live?

Sighs softly looking to Kane. He knew more about where the actual location of the keep they were going for was.

According to the map, the keep does not appear to be located in the mountains.

Kane shook his head slightly. "No."

Im not sure I want him knowing what we are looking for. If we are going to let him go I'd rather his chief not find out where we are headed.

She looked in the gnolls direction. "Nice try." She said. "But we will see if you are any good at keeping your word. Is there anything the rest of you want to ask before we send him back to his tribe?"

Looking thoughtfully, "Does he carry any herbs, or medicinals I might have for study?"

"Nope, I'm good." Adrien says nonchalantly, leaning against a tree.

The gnoll shakes his head to Naki's question. Not healer. Shamans do healing.

If the rest of the group is satisfied, Hrolghar snatches the note in Kane's hand and retreats in the direction the others went, glancing over his shoulder a couple times until he's out of sight.

Silence descends on the ambush spot.

Where to next?

Jazzai looked at Kane and the others.

"Shall we continue to head the way we were going originally. As slow as I move I am sure they will find us in no time. I hope all that wasn't in vain. Though it is good to know some of the local threats."

Assuming you move on toward the old keep.

Staying watchful of the way behind them, the group starts again moving east and south. The rugged terrain is cracked and filled with hollows and dry, empty riverbeds, forcing a meandering route. The sun rises and falls, a scorching day giving way to a frigid night.

The carrion dogs apparently do not pursue, for the next morning arrives after an uneventful night. Feel free to work in any conversations during this journey. I get the sense that you folks might be traveling in brooding silence, but far be it from me to impose that upon you.

A hot wind kicks up, blowing dust around and causing the entire area to fall under a haze. The next day's travel is uneventful as the dust storm keeps any potential enemies hidden in their lairs. The group makes slow progress, but they are growing accustomed to the plodding pace.

The storm dies down by evening, and another cold night descends. The skies clear, and a brilliant starfield dimly illuminates the plain. For Peacock, at least, the starlight is enough for him to see perfectly for miles, and he thinks he is able to pick out the rock outcropping where he met Sphene, and they in turn met Jazzai and Sir Kane. It lies almost directly to the south of their camp, many miles away.

Kane was typically quiet as he led Jazzai gently by the arm. He relied on Peacock to scout ahead and keep them heading the right direction. Travel was slow and quiet for Kane. Peaceful, even.

Jazzai would enjoy the quiet for a long while before it got to her. When they made camp she would finally speak up. "Alright. We should talk some things over. Let's start with languages. What languages does everyone know? We need to find a language everyone understands that isn't commonly used for more conversations that every don't want others understanding. Also, I wanted to apologise for earlier Sir Kane. I just thought it prudent that taking on anything should be discussed with the group. An creature that can fly will be hard for me to help you against. Let alone be able to heal you if hurt if you yourself are flying."

Adrien had been deep in thought for most of their travels, still pondering the true nature of his gift. During their confrontation with the carrion dogs, he had felt so confident, so... unafraid. Was this the first sign of his turning? He hadn't felt like he was out of control. For one of the first times in his life, he had felt strong, powerful, even.

It felt great, it felt wonderful, but at the same time, it was terrifying. Was he blessed with the courage to be the best he could, or would he fail to see himself become cruel and detached from this world?

Adrien was snapped out of his thoughts by Jazzai's question, and he fumbled for word for a moment before answering.

"Well... my father trained as a bowmaker under the tutelage of an elven bowmaster, and he also learned their language. He taught me most of the basics. Other than that, I apparently know how to speak the language of the wood fey, but I have no idea how that happened."

As the morning light dawns, the group begins another slow trek through the rugged landscape. Following Kane's map, the party turns south east, keeping the looming shapes of the Demon Reaches to their left and rear. Another day of the journey passes as the sun tracks across the sky and slowly sets in the west.

The ruddy glow of the sunset sends long shadows of the party stretching before them.

Suddenly, Jazzai pauses, and puts her hand to the ground. She can sense something, a medium-sized creature ahead, but it's not moving. No one else sees anything.

Jazzai shifts and sniffs the air lightly trying to determine exact location.

Naki spent most of the trip taking notes, though he does seem to be enjoying himself, many of his questions seem almost childishly naive about the outside world. He nearly runs into Jazzai as she pauses.

Jazzai's tremorsense locates the creature about 50 feet ahead, but her nose cannot pick out its scent from the environment.

"50 paces ahead approximately. I can't pick out its scent." She lifts her hand and points towards where she can sense it.

Speaking up. "Hello, is someone there?" She asked unsure what the creature of thing was that triggered her sense.

Nothing responds to Jazzai's hail. She still feels the faint vibrations of the creature, but nothing stirs.

Jazzai would slowly make her way towards the creature feeling if it would move as she got closer to it.

She moves half speed normally so she will here now also.

Naki follows her curiously. His pen at the ready to document findings.

"I'll go take a look. I've yet to be spotted by anyone, so it's probably safe."

Adrien vanishes into thin air, and glides ahead to the general position of the creature Jazzai sensed.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Adrien flits above the area ahead of Jazzai and surveys the rocky area. Whatever Jazzai is sensing, he cannot pick it out from amongst the rugged terrain.

Adrien reappears, hovering several feet out of reach, his bow drawn.

"I know there's someone around here! Come out, come out, wherever you are."

When Adrien shouts, what had appeared to be a collection of rocks stirs, and reveals itself to be a coiled lizard-like creature with more than the usual number of legs. It lifts its head up somewhat slowly and blinks at the hovering fey above it.

Adrien gets a good look at the greenish glowing eyes and feels a horrible energy wash over him.
Fortitude: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Whew. For a terrifying instant, his beating wings wanted to slow, his joints wanted to stiffen, and his breath caught in his throat. But with a shudder he throws off the baleful energy and remains flesh.

Creature's Initiative: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

Jazzai and Naki are about 35 feet away from the lizard-monster when it rears its head.

Spellcraft to identify whatever it tried to do: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Initiative: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

You think it just tried to turn you to stone.

Adrien quickly rushes back to the group, breathing heavily.

"We'd better find another way. Whatever that thing is ahead, it's really dangerous. It was this big green lizard, and I'm pretty sure it tried to turn me to stone, just now. Erastil help me, that was terrifying. Whatever you do, don't look it in the eye."

Realizing he'd just instructed the blind woman to avert her eyes, he fumbles his words for a moment, still quite shaken by his experience.

"We should probably go around, but the right thing to do might be to make sure it doesn't trap other travelers..."

Is it sad my first reaction is. Can I keep it!

Jazzai tried to figure out if she had heard of any such creature. But she knew nothing about magical creatures.

Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

"Well if it's turning you to stone then we should leave it alone. I really should have paid attention to the creatures that wizard had."

You still have actions, since talking is a free action and you beat its initiative. Adrien, that was a move action to fly back, so you still have a standard, if you'd like to take it.

Jazzai would take Sunflowers reins and covers her eyes as best she could starting to head roughly around the creature.

"Maybe I can put it to sleep. Then we could deal with it easily."

Adrien begins focusing on a Sleep spell, careful to avert his eyes from the creature.

Kane was already a creature of stone. He felt it a little more every day. He might be immune, but still he had no desire to hasten the process. The creature seemed to petrify with eye contact, so it was possible that Jazzai might not be effected.

The consequences were too great if it turned out he was wrong.

He swung Jazzai and her horse around wide to try to avoid the creature.

I forgot Jazzai has a horse.

Yep she carries all the heavy stuff so I am not loaded down. Basically all of our food too. My little war pony Sunflower

She was thankful for Kane's assistance as they moved.

Naki hung back a little, looking disappointed but follows. He wistfully looks back with undisguised curiosity. "Are you sure I can't get some samples? Who knows it might present some opportunities and insight into your condition Sir Kane...

Adrien, sleep is a one-round casting time. Meaning, you can't move and then begin casting it. Anything else you'd like to do?

As everyone starts to pull back away from the creature, it hisses menacingly and plods forward slowly. It casts about with its green-glowing eyes. Sunflower whinnies in fear and starts to pull away, wanting to bolt.

Naki, how close are you allowing it to get? You've got plenty of speed to keep your distance.

Seeing that peacock intends to incapacitate the creature Naki grins and rushes towards it. Unsure exactly how big an area the sleep spell affects he skirts a 40 foot distance around it trying to keep his eyes averted. He heads around the creature in the opposite direction the others are taking hoping to draw it off of them. Moving at a dead run he mounts any obstacle he can't simply step over with ease.

I know it's one round. This is why I said he was starting to focus on it. If what I've read is right, I can start casting it as a standard action now, and spend another standard action next turn to finish it. Is this right?

Not the way I read it. A one-round casting time takes a full-round action. From the PRD: Full-Round Action: A full-round action consumes all your effort during a round. The only movement you can take during a full-round action is a 5-foot step before, during, or after the action.

Rule here.

I was not aware of that. I stand corrected.

Jazzai would try to calm Sunflower as they headed away from the creature.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 She was trying to keep her facing away from the creature and moving away.

If it's any comfort, I learned as well. I thought it was only a move action to finish it on the following turn.